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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

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

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Armenian Revytech, global technology leader SAP and financial services software specialist SAP Fioneer sign a cooperation agreement

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OSCE Chairman-in-Office and OSCE Secretary General call for immediate cessation of hostilities along Armenia-Azerbaijan border

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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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Two black holes collided in space, 1.4 billion light years from Earth. The ripples in space-time created by this collision were detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO).

There was big news in astrophysics this week: An experiment detected ripples in space-time, known as gravitational waves, created by two black holes colliding in space 1.4 billion light-years from Earth.

That certainly sounds  complicated. But what's the big deal, exactly? Why are scientists so excited about this new discovery? What does it tell them about the universe? Let's break it down. [Hunting Gravitational Waves: The LIGO Laser Interferometer Project in Photos]

What's so cool about gravitational waves?

The first significant thing about LIGO's direct detection of gravitational waves is that it happened at all.

But first, let's back up a bit and talk about Albert Einstein. He was a smart guy  he figured out a lot of really subtle stuff about the universe, including that space is not a fixed, rigid backdrop, like a stage on which cosmic events play out. Instead, Einstein showed that space is flexible and influenced by the objects and events within it. Very massive objects create curves in space, kind of like the way a bowling ball curves a mattress when placed on top of it.

(Einstein also showed that space and time are intimately linked  both are threads in the universal fabric that he called space-time. We'll gloss over this relationship for the sake of brevity.)

Albert Einstein showed that space is not fixed, but flexible, and can be warped by massive objects. Here, two black holes create ripples in space-time. (Image credit: LIGO)

So what does this have to do with gravitational waves? If a massive object can curve space-time, then moving a massive object can create ripples in space-time. Think of a canoe moving across a lake, sending ripples across the surface of the water; or a mallet striking a drum, creating vibrations on the surface.

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory, better known as LIGO, was the first experiment ever to directly detect these ripples in space-time, so it's the first direct physical evidence that they actually exist. Its first detection came in September 2015, 100 years after Einstein first predicted their existence. It's also been 40 years since people started working on the early incantations of the technology that LIGO uses to detect gravitational waves.

So these ripples in space-time confirm Einstein's theory (although it had already been shown to be fairly airtight). Gravitational waves are an extreme illustration of general relativity; in the past, those extreme examples existed only on paper, in the theoretical world. Data can always help scientists learn more about the universe, and if Einstein's theory needs to be adjusted (to make it compatible with quantum mechanics, for example), it's possible LIGO could find where. (LIGO's executive director said he's doubtful that LIGO will find these kinds of cracks or lose ends in Einstein's theory, but it is a possibility.)

But wait  there's more.

Black hole hunters

Moving masses generate waves of gravitational radiation that stretch and squeeze space-time. See how gravitational waves work in this Space.com infographic (Image credit: By Karl Tate, Infographics Artist)

The LIGO discoveries have "launched a new era in astronomy," according to a statement from Northwestern University, where scientists are studying the gravitational waves to try to understand the black holes that created them. Other sources with LIGO have also talked about a "new era" or "new field of astrophysics," or have noted that LIGO is opening "a new window" to the universe.

That's a big claim. So how is LIGO driving this revolution?

Think of it this way: If every observatory and telescope in the history of humanity allowed people to "see" the universe, LIGO is now allowing us to "hear" it. And no one has ever heard the universe in this way before. Imagine what it would be like to suddenly gain not just a new view of the world around you, but the ability to detect an entirely different kind of information.

Just about every observatory or telescope that is studying the universe collects light  or, in some cases, other particles. Light comes in many flavors, such as X-rays, gamma-rays, visible light and radio waves. Different objects radiate different wavelengths of light. For example, your body produces enough heat to radiate infrared light, but it would take something as hot as an electric stove to radiate optical light. Looking at the universe in different wavelengths of light reveals different objects and processes, and sometimes, it reveals things that are hidden for other reasons.

OK, but what if you want to look for an object that doesn't radiate light?

Black holes are called black holes because they have such a strong gravitational pull that even light can't get away from them. As a result, they're typically represented in images and illustrations as big, black spheres in space  they don't emit light, and they don't radiate light.

There are other ways to "see" black holes. For example, sometimes material around the black hole radiates light, and that can at least reveal the silhouette of one of these monsters. It's also possible to detect a black hole via its gravitational influence on stuff around it. (This is also how scientists detect dark matter, more mysterious stuff that makes up a big part of the universe.)

This timeline shows the timeline of LIGO's two confirmed detections of gravitational waves from black hole collisions. A third event, noted on this timeline, triggered LIGO's detectors, but was not strong enough to make a confirmed discovery. (Image credit: LIGO)

But for the black holes detected by LIGO, and most black holes between 10 and 100 times the mass of the sun, scientists with LIGO say it's unlikely that these techniques will work. That's because there's no material around these black holes; it gets flung away as the black holes circle around each other. That means these black holes are invisible  except to a gravitational-wave detector.

Plus, a purist will tell you that all of those above methods are indirect. If someone wants information created directly by the black hole, then gravitational waves are it.

So LIGO can see things that no other observatory can, and that's a big reason why people are calling this the beginning of a new era of astrophysics. LIGO will spot many other objects, including exploding stars (supernovas) and mergers between neutron stars, or the nuggets of leftover star explosions that are just slightly not dense enough to become black holes.

But there will also be great discoveries when LIGO works with light-based telescopes and observatories. Those instruments can "see" the universe, and LIGO can "hear" it  and they're best when used together, just as movies are best when they are both seen and heard or food is best when both tasted and smelled. "Multimessenger astronomy" refers to the combination of different kinds of astronomical information, such as light and gravitational waves. It's a new chapter in astrophysics, and LIGO has just given it a big boost.

LIGO's black holes

Using laser beams, scientists have detected the physical distortions caused by passing gravitational waves. See how the LIGO observatory hunts gravitational waves in this Space.com infographic (Image credit: By Karl Tate, Infographics Artist)

To get a taste of what kind of information gravitational waves can provide, take a look at LIGO's two detections. The first signal, detected in September 2015, was created by two black holes that had masses 29 and 36 times that of the sun, respectively. They created a new black hole with a mass just shy of their combined masses. (Some of the mass was lost as energy in the merger.) The second detection was also created by two black holes that had masses 7.5 and 14 times that of the sun, respectively.

This chart shows solar mass black holes with known masses. This includes six black holes detected by LIGO (the double-black hole collisions create a new, third black hole), as well as the third event. (Image credit: LIGO)

The mass of a black hole provides some insight into how it formed. All four of these black holes were likely born from single, massive stars. Those stars burned brightly, but then ran out of fuel and collapsed on themselves, crunching matter into such an incredibly small space that the density of the remaining object cannot be clearly described by modern physics.

But the specifics of each star's living situation can vary, according to Vicky Kalogera, an astrophysicist at Northwestern University and a member of the LIGO Collaboration.

The smaller black holes detected by LIGO probably formed from stars that lived close together, stayed together after death and eventually spiraled toward each other and merged. Contrast that with black holes that are close to 20 times the mass of the sun, which likely formed ingreat clusters of stars (a "mosh pit" of stars, as the statement from Northwestern University described it).

How many black holes form in clusters, and how many form outside clusters? How many black hole mergers take place in the universe each day? How big do these black holes get? Can they reveal any new information about the monster black holes at the centers of galaxies, which have masses that range from millions to billions of times the mass of the sun?

These are questions that scientists now have a better shot at answering because they can detect black hole mergers directly, and quickly figure out the exact masses of those black holes.

Just the beginning

LIGO detected two confirmed black hole mergers in its first science run, which lasted about six months. Currently, LIGO is operating at only about 40 percent of the sensitivity it was designed to achieve. Gradual improvements by the LIGO team will slowly drive that percentage up, and with each bump in sensitivity, LIGO is expected to detect more and more objects. According to David Reitze, executive director of the LIGO Laboratory, if the detector is 25 percent more sensitive in its next run (which starts in September), the LIGO Collaboration can expect six to eight detections, instead of two.

Meanwhile, a companion gravitational-wave detector is scheduled to go online in Italy in January, and there are plans to have detectors in Japan and India in the future. A space-based experiment is laying the groundwork for space-based gravitational-wave detectors. And a collaboration of scientists is working on measuring gravitational waves by studying pulsars, or neutron stars that radiate beams of radio waves.

LIGO's discovery means a lot of things to the astrophysics community; it might actually be the beginning of a new era.

Follow Calla Cofield @callacofield. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
An Orbital ATK Antares first stage fires its RD-181 main engines during a static fire test May 31 at Wallops Island, Virginia.

LANCASTER, Calif.  The first launch of an Orbital ATK Antares rocket with a new first stage engine will likely be delayed from July to August, the company said June 16.

In a statement to SpaceNews, Orbital ATK spokeswoman Sean Wilson said that the launch of the Antares carrying a Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station will likely take place "in the August timeframe." That launch was previously scheduled for no earlier than early July.

"Our Antares team recently completed a successful stage test and is wrapping up the test data analysis," Wilson said, referring to a May 31 static fire test of the Antares first stage on the pad at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia. "Final trajectory shaping work is also currently underway, which is likely to result in an updated launch schedule in the August timeframe."

She declined to say if the delay was primarily caused by ISS schedule conflicts with other visiting vehicles or issues with the first stage after that static fire test. NASASpaceFlight.com, which first reported the potential delay June 15, cited vibrations during the static fire test that required updates to the vehicle's avionics.

The ISS has a busy schedule of other vehicles visiting the station. A Soyuz spacecraft carrying three new station crewmembers is scheduled for launch July 7, after being delayed from June 24 because of issues with the Soyuz's software. A Progress cargo mission was also delayed to July 17.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch a Dragon cargo spacecraft to the station early July 16. That launch appears to remain on schedule despite its proximity to the Progress mission, with NASA recently promoting social media events associated with the launch.

The Antares launch of a Cygnus, on a mission designated OA-5, will be the first for the Antares with new RD-181 first stage engines. Orbital ATK replaced the AJ26 engines, provided by Aerojet Rocketdyne, after they were implicated the failure of the previous Antares launch in October 2014. The RD-181 engines, manufactured by Russian company NPO Energomash, also increase the payload capacity of the Antares.

Wilson said that an updated launch date for the OA-5 mission, "which takes into account the space station traffic schedule and cargo requirements, will be made in conjunction with NASA in the next several weeks."

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
Rocket launches used to be the realm of national governments, but with the rise of private spaceflight companies more rockets are launching into space than ever before. While most rockets launch satellites into orbit, some like Russia's Soyuz, carry astronauts on missions into space. SpaceX's Dragon and Boeing's CST-100 Starliner will fly Americans into orbit, while Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin will launch space tourists on short suborbital trips. SpaceX and Blue Origin even land their rockets after launch for later reuse. See news, photos and videos of the latest rocket launches from around the world here.

Related Topics: Falcon Heavy, SpaceX, NASA Space Launch System, Space Tourism, International Space Station
A full moon rises over Caguas, Puerto Rico in this image captured by photographer Fernando Roguel Torres on Aug. 10, 2014. The full moon of June 20, 2016 is a rare Summer Solstice Full Moon, the first since 1948.

On Monday (June 20), the full moon will fall on the solstice for the first time since 1948. To celebrate this special occasion, the online Slooh Community Observatory will broadcast views of the moon live from the Canary Islands.

The broadcast starts at 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT Tuesday, June 21) and will include discussion between Slooh host Paul Cox and Slooh astronomer Bob Berman. You can watch the Slooh webcast at Slooh.com, and ask questions via Twitter @Slooh. Viewers can also submit questions via Slooh's chat room, where you can also control the StarShare camera live and snap night-sky views.

You can also watch the summer solstice full moon webcast on Space.com, courtesy of Slooh. The show will also include special guests who will discuss the importance of the summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year and the official beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

A full moon rises over Caguas, Puerto Rico in this image captured by photographer Fernando Roguel Torres on Aug. 10, 2014. The full moon of June 20, 2016 is a rare Summer Solstice Full Moon, the first since 1948. (Image credit: Fernando Roquel Torres, Sociedad de Astronomia del Caribe)

"Having a full moon land smack on the solstice is a truly rare event," Berman said in a statement. "We probably won't push people off pyramids like the Mayans did, but Slooh will very much celebrate this extraordinary day of light with fascinating factoids and amazing live telescope feeds."

During the event, Janice Stillman, editor of the "Old Farmer's Almanac," will be on hand to discuss the solstice's cultural significance. She will pull from the archives to talk about some of the rituals that are celebrated at summer's start. Slooh will also show parts of the solstice ritual that observatory representatives took part in at the Wanderlust Yoga Festival before the show was broadcast.

Monday, June 20, 6:34 p.m. EDT. The Sun marks midsummer in the Northern Hemisphere, and midwinter in the Southern, reaching its farthest declination north. (opens in new tab) ) (Image credit: Starry Night Software

If you're interested in taking pictures of the moon, astrophotographer Robert Reeves will be on hand during the show to recommend the best equipment for beginning astronomers.

Slooh also announced in the statement that in this show, the observatory begins a collaboration with the Science Channel to promote live astronomy events. Slooh has been active since 2003, using automated observatories to broadcast live events over the internet. Its observatories are in the Canary Islands and in Chile, and it also has broadcast in past years with partners located in places such as Arizona, Japan, Hawaii, Cypress, Dubai, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Norway.

Editor's note: If you snap an amazing photo of the summer solstice full moon that you'd like to share it with Space.com and our news partners for a possible story or image gallery, please semd photos and comments in to: spacephotos@space.com.

Follow Elizabeth Howell @howellspace, or Space.com @Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.
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Shaheed El Hafed, June 20, 2016 (SPS) - The Minister of Defence Abdelahi Lehbib Sunday oversaw the inauguration of a new headquarters Sahrawi Special Forces named after Martyr President Mohamed Abdelaziz.

The Minister of National Defence expressed his pride at the construction of this seat, which confirms the attention granted by Martyr President Mohamed Abdelaziz to Sahrawi military forces.

The inauguration ceremony saw the screening of two documentaries the first on the life of Martyr Mohamed Abdelaziz and the second on the role of the Sahrawi Special Forces.

For his part, the commander of the Sahrawi Special Forces affirmed that these forces are part of the Sahrawi army and will pursue the same path set by Martyr President Mohamed Abdelaziz until the liberation of all parts of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.

The kick-off of the works of the construction of this seat was given by Martyr President Mohamed Abdelaziz one year ago. (SP)

062/090/TRA




Under previous legislation, lower courts rarely imposed custodial sentences and could only fine individuals up to 20,000. Since February 1st in 2017, those found guilty could face unlimited fines or imprisonment.

Patrick Quigley Account Executive and Gemma Rawlinson, Scottish Borders and North Area Manager from H&H Insurance Brokers, which operates across Northern England and the Scottish Borders, said: Its particularly important that farmers and businesses operating in the rural community are aware of these changes and the steps they can take to protect themselves.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), over the last decade, one person a week has been killed in the agricultural sector. With many of these deaths due to breaches in health and safety legislation, the way such cases are dealt with has been reviewed and the Sentencing Council is introducing new penalties.

In future, there could be far-reaching consequences for any farmers or farming businesses that are convicted, and its vital they are properly insured against that risk.

As the agricultural year moves into the summer months, risks on the farm heighten. There have been a number of cases in recent years of members of the public crushed by cattle at grass, and we will soon be at the peak point in the year for agricultural machinery use which brings additional health and safety risks.

Under the new penalties, company directors, officers or employees of a business who are prosecuted as an individual could be jailed for up to two years. It is anticipated that business with turnovers of up to 2 million could face fines of up to 450,000, with the amount rising dependent upon the companys turnover.
Called UK Sires Direct, the company represents an expansion into direct marketing for the long-established bull stud, UK Sire Services, based in Dartington, Devon. Renowned over many years for the collection, storage, distribution and export of cattle semen, an expansion into direct sales to farmers is a logical next step.

The launch of UK Sires Direct represents a unique development in the cattle genetics market, says the companys founder, Rob Wills, who is joined in the business by Pete Sherwen of Scawfell Genetics in Cumbria. We have not only shortened the supply chain, enabling us to offer semen at very competitive prices, but we have also opened the way for the UKs top dairy and beef breeders to market semen from their best bulls while retaining their ownership of these animals.

Offering a sales network of this nature for farmer-owned bulls is a first for the industry, and means farmers can potentially achieve high levels of income from their top genetic merit bulls, while buyers will have wider access to the countrys best bloodlines, he says.

However, enhancing the home-bred offering in the companys web-based portfolio is an extensive cross-section of international sires selected independently from a wide spectrum of sources.

For the dairy breeds, this includes the influential LIC from New Zealand, top grazing genetics from Ireland, the best of North American high genomic index sires, outstanding Fleckvieh genetics from Bayern Genetik in Germany and bulls from the Nordic countries acclaimed Viking Genetics, says Mr Wills.

We believe this gives us the most diverse portfolio of dairy sires on the market today, ranging from the high genetic index Holstein to the traditional British Friesian, and including a full complement of coloured breeds such as Jersey, Guernsey, Ayrshire, Fleckvieh, Montbeliarde, Brown Swiss and Dairy Shorthorn, he says.

Beef portfolio

In sourcing its beef portfolio the company has taken equal care, paying close attention to the quality of beef-cross calves from the dairy herd, while also reaching out with elite genetics for pedigree and cross-breeding suckler beef producers.

Importantly, many of our beef sires have been selected by industry bodies like Meadow Quality Calves as Superior Sires, says Mr Wills, who has vast personal experience of sire selection and has been commissioned by supermarkets on many occasions to select sires for their beef schemes.
Jonathan Henry joined John Deere Limited as a management trainee in July 1993, following an HND in mechanisation, planning and business management at the Scottish Agricultural College, Auchencruive, and a spell in the service department of an agricultural dealership. From late 1993 he worked as an area manager product support (AMPS) in south-west England, and from 1997 to 2001 as a territory manager in the north of England and borders of Scotland.

Subsequent appointments included product manager of the then newly established agricultural management solutions (AMS) precision farming technology range, key accounts manager, combines product manager and division sales manager from January 2006.

From early 2009, Jonathan held various product marketing roles in Germany and the US, chiefly supporting the launch of the 6R to 8R Series tractors. Since May 2015, he has been planning director for Deeres global crop harvesting business.

Antony Scott was appointed managing director of John Deere Limited in the UK and Ireland in July 2014, succeeding Richard Johnson. He joined the company in December 1975, also as a management trainee, after obtaining an HND in agriculture at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester and an advanced diploma in agricultural engineering at Writtle College.
T he multi-millionaire founder of the trendy Superdry brand has launched an astonishing attacked on Leave campaign leader Boris Johnson, accusing him of eroding all trust and being out for himself.

Julian Dunkerton claimed the former London Mayor-turned-Leave campaign leader was heading the push to exit the EU for personal political gain. He told the Evening Standard: I dont believe for one moment he believes half the arguments hes putting forward.

Dunkerton added: What fascinates me is people think theyre being passionately pro-Britain by voting to leave when actually its the complete opposite. If we pull out, its a danger to the British economy.

Does Boris really believe hes cleverer than CEOs, entrepreneurs, economists and every think-tank that has anything to do with the economy? Every single one is saying its going to be a disaster, his credibility is shot.

Dunkerton, who is a quarter French, founded Superdry owner SuperGroup in 2003 and oversaw its 395 million float in 2010. He stepped down from running the retailer in 2014.

He argued that Britains existing strong trade links with Europe and the ease of doing business with the trading bloc meant a Brexit would cause a reduction in investment in the UK.

The ability to grow your company with a market of 250 million people is enormous. I have stores across the whole of Europe and the fact they are in the same currency makes a huge difference, he said.

SuperGroup, which is advertised by Wire star Idris Elba and led by chief executive Euan Sutherland, counts half of its exports to the EU.

Clarkson and Cameron on Brexit

Alongside his fashion empire, Dunkerton has a string of bars, restaurants and hotels.

It has also emerged that he doled out 30 million to staff before the flotation  including 500,000 to his PA, who still works for the business. He co-founded Superdry with James Holder in 2003 and sold 53 million in shares to fund his divorce in February.
W ith the clock ticking down to Thursdays big vote, the Citys soothsayers have been polishing their crystal balls and predicting the winners and losers from a potential Brexit.

The starkest warning came on the housebuilders, as Jefferies speculated that their shares will plummet if Britain quits the EU.

Even though the fall would not be as dramatic as after the financial crisis, analyst Anthony Codling reckons the housebuilders would shrink in value by an average 44%, stemming from a 20% fall in land values.

Persimmon tanked 88% from its 2007 peak after the credit crunch, and Codling predicts it will again be the major casualty if Britain quits the EU, falling by 62%  a drop big enough to relegate it from the FTSE 100.

He also suggested big dividend-payers could suffer as cash flows dry up and builders look to buy up land on the cheap, which typically happens after a downturn.

EU referendum: All you need to know

But a Remain-inspired rally helped housebuilders surge today, with Persimmon up 88p, or 4.6%, at 2030p, Taylor Wimpey 10.36p higher at 186.36p, and Barratt Developments 32.9p, or 6.2%, firmer at 564.40p.

Other shares seen as most exposed to Brexit, including banks and airlines, helped the FTSE 100 to its best day since February, up 132.75 points or 2.2% to 6153.84, as polls tilted back towards Remain.

Picking out winners from a possible Brexit, most brokers suggest stocks with less exposure to the pound will outperform their peers. Those include aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce, one of the most vocal advocates for Remain.

Writing to employees, Rolls, whose shares improved 16p to 631p, argued that Brexit would limit its ability to plan and budget for the future. But today, JPMorgan said: It is very possible that a sharp depreciation in sterling (in a Brexit scenario) could have an immediate positive impact on Rolls-Royces shares.

Citi had the same reason for upgrading Brexit resistant Inmarsat to Buy as the satellite communications firm advanced 31.13p to 740.13p.

Away from the referendum, Ocado has overtaken Carillion as the most shorted stock on the LSE after investors reined in bets against the infrastructure services firm. The online grocer, still reeling from Amazon Freshs launch in London, was among the few fallers today, sliding 1.6p to 230p.
T he secretive multi-millionaire Murphy family have paid themselves dividends of more than 8 million after their construction and civil engineering empire returned to profit last year, Companies House accounts show.

J Murphy & Son, headquartered in north London, has worked on a host of major projects including Crossrail and the 2012 Olympic Park and is bidding for work on the HS2 rail link.

Accounts showed the Murphy Group turning around a 9.7 million pre-tax loss in 2014 to a 13.8 million profit last year. After no dividends were paid in 2014, there was an interim payout of 5.1 million with a 3 million final divi paid after the year end.

The firm was set up in 1951 by John Murphy, who emigrated from rural Ireland to London in the Thirties and died aged 95 in 2009.

His family, including second wife Kathy and son Bernard, are worth an estimated 325 million. His daughter Caroline quit as heir apparent and deputy chairman in 2014 after investors rejected her plans to turn the firm into a workers co-operative.
A Brazilian banker who worked for Credit Suisse until April was paid more than any member of the board of the Swiss bank.

Sergio Machado was revealed to have collected 48 million reals (9.6 million) in pay and back bonuses in 2015 when his remuneration details were leaked from documents provided for a major court case into corruption.

The former head of fixed income for Credit Suisse in Brazil has not commented, and his lawyer called the leak an inappropriate release.

Data from Dealogic showed that investment bank fees tumbled 42% in Brazil last year as the country suffered its worst recession.

Machado, 38, is the son of Sergio Machado, a former politician who moved into industry.

As part of his plea-bargaining in the countrys corruption trials he has admitted passing on 100 million real in kickbacks to political campaigns.

The son has said in a statement to the court that he had no knowledge of his fathers financial dealings.

Credit Suisse said it did not comment on individuals pay.
T he referendum campaign returns centre-stage today after a brief respite following the death of Jo Cox. The tone may be a little more temperate as a result of her death but the issues remain stubbornly the same: immigration is, as the Prime Ministers appearance on Question Time confirmed, the most potent issue for the Leave side, trumping the question of sovereignty, while for Remain, its still the economy. That is borne out by the intervention today on the Remain side of some big corporate hitters: the Premier League, major motor manufacturers and Sir Richard Branson.

The curious about-turn by Baroness Warsi, former Tory chairman, from Brexit to Remain, on the basis that she didnt care for the tone of the Leave campaign, has done little to dent its morale. Few people had registered that she was for Brexit  certainly she had not played a prominent role in the debate. The Prime Minister, however, has come into his own in the course of the campaign and has found a clear, combative voice  notwithstanding the question of his inconsistency on the desirability of Turkey joining the EU. He is much more effective now than at the outset.

The referendum campaign has ended up in clear grooves, with the themes well rehearsed on both sides. Yet it has proved a salutary exercise in democracy and an education for all of us on what our membership of the EU actually involves  not least the free movement of people. Its inevitable that immigration has been the thorniest issue for the Remain side  there is indeed no real way of curbing the right of EU citizens to live and work here. The Leave camp, for its part, has had to confront the insistence of most big corporations that they find it easier to attract investment from abroad to the UK as part of the EU  as foreign investors such as Japanese car manufacturers confirm.

We are all much better informed now than we were a couple of months ago about what EU membership means. But how we vote on Thursday will come down to the priority we set on the issues at stake: free trade with the EU and the rest of the world, sovereignty, open borders, free movement of people, immigration. People must consider all these issues, and vote in good conscience.

A white rose for Jo Cox

Our political class has not always presented its most attractive side during the course of the referendum campaign but it is at its best today as MPs return to the Commons to pay tribute to their colleague, Jo Cox, killed as she carried out her constituency duties. For once, party differences were put on hold as her colleagues on all sides of the house remembered her with affection and friendship. The white rose  of York  in her seat is a lovely and fitting tribute to a women who gave so much to her community and constituency. Her family can take comfort from the unaffected display of solidarity in the Commons today.

Heres hoping

This evening England meet Slovakia in a bid to top their Euro 2016 group  if they manage it, they will, in theory, face an easier opponent in the next round. With the French police slowly getting to grips with the violence that dominated the tournaments early days, real fans have a chance to come to the fore  embracing the experience of an international competition, rather than punching it on the nose. On the pitch there have already been some compelling matches  not the least of which was Englands victory over Wales. Both nations can make progress if they win tonight, and we hope they will do so with bravura performances.
L ondon is not just a dynamic capital city but also a global success story, and it is impossible to separate that success from our membership of the European Union.

There are huge benefits to be gained by our city if we stay in the EU. London already exports nearly 40 per cent of its goods, worth 12.7 billion, to the EU, and in the past five years alone London and the South-East have gained 11.1 billion in direct foreign investment from EU members.

The advantages of EU membership also extend to the public services we rely on when we are most in need. The NHS in London has 16,800 staff from EU countries  including more than 2,800 doctors and over 6,900 nurses  and leaving could make it harder to recruit these vital workers. It is clear we are better prepared to face future challenges and protect Londons jobs inside the EU with access to the single market.

Our new Mayor Sadiq Khan has said voting to leave the European Union would be turning our back on our very history as a city, who we are and how we look at the world. Like our Mayor, the overwhelming majority of Labour MPs and Labour members in London believe that our city will be stronger, safer and better off by remaining in the European Union.

Wes Streeting MP, Chuka Umunna MP, Harriet Harman MP and 36 London Labour MPs

I dont think much will change if we leave the EU, nor do I believe it will affect immigration. Of course, there will be a slight slump in the UK economy for a year or two until we extricate ourselves from the EU but in the longer term there are many benefits to be gained.

That we will be able to negotiate trade deals with other countries outside the EU without interference is important. The fact that EU law-makers cannot be voted out is undemocratic and I also believe it is impossible to impose a single set of economic conditions on nations with diversifying economic conditions. This is why countries such as Greece and Portugal have struggled and have had to be helped by the EU.

Back in 1973, the Conservatives forced us into the EU without a referendum, and with the opportunity to choose, I will be voting out. By doing so, I hope we can get back our democracy and at least that way if our own law-makers fail in their roles, we can vote them out.

Roy Luxton

Whatever the outcome of the referendum the key loser is already the British people. The squalid level to which the debate has descended and the contempt in which the British voter is held by our politicians is horrifying.

Worse, both campaigns have treated us as idiots and brought democracy into disrepute. Wild speculation and threats have alienated the public and it makes me wonder if we will ever regain trust in politicians.

Rupert Sawyer

Support Jos ideals as the best epitaph

The death of Jo Cox, the MP for Batley and Spen, is a terrible tragedy. She was someone elected for all the right reasons: to help make the world a better place. She was not alone in that ambition among MPs.

It has been one of the more nauseating elements in the aftermath of her death to hear so many media outlets  which have spent the past few years encouraging an atmosphere of contempt for MPs  shedding crocodile tears over this tragic incident.

Jo supported the Syrian refugees and was a positive voice on migration and backed Remain in Europe. She was all about having an open, diverse society, the exact opposite of those who feed on the insecurity of many and the encouragement of a distrust of the other. The best epitaph to Jo Cox would be to continue to promote her vision while facing down those who seek to divide us.

Paul Donovan

I was heartbroken and saddened to hear of another senseless death from a gun, such as we deal with here in the US every day  only this time it is across the pond. Rest in peace.

Michelle Missy

Support widows and their families

Next week marks International Widows Day, a day dedicated to the 259 million women and their children across the world who suffer exploitation, deprivation and rejection when their husbands die. This day offers us a powerful opportunity to raise awareness of their plight.

While the loss of a loved one is a devastating event, for many widows it is a loss deeper than anyone can know. It means not only losing a life partner but the ability to provide for their family, put clothes on their childrens backs and ultimately any chance of a future. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the plight of widows and must ensure that they are treated equally with opportunities for employment, education and participation in the economy.

Lord Loomba, founder, The Loomba Foundation

Many taxi drivers will be voting Leave

As taxi drivers, we talk to passengers on a daily basis and the topic of discussion currently is the EU referendum. We hear passengers discuss the issues affecting them and it is concerning that we send 350 million a week to Brussels without any control over how it is spent. This is money that could be spent on our priorities like the NHS.

We believe that to keep London a buzzing city, full of trade and tourism, we must vote Leave and take back control so we can invest in our country and our future, instead of paying to build roads and bridges in Greece.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a chance to take back control of our borders, our economy and our democracy.

216 black-cab drivers

We must condemn England violence

I was appalled to read your article concerning the violence at Euro 2016 [June 15]. The constant references to our fans as opposed to Russian thugs implicitly suggested we should applaud the violent response of English fans to provocation.

As the article admits, our own hooligans had been drinking all day and were singing anti-Russia songs. Their violent actions should not be defended.

Christopher Adams
C ocktail and street food market Night Tales returns for its fifth London outing on June 24, and it has a new location in Hackney Wick.

It will run for 10 weeks throughout the summer and feature a British diner, a Jamaican beach bar, nightly DJs and a raised sun deck along with a host of food and drink stalls.

Food shacks will include jerk from Rudies, creative dishes inspired by British ingredients from Nanny Bills, burgers and more courtesy of Lucky Chip, pizzas from Slice Guys, wings and more from Wingmans, and all things egg-ilicous from The Good Egg.

Thats on top of four bars. The Lazy Flamingo Bar will return, serving pink pina coladas, spiced mojitos and watermelon sherbet daiquiris. The Cocos Rum Shack will offer spiked coconuts, coconut based cocktails and the straight-up coconut water. ENTER.Sake will offer a hefty selection of Japanese sake. And the Singha Discovery Bar will serve the namesake Thai beer along with Thai street food snacks.

Street food in London 1 /12 Street food in London House of Dodo Lower Marsh Market, SE1; Crave, Merchant Square, W2; Tottenham Green Market, N15, @HOUSEofDODO

The steam rising from bubbling pans of creamy coconut beef almost obscures Rebecca Lloyd-Wrights joyously bright stand and adorable bird logo: before it went extinct, the dodo was indigenous to Mauritius, where her stews also hail from. Not that House of Dodo is likely to go away anytime soon. Lloyd-Wright quit her PR job last year and now serves the capitals first and only Mauritian street food. The mark of her success is that she has the approval of Mauritian Londoners. If you are feeling hardcore, ask for an authentic helping of chilli. Dumpling Shack Schoolyard Market, London Fields Primary School, Westgate Street, E8, @DumplingShack

The bearded, bike-wheeling and vintage-hatted of Hackney will happily queue for an hour to get their chopsticks on John Lis sheng jian baos (pan-fried soup dumplings): squidgy dough parcels drowning in spice, filled with minced pork and crab and an intense umami soup that gushes into your mouth upon biting. Theres even an Asian take on a scotch egg  the brunch dumpling is filled with homemade sage-and-onion sausage with a runny quails egg in the centre. STAKEhaus Kerb (various locations), Dalston Yard, Hartwell Street, E8, @STAKEhaus

Put the buns away and celebrate beef it in all its perfectly pink, seared glory, simply sliced straight from the grill onto a pile of rosemary-salted fries. An escapee from the corporate rat race, Lily Bovey jacked in her old job at just 22 for the sake of steak  and the satisfaction of London palates. Add some of the crisp courgette fries for one of your five a day and a nod to virtue. Kolkati Walthamstow Village Market, 67 High Street, E17; Tottenham Green Market, N15, @Kolkati

The only thing that beats a great curry is a great curry wrapped snugly in a blanket of rich egg-glazed paratha. Kate de Lord and Jack Hogarth discovered kati rolls whilst travelling in India and became addicted. After months of experimenting, and the creation of an outrageous date ketchup, theyve perfected the rolls over here: brilliant textures of soft masala chicken or paneer, crunchy onions and fresh tomato. Killa Dilla Dalston Yard, Hartwell Street, E8 (from June 3), @KIllaDillaLDN

When it comes to Mexican food, tacos are great but the quesadilla can be even better. Especially Will Leigh and Josh Whitings artisan cheese-loaded beasts. Think melting smoked short rib with kimchi, blue cheese, and avocado dip which is the stuff of dreams. Theyve even improved on the glory that is roast spuds: ramming them into a dilla with jalapenos, cheese, and Korean mayo. Oof. Decatur Druid Street Market, SE1, @DecaturLondon

Oysters for a hangover breakfast? It all makes sense once you neck one of Tom Brownes stunning New Orleans-style molluscs, chargrilled until sizzlingly golden with a hearty dollop of garlic pecorino butter and hot sauce. Then theres the delicious clouds that are his beignets: impossibly light and crunchy pillowy doughnuts, drowning in icing sugar. Lemlem Kitchen Netil Market, Westgate Street, E8, @lemlemkitchen

Eritrea does not have a street food scene  but Makda Harlow is so proud of the pungent, spicy flavours of her homeland that she and husband Jack decided to recreate them in London. In Afro-tacos, rounds of crumpet-like injera flatbread (made of teff, the health addicts fave grain) replace traditional tortilla, meaning that all the juice from the musky zigni (paprika and chilli) pulled lamb and anise chicken soaks in until youre left with a wonderfully meaty sponge of bread. Pizzas Dont Cry Find them at: Netil Market, Westgate Street, E8, @pizzasdontcry

Baker Henry Hatton Browns madcap creations are a far cry from your average cheesy slice  he pimps his pizzas with toppings like ripe pear and gorgonzola, fig and prosciutto, and ndjua tempered with pickled turnip tops to take the edge off the heat. They are all layered up on a crisp, soggy-proof bottom that Mary Berry would be proud of. Whats even more impressive is that its all made at what he claims is probably the smallest pizzeria in the world. Gourmet Goat Borough Market, SE1, @Gourmet_Goat

Moo off, beef  the hot meat in town is goat. When Nadia Stokess family lost everything in the Turkish invasion of Cyprus they had to live off their own land, and that meant eating a lot of kid goat. Forty years later she and husband Nick have put her goaty expertise to excellent use. Slow-roast kid shoulder and heavily spiced goat kofta come in fluffy pita bread with a punchy Mediterranean salad to slice through the richness.

Having headed north east from its former Shoreditch home, the night market is now based in an an old stone merchant and car scrap yard near Hackney Wick station.

It runs every Friday (5-11.30pm) and Saturday (2-11.30pm) night and tickets cost 3. Packages including reserved booths are also available. Visit nighttales.co.uk.

Follow Ben Norum on Twitter @BenNorum

Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout
A Dragons Den contestant turned successful jerky and barbecue sauce seller is hoping to win over Londoners when he launches his own Texas-style barbecue restaurant next month.

Joe Walters, from Dallas, made a name for himself when he appeared on Dragons Den three years ago in full cowboy clobber, winning investment for his beef jerky brand from Dragon Peter Jones but eventually deciding to go it alone.

He will open Texas Joes Slow Smoked Meats near Bermondsey Street on July 4 to mark American Independence Day.

He said: There are a lot of barbecue restaurants in London now, but something has been seriously lost in translation. Here barbecue is treated as a culinary fad whereas in Texas it is simply a way of life  it is wrong that chefs are trying to elevate it to something it is not and I will be taking things back to basics.

He describes the restaurant, which will replace a former Chinese takeaway on Snowsfields, as a spit and sawdust venue where the focus is on the food rather than neon signs and American decor.

A 500-pound capacity rotisserie imported from the States will be a focal point, while its menus will be printed in the style of a 1930s Texas newspaper and much of the furniture will be homemade.

It will serve beef brisket and prime ribs, pork shoulder and several traditional mutton dishes, which will be made using meat from local Bermondsey butcher Nathan Mills.

This will be accompanied by homemade pickles and bread, and washed down with a range of US and UK craft beers and spirits. These will include bourbons from Balcones and Garrison Brothers, Texan Lone Star lager and closer-to-home beers from Camden Town and Kernel.

Follow Ben Norum on Twitter @BenNorum

Follow Going Out on Facebook and on Twitter @ESgoingout
I have never visited the Uzbek city Samarkand. Yet talking to Eleanor Ford, the co-author of a new cookbook Samarkand: Recipes and Stories from Central Asia and the Caucasus, I feel as if I have been instantly transported there, so rich is the tapestry of tales she and her childhood friend Caroline Eden have woven together.

The book is filled with introductions to the various culinary traditions of the area, interspersed with recipes like apricot and red lentil soup, Kazan kebabs, pilavs and plovs (a lamb and rice pilaf), to Kyrgyz swirled onion flatbread, mountain Jew omelette, kuksu noodle soup and tarragon soda. It is clearly a cookbook that will open up many eyes - as it has mine - to the varied and wide-ranging cooking styles that come out of this countrys city and its surrounding area, and indeed Ford says that at home in London, little is known about it:

People are aware that it falls between Europe and Asia but I feel that many people dont know much about this part of the world that actually has much of our early history - and they certainly dont know much about the food.

The cuisine is impossible to pigeonhole, so when people ask me to define the food of central Asia, I tend to talk about the different regions that influenced it, she says.

If you think about it, geographically youve got China to the east, and with that comes certain flavours like ginger and vinegar and soy sauce. The noodle dish laghman has a very Chinese influence, with hand pulled noodles, but also the flavours of dill and lamb in it, removing it from China. In the south youve got Afghanistan, Pakistan and India and there you can see all the spices creeping in, except that they are used very delicately - not much chilli is used. Spices are just used to add an accent. To the west youve got Turkey and Iran and so much of a crossover particularly with foods like the pilafs, the barberries, the pomegranates, the quince, and the huge abundance of fresh herbs in the cooking. And then to the north, youve got Russia, and the Soviet history of the region means there is a huge amount of crossover of Russian food, so beetroot salad, and the use of dill in the cooking, is very familiar still.

Chistopher Herwig

Ford emphasises that she and Eden, a travel writer, have just touched on a few recipes - it is just a taster, so while some of the recipes are completely authentic, she explains, it is a very large region that were covering, so weve really tried to be inspired by the flavours there, but adapt them to make them accessible, and to make the ingredients accessible, to the western kitchen.

In some cases they have made the food lighter, so instead of using, say, the fat of a fatty lambs tail, which punctuates the dishes, in the plov chapter Ive used clarified butter as I found that to have the best balance of flavours - that rich meatiness, but also its a little lighter.

2016 cookbooks 1 /14 2016 cookbooks Sirocco: Fabulous flavours from the East By Sabrina Ghayour The Palomar Cookbook Deliciously Ella Every Day By Ella Woodward Grillstock: The BBQ Book As the Romans Do: La Dolve Vita in a Cookbook by Eleonora Galasso Making waves Yasmine Larizadeh and Shirin Kouros are launching their debut cookbook of their restaurant The Good Life Eatery Toby Glanville Savour: Salads for all Seasons by Peter Gordon Hemsley and Hemsley Good + Simple By Jasmine and Melissa Hemsley Livia's Kitchen Is being published in 2016 by Olivia Wollenberg Tara Fisher River Cottage Gluten Free by Naomi Devlin

Family friends who really share such a common passion for food and travel, the pair began discussing the project three years ago, after Eden - an expert on the region - suggested that it was somewhere that her friend might be interested in exploring. Ford, meanwhile, has a background in cookery journalism and, after cookery school, began reviewing central Asian restaurants in London, as well as editing recipes for TV chefs. But its through her travels, she explains, that she has learnt to cook the most:

Ive been to 70 or 80 countries now, and I always make it my mission to try and learn as much as possible about the different foods that Im eating Now I try to get the magic of the flavours from abroad and also make [them] very approachable.

Chistopher Herwig

Fords first trip to Uzbekistan was in 2014 when she, her husband and their tiny son went on a culinary adventure around the country, visiting peoples homes and kitchens.

Some were wealthy families who had these amazing big courtyard homes, with different generations living there but we were trying to eat as much of the food as possible. So wed go to the market stalls and speak to traders, and Id have a go folding things to go into their ovens; and we went to the chaikhanas, which are the tea houses, which is where men traditionally congregate to drink tea and then lie on the beds and eat little halva sweets.

As there is not traditionally much of a restaurant culture in Uzbekistan, says Ford, its at home where you get the very best food, and where the best cooking happens.

Cucumber rose soup

Here are her stories connected to non and plov, two of the main dishes eaten there:

Uzbek bread

There is similiarity between food from this region and the naan that is found in India and Pakistan, but this is spelled non bread and it is found without doubt at every meal. It is stamped on the top with this beautiful intricate pattern before it goes into the oven, and the bread itself is always face up on the table - it can never be turned over. It can also never be cut with a knife; you tear it with your hands. There are several wonderful patterns, habits, and cultural superstitions about non, but its very much an everyday staple. You would normally go and buy it from the market rather than make it yourself at home, and the market traders push around these breads in old prams - fabulous to see.

A plov feast

It took me a long time to perfect the recipe at home. Without a tandoor oven its very different, so I tried to recreate the environment as much as possible, by putting in a pizza stone, and brushing the bread with oil, and scattering it with nigella seeds. But there are so many different designs and patterns, and every bakery and household does it a different way. Often in the market you will see these great coloured breads, painted with lots of pinks and yellows, as a real festival thing.

Uzbek plov

This is absolutely the defining dish of the region, and it is such an exciting experience going at lunchtime to one of the plov kitchens - bustling canteens where hundreds of people are served from this one vast kazan pan. One chef would be doing it, layering up meat and rice and vegetables with just a little bit of spice. That way everything is scented by the slow cooking meat which is at the bottom of the pan. Officially this is a lunchtime dish, or a dish served at weddings or celebrations.

Its served upside down, so youll have the rice at the bottom of your platter, and then vegetables, and then the hunk of meat on top, and its decorated with quail eggs, or seasonal fruit and garlic, and youll just have that on the table, with lots of little side dishes - probably be a tomato and cheese salad, definitely the non bread, and some sort of fresh, tangy dairy product, as theyre very proud of their dairy there. So theres always some sort of yoghurt, or drained yoghurt, on the table, maybe with some spring onions and herbs alongside it.

Samarkand: Recipes and Stories from Central Asia and the Caucasus by Caroline Eden and Eleanor Ford is out now (Kyle Books, 25)
F lights in Germany were grounded yesterday after police received a bomb threat from a group calling itself "Islamic Caliphate in Europe".

All flights to and from Hamburg Airport were halted after a threat was made by emailing, warning that a bomb had been placed on an incoming plane.

The anonymous email said there was a bomb on board an Air Berlin flight, which had taken off from Munich with 170 passengers and seven air crew on board.

The Airbus A320 was on its way to Hamburg when police received the email, which they treated as a "serious threat."

The aircraft landed safely and was moved to a location away from the airport and other planes.

Officers used sniffer dogs to search the luggage of every passenger on board for explosives, but no bomb was found.

A police spokesman told German news site theLocal.de: The risk of an attack was labelled as high. You can assume from that that we took the threat seriously.

Police in Germany are now investigating in a bid to find those responsible for sending the email.

A spokesperson for Hamburg Airport said the incident only caused a minimal effect on air traffic in and out of the transport hub.

An Air Berlin spokeswoman said: "airberlin confirms that there was a bomb threat regarding flight AB6306 from Munich to Hamburg on Sunday. The threat was received by the Federal Police in Munich.

"The aircraft landed in Hamburg as normal and no emergency landing was necessary. Flight guests left the aircraft as normal via the steps. The Federal Police checked the aircraft, flight guests and baggage.

"No irregularities were found and the aircraft was re-released for flight operations by the authorities in the evening. We regret the inconvenience caused to our guests."
A rmed police arrested a man who was walking down the street with a bright blue "imitation" machine gun in north London.

Officers tweeted a picture of the fake weapon, which looks like a plastic toy with its blue barrel.

They said it was believed to be a replica "Uzi" gun.

The 51-year-old man was detained at 7am in Camden Town after firearms officers were called.

He had been spotted walking along Camden High Street with it hung over the shoulder by a passer-by.

Police said: "We had a call from member of public at 0700 regarding the above person he was stopped by firearm officers and was arrested for possession of imitation firearm in a public place.

"The weapon is believed to be a replica Uzi BB gun."
A thief has been caught on camera brazenly snatching the phone out of a mans hand while riding a moped in the Square Mile in broad daylight.

The 26 year-old victim was crossing Cannon Street at around 1.40pm when two mopeds drove towards him in the middle of the road.

As one moped rider blocked the man from being able to move out of the way, the other snatched his phone out of his hand.

The mopeds then sped away along Cannon Street.

Police have released the footage to warn members of the public about moped and bike related crime.

City of London Police detective inspector Doug Blackwood said: Phone snatchers are taking advantage of people in the City who are vulnerable to theft; either because their focus is elsewhere or theyre under the influence of alcohol after leaving a bar or club.

I would urge people to consider using a hands-free device to make a call, not to text or use apps by the roadside and to always plan their journey home.

As well as having expensive phones stolen with all the inconveniences involved, the personal information contained on the phone may put people at risk of identity theft.

From April 2015 to March 2016, there were 131 reported phone snatch offences in the City of London resulting in losses of nearly 40,000.

In the last two months there have been 28 offences in the Square Mile.

The crime on Cannon Street on May 16 is currently being investigated.

Anyone with information on the theft should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A gang who hatched an audacious plot to spring a dangerous criminal from a prison van were today jailed for a total of 27 years and two months.

Izzet Eren, 33, assembled a five-strong team to break him out of the van as he was being transported from Wormwood Scrubs prison to Wood Green Crown Court.

The plan was foiled when armed police swooped on their vehicles as they were parked near the north London court on December 11 last year.

During the operation an officer shot dead one of the gang, Jermaine Baker, 28, from Tottenham, which continues to be investigated by the IPCC.

Judge Christopher Kinch QC, sitting at Woolwich Crown Court, south east London, today told the men who sat quietly in the dock that an attempted break out from custody was an "attack" on the criminal justice system which was also likely to threaten the general public and put security staff at risk.

The judge sentenced Eren, who is currently serving 14 years for firearms offences, to a total of seven-and-a-half years for the escape attempt to be served consecutively to his current sentence, which was imposed in December.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to escape and one count of conspiracy to carry imitation firearms with criminal intent.

The gang had hatched a plan to break him out of the prison van as he was on his way to court for the December sentencing hearing.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to several offences after police caught him  along with an accomplice Erwin Amoah-Gyamfi - on a stolen motorbike carrying a loaded pistol in Stamford Hill. A bag containing a loaded Skorpion machine gun was found nearby.

His cousin, Ozcan Eren, 31, from Wood Green denied the same charges relating to the escape plot but changed his plea part way through a trial. He was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Two other members of the gang, Nathan Mason and Gokay Sogucakli, all from Tottenham, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to the same offences.

Nathan Mason (left) and Gokay Sogucakli / Metropolitan Police

Mason, 31, was sentenced to six years and two months in prison and Sogucakli, the youngest member of the gang, was sentenced to five-and-a-half years in a young offenders institution.

Eren Hasyer, 25, of Kettering Road, Enfield, who was found guilty of conspiring in the escape plot after a trial will be sentenced on Thursday, the Metropolitan Police said. He was cleared of possessing an imitation firearm.
J o Cox was planning to launch a report in Parliament on the dangers of nationalist radicals before she was brutally killed.

The Labour MP had also recorded a video about preventing Islamophobia, according to the Times.

Mother-of-two Mrs Cox, 41, died after being shot and stabbed in the street outside her constituency surgery on Thursday.

The report by Tell Mama, an organisation that monitors anti-Muslim incidents, warns of rising aggression by far-right nationalists and an increase in Islamophobia in the last year.

Mrs Cox, who was known for her commitment to causes such as the plight of Syrian refugees, reportedly planned to launch the report and release the video on June 29.

The film shows her saying she had spoken to Tell Mama about preventing Islamophobia and discussing the problem that in her constituency "many of our young women don't feel safe when they're out on the street".

Family pays tribute to Jo Cox

The director of Tell Mama, Fiyaz Mughal, told the Times there were significant clusters of far-right activity in Yorkshire and that the charity's annual report would detail an increase in anti-Muslim activity in the UK last year.

Mr Mughal said: "In the last 18 months South Yorkshire is one of the leading areas in the country (for Islamaphobic incidents)."

Thomas Mair, 52, from Birstall, appeared at Westminster magistrates' court on Saturday charged with murdering Mrs Cox, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of a knife.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.
S cotland Yard launched a week of action against knife crime in London today with targeted stop and searches and weapon sweeps in estates.

The action comes amid growing concern over the issue of knife crime in the capital with figures showing an increase in stabbings earlier this year.

The Met said the week-long blitz would include intelligence-led stop and search as well as proactive operations against gang members wanted in connection with knife offences and violent crime.

Police are also visiting shops with Trading Standards officials to test whether knives are being sold to those aged under 18 while the force is working with the charity Words 4 Weapons which has 30 knife surrender bins across London.

The operation codenamed Operation Sceptre is the fifth week-long blitz on knives launched by the Met in the last 12 months.

Police say the intensive action is succeeding with the latest figures showing there were 37 fewer victims of knife crime in the last 12 months.

Officers say they have made 16,000 arrests, seized 771 firearms and taken 3,377 knives off the street.

Detectives from the Trident gangs unit have also been delivering presentations in schools with the aim of deterring them from joining gangs.

Last week Mayor Sadiq Khan attended the funeral of 20-year-old Lewis Elwin, a trainee electrician, who was stabbed to death near his home in Tooting in April.

Ahead of the church service, family and friends of Mr Elwin marched against knife and gang crime.

The first Sceptre operation was launched in July last year at a time when knife crime was rising by 20 per cent year on year.
A mother has gone on trial accused of leaving her baby daughter to be swept away by the tide on a beach in France.

Fabienne Kabou, 39, allegedly abandoned her only child, 15-month-old Adelaide, as the tide came in on a beach in Berck-sur-Mer in November 2013.

She checked into a hotel with her daughter and asked about the tides before CCTV footage captured them walking along a street towards the beach, French media reported.

Kabou, who is said to be extremely intelligent but of irrational beliefs, reportedly breastfed the child on the beach that night and left her behind.

The girls body was found by a prawn fisherman the next morning.

Kabou told police she chose the town on Frances Channel coast because even the name sounded sad. Berck sounds like yuck in French.

Fabienne Kabou speaking during the first day of her trial in Saint Omer / Benoit Peyrucq/AFP/Getty Images

She is said to have described leaving her daughter on the beach after breastfeeding her.

Kabou said: I saw the spray and I must have left Ada at five metres, perhaps two. In any case, she would have drowned straight away. I dont know how fast the tide came in but it was very close. I put her down, I spoke to her, I told her I was sorry.

She was fine, I think. She didnt feel in danger, I was next to her, on my knees. I gave her a long hug. She wasnt exactly asleep but she was calm.

I dont know how long I stayed there, saying I was sorry, talking to her. Then I turned on my heels and I ran.

The headstone placed on the grave of Adelaide in Bolougne-sur-Mer, northern France / Philippe Huguen/AFP/Getty Images

Kabou, who was born in Dakar, Senegal and raised in a wealthy Catholic family, took a train to Paris the next day.

According to local press, she gave birth to the child in 2012 at the art studio she shared with the childs father, Michael Lafon, an artist 30 years older than her, but they did not register the birth with the authorities.

She told detectives she heard voices and that evil forces drove her to kill her daughter. The trial in Saint-Omer is expected to last a week.
T wo people were found stabbed to death in a Fulham flat in the early hours of this morning in a suspected murder-suicide.

Police were called at about 4.25am after officers received reports that a stabbing had taken place in Fulham Court, SW6.

Police and the London Ambulance Service attended and found a man and a woman, who were in their 50s, inside the property.

Both had suffered stab injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers have said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Post-mortem examinations on the bodies will be take place in due course, and next of kin of the man and woman have been informed.

The pair have not yet been formally identified.

The investigation is being led by Detective Chief Inspector Mark Lawson of the Homicide and Major Crime Command.

A Met Police spokesperson said: "Enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances of the incident, however at this early stage in the investigation detectives are not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident."

Officers are asking anyone with information to call the incident room 020 8358 0200, or CrimeStoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
T he alleged killer of Labour MP Jo Cox was remanded in custody this afternoon after appearing for the first time at the Old Bailey.

Thomas Mair, 52, is accused of stabbing the MP for Batley and Spen as she went to meet constituents at a regular surgery meeting, before shooting her three times.

The 41-year-old mother-of-two, who was only elected as an MP in May last year, died in hospital just over an hour after an attack, in Birstall, West Yorkshire last Thursday.

Mair, from the Field Head Estate in Birstall, gave his name as "Death to traitors, freedom for Britain" when he first appeared at Westminster magistrates' court on Saturday morning.

Flanked by two guards on the video link from HMP Belmarsh this afternoon, Mair, wearing a white jumper and beige trousers, sat with his arms folded throughout the brief hearing.

When the clerk asked: "Are you Thomas Mair?", he replied: "Yes I am."

A life cut tragically short: Jo Cox MP, who died after being attacked by a man in her constituency near Leeds / PA Wire

Court two at the Old Bailey was packed out with journalists for the brief court appearance.

Mair did not make an application for bail and was remanded in custody by Mr Justice Sweeney until the next hearing on Thursday.

The case is being dealt with under the terrorism protocol, and will be heard next by the senior terrorism judge Mr Justice Saunders.

The killing of Mrs Cox sent shockwaves throughout the UK and around the world, with President Barack Obama calling personally to offer condolences to Mrs Cox's husband Brendan.

At a vigil in Birstall's market square on Saturday, her sister Kim Leadbeater described the MP as "perfect", telling the crowd: "Jo would want us to focus on that which unites us not which divides us. She will live on through good people in the world."

Floral tributes in Birstall in memory of Jo Cox MP

She was slain in the street at 12.45pm, stabbed repeatedly and shot three times including once in the head.

A pensioner, 77-year-old Bernard Kenny came to her aid and was stabbed in the abdomen by the attacker. He remains in a stable condition in hospital.

In the wake of the attack, EU referendum campaigning was suspended and MPs are due back at Parliament today to pay tribute to Mrs Cox, who was due to celebrate her birthday on Wednesday.

Mair is accused of murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.

He has not entered pleas to any of the charges.
T he founder of a leading human rights organisation has called for "unity and solidarity between the Muslim and LGBT communities" ahead of Pride in London this weekend.

At this year's parade on June 25, the Peter Tatchell Foundation's theme will be LGBT-Muslim solidarity.

Peter Tatchell, director of the organisation, said: "In light of the horrific massacre of LGBT people in Orlando [we want] to encourage an understanding that although gay people and Muslims are different, we share a common experience of prejudice, discrimination, and hate crime, and on that basis we should unite together to challenge all hate.

"We also want to challenge homophobia in the Muslim community and defend LGBT Muslims against persecution by fellow Muslims."

In an interview with the Standard, Mr Tatchell also highlighted the impact the shooting in an Orlando gay club on June 12 will have on Pride in London.

"I think it will be on everybody's mind," he said. "That kind of thing could happen here, there are homegrown Islamist terrorists biding their time waiting to strike.

"I am hoping people will be very vigilant on the day, and in the coming months."

The Standard's full interview with Peter Tatchell is featured in the video above.

For more videos on this year's Pride in London, visit our YouTube channel.
A health campaigner who suffers from a chronic skin condition today told of her anger after allegedly being questioned before being allowed to board an easyJet flight.

Holly Dillon, 26, from Peckham, said she was returning from a short break in Faro last night when the check-in attendant raised health and safety concerns before letting her onto the Luton airport-bound flight.

Miss Dillon, who launched the #GetYourSkinOut online campaign to empower other sufferers of the non-infectious condition and challenge misconceptions, had gone to Portugal to enable the suns rays help to reduce her psoriasis.

The assistant film director told the Standard: Ive just been stopped in Portugal checking in to the easyJet flight from Faro back to London before boarding the plane. The boarding desk clerk just stopped and indirectly asked my friend, not me, whether I had a problem with my face or skin.

Wearing no make-up coming back from holiday - the one thing that helps my skin - I felt great, and my psoriasis has completely gone down, and he actually stopped me.

Skin complaint: Holly Dillon was quizzed before being allowed on a plane

I said: Excuse me, you should be asking me directly if you think there is something wrong. He said its a health and safety procedure. It was completely unacceptable, rude and unprofessional.

Ms Dillon, who has worked on films with Brad Pitt and Jon Bernthal, gathered almost 1,500 Instagram followers in a matter of months after launching #GetYourSkinOut.

She enlisted professional photographer Lewis Khan to take pictures as she underwent PUVA treatment at Chelsea and Westminster hospital, where she bathes in lotion before undergoing light therapy three times a week during flare-ups.

Holly Dillon suffers from skin complaint psoriasis

She said: I did that for two reasons: I wanted to show the effect the treatment was having on psoriasis, and to show psoriasis in a positive light. We got a series of photographs that show it as an art form, rather than images showing it as red and itchy, even though it is red and itchy.

Psoriasis affects about 1.8 million people in the UK, and most often develops in adults under 35. It can massively affect quality of life and has been linked to 300 suicides a year. Sufferers are at increased risk of diabetes, stroke, heart disease and arthritis.

Psoriasis is caused when skin cells regenerate too quickly, probably due to a problem with the immune system. Celebrity sufferers include Cara Delevingne and Kim Kardashian.

Ms Dillon had her first flare-up at 14 and was diagnosed with guttate psoriasis, which causes small sores to develop all over her body, four years later.

Skin complaint: Holly Dillon

Her latest flare-up was sparked by a bout of tonsilitis. The condition can make holding down a job difficult due to the debilitating nature of the attacks and the time-off required for treatment.

In the last 18 months I have had treatment for six months of that, she said.

Her campaign has sparked a flood of responses from others with psoriasis. The thing with psoriasis is because it doesnt have a death sentence at the end, its disregarded by the public, she said. But it is chronic. It has a huge impact on peoples lives, on their wellbeing and happiness.

There are plenty of clinical articles online but I wanted to speak to someone who wasnt a healthcare professional, to rant, cry and laugh. Its about giving a platform and a voice to everyone with psoriasis. Get Your Skin Out isnt just about psoriasis, its about being proud of who you are and about body image as a whole.

Dr Anthony Bewley, consultant dermatologist at Whipps Cross Hospital and The Royal London Hospital, said: The Get Your Skin Out campaign is brilliant.

All too often people feel ashamed and disempowered when living with skin disease, but Hollys message is: get in control of your skin, get advice about how to get it better, get your skin out and shine. Its a great message and long overdue.

An easyJet spokesman said: easyJet is sorry to hear of Ms Dillons experience whilst boarding flight EZY2020 from Faro to Luton on Sunday 19 June 2016.

As soon as we were made aware this morning, we started an investigation. All of our staff are carefully selected and undergo training to maintain our high level of customer care which may not have been upheld in this occasion. We will be addressing this with the ground staff member involved as we always have high standards to maintain. Our customer team are contacting Ms Dillon to discuss this with her directly.
A uthorities have launched a crackdown at a kerb-crawling hotspot in west London by installing new cameras to identify those looking to buy sex.

Hounslow Council and police have set up four CCTV cameras around Hayes Road in Southall, a known area for sex workers, to target men who pay for sex either on the streets or in brothels.

The move comes following two police operations in the past year.

Operation KerbSafe and Operation Pathway were set up to reduce prostitution by targeting those who buy sex and exploit women.

Police have investigated 57 addresses following reports they were being used for prostitution while 63 kerb-crawlers have been issued with warnings after they were tracked using number plate recognition.

Out of the 57 addresses, 53 have stopped operating due to police intervention while two have received three-month closure orders.

Seven people have been arrested, one for trafficking, four for running a brothel and two for kerb crawling.

Councillor Sue Sampson, Cabinet Member for Public Protection, Hounslow Council, said: Approaching someone in a public place and asking for sex is illegal.

The work that has been done so far is helping these vulnerable women exit prostitution. We want to build on that by targeting the demand.

Our message is clear. Think twice if youre thinking of buying sex in Hounslow. We are watching you and there will be consequences.
A man who was arrested after setting up a deckchair in the middle of Brick Lane to sunbathe in Speedos has had charges against him dropped.

Gerald Muir, 51, was arrested by police on June 5 after members of the public allegedly complained about his behaviour.

Mr Muir, of Boundary Street, Tower Hamlets, was captured on video sitting in a blue deckchair in the middle of Brick Lane market wearing nothing but speedos when he was approached by police.

After several minutes, Mr Muir was told he was being arrested on suspicion of outraging public decency.

Sunbathing: Gerald Muir, 51, set up a deckchair in Brick Lane earlier this month / YouTube

He was later charged with being drunk and disorderly and was due to appear at Thames Magistrates' Court today - June 20.

But at the hearing this morning, Ms Kirsten Marenah, for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), told the court the case had been withdrawn.

Arrested: Gerald Muir was led away by police and put into handcuffs / YouTube

A CPS spokesman told the Standard: "Gerald Muir was charged by the police with being drunk and disorderly in a public place.

"The case was reviewed by the CPS prior to the first hearing and we concluded that there is insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction.

"The case has now been discontinued."

During a short hearing on Monday, chairman of the bench Ms Elizabeth Cuffy formally withdrew the charge against Mr Muir.

He will now face no court action for the incident early this month.
H undreds of people are campaigning to save a grey squirrel which has taken up home with them in south east London.

Pest controllers were called to have the animal 'removed' after it began nibbling nuts at desks at the Royal Arsenal development in Woolwich.

A petition to save Cyril the squirrel has now been signed by nearly 500 people.

Pest controllers were apparently called in after it emerged that some people wanted the critter removed because he was allegedly hiding nuts in peoples pot plants.

Pest control have been called to deal with Cyril / Anthony Coyne

Residents at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich believe Cyril arrived after being trapped in a Tesco delivery truck. They say he has gone on to form part of the community.

Graphic designer Anthony Coyne, 44, who signed the petition, wrote that Cyril is often in his studio snacking on hazelnuts.

Cyril regularly visits the Thinkerdoer studio / Anthony Coyne

He wrote: It appears some scoundrels in the apartments above have complained hes been hiding nuts in their pot plants and want him killed.

Their complaints aired to the Concierge, passed to the estate management at Rendall & Rittner who have organised an assassination  an assassination ultimately paid for by us residents!

His haters and killers must be stopped, by force if necessary.

Cyril loves snacking on hazelnuts / Anthony Coyne

So far, the petition has been signed by 462 people and the bid to save the furry rodent was even trending last night.

Petition creator Dena Gibbons wrote: He doesn't harm anyone and is in no way a pest. In fact, he brightens a lot of people's days. So much so, he has been given the name Cyril.

Cyril is very much part of the community and to lose him would be a great shame.
V olunteers who run Londons only museum devoted to the history of refugees and migration have launched a now or never 4 million campaign to restore the 18th-century building and open it full time to the public.

Built in 1729 by French Huguenots, the Grade II listed property in Princelet Street, off Brick Lane, has housed waves of incomers from Jews to Irish to Jamaicans and Bengalis.

Established as a museum in 1983, and staffed by unpaid volunteers, the four-storey building receives 130 school groups a year as well as international visitors and US university students.

However, as it lacks any public funding and relies entirely on donations, the Museum of Immigration and Diversity is only open to the general public about six days a year.

It will be open this Sunday as part of Refugee Week and chair Susie Symes told the Standard how the property is in urgent need of restoration.

After years of struggling to raise funds, she is optimistic the new Mayor and the Heritage Lottery Fund can be persuaded at least partly to fund the amount needed.

No 19 Princelet Street was originally the home of the Ogier family. As Huguenots moved on, the Georgian houses were sub-divided into lodgings and workshops. The attic windows were altered to let in more light for weavers to work, but later occupants of the house followed other trades and professions, including Mrs Mary Ellen Hawkins who used it as an industrial school, and Isaiah Woodcock who was a carver and gilder.

Ms Symes hopes the museum, now surrounded by multi-million pound houses in gentrified Spitalfields, can tell the lived history of migration.

She said: "With the humanitarian crisis now, and the public discussion on migration, it is more vital than ever to preserve this truly exceptional historic site, as a holder of many migrant histories, from Huguenot to Bangladeshi, and beyond, and containing the oldest purpose built synagogue in East London.

For more information see 19princeletstreet.org.uk
N eighbours in Lewisham are taking creative action to win each other over in the EU referendum battle.

After two posters went up in the first floor window of the property in Algernon Road, a next-door-neighbour decided to counter the message.

The Remain supporter drew a handwritten sign with the words "please don't" and an arrow pointing towards next door's Leave poster, and stuck it up in their window.

It is not the first time London neighbours have engaged in EU referendum poster warfare - in Gospel Oak a man took on his neighbour's Brexit poster with a pro-EU message of his own.

Voters across the country will go vote on Thursday to decide whether Britain should remain a member of the EU, and polls are currently neck-and-neck.
T ributes have flooded in for the co-founder of the Notting Hill Carnival after his death at the weekend.

Sam King died on Saturday aged 90, his family said.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was among those to pay tribute, describing Mr King as a "legend" who had changed London "for the better".

The Jamaican immigrant launched the Caribbean street festival which grew into the Notting Hill Carnival - Europe's biggest street party - in 1964.

He had sailed to Britain on the Empire Windrush and became the first black mayor of Southwark in 1983.

Mr Corbyn said: "He was man who arrived on the Windrush and started working like many Jamaicans did in the area and then decided something had to be done good for the community in terms of carnival.

"What a legend, what a loss.

"He educated Londoners with Caribbean food, Caribbean culture, Caribbean music.

"London is a better place, Britain is a better place thanks to him and his family."

Southwark councillor Michael Situ posted on Twitter that the Second World War veteran was "principled, inspiring and always willing to serve".

Diane Abbott, Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, told the BBC: "Someone like myself who was fortunate to become an MP stands on the shoulders of people like Sam King."

Harriet Harman, Labour MP for Camberwell and Peckham, tweeted: "RIP Sam King MBE. Wonderful man. Today Southwark mourns - but Southwark is proud."
T he winner of the most prestigious prize in childrens literature has urged readers to stand up for libraries.

Sarah Crossan, who won the Carnegie Medal for One, her novel about a pair of conjoined twins, said library closures infuriated her. She said she had been impressed to be granted a library card after moving back to the UK from the US three years ago despite having no evidence she was legally here.

Crossan, pictured, said: What does this say about our society? It says even those who are invisible in the system are welcome to learning, information and the arts  that they are entitled to social mobility and they matter.

"When we close libraries we are saying that those people that use them and need them dont matter. And its up to us to stand up and say, no.

Her win was announced today at the British Library with that of Childrens Laureate Chris Riddell, who picked up the Kate Greenaway award for illustrating Neil Gaimans The Sleeper And The Spindle.

The winners each received 500 worth of books to donate to their local library and a 5,000 cash prize.
L ondoners will be able to glimpse a so-called strawberry moon tonight as it coincides with the summer solstice for the first time in nearly half a century.

Astronomers say the two events happening at the same time is a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, which last took place 49 years ago in 1967.

The moon was given its name by Native Americans because it marks the beginning of strawberry picking season.

Despite the moniker, it will not appear strawberry-coloured. The name simply refers to any full moon taking place in June.

However, the fact that it coincides with the longest day of the year has provoked excitement among stargazers.

Astronomer Bob Mernan, of Farmers Almanac, told the Daily Telegraph: Having a full moon land smack on the solstice is a truly rare event.

He said the moon is likely to have a particularly warm glow.

The Sun gets super high so this Moon must be super-low, he said.

This forces its light through thicker air, which also tends to be humid this time of year, and the combination typically makes it amber coloured.

The Met Office has predicted some clear spells breaking through patches of mist and fog in London tonight, which should offer opportunities to spot the special moon.

Simon Partridge, forecaster at the Met Office, said: "It will brighten up through this afternoon and this evening, which should give us a few clear spells which should give a chance to do some moon-gazing."

Meanwhile, around 25,000 people are expected to descend on Stonehenge to celebrate the solstice.
A senior Conservative accused Brexit campaigners of spreading hate and xenophobia as she defected from Leave to Remain days before the EU referendum.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, a former Foreign Office minister, said the final straw was a Ukip poster showing migrants queuing up to get into Europe under the slogan "Breaking Point".

Lady Warsi told The Times: "That 'breaking point' poster really was - for me - the breaking point to say, 'I can't go on supporting this'.

"Are we prepared to tell lies, to spread hate and xenophobia just to win a campaign? For me that's a step too far."

'A step too far': the poster unveiled by Nigel Farage / Philip Toscano/PA Wire

Lady Warsi resigned from the Government in 2014, saying she could not support its position on the conflict in Gaza.

EU referendum: All you need to know

The 'breaking point' poster sparked outcry across the political spectrum when it was unveiled on Thursday, with Justice Secretary and leading Leave campaigner Michael Gove saying yesterday that he shuddered when he saw it.

Lady Warsi said support for Leave among the far-right had made her reconsider the nature of Britain outside the EU.

She said: "I look at that group of people and I think theyre not the kind of people Id get on a night bus with. Why would I want them to run my country? I dont want the Leave camp to be running this country and I dont want the messages coming out of that camp to form the basis of the kind of Britain that I want to live in and to bring my kids up in.

TODO: define component type apester

A Vote Leave spokesman told The Times: "We dont remember Warsi ever joining our campaign, so we are puzzled by her claims to have defected.
U K citizens are set to head to the polls in just days to decide on Britains future membership of the European Union.

The Vote Leave and Remain camps have kicked off the frantic final few days of campaigning before the historic EU referendum on Thursday.

And with polls largely neck and neck, voters up and down the country will be waiting with baited breath for the results to be announced.

As June 23 fast approaches, here we explain what you need to know about casting your vote and what happens once the polls have closed.

What will the referendum question be?

Voters will be asked the question: Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?

You must put a cross in the box next to your choice of either:

Remain a member of the European Union

Leave the European Union

What you need to know about Britain's EU referendum

When is it?

June 23

Who can vote?

Anyone over the age of 18 who is a British citizen resident in the UK.

UK nationals who have lived abroad for less than 15 years will also be able to vote

How to vote

Polling stations will open across the country from 7am to 10pm.

The deadline for registering to vote passed on June 7.

By now, if youre registered to vote you will have received a poll card which identifies where your poll station is located.

Postal voters should have received ballot papers about a week before polling day and must make sure they are returned to their council by 10pm on June 23.

When will the results be announced?

Once all the votes are cast across the country, ballot papers will be taken to local counts.

Results will be declared as soon as they are known by the 382 local counting officers. There are 380 council regions in Britain, plus one for Northern Ireland and one for Gibraltar.

Regional and national running totals will be available.

Sunderland hopes to be the first to declare its result as it always does with local and general elections. Wandsworth in south London is also boasting it will declare its result early.

The bulk of the results will come in during a frantic two hour period on Friday morning, between 3am and 5am.

By breakfast time, the overall result should be known and will be officially declared at Manchester Town Hall.

TODO: define component type apester

What happens if voters back Brexit?

If Britain votes to leave the EU, it will not happen immediately.

It is difficult to predict exactly what will happen if the UK votes to leave the EU, as no country has ever done it before.

The UK is the first member state to ever hold a national referendum on withdrawal from the European Union.

In the event of a Brexit vote, Britain would begin lengthy talks to renegotiate EU agreements and build new trade links with Europe and the rest of the world.

David Cameron will almost certainly make a statement on the Friday morning, after the result becomes clear.

Tory Vote Leave campaigners are expected to call for him to step down, as commentators have said losing the referendum would make his position untenable.

All eyes will also be on the financial market and the City of London when trading begins at 8am.

What happens if Britain votes to Remain?

The immediate status quo is expected to remain broadly the same in the event of a vote to remain in the EU.

But Britains relationship with the EU is set to change in some important ways over the next decade, after David Cameron secured a deal during a key summit in Brussels in February this year.

His renegotiation secured guarantees that Britain would have "special status" within the EU, taking full part in the single market but not part of the eurozone or its bailouts.

The deal also includes the option of an "emergency brake" on the payment of in-work benefits to EU immigrants who come to the UK.

The "brake" can be applied by EU member states if payments were causing a strain on public services or the employment market.

The renegotiation also confirmed the right of member states to exclude people believed to pose a security risk - even if they have no previous convictions.

Britain will also be exempt from the drive towards ever closer union between European countries.
J o Coxs tiny children sat in the public gallery today as MPs came together in tears and sadness to remember their murdered mother.

One white rose and one scarlet bloom were placed on the empty green bench where she usually sat in the historic chamber.

Her husband Brendan listened watched from the gallery with the couples two three-year-old daughter Lejla, who played with a drawing board on her dads knee, and son Cuillin, five, who snuggled up to his grandmother.

Labour MP Rachel Reeves wept as she ended her personal tribute by saying: Batley and Spen will elect another MP, but no-one will replace a mother.

John Bercow pays tribute to Labour MP Jo Cox

Also seated in the gallery overlooking the chamber of the Commons were Mrs Coxs parents Jean and Gordon, sister Kim and other family members.

A white and a red rose in Jo Cox's empty chair in the Commons / PA

The House was packed for the special recall, with every MP wearing a white rose representing Mrs Coxs beloved Yorkshire. For once there was no heckling or cat-calling.

Speaker John Bercow led the tributes to a women he hailed as caring, eloquent, principled and wise.

Jo Cox outside her houseboat on the Thames / Twitter/@MrBrendanCox

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: We have lost one of our own, and our society has lost one of its best.

David Cameron said: Jo was a humanitarian to her core - a passionate and brilliant campaigner whose grit and determination to fight for justice saw her time and time again driving issues up the agenda and making people listen and above all act.

David Cameron pays tribute to Jo Cox in the Commons / PA

Mr Cox revealed on Sunday that he and the children had camped out the previous night in memory of Jo, who loved camping trips with them.

Also in the Commons gallery watching the tributes were Mr Coxs parents Sheila and Gordon, as well as Brendans sister, her husband and their three children.

Supporting the family was Jos close friend from university, TV producer Sarah Hamilton - who was best woman at the couples wedding - and close friend Will Paxton, who was Brendans best man.

Mr Bercow said the House was meeting in heartbreaking sadness and heartfelt solidarity to honour their colleague. The killing of the Labour MP in this manner, of this person, our democratically elected colleague was particularly shocking and repugnant, he said.

An attack like this strikes not only at an individual but at our freedom, said the Speaker.

Jeremy Corbyn pays tribute to Jo Cox / PA

That is why we assemble here - both to honour Jo and to redouble our dedication to democracy.

In total silence, with MPs wiping away tears, Mr Corbyn spoke next and said: Last Thursday, Jo Cox was doing what all of us do - representing and serving the people who elected her.

We have lost one of our own and our society has lost one of our very best.

Tributes were paid to Jo Cox in Parliament today / Rex

She spent her life serving and campaigning for other people - whether as a worker for Oxfam or for the anti-slavery charity the Freedom Fund, as a political activist and as a feminist.

The horrific act that took her from us was an attack on democracy, and our whole country has been shocked and saddened by it.

But in the days since, the country has also learnt something of the extraordinary humanity and compassion which drove her political activism and beliefs.

He told the House Mrs Cox believed in loving her neighbours neighbour and thought that every life counted equally.

He said: We are filled with sorrow for her husband Brendan and young children.

They will never see her again but they can be so proud of everything she was, all she achieved and all she stood for as we are, as are her parents, as is her sister and her whole wider family.

The Labour leader also paid tribute to the heroes who tried to save Mrs Cox before urging MPs to change the way politics is conducted in the UK.

Memorial: Floral tributes continue to be laid in Birstall, the village where Jo Cox was killed / PA

He said: We need a kinder and gentler politics. This is not a factional party political point.

We all have a responsibility in this House and beyond not to whip up hatred or sow division.

Mr Cameron spoke of the sadness the country felt at the killing of the loving, determined, passionate and progressive politician.

Today we grieve her loss, and we hold in our hearts and prayers her husband Brendan, her parents and sister, and her two children who are just three and five years-old, he said.

We express our anger at the sickening and despicable attack that killed her as she did her job serving her constituents on the streets of Birstall.

Let me join the leader of the Opposition in his moving words in praising Bernard Kenny and all those who tried to save her.

But above all in this House we pay tribute to a loving, determined, passionate and progressive politician, who epitomised the best of humanity and who proved so often the power of politics to make our world a better place.

Mr Cameron noted: Quite simply, there are people on our planet today who are only here and alive because of Jo.

Jo was a committed democrat and a passionate feminist. She spent years encouraging and supporting women around the world to stand for office long before she did so herself.

When she herself was elected as an MP just over a year ago she said to one of her colleagues that she did not just want to be known for flying around the world tackling international issues but that she had a profound duty to stand up for the people of Batley and Spen.

And she was absolutely as good as her word.

As she said in her maiden speech, Jo was proud to be made in Yorkshire and to serve the area in which she had grown up.

She belonged there and in a constituency of truly multi-ethnic, multi-faith communities, she made people feel they belonged too.

Jos politics were inspired by love and the outpouring and unity of tributes weve seen in the past few days show the extraordinary reach and impact of her message.

Mr Cameron quoted Mrs Cox in saying we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us.

In a unique gesture of cross-party solidarity, Mr Cameron gave up his right to speak first in the tributes given by the party leaders, electing to allow Mr Corbyn to move the official motion on the recall.

Jo Cox at the House of Commons tug-of-war last year / PA

Afterwards, MPs and Peers were due to walk together in a procession to St Margarets Church, opposite Parliament, for a memorial service and laying flowers.

A suggestion that MPs from all parties should mingle together across both sides of the Commons was not taken up by Labour MPs who decided beforehand that they would sit together for comfort and support during the hour-long sitting. I understand the gesture of politicians all sitting together, said Jess Phillips on Twitter. I dont oppose it, but I know I will want to sit with my friends for support.

The white and red roses on her empty seat was being arranged by fellow members of the 2015 intake elected last year.

Parliament was in recess to allow MPs to focus on the final days of the European Union referendum battle.

The killing of the 41-year-old mother-of-two outside the public library in Birstall in her West Yorkshire constituency has prompted an out-pouring of public grief.

Before the tributes, a security briefing was being offered to MPs and their staff on ways to keep safe when meeting members of the public.
F ormer Conservative chair Baroness Sayeeda Warsi today shared the "vile" Islamophobic abuse sent to her on Twitter after she quit the Brexit campaign .

The former minister announced that she was no longer supporting the campaign to Leave the EU, accusing it of fuelling "hate and xenophobia"

After announcing her decision, Lady Warsi was bombarded with abuse over social media.

Sharing some of the hateful messages, Lady Warsi wrote: The vile reaction of people unhappy with my decision to leave #leave .Politics of hate must stop".

One user, named Bystander wrote: Dividing the Muslim grooming gangs, wife beaters and FGM abusers from the rest of liberal democracy seems right.

Another, 'SiyaKhula', wrote: Sayeeda Warsi has been one of the most prolific jihadist Trojan horses so every word from her was Taqiyya from getgo (sic).

Baroness Warsi earlier cited a poster unveiled last week which shows migrants and refugees alongside the caption Breaking point as the main reason for her leaving the campaign.

Warsi said the poster was perpetuating a set of lies about who those people are, where they were going, suggesting they were coming to the United Kingdom.

Nigel Farage was forced to deny the poster 'stirred hatred' / Philip Toscano/PA Wire

This kind of nudge-nudge, wink-wink xenophobic racist campaign may be politically savvy or useful in the short-term but it causes long-term damage to communities.

Nigel Farage has been forced defend himself over criticism of the poster showing refugees and migrants in Slovenia, denying that it is an attempt to stir hatred.

But the Vote Leave campaign has questioned if Lady Warsi was ever a supporter of the Brexit.

EU referendum: All you need to know

Daniel Hannan MEP tweeted: "When I invited Sayeeda Warsi to join the Leave campaign, she declined. Fair enough, obviously. But how is this a 'defection'?"
H undreds of Britain's largest spiders have been released into the wild in a bid to save them from dying out.

Fen Raft spiders, which are native to the UK, and the nation's largest spider, and are so big that they can eat fish.

The creatures have become extremely rare in the UK, and have been listed as endangered after their numbers dwindled due to human encroachment on their habitats.

The spiders live in fens and other wetlands in southern England and Wales, and can rest on or move across the surface of the water thanks to their hairy legs.

The spiders are brown or black in colour, with white or cream stripes, and females can reach up to 7cm across.

Conservation: zoo keepers released spiderlings into the wild

In 2011 zoo keepers at Chessington World of Adventures Resort decided to take action to conserve the vulnerable species, and began working on rearing and releasing of the Fen Rafts to increase their population in the wild.

Over a two year period, the south west London zoo worked with NE (Natural England), the BBC Wildlife Fund, and the Suffolk and Sussex Wildlife trusts.to release 400 spiderlings into new areas.

Numbers of wild spiders almost doubled during this time, and the programme was so successful that conservationists no longer have to rear the spiders to keep the population up.

The zoo has recently been awarded a Gold Award from BIAZA, the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, in recognition of its work to conserve Fen Rafts.

Wetlands: the spiders live in fens across southern England and Wales

Keith Russell, a Supervisor within the Zoo team at Chessington, said: The successful work on reintroducing the Fen Raft species is a great example of the good zoos can do in helping conserve endangered species in the wild.

"Here at Chessington we are very pleased to have received such high praise and recognition from BIAZA for the part we played in this project.
A n elderly passenger has died on board a flight from Dubai to the UK.

Police were called to Manchester Airport just before 8am this morning, after the traveller, believed to be a man, passed away on board the Emirates plane.

A medical team met flight EK 21 at the airport when it landed at about 7.30am this morning.

No other details about the passenger have been made public.

A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: Manchester Airport can confirm a passenger sadly passed away on an inbound flight this morning.

Anyone with specific enquiries should contact the airline directly.

An Emirates spokesperson said: Emirates can confirm that a passenger on board todays Emirates flight EK 21 from Dubai to Manchester passed away during the flight.

Emirates expresses its condolences to the family.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman confirmed that officers were called to Manchester Airport at 7.59am on Monday morning to reports that a man had died on a plane, adding that there were no suspicious circumstances.
A pure white rose was placed on an empty space in the House of Commons in memory of murdered MP Jo Cox today.

It was left on the green leather bench where the popular mother of two liked to sit, during todays emotional recall of Parliament.

Mrs Coxs husband Brendan and family members were expected to be watching in a packed chamber as Speaker John Bercow led tributes to an MP who left a huge impression in her short, tragically curtailed career.

White roses, symbolising Mrs Coxs beloved Yorkshire, were being worn in the buttonholes of fellow Labour MPs, who filed into Westminster in a sombre and tearful mood.

In a unique gesture of cross-party solidarity, David Cameron gave up his right to speak first in the tributes from party leaders, electing to allow Labours Jeremy Corbyn to move the official motion on the recall.

John Bercow pays tribute to Labour MP Jo Cox

Mr Corbyn said Mrs Cox, the MP for Batley and Spen, spent her life serving and fighting for other people.

Jo Cox outside her houseboat on the Thames / Twitter/@MrBrendanCox

He told MPs: The horrific act that took her from us was an attack on democracy, and our whole country has been shocked and saddened by it, but in the days since, the country has also learned something of the extraordinary humanity and compassion that drove her political activism.

Jo Cox didnt just believe in loving her neighbour, she believed in loving her neighbours neighbour. She saw a world of neighbours and she believed every life counted the same.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn pays tribute to his former colleague / PA

Jos integrity, commitment and talent was known by everyone in this House and by the community of Batley and Spen she represented here for the past year. Her community and the whole country has been united in grief and united in rejecting the well of hatred that killed her in what increasingly appears to have been an act of extreme political violence. We are filled with sorrow for her husband and young children. They will never see her again but they can be so proud of everything she was and all she achieved. As are we.

Prime Minister David Cameron during the emotional tribute / PA

Parliament has been in recess to allow MPs to focus on the EU referendum.

Afterwards, MPs and peers were due to walk together in a procession to St Margarets Church, opposite Parliament, for a memorial service.

Memorial: Floral tributes continue to be laid in Birstall, the village where Jo Cox was killed / PA

A suggestion that MPs from all parties should mingle across both sides of the Commons was not taken up by Labour MPs, who decided beforehand to sit together for comfort and support during the hour-long session.

I understand the gesture of politicians all sitting together, said Labours Jess Phillips on Twitter. I dont oppose it, but I know I will want to sit with my friends for support.

But Tory MP Jason McCartney, who represents Colne Valley next door to Mrs Coxs constituency, said he was seeking permission to cross the floor for one day.

Gordon and Jean Leadbeater (centre), the parents of Labour MP Jo Cox, and her sister Kim Leadbeater (right) join family members as they look at floral tributes in Birstall / Danny Lawson/PA Wire

The white rose on Mrs Coxs empty seat was being arranged by fellow members of the 2015 intake.

MPs hoping to speak were told to make brief, non-political remarks in tribute to Mrs Coxs life and work. A simultaneous special session was being held in the House of Lords.

The killing of Mrs Cox, 41, outside the public library in Birstall in her West Yorkshire seat, has prompted an outpouring of public grief. Outside Parliament, flowers and messages have been left in the square.

A man was today due at the Old Bailey in connection with Mrs Coxs death.

Thomas Mair, 52, of Birstall, West Yorkshire, has been charged with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.
A lifestyle blogger whose DJ boyfriend was badly beaten by hotel bouncers in Magaluf has claimed they were attacked for "walking too slowly".

Robbie Hofmann, from West Sussex, was with her DJ boyfriend Alex Henderson and a friend at the BH Mallorca Hotel when they were apparently assaulted by security staff on Friday.

It was claimed Ms Hofmann threw a plastic cup at bouncers as the rowdy trio refused to leave before staff became aggressive.

But Ms Hofmann has hit back at suggestions they were acting like yobs.

Attacked: Robbie Hofmann and Alex Henderson / Instagram

She wrote on Facebook that she only chucked the cup after they were assaulted for walking "too slowly" to the exit by a man bigger than the three of us combined.

She said: They've done a great job of painting us in a bad light saying we were refusing to leave and throwing cups ... Neglecting to mention that we were pushed and assaulted while walking to the exit by a man bigger than the three of us combined.... BEFORE we had resisted the attack or I threw my cup in the bush next to him (not at him) which was done out of my pure shock!!!

Shocking: The fight was caught on mobile phone footage / Facebook

We were only there to DJ and watch our friends headline a UKhardcore event ... We at no point behaved like disrespectful yobs which was how we were treated when apparently walking too slowly towards the exit.

Shocking mobile phone footage is said to show the couple and their friend being assaulted by staff at the four-star hotel in the Spanish party resort.

They appear to grapple with three large bouncers who pin them to the ground and rain down blows in the clip, filmed from a balcony above.

Mr Hendersons face looked badly bruised and swollen in photos posted on social media after the incident.

Ms Hofmann added: We never refused to leave or were rude or aggressive to them. Alex was trying to reason with them and tell them we were leaving and the guy was shouting at Alex telling him to speak to him in his own language then went for him it was ridiculous."

BH Mallorca said in a statement that the security staff would be banned from the hotel.

It said: "The management of BH are as troubled as everyone else by what is shown on the video yesterday.

"We do not condone the use of violence and we have been working with local authorities since last night to establish exactly what happened before and after what is shown on the film that lead up to this incident.

"We have asked the external company who provide our security to stop these guards from working here.

"The police have reports and we are providing all information they require."
A group of England fans were attacked by Lyon Ultras as they relaxed at a bar ahead of Englands Euro 2016 fixture against Slovakia.

Video footage captured from a nearby apartment shows a gang of people wearing hooded jackets throwing tables and bottles at England fans.

The gang attacking England fans, who are believed to be French, were all seen in black clothing before they fled from the scene of the attack.

The English fans were set upon in St Etienne shortly before 7.30pm on Sunday.

The attack has sparked further fears for the safety of fans at the tournament, which has been marred by scenes of violence.

Prefect Evance Richard, the regional governor responsible for St Etienne, said security arrangements at the stadium being used for evenings match were insufficient.

He said fireworks and flares were allowed into the stadium in Lyon on Friday.

He told Le Proges newspaper: It lacked 150 to 200 security staff  security guards and stewards  to carry out the job properly.

The supporters were allowed into the stadium 30 minutes late, one of the stadium gates was not opened throughout the evening and between 2,000 and 3,000 supporters did not make it inside the stadium before the start of the match.

Prefect Richards comments came as a group of 20 Russian fans were deported from France after being accused of hooliganism at Euro 2016.

The deportations from Nice airport follow mass fighting in the streets involving English, Russian and French fans in the run-up to last week's 1-1 draw between England and Russia.

The fans had been accused by Marseille prefect Stephane Bouillon of "participation in skirmishes linked to the England-Russia game".

The 20 were part of a larger group of Russians who were detained by French authorities on Tuesday following violent disorder around England's 1-1 draw with Russia last Saturday, when Russian hooligan groups were involved in attacks inside and outside the stadium.
A shark has died after it was reportedly dragged from the sea and onto a beach by tourists who gathered around the stricken animal to pose for photographs.

In a video recorded in the Dominican Republic and posted online, a group of men were seen running into the water before using ropes to pull the shark out onto the beach.

The film, which has since been removed from YouTube, showed the distressed shark thrashing on the beach as it became tangled in the ropes.

Men who appeared to be lifeguard, were then seen pulling a life ring over the animal's head and prodding it with a plank of wood.

Some of the people involved in the incident were reportedly lifeguards from the nearby Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana.

Stricken: The shark was dragged out of the sea using ropes / YouTube

In pictures posted on social media, a group of people can be seen stood around the shark grinning, with some holding its tail aloft.

Children and men in lifeguard uniforms are among those in the pictures.

A Hard Rock Hotel spokeswoman said "corrective measures" are being taken against the employees involved.

She added: That is absolutely against our standards of protecting animals as we protect our guests.

Earlier this year a group of beach-goers in Argentina faced heavy criticism after they pulled a baby dolphin out of the sea to pose for selfies.

A film of the incident was posted online, and shared hundreds of thousands of time, to widespread condemnation.
D oomed dogs sit forlornly in tiny cages as they are sold for meat ahead of an internationally condemned food festival in these shocking pictures from a Chinese market.

Thousands are set to be slaughtered for the dog meat festival in the city of Yulin, in southern China's Guangxi province, which begins on Tuesday.

The dogs face a terrible fate with some reportedly skinned and boiled alive at the notorious festival, which is going ahead despite global outcry and the ongoing efforts of animal welfare campaigners to have it stopped.

Celebrities including Ricky Gervais and Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen are among the prominent figures to campaign against the event, with many branding it "barbaric".

Dogs sit in cages while on sale at the market / AP Photo/Andy Wong

Other images, which are too graphic to publish, show dog carcasses which have already been butchered for meat.

Restaurants are reportedly planning to kill as many as 10,000 dogs  many of them stolen pets  during the event.

The dogs are crammed into small cages and transported in terrible conditions before being slaughtered / AP Photo/Andy Wong

It takes place each year in Yulin during the summer solstice.

Animals Asia is one of the key charities campaigning against the festival.

Downton Abbey actor and animal welfare campaigner Peter Egan, an ambassador for the charity, said: These dogs are stolen and transported vast distances in appalling conditions the industry is one that is run entirely on the basis of cruelty and criminality.

The charity's chief executive Jill Robinson told the Daily Mail: "The festival is horrific, but the issue goes far beyond this event alone.

Another dog on sale at the market in Yulin / AP Photo/Andy Wong

"Ending the Yulin Dog Meat Festival is an significant first step to ending dog and cat meat eating across China."

Many of the animals are reportedly stolen because farming them is more exprensive and time-consuming.

Outcry: The festival is going ahead despite international condemnation / AP Photo/Andy Wong

The RSPCA said it is working with Chinese authorities in an effort to stop cruelty to dogs and other animals by creating new laws in the country.

Paul Littlefair, head of international at the RSPCA, said: Until China passes animal protection law, no animals are protected from the kind of cruelty that we see at festivals such as Yulin.

"The RSPCA is playing a leading role in addressing this."

While dog is eaten in parts of China and at the festival, it is not a common dish in the country as a whole.
T om Hiddleston has stripped off for a brand new shoot for W Magazine.

The rising British star, who has just appeared on US screens in The Night Manager, has ditched the clothes for an underwear shoot for the US publication's August issue.

Hiddleston made headlines last week after being spotted kissing pop star Taylor Swift just two weeks after her split from Calvin Harris.

Speaking to the magazine about his role in the John Le Carre BBC adaptation, which has made waves on both sides of the Atlantic, he said:

Stripped off: Tom Hiddleston loses the clothes for his latest shoot / Mona Kuhn for W magazine

Right now Id make a terrible spy, because everybody knows who I am.

Theyd be like, What are you doing here? But Susanne Bier, the director of The Night Manager, said that she thinks I am very enigmatic and good at keeping secrets.

Man of the moment: Tom Hiddleston poses for W Magazine / Mona Kuhn for W magazine

Hiddleston, who is thought to be in the running to play James Bond, also spoke about his famous nude scene being cut out of the American version of the show.

I was surprised to hear that they cut my butt out, he said.

Watch Tom Hiddleston talk about that dance with Taylor Swift at the Met Gala

Im here to tell you that my butt is not dangerous. And there are many, many more dangerous things that people are happy to broadcast.

I dont know what that says about the world we live in, but it probably says something.

Hiddleston surprised fans after he was caught on camera kissing 26-year-old Swift near her Rhode Island home last week.

The pair are thought to have met ahead of the Met Gala in New York in May and were filmed having a dance-off during the annual event.


T heres only one episode left of the current series of Game of Thrones  and it looks like HBO knows how upset you are.

While you prepare to go into mourning for nine Thrones-free months, the premier cable service are finishing up your next TV obsession  a dark, slick take on Westworld.

Yes, Michael Crichtons classic Yul Brynner-starring sci-fi tale is being adapted for TV, and by the looks of the latest trailer its going to be excellent.

The futuristic story tells of a Wild West theme park populated by sophisticated androids, where paying customers can go and live out their Ye Olde Fantasies away from the rest of society. Which is all well and good, until the robots become self-aware and start murdering everyone. Think the Itchy and Scratchy Land episode of The Simpsons.

With JJ Abrams and Jonathan Nolan (brother of Christopher) at the helm, this should be a top new TV treat  heres what the latest trailer tells us.

1) The cast is hugely impressive

If you start counting them out, you nearly run out of fingers  Anthony Hopkins, Thandie Newton, James Marsden, Ed Harris, Ben Barnes, Jeffrey Wright the list goes on.

HBO certainly have the resources to pull an impressive cast together, and Westworld looks like it could be another triumph.

Best TV dramas 2016 1 /38 Best TV dramas 2016 The Missing The addictive and twisty second series of the BBC's crime anthology series BBC/New Pictures/Robert Viglasky Dark Angel Joanne Froggatt stared as Victorian mass murderer Mary Ann Cotton in this ITV drama ITV Close to the Enemy Stephen Poliakoff's post-war drama thriller BBC/Little Island Pictures Ordinary Lies The BBC anthology drama returns with more twisted tales BBC/Red Productions/Adrian Rogers The Night Of Riz Ahmed stars in HBO's critically acclaimed crime mini-series HBO Cold Feet The classic ITV comedy-drama returns - and it's just as good as it ever was ITV Victoria ITV have given Poldark some stiff competition with this period drama about a young Queen Victoria ITV Poldark The BBC's hit drama returns with more brooding, and less naked scything BBC/Robert Viglasky One of Us The BBC kept everyone guessing with this claustrophobic four-part whodunit Ripper Street The fan-favourite Victorian police drama returned for Series 4 BBC/Tiger Aspect 2016/Bernard Walsh The Secret Agent Toby Jones led the cast in the BBC's Joseph Conrad adaptation BBC/World Productions/Mark Mainz/Matt Burlem The Living and the Dead The BBC's gothic romance debuted in full on iPlayer BBC Preacher AMC's adaptation of Garth Ennis' cult comic book is available week-by-week on Amazon Prime Amazon / AMC Versailles A raunchy royal romp around the court of King Louis XIV, spicing up Wednesdays on BBC Two Canal +/ BBC Locked Up The Spanish prison drama came to the UK thanks to Channel 4's Walter Presents series Channel 4 / Global Series Peaky Blinders The Birmingham-set gangster thriller was more popular than ever in its third series BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd/Tiger Aspect/Robert Viglasky The A Word The BBC gave us a nuanced and emotional take on autism BBC/Fifty Fathoms Marcella Anna Friel stars in ITV's British take on the Scandi-noir thriller ITV Grantchester James Norton is back as the crime-solving vicar ITV / Lovely Day Stag The comedy-thriller from the team behind The Wrong Mans is both hilarious and chilling BBC/Des Willie/Hal Shinnie/Matt Burlem Vinyl Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger present a glossy drama about the Seventies music industry HBO American Crime Story: The People vs OJ Simpson Cuba Gooding Jr leads an all-star cast in a dramatic re-telling of the 'trial of century' BBC/Fox Happy Valley Sarah Lancashire returned as Sgt Catherine Cawood for a second series of the gritty crime thriller BBC/Red Productions/Ben Blackall The X Files Mulder and Scully return for a brand new set of mysteries War and Peace The BBC's epic adaptation of the Russian literary classic BBC/Mitch Jenkins Call the Midwife The BBC period drama moved into the Sixties for Series 5 BBC/Neal Street Productions/Sophie Mutevelian Dickensian Charles Dickens' most famous characters collide in this historical soap BBC Jericho ITV's British western set in the wilds of Yorkshire Silent Witness The hugely popular detective drama returns for a 19th series

2) The Western scenes look absolutely stunning

At its heart, Westworld is a sci-fi story  but inherent in the premise is a realistic simulation of the Wild West.

From huge orange canyons to Deadwood-esque settlement towns, and even a steam train  the Western elements here look spot-on, and are likely to differentiate the show from any other sci-fi saga.

HBO

3) Itll be kind of like Ex Machina, with more action

Decades after the original Westworld film and the likes of Blade Runner, the question of sentient machines was pushed back to the fore in Ex Machina.

While Alex Garlands cerebral sci-fi kept most of its most thrilling sequences in exchanges of words, HBOs take on Westworld looks like itll be more action-packed, while still posing those big what is consciousness? moral dilemmas.

HBO

4) It finally has a release in sight

Not that youd know it from this slick and confident teaser, but production on Westworld has been notably troubled.

In January the production was shut down for a few months in order to get it right, having already been pushed back from an initial 2015 premiere.

Everything seems to be back on track now, with the trailer confirming that the series will arrive in October. Hopefully that extra time will have made it even more impressive.
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In the January-May period of the current year, finished steel exports from China s Hebei Province amounted to 10.736 million mt, up 17 percent year on year, according to the customs authorities in Hebei. In particular, Hebei Provinces finished steel exports to One Belt, One Road area countries totaled to 7.646 million mt, rising by 35.2 percent year on year.
Monday, 20 June 2016 16:02:11 (GMT+3) | Istanbul

According to the figures released by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK), in May this year Turkish producers' foreign sales price index (PPI)* in general increased by 3.02 percent from April and was up 5.6 percent year on year, while an average rise of 10.15 percent was registered for the latest 12 months.

In May this year, the foreign sales prices of producers in the Turkish domestic basic metal industry grew by 3.28 percent on month-on-month basis and were up 3.67 percent compared to the same month last year. Meanwhile, the average increase in prices in the latest 12 months was 9.81 percent.

On the other hand, in May of the current year Turkish producers' foreign sales prices for domestic manufactured metal products, except machinery, increased by 1.35 percent compared to April and were up 4.85 percent year on year. Meanwhile, the average increase in prices in the latest 12 months was 13.23 percent.

*Foreign sales price index indicates changes in Turkish producers' prices for other countries.
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 and ex-Saudi Arabia seamless pipe offers to the UAE are still at $725-750/mt CFR, both remaining unchanged week on week, while Italian seamless pipe offers to the UAE are at $1,075-1,110/mt CFR. Meanwhile, ex-South Korea offers to the UAE for 2"-6" water and gas ERW pipes are at $605-610/mt CFR, remaining unchanged week on week
German President Joachim Gauck stated that, according to the positions already expressed by Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany "still firmly" desire that the Minsk Agreements be respected.

"Germany's position, as I understood from the Chancellor and the Foreign Minister, is that we still firmly desire that the Minsk Agreements be respected. This is why there is no reason for major concern. If we read the texts of the German Minister of Foreign Affairs you will understand that it is not about distancing ourselves from those stipulated in previously concluded agreements. The German party is, in its turn, the one that, together with its partners, fought for the existence and conclusion of these Minsk Agreements. When at first we didn't succeed, we picked up the effort and behold, we have managed to conclude this Agreement. It is about a conflict that seems hardly solved," said the German President on Monday in a joint press conference with his Romanian counterpart, when asked about the maintaining of economic sanctions imposed on Russia.

Gauck added that "we need to make small, but visible steps". "We must think what these steps are. They are not, however, steps that deny in any measure those stipulated in Minsk. We have somehow fallen in this ingrate situation of explaining the positions of the German Government, yet I have done nothing but present what I, in turn, read in the press. So, I can only explain this matter as I see it, without divulging a state secret. Think of what I was saying earlier. Germany isn't running away. Germany is on a path that would lead to participation in drawing up a solution. This is what is important to be known. We mustn't wish necessarily to keep some things that were stipulated in one way or another," said the German President.

The European Union should gradually eliminate sanctions imposed on Russia following the Ukrainian crisis if substantial progress is made in the peace process, said on Sunday the German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Reuters reports. He added that "an all-or-nothing approach, even though it sounds good, doesn't work".

Agerpres
President Klaus Iohannis has stated, on Monday, at the Cotroceni Palace, that for Romania the relationship with Germany is a privileged one and one of strategic importance. "For Romania, the relationship with Germany is a privileged one and one of strategic importance. It is based on a long history, both states being partners and allies within the European Union and within NATO. (...) The discussions with President Gauck have given opportunity to the reaffirming of the excellent state of Romanian-German bilateral relations from the perspective of political dialogue, economic and sectorial cooperation. (...) I have emphasized the importance that we grant to this cooperation and this relationship," said President iohannis in a press conference held jointly with his German counterpart Joachim Gauck.

The Romanian head of state added that he assured President Gauck of the fact that Romania "remains committed to the European project and grants particular importance to bilateral cooperation for the promotion of common interests at the level of the European Union." "The current challenges that we are facing necessitate the identification of a responsible and solidary response," added Iohannis.

The Romanian President underlined that for many years Germany has been Romania's top commercial partner and the third largest investor in our country, while the potential for development is still high. "I have shown in discussions that Romania's position at the top of member-states in what regards the level of economic growth and the constant consolidation of the level of trust of the investment milieu, in regards to opportunities offered by the Romanian market, are elements that make Romania a very attractive objective for German investors. Furthermore, in order to stimulate investments in Romania, I will participate together with Mr. President on Wednesday in an economic event with representatives of relevant German companies," Iohannis stated.

He showed that he has also approached the topic of a close Romanian-German collaboration for the promotion of the interests of persons belonging to the German minority in Romania, from a cultural and educational point of view. "I am glad to note the particular appreciation of the President, of Germany, regarding the Romanian interethnic and intercultural model. We have convened to consolidate our cooperation in some concrete projects that would aim, for example, to restore the fortified churches in Transylvania which represent the patrimony of the Saxons, but, at the same time, our joint European patrimony," said Iohannis.

The head of the Romanian state mentioned that he assured President Gauck of Romania's solidary position in regards to the efforts of managing the effects of the migratory crisis, but also the efforts to combat the underlying causes. "We are in favor of a joint European response, and the solidarity of our country is manifested concretely by the fact that Romania is the second-largest contributor to Frontex, after Germany," said Iohannis.

The Romanian President said that another topic approached related to the situation in the Republic of Moldova. "Maintaining its stability and its European path, on the basis of consistent reforms, is our priority and we believe this objective should be of the entire Union," said Iohannis. Klaus Iohannis also pointed out the fact that during official talks, a topic discussed was that of the NATO summit in Warsaw, which must convey a strong message of solidarity, unity and cohesion in the current international context. "I reiterated, in this context, the known position held by Romania regarding the balanced and proportional strengthening of NATO's eastern flank, including its southern dimension, given the security developments in the Black Sea area," Iohannis also stated.

Agerpres
Renovation of the Missouri Theatre building in Grand Center as a hotel and the new headquarters of Bull Moose Industries is scheduled to resume this week.

The name of the $55 million project, at 634 North Grand Boulevard, is to be made public at a ceremony Thursday, officials said Monday.

Lawrence Group and Caparo Group, the British parent of Bull Moose, share ownership of the currently empty 12-story building that once housed the St. Louis Health Department.

Bull Moose announced a year ago it will move its headquarters from Chesterfield to the Grand Center building.

Lawrence Group bought the building in 2013 and had planned to convert it into apartments until Bull Moose expressed interest in the project.

Bull Moose, founded in St. Louis in 1962, has been owned since 1989 by Caparo Group, a $1.5 billion metals and engineering company based in Britain. Swaraj Paul, an Indian-born entrepreneur who holds the aristocratic title Lord Paul of Marylebone, founded Caparo. Lawrence Group said Lord Paul plans to attend the event scheduled for Thursday.
WASHINGTON  The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a group of black South Africans seeking to revive human rights litigation aiming to hold Ford Motor Co. and IBM Corp. liable for allegedly conducting business that helped perpetuate racial apartheid.

The justices left in place a 2015 ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York that favored the two companies. That court decided that the plaintiffs failed to show that there was a close connection between decisions made or actions taken by Ford and IBM in the United States to killings, torture and other human rights abuses that took place in South Africa from the 1970s to early 1990s.

Ford was accused of providing military vehicles for South African security forces and sharing information about anti-apartheid and union activists. IBM was accused of providing technology and training to perpetuate racial separation and the "denationalization" of black South Africans.

Apartheid refers to South Africa's former white-minority government's policy of segregating and oppressing the majority black population from 1948 to 1994.

The plaintiffs, led by Lungisile Ntsebeza, sued more than a decade ago under the Alien Tort Statute, a 1789 U.S. law that lets non-U.S. citizens seek damages in American courts for human rights abuses abroad.

But the U.S. Supreme Court significantly narrowed the reach of that law in 2013, leading U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin in 2014 to dismiss the South African plaintiffs' case.

Germany's Daimler AG and Rheinmetall AG were dismissed as defendants in the case in 2013. Dozens of other companies were previously dismissed.

Apartheid ended in 1994 when South Africa held its first all-race elections, bringing Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress to power.

Additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel.
BERLIN  The U.S. could see the cost of new Boeing Co. F/A-18E/F Super Hornets rise unless the government approves foreign sales of the jets soon, U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said on Sunday.

Mabus, in Germany for a NATO exercise in the Baltic Sea, told Reuters he was frustrated by delays in approving the sale of the Boeing jets to a close U.S. ally, warning that this could affect the cost of jets the U.S. Navy still wants to buy.

U.S. Navy and other defense officials have said they support the sale of 28 Boeing F/A-18E/F jets to Kuwait for an estimated cost of $3 billion, but this has stalled for nearly a year pending final White House approval.

Mabus said the delays could have an impact on the Navy's budget plans, since the foreign order was needed to augment U.S. Navy purchases and keep the production line running efficiently.

The U.S. Congress is expected to approve funding for as many as 16 Boeing F/A-18 jets as part of the Navy's budget request for fiscal 2017, which begins Oct. 1, but that would give Boeing less than the two jets a month it says needs for economical production. The Kuwaiti order would have filled this gap.

"I'm frustrated. A lot of people are frustrated," Mabus said. "The process is too long, too onerous in terms of getting weapons systems to our friends and to our allies."

Mabus said Boeing could likely continue F/A-18 production for some time without the foreign sales, but dropping below optimal production rates could affect future pricing.

The Navy had requested funding for two F/A-18 jets in its fiscal 2017 budget request and 14 more as part of its "unfunded priorities list." It also said it expected to buy a larger number of Super Hornets in fiscal 2018 to bridge a gap in its fleet until the newer and more advanced Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 fighter jet enters service in coming years.

Mabus welcomed possible moves by Congress to add jets to the fiscal 2017 budget, but said those orders alone would not keep production at the Boeing facility running at optimal rates.

"The line wouldn't be operating as well as it should, and the price probably would go up for us because there aren't as many planes coming through," he said.

Boeing, which produces the Super Hornet in St. Louis, welcomed the secretary's remarks.

"Boeing appreciates the continuing engagement of Secretary Mabus, and agrees that a Kuwaiti order is an important element in continuing a production rate of two per month to keep prices optimal," Boeing spokeswoman Caroline Hutcheson said.

The company needs to maintain production to remain competitive in bidding for other F/A-18 orders from other countries as it is now spending "hundreds of millions of dollars" to buy long-lead materials such as titanium to prepare for new orders from the Navy and Kuwait.
Five drama series (one on broadcast TV) make debuts this busy week, while a long list of other shows return with new episodes. (That list follows.) Meanwhile, "Person of Interest" ends its run (9 p.m. Tuesday on CBS), promising closure for fans.

Here are seven new shows worth your attention:

"Greenleaf," 9 p.m. Tuesday and 9 p.m. Wednesday on OWN

The Greenleaf family runs a Memphis megachurch in a new drama series produced by Oprah Winfrey (who has a recurring role). Merle Dandridge stars as the newly returned daughter, with Keith David and Lynn Whitfield as her parents. After the two-night premiere, "Greenleaf" will air at 9 p.m. Wednesdays.

"American Gothic," 9 p.m. Wednesday on CBS

A prominent Boston family discovers that a late loved one might have been a a serial killer, and that one of them could have been his accomplice, in a 13-episode thriller.

"Queen of the South," 9 p.m. Thursday on USA

Alice Braga rises to become a Mexican drug cartel leader in an adaptation of the novel ""La Reina Del Sur" by Arturo Perez-Reverte.

"Thirteen," 9 p.m. Thursday on BBC America

A woman abducted at 13 escapes after being held in a basement for 13 years, but her re-entry leads to all sorts of complications.

"Celebrity Family Feud," "The $100,000 Pyramid" and "The Match Game," 7, 8 and 9 p.m. Sunday on ABC

Three classic game shows get revivals.

"BET Awards 2016," 7 p.m. Sunday on BET

Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson are hosts of the awards celebrating black artists, entertainers and athletes in more than 20 categories.

"Roadies," 9 p.m. Sunday on Showtime

Cameron Crowe writes, produces and directs a new series following the backstage concert crew. Luke Wilson and Carla Gugino star, with real bands performing.

This week's returns:

"The Fosters," Monday on Freeform; "Odd Mom Out" and "The Real Housewives of Orange County," Monday on Bravo; "Bizarre Foods," Tuesday on Travel; "The Haves and Have Nots," Tuesday on OWN; "Pretty Little Liars," Tuesday on Freeform; "Big Brother," Wednesday on CBS; "Ray Donovan," Sunday on Showtime; "Murder in the First," Sunday on TNT.
The Travel Channel's "Top Secret Swimming Holes," which says it's "on a mission to uncover the world's most secluded, sexy and extreme natural places to cool off," makes a stop in Missouri on Sunday.

Featured is a place many St. Louisans have visited more than once Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, where the Black River has created a natural water park.

Johnson's Shut-Ins got a major makeover after a flood before reopening in 2010.

Johnson's Shut-Ins, about 2 hours south of St. Louis in Reynolds County, is featured in the "Cliff Jumper's Paradise in Hawaii" episode of "Top Secret Swimming holes," which also includes spots in Utah, Texas and Oregon. The episode airs at 9 p.m. Central on Sunday.
ST. LOUIS  One of the grand jurors who considered charges over the death of Michael Brown may still get a chance to speak out about the case, after a federal appeals court on Monday reversed the dismissal of the jurors lawsuit.

The ruling has no immediate effect, as it requires the resolution of the issue in state court first.

U.S. District Judge Rod Sippel dismissed the lawsuit in May, saying that the juror should have sued in state court, where the grand jury oath is administered and where a judge retains jurisdiction to enforce that oath.

The juror, identified in court documents only as Grand Juror Doe, did that, but also asked Sippel to reconsider and stay the case while the state court suit was heard. He declined.

A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Court of Appeals on Monday said that Sippel should have put the case on hold while the state court considers the case. It did say that Sippel was correct to abstain when he did, (b)ecause the answer by the Missouri courts could alter or avoid altogether the need for a decision on Does First Amendment claim...

Doe and the other grand jurors had their term extended to examine whether charges should be filed against former Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson, who fatally shot Brown on Aug. 9, 2014.

When St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch announced the jurys decision not to indict Wilson, he also released some transcripts and evidence from the case. He did not release names of many witnesses or information about the deliberations or voting of the grand jurors.

Grand jurors are prohibited from discussing the cases they consider.

The original suit says McCulloch implied that the jury was unanimous, but Does suit said the juror wanted the freedom to challenge that claim. Doe also wanted to advocate for legislative change of the grand jury process and speak with relatives, the suit says.

Doe cited an unusual focus on Browns background and a muddled and untimely presentation of legal guidelines in court documents.
ST. LOUIS  A St. Louis police sergeant acted in self-defense when he shot and killed an armed robber in January at a fast-food restaurant on South Grand, according to Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce.

Joyce on Monday released her offices report on the Jan. 17 shooting of Crayton Big Wes West, 52, who was killed by a St. Louis police sergeant who confronted West inside the Kentucky Fried Chicken on Grand Boulevard near Gravois Avenue. West pointed a gun at the officer and refused to drop the weapon, police said at the time.

The officer did not have time for an alternative method of force or opportunity for de-escalation, Joyces report said, and evidence and witnesses corroborated the sergeants account of the shooting. She said she will not file charges in the case.

Police identified the officer Monday as Sgt. Michael Pratt, who has been on the force for more than 13 years.

Joyces findings are based on an investigation by the departments Force Investigative Unit and interviews with several witnesses. The report says Pratt would not be interviewed by prosecutors based on advice from his lawyer.

A robbery,

then a shooting

The report includes a surveillance video clip that shows a man identified as West robbing a KFC clerk at gunpoint and grabbing money from the cash register.

A customer in the drive-thru who saw the robbery called 911 and flagged down the police sergeant at a gas station across the street to report the holdup, Joyces report says. Pratt parked in the KFC lot, got out and saw West inside, near the door. Pratt told investigators he believed West saw his patrol car as he was trying to leave and retreated back inside the restaurant.

Joyces report says that during the confrontation between the officer and West, West told the officer the robber was in the back of the restaurant. Witnesses and workers, however, contradicted Wests claim and told the officer that West was the robber.

The sergeant drew his gun, yelled at West to show his hands and yelled, Dont do it! Dont do it! as he saw West pulling a gun from his waistband, according to the report. The sergeant fired twice, hitting West once in the chest and once in the back.

Police found a loaded .38-caliber revolver at the scene, according to the report. Police also found fingerprints that matched West from the restaurant countertop, cash taken from the register, and the floor.

A second video shows West try to leave the restaurant before a uniformed officer confronts him at the exit. The officer draws his weapon and appears to fire and West falls to the ground. A diner in the restaurant dives to the floor. Another officer arrives within seconds.

There were several customers and workers in the restaurant at the time of the 6 p.m. shooting, some of whom saw West with a gun. Some employees hid in a freezer during the robbery.

The sergeant was 42 at the time of the shooting. He was not hurt. He was not wearing a body camera at the time, though some sergeants had begun participating in a pilot body camera program.

Police Chief Sam Dotson responded to the report with a statement Monday, saying: We appreciate the communitys patience as these investigations are complex and require a great amount of time and resources to examine the facts in totality. We are thankful for the cooperation of witnesses as they provided the insight investigators and prosecutors needed to arrive at their conclusion.

History of robberies

{{tncms-asset app="editorial" id="9283f9e4-bdfc-11e5-a024-00163ec2aa77(/initial tncms-asset)West was on Missouris sex offender registry for a July 1980 robbery in which he sodomized a boy, 16. West was 18 at the time.

Court records and Post-Dispatch news stories from 1987 show that West was sentenced to 60 years in prison for a string of fast-food restaurant robberies in St. Louis.

He used a cap pistol to rob seven restaurants over a 10-day stretch in October 1986.

After he was caught, he told police he had robbed the restaurants to pay his utility bills and meet his car payments, according to a Post-Dispatch article. People had been threatened in some of the fast-food holdups, but no one was hurt.

Pratt had been monitoring a march in memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. before the shooting. The shooting drew some protesters from the memorial, where Black Lives Matter activists decried fatal police shootings. West was black. The police sergeant is white.
It wasnt long after Brianna Hollamon left for work early on the morning of June 12 that her apartment became a crime scene.

A tenant in the four-plex where she lives called police to report that a man who lived on the second floor was cooking methamphetamine in the garage.

When police arrived, the suspect had already retreated to his apartment. After the police knocked on his door, the man flashed a shotgun at them and refused to come outside. He had two hostages with him.

Police set up a perimeter about eight blocks around the crime scene. A SWAT team was called to try to coax the suspect out.

The standoff that played out over the next 12 hours captivated the south St. Louis neighborhood just east of Gravois Park.

It also stripped Hollamon and her 2-year-old son of all their possessions and left them homeless.

Similarly, Hollamons landlord went from having five tenants and a viable source of income, to owning a condemned building in need of several thousand dollars worth of repairs.

The aftermath of the standoff highlights a murky legal area where in some places law enforcement covers the cost of damages to innocent peoples property, while in others, landlords, homeowners and tenants are on their own.

Its also an example of how one persons criminal actions can reverberate throughout a community leaving many more victims than one would expect.

The details of how the standoff ended are still unclear, but at one point the suspect, later identified as John Herbert, slipped out of his own unit and broke into Hollamons apartment across the hall.

Thats where police say they found Herbert, 53, hiding immediately before his arrest. Neighbors say he was detained by force. A police mug shot shows Herbert with significant facial bruising when he was booked.

After the arrest, when police started letting people whod been on the outside of the perimeter back into their homes, an officer pulled Hollamon to the side.

The police told me they had to shoot tear gas in my apartment to get him out, Hollamon said. They told me everything inside is ruined, my furniture, my clothes, everything.

I cant even get clothes for my baby, she said.

The National Institutes of Health describes tear gas as a fast-acting aerosol designed to trigger a reaction from the bodys pain-sensing nerves. It irritates the lungs, eyes and nose. In some cases it can cause vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes death by asphyxiation.

Andrew Yurchuck, is board president of the American Bio Recovery Association, a community of companies that clean up crime scenes.

Damage from tear gas is like smoke damage from a fire. The only difference is you cant see it, he said. Its basically a crystalline powder that gets into your drywall, your clothing and your carpet. You have to replace your carpet and clean up your duct work or youre just going to keep getting sick over and over again.

The night of the standoff, a reporter overheard an officer tell Hollamon her apartment was almost a total loss.

For her, it meant standing on a street corner after midnight trying to find someone who would take her and her son in on short notice.

Everything I owned was in there, she said. I have nothing left.

Civil liabilities

Neither Hollamon nor her landlord, Robert Nelson, blame police for the disruption to their lives.

But their situation presents a dilemma. If an innocent persons property is damaged through police work, who should cover the costs? Is it the police, the city or the suspect?

Clayton attorney Albert Watkins said the police should pay.

In my opinion, the civil liability rests with the police, he said. But good luck going up to the cops and saying, Hey, pay me. Thats not going to work. Youre going to have to sue.

But Marcia McCormick, a St. Louis University law professor said thats an uphill battle.

Police have immunity unless you can show that a reasonable officer in that situation would have known this is not what they should be doing, she said.

If a renter, homeowner or landlord was intent on suing, they would have the best chance of success going after the criminal, McCormick said. But the criminal probably doesnt have many assets, and the renter may never recover his or her loss.

The idea that cities and police departments enjoy broad immunity in these situations is a legal concept employed by England and its monarchy, explains Peter Joy a Washington University law professor.

It can be traced back to the idea that the king can do no wrong, and that the king is not responsible for the actions of the people who work under him, Joy said. That concept was carried over to the U.S. In this case, the king is the government and the government has blanket immunity.

But Joy explains that some cities recognize the collateral damage and enormous hardships innocent people can suffer at the hands of the police.

Cleveland, for example, has a moral claims process through which people can make a claim to the city. A moral claims board investigates the incident and sometimes compensates the person making the claim.

The idea is that they are compensating people out of a moral obligation, if not a legal obligation, Joy said.

In an interview on Friday, Police Chief Sam Dotson said not all damage to the building was caused by police. For instance, the St. Louis Fire Department broke the buildings windows to ventilate it after the tear gas was deployed.

I am sorry for this woman being forced out of her home, Dotson said, adding that the city has a claims process run by the city counselors office that handles these types of issues.

Interim City Counselor Michael Garvin did not respond to multiple requests for comment last week.

'Nasty stuff'

Hollamon, who doesnt have renters insurance, is staying with a friend until she figures out her next steps.

Nelson, her landlord, is also feeling the effects of last weeks events. He has insurance, but is unlikely to be able to rent the place again for several months.

Nelson said a city inspector came by his property a few hours after the police raid.

The city condemned it, he said. They said meth had been made in there.

Methamphetamine manufactured or smoked in a home can lead to dangerous levels of intoxication, said Yurchuck, the crime scene cleanup expert.

For every one pound of meth made, about seven pounds of hazardous byproduct is left behind, he said. Its nasty stuff.

For Nelson, it means that the alleged actions of one of his tenants has displaced the remaining four.

Im not sleeping much right now, he said.

Both he and Hollamon know that getting compensation from Herbert, the man who instigated the standoff, is highly unlikely.

The circuit attorneys office has charged Herbert with eight crimes, including unlawful possession of a firearm, second-degree burglary and resisting arrest.

Hes been given a $150,000, cash-only bail.

Herbert has rented the buildings garage since 2010. Hes rented an apartment there for the past three years. Nelson said hes been a good tenant up until recently when he didnt pay his May rent and was late paying for June.

Despite that, Nelson said he didnt have a reason to suspect Hebert was committing crimes in the building.

Hes a repo man and an unbelievable hoarder, Nelson said. But I never saw any evidence of him being cock-eyed.
An independent political PAC that has riled the race for Missouri's Republican nomination for governor is denying a report suggesting it's tied to one of the four candidates.

Richard Monsees, treasurer of LG PAC, issued an unusual statement to reporters today denying a report by a Kansas City television station that his PAC may be affiliated with gubernatorial candidate Eric Greitens.

LG PAC is set up as federal 527 PAC, which makes it more difficult to determine who is funding the PAC. But such entities are under a different kind of restriction: They're not allowed to coordinate with any candidate.

A recent report by KMBC, the ABC affiliate in Kansas City, raised the question of whether the PAC was doing just that, based on video footage that shows Greitens and Monsees chatting during a political event.

Monsees, in an email to reporters, strongly denied the report, writing, The same footage could have been shot of me at an event talking to Catherine Hanaway, Peter Kinder or John Brunner, the other three candidates in the GOP primary race.

LG PAC is not supporting any candidate for Governor, Monsees wrote. As conservative Republicans, LG PAC's singular focus is helping to ensure that we elect a conservative that can win in November.

Brunner has been targeted by a television advertising blitz from the group, which has alleged he engaged in shady business and tax practices as a former CEO. Brunner has denied it, and complained about the anonymous nature of the attacks during a recent gubernatorial debate. He also made it the focus of his first statewide television commercial last week.

Nameless, faceless special-interest insiders are attacking John Brunner with flat-out lies, because he's the only candidate who can't be bought, says the narrator in the ad, as the screen shows a dark sinister series of images.

When LG PAC's attack ads first appeared, several Missouri news outlets, including the Post-Dispatch, were unable to reach any of the group's officials through the contact information on their campaign records. The funding sources for its roughly $1 million ad blitz remain a mystery because of the federal campaign rules under which it operates.

The winner of the Aug. 2 Republican primary will mostly likely face Democratic Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster in the Nov. 8 general election.
St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay has made clear his support for a north-south MetroLink expansion, saying its a top priority in his final year in office. But a recent push for money to plan such a route has met with strong resistance from St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger.

Stenger, in a letter to the Federal Transit Administration, said he will not endorse the north-south route until other proposed routes are studied.

The surprise move puts the countys top elected official in direct conflict with Slay and other city officials, who see the north-south route as key to redeveloping north St. Louis and other distressed urban areas.

Stengers letter, dated June 15 but widely circulated Monday, came in response to a $530,000 grant application submitted by Bi-State Development, which oversees Metro Transit. It seeks $375,000 in federal funds, $30,000 in cash from the St. Louis Development Corp. and the remainder in work from Bi-State and city staff.

Signatures on a letter in support of the grant include Slays, as well as those of John Nations, president and chief executive of Bi-State, and Joe Reagan, president and chief executive of the St. Louis Regional Chamber.

We understand that North-South MetroLink will be expensive  it may take a decade to plan, fund and construct. But, we are convinced that its benefits are directly proportional to its challenges and that we have a moral and economic imperative to make it a reality, their letter says.

Stengers letter was in sharp contrast. He said the county has not endorsed the north-south route as the regions next light-rail project, nor has the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, which is the regions planning arm and distributes federal dollars for such transportation projects.

Stenger didnt mince words Monday when asked whether he believed the county had been kept in the dark about the grant application and the efforts afoot to pursue such a route.

It was worse than that, Stenger told the Post-Dispatch. Frankly, it was surreptitious.

He objected to the project being labeled as a regional priority without the endorsement of St. Louis County, whose taxpayers provided about $137 million to Bi-State last year when the city chipped in $32 million, and that the county deserves to be consulted for longer than 10 minutes on a decision as important as this.

Stengers letter says the north-south route is the most expensive of four being considered, with a $2.2 billion price tag. The line would be 17 miles, stretching from north St. Louis County near the Florissant Valley campus of St. Louis Community College, into downtown St. Louis and down Interstate 55 to Bayless Avenue.

The other three routes on the table, all of which Stenger said would be half or less the cost of the north-south route, are the Daniel Boone from Clayton to Westport; MetroNorth from Lambert-St. Louis International Airport to Florissant; and MetroSouth, from Shrewsbury to Butler Hill Road.

But none of those three would go through north St. Louis, where a new $1.75 billion National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency headquarters is set to be built just northwest of downtown. At the moment, the current route outlined for the north-south route goes just east and north of the NGA site, although plans are being made to alter that.

Stenger and Slay supported the NGA locating there, a consensus that Stenger said was preceded by detailed discussions.

This was done much differently, Stenger said of the push for a north-south MetroLink route. It was done, frankly, behind the countys back.

The transit disagreement marks the most public tension between Slay and Stenger about a major project.

Expanding access to transit is not a zero-sum game, Slay said in a statement Monday. Investing in North-South MetroLink, which would serve both the city and county, does not rule out investing in other transit lines. I welcome a conversation about how we can best serve our regional needs.

Mary Ellen Ponder, his chief of staff, had stronger words.

There is a huge difference between not signing on to a letter of support and writing a letter of opposition. It is unfortunate Mr. Stenger chose to communicate with the city in this fashion. It is embarrassing, she said in a separate statement.

Stengers letter is dated Wednesday. It came two days after Bi-State submitted its grant application to the FTA, a move that followed the citys decision to study transit-oriented development potential for the north-south expansion option, Bi-State said.

Were sorry to see there is disagreement among them at this moment as to what the priority will be, said Nations, the head of Bi-State, on Monday. He said the decision of what corridor will be studied and pursued rests with St. Louis County and St. Louis  not with his agency.

East-West Gateway will do the corridor studies. Stenger said he expects to announce in the coming days which route or routes that will be examined further in a county-funded study.

Its really interesting that at a moment when we need regionalism the most, we seem to be getting cityism, he said of the push for the north-south option. This is a route, by its nature, that fragments us.

He elaborated on that in his letter, in which he wrote the route cannot be directly integrated into the existing MetroLink system because it would run in the street, not as a separate right-of-way. It also would use different, lower cars than those currently used that would not be compatible with the current system.

Jim Wild, executive director of East-West Gateway, said an initial study years ago did show that street-running cars might work best for the route.

But he made it clear that no route has been chosen over any other, and nothing has been set in stone.

In theory, we could be doing two or more studies at the same time and looking at the options that are there for MetroLink, Wild said. Weve got a long time to go before any decisions are made on corridors and what we can afford to do as a region.
Its June, and the third-year students at St. Louis University School of Medicine are getting out of anatomy labs and lecture halls and into their first clinical rotations with patients.

The doctors in training can be easily identified by their short, white coats and stethoscopes around their necks.

Earlier this month, when those students listened intently to their first grand rounds presentation of the new academic year, it was telling that the topic was toxic stress and children.

It was presented by SLU Associate Professor Kenneth Haller, head of the Missouri Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. It was held at Cardinal Glennon Childrens Hospital, where the effects of toxic stress on children can be seen firsthand: asthma, obesity, child abuse, hyperactivity and depression  all associated with chronic levels of household stress.

This is their first rotation, said Haller of the students. It really challenges them to figure out, what are you going to do with this public health problem?

SLU neonatologist Dr. William Keenan went so far as to say the presentation was the most important grand rounds weve had this year, probably this decade.

As the Post-Dispatch chronicled in a February special report based in Ferguson, toxic stress occurs when children and adults dont get a mental break from chronic worries and extreme burdens. Though such stress can afflict anyone, it is particularly common among families living in poverty and compounded by experiences of past trauma.

The stress turns toxic when the body overproduces stress hormones. An expanding body of research suggests exposure to incidents of trauma and chronic stress adversely changes childrens genetic, neural, physical and behavioral development. Those changes can sometimes start before birth if a pregnant mother suffers from toxic stress.

For the students, much of this was new information and not something they had encountered in their own childhoods. Third-year student James Arpin from Hutchinson, Kan., said there was always food on the table, stable housing and a harmonious family to support him while growing up.

You realize these families have a lot of problems that you and I may never have to face, he said.

Arpin said the presentation was the first time he had heard about dire adult health statistics associated with adverse childhood experiences. Research suggests four or more traumatic events in childhood drastically increases chances of developing chronic adult conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart and kidney disease, stroke, obesity, cancer and mental illness.

Seeing it firsthand

As the recent grand rounds presentation indicated, the topic of toxic stress is steadily gaining traction in medical, public health and mental health fields as a major health issue potentially affecting millions of children  many of them growing up in poverty.

In March, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that physicians ask parents whether they are making ends meet at the end of the month.

The recommendation is intended to bring up the topic of poverty because of its health risk to children. The Academy wants physicians to make better efforts to link families and children to supports like food or diaper banks, or early childhood supports.

But the question remains, are doctors adequately prepared to address toxic stress and its roots in poverty, both in their examination rooms and in the public domain?

Robert Block, past chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said medical schools are mostly doing a good job educating students on the issue and teaching them ways to better interact with families and children facing toxic stress.

But because many practicing pediatricians and family doctors are wedded to traditional billing and scheduling procedures, there are not systems in place for established practices to make big changes to include conversations with families on their parenting circumstances and resources, he said. It will take years for new doctors to enter those practices and effect change.

At Washington University School of Medicine, for example, students learn about toxic stress and trauma within the first week of school through a program that sends them out to various low-income neighborhoods and medical clinics. They see firsthand the general burdens of poverty including neighborhood violence, food need, debt, housing insecurity and domestic conflict, said Dr. Michael Awad, associate dean of medical education.

Some of the students are quite moved, quite shocked, and it really gets them from an very early point on in their education thinking about patient care in a different way, he said.

Awad said the medical students are also tasked with bringing their knowledge into the greater medical community.

Our students in some way may know more than our experienced physicians on this topic, he said. The students do become the teachers, and thats OK.

Supporting parents

In February, the Post-Dispatch ran a special report, The Crisis Within: How toxic stress and trauma endanger our children. It focused on the stresses among three families in Ferguson already coping with the traumatic shooting death of 9-year-old Jamyla Bolden who lived nearby and was a friend to some of their children. The report further chronicled daily struggles with housing, debt, lack of transportation and past trauma and proposed solutions to lessen that stress on children.

During Hallers presentation, he referred to two of the children featured in the series as they dealt with this stress. One of them, Destiny Sonnier, had a routine when she played outside with a cousin. Theyd stop their cartwheels and pray so they wouldnt get shot.

Haller said he treats at least one child a day showing signs of toxic stress at Cardinal Glennons Danis Pediatrics, a practice that serves mostly poor and uninsured families. Many parents come to the office seeking help for extreme behavioral problems in their children because of that stress.

He recalled a single father bringing a baby and older boy for a check-up. The father described feeling helpless because of a low-paying, part-time job, lack of parenting support and no child care. He could not give one positive attribute about his child. Haller said the staff linked the father to child care and other support, enabling him to get a break and better bond with his son.

Haller urged physicians to have empathy for families. He said physicians can help empower parents so they better bond with their children and buffer them from stress, he said.

He also told the students their future medical degrees could give them great influence in developing better public policy to help children and families thrive:

Every single day we can use the power of our white coat.
Can we be assured that the plant will not pollute our land or water supply so that we are not discovering something decades later like so many areas in Missouri?
LONDON MARKET CLOSE: Investors see end of hefty rate hikes on horizon

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 - 17:29

Stocks in London closed solidly higher on Wednesday as investors took heart from a smaller-than-expected rate hike from the Bank of Canada.

The FTSE 100 index closed 42.59 points, or 0.6% at 7,056.07 on Wednesday. The FTSE 250 ended up 274.26 points, or 1.5%, at 18,105.89. The AIM All-Share closed up 10.23 points, or 1.3%, at 809.67.

The Cboe UK 100 ended up 0.5% at 704.52, the Cboe UK 250 closed up 1.8% at 15,499.59, and the Cboe Small Companies ended up 0.7% at 12,342.94.

Markets are hopeful that the BoC's decision to lift rates by 50 basis points instead of the expected three-quarter point lift is a signal that central banks are ready to take their foot off the monetary policy tightening accelerator.

The optimism comes ahead of a busy few days of central bank action. The European Central Bank announces an interest decision at 1315 BST on Thursday, before the Federal Reserve next week Wednesday and the Bank of England a day after its US counterpart.

The ECB raised interest rates in July for the first time in 11 years, by half a percentage point. Analysts are all but convinced the central bank will up rates by another 0.75% on Thursday, but some say there is room for a full percentage point raise - 100 basis points.

Sterling continued to gain ground on Wednesday, keeping poise despite a two-week delay to the UK government's fiscal plan.

The medium term fiscal plan will now be published on November 17 as an autumn statement  alongside a new set of economic forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility.

The pound was quoted at $1.1612 at the London equities close Wednesday, up sharply from $1.1464 at the close on Tuesday.

Helping to boost the pound was dollar weakness, amid expectations of a less hawkish Fed.

In the FTSE 100, Standard Chartered was the worst performer. The stock closed down 5.1% despite recording a substantial increase in profit as it benefitted from rising interest rates across the world.

In the three months that ended September 30, the Asian-focused bank reported a 40% increase in pretax profit to $1.39 billion from $996 million a year before.

Chief Executive Bill Winters called the results "strong" and said the bank remains confident in the delivery of its 2024 financial targets, adding it has made "significant progress" against the five strategic actions outlined in February.

Reckitt Benckiser closed down 3.7%. The consumer goods firm posted strong quarterly revenue growth as prices and mix improved, despite a decline in volumes.

In the third quarter, total revenue grew 14% year-on-year to 3.74 billion, or 7.4% on a like-for-like basis. Meanwhile, price and mix improvements of 12% helped to offset a volume decline of 4.6%.

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.

Fresnillo climbed 3.8% as it posted solid quarterly production figures and backed annual its annual guidance.

The Mexico City-based silver and gold miner said volumes at Fresnillo and Saucito continued to improve, but this was partially offset by lower ore throughput and grade variability at San Julian.

Despite the challenges, Fresnillo said it remains on track to meet annual guidance of 50.5 to 56.5 million ounces of attributable silver and silverstream, and 600 to 650,000 ounces of attributable gold.

In the FTSE 250, Bytes Technology dropped 14% despite posting double-digit top-line growth.

The computer software firm posted revenue of 93.5 million in the six months to August 31, up 28% from 73.1 million. Pretax profit grew 18% to 27.0 million from 22.9 million.

Bytes Technology said it has also made a decent start to its second half.

Elsewhere in London, IGas Energy plunged 27% after UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reintroduced the moratorium on fracking in England.

The Lincoln, England-based oil and gas producer had previously supported the UK government's support of fracking under Liz Truss.

Truss had lifted the ban as she argued it would strengthen the country's energy supply.

In European equities on Wednesday, the CAC 40 in Paris ended up 0.4%, while the DAX 40 in Frankfurt ended up 1.1%.

The euro stood at $1.0064 at the European equities close Wednesday, higher against $0.9963 at the same time on Tuesday.

Against the yen, the dollar was trading at JP146.50 late Wednesday, lower compared to JP147.77 late Tuesday.

Stocks in New York were mixed at the London equities close, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average up 0.9%, the S&P 500 index up 0.5%, and the Nasdaq Composite down 0.3%.

Brent oil was quoted at $93.93 a barrel at the London equities close Wednesday, up from $91.91 late Tuesday.

Gold was quoted at $1,665.70 an ounce at the London equities close Wednesday, higher against $1,655.96 at the close on Tuesday.

On Thursday's UK corporate calendar, there are third quarter results from Shell and Unilever, as well as trading statements from Lloyds Banking and Anglo American.

In the economic calendar, the ECB announces its interest rate decision at 1315 BST before a US GDP reading at 1330 BST.

Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
CAR giant Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has joined other motor manufacturers today (Monday) in arguing against Britain coming out of the European Union.

JLR, which employs 6,000 of its total workforce of 29,000 at Gaydon in Warwickshire, has linked up with Toyota, BMW and Vauxhall to argue the case for the UK to stay in the EU.

The intervention by the motor manufacturers has come at a crucial moment with the referendum on whether Britain should stay in or withdraw from the EU taking place on Thursday (23rd June). It follows statements from Ford and Nissan in support of Britains continuing membership of the EU.

The motor industry supports 800,000 jobs in Britain and contributes 15.5 billion to the economy.

Ken Gregor, chief financial officer of JLR, said the companys European chain had been fundamental to growth.

He said: Remaining in the EU  our largest market  will increase Jaguar Land Rovers chances to grow, create jobs and attract investment in future technologies.
A MASSIVE housing development of 200 homes proposed for Bidford-on-Avon has been given the go ahead by a government planning inspector.

The controversial scheme, which was ferociously opposed by local residents and councillors, will be on land off Waterloo Road in the village.

It will be additional to 40 homes already given approval  on appeal  on adjoining agricultural land at Jacksons Meadow.

Campaigners against the latest housing scheme argued that Bidford was already overloaded with new housing and that its infrastructure simply could not cope with any extra strains being put upon it.

But following an appeal by Miller Homes against a refusal of the proposals by Stratford-on-Avon District Council, planning inspector Clive Sproule has ruled that the homes can be built.

Crucially, the inspector has decided that the district council does not have the requisite five years supply of housing land necessary to fend off the development.

And he has ruled that he must therefore follow the guidance of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that councils without a current local plan in place must make a presumption in favour of su8stainable development.

Mr Sproule says: The evidence indicates there to be a 4.9 year supply of housing land. Accordingly, relevant policies for the supply of housing are to be considered out of date due to the absence of a five-year supply of housing landSuch policies attract less than full weight.

He adds: It is obvious that there is significant local concern regarding the scale of recent and proposed development around Bidford-on-Avon. However, in this case I have found the proposal to represent sustainable development.

The decision will come as a huge blow to the district council, as well as to local residents.

For the council to be told it does not have a five-year supply of housing land is devastating when it is on the brink of finally adopting its long awaited core planning strategy. It has even fixed a meeting for 11th July to formally approve the strategy  and the approval is contingent upon it having a five-year supply of housing land.

For the residents and local councillors whove put up such a valiant fight it will be deeply depressing.

A fuller report with reaction and analysis will be in Thursdays Herald.
Credit Suisse initiates coverage on recent IPO US Foods (NYSE: USFD) with a Outperform rating and a price target of $29.00, suggesting 21% upside.

Analyst Edward Kelly commented, "USFD is the second-largest distributor in the attractive $268 billion U.S. foodservice industry and is one of only two national players. The company has regrouped with a reasonable growth strategy following its failed and highly disruptive merger attempt with SYY. Earnings momentum has recovered and looks poised for further progress as internal sales and operating initiatives drive growth. M&A supplements this outlook, as the company sees a large opportunity to foster industry consolidation and expand its 9% market share. An attractive relative multiple, despite a successful IPO, still provides a favorable entry point. Comparisons have begun to get more difficult, but the industry backdrop is favorable and the companys recent results have been encouraging."

For an analyst ratings summary and ratings history on US Foods click here. For more ratings news on US Foods click here.

Shares of US Foods closed at $23.96 yesterday.
(Updated - June 20, 2016 10:12 AM EDT)

FCC will likely issue an order approving GlobalStar's (NYSE: GSAT) TLPS spectrum by June 30, according to Niles Tracy, an analyst at Height Securities. Tracy pointed out that the FCC traditionally announces regulatory orders in the week immediately proceeding or following the commissions monthly open meeting. This month's open meeting will be held of Friday, June 24th.

Despite several negative reports recently, due to ongoing negotiations and lobbying, Tracy believes believes the order will ultimately be approved.

"The initial 'no' vote from Commissioner Pai came on June 2, 2016. A reported Rosenworcel 'dissent' followed. At the same time, Commissioner Rosenworcel and Commissioner O Rielly met with the NCTA, and then other pro-GSAT groups over the following weeks. Commissioner Rosenworcel never confirmed whether she had dissented, or whether she had actually voted, which indicates to us that the 'no' speculation was either a negotiating tactic, or perhaps was unintentional implicationfrom her staff. We continue to believe that this 'dissent' was actually a bargaining tactic, and the Rosenworcel may ultimately approve the order," said Tracy.

The analyst added, "The ongoing ex-parte meetings indicate that both Rosenworcel and ORielly are continuing to consider and debate the order. 18 days have past since the original announcement from Commissioner Pai. As the timeline continues to extend, the likelihood that the order is being negotiated increases, and the likelihood of the order being voted down decreases."
Gas Natural Inc. (NYSE MKT: EGAS) (the "Company"), a holding company operating local natural gas utilities serving approximately 68,000 customers in four states, announced that the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio ("PUCO") issued an Opinion and Order ("Order") covering multiple matters in support of Orwell Natural Gas Company ("Orwell"), one of the Company's Ohio utilities. The case was against Orwell-Trumbull Pipeline ("OTP"), a pipeline owned by the Company's former Chairman and CEO. At issue was a fifteen year agreement that requires natural gas transportation service to be provided by OTP to Orwell on an interruptible, sole-source basis for specified rates that are subject to adjustment every five years. The agreement was signed in December 2008 at a time when both Orwell and OTP were owned by Richard M. Osborne. The complete text of the Order is available here: Orwell v OTP PUCO Order.

Mr. Vincent A. Parisi, Gas Natural's Vice President and General Counsel, commented, "We are satisfied with achieving some closure of this ongoing regulatory matter, with many issues settled in favor of our Ohio utility and the customers they serve. Furthermore, this Order evidences another success in our efforts to overcome the legacy of our former Chairman and CEO, Richard M. Osborne."

The Order, dated June 15, 2016, states the following:
Perrigo Company plc (NYSE: PRGO) announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to sell its U.S. Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements (VMS) business to International Vitamin Corporation (IVC). The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close by early August.

Perrigo CEO John T. Hendrickson commented, "Our decision late last year to divest the U.S. VMS business was part of our ongoing portfolio assessment and ensures that we remain focused on our most profitable and strategic businesses. Having explored various options over the past several months, we are pleased to have reached an agreement to sell the business to IVC. We look forward to working with the IVC team to seamlessly transition the business and ensure that our customers continue to receive exceptional service during this transitional period. Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the more than 300 Perrigo employees who are dedicated to the VMS business for all of their contributions to Perrigo and to wish them all the very best going forward."

Warner Norcross & Judd LLP served as Perrigo's legal advisor and Houlihan Lokey served as Perrigo's exclusive financial advisor on the transaction.
U.S. antitrust regulators have privately expressed concerns about Anthem's (NYSE: ANTM) proposed takeover of Cigna Corp. (NYSE: CI), the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday citing people familiar with the matter.

The report follows a meeting held between company representatives and Justice Department staffers and representatives of more than a dozen state attorneys general offices on June 10 in Washington, the report said.

The major concern is the national employer market. Another area of concern is the market for individual insurance plans. Justice officials have also expressed concerns about the market power a combined entity would carry with heath-care providers.

A decision has not yet been made and is expected after follow-up meetings by mid-July.
The office building of health insurer Anthem is seen in Los Angeles, California February 5, 2015. REUTERS/Gus Ruelas/File Photo

(Reuters) - U.S. antitrust regulators are concerned about health insurer Anthem Inc's (NYSE: ANTM) proposed acquisition of Cigna Corp (NYSE: CI) and not sure the companies can offer enough concessions to maintain competition in the industry, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

Both companies have scheduled meetings this week with top U.S. Department of Justice officials, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Some of the sources said the DOJ had not yet made a decision on whether to sue to block the deal.

Wall Street does not seem convinced the deal will go through, as evidenced in the wide spread between Anthem's offer and Cigna's share price. As of the market close on Friday, Cigna shares traded at a 32.5 percent discount to the offer, which has an equity value of about $44 billion.

Anthem announced plans to buy Cigna last summer. Also pending is Aetna Inc's (NYSE: AET) acquisition of Humana Inc (NYSE: HUM) which faces significant antitrust concern as well. That deal is valued at about $34 billion.

(Reporting by Rodgrigo Campos in New York; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Anti-government protesters hold posters of Shi'ite cleric Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim during an anti-government protest organised by Bahrain's main opposition group Al Wefaq, in Budaiya, west of Manama, Bahrain May 17, 2013. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed/File

By Sami Aboudi

DUBAI (Reuters) - Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of the spiritual leader of the kingdom's Shi'ite Muslim majority, the state news agency reported on Monday, prompting protests outside his home and a sharp rebuke from an Iranian paramilitary chief.

The move against Ayatollah Isa Qassim comes less than a week after a court ordered Bahrain's main opposition al-Wefaq group closed, accusing it of fomenting sectarian unrest and of having links to a foreign power, in an apparent reference to regional Shi'ite power Iran.

The move against Qassim was the latest one taken by Bahrain  where a Shiite majority is ruled by a Sunni monarchy  against Shiite figures in the country, in what appears to be an escalating campaign against dissent in the Western-allied Gulf kingdom.

Bahrain has defended its actions against Shi'ite Muslim figures in the context of national security.

Qassim could potentially face expulsion from the country.

A crowd of up to 4,000 people gathered outside Qassim's house in the Shi'ite village of Diraz, west of the capital, Manama, to show their support for him, witnesses said.

In a bluntly worded reaction, the top commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Qassem Soleimani, warned the Bahraini government it would pay a price for its decision and suggested Bahrainis may respond with armed action.

"The Al Khalifa (rulers of Bahrain) surely know their aggression against Sheikh Isa Qassim is a red line and that crossing it would set Bahrain and the whole region on fire, and it would leave no choice for people but to resort to armed resistance," Soleimani said in a statement published by Fars news agency.

Soleimani heads the Qods Force, the elite special forces arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Iran's Foreign Ministry also criticized the move.

In a statement published on the Tasnim news agency, the ministry urged the Bahraini government not to burn all the bridges that connect the government to the people and to hold serious national talks to end the current crisis.

Washington, which regards Bahrain as a top Gulf ally and is where the U.S. Fifth Fleet is based as a bulwark against Iran, said it was "alarmed" by the decision.

"We are unaware of any credible evidence to support this action," State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

The United States and Britain have expressed concern about Bahrain's human rights record.

Bahrain in 2011 crushed an uprising by Shi'ites demanding reforms that would give them a bigger voice in governing the Sunni Muslim-ruled country. Bahrain denies any discrimination.

DISCONTENT

But discontent still smolders on the streets of Bahrain, where a financial crisis caused by lower oil prices has caused a slowdown in the economy.

BNA, quoting an Interior Ministry statement, said Qassim had been trying to divide Bahraini society, encourage youths to violate the constitution and promote a sectarian environment in the country.

"Based on that, the Bahraini citizenship had been dropped from Isa Ahmed Qassim, who since he acquired Bahraini citizenship had sought to form organizations that follow foreign religious and political reference," BNA said.

Qassim's official website says he was born in a Shi'ite village in the kingdom in the 1940s, when the island state was still under British rule.

The crowds gathered outside Qassim's house chanted Shi'ite slogans, witnesses said.

"With our soul, with our blood we sacrifice ourselves for you, Hussein!" they chanted, invoking the name of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussein, who is revered by Shi'ite Muslims.

Social media footage showed Qassim standing outside what looked like his home saluting the crowds.

Dozens of police vehicles were seen surrounding Diraz, the witnesses said, but there were no reports of clashes.

HEZBOLLAH SAYS DECISION 'DANGEROUS'

The powerful Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah called Bahrain's decision "extremely dangerous" and warned it would bring severe consequences to the ruling system.

"The authorities, with their stupidity and recklessness, are pushing the Bahraini people to difficult choices, which will have severe consequences for this corrupt dictatorial regime," Hezbollah said in a statement.

Bahrain earlier accused the Iran-backed Hezbollah of supporting militants behind a spate of bombings in the country and has designated the group a terrorist organization.

The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy said the withdrawal of Qassim's citizenship would stoke unrest.

"We are deeply concerned that these actions will escalate tensions on the streets and may even lead to violence, as targeting the country's leading Shi'ite cleric is considered to be a red line for many Bahrainis," Sayed Ahmed al-Wadaei, the institute's director of advocacy, said in a statement.

Bahraini media reported last week that authorities had been investigating a bank account of some $10 million in Qassim's name.

The move spurred a strongly worded statement from top clerics, including Qassim, against any attempt to meddle with the collection of a Muslim tax called Khums, which is a pillar of Shi'ite Islam.

(Additional reporting Noah Browning, Tom Perry in Beirut, Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in Dubai and Warren Strobel in Washington; Writing by Sami Aboudi; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Peter Cooney)
(Reuters) - The California Independent System Operator, or ISO, which operates the state's power grid, issued a Flex Alert for Monday for Southern California from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. PDT because of high temperatures expected in the region.

The ISO urged consumers to conserve electricity especially during the late afternoon when air conditioners typically are at peak use and warned that natural gas, used as fuel for many power generators in the Los Angeles area, may be tight because of limited operations at the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility.

(Reporting by Scott DiSavino in New York; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) reviews the guard of honour with his Serbian counterpart Tomislav Nikolic during a welcoming ceremony in Belgrade, Serbia June 18, 2016. REUTERS/Marko Djurica

By Ivana Sekularac

SMEDEREVO, Serbia (Reuters) - Serbia could play a significant role in Beijing's ambitious plan for a new "Silk Road" to boost trade with Europe, Asia and Africa, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Sunday.

Xi said China was ready for more cooperation with Belgrade during a visit to Serbia that has seen his country strengthen its economic presence in the Balkans with more than 20 finance and infrastructure deals.

China's One Belt, One Road initiative, intended to open new trade links for Chinese firms as the domestic economy slows, envisages a new Silk Road from Western China to Central Asia and on to Europe via the Balkans, a region keen to attract Chinese investment.

Addressing workers and officials at a steel-works bought by a Chinese company, Xi said: "We are developing the One Belt, One Road project ... with its position and advantages Serbia will have a significant place in this."

He added: "This cooperation should be an example of Chinese cooperation with countries in Southern and Eastern Europe."

China's Hesteel signed a 46-million euro deal in April to buy the Smederevo steel-works, a 100-year-old company that was part of U.S. Steel during the early years of this century before being handed over the Serbian government.

Hesteel chairman Yong Yu said his company would make the plant one of the most competitive in Europe.

European Union steel producers have complained that the purchase of a steel-works in an EU candidate country by a state-owned Chinese enterprise raises serious concerns about unfair competition from state-backed enterprises.

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said Serbia was in talks with the Chinese on setting up a free trade zone at Smederevo, a city on the banks of the Danube a short distance from Belgrade.

Vucic also invited Chinese companies to invest in Serbia's troubled copper and petrochemical industries.

Since China and Serbia signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2009, China has invested more than $1 billion in Serbia, mostly in soft loans for infrastructure and energy projects.

After Serbia, Xi travels to Poland. He will also visit Uzbekistan for a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a Chinese and Russian-led security grouping.

(Additional reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic; Writing by Giles Elgood; Editing by Alexander Smith)
MILAN (Reuters) - UniCredit's shares rose more than 4 percent on Monday after a newspaper report said former industry minister and veteran banker Corrado Passera could be appointed to lead Italy's biggest bank by assets as early as this week.

UniCredit has been in limbo since CEO Federico Ghizzoni agreed to step down on May 24 without a clear successor.

The uncertainty has weighed on the stock, which has lost 21 percent since Ghizzoni's decision, also because most bankers and investors expect any new CEO to have to launch a multi-billion euro capital increase to bolster the bank's financial strength.

Daily newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano reported on Sunday that 61-year old Passera, who left banking in 2011 to join an emergency government of technocrats as Italy came close to a Greek-style debt crisis, would be named UniCredit CEO this week.

UniCredit declined to comment while it was not immediately possible to reach Passera for a comment.

A source close to a key shareholder in the bank said on Monday that Passera was one of the names being considered for the job by the bank's top investors, but that no decision had been taken.

He became CEO of Banca Intesa in 2002 and then of Intesa Sanpaolo (NYSE: ISP) after its merger with Sanpaolo IMI -- a tie-up which created Italy's biggest retail bank.

Passera was also the architect of a turnaround at Italy's post office between 1998-2002.

Although he founded his own center-right party and briefly ran for Milan mayor against Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's candidate, he has connections across the political spectrum and it was a center-left government that gave him the job at then fully state-owned Poste.

"Passera would be positive for UniCredit's shares, if confirmed it could fuel gains in the short term even though the challenges for the new CEO are known and significant," said a Milan trader.

The shares rose 4.4 percent to 2.52 by 4.24 a.m. ET in a sharply higher Italian banking sector.

The bank's chairman has said no appointment would be made before the end of July, but Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan pressed for a quick decision on Friday, saying the uncertainty created an "element of weakness" for the bank.

(Reporting by Paola Arosio and Valentina Za writing by Silvia Aloisi)
(Reuters) - A leader of a Utah-based polygamous faith who has been charged in connection with a food stamp fraud and money laundering scheme has escaped from his pre-trial home confinement, officials said on Monday.

The U.S. Attorney's Office of Utah said on its Twitter account that Lyle Jeffs fled sometime over the weekend and that an arrest warrant was issued by a judge on Sunday afternoon.

Further details were not immediately available.

Kathy Nester, one of Jeffs' attorneys in the case, declined to comment on the news when reached by email on Monday.

Jeffs pleaded not guilty to the two-count indictment in Salt Lake City in February. He is the de facto leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS), an unacknowledged offshoot of the Mormon Church.

Prosecutors allege Jeffs and other FLDS leaders in Arizona and South Dakota diverted money from the federal government food assistance program for the poor.

In all, the indictment charges 11 defendants with conspiring to defraud the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps, and conspiring to commit money laundering.

Prosecutors contend that in about 2011 the church leaders directed adherents to funnel food bought with SNAP money to an FLDS storehouse to feed the greater church community.

"These leaders also provided instructions on how to avoid suspicions and detection by the government," the indictment said.

Money also was diverted to other leaders to pay bills, according to the charges. One spent $30,236 on a 2012 Ford F-350 truck and another paid $16,978 for paper products, prosecutors said.

Jeffs is the brother of Warren Jeffs, who is considered the prophet of the faith and is serving a sentence of up to life in prison plus 20 years in Texas for illegally marrying and sexually abusing underage girls.

The sect is based in the twin cities of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Arizona. It is an offshoot of the Salt Lake City-based mainstream Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which renounced polygamy in 1890 and has no affiliation with the FLDS.

(Reporting by Curtis Skinner in San Francisco; Editing by Leslie Adler)
UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of June, 2016

Commission File Number: 001-13382

KINROSS GOLD CORPORATION

(Translation of registrant's name into English)

17th Floor, 25 York Street,

Toronto, Ontario M5J 2V5

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40F:

Form 20-F  Form 40-F x

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):_____

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to security holders.

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):_____

Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized (the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant's securities are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.

Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Yes  No x

If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2b:

Page 2

This report on Form 6-K is being furnished for the sole purpose of providing a copy of the press release dated June 20, 2016 in which Kinross Gold Corporation announced the temporary suspension of operations at the Tasiast mine in Mauritania.

INDEX

Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

EXHIBIT INDEX

99.1 Press Release dated June 20, 2016.

Page 3

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

KINROSS GOLD CORPORATION Signed: //Nicholas J. Hayduk// Senior Vice-President & General Counsel

June 20, 2016

Exhibit 99.1

Kinross Gold Corporation 25 York Street, 17th Floor Toronto, ON Canada M5J 2V5

NEWS RELEASE

Kinross temporarily suspends mining and processing operations at the Tasiast mine

Toronto, Ontario  June 20, 2016  Kinross Gold (TSX:K; NYSE: KGC) announced today that mining and processing operations at its Tasiast mine in Mauritania have been temporarily suspended. As a result of the Mauritanian Ministry of Labors decision on June 17, 2016 to prohibit certain expatriate employees from working at site due to allegations of invalid work permits, the Company could not continue to fully operate the site in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.

The Company strongly disagrees with the decision and objects to the lack of process followed by the Ministry in coming to its decision. The Company notes that it has taken all steps necessary to ensure that its work permits are in good standing and valid under Mauritanian law.

The Company understands that a number of other institutions and companies in Mauritania are presently experiencing similar work permit issues with the Ministry of Labor.

Discussions with the government of Mauritania to resolve the issue are ongoing. The Company does not expect this issue to affect development of the Tasiast Phase One expansion.

The Company continues to be committed to increasing the number of local workers who have the necessary skills and experience to work at Tasiast, which is consistent with Kinross practice at all its operations. Currently, approximately 88% of employees at Tasiast are Mauritanian nationals.

About Kinross Gold Corporation

Kinross is a Canadian-based senior gold mining company with mines and projects in the United States, Brazil, Russia, Mauritania, Chile and Ghana. Our focus is on delivering value based on the core principles of operational excellence, balance sheet strength, disciplined growth and responsible mining. Kinross maintains listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol:K) and the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: KGC).

Media Contact

Louie Diaz

Director, Corporate Communications

phone: 416-369-6469

[email protected]

Investor Relations Contact

Tom Elliott

Senior Vice-President, Investor Relations and Corporate Development

phone: 416-365-3390

[email protected]
Peter Aitchison, speaking in October 2015, about the fence, built by a neighbour, which blocked sweeping views of Wellington Harbour and the city from his and wife Sylvia's Roseneath apartment.

A couple whose harbour views were ruined when their neighbour erected a notorious fence have been awarded $72,500.

Peter and Sylvia Aitchison, of Roseneath, Wellington, won an Environment Court battle with David Walmsley and his mother Helen.

In a newly published decision, an Environment Court judge lambasted the Walmsleys after the latest chapter in the neighbourly stoush. David Walmsley earlier said the fence or "play structure" was built to enhance his privacy and redress a past wrong, but the judge took a dim view.

DAVID WHITE/FAIRFAX NZ Peter and Sylvia Aitchison won an environment court battle over a fence that blocked their view of Wellington Harbour.

"The actions of the Walmsleys in erecting the structure and the presence of the structure were offensive or objectionable to such an extent as to have an adverse effect on the environment," Judge BP Dwyer wrote.

READ MORE:

* Wellington's view-slashing fence to go

* View-blocking fence heading back to court

The whole structure was about 20 metres long and had an "overbearing" and intrusive effect on the Aitchisons, the judge said.

CAMERON BURNELL/ FAIRFAX NZ The fence being removed, revealing the view.

The Aitchisons, through their lawyer, had sought "substantially in excess of $100,000", he added.

The Walmsleys raised the structure attached to a retaining wall along their side of the boundary.

At each end, a boundary fence rose about 2m from the top of the retaining wall, marring the Aitchisons' prized harbour views.

MAARTEN HOLL/FAIRFAX NZ Roseneath resident Peter Aitchison who did not have much to look at, other than timber, from the living room of his Maida Vale Rd home.

Walmsley has previously said that all he wanted to do was re-erect a fence that property developers had torn down in 1995, when his grandparents owned the land.

"In 1995 this fence to our family home was destroyed to make way for the development of the property now owned by the Aitchisons.

"Not only did we not give permission to have our property altered, we asked for the fence to be restored after the build, but despite assurances, this was not done by the developers."

In January, the Walmsleys were ordered to remove the fence.

This followed a hearing during which David Walmsley accepted that, viewing the structure from the Aitchisons' side, it did look like a fence.

But he said his aim was privacy and, if what he was doing was reasonable on his own property, he did not have to have regard for his neighbours.

The court reserved costs in favour of the Aitchisons and Wellington City Council, but the council did not make an application for costs.

An earlier court decision last September found the structure contravened provisions of the Wellington District Plan. That issue remained unresolved, and the council was pursuing an appeal relating to how the rule should be interpreted.

That hearing was expected to be heard on August 29 in the High Court. The Aitchisons' lawyer, Andrew Cameron, said it would be inappropriate for him to discuss the case while the matter was before the courts.

Council city planning manager Warren Ulusele said the council's decision not to seek costs was consistent with its approach on clarifying District Plan interpretations on the basis that it was a matter of public good.

It wanted to provide certainty for other landowners with retaining walls on sloping sites, which were a common feature of the city's topography.

The council's stance had always been that the fence, while permitted under the District Plan, was not appropriate, he said.

Peter Aitchison and David Walmsley have been approached for comment.
Former principal of Te Waotu School Bruce Darroch was found guilty of charges of possessing objectionable materials.

A Kiwi mother was "sickened beyond belief" to find her son was caught up in what US authorities call one of the largest child exploitation investigations in history.

The nightmare began when it was revealed her son's school principal was a paedophile who had shared photos of her son online with a network of fellow paedophiles.

Former Te Waotu School principal Bruce Darroch was found guilty of four charges relating to his involvement with a global online paedophile ring at Rotorua District Court on March 15.

Even worse for the mother, her son featured in twisted stories Darroch shared online that were described by Judge Tony Snell as "graphic, detailed and with sustained rape fantasies".

READ MORE:

* Paedophile back in New Zealand

* 'Britain's worst paedophile' kept scorecard of offending

* Catholic priests who abused New Zealand children will not be investigated

"I pray with all my heart he goes to prison," the mother said.

"He has exposed our children to 27,000 paedophiles online."

The website Darroch was involved with was operational for a year between June 2012 and June 2013 and contained more than 2000 videos viewed by nearly 30,000 paedophiles.

So far authorities have identified victims in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Belgium and New Zealand.

The mother, who cannot be named to protect the identity of her son, described how Darroch's offending, and the manipulation around it, continues to cast a shadow.

"The stuff he shared makes me sick," she said.

"It's not a victimless crime - it's affected a whole community. What is on the internet about them is going to haunt them forever. It never goes away."

She said her son always believed he was treated differently by Darroch, something she said he brushed off when she raised concerns with him.

"He did treat my son a lot differently - huge favouritism," she said.

"Darroch has his favourites and it does appear all those boys have been his victims."

Darroch was found guilty of possession of objectionable material, making an objectionable publication and failing to assist a police search.

The mother also said Darroch tried to manipulate parents as well as children at the school, citing home issues for behavioural problems shown by some of the pupils.

"He went to school every day knowing he was a paedophile," she said.

"He groomed not only the kids but us as parents. All the things Bruce did to manipulate the situation, he made you think it was all your fault as a parent. It's still impacting on my life."

She said it was especially upsetting that Darroch used their children's real names online.

"The emotional impact on the children is phenomenal, more than you can put into words.

"He's a predator. He has done this for over a decade. If he's having rape fantasies about my kid, every time he touched my kid, it was inappropriate."

Darroch is set to be sentenced on Friday, June 24, at Rotorua District Court.

"I'm sad to think that perhaps he won't go to prison," the mother said.

"If he doesn't get sentenced to prison, New Zealand is supporting paedophilia."
A teenager who has lost 10 friends to suicide in recent years, and four more in car crashes, started stealing after becoming depressed and "muddled".

The 19-year-old was granted permanent name suppression at her Christchurch District Court sentencing on dishonesty charges.

The young former postie, now a sickness beneficiary, had made three suicide attempts herself, including in the last month, the court heard.

Judge Tom Gilbert found publication would be likely to cause extreme hardship and exacerbate her mental health issues.

Family was in court to support the teenager. She was sentenced for theft by a person in a special relationship, unlawfully opening postal articles not addressed to her and several shoplifting charges.

She had pleaded guilty to them all.

Her state of depression was at the centre of the offending, the court was told.

The 19-year-old has been in hospital since she admitted the charges in March.

Her thefts had been the result of "muddled thinking" arising from her illness, but she had taken responsibility and pleaded guilty, defence lawyer Trudi Aickin said.

The woman worked as a postie for six weeks last year in a rural Canterbury town, which cannot be named because of the suppression order.

Several times, instead of delivering mail, she put it back into a street receiver and it was returned to NZ Post's delivery branch. When this was found out, she was counselled.

Three times, a cleaner found large amounts of mail dumped in a rubbish bin at a park. He handed it to the police. A lot of the mail had been opened and the contents removed.

On a day in November, the woman dumped a large amount of mail in the town's domain. Police said there were 121 unopened items and another 21 that had been opened and had items removed. The woman denied taking any of the contents but admitted opening mail containing Christmas cards.

Judge Gilbert said her offending had affected a large proportion of the town's population who did not get their mail. New Zealand Post's victim impact report said it was concerned that in a competitive market, the woman had damaged its reputation.

The woman also admitted going to supermarkets or shops at Northwood, Northlands, and The Palms, and committing four thefts.

He noted she had been actively involved with the Crisis Resolution Team about her mental health problems  depression which has precipitated self-harm  which had been simmering for years. Over the last few years she had lost 10 friends to suicide and four others in motor accidents.

Her doctor had written to the court expressing his concern. The young woman had told her probation officer at her pre-sentence interview about her three overdoses.

The judge released her on a year's supervision with special conditions, and ordered her to do 80 hours of supervision. He ordered her to pay reparation totalling $74 for the shoplifting offences where goods were not recovered.

He noted she had no previous convictions and it was in the community's interest that she would get herself "on the straight and narrow".

She was fortunate to have the support of her family, and with the help of her probation officer she would have a "relapse prevention programme".
Julie Thoms at a memorial dedicated to her partner Aaron Roigard, who was murdered by his father in 2014.

While the final resting place of murder victim Aaron Roigard remains a mystery, a permanent tribute to his memory has been unveiled.

Overlooking the Opunake coastline in South Taranaki sits a small headstone and a wooden seat, dedicated to the memory of the man known to many as "Smiley".

The father-of-two's plaque includes an etched image of a pair of boxing gloves, a nod to the sport Aaron loved.

ANDY JACKSON/Fairfax NZ Aaron Roigard's partner Julie Thoms at the memorial site which was unveiled in time to mark the second anniversary of his death.

The handprints and names of his two children, Matthew, 5, and Liam, 2, have also been left in the concrete on each side of the seat.

READ MORE:

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* Murder victim's partner determined to keep his memory alive

* Roigard trial: Father found guilty of murdering son

* Roigard case joins ranks of some of New Zealand's notorious murder cases

* Editorial: Body of evidence enough to convict David Roigard

ANDY JACKSON/Fairfax NZ A memorial dedicated to Aaron Roigard, who was murdered by his father David Roigard, was unveiled recently.

Partner Julie Thoms said even though Aaron's body had yet to be found, she always planned to create a place where she, the boys and friends of her partner could go to feel close to him again.

Last year, Aaron's father David Noel Roigard was found guilty of his murder and eight charges of theft in a special relationship, following a four-week trial in the High Court at New Plymouth.

In February, the 51-year-old was jailed for life, with a minimum non-parole period of 19 years.

Picasa Aaron Roigard.

David Roigard killed his son on June 2, 2014 after he stole more than $66,000 from the 27-year-old over a 10 year period. Aaron's body has never been found but is believed to be buried somewhere in rural South Taranaki.

The case made legal history in Taranaki as the first murder conviction to be secured without a body.

Despite ongoing attempts by the police to find Aaron's body, all efforts have so far failed.

ROBERT CHARLES/STUFF David Noel Roigard.

Thoms said she was not hopeful Aaron's remains would ever be recovered.

"I don't think he'll (David) ever give it up," she said.

Thoms said she and Aaron's friend Andy Wright came up with the idea for the memorial.

The initial idea was to put up a plaque, but they decided to get a small headstone and create a place where people could go to remember Aaron.

The site, which is on private property, was chosen because of the significant place it had in Aaron's heart.

Thoms said he used to spend a lot of time fishing there and it was a special place for him.

"It was one of his favourite spots," she said.

Stoic in the face of her tragic loss, Thoms continued to work on a Stratford farm and raise her two boys, with the help of her family.

She said she tried to keep life as normal as possible for the children and stick to the parenting values she and Aaron shared.

"Obviously I knew how Aaron wanted them to be raised," she said.

She said Matthew struggled the most as he had a close relationship with his father, whereas Liam had no memory of his dad, as he was only five weeks old when Aaron disappeared.

Thoms said she and the boys spent time at the memorial on June 2, exactly two years to the day Aaron was taken from them.

The memorial was unveiled two days later at a special ceremony, which was attended by Aaron's close friends.

Thoms said despite still not knowing where Aaron actually was, the memorial helped her keep connected to him.

"There's somewhere to sit, look out, take in the view and remember."
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Diplomatic ties behind the introduction of Buddhism By Rajitha Weerakoon View(s): View(s):

The significance of the arrival of Arahant Mahinda and his meeting with the Lankan monarch  Devanampiya Tissa has not diminished in spite of legends replete with strange and miraculous elements woven around the event. The Arahants arrival in Mihintale on a Poson Full Moon Poya Day over 2500 years ago instead was the culmination of high level diplomatic moves and statesmanship and is recognised as the singular event in Lankan history that set off a spiritual revolution in the lives of the indigenous Lankan people. The impact continues to date.

Having arrived in the island, the Arahant found himself preaching to a receptive audience. Many among them opted to take to robes. The success of the mission was such that Buddhism, which swiftly spread across the island, soon emerged as the established religion of the country.

Would this have been possible if there was no patronage of the Lankan monarch? According to K.M. de Silva in A History of Sri Lanka No doubt the conversion of Devanampiya Tissa was decisive in ensuring its success. He says that at a time when the authority of the Anuradhapura kingdom over other kingdoms in the island was on the increase, the patronage of Buddhism of the Anuradhapura royalty would have hastened the acceptance of the religion by the people at large.

The arrival of the Buddhist Doctrine in Sri Lanka was an implementation of a resolution adopted at the Third Buddhist Council. Eight sets of missionaries had already been sent to regions outside the Mauryan Empire. But although Arahant Mahinda was scheduled to depart to Sri Lanka, Emperor Asoka, who desired fertile soil to plant the seeds of Dhamma, found an aged monarch  King Mutaseeva, ruling in Anuradhapura which caused him to delay the mission by nine years.

Tissa, the second son of Mutaseeva, eventually succeeded his father. Being wise, energetic and far sighted, he, on ascending the throne, learnt of the conquests Emperor Asoka had made in the neighbouring subcontinent. Fearing his inabilities to match the military strength of the Mauryan Empire, he proceeded to establish friendly relations with his formidable neighbour. One of his first tasks as the king of Rajarata therefore, was the dispatching of a high-powered embassy to the Mauryan court in Pataliputra headed by Prime Minister Maha Aritta  his nephew and three others with his greetings and gifts consisting of precious gems and pearls.

The Embassy was warmly welcomed by the Mauryan emperor who was awaiting an opportune time to send the mission to Sri Lanka. This diplomatic exercise which opened the dialogue between the two countries on the introduction of the Buddha Dhamma probably explains the decision of the Emperor to subsequently send some of his closest kith and kin to Sri Lanka as missionaries. None of his other missionary groups included relatives of the Emperor.

The delegates in the meantime, stayed five months at the Mauryan court holding no doubt discussions pertaining to the mission. On their return, the Emperor sent with them the regalia to Tissa needed to hold a royal consecration and an exhortation to embrace the teachings of the Buddhist faith. Tissa thus, underwent a consecration for the second time following Mauryan traditions and taking over along with it, the title of Devanampiya  a title which Asoka himself held.

Although vivid explanations have been given for the performance of such an act, history does not show any display of allegiance of the Lankan monarch to the Mauryan Emperor. A month following the Consecration, Arahant Mahinda, 32 years of age at the time, arrived in Sri Lanka devoid of any supernatural powers as legends have it but travelling through South India and setting out from the port of Kaveripattnam and receiving King Devanampiya Tissas wholehearted patronage to launch the new religion.

On his first day, Arahant Mahinda admitted to the Bhikkhu Order the first lay follower  Bhanduka, Arahants nephew, who accompanied him from India  an act performed as an incentive for others to follow. His objective besides the introduction of the Doctrine, was to establish the Buddha Sasana in Sri Lanka.

The following day, on the invitation of the king, the Arahant and his group of missionaries, arrived in Anuradhapura taking up abode in the royal pavilion erected in the Mahamega Park which the king had taken special care to arrange. This later developed as the Mahavihara  the centre of Theravada Buddhism. In the days that followed, the Arahant- the great communicator, preached many sermons committing people of all ranks firmly in the faith. Many with the royalty leading, took to robes with the king granting all those who entered the Sasana, accommodation in the Mahamega Park.

And the sublime teachings of the Buddha, thus disseminated by the Arahant, gained ground.

The introduction of the religion besides, elevated friendly relations between Sri Lanka and the Mauryan Empire with the period marked as the golden era of diplomatic relations. There were frequent visits made of envoys from both sides and gifts exchanged but the most precious gift the Emperor sent to Sri Lanka however, remained the sacred Bo Sapling under which the Buddha attained Enlightenment.

Within Sri Lanka, the acceptance by the provincial leaders of Devanampiya Tissas invitation to attend the hallowed planting ceremony of the sacred Bo Sapling in Anuradhapura, which the King undertook as a bid to spread the Doctrine, illustrated the strengthening of the Anuradhapura kings relations with the provincial leaders and their acceptance of the supremacy of Rajarata kingdom.

There however was an enduring legacy which Emperor Asoka passed on to Sri Lanka through the introduction of the Doctrine - the model he provided for a relationship between Buddhism and the state. He expounded that a Buddhist righteous rule was needed to forge social, economic and cultural development of the people and the state. History shows great importance being attached to the upholding of this model which spells out that the responsibility of the King is to reign following the Dhamma.
Look to the past, the future and build to last Award-winning Bangladeshi architect Kashef Chowdhury who was here to deliver the Bawa memorial lecture talks to Duvindi Illankoon View(s): View(s):

That first, hesitant line of a sketch; this is what Kashef Chowdhury calls the poetry of good architecture. Chowdhury rarely uses the computer for his work- somewhat of an anomaly in the 21st century, he will laugh, nevertheless professing his preference for pencil and paper.

He falls quite contentedly in line, then, with the work ethic of the architect whose memory he honoured with a talk on June 10 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. Chowdhury was in Colombo for the first time at the invitation of the Bawa Trust to deliver the annual Geoffrey Bawa memorial lecture. The Bangladeshi architect has been shortlisted twice for the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and has designed some of his countrys most prominent structures.

When we met at Bawas Colombo residence No 11, Bagatalle Road he was looking forward to visiting Lunuganga with architect C. Anjalendran. The latter takes this role of guide and companion in his stride; at the end of our interview he arrives in his custom designed three-wheeler to take Chowdhury and his wife Rajrupa for lunch at Barefoot, a popular haunt for many who counted Bawa among their friends.

Chowdhury became an architect not quite by plan-but not exactly by accident either. He wanted to be a doctor, but a change of circumstances led to him joining architecture school-his father was a civil engineer so this seemed like a natural career path to take, he says. It only took him three months to realize that architecture was what he was truly, unabashedly passionate about.

The architect put himself through a rigorous work-study schedule during his time at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and started his own practice, Urbana with a partner barely a year after he graduated. Together with Marina Tabassum, Chowdhury won a bid to design the Independence Monument and Museum to commemorate the events of Bangladeshs liberation war. Several battles with a hierarchy steeped in establishment would follow; their age and experience was regularly questioned alongside the significant budget allocation for the project. It didnt help that the proposal was ambitious; the monument was to be a tall glass tower in the heart of Dhaka with the museum underground (and would eventually take over 15 years to be fully completed).

Its the kind of structure that induces a moment of awe, even when viewed as a photograph. Known as Swadhinata Stambha, the monument is a 50-metre high tower composed of stacked glass panels. It stands tall on 67 acres of land and was built on the place where the commander-in-chief of the East Pakistan Army signed the papers of his surrender. The immense water body surrounding the monument is drawn towards a small pond that channels the water downwards; inside the underground museum, the water falls in a straight column illuminated by natural light.

Since then Chowdhury has taken on projects that challenge traditional notions of space. For example, he designed the Chandgaon Mosque in Chittagong in 2007 to preserve the traditional role of a mosque as a place of spirituality and a gathering place for the community, but also to challenge the narrative of what a mosque should look like. It helped that a mosque has very few building specifications, he says, noting that a Hindu or Buddhist temple would have been much more challenging. Chowdhury was nominated for the Aga Khan in 2010 for his work on the mosque. The Aga Khan for 2016 also shortlisted another project designed by the architect-the Friendship Centre in Gaibandha.

Chowdhury finds his roots in history, place and a keen appreciation for the work of Louis Kahn, an American architect who designed the National Assembly Building in Dhaka. He strongly resists the idea of a signature style. -isms may work for other people but they dont work for me. I have very consciously avoided the idea of a signature style because a signature immediately dates the architects work. Instead, he says, we must look into the future and to the past and build in a way that lasts. I think that my duty as an architect is to contribute to built heritage.

We return to his stubborn determination to continue working manually. Chowdhury is trained in AutoCAD but very quickly realized that the sure, precise lines of the software was not for him. The first line has to be uncertain, he says. Otherwise youre saying you know it all before youve begun. That uncertainty of the first line is the beauty of it, for me. () Today the kind of architecture that is happening around the world is very much because of computer based drawing. There are some striking buildings of course, but most are on the grid. I think theyre less creative than the buildings we used to build.

He is also critical of superimposing western culture onto our regional landscape, saying, we have copied without giving a fifth or sixth thought to what were doing. Because of the very nature of our way of life and environment its quite meaningless to build tall glass boxes as office spaces, he says, wryly noting that nevertheless this trend seems to have seeped into every urban city including his own, Dhaka, and Colombo.

Chowdhurys studio is an ode to light; there is no artificial lighting in the Urbana offices. Instead, his staff must work by daylight. Is it his training as a photographer? He laughs; this is the first time hes been asked that and actually, its mostly because he wants his team to go home at the end of the day. Their work ethic is such that theyve actually snuck in a few artificial lights to complete projects by night, but he plans to take them down upon his return to Dhaka. Working overnight and on weekends is not something that I would do, he says. So I wont have my team doing it either. They have to return to their homes and families and return refreshed the next day. Im always worried that an exhausted mind will miss an important detail when were drawing up a plan.

This notion of light and shadow is also a primary tenet in Chowdhurys work. Without shadow there cannot be light, he told his audience on Friday evening. The SLFI auditorium was packed to the brim with architects, students and other invitees who had turned up in their numbers to listen to Chowdhury, but also to honour the legacy of a man who changed the scope for architecture in Sri Lanka. At the end of our interview, Chowdhury joined a rank of other regional architects when he expressed his appreciation for Bawas determination to design for the tropics, inevitably directing a generation of architects to design for the landscape and a certain way of life.
Traditional water management isnt enough Sustainable water resources management  key to tackling climate change and driving sustainable human development in South Asia and Sri Lanka View(s): View(s):

By Prof. Mohan Munasinghe

The COP21 Paris meeting of the UNFCCC highlighted water as a major resource through which some of the worst climate change impacts would be felt worldwide. In recognition of this fact, a key output of COP21 was the Paris Pact on Water and Adaptation. Water also figures prominently in the UN 2030 Agenda universally accepted by all nations, and is recognised through the key sustainable development goal (SDG) No. 6, which is also linked to many other critical SDGs like poverty, food security and climate change.

In this context, South Asia is considered one of the most vulnerable regions, and international bodies like the World Bank and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) have begun to focus on the regional risks and identify policy options and institutional responses. In Colombo next month, IWMI will host a regional event on climate change risks and water resources management in South Asia.

The risk posed by climate change hangs over the region like a dark shadow. As South Asian countries aim for middle-income prosperity and higher human development in the next 15 years, climate change will bring on increased risks of pests, diseases, water shortages and food insecurity. Impacts of extreme weather and coastal flooding/erosion will post a particular threat to low-lying regions, severely impacting countries like Maldives and Sri Lanka.

These risk factors were known for many years and predicted in the fourth and fifth assessment reports of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). However, actually observed losses and damage, as well as anecdotal evidence suggest that real climate change is happening at a rate and scale much greater than anticipated through the models. While it is hard to establish a clear statistical trend, extreme shifts of rainfall and variability of monsoon patterns are becoming the new norm across South Asia.

There is wide scientific consensus that impacts of climate change are already becoming evident. From the high Himalayan slopes of Nepal to the outer islands of Maldives, climate change has impacted on water availability, quantity and quality. This not only poses a threat to future consumption and human development, but also can reverse hard-won development progress already achieved, even fueling serious conflicts arising from water sharing and management across countries or states. Climate related disasters could cause large scale displacement of communities and lay fallow vast areas of cultivable land, creating the dire threat of food security.

Climate risks and no-regrets options for Sri Lanka

Just in the first half of 2016, Sri Lanka experienced both abnormally high temperatures and record levels of rainfall. This follows a disturbing trend of anomaly over the past decade or so, applying to observable changes in both monsoon behaviour and extreme events. Floods have ravaged the capital city, Colombo, at least five times in the last ten years. The last flooding episode, in May 2016, was the worst on record in terms of damages and losses, as many homes, small businesses and public infrastructure (including the new exits to the Outer Circular Expressway) were underwater for many days.

Damages to urban infrastructure apart, floods and drought have decimated the agricultural heartland of the country. Farmers are the first to face impacts of climate variability and increasing unpredictability of the monsoons. Across the country, farmers (especially the poor ones) face uncertain livelihood. In districts where farming is the mainstay of the community, impacts are seen through reduced incomes, malnutrition, internal rural to urban migration, and the migration of women to low-skilled jobs in the Middle East.

Sri Lanka has evolved traditional methods of adaptation to climate variability and seasonal dry periods. Small scale water storage ponds and tanks dot the landscape of the dry and intermediate zones. The density of these ponds is highest in areas where perennial water sources are scarce, and intermittent rains are common. However, the effectiveness of these systems are declining, since the magnitude of changes in the monsoon patterns are exceeding traditional norms of weather variability.

According to Dr. Jeremy Bird, head of the International Water Management Institute: The Sri Lankan weather has always experienced variability and traditional water management systems have adapted to accommodate late and intermittent rains. This variability is however increasing and climate change projections predict that it will become a bigger part of the water management challenges for coming generations. Analysing historic records no longer provides the same degree of predictability for the future. Rainfall in the monsoon is reducing and the number of days without rain is increasing. 

IWMI predicts that by end of the century, the Maha or wet season crop will require 20% more water due to warming of over one degree celsius. The main climate change impacts will be felt in the north-eastern, eastern and southern dry zones and the wet, hilly areas of the country. A study of dry zone rice output by the Munasinghe Institute for Development (MIND) indicated that the yields of this staple crop could fall 10-15% due to projected climate change impacts on rainfall and temperature, within the next 30 years. Such developments will not only worsen vulnerabilities like food insecurity and dependence on grain imports, but also exacerbate inequalities and encourage migration of vulnerable small farmers out of the dry zone. The study identified key sustainable water resources management (SWARM) practices, agricultural innovation and other policy interventions, to address these challenges.

Major opportunity for Sri Lanka

Climate change adaptation has a higher priority than mitigation in Sri Lanka. Compared with the west or even South Asian neighbours such as India and Pakistan, Sri Lanka does not contribute significantly to climate change through carbon emissions. On the other hand, it has a major opportunity to adapt and reduce vulnerability through sustainable water resources management. This is clearly reflected in the countrys Intended Contributions (INDCs) presented before COP 21 in Paris. The focus is on water management by strengthening existing systems and infusing elements of equity and good governance in to the management of this increasingly scarce resource, rather than through building large dams or expensive diversions. Decentralizing water management to the provincial, district and if possible local level is even more advantageous for communities in the front-line of climate change. This would enable communities to own their local natural resources and manage them collaboratively as was done many years ago  by resuscitating traditional water management methods in rural Sri Lanka, like the ancient Vel Vidana system, which has even been transplanted successfully to other countries including Japan.

The fundamental principle of no-regrets adaptation is that investments should be directed towards options that have substantial shorter term sustainable development benefits, in addition to long term climate change benefits. Policies and projects should aim for positive impacts on human development (health, nutrition, income and living standards), as well as on the bio-physical environment (forestry, water availability for nature, species, soil, etc.). The SDG, adapted to national priorities, would provide a comprehensive framework that will link the water sector with other areas within the macroeconomy, and also help to articulate activities from the central government to the local levels, respecting the principle of subsidiarity. Within the water sector, investing in rainwater harvesting, micro-irrigation, small-scale water storage, groundwater banks, modifying allocation practices and improving the transparency of allocative decision-making, and encouraging more renewable energy use in the water sector, are all win-win solutions.

There is no longer a debate about whether climate change is real or not. It is happening, and the sooner we learn to manage its impacts sustainably, especially in a crucial sector like water resources, the better the outcome for a small but highly vulnerable, middle income country like Sri Lanka.

(The writer is the Chairman of the Munasinghe Institute for Development (MIND) and Vice Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC-AR4), who shared the 2007 Nobel Prize for Peace and Distinguished Guest Professor, Peking University, China.)
Tauranga residents have the opportunity to learn more about the voyaging waka when Frank Kawa talks of his experiences and the role of the canoe in the modern day seas.

Frank will speak about the role of the mighty voyaging canoes play in the 21st Century at Tauranga City Council chambers on Wednesday from 5.45pm, as part of the Matariki Festival running this month and in July.
A $600,000 boost to Rural Mental Wellness initiative has been welcomed by The Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust.

The boost will be jointly funded by the Health and Primary Industries ministries, and was announced by ministers Jonathan Coleman and Nathan Guy at Fieldays on Friday.

Chair Sandy Scarrow says the announcement recognises that the trust has ongoing work to do to support the mental health of farmers, their families, employees, and others in rural New Zealand.

Our trust has been able to increase the number of facilitators on board to work with people in the rural sector. We have also been able to upskill our team, says Sandy.

You will see more of us in the next year as one of our facilitators, Igor Gerritsen, rolls out a series of GoodYarn workshops for farmers and rural professionals.

Health Minister Jonathan Coleman says they recognise rural life goes in cycles, with ups and downs, and the Government is committed to supporting our rural communities.

The Rural Mental Wellness initiative is the right mix of further raising awareness of mental health issues within rural communities, coupled with practical help to improve the skills of the health professionals who work alongside the rural sector, he says.

This joint investment will help to ensure we maintain the momentum achieved last year, while also putting a plan in place for the future.

Nathan Guy believes the new funding will help strengthen local networks for farmers, workers and families in rural communities.

It will also provide more suicide prevention workshops and employ coordinators to work with Rural Support Trusts.

Farmers and their families are not alone. There is a wide range of good advice and support from organisations like Rural Support Trusts, Farmstrong, and Dairy NZ.

While this season may be tough for some, its important to keep a focus on what we can control and to remember the long term outlook for the dairy sector is bright.

The first funding boost of $500,000 was announced at last years Fieldays and has been used to bolster capacity and referral networks. Rural Support Trusts have employed and trained mental health facilitators and had the resource to develop stronger relationships with counselling and mental health services, as well as across industry bodies and rural professionals.

More than 400 rural professionals have been to DairyNZ-led Good Yarn workshops which helps them to identify and manage signs of stress or depression in the people around them, and RHANZ-run SafeTalk workshops have trained 900 people in suicide prevention.

MPI will work directly with Rural Support Trusts from the beginning of July on Phase 2 of the rural mental wellness boost focusing on local initiatives including:

Strengthening networks and relationships with others including mental health services

Supporting local initiatives that reach farmers, raise awareness and strength the referral network

MPI and Rural Support Trust partners will continue to collaborate and work alongside sector organisations who support New Zealands rural communities. This includes DairyNZ, Beef+Lamb NZ, Horticulture NZ, Federated Farmers, Rural Professionals, Rural Womens Network, and others.

Rural Support Trusts are a network of 14 autonomous trusts around the country, staffed by local people who know their region and farming. Your trust can be contacted on 0800 787 254 (0800 RURAL HELP) anytime for a free, confidential chat.
A major international conference thats expected to bring up to 500 marine scientists to Tauranga next year is being touted as a direct outcome of a mayoral delegation trip to China and South Korea earlier this year.

The second International Conference for Coastal Biotechnology will be held in Tauranga in May 2017 and will also brings together the second NZ/Australia Biotechology meeting and the NZ Aquaculture Research Consortium.
New Zealands focus on digital infrastructure will be front and centre at an international forum to discuss the growth of the digital economy.

Communications and Broadcasting Minister Amy Adams will travel to Mexico this week to speak at a meeting on the Digital Economy: Innovation, Growth and Social Prosperity.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are bringing together Ministers and stakeholders to discuss a range of policy areas important for growth of the digital economy, including internet openness, digital trust, global connectivity, and jobs and skills.

Minister Adams will be speaking on a panel focusing on improving networks and services through digital convergence.

The digital economy is an increasingly important part of our lives, says Ms Adams.

Access to fast and reliable broadband is driving how we do business, access information and connect with our family and friends.

Other countries are interested to learn about New Zealands investment in the Ultra-Fast Broadband and Rural Broadband Initiative programmes. At the digital forum at Cancun I will also be discussing the convergence work programme we are undertaking to ensure our regulatory systems remain fit for purpose.

To make the most of our world-class UFB network its important New Zealand ensures it has the right laws for our communication networks after 2020.

The meeting will be held from 22 to 23 June, in Cancun, Mexico.

SOURCE: Office of Amy Adams
Police have released the name of the Tauranga man who was killed after a crash between a car and motorcycle at Okauia near Matamata on Saturday.

Motorcyclist Ivan Philip Stanbridge, 60, was killed after he collided with a car on Old Te Aroha Road, two-and-a-half kilometres from State Highway 24, at about 3.30pm.
The response by state house tenants and social agencies to the Governments rushed plan to shift families out of Auckland tells us what we already knew  this is no answer to the chronic housing shortage, Opposition Leader Andrew Little says.

The Government is simply kicking this problem down the road.

Several agencies working with homeless said this scheme  which comes into effect today  will have little impact on Aucklands housing crisis.

Emergency housing Monte Cecilia went as far as to say: As a trust we wouldnt recommend it to families because we believe it is setting them up to fail.

This initiative has been so rushed that Ministry of Social Development officials still cant say how many state houses are available outside of Auckland and where they are located.

Auckland community and budgeting groups have reportedly had no approaches from families who want to take up the $5000 grant to move out of the city.

This offer shows how out of touch the Government is on the pressures facing families. Moving away from family, friends and school communities is a massive ask for those already struggling financially.

There is a 40,000-house shortfall in Auckland. Moving a few dozen families out of the city is simply not enough. This is knee-jerk policy at a time when the Government should be laying out a credible plan to deal with homelessness and the wider housing crisis.

A proper plan would involve building more state houses rather than selling them off, a state-backed affordable house building programme and a ban on offshore property speculators.

National has presided over a housing crisis that is driving house prices beyond the reach of middle New Zealand and is pushing rents beyond the reach of low-income families. Its time for them to finally admit theres a crisis and take action, Andrew Little says.

SOURCE: Office of Andrew Little
Westpacs consumer confidence survey has fallen for the seventh time in nine quarters, with middle income households increasingly worried about where the economy is heading over the next few years, says Labours Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson.

This survey is a damning indictment of the economy. Confidence is now below the long run average. Its clear that New Zealanders are not buying Nationals line that things are improving. The survey specifically says, the number expecting positive economic conditions in five years time has plummeted to the lowest level in 25 years.

Right now, a Labour government would be giving the economy a much needed boost by investing in infrastructure and core policy areas such as health, housing and education. In contrast National is content to sit on the sidelines and watch confidence slipping.

While National likes to highlight overall growth figures, New Zealanders know they arent getting the benefits  especially when growth per person is effectively flat, at 0.4 per cent.

As the report says, for many individual households, the economic environment is likely to feel a lot tougher those in rural centres have noted much more concern about economic conditions than their cousins in major urban centres.

New Zealanders are looking for a government that will support them to get ahead. At the moment they are losing faith that the National Government is on their side.

Only a change in government will ensure that the economy delivers for those in the middle, not just the fortunate few at the top. Labour will invest in lifting the value of the economy to generate decent work and give all New Zealanders opportunity through quality housing, health and education, says Grant Robertson.

SOURCE: Office of Grant Robertson
Internal Affairs Minister Peter Dunne is going the distance to acknowledge some of New Zealands most far-flung volunteers.

The Minister will visit the Chatham Islands this week and will celebrate National Volunteer Week with the local volunteer fire brigade.

In a small island community like the Chathams, volunteers are crucial, Mr Dunne said.

The Minister will also talk with the local volunteers about the merger next year of New Zealands urban and rural fire services into a new organisation, Fire and Emergency New Zealand.

Funding has been announced for the new organisation to address gaps in rural fire services, and provide better support for New Zealands 12,000 fire volunteers.

We need a flexible, modern and efficient fire service that works well, is well-funded and where our workforce and volunteers feel valued and supported.

Mr Dunne said strong local leadership is also important for volunteer brigades.

The new organisation will keep the local identity of volunteer brigades, and keep local leadership roles.

Firefighters are a perfect example of the importance of volunteers in New Zealand. They are dedicated, hardworking and are the cornerstone of almost every community.

They also have a key role in supporting the resilience of the communities they represent.

Information about Fire and Emergency New Zealand is at www.dia.govt.nz/Fire-Services-Transition

SOURCE: Office of Peter Dunne
Large offshore construction companies are using Mafioso style tactics in New Zealand that have forced some small operators out of business, says New Zealand First.

We have heard reports of bullying, price screwing and stand-over tactics which are new to New Zealand, says New Zealand First Leader and Member of Parliament for Northland Rt Hon Winston Peters.

These large overseas companies are winning government contracts then screwing down New Zealand sub-contractors further on what has been an agreed price, withholding and not paying their accounts for 90 days and then holding the retention payments for a period of time that is not justifiable.

Its clear mega-contractors in the New Zealand market have driven down profit margins forcing some small operators out of business.

Long-standing New Zealand companies are now also refusing to do any work for these big overseas companies.

A code of conduct for big contractors and a Commerce Commission investigation must now be considered to clean up this situation, Mr Peters says.

SOURCE: Office of Winston Peters
Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee says Cabinet has today agreed to extend New Zealands contribution to the joint New Zealand-Australia mission to train Iraqi Security Forces until November 2018.

Also agreed was an amendment to the missions mandate to allow small numbers (generally around six to eight at a time) of our training and force protection team at Taji to travel for short periods to Besmaya, a secure training location about 52 kilometres south east of Taji.

At Besmaya our troops will ensure a smooth hand-over of the Iraqi soldiers theyve been training at Taji to other coalition trainers, who will be teaching them to use heavy weapons, Mr Brownlee says.

Finally, Cabinet has also agreed in principle that New Zealand personnel be authorised to provide training to stabilisation forces, such as the Iraqi Federal Police, in addition to the Iraqi Army.

These forces are providing an essential role in securing cities once they have been liberated from Daesh so rebuilding can occur, Mr Brownlee says.

To date this has been a successful mission, and the value were providing the Iraqi Security Forces to rid their country of Daesh is increasing all the time.

There is no doubt our troops service is valued by the Iraqi Government, its military leaders, and the troops were training.

Our armed forces are extremely good at this sort of work, and this is having a tangible effect on the Iraqi Armys ability to take and hold ground from Daesh.

So it makes sense to continue doing something that adds value to the likelihood of Iraqi peace and security in the future, and to amend our mission to meet the changing environment in Iraq.

To date, around 7000 Iraqi Security Force personnel have been trained by the Australia-New Zealand mission at Taji, including around 975 officers who have graduated from four junior leadership courses.

Mr Brownlee says our deployment in Iraq and work with the Iraqi Army sits alongside our diplomatic, development and humanitarian commitments.

Todays decisions will not change the number of troops deployed to Iraq, with up to 143 troops mandated for the mission. At present around 105 NZDF personnel and some 300 Australian Defence Force troops are deployed to Iraqs Camp Taji.

Cabinet is comfortable that there are appropriate security measures in place at Taji and Besmaya, and for transiting between the two bases, to protect our personnel from a range of risks.

These measures are constantly reviewed and updated to reflect the threat environment, Mr Brownlee says.

Source: Office of Gerry Brownlee.
President Tran Dai Quang and Mr Salvador Valdes Mesa, Vice President of the Cuban Council of State (Source: VNA)



The State leader made the recommendation at his reception in Hanoi on June 20th for Salvador Valdes Mesa, Vice President of the Council of State and Special Envoy of First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cubas Central Committee and President of the Council of State Raul Castro Ruz, who is sent to Vietnam to inform the country about the outcomes of the 7th National Party Congress of Cuba.

President Quang said that the special envoys visit once again affirms mutual trust, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples.

He thanked Cuba for its support for Vietnams past struggle for national liberation and current national construction and safeguarding, saying that the bilateral relations should be maintained and educated for young generations.

He also expressed his hope that the two nations will realise bilateral agreements and commitments to turn potential and strengths into special programmes and projects, and intensify experience sharing to serve each countrys national construction and protection.

The guest spoke highly of Vietnams help for Cuba in ensuring food security, stating that Cuba will achieve the target of meeting 50 percent of domestic demands thanks to the Southeast Asian countrys assistance.

He informed the host of Cubas socio-economic situation and believed that the results of its economic model update will open up more opportunities for the two countries to intensify economic and trade ties.

He also took the occasion to convey President Raul Castros invitation to President Quang to visit Cuba. The Vietnamese State leader accepted the invitation. The visit will be arranged through the diplomatic channel./.
Anton Yelchin

Anton Yelchin attends the "Green Room" premiere on day 1 of the Toronto International Film Festival at The Ryerson Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, in Toronto.

(Arthur Mola | Invision | AP)

Could a car recall be related to a freak accident that left "Star Trek" actor Anton Yelchin dead at just 27 years old?

The rising Hollywood star died at his San Fernando Valley home on Saturday night after being struck by his own car as it rolled backwards down his driveway. Police say he got out of the vehicle momentarily and ended up pinned against a brick mailbox pillar and a security fence.

TMZ reports the vehicle was a Jeep Grand Cherokee weighing 5,000 pounds. Photos published by the celebrity gossip site showed a metal gate at Yelchin's home with significant damage.

In April, Fiat Chrysler Automotive issued a voluntary recall for 1.1 million vehicles worldwide, including 2014 and 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs in the U.S., after complaints about gear shifters that could confuse drivers and cause rollaway accidents. Fiat said drivers can't tell by looking at the shifter's position whether it is in park or neutral, and instead have to rely on indicator lights on an electronic console.

"Unless due care is taken, drivers may draw erroneous conclusions about the status of their vehicles," the company told Gizmodo on Sunday. Fiat added that all owners of affected vehicles were notified of the issue, but it's unclear whether Yelchin's model was part of the recall.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Fiat Chrysler had identified 212 crashes, 308 claims of property damage, and 41 injuries related to the issue. One 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee owner told USA Today he only avoided serious injury when, while dropping off a DVD, his 23-year-old son yelled out from the passenger seat that the car was moving despite his father believing it was in park.

According to TMZ, a security camera at the gate may have captured the events leading to Yelchin's death, offering further explanation.

The Russian-born actor is best known for playing Chekov in J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" reboot and its sequels, including next month's "Star Trek Beyond." He also played Kyle Reese in "Terminator Salvation" and the lead role in "Charlie Bartlett," plus had memorable roles in "Alpha Dog," "House of D," "Odd Thomas," "Burying the Ex" and "Green Room."
Damien Tripp horizontal.JPG

Damien Tripp

(Provided)

Syracuse, NY -- Damien Tripp was acquitted of murdering Darnell Patterson in November 2014, but convicted of shooting Patterson a month earlier.

Today, Tripp was sentenced to 26 years in prison on illegal weapons, assault and drug charges. Despite being found not guilty of murder, Tripp will spend a year longer in prison than the minimum sentence for murder.

Judge Walter Hafner Jr. sentenced Tripp to 15 years in prison for carrying an illegal weapon with intent to use, 7 years for shooting Patterson in October 2014 and 4 years on a previous drug conviction.

Patterson's sister, Paula Patterson, described the victim and shooter as friends. They partied together, played cards and were on the same side in previous fights, she said.

But Tripp apparently became angry at Darnell Patterson, 32, though the victim asked his sister at the time if she knew why.

"I don't understand the whole concept" of shooting your friend over a dispute, Paula Patterson said.

"Clearly, (Tripp) is a career criminal," she said. "He doesn't know how to interact with people... He's a threat to society. He has nothing to add besides detriment."

A jury in May found Tripp guilty of shooting Patterson on Eureka Street. But he was found not guilty of being the gunman who burst into Park Avenue residence a month later and killed Patterson, who was playing cards at the time.

Prosecutor Matthew Doran has described the shooting as a drug turf war.

Today, Tripp had nothing to say before sentencing. He's still facing another trial for additional drug charges. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison on those charges.
siren.jpg

Update: The trooper involved in the crash was taken to a local hospital.

Canastota, NY -- Traffic is moving slowly on the westbound lanes of the New York State Thruway near Canastota Monday after a crash involving a State Police car.

The New York State Thruway Authority said the left lane of the westbound side of Interstate 90 is blocked at milepost 261.5, which is near exit 34 until further notice. The notice was issued at 9:55 a.m.

The accident, in which an NYSP car ended up wedged under a guard rail, took place this morning, June 20, 2016, in a westbound lane along the New York State Thruway, I-90, near exit 34.

WIBX 950 AM radio is reporting that the state police car is wedged under the rail.

We will post more information as it becomes available.
Town of Vienna, NY -- New York State Police Monday identified Tyler K. Sharron as the driver who died when he crashed a stolen pick up truck in Oneida County while fleeing troopers.

State police said their investigation into the early Sunday crash on Vienna Road is continuing.

Trooper say they saw a 2015 Ford F150 traveling northbound on Vienna Road at 4:39 a.m. Sunday at a high rate of speed. The truck then ran a stop sign without slowing.

Troopers then activated their emergency lights. The driver braked briefly and then sped away. Troopers then advised Oneida County 911 of the driver's failure to comply and lost sight of the vehicle when it rounded a curve.

As troopers rounded the curve, they saw that the truck had left west side of the roadway striking a tree.

Troopers said the driver, identified Monday as Sharron, 18, of 507 Floyd Ave., Rome, was partially ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck had been stolen prior to the crash, but the theft had not yet been reported, troopers said.
Dover, Delaware - A Syracuse University sophomore was killed Saturday night when the Jeep he was riding in collided with another vehicle north of Dover, Maryland.

Hunter B. Watson, 20, of McLean, Virginia died in the crash that took place near the Firefly Music Festival. The Syracuse University chapter of Phi Kappa Si announced his death in a Facebook post. He was a sophomore at the university studying information technology and services, according to his Linked In page.

The crash occurred at about 6:23 p.m. Saturday, as Rod Zarafshar, 20 of McLean, Virginia, was driving a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on Lewis Drive approaching Dyke Branch Road, the Delaware State Police said in a news release.

Robert J. Falcone, 37, of Dover was driving a 2008 Ford F-250 pick-up truck westbound on Dyke Branch Road approaching the same intersection. The intersection is controlled by a stop sign for the north and southbound traffic on Lewis Drive. Traffic on Dyke Branch Road has the right of way.

The Jeep failed to stop for the stop sign and entered into the intersection and into the path of the westbound truck which struck the Jeep on the passenger's side. Watson was a front seat passenger in the Jeep. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Zarafshar was airlifted to Christiana Medical Center where he was admitted with undetermined injuries.

Falcone was taken by EMS to Bayhealth Kent General Hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into this incident. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash, police said.
Syracuse, NY -- This much Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler said Monday: a Syracuse police officer, running toward gunshots, fired her service weapon Sunday night.

A man, Gary Porter, 41, was shot in the chaos shortly after 11 p.m. in a small courtyard on Tully Street. He later died at Upstate University Hospital.

A total of four guns were fired in the shootout during a Father's Day celebration on the city's Near West Side including one by a police officer, Fowler said this afternoon. Three of those guns did not belong to a cop.

But did the officer's bullet hit anyone -- let alone the man who died? How did the officer decide where and when to shoot? Was the man who was killed armed? Were there any arrests made?

Fowler either declined to comment -- or said he didn't know -- at his news conference this afternoon.

The chief promised to update the public once the crime lab and medical examiner's office confirm what happened to the victim. That should determine whether it was an officer's bullet or one fired from another gun.

But Fowler declined to comment about what specifically led the officer to fire her weapon.

The chief described the scene as "total chaos." The officer ran toward the shots in the small, highly populated residential area, the chief said.

But from there, he spoke vaguely.

"Multiple shots fired rang out," the chief said. "The officer discharged her weapon. During the course of the gunfire, two people were struck."

Later, the chief repeated: "One officer discharged her firearm after hearing gunfire in the area."

Beyond that, he said, the shooting was still under investigation. Fowler said he would not say if anyone was arrested in connection with the shooting.

Fowler also declined to say whether Porter or a 31-year-old woman who was shot were armed. The 31-year-old woman, who he did not name, was shot in the leg.

When asked by a reporter if the two were armed, the police chief noted that he had never said whether the man or woman were armed and said he wasn't prepared to comment further.

The chief said that Porter's father had contacted him and that the two would make a joint statement after meeting in the near future. He declined to say what the two discussed on the phone.

The Onondaga County District Attorney's Office issued a news release this afternoon saying that the state Attorney General was also investigating the shooting. The AG's office has jurisdiction in cases in which an officer kills an unarmed civilian. But DA William Fitzpatrick noted that it was too early to tell who would have jurisdiction in this case.

At least three witnesses told Syracuse.com they saw the officer shoot and kill the man, later identified as Porter, as he was running. Porter is also known as Terry Maddox.
thumbnail_barred 20 june.JPG

Robert J. Porter

(Provided photo)

ROME, NY - A Rome man has been indicted by an Oneida County grand jury on several felony charges, including predatory sexual assault against a child, according to Oneida County sheriff's deputies.

Robert J. Porter of 310 Cottage St., Rome has also been indicted on charges of first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, a felony; three counts of second-degree course of sexual conduct, also felonies; and three counts of endangering a child, a misdemeanor, police said.

Deputies said Porter's arrest came after a six-month investigation by New York State Police Inv. Jamie Gallagher, who was assigned to the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center.

Police said Porter is accused of having sexual contact with several victims over a four-year period in the city of Rome.
Opioid Death Risks

Capsules of hydrocodone, an opioid pain medication. New York's Legislature passed a bill that would restrict initial opioid drug prescriptions to seven days.

(Toby Talbot / AP)

To the Editor:

So let me get this right. The state politicians in their wisdom decided, most likely because of the liquor lobby, to allow bars and restaurants to sell booze even earlier on a Sunday. They also decided, for the people who depend on pain medication to have some kind of a normal life, to restrict their doctors' ability to prescribe the pain medication that they need.

If they would check the traffic deaths caused by booze and the traffic deaths caused by people who use pain meds the right way, they would see the problem with their vote to increase the time the alcoholics can drink. I think the law enforcement community must be overjoyed with this.

If these politicians were running for doctor, I might vote for them -- but I will never vote for a new York politician who votes to restrict the right of doctors to make the decisions for the well-being of their patients who have no history of drug abuse.

It amazes me how the politicians, instead of going after the drug dealers and slack doctors to stop this pain medication problem, decided to go after the people with relentless pain to suffer even more to make themselves look good in an election year. Thanks again!

Jim Coffey

Eaton
2015-07-20-sdc-katkosmg0189.JPG

Rep. John Katko, R-Camillus, meets with the editorial board of the Syracuse Media Group on Monday July 20, 2015.

(Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannerelli@syracuse.com)

Rep. John Katko, R-Camillus, represents New York's 24th Congressional District.

By Rep. John Katko

I write to address the recent editorial published by this paper accusing me and other lawmakers of blocking legislation barring terrorists from legally purchasing firearms. ("Congress, stop terror suspects from buying guns,'' June 17, 2016.)

As a former federal prosecutor who spent a career prosecuting violent criminals, and as a Member of Congress who has taken a leading role in fighting the radical Islamist threat at home and overseas, I strongly object to this characterization. As a father, husband, and American, I am heartbroken by the events in Orlando, and frankly, frustrated with the level of discourse that has unfolded since this tragedy took place.

It is the opinion of this Editorial Board that Congress should take up and pass legislation offered by my friend, Rep. Peter King, which would allow the Attorney General to freeze a firearm purchase to an individual "reasonably suspect" to be a terrorist.

First, it is important to note that the terrorists who committed mass murder in Orlando and San Bernardino were not on any government watch list and would not have been stopped had the King legislation been in effect. Nevertheless, Washington politicians and special interest groups have sensed a chance to turn tragedy into a political opportunity.



Like my constituents, I believe Congress needs to act to address the increasing trend of lone wolf and ISIS inspired attacks. I do not think a known or suspected terrorist should be able to purchase a weapon. However, I don't believe the King bill is the right way to accomplish the goal we share of denying weapons to terrorists. As we all know, government watch lists are intended to be broad and have often included individuals who pose no threat. The best example is the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, who found himself on a the no-fly list, and struggled to get off of it. Using secret lists, with vague criteria to be added or removed to deny a right clearly provided by the Constitution would set a dangerous precedent.

As a prosecutor, the burden was on me to prove my case when I took on violent gangs in Syracuse, and I believe that's where the burden of proof should be. Unfortunately, the legislation advocated by this Editorial Board fails to provide the adequate due process protections that serve as the cornerstone of our justice system. It puts the burden on the accused to prove they aren't terrorists, rather than requiring the government to prove its case.

To address this issue in a responsible manner, I joined Rep. Lee Zeldin in December 2015 in introducing legislation similar to the bill introduced by Rep. King, which freezes a firearm purchase for anyone on the terrorist watch list. The firearm sale is blocked for at least 72 hours, during which time the Attorney General may present evidence to determine whether the purchaser is a legitimate threat. The attempted purchase will automatically trigger a notification to federal law enforcement, and if the Attorney General desires, a new investigation. This legislation strikes an important balance. Like the King bill, it importantly freezes the gun sale, but it also includes strong due process protections for law-abiding citizens. It allows the FBI and other agencies to interview and investigate the individual before the gun sale goes through. Is a terrorist going to proceed through this legal framework to obtain a weapon? Of course not. But a law-abiding sportsman who was mistakenly added to a watch list might.

Americans are frustrated with dysfunction in Washington. They expect elected leaders to respond in a bipartisan way to keep them safe. My job is not to do what's easy. My job is to craft a legislative response that makes a difference, and has a chance of becoming law. Congress can and should pass the Zeldin legislation. I have led efforts in Congress to counter violent extremism and crack down on the recruitment of Americans to join ISIS and its hateful ideology. I have pushed for comprehensive reform of our mental health care and I have supported our law enforcement and intelligence communities as they combat this threat.

The victims of recent tragedies deserve more from us. Rather than scoring political points, we should come together as a country and get serious about confronting and defeating our enemy.
A man trying to find a campsite in Upstate New York was shot at after taking a wrong turn down a driveway.

Police charged Brian Tschorn, 36, with first-degree reckless endangerment, a felony, after an incident at a home where he lives, the Post-Star reports.

Here's what happened, according to the Post-Star and police.

A man from New Hampshire, driving a pickup truck that was towing a trailer, was trying to find a seasonal home that his son had purchased Sunday night but became lost. At around 11:45 p.m. the man drove down a driveway in Salem, near the Vermont border, when Tschorn came out of the home and yelled at the man to get off the property. Seconds later, Tschorn began firing as the man was turning the truck to leave the property.

Severeal shots were fired into the truck and trailer, sheriff's Senior Investigator Tony LeClaire said, according to the Post-Star.

"It was close. One went right by his head," LeClaire said. "He said he was looking for the camp and just went down the wrong driveway. He was in the process of leaving."

LeClaire told the Post-Star that it's unclear how many shots were fired, but a .22-caliber rifle was recovered and the investigation is ongoing as of Monday.

Police: Man shot vehicle in driveway, narrowly missing driver https://t.co/CfE1BWtsR1  The Post-Star (@poststar) June 20, 2016

Tschorn didn't give a reason why he shot at the vehicle, asking for a lawyer once police went to his home, authorities told The Post-Star.

Tschorn was arrested and arraigned in the Town of Salem Court and held in Lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond, News10 reports.
joannrestko.png

This undated photo from the FDNY Women's Benevolent Association's Facebook page shows EMS Lt. JoAnn Restko, who died Saturday, June 18, 2016, while hiking in the Adirondacks.

(Facebook)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A New York City fire department EMS lieutenant from Staten Island has died in a hiking accident in the Adirondack Mountains, according to Essex County Coroner Francis Whitelaw.

Emergency Medical Services Lt. JoAnn Restko, 37, of Arden Heights, died Saturday while hiking at Roaring Brook Falls in the town of Keene, according to a news release.

She was hiking with a friend when she went to a ledge at the top of the falls to take a photo, the report states.

Her companion said Restko disappeared from sight, and when she was unable to locate her, she called rangers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

The DEC found Restko's body at the base of the falls. An investigation revealed that Restko fell 80 to 100 feet, striking the rock walls as she fell.

An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

A Facebook post, from the FDNY Women's Benevolent Association, mourned the loss of Lt. Restko.

"It is with deep regret to announce the passing of our sister," the post read.
Nightclub Shooting Florida

Volunteers dressed as angels were among those who showed up to counter a protest by members of the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church at a funeral for one of the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting over the weekend.

(John Raoux | AP Photo)

Orlando, Fla.  When the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church showed up to protest at the funeral of a Pulse nightclub shooting victim, hundreds of counter-demonstrators responded.

The church, known for its anti-gay protests at military funerals, had a few members outside the service on Saturday. About 200 people formed a human chain across the street from the Westboro members to counteract them, according to the Washington Post.

The counter-demonstration formed through Facebook after word emerged that Westboro, based in Kansas, planned to protest at funerals for some victims of the shooting.

The counter-protesters included priests, young people, bikers and members of the LGBT community, the Post said. About two dozen police officers stood between the two groups.

Angel Gabriel Vasquez and his husband, Adam Vasquez, flew to Orlando after the shooting from their home in Pennsylvania.

"This is where we grew up. This is where we matured as young gay men. And to be Puerto Rican, Latin night was one of our favorite nights," Angel Vasquez said, according to the Post. "This is where our hearts is."

Some members of the counter-demonstration wore large angel wings made from plastic pipes and white sheets, according to the Post.

The Orlando Shakespeare Theater crafted the 11 sets of wings at its costume shop, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

The Westboro church members eventually left the area and headed toward their vehicles, according to the Post. The counter-protesters cheered and many began chanting "Orlando strong! Orlando strong!"

Omar Mateen walked into Pulse early on June 12 and killed 49 people. Police eventually shot and killed Mateen, who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State during the massacre.

Pulse is a gay nightclub. It has been reported that Mateen harbored anti-gay sentiments, but may also have been gay himself.

Westboro announced plans to demonstrate at funerals for some Orlando victims last week.

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MONDAY'S SPECIAL EVENTS

Friends of the Library Used Book Depot: Half-price sale on $1 fiction and biography books. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 20-25. 1670 14th Ave., Vero Beach. 772-562-0043.

Veterinary Basics: 9 a.m.-noon June 20, 27, July 11. Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County, 6230 77th St., Vero Beach. Ages: 8-11. $30. Register: 772-571-6418; jwinikoff@hsvb.org.

VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 9-10 a.m. June 20. River Park Place, 700 3rd Circle, Vero Beach.

Artful Storytime: Gallery tour, picture book reading, and Art activity. 10:30-11:15 a.m. June 20, July 11. Vero Beach Museum Of Art, 3001 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach. Ages: 3-6. 772-231-0707; www.verobeachmuseum.org.

VNA Blood Pressure Screenings: 11 a.m.-1 p.m. June 20. VNA Hidden Treasures Vero, 656 21st, Vero Beach.

Family Dog Manners: Teach your dog to be a wonderful companion. 6:30 p.m. June 20, 27. Humane Society of Vero Beach, 6230 77th St., Vero Beach. $75. Register: 772-571-6409; www.hsvb.org.

MONDAY'S RECURRING EVENTS

CHILDREN

Capoeira for Children: Ancient Brazilian Dance Martial art form done to music. 5 p.m. The Cloudwalker Place, 703 17th St., Vero Beach. Ages: 4 +. $80. 772-217-2887; www.thecloudwalker.com.

Karate and Qigong for Children: Japanese Go-Ju Karate and Chinese Qigong and Kung fu. 6 p.m. The Cloudwalker Place, 703 17th St., Vero Beach. Ages: 5-15 years old. $80 per month, Scholarships available. 772-217-2887; www.thecloudwalker.com.

Pre-School Story Time: 11:15 a.m. North IRC Library, 1001 Sebastian Blvd., Sebastian. Ages: 3-5 years old. 772-589-1355; www.irclibrary.org.

CLUBS

Republican Club of Indian River: Social at 5 p.m.; dinner and meeting 6 p.m. The Grille on the Green, 100 Woodland Drive, Vero Beach. All ages. $20. RSVP: 772-713-6411; RepublicanClubIRC@gmail.com.

DANCE

Salsa Group Dance Classes: High energy Salsa group classes, no partner or experience needed. 7-7:45 p.m. Royal Ballroom, 713 U.S. 1, Vero Beach. $48. Register: 772-299-5772; RoyalBallroomDance@gmail.com.

EXERCISE/HEALTH

Capoeira Executives: Brazilian dance martial art form practice rhythmically to music. 4 p.m. The Cloudwalker Place, 703 17th St., Vero Beach. Ages: 35+. $80 per month. 772-217-2887; www.thecloudwalker.com.

The Cloudwalker Place: Breathing and Movements to stretch and massage the body. 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The Cloudwalker Place, 703 17th St., Vero Beach. All ages. $10 per class. 772-217-2887; www.thecloudwalker.com.

Martial Arts for Executives: Japanese and Chinese internal arts training for therapeutic benefits. 7 p.m. The Cloudwalker Place, 703 17th St., Vero Beach. Ages: 15+. $90 per month. 772-217-2887; www.thecloudwalker.com.

Massage Therapy Consultation: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Advanced Motion Therapeutic, 2965 20th St., Vero Beach. Reservation: 772-567-8585; Info@amtvero.com.

Neuropathy-Anodyne Therapy Consultation: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Advanced Motion Therapeutic, 2965 20th St., Vero Beach. Reservation: 772-567-8585; Info@amtvero.com.

Qigong Self Healing Class with Joane: Spend one hour practicing highly beneficial health enhancing techniques. 10:30 a.m. Kashi Ashram, 11155 Roseland Road, Sebastian. $8. 772-559-0866; namaste5@yahoo.com.

Senior Strength Training: Group class using basic strength building exercises. 7:30 a.m., 8:40 a.m. Leisure Square, 3705 16th St., Vero Beach. Ages: 50 +. $5. Reservation: 772-321-6003; jasfitness.com.

Water Aerobics: Water workout in the pool. Aerobics, resistance and flexibility. 10 a.m. Leisure Square, 3705 16th St., Vero Beach. $5. 772-321-6003; jasfitness.com.

Yogalates: 4-5 p.m. Bethel Creek House, 4405 North Highway A1A, Vero Beach. Age 15+. $6 drop in fee. 772-216-3051; exerciselady@comcast.net.

GAMES

Duplicate Bridge: ACBL stratified duplicate bridge games. 1 p.m. First Presbyterian Church of Sebastian, 1405 Louisiana Ave., Sebastian. $6. 772-581-0539; jcalley620@comcast.net.

Karaoke/Games: 7-10 p.m. Vero Beach Elks Lodge, 1350 26th St., Vero Beach. 772-562-8450; veroelks.com.

Pickelball 101 Free Lessons: Learn to play. Pocohanas Park City Courts, 14th Avenue, Vero Beach. 2 p.m. Ages: 50+. $1 without equipment. Register: 772-501-5685; vbpickel@gmail.com Facebook: PickelBall University.

NATURE

Adventure Kayaking: Naturalist guided kayak/paddleboard tour on the Indian River Lagoon. 9 a.m.-noon, every day. Round Island Park, South Highway A1A, Vero Beach. $50 adult, $25 child. Reservation: 772-567-0522; paddleflorida.com.

Evenings on the Lagoon: Motorized Kayak Adventures. Every day one hour before sunset. Round Island Riverside Park, 2200 South A1A, South Vero Beach. One hour before sunset, every evening. $35 per seat. Reservation: 772-380-6815; motorizedkayakadventures.com.

Motorized Kayak Adventures: A relaxing evening on the lagoon in a motorized kayak. 1 hour before sunset, Daily. Round Island Park, 2201 Highway A1A, Vero Beach. All ages. $35. Reservation: 772-380-6815; motorizedkayakadventures.com.

Tours through the Mangrove Forests: Motorized Kayak Adventures. Varies based on tides, daily. Stan Blum Boat Launch, 613 North Causeway Drive, Fort Pierce. $48-60; Group discounts offered. Reservation: 772-380-6815; motorizedkayakadventures.com.

OTHER

American Legion Auxiliary: Monthly meetings. 7 p.m. American Legion Post, 807 Louisiana Ave., Sebastian. 772-581-4869; kinlenj@bellsouth.net.

Evenings on the Lagoon Motorized Kayak Eco Tours: Motorized Kayak Adventures. Every day one hour before sunset. Round Island Riverside Park, 2200 South A1A, South Vero Beach. One hour before sunset, every evening. $35 per seat. Reservation: 772-380-6815; motorizedkayakadventures.com.

FSS Vero Beach Chapter: Welcomes all sewists, skill building and hands-on sewing, all levels. 9:30 a.m. St. Augustine Episcopal Church, 475 43rd Ave., Vero Beach. mwyentzer@hotmail.com.

Karaoke: 7-10 p.m. Vero Beach Elks Lodge, 1350 26th St., Vero Beach. 772-562-8450; veroelks.com.

TUESDAY'S SPECIAL EVENTS

VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 8:30-10 a.m. June 21. Christi's Family Fitness, 1250 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach.

Dog Care Basics and Training: 9 a.m.-noon June 21, 28, July 12. Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County, 6230 77th St., Vero Beach. Ages: 8-11. $25. Register: 772-571-6418; jwinikoff@hsvb.org.

Sebastian Area Widows/Widowers: MoBay Grill, 1401 Indian River Drive, Sebastian. Noon June 21. Ages: 55+. Reservation: 772-388-5914; mollyann0128@yahoo.com.

TUESDAY'S RECURRING EVENTS

ART/CRAFTS

Sebastian River Art Club: Art classes. 9 a.m.-noon. Sebastian River Art Club's Art Center, 1245 Main St., Sebastian. 772-581-8281; sebastianriverartclub.org.

DANCE

Ballroom Dance Class/New Season: 6:30 p.m. 2369 N.E. Dixie Highway, Jensen Beach. Ages: 16+. $9 pp. per class. Register: 772-529-3325; sdancer516@aol.com.

EXERCISE/HEALTH

Intermediate Qigong and Tai Chi: Next level qigong exercises with linking form Tai Chi. 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The Cloudwalker Place, 703 17th St., Vero Beach. All ages. $15 per class/$80 per month. 772-217-2887; www.thecloudwalker.com.

Massage Therapy Consultation: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Advanced Motion Therapeutic, 2965 20th St., Vero Beach. Reservation: 772-567-8585; Info@amtvero.com.

Orthopedic Rehabilitation Consultation: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Advanced Motion Therapeutic, 2965 20th St., Vero Beach. Reservation: 772-567-8585; Info@amtvero.com.

Pilates Reformer Group Class: Reform your body, strengthen your core. Joseph Pilates Techniques. 5:30 p.m. The Club at Spine and Sport, 1345 36th St., Vero Beach. Adults. $90 for 6 weeks. Reservation: 772-559-0866; namaste5@yahoo.com.

Silver Sneakers Chair Yoga with Carmen: 9 a.m. The Cloudwalker Place, 703 17th St., Vero Beach. All ages. $10 per class. 772-217-2887; www.thecloudwalker.com.

Yoga with Carmen: 8 a.m. The Cloudwalker Place, 703 17th St., Vero Beach. All ages. $10 per class. 772-217-2887; www.thecloudwalker.com.

GAMES

Bar Bingo: 1 p.m. Sebastian Eagles Aerie 4067, 9606 Trade Center Drive, Sebastian. Adult. $1 per card. 772-589-6573; empresslp234@gmail.com.

Duplicate Bridge Club: Duplicate Bridge: ACBL sanctioned, stratified, friendly Duplicate Bridge Games. 12:30 p.m. Vero Beach Community Center, 2266 14th Ave., Vero Beach. Ages: 18+. $6. 772-589-3741; nch143@aol.com.

NATURE

Adventure Kayaking: Naturalist guided kayak/ paddleboard tour on the Indian River Lagoon. 9 a.m.-Noon. Round Island Park south Highway A1A, Vero Beach. $25-$50. Reservation: 772-567-0522: paddleflorida.com.

Group Eco-Tours: Your choice, kayak/ SUP. Snack/water provided. 9 a.m. McWilliams Park, Vero Beach. Please call for details. Reservation: 772-299-1286; www.orchidislandbikesandkayaks.com/.

Motorized Kayak Adventures: A relaxing evening on the lagoon in a motorized kayak. 1 hour before sunset, Daily. Round Island Park, 2201 Highway A1A, Vero Beach. All ages. $35. Reservation: 772-380-6815; www.motorizedkayakadventures.com.

Tours through the Mangrove Forests: Motorized Kayak Adventures. Varies based on tides, daily. Stan Blum Boat Launch, 613 North Causeway Drive, Fort Pierce. $48-60; Group discounts offered. Reservation: 772-380-6815; motorizedkayakadventures.com.

OTHER

Lip Reading Classes: 1-2 p.m. 8:45-9:45 a.m. Treasure Coast Community Health Center on Oslo Road, 1545 9th St., S.W., Vero Beach. Ages: 18+. $45 nonmembers/$35 members. Register: 772-468-0123; speechreader1@gmail.com/www.treasurehearing.org.

Off-Leash Dog Park Small Dog Orientations: 3 p.m. Dogs For Life, Inc., Off-Leash Dog Park, 1230 16th Ave., Vero Beach. Ages: 6 months +, dogs must be inoculated, neutered & social. $100. Register: 772-567-8969; dogsforlifevb.org.

TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly): Come and See how to lose weight sensibly and affordable. 6 p.m. First Christian Church of Vero, 1927 27th Ave., Vero Beach. $32 dues per year/$5 per month. 772-562-8148; www.tops.org.

LOOKING AHEAD

Coffee with a Cop: No speeches or agenda. Just a chance to know officers. 8-10 a.m. June 22. McDonald's, 1925 U.S. 1, Vero Beach.

"Sky to Sea Tour": Cannon's Breakfast & tours at Piper Aircraft & Triton Submarines. 8 a.m. June 22. C J Cannons, Aviation Blvd. & 90th Ave., Vero Beach. $75 pp. Reservation: 772-569-8372; pgibbon49@gmail.com.

Moonshot Community Literacy Summit: Literacy partners sharing success stories & addressing the next challenges. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. June 22. First Presbyterian Church, 520 Royal Palm Blvd., Vero Beach. Ages: 18. Reservation: summit@moonshotmoment.org.

Cat Care Basics: 9 a.m.-noon June 22, 29, July 13. Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County, 6230 77th St., Vero Beach. Ages: 8-11. $25. Register: 772-571-6418; jwinikoff@hsvb.org.

VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 9-11 a.m. June 22. VNA Hidden Treasures, 656 21st Street, Vero Beach.

VNA Blood Pressure Screenings: 9:30-11:30 a.m. June 22. VNA Hidden Treasures Sebastian, 11646 U.S. 1, Sebastian.

iPhone & iPad Basics 101 Course: A 3-week course designed for beginners. 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 22, 29. Island Images Studio, 2036 14th Ave., Suite 101, Vero Beach. $127-$150. Register: 772-231-3515; www.refreshfotos.com.

Canine Good Citizen Preparation and Evaluation: Learn the skills to achieve your Canine Good Citizen award. 5:30 p.m. June 22, 29, July 6, 13, 20. Humane Society of Vero Beach, 6230 77th St., Vero Beach. $75. Register: 772-571-6409; www.hsvb.org.

Pasta Dinner: 6 p.m. June 22. Vero Beach Elks Lodge, 1350 26th St., Vero Beach. $10. Reservation: 772-562-8450; veroelks.com.

The Developing Brain: A discussion on adolescent brains and drug abuse. 9 a.m.; registration at 8:30 a.m. June 22. Heritage Center, 2140 14th Ave., Vero Beach. Register: 561-841-1215; martha@hanleycenterfoundation.org.

Junior Humane Officer Training for Kids: 9 a.m.-Noon June 23, 30, July 14. Humane Society of Vero Beach and IRC, 6230 77th St., Vero Beach. Ages: 8-11. $25. Register: 772-571-6418; jwinikoff@hsvb.org.

Reactory Factory Science Show: 10:30 a.m. June 23. North IRC Library, 1001 Sebastian Blvd., Sebastian. 772-589-1355; www.irclibrary.org.

Bucky & GIGI Show: 10:30 a.m. June 23. North IRC Library, 1001 Sebastian Blvd., Sebastian. 772-589-1355; www.irclibrary.org.

Vero Beach Christian Business Association: Ministry spotlight on The Buggy Bunch. 11:30 a.m. June 23. The Plaza, 884 17th Street, Vero Beach. $15-$20. Reservation: lunch@vbcba.org.

Family Dog Manners: Teach your dog to be a fabulous companion. 1 p.m. June 23, 30, July 7, 14. Humane Society of Vero Beach, 6230 77th St., Vero Beach. $75. Register: 772-571-6409; www.hsvb.org.

Indian River Photo Club: Meeting. 6:30 p.m. June 23. Vero Beach Community Center, 2266 14th Ave., Vero Beach. www.indinriverphotoclub.org.

Cataract Month Vision Screenings: Cataract Awareness Month Vision Screening  Are You at Risk? 9-11 a.m. June 24. Florida Eye Institute, 2750 Indian River Blvd., Vero Beach. 772-569-9500; www.fleye.com.

Animal Photography for Kids: 9 a.m.-Noon June 24, July 1, July 15. Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County, 6230 77th St., Vero Beach. Ages: 8-11. $25. Register: 772-571-6418; jwinikoff@hsvb.org.

Tampa Taiko: 10:30 a.m. June 24. IRC Main Library, 1600 21st Street, Vero Beach. 772-538-7558; www.irclibrary.org.

Republicans for Life, Inc: School Board candidate forum for Districts 3 & 5. 11:30 a.m. June 24. Vero Beach Yacht Club, 3601 Rio Vista Blvd., Vero Beach. $20. Reservation: 772-562-1299; conipop@bellsouth.com.

Vero Beach Air Show: Blue Angels air show performers. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. June 25-26. Vero Beach Regional Airport, 3400 Cherokee Drive, Vero Beach. $12-$25. Ticket: www.veroairshow.com.

Humane Society Zumba Party: 2-4 p.m. June 25. Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County, 6230 77th St., Vero Beach. $10. RSVP: 772-388-3331; gallen@hsvb.org.

VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 8:45-9:45 a.m. June 26. St. Elizabeth Episcopal Church, 901 Clearmont St., Sebastian.

Green Market Pet Festival and Dog Wash Fundraiser: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 26. Downtown Stuart by the Riverwalk Stage, 121 S.W. Flagler Ave., Stuart. 772-223-8822; www.hstc1.org.

Theatre-Go-Round Dinner Theatre: "From Sea to Shining Sea". 4:30 p.m. June 26. July 17, Aug. 7, 21, Sept. 18. Quilted Giraffe Restaurant, 500 South U.S. 1, Vero Beach. Reservation: 772-252-9341; theatregorounddinnertheatre.com.

VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 8:30-10 a.m. June 27. Sebastian Gym & Fitness, 345 Sebastian Blvd., Sebastian.

VNA Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar Screenings: 9 -10:30 a.m. June 27. VNA Hidden Treasures, 656 21st Street, Vero Beach.

Canine Manners: Learn a variety of methods to teach polite leash manners. 5:30 p.m. June 27, July 11, 18, 25. Humane Society of Vero Beach, 6230 77th St., Vero Beach. $75. Register: 772-571-6409; www.hsvb.org.

VNA Blood Pressure Screenings: 10:30-11:30 a.m. June 28. By the River 11065 Ganga Way, #311 Sebastian.

Cha Cha Social Dance Patterns Mini Series: Singles and Couples. 7-7:45 p.m. June 28. Royal Ballroom, 1625 35th Ave., Vero Beach. $12. 772-299-5772.

Showbirdz Parrot Show: 10:30 a.m. June 30. North IRC Library, 1001 Sebastian Blvd., Sebastian. 772-589-1355; www.irclibrary.org.

JULY

Jiggleman: 10:30 a.m. July 1. IRC Main Library, 1600 21st Street, Vero Beach. 772-538-7558; www.irclibrary.org.

Ride Against Hunger: Charity ride with 75 and 30 mile routes. 7:30 a.m. July 2. Downtown Vero Beach, 2140 14th Ave., Vero Beach. $45 early registration. Register: 772-770-0740; www.Rideagainstpoverty.org.

USA Dance Vero Beach: Sunday afternoon social ballroom dances for all. 3-6 p.m. July 3. The Heritage Center, 2140 14th Ave, Vero Beach. Ages: 16+. Public $10/members $8. 772-770-9684; verodance.org.

Bankruptcy and Fair Debt Collections  Know Your Rights: Clinics on Bankruptcy and Fair Debt Collections. 2:30 p.m. July 5, Aug. 1, Sept. 6, Oct. 4, Nov. 7, Dec. 5. Indian River Courthouse, Jury Assembly Room, 2000 16th Avenue, Vero Beach. Register: 772-466-4766; www.FRLS.org.

James Songster's Magic & Mayhem Show: 10:30 a.m. July 7. North IRC Library, 1001 Sebastian Blvd., Sebastian. 772-589-1355; www.irclibrary.org.

Extreme Animals: 10:30 a.m. July 8. IRC Main Library, 1600 21st Street, Vero Beach. 772-538-7558; www.irclibrary.org.

Vero Beach Power Squadron: Become a safer, skilled and educated boater. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 9. Vero Beach Power Squadron, 301 Acacia Road, Vero Beach. Ages: 12+. $35. Register: 772-532-6893; vbps-safeboatingclass@gmx.com.

Flamenco Workshop: Flamenco is a form of dance originated in Spain. 2 p.m. July 9. Spine and Sport, 1345 36th St., Vero Beach. Adults. $20-$40. Reservation: 772-202-7246; angie.hirzel@gmail.com.

AARP Smart Driver Course: 9 a.m. July 13. Vero Beach Police Department, 1055 20th St., Vero Beach. $15 mem/$20 non. Reservation: 301-518-5852.

iPhone & iPad Basics 102 Course: 3-week course. 5:30-7:30 p.m. July 13, 20, 27. Island Images Studio, 2036 14th Ave., Suite 101, Vero Beach. $127-$150. Register: 772-231-3515; www.refreshfotos.com.

Showtime for Kids Magic & Comedy Show: 10:30 a.m. July 14. North IRC Library, 1001 Sebastian Blvd., Sebastian. 772-589-1355; www.irclibrary.org.

Curious Moon Puppets: 10:30 a.m. July 15. IRC Main Library, 1600 21st Street, Vero Beach. 772-538-7558; www.irclibrary.org.

Pet First Aid and CPR for Kids: 9 a.m.-Noon July 18. Humane Society of Vero Beach and IRC, 6230 77th St., Vero Beach. Ages: 8-11. $30. Register: 772-571-6418; jwinikoff@hsvb.org.
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By Staff Report

FELLSMERE  A recurring phone scam that targets utility customers threatened four businesses last week, police said.

In the scam, the caller told the business owners that he represented Florida Power & Light Co. and he was calling about an unpaid electric bill, Fellsmere Police Chief Keith Touchberry said. The caller claimed someone was en route to cut off power if the businesses did not make arrangements to pay off the amount. The scam artist demanded payment through prepaid credit cards, police said.

Other residents and businesses on the Treasure Coast have reported the same scam in the last couple of years. Fellsmere police also had reports of it in December.

FPL said its representatives will not demand payment via credit cards or money cards. The company has also asked customers to report such scams at 800-226-3545.
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By Nicole Wiesenthal of TCPalm

PORT ST. LUCIE  A Port St. Lucie man with an arrest history in Oklahoma and prior records in Florida was arrested Friday after he inappropriately touched a teenager, according to Port St. Lucie Police Department records.

Richard Moad, 34, of the 2000 block of Southeast Parrot Street, was charged with lewd and lascivious behaviors with a minor under 16 years old after he touched a girl under her clothes, according to arrest records.

The girl slept over with a friend on New Year's Eve and woke up to Moad touching her, according to the report. She told her friend, who said Moad sometimes touched her when he was drunk.

The Sebastian Police Department investigated Moad previously for two incidents involving him touching juveniles, but the warrant applications were denied, according to the reports. Moad also has an arrest history in Oklahoma with charges involving minors.

Moad was taken to the St. Lucie County Jail on Friday where bonded out later that day on $75,000 bail, according to jail officials.
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By Kelly Tyko of TCPalm

If a student doesn't pass the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, these are some of the other ways they can get a diploma:

? A senior can graduate by receiving a score comparable to the FCAT passing score on the ACT or SAT, but must take the FCAT three times without passing in order to use the alternative tests. This requirement does not apply to students who enter Florida's public school system in 12th grade.

? A score of 410 on the SAT and a 15 on the ACT is comparable to the minimum passing score on the reading FCAT. For the math FCAT, a 370 on the SAT or 15 on the ACT is comparable.

? Seniors with a certificate of completion can enroll in any community college in the state by taking the College Placement Test to determine if they qualify to register for credit or must take remedial courses.

? If students have not received passing FCAT scores, they can enroll in a general equivalency diploma preparation course.

? State law provides for a waiver of the FCAT as a requirement for graduation with a standard high school diploma for students with disabilities whose abilities cannot be accurately measured by the statewide assessments.

Not passing the FCAT didn't stop almost 200 Treasure Coast seniors from receiving their high school diploma last school year.

For about 130 members of the graduating class of 2008, a high enough score on the SAT or ACT college entrance exams won them a second chance to get a standard diploma. An additional 70 Treasure Coast graduates were given a waiver on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test because they met the other graduation requirements and had a documented disability.

Graduation rates and data provided by the state Department of Education show Florida's improving graduation rate is strongly driven by students who failed to pass the FCAT exit exam but instead graduated by other means. The number of graduating seniors in the "alternate assessment" category has quadrupled in two years and 6,546 students statewide earned a diploma in 2007-08 school year with either SAT or ACT scores.

"Students are taking this more seriously than before and as a result of the need for them to make that score to graduate, I think we're seeing that resulting in their (comparable) scores being more successful," said Owen Roberts, assistant superintendent for curriculum, assessment and accountability for the St. Lucie County School District. "It's not easier than the FCAT. I can tell you that."

Jay Greene, a nationally recognized expert on graduation rates, said it was puzzling so many students could earn a comparable score after failing the FCAT several times.

"This raises some flags that further investigation is warranted," said Greene, who heads the department of education reform at the University of Arkansas.

Florida's 2007-2008 graduation and dropout rate mark the state's best performance since the 1998-1999 school year, when the state began its current method of tabulation. The state's graduation rate was 75.4 percent and the dropout rate was 2.6 percent.

Florida calculates its high school graduation rate by tracking individual students and includes those who earn special and General Education Development diplomas. National studies calculate graduation rates by using rougher counts of the number of ninth-graders and the number of teenagers who make it to graduation four years later.

Federal law does not consider students earning a GED as "graduates," while Florida counts these students.

The difference in reporting methods has resulted in significant disparities. The most recent figures from the National Center for Education Statistics, for example, indicate Florida's average freshmen graduation rate was 63.6 percent in the 2005-2006 school year. The state recorded a rate of 71 percent that year.

In October, the federal Department of Education set new rules, requiring all states to use the same reporting system by 2010-2011. Education officials in Florida said they are reviewing the state's graduation rate to determine what changes are needed.

Among other graduation requirements, Florida students must pass an exit exam ? the 10th-grade FCAT in math and reading ? to earn a standard diploma. But if they bomb on the FCAT, they can still get a diploma if they earn what the state considers a comparable score on the SAT or ACT, two tests associated with college admissions.

Students must fail the FCAT exit exam at least three times before they substitute an ACT or SAT score.

About two dozen other states require exit exams for graduation.

The Associated Press and St. Petersburg Times contributed to this report.
Aside from news trucks, reporters and Port St. Lucie Police, no activity is seen outside the home of Seddique Mateen, father of Orlando gay nightclub shooter Omar Mateen, on June 14 in Port St. Lucie. (XAVIER MASCARE-AS/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

By Elliott Jones Elliott.Jones@Tcpalm.Com 772-978-2224

ST. LUCIE COUNTY  Two months before he killed 49 people and injured 53 others at Orlando gay nightclub Pulse, Omar Mateen transferred to relatives his part ownership in a house in Port St. Lucie, according to court records.

On April 5 Mateen gave to his sister and brother-in-law, Sabrina and Mustafa Abasin, for $100, his part ownership of a house in the 900 block of Southwest Bayshore Boulevard. Mateen's wife, Noor Salman, who married him in 2011 in Concord, California, witnessed the quitclaim deed that was filed at the St. Lucie County courthouse.

MORE | From childhood to the massacre, what happened to Omar Mateen?

The same day, another of Mateen's three sisters, Mariam Seddique, 27, a hairstylist of Port St. Lucie, conveyed her part ownership in the same house to the couple. The women and Omar Mateen's father, Seddique Mateen, 59, an insurance salesman, signed over his part ownership during February. The family members originally bought the house during 2013 at a cost of $95,000, county property records show.

The 1,740-square-foot Port St. Lucie house now owned by Sabrina Abasin, 31, and Mustafa Abasin, 43, is valued at $105,900, county records show. Sabrina Abasin is described in court documents as a respiratory therapist; her husband, a financial planner.

While Omar Mateen was making the property transfer during April, he lived with his wife in a Fort Pierce condominium he owns with another of his sisters, Mary Seddique, 26, a respiratory therapist. The Woodlands condominium is in the 2500 block of South 17th Street.

The recent Port St. Lucie property transfer is among a number of real estate transactions family members have made since coming to the Treasure Coast from New York in 1991. Omar Mateen's parents, Seddique and Shahla Mateen, 57, emigrated from Afghanistan, in the wake of the Russian invasion of that nation, Seddique Mateen has said.

The property family members own on the Treasure Coast appear to be residences the family used.

In addition to the home in the 900 block of Southwest Bayshore Boulevard, Mariam Seddique and Sabrina Abasin own a residence in the 500 block of Southwest Bayshore Boulevard, Port St. Lucie, according to county records. Mariam Seddique lives there with her husband, Masood Khan, 29, described as a handyman and a native of Pakistan, according to county property records.

That house also is where Seddique Mateen has been based and talking with reporters since his son was identified June 12 as the Orlando shooter.

The house is the listed address for his nonprofit corporation The Durand Jirga Inc., named after a disputed border, the Durand Line, between Afghanistan and Pakistan, he said last week. This also is the address of a second nonprofit corporation he set up this year: the Provisional Government of Afghanistan.

Mariam Seddique and Mary Seddique are listed as the owners of two small houses in the 1300 block of Midway Road between Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie. The records for both purchases list their addresses as being the home in the 500 block of Southwest Bayshore Boulevard in Port St. Lucie.

Neither Omar Mateen's father, nor his mother, currently are listed as property owners in St. Lucie County, according to property appraiser records.

Through the years, Omar Mateen's father has owned houses in Port St. Lucie and nearby. During 2012, the father sold a house for $140,000 in the 400 block of Dover Court, Port St. Lucie.

Seddique Mateen previously owned a house in which the family lived in the 800 block of Northwest Waterlily Place in Jensen Beach. That was sold in 2012 for $138,000, records show.

During 2000, he sold a house in the 1400 block of Southwest Grapeland Avenue in Port St. Lucie, records show.
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By Elliott Jones Elliott.Jones@Tcpalm.Com 772-978-2224

FORT PIERCE  A boating incident late Sunday afternoon resulted in the death of a 26-year-old Vero Beach man and the injury of two other young men, according to the St. Lucie County Fire District.

All the injuries occurred when the men were run over by a boat they were attempting to stop after the driver was thrown out, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report states.

Cody Troska died of head injuries while hospitalized. His father, David Troska, of the 1200 block of Southwest 34th Avenue, declined to comment on Monday.

Injured in the incident were Luke Muccigrosso, 22, of Port St. Lucie, and Andres Blanco, 22, address not available. A fourth person, Dominic Dragon, of Pompano Beach, wasn't injured.

Muccigrosso is listed in good condition at the Lawnwood Regional Medical Center & Heart Institute.

The accident occurred by an island, known as rope swing island, near the north causeway in the Indian River Lagoon. According to witnesses, Dragon was thrown out of the 20-foot boat he was running "in circles, jumping waves, and showing off," according to an initial Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission report.

Troska, Muccigrosso and Blanco were injured when they swam out to help Dragon. "As the victims were trying to climb into the vessel to stop the vessel's movements they were run over by the Pathfinder vessel," the report states.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission continues investigating and hasn't released other details on what preceded the incident.
Marian Galss (right), Cynthia Labinsky (center) and Jim Bronzo (left) protest the FWC black bear hunt Oct. 23, 2015 in Orlando. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)

On Wednesday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is expected to discuss holding another Florida black bear hunt.

Just as this Editorial Board said last November, another hunt in 2016 is a bad idea that is unsupported by science.

Furthermore, another hunt would fail to follow FWC's own policy guidelines in a 2012 Bear Management Plan when the species was taken off the threatened list.

Poll: Should state officials authorize another black bear hunt?

Amid a rising chorus of public opposition to a 2016 hunt, three prominent biologists with experience in studying wildlife populations are urging the state to delay a hunt so more population studies can be conducted and bear sanctuaries established.

Bear biologist Joe Guthrie, Florida State University professor Joseph Travis and Matt Aresco, director of the Nokuse Plantation wildlife area in Northwest Florida, called on the FWC to complete a full demographic analysis before allowing hunters to bag more bears.

In 2015, much of the criticism of the hunt was that statewide bear population surveys had not been taken for 13 years. Since then, the state has obtained updated population figures and the FWC noted the total black bear population has increased markedly since previous surveys from 2003.

Yet, the biologists argue, the state's numbers lack sufficient information about the maximum sustainable harvest rate needed to maintain stable bear populations. While snook, red drum and spotted sea trout populations are reviewed annually, black bears are not. The new state population numbers, the scientists argue, offer only a snapshot of the true situation rather than a detailed analysis.

Some pro-bear activists have argued the state's bear management areas are not equal in terms of genetic diversity. Some areas, such as the Big Bend bear management area and the South Central area (Hendry/Glades counties) have vulnerable populations. It has been suggested that allowing more hunting in these areas could lead to the extinction of bears there.

The 2012 Bear Management Plan recommended creating pathways to allow animals to move from area to area, thus building up the gene pool in low-population areas. This has yet to happen.

Bear-human interactions have been on the rise in Central Florida, where residential subdivisions have eaten into bear habitats in a major way. Yet even FWC scientists agree another hunt would not make a dent in those human-bear encounters.

The biologists urge the creation of sanctuary areas in the National Forests of Florida (Apalachicola, Ocala and Osceola counties), the Big Cypress National Preserve and Department of Defense properties. That would set aside in excess of 2 million acres where bear hunting would be prohibited.

About 1,000 new human residents arrive in Florida every day. Inevitably, Florida's black bear population will lose even more habitat in the face of such a human onslaught. We should protect vulnerable bear populations across the state before it's too late.

Create those sanctuaries and stop the hunt.

More on black bear hunt
The Islamic Center of Fort Pierce. (NICOLE RODRIGUEZ/TREASURE COAST NEWSPAPERS)

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See what stories had readers talking

By Gil Smart of TCPalm

Quick context on what Treasure Coast residents are talking about this week:

Mosque in the spotlight

How is it possible that two Islamic extremists worshipped at the same small mosque?

In the wake of the Orlando nightclub massacre, the tiny Islamic Center of Fort Pierce has found itself in the national spotlight. Orlando shooter Omar Mateen worshipped at the mosque and so did Moner Mohammad Abu-Salha, believed to be the first American suicide bomber in Syria.

Mosque officials say it's a coincidence, and that both Mateen and Abu-Salha were on the fringes of the local Muslim community. The congregation didn't know either well enough to understand how they became radicalized.

But that's not good enough for critics. Some launched a Facebook group called "Close the Mosque." Mosque officials say they have gotten nasty online messages, and people have driven by, shouting epithets.

With congregants frightened, the mosque hired private security  after the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office declined to provide a security detail, even if the mosque paid for it.

St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara said his department is limited by staffing and prior contracts. But the mosque has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to intervene, and while there's no indication it will, it would be interesting to hear the DOJ's take on whether the sheriff's office really is stretched too thin  or whether it could, and should, do more.

The Sheriff's Office has nixed extra security for the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce: https://t.co/r7Uqw7sJw6 #OrlandoShooting  Lisa Broadt (@LisaBroadt) June 17, 2016

Murderer guarded PGA Village

Two days before he turned the Pulse nightclub into a charnel house, Mateen was smiling and greeting residents at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie.

And that has residents demanding answers from G4S, the private security company that employed him.

About 200 attended a meeting last week with company official Drew Levine, wondering how Mateen flew under the company's radar.

The answer: Mateen passed the requisite background checks and screening. And even though there were warning signs, Levine said, there were explanations.

In 2013, for example, Mateen threatened a St. Lucie County sheriff's deputy while working a courthouse detail. That triggered an FBI investigation, but Mateen said he was targeted by Islamophobic co-workers, and G4S determined he worked in a hostile environment  and kept him on the payroll.

Levine said Mateen exhibited no hostility toward PGA residents.

But Daniel Gilroy, who once worked with Mateen at the community, called him "unhinged and unstable." Gilroy said he complained to G4S  which did nothing, because Mateen was Muslim.

So could Mateen have taken out his murderous urges closer to home? That possibility has to be on the mind of every PGA Village resident  and needs to on the mind of Levine and everyone else at G4S.

PGA Village residents question how Orlando shooter went undetected. My story: https://t.co/3fguhJf9L9  Nicole Rodriguez (@NicRodriguez) June 16, 2016

Another "Lost Summer" looms

Summer is here  and already, it might be lost.

The amount of water discharged from Lake Okeechobee into local waterways has now surpassed the total volume discharged in 2013, when oyster beds and sea grass died and toxic algae blooms proliferated, resulting in warnings to avoid the water.

In other words, 2013 was bad. But 2016 could be worse.

Will that spur action? Activists want to acquire land and send the water south. Others insist we need to finish projects already on the books. So the deadlock continues.

But as the green algae increases, and if the ecological consequences ultimately equal or dwarf what we saw in 2013, anger will rise, and political leaders will be in the crosshairs.

They can deflect and seek "public relations" solutions. Or they can make hard choices.

Only one will have a lasting impact  so we suggest they choose wisely.

Why this is the "Summer That Never Was" St. Lucie River today in Palm City. #IndianRiverLagoon pic.twitter.com/kjoDGKouIe  Ed Killer (@TCPalmEKiller) June 18, 2016
Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch and Jon Dian Executive Director of Natural Resources Leadership Institute (NRLI)

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By Stacy Ranieri

Sewall's Point Commissioner Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch was recently awarded the prestigious Burl Long Award during the University of Florida Natural Resources Leadership Institute (NRLI) graduation ceremony for Class XV.

The leadership program, of which Thurlow-Lippisch was one of only 20 fellows, is designed to educate community leaders to help them collaborate more successfully and find solutions to natural resource problems.

Participants visit multiple locations throughout the state over an eight-month period to learn about issues affecting business and the environment in Florida.

The Burl Long Award is a peer award, presented each year to the classmate who has shown the most growth and use of NRLI concepts and tools, incorporating conflict management and collaborative decision making into their work and changed the most as a result of their NRLI experience.

Jacqui's peers from across the state voted her as the recipient of this award.

"Each year, the award goes to the person who the group feels best exemplifies the spirit and practice of collaborative problem solving and leadership. This year Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch was the well-deserving recipient," said Executive Director of the NRLI, Jon Dian.

"I am honored and humbled to have been recognized with the Burl Long Award by my classmates in the University of Florida Natural Resources Leadership Institute. The program has been an incredibly timely learning opportunity for me, and I look forward to bringing these new experiences, collaboration and consensus-building tools to serve the citizens of Martin County and work toward solutions to our local problems," said Thurlow-Lippisch.

The Republican currently serves as a Town of Sewall's Point Commissioner, having been elected to office in 2008. She served as the Town's Mayor from 2011 to 2012. Currently, she is a candidate in the running for Martin County Commission, District 1.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed my role as a commissioner for the Town of Sewall's Point for the past eight years. I look forward to applying my knowledge and leadership abilities to be of even greater service to my fellow citizens as one of five Martin County Commissioners. A key goal of mine is to improve the relationships between the County, the City of Stuart and other municipalities through the use of the conflict resolution skills I gained through the NRLI program," added Thurlow-Lippisch.

For more information, visit NRLI.IFAS.UFL.edu.
Andy Rubin, Androids daddy, last week made some interesting comments about quantum computing and artificial intelligence. The part I agree with is it wont be long until most things we have are connected to an intelligent machine. (When referring to something that will be far smarter than we are, the use of the term artificial would not just be inaccurate  it would be rude.)

I disagree that there will be only one, however, because competition, latency, governments, uses (you dont want a defense system controlling your air conditioning for instance), and privacy concerns alone will ensure there are many.

However, the recent tragedy in Orlando and the poorly thought through responses by both presidential candidates got me thinking about what it would be like if we turned governing over to an AI.

Ill share my thoughts on that this week and close with my product of the week: a new video card from AMD targeted at virtual reality for a very reasonable US$200.

AI And Orlando

The political response to the Orlando mass shooting by both candidates unfortunately was typical  a return to talking points already established, and no real effort to map existing resources to prevent recurrence. Trump spoke to an even greater ban on Muslims entering the country, even though the current attack was by a U.S. native, and Clinton returned to her talking points on gun control, even though it is clear the controls already in place not only worked, but also didnt have an impact.

As weve seen with the war on drugs and prohibition, increased regulation into illegality tends only to create a stronger criminal element, which in this case, directly contradicts the primary goal of saving lives.

A properly programmed AI (note the properly programmed part, as there is a growing concern that an AI improperly programmed could become an even greater problem) would start with the data and likely conclude the following: that the crime could be mitigated if the various databases that define people digitally were cross-connected better and a solution were structured to flag and resource people likely to become mass killers; and that the current criminal system, which is based on properly assigning blame, should be modified to focus on prevention  and the effort would have to be resourced adequately.

Any behavioral traits that consistently lead to violence would be flagged digitally, and the AI then would determine which people were clear and present dangers, and define a set of corrective actions from mandatory anger management to removal from the general population.

The Result

Once the AI system became connected and resourced appropriately, anyone buying large amounts of ammunition and an assault rifle would be flagged. Anyone using hate speech against anyone would be flagged. Anyone with a history of domestic violence would be flagged, and anyone who appeared to be aligning with a hostile entity would be flagged.

When two of those elements were identified in the same person, that individual would be added to a list for investigation. Three or more would trigger prioritization for corrective action and surveillance. Anyone exhibiting all of those traits would be classified as a clear and present danger and prioritized for immediate mitigation. That would have prevented Orlando  and if it didnt, the focus would be on figuring out why and fixing it, in that order, so things would get better as opposed to what we generally have now, which is closer to stalemate.

Blocking all Muslims would be a massive wasted effort (the majority of mass shootings in the U.S. have not been carried out by Muslims). Banning the legal sale of weapons would force the purchases underground, eliminating the flags  data  now associated with legal purchases. Also, in areas where guns were less affordable, the alternative might be explosives, which typically are harder to track, as there generally is no legal way for average citizens to buy explosives in most countries.

In short, the government would commission the massive intelligence-gathering data center in Utah to flag people who met a set of conditions, identifying them as threats before they could commit an act of mass violence. A mitigating procedure would be in place to eliminate the threats. If it didnt work, the failure would constitute a learning moment, and the system would take corrective action iteratively until it met with success.

The goal would be to fix the problem  not to persuade people to agree. An AI, at least initially, would care little about appearing right. It would be laser-focused on doing the statistically least difficult thing to solve the problem.

If the AI saw the NRA as a problem, it would design a plan to fix it  likely by focusing on eliminating gun company influence  but it wouldnt just blame the NRA and figure that was making progress. There are easier and more effective things it could do anyway. The properly programmed AI always would look for the easiest effective path to a real solution.

By the way, when folks look into this without bias, they seem to find we dont have a gun problem  or, more accurately, guns arent the problem we actually need to fix  we have a data problem.

Folks with a biased view are more interested in sticking it to folks who disagree than in trying to solve what is actually a fixable problem.

AIs vs. Politicians  and People in General

As I write this, I wonder if we shouldnt refer to the coming wave of machines as intelligent machines and humans as artificially intelligent. Machines will start with facts and generally be designed to factor in all evidence before making a decision. However, with people  and this is apparent with Trump and Clinton  the tendency is to make the decision first, and then just collect the data that proves you made a good one.

This is evident in the argument between President Obama and Trump. Trump argued that Obama was more concerned with Trump than with fixing the problem, which actually is correct, given that the actual fix is within the presidents authority (adjusting monitoring systems to flag threats). Both men are focused on who appears right rather than on fixing the problem.

When working on a spreadsheet, have you ever gotten into an argument with your computer over who made a mistake? How about with your accountant? Computers dont care about appearances. They do care about data, though, and if that data is bad or their programming is corrupted, then they can make errors  but they still often do better than their human counterparts. We ignore the data.

Wrapping Up: Machine Intelligence for President?

Were not yet ready to put an AI in the highest office of the U.S., but that may be the only way we survive into the next century. It also could be the way we end the human race. You see, the other problem I havent yet touched on is that people are creating these machine intelligences, and that means some of them will be corrupted by design, so that they dont do anything that disagrees with their creators world view.

That means there literally will be insane machine intelligences, because they were improperly programmed on purpose. The chance of putting one of those things into power unfortunately is very high.

For instance, look how we deal with drone mistakes. We dont call collateral damage collateral damage  we reclassify the dead as combatants. Can you image a smart weapon with that programming? Suddenly everyone would be a target, and wed have designed a Terminator future.

Unfortunately, what that means is that unless we fix ourselves  which is really unlikely  we are rather screwed.

The entire tech industry is hoping that  at least on the consumer side of the market  VR takes off like a rocket. Obstacles include a lack of content and the problem that cellphone-based solutions arent very good. PC based-solutions are wickedly expensive, and there is a very real likelihood youll hurt yourself if you dont sit down when using them  you can either lose your balance or trip over the necessary tether.

Well, at last weeks E3, AMD stepped up to address the first problem with an impressive $200 graphics card, the Radeon RX480. It is premium VR certified, and you should be able to add it to your existing Windows 10 desktop PC to make it capable of supporting VR.

AMD Radeon RX480

I played with the Radeon RX480 a few weeks ago in Macau, and it is an impressive piece of work. What allowed the company to reach the low price point was that it focused on things that would make VR work better  and that approach paid off in spades.

Similar technology is rumored to be going into Microsofts Xbox Project Scorpio, which suggests that a gaming system on steroids could be surprisingly affordable when it comes out next year (Xboxes typically sell at or below cost) and ideal for the VR games expected to arrive with that console.

However, the Radeon RX480 is due in stores at the end of the month, so you dont have to wait that long.

Im always up for a value, and when it comes to graphics the AMD Radeon RX480 should be one of the biggest bargains in the VR or desktop PC segment  at least for now  and it therefore is my product of the week.
Asus recently unveiled a family robot that can serve as a home healthcare assistant, control connected devices in the smart home, monitor security, perform various online tasks, and function as a playmate, among other things.

Asus Zenbo made its debut at last months Computex computer show.

At the same time, Asus launched a program that provides devs with access to the Zenbo SDK.

Zenbo will be priced at US$600, but Asus did not announce when it will be available to consumers.

This is following the trend of personal robots building on the technology and services trends that the smartphone space made popular, said Philip Solis, a research director at ABI Research.

One can think of this as a smartphone or an Amazon Echo with mobility and articulation  to aim the screen, camera sensor, infrared LED, etc., he told TechNewsWorld.

Zenbos Features

Zenbo, which bears a resemblance to popular movie robot WALL-E, is capable of moving freely and independently around a family home.

It has a camera with facial recognition that can take photos and videos, make video calls, and function as a remote-controlled camera monitor.

Zenbo can hear and respond to natural language voice commands, Asus said. It can provide voice reminders and tell stories. It can play music over its high-quality stereo system.

Zenbo can connect to and control smart home devices, assist users in shopping online, and interact with social media and other online services.

Proactive artificial intelligence lets Zenbo learn and adapt to user preferences, Asus said.

Reactions to Zenbo

Wouldnt it be easier to have an Internet-connected device with access to sophisticated cloud-based artificial intelligence with you at all times? asked Jonathan Gaw, a research manager at IDC.

Oh, hey, I already have one, he told TechNewsWorld.

Zenbo falls into the category of expensive party conversation piece, commented Bill Ablondi, a research director at Strategy Analytics.

Can it go downstairs? If not, thats a real limitation for many households. I think a stationary device with far-field voice recognition makes more sense, he told TechNewsWorld. It doesnt seem to offer anything more than Google Home or the Amazon Echo. Its hard to see what Zenbo can do that Google Home or Amazon Echo cant, other than move around the home.

The artificial intelligence in Zenbo likely is very simple and based on cloud services  just like smartphones and products like the Amazon Echo use to process voice, look up information, and to connect to and control smart home products, ABIs Solis said.

Asus partners most likely will handle voice processing. Other companies likely will partner with Asus to support, for example, Googles Nest, Amazons services, Wikipedia, connections to wearable devices, audio books with some animations, or anything really, Solis suggested.

The Family Robot Concept

Asus Zenbo appears to offer many of the same features as Jibo, which enjoyed a hugely successful Indiegogo campaign in 2014.

Tentatively priced at $600 with the SDK and $500 without, Jibo rolled out to early adopter developers this spring.

This is where the personal robot market starts. A humanoid robot is complex  a potential hazard if it fails and falls  and is prohibitively expensive, Solis remarked.

Still, personal robots like these will be a growing market, he said. Shipments globally will start out in the low hundreds of thousands per year until around 2019 or 2020.
TOP500 has just released its latest bi-annual list of the world's fastest supercomputers, and June's rankings show two firsts for China: the country has more machines in the top 500 than the US, and the world's most powerful computer is powered by processors designed and manufactured in the Asian nation.

The Chinese-built Tianhe-2 had held the title of world's fastest supercomputer for the last three years, but it has been knocked off the number one spot by a new machine called Sunway TaihuLight.

With its Linpack benchmark of 93 petaflops, Sunway TaihuLight is more than twice as powerful as Tianhe-2, and about five times faster than the highest-ranking US machine, the third-placed Titan Cray XK7.

While the US may only hold the third position in the supercomputer rankings, it's still able to boast the fact that most of the machines in the top 500 contain technology from American companies - even Tianhe-2 is packed with chips from Intel. But China is trying to move away from its dependence on imported technology; Sunway TaihuLight is powered by a SW26010 processor designed by the state-owned Shanghai High Performance IC Design Center.

"As the first number one system of China that is completely based on homegrown processors, the Sunway TaihuLight system demonstrates the significant progress that China has made in the domain of designing and manufacturing large-scale computation systems," said Wuxi National Supercomputing Center director Prof. Dr. Guangwen Yang.

The second major achievement for China is that this 47th edition of the list marks the first time the country has more machines in the rankings than the US. There are now 167 supercomputers in the top 500 located in China, compared to 165 that are based in America. In 2001, no Chinese computers made it onto the top 500.

But the US may challenge China's dominance in 2018, when the Department of Energy's Summit system is scheduled to come online. It will deliver five times the computational performance of Titan's 18,688 nodes, supporting speeds of up to 300 petaflops.

Last year, President Obama authorized the creation of the world's first exascale computer that will theoretically be able to perform one quintillion (a billion billion) calculations per second, or 1000 petaflops. There's no timescale for its creation, but the US will doubtlessly be hoping it can develop the supercomputer before China.
Production is set for July with the Galaxy Note 7 from Samsung becoming available on the shelves around August. With the release date so near, it's not surprising that the market is going crazy over this Samsung's hottest new offering.

But what exactly do we know about the Galaxy Note 7?

Galaxy Note 7 Specs

Here is a rundown of the specs and features to expect from the Galaxy Note 7:

 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display

 12-megapixel primary camera

 Corning Gorilla Glass 4

 Single SIM

 Stylus

 1,440 x 2,560 pixels

 Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

 Iris Scanner

 Internal memory of up to 128 GB

 External memory can handle up to 256 GB

 Qualcomm Snapdragon 823 Chipset

 Non-removable Li-Po battery

Keep in mind, though, that the specifications above may not be 100 percent correct with the unit still not available in the market.

What gets a lot of people excited about the device is the rumored 7 GB RAM, which is a LOT for a handheld. Gaming PCs, a few years ago, typically had a RAM of 4 GB so imagine what it would be like to have 7 GB in a phablet. It seems like such a waste considering how you can't take full advantage of PC games through the phablet  but we are pretty sure game developers will catch up pretty soon.

The snapper is also something to write about with a phenomenal capturing capacity that makes you think: is this a new camera design? A point and shoot hardware beautifully complemented by the amazing colors and 2K pixels of the screen, rumor has it that you can pass off Galaxy Note 7 pictures as professional photos. Considering how a new iPhone is slated for release in the near future as well, this might be Samsung's way of getting ahead one of its chief rivals.

Samsung Focus

The Galaxy Note 7 is also expected to be the first Samsung smartphone to have the Samsung Focus app. It's basically a productivity app that allows users to manage their emails, tweets, messages and the like through one portal. If you are familiar with the BlackBerry Hub, we're guessing the Samsung Focus pretty much functions the same way by providing you a common dashboard to access everything.

Initial Release

It looks like Samsung is confident about its Galaxy Note 7 as the initial release is rumored to be for 5 million units. Samsung's last Note only had a production of the same number for one quarter, so an initial 5 million is a lot. However, if Samsung manages to deliver onto the rumors, then there is no question that people will be lining up to purchase and, in fact, 5 million units may not be enough.

The most obvious question comes to mind now: will it be affordable? Considering how the Galaxy Note 7 is essentially setting the stage for the next-generation of phablets, it's probably too much to hope that the unit will be average in cost. Be prepared for an above-average pricing, but at the same time, expect that this could be more than worth it.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A report by Politico revealed that Apple has informed Republican leaders that it will not be supporting the party's presidential convention this year. The reason behind this are the controversial comments that presumptive nominee Donald Trump has made toward immigrants, minorities and women.

Apple has supported the event in the past, but for this year, the company has decided that it will withhold donating cash or technology, according to a pair of sources familiar with the company's plans.

The decision of Apple to withdraw support from the Republican party's convention due to Donald Trump shows the widening gap between the presidential nominee and the tech industry. Trump has been vocally against certain aspects of the industry, with much of his criticism being placed on Apple, its CEO Tim Cook and the company's push for encryption.

Trump has previously also called for a boycott on the products of the company. This was in connection with the legal battle between Apple and the FBI over the removal of the encryption on the iPhone of one of the shooters of last year's San Bernardino incident.

Apple has courted Republicans in the past, but the company may have found Trump's comments too extreme. It is not clear if Apple will be providing support to the Democratic presidential convention in Philadelphia in July.

Other tech companies such as Google, Facebook and Microsoft have said that they will be providing support to the event, which will also be held next month but in Cleveland. According to the companies, the support that will be provided to the events of both parties is non-partisan, with the goal being only to encourage citizens to participate in the presidential elections.

That does not mean that the companies are fine with Trump's statements though. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, for example, has vehemently opposed the approach of Trump regarding immigration.

In Apple's case, there is simply nothing shared in terms of ideologies with Trump. The presidential candidate's anti-immigration policy could hurt the recruiting efforts of the company in drawing top-flight talent from other countries, and Trump has also said that it will be forcing Apple to have its products manufactured within the United States, which will drastically hurt the company's bottom line.

In addition, while Apple has been making a big push for environmental concerns, Trump has rejected the science behind climate change. Trump has been an opponent of gay marriage, while Cook is gay and embraces the LGBT community.

Free Press Action Fund field director Mary Alice Crim has been urging tech companies to withdraw their support from the Republican presidential convention, as these companies should think twice about aligning their brands with "racism, hatred and misogyny."

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
There is no question that Sony came out on top overall when it came to E3 this year, even if it followed through on its word and didn't show off the PlayStation 4 Neo during the convention.

Under normal circumstances, the absence of the PlayStation 4 Neo at E3 would mean that it was highly unlikely that the console would see the light of day anytime soon - Sony has set a precedent for this after all.

The PlayStation 3 was shown off at E3 2005, then released in 2006, while the PlayStation 4 was shown off at E3 2013 (it was officially unveiled at a press conference earlier in the year), then released several months later at the end of the year.

Now, if reports are to believed, Sony is poised to break away from this tradition and will launch the the PlayStation 4 Neo by the end of the year.

At the end of a recent Eurogamer article by Richard Leadbetter that questions Microsoft and Sony's apparent emphasis on 4K visuals with the Scorpio and Neo - rather than gameplay and frame rate - is this interesting tidbit:

"Several sources have indicated to me that PlayStation Neo launches this year, despite its E3 no-show. If that is the case, it'll be interesting to see how developers utilize its resources, and whether 4K really is the focus. And we can be equally as sure that Microsoft will be watching just as intently as it gears up for its own next-gen roll-out."

If this is true, then Sony has really put its fans and critics alike on quite the emotional roller coaster over the past several months. Everything started earlier this year, when rumors about the PS4 Neo first appeared and reports about it being released before the end of the year followed soon afterward.

Next, speculation ran wild about an official reveal when GameStop CEO Paul Raines mentioned during an appearance on Fox Business that VR and new consoles would be shown off during E3 this year. Things then reached a standstill for a little while, but then picked up in full force just last week when Sony both confirmed that the Neo exists and that it wouldn't show up at E3 after all.

The Neo wasn't revealed as expected, but now we're left with this bombshell with Sony reportedly poised to break tradition and release its new console without showing it off at E3 first.

One would assume Sony decided not to show off the Neo because it still had some kinks to work out and wasn't ready for a proper unveiling. And if that's the case, what kind of kinks could the Neo possibly have that are so important that it couldn't be shown off at the biggest event for the industry of the year, yet can be fixed so quickly that it would be safe to launch by the end of the same year?

E3 provides one of the greatest places for Sony to show off its hardware, so now that the event is over, wouldn't it be best for Sony to seriously buckle down and not bother with a release just yet?

As of now, Sony is in the fortunate position of having none of its fans or critics know close to nothing about the console, so it should take advantage of this and take its time. Putting itself on an alleged time table limits the time it can spend on developing the console. It also raises everyone else's expectations.

Regardless of what Sony plans to do with the Neo, it still has to make an official announcement. Such venues where it could do so would include Gamescom, Tokyo Game Show, Paris Games Week, or maybe even a dedicated event. Things just got a little more interesting, so let's see what Sony does next.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
In a previous report, we wrote that the supposed upcoming iPhone 7 will be disregarding its audio jack in exchange for a second speaker.

Recent leaks on the iPhone 7, however, reveal that such claims may not be the case as designs where a headphone jack is included have surfaced. Moreover, it seems like the company may be planning to include dual-sim features for later releases, a first for Apple.

Initially posted on Weibo by Rock Fix, a phone repair shop based in China, the photo leaks have circulated online, and a number of reports have said that these images may be designs for the upcoming iPhone 7.

One set of photos portrays components of the 4.7-inch variant where an audio jack is still in place - a welcome constant due to consequences that may arise if Apple does push through with jack-less models.

While Bluetooth connections and Lightning-based audio peripherals might be the alternate solution, these scenarios have been deemed less of an ideal compared to physically connected audio devices, as the former solutions are currently not up to par with the quality produced by the latter.

Sure, a Lightning connector is physically connected to the device but that means an added cable - which may or may not be shipped freely with the iPhone 7 - to your existing jumble of cable wires.

The growing popularity of Type-C USB ports has to be factored in as well, as these may affect the final product and call for a revamped Apple Lightning connector. A "time lag" is to be expected between the smartphone's release and a reliable recording solution.

The Apple iPhone 7 was expected to be revealed at the recent Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2016 to bring (sufficient) closure to the growing amount of rumors pertaining to its specs and design. However the event concluded without Apple leaving as much as a suggestion that it is working on a new iPhone model, or any new hardware for that matter.

Mostly software updates to its iOS, macOS, tvOS and watchOS - like new iMessage features and Siri's expansion - as well as the highly anticipated iOS 10 were the highlights of Apple's conference and sadly, nothing about upcoming device releases.

Still, Apple is bound to release a new phone model one way or another and we'll keep you posted on the latest rumored designs the Apple iPhone 7 may be carrying.

The leaked image tileset may be viewed below:

Photo: Karlis Dambrans | Flickr

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The advent of the internet has given cheating a new twist. Cheats now use social media sites such as Facebook to leak exams or share questions that appear in tests.

In Algeria, questions in tests that high school students need to take before they can enroll for higher education were posted online.

The leak has prompted authorities to require thousands of high school students to retake their final exams.

Algerian Minister of National Education Nouria Benghebrit said some students who have already taken the baccalaureate final exams need to take new tests on June 19 so they can be tested again for the seven exams that leaked online.

Authorities are also not taking chances, making sure that the cheating incident that has sparked outrage will not happen again.

On Sunday, state media revealed that authorities in the North African nation have temporarily blocked access to social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to prevent cheats from posting exam papers online.

An official source told APS state news agency that the cut in social media is directly linked to the partial baccalaureate exams and was implemented to protect the students from "publication of false papers for these exams." Internet access through 3G mobile networks also appeared to be disrupted on Sunday.

The APS reported that 555,177 students will retake the partial baccalaureate exams after some of the papers were leaked in the first session that was conducted from May 29 to June 2.

"All measures have been taken to ensure the smooth running of the exams, in collaboration with other sectors concerned, namely the National Police, National Gendarmerie, Civil Protection and Health," the Ministry of National Education said.

Police have arrested dozens of individuals, including officials who work in national education offices and printers as part of the investigation on how parts of the exams were leaked to social media.

Police said that cybercrime investigators already identified those who published the exam materials on social networks and those who facilitated the leak.

Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal vowed to punish those behind the incident. Presidential chief of staff Ahmed Ouyahia, on the other hand, said that the incident is a plot against the education minister.

Benghebrit, who was appointed minister of education in 2014, angered conservatives by proposing to reform the education system.

Egypt is facing a similar problem. On Thursday, the Egyptian interior ministry said that it has arrested a student who moderates three Facebook pages that leak school exam papers.

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There's no place like home. Three International Space Station (ISS) astronauts landed safely on Earth last Saturday morning (July 18) after spending 186 days in space.

Expedition 47 Commander Tim Kopra (NASA), Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko (Roscosmos) and flight engineer Tim Peake (European Space Agency) landed safely at 5:15 a.m. on Saturday in a remote area in Kazakhstan after a roughly six-hour ride on board the Russian Soyuz spacecraft from the ISS.

When the Soyuz capsule touched down on Earth, a gust of wind blew the capsule onto its side. Despite the small bump, the three ISS astronauts landed in good shape.

A stand-by crew lifted the men one by one off the capsule, whose diameter measured just a little over 2 meters, and placed on chairs.

"I'm just truly elated. The smells of the Earth are so strong. It's just wonderful to feel the fresh air. I'm looking forward to seeing the family now," said Peake.

The ESA astronaut said that his 186-day stint at the ISS was a "life-changing experience," adding that he will definitely miss the view from space.

The three astronauts then boarded a helicopter to the city of Karaganda, which is located around two hours from where the Soyuz capsule landed, where a traditional welcome ceremony awaited them.

From Karaganda, Malenchenko boarded a Russian jet that will take him to Star City near Moscow. Peake and Kopra took a NASA jet to Bodo, Norway.

From Bodo, Peake took an ESA plane to the space agency's training center in Cologne, Germany. Kopra continued to fly toward his home in the United States, which is located near Houston's Johnson Space Center.

ISS Mission Accomplished

Since the Dec. 15, 2015 blast off, the ISS mission took exactly 185 days, 22 hours and 11 minutes. The spaceflight covered a total of 2,976 orbits and almost 78 million miles.

Last Friday, Kopra officially turned over the ISS to Expedition 48 commander Jeffrey Williams during a brief ceremony.

"It's been a tremendous honor to serve with this crew. I can't think of a better group of people to spend time with in space and to work with," said Kopra.

The three international astronauts were part of several experiments and studies conducted on board the ISS. The research involved studies on microgravity's effects on the human body.

The studies are not done yet. These ISS astronauts will be subjected to several physical and medical tests to see how their bodies adapted to the long-term space missions.

The men also took part in robotics testing activities as well as the development of smaller exercise machines that astronauts can use in longer space missions.

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The Tesla Model S is packed to the brim with features, and a horrible accident in Germany a couple of months ago proved that it could also be the safest car ever, as its passengers were able to exit the electric vehicle without assistance from first responders.

Apparently, there is even more to the Tesla Model S, with Tesla Motors founder and CEO Elon Musk claiming that the electric vehicle can function as a boat.

In a tweet, Musk said that while it is not recommended, the Tesla Model S will be able to float well enough to transform into a boat for a short period of time if the need arises. The vehicle will be able to propel itself in the water through the rotation of its wheel.

The interesting tidbit was not tweeted by Musk out of the blue, however, as there was an incident where a Tesla Model S owner decided to drive the electric vehicle through a flooded tunnel in Kazakhstan.

Driving through floods is certainly not a safe thing to do, whether behind the wheel of an electric vehicle or a car with a combustion engine. The undercarriage of a vehicle, which either carries a battery pack or an exhaust line, could suffer damage from prolonged submersion in water, and car warranties and insurance rarely cover any damage caused by driving through floods.

Musk confirmed through Twitter that the drive units and the battery of the Tesla Model S are sealed, which makes the vehicle less vulnerable to damage from flooding compared to cars with internal combustion engines. While combustion-powered vehicles will stall in the water if they are not equipped with the engine snorkels as their air supply is cut off, the Tesla Model S can power through the water, as it does not need air intake.

That said, and to reiterate, driving through a flooded street is not a wise idea and should only be done when it is absolutely necessary. When all the pathways are flooded, the ideal thing to do is not to be out there with your car.

The lighthearted news on the Tesla Model S being able to function as a boat comes just as the vehicle finds itself in the middle of a controversy on an alleged suspension issue. Tesla Motors has claimed that there are no safety defects related to the Model S or the Model X electric vehicles, hinting that the issue was fabricated.

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Whether e-cigarettes are a "gateway" or a "roadblock" to cigarette smoking among teens has long been a subject of debate.

Just recently, researchers from California discovered that older teens who use e-cigarettes or vape pens are six times more likely to smoke conventional cigarettes in a span of two years, compared to their peers who have not smoked it before.

However, an expert from Boston says this previous study lacked sufficient evidence to prove that vaping indeed causes the switch to traditional smoking among youngsters.

"If they turned into regular vapers, they wouldn't have turned to smoking," argued Professor Michael Siegel of Boston University.

Now, the tides have turned. A new research in the United Kingdom revealed that e-cigarettes play a key role in reducing the chances of teen smoking.

In many cases, e-cigarettes act as a roadblock to tobacco, the report said.

Extensive Interviews

Experts from the Center for Substance Use Research conducted detailed interviews with young people who were aged 16 to 25 years old across England and Scotland. The majority of the participants say e-cigarettes have reduced the chances of themselves and other people smoking traditional cigarettes.

Lead author Dr. Neil McKeganey says there were very little indication among the participants that e-cigarettes result to higher chances of young people smoking He says most of the participants, including those who used e-cigarettes, perceived cigarette smoking in negative terms. These participants also considered vaping as being entirely different to smoking.

One of the participants believed that vaping is taking away from cigarette smoking, adding that people are moving off traditional cigarettes and switching to vaping. Another participant believed that if vaping became more common, cigarette smoking would become uncommon because of the aspect of quitting, adding that vaping will "replace smoking."

An overwhelmingly high number of participants  who represented non-smokers, current and former smokers, and e-cigarette users  view tobacco as "extremely harmful" and say that e-cigarettes offer smokers a substitute.

Many of the participants also said vaping will cause a decline in smoking. When asked whether the opposite effect could happen, one 19-year-old said it is typically people who are trying to quit smoking who use e-cigarettes.

"I mean there is the odd person who does it because it's cool and that might influence them to want to try smoking," the participant said. "[B]ut I think on the whole it's the other way round."

Public Perception

However, although the majority of participants were aware of the dangers of tobacco smoking, it was clear that most of them remain confused about e-cigarettes and whether or not they were just as dangerous.

Some of the participants said they have seen media coverage reporting that vape pens are just as bad as conventional cigarettes. As a result, they were reluctant and uncertain about using the devices.

With that, McKeganey said it was concerning that inaccurate perceptions of e-cigarettes could result to the persistent use of tobacco, regardless of the fact that the Public Health of England concluded that vaping is 95 percent less harmful than traditional cigarettes.

More Concerns

Furthermore, participants were concerned about the long-term effects of e-cigarettes.

One participant mentioned the fact that it took more than 40 years before scientists distinguished the negative effects of cigarette smoking. The participant believes the effect of vaping won't be any worse than the effects of smoking, but there is still a question mark on its long-term impact.

McKeganey said others share the same concern, which he considers worrisome. He said it is apparent that this idea is a persistent view expressed by the youth.

In the end, McKeganey said that what is clear about their study is that the "e-cigarettes are a gateway" theory is not manifesting. He said the effect was quite the opposite.

Details of the study were presented at the Global Forum on Nicotine.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
One of Overwatch's offensive characters, McCree, has incredible aim that can pick off targets with deadly precision, and enough firepower to wipe out the enemy team.

His Story

Jesse McCree is a 37-year-old bounty hunter from Santa Fe, New Mexico, doling out his own brand of justice with his Peacekeeper revolver. He was a member of the Deadlock Gang, which dealt in illegal weapons trade in the American Southwest when he was busted in a sting operation. Overwatch offered him the choice between rotting in prison or joining the organization as part of Blackwatch, its cover ops division, to put his resourcefulness and expert marksmanship to good use. McCree had come to appreciate the freedom he enjoyed as a member of Blackwatch but when turmoil within Overwatch started to brew, he left and went underground, resurfacing as a gunslinger for hire but who only joins fights he believes to be just.

His Abilities

Peacekeeper - A round is fired from McCree's revolver. Shots fire slowly but deal massive damage with every hit. Alternatively, Peacekeeper can unload the round more quickly, but a drop in accuracy is experienced as the shots fan out.

Combat Roll - McCree does a dive in the direction he is moving in, reloading his revolver while escaping incoming fire.

Flashbang - McCree throws a flashbang grenade some short distance in front of him, stunning enemies within the blast radius briefly.

Deadeye - When McCree's Ultimate meter is full, he can unleash the Deadeye, slowing down time and aiming at enemies on the field. The longer a player waits, the more accurate McCree's shot will be. A red skull over an enemy signifies guaranteed kill.

Watch McCree's abilities in action below!

Heroes He Is Weak Against

Widowmaker - McCree is deadly at short and mid-range but he is vulnerable to snipers due to his speed. Even when he's in the process of using Deadeye, Widowmaker shouldn't have a hard time landing a headshot.

Hanzo - If McCree is not eliminated at long range, he can still fall prey to a ground-targeted Scatter Arrow that can kill him before the hero closes distance.

Heroes He Is Strong Against

Tracer - She dies quickly if she can't Blink or Recall and that makes her a prime target for McCree's Flashbang. Additionally, she has a preference for fighting within close range, putting her smack dab in the middle of McCree's comfort zone.

Lucio - Survival is guaranteed for Lucio if he can keep moving. Stunning him with McCree's Flashbang and following up with fan fire almost always gets this hero out of the way.

Tips

1. Combine Flashbang and Peacekeeper's fan fire as much as possible.

2. Peacekeeper's fan fire is best used when players have a full clip as it unloads whatever shots are left. Just having, say, two shots left in the chamber then will make the ability useless.

3. Deadeye needs time to charge and that makes it possible for enemies to try and make their escape from McCree's line of sight. Hold enemies in place with Zarya's Graviton or Mei's Blizzard, if you have the heroes in your team.

4. McCree has low mobility so be mindful at all times of his position on the battlefield. Combat Roll can get him to safety but won't be effective at all times.

5. This hero is usually a low-priority target so use that to your advantage by squeezing in every shot you can before enemies zone in on the character.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
A 40 anos de Malvinas

"Revisar el pasado es pensar el futuro". La frase de la presidenta de Telam, Bernarda Llorente, resume el espiritu del documental coproducido entre la agencia de noticias y el canal publico de TV sobre la cobertura que los medios de comunicacion hicieron del conflicto, plagada de censura y mentiras. Una autocritica necesaria para mirar hacia adelante en un (ya viejo) contexto de fake news y negocio informativo.
The Israeli attacks are an open war that escalates everyday in the worst forms of persecution and fascist racism," the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine stressed. | Read More
Australian cows are brought into Vietnam via a seaport. Beef, chicken, and pork from Australia, Japan and the US have flooded supermarkets around the country recently. Photo: Quang Thuan Minister of Trade Vu Huy Hoang fears the livestock industry will face the biggest challenge from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which will eliminate import tax on meat that stands currently at 15-40 percent.

Many of its members, including the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, are big exporters of animal products and are sure to export large volumes to Vietnam.

Nguyen Duc Thanh, director of the Vietnam Center for Economic and Policy Research (VEPR) at the Vietnam National University in Hanoi, said the industry is less competitive mainly because of its heavy dependence on imported animal feed and remedial production technology, which have raised production costs for livestock firms.

Vietnam annually imports some 11 million tons of animal feed at a cost of more than US$3 billion, according to the Vietnam Animal Feed Association.

Animal feed accounts for up to 70 percent of breeding firms production costs. The poor quality of breed stock, small scale of production, and the lack of advanced technology also increase costs.

It costs $2.08 to produce a kilogram of pork in Vietnam, much higher than the $1.41 in the US, and $2.53 for beef compared to $1.77 in Australia.

Van Duc Muoi, general director of Vissan, a leading meat processor, said: Eighty five percent of livestock is now bred on small-sized farms and only 15 percent is bred on large-scale farms.

He said though Vietnam has the worlds third largest number of sows  4.5 million  it only ranks 15th-16th in pork output.

Low productivity makes Vietnamese pork prices higher than that of other countries, and so it will be difficult for local pork to compete with imports after the TPP.

Tong Xuan Chinh, deputy head of the Animal Husbandry Department, said the increasing competition from imports would force the livestock industry to fix its weaknesses, failing which it would not survive.

Imports dominate

Livestock breeding companies are facing increased competition from imported cattle and poultry products. Beef, chicken, and pork from Australia, Japan and the US have flooded supermarkets around the country.

Their prices are even lower than those of local products, and their safety and hygiene standards are thought to be superior, and hence an increasing number of customers are opting for them.

Pork imported from Europe, the US and Canada costs 15-20 percent lower than local products. Thus, food producers and restaurants too use imported meat.

An executive at food producer Duc Viet said his firm uses pork imported from Canada and the US to make hotdogs and sausages. Using imported products ensures our competitiveness.

Muoi of Vissan said the livestock industry has been badly hit by imported meat.

Imported cattle and poultry meat will become even more dominant after the pact comes into force, and some food producers plan to build cold storages for imported meats.

Livestock firms are facing huge losses due to an oversupply caused by excessive domestic production and growing imports.

Their situation is expected to worsen when the TPP comes into effect. After the conclusion of the TPP talks early this month, the participating nations would review legal procedures to prepare for the official signing, Hoang said, adding that the processes often takes at least 18 months.

Unable to compete with chicken imported from US, the Southeastern Poultry Association's members reported a combined loss of VND500 billion ($22.61 million) in the last six months.

Bankruptcy is unavoidable for many of them if they do not receive more support from the government.

According to the General Department of Customs, Vietnam imported 122,000 tons of beef, pork and poultry meat worth $194 million last year, two thirds of which was poultry. The country also imported nearly 181,000 live cows and buffaloes for slaughter.

Talking about the risk of failure the local animal husbandry industry could face after the TPP comes into effect, economist Pham Chi Lan said Vietnam should abandon some weak industries so that it could prioritize the development of other, more competitive industries.

Minister Hoang said Vietnam would have to restructure its agricultural sector by adopting technologies and increasing the scale of cultivation and livestock breeding to reduce costs and control quality.
The International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, has approved a loan worth VND340 billion (US$15 million) to Vietnamese animal feed producer Anova.

The loans, to be provided through a five-year convertible bond, will help Anova Feed JSC, a subsidiary of Anova Corporation, build two new plants and a warehouse in the next two years, according to an IFC release.

It would enable Anova Feed to triple its capacity, Anova Corporation CEO Nguyen Hieu Liem was quoted as saying in the statement.

IFC would also provide technical aid for expanding to other countries and strengthening corporate governance in preparation for a listing, he said.

In a comment on the investment, Kyle Kelhofer, IFCs country manager for Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR, said the IFC wants to support the sustainable development of Vietnam's agricultural sector, which is rapidly growing and accounts for over 20 percent of the country's GDP.

Founded in 2012, Anova Feed is one of eight animal health, feed and farming subsidiaries of Anova Corporation, a known veterinary medicine producer in Vietnam.
A bus flips after crashing into a worker on a pass in Da Lat, Lam Dong Province and then another bus from the opposite direction on June 19 morning. Photo: Gia Binh/Thanh Nien

A head-on collision between two passenger buses in Da Lat, the capital town of the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, on Sunday morning left seven people dead and many hospitalized with severe injuries.

Police said a Ho Chi Minh City-bound bus lost control and hit a construction worker on the street. Then it continued to ram into another bus from the opposite direction before flipping to one side.

The 21-year-old worker, Phan Trong Tam, was killed, along with six passengers on both vehicles, including a nine-year-old child and three female teachers, all 37 years old, of Phan Boi Chau High School in Binh Thuan Province.

Around 20 others have been admitted to Lam Dong General Hospital and Hoan My Dalat Hospital. The driver of the first bus, 42-year-old Nguyen Ngoc Quang, is in critical condition, according to doctors at Lam Dong General Hospital.

The crash happened at around 10 a.m. on Prenn pass where part of its 10-kilometer bendy road is under construction.

Police are investigating further.
Authorities in South Korea said they will investigate two Vietnamese fishermen accused of killing their boats captain and a chief engineer, both from South Korea.

Yonhap News Agency cited the South Korean Coast Guard as saying that the suspects, both 32, allegedly killed the 43-year-old captain and the 42-year-old engineer at around 2 a.m. Monday, after drinking alcohol.

They were locked up by others aboard before a navigator reported the incident to the boat owner in Busan.

South Korean authorities said seven Vietnamese were working on the boat together with three Koreans and eight Indonesians.

The boat is sailing in the Indian Ocean and scheduled to reach Seychelles in four days. The South Korean Coast Guard plans to send officials to the island country for investigation, the report said.

A Korean sailor said via satellite telephone that the suspects were good workers, according to the report.

A source from the Vietnamese embassy in South Korean told news website Zing that the agency has been informed of the case and is investigating further.
As taxi hailing giant Uber enters Pakistan, a little-known local competitor is counting on a mix of new ideas and old technology to tap what could be a big chunk of the market: low-income residents who travel in rickshaws, not cabs.

Known as Rixi, the Lahore-based service hails rickshaws instead of cars. Its platform is not smartphones, but older SMS phone messaging that allows nearby drivers to bid for any user's business.

Pakistan has more than 130 million cellphone subscriptions, but only 21 percent subscribe to data packages, and, while the proportion is rising, there are opportunities across emerging economies in Asia to tap a relatively low-tech customer base.

In Thailand, Taxi Radio uses calls and text messages to put cabs and people in touch and is popular with those without smartphone apps, and HeyKuya!, an SMS-based service provider in the Philippines, was recently acquired by Indonesia's YesBoss.

Rixi founder Adnan Khawaja says his company works with more than 1,000 rickshaw drivers in Lahore, where many people rely on small, noisy three-wheelers that are well suited to beating traffic in the eastern city's crowded streets.

Rixi works by bypassing poor smartphone penetration in the low-income rickshaw market by polling drivers' locations using cellphone towers and matching passengers' messaged locations to points on Google Maps.

"If you look at ... Uber's operational model, they will be depending on the smartphones," said Khawaja. "In countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, that population is [...] growing, but it's still smaller compared to the vast market."

Uber declined to comment on Rixi's business model, and said that while it had tested SMS-based services, there were no immediate plans to deploy such a service in Pakistan.

"We continue to explore products that would stimulate demand ... and better service the city, whether that is a motorbike, whether that is a rickshaw, whether that is a chopper," said Zohair Yousafi, Uber's head of expansion in Pakistan.

To entrepreneurs like Shehmir Shaikh, who recently launched errand start-up Scooty Bhejo in Lahore, Uber is missing a trick over Pakistan's digital divide and its large, low-income transport market.

"Abroad, Uber has made waves because of the readily available technology that people are using, like iPhones in their hands," he said. "We don't have that here. (And) the major form of transport is not cars."

Roadblocks to success

Adam Ghaznavi, a technology entrepreneur who has studied the rickshaw market, thinks Pakistan will not necessarily be a large market for taxi ride hailing apps like Uber, but it could be very lucrative for an equivalent app for rickshaws.

Rixi rickshaw founder Adnan Khwaja (not pictured) shows the user interface of his website which facilitates rickshaw hailing service in Lahore, Pakistan May 19, 2016.

"If somebody can figure that out, the potential is huge," he said.

So far, Rixi says it has registered about 100,000 rides since it launched in late 2013, and is averaging about 100 rides a day. That's just a fraction of the roughly 200,000 trips that rickshaws in Lahore take every day, according to the Awami Rickshaw Union.

"Rickshaw drivers do not know anything about these (online apps)," said Majeed Ghauri, head of the union, which represents the drivers of 60,000 of Lahore's roughly 80,000 registered rickshaws. "They simply want their daily wages."

Ghauri said market dynamics and consumer behavior in the low-income market were markedly different from those in the taxi ride sharing arena.

Moreover, Rixi's location-tracking, reliant as it is on imprecise cellphone tower triangulation and Google Maps, has thrown up some major kinks.

Several customers complained that Rixi's service was unable to deliver on its promised 15-minute service delivery time.

"Even in the most densely populated cities in the country, the accuracy is no more than a few hundred meters, which is not good enough for a driver looking for a passenger," said Danielle Sharaf, a technology entrepreneur whose company provides value-added services for cellphones.

Rixi says it has an error rate of only three percent, and says mismatches are because of its reliance on external services such as Google Maps.

Ghaznavi said a major hurdle to adoption in the Pakistani market is the lack of literacy, both traditional and digital, among rickshaw drivers and passengers, compared to those using taxi ride hailing apps.

"The rise of the middle class is the key to resolving the rickshaw situation. Right now, the middle class is not traveling on a rickshaw, the lower middle class is," he said.
Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz leaves after a ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance at Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem May 16, 2016.

Austria's foreign minister said on Sunday it was time for the European Union to make an effort to identify common ground with Russia.

"I believe that we should gradually come to a modus in which for every implementation of the Minsk Protocol, for every single step, sanctions will gradually be lifted in return," Sebastian Kurz said in a discussion at ORF TV.

It would be a very strong signal of accommodation towards Russia, if such a modus could be agreed on in the medium term.

"I hope that this would be received appropriately."

The European Union is due next week to extend its economic sanctions on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine for six months as it has linked sanctions relief to the full implementation of a peace plan for eastern Ukraine, which has been all but stalled for months.
Boeing Co. is nearing a $4 billion deal with Russias largest air-freight company that would help extend the life of the iconic, hump-nosed 747 jumbo jet amid waning demand for four-engine aircraft, people close to the transaction said.

The U.S. planemaker is in advanced talks with AirBridgeCargo Airlines and its Moscow-based parent, Volga-Dnepr Group, to convert a year-old commitment into more than 10 firm orders for 747-8 freighters, two of the people said. The agreement could be announced as soon as the Farnborough Airshow next month in England, according to four people briefed on the deal, who asked not to be identified because the talks are confidential.

The deal would provide a crucial lifeline for the Queen of the Skies as Boeing tries to preserve production until the air-cargo market revives or shipping companies start to replace aging wide-body fleets. The 747 freighter, prized for a hinged nose that allows large cargo to be loaded at the front, is Boeings second-most expensive commercial jet, with a list price of $379.1 million. Buyers typically negotiate discounts.

Converting commitments to firm orders starts the process of allocating manufacturing resources and production slots to build the planes.

A representative of Volga-Dnepr declined to comment on the talks, but said the airline plans to take all 20 jumbos it committed to last year. A Boeing spokesman declined to comment.

Airline shift

Sales have dwindled for Boeings four-engine 747 and the Airbus Group SE A380 superjumbo jetliner as airlines have shifted long-range travel to more-efficient twin-engine models like Boeings 777. Boeing had just 22 unfilled orders for the 747 through May, according to its website. The planemaker halved annual output of its largest commercial jet to six planes in January, citing declining sales.

The potential Russian savior for the 747 -- which brought long-range travel to the mass consumer market when it was introduced by Pan American World Airways in 1970 -- isnt just a Boeing customer. Volga-Dnepr also transports large aircraft segments for Boeings 787 Dreamliner from suppliers to the planemakers factories.

At the Paris Air Show last June, Volga-Dnepr signed a memorandum of understanding to buy 20 of the 747-8 freighter. The shipping company took delivery in November of the first two aircraft, so-called white tails built for other customers whose orders fell through.

The Russian freight hauler confirmed it is the unidentified buyer for two of the four jumbo freighter orders Boeing recorded in March, saying the planes will be delivered later this year. The first of those two 747s has been repainted with the livery of CargoLogicAir Ltd., a Volga-Dnepr subsidiary.
With non-military actors like coast guards increasingly active in the disputed South China Sea, former U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen said international law was becoming even more important to keeping a lid on tensions.

Describing the region, including the Strait of Malacca and the Java Sea, as one of the worlds most visible maritime choke points, the retired admiral expressed the need to maintain freedom of movement through the waters. An international court is expected to rule within months on a Philippine challenge to Chinas claims to more than 80 percent of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of trade passes each year.

"These issues need to be decided by an independent third party," Allen said in an interview on Friday in Singapore. "Wed all be well-reasoned to wait for that to happen and see what the results are." The region was very critical to commerce not only for the U.S., but a number of countries, he said.

In recent years, China has reclaimed more than 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares) in the waters and beefed up its military presence, causing the U.S. to increase its own naval activity in the West Pacific. The buildup has put the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations grouping on edge.

"Making a claim is not the same as having it adjudicated at a UN forum, in a tribunal," Allen said. "And thats the place to have that decision made, not just a de facto action taken unilaterally by any one country."

China has deployed its coast guard to assert its claims in the South China Sea, which crisscross those of countries like Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Increasingly, Chinas coast guard vessels resemble naval vessels in weapons and other capabilities and the country has been accused by its neighbors of harassing fishing and military boats, chasing them from disputed waters.

Allen, who retired in 2010 and is now an executive vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton, said that coast guard services would play an more important role in securing national fish stocks and other economic assets such as oil, gas and mineral deposits.

"I believe there is an ascendancy right now of coast guard-like agencies," Allen said. "Unless you are trying to project power across the globe -- and there are very few countries trying to do that -- you need to protect your exclusive economic zone."

Other regions

Friction at the intersection of land and sea boundaries wasnt restricted to the South China Sea, Allen said. It was also visible in the Caribbean, West Africas Gulf of Guinea and off the Horn of Africa, including Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.

"Thats the reason, I think, you are seeing China use that as an engagement tool of choice," he said, referring to the coast guard. In some cases, a coast guard agency appears to be less provocative than a naval force.

Allen said any nation that intentionally violated or ignored international rulings on sovereignty claims would be taking a significant risk.

Youre begging the question of whether or not theyre challenging a global regime on how to govern the oceans," Allen said. "That is not a very stable way of managing the oceans in the future, and any action that would be taken to contravene an international forum should be done very cautiously.

Unprecedented complexity

Allen said one bright spot in international maritime relations was that countries were getting at better at cooperating when it came to disaster management in the face of unprecedented and growing complexities.

"In my mind, there are two things that countries rarely argue about: search-and-rescue and oil-spill response," Allen said. Recent experiences of nations working together in response to disasters, he said, showed that such actions can take place independent of national security issues that may be going on.

"Those things are generally not in question, that you want to do a job if there is an event and you want to help each other, it becomes a basis for cooperation and engagement. Its hard to do on the defense side."

The greater the level of information sharing, and the more intensive the efforts to build pre-existing relationships, Allen said the more success nations would have in reducing risk from things such as piracy, virus outbreaks, drug-trafficking and illegal migration.

"What we are starting to see are complex challenges that dont have any precedent," Allen said.
A labourer is seen on top of steel pipes at a steel market in Taiyuan, Shanxi province April 10, 2010.

China's Commerce Ministry said on Monday it would reinvestigate its anti-dumping case into imports of high performance, seamless stainless steel tubes from Japan and the European Union.

China lost an appeal ruling in October at the World Trade Organization in a dispute in which Japan and the European Union had complained about Chinese use of anti-dumping duties on the steel products.
Vladimir Putin is considering selling part of Russias corporate crown jewels to China and India as the president struggles to meet spending commitments before his possible re-election bid in less than two years.

Russia is seeking buyers for 19.5 percent of state oil champion Rosneft OJSC and would prefer a joint deal with the two nations leading the growth in global energy demand, two people familiar with the matter said. Officials in Moscow expect to raise at least 700 billion rubles ($11 billion) from the sale, which would set a privatization record for the country.

Bringing two of Asias three largest economies into Rosneft, which pumps more crude than Exxon Mobil Corp., would help Putin cover budget shortfalls while strengthening his geopolitical hand at a time when conflicts in Ukraine and Syria have driven relations with the U.S. and Europe to a post-Cold War low. It would also balance the near 20 percent stake held by London-based BP Plc, the bulk of which was acquired in 2013 before Putin stoked a separatist rebellion in neighboring Ukraine by annexing Crimea.

This would be a logical choice, said Vladimir Tikhomirov, chief economist at BCS Financial Group, a Moscow brokerage. India and China aim to boost ties with Russia, while Russias options for investors in Rosneft are quite narrow.

Not rivals

China and India have both publicly expressed interest in the Rosneft sale, which would cement their footholds inside the worlds largest energy exporter, although neither side has said whether a joint deal is being considered. On Friday, Indian Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said one couldnt be ruled out.

We are not rivals, Pradhan said in an interview at Putins annual economic forum in St. Petersburg, adding that Indias Oil & Natural Gas Corp. and China National Petroleum Corp. already have joint projects and more would be nice.

Rosneft shares rose 3 percent in London, adding to a gain of 5.3 percent on Friday and boosting its market value to $54.4 billion. The stock has gained more than 47 percent this year.

Russias energy strategy tilted toward Asia after western penalties over Ukraine curbed access to funding and demand in Europe flatlined even as prices tumbled. The focus so far has been on boosting oil and gas supplies to China, the regions largest market and a pivotal financier for Rosneft, whose ability to tap international capital markets is restricted by sanctions.

CNPC, based in Beijing, said in April it was studying the possibility of participating in the privatization, but didnt elaborate. China has provided Rosneft and other Russian energy companies with more than $100 billion in loans and prepayments for supplies over the past decade, money that helped fund the acquisitions that turned the state-run company into the worlds largest publicly traded oil producer by output three years ago.

While Russias oil trade with India, by contrast, has been minimal, thats starting to change now that the country is replacing China as the center of global growth. The International Energy Agency predicts India, the fastest-growing major economy, will consume 4.2 million barrels a day this year, surpassing Japans 4.1 million, and use an additional 6 million a day by 2040, compared with 4.8 million barrels a day more for China.

Two partners

Last month, Indias largest oil company, ONGC, agreed to pay Rosneft $1.27 billion for 15 percent of Vankor, one of the largest Russian oil fields to go into production in the last quarter century. And in St. Petersburg on Friday, Rosneft agreed to sell another 23.9 percent of the project to three other Indian companies -- Oil India Ltd., Indian Oil Corp. and Bharat PetroResources Ltd. The terms werent disclosed, but two people involved in the deal valued it at $2.02 billion, the same price ratio ONGC paid.

Rosneft Chairman Andrey Belousov, who is also an aide to Putin, said last month that Russia would prefer to sell the stake to two strategic partners, without elaborating. Energy Minister Alexander Novak said in an interview in St. Petersburg that Russia would welcome interest from both China and India, but declined to comment on the possibility of a joint deal.

BP plans to keep its stake unchanged, Chief Executive Officer Bob Dudley said in St. Petersburg, adding that a possible deal with India and China is completely up to the Russian Federation."

Complications related to sanctions may delay the sale, which would still leave Russias government with control of the company, until next year, one person involved in the planning said. Other options, such as offering some shares to the public, are being considered, another person said.

If oil prices stay at current levels at least until the end of the year Russias budget deficit will not be as critical as its Finance Ministry predicts," BCSs Tikhomirov said. "So Rosneft sale could wait until the next year, when oil will likely grow further."

Still, Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev said Friday he expects a deal this year, reflecting the urgency Putin expressed in April. Putin said then that he wants to complete the transaction as soon as a strategic partner can be found who isnt a cheapskate.

We need the money, Putin said at the time.
More than 20 people were killed in separate bomb attacks in Afghanistan on Monday, including at least 14 when a suicide bomber struck a minibus carrying Nepalese security contractors in the Afghan capital, officials said.

In Kabul, a Reuters witness saw several apparently dead victims and at least two wounded being carried out of the twisted remains of a yellow bus after the suicide bomber struck the vehicle during the morning rush hour in the capital.

Hours later, a bomb planted in a motorbike killed at least eight civilians and wounded another 18 in a crowded market in the northern province of Badakhshan, said provincial government spokesman Naveed Frotan. The casualty count could rise, he said.

The attacks are the latest in a recent surge of violence that highlights the challenges faced by the Afghan government in Kabul and its Western backers as Washington slowly draws down its remaining troops despite a persistent insurgency.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter that 14 people had been killed and eight wounded in the attack in Kabul. Police were working to identify the victims, he said.

Police and fire fighters are seen at the site of a blast in Kabul June 20, 2016.

The casualties appeared to include Afghan civilians and Nepalese security contractors, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said after police and emergency vehicles surrounded the scene in the Banae district in the east of the city.

He said the suicide bomber had waited near a compound housing the security contractors and struck as the vehicle moved through early morning traffic. As well as the bus passengers, several people in an adjacent market were also wounded in the attack, which occurred during Ramadan, Islam's holy month.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the Kabul attack in a statement from the Islamist group's main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, on Twitter. There was no immediate indication of who carried out the attack in Badakshan.

The Nepalese government was still working through its embassy in Pakistan, which also oversees Afghanistan, to verify reports that its citizens were involved in the attack, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bharat Paudel said.

Afghan security forces inspect the damage of a minibus that was hit by a suicide attacker in Kabul, Afghanistan June 20, 2016.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his condolences to his two South Asian neighbors after the attack.

"We strongly condemn the horrible tragedy in Kabul. Our deep condolences to people & Govts of Afghanistan & Nepal on loss of innocent lives," Modi said on Twitter.

Another explosion in Kabul later on Monday morning wounded a provincial council member and at least three of his bodyguards, Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid said. It was thought a bomb had been attached to the lawmaker's car, he said.

The attacks underlined how serious the security threat facing Afghanistan remains since former Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a U.S. drone strike last month and was replaced by Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.

The blasts follow a deadly suicide attack on a bus carrying justice ministry staff near Kabul last month and a separate attack on a court in the central city of Ghazni on June 1.

The Taliban claimed both those attacks in revenge for the execution of six Taliban prisoners.
The government will "go hard" on residential stamp duty once it has abolished stamp duty for small to medium-size commercial property sales, Chief Minister Andrew Barr said on Monday.

The focus would shift more aggressively to cutting residential stamp duty over the coming decade, Mr Barr said. First, the government was halving stamp duty for commercial property sales worth less than $1.5 million from the 2017-18 year, then abolishing stamp duty on those sales altogether from 2018-19.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr after releasing his budget this year. Credit:Dan Pinhorn

"I won't be the treasurer in the early 2030s to complete this task, but my successors should complete this task," he told a parliamentary estimates hearing.

"Once the small to medium-sized commercial is complete, we go hard on residential. And through that period we maintain a low flat rate on large-scale transactions, then at the very end of the process look at those large-scale transactions."
Star North Melbourne midfielder Jack Ziebell is free to play against Adelaide after the AFL match review panel ruled he did not have a case to answer for his hit on Hawthorn's Sam Mitchell.

Ziebell laid the much-discussed bump early in Friday night's fiery clash against the Hawks, with the panel ruling there was contact primarily to the upper chest and insufficient forceful high contact for a report.

Ziebell didn't emerge completely unscathed, however - he was fined for engaging in a melee during the spiteful encounter.

The panel laid 11 charges after assessing round 13 action, with all players cited offered fines, including Melbourne midfielder Bernie Vince.
Victorian Opera is hosting its first ever live stream in a one-hour event designed to test its members' appetite for performances streamed directly to their devices at home or on the move.

The live stream, broadcast on Monday night, significantly increases the potential audience to 5000 viewers, while a performance of this type on a cold and rainy Monday night would usually only attract about 150 people, managing director of Victorian Opera, Andrew Snell said.

Innovation: From 3D Wagner to live streaming, Victorian Opera is moving ahead. Credit:Simon Schluter

The program includes pieces from The Magic Flute, Ruddigore, Tosca and Carmen and features young artists from the professional development program.

"The idea right from the start was that this would be a specifically streamed event," Mr Snell told Fairfax Media. Live streaming would make Victorian Opera's art more accessible to more members. The stream was only available to members with annual fees ranging from $100 to $360.
Woolworths has thrown down the challenge to the convenience store sector with the opening of its inaugural small outlet, offering a range of fast food for the time-poor shopper.

The 310 square metre Metro is in York Street, Sydney and will open early on Tuesday morning to cater for workers looking for a coffee, sandwich and sushi, as well as a small range of dry groceries.

There are 15 Australia-wide Metro stores, but the York Street site, on the corner of Barrack Street, is the smallest. It will service the new Fife Capital residential tower and Investa Property's office developments in that area.

A Woolworths spokesman said at Woolworths "we're listening to our customers and adapting our offer to suit how our busy customers want to shop".
Supermarket cyclone Aldi continued to damage competitors in its path, with the cost of that damage being a 17 per cent fall in supermarket and convenience store earnings from IGA and Campbells and convenience stores aligned with Australia's major independent group Metcash.

The brutal competition that Aldi has injected into the entire market, including Coles, Woolworths and IGA, is responsible for almost unprecedented levels of price cutting. In the year to April, Metcash prices fell 2.2 per cent. Woolworths reported deflation in average prices of 2.4 per cent for the third quarter when the effects of promotions and volumes are included. Coles food and liquor price deflation was 1 per cent in just the three months to March 2016.

And the onslaught is set to get only worse as Aldi steps up its move into Western Australia (where only four of the 17 planned have yet opened) and in South Australia where just under half of the 19 new stores are now trading.

Although Metcash's food and grocery division managed to maintain its revenue in the year to April, it had to slash prices on food staples to achieve the outcome.
The obvious risk is a repeat of the Julia Gillard win in 2010 when the two major parties won 72 seats each. Labor scraped in with a motley group which turned out to be made up of closet Labor supporters. The result was certainly not what the voters expected.

What if the result comes out of left field and a dull campaign delivers an election night full of surprises? A really close vote would not be good for Australia. It'd be a pity for Australia if we were characterised around the world as the country that not only keeps swapping prime ministers but also can't decide which party should be in charge. We want Australia to be known for its stability, a safe place to invest and create jobs.

This election has been tight from the start and nothing has changed. Mark Textor is the best pollster around and he ain't talking. So we just have to wait. Bill Shorten is trying to scare people over Medicare but very few will believe that porky. Malcolm Turnbull has the advantage of a good plan; history shows everyone gets a second term and Labor's plan for more tax, more spending and more debt is probably the issue with the most negative impact so far.

The arrival of so many candidates (at least eight) who use their own name for their party is an oddity and a risk if too many get in. For them their name is what they stand for, namely for themselves. And then there are the hangers-on like Rebekha Sharkie, a Xenophon candidate, who has aligned herself with one party after the other including one with links to Pauline Hanson and, in government, could be another Clive Palmer. Sharkie described her journey to Xenophon candidate as "we had psych tests, we worked together on policies with Nick to see how well we would work with each other". Of course, anyone can stand, but without knowing what they stand for how can the public know what they are voting for? The result is the political risk of dysfunctionality of the sort we have had since 2007. Why people vote for the minor parties beats me, especially when the one thing we need is more stable government and better policy decision making.

For both sides, the handling of the leadership after the election can also be risky.



Generally the leader gets to stay as leader for the time being if the vote is better than his or her party's last vote. That is not Turnbull's situation. My punt is that if he loses he will want to go there and then. However, it might be better if he stays at least for a few months to give the party room time to consider their options.

Please note: no one is thinking about this  not yet.



If the Coalition wins then Turnbull is set for a full three years. The first decision after an election is to settle the cabinet. There will be some senior cabinet members who will leave in the next term but that is unlikely until 2018. The cabinet is likely to stay as it is given that the current cabinet was only established in February. The one who should get a move would be Greg Hunt. He has had the job on climate change for years and he is entitled to have the opportunity to show what else he can do.



I suspect Tony Abbott would like a cabinet position now but that is unlikely. The newly appointed Marise Payne has made a good solid start as Defence Minister and it would be very surprising if she was moved. None of which should be a problem for Tony Abbott. He has plenty of time in opposition and he can afford to put his feet up until at least the next cabinet reshuffle in the second half of 2018.

The real issue for the Coalition will be economic management. If the Coalition wins, it will need to improve its performance on economic policy. Otherwise the next election could be a lot harder than this year.

The most pressing question for the Labor partyroom on leadership will not be the immediate issue of Bill Shorten staying as leader. For six months or so Shorten will be on a pedestal and praised for his efforts. Then reality will slowly dawn and the rumours will worsen as the hard heads within Labor start to realise that actually Shorten was a big part of Labor's loss. And that will be more difficult because the system introduced by Kevin Rudd now makes it harder to get rid of him. I have been there myself in a party that loses; it's not much fun.
Conroy apparently decided we'd had enough Noddy. Metaphorically speaking he ripped off his shirt, donned a bandanna and, to gasps of amazement, revealed himself as Super Conroy, capable of taking on big bullies and happy to send our soldiers into the jaws of danger. He pledged he'd stand up to China, promising that instead of the wimpish response of the current government (which has sent ships and aircraft to patrol the international waters of the South China Sea), he'd do something far more chest-thumping. Under Conroy, our ships and aircraft would still patrol the international waters of the South China Sea but in a somehow much more masculine way.

There was a startling development at last week's Defence debate at the National Press Club. Labor's Stephen Conroy was shaking his head in such furious agreement with Defence Minister Marise Payne it began to appear as if Noddy had entered the election campaign. Then, quite suddenly, the bubble burst, if not in a particularly comforting way.

China's already made it quite clear it's not going to accept the forthcoming international court ruling that's likely to curtail its apparent territorial ambitions. Canberra has made it quite clear we expect Beijing to abide by the ruling, even if we don't always bother to ourselves. Diplomacy will be required to resolve the issue. So why was Conroy so bullish; and why did his bellicosity echo with such a hollow ring?

Labor senator Stephen Conroy knows Labor's perceived as weak on national security. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Don't bother attempting to analyse his rhetoric through the prism of international relations  that way lies madness. Examine it instead as a tool of political rhetoric, and suddenly it becomes very clever. Conroy knows Labor's perceived as weak on national security. Steven Smith dithered for years over the submarine decision and the military budget was (quite correctly) raided to fund other expenditures. But what's quite brilliant about Conroy's formulation is that he's managed to suggest we don't need more troops, we just need to use them better. His implication is that he's the right man for this job.

This is Labor's strategy writ large. It's not just in Defence that the Opposition is hammering the idea that somehow it can manage things better. The Opposition had to accept that it had been hemmed in economically. The shocking budget position meant there was no possibility of promising to spend up big on any grand projects. However, it needed to create a reason to vote Labor. It decided managerialism was the answer. It would stand so close to the government as to be (fiscally) virtually indistinguishable, but far enough away so as to emphasise it could run things better. It's probably the best  if not the only  strategy available, but it's got three big problems.

Firstly, opposition's don't win elections; governments lose them. Unfortunately for Labor, this government's only been in three years and (now Tony Abbott's departed) there's not a lot of evidence of real anger out there. Turnbull may, indeed, be very disappointing, nevertheless it's difficult to detect enough of the seething rage that's necessary to dismiss a government.
Ukrainian army positions came under 16 attacks on Sunday, the press center of the army operation staff in southeastern Ukraine said.

"In all, 16 attacks were observed, including nine in the Donetsk sector, five in the Luhansk area and two in the Mariupol region," the press center wrote on Facebook in the evening.

Various types of grenade launchers were fired on Ukrainian army positions near Popasna, Novozvanivka and Novooleksandrivka in Luhansk region, the staff said.

Ukrainian army strongholds near Zaitseve in the Donetsk sector stayed under fire of small arms, machineguns and various types of grenades for a long time, after which 82mm and 120mm mortars were fired, the staff said.

The hostiles tried to fire automatic grenade launchers on positions near Mayorsk and Luhanske. A stronghold in the Putylivska (Butivka) mine was shelled by grenade launchers and 82mm mortars, the press center said.

Automatic grenade launchers shelled Ukrainian positions near Maryinka in the Mariupol sector. Sniper activity was also observed there, the staff said.
I love it when I get a phone call from a pollster. Unlike my beloved whose response is always to hang up, I have things to say and people to whom I want to say them. When I say people, I mean the politicians who run our country.

To those of you who say you can never see your views mirrored in poll results I say this: 1, answer your phones, even if the call is from a blocked number; 2, take your number off the Do Not Call register; and 3, answer your doors to strangers.

I must say I prefer the real people and not what's called a robopoll, where I just have to choose numbers and press buttons. With real people, I get to send messages to the "clients". When I say clients, I mean political parties. Oh how I hated the ReachTel poll. I am a real person with real views and would prefer to speak to a real person.
Lois Duncan, who held generations of young readers spellbound with I Know What You Did Last Summer, Killing Mr. Griffin and a raft of other popular suspense novels, a genre she could no longer bear to write after the unsolved murder of her teenage daughter, has died aged 82 in Florida.

Her husband, Donald Arquette Sr., confirmed her death and said he did not know the cause. She had earlier suffered a series of strokes.

Writer Lois Duncan at the premiere of "Hotel for Dogs" in Los Angeles in 2009. Credit:Kevin Winter/Getty

First published as a novelist in the 1950s, Duncan wrote dozens of books for children and teens. She was most widely acclaimed for her psychological thrillers, sometimes touching on the occult, which she penned with prolific output in the '60s, '70s and '80s.

I Know What You Did Last Summer, unfaithfully adapted more than two decades after its publication into the 1997 slasher movie and sequel starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, was the most famous of the numerous films and TV movies made from Duncan's books.
Mr O'Neill at first seemed intent on tackling systemic political corruption. But when the country's anti-corruption squad issued a warrant for Mr O'Neill's arrest in June 2014 for allegedly authorising $30 million in fraudulent payments to a law firm, Paraka, a different picture emerged.

Shortly after Peter O'Neill was elected prime minister in 2011, succeeding Michael Somare with a thumping majority, a memorandum of understanding with Australia was signed to re-establish the Manus Island detention centre, which had been dormant since 2004.

So if democracy in Papua New Guinea is struggling, it's Australia's problem too. And if, because of the Manus Island detention centre, Australia is seen as participating in a culture of police violence, disregarding the rule of law, and distributing aid based on domestic political objectives rather than need, it's a very serious problem indeed.

Papua New Guinea is our nearest neighbour, our former colony and the biggest recipient of our overseas aid  $5 billion in the past decade. The Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says we have a "unique responsibility" towards the country because of our shared history.

Mr O'Neill has used every means at his disposal to avoid facing the corruption charges, which both he and the law firm deny. Within a week of the warrant being issued he sacked the attorney-general and the police commissioner. Their replacements were later charged with corruption for conspiring with him to put an end to the Paraka investigations. Neither has been convicted.

Things came to a new head earlier this month when police in the capital Port Moresby fired on unarmed student protesters who have been boycotting their classes in a campaign to pressure Mr O'Neill to step aside and submit himself to the corruption investigation. No students were killed but scores were injured in the protests. Julie Bishop called for calm. She said Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called Prime Minister O'Neill to offer help but the offer had not been taken up.

Since then Internal Affairs officers have arrested Chief Superintendent Matthew Damaru, the head of the National Fraud and Anti-Corruption Directorate, the unit that has been pursuing the arrest warrant against Mr O'Neill. Mr Damaru's alleged crime is abuse of office and deprivation of liberty in relation to his arrest in April of Supreme Court Judge Bernard Sakora. Judicial corruption charges against Justice Sakora were dismissed on technical grounds.

PNG has been hit hard by lower gas and commodity prices as well as a severe El-Nino-related drought. It is an understatement to say government finances are under pressure. Spending on health and education has been slashed by about 35 per cent. Meanwhile, Mr O'Neill has used his overwhelming majority to adjourn parliament until August to protect himself from facing a no-confidence vote before elections are due in a year's time. With this political safety valve removed, the risk is that opposition will be played out in the streets.

Australia purports to exercise its "unique responsibility" to PNG through aid to support economic and social development and democratic institutions. This includes 56 Australian Federal Police officers in PNG to help train its police force, and a new School of Governance to train public servants in transparency and accountability. A dedicated band of Australian public servants, aid workers, volunteers and others work long and hard.
But how to contact the planes? Surely Stephen Byron has a big CB radio tucked away somewhere for such a purpose ... but no, luckily, there's a US ship in Sydney Harbour which can make contact   and it's crisis averted. For 13 minutes we all flew blind and no one had any idea what was going on ... like we said, a typical morning at Canberra airport  But back in the city, the first of tonight's many break ups is occurring. Harriet is visiting Felix, who's feeling a tad down seeing he might be about to be thrown in prison for ever for being a traitor. He tries the flicky hair move and admits he was only being geeky to impress Harriet. You lost her when you flushed the SIM card down the toilet you big loser. Your time with Harriet is done. Goodbye well balanced thighs. Harriet's time at work might be done too ... her editor Gus, who swears a lot more than our gentleman editor here ... calls her into the office and rips her to pieces but gives her one last warning. She's not in a good state, poor Harriet, still reeling from Kim's death, and this has just made her day. But back in the situation room and the powers that be are trying to figure out what went wrong. It wasn't an attack, it was a message apparently. And they've traced the hack to China so they decide to get Ambassador Dhao over for a chinwag and see what's going on.

Meanwhile Harriet's wandering aimlessly around the corridors of Parliament House. An easy thing to do apparently if you take a wrong turn. But she spies PM Jim's chief of staff Ludie in the halls and chases after her. Ludie fobs her off. Harriet pauses to look out a window and spies lots of big black cars in the PM's courtyard and she gets all suspicious. And then, in another great twist of nonsensical fiction, she runs into her assistant, "Walk with me Sasha," she says. "I want you to go and flirt with Hot Tony (that's how he's listed in the credits.) in the PM's office and find out what's going on. (I am going to so try that this week, "Walk with me, Henry," I'll say to my desk buddy Henry Belot. "I want you to go and flirt with Hot Tony in the coffee shop across the road. And bring me back a coffee.") Still a little lost  Harriet's up on the roof now, right under the flag pole. Apparently some people can get up there, not us mere mortals, and who should she run into but Jacki having a fag. Jacki spills the beans about the cyber attack and Harriet can't wait to race back to her desk to write her front page story. But meanwhile, in another corridor of power, the second break up of tonight is about to happen. Mal and Weng cross paths and Mal is not happy. "You were (insert euphemism here) me this morning, you knew my son was in the air, you still went ahead with it," he says, heartbroken. "It wasn't us," she says. Don't trust her Mal. But he loves her, or the idea of her, they go way back to his visit in China don't forget. But he stands firm. His cajones growing and aching all at the same time. Be gone you Chinese vixen.

And Harriet is just the person he wants to see. She's starting to put two and two together, or so she thinks and tells him so. "Do your worst, Harriet," Mal tells her. "You've got nothing." Not that any good journalist has let that stop them before. "This isn't just a story for me, I don't give a shit who gets hurt," she says. Another line I'll use this week. Switch to the Chinese embassy now. A bedroom scene with Weng and Dhao. A troubling scene which makes you wonder who's actually in charge. If you're not starting to wonder a few things by this time people, go back and read the earlier recaps. And now Harriet's going shopping in Civic with Cassie, who broke up with Kevin last week remember, in a touching scene in Mochan and Green Grout. They've somehow managed to find a whole empty level of carparks and decide to have a chat about human rights violations and the dark net with Kevin's friend Qui who reveals the motives behind the students' plans to overthrow the Chinese government. I remember when I was at ANU all I was worried about was finding my way home up Daley Road after a bar night at Burgmann College. Those were the days.

But wait, those Chinese guys in the dark suits and dark cars have followed them. Run for your lives. So they do but the next scene is an ominous pan across the lake at night so you know things aren't going to go well. Back at the big house, Mal's pulled himself together. He's taken Dylan to work and they're talking about dad's work. Dylan says his friend Jai wants to know if the cyber attack was an inside job, cynical teenager that he is. Just like 9/11 and the Charlie Hebdo attacks apparently. "Jai's an idiot and you are too if you believe in any of that conspiracy bullshit," says Mal, but a raised eyebrow says he might be thinking different. Which is probably why he's being a little testy with the General now, in his office talking about the Safer Australia bill that Jacki has been cooking up. Might come in handy now, says Mal with more than a touch of sarcasm, now we've got this big cyber hole to fill. "The Department appreciates a minister who brings home the bacon," says the General, trying to butter Mal up. But he's not having it. What are the chances that just before an attack on our air traffic control systems all of the trained staff at a nearby air base are redeployed, he says, and then there's the US ship recalled to Sydney Harbour. We should go and buy a lottery ticket, maybe we are just very, very lucky.

But Qui's not so lucky. He's racing off to meet with Harriet again and gets nabbed at University House by the sinister Chinese guys. Will we see him again?? Harriet got sick of waiting for him anyway and raced back to the Big House for a press conference with the PM. Jacki's plan is realised. She's the king of the world. The Safer Australia Agency is up and running. We've been played Gus, Harriet tells her editor. Oh, yes you have. So Harriet decides to relieve some tension by going for a row. And, wait, they're not carp shooting around in the water near her. They're bullets!! Someone is shooting at Harriet. She falls in the water and swims to safety. Loading Will it be a long, slow blue green algae induced death or will it all be over soon for our fearless Harriet?
Channel Ten is usually very good at keeping secrets so it's surprising that the new Bachelorette's identity leaked early.

The network's contracts are so binding that no one should ever have suspected Georgia Love, a fairly unrecognisable face, to star in the second season of The Bachelorette Australia.

Bachelorette Georgia Love. Credit:Channel Ten

Unlike former Bachelorette Sam Frost, who had been so publicly jilted by The Bachelor's Blake Garvey and so given a "second chance at love" by the network, Love's only public persona has been as a WIN nightly news presenter in Tasmania.

Frost was only recently telling 2Day FM breakfast co-host Rove McManus that Ten had tightened the clamps on their contracts over fears that the winner of this year's Bachelor series, starring Richie Strahan, might spill early. (The Bachelor has yet to air but it is pre-recorded months in advance, so the winning lady who steals Strahan's heart has to avoid social media and being seen publicly with the Perth-based Bachelor until TV's big reveal.)
Malcolm Turnbull more than held his own on Q&A by channelling his inner John Howard, intimidating Tony Jones and passing the buck on the issue of marriage equality.

Turnbull's natural instinct would have been to persuade the studio audience to agree with him on the host of contentious questions, but he recognised that such an approach was certain to fail.

Instead, the Prime Minister opted for two Howard trademarks: civility and patiently laying out his case in non-combative terms. If they didn't agree with him, at least they'd respect him. That he did so despite the effects of a cold made the performance all the more commendable.
Bill Shorten has ramped up his scare campaign over the Coalition's plans for Medicare after forcing the government into an embarrassing backdown that ruled out any prospect of the back end payments system being privatised.

With less than two weeks until polling day and most of its spending plans announced, the federal opposition has escalated its attacks on the Coalition in an attempt to make the election a referendum on the future of the Medicare system.

After forcing Mr Turnbull to rule out the potential privatisation of the payments system, Mr Shorten pivoted to demand the Coalition reverse cuts to pathology, diagnostic imaging and a freeze to the GP rebates for bulk billing.
Bob Katter infamously quipped that he would walk backwards from Bourke if there were any gay people in his north Queensland electorate of Kennedy.

Now the maverick ex-National is being challenged by Jonathan Pavetto, a 25-year-old gay Liberal National, for the seat he holds by a margin of just 2.2 per cent.

But in a move that has raised eyebrows in gay and lesbian media, Labor will preference Mr Katter and Family First above Mr Pavetto - a move that may just get the eccentric veteran over the line.
If Julie Bishop is about to appoint the first ever woman to head the prestigious and powerful Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade she kept her cards close to her chest on Monday.

Asked about reports that she and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull would appoint former ambassador to China and current prime ministerial adviser Frances Adamson shortly after the July 2 election (if victorious), Ms Bishop sidestepped the question by invoking the ever-handy convention of "caretaker government."

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says the first female head of DFAT would be a milestone. Credit:Peter Rae

However she did note that "were it to be a woman that would be notable because of course it would be the first female secretary of DFAT and that is obviously a milestone, just as people often comment on the fact that I'm the first female foreign minister of Australia. The first always draws comment." Ms Adamson was in the front row at the Lowy Institute as Ms Bishop made her remarks.
Asked why he was pushing ahead with a plebiscite on same-sex marriage even though he personally favoured a conscience vote, Mr Turnbull said he was sticking by the decision the Coalition party room made under Tony Abbott. Tony Jones responded by asking the PM to "try and talk a little bit about the facts". Credit:Q&A "I am the PM but I'm not the dictator," he said. "Some people like the idea of prime ministers that ignore their colleagues. I don't agree with that. I'm a strong believer in traditional cabinet government and that means compromise." Battling a bad cold, the PM faced a blizzard of hostile questions from audience members in Brisbane. Credit:Q&A

Mr Turnbull slipped up early in the episode by mentioning "big cuts" to hospital funding in the Abbott government's first budget. The Coalition has always maintained that the $57 billion reduced hospital funding to the states over a decade did not count as a "cut" because it refers only to a reduction in spending growth. Is all compassion just a sham? Some would have you believe so. An Iranian refugee detained on Manus Island for three years asked the PM why he could not come to Australia. Credit:Q&A Mr Turnbull quickly tried to correct himself, saying it was "actually not true" to call the changes cuts. The Prime Minister again reiterated that the Coalition would not outsource any part of Medicare's operations, despite a Labor scare campaign claiming it would seek to privatise Medicare if re-elected.

The government had considered outsourcing some of Medicare's back office payment functions, but has now ruled that out. "I'm saying to all Australians unequivocally, as PM, that no part of Medicare that is delivered by Government today will be delivered in any, by anyone else in the future," Mr Turnbull said. "We will modernise it but we will do so within government." 'Give me three years' When asked why his government planned to cut tax rates for big businesses, including foreign companies, Mr Turnbull stressed that this would not kick in for eight years.

Australians should vote based on the tax cuts flowing to smaller businesses over the next three years and could "chuck" him out later if they don't support the tax cuts for big business, he said. "See, the big companies would only get a tax cut under our proposal three elections away and eight years away," he said. "So what you're voting on, if you regard your vote as being ... for the next three years, I'm asking for a three-year renewal of my government's job serving you." An Iranian refugee, who said he has been detained on Manus Island for three years, asked Mr Turnbull in a video question why he could not come to Australia. While acknowledging the government's policy of offshore processing was "harsh", Mr Turnbull said it was essential to preventing the people smuggling trade restarting.

"None of us have hearts of stone," Mr Turnbull said. "All of us understand how harsh it is, our policy is in terms of its impact on particular individuals ... [but] the people smugglers are out of business. "They would love to get back into business. They are itching to get back into business, believe me. And every now and then they test us out. But we have kept our policy firm. "We have had no unlawful arrivals, no unauthorised arrivals, no people smuggling expedition successful for well over 660 days. It is a very long time." Loading
The deployment of an armed OSCE police mission to Donbas is not discussed at the security subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group because of the lack of a relevant mandate from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Ukrainian representative to the subgroup, former Ukrainian Prime Minister and former head of the Ukrainian Security Service Yevhen Marchuk said.

"No, this is not discussed. Our group's coordinator is Minister Apakan [OSCE SMM Chief Monitor Ertugrul Apakan]. He is a very serious Turkish diplomat. We asked whether we would discuss this issue. They said they did not have such instructions. We have a mandate approved by 57 OSCE member countries. There is no other mandate," Marchuk said in an interview with Hromadske published on the media portal on Sunday.

The most important thing - a decision made by the OSCE - is absent, he said.

"How many people will this monitoring mission include as it cannot do with just one thousand? What budget will it have as the budget cannot be small? What does 'armed' mean?" Marchuk said, adding that Ukraine and Russia did not see eye-to-eye on those matters.

According to Marchuk, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told him "we agree to handguns, but the Ukrainian side looks farther. Arms mean self-defense. What can they do with a handgun if they are attacked by a machinegun from a distance of 1.5 kilometers? They need armored vehicles, but would it be a transport vehicle or would it carry a machinegun?"

Kyiv wants the international armed mission to control the contact line, heavy weapons storage sites and the Ukraine-Russia border sector which is currently uncontrolled, the Ukrainian representative said.

"So far, the Russians have agreed only to the contact line. At first they agreed to the protection of weapon storage sites, but they absolutely did not agree, and this was formally stated today that the police mission could have no access to the border," Ukrainian representative to the subgroup said.

Marchuk also criticized the idea that armed mission members should participate in the provision of security in local elections in individual districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions if such elections were held.

As to when a decision to create an armed mission to Donbas might be made, Marchuk said "no matter how much we would like that, it could hardly happen before the end of this year."

In his opinion, the armed mission might have a budget of "slightly less than a billion" U.S. dollars.
The influx of sea/tree-changers, surfers, hippies and new-agers over five decades into northern NSW sometimes counterbalance the rural mindset that once ruled and makes the seat of Page unpredictable.

Further clouding the outcome, the reappearance of that northern NSW hot button issue  coal seam gas  has developed into a big demarcation line between the two major party candidates.

The Nationals' Kevin Hoganis an amiable, hard-working MP greatly assisted to victory in 2013 by the Julia Gillard/Kevin Rudd imbroglio.
A beauty queen in the United Kingdom has been dethroned for having sex on television.

The reigning Miss Great Britain, Zara Holland, was stripped of her title after getting intimate with 24-year-old tradie Alex Bowen on Love Island, a reality show that follows a group of single men and women as they complete challenges as couples before being voted out of the lavish Spanish villa week by week.

While the episode in question didn't air the explicit scenes it was "watched by around a million viewers, featured the two in bed together and what one insider described as a 'look of delight' on Bowen's face," according to The Guardian.

Days after the broadcast, organisers of the pageant said they had "no problem with sex - it was perfectly natural" but took umbrage with it happening on a program that is aired around the world, including in Australia on Eleven at 12.20am on Wednesdays.
Bulman, a remote Aboriginal community of about 300 people in the red soils of central Arnhem Land is a long way from Canberra, and at least one voter feels it's out of sight and out of mind of the nation's leaders.

But the Australian Electoral Commission has launched its remote polling, and over the next two weeks 38 teams will travel to more than 400 communities around the country that have 10 or more enrolled voters to make sure they can be counted in July 2's federal election.

Local voter Wanita Ryan casts her vote in Bulman. Credit:Glenn Campbell

Teacher Annette Miller is one of Bulman's 130 enrolled voters and said none of the candidates has visited the community.

"Every year is the same when we talk about promises given by the ALP and the CLP but it's never changing, it's always the same," she said.
A Canberra bus driver, sacked after threatening "another Columbine" in his workplace, was not unfairly dismissed, the industrial tribunal has found.

The Fair Work Commission has found ACTION buses was right to fire one of its drivers, Peter Lambos, after he made the threat to a manager in December 2014, even though the prospect of a mass-casualty shooting at a Canberra bus depot was remote.

ACTION bus Credit:Jeffrey Chan

Mr Lambos, who had been driving ACTION buses since 2008, said he was raising health and safety concerns in a phone call to the network's health and safety boss Julie Mylchreest.

But Ms Mylchreest reported feeling shaken and sick to the stomach after the "disturbing" conversation, with Mr Lambos talking of "reprisals" for what he called the "despicable attitude of ACTION management".
The professional association for Australia's ICT industry has warned there are not enough specialists to deliver the federal government's $230 million cyber security strategy.

Australian Computer Society president Anthony Wong said the government faced a shortfall of up to 100,000 ICT professionals by 2020 and urgent action was needed to expand the workforce.

Australia is predicted to face a shortage of cyber security professionals in coming years.

"With our lives increasingly going online, security and privacy are two of the top issues confronting businesses," he said.

"We are going to need more professionals who are familiar with these threats to protect us online."
But the decision was made before a cost-benefit analysis of the proposal  ordered by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull  was completed and in the midst of an election battle to secure his seat.

"I don't believe it should happen": Senator Zed Seselja warns against moving public servants from Canberra to Armidale. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Mr Joyce has announced 170 public servants at the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority would move to his own electorate of New England, creating a new "centre of excellence".

ACT Liberal senator Zed Seselja has publicly criticised Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby's Joyce's decision to move hundreds of Canberra-based public servants to Armidale.

The move was slammed by ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr as an "outrageous display of pork barrelling" and "breathtaking in its arrogance".

On Monday, Mr Seselja criticised Mr Joyce's announcement and said it was "bad news" for Canberra.

"I think it hasn't been properly considered," he told ABC local radio.

"Unfortunately what some members of Parliament, some ministers in this case, don't seem to appreciate is the great level of expertise that resides in Canberra.

"That does not mean there are not good people working in the public service in the other parts of the country, there are."
Harriet Wran, the daughter of the late former NSW premier Neville Wran, appeared before a Sydney court on Monday ahead of her trial for the alleged murder of a drug dealer.

Her mother and former Qantas executive Jill Hickson Wran, arrived at the NSW Supreme Court to support her daughter.

Harriet Wran leaves the NSW Supreme Court on Monday. Credit:James Alcock

Ms Wran, 28, is charged with murder, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and robbery in company, following an alleged botched drug deal with small-time dealer Daniel McNulty in a public housing unit in Redfern on August 10, 2014.

She has pleaded not guilty to murder.
"Mr Obeid's opinion mattered, just like the Premier's opinion mattered and other MPs' opinions mattered," former NSW Labor minister Joe Tripodi told the criminal trial of his former factional ally Eddie Obeid.

As Mr Obeid's trial for misconduct in public office draws to a close, Mr Tripodi, former ports minister, was asked on Monday about the influence his former colleague wielded over government policy.

Joe Tripodi at Darlinghurst Supreme Court on Monday. Credit:Peter Rae

Mr Obeid, 72, is accused of misconduct in public office for failing to reveal to a senior NSW maritime authority bureaucrat, Steve Dunn, that his family had an interest in two Circular Quay cafe leases when lobbying Mr Dunn in 2007 about the plight of waterfront leaseholders.


The tactical commander during the Sydney siege has told an inquest that ending the Lindt Cafe stand-off through direct action would have been less risky.

The chief inspector and Tactical Operations Unit member who also serves as an Australian special forces soldier has told the inquest into the siege that the emergency action plan, triggered after Lindt Cafe manager Tori Johnson was killed, should have been the last resort.

The inquest into the December 2014 siege has previously heard details of a discussion between NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione and Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins during which it was decided that deliberate or direct action, in which officers would storm the cafe, was to be the last resort, avoiding forcing an end to the siege.
The Antarctic wilderness could barely be more removed from John Cadden's regular haunt at the Sinnamon Park Medical Centre.

But Australia's Antarctic bases have become a second home for the westside GP, with Dr Cadden's service at the bottom of the world recognised with an Australian Antarctic Medal.

While honoured to receive such an award, Dr Cadden said the thrill of being in Antarctica doing "one of the best jobs in the world" was his primary motivation.

"It's just extremely exciting and the environment and nature of medicine down there, all of these things, just fit me really, really well."
Kyiv is negotiating the soonest release of 25 Ukrainian hostages, advisor to the Ukrainian Security Service head Yuriy Tandyt said.

"We are ready for various compromises; a 25 for 50 formula is currently being discussed," Tandyt said in an interview with the ICTV Channel aired on Sunday evening.

Kyiv is doing the utmost for the release of prisoners, he said.

"We will do everything for the soonest release of our 25 hostages," he added.
A cyclist is in a critical condition in hospital after a car and bike collided in Morningside on Tuesday morning, while inbound traffic on the Pacific motorway was brought to a standstill.

About 6.11am the Queensland Ambulance responded to a car and cyclist crash on Richmond Road and Bundara Street.

A man is in a critical condition in the Princess Alexandra Hospital after a car and pushbike crash in Morningside on Tuesday morning.

A spokesperson said four units attended the scene and treated a man suffering a compound fracture to his leg.

They said the patient was alert despite losing consciousness before being transported to the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Police are searching for a man who tried to grab a girl in a regional town south-west of Brisbane.

It is understood the 12-year-old was walking along a path between Boonah Rathdowney and Mount French roads in Boonah when a man, believed to be aged between 30 and 40, grabbed her on the arm.

Police are searching for a man who attempted to grab a girl in Boonah. Credit:Tom Threadingham

The girl hit the man before pulling her arm free and escaping.

The man was described as having greying brown hair and brown eyes. At the time of the attack he was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and blue jeans.
Gippsland residents are bracing themselves for damaging winds, heavy rain and flash flooding as a low pressure system moves down the east coast.

Melburnians should also keep their brollies handy and get used to "grey and miserable" weather conditions through to the weekend with forecasts of cold weather and rainy days ahead.

Melbourne commuters braved a wet and cold morning in the CBD on Monday. Credit:Paul Jeffers

The Bureau of Meteorology reports that there has already been a lot of rain in East Gippsland, with more than 100 millimetres likely to fall by Monday evening in parts of the region. Senior forecaster Keris Arndt said pockets of heavy rainfall could lead to flash flooding.
A paedophile now dating a case worker he met in a facility for sex offenders wants to live with the woman in regional Victoria when he's released from the secure unit.

Gregory Sedgman, who has a history of serious sex offences spanning 12 years, wants to live with his partner in Horsham after he leaves Corella Place, a secure facility in nearby Ararat.

The 40-year-old met his partner during a previous stay at the facility, which is for sex offenders who have completed their prison sentences but are considered unfit for community release.

The case worker, who resigned when her relationship with Sedgman was discovered by co-workers, had continued to work at Corella Place for several months after it began.
"You wanna hear a real story?"

Most of the men chatting to my colleague Nick Toscano under a concrete overpass one hot January day in 2014 were talking rubbish. He'd been sent to cover the homeless camp that had taken over Enterprize Park. We didn't know then what kind of story it would become.

Mouse in his Enterprize Park camp. Credit:Angela Wylie

Then the camp leader, "Mouse", arrived. He was short and thin, with dark hair and squinty eyes and yelled at Nick for sitting on his bed. But then they started talking. Soon he relaxed. And Mouse took him for a walk by the river.

"I'm straight up. I'm direct. There are no lies about me," he said in a voice that sounded decades older than his 42 years.
Residents are worried about the intensity of traffic that will result at the bridge. Credit:Emma Young He said the community had believed it was getting commercial centres featuring multiple-storey buildings at Canning Bridge, Sleat Road and Ardross Village, surrounded by medium-density buffer zones but this plan had thrown this concept out the window. He said the area was already prone to intense traffic problems. The result of unlimited heights and nil setbacks for South PErth resident Hellen Barnaby. Credit:Emma Young "Even changing merge lines on the freeway recently caused Canning Highway gridlock as far back as North Lake Road. It was a parking lot," he said.

"Yes it is close to a train station, but that's assuming everyone occupying these units will be getting on trains. I would suggest that will not happen." An artist's impression of the first project to be approved, modest at 20 storeys when compared to the 30, 40 and 50-storey buildings approved in South Perth under unlimited height provisions. Credit:Planning Solutions/McDonald Jones Architects The situation appears to mirror that of South Perth's Mill Point Station Precinct, where residents only discovered the unlimited height provisions when buildings were already being approved. The City of South Perth has since admitted it did not foresee the intensity of developer interest in these provisions and has since tried to scale them back, though in many cases the horse has already bolted. A May community forum on the activity plan worried Paul Ruthven, a member of the Save the South Perth Peninsula action group.

He went to the City of Melville-hosted forum after coming across a notice by accident. He tried to download the activity plan from the Melville website beforehand but found the advertised link broken. It took a long phone call to the City to locate the document, he said. He said the 70 people at the meeting were largely elderly and many struggled to hear the information discussed because the council provided no PA or microphone. He said the meeting appeared "tightly scripted" and residents asking about eliminating a certain aspect of the plan were "deflected" and told this was not up for discussion. He said the activity plan document handed out was an old version of the document from March 2015 and was updated by way of modifications sheets wedged into it summarising recent changes.

"Presenting important information in this way lacks context, and makes it much harder for people who are unfamiliar with the document," Mr Ruthven said. "Having had the benefit of reviewing similar documents in South Perth, I am in a better position than most residents." He said one crucial point residents might have missed was that the out-of-date activity plan given out indicated that it overrode the local town planning scheme. But the "modifications" sheets wedged into the document specifically removed this, stating that activity centre plans did not prevail over local planning schemes. This meant it was not too late for residents to influence the outcome.

"Canning Bridge Precinct otherwise has the potential to become another mega-high-rise-fiasco like the South Perth Station Precinct. It is the next domino to fall," he said. "I don't think that most of the residents in Mount Pleasant, Applecross, Como and Salter Point have realised this." He said it was incumbent on councils wanting to allow unlimited heights and nil setbacks to demonstrate these clearly. "To hide these details in the fine print without appropriate imagery is disingenuous," he said. "Councils who obfuscate this information lose the right to claim they've consulted.

"Ordinary residents cannot be expected to wade through fine print and join up disparate pieces of information in order to understand the full picture. It isn't hard to state the words 'unlimited height'. "Nor is it difficult to include some 50-storey buildings in the pictures." Mr Ruthven said "community benefit" conditions for height bonuses were not a limit, just hoops for developers to jump through. "Expecting developers to consider their effect on the amenity of residents and the long-term impacts of traffic congestion is like expecting a plague of locusts to consider their effect on a farmer's crops," he said. The ratepayers association has called for another public meeting with appropriate information provision and a PA system.

Melville chief executive Shayne Silcox confirmed there were technical issues on the night due to the preferred venue not being available. "The Canning Bridge Activity Centre Plan has evolved after many years of engagement with the community including workshops, information sessions and consultation opportunities," he said. "The focus of the recent Community Forum was to provide more specific detail regarding the four-storey areas ... allowing residents to understand more about the plans for the area and to explain the current review process.



"While there was plenty of information to present to the people who attended and therefore a time schedule to work to, there were a number of staff on hand to talk to the public and plenty of opportunities for people to ask questions.



"The information presented was specific as it focused on providing information that would help people provide feedback and comments in an informed manner as a formal submission." He reassured residents that height bonuses would not apply to buildings adjacent to a four-storey zone. "While our two cities do share the Canning Bridge, what is occurring in the City of South Perth is not necessarily reflective of planning in the City of Melville," he said.

"The Canning Bridge Activity Centre Plan has controls in place that have already been tested successfully through the development approval process." He said the plan was consistent with publisghed state government planning strategies to accommodate population increase via activity centres. It achieved transit-oriented development goals as locations including the Perth CBD, Curtin and Murdoch universities, Fiona Stanley and St John of God hospitals were all easily accessible from the area by train, bus and bicycle. "Further to this, the Activity Centre Plan establishes a foundation for the longer term future of the area including objectives and goals for its ongoing development, guidelines for the style of built form that is expected and an implementation framework for orderly improvements to infrastructure and land over time," he said. Loading
Chad Cameron Camp, 26, was arrested after the flight landed. Credit:Portland Police The teenager's attorney, however, says that the airline failed to protect its vulnerable passenger. "This was 30 minutes of hell for this young lady," said Brent Goodfellow, a lawyer representing the girl, who scoffed at the idea that his client had been saved by a heroic flight attendant. "If I have my tray table down or my seat back two inches during the improper time, those guys are going to be on me immediately," Goodfellow told The Post. "This girl got abused for 30 minutes and no one was to be found." Not only did the airline fail to protect her, he said, but American Airlines also charged the girl's family extra to let her travel alone.

"The family paid $300 extra and this is what they get?" he said, adding that his clients are "absolutely going to sue the airline." American Airlines said it takes "these matters very seriously" and is fully cooperating with law enforcement. "American cares deeply about our young passengers and is committed to providing a safe and pleasant travel experience for them," the airline said in a statement to CNN. As Goodfellow points out, however, this is not the only recent case of a child allegedly being sexually abused aboard an American Airlines flight. In July 2015, a Pakistani doctor was similarly accused of groping an unaccompanied girl aboard an AA flight from New York City to Chicago. Mohammad Asif Chaudhry, 57, was visiting relatives in the United States last summer when he allegedly moved from his assigned seat to sit next to the girl, who was between 12 and 16 years of age.

The girl woke up from a nap to find the doctor inappropriately touching her genitals, according to a federal lawsuit filed against Chaudhry and American Airlines. "I can't move cause the seat belt sign is on and I want to get away,' the girl said in desperate texts to her mother, the Associated Press reported. "Mommy, I'm scared." Chaudhry claimed that the contact was inadvertent, however. He was acquitted by a federal judge in November. The lawsuit against him and American Airlines continues in an Iowa court. After the incident, American Airlines issued a nearly identical statement to the one last week. "It's a mockery," Goodfellow said of the boilerplate statements. "It's like a slap in the face."

He said the airline's reaction was also identical: move the accused man to the back, move the girl to the front and call the FBI, which handles incidents aboard flights. Wednesday's incident allegedly began brewing the moment Camp boarded the airplane. The girl was flying home to the Portland area after visiting her father in Dallas. She boarded the flight first. Camp was wearing headphones and talking to himself when he sat down in his assigned seat, 21-B, right next to the girl. "The first word out of his mouth was '(expletive),'" the attorney said.

If that wasn't enough of a warning, Goodfellow said, then flight attendants should have realised there was a problem when Camp declined to move to an empty row - or at least to the aisle seat. "That's a big red flag," the attorney said. "Anybody who has ever flown more than a couple of hours and knows that if there is any empty seat that is not the middle seat, of course they are going to move." Camp continued to mumble and curse to himself before attempting to make small talk, the Oregonian reported, citing the complaint. He began leaning toward her, forcing her to lean away. Camp then began brushing up against her upper arm and shoulder while ostensibly turning the pages of a magazine, according to the complaint. Later, he leaned across the girl - to look out the window, he said - putting his face just inches from hers, the complaint continues.

After twice offering to share his earphones with her, Camp then repeatedly placed his hand on the girl's knee and upper thigh, according to the complaint reported by the Oregonian. "At one point she had to push his hand off of her and cross her legs," Goodfellow told The Post. But Camp just laughed and tried again, according to the complaint. "She was touched over 15 times," Goodfellow said, adding that Camp threw his earphones at the girl when she rebuffed his alleged advances. The incident only stopped when a female flight attendant came by to serve drinks and spotted Camp's hand on the girl's crotch, according to the complaint.

That's also when the flight attendant noticed that the girl was crying. When confronted, Camp denied doing anything wrong. And when the flight attendant told him to move, he tried to slide over just one seat, to the aisle, but the flight attendant wasn't having it. She moved Camp to the back of the plane and put the girl -- and a male witness -- near the front. As soon as the plane reached its gate in Portland, the girl and the witness were ushered off so that they could give statements to authorities, the Oregonian reported. When Camp exited the plane, he was detained by Port of Portland officials and then arrested by FBI agents, according to a statement from the bureau. Before he was taken to Multnomah County jail, however, the girl had to walk past him to use the airport restroom -- an experience Goodfellow described as "absolutely traumatizing." Camp later pleaded not guilty.

The attorney accused American Airlines of "extorting" separated families by charging them extra to let unaccompanied minors travel without providing any meaningful protection. The girl's father paid an additional $US300 round-trip for her to visit him. In August 2014, American Airlines began requiring parents to pay $US150 extra each way for unaccompanied kids ages 12-14 to fly. Previously, only unaccompanied kids ages 4-11 were required to use the service. "This age range not only ensures the safest possible travel for our youngest customers, it's consistent with US Airways policy before the close of our merger," American told its employees, according to the Dallas Morning News. "Our unaccompanied minor service is to ensure your child is boarded onto the aircraft, introduced to the flight attendant, chaperoned during connections and released to the appropriate person at their destination," the airline's website states.

"To me, what this is, is American looking for some extra dollars after they've got their baggage fees and all the other things they are now hitting us with," Goodfellow said. "If I'm an executive at American Airlines, I'm thinking: Almost half of our marriages in the United States end in divorce, and there are people moving out of state all the time, and there isn't a dollar figure out there that people aren't going to pay to see their loved ones." "Parents are assuming they are going to be getting bodyguard service" for $300, but they are not, he added. Camp never should have been given a seat next to the girl in the first place, Goodfellow argued. He cited some airlines's policies barring men from sitting next to unaccompanied minors. Those policies have come under attack, however, from men who claim that they are sexist.

In 2012, an Australian firefighter said he felt like a "paedophile" when a Virgin Australia flight attendant asked him to move from his seat next to two unaccompanied boys, according to CNN. After a public uproar, Virgin said it was reviewing its policy. "Basically, he felt like a paedophile precisely because he was treated like one," Joshua Gans wrote in Forbes shortly after the incident. Other airlines, including British Airways, Qantas and Air New Zealand have also been criticised for similar policies. Boris Johnson, ex-mayor of London, wrote an op-ed in 2006 about being asked to move on a British Airways flight before he revealed to the flight attendant that the kids were actually his. British Airways changed its policy in 2010 after being successfully sued by Luxembourgian businessman Mirko Fischer, who complained that he had been treated like a "child molester" by the airline, according to the Telegraph.

Allegations of abuse against unaccompanied minors are relatively rare. In 2013, an off-duty Delta pilot was accused of groping an unaccompanied girl on a flight from Detroit to Salt Lake City. Such cases date back to at least 1990, when a Michigan man was arrested for allegedly fondling a 9-year-old girl who was travelling with her seven-year-old sister aboard a Northwest Airlines flight. "Airlines and flight attendants say it's the first such incident they know of and doubt it could happen except under unusual circumstances," the Seattle Times reported, noting that the alleged incident happened during an overnight flight when the lights were dimmed. At the same time, however, the newspaper said the incident had "raised a new concern: youngsters being sexually molested en route." Goodfellow said airlines don't necessarily need to revert to bans on men sitting next to unaccompanied minors.

He said there are simple, non-discriminatory steps an airline can take, such as sitting unaccompanied minors in aisle seats in front or rear rows, where they are closest to and most easily seen by flight attendants. Whenever possible, unaccompanied minors should also have an empty seat next to them for protection, he said. On Thursday, Camp appeared briefly in US District Court in Portland. His attorney entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. No matter the outcome of Camp's case, Goodfellow said the incident had permanently affected the 13-year-old girl. "She doesn't want to be on an airplane ever again," he said. "This is going to affect the rest of her life."
Barack Obama, 10, and his father on the only visit Obama snr ever made to see his son after returning to Kenya in 1964. Credit:New York Times As president, Obama has spoken openly and repeatedly about the void his father left in his life. Barack Obama snr went home to Kenya in 1964, when Obama was three years old, and returned to visit his son only once, for a month, when Obama was 10. In an interview with The New York Times last month, the President said his father's absence had left him struggling as a teenager to figure out "what it meant to be a man". Barack Obama's snr's letters, which span the period from 1958 to 1964, offer new insights, particularly about his years in the United States. But the records, which were preserved among the papers of a foundation that provided scholarships to African students at the time, may also resurrect old pain. Mother of the President, Ann Dunham, in 1960. Credit:WikiCommons It was while pursuing his undergraduate degree at the University of Hawaii in 1960 that Barack Obama snr met Ann Dunham, a classmate. Although he already had a wife and two children in Kenya, he married her the following year, after she became pregnant. Their son was born on August 4, 1961. But Barack Obama snr never mentioned his new wife and son, not even in his scholarship applications.

In 1963, as he applied for a grant to help cover his graduate studies at Harvard, Barack Obama snr was asked on a financial aid form about his marital status and number of dependents. He left the section blank. Barack Obama snr. Relatives have described Barack Obama snr as a complicated man, brilliant and imperious, charming and brash, who began to drink heavily as his dreams of becoming one of Kenya's leading government economists foundered. He died in a car crash at age 46 without ever fulfilling his early promise. The elder Obama's youngest brother, Said Obama, noted in a telephone interview from Kenya this month that he hoped the records would help the family understand his sibling more fully. He said Barack Obama snr had never stopped caring about the son he left behind, recalling how he proudly showed off the photograph and school progress reports of the young man who would become president. A letter written by Barack Obama snr seeking travel funds to begin his studies at Harvard in 1962. Credit:New York Times

"He loved his son," Said Obama recalled. "I don't think you do such things if you don't love your son." President Obama often describes his life as an only-in-America saga, the improbable rise of the son of a white woman from Kansas and a black man from Kenya to the American presidency. But his father's ascent was astounding, too, as he journeyed from the dusty roads of his rural village to the halls of Harvard. As a boy, Barack Obama snr tended goats and walked to school barefoot, according to a biography about him, The Other Barack, by Sally H. Jacobs. He was a stellar student and dreamed big, even though opportunities were severely limited for blacks in Kenya, which was still a British colony then. He had not finished high school, he explained in one of his scholarship applications, "due to financial difficulties at home". "Due to poor health on the part of my father," he explained on another scholarship form, "I had to leave school to work and help." (His chronic misbehaviour and defiance also played a decisive role, Jacobs said.)

He found work as an auditor, an oil company surveyor, an office manager for an insurance company and a clerk for a literacy program. He married and had a child. His financial struggles did not dampen his aspirations. "Might open own firm on civil engineering and architecture or work for the government," he wrote. He was determined to join the wave of young Kenyans seeking higher education overseas as calls for independence swept the African continent. His letters helped him gain admission to the University of Hawaii and to come up with the money he needed to cover his costs. (An unexpected personal connection helped, too. It turned out that an official of a US foundation had employed his father as a cook.) On August 4, 1959, he boarded Flight 162 of British Overseas Airways Corp and flew from Nairobi to Rome, records show. From there, he flew to Paris and then on to New York. A bus carried him to Los Angeles, where he caught a plane to Hawaii. A year later, he would meet Dunham, President Obama's mother. Most people on campus had no idea that the star student had married a second wife during his sophomore year or that he was the father of a baby boy. By 1962, when he headed to Harvard to pursue a graduate degree, his American family had already fallen apart.
Three Ukrainian servicemen have been killed and another one has been injured in the area of Kyiv's army operation in Donbas in the past 24 hours, Ukrainian presidential administration spokesman for military issues Oleksandr Motuzianyk has said.

"To our great regret, three Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and another one has been injured as a result of fighting," he told a press briefing in Kyiv on Sunday.

One of the servicemen suffered lethal injuries when militant forces shelled positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the urban-type settlement of Talakivka in Donetsk region, he said.

Another two Ukrainian soldiers were killed and one was injured when they stepped on a mine planted by the militants near the village of Luhanske in Bakhmutka district of Donetsk region.
Ten people suspected of misappropriating gas have already been remanded into custody in Ukraine.

On Sunday, Kyiv's Solomiansky District Court ordered that Vasyl Pyhuliak, who has been accused of misappropriating gas extracted in Ukraine, be remanded into custody for two months or post bail.

Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Bureau Director Artem Sytnyk said on June 15 that criminal group members had been identified as part of an investigation into abuses committed by a number of MPs and high-ranking officials when selling gas extracted jointly with PJSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia. MP Oleksandr Onyschenko is implicated in this case. Sytnyk also said that ten out of the criminal group's 20 members had been detained and investigators were working with them.

PJSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia employees are among the 20 people involved in this criminal scheme, he said.

On June 17, the head of the Ukrainian Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, Nazar Kholodnytsky, said that the investigating judge had ordered that the enterprise's head, whom law enforcement agencies accused of being involved in the criminal arrangements when selling gas extracted jointly with PJSC Ukrgazvydobuvannia, be remanded into custody or post bail of UAH 200 million.

Early on June 18, the Holosiyevsky District Court of Kyiv ordered that Naftogaz Ukrainy's former Deputy CEO Oleksandr Katsuba be remanded into custody for two months or post bail of UAH 450 million.

Later on Saturday the 112. Ukraine television station reported that Kyiv's Solomiansky District Court had ordered that Valeriy Posny, one of the ten suspects in the gas misappropriation case, be remanded into custody for 60 days or post bail of UAH 1 million.

Another suspect, Oleh Riaboshapka, was also remanded into custody for two months or may post bail of UAH 1.5 million.

One more suspect, Vladyslav Kupriyanenko, was remanded into custody for two months or may post bail of UAH 20 million.

The 112. Ukraine TV channel also said on Saturday evening that Kyiv's Solomiansky District Court had ordered that Lesia Zhelezniak, another suspect in this case, be remanded into custody for 60 days or post bail of UAH 50 million.

Mykyta Ivanov was remanded into custody for two months or may post bail of UAH 50 million.
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/06/2016 (2319 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hanover School Division now faces a human rights complaint in the ongoing debate over discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom.

Michelle McHale and Karen Phillips have been named as complainants in an application to the Manitoba Human Rights Commission. The couple are common-law partners and parents in a blended family.

Hanover School Division and its board of trustees are named as respondents.

GRANT BURR | THE CARILLON Michelle McHale speaks a vigil held in Steinbach last Tuesday held in honour of the 49 victims of a mass shooting in Orlando on June 12. McHale and her common-law partner Karen Phillips have filed a human rights complaint against Hanover School Division and its board of trustees arguing the division's practice of excluding sexual orientation and gender identity from discussion in elementary and middle years classrooms is discriminatory and a breach of the Human Rights Code.

The couples complaint argues HSDs practice of excluding sexual orientation and gender identity from discussion in elementary and middle years classrooms is discriminatory and a breach of the Human Rights Code.

McHale has become a high profile advocate on the issue over the past three months after appearing before the board of trustees in April and encouraging them to develop a more inclusive learning environment. She presented to trustees after learning one of her children was being bullied for living in a home with two mothers.

The majority of the board has indicated little desire to change current policies.

The Complainants are concerned with the complete culture of exclusion and silence with respect to the LGBTTQ* community, the complaint reads.

Remarks made by HSD trustees at a recent board meeting are also referenced in the complaint, those comments it argues are in breach of the divisions code of conduct for trustees.

The commission will review the application before deciding to proceed with an investigation.

In a statement HSD board chair Ron Falk said the division has not recieved an official notice of the complaint and would not comment further until the complaint was reviewed.

Update 12:15 p.m.: Adds response from school division chairman.
New Zealand is in crisis because its avocados are so popular.

The fruit is extremely expensive in New Zealand right now, due to a poor season last year and rapidly rising demand. As a result, the country is facing a massive wave of avocado thefts.

Thieves have taken to stealing avocados from New Zealands orchards, sometimes hundreds at a time, in the middle of the night. Just since January, The Guardian reports, there have been almost 40 large-scale thefts.

The heists are dangerous, because avocados still on the trees are often covered in pesticides harmful to human skin. But apparently the avocado bandits find it worth it.

These stolen avocados can carry risks, Waihi police sergeant Aaron Fraser told The Guardian. But with the prices so high at the moment, the potential for profit is a strong inducement for certain individuals.
An Arizona woman who abused her quadruplets to within an inch of death in a much-covered case was released from prison Saturday. Elizabeth Shannon Whittle was 23 years old when she was accused of shaking the so-called Avondale Quads so badly she caused retinal bleeding, brain hemorrhages, and skull fractures, leaving one of the kids blind and deaf for life.

The quads weighed only about three pounds each when they were born in December of 1998. They were an object of local fascination before their birth because they had been conceived without fertility drugs, but onlookers blasted the parents for choosing to have more children when they could barely support the one they already had, the Phoenix New Times wrote that September. While people donated to help the kids out, their father, Anthony Perez, lost his $200-a-week job soon after they were born. Yet there was no indication that anything in the childrens lives had gone horribly awry until a good samaritan tipped off a nurse at the Phoenix Childrens Hospital that April.

The woman overheard Whittle tell a man, I think I shook him too hard this time. I may have broken his back.

Whittle and Perez were at the hospital after bringing one of their 3-month-old infants in the night before. His head was badly swollen, the New Times reported, and doctors found a fractured skull, broken ribs, and other injuries, including retinal hemorrhage and a bleeding brain. They were consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome.

His three other siblings were found to have rib fractures, broken limbs, and permanent brain damage. At least one broken bone had been missed by doctors during an earlier visit, according to the paper.

The children were the victims of severe physical abuse resulting in life-threatening injuries which most likely will result in multiple, lifelong disabilities, a case worker wrote in her report.

Perez was found guilty of failing to get the infants medical care. He was released from prison in 2004. The Daily Beasts attempts to locate him were unsuccessful.

Whittle was found guilty of 13 counts of child abuse in 1999. She was sentenced to 172 years in prison.

They convicted me on lies, she shouted in the courtroom, according to The Daily Record.

But a potential conflict of interest involving her law firmone that couldve seen her sentence overturned on appealresulted in a plea deal to just one count of child abuse in 2005. She was sentenced to 17 years, with credit for time served, the AP reported.

Paul McMarnie, the original prosecutor, did not return a request for comment.

Families who adopted the three boys were in favor of the plea because it spared the children a new trial, along with the difficulties of added publicity.

The county attorney really had his hands tied, Becky Rowin, who with her husband adopted the quadruplet with the most serious injuries, told The Arizona Republic at the time. In this case, we had to think about whats best for the children.

All of the siblings, now 18 years old, were renamed by their adoptive families and still keep in close contact. Michael and Matthew went home with the Reed family, while Hannah was adopted by the Nelsons.

Brandon, adopted by the Rowins, suffered the most serious injuries of the quadruplets. He remains in a wheelchair and cannot speak. Becky Rowin passed away four years ago, but her husband Kenneth told The Republic that their son still needs full time care.

Sandy Reed, who adopted Michael and Matthew, told The Republic that she didnt know Whittles release date, though she saw it was coming up on the prisons website. Her sons are doing good, she said, though they have some struggles.
By Linda Qiu and Lauren Carroll

Donald Trumps tough stretch on the campaign trail has Republicans talking about his candidacy and whether it needs a course correction.

In recent weeks, Trump made a racially charged attack on a federal judge of Mexican descent, delivered a rambling speech following the Orlando shooting, and made conspiratorial suggestions about President Obamas terrorist sympathies.

Some Republicans are defending Trump, some are condemning his remarks, and some are just evading questions. Now there is talk of delegates organizing against him at this summers Republican National Convention.

But given that Trump clearly won the primary and nabbed the majority of delegates, such a move would violate party rules and election law, the candidate said on NBCs Meet the Press when asked about whether delegates at the convention could stop him.

I dont believe that. I think thats the press. No. 1, they cant do it legally. No. 2, I worked for one year, and we won all those delegates, Trump said. So I win 37 states and somebody else won none, and theyre going to be the nominee? I dont think so.

Trump has a point that such a move would be against the current rules, but those rules wont necessarily govern this years Republican National Convention. If the delegates decide to change the rules in July and thwart his nomination, it might seem anti-democratic, but its within their authority to do so. Trumps statement rates Mostly False.

At the heart of the matter are the 112 members of the rules committeea man and a woman from each state, territory, and the District of Columbia.

The committee has the power to change rules, such as passing a conscience clause, imposing a supermajority rather than a majority threshold, or releasing all the delegates to support whomever they want rather than the candidate who won their states primary or caucus. The Trump campaign seemed aware of this possibility in March 2016.

They can throw out the chairman. You can throw out the RNC members. You can do anything, Barry Bennett, Trumps convention strategist, said in March.

That means the rules committee can allow delegates to pick any nominee they like, said Joshua Putnam, a professor of government at the University of Georgia.

But having the delegates vote how they wish from the start of the convention would be controversial. Putnam noted that Trump could certainly sue if the conscience clause, freeing delegates to vote as they wish, is adopted. After all, Trump did secure the majority of delegates, and some state party rules and state laws do commit their delegates.

But Putnam and others say its unlikely the courts will decide in Trumps favor, given how theyve ruled in the past.

Ed OKeefe of the anti-Trump Club for Growth and David Rivkin Jr., a constitutional litigator who served in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that state laws binding delegates are not enforceable because they violate the First Amendment.

The government has no business telling parties how to select their candidates or leaders: That would be a serious infringement of the rights to free association and speech, they wrote.

OKeefe and Rivkin pointed to two Supreme Court cases, Cousins v. Wigoda (1975) and Democratic Party v. Wisconsin ex rel. LaFollette (1980), that both held states dont have the authority to override a partys nominating process. In other words, the parties are in control of themselves.

In Trumps case, that means the rules committees decision to release the delegates would effectively override a states law binding its delegates.

Any time the issue of intraparty politics come up, the court sides with the party, said Putnam.

Anti-Trump ads to air

Meanwhile, Democrats are seizing on Trumps various comments to launch attack ads against him. Meet the Press host Chuck Todd played a portion of a new ad from Priorities USA as an example of what Trump will face in the general election.

The ad claims Trump is too dangerous for America and shows video of him saying, Im really good at war. I love war in a certain wayincluding with nukes, yes, including with nukes.

Its clear that the nukes video is separate from the preceding commentI love war in a certain waybut the implication seems to be that Trump is a warmonger who isnt afraid to use nuclear weapons.

Trump did utter those phrases, but he doesnt seem to be so enthusiastic about using nuclear weapons. Trumps quip about nukes actually referred to his belief that Japan might be better off if it had nuclear weapons. The ads claim rates Half True.

Trump made the comments about loving war during a 90-minute speech in Iowa on Nov. 12, 2015. In the speech, Trump discussed the Iraq war before briefly sidetracking into his feelings on war generally.

Im really good at war. I love war in a certain way. But only when we win, Trump said.

Trump made his comments about nukes in an April 3 interview with Fox News Sundays Chris Wallace. Speaking of Japan, Trump said, Maybe they would in fact be better off if they defend themselves from North Korea.

Wallace asked: With nukes?

Trump: Maybe they would be better offincluding with nukes, yes, including with nukes.

Overall, Trump has offered somewhat conflicting views on using nuclear weapons throughout the campaign.

He has said he wouldnt rule out using tactical nuclear weapons against ISIS, but added in the same interview, Definitely nuclear weapons are a last resort.

Nor would he rule out using nuclear weapons in Europe, if a conflict ever were to arise. You dont want to, say, take everything off the table, he said.

On the other hand, he told The New York Times in March, Its a very scary nuclear world. Biggest problem, to me, in the world, is nuclear, and proliferation.
U.S. and Russian fighter jets bloodlessly tangled in the air over Syria on June 16 as the American pilots tried and failed to stop the Russians from bombing U.S.-backed rebels in southern Syria near the border with Jordan.

The aerial close encounter underscores just how chaotic Syrias skies have become as Russia and the U.S.-led coalition work at cross-purposes, each dropping bombs in support of separate factions in the five-year-old civil war.

The near-clash also highlights the escalating risk of American and Russian forces actually coming to blows over Syria, potentially sparking a much wider conflict between the worlds leading nuclear powers.The incident began when at least two twin-engine Su-34 bombers, some of Moscows most advanced warplanes, struck what the Pentagon described as a border garrison housing around 200 U.S.-supported rebels in At Tanf on the Syrian side of the Syria-Jordan border.The rebels had been conducting counter-ISIL operations in the area, the Pentagon stated on June 18, using an alternative acronym for ISIS.The United States and its allies in Syria clearly did not expect the air strike. The rebels in At Tanf are party to a shaky ceasefire agreement between rebel forces and the regime of Syrian president Bashar Al Assadand, by extension, the Russian military contingent backing Al Assad. The Los Angeles Times reported that Russian planes had not previously been active over At Tanf.

The Su-34s initial strike wounded, and perhaps killed, some of the rebels in At Tanf.

The U.S. Navy scrambled F/A-18 fighters to intercept the Russians, the Los Angeles Times reported. The Navy has deployed two aircraft carriers to the region for strikes on ISIS. As the F/A-18s approached the Su-34s, officials with U.S. Central Commandwhich oversees Americas wars in the Middle East and Afghanistanused a special hotline to contact their Russian counterparts directing Russias own intervention in Syria.

Arriving over At Tanf, the American pilots apparently spoke directly to the Russian aviators. Pilots CAN communicate with one another on a communications channel set up to avoid air accidents, Central Command confirmed in a statement to The Daily Beast.

Washington and Moscow had established the hotline as part of a so-called Safety of Flight Memorandum of Understanding that the two governments signed in October specifically in order to avoid the kind of aerial confrontation that occurred over Syria last week.

With the American jets flying close enough to visually identify the Su-34s, the Russians departed the air space over At Tanf. Some time shortly thereafter, the F/A-18s ran low on fuel and left the area in order to link up with an aerial tanker. Thats when the Su-34s reportedly returned to At Tanfand bombed the rebels again.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the second strike killed first-responders assisting survivors of the first bombing run.

The next day, senior U.S. Defense Department officials organized an extraordinary video conference with Russian counterparts to discuss the incident. The meeting included Acting Assistant Secretary for International Security Affairs Elissa Slotkin and U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, a strategic planner on the Pentagons joint staff, plus unspecified Russian Ministry of Defense officials.

Department officials expressed strong concerns about the attack on the coalition-supported counter-ISIL forces at the At Tanf garrison, which included forces that are participants in the cessation of hostilities in Syria, and emphasized that those concerns would be addressed through ongoing diplomatic discussions on the cessation of hostilities, Defense Department spokesman Peter Cook explained in a statement.

"Regarding safety, department officials conveyed that Russias continued strikes at At Tanf, even after U.S. attempts to inform Russian forces through proper channels of on-going coalition air support to the counter-ISIL forces, created safety concerns for U.S. and coalition forces, Cook continued. Department officials requested Russian responses to address those concerns.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov confirmed, via the countrys state-owned media, that the teleconference took placebut he did not specify the results of the extraordinary meeting.

Russian warplanes had previously shadowed planes belonging to the U.S.-led coalition over Syria, but the coalition always described the Russians behavior as professional. By contrast, in April Russian Su-24 bombers repeatedly buzzed the U.S. Navy warship USS Donald Cook while the vessel sailed in international waters in the Black Sea. A Pentagon spokesman called the Russians actions in that incident provocative and unprofessional.

The Kremlin should be keenly aware of the potential for unwantedand potentially destabilizingbloodshed that exists in the air over Syria. In November, a Russian Su-24 bomber flying a mission over Syria strayed over the Syria-Turkey border into Turkeyand a Turkish F-16 fighter promptly shot it down.

The two Russian crew members ejected. One flier died when Syrian rebels on the ground opened fire on his parachute. Russian, Syrian, and Iranian forces launched a complex rescue mission that ultimately retrieved the surviving pilot. One Russian marine died and a helicopter was destroyed during that operation.

The fallout from the November incident continues, with Russia and Turkey exchanging threatsand Moscow imposing economic sanctions on Ankarra including limits on some food imports to Russia from Turkey.

Its not clear how close the U.S. fighters came to attacking and potentially shooting down the Su-34s over At Tanf. Central Command declined to say what the rules of engagement are for American pilots flying over Syria. ROE are actually specifics that we dont get into, Central Command said in a statement.

The last time a U.S. military warplane shot down a Russianactually, Sovietplane was in 1953, over Korea or China, depending on which historians you believe. The last time a Russian or Soviet warplane shot down an American aircraft was in 1970, when a U.S. Army plane strayed over Armenia.
The meeting between the heads of the Orthodox Churches on Crete will not address the address of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada to Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew and other issues associated with the Ukrainian Orthodox church.

"The Ukraine issue is not on the agenda of the Council, and it cannot be changed," Archbishop Job of Telmessos, a representative of the Constantinople Patriarchate, who is taking part in the Crete forum, said.

According to earlier reports, the Verkhovna Rada last week issued an address to Patriarch Bartholomew calling for the issuance of a tomos on the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine and the invalidation of the act of 1686 according to which the Kyiv metropolitan was allegedly attached to the Moscow Patriarchate 'in violation of canons.'

At the same time, Archbishop Job did not rule out that the official address of Verkhovna Rada deputies will be discussed by the Holy Synod of the Constantinople Patriarchate, "as it happens with every important issue," when Patriarch Bartholomew receives it.

The Crete forum opens on Monday. It will last until June 25. The forum will address six issues: relations between the Orthodox Church and the rest of the Christian world, attitudes to fasting, marriage, the church's mission in the contemporary world, spiritual guidance of Orthodox Christians in the diaspora, and methods of proclaiming the autonomy of Orthodox churches.

The Bulgarian, Antioch, Georgian, Serbian and Russian Churches earlier called for the Council to be rescheduled to resolve differences and make improvements to its draft documents. However, the Constantinople Patriarchate, which is in charge of preparations for the forum, declined the initiative and insisted on holding the Council on the designated dates.

The Serbian Church agreed to take part in the forum, reserving the right to leave the meeting if its participants refuse to take into account the existing issues, problems and differences.
Last Sunday, mere hours after a gunman attacked the LGBT club Pulse in Orlando, Florida, leaving 49 people dead and countless others injured, John Oliver appeared on his late-night HBO program Last Week Tonight. There, he paid tribute to the victims in the massacre, and also urged his viewers to remain hopeful, pointing to the long lines of people at Orlando area blood banks as evidence of good triumphing over evil.

This week, after the British comedian and his team had a little more time to research, Oliver addressed the different responses to the tragedy, from presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump repeating his call for a travel ban on Muslims (despite the fact that the AR-15 wielding shooter, Omar Mateen, was born in a Queens, New York, hospital about 8 miles from where Trump was born), and the Democrats filibustering Congress in order to get a vote on gun reform.

Since the Republicans control the House, however, its not likely that any gun control legislation will make it through Congressmuch to Olivers chagrin.

Here we are again after another mass shooting with weak legislation due to failure. And there is clearly a disconnect between public opinion, which favorsto varying degreesa number of different gun control measures, and any practical action in Washington. And it is pretty clear what is standing between those two things: and it is the National Rifle Association, said Oliver.

To be fair to the NRA, its not surprising they take a hard line on gun control legislation, he added. Theyre an advocacy group, its what theyre supposed to do. What is shocking is just how successful theyve been at it.

Indeed, the NRA has not only managed to coax politicians to embrace soft gun laws294 congressmen have received a total of $3.7 million from the NRA since 1998but also prevented the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) from even studying the causes of gun violence. Yes, back in 1997 the Dickey Amendment was added to a congressional bill, and it bars the CDC from any research that would advocate or promote gun control, effectively blocking CDC research into gun deaths. As a result, the CDC has not been able to produce a comprehensive study on how to prevent gun violence in 15 years.

Since the Dickey Amendment, CDC funding has dropped 96 percent to just $100,000 of last years $5.6 billion CDC budget.

Oh, and thats not all. Its not just the CDC struggling to collect reliable gun-related information. For decades, the NRA has successfully lobbied to prevent the ATF to have a database that is electronically searchable by name when tracing the origins of firearms, said Oliver. Thats right: for gun shops that have gone out of business, people must review paper and microfilm records to trace the ownership of guns, many of which are barely legible. In 2016.

So how the FUCK has the NRA managed to accomplish all of this? Because the truth is, theyre not that large an organization. They claim they have a membership of around 5 million, but that is three million fewer members than Planet Fitnessand the members of Planet Fitness have almost no power. Most of them dont even have the power to go to Planet Fitness, joked Oliver. The real power of the NRA are in its members who are highly motivated and can be mobilized quickly.

Yes, the NRA not only contributes a great deal of money to lobbying for guns and against gun control, but they also have very passionate and vocal supporters who fight hard on their gun-loving overlords behalf. And they have a simple message: NO to gun control.

Its a lot easier to drum up support when youre just flatly against something, offered Oliver. There is a reason that TLC insisted on No Scrubs, and not the implementation of a national registry of potential scrubs, aka Bustas, that would screen for scrub-like tendencies, or affiliations with known scrubs. They knew No Scrubs is a lot catchier.

Back in 2013, in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre that claimed the lives of 26 peopleincluding 20 schoolchildren ages 7 and undera gun control amendment was proposed by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) The Manchin-Toomey amendment, as it was called, would have required universal background checks on all commercial sales of guns. Unfortunately, it was shot down by Congress.

The truth about politics is its about showing up. Remember the Manchin-Toomey amendment? Well, a national poll at that time found that 88 percent of people supported universal background checks, and yet Manchins office claimed maintains that of the calls they received, they ran 200 to 1 in opposition to the bill, and thats why its actually important to call your congressman, said Oliver.

Just this past week, Representative Tony Cardenas (D-CA) introduced an amendment to a mental health bill in front of the House Energy and Commerce Committee that would have authorized the Centers for Disease Control to offer grants for gun research. Unfortunately, it was not passed.

Are you fucking kidding me? That happened four days ago, and Im guessing that youre hearing about it for the first time now, said Oliver. The Dickey Amendment is emblematic of the chokehold the NRA has over even basic gun data, and it should obviously be overturned, but the hard truth is: NRA members seem to care more consistently about preventing gun control than most of us do about passing it.

Oliver then called on his viewers to call up their local congressman or congresswoman over and over againnot just in the wake of a mass-shootingto remind them to appeal the Dickey Amendment. Repealing it is not asking much. Its not gun control! Its enabling us to have an informed conversation about what that could look like, he said. And if or when a proposal you like is on the table, youre going to have to make all those calls again, because remember: it doesnt take much to outnumber the NRA. Planet Fitness members outnumber them. But its time for us to learn what those members havent: if youre going to see serious changes, you actually have to show up every fucking day.
At the end of the documentary Suited, Everett Arthur, a transgender law student from Georgia, examines himself in the mirror, checking out the fit of his new suit. He looks thoughtful and a little hesitant at first, and its hard to tell exactly what hes feeling, and if he likes his new look. Then he starts to tear up.

Its hard to stand here and look at myself in the mirror when Ive never really liked what Ive seen, he says. Then a few beats later, Really good. I really appreciate it. Customer for life, he laughs.

Arthur is a client of Bindle & Keep, a Brooklyn-based tailoring company that has somewhat unconsciously become the clothier to the transgender community and is now the subject of a new documentary premiering Monday night on HBO.

Most people dont have to think twice about heading to the mall to find a new outfit for a special occasion or something that will make them feel comfortable and confidant.

But, for many who identify as transgender or gender non-conforming, buying the perfect off-the-rack ensembleone that not only fits like a dream but also presents them to the world the way they want to be seenis an elusive prospect at best.

Rae Tutera knows something about this. In 2010, Tutera was fed up with the experience of shopping in stores that made me feel like a misfit in many different ways, with my body and my gender, Tutera tells The Daily Beast. So, Tutera decided to indulge in a custom-made suit from a tailor that had been recommended by a cis friend.

I got something imperfect from it, but it made such an impact on meI just never felt so good about myself before, Tutera says on screen.

It was a first for both Tutera and the tailor, but it was a transformative experience, one that Tutera wanted to spread to others in their community. So, Tutera approached Daniel Friedman, the owner of Bindle & Keep, asking for an apprenticeship to learn the art of tailoring.

He was openminded, Tutera says of Friedman. I could tell that he didnt know what to make of my gender, didnt know what to make of my feeling that there was this whole other world of people to put clothes on.

Now, several years later, Friedman reports proudly onscreen that the majority of Bindle & Keeps suits are made for members of the LGBTQ community. Rae has changed my life. Theres no question that if I did not meet Rae, my life would be less meaningful, Friedman says.

When new clients enter Bindle & Keeps studio, they not only pose for a flurry of measurements, go through fabric swatches, and answer questions about the style of suit they want. They also get into more personal territory.

Measurements aside, what do they like and dislike about their bodies? Bindle & Keep can make a perfectly fitted suit, but also one that de-emphasizes hips or bust.

Or, as one client Derek Matteson requests for his wedding, I really dont want anyone to be able to pick me out from a line of guys and be like, theres curves on this body that dont make sense.

Its all about just feeling great in your body, especially when people have been struggling their entire lives and they finally get into something that really fits them, that really fits them the way theyve always envisioned something would fit them. Thats not fashion anymore and thats what were after, Friedman says in the film.

Suited spotlights six clients from a range of backgrounds who are all searching for a suit that will make them feel comfortable and special in their bodies.

Among them are law student Arthur, who needs a suit that will help him push past the discrimination hes facing in job interviews, 12-year-old Aidan Star Jones who is making his Bar Mitzvah and coming out to his community, and Dr. Jillian T. Weiss, a transgender woman who needs a fierce suit to wear while arguing a high-powered case in court for transgender rights.

There is vulnerability and bravery as they tell their stories to their tailorsand now the world. But the real moment is the one that finds each of the clients standing in front of the mirror in clothes that actually fit, seeing themselves quite possibly for the first time.

It was that moment that inspired director Jason Benjamin, who is making his directorial debut with Suited, to take on this project. Benjamin was working as a boom operator on the set of the HBO series Girls when he read a New York Times article about Bindle & Keep.

I sort of came at it with no exposure or information about the trans community, Benjamin tells The Daily Beast. But as I read about the moment, that moment was a moment about people and something that I [thought] would be beautiful to watch. So I sort of carried that image around with me for a few days.

But he found that it was a lot more complicated once he actually was in the room when it happened. After Girls co-creators Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner (who are also producers on Suited) encouraged him to explore making a documentary, he found himself in Bindle & Keeps studio filming as clients saw themselves in their new threads.

When I initially read about that moment, I thought it would be a happy moment. I realized in the course of making the film and seeing a few people go through this that its more than happy. Theres a lot of nuance going into that moment, Benjamin says.

The stakes are high and are about much more than just fashion. Clothes have the power to transform people both in their own eyes and that of the world. It is a magical moment that is vulnerable and scary and excitingand potentially transformative.

It was this range of emotions that played out across Arthurs face when he looked at himself in his new interview suit for the first time.

I feel like a suit is really just a gateway for most folks to sort of think about themselves, think about how they treat themselves, how they present themselves to the world, Tutera says. I think its a hard process for people to integrate their real selves into the world, and the suit is supposed to bring you to that next place. And then you can take the suit off and hopefully just continue to present yourself and make eye contact with people, make eye contact with yourself.

As the publicity and excitement mounts around the film, Tutera is still processing the experience.

The documentary was screened at Sundance in January, where Tutera and many of the movies subjects saw it for the first time (who would expect us to ever be in Utah, at all, really, but for Sundance to see a movie that youre in thats edited and color corrected and with parts of your story contextualized in a way that you have no control over?). And Tuteras family saw it for the first time the week before the HBO premiere.

While Tutera was hesitant when Benjamin first approached with the idea for the project, Tutera calls the result extremely tender.

I feel sort of like Im born again in some weird way, and I want to spread the gospel of wearing things that fit and make you feel OK being seen by people even people who dont understand you or respect you, Tutera says at the end of Suited. Everyone has a right to feel good and be themselves. You have a right to be handsome.
Mandy Hargraves was addicted to dying.

She had been on the outs with her husband and going broke before cancer. Then her estranged husband returned and money started rolling in as donations to fund her fight against stage 4 stomach cancer.

Except Hargraves was allegedly playing sick and playing people for fools.

Authorities in Valdosta, Georgia, claim she duped strangers and loved ones into pouring out their souls on Facebook and emptying their pocketbooks into the 34-year-olds GoFundMe page. Hargraves allegedly kept the lie alive by using her children as props.

And she seemed to sweeten the pot by always turning to her heart and soul of her kids as the reason she wouldnt let cancer claim victory. With all of the bad news that I was hit with yesterday I will continue my life just like it never happened. I refuse to through in the town . I dont have that in me i have two beautiful children that need me and I am determined to fight for my life for their sake.

The sick mother wasted no time to prop her kids modeling Mandy Strong T-shirts or cozying up in a waiting room of a hospital stay.

Days after being diagnosed Hargraves wrote that her daughter, wearing an oversized white MD coat, announced she would eradicate the cancer herself.

Mama I want to be your hero I want to fix your heart and take all of your sickness and pain away holding back the tears, she wrote. Dr. Hargraves has no idea that she is one of the reasons I keep fighting this fight.

A Mandy Strong movement was born. T-shirts were sported by her kids, fellow cheerleaders, and moms on ladies nights out. One even took her T-shirt to Paris.

We are on Gods timing and Im thankful to still have a pulse, she wrote in response to the symphony of well-wishers.

Not least of all was her 65-year-old dad Leonard Thornton.

A few days after learning his daughter as doomed he posted a spiritual pledge: TO OUR Mandy Thornton Hargraves !!!, OUR GIFT FROM GOD !!!, OUR LOVE !!!, OUR HEARTBEAT !!!, WE ARE STANDING ON THE WORD OF GOD !!

Fast forward two years and hes still defending his daughter, albeit under far different circumstances.

Thats not Mandy, her dad told The Daily Beast in an exclusive interview. What people are seeing thats just not her.

Hes at a loss for the right words to explain how his not-so-dying daughter fell so hard, having turned herself in on June 6 to answer to theft by deception charges.

Hargraves faces up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.

Valdosta deputies cased the alleged cancer fraudster for a year and even pored over Hargravess medical records after the womans inner circle (including her husband and her friend who set up the GoFundMe account) blew the whistle on her to authorities, according to the sheriffs report.

Someones medical records are a private issue for that person so we were very cautious to make sure we proceeded each step presenting the necessary probably cause, Lowndes County Sheriffs Capt. Stryde Jones told The Daily Beast of how they convinced a judge to bypass HIPAA and greenlight their warrants.

In May of last year Capt. Jones said investigators questioned Hargraves about holes in cancer tale. And while she didnt have much to say, Hargraves was evidently spooked and quit soliciting for funds.

After that point there was no fundraising efforts, no donations and any claims she had made stopped, he said.

The Baptist daughter that Thornton raised has been a no-show at Sunday services for months.

Oh Lord its been three months since shes been to church and thats a big concern of mine, he said.

Adding injury to the insult is a shooting accident that almost took his daughters life.

On May 9, Mandy Hargraves was apparently carrying a couple of pistols from her home to a shooting friends house for safekeeping when her .38 fired, spilling five units of her blood on the asphalt.

The bullet went into the right side and struck the ribcage pointing downward against the pelvis, her dad added. She lost her kidney, she lost 4-and-a-half-feet of intestines, she lost part of her colon, part of her liver and the use of her left leg.

When she posed for mugshot shed slimmed down to 80 pounds.

Was it suicide?

Ive questioned it, he said but doubts she tried to take her own life.

The doting mother seemed to want to hold onto her life through the ruse. She and her husband were planning on getting a divorce and this came about and then her and her husband reunited and got closer together only to get divided again after the fact.

There again you wonderwas she actually sick?

The dad has racked his brain to recall times when he was present with her at various doctors appointments and can only come up with scant evidence.

I think the doctors she was dealing with all thought her situation was worse than it was, he said. I do believe she was told something that made her afraid for her body but at the same time maybe attention; maybe she wanted that. Maybe she felt she needed that but it got out of hand.

The possible cry for help wasnt lost on Thornton who remembered confronting his daughter a year into her alleged cancer concoction.

When she went through this thing here I actually asked her if there was something not true and she told me No daddy. Mandy always seemed to be truthful with me.

After that one exchange her father left it alone. She didnt want to have any conversations after that, he said. The only thing I can do is pray for her and get ready for her to talk and then do the best I can do for her with the leadership of god.

Others arent feeling as pious.

Leanne Bennett was one of Hargraves closest cohorts. The ex-cop even got to work to create the now defunct GoFundMe page. She told us, I wish I had nothing to do with it.

On a post after the sheriffs investigation was well underway Bennett boldly wrote a sort of apology to the masses who came forward with their hard earned dollars. She mentioned how there Hargraves sickness did not add up but the circle of her friends supported her because we could not believe she would lie about something so detrimental to her children and everyone that loves her.

But the wait didnt last long as the alleged deceit became more and more brazen. I have seen the explanation of benefits from her insurance that show no scans at all.

Smoking gun evidence for Bennett compelled her to turn to law enforcement and out the patient as having never had the two PET scans she claimed she did. Same went for the MRI, CT scans, biopsy and those oncology appointmentsthey were pure fiction.

Hargraves was one of my closest friends and she never flinched to go to bat for her.

She told me personally on her front porch on Halloween that she was diagnosed with Stage 4 Stomach cancer that was in her lymph nodes and blood stream. I was devastated, Bennett wrote on Facebook.

Bennett asked for forgiveness and wrote that while the money is a major factor in this sick scheme the most important part is her children who will be affected by this for the rest of their lives and all the kids who thought she was dying because her child told all of her friends including my children who still dont understand how or why anyone would lie about dying.

There appears to be no shame in Hargraves hawking her cancer. Her kids rock her black T-shirt which in hot pink capped letter reading MANDY STRONG on the front and on the reverse read: TOUGHER THAN CANCER TOGETHER.

A GoFundMe rep told The Daily Beast that the platform offered refunds to all donors and acted once it became known that the moms cancer was a crock. In Hargraves case, the effort was never flagged as fraudulent until last week when she turned herself and and her mugshot was taken.

One woman who donated $100 (and hasnt received any money back) still feels slighted but hopes Mandy Hargraves is healed for her deception. My prayers go out to her, the woman, who asked to remain anonymous, told us. She was a friend of the family and weve known them for years and she had two children and thats what Christian families do; they try to help each other out.

The aunt of Hargravess ex-husband, Penny Hargraves, is still learning how to be a widow after her husband Jerry died of cancer two years ago at age 58.

Because my husband battled cancer for two years and she fakes an illness like that, she said in a phone interview. Mandy did not come to my husbands funeral, she did not come to visit my husband. She didnt do anythingshe was just faking this illness.

Lowndes County Sheriffs Capt. Jones is convinced that too many were honest people taken because of one womans need for a money and attention.

Theres no winners in this case, he said. From a monetary standpoint its not that bad The people that this hurts are the ones suffering from illness.

For them theres no cure. They need this assistance and this kind of thing makes everybody reluctant to donate.

Her dad contends there was never any malice.

She never tried to be intentionally foul or cause havoc But its just one of those things that happened before I realized it.

Whatever morsel his daughter may have bit off her dad knows now he didnt see clearly in time the signs to intervene. I played this thing and replayed it in my mind and this could have been nipped in the bud a long time ago.

I had a lot of friends asking me questions too that I didnt have answers for.

I didnt talk to them or didnt answer my phone every time because I didnt have answers.

And when it wasnt friends asking questions it was the cops. Hes waiting for his daughter to enlighten him on what exactly happened to her on her time.

One of the detectives told me Listen, if she would just show me it was just cancer risks to start with I can take that back to the DA and judge, Thornton recalled the investigator telling him. But we have a lot of people that want to bring this out.

While he remains steadfast to get answers he isnt ruling out that divine intervention could have made whatever cancer disappear.

Im first to tell you I believe in healing power, he said. I believe in miracles.

I believe in the healing power of Jesus. There were many prayers for her. For a while I just praised God that she was going to be okay.

He also catches himself and wonders if indeed it was a higher power at work or a desperate attempt to hoodwink so many for who knows what. At some point you have to recognize and say hey We thought there was cancer here. We thought there was a problem here and now we dont see it. We just see scars.

One thing is certain if his daughters demise is proven to be a put on she is likely to face hard time for scarring so many. But perhaps better prison than cancer.
An Open Letter to Werner Christukat, Waffen-SS soldier and participant in the massacre at Oradour-sur-Glane:

My grandfather was a U.S. airman shot down over occupied France during World War II. He traveled the countryside for months, evading German patrols. In a declassified intelligence report, he painfully recalls, I saw a town within four hours bicycle ride up the Gerbeau farm where some 500 men, women, and children had been murdered by the Germans. I saw one baby who had been crucified.

This crime is likely one that you know wellthe massacre at Oradour-sur-Glane.

In June of last year, a court in Cologne, Germany ignored relevant legal precedent and dismissed your case. One of Hitlers most elite combat soldiers, you were charged with murdering 25 defenseless men in Oradour, as well as helping to burn alive hundreds of women and children.

For decades, Waffen-SS soldiers have avoided responsibility for their horrific wartime acts. In 2011, however, the legal landscape in Germany suddenly shifted. The trial of a guard from Sobibor extermination camp ushered in a new era of Nazi prosecutions, including that of Reinhold Hanning, who just this past Friday was convicted of 170,000 counts of accessory to murder.

As a matter of law, it is no longer necessary to prove direct involvement in a specific killing. Rather, all that is required is a showing that you were part of a larger killing apparatus, or a cog in machinery designed entirely for the purpose of murder. In other words, mere presence and support are enough to establish guilt. Yet somehow you remain free.

On June 10, 1944, the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich descended upon Oradour. As your convoy approached, an officer was heard instructing his men, Today, blood must flow. They surrounded the village with military precision. The more experienced soldiers had learned their craft on the eastern front, where mass murder was a frequent tool of occupation.

The first shots rang out as rifle and machine gun fire struck down villagers working in the fields. Once the village was encircled, it was clear that the men in the cordon had no intention of stopping innocent civilians from entering. Rather, their goal was to ensure that no one could escape the slaughter to come. The noose was beginning to tighten.

Halftracks loaded with combat-ready troops charged through the heart of Oradour. A systematic roundup commenced, with every soldier directing men, women, and children to the village fairground. The SS went house to house, pushing citizens into the streets, shooting the old and infirm in their beds.

Camouflaged soldiers burst into the schools shouting, Alle raus! Children diligently followed their teachers as they were led away. One terrified boy waited behind. He called out to his sisters and then sprinted from the classroom.

At seven years old, Roger Godfrin was the only child to survive the massacre.

The fairground overflowed as all the villagers assembled. Women carried their babies and pushed them in carriages, boys and girls were crying next to their teachers, men stood by in stunned silence. The SS divided them into two groups. Women and children were marched off to the church. Men were forced into six other buildings.

At a nearby barn, soldiers laughed openly before settling in behind their machine guns. The men from the village huddled together inside. When the signal was given, the killing began in earnest. Gunners raked their fire back and forth as the Frenchmen fell in twisted piles of blood and broken limbs. A handful of survivors felt soldiers climbing on their backs. They lay motionless, feigning death, as pistol shots silenced those screaming around them. The building was then set on fire. One man struggled to free himself from the corpses as the flames licked at his flesh. In the distance, he could hear an unnerving sound. The soldiers were playing music.

Robert Hebras escaped the killing machine that day, along with only four other men.

Inside the church, the SS laid down a large box at the front of the nave. The women and children looked on nervously. When the bomb exploded, it filled the air with thick black smoke. Gunners rushed in, throwing grenades and spraying the crowd with bullets. Mothers fell dead in front of their babies. Children ran screaming, their clothes engulfed in flames. The SS stoked the fire, piling broken pews and straw on top of the bodies. Behind the altar, one woman pulled herself to her feet. With her last ounce of strength, she clawed her way up to a window and jumped.

Marguerite Rouffanche was the only woman to survive, fighting her way free from the red-hot crematorium inside the church.

The bulk of the killing complete, soldiers took to the streets, firebombing the remaining buildings and hunting for survivors. Corpses were found in nearby fields and thrown down a well. Investigators would later discover the body of a baby shoved inside the bakers oven.

Of the 642 people murdered, more than 200 of the victims were children. It was the largest mass killing in occupied France during the war.

After your unit withdrew, rescue workers were met with a scene of unconscionable cruelty. Within the church, a thick paste of human remains flowed across the floor. Boys and girls were crushed against the perimeter, their faces no longer recognizable. Attempting to escape the intense heat, they left melted flesh glued to the walls. In a side chapel, baby carriages sat riddled with shrapnel. Protected by their heavy prams, the infants inside may have been the last to scream as the fire overtook them.

In 2010, Nazi hunters located a document in the archives of the Stasi, the former East German secret police. It was a company list for the Das Reich Division that included your name alongside other known perpetrators of the massacre.

When questioned by German prosecutors and journalists, you made a series of admissions. You acknowledged that you were a machine gunner and that you were present at Oradour. You were part of the cordon that sealed off the perimeter, preventing the villagers from escaping. More importantly, your duties brought you into the center of the village where you saw the bomb placed inside the church. You even admitted that you were close enough to hear the women and children scream as they met their horrible fate. Nonetheless, you denied all responsibility for the crime.

I have lost myself in this at times, running through the events again and again, dreaming of the children. These most innocent victims should never be forgotten. They are not insignificant.

On that day in Oradour, you and the soldiers alongside you were energetic executioners. You made hell on earth possible. The killing was synchronized. It was mass murder to music, and there were only seven survivors. As the cordon pushed in toward the church, each soldier became a complicit piece in the larger killing machine. Even the men on the perimeter ensured that no one could escape. It was a systematic attempt to exterminate a village. Just the day prior, men from your division hanged 99 civilians in a nearby town. Their corpses dangled from lampposts and balconies as SS officers listened to music on a gramophone.

These are horrific crimes with no statute of limitations. The need for justice remains powerful, but my intent in writing this letter is not to demand that you stand trial. Rather, I am asking you to do something far more difficult.

Prove your humanity. Confess everything you did that day and everything you saw. Apologize to the last living survivors for causing them such tremendous pain.

Your time in this world is growing short. Doing anything else at this late hour would only confirm what I have thought all along. You are a monster.

McKay Smith is an attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Division. He is also an adjunct professor at the George Washington University Law School and the George Mason University School of Law where he teaches courses on government oversight and internal investigations. Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Smith was a senior inspector with the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Justice or the United States.
To be alive now is to be constantly performing. You have to present yourself in some kind of practical way. I mean, you dont have to but its what it is like to be alive now.

George Henry Longly is standing in the middle of a makeshift kitchen looking up at a microphone hanging from the ceiling. Longly, a Londoner by way of the English countryside, is in New York City for the opening of his first solo American gallery show at the nightclub-level-of-hipness galleryspace Red Bull Studios New York in Chelsea.

In a few hours, red velvet ropes will set up outside the gallerys door, VIPs will be checked-in on an iPad and an open bar will serve some sort of spicy tequila and lemonade concoctionall unfamiliar sights in the normally staid dry white wine gallery opening evenings in the neighborhood.

For now though, Longlywho the London Evening Standard described as an artist carrying the tag of one to watch for a few years but [who] looks like his time nowis dressed in tracksuit pants and a sweatshirt bearing the title of his show: We All Love Your Life.

He is doing one final walk through before the doors officially open to the public.

The title of the show is meant to invoke space, or more specifically, the lives of astronauts in a space station, particularly the Skylab, NASAs first space station, which orbited the globe from 1973-1979.

It is the kind of thing those of us stuck on earth might say looking up at a night sky and imagining what life must be like for those space travelers. Or it is the kind of thing any of us think as we scroll through social media, looking at our friends carefully manicured stream of photos of beach vacations and beautiful children and perfectly poured cocktails.

They were overexposed. The astronauts were the first reality TV stars. It was the first time we had access to people constantly. They were always on film, Longly says.

At one end of the gallery is an oblique replica of the Skylab. A corner is painted a deep NASA blue. Out of one wall comes a copy of Dionysus from the Elgin Marbles, surrounded by brackets and braces to help the Greek god move through zero gravity. A makeshift dreamcatcher hangs nearby.

But those starfarers were just like us in other ways too. For one thing, they were always working, and always expected to be working. If we go on vacation still tethered to our devices and never quite outstripping the reach our of workplace overloads, they too were constantly tethered to mission control.

Well, enough of this lollygagging. We gotta get to work, YEAH DARN IT, reads an inscribed mirror in the show, a transcription of some galactic communication. What do you mean. Dont we have two more hours of lollygagging? We blew our lollygagging time yesterday now we got to get to work.

(Lollygagging. This is not a word I know. Its an American word, isnt it, Longly asks. It is kind of like a daydreaming thing?)

Longly became interested in notions of space when browsing through a London thrift store and coming across a 1976 book called

A House In Space by the New Yorker writer Henry S.F. Cooper, which chronicled the life of the Skylab crew.

The book is mostly concerned with how the astronauts lived: how they ate, slept, went to the bathroom, dealt with the constant surveillance from Ground Control.

To me, it is about power relations, labor, issues of work, says Longly. If they didnt get the balance right and they were working too hard, that would cause problems in communication. It is literally something that would happen here, but because it is happening up therebecause it is a spaceship travelling around the earth at 17,000 miles per hour, not being on earth, not being far enough away from the earth to the whole thingit is this crazy existential position they find themselves in. It is a world we live in, having too much information to process, being exposed all the time.

Longly, 38, grew up in Somerset, three hours to the south and west of London. His dad owned a record store, and weekends were spent attending folk festivals around the country (hence the Dreamcatcher in the middle of the Space Station).

My dad is very intelligent, very liberal, very cool, but an absolute fascist when it comes to liking what he thinks is good. The folkie scene Longly Jr. didnt reject entirely, but he did reject narrow-casting his interests. He went to art school at St. Martins in London, where he found himself drifting closer and closer to the fashion kids.

They were dynamic and they had this frenetic creative output. They were much more interesting than the sleepy art kids in the back who were just busy messing around with ideas.

The fashion world is one Longly has dipped into from time to time, and provides an idiom he borrows freely fromdownstairs at Red Bull Studios is a ghostly cloak seemingly suspended in air, and presented without explanationand he has hosted pop-up fashion shows, complete with catwalks and live models.

The multi-disciplinary approach is in part a reaction against his fathers insistence one form within one genre being the only thing worth anyones time, but it helps keep things moving for his gallery shows too.

At Red Bull Studios, Longlys electronica trio, Anal House Meltdown (a band name he still mentions sheepishly) will perform, as will Justin Vivian Bond, whose cabaret performances have been drawing the crowds downtown for several years.

The music, Longly says, should have a similar effect on gallery goers as the art, only more immediate. His audience bops around if his music moves them to do so; their appreciation of the art form is rendered more visible. Plus, it means the show stays alive throughout its time in New York as opposed to sitting inert for the summer months while art fans come and go.

All of this can sound a bit heady, and reviews of Longlys work tend to be sprinkled liberally with references to Adorno and Kierkegaard, which can be a bit disconcerting for a show that also features a video of snakes crawling around the artists studio and a three-minute mashup of Britney Spears, Brandy, and Selena Gomezand a piece of public art placed in spaces municipal square which says, Dont be asshole, dont be fool.

I thought public art is supposed to say something, Longly says as an explanation of why he took that directive so literally.

At times, the talking about the work, and the ideas around the work can overwhelm the work itself. This is not something that Longly seems to mind all that much.

I am very serious about what I do. You have to sail close to the wind, I think.

Meaning?

You also have to be shit to be good. Or something like that. If you take yourself too seriously or demand too much of people I think you are lost.
In February, a federal judge took the highly unusual step of ruling that State Department officials and aides to Hillary Clinton should be questioned under oath about her use of a private email server, a controversy that has dogged the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee for more than a year.

In comments from the bench, a visibly frustrated Judge Emmet Sullivan complained about the fragmentary way that new revelations about Clintons email use have come to lightlargely through press reports and leaks and her shifting explanations for why she set up the server in her New York home rather than use an official .gov account when she was secretary of state.

This is a constant drip Thats what were having here, you know, and it needs to stop, Sullivan said. He ruled that Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group that had brought a lawsuit seeking answers about Clintons email server, could question six officials and top Clinton aides about why the email system was set up in the first place and how it was used. Transcripts of those interviews must be made public.

Judicial Watch celebrated the ruling. It would like to see that drip turned into a rushing stream, one that might carry Clinton away for good. And depositions of Clintons closest associates and colleagues are a powerful means to unearth new information and ensure that the controversy over her email system doesnt fade from the headlines.

The saga of Clintons email has become the candidates biggest single point of vulnerability, and the question of whether she might be indicted in the affair is her own sword of Damocles. While criminal charges seem less likely by the day, Judicial Watch, which has pursued Clinton and her husband in court for years, has guaranteed that the political threat of the email issue wont subside. The many lawsuits the group has filed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) seeking information about Clintons time at the State Department are guided by a single-minded thesis: That the former secretary and potential commander-in-chief is one of the most corrupt and untrustworthy politicians in America today.

Mrs. Clinton clearly has no respect for the rule of law, Tom Fitton, Judicial Watchs president, said in an interview last month with The Daily Beast at his offices in Washington. Theres not a lot of gray area in Fittons world view. Clinton and her husband have become masters at using public office for personal gain, Fitton said, through their high speaking fees, book advances, and contributions to their foundation, which to him represent a kind of pay-for-play whereby foreign officials and business executives buy the Clintons influence. As Fitton sees it, the Clintons are an object lesson in the political capitalism that has come to define contemporary public service.

The fact that they are a success is an indictment of Washington, he said.

Judge Sullivan hasnt decided whether Clinton herself will have to sit down with Judicial Watchs lawyers. Meanwhile, transcripts of those depositions are providing fodder for journalists and Clintons political opponents, and they continue to raise questions about whether her homebrew server may have exposed classified information to hackers or foreign spies.

As fortuitous as this case has become for Judicial Watch, its not the outcome that the group could have envisioned. Judicial Watch brought the case in 2013 seeking records related to senior Clinton aide Huma Abedins employment arrangement. While she was working at State in 2012, Abedin, who has been described as a surrogate daughter to Clinton, was allowed to hold three other jobsat the Clinton Foundation, in Clintons personal office, and with a consulting firm tied to the Clinton family.

Judicial Watch was on the hunt for evidence of a conflict of interest or special favors being done for Clinton friends. But in March 2015, The New York Times revealed the existence of Clintons private email account, and that she was using it for public business. None of those emails had been subjected to FOIA requests because they werent in the State Departments possession. Judicial Watchs case took on a new dimension.

The Clinton campaign, for its part, holds Judicial Watch in equal contempt as Fitton holds the candidate.

Judicial Watch represents everything that is wrong with our political system, Clinton campaign spokesman Nick Merrill told The Daily Beast. Manufacturing wrongdoing has been central to their singular agenda since their inception. Worse, they do this by clogging up the courts at the expense of tens of millions of taxpayer dollars. Justice is the last thing they seek. They are only interested in headlines, and have made a complete mockery of our system.

Fitton, Judicial Watchs president, may have found himself in the middle of a battle royale with the most important political family in America. But this is hardly new territory for the self-described conservative activist, who has been investigating government corruption and alleged malfeasance in Washington for more than 20 years. Since its founding in 1994, his group has filed suits against every presidential administration. But in Hillary Clinton, Fitton may have found his white whale.

***

The news about Clintons private email servers spawned dozens of lawsuits demanding emails and other documents about the unorthodox setup, which was criticized by the State Department inspector general. The Daily Beast has filed one in conjunction with the James Madison Project, another pro-transparency group, seeking information about how Clintons personal lawyer stored copies of the emails in his office. Those documents show that State Department officials went out of their way to accommodate Clinton and her attorneys in storing emails that were later found to contain classified information.

But the Judicial Watch lawsuit, along with one more it brought in Clinton-related matters, is different from all the others in that judges have allowed for discovery, the legal process by which plaintiffs can depose witnesses on-the-record and probe deeper for answers to questions.

Getting depositions in a FOIA case is incredibly rare, Jason Leopold, the senior investigative correspondent for Vice News and the unofficial FOIA dean among journalists, told The Daily Beast. Usually, FOIA lawsuits involve dueling legal briefs and correspondences. But the judges in Judicial Watchs lawsuits believed that extraordinary circumstances called for different measures.

Where there is evidence of government wrongdoing and bad faith, as here, limited discovery is appropriate, even though it is exceedingly rare in FOIA cases, Judge Royce Lamberth, who is overseeing the second case, related to the so-called talking points U.S. officials crafted following the terrorist attacks on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, said when he ordered discovery in March.

Leopold, who estimated that he has about 1,200 to 1,300 requests filed now on a wide range of issues concerning government affairs, brought the original lawsuit that caused the State Department to start turning over tens of thousands of Clintons emails in a months-long cascade. But even he hasnt been granted the discovery process.

Thats so important that they got discovery, Leopold said. Through everything that they have, they can build a mosaic in a sense to understand what was going on behind the scenes.

That makes Judicial Watch perhaps the prickliest thorn in Clintons side. The depositions will stretch until the end of June, just as Clinton is gearing up for the Democratic convention in Philadelphia. They may not reveal a smoking gun. But now Judicial Watch can maintain its own drip of information, one the Clinton campaign would surely prefer to cut off and must stop from turning into a flood.

Fitton and his team of investigators and lawyers at Judicial Watch may not take Clinton down. But they will pursue her through the campaign and surely into the White House, if she is elected in November.

***

Judicial Watch was founded in 1994 in large measure to ferret out records about Bill Clintons administration. Name a scandaland many would say a pseudo-scandaland Judicial Watch went after it: Travelgate, Whitewater, even the conspiracy theory that Hillary Clinton was involved in the death of White House deputy counsel Vince Foster, who killed himself in 1993. Clintons Republican rival, Donald Trump, has peddled the discredited narrative that Clinton played a role in Fosters death.

The Judicial Watch of today, with Fitton at the helm, has tried to move away from such paranoid fishing expeditions, which critics say were the hallmark of the organization under its founder, Larry Klayman, a former Justice Department attorney whose litigiousness seems limitless.

If the Clintons have an Inspector Javert, its Klayman. Almost everyone who was anyone in the [Clinton] administrationand almost anyone who had a grudge against Clinton and his teambecame a party to a Judicial Watch lawsuit, on one side or the other, the nonpartisan National Journal wrote in a 2002 profile.

Under Klayman, Judicial Watch became a kind of litigation factory. Some of the lawsuits managed to expose information that embarrassed government officials or shed light on closed-door dealings. But Klaymans critics saw him more as a harasser than a truth-seeker. He has attached himself to discredited speculation about senior government officials, including President Obama. Klayman described President Obama in a lawsuit as not even a naturalized U.S. citizen and thus is in the United States illegally, and described Obamas birth certificate as a fraud, the liberal watchdog group Media Matters reported.

Klayman left Judicial Watch in 2003 to run (unsuccessfully) for the U.S. Senate in Florida. The separation was about as brutal a divorce as they come. Klayman would go on to publicly claim that Fitton set out to hijack the group to further his own personal interests. In 2006, Klayman sued Fitton, alleging that he sent out false and misleading fundraising letters, misused donor money, disparaged Klayman with supporters and the media, and took other actions which increased the damage to Judicial Watch, the donors and Klayman.

Fitton responded that the allegations were ridiculous, meant to distract from a quarter million dollar debt he said Klayman owed the organization, and full of lies and distortions which Judicial Watch will address in court.

The lawsuit is still pending, 10 years after Klayman filed it.

Fitton has backed away from the most wild-eyed claims of Clinton corruption. But hes no less ferocious in his pursuit of any and every bit of information that will expose both the former president and potential future one for the frauds he thinks they are.

Fitton and Judicial Watchs list of grievances with Clinton arent confined to her tenure as secretary of state, but thats where the group is focusing its resources now, with a team of about 20 employees who work on the organizations FOIA cases.

While at the State Department, Fitton says Clinton shook down wealthy political donors to give to her familys foundation, which supports charitable organizations around the world.

He pointed to a recent Wall Street Journal report that found the Clinton Global Initiative, which is part of the foundation, set up a financial commitment that benefited a for-profit company part-owned by people with ties to the Clintons, including a current and a former Democratic official and a close friend of former President Bill Clinton.

Judicial Watch has also sued for documents involving a uranium deal that the State Department approved and that benefitted donors to the Clinton Foundation. The New York Times reported last year on the donations and what role they may have played in the deals approval.

For all Fittons searching, Clintons aides and spokespersons have said repeatedly that theres no evidence she took actions as secretary or state to support the interests of Clinton Foundation donors.

But that hasnt stopped Fitton from searching. He told The Daily Beast that he was struck by how many times Judicial Watch has raised issues about public corruption or ineptitude that are either ignored by the mainstream press or are covered initially and then dropped. Thats one reason Judicial Watch has decided to cut out the press, and speak directly to its own network of supporters and fellow conservative activists, including the some 400,000 individuals who Fitton says help keep the organization funded.

Asked what role major news organizations play in the groups work, Fitton replied, We dont rely on them anymore. Frankly, were our own media outlet in some respects.

Judicial Watchs website is chock full of press releases, articles, document dumps, and videos that lay out its findings in minute detail.

We do investigative journalism, Fitton said. He called Judicial Watchs pursuit of documents related to the 2012 terrorist attacks in Benghazi, another episode haunting Clintons White House bid, the most significant non-governmental investigation in modern history.

Such boasts will surely inspire howls of laughter and outrage in Camp Clinton, which regards the Benghazi scandal as a concocted one. (Clinton was at turns dismissive and defiant in October 2015 when she testified at a House hearing and rejected the notion that she somehow personally bore responsibility for the deadly attacks. It has been rejected and disproven by non-partisan, dispassionate investigators but nevertheless having it continued to be bandied around is deeply distressing to me. I would imagine Ive thought more about what happened than all of you put together. Ive lost more sleep than all of you put together, she said.)

But theres no denying that Judicial Watchs work has looked in some respects like investigative reporting. The group obtained the emails that showed White House aides crafting public talking points about the Benghazi attacks, which Clintons critics believe showed officials trying to obscure the real cause of the disaster that claimed the lives of four Americans, including U.S. ambassador Chris Stephens. And if not for those emails, Republicans in Congress might not have formed a select committee to investigate what happened in Benghazi.

Fitton was so confident, in fact, that Judicial Watch has been practicing journalism that the group submitted three entries for the most recent round of Pulitzer prizes, the most prestigious award in all of American journalism and letters. Pulitzer Prize Administrator Mike Pride told Fitton that Judicial Watch was ineligible because its an advocacy site, and that the Pulitzer committee demands entrants practice journalism based on the highest journalistic principles.

Fitton told Pride in an email that his characterization was an unfounded smear. I also do not know what you mean by advocacy. Is there any doubt about the liberal philosophy or advocacy of prior winners Inside Climate News, the Center for Public Integrity, or ProPublica? Many other prior winners are prime examples of advocacy journalism, as well. The email exchange between Pride and Fitton was first reported by The Daily Caller.

***

Fittons biography reads in some passages like that of a budding journalist. He came to Washington in the late 1980s as a self-described conservative activist who didnt find a home in the GOP establishment.

I was never a party person, he said.

In the mid-1990s, Fitton joined the cast of a short-lived political talk show show called Youngbloods, a kind of Real World meets The McLaughlin Group that was supposed to appeal to a new generation of political junkies. The show pitted young conservatives against young liberals. Fitton, then in his mid-twenties and working for another watchdog group, Accuracy in Media, was described as the conservative bomb thrower of the group in a 1995 Baltimore Sun profile.

Abolishing the [Environmental Protection Agency] would be the best thing for the environment, he declared on one show. I have a feeling if we didnt have the EPA, we would find a way to take care of ourselves.

Fitton became a regular on the talking head circuit. Even then, he was targeting Hillary Clinton. In a March 1995 C-SPAN appearance, he criticized the then-first lady for taking on a policy role in her husbands administration by going on foreign visits.

President Clinton decided he doesnt have enough time to go to Pakistan. He doesnt have enough time to go to India. Hes going to send his wife, Hillary Clinton, Fitton said. The White House had said Clinton would be sticking to more traditional causes like fighting cancer and child hunger, he said, not fashioning a new role as a foreign policy representative for the United States.

(When Clinton declared in 1998 that a vast right-wing conspiracy was out to tarnish her and her husband, she could have had Fitton in mind.)

But Fitton apparently found no joy in on-air combat. Asked if he enjoyed his time on Youngbloods, a gig that most twenty-something climbers in Washington would crave, Fitton looked perplexed. Thats not really the way I looked at it, he said. It was just work. Im not much of a joker when it comes to politics.

Hes not kidding. One could fairly describe Fitton as humorless, at least when it comes to his mission to hold public officials to account. Throughout the interview, he was visibly uncomfortable with questions about his own history and background and insisted that he preferred to focus on Judicial Watch.

Struggling to find some joyfulness in his profession, Fitton settled on this answer: I enjoy making the right people uncomfortable.

***

Although Fitton embraces the conservative label, Judicial Watch resists easy, partisan characterization. The group sued George W. Bushs administration twice as often as it did Bill Clintons, Fitton noted. Judicial Watch went after potential conflicts of interest between Vice President Dick Cheney and Halliburton, the defense contractor where hed once been CEO and that received billions of dollars in Defense Department contracts following the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Judicial Watch also sued for documents about a White House energy task force that Cheney created. And when House Speaker John Boehner resigned from Congress last September, Fitton publicly took credit for driving him from office.

Judicial Watch has had more success investigating the IRS, Benghazi, and Clinton email scandals than any House committee under Boehners direction, Fitton said in a statement at the time, urging the House to put an end to the elected despotism that had prevailed under Boehners watch.

In Fittons world, hypocrisy and malevolence is bipartisan. And while he insists politics arent motivating him, he celebrates his work for having a political effect.

Fitton insisted that in pursuing Clinton he was not out to sink her campaign. Our goal is to hold her accountable to the rule of law, he replied. But it may be difficult for Fitton to persuade others that he is really motivated by a deeply held principle that Clinton should be held accountable rather than by his own political assessment that she is unfit to hold elected office, as anyone who clearly has no respect for the rule of law would be.

But if Clinton werent running for president, theres little doubt that Fitton and Judicial Watch would find other targets. His appetite is voracious. And that should make any public official at least slightly nervous.

Asked if there was any subject that he wouldnt pursue, any matter that he would consider too trivial for Judicial Watch to address in court, Fitton paused. I dont know, he said. On a good day, I could be convinced everything is important.
ROMEThousands of acres of woodland on the picturesque island of Sicily were set on fire last week by burning cats believed to be ignited by members of the Sicilian Mafia. Authorities allege the mobsters tied gas-soaked rags onto the felines tails and then lit the rags, sending the cats fleeing into heavily wooded forest areas, where they set fire to the thick underbrush as they tried to escape their flaming backsides.

Nearly 14,000 acres were burned in around 800 individual fires that were set over 48 hours, Italys interior ministry said. The flames destroyed houses, hotels, farms, and protected natural reserves, with losses tallying more than 30 million.

The fires started just as a hot African windstorm known as a siroccoa common summer occurrence in southern Italyblew though, and it fanned the flames. No one died, but 50 schoolchildren at a summer camp near Palermo were hospitalized for smoke inhalation.

With the fires now under control, authorities are working to determine the exact motivation for the animal arson attacks. According to Italys leading environmental group Legambiente, which publishes an annual report on the Eco Mafia or environmental organized-crime syndicates, the setting of these fires has been increasing annually at increments of nearly 50 percent for the last three years.

One theory is that the Mafia has invested heavily in reforestation firms and construction companiesand will soon reap the financial benefits of replanting the burned forests or developing the cleared land.

There is also ample evidence that the Mafia has infiltrated the forestry job sector, which employs some 23,000 people in Sicilymore than any other region in all of Europe, according to the European Unions labor statistics. The Sicilian forestry sector has been subject to job cuts this year as the government tries to tighten the islands budget, and anti-Mafia investigators are also considering whether the fires were set to try to prove the dubious necessity of the sizable staff.

Earlier this month, Rosario Crocetta, Sicilys regional governor, fired 180 forestry workers who had been convicted of Mafia-related crimes or who are under investigation for Mafia collusion. This is a political Mafia attack, the goal is not only the forests and land speculation. There was an attack in the area with 800 simultaneous fires, he told reporters over the weekend. This is also an attack on a government that fights the Mafia; it is a frightening mob attack.

Giuseppe Antoci, president of Nebrodi Park, which was especially hard hit in the recent fires, has been the target of a number of assassination attempts, including an ambush he narrowly escaped last month. He said he believes the Mafia is trying to exert control through chaos, both by trying to prove that the inflated number of forestry staff are essential and by cashing in on reforestation and building contracts that will be doled out to revitalize the destroyed woodlands. Hundreds of fires do not trigger from spontaneous combustion at the same moment, he told Corriere Della Sera newspaper. They were waiting for the sirocco winds to set the fires.

Antoci, who said he plans to file civil lawsuits for the destruction of his park against anyone who is caught, said hidden cameras set up in the fields led to the discovery of the use of cats as arson weapons. Last summer, after a handful of fires were set, he put up surveillance cameras. When authorities looked at the footage, they were perplexed at first at the absence of humans in the areas where the fires ignited. Then they realized that the dead carcasses of cats they had been finding in the singed land were no coincidence. They use the animals as arsonists, he said. They set fire to cats that then run in fear, burning all the bushes they touch. The Sicilian Mafia, also called the Cosa Nostra, has been facing increasing pressure from law-enforcement officials and rival gangs, especially Nigerian groups that have settled on the island amid the wave of migration, said Leonardo Agueci, the deputy anti-Mafia prosecutor of Palermo. The Sicilian Mafia has had to forge an uneasy alliance with the Nigerian gangs because they cant control them, he told The Daily Beast. The Cosa Nostra is still in charge, but their authority is challenged almost daily.

Until recently, the Mafia has made hefty profits by renting out state-owned land to farmers for grazing and cashing in on European Union contributions through a corrupt network that netted the mob around 3 billion annually. When the Italian government finally cracked down on the practice in 2013, Antoci said the Mafia retaliated by burning the land and then sweeping in to replant or redevelop it.

Interior Minister Angelino Alfano vowed to bring the cat-burning criminals to justice. The phenomenon of forest fires is another horrible plague of our country. What is happening in Sicily shows that we must remain vigilant and must fight fearlessly against the arsonists using all the tools necessary, he said, vowing to send more security forces to the island to help patrol sensitive areas.

Gianfranco Zanna, president of Legambiente Sicily, says government inaction is really what allows the Mafia to maintain its destructive control. Evidently hectares of forests in smoke, evacuated homes, charred animals, and the millions of euro in damage is not enough make the regional government act, he said recently. And instead, history repeats itself regularly every year.
The Orlando nightclub massacre has once again reminded us of two things: that there is no shortage of hateful psychopathy in America, and that there is almost nothing our supposedly civilized society is prepared do to keep those afflicted with it from getting their hands on as many guns and as much ammo as they can hoard (though Democrats in the House and Senate finally took a step toward changing that with floor protests and an epic filibuster this week). Nowhere is the latter more true than in Florida, where no matter who technically is in charge of governance, the real boss is a septuagenarian NRA uber-lobbyist named Marion Hammer.

For 35 years, Hammer has locked the state legislature in her iron grip, pushing for laws to make it ever simpler to buy guns, broaden the number of places gun owners can tote them, and, via the Florida innovation called Stand Your Ground, signed into law by then-Governor Jeb Bush in 2005, to even make it easier to get away with killing people with them. Hammers Second Amendment absolutism is so thorough that this spring, she demanded that Governor Rick Scott and the Republican-run state legislature abolish a regional water agency, and that Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi open criminal investigations into personnel at the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Why? Over the agencys probing of pollution rained down on a state-owned park by spent lead cartridges fired at The Skyway Trap & Skeet Club in Pinellas Park.

Thanks in large part to Hammers effective lobbying dating back to 1978, Florida is among the easiest states in America to buy a gun. The state was among 26 to get an F on the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violences 2013 scorecard which ranks the strength of gun safety laws. And anyone who can pass an FBI background check can buy whatever guns they want in the Gunshine State, as long as the gun isnt fully automatic, and about one in 17 Floridians, including the deceased gunman who slaughtered 49 people and wounded 53 more at Pulse nightclub, hold a concealed carry permit. Florida, in fact, has nearly 1.4 million concealed carry permit holders: nearly double the number in Texas, and almost 400,000 more than the second-largest concealed carry state, Pennsylvania.

The Orlando gunman was on the radar of the FBI for expressing radical sympathies in the presence of coworkers and for alleged ties to an American named Abu-Salah, who became a suicide bomber overseas. Hed washed out of police officer training before landing a job as a security guard. He had a history of domestic violence, and his family and ex-wife pegged him as hateful, including toward gay people (though there are signs he himself may have been gay). And yet, days before his murderous rampage, he purchased a Sig Sauer MCX rifle, which was originally designed for Special Operations forces, and a Glock 17 handgun, with no problem at all.

In Marion Hammers Florida, theres almost nothing that would prevent a deranged person from buying an assault rifle along with high capacity magazines. Theres a three-day waiting period for handguns, but no background checks required for private sales, no regulation on the sale of semi-automatic weapons, and no state license required to buy guns, other than a state-issued concealed carry permit. The state Supreme Court is currently hearing a case that would make open carry the law of the land in Florida; something the state legislature tried to enact at the NRAs direction this year. In a rare rebuke to Hammer, the state Senate in February rejected the open carry bill, along with a House-passed bill that would have allowed guns on the states 40 public college and university campuses. Theres little doubt the bills will be back for another try, despite polls showing more than seven in 10 Floridians oppose allowing campus carry.

Despite that rare rebuke, opening the state to more firearms, in more public spaces, is a bipartisan affair in Florida. Democrats vote en masse for Stand Your Ground, and attempts to repeal it or revise it went nowhere, even in the wake of the Trayvon Martin case. Florida law prevents doctors from asking about guns in the home, even if they suspect domestic violence. And back in 2014, the Florida legislature even floated a bill that would throw out all gun-permitting requirements during emergencies.

So now that Florida has the dubious distinction of being home to the deadliest gun massacre in modern U.S. history, can we expect things to change? Dont hold your breath.

Gov. Rick Scott has signed at least a dozen Hammer-backed gun bills during his time in office, including a 2011 bill voiding all local firearms ordinances; a 2014 bill allowing gun owners to display or point their weapons at anyone they think is threatening them without criminal penalty; a bill to speed up concealed carry permitting by the state; and bills preventing insurance companies from taking gun ownership in the home into account in setting policy rates and preventing schools from sanctioning kids who make play guns out of everyday objects (dubbed the pop tart bill, since that apparently is the kid gun enthusiasts materiel of choice in Florida).

When asked whether its time to revisit state laws regarding the purchase of semi-automatic weapons in the wake of the Orlando slaughter, Scott deflected, opting for the standard, generic, politicians thoughts and prayersthe same thinking and praying for which D.C. Democrats finally cried enough.

Florida is by no means alone. States across the country have been weakening gun restrictions every year since the Newtown massacre; passing laws allowing guns in bars and churches in Georgia, and in Texas, even inside mental hospitals. Up to now, nothingnot the slaughter of 6-year-olds and their teachers in Connecticut, or black churchgoers in South Carolina, or young revelers in Florida has moved the United States off its guns everywhere stance.

Marion Hammers Florida has become Marion Hammers America.
Death never makes much sense to the living, but Sundays sudden, tragic loss of Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin stung with particular shock and melancholy. Those who knew him personally, and the legions more who watched him grow from a child actor into one of Hollywoods most promising young talents, expressed the same sentiment at his untimely death, at age 27, in a freak accident: another light gone out too soon.

Yelchin, an award-winning actor and critical darling, had just starred in A24s Green Room in April and was set to reprise his role of Chekov in Paramounts Star Trek franchise next month. His passing sent a shockwave through Hollywood as filmmakers, co-stars, fans, and friends reeled from the news, including his Star Trek family and director Guillermo Del Toro, with whom hed been working on the upcoming Netflix animated series Trollhunters.

All of us at Paramount join the world in mourning the untimely passing of Anton Yelchin, the studio said in a statement. As a member of the Star Trek family, he was beloved by so many and he will be missed by all. We share our deepest condolences with his mother, father and family.

J.J. Abrams, who directed Yelchin in 2009s Star Trek and its 2013 sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness, posted a handwritten memorial online. Anton  you were brilliant, Abrams wrote. You were kind. You were funny as hell, and supremely talented. And you werent here nearly long enough. Missing you

According to police, Yelchin was killed in his own driveway when he was pinned between his car and a brick mailbox pillar at his San Fernando Valley home. Friends had arrived to check on him after hed missed a rehearsal, according to TMZ, and found Yelchin dead around 1 a.m. early Sunday morning, his car in neutral with the engine still running.

The randomness of such tragic circumstances makes Yelchins senseless death feel even more surreal. He was unconventionally handsome with a preternatural intensity in his eyes and curly hair framing his boyish features, a gifted performer in possession of an uncannily present aura, whether playing a young boy who befriends Anthony Hopkins (Hearts in Atlantis), a kidnapped teenager trusting in the wrong small-time thugs (Alpha Dog), a high school pharmacist (Charlie Bartlett), a lovelorn student in a long-distance relationship (Like Crazy), or a wide-eyed young officer aboard the USS Enterprise (Star Trek).

Yelchin turned 27 in March but hed been acting professionally since 2000, when he guest starred on the sixth season of ER as a young boy whose parents are killed in a car accident. Working all through middle school and high school in Los Angeles, he racked up over 50 screen credits in movies, television shows, and short films, including a stint on Showtimes Huff and studio franchises Terminator Salvation, Star Trek, and The Smurfs.

He starred most recently this spring in director Jeremy Saulniers acclaimed punk thriller Green Room, a movie in which youre rooting the entire time for him to survive. Anton was a dream, Saulnier told Indiewire Sunday, describing a patient and generous spirit. He was kind and sharp and as sincere as anyone Ive ever known. Our collaboration on Green Room was our first and, until the devastating news of his passing, wouldnt have been our last.

By the time of his death, Yelchin had been acting for more than half of his life. But he always seemed destined to give the world many more years of increasingly complex characters, of becoming an acting legend in his own right. He spoke often of plans to step behind the camera and make his own directorial debut, worshipping cinematic heroes from Dziga Vertov to Martin Scorsese.

Yelchin was born in St. Petersburg on March 11, 1989, to Soviet figure skating celebrities Irina Korina and Viktor Yelchin. The duo were successful pair skaters in the Leningrad ice ballet whod qualified for the 1972 Olympics, but were forbidden to compete by the government because they were Jewish. Six months after Anton was born, the family fled for the United States with his grandmother and grandfather in tow, and settled in California without speaking a word of English.

In a profile of his parents published in the Los Angeles Times that year, Korina and the elder Yelchin explained why they immigrated to America where they received refugee status, from the homeland where they faced religious persecution and bleaker economic prospects. Their answer: Anton.

REMEMBERING ANTON YELCHIN: FROM 'CURB' TO 'STAR TREK'

Settling in Southern California, the Yelchins expressed hope for the future their son would now have. A woman came up, Korina said, saw Anton, and said, Hes beautiful. He will be actor.

Speaking to the Jewish Journal while promoting his 2015 romance 5 to 7, Yelchin described his parents plight with appreciation, as he always did whenever interviewers brought it up. My parents didnt want me to grow up in a Russia that was falling apart; they knew it was all going to shit, he said. But imagine not understanding anything that anyone is saying to you, and going to a culture that is 180 degrees opposed to your own. Theres nothing that I will ever do that will be as tremendous or profound as what my parents went through.

He credited his mother, who worked as a choreographer once the family moved to California, with enabling his dream of acting from childhood, taking him to auditions after her own training sessions. I owe her everything, just for believing in me, he told Tavis Smiley last year.

Yelchins breakout role came opposite Sir Anthony Hopkins in Hearts in Atlantis when he was just 11. He described being on that set as a life-changing experience that made him fall in love with movies.

I was overwhelmed by this cinematic thing that I was experiencing and the magic of seeing them do their work really opened my mind to just what it meant to be making movies, he remembered of the crew and cast in an interview for The Talks. And from that moment on it has become this very intimate thing for me that is incredibly bizarre at the same time.

Struggling to make sense of the loss, we piece together clues to the person Yelchin might have become by collecting fragments of his past revealed in his films, his interviews, even the photographs he shared on Instagram, where he frequently posted his startlingly sensual portraiture. His last Instagram post was a sun-soaked selfie shot on 35mm, and posted with the cheeky hashtag #egoist.

Yelchin had amassed an impressive body of photographic work, collaborating with model and photographer Kate Parfet on a recent series for Autre magazine that blended trash aesthetics with a flair for glam and Area 51. He also played in bands and, like any dedicated L.A. cinephile, was known to stalk the movie palaces frequented by the citys most devoted movie geeks: the Egyptian, the Nuart, and the New Beverly.

At the age of 17, not yet grown into adulthood, Yelchin was profiled for Interview by the actress Diane Lane, who played his mother in 2005s Fierce People. His intelligence then still leaps off the page, even as the pair discuss everything from Russian literature to high school dating to Andy Warhol.

I love Andy Warhol! My friend Ian and I were just talking about how we wanted to move to New York and start our own version of the Factory, Yelchin enthused. Ians dad is Mick Cripps, a guitarist for L.A. Guns, and Ian works for the Warner Bros. record label, so we were thinking about starting an art gallery-cum-rock club, a la Warhols Factory.

Later, hed explain that he started writing his own scripts around the age of 18. Applying to colleges like other kids his age, he at one point planned on attending USC for film but devoted himself full-time to acting as his career took off.

His turn as the trusting younger brother of a Jewish neo-Nazi in Nick Cassavetess slept-on true crime thriller Alpha Dog is still a testament to the range and naturalism he had in his arsenal. I think any emotions that he feels are pretty much similar to most teenagers, he said in a 2007 interview. Ive felt them; I think everybody feels them. I think its like they say you always want to push against what everybodys telling you, even though it may not seem like the most rational thing to do. But it just seems like people are trying to convince you of things, just because youre your age.

He followed Alpha Dog with a starring role opposite Robert Downey Jr. in Charlie Bartlett, playing a Ferris Beuller-type teen who starts dispensing therapy in the halls of his high school in order to become popular. Shortly thereafter, 2009 brought roles in two summer blockbusters: Terminator Salvation, playing a young Kyle Reese, and Star Trek, as the Russian prodigy-navigator Chekov.

Even then Yelchin was perennially unassuming and down to earth, unbothered by the looming shadow of celebrity or fame. A 2009 Los Angeles Times profiler described the scene as paparazzi ignored him altogether as he sat in a gelato store on the eve of a two-franchise summer. I just dont think there is any reason for them to follow me, he said. I havent really done anything for them to follow me. I really think thats it.

It wasnt until 2011 that audiences glimpsed Yelchins real potential as a charismatic leading man. In Drake Doremuss Like Crazy, he played a college kid who falls in love with a British exchange student (Felicity Jones) only to face the emotional fallout of their long distance relationship. Ten days after wrapping the $250,000 film, he was shooting his next studio movie, the horror remake Fright Night.

I feel lucky to be part of anything that Im a part of, he told Indiewire in 2011, acknowledging his knack for bouncing between tiny indie projects and bigger-budget studio fare. I look at it, and if I like it, I do it. The amazing thing about this job is that you get the opportunity to play so many different characters and have so many different kinds of experiences and do so many different character studies, whether theyre in such a broad, generic format or a very specific genre format or a genre like a dramatic romance. My favorite thing about this job is doing all these different things.

Im not so much interested in producing as Id love to direct and write, and of course keep acting, he continued. But if someone needed a couple grand to make a small movie, Im all for it. Im just a huge supporter of this universe of filmmaking.

In a 2015 interview with The Talks, he described being moved by everything from Terminator 2 to Bicycle Thieves, and that hed been particularly taken by the work of early 20th century silent and experimental filmmakers.

Man with a Movie Camera is just about life and the ability of the camera to show you life and reconfigure life and thats always been a big thing for me, he said. So I feel like if Im going to make movies, I want them to move in that direction, at least right now.

He had a beautiful way of philosophizing on life through the lens of his films and the characters he played. Speaking with Tavis Smiley last year, he described the power of his romantic drama 5 to 7, in which he played a young writer in a relationship with a married Frenchwoman.

For me its a film about accepting that things you cant hold onto them, he said. He wants to hold onto this woman, he wants to hold onto the love that he feels, and he cant. But that does not mean that that is not something profound that he will hold for the rest of his life. Thats how I see the human condition, is that we have these profound things happen that just dont last, but we have them forever in an inanimate form.

In the face of the unknown and the horror of existence that we have to deal with, he once said of the medium he loved, the goal of cinema should be to acknowledge and indulge the dreamlike nature of existence, but never mythologize and offer answers.
Since the Orlando shootings, Donald Trump has taken to maligning immigrants as misogynistic and touting his allegedly legendary abilities to protect women. He cherishes them, he loves to say; he will keep them safe.

But his newest big hire is a K Street veteran whose old firm once enthusiastically defended a military junta that used rape as a weapon of warand tried to malign the reputations of the human rights groups that worked to protect women and girls from the military rapists.

Jim Murphy, who became Trumps new national political director earlier this month, was a managing partner at JLM Consulting when Trump hired him. Previously, he was a managing partner at the DCI Group lobbying firm from June 2002 until June 2012. For his last four years there, according to his LinkedIn page, he was also president. The firm is famous for making fake smokers rights groups to defend Big Tobacco, and for creating an astroturf campaign in favor of Social Security privatization (a campaign that belly-flopped).

In 2002, when Jim Murphy was a managing partner there, the DCI Group worked for a the Burmese military government. As part of that work, it issued press releases saying the countrys military wasnt responsible for systematically raping ethnic minority women.

Just one problem: Reports from activists on the ground and from the U.S. State Department indicate that the military was, in fact, using rape as a weapon of war when DCI represented itand still does so to this day. One former U.S. official who worked in Burma while DCI contracted with the countrys government said the firms statements on the issue were propaganda and baloneyall in defense of a military regime that human rights activists held responsible for the systematic rape, torture, and murder of countless ethnic minority women.

Filings with the Department of Justice, available on its Foreign Agents Registration Act database, show the DCI Group took the Burmese government as a client on May 13, 2002. They terminated the contract on Jan. 31, 2003. DCI spokesman Craig Stevens gave The Daily Beast this statement regarding their work for the government:

When the company engaged with the government 14 years ago, we required certain benchmarks be metwhen they were not, we quit the contract after just a few months. Of course, we abhor the horrors of war and oppression, especially physical or sexual violence against women and children. Today, like all Americans, we are pleased to watch as Myanmar continues to evolve as a democracy and in the expansion of civil and human rights.

When it was a client of DCIs, the Burmese government faced accusations that it was responsible for more than 100 brutal rapes of ethnic minority women. The country had been (and still is) embroiled in a decades-long civil war pitting its military junta government against armed groups and militias. And countless innocent women and girls were caught in the crossfire.

On June 19, 2002, the Shan Womens Action Network and the Shan Human Rights Foundation jointly released a report titled License to Rape: The Burmese military regimes use of sexual violence in the ongoing war in Shan State.

The report concluded that the Burmese military was responsible for acts of sexual violence that are comparable in brutality to what ISIS does today. It documented 173 cases of members of the Burmese militaryoften officersusing rape or other sexual attacks against women in the countrys eastern Shan state in their efforts to subjugate insurrectionist groups. The examples detailed occurred mostly between 1996 and 2001, before DCI took on Burma as a client.

Military officers committed 83 percent of the rapes documented, and the report found these attacks were often in front of their troops. Only one perpetrator was ever punished. Many victims were subsequently tortured, beaten, and killed. In some cases, military members displayed the womens dead bodies.

In 10 cases, officers passed on the women they raped to their own troops, who gang raped or killed them. In some cases, troops beat rape victims, held plastic bags over their heads, or cut their breasts off. In one case, they displayed the body of a dead 12-year-old girl they had raped and refused to let her relatives bury her.

She must be kept like this as an example for your people of Shan State to see, troops said. If you bury her you must die with her.

In another case, 10 soldiers spent eight hours gang-raping a woman who was seven months pregnant. They took away her husband, who she never saw him again, and she gave birth shortly after the attacks. In another case, a soldier tied up and raped a 5-year-old girl, leaving her sexual organs bloodied. He was never punished.

The report drew international outrage. Kelley Currie, a former State Department official who worked on Burma policy and is now a senior fellow at the Project 2049 Institute, said the report had enormous significance.

It was the first, most authoritative report on that, she said. It was so comprehensiveit was so well-researched, to an international standard in terms of human rights researchthat it led the State Department to conduct their own investigation of the charges.

The subsequent State Department investigation corroborated the findings of License to Rape.

Adam Simpson, of the Indo-Pacific Governance Research Centre at Australias University of Adelaide, said no serious criticism of the report ever emerged.

Theres no credible argument that this report produced anything other than documentary evidence of the systematic use of rape as a weapon of war, he said.

That didnt stop DCI. The firm distributed numerous press releasespublicly available on the State Departments Foreign Agents Registration Act databaseto try to destroy the credibility of the report, and of the groups that produced it.

For example, the headline of a press release from July 10, 2002, read, Myanmar Government Denounces Smear Campaign Orchestrated By Groups Allied With Drug Trade: Charges of Rape and Abuse Are Complete Falsehood.

The same press release quoted government spokesman Col. Hla Min saying the Shan Human Rights Foundation and the Shan Womens Action Network had close ties to the Shan United Revolutionary Army, which it described as a narco-terrorist group. It concluded by calling the report horrific and false allegations.

A July 30, 2002 release also took aim at the Shan human rights groups that produced the report and said the government never ordered, supported, or condoned rape. And a release dated Nov. 4, 2002, quoted Burmese government spokesperson Col. Hla Min saying, Violence against women is not now nor has it ever been a policy or practice of our government.

A final press release dated Dec. 23, 2002 was titled Myanmar Government Denounces Rape in Strongest Possible Terms.

It came out five days after the release of a State Department report that backed the findings of License to Rape and criticizing the military junta for using rape as a weapon of war. That report, based on a preliminary investigation, found a dozen women who said credibly that members of the military raped them.

All of the victims under 15 appeared severely traumatized by their experiences, were disturbed mentally, and spoke in whispers, if at all, a press release about States report said. The older women sobbed violently as they recalled horrific incidents of their own rapes as well as brutal rapes, torture, and execution of family members. While these interviews are necessarily anecdotal, we note the consistency of the stories across three different locations, among differing groups of women.

DCIs press release countered the State Department, saying their report was just a rehash of the Shan rights groups allegations to further attack and isolate Myanmar.

Priscilla Clapp, who was chief of mission and permanent charge daffairs at Americas embassy in Burma from 1999 to 2002, said DCIs assertions that human rights groups were just fronting for narco-terrorists were absurdand that their assertions that their client wasnt responsible for the rape of ethnic minority women were baloney.

Some military units clearly viewed rape as a legitimate means of demoralizing and degrading their enemies, she said. Yes, that was used. It still is, unfortunately.

In reality, the military government was using violence against everybody, not just women, she continued. The army was an equal-opportunity violence machine, aimed at men, women, and children.

Currie added that when Burmas government signed with DCI, they were among the worlds worst regimes.

There were almost no authoritarian dictatorships out there that were worse than the Burmese junta 2002, she said. They were bottom of the barrel. There werent many: Equatorial Guinea, North Korea, a few come to mind. But they were pretty awful.

On top of that, Currie and Clapp both noted that the military itself profited from narco-trafficking.

Currie noted that DCI had little success selling Congress on Burmas military junta.

The Burmese were not happy with the results, she said. You can only put so much lipstick on a pig, and they didnt have a very good story to sell.

Clapp concurred.

It basically backfired with the Hill, she said. There was no way to paint that military government in a favorable light.

DCI was using propaganda they got from Burmese military intelligence, specifically Hla Min, the military intelligence spokesman, she added. They werent out there finding the information themselves.

And their information was bad. But that didnt keep Trumps political directors old lobbying firm from using it to malign human rights activists and defend rapists.
People's Deputy of Ukraine Nadia Savchenko has appealed to PACE President Pedro Agramunt with the request to assist in the release of Ukrainian prisoners illegally detained in Russia.

"Savchenko's meeting with the PACE President. Savchenko asks to help release our prisoners from the Russian Federation," Ukraine's Ambassador to the Council of Europe Dmytro Kuleba wrote on Twitter, posting a photo of the meeting.

On the eve of the meeting the member of the Ukrainian delegation to PACE went to Strasbourg, where for the first time since electing her as a PACE member she will take part in a meeting of the organization.
When Corey Lewandowski walked into Trump Tower on Monday morning, he was Donald Trumps embattled campaign manager.

But before the morning was over he was out of a job.

Trump held a meeting at his headquarters in Trump Tower with Lewandowski, Trumps children, campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks, and campaign chairman Paul Manafort. As Lewandowskis future with the campaign was discussed, Hicksone of the original staffers and a Lewandowski loyalistkept quiet, neglecting to stick up for her former ally. Trumps daughter Ivanka had reportedly sat down with the real estate mogul recently and convinced him to let Lewandowski go.

Following the campaigns daily 8:30 a.m. conference call, Lewandowski was escorted out of the building by security.

Lewandowski was, for many months, the least liked person in Trumps orbit, so after Trump suffered arguably his worst month in the campaignwith his poll numbers tanking and his unfavorable numbers going to historic lowsit wasnt a tough call who would pay the price.

Hes an asshole, and just thank God hes finally gone, one campaign source told The Daily Beast. People have been trying to stage coup after coup on Corey since the [Michelle Fields] incident, and it worked...finally.

It was just a matter of time, a source close to the campaign said.

Lewandowskis exit was swift and confirmed by Trumps campaign shortly after the meeting.

The campaign is grateful to Corey for his hard work and dedication and we wish him the best in the future, spokeswoman Hicks said in a statement.

Reached on the phone moments after news of Lewandowskis firing broke, Michael Cohen, Trumps legal counsel, answered a call and whispered, Yeah, Im sorry, Im just in the middle of a meeting at the moment so I cant speak. He abruptly hung up the phone.

But Trumps problems in recent weeks went beyond his double-digit polling deficit to Hillary Clinton.

He repeatedly publicly insulted sitting Republican leaders, who want nothing more than for him to stop alienating various minority groups and act like a real candidate for president.

The presumptive Republican nominee failed so miserably at uniting the Republican Party that he faces a potential coup at the GOP convention in July from a group of delegates planning to vote against him.

Throughout the spring, the campaign split into warring factions: the political novice allies of Lewandowski on the one side, and on the other the seasoned operatives brought in by Manafort who were supposed to professionalize the organization.

Manaforts team was accused of planting a story about Lewandowski in the New York Post hinting at an emotionally volatile, unprofessional relationship with Hicks. A GQ magazine profile of Hicks, released Mondaya few hours before Lewandowskis firingdetailed their contentious relationship, including the fact that Lewandowski had cursed at her, saying, youre fucking dead to me, and made her cry. According to The Guardian, Ivanka Trump had been unhappy with the conflict between Lewandowski and Hicks.

Veteran political adviser and Trump consigliere Roger Stone promoted Manafort, whom he had a lobbying firm with in the 1980s, from outside the campaign and had taken to calling Lewandowski Loserdowski. When it was reported that Lewandowski was in charge of vetting the vice presidential picks for Trump, Stone took to Twitter to say that it was complete hogwash, trying to delegitimize Lewandowskis role even further.

Lewandowski did not respond to a request for comment from The Daily Beast.

Lewandowski, who had been hired in the winter of 2015 and outlasted other staffers who couldnt tough it out in Trumps competitive war room, appeared with the candidate as recently as this weekend, joining him for a campaign stop in Las Vegas. No one beyond the inner circle was aware this was coming down the pipeline.

Trump told Bloomberg Politics earlier this month: Corey and Paul get along great. If theyre fighting, I get rid of one or the other or do something.

But according to many former and current Trump staffers and advisers, that wasnt the case.

Corey is a cover man and at times temperamental, a senior staffer who was let go from the campaign earlier this year told The Daily Beast.

When he heard the news of Lewandowskis forced departure, he said, Great news. A year too late.

Trump trusted Lewandowski to a fault, keeping him around after a public fiasco in which the former campaign manager grabbed the arm of Fields (something that drew the ire of his daughter Ivanka). The candidate also often took Lewandowskis advice at its word and hardly blinked an eye when stories about his unprofessionalism, particularly with women, surfaced in the media. Trump didnt even seem to mind when Lewandowski was arrested and charged with battery over the Fields incident. (In the end the prosecutor in the case chose not to pursue the charges.)

According to a staffer in the campaign, last October social media manager Dan Scavino bought a new MacBook after being authorized to do so by Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner. When Lewandowski found out, he blew his stack at Scavino, one telling sign of his short fuse.

In one instance, however, Lewandowski did acknowledge that he may have caused some problems for the campaign.

He admitted on one of the conference calls that he apologized for becoming a distraction, a former staffer said in the immediate aftermath of the night where Lewandowski grabbed Fieldss arm.

But in the end, it appeared Lewandowskis biggest misstep was crossing Manafort. Some staffers learned the news of the firing only after it had happened Monday morning. But for many months, it seemed likely that Manafort would have his wayand that meant Lewandowskis head.

Manafort is a brutal man. If youre in his way and he thinks youre wrong, one source close to the campaign said, he will destroy.

In April, Manafort called a meeting in Trump Tower to address the already troubled operation. Even then, he threatened to jump ship if he didnt end up having his way in the ongoing war.

He obviously joined thinking hed have more ear and compliance from Trump. Wrong!! a source close to the Trump campaign said at the time. And Corey aint letting Manafort get a toehold.

One senior adviser pointed to the fact that the two arms of the campaign, one based in Washington, D.C., and the other in the central nervous system of Trump Tower in New York City, were simply not communicating about everything that was going on day-to-day.

You have people up in New York who have not done a presidential campaign. The folks down in D.C., the adviser told The Daily Beast, theyre folks that have done several of them.

For some, the joy couldnt be contained when Lewandowski met his end with the Trump campaign.

New York state campaign director Michael Caputo tweeted, Ding dong the witch is dead, moments after the news was announced.

Asawin Suebsaeng contributed reporting

Updated 1:19pm 6/20.
In response to the State Department dissent memo signed by 51 officials who have worked on Syria in recent years, the White House probably wont change its approach to the broad Syrian conflict. After nearly two years of American military operations in Syria, after an estimated 400,000 or more dead in Syria, and after Syrian refugee flows have raised questions about European unity itselfthe unity that was a goal of American foreign policy dating back to Trumanthe memo is right to urge we review how can we achieve secure our strategic objective in Syria. The discussion is all the more urgent since there are no sure-fire solutions and no options without risks.

The dissent memo supports the administrations goal of ending the conflict by having Syrians negotiate the establishment of a new government that could rally Syrians to fight extremists like the Islamic State. The memo doesnt call for regime change; it doesnt say that Bashar al-Assad has to go. Thats an issue for Syrians to negotiate in what surely would be very hard talks.

Those talks have never really started mainly because of constant Syrian government violations of the ceasefire. In a reminder of Richard Holbrookes use of NATO air power to change the calculations of Serbia and its Bosnian Serbian allies, the memo urges deterring the Syrian government from further violations by destroying some Syrian military assets with stand-off strikes. Once Assad understands the ceasefire is for real, and he cant win militarily, the memo reasons that real political talks about Syrias future can finally begin.

Some critics of a more muscular American approach warn that this is a recipe for Iraq 2003 redux or a replay of Libya 2011 when regimes fell and chaos ensued. George W. Bush didnt seek a transition negotiation with Saddam. Qadhaffi had an ICC indictment waiting for him; Assad doesnt. The future of Assad and his inner circle is an issue for Syrians to negotiate. The Syrian opposition even hinted once that it might drop the issue of holding Assad accountable if he steps down. The larger point is that the majority of the armed opposition is willing to negotiate a new government but the Syrian government isnt.

Other critics of greater American involvement warn that it is naive to think Assad will ever negotiate. Like the Fuhrer hed rather go down in a fiery Gotterdamerung if abandoned by his allies (presumably his inner circle all would agree). Since the Russians and Iranians wont abandon Assad, the Americans and their regional friends must instead abandon the opposition. These analysts havent explained why regional actors like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, or even Turkey, as uncomfortable as it is with Syrian Kurdish expansionism, would find this change to be in their interest.

More importantly, these analysts havent explained how millions of Syrians would be reconciled to an unrepentant Assad government and if, as likely, they cannot reconcile, and how much larger numbers of Syrians would rally around Assad to fight the many extremists in their midst. The State Department dissent memo warns that if local Sunni Arab communities dont rally to fight the Islamic State and al-Qaida, then we will not contain the extremists over the long-term, and American military operations will never end. The question is how to get that local Sunni Arab support. The memo rightly asserts that stopping the Assad government attacks on civilian communities and resolving the larger Syrian conflict are key. The Obama administration focus on the Islamic State, and not the larger civil war, is misplaced.

Moreover, those wanting to accept Assad say international funding should appear, like magic, to rebuild Syria, but they dont explain where it would come from. Is it realistic to think that the international community would rally around Assad to raise the absolutely enormous sums required for a reconstruction program his bloody, corrupt government would direct? Without national reconciliation and without national reconstruction, how will the millions of Syrian refugees go home and how will pressure on our European friends be eased? Proponents of accepting the Assad government as it is are really just saying there is no chance to stabilize Syria or address our broader interests. The dissent memo should receive credit for at least trying to figure out a better way forward.

Finally, some reject even limited U.S. military strikes because of the risk of direct confrontation with Russia. Striking Russian military assets in Syria would create such a risk. Hitting Syrian government targets is different; the Israelis appear to have hit targets in Syria with no vigorous Russian response. Moreover, the Russians have hit American-backed opposition groups. They set the precedent. If presented with an American military fait accompli, might the Russians respond by escalating with more bombing, more military aid to Damascus or even troops? Very likely they would. That would pose questions then about additional U.S. strikes if Damascus, counting on Russian backing, continues its violations. We could expect multiple rounds of Syrian, American and Russian tits for tats before any serious political talksa riskier, less tantalizing proposition.

Other analysts, myself included, argue that before using still more American military force in Syria, we should first figure out how to boost the moderate opposition. The dissent memo itself urges empowering the moderate opposition. However, Defense Department and CIA efforts now are separate and have distinct goals. We should consider program resources, how to structure programs so that they are not blank checks to opposition groups but rather are part of a broader political opposition outreach effort, and how to channel our efforts in a mutually reinforcing manner. What is more absurd than Pentagon-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters attacking CIA-backed Syrian Arab fighters or a NATO ally shelling fighters (linked to a terrorist group) whom the Pentagon is arming? That suggests incoherence in Washington aggravating, not resolving, contentious agendas in Syria. We can do better.

Attaining the U.S. objective of a negotiated new government in Syria needs cooperation from Russia and Iran who must understand that they and Assad wont be able to impose a political deal with only cosmetic changes that the majority of the Syrian opposition cannot and will not accept. Thats not an American dictateits a Syrian one. The dissent memo should wake us up that the current approach ensures we will not secure our national interest in Syria, that broader U.S. interests will suffer as a consequence, and we need to reconsider our approach.
On August 15, 2012, a gay-rights volunteer named Floyd Corkins entered the Washington, DC headquarters of the Family Research Council (FRC), a socially conservative policy group opposing same-sex marriage, brandishing a gun. According to an affidavit filed in the case, Corkins shouted words to the effect of I dont like your politics before opening fire at a security guard, who ultimately disarmed him. When Corkins was arrested, police found in his backpack 15 sandwiches from Chick-fil-A, the fast-food chain whose Southern Baptist owner had, two months prior, famously announced his opposition to same-sex marriage. Corkins told the FBI that he planned to kill as many Council staffers as possible and smash the sandwiches in their faces.

In the aftermath of the shooting, social conservatives blamed liberals for this act of terrorism, citing Corkins admission to authorities that the Southern Poverty Law Centers designation of FRC as a hate group had inspired him. Floyd Corkins was responsible for firing the shot yesterday that wounded one of our colleagues, FRC president Tony Perkins said at the time. But Corkins was given a license to shoot an unarmed man by organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center that have been reckless in labeling organizations hate groups because they disagree with their public policy.

Gay rights groups and their allies balked at these accusations, and rightly so, as nothing they had ever said or done encouraged violence against their political adversaries. There had never been an act of pro-gay terrorism, much less are there any organizations preaching death to critics of same-sex marriage. This was a singular act committed by a deranged individual, and while its certainly fair to take issue with the labeling of FRC a hate group, in no way could doing so be construed as condoning murder.

The same can hardly be said about the ideology of Omar Mateen, the 29-year-old Afghan-American who shot up a gay nightclub in Orlando last weekend, killing 49 people. Like Corkins, Mateen was explicit in his motivations, calling 911 in the midst of his murder spree to swear fealty to ISIS, the Islamist group that hurls gay men from high rooftops. I pledge my alliance to (ISIS leader) abu bakr al Baghdadi, he wrote in a Facebook post in the midst of his massacre, preemptively refuting the liberal know-it-alls who, like clockwork, would insist that his reasons for killing dozens of gay people were anything other than what he clearly said they were. May Allah accept me. The real muslims will never accept the filthy ways of the west.

LGBT Americans are still reeling from last weeks horror, the deadliest mass shooting in American history and the worst terrorist attack on American soil since September 11, 2001. We are understandably outraged that such homophobia exists in our society. Yet events in Orlando have generated a state of mass cognitive dissonance within parts of the gay community, as some do their utmost to downplay or deny altogether the role that Islamist ideology played. Too many of us find it easier to lash out at predictable enemiesthe National Rifle Association, evangelical Christians, the Republican Partyanyone and anything other than the actual culprits here: a Muslim fanatic acting on the express theological dictates of a politicized religious doctrine embraced by myriad Islamist terror organizations, political movements and governments.

Emblematic of the denial was this fusillade from Glenn Greenwald, who insisted that Mateen showed no signs of religious fanaticism. Zack Ford of the Center for American Progress, meanwhile, asserts that radical Islam is not more violent against LGBT people than the conservative Christian sentiment that permeates the U.S. Lest one dismiss these preposterous pronouncements as the ignorant musings of bloggers without any real political influence, consider that the Justice Department originally released the transcript of Mateens 911 call after expurgating it of all references to Islam or the Islamic State, due to what Attorney General Loretta Lynch described, bizarrely, as a desire to avoid revictimizing those who were killed. (After that produced an immediate outcry, the FBI reversed course an hour later and released the full transcript). But as long as we persist in the lie that this atrocity had nothing to do with Islam, were going to have a lot more victimsLGBT and otherwisepiling up.

Of course, there are Christian and Jewish anti-gay bigots. But there is no worldwide network of Christians and Jews, spurred on by clerics and suborned by states, indoctrinating their flock in eliminationist homophobia and recruiting individuals to murder homosexuals. The same, sadly, cannot be said about Islam, the official religion of dozens of countries that legally proscribe homosexuality, some by penalty of death. In the wake of the Orlando shooting, many liberals are pointing to the near-simultaneous case of James Wesley Howell, a white man apprehended by police before he could shoot up the Los Angeles pride celebration, as evidence of how homophobia isnt especially endemic within Islamic cultures. But there were no large-scale Christian ideological movements and religious leaders, never mind a would-be revolutionary state, motivating and backing Howell.

Faced with the fact that most Muslim-majority countries criminalize homosexuality (and that nine of the ten that do so with death are Muslim), liberals perfunctorily cite the case of Uganda, a Christian nation whose government also treats gays brutally. That this small African country is mentioned so often as an example of non-Muslim governmental homophobia attests to its outlier status. Nor is Christianity the state religion of Uganda, as Islam is for so many of the majority-Muslim countries that punish homosexuality. As for the worlds only Jewish State, well, it has a thriving gay culture and its Prime Minister has released a video statement of solidarity with the global LGBT community.

Because they are incapable of distinguishing murderous Islamist homophobia from high school bullying, many gay liberals have lashed out at Republican politicians whove offered condolences to the Orlando victims, accusing them of having forfeited any right to express solidarity by dint of their past opposition to same-sex marriage. Bizarrely, some have gone so far as to blame American Christian conservatives, rather than Islamist fanatics, for Mateens actions. The New York Times has led the pack campaigning to replace Islam with Christianity as the most threatening font of religious homophobia. A remarkable editorial about the massacre that didnt once mention the words Islam or Muslim saw fit to condemn Republican politicians who see prejudice as something to exploit, not extinguish. Elsewhere, in its Room for Debate section, the Times asked four experts to answer the question, Have Christians Created a Harmful Atmosphere for Gays, an utter non-sequitur after a Muslim walked into a gay bar and murdered 49 people. The disordering of priorities here is breathtaking. If only LGBT folks could muster the same amount of vitriol towards al-Baghdadi and his deranged followers that they did for Kim Davis, the Kentucky court clerk who earned gay left ire for refusing to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

On live television, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper grilled Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi over her past legal defense of a state constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage, a measure endorsed by 61% of her constituents. Cooper indignantly asked if she thought there was a sick irony in Bondi calling herself a champion of the gay community after the attack when she has publicly opposed gays right to marry. If theres a sick irony in the response to Orlando, its the mindset that prefers to interrogate a Republican elected official about the fulfillment of her constitutional duties rather than the hateful ideology responsible for this crime. If gay rights organizations are not to blame for Floyd Corkins, how is Pam Bondi the slightest bit responsible for Omar Mateen?

The urge to conflate anything less than total adherence to the Western gay rights agenda with the barbaric homophobia all too common in the Muslim world essentially equates valid political views, expressed via democratic processes, with Islamist savagery. Apparently, contesting the right of biological men to use womens restrooms exists on the same continuum as the ongoing genocide of homosexuals in Syria. By the logic of Cooper and the Times, had Sundays massacre occurred in early 2012, before President Barack Obama announced his support for same-sex marriage, he too would be complicit in Mateens crimes as someone who contributed to the corrosive politics that threaten LGBT Americans, as our paper of record entitled its clueless editorial. All this blame-shifting conjures memories of a certain reaction to the Kennedy assassination, to this day attributed by many liberals to a climate of right-wing hate despite the inconvenient fact that it was perpetrated by a communist.

This desire to bury our heads in the sand and equate Judeo-Christian and Muslim homophobia is explained by two factors: familiarity and fear. To achieve legal equality, gays in the West spent the past five decades contending against a Judeo-Christian majority culture. In 2016, were utterly unequipped to address homophobia emanating from Islamic communities which, in America and Europe, constitute religious minorities. Secondly, while gay rights advocates have largely won the legal and culture war in the West, the struggle to legitimize homosexuality in the Islamic world has a much longer way to go, against far more ruthless enemies, and the situation is direr than anything almost any living gay person in the West has ever experienced.

The Moral Majority never had a terrorist wing.

Others have pointed to evidence suggesting Mateen was himself gay to claim his horrific acts had nothing to do with Islamist ideology and everything to do with internalized homophobia. Far from being mutually exclusive, however, these two influences are often mutually reinforcing. Given the prevalence of repressed homosexuality in the Muslim world, National Post columnist Terry Glavin observes that being a vicious, bloodthirsty homophobe and a dangerously self-loathing, deeply closeted gay man are practically job-application prerequisites for the aspiring jihadist. Of course, the vast majority of closeted gay men dont commit homophobic violence. But in Mateens case, it was the appeal to mass-murder offered by so many prominent Islamic political leaders, clerics, and even states (such as Iran, whose condolences to the Orlando victims are the most cynical of crocodile tears, considering its own track record of murdering gays), which distinguishes variants of Islam from the homophobia of other religions. A conflicted Catholic, for instance, would be told by his priest to live in celibacy and respect the dignity of homosexual persons, not shoot up a bar full of them. And while its certainly true that the Orlando attack fits within a broader trend of increasing hate crime against LGBT people, what distinguishes it from those isolated incidents is that it took direct inspiration from a nascent theocratic state with global appeal.

Many gays rightly complain that some media outlets and conservative politicians are obscuring the specifically homophobic nature of the Orlando tragedy, closeting the victims by failing to acknowledge their identities as gay men and women. But denying the Islamist motivations of the perpetrator is an obfuscation no less inaccurate, and one far more dangerous.
Challenging convention in spirits packaging

If all older men of a certain social class drank whisky, all party girls necked vodka and only the British ever touched gin, then alcohol brands work would be done and we could all go home...

Shaun Bowen B&B studio

Of course, nothing could be less true - but until recently, an alien wandering the supermarket aisles would have been forgiven for thinking thats exactly how the world of drinks worked. Change, in spirits marketing, seemed to be a dirty word.

In fact, its sameness that is the dirty word, and brands and the agencies they employ know it. But doing things differently is always problematic: the temptation is just to copy what worked before. Thats why, for years, whisky bottles were mostly amber and masculine in style, with Celtic imagery of stags, crags, and castles. The purity of vodka was showcased by bold, graphic fonts on clear bottles, with the Russian or Polish pedigree made, so to speak, clear. And gin was all bowler hats, the London skyline, the essence of a British gentleman who hadnt actually been spotted since about 1970.

Breaking the rules

Then things changed. Design agencies started breaking the rules, consumers didnt turn teetotal due to confusion over what they were supposed to drink, and in fact, the younger market embraced brands that didnt simply look exactly like every other offering in the same category. This leaves a highly competitive field wide open  so how can brands really take advantage?

Know your market

For a brand design or redesign to have real impact, agency and brand owner must agree on who theyre talking to  and what will make them listen. Theres no point coming up with an edgy design for a whisky brand that really is chasing the grouse-shooting Scottish landowner, after all. Nor is there any point in going so far beyond the accepted category codes that the consumer doesnt understand what it is youre trying to say. Everyone wants to stand out  and to kick back against the last thing that worked  but there is a right way to do it. Everyone dreams of designing a classic, something like the Hendricks Gin black bottle, that changes everything. Yet change for its own sake wont win hearts or sell product.

A match made in heaven

So if, as a design agency, youre keen to break out and do something different, you need the client who thinks thats a good idea. We were lucky with BrewDog, which is absolutely committed to doing things differently. Its methods have worked really well for it with beer  it has been the fastest growing food and drink company in the UK for several years now, and it still has the hunger to challenge accepted ideas and make people drink differently - and think differently about what theyre drinking. For LoneWolf, its first venture into the spirits market, BrewDog is putting the focus on purity  and transparency, from start to finish. It chose a name that represents an earlier stage of the dogs evolution, and it wanted a suitably unevolved design: simple, clear and unpretentious  unbranded branding, in a sense.

So we created an unfussy but memorable brand identity, a wolfs head distilled down to its purest geometric elements. We kept it simple and raw to celebrate the spirit of vodka, gin and whisky and not get carried away with branding. (Youve got to know the rules to break them  after all, the consumer knows them without even thinking about it.)

Its always about the story

And that unconscious knowledge is the design agencys friend. After all, every brand needs to tell a story. Thats the point of difference, no matter what the product  or how many other products are cluttering up the same marketplace. If you can burst through the assumptions that people have around a brand, youre halfway there. So, with The Duppy Share rum, we wanted to rethink the Caribbean sunshine-and-piracy image that has been purveyed so often that it has stopped being any kind of individual brand story and become just the story of rum.

Usually, rum branding is full of slightly maverick characters  seamonsters, sailors, tattooists, even a bat. Not only is it almost impossible to recreate this in an original way that will make people think, but times have changed, and focussing purely on adventurers and seafarers feels out of date. A Duppy is a character from Caribbean mythology, a kind of zombie or walking undead who is held responsible for criminal acts. So celebrating this creature felt very post-imperialist and we wanted to reflect that, but without losing the Caribbean feel that consumers recognise and associate with rum  after all, it would be pretty self-defeating to wilfully ignore the fun and sun aspect of Caribbean rum.

A marriage of opposites

So the challenge was  be simultaneously white and black, sunny and dark, real and mythological and all in an enticing package. Quite some challenge! We played with dark and light, with a bottle design inspired by travel posters from the 1920s and 1930s, with that lovely romantic feel. The story is deliberately enigmatic, with a silhouetted nighttime figure that could be a Duppy  or a late-night holidaymaker having a tipple on the beach. But part of the label is that same scene in daylight, as a reminder of all the natural beauty that makes the Caribbean such a great holiday destination, and rum that holiday in a bottle.

Dare to be different

A design and branding agency should not have its own look. They should be fully adaptable to the needs of the client, otherwise there is no way they can think outside the bottle and do something truly mould-breaking. And thats a waste, because in a really strong spirits market, differentiation is everything. All the major players, including Pernod Ricard, William Grant and Diageo, reported increased annual sales at the end of 2015, and the vibrant cocktail scene continues to be a launchpad for new brands. Thats the good news: but in a thriving category, its vital to be different, and that means looking different. In the world of cocktails, spirits are meant to be blended  but spirit brands cannot blend in. Or, as the Caribbean pirates might have put it: no guts, no glory.

20 June 2016
Fine & rare English grape brandy released

Englands leading wine producer, Chapel Down, is to release a unique English grape brandy in June. The brandy is from the 1991 harvest of the Lamberhurst vineyard and has been aged in oak barrels for 23 years.

Just 2,000 bottles have been produced. It is made from the Seyval Blanc grape variety grown on the Lamberhurst Estate in Kent, then owned by Sir Kenneth McAlpine. The spirit was distilled in 1992 by Julian Temperley in Somerset and matured in French oak barrels for 23 years before being released by Chapel Down this year as Englands finest ever brandy produced from English grapes.

Mark Harvey, Chapel Down managing director, explains: This is a magnificent and unique brandy made from one of Englands pioneering vineyards that has exclusively supplied Chapel Down for 20 years. Like all good things, its taken time, patience and skill to make something of which we are very proud.

The limited release brandy is deliciously restrained with warming aromas of stewed fruit, dark honey and liquorice together with a complex palate of caramelised baked apples, cinnamon and spice and a velvety mouthfeel. Acclaimed spirits writer and expert, Neil Ridley, was delighted: A brandy that defies categorisation...this has all the hallmarks of a complex Armagnac or Calvados, but finds its own, genuine personality. Very impressive stuff indeed.

The Lamberhurst Fine & Rare English Grape Brandy (36.7% ABV) is individually numbered by hand and packaged in a premium gift box with an RRP of 150.00.

20 June 2016 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor
Kyiv reports death of one Ukrainian serviceman in Donbas, two wounded in past 24 hours

One Ukrainian serviceman was killed in the combat zone in Donbas on Sunday and another two were wounded, Andriy Lysenko, spokesman for the Ukrainian presidential administration on military operation issues, has said.

"One Ukrainian serviceman was killed in an attack near Novozvanivka in the past 24 hours. Another two servicemen were wounded," Lysenko told a briefing in Kyiv on Monday.
The countries of the so-called "Normandy Four" are interested in holding a top-level meeting on the Ukrainian settlement which will produce results; however, there are as yet no preconditions for such negotiations, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday.

"Regarding that, certainly, all "Normandy Four" countries are interested in holding such a fruitful meeting, it is true," he said.

"The preconditions for such a meeting will emerge only if the Ukrainian side displays determination to take the steps which are clearly specified in the Minsk agreements. Unfortunately, they do not display such determination," he said, adding that not having "any tangible prospects for productivity, holding of a top-level meeting is hardly possible."

When asked whether such a meeting is possible before the NATO summit in July, Peskov replied "there are no preconditions for it yet."

Several Western media reported earlier that the meeting of the leaders of the "Normandy Four" countries (Ukraine, France, Russia, Germany) may allegedly take place in early July prior to the NATO summit in Warsaw.
Time for a revolution?

One of the greatest problems I face as a Green MEP is that so many European citizens voted for right wing parties in the last European election, including in the UK. This means that those wanting to chip away at environmental and social regulations have a built in majority. But the belief by Lexit supporters that if we leave the EU we will then be able to gain a progressive majority at Westminster is fanciful. Neoliberalism is not a disease unique to the EU. Leaving the EU would simply result in leading, highly neoliberal, Brexit MPs taking control of our country. It would not lead to some glorious socialist revolution. The only revolution would be an uprising against a raft of EU environmental and social legislation, under the guise of reducing red tape'. This would leave workers, our important nature habitats and the health of our citizens in far worse shape than is currently the case within the EU.

How about progressive reforms?

A criticism levelled at the EU from both the left and right of the political spectrum, is that it cannot be reformed. But dispensing with something because it fails to match a non-existent blueprint is not a good enough reason to leave it. The EU is an organization constantly in flux. Not least because there are elections every five years to the European Parliament, and new appointments to the Council of Ministers to reflect changing governments across the continent.

As to accusations that there is opposition to progressive reforms from within the EU, this is certainly true. But such opposition is often led by our own government which has opposed a range of reforms that Greens have fought hard for, from the ban on pesticides that are harmful to bees to regulating fracking and stronger proposals on air pollution. Opposition to progressive reforms is particularly frustrating to Greens, who believe strongly that another Europe is possible and work hard to bring about positive change. However, opposition to progressive reform is only possible because the EU is, somewhat ironically in view of frequent complaints to the contrary, democratic.

A return to Think Global, Act Local

Many left wing sceptics of the EU choose to ignore its crowning achievement: the 70 years without war that previously disfigured our continent. It is this aspect above all others that causes me to urge all Greens and those on the progressive left thinking of voting Leave to think again. Is it really the responsible thing to do, to sever ourselves from the world's largest ever peace project when nationalism and fascism are on the rise across the continent?

Think global, act local is truer now than ever. We need to maintain our commitment to protecting our special local places and building resilient local economies but not allow our vision to be limited by them. We must also think globally and evolve into an era of multi-level democracy. This is a challenge for everybody, not just for Greens. But since some of our key issues - climate change, species extinction, air pollution, marine pollution, the refugee crisis, terrorism - can only be dealt with globally, we have an absolute duty to do this.

Greens have never believed or said the EU is perfect. Many of the criticisms levelled against it will continue to energise our political campaigns if we remain a member. And of course, as an MEP, I have direct experience of its shortcomings. But leaving the EU would be the ultimate acceptance of defeat and failure of confidence. Walking away from our own continent will not solve its many problems. Facing them in a spirit of cooperation will ensure we tackle them together in solidarity.

Molly Scott Cato is Green MEP for the South West of England, elected in May 2014. She sits on three committees in the European Parliament: Economics and Monetary Affairs (ECON), Special Committee on Tax (TAXE) and Agriculture and Rural Development Committee (AGRI). She is also Green Party speaker on economy and finance and has published widely, particularly on issues related to green economics. Molly is formerly Professor of Strategy and Sustainability at the University of Roehampton. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Scott_Cato for further details.
"We all depend on clean seas and the whole vegetation of the area is completable unspoiled," she says. "I don't feel that we would be able to continue our business model as we are doing it now if the quarry was to open."

The Lizard is within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has many other international designations, including several sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Tidal Lagoon says that the project at Swansea Bay could produce clean, renewable energy to power over 155,000 homes for 120 years, as well as up to 1,900 jobs during its construction.

CADS has defended itself against accusations of NIMBYism, saying its members support renewable energy and would support the reopening of the quarry in a sustainable manner, but only at the level of previous activity.

"Suddenly bringing Dean Quarry back to life, not just doing that but super-sizing it... it's like wanting to put up a skyscraper on Dartmoor," says Alison McGregor of the CADS committee who runs a holiday cottage business on the Lizard.

CADS argues that there would be other more practical sources of rock for tidal lagoons from already established quarries, particularly in Norway.

"We truly believe that there are more sustainable sources of rock which will be better value for the tax payer," says McGregor. "Norway is just set up and ready to go... It's a proven, reliable source. It's like ordering a pizza."

The CADS campaigners are keeping a close eye on an independent review into the value for money of tidal lagoons which could put a stop to the Swansea Bay and other proposed projects for larger lagoons in South Wales. The Swansea project, which is estimated to cost 1 billion has been dogged with criticisms over costs and has struggled to get the government subsidies they want.

"I don't think it's an answer for energy security because one, Swansea will not provide a lot of energy and two, it will be the most expensive in the world," says Edwards. "Forgetting the environment if you're looking at the economics then it makes no sense at all."

There are also some environmental concerns around the lagoons, particularly the impact on fish, although many green groups, including Friends of the Earth, have welcomed the project.

"At the moment we have been quite supportive of Swansea because it's a small lagoon," says Edwards. "We always say the right renewable in the right place, the right technology in the right place. We don't believe large lagoons are the right technology but we do agree we should looking at harnessing the energy that's there in the Severn Estuary but not at the cost to the environment."

There has been no decision on whether Dean Quarry would be the source of rock if the lagoons went ahead, but Shire Oak still intend to reopen the quarry, even it it involves selling to other markets.

CADS has said they will closely monitor any planning developments at Dean Quarry and want a full Environmental Impact Assessment to take place before any work happens.

"I'm very very proud of the beauty of our area," says McGregor. "We're going to fight it tooth and nail and are determined to see it out. We've done a year and a half and it think there's another decade in us yet."
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen have discussed the steps to promote Ukraine's interests in the international arena, including those in the framework of the ongoing Russian aggression in Donbas.

According to the press service of the Ukrainian president, during a meeting in Kyiv Rasmussen informed Poroshenko about the outcome of his latest contacts with representatives of European official and expert circles and assessment of the situation in Ukraine.

Poroshenko stressed the importance of a further consolidation of international support for Ukraine in countering Russian aggression and the restoration of its territorial integrity.

"We need to work together to promote Ukraine's interests in the world. The extended sanctions against Russia, the increase in investment in our country, the growth of financial assistance in support of reforms, the EU's introducing a visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens are our top priorities," Poroshenko said.
About $1,500 was raised last weekend to benefit the restoration of the Boones Mill Train Depot and the vintage caboose recently donated by the Franklin County Historical Society.

Boones Mill hosted a successful car show, despite hot weather. Hundreds of locals and tourists visited downtown Boones Mill to view 66 cars and trucks on display.

It sure is great to have this community support, said Town Councilman Mike Smith. Its a win all around.

Old and new vehicles of all makes and models entered the show, from a Model T to 2016 muscle cars. Visitors voted for their favorites. The Peoples Choice winner was Rodney McNeils blue and white 1955 Chevrolet.

Cannadays Sav-a-Bit donated 400 drinks, the Lions club provided outdoor power and several event volunteers, and Kingery Catering donated about $500 profits for the depot project.

The car show was part of the Mountains of Music Homecoming cultural series.

The Mountains of Music series emphasizes Southwest Virginia (SWVA) cultural events. Boones Mill is a gateway to SWVA and Appalachia. The car show will continue and grow with live music and more local history as the Depot Museum develops.
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By Mike Schneider And Terrance Harris Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  Federal investigators promised to provide more insight as to what was happening inside the Pulse nightclub after a gunman started a deadly assault that was the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

The FBI was releasing on Monday a printed, partial transcript of the conversations between the gunman within the Pulse gay nightclub and Orlando police negotiators, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said.

The release is coming a day after tens of thousands of people held a candlelight vigil in the heart of downtown Orlando for the 49 victims who died in the massacre. The victims also were remembered at church services and at makeshift memorials throughout Orlando.

"As a community, it's important that we gather together to show our support because only together can we move forward," said Gabrielle Claire, a musician and Universal Orlando worker who says she knew three Pulse victims who died. She was holding a "Hugs for Healing" sign at the vigil and numerous strangers came up to hug her.

"We don't have to be afraid of holding each other. We don't have to be afraid of saying to other people, 'I'm here for you,'" she said.

Lynch said in interviews Sunday on several news shows that the FBI would release a partial, printed transcript of the conversations between gunman Omar Mateen from within the Pulse nightclub and Orlando police negotiators. Armed with a semi-automatic weapon, Mateen went on a bloody rampage at the club June 12 that left 49 people dead and 53 others seriously hurt. Mateen died in a hail of gunfire after police stormed the venue.

Lynch told ABC's "This Week" that the top goal while intensifying pressure on the Islamic State  the extremist group thought to have inspired Mateen  is to build a complete profile of him to help prevent another massacre like Orlando.

"As you can see from this investigation, we are going back and learning everything we can about this killer, about his contacts, people who may have known him or seen him. And we're trying to build that profile so that we can move forward," Lynch said.

Lynch said she would be traveling to Orlando on Tuesday to meet with investigators.

Speaking to CBS' "Face The Nation," Lynch said that a key goal of the investigation was to determine why Mateen targeted the gay community. The victims were predominantly gay and Hispanic since it was "Latin night" at Pulse.

"We are hurting. We are exhausted, confused, and there is so much grief," said Larry Watchorn, a ministerial intern, during a sermon Sunday at Joy Metropolitan Community Church in Orlando, whose congregants are predominantly gay.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott described the attack as "devastating" while praying at First Baptist Church of Orlando on Sunday. He said the gunman targeted "two very vulnerable populations."

"But here is the positive out of it ... people have come together," Scott said. "There are so many people who have done so many wonderful acts."

Around Orlando, people left balloons, flowers, pictures and posters at a makeshift memorial in front of the city's new performing arts center and at Orlando Regional Medical Center where 49 white crosses were emblazoned with red hearts and the names of the victims.

The crosses were built by a Chicago carpenter with a history of constructing crosses for victims of mass shootings. Greg Zanis drove from Illinois to Orlando last week and installed the crosses at the medical center, where many of the 53 shooting victims who survived were taken for treatment.

He said Sunday that the crosses are a message for people of all faiths: "Quit judging and start loving."

A rainbow appeared over Lake Eola Park Sunday evening as tens of thousands of people turned out for an evening vigil to honor the victims of the shooting. The park was filled with people holding white flowers, American flags and candles.

One of those people attending, Traci Hines-McKenzie, said the timing of the rainbow was perfect.

"You know that's a sign," she said.

Dr. Khurshid Ahmed was part of a group of Muslim-Americans at the vigil who held signs reading, "Muslims Condemn Extremism." Investigators have said Mateen reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, and a letter from the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Republican Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, said Mateen wrote on Facebook that "real Muslims will never accept the filthy ways of the West."

At the end of the vigil, people held up their candles as the names of each victim were read, creating a ring of fire around Lake Eola. They chanted "One Orlando," ''Orlando United" and "Somos Orlando," Spanish for "We are Orlando."

"That event has gotten the attention of the world," said Evania Nichols, an Orlando resident. "And, for Orlando  a city that's always been incredibly inclusive no matter your skin color, no matter your background  it's brought about a movement that I think is starting here and I really hope continues."

___

Alex Sanz in Orlando contributed to this report.

Caption 1:

People attend a Pulse nightclub shooting vigil by Lake Eola in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 19, 2016. Tens of thousands of people in Central Florida held up candles around the lake in the heart of downtown Orlando as the names were recited of each of the victims who died from the Pulse massacre just a week ago. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Caption 2:

People hold candles at a candlelight vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, as they gather at Lake Eola Park in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 19, 2016. (Craig Rubadoux/Florida Today via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Caption 3:

People hold candles at a candlelight vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, as they gather at Lake Eola Park in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 19, 2016. (Craig Rubadoux/Florida Today via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Caption 4:

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub line the shore of Lake Eola Park during a vigil, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Caption 5:

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub attend a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Caption 6:

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub attend a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Caption 7:

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub attend a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Caption 8:

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub attend a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Caption 9:

A supporter of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub holds up a candle at a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Caption 10:

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub attend a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Caption 11:

People attend a Pulse nightclub shooting vigil by Lake Eola in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 19, 2016. Tens of thousands of people in Central Florida held up candles around the lake in the heart of downtown Orlando as the names were recited of each of the victims who died from the Pulse massacre just a week ago. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Caption 12:

People attend a Pulse nightclub shooting vigil by Lake Eola in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 19, 2016. Tens of thousands of people in Central Florida held up candles around the lake in the heart of downtown Orlando as the names were recited of each of the victims who died from the Pulse massacre just a week ago. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Caption 13:

Samantha Sharrah and her sister Shauna Noumi, 16, comfort each other at the Orlando Vigil, in honor of the of the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting on June 12, 2016, held at the Freedom Fountain in downtown Jacksonville, N.C., on Sunday, June 19, 2016. (Elizabeth Horn/The Jacksonville Daily News via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Caption 14:

Samantha Sharrah and her sister Shauna Noumi, 16, and Sadie Kochick along with other members of the community come out to the Orlando Vigil, in honor of the of the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting on June 12, 2016, held at the Freedom Fountain on Sunday, June 19, 2016. Jacksonville, N.C. (Elizabeth Horn/The Jacksonville Daily News via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Caption 15:

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub attend a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Caption 16:

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub hold flags and candles at a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Caption 17:

Joe Teander and Jeremy Delong get their candles lit by Diana Powell at the Orlando Vigil, in honor of the of the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting on June 12, 2016, held at the Freedom Fountain in downtown Jacksonville, N.C., on Sunday, June 19, 2016. (Elizabeth Horn/The Jacksonville Daily News via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Caption 18:

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub hold up candles while attending a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Caption 19:

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub hold flowers and candles at a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Caption 20:

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub hold candles while attending a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Caption 21:

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub hold candles while attending a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Caption 22:

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub hold candles while attending a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Caption 23:

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub hold candles while attending a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Des Moines County Auditor Terri Johnson announces mid-term retirement

After nearly 29 years with the county, Des Moines County Auditor Terri Johnson will retire at the end of the year.
The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's representative in the humanitarian subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group on the peaceful settlement of the conflict in Donbas, Iryna Gerashchenko, has sent a letter to German Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank-Walter Steinmeier, presiding in the OSCE, with the request to assist in the liberation of Ukrainian hostages.

"I've sent a letter to German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, presiding in the OSCE, from the Ukrainian side of the human subgroup of the Trilateral Contact Group, in which we expressed our deep concern about the situation with the hostages. We appeal to the OSCE with the request to assist in the liberation of the hostages," she wrote on her Facebook page.

She noted in the last month not only political but also humanitarian situation in Donbas deteriorated significantly - militants have blocked the release of hostages and "despite all the efforts of the Ukrainian side and willingness to compromise, they reject any initiative."
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Another reason might be a lack of technical knowledge, making VPS servers harder to set up, manage, and secure. But thats why managed VPS hosting is such a good choice.
NORWALK  Authorities remained tight-lipped Monday about the circumstances surrounding the recent murder of Marian Alexander.

Lt. Terrence Blake, a Norwalk Police Department spokesperson, released no new details of the case on Monday.

The 52-year-old Arch Street woman was found dead on Friday in her home. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) performed an autopsy Saturday, revealing the cause of death to be homicide, the citys first of the year.

An OCME representative said Monday that the manner of death would not be disclosed for several days.

Police discovered Alexanders body Friday afternoon after being dispatched to her residence in the Arch Hill Commons Condominiums at 2:13 p.m. on a medical assistance call.

On Sunday morning, Lt. Thomas Mattera, commander of the Norwalk Police Departments Detective Bureau, declined to identify the cause of Alexander's death, but did say that she was not shot or stabbed.

He would not say if detectives had identified a suspect, but said the person or persons responsible were not a threat to others. Alexander lived alone, Mattera said.

A neighbor at the tidy brick condo complex off West Avenue, declined to be identified and said that he didnt know Alexander, but was stunned that a homicide had occurred there.

The last homicide in Norwalk occurred Dec. 8, 2014, when cab driver Jackson-Pierre Louis of Bridgeport was stabbed to death.

On June 1, 34-year-old Ramiro Arcos-Garcia pleaded guilty to his murder. He will soon be sentenced to 30 years in jail.

Anyone with information about Alexanders murder is asked to call Detective David Hudyma at (203) 854-3189.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court has rejected challenges to assault weapons bans in Connecticut and New York, in the aftermath of the shooting attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that left 50 people dead.

The justices on Monday left in place a lower court ruling that upheld laws that were passed in response to another mass shooting involving a semi-automatic weapon, the elementary school attack in Newtown, Connecticut.
China regards its cooperation with Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) as a vital part of China-Europe ties rather than a new mechanism independent from the latter, a Chinese official with the Ministry of Commerce said during a press conference last week, before Chinese President Xi Jinpings set off on his State visits to Serbia and Poland.

The cooperation, a new mechanism to develop ties between China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs), also aims to deepen China-Europe ties, stressed Zhou Xiaoyan, director-general of European affairs at the Ministry of Commerce, adding that such cooperation will also promote balanced European development.

China-CEE cooperation will boost China-Europe collaboration rather than bring negative effects, she said.

China has stressed that cooperation with EU members will be carried out within the framework of the EU, while also stressing that cooperation with non-EU members can also benefit European integration. To fulfill its commitment, China invited EU representatives to attend successive meetings between Chinese and CEE heads of State. Additionally, the EU-China 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation, a guideline on China-EU cooperation, was issued as part of official documents after the meetings.

So far, more European countries, as well as other countries around the globe, have realized that China-CEE cooperation can benefit balanced European integration by helping narrow the gap between Eastern and Western Europe.

After the 3rd Meeting of Heads of Government of China and Central and Eastern European Countries in Belgrade in 2014, the EU ambassador to China stressed that, Appropriate CEE-China cooperation can generate added value, adding that EU members cooperation with China should continue to be transparent.

"China's interest in Europe has grown significantly in recent years," Aleksandra Joksimovic, a Serbian foreign policy expert, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

"The EU does not mind Serbia's cooperation (with China) as it is also looking for common interests with China in the economic sphere," he added.
DENVER (AP)  Summoned by the sound of screams, a Colorado woman raced to her front yard to find a terrifying sight: A mountain lion was hunched over her 5-year-old son, biting him.

The woman charged the animal, yanked away one of its paws and discovered her son's whole head was in its mouth. She didn't back down.

"She was able to pry the cat's jaws open," Pitkin County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Buglione said. "She's a hero."

The boy suffered deep cuts to his head, face and neck and was flown to a Denver hospital. His mother, who also was scratched and bitten, is credited with saving his life.

The ordeal started Friday evening when the 5-year-old and his older brother were playing outside their home near the resort town of Aspen, Buglione said.

When the woman ran outside, she found the lion crouched over her younger son, who was struggling to get free.

"The boy was completely under the cat," Buglione told The Aspen Times.

The mother pried open the lion's mouth with her hands, scooped up the child and ran away, the deputy said.

The boy's father had just returned from a run when the attack occurred. He jumped in the car with his wife and son and called 911 as they sped to the Aspen hospital.

From there, the child was flown to Children's Hospital in Denver in fair condition. On Saturday, a hospital spokeswoman told the Times she was not authorized to release any details on his condition.

The mother suffered bite marks on her hand and scratches on her leg, authorities said. She was treated and released. The family members' names were not released.

The mountain lion was estimated to be about 2 years old and not fully grown.

"It wasn't a big cat," Buglione said. "Had it been a 110-pound lion - which I've seen around here - this would have been a much different story."

Wildlife officials killed two mountain lions in the area within several hours of the attack. Both were being examined to determine if they were hungry, diseased or just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Colorado is home to up to 4,500 mountain lions, and they sometimes wander into urban areas looking for food, according to state wildlife officials. Since 1990, mountain lions have killed three people and injured 18 in the state.

"They're wild animals. They find habitat where they can forage for food," Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman Matt Robbins said. "When you have bunnies, you're likely to find foxes or coyotes. If you have deer, there is a good chance you'll find mountain lions."

The last known lion attack on a human in Colorado occurred in July 2015, wildlife officials said. A young lion attacked a man as he fished north of Dotsero, about 60 miles from where Friday's attack occurred. The man suffered scratches and bites on his back and was treated at a local clinic and released.

The lion in that incident, described as a small, yearling male, was tracked and killed.
The 1957 Pulitzer Prize for Biography was for the book Profiles in Courage. Its purported author was John F. Kennedy, although most of the writing was done by his speech writer Ted Sorensen. The book, which became a best seller, sketched the lives of antebellum senators who, despite all odds, defied the opinions of their constituents and party to do what they felt was right.

Two weeks ago it was announced the passing of one of the best examples of how a leader can truly transform for the best an institution of higher education. His name was Thomas Marshall Hahn, Jr.

A native of Lexington, Ky., Hahn obtained his doctorate in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1949. After several stints as a faculty member and administrator in higher education, on July 2, 1962, he became president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI), taking office at the young age of 36. By pure coincidence that was 100 years to the date that Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Land Grant Act into law. That was one of the most important pieces of legislation regarding higher education in U.S. history because it propelled the creation of numerous public universities. VPI, founded in 1872 as Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College, was one of them.

One of the first public statements he made after taking office was that, "Land grant colleges were established as institutions of the people. Our mission is first to provide educational opportunities for the young people of Virginia and the nation."

Known as a highly energetic individual, Hahn started to talk about growth of the 90-year institution. Under his leadership, VPI achieved fantastic progress and evolution in all areas of the administrative, instructional, and extension programs. It became clear this this was no longer the relatively small college he found as president, but rather a rapidly growing and expanding land grant university. By 1970 legislation was passed to rename the college Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, reflecting its transformation into a full university.

This was a direct product of the vision he had as a leader of the institution. As he declared in an interview with The Roanoke Times in 1991, Hahn said that from the beginning he had seen a tremendous potential and opportunity to make VPI into a major higher education institution in the U.S. I saw Virginia Tech as a sleeping giant that could be awakened, he said. I thought the time was right.

His achievements were not only vast in increasing the size of his institution, but also in the substance and structure of Virginia Tech (as it is commonly known today). Hahns accomplishments included transforming Virginia Tech from a regional military college with a mostly white, mostly male student body into a diverse, internationally renowned research university. Although students at the institutes associated womens college, Radford College (now Radford University), could attend courses at Virginia Tech, the student body was nominally all male. And though the institute had admitted its first black student in 1953, it remained almost entirely white.

When Hahn took office, participation in the colleges Corps of Cadets was mandatory for all students. Realizing that such a requirement discouraged many prospective applicants, he dropped that prerequisite in 1964 despite opposition from many alumni. Here he showed that sometimes you need to shake some traditions if you really want to transform the institution for the best. In a time when participation in active combat military service for women was unthinkable, he clearly saw that his move would truly open the doors of Virginia Tech to women.

The other area in which he excelled was in diversity participation. The year after his institution openly admitted women, Hahn established a scholarship program for enrollees of modest means, with most of the money earmarked for black students. He did so by raising a $100,000 grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, a significant amount at that time. It was probably the first occasion that a Southern land-grant college had done such a thing. Not only that, but he went forward with his integration plans despite the fact of being in a southern state that was in the throes of the civil rights movement.

Although he oversaw the construction of more than two dozen campus buildings, his most fundamental - though less visible - achievement was in the academic arena. In his 12 years as president, Hahn created 30 new undergraduate majors, including art, history, management, philosophy, psychology and sociology. He added some 20 graduate programs while establishing the colleges of arts and sciences, architecture and education. He knew that in order to attract more and better students he needed to offer attractive academic programs. By doing so he completed the transformation of what was called a cow college in rural Blacksburg into a prestigious institution competing with the likes of its much more famous and wealthier neighbor, the University of Virginia.

By the time Hahn left the presidency of Virginia Tech in 1974, the schools enrollment had nearly tripled, to 17,400. Today, its student body comprises roughly 17,000 males and 13,000 females. Of them, more than 1,100 identify themselves as African-American, more than 1,500 as Hispanic and more than 2,500 as Asian.

In these times of doom and gloom for public institutions, where their leaders are obsessed with fads and cutting budgets as the only way out, Hahn serves as an example of what you can do to transform a rural institution from a very narrow niche into grandeur.

Vision, courage and determination, together with his emphasis in cultural changes and academic enhancements - not gimmicks -were his key ingredients. This should serve to all of us as an example of what can be achieved even under the most difficult circumstances.

Dr. Aldemaro Romero Jr. is a writer and college professor with leadership experience in higher education. He can be contacted through his website at: http://www.aromerojr.net.
Glen Carbon Mayor Rob Jackstadt began the most recent meeting of the village board with a moment of silence for the victims of the Orlando shooting before getting to the agenda.

The majority of the meeting was devoted to the approval of purchases for the public works department.

First up, was the request to purchase crack sealing equipment in the amount of $38,076.22.

Public Works Coordinator Danny Lawrence said the purchase is based on a recommendation from engineers.

Per the recommendation from Lochmueller Group the purchase of a new crack sealing machine will drastically cut down on time, Lawrence said.

He explained the new machine only takes about a half hour to heat up the patching tar, while the old machine takes up to 2 hours.

Trustee Ross Breckenridge said doing the crack sealing in house will also save the village money.

Last year we were quoted about $150,000 to get the work done, he said. Doing it in house will cost less than a quarter of what it costs to bid it out.

The board voted unanimously to make the purchase.

Lawrence also requested the purchase of a new mosquito-fogging machine.

The purchase would be done in a partnership with Edwardsville Township. Glen Carbon would purchase the machinery for $8,710, and be reimbursed for half of the cost by the township.

I was approached by Danny Picarelli, township highway commissioner, about splitting the cost of the new fogger, Lawrence said. Our old one still works but it is aged and with the spread of viruses through mosquitoes we came to the conclusion that a new one would be beneficial.

Lawrence said the village and the township will keep the old one they currently share and either municipality can use it if they need to step up their abatement program.

The board voted unanimously to make the purchase.

Trustee Brooke Harmony commended the village and township staff on working cooperatively.

Nice that the two municipalities work together and work on saving money for the taxpayers, she said.

The board also approved a request from Lawrence to pay $12,166.40 to the Illinois Rural Water Association for a camera inspection of the sewer and storm sewer system.

The information received will allow the village to identify and prioritize system repairs.

Trustee approved a request to purchase a new mower for the public works department\.

Board members authorized the purchase of an ExMark Zero Turn Mower in the amount of $8,419.20.

Lawrence said the new mower will replace an aging Skag mower.
Two long time Edwardsville residents celebrated the grand opening of their new business on Friday, June 3 with an official ribbon cutting in association with the Edwardsville-Glen Carbon Chamber of Commerce.

Arif and Karen Pyarali, both SIUE alumni and 30-year Edwardsville residents, officially opened their sign business, Signarama, located at Club Centre Plaza along Route 157 in Edwardsville.

Shahid Pyarali, oversees the day-to-day operations assisted by his son, Safeer Pyarali and Gloria Selvey. The store specializes in all types of signage including outdoor, indoor, banners, letters and graphics, trade show displays and exhibits, vehicle graphics and lettering and custom business signs.

One of the more noticeable projects that Signarama has completed in the city was the design and installation of the large neon orange Tiger Country sign in front of the EHS Winston Brown Track & Field Complex.

Edwardsville Mayor Hal Patton spoke about how important it is for emerging small businesses to make an impact and give back to the community.

Small businesses are the backbone of this community, Patton said. We had a big announcement yesterday about Amazon coming with 1000 jobs. Thats just more opportunity for our small businesses. I met with these gentlemen a couple of weeks ago and I think they have some wonderful ideas.

Arif thanked everyone in attendance for their support and looks forward to a positive relationship with the community.

The shop opened for business in 2015 but the formal grand opening, was held in the form of a block party including business neighbors, Joes Pizza, Taj Indian Cuisine and Tropical Sno.

The festivities included sign displays from Signarama as well as food from Joes Pizza and Taj Indian Cuisine, face painting and snow cones from Tropical Sno, a bounce house, DJ music and the Edwardsville Police Departments D.A.R.E officers provided free fingerprinting for the kids.

Signarama is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For any sign inquiries you may visit the store, call at 618-692-0300 or view whats available online at www.signarama-edwardsville.com.
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Linkedin Joe McDonald (Associated Press) Beijing  Mon, June 20, 2016

A Chinese supercomputer has topped a list of the world's fastest computers for the seventh straight year  and for the first time the winner uses only Chinese-designed processors instead of U.S. technology.

The announcement Monday is a new milestone for Chinese supercomputer development and a further erosion of past U.S. dominance of the field.

Last year's Chinese winner in the TOP500 ranking maintained by researchers in the United States and Germany slipped to No. 2, followed by a computer at the U.S. government's Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

Also this year, China displaced the United States for the first time as the country with the most supercomputers in the top 500. China had 167 systems and the United States had 165. Japan was a distant No. 3 with 29 systems.

Supercomputers are one of a series of technologies targeted by China's ruling Communist Party for development and have received heavy financial support. Such systems are used for weather forecasting, designing nuclear weapons, analyzing oilfields and other specialized purposes.

"Considering that just 10 years ago, China claimed a mere 28 systems on the list, with none ranked in the top 30, the nation has come further and faster than any other country in the history of supercomputing," the TOP500 organizers said in a statement.

This year's champion is the Sunway TaihuLight at the National Supercomputing Center in Wuxi, west of Shanghai, according to TOP500. It was developed by China's National Research Center of Parallel Computer Engineering & Technology using entirely Chinese-designed processors.

The TaihuLight is capable of 93 petaflops, or quadrillion calculations per second, according to TOP500. It is intended for use in engineering and research including climate, weather, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and data analytics.

Its top speed is about five times that of Oak Ridge's Titan, which uses Cray, NVIDIA and Opteron technology.

Other countries with computers in the Top 10 were Japan, Switzerland, Germany and Saudi Arabia.

The TaihuLight is due to be introduced Tuesday at the International Supercomputing Conference in Frankfurt by the director of the Wuxi center, Guangwen Yang.

"As the first No. 1 system of China that is completely based on homegrown processors, the Sunway TaihuLight system demonstrates the significant progress that China has made in the domain of designing and manufacturing large-scale computation systems," Yang was quoted as saying in the TOP500 statement.

The TaihuLight uses Chinese-developed ShenWei processors, "ending any remaining speculation that China would have to rely on Western technology to compete effectively in the upper echelons of supercomputing," TOP500 said in a statement.

The second-fastest computer, the Tianhe-2 at the National Supercomputer Center in the southern city of Guangzhou, is capable of 33 petaflops. It uses chips made by Intel Corp.

Among countries with the most computers on the top 500 list, Germany was in fourth place with 26 systems, France was next with 18, followed by Britain with 12.

The TOP500 is compiled by Erich Strohmaier of NERSC/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Jack Dongarra of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Horst Simon of NERSC/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Martin Meuer of Prometeus GmbH, a German technology company. Another contributor, Hans Meuer of Germany's University of Mannheim, died in 2014.
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Linkedin Masajeng Rahmiasri (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 20, 2016

US toy manufacturer Mattel introduces Barbie's new career: a game developer.

The red-haired, spectacled doll is dressed in a jacket, T-shirt, jeans and sneakers. To show what she does for a living, game developer Barbie carries a set of electronics: a headset, tablet and laptop.

(Read also: For the world's most scrutinized body, Barbie has a new look)

Mattel aims for accurate details, as the company displays real code on Barbies laptop screen and a game it is creating on her tablet screen.

Mattel has earned lots of praise for its latest incarnation of Barbie, with many congratulating the company on finally getting it right. Barbies first venture into the geek world, Computer Engineer Barbie, was heavily criticized.

(Read also: Essential things to know about becoming a game developer)

In a book released back in 2010, Computer Engineer Barbie was quoted as saying: 'I'm only creating the design ideas. I'll need Steven's and Brian's help to turn it into a real game.' Mattel issued an apology on its Facebook page after creating an internet outcry that deemed the company sexist.

Game Developer Barbie retails at US$12.99 (Rp. 172,442) and is currently out of stock in the US. (asw)
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Linkedin Caleb Jones (Associated Press) Honolulu  Mon, June 20, 2016

After the most powerful El Nino on record heated the world's oceans to never-before-seen levels, huge swaths of once vibrant coral reefs that were teeming with life are now stark white ghost towns disintegrating into the sea.

And the world's top marine scientists are still struggling in the face of global warming and decades of devastating reef destruction to find the political and financial wherewithal to tackle the loss of these globally important ecosystems.

"What we have to do is to really translate the urgency," said Ruth Gates, president of the International Society for Reef Studies and director of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology.

Gates, who helped organize a conference this week for more than 2,000 international reef scientists, policymakers and others, said the scientific community needs to make it clear how "intimately reef health is intertwined with human health."

The International Coral Reef Symposium convenes Monday to try to create a more unified conservation plan for coral reefs. She said researchers have to find a way to implement large scale solutions with the help of governments.

Consecutive years of coral bleaching have led to some of the most widespread mortality of reefs on record, leaving scientists in a race to save them. While bleached coral often recovers, multiple years weakens the organisms and increases the risk of death.

Researchers have achieved some success with projects such as creating coral nurseries and growing forms of "super coral" that can withstand harsher conditions. But much of that science is being done on a very small scale with limited funding.

A man rests his hand on a dead reef as he snorkels in Oahus Hanauma Bay on Wednesday, May 6, 2016 near Honolulu. Much of the inner reef at Hanauma Bay is dead after decades of tourist interaction, but the outer reef is still relatively healthy. (AP/Caleb Jones)

Bob Richmond, director of the University of Hawaii's Kewalo Marine Laboratory, said the problems are very clear: "overfishing of reef herbivores and top predators, land-based sources of pollution and sedimentation, and the continued and growing impacts of climate change."

While reefs are major contributors to many coastal tourist economies, saving the world's coral isn't just about having pretty places for vacationers to explore. Reefs are integral to the overall ecosystem and are an essential component of everyday human existence.

Reefs not only provide habitat for most ocean fish consumed by humans, but they also shelter land from storm surges and rising sea levels. Coral has even been found to have medicinal properties.

In one project to help save reefs, researchers at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology have been taking samples from corals that have shown tolerance for harsher conditions in Oahu's Kaneohe Bay and breeding them with other strong strains in slightly warmer than normal conditions to create a super coral.

The idea is to make the corals more resilient by training them to adapt to tougher conditions before transplanting them into the ocean.

(Read also: Bulukumba coral reefs threatened with extinction)

Another program run by the state of Hawaii has created seed banks and a fast-growing coral nursery for expediting coral restoration projects.

Most of Hawaii's species of coral are unlike other corals around the world in that they grow very slowly, which makes reef rebuilding in the state difficult. So officials came up with a plan to grow large chunks of coral in a fraction of the time it would normally take.

In a Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016 photo, rare species of Hawaiian coral being used to create a seed bank grows in a tank at the Anuenue Fisheries Research Centers coral nursery in Honolulu. Most of Hawaiis species of coral is unlike other coral around the world in that it grows very slowly, making restoration projects for endangered reefs in the state difficult. But state officials have come with a plan to grow large chunks of coral in a fraction of the time it would normally take. (AP/Caleb Jones)

Coral reefs have almost always been studied up close, by scientists in the water looking at small portions of reefs.

But NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is taking a wider view, from about 23,000 feet above. NASA and other scientists recently launched a three-year campaign to gather new data on coral reefs worldwide. They are using specially designed imaging instruments attached to aircraft.

"The idea is to get a new perspective on coral reefs from above, to study them at a larger scale than we have been able to before, and then relate reef condition to the environment," said Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences' Eric Hochberg, principal investigator for the project.

If the scientific community and the world's governments can't come together to address coral's decline, one of earth's most critical habitats could soon be gone, leaving humans to deal with the unforeseen consequences.

"What happens if we don't take care of our reefs?" asked Gates. "It's dire."
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Linkedin Hotli Simanjuntak (The Jakarta Post) Banda Aceh  Sat, June 18 2016

A group of Sri Lankan asylum seekers remain stranded on an Aceh beach as authorities decided on Friday to postpone pulling their boat out to sea until Saturday, as bad weather hit the area.

Local authorities had earlier expressed their determination that the boat, carrying 44 Sri Lankan asylum seekers, would be towed out on Friday afternoon after providing them with food and fuel supplies.

Aceh Governor Zaini Abdullah said authorities in the province had done their part by providing the group with humanitarian assistance and, therefore, they could continue their journey.

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Linkedin Victor Davis (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, June 18 2016

Ojek (motorcycle taxi) services became the talk of the town following the breakthrough of Go-Jek, an application that modernizes the way to order an ojek service.

As a user, Im grateful. Finally there is clear information about the rides fare in addition to knowing my drivers profile. Go-Jeks boom has attracted other similar companies to offer ojek services: Grab (initially GrabTaxi) offers GrabBike, and the newly launched UberMotor from Uber.

Competition is inevitable for this particular service. I have been spoiled with tons of promotions from these three companies starting from free rides to super-low fares for their service.

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China has devoted much efforts and scored satisfactory achievements when it comes to human rights in recent years, wrote an article published on the Peoples Daily on Wednesday.

According to the article titled New Progress in Chinas Human Rights, from 2012 to 2015 Chinas GDP volume increased by 7.4 percent on average annually, and disposable income of urban residents grew by 7.5 percent on average every year. Net income of rural residents saw an average of 9.2 percent raise per year.

As a result, millions of jobs were created in cities while 66.63 million rural residents were lifted out of poverty.

More than 95 percent of people in China have basic medical insurance while 80 percent are covered by social security, the article read.

According to data from the article, the number of impoverished people in Ningxia, Xinjiang and six other ethnic minority regions in China was reduced from 31.21 million to 18.13 million from 2012 to 2015.

The percentage of female deputies in the 12th National Peoples Congress, Chinas parliament, went up by 2.07 percent, and the national sex ratio at birth in 2015 dropped to 113.5 males for every 100 females, the article wrote.

By 2015, there were 105,000 nursing homes across the country, a 138 percent increase from 2012. Meanwhile, home-care was available in all urban communities and over half of rural communities, according to the article.

As for disabled people in China, the article noted that in urban and rural areas 10.88 million received a basic living allowance. Nearly 22.3 million disabled people were covered by social security and 30.23 million were insured for basic medical care.

China has also pledged its commitment to human rights issues on multiple occasions. During the 32nd session of the UN Human Rights Council on Monday, Ma Zhaoxu, Chinese Permanent Representative to the UN Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland, put forward seven principles for promoting global human rights discussion and cooperation.

In a joint statement for the 4th round of China-Germany Inter-governmental Consultation issued that same day, both sides vowed to continue to hold constructive human rights discussions founded on the principles of equality and mutual respect.

Early this year, China also emphasized human rights cooperation in joint statements with Switzerland, the Czech Republic and other European countries.

Id like to see the West begin to recognize Chinas human right achievements and China begin to reject Western-tinged conspiracy theories, said Robert Lawrence Kuhn, a US political/economics analyst and international corporate strategist.

Citing Chinas extensive judiciary reform in 2014 and abolishment of organ donations from executed prisoners in 2015, Kuhn stated these are historic improvements in Chinas human rights.

Both would benefit from an ideology-neutral realism as China continues, in its own way, at its own pace, to improve human rights throughout society, he added.
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Linkedin Tama Salim (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, June 18 2016

Indonesia has rejected a request by the Singaporean government for access to information on companies suspected of causing annual haze and has called on the city state to deal with the issue under the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP).



The Indonesian Foreign Ministry maintained that the agreement, signed in 2002 and ratified by all ASEAN countries by 2014, was the most effective tool to tackle the haze issue, which the ASEAN expected to be solved by 2020.



Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir said the agreement provided a platform for devising collective efforts to prevent, monitor and mitigate transboundary haze, set up region-wide quick response measures and establish legal means of cooperation.



We encourage all ASEAN members to use this mechanism to address the issue of transboundary haze in our region, he said.



Arrmanatha added that at the national level, the Indonesian government had made progress in mitigating the haze problem, which occurs in Sumatra, Kalimantan and some other parts of the country every year.



The ministrys spokesman was responding to Singapores bid to obtain information on companies suspected of illegal burning in Indonesia.



Earlier, Singapores Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) had issued a statement demanding prosecution of companies linked to last years fires, regardless of their origin.



The MEWR said the companies blatant disregard for the environmental and social consequences of the haze, which affected millions of people in the region, should not go unchecked.



It said actions under Singapores Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) were aimed at deterring and prosecuting entities responsible for transboundary haze pollution.



Indonesia should welcome this additional tool to curtail irresponsible activities that have affected the health, social and economic well-being of Indonesians and people in the region, an MEWR spokesperson said.



The law allows regulators to sue individuals or companies in neighboring countries that cause severe air pollution in Singapore through agricultural slash-and-burn practices.



It was first proposed in 2013 after a huge rise in the number of forest fires in the neighboring Indonesian province of Riau caused thick smoke that blanketed Singapore in a choking haze.



Previously, Indonesia raised concerns that the THPA would disregard individuals rights to legal and consular assistance abroad, after procedures pursued by Singapore involving an unnamed Indonesian private executive went awry.



Last month, Singapores National Environment Agency (NEA) asked a local court to issue an arrest warrant against the director of an Indonesian company who had failed to turn up for questioning with authorities in Singapore, an act that evoked a strong reaction from Jakarta.



The businessperson, who has since left the country, may be detained for the purpose of investigations if they try to reenter the country, an NEA spokesman said.



The NEAs actions are part of a previous attempt to glean information on six Indonesian private firms environmental responsibilities with regard to their respective land concessions.



Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar has lashed out at Singapore, saying the country could not tread on the realm of law that was under Indonesia and that Singapore did not respect Indonesia.



Separately, Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore Ngurah Swajaya said Indonesia was ready to work with Singapore to prevent future forest and peatland fires, but he also wanted the Singaporean government to acknowledge what local authorities in the country had already achieved.



Smoke from fires last year sent air pollution to record levels, resulting in at least 19 deaths from haze-related illnesses and more than half a million Indonesians suffering from respiratory diseases.



The World Bank estimates that the fires and haze caused at least US$16 billion in economic losses to Indonesia alone.

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Linkedin Mohammad Tsani Annafari (The Jakarta Post) Balikpapan  Mon, June 20 2016

A few weeks after my official visit to Nunukan and Sebatik early this year, a colleague of mine who serves as head of the Nunukan customs office rang me.

He informed me that the Sabah government had recently issued a directive to suspend all barter activities at all ports in the Malaysian state, including Tawau Port, which is the main destination of border trade activities from Nunukan district.

The suspension was issued for security reasons, but most likely it will be applied permanently to accommodate safety standards, as has been ruled in the Malaysian Shipping Notice No. 18/2009.

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Linkedin Evan A. Laksmana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 20 2016

The diplomatic fiasco at the ASEAN-China foreign ministers meeting this week, mainly over Beijings handling of the South China Sea issue, made it clear how Indonesias leadership was sorely missed.

It further shows that as power politics shape and shift the strategic landscape, Jakartas strategic autonomy and rule-based order  underpinned by the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the ASEAN community  are increasingly in tatters. Furthermore, Beijings puncturing of our maritime governance space around the Natuna Islands in recent years reveals the limits of Jakartas non-claimant position in the South China Sea.

The Foreign Ministry has religiously held this position since the mid-1990s, creating the diplomatic space for Indonesia to continue developing the resources around the Natunas while disowning Chinas claim and playing an honest broker role through the ASEAN-China Code of Conduct (CoC) process.

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Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 20, 2016

A team of international maritime law experts will endeavor to find a peaceful solution to the Natuna Waters issue in light of another incident, the third incident since March, which further escalated tensions between Indonesia and China on Friday.

"We will ask the team to look for a way for us to maintain our good ties with China while ensuring that our sovereignty remains undisturbed," Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said on Monday.

The government has appointed Maritime affairs expert Hasjim Djalal to lead the team, Luhut said, adding that the senior expert has been asked to find facts that strengthen Indonesia's position over its exclusive economic zone in Natuna waters.

China's nine dash line, which it uses to demarcate its ambitions for maritime boundaries in the South China Sea, overlaps with a section of Indonesia's internationally-recognized exclusive economic zone.

The Foreign Ministry will oversee the team, Luhut said without providing further detail.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo approves of the plan, Luhut added.
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Linkedin Ganug Nugroho Adi (The Jakarta Post) Surakarta, Central Java  Mon, June 20, 2016

Heavy rains that showered Surakarta, Central Java, from Saturday afternoon through to early Sunday have caused floods that are 50 to 100 centimeters deep in several areas across the city. The flooding, to which the overflowing Bengawan Solo River contributed, has inundated hundreds of houses, forcing more than 2,000 people to take refuge elsewhere.

Three districts, namely Jebres, Pasar Kliwon and Serengan, are the most affected by the flooding and within them the hardest hit areas are Pucangsawit, Sewu, Sangkrah, Semanggi, Kedunglumbu, Joyontakan, Gandekan, and Gulon.

The floodwaters reportedly began to inundate residential neighborhoods at around 8 a.m. local time on Saturday, after which the water levels continued to rise until Sunday afternoon, forcing more residents to relocate. Search and Rescue Agency (SAR) teams were dispatched to assist the residents, especially women, children and the elderly, using rubber boats.

Were worried that the floodwater will not yet recede tomorrow [Monday] so it would be better for us to relocate, said Rubiyah, 55, a Joyotakan resident.

Inundated  A number of houses in Semanggi, Pasar Kliwon, Surakarta, Central Java, were flooded on Sunday. Surakarta is one of several regions hampered by landslides and flooding in Central Java. (thejakartapost.com/Ganug Nugroho Adi)

On Sunday evening, hundreds of Joyotakan residents still packed evacuation posts on river dikes and sidewalks and in schoolyards.

Volunteers from the Surakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) and the citys Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) have set up evacuation tents and dispatched public kitchen vehicles.

We dispatched the vehicles to several flooded locations. We dont erect public kitchen tents anymore to serve food to refugees. Its much more efficient and effective to use public kitchen vehicles to provide the services, said Surakarta Deputy Mayor Achmad Purnomo when he visited flooded areas in Joyotakan.

PMI Surakarta secretary Sumartono Hadinoto said the humanitarian aid agency had sent food supplies to the flood victims. He said it was predicted the number of evacuees would continue to increase as many residents were still trapped in their houses. The floods also hit Solo Baru, an elite residential neighborhood in Surakarta. (ebf)
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Linkedin Arif Gunawan Sulistiyono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 20, 2016

The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) has announced it will assist four China-based pharmaceutical companies to invest in Indonesia.

Without revealing the companies names, BKPM chairman Franky Sibarany said the four have gathered detailed information on the latest regulations in the industry, including foreign ownership and other supporting regulations.

I positively welcome the Chinese companies interest in investing, especially as the government is pushing efforts to develop the pharmaceutical and medical equipment industry in the country," he said in a press statement on Sunday.

The government is working on a road map and work plan for developing the pharmaceutical and medical equipment industry.

As a national health-insurance program has been running, Franky elaborated, the need for medicine and medical equipment would potentially rise to support the state insurance scheme.

"President Joko Widodo expects that the portion of the locally manufactured raw materials for medicine to reach 50 percent by 2019," he said. (ags)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 20, 2016

At least 12 companies and government institutions will organize homecoming trips for low-income families living in Jakarta and its surrounding cities to their hometowns by preparing buses, trains and even a plane for them to use for free.

They have reported their plans to the Jakarta Police, said the head of the forces law enforcement division, Adj. Sr. Comr. Budiyanto, on Monday.

State-owned Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), for example, has prepared 105 buses that are to depart from Parkir Timur Senayan (the eastern parking lot of Senayan), Central Jakarta, on June 28 at 7 a.m., said the police officer, adding that the company would also prepare a KA Anggrek Bima train and a CityLink plane to go from Jakarta to Makassar on June 30.

Meanwhile, state-owned insurance company PT Jasa Raharja has prepared 435 buses to transport people to Central Java, East Java, and Lampung on June 29 and 30 with the assembly points also at Parkir Timur Senayan. The company has also prepared four trains.

Meanwhile, an office of the Central Java provincial representatives in Jakarta has prepared 398 buses for July 2 as well as four trains. PT Sido Muncul, a mixed herb producer, has prepared 407 buses for the trips to the West Java cities of Bogor, Bandung, Cibinong, Cikampek and Kuningan, as well as to the Central Java city of Tegal.

PT Indofood will organize trips to the West Java capital of Garut and to Bogor with 40 buses on June 30 that would depart from the Jakarta Fair Ground in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. PT Astra Honda Motor will prepare 54 buses for trips to Yogyakarta and Semarang and 20 trucks to transport people's motorcycles on July 1.

Other companies that have prepared transportation for the idul Fitri exodus are state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina (75 buses), PT Wahana Makmur (30 buses) and PT Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) 80 buses and 1,000 train tickets. PT Carrefour Indonesia has prepared 50 buses and a state-owned telecommunications company has prepared 95 private cars.

Meanwhile, the Transportation Ministry has prepared 533 buses and 240 trucks to transport motorcycles.

We called on those institutions to check the roadworthiness of the vehicles before they are used to transport Idul Fitri holiday-makers, Budiyanto said as reported by beritajakarta.com. (bbn)
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Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 20, 2016

Agriculture Minister Amran Sulaiman said the government has arranged 8,110 tons of additional frozen beef and 1,000 cow heads to meet consumers needs in Greater Jakarta to arrive within the next 15 days for Idul Fitri festivities.

The minister further said his ministry, together with 10 beef importers, were also set to expand the current 3,800 distribution points for cheap beef to areas across Indonesia.

With the measures, Amran said he was certain the government could slash beef prices to below Rp 80,000 (US$6.03) per kilogram.

"The amount of beef we have prepared is 8,110 tons, or equivalent to 47,705 units of cattle. We have also prepared an additional 1,000 cow heads at a price below Rp 80,000 per kg," Amran said as quoted by Kompas.com in Jakarta on Monday.

He further said the 10 importers would sell beef at prices ranging from Rp 75,000 to 78,000 per kg.

"The most important thing is our importers can still can make profits while our people also can be happy," the minister said.

Ten beef importers involved in market operations with the government include Agro Boga Utama with 1,000 tons, Indoguna Top 1,000 tons, Aesthetics Tata Tiara 100 tons, Bumi Maestro Ayu 1,000 tons and Suri Nusantara Jaya with 650 tons.

Five other importers are Anzindo National Gratia, which has supplied 500 tons of beef, Berkat Mandiri Prima 200 tons, Bina Mentari Tunggal 1,000 tons, Tita Jaya Beef 10 tons and Artha Graha Peduli, which has provided 1,000 tons of beef and 1,000 cattle. (ebf)
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 20, 2016

Heru Budi Hartono, the civil servant that Jakarta Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama had tipped to be his running mate in the 2017 gubernatorial election, has granted the governor permission to select a new candidate.

Heru emphasized that Ahok may be required to do so if he were to enter the election with party representation.

Its up to him [Ahok]. Im just following him as a soldier. I just hope for the best, easiest and fastest way for Ahok to run for the governors post, Heru, who is also Jakarta Financial and Asset Management Board head, said at City Hall on Monday.

In March, Ahok declared he would run as an independent candidate with Heru as his running mate.

However, three political parties  the Golkar Party, the NasDem Party and the Hanura Party  have expressed support for Ahok in his reelection bid. The three parties combined meet the threshold of 22 Jakarta Council seats for a gubernatorial ticket.

Heru said he realized that Ahok might decide to represent a political party because running as an independent candidate would not be easy to meet the requirements of the newly enacted Regional Elections Law.

Heru congratulated Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok) volunteers, who managed to garner the support of 1 million Jakartans for Ahok and Herus candidacy.

Heru said he needed to meet Ahok to discuss the candidacy. There are lot of things I need to discuss with Ahok. Tomorrow I will talk to him about the candidacy as well as job matters, Heru said at City Hall on Monday. (bbn)
Dancers perform at the launching ceremony of the 2016 cultural exchange year between China and Central and Eastern European countries. (Photo: Chen Qing, Ningbo Daily)

China and the sixteen Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries are expected to host nearly 40 events to celebrate their cultural exchange year as the two sides witness increasing closer ties in recent years.

The 23rd Beijing International Book Fair to be held this August will be one of those major events. All the 16 CEE members will attend the event as joint countries of honor.

It is the first time in the history of China-Europe cultural exchange for China and 16 CEE countries to jointly host a cultural exchange year, said Liu Haixing, Secretary General of the Secretariat for China-CEE Cooperation.

According to Liu, the events will cover a dozen areas. Apart from the book fair, the World Conference on Tourism and some other international big events will also act as platforms.

A series of special event for 16+1 cooperation will be held. For instance, a symposium between Chinese and CEE sinologists will be hosted.

Renowned painters from CEE countries will be invited to Southwest Chinas Guizhou Province for art events. A Kunqu opera troupe, practitioners of one of the oldest extant forms of Chinese opera, will perform in Hungary and the Czech Republic.

Practitioners of Qigong, an ancient Chinese practice that integrates physical postures, breathing techniques and focused meditation, are set to visit Slovenia as well.

Since the launch of China-CEE leaders meeting mechanism in 2012, both sides have worked increasingly closer on cultural exchanges. Those efforts also boost regional cooperation as well as China-Europe collaboration.

Montenegro and Macedonia have recognized the status of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in legislation and the Czech Republic plans to incorporate TCM into its national medical insurance system.

In the meantime, China is advancing a nationwide program of non-common language education with languages of CEE countries as top choices.
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Linkedin Liza Yosephine (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 20, 2016

Indonesia has denied claims made by China that a fisherman was injured amid the latest sea row over Natuna Waters, insisting that the actions of the Indonesian Navy were in accordance with standard law enforcement procedures.

"The actions taken by the Navy were entirely in accordance with the implementation of law enforcement regulations established to exercise sovereign rights in the Indonesian exclusive economic zone [ZEE]," Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said during a working meeting with the House of Representative's Commission I, overseeing defense and foreign affairs on Monday.

The Navy spotted 10 to12 foreign fishing boats in Indonesia's ZEE. They were seen throwing nets and, as such, were suspected of illegally fishing in Indonesian waters, Retno said.

The Chinese fishing boats quickly dispersed at the sight of the Navy's approach, she continued, adding that four warships had proceeded to pursue the suspect boats. The Navy had instructed the crews of each of the boats to stop, making use of both radio communication and speakers to do so. The requests were ignored, they attempted to flee by picking up speed, Retno added. "After several hours of pursuit, warning shots were fired into the air and sea, all in accordance with procedure".

Boat "19038" was intercepted and detained, Retno said. The crew on board, which consisted of seven people, six male and one female, are all in good condition, the minister said. Upon capture, the crew destroyed the communication tools on board. This action was allegedly carried out by the crewman on purpose.

The boat was en route to Sabang Mawang, where it was intercepted. A Chinese coastguard vessel requested the Navy release the suspected fishing boat. The demand was denied by the Navy on grounds of "investigation and law enforcement", according to a statement released by the Foreign Ministry.
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Linkedin Ayomi Amindoni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 20, 2016

Indonesia is preparing to set up 10 vocational schools to provide quality training for employees for several strategic sectors in the country, a minister has said.

"This year, we will build 10 vocational education institutions to pilot our projects to create ready-to-use human resources in the maritime, electronics, shipping, agriculture and manufacturing sectors," Research, Technology and Higher Education Minister Muhammad Nasir said at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday.

He said graduates of the vocational schools would be certified by an international certification agency so they could be employed abroad.

One of the vocational education pilot projects will be developed at the Indonesia State Merchant Maritime Polythechnic (PoliMARIN). PoliMARIN director Sri Tutor Rahayu said her institution was ready to support President Joko Jokowi Widodos central plan of turning Indonesia into a global maritime axis, as laid out in the PresidentS Nawacita development program.

"We will provide vocational education programs in logistics, maintenance of ship engines and off-shore work to support offshore drilling activities," she said.

The four-year-old polytechnic has been cooperating with universities from various countries such as New Zealand, Korea, Japan and Sweden.

President Jokowi said during his visit in Germany in April that he aimed to improve vocational education in Indonesia. During the visit, the President investigated the German vocational training system and signed a commitment to training and vocational education to enhance the quality of Indonesias human resources. (ebf)
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 20, 2016

Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama has explained that his administration will focus on improving Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services to resolve worsening traffic congestion in the capital.

City-owned bus operator PT Transportasi Jakarta (Transjakarta) would be further developed to help passengers easily reach their destinations, the governor said on Monday.

Ive ordered Transjakarta to not only focus on serving passengers along busway (Transjakarta) lanes. Transjakarta should know where most people are headed. We should take the passengers as close as possible to their destinations or their homes, Ahok said at City Hall.

Apart from plying the 12 busway corridors, Transjakarta also operates feeder buses to train stations and other places.

Transjakarta has also recently opened routes to the neighboring cities Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi and the bus operator plans to extend its services to Bogor soon.

Transjakarta is currently in the process of buying more buses to encourage people to use public transportation. The city administration has allocated Rp 3.2 trillion (US$241.42 million) in funds from next years public services budget to purchase the vehicles. (bbn)
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Linkedin Thomas Vargas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 20 2016

Why is it so important to give a helping hand? Ask Abdul and Javed.

Escaping war and insecurity in Somalia with his two kids and wife, Abdul and his family managed to reach safety in Indonesia. But then his heart disease worsened, threatening his life. He didnt have enough money to pay for necessary treatment and medicine. Where could he turn to?

In another side of the world, a bright young teenager named Javed was forced to flee for his life from a small town in Afghanistan, which meant he had also to quit school. Luckily he found safe haven in Indonesia.

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Linkedin Esther Samboh and Grace D. Amianti (The Jakarta Post)  Mon, June 20 2016

Kartika Tiko Wiroadmodjo (JP/ Wienda Parwitasari)

The 20 percent plus annual loan growth seen in 2010 to 2014 is nowhere to be seen in the near future as banks adjust to the new normal in lending, Bank Mandiri president director Kartika Tiko Wirjoatmodjo told The Jakarta Posts Esther Samboh and Grace D. Amianti in a recent interview. The rise of bad loans has made banks more cautious in disbursing loans amid an already weak demand for lending against the backdrop of sluggish domestic and global economic activities. This development emerges as Tiko, who was appointed to lead the nations largest lender by assets in March this year, aspires for a regional expansion drive with plans of operating in Southeast Asian neighbors Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and Myanmar. Below is an edited excerpt of the interview.

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Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan, North Sumatra  Mon, June 20, 2016

A Medan Institute of Technology (ITM) student was arrested on Sunday after police allegedly found him in possession of three kilograms of marijuana they suspect he intended to distribute at his campus.

Medan Police officers claim they arrested the student, Maruntung Manalu, 21, from Siak regency, Riau, when he was packing marijuana leaves at the ITM campus early Sunday. The suspect reportedly attempted to resist the arrest but the police, supported by several students and residents living nearby, managed to remove him from the campus.

Medan Police chief Adj. Comr. Martuasah Hermindo Tobing said the arrest was conducted based on information from students who were apprehensive about what they called the rampant distribution of drugs at the ITM campus. During the raid, the police confiscated three kilograms marijuana as evidence, he said.

It comprises 62 envelopes of marijuana ready for distribution, one plastic bag of chopped marijuana leaves and one bale of whole marijuana leaves, Martuasah told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

He said the police were investigating further. He claimed there was more than one person distributing marijuana on the campus.

We suspect there are other people involved in supplying marijuana to the campus. All are still being investigated, said Martuasah.

He said the suspect could be charged with Article 111 ( 2 ) of Law No. 35/2009 on narcotics, which could result in imprisonment from five to 20 years if convicted. (ebf)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 20, 2016

West Java Police have apprehended three suspects after a fight between two biker gangs in Sumedang on Saturday evening, during which one person was killed and two others were injured.

"We have arrested three suspects, but we are still tracking down other suspects, said West Java Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus as quoted by Antara News.

The brawl was between dozens of biker gang members armed with sharp weapons. It broke out in front of the Pramulihan district office at 8:30 p.m. What triggered the brawl remains unclear.

Yusri said police were questioning other witnesses to find more suspects.

Police confiscated a samurai sword, a machete, double-sticks and a blade from the suspects. (dmr)
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Linkedin Callistasia Anggun Wijaya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 20, 2016

Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama has said Teman Ahok (the Friends of Ahok), his main supporters, are requiring the three political parties that have expressed support for him for the 2017 gubernatorial election to produce written commitments.

"Later, the political parties that support me will meet Teman Ahok. There must be a kind of an official letter [of support], whose form will be decided later," Ahok said at City Hall on Monday, referring to the Hanura Party, the NasDem Party and the Golkar Party.

The three parties have expressed their support for Ahok, regardless of whether the governor will run as an independent candidate or with a nomination from the political parties for the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election.

Since the beginning, Teman Ahok, who had collected the 1 million photocopies of Jakarta voters IDs required for him to run as an independent candidate, have expressed worry that the political parties may not commit to support him, Ahok said.

If there is no such a commitment, Teman Ahok will go ahead with preparations for Ahoks independent path, including to prepare for the factual verification process, the governor added.

At an event on Sunday, a Teman Ahok founder had expressed the group's readiness to communicate with political parties that support Ahok to discuss Ahoks nomination as a candidate for governor.

"We're ready to communicate with political parties and find the best way for the Ahok candidacy. We hope the political party won't only declare support, but undertake real action in supporting Ahok," said Teman Ahok founder Aditya Yogi Prabowo.

Teman Ahok were never against politic parties, while the action by the group's volunteers to collect copies of IDs only aimed to channel the aspirations of the people who want to support Ahok, said Yogi. (bbn)
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post)  Mon, June 20 2016

It is clear that Kim Jong-un is completely defiant of his regimes closest and only economic donor, China, especially in regards to North Koreas dangerous nuclear ambitions.

Chinese leaders have apparently tried to keep their tempers in check toward the leader of the worlds most isolated nation by giving the North Korean leader another chance to show his respect to China.

Scholars from six nations  China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Russia and the United States  who participate in the stalled six-year negotiations on the Norths nuclear program, are scheduled to attend the Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Beijing this week, according to the Associated Press.

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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 20, 2016

National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti has ordered Operation Tinombala security personnel to immediately arrest terrorist fugitive Santoso, who is reportedly hiding in a forest near Poso, Central Sulawesi.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said on Monday that Badrodin told senior police officers at National Police headquarters that Santoso, who led the East Indonesia Mujahidin (MIT) terrorist group, must be apprehended before Operation Tinombala was due to end in August.

The police chief told the Operation Tinombala task force to maximize measures and formulate a new strategy to arrest MIT members, Boy said as quoted by kompas.com on Monday.

Operation Tinombala, which was initially scheduled to end early May, was extended three months from May 10 to Aug. 10, after the failure to catch Santoso. (afr/bbn)
Summoned by the sound of screams, a Colorado woman raced to her front yard to find a terrifying sight: A mountain lion was hunched over her five-year-old son, biting him.

The woman charged the animal, yanked away one of its paws and discovered her son's whole head was in its mouth. She didn't back down.

'She was able to pry the cat's jaws open,' Pitkin County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Buglione said. 'She's a hero.'

The boy suffered deep cuts to his head, face and neck and was flown to a Denver hospital. The mother, who also had scratches and bites, is credited with saving his life.

A mother saw a mountain lion like this one (stock image pictured) biting down on her son's head in Aspen

The ordeal started Friday evening when the five-year-old and his older brother were playing outside their home near the resort town of Aspen, Buglione said.

When the woman ran outside, she found the mountain lion crouched over her younger son, who was struggling to get free.

'The boy was completely under the cat,' Buglione told The Aspen Times.

The mother grabbed the lion's mouth and pried it open, freeing the boy. She then scooped him up and ran away, the deputy said.

The boy's father had just returned from a run when the attack occurred. He jumped in the car with his wife and son and called 911 as they sped to the Aspen hospital.

From there, the child was flown to Children's Hospital in Denver in fair condition. On Saturday, a hospital spokeswoman told the Times she was not authorized to release any details on his condition.

The mother suffered bite marks on her hand and scratches on her leg, authorities said. She was treated and released.

The family members' names were not released.

The mountain lion was estimated to be about two years old and was not fully grown.

'It wasn't a big cat,' Buglione said. 'Had it been a 110-pound lion  which I've seen around here  this would have been a much different story.'

Colorado is home to up to 4,500 mountain lions, and they sometimes wander into urban areas looking for food

Wildlife officials killed two mountain lions in the area within several hours of the attack. The animals were being examined to determine if they were hungry, diseased or just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Colorado is home to up to 4,500 mountain lions, and they sometimes wander into urban areas looking for food, according to state wildlife officials. Since 1990, mountain lions have killed three people and injured 18 in the state.

'They're wild animals. They find habitat where they can forage for food,' Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman Matt Robbins said. 'When you have bunnies, you're likely to find foxes or coyotes. If you have deer, there is a good chance you'll find mountain lions.'

The last known lion attack on a human in Colorado was in July 2015, wildlife officials said. A young lion attacked a man as he fished north of Dotsero, about 60 miles from where Friday's attack occurred. The man suffered scratches and bites on his back and was treated at a local clinic and released.

The lion in that incident, described as a small, yearling male, was tracked and killed.
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 20, 2016

A local team involved in a search for a Swiss man who was reported missing on Mount Semeru, East Java, stopped its efforts on Sunday after having spent 10 days attempting to locate the hiker.

We have little data to use to track the missing hiker since the information provided by a fellow hiker was very limited, search and rescue team coordinator Sukaryo said on Sunday.

Lionel Du Creaux, 26, and Alice Guignard from France left from Malang to climb Mt. Semeru on June 3. They went to Ranupani village in Lumajang regency and after taking a short break they started to climb the mountain. However, they did not report their plans or route to the Ranupani post of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park Agency (TNBTS).

We extended our search for another three days after a seven-day search. Unfortunately, we saw no progress, Sukaryo said as quoted by kompas.com.

Sukaryo said that starting on Monday further search efforts would be led by the hikers family and relatives in coordination with the Swiss Embassy, adding that the local team would no longer be in charge. (dmr)
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Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 20, 2016

The Teman Ahok (Friends of Ahok) group says it will accept the situation if Governor Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama has to run as a political party candidate rather than an independent, although its members have collected 1 million photocopies of Jakarta voters identity cards.

If the independent path is so difficult for him because there are so many barriers, the volunteers can accept if he has to be nominated by political parties, Teman Ahok spokeswoman Amalia Ayuningtyas said as reported by kompas.com on Monday.

She said Ahok had not made a decision on whether he would run as an independent candidate or through a political party.

Currently we cannot say anything because politics can change at the last minute, she said, adding that Teman Ahok volunteers would nonetheless fight so that Ahok could take part in the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election as an independent.

She said the 1 million copies of IDs collected by Teman Ahok and the support of three political parties  the Golkar Party, Nasdem Party and Hanura Party  would help to smooth the way for Ahok to take part in the gubernatorial election.

He can choose which path he will take. It depends on what direction the wind will blow. Teman Ahok has no capability to follow political intrigue, she added.

Based on existing regulations, an independent candidate in Jakarta is only required to collect 532,000 copies of voter IDs.

But the revised Regional Elections Law has made it more difficult for independent candidates because it requires the General Elections Commission (KPU) to verify all ID copies. An independent candidates team is required to take supporters to the election committee within three days if a committee member fails to conduct factual verification at supporters' homes. (bbn)
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Linkedin Stefani Ribka (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Mon, June 20 2016

Telecommunications tower firm Inti Bangun Sejahtera (IBS) is hopeful about booking double-digit revenue growth this year on the back of the expansion plans of its major clients, including telecommunications provider Smartfren Telecom.



IBS is eyeing 38 percent revenue growth this year after only managing to book 5 percent growth in 2015. It earned Rp 506 billion (US$37.9 million) in revenue last year and aims to push this to Rp 701 billion by the end of this year.



Smartfren is currently developing bigger and faster internet data packages. Thus, they will need more towers to support their 4G systems in many regions, IBS finance director Alexander Runtuwene said on Friday in a public expose.



Smartfren is IBS biggest client; contributing 67 percent to the latters tower rental revenue. Other major sources of revenue include state-owned telecommunications provider Telkomsel (9 percent), Tri Indonesia (8 percent), and XL Axiata (6 percent).



Since mid-2015, Indonesian telecommunications providers have been upgrading their mobile data network from 3G to 4G platforms, which offer faster internet, as instructed by the government. At the same time, they are eying the expansion of their coverage into more regions of Indonesia, home to over 250 million people.



Last year, IBS tenancy rate stood at 1.3 as its 2,638 towers provide services to 3,465 tenants. This year, the company is looking to increase this figure.



Besides being backed by its customers expansion plans, IBS is also upbeat about its aggressive target as it plans to operate 1,554 additional towers by the end of this year, significant growth from only 81 in 2015.



The company will build 90 percent of the new towers while the remaining 10 percent will be bought from other companies, Alexander said. To finance the expansion, IBS has allocated Rp 875 billion in capital expenditure (capex) sourced from internal cash and bank loans. As of March, 343 new towers were built, mostly in big cities in Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi.



IBS corporate secretary Merciana Anggani said this years capex of Rp 875 billion was lower than the Rp 1 trillion last year, however, this did not mean that the industry growth would also be slower.



The capital allocated this year is lower than last year because we built 4,200 km of fiber optic network, which is relatively expensive. About the growth, we remain very optimistic as technology in the country keeps developing and the need for better data will keep growing, she said.



The fiber optic network is a new service provided by IBS last year to provide greater bandwidth and to allow faster internet connections.



IBS president director Andrie Tjioe said revenue from the fiber optic network had not contributed much yet as it only started in November.



In 2015, IBS booked Rp 506 billion in revenue, 5 percent up from Rp 481.9 billion in 2014. Profits, meanwhile, stood at Rp 314 billion, a 66-percent increase from Rp 189 billion.



During the January-March this year, the company booked Rp 155 billion in revenue, up by 47 percent year-on-year from the Rp 105 billion garnered in the corresponding period last year. Its profits, meanwhile, were down by 4 percent to Rp 48 billion from Rp 50 billion mainly due to its expansion into the fiber optic business.



Andrie remains optimistic about the companys target despite a recent analysis from ratings agency Fitch, which suggested that tower companies would see sluggish growth this year partly due to consolidation among tower providers and telecommunications providers.

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Linkedin Djemi Amnifu (The Jakarta Post) Kupang  Mon, June 20 2016

Public participation in community health programs in Sikka regency, East Nusa Tenggara, is thought to have contributed to the 9 percent reduction in malnutrition cases across 15 villages in the regency.

Initiated as part of the Community Action to Improve Maternal and Child Nutrition (CAIMCN) project in Maumere, facilitated by the local health agency in partnership with Plan International Indonesia, the program included training for locals on health and nutrition, how to grow and cook vegetables so as to improve nutritional supplies and health education for pregnant women.

CAIMCN program manager Marzalena Zaini said the health agency and Plan International Indonesia worked together to promote breastfeeding among new mothers, encouraging them to feed their babies exclusively with breast milk between the age of 0 to 6 months, and to continue to give breast milk alongside a variety of nutritious food until the child has reached two years of age.

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Linkedin Slamet Susanto (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta  Mon, June 20, 2016

Around 2.6 million tourists are expected to visit Yogyakarta for this years Idul Fitri holidays on July 6 and July 7.

To welcome the tourists, the Yogyakarta Tourism Agency said it had prepared everything they might need to enjoy their holidays, from information posts to traditional guides and art performances.

Statistics released by the Yogyakarta Tourism Agency predict a 10 percent rise in the number of dedicated tourists and homebound travelers stopping off at recreation destinations in the province during this years Idul Fitri holidays. The agency had recorded 2.4 million visitors for Idul Fitri last year.

This year, we are targeting 2.6 million tourists, up 10 percent from last years figure, Aris Riyanta from the Yogyakarta Tourism Agency said on Monday.

To help tourists obtain accurate information during the Idul Fitri holiday, Aris said, the agency was set to erect four information and culture posts. They would be located at Adisucipto International Airport, Tugu Station, the Tourist Information Center in Malioboro and at the tourism agencys office on Jl. Malioboro.

He said staff members from the Yogyakarta Tourism Agency and Yogyakarta tourism park operator PT Taman Wisata as well as volunteers, including Indonesian Boy Scouts, would provide information to tourists at the information and culture posts, which would operate from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Idul Fitri holidays.

The management of the traditional market at Beringharjo, which welcomes millions of tourists for Idul Fitri every year, has prepared guides for visitors for the upcoming holidays.

We have readied 10 pairs of young people. We have trained them on the details of the Beringharjo market to help visitors, Yogyakarta market development head Rudi Firdaus said. The young guides spoke three languages, namely Indonesian, English and Javanese, he went on.

On normal days, Beringharjo market is visited by around 60,000 people, but one week before and after Idul Fitri, the number of visitors grows by about 50 to 75 percent. (ebf)
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Linkedin (Associated Press) Beijing  Mon, June 20, 2016

China's Foreign Ministry said Sunday that the Indonesian navy opened fire at a Chinese fishing boat in the South China Sea, injuring a fisherman and detaining its seven-man crew.

The statement posted on the ministry's website was in response to reports that Indonesia's navy said that it had intercepted and detained a Chinese vessel China's Foreign Ministry said Sunday that the Indonesian navy opened fire at a Chinese fishing boat in the South China Sea, injuring a fisherman and detaining its seven-man crew. its seven crew members for illegally fishing in Indonesian waters.

The incident happened Saturday off the Natuna islands, off the northwest coast of Borneo, in the South China Sea. The waters in question are claimed by both China and Indonesia.

China's Foreign Ministry said the Chinese fishing boat was carrying out normal fishing operations in its traditional fishing grounds when the Indonesian navy shot at it, harming one fisherman and damaging the boat. It said the injured crew member had already been transferred to China's southern Hainan Island for treatment and was in stable condition.

It said it had strongly protested the actions by the Indonesian navy, which had "abused its military force."

It is at least the third such incident since March, when Indonesia intercepted a Chinese fishing vessel off the Natuna islands. In May, an Indonesian frigate fired shots at a Chinese trawler when it refused to stop fishing, and then seized the vessel and its eight crew members.

China's claims to virtually the entire South China Sea overlap with those of several other Asian countries and the waters have emerged as a possible regional flashpoint.(dmr)
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Linkedin Estrella Torres (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN)  Mon, June 20, 2016

Former Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario on Friday said President-elect Rodrigo Duterte had given assurance that there would be no bilateral talks with China to resolve the territorial dispute in the South China Sea in the next two years.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio also said the Philippine panel in the arbitration proceedings against China had received the same assurance from Duterte.

Del Rosario led the Philippine panel that argued the countrys case against China in the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

Carpio, who has done an extensive study on the territorial dispute between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, was an observer in the proceedings.

The Philippines has asked the UN tribunal to invalidate Chinas claim to almost all of the 3.5-million-square-kilometer South China Sea and demanded its right to exploit resources in waters within its 370-km exclusive economic zone, recognized under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, be respected.

China has refused to take part in the proceedings, saying it will not abide by any ruling of the court.

The court is expected to hand down its decision by July 7.

In a television interview on June 10, incoming Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said bilateral negotiations with China were necessary, as the UN court had no powers to enforce its rulings.

We feel that the ruling will require bilateral talks with China, then by all means lets pursue that. Lets not drop that possibility, Yasay said.

In an interview with the Inquirer on June 3, Yasay said bilateral negotiations were always the way to go in so far as resolving this conflict is concerned.

Even if we get a favorable judgment from the arbitral tribunal, there might be some questions of enforcement or implementation of this decision, [because] the court does not have an enforcement capability, he said.

The arbitration panel has asked the incoming administration to wait for the tribunals decision before moving for talks with China.

I dont think [Duterte] would go bilateral, Del Rosario said in an interview after attending the Trident Defense and Security Forum at Solaire Resorts in Pasay City on Friday.

We talked already and the [incoming] President said he [would] wait for developments over a two-year period and, if nothing happens, he would go bilateral, Del Rosario said.

Carpio, a guest speaker at the forum, said the Philippines had convinced the world to support us that the arbitration is the way to go.

So we will wait for the tribunal and we will decide [what measures to take to have the ruling enforced], he said.

In his presentation at the security forum, Carpio said the Philippines would need to take legal and diplomatic tacks, including elevating the case to the United Nations itself, to have the ruling enforced.

There is no world policeman to enforce the ruling of the arbitration [court], but we are not helpless, he said.

Once China moved a gas platform to Recto Bank (Reed Bank), a reef in the Spratly archipelago claimed by the Philippines, Carpio said Manila could file a lawsuit against Beijing where the Chinese have assets, like Canada and the United States.

With a favorable ruling from the arbitration court, the Philippines can win the suit in Canada and seize the assets of Chinas national oil company in Canada as payment for the gas that China will get from Recto Bank, he said.
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Linkedin (Associated Press) Manila  Mon, June 20, 2016

The Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to take possible coordinated actions, including sea and air patrols, to stop an alarming wave of cross-border kidnappings and boat attacks by Abu Sayyaf extremists.

Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin says no agreement was signed during talks with his Malaysian and Indonesian counterparts in Manila on Monday because he wanted the administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, who would be inaugurated on June 30, to formalize any such security accord.

Gazmin says the proposed actions include the setting up of security hotlines and a database on extremists and information-sharing. He added that anti-piracy actions in the Malacca Straits are a model.

Daring cross-border kidnappings and tugboat attacks by Abu Sayyaf extremists in the three countries' busy sea border have sparked a regional security alarm.
As the silicone doll business booms in China, attracting many buyers for different purposes, the real-man-sized dolls are also affecting some peoples attitude toward sex, media reported.

There are over 50 kinds of silicone dolls on the Chinese market, each with a different look, according to Wu Xingliang, who is familiar with the doll market. Wu said the design of a doll includes its body figure, touch of skin and eye and hair color, but it is more important to build its character and even soul, news site thepaper.cn reported.

Some customers already see the dolls as more than silicone-made mannequins.

36-year-old Zhang Fan, who works as a stock trader in Beijing, sees his silicon doll as a female version of himself, which should be treated with respect because it is no doll or toy but is instead equal in personality, according to thepaper.cn.

She is me as a female. Not some other woman, Zhang was quoted as saying, adding that he has been dreaming of the female version of himself before 2013 when he brought home the doll.

Zhangs doll can be dressed up with many different dresses and jewelry that he bought for the doll. He also enjoys taking photos of his doll on the street or in the park.

Zhang claimed that his parents were successfully convinced and allow him to carry doll, but they also insisted that Zhang should get married although he can play with the doll as much as he wants at present. However, after two failed relationships, Zhang said marriage to him came at too much of a price considering for everything ranging from buying an apartment to raising a child, thepaper.cn noted.

Another doll owner Song Bo, 29, said his doll is like his daughter. Diagnosed with a growing cyst in his head, Song said he would not risk to get married or have any children, but instead will keep his doll as his daughter which he covers with dresses, according to thepaper.cn.

Unlike Zhang and Song, a 58-year-old doll owner with the pseudonym Li Chen living in southwest Chinas Guizhou province, is about to marry a 24-year-old woman for a new relationship following his divorce 12 years ago. Li claimed that it was his doll that helped him walk into the new relationship as he now feels young and his body is stronger, thepaper.cn reported.
A passenger stole a taxi cab early Sunday morning at Grand and Essex streets, took off in the direction of Battery Park City and then crashed into a Lexus on Chambers Street. Three people suffered minor injuries. [Channel 7]

Legislation was approved in Albany making it illegal to advertise whole apartments on Airbnb and similar websites. The measure was touted by its sponsors as a tool to protect affordable housing, while critics say lawmakers caved to New Yorks real estate and hotel industries. [Gothamist]

Restaurants will have to wait about two months before they can start serving alcohol prior to noon on Sundays. [AP]

The Dorian Grey Gallery, an important venue for street artists, is closing its East 9th street location. [EV Grieve]

A look at the upcoming expansion of Katzs Deli in Brooklyn. [CNBC]
China Coast Guard (CCG) for the first time sent its ship to visit an overseas counterpart in South Korea between June 13 and 17, 2016. The five-day visit included exchange activities between China and South Koreas coast guards where people visited and learned from each others ships. The CCG ship also held an open day for local residents in Jeju Island of South Korea. Over 200 people visited the ship. The two countries coast guard departments also held joint drill on inspection of a ship suspected of trafficking. The CCG ship left from Dalian, northeast Chinas Liaoning province, on June 13 and sailed over 20 hours before arriving at Jeju Island. (Photo: Courtesy of Jiangsu flotilla of the China Coast Guard)
The UN refugee agency says persecution and conflict in places like Syria and Afghanistan raised the number of refugees and internally displaced people worldwide to a record 65.3 million at the end of last year.

The previous year had already seen the highest number of refugees worldwide since the Second World War, with 60 million displaced people, but last year  when Europe saw the arrival of large numbers of migrants  topped that record by nearly 10%, the UNHCR said in unveiling its annual Global Trends Report.

The Geneva-based agency urged leaders from Europe and elsewhere to do more to end the wars that are driving the exodus of people from their homelands.

I hope that the message carried by those forcibly displaced reaches the leaderships: we need action, political action, to stop conflicts, said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The message that they have carried is, If you dont solve problems, problems will come to you.

Migrants and refugees on a dingy arriving at the shore of the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos (Petros Giannakouris/AP)

With stark detail, UNHCR said that on average, 24 people were displaced every minute of every day last year  or 34,000 people a day  up from six a minute in 2005. Global displacement has roughly doubled since 1997, and risen by 50% since 2011 when the Syria war began.

More than half of refugees came from three countries  Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia.

Turkey was the top host country for the second year running, taking in 2.5 million people  nearly all from neighbouring Syria. Afghan neighbour Pakistan had 1.6 million, while Lebanon, next to Syria, hosted 1.1 million.

Grandi said politicians and advocacy groups face daunting challenges helping the largest subset of displaced people  40.8 million internally displaced in countries in conflict. Another 21.3 million were refugees and 3.2 million were seeking asylum.

Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan has been home to Syrian refugees (Tom White/PA)

More than a million people fled to Europe last year, causing a political crisis in the EU.

Grandi called on countries to fight the xenophobia that has accompanied the rise in refugee populations, and criticised physical barriers  like fences erected by some European countries  as well as legislative ones that limit access to richer, more peaceful EU states.

Such European policies were spreading a negative example around the world, he said.

There is no plan B for Europe in the long run, Grandi said. Europe will continue to receive people seeking asylum. Their numbers may vary but it is inevitable.
WARSAW, June 20 -- Poland-China cooperation is expected to deepen within the "16+1" mechanism between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in addition to the Belt and Road Initiative.

Cooperation between the two countries is expected to get a great boost by the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who arrived here on Sunday.

Polish analysts see broad prospects for bilateral cooperation as long as Poland can catch the opportunity China offers to push forward its development and economic growth.

CHINA OFFERS OPPORTUNITY TO POLAND

Mutual understanding between Poland and China has progressed along with the development of bilateral ties, set onto a fast track by the 2011 establishment of a strategic partnership.

This has motivated the Polish leadership to "seek development of relations with Asian countries, particularly with China in its rapid development," Krzysztof Gawlikowski, an expert on East Asian civilization at the Warsaw University of Social Sciences and Humanities, told Xinhua.

In recent years, Poland and China have been each other's largest trading partner in the CEE region and Asia respectively. High-level exchanges increased, including the November 2015 trip to China by Polish President Andrzej Duda. Cooperation at the sub-national level went along, highlighted by a railway in use since 2013 connecting Chengdu, a city in the southwest of China, with Lodz, a central city of Poland, among other programs.

Gawlikowski said Poland finds itself increasingly attracted by China. Reasons include its economic well-being and an intention to cooperate with CEE countries.

More links are being built to boost bilateral ties under the "16+1" mechanism as well as the Belt and Road Initiative, he commented.

Former Polish Ambassador to China Krzysztof Szumski agreed. Poland faces now a window of opportunity opened by the aforementioned initiative and mechanism, in which Poland enjoys a key role, he said.

Warsaw highly values the opportunity China offers, and bilateral cooperation has great potential, said Chinese diplomat in Poland Liu Lijuan. She cited Warsaw's newly planned development projects capable of dovetailing with China's under the "16+1" mechanism and the Belt and Road Initiative.

The projects, including airport, highspeed rail and wharfs, require tremendous investment, as Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski briefed on the projects during his visit to Beijing in April.

BROAD PROSPECTS FOR POLAND-CHINA COOPERATION

For China, Poland can become a bridge in propelling its ties and cooperation with other European countries, according to Liu.

Many Polish people are upbeat about the future of cooperation with China that has much potential to tap.

For the moment, Poland hopes for increasing farm produce exports to China in order to alleviate a trade deficit. "I believe these products, of high quality, will be welcomed by Chinese consumers," said Gawlikowski from the Warsaw University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Poland keeps much of traditional farming, with less use of chemicals, to the relief of people's environmental and health concerns, he noted.

Bilateral cooperation in culture, tourism and other fields are also deemed promising. For instance, more than 1,800 Polish students went to China for study in 2015, and this year, Chinese students in Poland total more than 1,300, according to figures from the Chinese Embassy in Poland.
This week, Radiohead held a global listening party to mark the physical release of A Moon Shaped Pool.

Elsewhere, Manchester came alive once again to the sound of The Stone Roses as Ian Brown and co. rocked the Etihad with a series of comeback gigs.

If you missed out, here are a few more bands you should definitely put on your to see list.

De La Soul  Pain ft. Snoop Dogg

Following the four track EP they dropped in April, De La Soul tease a funky new East side/West side collaboration with Snoop Dogg ahead of their crowd-funded first full length in four years.

The breezy old school hip hop track is driven by a funky guitar, with a gospel injected chorus breaking up the smooth delivery of the boys from De La Soul and Snoop Doggs respective verses.

The Avalanches  Colours

Let your head spin round and round on the trippy new track from The Avalanches. Mermaids, loving in the neon way and the urban surf come to life as Jonathan Donahue of the Mercury Rev lends his vocals and lyrical capability to this multi-layered slice of psychedelia. The wavy synths and reversed samples literally leave you with with vibrant colours in your mind as the song sends you into a wonderland-esque daydream.

Two Door Cinema Club  Are We Ready (Wreck)

We thought it had gone quiet for good in TDCC land, then they announced festivals slots, updated their photos, teased new music and finally sealed the deal with this new single. After two years out, their comeback single is fresh and fast paced. The bands frustrated lyricism paints an all too familiar distain for consumerism, capturing all the emotion of their time apart through vocal verging on falsetto, jolty guitars, staggering basslines and anthemic nah nah nahs.

Pascal Pinon  53

The Icelandic sisters return with their rawest, most diverse musical statement yet. The folk driven 53 is the first take from their upcoming third album, Sundur. Designed to console a friend who lost their loved one, the vulnerability of emotion is felt throughout the dense track as the sweeping atmospheric production whirs, swaying you off your feet only to remain standing through the guidance of the guitar line and the tracks movingly haunting vocals.

Lessons  Tempest

They may hail from Finland, but their new single Tempest, taken from their debut EP of the same name, comes from a darker place. Taking its inspiration from the windowless environment it was created in, the eery looping bass led track catapults into electro pop melodies fit to suit the arcade culture of the 1980s.

Burning Peacocks  Tears of Lava

The Parisian two piece consisting of Alma Jodorowsky and David Baudart return with the alluring Tears of Lava, with their debut album set for release later in the year. The polished noir-pop song contrasts nonchalant vocals with emotionally drenched lyrics that skim across a cruising bass line and bewitching synths.

ZoZo  International Waters

Leeds based ZoZo arent intending to make an impression, they just do. The track is carried by the sassiest bit of sax youll hear all year, clashing into charging vocals, the result being an explosive energy that the band have just about managed to capture from their eclectic live shows. ZoZo are truly ones to watch.

AyOwA  Sommer

The first flower to blossom from the Copenhagen based electronic duo sets itself apart from the charming scandi-pop the region is famous for. Sommer is dark, enchanting and uses its improvisational edge to portray a longing for summer and the secrets it withholds. Nicolais crafted production sees ceremonious synths and shivering bass interact with the tranquillity of Hannahs delicate vocals, set to provide the rest of Europe with the summer jam it unknowingly needed.
More than 40 hot air balloons flew over central London yesterday, and it was a sight to behold.

The balloons took flight from Burgess Park in south east London early on Sunday morning and made their way towards Romford.

It was to raise money for the Lord Mayors Appeal, which supports various UK charities.

In 2016 the chosen charities are JDRF, which supports children and adults with Type 1 Diabetes, and the Sea Cadets.

With the sun rising, the colourful balloons against the eerie morning sky are really striking.

Here are a few images from the day:

(Dominic Lipinski/PA)

(Dominic Lipinski/PA)

(Dominic Lipinski/PA)

(Dominic Lipinski/PA)

(Dominic Lipinski/PA)

(Dominic Lipinski/PA)

(Dominic Lipinski/PA)

(Dominic Lipinski/PA)
On my return from my first year of university in London, my parents found me changed. On top of the few modifications to my character that first year of university inevitably entails for everyone, there was something more that had changed about me  this was because I was studying abroad.

So my mother also found me to be a fatter, party-freak with a typical hustle-bustle London mindset.

Setting aside my initial rage at being judged so harshly for a few minor changes, Ive decided to blame cultural shock.

Ok so Ive gained a few kilos; nothing that a little jogging wont get rid of. I admit to having eaten like a little piglet and having exercised very little. But there must be more.

Mum: in Italy, meals are much more of a tradition than they are in London. So yeah, I might have eaten one too many chocolate chip muffins from Sainsburys instead of making myself a plate of delicious pasta. Maybe Ive skipped a few meals because I was in a rush, or stuffed down some gross meal deal panini instead of sitting down and having a tranquil meal for an hour, whilst chatting with friends and family. I dont eat as many veggies and fruits, because to be honest they are gross and plastic-tasting and the only good ones, like ones from local farmer markets, cost more than I earn in a whole waitressing shift. I dont open my fridge to find different types of artichokes and prosciutto, because Im in London and Im a student! Shopping with a long term menu in mind is harder as supermarkets set expiration dates very close to the day the food is placed on the shelf  plus Im broke most of the time.

Im also in university, so Ive partied a little bit more than I did when I still had curfew (ew, ridiculous); but this is slightly cultural too. In most of Italy, or at least the immaculate bubble my parents thought Id been living in, partying is much more of a one-time thing. Its not like London.

In Italy you cant go out on a Monday night and party as if it were a Saturday. Drugs arent nearly as handy as they are in London; if at 15 youve rolled a joint you are considered quite the druggy entrepreneur, and you shouldnt even know what coke and MD are. You don't tend to sneak out at night like the kids do in Skins and you need to wait to be 18 to get your drivers license. Booze is less expensive but more precious; its aperitivo to have with carbohydrate filled snacks, its prestigious red wine to sip with your meal, its limoncello your grandpa lets you try with Christmas dinner. Nobody is smashed before midnight, and if they are, theyre laughed at.

Partying happens, dont get me wrong, but for some reason most of my Italian friends have one or two pictures on Facebook with alcohol, whilst all my British friends boast about their pictures of them necking down bottles of Lambrini and chain-smoking as if they were sad 50 year olds. I dont have a reason for that, its just the way it is; it doesnt mean all Londoners know how to do is get smashed, its just more acceptable. Along the same concept, in Italy you dont go to the pub after youve finished work, especially not every night. Maybe its because you get off work later and you go straight home to have dinner, but its not much of a thing, so nobody is drinking beer at five oclock.

Other than partying, party clothing is slightly different, too. There are a lot of 18th birthday parties back in Italy with a black tie dress code because we like to pretend were more posh than we actually are, but if you go clubbing at 16 jeans and a tank top will suffice for most occasions. Similarly, youre not expected to own a pair of 12cm heels when youre fourteen, let alone wear them to school. Youre also not expected to wear eyeshadow of who knows what colour; you can go to school in trackies and few will judge. So now that Ive started wearing a few more skirts, my Mum thinks London girls have demonised me. But thats not the case, Mum: Im just fitting in.

Ultimately, the laid-back Italian mindset has also been replaced by a bustling London one. Having the freedom to do what I want whenever I want has led me to do more things than I usually would  but thats just the London life! There are amazing gigs on every single night somewhere or other and they are so much cheaper than in Italy, because its more usual for big names and djs to come play  so why wouldnt I go?

Its also so easy to find a student job in London, even if youre poorly qualified, so its natural to be working at a young age for some extra cash. There are fewer internships in Italy, while in London its so easy to call somebody up and actually be taken seriously  so again it was inevitable that I would take full advantage.

Also, its normal to be in a rush even when youre not in a rush because everybody else is always in a rush. While I feel stupid running because I'm late when in Italy, I run from my student accommodation to work and on the actual tube all the time in London; its just normal!

So something tells me Ill be spending my Italian summer convincing my parents I havent turned into some sort of monster, and I should be allowed to go back to London next semester.
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People's Procuratorate of Chaoyang District, Beijing has charged a post-80s man surnamed Huang and a Malaysian with growing marijuana in Huairou district of Beijing.

Huang, who majored in agriculture and forestry, was in charge of planting marijuana; the Malaysian helped processing after the marijuana got mature and sold them in Chaoyang district.

After graduating from college, Huang rented 20 mu of agricultural land in Huairou district to grow crops. In October 2014, Huang got to know the Malaysian through a friend. Because of their experience in growing marijuana, the two decided to be partners for the marijuana business. The quality of the first batch of marijuana they grew was insufficient because the marijuana grew outdoors.

In 2015, in order to improve the quality of the marijuana, Huang and the Malaysian built a greenhouse. From March to October 2015, the Malaysian had been selling marijuana for 200 yuan per gram.

Though growing and selling marijuana is allowed in countries like the Netherlands and Spain, it is illegal to grow or sell it in China.
PHNOM PENH, June 20 -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Monday that the country will not support an arbitral tribunal's upcoming decision over the South China Sea issue and called on all parties concerned in the disputes to resolve their differences through bilateral negotiations.

In 2013, the Philippines unilaterally filed compulsory arbitration against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague with respect to the two sides' disputes in the South China Sea.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony, the prime minister said that the tribunal's upcoming decision is "politically motivated" and Cambodia will not support the decision.

"It seems that there is a badly political conspiracy between some countries and the arbitral tribunal because the decision is not yet delivered, but they have launched a movement to seek support for the tribunal's upcoming decision," Hun Sen said, referring to a powerful country which had sent its ambassadors to lobby ASEAN leaders to support the yet-to-be-released decision.

Hun Sen said that the country's ambassador to Cambodia proposed to him that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should have one voice or statement in support of the arbitral tribunal's decision, which will be issued in the upcoming period.

"I would like to declare Cambodia's stance that Cambodia will not issue any joint statement in support of the arbitral tribunal's decision," he said. "Cambodia will have its own statement."

The Cambodian leader also called on all parties directly concerned in the disputes to resolve their differences through bilateral negotiations based on international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

"I appeal to countries concerned in the disputes to negotiate with each other," Hun Sen said. "ASEAN cannot measure land for any sides."

He also urged uninvolved countries not to douse gasoline on fire.

"I'd like to appeal to countries outside the region not to meddle in the issue of South China Sea," he said. "I hope that the new president of the Philippines will be easy with China."

In the mid-1990s, China and the Philippines reached a clear agreement on settling their disputes in the South China Sea through negotiation. This has been reaffirmed in many other bilateral documents since then, including the joint statement the two countries issued in September 2011.

China maintains that the tribunal handling the arbitration proceedings has no jurisdiction over the case, which is in essence about territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation.

Territorial issues are beyond the scope of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and China has excluded maritime delimitation from compulsory arbitration in a declaration it made in 2006 in accordance with Article 298 of UNCLOS. Therefore, China has made it clear it will not accept or get involved in those proceedings.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement issued on June 8 that China has all along stood for peacefully settling territorial and maritime delimitation disputes through negotiations with states directly concerned on the basis of respecting historical facts and in accordance with the international law.

On issues concerning territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation, China never accepts any recourse to third party settlement, or any means of dispute settlement that is imposed on it, the statement said.
By Xu Xiujun, deputy director of International Politics and Economics Department, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; cartoon drawing by Liao Tingting, Chi Ying

On June 18, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Serbia, and attended a grand ceremony held by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic. They held talks amid a friendly atmosphere to reach an extensive common consensus.

They declared jointly to lift bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership level, while both had witnessed the signing of a series bilateral cooperation documents involving industrial capacity, finance and infrastructure construction.

Nikolic decorated Xi with the Order of the Republic of Serbia, the highest honor bestowed by Serbia to extend gratitude to the Chinese president for his outstanding contributions to advancing the bilateral ties. Xi also held meetings with Serbian Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic. Since the two nations established a strategic partnership in 2009, bilateral relations have accelerated.

Both sides have unanimously agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to comprehensive strategic partnership to revitalize a traditional friendship between China and Serbia.

It comes at the right time, which would be beneficial for docking the two nations development strategy and enhance cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The two sides can enjoy all-around cooperation, which symbolizes that the two nations have opened a new chapter of their traditional friendship, setting a good example for cooperation between China and other Central-Eastern European countries.
Cops nab police impersonator

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: A man who claimed to be a police captain while threatening another motorist with a gun during a road rage incident was arrested yesterday (June 19) in Nakhon Ratchasima and charged with violating the firearms law, police said.

crimetransportpolice

By Bangkok Post

Monday 20 June 2016, 09:28AM

A dashcam caught the road rage incident last Thursday (June 16) in Nakhon Ratchasima. Photo: Video grab via ple333 Facebook

Udomsap Lomkaew, 40, was arrested at a relatives house in Chakkarat district three days after he was seen in a video clip stepping out of a white Honda Jazz while wielding what looked like a gun and proceeding to bully another motorist.

The incident took place last Thursday (June 16) on Rama III Road. The video can be seen on Facebook at the account of Ple333.

The Southern Bangkok Criminal Court approved a police request for a warrant for his arrest.

The clip was posted by Facebook user Ple Joshep who asked the online community to share the clip.

After the clip went viral, police found the suspects vehicle abandoned on the inbound 347 route in Pathum Thanis Sam Khok district. The licence plate had been removed.

Police became increasingly suspicious after finding from the abandoned car that the suspect had a criminal record.

They intensified the search and traced him to his relatives home in Nakhon Ratchasima where he was arrested by local police. Also seized from his possession were a revolver and bullets. He was initially charged with illegal possession of a firearm, carrying a firearm without permission and threatening to harm others.

According to police, the suspect admitted he was the man in the clip and he claimed to be a policeman to scare the motorist.

A vendor of phone accessories, the suspect is said to have had several run-ins with the law before last weeks incident.

In 2010 he was arrested for impersonating a policeman and a year earlier had been accused of threatening two women with a gun.

Police said they were expanding the investigation and would also search the suspects home and a condominium unit in Bangkok to gather evidence.

Read original story here.
Funeral services announced for prominent Phuket Hotel Manager Pascal Frei

PHUKET: Funeral services for popular Phuket hotelier Pascal Frei will be held at Wat Kamala on Wednesday (June 22).

death

By The Phuket News

Monday 20 June 2016, 03:03PM

Pascal Frei, 1981 - 2016.

Mr Frei was found dead in his rented home in Kamala last Tuesday (June 14), after he apparently succumbed to a severe epileptic attack. (See story here.)

Andara Resort & Villas, where Mr Frei was Hotel Manager, issued an open letter on Saturday, as follows:

Dear colleagues, dear family & friends and acquaintances.

Our colleague, Pascal Frei, 35, sadly passed away on Sunday evening 12th June 2016 from complications due to a seizure from his epilepsy at his home in Kamala, Phuket.

Pascal was born 6th Feb 1981, in Purmerend, Netherlands and grew up in Switzerland with his beloved family on the shore of Lake Constance. there he trained as a chef and later graduated from the Swiss hotel Management School in Lucerne. Soon he wanted to discover more of the world, and after his management training at The Racha he returned to work at the Serenity Resort & Residences in Rawai, and he joined our Andara family, where his recent position was as a highly respected and much loved Hotel Manager.

He is survived by his mother; Nel, father; Patrick, and his brother and sister Marc & Danielle, together with their families.

Pascal, lived his life to the full. As a Hotel Manager at Andara, he took great pride in welcoming every guest and owner to Andara and often went the extra mile to ensure everyone enjoyed themselves.

He loved to travel and meeting people. It was impossible for Pascal to go anywhere and not make friends. He was an active committee member of the Swiss Society in Phuket and was also a member of the SKAL International here in Phuket.

Pascals body will be taken home to Switzerland for a full service and cremation, our fond memories of him will remain with us all.

A Buddhist ceremony will be held on Wednesday, 22nd June, at Kamala Temple on the Beach Road, Kamala. All are welcome; family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances. Please dress respectfully, but as Pascal would like to see you.

Schedule:

6.00 p.m. Buddhist ceremony at Kamala temple  friends and family who would like to pay respect during the day

8.00 p.m. Memorial gathering at the Andara lobby in Kamala  open to family, friends and colleagues

We look forward to meeting you and saying a fond farewell to Pascal.

Andara Family
Investigators begin examining EgyptAir black boxes

EGYPT: Investigators have begun examining the black box flight recorders of an EgyptAir plane that crashed into the Mediterranean last month, hoping to establish the cause of the disaster, authorities said yesterday (June 19).

accidentstransportdeath

By AFP

Monday 20 June 2016, 09:47AM

This combination of pictures created on Friday (June 17), shows the flight recorder (left) from the EgyptAir plane, that crashed into the Mediterranean and one of the two black boxes, after it was recovered from the bottom of the Mediterranean. Photo: HO/AFP

The Airbus A320 operating Flight MS804 from Paris to Cairo disappeared from radar screens between the Greek island of Crete and the north coast of Egypt on May 19. Sixty-six people were on board.

A vast search operation was launched, finding debris and pieces of the planes fuselage at the bottom of the Mediterranean, before the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder were recovered last week.

The Egypt-led investigative committee began examining the so-called black boxes on Saturday (June 18) in the presence of representatives from France and the United States, where the engine was made, said Egypts civil aviation authority.

Both of the devices were damaged and had to be raised from the seabed in several stages, said the authority.

Their memory units were removed at the civil aviation ministrys labs in Cairo and were undergoing testing, it said.

The data on them is to be unloaded, before it is analysed in a procedure that is expected to last several weeks.

If badly damaged, the black boxes would be sent abroad for repairs, otherwise the work could be done in Egypt, the authority has said.

Investigators have said it is too early to determine what caused the plane to crash, although a terror attack has not been ruled out.

Frances aviation safety agency has said the aircraft transmitted automated messages indicating smoke in the cabin and a fault in the flight control unit minutes before it disappeared.

Last Monday (June 13), 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.

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.
Phuket school issues apology over student injury, teacher behaviour

PHUKET: Kajonkiet Thalang School has issued a formal apology over claims made against two teachers following two parents last week filing a police complaint about the treatment of their 7-year-old son, who needed stitches to close a head wound sustained during swimming practice at the school.



By The Phuket News

Monday 20 June 2016, 12:04PM

Parents Prathompong and Jiraporn Klubsong also filed a complaint at the Damrongdhama Centre (Ombudsmans Office) at Provincial Hall last Thursday (June 16). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Prathompong and Jiraporn Klubsong filed a complaint at Thalang Police Station on Friday (June 17), where they told officials that their son, A (not his real name), was assaulted by the boys gym teacher, Itsara Lianloy, on June 6.

In filing their complaint, the parents presented a copy of a statement made to police at Thalang Police Station earlier as well as a doctors certificate and pictures of As injuries.

The gym teacher kicked A into the pool, which resulted in A injuring his head, Mr Prathompong said.

Prior to this incident, As class teacher (Ms Nitirat Phimmee, who was also present when the gym teacher is alleged to have kicked A) allegedly threw books and a backpack at him during class. She often used intimidating language with A. He was frightened of her, he alleged. (See story here.)

Kajonkiet Thalang School on Friday responded to the claims, saying the school had already apologised to parents about the incidents and issued a written warning to the gym teacher.

The school this morning also issued a formal notice posted on its Facebook page. (Click here.)

The school expresses deep regret about the incidents and has already taken action after these issues were brought to our attention. We can confirm an investigation has been conducted involving students and teachers, and other people concerned. The investigation was conducted fairly, the statement read.

The two teachers have been punished accordingly. The school tried to figure out a solution together with the students and the two teachers. The Two teachers apologised to the parents themselves when the parents came to the school to discuss this matter, it added.

Regarding the incident at the swimming pool, the gym teacher used the side of his leg and pushed A in the back while A was sitting at on the edge of the swimming pool practising swimming kicks, the statement acknowledged.

The student fell into the pool and hit his head while he getting out of the pool, the statement added.

This is not appropriate. It was wrong for the teacher to use his leg on the student. The school accepts this mistake, said the statement, issued by the schools management.

The issue will be used as an example for improving the behaviour of our employees. The school will do its best to avoid this issue from happening again.
PIA: celebrating the arts in every way

Last Friday (June 10), Phuket International Academy (PIA) ran their second annual Arts Week. The whole community came together to celebrate the vibrant and varied world of the arts, and to appreciate the importance of creativity through performing and visual artistic expression.

Monday 20 June 2016, 07:00PM

Natalie Weekes

editor@classactmedia.co.th

From June 6-10 students were welcomed to school each morning by a range of buskers; many of who were teachers and parents wanting to share their love of music and performance.

Lunchtimes were accompanied by student performances thanks to the Phuket Academy of Performing Arts (PAPA), and each afternoon a range of workshops were offered by members of both the PIA community and wider community, and were available for students of all ages to take part in. Workshops included; Yoga through Storytelling, Origami, Cupcake Decoration, Basic Photography, Street Dance, Songwriter Classes, Stage Improvisation, and many more.

On the Monday evening the Theatrix Group performed the wonderful Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) much to the delight of the audience.

On Thursday evening the famous Russian duo Incanto performed a variety of beautiful classical pieces on the violin and piano, which all musical lovers in Phuket were invited to enjoy free of charge. To finish off the week, Phuket International Academy celebrated with a Talent Show and Charity Art Auction.

Over the past few months, students have been creating and submitting their favourite art pieces to auction off at last Fridays event. There were an impressive 90 pieces donated and sold, with class collaborative works being auctioned live in-between acts in the Talent Show. Some pieces went for as much as B30,000! The Auction and Sale raised over B194,000, and will all be donated to the schools Global Concerns initiative.

At Phuket International Academy, due to become United World College Thailand in August 2016, service has a central place within the schools philosophy. The Global Concerns Committee (GCC) was set up in May 2015, and is a student led and student driven initiative. The GCC directs and establishes project groups around the school, and ensures that all organisations supported are appropriate and done so in a sustainable way. PIA currently works with a number of local and regional organisations (Global Concerns), including Uncle Pitaks House, The Good Shepherd School, Karuna Shechen and Baan Paklong Cheep School.

For more information, please contact natalie.weekes@pia.ac.th
By Wu Shicun () 20:57, June 20, 2016

The arbitration proceedings that the Philippines initiated against China more than three years ago regarding issues in the South China Sea should soon reach its end, and the arbitral tribunal is expected to rule shortly.

The US-led Western camp  all hoping for China to lose the case  are looking forward to the final piece to fall in place so that the plot is completed and China will be forced to submit to their pre-meditated outcomes and their set ways.

So skilfully staged by the Philippines and the champions of its cause (the US and Japan, etc.) and facilitated by prejudiced arbiters at The Hague, this episode ultimately aims to boot China out of the South China Sea arena.

Lets look at the main plotlines that the US has helped the Philippines to fashion.

First, seek an arbitral ruling that Huangyan Island (also known as Scarborough Shoal) and the China-controlled Nansha Islands (also known as Spratly Islands) do not generate entitlement to territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and that China had illegally interfered with the Philippines maritime rights.

Second, ask the arbitral tribunal to find that Chinas assertions based on historical grounds lack legal basis, that the nine-dash line demarcation is inconsistent with UNCLOS, and that Chinas activities in adjacent waters of Nansha islands and reefs violate UNCLOS. The Philippines wishfully believes that having the nine-dash line invalidated would automatically invalidate Chinas sovereignty of the South China Sea islands. It also hopes that nullifying the island status of Nansha Islands (including Taiping Island, also known as Itu Aba) automatically deprives China of its right to claim exclusive economic zone and continental shelf based on the island regime.

Finally, it imagines that obtaining a ruling against regular activities that defend Chinas sovereign rights and having such activities declared illegal would expel China from the South China Sea for good.

The above narrative describes the arbitration trilogy currently on show.

Chinas sovereignty and sovereign rights over the South China Sea have evolved and are established over centuries. They are constituted of the strain of toil and fret of care, perpetuated by the exercise of effective jurisdiction, and defined by the struggle against imperialist aggression. They embody and epitomize the entire Chinese populations common interests in the South China Sea, and should be protected by international laws and treaties. No country or international institution may lightly dismiss Chinas sovereignty and sovereign rights.

China was the earliest country to explore, name, develop and administer the South China Sea islands. It is also the earliest country to govern the South China Sea islands over a continued period. Our historical record and official documents show that the Chinese discovered the South China Sea islands as early as in the Han Dynasty (2nd century BC), and Chinese governments since the Tang Dynasty (end of 4th century to early 5th century AD) have exercised continued jurisdiction over the islands through various ways such as creating administrative regions on the islands and deploying navy ships to patrol the adjacent waters.

As early as the early 20th century, China has exercised continued sovereignty and maintained complete and uninterrupted control of its sovereign rights over the South China Sea islands, particularly the Nansha Islands. As one of the Allies of World War II, China recovered sovereignty of the South China Sea islands under the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. A landmark event occurred in December 1947, when the (then) Republic of Chinas Ministry of Interior published a map entitled Location Chart of the South China Sea Islands (Nanhai Zhudao Weizhi Tu).

The map features a broken U-shaped line comprising eleven segments, starting from the China-Vietnam border at the Beilun River estuary in the west, down south to the Zengmu Shoal, and extending to the maritime zone off the north-eastern coast of Taiwan Island. Indicated within the demarcated region are the names of entire island groups, that is, the Dongsha Islands (also known as Pratas Islands), Xisha Islands (also known as Paracel Islands), Zhongsha Islands and Nansha Islands, and even the names of copious individual features, including islands, reefs, banks and cays. In February 1948, the Ministry of Interior officially published the Location Chart of South China Sea Islands as part of the Atlas of Administrative Regions of the Republic of China (Zhonghua Minguo Xingzheng Quyu Tu). The South China Sea dash-lines have prevailed to this day.

1949 saw the founding of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). Since then, the PRC government has continued to exercise Chinas sovereign power and sovereign rights over the South China Sea islands. It has also further affirmed its sovereignty and enforced jurisdiction of the islands by issuing official statements and enacting legislation through the National Peoples Congress, and by establishing organs of state power and launching military recovery operations.

We should neither expect an objective and impartial outcome nor remotely dream that Chinas lawful and legitimate rights in the South China Sea will be safeguarded.

Notably, Chinas recovery of the South China Sea islands after World War II and the dash-lines which it announced to the world to reinforce and demonstrate its territorial claim to the South China Sea islands were widely recognized or at least tacitly accepted by the international community, including the littoral states in the South China Sea. Thus, restoring sovereign control and resuming exercise of sovereign rights over the South China Sea islands are integral to the post-war international order. To challenge the Chinas sovereignty of the South China Sea islands is tantamount to challenging the post-war international order and resisting the current international order.

The import of Chinas claim with respect to its rights in the South China Sea consists of three main elements: sovereignty, maritime rights and historical title.

Sovereignty: China acquired title to the South China Sea islands through prior discovery and occupation. Although foreign aggression deprived its sovereignty for a while, the islands were recovered after the war following establishment of a series of post-war international treaties.

Maritime rights: The maritime rights in the South China Sea that China enjoys have progressively taken shape, following the birth and development of the modern law of the sea. Given that China has sovereignty of the South China Sea islands, and that it is a littoral state in the South China Sea and a UNCLOS signatory, to claim territorial waters under UNCLOS is to claim a sacred right granted by UNCLOS to every signatory.

Historical title: Chinas historical title in the South China Sea has been accreted by several centuries of Chinese people living and laboring, and ploughing and producing on the islands. Historical title is the Chinese peoples inherent rights which exist before the genesis of the modern law of the sea. In this sense, Chinas historical title in the South China Sea may only be altered or regulated by customary international law. Clearly, any attempt to deny Chinas historical title in the South China Sea violates the basic principle of non-retroactivity in international law; it is also inequitable.

Article 9 under Annex VII of UNCLOS states that the tribunal should make an award only after it has satisfied itself that it has jurisdiction over the dispute, and that the claim is well founded in fact and law. However on October 29, 2015, the tribunal completely slanted award on the issue of jurisdiction has raised concerns about its wilful broadening of jurisdiction and partiality.

As for the impending final award, we should neither expect an objective and impartial outcome nor remotely dream that Chinas lawful and legitimate rights in the South China Sea will be safeguarded. Despite the different speculations about the final decision, one can foresee the following outcomes:

First, the South China Sea dispute between China and the Philippines will not end with arbitration; instead, the situation will escalate, and may even spiral out of control.

Second, countries that love a good panic story or that are not quite keen to see Chinas peaceful renaissance will sensationalize the case to inspire a new version of the China Threat Theory and to further besmirch China.

Third, despite a few countries colluding to concoct a hard time for China, China will not tolerate passively.

But refusing to execute the arbitral tribunals ruling does not mean that China will act wilfully and alienate itself from the international community. China is as ever committed to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea, and to resolving the South China Sea dispute through amicable deliberations and negotiations. China proposes and promotes a joint-development approach before the disputes are resolved, and will ensure that the international community enjoys freedom of navigation in the South China Sea in accordance with international law. This is the immutable and fundamental principle of Chinas South China Sea policy.

(Editorial note: The ongoing disputes over the South China Sea are controversial, as is the arbitration initiated by the Philippines. The coming decision of the arbitration will lead to a new round of controversies and debates. IPP Review is a platform for all interested parties to express their opinions, and hence we welcome contributions which reflect these different viewpoints. This article reflects a perspective from China, and it should not be seen as representing IPP Reviews position.)

(Wu Shicun the President of the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, China.)
By Xu Xiujun, deputy director of International Politics and Economics Department, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; cartoon drawing by Chi Ying

On June 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Belgrade to begin a state visit to Serbia. Serbia deployed fighter jets to escort Xi's plane when it entered the country's airspace. Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan were greeted by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and his wife, Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic, Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic at the airport, which indicate the host nation's high grand reception to welcome Xi. As the first public event, Xi and his wife paid homage to the Chinese martyrs killed in the NATO bombing of the former Chinese embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in May 1999. They were then accompanied by President Nikolic to attend the inaugural ceremony of foundation laying of the Chinese Culture Center in Belgrade.



Serbia is the first nation among Central-Eastern European countries to establish a strategic partnership with China, and is one of China's all-weather friends. The two countries share a special brotherly bond. Historical memories will help two peoples to cherish the traditional friendship forged with blood and lives forever. During Xi's first day visit, the Serbian President, Parliament Speaker and Prime Minister accompanied him in all activities, serving as a reflection of their brotherly friendship. "Honor Martyrs, Cherish Peace." History should not be forgotten, peace should be cherished forever. We believe that Xi's visit will upgrade China-Serbia strategic partnership relationship to a higher level and will revitalize a special traditional friendship.
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.
By Xu Xiujun, deputy director of International Politics and Economics Department, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; cartoon drawing by Liao Tingting

On June 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping departed Beijing for Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan to make a state visit and to attend the 16th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan. This is China's major diplomatic activity in Eurasian region, also a historic visit to promote cooperation between China - Central and Eastern European countries, and to raise the level of relations between China and Central Asian countries, as well as promoting SCO development along an efficient, pragmatic and healthy direction.



Xi's trip to Europe and Asia is a tour to accelerate the "Belt & Road Initiative". Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan are all important partners of co-constructing the Silk Road Economic Belt. Xi will jointly discuss the development of bilateral ties and highlight cooperation on the Silk Road Economic Belt separately with leaders of the three states. This will also be a trip of setting an example for regional and international cooperation. During the Tashkent Summit, Xi will work with heads of state to discuss new initiatives to deal with the challenges and promote cooperation. The summit will be an occasion to integrate the "Silk Road Spirit" and "Shanghai Spirit", and to bridge the friendship across Eurasia. Xi's visit will inject new impetus to construction of the Silk Road, and open up new prospects for regional and international cooperation.
TASHKENT, June 19 -- Relations between China and Uzbekistan have kept developing in a sustainable and deep-going way while fruitful results have been achieved in bilateral cooperation in all fields over recent years, Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan Sun Lijie has said.

The Chinese and Uzbek peoples, as good friends, good partners and good brothers on the Silk Road, have jointly created a glorious history of the Silk Road, Sun said in a recent interview with Xinhua prior to Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Uzbekistan on June 21-24.

Today, the two countries continue to jointly push forward economic exchange and mutual reference in civilizations between the East and the West and promote common development of mankind, with pragmatic cooperation as a basis, with cultural cooperation as a bond, and with joint construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt as an opportunity, he said.

During Xi's upcoming visit to Uzbekistan, the leaders of the two countries will have in-depth discussions on further development of China-Uzbekistan relations and cooperation, Sun said.

He believed that Xi's visit will surely give a new impetus to the development of China-Uzbekistan ties and open a new chapter for friendly cooperation between the two countries.

The Chinese ambassador said that the pragmatic cooperation between the two countries has now embarked on a "fast track," driven by joint construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and bilateral production capacity cooperation.

Bilateral trade between the two countries has kept increasing and has been diversified, and the two countries are highly complementary to each other in terms of resources and essential factors of production, Sun said.

China is powerful in funding resources and has a well-developed manufacturing industry and strong production capacity, while Uzbekistan has rich natural resources, abundant labor and a strong desire for industrial upgrade, Sun said.

Currently, there are over 600 Chinese enterprises operating in various fields including energy, telecommunications, infrastructure construction and textile in Uzbekistan, he added.

During his visit to Uzbekistan, Xi will also attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.

On the prospect of the SCO, Sun said that the organization has scored abundant achievements since it was founded 15 years ago, and it has successfully explored a new model of international cooperation and has become one of the most dynamic and influential international mechanisms.

The SCO now has become a "big family" of six member countries, with six observer countries and six dialogue partners, and it has established cooperation with the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, he said.

The SCO has become a positive force that enhances security, stability and sustainable development in international relations, he noted.
BELGRADE, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping visited a Chinese-invested steel plant and interacted with its workers on Sunday.

Accompanied by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, Xi took a tour of Zelezara Smederevo, Serbia's sole steel mill, on the last day of his three-day state visit to the Balkan country.

At the plant, the Chinese president delivered a speech hailing the profound traditional friendship between the two countries and Serbia's successful experience in economic development which China had drawn on in the early days of its reform and opening-up.

"Now Chinese and Serbian businesses have joined hands to usher in new chapters in industrial capacity cooperation between our two countries," Xi said.

"This has not only carried forward our traditional friendship, but also demonstrated our resolve to deepen reform and achieve win-win results," he said.

The Smederevo steel mill, founded in 1913, experienced difficulties and was acquired by China's HeSteel Group (HBIS) for 46 million euros (51.6 million U.S. dollars) in April this year.

The Chinese steel group plans to invest at least 300 million euros (337.6 million dollars) and turn it into one of the most competitive steel mills in Europe. The Chinese company employed all the 5,000 or so workers of the plant.

"I believe that with the close cooperation of the two sides, the Smederevo steel mill will surely be revitalized and play a positive role in creating jobs, improving people's lives and helping Serbian economic development," the Chinese president said.

He said that China looks forward to having more major cooperation projects with Serbia and bringing greater benefits to both peoples.

Serbian President Nikolic and Prime Minister Vucic said in their speeches that the Serbia-China cooperation has enabled the Smederevo steel mill to turn a new page and that it will usher in further bilateral cooperation.

The leaders of the two countries also toured the workshops of the steel mill. Xi went to the dining room to interact with workers of the plant, encouraging them to work hard to bring benefits to local residents.

"We are expecting to resume full production and achieve two million tons production by the end of this year. All of our workers are excited and appreciate China HeSteel's efforts," Vlavan Mihailovic, chief operation officer of the plant, told Xinhua.

"We are very excited about President Xi's visit and are confident about a bright future with HeSteel Group," he said.

China and Serbia have strengthened cooperation in infrastructure and investment in recent years.

Besides the Smederevo steel mill, the two countries have worked together on major projects like the Belgrade-Budapest Railway, the Mihajlo Pupin Bridge, the E763 Motorway, and the expansion and upgrading of Kostolac Power Plant.

During Xi's visit to Serbia, the first by a Chinese head of state in 32 years, China and Serbia upgraded their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership and signed cooperation deals covering industrial capacity, finance, infrastructure, trade, energy, telecommunications, science and technology, culture and tourism.

Before visiting the steel mill, Xi went to a local park to lay a wreath at a monument to unknown heroes of Serbia. After that, he attended a luncheon hosted by the Serbian president and the prime minister.

The Chinese president left Serbia for Poland on Sunday afternoon. He will then travel to Uzbekistan, where he will attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
China condemns Indonesia's use of force in South China Sea

BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese foreign ministry on Sunday strongly protested over Indonesia navy warships' harassment of Chinese fishermen in the South China Sea.

Chinese fishing boats were harassed and shot at by several Indonesian navy warships in a disputed fishing ground in the South China Sea on Friday. One crew member was injured. Another fishing boat and seven crew were detained.

"China strongly protests and condemns such excessive use of force," spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a press release.

The incident took place in a traditional Chinese fishing ground where China and Indonesia have overlapping maritime rights claims.

Indonesia's actions violated international laws including the United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and harmed the lives and property of Chinese fishermen, Hua said.

"China urges Indonesia to stop taking action that escalates tension, complicates issues, or affects peace and stability," Hua said.
The annual car show in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue benefited from spectacular weather on Saturday. Huge crowds viewed hundreds of classic cars. Sunshine with near record high temperatures occurred all weekend across southern Quebec.
In this Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 file photo, Darryl Nevins, owner of a Mosquito Joe franchise, sprays a backyard to control mosquitoes in Houston. Zika has been sweeping through Latin America and the Caribbean in recent months, and the fear is that it will get worse there and arrive in the U.S. with the onset of mosquito season this summer. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
Andrzej Duda,Polish president

Polish president says Chinese leader recognizes area's dynamics, importance

Polish President Andrzej Duda says the arrival of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Central and Eastern Europe for the second time in less than three months signals Xi's full recognition of the region's dynamics and importance.

"I have no doubt President Xi perfectly understands the dynamics in this part of the world. We are developing fast, and so is China,"Duda told China Daily in an exclusive interview.

Duda, 44, said Poland had prepared well to welcome Xi and first lady Peng Liyuan on Sunday after's Xi's visit to Serbia.

At the end of March, Xi paid a state visit to the Czech Republic, strengthening political ties and signing dozens of economic and trade projects.

Duda, who visited China in November, said, "This second trip (within three months) underlines how important Central and Eastern Europe is becoming for China."

He said he had been deeply impressed by China's thousands of years of history and heritage during his first trip to the country.

He stressed that Xi will see Poland and the region as an extremely attractive market  an area of boundless opportunities for deeper economic cooperation.

During Duda's trip to China, the two countries signed a cooperation document on the Belt and Road Initiative, and Poland became a member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Duda added, "We see this (visit) as an opportunity to find new ways to fund ambitious infrastructure projects in Poland and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

He said Poland needs to build more highways and more railroads to form a link between the Baltic Sea and the Balkans, adding that China can play an important role in this.

"We also hope that Polish companies will benefit hugely from the Belt and Road Initiative,"Duda said, adding that these enterprises have experience and a highly qualified workforce, and he is sure they can establish long-lasting and fruitful partnerships with Chinese companies.

Duda said Beijing is playing an increasingly crucial role in the international arena, many Chinese companies are well known and respected abroad, and China has seen millions of people escape poverty in recent decades.

He said one of the biggest challenges is social inequality and uneven growth in urban and rural areas, and he knows how much the Chinese authorities have done to tackle this.

"On the other hand, many European nations have had to cope with the same problem recently,"he said.

Duda said dozens of bilateral agreements will be signed during Xi's visit, which will provide a foundation for further cooperation between China and Poland.

"But our relations should not be solely of an economic nature,"he said.

"I am sure that both President Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, will fall in love with Polish culture, Polish music and, last but not least, Polish cuisine.
But the tribe has a long way to go
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Monday arrested Bihar School Examination Board's former chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife Usha Sinha from Varanasi, in connection with Class 12 toppers' scam, police said.

Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj, who is heading the SIT, confirmed the arrests.

"Both will be brought to Patna on Monday itself and police will interrogate them," Maharaj said.

Last week, the 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.

According to police, Singh was on the run since after his name figured in the Class 12 toppers' scam.

Singh's wife Usha Sinha, former Janata Dal-United (JDU) legislator of Bihar, was also missing since her name also surfaced in the scam.

So far 10 persons have been arrested in the case, police said.

Amit Kumar alias Bachcha Rai, the mastermind behind the Class 12 Board merit list scam in Bihar, was arrested ten days ago after he surrendered to police.

Both Singh and Rai were 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.
In remarks that are likely to stoke controversy, Minister of State for Human Resource Development Ram Shankar Katheria has said that "if saffronisation of education was good for the country, it would happen".

Katheria made the remarks on Saturday at a function in Lucknow University.

"Reporters told us that some people are saying that our government is saffronising education in the country. I am saying that saffronisation will definitely take place in both education and in the country.

"Whatever is good for the country will definitely take place, whether it is bhagwakaran (saffronisation) or sanghwad," Katheria said in his address at the event.

"For a very long time, we just kept watching. We did not make any allegations against anyone. But today, keeping in mind the condition of the country, whatever is necessary for the welfare of the nation and its reputation will take place," he added.

He further said:"If our children do not read about Maharana Pratap or Maharaj Shivaji, then will they read about Genghis Khan?"

Katheria's remarks came even as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership has cautioned its leaders from making controversial statements as these deflect from the "development agenda" of the Narendra Modi government.
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said on Sunday he did not desire to snap ties with BJP for elections to Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and 9 other civic bodies but would not settle for a "twisted" deal.

Uddhav was addressing Shivsainiks on the occasion of Sena's 50th foundation day here. As he broached the topic of MCGM elections, it evoked a strong chorus from the crowd "no alliance, let us contest alone".

The Sena chief said that he would leave the decision on a tie-up for the elections to the judgement of the Sainiks but "I will not tolerate any 'twisted' alliance deal."

Referring to the debate over holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Uddhav took a dig at frequent foreign visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, "it would be better if simultaneous polls are held or else it might create constant hurdles in someone's foreign visits."

On 50 years of the party's journey, Uddhav said, "25 years of it went in stitching alliance with the BJP. A lion always moves with a pride, but a tiger always moves alone and hunts head-on."

Lambasting NCP chief Sharad Pawar for advising Sena to leave (both state and Centre) government, he said that it was the NCP, which in order to avert split, had stayed in power for 15 years.

Clarifying that he was not criticising for the sake of it, Uddhav said he had praised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his leadership.

However, referring to the rising prices of Dal, the Sena chief asked the Chief Minister to do something to at least bring some relief to common man if not 'Achche Din' (better days).

Speaking on the recent reports of alleged exodus of Hindus from Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, Uddhav reminded the BJP that it was in power at the Centre. "In Kashmir too it (BJP) is now in alliance and what has it done to give homes to those Kashmiri Pandits who have been displaced," he said.

Referring to the BJP wave in 2014, Uddhav said, "Even logs of wood float in water and flags wave in the wind, but its the saffron flag that keeps on fluttering even when there is no wind."

Taking a swipe at the rivals, he said Sena has welcomed people from other parties, but it has always been "the party of originals".

On critics terming Sena as regional, communal and narrow minded, Uddhav said even (TMC chief) Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal is talking about regionalism when she says 'Ma, Matti and Manoosh'.

He said like his father late Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray, he too "was not desperate for power and would not compromise (for it)".

Uddhav said that he joined power at the Centre and (in the) state as he did not want people to again fall prey to false promises.
A female college teacher from central China's Hunan province proposed to a male student in wedding dress on campus on Sunday.

The teacher and the student, both from Hunan University of Arts and Science, have been in love for a long time, according to the students of the university.
US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro visited AMITs state-of-the-art Gogya Education Innovation Center recently to see the latest innovations in the way that education and training are being taught to more than 32,000 students throughout the country.

AMIT is Israels premier education network. Their success at enabling students, from various socio-economic backgrounds, to reach their fullest potential and become productive members of society with the skills necessary to build a successful future, has received international acclaim. The Ambassadors visit centered around his interest to learn more about the AMIT network and its state-of-the-art Gogya facility in order to learn more about AMITs education model and to strengthen partnerships.

Shapiro toured the state-of-the-art facility, Israels first modern school of the future, featuring futuristic educational architecture, mobile furnishings, including modular chairs and tables, glass-walled classrooms and multimedia screens. Gogya represents a new way of education in Israel. The ambassador had the opportunity to meet with AMIT educators and students to hear about the innovative and collaborative learning taking place.

He met with girls from the AMIT Renanims robotics track as well as students from AMIT Amichai who participated in a workshop with the ambassador, and shared with him a model satellite that they built in cooperation with Elbit. Lastly, he met with students from AMIT Menorat HaMaor chareidi track who are the recipients of an embassy-sponsored English program.

The warm, informal relationships between students and teachers, something so unique to Israel, is something I would like to see adopted in our educational system in the United States, said Ambassador Shapiro.

AMITs Gogya Center has received national recognition of being a center of excellence and we are proud of the great work our teachers and administrators are doing in building the future of Israel one child at a time, said AMIT Director General Amnon Eldar. Were excited about the opportunity to share our model with education systems in other countries, including the US

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Monday that his country backs ratification of a treaty banning nuclear tests but did not commit to a time frame, a senior U.N. official said after meeting with the Israeli leader.

Lassina Zerbo, who heads the U.N. organization created to implement the treaty, told The Associated Press that Netanyahu considers the issue of ratifying the treaty a matter of when, rather than if.

While Israel does not comment on its nuclear capabilities it is commonly considered to be the only nation in the Middle East to have atomic arms. Ratification by the Jewish state would move the treaty closer to taking effect, leaving only seven holdouts among the 44 countries that must approve the pact for it to go live.

Zerbo, who heads the Vienna-based Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization, spoke to the AP by telephone after meeting in Israel with Netanyahu.

Zerbo said Netanyahu did not specify when Israel could ratify, something the U.N. official said is normal in diplomacy.

A statement from Netanyahus office citied the prime minister as saying that Israel supports the treaty and its goals but ratification depends on the regional context and the appropriate timing.

Zerbo considers ratification by Israel a key step toward a nuclear test-free zone in the Middle East and described the results of Mondays meeting with Netanyahu as a significant advance on what up to now have been discussions mostly on a technical level between the CTBTO and Israeli experts.

The development follows recent statements by Netanyahu that he is quietly forging closer ties with moderate Sunni Arab states as part of an alliance against Islamic extremists. But he has given few details.

Last month, he publicly praised the Arab Peace Initiative, a 2002 Saudi-led plan that offered Israel peace with the Arab world in exchange for a full withdrawal from all territories captured in the 1967 Mideast war. Netanyahu said there were positive aspects to the plan, though he stopped short of endorsing it. He later said he could not accept the plan in its current form and would never return to Israels pre-1967 lines.

Netanyahu is interested in a closer alliance with the moderate Sunnis, both as a counterweight to the rising influence of Iran and the Islamic State group and other extremist groups, and in hopes of putting pressure on the Palestinians in any future peace talks.

His offer Monday may have been a gesture toward moderate states like Egypt and Gulf countries, which have long opposed Israels nuclear program.

That opposition has resulted in Arab states pushing for a resolution critical of that program in recent years at annual conferences of the International Atomic Energy Agency. But a summary of an Arab League meeting in Cairo earlier this year obtained by the AP says Arab countries will refrain from submitting the resolution at this years meeting in September.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, known as the CTBT, has 196 member states  183 that have signed the treaty and 164 that have ratified it. But the treaty has not entered into force because it still needs ratification by eight countries that had nuclear power reactors or research reactors when the U.N. General Assembly adopted the treaty in 1996: the United States, China, Iran, Israel, Egypt, India, Pakistan and North Korea.

(AP)
Brussels remained on high alert Monday with increased security after a weekend sweep that left three in jail facing terrorism charges, including relatives of two of the March 22 suicide attackers.

The MIVB metro system said a half-dozen subway stations have reduced entry on request from authorities, but all subway lines in the Belgian capital were running during the morning rush hour.

On Saturday, authorities charged three men with terror-related crimes after raids and the detention of 40 people in a major investigation. Authorities said the probe required immediate intervention because they feared a new attack was close.

Among those arrested were relatives of the El-Bakraoui brothers, who were among the suicide bombers in the March 22 attacks.

We know that radicalism, violent extremism, is in a small minority of the Muslim community and it targets families, Interior Minister Jan Jambon said in an interview with RTBF radio, responding to a question about the family ties among those arrested. He declined to elaborate, beyond saying that it makes it easier to follow them, because we know where the links are.

Prime Minister Charles Michel said the nation would remain extremely vigilant, hour by hour, and that the terror level across the country would remain at the second-highest level, meaning a threat of an attack is possible and likely.

(AP)
Three NYPD officials and a fundraiser for Mayor Bill de Blasio were arrested as part of an ongoing federal corruption investigation.

Deputy Inspector James Grant, Deputy Chief Michael Harrington, and Sgt. David Villanueva of the gun licensing division were all arrested Monday morning in surprising sunrise raids.

The fourth defendant is a Boro Park man who donated to Mayor de Blasio.

The arrests are linked to the alleged exchange of lavish gifts for favors such as funeral escorts, street closures or expedited gun licenses for membersz of the Orthodox Jewish community.

The four arrests appear to be the culmination of the NYPD portion of the ongoing investigation into corruption stemming from two Orthodox Jewish businessmen.

One of them has been cooperating with federal prosecutors.

The two NYPD officials, Harrington and Grant, are accused of accepting meals, trips and complimentary Super Bowl tickets.

Both live on Staten Island, and both were arrested Monday morning.

Villanueva is being charged with helping applicants obtain expedited firearms licenses.

Charges are expected to include bribery, honest services wire fraud and conspiracy. The defendants will appear in federal court in Lower Manhattan Monday afternoon.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara is expected to discuss the case later in the day.

Several other officers retired or were placed on modified duty since the criminal investigation began. Former 66th Precinct community affairs officer Michael Malici was fired after the NYPD said he refused to cooperate in the investigation. Inspector Michael Ameri shot and killed himself on Long Island after being questioned in connection with the investigation.

The charges come as federal investigators continue to look into the fundraising practices of Mayor de Blasio and some of his key staffers. They want to know if favors, contracts or positions were offered in exchange for campaign donations.

Questions have swirled around the mayors fundraising, including his efforts to try to help Democrats take over the state senate, his efforts to ban horse carriages and even a contract given to a donor who now sells the city rat-proof a donor who now sells the citys so-called rat-proof garbage bags.

The mayor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has said all campaign activities followed the law.

(AP)
The Ministry of religious Services appears to be using the mandatory retirement law to clean house, wishing to end the tenure of the Chief Rabbi of Israels Ethiopian community, Rabbi Shlomo Hadana.

A similar move was made recently regarding Efrat Chief Rabbi Shlomo Riskin but the outcry from supporters and politicians resulted in a reversal of the decision to end his tenure. The reason appears to be Rav Hadanas firm position behind his tzibur pertaining to discrimination against Ethiopians seeking to get married in Petach Tikvah, Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) reports.

According to the report, Rabbi Hadanas actions do not find favor in the eyes of officials of the Ministry of Religious Services, and they are using the law compelling him to retire at the age of 67 to remove him from his post. The Ministry has decided not to renew his contract.

It is added that many rabbonim request to have their tenure extended when they reach retirement age, some begin significantly older, and usually, the request is accommodated. In this case, Rabbi Hadanas request was denied. Galei Tzahal adds that he is not being given an extension despite the fact there is no one to replace him.

When asked to comment, officials in the Ministry of Religious Services explain Rabbi Hadana is an office worker and therefore, his status is not like other rabbonim. Hence his status is like any other civil service worker who must step down at the age of 67. He is scheduled to retire at the end of July and in an accommodating move, his retirement was pushed off by seven months. The ministry is well aware of his tireless efforts and remains confident he will continue contributing following retirement.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Following the reported forced retirement of the Chief Rabbi of Israels Ethiopian community, Rabbi Shlomo Hadana, Rishon LTzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita announced the move is being done in total contradiction to his view, as he requests permitting Rabbi Hadana to continue in office.

Rav Yosef has sent a letter to officials in the Ministry of Religious Services explaining Rabbi Hadana has been serving for many years and his success with the community is known to all as there is a flourishing and thriving spiritual revival. Rav Yosef explains how Rabbi Hadana is busy disseminating Torah among the community in addition to the pleasantness of his ways. He cites the community views him as its leader in matters of halacha, hashkafa and minhag.

Rabbi Yosef adds Rabbi Hadana has done remarkable work regarding verifying the Jewishness of members of the community, as well as all other areas.

After praising him, Rabbi Yosef asks to permit Rabbi Hadana to remain in his position as Chief Rabbi of Ethiopian Jewry to permit him impacting the community as he does.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
President Reuven Rivlin will this week make an official visit (14-17 Sivan) to the European Union and the Kingdom of Belgium. The President will meet with President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of European Parliament Martin Schulz, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg, and will deliver an address before a special plenary of the European Parliament.

As part of his official visit to Belgium, the President will meet with His Majesty King Phillipe of Belgium, Prime Minister of Belgium Charles Michel, and Mayor of Antwerp Bart De Wever.

The President will also meet with leaders of Belgiums Jewish community, and together with First Lady Nechama Rivlin will visit the Red Star Line Museum, which tells the story of the migration and immigration of different communities and minorities. There the President will meet different faith community leaders.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
The Tzohar Rabbonim organization has come out in support of Chief Rabbi of the Ethiopian Community Rabbi Shlomo Hadana, decrying the decision of the Ministry of Religious Services to compel him to retire at 67.

Rishon LTzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita has come out against the move, calling on the ministry to reverse its decision, citing the accomplishments and dedication of Rav Hadana over the years. Rav Yosefs voice is now echoed by Tzohar, which calls on the ministry to back off from its decision. Tzohar explains the actions of the ministry are not Jewish or moral.

Tzohar was responding to the Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) report that Rabbi Hadana was being dismissed because he reached mandatory retirement age despite requesting to continue in his post. It is known to all that a rav of a city or community is usually accommodated when submitting such a request and there are many rabbonim serving today in their 70s including Tel Aviv Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau Shlita and Kiryat Shmona Chief Rabbi Tzefanya Drori Shlita.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
The Monday, 14 Sivan edition of Yated Neeman applauds the efforts and actions of Moshe Gafne, crediting him with the allocation of NIS tens of millions for yeshivos in Eretz Yisrael. While the funding was a component of the coalition agreement, the actualization of releasing the funds is another matter and Gafne, in his capacity as head of the Knesset Finance Committee is viewed as the driving force behind the funding.

According to Yated, NIS 80 million has been allocated by the cabinet, which voted in favor during the weekly meeting on Sunday, 13 Sivan. In addition to the actual funding, Yated applauds the fact that yet another gezeira set into place by Yair Lapid in the last administration has been eradicated.

Yated also points an accusing finger at the dati leumi Bayit Yehudi party, which viewed itself as a natural partner with Lapid in the previous administration and equally responsible for the drastic cuts in funding for chareidi interests.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Israel Police is looking to replace 15,000 Yericho handguns which are manufactured locally, setting its sights on a weapon built abroad.

Sigsauer, a contender in the tender, lost out to Glock. Sigsauer tried to challenge the results of the decision, stating the company, which is German/Swiss contributes a great deal more to Israel than Glock, which is Austrian. The process has been frozen pending the outcome of the challenge. It should be noted that a companys contribution to Israel is a major component of the tender.

The company awarded the tender will be providing handguns for Israeli police in the coming 12 years, with each gun costing NIS 1,550.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Military police during night of 14 Sivan (Sunday to Monday) arrived twice in Yeshivas Tifrach to arrest an avreich who failed to report for military service.

The incident began at 11:00PM when military police arrived with Israel Police, a large force, all to arrest the AWOL avreich who learns in the Sephardi yeshiva. Attempts to arrest failed as he was not there.

The force returned later in the night in the hope of apprehending him but to their disappointment, he was not to be found. Dozens of avreichim gathered within minutes after they arrived for a second time and it was during the ruckus police detained one of the rebbes in Rav Sofers yeshiva. Persons present explain he was arrested simply for protesting efforts to arrest the avreich.

(YWN  Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Majestic Wine suffered a 74.5 per cent slump in pre-tax profits over the past year, with the group's takeover of online rival Naked Wines taking its toll.

But, Majestic's revenues climbed 41.3 per cent to 402.1million, with the group saying its 'transformation' plan was starting to pay off.

Last year, Majestic announced it was abolishing its rule of forcing customers to buy at least six bottles at a time.

Slump: Majestic Wine suffered a 74.5 per cent slump in pre-tax profits over the past year

As well as removing its six bottle minimum policy, the group said it had been focused on 'getting the basics right.'

The group has sought to 'innovate and rationalise' its product range, improve the in-store experience for customers and introduce a 'new and fair' remuneration scheme for staff.

Majestic's top selling wine for the year was The Ned Waihopai River Sauvignon Blanc 2014/2015.

Sales of Portuguese wine increased by 166 per cent in the year, with Majestic selling over 60,000 bottles in one week in April 2015 thanks to an endorsement by well-known TV chef James Martin.

Excluding the acquisition of Naked Wines and other one-off expenses, Majestic said its annual pre-tax profits would have been 15million.

Sales at Naked Wines broke through the 100million barrier, while Majestic notched up its first rise in like-for-like sales for four years, coming in at 4.8 per cent.

Rowan Gormley, chief executive of Majestic, said: 'Early signs are that the plan is starting to work. Strong sales figures reflect the hard work being done on the ground by the whole team.

Transformation: As well as removing its six bottle minimum policy, the group said it had been focused on 'getting the basics right'

'At Naked Wines, we had a belter of a year - breaking through the 100 million sales barrier and delivering a maiden profit.'

He added that trading conditions 'remain tough' at the company's 210 UK outlets, but the group's aim of 500million of sales by 2019 still stands.

'We still have lots to do and, although we are on course to deliver our three-year plan, it won't be without challenges,' Mr Gormley said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

By Anvar Mammadov  Trend:

The assets of PASHA Bank OJSC, one of Azerbaijans leading corporate banks, grew by 80 percent in 2015, reaching 2.29 billion manats as of early 2016, a chief financial officer, board member of the bank Hayala Naghiyeva said in Baku June 20 at a press conference.

She said that the bank's assets growth in 2015 is mainly connected with the expansion of its business.

In total, around 41 percent of the assets growth accounted for the revaluation of the banks funds in foreign currency, Naghiyeva said.

She noted that the reassessment of the banks currency reserves took place at the end of 2015, and PASHA Banks currency structure shows that more than 60 percent of the banks assets were in manats during the year.

Naghiyeva added the main part (45 percent) of PASHA Banks assets were cash assets and their equivalents and loans issued to customers (39 percent), which amounted to 1.02 billion manats and 902.15 million manats respectively, according to the results of 2015.

In general, cash assets and their equivalents increased by threefold in 2015, and loans issued for the population  by 67 percent.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

Trend:

Armenian armed forces have 11 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 20.

Armenian armed forces stationed in the Dovegh village of Armenia's Noyemberyan district opened fire at the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces in the Kemerli village of the Gazakh district.

Azerbaijani positions also underwent fire from the positions located in the Goradiz village of the Fizuli district and Kuropatkino of the Khojavand district.

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.
Russian president's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has disclosed some details regarding the upcoming meeting between Russian, Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents.

The main challenge now is to insure against resumption of hostilities, and not to lose the progress achieved prior to the violence outburst in Nagorno-Karabakh region, Peskov told reporters June 20, RIA Novosti reported.

He said that the upcoming negotiations will be difficult.

Further speaking, Peskov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan in St. Petersburg.

The Russian president will hold separate meetings: at first with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, then a private meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, said Peskov, adding that these meetings will be followed by a working breakfast with all the three presidents.

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.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

Trend:

The planned meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents in St. Petersburg is positive, says Malena Mard, head of the EU Delegation to Azerbaijan.

I think this is of course positive in the way that they [the parties of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict] need a dialogue and a progress towards comprehensive settlement [of the conflict], because the status-quo is not acceptable, she told reporters in Baku June 20.

The European Union hopes for peaceful, comprehensive settlement of the conflict and it supports the efforts towards that, including those of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, added Mard.

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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By Bill Parry

Last years Taste of LIC celebrated its 10th anniversary with a record 66 restaurants, wine shops and breweries taking part inside a 9,000-square-foot festival tent pitched on Gantry Plaza State Park Monday night. The cultural and culinary event raises over $100,000 annually to support programming at the Obie-award winning Chocolate Factory Theater, but this year was different.

We havent got a total yet, but it is lower this year, Taste of LIC founder Sheila Lewandowski said. And this year we were down to 47 establishments. We have a real estate crisis and its not just about apartments. We have to figure out a way to support more locally owned small business. Theyre the people who really care about this neighborhood.

Restaurant owners and community leaders agree that the development that is going on in Long Island City is driving up commercial rents. Some, like Sage Roadhouse, have already closed.

Its a very real concern that there will be less and less of us here each year, said Rebecca Trent, president of the LIC Eateries Association and owner of The Creek and the Cave. Everyones lease rents are going up from $30 to $45 a square-foot. Thats a 300 percent increase from when I moved in a decade ago.

Leslie Nilsson closed Sage Roadhouse earlier this month after 18 years in Court Square. She took part in the Taste of LIC to promote her catering business, Bartleby & Sage.

It wasnt that the rent on a new lease was too high. The landlord didnt even offer a new lease, he didnt even give a price, Nilsson said. Back when I opened we were the only game in town. I started at $30,000. Now you need a half a million just to open a restaurant.

Its not just the restaurants. In an appeal to support small business in Long Island City, Chocolate Factory Theater Artistic Director Brian Rogers told of one longstanding business that closed when the landlord raised the rent to $10,000 a month.

Thats what is happening in this neighborhood. Its getting to the point where a small business cant imagine opening here, Rogers said. Theyre struggling and there doesnt appear to be a mechanism to fix it and this neighborhood will grow less interesting. I wish some of these developers would understand that.

And it will get worse, Rogers warned. There are more than 30 under-construction or proposed projects in Long Island City.

This is the fastest growing neighborhood in New York City and we have to keep it affordable for the people that made it grow, state Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) said. Long Island City is desirable for a reason and Im charged with making sure that the character of the neighborhood doesnt go up in smoke.

Brent OLeary, president of the Hunters Point Civic Association, agreed.

Im concerned that if we dont protect the small businesses well lose the character of the neighborhood, he said. We dont want to be a commuter city where everyone works in Manhattan and just comes back here to sleep.

The owner of Alobar, the Michelin-starred restaurant on Vernon Boulevard, who has had a long-running battle with Community Board 2 over use of outdoor space, thinks he has an answer.

Term limits, Jeff Blath said. Some of these people chair committees for 20 years and small business isnt getting the support they need and yet there are no term limits and thats a big problem.

The newly elected chairwoman of CB 2, Denise Keehan-Smith, made the Taste of LIC her first public appearance since winning the seat this month. The third generation Woodsider said there have been no surprises.

I knew I was going to have my hands full, she said. Its a critical time for this neighborhood with all of the expansion and transportation issues, but the same thing is happening in Sunnyside where we voted down the Phipps Houses project and of course theres Woodside. We need a lot of work there, too. You have the LIRR, the No. 7 and all of those bus lines coming through making it such a busy hub. You see so many people walking with luggage and that will increase with the new Q70 bus service to LaGuardia. I want to make a good impression on travelers.
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By Patrick Donachie

Police have an arrested a 14-year old in the assault of a Muslim man that took place outside of a Queens Village mosque earlier this month, an attack that the NYPD said was being investigated and classified as a hate crime.

Police were not releasing the suspects name because of his age but said that he was being charged with assault as a hate crime.

At about 10:30 p.m. June 1, Mohamed Rasheed Khan, 59, was approached by three males who punched him on his face and head, causing him to fall off his bike, police said. The other two remain at large.

A statement from the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations released after the attack said the assailants did not steal Khans wallet, watch or bike during the attack and noted that the three attackers were laughing as they fled.

Khan was taken to Jamaica Hospital and had surgery. He was unable to open his eyes but was beginning to recover, according to a Facebook post on CAIR-NYs page June 9.

The investigation is still open, and the NYPD is encouraging anyone with additional information to call NYPD Crime Stoppers at 1 (800)-577-TIPS.
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The number of refugees and others fleeing their homes worldwide has hit a new record, spiking to 65.3 million people by the end of 2015, the United Nations said Monday.

Europe\s high-profile migrant crisis, its worst since World War II, is just one part of a growing tide of human misery led by Palestinians, Syrians and Afghans.

Globally, approaching one percent of humanity has been forced to flee.

"This is the first time that the threshold of 60 million has been crossed," the UN refugee agency said.

The figures, released on World Refugee Day, underscore twin pressures fuelling an unprecedented global displacement crisis.

As conflict and persecution force growing numbers of people to flee, anti-migrant political sentiment has strained the will to resettle refugees, said UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi.

"The willingness of nations to work together not just for refugees but for the collective human interest is what\s being tested today," he said.

The number of people displaced globally rose by 5.8 million through 2015, according to the UN figures.

Counting Earth\s population at 7.349 billion, the UN said that one out of every 113 people on the planet was now either internally displaced or a refugee.

They now number more than the populations of Britain or France, the agency said, adding that it is "a level of risk for which UNHCR knows no precedent."

Displacement figures have been rising since the mid 1990s, but the rate of increase has jumped since the outbreak of Syria\s civil war in 2011.

Of the planet\s 65.3 million displaced, 40.8 million remain within their own country, while 21.3 million have fled across borders and are now refugees.

Palestinians are the largest group of refugees at more than five million, including those who fled at the creation of Israel in 1948 and their descendants.

Syria is next on the list, with 4.9 million refugees, followed by Afghanistan (2.7 million) and Somalia (1.1 million).

 Rising conflict, shrinking solutions 

A worrying mixture of worrying factors have led to rising displacement and narrowing space for refugee resettlement.

"Situations that cause large refugee outflows are lasting longer," the agency said, including more than 30 years of unrest in both Somalia and Afghanistan.

New and intense conflicts as well as dormant crises that have been "reignited" are further fuelling the crisis, UNHCR said, pointing to South Sudan, Yemen, Burundi and the Central African Republic, aside from Syria.

Beyond the refugee hotspots in the Middle East and Africa, UNHCR said there were also worrying signs in Central America, where growing numbers of people fleeing gang violence led to a 17 percent rise in those leaving their homes through 2015.

Faced with a growing need to resettle those facing persecution, the answers are not always obvious.

"The rate at which solutions are being found for refugees and internally displaced people has been on a falling trend since the end of the Cold War," the UN agency said.

Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council and a senior UN diplomat, said refugees "are the victims of a general paralysis" among nations who are not meeting their responsibilities to the world\s neediest.

Turkey  which struck a controversial deal with the European Union in March to stem Europe\s migrant crisis  hosted the highest number of refugees through 2015 at 2.5 million, mostly Syrians.

Germany received the highest number of asylum requests (441,900) over the 12-month span, demonstrating the country\s "readiness to receive people who were fleeing to Europe via the Mediterranean."

SOURCE: AFP
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

Trend:

Baku positively assesses the results of the meeting of Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents with participation of Russian president in St. Petersburg, Azerbaijans Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said.

The meeting was constructive. We believe that this meeting will create opportunities for achieving progress in the negotiation process for resolving the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, said the foreign minister, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry told Trend June 20.
Times' Game of the Week Preview: Central Valley at Aliquippa

Central Valley and Aliquippa are set to face off in arguably the biggest game of the year in the WPIAL. Check out the Times' Game of the Week preview.
<p>Doug McCaffery (sitting) and Bryan Roderick, press and laminating operators at Sealed Air (Cryovac), make sure shrink wrap for Jennie-O ground turkey is ready for production at the Wichita Falls plant. City pledges to help with a new wastewater reuse project for the plant show the commitment Wichita Falls and area cities have to support existing businesses.</p><p>John Ingle/Times Record News</p>

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By John Ingle of the Times Record News

Wichita County Commissioners chose on Monday morning to table a measure to provide a tax abatement to Sealed Air near Iowa Park at the request of that town's city manager.

Jeremy Flemming addressed the court during the public comment period, telling commissioners that he wasn't aware of the abatement agreement or that it was going to be discussed at Monday's meeting. He asked that the Iowa Park City Council have the opportunity to place an item on their agenda for the next meeting, which is scheduled for Monday evening.

"I just want to bring to the commissioners' attention that (Sealed Air) and the city of Iowa Park have a non-annexation agreement, so even though (Sealed Air) is outside the city limits of Iowa Park, they do pay the city of Iowa Park in-lieu of taxes and they also are our largest water and sewer customer," he said. "I would like to ask that the county commission would ask the city council for the city of Iowa Park for comment on this before the county makes a decision on it. The city council has not been briefed on it yet at this time."

According to records, the county posted the agenda online on Thursday, meeting a 72-hour requirement.

Judge Woody Gossom said this would not be the first tax abatement agreement with Sealed Air. He said doesn't see any legal issue with the abatement agreement and probably should have done a better job of making sure leadership in Iowa Park was aware of the agenda item.

"This has run up and down several ladders ... and I really don't believe that it has any adverse relationship with Iowa Park," he said.

The tax abatement would exempt Sealed Air from paying taxes for a period up to 10 years on a $6 million piece of equipment that, according to plant manager Barry Hardin, is integral to the manufacturer's North America operations.

In other county business, commissioners approved:

n an agreement with the Texas Department of Public Safety to conduct drivers license checks on employment applicants in which a license is required;

n a measure to enter a contract with Ray Cannedy Security & Investigations for armored services;

n and opened submitted bids for road materials for the second half of 2016.
Torin Halsey/Times Record News The Iron Horse Pub recently completed construction of an outside patio area on the sidewalk in front of their building. After a two-year grandfathered period, smoking will be banned at all businesses, restaurants and bars in Wichita Falls.

SHARE Torin Halsey/Times Record News The Iron Horse Pub recently completed construction of an outside patio area on the sidewalk in front of their building. After a two-year grandfathered period, smoking will be banned at all businesses, restaurants and bars in Wichita Falls. Torin Halsey/Times Record News The Iron Horse Pub recently completed construction of an outside patio area on the sidewalk in front of their building. After a two-year grandfathered period, smoking will be banned at all businesses, restaurants and bars in Wichita Falls. Courtesy graphic A proposed plan for the boardwalk and amenities at the old pavilion site at Lake Wichita. The city council will consider a resolution Tuesday to accept a grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division for half of the cost of this part of the lake project.

By Claire Kowalick of the Times Record News

Fresh on the heels of a fully enforced smoking ordinance, one Wichita Falls establishment is requesting a waiver to the ordinance.

On June 16, 2014, the city approved a smoking ordinance that banned the use of tobacco products and electronic cigarettes in enclosed public spaces and businesses. A two-year waiver was allowed for 70 establishments that still allowed smoking. On Friday, the city ended that grandfathered time period and will now fully enforce the ordinance.

In a Wichita Falls City Council meeting Tuesday, the council will consider a waiver to a portion of the ordinance for The Iron Horse Pub.

Owners of the bar recently constructed an outdoor patio area, in which patrons may smoke, that is 39 inches from a fire exit doorway for the 2011 Bistro, which shares a wall with the bar.

The main entrance of the bistro is on Indiana Avenue, and it has two north-side doors, one that is 39 feet from Iron Horse's patio area, and the fire exit that is just 39 inches from it.

The fire exit opens into a backroom of the restaurant and is not regularly used as a service or public entrance.

The owner of the bistro said they have no problem with the ordinance waiver.

In other matters, the council will consider five resolutions and select appointments and reappointments for the Wichita County/Wichita Falls Hospital Board.

 The council will consider a resolution to accept a $93,200 bid for the estimated annual purchase of water-meter boxes and lids from PowerSeal Pipeline Products Corp.

 A resolution to authorize $77,640.29 for a John Deere 6120E Cab Tractor with a CX15 Flex-wing Rotary Cutter to be purchased through the BuyBoard Cooperative Purchasing Program from Quality Implement Co.

 A resolution to accept a task order no. 3 in the amount of $27,600 for a cross-section study and chloride study of Lake Wichita as part of the contract with Carollo Engineers Inc., to prepare a 404 permit application to be submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

 A resolution to accept a 50-50 matching grant of $499,536 from the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department for recreational improvements of Lake Wichita. The funds will be used to construct a boardwalk and provide shore stabilization at the site of the old pavilion. Total cost of this portion of the project will be $999,072 and the Lake Wichita Revitalization Committee is committed to providing the matching funds.

 A resolution to authorize the city manager to apply for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program funds in the amount of $34,849, with the Wichita County Sheriff's office being a co-applicant. The WFPD intends to use their portion of the funds for covert investigative technology and tire deflation devices for the patrol department.
PLAYOFFS?! Breaking down postseason scenarios for local high school football teams

Who's in? Who's out? Who can clinch with a win? We break down the postseason scenarios for every local high school football district.
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By Bloomberg View

The latest poster mammal in the struggle against environmental crimes is something called a pangolin. Cute and scaly, it is no match for the criminal gangs that have made it one of the most trafficked animals for bogus medicines and gourmet meals.

A recent report from the United Nations and Interpol highlights the sophistication of this new breed of criminals, and the difficulty and necessity of fighting them. Their interlinked networks connect local resources to global markets in surprising ways  South African street gangs, for instance, trading illegally caught abalone for methamphetamine from Asian syndicates. Rebel groups such as Sudan's Janjaweed, Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army and Colombia's FARC use "taxes" and revenue from such underground commerce to fund their mayhem. Illicitly harvested timber and fish are increasingly blended into legal commercial streams with false permits and certifications, feeding corruption.

More money and manpower would certainly help in this fight, but better coordination and intelligence-sharing can also make a huge difference. Tactics used successfully against drug traffickers  controlled deliveries of wildlife to nab distributors and bosses instead of just poachers and foot soldiers, for instance  could be more aggressively applied. So could existing U.N. conventions to pursue cross-border investigations and prosecutions. Initiatives such as the Container Control Program, which has tightened screening of the nearly half-billion shipping containers shuttling around the world, could benefit from more support. So could civil society groups that have pioneered the use of smartphones, commercial satellite imagery and other technology to turn ordinary citizens into real-time watchdogs.

Curbing demand also helps. China's announcement that it would join the U.S. in all but banning the ivory trade is good news for threatened elephants and rhinos. And while there is much controversy over China's wildlife law encouraging the farming and harvesting of endangered species  some research suggests doing so might just encourage illicit demand, but the practice could also increase supply, thus making endangered species less so  it needn't deter China from pursuing other strategies. It should back media campaigns to persuade the public to cut down on delicacies such as shark-fin soup, a side dish with drastic consequences for the marine ecosystem, or to forego dubious medical treatments based on animal parts, such as Vietnam's use of rhino horn to treat cancer.

It's not necessary to buy into all the report's assumptions or methodology  it lumps wildlife trafficking, illegal logging and fishing, and illicit shipments of hazardous chemicals together, and guesstimates the annual toll at up to $258 billion  to see the value of fighting this kind of crime. What is it worth to the planet to save the anteater? Whatever the answer, it has little to do with what a poacher could make by driving it to extinction.

Ultimately, of course, the best way to curb environmental crimes  whether against endangered species, high-seas fisheries or primeval forests  is to encourage economic development and the improvements in governance, rule of law and property rights that come with it. That won't make for a cute video, but in the long run, it may be the pangolin's best hope.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

Trend:

Presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, Vladimir Putin, Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan have expressed commitment to the normalization of the situation on the line of contact and agreed to increase the number of OSCE observers, Russias Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters.

The sides outlined concrete steps towards intensifying the negotiation process and agreed on a trilateral declaration which confirms their commitment to the normalization of the situation on the line of contact and their consent to increase the OSCE observers working in the zone of conflict, said Lavrov, RIA Novosti reported.

The sides also expressed commitment to creating conditions for ensuring sustainable progress in the talks on political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he added.

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.
Leaders of the newly formed Malta Veterans Appreciation Program launched a Call to Action database as a way to help needy veterans within the town.

Renee Farley, Dave Wallingford, Paul Mosseau and Craig Warner, who founded the veterans help group six months ago, are seeking the names of volunteers, including carpenters, masons, plumbers and laborers, groups, individuals and businesses willing to be in a database of possible helpers.

As the need to assist a veteran arises, the program will send an email to everyone in the database, Farley said. "The email recipient can either respond or ignore the request," she said. "That database can get the community connected to Call for Action."

To be added to the database, email MaltaVets@gmail.com.

Farley operates the Renee Farley Realty Group Inc.; Wallingford is a Marine veteran of the Vietnam War and a Malta Planning Board member; Mosseau is a veterans service officer for the Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency; and Warner is a town councilman. Six months ago, as they went door-to-door campaigning for political candidates, they discovered many veterans needed help.

"Afterward, we had a desire to help veterans in our town one veteran at a time," Farley said.

They launched MVAP.

"As a community, we recognize the sacrifices that our town's veterans have faced and some continue to face," Farley said. "We are determined to make sure that no Malta veteran or their family goes without.

"Now, each veteran we help tells us of another veteran in town who needs some kind of help."

MVAP has already helped veterans from World War II, the Vietnam War and the Korean War.

They raised money, led volunteers installing an entrance ramp and built interior railings so an immobile veteran could move more safely at his home.

Volunteers also renovated a home to move the washer and dryer upstairs when a veteran could no longer climb down to the basement.

The Kidney Center of Saratoga even requested help to transport a veteran to and from the Stratton Veterans Medical Center in Albany for dialysis several times a week.

MVAP also helps veterans file for VA benefits and get copies of discharge papers needed for claims.

Farley and Wallingford encouraged two veterans who were depressed and had difficulty functioning to help MVAP fold brochures. The pair became more upbeat, according to Wallingford. They have become friends and now help drive other veterans to the VA hospital and medical appointments.

MVAP is sponsoring a motorcycle-optional Poker Run beginning at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 25, with registration at Peddlers Restaurant, Route 9, Clifton Park. From there, participants will go to several sites for a barbecue, volleyball, music and other activities.

Cost is $20 per person. For information, call Renee Farley, 577-8863. News of your troops and units can be sent to Duty Calls, Terry Brown, Times Union, Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212 or brownt@timesunion.com.
Albany

Advocates for indigent legal clients cheered. Supporters of housing for the homeless jeered. And the spouses of well-heeled but dead politicians saw a looming end to their influence.

As the 2016 legislative session drew to a fitful close in the wee hours Saturday morning, denizens of the Capitol began to mentally draw up their lists of this year's winners and losers. Some of the people, institutions and industries on those tallies have known for months which side of the ledger they would appear on, while others didn't get the news until the final bills hit lawmakers' desks.

Opinions varied depending on one's point of view, though it was clear that the sharpest discontent was felt by powerful players in the "disruptive" digital economy  including Airbnb, Uber and Lyft  who blasted what they said were slaps by a hidebound, union-dominated Legislature that fears technological change.

With the proviso that many of the measures in question still need to be signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, here's a first-draft look at those who came out on top, or lower down, as lawmakers return to their districts.

WINNERS: Recovering addicts. Lawmakers put together a multipronged effort to fight heroin and opioid addiction by easing health insurance restrictions on how long an individual can stay in drug treatment and on emergency commitments to hospitals when addicts are in crisis.

Patients can now go for 14 days of treatment without prior approval from their health insurance carrier. That's up from seven days.

Additionally, an individual may be committed for up to 72 hours, rather than 24 hours, for observation.

There are also rules making it easier to obtain opioid substitutes such as suboxone. Additionally, opioids can only be prescribed for seven rather than 30 days in order to reduce the chance of kick-starting dependency. The package also expands "wrap-around" services like peer support, transportation and help with finding jobs for recovering addicts.

LOSERS: Small businesses. The climb toward a $15-dollar-an-hour minimum wage (though it could be capped at $12.50 upstate) was a sore point when the state budget was completed in early April. And business advocates say they haven't seen anything of note such as workers' compensation reform or regulatory concessions  to make up for that since. "The 2016 legislative session will go down as the worst for small business in recent memory," said Mike Durant of the National Federation of Independent Businesses. " ... The level of anger and resentment our members, and small business owners generally, across New York feel towards Albany coming off this session is unprecedented."

WINNERS: Patients whose doctors want to prescribe relatively new but costly drugs. Under legislation addressing "Step Therapy," it will be easier for physicians to overcome insurance protocols that demand they use certain, often less expensive, drugs and allow them to fail before moving on to a new treatment. This has been of special interest to those with autoimmune disorders like psoriatic arthritis.

LOSERS: Health insurance providers. They'll have to pay for more addiction treatment and novel drugs which are often many times more expensive than existing medications. These mandates, moreover, were passed about a month after insurers put in their rate requests for the coming year. Still, they say the costs will sooner or later be passed along to consumers.

WINNERS: Filmmakers looking for upstate New York backdrops. Lawmakers added more counties that can offer another 10 percent tax break under the state's Film Production Tax Credit. They include Greene, Columbia, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Saratoga, Rensselaer, Orange, Sullivan, Dutchess and Putnam counties as well as Suffolk County on Long Island.

LOSERS: Ride-hailing services and their would-be passengers. Uber and Lyft failed to get the go-ahead to operate across upstate New York. Also losing are the state's trial lawyers, who were behind an effort to increase the insurance that upstate Uber and Lyft drivers would have had to carry, which could have increased awards in negligence lawsuits. But that helped kill the entire initiative, leaving lawyers with no loaf instead of half.

WINNERS: The e-cigarette industry. For the tobacco industry, a win can be scored when you fend off a higher tax or a new type of ban. In this case it was a proposal to ban "vaping" in public indoor spaces. While it passed the Democrat-dominated state Assembly, the prohibition failed to ignite interest in the Republican-led Senate. Tavern operators were among those opposing the ban who said it represented government overreach, and pointed to studies that suggested vaping is less harmful than the old flame-driven smoking, which produces carcinogenic tar and ash.

LOSERS: Concerned Citizens for Saratoga Racing, a group of Saratoga-based boosters of the race track that has been calling for the New York Racing Association board to go back into private hands. They say that's needed in order to move ahead with improvements they want to make at the track, and generally set a sustainable course for the Spa City attraction.

On Friday night, lawmakers said state control of the board would be extended for the second year in a row, due in part to a dispute over the amount of Video Lottery Terminal money that goes to support thoroughbred racing, and the amount of influence state officials  especially Cuomo  would hold on a new, ostensibly private board.

WINNERS: The current NYRA Board of Directors, which took over in 2012 after years of shaky finances and controversy. They got a vote of confidence and will remain in place for an extra year. NYRA President and CEO Chris Kay said the association was "proud to have achieved financial stability, improved the safety and quality of our racing and enhanced the fan experience."

LOSERS: The state Joint Commission on Public Ethics. The watchdog agency, often criticized as ineffectual, was both rebuked and handed more work to do in Friday's agreement on ethics reform. Expanding its definition of "grassroots lobbying" earlier this year, JCOPE determined that public relations firms need to report contacts they have with editorial boards. Friday's deal explicitly shut that effort down. At the same time, JCOPE employees will have to keep track of more lobbyists: Lawmakers lowered the spending thresholds at which groups or individuals need to register as lobbyists. For example: Organizations that lobby on their own behalf will have to register if they spend $15,000; the previous threshold was $50,000.

WINNERS: Sunday brunchgoers who want a Bloody Mary with their bacon and eggs. After several tries, lawmakers reversed the longstanding ban on serving alcohol before noon on Sunday. One compromise was that New York City establishments have to wait until 10 a.m. Upstate bars and restaurants can, on 12 Sundays of their choosing, serve drinks as early as 8 a.m. And what's good for Sunday sippers is good for the bottom line of restaurants.

LOSER: Airbnb. The popular online rental service company and its like were targeted by a bill reinforcing laws that make it illegal to advertise rentals in multi-unit commercial apartment buildings in New York City. Fines would run from $1,000 for first-time violators to $7,500 after the third time. The company, though, says this is a symbolic slap by lawmakers who are in thrall to powerful hotel workers' unions that see them as competitors.

WINNERS: Hospitals that serve the uninsured. While there's no dollar figure yet attached, lawmakers passed an "enhanced safety net hospital" measure that directs more state money to hospitals where at least half the patients are on Medicaid or are uninsured. There's also a provision saying that localities won't have to pay more under this program. Doctors, nurses, immigrant groups and unions have long pushed for the enhancement.

LOSERS: Dead politicians' zombie political efforts. Under the campaign finances changes approved this weekend, campaign committees that survive their principals by more than two years  often under the control of a figurehead widow or widower  will have to wind down their operations and distribute any funds remaining in their coffers.

WINNER: Legal services for the poor. Lawmakers passed a bill that, over seven years, shifts payment responsibilities for indigent legal services from counties to the state. It builds on a 2014 settlement with the state Civil Liberties Union that began the reforms in five counties where lawsuits related to inadequate legal defenses for the poor had been filed.

LOSERS: Homeless housing advocates. Groups became increasingly furious over the course of last week over the failure of Cuomo and legislative leaders to frame a "memorandum of understanding" required for the distribution of almost $2 billion in funding for homeless shelters and supportive housing.

WINNERS: Capital Region cab patrons. While there won't be any Uber or Lyft ride-hailing services, lawmakers set up a mechanism for the Capital District Transporation Authority, which runs buses, to be the licensing and regulatory authority for the region's private cabs. Municipalities would have to opt in to the program, but it allows development of a uniform regional approach to regulating taxis rather than the current town-by-town patchwork.

rkarlin@timesunion.com  518-454-5758  @RickKarlinTU
Tehran, Iran

Boeing Co. is negotiating a deal to sell 100 airplanes to Iran, state-run media reported Sunday, a sale potentially worth billions that would mark the first major entry of an American company into the Islamic Republic after last year's nuclear deal.

Chicago-based Boeing declined to discuss details of the talks, but did not deny the figures reportedly offered by Ali Abedzadeh, the head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization.

Regulatory hurdles and U.S. sanctions that remain in place after the nuclear agreement could complicate the deal. Despite efforts by the U.S. State Department to encourage trade to Iran, many American firms remain worried about the legal and political ramifications of any agreements with the country.

The state-run IRAN newspaper quoted Abedzadeh on Sunday discussing the potential deal, saying negotiations took "several stages" and final figures and terms had yet to be reached.

"Both sides  Iran and Boeing  have reached a written agreement for buying Boeing airplanes," Abedzadeh was quoted as saying.

Fakher Daghestani, a Boeing spokesman based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, declined to answer any questions about Abedzadeh's comments.

"Any agreements reached will be contingent on U.S. government approval," Daghestani said in a statement.

Iranian airlines have some 60 Boeing airplanes in service, but most were purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution that ousted Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and brought Islamists to power.

Out of Iran's 250 commercial planes, about 150 are flying while the rest are grounded due to lack of spare parts. Parts and servicing remained nearly impossible to get while the world sanctioned Iran over its contested nuclear program.

Included in last year's nuclear deal is approval for airline manufacturers to enter the Iranian market. Already, Iran Air has signed agreements to buy 118 planes from the European consortium Airbus and 20 more from French-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR.
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Decades ago, an early morning raid at the Stonewall Inn in New York sparked violent protests among gay patrons who fought back after police burst in and tried to arrest them for daring to drink and dance with members of the same sex.

Nearly 50 years later, officers armed with assault rifles stand guard outside the historic bar, protecting patrons after a gunman in Florida staged a massacre at a gay nightclub and spread fear of more attacks.

The irony isn't lost on the gay community that used to see police as the oppressor and counts the 1969 Stonewall Inn raid as the start of the gay rights movement.

"Once upon a time they hit us with nightsticks, and now they're our protectors," said Gil Horowitz, 80, a retired research psychologist in New York who took part in the riots at Stonewall.

At gay pride parades this weekend, that evolution will be on display in cities like Denver, where the first parade in 1975 was in response to police raids on gay bars and arrests of gay men.

On Sunday, police will march in solidarity and will have a robust presence among the crowd of 300,000 plus people.

"That's a snapshot of 40 years of progress," said Jason Marsden, executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, named for the University of Wyoming gay student who died after he was beaten and tied to a fence by two men in 1998.

Living an open gay lifestyle was unheard of across most of the U.S. just decades ago, and police routinely raided private gay clubs.

During the raids, vice officers would beat the patrons  sometimes the targets were those not wearing sex-appropriate clothing  and arrest them on morals charges.

The persecution reflected views in society at large: Until 1973, the American Psychiatric Association classified homosexuality as a mental disorder, and it was only in 2003 that a Supreme Court ruling declared state sodomy laws to be an unconstitutional violation of personal privacy.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

Trend:

Presidents of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, Vladimir Putin, Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan adopted a joint statement following the meeting in St. Petersburg June 20.

Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents confirmed the agreements reached during the Vienna meeting held May 16 on stabilizing the situation in the zone of conflict and creating an atmosphere to push forward the peace process, said message on the website of Kremlin.

For this purpose, the sides agreed to increase the number of international observers in the zone of conflict.

The two parties expressed satisfaction with the ceasefire regime which has been preserved on the line of contact in recent times.

The parties further exchanged views on the essential aspects of the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The presidents emphasized that mutual understanding was achieved on a number of issues the settlement of which will make it possible to create conditions for the progress in the conflicts settlement.

The presidents also pointed out the importance of their regular contacts on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and agreed to continue those contacts in this format in addition to the work of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs who were invited to the final part of the St. Petersburg meeting.
Cleverdale

Surveying the wind-mussed woven roof of his new motorized tiki-bar raft, Larry Davis said, "We've got to give the thatch a good combing. It looks like Trump right now."

Even on a lake where strange and wondrous craft are not unusual, Davis' new vessel is going to be a remarkable and remarked-upon sight during this boating season. Launched onto Lake George from a crane at the Harris Bay Yacht Club on the first day of summer, the boat-bar hybrid is believed to be the only one of its kind outside of Florida, where the first version was launched in February by a new company called Cruisin' Tikis.

Davis, an entrepreneur whose varied holdings include the Rensselaer-based tech firm CommSoft, saw the first Cruisin' Tiki in the Intracoastal Waterway in Florida, where, as he describes it, the craft so enchanted him he pursued it until he could read the name on the sign.

He contacted Cruisin' Tikis owner/designer/builder Greg Darby and bought Hull No. 3 without setting foot, going for a cruise or having a drink on one. Nor did he consult his three fellow members of Dark Bay Yacht Club, which is a grand name for what in actuality is four guys with a camp on the east side of Lake George about four miles from Lake George Village.

"He didn't even really ask us," said DBYC'er Frank Casimo. Added another member, Greg Teresi, "He just sent the photo and a text that said, 'The tiki bar will be arriving soon.' He has a new idea every weekend, but this one is right up there with the best of them."

The partners plan to use the floating tiki bar to cruise the lake with their guests this summer, then next year start a business to charter it, or a new sister vessel, and, perhaps, put future craft on Sacandaga, Saratoga Lake and the Hudson River for paid cruises. (Teresi is already familiar with this end of the business; he's one of the partners in Capital City BrewCycle, which owns 15-passenger, pedal-powered bar platforms that tour Schenectady and Troy.)

The Dark Bay Yacht Club is also the Northeast dealer/reseller for Cruisin' Tikis, and if Monday morning is any indication, there is the potential for brisk business. During the few hours while the vessel was being readied for launch, two people expressed serious interest in buying a Cruisin' Tiki, which costs in the mid-$20,000 range, depending on features.

The 3,200-pound boat-bar is essentially a 151/2-foot octagonal frame over 20 55-gallon polyethylene drums. Pressure-treated lumber makes up the deck; the sides of the bar are bamboo; and the bars posts and thatch comes from cypress sourced from members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, who according to Darby are the only people allowed under federal law to harvest cypress trees. A 30-horsepower outboard motor will push it to about 10 knots, or not quite 12 mph.

Mentioning two prominent neighbors in Dark Bay, Davis said, "We're between the Freihofers and the DeNooyers. We're the new money in the bay." Teresi said, "They've got some of the fastest boats on the lake. With this thing, we've got one of the slowest."

As Darby piloted the floating bar out of the marina, Davis and his partners discussed likely upgrades, including a rope railing, generator, flat-screen TVs, blender and karaoke machine.

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"It comes with a Bose Bluetooth" speaker, Darby told the foursome. "I just haven't installed it yet."

"It does?" exclaimed Davis. "Awww, man, you are wonderful."

Davis took the large, spoked, wooden ship's wheel to bring the craft back to the dock. It doesn't yet have a name. Among those suggested on social media, where Davis solicited suggestions: Dark Bay Tiki Bar, Freaky Tiki, Tiki-Tiki-Bang-Bang, Gotcha By the Knots and Rumshack Baby. They were strongly leaning toward Tiki Bar-ge, a name that surfaced during Monday's launch preparations. The winner gets a booze cruise.

"This is unbelievably smooth. It's like a real ship," said Davis, grinning as he neared the dock. Reflecting on his impulse buy, he said, "I've bought a lot of (crap) over the years. This could be the happiest purchase I've ever made."

sbarnes@timesunion.com  518-454-5489  @Tablehopping  http://facebook.com/SteveBarnesFoodCritic
A cancer diagnosis is always a major disruption, and for Kim Hans, there were two in her family last year.

The 52-year-old Loudonville woman's brother and sister were diagnosed with stomach cancer. A second brother was found to have the gene that predisposed him to the illness, sending him down the road toward preventive surgery. The sole sibling found not to carry the gene, Hans became a family caregiver.

A manager in radiation oncology, she helped her siblings consider medical options and accompanied them to frequent doctors' appointments, both in Albany and New York City, where her sister lives. She wouldn't have done anything else. But the suddenness and intensity of her family's needs, as well as her own emotions, have taken a toll.

"I was sad all the time and crying over everything, and just trying to figure out, how did this happen?" Hans said. "I'm still in shock and it's been over a year."

More Information Cancer report View the report here. See More Collapse

Family and friends who tend to cancer patients bear a different kind of stress than other caregivers, a report due out Monday has found. Cancer caregivers provide support in shorter, more intense bursts than those who care for family with chronic conditions, like Parkinson's disease or dementia, according to "Cancer Caregiving in the U.S.," a report from the National Alliance for Caregiving, a Maryland-based nonprofit.

They spend an average of 33 hours a week caregiving, compared to 24 hours for others, and are more likely to perform medical or nursing tasks. They also report higher levels of stress than other caregivers.

"That says that cancer caregivers maybe need specific supports for a shorter time period," said Gail Gibson Hunt, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving.

Key among those needed supports, Hunt said, are increased training for the care they provide, and insurance coverage for more in-home care and support, like home health aides, for instance.

In recent years, caregiving has been a focus of AARP, the lobby for older Americans, and received attention from policy makers, as Americans live longer and health reforms seek to cut down on costly hospital stays. That has left more care to be done by family and friends.

The National Alliance for Caregiving decided to look specifically at cancer caregivers at the request of the National Cancer Institute and others, Hunt said. The nonprofit coalition culled the data from a nationally representative study, "Caregiving in the U.S. 2015," completed with the AARP Public Policy Institute.

Hans is a pretty typical cancer caregiver. They tend to be women (58 percent) at an average of 53 years in age and usually provide care to a relative, according to the National Alliance.

Some 72 percent of cancer caregivers report providing medical or nursing tasks, including administering injections or maintaining catheters. Many, 43 percent, say they are unprepared to perform them.

More cancer patients get outpatient treatments than they did several years or even a decade ago. That's often good for patients, especially the younger ones, who want to participate in work or family life to the extent that they feel well enough to. But it places more of a burden on others at home.

"The way we are able to deliver care and manage side effects does keep more people doing the things they do in their lives," said Dr. Ira Zackon, president of New York Oncology Hematology, a large area cancer doctors' group. "But there is unpredictability to it. The caregiver becomes an increasingly important part of helping to manage things."

When more support than the family can provide is needed, many caregivers must pay out of pocket to get it, Zackon said.

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"The support services are under-reimbursed and not as easy to find," Zackon said. "So that's where the challenge comes."

Though there are quality-of-life benefits of outpatient care, Hunt said the move away from hospitalization is driven by those who pay for it  private insurance companies and government payers like Medicare and Medicaid. She believes they should pay to support unpaid caregivers in their homes.

Zackon said there is a model for doing this at NYOH. Some Capital Region cancer patients receiving stem-cell treatments, accompanied by intensive chemotherapy, are able to avoid going to hospitals in New York or Boston through arrangements with insurance coverage that cover added medical support at home.

On the bright side, cancer caregivers are more likely than others to have conversations with doctors and other medical professionals about the care they need to provide.

But like other caregivers, they report needing help with managing their own stress and keeping their care recipients safe. They are almost twice as likely to report needing help making end-of-life decisions.

To manage her stress, Hans now goes to counseling, practices yoga and meditates. She has also joined support groups.

"You've got to take care of yourself," she said, "if you're going to take care of them."

chughes@timesunion.com  518-454-5417  @hughesclaire
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

Trend:

The US co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group James Warlick said positive steps were made during the summit on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in Saint Petersburg.

Positive steps on Nagorno-Karabakh peace at today's summit in St. Petersburg including a joint statement. We must work towards a negotiated settlement, he tweeted.

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.
[June 20, 2016] Accenture Joins "The Floor," a New Financial Technology Hub in Tel Aviv, Israel

Accenture (News - Alert) (NYSE:ACN) has joined a new hub of financial technology (fintech) start-ups based in Tel Aviv, Israel dubbed "The Floor." As a supporter, Accenture will evaluate potential innovations for its clients and potentially its own strategic investments, while mentoring start-ups and strengthening its ties to the growing Israeli technology community. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160619005061/en/ Leaders from Accenture and The Floor celebrate at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. (Photo: Business Wire) The Floor was founded this year with support from institutions, including Banco Santander, HSBC, Intesa Sanpaolo and RBS, and from Intel (News - Alert) Corporation. It offers fintech entrepreneurs and start-ups a platform to collaborate with financial services institutions, technology companies and venture capitalists. In recent years, fintech investment in Israel has grown dramatically, with the number of fintech ventures growing from 90 in 2002 to approximately 430 today. "Over the past half-decade, fintech has become a major force of innovation in the financial services industry," said Sushil Saluja, senior managing director of Financial Services in Europe, Latin America and Africa at Accenture. "The origins of these innovations are bound less by geography than by the growing wealth of ideas to reinvent financial services in the digital age. Israel has long been a leader in technolog and is a growing contributor to the global fintech community. We are pleased to be part of this program."



"We are extremely excited to announce our strategic collaboration with Accenture," said Moises Cohen, co-founder and director at The Floor. "An indisputable global leader in the financial services and Fintech industries, Accenture is a perfect match for The Floor and its partners enabling us to address the industry's challenges and work together with Fintech entrepreneurs to find innovative solutions." Accenture has been promoting fintech venture innovation since 2010, when it co-founded the FinTech Innovation Lab with the Partnership Fund for New York City. The Lab is a mentorship and accelerator program for leading financial technology ventures. Accenture launched additional labs in London in 2012, and in Hong Kong and Dublin in 2013. The program is supported by 33 of the world's leading financial institutions. Nearly 100 ventures have participated in the Labs, raising more than $335 million in financing after the program. Between 2010 and 2015 global investment in fintech ventures has grown from $1.8 billion to $22.3 billion, according to Accenture's latest report on the global fintech landscape.

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. About The Floor Based at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE), The Floor is the first Fintech hub of its kind in Israel. The Floor provides a physical home for local Fintech entrepreneurs and serves as the focal point of access to Israeli Fintech for leading international financial players, tech giants and VC's. In financial institutions the Trading Floor is the central place for exchanging value. At The Floor, we trade Fintech ideas and offer a bespoke platform for our partners and members to engage, collaborate and grow. We cooperate with all ecosystem players, working together to solve today's challenges with tomorrow's solutions. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160619005061/en/

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[June 20, 2016] Aptos Celebrates One-Year Anniversary of 'Engaging Customers Differently'

Aptos, Inc., a recognized market leader in retail technology solutions, today celebrated the one-year anniversary of its launch as an independent company following its spin-off from Epicor Software (News - Alert) Corporation. During this time, the company has advanced its market leadership through expanded cloud capabilities and cloud deployment, as well as 25 percent employment growth and an extensive number of new customers added to its roster of leading retail brands. The most rewarding aspect of the past year, according to Aptos CEO and Culture Leader Noel Goggin, has been working in close partnership with retailers to reinvent their businesses to deliver personalized, seamless experiences no matter how customers choose to shop. "We set out to forge a new company with a focus on 'engaging customers differently' by delivering a Singular Commerce platform in the cloud that supports one view of customers, experiences, inventory, orders and information," said Goggin. "We wanted to form a different kind of company with a distinctive culture based on trust and transparency. We believe engaging with our customers in a manner that is collaborative, authentic, sincere and transparent is essential to our mutual success, and we have seen powerful outcomes stemming from this approach to partnership." Cloud Dominance With its end-to-end secure platform in the cloud supporting singular commerce and seamless experiences, Aptos is fast becoming the go-to source for retail cloud enablement. The ability to evolve experiences is critical to retailers keeping pace with relentlessly shifting consumer expectations, and retailers are leveraging Aptos solutions to quickly adapt and deliver experiences that differentiate their brands. The shift in Aptos customers choosing cloud over traditional on-premises deployments has been significant - overall, the company experienced a year-over-year increase of 283 percent in sales of its cloud-ready solutions (from FY 2014 to FY 2015), with 80 percent of customers to date in FY 2016 optin for cloud deployments.



With over 122,000 stores live on its cloud-based platform, more than 500 retail brands across the globe rely on cloud-ready Aptos solutions to generate over $523 billion in annual revenues. An Agent for Positive Change

As it did in its first year, the company continues to be committed to being an agent of positive change in local communities and in impoverished regions around the globe through its partnership with the Retail Orphan Initiative (RetailROI). Aptos' involvement with RetailROI has included financial support, material resources, business leadership training and hands-on volunteering to support RetailROI's mission of providing real solutions for vulnerable children worldwide. In May 2016, in partnership with RetailROI, Aptos announced its multiyear commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children in Haiti. To tell the stories of the individuals who are creating life-changing opportunities for children in need through RetailROI and its partner organizations, Aptos launched a new podcast series, Commerce of Caring. The Road Ahead Over the next year, Aptos will continue its focus on delivering real value to its customers through innovation and its Singular Commerce platform, and will increasingly support retailers in their international expansion efforts to fuel growth. Today the company offers out-of-the-box support for 27 countries and 16 languages, and will support 40 countries by the end of the year. "Our focus will be on global execution across our core products, and the continued execution of cloud across the Aptos retail suite," said Goggin. "We want to make it easier for our customers to expand to new regions by overcoming the currency, customs, taxation and other challenges that must be addressed to capitalize on new, and often lucrative, revenue opportunities." Aptos: Engaging Customers Differently In an era of virtually limitless choice, sustained competitive advantage only comes to retailers who engage customers differently - by truly understanding who they are, what they want and why they buy. At Aptos, we too, believe that engaging customers differently is critical to our success. We are committed to a deep understanding of each of our clients, to fulfilling their needs with the retail industry's most comprehensive omni-channel solutions, and to fostering long-term relationships built on tangible value and trust. More than 500 retail brands rely upon our Singular Commerce platform to deliver every shopper a personalized, empowered and seamless experienceno matter when, where or how they shop. Learn more: www.aptos.com. Follow Aptos on Twitter (News - Alert) @Aptos_Retail Aptos, the Aptos logo and "Singular Commerce. Seamless Experiences" are trademarks of Aptos, Inc. All other trademarks referenced are the property of their respective owners. The product and service offerings depicted in this document are produced by Aptos, Inc. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160620005224/en/

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[June 20, 2016] Doctors Care Becomes First Urgent Care in SC to Offer Telemedicine Services

Doctors Care P.A., South Carolina's largest urgent care company, has developed and launched its own direct-to-consumer telemedicine platform to provide direct access to its doctors from a mobile device or computer. The program, called Doctors Care Anywhere, was launched in April. It lets patients receive care from board-certified providers using a secure video connection on a smartphone or computer. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160620005867/en/ Doctors Care will continue to grow its network of 55 brick-and-mortar urgent care centers around the state, but this online option expands patients' access to its provider network. The launch of this direct-to-consumer program follows a successful two-year in-center telemedicine program that's still used to minimize wait times in the company's busiest locations. The Doctors Care Anywhere platform is scalable to accommodate future growth outside the State, lightweight in structure to cleanly layer with existing clinical applications, and is HIPAA-compliant. Telemedicine patients can access records of their virtual visits through the patient portal at DoctorsCare.com, just as they can after a regular clinic visit. Doctors Care providers staff the online network and practice in the centers. They can refer patients to brick-and-mortar locations for conditions that may require additional care - including lab tests and X-rays. Doctors Care and UCI Medical Affiliates, the non-medical management company for Doctors Care, worked with local South Carolina developers, Indesign Firm, and multinational Fortune 500 telecommunications company Cisco (News - Alert) o develop their proprietary telemedicine platform and leverage existing infrastructure strengths.



"It was important to us to use local talent, and the best technology in the nation, to build a product that would represent the quality and consistency of the Doctors Care brand," said David Boucher, president and COO of UCI Medical Affiliates. "This way, we can deliver a better value to our patients and providers. Our 35 years in the urgent care business have taught us to trust our own instincts, and we feel strongly about delivering the best possible experience to our customers." "Our patients want convenience and quality," said Dr. Thomas Gibbons, chief medical officer and president of Doctors Care. "Doctors Care Anywhere gives patients more control by allowing them to see a doctor from wherever they are sitting, without interrupting their workday or having to make arrangements for child care to drive to a clinic. Time and health are valuable commodities. We want to make visits as fast and painless as possible - and provide the same quality care they would receive in one of our centers."

Any person in South Carolina over the age of 18 can use Doctors Care Anywhere for treatment related to conditions like colds and sinus infections, UTIs, skin rashes, pink eye, acne, sore throats and upset stomach. Currently, payments are by credit card only, but it is a reimbursable medical expense for HSA, HRA or FSA accounts. To learn more, visit www.DoctorsCare.com/Anywhere. About Doctors Care Doctors Care, now celebrating its 35th year in business, is a leading health care organization focused on delivering exceptional and convenient urgent care, family care and occupational health services. Its original clinic, opened in Columbia in 1981, was the first urgent care center in South Carolina. Now, Doctors Care is one of the largest urgent care companies in the United States. Its network of 53 clinic locations continues to expand to serve patients who want quality health care that's also convenient and reasonably priced. Doctors Care centers offer online check-in, flexible hours, on-site X-rays and laboratory services, telehealth access and more. Visit DoctorsCare.com to learn more. About UCI Medical Affiliates UCI Medical Affiliates, founded in Columbia, S.C., is celebrating its 35th year as a non-medical management company. It provides administrative support to its family of businesses, including Doctors Care, Progressive Physical Therapy and Doctors Wellness Center. These businesses serve patients and clients at approximately 80 freestanding urgent care and physical therapy clinics throughout South Carolina and Tennessee. UCI Medical Affiliates also manages employer on-site medical practices and related occupational health services. They emphasize quality care, cost-effective delivery and a close partnership with clients. Visit UCImedInc.com to learn more. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160620005867/en/

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[June 20, 2016] Kiosked 360 Panorama Experiences Launches at Cannes Lions

Kiosked, the leading, global Advertising Automation platform, today unveiled its 360 Panorama experiences at Cannes Lions. Empowering the world's largest publishers and brands with the ability to extend virtual reality experiences to consumers, the new Kiosked offering is available today worldwide. With more than 15,000 delegates from 100 countries in attendance at Cannes Lions, this represents a landmark launch for the company. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160619005072/en/ Kiosked Immersive 360 Panorama Experience | To learn more, visit www.kiosked.com | @Kiosked (Photo: Business Wire) "The demand for Kiosked's immersive panorama ad units is astonishing as the appetite for delivering richer creative experiences continues to grow. Our Kiosked launch has exceeded all expectations, and our participation at Cannes will enable us to connect with the smartest minds in the ad world to further improve the ultimate user experience," said Antti Pasila, Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder of Kiosked. "While the results of Google's (News - Alert) latest study of its own display advertising platforms reveal 56.1% of impressions are not seen, we know the only impresion worth an advertiser's money is a viewable impression. With Kiosked's new immersive 360 advertising unit we are committed to a 100% viewable impression."



Kiosked caters to the increasing demand in the virtual reality market by offering the immersive panorama units. This is enabled by the advertising automation company's rapid growth in all key digital advertising markets. Kiosked ads currently reach more than 300 million unique visitors per month with 4 billion monthly impressions. Additionally, its in-content advertising placements are featured by more than 1,000 premium publishers including Forbes, IDG, and About.com. The 360 Panorama Video is the latest unit to be released by the Kiosked Innovation Lab. It is designed for creating immersive brand experiences on-the-go for a variety of high-involvement categories such as airlines, hotels, tourism, events, automotive and real estate.

The Kiosked 360 Panorama Experience Kiosked brings the first programmatically traded 360 ad formats to the market to solve the challenge of scaling immersive advertising campaigns

Virtual reality is expected to be a $30 billion market by 2020, according to Tech M&A advisory firm Digi-Capital

Facebook (News - Alert) recently launched 360 degree photos and video in its News Feed, further validating the market appetite for such experiences Additional Kiosked Information Kiosked is trusted by a multitude of publishers and brands globally, including Forbes, About.com, (US) Jiji Press (JPN) , Goal.com , Moshtix (AU) , Liputan6 (IN) , Inquirer (PH)

(US) , , , , Trusted by the world's largest programmatic buyers: more than 10,000 advertisers run Kiosked ads through the platform

Kiosked is one of the fastest growing technology companies in Northern Europe, at a rate of 300%+ per year "The interest Kiosked is seeing here at Cannes is an important step in paving the way for immersive 360 panorama advertising. The ad unit has been immediately accepted by world class publishers, and brands love that the programmatic panorama solution delights and more effectively engages their viewers," said David McGrath, Managing Director of Kiosked and Co-Chairman for the Data Council of IAB Singapore. Kiosked is the leading Advertising Automation platform company for native, in-view digital advertising. Kiosked dynamically creates high performing ad placements within the publisher content, solving the industry's major issues around ad viewability, relevance, and performance of ads. Headquartered and founded in Helsinki, Finland, today Kiosked has offices in nine countries around the world. For more information visit www.kiosked.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160619005072/en/

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[June 20, 2016] Mediu and CentraCX to Partner at Call Center Week Expo to Advance Contact Center Technology

Mediu announced today that they will showcase their latest strategic contact center solutions in partnership with Australia-based CentraCX at the 17th annual Call Center Week Conference and Expo at The Mirage in Las Vegas from June 27 - July 1. As the North American provider of CentraCX, a cloud-based platform designed to provide companies with timely and insightful customer feedback, Mediu's consultants are uniquely trained to implement the transformative platform in conjunction with their own custom contact center solutions. "The customer experience has a direct impact on customer retention and sales," said Wade Wiant, vice president of sales and channels for Mediu. "Mediu's exclusive partnership with CentraCX allows us to broaden our technology and consultative offerings to capture the voice of the customer." Mediu will also introduce its latest offering, Mediu CX Enablement. The strategic solution is designed to help companies leverage their existing contact center to transform their customer experience (CX). Mediu's CX Enablement takes a holistic lifecycle approach to helping companies align their contact center operations with their CX goals through a combination of strategic roadmaps and solutions that boost performance, retention, sales and competitiveness. "Consumers' expectations of the contact center experience are changing," Wiant said. "We've leveraged our knowledge, technology and methodologies to create a strategic, yet comprehensive, offering for contact centers to faciltate outstanding interactions and keep customers loyal to the brand through improved CX."



Mediu and CentraCX will showcase their solutions at booth 720 in the Mirage Events Center. The 17th annual Call Center Week Conference and Expo is an educational and community-oriented event where leaders in the contact center industry converge to showcase new technology, ideas on how to improve the customer service experience and offer unique insights on how companies can get the most return on investment from their contact centers. For more information on the products Mediu and CentraCX will be displaying at the Call Center Week Conference and Expo, visit www.mediu.com.

About Mediu: Mediu, LLC is a software and professional services company focused on optimizing client value and generating improved customer experience in the customer interaction management space. As a thought leader in customer interaction channels, Mediu's best practices couple repeatable, risk-mitigated contact center software and implementations with innovation that inspires an industry. The company is based in Delaware, Ohio. For more information, visit www.mediu.com. About CentraCX: CentraCX is a hassle-free and flexible cloud based software platform that allows companies to ask, monitor and action CX feedback. CentraCX drives front-line customer experience analysis, insights and innovation using actionable feedback. The platform's feature-rich editions span all customer feedback channels (IVR, email, web intercept and SMS) to offer corporate ready-access to valuable insights - irrespective of their size or available budget. Mediu partners with CentraCX to incorporate this powerful tool into Mediu's full technology and consultative offering. CentraCX is a product division of Global Speech Networks. For more information, visit www.centra.cx. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160620006418/en/

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[June 20, 2016] New Relic Expands FutureStack Event to London, New York, and San Francisco

Software analytics leader New Relic, Inc. (NYSE:NEWR) announced that the company's fourth annual technology event and user conference, FutureStack16, will be expanded into a global tour for the first time in its history. In addition to the flagship FutureStack16 conference in San Francisco this November 16-17, the company will host companion events in London on July 5 and in New York on August 9. The FutureStack16 Tour will offer what attendees love about the FutureStack conference: joining fellow innovators for collaborative and educational sessions to help understand how to leverage the next stage of the IT revolution, get better performance from their applications, provide delightful customer experiences, and deliver business outcomes. "We created FutureStack as a place to bring together the New Relic customer community so they could share with each other how they were thinking about the future of their digital business. Four years later, as our business has grown globally, we've found demand to bring the community together in more and more cities," said Robson Grieve, CMO, New Relic. "The FutureStack16 Tour reflects what really matters to our customers and partners to invest in transforming their organizations. All three events will be oriented towards hands-on training and learning, thinking about the future, and connecting with a community that is going through the same experiences and strategic challenges." The FutureStack16 Tour will anchor on the biggest IT shift of the decade: the cloud. Attendees will learn how to connect the cloud to existing systems, where and how to use emerging technologies like Docker and microservices, and how to weave DevOps through IT operations and developer teams. FutureStack16 will teach attendees how to maintain systems of today to make smarter business decisions for tomorrow. The FutureStack16 Tour events in London and New York will also feature both introductory and advanced in-depth workshops on the same day, including: Application Performance Management (APM (News - Alert)) Fundamentals, Advanced Multi-product Troubleshooting, Advanced APM & Insights, Browser & Synthetics Fundamentals, and Advanced Synthetics Scripting & Insights. FutureStack16 (FS16) Tour logistics, pricing, and additional information: FS16 Tour: London - July 5, 2016 at 155 Bishopsgate Keynote Speakers: New Relic CMO Robson Grieve and SVP of roduct Management Patrick Lightbody Customer Speakers: Mehdi Ali, Digital Platform Manager, News UK Kevin Bowman, Head of Operations, Sky Betting & Gaming Book signing session with New Relic's Lee Atchison, an Amazon Web Services and cloud architecture expert, and author of the new book "Architecting for Scale." Evening activities include an exclusive reception with music, fine food and drinks. Tickets are available for 149.

FS16 Tour: New York - August 9, 2016 at Spring Studios Keynote Speakers: New Relic founder and CEO Lew Cirne Early bird tickets are now available for $149 through June 30. Full price of $199 begins July 1.

FutureStack16, San Francisco - November 16-17, 2016 at Pier 27 Details to be announced shortly.





About New Relic

New Relic is a software analytics company that delivers real-time insights to more than 13,000 paid business accounts. As a multi-tenant SaaS (News - Alert) platform, the New Relic Software Analytics Cloud helps companies securely monitor their production software in virtually any environment, without having to build or maintain dedicated infrastructure. New Relic helps companies improve application performance, create delightful customer experiences, and realize business success. Learn more at newrelic.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking" statements, as that term is defined under the federal securities laws, including but not limited to statements regarding New Relic's FutureStack16 Tour and Conference, including speaker and participant attendance, topics, events and benefits of attending. The achievement or success of the matters covered by such forward-looking statements are based on New Relic's current assumptions, expectations, and beliefs and are subject to substantial risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and changes in circumstances that may cause New Relic's actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement. Further information on factors that could affect New Relic's financial and other results and the forward-looking statements in this press release is included in the filings we make with the SEC (News - Alert) from time to time, including in New Relic's most recent Form 10-K, particularly under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." Copies of these documents may be obtained by visiting New Relic's Investor Relations website at http://ir.newrelic.com or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. New Relic assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law. New Relic is a registered trademark of New Relic, Inc. All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their registered owners. Social Media Links: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160620005291/en/

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[June 20, 2016] SKOUT Launches In Danish to Serve Its Growing User Base in Denmark

SAN FRANCISCO, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SKOUT, the leading global app that helps you meet new people and expand your social circle, announced today it is now available in Danish. SKOUT has seen a significant increase in activity among its growing user base in Denmark. Over the past two years, the number of connections made by Skouters in Denmark has grown by more than 50%. "We're excited to make our app available in Danish to make the experience of meeting new people through SKOUT even better for our users in Denmark," said Christian Wiklund, co-founder and CEO of SKOUT. The SKOUT app is free to download for iOS and Android devices. The app enables you to meet others nearby who shareyour interests, chat with new friends, send virtual gifts and stickers to friends, and even virtually travel to meet friends in other cities. Skouters used the SKOUT Travel feature to take more than 16 million journeys in 2015! Skout's newest feature is 'Interested?,' which uses the 'Meet People' search settings to instantly match Skouters who share similar interests.



The SKOUT community includes millions of users spanning more than 180 countries. The app is now available in 22 languages, including Danish, English, French, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish and Vietnamese. To download SKOUT for iOS or Android, or to sign up online, visit www.skout.com. You can also find SKOUT on Facebook and Twitter.

About SKOUT

SKOUT is the largest global platform for meeting new people and expanding your social circle. The SKOUT community spans more than 180 countries and is available in 22 languages. SKOUT is dedicated to providing a platform through which people can easily and safely connect. The Andreessen Horowitz backed company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in San Francisco. Visit skout.com to learn more.

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[June 20, 2016] Stem Inc., Hawaiian Electric and Hawai'i Department of Education Partner to Bring Energy Monitoring and Management to 250 Public Schools

All public elementary, middle, and high schools in the Hawaiian Electric Companies' service territory are receiving new, intelligent, energy-monitoring devices and software through a unique collaboration among Stem, Inc., a California-based leader in software-driven energy storage; Hawaiian Electric Companies; Energy Excelerator and the Hawai'i Department of Education (DOE). This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160620005328/en/ Photos of Stem PowerMonitor and PowerScope displays on laptops and tablets available, as well as photos of Stem installations (Photo Business Wire) As more public schools add classroom cooling, solar power, efficient lighting and other energy efficiency equipment, balancing costs and energy use become increasingly critical. It will require active monitoring and management of high-use devices like air-conditioning systems. Stem's high-resolution PowerMonitors will collect and transmit real-time energy use and cost data through its associated PowerScope software. Individual schools and DOE energy managers will be able to access this new level of energy data through PowerScope's interactive web-supported applications on laptops, tablets and smart phones to adapt efficiency measures and uncover savings opportunities at each school site. Installation at all public schools on Maui, Lana?i, Moloka'i and Hawai'i Island has been completed, and O'ahu public schools are expected to be complete in the first week of July. "The Hawaii State Department of Education's heat abatement efforts depend on working with energy partners to ensure that we can cool as many classrooms as possible," said Dann Carlson, assistant superintendent for the office of school facilities and spport services. "Stem's software, installed with the support of Hawaiian Electric, will give us the information we need to efficiently and cost-effectively add climate controls to the ultimate benefit of our students, faculty and the broader community."



Support for installation of energy monitoring equipment comes in part from Hawaiian Electric Companies' Smart Power for Schools (formerly Sun Power for Schools) program, funded by donations from customers and the utility. Hawaiian Electric will also have access to data from these energy systems to more effectively assist customers and help manage grid operations across the five islands. "Hawaiian Electric is committed to meeting Hawai'i's 100 percent renewable generation goals and continually improving the services we provide," said Shelee Kimura, vice president for corporate planning and business development. "By working with leading technology providers like Stem and through collaborative partnerships like that with the DOE, we will meet our goals cost-effectively and efficiently while enhancing the services available to our valued customers."

The collaboration is part of a larger PowerScope Deployment Program offered by Hawaiian Electric to help up to 400 commercial and industrial customers monitor and manage energy use and make wise alternative energy decisions, including selection and right-sizing of PV solar or energy storage systems. Commercial and industrial customers (including private schools) interested in participating should contact their Hawaiian Electric commercial account representative for more information. "This partnership is an outstanding example of utilities, customers and technology providers coming together to support even the loftiest renewable energy goals while benefitting all parties," said John Carrington, Stem Inc.'s CEO. "Stem is excited to provide Hawaiian Electric with this new, advanced service and, at the same time, expand the services offered to our utility customers." This marks Stem's first expansion beyond intelligent energy storage to provide monitoring and management software as a service for utilities and their customers. The collaboration is also supported by the Hawai'i Energy Excelerator, a program of the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research (PICHTR). Last year, Hawaiian Electric and Stem announced another first-of-its-kind collaborative project through the Energy Excelerator to install 1 MW of customer-sited intelligent energy storage on O'ahu to provide additional grid response capability to deal with the variability of solar generation and help customers reduce electricity bills. About Stem, Inc. Stem, a leading provider of intelligent energy storage, combines big data, predictive analytics and energy storage to simultaneously reduce electricity costs for businesses and in aggregate, deliver services to the grid. Stem's software learns a customer's unique energy profile to maximize savings and displays real-time and predicted energy use alongside actionable recommendations. When aggregated, Stem's customer-sited storage network offers flexible, cost-competitive capacity to the grid. Headquartered in Millbrae, California, Stem is funded by a consortium of leading investors including Angeleno Group, Iberdrola, GE Ventures, Constellation Technology Ventures, Total Energy Ventures, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., RWE Supply & Trading and Mithril Capital Management. For more information visit www.stem.com About Hawaiian Electric Hawaiian Electric and its subsidiaries, Maui Electric and Hawaii Electric Light, serve the islands of Oahu, Maui, Lana'i, Moloka'i and Hawai'i Island, home to 95 percent of the people of Hawai'i. Hawaiian Electric's parent company is Hawaiian Electric Industries (NYSE: HE). In a changing world, the Hawaiian Electric Companies are taking the lead in adding renewable energy and developing energy solutions for their customers to achieve a lower cost, clean energy future for Hawai'i. For more information, visit www.hawaiianelectric.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160620005328/en/

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[June 20, 2016] Three Deserving Dogs Win Trip of a Lifetime and Support for their Charities from Pet Supplies Plus

Furry pups Creed, Rosie and Apollo may not know how to use social media, but Facebook (News - Alert) posts about their touching stories landed each of them an adventure trip with their respective owners - along with fundraising and awareness campaigns for their associated charitable causes. The winning dogs and their owners were selected among more than 2,800 entries in the Path to Adventure Contest, a social media campaign hosted by Pet Supplies Plus as part of the launch earlier this year of their Redford Naturals dog food brand. Partnering with The Sheppard, LLC, Pet Supplies Plus will send them to the locations of their choice this fall, while along the way also helping to raise funds and awareness for non-profit, pet-related causes. During the launch of Redford Naturals, Pet Supplies Plus asked their social media followers to upload personal photos of themselves with their dogs, along with a short essay describing where they would most want to go on an adventure with their dog and why. The grand prize included an adventure trip, booked by a travel concierge through The Sheppard, a six-month supply of Redford Naturals Natural or Grain Free dry dog and a GoPro (News - Alert) Hero4 Session camera and Fetch Mount, along with a stipend of up to $3,996. The three winners include: Jennifer McCollough and her dog, Rosie - Wilmington, Delaware : McCollough is a military veteran who served the United States following the 9/11 attacks and now expresses the desire to help and honor veterans and their service dogs. McCollough rescued Rosie from the streets when she was a puppy. Their adventure : The duo will hike from the War Dog Memorial in Holmdel, New Jersey, to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., via the Appalachian Mountain Trail. They will visit other memorials along the trail, including the Pennsylvania War Dog Memorial in Bristol, Pa. Their cause : During the approximately 200-mile trek, McCollough will raise awareness for veterans and service dogs with Shelter to Soldier, whose mission is to bring post-9/11 combat veterans together with trained rescue dogs to help them recover and move on from life in the military.

: McCollough is a military veteran who served the United States following the 9/11 attacks and now expresses the desire to help and honor veterans and their service dogs. McCollough rescued Rosie from the streets when she was a puppy. Megan Lewis and her dog, Apollo - Ladson, South Carolina : An avid hiker, Lewis adopted Apollo from the rescue that pulled him from a shelter the day he was set to be euthanized, Pet Paws Pet Rescue. Apollo was found as a stray at a young age with his leg caught in a bear trap. Veterinarians couldn't not save his paw following the incident and were forced to amputate his leg. Lewis adopted Apollo after the amputation and have been hiking together ever since, even climbing the 6,684-foot Mount Mitchell in North Carolina. According to Lewis, Apollo has adjusted well and is not affected by having only three legs. Their adventure: The pair will be taking a three-day hiking and camping trip in Utah's Moab Desert. Their cause : Lewis and Apollo are partnering with Paw Paws Pet Rescue, a charity whose sole purpose is to rescue by need and not by breed. The organization saves dogs that are realizing what Apollo once experienced - having their days numbered at a kill shelter due to sickness or injury. They rehabilitate them and finds foster families that nurse them back to health until they are healthy enough for adoption.

An avid hiker, Lewis adopted Apollo from the rescue that pulled him from a shelter the day he was set to be euthanized, Pet Paws Pet Rescue. Apollo was found as a stray at a young age with his leg caught in a bear trap. Veterinarians couldn't not save his paw following the incident and were forced to amputate his leg. Lewis adopted Apollo after the amputation and have been hiking together ever since, even climbing the 6,684-foot Mount Mitchell in North Carolina. According to Lewis, Apollo has adjusted well and is not affected by having only three legs. Tammy Schultz and her dog, Creed - Brookfield, Wisconsin: Schultz is a big supporter in research that helps promote healthier, longer lives for animals. As part of this mission, Creed is one of 3,044 golden retrievers enrolled in the Morris Animal Foundation Golden Retriever Lifetime Study. He donates blood and other samples annually, helping researchers uncover the causes of cancer and other major diseases in dogs. Their adventure: Schultz and Creed have chosen to visit the headquarters of Morris Animal Foundation in Denver, Colorado, via a route through Wyoming as described by author Ted Kerosate in a novel that pulls together the latest research by talking to countless breeders, veterinarians and animal welfare movement leaders. Schultz's goal is to meet Kerosate in Wyoming and raise awareness for research. Their cause : They are partnering with the Morris Animal Foundation, a nonprofit organization that invests in science to advance animal health. Founded in 1948, Morris Animal Foundation has become a global leader in funding scientific studies for companion pets, horses and wildlife, investing more than $100 million toward 2,400 studies that advance the health and well being of animals around the world.

Schultz is a big supporter in research that helps promote healthier, longer lives for animals. As part of this mission, Creed is one of 3,044 golden retrievers enrolled in the Morris Animal Foundation Golden Retriever Lifetime Study. He donates blood and other samples annually, helping researchers uncover the causes of cancer and other major diseases in dogs.



Each of the winners are scheduled to travel in early fall, with send-off parties at Pet Supplies Plus locations in Wilmington, Del., Brookfield, Wis., and Summerville, S.C. The trio will document their voyages with the GoPro Hero4 Session camera and Fetch Mount, part of the grand prize package. They will return after their respective journeys with welcome-home parties at Pet Supplies Plus stores, where they will take home their six-month supplies of Redford Naturals Natural or Grain Free dry dog food.

Redford Naturals, a product of Pet Supplies Plus, provides protein-rich nutrition and energy to fuel dog's adventures. A good source of Omega 3 and 6, Redford Naturals offers balanced nutrition with added vitamins and minerals to give dogs the rich flavors of the wild without the corn, soy or wheat. Pet Supplies Plus will roll out additional recipes and formulas of Redford Naturals in the coming months. About Pet Supplies Plus At Pet Supplies Plus, we're crazy about pets and we are dedicated to ensuring that pet owners everywhere spend more time at home with their best friends than at the store searching for answers. At the end of the day, we're more than just Pet Supplies Plus, we're also Pet Supplies: minus low quality, minus corporate agendas, minus filler, minus fluff, minus keeping you longer, minus keeping pets waiting. We are minus the hassle. With more than 350 corporate and franchise locations in 27 states, Pet Supplies Plus is America's favorite neighborhood pet store. Each location offers a wide array of pet food, pet products, grooming services and animal expertise all at a great value, allowing customers to give their pets the very best care. Friendly, knowledgeable staff get to know each pet and their owner by name and provide playful store experiences to remind them just how fun it is to own a pet. Pet Supplies Plus stores are large enough to house an incredible variety of food and equipment, yet small enough to still feel neighborly. As a growing Livonia, Michigan-based franchisor we are ranked in Entrepreneur magazine's 2015 Annual Franchise 500 list as the Top Full-Service Pet Supplies Franchise for exceptional performance in areas including financial strength and stability, growth rate, and system size. For more information about franchise opportunities, please visit www.petsuppliesplus.com/franchise. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160620006070/en/

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[June 20, 2016] Woodbridge Continues Expansive Charitable Giving

Woodbridge Group of Companies, LLC Charitable Foundation, the charitable arm of the group of real estate-focused financial companies, today announced donations to ALEH Negev Nahalat Eran Rehabilitation Village and the Gary Sinise Foundation. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160620006313/en/ Bob and Jeri Shapiro present the General with their donation at the ALEH Negev Nahalat Eran Rehabilitation Village in Israel. "I am proud to partner with both of these charities, whose meaningful missions have been championed by strong, passionateleaders," said Bob Shapiro, CEO of Woodbridge Group of Companies. "Woodbridge will continue to give back around the world, making a difference to those most in need."



Woodbridge donated $25,000 to the ALEH Center and $20,000 to the Gary Sinise Foundation. This builds on the $250,000 already given to other philanthropies in the past year. The ALEH Center is an innovative village for young adults with severe physical and mental disabilities. At the campus in southern Israel, participants are given the opportunity to live rich and productive lives within a safe environment. The center was created in 1982 by Major General Doron Almog, former Commander-in-Chief of the Israeli Southern Command, who wanted to create a place for his son Eran. Due to his contributions to the community, Almog has been acknowledged for a number of awards including The Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement & Special Contribution to Society and State in 2016, the Presidential Award for Volunteerism in 2014, and he was also chosen as one of the most 100 Inspirational People in Israel in 2013.

The Gary Sinise Foundation was created in 2011 to honor American defenders, veterans, first responders, and their families through programs designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen, and build communities. Among the flagship initiatives is a custom smart home building project for severely wounded veterans, which provides them with a safe, specially equipped place to live. Gary Sinise, most famous for his portrayal of Lt. Dan Taylor in the landmark film Forrest Gump, has been supporting troops for over 30 years. In the past year, Woodbridge has helped organizations worldwide including The Bailey Baio Angel Foundation, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, among others. About Woodbridge Group of Companies Woodbridge Group of Companies, LLC and its management team have over 35 years of experiences with next generation financial products. Our team has completed over $1 billion in financial transactions throughout the years. There are several divisions that specialize in real estate, note buying/selling, hard money lending and the alternative financial space. Throughout the years, Woodbridge brokers and managing directors have helped thousands of clients gain strong returns on countless financial opportunities. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160620006313/en/

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Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

Trend:

Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev has expressed condolences to Russias President Vladimir Putin over the tragedy at Lake Syamozero in Karelia.

I was deeply saddened by the news of the death of children as a result of a storm on Lake Syamozero in Karelia, said President Aliyev in his letter of condolences.

On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my deepest condolences to you, the families and loved ones of those who died and the whole people of Russia, said the presidents message.
[June 19, 2016] Legal Tech Platform LawRato.com Launches LawBot - India's First Legal Advice Facebook Messenger Chatbot

NEW DELHI, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- LawRato.com, India's leading lawyer search and legal advice platform, launched the country's first self-help Facebook Messenger chatbot today nicknamed 'LawBot', the chatbot that lets users search for legal answers, ask a free legal question and find the best lawyer for their legal requirement. Users can also book a consultation with the lawyer recommended by the bot by paying a nominal consultation fee. The bot can be accessed through https://m.me/lawrato/ or by sending a message at LawRato's Facebook page. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160617/10148659 )

Available across India, LawBot allows users to enter their legal problem in the form of a question and throws up the most relevant answers and recommended lawyers for the particular problem using an AI algorithm developed in-house at LawRato.com. The users can then either continue by booking a consultation with one of the recommended lawyers or submit their question to the LawRato.com lawyer network, which is then answered for free by one of the network lawyers within minutes.



Founded in January 2015, New Delhi-based LawRato.com is India's leading legal advice and lawyer search platform. With 1500+ top verified lawyers from multiple practice areas across 200 cities in India, LawRato has answered more than 20,000 legal questions asked by users at its platform and has helped over 2000 users consult and hire the right lawyer for their legal requirement so far.

"We realized that many users were uncomfortable in revealing their details while seeking answers to their legal queries. Although users can reach us through our phone helpline and post-a-question options, more users start the conversation through chat, choosing anonymity due to the nature of their legal problems. Many just want to evaluate their options, and know the repercussions of their actions, before they actually go ahead and consult a lawyer," said LawRato's co-founder and CTO Nikhil Sarup. LawRato's LawBot helps you access the collective wisdom of our legal partners, providing access to our 50,000 lawyer opinions for over 20,000 legal topics, ranging from matrimonial issues to criminal defence. LawBot has also been given a character of its own and it tries to have conversation that lightens the serious legal mindset of the user. Try asking it to find "the cheapest lawyer", or "how to get out of jail". "We want to make good legal advice easily accessible and confidential, and believe that the LawBot will allow more people find solutions to their legal problems in a better way. As more users interact, LawBot gets smarter at finding the best answers and lawyers," added Nikhil Sarup. About LawRato.com: LawRato.com is India's leading legal tech platform that makes it faster and easier to find and hire expert lawyers in any city/court in India. LawRato.com also provides free legal advice online from multiple lawyers within minutes. LawRato.com is on a mission to make expert legal advice accessible to the common man by providing high-quality, cost-effective and on-demand legal services for every need. Media Contact:

Nikhil Sarup

[email protected]

+91-9818917222

CTO, LawRato





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[June 19, 2016] Ecoppia Announces New VP Asia Markets, India Expansion

HERZELIYA, Israel, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Following soaring demand, new VP to lead build-out of Ecoppia's Asian operations Ecoppia, global leader in robotic cleaning for large scale solar PV sites, has begun building its Indian and Asian operations, starting with hiring a new VP for the region, Nalin Sharma. The announcement follows a recently signed partnership agreement with Fortune 500 OEM Sanmina Corporation to produce up to a GW worth of robots at a new facility in southern India. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160616/380139 )

Sharma is a veteran of the Indian solar industry and brings many years of management experience to the role. He was an early employee and Head - Channel Partnership at SunEdison Asia, spearheaded channel strategy at Tata Power Solar (part of the $100 Billion Tata Group) and more recently was Vice President - Solar at RattanIndia. He started his career with BPCL, a Global Fortune 500 energy company, where he was responsible for annual revenues of $76 million. He holds a B. Tech inMechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, and an MBA from the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.



Based in Delhi, Sharma joins Ecoppia at a pivotal moment for the company's growth. With demand soaring, Sharma will be tasked with scaling up business primarily in India, while growing existing accounts in the region with some of the India's largest energy players. Commenting, Sharma said, "I'm very excited to be joining Ecoppia - its technology is set to transform the industry, and having the opportunity to spearhead development and growth in this strategic market is very exciting."

As part of a growing presence in India and Asia, Sharma is the first of multiple hires building out Ecoppia's capacity in logistics, operations and project management. Ecoppia CEO Eran Meller comments, "We're very excited to have Nalin join our experienced top management team, marking the first step in growing our operations in Asia. With Nalin's experience and capability, we're expecting to dramatically accelerate our growth in the region and further cement our reputation as the gold standard for utility solar O&M." Ecoppia will be deployed with 5 of the world's largest energy players by the end of the year. About Ecoppia Ecoppia is dedicated to maximizing solar park value creation by increasing output and lowering production overhead. The company's autonomous, water-free, field-proven solar array cleaning solution cost-effectively keeps photovoltaic panels at peak performance, even in the toughest desert conditions, cleaning 5 million solar panels every month. Privately-held, Ecoppia is backed by experienced major international investment funds and led by energy and robotics experts, with broad and multidisciplinary experience and proven records of success in operations, management, engineering and product development. For more information about Ecoppia please visit http://www.ecoppia.com. Contact Information:

Anat Segev-Cohen

Director of Marketing

[email protected]

Tel +972-9-891-7000

Mobile +972-52-843-3466





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[June 20, 2016] Midea Launches New Products in Russia at 2016 National Dealer Conference

MOSCOW, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Chinese consumer appliances manufacturer Midea has launched a series of new products for kitchen at the 2016 National Dealer Conference held from June 17-18 in Moscow. The company unveiled three built-in ovens, three microwave ovens, one vacuum cleaner and one microwave, all new releases tailored to the needs of Russian consumers, with specific adjustments in product design, function and configuration based on local market surveys. "We have highly competitive products in the international market that excel in both function and industrial design," said Danielle Boils, Branding & Marketing Director, Overseas Sales & Marketing Department of Midea's Kitchen Appliances Division. "Midea's products not only abide by the highest international quality and safety standards but also are attentive to the practical needs of our consumers." Among the nely released products in Russia, the ultra-silent vacuum cleaner offers a higher degree of suction power, in addition to a blowing function and hand grip control. Midea also introduced microwave ovens, which merge the functions of traditional oven and microwave into one to save kitchen space. These two products are some of the company's most popular products. Midea is also proud to introduce a new microwave oven with an antimicrobial coated cavity that provides a hygienic cooking environment.



Midea's comprehensive production lines present consumers with a wide range of kitchen planning solutions, including 33 built-in oven models, three microwave baking oven models, 49 built-in stoves, 17 kitchen ventilators and 46 microwaves that best suit their needs. "As one of the largest home appliances manufacturers in the world, Midea aims to bring more high quality, innovative and affordable products to our consumers," Boils said. "As one of our first steps in expanding globally, we very much value the Russian market and we are hoping to grow together with mutual respect and experience and opportunity sharing."

About Midea Kitchen Appliance Division Midea Kitchen Appliance Division is affiliated to Midea Group, one of the largest household appliance manufacture in China, founded in 1968. One of the world's largest kitchen appliance suppliers with annual sales revenue exceeding USD 2.7 billion, the company is the world's No.1 microwave oven manufacturer and No.3 dishwasher manufacturer. It operates one production base in Belarus and three in China as well as one R&D center in Bologna, Italy in addition to the two in China.

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[June 20, 2016] Corentium Launches Pro Device to Enhance Digital Radon Monitoring for Professional Market

Latest addition to Corentium product line strengthens company's mission to create radon-safe environments through technology OSLO, Norway, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Corentium today announced the launch of Corentium Pro. The product will help building managers, occupational health and safety consultants, and radon professionals significantly elevate their work and bring new levels of accuracy and innovation to radon detection. Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160616/380260 "Corentium Pro is unlike any other professional device on the market," said Oyvind Birkenes, Corentium CEO. "Radon is a dynamic and volatile element, and the technology we integrate into our products ensures that outside factors do not affect their ability to generate the most accurate readings. Stand-out features of Corentium Pro include: Mobile access and branded reporting: The first professional device to incorporate apps for both iPhone and Android. By creating a user profile via the app and corresponding software, professionals can generate on-the-spot reports.

The first professional device to incorporate apps for both iPhone and Android. By creating a user profile via the app and corresponding software, professionals can generate on-the-spot reports. Built-in redundancy: The only instrument on the market that has built-in redundancy, with four radon chambers working in parallel to mitigate inaccuracy or failure.

The only instrument on the market that has built-in redundancy, with four radon chambers working in parallel to mitigate inaccuracy or failure. Additional monitoring: Designed to be tamper-resistant, with built-in temperature, pressure, humidity and motion sensors to ensure accuracy with each reading.

Designed to be tamper-resistant, with built-in temperature, pressure, humidity and motion sensors to ensure accuracy with each reading. Portability and battery-powered: The device is compact and lightweight. Battery-power allows professionals to place the device exactly where needed.



Norway -based company that develops and manufactures both professional- and consumer-grade technologies that have completely changed the way people monitor and analyze radon levels in indoor air. Led by a team of experienced scientists, engineers and technology industry veterans, Corentium is on a mission to ensure people around the world take control of their air quality through simple, affordable and accurate technology solutions. In the consumer category, the simple but powerful Corentium Home is a proven favorite among homeowners. Designed for durability and efficiency, Corentium Home continuously monitors a home for years.

In the European Union alone, lung cancer resulting from radon exposure is responsible for more than 20,000 deaths annually. A new Commission Directive will safeguard workplaces and people against the effects of radiation, including radon. Corentium technology is tailored to meet those challenges, being quick diagnosis or long-term monitoring of buildings. Corentium Pro is now available and retails for 1399, while the Corentium Home sells at 199. For more information on Corentium radon monitors or to purchase a device, visit www.corentium.com.

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[June 20, 2016] Open Source Licensing for Altair's PBS Professional Now Available

TROY, Mich., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Open source licensing for Altair's market-leading high-performance computing (HPC) workload manager, PBS Professional (PBS Pro), is now available. PBS Pro development communities are now forming and the full-core open source version of PBS Pro can be downloaded at www.pbspro.org. With the release of this Open Source Initiative compliant version, PBS Pro will support an environment of collaboration for the HPC community to combine efforts and focus on achieving common objectives for high-performance computing. PBS Pro has been commercially developed and supported for over twenty years, with thousands of organizations worldwide using its award-winning scalable workload management platform to improve the efficiency and throughput of their computational infrastructure. "Our intent is to continuously push the boundaries of HPC to pursue exascale computing through active participation with the HPC community," says James R. Scapa, Altair's Founder, Chairman, and CEO. "Working together toward common goals will allow for resources to be applied more efficiently. Our dual-licensing platform will encourage public and private sector collaboration to advance globally relevant topics including Big Data, cloud computing, advanced manufacturing, energy, life sciences, and the inexorable move toward a connected world through the Internet of Things." The PBS Pro open source licensing option complements the public sector's culture of collaborative innovation and provdes a robust platform for engineers, researchers and scientists in different organizations to work, learn and advance HPC together. The private sector will continue to have access to a fully supported, hardened HPC workload management platform tightly integrated with Altair's PBS Works suite and its hardware and software partner technologies.



"Scheduling is a basic building block of HPC. We are trying to cultivate a community that spans the world of HPC (both public and private sectors) to eliminate duplication, to build on the strengths of all sectors, and to focus on a common solution for HPC scheduling. A shared solution will speed up progress for all," remarked Dr. Bill Nitzberg, PBS Works CTO. "Altair is committed to being aggressively open and community-oriented with this project and looks forward to nurturing an inclusive environment for the advancement of HPC." In parallel with the open source release of PBS Pro, Altair continues to work closely with the Linux Foundation and is a proud founding member of the OpenHPC Collaborative Project. Through this collaboration, PBS Pro can be leveraged in the OpenHPC software stack and Scott Suchyta, Director of Partner Solutions and Integrations at Altair, will be a supporting member of the OpenHPC Technical Steering Committee (TSC). As part of the committee, he will work with fellow TSC members to provide an open and transparent collaborative development of the project's direction and code contributions.

The global HPC community is invited and encouraged to engage, participate and share in the PBS Pro open source project. Join the conversation and downloads of PBS Pro are available at www.pbspro.org. 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. Media Contacts: Altair Corporate/North America

Biba A. Bedi

+1-757.224.0548 x 406

[email protected] Altair Europe, the Middle East and Africa

Evelyn Gebhardt

+49 6421 9684351

[email protected] To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/open-source-licensing-for-altairs-pbs-professional-now-available-300286584.html SOURCE Altair

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[June 20, 2016]

BlackLine To Present With SAP And Thomson Reuters At Financials 2016 Conference In Vienna

LONDON and LOS ANGELES, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackLine, a leading provider of financial controls and automation solutions that enable "Continuous Accounting," will be presenting with enterprise application software leader SAP (NYSE: SAP) and Thomson Reuters, a leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, at the Financials 2016 show being held this week in Vienna, Austria.

The session, entitled "Extending the Power of SAP S/4HANA Finance with Cloud Technology," will provide best practices for using a cloud-based platform such as the BlackLine Financial Close Suite for SAP Solutions alongside SAP S/4HANA Finance to optimise the reconciliation and financial close processes. The presentation with Thomson Reuters is one of two that BlackLine will deliver alongside SAP during the conference. The second, entitled "Best Practices to Streamline the Account Reconciliation Process for a Faster Close," will dig even deeper into specific best practices and innovative strategies for optimising the reconciliation process for companies operating in an environment running only SAP software, as well as for those using multiple ERP/general ledger systems.

Featured Speakers:

Josh May , solutions consultant and Finance Transformation expert, BlackLine

, solutions consultant and Finance Transformation expert, BlackLine Dr. Christoh Ernst , senior director, Finance Solutions, SAP SE

, senior director, Finance Solutions, SAP SE Bob Abercrombie , CPA, director of Corporate Infrastructure & Operations, Thomson Reuters







For more information, contact BlackLine Senior Vice President of Marketing Howard Goldstein at [email protected].

About BlackLine

BlackLine is a leading provider of Enhanced Finance Controls and Automation (EFCA) software and the only one that offers a unified cloud platform supporting the entire close-to-disclose process. BlackLine's EFCA Platform helps midsize companies and large enterprises improve the accuracy and reliability of their financial reporting, achieve process efficiencies and improve visibility into their Finance & Accounting (F&A) operations. The platform enables customers to move beyond outdated processes and point solutions to a "Continuous Accounting" model. With Continuous Accounting, real-time automation, controls and period-end tasks are embedded within day-to-day activities, allowing the rigid accounting calendar to more closely mirror the broader business.

Delivered through a scalable and highly secure cloud model and built from a single code base, the BlackLine platform supports many key F&A processes including the financial close, account reconciliations, intercompany accounting and controls assurance, fueling confidence throughout the entire accounting cycle. Through BlackLine's cloud analytics software, BlackLine Insights, CFOs access real-time data to benchmark, analyze and improve the efficiency and performance of their F&A organisations. The software utilizes live, aggregated and anonymized data collected from BlackLine customers.

In an era of ever-increasing business complexity, transaction volumes and stringent regulatory requirements, BlackLine's platform is purpose-built to transform and modernize mission-critical F&A processeswith enterprise-grade accuracy, automation and transparency. More than 135,000 users across 1,400 companies in approximately 100 countries depend upon BlackLine to increase accountant productivity and elevate controls and compliance functions to Modern Finance status.

BlackLine complements existing enterprise systems for Corporate Performance Management, Governance Risk and Compliance and Enterprise Resource Planning. The BlackLine Financial Close Suite for SAP Solutions is an SAP-endorsed business solution, joining the ranks of fewer than 40 other software offerings. BlackLine also is an SAP gold partner, Oracle Gold Partner, and participates in the partner programs of NetSuite and several other ERP providers.

BlackLine global headquarters are in Los Angeles, with regional headquarters in London, Singapore and Sydney. For more information or to see a complete list of offices, please visit www.blackline.com.

SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE (or an SAP affiliate company) in Germany and other countries. See http://www.sap.com/corporate-en/legal/copyright/index.epx for additional trademark information and notices. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20061117/LAF027LOGO

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blackline-to-present-with-sap-and-thomson-reuters-at-financials-2016-conference-in-vienna-300286639.html

SOURCE BlackLine
[June 20, 2016] Unomaly Announces 4.6MEUR in Series-A Funding Led by EQT Ventures

STOCKHOLM, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Unomaly, the company that is changing the way businesses monitor, detect and investigates IT incidents, has raised 4.6 million euro in Series A funding led by EQT Ventures. Andreas Thorstensson of EQT Ventures will join the board of directors. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160619/380955 )

Founded in 2012, Unomaly provides a solution that automatically analyses all the data that IT systems, applications and infrastructures produce. It leverages smart algorithms that continuously learns the normal behavior of every IT system to detect and explain virtually any IT incident - from crashes, to problems and breaches. Current customers span 11 countries and include 2/4 Scandinavian banks, nuclear power plants and a broad set of Internet companies. "Unomaly is the perfect example of the kind of team EQT Ventures wants to partner with. Great founders solving a large and complex problem using ground breaking technology. Machine learning is all the hype right now, but this is an approach where it really excels", says Andreas Thorstensson, Tech Partner at EQT Ventures. "This is a strong vote of confidence by EQT Ventures", says Unomaly co-founder and CEO Johan Gustafsson. "EQT Ventures is one of very few VCs out there with deep technology knowledge and entrepreneurial background. They have precisely the right people for the right questions. We think this understanding and composition is really important for a long term prtnership".



Unomaly rides the wave of increasing software dependency. Today, software is a critical part of everything, from Internet services to automobiles, and the impact of failures, breaches and crashes continues to grow. An average IT organisation manages to detect less than one third of all incidents - despite having more than 5 monitoring tools. Two thirds of all cyber security incidents are detected by customers, not the IT departments themselves. This in turn forces the average IT organisation to spend over 20 percent of their time troubleshooting. "These numbers are highly correlated with underutilisation of data", says Unomaly co-founder and CTO Goran Sandahl. "By allowing organisations to have all their data analysed in a continuous and systematic manner, without bias from rules or searches, we enable a fundamentally new understanding of what IT environments are doing and how they are failing".

Unomaly's technology is packaged as a simple software that customers download and install where they are running systems and applications, either in their own data centers or in the cloud. Customers configure their systems to forward data to the installation and the technology automatically and continuously learns normal behavior. All parts of the IT organisation - from operations, to developers and security engineers - benefit from click-based access to root-cause anomalies and instant notifications without having to bother with rules, search or data overload. The funding will allow Unomaly to further strengthen global customer operations and product development. This Series A follows a 1.9MEUR seed funding in 2013. To learn more about Unomaly, please visit http://www.unomaly.com Note to press: Photos are available upon request to [email protected] About Unomaly Some organisations operate on guesswork and assumptions. Others use Unomaly. Unomaly helps organisations maintain a complete understanding of normal behavior and abnormal situations in their IT environments through automatic and self learning analysis of all the data produced by infrastructure, systems and applications. About EQT Ventures EQT Ventures is a new European VC fund with commitments of just over  566 million, and some of Europe's most experienced investment advisors, most of them company builders themselves. EQT Ventures is part of EQT, a global leading private equity group. Building on EQT's proven track record of developing companies (with more than 150 investments and 70 exits), vouches for that the right long-term growth focused strategy is put in place.

Contact

To learn more about this announcement, please contact:

Goran Sandahl : [email protected], +46 (0)70 7161008

Johan Gustafsson : [email protected], +46 (0)70 2852313

SOURCE Unomaly

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[June 20, 2016] Vonage Introduces New boomerang International Calling Feature

HOLMDEL, N.J., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Vonage (NYSE: VG) announces its latest international calling feature, boomerang, making it easier and faster for customers to get in touch with loved ones around the world. boomerang breaks the cycle and frustration of international "missed calls" or "call me back" messages by allowing friends and family abroad to reach Vonage customers without having to pay for the call. With the feature, Vonage customers can create a list of boomerang contacts and any contact on that list who initiates a call to the Vonage customer will automatically receive a call back. The experience for both the caller and recipient is seamless. "A study of our customers' calling patterns revealed that receiving 'missed calls' from friends and family overseas is a common practice to indicate the need to talk without incurring the expense of an international call," said Gene Cannon, Vice President of Product Management for Vonage. "boomerang makes it fast and easy for friends and family anywhere in the world to reach Vonage customers without having to pay for the call, providing a seamless way for customers to connect with loved ones." When an overseas caller dials a Vonage customer's number, they hear a message telling them to hang up to receive a call back. Vonage then uses the customer's number to automatically place a call between the customer and caller. The Vonage customer then has the option to either answer the phone or direct the call to voicemail. Whether or not the call is connected, friends and family abroadare never charged by Vonage.



Key Features of boomerang: Customers can choose up to 10 contacts to add to their boomerang list.

Customers can easily add and remove contacts from their boomerang list via the Vonage Extensions App's contacts or "recent" list.

boomerang works with other Vonage features like SimulRing, call forwarding, call waiting, visual voicemail and more.

boomerang calls will ring the Vonage home phone and mobile Extensions App.

Customers will hear a special ring tone on the Extensions App to indicate a boomerang call.

boomerang is included in calling plans for Vonage residential customers in the U.S., U.K. and Canada regardless of the country that originates the call. For more on boomerang, watch this video with Gene Cannon or click here for a demo.

About Vonage

Vonage (NYSE: VG) is a leading provider of cloud communications services for businesses. Vonage transforms the way people work and businesses operate through a portfolio of communications solutions that enable internal collaboration among employees, while also keeping companies closely connected with their customers, across any mode of communication, on any device. The Company also provides a robust suite of feature-rich residential communication solutions. In 2015, the Company was named a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications as-a-Service, Worldwide and also earned the Frost & Sullivan Growth Excellence Leadership Award for Hosted IP and Unified Communications and Collaboration (UCC) Services. For more information, visit www.vonage.com. Vonage Holdings Corp. is headquartered in Holmdel, New Jersey. Vonage is a registered trademark of Vonage America Inc. To follow Vonage on Twitter, please visit www.twitter.com/vonage. To become a fan on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/vonage. To subscribe on YouTube, visit www.youtube.com/vonage. (vg-a) To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vonage-introduces-new-boomerang-international-calling-feature-300286863.html SOURCE Vonage

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[June 20, 2016] Privacy and Cyber Expert Aaron Burstein Joins Wilkinson Barker Knauer

Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP is pleased to announce that, effective today, Aaron Burstein is joining the firm as Partner. Mr. Burstein joins after almost three years at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC (News - Alert)) as a Senior Legal Advisor to former Commissioner Julie Brill, where he advised the Commissioner on matters involving privacy, data security, financial practices, and other consumer protection areas. Prior to joining the FTC, Mr. Burstein was a Policy Advisor at the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA). In this capacity, he served as staff lead on data privacy policy development, regularly briefed NTIA and Commerce Department officials on privacy issues, developed NTIA positions on privacy legislation and Executive Branch policies, and represented NTIA in negotiations with other Federal agencies on privacy, cybersecurity, copyright, Internet governance, and other Internet policy issues. Mr. Burstein also served as the Director for Privacy and Civil Liberties for the National Security Council, where he advised senior White House officials on privacy and cybersecurity issues and helped formulate Administration positions on cybersecurity legislation. Mr. Burstein previously served as an Honors Attorney in the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division, where he led reviews of proposed mergers, and worked in academia as a Research Fellow at the University of California, where he authored articles on privacy and security law. Mr. Burtein received a Bachelor of Science degree from Brown University, and MS and law degrees from University of California, Berkeley.



Bryan Tramont, Managing Partner of Wilkinson Barker Knauer, said, "In today's connected world, companies are increasingly facing evolving and complex privacy issues. Aaron's deep expertise in cybersecurity and privacy will be another great addition to our firm, and his experience and contacts at the FTC will deepen our consumer protection practice. Aaron's character and work ethic also are a perfect fit for WBK, and he is sure to become a trusted advisor to our clients." Mr. Burstein commented, "I was impressed by WBK's reputation as a top-notch communications and technology firm, and was struck by how the attorneys genuinely care about their clients and each other. I am looking forward to serving the firm's clients and being part of the WBK team." Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP, one of the largest law firms in the nation dedicated primarily to the practice of communications and energy law, is ranked as a "first tier" firm by Chambers USA (Telecom, Broadcast, and Satellite: Regulatory), and Legal 500 (Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory), and was twice named "Law Firm of the Year" in communications law by U.S. News - Best Lawyers (2012 & 2014). The firm, with offices in Washington, D.C. and Denver, Colorado, advises clients ranging from global Fortune 100 companies to small start-ups in regulatory, transactional, privacy, consumer protection, trademark, corporate and litigation matters involving all aspects of communications and energy law, at both the state and federal levels.

More on Mr. Burstein can be found at http://www.wbklaw.com/Our_Team/Aaron_Burstein and additional information about Wilkinson Barker Knauer can be found at http://www.wbklaw.com. Mr. Burstein can be reached at [email protected] and at (202) 383-3375. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160620005685/en/

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[June 20, 2016] Printed, Organic & Flexible Electronics Forecasts, Players & Opportunities 2016-2026 : Market data; market and technology appraisal; case studies: the complete picture for printed, flexible and organic electronics

LONDON, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This report provides the most comprehensive view of the topic, giving detailed ten year forecasts by component type, territory and materials. The market is analyzed by territory, printed/non printed, rigid/flexible, inorganic/organic, cost of materials/process cost and more. It addresses the big picture - all OLED displays and other relevant displays plus OLED lighting, thin film photovoltaics, sensors, TFTs, batteries and enabling materials. The report builds on ten years of analysis on the topic with refined up-to-date forecast data.This report provides the most comprehensive view of the topic, giving detailed ten year forecasts by device type. The market is analyzed by territory, printed vs non printed, rigid vs flexible, inorganic vs organic, cost of materials vs process cost and much more. Activities of over 1,000 leading companies are given, as is assessment of the winners and losers to come.



Impartial assessment



In the report IDTechEx appraises each enabling technology component by virtue of its market need - not technology push. We draw on ten years of knowledge tracking this sector and provide detailed, refined forecasts, strategic positioning and assessment of trends, "hot topics" and unmet opportunities.



The big picture



The report specifically addresses the big picture - including OLED displays and lighting, to thin film photovoltaics to flexible sensors and much more. Importantly, it includes not only electronics which are printed, organic and/or flexible now, but it also covers those that will be. Realistic timescales, case studies, existing products and the emergence of new products are given, as are impediments and opportunities for the years to come.



Over 3,000 organizations are pursuing printed, organic, flexible electronics, including printing electronics, materials and packaging companies. While some of these technologies are in use now - indeed there are three sectors which have created billion dollar markets - others are commercially embryonic.







The benefits of these new electronics are numerous - ranging from lower cost, improved performance, flexibility, transparency, reliability, better environmental credentials and much more. Many of the applications will be newly created, and where existing electronic and electrical products are impacted, the extent will be varied.



This widely referenced IDTechEx report brings it all together, with particular focus on applications and quantative assessment of opportunities.

Market size from 2016 to 2026





IDTechEx find that the total market for printed, flexible and organic electronics will grow from $26.54 billion in 2016 to $69.03 billion in 2026. The majority of that is OLEDs (organic but not printed) and conductive ink used for a wide range of applications. On the other hand, stretchable electronics, logic and memory, thin film sensors are much smaller segments but with huge growth potential as they emerge from R&D.



Lessons, successes and opportunities



The following components are assessed, and for each one ten year forecasts are given, along with companies and their activities, case studies, impediments to commercialization and timescales:



- Logic and memory

- OLED displays

- OLED lighting

- Electrophoretic and other bistable displays

- Electrochromic displays

- Electroluminescent displays

- Other displays

- Thin film batteries

- Photovoltaics

- Sensors

- Conductors

- Other



If you are looking to understand the big picture, the opportunity, the problems you can address, or how you can start to use these technologies and the implications involved, this report is a must. Researched by multilingual IDTechEx consultants based in four countries and three continents, this report builds on ten years of knowledge of the industry.

Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/3908937/



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

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Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

Trend:

Russia hopes for further work with Azerbaijan in all spheres of cooperation, said Russias President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev in St. Petersburg June 20, Russia 24 TV channel reported.

The problem for which we have gathered is known: it is the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict inherited from the past, said Putin. But I would like to take the advantage of our meeting to talk about our bilateral relations as well.

First of all, against the background of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, which has just wrapped up, I would like to note that due to the known reasons, unfortunately, we see a certain decline in trade turnover, said Russias president.

The lower oil prices, as well as the exchange rate difference have led to the decrease of trade turnover, said Putin.

He also expressed intention to discuss the humanitarian aspects of the bilateral cooperation.

We are aware of Azerbaijans care to the study of Russian language and we know how successfully the branches of our universities operate [in the country], said Putin. We praise all this and I hope that this work will continue in all spheres in the future.
What you need to know about Colts starting quarterback Sam Ehlinger
Volunteer walks in honor of her husband Thousand Oaks resident Joan Hull will be among those participating in this years Conejo Valley Walk to End Alzheimers at 9 a.m. Sat., Oct. 22 at the Westlake Promenade. Hull...

Overpass could get protective fencing A substantial safety upgrade for the areas most notorious overpass is finally getting some Caltrans considerationbut dont expect changes any time soon. At the Sept. 21 Moorpark City Council meeting,...

Early detection is the best way to survive breast cancer Every October, we celebrate those men and women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. But what is breast cancer and how can it be diagnosed and managed? There are...
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

Trend:

Azerbaijan`s first lady, president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva has met with a French delegation led by President of the Association of Friends of Azerbaijan in France, member of the National Assembly Jean-Francois Mancel.

Mehriban Aliyeva expressed her confidence that the French delegation`s visit was successful. I am happy that you watched the Formula 1 race which was held in Azerbaijan for the first time, said the first lady. Mehriban Aliyeva thanked Jean-Francois Mancel for an increase in the number of members of the Association of Friends of Azerbaijan in France.

The first lady said there were first time visitors in the French delegation, expressing hope that those who become familiar with the country would contribute to strengthening Azerbaijani-French ties.

The president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation hailed the development of relations between the two countries in all fields, particularly in political, economic and inter-parliamentary areas. She also highlighted humanitarian ties, and said a French lyceum was inaugurated in the country a year ago. Mehriban Aliyeva said an Azerbaijan-French University is expected to open this year. I am sure that joint efforts in humanitarian field will bring our peoples closer to each other, Mehriban Aliyeva said.

Jean-Francois Mancel praised high-level organization of the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe in Baku, saying Azerbaijan had a rich experience in arranging such international events.

Mehriban Aliyeva was presented with a keepsake on behalf of the Association of Friends of Azerbaijan in France.
Baku, Azerbaijan June 14

By Elena Kosolapova - Trend:

Irans spare oil production capacity is quite limited, Kamran Dadkhah, an associate professor in the Department of Economics at the US Northeastern University, expert on Iran believes.

Prior to the Islamic revolution [in 1978-79] Iran produced 6 million barrels per day. On that basis Iran has close to two million barrels of unused capacity. But this is misleading, Dadkhah told Trend by email on June 14.

The expert noted that over the past 38 years Iran's oil fields have been deprived of required investment and maintenance.

Therefore, Iran needs to attract substantial foreign investment and modern technology to be able to use its spare capacity, he said.

Dadkhah expects Iran will continue its efforts to increase its oil production and exports, but this would not be an easy task.

The expert noted that one problem in the way of attracting foreign investment was the so called buyback contracts, but the Iranian oil ministry has already abandoned those contracts in favor of joint investment.

What Iran needs to do now is to settle its problems with the United States and Saudi Arabia, he said.

Dadkhah noted that many companies and investors are wary that investment in Iran may involve sanctioned individuals and institutions due to their connections to terrorists or money laundering groups. On the other hand, many oil companies do not want to antagonize another big oil producer, he said.

If Iran could settle these issues and provide a safe environment for investment, many oil companies would rush to invest in Iran, Dadkhah said.

The expert believes Iran oil reserves both inland and in the Persian Gulf are quite attractive to oil companies, but Iran should settle for known companies with access to the latest technology such as Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil.

Dadkhah does not expect that current low oil prices will hinder foreign companies from investing in Iranian oil fields.

Oil production from conventional fields is still quite profitable. Moreover, it is expected that oil prices will stabilize and then increase in the future. Therefore, if other conditions are met, there will be investment in Iranian oil fields, he said.

Earlier, Iran announced that it had achieved the pre-sanctions level of oil production. According to OPEC, oil production in Iran in May grew by more than 89,000 barrels per day - up to 3.562 million barrels per day. According to BP, Iran ranked fourth in the world in terms of the proven oil reserves, which amounted to 21.7 billion tons at the beginning of 2016.

Edited by SI

Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
Rod Bland, CEO and Upgrade Evangelist of RamCity, revealed that a shipment of Samsung SM961 1TB SSDs are en route to his company. The SM961 is faster than the previous generation SM951 and retail 950 Pro. The new OEM-targeted NVMe SSD uses a new controller that should produce less heat, a move aimed at reducing thermal throttle conditions. The Polaris controller boosts V-NAND performance up to 3,200 MB/s (sequential read) and up to 450,000 random read IOPS at queue depth 32.

Product SM961 128GB SM961 256GB SM961 512GB SM961 1TB Pricing NA $159 $280 $512 Controller Samsung Polaris Samsung Polaris Samsung Polaris Samsung Polaris DRAM Samsung LPDDR3 Samsung LPDDR3 Samsung LPDDR3 Samsung LPDDR3 Flash Samsung MLC V-NAND Samsung MLC V-NAND Samsung MLC V-NAND Samsung MLC V-NAND Sequential Read 3100 MB/s 3100 MB/s 3200 MB/s 3200 MB/s Sequential Write 700 MB/s 1400 MB/s 1700 MB/s 1800 MB/s Random Read 330,000 IOPS 330,000 IOPS 330,000 IOPS 450,000 IOPS Random Write 170,000 IOPS 280,000 IOPS 300,000 IOPS 320,000 IOPS Warranty Varies By Reseller Varies By Reseller3-Years From RamCity Varies By Reseller3-Years From RamCity Varies By Reseller3-Years From RamCity

The SM961 will ship in four capacity sizes, but we don't expect to see the small 128GB used outside of the OEM and system integrator market. RamCity plans to carry the 256GB, 512GB and 1TB drives. We learned the initial pricing details and found a presale page for the SM961 1TB.

The first thing that stands out to us is the pricing. The SM961 costs less than the Samsung 950 Pro 256GB and 512GB. The large 1TB model is unrivaled in the NVMe M.2 form factor. The drive sells for half of the price of Intel's SSD 750 1.2TB. The pricing listed above comes from RamCity and was listed in USD.

Samsung hasn't replied to our questions about the new Polaris controller nor the flash. We suspect the controller uses an 8-channel design and a new process node to reduce heat output to combat thermal throttling. We also expect the SM961 1TB to use 3rd generation V-NAND technology like the Samsung Portable SSD T3. Samsung's third-gen V-NAND stacks 48 layers high and doubles the density of previous 32-layer (Gen2) V-NAND flash.

We obtained the performance specifications for all four capacity sizes (see above). The SM961 is easily the fastest consumer SSD to ship, ever.

Chris Ramseyer is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware, covering Storage. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.

Follow us on Facebook, Google+, RSS, Twitter and YouTube.
The Smith Street Band have been forced to cancel their New Zealand tour after frontman Will Wagner sustained a high grade muscle tear and suffered internal bleeding in his leg following an injury during the bands recent Melbourne show.

As The Music noted last week, Wagner told the crowd that he had re-injured his leg during the bands performance at Max Watts, joking that hed play the rest of the bands Australian tour in a wheelchair like a fat, modern day Axl Rose.

I think Ive broken my leg  so if anyone needs me after the show Im going to the hospital, he reportedly told the crowd at the end of the set. A subsequent Facebook post from the band confirmed that Wagner did indeed end up in hospital.

Doc says High grade muscle tear and internal bleeding. Crutches for 4-6 weeks. But the show must go on!! We spoke to Dave and Axl, made some arrangements and for the next two nights well be introducing the WIL-CHAIR, the band wrote.

The band finished up the remainder of the Australian tour dates (No soft tissue injury can stop us!), but have unfortunately been forced to cancel a planned trip to New Zealand, apologising for the circumstances in an official statement.

We are very sorry to announce that were going to have to cancel this weekends New Zealand shows due to my leg injury! they write. Its very swollen and due to the amount of internal bleeding the doctor has said I cant fly because it would risk blood clots and other serious complications!

Were very sorry to cancel and wouldnt be doing it if there was any other way! The shows are already being rescheduled for later in the year! Read the bands full statement in the embed below.
Egypt-based Maxim Investment Group is keen to establish a comprehensive city within the state new administrative capital city, said a report.



The upcoming city will come up over a 1.26 million sq ft to 2.1 million sq ft area, reported Amwal Alghad, citing its chairman Mohamed Karrar.

The new, yet-to be-named administrative capital will be located 45 km east of Cairo and just outside the Second Greater Cairo Ring Road in a largely undeveloped area halfway to the seaport city of Suez.

Maxim has already pumped E600 million ($67 million) into its projects in the north coast within the first five months of this year,. stated the report.



In addition, one of the companies which is affiliated to Maxim group has supplied 70 per cent of volume of concrete used in the new capital city project.

The company had started supplying concrete six months ago, said the report.



Maxim said the total investments by the group in Egypt has increased by E13 billion ($1.45 billion), it added.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

By Elena Kosolapova - Trend:

The creation of a single oil and oil products market for the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), can be postponed if it doesnt meet the interests of all member states, said Kazakhstans Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov.

He made the remarks during a meeting with the countrys population.

The single oil market should benefit the economies of all EEU countries and there is enough time to achieve this purpose, added Idrissov.

Earlier, during a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Astana, heads of the EEU member states reached an agreement in principle on creating a single oil market by 2025.

The Eurasian Economic Union started to operate in early 2015. Its member states are Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
CH2M, a global engineering company, said it has played a key role in the construction of a private 10,000-sq-m outdoor beach resort at the iconic Burj Al Arab managed by the global luxury hotel company Jumeirah group.



A member of Dubai Holding, Jumeirah recently celebrated the opening of the Burj Al Arab Terrace, with a ceremony presided over by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.



CH2M was hired by Jumeirah as the client's engineer to deliver Burj Al Arab Terrace, a world-first in marine and off-site construction.



The terrace is a 10,000-sq-m outdoor luxury leisure facility that stretches 100 m out into the sea.



CH2M's maritime experts provided engineering advice and marine modelling, conducted environmental impact assessments and coordinated bathymetric measurements to understand the depth of water at the site.



They reviewed the structural, architectural and MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) designs created by the specialist Finnish firm Admares, and provided site supervision services for the construction.



Colin Emmitt, CH2M's project director, said: "This project allowed CH2M to build on its 60-year history of maritime work in Dubai by being part of a true global first in hotel construction and marine design."



"Burj Al Arab is one of the most recognised buildings in the world, and its luxury and hospitality are legendary. The addition of the terrace showcases Dubai's leadership in leisure as well as ingenious engineering," stated Emmitt.



As the client's engineer, CH2M led the process of obtaining all necessary approvals for the project from various Dubai authorities, said the top official.



The team also conducted frequent visits to Finland to inspect the construction of the 5,000-tonne platform. The platform was then transported by ship to Dubai to ensure its installation gave only minimal disruption to the hotel and the local marine life, he added.



According to Emmitt, the design also incorporates a 612-sq-m freshwater pool and an 828-sq-m saltwater infinity pool.



A staggering 10 million mosaic tiles line the pools, while 1,000 tonnes of white sand was used to create the beach, he added.



Amer Al Akhdar, the director of Capital Projects at Jumeirah Group, said: "I was privileged to head the project from inception to completion. The completion of this unique project would not have been achieved without the incredible effort and commitment from all parties involved."



"It has been an extremely challenging project and nothing was straightforward. Many aspects of the project were being done for the first time ever, making the Burj Al Arab Terrace a breathtaking feature, both in its concept and execution," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Bahrain-based Nass Contracting Company said it has successfully passed its recertification audit for ISO 9001:2008 (quality management system), ISO 14001:2004 (environmental management system) and OHSAS 18001:2007 (occupational health and Safety management system).



The certifications from Bureau Veritas Certification (BVC) Holding were renewed for the project management and construction of marine, industrial, civil engineering and general building works.



On behalf of BVC Holding (UK Branch), Bureau Veritas-Bahrain conducted audits over five days covering various sites and departments of Nass Contracting, and recommended the renewal of the three ISO certificates for a period of three years starting from June 29.



The certificates were officially handed over to Nass Contractings chief executive Ghazi Nass by Bureau Veritas country chief executive Zulfiqar Haider, and certification manager Mohsin Baig at a ceremony held at the company's office in Maameer.



To have this certification renewed every three years for the last six years without a single interruption is a true testament that we have consistently maintained the highest quality standards and processes in the project management and construction solutions we carry out, remarked David Anthony, the general manager of Nass Contracting.



"This latest accomplishment validates that we are working according to the highest quality and safety standards, and the entire organisation is driven to serve our customers into the future," stated Anthony.



"Nass Contracting Company also plans to adopt the latest revisions of ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 by 2017," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Arabia will grant licenses to US-based multinational 3M and pharma major Pfizer to operate and invest in the kingdom, Arab News quoted Minister of Commerce and Investment Majed bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi as saying.



Agreements will be signed during Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salmans ongoing visit to the US, the report quoted Al-Qasabi, citing Saudi Press Agency (SPA).



The Dow Chemical Company became the first foreign firm to be awarded a trading license from the Saudi government, with 100 per cent ownership, Al-Qasabi said.



Meanwhile, Apples entry into the Saudi market is under discussion, according to SPA.
Iran's Petrochemical Commercial Company International (PCCI) is holding discussions with investors from Japan and South Korea for investing 520 million ($591.01 million) in petrochemical projects in the country, said a report.



The investments will be made in the form of usance letter of credits (L/Cs).



PCCI has initiated talks with Japanese and South Korean investors to finance petrochemical projects in the Islamic Republic, Isa Mashayekhi, managing director of PCCI, was quoted as saying in an Iran Daily News report.



He said Iran's Ministry of Economy should provide state guarantees with the supervision of the Central Bank of Iran for PGPIC to access credit from countries such as Japan and South Korea.



He said a South Korean credit line valued at 13 billion ($14.7 billion) is available for Iran while a 10 billion ($11.37 billion) Japanese credit line will be accessible in August 2017, added the report.


The UAE and Germany will aim to strengthen economic relations and pursue opportunities for the development of partnerships between the two countries, following a meeting in Dubai between two top officials from the respective countries.

Eng Mohammed Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz Al Shehhi, undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Economy for Economic Affairs, met in Dubai, UAE, with Felix Neugart, CEO of the German Emirati Joint Council for Industry & Commerce (AHK), to discuss bilateral trade relations between the countries.



The two sides discussed ways to strengthen the economic relations, said a statement.



The undersecretary stated that the relations between the UAE and Germany have grown stronger over the past few years, noting that the UAE has become Germanys largest trading partner in the Arab region, accounting for 25 per cent of the total volume of trade between Arab countries and Germany which stood at 52 billion ($59.1 billion) in 2015. He mentioned that Germany is the sixth largest trading partner of the UAE, it said.



He also stated that foreign non-oil trade between the two countries in 2015 grew by 3 per cent from the previous year to reach about $15.5 billion, it added.



Al Shehhi noted as well Germanys advanced economic position as the largest economy in Europe and one of the worlds most industrialised countries, pointing to its superiority in the fields of science, research and technology, said a statement.



He explained that the keenness of the UAE to diversify the national economy, develop its non-oil sectors and uplift the role of the private sector opens broad prospects for the exchange of experiences and the promotion of investments in several areas.



Al Shehhi particularly referred to partnerships in advanced industries, support for small and medium enterprises, encouragement of innovation, and the promotion of investment in tourism, air and sea transport, renewable energy, water desalination, infrastructure, health, and education, among others.



For his part, Neugart said that Germany and the UAE continue to develop excellent bilateral ties and that the Emirates leads Germany's relations with the Arab region.



He praised the economic diversification achieved by the UAE and its ability to continue to grow despite global economic challenges and declining oil prices.



AHK was founded in 2009 as a quasi-government organisation and part of the German Industry & Commerce Office. It operates 130 offices in 90 countries and provides German and Emirati companies a platform for effectively exchanging experiences and building partnerships. AHK also provides information and facilitates network relationships to support cooperative bilateral trade.  TradeArabia News Service
The Arab region has witnessed an unprecedented rise in fertiliser exports to Brazil during the first four months of this year with the total touching 1.14 million tonnes, an increase of 69 per cent from the 675,000 tonnes recorded in January to April in 2015.



Brazil and fertiliser-producing Arab countries continue to enjoy strong trade relations, particularly in agriculture and minerals, according to the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC).



In April alone, fertiliser imports soared by 70 per cent, from 215,500 tonnes traded in April 2015 to 364,400 tonnes, it said.



Brazil has produced a total of 2.7 million tonnes of fertilisers from January this year till April and has imported a total of 5.65 million tonnes  up by 3.5 per cent  from 5.46 million, compared to its imports during the same period last year, it added.



Brazils economy is largely driven by its agriculture sector, heavily exporting cattle meat, corn, soy beans, coffee, sugar and palm oil, among others.



Industry experts have predicted the countrys fertiliser market will continue to grow, with demand reaching up to 31 million tonnes, it stated.



Dr Michel Alaby, secretary general and CEO, ABCC, said: Fertilisers enjoy the second largest import from the Arab World to Brazil, next to minerals and oil.



The regions fertiliser producers have continued to play a vital role in Brazils agriculture growth, and the food commodities worldwide. The first quarter results only signify profitable growth for this year, with the fertiliser market making a significant contribution to strengthen the economic ties between Brazil and the Arab World, he said.



The ever-increasing trade growth between Brazil and the Arab World continues to enjoy a commercial support system which provides consistent exchange of market data and information, he added.



With food security as one of the regions priority, our industry specialists have remained at the forefront of analysing and identifying new market opportunities for both regions. We are confident that this unique and stable relationship between the Arab World and Brazil will bear an even more lucrative business in the near future, he concluded.  TradeArabia News Service
A two-month summer work ban, set to start in Bahrain in less than two weeks, will be extended this year to cover more sites, a top official was quoted as saying in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.



To read further, please visit GDNonline.






State-run Egyptian Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation (Ehcaan) plans to establish a new terminal for Borg El Arab Airport, with a capacity of up to four million passengers a year, said a report.



The $150-million project is being funded by Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), reported Amwal Alghad.



The company plans to start work on the new terminal by July next year, it added.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend:

Malaysias Petronas oil and gas company is interested in further expanding the ties with the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), said Petronas President Datuk Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin in Baku.

He made the remarks during a meeting with SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev, said SOCARs website.

During the meeting, Abdullayev talked about the long-term effective cooperation between SOCAR and Petronas and noted that the companies will continue their successful joint activities.

Petronas president, for his part, said that his company is proud of participating in the international large-scale projects in Azerbaijan.

These projects are of great importance for Petronas and Malaysia in general, he said, adding that the company successfully participates in the Shah Deniz 2 project.

Abdullayev pointed out that the work as part of the Stage 2 of development of Shah Deniz field is on the schedule and the partners in the project work as a team in order to timely and successfully complete the projects implementation.

Petronas has 15.5 percent shares in the project for development of Shah Deniz gas and condensate field and in the South Caucasus Pipeline Company each, as well as 12.4 percent share in Azerbaijan Gas Supply Company (AGSC).

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, June 20

By Demir Azizov Trend:

The Council of Interbank Association of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will hold its meeting in Tashkent, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said.

The meeting will be held on June 22-23 2016 within the presidency of Uzbekistan in the SCO.

At the meeting, the heads of the leading banking institutions of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as well as a number of banks of the observer states will discuss topical issues of cooperation within the SCO framework.

National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of Uzbekistan is chairing the council in 2015-2016.

Interbank Association of the SCO focuses on supporting regional economic cooperation. It was founded on October 26 2005.

The Association unites authorized banks of the SCO member states  Kazakhstan Development Bank, Vnesheconombank (Russia), Tajikistan State Saving Bank Amonatbonk, National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of Uzbekistan.

In 2008, Eurasian Development Bank became partner of the Association. National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of Uzbekistan represents Uzbekistan in the organization.


Search News Archive : Fast Travel News Promotion Via Search, Social Media + Email Follow Us On : HOFSAS HOUSE HOTEL IN CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA ANNOUNCES NEW PIN IT TO WIN IT CONTEST Industry: Hotels

Post your favorite family pictures anytime throughout the month of July and our favorite post will win a two-night stay in a two-room suite!



(TRAVPR.COM) USA - June 18th, 2016 - Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, June 18, 2016 - Hofsas House Hotel in Carmel-by-the-Sea announces its new Pin it to Win it contest!



This July we are ready for some fun in the sun and what's more fun than kids at the beach Post your favorite family pictures anytime throughout the month of July and our favorite post will win a two-night stay in a two-room suite!



Simply:

* Follow us on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/hofsashouse

* Create A boared titled: Family Getaways

* Add a minimum of 5 pictures of your family vacation destination with the hashtag #HofsasHouseGetaways

* Email a link to your board to marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com

* One lucky winner will receive a two -night stay at our beautiful hotel in Carmel!

* Contest runs July 1st - July 30th. Winner announced August 5th.



About Hofsas House:

Owned and operated by the Theis Family, Hofsas House Hotel is within walking distance of everything Carmel has to offer, including a stunning beach, fine restaurants and shops and wine tasting. It provides peaceful respite and European charm just minutes from Monterey, Pebble Beach, Big Sur and Pacific Grove. The Hofsas Houses 38 spacious, one-of-a-kind rooms boast European comfort and lovely views and amenities such as fireplaces, private balconies, wet bars, kitchens and patios. Large suites provide the perfect stay for newlyweds and anyone else seeking an extra special getaway. Dutch doors in every room allow guests to welcome in the ocean air, and free WiFi enables them to stay connected  if they want to.



The Hofsas House Hotel family works to ensure every visitor's experience is special, striving to offer the highest quality personal services. Consider the continental breakfast, abundant with fresh French Roast coffee, tea, juice, fruit and pastries from a neighborhood bakery, or the personalized concierge services for guests and their families, including their four-legged family members, who are welcome as well.



For large groups  wedding parties, company meetings, family reunions and others  Hofsas HouseHotel offers a spacious room equipped with a fireplace and full kitchen that can comfortably accommodate 40 people. A heated pool, dry saunas, decks with views and off-street parking are on-site as well.



Hofsas House Hotel is located on San Carlos Street, north of Fourth Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea. For more information, call (831) 624-2745 or visit www.hofsashouse.com.



Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.hofsashouse.com ### 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: Marci Bracco Cain Company: Chatterbox PR Phone: (831) 747-7455 Email: pr@straightlinepr.com Web: PRESS RELEASE TAGS
The network KoobCamp, main character in the tourism field with more than 30 web portals dedicated to campsites and holiday villages, has chosen among the Italian ones in this sector, the 10 which have the the best restaurant.



(TRAVPR.COM) ITALY - June 20th, 2016 - The Camping Jonio in Catania, Sicily, won the prize reserved to the campsite or tourist resort with the best restaurant service for the year 2016, which is one of the Excellence Certificates KoobCamp 2016. The Sicilian campsite has been selected by a team of specialists belonging to the KoobCamp network ( www.koobcamp.com ), which also includes Campeggi.com ( www.campeggi.com/en ) and other 30 portals specialized in campsites and holiday villages, for its ability to enhance the wide range of local dishes and wines, in a comfortable and refined location, also built using materials from all over the Isle.

With the title of winner of the Excellence Certificate for Restaurant 2016, the Camping Jonio in Catania, becomes the testimonial of the italian excellence in the food and beverage field. This is a basic aspect both for italian tourists and for foreigners who travel searching the true "Made in Italy" and want to experience every shade of typicalness, expecially sitting the culinary ones.

The top ten, which is valid for the assignment of the Excellence Certificate for Restaurant 2016 by KoobCamp and is captained by Camping Jonio, is the following*:

 Camping Jonio (CT), Sicily - WINNER

 Camping le Cernie (OG), Sardinia

 Villaggio Camping Rubicone (FC), Emilia-Romagna

 Continental Camping Village (VB), Piedmont

 Camping Seiser Alm (BZ), Trentino-South Tyrol

 Villaggio dei Fiori (IM), Liguria

 Seven Hills Village (RM), Lazio

 Salice Club Resort (CS), Calabria

 Campeggio Bella Italia (VR), Veneto

 Villaggio Camping Molino a Fuoco (LI), Tuscany

* N.B. the chart is not placing order, except for the winner.



Every campsite in the Top Ten for the Certificate of Excellence for Restaurant 2016 will receive an adhesive, in order to have a distinguishing mark that the guests can see. It will attest the recognition given by KoobCamp and will be available in a special variation for the winner, the Camping Jonio in Catania. The announcement of the winners of the Certificates of Excellence for Restaurant 2016 by KoobCamp comes after the Certificates already given for categories Aquapark, Family and Glamping, Pet Friendly and forestalls the prizes for, Sport, Wellness and Wi-Fi.

###
Ra Paulette has spent decades digging out exquisite spaces with nothing more than hand tools.

In 2014 the world was introduced to the work of Ra Paulette when the film "Cavedigger" was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Short Subject Documentary  but even so, his work has managed to stay somewhat under the radar.

Working for the past 25 years on his caves, Paulette tackles the sandstone hills of New Mexico and hollows them out with nothing more than handtools and a lot of passion. Part hippie-builder, part large-scale folk artist ... whatever you want to call him, the man is inspired in ways that we don't get to see all that often. Calling the spaces "wilderness shrines," Paulette digs the caves for lucky clients at a rate of $12 an hour; two of his creations (that he doesn't own) are now for sale for $795,000. He's not doing it for the money.

They are massive in scale and intricate in detail, some have power and water. Paulette sees them as environmental projects, built to help people "open up their feelings." And indeed, who wouldn't have some feelings when walking through a small hole in a mountain only to encounter a soaring, light-filled space that brings to mind a great Gothic cathedral? They bring to mind the carved cave homes and chapels of Cappadocia in Turkey, with a lot of added flourish.

CBS Sunday Morning took a tour of the caves with Paulette  you can see their unique beauty and listen to Paulette articulately talk about his work in the video below. But first, a slew of photos showing the subterranean splendors created by a man and his pick ax, and an enviable wealth of inspiration!

CBS Sunday Morning/YouTube/Screen capture

CBS Sunday Morning/YouTube/Screen capture

CBS Sunday Morning/YouTube/Screen capture

CBS Sunday Morning/YouTube/Screen capture

CBS Sunday Morning/YouTube/Screen capture

CBS Sunday Morning/YouTube/Screen capture

CBS Sunday Morning/YouTube/Screen capture
We have been debating the future of our cities in the era of the self-driving car or autonomous vehicle (or AV). Now Christopher Mims at the Wall Street Journal weighs in with his view and not surprisingly, it is a bit contrarian. I admire Chris because he is fearless in his predictions, from his 2012 prediction that 3D printing will go the way of virtual reality to how robot baristas will put the espresso bar out of business. Now Chris takes on the world of AVs, and suggests that they will fuel urban sprawl.

Institute Without Boundaries/via How the self-driving car might make our cities better and greener/ Martini and movie configurations

 Matthew Spremulli via MIT News The 'burbs are back, but they will be different this time.

We have certainly heard this before; Alison Arrieff noted in the New York Times that "If you can read your iPad, enjoy a cocktail or play a video game while commuting, time spent in the car becomes leisure time, something desirable. Long commutes are no longer a disincentive." Tim deChant also chimed in, noting that "Self-driving cars are one of the biggest threats to the future of cities."

Mims quotes economist Jed Kolko, who has also predicted that the future of America is suburban, and that millennials are moving there in preference to staying in cities. (covered in TreeHugger here). Mims concludes:

It is a kind of wishful thinking, an act of technological determinism, to think that self-driving cars will override Americans longstanding preference for wide open spaces.

Mims also doesnt mention another reason that millennials are moving to the suburbs: they dont the money to do otherwise. Kolko told the Wall Street Journal:

Rich, young people are outbidding others for urban housing and so the faster growth in the suburbs certainly reflects tight housing supply in dense neighborhoods.

 WSP|Parsons Brickerhoff, Farrells How self-driving cars might improve our cities and towns

But what if AVs change that? In fact, many planners and visionaries think that cities will become more attractive and affordable. Interviewing Nigel Bidwell of Farrells, and Rachel Skinner of WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff (authors of Making Better Places) in London recently, they noted that AVs might well lead to a new wave of urban development and intensification- that in London alone there are 8,000 hectares (19,768 acres) of land lost to parking and servicing cars- that 15 to 20 percent of London could be freed up for development, which could generate millions- or even billions- of new value and/ or construction cost savings. This can be secured without needing to compromise on development quality, while securing freedom from current planning constraints around parking.

If suddenly one had all this extra urban land to build housing, then perhaps it would not be so expensive and those millennials might be able to stay in dense neighbourhoods. The cities, with all that additional revenue from new housing and land sales, might actually have enough money to improve the school systems that seem to be the biggest problem of living in American cities.

technology almanac/ Separated streets in Futurama/via Will self-driving cars lead to grade-separated cities?

I suspect that it is likely that AVs might be the spark of an entirely new urban form, just like the streetcar suburbs of a hundred years ago, where houses were built to a density that people can walk to the main street where the shopping and the transit is, and the automobile suburb is designed around the fact that everyone has a convenient private car or two to get to the mall or the superstore. If people have to wait for an AV to show up every time they need a quart of milk, they may prefer to live in a denser, walkable or cycleable community. If as Mims notes that there are only 20% as many cars, then it is going to be awfully hard to get one at rush hour or when school lets out, so living close to transit might be a desirable backup.

And in fact, the truest statement in Mims article may well be that When it comes to self-driving cars, the old maxim that nobody knows anything could hardly be more true.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, June 20

By Demir Azizov Trend:

President of China Xi Jinping will arrive in Uzbekistan with a state visit to Uzbekistan on June 21, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan said.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov invited the Chinese leader to Uzbekistan to pay the state visit, according to the foreign ministry.

Within the visit, Islam Karimov and Xi Jinping will hold a meeting and negotiations. During the talks, the sides will discuss current state and perspectives of development of the Uzbek-Chinese relations, actual issues of regional and international politics.

It is expected that the Chinese President Xi Jinping will make a speech before the members of the Senate and Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of Uzbekistan.

Within the visit, it is planned to adopt joint statement of Uzbekistan and China, as well as sign a package of agreements and other documents directed to the further strengthening of cooperation between two nations.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will also participate in the session of the council of the heads of member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tashkent June 23-24.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, June 20

By Demir Azizov Trend:

The Business Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will discuss at its meeting June 23 the prospects of activities development, including priorities and main directions to expand cooperation in the near future, said the Uzbek Foreign Ministry in a message June 20.

The Councils meeting will held in Tashkent under Uzbekistans chairmanship. The meeting will be attended by business delegations of Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, headed by the chairmen of the national parts of the SCO Business Council.

The meeting of the Council of Heads of the SCO member-states will be held in Tashkent June 23-24. The UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman is expected to attend this meeting, according to the UN news centre.

The upcoming summit of the SCO is of particular importance, as a Joint Declaration on cooperation between the Secretariats of the UN and the SCO was signed in 2010 under the previous chairmanship of Uzbekistan at the organization, says the press centre in a message.

The SCO was established in 2001. The SCO members are China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan, Iran, Mongolia and Belarus are the SCO observer-countries, while Turkey, Azerbaijan, Sri Lanka, Armenia, Cambodia and Nepal are dialogue partners.
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 19

Farmers today blocked the main GT Road over their demand for compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the family of labourer Ralla Singh, who died two days ago at the protest site and is yet to be cremated.

The farmers staged the protest only for three hours and lifted the dharna only after a meeting with the SSP was held.

They claimed that the SSP had assured them of arranging their meeting with the administrative official concerned to decide over the matter of compensation.

Heavy police force was deployed near the protest site. The farmers have continued their protest inside the park situated opposite to the District Administrative Complex.

They have been staging protest since May 24 and have not caused any inconvenience either to the officials or to the commuters and visitors.

During their last years protest, the farmers had blocked the same road for many days to pressurise the state government over their long-pending demands.

BKU Ekta Ugrahan district president Shingara Singh Mann said, Around 2 pm, we shifted our protest on to the main road to pressurise the government for Rs 10 lakh compensation to the family of deceased Ralla Singh, who died during the protest. We have not blocked the road this time unlike the last year for our long-pending demands. However, we will continue our protest at the park situated outside the District Administrative Complex.

The body of the victim labourer would not be cremated until his family receives compensation and a job for his family member, he added.

Farmers are demanding a solution to the stray cattle problem; Rs 40,000 as compensation for the damaged wheat crop due to the fire caused by short circuit as a few farmers whose crop was burnt reportedly committed suicide; round-the-clock power supply ahead of the paddy season; quashing of false cases against the protesting farmers and compensation to those injured or dead during the farmers agitation.

They also demand the implementation of the Swaminathan report; waiving of the debt of farmers and farm labourers, who are unable to pay their loans; paying of compensation of Rs 5 lakh each immediately to the families of suicide victims; survey of suicides from 1990 onwards; release of motor connections to farmers on government expenses; full compensation of Rs 40,000 to farmers who faced damage to the cotton crop, following the whitefly attack; and making laws in favour of farmers instead of corporate houses or arhtiyas.
London, June 19

The Reserve Bank will survive any Governor and it is important not to personalise this office, the outgoing Raghuram Rajan said days before his surprise announcement that he was not interested in a second term.

What is important is to not personalise this office. It will survive any Governor, it is bigger than any Governor, the Economist magazine quoted Rajan as saying in its latest edition. He also said: The imposition of steel tariffs earlier this year, a knock-on effect from Chinas slowdown, all but stopped traffic for a time.

Economist said Rajan favours incremental reforms over wholesale ones. He has made it easier to move money in and out of India, but not abolished capital controls in the way you might have expected from a former IMF chief economist.

According to the magazine, Rajans three-year term is the shortest of any G20 country and the recent governors have been given second terms as much as seven months in advance.

In a separate article in its web edition after Rajan announced his decision against a second term, the Economist called it one of Indias favourite parlour games coming to an end, while adding that a clean-up of the banking system that he initiated upset Indias powerful  and indebted  industrialists.  PTI
Vijay C Roy

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 20

To protect farmers from vagaries of weather, the Haryana Government has awarded contracts to three general insurance companies, namely Reliance General Insurance, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance and ICICI Lombard to provide crop insurance coverage to the farming community in the current kharif season under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna (PMFBY). The state government has initiated the process and soon a notification will be issued for the implementation of the scheme.

For the current kharif season, the state government has notified four crops, namely cotton, paddy, bajra and maize. As per the scheme, the sum assured for paddy crop has been fixed at Rs 62,500 per hectare, cotton (Rs 60,000), bajra (Rs 27,500) and maize (Rs 25,000 per hectare).

For the effective implementation of the scheme, the state has been divided into three clusters and each insurance company has been assigned a particular cluster.

According to the state government, Cluster-1 comprises Panchkula, Kurukshetra, Faridabad, Kaithal, Sirsa, Bhiwani and Rewari. Under Cluster-2, Ambala, Karnal, Sonepat, Hisar, Jind, Mohindergarh, Gurgaon has been designated. Further, Yamunanagar, Panipat, Palwal, Rohtak, Fatehabad, Jhajjar, Mewat will come under Cluster-3.

The scheme is open both for loanee and non-loanee farmers with July 31 as the last date for the deposit of the premium. In case of loanee farmers, it is mandatory for the banks to bring them under the ambit of PMFBY. If the banks fail to do so, then in case there is crop loss to a loanee farmer who is not insured, the bank will have to make good the losses.

The premium paid by farmers would be reduced to 2% of the insured value for the more rain-dependent kharif crop and 1.5% for the rabi season, compared with 3.5-8% under the previous schemes.
Tribune News Service

Mohali, June 20

Two youngsters allegedly assaulted a traffic policeman and tore his uniform when he intercepted them for jumping the red light at Sector 68 here.

The accused, Karanpal Singh, a resident of Kumbhra village, and his friend Malkeet Singh of Ambala, assaulted Head Constable Bijender Singh when he stopped them for jumping the red light and issued them a challan. The incident occurred near the Forest Complex last evening.

Inspector Lakhwinder Singh, SHO of the Phase VIII police station, said Karanpal Singh, a taxi driver, called up his friend Malkeet Singh after being challaned for his offence. Both accused got into an argument with the policeman over the challan and then started pushing him. In the scuffle, Bijender Singh's uniform got torn, said the SHO. We have arrested the two after registering a case against them at the Phase VIII police station, said Inspector Lakhwinder Singh.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Talks are underway with Japanese and South Korean investors to allocate letters of credit (LC) for Irans petrochemical project, Managing Director of Iran International Petrochemical Company Isa Mashayekhi, said.

The Iranian company is talking with two Japanese and South Korean firms on providing the credit worth 520 million euros in short term, Mashayekhi said, without unveiling the names of the foreign counterparts, SHANA news agency reported June 18.

The usance letter of credit is a LC payable at a determined future date after presentation of conforming documents.

South Korea will provide $13 billion euro to finance the infrastructure projects in Iran, he said, adding Japan also is expected to allocate 10 billion euro.

Irans petrochemical output capacity currently stands at 61 million tons. The Islamic Republic hopes to bring this capacity to 120 million tons by 2020 and 180 million tons by 2025.

Petrochemical plants in Iran had to work below the actual production capacity due to the shortage of natural gas as feedstock, old production units, and the sanctions, which caused a decline in exports.
Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 20

The city is all set to host the second International Day of Yoga tomorrow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the celebrations by participating in a mass yoga event at the Capitol Complex.

The function will begin at 6.30 am. It will include a 45-minute yoga demonstration. Around 30,000 people are expected to participate in the event at the Capitol Complex while over 10,000 will perform yoga at 100 different venues in the city.

The emphasis this year will be on the participation of divyangs, youth and people from weaker sections of society. Elaborate arrangements have been made for the mega event. The complex has been divided into eight blocks where 500 master trainers, along with their team members, will perform. Nearly 600 buses will ferry the participants to the venue. As many as 300 pre-fabricated bio-toilets and 30,000 mats are being used for the occasion.

Before the start of the yoga session, the Prime Minister will address the audience after a short speech by Punjab and Haryana Governor-cum-UT Administrator Kaptan Singh Solanki. A theme song for the International Day of Yoga, named Yog Geet, has been released this year in addition to a yoga protocol of 45 minutes. The International Day of Yoga was organised in India and throughout the world for the first time last year after the United Nations General Assembly, in December 2014, declared June 21 the International Day of Yoga.

Rain plays spoilsport

Rain for around half an hour on Monday afternoon affected the preparations for the yoga day. The carpets got wet, leaving officials worried. The staff started drying the carpets immediately after the rain. However, the possibility of rain on Tuesday has kept them on tenterhooks. The Administration has decided to continue with the function even if it rains.

All World Gayatri Parivar head to share stage with Modi

Dr Pranav Pandya, head of the All World Gayatri Parivar, will share the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, besides Punjab and Haryana Governor-cum-UT Administrator Kaptan Singh Solanki, Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar and Speakers of the Punjab and Haryana assemblies. Shripad Yesso Naik, Union Minister of State for AYUSH, and Modis yoga guru, Dr HR Nagendra, will also be present on the stage.
Chandigarh, June 20

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join 30,000 people for the second International Yoga Day celebrations here on Tuesday to be held amid tight security, with participants being radio tagged to track their movements.

Modi will lead the celebrations at Capitol Complex, designed by French architect Le Corbusier.

He is expected to arrive here tonight and participate in a mass demonstration of Common Yoga Protocol.

Over 30,000 people  10,000 each from the Union Territory Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana  will take part in the event at Capitol Complex and 10,000 at over 100 other locations across the city.

All arrangements are in place for tomorrows International Yoga Day event, said Chandigarh Home Secretary Anurag Aggarwal.

The Union Territory Administration has decided to felicitate best Yoga performers with cash prizes.

Yoga enthusiasts can upload their videos while performing asanas and send them to facebook.com/iydchd2016 or tweet with #IYDCHD2016.

The first, second and third prize winners will get Rs 10,000, Rs 8,000 and Rs 5,000 respectively, officials said.

A selfie zone has also been set up at the venue.

Several LED screens have been put up at the venue, besides 300 prefabricated bio-toilets and over 300 dustbins.

Entry to the venue will start at 4 am and close by 5:30 am through designated entry points. While the main event will begin at 6.30 am, the Common Yoga Protocol will start at 7 am and last for 45 minutes.

Tight security arrangements have been put in place. More than 5,000 police and paramilitary personnel will keep a hawk-eye vigil to secure the venue.

MeT department here has forecast little possibility of rains but sudden thundery developments are possible.

There is little possibility of rain tomorrow. However, sudden thundery development may take place, Chandigarh MeT Department Director, Surinder Paul said on Monday.  PTI
Ishrat S Banwait

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 19

The city is all set to receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the third time within a span of nine months. While the Chandigarh Administrations preparations to welcome Modi are in full swing, a bit disappointment among the local BJP cadre is evident. The reason is that their supremo has no time to have a meeting with the local leaders to discuss some vital issues.

BJP city unit president Sanjay Tandon said party workers here were elated as Modi ji will stay here for a night. We wanted to have a meeting with Modi ji to discuss some important issues, including the long-pending housing scheme for UT employees and 1,390 jobs for Sarv Siksha Abhiyan teachers in the city. We sought an appointment with him (Modi) for a formal meeting but did not get any confirmation so far, said Tandon, adding that now, they were not very much hopeful that the meeting would take place.

It is to be noted that after becoming the Prime Minister, Modi had visited the city on September 11 last year to inaugurate the international terminal in Mohali. Later, he visited the city on January 24 to receive French President Francoise Hollande. Later, they had attended the India- France business summit here. On both the occasions, Modi had returned the same day.
Chandigarh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in the city on Monday night to participate in the International Day of Yoga celebrations on June 21. Modi will leave Delhi by air around 9 pm on Monday and reach the Chandigarh airport around 9.45 pm. From the airport, he will leave for the Punjab Raj Bhawan by road and spend the night there. On June 21, the Prime Minister will arrive at the Capitol Complex around 6.45 am to participate in the yoga event and will leave for Delhi after the event.
Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 19

The full dress rehearsal held for the International Day of Yoga event, to be organised at the Capitol Complex on June 21,exposed shortcomings in the preparations today. However, in terms of participation, the UT Administration succeeded in putting up an impressive show.

There was a traffic jam after the event, which caused harassment to the public.

More than 30,000 people from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, including those from the ITBP, defence forces, PU divyangs, various yoga foundations and the few selected from yoga orientation training camps, participated in the rehearsal. 150 divyangs also performed asanas at the venue. Technical glitches in LED screens put up at the venue and inaudible speakers marred the show.

Some participants were unable to perform yoga in sync with the others. The full dress rehearsal was organised to test the preparations for the mega event, to be attended by PM Modi. Students were given medical assistance after they complained of uneasiness during the rehearsal. Ajit Balaji Joshi, Deputy Commissioner, said overall the performance was satisfactory.

The minor issues which were faced would be sorted out. The LED screens installed at the venue were supposed to show the event live, but these failed to do so for half an hour. The management regarding transportation was satisfactory The rehearsal got over at 8.15 am.
Chandigarh, June 19

Senior Deputy Mayor Davesh Moudgil today launched a television programme logo and a jingle titled Good Morning Yoga.

Moudgil said during this TV programme, the origin of yoga, its importance in todays era of globalisation, the on-going research on the discipline and its benefits would be highlighted. It is going to be an anchor-based programme, which shall provide a common platform to yogis, yoga professors, politicians, social workers, bureaucrats, women and the young to share their experiences and positive changes brought in by yoga. The programme will go on air in two months, he said.  TNS
Chandigarh, June 20

The city has been turned into a virtual fortress in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit for the International Day of Yoga celebrations, with close to 8,000 police personnel deputed here of whom around 5,000 have been stationed at the Capitol Complex, the venue of the mega yoga event.

The security comprises police personnel from the Chandigarh Police, Haryana Police, Punjab Police and central forces. Police personnel were deputed at various strategic locations on the Prime Minister's route from the airport to the Raj Bhawan from 6 pm to 11 pm today. The armed security men assigned duty on the route will again take positions at their designated spots from 3 am till 10 am tomorrow.

Armed security personnel will be present on the entire route from the Raj Bhawan to the Capitol Complex and back to the airport, sources said.

They said highly armed security personnel would cordon off the venue. Mounted police would also be pressed into service to patrol the nearby forest area.

Traffic would be halted in the city at intersections for seven to 10 minutes to allow a safe passage to the Prime Minister's convoy.

TS Luthra, IGP, UT, said elaborate security arrangements had been made for the day. We will ensure that there is minimum inconvenience to the public, the IGP said.

The IGP said diversions would be made for a few hours in the morning near the venue and on the lake road.

The sources said after the one-hour event, the Prime Minister would again visit the Raj Bhawan around 8 am and leave for the airport after a brief visit there.

Punjab cops on guard

Around 1,400 personnel of the Punjab Police have been deputed in various parts of Nayagaon, Kansal and near the airport. Sources said the area adjoining the Capitol Complex would be cordoned off by the police. Security personnel would also patrol the forest area of Kansal.
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 19

Students, it seems, are being made to stretch too far for the International Day of Yoga celebrations. They have been made to put up with slow-moving ceiling fans, which hardly provide any relief from the scorching heat, waterlogged washrooms and little arrangements for potable water. This at least was the scene at two government schools in Panchkula during a visit on Sunday where lodging arrangements have been made for students, who have arrived from various districts of Haryana to take part in the yoga day celebrations.

The students reached Panchkula yesterday and attended the full dress rehearsal today. During a visit to Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 6, students were found sleeping on mats in one of the classrooms. The ceiling fan was moving at a slow pace, barely providing any relief to them.

Though some rooms had pedestal fans, these seemed inadequate for the large number of students accommodated there.

Similarly, there were no arrangements for potable water for the students and other participants staying at Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 7. We dont know where to get potable water from; this is disgusting, said a student.

Adding to the woes of the students were the washrooms, which were in poor shape. In one of the washrooms at the school, the floor was waterlogged, making it an uphill task for the students to walk on it. I wonder how we are going to spend two more days here, said a student. Thousands of people, including students from the entire state, are expected to participate in the event in Chandigarh on June 21 to mark the International Day of Yoga celebrations.

The arrangements for their stay have been made in schools and other educational institutes in Panchkula.

Senior officers assigned duty to provide comfy stay

Senior IAS and HCS officials have been assigned the duty to provide a comfortable stay to schoolchildren staying in Panchkula to take part in the yoga day celebrations.

Sources said nearly 10,000 schoolchildren from across the state would participate.

Mamta Sharma, City Magistrate, Panchkula, has been given the overall charge. IAS officer Shaleen (ADC, Yamunanagar) and two HCS officers  JK Abhir (ADC, Fatehabad) and Varsha Khangawal (MD, Sugar Mills, Karnal) will man the control room set up at the DC office in Panchkula.

Transport duties have been assigned to two HCS officers  Amarjeet Singh and Parduman Singh  posted as Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, at Panckula and Karnal, respectively. Hema Sharma, Amardeep Jain and Sumit Kumar, all HCS officers and Harpal Singh, an XEN in PWD (B&R), have been assigned duties to look after the stay and other amenities of the children.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:

A recent decision by Iranian government is likely to pave the way for importing 200 Chevrolet cars, the shipment of which was earlier banned.

In May, following the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneis critical remarks on importing the US-made cars, the country cancelled an order of 200 Chevrolet cars, worth $7 million.

According to the new decision, all the car orders that were earlier placed on the countrys goods imports system are now eligible to be fulfilled, Mehr news agency reported June 20.

The report added that the decision will pave the way for shipping the Chevrolet cars that were earlier barred from being imported to the country following the supreme leaders directive.
Jayshree Sengupta

THE prices of pulses have hit a new high, with the two important dal prices rising by 31.5 per cent in the last one month. This is alarming news because if essential dal prices hit Rs 170 and Rs 196 a kg, it will be unaffordable for the poor. The problem of pulses production in India has been a long standing one and has affected the nutrition of the poorer sections. Thus despite Indias rapid economic progress, India has the highest number of undernourished persons. According to the Economic Survey 2016, there are 194.6 million undernourished persons in India. Also, with poverty level at 27 per cent, there are many malnourished children, and 39 per cent children are stunted.

One main source of nourishment for the people below the poverty line, especially children, are pulses that contain 23 per cent protein. While India is the biggest producer of pulses in the world, there is a big gap between the supply and demand. Indias production was 17.06 million metric tonnes in 2015-16 and the demand is at 23.5 million MT. India imports pulses from Canada, Myanmar, Australia and Africa to bridge the gap.

India imported 5.5 million MT in 2015 and yellow peas accounted for 40 per cent of pulses imports. This year, according to Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, India is likely to import 6.5 million MT to prevent further price rise.

The production of pulses constitutes only 5 per cent of the total agricultural output and is a fringe crop. The crop is susceptible to diseases and drought and the production never came under the Green Revolution. The reason why the domestic production is not going up is largely due to neglect. The reason behind prices not stabilising is due to the rise in global prices. Worldwide, the demand for pulses is exceeding the supply and hence prices have been going up. The global price rise is also due to the strong US dollar. The current demand for pulses worldwide is 70 million MT. India being a big buyer impacts global prices.

The problem lies in the low productivity of pulses in India and while India produces around 600-800 kg per hectare, other countries are producing 1,400 a hectare. The problem of low yield is connected with lack of irrigation facilities, poor seeds, pests, low fertiliser use and extension work.

Pulses are mostly grown in rain-fed land which is poorly irrigated because the best land is used for the cultivation of wheat rice and sugarcane. When grown in such land, uncertain rainfall causes frequent crop failures.

Pulses can be grown in fallow land and as a rotational crop because the plants have a quality of fixing nitrogen to the soil. Pulses are from leguminous plants which have a symbiotic relationship with acertain bacteria known as rhizobia that live in their root nodules. These bacteria take nitrogen  an essential plant nutrient from the air  and convert it into a form that can be used by plants. As a rotational crop, they increase the supply of soil nitrogen through nitrogen fixation. The succeeding crops get agronomical benefits and have better crop quality and improved yield with less fertiliser requirement. The production of pulses has low carbon footprint because it requires less water and other resources.

Even though the MSP for pulses has been raised, farmers find it profitable to grow food grains. More focused attempts should be made to persuade farmers to switch from growing water- guzzling sugarcane and rice to pulses.

There is no futures market in pulses, except in chickpeas (chana), and hence there is no effective price discovery and efficient price risk management. A futures market would lead to price stability and more remunerative prices for farmers. Commodity markets without futures trading are more volatile because futures act as a price warning system.

A higher futures price does not push up the spot price unless there is hoarding. When futures prices are higher, people foresee that there will be a shortage coming and this leads to farmers planting more and importers importing more.

Instead, procurement prices are fixed by the government and procurement takes place via middlemen. There exists a fragmented supply chain with many layers of middlemen which leads to low remuneration for farmers, but high prices for consumers. Also, high transaction and processing costs lead to high consumer prices.

The increase in minimum support price for pulses has not been successful in raising the profitability of farmers which would go towards getting better seeds and lead to higher productivity. The main states in which the cultivation of pulses is taking place are Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and UP. In fact, farmers there are reluctant to continue farming pulses if they are not guaranteed direct procurement by the state.

In the Union Budget 2016, Rs 500 crore have been allocated under the National Food Security Mission for increasing the productivity and production of pulses. More disease and drought-resistant varieties are being developed, as well as short crop duration varieties. The 60,000 pulse village programme announced in the Budget may be expanded to 1 lakh villages. Building reserves of 50,000 MT for gram and tur is being explored, for which Rs 900 crore for reserves and price stabilisation fund for 2016-17 have been allocated. This may not be adequate.

Recently, the government has increased the size of the buffer stock five times to 8 lakh MT from 1.5 lakh MT and stocks are being released to states for retail distribution at highly subsidised rate of Rs 120 a kg. Stocks are being procured by the FCI and SFAC (Small Farmers Agri-business Consortium).

The UN has declared 2016 as the International Year of Pulses. For India, time has come for urgent steps to fulfill the needs of a growing population, of which 30 per cent is vegetarian and whose protein needs are met from the intake of pulses.

Instead of the current consumption of 60 gm a day, the WHO has recommended 80 gm/capita/day of pulses consumption for India, for which India will require 38 million MT of pulses by 2018. A new focus is needed on pulses to increase its production and not have band-aid solutions to fix the problem of shortages.
Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj took to the podium on Sunday after a long hiatus. Manning one of the countrys crucial portfolios, Sushma Swarajs outpouring on social media this entire month has been restricted to helping migrant workers in distress and emergency visa cases for Indians stranded overseas. She tweeted just thrice on foreign policy issues  one a bland announcement about meeting her Nepalese counterpart and the other condoling a US shootout. The third tweet was an advice to fellow citizens following the lynching of an African youth in the national capital. This is hardly the stuff tweeted by foreign ministers of a country on the move.

Recovering from a spell of hospitalisation, Sushma did not exude the earlier effervescence during her hour-long media interaction. But it was reassuring to have the Foreign Minister and a veteran political player back in the fray when the management of the countrys foreign policy looks frayed and requires an experienced hand at the rudder. India is locked in such an antagonising position with Pakistan that the Foreign Ministers hopes for an uptick in ties find few takers. China made her look out of touch with the dynamics of foreign policy by rejecting her confidence that Indias NSG membership was an almost done thing.

Last year, on the first anniversary of the Modi government, a different Sushma Swaraj was on display. She was self-assured, in command of the issues and personable. The country needs a return of that Sushma Swaraj. Narendra Modi has made himself the face of the countrys foreign policy. But there is so much the head of government can do without the Foreign Minister to take care of the loose ends. He now needs to focus on creating right domestic conditions for his efforts to entice foreign investment bear fruit. With the exit of Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan, the Prime Minister will be under greater pressure to get the economy ticking. The foreign policy is in need of an active political hand to take the centre-stage.
Tribune News Service

Panipat, june 20

A 16-year-old girl allegedly committed suicide at her native Rithal village in Rohtak district after being gang-raped in Garhi Chhaju village in Samalkha.

A case under zero FIR was registered at the Sadar police station, Rohtak, on Sunday and sent it to the Smalkha police for further proceedings today.

Gorakhpal Singh Rana, DSP, Smalkha said, The victim, a resident of Rithal village in Rohtak, came to her aunts home in Gadhi Chhajju village on May 26. She alleged that on June 12, three youths namely Rinku, Nitu and Naveen took her to fields and raped her, he said.

After committing the crime, the miscreants abandoned the victim and fled. She told about the incident to her parents after reaching home, he added.

However, the victim committed suicide by hanging herself today, he added.

The three youths have been booked under various sections of the IPC and Section 4 of the POCSO Act. Two teams have been constituted and raids are being conducted to nab the accused, said the DSP added.
Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 20

Khap leaders have accused All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) leader Yashpal Malik of misleading people the people of the state for his financial and political gains.

Malik yesterday described the khap leaders, who had talks with the government, as Sarkari agents.

Surender Dahiya, president of Dahiya Khap, today alleged Malik had always been contemptuous of khaps and had been misguiding youths for his financial and political interests.

He has been collecting crores of rupees for his Global Jat Trust registered in Uttar Pradesh by projecting himself as the messiah of the Jats. The fact is that he has not been able to achieve anything except a promise from the government for that the sedition case registered against him will be cancelled, said Dahiya.

Dahiya said the major demands of the Jats, including compensation and government jobs to the kin of those killed in the Jat stir in February, and the cancellation of FIRs had already been accepted.

Tek Ram Kandela, president of the Sarv Jatiye Rashtriya Khap Panchayat, said Malik wanted to destroy peace and harmony in the state.

Sube Singh Samain, spokesperson of the Sarv Jat Khap Panchayat, said Malik was least concerned about the welfare of the Jats.
Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 20

Embarrassed by the defeat of RK Anand, the independent nominee it backed in the Rajya Sabha elections from Haryana, the Congress has decided to ask all its state MLAs to sign affidavits stating they actually voted for Anand.

Discussions to this effect took place today at a meeting which Haryana Congress chief Ashok Tanwar had with party president Sonia Gandhi. Tanwar is learnt to have briefed Sonia about the current status of Congress petition to the Election Commission which is still in the process of reviewing video evidence in the matter. The Congress has alleged that the ruling BJP conspired to get 12 Congress votes in Anands favour cancelled by changing the pen meant for casting of the ballot in the voting compartment. A decision has been taken to seek affidavits from all MLAs. Congress legislature party leader in Haryana Kiran Choudhry has been asked to coordinate the exercise, a source told The Tribune.

The affidavit exercise indicates that the Congress is bracing for a court battle in the matter which saw Anand being defeated on the account of cancellation of 12 Congress votes in his favour. The votes were cancelled after they were found to bear an ink different from the one provided by the Election Commissions returning officer. The use of a different pen is a violation of ECs rules on RS elections.

Party leaders say affidavits would be required in two cases  if the EC is to launch a formal inquiry into the matter upon being convinced of fraud in the poll process; two, if the Congress decides to move the High Court to file an election petition in the matter.

We are weighing our options. We will discuss if we need to file an election petition. A candidate can file one or the party itself can file. All this is being discussed. As far as the law goes, EC has not yet in its entire history cancelled an election after the results have been notified as has been done in Haryana where BJP backed Subhash Chandra has been declared as the victor. However, this is a test case for the EC to cancel the polls and set a trend because a fraud has been committed,said a leader, adding that the issue was being debated under the watch of Haryana Congress general secretary Kamal Nath and other unit leaders. Also, the affidavit signing exercise will put former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda in a spot as he was the only MLA among 17 party lawmakers who submitted a blank ballot on the day of elections. The rest showed their ballots to AICC observer for RS poll, BK Hariprasad, who approved them as having been cast in Anands favour.
Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 20

Farmers have resented pathetic condition of state link roads mainly in Chopal and Rohru sub-divisions ahead of the apple season that is likely to begin in the first week of July.

PWD divisional engineers of Theog and Chopal swung into action and filled potholes and pits on the Sainj-Deha-Okhta stretch of the Sainj-Chopal Nerwa state highway when Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh toured Chopal constituency by road that came as a partial relief to the commuters.

But the condition of the link roads, namely Chopal-Shantha- Dewat, Chopal-Jhiknipul-Bamta, Dopti-Pabaas-Shilikian, Maroag-Matal, Nerwa-Thoach, Nerwa-Fedach-Guma-Vikasnagar, is sure to turn from bad to worse in the forthcoming rains, resent Jagdish Rathaur, Rajinder Chauhan, Megh Ram and Shaukat Ali, farmers for Dewat panchayat.

These link roads are the lifelines for formers as they have to transport their apple crop outside the state to other parts of the country. But all that PWD does is to fill the potholes with earth that turn the roads into slushy potholes during the rainy season rendering the road unmotorable, rue the farmers. The PWD is been saying for the last two years that it would tar the road, but the work is yet to start, they add.

The Dopti-Pabaas- Shilikian road that caters to people of three panchayats of Pabaas, Shilikian and upper Shantha valley in Dewat panchayat has eroded badly but the PWD has not done the surfacing or tarring work for years together, rue villagers.

The Nerwa-Fedach-Guma-Vikasnagar highway which links Rohru and Jubbal valleys, has become the shortest route to the markets in Yamunanagar, Delhi, Dehradun and Saharanpur. Truckers shy away from loading fruit because the road mainly from Fedach to Vikasnagar and Paonta Sahib is pathetic. A farmers delegation met Chief Minister in Shillai last week and sought tarring of the road, said Satish Kumar, a fruit buyer.

Though the PWD engineers had been told to improve the road condition ahead of the apple season, no action has taken, rue farmers.

The condition of the Nihari-Patshal-Kharapathar-Paraunthi stretch of the under-construction Theog-Hatkoti highway is equally bad leaving the daily commuters hassled. The farmers in Baral panchayat have been demanding the improvement of the Rohru-Madhondi-Baral road but to no avail.

PWD field engineers claim that the maintenance or tarring work would be resumed after the monsoons. The debris and landslides are cleared in a routine manner on the link roads as the JCBs and other machineries are kept ready at key location to clear the roads.
New Delhi, June 20

The CBI today informed the Delhi High Court that Chief Minister Virbhadra Singhs two children had been called as witnesses for questioning in a disproportionate assets case and there was no plan to detain them.

The CBI said this after Justice PS Teji asked the probe agency to clearly state whether they intended to detain Virbhadras son Vikramaditya Singh and daughter Aprajita Kumari during questioning. The court was hearing a petition filed by Vikramaditya and Aprajita in which they were seeking protection from arrest, contending that they had been called by the CBI for questioning as witnesses today and tomorrow.

Senior advocate Ashwani Kumar, who appeared for them, told the court that Virbhadra and his wife had been named as accused in the FIR along with others, but neither Aprajita nor Vikramaditya had been named. We will join, but we apprehend that they (CBI) can detain us, so the court should protect them from arrest, he said. To this, the court asked the CBI, Are you intending to detain the petitioners. Be clear on it factually. Responding to the query, CBIs counsel Sanjeev Bhandari said: They have been called as witnesses for certain clarifications (on issues) which have emerged during the investigation of the disproportionate assets case lodged against Virbhadra and others. There is no plan to detain them. The court disposed of the plea in view of the statement made by the CBIs counsel.

Virbhadra was recently questioned by the CBI in connection with the case of disproportionate assets allegedly amassed during his stint as a Union Minister. The CBI had claimed its inquiry showed that Virbhadra, while serving as the Union Minister during 2009-2012, had allegedly accumulated assets worth about Rs 6.03 crore in his name and in the name of his family members which were found to be disproportionate to his known sources of income. The allegations have been strongly refuted by Virbhadra.  PTI
Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 20

The police have finally arrested the absconding hostel warden, Shabnam Gurezi, who has a case registered against her for mercilessly beating up over a dozen girls of the Gujjar and Bakerwal hostel here.

The warden was arrested yesterday in Srinagar, police officials said today.

The warden has an FIR against her for beating up girls, some of whom are admitted in hospital. We have shifted her to Central Jail. The investigations are going on, said Muhammad Isaac, Station House Officer, Shergali Police Station, where the case has been registered.

Gurezi thrashed the Gujjar girls in the hostel at Tulsi Bagh on Thursday. Eight of the girls, studyingin Government Girls High School, Rajbagh, were admitted in a hospital with severe injuries.

The warden, who had been suspended for her brutality, had gone underground after the incident.

The girls, who were preparing for exams, had been thrashed by the warden for refusing to clean the hostel. The victims said they had remained silent for about a decade about the abuses inflicted by Gurezi  a recipient of Bharat Guarav Award from the All India Human Welfare Council in 2015.

The students also accused the warden of forcing them to babysit her infant daughter.

The incident created an uproar in the state Legislative Assembly. The Education Minister while calling the warden a psychopath promised that strict action would be taken against her as she didnt deserve to be part of the system.
Our Correspondent

Poonch, June 20

Tension gripped Poonch this morning as news spread about some youths of the majority community forcibly entering Lakshmi Narayan Temple at Jhullas the previous evening and manhandling youths of the minority community while objecting to the use of a loudspeaker.

This was the third incident within a week wherein attempts had been made to disrupt peaceful atmosphere in the region by interfering in religious affairs at temples.

Sources said youths of the majority community barged into the temple at Jhullas at 8:30 pm on Sunday, which was resisted by youths taking part in aarti at the temple.

The youths from the majority community manhandled the youths taking part in aarti and objected to the use of loudspeaker during the evening.

Within no time, hundreds of people from the minority community rushed to the spot and asked the police to arrest the miscreants. People from the majority community gathered on the spot and both groups started raising slogans against each other.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters) Mujeeb-ul-Rehman, Poonch City SHO Jatinder Raina and a police party rushed to the spot and pacified both groups.

Members of the minority community demanded the registration of an FIR against the miscreants. The police assured them of action against the culprits.

Poonch Deputy Commissioner Haroon Malik convened a meeting of civil society members at the Deputy Commissioners Office Complex and appealed both the communities to maintain

peace and brotherhood in the district.

Members of the minority community raised the issue regarding the incident and asked the administration to take strict action against persons deliberately trying to disturb peace in the district.

They demanded an investigation into the matter and alleged that there was a deep conspiracy to target places of worship of the minority community.

Leaders of the majority community condemned the incident. They asked the administration to take the matter seriously and not allow such persons to disturb peace in the district.

The administration assured members of the minority community of action. It warned the miscreants to be cautious in the future as such activities would not be tolerated.
Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 20

SOS International  an organisation for PoJK displaced persons, organised a daylight torch procession on International Refugee Day at the Tawi bridge here today.

Carrying candles and torches in their hands, many people gathered at Maharaja Hari Singhs statue at the Tawi bridge to mark their resentment over the alleged discriminative approach adopted by the Central and state governments to deliver much-awaited justice to them.

While addressing the gathering, chairman of the SOS International Rajiv Chuni said they had taken out the torch procession in the daytime because the present government had completely turned a blind eye towards their issues and was unable to see their problems even in the broad daylight.

Our message is very clear that displaced persons from PoJK will not sit idle until their demands are met and they must be given their due rights for which they have been struggling for long, Chuni said, adding that under the Kashmiri leadership rule, PoJK DPs were treated with utmost discrimination and it was still continuing. PoJK DPs had been struggling for their rights for the last seven decades, he said.

He said refugees and internally displaced persons were the terms that fell within the legal definition of the International Refugee Law, but the government labelled PoJK DPs as only displaced persons, which did not fall in the legal categorisation of refugees or internally displaced persons which was unfortunate due to which PoJK DPs had been living under miserable conditions since 1947.

We have been trapped in such a situation where neither our governments are doing anything for us, nor we can go to the UN for help. Moreover, the PoJK displaced persons lack refugee status because of the stand of the Government of India that the PoJK is not a foreign soil, but a part of Jammu and Kashmir illegally occupied by Pakistan. They are yet to be settled and have been deprived of all the benefits given to refugees under national and international laws, Chuni added.

He added that the UN could help PoJK DPs keeping them within the legal status of refugee or internally displaced persons.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Irans gas export to Turkey has increased by 11 percent during the first three months of the current fiscal year (started March 20), head of the Dispatching Management Department at National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), Abdolreza Ebrahimian said.

Iran on average exported 21.5 million cubic meters of gas to Turkey per day during the period, Ebrahimian said, SHANA news agency reported June 20.

Iran is Turkeys second supplier of gas after Russia, providing for one-fifth of the countrys consumption. Iranian gas is supplied to Turkey via the Tabriz-Ankara pipeline, which has a capacity of 14 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

In 1996, Iran and Turkey signed a 25-year deal on supplying 30 million cubic meters of gas to Turkey per day. Although the contract is still in place, it remains a sore point in the two countries gas relationship. The two sides have held new talks on both price and volume of imported gas from Iran.

Turkey wants Iran to make a 25-percent discount for the gas. Iran in turn says that it can make a discount for Turkey if the latter imports more gas from the country.

Iran exported 2.83 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey in the first four months of 2016, according to the Turkish Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK).

Iran supplied 7.83 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Turkey in 2015 versus 8.93 billion cubic meters in 2014.
Jasmine Singh

There seems just one thing that everyone is raving about these days, a topic that can make a chat last long. There is one act that everyone will encourage you towards, one act that is being reeled every day  yoga. Even though you would hear hushed whispers on gymming being a better probability, here are youngsters who swear by this magic potion! Youngsters who are young enough to rough out in the gym but chose to kneel down to the sun instead, youngsters who have discovered the science behind it all.

Plus point

It was a bad immune system and regular visits to the doctor that made young Nishi Singh, now a yoga practitioner, take up the traditional form of exercise. So much so that she changed the course of her academics towards studying and understanding yoga. Right from a better eye-sight, painless menstruation, better sense of observation and judgement, to a great sleep cycle, I have gained everything from yoga. I have been doing it for almost four years now.

It is not a fad; youngsters who are into it swear by its positive and long-lasting effects.

Anmol Singh was looking for a nice gymnasium three years back, but completely dropped the idea when his friend showed up from Canada. My friend took me for a 10-day camp in Pune, Anmol did not look back after that. I am now more focused; it wouldnt be wrong to say that I can memorise things better, and the best thing is that I can control my emotions.

Rachita Joshi has seen a drastic change in her self-confidence ever since she has taken up yoga. It might sound hard to believe at first, but yoga has done wonders to my self-esteem, says the young girl who has been practicing yoga for more than two years now. A better breathing pattern has changed Rachitas personality for good. I am in control of myself, which is how it should be, she smiles.

jasmine@tribunemail.com

Split ends

Not all want to squat down with their yoga mats, many youngsters also feel that the entire hullabaloo around the Yoga Day is slightly exaggerated, which has extended into PM Narendra Modis visit to Chandigarh.

Whats new?

Yoga is a part of our tradition; my entire family has been practising it. What amazes me is how the entire country, especially the northern region, has taken a fancy to it! I am surprised to read stories on how kids are forced to sleep in PRTC buses as they have to practise yoga the entire next day. Isnt health a personal choice? Why is it being forced upon us? And why should PM Modi be only patronising yoga; how about martial arts, self-defence, which is the need of the hour.  Monika Dubey

One good task

I often hear people talking about westernisation and how the younger generation is blindly aping it. Now we have someone like PM Modi, who is at least for our very own age old exercise form; so what is the harm with it? Is he promoting something that is bad for us? No, surely  Jaspreet Kamboj
Manika Ahuja

Cross the threshold and behold adorable senior citizen couples sipping over their hot cups of coffee, reminiscing days bygone. Waiters attired in their pristine white uniforms rush in a huff puff catering to some familiar and some unfamiliar faces. A classic ambience complete with the rich aroma of freshly-grounded filter coffee beckons one inside like always. The poster of yesteryear Tamil actress Ragini elegantly perched on a couch and declaring  Nothing but delicious coffee for me, is nowhere to be seen in the newly opened branch of Indian Coffee House in Chandigarhs Sector 36-D, but before you sink into despair at the revelation, perhaps this would make it better- this one is centrally air conditioned.

The fact that merely some hours after the new branchs inauguration on Monday sees the place jam packed, makes it safe to conclude that far from fading into oblivion, the joints popularity is growing by the day. But come to think of it, what is it that makes people hold on to this place despite stiff competition from other flashy coffee places?

When coffee cost 2 annas

Chandigarh-based Chartered Accountant JB Bhasin, and his spouse Kanchan Bhasin, share snippets from his five-decade long association with a place that abounds in sophistication.

You will be surprised to know that my bond with this place commenced back when a cup of coffee cost 2 annas! I used to put up in Shimla at that time, and have been religiously going to Indian Coffee House every single day since then. The taste of coffee they serve here has no comparison, smiles Bhasin, with a child-like twinkle in his eyes.

Ask him to point out some glaring changes he has observed over the years, and he instantly answers, Well, the crockery has changed. I used to relish the hot beverages that came in earthenware. His wife Kanchan chips in and shares that she loves the way the staffs attire has been kept unchanged over the years.

Intellectual brainstorming

Waves of nostalgia hit RK Bedi, who retired as senior division manager from an insurance company, as he steps into the joint with his wife Indu Bedi in tow. I have been a regular customer of Indian Coffee House since 1962, Bedi states matter-of-factly. His wife nudges him in jest and says, Should I spill the beans on how you hastily cancelled your reservation at a popular joint, just to come see your favourite coffee place today? The man, now blushing, quickly covers up, Did you know when I first visited Indian Coffee House, a cuppa came for 25 paisa only? But more than anything else, the place is majorly frequented by the intellectual persons such as journalists, retired officials to have brainstorming sessions.

Simple pleasures of life

Regular customers of Indian Coffee House for nearly forty years now, businessman Pradeep Kumar, and his better half Janak Gupta, swear by the Magnetic pull of the simple, yet charming coffee joint.

Sunil Kumar Negi, Secretary, Indian Coffee Workers Co-Operative Society Ltd, Delhi, lists out reasons that make the chain stand the test of time. We function on no profit, no loss rule. Our primary motive is to cater to demands of our cutomers. Agrees manager, Ramesh Dutta, That is precisely the reason why it is still frequented by the cream of Chandigarh.
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 20

To give exposure about the latest technologies related to the engineering sector, the Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU) has sent a delegation of 62 members to attend China International Machine Tools and Tool Exhibition (CIMES) 2016.

The delegation is led by CICU President Avtar Singh. The main objective of sending the delegation is to promote technology acquisition.

The delegation will attend an exhibition on cutting-edge technology, including metal cutting. This exhibition is attended by over 1 lakh visitors and there are more than 500 exhibitors. Apart from attending the exhibition from June 22 to June 26, the delegation will visit three factories in China.

The delegation will attend also attend technical seminars. There will be meetings with the Chamber of Industries and other prominent industrial associations of China.

The delegation was flagged off by Irrigation Minister, Punjab, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon along with CICU General Secretary Upkar Singh Ahuja and other CICU members.
Patna, June 20

Former chairman of Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh  the suspected mastermind of the toppers scam in the Bihar intermediate examination  and his wife, former Janata Dal (United) MLA Usha Sinha, were arrested on Tuesday from Varanasi, a senior police officer said.

"Lalkeshwar Singh and his wife Usha Sinha have been arrested from Varanasi, Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj said.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested the two after they received a tip about their presence in the temple city of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Lalkeshwar Singh and his wife Usha Sinha have been missing since the police secured a warrant for their arrest from a Patna court for irregularities in Bihars Class 12 examinations.

Usha Sinha, a former JD (U) MLA from Hilsa and Principal of Ganga Devi college in Patna from which she was expelled is a co-accused in an admission racket, in which students paid bribes to get degrees.  PTI
Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 20

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar may soon fly to Seoul ahead of the crucial Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meeting scheduled for June 24 where Indias membership is likely to come up for discussion. However, China today said Indias membership was not on the agenda of the plenary meet of the NSG.

The statement was in sharp contrast to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajs optimism yesterday that India was hopeful of convincing China and becoming an NSG member by the year-end.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying today said: The inclusion of non-NPT members has never been a topic on the agenda of NSG meetings. In Seoul this year, there is no such topic.

It was also made clear that India might be looking for a credential-based as opposed to a criterion-based approach. China insisted that NSG should discuss the entry issue of non-NPT countries as a whole instead of specific non-NPT countries joining.

Jaishankars hush-hush visit to China last week coupled with PM Narendra Modis scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tashkent later this week highlights the importance being attached to the NSG berth.
Geneva, June 20

The number of refugees and others fleeing their homes worldwide has hit a new record, spiking to 6.53 crore people by the end of 2015, the United Nations said today.

Europes high-profile migrant crisis, its worst since World War II, is just one part of a growing tide of human misery led by Palestinians, Syrians and Afghans.

Globally, 1 per cent of humanity has been forced to flee. This is the first time that the threshold of 6 crore has been crossed, the UN refugee agency said.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The figures, released on World Refugee Day, underscore twin pressures fuelling an unprecedented global displacement crisis.

As conflict and persecution force growing numbers of people to flee, anti-migrant political sentiment has strained the will to resettle refugees, said UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi.

The willingness of nations to work together not just for refugees but for the collective human interest is whats being tested today, he said.

The number of people displaced globally rose by 58 lakh through 2015, according to the UN figures. Counting Earths population at 7.349 billion, the UN said that one out of every 113 people on the planet was now either internally displaced or a refugee.

They now number more than the populations of Britain or France, the agency said, adding that it is a level of risk for which UNHCR knows no precedent.

Displacement figures have been rising since the mid-1990s, but the rate of increase has jumped since the outbreak of Syrias civil war in 2011. Of the planets 6.53 crore displaced, 4.08 crore remain within their own country, while 2.13 crore have fled across borders and are now refugees.

A worrying mixture of worrying factors has led to rising displacement and narrowing space for refugee resettlement. Situations that cause large refugee outflows are lasting longer, the agency said, including more than 30 years of unrest in both Somalia and Afghanistan.  AFP
Beijing, June 20

Indias inclusion in the Nuclear Suppliers Group was not on the 48-member blocs Seoul meeting later this week due to differences among members, China said on Tuesday a day after Indian External Minister Sushma Swaraj claimed Beijing did not oppose Indias entry.

"We have stressed that the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is still divided about non-NPT countries entry into the NSG and under the current circumstances we hope that NSG will make through discussions to make a decision based on consultation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing.

"As we understand the annual conference in Seoul this year also has no such topic. We understand that non-NPT countries are concerned about their entry into the NSG. But since NSG is still divided about the issue, t is still not mature to talk about the entry issue in the annual conference in Seoul," she said. "I want point out that the NSG agenda has never covered any issue concerning the non-NPT countries joining the NSG."

"China maintains that NSG should have through discussion on the joining of the non-NPT countries in a way agreed by all parties, so as to make a decision based on agreement. This position is not directed against any country and applies to all non-NPT states."

The group will meet on Friday.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook and Twitter @thetribunechd)

India recently intensified its campaign for entry into the group and even has most of the 48-member group  prominent among them the US  supporting its bid. Some countries  among them China  have opposed the move citing concerns about allowing non-parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty to be members.

The others opposing Indias entry are Austria, New Zealand, Turkey, South Africa and Ireland.

Swaraj claimed on Friday that China had not opposed to Indias inclusion, but only insisted on meeting criteria. She also said she was confident India would be a member of the group by the end of the year.

The Chinese media recently reported that Indias foray into the group would endanger Beijings interests.

Pakistan has also opposed Indias membership arguing that it would jeopardise Pakistans interests.

According to Pakistans leading newspaper, Dawn, the country had submitted its membership application on May 19, a week after India, which applied on May 12 Agencies
New Delhi, June 20

The stand-off between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the opposition BJP over the murder of an NDMC officer intensified on Monday with the Chief Minister reiterating his demand for the arrest of BJP MP Maheish Girri, while the BJP demanded that Kejriwal either prove his charges or apologise.

Kejriwal also urged Delhi Police, which does not report to him, to probe the relationship between Girri and hotelier Ramesh Kakkar, the main accused in the murder of NDMCs legal adviser MM Khan in mid May.

Girri forwarded a letter written by Kakkar to the Lt Governor asking for the removal of Khan. The LG forwarded the letter to the NDMC chairman on Girris reference, Kejriwal told reporters here.

Murder cases are not solved in an open debate. The police should arrest him (Girri) first and interrogate him about his relationship with Kakkar. Why did he write a letter to LG on Kakkars behalf? He added: Is this how criminal justice system works in the Modi government that whoever is accused of murder will sit on dharna outside my home?

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader has accused the Central Government of shielding Girri. He should be arrested and interrogated in the Khan murder case. Modi police shielding him, Kejriwal tweeted earlier, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose government controls Delhi Police.

Girri again denied the charges and accused Kejriwal of running a malicious campaign.

I challenge Kejriwal and his gang of thugs to present before media and public any letter written by me to any authority on the NDMC Hotel matter or else the Chief Minister should resign, Girri told reporters.

Kejriwal should know that I will not tolerate any nefarious attack on my image. I am a spiritual person for whom image is more important than power, he added.

The Bharatiya Janata Party also denied Kejriwals allegations.

We stand by our MP Maheish Girri who has never written any letter to the Lt Governor in the context of MM Khan or the NDMC hotel case in question, the BJPs Delhi unit said in a statement. All that AAP and the Chief Minister have said is a fresh bunch of lies. Girri has been on hunger strike outside Kejriwals residence from Sunday after the latter declined to appear for an open debate with him at the Constitution Club here.

BJP party general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, the partys Rajya Sabha members Subramanian Swamy and Vijay Goel, Lok Sabha Member Manoj Tiwary and several other leaders, including BJP veteran Vijay Kumar Malhotra and national vice-president Shyam Jaju, joined the hunger strike led by Girri.

I have a long spiritual bonding with Girri and I wish to tell the Delhi Chief Minister that he has rung a wrong bell and he will have to pay a heavy price for this dirty politics, Vijayvargiya said.

He also appealed to Girri to continue with the protest but reconsider his decision on hunger strike.

Swamy demanded Kejriwals apology and also slammed Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, saying he must be dismissed.

There is no surprise in the way Kejriwal is acting. He is a Naxalite by nature. All allegations levelled against Girri by him are completely wrong, Swamy told party workers here.

Girri on Monday also wrote to the Delhi Police chief, asking that his role should be impartially probed.

Probe the matter impartially and fearlessly. If you feel, please question me and if needed please arrest me, Girri said.

Khan, an estate officer with NDMC, was shot dead in Jamia Nagar here on May 16  a day before he was expected to pass an order on the terms of the lease of The Connaught, a four-star hotel.

The hotels owner, Ramesh Kakkar, was arrested along with six others for Khans murder.

Both Girri and Karan Singh Tanwar, another BJP leader, have denied they are linked to Khans murder.

Delhi Police has reportedly said they have not come across any evidence against Girri and Kanwar in the murder probe.

Girri, who represents East Delhi in the Lok Sabha, has dared Kejriwal to a public debate over the allegations and asked him to produce evidence to back the charges.  IANS
KV Prasad

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 20

The decision of the Narendra Modi government to bring in a minor change in the new FDI policy in defence could open it up for manufacturing and job creation, triggering immediate reaction from former Defence Minister AK Antony that the move could lead to Indian defence industry be controlled by NATO and American defence manufacturers.

Tucked in the slew of sectors being opened up by the Centre today, it said while 49 per cent FDI participation in defence would remain under automatic route, beyond the cap in cases resulting in access to modern technology in the country or for other reasons to be recorded, the condition of access to state-of-the-art technology in the country has been done away with.

FDI limit for defence sector has also been made applicable to Manufacturing of Small Arms and Ammunitions covered under the Arms Act, 1959, it was announced.

The governments move comes in the wake of repeated statements by foreign manufacturers seeking greater control and being less than enthusiastic at 49 per cent cap. By doing away with state-of-the-art clause, should give the government greater leeway in determining what modern technology the country is getting. At present, the sector attracted slightly above Rs 1 crore as FDI in last two years.

For instance, there is an effort to speed up development of the long-delayed Light Combat Aircraft Tejas. The IAF has grudgingly accepted some 40 aircraft amid reports that talks are on with Swedish SAAB, which could gel with the programme since the next generation of LCA has to be qualitatively different. Recently, there were reports of Air Chief Arup Raha having test-flown one of the Swedish jets.

What the government has done is to make it easy for it to process FDI rather that resting on state-of-the-art technology. It opens up possibility of manufacturing and job creation, Amit Cowshis, former Financial Adviser (Acquistion) in the Defence Ministry told The Tribune. He also said the larger issue of creating better eco-systems still hung fire with labour laws and land acquisition as cases in point.

Meanwhile, Antony condemned the move and said it should be withdrawn in national interest. He said the move came immediately after PM Modis visit to the US.

The move poses a big threat to national security and Indias independent foreign policy. Allowing 100 per cent FDI means India's defence sector is thrown mostly into the hands of NATO-American defence manufacturers. Naturally it will affect Indias independent foreign policy too. It will also threaten the national security, he said.
New Delhi, June 20

The tenure of the committee formed on implementation of One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme has been extended by six months up to the middle of December this year.

The government recently amended the gazette notification issued last year under which the committee headed by former Chief Justice of Patna High Court, Justice L Narasimha Reddy (retd), was scheduled to submit its report by June 14.

With the extension, the implementation of OROP might take more time as the panel could submit its report by December 14, official sources said.

The government had announced implementation of OROP on November 7, 2015 to benefit over 25 lakh ex-servicemen and war widows. The OROP mandates payment of uniform pension to the armed forces personnel retiring in the same rank with the same length of service, regardless of their date of retirement, which implies that bridging the gap between the rate of pension of current and past pensioners at periodic intervals.

The other Terms of Reference of the Committee will continue, which include measures for the removal of anomalies that may arise in the implementation of the OROP as notified by the government.

The panel is also looking into the measures for the removal of anomalies that may arise out of inter-services issues of the three forces due to implementation of OROP besides implications on service matters.

The Committee is examining all other matter referred to it by the central government on implementation of the OROP or related issues.

In making its recommendations, the Committee shall take into account the financial impact of its recommendations, as per its Terms of Reference.

The panel, if necessary, may give interim reports to the government on any of the matters related to its terms of reference. PTI
Tehran, Iran, June 20

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

In a series of talks between Iran and Germany last week, problems related to the Hermes cover were completely resolved and the Hermes cover will be ready to go to Iranian projects starting June 21, according to an announcement by Irans Ambassador to Germany Ali Majedi, IRIB news agency reported June 20.

A Hermes cover (Hermesdeckung in German) is an export credit guarantee (ECG) by the German Federal Government. The management of the guarantees is in the hands of Euler Hermes (which is the lead) and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Almost all of the debts relating to the Hermes cover were settled and we agreed that a small amount of remaining debt that concerns the shipping sector be paid in installments, the ambassador said.

Under sanctions, Iran had been unable to pay a debt of 500 million for the guarantees it had received from the German government.

Majedi noted that if the Hermes cover is once again given Irans export projects, worlds major banks will be encouraged to restore relations with Iran.

The sanctions were lifted off Iran in January. However, big banks have been retaining a fear of reestablishing ties with Iran, having in mind heavy punishments some of them suffered for doing business with Tehran in contempt of the sanctions.

It is expected that by the end of this week when the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development convenes, Irans investment risk will have decreased from 7 to 5, the Iranian official said.



We plan in cooperation with related ministries to use the Hermes cover for at least 2 or 3 projects by the end of the year, he said.
Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 20

A day after his 46th birthday, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today proceeded on another foreign holiday amid reports that he would return home in a week to 10 days.

The Gandhi scion wrote of his overseas jaunt on his Twitter account to ensure no political controversy followed him around on his break. Since Rahuls return from a controversial two-month sabbatical in 2015, the Congress has decided it will make his offshore trips public.

Only this time, the much-anticipated move comes at a time when the Congress is facing an organisational vacuum at the very top in the key states of Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan. All these states are currently functioning without any Congress general secretary in charge.

In Punjab, the vacuum was created after Congress president Sonia Gandhi accepted the resignation of Kamal Nath, who was under attack from AAP and Akali-BJP combine over his alleged role in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. The party was learnt to be keen on sending former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit but a final decision remains to be taken.

However, leaders maintain that an organisational gap in terms of a missing general secretary should not be much of a problem. Capt Amarinder Singh, the state Congress chief, is already there. We have Ambika Soni as the campaign committee incharge. These leaders are key to election planning, said a senior leader.

Gujarat and Rajasthan have been without a general secretary for a fortnight after Gurdas Kamat, the previous incharge, tendered his resignation from the post on June 7. Kamat, who put in his papers to Sonia, has been anxious about Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupams continuous interference in his political constituency in Mumbai.

Although attempts have been made to placate Kamat with Sonia meeting him and later Rahul speaking to him on the phone, nothing has been done to meaningfully calm down the angry veteran, who is cross with Nirupam and Congress general secretary, Maharashtra, Mohan Prakash.

Kamat, sources said, may return as general secretary of the two states he just quit. In both Gujarat and Rajasthan, Kamat is credited with scripting a turnaround for the party as evidenced in the local body and some byelections.

Asked why matters are being delayed in crucial election going states, senior leader Jairam Ramesh said, Everything will be sorted out soon.

The decisions will now be taken only upon Rahuls return, which is likely sometime in July.
R Sedhuraman

Legal Correspondent

New Delhi, June 20

The Supreme Court today refused to immediately stop the hunting or culling of monkeys, nilgais and wild boars in Himachal Pradesh, Bihar and Uttarakhand, respectively, following an assurance by the Centre that such activities were allowed only outside forests in order to protect people.

A vacation Bench comprising Justices AK Goel and AM Khanwilkar, however, allowed three PIL petitioners to submit representations to the Centre for putting an end to such killings. The apex court directed the government to decide on such pleas within two weeks.

The Bench also clarified that it would hear the PIL cases on July 15 by when the government would have taken a stand on the pleas of the three petitioners  animal rights activist Gauri Maulekhi, the Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre and Federation of Animal Protection Organisations.

Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar questioned the validity of the PILs, contending that the petitioners had approached the apex court after a delay of seven months and that too during the summer vacation. The Centre had permitted Bihar in November 2015 to hunt nilgais for a year, of which only five months were left.

The Animal Welfare Board of India, a statutory body, also supported the PILs, arguing that the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 was meant for protecting animals, not to declare them as vermin to facilitate their killing. The SG said the Board should challenge the validity of the governments three notifications granting permission to Bihar, HP and Uttarakhand, instead of joining the petitioners. Acknowledging the Boards contention, the Bench remarked that this did not mean that the Act could be held against people and let them suffer.

The petitioners pleaded that wild animals under the Act could be taken off the protected category and placed on the vermin list to facilitate their killing only on the basis of scientific studies confirming the need for such a move to resolve man-animal conflicts. But this was not done before the Centre issued the three notifications.

Further, a number of the animals ran back into the forest after being hit by bullets and lived in pain which was against the permission to kill them, the petitioners senior counsel Sidharth Luthra, Anand Grover and Vijay Hansaria pleaded.

Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi publicly criticised her cabinet colleague Prakash Javadekar for the approval given by his ministry for hunting the animals.

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 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.
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 20

Inderjit Singh Zira, leader of the Kisan and Khet Mazdoor cell of Punjab Congress on Monday said Punjab needed solution to agrarian crisis and not yoga events.

Zira alleged that the yoga event in Chandigarh aimed at propagating the RSS agenda.

The Kisan and Khet Mazdoor cell will also hand over the blood collected from families of suicide victims across Punjab to Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Tuesday to highlight farmers plight.

Zira demanded that the Prime Minister waive loans of Rs 75,000 crore of farmers and implement the Swaminathan Report.
Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Rampura (Bathinda), June 20



Eighteen people, including six policemen, were injured at Rampura in this district on Monday afternoon as those holding a protest demanding the arrest of the family who had allegedly murdered a Dalit woman pelted the police with stones after cops cane-charged them.

A police jeep was vandalised in the clash for which the police blamed the protesters. However, the protesters alleged that the SHO himself got the jeep vandalised. Police have rounded up over 250 protesters at Phul police station.

The clash took place as the police cane-charged the protesters, led by BSP general secretary Kuldip Singh Sardulgarh.

They first protested in front of Phul police station against the alleged police inaction in the case registered against the accused. The protesters alleged that the victim, a resident of Dhanaula Khurd village in Barnala district who was married off at Phul, was murdered by the accused family on June 13 but the police failed to arrest them.

The protesters wanted to shift the protest to the Bathinda-Chandigarh road but the police cane-charged them. In retaliation, the protesters allegedly pelted the policemen with stones, leaving a few policemen injured.

The protesters demanded the arrest of Sukhchain Singh, the husband of the deceased, along with his mother and sisters. They alleged that the victim was pregnant at the time of her death but the police had failed to arrest them.

Phul SHO Manjit Singh denied the allegations saying a case is yet to be registered against the accused. He said the protesters had seriously injured five policemen who were admitted to civil hospital, Rampura.

The Mansa district in-charge of the BSP, who was among the protesters, said, The police had injured around a dozen of our protesters by cane-charging them. The SHO himself vandalised his jeep to get us booked. We retaliated only after they cane-charged us.
New Delhi, June 20

The Delhi High Court today gave the go-ahead to Delhi University (DU)-affiliated Khalsa College to commence its admission process for this academic year under the minority status.

How are the teachers of the college affected if students are given admission under the minority status? Justice GS Sistani asked the DU teachers who had sought a stay on the National Commission for Minority Educational Institution order granting minority status to Sri Guru Teg Bahadur (SGTB) Khalsa College.

The Judge added, Fresh appointments of teachers in the college will be subject to the final outcome of the writ petition. It said the authorities concerned should inform the new students that the petition challenging the minority status given to the college was pending.

The High Court, in its interim order yesterday, had only allowed the counselling process, not the admissions.

The courts order came on a plea by the teachers who had claimed that if admissions under the minority status were allowed, their service conditions would be affected. They had also challenged the grant of minority status on the grounds that it would affect the interests of SC/ST students.

The college was granted minority status in 2011, which was then challenged by teachers as well as DU on whose plea a stay was granted by the High Court in 2012, according to the petition filed by the teachers.

As per the plea, DU had withdrawn its petition in July last year, saying that it had no objection to the minority status granted to the college.

Last July, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), which runs the college, had assured the court that the admissions and appointment of teachers would continue as per the old system which allows admission in general as well as SC/ST/OBC categories.

On April 18 this year, the DSGMC said since DU and the government had accepted the minority status, it would not continue the interim arrangement and not be bound by the provisions of the SC/ST Reservation Act. The teachers had then again filed a plea seeking a stay on the order.  PTI
Actor Johnny Depp took a break from the murky divorce battle with his estranged wife, Amber Heard, and chilled out with belly dancers at a private party in Romania.

The only large checks in sight were the ones on the jacket over his chair as he relaxed with his friends from his rock band, The Hollywood Vampires. The group hired out a swanky restaurant for an after-party following a gig on their European tour.

The video footage from the bash at the Trattoria il Calcio shows Depp, 53, chatting with his friends and watching the glamourous girls on stage, reports an online news website.

A party-goer said, If Johnny was under any stress, he didnt show it. He was quite relaxed, sipping beers, and chatting with his friends. He didnt even talk about Amber, but he clearly feels that he is the innocent party in all of this. Johnny told the restaurant owner hes always had a weakness for being too trusting, and said that was what had caused his problems.

With an age gap of 22 years, the couple got engaged in January 2014. Now, Heard is making shocking domestic violence claims. However, Depp doesnt accept any accusations made against him. He also said their relationship was great until they got married, said the party goer. IANS
Ajay Ramola

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, June 20

The Forest Departments decision to permit the Municipal Council, Mussoorie, to cut three green trees near Jhoola Ghar in the name of beautification of the area has come under fire from local residents.

Livid at the felling of trees, advocate Ashok Malhotra said one of them was Oak, another Deodar and the third was a rare horse chestnut tree. He said when there had been movements across the country to plant more trees, the forest departments decision seemed uncalled for.

Hugh Gantzer, a senior citizen and member of the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee (SCMC), said since the hill town was reeling from water crisis, every single tree thats cut put it under greater stress.

The town receives water from natural springs in the forests. Trees help in recharging of the aquifers, the underground water resources which feed the springs. The town depends largely on springs and a few brooklets both of which draw their water from aquifers, he added. Residents want the Forest Department to explain the merit of such a decision that hasnt gone down well with them.

Mussoorie DFO Dr Dheeraj Pandey said the Municipal Council owned the land and it had passed a proposal for expansion of Jhoola Ghar. Officers inspected the site and filed a report that the permission could be given to cut the trees under the Tree Plantation Act, 1976, as the area did not fall under the notified land clause and the Forest Conservation Act.

Municipal Council Executive Officer DS Rana said he was not aware of the matter as he had gone to New Delhi when the permission was sought to cut the trees.

Logs of illegally-axed trees seizedDehradun: Forest officials have seized logs of illegally-axed trees in the Ramnagar area of Nainital district. The accused, who was carrying the woods in a Maruti car, managed to flee.

Officials of the Uttarakhand Terai west forest division intercepted the car near Belparav. The accused had stashed the logs on the rear seat of the car. Officials said the woods belonged to Sheesham tree.

Senior Divisional Officer BD Shahi said efforts were on to nab the accused, whose identity had been established.
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 20

The hill state is all set to make International Yoga Day tomorrow a success with various training camps underway and enthusiasts geared up to perform on the occasion.

Patanjali Yogpeeth-trained more than thousand persons have left for various places across the country to hold yoga events on Tuesday. Similarly, Akhil Bharatiya Gayatri Parivar,Shantikunj, Gurukul Kangri University and Gurukul Mahavidyalya have also finalised their events.

Indian Red Cross Societys Haridwar unit has started a weeklong yoga training camp, which will conclude on International Yoga Day at Avdhoot Mandal, Shankar Ashram square, Vatsalya Vatika Bahadrabad and KLDAV Inter College, Roorkee. Yoga expert Dr Urmila Pandey is imparting training to participants, teaching them various asanas such as padmasana, vajrasana, bhunjgasana, halasana, sarvangasana and meditation.

As per Dr Pandey, yoga has now reached western countries, with people realising the immense spiritual-physical bliss practicing yoga provides the practitioner.

We want to provide yoga training to the common man and make them live a healthy life. People should avail of free training at yoga camps. The ancient art has no side effects like modern medical therapies, said Dr Pandey.

Indian Red Cross Society secretary Dr Naresh Chaudhary said on June 21, besides participants in the camps, locals and society volunteers will take part in the event. Vatsaliya Vatika manager Pradeep Mishra and KLDAV Inter College principal Manoj Kumar Saini urged youths in particular to attend the yoga camp to benefit from a renowned yoga guru.
Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 20

After the high-voltage political drama in the state that left it embarrassed in more than one ways, the BJP is all set to re-launch its political pitch for Uttarakhand with two events of party president Amit Shah.

A public rally in Haridwar on June 25 and a karyakarta sammelan, a state executive meeting, in Haldwani on the following day will set the tone for the poll preparations.

Party leaders say Shahs programme has been drawn keeping in mind several factors and political combinations. On the first day of his two-day programme, he will visit Kedarnath and Badrinath  the important Hindu temples that form part of the pilgrim circuit Char Dham in the Himalayas. The other two sites in the circuit are Gangotri and Yamunotri.

In the evening, he will be in Haridwar  another important pilgrimage site of Uttarakhand  to sound the political bugle for the 2017 Assembly polls. The party has planned a massive rally which state leaders are going all out to turn into a massive success.

Day after on June 26, Shah will be in Haldwani  a part of the Kumoan region, which also happens to be the key area of incumbent Congress Chief Minister Harish Rawat. Apparently, the people in Kumaon region have great sympathy for Rawat, who is from Pithoragarh. They blame saffron leaders for engineering a rebellion against Rawat with the help of Congress rebels, destabilising the state and imposing the Presidents rule there.

Seemingly, all recent political tribulations in the state have not just helped Rawat gain political sympathy but also re-emerge as undisputed leader of the Congress state unit. He has become his partys most visible face  someone who may now be in a position to give the BJP a good fight despite losing all five Lok Sabha seats in 2014 and a massive anti-incumbency.
Kuala Lumpur, June 20

The first personal items of passengers aboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 may have been found in the waters off Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, a media report said on Monday as officials from Malaysia, Australia and China met here to chart the future direction of search operations for the missing plane.

Debris hunter Blaine Gibson says he also found two possible pieces of debris on a beach near the same place he discovered other pieces of a plane that Australian authorities have said almost certainly belong to the missing Boeing 777 airliner.

The Malaysian Airlines flight went missing with 239 people on board in March 2014, and despite a two-year search investigation, mystery still surrounds its final resting place in the Indian Ocean.

Gibson told CNN that he found 15 to 20 possible personal effects, including a small backpack, purse, computer case, phone cases and cabin-sized carry-on type items, on a Madagascar beach between June 7 and June 16.

He says there was nothing to identify who the items belong to, and has sent the images to MH370 families support group to see if anyone recognises them.

Malaysian and Australian authorities had been notified of the find, he said, and planned to collect them for analysis.

The two new pieces of potential debris found include a strip of plastic fiber glass covered in gray paint and a piece of brown plastic fiber glass. Both are about 40 centimeters long.

Gibson says he found them on the island of Nosy Boraha, off the east coast of Madagascarthe same location where he found three possible plane debris pieces on June 6.

Officials from Malaysia, Australia and China are meeting in Kuala Lumpur this week to discuss the search, which has swept vast areas of the ocean floor off the Australian coast.

In a statement issued Monday, the three countries said theyve agreed to act together to take decisions relating to the search for MH370.

The statement noted that in April 2015, the countries agreed thatin the absence of credible new informationthe search would end if the plane was not found in the designated search zone in southern Indian Ocean.

It is now expected to take until at least August for teams to cover the 1,20,000 square kilometer search zone, due to recent disruptions from rough weather.

More than 1,05,000 square kilometers have been searched so far, according to the Australian governments Joint Action Coordination Center, heading the hunt for MH370.  PTI
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20



By Khalid Kazimov  Trend:



The total volume of oil products loaded and unloaded at Iranian ports over the past month has increased by 32 percent year-on-year.



According to the countrys Ports and Maritime Organization, in a period of one month between May 21 and June 20, 14.7 million tons of oil products were loaded and unloaded at the ports across Iran.



The figure for the loaded oil products in the mentioned period was 12.8 million tonsm while the unloading figure stood at 1.8 million tons.



Iran loaded and unloaded 11.1 million tons of oil products at its ports in the same period of last year.



According to a report by BP's Statistical Review of World Energy, Iran consumed 88.9 million tons of oil as well as 172.1 million tons oil equivalent (mtoe) of natural gas and 1.2 mtoe of coal in 2015.
London/Melbourne, June 19

Hundreds of thousands of yoga lovers from London to Melbourne have rolled out mats to bend and twist their bodies in complex postures to mark the second International Day of Yoga with fervour.

The High Commission of India and the Indian Governments Tourist Office in London, in collaboration with 14 British yoga institutions marked International Day of Yoga today, two days ahead of its second anniversary.

The day-long event at Potters Fields Park, near the iconic Tower Bridge, saw over 10,000 people from all walks of life participating in various yoga and meditation sessions.

In South Africa, thousands gathered at more than a dozen venues across the country to celebrate the International Day of Yoga that was adopted by the UN General Assembly two years ago.

Hundreds of Yoga enthusiasts of all religions and races performed yoga at the main event at Johannesburgs Zoo Lake park.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook and Twitter @thetribunechd)

The Indian High Commission in Pretoria and its three Consulates in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg coordinated events with a host of community organisations.

The second International Day of Yoga was also celebrated across major Australian cities including Canberra and Melbourne with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull hailing yoga as one of Indias gifts to the world.

Turnbull commended Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of supporting global peace and well-being and described the ancient practice of yoga as one of Indias gifts to the world and acknowledged its aim to develop resilience, thoughtfulness, respect and harmony, towards each other and the world.

Meanwhile, in China a large number of yoga enthusiasts yesterday participated in events held across the country in association with the Indian Embassy to mark the celebrations leading up to the second International Day of Yoga on June 21.

Chinas Wuxi city organised the biggest yoga get together today in which 3,500 people took part. The event was hosted at the iconic Wuxi Hollywood Studios and nearly 3,500 yoga lovers from Wuxi registered and participated.

In America, Indian classical dances and yoga asanas at the US Congress yesterday kicked off the week-long celebrations.  PTI
Kabul, June 20

A busload of Nepalese security guards were among 23 people killed in a string of bombings across Afghanistan on Monday, days after Washington expanded the US military's authority to strike the insurgents.

The Taliban claimed the first attack that killed 14 Nepali security guards working for the Canadian Embassy in Kabul in a massive blast that left their yellow mini bus spattered with blood.

The insurgents also claimed a second, smaller blast in south Kabul targeting a local politician that the interior ministry said killed one person and injured five others, including the politician.

The Kabul blasts were followed just hours later by an attack on a market in the remote northeastern province of Badakhshan that authorities said killed at least eight people and wounded 18, with the death toll set to rise.

The wave of violence comes ten days after Washington announced an expansion of the US military's authority to conduct air strikes against the Taliban, a significant boost for Afghan forces who have limited close air-support capacities.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Last month the militants, who have stepped up attacks in recent weeks as part of their annual spring offensive, named Haibatullah Akhundzada their new leader, in a swift power transition after former head Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan.

Police said the attack on the Nepali guards was carried out by a suicide bomber on foot shortly before 6.00 am (0130 GMT) on a main road leading east out of the capital towards the city of Jalalabad.

"As a result 14 foreigners were killed, all Nepali nationals," the interior ministry said in a statement, adding that nine other people were wounded, including five Nepali citizens and four Afghans.

"@CanEmbAFG confirms that today's cowardly attack targeted our security company," the Canadian embassy in Afghanistan said on Twitter, offering condolences to the victims' families and confirming that the attack did not breach the embassy compound.

The sound of the explosion could be heard across Kabul and a plume of smoke could be seen above the site of the blast on the Jalalabad road, a main route that houses many foreign compounds and military facilities.

More than two dozen ambulances rushed to the scene, an AFP journalist said, with police blocking off the road. The blast also shattered the windows of nearby shops.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, saying it was "against the forces of aggression" in Afghanistan.  AFP
Singapore, June 20

Singapores national para-athlete Adam Kamis, who represented the country at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, on Monday pleaded guilty of recruiting women for prostitution through social networking web sites for his social escort agency and sexually exploiting a minor girl.

Adam, 37, took to Facebook to recruit women, using the moniker Angel Tan to pass himself off as an escort girl working for SG Freelancers  the escort agency he started in early 2013 to get out of debt.

He pleaded guilty to 11 charges of recruiting women for prostitution and one charge under the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act for exploiting a 16-year-old girl.

For child trafficking, Adam could be jailed for up to 10 years, fined up to SGD 100,000. He could also be given up to six strokes of the cane. Adam will be sentenced on June 27.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz told the court that Adam wanted to pique their interest and gain their trust.

Adam, who lost his right arm in a motorcycle accident and had left arm paralysed, represented Singapore at the Delhi Commonwealth Games and the ASEAN Para Games.

Between early 2013 and October 2015, when he was arrested, Adam had recruited 15 women, Channel News Asia reported.

His victims were students, a dental assistant, childcare teacher and an accountant, and were aged between 16 and 38.

The court heard that the 16-year-old girl had come across Adams advertisement for a freelance job paying SGD 500 a day.

She contacted Angel Tan, the moniker used by Adam.

Adam, who introduced himself as a staff of the escort company, met the girl at his apartment in Yishun. He sexually exploited her by persuading her to let him inspect her body, assuring that all girls who attended the interview had to do the same.

Despite telling Adam she was only 16, he persisted, telling her that no one would find out. He had sex with her.

For other victims, Adam would get the victims to disclose their personal details in a sexually explicit questionnaire.

Adam would try out the women by having sex with them, Sripathy-Shanaz told the court.

Sripathy-Shanaz is seeking a sentence of 38 months against Adam. The DPP argued that this was not a spur of the moment decision but the culmination of detailed planning which spawned a well laid-out, sophisticated recruitment process.

He was both the mastermind and operator of the entire enterprise, she said.

For procuring or attempting to procure a woman for the purpose of prostitution, Adam faces up to five years jail and a fine of up to SGD 10,000.  PTI
Oaxaca, June 20

Unknown gunmen opened fire as police and teachers clashed in southern Mexico during a protest that left six people dead and more than 100 injured, authorities said.

The violence erupted on Sunday as police threw tear gas at the protesters to end a week-long barricade that was blocking a road in Asuncion Nochixtlan, a town in Oaxaca state, where some vehicles were set on fire.

The National Education Workers Coordinator (CNTE) union has been leading protests in Oaxaca for days against an education reform and the arrest of two of its leaders.

The National Security Commission initially denied that officers were armed, charging that news pictures showing them with guns were false.

But federal police chief Enrique Galindo later said that an armed unit was deployed after unidentified people fired weapons on police and the population.

The teachers were not even involved in these things, Galindo said at a news conference.

There are reports of the presence of various violent groups that have headed the blockades of roads and strategic installations for days, the federal and state governments said in a joint statement, urging the CNTE to distance itself from these unidentified groups.

The six fatalities were civilians, said Oaxaca state public security secretary Jorge Alberto Ruiz Martinez.

Another 55 federal and state officers were injured, including eight by gunshots, Ruiz Martinez said. At least 53 civilians were injured.

Paramedics said that three of the dead had bullet wounds.

One was a minor and the other two were 23 and 28. The paramedics spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

It was not immediately clear how the other three were killed.

At least 21 people were arrested.

The CNTE, considered a radical wing of a national union, denounced in a statement the repressive action of the federal and state governments.

Many of the injured people were taken to the towns church before being transferred to hospitals. Several are in critical condition, the government said.

A municipal police officer, who requested anonymity, said a firebomb was thrown on the towns municipal building.

Governor Gabino Cue said the police intervention was needed to restore food and fuel supplies on state roads.

Protesters, some wearing masks, also gathered in the tourist city of Oaxaca, the state capital, where they prepared Molotov cocktails and burned material on the street to form barricades near the central plaza in anticipation of the arrival of police.

Shops closed and the streets were deserted.  AFP
KABUL, June 20

At least 14 people were killed in a suicide attack on a minibus in the Afghan capital, Kabul, early on Monday, police said.

A Reuters witness saw several apparently dead victims and at least two wounded being carried out of the yellow bus while police and emergency service vehicles rushed to the scene in the Banae district of the city.

Interior Minister spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said that eight others were wounded in the attack, and that police were working to identify the nationalities of the victims.

"The suicide bomber targeted a minibus of security guards of a foreign company, right now we are working to identify the nationalities of the victims," said Sediqqi.

But a police official said that the 14 dead were Nepalese citizens working as security guards for the private company that was attacked.

The official, who did not want to give his name as he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the wounded included four Afghan civilians.

The attack was the latest in a recent surge of violence that highlights the challenges faced by the Afghan government in Kabul and its Western backers as Washington slowly draws down its remaining troops despite a persistent insurgency.

Basir Mujahid, a spokesman for Kabul police, said the suicide bomber had targeted a minibus that appeared to be from a logistics company, although it was not clear whether the victims were Afghans or Nepalese security contractors.

Other police had said earlier the bus could have been carrying government employees on their way to work.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which occurred during Ramadan, Islam's holy month.

It underlined how serious the security threat facing Afghanistan remains since the death of former Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a US drone strike last month.

The blast follows a deadly suicide attack on a bus carrying justice ministry staff near Kabul last month and a separate attack on a court in the central city of Ghazni on June 1.

The Taliban claimed both those attacks in revenge for the execution of six Taliban prisoners.  Agencies
Kabul, June 20

Two Indians were among 25 people killed in a string of bombings across Afghanistan today. In the first attack, a Taliban suicide bomber hit a minibus carrying foreign security guards in Kabul along the main road to the eastern city of Jalalabad. The Taliban also claimed a second smaller blast in south Kabul.

The third blast took place in a market in the remote northeastern province of Badakhshan.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup in New Delhi said: "We have learnt that 2 Indian nationals, Ganesh Thapa and Govind Singh from Dehradun died tragically in the blast in Kabul today morning."

He said: "Government is in touch with the families of Indian nationals and is working with the Afghan government to repatriate their mortal remains at the earliest."

Fourteen Nepali security guards working for the Canadian Embassy in Kabul were also killed in the first blast.

The wave of violence comes 10 days after Washington announced an expansion of the US militarys authority to conduct air strikes against the Taliban.

Last month the militants, who have stepped up attacks in recent weeks as part of their annual spring offensive, named Haibatullah Akhundzada their new leader, in a swift power transition after former head Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan.

Police said the attack on the Nepali guards was carried out by a suicide on a main road leading east out of the capital towards the city of Jalalabad. As a result 14 foreigners were killed, all Nepali nationals, the interior ministry said in a statement, adding that nine other people were wounded, including five Nepali citizens and four Afghans.  Agencies
Tehran, Iran, June 20

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

Irans National Development Fund and China Investment Corporation (CIC) are looking forward to launching a joint committee to facilitate investment in private sector projects in Iran.

CIC is interested in investing in new-technology, low-risk, quick-to-fulfill projects in Iran, Iran National Development Fund Chairman Safdar Hosseini said, ISNA news agency reported June 20.

He noted that in recent meetings, CIC side has requested a joint group from ICI Capital and Iranian counterparts start working on the existing projects in Iran and find investment opportunities.

Last year a high-ranking delegation from the CIC visited Iran to explore the grounds for cooperation.

Irans Development Fund constantly receives 20 percent of the countrys oil and gas revenues, which has ranged from six to fifteen billion dollars a year based on global prices.

Many projects in oil, gas, and petrochemicals are available for foreign investment.
Tehran, Iran, June 20

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

Irans security forces have averted one of the biggest terrorist plots of Takfiri and Wahhabi groups to bomb the capital city Tehran and a number of other places across the country.

The terrorists had planned to carry out a series of bombing operations during the upcoming public religious gatherings, Irans Ministry of Intelligence announced June 20.

The ministry added that the terrorists were arrested and a number of bombs as well as a huge amount of ammunition they were storing were spotted.

Iranian officials refer to the extremist armed groups, in particular in Syria and Iraq, as Takfiri.

In early 2016, Tehran residents saw an unprecedentedly noticeable presence of special forces at public places under the increasing threats of terrorist groups around Iranian borders.

To its west, Iran has been threatened by terrorists since the Islamic State (aka IS, ISIL, ISIS, Daesh) spread across Syria and Iraq in 2014.

To the east also, terrorist gangs frequently venture into Iranian territory from inside Afghanistan or Pakistan.
Rolf Lockwood

You could be forgiven for thinking that the electric hybrid powertrain idea, like other alternative fuel efforts, had all but died in the onslaught of cheap natural gas. Count me among the reluctant doubters. The hybrid market was injured, yes, for sure. But definitely not dead, if one of the worlds biggest fleets has anything to do with it.

With a new twist engineered by giant United Parcel Service and the tiny Cincinnati-based Workhorse Group, once a Navistar property, the electric hybrid is looking better than it has in quite some time. They might just have something here, if not for over-the-road fleets, then certainly for smaller trucks in local work. In this case the internal combustion engine (ICE) is really just a gen-set.

UPS announced recently that it was updating 125 E-Gen hybrid electric package vans that it bought from Workhorse last September, as part of the companys broader Rolling Laboratory approach to alternative fuels and drivetrains. The trucks will be deployed in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio, and Texas later this year.

A compact, quiet 2-cylinder ICE replaces what was originally a 4-cylinder motor to extend the vans range, improve performance, and raise fuel efficiency. Producing only 25 hp, the engines displacement is just 39 cubic inches. The updated trucks deliver significant fuel economy equivalency gains  up to four times better than a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle, its claimed. The original 4-banger offered a 10% to 15% improvement over previous hybrid designs. The ICE can run on gasoline, propane, or natural gas, with a range of at least 50 to 60 miles per day.

The E-Gen truck is powered by the electric motor when rolling, but when stopped and shifted into Park, the small ICE is turned on automatically to function as a generator and recharge the battery. Among the user benefits is far lower purchase cost compared to an all-electric system, and cold-weather operations arent affected. As well, battery life is extended because the systems management software keeps its state of charge well within the optimal range.

UPS sees these package vans as a bridge to the delivery trucks of tomorrow.

They were purchased under its commitment to log 1 billion miles with alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles by the end of 2017. They were at 505 million miles in 2014, so this is not a little ambitious.

Interestingly, the first UPS foray into alternative-fuel vehicles was with a fleet of electric vehicles that operated in New York City in the 1930s.

Even more interestingly, Workhorse sees hyper-efficient delivery trucks like its E-Gen hybrid working in concert with drones. In fact its developed the HorseFly (excellent name!) line of all-weather drones. Able to carry about 10 pounds of cargo, they would be deployed by the delivery van driver to handle the last stretch of a packages trip while he continues with deliveries on the main route. Tests are ongoing.

Pallets of automotive parts arent likely to be droned into a Ford or Chrysler plant any time soon, but it seems inevitable in the package world.

If you believe, as I do, that electric is the way to go for a great many local and regional hauling and work applications, then this cheaper route to electric power should look pretty interesting.
WASHINGTON  Months before the 1940 Republican convention nominated Wendell Willkie, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, Theodore Roosevelts waspish daughter, said that Willkies support sprang from the grass roots of a thousand country clubs. There actually was a Republican establishment in 1940, when GOP elites created a nominee ex nihilo.

According to Charles Peters book Five Days in Philadelphia, three months before the convention, Willkie registered zero percent in polls measuring public sentiment about potential Republican nominees. This was not surprising: He was a businessman  president of Commonwealth & Southern Corp., the nations largest electric utility holding company  who had given substantial support to Franklin Roosevelt in 1932. Willkie had never sought public office and had not registered as a Republican until late 1939 or early 1940.

And he was not an isolationist regarding European events. Eighty percent of Americans were more or less isolationist, as were the three strongest Republican candidates  Ohio Sen. Robert Taft, Michigan Sen. Arthur Vandenberg and New York prosecutor Thomas Dewey, just 38 but favored by 60 percent in early 1940 polls. Herbert Hoover hoped a deadlocked convention would turn to him.

The Republicans Eastern establishment, however, was interventionist to the extent of favoring aid to Britain. The adjective Eastern was superfluous: Two-thirds of Americans lived east of the Mississippi (Californias population was under 7 million) and the South was solidly Democratic.

The Republican establishment had power and the will to exercise it. As the convention drew near, Willkie Clubs suddenly sprouted like dandelions, but not spontaneously. Their growth was fertilized by Oren Root, a lawyer with the Manhattan law firm of Davis, Polk, Wardwell, Gardner & Reed, whose clients included the J.P. Morgan banking empire. Root began seeking support for Willkie with a mailing to Princetons class of 1924 and Yales class of 1925. Another close Willkie adviser was Thomas Lamont, chairman of the board of J.P. Morgan & Co. Roots uncle Elihu had been a U.S. senator and Theodore Roosevelts secretary of war. By opposing his friend TRs bid to defeat President William Howard Taft for the 1912 Republican nomination, Elihu Root helped to rescue the country from having both parties devoted to progressivism.

One of the few politicians among Willkies early backers was Sam Pryor, Republican national committeeman, whom the candidate met at the Greenwich Country Club, naturally. Willkies top adviser was Russell Davenport, managing editor of Henry Luces Fortune magazine, which together with Time and Life made Luce, an ardent interventionist, a mass media power unlike anyone before or since. The April issue of Fortune was almost entirely devoted to praise of Willkie. Look magazine, second only to Life in importance, chimed in, as did Readers Digest, which had the nations largest magazine circulation.

On April 9, Dewey won a second of the few primaries  and Hitler invaded Norway and Denmark, with Belgium, Holland and France soon to follow. Willkie said he would vote for FDR over a Republican opposed to aiding Britain and France.

Willkie, the barefoot boy from Wall Street, cultivated an Indiana aura, but had become a Manhattan fixture, and by 1937 his criticism of the New Deal had Fortune applauding his presidential stature, and the letters column of the New York Herald Tribune, the Republican establishments house organ, concurred. In May, The Atlantic Monthly carried a Willkie essay, in June it was the Saturday Evening Posts turn. In July, Time featured a celebratory cover story on him. Madison Avenue titans of advertising  Bruce Barton of BBDO and John Young of Young and Rubicam  joined the effort. Root would have a meeting for Willkie, under the clock at the Biltmore, followed by another at the University Club or Century Club. Between May 8 and June 21, Willkies support rose from 3 percent to 29 percent.

Willkie also was lucky: In May, the Taft man in charge of tickets had a stroke and was replaced by a Willkie man who would pack the gallery with raucous Willkie supporters, including a Yale law student named Gerald Ford. The Herald Tribune endorsed Willkie in its first front-page editorial and tens of thousands of pro-Willkie telegrams inundated delegates in one day. Delegates heard from their hometown bankers, who had heard pro-Willkie instructions from New York bankers. He won on the sixth ballot.

Willkies nomination neutralized much Republican opposition to FDRs war preparations and was crucial to the narrow congressional approval of conscription. Willkie lost the election, but the coming war would be won. Time was, party establishments had their uses.
The United Kingdom this week heads to the polls for its EU Referendum to decide whether to remain or withdraw from the European Union.

Richard Porter, Digital and Editorial Director for BBC World News said: This is a historic referendum for the British people, which we know is being watched closely around the world. Its our responsibility to ensure audiences get the clearest explanation of the issues, with coverage they can trust. Audiences can expect the same quality of coverage whether they come to us on TV, on our website, our app or on social media  and well reflect back what theyre saying to us, as well as what the politicians are saying to them. Well draw upon all the knowledge and experience of our expert correspondents to ensure audiences get the whole story.

Referendum: The Great Debate

Wednesday June 22nd from 5.00am-7.00am AEST on BBC World News.

As the campaign reaches its climax, BBC presenters David Dimbleby (Question Time) will be joined by Mishal Husain (Radio4 Today) and Emily Maitlis (This Weeks World), live at SSE Arena, Wembley in London for the BBCs biggest ever campaign event as thousands of voters are invited to question representatives from the leave and remain camps  June 22nd from 5.00am-7.00am AEST on BBC World News.

Results Day

Friday June 24th from 2.00pm AEST on BBC World News

Rolling coverage from Westminster and Brussels with in-depth analysis as the result becomes clear.
Dateline this week explores a contentious debate in New Zealand that asks, Should parents have the right to stunt the growth of their severely disabled child to make them more physically manageable?

Rob and Janine are just like any regular parents, living in New Zealand, they have three kids, Daryl-Ann (9), Georgia (3) and Drayven (15 months). Like most parents, they regularly check how tall their children get by marking their height on the wall every few months; however, they wont be measuring the height of their eldest child, nine-year-old Daryl-Ann, anymore.

Daryl-Ann has cerebral palsy and microcephaly, which means she is severely disabled and unable to do anything on her own  requiring twenty-four hour care.

As a result, Rob and Janine made the drastic decision almost four years ago to stunt Daryl-Anns height and growth; using prescribed high doses of hormones to speed up puberty which cause the growth plates at the end of long bones, like legs and arms, to close sooner.

By rushing Daryl-Ann through an early puberty she will never grow to her full adult height.

It was just so sensible. Why wouldnt we do it? It just seemed so natural The taller she gets the more her world gets smaller. The less she gets to do, Janine tells Datelines Amos Roberts.

Single mother Suzi is in a similar situation to Rob and Janine. Doctors have estimated that her twelve-year-old son, Kahn, could get as tall as six-foot. Sadly, Suzi is already struggling to care for and carry Kahn around the house  so six months ago she also opted to stunt Kahns growth.

Why wouldnt you do that? Why wouldnt being smaller make life easier and better?, Suzi tells Dateline.

The right to this treatment has created controversy around the world, including Australia. While there are just a few cases in New Zealand, worldwide there are about seventy recorded cases  most in the United States*.

There are also no publicly reported cases in Australia**  however that wont stop Kelly Vincent, the Dignity for Disability Partys representative in South Australian Parliament from speaking out against the practice. She tells Dateline:

We are very concerned about this so weve called on the south Australian government to ensure that children and adults with disability are protected from forced medical treatment.

*Sourced from a Endocrinologist Survey in the U.S.

**Sourced from Paediatric Endocrinologists in Australia

9:30pm Tuesday on SBS.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

The Iranian independent Ghanoon (Law) newspaper has been banned by a judiciary order.

Tehrans prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi imposed the ban on the pro-reform newspaper in charges of spreading lies based on a complaint by the IRGC, Fars news agency reported June 20.

Meanwhile, Dolatabadi announced last week that Irans Prisons Organization sued Ghanoons editor-in-chief, Mahnaz Mazaheri, for publishing a feature piece about a major prison facility in Tehran.

He said the Prisons Organization sued Mazaheri for the false allegations contained in the article 24 Damned Hours, published June 11, 2016.

The Ghanoon newspaper was banned for three months in 2014 after it was sued by the Tehran prosecutor because of some reports about the former head of Iranian fuel management committee.

The privately owned, non-governmental Tehran-based Ghanoon newspaper has been published since October 2012 and was launched initially as an online news website in August 2011.
Heres a topic that everyone has an opinion on..

The Logie Awards want to see their ceremony finish earlier next year.

It follows Waleed Aly being announced winner at around 11:45pm this year.

TV Week publisher Jayne Ferguson told has told The Australian, I would like the viewers at home to see the Gold before 11 oclock.

Theres definitely ways we can tighten up the telecast.

Amongst some of the ideas it might consider is having the broadcast start earlier. Begin the Red Carpet at 6:30pm and the Awards at 7pm please. Four hours is plenty to nod to a year of TV.

A stand alone Hall of Fame event would cut back on the speeches and allow for others to be recognised, in line with TVs ageing history. Good luck working out how to fund it.

Bauer remains rapt with the awards overall, which earned $41 million in media value in print alone and saw TV audiences lift this year.

We had a lot more debate leading into this Logies about the relevance of the awards, about the nominees, and categories and it did catch peoples attention, Ferguson said.

Meanwhile, Dubbo is promising a one hour bite-size event for 2017.
If this speculation is true then its just as well TEN and WIN have sealed an affiliate deal.

According to New Idea magazine, the next Bachelorette is WIN News presenter Georgia Love, from Tasmania.

Georgias been unlucky in love, but shes a hopeless romantic, an unnamed source tells the mag. The main issue she has had is moving around so much for work interstate and internationally, so it has been really hard to maintain close relationships and open herself up to guys, because chances are she will be off again in a year or so.

27 year old Love is based in Hobart, and describes herself as possibly the worlds only TV journo to have formerly also been a trapeze artist and dance teacher. Originally from Melbourne, she has also worked in Launceston.

If true it would be a rather surprising move for a news presenter to embark on a reality dating series, given the kind of attention and headlines the show attracts.

Of course the Pacific Mags publication also suggests Offspring stars Asher Keddie and Kat Stewart cant stand each other ..so make of that what you will.

Updated: Network Ten is proud to introduce Australias new Bachelorette, 27-year-old Victorian journalist Georgia Love.

My whole life, I have put my job and career first but have always felt something has been missing. Im now at a point where Im happy with where I am at in my career and Im ready to prioritise love, Georgia says.
Industry group Think TV Board has appointed marketing executive Kim Portrate as its inaugural CEO.

Think TV was formed in May to represent Nine Network, Seven Network, Network TEN and Multi Channel Network / Foxtel as to engage the advertising and marketing communities.

Portrate has a background in packaged goods, telecommunications, finance and tourism industries and was most recently Chief Marketing Officer at travel service provider Helloworld Limited.

Following an extensive local and international search, we are delighted that Kim has accepted the position as CEO of Think TV. Kims extensive experience and outstanding credentials as both a senior marketer and in senior strategic roles in agencies is a perfect combination of skills as we seek to stamp TVs dominance as a powerful medium that delivers results for advertisers, Think TV Chairman Russel Howcroft said.

Kim will work with the Think TV Board and team as we invest in research and other industry initiatives to demonstrate that television is a clear leader in return on investment.

Its an exciting time for the TV industry and Im thrilled to take this important role at Think TV. Television remains at the cultural heart of society and builds emotional connections unmatched by any other media, she said.

It will be my goal to lead a collective effort by our broadcasters to prove that TV is the clear leader in terms of advertising impact and return on investment.

She begins on July 1st.

A commercially-minded marketer and recognised in 2015 as one of Australias top 15 CMOs, Portrate began her career with Unilever as a brand manager and has also worked with Power Brewing, Pepsi Cola, Optus and AMP.

Portrate also spent five years as General Manager, Consumer Marketing at Tourism Australia, where she led global marketing in 22 international markets, before joining Helloworld. At Helloworld, Portrate launched a new retail brand, consolidating five legacy businesses, and managed the largest brand-led transformation in retail travel.

She has also worked at creative and media agencies in senior strategy roles and relocated to New York to join FCB and BBDO as head of planning. On her return to Australia, she became Director of Insights and Innovation with Carat.
The combined Russian-separatist forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in eastern Ukraine 31 times in the past 24 hours, including 14 times in the Donetsk sector, 11 times in the Mariupol sector and six times in the Luhansk sector.

The press center of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) Headquarters informed this.

The situation was most tense near the town of Krasnohorivka in the Mariupol sector. From 21:00 to midnight on June 20, the enemy was firing 82mm and 120mm mortars, tank shells and 152mm artillery systems on the Ukrainian fortified positions from the temporarily occupied village of Staromykhailivka, having launched more than 150 mines and shells.

The militants also fired automatic grenade launchers on the Ukrainian positions near the town of Maryinka, and small arms near the villages of Hnutove, Talakivka and Shyrokyne.
Today, Canada-Ukraine Business Forum begins in Toronto; the forum participants will consider ways to enhance economic relations between Canada and Ukraine.

According to Ukrinform correspondent, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau will address the meeting participants.

According to the organizers of the forum, about 500 members have registered to participate in this forum, including leading Canadian banks and investment funds.

The big Ukrainian governmental delegation, which arrived in Toronto from Kyiv, is headed by First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv. It includes several ministers, heads of state-owned enterprises and other senior officials. Members of the official delegation already met with representatives of the Ukrainian community in Canada.

ish
President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Pedro Agramunt has congratulated member of Ukraines official delegation to PACE Nadiya Savchenko on her first working day and on release of two Ukrainian political prisoners Yuriy Soloshenko and Hennady Afanasyev and called on Russia to release other prisoners, as well as to resolve the conflict and return Ukraine control over its borders.

The PACE President said this in his opening speech in the session hall of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

The PACE President also called on both parties involved in the conflict in Ukraine to release other prisoners in accordance with the Minsk agreements, observe the ceasefire, withdraw troops, ensure holding of the elections in the east under the laws of Ukraine and international standards, and restore Ukraine's control of its eastern border that is recognized by the international community.

ish
Tehran, Iran, June 20

By Mehdi Sepahvand  Trend:

A court in Iran has sentenced journalist Aliakbar Javanfekr to 91 days in prison.

Javanfekr used to act as editor in chief of IRNA news agency when he was arrested in 2011.

The sentence was issued by Branch 1057 of the Court of Administrative Staff, ISNA news agency reported June 20.

Qahraman Shojaei, Javanfekrs lawyer said in January that his client had been charged for rebellion against judiciary officials.

On 20 November 2011 Javanfekr, who also acted as press advisor to the then president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was sentenced to a year in jail and suspended from journalism for three years for "publishing materials contrary to Islamic norms", questioning the Islamic Republic's compulsory dress code for women.
The European Union should progressively lift its anti-Russian sanctions in response to the country's steps toward fulfilling the Minsk accords on Ukrainian settlement, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said.

"I think that we should gradually arrive at a stage where every move toward fulfilling the Minsk accords, every step is met with the progressive removal of sanctions," Kurz said told the Austrian ORF public broadcaster.

A substantial step in reconciling with Russian should be made, he added, expressing hope that Russia makes a similar move.

European politicians are currently casting doubt on sanctions as a viable way of conducting relations with Russia, he noted.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

A train crashed into a passenger bus in the eastern Turkish province of Elazig, the Sabah newspaper reported June 20.

The bus was crossing the tracks at the moment of the accident.

As a result, eight people were killed and five were injured.

All the victims are Turkish citizens, according to the newspaper.

No other details are reported.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

It seems that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans recent letter to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the occasion of the Russia Day hasnt had the desired effect in terms of normalizing the relations between Ankara and Moscow.

For instance, Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said earlier, We still do not see any progress in [Turkeys] response to the conditions repeatedly set by Russia, under which it would be possible to talk about some initial preconditions for normalizing the relations with Turkey.

Moscow insists that the relations between two countries can be normalized only after Turkey apologizes and pays compensation for the downed Russian Su-24 bomber.

Ankara has a differing opinion about Erdogans letter to Putin.

Ankara thinks the countrys authorities knew that the letter will not be regarded by Russia as Turkeys first action towards normalizing the relations. However, this doesnt mean that Ankara has no intention to normalize its relations with Moscow at all.

And almost all the recent statements by Turkish authorities prove that there is indeed such an intention.

Besides, recently, Turkish media outlets, citing the diplomatic sources, reported that Ankara is working on a road map meant for normalizing the relations with Russia.

The relations between Russia and Turkey have always been built on mutual economic and energy interests, and obviously it will continue this way.

This means that even if Turkey doesnt fulfill all the three conditions put forward by Russia, Ankara still has chances to normalize the relations with Moscow.

One of those chances is the Turkish Stream  a project that Russia was trying to impose on Ankara in December 2014.

After the crisis erupted in relations between Moscow and Ankara in November 2015, everyone believed it was Russia that froze the Turkish Stream project. However, Erdogan made a statement saying it was Turkey, not Russia, which froze the project.

Given that Turkey can anytime decide to unfreeze the project, it can be said the Turkish Stream for now remains as a wild card in Ankaras hands.

Turkish Stream doesnt even harm the interests of Ankara. With Turkish Stream, Turkey was aiming, in the first place, to create a joint gas consortium, and thus, achieve partial control over Russian gas.

And this wasnt in Russias interests.

All those issues related to Russias demanding that Turkey pay compensation and apologize for the Su-24 incident will find their solutions along with Ankaras unfreezing the Turkish Stream and refusing to control the Russian gas on its soil.

But in that case, Ankara, if the project is implemented, will get the money only for the transit of Russian gas through its territory.

---

Rufiz Hafizoglu is the head of Trend Agency's Arabic news service, follow him on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Two academic institutions are arguing over who invented Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats or known as CRISPR.

The war of institutions has started as there are two teams claiming credit for discovering CRISPR, and these are UC Berkeley led by Jennifer Doudna, and MIT and the Broad Institute led by Feng Zhang.

Edita's Medicine is a genome editing company founded by world leaders in the fields of protein engineering, genome editing, and molecular and structural biology, find hard to decide which of the team should be awarded the credit because both have contributed efforts to improve this technology. One of the plans of Edita's is to use CRISPR technology in humans as early as 2017 to treat a rare form of blindness, which was announced in November 2016.

Doudna's team filed for the first CRISPR patent, while Zhang's team had spent some budget to fast-track its own application, and was awarded the patent, Albany Daily Star reported.

CRISPR is also known as Cas9 is a molecule that finds a string of DNA code with an abiility to cut and paste DNA inside the cells of living organisms, including humans, Cosmos Magazine reported. This method has been hailed in science and technology industry because of its potential to cure modify crops and deadly diseases Aside from that, it can even help scientists create genetically engineered designer babies.

Meanwhile, CRISPR can be used to aid Zika. Keith Pardee, a Philosophy Doctor said a low-cost, rapid diagnostic test for the detection of the Zika virus will work to cure patients with Zika. Scientists from Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Arizona State University, Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,Cornell University, Broad Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Toronto collaborated to develop a cell-free, paper-based platform that can host synthetic gene networks, and help improve diagnosis of Zika-infected patients.

The new test can recognize Zika from the similar disease, dengue virus within a few hours. The test can be stored at room temperature and read with a simple electronic reader, thus making it practical to use controlling widespread of yellow fever diseases.
Amid of controversy of Trump's University lawsuit, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stays on defensive.

Donald Trump is now on the defensive when documents against his pro-fit Trump University was released in a federal lawsuit. His presidential rival, democratic candidate Hillary Clinton got an opportunity to mock him and now highlighting his institution's fraud. .

Many commentators identify the Trump University business model as an indication of fraudulent activity, Raw Story reported. Additionally, this university is not representative of for-profit higher education and not regulated by the same agencies, thus it means it does not follow the rules of agencies.

The former first lady Clinton got an opportunity to mock his rival's institution by making infomercial video ad. In the video, it features Trump's statements promoting his university, a news clip about the university, and the people who claimed and explained why this university is a fraud.

The anti-Trumps groups created this 90-second video and with the help of The Briefing, Hillary Clinton's opposition, they released an attack that focused on Trump's offensive comments and lawsuit against Trump, I Agree To See reported. The execution of the video is cheesy, but heavily scrutinized faux University. The video introduced Trump as being "world famous for making a fortune from being famous for having a fortune."

As of writing, the video garnered 690,695 views on Youtube.

For-profit colleges and universities operate for financial gain and have been part of the higher education landscape since the 1800s. Students who are not interested in earning a degree, and focus only on the fields that mainstream institutions ignore stenography and bookkeeping.

There were changes occurred after the Higher Education Act was reauthorized in 1972. One of the changes was the students attending for-profit could be treated just like students at other institutions. Aside from that, they could get grants and subsidized loans to pay for their tuition.

Other institutions that wanted access to the federal money should agree to state, federal, and accreditor oversight. So it means, for-profits should do the same.
US Universities are obliged to protest against gun laws that allow carrying hidden weapons on college campuses.

Presidents of the universities in the United States have a responsibility to speak against policies that allow students to carry concealed weapons inside the campus, said George Washington University outgoing president Steven Knapp, Times Higher Education reported.

Steven Knapp added that someone armed with a firearm cannot be prevented from coming in a university. Especially in a society where there are more firearms than people. This is a reality faced in the United States. The best thing to do is make sure the students are trained and adequately supported by a system where they can be protected.

A new law will take effect in August preventing public colleges and universities in the State of Texas from banning concealed handguns inside the school premises. This was disagreed upon by GWU president Steven Knapp.

The shooting that happened is considered a wake-up call to the chancellor of different universities. Steven Knapp's comment came after the shooting incident in University of California in Los Angeles where an engineering professor was fatally shot inside the campus.

In response to the latest shooting incidents, 10 chancellors from different universities in California public system held a meeting to discuss the moves they are going to make.

The gun-control debate is still on-going despite the efforts of advocates to push gun-control into law. This is in response to gun shooting incidents in 2015. In January 2016, United States President Barrack Obama took executive actions to curb gun violence which includes wide federal background checks to gun buyers, The Atlantic reported.

The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution upheld rights to own firearms. However, a court decision in 2008 struck down in Washington, D.C. banned handguns and required firearms at home to be disassembled or locked up.
Many Washington parents were surprised when they learned that teachers in public schools will teach kids in kindergarten about gender expression and identity.

Kaeley Triller Haver is a Washington parent, and transgender bathroom debate is not new to her anymore. She is one of the parents who was surprised when she found out that Washington public schools will adopt a new set of health education standards, earlier this month.

The new set of health education includes teaching kindergartners about gender expression and identity. What makes Haver shocked about the news is that she was not involved, Daily Signal reported.

The Washington mom said she only learned this news on Facebook. The curriculum will start in kindergarten, for her, this is an important information to her kid's life.

The new gender identity guidelines that adopted by Washington in March is a part of the state's updated health and physical education standards. Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) announced the changes on Facebook, however, it did not mention the gender identity guidelines. thus it makes unnoticed by parents and media.

A reporter of Daily Caller named Peter Hasson, stumbled upon the guidelines while he was doing a research. In Hasson's article, he wrote that in 2017, Washington state public schools will start teaching kindergarten about gender expression. One of the components of sexual health that will be introduced to kids is titled "Self-Identity," where students will be taught that there many ways to express gender.

After his article published, citizens and parents of Washington expressed outrage Some of them wrote on Facebook that they removed their kids form public school.

In previous months, US President Barack Obama's administration proclaimed the bathroom policies. In March there were letters sent to public schools nationwide that mandate allowing transgender students into sex-segregated facilities based on their gender identity.

In March there were letters sent to public schools nationwide that mandate allowing transgender students into sex-segregated facilities based on their gender identity.
Buckeye Boys State Program is under negotiation for transfer from Bowling Green State University to Miami University.

Buckeye Boys State Director Gerald White clarified that there has no decision made about the removal of BBS program from Bowling Green State University. It was after the remarks given by Col. Scott Manning, retired U.S. Air Force, last May 30 at Oak Grove Cemetery on Memorial Day, that the program will be moved to Miami University or any institution, Sentinel Tribune reported.

The contract which was signed by American Legion and BBS five years ago and was about to expire this year. White also illustrated the negotiation among BGSU and BBS as "on process of a new contract". He added that the negotiation team already made a suggestion to Buckeye Boys State Board.

According to BGSU spokesman Dave Kielmeyer, negotiations hands- on government imitation program at BGSU are ongoing, American Legion did not notified the university about the said decision. Kielmeyer emphasized, BGSU greatly values our long-term relationship with Buckeye Boys State.

It is an important partnership for the university. It's a partnership we value. The team will do everything can to keep them here at BGSU.

Last year, for 1,194 delegates, BGSU billed the American Legion $314,786 for Boys State and it was said that the university charges Boys State only to cover the university's food package, maintenance and staffing and usage of residence halls and buildings, The Blade reported.

David Ridenour, a BBS trustee said that Manning's comment sent shock waves through the community. An increase could really influence them. You are carrying 1,200 of most competitive juniors to campus.

They are the ones applying for college in the fall. Their family and peers are coming, so what value are you putting on the marketing?

It's not only about putting on a conference. It is about the future of the learners. These kids are hypothetical and intelligent students.
George Washington University President Steven Knapp recently announced his decision to throw in the towel and step down from his position in summer next year as soon as he finishes a duty-bounded decade in the District of Columbia's largest institution of higher education.

According to George Washington University's departing president, those at the helm of US University have an obligation to oppose laws permitting the bearing of concealed weapons on college dorms.

Knapp emphasized that US university presidents should lobby against such policies that upsets the campus' environment, during a podcast interview with Times Higher Education. He stressed on the need for having a "free and open" debate.

His comments come in the wake of an engineer professor at the University of California in Los Angeles being fatally shot on campus. There have been a slew of similar cases of campus shooting that involved college and school students.

A new law slated to take effect from August will prohibit all Texas-based colleges and universities from banning the concealed carrying of handguns on campus. Dr Knapp noted if a similar policy were to be suggested in Washington DC, where his university is situated, or even Virginia that homes several teaching centers, he would not back out from raising concerns over this.

Noting that very little can be done to curb armed individuals from coming on campus. Dr Knapp said the least a university can do is ensure their students are not only prepared and trained but are also aptly supported by a system designed particularly to keep them safe.

Under his tenure, Dr. Knapp, the 16th president of George Washington University, has overseen an eventful eon for the acclaimed private research university that is situated in the Foggy Bottom area of Washington, D.C.

Housing 25,600 students, GWU, under Dr. Knapp guidance built a mammoth science and engineering hall that enabled the school to compete with other acclaimed institutions. In addition, with Dr. Knapp at the helm, GWU discontinued its stipulation that required freshman applicants to hand in their SAT or ACT admission test scores, The Washington Post reported.

Citing Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders' guarantee to offer free university education, Dr. Knapp noted that it could result in an unexpected outcome.
Following a set pattern, Ryan would join a college with the best of objectives on his mind; however he'd eventually succumb to drugging and drinking and then drop out. But things changed three years back when he was prepping to enroll in what would be his fifth school, the University of Miami.

According to Ryan while he was prepping to become student of the University of Miami, he had a "white light moment."

Being aware that staying sober was quite a challenging task for him, Ryan made a decision to try something that he had never tried before. Enrolling himself at Rutgers University, Ryan joined the Recovery House, a campus that provide "substance-free" housing and activities specifically for those students who are in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, TheFiscalTimes noted.

The help Ryan found there not only encouraged him to stay sober but also helped him graduate with distinction in May.

Ryan, 25, who requested to be identified only by his first name noted that the "safe space" was full of individuals who were there for the same purpose as him. He added, no one there talked about either getting drunk or going out.

U.S. opioid epidemic is emphasizing on a plan Rutgers developed back in 1998. This coming school year, Oregon State University will provide substance-free housing to its students. According to a law signed by Republican Gov. Chris Christie, all New Jersey-based state universities and colleges should offer sober housing even if a quarter of the students reside on campus.

This crucial move comes in the midst of new research that centers on the impact of accidental overdoses from using strong prescription painkillers. The new research reveals that the drugs may also lead to heart-related deaths among other risks.

The research analyzed over 45,000 patients and found those using opioid painkillers were 64 percent more likely to die within just six months of starting cure. Patients taking other prescriptions pain medicine, on the other hand had a comparatively lower risk of dying. Accidental overdoses resulted in nearly 18 percent of the deaths among opiod users as opposed to 8 percent of the other subjects, according to the results published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (via DailyProgress).

That being said, sober dorms are without question, a giant leap in the recovery moment and particularly unique as "they get to the heart of the beast," Dr. Robert DuPont, who is a psychiatrist specializing in drug abuse noted.
The University of Missouri (MU) was placed on an academic condemnation list by the nation's largest group of college professors over deciding to kick out Melissa Click for taking aggressive action against a student journalist.

The organization claimed that despite Click's awful behavior, Click proved to everyone that she is a martyr for academic freedom.

Click, who was an assistant professor of communication, was fired in February 24 by the Board of Curators after receiving Bryan Cave law firm's investigative report, Columbia Tribune reported.

The American Association of University Professors or better known as the AAUP, speak on behalf of over 47,000 college professors on over 500 campuses. The AAUP views itself as the academic freedom's defender, and the group has become deeply anxious regarding the dismissal of Click from University of Missouri last February, Daily Caller reported.

During the annual meeting of the American Association of University Professors in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, more than 100 members of the AAUP unanimously voted in placing the University of Missouri on its censure list.

The associate teaching professor of Russian at University of Missouri - Nicole Monnier, stated that she asked the AAUP to approve the motion for censure for the reason that the curators' investigation of Click was irregular. And their decision could be an example for unilateral action against any faculty member.

After Monnier voted, she stated that there are a number of them that carries enormous weight and shame, which means they have been separated as a university that does not respect its policies and practices.

On Saturday, MU spokesman said their response to the issue is the same as when the report was released. As the curators stated before that the report ignored the seriousness of Click's "misconduct, and thrust out inconsistent and unsupported conclusions, Fox News reported.

Click did not comment regarding the issue since Saturday.
University of Washington Professor Adam Summers advises Pixar's animators on fish behaviour with Disney's new animated feature film, "Finding Dory."

Dr. Adam Summers lends his knowledge on fish behaviour to provide data for animators at Pixar about fish movement, behaviour, and attitude. The professor has been studying fish for about 20 years, Geekwire reported.

Among Summers' academic achievements, the professor graduated with a degree in math and engineering, and has worked as a diver in Australia, for which he captured fish for aquariums.

Summers' encounter with a marine biologist from his time working in Australia may have prompted the professor to pursue his curiosity with marine life, and the environment.

The professor then got a second bachelor's degree in biology. The marine expert now spends most of his time running a research lab fot the University of Washington along Friday Harbor.

Summers' specialty is bio-mechanics, which studies the way fish move. The professor cites the importance of proper movement, even for animated animal characters, according to the University of Washington Today.

The University of Washington professor shares his experience working with the animation studios where he was asked by animators to judge separate frames. Summers' was asked which of the frames are from an actual live footage of reef and which ones are generated with a computer.

Summers' hailed the skill and attention to detail the animators at Pixar posses and have commended their work during the three-year production process. The marine expert admitted that at some point he failed to distinguish the actual live footage from the computer-generated ones.

The professor's contribution to the film was more scientific than philosophical, Summers' revealed. The marine expert supervised animators on how a certain fish would behave and move around.

Summers' also pointed out that it is important that science is deeply incorporated within the film, even if it is intended for a younger audience. The professor cites that he still gets the toughest questions about his work from curious kids.
College Choice 2016 awards the University of Michigan ranked first as the best disability friendly university or college in the United States.

The basis of the rankings includes the programming and support for students with attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, visual impairment, hearing impairment, autism spectrum disorder and other physical disabilities that require special care, access, alternative transportation or even service animals.

In addition to services, colleges and universities included in the list were also evaluated based on other characteristics such as academic reputation, affordability, student satisfaction, return of investment, and average financial aid.

The majority of schools in the US simply meet the minimum requirement set by the government in meeting the needs of disabled students. The universities included, however, are several of the best schools in the country at funding and committing resources to equip students, said the associate editor of the College Choice rankings addressing the list of best universities, University of Michigan reported.

The services offered for the disabled students in University of Michigan was highlighted as instrumental resource. The Office of Disabled Students Services in UM, which is created in 1973, hosts 2,474 registered students in 2015. The number goes up by 700 from 2014. Also, nearly 1000 students with SSD graduated from the University in 2015, Mlive reported.

In school year 2016, the office expects to support twice the number of students it supported in the schoolyear 2010- 2011. SSD Office services nearly 6 percent of all students, both graduate and undergraduate, including professional students in the University of Michigan.

These efforts have been set as an example of many major colleges and universities all around the United States. The SSD also features Modern Language Aptitude tests all year round. It also maintains a well-resourced digital library, HathiTrust Digital Library.

Through this ranking, colleges and universities that devote resources to ensure that students, able or disabled, have equal access to high-quality education.
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

By Rufiz Hafizoglu  Trend:

Turkey must reduce its energy dependence on Russia thanks to the gas supplies from alternative resources, said Kenan Yavuz, the former head of SOCAR Turkey Energy and the chairman of the Caspian Strategy Institute (HASEN).

The Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP), via which more than six billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas will be supplied to Turkey, can partially contribute to this, said Yavuz June 20 in his interview with TRT Haber news channel.

He noted TANAPs importance for Turkey and the whole region, and added that Israeli gas would also be useful for Turkey.

Turkey imported 39.7 billion cubic meters of gas via pipelines in 2015, according to BP. About 5.3 billion cubic meters of the total volume were imported from Azerbaijan, 26.6 billion cubic meters  from Russia, 7.8 billion cubic meters  from Iran.

Turkey imported 7.5 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in 2015, according to estimates. The main part of this volume accounted for Algeria, which exported 3.8 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey. The country imported 1.7 billion cubic meters of LNG from Qatar, and 1.5 billion cubic meters  from Nigeria.

TANAP project envisages transporting gas from Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field from the Georgian-Turkish border to the western border of Turkey. The gas will reach Turkey in 2018, and after the completion of the TAP construction, the gas will reach Europe around early 2020. The initial capacity of TAP will be 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year, which can be expanded to 20 billion cubic meters.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu
Union Pacific Plans to Invest Nearly $10 Million in its Minnesota Rail Infrastructure

Union Pacific plans to invest $9.9 million in 2016 to improve Minnesota's transportation infrastructure. The company's multi-million dollar private investment will enhance employee, community and customer safety and increase rail operating efficiency. Freight railroads like Union Pacific operate on track built and maintained without taxpayer funds. Union Pacific's private investments sustain jobs and ensure the company meets growing demand for products used in the American economy.

Union Pacific's planned investment covers a range of initiatives: $9.1 million to maintain railroad track and more than $800,000 to maintain bridges in the state. Key projects planned this year include:

A $3.3 million investment between Mankato and St. James to replace more than 21,000 railroad ties.

A more than $800,000 investment replacing nearly 5,000 railroad ties on yard and industry tracks in St. Paul and South St. Paul.

This year's planned $9.9 million capital expenditure in Minnesota is part of an ongoing investment strategy. From 2011 to 2015 Union Pacific invested more than $50 million strengthening Minnesota's transportation infrastructure.

"We constantly evaluate our customers' needs to make targeted investments that enhance our efficiency and deliver the goods American businesses and families use daily," said Donna Kush, Union Pacific vice president - Public Affairs, Northern Region. "Continuing to aggressively invest in our infrastructure is an important element in Union Pacific's unwavering safety commitment."

Union Pacific plans to spend $3.675 billion across its network this year, following investments totaling approximately $33 billion from 2006-2015. These investments contributed to a 25 percent decrease in derailments over the last 10 years.

ABOUT UNION PACIFIC

Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. From 2006-2015, Union Pacific invested approximately $33 billion in its network and operations to support America's transportation infrastructure. The railroad's diversified business mix includes Agricultural Products, Automotive, Chemicals, Coal, Industrial Products and Intermodal. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.

The statements and information contained in the news releases provided by Union Pacific speak only as of the date issued. Such information by its nature may become outdated, and investors should not assume that the statements and information contained in Union Pacific's news releases remain current after the date issued. Union Pacific makes no commitment, and disclaims any duty, to update any of this information.
Subfertility is defined as the condition of being less than normally fertile though still capable of effecting fertilization. When these subfertile couples seek assistance for conception, a thorough evaluation of male endocrine function is often overlooked. Spermatogenesis is a complex process where even subtle alterations in this process can lead to subfertility or infertility. Male endocrine abnormalities may suggest a specific diagnosis contributing to subfertility; however, in many patients, the underlying etiology is still unknown. Optimizing underlying endocrine abnormalities may improve spermatogenesis and fertility. This manuscript reviews reproductive endocrine abnormalities and hormone-based treatments.

Current urology reports. 2016 Aug [Epub]

Darshan P Patel, Jason C Chandrapal, James M Hotaling

Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Care, 30 N 1900 E, Rm 3B420, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA., Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Care, 30 N 1900 E, Rm 3B420, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA. ., Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah Health Care, 30 N 1900 E, Rm 3B420, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA.

PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27292256
Baku, Azerbaijan, June 20

By Anakhanum Idayatova  Trend:

Turkey can reduce its energy dependence on Russia by reducing import of Russian gas, political scientist, associate professor of the Department of International Relations at the Ankara-based TOBB University of Economics and Technology Togrul Ismayil told Trend June 20.

Turkey is the second largest importer of Russian gas after Germany that brings about $9 billion to Russia per year, said Ismayil.

He thinks that warming of relations between Russia and Turkey depends on the Russian side.

Turkey initially didnt introduce any sanctions against Russia, despite the fact that Moscow violated the air borders of Ankara, noted the expert adding that Russia, on the contrary, began to introduce sanctions against Turkey that caused damage to ordinary citizens.

The relations between Russia and Turkey deteriorated after the incident with Russian SU-24 bomber in 2015. Following the incident, Russia's President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on taking measures for ensuring the country's national security and special economic measures against Turkey.

Turkey will not speculate on the Turkish Stream project for the sake of improving relations with Russia, believes Ismayil.

The Turkish Stream project has geopolitical importance for Russia, he said.

Turkey will proceed from its economic interests in this issue, added the expert.

Russian President Vladimir Putin scrapped a South Stream gas pipeline project on Dec. 1, 2014, which would have carried Russian natural gas via Bulgaria to southern and central Europe. Instead, he proposed a new pipeline route through Turkey, which is now referred to as the Turkish Stream. However, this project was suspended against the background of cooling of relations between Ankara and Moscow.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Anahanum
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The new line-up of second generation Surface tablets is launched on September 23, 2013 in New York City (Photo : GettyImages/Spencer Platt)

Microsoft has a different agenda for its Surface Pro 5 launch this time. It seems the Redmond giant has decided to skip its one-tablet-launch per year by delaying the launch of the fifth-generation tablet. This time around, the next-generation Windows tablet will be released along with the Surface Book 2 in 2017.



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Reports are rife that the company's second-wave Windows 10 update will soon be coming next year, which points out that the Pro 5 is likely to launch during the next spring. The new wave of updates, codenamed Redstone, will gradually merge with all Window 10 devices.



While Redstone 1 is expected to make its debut this month, the second-version of Redstone will probably help to enhance more developments post the merger. In a recent report by ZDNet, Redstone 2 will introduce several Windows 10 devices, of which the Surface Pro 5 is expected to be one.



There is one notable difference between the Pro 5 and Pro 4 with regards to processor. While the fourth-generation Surface device is powered by sixth generation Intel Core m3 processor, the fifth generation device will reportedly come with a seventh gen Intel Kaby Lake processor.



The buzz is the Surface Pro 5 will be more efficient with a powerful processor clocked at 4GHz. However, the Pro 4 processor has a clock speed of 2.2GHz that can be increased to 3.4 GHz, which still falls short of the Pro 5's clock setting.



In other related reports, the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 is expected to offer 7 hours of battery support. Allegedly, the device will feature a Surface Pen stylus that can be charged from time to time. Along with the stylus, there will be charging and type-C USB terminals found on the device. The highlighting part is the device will have a huge display, measuring 13.3 inches packed with 4K resolution.



There are further reports that the Pro 5 will be supported by 16GB of RAM and that all the x86 computer games will be leveraged by Xbox live application. This means customers will enjoy better graphics while playing games on the Pro device.



Although, there are strong indications that the Pro 5 and Surface Book 2 will be launched next year, no official statement has been announced regarding the launch date yet. As for the price, the Pro 5 is expected to get an exorbitant price tag, starting at $899, CNET reported .






VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla.  Four community leaders from Northwest Oklahoma and Southern Kansas were inducted as Vance Partners in the Sky June 10 in a ceremony at the Vance Collocated Club.

A Vance Partner in the Sky is an honorary member of Team Vance who earns a lifetime-appointment membership with the base in exchange for their outstanding commitment to the welfare and growth of Airmen stationed here.

Since the programs inception Dec. 11, 1996, only 10 members had been inducted.

There are a lot of people in this community who help this wing, said Col. Clark Quinn, the 71st Flying Training Wing commander. They dont just help the base itself, they reach out to the Airmen of this wing, whether its me, the leadership team or the youngest Airman.

These helping hands range from friendly members of the Chamber of Commerce and a firm handshake at the Enid Welcome Center, to honorary commanders and retirees who participate in events like graduations and assignment night, said Quinn.

Based solely on genuine friendliness, almost every person in Enid could be a Partner in the Sky. But a deeper look reveals some individuals whose impact goes above and beyond.

The newest Vance Partners in the Sky are an interesting group.

Steve Barnes, the director of the Garfield County Expo Center north of Enid, is a flying training class sponsor and attends many events on base, to include pilot graduations, assignment nights and annual awards ceremonies.

Barnes has been participating in events at Vance for the better part of 15 years.

George Pankonin is a retired Air Force major, vice president of the local chapter of the Air Force Association and a Vance Development Authority board member.

He serves as an Enlisted Appreciation Night board member, flying training class sponsor, director of the Vance Retiree Activities Office, board member for 4RKids and is a driving force behind the Special Olympics hosted at Vance annually.

Bill Schwertfeger is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel and Vance pilot training graduate. He survived 407 days in the Hanoi Hilton, a prisoner of war camp in North Vietnam.

Often referred to by his call sign -- Shortfinger -- Schwertfeger drives nearly an hour from Kansas for every pilot graduation and assignment night at Vance.

He mentors student pilots, instructor pilots and enlisted Airmen in Airmen Leadership School. Schwertfeger attends and speaks at many Order of Daedalians meetings and even started up a Vance River Rats chapter for pilots.

Mike Sloniker is a retired Army lieutenant colonel and Vietnam War helicopter pilot called Loadhacker by his friends.

Sloniker also mentors student and instructor pilots and enlisted Airmen at Airmen Leadership School.

He started a program that finds scholarship money for enlisted Airmen seeking to finish their bachelors degrees. He also attends most Order of Daedalians meetings and is a founding member of the local River Rats chapter along with Schwertfeger.

Traditionally, Partners in the Sky are civilians with no link to the military. However, due to the unparalleled lifetime commitment of three of the new members, Quinn made an exception to policy and granted them membership in Vances most exclusive club.

Its quite an honor for me, said Barnes. The guys accepted today for the Partners in the Sky are great men who have done great things with their careers.

And for me, just an old plow boy from Enid, its an honor. Im in a very elite group and Im very honored by that, said Barnes.
More reasons to leave Texas off your wish list
CONTRIBUTED/SAL SANTANGELO Dr. Barry Kerzin, a Buddhist monk and physician to the Dalai Lama, talks about death and fear at California Lutheran University on Friday.

SHARE CONTRIBUTED/SAL SANTANGELO Dr. Barry Kerzin, who did his residency at the Ventura County Medical Center and practiced for years in Ojai, is one of the personal physicians of the Dalai Lama.

By Alicia Doyle, Special to The Star

Death is not frightening if we recognize that dying is not the absolute end.

Such was the message conveyed by Dr. Barry Kerzin, a Buddhist monk and physician to the Dalai Lama, who discussed "Approaching Death Without Fear" on Friday in the Samuelson Chapel at California Lutheran University.

"Death is actually a part of life  not as a cliche but actually part of life," said Kerzin, 68, a former resident of Ventura who lives in the Dalai Lama's compound in the Himalayan foothills of Dharamsala, India. "Recognize that we've done this many times before and very likely will do this many times again."

Kerzin asked the more than 700 people in attendance: "How many of you are at least open to the possibility of multiple lifetimes through reincarnation?"

"It takes some of the burden off of thinking about death if we recognize that this is not the absolute end," Kerzin said.

The concept has a proviso that we've been reasonably good with avoiding harm, he noted.

"The proviso is we've lived a reasonably good life and been a reasonably good person because our actions follow us," Kerzin said. "The actions are finished but there's some little residual of it that stays and determines our experience the next moment. And basically if we're helping and not harming then our experience of the next moment will be a pleasant one, it will be well. And the opposite, if we're harming, then our next moment's experience is not going to be so well."

Sometimes the fear of death comes from the way death is experience nowadays, he said.

"We've forgotten that death is a natural event that is actually a part of our lives," Kerzin said. "Our loved ones used to do it in the home so everyone was present and observed death as a natural phenomenon and we don't do that very much anymore."

People primarily die in the hospital and pass away late at night or early in the morning when family members are not around, he said, so we don't often experience or see death firsthand.

"Death becomes more of a mystery and therefore allows more fear to enter the picture," Kerzin said.

Kerzin also discussed the death and impermanence meditation done in Buddhist monasteries.

"When we understand and gain some confidence and inspiration from people that actually use the death experience to become a better person to go deeper with their practice then we begin to recognize that it's not as mysterious as we might have thought and it's also something natural," Kerzin said.

Buddhists meditate on death regularly, he said.

"They're not trying to become depressed they're doing it because it's more of a stimulus," Kerzin said. "It's the recognition that we're actually going to die, and that stimulates us to do what's important  not to procrastinate so much. It helps us recognize that we are mortal  by contemplating our own death on a regular basis."

The time of our death is uncertain, Kerzin emphasized.

"Many of us think  I'm 60 I've got 20 years, or I'm 40 I've got 40 years, or I'm 100 and I've got 10 years," he said. "We don't know when we're going to die. So get the important things done now is something that comes out of this continual reflection or contemplation about death."

The best way to prepare for our death is through living life with qualities including compassion and making better decisions, Kerzin said.

"The more love and compassion we can practice the easier our life will be, the easier our death will be," he said. "Generosity, patience  and ethical discipline which means not doing harm to ourselves and others."

Kerzin's talk was co-sponsored by CLU as part of its cultural events series, as well as the Altruism In Medicine Institute, a nonprofit founded by Kerzin that promotes compassion in health care.

Jerry Clifford, one of the event organizers who attended Kerzin's talk, said he knew nothing about the Buddhist attitude toward death, "so I found it interesting, though I admit that I don't begin to comprehend it."

Clifford was particularly interested in Kerzin's personal observations of the death of advanced lamas.

"He obviously knows from a medical perspective what death is, but he also recognizes tukdam, the stage in which a highly learned lama's body remains warm and supple days after clinical death, with no evidence of biological decay," Clifford said.

Clifford added that because of Kerzin's experience as a physician, scientist and Buddhist monk, "he can view issues from these multiple perspectives and provide great insight."

Kerzin will be in Ojai on June 25 and 26 to lead two, one-day meditation workshops at the Krotona Institute of Theosophy. Each workshop will include a teaching, discussion and meditation retreat.

For tickets or more information, go to the Altruism in Medicine Institute website or email VenturaCounty@AltruismMedicine.org.

The talk was filmed live and can be viewed online at http://bit.ly/1UiSxLu
The officer was shot in front of his house in North Sinai's Al-Arish

Unknown assailants shot dead a low-ranking police officer in North Sinai late on Sunday, Egypts interior ministry said in a statement.

The officer was killed in front of his house in Al-Arish, the provincial capital.

The assailants are still at large.

Earlier on the same day in the North Sinai governorate, an improvised explosive device went off, killing a police captain and injuring another person.

Egypt's security forces are fighting a decade-long Islamist insurgency in parts of North Sinai, which has spiked since 2013.

An ongoing military campaign aims at purging the governorate of militants through "pre-emptive strikes against terrorist elements," according to an army statement in May.

A state of emergency has been imposed in areas of North Sinai since August 2013 after violence erupted following the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

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SHARE CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Retired Navy Capt. Charlie Plumb of Westlake Village, who spent six years in North Vietnam prison camps, will be named Patriotic Citizen of the Year during Saturday's Red, White and Blue Ball. He will receive the silver Patrick Henry Medal in recognition of his public speaking about his POW experiences and the challenges of everyday life.

By Staff Reports

A retired Navy fighter pilot from Westlake Village who was a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War will be named Patriotic Citizen of the Year on Saturday during the 31st annual Red, White & Blue Ball at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in Simi Valley.

Capt. Charlie Plumb spent six years in the North Vietnam prison camps. He will receive the silver Patrick Henry Medal in recognition of his public speaking about his POW experiences and the challenges of everyday life.

Saturday's event is hosted by the Conejo Valley Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars and the Sgt. Michael A. DiRaimondo Chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Each year during the Red, White and Blue Ball, one of the U.S. armed services is honored, and this year it will be the U.S. Navy.

The Patriotic Teacher the Year award will go to Gary Pate, and the Patriotic Student of the Year award will go to Nikolai Arrasmith. Both are from Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village.

The Red, White and Blue Ball is a military and social function that is open to the general public. Ceremonies, dinner and dancing to music of the Harry Selvin Band, along with a silent and visual auction, will fill the evening.

For information, call Ed Holt at 496-5286.


On Sunday, June 19, Showboy Bakeshop, along with celebrities including the entire cast of MURRAY Celebrity Magician, hosted a full day of fundraising at their Henderson-based store to raise money for the victims, their families and those injured or dealing with the aftermath of Sundays senseless tragedy at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando (Pictured: April Leopardi Anneberg, Chris Funk, Murray SawChuck and Douglas Lefty Leferovich).

Photo credit: Michael W. Rogers.

Helping the Showboy staff today were the entire cast of Planet Hollywoods MURRAY Celebrity Magician: headliner Murray SawChuck, sidekick Douglas Lefty Leferovich, magical assistant April Leopardi Anneberg and guest performer Chris Funk.

Photo credit: Michael W. Rogers.

Murray said, What happened in Orlando is a wake up call that we all need to pull together to help one another even more now than ever.

Photo credit: Michael W. Rogers.

All proceeds from 100% of the sales today, one week after the violent attacks, will go directly to those in need.


The entire Las Vegas valley is invited to celebrate Independence Day at the 22nd annual Summerlin Council Patriotic Parade, Southern Nevadas largest and most colorful Fourth of July parade (Photo credit: Studio J Inc.)

This year, Senator Dean Heller and Lt. Governor Mark Hutchison will kick off the procession. Parade grand marshals are Brigadier General Jeannie M. Leavitt, 57th Wing Commander, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada and Chief Master Sergeant Shawn L. Drinkard, Command Chief Master Sergeant, 57th Wing, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. More than 35,000 people are expected to attend the parade.

The parade features more than 70 entries, including traditional floats, Macys-style giant inflatable balloons, American military heroes, bands, musical groups and a variety of kids favorite storybook and cartoon characters. More than 2,500 people are participating in the parade and more than 500 volunteers from dozens of local schools and community groups are assisting with parade operations.

This year, several new entries are added to the parade roster, including Avengers: Americas Mighty Heroes, The Fourth AwakensTribute to Star Wars, Pac Man Fever, Dream Big with the Princesses and Ferris Buellers Independence Day Off. More than 16,000 cubic feet of helium will be used for more than 25 giant inflatables.

Returning to the parade include fan favorites Aladdins Magic Carpet float featuring characters riding a flying carpet; The Greatest Generation push-float; Frozen Fun float complete with live characters and snow; Monsters University push-float; Neon City Garrison Star Wars costuming club; Danza Del Carrizo Native American performing group; the Palo Verde and Spring Valley High School marching bands; and A Salute to the Military float featuring service men and women from Nellis Air Force Base. Members of the American Legion, Marine Corps League and the Military Order of the Purple Heart will also participate in the festivities.

The parade is organized by The Summerlin Council, the non-profit arm of the Summerlin Community Association dedicated to the social, educational and recreational enrichment of residents. The parade is open to the public. Everyone is encouraged to arrive early, bring water and wear sunscreen.

Title Sponsor is The Howard Hughes Corporation/Summerlin. Premier Sponsor is QI Security Services. Major sponsors include Childrens Medical Center at Summerlin Hospital; Station Casinos; City of Las Vegas Parks and Recreation; Realty One Group; Design Works Custom Painting, Inc.; Par 3 Landscape and Maintenance; Southwest Medical; The Alexander Dawson School; and Downtown Summerlin.
How will the Valora products that you have just launched in Ho Chi Minh City distinguish themselves from other products on the market?

Valora is a new brand name under Nam Long which is based on our three-P criteria: Peaceful, Proficient, and Perspective. These products, however, will be priced very reasonably starting from just VND2.5 billion ($113,600) per townhouse and VND6 billion ($272,700) per villa.

Built according to international standards of quality and security, Valora comprises the most sought-after features of both apartments and landed property in Vietnam. After EHome and Flora, two affordable product lines for first home and mid-income buyers, Valora is another highly efficient product at a reasonable price for successful professionals by Nam Long.

Valora is the result of our co-operation with two Japanese giants  Nishi Nippon Railroad and Hankyu Realty, companies which have more than 100 years of experience in the global market. Valora, once put into operation, will be managed in line with Japanese standards, thus offering the highest quality in home management for Valoras homebuyers.

How will the Valora products be developed in the time ahead?

We plan to sell 450 Valora products on the market by the end of this year. The units will be in Valora Camellia in district 7, Valora Fuji and Valora Haruka which are both in district 9, and the first phase of Valora Nguyen Son near District 7 of Ho Chi Minh City.

Nam Long has a long history of collaboration with foreign partners, can you review this process so far?

Over the course of nearly 25 years operating in Vietnam, we have had collaborations with many prestigious foreign partners, including ASPL, Nam Viet company, VAF, IFC, and Ibeworth, companies which have supported Nam Long in property development as well as finance management. In addition to this impressive list, Nam Long has had other well-known shareholders such as Seafarer, Swiftcurrent, Probus Asia, and VIG. Our latest strategic partners are Iberworth of Keppel Land, Hankyu Realty, and Nishi Nippon Railroad.

Japanese investors are considered some of the most demanding investors in the world. How did you successfully maintain your partnership with them?

Nam Long has nearly 25 years experience in real estate in Vietnam. We have always been very transparent in our dealings. In our first project with a Japanese partner  the Flora Sakura we had financed the project for almost a year before successfully finalising the agreement. Japanese investors are very careful concerning details and prepare very well for all matters. From this we learned how to make resolutions while remaining steadfast. The difference between Japanese investors and other foreign investors is, in a lot of cases, Japanese investors want to be involved in developing the projects as well as involved in their management and operation.

How did Nam Long perform in 2015?

Today, Nam Longs total assets are worth over VND5 trillion ($227 million). We also have a land bank of 576 hectares in promising locations and with government planning that guarantees our sustainable development for the next ten years.

Last year we achieved tremendous growth with more than 2,000 units sold. Revenue and profit increased by 45 per cent and 115 per cent respectively compared to 2014. For the year-end of 2015, the net revenue of Nam Long reached VND1.2 trillion ($54.5 million).

What is the business plan in 2016?

In 2016, we will complete the development and handover of our current projects: EHome 3 and 4, the Bridgeview, Flora Anh Dao, and Valora Camellia. In addition, we will accelerate the legal and infrastructural completion and seek investors to implement two new projects, Haruka Residence and Hoang Nam.

In 2016, target sale units increased by 62 per cent. Target consolidated revenue is increasing by 153 per cent compared to 2015 and consolidated profit targets will increase by at least 75 per cent compared to 2015. These targets give us a solid foundation to implement our three-year business plan.
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has provided VND340 billion ($15.25 million) through five year convertible bonds to support Anova Corporations subsidiary Anova Feed Joint Stock Company to expand animal feed production. The investment will help the feed producer construct two additional mills in the southern province of Dong Nai and the northern province of Hung Yen and a warehouse in the southern province of Long An over the next two years. Once the new feed mills and warehouse come online, more than 500 new jobs will be created to supply products to nearly 40,000 farmers across Vietnam.

Anova Corporation has been a leading force in veterinary medicine in Vietnam since 1992. Originally known as Thanh Nhon Co.Ltd, Anova Corporation has nine subsidiaries that support animal health, feed production, and farming. The company specialises in the distribution of raw materials and additives for the veterinary industry.

Anova Feed, meanwhile, was established in 2012 as part of Anova Corporation to supply animal feed with higher performance metrics. The company applies scientific advancements afforded by a close working relationship with the worlds leading nutrition experts.

The domestic demand for meat has been on the rise, given the countrys growing population and higher standards of living. The Vietnamese agricultural landscape is driven by small farms and smallholders are looking to make sustainable strides in biosecurity and feed quality.

IFCs financing will help Anova Feed triple its production capacity, providing quality and reliable feed to the fast growing animal protein sector in Vietnam, said Nguyen Hieu Liem, Anova Corporations CEO. We are also seeking IFCs advice in expanding our reach to other countries and strengthening corporate governance standards in preparation for a listing.

In addition to financing, IFC will help Anova Feed pursue sustainable operation by adopting IFC performance standards and the World Bank Groups environment, health and safety guidelines.

IFC aims to support the sustainable development of Vietnams agricultural sector, which is growing rapidly and accounts for more than 20 per cent of the countrys gross domestic product, said Kyle Kelhofer, IFCs country manager for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. By supporting companies like Anova Feed, we are promoting the development of efficient and sustainable local private enterprises along the agribusiness supply chain as a driver of competitiveness and improvement of agri-products in the local market.

IFC has significantly scaled up its agribusiness investments in recent years. In the fiscal year ending in June 2015, IFC invested $3 billion across the agribusiness supply chain from farms to retail units to help boost production, increase liquidity, improve logistics and distribution, and expand access to credit for small farmers. At the end of the fiscal year, IFCs committed agribusiness portfolio stood at $5.2 billion.
It is Far Eastern Vietnams second project in Bau Bang IZ. The first phase of the factory is expected to start production in 2017 and the factory will fully come into operation in 2020.

Zeng Yi Xian, general director of Far Eastern Group, said that the group expects to continue receiving the provinces support in completing the procedures for the investment certificate, so that the construction can be implemented on schedule.

Tran Thanh Liem, Deputy Chairman of the Binh Duong Provincial Peoples Committee, said that the province will provide favourable conditions for the investor to complete the investment procedures and deal with difficulties arising during the construction process.

Previously, on June 30, 2015, the committee granted Far Eastern Vietnam Company an investment certificate to develop the first phase of a $274 million polyester and cotton yarn production factory. Once the first phase comes into operation, it will have an output capacity of 96 million square metres of cotton yarn and 127 million square metres of polyester yarn.

The second phase is expected to have a total capital of $1 billion.

The project was highly anticipated since it is expected to spearhead the development of supporting industries in Vietnam for the garment and textile industry at a time when Vietnam is set to accede to the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement.

Polytex Far Eastern Vietnam is a member of Far Eastern Group, which operates in numerous different sectors ranging from petrochemicals, cement, and retail to hospitality, finance, and communications.
Pro-business voices

Earlier this year, eight local dairy goods importers, producers and traders had a lucky escape when the General Department of Customs (GDT) handed down a sentence on tax arrears totalling an estimated VND700 billion (US$31.1 million).

Asked to pay extra value-added tax and import tariffs for material imports which had been miscategorised and therefore under-taxed, Vinamilk, Hanoimilk, FrieslandCampina, Nutifood, Dai Tan Viet, Hoang Lam, A Chau and The He Moi, spread word of their petition against the tax collection decision to local media outlets.

Almost all local economic newspapers published the story on the dairy importers appeal to the government bodies which created a wave of public discontent over the GDTs decision.

As a consequence, the MoF halted the tax collection proposed by the GDT, which not only helped dairy firms escape the tax arrear toll but also aided them in avoiding a force-majeure price hike due to increasing operating costs.

The media is a powerful tool for businesses to expand their footprints - Photo: Duc Thanh

This is a typical case of enterprises making good use of the press and highlights the medias influence on public opinion. Without the help of the media, the firms difficulties wouldnt have been reported let alone addressed by government authorities, said Vu Tien Loc, chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

The media is acknowledged by the Vietnamese government as a critical tool showcasing the views of businesses on various issues, including the implementation of policies and guidelines, thus helping improve State management.

Media is the bridge linking enterprise and the state, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed.

Regarding foreign invested enterprises, the media is both an invaluable source of information and useful tool to build brand names, helping to promote products and spur operations.

For instance, foreign insurers mainly count on local media to change Vietnamese perspective on their services.

The limited understanding of Vietnamese people about the benefits of life insurance services is a challenge for us as a service provider. However, through active communication and the support of local media, I think that the situation will certainly improve in the future, Anton Chang, general director of Taiwanese life insurer Fubon Life Vietnam told VIR..

Last month saw a criminal case reversed in Binh Chanh district, Ho Chi Minh City, against Cafe Xin Chao. Violations made by local police authorities were eventually uncovered when they prosecuted a coffee shop owner  Nguyen Van Tan, over a slightly late business registration and a lack of certification on food safety.

Nguyen Van Bi, who leased the land area to Tan, was also prosecuted for criminal violations. Bi built a leaf hut to raise ducks, which was deemed to pose serious risks to the public.

It was fortunate that Tan and Bis miscarriage of justice was heard and circulated by the media. Eventually, the two men were set free while several officials connected to the case found themselves on the receiving end of disciplinary action.

The case of Cafe Xin Chao could have gone unnoticed but thanks to local media it got the prime ministers attention. Cafe Xin Chao became symbolic of the countrys progress in rooting out corruption and wastefulness, observed VCCIs Loc, adding that his organisation would continue to co-operate with the media to contribute inputs in government policy making.

The increasing pace of reforms will improve the business environment and benefit firms as a result. According to the Global Competitiveness Report 2015-2016, Vietnams competitiveness index climbed 12 spots from the previous year to rank 68th amongst 140 countries and territories. This marks the third consecutive year-on-year improvement of the Vietnamese economic landscape.

Potential risks of the media

Many businesspeople have voiced concerns on the impartiality of the media and hope that journalists can respect the law and report incidents fairly.

They complained that the media had exacerbated several crises involving enterprises, damaging the reputation and revenues of not only individual firms but also whole industries.

Some businesses also admitted that they had been blackmailed by journalists.

A PR manager at a US-backed firm spoke with VIR that we have to classify the media into groups ranging from slightly dangerous to extremely dangerous and have suitable reactions ready to deal with each group. We do not compromise despite always being on high alert, said the anonymous manager.

He also explained that for businesses subject to European or US law like his, its illegal to influence anyone with personal payment or reward. Whenever businesses decide to break this code of ethics, there are consequences, including high financial penalties.

In particular, the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) stipulates that payments to foreign officials, including journalists, candidates and parties are against the law.

No matter how many violations of businesses and State management agencies that are discovered by journalists, it remains necessary for them to keep their activities lawful and ethical, so as to create an equal and transparent climate for the business community.

Given that an article can negatively impact a businesss operation, Loc warned: It is very helpful to disclose illegal activities, but journalists need to report stories with faith and justice.
With more foreign companies operating in Vietnam and more Vietnamese companies hoping to expand internationally, has there been an increase in the demand for the CPA designation?

The CPA Australia designation is globally recognised as a valuable asset and a career passport for any professional who holds it. This is particularly relevant in Vietnam where there is an increasing demand for professional accountants and auditors. In addition, the Asean Economic Community (AEC), which facilitates the free movement of labour in the financial services, will create new opportunities for high quality accounting professionals with a CPA Australia designation.

In the coming years, there will be increased pressure on Vietnam to work towards the full adoption of IFRS. CPA Australia will continue to work with our strategic partners in Vietnam. With its global network and long heritage, it is ideally placed to help Vietnam develop accounting and business professionals of the highest calibre.

CPA Australia has been working with government agencies in Vietnam, such as the State Audit Office of Vietnam and the Ministry of Finance. What benefits has this co-operation brought about for the two sides?

CPA Australia signed the Agreement of Collaboration with the State Audit Office of Vietnam and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) in 2011 and 2012 respectively. These agreements aimed to advance the interest of certified auditors and to positively contribute to the development of the accountancy profession, in both Australia and Vietnam. In November 2015, leaders of CPA Australia and the MoF signed the Co-operation Agreement Annex about the Vietnamese tax segment under which CPA Australia will introduce and include Vietnamese tax as an elective subject in the CPA Autralia programme, effective from 2016. The annex signing reinforces CPA Australias support for its members in pursuing high quality professional qualifications, and shows its commitment to working with the MoF in continually strengthening professional and educational standards in taxation across Vietnam.

Besides government agencies, universities are also important partners of CPA Australia. Do you see increasing interest in the designation from universities?

CPA Australia prides ourselves on thought leadership and sharing our knowledge with others. Here in Vietnam, we hold events for members, young accounting professionals, and students to brush up their knowledge.

As part of our commitment to develop the accounting profession in Vietnam, we have provided hundreds of scholarships to outstanding students and young professionals to support their journey to becoming a CPA since 2008. In collaboration with Big Four firms, we have organised company visits to offer accounting and auditing students a better understanding of how an international accounting company operates, while also giving them a taste of the corporate environment. We also organise other activities such as career talks, the Career Expo, and soft skills training. Through these CPA Australia network events, we help students to connect to our senior members, employers, and other network members around the world. In this way, we have witnessed a growing interest from university students in our international designation.

After eight years operating in Vietnam, has there been any new development in CPA Australias operation here?

In 2015, the CPA Australia Career Expos were held for the first time in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. These expos offered thousands of students and graduates the opportunity to meet representatives from leading businesses in the accounting and finance profession, including all Big Four firms, large local auditing companies, global and local banks, and MNCs (multinational corporations) in major industries. The CPA Australia Career Expo is an international series of events held annually across 14 cities throughout the Asia Pacific, and the first expo being held in Vietnam was a wonderful milestone for CPA Australia, emphasising our endeavor to prepare the next generation of leaders in Vietnam.

The Cooperation Agreement Annex about the Vietnamese tax segment that CPA Australia signed with the MoF is also a highlight of our activities recently. By signing the tax annex, CPA Australia is giving its members the most practical and in-depth knowledge of the local tax system. And they will bring that high-level expertise to their daily advisory work with clients.
As of now, there is a high possibility that the relevant guiding decrees on conditional businesses will be enacted by July 1, 2016. Are speculations about the deadline accurate?

By now most of the ministries and sectors have compiled the draft versions of relevant guiding decrees. The next step is appraisal and submission to the government for enactment.

Being directly involved in the process, I recognise that the prime minister and the government have been proactively instructing relevant government agencies and sectors to speed up the process of reviewing and addressing improper business conditions, which were previously enacted by management agencies and sectors.

The government is committed to the timely enactment of the guiding decrees with assured quality.

Relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Justice, the Government Office, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have also proven their high sense of responsibility in evaluating relevant draft decrees.

Does this signify that by July 1, 2016 more than 3,000 improper business conditions previously enacted by ministries and sectors will have new legal groundwork?

This is also a question we want to raise at this very time. First and foremost, I want to remind you of the true spirit of the amended Investment Law 2014 in respect to the revision and amendment of business conditions.

First, business conditions which are yet to be reviewed and included in respective decrees will be invalidated from July 1, 2016.

Second, ministries and sectors are required to review conditional businesses which were improperly enacted under Investment Law 2014 in a comprehensive manner with a view to remove unnecessary conditions and amend unreasonable ones.

During the review process, we have required the ministries and agencies to assess the implications and efficiency of existing business conditions. From there, they will decide whether to remove or revise questionable business conditions to ensure their legitimacy.

In recent workshops on conditional businesses firms voiced concerns about the introduction of new business conditions by the upcoming guiding decrees. Is there a prospect of a significantly changed playing field?

If the ministries and sectors were not transparent about the number of conditional businesses reviewed and conditions removed or simplified, or whether there will be newly supplemented conditions, the business community and society have the right to raise suspicion. The matter here is the accountability and information disclosure responsibilities of relevant ministries and sectors.

Therefore, in my stance, relevant ministries and sectors need to publicise this information shortly and in full, enabling firms to feed in with comments in a timely manner.
Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Nhat. - Photo news.zing.vn

Can you give us some information about the future expansion plan for Noi Bai International Airport?

In 2009, the Government approved a master plan for the development of the countrys aviation industry by 2020 with a vision towards 2030.

However, in 2015, Hoang Trung Hai, the then Deputy Prime Minister, assigned the Ministry of Transport to revise that master plan, which was called Plan 21, to make it more suitable to the countrys socio-economic development as well as to the development of the aviation industry in the future.

The countrys rapid socio-economic development and its deeper and wider international integration have required Plan 21 to be revised.

Thats why the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam (CAAV) conducted research to revise Plan 21. It is expected that later this month, the revised Plan 21 will be ready to submit to the Prime Minister to consider and approve.

During the revision of Plan 21, we realised the need to expand Noi Bai International Airport. The Ministry of Transport (MOT) came up with several options regarding the future expansion of the present Noi Bai International Airport.

Under the old plan, by 2020, Noi Bai Airport would receive 20 million passengers. However, in reality, in 2015, it already received 17.5 million. Based on the two figures, during the discussion, all participants saw the urgent need to expand the Noi Bai Airport. The change this time will target a plan by 2030 and the following years.

For example, if by 2030 the number of passengers who arrive at Noi Bai International Airport reaches 40 million, how big must the airport be so that it can cater to such a huge number of passengers? This is a question that needs to be discussed and addressed carefully.

During meetings, we came up with five or six scenarios. But until now, which scenario is the best one remains up in the air.

Of course, any changes to Plan 21 must be carefully reviewed by relevant ministries, sectors and localities before submitting to the Prime Minister for approval.

I just want to stress that the plan to expand Noi Bai International Airport has just been put on the table for discussion. No final conclusion has been made, as it has been reported in the media recently.

At present, Noi Bai International Airport has been surrounded by quite a few construction projects. What affect, if any, will these projects have on the future expansion of the airport?

Following the approval of Plan 21 by the PM, the MOT developed a master plan for Noi Bai Airport.

In this case, if the land reserved for the Noi Bai Airport as regulated in Plan 21 cannot cater to 70 million or even 80 million passengers a year, we have to expand the airport area.

If this occurs, the expansion of the airport is a must, although it may affect residential areas surrounding the airport. In my opinion, the most important data we desperately need is reliable information on the number of passengers and cargo volume that will be handled at the airport by 2030.

However, when we talk about the expansion of the airport, we cannot forget to consider a very important factor  is there any land available for the airport expansion? Do we have money to compensate the land owners and others affected?

Perhaps we could build a new airport in another locality that is in a better location and costs less money than expanding the present Noi Bai Airport. This is food for thought! We have to put everything on the table, not only for the Noi Bai Airport, but for other airports as well.

Does the proposal on the Noi Bai Airport expansion include a budgeting component?

Of course! The budget is an essential component in any project. Whether a project is feasible or not, it needs matched efforts between the construction planning and budget estimation proposal.

At the moment, the budget component for the adjustment of Plan 21 is being analysed by the consultant agency.
Only one official is still in detention

A Cairo prosecution on Monday ordered the release pending trial of all but one of the 12 education ministry officials who were accused of leaking secondary school exams.

The official who is still in detention was reported to have been responsible for printing the final version of the exams, known as Thanaweya Amma, after they were prepared by a technical committee.

The prosecution and the interior ministry's internet department are still investigating the leak incident that took place for the fourth year in a row for the general secondary certificate examinations.

The prosecution arrested the 12 ministry officials on 6 June for 15 days pending investigations into the leak.

They are employees in the education ministry whose job was to print the exams.

Meanwhile, Egypt's interior ministry announced on Monday in a statement that ten more suspects who are related to the currently detained education ministry official were arrested, including his wife.

The interior ministry added that according to the investigations, the suspected education ministry official and his wife have been leaking the high school exams since 2014.

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Many Thai firms at the forum expressed their interest in investing in Vietnam in the years ahead

Thai Minister of Commerce Apiradi Tantraporn told VIR that Vietnam had been actively improving its investment climate, with large tariff cuts under the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and other free trade agreements (FTAs). Interestingly, Thailand has reported fewer FTAs than Vietnam.

This has prompted many Thai investors to come to Vietnam to do business. Vietnam is a lucrative market for Thai firms. There is growing interest in projects across the industrial, service, tourism, and financial sectors in Vietnam, Tantraporn said on the sideline of last weeks CLMVT Forum 2016: Towards a Shared Prosperity.

The three-day forum in Bangkok, hosted by Thailands Ministry of Commerce, brought together some 1,000 participants from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand, as well as experts from Japan and the US. The first ever event aimed to discuss ways to form a seamless Mekong Delta region or a Single Destination.

I believe that over the next few years, Thai investments in Vietnam will continue to grow. We have seen impressive growth in investments here over the past few years, she said.

According to the Vietnam-Thailand Business Council, Thailand could become one of Vietnams ten largest foreign investors over the next two years, moving up from its current 11th place ranking. Thai investments in Vietnam rose by 35 per cent from $5.9 billion in 2012 to about $8 billion in May 2016.

Under Vietnams commitments to FTAs and the AEC, the reduction and removal of many import tariff lines for goods will help Thai firms to increase their investments in Vietnam, and from here they can further boost exports to FTA member markets.

Vietnam has signed 11 bilateral and multilateral FTAs and is currently negotiating another four with bilateral and multilateral partners. It is expected that Vietnam will have a total 15 FTAs with 53 partners worldwide.

Thai investors wish to increase their investments in Vietnam because Thai goods are becoming popular here, said the councils president Sanan Angubolkul.

Chiming with this view, Grongthong Maneesin, a representative from Thailands Duay Ruk Company, told VIR that her company would attend a large-scale Thai goods exhibition in Vietnam in August 2016.

We want to market our high-quality herbal products across Vietnam, as the demand for them is rising. After that, we would consider direct investment in the country, she said.

Representatives from many firms, such as Green Siam Marketing, TRI Global, Kito, CT Industry, NMB-Minebea Thai, and Gates Unitta also stated that they valued the Vietnamese market and were considering expanding investments in Vietnam. At present, they are promoting their products through fairs and exhibitions across the country.

According to Ponpimon Petcharakul, the commercial attache from the Thai Embassy to Vietnams Thai Trade Centre, several factors make the market attractive to foreign investors. In addition to benefiting from the AEC and FTAs, Vietnam has a large population of nearly 100 million people and their disposable income is rising. The countrys middle-class is swelling and consumers are spending more. Vietnams political stability is also a huge factor in its favour, as is its improved business climate and educated workforce.

Thanks to these factors, Thai businesses are performing well in Vietnam, Petcharakul said.

Over the past few years, Vietnam has been home to many large-scale Thai projects. Recently, in the retail sector, Central Group completed its acquisition of Frances Big C Vietnam super market chain, at a price of $1.1 billion. This acquisition enabled Central Group to take over Big Cs gigantic list of assets including 33 supermarkets and ten convenience stores with a combined annual volume of over 50 million customers. Late last year, Central Group purchased a 49 per cent stake in Vietnams Nguyen Kim electronics supermarket chain.

In addition, Thai Charoen Corp (TCC) spent $876 million acquiring Germanys Metro Cash & Carry Vietnam supermarket system. In 2013, TCCs subsidiary, Berli Jucker, also purchased the Family Mart system in Vietnam.
Record setter: Van at the 2006 Festival of the Sea in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, where his dragon-shaped kite measuring 100 metres from tip to tail set a national record. - File photo

The 65-year-old man is also the first kite maker in the country to be granted the title folk artisan.

His kites have joined hundreds of domestic and international kite festivals, showcasing not only the makers talent, but also the image of a peaceful Viet Nam.

At the 28th International Kite Festival held in India earlier this year, Van told locals, Our reason for flying kites is similar to that of Indians; we fly kites in the rice fields during the harvest season.

He said he started making kites when he was six years old, and the enthusiasm he felt for the craft has endured 60 years.

In 1999, he founded the Phuong Hoang (Phoenix) Kite Club - the first of its kind in southern Viet Nam - where kite lovers including school children come to share their common passion for making and flying kites.

Lifelong passion

In his early days, he said, flying kites was an activity for young men. He attempted to make his first kite when he was about five years old after losing a kite that someone had lent him. His brother delayed making another kite for him, so angered by the lack of fraternal co-operation, Van whittled some bamboo into a frame and cut out some paper to cover it in hopes of making a kite himself.

But all he had to show for this effort were some wounds after cutting himself, for which his parents punished him. However, he kept trying and started to unravel the mysteries of kite-making.

Later on, he became an electrician, but still found time to make better and better kites. With no space left for kite flying in the crowded city, Van travelled hither and thither seeking the ideal field, and eventually found that paddy fields on the city outskirts were ideal for his purpose.

When he was 10, he was able to make a phoenix-shaped kite. He treasured the kite so much that he set it beside him while sleeping.

I prefer making kites rather than flying them, he said. I could spend hours designing patterns, cutting cloth, whittling bamboo and colouring the kite without caring for anything else around me.

Its a feeling that is difficult for me to describe when I finish a kite, he said, adding that it was a kind of childlike happiness and eagerness, because he just wanted to touch and look at the finished works all the time.

People always show their respect towards him, as well as their surprise at his creativity and talent.

On his kites, Van draws his hometowns beautiful landscapes or tourist attractions like Ben Thanh Market, Nha Rong Wharf and the One-Pillar Pagoda.

He has made kites featuring the national flag, as well as kites in the shape of dragons, phoenixes, fish, birds or flowers.

At the 2006 Festival of the Sea in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, his dragon-shaped kite measuring 100 metres from tip to tail set a national record. The kite was flying high as the crowd applauded and watched in awe, but few knew that it took Van and his partners almost two years to make it.

The original kite was only 50 metres long, but weighed about seven kilos, which made it too heavy to go airborne.

They ran along the riverside in an attempt to make it fly, but whenever they stopped, the kite fell down.

The bamboo that was used to make the kite frame was then whittled thinner and thinner to reduce the kites weight.

After each adjustment, they tried to fly it again and again, Van said, recalling moments when the kite crashed into ponds or became trapped in trees. The fliers struggled to rescue it and had to cut some tree branches.

Once, we spent more than seven hours trying to retrieve the kite because its string became entangled in the trees, Van said. After that, we were so tired that we didnt want to eat anything.

The completed dragon kite introduced at the Vung Tau Sea Festival weighs just 1.5kg after numerous changes and sweat from the maker and fliers.

Flute kites are among Vans most favourable kites. In Viet Nam, flute kites were once used to warn villagers about Chinese Qing Dynasty invaders 200 years ago. Bamboo - the key material for this kite - is delightful to the ears, too.

The traditional kite is made from bamboo and paper, weighing about 4kg. Now, super light materials are used to reduce the kite weight to just 1kg, Van said.

Previously, the flute tied to a kite could only produce random sounds made by the wind, but now, they can be designed to sound like a bell, train horn or tunes produced by several musical instruments.

Multicoloured: Van with his flute kite in India earlier this year.

The flute kites go with me to international kite festivals, including those in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Poland, helping to introduce typical Vietnamese hobbies, he said.

In addition to sounds, Vans kites were once equipped with lights.

At one unforgettable contest in Malaysia in 2002, kites had to be flown at night with lights attached so that audience members could see them lighting up the sky.

"I was awarded the top prize for a kite that had a large wingspan and colourful lights. The lights shone in turns, from left to right, up and down, and changed colours," Van said.

It was the first time I made a kite with lights, he added. "I was so concentrated on the kite that I was not aware that on the loud speaker organisers were asking me to come to the stage to receive the award.

Kites connect people

Van said his family, particularly his wife, has provided great support for his hobby.

For the last 20 years, when he is busy making kites and joining kite contests or festivals across Viet Nam and overseas, his wife has always been with him.

"She was always complaining that she cooked for me and had to clean the mess I make whenever I want a new kite," Van said. However, she is still the person who supports me most."

"We fell in love with each other when we flew kites together during our childhood. And now, she is with me to bring Vietnamese kites to an international playground.

The Phuong Hoang Kite Club is considered Vans second family.

Van said that more and more children and young people are joining the club. Those at primary school ages can join to learn how to make simple kites. Older ones can go with Van, whom they call "grandfather", to suburban areas for kite flying.

He is also invited to local primary and secondary schools to teach students about kites.

"Im happy to see the students make and fly kites high," he said.

He said that when travelling to other countries like Singapore or Malaysia, he found that children there had a lot of space for kite flying.

"Its unfortunate to see that Vietnamese children dont have space for running and flying kites, particularly those in crowded urban areas," he said.

"We adults go to spacey suburban areas or the sites of delayed construction projects for kite flying. The image of windy, spacious kite fields is rare today.

"I teach my grandchildren and other young people about kites, hoping that it helps nurture their passion for kites. Its not only an outdoor activity for physical development, but also an artists sport that strengthens mental and physical flexibility."

At his house on HCM Citys Tran Dinh Xu Street, kites and materials to make kites are seen almost everywhere - on the floor, on the wall, along steps - but the house owner also reserves a large room for kites only.

Over the last 60 years, Van has made thousands of kites, but he refuses to sell them, despite many prospective buyers expressing their interest.

I make kites for passion, not for sale, he said.
To celebrate the 91st anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day on June 21 (1925- 2016), on behalf of the Ministry of Planning and Investments (MPI) leadership, I would like to convey my best wishes to all of you.

Coinciding with the jubilant atmosphere of the 91st Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day celebrations, the Vietnam Investment Review Group (VIR) is preparing to commemorate its own landmark 25th anniversary of its very first issue on September 27, 1991. It has been the great pleasure of both the MPI and VIR to accompany the country on its 25-year journey of economic reforms, development, and integration. In tandem with the MPIs development, VIR has continuously endeavoured to be deserving of its status as the dedicated press office of the MPI, and as one of Vietnams leading economic press agencies.

I appreciate the efforts made by VIR and its diverse publications. Since its debut issue, the publication has always been loyal to its business guidelines and targets, while delivering in-depth information on the whole spectrum of economic fields, and satisfying the thirst for information from organisations and businesses, as well as domestic and foreign investors.

The Vietnamese and English imprints of VIR  Dau Tu, Dau Tu Chung Khoan, Dau Tu Bat Dong San, Vietnam Investment Review, and Timeout  in addition to their online versions, have made assiduous contributions to the propagation of Party lines and state policies on socio-economic development. In this way, the various publications have promoted Vietnams image to international friends and partners, thus helping to attract resources from both inside and outside Vietnam for the development of the nation.

I would like to underline that in recent years while the country was still encountering multiple challenges, and amid ever-increasing competition between diverse forms of media, VIR has remained steadfast in its dignity and brand identity, acting as a trustworthy forum for the business community, domestic and foreign investors, and policy-makers alike.

This is a remarkable and proud achievement not only for VIR, but also for the MPI. Keeping this in mind, I am certain and expect that VIR, as the press arm of the MPI, will continue to propagate state laws and policies on investment and business, while inspiring confidence in Vietnams investment-business environment, and promoting the countrys image to make foreign investors feel at home here in Vietnam.

I also expect that VIR will continue to do well in delivering information about what the MPI has been doing in a timely and efficient manner, helping readers to become more knowledgeable about the process of expediting solutions to spur social and economic development, contributing to create a society-wide consensus for the successful implementation of the 12th Party Congress Resolution.

As Vietnam is witnessing new development opportunities. In parallel to the Planning and Investment sectors 70 year-plus development tradition, VIR stands on the cusp of a new chapter following 25 years of development. This provides an ideal opportunity for all VIR staff members to take stock of their achievements, strengthen their internal solidarity, and build upon their qualifications for the accomplishment of all assigned tasks. In so doing, VIR can reach new heights in its development trajectory.

Once again, congratulations to all of you. On this occasion, I would like to say thanks to all the staff members working at press agencies across the country for their active support of the MPI over the years.

Good health, happiness, and success to you all!

Nguyen Chi Dung

Party Central Committee Member

Minister of Planning and Investment
Notably, PSGC has yet to pay VND334.8 billion ($15.01 million) and BMGMC VND95.7 billion ($4.29 million) in taxes.

According to newswire Tienphong.vn, the Quang Nam Peoples Committee has requested BMGMC to suspend its gold exploitation operations due to a lack of co-operation with provincial authorities in dealing with the companys difficulties.

The resumption of the companys operations is conditional upon receiving a new investment certificate. The initial one, which was granted in March 1991, expired on March 5, 2016.

The reason for the above order is because the company has delayed in restructuring in spite of the provinces continued urging.

Besides, the company has yet to submit a completed dossier for the new investment certificate.

Both mines have difficulty maintaining their operations due to suffering a massive loss of over VND1 trillion ($44.7 million), with a short-term debt volume of VND2.5 trillion ($111.7 million).

In January 2015, Besra Vietnam was warned to have its investment certificate revoked for its delay in payment of taxes and fees as well as late payment fines incurred for environmental pollution.

Besra Vietnam has to face continuous losses as well as financial trouble due to the impact of the global slump in gold prices in recent years. Almost all of Besra Vietnams gold is exported, thus, when world prices fell through in 2012, the revenue and profit of the company decreased accordingly.
Virginia Raggi has leapt from anonymity to become one of the best-known faces in Italian politics in the space of only a few months on the campaign trail. (AFP/Andreas Solaro)

ROME: Voters in the Italian capital headed to the polls on Sunday (Jun 19) with all signs indicating that they will elect populist candidate Virginia Raggi as the first female mayor of the Eternal City.

Raggi, a 37-year-old lawyer and local councillor, has leapt from anonymity to become one of the best-known faces in Italian politics in the space of only a few months on the campaign trail.

The telegenic brunette, whose victory would be a blow for Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, is the rising star of the Five Star movement (M5S), the anti-establishment party founded by comedian Beppe Grillo.

More than nine million voters are eligible to take part in Sunday's second round election in 126 communes, including Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin and Bologna.

"It's a very special day for us, we finally have the chance to have somebody new who can change things," Aldo, a 72-year-old pensioner, told AFP shortly after casting his ballot for the Five Star movement at a primary school in a district of Rome. "All the others have failed, we hope that they will succeed," he added.

Turnout at 1700 GMT (1.00am Singapore time Monday) stood at around 36.5 per cent, down from the first-round figure of just under 44 per cent, according to the interior ministry. Polls close at 2100 GMT (5.00am Singapore time Monday).

All eyes are on Five Star which has emerged as the best-supported opposition to the centre-left Democratic Party (PD)-led coalition of Renzi, and the stakes are extremely high for a movement that was only founded in 2009.

With the ebullient Renzi's star waning slightly, success in Rome could provide a platform for a tilt at national power in general elections due in 2018. The PD also faces defeat in Italy's financial capital Milan and a tough challenge in Turin.

"We are witnessing a historic moment," Raggi said after the Jun 5 first round of voting, when she emerged with 35 per cent of the vote, well ahead of her nearest rival Roberto Giachetti with 24 per cent.

It was a particularly remarkable achievement for a party with a very limited organisational apparatus and also for a woman who only entered politics five years ago.

She told AFP recently that the move was triggered by the birth of her son Matteo and her determination that he should not grow up in a city beset by the intertwined problems of failing public services and endemic corruption.

Opposition to Italy's ingrained cronyism and sleaze is the foundation of M5S's appeal to voters and the Roman electorate have had their fill of those in recent years.

'ASSOCIATED WITH HOPE'

Dozens of local businessmen, officials and politicians are currently on trial for their involvement in a criminal network that ripped off the city to the tune of tens - if not hundreds - of millions of euros.

From stealing the funds allocated to get ethnic Roma children to school and out of isolated camps, to paving the city's streets with wafer-thin surfaces, scams abounded for years, according to prosecutors, in what is known as the Mafia Capitale scandal.

Renzi has sought to downplay the importance of the election, repeating that the "mother of all battles" for him is an October referendum on sweeping constitutional reforms aimed at ushering in stability into Italian politics. He has pledged to step down if he loses.

In the run-up to the second-round, there were reports in the Italian press that Raggi failed to declare payments for consultations to a public body, an allegation she dismissed. "It's just muck-racking," she said. "I have already clarified that I have declared everything and it's all in line with the rules."

Mario Calabresi, the editor of Italy's prominent La Repubblica daily, said in an editorial Saturday that the polls were "destined to leave a mark on Italian politics and a possible rupture with the established system". He said the Five Star party for many was "associated with hope".
Bui Ngoc Diep, deputy chairman of the Vung Tau Tourism Association and Skybridge Intercontinental Developments representative, said that this increase had had a hugely upsetting effect on investors.

This high land leasing tax has halted investors in their tracks, especially those involved in tourism, Diep said at a meeting between the local authorities and more than 300 investors held in Ba Ria  Vung Tau last week. For projects like Saigon Atlantis and Dragon Sea, the tax increase is ten times what was previously agreed upon, Diep confirmed.

This tax increase is causing projects to have been delayed for many years, Diep explained.

The $902 million Dragon Sea International Convention and Tourism Resort project in the Chi Linh - Cua Lap area of Ba Ria - Vung Tau city has been licensed since 2010, but so far no construction has taken place. Diep said that on 45 hectares of land, the total land leasing tax for 50 years was around VND326 billion ($15 million), as calculated in January 2010. In 2012, the local Financial Department announced that this taxation had increased to more than VND1.7 trillion ($79 million).

This increase is incredibly high. It confuses the investor and causes the project to shut down, Diep told VIR.

The $4.1 billion Saigon Atlantis project, a multi-functional complex of villas, high-end apartments, and a hotel, is facing the same situation. In 2008, after being given its investment certificate, Winvest Investment Vietnam, the investor in Saigon Atlantis, advanced VND98 billion ($4.5 billion) in land leasing tax to local authorities for land clearance and compensation.

However, by 2012, only 87 hectares out of the total 297 had been handed over to the investor. The land leasing tax was calculated according to the current rate, meaning that Winvest was ordered to pay an additional VND800 billion ($36.3 million) for the 87ha that had been cleared.

This risk is too high for investors and they can not be expected to cope with it, he said.

Winvest has suggested many times to Ba Ria - Vung Tau officials to apply the tax quoted during 2007-2008 when the project was initiated, however the local authorities claimed that the adjustment of land leasing tax is decided by the government, not by the provincial authorities.n

According to Taxation Department, the increase in tax was caused by the implementation of decree 121/2010/ND-CP, dated December 30, 2010, replacing decree 142/20015/ND-CP from November 14, 2005, which stipulated that local authorities would decide the leasing tax for trading and services centres and residential development projects that have high return potential.

However, Decree 121 stipulates that the leasing tax imposed by local authorities must not exceed more than twice the leasing guidelines regulated by the government.

When choosing to invest in Vietnam, foreign investors believe in the countrys socio-economic stability and its reliable policies, therefore the increase of the land leasing tax by more than four times in two years is shocking, and they do not know how to proceed, Diep said.

He added that the Vietnamese authorities must clearly define differences between tourism and commercial housing projects when imposing land leasing taxation.

Diep suggested that for tourism projects the updated leasing taxation should be imposed on construction land only. The perimeter of the construction area would be exempt from taxation, or be calculated as agricultural land.

This method would be a feasible solution for investors and would encourage them to continue their projects, Diep said.
Siemens recently announced that the company has set three world records at the Lausward combined cycle power plant in Dusseldorf, Germany. What are these records?

During the test run, the Fortuna unit achieved a maximum electrical output of 603.8 megawatts, which is a new record for a combined cycle plant of this type in a single-shaft configuration. A new world record of around 61.5 per cent for net power-generating efficiency was also achieved, resulting in CO2 emissions of 230 grammes per kWh when operating in simultaneous district heat extraction. By way of comparison, Germanys entire electricity mix (including renewable sources of energy) produced average emissions of 609g per kWh in 2014. The Lausward facility also delivers the most thermal energy (up to 300MW)  in the form of hot water  of any combined heat and power (CHP) power plant.

Although world records are nice, they cant always guarantee that a plant will be profitable. What can Siemens do to help its customer, the utility company Stadtwerke Dusseldorf AG, to stay economically competitive?

It is true that despite Germanys energy transition, electricity from coal and nuclear power is still so cheap that it forces even ultra-modern gas-fired power plants out of the market. At the same time, energy generation based on fossil fuels is more and more being complemented with and substituted by renewable sources such as wind, solar, or biomass. Hence, in order to play an essential part in the energy mix of today and in the future, we need a power plant that combines a number of features: it must be highly efficient, flexible, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective. We have worked alongside Stadtwerke Dusseldorf AG to bring about this flagship project, one that is set to make a crucial contribution to the changing face of energy generation.

Alongside maximum output, maximum efficiency, and the best use of waste heat, the Fortuna unit at Dusseldorf combined cycle power plant also boasts an overall natural gas efficiency factor of approximately 85 per cent, and offers exceptional combined heat and power opportunities. The heat arising from the power generation process can thus be utilised efficiently as well.

The facilitys flexibility is greatly boosted by the fact that its 445-tonne gas turbine can run at its full load in less than 25 minutes after a hot start, enabling it to be used as a backup for renewable-based power production. This flexibility supports the operators in efforts to achieve economical operations in a challenging environment for conventional power plants.

The breaking of records at Dusseldorfs Fortuna unit, has wide-reaching implications for power generation in Vietnam where energy demands are rising dramatically

Siemens is also using a co-start feature to significantly increase the entire power plants flexibility. Instead of starting with a delay, as was the case in the past, the steam turbine now starts up along with the gas turbine. It also increases its output at the highest rate possible until it reaches its full load. If electricity needs are low, the facility can reduce its output to 35 per cent capacity. In most power plants, such a reduction would cause emissions of carbon monoxide and other pollutants to rise sharply. However, this is not the case with the Lausward facility, because Siemens engineers have developed a new system called the Clean Range System, which keeps emissions below statutory limits even when the power plant is running at low loads. Moreover, they have also developed Flex-Ramp technology, which enables output to be changed quickly by up to 55MW per minute.

With an efficiency level of 61.5 per cent, the power plant achieves CO2 emissions of 320g per kWh, equivalent to about one third of the amount emitted per kWh by the existing fleet of EU coal-fired power plants. And with a fuel efficiency of 85 per cent, it is set to save approximately 30,000 tonnes of CO2 per year  the equivalent of the annual CO2 emission of about 15,000 medium-sized cars with an annual mileage of approximately 15,000 kilometres per year.

However, an important factor in enabling the power plant to be profitable in the challenging German power market is its advantage of being used for district heating. For instance, hot water from the plant is channeled to the Vodafone Campus, a large office complex for 5,000 employees on the other side of the Rhine. The temperature at the front blades of the Fortuna plants gas turbine is around 1,500 degrees Celsius, and its waste heat is extracted by a downstream heat exchanger to power a steam turbine and generate additional electricity. The steam turbine is located along the same axis as the gas turbine and the generator. The steam from the steam turbine is channeled through three thick pipes to heat exchangers in the adjacent building. From there, hot water (at more than 95 degrees Celsius) flows through an insulated pipe underneath the Rhine River to downtown Dusseldorf.

On days when sufficient electricity is available from solar and wind power systems, the Fortuna facility is operated in a heat-controlled mode to maximise waste heat. A 40-metre-high tank is also being built to hold 35,000 cubic metres of water. In winter, the tank will be able to store hot water for several days, enabling the power company to freely decide which mix of electricity and heat the Fortuna unit should supply.

So how about Vietnam? What has Siemens been doing to help improve the power supply in here?

A reliable energy supply is crucial in growth regions like Vietnam: The more reliable the energy supply, the more the economy can flourish and compete internationally  which ultimately translates to greater prosperity. Vietnam is one of Southeast Asias most rapidly growing economies. The demand for electricity in Vietnam is expected to soar by as much as 14 per cent a year until 2020. However, due to insufficient capacity, the country is still plagued by unreliable supply. Vietnams energy master plan for 2011-2015 with a vision to 2030 calls for its present capacity to be more than doubled by 2020. To cope with this demand is the pre-requisite for Vietnam to continue the path of successful economical growth and to become an industrialised nation in the near future. It is truly a very challenging task for state-owned Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) and other investors in power generation. But, this is where Siemens can help the most.

The total installed electricity capacity of Vietnam by the end of 2015 was about 34GW, and Siemens contributed more than 12 per cent of the total generated electricity. We supplied ten large gas turbines for gas-fired power plants. Combined cycle power plants (CCPP), such as 740MW Phu My 3, 1,500MW Ca Mau 1 and 2, and 750MW Nhon Trach 2, are among the most efficient and environmentally friendly power plants in Vietnam. In particular, Nhon Trach 2 CCPP, which was built together with the local turnkey contractor LILAMA, made the remarkable achievement of having a short construction time, stable operation, as well as having one of the most efficient and cost effective power plants.

We are committed to bringing our lastest state-of-the-art technology and our best service to Vietnam to help our customers ensure a reliable energy supply for Vietnams sustainable economic growth. And we deliver what we promise!
The divestment of capital from Vietnams banks remains a challenge for leading state-owned enterprises Photo: Le Toan

The governments recently released May 2016 meeting resolution has continued to urge state-owned corporations, groups, and businesses to ramp up efforts for non-core capital divestment. To date, investment in the banking sectors of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) has amounted to about VND10 trillion ($456 million), with some major players being state-owned oil and gas group PetroVietnam, Vietnams second largest telecom operator MobiFone, and state power authority Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), to name but a few.

PVcomBank currently reported the largest state capital possession by an SOE. PetroVietnam retains a 52 per cent stake in the bank. In light of the Law on Credit Institutions, a corporate shareholder is not allowed to hold more than 15 per cent in a bank, whereas the cap for a shareholder group is 20 per cent. According to PetroVietnam leaders, they await government guidance in respect to their capital divestment plan from PVcomBank.

In 2015, PetroVietnam devised its plan on the shift in stake ownership in PVcomBank to the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV). A SBV representative has confirmed the information, adding that the group had submitted to the government the solution on capital divestment at PVcomBank. The final decision on PetroVietnams capital divestment from PVcomBank, however, remains to be seen.

MobiFones effort to divest from banks has also been fraught with difficulties. The telco recently offered to sell 14.3 million shares it held in TPBank, however, only 39 per cent of the stock found buyers. Earlier, MobiFone failed in its plan to divest 33.4 million shares in SeABank, only two million shares were sold.

Similarly, state leading telco Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) currently retains 6.09 per cent of the chartered capital in Maritime Bank, equal to 71.5 million shares, valued at around VND700 billion ($319 million), after repeated failed auctions.

Many other state groups contemplated capital exits from banks last year to meet the non-core divestment commitment of the government. For instance, last year EVN offered to sell 82 million shares the group kept in ABBank (equal 21.2 per cent of the banks chartered capital), but less than half of the stocks were sold.

Nguyen Dinh Cung, director of the Central Institute for Economic Management has attributed the failure of SOEs in non-core capital divestment plans to high stock prices. A proposal has been made permitting SOEs to directly sell stock to investors after successful negotiations instead of selling stocks through public auctions as is now the case.

In respect to this, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham Hong Hai affirmed the government stance that it is vital that we do not cause losses to the state coffer by selling state capital at low prices.
File photo of Actor Anton Yelchin at the premiere of "The Driftless Area" during the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival at BMCC Tribeca PAC on Apr 18, 2015 in New York City. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival/AFP)

LOS ANGELES: Anton Yelchin, a rising young actor who starred as Chekov in the new "Star Trek" film, was killed early Sunday (Jun 19) in an automobile accident, his publicist confirmed. He was 27.

"The news is so sad and true," Jennifer Allen said in a statement. Yelchin "was killed in a fatal traffic collision early this morning, she added. "His family requests you respect their privacy."

The accident took place in the driveway of Yelchin's San Fernando Valley home, when he was preparing to meet friends for a rehearsal and momentarily left his car, Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Jenny Hauser said.

The car "rolled backward down his steep driveway, pinning him against a brick mailbox pillar and security fence," she said. After he failed to show up, his friends found him dead by the car, she added, saying it was unclear how long after the accident they arrived.

Born in Russia, he came to America when he was six months old with his parents, who were star figure skaters with the Leningrad Ice Ballet. "I tried ice-skating and wasn't very good at it," he told the Daily Beast in 2011, saying that a friend of his parents urged them to enrol him in acting classes.

He made his film debut at age nine in "A Man Is Mostly Water," and went on to win roles in television dramas and films.

His breakout performance came in the 2006 crime thriller "Alpha Dog," and his movie credits include J.J Abrams's "Star Trek," "Star Trek into Darkness" and "Star Trek Beyond," which is set for release next month.

He starred most recently in last year's critically acclaimed thriller "Green Room." He was also a member of the band HammerHeads.

Yelchin's fellow actor John Cho, who also starred in the new Star Trek series, was among those to pay tribute to him on Twitter. "I loved Anton Yelchin so much," he wrote. "He was a true artist - curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. I'm in ruins."
President Tran Dai Quang visited close neighbours Laos and Cambodia to cement ties between the three countries

The trips, made at the invitation of Lao Party General Secretary and President Bounnhang Vorachith, and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, were the first overseas trips by Tran Dai Quang since he took office as Vietnam President in April.

The overseas tours, which took place from June 12-16, were vital to the Indochinese nations year-long relationship, contributing to the shared long-standing friendship and special solidarity that we enjoy with Laos. Furthermore, our wish is to further cement our comprehensive co-operation with our neighbour Cambodia, and we look forward to bringing this mutually beneficial relationship to new heights, said Vu Hong Nam, Vietnams Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Vietnam pays special attention to fostering and promoting the traditional friendship that exists with our two neighbours, he noted.

During his stay in Laos from June 12-14, Quang met with Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, National Assembly Chairwoman Pany Yathotou, and other Lao party and government leaders.

The meetings focused on reinforcing political trust, and enhancing the fields of politics-diplomacy, defence-security, and economy, trade and investment, as well as regional issues of mutual concern.

The visit demonstrated the importance that the Party, State, and Government of Vietnam and the president himself, attach to the Vietnam-Laos special relationship. It will help to strengthen and develop the time-honoured friendship, unique solidarity, and future co-operation between the two countries, noted Lao Prime Minister, Thongloun Sisoulith.

While in Cambodia, the Vietnamese state leader held talks with leaders of the Cambodian legislature and government, including Senate President Say Chhum, National Assembly Chairman Heng Samrin, and Prime Minister Hun Sen. The Vietnamese Party, State, and people continue to benefit from the existing friendship, solidarity, and co-operation it enjoys with Cambodia, he noted.

The two countries issued a Joint Statement in which they pledged to continue to strengthen and advance bilateral relations, and implement Treaties, Agreements, and memoranda of understanding on border issues. They agreed to continue promoting bilateral trade, investment, and economic connectivity.

Trade and investment has improved the relationship between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, which has grown stronger over the years.

Laos and Cambodia are two Southeast Asian markets in which Vietnamese firms wish to expand their presence in an effort to cash in on favourable geographical position and policy incentives.

According to statistics from Vietnams Ministry of Planning and Investments Foreign Investment Agency, investment capital flows from Vietnam to Laos rose robustly from 2011-2015, in both the number of projects and committed capital volume. Vietnamese businesses have invested nearly $5 billion in 258 projects in Laos, focusing on hydropower, mining, transport and industrial forestry. The two sides aim to increase bilateral trade to $2 billion in the years to come.

Vietnam is Cambodias third-largest trade partner, with two-way trade reaching $3.37 billion in 2015, and $944.6 million in the first quarter of this year alone. The two countries have targeted $5 billion in bilateral trade in the near future.

Vietnamese investment can be seen in 16 out of the 25 Cambodian cities and provinces with 183 projects, worth $2.85 billion in total committed capital in Cambodia, placing Vietnam among its top five investors. Most of the projects are in agro-forestry, energy, finance, banking, and insurance, post and telecommunications, healthcare, and construction.

A project on promoting investment co-operation between Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia is being penned, and is expected to further facilitate Vietnamese investment flows as well as accelerate Vietnamese capital disbursement in these two countries.
Striking teachers demostrate against education reform and the release of two of its leaders in Mexico City. (Pedro Pardo/AFP)

OAXACA, Mexico: At least three people were killed and dozens injured when police clashed with thousands of teachers blocking roads in a protest in southern Mexico on Sunday (Jun 19), leaving some officers with bullet wounds.

Police launched tear gas to disperse the teachers and authorities denied reports that officers were wielding lethal weapons to break up the protest in Asuncion Nochixtlan, a town in Oaxaca state.

The National Education Workers Coordinator (CNTE) union has been leading protests in Oaxaca for days against an education reform and the arrest of two of its leaders.

"There are three (people) dead and 46 injured," Oaxaca state health secretary Hector Gonzalez told AFP.

The National Security Commission said in a statement that 21 federal and state police were injured, including "several of them from firearms." It said the officers were not carrying guns or truncheons, but Mexican media showed pictures of police holding rifles.

"We know that the shots from firearms come from unknown people and unconnected to the blockades, who are firing against the population and the authorities to trigger clashes," it said.

A municipal police officer, who requested anonymity, said more than 30 people were arrested. Other, less intense clashes took place in at least two other towns.

The CNTE, considered a radical wing of a national union, has staunchly opposed President Enrique Pena Nieto's education reform, which requires teachers to undergo performance evaluations.

The union has also been protesting last weekend's arrest of the leader of its Section 22 in Oaxaca, Ruben Nunez, and his deputy, Francisco Villalobos. Nunez faces money laundering charges, while Villalobos has been accused of stealing textbooks.
During the long negotiation for the TPP agreement, one of the most controversial issues analysed by economists and politicians was Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) terms in Section B of Chapter 9 - Investment. ISDS is a legal system under which foreign investors can legally challenge the host countrys regulations, outside of the countries territories. This system is unusual in international law. While most international courts only allow disputes between states, ISDS, however, creates one-way rights: investors can sue governments, but not vice versa.

ISDS procedures

ISDS procedures under the TPP agreement may be summarised as follow (see chart). Is this a good or bad thing?

With the provision allowing an investor to claim against breaches of obligations (e.g., obligations to offer national treatment or most-favoured-nation treatment to the other Partys investors), or an investment authorisation or an investment agreement, ISDS terms in the TPP agreement give foreign investors a wide range of rights. This is the case even when they have never executed an investment project in the host countries (i.e., such investors attempt to make investment such as channeling resources or capital in order to set up a business or applying for a permit or license). ISDS terms under the TPP agreement give encouragement for consultation and negotiation, using non-biding third-party procedures such as good offices, conciliation or mediation between the claimant and the respondent. Subsequent procedures shall be based on a mutual agreement between the disputing parties, including choice of arbitrators, arbitration place, language used or whether or not hearing(s) should occur.

The legal challenges and disputes are decided by arbitrators hired for that case only. The typical set-up is that the foreign investor appoints an arbitrator, the host country appoints a second, and the two parties appoint a third to chair the case. After their decision, the arbitrators are paid by the parties and the tribunal is dissolved.

More rights and more flexibility of ISDS terms in the TPP agreement may be welcomed by investors, however, will it be welcomed by the host country?

ISDS terms in the TPP agreement state that each party must provide for the enforcement in its territory of an arbitration award which has been rendered in accordance with the TPP agreement. As such, foreign arbitrators can order governments of host countries to pay compensation against the monetary damages and applicable interests to the investor, who can then enforce arbitrators decisions with the full force of the domestic courts.

Some of TPP parties were not very happy with the provision that awards would be final and that there is no court for appeals. Therefore, the TPP agreement set out a potential chance for an appellate mechanism to review ISDS awards, rendered by relevant tribunals, provided that such mechanism will provide for transparency of proceedings and such changes must be subject to further development in the future under other institutional arrangement by the Parties to the TPP agreement.

ISDS and the application in Vietnam

Litigation is the dispute settlement method most preferred in Vietnam. Cases of arbitration and other alternative methods are on the rise but it may take more time for them to become effective. According to statistics from the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre (VIAC), only around 1 per cent of total commercial disputes, equivalent to 879 cases, were settled by arbitration as of June 2015. In international trade, only four disputes have so far been initiated against Vietnam (under ISDS agreement) which are listed in the table above.

During the negotiations of the TPP agreement, the main concern of the government was eligibility of claimants, potential claimed entities and applicable procedures. In particular, concerns about whether or not authorised entities and state-owned-enterprises (SOEs) would be claimed under ISDS as a state body. This is due to the fact that SOEs still play a substantial role in the current Vietnamese economy. In addition, the government has questions concerning arbitration proceedings such as prior consent by the state, confidentiality, applicable regulations (the TPP agreement and domestic laws or even international laws), etc.

ISDS is therefore seen as a controversial matter. Even in developed economies such as the US, Canada and Australia, there are concerns and objections to the mechanism. Vietnam is no different. Here, we may suffer losses and damages because ISDS terms do not allow local investors to initiate arbitration proceedings against their own government, leading to an inequality between foreign and local investors. On the other hand, for each disputed case, huge arbitration and compensation costs, when compared to the Vietnamese economic scale, will put pressure on the national budget. It will affect economic development on a macro level. Another essential point is national sovereignty: the local law system of Vietnam is insufficient to deal with global issues and as long as there is no appellate mechanism reached by TPP parties, Vietnams government faces the risk of being forced to change its domestic regulations to survive before the new claims from multinational companies. Nevertheless, some Vietnamese government officials gave optimistic comments on the TPP agreement, including the ISDS terms. They seem to believe strongly in the improvement of local regulations as well as the active preparation by relevant authorities, learning from practical cases. It may take 18  24 months for the TPP agreement to take effect. Hopefully, Vietnam will adapt to this opportunity. Until then, ISDS terms are still a puzzle to both state authorities and local investors.

By Vo Ngoc Dao and Nguyen Thi Thu Hong - Laywers of ATD Lawyers
According to Truong Dinh Hoe, general secretary of VASEP, checking is important because once the paper factory comes into operation, it will use 28,500 tonnes of NaOH per year for paper production, thus potentially discharging massive volumes of NaOH into Hau River if the factory lacks a proper waste treatment system. It will cause environmental pollution as well as impact seafood breeding in the countrys key seafood production area.

Hoe added that when the factorys construction was kicked off in 2007, VASEP also proposed the authorities to reconsider the site in order to avoid discharging NaOH into the river.

However, disregarding local residents as well as the associations qualms, a representative of the management board of the Hau Giang Industrial Zones Management Authority said that according to the factorys report, it will use 215.217 kilogrammes of NaOH a day. A part of this NaOH volume will be reused, while the remaining NaOH will be treated before being discharged into the river.

Licensed in June 2007, the 200-hectare projects construction was kicked-off in August 2007.

The project will have an initial capacity of 630,000 tonnes per year, which will be increased to more than two million tonnes per year in up coming years. It is expected to create hundreds of jobs for provincial residents and increase the provincial budget by a significant margin.

However, according to the investor, the project had to be put on hold because of the adverse effects of the global economic downturn. Construction was also delayed for a long period because the factory failed to meet environmental protection regulations.

The project's investment license had been extended five times to date. In early 2015, the construction was officially resumed.
In the first four months of this year, the country imported 3.7 million tonnes of steel from China.- Photo laodong.com.vn

According to WSA, Viet Nam is the biggest steel importer in ASEAN and is ranked seventh in world.

WSA said that infrastructure construction will increase steel consumption in the five ASEAN countries to 74.6 million tonnes in 2017.

In emerging and developing economies excluding China, WSA forecasts that steel demand would grow by 1.8 per cent and 4.8 per cent in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Steel demand in these economies will amount to 457.1 million tonnes next year, accounting for about 30 per cent of the world's steel demand.

Last year, Viet Nam imported 11.3 million tonnes, mostly from China, the Viet Nam Steel Association reported.

In the first four months of this year, the country imported 3.7 million tonnes of steel from China.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade revealed that steel imports in May increased by 32.4 per cent in volume and 7.2 per cent in value.

Growth in the first five months was 50.5 per cent in volume and 1.6 per cent in value.

The ministry said the steel industry had faced difficulties from the beginning of this year due to tough competition from foreign countries.

However, there are positive signs as the demand is recovering and the price is up.

Companies are increasing production to meet demand, according to the ministry.
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Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub attend a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Death certificates for the victims will be issued in the coming two days

EgyptAir agreed with insurance companies to compensate each family of the victims of flight MS804 with $25,000, chairman and CEO of EgyptAir holding company Safwat Mosallam said on Monday.

The compensation is "temporary," as the full amount will be offered once the settlement with insurance companies is completed in accordance with international insurance standards, Mosallam said in press statements.

The families will receive the compensation as soon as the inheritors have been identified and the inheritance announcement issued.

The cabinet will issue death certificates for the victims in the coming 48 hours, Mosallam said.

The insurance company created an e-mail address -- [email protected]  so that the victims families can be in direct contact with them, EgyptAir said in a statement on Saturday.

EgyptAir flight MS804 crashed in the Mediterranean Sea on 19 May, killing all 66 people on board.

The flight's two black boxes have been retrieved from the sea, though the data has yet to be unloaded.

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Almost a decade has passed since the Khmer Rouge tribunal  also known as the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia  saw an army of judges sanctioned by the countrys top judicial body and the United Nations taking their oaths outside Phnom Penhs Silver Pagoda.

In early July 2006, the controversial tribunal finally got off the ground and was set to begin its mission of seeking justice for some 1.7 million Cambodians who died under the Khmer Rouges Democratic Kampuchea regime.

It was a long-awaited event, on the cards since a 1997 request to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan was made by Cambodias rulers, Prince Norodom Ranariddh and Hun Sen, then co-prime ministers.

The courts journey since then has been marred by internal conflicts and, according to some, external interference. So far, five senior regime figures have been tried: Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, who ran the infamous S-21 security center; Nuon Chea, the regimes second-in-command; Ieng Sary, its foreign minister; Ieng Thirith, social affairs minister; and chief-of-state Khieu Samphan.

According to official figures, some $260 million has been spent on the proceedings since 2006, with only one defendant, Duch, receiving a full sentence for his charges of crimes against humanity. Ieng Thirith was excused from her trial, suffering from Alzheimers disease and later died, following her husband Ieng Sary.

Both Nuon Chea and Khieu Samphan, now well into their 80s, face life sentences if found guilty on charges of crimes against humanity and genocide in the ongoing Case 002.

Despite criticism leveled at the court, a spokesman for the ECCC, said it had overcome numerous obstacles to seek justice for the Cambodian people and, more widely, for humanity as a whole.

It gives a chance to the victims to get justice and mental reparations and relief when many of the stories have been exposed and heard to the whole world, he said.

The complexity of the numerous languages and legal systems used by the tribunal and the gravity of the charges had led to slow but steady progress, he admitted.

Prosecuting cases of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide like this, it demands time to conduct accurate investigations that leads to the discovery of truths, he said.

For the ECCC, we have millions of victims and millions of pages of documents to work on, he added. We understand that our compatriots want justice by using a short period of time, but we also need to abide by the legal procedures.

Despite arguing that the court could have done more, faster, prominent human rights lawyer Sok Sam Oeun, who has followed the proceedings closely, said the court deserved praise.

The tribunal sets a clear message to all dictators that they will meet a punitive end, he said.

Sok Sam Oeun praised the court for having stuck to its governing principles in the first two cases against Duch, Chea, and Samphan.

It doesnt mean the winner is prosecuting the loser, said Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan. It sets an international standard of justice  for the first time we are prosecuting war criminals where the action took place.

It also set a precedent in terms of local judicial reform as the country had to establish an affiliated administration body that met international standards to liaise with the court, Siphan claimed, calling the tribunal an inheritance for the whole nation and the world.

A lack of funds has plagued the court almost from the outset. In 2013, about 130 local tribunal staff members went on strike over delayed salary payments. The United Nations settled the problem later that year, offering more than $1.8m in compensation.

Sophal Ear, author of Aid Dependence in Cambodia: How Foreign Assistance Undermines Democracy, said the court had been fundamentally flawed from the beginning because it adopted the hybrid system.

This was a recipe for disaster. But we have what we have and from that original sin comes all the problems like two people driving one car at the same time, he said.

Ear argued that the lofty dream of the ECCC providing a model for judicial reform in Cambodia had not come to pass.

It was the Cambodians who schooled the West on how to properly capture a mixed tribunal and neutralize if not completely isolate it from relevance. There is little hope the Cambodian judiciary will be penetrated as a result of this, he said.

Complaining of political interference, critics have blamed the rift between the local and international sections of the tribunal for its ups and downs, and has in recent years focused on the ability of the court to expand its scope past Case 002.

In 2009, a French co-investigating judge called senior members of the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party to testify, including the partys late president Chea Sim, National Assembly President Heng Samrin, former Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Keat Chhon, a former finance minister, none of whom chose to appear before the court.

A year later Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed his disapproval of the notion that the courts remit extended beyond Case 002, citing the threat of civil war.

The controversy intensified in 2011 when Nuon Cheas then-co-defense lawyers  Michiel Pestman and Andy Ianuzzi  lodged a complaint to a local court against Hun Sen and 10 other CPP leaders over their criminal interference into the tribunals affairs.

But the cases against the CPPs top brass have never been heard in the local court, and Hun Sen has continued to warn against the hybrid tribunal investigating more suspects.

The international side of the court, however, has defied such warnings on occasion, naming regional Khmer Rouge leaders such as Meas Muth, Yim Tith, Ao An and Im Chaem as suspects in Case 003 and Case 004.

Government spokesman Siphan claimed that the main concern of the court pursuing further prosecutions was bankruptcy as financial shortfalls persist.

Its just our idea because we cannot interfere into the tribunals affairs to decide. We leave it for the tribunal  to decide. But the Royal Government [of Cambodia] has raised this view of ours for the consideration of all, he said. If they make any decision, the Royal Government has no power to oppose them besides  as judicial police  executing their orders.

In a recent interview with VOA Khmer, David P. Chandler, one of the foremost historians on Cambodia, said the CPP government and Prime Minister Hun Sen himself never wanted to let the court shed light on his comrades.

[T]his is where Hun Sen put his foot down and said, No more trials because, for one thing, the next bunch down were in touch with a lot of the people, like Chea Sim, the top surviving ones who got off. [Hun Sen] didnt want the possibility of light shining on those other people, Chandler said.

But that would have been interesting, but it didnt happen, so I think what we got is OK, he added.

Sim died in June last year and the outspoken international rights group Human Rights Watch then issued a statement describing the late CPP presidents passing as the failings of the Khmer Rouge Court.

Chandler, however, said the court had done much to mitigate the horrors inflicted on Cambodians by their fellow countrymen.

[T]here is an enormous amount of documentary materials about the Khmer Rouge period, which would not have been available to ordinary scholars, he said. Its got oral material that has expanded the whole documentary evidence about the Khmer Rouge.

Pestman, the former co-defense lawyer for Chea, said the tribunal was still going strong, but said he did not think it would achieve much in the end.

No truth was found which wasnt already discovered. It was a slow regurgitation of work already undertaken by other organizations, which did a much better job, he said in an e-mail.

In a way, the court made it worse, as the whole process was so tainted by corruption and political interference, that it could eventually even undermine the truth, instead of strengthening it, he added.

Lawyer Sam Oeun, however, said the court would be taking a risk in leaving a negative legacy if it expanded its work beyond the Case 002.

If the court cannot go through with Case 003 and Case 004, its mission may face derailment, he said.

Duch lost an appeal at the tribunals Supreme Court, and is now serving a life sentence. Chea and Samphan are struggling in both of their appeals over the Case 002/01 life sentence and the Case 002/02 trial. Pheaktra, the tribunal spokesman, said Case 002 may be concluded in 2019.

What we expect is to complete our mission to seek justice and truth for the Cambodian people, and the tribunal hopes that, through support from the public, the international community, the U.N., and the Royal Government of Cambodia, we will achieve the expectation, he said.

However, Sophal Ear, who is also an associate professor at the Los Angeles-based Occidental College, said the court would also be remembered for its ineffectiveness and how the Cambodian authorities ran circles around the internationals, outmaneuvering them [at] every turn.

Thankfully, Cambodians are mostly Buddhist, so they believe in Karmic Justice and the Great Wheel of Life. What goes around comes around. They know justice is not only in the courtroom; it happens in the afterlife.
A new initiative called the Open Space Creatives is bringing together artists in the Cambodian capital to hold open discussions and share experiences.

During the inaugural event, held on June 11 at the Emerald Hub in the capital, about 30 participants turned out, including designers, filmmakers, and architects.

Irene Leung, the organizer, said it affirmed that not only is this kind of communication breaking down the isolation, or the sense of I-do-not-know-what-to-do, but also looking into each other for answers, because there was no single answer, yet different ways of trying new things.

She said she was happy to see how local artists reacted towards discussions of social issues, particularly related to art, by proposing topics of discussion and seeking to find solutions together.

Soun Love, a university student, said: It was worth taking part in this event because I can develop myself much better by applying what I have learned today for my future career.

She added that the recognition of young artists in Cambodia is lacking, because there are few avenues of support for up-and-coming artists.

Animator Poy Chhunly, from Battambang province, said he had come away with some good ideas of how to produce a film he is working on, called Banyan Film, on a shoestring budget.

I received a lot of great concepts that will work better with the project, he said, adding that he was thankful the event was held as a positive forum for shared experiences among the artist community.

Moeung Meta, a freelance artist, said the discussion had been a great motivator.

After hearing lots of stories and ideas of participants, I feel very motivated and I think I gained so much positive energy.

Open Space Creatives is sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and the Emerald Hub.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has countered apparent fears that Cambodias position on the South China Sea dispute would cause a split within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The statement came amid concerns from some members of the Asean bloc that Cambodia and Laos favor China in the dispute after the countries reportedly held differing opinions over the issuance of a joint statement about the South China Sea after a meeting of Asean ministers in Kunming last week.

It is too unjust for Cambodia that Cambodia faces  that this time I frankly say  Cambodia is not a part of the destruction of Asean, Hun Sen said.

He added that Cambodia had from the outset supported the Asean-China mechanism to implement fairly the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), urged Asean and China to create a Code of Conduct (COC), and that claimant countries should solve the problem together.

He stressed that Asean could not itself be an arbeiter.

International media reported that Asean states agreed to issue a joint declaration after the meeting last week, but at the last minute Cambodia and Laos changed their positions following Chinese lobbying.

Prime Minister Hun Sen also said the South China Sea dispute was a bilateral issue.

I do not just support without thinking about justice and our own nation at all, he said.

Hun Sen also recalled previous accusations that Cambodia favored China by blocking the issuance of a Joint Communique in 2012 about the South China Sea when Cambodia hosted that years Asean Summit. Cambodia was accused of supporting Chinas policy in exchange for loans and billions of dollars in aid.

Kung Phoak, president of the Cambodian Institute for Strategic Studies (CISS), said Cambodia had made its position clear on many occasions.
Residents of Phnom Penhs iconic White Building have vowed to remain in their homes following another inspection of the site by government officials and rising fears that the area is slated for redevelopment.

Officials from the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction visited the building, which was built in 1963 to serve as a low-income housing block, late last week and on Friday officially requested that Japan assist in redeveloping the site, the Cambodia Daily reported on Monday.

The request came about two years since City Hall declared the building condemned.

Seng Lot, a construction ministry spokesman, said the government was concerned for the safety of the residents.

We are concerned by this old building. Firstly, with safety because this building is condemned and the second thing is that the beauty of this building does not fit with the age of rising developments in Phnom Penh, as well as our country that is thriving strongly with beautiful and luxury buildings. Therefore, the appearance of this building is unacceptable, he said.

He continued that the government was also concerned by the environment inside the apartments.

The sanitation and the environment are all not right, so the ministry understood these things and came with plans to organize these things in any way, he added.

Khat Narith, chief of Chamkarmon districts Tonle Basac commune, confirmed that city officials also inspected the building on Friday. He declined to comment further.

After the building was condemned in 2014, a year later, in July 2015, a notice was issued calling on residents to vacate the property temporarily over safety concerns. The residents, however, ignored the request.

El Ny, a 63-year-old White Building resident, said he and his neighbors would not relocate without the offer of a comprehensive compensation package.

I dont want to move because I want to live in this place. I have lived here for more than 30 years. I can do business to feed my children and grandchildren near to my home. So, it will be difficult for me if I live far away from here, he said.

Chan Noeun, 46, another resident, said her family also did not want to move.

In my mind, if [Minister of Land Management] Chea Sophara intends to develop this site into a better place, I will be happy because I dont want to move out of this land. I have lived here a long time and its close to my childrens school and its also close to the market, she said.

Prum Somkhan, the governor of Chamkarmon district, declined to comment.

Over the years numerous campaigns have sought to preserve the White Building, which was an architectural icon when it was built in the 1960s.

If the government is now determined to redevelop the prime real estate, Sia Phearum, director of the Housing Rights Task Force, said it must do all it can to avoid a long-running dispute.

In February, the authorities took residents to view housing projects on the Chroy Changva peninsula across the Tonle Sap River from the capital, which they said would be offered to the White Building residents as compensation.
Tensions are rising in Chinas southern coastal fishing village of Wukan after authorities arrested an influential and elderly village chief, Lin Zulian, on alleged corruption charges.



Authorities sealed off the village to reporters, which is a symbol of resistance in China, with only a handful still able to stay inside. Riot police have been sent in even as residents continue to protest Lins arrest and demand his release.



Wukan became a symbol of resistance against the widespread problem of land grabs and corruption in China five years ago when its local residents rose up against local party leaders sealing off the village.



In a rare concession for the communist party, which has a little tolerance for anyone who challenges its authority, the officials were removed and Lin and other protest leaders were later elected as replacements.



Problems still unresolved



Some call Wukan Chinas democracy village.



Despite government pledges to resolve the villages land grab problems and the election of Lin and others, the problem has yet to be resolved. Now, with Lins arrest in the middle of the night early Saturday, authorities are suggesting that he is just as corrupt as those he replaced.



Local residents argued that the corruption charges were just an excuse to detain Lin as villagers were scheduled to hold a large gathering on Sunday regarding the lingering land dispute.



Following Lins arrest, thousands of local residents took to the streets on Sunday, waving Chinese flags and demanding the release of the village chief. Protests continued on Monday, although slightly smaller, but residents have pledged to not give up.



While defiant, the protests have been peaceful.

On Monday, many signed a massive petition calling for Lins release, leaving their thumb prints in red ink.



Villagers have told VOA that in addition to the arrest of Lin Zulian, his grandson has been detained as well. Officials have yet to confirm that arrest, but in the past authorities have used family members to pressure those in detention to make confessions.



In perhaps one telling sign, local villagers said that the locator for the grandsons cell phone showed that he is at a local public security office.



Moving swiftly on Monday, in the wake of Sundays protests, authorities announced that Lin had already been replaced by his deputy, Zhang Shuijin. Authorities also said that they had little choice but to take Lin into custody because of the huge bribes he had received since taking office in 2012.



Officials did not say just how much money Lin had taken in bribes or for what specific projects, but said an investigation into Lin was launched following multiple complaints from local residents.



In a statement, authorities said a three-month investigation into Lin concluded on June 17, just one day before his arrest.



Democracy, drastic actions



State media also weighed in quickly, with the Global Times penning an editorial on Monday arguing against what it called democratic and drastic actions to resolve such disputes.



Disputes over property disputes cannot be solved merely through democratic means, the editorial said.



If the drastic actions of the Wukan villagers are adopted by other people involved in disputes, China sees mess and disturbance at a grassroots level, it said. This jeopardizes the common interests of society.



The article added that the disputes may eventually be solved in accordance with the law, but added that only villagers' lawful demands would be met.
The U.S. Department of State has expressed "alarm" over Bahrain's decision Monday to strip the citizenship of a leading Shi'ite cleric, a move that sparked new protests and fears of unrest.

"We are alarmed by the Government of Bahrain's decision to revoke the citizenship of prominent Shia cleric, Sheikh Isa Qassim," said State Department spokesman John Kirby in a statement. He said U.S. concerns were "further magnified" by reports that Qassim was not allowed to respond to accusations or challenge the decision through an open legal process.

Bahrain's interior ministry said Qassim, considered the spiritual leader of the country's Shi'ite community, played a key role in creating an extremist sectarian atmosphere. The ministry accused the cleric of abusing his position in order to "serve foreign interests and promote ... sectarianism and violence," the BNA state news agency reported.

Human Rights Watch said Bahrain's decision to revoke Qassim's citizenship "takes Bahrain into the darkest days" since a government crackdown in 2011, when security forces suppressed protesters who demanded a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister.

The move against the cleric was favored by Bahrain's Sunni-led allies but condemned by Shi'ites.

Qassim is the latest among scores of Shi'ites who have had their citizenship stripped by Bahraini authorities after being convicted of violence. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said at least 250 people have been stripped of their Bahraini citizenship in recent years for alleged disloyalty.
The former chair of Britain's Conservative party has quit the so-called "Brexit" campaign to leave the European Union, after accusing EU opponents of "hate and xenophobia."



News of the resignation came early Monday, with Sayeeda Warsi telling reporters she decided to quit the "leave" movement after viewing a new campaign poster circulating ahead of Thursday's vote. A daughter of Pakistani immigrants, Warsi was the first Muslim woman to hold a cabinet-level position in British government.



The poster shows images of migrants and refugees huddled on the border of Slovenia, over the caption "Breaking Point." Anti-EU leader Nigel Farage unveiled the image last week. The poster has been widely criticized, with conservative Finance Minister George Osborne likening it to "literature used in the 1930s."



"I can't go on supporting this," Warsi told The Times newspaper.



Her decision comes with polls showing British voters evenly split between those who favor leaving the 28-nation EU bloc and those who want to stay.



Her change of heart also comes just days after the assassination of British MP Jo Cox -- a murder that shocked Britain and reverberated across the European continent and beyond.



Cox, and outspoken advocate for migrants and refugees, was killed Thursday by a seemingly deranged EU opponent who later identified himself in court with the statement "My name is death to traitors, freedom for Britain."



Warsi was a junior Foreign Office minister under Prime Minister David Cameron until she resigned in protest of government policy on the Israel-Gaza war of 2014.
On the occasion of World Refugees Day, Ahram Online presents a fact box on the status of refugees in Egypt

 According to the United Nation Refugee Agencys (UNHCR) latest report in April, 185,175 people are registered as refugees in Egypt.

 2,234 unaccompanied children are officially registered with the UNHCR in Egypt as refugees.

 Syrian refugees come in the first place among those registered with UNHCR at 120,491, Sudanese refugees come in the second place with 29,286, while Ethiopian refugees come in the third place with 8,244.

 There are also registered refugees with the UNHCR in Egypt from other countries including Iraq (7,070) Somalia (6,795) South Sudan (4,491), and Eritrea (4,543).

 Greater Cairo (Cairo, Giza, Qalibuyia) are the Egyptian governorates that host the most registered refugees with 122,779, followed by Alexandria governorate with 24,896 and Damietta with 10,066.

 Unofficially, the number of unregistered Syrian refugees in Egypt may be as high as half a million according to some estimates. This is because many do not register with the UN in order to have more freedom of movement and to leave the country when they need.

 50.9% of Syrian refugees in Egypt are men, mostly between the ages of 18 to 59.

 In September 2015, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi stated that Egypt was hosting around five million refugees.

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The proposal was simple: invest $500,000 toward the construction of a therapy center for cancer patients in southern California and in a few years become a citizen of the United States.

The reality: Securities and Exchange Commission allegations that the couple leading the project misused two-thirds of the $27 million they raised from 50 Chinese investors and never built the center.

The case of Pacific Proton Therapy is the latest involving allegations of fraud with the EB-5 investor visa program that requires a $1 million investment that creates 10 jobs, or $500,000 if the project is located in a so-called Targeted Employment Area (TEA) with high unemployment.

If everything goes as planned, it is a win-win for the investor who gets U.S. residency and then citizenship, and the company that gets a cheap loan for a new project. But Pacific Proton is emblematic of what some lawmakers in Congress say are necessary reforms to a program that has strayed from its original purpose.

"This program was designed to bring jobs to underserved areas, but in reality it has become an unintended boon for some of the wealthiest business districts in the country," Senator Patrick Leahy said during an April hearing on EB-5 changes. "Developers draw TEA maps in any shape necessary to connect an affluent area with enough distressed areas to obtain discounted EB-5 financing. Through manipulation of the EB-5 program, Beverly Hills can be considered just as distressed as Detroit."

Federal court documents detail the SEC's complaints against Pacific Proton, saying it promised to create 4,775 jobs and have a "substantial and ongoing economic impact" on four counties in California. The project qualified for the lower $500,000 investments after being given a TEA designation, which is supposed to require an unemployment rate 150 percent of the national average.

But the cancer center was due to be built in the city of Montebello, just outside Los Angeles, where unemployment in recent years has been at or below the national level. Companies get around that limitation by linking together poorer areas with more affluent ones and presenting the entire batch as one with higher unemployment.

Affluent areas benefit

Senator Chuck Grassley said the result of nearly all EB-5 investments qualifying for the lower dollar amount is "just not right."

"Gerrymandering the boundaries of Targeted Employment Areas allows very affluent areas to benefit from the lower investment threshold, resulting in little incentive to invest EB-5 funds in distressed or rural areas."

That criticism is the target of reforms that failed to get through Congress last year when it authorized a temporary renewal of the program through the end of September.

Grassley and Leahy are co-sponsors of a bill that would raise the investment thresholds to $800,000 in the areas with more unemployment and $1.2 million for projects with no restrictions. It would also set aside a certain number of the annual visas allocated to the program for investors who choose a project in a poor or rural location instead of an affluent city.

Similar proposals and the prospect of the program not being renewed at all brought a surge in investor applications late last year from 2,500 between April and June to 6,575 between July and September. By early this year, after the renewal, that number dropped to 848 between January and March.

The EB-5 program launched in 1992 but has exploded in recent years with approvals for the first step, which gives investors U.S. residency, rising from 642 in 2008 to 8,756 last year. At the same time, the SEC has increased its scrutiny, filing charges against at least six projects in the past year.

Eugene Fullam, the director of the EB-5 program in the state of Vermont, compared the program to the mortgage markets that emerged in the 1990s and early 2000s.

All of these various young markets went through growth pains and ultimately resulted in increased regulation starting with Sarbanes-Oxley and then followed by the Dodd-Frank reform act most recently. And here you see the same with EB-5. As EB-5 is becoming a bit more mature as a form of financing or as a financing tool, the SEC is becoming more involved.

Refocusing



Vermont Secretary of Commerce and Community Development Patricia Moulton said she agrees with Senator Leahy that the program needs to return to its roots of pushing investment dollars toward areas where it is otherwise difficult to raise money for projects. She also expressed concern about how long investors have to wait for the government to approve their initial application.

Those delays can keep developers from getting access to the investment money, and in some cases put them in danger of not having enough cash to finish the project. With no project, there are no new jobs and no eventual citizenship for the investors.

"Its a little crazy that it takes two years to get a petition approved, and I can appreciate that the folks at USCIS are working as hard as they can, I just dont know that there are enough of them to do the volume of work that is out there in this program," Moulton said.

USCIS declined to comment for this story.
The Croatian parliament voted Monday to dissolve, paving the way for new elections to be held in early September.

Support to dissolve parliament was overwhelming, with 137 legislators voting in favor of it, two against and one abstaining.

The vote came one week after lawmakers ousted Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic with a vote of no-confidence.

The dissolution of parliament takes effect on July 15.

Croatia, the European Union's newest member, has been mired in political deadlock and stalled economic reforms for weeks.
Orlando gunman Omar Mateen initially spoke in Arabic and declared himself to be an "Islamic soldier" during phone calls with emergency authorities as he killed 49 people, according to a transcript released by the FBI Monday.

"I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings," he told a 911 operator during his initial phone call from the Pulse nightclub in the early morning hours of June 12. The release offered few fresh details on the shootings.

The transcript was initially redacted to remove Mateen's pledge of allegiance to Islamic State and its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The Justice Department said in a statement as it released the full transcript that it was trying to be transparent while remaining sensitive to victims' families and not provide publicity for a terrorist group.

"I pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may God protect him [in Arabic], on behalf of the Islamic State," reads the unredacted transcript of the 911 call, which authorities say lasted about 50 seconds.

House Speaker Paul Ryan criticized the decision to first release only the redacted version of the transcript.

"The attempt to selectively edit the record reflects a broader, more serious problem: this administration's continued effort to downplay and distract from the threat of radical Islamist extremism," Ryan said. "This is unacceptable. To defeat terrorism we have to be clear-eyed about whom we're fighting."

Mateen, who was eventually killed by police, also engaged in three separate phone calls with crisis negotiators, during which he said he carried out the attacks in response to U.S. bombings in Syria and Iraq, according to FBI officials.

The shooter threatened that "in the next few days, you're going to see more of this type of action going on," the FBI release said. He also claimed to be equipped with bombs, though authorities found none at the scene.

"While the killer made these murderous statements, he did so in a chilling, calm and deliberate manner," said FBI spokesman Hopper.

Investigators have still found no evidence Mateen was directed by a foreign terrorist group. But Hopper says the investigation could last "months and even years."

Investigators are still trying to determine Mateen's motive.

Mateen's father has said his son had voiced disgust recently at seeing men kissing in Miami. But some acquaintances of Mateen say he frequented the nightclub where he carried out the attack and visited gay dating sights on the Internet.

Reports have described Mateen as mentally unstable and angry, saying he frequently lashed out at minorities and beat his wife.
It's not just that the doors of Europe are closing to refugees; for those who have survived sniper fire, minefields, swift-moving rivers and roadside bombs, just trying to get into overflowing refugee camps in their home countries is proving impossible.

They are among the record 65.3 million people worldwide displaced from their homes, according to the U.N. refugee agency, the UNHCR  a 10 percent increase over last year. Half of them are children.

"Twenty-four people are displaced every minute," said UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi. "Two-thirds of the forcibly displaced are internally displaced. Ninety percent of the forcibly displaced are displaced in poor or middle-income countries, not in the rich world."

Close to 10 million of the world's refugees are Syrian. Three million have fled to neighboring countries; the rest are internally displaced within Syria.

While Syria remains the largest forcibly displaced crisis in the world, neighboring Iraq has been overwhelmed by people fleeing Islamic State-held territory.

"They've been eating rotting, expired dates and drinking from the river, which is unfit for drinking, and now they are finding themselves out there and we are unable to cope and help everyone," said Karl Schembri, a spokesman for the Norwegian Refugee Council in Baghdad.

For those who have found haven in the camps, an atmosphere of despair is descending. Like many others, the Harsham refugee camp in northern Iraq is taking on an air of permanence. Camp manager Ahmed Abdo says the residents have lost hope of returning home.

"The people have been trying to improve their life by adding more rooms to their living areas, including guest rooms, as well as other facilities attached to the house, because honestly these people have given up hope that they can go back to their homes and houses in the near future."

It's not just the Middle East. In Kenya, the Dadaab camp is slated for closure, leaving hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees in limbo.

"Young people, who have been living here for more than 25 years, whose only known home is here, are now worried about their future," says camp official Ruqiyo Ali Raage, noting that the prospect of returning to Somalia is raising alarms.

High commissioner Grandi tells VOA that new areas of displacement keep popping up. While Burundi has been in and out of conflict for decades, he says that over the past year, there has been a surge of internally displaced people and refugees.

"Then there are crises like South Sudan that have also gone through different phases. We are, unfortunately, in an upsurge phase," Grandi said. "There is a new movement out of Afghanistan. Even people that have been refugees in Iran for a long time  Afghans  are moving on."

During the past year, millions of refugees and migrants have tried to reach Europe, and the UNHCR is warning of a "climate of xenophobia" across the continent.

In May, 19,000 migrants came ashore in Italy from North Africa. The European Union is seeking to cooperate with Libyan coast guards to stem the flow, but that is not the right way to deal with the crisis, argues Gauri van Gulik of Amnesty International.



Grandi says that the huge numbers of people on the move carried an important message for the rich countries of Europe and beyond.

"If you don't solve problems, problems will come to you, and that is a powerful message, Grandi said. It is a painful message, and it is painful that it has taken so long for people in the rich countries to understand that, but I think it is a call for action.

"It's absolutely clear that Europe is not prepared, in the sense that it's focused purely on outsourcing of its responsibility again. It's just looking at how can we stop people from coming, rather than how do we create a managed flow of people, those who need protection, into Europe."

Latest figures show a continued sharp fall in the number of migrants traveling from Turkey to Greece. The deal struck in March between Brussels and Ankara means all new arrivals on the Greek islands are supposed to be sent back to Turkey. Critics say the European Union is trying to create a "Fortress Europe." Among those critics is Serafeim Seferiadis of Panteion University in Athens.

"The idea has not been how to implement the secure passage of people, how to end drownings and killings and all that, Seferiadis said. Because if that were the objective, it would have been very easy to solve, because the refugee population, no matter how large it is and it is obviously very large, one must remember that it's less than one percent of the European population."

European ministers who met Monday in Luxembourg said the regional grouping is dealing with the refugee crisis. They added that it is vital to work with third-world countries like Libya and Turkey to address the problem.

The U.N. refugee agency said it is inevitable more people will try to reach Europe because of global inequality in wealth and security.

The United States says it will try to do its part. The State Department noted that the U.S. contributed $6 billion in humanitarian aid last year, and promised to boost refugee resettlement from nearly 70,000 people admitted in 2015 to 85,000 this year.
Iranian authorities say they have broken up what they are calling the biggest plot ever by Sunni extremists against the capital Tehran and other parts of the country. They accuse Takfiri militants of being behind the alleged plot.

Iranian state TV announced Monday that the countrys intelligence ministry had succeeded in capturing and arresting a number of alleged Sunni terrorists whom it claimed were plotting to bomb Tehran and other areas.

The television report added that police also confiscated explosives and ammunition while making the arrests. It referred to the alleged plotters as Takfiris, while other Iranian media reported they belonged to the so-called Islamic State group.

Irans national security chief, Admiral Ali Shamkhani, who was appointed to be Tehrans security coordinator in Syria last week, told journalists that Irans security services were facing a variety of terrorist threats, including from Sunni militants.

He said Irans police and national security forces are battling terrorist forces, along the lines of those which have been attacking targets in Europe recently.

Iran claimed last week to have defeated a terrorist attack against its Revolutionary Guard forces in a mostly Kurdish province near the Iraqi and Turkish borders.

A Revolutionary Guard commander in the area told state TV his forces had killed a dozen alleged terrorists during the fighting.

Arab media reported that Kurdish separatists also killed a large number of Revolutionary Guard forces, as well. VOA could not independently confirm either claim.

Mehrdad Khonsari, a former Iranian diplomat and London-based analyst, tells VOA that Iranian officials have not been very specific over claims of plots by the Islamic State, but that Sunni militants might want revenge over Iranian activities in either Iraq or Syria.

It is possible that IS could dispatch one or two people to do certain things, because obviously the Iranians are involved against them in a serious way in both Iraq and Syria, said Khonsari.

Former Iranian president Abolhassan Bani Sadr, however, told VOA he thinks the Iranian government is using alleged plots by Sunni extremists as a pretext to justify its own involvement in the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

He said the governments goal is both to justify the war its conducting in Iraq and Syria and to frighten the people in order to keep them quiet. He noted that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has warned in the past that Iran must fight the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria so that terrorists dont come and attack Irans own cities.
Despite stinging military defeats and enormous financial strains, Islamic State (IS) is working to imprint a lasting legacy on children through increasing in-classroom training in areas it controls and an aggressive social media campaign.

In its self-proclaimed caliphate, IS is schooling thousands of children in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and other places in radical, anti-Western thought and ways of terror, VOA has found in interviews with activists, local officials and analysts.

IS bombards the internet and social media with propaganda aimed at children and uses dozens of languages and a vast array of social media tools to spread its message.

This goes to the heart of the IS mission, analysts say: to ensure ISs radical message endures beyond the group itself.

In the long run, the IS indoctrination of children will likely have a chilling reverberation for years to come, experts say, way after IS has been removed from the cities it now controls.

The next generation will be more radicalized regardless of continued (IS) presence in Syria and Iraq, said Wajiha, a female teacher who used to teach elementary school students in the city of Deir Ezzor, Syria, which is currently controlled by IS.

IS ideology

The Syrian teacher who works at a school in a refugee camp in southern Turkey told VOA that IS aims to invest in children for a long-lasting influence, because this is about its ideology and not just about recruiting them. She asked that her last name not be published.

Day after day and with little break, IS oversees crowded classrooms in its de facto capitals of Raqqa, Syria; Mosul, Iraq, and Nangarhar province in Afghanistan  as well as IS pockets that stretch as far as Indonesia. It operates camps for children known as Caliphate Cubs.

The Islamic State is mobilizing children and youth at an increasing and unprecedented rate, researchers at Georgia State University wrote in a report earlier this year on how IS negatively influences children.

IS runs at least eight schools and religious seminaries where children and teenagers are taught extreme ideology in Nangarhar.

According to local residents and officials who spoke to VOA on the condition of anonymity, IS operates two high schools and a religious seminary in the Kot district of Nangarhar.

Local sources told VOA that IS teaches a self-styled curriculum based on radical Islam. Girls are allowed to attend school but at different times from boys. Most of the teachers at the IS-run schools are on the payroll of both the Afghan Ministry of Education and IS, sources said.

Afghan education officials told VOA that they are aware of the IS schools but would not comment on reports that the teachers continue to be paid by the Afghan government while teaching at IS schools.

In Achin district of Afghanistan, where IS runs five religious seminaries, children are forced to attend IS-run classes. IS has imposed fines on parents who decide against sending their children to its schools, locals told VOA.

IS education model

The IS education model is followed wherever IS has control.

In Mosul, Iraqs second-largest city that has been held by IS for more than two years, IS abolished the education system on the first day fighters entered the city and changed it to emphasize their radical ideology.

They put children into classes where they learn how to use weapons, said Ismat Rajab, who heads the Kurdistan Democratic Partys headquarters in Mosul. Teachers who protest the IS education system will be arrested or even killed if they insist on refusing the system.

The IS educational system has taught young men how to become suicide bombers, Rajab said.

In the past, most of IS suicide bombers were foreign fighters. Now, the majority are teenagers of Mosul, he said.

Rajab worries about how young people will be rehabilitated once IS leaves Mosul.

I think we havent witnessed the real danger yet, he said. We will see it after IS is gone in Mosul and we are left in a big city where children are completely brainwashed.

IS has moved some children from Iraq to Syria for stricter education.

Hundreds of young children from Yazidi religious minority in Iraq were taken by IS as slaves into Syria.

Trained suicide bombers

In Raqqa, the IS de facto Syrian capital, Yazidi children were forced to convert to Islam and were given lessons on how to use weapons and suicide belts.

We had to wake up at 4 in the morning to pray and go back to sleep until 8, a 12-year-old Yazidi boy told VOA last year.

From 8 to 9 we had breakfast and then we were given lessons on the Koran until 12 when we were given lunch, he said. After lunch we were trained on weapons until 5.  We were wearing a black piece of cloth which had a white piece underneath that could be pulled to detonate the bombs.

The boy eventually escaped to an area near the Turkish border where he was rescued by Kurdish forces. He was resettled as a refugee in Germany this year and is in a recovery program funded by the German government, aid workers told VOA.

In Raqqa, IS opened at least 12 schools for males and 12 other schools for females in 2015, according to activists monitoring IS operations. Since its takeover of the city in 2014, the group has imposed a new curriculum based on its extremist ideology.

Targeting youth of all ages, IS is particularly focused on children ages 6 through 10, according to Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently, an activist group that reports on IS abuses in Syria.

They have created an army of kids who know nothing but IS doctrines, a member of the activist group who requested anonymity told VOA.

IS imposes a fine that ranges from $50 to $500 on parents who refuse to send their children to IS schools. Those who cannot afford to pay the fine are forced to let their children join IS camps for military training, he said.

Social media force

Meanwhile, IS has been relentless in teaching children in the medium they know best  social media.

IS recently launched a mobile application for children to teach them the Arabic language and strict Islamic teachings. The application has games for memorizing enticing Islamic songs. Their lyrics infuse Jihad against infidels.

An IS digital team, known as Library of Zeal, released the application that is now available on Android devices.

Mobile users can access the application only if they have a direct link from the owners of the product. IS supporters have posted the link on the social media platform Telegram, but it could also be downloaded directly from many mirroring websites.

Major social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter have continuously carried crackdown campaigns against IS supporters, shuttering their accounts and banning them from using the platforms to spread their hate messages.

But analysts say IS messaging online continues to grow.

"They have a team of very sophisticated experts that run an entire campaign online, said Dlshad Othman, a cybersecurity expert with the ISC Project, a group that provides information security assistance to civil society activists.

The aim is to ultimately ensure ISs radical message lives on beyond the group itself and stays long into the future.

IS social media this week distributed photos in several languages of children holding placards in IS territories offering "congratulations" on the deaths of Americans, apparently in reference to the Orlando massacre.

As they train and indoctrinate (kids) at a young age, they are preparing the children to form their opinions and thoughts in a particular way so that they will become the fighters of tomorrow, Othman said.
Five Kenyan police officers are dead after suspected Islamist al-Shabab militants attacked a police convoy as it traveled through the northeastern part of the country, a local official said.

The police were providing security for a bus near the town of Elwak, near the Somalian border, when the militants blew up their vehicle with what is believed to be a rocket-propelled grenade.

"We condemn the attack by al-Shabab at Dimu this morning, five police officers killed," Mandera County Governor Ali Roba said on his Twitter account.

Al-Shabab, the al-Qaida affiliate in East Africa, is based in Somalia and routinely stages attacks in Kenya. The Kenyan border with Somalia is seen as a weak spot for security due to its remoteness and the lack of coordination between police forces on either side.
North Korea will not negotiate the release of two American citizens under arrest unless former detainee and American missionary Kenneth Bae stops using what Pyongyang considers to be slanderous language about the country.

"If Bae continues, U.S. criminals held in our country will be in the pitiful state of never being able to set foot in their homeland once again," North Korea's KCNA state media said Monday.

Bae was freed by North Korea in 2014 after two years of imprisonment. The U.S. missionary was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor after being convicted of planning to overthrow the North Korean government.

Since Bae's release, he has written a book about his detention and has been promoting it with public speaking engagements. Bae says he became a "negotiating tool" for the North Koreans, some of whom he said had been "brainwashed."

US citizens sentenced



North Korea is holding two U.S. citizens, both sentenced to hard labor.

In March, University of Virginia student Otto Warmbier was given a 15 year sentence for trying to steal a propaganda banner.

Korean-American missionary Kim Dong Chul was given a 10 year sentence in April after convictions of espionage and subversion.

North Korea has been known to be very sensitive about any criticism of its leadership and political system.

Formal diplomatic relations do not exist between North Korea and the United States because the two countries are still technically at war due to the fact the Korean War ended in 1953 with a ceasefire, not a peace treaty.

In May, the U.S. government strongly advised citizens not to travel to North Korea due to the risk of receiving "unduly harsh sentences."
Kenyas main opposition is holding talks with the government on reconstituting the countrys electoral commission. Mondays planned street protests were called off as the talks progress. The protests have led to five fatalities since they began.

A news release sent late Sunday evening by Kenyas main opposition CORD read in part: There are signs of a definitive white smoke above political scene in reaching an agreement between CORD and Jubilee in respect of the IEBS issue and the electoral process.

Protests suspended



The release went on to suspend planned street demonstrations indefinitely. The opposition has been holding demonstrations for the past month calling for an overhaul of the electoral commission, which they say favors the ruling Jubilee coalition.

Last Friday, eight Kenyan legislators  six from the opposition and two from the ruling coalition  were charged in court over inflammatory remarks made at various public rallies in the country. The legislators were later released on bond.

In 2007, post-election violence saw more than 1,100 people killed and 600,000 displaced in Kenya.

Peter Alengo from the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) pointed out that the judiciary can enforce the rule of law in the country as a deterrent.

If the court remains firm and tries these cases to their logical end , you know, then we will see a sense in which some degree of fear will reign in on hate mongers and ethnic war mongers, he said.



Committee on reforms



The opposition and ruling coalition have formed a 14-member select committee to chart the way forward on the issues, including electoral reform. Alengo notes, however, that a more inclusive process would ensure a successful outcome.



The dialogue should be extended outside the political protagonists so that all stakeholders that are able to make a contribution in this respect are also able to come to the dialogue table because I think a lot of Kenyans also have their views on this and probably that will be the direction the select committee will take and if they do take that then it will be a plus and a win-win situation for Kenyans, he said.



Kenya is scheduled to hold general elections in August 2017.
2015 was a deadliest year on record for environmental activists, says watchdog Global Witness in a disturbing new report that documents what appears to be a worldwide increase in targeted killings of environmental campaigners.

The numbers are shocking, Global Witness campaign leader Billy Kyte told VOA. We documented 185 killings across 16 countries. Thats almost a 60 percent increase from the previous year and the highest annual turnout that we have on record. On average, more than three people were killed every week in 2015 defending the environment and their land rights; more than double the number of journalists killed in the same period.

Kyte said the reports authors do not think this is simply a case of better reporting of killings  and that they believe that fear and intimidation may mean the true numbers have been underreported.

Most of the killings were from the mining sector, with 42 deaths.

The highest death tolls came from Brazil  with 50 killings  and the Philippines, with 33. Other leaders were Colombia, with 26 killings, and Peru and Nicaragua, with 12 each. In Africa, the chaotic, resource-rich Democratic Republic of Congo reported 11 killings.

Kyte noted what appears to be collusion between big business and government -- especially in Africa.

So, in Africa its been more difficult to get information, he said. This may be because there are more oppressive regimes, which means its harder to get data on how many people are being killed or threatened. And also were seeing less of a civil society presence, so less monitoring by local NGO's or journalists on this issue. Having said that, we have seen an increase last year on the criminalization of activists. So many high-profile activists who are fighting or land rights against agribusiness companies have been criminalized, been taken to court and charged under false pretenses.

For example, Cameroons Nasako Besingi and Sierra Leones Sima Mattia were threatened with cripplingly expensive fines and imprisonment for their opposition to palm oil companies in their countries. In both cases, the report says, the charges were trumped up.

Calling for protection

The organization is calling for governments to increase their protection for environmental activists and to ramp up their efforts to prosecute crimes against them.

Global Witness is not the only watchdog or advocacy group to have documented this deadly trend. According to advocacy group Survival International, it shows no signs of slowing. Last week, the group reported that gunmen in southern Brazil attacked a tribal community, killing one man and wounding five other people, including one child. They say this is but the latest in a string of assaults on a tribe that is challenging its right to land in the face of agribusiness interests.

Kyte paused when asked why the killings appear to be increasing. Could the falling global oil price be putting pressure on other industries to make profits? Maybe, he said, but added the true reason is probably simple. In many of the deadliest nations, instability, internal conflict and corruption allow the culprits to literally get away with murder.

VOA contacted three organizations that Kyte named as having connections to violence against activists, seeking their responses to these allegations. After 48 hours, not one of the organizations had replied.
A Cairo court rejected on Monday an appeal by Egypts prosecution on rights campaigner Mina Thabets release order, confirming that he will be let out of jail on EGP 10,000 bail.

The activist is being investigated, among other charges, on accusations of inciting protests against redrawing Egyptian-Saudi maritime borders, inciting violence to overthrow the regime and change the constitution, inciting attacks on police stations, joining a terrorist organisation and disturbing social peace.

Thabet, who is the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms' minorities and marginalised groups programme director, was arrested on 21 May from his home during a raid by plainclothes police, according to the NGO.

The documents found with Thabet include papers on the socialist political party Bread and Freedom, documents about minority rights relating to international law, the civil and political rights of minorities, in addition to a poster that says that the islands of Tiran and Sanafir, that lie in the Red Sea off Sinai, are Egyptian.

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Rights groups are calling on the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) to make greater progress in settling about 7,000 Muslim Myanmar refugees a year after they were rescued after being abandoned at sea by traffickers.

The refugees are mostly from the Rohingya population of Myanmar's western Arakine state and were saved after a crackdown by Thai authorities.

Crackdown on traffickers a year ago

Earlier, camps used by smugglers were uncovered in southern Thailand and dozens of bodies were found in shallow graves.

Over 100 people were arrested with links to the trafficking gangs, including some Thai officials.

A May 2015 emergency meeting of 17 countries including the United States, Japan, Switzerland and Australia and key United Nations humanitarian agencies, had pressed for action to resolve the issue of irregular migration.

Thousands of Rohingya remain in camps

But, a year after they were abandoned at sea, thousands of Rohingya remain in detention camps.

In Malaysia alone, according to rights groups, there are almost 2,500 being held, while others are detained in shelters in Indonesia and Thailand.

Aung San Suu Kyi aware of the problem

Myanmar's state counselor, Aung San Suu Kyi, is making a visit to Thailand this week and has called on the international community to give Myanmar "enough space" to address the problem of the Rohingya.

Thai civil society groups say they are hoping to submit recommendations to Suu Kyi, who is also Myanmar's foreign minister, including the issue of citizenship for the Rohingya who have fled Myanmar.

Siriprapha Petcharamesree, from Mahidol University's Institute of Human Resources, says the issues of detention and statelessness, faced by the Rohingya, remain.

"The problem is still there. It remains exactly the same. Those people who are detained in detention centers are still there. Rohingya in different places they are still taking risks to be arrested and again put into detention or deportation. The high risk is still there. Their rights are not protected. So for me this is a failure," Siriprapha told VOA.

UN to address the issue later this year

Regional meetings have been held on the problem and there is a United Nations Summit on refugee and migrant movements at the U.N. General Assembly in September this year.

But for Rohingya in the detention centers, there is a growing sense of desperation. On May 23 in Thailand, 21 Rohingya fled a center in Southern Thailand that led to one person being shot dead by Thai police.

Angkhana Neelapaichit, a member of the National Human Rights Commission, says the Thai Government's response has fallen short of steps indicated after the emergency meeting in May last year.

"The Thai government still has no specific policy for this group of people. They are migrants and they are detained and cannot go out to work, denied access to education and cannot access public health services so this is a problem," Angkhana said.

A recent report by Australia's ABC broadcaster, found the Rohingya holding camps in western Rakhine State poorly managed, with substandard structures such as latrines, damaged by a recent storm, forcing men and women to defecate in nearby open fields.

Financial help is on the way

ASEAN states have agreed to set up a special fund to support migrants and refugees, a move welcomed by rights groups.

Matthew Smith, executive director of the rights group, Fortify Rights, says there has also been a decline in numbers of Rohingya fleeing Myanmar but regional governments need to address the broader issues.

"The problem now is the response from regional governments has not prioritized the protection of survivors. So people who survived human trafficking last year are still being held in detention," Smith told VOA.

ASEAN, he says, needs to do more on policies on irregular migration in the region often linked to transnational criminal syndicates.

"This is a transnational issue this is an international issue this is a regional issue and really no single country can do it alone in terms of tackling this," Smith said.
Pakistan, in talks with Afghanistan, has reiterated that effective management of their shared border is vital for efforts aimed at countering terrorism, promoting peace and strengthening bilateral relations.

A six-member Afghan delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai visited Islamabad Monday for talks with Pakistani counterparts.

The meeting followed days of deadly clashes provoked by Pakistans construction of a new gate at the busy Torkham crossing with Afghanistan.

Cordial talks



The talks between the delegations were held in a "cordial atmosphere marked by a mutual desire to amicably resolve border-related issues," a Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement said after the Islamabad meeting.



"Both sides decided to work in the spirit of good neighborly relations and friendly cooperation between the two countries," it said, adding the discussions will be furthered when senior Afghan and Pakistani officials meet again on the sidelines of a regional summit later this week.

During the discussions, it was emphasized that there was a need for creating a suitable mechanism for consultation on border management issues, the announcement said.

The exchange of fire between Afghan and Pakistani forces that erupted a week ago left four soldiers dead and wounded more than 40 others, including civilians, on both sides before the two sides declared a cease-fire on Thursday.

A border closure had stranded thousands of Afghans on both sides and halted truck convoys carrying essential commodities and goods to landlocked Afghanistan.

Kabul opposes fencing or the building of permanent structures along the 2,600-kilometer border with Pakistan because it does not recognize the demarcation called the Durand Line drawn by former British rulers of the Indian subcontinent.

The Afghan Foreign Ministry, in a separate statement, said that Karzai raised what it alleged were various violations by Pakistan, including the building of installations and checkpoints inside Afghan territory. Moreover, he strongly protested against Pakistans ongoing unprovoked artillery shelling of Afghan villages.

The border dispute is at the heart of bilateral tensions. Pakistan this month for the first time in decades introduced strict monitoring of thousands of Afghans who travel across the border daily, allowing entry and exit only to those with valid travel documents.
Australia is famous for its rich variety of wildlife, and now scientists say it could also be home to the world's fastest-lunging predator. Karaops are a type of small, flat spider found only in Australia and researchers believe they could be the fastest terrestrial ambush predator.

The small karaop spider is native to Australia and is usually found under loose bark, especially on eucalyptus trees. It has a flat body allowing it to hide in tight spaces but it is the invertebrate's ability to move with lightning speed that is fascinating researchers.

About 100 samples have been collected by Sarah Crews, a visiting expert from the United States. The specimens gathered in the Australian Outback will be taken back to the U.S., where their lunging at prey will be filmed with high-definition cameras. The aim is to unlock the mechanical secret that gives the karaop the ability to strike at prey in the blink of an eye. Most spiders are thought to move with hydraulic pressure, but studies in Europe have suggested there is a muscular component, too.

The Queensland Museum has the most active arachnological unit in Australia. Since 1976, it has described over 1000 new species of spiders.

Dr. Robert Raven, the senior curator of spiders, says karaops have become skilled hunters.

"I have seen these guys hunting and they sit at the crack, but in order to catch their prey they have to do a ninety degree turn to get out and this must mean that they are incredibly fast in the process and they cannot delay. They have obviously evolved very good at this process of ripping their way out of these cracks, or maybe just ambushing straight out at them," said Raven.

It is estimated that Australia is home to about 10,000 species of spiders, although only a third have been identified and catalogued by researchers.

Although some are among the most venomous in the world, including the Sydney funnel web and redback spiders, experts say the risk of a fatal bite is very small.
Equipped with nothing but the energy from the sun, a solar-powered plane took off from New York's John F. Kennedy Airport early Monday morning on the 15th leg of its journey around the world.

The Solar Impulse 2 has begun one of the most hazardous parts of its worldwide sojourn -- a flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

Swiss aviator Bertrand Piccard is at the helm. He and his compatriot Andre Borschberg have taken turns solo piloting the single-seat aircraft.

Piccard will take short naps during the 90-hour flight across the Atlantic. He and Borschberg have learned meditation and hypnosis as part of their training to help them stay alert for long periods of time. Borschberg piloted the plane across the Pacific Ocean -- from Nagoya, Japan to Hawaii: a 118-hour endeavor.

Solar Impulse is expected to land in Spain, perhaps France -- depending on weather conditions.

The carbon fiber Solar Impulse 2 has a 72-meter wingspan, which is longer than the wingspan of a Boeing 747 and weighs about as much as an automobile. The 17,000 solar cells built into the wings harness the sun's energy and charge onboard batteries.

Piccard and Borschberg say they aim to demonstrate that alternative energy sources and new technologies can achieve what some consider impossible -- like flight without fuel.

Their goal is to return to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates where the trip began in March of 2015.
South Korea is taking increased security measures to prevent a potential attack from the Islamic State (IS), after the country's intelligence agency warned that the terrorist group may be targeting both U.S. military installations and civilians on the Korean peninsula.

The South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) Sunday said that IS released a list of potential terrorist targets that include the locations of 77 Air Force installations belonging to the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 21 countries, and also important individuals associated with them.

Four of the military installations on the list of IS targets are in South Korea. The NIS reported the list included detailed geographical coordinates and satellite images from Google Maps of U.S. Air Force bases in Osan, in Gyeonggi and Gunsan in North Jeolla.

Enhanced security measures

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday Seoul is sharing intelligence and closely coordinating with U.S. military officials on the potential terrorist treat.

"In order to strengthen the defense of the bases of the USFK (U.S. Forces in Korea), we will provide support if they request through cooperation with the Combined Forces Command," said Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesman Jeon Ha-gyu.

A South Korean citizen, who works for a welfare organization, was reportedly also on the IS "kill list" of over 8,000 individuals around the world that was sent out earlier this month by telegram and messaging services.

The South Korean National police said it is providing the targeted Korean citizen with police protection and increasing regional patrols to prevent any terrorist attack.

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn also said Monday that the country's counterterrorism center will strengthen related investigations and take every possible step to safeguard the general public.

While South Korea may be taking the terrorist threat seriously, regional security analysts say it will be very difficult for Islamic extremists to carry out an attack in Northeast Asia.

"The two Koreas, Japan and China, they're strong states and their police forces and their intelligence services, their capacity and ability to track and monitor any terrorist group is quite strong," said Daniel Pinkston, a lecturer in international relations with Troy University in Seoul.

Strict immigration and gun control

In addition to strong security forces, South Korea also has in place strong restrictions on gun control and immigration.

In the recent terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida, an American born son of Afghan immigrants and an avowed IS supporter killed 49 people using a military grade assault rifle.

The U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has in response called for banning suspected terrorists from buying guns. Republican nominee Donald Trump has called for suspending immigration from regions where terrorist groups operate. Both positions are controversial among the American electorate. Many gun owners oppose any restriction to their constitutional right to bear arms. And even some leaders within Trump's own party oppose an immigration ban saying it would alienate moderate Muslim supporters.

But in South Korea there is no gun debate. Only authorized government personal are allowed to own and carry guns.

South Korea and Japan have also been accused of restricting immigration from conflict ridden Muslim countries. The human rights organization Amnesty International Amnesty in 2016 criticized South Korea and Japan (as well as Russia and Singapore) as high-income nations that offered zero resettlement places for Syrian refugees.

In contrast North Korean defectors that come South are welcome without restriction and are not considered asylum seekers. They are South Korean citizens by law.

Anti-terrorism law

The NIS noted that South Korea has deported 50 people linked to terrorist groups in the last year.

In 2015 an alleged Indonesian a member of a terrorist group affiliated with IS called Al Nusra spent eight months in prison on terrorism charges. Police said the man entered the country on a false passport, possessed an illegal rifle in his home, and his bank account was linked to an Islamic extremist group.

The NIS noted that the counterterrorism center to be used to monitor terrorist groups was recently authorized under the passage of the Anti-Terrorism law by the National Assembly in March.

The Anti-Terrorism law was opposed by some civic groups that say it is too invasive and could be too easily abused to restrict peaceful dissent.
Rosario Reyes says las pandillas, or gangs, always lingered in her neighborhood in El Salvador, but she became even more afraid after her brother-in-law was assassinated in a shooting on his way home from work. Gang members shot him 12 times during a robbery.

She feared for her life, her husband Ramon, and their two young children, Ricardo and Jose. Although her brother-in-law was not a gang member, the family began to receive threats.

The Reyes then decided to move to a place where they could find safety.

Ramon left El Salvador in 2002 and a year later, Rosario Reyes began the difficult journey to meet him in Maryland. This path included days of traveling until she crossed the U.S.-Mexico border.

"My husband and I, we were afraid. We wanted to get away from the criminality," she said.

Rosario Reyes and her family are among the 4 million undocumented immigrants who could be allowed to live and work legally in the United States without the constant fear of deportation.

A decision could come this week if the U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of President Barack Obama's immigration actions in the landmark case United States v. Texas.

The lawsuit

The case focuses on Obama's 2014 Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, or DAPA, and the expansion of the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, known as DACA.

The measures would protect young immigrants from deportation if they were brought to the U.S. illegally as children. They would also extend deportation protections to undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have been in the country for some years. Both actions would allow them to work legally for a period of two years subject to renewal.

A lawsuit brought by 26 states, led by Texas, as well as congressional Republicans, challenged the executive orders and argued that Obama did not have the power to effectively change immigration laws.

A federal judge in Texas agreed to hear the challenge brought by those states and these executive orders have been on hold since 2015.

In April, the Supreme Court heard both sides in the case.

Texas Solicitor General Scott Keller, arguing for the lawsuit, called the president's order "one of the largest immigration changes" in American history, saying the program defers deportations and changes a person's immigration status since it allows undocumented immigrants to obtain work authorizations.

U.S. Solicitor General Donald Verrilli, Jr. argued the government's case. He said the phrase "lawful presence," that means being in the United States legally, could be removed from the language in the executive orders without changing their impact.

The president said he took the executive actions after Congress failed to overhaul the immigration system.

According to the Federal Registry, Obama has issued 244 executive orders between 2009 and 2016. George W. Bush issued 292 executive actions during his two terms as president.

Possible outcomes

Supreme Court justices could side with Obama's administration policies and allow the 4 million immigrants who qualify under the executive actions to live and work legally in the U.S.

The high court could also agree with a lower court's ruling, which froze the immigration actions, and these executive orders would likely remain stalled.

The third possibility is a tie. With the death in February of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, only eight members are on the bench. The lower court's ruling would stand if the outcome ends in a tie.

Rosario Reyes' third child, Victor, was born in 2008 in Maryland. He is the only family member who is a U.S. citizen. Because of Victor, both parents qualify for DAPA.

Even a favorable ruling by the Supreme Court, the 38-year-old mother's plight would still not be over. She had to leave her other sons, Jose and Ricardo, with her mother when she left El Salvador for the U.S.

Years later, Ricardo, the eldest son, embarked on the same journey to see his parents again. Jose, the middle child, stayed behind in El Salvador and their mother said she has not seen him since he was a year old. He is now 14.

In a phone interview, through tears, Rosario Reyes said being away from her son is one of the hardest struggles she has had to endure.

Mother and son keep in touch through Facebook and its messaging application WhatsApp. Rosario Reyes also uses social media to check Jose's homework and talks about hopes and dreams for the future.

"He says Mom, I love you very much. I want to see you but I don't want to be undocumented. I want to be free. I have dreams," she added.

The family is hoping to work with U.S. authorities to get Jose a visa. Son Ricardo is a DACA recipient. He graduated from a Maryland public high school and is now working to pay for his college education.

Rosario Reyes takes care of children while her husband works in construction.

"We are not criminals. We are honored people. We work hard... I have faith that [the ruling] will be a yes. We will be free," she told VOA.
Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump has released his controversial campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski.

"Lewandowski will no longer be working on the campaign," Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks said Monday. Hicks expressed appreciation for Lewandowski's "hard work and dedication."

Lewandowski, who had been with the Trump campaign since last June, was perceived by many political observers as having hostile relationships with numerous national journalists and strained relations with some Republican Party officials.

He received considerable attention after accusations of manhandling a female reporter in Florida during the primary campaign. Lewandowski also clashed with Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

Trump's poll numbers have been declining and he faces resistance from many Republican Party members concerned about his contentious remarks.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, may make other changes to his campaign staff in preparation for the party's national convention in the midwestern city of Cleveland, Ohio July 18-21.

Trump has complained that some Republicans are trying to thwart the official declaration of his nomination at the convention.

Some delegates to the convention have said they want to change the party's rules to allow delegates to vote for someone other than Trump, who surged past 16 other Republican candidates in months of state-by-state party nominating contests to give him a majority of pledged delegates.
In what journalists rights groups call a further deterioration of press freedoms in Turkey, three prominent pro-media activists were arrested Monday on "terrorists' propaganda" charges, according to Turkish media reports.

The detained journalists are identified as Erol Onderoglu, the Turkey representative for the press freedom group Reporters Without Borders; Sebnem Korur Fincani, president of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey; and Ahmet Nesin, a writer and journalist.

The three were arrested for participating in the solidarity campaign launched by the Diyarbakir-based Association of Free Journalists for the pro-Kurdish newspaper Ozgur Gundem (which, in English, means "Free Agenda"). The newspaper is known for its coverage of Kurdish issues and the decades-long conflict between the Turkish army and the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party). The PKK seeks Kurdish autonomy, and the Turkish government considers it a terrorist organization.

Ozcan Kilic, the newspaper's lawyer, told VOA the three were participating in a program where each acted as a co-editor of Ozgur Gundem to "show solidarity with the newspaper in the face of relentless judicial harassment and to defend freedom of the press."

"Our reporters have been exposed to heavy pressures by the government and judiciary," Kilic said. "Our editors-in-chief have been investigated and banned from traveling abroad. There are criminal cases against them."

According to Kilic, 49 people  among them journalists, writers, actors, professors and former lawmakers  offered to help the newspaper editorially. Of them, 40 are under investigation, he said.

"And today, three of them have been arrested after working as our volunteer editors for Ozgur Gundem for only one day," he said.

The three testified before the public prosecutor in the state judiciary's Terrorism and Organized Crimes Bureau before they were arrested.

The ongoing investigations and arrests were roundly condemned by rights and press freedom groups on Monday.

Reporters Without Borders called the arrests "an unbelievable low for press freedom in Turkey."

According to the 2015 annual prison report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Turkey ranked as the world's "leading jailer" of journalists for the second consecutive year, with 40 journalists behind bars.

Faruk Eren, chairman of the Press Union of the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey, told VOA that he acted as editor-in-chief of Ozgur Gundem on May 3 and has been under investigation since then.

"This is a very dark day for us," he said. "Press freedom and freedom of speech are now considered a crime. We were hoping that our colleagues would be questioned and released. But they were arrested."

Ugur Guc, Turkish Journalists Association chairman, said, "We are witnessing the violation of laws. This is a political decision, not a legal one. We need to stop this."

The board of directors of the Turkish Journalists Association issued a statement criticizing the arrests.

"It has become impossible to report freely," the group said in a statement. "It is unacceptable to link journalism with terrorist propaganda."
Turkish riot police fired tear gas Sunday in Istanbul to break up a gay pride demonstration that activists had attempted to hold in defiance of a government ban.



Hundreds of police surrounded demonstrators who had gathered on a main artery, Istiklal Street, in the upscale central city waving the LGBT community's rainbow flags.



Several arrests were reported after protesters refused police orders to disperse,



The Istanbul Pride event has taken place every year since 2003. But Istanbul's governor on Friday banned the march to protect what authorities called "security and public order."



Organizers denounced the ban, calling it a "flagrant violation" of their rights to assemble.



Ahead of Sunday's confrontation, security had already been tight in the city, after a spate of recent bombings either claimed by Islamic State extremists or blamed by the government on Kurdish militants seeking autonomy in Turkey's southeast.



One of those blasts -- a suicide bombing that killed five people in March -- also occurred on Istiklal Street near the site of Sunday's faceoff.
Bahrain revoked the citizenship of the countrys most prominent Shia cleric, Sheikh Isa Qassim, as well as recently suspending the largest Shia political group, Al-Wefaq

Egypt fully supports all measures taken recently by Bahrain in the face of attempts to destabilise the internal affairs of the country, a foreign affairs ministry statement read on Monday.

In the past few days, Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of the most prominent Shia cleric, Sheikh Isa Qassim, in the Sunni-ruled kingdom, accusing him of sowing sectarian divisions.

The gulf country has also suspended the largest Shia political group, Al-Wefaq, and froze its assets based on a complaint that accused the group of damaging Bahrain's national security, allegations about it causing unrest during the 2011 protests, as well as allegations of foreign funding.

Bahrain is authorised to protect the principles of citizenship and peaceful coexistence in the face of organisations that have foreign political religious [agendas], Egypts statement read.

Egypt also denounced attempts by some organisations, which receive foreign funding, to violate the Bahraini constitution, law and institutions and to fuel political sectarianism.

The foreign ministry statement also expressed faith in the Bahraini judicial systems integrity in dealing with such cases.

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U.S. President Barack Obama announced the creation Monday of a new initiative that intends to help revitalize the U.S. manufacturing industry by spurring innovations in a sector described as "smart manufacturing."

Speaking before business leaders at the annual SelectUSA Summit in Washington, Obama said a coalition of 200 partners will receive $140 million in public and private funding to "radically improve" the efficiency of manufacturing by developing smart sensor and digital technologies that dramatically cut waste, save energy and streamline manufacturing processes.

The Smart Manufacturing Leadership Coalition received $70 million from the Department of Energy (DOE) and $70 million in private donations. The coalition, comprised of industry, academic and non-profit representatives, will lead the new Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute in partnership with the DOE. Software innovations will be available on an open source platform, making them accessible to business of all sizes.

"No country can match our competitiveness in cutting-edge manufacturing. No country is home to entrepreneurs or more super-computing. No country has done more to build a culture of making and tinkering, and entrepreneurship and risk taking, and of innovation and invention," the president said.

Nearly six million manufacturing jobs were lost in the U.S. between 2000 and 2010 as companies closed factories and relocated to foreign countries with lower costs. That number represented more than one third of the entire American manufacturing workforce.

Since February 2010, more than 800,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs were created as the auto industry grew and manufacturing costs escalated in foreign countries.

The new manufacturing hub, headquartered in the western U.S. city of Los Angeles, California, is the ninth of 15 such projects Obama wants to create.

During a week focused on innovation, Obama will also attend a global entrepreneurship summit at Stanford University, when he will participate in a panel discussion with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerburg and others.
The U.S. Supreme Court has left in place two states' bans on certain assault-style, semiautomatic rifles.

Pro-gun advocates had filed a challenge to the assault weapons bans in Connecticut and New York, but the court on Monday refused to hear the challenge.

The bans were passed after a gunman with an AR-15 rifle killed 20 children and six educators at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012.

Seven states and Washington, D.C. have enacted bans on assault weapons. Automatic weapons are already banned under federal law.

The debate over gun rights in the U.S. has been reignited after an attack earlier this month on a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida left 50 people dead, including the gunman.
Former Vice President Joice Mujuru says she is ready to work with opposition parties in Zimbabwe.

Speaking at her maiden rally in Matabeleland region at the weekend, Mrs. Mujuru said all democratic forces should pull together in order to unseat President Robert Mugabes Zanu PF party.

The former vice president, who was expelled from her party for allegedly attempting to topple President Mugabe, also said the media has over the years misled members of the public in believing that she insulted the late Vice President Joshua Nkomo.

The media has over the years reported that Mrs. Mujuru called the late Zapu leader a senile old man when he demanded that businessman Strive Masiyiwa be granted a license to run a mobile phone network, the present-day Econet Wireless Zimbabwe.

Masiyiwa currently runs a Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Scholarship scheme in honour of the late vice president.

Mrs. Mujuru said,   (There) have been a lot of political questions, a lot of politicking about Mai (Mrs) Mujuru denigrating Father Zimbabwe, about Mai Mujuru not interested in these things and thats why I have taken a little bit of time to explain who I am.

To me Father Zimbabwe in reality was my father but you know once you belong to some parties they would want to widen the gap (between her and other politicians and the electorate) by saying the wrong things. Thats why I have decided to talk about it and I would like to say for a long time you have been hoodwinked and I would like to say sorry for that 

These remarks caused a lot of consternation among PF Zapu supporters, especially in Matabeleland where Nkomo, a nationalist leader, was respected and widely followed.
Zimbabwe is experiencing serious shortages of the South African rand and Chinese yuan as the country attempted Monday to shift to these currencies to address the current critical shortages of cash, especially the United States dollar.

Bank queues are now the order of the day in a nation with a fast declining economy due to subdued industrial production, low exports, lack of foreign direct investment and other issues.

Several banks started dispensing the South African and Chinese currencies in banking halls and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) but the banking public complained that accessing the money was not easy.

One of the depositors, Simon Mugwagwa said he spent the better of the day in a queue trying to withdraw cash but to no avail.



This was echoed by Tecla Zinyowera, who noted that she could not get either the South African rands or the Chinese yuan, in the banking hall and ATMs. She said that the Botswana Pula and the British Pounds were also not accessible, adding that those currencies would be difficult to use in her daily errands.



Another depositor, Garikai Murendo, said he managed to withdraw some rands and yuans but most retailers were not accepting those currencies, preferring the US dollar.



Some banking staff, who refused to speak on tape, said they failed to dispense the rand, yuan and other currencies because they were in short supply at their branches. Some other bankers, who had accessed the rand and yuan, said they could also not transact because they had not been advised of the exchange rates by the central bank.



Central bank governor John Mangudya had initially asked Studio 7 to contact him for comment but he was not reachable on his mobile phone at the time of going on air.



However, the central bank chief told the state-controlled Sunday Mail newspaper that the dispensing of multiple currencies would help in easing the ongoing shortages that started when the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe announced its plans to introduce bond notes.

The RBZs proposal is being rejected by many Zimbabweans who say that authorities are planning to re-introduce the Zimbabwean currency through the back door.
Parliaments mines committee says it is disappointed that the recently formed Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Mining company is not properly constituted and not yet fully operational when the nation is expecting reasonable revenues from diamond sales amid a crippling cash crisis.

Acting chief executive officer, Ridge Nyashanu and interim company chairman and Mines Ministry permanent secretary, Francis Gudyanga, were grilled for an hour by the committee members who expressed concern that the company was not properly formed and that most of its activities were therefore illegal.

First to appear before the committee was Nyashanu, who made a very short presentation of the companys operations, but failed to answer critical questions pertaining to the shareholding of the company, its directors and other important issues.

In his brief presentation, Nyashanu said the consolidated company had only sold just more 500,000 carats in its few months since it started operating and remitted just one million dollars to Treasury.

But committee chairman, Daniel Shumba was no happy about this. He ordered Nyashanu to go back and get prepared.

The committee is expected to recall Nyashanu to give more evidence.

The committee is expected to recall Nyashanu to give more evidence. After Nyashanus presentation, then came Gudyanga, who was equally disappointing to the committee.

Gudyanga failed to provide information on the operations of the company and a lot of other issues, which the committee felt are important in improving the countrys diamond industry.

He admitted that the state-controlled company had not been established through an act of parliament and that its operations had been affected by the fact that some of the private investors who were supposed to form part of the company such as Mbada and Anjin had approached the courts to challenge its existence.

But Shumba and his committee accused Gudyanga of engaging in illegal activities and presiding over the demise of the diamond industry at a time when the country expected a lot of revenue from the sale of gems.

Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti and current Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa have bemoaned lack of meaningful revenue contributions from the countrys gems.

The Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Mining has taken over the operations of all diamond mining companies in the country but some of them are contesting the decision in court.
Civil servants fume in Zimbabwe following indications that the government wont be able to pay teachers salaries this month.

Zimbabwe runs out of the South African rand and Chinese yuan as the country attempts to shift to these currencies to address the current critical shortages of cash in the financial sector.

Parliament investigates operations of the newly-formed Consolidated Mining Company of Zimbabwe amid claims that it was not properly registered.

People living with disabilities say the government should make HIV/AIDS information catering for their needs available in order to be able to stop the spread of the disease among them.

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 Chris Gande will be talking with listeners and experts about crippling cash shortages in Zimbabwe. Bank queues have become the order of the day. 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!!!!!!
Some youths belonging to a coalition of opposition parties, the National Election Reform Agenda (NERA), say they have gone into hiding ahead of a protest march by the group penciled for Tuesday in Harare.

The youths said they have been harassed and intimidated by unknown people, suspected to be state security agents since the beginning of last week.

One of the youths was allegedly abducted on Friday and released the following day. Studio 7 could not talk to the alleged victim as her phone went unanswered.

Signatories to NERA include leading opposition parties like the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai, Peoples Democratic Party and Zimbabwe People First, among others, which are pushing for electoral reforms before 2018 general elections.

Studio 7 reached NERA national chairman, Joelson Mugari, who said despite the intimidation they are going ahead with Tuesdays march which was sanctioned by the police.

"We are currently experiencing problems with our youths who are organizing the demonstration whereby we want to hand over a petition to parliament in regard to the non-allignment of electoral laws," he said.

He said one of the youths, identified only as Rose from the opposition Transform Zimbabwe was on Friday abducted by state security agents and only released on Saturday.

He said the petition was to demand questions from parliament on how far it has gone with the alignment of laws ahead of the elections.

"We are going to start from Africa Unity Square at 10 am then we go along Julius Nyerere Way up until Nelson Mandela Avenue then straight to Parliament," said Mugari.
Nine people in Minnesota have become ill after handling baby chicks or other newly hatched poultry, such as ducks, turkeys or pheasants, prompting a warning from health officials to wash hands and take other precautions after handling young poultry.

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) investigators have linked nine cases of Salmonella infections to baby chicks or other newly hatched poultry purchased from multiple feed stores in Minnesota. The cases are associated with a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections, or salmonellosis, being investigated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The ill Minnesotans ranged in age from 2 months to 66 years. Six cases were caused by the bacteria Salmonella Infantis, two by SalmonellaEnteritidis and one by Salmonella Indiana, all of which have been previously associated with poultry. The cases occurred from late April through mid-June 2016. Eight of the nine cases purchased newly hatched poultry this spring.

Salmonella is a type of bacteria carried in the intestines of animals that can be shed into the environment in their feces. Chicks, ducklings and other poultry are recognized sources of Salmonella infection, especially for children. Birds may shed Salmonella even when they appear healthy, and even a bird that looks clean can still have enough germs on its feathers or feet to make a person sick.

Any chick or newly hatched poultry can carry a variety of Salmonella strains. MDH veterinarian Dr. Stacy Holzbauer said the outbreak underscores the importance of washing your hands thoroughly after handling chicks, ducklings or other birds.

"Chicks can be a great attraction for children and families this time of year, but they can also be a source of illness," Holzbauer said. "That is why it is so important for people handling them to take steps to prevent infection.

Young children are especially at risk and are also more likely to develop serious complications from Salmonella infections. During a similar national outbreak of salmonellosis in 2013, 41 percent of cases were younger than 10 years old. In 2015, Minnesota residents were part of two separate multistate outbreaks of salmonellosis associated with newly hatched poultry.

People typically get Salmonella infection from poultry by hand-to-mouth contact. Usually this happens when people handle birds or objects in their environment and then accidentally touch their mouths or forget to wash their hands before eating or drinking. Salmonella infection can also be contracted by eating contaminated foods that have not been properly prepared or handled.

Salmonella can cause diarrhea, vomiting and fever. Some people are more susceptible to infection and may have more severe disease. These include young children, pregnant women, older adults, people on chemotherapy, people with diabetes and others with weakened immune systems. Approximately 20 percent of cases reported to MDH are hospitalized. Most people develop symptoms one to three days after being exposed toSalmonella and recover in about a week. If youve had or are having diarrhea and fever and have had contact with chicks or newly hatched poultry, talk with your health care provider.

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health (BAH) works with MDH on the issue of Salmonella infections associated with newly hatched poultry. The board permits and conducts annual inspections of all Minnesota poultry dealers to ensure mail order and newly hatched poultry originate from approved sources. Inspections are conducted to confirm proper feed, water and sanitation requirements are in place and healthy poultry are available to customers.

In addition to permitting businesses to sell birds, we partner with MDH to reduce any risks of illness associated with those sales, said BAH Assistant Director Dr. Dale Lauer. We do this by ensuring there are adequate barriers and handling practices in place for the newly hatched poultry being sold, and we make Salmonella fact sheets available to consumers.

Health officials offer tips for handling or raising newly hatched poultry:

 Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling poultry or anything in their environment.

 Do not let children younger than 5 handle poultry.

 Supervise older children when handling poultry, and make sure they wash their hands afterward.

 Avoid nuzzling or kissing chicks, ducklings or other poultry.

 Do not eat or drink around poultry or their living areas.

 Keep poultry outside and especially out of areas where food is prepared.

 Do not wash birds' food and water dishes in the kitchen sink.

Raising poultry can be a wonderful experience for families, but it's important to protect yourself and your kids from the germs animals can carry, Holzbauer said.

More information from MDH is available at the Keeping Backyard Poultry webpage.

More information from CDC is available at the Multistate Outbreaks of Salmonella Infections Linked to Live Poultry and Spring and Baby Poultry Are Here webpages.
Egyptian and French naval forces began on Monday joint naval exercises using Egypts Mistral helicopter carrier, after receiving it from France earlier this month.

The exercises, dubbed Cleopatra 2016, will last for several days, state news agency MENA reported quoting an army statement. The exact location of the exercises has not been specified.

The exercises will include a number of activities such as both forces planning and carrying out naval offences.

Egypt purchased two Mistral carriers from France. The contract for the two Mistral carriers, which was finalised in September last year, was valued at 950 million euros.

The country is scheduled to receive the second carrier in September.

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The mass killing in Orlando has shone a hard light on the treatment of homosexuals by Daesh (i.e. Islamic Emirate or ISIL). But the killer, who claimed to be affiliated with the terrorist group, was himself a client of the gay discotheque, and had had sexual relations with at least one other client. It would seem, then, that he had targeted a discotheque, not a gay discotheque.

In any case, the massacre of homosexuals is not the prerogative of Daesh alone, it is a practice of numerous sectarian groups who claim to be followers of various religions, and more particularly that of Islamist groups. It was the case, for example, of the Lords Resistance Army in Uganda in the 90s, who claimed to follow Jesus - or today the djihadists, who claim to follow Muhammad. More generally, a large number of Jews, Christians and Muslims consider that sexual activity between people of the same sex is a sin, while admitting that you do not choose who you fall in love with.

From an ethnological point of view, the condemnation of homosexuality in the name of these religions is concomitant with a view of a society in which men dominate women. It does not exist in societies where individuals are equal in rights.

Daesh and the Baath party  two conceptions of society

As I wrote a year ago, the support for Daesh among certain populations has nothing to do either with the Quran or the class struggle. It is the revolt of a disappearing way of life, a violent society dominated by men, against a way of life which is respectful of women and which practices birth control. [1] As from now, the massacre of homosexuals has become, for the jihadists, an argument for conquering hearts and minds.

The chief negotiator of the moderates for the Geneva negotiations, Mohamed Allouche, earned his celebrity by throwing people accused of homosexuality off the rooftops of Douma, in the suburbs of Damascus, without provoking the slightest protest from his Western sponsors. Although his group, the Army of Islam (Jaysh al-Islam), is financed by Saudi Arabia, and supervised by British military advisors, he was given permanent assistance during the negotiations by the French charge daffaire for Syria. This diplomat  from a secular Republic - intervened in order to ask that the Swiss hotel where they were staying remove the paintings and cover the statues whose nudity risked shocking this model democrat. No doubt he thought  and it so happens that he himself lives the life of a gay couple with another diplomat  that Mohammed Allouches form of abuse was less serious than that of the Bachar regime.

Today, in the Arab world  which is in the minority compared with the number of Muslims in the world  only Syria, the Sultanate of Oman and certain of the United Arab Emirates integrate homosexuals.

It should be noted here that contrary to an image that has been imposed without ever having been discussed, the Syrian Arab Republic has never persecuted anyone for motives concerning their private life. All crimes, real or imaginary, that have been attributed to the Republic are exclusively linked to the repression of Islamists, whether the Muslim Brotherhood or more recently their extensions, al-Qaida and Daesh. Last February, the Lebanese daily LOrient-Le Jour, financed by the European Union, and known for its systematic anti-Syrian stance, dedicated a series of articles to a comparison between gay life in Lebanon and in Syria. In Lebanon, the police arrest young people, who have often been denounced by their family, ferret through their portable telephones looking for compromising photographs, summon their friends, oblige all suspects to submit to a medical examination supposed to determine the dilation of their anus, and beat them until one of them accuses the others. However, in Syria, observes the newspaper, under the regime of Bachar el-Assad, the gay community was enjoying a peaceful existence. [2].

Syrians do not consider the question of homosexuality from the angle of tolerance or intolerance, but from the angle of privacy. Thousands of years of civilisation have taught them that they can only survive in this region of the world by living together, and they can only manage that by respecting the private life of each and all. It is therefore possible to declare ones disgust for homosexuals in general while at the same time refusing to accuse anyone in particular of being gay.

Even though the dispositions of the Code Penal of 1949 have not been repealed, the party of President Bachar el-Assad, the Baath, has developed a form of culture almost unique in an Arab country, based on the respect for differences. So that LOrient-Le Jour was astounded to hear a gay Syrian refugee describe his period of military service as having been the most wonderful years of my life, and tell tales of the parties in reception halls rented by gay couples to celebrate their union. It was only when Daesh arrived that he was obliged to hide his pink and yellow pants and practice walking in a more masculine way.

Although the founders of the Baath party were inspired first by the French Revolution, their ideology is above all the fruit of the Syrian culture. And contrary to other Arab countries, Syria has a long tradition of respect for different life-styles.

The Biblical religions and sexuality

Judaism was founded in the kingdom of Jerusalem. Christianity by Paul of Tarsus in Damascus. Islam was given to Muammad in Arabia, but the Quran was not written until twenty years after his death, under the authority of the third Caliph, Othman, in Damascus. In other words, the three Biblical religions were created in geographical Syria.

Three passages of the Torah explicitly evoke homosexuality. According to Leviticus - You shall not lie with a man as one lies with a woman. This is an abomination. (18:22) and The man who lies with a man as one lies with a woman - it is an abomination committed by them both - they should both die, and may their blood fall upon them (20:13). Finally, in Deuteronomy - Let there be no prostitutes among the women of Israel, and let no son of Israel prostitute himself in infamy  (23:17).

Replaced in their context, the first two verses are rooted in the patriarchal conception of the tribes of the time, and the third is a condemnation of the sacred prostitution practiced in the temples of other tribes, and thus assimilated with idolatry. Today, the Jews reinterpret their religion by abandoning their tribal aspects, and have no difficulty integrating homosexuals. They often understand the relationship between Ruth and Naomi, and that between King David and Jonathan, as homosexual relations. However, the people who claim to follow the Alliance of God with none but the Tribes of Israel persist in seeing homosexuality as an abomination. Thus, the state of Israel integrates homosexuals, but the Levaha group protests every year against the Gay Pride and, in 2005, an ultraorthodox Jew stabbed six gays during the parade.

According to the Gospels, Jesus of Nazareth continually criticised the taboos and the formalism of antique Judaism, although he never criticised Roman paganism. He promoted a form of spirituality founded on love and sacrifice, and never spoke about sexuality. There is therefore no scriptural foundation for the condemnations of homosexuality by the Christian churches.

The first Christians were divided into two distinct groups. The Jews who considered that Jesus was their Messiah, and the Gentiles (the pagans) who saw him as an example of the perfect man. The former group was organised in Jerusalem around James, the brother of Jesus, while the latter group was organised in Damascus and Antioch. The former refused to celebrate Mass with the latter, who, as goyim, were impure in their eyes. The first group was decimated during the Roman repression of Jerusalem, and only the second group survived.

During Antiquity, including the first centuries of Christianism, lovers of the same sex were integrated into society, and thus into the church. In the 3rd century, Sarkis, the commander of the Schola Gentilium (a troop of elite soldiers which replaced the Praetorian Guard) and his aide de camp, Bacchus, were martyrised by the Emperor Maximian near Rakka (the current capital of Daesh) for having converted to Christ and refusing to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods. The two men were lovers and recognised as such by the Church, which celebrated the adelphopoiia on their behalf, a rite equivalent to that proposed for couples of the same sex in Roman society. Bacchus, who had been demoted and whipped to death, appeared to Sarkis in a vision when he was being tortured in turn. In the uniform of a Roman officer, Bacchus encouraged his lover not to renounce his faith and to die as a soldier of Christ. Thereafter, the cult of Saint Sarkis and Saint Bacchus spread throughout the Levant.

It was only from the 11th century, and especially with the Counter-Reformation, that Christians condemned homosexuality. At that time, Rome re-adopted the Vitalist philosophy dating from the end of the Roman Empire, for which the function of sexuality is the reproduction of the species. Western Christians justified this reversal by basing themselves on Pauls epistles to the Corinthians (VI:9-10) and to the Romans (I:26-28), even returning to Leviticus and Deuteronomy. But apart from the fact that these texts probably have a different meaning, they do not have the authority of Christ. In any case, the integration of homosexuals continued in the Christian communities of the Levant until the 18th century.

Islam presents itself as an intervention by God to clarify the theological confusion which reigned in Arabia. The Quran, adopting the myth of Genesis (19), evokes on six occasions the myth of Sodom and Gomorrha (7:80-81, 21:74, 26:165-166, 27:54-55, 29:28-30 and 54:33-34). These verses have only recently been interpreted to condemn the crime of Lot, and to advocate the stoning and killing of homosexuals by throwing them from roof-tops. In reality, the myth of Lot does not apply to relations between people of the same sex, but stigmatises both the non-respect of hospitality and rape, which the Bedouins considered as a mark of enslavement. Besides, the Quran does not condemne Lot  whom it presents as one of the prophets of Islam  nor his visitors, who ultimately reveal themselves as angels, but the inhabitants of Sodom. Many artists from the golden age of Islam celebrated homosexual love, and several caliphs openly displayed their relations with other men (for example Al-Amine, Al-Mutasim and Al-Wathiq).

Who is comfortable with homosexuality?

Today, Daesh is campaigning against those who practice the crime of Lot. On the 24 August 2015, on the initiative of Washington and Santiago, the UN Security Council held a meeting concerning the executions that the terrorist organisation has praticed on homosexuals in Iraq and Syria.

Nonetheless, several members of the Council hesitated to condemn these exactions by the jihadists. Angola (80 % Christian) and Chad (mostly Muslim) asked their ambassadors not to participate in the meeting, while other members of the Council demanded a closed session, so that there would be no written report of the meeting, and the Council would abstain from any public conclusion.

As a result, we do not know if it examined only the exactions committed by Daesh, or if it extended its investigations to other jihadist groups. In September 2013, the al-Nusra Front (al-Qaida), supervised by Turkish and French officers, attempted to take the small town of Maloula (40 kilometres from Damascus). The objective had no strategic or even tactical value, but is a powerful symbol for Christians of the Orient. It is the worlds oldest Christian city, converted in the year 35 by Paul of Tarsus and Saint Thecla. Maloula claims to conserve the tradition of original Christianity, independent of the schism between Catholic and Orthodox. The jihadists made ferocious attacks on all representations of Christianity, particularly against the grand statue of the Virgin Mary (although she is celebrated by the Quran), the relics of Saint Thecla, (whom Catholics no longer recognise as a saint, since she gave the sacrements as a man, but whom Orthodox Christians consider as the thirteenth apostle), and the two monasteries of Saint Sarkis and Saint Bacchus. The Catholic and Orthodox churches, who supported the inhabitants of Maloula, were very careful not to mention this aspect of the events.

Finally, the Western powers do not seem to be particularly sincere about their integration of homosexuals. They have made a symbol of free societies, and manipulate the subjet to hammer home the idea that the Syrian Arab Republic is a repressive regime. But the propaganda campaign of the Gay Girl in Damascus, like the attempt to manipulate Subhi Nahas, has failed. However, they had no problem with supporting al-Qaida when it attacked the monasteries of Saint Sarkis and Saint Bacchus, or Mohammed Allouche while he was throwing gays from the rooftops.
Artillery fire from Turkey and coalition air strikes killed 23 Islamic State (IS) group militants in northern Syria, broadcaster Haberturk reported on Monday.

Haberturk said a total of 33 strikes targeted militants thought to be preparing an attack on Turkey.

It did not say when the operation was carried out.

The US-led coalition has stepped up air strikes against IS group positions in the area in recent weeks, in response to rocket attacks by the militants on the border town of Kilis.

Kilis, just across the frontier from an IS-controlled region of Syria, has been hit by rockets more than 70 times this year. More than 20 people have been killed and parts of the town reduced to rubble.

Turkey has also increased retaliatory fire but security sources say soldiers with heavy artillery stationed on the border find it difficult to hit the militants, who sometimes fire from the back of vehicles.

NATO member Turkey is also battling a Kurdish insurgency in its mainly Kurdish southeast. It has repeatedly said it needs more help from Western partners to keep Kilis and its Syrian border secure.

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DUBLIN  Pretty Peggy Pepper lost her head, but it wasn't over a boy.

"In March, we had a tornado and it took the roof off the fire station and the roof off the city hall, which was already being repaired from our storm last year," said Luanne Schexnider, executive director of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce.

The decapitated mascot is in the pocket park at the intersection of Blackjack and Patrick streets, called the Corner Lot by some and the Dublin Pretty Peggy Pepper Park by others. The centerpiece namesake for the latter park title is a large billboard of a young lady dressed like a Rangerette but wearing a garrison cap rather than a Stetson.

"That was on a Tuesday and we had our St. Patrick's (celebration) on the next Saturday," Schexnider told the Abilene Reporter-News (http://bit.ly/1UA0B4B). "Peggy lost her head sometime in that storm."

What's left of the display faces west, still greeting visitors entering town after Texas 6 turns into Blackjack Street. The head and upper torso are missing, but the legs and boots still sit on the swing. It just doesn't rock beneath its tree anymore, except when the wind blows.

Each year on the second weekend in June, Dublin used to change its name to Dr Pepper in honor of being the home of the soft drink's oldest bottling plant. But after a 2011 lawsuit between Dublin Dr Pepper and Dr Pepper/Snapple resulted in the loss of the beverage's local production, the town and the bottling plant have done their best to move on.

In some ways, what to do about Pretty Peggy Pepper reflects that.

"I know there are those people who would really like to keep it as the icon of this area," Schexnider said, adding not everyone in town shares those feelings.

Manager Kenny Horton's business card describes him as the "Head Soda Jerk" for Dublin Bottling Works, which is the name the Dublin Dr Pepper took after the lawsuit.

"A big storm knocked her head off, but we found it," he said of the sign. "It's been a focal piece for a lot of people who come into town.

"I know there are a lot of people who want us to restore it to exactly what it was before, there are some people who want us to change it, and there are some people who want us to tear it down."

Horton said the sign was installed at the park in 1998 through the efforts of William P. Kloster, the former owner of the plant who died the following year.

Would they like to see the sign repaired?

"It would look a lot better than it does now, that's really why we're trying to get all the red tape figured out so we can know what to do with it," Horton said. "There's always a good time for change; so to do something new, maybe something that incorporates Pretty Peggy Pepper from our history, or that brings us into a new era but yet holds to the history of the company, I'm cool with."

Saturday, June 11, marked the 125th anniversary of the bottling plant. Pre-lawsuit, that would have been an excuse for a wild blowout, but Dublin Bottling Works efforts last weekend were focused on what's ahead.

"We're in the process of getting equipment for a brand-new bottling facility, we've kind of put all of our funds toward that," Horton said. "In order to do that, we decided to go a little bit more low-key, there's been years past where we've spent upwards of $100,000 on the celebration."

Rebranded as "Dublin Fun Day," the festivities centered on Old Doc's Soda Shop and the plant's museum.

"A lot of people still want to come to Dublin for that," she said.

Time has moved on for the bottling plant, too. No longer restricted to the 44-mile radius it was limited to for selling Dublin Dr Pepper, the presence of Dublin Bottling Works products has increased exponentially in the Big Country since the lawsuit.

"Absolutely, West Texas has been one of our fastest-growing areas of late," Horton said. "We're in quite a few places around Abilene."

The History Channel's "American Pickers" television show featured a segment on the museum this month, too, with the show's hosts purchasing some items from the museum's back-stock from a warehouse.

Also from one of the warehouses is a display in the company store of 8-ounce bottles of Dublin Dr Pepper from the last bottling run. Going for $4.99 each, they are also labeled "Not for Consumption."

"We were cleaning out a warehouse the other day and found a few cases," Horton said. "If somebody wanted a little token of our history, we figured we would let a few of those go."

But not drinkable?

"You can still taste the semblance of the old flavor, but they're quite flat. They are over five years old," he said. "It's not as bad as you might think they might be, but you can definitely tell they have some age to them."

So it is time to stop hoarding and start drinking.

___

Information from: Abilene Reporter-News, http://www.reporternews.com
With a growing need and growing mission, Carver Park Baptist Church broke ground on a 1,400-square-foot food pantry last week in an effort to serve more people in the Waco area, Senior Pastor Gaylon Foreman said.

We are extremely excited, because this is going to give us the opportunity to serve the people from one building, Foreman said. We are going to be able to serve people quicker and serve more people, because there is definitely a need in all of Waco, I think.

A large crowd of parishioners and church supporters broke ground on the new food pantry Friday at the church, at 1020 E. Herring Ave.

Food pantry coordinator Helen Lewis said the pantry already serves more than 140 families, totaling more than 400 people per month, but the need continues to grow.

Sometimes it can be a problem between whether you can pay your bills, like your rent, utilities, or if you pay for your groceries, Lewis said. There are a lot of families out there who are trying to make the decision of how to survive and they have to make that decision all the time, and we see it.

Carver Park opened its food pantry in 2011 to address the need in East Waco. It was originally set up in two locations, with space in the Fellowship Hall for refrigerated or frozen items and another area for canned goods.

The new building will have space to house the whole operation and will have other resources for people facing food insecurity, Lewis said.

We will be able to help people fill out a food-stamp application, and when we get our new building, we will be able to set up our computers so we will be able to assist and serve, Lewis said. East Waco is one of the areas that needs help, so I wouldnt say it is the only area, or the greatest. . . . We have people that come from Elm Mott and Bellmead quite often, and we have two other food banks that work in that area, so we try to serve everyone we can.

The food pantry operates from 10 a.m. to noon on the first and third Friday of every month, and hours and days of service are expected to expand when the new building opens in three to four months. Member donations are paying for construction, and the Central Texas Food Bank of Austin will provide food, Foreman said.

We all definitely knew that we needed more space to do this right, he said. I am grateful to God that there are so many agencies that are trying to meet the need and there are other pantries in Waco, but we feel like the more we can help, the better off our community will be.

For more information about helping the Carver Park Baptist Food Pantry, visit www.carverparkwaco.org, or call 799-2766.
A weekend pursuit of a wanted fugitive ended Sunday with the arrest of a man and his known acquaintance following a daylong chase, leaving several McLennan County Sheriffs Office deputies suffering from heat exhaustion, Sheriff Parnell McNamara said.

Keith Allen Brown, 49, was arrested after he led officers on a chase when a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle near the McLennan County Jails visitation center on State Highway 6 at about noon Saturday. The driver fled from officers along the access road and drove through the grass near the intersection of Highway 6 and Loop 340, where he grounded his car out, disabling it.

He went parallel along the railroad tracks, then he abandoned his car when he bailed out, McNamara said. There was a train parked on the tracks, so he ran under the train, and our deputies pursued him into the heavily wooded area.

With temperatures in the low to mid-90s, multiple officers continued into the wooded area as authorities set up a perimeter and activated the use of a helicopter to help in search efforts.

It was dangerously hot and several of our officers suffered heat exhaustion, McNamara said. Five suffered heat exhaustion and two were taken to the hospital.

Both officers recovered after the trip to the hospital. McNamara said authorities decided the circumstances around the pursuit were too dangerous to continue and officers ended the search after about four hours.

McNamara said extra officers were called in to assist with call volume after the extensive search. Officers were able to identify Brown as the fleeing suspect, prompting officers to begin a more detailed investigation into his whereabouts, he said.

We realized he was on parole and there was an active parole violation warrant on him, McNamara said. We searched for him all night and, subsequent to the search, we made a drug case on one of his friends, who had sizeable quantities of methamphetamine, scales and drug paraphernalia.

Lorrie Beth Chmiel, 54, was arrested Sunday on multiple drug charges, including manufacturing/delivery of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of a dangerous drug. She remained in jail Monday on a $58,000 surety bond.

As officers continued to search for Brown, a patrolling officer spotted Brown walking on La Salle Avenue, where he took off running again, McNamara said. Officers set up a perimeter between South 13th and 18th Streets and brought in a K-9 officer to assist.

When we said that we were going to release the K-9, he basically gave up, because he didnt want to have to deal with the dog, McNamara said.

McNamara said Brown was captured Sunday and was taken to McLennan County Jail on felony charges of resisting arrest, possession of methamphetamine and the outstanding parole violation. He remained in custody Monday on a $250,000 surety bond.

McNamara said Brown told officers how he eluded officers throughout the night.

According to him, he had jumped into the Brazos River, floated way downriver because the current was so swift and then he walked back north to LaSalle when we found him barefooted and only in shorts, he said. Our guys never gave up and I am so proud of the officers, because they kept the heat turned up on him.
Human Rights Watch on Monday urged the EU to evaluate Syrian refugees' protection claims before returning them to Turkey citing a lack of refugee rights.

It said in a statement released for World Refugee Day that refugees in Turkey lacked access to jobs, education and health care.

"It is hardly surprising that many are not getting the support they desperately need to maintain livelihoods," considering Turkey is host to over 2 million Syrian refugees, the group's Stephanie Gee said.

Gee urged international donors to support Ankara's efforts to improve basic rights for refugees. In the meantime, she added, the European Asylum Support Office and Greece should consider all asylum applications of Syrians who have come through Turkey on their merits, as they should not be considered inadmissible on the grounds that Turkey is a "safe third country."

An EU-Turkey agreement allows Greece to return Syrian asylum seekers to Turkey without evaluation of their protection claims on the basis it is a "safe third country."

HRW said "safe" should mean not just protection from war or prosecution, but should also include the right to work, health care and education.

The deal is part of efforts to stem the tide of migrants to Europe. In exchange for at least 3 billion euros ($3.4 billion) and fast-track EU accession talks, Turkey has agreed to take back migrants who reach the shores of Greece after March 20. The bloc, in turn, will take in a Syrian refugee based in Turkey for every Syrian sent back from Greece.

Ankara says it is hosting 3 million refugees, among them 2.75 million Syrians.

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Al-Ahram Weekly has learned that negotiations underway in Kuwait for the past two months on the political crisis in Yemen have made no progress as the two sides have been unable to find common ground.



Meanwhile, the Saudi ambassador to Yemen, Mohamed Said Al-Jaber, has put forth an initiative to form a military committee to monitor the ceasefire on the battlefront. This would entail establishing an organisational structure of the main committee for the coordination of the ceasefire, with local subcommittees in each governorate.



A team would be attached to each local committee, working on all fronts and connecting the different subcommittees. Each truce team would be made up of two delegates representing the government and the Houthis.



The parties to the Yemen crisis ostensibly concluded a prior agreement in Dhahran, located in southern Saudi Arabia, on the operation of the truce committee. Riyadh has allocated one million riyals to cover operating costs, and the process will be overseen and implemented under a UN aegis.



Abd Al-Azizi Al-Jabari, Yemens deputy prime minister and vice-chair of the government delegation in the Kuwait negotiations, told the Weekly in a phone interview that the latest developments in the negotiations demonstrate that the Houthi-Saleh delegation has not complied with the framework and agenda of the negotiations, and is seeking to put forth a new proposal unrelated to the core of UN Security Council Resolution 2216.



Al-Jabari stressed that any resolution must put an end to militias in the country, ensure the surrender of weapons, most of which were looted from army camps, and entail the turnover of state institutions the Houthis control. Anything less is unacceptable, he said.



Al-Jabari added that the Houthi-Saleh delegation is seeking to legitimise the coup by submitting new proposals for the basis of dialogue in Kuwait. But no party will accept this because theyre not serious about the peace process, he said. Speaking of the Saudi initiative, Al-Jabari said the government will rally around all attempts with the goal of making a breakthrough.

They [the Houthis] did not engage with [the initiative] and want to promote other proposals, Al-Jabari said. But I dont think any international party will accept this.



Khaled Alyan, an advisor to the Yemeni presidency who is familiar with the talks, revealed to the Weekly one detail that sparked a dispute around the acceptance of the Saudi initiative.



When talk turned to the matter of later forming a committee for the withdrawal of weapons after the truce, we suggested that there be an impartial committee of senior military personnel who did not participate in the war, he said. The Houthi response was that they reject this.



They want a committee divided between them and the legitimate government, and insisted on appointing Mohamed Ali Al-Houthi, the head of the so-called Houthi Revolutionary Committees, as the official on their side. This undermines the legitimacy of President Hadi and his government.

Alyan added: These revolutionary committees were also supposed to cede state institutions, with any of their decisions not based on legal or constitutional legitimacy voided. But they dont want this. They say the starting point should be the formation of a consensus government to which the institutions can be surrendered.



But there is an agenda that first requires implementing the terms of UN Resolution 2216, which calls for an end to militia control of the state and the reinstatement of legitimacy. Then we can move toward a new transitional phase based on the Gulf Initiative and the outcome of the national dialogue.



Based on information from the presidency of the delegation, Alyan said that the legitimacy delegation submitted a written commitment that the government will resign in the event of a consensus based on the agenda.



In contrast, the Houthi movement and Salehs National Congress are insisting on starting with the political process rather than the security issue, as Al-Jabari confirmed to the Weekly, and that a consensus government should be formed to receive surrendered weapons.



Ahmed Rafiq, who is close to the Houthi delegation and part of the working group of the National Congress, said in phone interview from Sanaa, No one in the Houthi and Saleh delegations will accept Hadi again ruling Yemen, so there must first be a consensus government.



How can a military committee be formed under an unacceptable government, which is a party to the conflict, without members from the National Congress and Houthi movement? There must either be a joint military committee or a consensus government.

*This article was originally published on 16 June in Al-Ahram Weekly.

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Tunisia on Monday extended by a month a state of emergency in place since November following a series of militant attacks, officials said.

"The president of the Republic, Beji Caid Essebsi, decided on Monday... to proclaim again the state of emergency across (Tunisian) territory for a month starting from June 21, 2016," the president's office said in a statement.

The North African nation, the birthplace of the Arab Spring, has suffered from a wave of militant violence since the 2011 revolution that ousted longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The Islamic State (IS) group claimed brazen attacks last year on the National Bardo Museum in Tunis and a beach resort that killed 59 tourists.

Following a suicide bombing in the capital in November which killed 12 members of the presidential guard and was claimed by IS group, authorities declared a state of emergency and a curfew in the capital.

The curfew was later lifted, but the state of emergency has remained in place and was extended for the fourth time on Monday.

The law allows the authorities to ban strikes and meetings that might "provoke or maintain disorder", to temporarily close theatres and bars, and to "take every measure to secure control of the press and all types of publications".

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EU foreign ministers on Monday agreed to boost the bloc's anti-people smuggling operation in the Mediterranean to include training of the Libyan coastguard and enforcing a UN arms embargo.

Ministers also agreed to extend Operation Sophia's mandate by one year, a statement said, as the European Union tries to stem a flood of migrants from North Africa and beyond trying to get to Europe.

"The Council (of member states) extended until 27 July 2017 the mandate for EU NAVFOR MED Operation Sophia, the EU naval operation to disrupt the business model of human smugglers and traffickers in the southern central Mediterranean," a statement said after the ministers met in Luxembourg.

"The Council also reinforced the operation's mandate by adding two supporting tasks -- training of the Libyan coastguard and navy, and contributing to the implementation of the UN arms embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya."

The EU launched Operation Sophia last year after hundreds of migrants died when their rickety boats sank off southern Italy, sparking popular outrage at their plight.

This Central Mediterranean route has seen more migrants risk their lives in recent weeks after the EU reached an accord with Turkey in March to halt an influx of more than a million refugees who crossed the Aegean to reach Europe last year.

Operation Sophia currently comprises five vessels and three helicopters charged with intercepting smugglers' boats and destroying them, in international waters.

Officials said they will review what additional assets the mission will need in July so Sophia can meet its new tasks.

They said the EU will likely train a first batch of some 100 Libyan coastguard officers and then another at which point 10 patrol boats ordered by slain dictator Muammar Gaddafi from Italy will be delivered.

The EU force cannot enter Libyan territorial waters without a formal request by the UN-backed Government of National Accord which is trying to extend its shaky authority from Tripoli to the rest of the country.

The UN Security Council last week authorised the EU to intercept ships suspected of arms smuggling to Libya as part of moves to shore up the new government.

The Western-backed overthrow of Kadhafi in 2011 plunged Libya into chaos, with rival rebel forces seizing as much territory as they could.

Islamic State militant groups have taken advantage of the upheaval to establish a presence, deepening EU concerns over security on its southern flank.

The arms embargo was first imposed on Libya in 2011. UN monitors have reported arms shipments from Turkey and some Arab countries to the various factions.

Libya is awash with weapons, with some 20 million of all types in a country of just six million people, according to the UN.

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They lived in new houses, did not have to pay for rent or electricity and "there is not much to complain about", he told reporter Caroline Marcus.

In an episode of Channel Nine's A Current Affair on Monday night, which had been promoted as one that would "stun Australia", Mr Adeang said refugees were "certainly living better" than Nauruans.

Nauru has "much lower" rates of sexual assaults, murder and rape than Australia and many refugee assault claims are false or exaggerated, the island nation's Justice Minister David Adeang has claimed in a tabloid television exclusive.

Refugee advocates had earlier questioned how the program's reporter and crew were granted access to Nauru, where foreign media are rarely allowed, and warned they would have been shown a sanitised version of the island and its contentious Australian-funded detention camp.

A Current Affair reporter Caroline Marcus talks about her visit with host Tracy Grimshaw. Credit:Nine

Marcus told host Tracey Grimshaw that the Australian government played no role in the program gaining access to Nauru, and that Immigration MInister Peter Dutton's office had called Nauruan authorities "asking a lot of questions" when learning of the visit.

"The Australian government had no idea we were planning this visit, or had embarked on the visit. In fact it was a few hours into our first day on Nauru . . . when Peter Dutton's office actually called the Nauruan government's office to find out what a media crew was doing on the island, [asking] 'Who were they?'," Marcus said.

"We certainly gave no undertakings [about favourable coverage] whatsoever, we went in there from the start saying . . . we had to have access to all the detention centres and be able to see everything."
Passengers on the Pacific Dawn were injured in a bus crash after a tour in Vanuatu. Credit:P&O "He is still in a critical condition, but actually he's conscious and he is alert," she said. The child, his sibling and mother, are now on their way to Brisbane. Vanuatu Daily Post images showing a bus crash. Credit:Facebook: Vanuatu Daily Post EARLIER

Three children are among 10 Australian tourists who have been seriously injured in a fatal bus crash in Port Vila, Vanuatu, with some being flown back to Australia on Tuesday for emergency treatment. Intensive care paramedic Michael Benjamin, who attended the scene, has told the ABC that three children were among the P&O cruise ship passengers who were injured when their bus was involved in a head-on crash with a second bus on Monday, local time. The accident killed three Port Vila locals, including the driver of the second bus, according to the Vanuatu Daily Post. The Australian children injured were two boys, aged seven and 11, and a four-year-old girl, Mr Benjamin said. The 11-year-old has significant head injuries and has been flown to Noumea, he said. The Australians, who had been travelling on Brisbane-based cruise ship Pacific Dawn, had been doing a tour near Port Vila when the crash occurred.

P&O Cruises, which owns the Pacific Dawn, has confirmed that at least 10 passengers were seriously injured. A spokesman said it was arranging for air ambulances from Australia and New Caledonia to airlift passengers to Brisbane or Noumea for specialist medical treatment. An Australian air ambulance jet, with a critical care doctor and two nurses on board, left Brisbane at 7am on Tuesday for Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila. An RACQ CareFlight Rescue spokeswoman said the organisation's Learjet 45 was expected to return to Australia later on Tuesday with two patients, who were likely critically injured. Another rescue flight is expected to leave for Vanuatu later on Tuesday. Three of the injured guests were transferred by air ambulance to Noumea on Monday night.

The P&O spokesman said most of the injured were likely to be Australian, given the Pacific Dawn was based in Brisbane. "The injuries are significant - the sort of injuries you'd expect in road trauma," he said. "We've made the decision to airlift them to take the pressure off health services in Port Vila." He could not provide ages or genders of the injured, nor confirm if any children were involved. An Australian woman told AAP that P&O has kept her family in the dark about the injuries her elderly grandparents suffered in a fatal bus crash in Vanuatu.

Sarah Amy said her grandparents, Moyna Exley and Brian Exley, both aged in their 70s, have serious injuries including broken bones and open wounds. "We had no contact with anyone and only were able to get the information from the Aussie consulate. My family are slowly coping but we are all in distress," she told AAP. Another man said his in-laws had been on board, and had suffered broken bones. Danny Bushel said his mother-in-law had a compound fracture to her femur, and father-in-law has a broken left arm. Another woman said her grandmother in law had been injured: "I just want to thank P&O for the updates and the care they, and the local people, are providing to all affected. My thoughts are with the families of the deceased," she wrote.

P&O passengers who had done similar tours in the past said they'd feared for their own safety while in Vanuatu. "I went on one of the tour buses through P&O and it was the scariest I had ever been on - we nearly had a head on collision and the driver was speeding like a maniac, time P&O took responsability (sic) to sign up safe tour buses with experienced drivers with safty (sic) in mind. This was in Vanuatu in Port Villa," Val Mer wrote. Another, Daniel Adams, agreed: "They need do drive safer and when we were there the van we were put into (after paying top dollar for the tour) had extremely bald tyres and then he was speeding on gravel roads. P&o need to monitor this better. My wife and I were scared!" Photos published by the Vanuatu Daily Post showed ambulances and emergency workers rushing injured passengers to hospital. It is believed that medical staff from the cruise ship have been sent to the local hospital to assist in treating the injured.
A Sydney labourer, who unleashed a torrent of explicit abuse online after a screen shot of a woman's Tinder profile was uploaded to Facebook, told police he was drunk and unaware that trolling was a crime, court documents show.

Zane Alchin, 25, from Caringbah in Sydney's south, has dropped his fight against the charge of using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend. His lawyer, Pierre de Dassel, entered a plea of guilty on his behalf in the Downing Centre Local Court on Monday.

Zane Alchin leaving the Downing Centre Local Court this week. Credit:Nick Moir

The offence occurred after Chris Hall, 31, posted a screen shot of Sydney woman Olivia Melville's Tinder dating profile to Facebook in August 2015.

Ms Melville's Tinder profile included a picture of her and Canadian hip hop artist Drake's lyrics: "Type of girl who will suck you dry and then eat some lunch with you".
Heavy rain in the afternoon saw Homebush in western Sydney drenched by 9mm in 10 minutes, while Badgerys Creek, near the dam, had 23mm since 9am.

Water levels at the south-west Sydney dam were at 98 per cent at 6pm, after parts of the city received more than 60mm of rainfall since 9am.

Warragamba Dam could spill on Monday after heavy rainfall drenched the Sydney basin on Sunday night.

The city's north also copped a drenching, with Castle Cove and nearby Frenchs Forest recording 62mm and 50mm of rain respectively from 9am to 11pm on Tuesday.

Warragamba Dam, Sydney's main catchment, last spilled over in August 2015 - and may again on Monday. Credit:Edwina Pickles

A WaterNSW spokesman said the Warragamba catchment had been "saturated" and the heavy falls made run off at the dam a possibility.

"The heaviest rain fall will be this evening," the spokesman said on Sunday. "We are working with the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) and the SES to monitor the rainfall."

The spokesman said it was not possible to release water in anticipation of the weekend's heavy rain.
-Kuwait's foreign minister said Monday that a deal to grant thousands of stateless people in the Gulf emirate Comoran nationality had not been struck despite recent reports.

Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah, in comments published in the Al-Qabas daily newspaper, denied rumours circulating in Kuwaiti media on the agreement.

"If we sign an agreement with any country, the foreign ministry is obliged... to complete the necessary legal procedures in accordance with the constitution," the minister said.

Comoran External Affairs Minister Abdulkarim Mohamed said in Kuwait last month that his country was ready to consider taking thousands of stateless people denied citizenship there.

Local media in Kuwait recently suggested that a deal was in the works and reported scams involving large sums charged for assistance in obtaining Comoran citizenship.

More than 110,000 stateless people, locally known as bidoons, have been living in Kuwait for decades claiming the right to citizenship in the oil-rich emirate and the generous welfare benefits that accompany it.

But the government describes them as "illegal residents" and says only 34,000 qualify for consideration for citizenship.

Impoverished Comoros consists of three islands in the Indian Ocean with a population of just under 800,000 people, nearly all of them Sunni Muslims.

Despite the country's distance from the Middle East and North Africa, it is a member of the Arab League as well as the African Union.

Several years ago, Comoros offered thousands of bidoons in the United Arab Emirates citizenship in exchange for generous aid packages in a deal similar to the Kuwait proposal.

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The longest continuous planned train service disruption on the Armadale and Thornlie lines is just over a week away, the Public Transport Authority has announced.

The nine-day line closure, needed to connect the new Perth Stadium Station to the rail network, will begin on the evening of Friday July 1 and affect commuters for five business days.

Armadale and Thornlie line passengers are urged to plan alternatives now. Credit:Erin Jonasson EJZ

For several months, the government has been building a new set of tracks and four of the six new platforms for the station next to an operating rail line, with closures at night and on weekends.

But it now needs to "swap" the services on to the new set of tracks to do the work on the opposite side.
The Geutanyoe Foundation, an Aceh-based humanitarian organisation, said many of the Sri Lankans were in possession of refugee identity cards issued by the government of Tamil Nadu, one of the 29 states of India. Indonesian officials load food supplies onto a boat carrying Tamil migrants stranded on the beach in Lhoknga. Credit:AP "On World Refugee Day, which falls on June 20, we once again call on the government of Indonesia to grant immediate and unhindered access to UNHCR to meet the Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers in Aceh," it said. One of the Sri Lankans, Sehuda, told Fairfax Media they would continue to Australia because they could not get citizenship in India. Sri Lankans were sheltered in a tent on the beach in Aceh over the weekend, while their boat was repaired. Credit:Fadly

"For the past 26 years we have stayed there, they did not give us citizenship," the 25-year-old said. She said they wanted to go to Australia "for a better life and to earn money" and had paid their leader 150,000 "Indian money" (rupees) - the equivalent of $3000 - for a place on the boat. The Sri Lankan women disembark the boat against the orders of the Indonesian authorities. Credit:Fadly Thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils live in Tamil Nadu, many of them in refugee camps. The Geutanyoe Foundation said over the past two months there had been a renewed crackdown by the military in northern Sri Lanka, which had further deterred Sri Lankan refugees in India from returning to Sri Lanka.

The 44 Sri Lankans claim they were en route to Australia when they had engine troubles. Credit:Fadly "The fact there are a large number of women and young children on the vessel indicates strongly that they are seeking asylum, not only seeking employment, as has been suggested by several Indonesian observers. "Decisions on this case seem to have been taken in haste, without carefully weighing the risks and consequences to human life in terms of safety and protection," the Foundation added. Sri Lankans receive supplies from Indonesia while at the tent camp. Credit:Fadly The Foundation also warned that Australia had tough policies designed to prevent asylum seekers reaching its shores, including towing boats back to sea.

The 44 Sri Lankans, who include a seven-month-old baby and a pregnant woman, were allowed to temporarily disembark on the beach at Lhoknga in Aceh Besar at 4am on Saturday morning, after storms tilted the boat. They were sheltered in tents on the beach and given food and drink. This followed a tense stand-off between the Sri Lankans and Indonesian authorities, who had previously refused to allow anyone to disembark because they did not have travel documents or passports. Last Thursday police fired a warning shot to "take control of the situation" after five Sri Lankan women, who had earlier called for a doctor to see a sick child and mimed pointing a gun to their temples, clambered ashore and sat on the beach. Indonesian Navy Commander Kicky Salvachdie in the Acehnese city of Sabang, said once the Sri Lankan boat was pulled from the sand and taken to a port belonging to the SAI cement factory in Lhoknga, they would have the Sri Lankans board their boat.

"The Teluk Sibolga navy ship will escort the boat to our border. After that it's up to them," he told Fairfax Media. House of Representatives member Nasir Jamil, who met the Sri Lankans on Sunday, said they had asked for a new ship to continue their journey. However he said the strong winds and high waves made the journey risky and he suggested they instead be flown to Medan or Jakarta and placed in immigration detention centres. "They are from Sri Lanka but they hold Indian refugee cards," Mr Nasir said. "We can't tell whether the card is the real thing or a fake. Their boat is using an Indian flag. We don't have sufficient information on them." He said the Sri Lankans would accept their fate whether they stayed in Indonesia or continued their journey.
London: Ecuador has received a formal request by the Swedish authorities to interview WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange inside its London embassy in a possible breakthrough to the long running saga.

Foreign Minister Dr Guillaume Long said Ecuador was considering the request and would respond as quickly as possible.

Mr Assange, who has been living inside the embassy for just over four years, is wanted for questioning in Sweden about a sex allegation, which he has always denied.
On 17 June 2016, the Member of the Board (Minister) for Customs Cooperation of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), Mr. Mukai Kadyrkulov, visited WCO Headquarters for discussions with WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya on topics of mutual interest.

The talks focused on future cooperation between the two bodies over a range of Customs areas, on the use of WCO standards to improve Customs regulations and procedures, and on the development and status of regional economic communities.

During the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Secretary General Mikuriya and Mr. Kadyrkulov to give concrete form to the cooperation established between the WCO and EEC.

The Eurasian Economic Union, of which the EEC is an institutional body, was founded by Treaty on 29 May 2014 and has five Members : Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the Russian Federation.
France on Monday called for EU leaders to have a full discussion on the future of economic sanctions imposed on Russia over Ukraine, even though they are expected to be rolled over shortly.

Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said it was out of the question to lift the sanctions as long as Russia fails to help implement the ceasefire accords in Ukraine, which were signed in Minsk in February 2015.

At the same time, the 28-nation bloc could not simply keep renewing the sanctions automatically without proper discussion, he added, on the sidelines of an EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg.

"The conditions for ending the sanctions are not in place since the Minsk accords are neither respected nor implemented," Ayrault said.

"What I want is that at the next EU leaders summit (on June 28-29) ... we are not just satisfied with the automatic six-month rollover of the sanctions but that there is a real debate," he said.

That way, leaders can see if there has been any progress on resolving the conflict and what could be done to encourage a possible opening, he added.

EU officials were due to discuss the six-month sanctions rollover on Tuesday, diplomatic sources told AFP last week.

Ministers were then to formally approve the decision without debate on Friday so as to avoid it coming up at next week's leaders summit, set to be dominated by the outcome of Thursday's British EU membership referendum, they said.

Ayrault's remarks follow comments late last month by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier that the European Union should consider a "step by step" relaxation of the economic sanctions if there was progress on Ukraine.

The EU imposed the economic sanctions against Russia after the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in July 2014, blamed on pro-Moscow rebels in eastern Ukraine.

The sanctions were controversial from the start, with several EU states such as Italy, Germany and Hungary lukewarm at best until the MH17 tragedy.

The EU last week rolled over for another year sanctions imposed after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

The EU has also imposed a separate set of visa ban and asset freeze sanctions against individual Russian and Ukrainian figures for backing the separatist cause in early 2014. These measures run until September.

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Somalia's al Shebab militants killed five police officers in a border region in northeastern Kenya on Monday, a regional official said.

There was no immediate statement from al Shebab, which has made a series of deadly incursions into nrighbouring Kenya, saying it will continue until Nairobi withdraws troops from an African Union force fighting the militants in Somalia.

"We condemn the attack by al Shebab at Dimu this morning, five police officers killed," Mandera County Governor Ali Roba said on his Twitter account.

Diplomats say Kenya's northeastern border with Somalia is a security weak spot, given the challenge of policing a long frontier, poor coordination between security services and a culture of corruption that allows those prepared to pay a bribe to pass unchallenged.

Al Shebab has targeted the Mandera region in the past.

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All persons are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. According to Sheriff Mark Herford the following felony arrest were made for the week of 10/17/22 - 10/23/22. 10/18/22 Jennifer Gibson was arrested by BPSO Patrol Division and charged with Illegal Use of CDS in Presenc
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By Chris Skates

Jun. 19, 2016 | PADUCAH, KY

By Chris Skates Jun. 19, 2016 | 09:29 PM | PADUCAH, KY

Its bad enough when websites engage in censorship and control of the arena of ideas that can be likened to George Orwells newspeak. It is quite another when sitting attorneys general utilize their office to do the same and in the process attempt to run roughshod over the first amendment. Yet thats exactly whats happening in the realm of man caused climate change theory. If you havent heard by now, 13 state attorneys general, apparently with the encouragement of Sheldon Whitehouse are attempting to file RICO type charges against those who are skeptical of man caused climate change and the prediction of catastrophic environmental consequences from the same. Whats more, California has proposed state law that would prosecute those skeptical of this highly questionable theory. My friend Dr. E. Calvin Beisner has just penned an op ed to these attorneys general as an open letter. I was honored to sign it when asked along with twenty others many of whom are esteemed climate scientists and others who are legal scholars. The letter, in its entirety is below. You can view all the signatures here:



Youre not stupid. Stupid people dont graduate from law school.



Neither are you generally ignorant. You know lots of law.



But the day of the Renaissance man, vastly learned across all fields of knowledge, is long gone. All intelligent and learned people are ignorant about some things.



So, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and members of Attorneys General United for Clean Power, take no offense when I tell you that your intent to investigate and potentially prosecute, civilly or criminally, corporations, think tanks, and individuals for fraud, under RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) or otherwise, because they question the causes, magnitude, risks, and benefits of global warming, and best responses to it, is a dead giveaway that youre ignorant about climate science and related climate and energy policy.



Ive thought this ever since you first went public, but an email from Ed Maibach, Professor in the Department of Communications and Director of the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University (GMU), to Jagadish Shukla, Professor of Climate Dynamics and president of the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies and the Institute of Global Environment and Society at GMU, dated July 22, 2015, ironically makes the point:



I had breakfast with David Michaels today. He is currently the Director of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (in the US Department of Labor), and a former environmental health colleague of mine at George Washington University. He is an expert in the case against the tobacco industry.



His [sic] feels the odds of the DOJ [Department of Justice] pursuing this case against [the fossil fuel] industry are slim to none, because there are no easily quantifiable [health care] costs that the government can seek reimbursement for.

That said, I have no objection to our sending a letter to the President, our Maryland Senators and members of Congress , with a cc to Senator [Sheldon] Whitehouse [D-RI], asking them to support Senator Whitehouses call for a RICO investigation.

Thats ironic because it comes from one of the 20 signers of Shuklas infamous letter to AG Lynch and the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy urging a RICO investigation similar to that against tobacco companies in the 1990s.



The ironies of Maibachs email are obvious enough. He cites an expert who thinks the odds of DOJs acting are slim to none, yet signs a letter asking DOJ to do it. He knows why the odds are slim: because there are no easily quantifiable  costs that the government can seek reimbursement for. Yet he signs a letter saying, We are now at high risk of seriously destabilizing the Earths climate and irreparably harming people around the world.

But the chief irony I have in mind is that you, attorneys generalnone of whom, presumably, is an expert in climate science or ecological biology or the economics and engineering of energy or any of the many other fields relevant to the controversyhave launched precisely the action Maibach reported Michaels said DOJ wouldnt launch for lack of easily quantifiable costs.



Now, why would Michaels have said there were no easily quantifiable costs?

Because, unlike in the case of tobaccos health risks, there are innumerable and enormous holes in the case (not for human contribution to global warming but) for manmade global warming dangerous enough to justify spending trillions of dollars reinventing the worlds energy system to mitigate it, particularly when competing use of those trillions might bring far greater benefit.



And you, intelligent and learned all, are ignorant of those enormous holes.



Its not entirely your fault. Journalists have been delinquent in reporting them. Climate alarmists have worked hard to deprive dissenters of research funds, jobs, and publication while hiding their own scientific misconduct. And it is ever so much easier to tell a scary story to motivate the public than to unpack the gory details with all their uncertainties.

So here are a few recommendations for you to remedy your ignorance:



1. Start by getting a grasp of the basic science of climate change by reading former Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Chairman Sir John Houghtons Global Warming: The Complete Briefing.



2. Then, to learn some of the reasons for doubting Houghtons somewhat alarmist views, read The Great Global Warming Blunder: How Mother Nature Fooled the Worlds Top Climate Scientists, by equally well-qualified climate scientist Roy W. Spencer.



3. If youre brave, get into the weeds of why the IPCC said in its Third Assessment Report, The climate system is a coupled non-linear chaotic system, and therefore the long-term prediction of future climate states is not possible (emphasis added), by reading Taken By Storm: The Troubled Science, Policy and Politics of Global Warming, by applied mathematician Christopher Essex and environmental economist and statistician Ross McKitrick. Youve probably never heard of the Navier-Stokes equation, but it is unsolved (and a million-dollar prize awaits anyone who solves it), yet accurate long-term prediction of climate requires its solution.



4. Go beyond journalists breathless reports based on the biased and unrepresentative Summary for Policymakers and actually read the (mostly very good) thousands of pages of the main texts of the Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC (including Working Group 3, whose predictions indicate countries poorest today are better off under warmer than cooler scenarios because in their models economic growth fueled by fossil fuels drives the warming). In them youll discover far more uncertainty than the SPM reveals.



5. Read the thousands of pages of the competing reports from the Nongovernmental [hence less politicized] International Panel on Climate Change.

6. Get acquainted with the meaning of climate sensitivity and why estimates of itand consequently of all effects of global warming driven by human emissions of CO2 and other deceptively named greenhouse gaseshave been declining over the years.



7. Learn a little about energy density and power density and how they relate to questions about the engineering and costs of various energy sources from Robert Bryces Power Hungry: The Myths of "Green" Energy and the Real Fuels of the Future and then about the costs of replacing fossil fuels as the source of roughly 85% of all the worlds energy with wind, solar, and other renewable options.



If you do these things, I dont guarantee youll become skeptical of dangerous manmade global warming, but I do expect youll understandbecause youre smartthat the issues are far more complex than you thought, and certainly far too complex to be adjudicated in a court of law that needs to find easily quantifiable costs to justify a ruling.



Youll also learn that honest people intelligent as yourselvesand maybe better informedcan disagree about the causes, magnitude, risks, and benefits of global warming, and best responses to it, without being mafia bosses. Youll discover that what motivates us is far more our concern not to trap billions of people in poverty by denying them access to the abundant, reliable, affordable energy indispensable to lifting and keeping any society out of poverty.



And then maybe, too before Congress takes you to the woodshedyoull decide to back off your potentially felonious conspiracy to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person  in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States, or because of his having so exercised the same, for which you could be fined or imprisoned up to ten years, or both (18 U.S.C. 241).



Chris Skates is Supervisor of Lab Services at a Midwest utility; he has 27 years of experience in both fossil fueled and nuclear power generation. He is an Adjunct Scholar with The Cornwall Alliance for The Stewardship of Creation. Chris is also the author of dozens of nationally published articles in a diverse collection of publications including magazines like, Turkey Call, Electric Light and Power, American Coal, and Southern Writers. He has extensive public speaking experience on energy, political, and social issues and has presented multiple lectures around the country and has published three novels.
The Western media plays a fundamental role in manipulating world opinion, as can be seen by its biased coverage of Egypt,

Today, it is a given among the majority of Egyptians that the Western media is against them. As Egyptians try to present themselves as being on the right track, someone out there continues to slander their every move and flagrantly ignore their accomplishments.

Is this attitude towards Egypt deliberate and premeditated? If so, why? More importantly, is this only the attitude of the Western media or is that media a mere marionette in the hands of larger powers?

The Western world was sceptical if not critical of the 30 June Revolution. Though many countries have turned around since, Britain remains on the fence, and the US continues to give Egypt the cold shoulder despite official visits and a continued flow of foreign aid. Even if official views are superficially courteous, the Western media is dead set on presenting a tarnished picture of Egypt today.

Egyptians are bewildered. They cannot fathom how the West does not see eye to eye with them on what they consider to be the best thing that could have happened in over five years.

Egyptians went out in droves on 30 June 2013 to call for change. Doesnt this make the revolution a legitimate one, launched by Egyptians and not enforced upon them?

Egyptians may never get to the real reason behind the hostility, but it will continue for as long as the powers in the West deem it to be necessary.

But while the Western media continues to criticise Egypt, many documentaries are exposing its true colours. The documentary Top 10 Staged Media Events is a case in point. It exemplifies not only the bias, but also the fabrications, of the Western media. Though produced in 2013, it is going viral on social media again today.

The Top 10 Staged Media Events is a 26-minute collage of footage that zooms in on the Western medias staged coverage. To show that all the networks are reading from the same script and that the media outlets all get their orders from the same external source, the documentary begins with footage of the same repeated message running across many US networks.

One story thread truly hits home: the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 and the events that occurred thereafter. There is footage of Charles Jaco, a CNN reporter, standing somewhere in Saudi Arabia as he anticipates the falling of an Iraqi Scud missile on Saudi soil. As sirens screech in the background and disaster looms, Jaco looks up to the sky apprehensively. Swiftly he puts his gas mask on and his colleague his helmet as the camera abruptly cuts off.

The drama was found to be faked. The footage was shot in a CNN studio in the US. The rest of the footage has Jaco exclaiming, I love this country, as he shows off a fake Scud missile before heading out for a burger and coffee.

In 2001, only 16 per cent of Americans believed that Iraq had had anything to do with the events of 9/11. But after a two-year propaganda war, 60 per cent believed that Iraq had had something to do with them, justifying the 2003 US-led invasion. The propaganda war had succeeded.

The US politician Robert F Kennedy Jr in the same documentary says there are five giant multinational corporations that together control all 14,000 radio stations in the United States, all 5,000 television stations, 80 per cent of newspapers, all billboards, and most large Internet providers. So five American companies govern the media landscape and control what is seen, heard and read across the world.

We can go further. According to award-winning ex-CNN investigative journalist Amber Lyon, CNN is routinely paid by the US government to have it selectively report on certain events while censoring others. And while Western newspapers criticise China, Russia and other countries regarding censorship and limitations on freedom of speech, they await content and quotation approval from the gatekeepers in the White House before printing their stories.

At face value, Google is a conglomerate that provides Internet-related services, but it seems to have been bitten by the same bug. One prominent commentator on this is activist Julian Assange of Wikileaks. In his book When Google Met Wikileaks, Assange goes in depth into how Google profits from its association with the US State Department and vice versa.

This tells us that the Western media can and does play a fundamental role in manipulating world views, regardless of what the truth might be. Be it the Ukraine-Russia War, the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, or Egypts 30 June Revolution, the bias is clear as day. And yet the world digests such information unabashed, only for it to be regurgitated on social media soon afterwards.

Objectivity, integrity and altruism go by the wayside in the face of money, power and dominance  from a seemingly squeaky-clean journalistic facade that delivers the news to media outlets bought by wealthy decision-makers to worthwhile stories that remain locked in drawers and insignificant ones that are highlighted and brought into the limelight.

While the Western media continues to wage a war against some countries and to hold others unaccountable, Western newspapers, TV networks and Internet providers fabricate facts and stage stories to defame and discredit, make omissions to suit their liking, and are bought and censored by governments.

All this is taking place while President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi, whom the Western media has shunned, has allowed journalist Ossama Kamal to ask whatever Egyptians would like to know during his two-year presidency in an interview with no censorship, no prohibitions and no omissions, but gaining very little coverage from the Western media.

It is high time that we took the Western media with a grain of salt, doubting everything and believing nothing.

The writer is author of Cairo Rewind: The First Two Years of Egypt's Revolution. That article was published in Al-Ahram Weekly on 16 June.

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By The Associated Press

Jun. 19, 2016 | FRANKLIN, KY

By The Associated Press Jun. 19, 2016 | 11:26 PM | FRANKLIN, KY

Protective, intelligent, loving and disciplined are words Vickie Renshaw uses to describe Bella, her 6-year-old per Chocolate Labrador retriever."Heroic" may be another apt descriptor for Bella, who is being credited with helping keep her groomer and caretaker, Shannon Henderson, alive overnight after she collapsed from a seisure.



Bella is believed to have provided warmth for Henderson through the night and then alerted a bystander in the morning about Henderson's condition. "You think of dogs that get lost from their owners and travel great distances and you see them out on their own, and Bella could have just gone off," Renshaw said. The Renshaws were frequent clients of Henderson's at Best in Show dog grooming, taking Bella there. On a weekend in early April,



Bella was left in Henderson's care while the Renshaws were out of town. Henderson had recently started suffering from non-epileptic seizures while operating Best in Show, but they had not been too disruptive in the first six months she had been experiencing them. During an unseasonably cool night that weekend, however, Henderson was blindsided by another seizure as she took Bella outside the business to use the bathroom about 9 p.m. Neighboring businesses in the small complex off U.S. 31-W By-Pass where Best in Show was located were closed, and with temperatures plunging into the 30s,



Henderson was in grave danger. It is believed that Bella did not come into contact with another person until about 8:30 a.m. the following day, when Alvin Meador arrived at Jim and Gill's Men's Shop with Judy Lindsey, who was set to open the store. Lindsey said she noticed Bella on her own by a van in the parking lot near the business. Bella has a strong resemblance to the dog that belongs to Lindsey's manager, and as she went to the store, Meador walked over to play with the dog. Meador said the dog appeared to want to tell him something and then walked around some fencing toward a grassy lot near the businesses. Meador followed and eventually encountered Henderson, who was lying unconscious on the ground, covered in mud and scrapes from where Bella apparently dragged her from outside the business. It is believed that Bella lay on top of Henderson to provide warmth during the night.



"I saw (Henderson) lying there," Meador said. "(Bella) goes over there and sits right by her and barks at me like she's telling me something has to be done ... if it wasn't for her walking back there I never would have found (Henderson)." Meador ran back to tell Lindsey to call 911 and then returned to where Henderson and Bella were. While waiting for an ambulance to arrive, Henderson's cellphone rang. Meador answered it and found himself talking to Sandie Norwood, Henderson's best friend. Meador explained the situation over the phone to Norwood, who was calling from her home in Franklin. "From the way he described her, I knew she had a massive seizure," Norwood said. "All I knew was to get to the shop, so I flew to Bowling Green."



Henderson stayed in The Medical Center for eight days after emergency personnel reached her. She was treated for hypothermia, with one IV delivering fluids to one arm and a second IV delivering hot fluids to her other arm. Henderson was wearing a T-shirt when she collapsed, and her body temperature got perilously low. "I was told that if it had been another couple degrees colder, my organs would have started shutting down," Henderson said. She was hospitalized for a few days before learning what happened to her and how she had been found. Henderson said she was stunned at the account.



"You find that animals never let you down," Henderson said this week. "No matter how low you are, they always treat you the same. They're very therapeutic for me." After being released, Henderson was readmitted for another day for additional care after struggling during her recovery at home. Henderson, who was a veterinary technician for 22 years before going into dog grooming full time, has endured some setbacks since her most recent stay in the hospital  persistent health concerns forced her to close Best in Show, and she is struggling with medical bills. Henderson, who now takes anti-seizure medication, has moved in with Norwood and her mother, and she continues to help look after dogs, including Bella, whose protective instinct still emerges around her.



"I'll see (Bella) nosing Shannon to remind her to take her meds," Norwood said. Henderson hopes to get a seizure response dog to help in the event of another emergency. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, seizure response dogs can be trained to bark when a person has seizure in order to alert others. A response dog can also put itself between the floor and the seizure sufferer in order to break the person's fall. The Renshaws visited Henderson in the hospital, leaving flowers for her, and they remain close. Earlier this week, the Renshaws had Henderson, Meador, Lindsey and Norwood and others over to play with Bella and recall her poise during the emergency. For all of Henderson's struggles, she considers herself fortunate to know people who offer their help. "It just makes you feel good that people care because there's sometimes not a lot of that in the world where it should be," Henderson said.
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You probably won't have heard of the WWI poet Charles Hamilton Sorley. Sorley died aged only 20 at the Battle of Loos in 1915, having written poems and letters throughout his teenage years and his time at war. His writings would later impress the likes of Robert Graves, which makes his story all the more tragic. People thought highly of him before he had any time to really flex his literary muscles, let alone actually think of himself as a writer.

Neil McPherson has collated It is Easy to Be Dead from Sorley's work, piecing various writings together into a play which gives a touching portrayal of a youthful, dynamic and brave soul. He spent time in Germany before the war, fell in love with his (married) German hostess and gained a strong respect for the country and its people. He was one of the first to sign up to fight for Britain in 1915, because he saw fighting for his country as his duty. But he didn't necessarily agree with the reasons for war.

Beginning the play with a telegram  a delivery that countless parents must have dreaded receiving during those years  McPherson has Sorley's upright Scottish father and mother left with paper: the stained, fragile pages of their son's legacy. After some hesitation  Sorley senior in particular finds it hard to share his son with the world  they publish them. The narrative weaves through their process of reading and discovering his work, while Charlie comes to life through the excellent Alexander Knox. He acts out the letters and speaks Sorley's poetry with a mix of endearing naivety, idealism and vibrancy. Sorley's voice rings so clear and so full of life that by the end you can't quite believe he is dead.

Interspersed with the text are songs sung by Hugh Benson at a piano played by Elizabeth Rossiter. There's Vaughan Williams, Schubert and poems from Goethe and Brooke put to music. It brings a lovely rhythm to the show, which probably would have felt a little too biography-heavy without them. On the back wall are arresting projections of Sorley's friends  pictures of grey and blurry young men, shown alongside the date on which they fell. It's sad, but the music and the journey of Sorley's parents  the way they slowly come to terms with their loss  fills the stage with hope.

It Is Easy To Be Dead is a little gem. It will introduce a remarkable man to people who had not heard of him before. But it is also a poignant study of loss and the great waste of war.

It is Easy to Be Dead runs at the Finborough Theatre until 9 July.
(Shenzhen/Beijing)  A white knight rescue plan by a company closely tied to the hometown government of leading home builder China Vanke Co. is drawing cries of protest over lowball pricing and an invalid board vote from one of its other major shareholders, heating up one of China's liveliest hostile takeover battles of all time.

State-owned China Resources (Holdings) Co., which owns 15.29 percent of Vanke, has refused to accept a decision by Vanke's board last week that would make Shenzhen Metro Group Co. the company's biggest shareholder through a swap of new Vanke shares in exchange for land. China Resources has questioned the validity of the decision, as well as the plan's commercial value.

But the deal has the backing of Vanke's hometown government in the southern boomtown of Shenzhen, Vanke Senior Vice President Tan Huajie said in a June 19 investor teleconference.

The city government is "quite supportive" of the strategic partnership with Shenzhen Metro, operator of the city's subway system, a source close to the situation also told Caixin.

Such alliances between governments and their major hometown enterprises are relatively common in China, where local officials often worry about loss of influence and other potential economic fallout when their big companies get taken over by others.

According to the controversial new plan, Vanke would issue new shares worth 45.6 billion yuan ($6.9 billion) to buy Shenzhen Metro's subsidiary Qianhai International, which owns two premier land parcels in the southern city adjacent to Hong Kong.

The deal would make Shenzhen Metro into Vanke's biggest shareholder with a 20.65 percent stake. Hostile suitor Baoneng Group, the company's current largest shareholder, would see its stake drop from the current 24.29 percent to 19.27 percent. China Resources' stake would get diluted from the current 15.29 percent to 12.13 percent.

The move has been widely viewed as an attempt by Vanke's management, led by founder Wang Shi, to fend off an unwanted bid for the company by Baoneng, another Shenzhen-based property developer. Baoneng surpassed China Resources to become Vanke's biggest shareholder last year when it began its hostile takeover bid.

Vanke suspended the trading of its shares in Shenzhen and Hong Kong on December 18 shortly after Baoneng launched its bid, saying it would restructure its assets. It resumed trading in Hong Kong on January 6.

Wang has counted on China Resources as an investment ally for 15 years. But now it has rankled its long-term investor, which objected to the Shenzhen Metro tie-up in an announcement on its microblog. China Resources said a two-thirds majority of Vanke's board, or at least eight of its 11 members, should be needed to pass the plan.

Instead, Vanke's board passed the plan by a 7-to-3 vote, while independent director Zhang Liping abstained, citing a conflict of interest. Zhang works for private equity investment firm Blackstone Group, which co-founded a joint-venture with Vanke last year. All three opposition votes came from China Resources' representatives, people with knowledge of the matter told Caixin.

China Resources has also questioned the commercial value of the proposed tie-up, arguing that Vanke could have offered to pay for the acquisition in cash or through a debt-financed arrangement that would have avoided diluting existing shareholders' stake. It also worried that Vanke's earnings per share would be affected because the acquired assets are not poised to generate profits in the next two to three years.

China Resources also said the shares sold to Shenzhen Metro were priced too low at 15.88 yuan per share, marking a 24 percent discount on the developer's net assets value per share. Lastly, China Resources said buying Qianhai International is no guarantee Shenzhen Metro will work with Vanke on other projects.

Vanke's Tan said on the teleconference that the plan's advocates and China Resources had different opinions on the validity of the board's decision, and will resolve their dispute through legal or "other effective means".

Vanke will "overcome all obstacles to try and get the plan passed," he said. There is no timetable yet as to when the firm will hold a second board meeting to vote on an updated plan, which will be the final version submitted to the general shareholders' meeting and securities regulator for approval, Tan said.

Judging by the experience of other companies, the process may take one or two months, and the general shareholders' meeting will be held another 45 to 50 days after that, he said.

Tan tried to steer investor attention away from disputes involving Vanke's management and share ownership structure, saying a tie-up with Shenzhen Metro "carries great significance for Vanke and has nothing to do with the makeup of Vanke's board of directors and management."

Vanke first announced it was seeking an asset injection from Shenzhen Metro in March, advertising the cooperation as the keystone of a future business model that would rely heavily on developing real estate near metro routes.

The golden era for property development has passed, and forming a partnership with Shenzhen Metro "is an important thing that will determine the future of the firm's development and opportunities," Tan said. This partnership "can only be built through an equity rather than cash relationship," he added.

(Rewritten by Wang Yuqian)
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This article was published 20/06/2016 (2319 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A man who was allegedly hiding in back of a vehicle trying to enter Canada at the Sprague border crossing has been charged under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Customs Act.

On June 13, a United States driver tried to enter Canada when customs officers found another man hiding in the vehicle.

Barry Roger Holmes has been charged with failing to appear for examination pursuant to the IRPA and the Customs Act, and willful evasion of compliance pursuant to the Customs Act.

The driver is still under investigation.

All persons seeking entry into Canada must report to the CBSA. Failure to do so may lead to criminal prosecution.

Sprague is the easternmost port of entry in southern Manitoba, located along Highway 12, approximately 170 kilometres from Winnipeg.
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This article was published 20/06/2016 (2319 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Site-servicing work is expected to get underway next spring on a long-awaited new Fort Garry subdivision thats expected to provide hundreds of new customers for the citys controversial southwest rapid transit service.

Its all coming together, Don Larke, vice-president of development and construction for Hopewell Development said of the Calgary firms proposed $500-million Bishop Grandin Crossing residential/retail/office/industrial project.

Hopewell describes the 131-acre development as the citys first truly TOD (transit-oriented development) project.

supplied Bishop Grandin Crossing will feature a mix of residential, retail and commercial areas. The residential portion of the development will consist of townhomes and multi-family buildings as well as 13 serviced residential lots.

It will be built on the former Manitoba Sugar Beet Factory property, located north of Bishop Grandin Boulevard between Pembina Highway and Waverley Street. Its expected to include 32 acres of multi-family residential housing, 43 acres of office and light-industrial space and 23 acres of commercial/retail space.

Larke said the company expects to have the final engineering designs and approvals in place by the end of this year and to have the last of 600,000 cubic metres of lime mud  a silty but benign material thats a byproduct of the sugar beet-washing process  removed by early next year.

That will clear the way for servicing of the site to begin next spring, he added, with the goal of making serviced lots available to buyers, and to Hopewells own team of developers, by the fall of next year.

Marketing of the project will begin this summer, and the first phase of construction will start in the spring of 2018  two years before the second phase of the southwest rapid transit corridor becomes operational. Larke said it could take seven to 10 years to develop the entire site.

The 132-acre subdivision is expected to include more than 1,100 new multi-family dwellings and a still-to-be-determined number of square feet of retail, office and light-industrial space. Its also being described as one of the largest mixed-use, infill developments in the citys history.

As a mixed-use, infill development of this scale, I think its unprecedented, said John Prall, a principal and a vice-president with the exclusive sales and leasing agent for the project  the Winnipeg office of Colliers International. I cant think of others that would be of this scale.

Prall said, Whats exciting about this property is that the flexible zoning allows for this broad variety of commercial retail, office, industrial and residential all under one large-plan development.

But we do certainly envision some of the multi-family parcels being taken up fairly quickly. Don Larke

Although there has been a lot of new office, retail, industrial and residential development in the southwest quadrant of the city over the last decade, Prall said there is still a good demand for all four types of product.

He and Larke said prospective retail, office and industrial tenants will have the option of renting space in buildings developed by Hopewell or some other developer, or buying a parcel of land and constructing their own building.

Prall said there is a limited supply of all three types of serviced land in this area, and some retailers will likely prefer to own their land and building. He said the types of retail businesses that might be interested in Bishop Grandin Crossing are hotels, auto dealerships, gas bars, convenience stores and medical offices.

The retail portion of the development will be located at the south end of the site, while the office/industrial component will be on the northwest and north-central sides of the property.

The residential component will be built along the southeast side near the planned Southwest Transitway Station. It will include a combination of townhomes and multi-family buildings up to 15 stories in height. Larke said the 13 serviced residential lots will be sold to third-party developers, who will decide what types of units they want to build  rental or condominiums.

While it will depend on demand, he said its possible all four types of property could be made available early on in the project.

But we do certainly envision some of the multi-family parcels being taken up fairly quickly.

SUPPLIED The Bishop Grandin Crossing development, located between Pembina Highway and Waverley Street will have direct access to the citys southwest rapid transit corridor, seen at the bottom of the above artists rendering of the project.

Bishop Grandin Crossing will be Hopewells largest development to date in Winnipeg. Its other projects include the Bridgwater Town Centre, which is now under development, the Kildonan Green commercial plaza and the 400,000-square-foot Kenaston Common retail power centre on the northwest corner of Kenaston and McGillivray boulevards.

The original plan for the Bishop Grandin development didnt have a residential component. But that changed in 2011 when the City of Winnipeg identified the sugar beet property as major redevelopment site and also announced it planned to proceed with the second leg of the southwest rapid transit corridor.

Know of any newsworthy or interesting trends or developments in the local office, retail or industrial retail sectors? Let real estate reporter Murray McNeill know at the email address below or at 204-697-7254

murray.mcneill@freepress.mb.ca
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OTTAWA  Federal politicians meet a lot of people, but Syrian children dont meet a lot of federal politicians  let alone the same one twice, in two different countries, each a world apart from the other.

Hamza Ali, 13, remembers clearly the day last November when a trio of Canadian cabinet ministers trooped into an ad-hoc art gallery set up in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan.

Ali, one of the artists, shook the ministers hands and explained the concept behind his gripping paintings of women and men struggling with life and the war in Syria.

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship John McCallum poses with Hamza Ali, 13, and his father Mohammad as his mother Hasna and brother look on before speaking briefly at an event in Ottawa, Monday June 20, 2016. Hamza presented McCallum with a painting he painted after he met the minister at a refugee camp in Jordan last year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Immigration Minister John McCallum told Ali he was struck by the symbolism of a painting showing a woman carrying a map of Syria on her back up a flight of stairs, a heavy red sky in the background.

Women do all the heavy lifting, McCallum remarked.

That painting now hangs in Health Minister Jane Philpotts office in Ottawa. McCallum didnt have one  until Monday.

The ministers left the camp and went on to open a massive refugee processing centre near Amman that would eventually see thousands of refugees interviewed and screened to come to Canada.

Five of them ended up being the Ali family.

Since February, theyve lived in the national capital  Hamza utterly oblivious to the fact his painting was hanging in a high-powered government office just a few minutes away.

When his family was invited Monday to an event in Ottawa to mark World Refugee Day, he and his father decided to paint another.

The idea, they said through a translator, was to offer a thank you to the minister who may not have bought one of the paintings but  unbeknownst to the minister  had given them the gift of a new life in Canada.

When McCallum arrived at the event, he was guided over to the Alis.

He nodded when he was told hed met them before, but then Alis mother reminded him her son had been the boy with the paintings in the camp. McCallums face lit up  and his smile grew even wider when Alis father pulled a new painting out of a paper bag.

It was a portrait of the minister, a Canadian flag behind him and the words thank you very much across the top.

McCallum said he was caught off guard by the gesture. Having met them in both places, it is great to see the fruits of our labour.

The day they met the ministers, the Alis didnt know they would later come to Canada. Hamza had been chosen to meet them because camp officials had wanted to showcase the programs they were running for children, some with Canadian funds.

Today, all three of the Ali children are enrolled in school in Ottawa and learning English, as are their parents. But art remains an important part of their family. They have a room in their apartment just for their supplies.

Hamza is at work on a painting of an Arabian horse and his father recently painted one of a Syrian girl and Canadian girl wrapped in an embrace, their hands around a Canadian flag.

Before, all our work was sorrowful, Hamzas father Mohammad Ali said, partly in broken English and partly through a translator.

Now weve started painting happy things.

On Monday, the United Nations Refugee Agency released its annual report on the state of the worlds displaced people.

The agency said by the end of last year, 65.3 million people had been forcibly displaced from their homes, about 12.4 million of them newly displaced, due to ongoing persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or human rights violations that continue to plague countries around the world.

Only a fraction were resettled around the world. Canada admitted around 32,000 refugees in all of 2015 through a combination of resettlement and grants of asylum to those already here.

Follow @StephanieLevitz on Twitter
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This article was published 20/06/2016 (2319 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Whats the difference between transit buses in Winnipeg and New York City?

Free Wi-Fi and multiple USB charging ports.

Winnipeg Transit director Dave Wardrop told a civic committee Monday that cellphone-charging facilities are better suited to just about anywhere other than buses and providing Wi-Fi is just too problematic.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority Some New York buses offer free wi-fi and USB ports for charging.

However, in March, New Yorks Metropolitan Transportation Authority ordered 127 new buses from Winnipeg-based New Flyer Industries. The vehicles will be equipped with between 35 and 55 individual USB charging ports and free Wi-Fi. The MTA is retrofitting its older buses with similar amenities, and plans to order 2,000 new buses with free Wi-Fi and USB charging ports over the next five years.

Weve got a lot of work to do, said Winnipeg Coun. Matt Allard, whose idea to promote free Wi-Fi in civic facilities and free cellphone charging at transit facilities appears to have hit a brick wall at city hall. To stay competitive with other cities, Winnipeg needs to find ways to make it easier for people to stay connected to a globalized world.

Allard (St. Boniface) appeared as a delegation at councils innovation committee to pitch his case for a pilot program that would install solar-powered cellphone charging equipment at bus stops. Allard said he hoped the city could find a private-sector partner to underwrite the cost of the initiative.

His case was supported by Justin Phillips, president of Sycamore Energy Inc., a local company that builds and installs solar-powered charging stations at transit facilities. Phillips said other communities have found partners or advertisers willing to underwrite the cost, and he said the model could easily be duplicated in Winnipeg.

Wardrop said transit riders dont spend enough time at bus stops to make installing charging facilities worthwhile. Transit has other priorities, he said, to make bus riding more acceptable.

Wardrop said free charging stations would be better suited to places where people congregate  such as libraries and community centres.

I think there is merit in looking at provision of charging stations in the community at high-use areas, whether its community centres, libraries or things like this, he told the committee, adding charging facilities would be attractive only to riders in enclosed areas where they wouldnt mind missing a bus or two, while their phones charged.

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES Matt Allard says he's looking for a sponsor to underwrite the cost of a pilot bus-stop charging station.

Allards other idea for free Wi-Fi at civic facilities appears to be buried in bureaucratic red tape. While an Internet service provider offered to install Wi-Fi hotspots that can be accessed by the public without restrictions, an administrative official told the committee the city had to proceed cautiously on this idea.

Brad Erickson, the citys manager of municipal accommodations, said officials are exploring what would constitute public space and whether its feasible to include open areas such as parks for free Wi-Fi.

Erickson said the city is also concerned over how we allow folks to access the Internet, what they might be utilizing the Internet for. There has to be care and control of that.

Wardrop  apparently unaware of what NYC is doing  said the trend for transit authorities is to install free Wi-Fi at transit stations.

He said cellphone data plans have, in most cases, eliminated the need for Wi-Fi on buses, where signal quality could be an issue.

Both reports were accepted by the committee as information only  the city hall equivalent of the dead-file folder.

But Allard said hes not giving up, hoping he can find a private-sector sponsor to underwrite the cost of a pilot charging facility.

Seth Wenig / The Associated Press A new MTA bus displays symbols for WiFi and charging ports at a bus depot in New York. The MTA is rolling out new buses and an electronic ticketing system.

As far as free Wi-Fi at civic facilities, Allard said the idea appears to be getting lost in the administrations study phase.

Im hoping we can get results sometimes soon, he said. Im hoping we can capitalize on a low-cost opportunity that has significant benefits for Winnipeggers.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

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This article was published 19/06/2016 (2320 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

How can someone be so right, and so wrong at the same time?

This is the question haunting many members of the Canadian Senate. This past week, the Senate voted to approve Bill C-14, the Liberal governments controversial assisted-dying bill. Many senators did so even though they had well-founded reservations that the law is insufficient to meet the demands of a 2015 Supreme Court decision, which found restrictions on medically assisted suicide were unconstitutional.

The Senate waged a courageous campaign to get the House of Commons to do the right thing. It proposed amendments to the governments legislation, including the standard that restricted assisted suicide to cases where death was reasonably foreseeable. Senators correctly pointed out that restriction did not meet the standards outlined by the high court. Seven amendments were proposed, all aiming to ensure the bill was constitutionally sound. This needs to be fixed, Senate Liberal Leader James Cowan told the Globe and Mail. We dont want to pass an unconstitutional bill.

Senate Liberal Leader James Cowan THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

The House of Commons did approve many of the Senate amendments, but left in the provision that eligibility was to be limited to those cases where death was reasonably foreseeable. Then it sent the bill back to the Senate where many senators talked about delaying or defeating the bill, which they believed was destined to be rejected by the Supreme Court. In the end, senators voted to approve the bill as is, and by a large margin.

The Senate capitulated, but not because it lost faith in its perspective the bill needed to be fixed. Instead, it seems the senators accepted the repeated assertion that, as appointees and not elected officials, they lack the moral and legal authority to stop the legislation. This, despite the fact the Senates role is to provide a check and balance on the House of Commons.

All this puts the Senate, the unwanted child in the parliamentary power structure, in an odd situation. A strong majority of informed sources who understand the inherent weaknesses in the Liberal bill agreed in principle with what the Senate was trying to do. Unfortunately, that same strong majority also very much felt the Senate made the right decision by standing aside to allow the House of Commons to pass its flawed legislation.

The assisted-dying debate has revealed two fundamental truths about the future of the Senate: first, we still need an upper house to push back against the House of Commons. And second, something needs to be done quickly to define and perhaps enhance the political and moral authority of the Senate so it can be more effective in pushing back.

The assisted-dying law is, somewhat unexpectedly, becoming one of the strongest case studies in favour of a stronger, possibly elected Senate. The history of this one bill certainly demonstrates the need for someone to provide guidance to the House of Commons.

The assisted-dying issue has been a tough one for successive governments since the Supreme Court delivered its historic decision in January 2015. The court initially gave the former Conservative government a deadline of February 2016 to deliver a new law.

The next 18 months proved to be challenging for Ottawa.

The Tories balked on the courts demands. When the Liberals came to power, they also struggled to make progress, eventually asking for a six-month extension on the deadline for a new law. The court agreed, but for political watchers, the extension request was a clear sign the House of Commons was not up to the challenge set by the high court.

The result of all that scuffling was that Canada suffered through a period of legal limbo during which it was clear assisted suicide was no longer illegal, but there were no national standards for exactly how and where it should be approved. That came to an end last week when C-14 received royal assent.

The Senate was not wrong to look at this situation and do what it could to convince the federal government to meet the standards of the high courts decision. Yet it is difficult to rationalize an appointed body forcing legislative changes on an elected body  even if that appointed body is demonstrating there is some benefit in being able to tackle thorny issues without fear of electoral consequences.

Some senators have made that exact point, and turned it into an argument for perhaps keeping the Senate as an appointed body. At the very least, it is a strong argument for keeping the Senate in one form or another.

The House of Commons has a mandate to make tough decisions on behalf of Canadians. In this instance, however, it could not bring itself to meet the standards as outlined by the Supreme Court, and the needs of the nation. That is a very strong argument there should be another body in the mix to ensure MPs do the job they were elected to do.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
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This article was published 19/06/2016 (2320 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Its one of the most controversial events in Manitoba history, but this weekend  200 years later  it brought far-flung-family members together for the first time.

Sunday marked the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Seven Oaks, or the Victory of Frog Plain, a deadly conflict between a group of Metis fur traders from the North West Company, led by Cuthbert Grant, and a party of Hudsons Bay Co. employees, led by Red River colony governor Robert Semple. Its a divisive piece of history, but several Manitoba organizations came together for a series of events to honour the anniversary from both sides of the battlefield.

It was at one of these events Sunday Lorraine Iverach, a Scottish-Manitoban, could be found chatting happily with Herb Wells, a Metis-Albertan who came to Manitoba with his kids specifically for the event.

PHOTOS BY ZACHARY PRONG / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Herb Wells and Lorraine Iverach enjoy a moment during a ceremony marking the bicentennial of the Battle of Seven Oaks on June 19, 2016. Wells and Iverach had a chance encounter before the ceremony and discovered they share a great-great-great grandfather who fought in the battle. (See story by Aidan for details)

It turns out the two share more than an interest in history. Theyre distant cousins  both descended from the battles sole survivor from the Hudsons Bay Co. side, a Scottish immigrant named John Pritchard.

I was absolutely astounded, Iverach said of the chance meeting. Having known the (family) connection but never having faces to put to that part of my family history  it sent chills through me.

Iverach, a member of the Lord Selkirk Association of Ruperts Land, said she had known for years her great-great-great grandfather had two wives  a First Nations woman named Marie and a European woman named Catherine  but had never met her relatives from his first wife. On Saturday, she met Wells by pure luck in front of a tapestry at the Manitoba legislature commemorating the 200-year-old conflict.

I think my great-great-great grandfather must have been orchestrating this, to bring his extended family together, Iverach said. It was just a thrilling moment.

On Sunday, Iverach and Wells were two of more than 250 people who gathered to see the unveiling of upgrades to a national historical site dedicated to the skirmish. Parks Canada staff said they bargained for only about 30 attendants to come see the improvements, which include interpretive panels detailing what organizers hope is a more balanced portrayal of the conflict.

Among many speakers was David Chartrand, the president of the Manitoba Metis Federation. He said a balanced perspective is crucial for Metis people, whom he said have been incorrectly portrayed as demons and murderers in history books for too long, and who were fighting to protect their land and way of life against Hudsons Bay Co.

In our language, theres a word, mano, (which means) let it go, Chartrand said. My mom used to say mano, mano, just let it go But we dont want to just let it go.

ZACHARY PRONG / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS People gathered at the Battle of Seven Oaks National Historical Site on Sunday, June 19, 2016 for a ceremony marking the bicentennial of the battle. Improvements to the site were officially unveiled by Parks Canada and the Seven Oaks Monument Committee.

Now we need to start taking that story and changing it, so people can say, when they see the Metis nation, We know who they are, we respect who they are, we understand why theyre fighting for what theyre fighting for, he said.

Theyll never understand until the story is told. Thats why it can never be mano.

aidan.geary@freepress.mb.ca
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This article was published 20/06/2016 (2319 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  Federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau says his government will spend $10 million to expand an aerospace training facility at Red River College in Winnipeg but a Manitoba senator said that is only half of what was promised to the previous provincial government.

Garneau told the Senate transport and communications committee Monday Ottawa has an agreement to fund Phase 3 of the Centre for Aerospace Technology and Training, a $2-million annual commitment over the next five years.

This is a significant piece of good news for Manitoba because it builds up a capability to train people who work in the aerospace field and I think this will be of great benefit to the province of Manitoba, he said.

SEAN KILPATRICK / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES Conservative Sen. Don Plett said he won't support bill C-10 unless the federal government makes commitments for Manitoba's aerospace industry.

The centre was created in 2009 with joint funding from Ottawa and Manitoba, and expanded once already in 2011. Located at Standard Aero, it provides access to high-tech equipment, including lasers, for aerospace workers as well as access to training on the equipment for Red River students. The technology was unavailable in Manitoba before the centre was established.

Garneau made the announcement as he was trying to persuade the Senate to pass Bill C-10, which amends the Air Canada Public Participation Act to water down the job requirements placed on Air Canada when it was privatized nearly 30 years ago.

Garneau says the change brings more flexibility to Air Canada to choose where it does its maintenance work in order to compete in a global industry. However critics of the bill, including the Manitoba government, argue it obliterates any requirement for the airline to resume the kind of high-paying, high-skilled, heavy-maintenance jobs the city had until 2012, when Aveos Fleet Performance went bankrupt, and Manitoba suffers as a result.

Manitoba wants the bill delayed until there are some net benefits provided to the provinces aerospace industry.

Manitoba Sen. Don Plett said the $10 million is half of what was promised to the previous NDP government in Manitoba by Employment Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk, and he wants to know what happened to that promise. Garneau has said he knows nothing about that money, nor has he asked Mihychuk about it. Mihychuks office still wont confirm she made such an offer.

A Manitoba government spokeswoman said it was made to the former government and the Tories became aware of it from officials. However, there was never anything put on paper and repeated requests to Ottawa about it have gone unanswered.

Plett was clearly frustrated, noting he raised the issue with Garneau almost a week ago, and cheekily wondered if everyone had just lost Minister Mihychuks phone number.

He has pledged to hold up C-10 unless Ottawa comes through with the $20-million offer.

Deputy Premier Heather Stefanson, who appeared at the committee by video conference following Garneau, said there is no firm commitment from Ottawa for any aerospace training.

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca
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This article was published 20/06/2016 (2319 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

STEINBACH  He calls it a dark time in his life, fuelled by a crumbling marriage and other personal issues. But a former Manitoba judge says he has no excuses for a drunk-driving incident that has cost him his career on the bench.

Michel Chartier, who spent nine years in the provincial court, wiped away tears during a brief court appearance Monday morning. He admitted to driving with a blood-alcohol reading of 0.25  more than triple the legal limit  after being pulled over by RCMP on the Trans-Canada Highway near Portage la Prairie in March.

Its not lost on me my moral culpability is high. Of all people, I should have known better, Chartier wrote in an apology letter read in court by his lawyer, Tony Cellitti.

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Michel Chartier

He was handed a $2,000 fine, $600 in court costs and a one-year driving prohibition. Its the typical sentence in Manitoba for a first-time drunk driver with no prior criminal record who didnt get involved in an accident or cause any injuries.

A prosecutor and a judge from Saskatchewan both headed east to deal with the matter to avoid any potential conflicts of interest. The matter was also quietly brought forward Monday on an otherwise empty docket, apparently because of availability of the out-of-town officials. It was held in Steinbach because of Chartiers proximity to that location and his ban on driving.

Your readings were shockingly high, Judge Kevin Lang told Chartier. Im thankful this didnt end more tragically for you or other members of society.

Chartier apologized to his colleagues on the bench, his family and friends in the legal community and his two teen boys.

Taking responsibility for my actions goes far beyond todays court proceedings, Chartier wrote in his letter. Its not lost on me severe tragedy could have ensued.

Chartier was going through a difficult time while his 27-year marriage was ending, leading to the heavy alcohol consumption on the day in question, court was told. Two different motorists called 911 to report his vehicle swerving on the highway in the early afternoon. A Carberry RCMP officer spotted him moments later and made the same observations.

Cellitti told court that Chartier felt there was no choice but to resign his position as a provincial court judge following the arrest.

My client very much enjoyed being a judge in this court, very much enjoyed serving the public and in both official languages, he said. He was going through a very difficult set of circumstances.

Several letters of support were filed in court Monday, including one from a University of Manitoba law professor and another from veteran defence lawyer Richard Wolson.

The letters of reference speak very highly of his character, of his work ethic, said Cellitti. In his apology letter, Chartier said how he constantly thinks about a conversation he had with his 13-year-old son following his arrest, in which the boy told him that resigning meant the next time I appear in court will be as an accused.

That was certainly the case on Monday. Following his resignation, Chief Judge Ken Champagne said it was an important move.

Public confidence in and respect for the judiciary are essential to an effective justice system. Therefore, while the resignation of Michel Chartier from the court is regrettable, by having resigned he has done the honourable thing, recognizing that the charges brought against him would significantly undermine public confidence in the judiciary, Champagne said in a statement.

Chartier was called to the bar in Manitoba in 1991 after graduating from Universite de Moncton the previous year. He focused on banking law, labour law and insurance litigation while practising at Monk Goodwin in Winnipeg and was appointed as a provincial court judge in September 2007. For four years, from September 2009 to August 2013, Chartier served as associate chief judge.

I know you have paid a very high price for moments of indiscretion, Lang told him on Monday. He said its clear Chartier is otherwise a person with great honour and dignity and dedication to your community.

A bad decision doesnt make you a bad person, he said.

Chartier handled numerous drunk-driving cases throughout his career. Two years ago  in what was believed to be a legal first in Manitoba  Chartier decided not to impose a jail sentence or a criminal record on a drunk driver who hit and severely injured a motorcyclist. Instead, Chartier granted the longtime alcoholic a curative discharge and considered it in the publics best interest the accused get treatment for his alcohol addiction rather than jail time.

Our courts have emphasized that denunciation and deterrence are driving principles of sentencing for the drinking driver, Chartier said in his 2014 ruling. Sometimes, effective rehabilitation can be the most effective way of keeping an individual from drinking and driving.

Chartier plans to return to private legal practice and hopefully continue teaching law students in Manitoba, his lawyer said. He is currently focused on dealing with his alcohol issues, which includes attending weekly AA meetings.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/06/2016 (2319 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

New Democrat MLA Nahanni Fontaine told the legislature Monday afternoon that her St. Johns constituency office received a threatening call last week after the murder of British Labour MP Jo Cox.

An anonymous man told Fontaines staff that You better tell her, to watch what she says, Fontaine told the house.

Her campaign for the seat was filled with vicious verbal abuse and social media attacks, and included one election forum in which 10 supporters had to escort her out of the building.

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine

Unfortunately, the man had blocked his number, Fontaine said later in an interview, but it was obvious that he follows question period, because he demanded of Fontaines staffer to know what the MLA means when she says Meegwetch, Madame Speaker, though he pronounced it incorrectly.

He clearly thought he had the right to call my constituency assistant and threaten me, Fontaine said. Enough is enough.

Women who enter public life shouldnt be shamed or silenced or threatened, Fontaine said.

Fontaine said she has filed a complaint with Elections Manitoba over incidents during the campaign.

During her professional career working with indigenous women suffering from violence and abuse, she has visited many jails and prisons, but never felt unsafe until a community forum during the election.

Everybody just lost their minds, she said. I knew all of them, they were yelling right in my face. It was a lot of real aggression.

She was escorted out by 10 supporters, said Fontaine. One man stood screaming profanities at me, while saying I was going to get it, Fontaine said.

I have a longstanding offer from The Bear Clan, for protection, Fontaine said.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca
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This article was published 20/06/2016 (2319 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The good fortune of living in Winnipeg on World Refugee Day during the worst refugee crisis on record isnt lost on Ahmad Khattab.

I feel very glad being here, said the Syrian refugee at a lunchtime event Monday hosted by the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Mennonite Central Committee and Canadian Lutheran World Relief. Khattab, his wife and two sons, aged five and eight, arrived in February after they were sponsored by the Winnipeg-based Lutheran charity.

At the same time, I have some worry about others who dont have a chance to be in such a well-developed country where everything is nice and good, said Khattab.

MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Rachel Isaak and Alejandro Strange prepare of steamed rice and cooked beans at Sam's Place on Henderson Highway to raise awareness on World Refugee Day.

On Monday, the United Nations reported 65.3 million people were forced from their homes by conflict or persecution at the end of 2015, compared with 59.5 million just 12 months earlier. Its estimated close to half of the 65.3 million people displaced around the world are children. This is the first time the threshold of 60 million has been crossed, the UNs Global Trends report said.

The increase in the number of displaced people around the world reverses a downward trend a decade ago, Jim Cornelius, executive director of the Foodgrains Bank, said at the event at Sams Place where lunch was a ration of rice and beans served to raise awareness and funding.

We were celebrating refugee numbers going down, Cornelius recalled. We were all looking optimistically at the future. Since then, conflict in Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and now Yemen have ratcheted up refugee numbers, said Cornelius, who met with some of the displaced people in Lebanon and Jordan recently when he visited tent communities and witnessed the food crisis there.

Since 2012, the Foodgrains Bank, through its members including the Mennonite Central Committee and Canadian Lutheran World Relief, have provided more than $30 million in assistance for Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon, and for people displaced in Syria. People are getting food baskets or food vouchers for approved items at select grocery stores. In 2015 and 2016, the Foodgrains Bank helped 139,000 people affected by conflict in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports close to five million people have fled Syria since 2011 and another 6.6 million who are still there have been uprooted and displaced within the country.

All families dream of returning home, said Cornelius, after meeting with Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. Theres also a fear to hope too much, he said, citing UN statistics that show a refugee spends an average 17 years outside their home country. Theyre right to be cautious about that dream, he said.

Khattab said his family fled endless bombing and kidnappings by different groups vying for control of Aleppo. They went to neighbouring Jordan, where it was a struggle to get enough to eat. We were not allowed to work there, said Khattab, who taught English language classes under the table in Jordan to put food on their table. The UNs World Food Programme was underfunded and cut aid to Syrian refugees in Jordan. They struggled to survive in Jordan for three years until the they were sponsored by Canadian Lutheran World Relief, he said.

Im so grateful and thankful to Canada, said Khattab. The English literature major, who cant choose between Shakespeare or Dickens as his favourite author, is working on his English listening skills and hopes to work as an interpreter. He doesnt mention any dream of returning to Syria, which seems hopeless right now.

Im looking forward to becoming a Canadian citizen.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/06/2016 (2319 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The shocking murder of British member of Parliament Jo Cox and the shootings in Orlando, Fla., were hate crimes that defy political labels, whatever the professed motives of the killers. Nobody can predict what will set off a deranged person and it would be deplorable to tar legitimate political campaigns because a killer identified with one cause or another.

Its impossible to deny these recent events have the power to affect the vote on Britains proposed exit from the European Union and the U.S. presidential election. Violence is not just morally repugnant, it is uncomfortable. In most societies, people default to safety and order.

On May 6, 2002, Volkert van der Graaf, an animal rights activist, shot Pim Fortuyn, the leader of a Dutch populist, anti-immigrant party competing in that years parliamentary election. The campaigns fell silent in shock: the Netherlands had a tradition of consensual politics, and violence wasnt part of the political culture. Yet, the election was not cancelled (as the Brexit vote shouldnt be, either: rearguing the issue at some later date wouldnt do any good).

Who stood to benefit from Fortuyns killing? His party, one might think, and thats certainly what Dutch pundits predicted. Its not what happened; the Pim Fortuyn List collected 26 parliamentary seats, three fewer than polls predicted at its peak in March 2002. The party did about as well after Fortuyns death as it would have done had he been alive. Only one party did significantly better than the polls suggested: the centrist Christian Democratic Party, a symbol of stability, which emerged with a bigger plurality than anyone expected.

It was right the campaigns in Britains EU referendum immediately suspended activities following the Cox killing. Nobody should seek to benefit politically from such a horrific crime. That will not stop people from drawing their own conclusions.

Indeed, the market reaction and the betting odds suggest there is an expectation a British split from Europe has become less likely since Cox died. The pound and European equities are up. According to data compiled by Bloomberg, the probability of Brexit implied by bookmakers odds, which had risen above 44 per cent Thursday following the release of some polls favouring leave, now stands at 36 per cent.

This could be because its more difficult to imagine voting for the camp to which Coxs killer may have belonged (a witness says he shouted Britain first! though the police have refrained from speculating about motive) and against the one in which Cox firmly stood. More likely, however, its just the status quo option is the instinctive choice when theres a threat to social stability. In these circumstances, people tend to veer away from populist messages, as they did in the Fortuyn murder.

That also helps explain why Donald Trump faces strong headwinds after the Orlando shooting. It may be his triumphant, told-you-so reaction that left Americans unimpressed. I think it more likely, however, his calls for toughness, his hints at a conspiracy theory involving U.S. President Barack Obama and his insistence on an immigration ban for Muslims were the jarring notes.

Most Americans dont want crackdowns and witch hunts. They want reassurance politicians and law enforcement are calmly doing their job. Even if Trump, who has advocated banning Muslims, got a boost from Republican primary voters after the San Bernardino, Calif., shootings, Americans in general are more responsive to the message of healing and unity Democratic party candidate Hillary Clinton tried to send out, than to divisive calls that only increase the sense of instability.

The average persons brand of patriotism is tied to the notion ones country has ones back. Even Frances least popular president in history, Francois Hollande, saw his ratings increase after the terror attacks last year. Its not that voters suddenly like him better. They flock to what he stands for  the notion of a state that does its best to protect its citizens and unite them.

Trump still has some time until the presidential election, and the boost Clinton seemed to get from her establishment response to Orlando may fade. The Brexit vote, however, is coming in less than a week, and the desire for more stability and social cohesion after a shocking hate crime will still be fresh.

This is not about left or right  politically motivated violence can come from both sides. The lure of the political centre is strongest when that violence is let loose and thrust in peoples faces. At heart, even those who feel the appeal of populist messages do not want ruptures in societys fabric.

The rise of populists on both sides of the Atlantic this year may make it look as though that basic preference for stability is changing. Dont bet on it. The desire for social order is a powerful reflex hate crimes only reinforce.

Leonid Bershidsky, a Bloomberg View contributor, is a Berlin-based writer.

(c) 2016, Bloomberg View
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/06/2016 (2319 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The current imbroglio between the City of Winnipeg and Manitoba Hydro is creating, in the minds of some, a reason for halting the development of the next phase of Winnipegs rapid transit plan. However, this is a minor cost  a drop in the bucket of the projected $500-million-plus expenditure for the extension.

Still, there are two fundamental reasons for pausing our transit plans. These are tactical and strategic.

Tactically, the city (and province) has not aligned transit and land-use planning. Planning documents supporting the need for transit in the city pay lip service to the idea that, in the words of the 2011 Transportation Master Plan, A transportation system that is dynamically integrated with land use. Other equally opaque phrases appear throughout these planning documents, but few concrete ideas emerge.

Sustainable transit, where users pay a large portion of the costs, requires two things  population density at the two ends and population density along the route, at stations. The proposed Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor plan assumes connecting downtown with the University of Manitoba will produce high volumes of ridership. In fact, students at the U of M, travel from homes dispersed throughout the city or from apartments in close proximity to the university along Pembina Highway. Much of the proposed corridor runs through largely vacant or lightly developed land, which means many of the proposed stations will attract few riders.

More fundamentally, the tactical error inherent in Winnipegs rapid-transit planning is to maintain a vision of the city that is dated. Cities did have their origins as a central market point, around which residential and commercial activity clustered. Roads formed a radial pattern to allow market goods and residents convenient access to a central trading point. This made sense in the Middle Ages.

That land use/transportation pattern has given way to the circular city comprised of systems of neighbourhoods. We see this pattern emerging in Winnipeg. To the southwest Kenaston Commons, Linden Ridge and Whyte Ridge are creating an integrated neighbourhood with industrial, commercial and residential use. To the northwest, Polo Park, the Airport industrial park, and Red River College create another work-residence neighbourhood. To the east, the corner of Regent and Lagimodiere features yet another commercial attraction. Finally, in the southeast, St. Vital Centre anchors a major regional shopping/recreation neighbourhood.

To be sure, there are many local neighbourhoods, but that is the point; rather than a few single destination/origin points, Winnipeg has multiple origins and destinations. The major neighbourhoods form a circle. Downtown remains an important neighbourhood, but for many, if not most Winnipeg residents is not the most frequent or important destination. Many of us cut across the city to go to school and work and to shop. This is what makes the inner perimeter highway such a compelling and important investment. No number of platitudes about the dynamic interaction of land use and transportation will negate how residents and business owners are shaping the neighbourhoods of this city.

Another tactical error exists in not understanding the ever-extending sprawl of the Winnipeg region. Development at the edge and just beyond the Perimeter Highway accelerates the sparsity of urban development, which further undermines sustainable transit operation. Rural municipalities and landowners at the edge of the city, whether they are farmers or developers, have a stake in maintaining the extension of Winnipeg. Addressing this issue will require provincial and municipal co-ordination to develop policies to manage sprawl.

A critical strategic error underlies the transit plan. It is delusionary to believe many Winnipeg residents will readily give up the freedom of personal transportation parked in their driveway. Certainly, some residents do not own cars, some because they cannot afford a vehicle and others because they purposely located in an area where they can walk or use a bus to meet their needs. However, the vast majority have arranged their lives around access to a car to manage their multiple destinations and multi-purpose trips.

Aside from poverty, people will relinquish their cars because of costs  time and money. In Toronto and Vancouver gridlock and the cost of parking make transit an attractive option. Even so, consider that for the Toronto transit system, which completed its first subway line in 1974, ridership has stalled.

A similar story emerges in Vancouver; indeed in the last three years transit ridership has stagnated across North America. Apparently, the assumption that build and they will ride is unfounded.

Low energy prices have increased the affordability of cars, but a recovery of oil prices and even an aggressive carbon tax are unlikely to encourage transit use. The advent of electric cars and the ability of car manufacturers to increase fuel economy will stabilize the costs of car operation.

Most important is the time savings involved in using a car create an overwhelming advantage for most users. Those who travel between downtown and the university will experience a reduction in door-to-door travel times because of the proposed transit line. The vast majority who remain off the proposed route by more than a few blocks will continue to use their cars.

Land use and transportation are integrated. Eventually, development will occur along the proposed route, however, if the experience of many centres is any gauge, it can take years for that to occur.

In the meantime, the taxpayer must endure major capital and operating expenses for an underperforming transportation system.

Only when the city and province create effective policies to control sprawl and to accelerate development close to the bus rapid transit line, we can consider proceeding. Until then, let us defer the spending. Otherwise, we will strand a large chunk of our fiscal capacity moving nobody to nowhere.

Gregory Mason is an associate professor of economics at the University of Manitoba and a senior consultant at PRA Inc. His views are his own.

www.gregorymason.ca
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/06/2016 (2319 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When logic and fact do not support your argument, use fear. Its an approach thats worked in elections and is being used to fight Bill 7, which would return secret-ballot voting for union certification to Manitoba.

Last week, Kevin Rebeck of the Manitoba Federation of Labour stated the current process is in place in several jurisdictions across the country and is designed to prevent employers from interfering in the process through coercion or intimidation. By several jurisdictions, he is referring to four of the 10 provinces, including Manitoba. Rightfully omitted from Rebecks claim is any assertion the current process is designed to prevent organized labour from using coercion or intimidation.

Rebeck added, Our new government is clearly signalling a new era of labour relations  one of imbalance, where the scales are tipped against workers being able to exercise their free and democratic right to join a union. Thats not democracy.

COLIN CORNEAU / BRANDON SUN FILES Manitoba Government Employees Union members loudly applaud mention of their contract negotiations at the 2015 Manitoba Federation of Labour conference in Brandon. The Manitoba government's Bill 7 would require votes to join a union to be held via secret ballot.

What is democracy, then? If the secret ballot  long upheld as a fundamental pillar of a free and democratic society  is out, perhaps a rethink of democratic elections is in order.

Imagine for the next provincial election, instead of marking a ballot in a private booth, we assemble in our nearest community centres to elect our MLAs with a show of hands. Alternatively, we could have representatives of one political party show up at your house with a voting card and watch as you mark your choice.

I recall my entry into union membership. I had just joined the federal public service. During my first week, two gentlemen arrived at my cubicle one morning with a card that I was told to sign. I asked whether I had any options. Yes, I was told: sign now or sign before lunch.

According to Statistics Canada, over the last 30 years, the trend in Canada has been one of declining union density, to 28.8 per cent in 2014 from 37.6 per cent in 1981. This trend is being driven by employees themselves, who are moving beyond old-style labour relations that marked much of the 20th century.

Statistics Canada data for 2015 show of the 555,500 employees in Manitoba, 35.8 per cent (or 197,400) were members of a union; in 2010, 37.5 per cent (or 194,400) of Manitobas 517,800 employees belonged to a union. Union density remains highest in Manitobas public sector, wherein 78.4 per cent of all employees are represented by a union, as compared to 17.6 per cent in the private sector.

For a sizable and growing majority of Manitoba workers, the path to prosperity does not begin at a union hall. It is this fact that lay at the heart of organized labour opposition to secret-ballot certification.

Organized labour has long contended the current automatic certification system prevents employer intimidation and coercion. It offers, as proof of supposed employer malfeasance, statistics indicating a decline in certification success once secret ballots are introduced. Studies in Canada suggest the drop in certifications following the use of anonymous voting ranges from nine per cent to 19 per cent.

I offer an alternative theory: union certifications drop when secret-ballot voting is introduced because workers are afforded the best and rightful way to express their true desire, free of fear, intimidation and reprisal by any side.

Bill 7 seeks to restore a balance in Manitoba that was upset by Bill 44 more than 16 years ago. Rebeck contends automatic certification has created a balance, marked by a long period of relative labour peace in Manitoba.

While it is true Manitoba has experienced fewer work stoppages and days lost to strikes or lockouts in recent years, to attribute cause and effect to automatic certification is a tricky proposition. Each work stoppage in Manitoba since 2011 has involved unionized workplaces under provincial jurisdiction. How can we say higher union density creates labour harmony when every instance of disharmony involved unions and employers?

The time has come for Manitoba employees to once again have the right  free of intimidation or fear of reprisal from anyone  to make a clear choice between yes and no, rather than sign now or before lunch.

Loren Remillard is the incoming president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce.
Opinion

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 20/06/2016 (2319 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Longer election campaigns seem to have become the norm in Canada. The 2015 federal election was the longest in modern Canadian history, and the three previous elections ran between five and eight weeks in total.

Now it would seem leadership campaigns are getting longer as well. But in this age of the politics of personality, it seems short-sighted to leave a political party rudderless for too long.

Tom Mulcair stepped down as federal NDP leader in April after being trampled by party faithful at a leadership convention in Edmonton. The man who was supposed to become Canadas next prime minister watched as 52 per cent of the partys rank and file voted in favour of a leadership race. But no one is moving too quickly to put that into motion. The contest will be held in September or October of 2017, and in the interim, Mr. Mulcair will stay on as leader.

BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Interim leader Flor Marcelino and the NDP need to rebuild.

Also at the federal level, the Conservatives are searching for a new leader. Stephen Harper resigned on election night as his government fell to the Trudeau Liberals. Currently, Rona Ambrose is capably serving as interim leader, with the leadership race pegged for May 2017.

Closer to home, the Manitoba NDP is settling into its new view of the legislature as the official Opposition. Last month, party president Ovide Mercredi named Flor Marcelino as the interim leader, with the leadership race planned for October 2017. Mr. Mercredi says before the leadership contest, the party should hold a convention in March 2017, to work out the rules for the leadership contest. This includes a discussion about what role the labour movement will play  a contentious issue in the 2015 race that saw incumbent Greg Selinger retain his role as party boss and premier by just 33 votes over Theresa Oswald.

All three parties are waiting for more than a year-and-a-half before a new party leader is named. This is outside the average for opposition leadership races, suggesting the beginning of a trend. Indeed, Justin Trudeau won the Liberal job in 2013 almost two years after Michael Ignatieff stepped down from his position in 2011.

A longer leadership campaign can allow a political party, particularly one that has gone from government to opposition, to reset and reach out to disenfranchised supporters and its grassroots. However, in personality-driven politics, not having someone at the helm could seriously weaken the partys brand, particularly if the interim leader is weak. In Manitoba, thats a real problem, as Ms. Marcelino struggles in her job. While she has help from experienced former cabinet ministers, the NDP has been decimated. Being able to hold the governments feet to the fire becomes inordinately difficult with fewer MLAs and even less research staff.

Right now, all three parties need to rebuild their coffers. Election campaigns are expensive, and as soon as one election ends, fundraising for the next election begins. But fundraising can be difficult when theres no leader to sell the sizzle.

Finally, a long leadership campaign means the infighting among candidates jockeying for support may exacerbate, rather than improve, the chasms in the party, and those can take a long time to heal. Indeed, the infighting between John Turner and Jean Chretien that began with the Liberal leadership contest in 1984 resulted in two decades of divisiveness that was never fully resolved until after Mr. Chretien stepped down as prime minister.

Its true, a longer leadership campaign allows candidates to organize, and once the campaign has been won, it gives the winner a shorter time frame in which to make mistakes before an election is called. But it also decreases the partys ability to remake itself and its brand under a new party boss. It will be interesting to see whether this is a trend that continues in Canadian politics.
FOUNTAIN CITY  Susan K. Drazkowski, 62, of Fountain City died Saturday, June 11, 2016. Mass of Christian Burial will be 3 p.m. Thursday, at St. Thomas More Chapel, St. Marys University, Winona, with visitation from noon until time of Mass. Watkowski-Mulyck Funeral Home is assisting the family.
CONVICTED

 Sandra M. Moldenhauer, 39, Minnesota City, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of trespass and criminal damage to property. She was sentenced to 60 days in jail, 40 hours of community service work and two years of probation. Charges of disorderly conduct and violating a harassment restraining order were dismissed.

 Travin R. Burda, 18, Durand, pleaded guilty to felony possession of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 43 days in jail, 40 hours of community service and two years of probation.

CHARGED

 Michael M. Joswick, 53, Buffalo City, is scheduled to have a sentencing hearing July 14 on citations for driving while under the influence of an intoxicant and driving with open intoxicants. Joswick pleaded no contest. A charge of resisting or obstructing a police officer was dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

 Mitchell L. Seifert, 33, Cochrane, has a jury trial Sept. 29 on charges accusing him of possessing methamphetamine and marijuana. Seifert pleaded not guilty to both charges.

 James T. Friday, 40, Jackson, Mississippi, has a preliminary hearing scheduled June 22 on a felony charge of taking and driving a vehicle without consent.

 Miranda J. Pierce, 25, Cameron, Wis., had a hearing adjourned to July 6 on a misdemeanor charge accusing her of second-offense operating while intoxicated.

 Jordan T. Smith, 19, Winona, Minn., has a hearing July 6 on a misdemeanor charge accusing him of causing injury while operating under influence of a controlled substance.

 Michelle P. Thayer, 50, Blair, had a hearing adjourned to July 20 on misdemeanor charges accusing her of operating after license revocation for intoxicated driving, and tampering or failure to install a required vehicle ignition interlock device.

 Becky L. Wood, 34, Durand, had a hearing adjourned to July 20 on misdemeanor charges accusing her of third-offense operating with restricted controlled substance and possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

 Aleesha L. Deck, 28, Independence, has a hearing Aug. 3 on charges of possessing methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and operating a motor vehicle without insurance.

 Megan K. Strupp, 23, La Crosse, has a hearing July 20 on a misdemeanor charge accusing her of second-offense operating while intoxicated.

 Trent M. Underheim, 46, Melrose, had a hearing adjourned to July 20 on a misdemeanor charge of third-offense operating while intoxicated.

 Brian K. Roberts, Jr., 27, Alma, has a plea and sentencing hearing July 6 on a felony charge accusing him of possessing methamphetamine.
If you smell something sweet as you head east out of Baraboo, it just might be the lavender at Rowley Creek Farm.

Nine varieties of the plant grow on sloping hillsides off Sauk County Highway W. Andrew and Kehaulani Jones began planting lavender three years ago, and now are ready to bring their products to market. Whats more, theyre opening Rowley Creek Farm to the public.

Our hope is to help people reconnect with nature, Kehaulani Jones said. We really wanted to share it with people.

Her family  which includes five children ages 3-14  is harvesting lavender for use in soap, honey and essential oils. Fresh-cut lavender and lavender plants also will be available. The Joneses plan to take their lavender to farmers markets, as well as selling products at the farm. A grand opening celebration at the farm is set for Saturday.

The family bought the property, the former hobby farm of late Baraboo pharmacist Syl Budig, five years ago. A couple years later Andrew Jones, a nurse anesthetist, had a brainstorm: The family should create a lavender farm. His wife, who holds a masters degree in public administration, decided to become a lavender farmer, as well as teach her children in the familys home school.

I took that idea and I ran with it, she said. We wanted to do something different.

Planting lavender in Wisconsin is definitely something different, as the plant typically thrives in Mediterranean climates. But its an adaptable plant, and the Joneses have spent the past three years developing hardy varieties.

We wanted to see if lavender would even grow here before we opened the farm to the public, she said.

She and her husband know a little something about thriving away from home. Shes from Hawaii and hes from New Zealand. They met at Brigham Young University through a performing arts tour, where she danced and he handled lighting. The next thing they knew, they were uprooting their family from St. Louis to become farmers in Wisconsin. Were not very risky people, and yet we took a chance on lavender, she said.

Lavender is increasingly popular for use in cooking, crafting, perfumes and aromatherapy. Its known for its pleasant scent and relaxing effects. Lavenders touch soothes cuts and burns. Its scent enhances meditation. Its taste accents steaks, chocolates and lemonade. It has a distinct flavor, Jones said.

Down the line, the family would like to expand production by establishing a commercial kitchen and restoring the farms dilapidated greenhouses. The Joneses also hope to convert the farms cottage into a bunkhouse for tourists seeking a farm stay getaway. A barn may be renovated for public events.

For now, they offer tours on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The lavender farmers want visitors to put down their gadgets, take in a whiff of lavender, and enjoy a stroll along spring-fed Rowley Creek. They also want to remind people that pills and perfumes and chocolates dont come from the store: They come from the farm.

This is where it all starts, Jones said.
The Illinois General Assembly is the most ineffective legislative body in the United States, maybe the world.

So logic would say that when 158 of the 177 positions are up for election, the competition to replace the current inhabitants would be intense.

This is Illinois politics. Logic doesnt live here.

After the recent deadline for candidates to file for a spot on the November ballot, we know now how the races are shaping up. Its not a pretty picture if youre a fan of representative government.

Out of those 158 possible races for the General Assembly, 62 are contested. Nearly 60 percent of the races are walk-overs  the candidates dont even have an opponent. In the House, 50 out of a possible 118 races are contested; in the Senate, 12 out of 40 are contested. About half of the contested races are in Chicago and its suburbs.

That means most Illinois residents wont have an opportunity to change the makeup of the General Assembly. There are a lot of reasons to vote in November, but for most Illinois residents, making an impact on state government wont be one of them.

There is a tendency in politics to hate the institution, but love the representative. While a lot of people are disgusted with the lack of progress in state government, fewer blame their local representatives. Politicians are adept at blaming the institution, rather than taking personal responsibility.

However, this lack of competitiveness is built into the system. It is a reason why Illinois needs to change the way its political map is drawn. When politicians draw the maps, the result is what we currently have  a gerrymandered system aimed more at protecting incumbents than representing citizens.

The Independent Map Amendment has gathered the signatures necessary to get the amendment on the November ballot. A court challenge, orchestrated by a friend of House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, is the next hurdle.

The amendment is important because it would remove the map-making process from the politicians. The proposed system would result in fairer political maps and more competitive elections.

But thats what Springfield politicians are afraid of: members of both parties are comfortable with the status quo, which keeps most of them drawing big legislative salaries with few worries about competitive elections.

Many legislators will say they voted for redrawing the maps during the last session, which technically may be true. But that was a charade. The two houses considered different re-mapping resolutions, with no intention of the Senate and House working together on the required similar language.

The budget impasse, the unfunded pension liability, the inability to properly and effectively fund education are a result of the current map-drawing process. Illinois residents want a chance to change their dysfunctional government, but that wont happen until the map-drawing process is changed.
WAUPUN  On a secret mission, the Packers Tailgate Tour featuring six active and former Green Bay Packers surprised 120 National Guard Reservists Saturday after they came back from a two week training camp Saturday.

As the men and women of the 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment were meeting at the Waupun Armory and getting last instructions before going home, Packer President and CEO Mark Murphy suddenly came into the building followed by active Packer players Jared Abbrederis, Jayron Elliott and Sam Barrington, followed by former Packer players Le Roy Butler, Sean Jones and Robert Brooks.

The reservists were dismissed, and were free to talk to the Packers. After 15 minutes, the troops were called together, and Murphy talked to them, then asked for questions.

Whats life like after retirement? one troop asked.

Jones said he worked on Wall Street,

Books said he is involved in commercial real estate.

Butler said he is involved in radio and TV.

Whats it like playing with Aaron Rogers? someone asked.

Hes great, said Abbrederis. Hes always pushing us. He expects the best of us.

What are some of your best pranks?

Butler told of many pranks, but Barrington, an active player, said they dont do pranks. Not now, not with so much social media. Youd get caught.

Asked about what they do in the off-season, most players said they are out of town.

One soldier got the biggest laugh when he addressed Butler, who is famous for starting the Lambeau Leap.

My father loves you, and talks about you all the time. Can I get a video of you saying how much you hate him?

Butler gave it to him.

After getting to know the Packers, the Packers toured the Armory, and got to know the soldiers, the equipment they use.

After an hour, the Pack thanked everyone and got on their way to their next surprise visit in Ft. Atkinson.
MADISON (AP)  A handful of Wisconsin inmates still wont eat in hopes of forcing an end to long-term solitary confinement.

The Industrial Workers of the World, a labor union promoting the strike, has said seven inmates spread between the prisons in Waupun and Portage stopped eating June 10. The union issued a news release Saturday saying the prisoners are still refusing to eat.

Waupun inmate Cesar DeLeon also has stopped drinking out of concerns the prisons water is contaminated with copper and lead. DeLeon said in a June 14 letter to the union that 16 people started the strike but only three people were still striking at Waupun.

Department of Corrections spokesman Tristan Cook said he couldnt comment due to medical privacy laws but said the agency would ensure the inmates health.
June 1, 12:45 a.m. The Columbus Fire Department responded to assist EMS on North Ludington Street in the city of Columbus.

June 2, 7:50 a.m. The Columbus Fire Department responded to a chemical spill on Hwy TT in the town of Elba.

June 3, 7:05 p.m. The Columbus Fire Department responded to a motor vehicle accident with no injuries on Highway 151 in the town of Columbus.

June 5, 6:23 p.m. The Columbus Fire Department responded to power lines down on Middleton Street and North Dickason Boulevard in the city of Columbus.

June 6, 10:59 p.m. The Columbus Fire Department responded to a carbon monoxide alarm due to malfunction on Meadow Lane in the city of Columbus.

June 9, 9:55 a.m. The Columbus Fire Department responded to a cooking fire to remove smoke on Industrial Drive in the city of Columbus.

June 10, 11:41 a.m. The Columbus Fire Department responded to a small trash fire on Industrial Drive in the city of Columbus.

June 10, 8:43 p.m. The Columbus Fire Department responded to a sprinkler activation due to a malfunction on Park Avenue in the city of Columbus.

June 10, 8:51 p.m. The Columbus Fire Department responded to a motor vehicle accident with injuries on Highway 151 in the town of York.
Loyal patrons of Cottonwood Bar and Grill might remember how the tavern got its name from the seed that used to blow in on summers breezy days.

Well, if youve ever seen cottonwood go through an old A/C unit, owner Randy Heinzel explained, and then he gestured in the air to the long-gone white specks that once flitted about before they fell to the barroom floor.

Fast forward to the here and now  as 20 hours of celebrating is on tap for Cottonwoods 30 years of business  and Heinzel has his eyes on the future as much as the past.

Thirty years is a long time, Heinzel said of the Portage tavern, located at 312 DeWitt St. But were going to keep learning from people and do the best we can.

The bar, Heinzel said, is known for its good mix of patrons who span many generations  a group that will honor the taverns history from 6 a.m. to bar close on July 1. The day will involve raffles, giveaways, some free food, discount prices on beer and liquor and, in all likelihood, some live music. Patrons in the month of June  one for each day  are receiving tickets for the Columbia County Tavern Leagues ATV raffle, a drawing to be held in September for a brand-new ATV and trailer.

More details on that raffle and other anniversary offerings are available at Cottonwood.

The customers always first, Heinzel said. Portage has treated me very well.

Big changes

Heinzel came to Portage from Oregon, Wisconsin, in 1986 when his parents, Clem and June Heinzel, purchased the bar previously known as Condons. His parents ran the business until 1990, when Randy Heinzel took ownership.

Condons, according to Heinzel, was established before the Great Depression and was the first Portage bar to be issued a liquor license after Prohibition. Condons clientele had a reputation of being on the rough side, Heinzel added, establishing a stigma that took Cottonwood about 10 years to repair in the 1990s.

Thats changed, but its been a hard fight, he said of Cottonwoods reputation, one improved by very few incidents under his ownership. People get something in their head, and its hard to change their opinions.

Upgrades under Heinzels ownership have helped to create a roomy, comfortable atmosphere at Cottonwood, including a vaulted ceiling, bathroom additions, more space for seating, new bar tops, an elevated DJ booth for music and bands, and new television sets.

Before taking ownership Heinzel convinced his parents to put in a grill, and today Cottonwood boasts a menu featuring burgers as good as any in town, he said. Cottonwood has participated in the Taste of Portage for the past four years.

Changes you might file in the unfortunate category involve the many state and federal regulations of recent years, Heinzel said.

Our industry has been as regulated as any, he said, noting a smoking ban in 2010. Thats been the hardest part because the laws continue to change.

Heinzel also said he sometimes has a hard time understanding the direction taken by the city of Portage.

Portage just hasnt grown as fast as others, like Baraboo or my hometown in Oregon, he said. City decisions made in recent years regarding downtown parking top Heinzels list for areas hed like to see some improvement, saying the public parking behind Cottonwood has basically received zero maintenance.

What the people want

Cottonwood has nine employees including seven bartenders  the longest tenured being Lisa Nelson, a bartender for 29 years who has been at Cottonwood for 16.

I couldnt have done it without her, Heinzel said of Nelson. She listens to what the people want.

Twelve years ago, Cottonwood hired Larry Luecht out of the U.S. Army Reserves to be Cottonwoods deejay, a move the tavern was recognized for in 2016 by the Department of Defense for employing a veteran, Heinzel said.

Being open for 20 hours a day requires a large staff, Heinzel said, adding theres a lot more going on behind the scenes for an establishment thats open as long as Cottonwood.

Twenty hours a day is a lot more work. I try to listen to what the customer wants  and its maybe not always (handled) on the spot  but the customers first.

My parents were great teachers. I didnt come in green.

Giving back involves heavy participation in Columbia Countys Safe Ride program, to which Cottonwood through various meat raffles and personal donations raised an estimated $5,000 in 2015, Heinzel said.

Once theyre in the door, you have to take care of them.
Wisconsin company wrestles with the FDA over an infant formula

Nikos Linardakis says the FDA has stymied efforts that he and James Esselman have made to launch their Bene Baby Co.s product.
Solidarity with #BopheloHouse94 and the right to protest

Statement of support by the Right2Know Campaign

Today the 94 Free State community health workers  the #BopheloHouse94  appear before a full bench on the Bloemfontein High Court to defend their right to protest. The 94 were convicted last year of violations of the Regulation of Gatherings Act after they held a peaceful night vigil outside the health MECs office.

The Right2Know Campaign stands in solidarity with the #BopheloHouse94 and their quest not only to defend their right to protest, but to blow the whistle on the Free State's failing health system.

The vigil by community health workers and TAC members was a response to the ongoing crisis in the provincial healthcare system, including an arbitrary decision to terminate the contracts of community healthcare workers. After many other attempts at engagement failed, members took a conscious decision to resort to civil disobedience in the form of a sit-in at Bophelo House, the head office of the Free State Department of Health.

Instead of addressing the concerns, the authorities responded by arresting the protesters  many of whom were elderly community health workers. TAC leader Macobane Morake was reportedly punched in the face by a police officer who was not wearing a name tag. According to the TAC, police told protesters that they had been sent by Health MEC Benny Malakoane.



It is deeply concerning that the workers democratic right to protest was violated in this way.

R2K has noted with concern that the right to protest appears to be under threat in South Africa with police becoming more aggressive towards protesters and officials increasingly intolerant.

The decision to resort to civil disobedience when all avenues fail is a legitimate one. Bophelo House events are part of a wider pattern where protesters are treated like criminals. This has been experienced by many other community organisations across the country. It also highlights the weaknesses and limitations of the Regulation of Gatherings Act  how can a peaceful gathering of elderly citizens be a crime?

We would like to remind the Free State government that the right to organise, protest and speak out is central to all community struggles for social justice. Instead of cracking down on dissent, the authorities should focus on addressing the problems that have forced this protest action.

The Free State health care system is said to be one of the worst in the country under MEC Benny Malakoanes leadership. The management should focus on fixing the system instead of dismissing workers who are the backbone of the health care system.

Free community health workers!

We have the Right2Protest!

Ongazi Makazi!

Background to the case, and the parties' legal papers, can be found here.

For further comment contact:

R2K National spokesperson - Murray Hunter (Cell: 072 672 5468)

Bongani Xezwi - R2K National Outreach Organiser: (078 030 5192)

Busi Mtabane - R2K National Communicator: (083 329 7844)
Alumni pioneers: Before W&M had an APIA program, they created their own majors

Although the Asian and Pacific Islander American Studies Program was just established at William & Mary at the beginning of May, students have been pursuing degrees in the discipline for nearly 10 years with self-designed interdisciplinary majors.

Edward Hong 09 was the first student to receive such a degree, focusing his work on the history of Asian American performers. Now an actor in California, he is not only using what he learned to inform his craft, but to also contribute to conversations about race in TV and film in a time when the whitewashing of Asian or Asian American roles has garnered national attention.

Im really glad I did it because when someone knows the history of things, you have a better understanding of where things need to get better, he said.

Hong decided to pursue the self-designed major in Asian American studies during his junior year under the guidance of Theatre Professor Francis Tanglao-Aguas.

I was very much into that because I was very much an advocate for these ethnic studies courses, whether it be a Latino American major or black studies major, Hong said. By having the self-designed major and making it a reality, it was definitely a way for other students to follow.

And follow they did. A total of 13 students have graduated from W&M with a self-designed major in the discipline, each tailored to the interests of the individual student.

APIA is always training community leaders, people who can build communities, who are proactive, innovative, said Tanglao-Aguas, people who bring wit h them a process of creation and innovation.  We graduate people who know how to create their own opportunities based on the knowledge base that is APIA studies, and weve proven this.

After Hong, Hasan Ali 12 and Abhay Ahluwalia 12 were the next students to pursue self-designed majors in Asian American studies, focusing on theatre and cinema. Ali also majored in process management consulting, and Ahluwalia studied business consulting with a concentration on marketing.

I was interested in pursuing a degree in APIA because no other major allowed me to take the classes I was truly interested in, said Ahluwalia, who, like Hong, is now an actor in California. I would also add that I probably learned the most I have ever in my life about East and South Asian cultures by really diving into their histories through storytelling, performing, and watching historically relevant videos as well as modern pieces of art and film. Having Francis as my professor also helped a lot because he was so interested in everything he was teaching that it was hard for the energy to not rub off on his students. 

Ali, who founded his own K-12 tutoring company in the Washington, D.C., area after forgoing an acceptance to medical school, said that the major helped give him the confidence to make bold choices with his life.

It will give you this set of resources and equip you with this sense of individuality and uniqueness, he said.

 I think the value of it is immense. I definitely loved it, thought it was a fantastic experience, and if I had to do it all over again, I would, and this time around I might start even sooner.

Arya Espahbodi 15 was among the fourth group of Asian American studies majors at the university, along with Jonathon Hsu 15 and Paul Atienza 15. He focused his major on Asian American diaspora studies while also majoring in applied mathematics with a scientific concentration.

As someone who is half Iranian, a quarter Indian and a quarter Hispanic, Espahbodi was interested in learning about his own identity, he said.

Furthermore, I was curious to learn about the identities of others with similar/different backgrounds and how our identities are similar/different, said Espahbodi. Outside of my family unit, I did not know much about Iranian, Indian and Asian Pacific Islanders in general.

Pursuing the major allowed Espahbodi, now a high-school teacher in Baltimore, to learn about his similarities and differences with those peoples and others, he said.

It connected the plight and struggles of Asian Americans with other minorities such as African Americans and Hispanics, he said. It truly gave me insight to my life and how it was similar/different to other minorities.

For example, in a Asian Pacific American history class that Espahbodi took, Assistant Professor of Africana Studies and History Chinua Thelwell asked the students to make personal connections to the classroom topics.

"One topic was Japanese internment," said Espahbodi. "A direct result of widespread fear of Japanese Americans during World War II, internment is very similar to the issue of Islamophobia today as some political figures are willing to categorize and marginalize an entire group of people because of irrational fears of others."

Espahbodi and the other Asian American studies alumni were delighted to see a program for Asian and Pacific Islander American Studies established at the university earlier in May so that current and future students can more easily pursue their interest in the field.

I think the new APIA program will allow students to easily access the program of study they are interested in without having to put together their own major like me and my peers did, said Ahluwalia. Until we had approval from William & Mary, we simply did not know whether these classes we were taking would count toward anything. It was a relief to get the approval letter back when I submitted my Asian American theater and film major for consideration.

Ahluwalia thinks its important that William & Mary expand its APIA studies offerings as well as similar ethnic studies programs so that students get a better understanding of what it means to be human in different parts of the world, he said.

The students in these classes will someday be the leaders of the world, and the more we learn and understand in college not only makes us love and appreciate people from various parts of the world even more but also allows us to realize that they too are human like us, said Ahluwalia. They experience happiness, sadness, hunger and pain. They may have different ways of dressing and expression than us, but they are equally as human. It is that understanding which I believe allows us to respect one another and ultimately live in peace and harmony without feeling the need to press upon others our way of living or beliefs.

As Hong pursues his acting career, what he learned through Asian American studies is always on his mind  whether he is discussing the historical context of modern-day whitewashing (white actors being cast as Asian or Pacific Islander characters) or deciding whether he should take a stereotypical part  even if he could really use the money.

There have been times where Ive turned down auditions, Ive turned down roles because of that, despite my agent going, Its not that big of a deal, Hong said. Im like, yeah, but I think it is because there is nothing of value to come from this role. Its just going to make people look at Asians in a very negative light, and thats not something I want to play.

Although Hong has several roles coming up on the big screen and TV  including a part in the upcoming Dakota Fanning movie Please Stand By and a recurring role on the series Devious Maids  one he will always be known for at William & Mary is the universitys first Asian American studies major.

Its weird to see anyone who is part of history. When you think you were the first, you were the benchmark, the pioneer, its always a weird feeling that you are part of something much greater, he said. At times, Im like, Im just an actor, I dont really see how I pioneered or contributed to history in any way, but when I see this Asian American minor be official now, its like I played a part in that, and it led to so many things to come.

My reaction was kind of disbelief, but once that went away, it was sheer happiness that this is becoming an official path for students to take.
W&M establishes program for Asian and Pacific Islander American studies

Celebration: Student and faculty advocates for the Asian and Pacific Islander American Studies Program celebrate its approval after a faculty vote in May. Photo courtesy of Francis Tanglao-Aguas Photo - of - Hide Caption

William & Mary has established a new interdisciplinary program for Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) studies, and students may pursue a minor in the discipline beginning this fall.

The Asian and Pacific Islander American Studies Program received final approval with a unanimous vote at a Faculty of Arts & Sciences meeting May 3  the same day that W&M student Benny Zhang 16 became the first Asian American elected to the Williamsburg City Council.

The program will be directed by Theatre Professor Francis Tanglao-Aguas and coordinated through the Charles Center, which has allowed students to pursue a self-designed major in APIA studies for nearly a decade.

To be competitive in recruiting the best students, William & Mary, like any other successful university, is required to demonstrate that it graduates not only skilled but competitive and highly desirable leaders in their respective fields, said Tanglao-Aguas. My hope is that APIA studies can contribute to the training and development of a highly skilled and competitive William & Mary graduate.

Pedagogy, research, community

To complete the minor, students must earn 18 credits in APIA courses, including nine credits in the core courses: Introduction to Asian & Pacific Islander Studies, Peoples and Cultures of Polynesia, Asian American Experience, Asian Pacific American History, and Asian American Studies.

Faculty members in disciplines across campus  from anthropology and history to education and Africana studies  will teach in the program, and students will have the chance to engage in research so they can add to the existing body of APIA knowledge, including the history of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans at W&M.

Its important to think of APIA studies as a pedagogical tool, a research tool, a theoretical tool and a source of community for students  a chance to study community but also an expression of community on this coast and then across the country, said R. Benedito Ferrao, Mellon Fellow in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.

Ferrao helped draft the original description of the program, making it broad enough to include the study of the indigenous peoples of these communities as well as current transnational issues affecting Asia and the Pacific Islands. He and Tanglao-Aguas also made sure that the program would include an exploration of the various identities within the Asian and Pacific Islander American communities, including people who are transgender or queer, Ferrao said.

For many years, similar Asian American studies programs have been primarily offered by universities on the West Coast, following the Third World Liberation Front strikes of the 1960s that resulted in the establishment of ethnic studies programs at universities around the country, Ferrao said.

What is important about it now being a minor here at William & Mary is it will perhaps shift the gaze, where we think about APIA studies from another coast.  There isnt just one APIA story, and perhaps having an East Coast program will help us think more deeply about that, he said.

Another unique aspect of the W&M program is its inclusion of the Pacific Islander American component, but Tanglao-Aguas saw that as a natural fit. The people of the Pacific Islands and Asia not only share a similar genealogical pool, they also share similar histories, he said.

Jenny Kahn, an assistant professor of anthropology, has worked in the Pacific Islands for many years, conducting archaeological research and working with students of French Polynesian and Hawaiian descent. She helped Tanglao-Aguas develop the curriculum for the new APIA program and teaches one of the minors core courses, Peoples and Cultures of Polynesia.

One of my roles in the minor will be to provide students with opportunities to visit the Pacific Islands and conduct archaeological research and cultural heritage management, said Kahn.

Although her work focuses primarily on archaeology, students interested in a wide range of disciplines  from public policy to sociology  may find the region of academic interest because of its unique environment, which is now seeing the effects of climate change and sea-level rise, and its history, which has included colonization and an ongoing relationship with the United States government, Kahn said.

There are a lot of different ways that somebody could use the minor along with a different type of major that could be really beneficial, she said.

Student involvement

With help from colleagues across campus, Tanglao-Aguas has been building toward the establishment of an APIA program since he started at William & Mary in 2005. However, he says that the groundwork began well before that, starting with the universitys first known Asian-American students, Art Matsu 28 and Hatsuye Yamasaki 37 (pictured below).

Even before I came here, students were mobilizing with faculty. They did not know that what they wanted necessarily was Asian and Pacific Islander American studies, but they were interested always in creating the space, Tanglao-Aguas said, adding that it is the establishment of that space that is so important since people come and go.

The space has to change so that it can foster the consciousness of whoever will inhabit it, he said.

Before that space existed, Edward Hong 09, now an actor in Los Angeles, became the first William & Mary student to graduate with a self-designed major in Asian American studies, paving the way for a dozen since then to do the same.

In 2014, students created the Asian American Student Initiative to not only advocate for Asian-American studies but also raise awareness of the Asian-American identity on campus through such efforts as the FACES social media campaign.

Heein Choi 18 came to William & Mary intent on just studying finance, but after taking one of Tanglao-Aguas classes and joining AASI, he found a desire to learn more about his cultural heritage.

When I was talking to Professor Tanglao-Aguas, I said I just felt kind of empty, like I dont know kind of my background, he said. Everyone else can study theirs here on campus, but I felt like why cant we study ours?

In addition to studying finance, Choi decided to pursue a major in Asian American studies. He also joined AASIs efforts, which included meetings with leaders across campus, performances by students, visits by nationally known Asian-American comedians and performers  and even a Charter Day speech delivered by Choi himself.

Choi said that the establishment of the APIA program will give more visibility to its courses, since they will now be grouped together in the catalog and on Banner. It will also serve as a message to current and prospective students about the universitys commitment to diversity, he said, adding that Asian-American students can feel overlooked in conversations about race when they are framed in terms of a black/white dichotomy.

William & Mary taking the step to recognize Asian American studies as a minor is a great step in realizing that, hey, diversity is not binary, meaning that it is not just black and white. There is a wide variety, and it's a spectrum, Choi said. I think it will really resonate with students across the globe.  I think its a great step in William & Mary achieving the full diversity that we all look for in a college.

Personal and professional preparation

Ferrao and Tanglao-Aguas said that the new program will help students think more deeply about what it means to live in a multicultural society.

We teach people how to deal with societys treatment of people based on race and ethnicity because we know that it is different depending on the color of your skin, said Tanglao-Aguas. So if you go out there not aware of how your physical attributes play in your social performance, you are not ready to play. You will not have agency because someone else will know how you work better than you do.

Being prepared for that will help graduates of the new APIA program become leaders and agents of change whatever field they go into following graduation.

We teach our students not only to consume, invest and acquire knowledge, but to move forward with that knowledge as a catalyst for change for themselves and for their communities that they will build, said Tanglao-Aguas.

With a couple of years left at W&M until his own graduation, Choi has already seen APIA studies make a difference in his life.

Its so important to know who you are, Choi said. My father talked about, Who cares if you become the richest man in the world if you dont have assurance on your identity? I think this is something that will definitely be an important part of my continuous development as a person.




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Changjiang 2 starts supplying power to grid

20 June 2016

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The second unit at the Changjiang nuclear power plant on China's southern island province of Hainan has been connected to the electricity grid, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has announced.

Workers in the unit's control room witness Changjiang 2's grid connection (Image: CNNC)

The 650 MWe CNP-600 pressurized water reactor (PWR) was connected to the grid at 4.01am on 20 June, the company said. The unit achieved first criticality on 9 June following the completion of loading 121 fuel assemblies into its core on 12 May.

CNNC said Changjiang 2 is scheduled to enter commercial operation in early August.

A control room panel indicates the unit is supplying electricity to the grid (Image: CNNC)

Initial approval for construction of the Changjiang plant was granted by the National Developmental and Reform Commission in July 2008. Early site works began in December 2008. Construction of unit 1 began with the pouring of first concrete on 25 April 2010, while that for unit 2 was poured on 21 November 2010. Changjiang 1 achieved first criticality on 12 October 2015 and entered commercial operation in December.

The plant, near Hoi Mei Tong village in China's Hainan province, is being built as a joint venture between CNNC and China Huaneng Group, with shares split 51% and 49%, respectively. The plant will eventually comprise four units, with units 3 and 4 housing either CNP-650 or ACP-600 reactors. Construction of both those units is scheduled to begin by 2018.

CNNC has said that the first two Changjiang units will together provide almost one-third of the electricity needs of Hainan. By using nuclear power instead of coal-fired generation, the units will avoid the burning of some 300 million tonnes of coal and the resulting emission of about 7.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and 5.8 tonnes of sulfur dioxide, it claims.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

Related topics
Takahama units cleared for extended operation

20 June 2016

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The Japanese nuclear regulator has today approved the operation of units 1 and 2 of Kansai Electric Power Company's Takahama nuclear power plant for up to 60 years. They become the first Japanese units to be granted a licence extension beyond 40 years under revised regulations.

Kansai's Takahama plant (Image: NRA)

Previously, operating licences lasted for 40 years, subject to a review every ten years. During that period the regulator checked the operator's maintenance plan for the unit.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) approved a ten-year operating extension for unit 1 of the Takahama plant in Fukui prefecture in November 2014. The 780 MWe (net) pressurized water reactor (PWR) began operating in November 1974. Takahama 2 - also a 780 MWe PWR - was granted a ten-year life extension in April 2015. That unit started up a year after unit 1.

However, under revised regulations which came into force in July 2013, reactors have a nominal operating period of 40 years. Extensions can be granted once only and limited to a maximum of 20 years, contingent on exacting safety requirements.

Kansai applied to the NRA in April 2015 to extend the operation of the Takahama 1 and 2 reactor by 20 years under the new regulations.

As part of its application, special inspections were conducted, including ultrasound tests on the reactor vessels' welds and eddy current tests on the primary coolant nozzles to identify degradation. The units' containment vessels and their concrete barriers were also inspected for cracks.

Kansai was also required to submit to the regulator a long-term maintenance management policy, as well as implement an aging technology evaluation.

At a meeting today, the NRA approved Kansai's licence extension application.

Takahama 1 and 2 are progressing through the restart process. In April, the NRA confirmed the units meet new safety regulations. The units are the oldest of the seven reactors so far deemed to conform to the new safety standards.

Researched and written

by World Nuclear News

Related topics
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Distressed Sales Expected to Return to Pre-Crisis Share in 2018

Of total sales in March 2016, distressed sales accounted for 9.9 percent and real estate-owned (REO) sales accounted for 6.8 percent

The REO sales share was 21.1 percentage points below its peak of 27.9 percent in January 2009

Distressed sales shares fell in most states, including the oil markets





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According to Irvine, Ca-based CoreLogic, U.S. distressed home sales, which include REO and short sales, accounted for 9.9 percent of total home sales nationally in March 2016, down 2.7 percentage points from March 2015 and down 1.7 percentage points from February 2016.Within the distressed category, REO sales accounted for 6.8 percent and short sales accounted for 3.2 percent of total home sales in March 2016. The REO sales share was 2.4 percentage points below the March 2015 share and is the lowest for the month of March since 2007. The short sales share fell below 4 percent in mid-2014 and has remained in the 3-4 percent range since then. At its peak in January 2009, distressed sales totaled 32.4 percent of all sales, with REO sales representing 27.9 percent of that share. While distressed sales play an important role in clearing the housing market of foreclosed properties, they sell at a discount to non-distressed sales, and when the share of distressed sales is high, it can pull down the prices of non-distressed sales. There will always be some level of distress in the housing market, and by comparison, the pre-crisis share of distressed sales was traditionally about 2 percent. If the current year-over-year decrease in the distressed sales share continues, it will reach that "normal" 2-percent mark in mid-2018.All but eight states recorded lower distressed sales shares in March 2016 compared with a year earlier. Maryland had the largest share of distressed sales of any state at 19.8 percent in March 2016, followed by Connecticut (18.9 percent), Michigan (18.1 percent), Florida (17 percent) and Illinois (16.7 percent). North Dakota had the smallest distressed sales share at 2.4 percent. Oil states continued to see year-over-year declines in their distressed sales shares in March 2016. Texas saw a 1.3 percentage point decrease, Oklahoma saw a 0.3 percentage point decrease and North Dakota saw a 0.2 percentage point decrease. Florida had a 5 percentage point drop in its distressed sales share from a year earlier, the largest decline of any state. California had the largest improvement of any state from its peak distressed sales share, falling 59.9 percentage points from its January 2009 peak of 67.5 percent. While some states stand out as having high distressed sales shares, only North Dakota and the District of Columbia are close to their pre-crisis levels (each within one percentage point).Of the 25 largest Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) based on mortgage loan count, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, Md. had the largest share of distressed sales at 19.8 percent, followed by Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, Ill. (19 percent), Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla. (18.6 percent), Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Fla. (18.2 percent) and Newark, N.J. (14.8 percent). Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, Colo. had the smallest distressed sales share at 2.6 percent among this same group of the country's largest CBSAs. Only two of the largest 25 CBSAs had year-over-year increases in their distressed sales share: Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, Mass. was up by 0.9 percentage points and Nassau County-Suffolk County, N.Y. was up by 0.7 percentage. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Fla. had the largest year-over-year drop in its distressed sales share, declining by 6.3 percentage points from 24.5 percent in March 2015 to 18.2 percent in March 2016. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif. had the largest overall improvement in its distressed sales share from its peak value, dropping from 76.3 percent in February 2009 to 10.1 percent in March 2016.
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
Tayler Michelle Gray

By: Wayne Morin

(Scroll down for video) A woman caused a lot of controversy after posting a video to Twitter, showing her walking out during her graduation ceremony.

Tayler Michelle Gray, 19, received her diploma from the Parkland High School in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

She then took the official school photo before walking out of the building rather than getting back to her assigned seat like all other students.

Gray uploaded the video of the moment she headed for the exit door to Twitter, with the caption: aReceived my diploma and walked right out.a

The video went viral, and was shared and liked by more than 200,000 people.

Some people called her disrespectful, while others called her clever. Gray defended her actions by saying that she did not disrupt the graduation while walking out.

Gray explained that after walking out, she went to Applebees to celebrate with her family.

She added that by the time all the other graduates came to the restaurant, she and her family were already done eating.

Many people wanted to know what a 19-year-old woman was doing graduating from high school.

Gray explained that she graduated high school while simultaneously studying at a technical institute to become a nursing assistant.
Noor Al Faris sitting on the hood of the Mercedes

By: Chan Yuan

The teacher of a 5-year-old girl in Kuwait, was shocked to get a Mercedes as a gift at the end of the school year.

Noor Al Faris wanted to thank her teacher identified as Nadia, for helping her out after her mother died.

The young girl persuaded her father to buy the Mercedes and wrote athis car is for my favorite teacher Nadia,a on the windshield of the car.

During the last day of school, the father parked the Mercedes outside of the building and Noor waited on the hood for her favorite teacher to come outside.

The girl was very happy with the reaction of her teacher who was very happy with the gift.

The father of the girl said that Nadia, had a major role in helping his child cope and move on with her life following his wifeas death.
Residents & Motorists Advised to Make Plans Accordingly Ahead of Stereophonics Concert

This article is old - Published: Monday, Jun 20th, 2016

Motorists and residents in Wrexham area being advised to make their plans accordingly and to expect delays ahead of the highly anticipated Stereophonics concert next month.

More than 20,000 music fans are expected to descend on the Glyndwr University Racecourse Stadium for the sell-out Stereophonics on Saturday 2nd July.

Organisers are due to publish details of their traffic and parking plans for the day this week. While final details have yet to be published, it is anticipated that the Mold Road area could have temporary closures to allow for traffic management / the volume of people to enter and exit the stadium.

In the meantime North Wales Police are keen to warn motorists that they will need to be patient and to expect some delays and diversions.

Supt Alex Goss said: This will be the largest influx of people into Wrexham on a single day, to one location, for a considerable time.

We want concert goers to have a great time and for those not going to Racecourse ground to be able to go about their business as easily as possible.

With such large numbers converging on the town it is important that people, especially those who are not going to the concert, are aware that it will be an extremely busy day and to bear this in mind when out and about.

Plans for the Stereophonics concert in Wrexham were first announced in March 2016, with tickets selling out within an hour.

The Stereophonics will perform Wrexhams first stadium gig in over 30 years and will be joined by fellow Welsh rockers, Catfish and the Bottlemen.

*We have contacted the event organisers and are awaiting further information
Canadas Liberal government tabled a bill in the House of Commons last week to create a parliamentary committee to oversee the activities of the countrys intelligence agencies. Behind the official rhetoric about protecting the rights of Canadians, the committee will serve as a fig leaf for the activities of the countrys national security apparatus, which in the name of fighting terrorism has been given police state powers.

Under Bill C-22, a nine-person National Security and Intelligence Committee will be able to review any activity carried out by the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) or its signal intelligence counterpart, the Communication Security Establishment (CSE), and any matter relating to national security or intelligence.

The committee will be composed of seven MPs and two senators, with four of the MPs coming from the governing Liberals. It will meet behind closed doors in a secure location.

While the committee is being touted as a watchdog body mandated with ensuring that Canadians rights are not violated by over-zealous national security operatives, it will be firmly under government control and its oversight powers will be severely circumscribed.

The Prime Minister will appoint all nine committee members. The government will be able to withhold any information from the committee that would be injurious to national security and block an inquiry into an ongoing operation if it deems it could adversely impact it. In such cases the committee could ask the government to provide a rationale for its decision, but would have no right of appeal to a court.

In addition, all nine members of the committee will be sworn to secrecy, not only while on the committee, but for their entire lives, and should they breach any confidence their parliamentary immunity will be lifted. Leaking of information to the public will be a criminal offence liable to imprisonment.

Unlike other parliamentary committees, the National Security and Intelligence Committee will report to the Prime Minister. This means the government will be able to vet its reports before they are released to the public.

The committee will be barred from examining ongoing defence intelligence activities supporting military operations. Given Canadas current military deployments in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa, as well as the Liberals intention to expand military activities abroad in support of the US military-strategic offensives against Russia and China, this will encompass a significant amount of intelligence work. This would also potentially limit the committee from examining concerns that the intelligence agencies were utilizing their police state powers to target domestic political opponents of such military operations.

The pledge to implement parliamentary oversight of the intelligence agencies was one of the Liberals flagship policies during last years election campaign. It was coupled with a vague commitment to repeal elements of the authoritarian Bill C-51 passed by the Harper Conservative government in the wake of the twin attacks on Canadian armed forces personnel in October 2014.

Rushed through parliament in early 2015, C-51 dramatically expands the powers of the intelligence agencies. CSIS has been granted the power to disrupt public security threats, a designation which goes well beyond terrorism to include any risk to Canadas national or economic security, and to use illegal means do so, with the only restrictions that CSIS cannot deliberately cause bodily harm or violate a persons sexual integrity. Police have been given the right to detain terrorist suspects for seven days without charge, while a new offence of promoting terrorism in general has been created and the state empowered to compel the removal of terrorist propaganda from the internet and print publications.

The Liberals cynically sought to appeal to popular hostility to Bill C-51 by claiming they had serious reservations about some of its provisions. Nonetheless, they voted in favour of it, citing the need to take urgent action to uphold national security. The Liberals real views on the matter were summed up perfectly when Justin Trudeau denounced New Democratic Party leader Tom Mulcair for fear-mongering following his timid questioning of the bills assault on basic democratic rights.

The undermining of democratic rights carried out by successive Liberal and Conservative government goes hand in hand with the Canadian ruling elites renewed turn to militarism and war. Justin Trudeaus government has pressed ahead on both fronts in its eight months in office. The Liberals have already expanded Canadas role in the US-led Mideast War and are currently considering sending hundreds more Canadian soldiers to Eastern Europe to participate in NATOs anti-Russian provocations in the Baltic and Poland. The intelligence agencies are deeply implicated in the war drive, as shown by a report issued earlier this month in which CSIS provocatively accused Russia of mobilizing for war with NATO.

Even the minor and largely cosmetic changes the Liberals are reportedly considering making to Bill C-51, including introducing a precise definition of terrorist propaganda and ensuring CSIS complies with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms when disrupting purported threats, are considered too much by powerful elements within the national security apparatus. CSIS head Michel Coulombe reportedly met secretly with Ralph Goodale a week after he became Trudeaus Public Security Minister to argue against any changes to CSISs powers.

During the eight-and-a-half months the Liberals have formed the government, they have worked to deepen Canadas military-strategic partnership with Washington, including on the intelligence front. In addition to their Bill C-22, the Liberals presented to parliament legislation last week empowering border agents to collect biographical information on all persons leaving Canada. This information will then be shared with US authorities. Discussions are also ongoing with Washington to coordinate the countries no-fly lists.

Goodale acknowledged that the model his government is proposing for the parliamentary oversight committee has been heavily influenced by Britain, where there is a nine-person security and intelligence committee.

This admission is revealing. Like Canada, Britain is a central partner in the US National Security Agency-led Five Eyes alliance, which conducts mass surveillance on the worlds population. Surveillance in the UK has reached unprecedented heights, with a series of draconian laws passed by successive Labour and Conservative governments since 9/11. The current Conservative government is in the process of adopting a so-called snoopers charter, which enshrines in law the right of Britains eavesdropping agency, Government Communications Headquarters or GCHQ, to conduct mass surveillance. (See: Britains Labour Party helps Conservative government pass Snoopers Charter)

Goodale also published an article recently on the Huffington Post website which outlined his governments intentions to strengthen surveillance and security capabilities in a number of areas. Particularly noteworthy was his emphasis on cyber security. He claimed that cyber attacks are on the rise and said additional security provisions are needed to counter them.

In addition, Goodale said the government would soon present a paper providing an overview of how anti-terrorist legislation has evolved over the past 15 years, including proposals to renovate Canadas overall national security framework. What such plans will involve is indicated by the actions of the previous Liberal governments under Paul Martin and Jean Chretien. They presided over a vast expansion of the powers and budget of the national security apparatus, including authorizing CSE to systematically collect and peruse the metadata of Canadians electronic communications.

Given that the proposed parliamentary intelligence committee will be staffed by tried and trusted representatives of the ruling elite who will be sworn to secrecy and have extremely limited powers to challenge the government, it is hardly surprising that the Liberals initiative has found support among leading figures within the intelligence community. Richard Fadden, a former CSIS head who was subsequently appointed by Harper to the position of national security adviser, told CTV News he endorsed the idea of an oversight mechanism. Broadly speaking I think theres something to be said for somebody, somewhere, having an overview, Fadden commented.

At the same time, other factions of the ruling elite are seeking to exploit the recent mass shooting in Orlando, together with the terrorist attacks in Paris last November and in Brussels in March, to oppose even token amendments to Bill C-51. Typical in this regard was a comment in the right-wing National Post by regular columnist John Ivison titled Canadians not so eager to weaken our countrys anti-terrorism legislation anymore.
Based on figures from just one major energy supply company, almost 200,000 households in eastern and southern Australia were threatened with having their power disconnected between 2012 and 2015, and about half were cut off.

In a recently released report, Households in the Dark, St Vincent de Paul Society researchers found that extreme financial distress was the basic reason, not just the high cost of electricity. The study provides a glimpse into the severe hardships and mounting difficulties that working class households are facing.

St Vincent de Paul, a Catholic charity, undertook the research using data provided by AGL, a big electricity and gas retailer, on electricity disconnections in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales (NSW) and parts of southeast Queensland.

In total, AGL requested that its bulk electricity suppliers carry out 199,704 disconnections over the three-year period. The supply companies completed 50 percent of these service orders, while 45 percent were not completed and 5 percent were partly completed.

AGLs cut-offs, which showed a slight decrease in disconnections requested from 78,156 in 201213 to 63,644 in 201415, are only part of the picture. Overall national figures are not readily available, but other statistics point to a rise in cut-offs. Data from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) covering just NSW, the most populous state, indicates that disconnections doubled per year from 15,835 in 200910 to 31,978 in 201415.

Thousands of people are being cut off despite reassurances by governments and regulators that strict provisions exist, requiring utility companies to disconnect as a last resort, and to provide payment plans for people facing hardship.

During 201415 another 77,838 households in NSW were on payment plans, due to difficulties meeting their electricity bills. Despite regulations barring households from being cut-off if they require electricity for life support or have payment plans, the AER web site indicates that such disconnections are still taking place.

Households in the Dark identifies the 50 postcode areas in each state where the largest number of disconnections occurred during the three years from 2012 to 2015. Towns in rural and regional New South Wales, and some working class suburbs in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane had the greatest numbers of cut-offs.

Analysis found that in the worst-affected postcodes, some 53 percent of households were experiencing housing stress and 63 percent were on low incomes of less than $600 per week. Over 60 percent were headed by sole parents, more than 60 percent rented their homes, 58 percent were younger age householders and of the two-parent households 49 percent were both not working.

St Vincent de Paul Society spokesman Gavin Dufty said the results showed the cost of housing, food and transport were making it difficult for people to pay their bills.

Cut-offs entrenched hardship and poverty, St Vincent de Paul CEO John Falzon said; Being disconnected can have profound impacts for households already struggling with everyday living costs, leading to adverse health and wellbeing effects, including an inability to cook, store food, heat or cool rooms, or stay in touch with the wider world.

Previous studies found aged pensioners refraining from using heaters, taking fewer showers and minimising television and light use for fear of being cut off. Disconnected households use candles for light and outdoor barbecues for heat, risking fires. Food is damaged without refrigeration in summer. People are forced to eat take away meals and to bathe in cold water, often suffering physical and mental ill health, depression and anxiety. Children and the elderly are most vulnerable.

The latest study found a number of postcodes in rural and regional areas as well as working class suburbs in Sydney and Melbourne where 200 customers or more had been disconnected at least twice.

Generally, there was a delay in carrying out disconnections, due to distance and the requirement for a serviceperson to visit the premises. However, in Victoria, the state with the largest number of actual disconnections, they could be carried out remotely, due to the introduction of smart meter technology.

Working-class and poor families face a choice every week, of whether to pay utilities, rent or mortgage payments, health care costs, including the purchase of medicines, educational expenses for their children, or just to put food on the table. In particular, the cost of housing has increased astronomically, above all in Sydney and Melbourne.

The correlation between multiple disconnections, job losses and general poverty levels could be seen in areas like the northern suburbs of Adelaide, where larger numbers of multiple utility disconnections have been recorded with the shutting down of the car industry.

Utility costs have soared since 2008. From 200708 to 201011, average household electricity costs rose nearly 80 percent in NSW, over 60 percent in Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania, 57 percent in Western Australia, 37.5 percent in the Northern Territory and 44.9 percent in the Australian Capital Territory. Victorian electricity prices rose by 39.3 percent.

Successive state governments, Liberal-National and Labor alike, have privatised all or most of the electricity generation, supply and retail networks. The last federal Labor government urged states to accelerate this free market reform.

This process has allowed corporate giants like AGL to profit directly at the expense of working class households. Despite being hit by falling natural gas prices, AGLs underlying profit of $375 million for the second half of 2015 was up 24.2 percent on the previous corresponding period.

In the campaign for the July 2 federal election, all the major establishment parties are insisting that we must live within our means, that is accept the austerity dictates of the financial elite. Constantly being threatened with being cut off essential services, like electricity, is not living.

Despite the impact these disconnections are having on the lives of working class and poor families, the mass media all but ignored the Households in the Dark report. This indifference and cover-up serves a political purpose. To report the social reality would further fuel the widespread opposition to the welfare and other budget cuts that governments have sought to impose.

The reports authors make various proposals which, even if implemented, would have only a marginal impact. These include energy efficiency programs to encourage frugality by low-income households, greater energy concessions, increased welfare payments and education programs about how to navigate the energy retail market, by shopping around for the best deal.

In reality, the research shows the need to totally reorganise economic life along socialist lines to meet human need, not corporate profit requirements.
Will the universities remain centres of scholarship and free criticism? Or will they once again become state-directed cadre-training centres for right-wing and militarist ideologies, as previously in German history? asks the forward to the book, Scholarship or War Propaganda, which deals with the role of Berlins Humboldt University in the remilitarization of Germany.

The series of meetings, entitled Berlin Correspondence, currently taking place at Berlins Gorky Theatre, demonstrate the advanced stage of the transformation of Humboldt University into a think-tank of German imperialism.

The Berlin Correspondence meetings are based upon direct cooperation between the German Foreign Ministry and Humboldt University, and pursue the goal of implementing the foreign policy change that was announced by German President Gauck and the German government in early 2014 at the Munich Security Conference.

In his opening speech to the meetings, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (Social Democratic Party, SPD), who had previously demanded that Germany must be ready for earlier, more decisive and more substantive engagement in World politics, described the series as a bold step of cooperation between three very different partners, the Gorki Theater, the Humboldt University and the Federal Foreign Office, and as a bold step for those of us working with foreign policy.

Steinmeier left no doubt about what he means by this: The development of a German strategy in the competitive struggle of the great powers to redivide the world. He noted, crises and conflicts are coming thick and fast at the moment, and that is no coincidence. It is a reflection of the wrestling for supremacy, the power struggles between old and new powers, between state and non-state players with a wealth of interests, ambitions, ideologies.

Germany was indeed responsible for the destruction of an entire order in the 20th century, but despite that, this country, over the past 70 years, has [] become an important hub in the network of international relations, Steinmeier continued.

Then he asked rhetorically: But what does all that mean for our engagement in the world? answering, I believe that since we now derive so much benefit from our integration in the international order, we have to do all the more to preserve and develop this orderespecially now, when the world seems to be falling apart at the seams.

In the second event in the series, which took place last Sunday, Humboldt Professor Herfried Munkler took on the task of justifying the remarks of the foreign minister scientifically.

The political scientist spoke quite openly about his role as a lackey for German militarism. It had been quite a challenge, when, a few months ago, the then president of Humboldt University Jan-Hendrik Olbertz approached some of us with a request to think about order, and make the term fruitful for the most recent political challenges, as the foreign ministry said for a world that seems to be falling apart at the seams.

Somewhat later, Munkler assured his audience that it was not his perspective to develop theories of world order as a pure theorist and to keep strictly away from the political actors. The Werdersche Markt in Berlinwhere the headquarters of the foreign ministry is locatedwas a kilometre from the Humboldt University, and to a certain extent, I try to make this distance short and quick and to switch back and forth.

Munklers work has long been closely linked to German foreign policy. In 2014, with financial support from the Volkswagen Foundation and the Thyssen Foundation, he published his book Der Groe Krieg (The Great War), at the centre of which are attacks on the renowned historian Fritz Fischer and the relativization of German war guilt in World War One. His essay Macht in der Mitte (Power in the Middle), published in 2015, advocates that Germany take over the role of hegemon in Europe and move from being its paymaster to its disciplinarian. It was cited especially in the wake of the German austerity diktats against Greece.

With his latest work, Kriegssplitter (War Splitters), Munkler pursues the stated objective of developing a real geopolitical strategy for German imperialism in the 21st century, to address the challenges of our time. His lecture in the Gorki Theater on the topic of Ordera politically contested concept served this project. And as usual, the professor did not mince his words, despite the inflated and false references to Kant, Hegel and even Marx.

Under conditions of increasing geopolitical disorderhe identified the main causes as the retreat of the US as the worlds policeman, failed states and the spread of terrorismMunkler pleaded for the rehabilitation of the outmoded concept of order. Germany must be willing to accept the role of a power for order, which not only consumed order, but also produced it, and if necessary by political and military means.

Currently, it was particularly a matter of the stabilization of the European periphery. Germany must take on more responsibility, as the political formula reads, perhaps not in the world but in the European periphery, according to Munkler. Elsewhere he said, The central challenge facing Europeans [is] the stabilization of the opposite Mediterranean coast [i.e. the coast of North Africa] and the reorganization of the Middle East.

At the end of his presentation, Munkler impressed on his audience: We have to decide whether and how we want to defend the existing order against the intrusion of disorder, or whether we trust ourselves to create a workable and enforceable new order, about which many like to talk. But that depends on our self-confidence and the force we sense within us.

The question addressed to us was not only the right question, but also a burdensome question. At issue was nothing less than making the choice between the defence of the old order or the creation of a fundamentally new order, and what we trust ourselves to do in an old, weary, in my language, post-heroic society. The longer we delay this response, the greater the disorder.

The Humboldt University professor also referenced the theoretical influences on which his great power fantasies rest. For example, he pointed to the conceptions of the German geographer Ernst Kapp (1808-1896). Kapp himself was a convinced liberal, but his historical teachings about the creation of empires and his concepts of Raum und Zeit (Space and Time) influenced the following generation of reactionary imperialist geo-strategists.

Kapps thoughts were later developed by Friedrich Ratzel and can be found in similar form in Carl Schmitts geopolitical writings.

Ratzel (1844-1904) is considered a pioneer of German geopolitics. As a member of the anti-Semitic and militaristic Pan-German League, he coined the notorious concept of Lebensraum (living space) in 1901.

Schmitt was not only the crown jurist of the Third Reich, but also an influential Nazi geopolitician. It speaks volumes that the latter is one of Munklers main influences. The bibliography of Kriegssplitter lists four of Schmitts works, including the notorious Land und Meer (Land and Sea) published in 1942. Even though it may not have been clear to all the listeners in the Gorki Theatre, the remarks by Munkler, at the invitation of Humboldt University and the foreign ministry, stood in this tradition.
While the bulk of those attending the Peoples Summit were middle-aged and middle class, mainly long-time participants in protest movements focused on the environment or various identity issues as well as trade unionists close to the bureaucracy, there was a smaller layer of young people who came into politics with the Bernie Sanders campaign.

The World Socialist Web Site spoke with several of these young people about the danger of war--largely ignored at the conference--and their attitude to Sanders move to support Hillary Clinton as the Democratic presidential nominee.

Wesley Peters, a recent high school graduate from Pittsburgh, told the WSWS, Personally, Im against war. Im a Quaker, so Im a non-violent person and I identify as a pacifist.

This election is really important to me, because Hillary and Trump, in my opinion, are both in favor of war. And if they get elected, I feel like theres going to be a war soon. War makes a lot of money for both sides. And it makes me afraid for my personal well-being, and all of my friends well-being, because any of us could get drafted.

[War] hasnt been that big of a subject [at the summit], but it should be.

Wesley continued, Im definitely in full support of Bernie Sanders. It sucks that hes most likely not going to make it to the presidency. I dont really know who to put my support behind now.

When the WSWS explained that Sanders has stated that he would use force to defend Americas vital strategic interests and that he supports the drone assassination program, Wesley admitted, Its because of that, you know theres no candidate I completely identify with and feel thats my candidate.

Kanisha DiCicco, a 19-year-old student at the University of Alabama, came to the conference with the group United Students Against Sweatshops. When asked what she thinks about war, she said, I think its unnecessary. I think its a waste of money. I think its a waste of resources.

Im not totally against military personnel per se, but theres this idea in America that if someone serves in the military, then no matter who you are, even if youre a doctor or a brain surgeon, you need to bow down to them because theyre fighting for your freedom, blah blah blah. Its heavy, heavy patriotism, especially in the South, where Im from. I just dont see how nowadays soldiers are defending freedom. The wars arent for freedom; its basically just to keep our bully status.

I dont even want to think about Trump being in charge of anything war-related. I feel like he would definitely be pro-war in the Middle East, pro-war anywhere. And Hillary has been pretty pro-war herself. Hillary and Trump are like the same as far as war is concerned. I feel like the only one who couldve lessened the wars was Bernie.

I havent heard anything about war so far [at the summit]. War is a touchy thing. When you think pro-war, most of the time you think of the Republican whos obsessed with his guns and God, and stuff like that. But there are a lot of Democrats who are pro-war too.

Kerrina, a student from Northeastern University in Boston who was listening to the discussion, added, To me, what Trump is saying is jingoistic and extreme patriotism. But with Hillary, or with past presidents, you still have to look into what theyre doing, what theyre saying, when they want to go to war. While they might not be as blatantly jingoistic, you still have to look at, Whos benefiting from this, is it necessary, whos hurting?

Rachel, 22, graduated recently from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro and is unemployed. She said of the presidential candidates, Personally, I dont like either one of them [Clinton or Trump]. Its tragic that those are the two most exposed candidates. And I think Sanders is going to surprise, or disappoint, a lot of people if he asks them to vote for Clinton.

Obviously, we put a lot of money into war in America. War is usually an issue with power, territory, oil, money. For sure, since weve always been the country to force ourselves on other countries, and to pretty much go in and take from them, I think war gives a reason for them to take over and control things for profit.
Thomas Mair, arrested last Thursday following the killing of Labour MP Jo Cox, was charged with her murder on Saturday. He was also charged with grievous bodily harm against a 77-year-old pensioner, Bernard Kenny, who intervened to try to save Coxs life; possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence; and possession of an offensive weapon.

Mair is to appear Monday at Londons Old Bailey, the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales. Asked to confirm his name, he told the court, My name is death to traitors, freedom for Britain.

His statement confirms that Mair holds fascistic views. His murderous assault on Cox underscores that the most right-wing and disoriented elements are being whipped into a frenzy by the nationalism and xenophobia surrounding Thursdays referendum on the UKs European Union membership.

The killing took place outside the library where Cox, a prominent advocate for a Remain vote, was about to hold a surgery in the town of Birstall in her West Yorkshire Batley and Spen constituency. Mair was seen by several witnesses repeatedly stabbing and shooting Cox.

Evidence began very quickly to emerge regarding Mairs connections to far-right and neo-Nazi organisations. Several witnesses told reporters that he shouted Britain first as he killed Cox. Britain First is the name of a splinter from the fascist British National Party.

After being questioned by police locally, Mair was driven 200 miles south to Westminster Magistrates Court in London. Prosecuting barrister David Cawthorne told the court that as Mair was being arrested, he told police officers he was a political activist.

After Cox got out of her car, almost immediately [Bernard Kenny] saw she was approached by an unknown male who began to attack her with a knife. Kenny rushed to help but was stabbed by Mair in the abdomen, forcing him to retreat to a nearby sandwich shop where staff helped him.

Mair was seen to stab Cox repeatedly. Cawthorne said that when Cox fell to the ground, Mair took a firearm from a black holdall and shot her three times. He then continued to stab her.

Whilst doing that, Cawthorne said, the defendant was heard to say words to the effect of Britain first, keep Britain independent, Britain always comes first, this is for Britain. Mair then left the scene calmly while Cox was rushed to hospital.

The prosecution summary of the crime also states: Initial searches [of Mairs home] have recovered newspaper articles relating to Jo Cox and ideological material relating to extreme right-wing and white supremacist organisations/ individuals.

Mair subscribed, at least until 2006, to S. A. Patriot, a South African magazine published by the pro-apartheid White Rhino Club. Documents were published on social media and in newspapers showing he also purchased books from the US-based neo-Nazi group National Alliance.

A note in a 2006 newsletter of the London-based far-right Springbok Club read, Thomas Mair, from Batley in Yorkshire was one of the earliest subscribers and supporters of S.A.Patriot. The note asked if subscribers knew Mairs current address.

The same edition of the newsletter advertised the latest activities of the far-right London Swinton Circle, which it supported.

The London Swinton Circle was set up as a Conservative Party fringe group in the 1960s by admirers of Tory right-wing xenophobe Enoch Powell. The newsletter noted that the London Swinton Circle publication Tough Talking from the Right held a special readers meeting and buffet in the City of London recently, where the guest speaker was Mr. Nigel Farage MEP, the co-president of the Independence and Democracy Group in the European Parliament. It added, There was a packed attendance at this gathering, who heard Mr. Farage deliver a most enlightening and succinct overview of the current dangers still facing Britain if membership of the EU were to continue.

Farage, a prominent spokesman for the official Leave campaign in this weeks EU referendum, was in 2006 and remains today the leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP). He has played a leading role in the dissemination of anti-migrant filth throughout the referendum campaign.

He is a co-founder of the anti-EU Leave organisation Grassroots Out, whose launch earlier this year was supported by Conservative MPs Peter Bone, Tom Pursglove and Liam Fox, as well as Labour MP Kate Hoey and Sammy Wilson of the Democratic Unionist Party. A key speaker at the event announcing the formation of Grassroots Out was George Galloway, the former Respect MP for Bradford West.

Just hours before Coxs death, Farage rolled out the latest poster in his Leave campaign, depicting a long line of refugees with the caption Breaking Point. The EU has failed us all.

Earlier in the referendum campaign, he echoed the notorious speech of Powell, who said in 1968 that if immigration into Britain was not halted, Like the Roman, I seem to see the River Tiber foaming with much blood. Speaking to the BBC, Farage said, I think its legitimate to say that if people feel they have lost control completelyand we have lost control of our borders completely as members of the European Unionand if people feel that voting doesnt change anything, then violence is the next step.

Within a month of this statement being made, Cox was brutally slain.

The London Swinton Circle maintained close connections to the Conservative Party as a fringe group. In 2014, Liam Fox and Owen Paterson, two former Conservative government cabinet ministers and now prominent Leave supporters, addressed separate meetings of the London Swinton Circle. In 1998, then-Conservative MP Neil Hamilton, who later defected to UKIP, spoke at a meeting of the Springbok Club. He was photographed at the meeting speaking in front of the national flag of apartheid-era South Africa.

Everything is being done by the right-wing supporters of the Leave campaign in Britain and internationally to dismiss the political character of Coxs murder and its connection to the Brexit campaign.

National Front leader Marine Le Pen told French TV Friday, Its clearly hard to have an explanation above all, its important to hold back from any use of it for political purposes.

In an article published in the pro-Leave Sun tabloid, owned by billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch, columnist Louise Mensch, a Tory MP from 2010 to 2012, asserted, If [Coxs] killer was indeed a sufferer of severe long-term mental illness, then any racist tendencies are beside the point. It is being reported that he was a neo-Nazi who had bought explosives manuals and books on how to make bombs and had done so for yearslong before an EU Referendum was even thought of. His psychopathy therefore had precisely nothing whatsoever to do with Brexit.

Mensch concluded, The Vote Leave campaign bears no responsibility, not the tiniest sliver, for any part of what happened and neither do its supporters.

Tory Prime Minister David Cameron and the leader of the opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, who are aligned in the Remain campaign, have as yet said nothing about the blatantly political character of Coxs murder. Speaking to the BBC Sunday, Corbyn merely stated that Coxs murder was an attack on democracy, an attack on the right of somebody to be elected to represent you and to go about their business, passing over Mairs extreme-right connections.

Today parliament will be recalled, at Corbyns request, for tributes to Cox. It is reported that MPs are planning to sit not in their traditional party blocs on either side of the House of Commons, but to mingle together in a show of national unity. This only underscores the complicity of the entire political establishment in pushing nationalist and anti-immigrant policies and legitimising far-right figures and organizations.
Last week, the UN Security Council in New York adopted unanimously a resolution which empowered European member states to search all ships off the Libyan coast for weapons and munitions. With the passage of this resolution, a new war in Libya draws ever closer.

The UN declared its aim was to impose an arms embargo on terrorist groups like Islamic State and Al-Qaida in Libya. Russia and China assented to the resolution.

This enables the European naval mission in the Mediterranean (EUNAVFOR MED), initiated by a decision of an EU emergency summit in April 2015, to enter its third stage. During the first two stages, the mission aimed to monitor and combat people smugglers on the high seas. Now, it has the task of using force to block shipments of weapons and munitions to and from Libya.

The mission, named Operation Sophia, is to reassert an old embargo enforced on the Gaddafi regime in 2011. This embargo served at the time as the prelude to NATOs war in Libya. Today, the resolution also lays the basis for a military intervention by the western powers.

Operation Sophia consists of a large number of warships, submarines, surveillance aircraft, drones, and 1,300 soldiers from 24 NATO states, including Germany, Italy, Britain, Spain, France, Greece, the Netherlands and Sweden. The German navy is involved with 950 soldiers and a rotation of warships, while Italy, the former colonial power in Libya, officially leads the mission.

German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier announced the initiation of stage three at a NATO foreign ministers meeting on May 19 in Brussels. As he declared, the European armed forces would not only enforce the arms embargo, but also establish a Libyan coastguard. This had already been approved by EU foreign ministers on May 23, 2015, when they extended the mission by a year. The so-called robust mandate still required the approval of the UN Security Council, which has now been given.

The German government is fully behind, and is participating in the war plans. Foreign minister Steinmeier declared about the latest UN Security Council decision that he very much welcomed the council proving its ability to act, and added, Firmly combatting the threat posed by ISIS in Iraq, Syria and also in Libya is in all of our interests.

In 2011 Germany remained on the sidelines during the NATO war in Libya, but now the German government is leading the war policy. In addition to the operations in Libya, the German government is engaged in a military build-up against Russia, deploying tanks in Eastern Europe. In Syria, German aircraft are providing the NATO intervention with surveillance information.

The Libyan operation is a component of more comprehensive military activities planned for the North African country. The imperialist powers have been preparing for months to march into Libya and establish military bases. Their goal is to secure direct control over the countrys large oil and gas reserves and ease their access to Africa.

Three weeks ago, General Joseph Dunford, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Pentagons top officer, stated that a new military mission potentially with thousands of US soldiers could begin at any time. Heavy equipment for the intervention in Libya is sitting ready at airbases in Sicily, Cyprus and elsewhere in the Mediterranean. Greece, Italy and Malta have already closed their airspace to aircraft from the Libyan air force.

American Special Forces are already openly active on the streets of Misrata, where they are coordinating the battle against Islamic State forces in the neighbouring city of Sirte.

Unofficially, US, British and Italian Special Forces and intelligence operatives have been active in Libya for months. The German government now intends to train Libyan security forces in neighbouring Tunisia, although this deployment could also occur in Libya itself.

To give the military operation a fig leaf of legality, the UN has recognised the puppet regime of Fayez Sarraj as the sole legitimate government in Libya. This government of national unity can now send an official request for assistance to the western powers and in this way legitimise the invasion. The government is exempt from the arms embargo.

In reality, Sarraj has no base of support in Libya. Two months after his arrival in Tripoli, the Prime Minister, has hardly set foot on Libyan territory outside his provisional headquarters at Abu Sita, Tripolis port. But he has visited Turkey, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The country he allegedly governs is dominated by competing militias and groups involved in fierce fighting over territory and control of the countrys oilfields.

In the war-ravaged country there are now two competing central banks and two money systems, since the rival government in the eastern Libyan city of Tubruk printed its own banknotes in Russia and brought them into circulation on 1 June.

Since May, there have been power cuts lasting days in the capital, Tripoli. They are linked to strikes by electricity employees, who have not been paid wages for weeks.

Officially, the UN stated that it backs the Sarraj government because it is leading the fight against Islamist terrorism. But this is contradicted by the fact that Sarraj relies on Islamist forces, forming a presidential guard made up of elements from the Muslim Brotherhood and the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), which is close to al-Qaida.

Accepting this arrangement, the German daily Die Welt stated, The participation of the Muslim Brotherhood is the price which the international communityabove all the EUis paying for the stabilisation of Libya.

Last week, the bodies of 32 brutally murdered prisoners, former soldiers in Gaddafis military, were discovered. Libyan newspapers are accusing Sarrajs new presidential guard of carrying out the murders.

The soldiers had been detained in al-Hadba prison for the last five years. According to a court ruling they were to have been released at the beginning of June, but were instead found executed with a shot to the head.

This episode demonstrates that the regime receiving the UNs stamp of approval is virtually indistinguishable from the terrorist groups it claims to be combatting in alliance with NATO and the EU. Media reports in fact indicate that sections of the Islamist militias in Sarrajs presidential guard retain ties to ISIS in Sirte.
Nearly 5,000 nurses at five hospitals owned by Allina Health in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro region in Minnesota launched a week-long strike Sunday after the company demanded that nurses accept inferior health care benefits. The company wants to scrape traditional health planswon through decades of struggleso Allina can realize $10 million in annual savings.

Nurses are also opposing understaffing and dangerously high workloads. Corporate management, however, insists that the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) accept the abolition of traditional health plans before discussing any other issues, including safe staffing ratios and a safe working environment. Given the ultimatum by management, nurses voted by an overwhelming margin to strike. The MNA has limited the walkout to eight days.

This strike is more than just about health insurance, said Kelsey, a nurse with three years at United Hospital. Its about patients, our families, our fellow nurses, and our co-workerspeople we work with day in and day out with.

Its also about safe staffing ratios. This is for our patients, making sure they have the correct staffing ratios and that they are receiving quality care. Allina wants to transition to a computerized or electronic system to handle the nurse-to-patient ratios. But computers dont know whats best for our patients. We know our patients. We're asking for the ability to accept or decline a patient into our unit, based upon how sick the patient is and based upon the current patient load on the floor at that time.

When the WSWS asked Lexie, a nurse with one year at United, what happens when patient ratio increases, she bluntly replied, I dont get to take my breaks or I might have to skip my lunch break. That means I cant take care of myself and that affects taking care of my patients.

Another nurse with 14 years seniority told the WSWS, Dealing with patients can be very intense, and I have no help. The nurses on call could take 30 minutes to get there. By the time they get there, I don't need their help, because the patients are already in the OR.

On the issue of employee health care, Jan, a nurse with 35 years at Allina Health, told the WSWS, In 2001 other employees were forced onto Allinas corporate insurance plans. They used to have the choice of selecting the same health insurance as we had. Many of them are supporting our strike because it might help to protect them as well. Its a trickle down thing. If we lose, they will lose as well.

Another nurse told how the corporate health care plans will affect her. My son was born with gastroparesis, and the closest doctor that can help him is in Columbus, Ohio. The Mayo Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota cant help him. So we have to drive 14 hours to get this treatment done that costs $14,000 dollars in order that he can grow up normally. Under the plan that Allina wants to put us on, that won't be covered.

In their corporate propaganda, Allina has attempted to manufacture an antagonism between its other 30,000 employees who are under the companys corporate health care plan and striking nurses who are defending past gains on the health care issue. Allina CEO Penny Wheeler, in a message to Allina employees, asked, Are we treating our employees equitably? She then went on to say, Continuing to offer unsustainable plans to one group of employees simply because the plans have been in place for 20 years is not an equitable way to distribute benefits.

The spectacle of a highly compensated CEO of one of the largest health care systems in the Twin Cities lecturing workers on equality of sacrifice is instructive. The relentless attack on health care and workers living standards has one purpose: to maximize profits for executives and other corporations that benefit from their business relationship with a non-profit hospital.

Allina has contracted with 1,400 replacement nurses for the duration of the strike. The company is willing to incur the short-term expense in order to achieve its long-term aims. At the same time, Allina is counting on the MNA and the other AFL-CIO and Change to Win unions to leave the embattled nurses isolated and to eventually come to managements terms.

When contracts for 11,000 nurses at six hospital systems in the Twin Cities came up this year, Allina broke with the other hospital chains and announced it would negotiate separately. The MNA then proceeded to negotiate wage-only contracts for 6,000 nurses with the other five chains that left benefits unchanged from the previous agreement. Those contracts were ratified on January 19 and the result has been to leave the 4,800 nurses in the Allina system isolated to fight on their own.

At this point, the lessons of the 2010 contract struggle that involved 12,000 nurses at all six hospital systems must be recalled. When a one-day strike by all nurses failed to move the companies, nurses voted overwhelmingly for an open-ended strike. In response to a media and political campaign vilifying the nurses, the MNA caved in on safe staffing, called off the strike and agreed to minor wage increases and retention of benefits.

Having taken the measure of the MNA, Allina management is taking the offensive against nurses. During negotiations back in February, the MNA proposed a joint task force on health insurance to Allina. According to the MNA, Allina made it clear that they will not delay in removing these health plans from the MNA nurses. The message is clear there isnt a compromise in sight unless MNA agrees to the elimination of all the health plans now or in the near future.

While Allina has remained intransigent, the MNA has repeatedly offered its assistance to cut health care costs. Last February, the MNA stated: The Union and Allina Health will create a joint committee of equal membership of management and the Union to examine the impact of the health insurance plans on Allina Health and the impact of the benefits to the nurses. Allina rejected the proposal because it did not have a guaranteed outcome. It will only negotiate if the MNA proposes a transition plan that ultimately eliminates the four health insurance programs.

There is no doubt that Allina enjoys the full backing of the other hospitals in the Twin Cities. Any concessions imposed on Allina nurses will be quickly followed by demands for concessions from other nurses. This only underscores the criminal character of forcing Allina nurses to fight this battle alone.

The unions, which are allied with the Obama administration and the Democrats, are doing everything possible to prevent a direct confrontation between nurses and the Democratic Party. After the betrayal of the 2010 strike, the MNA claimed it would pursue safe staffing ratios by appealing to state legislators in the Democratic Farmer Labor Party (DFLthe official name of the Democrats in Minnesota). Predictably, the Democrats have done nothing.

President Obamas misnamed Affordable Care Act has been a catalyst for companies to shed supposedly Cadillac health care plans and dump their workforces into substandard plans. An integral part of the restructuring of health care is a ruthless cost-cutting campaign against nurses and other health care workers. Nurses across the country who have advocated for their patients and sought to create a safer hospital environment are seen as an obstacle to the drive to maximize profits.

In an effort to give itself a left cover, the MNA and its parent union, National Nurses United, endorsed Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. The self-described democratic socialist is now packing in his campaign and preparing to endorse Clinton, a multi-millionaire who is the embodiment of the incestuous relationship between the giant corporations and the government.

If this struggle is not to be betrayed like so many other strikes, including the recent walkout by 40,000 Verizon workers, then Allina nurses must take the conduct of the struggle into their own hands and fight for a common struggleincluding mass meetings, protest rallies and other actionswith nurses and other sections of workers throughout the Twin Cities. Nurses should elect rank-and-file committees, independent of the unions and the Democratic Party, to fight for the broadest mobilization of the working class to defend Allina nurses and the right to health care.

Above all what is needed is an independent political struggle by the working class to take the profit out of medicine by putting an end to the privately owned health care corporations and establishing a system of socialized medicine.
For the second time in less than a year, the mismanagement of St. Petersburg city officials has been exposed by a major tropical storm, which resulted this time in them dumping 10 million gallons of sewage into Tampa Bay. Tropical Storm Colin hit the Southeast US earlier this month.

As wastewater workers reported to the WSWS last year, these events are not anomalies. The pumping of sewage into bays and bayous is due to the decision to shutter their downtown treatment plant, as well as the presence of outdated equipment and machinery at the remaining plants that are badly in need of upgrades.

Rather than taking responsibility for their mistakes, officials instead have instituted merit-based raises for employees who keep their mouths closed about the conditions and the mismanagement. They have also begun stalking the Facebook profiles of employees to police their posts and photographs about their work.

Workers have also told the WSWS that the frequency of disciplinary measures for minor issues has increased dramatically, with the intent of firing problem employees or making them want to resign from their jobs if they exercise their democratic rights.

On top of all of this, the city has kept too few wastewater workers on staff, so that when a major storm comes through, workers have to work insanely long hours under gruelingly physical and mentally stressful conditions. Workers spoke to the WSWS about all of these issues.

Regarding the shuttered plant, a worker provided a photo of lift station 85, which pumps all the flow that would have gone to the closed treatment plant and sends it to the southwest treatment plant. That black pipe on the ground was added last year and allows them to divert water through the closed plant and into Tampa Bay.

When asked whether this meant that city officials had been planning on dumping sewage into the bay from the beginning, he replied, They were so sure that they would need to dump into the bay again, they left it from last year. This point is important because last year city officials claimed that the storm that caused them to dump sewage into a bayou and the bay was a 100-year historic storm and that the overflowing was inevitable.

If the Albert Whitted plant was still online, in my professional opinion, we would not have had to pump into Clam Bayou last year or spill [wastewater] into the bay or the bayou this year, the worker said. Another worker stated, Every worker agrees that the plant needs to be reopened or the southwest plant needs to be expanded. If you are putting gas in your car, only so much is going to go in. We are at capacity most of the time anyway. During a major rain event, there is nowhere else for the flow to go.

Workers also pointed out that it isnt just storm surge that becomes a problem during major rain events. Everything breaks under the load when there is a surge, one worker explained. There may be four inches of sand in the bottom of the pipe or wood may have settled in, and the surge pushes everything through. Because of this everything is breaking, over and over, and we have to repair the equipment at like 3:00 a.m. after not having slept since 4:00 a.m. the previous day.

The worker added, I will be up there balancing on a pipe and breaking bolts so that we can put a new coupling on because it has to keep going. If that machinery stops, all flow stops; we have to keep it working under any and all circumstances. Otherwise we might as well throw in the towel and say everybody has to leave St. Petersburg. Its not just too much water. The system is overwhelmed, and all the machinery is working harder than it was designed to.

Workers explained how gruesome the conditions are for them during these events. Because they shortened staff, those of us who are left are working 17- to 19-hour shifts, one said, adding, It is nonstopyou go home, you eat, you go back, nonstop. During the storm last week, I was running from one broken thing to the next. I didnt pee for three days; I was blind, lost the ability to think, and was running on auto pilot trying to keep it going. People around you are running on anger and are stressed out completely.

We are all run psychotically ragged, one worker related. The last day we pumped into the bay. I was so knotted up I couldnt feel my hands because of carpal tunnel. I had knots in my back and had to get cortisone shots just to loosen up my muscles. I was barely ambulatory, but I had to go back to work because you cant call in sick. This is public safety. Every worker here is like thatall of them have surgeons on call because we all tear ourselves apart.

The physical and mental sacrifices made by workers show the despicable character of city officials in attacking the workers, threatening their jobs if they speak out about the mismanagement that has caused these conditions in the first place.

We were told that we should go through our social media pages and delete any negative posts or images because the mayors office was spending the day combing through whatever Facebook profiles they could find, one worker said. We are all destroyed, but the upper echelons are angry that people are telling on them and want to fire people for saying that it is in any way their fault.

One man who works as a supervisor reported that he has had an overwhelming number of disciplinary documentations to make since the storm and that most of them are for very minor incidents. They are essentially trying to create a paper trail so that they can fire these guys who are speaking out against them, he said. Either that or the guys are so harassed that they resign on their own. Because of this, employees are essentially being told what they are allowed to say, even in their own personal time, but this should be a matter of public record. Workers should be able to speak without being edited by their bosses.

Another way city officials are seeking to control free speech among their workers is through a merit-based raise system. After last years event, one worker said, They were furious that there was public discussion about sewage. That was when they insisted that it was important to only have merit raises. In other words, if you keep your mouth shut and do what youre told, you might get a raise. If you dont, you get nothing. If you kiss ass and rat out coworkers you will get a raise.

One worker said, They keep us intentionally understaffed in order to save money. They want a minimal crew of two guys per plant working 40-hour weeks, but then they run us into the ground during emergencies. At this point, if there was another rain event next week, everyone is going to say, Sorry we cant do this, and everything will break, and St. Pete will be in sewage. I dont have to work. I am not property; they cant force me to work until I die. They want to be able to do that. They want to work you until theres nothing left of you.
The shooting of unarmed student protesters on June 8 by police in Papua New Guinea raises critical political questions for workers and youth, not only in PNG but throughout the region and internationally. Confronted by a deepening economic and social crisis, the government of Prime Minister Peter ONeill is determined to intimidate and suppress any opposition to its continued rule and its policies.

Student leaders and opposition parties focussed weeks of protests preceding the police crackdown on government corruption and the demand for ONeills removal. The issue, however, is not corruption as such, which is rife throughout the countrys venal ruling elites manoeuvring for next years election. Opposition leader Don Polye was ONeills treasurer until 2014 and is fully committed to the austerity measures being implemented by the government.

The crucial question facing young people, workers and the rural poor is how to oppose the ruinous attacks on their living standards that have been carried out by successive governments. The collapse of global commodities prices has had a devastating impact on the PNG economy, with the growth rate plunging from 13.3 percent in 2014 to a forecast 2.4 percent in 2017. In response to falling revenues, the government has slashed spending, resulting in public servants not being paid and cuts to the health and education budgets of 40 percent and 23 percent respectively.

These austerity measures will compound the social crisis facing the working class and rural poor. According to Oxfam, 37 percent of the population already lives on less than $US1.25 a day. Malaria and HIV/AIDS are rife due to the lack of health facilities and programs. More than 60 percent of the population has no access to safe drinking water. Illiteracy is widespread, particularly among women.

None of these huge social problems will be addressed, let alone resolved, simply by replacing ONeill with another representative of the PNG ruling class. The root cause of the social hardships facing millions is the profit system and the domination of the PNG economy by global banks and corporations, particularly the mining giants. Billions of dollars in profits are extracted from PNG by these international operations but no money is available for much-needed social and physical infrastructure.

Moreover, as the global capitalist crisis worsens, PNG, like every country in the Asia Pacific, is being drawn into the maelstrom of geo-political rivalries fuelled by the US pivot to Asia and military preparations for war against China. ONeill was installed in 2011, with the backing of Australia, through a series of unconstitutional moves to oust Michael Somare, who was viewed as too close to China.

Australia has long regarded its former colony PNG as part of its immediate backyard. Now, however, amid an accelerating US-led military build-up throughout the region, Canberra and Washington are determined to undermine and block Chinese influence in the south west Pacific. Australias 2016 Defence White Paper emphasised that the security, stability and cohesion of Papua New Guinea was vital for a secure resilient Australia with secure northern approaches.

Young people who have been involved in the anti-government protests need to turn to a fundamentally different political strategy from that which has guided the opposition movement so far. The struggle for basic democratic rights, and against austerity and war, can be based only on the fight for socialism and internationalism. Leon Trotsky outlined the central elements of this perspective more than a century ago in his Theory of Permanent Revolution, which placed the political independence of the working class at the centre. It was confirmed in the course of the Russian Revolution of 1917, which established the first workers state.

The entire history of the 20th century has demonstrated the inability of the capitalist classes in countries of a belated capitalist development, such as PNG, to meet the basic social needs and democratic aspirations of the vast majority of the population. In the four decades since formal independence from Australian colonial rule, the social position of working people has dramatically deteriorated as successive governments have carried out the dictates of big business and the fractured ruling elites have squabbled over the crumbs from the table of the giant mining corporations and other global investors.

Students and young people need to turn to the working class, the only social force that is capable of waging a consistent political fight for basic democratic and social rights. It is through the mobilisation of workers, independent of all factions of the ruling class, that layers of the rural poor can be drawn into the struggle for a workers government, supported by the millions of villagers who depend on semi-subsistence agriculture. Such a government will begin to refashion society on a socialist basis to meet the pressing needs of the majority, not the profits of the wealthy few.

By its very nature, such a struggle must be international in scope. From the outset, it will confront the determined opposition not only of the government in Port Moresby but the corporations and major powers, especially Australian imperialism, which has already carried out military interventions in East Timor and the Solomons to protect its corporate and strategic interests. Australian Federal Police advisers are currently embedded in the PNG police force that gunned down students last week.

Thus the fight for socialism is inconceivable without a turn to the working class throughout the Pacific Island states, in neighbouring Indonesia and Asia, in the imperialist centres of Australia and the United States, and around the world. Above all, this requires the building of new revolutionary leaderships of the working class in PNG and throughout the region as sections of the international Trotskyist movement, the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI).

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) is standing in the Australian federal election to advance the struggle to unify the working class in the Asia Pacific and internationally in a common struggle against war and austerity through the abolition of capitalism. The SEP is the only party that has consistently opposed the predatory interventions of Australian imperialism in the Pacific. We stand ready to offer every political assistance to individuals and groups in PNG and other countries of the region who want to begin the task of assimilating the political lessons of the struggles of the Trotskyist movement and building new sections of the ICFI.
Yesterdays formal election launch by the Labor Party, conducted less than two weeks before polling day on July 2, was a desperate balancing act, designed to reassure big business of Labors commitment to austerity on the one hand, while falsely promising voters that it would maintain essential services on the other.

In front of a handpicked audience, Labor leader Bill Shorten sought to convince voterswhom he admitted were disenchanted with the existing political set-upthat there was one reason to vote Labor. I can give you the answer of why politics matters in one word, he declared. The election, Shorten proclaimed, was a referendum to save Medicare, the government-subsidised health insurance system.

This is a fraud on many levels. It was the last Labor government that stepped up the assault on Medicare in 2013 by freezing the payments made to GP doctors, increasingly forcing them to charge upfront fees to see patients. Yet Shorten sought to claim credit for offering to unfreeze the payments in 2017.

Moreover, two weeks ago Shorten dropped Labors previous promises to restore the $57 billion to be stripped from public hospital funding over the next decade. This is the continuation of a long offensive against public healthcare by successive governments, both Labor and Liberal-National Coalition.

At the same time, Shorten reinforced Labors appeal to big business, declaring that a Labor government would not be a big spending government but one committed to making more tough decisions to eliminate the ballooning budget deficit. In fact, he pledged that a Labor government would cut social spending more than the Coalition over the coming decade, vowing we will pay down the debt faster.

Over the past three weeks, in a bid to satisfy the corporate elite, Labor has already responded to the worsening economic situation in Australia and globally by junking promises to oppose or reverse budget measures worth an estimated $33 billion over the next four years, including deep cuts to welfare, healthcare, education, pensions, aged care and family payments.

Shorten also assured the ruling class of a bipartisan unity on the build-up of the military and the internal intelligence and police apparatus, while staying silent on the preparations for Australian frontline involvement in US-led wars, particularly against China and Russia. With the Coalition having pledged to spend almost half a trillion dollars on military expansion over the next decade, he declared: In Australia, whatever our political differences, the security of our nation, our commitment to the ADF [Australian Defence Force] and the safety of our people unites us all.

To reinforce Labors plea for business backing, Shorten hailed as legends three former Labor prime ministers, all sitting in the front row, each of whom the assembled audience gave a rousing reception.

Shorten described Julia Gillard as a trail blazer for women and girls, a fierce warrior for education and advancement and a continuing inspiration to everyone who fights for Labor. Paul Keating was a man of courage, conviction and imagination and the one that every other party would like to have. Bob Hawke had more fight in his right arm than the whole of [Prime Minister] Malcolm Turnbulls cabinet put together.

Shorten also lionised former Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) secretary Bill Kelty, along with Hawke and Keating, as one of the heroes and mentors who inspired him.

The Hawke and Keating governments of 1983 to 1996, working arm-in-arm with Kelty and the ACTU, began the protracted assault on the social position of the working class. They systematically restructured the economy to meet the requirements of globalised production and finance, enforcing a wholesale transfer of income and wealth from the working class to the richest layers of society. Through prices and incomes Accords with Labor, and later the imposition of enterprise bargaining, the trade unions became nothing more than corporate policing agencies, suppressing the resistance of workers.

After bailing out the banks and finance houses following the 2008 global crash, the Labor governments of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard deepened this process. Under Gillard, sole parents were cut off benefits, an efficient pricing mechanism was introduced to drive down public hospital funding, NAPLAN literacy and numeracy testing was imposed on schools in a bid to drive more parents into transferring their children to private schools. In response to corporate demands for even greater cuts, Labor reduced government spending in 2012-13 by the greatest percentage since the 1930s Great Depression.

In particular, Shorten claimed Keatings mantle. Our savings plan is built on structural reform, not savage cuts, he declared. Paul Keating taught us well. Shorten insisted that Labor would produce budget repair that is fair.

By structural reform, Labor means outdoing the Coalition in intensifying the attacks on jobs, working conditions and living standards begun by Hawke and Keating that have enriched the super-wealthy few. Their combined fortunes, according to the annual Rich 200 List, have risen nearly 30-fold, to almost $200 billion, since Labor commenced the pro-business restructuring.

Today, millions of working class households struggle constantly to make ends meet, facing soaring house prices, utility bills and transport costs, along with deteriorating hospitals, schools and other essential public services. That is the real content of Labors fairness.

One of the few new initiatives announced in Shortens speech was a jobs tax cut for small business. This is essentially a subsidised cheap labour scheme. Firms would receive tax breaks of up to $20,000 a year for hiring sole parents, carers or jobless workers aged under 25 or over 55. Shorten claimed this would create around 30,000 new jobs every year. In reality, employers would simply replace existing workers in order to secure subsidies, all the time undercutting wages and conditions.

For all of Shortens efforts, the corporate media demanded far more severe cuts to social programs and working conditions. Todays Australian editorial labeled Shortens few remaining spending promises an unaffordable wish list. Denouncing Shortens populist criticisms of corporate tax cuts, the Australian Financial Review accused him of turning the post-resources boom squeeze on national income into a zero-sum contest of us-versus-them.

In other words, the full burden of the collapse of the mining boom, which is a sharp expression of the deepening impact of the global economic breakdown that erupted in 2008, must be imposed on the working class as soon as the election is out of the way. Behind yesterdays phoney rhetoric, this is the attack that a Labor-led government would seek to mount, just as it has spearheaded every offensive by the financial elite in the past.

In direct opposition to Labor, and all those sowing illusions that a Labor government would be a lesser evil than the Coalition, the Socialist Equality Party and its candidates are advancing a socialist alternative. To prevent a plunge into social devastation and war, society must be completely reorganised to meet the needs of the majority, not the profits of the wealthy few.



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.
Some 3,000 supporters of the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign met in Chicago June 17-19 for what was billed as the Peoples Summit.

The ostensible purpose of the meeting was to take stock after the failure of Sanders bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. The real purpose was to prepare those assembled to support, actively or tacitly, an all-out campaign for the election of Hillary Clinton.

Despite a pretense of open discussion and respect for a diversity of opinions, the summit was tightly orchestrated and controlled. The mechanism for control was simple: no votes were taken on anything, and all decisions were taken behind the scenes, without any public discussion.

The conference organizers, for example, rejected a bid by Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein to attend and address the assembly. All discussion was premised on the acceptance of the political monopoly of the Democratic Party, even if harsh words were occasionally hurled at the Democratic National Committee and some of its leaders.

The assembly was convened under the auspices of National Nurses United, which rented part of Chicagos vast McCormick Place convention center and supplied the manpower as well as the money to run the event. NNU Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro presided over the conference and other union officials and staff played major roles.

The NNU was formed in 2010 through the merger of several statewide nurses associations, notably in California, Minnesota and Massachusetts, and now has a membership of nearly 200,000 registered nurses. DeMoro, then head of the California Nurses Association, became executive director of the combined union and sits on the AFL-CIO Executive Council. She was one of the most prominent union officials to support the Sanders campaign.

Like most such gatherings of Democratic Party liberals, union officials and their pseudo-left apologists, there was a large element of political fraud. Speaker after speaker postured as a fierce opponent of Wall Street, neo-liberalism and various forms of oppression, despite having engaged in non-stop collaboration with the corporate bosses and their political representatives such as Hillary Clinton.

The tone of the conference was set at the opening session on Friday night, which combined left demagogy with political prostration before the Clinton presidential campaign. DeMoro of the NNU gave an opening address that praised those assembled as the non co-opted and the un-compromised, although the vast majority of those in attendance were long-time participants in groups that are either part of the Democratic Party, like the Democratic Socialists of America and the Progressive Democrats, or completely tied to it, including environmental, feminist, gay and anti-racist organizations. All these organizations have long since been co-opted by the corporate-controlled two-party system.

Adopting a left pose, DeMoro declared, Social and economic inequality, including racial and climate injustice, affects each of us in this country, except, of course, the privileged, who have extreme control over our political system, creating and perpetuating a system of exploitation that is predicated on private profit and greed.

DeMoro declared that the Sanders campaign was the outcome of a series of protest movements, largely based on the middle class or sponsored by the trade union bureaucracy, including Occupy Wall Street, Black Lives Matter, immigrant rights groups, feminist and gay rights campaigns, Fight for 15, and what she called the climate justice movement, among others.

In reality, the sum total of these protest efforts had very little impact compared to the Sanders campaign, which won 12 million votes, including margins of 70-90 percent among young people under 30. The broad support for Sanders has been as much a surprise to the middle class protest groups and the unions as it was to Sanders himself. It represents an initial stage in the political radicalization of masses of youth and working people who are being driven primarily by class issuesjobs, income, a future for the new generation, anger over the dominance of big moneyrather than by identity politics based on race, gender or sexual orientation.

DeMoro called for keeping the protest groups united (i.e., subordinated to the Democratic Party and the unions), but she tried to give this a left face, warning about the experience of the Obama administration. Regardless of who is in the White House, we need to learn the lesson from the Obama years, where that movement was built on hope and change, she said. The moment he got into office the movement went away and Wall Street occupied the White House, and like termites they ate away at the foundation of democracy. The most important thing here is there will always be termites and we can never go away regardless of who is in the presidency.

The truth is that once Obama entered the White House, the various protest organizations completely subordinated themselves to Democratic Party rule. Previous opposition to the war in Iraq was scrapped once the commander-in-chief was a Democrat, who proceeded to expand the war in Afghanistan, bomb Libya, extend the campaign of drone missile assassinations and engage the US in further military operations in Iraq and Syria. This example would certainly be repeated in a Hillary Clinton administration, which would mark a further shift to the right from Obama in both foreign and domestic policy.

Following these introductory remarks, DeMoro gave way to a panel consisting of Juan Gonzalez, a former columnist for the New York Daily News and co-host of the Democracy Now! program; actress Rosario Dawson; John Nichols, a slavish apologist for the Democratic Party in his role as political analyst for Nation magazine; writer Naomi Klein, author of numerous books, most notably The Shock Doctrine, and a prominent leader of the New Democratic Party in Canada (she is married to Avi Lewis, grandson of longtime NDP leader David Lewis and son of former Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis).

Juan Gonzalez spoke only briefly, but delivered the main political thrust. He recalled his own history of radical protest at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, followed by a refusal to vote for Hubert Humphrey, the Democratic presidential candidate in the election won by Richard Nixon. He urged the audience to learn from this mistake, a clear call for a vote for Hillary Clinton.

He also suggested that the Sanders campaign could pave the way for a more leftward development in US politics, along the lines of Syriza in Greece and Podemos in Spain, parties of the pseudo-left that are implacably opposed to the interests of the working class.

Nichols performed predictably, with demagogic salutes to the working class rebellion against Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in 2011 (betrayed and smothered by the Democratic Party and the AFL-CIO, with the assistance of Nichols and Co.); while solidarizing himself with efforts to push the Democratic Party to the left.

Naomi Klein claimed that Sanders had moved Hillary Clinton to the left on issues like fracking and the minimum wage, and called for continuing efforts to build social protest movements so that the next president (whom she referred to as her) would feel the pressure from below.

She compared the upcoming American presidential vote to the 2015 Canadian elections, in which Canadians voted out the worst guy and created space to dream, suggesting that this outcomethe defeat of the Conservatives and the election of the Liberal Party under Justin Trudeauwas a possible model for the US.

The second main session of the conference, held on Saturday afternoon, featured the same type of populist demagogy, with Cook County Councilman Jesus Chuy Garcia, defeated by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in the latters reelection bid last year, and former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner, a prominent representative of the Bernie Sanders campaign, serving as the featured speakers.

The overriding feature of the main presentations, aside from the demagogy used to provide a left cover for the shift from Sanders to Clinton, was silence on the question of war and foreign policy. None of the speakers cited above made any reference to the ongoing US wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, to the drone missile assassination program, or to the Obama administrations continued build-up of police state powers for the NSA, the CIA and the rest of the military-intelligence apparatus.

The conference organizers likewise downplayed the issue of war: there were no panel discussions or workshops or presentations devoted to the subject of war and militarism, or to government spying and attacks on democratic rights.

The reason for that is clear: Hillary Clinton is identified publicly with calls to step up the US military interventions in Syria and Iraq. In general, she is known to favor an even more belligerent foreign policy than that pursued by the Obama administration, which is now confronting Russia and China, both nuclear-armed powers, in regions close to their borders: Moscow in the Ukraine and Eastern Europe, Beijing in the South China Sea.

The dangers that any discussion on war would pose to the pro-Clinton effort were demonstrated by the final speaker at Saturdays main event, Representative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. Gabbard, an Iraq war veteran and major in the military police, has introduced legislation to cut off funding for US efforts to overthrow the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. She made the growing threat of what she called regime-change wars the main focus of her remarks to the Peoples Summit.

Gabbard said the same arguments used to justify US wars in Iraq and Libya were now being made in Washington on behalf of intervention in Syria. She cited the dissent cable by 50 State Department officials calling for military action against the Assad regime. And she warned that establishing a no-fly zone, as advocated by Clinton, would lead to a direct confrontation between our country and the worlds other nuclear power, Russia. People have learned nothing from Iraq and Libya.

Gabbard is not an antiwar figure, backing the US military operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. But her somber statements in Chicago underscore how quickly the US government and military are moving towards major confrontations in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Asia once the 2016 elections are past, whether Clinton or Donald Trump is in the White House. No other speakers addressed these issues.

This is the reality that the Democratic Partyand especially the factions allied with Sanders and the pseudo-leftare seeking to conceal from the American people.
The Socialist Equality Partys lead Senate candidate in the state of Victoria, Chris Sinnema, spoke with tram drivers last week and received a warm response when he outlined the partys fight for a new anti-war movement of the working class.

Melbournes tram network, one of the largest in the world, is fully privatised. Drivers and other tram workers have suffered relentless attacks on their job security and employment conditions, enforced by the Rail, Tram and Bus Union.

Sinnema, himself a former tram driver, and a team of SEP campaigners spoke with the drivers near the Malvern Tram Depot in Melbournes inner east, where there are about 200 drivers, maintenance workers and customer service staff.

Workers took copies the SEP election statement, and many of those who had time to stop and talk were eager to discuss their worsening conditions, particularly cuts to journey times. The tram network is franchised to Keolis Downer, a joint venture led by $7 billon French transnational corporation Keolis. The company earns performance bonuses from the state government if punctuality requirements are upheld, so there is great pressure on workers to meet increasingly difficult time targets.

Sinnema and the SEP campaigners also discussed the US-led preparations for war against China. Several workers, including those of Asian origin, were aware of rising tensions in the South China Sea. There was, however, a widespread underestimation of the danger confronting the working class in Australia and the region.

Danny Lee, originally from Vietnam, said: The preparations for war are no good. The US is a big country, they have to show off  As for the South China Sea, neighbours have always got trouble over the years. They wont use nuclear weaponseveryone knows thatthe whole of Asia would be gone.

Sinnema discussed with Danny the detailed US preparations to deploy nuclear weapons in a war against China or Russia. The catastrophic consequences of war would not deter US and Australian imperialism, he explained, and the working class had to intervene to prevent war.

David Paul said: I can see war happening. Look at the South China Sea. It could happen in a few years time, or even sooner. Its all greed at the end of the dayeverybody wants power at the end of the day. The US is the most powerful. They want to dictate to the world if possible, we all know that. Australia is with the United States.

Paul spoke with Sinnema about the growing hostility of workers towards the political establishment. The SEP candidate explained that the party was advocating a revolutionary not parliamentary perspective, and was fighting for the establishment of a workers government, a government of, by, and for the working class.

Paul said: Now you have people turning to the Greens, to the Independents, whoever. There will be a big percentage vote for all these other parties  I would generally vote Labor as opposed to Liberal, but I agree with what you say about a workers government, that would be good.

David said: I follow the wars in the Middle Eastno human being should treat another human being like that. Look at Gaza, you dont go meddling like that. I think Zionism is a problem  The US exercises in the South China Sea are very dangerous. We were taught in school that the New York Stock Exchange runs on guns and weapons. The United States wants to police the whole world.

Nick spoke briefly with Sinnema about the deteriorating conditions on the tram network: Ive been here four years. It is capitalism as you say, everybody needs money. The traffic gets worse and makes it harder to get the [target route] times. Some workers might get pulled up. I always do broken shifts myself.

Henry said: Ive been here ten years. This company, theyre dynamite on us. Were under the pump all the time to stay on time. The previous owners were not as bad as this. There is constant pressure to run on time  Sick leave is another thing. If you have more than a couple of days offthey ask if everything is OK at home!

As for both those guys Turnbull and Shorten [Labor and Liberal party leaders]if you close your eyes, you wouldnt know which one was talking, they are both saying the same things.

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
25 Years Ago | 50 Years Ago | 75 Years Ago | 100 Years Ago

25 years ago: Secession sets stage for civil war in Yugoslavia

The declarations of independence by Slovenia and Croatia on June 25, 1991, signaled the long-developing political crisis in Yugoslavia exploding into open civil war. Both declarations were preceded by the consolidation of nationalist forces in the two countries, which were constituent republics of the Yugoslav federal states.

Non-Slovenians living in SloveniaYugoslav citizens of Serb, Croat and other ethnic groupssuddenly became disadvantaged minorities in the new country. A similar status befell non-Croats living in Croatia, including in the heavily Serb-populated Krajina region on the border between Croatia and Bosnia.

The disintegration of the federal state and the eruption of civil war were the outcome of the policies pursued by all sections of the Stalinist bureaucracy to restore capitalism in Yugoslavia and offer their services as agents for the various imperialist powers. Whatever political labels they had given themselvesdemocratic or socialistthe leaderships of the Yugoslav republics were made up of rival cliques of bureaucrats and capitalists seeking to establish their own sphere of operations.

All of them traced their political careers back to the leadership of the Stalinist Yugoslavian Communist Party of Tito and all of them played the same card of petty nationalism in the attempt to preserve their own power and privileges and stifle any independent movement of the Yugoslav workers.

The leaders of the Serbian republic in the capital Belgrade, under president Slobodan Milosevic, are not Marxists or socialists but Serbian nationalists, whose program for capitalist restoration is based on the fight for a greater Serbia.

While the Serbian Stalinists and budding capitalists fought to retain the federal state structure of Yugoslavia as the best means for advancing their interests in the struggle to secure imperialist investments, the emerging national cliques in the republics of Croatia and Slovenia considered that their most advantageous road to capitalist restoration and integration into the imperialist world market was a break from the federation.

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50 years ago: High tide of Great Society reformism

During this week in 1966, a Democratic-controlled Congress and the Johnson administration put in place social and democratic reforms that brought Johnsons Great Society program near to its apogee, even as the war in Vietnam and the declining position of American capitalism undermined it.

On June 20, US House of Representatives passed by a unanimous vote of 307 to 0 the Freedom of Information Act. The bill mandated that all federal agencies make promptly available to any person any records that are not formally published in the Federal Register when any request for records [that] reasonably describes such records is made in accordance with a general philosophy of full agency disclosure. The bill further required agencies to publish in the Federal Register rules, policy statements, interpretations, staff manuals and instructions. It allowed a number of exemptions, most notoriously government documents related to interest of national defense or foreign policy. President Lyndon Johnson signed the bill into law on July 4, 1967.

On June 22, Johnson signed into law the Bail Reform Act of 1966, which had passed Congress with near-unanimous support. The law, which aimed to make it so that accused could not be needlessly detained in prisons prior to trial in federal courts, provided that any individual accused of breaking federal law must be released from custody without having to post bond with the court, except in cases where the government could show that the accused was likely to flee in order to avoid prosecution. Defendants could not be held solely on claims that they could pose a danger to the community. Furthermore, magistrates could impose a bond only if other conditions likely to secure the defendants return to court were not present.

On June 24, 1966, the Senate voted 76-0 to impose the most sweeping safety regulations on cars in US history, including the requirement of safety belts for all seats, collapsible steering columns, rear-view mirrors, rupture-resistant fuel tanks, doors that stayed closed in accidents, and safer seats, panels, and glass, in the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. In later signing the bill into law, Johnson noted that over 1.5 million people had been killed on US streets and highways in the 20th century, nearly three times as many Americans as we have lost in all our wars. US automakers had opposed the bill, and their lobbyists had succeeded in weakening it.

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75 years ago: Nazi Germany launches Operation Barbarossa upon Soviet Union

During the early hours of June 22, 1941, Hitlers fascist regime launched the most destructive and barbaric war in the history of mankind upon the Soviet Union. The German invasion force consisted of 3,600 tanks, 600,000 motorised vehicles, 7,000 artillery pieces, 2,500 aircraft, 625,000 horses and three million troops. Nazi propaganda boss Josef Goebbels uneasily noted that it was on exactly the same date when Napoleons Grand Army had marched on Russia in 1812.

In 1925 Hitler had vowed in Mein Kampf to destroy Marxism and the USSR, with the Jewish Bolshevik occupying a central role in his fascist anti-Semitism. In March on orders from Hitler Reinhard Heydrich assembled Einsatzgruppen commanders, whose troops were to accompany the invading army into the Soviet Union. Heyder informed them they must be prepared to wage in the words of Hitler a war of annihilation against Communists (activists, intellectuals, commissioners), Jews, Gypsies, saboteurs and agents who were all deemed to be Partisans and therefore to be executed forthwith in the field.

The utter barbarity of the Nazi campaign was prepared earlier by the mass slaughter in occupied Poland by both the SS and Wehrmacht in 1939 and 1940. But the events in the Soviet Union would greatly exceed even that butchery. Indeed, the beginning of Operation Barbarossa signified a turning point in the Holocaust and was closely linked to the decision to implement the final solutionthe near-total destruction of European Jewry.

Historians estimate that 1,400,000 Soviet Jews met their death at the hands of the invading Wehrmacht over the course of Barbarossa. Millions more Soviet citizens and soldiers would also meet violent deaths during the ensuing conflict.

Soviet intelligence had provided a plethora of detailed information on German plans for an invasion of the Soviet Union, including one from the German ambassador in Moscow, Graf Friedrich von der Schulenberg. Still Stalin retained his faith in Hitler and the Hitler-Stalin pact. Stalin refused to believe that Hitler would invade the Soviet Union.

When in the hours before the start of Barbarossa a communist German deserter crossed the lines to warn Soviet troops of the imminent invasion, Stalin had the soldier shot for disinformation. Not even the rapid departure of German naval ships from Soviet ports and the evacuation of Embassy staff in the days preceeding Barbarossa roused Stalin from his torpor.

Regardless of Stalins unshakeable faith in Hitler, at 3.15 a.m. Berlin time a heavy artillery bombardment signalled the beginning of the invasion. German troops and vehicles poured over the 1,800-mile-wide frontier. Within hours of the invasion Soviet organisational military command and control was destroyed.

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100 years ago: Roger Casement tried for involvement in Irish uprising

On June 26, 1916, Sir Roger Casement was brought to trial in England on the charge of treason for his involvement in the preparations of the Easter uprising in Dublin. Casement was a British diplomat of Irish extraction and a strong supporter of Irish nationalism.

After his retirement from the British Colonial Service in 1913, Casement became involved in the Irish separatist movement. He helped form the Irish Volunteers. In July 1914 he travelled to the US to promote and raise funds for the Volunteers, which were used to arm the Irish Volunteers.

Following the outbreak of World War 1, Casement was active in a plan to secure weapons from Germany for the Irish nationalists. He sailed for Europe in October 1914 in order to negotiate with the Germans. Knowing that a rebellion in Ireland would be useful in diverting both British forces and attention from the war with Germany, the German government agreed to give limited assistance to the Irish nationalist movement.

As part of the agreement with Germany, between December 1914 and February 1915, Casement visited a number of German prison camps where he sought to recruit Irish soldiers to the Irish nationalist forces. In April, Germany offered the Irish nationalists rifles, machine guns and ammunition.

The weapons were transported by the German navy to Ireland. Casement travelled to Ireland in a German submarine at the same time. He arrived in Ireland on April 21, three days before the Easter uprising was to begin, and was captured and arrested on the charges of treason, sabotage and espionage. The ship transporting the weapons was then intercepted by the British navy. Its German commander scuttled the ship.

Unlike the summary trials of those who led the fighting in the Easter uprising, Casements trial was conducted before a full bench and jury, with both the prosecution and defence resting on the interpretation of the Treason Act of 1351. Casements actions had all taken place on foreign soil and the wording of the act allowed for the interpretation that the definition of treason involved only acts taking place on British soil.

Copies of alleged excerpts of Casements personal diaries were secretly circulated by government figures, including the chief prosecutor. The excerpts portrayed Casement as a homosexual. The smear campaign was deliberately aimed at dissuading influential people from demanding clemency and preventing Casement from becoming a martyr.

Casement was convicted and sentenced to death. After an unsuccessful appeal he was hanged on August 3.

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OCALA, Fla. (AP) - Authorities say a woman shot a man after he broke into her home near Ocala.

Marion County Sheriff's Capt. Brian Spivey tells The Ocala Star-Banner (http://bit.ly/28IjJyH ) the woman was alone at her home when a man came to the door and tried to convince her to let him inside.

The woman told investigators she didn't know the man. Spivey says the woman hid when the man "reportedly forced his way into the home." The man continued to look for her. Spivey says the woman shot him in the stomach.

Spivey says charges are pending against the man, who was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center. He did not know the man's condition or his name. The woman's name was not released.
TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) - Newly released court documents show that Luis Rivera, one of the men indicted for the murder of FSU Professor Dan Markel, was interviewed by investigators in May and admitted he had traveled to Tallahassee.

Luis Rivera and Sigfredo Garcia were indicted for Markel's murder on Friday. Markel was shot and killed in the driveway of his Tallahassee home in July of 2014.

Rivera is in federal custody, serving time for his involvement in the gang, the Latin Kings.

According to court documents, Rivera denied involvement in the murder, claiming he had never been north of Orlando and Tampa.

That was until investigators are said to have shown him a photo taken from an ATM of the two suspects in a green Prius.

Court documents say that Rivera changed his story, saying the two were in Tallahassee visiting Florida State.

While Rivera would not confirm if he was at the scene of the murder, documents say he did not deny the claims either.

Those documents also show that investigators were able to confirm that Rivera was not at work on the day Markel was killed.
One of the two men stopped by Portland police yesterday carrying assault weapons does this all the time, all over the state.

Medford resident Warren R. Drouin, 22, keeps a YouTube channel called Markedguardian, festooned with the Libertarian "Don't Tread on Me" snake and hosting videos of Drouin and other friends carrying Bushmasters and other weapons in Medford, Talent, Albany, Grants Pass and Ashland.



In every case, he brings in 911 calls from concerned passersby.

And less than a month in time (and seven miles in distance) away from the mass shooting at Clackamas Town Center, he got his fair share in Portland.



"Officers explained to the men that they would likely continue to generate 9-1-1 calls from an alarmed public, which would require a police response, but neither man seemed interested in these concerns," Portland police spokesman Sgt. Pete Simpson wrote in a press release.



Portland police also noted in the release that Drouin had been toting his AR-15 in Gresham the day before.

In one video, Drouin speaks with Talent officers, who react to the man's presence with some concern.



Drouin tells the officer that he's here to remind people that open carry of rifles is legal in Oregon (it is).

"When we see a guy with an AR, I'm a little bit on my toes," the officer tells him. "It's not normal behavior, for most people."













WWeek 2015
Several members of the highest military and political echelons came to the defense of Maj.Tom Naaman, who in March had served as company commander when his soldier, Sgt. Elor Azaria, shot and killed Abed al Fatah a-Sharif, a Palestinian terrorist who had already been neutralized and disarmed.

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Among those who showed their support for Naaman was IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, who met with him on Sunday. Eisenkot expressed his full support and stressed that the IDF expects of all of its soldiers to state the truth.





Left to Right: IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and Maj. Tom Na'aman

Eisenkot added that it is essential to allow the military court due process in Azarias case without external interference, and to allow witnesses from both the prosecution and defense to speak without fear of repercussions. Any attempt to apply pressure on those involved in the trial is reprehensible, he said.

Former defense minister and IDF chief of staff Moshe Yaalon also condemned the threats Naaman has received since testifying against Azaria. The wild incitement against Company Commander (Naaman) serves as a further transgression that must be stopped. I call on our leadership to stop subtly courting an extremist minority, to unequivocally come out against this occurrence and express basic and moral support for a soldier and commander who has shown courage well beyond the battlefield.

Sgt. Elor Azaria (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Since testifying against Azaria, Naaman has come under attack from the extreme right, which has labelled Naaman a terrorist and a disgrace to the State of Israel. Naaman has further been the subject of a shaming campaign on social media.

Naaman gave his testimony on the matter at a military court last Thursday during which he described the course of events the day of the shooting. Elor told me, The terrorist is alive and he should be dead. I was angry at him for firing his weapon under my jurisdiction without my approval. I took him aside and told him to stay put. There was no military justification for Elors shooting, Na'aman stated.

The incident occurred after a-Sharif and another Palestinian stabbed an IDF soldier in Hebron. The soldier was moderately wounded and eventually both Palestinians were neutralized. A video of the event that came out shortly after shows that following the attack, a-Sharif was lying on the ground when Azaria aimed his weapon at him and shot him in the head. A pathologists testimony confirmed that a-Sharif was alive when Azaria shot him.
On Monday, officials reported that a suicide bomber killed at least 14 people and wounded eight in an attack on a minibus carrying security contractors in the Afghan capital of Kabul. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement from the Islamist group's main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, on Twitter.

The attack was the latest in a recent surge of violence that highlights the challenges faced by the Afghan government in Kabul and its Western backers, as Washington slowly draws down its remaining troops, despite a persistent insurgency.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State John Kerry are expected to meet next week to discuss an alternative peace initiative for the Middle East to that currently being drafted under the aegis of the French government.

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US Secretary of State Kerry and PM Netanyahu (Photo: Haim Tzach)

The latter, which received much opposition from Israel, is expected to receive overwhelming endorsement from vaious European foreign affairs ministers.

Netanyahu and US Secretary Kerry's meeting will also take place in the shadow of another related initiative, as the Quartet on the Middle Eastcomprised of the US, Russia, the EU and the UNprepares to publish a report severely criticizing Israel for the diplomatic stalemate with the Palestinians. The report is expected to place the blame for the current situation squarely on Israel's shoulders, and to suggest its own ideas to restart the peace process.

Netanyahu would reportedly rather approach the peace talks through a regional conference headed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. As such, he is expected to lean heavily on Kerry to support this channel over the French initiative.
As the fight for funding and opportunity in Israel's periphery gains momentum through the "Equality March," nationally elected officials lend their support to the cause by joining it.

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The march began on Tuesday to protest the government's education and welfare budget allocation policies, and has attracted participants from across the country who have set their sights on Kiryat HaMemshala (government offices) in Jerusalem as their final destination.

The 'Equality March' (Phot: Yaniv Apota)

After MKs Karin Elharar (Yesh Atid) and Yehuda Glick (Likud) participated in the protest march on Sunday, Monday's leg is due to include Stav Shafir (Labor) and Vicki Knafo, who had led the single mothers protest in 2003.

The Histadrut Labor federation will also lend its support, with chairman Avi Nissenkorn also slated to join the march. He explained that he decided to support the protests due to the glaring need to fight for equal opportunity in the periphery, so that children living there can receive the same opportunities as children from the center of Israel. "In order to minimize the gap and create equal opportunities we need to allocate funds to the periphery and to struggling municipalities," he was quoted as saying.

MK Stav Shafir voiced her own criticism of the current government: "Coalition MKs and ministers repeatedly speak about the periphery, but when the time comes to action, they gut the budgets intended for the periphery and only look out for their friends' interests," she said.

On Sunday, the protestors marched to Kiryat Malachi, and they are expected to reach Beit Shemesh on Wednesday. Their demands center around instating a budget in welfare and education that more accurately reflects the proportions of the various sectors in Israeli society.

On Sunday, the Ministrial Committee on Legislative Affairs rejected a bill proposed by MK Karin Elharar and MK Haim Yalin (Yesh Atid) which would have served to this end. "The Israeli Government has the money," said Elharar regarding the proposed bill. "And just as it manages to reach the settlements , it should also reach the municipalities and local authorities that fight for proper education and welfare for its residents oeach and every day."
Israel and Turkey may be on the verge of repairing frayed diplomatic relations as both seek to profit from Israel's recent gas reserve discoveries.

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The cooling of temperatures in the relationship comes after many years of mutual accusations and continuous tension between the two countries over conflicting philosophies and world views.

For several months now, Israel's relationship with Turkey has seemingly been improving. During a nuclear security summit in Washington last March, Energy and Infrastructure Minister Yuval Steinitz met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in what was the highest level of contact between the two countries since diplomatic relations broke down six years ago after Israeli forces raided a Turkish ship carrying weapons bound for Gaza, killing 10 Turkish activists.

Energy Minister Steinitz and Turkish President Erdogan

The meeting, the details of which have not been previously disclosed, was eventually revealed to have been about the war in Syria, Iran's presence there, terrorism, and natural gas. That last item is a key driver of efforts to forge a rapprochement between Israel and Turkey: at stake are reserves of natural gas worth hundreds of billions of dollars under the waters of Israel and Cyprus. To exploit them, Israel will likely need to cooperate with Turkey.

Steinitz confirmed the meeting and expressed cautious optimism regarding future exchanges. "It (the meeting) was in a very good atmosphere," he said. "I don't want to say more than that... I'm a great proponent of this effort to resume diplomatic relations with Turkey."

Since the Washington meeting, high-level envoys from Turkey and Israel have been speaking in private in Geneva and London, in an effort to hammer out a deal that would normalize the relations between the former allies.

Discussions have at times become bogged down over a number of issues. For example, Israel wants Turkey to cut ties with Hamas representatives based in Turkey while Ankara wants reassurances on providing aid to Palestinians in Gaza.

A senior Turkish official said he was not aware of the meeting and said it would have been outside normal protocol for a president to meet a minister.

Overall, though, Israeli officials believe an agreement can be reached in the coming weeks.

"We have resolved 80 to 90 percent of the difficulties, or gaps, and now with a little bit of goodwill and flexibility on both sides we can reach the remaining items," Steinitz said. "I think we are pretty close."

There have also been positive signs coming out of turkey. Earlier this month, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Ankara was "one or two meetings away" from normalizing ties with Israel. However, he did not put a timeframe on the process.

Vast reserves

Israel and Cyprus, whose relationship is becmoing increasingly closer, sit on an estimated 3,450 billion cubic metres of gas buried in the Levant Basin, according to a US Geological Survey carried out late last decade. Those reserves are worth around $700 billion and equate to enough gas to supply the entire world for a year. And that's only proven reserves. A recent seismological survey conducted by a French consultancy suggested Israel alone may be sitting on nearly three times as much gas as first thought, according to Steinitz.

The problem is not just the huge costs of drilling for the gas, but finding a route to deliver it to customers. While a portion of the gas would go for domestic consumption, the vast majority is earmarked for export. Unless Israel and Cyprus can lock in long-term export contracts, the costs of developing the deepwater fields will not be covered and the vast assets may never be fully exploited.

Jordan, which has a peace treaty with Israel, may be a long-run buyer of Israeli gas, but is a modest market. Neighbouring Lebanon and Syria - both sworn enemies of Israel - are out of the question. Instead, Turkey and Egypt, with 80 million and 93 million people respectively, would be a far better fit as potential long-term consumers.

An initial plan was to send some of the gas to Egypt, which already has small contracts to buy gas from Israel. But in the past year Egypt has discovered natural gas off its coastline and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has said he will push ahead rapidly with developing its own energy resources.

Steinitz says a deal with Egypt remains an option. But Israel is also turning towards exploring a pipeline to Turkey, both for consumers there and as a connection to Europe. A third option is a Cyprus-Greece-Europe route.

As a result, restoring relations with Ankara is now a linchpin in Israel's strategy to unlock its natural gas wealth.

"Turkey would very much like to diversify its energy imports and resources," said Steinitz, when pressed about the restoration of ties between the countries. "They don't want to be dependent on one or two sources of energy."

The Russian connection

Turkey imports the bulk of its gas from Russia. But Ankara's ties with Moscow are strained, particularly over the Syrian conflict after a Turkish fighter plane shot down a Russian jet last November. In 2015, Turkey trimmed its imports of Russian gas by 300 million cubic metres to around 27 billion cubic metres (bcm) a year. That said, Turkey's growing economy still consumes 50 bcm of gas a year and demand is expected to double over the next seven or eight years.

"They need other sources, reliable sources, of gas," said Steinitz. "We have an interest to export Israeli gas and to have export options, instead of being totally dependent on one country for our exports. So it's a very good opportunity here."

Turkish energy companies share that view. Both Zorlu Enerji and a consortium of Turcas and Enerjisa have reportedly been in talks with Israel over gas prices and potential pipeline routes.

"There's a potential of around 30 bcm of gas (a year) there, of which Turkey could buy 8 bcm to 10 bcm (a year)," a Turkish industry source was reported saying.

Building a pipeline to Turkey or Egypt is about the same distance, around 540 km, and about the same cost, around $3 billion. Turkey's advantage lies in its position as a gateway to Europe.

The Cyprus problem

Though Steinitz is hopeful of mending fences with Turkey, regional analysts remain skeptical. "A lot of the talk is pie in the sky," said Michael Leigh, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund in the United States and an expert on gas discoveries in the East Mediterranean. He believes there are too many political and commercial obstacles to extracting the gas out and transporting it.

Perhaps the trickiest issue is Cyprus. Since 1974 the island has been split between the Republic of Cyprus in the south and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, after the Turks invaded the island following a military coup that was backed by Greece. There are no diplomatic ties between the south, which is a member of the European Union, and Turkey.

Large amounts of gas are located in the territorial waters of the Republic of Cyprus. If it and Israel are intent on coordinating their export strategyand if Turkey is to be one of the routesthe divisions in Cyprus must be addressed first, since a part of the pipeline would have to pass through Cypriot territorial waters into Turkish territorial waters.

British and Cypriot diplomats have spoken about a possible breakthrough that would reunite Cyprus, but so far it remains far from certain. "We can see that there is an alignment of the stars and momentum from both sides," said a senior official directly involved in the talks. "The prospects are certainly better than they have been in a very long time. But we cannot say there is a deal until everything is in place."

Even if a deal can be reached, it still may not mean all hurdles are cleared. Leigh, of the German Marshall Fund, pointed out that Erdogan, whose imprimatur is critical to a resolution, has been indecisive on the issue.

In relation to exploiting the gas reserves, Leigh added that "A resolution of the Cyprus problem is necessary but not sufficient. You need commercial viability, too." He is not convinced the Levant Basin is a reliable investment, given the decline in gas prices and the cost of extracting the gas and piping it to markets.

Steinitz remains optimistic, convinced that Israel's economic stability and energy security depend on developing the country's gas resources in whatever way possible. "We are going to do it by hook or by crook," he said. "We have to overcome all the difficulties and do it because it is essential for Israel's future."
A senior UN official says that Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said his country is prepared to ratify a treaty banning nuclear tests, a move that would be significant for Mideast peace.

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Lassina Zerbo, who heads the UN organization created to implement the treaty, told The Associated Press that Netanyahu considers the issue of ratifying the treaty a matter of "when, rather than if."

Dimona nuclear reactor (Photo: Getty Images)

Israeli ratification would move the treaty closer to taking effect, leaving only seven holdouts among the 44 countries that must ratify it for the pact to go live.

Zerbo spoke to the AP after meeting with Netanyahu. He says ratification by Israel would help pave the way for a nuclear test-free zone in the Middle East.
On Monday, suspected Islamic extremist group al-Shabab ambushed a police vehicle in northern Kenya, killing five officers.

The officers were escorting a passenger bus early Monday when they came under attack. The bus driver managed to speed away, but the police vehicle was set on fire, and two of the victims were burned beyond recognition.

"This was a well-arranged ambush by the militants," Mandera County Police Commander Job Boronjo said, referring to Somalia-based Islamic al-Shabab. The extremist group has carried out repeated attacks in Kenya due to its opposition to Kenya's military involvement in Somalia.
The military prosecutor has requested that the names of all witnesses testifying in the Elor Azaria case be withheld due to incitement by far right radicals following the testimony of Azaria's company commander Maj. Tom Na'aman. The request was submitted to the court on Monday.

Prime Minister Netanyahu also spoke about the incitement against the company commander of the solider who shot the neutralized terrorist in Hebron. The prime minister was speaking at a Likud faction meeting on Monday.

After testifying against Elor Azaria's actions during the incident, Azaria's company commander Maj. Tom Na'aman has become a target of far right wing incitement on social media.

The request said, amongst other things, that "following (the company commander's) testimony and throughout the weekend, Maj. Na'aman received threats from different people, directly threatening to attack him due to his testimony. The Major's phone number was published, and he received threatening telephone calls and messages. Due to this intimidation, Maj. Na'aman even submitted a formal complaint to the police."

Maj. Na'aman has been called a "traitor" and "national embarrassment" by people on the extreme right on social media as well.

Maj. Na'aman and Elor Azaria (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

"In order to protect the safety of future witnesses who appear in front of this court," the request continued, "and in order to enable them to give free testimony, the prosecution requests, with the consent of the defense, that the court will prevent the publication of identifying details (of the witnesses), including their military ID numbers, their names, their pictures, their addresses, and their phone numbers."

This is considered an unusual request. The request will not include battalion commander Lt. Col. David Shapira, who is set to testify on July 12. Nor will does it include Division Commander Col. Yariv Ben Ezra, who is also expected to testify.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu said earlier on Monday "I believe that there is no room for this kind of belligerence. I'll tell you exactly what I told the soldier's father  I trust the IDF, I trust the IDF chief of staff, I trust the commanders and the soldiers, and I one hundred percent trust the legal system. It is serious, real, and fair. "

Netanyahu discussing at the Likud faction meeting (Photo: Eli Mandelbaum)

Several members of the highest military and political echelons came to the defense of Maj.Tom Naaman, including IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and former defense minister and IDF chief of staff Moshe Yaalon, amongst others.

Since testifying against Azaria, Naaman has come under attack from the extreme right which has labelled him a terrorist and a disgrace to the State of Israel. Naaman has further been the subject of a shaming campaign on social media.

Naaman gave his testimony on the matter at a military court last Thursday during which he described the course of events the day of the shooting. Elor told me, The terrorist is alive and he should be dead. I was angry at him for firing his weapon under my jurisdiction without my approval. I took him aside and told him to stay put. There was no military justification for Elors shooting, Na'aman stated.

The incident occurred after two Palestinians stabbed an IDF soldier in Hebron. The soldier was moderately wounded and eventually both Palestinians were neutralized. A video of the event that came out shortly after shows that following the attack, one of the terrorists was lying on the ground when Azaria aimed his weapon at him and shot him in the head. A pathologists testimony confirmed that the terrorist was alive when Azaria shot him.
Trousers with leather pockets worn by Adolf Hitler and a brass container that held the cyanide used by a top deputy to commit suicide were among a trove of Nazi memorabilia sold for hundreds of thousands of euros at an auction in Germany.

The sale of items from a collection of an American medical officer who attended to the needs of defendants at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials was condemned by Germany's Jewish community as "scandalous" and "disgusting". The auctioneer did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

German media said one Argentine bidder spent over 600,000 euros ($681,060) alone at Hermann Historica's weekend auction in Munich, snapping up Hitler's trousers and military jacket, and an aviator watch that belonged to Hermann Goering, the beefy Nazi air force commander, among other things.
When the B'Tselem video that documented Sgt. Elior Azaria's shooting of the Palestinian terrorist in Hebron was exposed, right-wing activists attacked then-defense minister Moshe Ya'alon and IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot for immediately condemning the incident. Even more moderate sources were requesting that a drumhead court-martial not be held, neither by the media nor on social network sites.

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They asked to give due process a chance so that the truth could emerge in the confines of the military court, and only there. However, now, when circumstances have changed, it turns out that this principle was for many of those involved a truth for that moment only - and they have no problem twisting ideology in favor of their political agenda.

Sgt. Elior Azaria (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

The trial began three weeks ago, and as the proceedings advance it is becoming clear that the soldier's situation is just getting more convoluted  starting with the video in which the knife is seen to be moved towards the terrorist lying on the ground, then with the pathologist's testimony according to which the shot in the head is what killed the terrorist, and now with Azaria's company commander Maj. Tom Na'aman's honest testimony that although Azaria is an outstanding soldier, in Hebron he fired against orders. "I asked him who authorized him to shoot," testified Naaman, "and he said the terrorist was alive and had to die."

The next witnesses to testify - four young soldiers and after them Lt. Col. David Shapira and commander of the Hebron Brigade Col. Yariv Ben-Ezra - are expected to provide similar evidence of occurred at the scene.

Left to Right: IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and Maj. Tom Na'aman

Now it has become clear that if the manner in which the trial is conducted does not suit a particular group - then they break the rules and threaten the witnesses. The first victim is Maj. Na'aman, in what appears to be a combined move designed to derail the trial and send a clear message to the future witnesses: If you tell the truth on the stand, you will be hit with a series of invectives and threats on Facebook.

Lt. Col. Shapira and Col. Yariv Ben-Ezra Shapiro and brigade commander Ben Ezra are mature and strong officers, but it's not certain that the young 20-year-old soldiers will withstand the pressure. What are they supposed to be thinking now?

Azaria's trial is entering a dangerous and worrying stage. What exactly do the insulters and tauters expect? That the exceptional company commander should lie on the witness stand, only because the truth does not suit them? The result is a situation in which any testimony could lead to a drumhead court-martial on Facebook - which is, in fact, an obstruction of justice of the modern era.

IDF Chief of Staff Eisenkot for his part continues to clearly define the boundaries of his responsibility- and this is what was behind his phone call with Na'aman. For him there is no compromise; the norm expected of IDF officers and soldiers is to tell the truth, and any attempt to exert pressure on those involved in the legal process deserve harsh condemnation.

Similar statements were heard Sunday from Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, but they can also be pointed to as being among those who led the discourse to its current state part of the factors that led the discourse to its current state  whether it be Bennet's tongue-lashing while speaking at the Knesset's rostrum after the shooting incident, or Lieberman's visit to the military court during Azaria's hearing.

From now on, the goal of having a just trial should govern the public debate  so that Eisenkot doesn't become the only sane voice amid a medley of fervor and incitement.
BANGUI- Fighting broke out in the capital of Central African Republic on Monday and the sound of machineguns and heavier weapons resounded across Bangui, witnesses said.

Insecurity persists months after President Faustin-Archange Touadra was sworn in in March after he won an election designed to draw a line under inter-communal and inter-religious violence that began in 2013.
Israel's transportation minister said Monday he is pushing for the construction of an "artificial island" off the coast of Hamas-ruled Gaza, saying it will alleviate economic hardship in the blockaded coastal strip and connect it to the rest of the world.

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Yisrael Katz said his plan calls for an eight square kilometer (three square mile) island linked to Gaza by a five-kilometer (three-mile) bridge. He said the island, estimated to cost $5 billion, would include a port and perhaps a future airport as well. Israel would supervise security checks but it would otherwise be run by Palestinians and the international community.

Katz, a top deputy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel had no objection to easing the Gaza blockade as long as its security needs are met.

A Palestinian boy herds sheep in front of the ruins of Yasser Arafat International Airport (Photo: Reuters)

"I do not think it is right to lock up two million people without any connection to the world," Katz said in a briefing with foreign reporters. "Israel has no interest to make life harder for the population there. But because of security concerns we can't build an airport or seaport in Gaza."

Israel destroyed Gaza's airport during the second Palestinian intifada. Gaza City has a small seaport that is not large enough to handle container ships and is mainly used by fisherman.

Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Photo Sason Tiram)

Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on Gaza after Hamas seized power in 2007. Israel says the blockade is needed to prevent arms from reaching the Islamic militant group, which has fought three wars against Israel since the takeover.

Israel currently allows about 800 truckloads of goods into Gaza each day through a land crossing.

Katz said the island would be in international waters and could provide economic independence to Palestinians while allowing Israel to still vet security.

He said he is hopeful that Israel's security establishment will back the plan, and that it will soon come up for a vote in the Cabinet. After that, international bodies would have to get involved in the implementation and funding.

Katz said Israel will not negotiate directly with Hamas, which is sworn to its destruction, but has received indications that the Western-backed Palestinian Authority would welcome such a plan. Palestinian officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
The Saudi Peace initiative is a trap. The initiative calls for an Israeli withdrawal to the borders of June 4, 1967 and for a solution to the problem of Palestinian refugees in accordance with UN resolution 194.

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In return, there will be peace and normalization between Israel and the nations of the Arab League. This is apparently something positive.

The Arab countries are prepared for peace with Israel, something which they weren't prepared for when Israel was founded, nor which they were willing to have for the past several decades. However, the conditions of the agreement  which they said are non-negotiable  are impossible for us.

Let me clarify: the return to the 1967 lines is impossible, not now and not in the future. Its suicide - we want to live. To whom exactly will we give the Golan Heights? We couldn't do it before the Syrian civil war broke out, and we definitely can't do it now that Syria has disintegrated.

Would any sane person stay in a country where the distance between the border and the beaches of Netanya is nine miles? When the suburbs of Gush Dan brush right up against ISIS controlled areas? A country where it's illegal for Jews to go up onto the Temple Mount? A country where Jews are only allowed to go up the seventh step at the entrance of the Cave of the Patriarchs? (When the Ottomans and later the British controlled the Holy Land, Jews were only allowed to go up to the seventh step of the entrance to the Cave of the Patriarchs) A country where Jews are only able to access the Western Wall via armored UN personnel carriers? What about Ariel, Ma'ale Adumim, Gush Etzion, and the Gilo neighborhood of Jerusalem? This cannot happen and this will not happen.

Will Jews lose access to their holiest site? (Photo: Eli Mendelbaum)

A quote from section 11 in UN General Assembly Resolution 194 states; "the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date." Who are the Palestinian refugees? There shouldn't be that many left. It's been close to 70 years, how many are still alive?

Yet the Palestinians get special treatment. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), deals with them and no one else. They are the only people in the world whose refugee status is passed down from generation to generation, until the end of time.

The Arab nations, instead of absorbing them, have purposefully perpetuated their refugee status, and have ensured that they remain neglected in their refugee camps in order to put pressure on Israel.

More than four million Palestinians have the status of "refugee" according to their specialized criteria. Where would they prefer to live, in a refugee camp in Syria or Gaza, or in Israel?

The number of Jewish refugees who were forced to leave their homes in the Arab world is larger than the number of Palestinians who left Israel. Those Jews and their descendents won't return to those Arab countries, and the Palestinians and their descendents won't return here.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir

If the Arabs would have accepted the 1947 partition plan, there wouldn't have been a single Palestinian refugee, and all the land which they are asking for now would have already been in their hands. But it wasn't enough for them.

We can't turn back the clock. And if because of that we won't have relations with Djibouti, Somalia, Yemen, the Comoros Islands, or other god-forsaken countries, it's not the end of the world. We already have relations with the important Arab countries  both open and secret relations due to mutual interests, not because of a great love of each other.

Thanks Saudi Arabia, but no thanks.
BANGUI- Two people died of gunshot wounds in fighting in the capital of Central African Republic on Monday as the sound of fire from machine guns and heavier weapons resounded across Bangui, witnesses and medical authorities said.

Heavily armed members of the former rebel group Seleka took six police officers hostage in Bangui on Sunday, Jean Serge Bokassa, the minister of territorial administration and public security, told Reuters.

It was not clear if the shooting and kidnapping were linked. The gunfire died down as night fell, witnesses said.
Deploy. Deliver. Defend.

Thats the mission of the 910th Airlift Wing. Usually, that mission statement has a worldwide emphasis, but for six hours on June 18, Youngstown Air Reserve Station deployed its personnel locally to deliver the message that the 910th is equipped, willing and ready to defend the United States. The venue for that mission was the 2016 Youngstown Air Reserve Station Open House.

The open house, the stations first since 2008 and the first large-scale public event since 2014s Thunder Over the Valley Air Show, provided the public an opportunity to see the units C-130H Hercules aircraft up close, learn about the unique mission and capabilities at YARS and meet the Service members who call the station home.

Col. James Dignan, commander of the 910th Airlift Wing, initiated plans for the open house last year.

The main reason for the open house is to get all our friends and family, neighbors from the Valley, onto the base and get them accustomed or re-accustomed to all the things we have going on here at YARS, said Dignan. (We want to) get them onto an airplane and give the 910th the chance to be neighborly.

The stations aircraft ramp featured four Youngstown C-130 displays, each configured for a different mission. One was loaded with the 910th Aerial Spray Flights Modular Aerial Spray System (MASS). The MASS is used to deliver aerial pesticides for eliminating disease-spreading insects, eliminate invasive weed species and unwanted vegetation in strategic areas and disperse oil spills on large bodies of water. The 910th operates the only aerial spray capability in the Department of Defense.

Another C-130 was set up for aeromedical evacuation with patient litters installed in the cargo area. One was arranged in a normal configuration for troop carrying, and the final C-130 was positioned with the cargo ramp partially open, ready to receive the goods from a K-loader full of palletized cargo. This latter setup is typical of the 910ths primary function of tactical airlift.

Several units from YARS also set up interactive displays. The base Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department had fire trucks available with equipment ready for guests to try on. 910th Security Forces displayed their weapon systems and protective gear. The Aircrew Flight Equipment (AFE) shop had personnel on hand to show and explain night vision goggles, fight helmets, oxygen masks, 40-man life rafts, parachutes and other life-preserving equipment. AFE is responsible for maintaining this equipment which is available to aircrews during in-flight emergencies.

Senior Master Sgt. Jim Haupt is the superintendent of the AFE shop with the 910th Operations Support Squadron. Manning the AFE display area, Haupt often had crowds of more than 25 people listening to him explain what he does for the 910th.

I think telling the 910th story went well, said Haupt. There were a lot of people who didnt even know we existed It actually shows that we have involvement in the bigger picture of what goes on in the world today. I also think the facilities out here are incredible and most of the people here havent ever seen them.

Haupt said many of the people with whom he interacted were blown away to learn what YARS has and offers to the United States defense.

Beyond telling the 910th story, large public events like open houses provide Air Force Reserve recruiters a venue for generating relationships with potential recruits.

Senior Master Sgt. John Wood is the 910ths senior recruiter and set up an informational display with his team.

This is giving us a great opportunity to meet people who dont know about all the excellent opportunities available with the Air Force Reserve right here in Vienna, said Wood. This installation is close to home for many of them and is a great place to serve in the Air Force Reserve while working full-time civilian jobs, going to school or raising a family.

By midway through the event, the recruitment staff had generated approximately 25 positive leads from interested potential recruits.

Fifteen-year-old Cody Stokes of Warren heard about the event through a friend whose mom is employed by the air station.

I thought the open house was really fun, said Stokes. I got to walk around and see a lot of interesting things. The airplanes were really neat.

The event attracted approximately 7000 visitors. The 2016 YARS Open House was a prelude to the Thunder Over the Valley Air Show featuring the United States Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team, scheduled for June 17-18, 2017.
This has been a long time in the making, but in our continuing pursuit to bring only the best of firearms, 2nd Amendment and defence related news to our readers, we are very excited to announce the next step in our evolution as a company.

As of 2020, Minuteman Review is now the proud owner and operator of Your Defence News, a website with a long history of breaking huge news stories and investigative journalism.

We hope you are equally as excited as us.

This means that now the teams of Minuteman can combine with the firepower of Your Defence News to stay at the absolute forefront for our readers.

Keep an eye. Big things are coming soon. We couldn't be more excited.

In the meanwhile, here are some of our most popular posts and categories to keep you busy.

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According to one member of the real estate advice industry, circumstances of people facing financial ruin after acting on unqualified or non-independent advice is much more prevalent than the industry or government realises.

Now the principal of property advice firm Surbanite, Anna Porters previous career saw her work as a property valuer managing the mortgaging and possession portfolio for some of Australias major banks, an experience that left her with a desire to shine the light on the impact spruikers can have on everyday investors.

Ive seen the financial devastation first hand and its something that Im passionate about trying to prevent, Porter said.

As a value you would hear the stories of why somebodys was being repossessed and what had gone wrong and often it came down to bad decisions like over-leveraging themselves on investments thanks to bad advice and it was devastating to see that first hand again and again, she said.

Such is Porters desire to illustrate the impact property spruikers are having, she has recently written a book, Whistle Blower, which she hopes will equip people with the knowledge to avoid falling for the too good to be true opportunities offered by spruikers and also shine a light on how widespread the issue of people facing trouble due to bad property advice really is.

Like many in the property advice space, Porter is pushing for the Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC) to better regulate the industry, however she believes that will only occur when the full scope of the issue comes to the fore.

I dont think ASIC believes or can see how prevalent it is. Even coming from the valuation side of things to the investment side I was personally shocked as to how much of a problem it is. I would hear on a weekly basis of stories of people who have lost their life savings, Porter said.

People are embarrassed to talk about it. If theyve lost money through a bad decision or bad advice then they feel silly so they dont bring to it the forefront and they dont want people to know.

I would really like to see it [become regulated], but I know the wheels of legislative change are slow. Theres going to need to be some political force behind it.

While regulation of the industry may very well prevent people in the future from losing out thanks to bad advice, Porter said it may very well be too late for significant portion of the population who have directed superannuation money towards property.

I think the biggest fallout is going to come when the 30 and 40-somethings are hitting retirement age and their retirement plans have been wiped out because of this and the governments going to feel it as people are in need of more help in retirement at a time when the government is going to be taking [retirement assistance] off the table.

We know of one small firm that was pushing investors into off-the-plan purchases where they were getting kickbacks from the developer, we spoke to somebody who left there after seeing what was happening and in 18 months they had convinced 200 people to buy into the developments they were pushing.

That was just one small, suburban firm and 200 people have had their super fund money wiped out because they havent been able to settle, moneys gone missing or developments just havent been built.

Until regulation of the industry does occur, Porter is calling on potential investors to look past the glossy brochures and big numbers used by spruikers and question whose interest they are working for.

Ive been to a few seminars where theyre promising dreams, promising lifestyles, promising so many things that people feel are unattainable and they make it sound so easy and make the numbers look really good.

Ive walked out of seminars thinking I was going to buy an off-the plan unit in Brisbane before I had to stop and check myself and realise that I know better. The salesmanship really is incredible.

Its a matter of qualifying the motives behind the advice. Asking the questions about where theyre getting their fee from, is it coming from the investor who theyre meant to be acting for or is it coming from the developer?

If its coming from the developer, then the question is who is the adviser working for? I have real problem with somebody coming to an investor supposedly as a trusted advisor for them but theyre being incentivised by somebody else.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators have gathered on the Japanese island of Okinawa demanding the U.S. military shut down its bases there following a rash of high-profile incidents involving service members that have made headlines in recent months.

Protesters at Sunday's rally want a plan to move a U.S. base from one part of the island to another scrapped altogether.

Dissatisfaction with the U.S. military bases on the island has been brewing for years.

The U.S. Navy said earlier this month it has banned its personnel in Japan from drinking and restricted off-base activities after a sailor in Okinawa was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Petty Officer Aimee Mejia was arrested after she allegedly drove on the wrong side of a freeway and crashed her car into two vehicles, slightly injuring two people.

Following the drunk driving episode, U.S. sailors throughout the entire country were banned from drinking alcohol indefinitely.
As a homeowner, you probably already know that you should be working to maintain your home. But, chances are, you Read More
Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican U.S. presidential nominee, is complaining that some Republicans are trying to thwart the official declaration of his nomination at next month's national party nomination convention.

Some delegates to the convention in (the midwestern city of) Cleveland, Ohio, say they want to change the party's rules to allow delegates to vote for someone other than the brash billionaire real estate mogul, who surged past 16 other Republican candidates in months of state-by-state party nominating contests to give him a majority of pledged delegates at the convention.

But Trump's opponents say the one-time television reality show host does not represent the Republicans' traditional conservative policy positions and that his intemperate comments about women, Muslims and Mexicans make him unacceptable as the Republican standard bearer.

On Sunday, he voiced new support for an idea he has offered before, saying it was "common sense," as a way to halt a possible terrorist attack, to profile Muslims already in the United States, not just temporarily block them from entering the country, as he also favors.

"I think profiling is something that we're going to have to start thinking about as a country," he told CBS' Face the Nation news show. "And other countries do it; you look at Israel and you look at others and they do it and they do it successfully. You know, I hate the concept of profiling. But we have to start using common sense, and we have to use, you know, we have to use our heads ... we really have to look at profiling. We have to look at it seriously."

Trump's Republican detractors point to recent national polls showing that big majorities of voters view him unfavorably and that the likely Democratic nominee, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is pulling further ahead of him five months before the November 8 election.
Health News

Washington, DC - Proper maternal folate levels during pregnancy may protect children from a future risk of obesity, especially those born to obese mothers, according to a study led by researchers funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Maternal nutrition during pregnancy can have long-lasting effects on child health, as well as the health of a mother after pregnancy, said the studys principal investigator, Xiaobin Wang, M.D., M.P.H., Sc.D., from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. Our results suggest that adequate maternal folate may mitigate the effect of a mothers obesity on her childs health.

The study, published online in JAMA Pediatrics, was funded by NIHs Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).

Obesity (link is external) in children and adults is a serious health issue in the United States, contributing to such conditions as heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. During pregnancy (link is external), maternal obesity also increases the risk for a range of pregnancy complications, such as stillbirth, birth defects and preterm birth. Furthermore, babies born to obese mothers have long-term health risks, including a higher risk of obesity in childhood.

Folate, an essential B vitamin, reduces the fetus risk for neural tube defects, which are malformations affecting the brain, spine and spinal cord. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that women of childbearing age take 400 micrograms of folic acid (link is external) (a synthetic form of folate) daily to reduce their childrens risk for neural tube defects. However, the role of maternal folate levels on a childs future obesity risk was not known, especially among those born to mothers who are obese during pregnancy.

In their study, the researchers investigated the health outcomes of mothers and children (ranging from 2- to 9-years-old) in the Boston Birth Cohort, a predominately low-income, minority population with a high prevalence of maternal and child obesity. The study team analyzed health records from more than 1,500 mother-child pairs, including information that was collected before, during and after pregnancy. To gauge a mothers folate level during pregnancy, the researchers measured folate from stored plasma samples that were collected two to three days after delivery.

The study team found a wide range of maternal folate levels, but observed an L-shaped relationship between maternal folate levels and child obesity. In other words, the lowest levels of folate correlated with the highest risk of child obesity. When folate levels reached approximately 20 nanomoles per liter (nm/L), which is within the normal range for adults, further increases in folate levels did not confer additional benefits, indicating a threshold or ceiling effect.

According to the researchers, this threshold is higher than the standard cutoff for diagnosing folate deficiency (less than 10 nm/L).

Obese mothers in the study tended to have lower folate levels than normal weight mothers. However, when the researchers examined obese mothers only, they found that children of obese mothers with adequate folate levels (at least 20 nm/L) had a 43 percent lower risk of obesity compared to children of obese mothers with lower folate (less than 20 nm/L). The children in the latter group had higher body mass index-for-age z-scores (BMI-z)  a measure of body fat in children.

According to the authors, establishing an optimal rather than minimal folate concentration may be beneficial for women planning a pregnancy, especially obese women.

Folate is well-known for preventing brain and spinal cord defects in a developing fetus, but its effects on metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and obesity, is less understood, said Cuilin Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., NICHD senior investigator and a study co-author. This study uncovers what may be an additional benefit of folate and identifies a possible strategy for reducing childhood obesity.

The Boston Birth Cohort has been funded continuously by NICHD since 2002 (R01 HD041702, R01 HD086013). The cohort also received support from NIHs National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, as well as the Health Resources and Services Administrations Maternal and Child Health Bureau and the March of Dimes.

About the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): NICHD conducts and supports research in the United States and throughout the world on fetal, infant and child development; maternal, child and family health; reproductive biology and population issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more information, visit NICHDs website.
Health News

Chicago, Illinois - The American Medical Association (AMA) adopted new policies this week at its annual meeting to reverse the country's opioid epidemic. The new policies encourage physicians to co-prescribe naloxone to patients at risk of an overdose; promote timely and appropriate access to non-opioid and non-pharmacologic treatments for pain; and support efforts to delink payments to health care facilities with patient satisfaction scores relating to the evaluation and management of pain.

"The AMA and our nation's physicians have demonstrated our commitment to ending this epidemic," said Dr. Patrice A. Harris, chair-elect of the AMA and chair of the AMA Task Force to Reduce Opioid Abuse. "These new policies build on the work of our task force, which has made clear that physicians must take a leading role in reversing the tide of this epidemic."

At the annual meeting, Dr. Harris led a panel discussion on opioids that asked the question: With 78 opioid-related deaths a day, what can one physician do? Dr. Harris and the expert panel highlighted how to more effectively use prescription drug monitoring programs; the benefits of non-opioid and non-pharmacologic treatment, and the importance of co-prescribing naloxone to patients at high risk of overdose. Dr. Harris urged the physicians in attendance to apply the lessons in their practices.

The new naloxone policies will promote increased access to the overdose-reversing drug for friends and family members of patients at risk of overdose. The policy also encourages private and public payers to include all forms of naloxone on their preferred drug lists and formularies with nominal or no cost sharing. The policy supports liability protections for physicians and other authorized health care professionals to prescribe, dispense and administer naloxone. Delegates called for policies to enable law enforcement agencies to carry and administer naloxone, as many states have done.

The policy calls for "collaborative practice agreements" with pharmacists, as well as standing orders for pharmacies, where permitted by law. It also advocates for availability of naloxone to community-based organizations, law enforcement agencies, correctional settings and schools.

"These policies will save lives. That's the bottom line," Dr. Harris said. "Time and time again, we have seen naloxone save lives once it is in the hands of first responders. We just have to make sure that we are co-prescribing it when clinically indicated, and that it is affordable for the community and available at local pharmacies."

Delegates adopted a policy that calls on the AMA to oppose efforts that would arbitrarily restrict a patient's ability to receive effective, patient-specific, evidence-based pain care.

"Patients in pain need comprehensive care and compassion. When proposing treatments, we must ensure that policies are grounded in science." Dr. Harris said. "Also, insurers must cover non-opioid and non-pharmacologic therapies that have proved effective. Insurers must take a broader view to give patients and physicians more choices."

Delegates also recommended breaking the link between patient satisfaction surveys of pain treatment and payments to facilities. Supporters said eradication or total resolution of a patient's pain is often misguided and puts inappropriate pressure on clinical pain management practices that can encourage the overuse of opioids, especially since other approaches are not covered by insurance.

"Treating pain is a priority for physicians, and we know that there are many ways to do it. We must ensure that patients have access to comprehensive pain care as well as reduce the stigma of pain," Dr. Harris said. "Judging health care facilities on an overly subjective measure  that is, how well it is perceived that they treat pain -- is an overly simplistic approach to measuring clinical effectiveness."
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The European Union on Saturday published details of its decision extending sanctions against Russia for its 2014 takeover of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, saying it continues to oppose the "illegal annexation... and does not recognize it."

The extended penalties include asset freezes and visa bans against nearly 150 Russians and 37 entities that the EU's statement described as "responsible for action against Ukraine's territorial integrity."

An official EU journal said the penalties include bans on a range of imports and products produced in Crimea and the Black Sea port of Sevastopol. They will remain in effect until June 23, 2017.

The measures block European investment in those territories, ban any European purchases of real estate and prohibit European financing of Crimean companies.

Banned European exports target Crimea's transport, telecommunications and energy sectors.
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has decided not to observe International Yoga Day on June 21, as per a media report.

According to Hindustan Times, Kumar has apparently taken offence to the fact that BJP-led NDA government cold-shouldered his call for total prohibition.

The report said that Bihar government will instead observe World Music Day (coinciding with International Yoga Day) which celebrates ancient Indian art.

JD(U) spokesperson Sanjay Singh was quoted by the Daily as saying, The Centre is spending huge money on promotion of yoga. It has converted yoga into a political akhara (wrestling ground), whereas the fact is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is using it for self-branding.

On the other hand, Kumar had said yesterday that the ancient discipline was 'irrelevant without imposing ban' on sale of liquor across the country and had appealed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to act in this regard.

"Yoga is a natural treatment process but liquor addicts cannot perform it. Yoga would be irrelevant unless a ban is imposed on sale of liquor across the country," he had said at meeting in Jharkhand's Palamau district, as per PTI.

"In a democratic system like ours, welfare of the society should be the priority over trade and business," he had also said, adding that his government had decided to forfeit Rs 5,000 crore revenue being generated by sale of liquor.

As per officials, for the music day celebrations, like every year, classical artistes will perform at a programme in Patna.

We are not holding any function on yoga but are celebrating the World Music Day, which also falls the same day, a senior officer of the art, culture and youth affairs department told HT.

Meanwhile, the Bihar unit of BJP said that Kumars decision to skip yoga day was 'narrow minded'.

We (the NDA government) got yoga international recognition, but Nitish Kumar is indulging in petty politics by not organising any event. It only shows his bankruptcy, senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav was quoted as saying by the Daily.

BJP is reportedly not organising any Yoga programme but Union Ministers Ravishankar Prasad, Giriraj Singh, Ram Kripal Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan are expected to attend separate functions of different organisations in Bihar.

In December 2014, the UN General Assembly had adopted a resolution with a record number of 177 co-sponsoring member states to establish the International Day of Yoga to be commentated every year on June 21.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join 30,000 people for the second International Yoga Day celebrations in Chandigarh tomorrow to be held amid tight security, with participants being radio tagged to track their movements.

PM Modi will lead the celebrations at Capitol Complex, designed by French architect Le Corbusier.

Over 30,000 people - 10,000 each from the Union Territory Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana - will take part in the event at Capitol Complex and 10,000 at over 100 other locations across the city.

Entry to the venue will start at 4 am and close by 5:30 am through designated entry points. While the main event will begin at 6.30 am, the Common Yoga Protocol will start at 7 am and last for 45 minutes.

(With Agency inputs)
Patna: The Economic Offence Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police will probe the money trail and assets of the kingpin and key accused in the Bihar toppers scam, police said on Monday.

The kingpin of Class 12 toppers scam -- Amit Kumar alias Bachcha Rai -- and key accused Lalkeshwar Singh, former Chairman of Bihar School Examination Board, and his wife Usha Sinha have been arrested.

Singh and his wife were arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Varanasi on Monday.

The EOU will now track the money power play of Rai, Singh and his wife and other accused persons involved in the scam, a police official said.

"The SIT probing into the toppers scam, is taking help of EOU to reach out to their ill-gotten income and money," he said.

The EOU will look into the properties accumulated by Bachcha Rai, Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife Usha Sinha and other accused in the case, police said.

Last week, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) during raids at Rai`s residence and premises of V.R. College, which he ran, recovered huge amounts of cash, jewellery and documents of landed property purchased by Rai.

According to reports, the V.R. College used to charge Rs 25,000-40,000 for ensuring students got first division and Rs 1 lakh and more for making them toppers in the examinations.

Rai also sold Class 12 certificates for Rs 5 lakh to those who never appeared in the examinations.

According to the SIT, so far 15 people have been arrested in the case.

The state government has set up an Economic Offences Unit (EOU) as a separate branch to deal with the cases of economic crimes.

Singh resigned from the post soon after his name cropped up in the scam. After that, he was missing nd said to be on the run.

Last Friday, the SIT moved a local court to declare Singh and his wife as proclaimed offenders.

The state police had also moved the Ministry of External Affairs to cancel their passports.

The police are likely to attach their immovable properties after the court declares them proclaimed offenders in the case.

Rai, during his questioning in police custody that ended on Sunday, said that he was close to Singh and his wife.

Rai, director-cum-principal of V.R. College in Vaishali district, surrendered before police last week.

According to reports, the SIT has found evidences that suggest Singh had a role in the Class 12 merit list scam.

Evidences also indicate the state education board`s complicity in the Class 12 toppers` results.
Raigarh: A 40-year-old man was today trampled to death by a herd of wild elephants in Gharghoda forest range of Chhattisgarh's Raigarh district.

The victim, identified as Nirbandhu Rathiya, came face-to-face with the herd of 10-12 jumbos early this morning near his native Nawapara village under Raigarh forest division when he had gone to pick wood in the forest, Division Forest Officer (DFO) RK Pandey said.

On spotting the elephants, Rathiya tried to escape from the spot but the pachyderms surrounded him and smashed him with their trunks before stomping on him, he said.

Soon after receiving news of the incident, police personnel and forest officials rushed to the spot.

The kin of the deceased have been given an instant relief amount of Rs 25,000, the DFO said.

Notably, as many as six villagers were killed in separate cases of human-elephant conflict last month in the neighbouring Korba district alone.

The thick forested northern Chhattisgarh, comprising Surguja, Korba, Raigarh, Jashpur and Korea districts, are notorious for human-elephant conflicts.

The region has witnessed several killings of tribals and widespread damage to houses and crops by rogue elephants in the past few years.
Delhi: In a fresh trouble for Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former CM Sheila Dikshit, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday filed a First Information Report (FIR) in the Rs 400 crores water tanker scam.

The FIR was registered under sections of Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC.

Providing more details related to the scam, which allegedly took place during Sheila Dikshits tenure, ACB Chief MK Meena today said that both Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and the former CM can be questioned as part of the ongoing probe.

FIR is against both the previous Delhi government and the present one, rest lets see what comes up during the investigation, said ACB Chief MK Meena.

Meena further said, "We got a complain from Kapil Mishra that they got an inquiry conducted and found out that the scam was during Sheila Dikshit govt. Vijender Gupta then said that in spite of this report no action was taken to cancel contract, thats why case registered."

Meanwhile, Kejriwal hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making his rivalry personal.

Reacting to the news that the ACB had filed an FIR in the water tanker scam, Kejriwal tweeted, Modi ji you did not file an FIR against (Robert) Vadra. You didnt file FIR against Sonia (Gandhi). You didnt file FIR in any scams which you had used to become the prime minister.

 ,     FIR  ,    FIR  ,    FIR  ,       PM ?(1/3)  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 20, 2016

Kejriwal added that he welcomed the filing of an FIR gainst him in the water tanker scam.

He said, All probe agencies are under you. Youve left CBI, police and the ACB after me. You were responsible for CBI raids on me but you didnt find anything. Now I welcome your FIR. Im glad youve finally accepted that your fight is directly with me.

The Delhi chief minister further tweeted saying that he wasnt scared of Modis CBI and ACB.

  ,     

         ,  CBI, ACB       Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 20, 2016

Last week, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung forwarded a complaint by AAP against Dikshit to the ACB, over her alleged role in the water tanker scam.

However, Dikshit denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the allegations are politically motivated.

Dikshit, last week, claimed that the decision to procure the water tanker was not hers alone. She had also said that a board comprising the Delhi Jal Board CEO, engineers and experts took the decision to procure them.

One BJP MLA and two municipal councillors were also part of the decision-making process, she had said.

The Aam Aadmi Party government in June 2015 had constituted a fact-finding committee to probe the irregularities in hiring some 385 stainless steel water tankers by the Delhi Jal Board in 2012, during Sheila Dikshit's rule.

The five-member committee was formed by Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra.

Its report submitted to Kejriwal in August 2015 highlights alleged corruption of Rs 400 crore in the process of awarding tenders for hiring water tankers.

It had also recommended FIR against Congress leader Sheila Dikshit by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

Finally, almost a year later, last week, the report was sent to the Prime Minister and Lt Governor by the AAP government.
India is optimistic that China will not block its bid for membership of the Nuclear Supplier Group, the 48 countries controlling nuclear commerce and sensitive technology. With the backing of the United States, India has been lobbying hard before a key meeting in Seoul on June 23 to gain entry into the elite club.

In recent weeks, New Delhi has overcome resistance from several countries such as Mexico and Switzerland, but Beijing is on the frontline of a tiny group of countries that continue to express reservations about opening the NSGs doors to India because it has not signed the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.

Talking to reporters on Sunday, India's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj appeared confident of overcoming Chinese resistance. "We are hopeful that we will be successful in getting China's support," she said.

Swaraj told reporters that China is not opposing India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, but that it has raised objections relating to criteria and processes. "In India's case, instead of criteria, its credentials should be taken into account," she said.

India's top diplomat conveyed that message to China during an unexpected visit Saturday to woo Beijing.

China has said that "large differences" remain over the issue of countries that have not signed the NPT joining the NSG.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the Delhi University's Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College to commence its admission process under the minority status granted to the college in 2011.

Justice G.S. Sistani also said that fresh appointments of teachers in Khalsa college will be subject to the final outcome of the writ petition.

The court was hearing plea of some teachers, who have challenged the order of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, which granted minority status to the college, on the ground that it would affect the interests of SC/ST students.

The college was granted minority status in 2011 and this was challenged by the teachers as well as Delhi University on whose plea a stay was granted by the high court in 2012, according to the petition filed by the teachers.

As per the plea, DU had withdrawn its petition in July last year, saying it had no objection to the minority status granted to the college.

Last July, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) had assured the court that the admission and appointments of teachers would "continue in the old system" which allows for general admissions and quotas for SC/ST/OBCs. The teachers, however, alleged that the "minority tag" will adversely affect SC/ST/OBC students.

However, on April 18 this year, the DSGMC said that since DU and the government had accepted the minority status, it would not continue the interim arrangement and will not be bound by the provisions of the SC/ST Reservation Act.

The teachers again filed a plea seeking a stay on the order. The High Court on Friday had allowed the college management to "start counselling but not admissions" till the next hearing on June 20.


New Delhi: Two Indians were killed in a blast in Afghanistan capital city Kabul on Monday morning, confirmed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

"We have learnt that 2 Indian nationals, Ganesh Thapa & Govind Singh from Dehradun died tragically in the blast in Kabul today morning," MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a tweet.

We have learnt that 2 Indian nationals, Ganesh Thapa & Govind Singh from Dehradun died tragically in the blast in Kabul today morning  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 20, 2016

"Govt. is in touch with the families of Indian nationals & is working with the Afghan Govt to repatriate their mortal remains at the earliest," he added.

Govt is in touch with the families of Indian nationals & is working with the Afghan Govt to repatriate their mortal remains at the earliest  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 20, 2016

Three separate blasts claimed 26 lives including those of two suicide bombers and 14 Nepalese nationals and injured more than 50 others in Afghanistan today. The killings evoked strong condemnation.

In the first attack, a Taliban suicide bomber hit a minibus carrying foreign security guards in Kabul along the main road to the eastern city of Jalalabad. The Taliban also claimed a second smaller blast in south Kabul.

The third blast took place in a market in the remote northeastern province of Badakhshan.

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in a statement released by his office blamed the enemies of Afghanistan for the attacks, saying the terrorists by conducting subversive activities in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan want to terrorise the people.

In his message, the president also expressed sympathy with the families of the Nepalese and Afghan victims.

Afghan government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah denounced the deadly bombings by saying, "I condemn the terrorist attack on those travelling to their work places in Kabul this morning. This attack is an act of terror and intimidation."

In a suicide attack which targeted the minibus of Nepalese nationals reportedly worked as guards at the Canadian embassy at 5.40 a.m. 14 Nepalese citizens were killed and nine others including four Afghans injured.

Both the Islamic State terrorist group and the Taliban claimed responsibility for the bloodbath.

Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, said over 20 people were killed or wounded in the attack. It said its "fighters" carried out the operation.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "strongly condemned the horrible tragedy" and offered "deep condolences" to the governments and people of Afghanistan and Nepal.

Nepal reacted with grief and shock:

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said: "I am shocked to hear that 14 Nepalis were killed... I express my heartfelt condolences to their kin."

He wished early recovery to those injured in the horrific incident.

Nepal has no embassy in Afghanistan. Its mission in Islamabad oversees the Afghan affairs.

The Nato-led Resolute Support Mission said: "The Taliban`s actions repeatedly harm civilians in an effort to undermine the government..."

A similar bombing in a bazaar in Kasham district of the northern Badakhshan province at around 10 a.m. claimed the lives of 10 civilians and injured 40 others, according to provincial government spokesman Nawed Frotan.

A bomb blast injured five people including a member of the Kabul provincial council Attaullah Faizani on the same day.

Afghans from all walks of life have strongly condemned the three bombings in a single day as a cowardly act of terror, calling upon the militants to respect Ramadan.

Kabul resident Abdul Ghani said, "Ramadan is the month of peace and reconciliation and killing people in this month is against teaching of Islam".

Earlier on the eve of Ramadan, ulema or religious scholars had asked the Taliban to halt hostilities or at least observe a ceasefire during Ramadan.

However, the Taliban outfit described Ramadan as the month of Jihad or holy war and victory and vowed to intensify fighting in the month of Ramadan, a statement that has been widely condemned by Afghans.

(With Agency inputs)
New Delhi: In yet another act of provocation, a Chinese fighter-bomber jet recently violated the Indian airspace in the Aksai Chin area near the Indo-China international border.

Reports on Monday said that bomber aircraft belonging to China's People's Liberation Army kept hovering over the Indian airspace for close to 107 minutes after which it flew back and disappeared into the China's airspace.

This is not the first time that the Chinese fighter planes had entered the Indian airspace. At several occasions in past, Chinese fighter jets had entered the Indian airspace and returned after dropping some food cans, cigarette packets and notes written in their local language near the Indo-China border.

On June 9, a fresh incursion by the Chinese troops into Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh led to a minor scuffle and triggered tension between the two sides.

However, the issue was resolved soon and the Chinese offered chocolates as a gesture of peace and returned back. According to reports, around 250 Chinese troops transgressed to the Indian side in the Yangtse sector, approximately 650 metres east of Shankar Tiki, an area where Indian soldiers are stationed in a sizeable number.

The showdown continued for a couple of hours, and heated exchanges took place between the two side. However, later, four officers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) met commanding officers of the Indian personnel at the Line of Actual Control to resolve the matter.

They also gifted packets of chocolates to their Indian counterparts. According to Army sources, this was the first incident of transgression in the Yangtse sector this year.

India has maintained that the transgressions along the India-China border are due to different perceptions of boundaries.
New Delhi: A high-voltage drama played out at the central committee meet of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) over the party's poll debacle in West Bengal.

Senior party leader and general secretary of Haryana unit of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) Jagmati Sangwan boycotted the CC meet and quit in protest against the party's leadership's decision to align with the Congress in Bengal, a move that cost the party dearly.

Speaking to reporters, Sangwan said that the decsion to join hands with the Congress was against the tactical line adopted by the party. She demanded that strict action should be taken against the Bengal unit of the party.

Within hours of Sangwan's outburst, the CPM leadership announced that she stands expelled from the Central Committee for indulging in anti-party activities.

Earlier, party veterans exchanged heated words over the party`s poll debacle in West Bengal.

At the meeting, Surjyakanta Mishra, former Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, was charged with being "architect of the massive electoral defeat" for the party and "embarrassment" for his insisting for the alliance with the Congress.

Leaders from Kerala, Assam and Tripura favoured adopting resolutions under which the Bengal brigade "should own up their responsibility" for the alliance.
New Delhi: Three years after six national parties were brought under the ambit of the RTI Act, Congress on Monday asked the Central Information Commission to set aside its 2013 full bench order, saying it is neither a court nor a competent authority to exercise plenary jurisdiction and the order is "arbitrary and illegal."

Counsel for Congress K C Mittal today told a full bench of the Commission, which is hearing the complaint against political parties for not responding to RTI applications seeking details of the donations received by them, elections and other related issues, that an application has been moved to quash its order bringing political parties under the RTI Act.

"...It has been held that CIC is neither a court nor is competent to exercise plenary jurisdiction. There is no power even to decide upon its jurisdiction or interpret the provisions of the act and the definitions," the plea filed by Congress treasurer Motilal Vora on June 17 said.

The party, whose government opened a new chapter of transparency by enacting Right to Information in 2005, said as per Section 12 of the RTI Act, the Chief Information Commissioner has only limited powers of superintendence, directions and management of internal affairs of the Central Information Commission.

"It is further submitted that the powers conferred on the Commission are defined under Chapter V of the Act which no where gives the adjudicatory powers," it said.

The plea said applicant (Association for Democratic Reforms and SC Agrawal) failed to substantiate their case and in the absence of any documents/evidence on record to show that the political parties are substantially financed by the Government, declaring political parties as substantially financed by the Government is "arbitrary and illegal"

"The order...Is based on surmise and conjecture. The order is without jurisdiction and has no sanction of law, therefore it is per se nullity and unenforceable," it said.

The petition said political parties have income from voluntary contributions from their members, individuals or companies.

"The exemptions, concessions given under a statute neither constitute financing a political party nor it amounts to financial contribution by a Government. Such concession and exemptions are allowed to large number of individuals, persons, bodies, organisations (but) they have not been brought under the RTI Act," it said.

A full bench of the Commission headed by the then Chief Information Commissioner Satyananda Mishra had on June 03, 2013 brought six national parties--Congress, BJP, NCP, BSP, CPI and CPM--under the ambit of RTI on the premise that they are substantially funded by the Government in the form of subsidies, cheap land for offices, and tax concessions.

The order has neither been stayed nor set aside by any of the high courts or the Supreme Court.

The plea said political parties do not get any funding from the Government.

Congress said Representation of People Act provides for adequate transparency regarding finances of a political party.

"Declaring a political party as public authority under the RTI Act would hamper its smooth internal working, which is not the objective of the RTI Act and was not envisaged by the Parliament under the RTI Act. Futher, the political rivals may maliciously file a large number of applications under the RTI Act...Thereby adversely affecting the political functioning of the political parties," it said.

The party said it was felt necessary to annul the adverse effects of the "erroneous conclusion" by the CIC that political parties are public authorities.

It said the exemption granted to political parties under the Income Tax Act cannot be construed their being substantially financed by the Government.

"The Commission has exceeded its power and jurisdiction to assume an authority which commission does not possess under the RTI Act," it said.

The party cited a Supreme Court order to buttress its point that Congress is not substantially financed by the Government which has no specific control over its management and affairs.

Citing Supreme Court case of Thalappalam service co-operative bank vs State of Kerala, Congress said perusal of the judgment will show that political parties do not fall within the definition of "Public Authority."

However, Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu during the hearing today in the complaint case against the Congress observed that the question of political parties being brought under RTI Act has reached finality with the full bench order of June 03, 2013 which cannot be reopened.

It is to be noted that that the bench of Sridhar Acharyulu is not hearing the petition of the Congress.

The party said the June 03, 2013 order of the Commission has "no substance in law" and is "non-est" (does not exist).

Congress cited CIC order of July 8, 2009 which said political parties were not public authorities under the RTI Act which was set aside by the full bench on June 03,2013.

"It is stated that the full bench of the Commission is neither the appellate authority against the order passed by CIC nor is competent authority to set aside the order dated July 8, 2009. The Commission is not a Government and functions within RTI Act and there is no provision under the Act to set aside the order of Commission by the Commission," it said.

It said every order whether passed by a single Information Commissioner, division bench or full Bench is the order of Commission, passed under the Act.

"Thus the order dated July 8, 2009, having been passed by single nench by Chief Information Commissioner is the order of the Commission under the Act. It attained finality. It is an admitted position that the full bench is not an appellate/ reviewing authority against the order passed by the Commission," it said.
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Monday issued notices to Central Information Commission (CIC) and Arvind Kejriwal on a petition filed by the Gujarat University against the CIC's earlier order asking the varsity to provide information on degrees of by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Delhi Chief Minister.

After admitting the application of Gujarat University (GU), seeking to quash the CIC order on technical grounds, judge SH Vora issued noticed to Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu and Kejriwal to furnish their responses and kept further hearing next month.

In its application before the court, the GU stated that "the Gujarat University is not a party to any of the proceeding before the Information Commission. Hence, the order is adverse to the interest of the Gujarat University."

The University further argued that the jurisdiction of CIC extends to the public authority under that central government while GU falls beyond its jurisdiction.

"Therefore, the said order of CIC is patently erroneous and requires to be quashed and set aside," stated the application.

GU further argued that Kejriwal's status as the Chief Minister has been kept in mind by the CIC while issuing the order, a move which is against the law, said the application.

"CIC has passed a direction on the basis of the status of Kejriwal. The CIC has considered the CM on a different pedestal which is against the principle of rule of law."

The GU authorities claimed that "no notice of hearing has been served upon the GU, and the order is passed by CIC without hearing the GU. There is no application given by Kejriwal before the information officer of GU, nor is there any complaint made against the GU before the Information Commission, Gujarat.

Citing the Right to Information (RTI) Act provisions, GU argued that Kejriwal has not sought any information directly from the university.

"Kejriwal has not sought any information from the GU at any time till date and no application has been preferred under section 6(1) of the RTI Act".

Further, it is argued that the "CIC is not the authority constituted under the RTI Act for the purpose of any information to be supplied by the GU."

Earlier on April 29, CIC directed Delhi University and Gujarat University to provide information on degrees earned by PM Modi to Kejriwal, who had criticised the functioning of the transparency panel.

The CIC's order came a day after Kejriwal wrote a letter to Acharyulu saying he does not object to government records about him being made public and wondered why the Commission wants to "hide" information on PM Modi's educational degree.

The Information Commissioner had treated Kejriwal's letter as an RTI application and passed the order.
Srinagar: A gunfight between militants and security forces broke out late Monday evening in Jammu and Kashmir`s Kupwara district after a top commander of the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit was arrested there, police said.

A senior police officer said that the gunfight started some distance away from Sogam market of Kupwara after police arrested a top LeT commander identified as Abu Ukasha alias Hanzullah.

Reports said the LeT commander was arrested in Sogam town market on specific information while he was making some purchases there around 7 pm.

"Firing exchanged are going on there," the officer said.
Delhi: Prime Minister of India will soon get a brand new Air India One aircraft which will be much like US President Barack Obama's Air Force One, as per a media report.

As per a report by India Today Group, Air India One's aircraft will be upgraded to state-of-the art Boeing 777-300 which will be fitted with the latest in technology.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is likely to finalise the deal of two new Boeing 777-300s in the Defence Acquisition Council meeting to be held on June 25, according to details available with Aaj Tak.

The aircraft will be equipped with hi-tech security equipment and latest communication facilities.

The report further said that the aircraft can withstand grenade and rocket attack and also dodge and jam enemy radar.

Moreover, the flight will have anti-missile defence systems, radar warning receivers and missile-approach warning systems.

The aircraft can reportedly store food for 2,000 people and will have air-to-air refuelling facilities in case of emergency.

Apart from the above, doctors will be available 24x7 in the aircraft which will be equipped with an operating theatre for emergency surgery.

Plus, broadband, radio and telecom connections and 19 TV sets will also be there, as per the report.

Boeing 777-300 will also have an executive office and bedroom.

Air India One is operated by the Indian Air Force from Palam Air Force Station, New Delhi.

There is a panel of 8 pilots who fly the VVIPs, and four pilots are on board at all times during the flight.

The commandos of SPG (Special Protection Group) conduct detailed checks in every corner of the plane including the fuel and water being loaded.

Also, every panel, switch, and lever is examined, and swab tests are conducted.

It was reported that after MH17 was shot down in Ukraine and Modis plane was just minutes away from it, the government decided to replace the aging Boeing 747-400 aircrafts.
New Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today said he is going abroad for a "few days", but did not specify the country he is heading for.

"Traveling out of the country for a few days on a short visit. Thanks again to all who met & wished me y'day, truly grateful for your affection!", he said on Twitter.

Gandhi had celebrated his 46th birthday only yesterday amid speculation that he could be elevated as the party chief on that day.

Gandhi's 56-day mysterious sabbatical last year had created much controversy in political circles with the ruling BJP making his absence in the midst of Budget session of Parliament an issue.

Party leaders have time and again said that Gandhi, who was made the party Vice President in January 2013 at the Jaipur 'Chintan Shivir,' will be elevated soon.

Congress is passing through a difficult phase since its debacle in the May 2014 Lok Sabha polls and has faced a string of defeats in Assembly elections, including in Assam and Kerala.
Delhi: The RSS has invited ambassadors from nearly 140 countries to attend an iftar party at Parliament House Annexe on July 2, as per a media report.

According to Mail Today, the event organised by RSS propped body, patronised by Sangh pracharak Indresh Kumar, Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), also has Pakistan on the invitee list.

Reacting to the upcoming event, Kumar told the website, "The MRM, which is an organisation of - and for - Muslims, have organised this mega international iftar party. Muslim intellectuals from across the country would be participating in this event, apart from representatives from Muslim as well as non-Muslim countries.The aim is to tell the world that Indian-ness and the Indian culture are an umbrella under which people from all nationalities and religions live with equal rights and dignity.India is a symbol of world peace."

He added, "India is a ray of hope and peace for the Muslim world. I hope this is the line of approach of all the speakers at the party."

However, Kumar pointed out that the event was being "organised by Muslims and for the Muslim community. The Sangh does not organise iftar and this is not being done by the RSS either."

On the other hand, MRM chief Mohammad Afzal was quoted by Mail Today as saying "This time we have invited ambassadors from over 140 countries, including Pakistan... Not just Muslim, but non-Muslim allies and friends of India have been invited... We want to dispel the propaganda that Muslims are not happy or at peace in India. We want to give the message to the world that this (Modi) government is a good government for Muslims."

PM Narendra Modi's Cabinet will also reportedly take part in the event, apart from representatives of the RSS.
Twelve North Korean women have been ordered to testify to their escape from a restaurant in China in mid-April.

In a bizarre turn of events, they are to appear as witnesses in a lawsuit by the defectors' families alleging that the government here abducted them, a charge originating in North Korean propaganda. A court here has accepted the application.

But the government hopes to overturn the decision. "Making the defectors appear in court is exactly what North Korea wants to see," a government official said Sunday. "We intend to have a lawyer appear in court instead."

Earlier, the leftwing group Lawyers for a Democratic Society had sought to interview the defectors at a halfway house but was refused.

Overseas Koreans sympathetic to the North Korean regime then traveled to Pyongyang and obtained powers of attorney from the defectors' families and filed the lawsuit on their behalf on May 24. Lawyers for a Democratic Society said it merely wants to dispel suspicions and publicly verify that the women defected of their own free will.

But an official at the Seoul Central District Court said, "Considering the sensitivity of the matter, we will urge the proxy attorneys and other people involved in the case to make sure that the proceedings remain a secret from outside parties."

Meanwhile, the women are still at the halfway house in Seoul, where they are acclimatizing to South Korean society by watching news and TV soaps and going on outings to Western-style restaurants and amusement parks, according to a government source. They are in their late teens and early 20s and "adjusting quickly since they have experience living in China," the source added.

"The women are very beautiful and could draw unnecessary attention if they travel in one group, so we split them up into groups of three or four when they venture outside." A National Intelligence Service detail tails the women inconspicuously when they go out.

The woman are fans of the hit soap "Descendants of the Sun" and its star Song Joong-ki because the show was broadcast in China.

How they feel about having to appear before a South Korean court is unclear. An NIS official said, "We aren't allowed to make comments about them. They know that they could endanger the lives of their families if they tell the judge that they chose to defect. Don't you think they'd be under a lot of stress right now?"

The women can stay at the halfway house until early October, and after that they can either get additional training at a resettlement center called Hanawon run by the Unification Ministry, or settle into life in the South on their own.
Jammu: In a major development, tension gripped a village in Jammu region's Poonch district on Monday over use of loudspeakers in a Hindu temple.

Reportedly, members of the majority Muslim community objected to the use of loudspeakers in a Hindu temple situated in Poonch's Jhulas village.

What happened actually?

Police said youth led by a local woman tried to intervene physically to prevent the use of the loudspeaker by temple management.

However, their entry was resisted after which the members of the two communities started sloganeering against each other.

This led to tension in the village.

Attempts are underway to defuse the tension.
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has arrested an alleged SIMI operative, who was wanted in the 2008 serial bomb blasts in the city, from Belgam in Karnataka.

On a specific tip off, ATS officials nabbed one Nasir Rangrez (38), an auto rickshaw driver, from his residence at Khade Bazar road in Belgam yesterday and brought him here this morning, ATS said in a statement.

According to officials who nabbed him, Rangrez was part of larger conspiracy, hatched by terror outfits Indian Mujahideen (IM) and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), to spread terror in Gujarat to avenge the killings of Muslims during post-Godhra riots.

"Before carrying out the blasts in the city, Rangrez along with many other accused associated with SIMI and IM recruited Muslim men to take revenge of riots and provided them training at Pavagadh in Gujarat, Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh and Waghamon in Kerala," the statement said.

"Rangrez, a member of SIMI, was actively involved in providing training to youths in the terror camp of Waghamon. During these training sessions, these accused hatched the conspiracy to carry out blasts in Ahmedabad. These accused were led by IM founders Safdar Nagori and Yasin Bhatkal," it said.

According to ATS sub inspector C R Jadav, Rangrez never came to Ahmedabad to plant the bombs.

"Rangrez is a native of Belgam and part of the larger conspiracy of inciting Muslim youths by showing them videos of post-Godhra riots. He along with Nagori, Bhatkal and many other IM and SIMI men hatched the conspiracy during their camp in Waghamon ahead of 2008 serial blasts," said Jadav, who was part of the team which nabbed Rangrez.

Within span of 70 minutes, as many as 20 bomb blasts rocked different parts of the city on July 26, 2008, killing 56 persons and injuring more than 200.

Terror outfit Indian Mujahideen took responsibility for the blasts at that time, the statement added
Mumbai: The special CBI court on Monday accepted the application moved by Shyamvar Rai, Indrani Mukerjea's former driver, to become an approver in the mystery-shrouded Sheena Bora murder case.

The special court had reserved its decision for today during the previous hearing on Rai's application.

Rai had moved an application in the court last month seeking to become an approver and sought pardon. The CBI, too, had said that they have no objection to making Rai an approver.

However, the lawyers of other accused had objected to Rai's application to turn an approver. One of the lawyers also said that the court should satisfy itself that Rai is disclosing all the facts in the case.

Expressing his desire to turn an approver, Shyamvar Rai had said he wanted to "disclose all truths" as he had taken part in Sheena Bora's murder.

Recording his statement before the court, Shyamvar Rai had said he was under "no pressure, threat or coercion" to reveal the facts of the case and was "repentant" about his act.

Shyamvar Rai had written a two-page letter to the court last month seeking pardon in the case while stating that he wants to reveal everything.

Shyamvar Rai was the first accused to be arrested in the case in August 2015, taking the lid off the murder, after he was picked up in connection with an arms case.

Last year, Shyamvar Rai had recorded his confessional statement before the magistrate under Section 164 of CrPC, which, unlike the police statement, is admissible in the trial.

Key accused in the case, Indrani Mukerjea, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and Rai had allegedly strangled Sheena (24), Indrani's daughter from an earlier relationship, inside a car in April 2012.

Sheena Bora's body was found in a forest in Raigad. The crime, which came to light in August last year, is allegedly linked to certain financial dealings.

The trio was arrested in August last year while Indrani's husband and former media baron Peter Mukerjea was held in November. According to CBI, Peter was part of the murder conspiracy.

While Peter Mukerjea and Sanjeev Khanna are lodged in Arthur Road prison, Indrani (43) is in Byculla women's jail in Mumbai.
Algiers: Algeria has come up with a new trick to tackle exam cheating among school students - blocking social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter.

In order to prevent cheating in secondary school examinations, Algerian authorities on Sunday temporarily blocked access to Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms across the north African country.

The move follows after high school exam papers were leaked onto social media ahead of the exam in early June.

The students accessed questions on Facebook and other social media.

Owing to the leaks, 300,000 of the 800,000 students who sat for the "baccalaureate" exam earlier had to sit for re-exam on Sunday.

This (move) is to protect students from the publication of false papers for these exams, the report said, quoting an official.

While Algeria blocked social media to fight exam leaks, similar blockages have been reported in Uganda and Congo Brazzaville regarding unsettling political situations in those countries.

According to a report in africanews.com, earlier this month, police arrested several people, including officials working in national education offices and printers as part of an investigation into the leaks.

(With IANS inputs)
Islamabad: Pakistan has very strict blasphemy laws when it comes to Islam but for the minority Hindus living in the Islamic republic everyday is a fight to save their honour and beliefs.

The minority community is livid after some shopkeepers in Pakistans Sindh province allegedly sold shoes with sacred Hindu word Om inscribed on it.

The patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC), Ramesh Kumar said that they had already lodged protests with the Sindh government and local authorities in Tando Adam Khan after it was brought to the notice of the Hindu community that shoes were being sold with the sacred word Om inscribed on them.

It is most unfortunate that some shopkeepers in Tando Adam Khan are selling shoes on the occasion of Eid ul Azha with the Hindu sacred word inscribed on them and the purpose just appears to be to insult the sentiments of the Hindu community, Kumar said.

The pictures of the these shoes have been circulated on the social media by concerned members of the Hindu community and we demand they be removed from the shops immediately, he said.

Kumar added the sale of such shoes was an insult to the Hindus in Pakistan as it is blasphemous to use the sacred word Om on shoes.

As Om is the sacred religious symbol of Hinduism which talks about the oneness of God, lets protect this oneness peacefully for the progressive and positive face of Pakistan. Lets appeal the authorities concerned to take notice of the matter immediately to override any expected mistrust within the locals, said another statement released by the Pakistan Hindu Seva.

The local Sindhi newspapers have also reported that similar shoes were also being sold in some other places of Sindh.

The issue has caught the attention of the Twitterati:

Om on shoes in Tandooadam?

That's too much of disrespect. Stop insulting other religions.

https://t.co/wKyap1zz42  pic.twitter.com/x27M4t84Cu  Leeza_Khan (@G4_gul) June 19, 2016
Islamabad: Police in Pakistan's Sindh province on Monday arrested a shopkeeper who sold shoes with sacred Hindu word 'Om' inscribed on them and seized the offensive footwears following protests by the country's minority community.

"The shopkeeper was arrested and the shoes in question have also been confiscated," Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) patron-in-chief Ramesh Kumar Vankwani told media.

Speaking on the matter, Vankwani said that police found that the controversial shoes were purchased from a manufacturer in Lahore. Adding further he said that the Punjab police were being approached to initiate against the culprits involved in hurting sentiments of the Hindu community and spreading hatred.

Earlier today, there were reports that the minority community in Pakistan was furious and staged a protest against the sale of shoes inscribed with sacred religious symbol Om and described the actions of shopkeepers selling them as 'unfortunate' and 'blasphemous'.

Vankwani said that they had already lodged protests with the Sindh government and local authorities in Tando Adam Khan after it was brought to the notice of the Hindu community that shoes were being sold with the sacred word Om inscribed on them.

He added the sale of such shoes was an insult to the Hindus in Pakistan as it is blasphemous to use the sacred word Om on shoes.
Kabul: More than 20 people were killed in separate bomb attacks in Afghanistan on Monday, including at least 14 when a suicide bomber struck a minibus carrying Nepalese security contractors in the Afghan capital, officials said.

In Kabul, a Reuters witness saw several apparently dead victims and at least two wounded being carried out of the twisted remains of a yellow bus after the suicide bomber struck the vehicle during the morning rush hour in the capital.

Hours later, a bomb planted in a motorbike killed at least eight civilians and wounded another 18 in a crowded market in the northern province of Badakhshan, said provincial government spokesman Naveed Frotan. The casualty count could rise, he said.

The attacks are the latest in a recent surge of violence that highlights the challenges faced by the Afghan government in Kabul and its Western backers as Washington slowly draws down its remaining troops despite a persistent insurgency.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter that 14 people had been killed and eight wounded in the attack in Kabul. Police were working to identify the victims, he said.

The casualties appeared to include Afghan civilians and Nepalese security contractors, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said after police and emergency vehicles surrounded the scene in the Banae district in the east of the city.

He said the suicide bomber had waited near a compound housing the security contractors and struck as the vehicle moved through early morning traffic. As well as the bus passengers, several people in an adjacent market were also wounded in the attack, which occurred during Ramadan, Islam`s holy month.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the Kabul attack in a statement from the Islamist group`s main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, on Twitter. There was no immediate indication of who carried out the attack in Badakshan.

The Nepalese government was still working through its embassy in Pakistan, which also oversees Afghanistan, to verify reports that its citizens were involved in the attack, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bharat Paudel said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his condolences to his two South Asian neighbours after the attack.

"We strongly condemn the horrible tragedy in Kabul. Our deep condolences to people & Govts of Afghanistan & Nepal on loss of innocent lives," Modi said on Twitter.

Another explosion in Kabul later on Monday morning wounded a provincial council member and at least three of his bodyguards, Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid said. It was thought a bomb had been attached to the lawmaker`s car, he said.

The attacks underlined how serious the security threat facing Afghanistan remains since former Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a U.S. drone strike last month and was replaced by Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.

The blasts follow a deadly suicide attack on a bus carrying justice ministry staff near Kabul last month and a separate attack on a court in the central city of Ghazni on June 1.

The Taliban claimed both those attacks in revenge for the execution of six Taliban prisoners.
Islamabad: Six top Taliban commanders, including former chief of the terror group Hakimullah Mehsud's brother and uncle, along with 30 militants have surrendered to security forces in Pakistan, officials said today.

The rebel leaders laid down arms in Khurram tribal agency on Saturday night after coming back from Afghanistan.

Those surrendered include Ejaz Mehsud and Khair Muhammad Mehsud, brother and uncle of killed Taliban leader Hakimullah. These commanders surrendered with 30 other militants.

"The six commanders are with the security forces and being interrogated," an official said on condition of anonymity.

Another official said an initial probe showed that they had fled to Afghanistan after military launched a massive operation in 2014 in North Waziristan which killed over 3,500 militants.

"They were arrested on their return from Afghanistan," he said.

All the surrendered militants have been shifted to the security forces fort in Tull area, another official said.

Pakistan said that militants living in Afghanistan include Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah who succeeded Hakimullah. Hakimullah was killed in a US drone attack in 2013.
Coimbatore: A 15-year-old female elephant was killed after an express train hit it at Marapalam in Madukkarai early this morning, police said.

The pachyderm, part of a herd of six elephants, including two calves, was crossing the track when the Bengaluru-Kochuveli Express hit it at around 1.30 AM.

Under the impact, the elephant was thrown off the track and died on the spot, police said.

The locomotive driver immediately informed the Madukkarai station Master, who in turn informed police about the incident.

Meanwhile, the herd gathered around the dead elephant and prevented forest department personnel and police from removing the carcass.

After nearly four hours, the personnel managed to drive the herd back to the jungle. By then a large number of people had gathered at the spot, police said.

Forest department sources said the carcass would be buried at nearby forest land.

Four elephants had been killed in a similar incident on the same track in 2009.
Panaji: A 60-year-old man from Delhi was found murdered in his hotel room in Panaji in Goa on Monday, an ANI report claimed.

According to the police, the deceased was last seen entering his hotel room in Panaji at 9:30 pm on Sunday night with 4 unknown people. The police claimed that the victim was suffocated to death by his assailants.

All the four accused persons are absconding, one of the police officials said.

However, one of the four assailants, who accompanied the deceased to his hotel room, was caught in the Goa hotel CCTV camera. Police have managed to get his sketch and are trying to get hold of all the four accused in connection with the murder case.

Further details awaited.
Nine non-European Union member nations have joined tougher sanctions against North Korea.

The EU Council in a statement Thursday said Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway and Serbia have decided to take part in the sanctions.

They include trade embargoes, stronger regulation on money transfers and financial services, as well as banning investment and the passage of North Korean aircraft and vessels through EU airspace and ports.
Muzaffarnagar: A 17-year-old girl was allegedly abducted and gang-raped by four youths who also recorded the act and circulated it on social media in New Mandi area here, police said today.

New Mandi police station SHO Rajnath Tyagi said the incident happened three days back and a case in this connection was registered yesterday by the victim's family.

According to the complaint, the four youths - Sidharth, Ankit, Monti, and Atul Kumar - abducted the girl and took her to a flat where they raped her.

They also allegedly made a video clip of the act and circulated it on social media, the police said.

They also allegedly threatened to kill the girl if she disclosed the matter to anyone.

They said the victim has been sent for medical examination and would be produced in a court for recording her statement under section 164 CrPC.

The four accused have been absconding.
Bahraich (UP): A seven-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her cousin brother in a village here, police said today.

The incident took place on June 18, when the girl was alone in her house and her cousin brother Sheebu (24) raped her, they said.

When the family members returned and decided to lodge an FIR, they were forcible stopped by village head Shabban and the accused and were subsequently locked in a room.

When police came to know about the incident yesterday through neighbours, they rescued the family and arrested the accused.
Kairana: Even as the BJP has demanded a CBI probe into the 'exodus' of Hindus from Kairana, a team of Hindu seers that visited the town in western Uttar Pradesh, yesterday, has slammed the saffron party for playing the "communal card".

The team comprising Hindu Mahasabha leader Swami Chakrapani, Swami Chinmayananda, Acharya Pramod Krishnan, Narayan Giri and Swami Kalyan Devji Maharaj among others on met several families to know the truth.

Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's brother and UP cabinet minister Shivpal Yadav member had last week suggested that a team of "apolitical" Hindu seers should visit the town to ascertain the facts on the ground.

Speaking to TOI, Swami Chakrapani said, It is wrong to claim that there is any religious angle to the problem in Kairana. BJP and its MP Hukum Singh are playing the communal card. It seems their only agenda is to win elections by striking fear in the hearts of Hindus in the region. We strongly condemn the politics of hate and fear mongering."

The seer added that the issue is not that Muslims dominate in Kairana but of crime. Criminals have no religion," he said.

Chakrapani said that it is wrong to give a communal colour to the rising crime in the town.
Kolkata: Bangladesh has full confidence in West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on resolution of the dispute over sharing of Teesta water between India and his country, the country's High Commissioner in India Syed Muazzem Ali said on Monday.

"During her last Bangladesh visit, Mamata Banerjee had told us to have confidence in her on the Teesta issue. Today we have told her that we continue to have confidence in her on the issue," he said after a 40-minute meeting with the Chief Minister at the state secretariat.

The Bangladesh envoy said that he was hopeful that his country's relation with West Bengal would grow simultaneous with the negotiation over the Teesta and other issues.

"I am hopeful that we will be able to take forward our relation (with West Bengal) along with the Teesta and other issues," Ali said.

This was the Bangladesh envoy's first meeting with Mamata after she became the Chief Minister for a second term.

The four-member delegation which met the Chief Minister also included Zokey Ahad, head of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata.

"This is basically a courtesy call. I've come here to congratulate her after her re-election as the Chief Minister on behalf of our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," he said.

On whether there was a discussion on the Ramkrishna Mission in Bangladesh getting threats from suspected ISIS, the envoy said, "The two countries cooperate on security and after this (threats to RKM) security has been considerably enhanced. We had a discussion with West Bengal earlier on this... Today we told the Chief Minister about our discussion with Sushma Swaraj," he said.

On export of Hilsa fish to West Bengal, the envoy said "facilities at the ports here and the infrastructure should be developed."

"We will export (Hilsa)... But I must say that the facilities at the ports and the infrastructure must be developed...Otherwise fishes get rotten while exporting," Ali pointed out.

On Mamata Banerjee's massive victory in the recent Assembly election, the envoy told reporters, "This is a mammoth victory. It shows that the people of West Bengal have faith in her."

He said that they have also invited Mamata to visit Bangladesh.
At least 14 children on a summer camp in northeast Russia drowned when their boats capsized in a storm on a lake, investigators said Sunday.

The accident happened overnight on Lake Syamozero, close to the border with Finland, according to Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for Russia`s investigative committee.

"The investigators have finished examining the bodies of the 14 victims. They said that they were all born between 2002 and 2004. There are no adults among the victims," Markin said in a statement.

Four members of the camp staff had been detained for questioning following the tragedy, he added.

The children, who had been taking part in a summer camp close to the lake, were "apparently not wearing life jackets", Russia`s children`s rights watchdog, Pavel Astakhov, told the RIA Novosti agency.

The emergencies ministry said the children were sailing on two boats and a raft when they got caught in a storm after nightfall.

Rescuers saved around 30 people, the ministry told RIA Novosti.

Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin wrote on Twitter Sunday that 10 of the dead children were from Moscow.

Investigators have opened a criminal probe into the incident to determine whether water safety rules were followed.
Kabul: The Afghan Parliament approved President Ashraf Ghani`s choices for defence minister and intelligence chief on Monday, ensuring continuity in command at time when the Taliban insurgency has intensified and more US troops are preparing to go home.

Parliament approved General Abdullah Khan Habibi as new defence minister, to replace Masoom Stanekzai, who will now head Afghanistan`s intelligence agency, the National Directorate for Security (NDS).

Their confirmation comes ahead of a NATO summit next month in Warsaw, where Afghanistan and the future role of international coalition forces are expected to be a major issue.

"There is ongoing fighting in almost 20 provinces of the country and the fighting strategy cannot be administrated by caretakers," Farhad Sediqi, a member of parliament from Kabul, said as the lawmakers gave their assent to Ghani`s choices .

The President had nominated Habibi and Stanekzai a little over a month ago, and the speed of their confirmation stood in contrast to the factional wrangling that followed Stanekzai`s nomination as defence minister in the wake of the 2014 election.

At that time, lawmakers failed to confirm his appointment for well over a year as rival factions vied for greater influence in the unity government formed Ghani and government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah after the disputed election.

The risky situation in Afghanistan has forced US President Barack Obama to consider altering plans to halve the 9,800-strong US force in the country by the start of next year.

The Taliban, which now controls more territory than at any time since it was driven from power by US-led forces in 2001, has also stepped up its annual spring offensive.

The threat to Afghanistan`s security was underlined on Monday by a series of attacks in Kabul and the northern province of Badakhshan in which more than 20 people were killed.

Afghan security forces have succeeded in pushing the insurgents back from the northern city of Kunduz, which fell briefly last year, but they have faced heavy pressure in southern regions including the strategic province of Helmand.
Phnom Penh: Cambodia said Monday it would deport 13 Taiwanese nationals arrested on fraud charges to mainland China, as Taipei said its emissaries had been prevented from meeting with the suspects.

The imminent deportations come at a time of increased tensions between Taiwan and mainland China, with Taipei accusing Beijing of "abducting" citizens from countries that do not recognise the island`s government.

A group of 13 Taiwanese and 14 mainland Chinese were arrested by Cambodian police last week for internet fraud, immigration officials said.

"We have decided to deport them to China because they all are Chinese. The Chinese side has asked us to wait while they work out whether to send a plane or buy tickets for them," Major General Uk Heisela, director of inspection and procedure at the General Department of Immigration, told AFP Monday.

He said Cambodia refused to draw a distinction between Chinese and Taiwanese as the country adheres to a "One China Policy".

Cambodia is historically one of Beijing`s closest allies in southeast Asia.

In April both Malaysia and Kenya deported Taiwanese nationals to mainland China sparking uproar in Taipei.

Observers see the cases as China putting pressure on Taiwan`s new government -- which took office in May -- as Beijing does not trust the traditionally pro-independence ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Taiwan`s foreign ministry confirmed the Cambodia arrests and accused Beijing of pressuring Phnom Penh.

"China requested Cambodia to send all the suspects to the mainland as most of the victims in this case are in China, and they obstructed our personnel from visiting the Taiwanese suspects," the ministry said.

The island has sent its representative in Vietnam to negotiate with Phnom Penh, seeking to have the group repatriated to Taiwan instead.

The foreign ministry added that another four Taiwanese had been arrested at the Phnom Penh airport Saturday, but it is unclear whether it is related to the same fraud case.

Taiwan is self-ruling after splitting with China in 1949, following a civil war, but Beijing still sees it as a part of its territory waiting to be reunified.

The island has never formally declared independence.

While Taiwan`s new president Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly pledged to maintain the "status quo", she also has not bowed down to pressure to accept Beijing`s definition of cross-strait relations.
Aspen: A Colorado mother fought off a mountain lion that attacked her 5-year-old son in her front yard on Friday night, a report from CBS Denver station KCNC stated.

The unidentified 5-year-old boy was playing outside his home northwest of Aspen with his older brother on Friday evening when the mountain lion attacked him, the report stated.

On hearing the scream, the boy's mother raced to her front yard to witness a terrifying sight - a mountain lion was hunched over her five-year-old son with his whole head inside its mouth.

The woman, upon seeing the sight, didn't back down but charged the animal. She yanked the lion's paws, and thus succeeded to pry the wild cat's jaws open and rescue his five-year-old son.

In the meantime, the boy's father, who had just returned from a run when the attack took place, dialled 911 as he drove his wife and son to a nearby hospital.

According to a hospital spokeswoman, the child had received cuts on his face, head, and neck but was in fair condition. He was later rushed to a hospital in the Denver area. The mother, who had also received injuries on her hand and legs, was discharged after bring treated.

Pitkin County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Buglione told media that the wild cat who attacked the boy wasn't fully grown and was only two-years-old. "Had it been an 110-pound lion, the story would have been completely different," he added.

Wildlife officials said that they killed two mountain lions in the area hours after the attack. The animals were being examined to determine if they were hungry or diseased.
Jihadists of the Islamic State group drove Syrian regime troops out of Raqa province on Monday, killing dozens of fighters in a lightning counter-attack, a monitoring group said.

The attack was mounted late on Sunday in response to a regime offensive in the IS stronghold of Raqa launched on June 3 that advanced about 20 kilometres (12 miles) toward the town of Tabqa, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

It came as US Secretary of State John Kerry said he had read a memo from a group of frustrated diplomats urging strikes against the Syrian regime and found it "very good".

The "dissent cable" became public last week after 51 serving US officials signed a call for direct US military action to force President Bashar al-Assad`s regime to negotiate for peace.

The memo was seen as a criticism of President Barack Obama`s cautious approach, but the "dissent channel" is an approved mechanism for diplomats opposed to official policy.

Syria`s civil war began with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations in 2011 and has now killed more than 280,000 people and displaced millions.

Government troops, backed by Russian air strikes, in early June pushed into Raqa for the first time since 2014, aiming for the country`s largest dam at Tabqa on the Euphrates River.

"Daesh (IS) has managed to drive out regime troops from the administrative borders of Raqa province after a fierce counter-offensive," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

It said the jihadists had sent hundreds of reinforcements from their de facto capital of Raqa city to defend Tabqa, which also has an air base, located 50 kilometres to the west.

"More than 40 members of the pro-regime forces were killed," said the Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a vast network of sources on the ground for its information.

Jihadist losses were unavailable.An initial IS offensive on Sunday failed but a second attack seized many positions southwest of Tabqa.

On a separate front, IS also launched a surprise assault from another stronghold in Raqa province, killing residents of two villages it recaptured from US-backed fighters.

IS had dispatched a small group of jihadists -- including one driving an explosives-laden car -- into villages southeast of Manbij.

The villages had been seized in recent weeks by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The US-led coalition backing the SDF carried out a barrage of air strikes Monday to defend the villages, said Syrian Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.

At least four SDF fighters were killed in the clashes and many more were wounded.

The SDF -- a Kurdish-Arab alliance with air support from the coalition -- encircled Manbij nearly 10 days ago.

But since then, they had been slowed by almost daily suicide bombings as IS puts up a fight for the town.

Held by the jihadists since 2014, Manbij was a key stop along IS`s supply route from the Turkish border southeast through the town of Tabqa and on to the city of Raqa.
An explosion hit a minibus in the Afghan capital, Kabul, early on Monday, killing and wounding several people, police said, although it was not immediately clear who was on board the bus.

A Reuters witness saw several apparently dead victims and at least two wounded being carried out of the vehicle while police and emergency service vehicles rushed to the scene.

There was some uncertainty about the identity of the victims. One police official at the scene said the yellow bus had been carrying government employees to their offices in the city. However, another said the passengers may have been Nepalese security contractors.

There was no immediate word on the cause of the blast, which occurred during Ramadan, Islam`s holy month.

It underlined how serious the security threat facing Afghanistan remains since the death of former Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a U.S. drone strike last month.

The blast follows a deadly suicide attack on a bus carrying justice ministry staff near Kabul last month and a separate attack on a court in the central city of Ghazni on June 1.

The Taliban claimed both those attacks in revenge for the execution of six Taliban prisoners.
Korea's current account surplus from trade with China and the U.S. dropped almost 20 percent last year.

The decline is partly due to sluggish economies in China and the U.S., but Korea's overall current account surplus actually rose around 25 percent in 2015 to US$105.9 billion thanks to low global oil prices.

According to preliminary figures for 2015 announced by the Bank of Korea on Friday, the surplus from trade with China fell 19 percent to $45.1 billion, down for the second year after peaking at $56.7 billion in 2013.

The BOK said exports of display panels and chemical products dropped, depleting the goods surplus account surplus, while the service account surplus also dwindled.

The surplus from trade with the U.S. also plunged more than 17 percent over the same period to $33.9 billion.

The main reason is a widening deficit in tourism, intellectual property and other service sectors. The service account deficit with the U.S. soared to a record $14.4 billion last year.

But Korea's deficit in trade with the Middle East fell around $45.6 billion to $34.4 billion due to low oil prices.

The average price of Dubai crude last year stood at $51.10 a barrel, down $45.30 compared to 2014, resulting in less money spent on importing crude oil.

Korea's account deficit with the EU also shrank more than 30 percent as imports of petroleum products dropped markedly.

But the perennial deficit in trade with Japan widened from $16.2 billion in 2014 to $19.7 billion as fewer Japanese tourists came to Korea and more Koreans went to Japan.

Declining exports also reduced the surplus in trade with Southeast Asia and Latin America by 16 percent and 19 percent.

Global exports fell around 13 percent last year, but Korea's dropped only around eight percent.
Jakarta: Indonesia is determined to assert its exclusive right to a corner of the South China Sea where there has been a run of skirmishes between Indonesian navy ships and Chinese vessels, the vice-president said on Monday.

Jusuf Kalla told Reuters that Indonesia would send a message to Beijing demanding that it respect the Southeast Asian nation`s sovereignty over waters around the Natuna Islands.

China`s foreign ministry said over the weekend that an Indonesian naval vessel fired on a Chinese fishing boat near the chain of islands on Friday, injuring one person.

Indonesia`s navy responded that it had fired warning shots at several boats with Chinese flags it accused of fishing illegally but there were no injuries.

It was the third reported confrontation near the Natuna Islands this year and comes amid rising regional tensions over China`s assertiveness in the South China Sea.

"This is not a clash, but we are protecting the area," Kalla said in an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace.

Asked if the Indonesian government had made a decision to be more assertive, he said: "Yes, we will continue."

Separately, Indonesia`s chief security minister, Luhut Pandjaitan, told reporters the government would seek the advice of legal experts on the matter.

"On the South China Sea we want to talk to experts in international maritime laws on what is the most appropriate way to resolve it," Pandjaitan said, without elaborating.

Indonesia is not part of a broader regional dispute over China`s reclamation activities in the South China Sea and Beijing`s claims on swathes of key waterways.

But Jakarta has objected to China`s inclusion of parts of the Indonesian-ruled Natuna Islands within a "nine-dash line" Beijing marks on maps to show its claim on the body of water.

China has said it does not dispute Indonesia`s sovereignty over the Natuna Islands, but Kalla said its ships sometimes claim that they have the right to operate in waters around the islands because they are "traditional Chinese fishing grounds".

"But we are focused on the legal basis," Kalla said, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). "We will send a message to the other side to honour the area in accordance with the law."

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.

(Editing by Nick Macfie and Clarence Fernandez)


Amman: The Islamic State group launched a counter-attack against fighters trying to capture the Syrian city of Manbij on Monday, inflicting heavy casualties on the U.S.-backed forces, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the militants said.

The monitor said the militants won back three villages south of the besieged city in a surprise assault against fighters from the U.S.-backed Syria Democratic Forces. At least 28 SDF fighters were killed.

Two years after IS proclaimed its caliphate to rule over all Muslims from swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, its many foes are advancing on a number of fronts in both countries. Their aim is to close in on its two capitals, Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq.

The SDF were poised to enter Manbij nearly three weeks after the launch of a major assault to regain the city backed by U.S. air power and American Special Forces, to seal off the last stretch of the Syrian-Turkish frontier

The alliance, formed last year by recruiting Arabs to join forces with a powerful Kurdish militia, fought to nearly 2 km (1.24 miles) from the city centre from the western side on Saturday before retreating.

U.S-led coalition jets hit militants taking cover near a large wheat silo complex on the southern edge of the city that has been encircled by SDF forces.

An SDF spokesman said forces succeeded in repulsing the militant attack and remained positioned on the outskirts of the city, most of whose residents remain trapped inside due to mines planted by the militants, who have dug in to defend it.

"The situation is under control. They have many bodies on the ground," Sharfan Darwish, spokesman for the Syria Democratic Forces-allied Manbij Military Council, told Reuters.

"We are at the four gates to the city. The whole city is booby-trapped. After 20 days of the campaign, we have yet to storm the city," he added, adding that some 2,000 people had succeeded in fleeing the city.

Islamic State militants were also able to roll back the Syrian army, which had reached as close as 10 km (6.2 miles) south of the strategic town of Tabqa, an Islamic State-held city on the Euphrates River, in Raqqa province.

The town, some 50 km (30 miles) west of Raqqa city, the militant`s defacto capital, appears to be the first target of a major Syrian army assault in Raqqa province backed by Russian air power that began earlier this month. [L8N18W058].

Tabqa dam and a major air base have been in militant hands since 2014.

The monitor said the army reverses on Sunday lost it territorial gains made in over two weeks of advances in Raqqa province which enabled it to cross its provincial boundary for the first time in over two years.

Amaq news agency, which is affiliated with the militants, said suicide bombers had attacked Thawra oil field, south of Tabqa, which the Syrian army had captured earlier this week, and regained it.

Eyad al Hosain, a Syrian journalist embedded with Syrian troops, told Reuters the militants had succeeded in regaining areas they lost near the oil field. He did not give figures on army casualties.

"A very intense attack has targeted army and allied positions in Thwara field that led to the withdrawal of troops from areas they liberated... and their retreat," al Hosain said.

Amaq also said militants seized a Syrian army checkpoint near a strategic junction which leads to Raqqa city that the Syrian government forces and their allies had seized in the early phase of its Raqqa campaign.

The monitor, which tracks violence across the country, said the militants had sent reinforcements and cited at least 300 fighters heading to Tabqa from Raqqa.

State media also reported clashes with the militants around the main Jazal field near the ancient city of Palmyra in the country`s central desert. The army and its allies continue to fight a costly war of attrition against Islamic State militants several months after seizing the city from them.
London: Campaigners for families of those on board the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 have released photographs of personal items that washed up on a Madagascar beach, hoping to identify them.

Some 20 personal items were found which include a white, black and red "Angry Bird" purse, a tartan handbag and part of a black laptop case inscribed with the letters "MENSA", BBC reported on Monday.

There are no labels identifying them as belonging to the 239 people on board the ill-fated plane enroute from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing that vanished on March 8, 2014.

The items were found by US lawyer Blaine Gibson in June on Riake beach, on the island of Nosy Boraha in north-east Madagascar.

"They may have just fallen off a ship," Gibson told the BBC.

"Still, I found them on the same 18km stretch of the Riake beach where I found suspected aircraft parts (of the Malaysia Airlines jet) so it is important that they are investigated properly," the lawyer added.

The images of the items were released by the Aircrash Support Group Australia website to ascertain whether they may have belonged to MH370 passengers.

As well as the personal items, Gibson also found two pieces of debris that may be from the aircraft itself.

He recently found three pieces of debris in that area, having already found another piece of debris in Mozambique in March, which Australian investigators believe is almost certainly part of the missing plane.
Seoul: North Korea will not negotiate with the United States over two American citizens it is holding until former detainee Kenneth Bae stops publicly talking about his time in prison, state media said on Monday.

Criticised over its human rights record for years, North Korea has made use of detained Americans in the past to extract high-profile visits from the United States, with which it has no formal diplomatic relations.

North Korea arrested Bae, a US missionary, in November 2012 and sentenced him to 15 years` hard labour for crimes against the state.

He was released two years later and has written an account of his detention in a memoir released in May. Since then, Bae has spoken about his experiences at several public appearances and given interviews to promote the book.

During his detention, Bae said, he realised he had become a "negotiating tool" for the North Koreans, some of whom he described as "brainwashed" in a recent interview in South Korea with a defector-run group that broadcasts into the North.

"As long as Kenneth Bae continues his babbling, we will not proceed with any compromise or negotiations with the United States on the subject of American criminals, and there will certainly not be any such thing as humanitarian action," the North`s KCNA news agency said.

"If Bae continues, U.S. criminals held in our country will be in the pitiful state of never being able to set foot in their homeland once again".

Pyongyang is holding two U.S. citizens, both of whom it has tried and sentenced to hard labour.

In March, Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old student of the University of Virginia, was sentenced to 15 years` hard labour for trying to steal a propaganda banner bearing the name of former leader Kim Jong Il.

In April, a North Korean court convicted Korean-American missionary Kim Dong Chul of crimes against the state and sentenced him to 10 years` hard labour.

Last year, Canadian missionary Hyeon Soo Lim was sentenced to hard labour for life for subversion of the state.

The United States and Canada both strongly advise citizens not to travel to North Korea. This May, the U.S. State Department said Americans who travelled there despite the warnings risked "unduly harsh sentences".
Minneapolis: About 4,800 nurses at five Minneapolis-area hospitals began a weeklong strike over a contract impasse.

Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association began striking at 7 AM yesterday at the hospitals, all operated by Allina Health. The main dispute is over Allina's effort to switch union nurses to the same health insurance plans as more than 30,000 other Allina employees that carry lower monthly premiums but higher out-of-pocket costs.

No new contract talks are scheduled. The nurses' current contract expired May 31.

The union's president, Mary Turner, said yesterday that members would demonstrate for 12 hours a day outside of each of the five hospitals: Abbott Northwestern in Minneapolis, Mercy in Coon Rapids, United in St Paul, Unity in Fridley, and the Phillips Eye Institute in Minneapolis. The union said 1,500 people were protesting yesterday, including 600 picketing at Abbott Northwestern, the Star Tribune reported.

Allina plans to keep the facilities operating with replacement nurses.

"All Allina Health hospitals are open and caring for patients during the strike," Allina spokesman David Kanihan said in a statement yesterday.

Kanihan said the initial transition to replacement nurses has gone smoothly, and the hospitals were functioning as planned with patient volumes consistent with normal levels for a Sunday in June.

At a news briefing yesterday afternoon, Penny Wheeler, president and CEO of Allina Health, said 144 union nurses have decided to continue working through the strike week so far, the Star Tribune reported. Wheeler said Allina is "eager to get back to the negotiating table with the union. We believe we can solve these issues through a constructive dialogue."

Nurses rejected Allina's latest contract offer and authorised a strike earlier this month, contending the proposal would shift too much of the company's health care costs to the nurses. The company says the move would encourage more frugal use of health care, cutting its costs by USD 10 million a year.
On January 20, at the ripe age of 55, Barack Obama will leave the White House, unsure of what comes next.

"In seven months or so, I`ll be on the job market. And I`m glad I`m going to be here, because I`m going to get on LinkedIn and see what comes up," Obama told the SelectUSA foreign investment summit.

He went on to laud America as an "extraordinary place to do business."

It`s not the first time Obama joked about using the professional networking site LinkedIn, which Microsoft has purchased for $26.2 billion.

In February, he posted about youth programs on the social platform used to exchange career advice, contacts and job offers.

He used the occasion to discuss his first work experience as a teenager: Baskin-Robbins ice cream vendor in Honolulu.

"My first summer job wasn`t exactly glamorous, but it taught me some valuable lessons: Responsibility. Hard work. Balancing a job with friends, family and school," Obama wrote at the time.
Orlando: The gunman who slaughtered 49 people at a gay nightclub in Florida threatened to blow up a car rigged with bombs and to strap hostages into explosive vests, according to partial transcripts of 911 calls he made released on Monday.

"You people are gonna get it, and I`m gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid," Omar Mateen said during one of the calls made from the Pulse nightclub in downtown Orlando, according to the transcript released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

No explosive vests or bombs were found in the nightclub or the suspect`s car, however, the FBI said.

Mateen, a 29-year-old security guard, paused several times during the three-hour siege at the club to speak by phone with emergency dispatchers and police negotiators, as well as to post internet messages pledging allegiance to Islamist militant groups.

"While the killer made these murderous statements, he did so in a chilling, calm and deliberate manner," said Ron Hopper, a FBI assistant special agent in charge.

Mateen told an emergency dispatcher he was wearing an explosive vest like the kind they "used in France," apparently referring to the deadly assault in Paris last November by Islamic militants, according to the transcript.

As patrons fled the club, they told police outside that the shooter said he was going to put four vests with bombs on victims within 15 minutes, the FBI said in its statement.

Mateen, a New York-born US citizen and Florida resident of Afghan descent, who has been described by US officials as "self-radicalized" in his extremist sympathies.

The partial transcripts did not include a pledge of loyalty that authorities say Mateen made to Islamic State`s leader. Hopper told a news conference near the nightclub that only partial transcripts were released so as not to "propagate violent rhetoric."

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan accused the Obama administration of censoring references to the Islamic State militant group and called for the full transcripts to be released.

`ISLAMIC SOLDIER`

Mateen identified himself as an "Islamic soldier," according to the FBI, and he told a negotiator to tell the United States to stop bombing Syria and Iraq.

The Joint Terrorism Taskforce has conducted more than 500 interviews about the massacre, Hopper said, and has processed 600 pieces of evidence.

Orlando Police Chief John Mina said the initial engagement by authorities caused the gunman to retreat and barricade himself in a bathroom with hostages. He said officers were inside the club saving victims during the three-hour standoff.

"I am very confident that they saved many, many, many lives that night," Mina said, rejecting any criticism that police had failed to act quickly enough to end the siege.

"Those killings are on the suspect and on the suspect alone," he said. "It was a very difficult decision but it was the right decision and I stand by it."

Authorities have said preliminary evidence indicates Mateen was a mentally disturbed individual who acted alone and without direction from outside networks.

The massacre at Pulse, which also left 53 people wounded, led to national mourning and soul-searching over easy access to firearms and the vulnerability to hate crimes of people in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

The killings also triggered an effort to break a long-standing stalemate in Congress over gun control.

The Senate was set to vote on Monday on four competing measures  two from Democrats and two from Republicans - to expand background checks on gun buyers and curb gun sales for people on terrorism watch lists.

(Additional reporting by Letitia Stein in Tampa, Frank McGurty in New York, and Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Writing by Daniel Wallis; Editing by Bill Trott)


Manila: Catholic Church leaders in the Philippines expressed alarm Monday at a sharp rise in police killings of suspected criminals since the election of a firebrand president who has vowed a bloody war on crime.

The influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines also denounced signs of vigilantism and the offering of bounties for criminals, following the election on May 9 of Rodrigo Duterte who ran on an anti-crime campaign.

"We are disturbed by an increasing number of reports that suspected drug-peddlers, pushers and others... have been shot, supposedly because they resist arrest," said a statement by Archbishop Socrates Villegas, the head of the conference.

He was responding to national police figures showing that 29 drug suspects were shot dead between May 9 and June 15 -- compared to 39 killed in the previous four months of this year.

The most recent figure does not include eight drug suspects shot dead by police over the past weekend in different parts of the country.

"It is equally disturbing that vigilantism seems to be on the rise," the statement said, citing cases where bodies have been found with signs labelling them as criminals.

The bishops also condemned the practice of at least one city mayor of offering large payments to policemen who kill drug suspects.

"It is never morally permissible to receive reward money to kill another," the statement added.

Their condemnation flies in the face of Duterte`s call to police and even civilians to kill drug criminals.

Duterte has previously been linked to vigilante death squads who killed about 1,000 people when he was longtime mayor of the southern city of Davao.

He has vowed to kill tens of thousands of criminals after he takes office on June 30.

The president-elect has often attacked the Catholic Church, which counts over 80 percent of Filipinos as followers and was instrumental in the toppling of dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

Duterte has previously labelled Pope Francis as "a son of a whore" and branded the church as a hypocritical institution.

Although he has not yet taken office, a police spokesman previously said that Duterte`s remarks were a possible "motivation" for law-enforcers to crack down on illegal drugs.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today condemned the attack on a minibus carrying Nepalese security guards in Kabul and said India will provide all assistance to Nepal government in this hour of tragedy.

"We strongly condemn the horrible tragedy in Kabul. Our deep condolences to people & Govts of Afghanistan & Nepal on loss of innocent lives," he said in a tweet.

"We are taking steps to provide all relevant assistance to the Nepal government in this hour of tragedy," the Prime Minister said.

Fourteen Nepalese security guards were killed when a Taliban suicide bomber targeted their minibus in the Afghan capital.
Oaxaca state: Unknown gunmen opened fire as police and teachers clashed in southern Mexico on Sunday during a protest that left six people dead and more than 100 injured, authorities said.

The violence erupted as police threw tear gas at the protesters to end a week-long barricade that was blocking a road in Asuncion Nochixtlan, a town in Oaxaca state, where some vehicles were set on fire.

The National Education Workers Coordinator (CNTE) union has been leading protests in Oaxaca for days against an education reform and the arrest of two of its leaders.

The National Security Commission initially denied that officers were armed, charging that news pictures showing them with guns were "false."

But federal police chief Enrique Galindo later said that an armed unit was deployed after unidentified people "fired weapons on police and the population."

"The teachers were not even involved in these things," Galindo said at a news conference.

"There are reports of the presence of various violent groups that have headed the blockades of roads and strategic installations for days," the federal and state governments said in a joint statement, urging the CNTE to distance itself from these unidentified groups.The six fatalities were civilians, said Oaxaca state public security secretary Jorge Alberto Ruiz Martinez.

Another 55 federal and state officers were injured, including eight by gunshots, Ruiz Martinez said. At least 53 civilians were injured.

Paramedics said that three of the dead had bullet wounds. One was a minor and the other two were 23 and 28. The paramedics spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

It was not immediately clear how the other three were killed.

At least 21 people were arrested.

The CNTE, considered a radical wing of a national union, denounced in a statement the "repressive action of the federal and state governments."

Many of the injured people were taken to the town`s church before being transferred to hospitals. Several are in "critical" condition, the government said.

A municipal police officer, who requested anonymity, said a firebomb was thrown on the town`s municipal building.

Governor Gabino Cue said the police intervention was needed to restore food and fuel supplies on state roads.Protesters, some wearing masks, also gathered in the tourist city of Oaxaca, the state capital, where they prepared Molotov cocktails and burned material on the street to form barricades near the central plaza in anticipation of the arrival of police.

Shops closed and the streets were deserted.

"The resistance is peaceful but we are preparing barricades for the evacuation and excessive repression by the government of President Enrique Pena Nieto," said a spokesman for the CNTE`s Section 22 who declined to give his name for fear of reprisals.

"They didn`t want to have dialogue. They said there was no going back" on the education reform, he said.

The CNTE has staunchly opposed Pena Nieto`s education reform, which requires teachers to undergo performance evaluations.

The union has also been protesting last weekend`s arrest of the leader of its Section 22 in Oaxaca, Ruben Nunez, and his deputy, Francisco Villalobos. Nunez faces money laundering charges, while Villalobos has been accused of stealing textbooks.

str/yo/lth/bfm
Samsung, LG and Pantech are rolling out several low- to mid-priced smartphones later this month.

Samsung will unveil the Galaxy On7, and LG will launch its latest X Series phone. Pantech, once among Korea's top three smartphone makers, is also set to unveil a new cheaper smartphone.

Their prime targets are teenagers and young adults as they begin summer vacation.

Samsung will release a modified version of the Galaxy On7 exclusively through SK Telecom in Korea. It was launched in India in late 2015. It has a 5.5-inch screen and upgraded memory and other functions. It will also be given a new name.

The Galaxy On7 was priced at 10,190 rupees in India (around W180,000) and is expected to cost between W200,000 and W300,000 in Korea.

LG is releasing four or five models in the X Series that debuted in March this year.

The X Cam will be the first to hit stores and features a 5.2-inch screen and dual camera just like the premium G5. The X Power, X Mach, X Style and X Max are to follow.
Karachi: The son of a High Court judge in Pakistan was abducted by unidentified armed men from outside a shopping mart here, media reports said today.

Ovais Shah, the son of the Chief Justice Sindh High Court, was abducted by armed men from Clifton by four armed men who came in a white car with a green number plat.

Green number plates are reserved for government vehicles in Pakistan.

A senior police official said so far no case of kidnapping had been registered but Ovais was missing and untraceable until now.

"His mobile phone is switched off. We have detained five persons from the parking area for questioning," he said.

The abduction came just weeks after the sons of two high- profile politicians returned home after spending years in captivity of militant outfits.

Shahbaz Taseer, the son of former slain Punjab governor Salman Taseer, returned home in March after spending five years in captivity.

In May, Ali Haider, the son of former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, was rescued in Afghanistan after spending three years in captivity of militants.
Seoul: South Korea has strengthened security around US airbases after the country`s spy agency reported that the Islamic State (IS) terror group has included the US facilities in the country as its target of attacks.

South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Monday ordered tightening of security around the US air force facilities in Gunsan and Osan, which were targeted by the militant group for its terrorist attacks, and to review anti-terrorism preparedness for the installations of the US Forces Korea (USFK) and diplomatic missions.

The decision came after the National Intelligence Service (NIS), South Korea`s spy agency, said the IS has instigated attacks by designating the US air force bases and a South Korean national as terror targets, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the NIS, the IS recently unveiled mapped locations of 77 air force bases of the US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and personal information on civilians of 21 countries, which were earned through its own hacking unit, the United Cyber Caliphate, through the Internet messenger programme Telegram.

The revelations included map coordinates of the US air force bases in Osan, a city some 40 km south of Seoul, and the city of Gunsan as well as personal information on a South Korean national who works at a local welfare group.

South Korean police and military have stepped up anti-terrorism preparedness for the targeted facilities and the civilian. According to media reports, police increased the number of security personnel posted around the Osan air base from 60 to 90, while raising patrol hours from 12 hours per day to 24 hours.

Police dispatched a company of 90 security personnel around the USFK barracks in the north Gyeonggi province, while strengthening patrol duties around mosques and foreign residential districts.

The NIS on Monday said it will devise anti-terrorism measures in cooperation with the military and police by this month-end.
Khartoum: Sudan summoned today the head of the international peacekeeping force in Darfur after the UN recommended a one-year extension of UNAMID's mission despite Khartoum's reluctance.

About 20,000 troops and policemen from more than 30 countries are currently in Sudan's western region of Darfur as part of the African Union-United Nations mission, UNAMID.

A report by UN chief Ban Ki-moon and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, recommends that UNAMID's mandate be extended by another year.

The report which was submitted to the Security Council cites the "limited progress" made to reach a viable solution to end the conflict in Darfur that has killed tens of thousands of civilians since 2003.

"With tens of thousands of people newly displaced in 2016 and approximately 2.6 million remaining displaced in Darfur, civilians across the region continue to bear the consequences of the volatile security situation," the report said.

It recommended extending UNAMID's mandate -- which expires at the end of the month -- "for 12 months, until 30 June 2017."

The UN Security Council is expected to meet before the end of June to endorse or reject the recommendation.

Khartoum insists that unrest in Darfur has ended and has stepped up pressure for a complete exit of the international peacekeepers from the war-torn region, where they have been deployed since 2007.

Today, Sudan's foreign ministry summoned UNAMID chief Martin Uhomoibh to discuss the report, the ministry said in a statement.

"The report by the African Union and the United Nations consists incorrect information about the humanitarian and security situation in Darfur," it said.

Last month Sudan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Kamal Ismail, said: "It's time to say goodbye to the UNAMID mission."

"This mission came to protect civilians, but now there is no danger to civilians, there is no conflict in Darfur," he added.

Violence erupted in Darfur when ethnic minority rebels rose against President Omar al-Bashir, accusing his Arab-dominated government of marginalising the region.

Bashir mounted a brutal counter-insurgency and at least 300,000 people have been killed in the conflict, the UN says. Another 2.5 million have fled their homes.
Kabul: A Taliban suicide bomber killed at least 14 people and wounded eight in an attack on a minibus carrying Nepalese security contractors in the Afghan capital, Kabul, early on Monday, officials said.

A Reuters witness saw several apparently dead victims and at least two wounded being carried out of the yellow bus while police and emergency service vehicles surrounded the scene in the Banae district of the city.

The attack was the latest in a recent surge of violence that highlights the challenges faced by the Afghan government in Kabul and its Western backers as Washington slowly draws down its remaining troops despite a persistent insurgency.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter that 14 people had been killed and eight wounded. Police were working to identify the victims, he said.

The casualties appeared to include both Afghans and Nepalese security contractors, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said.

He said the suicide bomber had waited near the compound housing the security contractors and struck as the vehicle moved through early morning traffic. As well as the bus passengers, several people in an adjacent market were also wounded in the attack, which occurred during Ramadan, Islam`s holy month.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement from the Islamist group`s main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, on Twitter.

The attack underlined how serious the security threat facing Afghanistan remains since former Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a U.S. drone strike last month and was replaced by Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.

The blast follows a deadly suicide attack on a bus carrying justice ministry staff near Kabul last month and a separate attack on a court in the central city of Ghazni on June 1.

The Taliban claimed both those attacks in revenge for the execution of six Taliban prisoners.
Houston: Yoga enthusiasts here will roll out their mats to bend and twist their bodies in complex postures to celebrate the second International Day of Yoga tomorrow.

The event will be organised at Discovery Green in Downtown by Consulate General of India in association with Pralaya Yoga Studio, with the support of Patanjali Yogpeeth and other Houston Yoga schools.

"It is our pleasure to bring together a large number of diverse Houstonians and institutions for celebrating the annual International Yoga Day in a befitting manner," Consul General of India Anupam Ray told PTI.

"I encourage all Houstonians to perform Yoga and actively participate in this event with interactive Yoga sessions and 'Yoga fair' to spread the message of Yoga for peace and harmony," Ray said.

A host of other events will be held in other major Texas cities, including Texas state Capitol, Johnson Space Center in Houston and Austin state Capitol.
London: Three 12-year-old girls were rushed to hospital on Sunday in Manchester after they took ecstasy pills.

They are thought to be among the youngest ever to be made dangerously ill by swallowing social drugs, Xinhua news agency reported.

Greater Manchester Police said two were seriously ill and the third was under observation in hospital.

The incident came just weeks after teenager Faye Allen, 17, from nearby Liverpool, died after taking an ecstasy pill at a dance event in Manchester.

Police were alerted to a shopping precinct late on Saturday night after reports that the 12-year-olds had become ill after taking the drug known as "teddy tablets".

Paramedic crews rushed the three girls to hospital in the city as police launched an inquiry to establish who supplied the potentially lethal class-A drugs to the schoolgirls.
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. The Defense Ministry of Nagorno Karabakh says overnight June 19-20 Azerbaijan violated the ceasefire regime by firing small arms in the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijani contact line.

The Ministrys announcement reads: Relative calm was maintained in Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact during the weekend.

The Azerbaijani side violated the ceasefire regime by firing mainly small arms.

The Defense Army forces are in control of the situation and continue carrying out the reliable protection of the military positions.




YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the Armenia-Czech Republic Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Robin Bohnisch says as far as Turkey remains committed to its Armenian Genocide national denial policy, and Turks continue to bury their heads in the sand when facing this tragic page of history, it will become easier for the Turkish leaders to isolate the country from the civilized world.

In reality, I dont think this is what Turkey wants. By recognizing the Armenian Genocide, Germany, in fact, wants to make efforts to help Turkey facing and overcoming the past. Germanys courage to face its real history, had a purifying effect which enabled the country to achieve unprecedented progress, to strengthen self-confidence and made it the leader of the European integration, as well as the economy, the Czech MP said in an interview with Armenpress.

Referring to Azerbaijans and Turkeys response to the Armenian Genocide recognition decision by the German Bundestag, which even let one of the Turkish MPs of Germany call a ban on Erdogans entry to Germany, Robin Bohnisch stated that these countries have always made such reactions.

In general, both Ankaras and Bakus statements over the Armenian Genocide have always been hysterical and inadequate. Nevertheless, I think that this step, as well as Czech President Milos Zemans statement to follow Germanys example will not have so huge political and economic impact on the relations with Turkey, he said.

On June 2 the German Bundestag adopted the Armenian Genocide recognition resolution, which is entitled "Remembrance and commemoration of the genocide of Armenians and other Christian minorities in 1915 and 1916".

Thereafter, Czech President Milos Zeman issued a statement calling the Czech Government and Parliament to follow Germanys example.

Turkey recalled its Ambassador from Germany, then blamed the Bundestag MPs with Turkish origins which created a huge complaint against Turkey within the Bundestag. Bundestag President Norbert Lammert even made a statement criticizing Erdogan.

Anybody who tries to exert pressure on a parliamentarian using threats must know this: They are attacking the entire parliament."
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. Local authorities say a suicide attack on a minibus in Kabul has killed at least 14 people and injured several more, BBC reported.

The victims were Nepali nationals on their way to the Canadian embassy where they worked as security guards.

The attacker, who was on foot, waited for the bus as it left a compound, police said.

A Taliban spokesman said they carried out the attack, the first since the start of the holy month of Ramadan.

The attack happened shortly before 06:00 local time (01:30 GMT) on a main road leading out of the capital towards the city of Jalalabad.

More than two dozen ambulances were present at the scene, according to an AFP witness.

The guards were employed by a private security company, an official told AFP. At least eight other people were injured.

The incident follows a suicide attack on a bus near Kabul last month and an attack on a court in Ghazni in June. Both attacks were claimed by the Taliban in revenge for the execution of six prisoners.

The Taliban have been waging an insurgency against the government since 2001. Nato ended its combat mission in December 2014, although about 13,000 training and counter-terrorism troops remain in Afghanistan.

Peace efforts have stalled after the Taliban refused to participate in new talks with the Afghan government until foreign forces had left the country.
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Education and Science of Armenia Levon Mkrtchyan and Director of Save the Children Armenian Representative Office Arsen Stepanyan signed a cooperation agreement.

Based on the agreement, the sides will cooperate on the provision of the protection of the rights of children, the inclusive education, and inclusiveness in the pre-school education and vocational educational institutions.

The works towards that direction are underway, and the agreement strengthens the existing works and outlines the further cooperation steps, Armenpress reports, Levon Mkrtchyan said.

He said a number of issues exist in Armenia which need to be solved, thats why there are great expectations from this organization and other partners. In particular, the Minister emphasized the necessity of kindergarten directors training, the increasing of the job quality and the preparation of the children to school in a right way.

The sides expressed their willingness to provide children with access to quality and inclusive education in a safe and healthy environment. Joint projects will be implemented, especially public discussions will be held on the legal acts and projects regulating the educational field, the strategic and conceptual documents, exchange of experience and practical projects aimed at strengthening the abilities will be conducted.

It is expected to organize joint trainings, consultations and research which will contribute to the implementation of educational reforms and the development of inclusive education.

Arsen Stepanyan added that first of all there is a need of perception change: except from well-trained specialists, public opinion is also important.

Many of our partners carry out works in schools, thats why we conduct pre-school projects. The change in stereotypes will be a difficult and long-term process, but it is important to have long-term strategy towards that path, Stepanyan stated.

He said the singing of the agreement demonstrates new level of state-civil society cooperation where the cooperation is being done not within the framework of a project, but within the strategic directions. Stepanyan stressed the importance of better coordination and long-term planning of the working resources.
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. Azerbaijan has not made a notification through the OSCE information network on the ongoing military exercises to the participating states of the Vienna 2011 document.

The Defense Ministry of Armenia issued an announcement, stating that under the 2011 Vienna document, military exercises of such kind should be subject of notification.

In such cases, according to the Vienna document, the state is obliged to make notification as soon as possible, however until now Azerbaijan has not made a notification through the OSCE information network, the announcement further reads.
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. The UN has released alarming displacement statistics claiming 65 million people are now displaced worldwide, reports RT.

Syria and Afghanistan have raised the bar to set the new world record. And progress in the work being done is slow, the agency head says.

According to UNHCR the current figure stands at 65.3 million, up from 2014s record of 60 million displaced since World War II. The refugee influx into Europe last year has contributed by 10 percent, the agency said on Monday.

An unprecedented 65.3 million people around the world have been forced from home. Among them are nearly 21.3 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18, UNHCR writes in remarks to its Global Trends report for 2015.

The figure also jumped by 50 percent in the last five years, meaning that one in every 113 people on Earth is now a refugee, an IDP or an asylum-seeker.

"The refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean and arriving on the shores of Europe, the message that they have carried is that if you don't solve problems, problems will come to you," the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said at a news briefing.

"It's painful that it has taken so long for people in the rich countries to understand that," he continued. "We need action, political action to stop conflicts, that would be the most important prevention of refugee flows."

On average, 24 people were being displaced any given minute in 2015, amounting to 34,000 people per day. In 2005 that figure was only six per minute. And the number has doubled since 1997. The Syria war raised that by another 50 percent alone when it started in 2011.
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. Global displacement figures remain at highest levels since the end of the Second World War, giving an alarming picture on the state of our world and indicate as to failures in conflict resolution and prevention efforts and advancing human rights protection, Armenpress reports, UNHCR Representative in Armenia Christoph Bierwirth said to journalists on June 20 on the occasion of World Refugee Day.

Over 60 million people are presently forcibly displaced. The conflict in Syria, only one of many present global trouble spots, has impacted and still impacts on Armenia, Christoph Bierwirth stated.

On the occasion of World Refugee Day Bierwirth emphasized: Refugees need understanding for their plight, solidarity and support everywhere in the world, so in Armenia".

He noted in particular the integration challenges faced by refugees of non-Armenian background, in particular of those of African descent.

Bierwirth highlighted with satisfaction the significant progress made in the Armenian refugee legislation considering necessary the adoption and implementation of sub-legislative procedures. He also said the State Migration Service has engaged in drafting an Integration Strategy. It is crucial that the draft strategy will be discussed and finalized with the involvement of all relevant government, international organizations and civil society stakeholders with a view to ensure broad ownership for the strategy, harmonize approaches, utilize synergies and to gain donor support, Bierwirth said.

This years motto of world refugee day brings it well to the point: We stand together with Refugees. He added that: ways to assist, to express solidarity to stand together with refugees are manifold. They include: The family who hosts some displaced relatives from Nagorno Karabakh, the neighbor who offers a helping hand when a refugee family from Syria or elsewhere moves in next door, the philanthropist who offers an apartment for free or at a reduced, social rent, the student who leads his Syrian Armenian colleague through the labyrinth of Armenian academic institutions, NGO activists, school teachers and directors who accelerate access to schooling, all those who offer small or bigger donations to the many NGOs who care, he stated.

He said the importance of media in creating an environment of understanding, conducive for integration cannot be underestimated. While laws and procedures and assistance mechanism are important it is the receptivity of the host society which makes a refugee feel welcome, which allows him or her to find a new home, Bierwirth concluded his speech.
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of the Armenia-Czech Republic Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Robin Bohnisch considers possible the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict through the negotiations.

When the Presidents of two states meet and are able to sit around the negotiation table, there is always a hope to solve the issue with peaceful means. The four-day war, in fact, had no positive influence, just suffering. And I would like to recall Czech President Milos Zemans words on the reconciliation of Germany and France after the Second World War during his visit to Yerevan. If these two strong opponents were able to cooperate, there is no other reason that the same will not take place with Azerbaijan and Armenia or Nagorno Karabakh, he said in an interview with Armenpress.

He said, nevertheless, the OSCE Minsk Groups actions on this issue are useless.

Of course, I would be more satisfied if the negotiations were held in a more neutral place the Czech Republic which has normal relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan. Frankly, I believe that to reach the best solution for the reconciliation, there is a need to view the current situation, as well as Nagorno Karabakhs future in a rational way. By this, neither side will face the issue of Russia using Nagorno Karabakh as a potential tool against the sides, Robin Bohnisch said.

On May 16 Sargsyan had meetings with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini, U.S Secretary of State John Kerry and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, with the participation of representatives of the Minsk Group co-chairing countries.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov, Secretary of State for European Affairs of France Harlem Desir, Armenian FM Nalbandian and Azerbaijani FM Mammadyarov, Ambassadors Igor Popov (Russia), James Warlick (USA), Pierre Andrieu (France) and OSCE Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk participated in the Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting.

The tense situation resulted by the gross ceasefire violations in early April of 2016 and ways to overcome it were discussed at the meeting. The representatives of the Co-chair countries insisted on the necessity of unconditionally respecting the 1994 ceasefire agreement and the 1995 ceasefire strengthening agreement. An agreement was reached to take measures for creating monitoring mechanisms investigating border incidents, increasing the scope of responsibilities of the team of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and for possible resumption of negotiation process.

The second meeting between the Presidents will be held on June 20 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. This is the second time that Ucom initiates the three-day "Cooperation Conference 2016 that is being held on June 19-21 in Tsaghkadzor and brings together the international experts in TV production and content, Ucom informed Armenpress.

The goal of the conference is to foster the continuous cooperation between Armenian and international television content suppliers and encourage the exchange of experience. This year the local experts in television production will discuss the problems and challenges, as well as the needs and opportunities of the field with the representatives, responsible for the TV-content of such channels as Discovery Channels, Euronews, National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Bridge TV, Rusong TV, Russian Travel Guide,  International. During these three days the representatives from the National Television and Radio Commission and other governmental and non-governmental organizations will take part in the idea exchange.

"The analog television is a history now, while the digital one is a technological solution, enabling new features and constant improvement. Along with the technological development it is extremely important for the television content to evolve as well. The conference will trigger the discussions linked to the broadcast rights of the content, the volume and format of it and other related topics, said Alexander Yesayan, the Director of Business Development in Ucom.
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. The issues of people displaced from Talish and Mataghis villages as a result of the escalation of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict are at the center of the UNs attention.

The escalation of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in early April 2016 has also caused renewed destruction, human suffering and displacement, including into Armenia. The overwhelming majority of the displaced population consists of women, children and elderly most of whom originate from the most affected villages close to the line of contact such as Talish and Mataghis villages of Martakert region and many of them have specific needs, such as pregnant and lactating women or persons suffering from sickness or disability, Armenpress reports, UNHCR Representative in Armenia Christoph Bierwirth said on June 20 on the occasion of World Refugee Day.

He said UNHCR in close cooperation with the State Migration Service and the Social Protection Units, who worked on identification and registration and also involving local authorities, local NGOs and volunteers, quickly developed a small assistance program, through which a modest cash assistance was offered to over 400 families (1429 persons) with a view to address their most urgent needs.

Bierwirth stated that most of the displaced families are presently hosted by relatives or family friends often themselves belonging to the poorer segments of the society. Hard to see a family consisting of six members and living in bad conditions, that hosts 12 people from Karabakh to live together. I express my greatest respect for the principles and traditions of hospitality which we witnessed once again on this occasion, he said.

It is observed that an increasing number of the displaced have returned or are considering return, but UNHCR would like to emphasize that the voluntary nature of return must be respected and returned. UNHCR closely liaises with our ICRC colleagues as to assistance to be offered after return to Nagrono Karabakh, Bierwirth stated.

He expressed hope that after the meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan significant steps will be taken towards the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement and stated that they have reviewed the preparedness plans to be ready for any development.
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. A suicide bomber from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) blew off his explosive belt when attempting to sneak into a religious ceremony in the Syrian city Qamishli, killing at least 3 guards and injuring dozens of civilians, report Horizon Weekly.

The attack comes as Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, the patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, was holding a special ceremony commemorating the 101 anniversary of Ottoman genocide against Armenians and Assyrians.

Local sources said that government troops securing the event had stopped the suspected bomber and prevented him from entering the ceremony before he detonated his explosive belt, killing all three guards and wounding dozens.

The northeastern city of Qamishli, populated mostly by Christians, was targeted by ISIS suicide attacks at least three times before, where dozens of civilians have been killed and wounded.
ST. PETERSBURG, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan expects from the trilateral meeting with the Presidents of Russia and Azerbaijan to achieve agreements on the implementation of obligations by Azerbaijan, as well as the exclusion of violations in the borders. The recent years showed that the negotiation process can be more or less productive if the sides fulfill their obligations. In other words, they make their actions in consistent with the provisions of the 1994 and 1995 ceasefire agreements. The Co-Chairs statement on May 16 in Vienna also speaks about this. I expect that we will eventually come to an agreement in St. Petersburg and Azerbaijan will fulfill its obligations, there will not be any violations in the borders, and we will continue the negotiation process for the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, the President said to journalists.

President Serzh Sargsyan arrived in St. Petersburg on June 20. He holds a separate private meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and thereafter the trilateral meeting between the Presidents of Armenia, Russia and Azerbaijan will be held. After the Azerbaijani large-scale aggression unleashed against Nagorno Karabakh and the four-day war in early April, the first meeting between the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan was held on May 16 in Vienna.
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. During the June 20 meeting with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the Russian-Armenian relations are intensively developing within the frameworks of integration processes.

We can say that our relations are developing more intensively within the framework of integration processes than before, which is very gladdening. There is the opportunity and necessity to speak about how we are going to work from now on. Now Armenia heads the CSTO, and a high level meeting is due to take place in autumn, Putin said.

Serzh Sargsyan affirmed that this meeting can take place in October.

Therefore we will talk in this respect also, Putin said, and thanked Serzh Sargsyan for his visit to Russia.

Putin noted the increase of trade turnover between the two countries. According to him, good indicators are observed in the agricultural field.

Despite the present difficulties in global and our economies, we have a significant growth in trade turnover. We can simply say that supply of agricultural products from Armenia has increased, which gladdens us. I hope that this trend will be strengthened in the direction of the whole turnover market and delicate product groups, Putin said, RIA Novosti reported.
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs that on June 20 the USD exchange rate was 476.89 AMD which is a decrease of 0.17 drams compared to the previous day.

Armenpress reports that the Euro increased by 3.77 drams forming 540.46 drams. British pound increased by 18.16 drams forming 698.02 drams, Russian ruble increased by 0.13 drams reaching to 7.44 drams on June 20.

The prices for precious metals are as follows: the price for silver per gram is 266.32 AMD, gold-19,789.49 AMD, and platinum-14,841.73 AMD.
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. Vice President of the National Assembly of Armenia, Head of the Armenian delegation to the PACE Hermine Naghdalyan raised the issue of suspending Azerbaijans membership to the PACE during the summer PACE session on June 20 in Strasburg, Armenpress was informed from the press service of the National Assembly.

The Aliyev regime is an evil not only for the people of Azerbaijan. Its 15-year long accession to the CoE has not improved the democratic condition and the situation with the human rights in Azerbaijan. Moreover, it worsens further. All the announcements about the democratic progress in Azerbaijan are false. Dictatorship has no place in the Council of Europe, the National Assembly Vice President announced urging the Assembly to suspend Azerbaijans membership.

The PACE must be consistent in eradicating this plague and stopping the Aliyev regime. I suggest suspending Azerbaijans membership to the PACE, Hermine Naghdalyan mentioned in her speech, drawing the attention of the participants on the xenophobia, crackdown on the civil society, oppression of ethnic minorities, violation of freedom of speech and other negative realities in Azerbaijan.

In this context Hermine Naghdalyan reminded her European colleges the report prepared by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance on Azerbaijan, where Commission particularly focuses on the hate policy by Azerbaijan top level officials.

According to the report Political leaders, educational institutions and media have continued using hate speech against Armenians; an entire generation of Azerbaijanis has now grown up listening to this hateful rhetoric. Human rights activists working inter alia towards reconciliation with Armenia have been sentenced to heavy prison terms on controversial accusations and there are big concerns that hate speech provisions have been misused against the Talysh minority.

According to a survey published in the report, 91% perceived Armenia as Azerbaijans greatest enemy and hate anything linked with Armenians.

ECRI reiterates its recommendation that the Azerbaijani authorities ensure that public officials at all levels refrain from hate speech towards Armenians.

The report states that in 2012 the authorities of Azerbaijan pardoned, released and promoted Ramil Safarov, who had been sentenced in Budapest to life imprisonment for the murder of an Armenian army officer, without taking into account the risk of cultivating a sense of impunity for the perpetrators of racist crime.

Hermine Naghdalyan mentioned that the Azerbaijani President and other top ranking officials point at the entire Armenian nation as their first enemy and what is taken as a crime in civilized world is glorified in Azerbaijan, she mentioned in her speech.

As another demonstration of xenophobia by Azerbaijan, Hermine Naghdalyan referred to the war launched by Azerbaijan against Nagorno Karabakh in April 2016 and the atrocities committed by the Azerbaijani troops.
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents have expressed commitment for the normalization of the situation on Karabakh-Azerbaijan contact line and agreed to increase the number of OSCE observers, Armenpress reports, citing Ria Novosti, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov told the reporters.

In addition to that we have outlined concrete measures for activation of the talks, the Presidents agreed on a trilateral statement that expresses their commitment to normalize the situation on the contact line. It also contains an agreement of increasing the number of OSCE observers who fulfill their mission in the conflict zone. A commitment for creating favorable conditions for a political settlement of the conflict is also expressed, Russian Foreign Minister said.

After the Azerbaijani aggression against Nagorno Karabakh in April, President Serzh Sargsyan had a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev on May 16 in Vienna. US Secretary of State John Kerry, Russian FM Sergey Lavrov, Secretary of State for European Affairs of France Harlem Desir, Armenian FM Nalbandian and Azerbaijani FM Mammadyarov, Ambassadors Igor Popov (Russia), James Warlick (USA), Pierre Andrieu (France) and OSCE Personal Representative of the Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk participated in the Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting. The tense situation resulted by the gross ceasefire violations in early April of 2016 and ways to overcome it were discussed at the meeting. The representatives of the Co-chair countries insisted on the necessity of unconditionally respecting the 1994 ceasefire agreement and the 1995 ceasefire strengthening agreement. An agreement was reached to take measures for creating monitoring mechanisms investigating border incidents, increasing the scope of responsibilities of the team of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and for possible resumption of negotiation process.
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. The June 20 meeting of Armenian, Russian and Azerbaijani Presidents in St. Petersburg was the reasonable continuation of the May 16 Vienna summit, where other important agreements were made. After the meeting of the Presidents, Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian expressed this opinion.

ARMENPRESS presents Nalbandians full speech.

We are grateful to the President of the Russian Federation for organizing this meeting of the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan in St. Petersburg. This was the reasonable continuation of the May 16 Vienna summit, where other important agreements were made  aimed at creating appropriate conditions for the resumption of the negotiation process.

As you know, an announcement was made in Vienna on the Ministerial level of the Co-chairing countries, which reflected those agreements and commitments, which the sides had assumed: Firstly, the conflict settlement by an exclusively peaceful path, respect for the 1994-1995 trilateral term-less ceasefire agreement. Those agreements, the importance of which was especially stressed by the ministers of the co-chairing countries. Agreements were also reached on the creation of incident investigation mechanisms along the Nagorno Karabakh-Azerbaijan line of contact and the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, as well as broadening the capabilities of the team of the OSCE Personal representative of the chairperson in office.

As you know, afterwards the separate meetings of the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijani took place in Brussels and Paris with the Co-chairs, where relevant detailed proposals were made in regard to these two suggestions: the creation of investigative mechanisms and expanding the team of the OSCE personal representative of the chairperson in office.

The Armenian side is working with the Co-chairing countries on these two proposals. Unfortunately, we can say that Azerbaijan is not displaying a constructive approach on this issue until now.

As a matter of fact, until now they were preventing the OSCE Financial and Budget Committee for financing the expansion of the team of the OSCE Personal representative of the chairperson in office.

Today, during the St. Petersburg meeting, on the Presidents level, it was once again stressed that this team must be expanded. This was mentioned in the announcement which was made by the Presidents as a result of the meeting. It also concerns the creation of the mechanism, which was decided in Vienna, and it wasnt the first time. The sides had agreed on the creation of such mechanism at least two times on the Presidents level, in 2011 in Sochi and in 2012.

The same thing had happened again: Every time Azerbaijan tries to step back. Of course, during the period of Vienna and St. Petersburg, the Azerbaijani side with different announcements, I cant say constructive, you all know what announcements are made in Baku, as well as the fact that yesterday and today, during the summit days, Azerbaijan is conducting large-scale military exercises, with 25000 soldiers, heavy military hardware and weaponry.

I dont think this is a constructive approach before and during the summit. In spite of this, I can say that todays meeting was quite useful, and with some caution I can also say that it proceeded in a constructive atmosphere. On some issues the Presidents came to the understanding that if agreements are made on them, then there will be the opportunity to move the negotiation process forward to the settlement of the conflict. This is also mentioned in the announcement made by the Presidents on the results of the St. Petersburg summit.

An agreement was reached to continue meetings on the level of Presidents and Ministers, and the process will be continued in the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing format. It was no coincidence that the Ambassadors of the co-chairing countries were invited to be present during the final stage of the Presidents meeting. The President of Armenia also had a separate meeting with the co-chairs and presented our impressions on the results of this summit.
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. The agreements reached as a result of the meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents are very important, but it is difficult to expect a rapid conflict settlement when dealing with Azerbaijan, NKR (Artsakh) Presidents spokesperson David Babayan told Armenpress, commenting on Sargsyan-Aliyev meeting and their announcements.

We have always said that this is a new direction of the conflict settlement, which for some reasons has been ignored for many years. I speak about the confidence building measures, such as elaboration of mechanisms allowing to detect the ceasefire violation cases and bring the guilty side to responsibility, David Babayan said, noting that it would be better if the Co-chair countries used their satellites to be able to see everything. He also highlighted the enlargement of OSCE monitoring team, and noted that the fact that it is touched upon at the meeting of the presidents means that there are serious intentions to bring into life the proposals.

Now we need to wait. Of course, it will be difficult to expect a rapid settlement of the conflict when dealing with Azerbaijan, since Azerbaijan, being the country that regularly violates the ceasefire regime, will do its best to impede the process. Even now it does the same, by conducting military exercises without informing respective agencies about the weapons used and their quantity. A country that violates international treaties can easily violate also bilateral, trilateral or multilateral agreements. Therefore, we should keep patience. This is a long lasting process, Babayan said, adding that it already launched.
Its not just Aussie property prices for first-time buyers which are under the microscope, renters are also getting a raw deal if they live in one of the nations most unaffordable suburbs, and its only set to get worse.

In current market conditions, low-income households typically need to spent 50-85% of their income on rent, according to the latest Rental Affordability Index (RAI) data.

Also read: Sydneys 10 most vacant suburbs

It is generally accepted that a household is in housing stress if it pays more than 30 per cent of its income on rent, which means that many rental households are at risk of falling into poverty and are being pushed into suburban fringes due to high rents.

Depending on the RAI, suburbs have been grouped into one of seven categories: very affordable (200 or above), affordable (150-200), acceptable (120-150), moderately unaffordable (100-120), unaffordable (80-100), severely unaffordable (50-80) and extremely unaffordable (50 or less) depending on what percentage of income is required to be spent on rent.

Also read: These suburbs are the real Aussie election battleground

Households paying 30% of income have an RAI score of 100, 38% of income have a score of 80 RAI or less, down to an RAI lower than 50 which means households are spending more than 60% of income on rent.

Moderately unaffordable, unaffordable and severely unaffordable cover the majority of the nations high-density suburbs while, unsurprisingly, Australias largest city is home to all 14 of the Aussie suburbs deemed extremely unaffordable.

Australias 14 extremely unaffordable suburbs

Postcode Suburb 2000 Sydney city 2009 Pyrmont 2010 Darlingburst, Surry Hills 2021 Paddington, Centenntial Park 2022 Bondi Junction, Queens Pak 2023 Belllevue Hill 2025 Woollahra 2026 Bondi, Bondi Beach 2027 Darling Point, Edgecliff, Point Piper 2029 Rose Bay 2034 Coogee 2061 Kirribilli, Milsons Point 2088 Mosman 2095 Manly

SGS Economics & Planning associate Ellen Witte said the percentage of households renting has grown to 35 per cent across Australia, with many struggling to make ends meet and cover other essential living costs like transport, food and utility expenses.

Story continues

Single income households are the worst off and the trend over the last five years has mostly seen no improvement, except in Perth, where the mining downturn is likely to have taken the heat out of rents, she said.

Also read: The new Sydney suburb that could change everything

Historical trends between 1996 and 2011 show that rental affordability has deteriorated dramatically across all of NSW and Queensland since the early 2000s. The decline in rental affordability is expected to follow similar trends in other states.

Long-term trends in most cities present a pessimistic outlook for rental affordability. More young Australians are being squeezed out of the owner-occupier property market due to high housing costs, and this is driving up demand and prices for rental accommodation, exacerbating the rental accommodation shortage, Witte said.

City-by-city breakdown

Capital city data (excluding Melbourne) breaks down the areas the low income households will continue to experience severe unaffordability.

Also read: The car free suburb of the future

Sydney

Greater Sydney is the least affordable metropolitan area in Australia in recent years, with a RAI of 109 in the last two quarters of 2015.

However, affordability levels have stabilised in Sydney in recent years.

Near the city centre, there has been no relief for the average household in meeting housing costs, though some areas in the west have experienced slight improvements in affordability.

Brisbane

With a RAI of 116, rental affordability in Greater Brisbane has decreased over the past two years; it is the only city to have recorded such a trend of the metro areas studied.

This is due to a declining income growth rate in Brisbane. Over the past two years, household income has declined by 0.2 per cent, while rents have increased overall by 2.5 per cent.

Also read: 120 Aussie suburbs could be set for a price plunge

Median household rents have fluctuated between $390 and $406 per week.

Some areas in the inner city, south of the Brisbane River (i.e. West End, South Brisbane and East Brisbane) have experienced improvements in rental affordability, probably as a result of localised growth in apartment supply.

Perth

Greater Perth has a RAI of 126, meaning rents are acceptable.

With a score of 108 (moderately unaffordable) in December 2013, affordability has increased significantly over the past two years.

The increase in affordability has been more significant in regional WA compared to the metro area, away from moderately unaffordable rents to acceptable rents, possibly in part due to the mining downturn.

Also read: Australia's most overvalued suburbs

Adelaide

Greater Adelaide has a RAI of 117, meaning rents are moderately unaffordable.

There has been a moderately positive trend in rental affordability over the last two years. Since the November 2015 release, the RAI score has risen by 3 points.

This is a result of household incomes rising faster than rents in recent years.

Over the past three years, household income rose 7.5 per cent while rents rose 1.7 per cent.

Some areas in the south of Adelaide have become less affordable, while some areas in the north have become more affordable since the last release.

Also read: Australia's most expensive suburbs

Hobart

Greater Hobart has a RAI of 111, meaning the city remains moderately unaffordable.

After Sydney, Greater Hobart is the least affordable city, due to relatively lower incomes and high rental yields.

Unaffordability has increased slightly, as the RAI score dropped by 1 point.

Pockets at the fringes of Greater Hobart have become more affordable.
Companies like Apple could move closer to opening stores in India as the government cuts red tape

India Monday announced sweeping moves to expand foreign investment in civil aviation, defence and a string of other sectors as part of attempts to open up the economy.

The government eased restrictions on foreign direct investment (FDI) in nine areas as it looks to spur investment in the world's second most populous country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that the "radical" changes would make "India the most open economy in the world for FDI" and were aimed at generating jobs for the country's tens of millions of young people.

Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the aim was to make it easier for overseas companies to manufacture in India, notorious for its red tape and labyrinthine regulations.

Under the changes, companies like Apple could move closer to opening stores in India after the government eased regulations on local sourcing.

Overseas companies will in future be allowed to own local airlines outright, compared to a previous 49 percent cap, with government approval. Investment in building and modernising airports around the country will also be eased.

The cap on foreign investment in defence was raised to 100 percent from 49 percent, subject to government approval, in cases which give India access to modern technology.

"These are sectors in which India needs huge amounts of investment and the government's assessment is that these sectors also need injections of new technology which will lead to productivity gains for the economy," Devendra Kumar Pant, chief economist at India Ratings & Research in New Delhi, told AFP.

Central bank governor Raghuram Rajan, credited with helping to reform and revive the economy, announced at the weekend he would not seek a second term in September -- raising concern among analysts about the government's commitment to reform.

Modi stormed to power in 2014, promising an overhaul of the faltering economy. Shortly after taking the reins his government raised foreign investment caps in the defence and insurance sectors and for some railway projects.

Story continues

Growth is now chugging along at 7.9 percent, the fastest of any major economy.

But the government has been criticised for failing to implement major reforms to boost investment and help create jobs.

- 'Cutting edge' -

The announcements came after Modi chaired a meeting of his top officials Monday, looking to increase foreign investment from the 55.46 billion dollars reached last financial year.

Single-brand foreign retailers can now operate stores for three years before having to comply with local sourcing rules -- and for five years if they can prove their products are "cutting edge" or "state-of-the-art".

Apple last month hit a roadblock in its plans after the government ruled it must buy at least 30 percent of its parts locally if it wants to open stores in India.

The government also permitted 100 percent FDI in teleports, direct-to-home and cable networks as well as mobile TV -- without the need for government approval.

In the pharmaceuticals sector, it permitted foreign companies to own up to 74 percent of brownfield or existing projects without the need for prior approval.

The changes to defence come after Modi vowed to end India's status as the world's number one defence importer. He wants 70 percent of hardware to be manufactured domestically by the turn of the decade.

But defence companies have been reluctant to transfer some technology to local firms under the current rules.

The easing of rules in civil aviation come on the heels of a long-awaited policy announced last week aimed at making air travel affordable for millions of Indians.

India's aviation sector has undergone rapid transformation since a liberalisation drive began in 2003, but most people still travel the vast country by rail and road.

"The opening of FDI will help bring in much-needed cash, aircraft fleet and best practices. We may see its positive impact over the next 6-12 months," said Amber Dubey, head of aerospace and defence at KPMG India.

"Foreign airlines can now focus on the customers and competition rather than wasting time on legal and regulatory issues."
German sportswear maker Puma is blaming a manufacturing flaw after several Swiss players had their jerseys torn in their Euro 2016 match with France

German sportswear maker Puma Monday blamed a manufacturing flaw after several Swiss players had their jerseys torn in their Euro 2016 match with France a day earlier.

Its investigation had found that "there was a faulty batch of material in which the yarn was damaged during production," the company said in a statement.
Prime Minister David Cameron visits the Toyota factory in Burnaston, UK, in 2011

Japanese carmaker Toyota sent a letter to its British staff Monday, jointly signed by Britain's biggest union Unite, warning of the economic consequences of the country leaving the European Union.

Ahead of Thursday's referendum on British EU membership, Toyota said it wished to clarify "misrepresentation" of its position by Leave campaigners which the company "strongly" objects to.

While holding back from urging staff and union members to vote for Remain, the letter warned of "significant business challenges" should vote to leave Britain leave the 28-nation bloc.

Toyota said "free access to the European Market is of critical importance" for its UK operations.

"Nearly 90 percent of all our vehicles (made in the UK) are exported and 75 percent of all our vehicle production is made for our customers in the EU," it added.

Toyota has two factories in Britain employing more than 3,400 people.

Earlier this year, British industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed that three-quarters of its members believed staying in the EU was best for business.

Political opinion polls put the contest at neck-and-neck, although financial markets and betting firms have Remain as the clear favourite.
Lisa Rein writes, "In less than a year, Timothy Leary was imprisoned in three different

continentsand it could've been worse. After escaping from a California

prison with the help of the Weatherman Underground and the Brotherhood of

Eternal Love, he and Rosemary fled Algeria

from a 'revolutionary bust' by Black Panther leader Eldridge Cleaver, only

to be jailed in Switzerland when President Nixon personally demanded his

extradition back to the U.S."

Allen Ginsberg saved him with an international PR blitz that convinced the

Swiss to give him temporary asylum. Leary's archivist, Michael Horowitz,

tells what it was like to be the Learys' primary link to the U.S. during

their turbulent first year in exile.

Highlights include unpublished letters from Tim and Rosemary Leary, Allen

Ginsberg and Owsley, rare photographs and documents, and an annotated

psychedelic Christmas card from the "Sunshine Family" (the Brotherhood of

Eternal Love).
Stocks, sterling and oil soared at the start of the week after polls suggested the U.K. was more likely to vote to remain in the European Union in Thursdays referendum than previously expected. Riva Gold assesses how the market may react. Photo: Reuters

With Britons set to vote this Thursday on whether to leave the European Union, there has been no shortage of speculation of how a British exit  or Brexit  would impact the economies of the UK and its trading partners.

Last week, Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau added his own dire prediction to the pile, predicting that a leave vote could put at risk tens of thousands of UK jobs at Canadian companies with operations in Britain.

Its not unusual for politicians to make hyperbolic statements ahead of referenda that have the potential to shift the economic map. Just ask the head of Unilever, who said last week Britons could see ice cream costs rise by as much as 50 per cent if Britain leaves the union.

But while tens of thousands is a pretty broad range, the claim follows a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers that the UK economy as a whole could lose 950,000 jobs if the Brexit goes through, so Morneaus not alone is seeing significant fallout. And experts agree a leave vote could cause many British jobs to do just that.

There could be a significant loss in Britain, but I think theres also going to be a significant disruption in the world, says Jack Mintz, an economist and presidents fellow at the University of Calgarys School of Public Policy.

It partly depends, even if Britain left, on what kinds of arrangements follow after that.

Indeed, the one certainty of a leave vote would be the uncertainty that would immediately follow. But what seems clear is that Canada to would have negotiate new trade deals with the UK, while UKs broken ties with Europe would make the UK market considerably less appealing for many Canadian players.

What actually happens in terms of accommodation afterwards is one thing, says Mintz.

The other thing is if Canadian firms operating in Britain are finding it difficult to access the EU, they could easily go to another country with access to the European Union.

While Canadian companies operating in Britain run the gamut of industries  Bombardier is a major employer, Nexen another  its the financial and high-tech sectors where the major job losses are likely to occur, says Kurt Huebner, a political science professor at the University of British Columbia.

Story continues

We have to look carefully what those Canadian companies are doing in the UK. Are they producing (goods) or are they in the financial sector? he says.

Some of them may have very low transfer costs for them moving from London to somewhere else.

In other words, while its a major endeavor for Bombardier to pull up a production line and move it overseas, a bank or software producer would have more flexibility to shift to another centre if it makes sense.

And banks and tech firms cover a lot of jobs among Canadian companies in the UK.

Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of Montreal, and Toronto-Dominion Bank are all employers in the UK, while the Canada-United Kingdom Chamber of Commerce counts among its member several small tech, legal and support companies, many of whom value their London address for the access it provides to the rest of the European market.

It all depends on how many of these Canadian banks were there for the eurozone relationship transaction type of clearing things. Thats the key, says Angelo Katsoras, a geopolitical analyst at National Bank Financial.

If they leave, the process of moving this stuff out begins fairly quickly, in my opinion.

This also means that Canadian-based companies that export to the UK could see business hurt, though the impact on this side of the pond is not expected to be too significant.

Dana Fox, director of global business development with Canadian-based Athena software, says a Brexit would mean he would have to forge individual relationships with EU countries, rather than enjoying full access through Athenas UK office.

Cost of entry into each of these countries independently will exceed our capacity to invest in business development in the EU, he says.

This doesnt necessarily mean Athena will cut jobs, but it would have to rework its expansion strategy, he says.

Of the companies that do end up cutting jobs, Mintz says it might not be too long before they reappear again, as North American companies looking for European access find an alternative to London, such as Frankfurt, or even Dublin.

If Canadian firms operating in Britain are finding it difficult to access the EU, they could easily go to another country with access to the European union, he says.

I suspect that one of the things that could happen over time is that Ireland could be a very significant beneficiary of Britain leaving.
In the next 10 years a significant percentage of Canadas labour force  up to 42 per cent  is at risk of being bumped off the job by automation, according to a new report this month by the Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship (BII+E). Although the male-dominated transportation sector is expected to take a big hit, the rise of the machines adversely impacts women more than men, as female workers will lose their jobs in customer service, office support, sales and administration.

According to another recent report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) women could also miss out on tomorrows new jobs in computer, technology and engineering-related fields because the new and emerging roles are outpacing the rate at which women currently enter those fields.

Opportunity amidst the rise of the machines

And yet, experts say theres opportunity amidst the technological tumult.

Canadians shouldnt regard technological advances as the enemy, said Armine Yalnizyan a senior economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), explaining that socio-economic, technological and demographic developments will create new categories of work.

On the other side of this we will have jobs that we didnt even know existed years before. There will always be plenty of work to be done and more creative work.

With the market continuously changing theres no path to future-proofing existing jobs and sectors where women are overrepresented. Instead, in order to master the jobs of tomorrow, she emphasized the importance of businesses to invest in training and for workers across all industries to upgrade their skills and commit to lifelong learning.

Where the jobs are

The WEF report highlights growth in new STEM job areas (science, technology, engineering, and math) including data analysts, which companies expect will help them gain insights from the flood of data generated by the technological disruptions.

It also discusses other new specialties such as new types of human resources and organizational development specialists, engineering specialties such as materials, bio-chemicals, nanotech and robotics, regulatory and government-relations specialists, geospatial information systems experts and commercial and industrial designers.

Story continues

The WEF highlighted that social skills like persuasiveness, emotional intelligence and the ability to teach others will be in higher demand across industries compared to narrow technical skills, such as programming or equipment operation and control. And cognitive abilities such as creativity and mathematical reasoning and process skills (active listening and critical thinking) will be a growing part of core skills requirements for many industries.

Yalnizyan noted that, for hundreds of years, people feared that machines would replace them.

We were worried about it when we mechanized agriculture; we worried when we mechanized the weaving of cloth; when cars replaced horses and when the first wave of robots came in the 1960s, she said, explaining that society finds a way to use technology to its advantage in order to make money and to create more jobs.

The conversation comes up with every wave of innovation, she said adding, Resistance is futile.

Female workforce pipeline

In her 32 years championing gender-parity in the workplace Jane Wilson, director of womens and newcomer services at Community MicroSkills Development Centre, has seen dozens of programs successfully help women upgrade their skills. MicroSkills supports womens training for employment in non-traditional jobs in areas such as IT and operates trade apprenticeship programs assisting women.

Wilson has observed that while some programs have made great inroads for small numbers of women in several sectors, they havent made a very significant impact overall when considering the large percentage of the workforce comprised of women.



We have heard a symphony of voices in the discussion over the years, resulting in some really great, but disconnected and underfunded initiatives that help relatively few women, she said.

As a result, the labour force remains deeply sex-segregated and that threatens womens livelihoods into the future, especially those of Indigenous women, racial minorities and immigrant women, Wilson said.

To take advantage of the changes in technology and advancements in computerization, Wilson advocates for a national conversation that involves all of the domains responsible for the pipeline of the female workforce. This will ensure that a critical mass of young girls and women are heading to STEM occupations to fulfill demand and to equip themselves with liveable occupations, she said.

Specifically, government, primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, community groups, career educators, employment counselors need to develop a strategy with targets and timelines, she explained, along with a discussion on training and transitions, for those in the workforce.

Gender equality

Yalnizyan agrees that gender equity and gender employment is unfinished business from 30 years ago, and said both business and government can take advantage of future jobs by making a commitment to gender equality in the boardroom, C-suite, and at every rung of the ladder.

We need to make sure that we insert this conversation about equity; namely, that a woman can do anything a man can do. And should be paid at the same rate as a man when she does it, Yalnizyan said.

Its time for all citizens to expect that people are treated equally, and equally well, in the workplace regardless of skin colour or gender or sexual orientation, she added.
(Reuters) - Tesla Motors Inc is eyeing Shanghai for its China production base in an investment that could be worth about $9 billion, Bloomberg reported. Tesla has signed a non-binding agreement with Shanghai government-owned Jinqiao Group for the production base, Bloomberg reported on Monday, citing a person familiar with the matter. Jinqiao and Tesla may invest about $4.5 billion each in the partnership, with the Chinese group putting up land for most of its share, Bloomberg reported. Tesla and Jinqiao were not immediately available for comment. Suzhou and Hefei are among the other Chinese cities vying for the project, according to the report. (Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Kirti Pandey)
By Julie Gordon VANCOUVER (Reuters) - The City of Vancouver said on Monday it had taken legal action against the Canadian energy regulator's approval of Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which would increase the number of oil tankers passing through city waters. In a statement posted on the city's website, Mayor Gregor Robertson called the review by the National Energy Board (NEB) "flawed and biased" and said that it ignored scientific evidence on the consequences of a major oil spill and the impact of greenhouse gas emissions. The city filed its application for judicial review at the Federal Court of Appeal in Vancouver on Friday. The suit aims to quash the NEB's recommendation in favor of Kinder Morgan's plan to nearly treble capacity on the pipeline, which carries crude from Alberta to a port in Metro Vancouver. The regulator said last month that it had found the C$6.8 billion ($5.31 billion) project, which would boost capacity from 300,000 barrels per day to 890,000 bpd and the number of oil tankers in Vancouver waters nearly seven-fold, would not cause significant harm to the environment. But critics, who say the project will hasten the development of Alberta's oil sands and worry about the impact of an oil spill on Canada's west coast, were quick to pledge action against the regulator's decision. The Squamish First Nation, whose traditional territories include areas directly impacted by the pipeline and shipping routes, filed an application for judicial review late last week. Environmental groups have also taken legal action. The regulator declined to comment on the specific court actions, noting that the scope of its review of projects such as the Trans Mountain expansion is mandated under federal law. Ali Hounsell, a spokeswoman for the expansion project, said the company is reviewing the applications and "will be responding more fully through the court process." The NEB's recommendation on the project must still be reviewed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet, with a final decision expected in December. ($1 = 1.2813 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Julie Gordon; Editing by Chris Reese and Alan Crosby)
As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ
Most beautiful female doctors of China honored

From:Shanghai Daily | 2016-06-20 14:11

Twenty doctors were honored the most beautiful female doctors of China yesterday in Shanghai. They were honored for their excellent professional capability, high ethics and devotion to the career.

Among the winners, Dr Zhao Weili from Ruijin Hospital and Dr Chen Jing from Shanghai Childrens Medical Center were from Shanghai. Both of them are blood disease experts.

Dr Hua Keqin from Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital of Fudan University won the special award for her contribution to Chinese field of gynecology.
Hillary likes to take the credit, but never the blame

2016-06-20 12:03

Democratic US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton departs a discussion on national security during a campaign stop at the Virginia Air and Space Center in Hampton, Virginia, US, June 15, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's rhetoric may resonate with her supporters when she talks tough and claims lots of credit, as she did in her national security speech earlier this month, but for people in China, the words ring a bit hollow.

It's a well known truth that politicians like to take the credit and never the blame, but when Clinton said "I wrestled with the Chinese over a climate deal in Copenhagen," it is a pat on the back she certainly doesn't deserve.

Most experts in the field know well that China's strong resolve to fight pollution and climate change is not a result of outside pressure from people like Clinton, but rather the desire of its 1.4 billion people.

In Washington last week, Nick Stern, known for his Stern Review on climate and economics, praised China for being a global leader in the fight against climate change and for its action and ambitious goals in its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20).

Clinton loves to tout her experience. "I have sat in the Situation Room and advised the president (Barack Obama) on some of the toughest choices he faced," she said.

What she did not say is that as secretary of state, she was directly responsible for some of the worst decisions he ever made, such as the regime change in Libya in 2011. Libya is in total chaos today and has become a haven for Islamic State (IS) terrorists largely because of US intervention. The IS group itself is largely a by-product of the US' invasion of Iraq, which Clinton endorsed as a senator from New York.

Despite being accused of all sorts of things by US politicians like Clinton, China has never done anything even remotely as damaging to peace and stability in a country or region.

To many Chinese, Clinton's rhetoric reflects a Cold War, zero-sum mentality, something many people working on China-US relations have warned against. She claims Moscow and Beijing are "deeply envious of our alliances around the world, because they have nothing to match them".

Yet she conveniently avoids mentioning that China by principle is a non-aligned country and the US' alliances are a legacy of the Cold War, which ended more than 20 years ago.

A group of scholars discussing restraint in US foreign policy at the Cato Institute in Washington on Wednesday rightly condemned such alliances, saying they had emboldened US allies to take provocative actions in the belief that Washington would always come to their aid regardless of what they do.

Clinton also claims that if the US doesn't lead the world, there will either be chaos or other countries will rush in to fill the void, and the choices they make will not be to the benefit of the US.

She clearly believes that the US is the savior of the world, and the world will come to an end without US supremacy. But does that suggest her "presidency" will be one of total US global dominance, leaving no room for the rise of countries such as China, Russia, India, Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia?

Such mentality is the most likely reason why the US has been engaged in constant wars. Scholars say the US has been at war 93 percent of the time since its founding in 1776. That is literally 222 out of 239 years, meaning the US has been at peace for only 17 years.

It is true that most researchers in China-US relations are worried by the lack of strategic trust between China, a rising power, and the US, the only superpower. But when US politicians like Clinton make these kinds of confrontational speeches, it only makes things worse.

In her speech, Clinton bellowed: "Countries like Russia and China often work against us".

Such rhetoric does not suit someone who aspires to being the president of the United States, especially because she knows full well China is not the villain and which country is.

Or, is she trying to reinforce Americans' misunderstanding of China with a definite purpose?

No one knows exactly how the US presidential election will play out, but whoever gets elected in November would do well to abandon the Cold War-type zero-sum mentality and pursue a path of 21st century win-win cooperation with China.

Contact the writer at chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com.
Two Past ASSE Presidents Made Fellows

Nancy McWilliams of Virginia Beach, Va., and Kathy Seabrook of Mendham, N.J., will receive the honor of Fellow, recognizing their career-long commitments to worker safety and their leadership in the profession, during the Safety 2016 conference.

As thousands of members of the American Society of Safety Engineers prepare to attend ASSE's Safety 2016 conference and expo next week, the society is preparing to honor two of its past presidents -- Nancy McWilliams of Virginia Beach, Va., and Kathy Seabrook of Mendham, N.J. They will receive the honor of Fellow, its highest distinction, recognizing their career-long commitments to worker safety and their leadership in the profession, during the conference.

McWilliams retired in 2013 as director of U.S. Department of Commerce's office of occupational safety and health. She cited two events that stood out in her career: "First, following 9/11, chairing a federal interagency working group in D.C. for three years that helped over 40 agencies improve their emergency plans. Second, being on a 2011 task force of the Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health that gave OSHA specific recommendations asking the Office of Personnel Management to strengthen the hiring criteria for safety managers in the federal workforce to include a college degree or certification."

Seabrook, the founder and president of Global Solutions, Inc., has safety and health certifications in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe, enabling her to consult with multinational companies across the globe. Her work in Europe in the 1990s introduced her to risk-based systems approaches that she has advocated in the United States, including her leadership in developing the ISO 45001 global management system. Her work as chair of the Center of Safety and Health Sustainability has helped move corporations to include their occupational safety and health records as part of the financial information they give to the investment community.

"As one of ASSE's current Fellows shared with me, this is not an award but a designation," Seabrook said. "It is earned through a lifetime of work on behalf of our profession. For that, I am humbled and grateful for the opportunities I have had. I have contributed and worked alongside and been mentored by some of the best in our profession."
In-Depth

How Microsoft Partners Are Putting IoT into Action

The Internet of Things is everywhere. RCP looks at how Microsoft partners are getting involved and starting to make money in this burgeoning field.

For most emerging technologies, the path to becoming a viable business practice follows a similar bell-shaped curve. The lowest part of the curve represents the technology as a purely academic idea, just a twinkle in the IT industry's eye. As our expectations for this new technology build, the curve rises. Then comes a steep dip -- our disappointment as the earliest real-world examples of that technology fall short. But sooner or later that trough is followed by another incline, this one more gradual, as implementations become more successful and expectations become more realistic.

Gartner Inc. calls this curve the "hype cycle." Every IT trend past and present, from cloud to 3-D printing to quantum computing, goes through some iteration of this curve. And currently right smack-dab at the top of that hype curve -- the "peak of inflated expectations," in Gartner's parlance -- is the Internet of Things (IoT).

There's no doubt that IoT is getting a lot of hype -- enough to inspire backlash in the form of multiple satirical Web sites (one called "We Put a Chip in It" has the subtitle, "It was just a dumb thing. Then we put a chip in it. Now it's a smart thing."). But that snark belies IoT's promise. For 2016, Gartner predicts that spending on IoT endpoint products will increase by nearly 20 percent year-over-year to total $1.4 trillion; by 2020, it expects that figure to top $3 trillion. IoT is also a lot more entrenched than the current buzz around it might suggest. Internet-connected "things" have existed in some form or another for many years -- at least as long as RFID technology has been around and arguably even earlier. However, as the technologies related to data collection, storage and analysis have become more advanced, so has the number of connected devices accelerated. CompTIA projects the number of IoT-enabled devices will more than double between 2016 and 2020 to 50.1 billion -- roughly six devices per person.

It's obvious that IoT is more than a flash in the pan. Across consumers and enterprises, there is a real and growing demand for ways to collect data from devices to solve problems. What's less obvious is how IT channel partners can start to make money from IoT. With the IoT category still so new, partners may find themselves navigating waters that have largely been uncharted.

In the IoT Mystery, There Are Margins

Collecting data from a single device is one thing, but it's quite another to collect vast amounts of data from many different devices used by many different industries. Many of the biggest consumers of Internet-enabled devices are enterprises that use large, industrial, legacy equipment -- think manufacturers, trucking and construction firms, or facilities-management companies. These businesses have likely never thought to collect data from their equipment at the scale that IoT currently makes possible, so the devices they use have never been digitized. This makes these companies ripe for the expertise of partners that can help them transition from the analog world.

"Tying these devices, these 'things' together and making them do things together -- that's building a system. And that's the whole point of a systems integrator."



Dave Sobel, Senior Director of Partner Community, LogicNow Ltd. "Tying these devices, these 'things' together and making them do things together -- that's building a system. And that's the whole point of a systems integrator."

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella described this transition during a keynote talk at the Hannover Messe trade conference in Germany this past April. In front of an audience of industrial technology leaders, Nadella stated that while industries such as manufacturing have always used some form of IT -- the earliest CRM and ERP applications were built to answer manufacturers' needs, for example -- the rise of Internet-enabled systems represents a sea change, blurring the line between the digital and the industrial.

"I would posit that what is new today is that the very thing you produce, the very thing that you manufacture, for the first time is connected with all of the web of activity around it," Nadella said. "That is what's really different. It is not just the connection with everything. It is the ability to reason about that activity, the data that is being generated, continuously. And not just reason about it, but to gain insight and predictive power that can then be fed back into the operation of the thing you manufacture. These new digital feedback loops that I refer to as systems of intelligence is the new inflection point."

(Notably, Nadella did not use the terms "Internet of Things" or "IoT" in his keynote, even though that's precisely what he was describing. Instead, he described this transition as the convergence of "IT" and "OT," or operations technology.)

Of course, Nadella's vision of a world where manufacturers are also digital companies introduces a host of new problems that partners have to resolve. What happens when traditionally low-tech industries go high-tech?

"I always like to point out that in mystery, there are margins," says Dave Sobel, senior director of partner community at LogicNow Ltd. "If this was simple, it wouldn't nearly be as much of a big opportunity."
(Bloomberg) -- Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc. plans to seek as much as 24.4 billion pesos ($526 million) in what could become the countrys biggest initial public offering in more than two years, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The building material producer, a unit of the largest cement maker in the Americas, plans to offer 2.03 billion new shares at 10.5 pesos to 12 pesos apiece, the people said. Cornerstone investors have agreed to buy more than $100 million of shares in the IPO, according to the people, who asked not be identified as the information is private.

At the top end of the range, the Cemex IPO would be the largest IPO in the Philippines since supermarket operator Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc.s $621 million share sale in October 2013, data compiled by Bloomberg show. More companies in the country may revive their plans for equity offerings after president-elect Rodrigo Duterte said current economic policies will continue, BDO Capital & Investment Corp. said last month.

Cornerstone investors in the Cemex Philippines IPO are mostly foreign institutions, the people said. The company plans to start taking investor orders on Tuesday, according to the people.

Citigroup Inc., HSBC Holdings Plc and JPMorgan Chase & Co. are managing the offering, together with domestic lead underwriter BDO Capital. Proceeds from the offering will be used to repay debt, according to a regulatory filing this month.

Paul Vincent Arcenas, vice president for strategic planning at Cemex Philippines, didnt reply to calls and mobile-phone messages seeking comment. IFR reported the price range earlier Monday in Manila, citing unidentified people.

Cemex SAB, based in Monterrey, Mexico, said last year it may sell as much as $1.5 billion of asset as it seeks to restore an investment-grade capital structure. The company agreed to sell $400 million of U.S. properties in May, following a $53 million agreement to dispose of its Bangladesh and Thailand operations announced in March.

--With assistance from Ditas Lopez To contact the reporters on this story: Joyce Koh in Singapore at jkoh38@bloomberg.net, Regina Tan in Hong Kong at rtan87@bloomberg.net. To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ben Scent at bscent@bloomberg.net, Timothy Sifert

2016 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- Standing near paddy fields that stretched to the horizon, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak had one message for voters of the rural district of Sungai Besar: My government will take care of you.

Fairuzita Mohamad Amir, who was in the crowd Najib addressed earlier this month in the state of Selangor, voted on Saturday in a by-election that saw his United Malays National Organisation crush the competition. The 51-year-old widow grows rice on 2.5 acres of land with the help of subsidies plus access to fertilizers and pesticides, for which she credits UMNO.

"I learned to say UMNO along with my ABCs," Fairuzita said. "Over the years, they have helped me a lot. I need their support and they have mine."

Najib needs to keep smallholders like Fairuzita happy as he seeks the votes of rural and semi-urban areas to retain power in the next general election due by 2018. Farmers -- many of them ethnic Malays -- are a linchpin for his party, which leads one of the worlds longest-ruling coalitions. Their votes have a higher weighting than their work, which contributes to less than a tenth of gross domestic product.

Najib Scandals

"Even as Malaysia becomes more developed, the importance of the farmers and the rural voters remains intact," said Khor Yu Leng, head of Southeast Asian research at LMC International, a consultancy that focuses on agriculture. "The concentration of seats in farming areas is quite big for Malaysia, and UMNO will want to strengthen that."

At stake for UMNO is the unbroken rule of its Barisan Nasional coalition since independence in 1957. The party is watching Najibs ability to shake off a year of political turmoil and focus on bolstering a slowing economy.

UMNOs victories with bigger majorities in Sungai Besar and a northern state on Saturday indicate Najib passed the first test of public support on peninsular Malaysia since the scandals broke. Cabinet ministers made daily trips to the districts before election day, shaking hands and at times handing out bags of rice to the poor. An opposition in disarray, which fielded multiple candidates in each seat, also assisted UMNO.

Story continues

Malaysian farmers have been hit by falling commodity prices, rising living costs and a stock investment that hasnt always delivered what was promised. Najib has responded by pledging bigger subsidies for rubber planters and rice farmers in the 2016 budget. He announced monetary handouts this month for rubber farmers totaling 194 million ringgit ($47.5 million).

Farmers, Fishermen

Najib, 62, has battled graft accusations since July, and denies wrongdoing. He was cleared by the attorney general this year over revelations that $681 million appeared in his accounts before the last election in 2013. The money was a donation from the Saudi royal family and most was later returned, the government said.

The premier has also been embroiled in probes into the finances of troubled state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd, while former leader Mahathir Mohamad and opposition groups sought to whip up anger over a goods and services tax that was imposed in 2015.

"Farmers and fishermen are from the mainstream Malay heartlands and those heartlands are key to Barisan Nasional regardless of any issue, whether its about GST or 1MDB," said Ahmad Martadha Mohamed, dean of the college of law, government and international studies at Universiti Utara Malaysia. "If the prime minister continues to provide support to these groups, they will continue to support him in the future."

Electoral Map

The importance of rural voters can be seen in Malaysias electoral map. Settlers under Malaysias Federal Land Development Authority -- a government agency known as Felda formed in 1956 with World Bank funding to help steer the rural poor out of poverty by providing them with land to plant -- are backbone voters in over 50 districts, according to the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research.

In the last general election there were 125 rural seats and 54 semi-urban ones, of a total of 222, said Khor.

"State assistance touches every aspect of their lives -- an education grant for their children, an entrepreneurial grant, a house, or do they want to choose to go on their own," Khor said of smallholder farmers, who number more than 600,000. "It might appear illogical to vote for the opposition because what if you get punished?"

All Because

Still, some farmers have expressed unhappiness over a decline in the value of their shares in Felda, while others have criticized managements investment decisions. Shares in Felda Global Ventures Holdings Bhd. have fallen 67 percent since its listing in 2012.

"No one thinks about the Malays except UMNO, we must remember that," Felda Global chairman Mohd Isa Abdul Samad said last month. "Our successes are not because of our own cleverness. Many Malays forget. Its all because of UMNO."

At the next election, Najib will probably further target the bottom 40 percent of the population who can swing votes in tight races.

Isman Abdul Karim, who grows palm oil on a 5-acre plot of land near Sungai Besar, won a manual oil palm roll picker at an event organized by the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities in the days before the by-election. Other prizes included bags of fertilizer, and a motorized palm oil fruit cutter.

The father of nine settled on the land in the early 1960s, and says his life has improved over the years. One child received a government scholarship to study in the U.S. and is now a computer engineer. Independent smallholders like him make up about 13 percent of palm oil planters, according to the Economic Planning Unit.

"Ive been a UMNO supporter from way back," the 78-year-old said, resting in a shed at his plantation. He works the land alone though gets help to pick oil palm fruits. "We used to get a lot of support for the land but now not so much. But there is no other party but UMNO for me."

--With assistance from Anuradha Raghu and Manirajan Ramasamy To contact the reporter on this story: Shamim Adam in Kuala Lumpur at sadam2@bloomberg.net. To contact the editors responsible for this story: Rosalind Mathieson at rmathieson3@bloomberg.net, Daniel Ten Kate

2016 Bloomberg L.P.
Maker Movement

President Unveils New Initiatives During National Week of Making

Maker Promise involves more than 1,400 schools, almost 1 million students and all 50 of the United States.

President Obama has proclaimed this week a National Week of Making, unveiling a number of new initiatives, including a project involving more than 1,400 schools, almost 1 million students and all 50 of the United States.

Maker Promise is a pledge by a K-12 school leader to support the students in his or her school or district by taking three concrete steps: dedicating a space for making; designating a campaign for making; and hosting a public showcase of student projects. Maker Promise is a collaboration with Digital Promise, a bicoastal nonprofit, and Maker Ed, an Oakland-based nonprofit.

With support from Chevron and Google, Digital Promise and Maker Ed are also launching a national network of Maker Promise schools with professional development guides, safety kits, storytelling tools and other resources.

A program called the CTE MakeOver Challenge, co-sponsored by the Department of Educations Career and Technical Education division, is also part of the Maker Promise initiative. It launched earlier this year and has received entries from more than 600 schools. A few example projects include:

Baltimore County Public Schools in Baltimore County, MD, will launch a Mobile Innovation Lab to support access for maker learning opportunities to over 110,000 students in 175 schools and programs district wide.

Fox Chapel Area School District in Pittsburgh, PA, will integrate making into its computer science curriculum for more than 2,000 elementary school students, including the student-created and facilitated program, Code to Create.

Vancouver Public Schools in Vancouver, WA, has pledged to implement Learning Studio, with support from HP, Microsoft and Digital Promise Global, to make digital design tools available in support of monthly student design challenges and sharing student projects online.

West Contra Costa Unified School District in Contra Costa County, CA, will launch a Fab Lab at Crespi Middle School in fall 2016 and create additional STEM curriculum.

During National Week of Making, we recommit to sparking the creative confidence of all Americans and to giving them the skills, mentors and resources they need to harness their passion and tackle some of our planets greatest challenges, President Obama said in a prepared statement. The National Week of Making officially started June 17 and continues through June 23.

In addition to the MakeOver Challenge and Maker Promise commitments by schools and districts, many other communities, companies and organizations are taking steps to create and repurpose existing spaces.

4.0 Schools  a private organization that describes itself as a nonprofit early-stage education incubator, with a focus on reform and innovation  will equip up to 100 aspiring founders to launch pop-up versions of learning spaces, from makerspaces to recreation centers to coding labs. Up to 30 of these founders will be equipped with coaching, $10,000 in capital and community support to grow these pop-ups into 10 student pilot programs in the next year.

Chevron is announcing that an additional $3 million in cash and in-kind support has been raised to further support its original 2014 commitment to create fab labs in the United States. These contributions support the addition of three fully equipped mobile labs and additional programs to allow students in more communities to get access to making.

The city of Pittsburgh, the Sprout Fund and organizations from the Remake Learning Network will work together to reimagine Pittsburghs recreation centers as accessible neighborhood-based places for technology-enhanced learning. By May 2017, this partnership will yield a community plan, site-specific curriculum, renderings and space designs and a demonstration effort.

Fab Foundation will support the opening of 12 new fab labs over the next year, reaching 20 more communities across the U.S. and introducing about 20,000 individuals to making and digital fabrication over the next year.

Google is partnering with MakerEd and the Childrens Museum of Pittsburgh to award $1 million over the next two years to schools, libraries, nonprofits and recreation and community centers to build more than 100 new makerspaces as part of a new Making Spaces program.

The Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM will partner with Toyota and Cal State University, Dominguez Hills to bring four mobile and digital fabrication labs to K-12 schools in the Los Angeles region, reaching 2,000 teachers and 12,000 students over the next five years.

Many other initiatives are in the works. For details, visit the White House website or the White House Press Office.
* Rob Shuter to take over by July 2017

* Has risk-management, banking experience

* Comes days after firm agreed to pay $1.7 bln fine

* MTN looks to overhaul governance standards, strategy (Adds analyst comment, appointment of head M&A)

By Tiisetso Motsoeneng

JOHANNESBURG, June 20 (Reuters) - South African mobile phone operator MTN Group named the head of Vodafone Europe as its new CEO on Monday, bringing in an outsider with a risk-management background 10 days after it agreed to pay a $1.7 billion fine in Nigeria.

Rob Shuter, who also has a background in banking, replaces Sifiso Dabengwa who resigned last November after Nigeria imposed the penalty, the latest in a series of disputes exposing governance issues at Africa's biggest mobile phone operator.

The fine, originally set at $5.2 billion but reduced in a settlement, was imposed after MTN failed to deactivate more than 5 million unregistered SIM cards. Nigerian authorities have been cracking down on unregistered cards, concerned they are being used for criminal activity in a country battling an insurgency by Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

"MTN has weathered a rather difficult storm and will continue to review its governance and management operating structure," said MTN Executive Chairman Phuthuma Nhleko, backing the appointment of Shuter who will start by July 2017.

As well as leading MTN's efforts to overhaul its governance standards, Shuter will also oversee the formulation of a new strategic growth plan. The firm is looking for new revenue streams as competition and regulation hits its profit margins.

Shuter, former head of investment banking at Standard Bank and managing director at Nedbank retail banking unit division, has been CEO of Vodafone Netherlands since 2012. In 2015, his role was expanded to include other European countries excluding the UK, Italy, Spain and Germany.

Analysts and investors welcomed the appointment of the South African national, saying his track record meant he could help MTN shake off the shackles of being regarded as a stock with limited growth outlook.

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"It (Other OTC: ITGL - news) 's a strategically sound appointment because mobile phones are moving from being just a communication tool to distributing content and provide banking services," said Momentum SP Reid analyst Sibonginkosi Nyanga.

Abax Investments, a Cape Town-based asset management firm that holds shares in MTN, also welcomed Shuter. Founding member and director Anthony Sedgwick said Shuter's background and track record would be an important asset.

M&A BOSS

MTN also said it had appointed a new head of mergers, acquisitions and strategy to help look for new growth areas that include encouraging its more than 300 million users to use mobile phones for everything from storing money to paying bills.

The company did not name the executive but said he had a wealth of banking experience.

Founded with the government's help after the end of apartheid in 1994, MTN was touted as one of South Africa's biggest corporate success stories with operations in more than 20 countries in the Middle East and Africa.

But the company has been caught in the middle of disputes over its businesses in Iran, Syria and, most recently, Nigeria. It has also faced run-ins with authorities in other countries where it operates, including Uganda and Cameroon.

Nhleko, who was appointed interim executive chairman following Dabengwa's resignation with an eye to renegotiating the fine in Nigeria, will revert to his role as non-executive chairman as soon as Shuter starts his new role.

Separately, Moody's affirmed MTN's Baa3 rating, saying the reduced Nigerian fine and payment terms were within the company's west African country's unit to pay off.

However, the rating agency maintained its negative outlook on the stock because MTN had been unable to repatriate dividends from Nigeria over the last six months.

Shares (Berlin: DI6.BE - news) in MTN, which have fallen about a third over the past year, closed down 0.25 percent at 144 rand. (Editing by James Macharia, Sonya Hepinstall and Pravin Char)
We can help you make sense of the agribusiness industry, extending from chemicals and fertilizers used as inputs into agriculture, to the commodities, food and by-products that are an output to farming, with policy and regulation applied at every step of the value chain.
There has been a significant increase in the number of GP-led transactions reviewed by LPs over the past 12 months, according to a study by Capstone Partners focused on GP-led Secondaries.
06/20/2016

What's in your wallet? If it's an American Express card and you're on your way to Costco, you may want to turn around and head for Walmart or Target. This is the day that Costco dumps Amex for Visa.

Costco and Amex spent 16 good years together but, as sometimes happens with relationships, it just sort of fizzled out over time. And now, just as when humans split the blanket, the rest of us are left to deal with the fall-out.

Costco members who previously had a Costco-issued American Express card should by now have received a new Costco/Citi Visa card in the mail -- officially called the Costco Anywhere Visa card.

Those who have been using a non-Costco Amex? Well, they're out of luck. The only credit card being accepted at Costco today is Visa. It doesn't have to be from Citi, but it must be a Visa.

Debit cards are OK, whether they're Mastercard or Visa. Costco cash cards are also OK, as are checks, cash, and EBT. But not the spurned American Express. Costco has, in effect, taken out a restraining order barring Amex cards from its check-out lanes.

Costco advises customers left in the lurch to apply for the Citi Visa. If that includes you, you can do so at Costco.com, or by calling 1-800-324-3098.

Some Costco customers have noted that the warehouse chain has not exactly deluged them with information about the switch. A brief email today said:

Starting today, Costco begins accepting all Visa credit cards, including the new Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi, both in the warehouse and at Costco gas stations.



American Express cards will no longer be accepted.

Short and sweet. Anyone who didn't happen onto the news through news reports or dumb luck might well be taken by surprise. Costco is notoriously stingy with information and has nothing at all in its press section about today's changeover other than glowing projections aimed at investors.

Some longtime Costco customers have vowed to go elsewhere, saying they simply don't want to give up their existing credit cards.

"I'm a small business person and my American Express card is the only one I ever use for business expenses. I'll be damned if I'll take on the bother and risk of another card just to keep Costco happy," said an internet entrepreneur who said he had been a Costco member for "decades" but said he would cancel his Costco membership and do more of his business-related shopping at Amazon.

Stirrings of discontent

Other consumers upset about the change include a consumer named Robert, who emailed us about it today.

"I have closed my Costco account and just spent over an hour on the phone canceling my Citi Bank Visa card," Robert said. "This will now impact my credit rating for closing both the new Visa and American Express Card. (American Express representative told me months ago that they would be closing my current AMX/Costco card and I would get a new AMX card. It now turns out, that is not true)."

We asked Robert why he didn't keep the Visa card. "I did not want another Visa card, especially from Citi Bank. I wanted my Amex card, with or without Costco. I had my Amex card long before it was tied to Costco," he said. "Mostly, I don't care for anyone deciding for me which credit cards I'll possess."

Glen of Fairfield, Calif., is unhappy with his new Citi card because it carries the RFID symbol, four wavy lines meant to symbolize radio waves.

"It's an indicator that this card is capable of transmitting your card's data 24/7. All it takes is some creep, with the right equipment, to copy your card's data and cause you credit problems for years to come," Glen said in a ConsumerAffairs review. "I'm not fond of anything that is actively transmitting my info and I think it's unfair that I must buy or provide a protective sleeve or 'special' wallet to prevent the capture of my data."

RFID not too unusual

RFID cards are not all that unusual. An industry newsletter, the Nilson Report, estimates there are 35 million chip cards in circulation in the U.S. All three major U.S. credit card companies issue them, although the technology is more widely used by transit agencies to provide quick service at subway entrances. The technology is also becoming popular for security applications -- ID cards that admit their users to selected secure areas, for example.

How vulnerable the cards are to fraud depends on who you ask. Consumer Reports warned back in 2011 that the information on your card could be used to make unauthorized purchases and said that the equipment needed to intercept RFID transmission was readily available for less than $100.

The advantage of RFID cards is that they are "contactless," meaning you don't have to swipe or insert your card in a reader, assuming you're at one of the few retailer locations using the technology. They're used mostly by retailers with lots of low-amount sales -- newsstands, coffee shops, and so forth, where customers tend to be in a hurry.
At the ServiStar users group meeting in Atlanta last month, 100 credit union staffers put themselves in the shoes of their members and prospective members.

At my table, we created a prospective member named Olive, a 21-year-old college graduate who had just landed her first professional job and recently gotten engaged. Olive needed to open a checking account and begin saving for her wedding. She was hearing about retirement at work and getting advice that she should plan for her first house and a family.

Start with what is it that the member wants, recommended Tansley Stearns, CME, CSE, chief impact officer at Filene, Madison, Wis., and a presenter at the users group. They dont want a car loan. They want a new car.

Understanding the emotional response of members along the way (for any loan) is important, she explained. When doing a mortgage, there is a lot of paperwork and then members wait. Members are wondering, Whats going on? Will I get my house? The appraiser just came; what happens now?
The teachers demand remains the release of their thirteen imprisoned comrades and the suspension of dozens of arrest warrants, but above all, the total rejection of the so-called Education Reform.

June 16, 2016

By Avispa Midia

Welcome to Oaxaca says a metal plate at the entrance to this city. A city worth knowing, with a great gastronomic and cultural diversity, colors, sounds and tastes. One of the states of Mexico with the most diversity in native languages, one of the richest in natural diversity, but also the 3rd poorest state in Mexico, according to statistics of the National Council for Evaluation of Social Development Policy (CONEVAL). Although, truth be told, there have always been two Oaxacas, the profound and everyday Oaxaca, as sold in advertising- a made-up Oaxaca offered to a wealthy sector. Today, an intense day of demonstrations throughout the entire state, the legend of Welcome to Oaxaca was a welcome for the federal police sent by the federal government to establish peace and order in this federal entity and to apply the Education Reform with military methods, says the lady and housewife, Jazmin Lopez, who has joined the reception.

In this entry of Oaxaca for those coming from Mexico City, known as la Hacienda Blanca, (White House), teachers and residents of the surrounding settlements blocked the access and detained hundreds of trucks carrying luxury cars, goods for commercial centers, building materials and machinery. They only allowed civilian vehicles to pass.

The same reception was given in each of the four corners of Oaxaca. For example, in Istmo de Tehuantepec, 8 hours from the city of Oaxaca, at least three large barricades were erected to prevent access to the elements of the Gendarmeria, a partnership created in the fight against drug trafficking.

The federal police arrived by air along the Pacific coast and with the use of tear gas, immediately tried to deter the barricades in Tehuantepec, Jalapa del Marques and Tequisistlan, all located in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region. However, the operation failed. Section 22 teachers and villagers regrouped to reinforce the resistance. At the end of the day, they added at least 9 barricades in this region. The Istmo is a land of warriors and police will have to undergo a great struggle if they want to enter, Professor Demetrio Bautista said.

Unable to enter land by the strong resistance and barricades in the state capital Oaxaca as well as in Istmo, the federal police have chosen to use helicopters and airplanes. This June 16th, at least three federal police aircraft landed at the Benito Juarez International Airport of Oaxaca, located in Santa Cruz Xoxocotlan. They carried about 500 armed federal agents.

Meanwhile, the encampment in the historic center of this city has been held since May 15 and the blockade of the Freeway 190, in the district of Nochixtlan (which links Mexico City to Oaxaca), completes its fourth day today. The same takes place with the inhabitants of San Andres Chicahuaxtla in the district of Putla de Guerrero, Oaxaca, as well as communities in the Southern Highlands and la Canada, who maintain their barricades.

The blockade in Hacienda Blanca is still expected to be maintained by Friday, June 17. Its a symbolic place where on Wednesday, June 15 riot equipment from the federal police was burned. In the same way, one prepares that during this time, a massive mobilization in Mexico City will take place, where more than 100,000 teachers are expected to join the mobilization.

The teachers demand remains the release of their thirteen imprisoned comrades and the suspension of dozens of arrest warrants, but above all, the total rejection of the so-called Education Reform.

Communication

Radio Planton, frequency 92.1, has become critical to this resistance, because through this medium the various activities carried out in the 7 regions of this state are publicized.

It is a means of communication triangulated with various community radio stations and free and independent media platforms on the Internet, but with a constant warning that the State will pull its signal, as has happened at other times. While at the same time the mass media maintains a media war to criminalize teachers. For example, during one of the last demonstrations on June 14, where at least 90,000 education workers, parents and organizations were mobilized, was not covered by mass media.

This radio frequency has also given those against this resistance the opportunity to speak, but they are immediately turned off with dozens of calls that parents make in support of the struggle of their childrens teachers.

Without Transportation

The bus company Autobuses de Oriente (ADO) decided to suspend trips from Mexico City to Oaxaca and conversely, indefinitely.
The looming federal police attack on the people and striking teachers of Oaxaca, Mexico has begun. There are reports of between six and eight demonstrators killed Sunday morning at the teachers-peoples highway blockade in Nochixtlan, northwest of the city of Oaxaca.

[ Photo: Nochixtlan, Oaxaca, Mexico. June 19, 2016 ]

By Scott Campbell

The looming federal police attack on the people and striking teachers of Oaxaca, Mexico has begun. There are reports of between six and eight demonstrators killed Sunday morning at the teachers-peoples highway blockade in Nochixtlan, northwest of the city of Oaxaca. The eight dead that the movement is confirming are Oscar Aguilar Ramirez, 25, Andres Sanabria Garcia, 23, Anselmo Cruz Aquino, 33, Yalit Jimenez Santiago, 28, Oscar Nicolas Santiago, Omar Gonzalez Santiago, 22, Antonio Perez Garcia, and Jesus Cadena Sanchez, 19. They were shot and killed when police opened fire with live ammunition on the blockade. At least 45 others have been hospitalized with injuries, the majority gunshot wounds, and 22 have been disappeared.

BACKGROUND ARTICLES:

This piece will focus on currently developing events. For information on what led to this situation, please see the following articles:

After four hours of clashes, the police broke through the blockade in Nochixtlan. The highway blockade had been in place since June 12, and was successful in preventing hundreds of federal police from entering the city of Oaxaca. Here's a video of the epic police traffic jam created by the blockade.

State and federal police also attacked the blockade at Hacienda Blanca. There was a livestreamer on the scene using Periscope. Police fired tear gas from the ground and helicopters, including into the school that had been converted into a medical center. Armed police in civilian clothes were also taking up positions.

Hacienda Blanca was another blockade preventing federal forces from entering the city of Oaxaca. On June 15, a bus filled with riot gear tried to drive through the blockade and the people guarding it. The bus was stopped and the riot gear removed and set on fire.

The expectation is that upon breaking the highway blockades ringing the city of Oaxaca, federal forces will carry out an assault on the city in the coming hours, as they have already entered parts of the outlying neighborhoods of the city. Blocked from reaching the city by land, for days now the federal police have been flying planes full of cops into airports in Oaxaca city, Huatulco (on the coast) and Ciudad Ixtepec (in the Isthmus). There are numerous reports of power cuts in many areas of the city, as well as a curfew being imposed. Public transit has been suspended and will be tomorrow as well.

For the past week, as the people of Oaxaca responded to the latest police attack and commemorated ten years since the June 14, 2006 uprising that led to the five-month long Oaxaca Commune, dozens of blockades and barricades have been constructed around the state. In the Isthmus of Tehuantepec alone, the teachers union (CNTE) reports controlling 37 major highway intersections, of which the police have removed eight. As police rain tear gas down from helicopters, protesters have responded by shooting fireworks at the attackers.

To protest the attacks in Oaxaca, thousands marched on Televisa (the major private, pro-government TV channel in Mexico) and throughout the week, thousands of teachers have been arriving from Chiapas, Michoacan and elsewhere to reinforce the encampment in the capital.

A march on Friday, June 17 in Mexico City was met with an extreme display of police force.

We will try to continue to provide updates as we are able as well as on Twitter. Please spread the word from wherever you are - let those resisting know you stand in solidarity with their struggle. And let those doing the oppressing, primarily President Enrique Pena Nieto, and Governor Gabino Cue of Oaxaca, know that people are watching.

Last updated on June 19, 11:45pm Oaxaca time.
Tens of thousands turned out Sunday for the vigil at Lake Eola in downtown Orlando to honor the victims of the tragedy one week ago at Pulse nightclub.

An earlier Orlando Police estimate put the crowd at around 37,000. But Visit Orlando now estimates the crowd has grown to around the expected 50,000.

An estimated 50,000 at Lake Eola vigil

The Cathedral Church of St. Luke held prayer service before vigil

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs, Orlando Police Chief John Mina and District 4 Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan attended the vigil.

So did people from all walks of life. The LGBTQ and Latino communities were out in full force. The Islamic community came out to condemn violence.

Families also came out with their children.

"Everyone should accept people the way they are," said 9-year-old Payton Ackinson from Deltona, who came with her parents.

Latest Updates

8:55 p.m.

As the vigil wraps up, everyone cheers "One Orlando, Orlando United."

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" as the crowd goes home.

8:50 p.m.

The Three Wise Guys -- Rev. Bryan Fulwider, Imam Mohammed Musri and Rabbi David Kay -- offer up messages of faith and support.

After some closing messages from the vigil organizers, local leaders are coming back on the stage to begin the reading of the names of the victims.

8:35 p.m.

The workers and owners of Pulse take the stage and cheers from the crowd. "Now, with the whole world watching, this is our time to show the world that love will conquer hate."

8:30 p.m.

As a singing begins to sing "Rise Up," candles are lit around Lake Eola.

8:25 p.m.

Diana Bolivar with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, spoke first in Spanish to the Latino community, who was particularly affected in the attack.

"Who the heck are we to judge?" Bolivar said. "I am a sinner."

A family for one of the survivors, who is still in the hospital, comes up on stage to applause from the crowd. The family is from Colombia. Bolivar has been tasked with helping families coming in from other countries who do not speak English.

A Hispanic vigil will be held Friday at 6 p.m. at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts.

8:20 p.m.

Visit Orlando, the tourism agency for the city, now estimates the crowd at the Orlando United vigil has reached the estimated 50,000 expected at Lake Eola.

7:50 p.m.

Commissioner Patty Sheehan takes the stage in tears at the overwhelming response from the community. "I love you, Orlando," she says.

Sheehan thanked LGBT advocates and allies, and pledged to fight against hatred in all forms.

"Hating a Muslim person is the same as hating a gay person," she said.

7:40 p.m.

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said it's time to find a human solution to the problems of our community. "Pulse 2016 was the moment in time when hearts were opened & minds were changed forever. This is the moment love will prevail," Jacobs said.

"We cannot let 49 of our brothers and sisters die in vain."

7:35 p.m.

The vigil has begun in downtown Orlando. Vigil organizer Chelsea Frost said, "We're here to lift you up and share our support."

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is the first among local leaders to speak, thanking the crowd and first responders. "We will not be defined by the hate-filled act of a deranged killer."

Dyer also told survivors and the families of the victims that the community would continue to stand by them and support them.

7:30 p.m.

The memorial service at Cathedral Church of Saint Luke is wrapping up. The vigil at Lake Eola should begin shortly.

7 p.m.

As the candle lighting ceremony continues at Cathedral Church of St. Luke, outside some 37,000 people have showed up so far at Lake Eola for tonight's vigil, per Orlando Police Dept.

6:40 p.m.

At Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center, where a memorial has grown for the victims and survivors, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer have laid a wreath, ahead of Sunday's vigil at Lake Eola. Both are expected to attend the vigil.

6:35 p.m.

At Cathedral Church of Saint Luke, speakers have begun reading the names of the 49 victims of the Pulse attack. After that there will be a candle ceremony.

6:30 p.m.

Equality Florida has raised nearly $6 million for the victims' families and survivors, almost entirely through a GoFundMe account.

Equality Florida says it is working with the National Center for Victims of Crime to expedite the process of fund disbursement. The NCVC will verify identities, their expenses, and process payments. Equality Florida wants to make this effort as transparent as possible, and they've posted a page to explain how that will be done.

"It is our top priority to ensure we address the unique needs of the LGBTQ and Latino/a communities impacted from the Pulse Nightclub Shooting," the group said in a statement released Sunday.

6:20 p.m.

City of Orlando has called a special city council meeting for Monday at 2 p.m. This will be a brief meeting in lieu of the June 13 meeting, which was canceled in the wake of the Pulse shooting.

6:10 p.m.

A memorial service has begun at Cathedral Church of St. Luke in downtown Orlando in honor of all those affected by the Pulse attack.

Priests are offering to counsel and pray with those who need it. Bishop Greg Brewer is presiding, and Orlando Commissioner Robert Stuart is speaking.



The mourners will then walk hand-in-hand to Lake Eola for the vigil.

Previous story

More than 50,000 people on Facebook have said they'll attend or are interested in attending the Lake Eola vigil. Officials say there will be heightened security for the event.

Organizers of the Lake Eola vigil are encouraged to bring their own candles. Signs are welcome, but organizers say those signs need to have messages of peace, love and unity, not anything political.

All streets surrounding Lake Eola are shut down from 2 to 9:30 p.m. SunRail will run this evening for those who wish to attend the vigil. LYNX bus service is also providing some complimentary options.

Before the vigil, The Cathedral Church of St. Luke in downtown Orlando will hold a prayer service. Several priests will be at the church to offer counseling to those who need it. The several hundred people at the service are expected to then walk, with candles in hand, to Lake Eola.

To live through an evil event like this that targeted a particular group in our community, its devastating, said Rev. Canon Josh Bales of The Cathedral Church of St. Luke.

News 13 and Bay News 9 will bring you live coverage starting at 5:45 p.m. for the prayer service, followed by the Lake Eola vigil.

If you're away from your TV, we'll be streaming live on MyNews13.com and BayNews9.com to all, without a Bright House subscription, until the end of the vigil. You also can watch on your mobile device with the BHTV app.
The Vice President of the Nigerian Dental Association, Olufunmilayo Asiwaju, has asked Nigerians to maintain good oral hygiene by cultivating the habit of brushing their teeth twice daily.

She stated this while presenting a paper titled, The Global Burden of Poor Oral Health, at the 35th Annual Conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria held in Enugu.

Mrs. Asiwaju said brushing the teeth only once in a day as most Nigerians do was not healthy.

Mrs. Asiwaju, who is a Consultant Paediatric Dentist, said oral disease poses severe economic and social burden to many countries and that if not tackled, could result to pain, abscess, tooth loss, loss of self-esteem, poor quality of life and sometimes death.

She asked the federal government to strengthen pharmacy practice in the rural areas as a way of getting better awareness for oral health.

The dentist urged Nigerians to visit dentists and eat healthy as the remedy for poor oral health.

Speaking at the event, a Brand Manager with Unilever Nigeria Plc, George Umoh, said the company was committed to doing business in a sustainable way and that it was the reason it partnered with Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, federal government and other relevant bodies to strengthen pharmacy practice in the community.

He said that 90 per cent percent of the world population suffer from oral diseases and that through the oral health school programme Unilever had so far educated directly over two million Nigerian children to imbibe the culture of brushing twice daily.

We believe children are change agents. They have the will power to influence their parents, siblings and people around them by telling them to take their oral health seriously, he stated.

Mr. Umoh recounted that earlier in the year, Unilever partnered with the Nigerian Dental Association, Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant organisations to celebrate the World Oral Health Day and promote awareness of issues around oral health and the importance of oral hygiene in Nigeria.

He said the long term goal was to improve the oral health of 10 million children in the country by 2020 through Brush Day and Night Schools programme.

He stressed that the company was targeting one million children in 2016 alone.
AXA IM - Real Assets has acquired a 7,100 sqm residential development scheme in Frankfurt's Gallus district, on behalf of its German residential fund, dedicated to professional investors only. The purpose-built scheme will provide 96 residential units across three buildings, built on a 2,750 sqm site. The gross rental area

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A new method for predicting bread loaf volume without baking the bread promises to save researchers time and money.

Julie Kindelspire, then a doctoral student at South Dakota State University, developed the mathematical model as part of a project to determine which wheat cultivars make the best bread. "It's a shortcut," Kindelspire said. "What once took 11 equations to calculate, now takes one."

She and her adviser, professor Padu Krishnan, worked with wheat breeders Karl Glover and Melanie Caffe-Treml. For their work, they received the award for Best Paper from the American Association of Cereal Chemists International. Kindelspire is now a senior research scientist at POET in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Caffe-Treml is the oats breeder at South Dakota State.

The research was supported by the South Dakota Wheat Commission and U.S. Department of Agriculture Hatch Act funding through the South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station.

Developing a shortcut

Kindelspire discovered a correlation between the dough's ability to stretch and the stability of the walls of the gas-filled bubbles. "I found a relationship between dough extensibility and how it relates to strain hardening," she said. "A higher strain hardening index is better for loaf volume."

Researchers can now use this simplified process to tell the breeders which wheat varieties have better baking potential. "Breeders want me to look at the flour and tell them if this variety is good -- now we have a faster way of doing that," Krishnan said.

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"This shortcut works based on the data that I had," Kindelspire added. "It will be interesting to see if it can be used in labs from other countries."

Calculating loaf volume

"The holy grail of the baking industry is loaf volume -- the bigger the volume, the better," Krishnan said. For the project, the food scientists examined 19 genotypes of hard white and red spring wheat grown in several years at six South Dakota locations.

Evaluating new wheat cultivars is difficult because the amount of grain is limited. "We don't have a lot of flour," Kindelspire noted.

"To get good volume, you need to look at the air cells inside the dough," Krishnan explained. Kindelspire pointed out, "It's all about bubbles."

Sifting the flour, mixing it with water and kneading incorporate air into the dough -- this process creates a majority of the bubbles. "People think that the yeast does all the work," Krishnan said, but the yeast only produces the carbon dioxide that fills the bubbles.

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It's the chemistry happening in the flour-water mixture via the gluten and starch -- the matrix being formed, he explained. "We're trying to optimize those factors that create a cohesive dough, balancing strength and elasticity to make the best loaves."

Receiving recognition

The researchers will receive the Texture Technologies Quality Research award for Best Paper at the annual meeting Oct. 23-36 in Savannah, Georgia. They will be presented with a plaque and a $1,000 honorarium.

"It's a very big deal," said Krishnan, who has spearheaded research to test wheat cultivars during the breeding process for baking quality. "This speaks to the caliber of the basic and applied food research conducted in the crop quality lab."

Kindelspire said, "It's nice to know that peers in the industry think it's an important piece of work and has value in terms of research."
Research at the ASM Microbe research meeting in Boston presents a sediment Microbial Fuel Cell (sMFC) system for remotely investigating the physiology and ecology of electrically active microbes in submerged field sites. Depending on the depth at which device components were submerged, scientists observed variation in start-up time and electricity generation.

"These results suggest long range exchange of electric current between microbial populations in different environments may play a key role in the structuring of electrode biofilm communities," said John Pisciotta, Ph.D., assistant professor in Biology at West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Naturally present bacteria in sediments can facilitate electricity generation by forming anode biofilms. So-called sediment microbial fuel cells (sMFCs) have previously been created to harness such microbes for renewable electricity generation from bacterial breakdown of organic material. However, most studies to date have been confined to tightly controlled laboratory studies. This sMFC device is equipped to relay data remotely which should help optimize bioelectrochemical processes, such as electrode-associated bioremediation of organic wastes and pollutants, under actual field conditions.

Devices with their cathodes more deeply submerged in water, 750 cm below the pond surface, started gradually but generated a very stable electric current over the 10-week experimental run; likely due to a higher degree of environmental variability at the pond surface. Researchers were surprised to discover that the microbial community composition on the sediment-buried electrodes, called the anodes, appeared to be affected by the illumination status of the cathode.

Pisciotta1The significance of this research is that field-deployed sMFC can now be designed with a better understanding as to how cathode depth affects start-up time, microbial community structuring and energy recovery from sediments. In the future, this could help human communities generate stable bio-electricity at remote locations for applications like signaling (ex. flashing navigational buoys) powered by the bioremediation of organic wastes in sediments. Total microbe-generated electrical output, along with other environmental parameters, can be monitored remotely using existing cellular networks. This system has the ability to communicate field results in real-time directly to an operator's cell phone or computer, regardless of outside weather conditions.

Once recovered, electrode microbial populations were analyzed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and other molecular methods. Ongoing 16S rRNA gene sequencing is identifying divergent microbial populations that are likely associated with the observed variations in sMFC start up times and efficiency results for the different cathode depth sMFCs.

Results of this study suggest anodes connected to illuminated cathodes develop unique microbial communities in field site trials. "From an applied standpoint, this work provides deeper insight into how novel sMFCs can enable accelerated start up while optimizing bioenergy recovery and stable electrical current flow from sediments," said Dr. Pisciotta.

This research is being presented at the ASM Microbe Research meeting in Boston, MA in a poster session at 12:30 pm, Sunday, June 19. Poster coauthor Paige Minka is a WCU graduate student who built the sMFCs and their data recording and relay components with help from Steve Hicks of project partner institution Stroud Water Research Center in Avondale, PA. Undergraduate Jeremy Irving helped to construct, install, recover and process the sMFCs. Additional information on the functionality of sMFCs is being published in the Journal of Microbial and Biochemical Technology under the title: "Bioelectrochemical and Conventional Bioremediation of Environmental Pollutants" by John M. Pisciotta and James J. Dolceamore.
The huge volumes of litter we leave in the oceans is one of the greatest environmental problems of our time. Professor Henrik Kylin from Linkoping University has studied how the beaches on a remote atoll in the Indian Ocean have been covered with litter, even though the atoll has no permanent residents.

"We found nearly 30,000 objects on the islands, mostly made of plastic. That is equivalent to 76 objects along a 100-metre stretch of beach, which is quite a lot. For the animals, this litter is disastrous," says Henrik Kylin, professor of environmental chemistry, whose research focusses on how environmental toxins are spread, and what damage they do to the environment.

Professor Kylin has joined researchers from Mauritius, South Africa and the Channel Islands to visit Saint Brandon, an atoll in the Indian Ocean, to study the larger debris that washes up from the ocean onto the beaches there. The results have been published in the journal Marine Environmental Research.

On Saint Brandon, which belongs to Mauritius, the only economic activities are small-scale fishing and a little tourism. The atoll has no permanent population, but plenty of sea turtles -- and for these it's an important breeding ground. In terms of humans, in 2014 there weren't more than 41 people temporarily stationed there, mainly for fishing purposes. But despite this minimal human activity, the beaches of the surrounding archipelago are cluttered with debris.

The researchers documented, classified and counted all debris larger than five millimetres. The most common objects found were flip-flops, energy drinks and compact fluorescent lamps. According to Professor Kylin it is unlikely that the small number of people that spend time on the islands could have made much of a contribution to the amount of debris, because the brand names on the flip-flops and energy drinks indicate that they come from countries including Indonesia and Malaysia, on the other side of the Indian Ocean.

So, how has this well-travelled rubbish affected the environment? The 11,000-odd flip-flops found by the research team are produced from plastic foam that contains DDT, PCBs and flame retardants. Also, after long periods in the water, they absorb environmental toxins which they transfer to the island shores.

"The lamps we found contain heavy metals that we have seen enter the islands' food chains, for instance we have found them in corals and coral sand."

One of the measures to reduce the influence of humans on the isolated atoll, according to Professor Kylin, is the regular cleaning of the beaches. But of course, it would be better if the debris didn't end up in the oceans in the first place.
Death is only one possible outcome from coral bleaching caused by rising sea temperatures due to global warming. Australian scientists report that many surviving corals affected by mass bleaching from high sea temperatures on the northern Great Barrier Reef are the sickest they have ever seen.

"We measured the condition of surviving corals as part of our extensive underwater surveys of Australia's worst ever bleaching event. We found that coral bleaching has affected 93% of the Great Barrier Reef. While the central and southern regions have escaped with minor damage, nearly half of the corals have been killed by mass bleaching in the northern region," says Professor Terry Hughes from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University (JCU) in Townsville, Queensland.

"Normally when bleaching kills corals it is a slow death, that progresses steadily when temperatures remain high," says Associate Professor Bill Leggat, also from the ARC Centre at JCU.

"The corals usually rely on mechanisms that help them fight and counteract the damage but this time, on some reefs, it looks like they have died very quickly.

Corals depend upon algae that live within their tissues. These algae, called zooxanthellae, utilise light to generate sugar and nutrients, which are transported to the coral host. It is this energy that allows corals to grow and produce reefs. The partnership between corals and the microscopic algae (zooxanthellae) that lives in their tissues breaks down when temperatures are too high, causing coral bleaching. For corals to recover they need the tissues to remain intact while the remaining zooxanthellae slowly repopulate the tissues.

"Healthy corals have between one and two million zooxanthellae per square centimetre," says Leggat. "During past bleaching events, these numbers have dropped to about 200,000 cells per square centimetre. Now we are finding in this very severe bleaching event that some corals have no zooxanthallae remaining in their tissues at all."

The scientists found that severely bleached corals had an average of only 4,000 algae per square centimetre. This amount is 500 times less than in a healthy coral and 50 times less than reported for corals that survived previous bleaching events. This profound loss of algae means that many of the corals that have bleached, have little chance of recovering, because they have no zooxanthellae left to repopulate the coral tissue.

"These corals are amongst the most damaged I have seen," says Dr. Leggat.

"For some surviving corals in the Northern Great Barrier Reef, over 50% of the coral cells are dead. In some regions the corals were so badly damaged that we were unable to study their tissue because it was rotting away."

Tragically, the ongoing damage from bleaching has been highest in the northern 700km of the Great Barrier Reef all the way up to Papua New Guinea, the most remote and -- until now -- the most pristine section of the Great Barrier Reef," says Professor John Pandolfi from the ARC Centre at the University of Queensland.

Given the extent of morality and the damage observed to individual corals it is vital to understand the recovery processes of bleached coral. Even if they recover their color, scientists predict that the surviving corals will show other longer-term symptoms, including reduced growth rates and lower reproduction.
For the past 20 years, exoplanets known as 'hot Jupiters' have puzzled astronomers. These giant planets orbit 100 times closer to their host stars than Jupiter does to the Sun, which increases their surface temperatures. But how and when in their history did they migrate so close to their star? Now, an international team of astronomers has announced the discovery of a very young hot Jupiter orbiting in the immediate vicinity of a star that is barely two million years old -- the stellar equivalent of a week-old infant. This first-ever evidence that hot Jupiters can appear at such an early stage represents a major step forward in our understanding of how planetary systems form and evolve.

The work, led by researchers at the Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planetologie (IRAP, CNRS/Universite Toulouse III -- Paul Sabatier)[1], in collaboration, amongst others[2], with colleagues at the Institut de Planetologie et d'Astrophysique de Grenoble (CNRS/Universite Grenoble Alpes)[3], is published on 20 June 2016 in the journal Nature.

It was while monitoring a star barely two million years old called V830 Tau, located in the Taurus stellar nursery some 430 light years away, that an international team of astronomers discovered the youngest known hot Jupiter. The team observed the star for a month and a half and detected a regular fluctuation in the star's velocity, revealing the presence of a planet almost as massive as Jupiter, orbiting its host star at a distance only one twentieth of that between the Earth and the Sun. The discovery shows for the first time that hot Jupiters can appear at a very early stage in the formation of planetary systems, and therefore have a major impact on their architecture.

In the Solar System, small rocky planets such as the Earth orbit near the Sun, whereas gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn are found much further out. Astronomers were therefore astonished when the first exoplanets detected turned out to be giants orbiting close to their host star. Theoretical work indicates that such planets can only form in the icy outer regions of the protoplanetary disk in which both the central star and its surrounding planets are born. Some, however, migrate inwards and yet avoid falling into their host star, thus becoming hot Jupiters.

Theoretical models predict that migration occurs either early in the lives of giant planets while still embedded within the protoplanetary disk, or else much later, once multiple planets are formed and interact, flinging some of them into the immediate vicinity of their star. Among the known hot Jupiters, some feature tilted or even backward orbits, suggesting that they were hurled towards their star by neighboring bodies. The discovery of a very young hot Jupiter thus confirms that early migration within the disk also applies to giant planets.

Detecting planets in orbit around very young stars proves to be a significant observational challenge, since such stars are monsters in comparison with our own Sun. This is because their intense magnetic activity interferes with the light emitted by the star to a far greater extent than a potential giant planet, even in a close orbit. One of the team's achievements was to separate the signal caused by the star's activity from the signal produced by the planet.

For this discovery, the team used the twin spectropolarimeters[4] ESPaDOnS and Narval, designed and built at IRAP. ESPaDOnS is mounted on the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) on the summit of Maunakea, a dormant volcano on the Island of Hawaii. Narval is mounted on the Bernard Lyot telescope (TBL -- OMP) atop the Pic du Midi in the French Pyrenees. The combined use of these two telescopes together with Hawaii's Gemini telescope was essential for the required continuous monitoring of V830 Tau. SPIRou and SPIP, the next-generation infrared spectropolarimeters built at IRAP for the CFHT and TBL, scheduled for first light in 2017 and 2019 respectively, will offer vastly superior performance and make it possible to study the formation of new worlds with unprecedented sensitivity.

[1] The laboratory is part of the Observatoire Midi-Pyrenees (OMP).

[2] The other organizations contributing to this work are: CFHT Corporation, York University (Toronto, Canada), ESO, Federal University of Minas Gerais (Brazil), Academia Sinica (Taiwan), Universite de Montreal (Canada) and University of St Andrews (UK).

[3] The laboratory is part of the Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers de Grenoble.

[4] In astronomy, a spectropolarimeter is used to measure the magnetic field of stars.
USC scientists have mapped an uncharted portion of the mouse brain to explain which circuit disruptions might occur in disorders such as Huntington's disease and autism.

Hong-Wei Dong, an associate professor of neurology at the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, and his colleagues have been sketching a road map of the mouse brain for the past decade. Their most recent study, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience on June 20, looked at the connections of a part of the brain that is responsible for motor learning, the dorsal striatum, which is stationed near the front of the brain.

Scientists injected fluorescent molecules into about 150 mouse brain structures and used a high-resolution microscope to document the molecules as they moved through the brain's "cellular highways," which need to be in tip-top shape for different parts of the brain to communicate and coordinate behaviors. In the previously unsurveyed dorsal striatum, USC researchers were able to identify 29 distinct areas responsible for things such as eye movement, mouth and facial movements and pain information processing. They also located hubs that coordinate complex limb movements.

Parkinson's disease, obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and many other movement disorders involve connections of this brain region, said Dong, senior author of the study. Researchers in the Dong Lab followed circuitry paths from beginning to end in the same way someone might pick up a ball of yarn and slowly unravel it.

"This study moves researchers to the next level to help them understand how the brain circuit is disrupted," Dong said. "Previously the dorsal striatum was one huge thing. It's almost like telling someone they should come visit you in California. Where should they go? We have really narrowed it down -- I live in North Hollywood in this apartment building. That will help people in the future to really understand the pathways for diseases with specific symptoms."

Early symptoms of Huntington's disease, for example, include slow or abnormal eye movement and stuttering. Most patients experience depression and have psychiatric issues such as social withdrawal and insomnia, Dong said. His lab has subdivided the dorsal striatum so scientists can better predict problem areas in this brain structure and focus their research there.

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"Of course, humans and mice are different, but they are both mammals," Dong said. "The biggest differences reside in high-level cognition. So we can use the organization of the mouse brain to understand how human brains are organized."

After all, most scientific research begins at the mouse level. Understanding the mouse brain is of critical importance and will potentially lead to the development of new drugs and medical therapies.

Adding massive detail to a historically basic brain atlas

The cerebral cortex is the brain's CEO; it regulates higher-order functions such as motor learning and attention through its connections to brain structures such as the dorsal striatum, which is historically divided into just four regions. Today, USC researchers said they are the first to create the most comprehensive map of connections between the dorsal striatum and the cerebral cortex that is available for any mammal.

"If you have one big structure, it's very difficult to know which part is the problem area," said Houri Hintiryan, lead author and assistant professor of research at the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. "This study shows 29 different parts of this brain region receiving information from the cerebral cortex. We're providing a structural basis for studies seeking to understand which part of the brain does what."

The big data project is publicly available at the Mouse Connectome Project and will aid in the leap toward precision medicine, Dong said. Next on his team's mapping list is the hippocampus, which is the center of emotion, memory and the autonomic nervous system. A detailed atlas of this area could further Alzheimer's disease research.

"With our brain map, researchers could look for circuitry-specific drug discovery," Dong said. "Now we provide a very clear map to help people do stem cell research. They know exactly where to put stem cells."

Dong chose to map the mouse brain so his lab could examine individual neurons and axons, gateways to neighboring neurons. In contrast, the human brain would look pixelated if the scientists zoom in for the detail needed to develop their meticulous maps.

Many USC scientists use big data to find answers to intractable problems such as Alzheimer's disease and PTSD. In fact, USC houses the Enhancing Neuro Imaging Genetics Through Meta Analysis (ENIGMA) network, a collaboration of 190 global institutions. ENIGMA is home to the largest brain-mapping project in the world.
While Father's Day yesterday was a time to hail men who have stepped up to nurture and raise and sacrifice for their children, we'd be remiss not to mention another very special kind of dad. The kind of hero the world needs more than ever.

Matt Montes of Mission Miracle K9 Rescue with Ziggy | Mission K9 Rescue

This is a celebration of dog dads - the men who have done it all for their canine companions. From rescuing them to raising them to just making their lives better, these are just a few men who give it all for their dogs.

John Unger and Schoep in 2012 | YouTube/Steve Grzanich

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And Jon Stewart, whose love for animals prompted him and his wife Tracey to found a sanctuary in New Jersey. Stewart is often seen with his three-legged pal, a rescued dog named Champ.

Then, of course, there are the less-heralded heroes who devote their lives to rescuing dogs from desperate circumstances and give them a chance for a real life.

Marley's Mutts

Like Marley's Mutts founder Zach Skow, who credits his dogs for raising him from the depths of addiction and illness. Through his rescue, Skow has gone on to rescue countless dogs in California.

Marley's Mutts

Like Skow, Matt Montes specializes in taking on the tough cases. Earlier this year Montes paid a visit to a shelter in Texas. He found a dog named Toto who had been classified by staff as "mean" and likely to bite. Montes carried Toto out of the shelter in his arms.

Montes found a forever home for Toto - she had had puppies just days ago - and he continues to help shelter dogs through his Mission Miracle K9 Rescue. But then there are the dads who fly under the radar. The casual heroes you see every day, whether strolling in the park, chasing a frisbee together or just jumping in a lake.

Brandy Kinnear

Like Ronan Freeman, who spent last weekend with his girl Lulu, aka Princess Lulukins Fiona Freeman. The pair were spotted at a Toronto beach on Father's Day engaged in heavy father-daughter time.

Wendy Garcia

"She was the runt and had a heart murmur so nobody wanted her," Freeman's partner, Wendy Garcia, tells The Dodo. Since Garcia travels frequently for work, Freeman finds himself spending a lot of time with Lulu.

Wendy Garcia

"He calls it 'taking Lu out on a date,'" Garcia adds. "They wander the city and hang out all the time." Dave Kinnear took his boy, a dog named Willie, far from the madding crowd on Father's Day weekend. Willie, rescued from an Ontario animal shelter when he was 5 months old, follows Kinnear everywhere.

Brandy Kinnear

Even if that happens to be a cold lake on Georgian Bay.

Brandy Kinnear

"Dave was just getting wet on a beautiful day with a huge splash," his wife, Brandy Kinnear, tells The Dodo. And where Dave goes, Willie follows.

Brandy Kinnear

Dog daddies of the world, this double cannonball is for you.

Brandy Kinnear
<p><a href="http://www.daktaribushschool.org/">Daktari</a><span></span></p>

The dog took one look at the baby genets, and decided she was going to be their mother. The genets (small African mammals in the civet family) had been found lying in a puddle beneath a fallen tree near Hoedspruit, South Africa. Some children had chased off the mother by throwing stones at her, and the mother sadly didn't return. A different group of children noticed the abandoned babies, and alerted a local pastor. The pastor contacted Daktari Bush School and Wildlife Orphanage, a nonprofit organization in South Africa that cares for orphaned and injured wildlife, and teaches local children to care for animals and their environment.

Ian and Michele Merrifield, the cofounders of Daktari, collected the genets, but they worried they wouldn't survive without their mother. The babies were only 2 weeks old, and they needed their mother for warmth and milk. "We were heartbroken and scared," Ian tells The Dodo. "The genets were so small and weak." Their chances of survival were slim, but the Merrifields did everything they could to help. They bundled the babies up in a blanket and laid them next to their three white dogs in the office, hoping the dogs would help keep them warm. One of the dogs - a poodle-cocker spaniel mix named Candy - was particularly interested in the genets. When the Merrifields started feeding them with syringes of warm milk, they noticed the babies snuggling up to Candy to keep warm. They even noticed, much to their initial amusement, that the genets were trying to suckle Candy's nipples.

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Candy had had babies in the past, but she wasn't pregnant, and she certainly didn't have puppies at the time. So the Merrifields were astonished when Candy, days later, started producing milk. "Candy is interested in most animals who come to Daktari," Ian explains, "but we were shocked to see that she'd actually started producing milk. The only way we could explain it was that her motherly instincts had kicked in." According to veterinarian Dr. Honorata Lenk Markham, who works at Oaklawn Animal Hospital in Rhode Island, this is exactly what happened. "For one reason or another, maternal hormones get activated including oxytocin, the hormone that produces milk," Dr. Markham tells The Dodo. "In this case, the dog felt a strong connection to the babies, which then must have started a hormonal cascade in her body that resulted in her adopting the animals as her own. I often see dogs adopting stuffed animals. They protect them, nurture them and often produce milk for them."

Candy started nursing the genets - named Maswika, Sakka and Chouchou - every day, but the Merrifields knew they'd need to supplement the genets' milk intake. "Dog milk doesn't have as much calcium as genet milk," Ian explains, "so we had to add calcium supplements to the milk in the syringe, and continued to feed them that way as well."

But in Candy's eyes, she was the only mother Maswika, Sakka and Chouchou would ever need. "Once Candy felt protective and motherly towards the genets, they became inseparable," says Ian. "Candy became very jealous of any animals or people that came near the genets. The only people she allowed near her and the genets were Michele and myself."

Candy's motherly love helped the genets become strong, healthy young adults. Two of the genets - Maswika and Sakka - were released back into the wild. Chouchou, however, exhibited too much stress upon release, so they decided to keep her at Daktari. Candy and Chouchou don't have many opportunities to interact anymore since Chouchou is nocturnal, and Candy's awake in the daytime. But when Michele or Ian go into Chouchou's enclosure at Daktari, Candy will squirm her way in to say hello to her now grown-up baby.
Sometimes she's called Bubbles. Other times she's called Tiny or Peanut or Dumbo. But she's known mostly as Nosey, and she's quite possibly the saddest circus elephant in America.

Nosey travels from town to town, forced to give rides. | YouTube/Keri Fields

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"For at least the last couple of engagements, Nosey has been exhibited at no charge to the venue host, leaving more, if not most, of the responsibility to generate revenues on Nosey's back - literally," Ess said. This means that Nosey has to give enough painful rides to support the business and travel expenses involved in carting her from town to town, according to Ess.

At a recent gig at a strawberry festival in Lagro, Indiana, a Nosey advocate named Keri Fields shot some video of Nosey - and glimpses of Nosey's plight are harder and harder to come by. Nosey's travels this year began in Kissimmee, Florida, at a petting zoo behind the Gator Motel. "Since Kissimmee in April, Nosey has been kept behind the shrouds of tents or makeshift tarp walls for exhibitions," Ess said. "Photography is strictly controlled. Why, if there is nothing to hide, would anyone go to such great lengths to keep Nosey from public view?" In the latest video, Nosey's left rear leg alternates between dragging and a rigid, awkward sideways swing, Ess observed. "It doesn't take a vet to recognize how contorted Nosey's gait has become," she said.

Nosey was taken from her mother in the wild at age 2. | YouTube/Keri Fields

Taken from her mother in the wild at just 2 years old, and shipped from Africa to the U.S. in the early 1980s, Nosey has been used by people for profit ever since. (Her family was likely killed during her kidnapping.) Even though Nosey, like many performing elephants, suffers from a kind of arthritis called degenerative joint disease, not to mention many other health problems, Nosey's been granted no rest from her performances. She also hasn't met another elephant in three decades.

But there are many people out there who have been trying to help Nosey. The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee offered to take in the downtrodden elephant, but Liebel has refused to give her up. Despite countless petitions and efforts to shed light on Nosey's suffering, the USDA (which regulates captive animals like Nosey) has failed over and over to rescue the exhausted elephant. Earlier this year, the USDA renewed (yet again) Liebel's license for owning Nosey.
Pit bull? Sorry, officer, this is definitely a rabbit.

And this girl? Little Red Riding Hood. Naturally.

And here? Just The Dog Formerly Known As A Pit Bull.

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CUYAHOGA COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER

Ridiculous, you say? Maybe. But hardly more absurd than Quebec City's recent decision to ban pit bulls. The city will officially outlaw pit bull type dogs by January 1, 2017, joining a slew of other cities in North America that have similar laws on the books. Current pit bull owners will have until then to essentially dump their dogs. If they don't, the new law calls for fines that continue to add up. City mayor Regis Labeaume put it bluntly on his Facebook page: "Even if a pit bull has never bitten, even if he appears to be friendly, the owner has six months to get rid of it."

Dog owners are not taking the decision lightly. Labeaume's Facebook post has garnered more than 13,000 mostly irate comments. Others are taking a more humorous approach.

This browser does not support the video tag. Facebook/LAD Bible

An ad posted this weekend on Kijiji (a Canadian classifieds site) touts a seemingly surefire means to thwart the incoming law, selling "camouflage imitation poodle wear." It's available in lavender and pink and is machine washable.

Inquiries to the seller didn't elicit a response, but we can safely assume the ad writer, who appears to be based in Quebec City, has his tongue planted firmly in cheek. If only the legislation were also a prank. Sadly, breed-specific legislation is a reality for many cities in both Canada and the U.S. While lawmakers all sing the same refrain - the bans save lives - the results paint a different picture.

Tye Friis

In Ontario, where a ban has been in place since 2005, the rules aren't quite as draconian as Quebec City's legislation. Pit bulls have to be kept muzzled or leashed in public and sterilized. The ban has severely curtailed the pit bull population, while doing nothing to reduce the total number of dog bites. Similar findings in the U.S. have also failed to sway lawmakers in municipalities that have a ban.

This browser does not support the video tag. Facebook/Calista the Pit Bull

Those numbers haven't dissuaded Quebec City. What's more, Montreal, Canada's second largest city, is also mulling a ban - a move the Montreal SPCA has vowed to fight.

"The consequences for our community if the proposed BSL (breed-specific legislation) goes forward would be enormous," executive director Nicholas Gilman said in a statement. "It would mean the death of thousands of adoptable and well-behaved dogs simply because of the way that they look. We are not going to let that happen here."

Tye Friis

If you happen to love all dogs, it may be time to let your feelings on this issue known. Get in touch with the office of Regis Labeaume here. In Montreal, you can reach Mayor Denis Coderre here.
<p><em>Humane Society International</em><span></span></p>

Just days before China's annual Yulin Dog Meat Festival, the lives of 29 dogs and five cats were rescued from a cruel fate - being tortured, and then eaten.

Humane Society International

Humane Society International (HSI), along with partners in China, negotiated for the release of the frightened animals, who were being held captive at a slaughter facility in Yulin.

Dodo Shows Adoption Day Hairless German Shepherd Puppies Find The Perfect Families

Humane Society International

Stuffed into cages and living in filth, some of the dogs wore collars, suggesting that they had been stolen from their homes - a cheaper alternative to breeding dogs for meat.

Humane Society International

"The police presence is heavy in Yulin right now, and the atmosphere is very tense, so this was not an easy rescue," Peter Li, HSI's China policy specialist, said in a statement. "The dogs and cats were clearly afraid, especially the older dogs who looked very fearful ... It's shocking to think that if we had not been there, all these animals would have been beaten to death and eaten."

Humane Society International

Despite national and international protests, culminating in a petition with more than 11 million signatures, the Yulin Festival is set to begin on Tuesday, June 21. Hundreds of animals are killed in the weeks leading up to the festival, with thousands more doomed during the so-called festivities, which last for a little over a week.

Humane Society International

The festival, which has no cultural significance but was founded in 2010 by dog meat traders looking to increase sales, marks the start of the summer solstice for the town of Yulin, located in southwestern China. Held each June, a major component of the celebration includes the mass consumption of dog meat. These days, dog meat is becoming increasingly uncommon, despite there being a history of its consumption.

Humane Society International

The most disturbing component of the so-called festival is the way in which the animals are treated before being eaten - horrors include being strangled and boiled alive, due to the belief that such torture makes the meat more tender. The Chinese government has never overtly supported the festival, but has taken little action to stop it - until now. This year marks the first that the government has formally written a decree pledging to shut down the festival, rather than deny its existence.

Humane Society International

There are reports from Yulin of restaurants hiding the symbol for "dog" from their signs, or even changing names entirely to "avoid trouble" ahead of this year's festival. "The dog meat festival, though not promoted by the local government, is a private and spontaneous activity," a representative of the Yulin government wrote to Michael Tien, a Hong Kong deputy to China's National People's Congress, Channel NewsAsia reported. "However, the Yulin authorities and relevant government agencies will take immediate actions to prevent it from happening again," the letter read.

Humane Society International

Li noted that firm actions by Chinese officials, such as confiscating dog and cats from trucks from coming into Yulin, shutting down slaughterhouses and passing new animal welfare laws in China, are key to curbing the Yulin trade this year and ending the event permanently. In a statement, Li described the scene on the ground in Yulin, where he's been working in advance of the festival: "Yulin feels like a place that's holding its breath right now. Business was slow at the Dongkou animal market, and a dreadful slaughterhouse exposed by Humane Society International a couple of months ago was shut down when we returned yesterday. Another slaughterhouse we visited was open but we saw no live animals. The word 'dog' has been painted out or covered with tape on several of the restaurants and slaughterhouses we saw, and a Yulin official told us that, contrary to what has been reported in some media, dog meat sales have in fact been declining continuously.



We're still seeing market stalls and mopeds piled with the typical brown blowtorched bodies of dogs, but as yet nothing like the scale one might expect to see. It's a muted Yulin for sure. The authorities seem nervous and are warning dog and cat traders not to engage with us and alerting government employees to stay away from the dog meat restaurants." But for the 34 animals who were recently rescued by HSI, all of that horror is behind them. They were taken to shelters, where they're being bathed, fed and cared for. "Once they realized 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," Li said.

Humane Society International
An expert panel is proposing sweeping changes that would boost consumer protection for borrowers, investors and retirees in Ontario amid rapid changes in the financial services industry.

The key recommendation is the creation of a super agency that would be more powerful, more flexible and more accountable than the three existing agencies responsible for regulating auto insurance, pension plans, mortgage brokers, loan and trust companies and credit unions.

The panel is also calling for the creation of an Office of the Consumer and a compensation fund for investors who are victims of fraud. Currently, Quebec is the only province that compensates victims of investment fraud.

With financial services and pensions sectors changing at a rapid pace, we need a regulator that is sufficiently independent, flexible, innovative and expert, according to the panels report, called Review of the Mandates of the Financial Services Commission of Ontario, the Financial Services Tribunal and the Deposited Insurance Corporation of Ontario.

We do not believe a thorough transformation could be accomplished within the current regime. So we have recommended a new, independent and integrated regulator called the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), the panel says in its report.

The new agency would operate independently, outside the Ontario Public Service; be self-funded; be governed by an independent board of directors with rule-making authority; and be accountable to the Ontario Minister of Finance, the report says.

It would replace the existing Financial Services Commission of Ontario and have powers similar to the Ontario Securities Commission, the report said.

The panels recommendations would apply to provincially regulated financial services. That would not include federally regulated banks, for example.

The Insurance Bureau of Canada said it would urge the Ontario government to quickly adopt the panels recommendations.

Given the rapid pace of change in the financial world, we believe the new regulator needs to be nimble and foster a strong, vibrant and innovative financial services sector, Kim Donaldson, the bureaus vice-president, Ontario, said in a statement.

Co-authored by former insurance and pension industry executive George Cooke, personal finance writer James Daw and former Ontario Securities Commission vice-chair Lawrence Ritchie, the reports final recommendations are similar to those in its preliminary proposal last fall.

The expert panel was set up in March 2015 by Finance Minister Charles Sousa to undertake the review. The minister is reviewing the report, a spokesperson said in a statement Monday.

Financial services is one of the fastest-growing sectors in our economy, Sousa said at the time. These key organizations are our partners in consumer protection. Reviewing their mandates will ensure that we are doing our best to protect the interests of Ontarians while fostering a strong business environment. I look forward to receiving the panels recommendations on how we can make this sector even stronger.

Investors who lost $300 million in Ontario-based First Leaside Securities Inc. have been unable to claim losses from the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation because the principals behind the investment scheme were convicted of fraud. https://www.thestar.com/business/2016/04/29/the-high-risk-world-of-syndicated-mortgages.html

Syndicated mortgages should be regulated the same way as other investments, such as stocks and bonds, the panels report also says. And individuals who are banned from selling one type of security would also be banned from selling others, closing a regulatory gap, the panel said.

Critics of Fortress Real Developments Inc., a Richmond Hill real-estate investment firm, have complained that syndicated mortgage money is raised for those projects even though CEO Jawad Rathore has been banned from selling mutual funds and other securities.

This report shows FSCO isnt doing their job. They dont have qualified staff to investigate. They dont understand this marketplace, said David Franklin, a lawyer representing two clients who invested in a Barrie real-estate development that ran into financial trouble.

A Fortress spokesperson has said those earlier bans were unrelated to Fortress activities.

There is a widespread desire for Ontario to modernize its approach to regulation of financial services and pensions amid a changing environment. Yet some groups want no change. They feel well served already or seem weary of change, increased regulation or scrutiny. But we disagree, the report says.

The Canadian Foundation for the Advancement of Investor Rights (FAIR) has said the current regime is not adequately fulfilling its mandate and falls short when it comes to enforcement.

Some 7,200 provincially registered pension plans in Ontario manage $520 billion in assets.

Clarification - June 24, 2016: The article states that FRDI is a real estate investment firm. FRDI is a real estate development company. FRDI and Jawad Rathore do not offer syndicated mortgages to the public, and for that reason are not regulated by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario. Syndicated mortgages for FRDI projects are offered by licenced mortgage brokerages that are independent of FRDI and are licenced by the Financial Services Commission of Ontario.

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Many patients remain afraid to question medical advice, even though weve moved away from a paternalistic system where the doctor decides everything. This is especially true when it comes to First Nations, Inuit and Metis patients, due to a history of mistreatment within our educational and health-care institutions. As a physician involved in advocacy around indigenous health, I have had many people tell me theyre too scared to speak up, even when they feel uncomfortable with a doctors recommendations. Theyre terrified that if they do, they might stop receiving treatment altogether.

But this should not be the case.

Health care today is designed to include and respect patients decisions. Yes, physicians need to inform patients about their health conditions and about treatment options, side effects and risks. But they also need to listen, and understand that a patients values may differ from their own, and from dominant norms of our health-care system. They must ensure that a patient has access to information in a language and terminology that they understand, be available to answer questions and clarify treatment options, and be willing to suggest that a patient go for a second opinion as needed.

Once they are certain that a patient truly understands the options and their consequences, health-care providers must respect a patients decisions, even if they do not agree with them. They should not treat a patient any differently or, in an extreme circumstance, withhold care.

These shared decision-making practices are not just courteous  they are a crucial part of culturally safe care for indigenous peoples. There is an inherent power imbalance in the relationship between a physician and a patient.

Imagine that patient is indigenous, and consequently belongs to a community that has long been marginalized within Canada and continues to face extreme health inequities. This inherent power dynamic is magnified. Based on ongoing barriers to access such as racism or mistreatment, the fear of losing access to health care is very real for indigenous patients. And in fact, despite being in a position of power and being able to offer state-of-the art medical treatment, the physician likely does not know about the cultural beliefs and health-care practices of indigenous peoples, and so may not know what is truly best for a patient.

For example, at the recent Indigenous Health Conference hosted at the University of Toronto, numerous presentations related to the importance of land-based cultural traditions as a way to heal.

Recently, in Cross Lake, Manitoba, a traditional teacher took his students out on the land to learn the goose hunt. This is a community facing a suicide epidemic  and he said some people were shocked that he gave kids access to guns in this context. From the outside it seems counterintuitive, and definitely would not be something that a Western-trained doctor would recommend. But this was a way to foster pride and cultural knowledge in their youth, to connect them with their ancestral land, and to teach them traditional skills. To use an indigenous phrase, it was good medicine.

This self-determination for health is also at play when it comes to many traditional plant-based medicines. Although they have been compared to other supplements or pharmaceutical products, their benefit goes much deeper than biopharmacology. Traditional indigenous medicines often come from the land. There is ceremony involved in their harvest, and they connect healers and patients to culture and to tradition. These arguments are not to say that modern medicine is not important  it is critical and may be life-saving  but just that healing is complex and means very different things to different people.

As an educator at the University of Toronto, I have been involved in integrating cultural safety within the medical school curriculum. In the past, students learned specifics about different cultures, and then used that knowledge  that cultural competency  to understand their patients. Now, they learn about the power dynamics in their relationships with patients, and for patients within the larger health-care system, and about their own biases. They learn that they probably do not know everything about a patients background and ways of understanding health, and so as patient-centred practitioners, they need to listen. And they need to include their patients values in the ultimate treatment plan in a meaningful way.

When it comes to the health of indigenous communities, huge changes are needed. Many are institutional, such as making health-care resources more accessible to indigenous peoples.

Others include improving infrastructure by addressing things like overcrowding and access to clean water and land.

Finally, indigenous communities need self-determination, in which they have more control over their own health care  things like running their own hospitals, and becoming nurses, doctors and physiotherapists. In the meantime, the health-care system must work to make indigenous patients welcome and comfortable.

Indigenous patients can start on this journey by feeling empowered to ask questions and make informed decisions about health care.

How to make informed health-care decisions

Bring someone you know and trust with you to medical appointments  even for routine follow-ups. This person can validate your opinion, support you, and help keep track of information provided by the doctor.

Dont feel rushed into a decision  you have a right to information you need in a format you understand. You can leave an appointment without deciding and do some research on your own. Be careful when doing online research for medical information as there is a lot of misinformation online. Stick to reputable sources such as the Mayo Clinic, the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the Heart and Stroke Foundation or Cancer Care Ontario.

If you are considering an option and are unsure, you could ask your health-care provider something to the effect of: This is what I think would work best for me. What do you think? Then consider the feedback.

Ask for a second opinion referral if you are feeling indecisive and need another physicians perspective.

If, after learning about the options and possibly getting a second opinion, you have come to a decision that is not what your physician recommended initially, you might say something like: I realize that this isnt routine practice, but in my case I think this is what would work best for me at this stage.

Address the fear of being left without care: I hope this isnt going to be a problem for you to keep caring for me as a patient.

If you feel things have not gone well, you can speak with the health-care centres ombudsperson or patient advocate. Through opening up the dialogue, patients can help improve health care, and bring about more patient-centred care.

If the centre does not have a specific patient advocate, find out if your community or a local friendship centre has an indigenous patient navigator or advocate who can help.

Dr. Lisa Richardson is an Assistant Professor of mixed ancestry (Anishnaabe/European) in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Curricular Co-Lead in Indigenous Health Education and Internal Medicine Physician at the University Health Networks Toronto Western Hospital. She is on the planning committee for the annual Indigenous Health Conference, and is a member of the University of Torontos Steering Committee contributing to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canadas Call to Action. Doctors Notes is a weekly column by members of the U of T Faculty of Medicine. Email doctorsnotes@thestar.ca

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This is one in an occasional series on the science and significance of sleep.

Pop a pill, hit your pillow and drift off into glorious slumber each and every night.

If only it were so easy.

Two thirds of Canadians say they wish they could get a better sleep, according to a recent study, but sleep specialists want you to know: theres no miracle pill, or over-the-counter medication that will solve your sleep woes permanently.

I worry that weve come to a place where, when folks have trouble sleeping, its easier to take a pill than it is to do the work that actually has better evidence to help restoring sleep and thats certainly safer, said Jamie Kellar, an assistant professor with the University of Torontos Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. These shouldnt be lifelong treatments.

Safer, nonpharmacological measures of establishing better sleep patterns include; going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, sleeping in a dark room, avoiding stimulating activities and limiting caffeine, alcohol and nicotine closer to bedtime, Kellar said.

Those are the things that have a more solid evidence base for actually improving sleep over the long term, said Kellar. But theyre hard. They require you as an individual to do something.

If those attempts fail and your sleep problems persist, you should see a sleep specialist, said Dr. Mark Boulos, a neurologist specializing in stroke and sleep work with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and an assistant professor with the University of Toronto.

The next step might be cognitive behavioural therapy  talking out the psychological reasons why you struggle with sleep  or, possibly, sleeping pills.

The most popular pills prescribed by specialists to treat insomnia include benzodiazepines, such as Valium or Ativan, or benzodiazepine-like drugs, such as Ambien, said Boulos. Antidepressants and antipsychotics with sedative side effects may be prescribed, sometimes in instances where a patient is struggling with multiple disorders, said Boulos, though he stressed that these are not first-line medications.

Boulos said prescription sleeping pills should be taken in the short term  ideally only for a few days  as long-term use can lead to higher risks of falls or accidents, a higher tolerance for the medication, dependence on the drugs, withdrawal issues and possible cognitive problems, he said.

If you can do without the use of medication, thats always optimal, he said. The body was designed to run without pills.

He also doesnt recommend sleep-starved people self-medicate with over-the-counter drugs, such as drowsy cold medication, as that could worsen sleeping problems  a patient with restless leg syndrome once found his condition got worse after taking Gravol  or have other unwanted side-effects, such as urinary retention.

And melatonin? The use of the over-the-counter sleep aid is still controversial and Boulos said hed only recommend its use for people with circadian rhythm dysfunction, such as shift workers.

His message is simple: there are a range of reasons why people have sleep problems, including stress, aging or other health conditions. Working with a specialist will be your best course of action to tackle your problems. If you are experiencing ongoing sleep problems, you should speak with your doctor or a sleep specialist, he said.

Sleeping pill breakdown

The Star spoke with Jamie Kellar, an assistant professor with the University of Torontos Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, Dr. Raed Hawa, a sleep specialist and deputy psychiatrist-in-chief with University Health Network and Dr. Mark Boulos, a staff neurologist specializing in stroke and sleep work with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and an assistant professor with the University of Toronto, about popular prescription sleeping pills, antidepressants and over the counter medicine, and how they affect your body.

Note: Talk to your doctor if your sleep problems are affecting your work or social life.

Benzodiazepines (i.e. diazepam, sold under the brand name Valium; and lorazepam, sold under the brand name Ativan)

These drugs have sedative and hypnotic properties, in addition to anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), anticonvulsant and amnestic (memory loss) properties. They are commonly prescribed to treat insomnia. Theyve been around for decades. Taken orally, the medication enters a patients bloodstream and bind to a receptor in the brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, resulting in sedation. Benzodiazepines can also cause confusion and dizziness. Patients with a history of alcoholism or substance abuse, and elderly patients, who may be at risk of falls, should avoid them.

The Z drugs (including zopiclone, sold under the brand name Imovane, and zolpidem, sold under the brand name Ambien)

These medications have similar effects on the body to benzodiazepines, but differ slightly in how they work. They bind to a different area of the GABA receptor, resulting in sedation without anxiolytic, anticonvulsant or amnestic properties. These medications have a similar side-effect profile to benzodiazepines and geriatric patients should take these drugs with caution.

Trazodone

By definition, trazodone is an antidepressant, though its rarely used to treat depression due to its side-effect profile and the availability of newer, more tolerable agents, said Kellar. For insomnia, the drug works by blocking histamine receptors, which results in sedation. It can also help ease anxiety when people are falling asleep, said Hawa. Elderly patients should use trazodone with caution as it can contribute to falls. Trazodone is not considered a habit-forming drug.

Other antidepressants (i.e. amitriptyline or nortriptyline)

Tricyclic antidepressants have a different chemical structure than trazodone, but cause sedation in a similar way by blocking histamine receptors. However, these drugs have many side effects and are typically not prescribed for elderly patients as they can be associated with delirium and numerous other side-effects. They are not considered first line drugs for addressing sleep problems, due to side-effects and risk of toxicity in overdose.

Antipsychotic medication (i.e. quetiapine)

This medication might be used for a patient who has tried other drugs without success or who has a combination of depression, psychosis or manic depression in addition to sleeping troubles. Like sedating antidepressants, antipsychotic drugs may have lower abuse potential when compared to benzodiazepines and Z drugs, but theyre not without their own risks and side-effects and should be used for short periods of time, said Kellar. There is little evidence to support their efficacy in treating insomnia and some specialists say they would never prescribe antipsychotics to treat insomnia.

Over the counter sleeping pills (Nytol)

Some over-the-counter sleep medications, including Nytol, contain an antihistamine called diphenhydramine  also known as Benadryl, its brand name. These drugs block histamine receptors, which in turn causes sedation. Kellar warns that some medications containing diphenhydramine can leave people feeling drowsy the day after taking it. Activities requiring alertness, such as driving, should be postponed until the effects wear off. Some specialists dont recommend self-medication, period. Others say speak to your pharmacist before taking over-the-counter medication.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone humans produce naturally during the night which is linked to our circadian rhythm. One theory about the relationship between melatonin and insomnia is that people with insomnia may have decreased levels of circulating melatonin. While Kellar and Hawa say over-the-counter melatonin is relatively safe, they note its difficult to gauge the purity of dosage of melatonin in over-the-counter pills. Some studies suggest it improves both the quality and quantity of sleep, though specialists such as Boulos would only recommend it to people with circadian rhythm dysfunction, such as shift workers. Its most effective if taken an hour before bed for four weeks straight, said Kellar.

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OTTAWAFinance Minister Bill Morneau meets his provincial and territorial counterparts in Vancouver on Monday and one of the key agenda items is going to be the federal Liberals wish to expand the Canada Pension Plan. Here are five things to know about the CPP and the politics around it.

1) The system is designed so that each generation of workers pays for its own retirement. That makes it different from two other income replacement programs for seniors and retirees: old age security (OAS) and the guaranteed income supplement (GIS). Those measures are covered through general tax revenues, meaning that workers today pay taxes to raise the incomes of poorer seniors. Any decisions on the future of the CPP would have a greater effect on younger workers than older workers. Will they pay attention?

2) CPP premiums have only been raised once in the last 20 years. In 1997, finance ministers agreed to a phased-in increase in premiums to ensure one generation of workers wasnt paying for another generations retirement. The argument today is that the CPP should pay more in benefits and help those who arent saving enough for retirement. The argument against raising premiums is that it would hit workers wallets at a time when governments keep saying the economy is fragile.

3) Expanding the CPP has come down to one of two scenarios. One would be an across-the-board change that would mean higher benefits and premiums for all workers; the other would target those segments of the population who arent saving enough for retirement. Those who arent saving enough are the same people the federal Liberals want to help financially: Middle income earners. Research suggest those earning between $55,000 and $75,000  some studies put the upper limit above $100,000  are not saving enough for retirement, or dont have an adequate workplace pension. One study from February 2015 suggested 17 per cent of households were not saving enough for retirement.

4) Not every province has to have the CPP. Quebec has its own version. Saskatchewan has its own pension plan, but the payments are voluntary, acting more like a RRSP. will be mandatory, unlike Saskatchewans, but it is aimed at workers without a private pension, meaning it isnt universal like the QPP. Could other provinces follow suit in the absence of a deal on CPP? And would the federal government help them along? If the answer to both is yes, it could let everyone claim a political win and move off the political hot seat for now.

5) Changing parts of CPP is more difficult than changing the Constitution. Like the constitutional amending formula, seven out of 10 provinces have to agree to any changes. But a constitutional amendment requires that those seven represent at least half the countrys population. The CPP bar is set at two-thirds of the population. Saskatchewan has already signalled it isnt interested in a rate increase, but its population is so small  about three per cent of the total  that the federal government wont worry if they are offside. Ontario is different. It has more than a third of the population, giving it an unofficial veto. The federal government needs Ontarios help on changes, giving it a strong political voice in talks.

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HALIFAXA senior member of the Norwegian foreign affairs parliamentary committee says Ottawas refusal to admit a 94-year-old to a veterans hospital in Halifax is disrespectful to the sailors who fought for the allies in the Second World War.

Christian Tybring-Gjedde, the defence spokesman for the Progress Party, says he plans to bring the case of Petter Blindheim forward to government ministers in the coalition government formed by the ruling Conservatives and his political party.

Tybring-Gjedde says the media and political attention devoted to the Blindheim case has been light so far in Norway, but he expects that may change if the decorated veteran of Norways navy and merchant marine doesnt receive a spot at the hospital.

This is a case where you shouldnt hide behind formalities. ... It should be solved immediately. The man is 94 years old. He doesnt have many years to live. This has to be resolved now, said the veteran parliamentarian from Oslo.

You should treat him with respect.

Blindheim was initially rejected for placement at the Camp Hill Veterans Memorial hospital because the Department of Veterans Affairs said hed signed up with the Norwegian navy after his homeland was occupied, and was classified as being in the resistance service rather than an Allied veteran.

Ottawa recanted that position, but then rejected Blindheim  who has fallen several times and has a broken arm  because it said he could be cared for at a provincial facility where Ottawa will still pay his daily costs.

We evaluate all veterans who require benefits on a case-by-case basis, wrote Sarah McMaster.

While we always work to deliver the support a veteran and their family needs, it is not always possible to do so in a specific facility of a veterans choosing.

She said Veterans Affairs supports the long term care of any veteran who needs it in one of 1500 facilities across Canada, adding we ... will always ensure they are receiving the level of care they need based on evaluation by health care professionals.

The department has also said there are legislated rules, including the requirement that allied veterans demonstrate they require specialized care not available in other facilities, which the minister cannot ignore.

McMaster said the beds at the specialized hospital have given priority access to Second World War and Korean War veterans of Canadas Armed Forces and this began when they were transferred to provincial jurisdictions.

It became imperative to secure priority access to long term care for these veterans in the transferred hospitals, she wrote.

The family has responded that there is a median 285-day waiting list for provincial homes in Halifax, and that Blindheim would prefer to be with other veterans at the Halifax hospital  which receives a higher daily subsidy than the average received for care at a provincial nursing home.

The provinces premier has called rejection of Blindheim bureaucratic BS, because the Camp Hill hospital has empty beds while there is a waiting list for the provincial spots.

Tybring-Gjedde says the number of Canadian and allied vets in their mid 90s is rapidly diminishing and he has difficulty understanding why the Canadian government has created different hurdles for veterans from his nation.

Whats the big issue here? How many cases will you have before they all die? ... He fought the same war as the Canadians. We were all protecting each other: Canadians, Norwegians and British, he said.

Blindheim was decorated by the Norwegian government for removing a primer from a depth charge to avoid it exploding as the convoy ship he was on was sinking.

Irene Mathyssen, the federal NDP critic for veterans affairs, said in an interview that the Liberals campaigned with promises of creating a more flexible system, and are now abandoning veterans.

This government promised more; these veterans deserve more ... It doesnt make any sense at all. Petter Blindheim refused a bed when there are beds there, she said.

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HALIFAXA Nova Scotia judge has ordered Facebook to release the identities of users behind two profiles to municipal officials seeking to sue them for defamation.

The two account holders made disparaging comments on a Facebook group called Taxpayers of Richmond County, NS about Richmond Councillor Steve Sampson and county administrator Warren Olsen.

Sampson and Olsen believe those names  Jake Sampson and Jim Davis  are pseudonyms, and want to find out who is actually behind the Facebook postings so they can be sued, according to a decision released Monday by the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.

Facebook itself took no position on the issue, while neither account holder responded to attempts to contact them, Justice Michael Wood said.

The offending comments relate to the handling of public funds by Steve Sampson and Olsen, the judge said, quoting references to fraudulent behaviour and wrong doings.

The Facebook group came out of an expenses scandal that grew from a fight over the size of Richmond countys council.

As warden until 2014, Sampson led a successful fight to reduce county council to five seats from 10, and he has fought other anonymous attempts to pressure him.

In April, he called a Halifax news conference to allege someone tried to blackmail him by revealing a call he made from a Seattle hotel room to a male escort service while he was on county business in 2014.

In his ruling on the Facebook postings, Wood grappled with the competing principles at play. He said people who damage others reputations should not be shielded by Internet secrecy, but acknowledged anonymity sometimes allows those who expose conduct which might otherwise not come to light to be protected, especially in small communities.

Anonymous posters should not have a licence to defame without consequences however, those who comment on matters of public interest should not have their anonymity stripped away simply because they are critical of public figures who take offence, he wrote. It is a question of finding a reasonable balance of these competing values in light of the nature of the comments and the strength of the potential claim, he wrote.

Wood ruled that the number and nature of postings by the two accounts in question overrode any expectation of remaining anonymous.

He did not order disclosure of the identity behind a third Facebook account, held by a Paul Burke, saying allegations made on that account did not directly suggest improper conduct as did the other two.

Steve Sampson also works as a regional outreach officer for the governing provincial Liberals.

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OTTAWAFederal politicians meet a lot of people, but Syrian children dont meet a lot of federal politicians  let alone the same one twice, in two different countries, each a world apart from the other.

Hamza Ali, 13, remembers clearly the day last November when a trio of Canadian cabinet ministers trooped into an ad-hoc art gallery set up in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan.

Ali, one of the artists, shook the ministers hands and explained the concept behind his gripping paintings of women and men struggling with life and the war in Syria.

Immigration Minister John McCallum told Ali he was struck by the symbolism of a painting showing a woman carrying a map of Syria on her back up a flight of stairs, a heavy red sky in the background.

Women do all the heavy lifting, McCallum remarked.

That painting now hangs in Health Minister Jane Philpotts office in Ottawa. McCallum didnt have one  until Monday.

The ministers left the camp and went on to open a massive refugee processing centre near Amman that would eventually see thousands of refugees interviewed and screened to come to Canada.

Five of them ended up being the Ali family.

Since February, theyve lived in the national capital  Hamza utterly oblivious to the fact his painting was hanging in a high-powered government office just a few minutes away.

When his family was invited Monday to an event in Ottawa to mark World Refugee Day, he and his father decided to paint another.

The idea, they said through a translator, was to offer a thank you to the minister who may not have bought one of the paintings but  unbeknownst to the minister  had given them the gift of a new life in Canada.

When McCallum arrived at the event, he was guided over to the Alis.

He nodded when he was told hed met them before, but then Alis mother reminded him her son had been the boy with the paintings in the camp. McCallums face lit up  and his smile grew even wider when Alis father pulled a new painting out of a paper bag.

It was a portrait of the minister, a Canadian flag behind him and the words thank you very much across the top.

McCallum said he was caught off guard by the gesture. Having met them in both places, it is great to see the fruits of our labour.

The day they met the ministers, the Alis didnt know they would later come to Canada. Hamza had been chosen to meet them because camp officials had wanted to showcase the programs they were running for children, some with Canadian funds.

Today, all three of the Ali children are enrolled in school in Ottawa and learning English, as are their parents. But art remains an important part of their family. They have a room in their apartment just for their supplies.

Hamza is at work on a painting of an Arabian horse and his father recently painted one of a Syrian girl and Canadian girl wrapped in an embrace, their hands around a Canadian flag.

Before, all our work was sorrowful, Hamzas father Mohammad Ali said, partly in broken English and partly through a translator.

Now weve started painting happy things.

On Monday, the United Nations Refugee Agency released its annual report on the state of the worlds displaced people.

The agency said by the end of last year, 65.3 million people had been forcibly displaced from their homes, about 12.4 million of them newly displaced, due to ongoing persecution, conflict, generalized violence, or human rights violations that continue to plague countries around the world.

Only a fraction were resettled around the world. Canada admitted around 32,000 refugees in all of 2015 through a combination of resettlement and grants of asylum to those already here.

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The two adults who should have cared for and protected Melonie Biddersingh instead tortured her for more than three years and finally killed her, two separate juries have found.

Her father, Everton Biddersingh, was found guilty of first-degree murder in January. Her stepmother, Elaine Biddersingh, was found guilty of second-degree murder on Monday, after a jury deliberated for six days.

Justice was delivered today, Crown prosecutor Mary Humphrey told reporters after the verdict.

Justice for Melonie has taken a few months short of 22 years to deliver  longer than the 17 years she lived.

This little girl was assaulted, abused and eventually died right under our noses, Det.-Sgt. Steve Ryan said outside court. There is still nothing in place so we can check in on children who come from other countries. We cannot let this happen againthis was a case that was preventable.

Melonies emaciated remains were found in a burning suitcase in an industrial parking lot in Vaughan in September 1994, but she was not identified until 2012  after Elaine suddenly confessed to her pastor that the mystery girl was her stepdaughter, and that she died like a dog.

After the jury gave their verdict, Elaine sat with her Bible clasped to her chest, alternating between reading passages closely and turning her face to the ceiling in prayer as the judge spoke to the jury.

Before she was taken into custody, she spoke to her youngest daughter Charmaine, 24, whom Melonie had looked after when she was a baby and who testified as a Crown witness  and kissed her on the head.

She calmly smiled as she entered the prisoners box, similar to her demeanour throughout the trial.

Her lawyers, Alana Page and Jennifer Myers, said they were disappointed in the verdict and will consider an appeal.

While no one would ever suggest that it wasnt terrible to live in that apartment, there was evidence as well that not only were the Biddersingh children victims, as I believe they were, but Elaine was a victim in her own right, Page said outside court.

The jury did not hear directly from Biddersingh, who did not take the stand, nor call evidence in her defence. However, she testified in her husbands murder trial, blaming him for the abuse and claiming he regularly beat her.

Elaine told the jury in that trial that she discovered Melonies body in a tiny hallway cupboard, where Everton would confine her as punishment.

The Crown argued she was lying. She admitted to helping dispose of Melonies body using the teens own suitcase, and told the jury she believed Melonie died of malnutrition.

Elaine said she frequently reported Evertons abuse of her to the police to no avail  the Crown said records dont support this  but did not say she had reported the abuse of Melonie or the other children.

The Crown argued at Elaines trial that she resented having to care for Evertons children from previous relationships.

She promised to care for Melonie, protect her and nurture her. She failed in her duty as a parent, prosecutor Anna Tenhouse told the jury in her closing address. Elaine was the mastermind and Everton was the fist.

Elaines lawyers sought to paint her as a victim of domestic violence in a horrendous situation who had no part in Melonies tragic death.

Myers told the jury in her closing address that the responsibility for Melonies death rests solely with Everton, who physically abused the children and his wife. Elaine would seclude herself in the bedroom reading the Bible and watching religious TV shows, Myers said.

Myers told the jury the Crown could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Elaine knew Melonies life was in danger or played any role in her death. Elaine didnt know the extent of Melonies condition, Myers said.

Elaine lived in fear, as the children did, Myers said. (Everton) was a master manipulator. She didnt finish high school.

Elaine didnt reveal Melonies death at the time because Everton told her the police would take away her children, Myers said.

Elaine played a role in everything that happened in that apartment, countered the Crown. The apartment, in a Parkdale highrise, was just 746 square feet, making it impossible to believe she was not aware of Melonies condition, Tenhouse said.

Melonie had 21 healing fractures when her body was found and was severely malnourished. Her body weighed less than 27 kilograms, the weight of a child half her age.

Just how Melonie died remains unclear. Pathologists pointed to drowning in a fresh water source, but left open the possibility that she nearly drowned and died of something else, such as starvation.

Cleon Biddersingh, now 41, was the Crowns key witness and testified in both trials on the abuse the children suffered.

Melonie had it the worst, he said. He told the jury how she was stomped on and struck, tossed against the wall, deprived of food, chained to furniture and locked in a closet. She didnt go to school, though she dreamed of being a nurse, and instead did chores and looked after Elaine and Evertons baby daughter, Charmaine.

The jury heard how Everton punished Melonie by flushing her head in the toilet or putting her in a barrel on the balcony.

Once, Elaine smashed a coffee mug on Melonies head, Cleon said. In the summer she made Melonie bathe and relieve herself on the balcony. She also controlled the food, rationing it out and sometimes not feeding Melonie at all, he said.

Elaine was convinced Melonie had brought a curse on her home, Tenhouse told the jury. She called her evil. She told her she had evil in her. She called Melonie the devil. That she had a curse in her.

A sentencing hearing is expected in the fall.

With files from Star staff and the Canadian Press

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Only ten jurors remain deliberating Elaine Biddersinghs fate after a juror was dismissed Sunday afternoon after concerns he might have watched television in his hotel room at night.

During deliberations jurors are sequestered and are not permitted to watch television or use the internet. The televisions in their rooms are disconnected.

Biddersingh is on trial for the first-degree murder of her 17-year-old stepdaughter Melonie Biddersingh. Melonies emaciated body was discovered in a burning suitcase in 1994 but her identity remained unknown until 2012, after Biddersingh suddenly revealed to her pastor that Melonie had died like a dog.

During the trial, the Crown argued Biddersingh and her husband Everton abused Melonie together for years, finally killing her. Biddersinghs lawyers said it was Everton alone who killed Melonie. Everton has already been convicted of first-degree murder in a trial earlier this year.

Superior Court Justice Ian MacDonnell received a note from two jurors on Sunday claiming Juror 12 had told fellow jurors hed figured out a way to watch television in his hotel room.

When questioned by the judge, Juror 12 denied both watching television in his room and that such a conversation had taken place. However, the jury foreperson told the judge he was aware of the conversation and had spoken to Juror 12 about it.

Due to the limited media coverage of the trial, the juror watching television would not have resulted in information getting to the jury that they should not have, the judge said.

MacDonnell chose to dismiss Juror 12 out of caution, without questioning any other jury members, to avoid poisoning the deliberations.

Another juror was dismissed early on in the trial after telling the judge that Juror 12 had shared information about the case with her that was not told to the jury. Juror 12 denied doing so and other jury members said they were unaware of the comment.

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Former Toronto police chief and Liberal MP Bill Blair accepted almost $4,000 in campaign donations from two lawyers last year  three months after they were publicly named as targets of an RCMP probe into police union fraud.

The lawyers are two of five people charged last week as part of an alleged scheme involving top leaders at the Ontario Provincial Police union.

Blair, who was chief of the Toronto Police Service from 2005 to 2015, was elected last October as a Liberal MP for Scarborough Southwest.

Questions to Blairs office were referred to David Paradis, the Liberal riding association president for Scarborough Southwest. Paradis declined a phone interview but confirmed in an email that there was a fundraiser for Blairs campaign in June 2015 in a private box at the Rogers Centre.

Blair had accepted an offer from lawyer Francis Chantiam to host the event. Andrew McKay, a cop-turned-lawyer who used to work for the Toronto police, purchased a ticket to attend.

Mr. Blair was unaware at the time of the fundraiser that there was an investigation into Mr. Chantiam or Mr. McKay. Upon learning of the news, Mr. Blair asked the riding association to return the donations, Paradis said in an emailed statement.

None of the allegations against any of the men has been tested in court.

Paradis said Chantiam and his wife hosted the fundraiser, which served as a $2,411.16 in-kind donation; Chantiam also donated $1,000 to the campaign. McKay, meanwhile, chipped in $500.

Both men had been named three months earlier in a front-page Star story detailing an RCMP investigation into allegations of fraud at the OPP union. The story, in which police described Chantiam and McKay as accomplices in the alleged scheme, was also featured in several other media outlets.

Blair directed the riding association to refund the donations on Friday  the day after charges were announced, Paradis said.

He explained that Blair, who currently serves as parliamentary secretary to the minister of justice, asked the association to give $1,500 to the Receiver General, the government agent that handles ineligible donations that cant be returned. Blair has also directed the association to donate $2,411.16 to Variety Village, a fitness charity in Scarborough, to cover the in-kind donation, Paradis said.

After a 19-month investigation, the Mounties charged Chantiam, McKay and three long-time OPP union executives: Karl Walsh, 52, James Christie, 48, and Martin Bain, 50. The five men are accused of fraud over $5,000 and laundering the proceeds of crime through a complex system of secret companies and offshore investments designed to steal money from union members.

As detailed in an affidavit last year, the alleged investments included two beachside condos in the Bahamas  one valued at $1.5 million  and $100,000 in union money wired to an income fund in the Cayman Islands. The affidavit, from RCMP Sgt. Gordon Aristotle, was used to justify Mountie raids on the Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA) office, union vehicles and the residences of Christie, Bain and Walsh in March 2015.

I believe they have financially benefited from their actions, breached the trust of the OPPA membership and placed the OPPA and its membership at a significant financial risk, Aristotle wrote at the time.

Speaking on behalf of McKay, lawyer David Humphrey told the Star that his client will vigorously combat the charges against him. He is surprised and extremely disappointed by the charges and as the matter is before the court its not appropriate for him to commenting further, Humphrey said.

Peter Brauti, the lawyer representing Chantiam, the New Jersey lawyer who organized the Blair fundraiser, said his client is disappointed by the charges and denies all wrongdoing. He added that the Blair fundraiser was very routine, given that Chantiam  who runs packaging businesses in Canada and the U.S.  has thrown dozens and dozens of fundraisers for a variety of causes.

The Star was unable to reach Walsh, Bain and Christie on Monday. None of their lawyers responded to requests for comment as of press time.

The union, meanwhile, declined to comment on behalf of the former executives as they no longer work for the association, said spokesperson Josh Jutras.

The RCMPs OPPA investigation focused on a company called PIN Consulting Group, which the affidavit said was incorporated in 2014 and named McKay as its sole director. Walsh and Christie, as top union officials, allegedly signed a three-year contract with PIN on behalf of the union that was worth $180,000 and designed for their own benefit. The services to be provided by PIN, run out of the same Bloor St. address as McKays law office, included real estate and commercial investments, vacation property opportunities and travel benefits, according to the document.

The Mounties also looked at a travel company called First Response, where Chantiam worked as a partner. The New Jersey lawyer was described at the time as McKays rich friend who hosted union members in a Rogers Centre box. The document states that the union abruptly directed its members to stop travelling through Flight Centre and direct their needs exclusively through First Response.

The totality of the alleged behaviour demonstrates an ongoing breach of trust . . . by Walsh, Bain and Christie that has escalated in sophistication and significance, Aristotle wrote in the affidavit.

RCMP Sgt. Penny Hermann said Monday that the investigation remains open as new information comes in.

Rob Jamieson, who took over as OPPA president last December, said on Monday that the union is working to increase transparency and accountability to ensure confidence in its financial affairs. He declined to comment further, as the matter is before the courts, and was not speaking on behalf of the accused former executives.

Weve turned the page in a dark chapter in our history, Jamieson said. Were focused on the day-to-day needs of our membership, and thats whats important.

The five men are scheduled to appear in court July 18.

With files from Wendy Gillis and Rachel Mendleson

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It would appear no amount of weed is too small for the federal government to prosecute as it works toward legalizing the drug for recreational use.

Brandon Richards was pulled over after leaving the parking lot of a Guelph strip club shortly after 1 a.m. in October 2014 for a sobriety check. He passed, but the officer said he detected the odour of marijuana.

The big discovery: 1.15 g of pot. A street value of about $10.

Richards was charged with simple possession, and the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, the federal agency that handles drug crimes, chose to take the matter to court, where Richards was found guilty and ordered to pay a $100 fine in April 2015.

The Liberals, with their promise of legalization, were elected to power a few months later.

Richards appealed his conviction, and the PPSC fought him there as well. But late last month Superior Court Justice Casey Hill overturned Richards conviction, saying the police officer failed to advise him of his right to a lawyer after asking him if he had any marijuana.

The case is one example for why Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould should order the PPSC to stop prosecuting individuals for simple possession of marijuana while it works on legalization, Richards lawyer told the Star.

Nobody knows whats going on, nobody knows who to ask whats going on, and were in this very strange position where marijuana is still illegal, but its been announced that its going to be legal, said Benjamin Goldman.

I think the message sent to the public is that there is no consistency and no predictably in the system. This might not have happened with a different Crown attorney, with a different police force, in a different jurisdiction.

Federal Health Minister Jane Philpott announced in April that the government intends to legalize pot for recreational use by next spring. A task force is expected to present its recommendations on legalization later this year.

In the meantime, its business as usual at the PPSC when it comes to pot.

The cannabis-related offences contained in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act have not been amended and continue in force, said an agency spokeswoman.

The decision to take individuals to court  an exhausting and costly experience  for such small amounts of marijuana and then slap them with criminal records seems inappropriate given that legalization is imminent, said criminal defence lawyer Daniel Brown, who was not involved in the case.

There are serious cases being stayed or thrown out of court because of delay when the courts are clogged up prosecuting relatively minor marijuana charges, and its important to prioritize matters to ensure that the serious cases are the ones being prosecuted, he said.

Richards is black, but the judge at his trial dismissed his lawyers argument that there was racial profiling. Goldman said he accepts the judges ruling.

Do I have my suspicions that there was a possible racial element in this? Yes, I have my suspicions, he told the Star.

On appeal, Hill ruled that the failure of the Guelph police officer to immediately advise Richards of his right to counsel was serious.

Traffic stops are a routine feature of the duties of uniformed patrol officers. There should have been no legal uncertainty as to the officers obligations, Hill wrote. This is hardly a trivial, technical, or inadvertent breach.

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After finishing high school in Toronto, Matti Friedman decided to go to Israel. He was required, like others of his age, to do army service, a teenager who had never held a gun. Friedman later became a journalist and has written several books about the Middle East. His latest, Pumpkinflowers: An Israeli Soldiers Story, is about troops in the late 1990s defending the security zone that Israel established in south Lebanon. Pumpkin was Israel's name for a hilltop military outpost there. Flowers was the code word for soldiers felled in action. Our conversation has been edited for length.

Jennifer: The first section of your book deals with a young Israeli soldier, Avi, who was killed at the Pumpkin in a terrible helicopter crash. You never met Avi. Why write about him rather than one of his peers who were also killed? Just because Avi had a rebellious streak?

Matti: I knew the story needed to start in 1997, when the hill became notorious because of the helicopter crash that killed 73 soldiers. I looked for soldiers who had been on the hill before I arrived. I went around the country meeting different guys who had passed through this strange outpost in the 1990s and I also spoke to parents of soldiers who had died at the outpost.

I learned about Avi in one of these meetings and then met his parents. It turned out that Avi had not only been at the outpost, but he had written a considerable amount about being there. Most of us didnt do that. We were extremely young and we didnt think that what we were seeing was important and we were preoccupied with just getting through. As soon as I saw his writing and saw he had a unique pair of eyes, I knew I could write about him.

Jennifer: Your story focuses on a hill that has been obliterated from both Israeli and Lebanese memories. But you have resurrected its history. In fact, the name of your book reminds me of the poem by John McCrae that every Canadian recites on Remembrance Day: In Flanders fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row 

Matti: I hadnt made a connection to the floral name of my book and that most floral of Great War poems. You are absolutely right. The red flowers, the blood red poppies in Flanders, represent soldiers who fought in World War I. Flowers was the radio code for casualties of Israeli soldiers who fought in Lebanon.

Jennifer: During the time you served in the Israeli army, Israeli mothers were pushed to protest their sons involvement in fighting the guerrillas in Lebanon.

Matti: The group called Four Mothers was formed shortly after the helicopter crash. At this point, the country is starting to think about the Lebanon enterprise. The catalyst for this change in public opinion was the group of mothers who got together to start a protest movement.

The country believed there was a need for a security zone between Lebanon and Israel. But after a year or two of very active protest and a growing casualty toll in Lebanon, public thought shifted. The idea of a unilateral withdrawal from Lebanon went from being a dream to a reality.

The mothers were very tenacious in their activities. It is a demonstration of what a small number of citizens can pull off in a democracy. In the 1990s there was a broad peace movement in Israel which really believed we would get peace and have a better future. Then in 2000, Israel withdraws from Lebanon. The next spring the peace process collapses. It collapses with the rise of the Hezbollah (a Lebanese-based terror organization) and the worst wave of terrorism Israel had ever seen.

What we have now is a Middle East that is much worse than anyone could have imagined. Reality in this region has not been kind to the Four Mothers and the peace movement. What is going on now was born out the darkest dreams of those on the right.

Jennifer: A Canadian friend of yours travelled safely through Lebanon and you decided to go see the country yourself, hiding your Israeli identity and assuming the posture of a Canadian backpacker with no command of Hebrew and no Israeli past. That must have been wonderful and terrifying.

Matti: It was both. After I came out of the army, I expected to forget about my experiences at Pumpkin, but I couldnt. It wouldnt leave me alone. I became fixated by the need to go back to this hill and see it as a civilian. When we were soldiers, we joked that the place was so beautiful we would come back to hike there as tourists. For everyone in my unit it was impossible because they were Israelis and couldnt cross the border. But I realized after the arrival of my friend that as a Canadian, I could.

Two and a half years after my discharge I flew to Toronto and then flew to Lebanon as a Canadian and spent a few weeks there and had the most incredible time and saw the place with a different set of eyes.

Jennifer: What you also learned was they still hated Israelis and Jews even after the withdrawal.

Matti: My expectation was that I might come away hopeful. It was the Canadian in me that thought these allegiances to Hezbollah might all be artificial. People would get along and make things better because they would see the humanity in the other. I didnt find that. I found deep antagonism against Israelis and Jews, even though no one knew I was Israeli or Jewish. I realized these feelings were deep.

Jennifer: The whole peace movement in Israel has been turned on its head. The voices of protest have dwindled; they are still there but are mostly ignored. Why stay in Israel? Why not come back to Canada?

Matti: I came here when I was 17 and I still find Israel incredibly compelling and I cant imagine being anywhere else. Here it is easy to be Jewish. The cops are Jewish, the crooks are Jewish, the hookers are Jewish. I cant imagine living anywhere else. You dont have to think about being Jewish here. You just are.

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The Ontario government has ignored startling information about a potentially dangerous mercury dumping site for seven months, a Star investigation has found.

Saying he was writing out of guilt, a retired labourer says that more than 40 years ago he was part of a small crew that haphazardly dumped drums of mercury and salt into a pit near Grassy Narrows First Nation where water and fish have long been contaminated by the toxic metal. Residents have for years complained of serious illnesses consistent with mercury poisoning.

An email written by Kas Glowacki went to the Grassy Narrows chief last August, who sent it to the environment ministry.

I was amazed at the amount of mercury that was pooling around my shovel as I dumped it into the drums, wrote Glowacki, who said he worked at the Dryden Paper mill in 1972.

Glowacki, now living in Alberta, was essentially told by the environment ministry there was nothing to be concerned about.

The ministry, however, recently jumped into high gear after the Star began asking questions. A spokesman said the ministry is doing everything in its power to find the site, but also added there was no evidence at this time to suggest that it exists.

We filled I would say approximately 50+ drums of the salt and mercury mixture, Glowackis email report read. There was a large pit dug behind the mill that was lined with black poly(urethane). The drums were dropped, not placed into the pit  and buried.

I am writing this letter out of guilt and to possibly share some info that you might not be aware of. I think that after so many years the monitoring may have gone by the wayside.

The mercury poisoning of the residents of Grassy Narrows and the fish they eat has been well documented after the old Dryden mill  now closed  dumped 10 tonnes of mercury, a potent neurotoxin, into the Wabigoon-English River system between 1962 and 1970.

A government-funded report commissioned by Grassy Narrows and released just three weeks ago is cautioning that despite the passage of time mercury levels in sediments and fish downstream are still dangerously high (one meal of Walleye from a lake on the river system contains up to 150 times the safe dose of mercury recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).

These persistently high levels of mercury suggest the metal is still leaking into the river system. The source of the mercury leak could be mercury dumped in the river in the 1960s that has been dormant in the river sediments but only now is being churned up. Mercury could also be seeping into the river from a site around the old Dryden paper mill. Its impossible to know if there is a leak coming from the site because the government had not done any recent monitoring of the river near Dryden, the report said.

The government acknowledged to the Star that it has not tested there since 1980.

Were quite sure there is an ongoing source but we have to discover what that source is and figure out how to turn it off, said John Rudd, lead author of the report. If that source can be turned off its possible to clean the lakes up.

Freshwater scientist Rudd was also part of a team that reported in 1984 that the fish in the river would be contaminated for generations if it wasnt cleaned up. The government opted to allow the river to recover naturally.

After receiving Glowackis email, a ministry inspector responded by email in November, saying in a short note that there is an official mercury disposal site near the old mill that was established in 1971 and that it is not a source of contamination. Later, the ministry told the community that this site, which was filled with waste until 1981, contains mercury-contaminated building rubble and sludge, and it is encased in concrete, is being monitored and that the site is not a source of contamination. Glowacki maintains that the site he is referencing is in a different area.

Though the site described by Glowacki differed in almost every way from the governments so-called Waste Disposal site, no one from the ministry seemed to think Glowackis email suggested the existence of a second site. No one at the ministry followed up with Glowacki to ask him more questions.

Grassy Narrows leaders are frustrated with a lack of action.

(The government) should investigate all leads because this is very, very troublesome news, said Simon Fobister Sr., chief of Grassy Narrows. Wed like to find out if it does exist and see if mercury is leaking into the soil and . . . the river.

After learning of Glowackis email, the Star interviewed him at his home in Medicine Hat. He indicated on a map where he thought the dump was located. The Star showed this map to the ministry on June 3. Three days later, an inspector visited the area.

Meanwhile, the ministrys story about the alleged dump site has repeatedly changed over the last two weeks.

First, spokesman Gary Wheeler said, we take all public concerns and notices extremely seriously.

The ministry did not know of any such site in that vicinity, the Star was told, which is why they sent the inspector to gather more information. Nevertheless, all recoverable liquid mercury was sold when the Dryden mill was shut down, the ministry added.

Later, the ministry said they are aware of barrels that had been filled with liquid mercury mixed with cement and sand around 1972. The mixture in these barrels was allowed to harden at the old mill before being transported to the official Waste Disposal site and placed in cement and/or poly lined compartments.

Glowacki maintains the barrels he is talking about were filled with salt and liquid mercury, not sand or cement, and that he saw them being buried in the hillside pit lined with polyurethane sheets.

Now 65 and retired, Glowacki has fibromyalgia and uses a cane to get around his house. Concerned that his various past jobs as a labourer and electrician might have contributed to his illness, he was recently searching the Internet for information about chemicals hes worked with, including mercury. He saw articles about Grassy Narrows and its ongoing battle against the contamination.

It was  so horrendous that it was still ongoing after all these years, Glowacki said of the impacts of mercury he read about. Then he wrote his email.

Glowacki recounted for the Star how, as a 21-year-old casual labourer, he spent a week on a six-man crew that shovelled out the vat and filled the drums. He was wearing rain boots and waterproof pants. It was springtime. He remembered the stench of the salt, which had been used in a chemical process at the pulp mill.

At the top of the vat, sporadic veins of mercury streaked the salt, Glowacki said, adding that as he and a co-worker shovelled toward the bottom, the mercury concentrations seemed to increase.

Glowacki remembered that some of the drums were carelessly pushed off a flatbed truck and toppled into the pit which was lined with polyurethane sheets, not concrete. Glowacki said he remembers the squishy, thudding sound the metal drums made when they hit the thinly covered wet earth. The way they did it was so haphazardly, Glowacki said of how the mercury was buried.

He estimated he saw at least 60 litres of liquid mercury. In the United States, any more than two tablespoons of spilled mercury is enough to trigger a mandatory call to the coast guards National Response Center, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys website.

Seven months after receiving Glowackis email, the ministry recently took a sample from two collection ponds near the alleged second dump site. Results should be in soon.

Scientists who have studied the Grassy Narrows mercury contamination said testing the river water upstream and downstream from the old mill site would help determine whether mercury still leaks from that area. Government officials told the Star they have been monitoring surface and groundwater throughout the area, but scientists the Star spoke with said its not possible to tell if that monitoring is sufficient, based on the information provided.

The area Glowacki circled on a map appears to be on land that is now a wood waste disposal site for the current property occupant, Domtar, a pulp, paper and diaper manufacturer.

A Domtar spokesman confirmed that the ministry recently visited the site Glowacki identified.

Since the old Dryden mill dumped mercury into the river, the water, fish and locals have been the subject of international attention. In 2005, Japanese scientist Dr. Masazumi Harada published results from his study that found 79 per cent of 187 people from Grassy Narrows and nearby Wabaseemoong Independent Nations had or may have had Minamata disease, a condition arising from methyl-mercury exposure. Tremors, tunnel vision, impaired hearing and speech, and impaired finger movement are symptoms commonly found among Minamata patients, the study said.

A mercury disability board was set up in the 1980s after Grassy Narrows participated in an out-of-court settlement with Ottawa, Ontario and two paper companies for all claims due to mercury contamination. Since its formation, the board has approved claims from more than 300 applicants, with payouts totalling $20 million.

As recently as 2014, the provincial government said symptoms consistent with mercury poisoning are still evident in Grassy Narrows.

The recently released report touched off debate at Queens Park over several days last week, with the NDP criticizing the Liberal government for inaction and demanding officials clean the river.

Spokesman Wheeler initially told news outlets there is No evidence to suggest that mercury levels in the river system are such that any remediation, beyond continuing natural recovery, is warranted or advisable.

Then the government appeared to soften its position in the following days. During a question period in early June, Environment Minister Glen Murray said the government is taking the report seriously, that the science supporting it is sound. It was then announced that Murray and aboriginal affairs minster David Zimmer will be visiting Grassy Narrows June 27.

Then the ministry told the Star that it has submitted to Grassy Narrows leaders a proposed, detailed plan for further testing in the area  part of an effort, the province said, to determine if and where mercury continues to contaminate.

David Bruser can be reached at (416) 869-4282 or dbruser@thestar.ca

Jayme Poisson can be reached at (416) 814-2725 jpoisson@thestar.ca

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ORLANDO, FLA.U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Sunday that the FBI will release a partial transcript of the conversations between the gunman within the Pulse gay nightclub and Orlando police negotiators.

Meanwhile, Orlando residents paused throughout the day  at a bar in the early morning hours, at morning church services and at an evening candlelight vigil in the heart of downtown  to remember the victims of the worse mass shooting in modern U.S. history, exactly a week later.

We are hurting. We are exhausted, confused, and there is so much grief, said Larry Watchorn, a ministerial intern, during a sermon at Joy Metropolitan Community Church in Orlando, whose congregants are predominantly gay. We come to have our tears wiped away and our strength renewed.

Lynch said in interviews Sunday on several news shows that the FBI would release a partial, printed transcript of the conversations between gunman Omar Mateen from within the Pulse nightclub and Orlando police negotiators. Armed with a semi-automatic weapon, Mateen went on a bloody rampage at the club June 12 that left 49 people dead and 53 others seriously hurt. Mateen died in a hail of police gunfire after police stormed the venue.

Lynch told ABCs This Week that the top goal while intensifying pressure on Daesh (also known as ISIS)  the extremist group thought to have inspired Mateen  is to build a complete profile of him in order to help prevent another massacre like Orlando.

As you can see from this investigation, we are going back and learning everything we can about this killer, about his contacts, people who may have known him or seen him. And were trying to build that profile so that we can move forward, Lynch said.

Lynch said she would be travelling to Orlando on Tuesday to meet with investigators.

Investigators are still interviewing witnesses, and looking to learn more about Mateen and others who knew him well, including members of his mosque.

A lawyer for the Council of American-Islamic Relations said that the FBI interviewed a man who worshipped at the same mosque as Mateen. Omar Saleh said he sat in on the Friday interview at the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce, the same mosque that Mateen attended near his home. Saleh said the interview lasted about 30 minutes.

Speaking to CBS Face The Nation, Lynch said that a key goal of the investigation was to determine why Mateen targeted the gay community. The victims were predominantly gay and Hispanic since it was Latin night at Pulse.

At the Parliament House, a gay club and resort near downtown Orlando, the music stopped as patrons paused for a moment of silence at 2 a.m., the time Mateen started shooting at Pulse just a few miles away.

Megan Currie, a Joy Metropolitan Community Church member, said during a Sunday morning sermon that Mateens attack was an effort to put fear in the gay community.

This was a hate crime and this happened because someone was homophobic, Currie said.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott described the attack as devastating while praying at the First Baptist Church of Orlando. He said the gunman targeted two very vulnerable populations.

But here is the positive out of it ... people have come together, Scott said. There are so many people who have done so many wonderful acts.

Around the city, people left balloons, flowers, pictures and posters at a makeshift memorial in front of the citys new performing arts centre and at Orlando Regional Medical Center where 49 white crosses were emblazoned with red hearts and the names of the victims.

The crosses were built by a Chicago carpenter with a history of constructing crosses for victims of mass shootings. Greg Zanis drove from Illinois to Orlando last week and installed the crosses at the medical centre, where many of the 53 shooting victims who survived were taken for treatment.

He said Sunday that the crosses are a message for people of all faiths: Quit judging and start loving.

A rainbow appeared over Lake Eola Park Sunday evening as tens of thousands of people turned out for an evening vigil to honour the victims of the shooting. The park was filled with people holding white flowers, American flags and candles.

One of those people attending, Traci Hines-McKenzie, said the timing of the rainbow was perfect.

You know thats a sign, she said.

At the end of the vigil, people held up their candles as the names of each victim were read, creating a ring of fire around Lake Eola. They chanted One Orlando, Orlando United and Somos Orlando, Spanish for We are Orlando.

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KIBBUTZ EIN HASHLOSHA, ISRAELIsrael is reportedly building a deep underground wall around the Gaza Strip in an attempt to counter the threat of assault tunnels built by Hamas militants who rule the coastal enclave.

The move, which comes almost two years after Israel fought a deadly 50-day war with Hamas in Gaza, was reported by the Israeli news outlet Ynet.

Israels Defence Ministry declined to comment on the initiative.

On Friday morning, two oversize excavators sat silhouetted on the horizon here. Their location marked the point where the fields of this agricultural co-operative touch the edge of the Gazan town of Khan Younis.

The presence of more than 30 Hamas-built attack tunnels around the Gaza periphery shocked Israelis during the 2014 war. At least 14 of the tunnels went under the fence line and into residential communities in Israel. Residents still report that they hear scraping and digging sounds beneath their feet.

In 2014, Israeli leaders said their reasons for fighting Hamas were to wipe out the groups rocket arsenal and remove the threat of the tunnels. More than 2,100 Palestinians in Gaza and 72 Israelis were killed during that summers conflict. But a senior Israeli military officer told The Washington Post on Friday that the war had failed to eliminate the prospect of a future conflict.

Today, the area is quieter than it has been in a decade. But there is still tension. At least three new tunnels have been detected over the past year, and rockets are still fired periodically from the Gaza Strip into Israel.

Many military analysts here say it is only a matter of time before Israel and Hamas fight again.

Hamas is busy preparing its forces for any future attacks on Israel, said the officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity in accordance with military protocol. In the short term, they want quiet. But in the long term, they want war. It is unavoidable.

He said construction of a new wall around Gaza would help better protect Israeli citizens who live in the small, mostly agricultural communities in this area.

But nothing is 100 per cent, he said.

According to the media report, the new wall will update the existing wire border fence, which was constructed in 2005 after Israel withdrew its Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip. It will extend the length of the Palestinian territorys roughly 60-kilometre border with Israel and cost an estimated $570 million. Exactly how high, or, more important, how deep the wall will reach was not revealed.

Most of it will be under the ground, where although it might still be possible for Hamas to build a tunnel, if its as deep as 30 metres, it will be much harder for them, said Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies and a former deputy director general of the Ministry of Strategic Affairs.

There is a problem with these attack tunnels, and we dont have a good solution. But this will definitely minimize the probability of another attack, he said.

Adele Raemer, a resident of nearby Kibbutz Nirim, said the construction of a wall was among the promises made to residents as part of efforts to boost their security after the 2014 war.

This should have been done a while ago, Raemer said.

But, she said, building a wall, getting us a better Iron Dome that works at a closer range to protect us from the rockets, is all OK. But it is really just like putting a Band-Aid on a blood-gushing wound.

The only move that will make residents feel more secure, Raemer said, is to reach a point of interaction and normalization between Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza, the way it once was.

People here do not talk about if there will be another war, she said, but about when there will be another war.

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OTTAWAThe United Nations refugee agency says one in every 113 people around the world is either an asylum-seeker, internally displaced or a refugee.

The agency says by the end of last year, 65.3 million people had been forcibly displaced from their homes, nearly twice the population of Canada. The number easily set a new postwar record, as the UN agency warned that European and other rich nations can expect the tide to continue if root causes arent addressed.

If these 65.3 million persons were a nation, they would make up the 21st largest in the world, the agency said.

But few of those displaced find new permanent homes around the world.

And the number of those who eventually receive citizenship in their new countries is vanishingly small: More refugees became citizens of Canada than any other country last year, with 25,900 granted citizenship, but that represents the vast majority of a relatively tiny number of naturalizations recorded worldwide, the agency reported.

The sobering statistics were contained in the agencys annual global trends report, released Monday to mark World Refugee Day.

Of the worlds displaced people, about 12.4 million were newly uprooted, due to ongoing persecution, conflict, generalized violence or human rights violations that continue to plague countries around the world.

In 2015, more than a million people reached Europe, fleeing conflict and persecution in places like Syria, Somalia and Afghanistan.

Canada has consistently been among the lead nations in resettling refugees, with the Liberals Syrian program helping raise those numbers in 2015.

Approximately 32,000 refugees were granted citizenship worldwide last year, the agency reported. No other nation came close to Canadas naturalization totals, though there are many gaps in the data as destination countries do not always distinguish when citizenship is granted to a refugee versus a non-refugee.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, who has widely praised Canadas refugee resettlement program, said the rising number of displaced people isnt the only concern.

More people are being displaced by war and persecution and thats worrying in itself, but the factors that endanger refugees are multiplying too, he said in a press release.

At sea, a frightening number of refugees and migrants are dying each year; on land, people fleeing war are finding their way blocked by closed borders. Politics is gravitating against asylum in some countries.

The willingness of nations to work together not just for refugees but for the collective human interest is whats being tested today, and its this spirit of unity that badly needs to prevail.

Grandi said policy-makers and advocacy groups admittedly face daunting challenges in helping the largest subset of displaced people: Some 40.8 million internally displaced in countries in conflict. Another 21.3 million were refugees and some 3.2 million more were seeking asylum.

This fall, Canada will co-chair a special summit on the refugee crisis in New York.

With files from The Associated Press

More on thestar.com:

On World Refugee Day, thousands wait in Greek limbo

Visa officer, refugee meet again in tearful reunion 30 years later

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EL ESTOR, GUATEMALAThe murder trial of Mynor Padilla, a former security guard for a mine owned by a then subsidiary of HudBay Minerals Inc., provides a fascinating glimpse into Guatemalas problematic justice system.

Padilla, 52, is charged with killing Adolfo Ich, a Mayan Qeqchi community leader, and shooting German Chub, a bystander, during a protest on contested land at Fenix nickel mine in El Estor, in eastern Guatemala, on Sept 27, 2009.

These alleged crimes are also at the centre of a series of landmark lawsuits in Ontario Superior Court, where HudBay, a Toronto-based company, faces three negligence claims, launched by Ich, Chub and 12 other Qeqchi.

The cases are being watched closely by Canadas mining companies, as it is the first time lawyers are attempting to hold a Canadian company liable for actions of a subsidiary operating overseas.

Normally, such lawsuits would be heard in the country where the alleged transgressions took place. But lawyers argued that the plaintiffs could not get a fair trial in Guatemala, due to judicial corruption.

Long delayed, Padillas yearlong trial has been plagued with what the prosecution calls irregularities. Though a warrant was issued for Padillas arrest shortly after the 2009 shooting, Padilla remained at large for three years, and continued to be on the payroll of HudBays Guatemalan subsidiary. In 2012, he was finally arrested and jailed, but his trial didnt begin for another three years.

Judge Ana Leticia Pena Ayala took the unusual step of closing the courtroom to the public for security reasons partway through the case, which is being held in the Caribbean port city of Puerto Barrios.

On May 17, the judge granted Padilla, who arrived in handcuffs with a police escort, extra security after his lawyers said he felt harassed approaching the courthouse. The accused can be seen in a video smiling and shaking hands with a group of photographers who stood outside the courthouse that day.

HudBay wont clarify whether the company is footing the bill for Padillas high-profile lawyers, one of whom is charged with corruption, and another of whom was recently assassinated.

Like everyone, Mr. Padilla is entitled to a fair trial, though some seem to feel otherwise, said Scott Brubacher, HudBays director of corporate communications. We are not going to say anything that might be distorted on the Internet or otherwise used to interfere with Mr. Padillas presumption of innocence or right to a fair trial.

A human rights group that has worked with the victims in the trial, Rights Action, has speculated on its website that HudBay is paying for Padillas defence.

HudBay did pay for John Terry, of Torys LLC, to fly in from Toronto as a witness in Padillas trial. Terry submitted to the Guatemalan court the record of pleadings, affidavits and cross-examinations from the Canadian lawsuits.

The prosecution objected, but was overruled: It is odd to have a foreigner giving testimony from a case in Canada at a Guatemalan murder trial. This has nothing to do with our case, said Verenice Jerez in an interview in her office in Guatemala City.

On the stand, Terry testified about Chubs affidavit and quoted from the transcript of his cross-examination in the Canadian lawsuit. He also testified about eyewitness Jose Ich, Adolfos son, who said in his affidavit that he saw Padilla, a former high-ranking member of Guatemalas military, shoot his father.

Terry then highlighted what he said were discrepancies in Chubs and Ichs cross-examinations. He told the judge that, in his view, the outcome of Padillas murder trial is relevant in the Canadian lawsuit.

Impunity is such a long-standing problem in Guatemala that an international body, backed by the UN, was created in 2007 to support the prosecution of security forces and clandestine organizations embedded in the state. The criminal case against Padilla is being tried with the assistance of this body, known as the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG).

According to Human Rights Watch, the majority of violent crimes go unpunished in Guatemala, due to corruption, intimidation and attacks against judges and witnesses. It is also one of the most violent countries in the world that is officially at peace. Guatemalas attorney general was forced to leave the country on May 30 after receiving threats in connection to a high-profile corruption case handled by her office.

Francisco Palomo, one of Padillas lawyers, was well-known in Guatemala for defending former politicians, most notably Jose Efrain Rios Montt, an ex-army general who was charged with genocide for the death of 1,771 indigenous people during his 1982-83 presidency.

Palomos name also surfaced in the Panama Papers. He is reported in Prensa Libre to have contacted Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca on behalf of his client, a Guatemalan drug trafficker and money launderer named Marllory Chacon Rossell, to establish an offshore company.

Palomo, 63, was shot 12 times and killed on June 3, 2015  months after Padillas trial began  by two men on a motorbike while driving his car in Guatemala City.

Frank Trujillo, a second lawyer for Padilla, was recently charged with bribery in a case related to La Linea, a kickback scheme that forced the former president of Guatemala, Otto Perez Molina, as well as his vice-president to resign in 2015. (Both are now in jail awaiting trial, along with Trujillo.)

Carlos Rafael Pellecer, another of Padillas lawyers, said in an email it would be inappropriate to comment on any aspect of the case.

The level of impunity in Guatemala is immense, said Dr. Yuri Melini, director general of the Centre for Legal Action in Environmental and Social Issues. We have so many challenges and it is so difficult to fight for justice.

Melini himself survived an assassination attempt in 2008, when assailants shot him seven times at 7:15 a.m. on a street outside his mothers home in Guatemala City. The case has never been solved. Imagine if someone as high profile as I am cannot access the justice system, how much harder is it for others?

Since peace accords were signed in 1996, few criminal cases have gone forward, though more than 200,000 people, mostly Mayans, were killed by the states security apparatus during a 36-year civil war. Many of the ex-intelligence units, police officers and counter-insurgency forces have mutated into criminal organizations, while some of the former political leaders have run for office.

This year, in a historic ruling in March, two ex-military officers were sentenced to 360 years in prison for sexually abusing Mayan women from a village called Sepur Zarco during the civil war. Fourteen military officers were charged with human rights abuses related to the disappearance of 558 indigenous people in the 1980s from a military zone in Coban, in the north. These charges followed the discovery of four mass graves in 2012.

Padillas trial is expected to wrap up this summer. If he is found not guilty, Jerez said the prosecution intends to appeal.

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KATHMANDU, NEPALIn a nationwide crackdown on medical charlatans, Nepalese police have arrested 53 people for allegedly working as doctors with fake credentials or false education certificates and said Monday that more suspects would be arrested this week.

Weekend raids at reputed hospitals, health clinics and medical schools across the Himalayan nation ended with police handcuffing 36 white-coated men and women and taking them away while patients and medical staff looked on.

Another 17 had been arrested in February when authorities began the investigation, called Operation Quack.

The suspects  believed to have presented phoney practicing licenses or fake medical degrees when applying for work  are being charged with forgery and face up to five years in prison if convicted, according to Central Investigation Bureau official Dibesh Lohani.

While a group representing Nepalese doctors protested the indignity of the raids, patients said they were appalled and angry about the scandal  even afraid in seeking treatment after learning that some doctors had been entrusted to practice medicine despite not meeting the training requirements.

These people should be given the maximum punishment, said Kusholal Achame, who was waiting Monday to have a doctor review his latest laboratory reports at Kathmandus popular Bir Hospital.

Another patient at Bir, visibly shaken by the scandal, also said the bogus doctors should be prosecuted.

They may not care, but it has put a lot of people at risk, said Lal Bahadur Pandey, a 68-year-old retired policeman now suffering from kidney problems. These types of doctors need to be picked out and punished.

Nepal has long had a deficit of doctors, with just 17,000 trained and qualified for the whole country, or just one doctor for every 1,700 people. As a result, many who live in remote areas or who cannot afford access to medical care still rely on traditional healers or village quacks.

The idea that some hospital doctors would be working without the right paperwork did not surprise some doctors, who said the high demand had led many to cut corners.

Now there are so many doctors, and many new hospitals which are desperate to hire doctors, said Dr. Kiran Shrestha, who practices in Kathmandu and was not being investigated by police. The process of screening these new doctors and their medical degrees is weak.

The investigation was being conducted by the countrys Central Investigation Bureau in league with the Education Board and the Nepal Medical Council, the regulatory agency responsible for conducting qualifying tests and issuing licenses to practice medicine.

The umbrella body representing the countrys doctors, called the Nepal Medical Association, condemned the way the allegedly fake doctors were treated like criminals even though they had been cleared by regulatory authorities to practice.

These doctors were providing services only after getting a license from the Nepal Medical Council. But they were arrested and humiliated like they were common criminals, said the associations head, Dr. Muktiram Shrestha. Instead, he said, they should have been asked to come in for questioning in the investigation.

They were treated like terrorists being arrested. It was humiliating not just for these people, but for all the doctors, he said.

Dozens of doctors protested Sunday in Birgunj, a town along the Indian border, demanding their colleagues be released. The association also said it was asking all of its members  regardless of suspicion  to submit their licenses for verification.

The only way to regain the trust of the people is to get all the doctors recertified, Shrestha said.

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ATHENSJust a few more hours.

Thats what the smugglers promised  they would be in Iran by dawn.

But then the sun came up, and they said maybe it would be another hour. Then another, and another and then it was 16 hours later and the 50-odd Afghan refugees were still fighting through brutal cold and snow that covered their feet.

In a hotel room in Athens, Ali and Wajia Jaffari recalled their long journey through Iran, carrying their two sons through the snow.

They landed on the Greek island of Samos on March 12, and learned they were three days too late: Macedonia had just closed its border, shutting off the northward flow of refugees.

The smugglers who took their money must have known the passengers wouldnt make it past Greece, Ali said.

Almost 60,000 refugees and migrants are stuck in Greece  marooned, technically in Europe, but at least 2,000 kilometres short of where most wanted to end up.

Meanwhile, the main migration route has shifted back to the Libya to Italy crossing, where almost 2,500 people have drowned this year, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Many in Athens sleep on the street or in crowded tent camps at the port and an abandoned airport in the east end of the city.

In theory, refugees can apply to be relocated in Europe, but that process is moving slowly  as of mid-June, just 1,420 people had been relocated, about 3 per cent of Greeces refugee population.

Of course not, Ali replied, asked if he would have come if he knew the borders were closed. I wasnt eager to take this risk.

But his work in Afghanistan as a translator for NATO made him a Taliban target. When the groups fighters abducted, beat and threatened him, his family pressured him to leave.

After arriving in Athens, his family set up camp at the airport, where thousands have lived since March.

When their youngest son developed a chest infection, the volunteer doctor who treated him connected the family with a group of Greek activists and students who have taken over an abandoned hotel in central Athens and turned it into a shelter for refugees.

The City Plaza Hotel is almost full  about 350 people, half of them children. In the dusty kitchen, volunteers and refugees cook three meals a day with donated food.

Electricity comes from a generator, and theres no hot water  the bill hasnt been paid since the hotel was abandoned almost a decade ago  but families can stay inside, on real beds.

Volunteer doctors are available most days, with access to a pharmacy stocked with donated medicine. The clinic needs supplies, but its a huge improvement over the camps, said pediatrician Eleni Gounari.

Because of the squalid conditions, everyone gets the same thing, said Gounari, who treated the Jaffaris son and was volunteering at the hotel.

Few refugees have medical records and many have lost their medication. Almost none speak Greek or understand how to navigate the health care system.

In the clinic, Gounari and Abdulrahman Alzain, 29, a pediatric oncologist from Homs, checked on a 6-year-old with cerebral palsy who had suffered seizures since running out of medication in Turkey.

A third doctor, a Kurdish-speaking refugee, helped them treat an older Iraqi Kurdish woman on the edge of a diabetic coma, her blood sugar so high the machine wouldnt give a reading. Her panicked son explained that he checked her blood sugar religiously until he lost the machine somewhere on the crossing to Greece.

Unlike many of the Syrians who travelled the Balkans route last year, few Afghan refugees in Greece speak English or another European language. A not-insignificant number, like Matin Nabizada, a young Afghan police officer from Kunduz, are illiterate.

He fled with his family after Taliban fighters came to their home and asked his father to hand him over so they could cut off his head. Four months after crossing from Turkey, Nabizada hadnt made it past the airport camp.

He cant go back, he said, but like many stuck in Athens he bet his savings on Greece and had no plan B.

There are other ways, for those who can pay: around $2,400 buys a ticket in a smuggler taxi to Austria. A fake passport good enough to travel by air to Germany costs about $7,000, several refugees reported.

Others said they had heard of people buying passage on cargo ships to North America for $32,000.

In the absence of real news, rumours circulate: the border with Macedonia at Idomeni will open if enough refugees camp there. Canada is sending boats to rescue 40,000 refugees  or Canadians are already in the camps, picking out candidates for resettlement.

None of this is true, but its enough to keep thousands waiting.

We dont want to go with the smugglers, because theyre liars, said 27-year-old Ahmed Agha, from Kandahar. He was wary of trying to bypass Macedonia, through the mountains into Albania, as some have done. So he would wait  the borders would open, he said. He was sure.

We have seen so much killing, bodies in front of our eyes. Im not afraid of anyone, Agha said, asked what he would do if he couldnt leave Greece. If the EU tells me to go back to Afghanistan, believe me, I will kill myself.

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WASHINGTONDonald Trump is backtracking from his contention that victims of the Orlando massacre should have been allowed to carry arms into the nightclub where they were attacked  a stance even the NRA says is untenable.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee tweeted Monday that he was obviously talking about additional guards or employees of the Orlando, Fla., nightclub where Omar Mateen murdered 49 people when he spoke about the value of having more people armed to challenge the gunman.

Thats not what Trump said previously.

A day after the attack, he told radio host Howie Carr: Its too bad that some of the young people that were killed over the weekend didnt have guns, you know, attached to their hips, frankly, and you know where bullets could have flown in the opposite direction, Howie. It would have been a much different deal. I mean, it sounded like there were no guns. They had a security guard. Other than that there were no guns in the room. Had people been able to fire back, it would have been a much different outcome.

Trump had repeated his suggestion at rallies across the country last week. In Atlanta he said the carnage would have been lessened if some of those great people that were in that club that night had guns strapped to their waist or strapped to their ankle.

His statements were a step too far for the National Rifle Association, a powerful lobby for armed self-defence and broad permissions to carry weapons. No one thinks that people should go into a nightclub drinking and carrying firearms, the NRAs chief lobbyist, Chris Cox, told ABCs This Week on Sunday. That defies common sense. It also defies the law.

It was the latest scuffle during a tumultuous time for the campaign. Trump, the partys presumptive presidential nominee, had achieved a fragile peace with Republicans and their allies in which they support him in exchange for Trump uniting the Republican party and fighting his likely general election opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton. Instead, his proposals for fighting terrorism  such as by targeting Muslims and restricting assault-style weapons have inflamed his supporters. On another front, Trump on Monday let go his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski.

The NRA dust-up came at an especially sensitive time.

The Senate prepared to vote Monday on expanded gun background checks and proposals to keep people on a government terrorism watch list or other suspected terrorists from buying guns. But prospects for any significant change in gun laws were dim.

However, as mass shootings unfold with increasing frequency, a group called Everytown is seeking to disrupt the debate with a richly funded, rapid action, and unconventional lobbying campaign that is starting to reap some results at the state level though federal action is stalled.

Everytown, which is funded by former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, views itself as a counterweight to the powerful NRA.

The gun lobby has had its way in state legislatures for decades, had its way in Congress for decades, said Everytown executive director John Feinblatt, a former aide to Bloomberg in the mayors office.

They wanted to convince the American public of their invincibility, to convince the American public that what America stood for was guns anywhere, held by anyone, at any time. There has been no friction in many ways.

Everytowns tactics do not sit well with everyone. The NRA calls the groups use of survivors exploitative, and says it seeks to restrict Second Amendment rights to further the political agenda of an anti-gun billionaire.

Everytown blends the elements of a national political campaign with traditional shoe-leather lobbying, celebrity endorsements, a unique volunteer network and digital outreach. The groups leaders say they get money from about 100,000 donors, many of whom give in $10 or $25 increments.

Most unique to Everytown is the way it recruits and leverages survivors, both paid staff and volunteers, through its Survivors Network, which is growing.

The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was added to a government watch list of people 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 made the case on the weekend that the U.S. should consider profiling Muslims inside the country as a terrorism-fighting tool, the latest example of his backing positions that could single out a group based on its religion.

We really have to look at profiling, Trump told CBSs Face the Nation. Its not the worst thing to do.

Trumps proposal runs counter to Justice Department policy, which prohibits profiling on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity and national origin. That profiling ban applies not only to federal agents but also to local law enforcement officers who participate in federal task forces.

Trumps increasing embrace of policies that could isolate Muslims in America is extraordinary for a candidate assured of his partys presidential nomination. The proposals have been roundly criticized by many Republican leaders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan. Civil libertarians, Muslims and others also have strongly disagreed, arguing that profiling is unconstitutional and often constitutes unlawful discrimination based on race, religion and other factors.

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OTTAWAPrime Minister Justin Trudeau has called the bombing that killed 14 Nepalese security guards en route to the Canadian Embassy in Afghanistan appalling and cowardly.

The Canadian Embassy in Kabul confirmed Monday that the guards were on their way there when the bombing occurred, but said there had been no attack on its embassy.

Todays attack on security workers in Kabul is appalling and cowardly, Trudeau tweeted.

Our thoughts are with the victims as we stand with the Afghan people.

The Afghan Interior Ministry confirmed that all 14 killed were Nepalese citizens, describing Mondays attack as the work of a terrorist suicide bomber.

It said the explosion also wounded nine people, five Nepalese employees and four Afghan civilians.

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion came forward Monday to condemn the attack.

Many of the victims have been part of our embassy family for years, and they will be remembered for their service in the protection of the men and women at the Embassy of Canada to Afghanistan, Dion said in a statement.

Canada stands with the people of Afghanistan in their struggle against terrorism in all its forms.

The Associated Press reported from Afghanistan that there were conflicting claims of responsibility for the attack, and that they could not immediately be reconciled.

It said Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement and that an affiliate of Daesh, also known as the Islamic State, also claimed responsibility for the Kabul attack, identifying the suicide bomber as Erfanullah Ahmed.

In Nepal, foreign affairs spokesman Bharat Raj Paudyal, said the Nepalese government is aware of the incident and is trying to verify the names of the victims.

Nepal does not have an embassy in Afghanistan, but the embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, is working to get the details, he said.

The attack was the latest to hit Kabul as the Taliban have stepped up their assaults as part of their summer offensive.

Afghanistans chief executive officer, Abdullah Abdullah, condemned the attack on Twitter, saying: This attack is an act of terror and intimidation.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, a bomb rigged to a motorbike killed 10 civilians and wounded 40 others during morning rush hour in a busy market in a province in the northeast.

And, later Monday in Kabul, a second Taliban bombing killed a civilian and wounded five people, including a provincial council member who was the intended target of the attack, authorities said.

In a statement from the presidential palace in Afghan President Asharf Ghani condemned all three attacks.

It quoted Ghani as saying that terrorists do not hesitate to kill people even during the holy month of Ramadan and that they are seeking to create fear among the people.

With files from The Associated Press

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Consider the church marquee: Perhaps the only place in America where lines of scripture, exhortations to worship, and bingo advertisements are equally likely to exist, with the occasional Bible Belt joke tossed in for good measure. (An archetypal zinger: I hate this church  Satan.)

It was a different sort of message posted on the lawn of St. Pauls United Church of Christ in Dallastown, Pa. With a large yellow sign, done up in plastic capital letters, the church proclaimed on June 9: Wishing a blessed Ramadan to our Muslim neighbours. The month-long Islamic holiday had begun the Sunday before, and the message of interfaith community was not out of the ordinary for the self-described progressive church.

The Rev. Christopher Rodkey, the pastor of St. Pauls, wrote the message because he is interested in religious tolerance, as he told The Associated Press, and believes the religious right is often too quick to blame Muslims at large. St. Pauls depicts itself as unapologetically, progressively, offensively Christian on its website. Rodkey was not expecting the flood of offended phone calls in response, but perhaps it was only a matter of time.

To one observer, the signage was despicable and the pastor who posted it, sick.

On June 11, Rodkey checked his voicemail to find the outraged message. Via the York Dispatch: I am completely shocked by that sign out in front of your church, that you are wishing people who subscribe to a faith that is not only godless but pagan, in front of your church aligning it with the name of Christ, the man said. It is unbelievable that you would wish them a blessed Ramadan. It ended with a warning that the observer had photographed the sign and would be sharing it on Twitter and Facebook so everyone can see this. The man left no name.

It was not difficult for Rodkey to deduce who was upset, by looking up the missed number displayed by caller ID. It belonged to Matthew Jansen, who is, Rodkey was surprised to see, a board member of the nearby Spring Grove Area school district. Jansen will also be a delegate to the Republican convention, supporting presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump.

Jansen was as good as his voicemail, posting the photograph to Twitter. Just before 1 p.m. on June 11, Jansen tweeted: Choose your battles but if this is your hill here is the churchs # 717-244-2090. @AnnCoulter.

In the following days, St. Pauls was plagued with phone calls, many that hung up when answered or left no message. The church disconnected its phone line and answering machine, but not before a veteran asked the church to apologize, reported the York Daily Record.

In later interviews, Jansen said he was not trying to hide his identity but simply forgot to leave his name. He also stood by the message he left for Rodkey.

I dont see Islam  or the Muslim belief  I dont see it as legit, Jansen said to The Associated Press. The day after his phone call, he noted, a Muslim American named Omar Mateen fatally shot 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando.

Jansen told the York Dispatch he believes Islam is a cult trying to impose global Sharia law but denied that his opposition to the sign was any kind of a discriminatory thing. He told the AP he had seen disturbing messages at St. Pauls before, but he called the church on June 11 because this was the first truly blasphemous sign.

Rodkey expressed astonishment that Jansen held public office.

I cant believe an elected official would believe the things that he does, he told the York Dispatch, though he also noted that the chair of the York County Republican committee had apologized to the church. Others, such as Tom Murray, of the recently-dissolved York Interfaith Alliance, saw Trumps influence on Jansen.

He listens to Trump. He wants to support Trump. And what hes doing is dividing the country, Murray told the Dispatch.

Earlier in June, 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney, who has long been a critic of Trump, warned of trickle-down racism in a CNN interview.

I dont want to see a president of the United States saying things which change the character of the generations of Americans that are following, Romney told CNNs Wolf Blitzer. Presidents have an impact on the nature of our nation, and trickle-down racism, trickle-down bigotry, trickle-down misogyny, all these things are extraordinarily dangerous to the heart and character of America.

On Sunday, during a discussion with John Dickerson on CBS, Trump described profiling Muslims in America as something that were going to have to start thinking about as a country. He added: We have to look at it seriously.

Jansen told the York Daily Record that despite a petition signed by 500 people to unseat him, he is not going to walk away. Rodkeys sermon on Sunday referred to Jansens Twitter comments, the Daily Record also reports, telling the churchgoers to love their neighbours.

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WASHINGTONWarning of a potential surge in anti-Americanism, U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden tore into Donald Trumps views on foreign policy on Monday, urging the country not to follow the presumptive Republican nominee down a path of isolationism and bigotry.

Though Biden framed his speech to the Center for New American Security speech as advice for the next president, his remarks amounted to a point-by-point rebuttal of Trump on immigration, terrorism and relations with Russia. Biden cautioned against policies, embraced by Trump, that the vice-president said would make the U.S. and its neighbourhood poorer, less democratic and less secure.

Wielding the politics of fear and intolerance, like proposals to ban Muslims from entering the United States or slandering entire religious communities as complicit in terrorism, calls into question Americas status as the greatest democracy in the history of the world, Biden said.

Bidens speech to the Washington think-tank marked his most concerted and lengthy rebuke to date of Trump, and comes as Biden and President Barack Obama are increasingly inserting themselves into the election in an attempt to stop Trump. Earlier this month both Biden and Obama endorsed Hillary Clinton, and both Democrats are expected to start campaigning aggressively for her in the coming days.

Although Biden didnt mention Trump by name, his intended target was clear. On Sunday, Trump went beyond his previous calls for temporarily banning Muslim immigration by suggesting the U.S. should consider profiling Muslims already in the U.S. The Republican has also called for reinstating waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods to try to prevent terrorist attacks.

Biden said that some of the rhetoric Im hearing sounds designed to radicalize all 1.4 billion Muslims around the world.

Adopting the tactics of our enemies  using torture, threatening to kill innocent family members, indiscriminately bombing civilian populations  not only violates our values, its deeply, deeply damaging to our security, Biden said. He echoed Obamas argument that demonizing the worlds Muslims would actually help Daesh, also known as the Islamic State group, by playing into the very narrative of extremists.

Why in Gods name are we giving them what they want? Biden added.

Biden, who considered running for president before bowing out last year, said the country was at an inflection point in which hard-fought gains of the past several years risk being squandered. He dismissed those who seek sound bite solutions in a world defined by complexity, in another clear swipe at Trump.

If we build walls and disrespect our closest neighbours, we will quickly see all this progress disappear, replaced by a return of anti-Americanism and a corrosive rift throughout our hemisphere, Biden said.

The vice-president also sought to undercut Trumps argument that if elected, the U.S. would enjoy a more constructive and friendly relationship with Russia, following a dysfunctional relationship under Obama. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has praised Trumps intelligence in the past, more recently dodged questions about whether he prefers Trump or Clinton and pledged to work with whoever wins.

Embracing Putin at a time of renewed Russian aggression, I believe, could call into question Americas long-standing commitment to a Europe whole, free and at peace, Biden said. But neither is it time to dust off the Cold War playbook.

Though the U.S. cut off formal military ties with Russia in 2014 to protest its actions in Ukraine, the two militaries have sought to maintain lines of communication to avoid an inadvertent confrontation in Syria, where both militaries are fighting Daesh but backing opposing sides in Syrias civil war. Biden said that as new military technologies raise the risk of a mistake or escalation, the U.S. needs to find new channels with Moscow to clearly communicate our intentions.

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LONDONThe raucous business of Britains House of Commons was replaced by sombre silence and heartfelt tributes Monday for slain lawmaker Jo Cox, while the man charged with her slaying made a brief appearance in court by video link from prison.

Lawmakers lined the benches and stood in the aisles of the House for a special session in Coxs memory. Some wiped away tears, and each wore a white rose, symbol of Coxs home county of Yorkshire.

Parliament was in recess for campaigning in the European Union referendum when Cox was shot and stabbed to death outside a library in her northern England constituency on Thursday. The suspect, Thomas Mair, gave his name during a court appearance as death to traitors, freedom for Britain.

The killing  the first of a sitting British legislator in more than a quarter of a century  prompted an outpouring of shock and grief, and brought a three-day halt to campaigning for this weeks referendum.

An attack like this strikes not only at an individual, but at our freedom, said Speaker John Bercow, who recalled the House from recess to allow lawmakers to honour their colleague.

That is why we assemble here, both to honour Jo and to redouble our dedication to democracy.

Cox was a former aid worker and Labour legislator who had championed the plight of Syrian refugees and strongly backed a remain vote in Thursdays EU poll.

Her death brought promises to tone down the often vitriolic political rhetoric of the referendum campaign, which has exposed bitter divisions about immigration and national identity in Britain.

We need a kinder and gentler politics, said Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. We all have a responsibility, in this House and beyond, not to whip up hatred and sow division.

The House is generally recalled only at times of crisis or high significance. The last time it happened was in September 2014, so lawmakers could vote on whether to launch airstrikes against Daesh, also known as the Islamic State group, in Iraq.

On Monday, Coxs friends and colleagues remembered her warmth, energy and principles, as her husband and children aged 5 and 3 watched from the public gallery. Two roses, red and white, sat in her place on the green Commons benches.

Jo Cox was a voice of compassion whose irrepressible spirit and boundless energy lit up the lives of all who knew her, and saved the lives of many she never, ever met, said Prime Minister David Cameron.

Several legislators choked back tears as they spoke, and many recalled Coxs words in her first Commons speech: We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us.

Labour lawmaker Holly Lynch, like Cox elected just last year, said she was the heart and soul of these benches, and we are heartbroken.

The session ended with the rare sound of applause in the House of Commons as lawmakers looked to the gallery where Coxs family sat. Parliamentarians then filed from the chamber and across the street to St. Margarets Church for a service of remembrance.

Mair, who was arrested shortly after the attack, appeared briefly at Londons Central Criminal Court by video link from high-security Belmarsh Prison. He is charged with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm and possession of an offensive weapon.

His lawyer did not seek bail, and the suspect did not repeat the death to traitors outburst he made during a hearing on Saturday. Asked if he was Thomas Mair, he replied, Yes, I am.

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WASHINGTONEight days after Orlandos mass shooting horror intensified pressure on lawmakers to act, a divided Senate hurtled Monday toward an election-year showdown over curbing guns that seemed likely to produce a familiar result: gridlock.

Each party was offering one plan it said would keep terrorists from obtaining firearms and a second bolstering the existing system of background checks for gun purchases. Democrats said the GOP proposals were unacceptably weak, Republicans faulted the Democrats plans as overly restrictive and all four faced likely defeat in largely party-line votes.

That Mondays four roll-call votes were occurring at all was testament to the powerful political currents buffeting lawmakers after gunman Omar Mateens June 12 attack on a gay nightclub. The 49 victims who died made it the largest mass shooting in recent U.S. history, topping the string of such incidents that have punctuated recent years.

In addition, the FBI said Matteen  a focus of two terror investigations that were dropped  described himself as an Islamic soldier in a 911 call during the shootings. That let gun control advocates add national security and the spectre of terrorism to their arguments for firearms curbs.

Even so, the expected rejection of the proposals underscored the pressure on each party to give little ground on the emotional gun issue going into Novembers presidential and congressional elections. It also highlighted the potency of the National Rifle Association, which was urging its huge and fiercely loyal membership to lobby senators to oppose the Democratic bills.

If they learn they can politicize tragedy and win, theyll be back blaming law-abiding gun owners each time a criminal or terrorist attacks the innocent, the NRA said in an email to supporters.

Gun control groups were also working Capitol Hill, with relatives of victims of past mass shootings and others visiting lawmakers and planning to watch the days debate from the Senate visitors gallery.

Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., gravely wounded in a 2011 mass shooting, and husband Mark Kelly said Mondays votes would show voters whether their elected leaders in the Senate are on the side of the corporate gun lobby or the vast majority of Americans, whom polls show favour some gun curbs.

Under special pressure were GOP senators facing re-election this fall from swing states like Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and elsewhere.

Mondays votes were coming after Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., led a near 15-hour filibuster last week demanding a Senate response to the Orlando killings. Murphy entered the Senate shortly after the December 2012 massacre of 20 first-graders and six educators in Newtown, Conn., but that slaughter and others in San Bernardino, Calif., and Charleston, S.C., have failed to spur Congress to approve significant gun curbs. The last were enacted in 2007, when the background check system was strengthened after that years mass shooting at Virginia Tech.

Because of Mateens self-professed loyalty to extremist groups and his 10-month inclusion on a federal terrorism watch list, proposals aimed at blocking terrorists from getting guns were in the spotlight. One proposal by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., would let the government block many gun sales to known or suspected terrorists.

People buying firearms from federally licensed gun dealers can currently be denied for several reasons, chiefly for serious crimes or mental problems. There is no specific prohibition for those on the terrorist watch list, which the FBI said in 2014 had 800,000 names on it, and no background checks are required for anyone buying guns privately online or at a gun show.

The GOP response to Feinstein was an NRA-backed plan by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. It would let the government deny a sale to a known or suspected terrorist  but only if prosecutors could convince a judge within three days that the would-be buyer was involved in terrorism.

The Feinstein and Cornyn amendments would both require notification of law enforcement officials if people like Mateen who had been a subject of a terrorism investigation within the past five years were seeking to buy firearms.

Republicans said Feinsteins proposal gave the government too much unfettered power to deny peoples constitutional right to own a gun. They also noted that the terrorist watch list has historically mistakenly included people. Democrats said the three-day window that Cornyns measure gave prosecutors to prove their case made his plan ineffective.

The Senate rejected similar plans Feinstein and Cornyn proposed last December, a day after the attack in San Bernardino killed 14 people.

Murphy had a proposal widely expanding the requirement for background checks, even to many private gun transactions, that would leave few loopholes.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, would increase money for the background check system. Like Murphys measure, it would also prod states to do a better job of sending records to the FBI, which operates the background check system, of felons and others barred from buying guns.

Grassleys proposal would also clarify language that prohibits some people with mental health issues from buying a gun. Democrats claimed that language would actually roll back some current protections.

Separately, moderate Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, was labouring to fashion a bipartisan bill that would prevent people on the no-fly list  with just 64,000 names in 2014  from getting guns. There were no signs Monday that it was getting wide support or would receive a vote.

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Lofty pronouncements by politicians bring to mind an oft-cited reflection by Leo Tolstoy, the Russian writer: Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

Thus, for example, both sides in the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict declare impressively and passionately their commitment to peace, but invariably they demand that only the other side change. They choose to ignore the incontrovertible truth that effective transformation must always start with oneself.

There are, however, Jews and Arabs who are prepared to change themselves in order to change their world. An impressive example are the half-a-dozen Hand in Hand schools in Israel where students and staff come from both Arab and Jewish communities, where Arabic and Hebrew are the languages of instruction and where sacred events in each tradition are celebrated with zest and mutual respect.

The first and largest of these schools is in Jerusalem. Thanks to the generosity of a British foundation the school now has an impressive building filled with all the wholesome activities of a successful place of learning. Parents are also expected to be involved both financially and educationally. Though the school is state sponsored, teaching in both languages and providing important extracurricular activities requires added resources.

Last month I had the privilege of accompanying two Canadian delegations that came to see for themselves. First, a group from Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto led by its senior rabbi, Yael Splansky, came to Israel to study social action there. Naturally, they spent a very productive afternoon at the Jerusalem school.

A week later, members of Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynns 130-strong trade mission to Israel, led by Dr. Barbara Landau, a Toronto social activist with particular interest in Muslim-Jewish co-operation, attended a briefing session at the school.

Both groups were visibly impressed by the tangible evidence of coexistence and the impact this has had on the lives of students, parents and teachers. The visitors came to realize that, unlike what they read and hear in the media at home, the relationship between Jews and Arabs can be constructive and positive. People prepared to change themselves come to change society.

Shortly after these visits two leading educators in the school, one Arab and the other Jewish, flew to Toronto to talk about Hand in Hand to Canadian audiences. Olivia Ward wrote about them in this paper (May 30): Both see Jews and Arabs as people who are not just fated to live together, but as future partners: a vision that is increasingly difficult to sustain in the current divisive environment.

Divisive  of course. There has even been an arson attempt by some extremist Jews. But not impossible. The schools website cites one of its teachers. Referring to Jerusalem, where Jewish-Arab relations are particularly complicated and at times tense in view of the competing views about its venerable history and current status, she writes: In this city fraught with tension and conflict, we are bringing hope, success, dialogue, understanding and the ability to live together to a new generation.

Skeptics may argue that half-a-dozen schools with less than 1,500 students in a country of more than 8 million arent likely to have much influence. But thats by no means the only evidence of Arab-Jewish co-operation. Much of it goes on in universities, hospitals and many other places.

The rhetoric of politicians on both sides of the divide wont thwart the ambitions of the students, teachers and parents in this school and the work of activists in many other places. Its always a handful of pioneers who come to change the world by starting with themselves. Some of them live and work in Israel today.

Dow Marmur is rabbi emeritus of Torontos Holy Blossom Temple. His column appears every fourth week.

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Lest there be any doubt about the political sway of corporate Canada, consider the ironic case of Tax Information Exchange Agreements (TIEAs). Originally designed as a way to crack down on individual tax cheats, the deals were transformed by the Harper government, at the urging of the business lobby, into a loophole that legalizes large-scale corporate tax avoidance.

The original intent of TIEAs was to make tax havens like the Cayman Islands and the Isle of Man more transparent by compelling them to share secret banking information on scofflaws with the countries being cheated. But when the Harper government started to pursue these deals in 2010 it also tweaked the tax code to turn TIEAs into a boon for business: any multinational corporation earning profits in a partner country could now bring the money home tax-free.

A joint investigation by the Star and the CBC has found that, since the first TIEAs were signed in 2011, the deals have allowed corporations working in low- or no-tax zones like Bermuda, the Bahamas and Panama to avoid paying taxes on some $55 billion in profits. If earned in Ontario, that money would have yielded more than $14 billion in tax revenue. Thats the equivalent of nearly half of this years projected federal deficit.

The governments rationale? They were persuaded by industry that it was necessary to be globally competitive, according to Arthur Cockfield, a Queens University law professor who was hired by the finance ministry to write a report on the proposed loophole at the time.

It would appear that the federal government made a trade-off: it allowed corporations to escape taxes, ostensibly to get information on rich individuals illegally doing the same. Given the scale of the lost revenues, and the questions of fairness raised, Canadians need clarity on the real benefits of these agreements.

Yet we know very little about the upside of TIEAs, if there is one. The Canada Revenue Agency refuses to say whether the deals have ever been used to obtain information on tax cheats or to recoup money. And some experts claim record-keeping in most tax havens is so shoddy that Canada wouldnt get useful information if it did request it.

The Liberal government has declared tax fairness a priority and pledged $444 million to beef up CRA tax enforcement. But when asked about this loophole, Finance Minister Bill Morneau did not offer much clarity, saying only that the agreements would be evaluated in the course of the governments planned comprehensive review of tax policy.

The Canadian tax code, which has grown rapidly more complex and tangled in recent decades, is rife with loopholes that undermine the fairness of the system. As the Parliamentary Budget Officer warned last year, the costs of many of these policies are unknown even to the government, never mind the public. The Liberals, as they look for a way to fund their ambitious investments, will need to address loopholes like the TIEAs that deprive them of the revenues they need and corrode Canadians trust in the tax system.

The government is right to promise a review. But the mere promise will do only for so long. The TIEAs alone stealthily snatch billions of dollars from the public purse every year. Yet its only through strategic leaks and investigative reports that we have glimpsed both the enormity of the problem and its urgency.

Ottawa should get on with the review. The longer we wait, the higher the cost.

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Re: Sheds of dreams, Life June 11

Sheds of dreams, Life June 11

How delightful for the Richardsons to be able to watch television on their patio from April through October (Out to the movies). And how utterly obnoxious for their neighbours.

Is there not enough noise in modern society that the Star has to encourage more by featuring the perpetrators thereof in so positive a manner? Can we look forward to future articles extolling the lifestyle choices of those who host garage bands or whose ramped-up car speakers can be heard throbbing throughout the city, night and day?

We can stop a green power project because the whirring blades of a windmill might be stressful for frogs. When are we going to realize that the constant cacophony of unwanted noise is just as harmful to our own species and insist, at a minimum, that televisions and radios are kept indoors?

Anita Dermer, Toronto

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Re: Many reasons to choose another way, June 14

Many reasons to choose another way, June 14

Thanks for this column and for taking the time to listen to the gripes of passengers.

As someone who has ridden the Rocket during peak hours, I have experienced the crush and, during off peak hours, the delight of space on empty cars and buses as they rattle along.

Services like Uber have become the new carpool and if the TTC continues with single fares of $3.25, these services will win the transit game. Five individuals can Uber downtown together for less than $6.50 a day (cost of a two-way fare) during the week, so why bother with the Rocket? Montreals offer of a two-fare trip with a reduced rate would be welcome here.

Cutting the cost for seniors over 65 or others to a $2 round trip in off-peak hours would definitely increase ridership. And I fail to see how letting those 12 years of age and under ride for free can be a reason for failure. In fact, it allows parents to take their children to destinations where cars are normally used and gives children the ease of transit to explore the Toronto and its environs  perhaps so comfortable that they will not pine to drive a car when they turn sixteen.

Operators should not have to get involved in counting fares or inspecting for proof of age particularly when supervisors will not support them. Proof of age cards can be distributed with a photo and expiry date as are passports or photo ID cards. If we have to police ourselves, so be it.

Over the past decade, there seems to be an increase in delays, which is frustrating but not unheard in world class cities such as London and New York and which Toronto, trying to grow up too quickly, strives to be.

More care needs to given to how our transit machinery is built and tested. Bombardier has shown how inept they are in supplying such vehicles and should go back to transit school to re-educate themselves without the benefit of taxpayer dollars.

Bring in those who have a proven track record to work with or without them! If we do not have the infrastructure in place soon, the rest doesnt matter.

Barbara Chernin, Toronto

The person who wants air conditioned buses with windows that wont open is obviously young or never rode the streetcars.

When our fine fleet of deteriorating streetcars first came out they had this feature. The AC could not keep up with the opening of the doors and we sweltered our way along Queen St. cursing the boob who didnt put in windows that would open.

I also remember cars that were so rusted out they couldnt shut off the heat in the summer and you had to sit with your feet in the aisle lest they be roasted.

Theres always something to complain about with the TTC; its a Toronto sport.

E.M. Bates, Toronto

Royson James describes well the issues behind the TTCs disgruntled riders. But there is worse to come. That is the way that the new Presto card system will affect seniors.

Today we can easily get our seniors tickets at a collectors booth or even a local store. But what the TTC isnt telling us (its buried deep in its website) is that, to get our seniors rate, we must visit the TTCs Davisville office.

Many seniors have limited mobility, limited computer skills or even limited English. Getting to that office will be a significant hardship, for some even an impossibility.

Thanks to this lack of foresight, the TTC will be leaving many of its more vulnerable riders virtually stranded at the bus stop.

Ron Brown, Toronto

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Re: A mother's heavy price in the fight for truth, June 12

A mother's heavy price in the fight for truth, June 12

The death of Levi Schaeffer is a horrible tragedy, as is his grieving mother Ruth having had to fight so hard in her search for answers. The families of Levi Schaeffer and Douglas Minty deserve reimbursement of their legal costs from the government for pursuing accountability that should have been automatic.

Grieving families should not have to advocate and pay high financial costs to pursue what our MPs and lawmakers should be doing.

A formal apology is owed to Ruth Schaeffer for the callous treatment she has received in seeking answers. No one can change what she has gone through since June 24, 2009, but it should be recognized that her family deserves much better.

My condolences to the Schaeffer and Minty families for your loss but I also extend my gratitude to you for having the strength to pursue what is right so it doesnt happen again.

Deanne Spalding, Little Britain

Ruth Schaeffers story is heartbreaking but moreover it leaves me deeply ashamed as a citizen that my tax dollars were used to force and escalate a court action, even as the ombudsman had previously called attention to a need to address the issue of collusion.

Public bodies have deep pockets to outlast the most committed and diligent citizens in legal challenges, but it has those deep pockets because of us. We should not tolerate this. Is there any way we can assist Ruth with her financial security after her funds have been so depleted by this fight?

She has my thanks for her persistence, my condolences for her loss and my sincere apology for our governments action in this case.

Anne Harris, Toronto

Who in Canada is enlightened, compassionate and humane enough, with enough know how, to start a crowdfunding campaign for the benefit of Ms Schaeffer? I would be among the first to contribute.

No one in the world should have to lose his life because someone else is afraid, whether this fear is justified or not.

Yvonne Thompson, Whitby

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Apple (AAPL) stock dropped 2.28% today, as the Cupertino giant once again faced an obstacle in China. The city of Beijing ordered the company to stop selling its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models because of intellectual property concerns.

China represents a massive cellphone market. Yet the iPhone banishment from the country's second most populous city is hardly a death sentence for Apple's crucial developing market business. The company's ongoing ability to produce handsome, innovative products will ensure its long-range growth. The drop in share price and any additional dips provide an excellent opportunity to scoop up more shares at a discount?

APPLE is a holding in Jim Cramer's Action Alerts PLUS Charitable Trust Portfolio. See how Cramer rates the stock here. Want to be alerted before Cramer buys or sells AAPL? Learn more now.

Beijing's intellectual property regulator has decided that the iPhone 6 design is too similar to that of the 100C, which is made by Chinese tech firm Shenzhen Baili. According to the ruling by the Beijing Intellectual Property Bureau, "Apple's iPhone and iPhone 6 Plus have minor differences from Baili's 100C. The differences are so tiny that the average customer could not notice. So this case falls into the patent protection category."

Strangely enough, the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S plus, which feature identical exteriors, have not been affected by the ruling and remain welcome for sale in Beijing.

China seems bent on helping local companies at the expense of Apple and other Western technology brands. Apple and fellow U.S.-based tech giants Microsoft, Cisco Systems, IBM, Qualcomm , Alphabet, Oracle, and Intel have been labeled by the regime as eight "guardian warriors" whose efforts in China must be closely monitored and regulated to protect and promote homegrown companies, including Alibaba.

This stings since China represents a focal point for Apple. The company's CEO Tim Cook has said that despite the country's economic slowdown, China has enormous potential. Cook visited the country last month partly to charm regulators and investors. The latter group has been concerned about a decline in China iPhone sales. The iPhone represents the largest part of Apple's revenue.

Apple has been the most successful American tech company in China -- ever. In fiscal 2015, Apple sold more than $59 billion worth of products in the country. Revenue growth for what Apple refers to as its "Greater China" region -- encompassing Taiwan and Hong Kong as well as mainland China -- remained at a steady 70% rate. This had a positive effect on the company's stock price and for investors.

Apple remains the world's most innovative company. Hundreds of millions of consumers can't live without the company's gadgets. It is also continuing to develop game-changing technology, such as self-driving vehicles. The company also has a foothold in lucrative service sectors such as e-payments and cloud computing.

Investors shouldn't worry too much about a dearth of iPhone 6s in Beijing. With the blockbuster new iPhone 7 slated for release in the fall, these models were going to start their slow fade from the main stage, anyway.

Apple shares dropped to $95.33 at the close on Friday. This is a terrific opportunity to grab a piece of one of the world's greatest companies.

---

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This article is commentary by an independent contributor. At the time of publication, the author held no positions in the stocks mentioned.
Frontier markets will be the new emerging markets over the next 10 years, and that means long-term investors need to start looking to places like Vietnam for opportunities, said Khanh Vu, investment director at Vina Capital.

"Vietnam is a trading hub of Asia, so it has to be able to put in that infrastructure support," said Vu. "We are seeing a tremendous amount of money being spent on railroads and ports. For us, it is a case of a domestic consumption story supported by a lot of money going into infrastructure."

Vu helps oversee the London-listed VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund, one of the largest and most liquid closed-end funds in Vietnam with over $760 million in assets. Vu said the multi-asset fund is looking to rebalance from direct real estate toward its private equity portfolio of consumer companies and indirect real estate.

"Vietnam has historically been dominated by state-owned enterprises," said Vu. "About 20 years ago you had 10,000 state-owned enterprises, today you have 2,000. So that pace of privatization -- we find a lot of interesting opportunities from that."

Vu added that U.S.-Vietnamese ties are growing stronger, especially following the President's trip and the lifting of the arms embargo. He said that Vietnam is developing into a huge export market for U.S. multinationals. The Van Eck Vectors Vietnam ETF (VNM) is down slightly over 1% year-to-date.

"With the eventual passage of the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement, Vietnam stands to benefit a tremendous amount from that trade pact," said Vu.

And Vietnam is also taking manufacturing business away from China due to its young, educated population and low labor costs. The first four months of 2016 saw foreign direct investment, or FDI, commitments jump 85%.

"We are seeing a tremendous amount of FDI flow into Vietnam," said Vu, noting that Intel (INTC) and Microsoft (MSFT) among others have major manufacturing plants in the country.
Shares of Apple (AAPL) gained Monday, after signs that CEO Tim Cook's recent trip to India may have paid dividends.

The Government of India announced Monday that it has loosened restrictions on foreign investment in the country. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the "radical change" would make India "the most open economy in the world" for foreign direct investment.

The news is promising for Apple, which has been trying to make inroads into India's retail market. Shares of Apple were up 48cents, or 0.5%, to $95.80 on Monday afternoon.

"This could clear the way for Apple to open its stores in the country while it would still need to figure out a way to support local manufacturing over the longer term," Abhey Lamba of Mizuho Securities wrote in a report on Monday. Sales in India could hit $9 billion to $10 billion per year by 2020, he added.

The good news from India comes as some investors have come to view Apple as a "value trap," said Jim Cramer, TheStreet's founder and manager of the Action Alerts PLUS portfolio, which owns AAPL.

Cramer suggested that Apple had not found a bottom. "You have to understand that no one has downgraded it yet," he said. "You can't get a bottom until you get actual downgrades."

Cook visited India in May, and announced that a new facility in Hyderabad would develop mapping technology for Apple products. Though he did not get an immediate deal, he and Modi exchanged cordial tweets about their meeting.

During his visit, Cook told Indian news group NDTV that Apple was trying to expand its retail footprint in the country. "It's not a done deal yet, we have applied for the right to do that and we're working closely with the government and I'm really optimistic about it," he said. "But we have not been given the green light yet."

The Apple CEO told investors that the company had been working to develop its retail operation for "a couple of years or more," in its April earnings call.

"Unlike the U.S., as an example, where the carriers in the U.S. sell the vast majority of phones that are sold in the United States, in India the carriers in general sell virtually no phones," he said. "And so it's out in retail, and retail is many, many different small shops."

Cook compared India to "where China was maybe seven to ten years ago," during the call.

The news from China has not been as good for Apple, with a patent dispute flaring over technology in the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

It will be some time before India will be able to offset the difficulties that Apple faces in China, however, Mizuho Securities analyst Lamba suggested.

"Greater China now contributes ~25% of the company's total revenues while India is unlikely to be greater than 5% of its sales in the medium term," he wrote.

In the long term, Apple needs success in both China and India.


Kidding season is my favorite time of year, says Gail Hobbs-Page, who operates a goat dairy and cheesemaking business at Caromont Farm in Esmont, Va. (Jay Westcott/For The Washington Post)

You could say it all started with Dave Matthewss goats.

Back in 2005, Gail Hobbs-Page was living in the countryside near Charlottesville, a self-described recovering chef. When she learned that the musician was looking for someone to start a goat dairy and cheesemaking program at his nearby farm, she signed on, even though she was a cheesemaking novice. And when, a year later, the farm decided to streamline its operation to focus on beef cattle and heirloom apples, Hobbs-Page took home the dozen or so goats  she calls them a generous consolation gift  and started making cheese on her own.

[ Where to find Caromont Farm cheeses ]

Yes, I rather naively jumped into cheesemaking, says Hobbs-Page, 55. I figured if I could cook, I could make cheese. Now when I think about it, I think: Really?

Now in its ninth year of production, Caromont Farm, which Hobbs-Page runs with her husband, Daniel Page, and a small staff, makes about 30,000 pounds of cheese a year. Its Esmontonian, an aged, semi-firm cheese, won a second-place award in 2014 from the American Cheese Society in the American Made/International Style category. Caromont also makes a farmstead chevre; a bloomy-rind goats milk cheese; and two cows milk cheeses using organic milk from a nearby farm.

In addition to accolades over the past near-decade, there have been growing pains, a successful Kickstarter campaign and a goat-cuddling event that went viral on social media and attracted so many volunteers, it nearly became a victim of its own success. The trajectory of this business has been a lot of luck, a lot of heartache and a lot of reality, of buckling down and just saying, Okay, were going to do this thing,  Hobbs-Page says.

As Lisa Bogan, Caromonts new sales manager and a longtime friend of Hobbs-Page, puts it: Gail is relentless. . . . She just goes and goes. You have to have that to be a farmer.



Gail Hobbs-Page checks on the progress of her cheese. Her Caromont Farm turns out about 30,000 pounds of cheese a year.. (Jay Westcott/For The Washington Post)

Virginias cheesemaking scene is not big  there are about 80 producers  but it is on the rise, says Dany Schutte, a Richmond-based cheese consultant and former cheesemonger at Southern Season and Ellwood Thompsons Local Market, both in Richmond. So is cheesemaking nationally: The American Cheese Society has seen its membership more than double since 2004, to almost 1,700 members. Most of the artisan and specialty cheesemakers the society surveyed in 2012 were around the size of Caromont or smaller, with 71 percent producing less than 25,000 pounds of cheese a year.

Schutte compares Virginias cheese-producing industry to the states wine industry as it was just a decade or two ago. Wine and cheese go hand in hand, she says. Over the last 15 years, our wine scene has finally grown up; we are getting highly competitive world-class wines. Following that is the burgeoning artisan food scene, and that includes cheese. We may be 10 years out, but we are building a critical mass that is going to elevate the cheesemaking industry in Virginia.

[Where to find Caromont cheeses in the Washington area]

Leading the way, Schutte says, is Meadow Creek Dairy in the southwest part of the state, which has been producing cheeses since 1980, including the award-winning Appalachian and Grayson varieties. Meadow Creek has already established Virginia as a place of terroir cheesemaking, she says, referring to the concept that cheese, like wine, expresses certain characteristics of the place where it is produced. And I think Gail is next in line, and behind her some younger folks who are just getting started.

A seat-of-the-pants operation

Caromont Farm, located outside tiny Esmont, Va., sits at the end of a long gravel driveway on a wooded property overlooking a valley. If you visit, you are likely to be greeted upon arrival by Fidel, the farms boisterous peacock, who seems to have a thing about patrolling the parking area.

The farm is not a food-magazine-centerfold sort of place; it is an eclectic collection of permanent and temporary structures, each with a purpose: a hoop barn with plenty of hay for shelter and snacking for the 150 goats; a dairy parlor; a cheese-aging room; a trailer that often serves as temporary housing for interns; and, at the end of the property, the owners farmhouse. On a breezy morning in May, the goats, a mix of Alpines, Saanens and LaManchas, lounge around in clumps here and there: in the barn, under a canopied structure that provides shade and in grassy patches beneath the tall trees. A handful of them are inexplicably clustered around the front of an old pickup truck, as though inspecting the grille and headlights.



Gail Hobbs-Page keeps 150 goats at the farm. (Jay Westcott/For The Washington Post)

To say the goats are friendly is an understatement. The new kids, kept in a separate area, flock around Hobbs-Page, pushing their noses into her hand and nipping gently at her fingers. Kidding season is my favorite time of year, she says.

Farm life isnt new to Hobbs-Page. She grew up on a peanut and tobacco farm in North Carolina and kept a few goats as a child: I milked them, and I drank the milk, and I made yogurt and cheese. She had no idea it would become her livelihood. In fact, she spent 26 years as a professional cook, working in restaurants including Magnolia Grill and the Fearington House, both in North Carolina, and Hamiltons at First & Main, in Charlottesville. I was at a crossroads, she says. Actually, I was at the end of the road; I was burned out.

She and her husband started Caromont with a $180,000 loan on her familys North Carolina farm. It was a seat-of-the-pants operation, Daniel Page says. They made 320 pounds of fresh goat cheese their first year, using an old salad bar as a draining board for the curds. The cheese was good, clean-tasting and mild. But Hobbs-Page thought it was inconsistent, and the packaging, which featured a googly-eyed goat, was amateurish; it was eventually redesigned to depict a farmhouse on a hill.

We had never packaged anything, she says. We had never shipped anything. We also knew very little about affinage, the practice of ripening and aging cheese, about rind development or culturing times.

In 2010, she hired Bridge Cox, a University of Virginia graduate with a science degree who, like Hobbs-Page, had worked in kitchens and knew something about making cheese. This was a turning point. Bridge is a hipster; he would stay up all night researching rennet on the Internet, Hobbs-Page says, referring to the enzyme used to separate milk into cheese and whey. It was Cox who, together with Hobbs-Page, developed Caromonts cheeses. He took an experiment that Hobbs-Page had been working on and turned it into what eventually became Esmontonian, a raw-milk, tomme-style cheese that is aged for 90 to 120 days. Cox also developed Red Row and Bloomsbury, the farms two cows milk cheeses.



Rows of cheese age on racks at Caromont Farm. (Jay Westcott/For The Washington Post)

Ultimately, I think what really helped is that Gail and I come from a kitchen background, says Cox. The hours are long and the days are long, but you just keep your head down and you keep on moving. Thats what we did.

Another turning point came in 2012, when Caromont raised almost $40,000 in a successful Kickstarter campaign  nearly $5,000 more than its goal. The money allowed the dairy to buy a new, larger cheesemaking vat and make other improvements, including the construction of a ripening room. Still, Hobbs-Page said, they were caught off guard when Esmontonian won the second-place award in the American Cheese Society competition. All of a sudden, requests were coming in from across the country from retailers who wanted to carry the cheese.

That was probably the worst thing to happen to this company, she says. We werent prepared for the exposure. I didnt have enough goats; I didnt have the aging facility space. It was a bit of a nightmare, but you learn from that. We had to step back and ask ourselves, Is it sustainable to send our cheese to Portland, Oregon? 

Interns and cuddlers

Even as it works to refine its own vision and purpose, Caromont has always served as an incubator of sorts for young dairy farmers and cheesemakers. The farms first intern, Nathan Vergin, went on to start Silky Cow Farm, which now supplies Caromont with milk from grass-fed Jersey cows.

When Cox left in 2013 to start his own cheesemaking business  he is a partner at Twenty Paces, which makes sheeps milk cheeses near Charlottesville  Hobbs-Page hired Joe Alstat, another creative young soul who had studied cheesemaking in Vermont. Alstat saw the dairy through a transitional period, helping to set up standards of practice and working to refine the cheeses. He is now a cheesemaker at Grey Barn Farm on Marthas Vineyard.

Current cheesemaker Tyler Davis is also headed north, to Vermont, to work at Parish Hill Creamery. Meanwhile, current intern Isabella (Izzy) Zechini has been hired full time to work on social media and events at Caromont, including cooking classes and farm dinners. It is Zechini who, back in February, dreamed up the goat-cuddling volunteer days.

Weve always recruited volunteers to help us feed the babies and clean out the pens, but cuddling goats sounds a lot more adorable than cleaning pens, Zechini says. After she posted the call for goat cuddlers on Caromonts Facebook page, a local news affiliate picked up and aired the story, which in turn was picked up by other affiliates and eventually by online sites such as BuzzFeed and Huffington Post. First hundreds, then thousands signed up. The farm kept adding days and shifts to accommodate the volunteers. Finally, it ended up throwing a ticketed Goatapalooza open house.



A young goat grazes at Caromont Farm. (Jay Westcott/For The Washington Post)

Social media to me has always been distant, like a hologram, Hobbs-Page says. But this was a revelation.

If the episode taught Hobbs-Page a lesson about the power of social media, it also taught her that people have a strong desire to hug goats. Among those who came to take a turn caring for the animals were cancer survivors, autistic children, soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder and people looking for relief from the daily grind. There is a clear need for farm therapy, she says. We had people in tears thanking us.

And so Caromont Farm is at another crossroads. Hobbs-Page is now putting together a plan, still in the early stages, to buy a 16-acre piece of land next to Caromont to turn into a therapy farm. She is also continuing to slowly expand the cheesemaking operation. Her two newest hires reflect that evolving vision of the farm.

One is Bogan, the new sales manager, who, among other things, studied cheesemaking in Vermont and in Italy and worked as a cheesemonger at Di Bruno Bros. in Philadelphia. She plans to raise and milk goats for Caromont on an 8 -acre farm she recently bought nearby.

The other is Mark Thompson, a Charlottesville native and founder of Starr Hill Brewery in the city, who sold his stake in that company last year. In addition to learning to make cheese, Thompson will focus on business and marketing strategy. Id like to take things to the next level, he says. A longtime friend of Hobbs-Page who recently reconnected with her, Thompson says he was drawn to the idea of working at Caromont after attending the Goatapalooza.

The thing that really endeared Gail and this company to me is her commitment to making a world-class product, right here, he says. That has never changed. She is just a fire-and-brimstone believer in what she is doing.

Marchetti is author of seven books on Italian cooking, including the recently published Preserving Italy. She will join the Free Range chat Wednesday at noon.


After learning that the Westboro Baptist Church applied for a permit to picket the funeral of Christopher "Drew" Leinonen, one of the 49 killed during the Orlando Pulse Night Club shooting, thousands turned up for a peaceful counter protest June 18 in Orlando. (Melissa Lyttle/For The Washington Post)

It makes me very sad and angry that our country cant seem to grasp the fact that we are all humans and only want to enjoy our freedom like everyone else without fear of death, Claudia Robbins, a 65-year-old lesbian, posted on Facebook. As Ive talked and texted with dozens of LGBT people after last weeks mass shooting at Orlandos Pulse nightclub, I witnessed that only a portion of their rage is directed at the shooter. Much of it is focused elsewhere: on our politicians. The media. The gay-haters. Sometimes, even on our own well-intentioned friends, because they dont understand our fear, or what it means to be LGBT.

Heres some of what Ive been told: Im angry at all who were quick to offer thoughts and prayers but who did nothing supportive for the victims while they were alive, Todd Brown, a gay man, posted on my page.

Steven Soto, a 21-year-old Latino college student, said, Im angered by the narrative as it stands now. If you look at the New York Times, listen to people on the street, theyre talking about the shooter, guns, [fear of Muslims], but not that Pulse is an LGBTQ place and these were queer people. Soto said he felt erased.

[For LGBT community, Orlando shootings reinforce the fear that nowhere is safe]

Whatever the gains in acceptance over the past two decades, too many in the LGBT community  especially in places such as Orlando where sexual orientation and skin color both come into play live in apprehension if not outright terror of straight people, one queer activist posted.

Indeed, in the aftermath of the shooting, it was hard for some to acknowledge that angle, or even use the word gay. The Republican National Committee issued a statement denouncing violence against any group of people simply for their lifestyle or orientation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and other politicians did not mention LGBT people in their comments. They ignore and reject the reality that LGBT are part of life in America today, Jimmy LaSalvia, a Republican strategist and founder of the defunct group GOProud, said to my colleague David Weigel last week.

[Chat: Steven Petrow answers your questions]

The media are straightwashing this attack  downplaying or even omitting the fact that the shooting was a crime of hatred against the LGBT community, said John Becker, an activist in Washington. People magazine doesnt mention LGBT people or people of color in its cover language: Mass Murder in Florida: Faces of Orlando. When asked to comment, editorial director Jess Cagle, who identifies as gay, emailed: On the cover, we really wanted to show the faces of dozens of victims, and in order to do so we had to keep verbiage to a minimum.

Thankfully, there are those who used their position to buck this trend. Owen Jones, a gay columnist in the United Kingdom, walked off a live Sky News set after the host argued that the attack was not anti-gay and kept saying the massacre was carried out against human beings. Yes, they were human beings, as were the nine African Americans murdered in a Charleston, S.C., church a year ago, when the national conversation did not shy away from saying why those individuals were targeted. So, why the difficulty in calling this rampage an anti-LGBT attack? Before abruptly leaving the set, Jones said defiantly, You dont understand, because youre not gay, okay?

And there it is: intolerance and hate around the globe. Gay people are thrown from buildings in the Middle East, gutted with machetes in Jamaica, and in the Unites States are more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other minority group.

Even our best allies dont always seem to understand this, as they celebrate our victories in civil marriage and the repeal of Dont Ask, Dont Tell. One of my closest friends, a strong LGBT ally, texted me last weekend that people lose sight of the fact that the dead are individuals first, before they are gays or Hispanics or any collective. No, I replied, These people were specifically targeted for who they were. My friend texted back: Im sorry we live in a world where you live in fear because of who you are.

Yes, we are still taunted, beaten and killed.

Still, sorrow, fear and even anger do not make a strategy for acceptance, for equality. We have to advocate for laws and policies that protect the most vulnerable who are often the targets of hate as well as legislation to end gun violence, explained Nancy Petty, a lesbian minister at Raleigh, N.C.s Pullen Memorial Baptist Church. Soto told me he will speak up even more in the future: I continue to be out, I continue to be visible, and I continue to live my life as best as I can.

We need to tell our stories out loud so that no LGBT person has to say: You dont understand, because youre not gay. Our foes  and friends  need to hear us.

Join him for a chat online at washingtonpost.com on June 21.
BLOOD DONATIONS

BLOOD DRIVES Monday 2:30-7:30 p.m., Village at Leesburg, 1614 Village Market Blvd., Leesburg; Tuesday 3-7 p.m., Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Rd., Leesburg, 866-256-6372; June 28, 3-8 p.m., Loudoun Valley Community Center, 320 W. School St., Purcellville, 800-733-2767; July 5, 3-8 p.m., Ashburn Farm Association, 21400 Windmill Dr., Ashburn, 800-733-2767; July 9, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.. Loudoun County Rescue Company 13, 143 Catoctin Cir., Leesburg, 800-733-2767; July 11, 2:30-7:30 p.m., Claude Moore Recreation Center, 46105 Loudoun Park Lane, Sterling, 800-733-2767; July 16, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Leesburg Public Safety Center, 65 Plaza St., Leesburg, 800-733-2767.

INOVA BLOOD DONOR CENTER Mondays noon-8 p.m., Tuesdays 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Fridays 6 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays noon-4 p.m. Dulles Town Center, 45745 Nokes Blvd., Sterling. 866-256-6372 or inova.org/donateblood.

FIRST AID

FIRST AID/ADULT, INFANT AND CHILD CPR/AED F auquier Hospital Medical Office Building, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-316-3588. Call for schedule. Registration required.

HEARING

DISABILITY RESOURCE CENTER Technical assistance through the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and presentations to businesses, civic groups and schools. Third Tuesdays 2-5 p.m., Workplace, 205 Keith St., Warrenton. Call for an appointment, 800-648-6324; TDD, 540-373-5890. Free.

FREE HEARING TESTS Age 18 and older. Mondays-Thursdays 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing Center, 19465 Deerfield Ave., Suite 201, Lansdowne. 703-858-7620. Registration required.

HEARING LOSS, TINNITUS AND MENIERES SYNDROME SUPPORT For all ages, including parents of children with hearing loss. First Fridays at 2 p.m., Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. 703-430-2906.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA RESOURCE CENTER FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING Age 18 and older, second Tuesdays 10 a.m., Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. 571-258-3400.

HEARING LOSS OUTREACH Free referrals. Fourth Thursdays 10 a.m.-noon, Loudoun County Workforce Center, 102 Heritage Way, Leesburg; third Thursdays 10 a.m.-noon, Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. Free appointments: 703-430-2906 or nvrcloudoun@aol.com.

MENTAL HEALTH

COUNSELING FOR SEXUAL VIOLENCE SURVIVORS Provided by Loudoun Citizens for Social Justice. 703-771-9020.

CRISISLINK Suicide and crisis intervention. The organization provides community education, has a volunteer crisis response team and offers CareRing, a daily telephone outreach program for the elderly and disabled. 703-527-6016, volunteer@crisislink.org or crisislink.org.

PIEDMONT CHAPTER, NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS Serves Fauquier, Orange, Madison and Rappahannock counties. Support group, education classes and events for people living with mental illness and their family members. First Wednesdays 7-9 p.m. Fauquier Hospital, 500 Hospital Dr., Sycamore Room A, Warrenton. 571-426-8213.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA CHAPTER, NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS A support group, classes and programs for people living with mental illness and their family members. naminorthernvirginia.org.

PREGNANCY, PARENTING

ADOPTIVE FAMILY PRESERVATION Adoptive families discuss common experiences; registration required. Third Tuesdays 12:30-2 p.m. Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Rd. Call 703-941-9008, Ext. 23, or email jmellerio@umfs.org.

BIRTHRIGHT OF LOUDOUN COUNTY Free pregnancy tests, baby clothing, transportation and support throughout pregnancy, 823 S. King St., Leesburg. 703-777-7272.

BOND BETWEEN US A nonprofit organization that offers support to birth parents when children have been placed for adoption. Fourth Tuesdays 7:30 p.m. Call for location. 703-771-7844.

BREAST-FEEDING SUPPORT Mondays 9:30-10:30 a.m., Fauquier Hospital Family Birthing Center, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-316-3588.

DAD SUPPORT New and expectant fathers share ideas. First Tuesdays 7 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Leesburg. 703-858-6360.

FOR THE CHILDRENS SAKE A group for separating or divorcing parents to share advice. Four-hour session weekly. Information : 703-391-8599 or fitsfoundation.org.

LA LECHE LEAGUE Mother-to-mother support and breast-feeding information. 10 a.m. second Wednesdays in Warrenton, 540-351-6103. Third Fridays 10:15-11:45 a.m., call for location, 703-444-7386. Second Fridays 10:15 a.m., Ashburn Library, 43316 Hay Rd., 703-431-3852; Thursdays 10 a.m.-noon, Panera Bread, 43670 Greenway Corp. Dr., Ashburn, email lllashburn@gmail.com. Third Fridays 10:15 a.m., Christ the Redeemer Church, 46833 Harry F. Byrd. Hwy., Sterling, 540-338-4637.

LOUDOUN FATHERHOOD PROGRAM Fathers discuss the joys and challenges of being a parent. Meets every other Saturday for two hours for four months; sponsored by Northern Virginia Family Service. 571-748-2796. Free .

LOUDOUN NURTURING PARENTING PROGRAM Positive parenting techniques; children attend with parents. Registration required. Call 703-771-3973, Ext. 27, or email nurturingprogram@lcsj.org . Free.

MOTHERNET/HEALTHY FAMILIES LOUDOUN Program links first-time parents with medical, social and educational resources to give children a socially and physically healthy start in life. Family support workers meet with participants in homes. English-Spanish translation provided. 703-444-4477, Ext. 217 , or inmed.org.

NEW MOTHERS SUPPORT Wednesdays 9:30-11:30 a.m. Inova Loudoun Medical Pavilion, 224 Cornwall St., Leesburg, main entrance. Babies welcome. 703-858-6360.

YOUNG PARENT SERVICES Support for teenage parents. Loudoun County Department of Family Social Services, 52 Sycolin Rd., Leesburg. Call for times. 703-771-5375.

ONLINE CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION PROGRAM Inova Loudoun Hospitals Web-based program uses animation, videos and interactive activities to guide users through the basics of childbirth, breast-feeding and caring for newborns. 703-858-6360. thebirthinginn.org/classes.

PARENTING ALONE GROUP For parents of school-age children who have lost a spouse or partner to cancer. Second Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital, Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. 703-698-2536 or email jennifer.eckert@inova.org .

PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH SUPPORT Childbirth Solutions Resource Center, 8393 W. Main St., Marshall. 571-344-0438.

SENIORS

EXERCISE EQUIPMENT Weights, treadmills, bikes and a cardio-glide. Instruction provided. Age 55 and older. Weekdays 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039. Free.

FITNESS FOR PEOPLE 55 AND OLDER Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 1-1:45 p.m. Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. 571-258-3400. $36, 12-visit card.

EYE CARE LensCrafters staff members will clean glasses and make minor repairs. Second Wednesdays 1-2 p.m. Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. 703-430-2397. Free.

INOVA LOUDOUN MOBILE VAN Blood pressure checks. Second and fourth Tuesdays 9:30 a.m.-noon, Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling, 571-258-3280; first Wednesdays 9:30 a.m.-noon, Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039.

LAUGHING YOGA FOR SENIORS I mprove flexibility and balance. Thursdays 9:30-10 :30 a.m. Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039. Free.

LOUDOUN ADULT DAY CENTERS For seniors with physical limitations or memory loss, a safe and social environment, therapeutic activities, individualized care and respite for caregivers. Limited transportation. Sliding-scale fees. Weekdays in Leesburg, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., 703-771-5334; Purcellville, 571-258-3402; and Ashburn-Sterling, 571-258-3232.

SENIOR OUTREACH SERVICES Free and confidential assistance from an Area Agency on Aging case manager. Call for an appointment or sign up at the Senior Center at Cascades. First and third Wednesdays 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. 571-258-3280.

SENIOR OUTREACH SERVICES Free and confidential assistance from an Area Agency on Aging Elder case manager. Sign up in the Leesburg Senior Center lobby. Second and fourth Thursdays 11 a.m.-noon and 12:30-4:30 p.m. Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039. Free.

SENIOR OUTREACH SERVICES Free and confidential assistance from an Area Agency on Aging Elder case manager. Call for an appointment or sign up at the Carver Center. First and third Mondays, 12:30-5 p.m. Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. 703-737-8741. Free.

SUMMER FAN CARE PROGRAM Information on free fans and a limited number of window air conditioners that are available for income-eligible people age 60 and older. June 28, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. The program is sponsored by Dominion Virginia Power, the Virginia Department for the Aging and the Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging. 571-358-3400.

ZUMBA GOLD CLASS: For people 55 and older who are learning Zumba for the first time, or those who prefer a lower-impact version. The fitness program combines Latin and international music with dance.Thursdays 11 a.m. Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. 571-258-3280. $12.

TAI CHI Stretching and strengthening movements. Mondays 11 a.m. Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039. Free.

ZUMBA GOLD CLASS Age 55 and older. Wear rubber-soled shoes and comfortable clothing; bring water and a towel. Tuesdays 11 a.m., Tuesdays and Fridays at 1 p.m. Senior Center of Leesburg, 102 North St. NW, Leesburg. 703-737-8039. $24 per month.

SUPPORT GROUPS

AL-ANON SERVICE CENTER OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA A volunteer is available 24 hours with information for spouses, family members and friends of problem drinkers. 703-534-4357 or 877-339-8350. Mondays 8 p.m. Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 125 W. Washington St., Middleburg, 540-554-2747; Tuesdays 7:30 p.m. St. James Episcopal Church, 14 Cornwall St. NW, Leesburg, 877-339-8350; Fridays 8:30 p.m. Grace Episcopal Church, 6507 Main St., The Plains, 800-344-2666; Tuesdays 12:15 p.m. Warrenton Church of Christ, Route 29 N., 540-347-7448; Tuesdays 7 p.m. and Saturdays 8:30 p.m. Warrenton Presbyterian Church, 91 Main St., 800-344-2666.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Various meeting times and locations in Loudoun County. 800-208-8649 or 703-876-6166. nvintergroup.org.

ALZHEIMERS CAREGIVER SUPPORT For those who care for people with Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. Fourth Wednesdays 4-5:30 p.m. The Villa at Suffield Meadows, 6735 Suffield Lane, Warrenton. 540-316-3800.

ALZHEIMERS CAREGIVERS SUPPORT For those caring for people with Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. Second Mondays 7-8:30 p.m. Galilee United Methodist Church, 45425 Winding Rd., Sterling. 703-430-9229. galileeumc.org.

ALZHEIMERS CAREGIVER SUPPORT Emotional, educational and social support for family members and friends of people with the disease. Third Saturdays 10 a.m. Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging, 20145 Ashbrook Pl., Ashburn. Call 703-771-5407 or email lesley.katz@loudoun.gov.

ALZHEIMERS CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP Fourth Thursdays 3-4 p.m. Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. 540-903-6831 or alz.org.

ALZHEIMERS SUPPORT First Tuesdays 10-11 a.m. Spring Arbor Assisted Living, 237 Fairview St. NW, Leesburg. 540-338-6520.

ALZHEIMERS SUPPORT First Wednesdays 4 p.m. Leesburg Adult Day Center, 16501 Meadowview Ct., Leesburg. 703-771-5334.

TALK ABOUT CURING AUTISM A nonprofit organization educating and supporting families affected by autism. tacanow.org.

AUTOIMMUNE SUPPORT Last Thursdays 6:30-7:30 p.m. Jackson Building, 209 Gibson St., Leesburg. Email autoimmunesupport@hotmail.com .

BEREAVED PARENT SUPPORT One-on-one counseling is available. Spiritual Care Support Ministry Center, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814. scsm.tv.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT For those experiencing loss because of the death of a loved one. Age 18 and older. Third Mondays 1 p.m. Fauquier Hospital Chestnut Room, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. Sponsored by Capital Caring. 703-957-1800.

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT Fourth Tuesdays 7-8 p.m. Fauquier Hospital Tower, Chestnut Room, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-349-0588.

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT For those with new diagnoses or starting treatment. Register if attending for the first time. Fourth Mondays 5:30-6:30 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. 703-858-8857.

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT For those who have finished treatment, have had a recurrence or metastatic breast cancer. Register if attending for the first time. Fourth Mondays 6:30-8 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. 703-858-8857. Free.

BREAST CANCER SUPPORT ASSISTANCE FUND Loudoun County residents who have received a diagnosis or have undergone treatment in the past 12 months are eligible to apply for financial assistance. Areas included are wigs, bras, puffs and prostheses, mammograms and medical bills, food and help with utilities, rent or mortgage, and transportation costs. The Pink Assistance Fund has been established by the Loudoun Breast Health Network. lbhn.org.

CANCER SUPPORT Oncology nurses, social workers and spiritual care providers offer education and support to patients, families and caregivers. Second Mondays 5:30-6:30 p.m. Fauquier Hospital Sycamore Room, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-316-2273.

CANCER SUPPORT Life with Cancer, for patients, family members and friends. Second Thursdays 7 p.m. Ashburn Presbyterian Church, Room 202, 20962 Ashburn Rd. 703-729-2012. ashburnpresbyterian.org.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT AND RESOURCE GROUP Wednesdays 10:30 a.m.-noon (no meeting first Wednesdays), Spiritual Care Support Ministry Center, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814. scsm.tv.

CARING FOR AGING PARENTS Support group. Confidential. Fourth Wednesdays 7:30 p.m., Family Focus Counseling Service, 20-B John Marshall St., Warrenton. 540-349-4537.

CHADD PARENTS SUPPORT For parents of children with ADD/ADHD. Fourth Sundays 3 p.m. KinderCare, 44051 Ashburn Village Shopping Plaza. chadd.nova loudoun@gmail. com .

CHRONIC ILLNESS SUPPORT Tuesdays 10:30-11:30 a.m. Spiritual Care Support Ministries, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814 or scsm.tv.

COFFEE AND CONVERSATION: Support for those discouraged because of illness, bereavement, caregiving or a loved one in the military. Thursdays 10 a.m.-noon. Spiritual Care Support Ministry Center, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814.

COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS For parents who have experienced the death of a child. First Wednesdays 7:30 p.m. St. James Episcopal Church, 14 Cornwall St. NW, Leesburg. 540-882-9707.

CREATING AND CONNECTING Two-hour art therapy and relaxation workshop for cancer patients. Every other month, 12:30-2:30 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. Call for dates. 703-858-8850.

DEPRESSION BIPOLAR SUPPORT ALLIANCE OF WESTERN LOUDOUN Saturdays 3 p.m. Purcellville Library, 220 E. Main St., Carruthers Room. Call 703-431-7160 or email kathy@dbsanca.org.

DROP-IN GRIEF SUPPORT For those coping with a death. Second and fourth Wednesdays 1-2 p.m. St. Davids Episcopal Church, 43600 Russell Branch Pkwy., Ashburn. Sponsored by Capital Caring. 703-597-1781.

FAMILIES OVERCOMING DRUG ADDICTION SUPPORT First and third Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Fauquier Hospital Sycamore Room, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-316-9221 or email myfodafamily@gmail.com.

GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER YOUTH AND PARENT SUPPORT A group in partnership with Metro DC PFLAG. Fourth Sundays 4-6 p.m. Unitarian Universalist Church, 22135 Davis Dr., Sterling. 703-328-6518.

GRIEFSHARE Open to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one. Tuesdays from 7-8:30 p.m. Purcellville Baptist Church, 601 Yaxley Dr., Purcellville. Call 540-338-0918 or email caring@purbap.org. Workbook, $15.

GRIEFSHARE Nondenominational seminar and support group. Tuesdays 7:30-9 p.m., and Wednesdays, 1-2:30 p.m. Spiritual Care Support Ministry Center, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814. Free.

GRIEF SUPPORT Sponsored by Hospice Support of Fauquier County. Individual counseling available. First and third Thursdays 3:30-5 p.m. Hospice Support Office, 42 N. Fifth St., Warrenton. Registration required. Call 540-347-5922 or email hospicesupport@verizon.net.

GRIEF SUPPORT Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Spiritual Care Support Ministry Center, 76 W. Shirley Ave., Warrenton. 540-349-5814.

HOSPICE SUPPORT Free medical-equipment loan facility for Fauquier County residents. Especially needed are donations of wheelchairs, bedside commodes, rolling walkers, electric hospital beds, shower benches and chairs, adult diapers, lift chairs, Ensure and hospital bed mattresses. 540-347-5922.

LOOK GOOD, FEEL BETTER For women undergoing or emerging from cancer treatment. Every other month, 6:45 to 9 p.m. ,Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. Call for dates. 703-776-2820. Free.

LOUDOUN CHADD SUPPORT Led by Children and Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Third Thursdays 7 p.m. Leesburg Town Hall, lower-level conference room, 25 W. Market St. 703-669-2445.

LOUDOUN INTERGROUP OF OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS Fellowship and support. For locations and times, call 571-420-2012. oa.org.

LYME DISEASE SUPPORT Fourth Sundays 2-4 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Conference Room A and B, Leesburg. Go to natcaplyme.org or email loudounlymeadvocates@gmail.com.

LYME DISEASE SUPPORT Third Thursdays 7 p.m. Warrenton Church of Christ, 6398 Lee Hwy. Access Road, Warrenton. 540-347-7265 or email lymeinfauquier@gmail.com.

LYME DISEASE SUPPORT First Tuesdays 7-8:30 p.m. Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville. Email charphealy@yahoo.com.

MADD LOUDOUN VICTIM SUPPORT For those who have been affected by drunken driving. Third Wednesdays 7:30 p.m. 210 Wirt St., Leesburg. 540-338-6491.

MAN-TO-MAN CANCER SUPPORT Sponsored by Loudoun Cancer Care Center, for prostate cancer patients and their families. Second Tuesdays 6:30-8 p.m. Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling. Call 703-858-8857 or email karen.archer@inova.org.

MENDED HEARTS Northern Virginia chapter, for heart surgery patients and families and friends of heart disease patients. Third Saturdays 11 a.m., Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Leesburg (Patient Information Lounge) . 703-924-6244 or mendedhearts200.org.

MENOPAUSE SUPPORT Third Thursdays 6:30-9 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Leesburg (second floor, Patient Education Room). 703-858-8060.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SUPPORT Saturdays 10:30 a.m. Fauquier Hospital Chestnut Room, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-349-2826.

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SUPPORT Last Sundays 2-4 p.m. Cascades Library, 21030 Whitfield Pl., Potomac Falls. 703-771-4256.

NAR-ANON FAMILY SUPPORT For those affected by loved ones with addiction. Meaningful Mondays, 7-8 p.m., Galilee United Methodist Church, 45425 Winding Rd., Sterling. 703-203-9792; Wisdom Wednesdays 7-8 p.m., St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 37730 St. Francis Ct., Purcellville, 703-606-7125; Serenity Thursdays, 7-8 p.m. Leesburg Presbyterian Church, 207 W. Market St., Leesburg, 703-606-7125.

PARKINSON'S SUPPORT Open to anyone with Parkinson's disease, family members and caregivers. First Tuesdays 1:30-3 p.m. Call for Ashburn location. 571-442-8851.

POST-PARTUM SUPPORT Second and fourth Wednesdays 1-2:30 p.m. Inova Loudoun Cornwall Campus, 224 Cornwall St., Leesburg. 703-909-9877. Email lamckeough@gmail.com. Registration required.

REACH TO RECOVERY Home visit program for mastectomy and lumpectomy patients. Temporary prostheses, exercise instruction and encouragement. 703-938-5550.

SEXUAL ASSAULT AND INCEST SURVIVORS GROUP COUNSELING Services provided by Loudoun Citizens for Social Justice and the Loudoun Abused Womens Shelter are free and confidential. 703-771-9020.

SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS EMPOWERMENT SUPPORT Sponsored by Sexual Assault Victims Volunteer Initiative. Child care available with 48-hours notice. Mondays; call for times and locations. 540-349-7720.

SPIRITUAL SUPPORT GROUP For cancer patients, family members and friends. Third Tuesdays 6:30-8 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. 703-858-8850.

STROKE SURVIVORS AND CAREGIVERS SUPPORT Second Wednesdays 11 a.m.-noon, Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Leesburg, second floor, Patient Education Room. 703-858-6667 or robynthomson@inova.org.

SUICIDE COUNSELING Third Wednesdays 7-8:30 p.m. Leesburg Town Office, Conference Room 2, lower level, 25 W. Market St., Leesburg. 703-587-1618 or survivorsofsuicidelossleesburg@gmail.com.

WOMENS SUPPORT Sponsored by Services to Abused Families. Tuesdays 6:30-8 p.m. Confidential location. 540-825-8876.

WIDOW AND WIDOWER SUPPORT Third Mondays 11 a.m. Leesburg Senior Center, 102 North St. NW. 703-737-8039.

WOMENS CANCER SUPPORT Woman to Woman, first Wednesdays 6:30-8 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital Radiation Oncology Center, 44035 Riverside Pkwy., Suite 100, Leesburg. Registration required. 703-858-8850.

MISCELLANEOUS

BRAIN TRAUMA SURVIVORS BROWN BAG LUNCH For survivors and caregivers, first Tuesdays, noon-1:30 p.m. Inova Loudoun Hospital, 44045 Riverside Pkwy., Leesburg, second-floor Patient Education Room. Call 703-737-3150 or email jberg@braininjurysvcs.org. Free.

CHILD DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS For ages 2-5. Children may not be kindergarten-age-eligible. Sponsored by the Loudoun County public schools Child Find Center. 571-252 - 2180.

CHOLESTEROL SCREENINGS Weekdays 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Fauquier Health LIFE Center, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-316-2640. Registration required. $35.

EMERGENCY FOOD SUPPLIES Loudoun residents who are in need can receive a free three-day supply of groceries. Supplies are distributed Mondays through Saturdays by Loudoun Interfaith Relief. 703-777-5911. interfaithrelief.org.

FAUQUIER FREE WALK-IN MEDICAL CLINIC Patients must call Thursdays from 12:30 to 1 p.m. to register for the clinic, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Patients are also seen by appointment Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Fauquier and Rappahannock residents only. Bring proof of address for the first visit. Patients cannot have Medicaid, Medicare or private insurance. Information: 540-347-0394 Tuesdays or Thursdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

FAUQUIER HOSPITAL BISTRO SENIOR SUPPER CLUB Nutritious meals and fellowship for people 55 and older. Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:30-6:30 p.m. Fauquier Hospital Bistro on the Hill, 500 Hospital Dr., Warrenton. 540-316-3588. $5.49.

GAMERS UNION FOR TEENS WITH ASPERGERS Youths 12 to 21 interact through gaming; their caregivers meet for networking. Second Tuesdays 6 p.m. Rust Library, 380 Old Waterford Rd., Leesburg. 703-777-0323. Free.

HEROES (Hometown Enabling Relationships, Opportunities and Empowerment through Support) is a program for military families. A trained volunteer provides support to military members and their families, from pre-deployment up to two years post-deployment. Assistance includes financial help, job placement, family care and mental health services. heroescare.org or email caring@purbap.org .

INOVA LOUDOUN HOSPITAL MOBILE HEALTH SERVICES BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENINGS Monday 9-11:30 a.m., William Watters House, 22365 Enterprise St., Sterling; Thursday 10 a.m.-noon, Carver Center, 200 Willie Palmer Way, Purcellville; June 28, 9 a.m.-noon, Senior Center at Cascades, 21060 Whitfield Pl., Sterling; June 29, 10 a.m.-noon, Lansdowne Woods, 19400 Leisure World Blvd., Leesburg. For information, call 703-858-8818 or go to inova.org/mobilehealth. Free.

LOUDOUN CARES INFORMATION AND REFERRAL HELPLINE Call for help in finding resources for county residents who are dealing with rent eviction, utility cut-offs, needed health care, employment and more. 703-669-4636.

MOTOR SKILL SCREENINGS Birth to 21 months. First Thursdays, Blue Ridge Speech and Hearing Center, 19465 Deerfield Ave., Suite 201, Lansdowne. Call for an appointment. 703-858-7620. Free.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN Call for help in resolving complaints related to long-term-care facilities. 703-324-5861.

ROAD TO RECOVERY, for cancer patients who need rides to appointments. 410-781-6909. Email jen.burdette@cancer.org. Free.

SEVEN LOAVES FOOD PANTRY Individuals and families can receive a three-day supply of food, distributed Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10 a.m.-noon. 540-687-3489 or sevenloavesmiddleburg.org.

TREE OF LIFE FOOD PANTRY Serving western Loudoun County. Food is delivered Wednesdays and Saturdays. 703-554-3595.

 Compiled by Sandy Mauck

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Mail: Health Calendar, The Washington Post, 104 Dry Mill Rd. SW, Suite 101, Leesburg, Va. 20175

Loudoun County and Fauquier County health calendar
THE DISTRICT

Man fatally shot near Gallaudet University

A man was shot and killed early Monday near Gallaudet University in Northeast Washington, according to D.C. police.

The shooting occurred about 2:45 a.m. in the 1600 block of Montello Avenue NE, in a residential community off West Virginia Avenue and about a block from the campus.

Police released no other details. The incident was one of nine shootings in the District since Friday night and the second one that was fatal. Shootings were reported in every quadrant of the District.

 Peter Hermann

Officer used Taser on ATV rider in park

A standoff between police and ATV riders in the District on Sunday night ended when one man was Tasered, police said.

A group of about six people riding ATVs and dirt bikes in Anacostia Park, where such vehicles are prohibited, were approached by an officer about 6:20 p.m. Sunday, a spokesman for the U.S. Park Police said. When the officer approached, a rider became combative and assumed a fighting stance, the spokesman said, at which point the officer used a stun gun on him and took him into custody.

No injuries were reported, the spokesman said. No information was available about the identity of the rider who was taken into custody or whether charges were filed.

MARYLAND

29-year-old shooting

victim is identified

Prince Georges County police on Monday identified the victim of a shooting Saturday as Demetrist Glover, 29, of Just Street in Northeast Washington.

Glover was found shortly after 2 a.m. in the 1400 block of Southern Avenue in the Hillcrest Heights area. He died at a hospital. Police said they do not think the killing was random.

 Dana Hedgpeth

Hogan announces

staff changes

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced Monday that Christopher B. Shank, a former state senator who serves as a deputy chief of staff, will become his chief legislative officer.

Shank joined the Hogan administration in January 2015 as the executive director of the Governors Office of Crime Control and Prevention. He will assume his third role in the administration this month.

Shank replaces Joseph M. Getty, who was recently appointed by Hogan to the Maryland Court of Appeals. Shank will be replaced by Tiffany P. Robinson, an assistant secretary in the Department of Housing and Community Development.
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has picked up seven Maryland co-sponsors for his gun-licensing bill. (Linda Davidson/The Washington Post)

All but one of the Democrats from Marylands congressional delegation recently agreed to co-sponsor a year-old firearms bill from Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) that would create federal financial incentives to help states set up handgun-licensing programs.

Three of those lawmakers said they would support the legislation after last weeks mass shooting in Orlando that killed 49 people at a gay nightclub.

Additionally, the Democratic candidates for Marylands two open congressional seats, former lieutenant governor Anthony G. Brown and state Sen. Jamie B. Raskin (Montgomery), have said they will back the licensing bill if they win in November. They face Republicans Dan Cox and George McDermott, respectively, in the general election.

Democratic Rep. Donna F. Edwards, who will not be in Congress next year after she lost a bitter Senate primary race to Van Hollen, has not co-sponsored the bill.

There is momentum building in this country, Van Hollen said of the push for stricter gun laws. The question is: When will that momentum break through the wall of the NRA on Capitol Hill? There were already some cracks, and the slaughter in Orlando made those cracks even bigger.

Van Hollen, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, introduced the legislation last year, but it has stalled at the committee level.

Advocates say that licensing laws help reduce firearm homicides. They point to a Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research study that found gun-related homicides in Connecticut dropped by 40 percent over 10 years after the state adopted a licensing law in 1995, whereas such homicides in Missouri increased by 25 percent after the state repealed a similar statute in 2007.

But gun rights advocates have argued that permit-to-purchase laws restrict the constitutional rights of peaceable Americans to bear arms but do not block criminals from obtaining firearms through illicit means such as theft, straw purchases or the black market.

Rep. Andy Harris, a conservative Republican from Marylands Eastern Shore, has not supported Van Hollens measure.

Maryland enacted a handgun-licensing law in 2013 as part of a broader gun-control package that also banned assault rifles and limited ammunition clips to 10 rounds.

But gun-control supporters say more states need to require licensing for firearms purchases, because the weapons tend to flow from states that lack permitting laws to those that have them, with the guns frequently landing in the hands of criminals.

Van Hollen gained five Maryland co-sponsors for his legislation since May: Democratic Reps. Elijah Cummings, John Delaney, Steny H. Hoyer, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes. Delaney, Hoyer and Sarbanes signed on after the Orlando massacre.

A recent poll of residents in Marylands 6th Congressional District  a swing district that includes parts of Montgomery County and western Maryland  shows strong support in that region for Van Hollens proposal.

The survey, sponsored by Marylanders to Prevent Gun Violence, showed that 63 percent of the districts registered voters support federal legislation that would encourage other states to enact handgun licensing regulations by helping offset the costs of implementing handgun purchaser licensing. Twenty-four percent said they oppose such a measure.

Forty-three percent of registered voters in the 6th District are Democrats, and 32 percent are Republicans.

The poll informed respondents before they answered the question that data from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives showed that 44 percent of guns traced to Maryland crimes in 2014 came from other states.

The survey also tested which congressional candidate for the district they would favor under two hypothetical scenarios involving incumbent Delaney and Republican challenger Amie Hoeber, a defense consultant and former high-ranking Pentagon official.

Fifty-seven percent of respondents said they would vote for or lean toward voting for Delaney if he supports the licensing bill while Hoeber opposes it, compared with 23 percent who said the same of Hoeber in that situation.

The results flipped when respondents were asked who they would favor if Hoeber supports the licensing measure while the incumbent opposes it. Forty-four percent said they would vote for or lean toward voting for Hoeber, compared with 32 percent for Delaney.

That shift indicates a significant level of underlying concern about handgun licensing on the part of voters, said Steve Raabe, president of OpinionWorks, an Annapolis-based firm that conducted the poll.

Ten states and the District of Columbia require permits to purchase handguns, but the Maryland border states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Virginia do not.
Montgomery County Council member Nancy Floreen (D-At Large) is proposing legislation to bring what she calls more balance to the countys collective bargaining process. (Courtesy of Council Office of Nancy Floreen)

Montgomery County Council President Nancy Floreen, who led the effort this spring to trim previously negotiated pay raises from public employee union contracts, is proposing legislation to bring what she calls more balance to the countys collective bargaining process.

Floreens bill, to be introduced at Tuesdays legislative session, would open parts of the negotiations between unions and the county government to the public for the first time and use retired judges, rather than experienced labor negotiators, as neutral third parties. It would replace the single arbitrator who currently decides labor disputes with a three-person panel, and require that panel to give more weight to the countys financial ability to pay for labor agreements.

This Council is committed to finding the right balance between the needs of our residents and the needs of our employees, Floreen (D-At Large), considered one of the more business-friendly members of the all-

Democratic council, said in a statement Monday. The bill would help the County and our employees establish more equitable contract arbitration awards and enhance the likelihood that negotiations are grounded in fiscal reality.

[2016 budget gives more to schools, trims raises for union employees]

Union leaders immediately denounced the bill, calling it a series of solutions to problems that do not exist. They also expressed disappointment that Floreen did not reach out to them prior to introducing the measure.

We dont understand the need for the bill, said Jeff Buddle, president of the career firefighters union, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1664. We have a process that is extremely effective.

Perhaps too effective, in the view of Floreen and other council members. County unions have won 16 of 20 arbitration decisions since 1988.

By tweaking parts of the arbitration process, Floreen said, she hopes to encourage both the government and labor unions to more frequently seek a negotiated solution to disputes and avoid arbitration.

The bill, which Floreen said has been in the works for months, is certain to add to the increasingly strained relations between the council and the countys police, fire and non-uniformed employees. The council, which has final say over labor contracts negotiated by County Executive Isiah Leggett (D), angered unions this year by trimming promised pay increases, eliminating a 3.5 percent longevity increase that was deferred during the recession. The council said it needed the funds for school improvements instead.

In response, Gino Renne, president of the Municipal and County Government Employee Organization, which represents about 5,000 non-uniformed workers, called council members clowns and said the union will consider backing the term-limits proposal likely to be on the county ballot this fall.

The bill would require public disclosure of each partys initial bargaining position in a contract negotiation. It would also mandate that certain aspects of the arbitration process be held in public.

It would repeal the right of each union to have a say in the appointment of a labor relations administrator, who helps to ensure that the collective bargaining law covering each union is being followed. The appointment would instead be decided exclusively by the county executive and the council.

Floreen also wants to separate the role of mediator and arbitrator in labor disputes in which the county and a union cant come to terms. Current law requires one person to serve as both. Floreen said she believes both sides would feel freer to confide the strengths and weaknesses of their positions to a mediator who would not be involved in imposing an arbitrated solution.

The three-person arbitration panel would include one person selected by the executive, one by the union and a retired judge to be mutually agreed upon. Floreens proposal would also expand the number of factors the panel must consider beyond affordability before making its decision.

Renne said some of the bills provisions come right out of the ALEC playbook, referring to model legislation drafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative policy group that works with state legislatures.

Floreen said that was not the case and that many of the proposals in the bill come from recommendations made by a county commission on organizational reform that issued a report in 2011.
Workers shortchanged by companies under contract with Montgomery County for cleaning and other services have received over $300,000 in unpaid wages, county officials announced late last week.

About a third of the money came from the settlement of a lawsuit filed against the county by some of the workers and one of the contractors. Four other contractors paid the rest after county audits showed they were not complying with Montgomerys living-wage law, which requires contractors hired by the county government to pay a minimum hourly rate, adjusted annually based on the consumer price index.

Starting July 1, the rate will be $14.40 per hour.

The countys Office of Procurement announced that the money has gone to 318 workers employed by five contractors : Camco and LT Services, janitorial companies; Potomac Disposal and Unity, trash haulers; and Securitas, a security firm.

[Why the women who clean Montgomery garages didnt get a living wage]

County Council member Mark Elrich (D-At Large) (Julie Rios Little/El Tiempo Latino)

In May 2o15, The Washington Post reported on a group of eight women who cleaned county parking garages for Camco, a Gaithersburg company. In some instances, their hourly pay sank as low as $8.65 because of improper payroll deductions.

The women sued the county and Camco, eventually reaching a settlement that included $110,000 in owed wages. The money was withheld by the county from its final payment to Camco, said Steven Smitson, the womens attorney.

Camcos contract with the county ended last year and was not renewed.

The other companies voluntarily paid the balances of what they owed their workers, officials said. Their contracts with the county run until the end of 2016, and officials said they will decide then whether the firms will be allowed to bid again on county work.

In some cases, the underpaid workers have moved on and left no contact information with the companies. County officials said they will hold the money in the event that those workers return to reclaim it.

The county has had a living-wage law on the books since 2002, but enforcement had been spotty.

In February, the County Council passed a bill tightening oversight of service contractors, requiring officials to regularly audit company books. The county can withhold payments from firms that are not in compliance

The law, sponsored by council members Nancy Navarro (D-Silver Spring) and Marc Elrich (D-At Large), also lifted a provision in the 2002 statute that exempted employees covered by collective bargaining agreements from living-wage protection.

Recovering wages that are due but have not been paid is a vital part of contract enforcement and a part of the Countys oversight that we take seriously, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) said in a statement.

Cherri Branson, the countys procurement director, said the new enforcement powers helped substantially in obtaining the money to pay the workers what they were owed.

She said that her office is continuing to audit other county contractors, but we dont expect to find a large number of violations.
Mammootty's Rorschach hits all the right notes, except in the end | Movie Review
Frida Burlings projects ranged from feeding the Districts homeless to rebuilding libraries to funding an Anacostia school. (Dominic Bracco II/The Washington Post)

Frida Burling, a Washington volunteer for 80 years whose beneficiaries ranged from the Junior League and Planned Parenthood to a Georgetown market clerk who delivered her groceries for 50 years, died May 26 at her home in the District. She was 100.

The cause was cardiac arrest, said a son, Walter T. Winslow.

Mrs. Burling raised money for the Bishop Walker School, a private, tuition-free school for boys in the Anacostia neighborhood; volunteered for the homeless under the auspices of the Georgetown Ministry Center; and worked with the Citizens Association of Georgetown to renovate Rose Park and rebuild parts of the Georgetown Library. She organized St. Johns Churchs annual Georgetown House Tour fundraiser. In her 90s, she was part of a group that arranged for a benefit rock concert for the D.C. public library system.

She began her volunteer career in the 1930s as a solicitor of contributions for a United Way predecessor agency. She also raised money as a cigarette girl at a Junior League-sponsored horse show.

At 99, she began volunteering at the weekly feeding of the homeless program at Mount Zion United Methodist Church, across the street from where she lived in the Georgetown neighborhood.

She organized a retirement party for Claude Buster Jackson, a grocery deliveryman for 50 years for Scheeles Market, next door to Mrs. Burlings home. The Georgetowner community newspaper called it the party of the year.

Frida Frazer was born in Newport, R.I., on Sept. 16, 1915. Because her father drank and could not hold down jobs, the family moved 13 times in six years, her family said in a draft obituary, quoting from a memoir she published in 2004.

They settled in Washington in 1928. In 1934 she graduated from the private Holton-Arms School in Bethesda, which she attended on a scholarship. Her parents had divorced. She did not go to college. Her stepfather  like many men at that time  saw no point in educating a girl, Mrs. Burlings family said.

In 1938 she married Walter Thacher Winslow, who had come to Washington to work in President Franklin D. Roosevelts New Deal. This gave her more time for charity work because married women seldom worked in those days, her family quoted her as having said.

In 1955 Winslow died after a heart attack. Four years later, the then-Mrs. Winslow married Edward Burling Jr., a senior partner and son of the founder of Washingtons Covington & Burling law firm. He died in 2002.

Survivors include three children from her first marriage, Walter T. Winslow of Chevy Chase, Belinda Winslow of Santiago, Chile, and David W. Burling of Santa Fe, N.M.; two stepchildren, Anne Burling of Cambridge, Mass., and Lucinda Emmet of Key West, Fla., and Watch Hill, R.I.; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this obituary incorrectly identified a surviving child, David W. Burling, as a son from Frida Burlings second marriage. He was from her first marriage. Anne Burling and Lucinda Emmet were incorrectly identified as children she had with her second husband. They are stepchildren. The obituary has been revised.
Occoquan Town Manager Kirstyn B. Jovanovich surveys construction at River Mill Park, which will open next month. The one-acre park could eventually feature concert series and outdoor movie events. (Jonathan Hunley/FOR THE WASHINGTON POST)

Maybe a one-acre park would not be a big deal in a massive urban environment  Central Park in New York City, for example, is more than 800 times as large. But the addition of such an amenity is eagerly awaited in Occoquan.

The northeastern Prince William County town expects to open River Mill Park next month on land that used to house Fairfax Waters River Station Water Treatment Plant, Town Manager Kirstyn B. Jovanovich said last week.

The project is a joint effort among Occoquan, the county and Fairfax Water, which owns the parks land and will lease it to the town for $1 per year.

River Mill Park will feature a pavilion, a looped stone-dust trail, interpretive signs and historical exhibits.

A building with a public restroom and storage also has been fashioned to mimic Occoquans historical features, according to the towns website.

Fairfax Water demolished the old treatment plant, Prince William is covering the $1.45 million capital cost of constructing the park, and Occoquan will maintain and police the tract at Mill Streets west end.

An associated project to refurbish the pedestrian footbridge over the Occoquan River also was completed recently, reopening the span that will bring users into the new park.

For the tiny municipality, which measures two-tenths of a square mile, this means not only run-of-the-mill recreation, such as walking and gazing at the nearby river, but also a concert series and maybe outdoor movie events.

Were pretty excited about the park, Jovanovich said.

Those wanting to fish will still be able to reach the river banks in the new configuration, Jovanovich said.

She also said that the removal of the water treatment plant tanks and other infrastructure allows for a view up the waterway that the public has not been able to see for nearly 50 years.

River Mill Park will include accommodations for people walking their pets. A water fountain in front of the new restrooms is essentially a hydration station, with a place to fill up bottles  and a near-to-the-ground drinking option for dogs.

Several merchants in Occoquan said last week that they hope to see an increase in foot traffic, too.

Its a walking town, said JoAnn Barney, who runs Tastefully Yours, a food market and cafe.

Julie Marshall was across Mill Street from her gift shop, Polka Dot Divas, to visit with Barney on the front porch of the latters operation, which occupies a reconfigured house that dates to 1750.

Marshall said she would be glad to keep her business open later to serve customers attending events at the new park, and Barney recalled observing, during a recent trip to Alexandria, how a bustling downtown atmosphere can turn into dollars.

Street performers there entertained passersby for so long that they eventually decided to have a drink in Old Town, she said.

In the same way, a livelier setting could make Occoquan a destination for more shoppers, Barney said.

Many people may think of the town as an unusual name on a sign on Interstate 95, she said.

Or their memories might have faded.

People forget that its here, Marshall said of the town.
Sunday, June 19

Summer Solstice Yoga Proceeds from the outdoor class benefit Transitional Housing Barn. 9-10:15 a.m. Loy E. Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St., Manassas. 703-895-3176. bedrockyoga.net. $20.

Living history demonstrations Park volunteers offer infantry and artillery demonstrations. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Manassas National Battlefield Park, Chinn Ridge (Tour Stop No. 10), 6511 Sudley Rd., Manassas. 703-361-1339. Free.

Manassas Wine and Jazz Festival The 12th annual event features more than 25 wineries and vendors and music by artists including Marcus Johnson. Noon-7 p.m. Manassas Museum, lawn, 9101 Prince William St., Manassas. 703-368-1873. visitmanassas.org. Taster ticket, $35; non-taster ticket, $20.

Author Carolyn ONeal The author signs copies of her new young-adult novel Kingsley. 2-4 p.m. Grounds Central Station, 9360 Main St., Manassas. 571-379-7285. groundscentralstation.com. Free.

Bingo Proceeds support local veterans. Doors open at noon Sunday with games beginning at 2 p.m. Doors open at 5:15 p.m. Mondays with games beginning at 7:15 p.m. Woodbridge American Legion, 3640 Friendly Post Lane, Woodbridge. 703-494-4304. $15 minimum.

Brantley Gilbert, Justin Moore and Colt Ford The country musicians perform. 7 p.m. Jiffy Lube Live, 7800 Cellar Door Dr., Bristow. 703-754-6400. livenation.com. $30.25-$55.

Natures Glass Menagerie Fused glass by David and Dale Barnes of Sterling, ribbon art and paintings by Tatiana Harr and paintings by Anne Rust Pearson, both of Fairfax Station. Through July 5, Artists Undertaking, 309 Mill St., Occoquan. 703-494-0584. theartistsundertaking.com. Free.

Walk With Me Lydia Jechorek captures children playing, shoppers strolling and trains rolling by in oil. Through July 3, Loft Gallery, 313 Mill St., Occoquan. 703-490-1117. loftgallery.org. Free.

Landscape painting exhibit Artwork by Samuel Musa of Haymarket. Through July 22, Northern Virginia Community College, Colgan Gallery, 6901 Sudley Rd., Manassas. 703-323-3000. nvcc.edu. Free.

Monday, June 20

Visual Expressions An exhibit of art by members of the Four Seasons art group at the Four Seasons Active Adult Community in Dumfries. Through June 30, Manassas City Hall, 9027 Center St., Manassas. 703-257-8200. Free.

Job search network group Plus, discussion of various topics related to the search process. 1-3 p.m. House of Mercy, 8170 Flannery Ct., Manassas. 703-659-1636. Free.

Bingo Proceeds support Dale City Knights of Columbus activities and charities. Doors open at 6 p.m. with games beginning at 7:30 p.m. VFW Post 1503, 14631 Minnieville Rd., Dale City. 703-491-2378. $9 minimum.

Lake Jackson Mid County Lions Club meeting 6:30 p.m. Great American Steak and Buffet, 8365 Sudley Rd., Manassas. 703-369-6791. Free.

Manassas Lioness Lions Club meeting New members welcome. 6:30 p.m. City Tavern, 9550 Center St., Manassas. 703-368-5563. thoseladylions.org. New member fee, $25; quarterly dues, $50.

Tuesday, June 21

Take Out Tuesday concert Phillip Gentry, folk Americana guitarist, performs. 6-8 p.m. Loy E. Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St., Manassas. 703-361-9800. Free.

Friends of Leesylvania Park Regular meeting, new members welcome; the group raises money and supports park programs such as the Junior Rangers, free kids fishing tournaments and Haunted History hikes. 7:30 p.m. Leesylvania State Park, 2001 Daniel K. Ludwig Dr., Woodbridge. friendsofleesylvania@gmail.com. 703-583-6904. Free.

The Painters Journey Nancy Brittle, Janie Mosby, Chris Smith and Kathleen Willingham explore rural life in this collaborative exhibit. Through July 29, Center for the Arts, 9419 Battle St., Manassas. 703-330-2787. center-for-the-arts.org. Free.

Wednesday, June 22

Wednesday lunch concert Guitarist Shane Gamble performs. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Loy E. Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St., Manassas. 703-361-9800. Free.

Lake Ridge Toastmasters Club Members 18 and older develop their public speaking and leadership skills. 7:30-9:15 p.m. Tall Oaks Community Center, 12298 Cotton Mill Dr., Lake Ridge. 703-491-3020. contact-8913@toastmastersclubs.org. lakeridge.toastmastersclubs.org. $34-$64 membership fee.

Thursday, June 23

Historic Manassas walking tour Learn the history of the city. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Thursday-Friday at noon, Manassas Museum, 9101 Prince William St., Manassas. 703-368-1873. manassasmuseum.org. Free.

Dead & Company Former members of the Grateful Dead perform. 7 p.m. Jiffy Lube Live, 7800 Cellar Door Dr., Bristow. 703-754-6400. livenation.com. $40-$149.50.

U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters The choral group performs. 7 p.m. Loy E. Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St., Manassas. 202-433-3366. navyband.navy.mil. Free.

Friday, June 24

American Legion dinner The public is invited to dinner with a different special every week. Proceeds support local veterans and the community. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Woodbridge American Legion, 3640 Friendly Post Lane, Woodbridge. 703-494-4304. vapost364.org. $5-$15.

Paint and Sip A local artist leads the class with step-by-step instructions. 7-9:30 p.m. Blu 1681, 13188 Marina Way, Woodbridge. 703-586-3399. $25-$35; registration required.

Weezer, Panic at the Disco The rock bands perform. 7 p.m. Jiffy Lube Live, 7800 Cellar Door Dr., Bristow. 703-754-6400. livenation.com. $25-$75.

Oliver Twist Castaways Youth Theatre stages the adaptation of Charles Dickenss novel. Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. Dr. A.J. Ferlazzo Building, 15941 Donald Curtis Dr., Woodbridge. 703-232-1710. castawaystheatre.org. $12; 12 and younger, $8.

Friday Night Family Movie Bring a blanket or lawn chair for the 2015 animated movie Minions. 8:30 p.m. Loy E. Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St., Manassas. 703-361-9800. Free.

Saturday, June 25

American flag collection service Operated by the Bull Run District Committee of the Boy Scouts, who will collect flags and demonstrate proper folding techniques. Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Prince William County Balls Ford Road, Yard Waste Compost Facility, 13000 Balls Ford Rd., Manassas. Free.

Yoga on the Lawn Vinyasa yoga taught by certified yoga instructor Christopher Glowacki. 9 a.m. Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Rd., Woodbridge. 703-499-9812. pwcgov.org/ripponlodge. $5.

Showcase Dance Studio: Enchanted A variety of fairy tale stories. 2 and 6 p.m., Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Cir., Manassas. 703-993-7759. hyltoncenter.org. $16-$20.

QuinTango The chamber tango ensemble performs as part of the Center for the Arts annual outdoor Summer Sounds Concert series. 6:30-8 p.m. Through Sept. 3. Loy E. Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St., Manassas. 703-330-2787. center-for-the-arts.org. Free.

Dixie Chicks, Anderson East and Josh Herbert The country groups perform. 7 p.m. Jiffy Lube Live, 7800 Cellar Door Dr., Bristow. 703-754-6400. livenation.com. $42-$225.

Movie Under the Stars The 2015 animated movie Minions. 7 p.m. Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center, 14900 Potomac Town Pl., Woodbridge. stonebridgeptc.com. Free.

Silent movie night Screening of three classic films: The Champion, a 1915 silent movie starring Charlie Chaplin; 1920 silent movie High and Dizzy, starring Harold Lloyd; and One Week, starring Buster Keaton. Bring a blanket or lawn chair. 7 p.m. Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Rd., Woodbridge. Free.

U.S. Navy Band Country Current A concert of modern country and bluegrass music. 7 p.m. Leesylvania State Park, 2001 Daniel K. Ludwig Dr., Woodbridge. 202-433-3366. Free.
Free taxis to be available for July Fourth revelers

To help prevent Fourth of July revelers from driving drunk, free taxi rides are being offered.

SoberRide, offered by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, will be available throughout the Washington area from 10 p.m. July 4 to 4 a.m. July 5. The program covers cab fares up to $30.

To request the service, call 800-200-TAXI (8294). For information, go to soberride.com.

Pr. William police release 2015 crime report

The Prince William County Police Department released its 2015 crime report last week, which showed a continued decline in the countys crime rate.

According to the report, 14.7 crimes per 1,000 residents were committed in 2015, down from 15.6 in 2014.

Although crimes against property (larceny, robbery and arson) decreased by 3.7 percent, crimes against people (homicides, assaults and sexual assaults) increased by 4.2 percent.

Visit pwcgov.org for information and to read the complete 2015 crime report.

Registration opens July 5 for local Senior Olympics

Online registration for the 34th annual Northern Virginia Senior Olympics begins July 5.

Participants may register at nvso.us or by mail to compete in more than 50 events scheduled for Sept. 10 to 21 at more than 20 locations across Northern Virginia. New events this year include a spelling bee and orienteering.

Registration forms are available at senior centers, community centers and senior residences; by emailing nvso1982@gmail.com; or calling 703-228-4721.

The deadline to register is Aug. 27 by mail and Aug. 31 online.

Mail registrations to Jack Hobbs, 12167 Cathedral Dr., Lake Ridge, Va. 22192.

Those who will be 50 or older by Dec. 31 and who reside in a sponsoring jurisdiction are eligible to compete.

NVSO is sponsored by the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax and Falls Church and by Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William counties.

The fee is $12, which covers multiple events, typically divided by age and gender.

Calhoun to become director of the Governors School

W. Jason Calhoun was recently named the director of the Governors School @ Innovation Park. His new job begins July 1.

He is replacing Karen Dalfrey, who will serve as chair of the science department at the new Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School in Manassas. Colgan opens in August.

Calhoun currently serves as the county school systems curriculum supervisor of science and family life education.
Caesar Goodson Jr., charged with murder in the death of Freddie Gray, leaves the courthouse at the end of the fourth day of his trial. (Bryan Woolston/Reuters)

It is a question that has been looming over this riot-scarred city since the tanks left, the protests quieted and the looted buildings stopped smoldering: Was it murder?

More than a year after Freddie Gray died from a severe neck injury sustained in police custody, it will be up to a city judge to determine the answer.

Closing arguments wrapped up Monday in the trial of Caesar Goodson Jr., the only one of six officers charged in the Gray case to face a murder count.

Judge Barry G. Williams will weigh the evidence from about 30 witnesses who appeared over two weeks before rendering a verdict Thursday morning. Goodson opted for a bench trial instead of having a jury decide his fate.

Prosecutors have so far failed to secure a conviction in the closely watched case, which fueled a national debate over the deaths of young black men in interactions with police. The case of the first officer to go to trial ended in a hung jury; a second officer was acquitted.

A mural depicting Freddie Gray and the uprisings after his death in the custody of Baltimore police is in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood of West Baltimore. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

Goodson, 46, drove the wagon that carried Gray through West Baltimore the morning of April 12, 2015, when the 25-year-old was arrested. Prosecutors said Gray, unbuckled but handcuffed, was injured when he fell in the moving van. He died a week later.

During their final arguments, prosecutors said that Goodson, as the van driver, had the ultimate care and custody of Gray but failed to ensure his safety. Goodson didnt put Gray in a seat belt and had four chances to take him to the hospital but did not, Deputy States Attorney Janice Bledsoe said.

He had breached his duty four times, and as a result of that breach, Freddie Grays life was shortened, Bledsoe said.

[Friends and neighbors remember Freddie Gray: He was our family]

But Goodsons attorneys said Gray didnt exhibit any visible signs of immediate medical distress when officers saw him during a series of stops made by the van. They also said it would have been unsafe for officers to enter the narrow van compartment to buckle Gray because he had been combative during his initial arrest.

When an individual has exhibited combativeness, then essentially all bets are off, defense attorney Matthew Fraling said.

To convict Goodson of second-degree depraved-heart murder, prosecutors must have proved that the officers actions or lack of action created a very high risk to Grays life and that despite knowing the risks, Goodson acted with extreme disregard of the life-endangering consequences.

Goodson also is charged with manslaughter, reckless endangerment, assault and misconduct in office.

[What is depraved-heart murder in Maryland?]

Defense attorneys likened the states case to a game of three-card monte, with prosecutors constantly shifting their theory as to how Gray was injured. Though prosecutors emphasized that Gray got a rough ride in their opening statements, saying Gray was bounced around in the van, they didnt utter the phrase in closings until the judge asked.

They want you to find the black ace, Fraling said. The black ace is constantly changing.

Chief Deputy States Attorney Michael Schatzow took umbrage to Fralings comparison.

The state is not playing cards, said Schatzow, raising his voice and gesturing at Goodson. The state is here because of the completely unnecessary homicide of a young man. . . . He was put down onto that filthy hard floor like an animal.

Williams sharply questioned prosecutors about what evidence they had of a rough ride and whether the state contends Goodson was trying to drive erratically to cause harm.

Here is the problem, Williams said. The state brought it up. You said it was a rough ride. What did you mean by that in the opening? Do you acknowledge that for it to be a rough ride there has to be a level of intent?

Schatzow responded that Goodsons failure to secure Gray, coupled with his injury, was enough to show that the officer gave him a rough ride.

The judge persisted. Couldnt that be consistent with an accident?

When you have a prisoner who cannot protect himself, you have to protect him, Schatzow said.

Fraling ridiculed the states rough-ride theory, saying surveillance video didnt show the van making sudden stops. He said that Goodson did not intend to harm Gray and that Gray created the risk by standing up in the moving wagon.

Were not talking about Dukes of Hazzard here, Fraling said. Officer Goodson drove the van safely, cautiously and slowly.

Trial observers were divided about whether prosecutors offered enough evidence to convict Goodson.

Warren Alperstein, a defense lawyer and former Baltimore prosecutor, said the judges unusually long questioning of prosecutors spelled trouble for the state.

Its very problematic that two hours into closing arguments Judge Williams still appeared to be concerned by the states inability to show a rough ride occurred, as well as its apparent inability to prove Gray was in medical distress, Alperstein said. If Officer Goodson is acquitted, the very intense grilling by the judge will make even more sense.

But Doug Colbert, a criminal law professor at the University of Maryland, said the states evidence appeared sufficiently strong to convict Goodson on most of the charges.

Although the defense peppered the court with theories designed to create reasonable doubt, he said, Grays injuries and Goodsons failure to restrain him may be enough to show the officer acted with depraved indifference.

Depraved indifference may well be leaving someone unseat-belted, cuffed and shackled inches away from a metal wall in the back of a police van, Colbert said.

Goodson is the third officer to go to trial, following Officers William G. 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.
Stephanie Goodloe of Southeast Washington was shot dead inside her home on June 19. D.C. Police have arrested her ex-boyfriend Donald Hairston in her death and charged him with first-degree murder while armed. (WUSA)

Stephanie Goodloe of Southeast Washington was shot dead inside her home on June 19. D.C. Police have arrested her ex-boyfriend Donald Hairston in her death and charged him with first-degree murder while armed. (WUSA)

Two weeks before the director of a church youth ministry was killed in her home near Capitol Hill Saturday, she was granted a temporary restraining order against her ex-boyfriend after she alleged he banged on her door and slashed her tires.

On Sunday, D.C. police arrested the former boyfriend, Donald Hairston, 49, of District Heights in the shooting death of Stephanie Goodloe, 40, who lived in the 700 block of Kentucky Avenue SE, two blocks from the Potomac Avenue Metro Station.

A court hearing had been scheduled for Monday to determine whether the restraining order should be made permanent. By then, Goodloe was dead and Hairston was being held on a charge of first-degree murder while armed. Hairston was expected to make his initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court on Monday afternoon.

[Police arrest man in killing of woman in Southeast Washington]

Court records do not detail prior problems in the relationship between Hairston and Goodloe, who wrote in her application for a restraining order that on June 4 he came to her house, banged on the door and shouted for her to come outside. She said he returned three times and when she finally left her house found the tires slashed on her vehicle.

In the court document, Goodloe said the two had previously lived together and had a relationship. D.C. police said Goodloe was found shot to death inside her home at about 1:25 a.m. on Saturday.

Goodloes relatives could not immediately be reached Monday. Her pastor, the Rev. Leroy Gilbert of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church in Northwest, said Goodloe grew up in the church and was baptized there. Most recently, she had worked as the coordinator of the youth ministry.

Gilbert, who has been pastor for the past 12 years, said Goodloe led youth discussion groups and other activities aimed at getting children to exercise their faith in very creative ways and to deal with the problems they were facing. She was very effective.

Gilbert described Goodloe as a very quiet and private person and also extremely articulate and very smart. He said he put her creative ideas to use in talking with children and teens, and they often told her secrets they wouldnt tell their parents or their pastor.

She served them by listening, Gilbert said. She didnt tell them what to do, but gave them an opportunity to express themselves, to be open and honest and candid. She didnt ram the Bible down their throats, but tried to talk about principles they could use in real life. She took the Bible principles and made them real.

Gilbert added: She was more than a wonderful person. She was one of those miracles of God.
A man was shot and killed early Monday near Gallaudet University in Northeast Washington, according to D.C. police.

The shooting occurred about 2:45 a.m. in the 1600 block of Montello Avenue NE, in a residential community off West Virginia Avenue and about a block from the universitys campus. The victim, who was found by officers and was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in an alley, died at the scene. He was identified as 59-year-old Wayne Jerome Dailey of Northeast.

The incident was one of nine shootings in the District since Friday night and the second one that was fatal. Shootings were reported in every quadrant of the District.

Police ask anyone with information about the shooting to call them at 202-727-9099. Anonymous information may be submitted to the departments text tip line by sending a text message to 50411.
A suspect has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting of a woman church worker that occurred Saturday just east of the Capitol Hill area.

D.C. police said Sunday that Donald Hairston, 49, of District Heights, Md, was arrested in the death of Stephanie Goodloe, 40, of Southeast. Goodloe was the coordinator of youth ministry at the Mt. Gilead Baptist Church.

She had been in that post for a year, said Rev. Leroy Gilbert, pastor of the Northwest Washington church.

She was also described as the former daycare director of another church in Northwest Washington.

She was taken from the world far too soon, the Christian Tabernacle Church of God, Inc. said Sunday on its Facebook page.

Goodloe was found indoors about 1:25 a.m. Saturday in the 700 block of Kentucky Avenue SE. The site is about two blocks east of the Potomac Avenue metro station.

Hairston was charged with first-degree murder, the police said.
June 20, 2016 Riders board a shuttle bus at Minnesota Avenue Metro station at the start of the morning rush. J. Lawler Duggan/For The Washington Post

What it looks like on the D.C. Metro at the beginning of year-long maintenance

What it looks like on the D.C. Metro at the beginning of year-long maintenance

For many thousands of Metro commuters coping with a partial shutdown of the Orange, Silver and Blue lines Monday, summers first rush hours meant reduced train service and waiting for shuttle buses in the heat. Yet the disruption, although it caused plenty of griping, turned out to be manageable thanks to lower-than-normal rail ridership, officials said.

On the third full day  but the first workday  of Metros latest SafeTrack maintenance project, which will continue until July 3, the choke point stretches from the Eastern Market station, on the Orange, Silver and Blue lines, to the Orange Lines Minnesota Avenue station and the Benning Road station on the Silver and Blue lines.

The Potomac Avenue and Stadium-Armory stations are closed; direct rail access between Prince Georges County and downtown Washington is cut off; Orange and Silver trains are running less frequently; and there is no Blue Line service in the city.

Still, the aggravation seemed under control, at least to start the week.

[Graphic: Which stations are closed.]

Metro had warned that shuttle buses would only be able to accommodate about 30 percent of the tens of the thousands of commuters who typically use that part of the system during rush hour. So, it needed about 70 percent of those riders, living in Prince Georges and the Districts eastern corner, to find other routes into and out of downtown.

Fortunately, thats exactly what happened, Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said Monday afternoon. Inbound morning ridership from the New Carrollton station to Minnesota Avenue and from the Largo Town Center station to Benning Road was down about 65 percent compared with last Monday, and Stessel said Metro was confident that ridership in the work zone Monday evening would be similarly light.

Now, we need everyone to do the same thing [Tuesday] and every day until the track-work project ends July 3, he said.

Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld was at Benning Road early Monday and said he was pleased by what appeared to be lighter-than-normal commuter traffic.

Were right at the limit, I believe, of what we can handle, Wiedefeld said, referring to the shuttle buses.

The current 16-day project, which began Saturday, is the second of 15 scheduled maintenance surges, including five that involve partial rail-line shutdowns. The projects are part of the transit agencys nearly year-long SafeTrack program of infrastructure upgrades, designed to revitalize and improve safety in the 40-year-old, failure-prone subway system after decades of neglect.

Riders headed into the city from Prince Georges and the Districts eastern corner have to exit trains at Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road. From there, shuttles are ferrying them to Eastern Market, where they can reboard the subway.

Here's what Blue Line riders need to know about how the second phase of Metro's maintenance plan, known as SafeTrack will affect them. The second phase runs June 18-July 3 on the Blue Line. (Claritza Jimenez,Danielle Kunitz/The Washington Post)

[Metro at age 40: A mess of its own making.]

The first morning of the SafeTrack surge unfolded without incident, as many potential users seemed to have heeded the message to plan ahead, said Paulette Jones, spokeswoman for the Prince Georges County Department of Public Works and Transportation. Many seem to have opted to telework or shift work schedules, and we have seen increased usage at Green Line stations for access into the District and other points.

She said there were no long lines for shuttle buses, as officials had feared. But, she said Mondays relatively smooth commute should not be misinterpreted.

This is a Monday morning in early summer, she said. It is a day that a lot of people normally take off or use a flex day. We will probably have a better feel for the real impacts [Tuesday]. But in any case, it is important that the message taken from this is not that the SafeTrack surge has been mitigated and people can return to the system.

At 8 a.m. Monday, commuters at Stadium-Armory encountered no lines and short waits for shuttles to Eastern Market, Benning Road and Minnesota Avenue. Jenny Devine, a federal worker who lives a block from Stadium-Armory, was surprised at how quiet it was. Headed to work, she had left home 15 minutes early to cover any delay.

It doesnt look that bad so far, said Devine, who works at the Department of Agriculture. I expected a lot more people here.

[The current rail line shutdown will be the first of five.]

When trains pulled into the Benning Road station early Monday, commuters rushed out, hurrying toward the buses parked nearby. The shuttles filled quickly. No more room, warned one driver, who directed a line of riders to the bus behind him.

Andre Shields, 23, was waiting in line for a shuttle bus to Eastern Market so he could eventually get to Woodley Park, where he works as a cook. He had boarded a Silver Line train at the Capitol Heights station. Even though the shutdown had been well publicized, Shields, like others in his rail car, was surprised when his ride terminated at Benning Road.

They should have a better system than this, he said. Because of the shuttle ride and a transfer to the Red Line at Metro Center, he knew he would be late for his 8 a.m. shift.

[Roads appear more crowded Monday during partial Metro shutdown.]

MARC commuter trains on the Penn Line from Baltimore to Washington Union Station on Monday picked up hundreds more commuters than on a normal Monday, the Maryland Transit Administration said.

Inside the Districts Joint All-Hazards Operations Center, where officials are stationed to respond to blizzards, tanker spills or terrorist attacks, extra eyes were on 15 traffic-monitoring screens showing jerky images of traffic many had feared would be massive gridlock.

But the day that unfolded was pretty normal.

Officials said a combination of increased police presence at dozens of intersections, moves to lengthen green lights in hot spots, and thousands of individual decisions by drivers combined to keep cars flowing  or inching along  on balance as they would on a typical day.

Many factors  including District schools being out and people vacationing or working from home  may have lessened the pressure.

Its a Monday in the summertime. I still would have expected to see more, said Nicole A. Chapple, an assistant director at the Districts Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency. But this may look very different as the week unfolds.

One outlier Monday was, perhaps not surprisingly, a stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue SE running from Independence Avenue to the Anacostia River  and right past the shuttered Potomac Avenue Metro station. Westbound traffic there on recent Mondays at 8 a.m. moved about 20 mph, according to the traffic data firm Inrix. On Monday, the average speed dropped to 8.6 mph.

[Commuter rail ridership up since SafeTrack began.]

So far, many roads dont show signs of significantly increased congestion over previous Mondays, said Inrix senior economist Bob Pishue, citing early data from New York Avenue, Benning Road and Interstate 695, three key commuter routes. Pennsylvania Avenue is the exception.

But, Pishue cautioned, Mondays arent necessarily representative, given they are generally lighter traffic days. There can also be a circular nature to driver behavior. They see its not as bad, then they head out tomorrow, and then it gets bad, he said.

[What does it take to survive months of SafeTrack?]

While traffic on Pennsylvania Avenue moved slower than usual, it moved faster than normal in other places.

Thats normally gridlocked when people block the box, said D.C. Police Capt. Robert Glover, peering at images from Benning Road and East Capitol Street NE, near the Benning Road Metro station. But police and traffic control officers from the District Department of Transportation were out in force. That intersection is flowing reasonably well, Glover said.

Three Metro workers were at the Potomac Avenue Metro station, directing commuters to shuttle buses. Teyonka Hodge, 32, who lives a few blocks from the Potomac station, said she wasnt aware of the shutdown before she arrived there Monday. She was trying to get to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda for the start of her 7 a.m. shift.

Where have you been the past few weeks? a Metro worker asked Hodge, surprised that she hadnt heard about SafeTrack.

I havent been watching the news, Hodge replied. I didnt realize this was going on. Ill need to get up earlier. I cant afford to be late.

[As SafeTrack enters full swing, Metro revamps its social media presence.]

Stephon Heyer, who lives in Southeast Washington and begins his daily commute at Potomac Avenue, said he was not aware of the shutdown until Sunday, when he saw signs at the station on his way to pick up his son for Fathers Day.

I didnt expect it to be so soon; I thought it would happen later in the summer, said Heyer, who works near the Van Ness station, a trip that normally takes him about 30 minutes. It will take longer, though, during the surge.

I have to wait for the shuttle, and I dont even know what the trains will be like yet, he said. Itll probably take an hour, an hour and 15 minutes, to get to work.

To ease train congestion through downtown Washington during the 16-day project, Blue Line trains are running only in the Alexandria area, and only during certain hours. To reach the city from there, commuters have to take Yellow Line trains to LEnfant Plaza.

D.C.-bound Yellow Line trains are running not only from the Huntington station, as they normally do, but also from the Blue Lines Franconia-Springfield station.

This led to more crowding than normal on the LEnfant Plaza station platforms, where many people who usually ride the Blue Line had to switch trains  from the Yellow to the Orange or Silver  to reach their destinations.

This caused some confusion Monday, at least initially.

Oh, my God! Oh, my God! said Lutgarda OCampo, 65, of Dumfries, Va., as she awaited a train at the King Street-Old Town station in Alexandria.

She normally rides the Blue Line from there to Rosslyn, then switches to an Orange or Silver train to get to work at a bank in Ballston. But like some other commuters Monday, she was in the dark about the shutdown and surprised that no Blue Line trains were going to Rosslyn. I didnt know this changed, she said.

Out of desperation, she boarded a Yellow train to LEnfant. From there, she would take an Orange or Silver train back to Virginia, eventually to Ballston. It was not a happy morning for her. I watch TV, she said, but I wasnt aware that it would affect this.

Mary Hui, Josh Hicks, Michael Laris, Luz Lazo and Elise Schmelzer contributed to this report.
THE DISTRICT

Arrest in slaying of church youth aide

A man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a church worker Saturday near Capitol Hill.

D.C. police said Sunday that Donald Hairston, 49, of District Heights, Md., was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Stephanie Goodloe, 40, of Southeast Washington. Goodloe was the coordinator of youth ministry at Mount Gilead Baptist Church and had been in that post for a year, said the Rev. Leroy Gilbert, the churchs pastor.

She also was described as the former day-care director of another Northwest Washington church. She was taken from the world far too soon, the Christian Tabernacle Church of God said Sunday on its Facebook page.

Goodloe was found indoors in the 700 block of Kentucky Avenue SE.

 Martin Weil

2 men, teen stabbed in separate attacks

Three people were wounded in three separate stabbings in the District late Saturday and early Sunday, police said.

A man was found stabbed in the 900 block of Valley Avenue SE Saturday night, and a teenager was found Sunday morning in the 3900 block of Benning Road SE. A second man was stabbed in the 1700 block of Columbia Road NW about 3:30 a.m.

 Michael Smith

Maryland

Fireghter injured,

22 uprooted in Laurel

A Saturday night fire in Laurel injured a firefighter and destroyed nine apartments, displacing 22 occupants, Prince Georges County officials said Sunday.

A cigarette butt that was improperly disposed of caused the fire, according to the Prince Georges fire department. A volunteer firefighter was injured in a fall from a ground ladder but is in good condition, officials said.

 Mary Hui

Virginia

Manslaughter charges in crash that killed 6

A 50-year-old Illinois man has been charged with reckless driving and six counts of involuntary manslaughter in a Saturday crash on Interstate 95 that killed six people, Virginia State Police said Sunday.

Wenceslao Cruz-Marquez of Chicago remained hospitalized Sunday in the crash that left nine others with serious injuries, Virginia State Police said.

According to police, about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, Cruz-Marquez was driving north in a van in Caroline County when the van ran off the road to the left, came back across two travel lanes and struck a car in the right lane. The car spun out and the van continued off the road to the right, overcorrecting back left and overturning five to six times, police said. Six van passengers were ejected. The driver of the car was not injured.

Four men, a woman and a juvenile were killed. Names were not released pending notification of relatives. None of the vans 16 occupants were wearing seat belts, police said.

 Faiz Siddiqui


Certified medical assistant Karla Huerta holds vials of the HPV vaccination drug Gardasil at Amistad Community Health Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. (Matthew Busch/For The Washington Post)

The nations leading cancer doctors are pushing pediatricians and other providers to help increase use of the HPV vaccine, which studies show could help avert tens of thousands of cancer cases during young Americans lives. Yet a decade after its controversial introduction, the vaccine remains stubbornly underused even as some of those diseases surge.

The vaccines low uptake among preteens and adolescents belies its universally acknowledged effectiveness in preventing the most common sexually transmitted infections linked to the human papillomavirus. Those infections can cause a half-dozen cancers, including more than 90 percent of anal and cervical cancers; 70 percent of vaginal, vulvar and oropharyngeal, or middle throat, cancers; and 60 percent of penile cancers.

The oncologists goal is to rebrand the vaccine to focus on cancer prevention. They are determined to dismantle what researchers say is the No. 1 obstacle to wider inoculation: pediatricians and family doctors who arent strongly recommending the vaccine.

The HPV vaccine can prevent a number of common cancers, but still has a low uptake rate ten years after it's release. Here are some reasons why. (Deirdra O'Regan/The Washington Post)

Studies show that a forceful endorsement from a physician is the most important factor in whether children get the vaccine, which is recommended for ages 11 and 12. Yet a frustrating level of provider hesitancy persists.

The failure belongs to us, acknowledged Jason Terk, a pediatrician in Keller, Tex. Its an epic fail.

Terk has been working with experts at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston to spread the word. Lois Ramondetta, one of the hospitals gynecologic oncologists, has taken to the road to meet with practitioners across the state.

Last month, she delivered a blunt message to the staff of Su Clinica in Harlingen, deep in the states south valley: If they didnt increase HPV vaccination of their young patients, those youths would face a greater risk of developing deadly cancers as adults. Boys would be especially vulnerable to throat cancers, a growing scourge of middle-aged men.

If you are not recommending the vaccine, you are not doing your job, Ramondetta said. Its the equivalent of having patients in their 50s and not recommending a colonoscopy  and then having them come back with cancer.

For Su Clinicas doctors, the candid discussion hit home and quickly prompted changes in some procedures. Gynecologist Rose Gowen said many of the staff were especially surprised by the urgent need to vaccinate boys.

Ramondetta understands why the challenges are so pervasive. Pediatricians never see the cancers caused by HPV, so some of them dont recognize the vaccines importance in preventing cancer, she said. They dont know how to talk about it with patients, or they wait too long. And their knowledge level is not where it should be.

While the HPV vaccination rate varies widely from state to state, it has ticked up nationally over the past few years. Yet the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that in 2014, 40 percent of teenage girls and 22 percent of boys had gotten all three doses. Thats far below the 80 percent to 90 percent rate for the vaccine booster for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis  as well as for the shot to prevent meningitis  that most states require for middle-schoolers.

The 64,000-member American Academy of Pediatrics has urged members to use the vaccine. But Cleveland pediatrician Margaret Stager, who works on adolescent health issues for the organization, said it remains brand-new territory for many doctors, especially older physicians.

They have seen whooping cough, meningitis, measles and mumps and have real-life evidence of the power of vaccines to save lives, she said. Now we have a whole new fundamental concept, because this vaccine is trying to prevent cancer several decades from now.

A 2014 U.S. study, for example, projected that nearly 29,000 additional cases of cervical cancer would be averted over young girls lifetimes with a vaccination rate of 80 percent compared with 50 percent. Cancer doctors hope that pressing the case with such statistics can provide reinforcement for public health officials at the CDC and in state and local governments, as well as for the other medical groups encouraging doctors and parents.



Medical assistant Karla Huerta prepares to give HPV vaccinations to children at the Community Health Center in Corpus Christi, Tex. (Matthew Busch for The Washington Post)

Much of their current activity dates to 2013 when the Presidents Cancer Panel, alarmed by how the HPV vaccination rate was leveling out, called for a drastic acceleration. The National Cancer Institute funded several efforts to identify barriers to vaccination, and earlier this year, all 69 NCI-designated cancer centers issued a first-of-its kind consensus statement saying the HPV vaccine was tragically underused and calling on doctors to strongly recommend it. The American Society of Clinical Oncology followed with a similar statement.

[Seriously flawed study linking behavioral problems to Gardasil has been retracted]

Cancer doctors have been reaching out to primary-care physicians and consumers throughout the country. Jennifer Young Pierce, a gynecologic oncologist at the Medical University of South Carolina, has held town halls around her state to talk up the vaccine. In Upstate New York, doctors at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute are taking part in a regional vaccine coalition and have met with local dentists and legislators interested in promoting HPV vaccination.

Meanwhile, the NCI is planning a large clinical trial to determine whether a single dose would be as effective as the current regimen. That could sharply accelerate utilization, especially in developing countries, where cervical cancer is among the deadliest cancers.

Were doing this to help the women of the world, said NCI acting director Douglas Lowy, who was instrumental in discoveries that paved the way for the vaccine.

About 79 million Americans are infected with HPV, and 14 million become newly infected each year. While the bodys immune system clears most of the infections, high-risk strains are directly linked to 27,000 new cancers a year.

The vaccine is recommended for preteens because their bodies have the most robust responses, and it works best before sexual activity begins. (Intercourse isnt necessary to contract HPV.) In 2006, the vaccine was first approved as Gardasil for girls, followed a few years later for boys, amid controversy that has never completely dissipated. Critics questioned the safety of the vaccine, made by Merck, and said it would encourage teenagers to be promiscuous  concerns that research has shown to be unfounded.



Ruth Marroquin, 13, looks away as she is vaccinated against HPV. (Matthew Busch for The Washington Post)

Unlike other childhood shots, the one for HPV isnt required by most states; only Virginia, Rhode Island and the District have mandates. The vaccination rate varies sharply across the country, with relatively high rates in the Northeast and California and lower rates in the South.

Yet the vaccine is having an impact overall. A CDC study published earlier this year showed that the prevalence of the virus was reduced by almost two-thirds among teenage girls, compared with the years before the vaccine became available.

And this month, Merck announced that a review of 58 studies published in the last decade in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand found that vaccination sharply reduced cervical pre-

cancers and genital warts.

As for side effects, the most common are swelling and pain at the injection site, with occasional fainting. Several large studies over the past decade have more than proved the vaccines safety, the CDC says.

But the concerns of some parents still arent assuaged. Aimee Gardiner, who is leading a group to repeal the Rhode Island mandate, said she wont have her children inoculated. I dont think the risks of HPV are high enough to warrant getting the vaccine, she said.

Similarly, the National Vaccine Information Center, an advocacy group founded by parents who opposed routine childhood inoculations, continues to raise questions about the research behind the HPV vaccine and its safety.

[HPV vaccinations dont lead to riskier sexual behavior among girls, study suggests]

But in many cases, the chief obstacle is physician ambivalence more than parental opposition. Researchers at Harvard Medical School and the University of North Carolina reported last fall that an online survey of 776 doctors showed that many talked about HPV vaccination in a way likely to discourage parents. More than a quarter of the doctors said they didnt strongly endorse the vaccine and a similar proportion didnt recommend it for preteens.



Abraham Vidaurre, 12, checks his arm after receiving the HPV vaccine. (Matthew Busch for The Washington Post)

In Texas, Terk says he advises fellow pediatricians to recommend the shots in a matter-of-fact manner, to bundle it with other inoculations and to avoid talking about sex unless asked. If you approach it in a confident, presumptive way, many parents will say, Lets do it,  he said.

The HPV vaccine has a fraught history in Texas. In 2007, Republican Rick Perry became the nations first governor to require girls to get the vaccine, which caused a firestorm in part because of his close relationship with a former chief of staff who was a lobbyist for Merck. The Legislature overturned the mandate.

MD Anderson has been leading a major HPV initiative since 2014 that involves other cancer centers, pediatricians, nurses and school officials. During a meeting last summer, 69-year-old Michael Terry described his struggle with HPV-related throat cancer, saying, You need to know how miserable it is to suffer from this disease.

Terry, whose father was Luther Terry, the 1960s-era U.S. surgeon general who issued a landmark report about the dangers of tobacco, talked about undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and about living with splitting headaches, neck aches and difficulties swallowing. His concluding plea: Vaccinate, vaccinate, vaccinate, boys and girls.

In the fall, pediatrician Lori Anderson took a couple of pediatric residents from her community health clinic in Corpus Christi to hear Ramondetta speak at a Texas Pediatric Society meeting. The oncologist showed an emotionally wrenching documentary about cervical cancer called Someone You Love. When the lights went up, some of the doctors were in tears.

I think it was an aha moment for the residents, Anderson said. With her help, they organized a recent school health fair in the beach community of Port Aransas.

Two dozen children got vaccinated against HPV.
Ari Laurel said she suffered no complications from donating her eggs to an infertile couple. But when the clinic she used contacted her for a second donation, she declined. (DAMIEN MALONEY )

Maggie Eastman considers it the worst decision she ever made.

In 2003, beset by $30,000 in tuition debt and imbued with a burst of altruism, Eastman, a college senior, decided to donate her eggs to help an infertile couple have a baby. Over the next decade she donated nine more times, earning a total of about $20,000  money that helped Eastman and her then-husband buy a house.

[Lightly regulated in vitro fertilization yields thousands of babies annually]

When I think back, I think, God, how stupid was I?  said Eastman, now 34, who works as a 911 operator near Seattle. She made her final donation in 2013, months before she was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer  a rarity in someone so young who has no family history of the disease.

Eastman said that when she asked her oncologist whether her cancer might be related to her egg donation, which involves the use of hormones to rev up egg production, he replied that he didnt know, adding, Well, there are risks.

Although Eastman believes that being an egg donor was the cause of her estrogen-fueled cancer, experts say it is impossible to know. Studies of the long-term impact of egg donation on donors have never been done, even though the practice dates back more than 30 years.

Despite sporadic reports of subsequent infertility and a variety of cancers, some fatal, it isnt known whether these problems are linked to the process or are simply the result of chance.

Fertility specialists say that egg donation is safe and involves the same process as in vitro fertilization, which uses drugs to stimulate and regulate egg production. A 2013 meta-analysis of 25 studies found no convincing evidence of an increase in the risk of invasive ovarian cancer linked to the use of fertility drugs.

There are no long-term adverse risks of IVF or egg donation, said Richard J. Paulson, president-elect of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), which represents fertility specialists. Paulson heads the infertility program at the University of Southern California, one of the nations oldest egg donor programs, which was established in 1986. All the data we have so far seem to indicate no long-term problems.

But others say the matter remains unsettled because donors havent been studied.

There is a total lack of information about the long-term [effects], said Timothy R. B. Johnson, the longtime chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan School of Medicine.

Johnson supports the establishment of a national registry to track the health of egg donors. No ones collecting the data on donors, he said, adding that the fertility industry is largely unregulated. Once their eggs are retrieved, donors are sent home with little or no follow-up.

A transaction once shrouded in secrecy, the Internet now hosts a thriving and competitive marketplace for donors, largely supplanting leaflets on college bulletin boards and ads in campus newspapers, the traditional methods of recruiting fertile young women. Payment varies, currently starting at about $3,500 per cycle and sometimes exceeding $50,000, depending on the location of the clinic or egg brokerage and the donors characteristics. An Ivy League education, Asian descent (there is a paucity of donors), exceptional looks and a previous donation that led to a birth command higher reimbursement.

The demand for donor eggs has increased rapidly in the past decade. Nearly every state has at least one fertility clinic, said Judith Daar, a specialist in reproductive law and a professor at Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, Calif. A report in JAMA found a significant increase in the use of donor eggs between 2000 and 2010, from 10,801 to 18,306. Daar estimates that about 10,000 babies born in the United States in 2013 were conceived using donor eggs.

But questions about egg donation abound, says veteran womens health advocate Judy Norsigian, a co-founder and former executive director of the Boston-based advocacy group Our Bodies Ourselves. Among the unknowns: How many women have donated eggs? (The number is believed to be in the thousands.) How many times are they donating? (The ASRM recommends a lifetime maximum of six.) Which drugs are they being given, and in what doses? How common is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a painful condition in which the ovaries swell? Severe cases can lead to a stroke or even, rarely, to death.

[Our children are real, and so are their donors]

Informed consent

Its also difficult, health advocates say, to gauge how aware potential donors are  or what they are told  about short- and long-term risks. A 2010 study of 80 donors found that a rather large and troubling minority  20 percent  said they did not know of possible health risks. And while 8.8 percent said they knew that the process entailed some pain, 45 percent reported experiencing notable pain. A 2014 study of egg donation ads placed on Craiglist, one of the chief venues for egg donors, found that the vast majority do not include risk information.

Norsigian said she worries that donors are being falsely reassured that the process is safe, without being told that there is no definitive research.

Absence of evidence of harm is not proof of safety, she said. Fertility doctors by and large dont want to shine a light on what is a really lucrative field.

Studies of IVF in infertile women have produced conflicting results: Some have found no increase in cancer, while others reported an increased risk of uterine and ovarian cancer. The meaning of this finding is unclear, because infertility itself is a risk factor for some malignancies.

Some fertility specialists are cool to the idea of a registry which they say is unnecessary. I cant even imagine logistically that such a thing would ever take place, said Preston Sacks, a reproductive endocrinologist affiliated with Columbia Fertility Associates, which has three offices in the Washington area. In Sackss view, concerns about medical privacy would prove insurmountable.

Judy E. Stern, a professor of pathology and obstetrics and gynecology at Dartmouth who oversees the Infertility Family Research Registry, a voluntary database that includes about 70 egg donors, said she believes that donor data is urgently needed.

I think if there had been huge health risks [from IVF], we would have seen that over the last 30 years, she said. That suggests the absolute risk is fairly low. But we dont know anything about the donors, whose risks may differ from infertile women undergoing IVF. These are presumably fertile women and they may respond to medications [differently] than infertile women.

Stern co-chairs an egg donor task force of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, which represents clinics performing IVF. She said SART is considering the establishment of an egg donor registry. If we dont understand the risks for donors, we need to, because of the women who are freezing their eggs for possible later use, she said.

How naive?

Ari Laurel, now 26, donated her eggs to an Australian couple in 2014. Laurel said that she knew she didnt want children and that Asian donors like her were in demand. Her $12,000 payment financed a year of graduate school. The agency I went through seemed to ask eugenic-type questions such as skin color and whether she had been in gifted programs. Laurel said she was also asked to submit her undergraduate transcript and GRE scores.

Laurel, who lives in Missoula, Mont., said she felt well informed by the clinic about possible health risks and suffered no complications. Before deciding to donate, she contacted We Are Egg Donors, an online group founded in 2013, and spoke to one of its founders.

She has no regrets and is happy that she was able to help an infertile couple have a baby. But when the clinic contacted her for a second donation, Laurel declined. I found the process pretty exploitative, she said.

Her savvy is not typical of the 60 egg donors whom medical anthropologist Diane Tober has interviewed for a film she is making. Tober, an assistant professor of nursing at the University of California at San Francisco, said that some donors seemed naive about the process, which many found more physically and emotionally daunting than they anticipated.

They expected that the doctor and the staff was going to look out for them as they do for their infertility patients, Tober said. The pitch was cloaked in this language of Be an angel, help someone and get paid for it.  Some donors, she said, were motivated by altruism; others said it would be so cool to help gay men create a family.

In Tobers view, egg donation more closely resembles kidney donation than sperm donation. Both egg and kidney donation, she said, involve drugs and medical procedures that are of no benefit to the donor.

Sacks, the Washington fertility specialist, said that about 10 percent of the prospective donors he evaluates decide against completing the process once he tells them whats involved. Donors are paid $8,000 per cycle, he said, and have included a teacher, a lawyer with a major Washington firm and a school bus driver; few are college students.

After undergoing medical and psychological screening and being matched with a recipient, the donor takes birth control pills to synchronize her menstrual cycle with that of the recipient. After that, she typically injects Lupron, a hormone approved to treat advanced prostate cancer. Lupron, which prevents the ovaries from releasing an egg, is not approved for use in fertility procedures. Some womens health advocates say they are concerned that donors are not told the drug is being used off label for an unapproved use. (Off-label use of drugs is common in all fields of medicine.) Luprons side effects have aroused concern; they include joint pain, acne and osteoporosis.

[Its worth asking questions when your doctor prescribes a drug off label]

Lupron is followed by injections that stimulate egg production. After that comes a carefully timed trigger shot of a hormone that causes ovulation. Within roughly 48 hours, the donor is sedated and a needle is inserted transvaginally into the ovary to extract each egg. Typically no more than 20 eggs are harvested.

Thinking it through

Clinical psychologist Andrea Mechanick Braverman, who screens donors for several Philadelphia area fertility clinics, said that one of her goals is to ensure that donors know what theyre doing. She worries that some underestimate the invasiveness of the procedures and the long-term emotional ramifications, such as feelings of regret. You try to get them to think it through.

Sindy Wei, 39, thought she had. Wei, an assistant professor of radiology at UCLA, donated her eggs in September 2001; she was then a 25-year-old MD/PhD student struggling to pay her rent in Los Angeles.

Wei, who has testified about her experience before a California Senate committee seeking greater protection for egg donors, said she researched the potential risks and found none.

I didnt know the research hadnt been done because the donors hadnt been followed, Wei said. A San Francisco clinic paid her $6,500, she said, and extracted a whopping 60 eggs.

When Wei complained in the recovery room that she felt ill, she said doctors tried to discharge her and urged her to fly home to Southern California. Wei said she refused to leave, and eight hours later she was admitted after her blood pressure plummeted because she was bleeding out. Doctors discovered that Weis ovarian artery had been nicked during the retrieval process and her abdomen had filled with blood. She received several transfusions and underwent emergency surgery, then spent several days in intensive care.

Wei was left with bladder spasms and infertility and underwent six rounds of fertility treatment. She said her biggest fear is that she will develop cancer from the hormones she took as a donor and infertility patient.

I think egg donation should be a choice for young women, Wei said. But they should really know what the risks are. And unless its studied, theres no way to tell.
I hover expectantly over Ellen, and she looks up from her iPad, her eyes shiny. The device is a birthday present she asked my husband, Harry, and me to get for her six months earlier, and Im glad we did so that she can now distract herself with old M*A*S*H episodes. Im lucky you were my mother-in-law, I blurt. She doesnt blanch at my referring to her in the past tense; we both know that, in light of her imminent kidney failure, she wont be my mother-in-law much longer.

My children all picked wonderful life partners, she replies evenly, and smiles. Its a nice sentiment, though after nearly 30 years of being her daughter-in-law, I want to hear something more personal, a reminder of what we meant to each other that I can play over in my mind when shes gone. But its crowded in my third-floor guest room, with Harry and Jennifer, Ellens home health aide, looking on, and it feels too awkward to prompt her any further. From her perspective, this is not the time to get mired in sentimentality. Things are working out according to her plans.

[ A mans persistent headache proves hard to diagnose and harder to treat ]

Ellen is dying the way she lived: actively, with a lot of input. At 86, like so many of her contemporaries, she suffers from multiple maladies: a slow-growing leukemia called CLL; a recent mini-stroke; spinal stenosis that pains her legs and numbs her hands; recurring bouts of intestinal distress that leave her dehydrated and housebound. The ailments are awful and life-disrupting, but none of them are finishing her off. She doesnt want to acclimate herself to wheelchairs, live-in aides and other affronts to her independent self-image. What she wants is to not treat her symptoms, to voluntarily stop eating and drinking, and to die.

While her pronouncement that shes had a good run has left Harry and me sidelined with shock, our eldest son, Ted, understands. A graduating fourth-year medical student in Boston, he has often relayed horror stories about the hospital patients whose bodies are kept alive long after their occupants have experienced any pleasure in them. Hes very close to his grandmother, and for years shes been telling him how she doesnt want to die encumbered by lines and tubes, the way his late grandfather Paul did.

Ted finds Ellen an excellent palliative-care doctor near her New Jersey retirement community who consults with the two of them for hours, making sure the patient isnt suffering from a temporary, treatable depression. The doctor conference-calls with Harry and his two siblings, and they affirm that they all want what she wants. The Do Not Resuscitate and more detailed Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment forms are filled out and displayed prominently on her dining room table. Jennifer, who has experience in these situations, is available, and she can be at Ellens side 24/7. Everything is in place.

Then, a complication: Ellens independent living community prohibits outside aides from working there. For my mother-in-law to die in a hotel or apartment rented for the occasion is unthinkable to me. Harry and I are empty-nesters, with a third-floor suite thats quiet and private. It makes sense that she should die in the guest room above our bedroom.

Except . . . I dont embrace Ellens plan. Its not the agenda that surprises me; Ive been hearing tales of family stoicism for decades. About her father, who, loathing the prospect of old age, ignored his doctors advice and pursued his adventure travels until he fell into a Tanzanian tiger pit and had a fatal heart attack, weeks before his 70th birthday. About the serial hardships that tempered Ellens steely character  a siblings early death, the familys flight from the Nazis across Europe, the torpedoing of her cross-Atlantic convoy. Her stiff German parents threatened to cut her off if she married a man of Russian peasant stock, but she did it anyway. The message has always been clear: Ellen doesnt get mad at fate, she gets even.

What I dont understand, why I have such a powerful case of cognitive dissonance, is her timing. Her retirement-home friends always remark on how she holds court in the dining hall after meals. Neat stacks of the Economist top her end table. She goes on field trips to museums, sees movies before I do. Surely she wants to stick around to see more graduations, or at least to find out what happens with the whole Donald Trump thing.

For perspective, I talk to friends who are grappling with their own elderly parents futures. One cant get his frail mother to leave her solitary farm upstate. Another tells me that his mother saved up pills for years, vowing to use them before dementia struck, but like the heroine of Still Alice  everyone mentions Still Alice  she waited too long. It seems that even among those who say they want to choose the time of their own deaths, follow-through is rare. The life force is just too strong.

I suggest to Ellen that she has more good-enough years left in her, but I succeed only in irritating her. Maybe if Id been more of a complainer, she would understand, she proceeds to complain to Ted. Possibly this is true. My family of origin vents lustily and often. And when it comes to quality vs. quantity of life, the Schweichs, I joke, are like the de-limbed Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, who taunts his rival by declaring that being reduced to a stump is only a flesh wound. We dont define ourselves by our physicality; I wasnt raised summiting peaks and slogging through canyons for fun, the way my husband was. I slow for shoe stores, while Ellen has never cared about possessions and, when fielding gift requests, usually asks for computer parts.

[ He beat leukemia. But then, mysteriously, things got really bad. ]

But I love that shes hungry to know about world affairs, the latest technology, elder-care reform and, most of all, her grandchildren, whose lives are intertwined with hers. I love her, and Im not ready for her to leave us, not yet.

Yet I know that loving her doesnt mean agreeing with her; it means respecting her, and her wishes. And so it is that three days before New Years, my brother-in-law, Ira, picks her up at her retirement home and delivers her to our home 20 minutes from hers. When she walks through our front door, its without trepidation.

For the first three days of her final visit, Ellen receives family members and takes occasional sips of water and bites of crackers  a good idea, the doctor tells us, because hard-liners often give up. Harry reminds her that she can change her mind at any point and wed be happy, but, to no ones surprise, she doesnt.

She becomes delirious after four days, when her kidneys, deprived of the ability to flush out toxins, start to fail. The first hospice worker arrives the next afternoon to find Ellen moaning as if shes in constant pain. She needs a longer-lasting analgesic than the liquid morphine on hand, and the drugstore with the hospital-grade painkiller is closed until the next morning. Its hard to watch her suffer, but pointless to second-guess. I think of her as a bungee jumper who made a leap of faith; now that shes this far into her trajectory, there can be no going back.

Monday brings the continuous relief of a fentanyl patch, and Ellen slips into a deep coma. We stroke her arms, and I hold her hand, light as air because theres no resistance. Her stomach rises and falls with ragged, then intermittent breaths. And around dinnertime on the eighth day . . . they stop.

A week later, as Harry attends to a mound of paperwork, he finds a letter Ellen wrote to her children after Pauls death 18 years earlier. While the memory of his passing is still a fresh wound, she lays out her fear of living as a diminished person and her hope that they will give her the gift of a dignified, peaceful end.

I know that our definitions of diminished werent the same, but when she recognized it in herself, her sense of purpose was clear. Helping her reach this goal isnt necessarily the gift I would choose to give her, but its the one she wanted to receive, and thats what matters most.
Emily Dirr sent Warrior Eli wristbands to supporters of a boy with cancer. After telling thousands of strangers about Eli and his family, Dirr confessed that the characters were not real. (COURTESY OF WARRIOR ELI HOAX)

The Dirrs of Saskatchewan had all the makings of a young power couple. John J.S. Dirr worked as an officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, while his wife, Dana, was a trauma surgeon at a hospital. The two ran a busy household brimming with adorable, smiling children  10 in all, including 5-year-old Cliff Elias, nicknamed Warrior Eli for his ongoing fight against cancer.  On Mothers Day in 2012, tragedy struck. Dana died after a head-on collision with an out-of-control speeding car. She held on just long enough to give birth to the couples 11th child, Evelyn Danika. J.S.s heartbreaking Facebook posts describing his wifes struggle to live and her eventual death went viral, and outpourings of sympathy and sorrow from thousands of strangers, including many parents of children with cancer, came flooding in.

But the many followers of their story soon discovered that the Dirrs didnt exist.

The family and its social circle of at least 71 Facebook personas were being puppeteered by a single person. Emily Dirr, then a 23-year-old woman from Ohio, had spent countless hours over 11 years on fictional posts, profiles and virtual fundraising campaigns for childhood cancer foundations. She even went so far as to send Warrior Eli wristbands and care packages to hundreds of sympathizers.

The ruse is being labeled a case of Munchausen by Internet, a modern take on a mental disorder that involves faking an illness for the purpose of extracting attention and nurture from others.

(DOUG CHAYKA FOR THE WASHINGTON POST)

[The U.S. spends more money on this medical condition than any other]

Munchausen syndrome was identified and coined in the 1950s and is included in the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The Internet-abetted version, not yet recognized in the DSM, is one that mental health officials say is also a real ailment, not just an online ruse to extract money.

Actually, Munchausen by Internet has now become more common than real-life Munchausen syndrome because its so easy to do. It used to be that real-life Munchausen patients would have to go to medical libraries, research the illnesses they would feign and go to doctors offices to reenact the symptoms, said Marc Feldman, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Alabama who coined the term Munchausen by Internet in 2000. Now they dont need to do any of that  instead, they can go online and deceive hundreds or thousands of people.

Unlike malingerers, who play the sick role for monetary reward or to avoid something undesirable (e.g., work, school), people with Munchausen by Internet crave only the emotional gratification that comes from eliciting care and concern. Emily Dirr explicitly asked J.S.s followers not to send any donations to him, instead directing them to a fundraising page where all of the proceeds went to legitimate childhood cancer research.

They go to extremes to tug on the heartstrings of Internet strangers with sad status updates and photos: posting images of their shaved heads; stealing photos of real patients and posting them as their own; and using medical expertise to create believable lies about their supposed illness or injury.

Emily Dirr was a medical student in Ohio who started the hoax as an 11-year-old looking for a distraction from her troubled family life.

It started almost as a fiction writing, but the more time I spent escaping to it, the more real it became, she wrote in a public apology posted after a medical-hoax blogger grew suspicious and found a trail of stolen online photos that eventually revealed the lie. This was never about personal gain for me. This whole thing snowballed from an escape for me into trying to raise awareness and funding for pediatric cancer, although it was completely in the wrong way.

In 1951, British physician Richard Asher described three cases of what he called Munchausens syndrome  named after a fictional character who told absurd tall tales about his many adventures  in the Lancet. The patients checked themselves into hospital after hospital, insisting they had acute illnesses and often recounting fantastical histories to anyone who would listen. Today, Munchausen is considered the most severe type of factitious disorder, a group of mental illnesses in which a person feigns a physical, emotional or cognitive condition.

Dirrs hoax reads suspiciously like the plot of a bad soap opera. In the first six months of 2012 alone, for instance, J.S. suffered from a heart condition that almost killed him, Warrior Elis cancer relapsed for the fourth time, and J.S. and two of his children were hit by a semi whose driver was both drunk and texting. Then, as a crowning touch, Dirr chose to have Dana killed off on Mothers Day, but only after giving birth to the familys 11th child.

Weve all heard the expression Its too good to be true  but its also the case that if its too bad to be true, you start to wonder, said Feldman, who has studied patients with Munchausen syndrome and other factitious disorders for more than two decades. Some of these individuals just pile on the catastrophes.

Because of his specialization in factitious disorder, Feldman hears from both victims and perpetrators of Munchausen by Internet. One of Feldmans favorite cases involves a supposed 15-year-old boy named Chris who suffered from terrible migraines. He posted about his many struggles on an online discussion board offering support to migraine sufferers: Not only did Chris have a deaf mother, an alcoholic stepfather and a brother who had recently died from AIDS, but his estranged father also had physically abused him and left him with a seizure disorder.

Yet Chris wrote compelling, inspirational tales about his life as a medical student, skateboarding three miles a day to take the bus to class and moonlighting as a nightclub drummer to pay for his migraine medication.

Ill never forget that case, even though its been 15 years since I learned about it, Feldman said. It was so egregious and involved that its the perfect teaching case. I talked to five of his victims who were all otherwise wonderful and intelligent people, but there must have been a part of them that wanted to believe this was true. This was when Doogie Howser, M.D. was popular, and who knows, maybe thats why they thought 15-year-olds could be doctors?

Nevertheless, the pain and betrayal experienced by victims of Munchausen by Internet are real. People can become emotionally entangled with perpetrators and may use false medical information to influence their own health-care decisions.

One of the victims called it emotional rape, which sounded melodramatic when I first heard it, Feldman said, but some of these people have spent dozens if not hundreds of hours devoted to this person whom they encountered online. They felt robbed, cheated and even depressed.

[Woman accused of fatally poisoning son in Munchausen case]

Experts believes Munchausen by Internet has similar origins and motives as other forms of factitious disorder, which is thought to involve both biological and psychological factors. Factitious disorder is associated with childhood separations, emotional neglect or abuse, hypochondriac preoccupations and a history of hospitalization in early life. According to one study on factitious disorder, half of patients also had borderline personality disorder, while a third showed signs of narcissistic personality disorder.

It sounds almost too basic, but most of them say that they have this deficit in their lives where they feel isolated and alienated, Feldman said. They could guarantee that going on the Internet to join a support group would counter that isolation, and theyd be able to get what they cant get any other way.

A 2007 survey of 109 doctors in the journal Psychosomatics reported the frequency of factitious disorder among their patients to be around 1.3 percent. However, the prevalence of Munchausen by Internet is difficult to measure due to the breadth and anonymity of the Web.

The irony with people who commit Munchausen by Internet is that they do often have mental illnesses, said Jacqui Taylor, an associate professor of psychology at Bournemouth University in England who specializes in the psychological impacts of the Internet. Some researchers look at when these people were children  such as emotional trauma or other illnesses that have resulted in them seeking medical attention that then becomes exacerbated when they are adults. But most of the work that Ive reviewed is showing it could be some kind of mental-health condition underlying this type of behavior.

No one who is happy in their lives decides to create 71 fake Facebook profiles and a kid with cancer, said Taryn Wright, the blogger who exposed Emily Dirr in 2012.

Wright discovered through a Google Image search that supposed photos of the Dirrs  depicting such events as hospitalizations, car accidents and childrens birthday parties  had been lifted from blogs and public Flickr accounts.

It just seemed fishy to me. I figured the news would have picked this up, but I couldnt find anything. I thought, Thats really frickin weird, and I couldnt find anything on Google that wasnt written by someone from the family, she said. These people had high-profile enough jobs that I figured I would have found something about them if they were real.

On the day after Mothers Day, she wrote out all of her findings on Warrior Eli Hoax, a blog she created. Wright said she received 100,000 hits that first night, including many from the childhood cancer community who had been taken in by the tale.

Wright now heads a team of Internet sleuths that she calls on to help investigate possible hoaxes that she comes across. Members of the group  a cancer survivor, a paramedic and a medical instructor  each have an area of expertise. So far, Wright says, the team has found and publicized 17 medical hoaxes.
A home builder works at sunrise Monday in Gilbert, Ariz., in an effort to beat the rising temperatures. The National Weather Service was expecting another day of triple-digit temperatures in Phoenix and across much of the Southwest. (Matt York/AP)

NEW YORK

NYPD officers charged in corruption probe

Two high-ranking New York Police Department officers were arrested Monday on charges of taking bribes that included $100,000 worth of free flights, prostitutes and expensive meals in exchange for providing a private police force for local businessmen.

Deputy Chief Michael Harrington, Deputy Inspector James Grant and Brooklyn businessman Jeremy Reichberg were charged with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud  the latest development in a series of overlapping public corruption investigations coordinated by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. David Villanueva, an NYPD sergeant assigned to the gun license bureau, was arrested on charges of conspiring to commit bribery.

In exchange for the bribes, Reichberg and others got a private police force for themselves and their friends, Bharara said at a news conference. Effectively, they got cops on call.

The four arrests follow months of revelations that have embarrassed the nations largest police department and put Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) on the spot about his campaign financing. Reichberg and another businessman who has pleaded guilty in the case contributed heavily to de Blasios campaign.

A criminal complaint accompanying the latest charges described how Reichberg exploited his connections within the police department to speed up gun license processing, make tickets disappear, get police escorts for himself and his friends, and get assistance from uniformed personnel to resolve personal disputes and boost security at religious sites and events.

Reichberg managed to get his connections to shut down a lane of the Lincoln Tunnel connecting New Jersey and Manhattan and obtain a police escort for a businessman visiting the United States, the complaint said.

 Associated Press

GEORGIA

No charges in teens gym-mat death

There is not enough evidence to support federal criminal charges in the case of a teenager found dead inside a rolled-up gym mat at a Georgia high school, the Justice Department announced Monday.

The decision comes after a lengthy review of circumstances surrounding the death of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson of Valdosta.

Local and state authorities had ruled that the teenagers death Jan. 10, 2013, was a freak accident. They concluded that Johnson got stuck upside down in the middle of a rolled up mat and was unable to breathe. Johnsons parents insisted someone must have killed their son and have pushed to reopen the investigation.

After extensive investigation into this tragic event, federal investigators determined that there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone or some group of people willfully violated Kendrick Johnsons civil rights or committed any other prosecutable federal crime, the Justice Department said in a statement Monday.

Classmates at Lowndes High School found his body Jan. 11, 2013. A state medical examiner ruled the cause of death was positional asphyxia, meaning he got stuck upside down in a position that left him unable to breathe.

 Associated Press

Polygamous sect leader flees home confinement: Authorities say polygamous sect leader Lyle Jeffs has fled Salt Lake City, where he was supposed to be on home confinement pending trial on charges in a multimillion-dollar food-stamp fraud scheme, authorities said Monday. A U.S. attorneys office spokeswoman said a warrant was issued Monday for Jeffs after he took off over the weekend. After several previous requests were denied, Jeffs was let out of jail June 9 by U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart. He was ordered to wear a GPS monitor.

Detroit City Hall in lockdown over possible gun: Authorities locked down Detroit City Hall and an adjacent county building Monday while police searched for a man who was allowed through a security checkpoint before guards realized that he might have a gun. Police said that there was no active shooter or any specific threat but that an image of what could be a gun was spotted after a bag passed through a security machine.

 From news services
UNITED NATIONS

Number of displaced hits a record high

A record 65.3 million people were displaced worldwide by the end of last year, many of them fleeing wars only to face tougher laws and xenophobia as they sought shelter elsewhere, the United Nations refugee agency said Monday.

The figure, which jumped from 59.5 million in 2014 and by 50 percent in five years, means that 1 in every 113 people on the planet is a refugee, an asylum seeker or an internally displaced person.

Fighting in Syria, Afghanistan, Burundi and South Sudan has driven the latest exodus, the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said in its Global Trends report marking World Refugee Day.

A record 2 million new asylum claims were lodged in industrialized countries in 2015, the report said.

Developing regions still host 86 percent of the worlds refugees, according to the report.

Asylum seekers fleeing conflicts or persecution are increasingly confronted with walls or anti-foreigner sentiment, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said. He added, The rise of xenophobia is unfortunately becoming a very defining feature of the environment in which we work.

 Associated Press

IRAN

Sunni terrorist plot reportedly disrupted

Iran said Monday that it broke up one of the biggest terrorist plots on its soil by Sunni extremists planning bombings in Tehran and elsewhere, emphasizing that the Shiite power could be facing threats at home for its military actions in Iraq and Syria.

Iran faces several low-level insurgencies, but a major militant attack has not hit Tehran since the years immediately after its 1979 Islamic revolution.

Authorities suggested the Sunni militant Islamic State group may be behind the plot.

An Intelligence Ministry statement read on state TV and carried by local news agencies offered few details of the plot. It said that authorities made arrests and seized bombs and ammunition. It also said that investigations continued inside and outside of the country.

The semiofficial Fars and ISNA news agencies quoted Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, as saying that the attack was timed to hit during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Iranian troops allied with President Bashar al-Assad in Syrias civil war have fought the Islamic State and rebel groups. Iranian militias and advisers also back Iraqs government against Islamic State fighters.

 Associated Press

TURKEY

Press freedom groups

representative arrested

Turkey on Monday arrested the local representative for Reporters Without Borders, a global press freedom watchdog, in a move expected to draw further criticism of a government under fire for its crackdown on dissent.

A Turkish court ordered that Erol Onderoglu, the representative, be placed in pretrial detention on charges of distributing terrorist propaganda. The court also detained journalist Ahmet Nesin and academic Sebnem Korur Fincanci, who is the head of the Turkey Human Rights Foundation.

All three had testified about their support for the pro-Kurdish media outlet Ozgur Gundem. Critics say the publication is too close to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which seeks autonomy for Turkeys ethnic Kurds.

Turkish authorities consider the PKK a terrorist organization and have moved to suppress voices critical of the governments military campaign in majority-Kurdish towns in the southeast.

Turkey has detained scores of dissidents for alleged ties to the PKK since fighting intensified about a year ago.

 Erin Cunningham

Bahrain strips Shiite cleric of nationality: Bahrain has stripped a leading Shiite cleric of his nationality, a move that brought thousands of protesters into the streets and stirred fears of unrest. The Bahrain News Agency quoted the Interior Ministry as saying that Sheik Isa Qassim had played a key role in creating an extremist sectarian atmosphere and had formed groups that follow foreign religious ideologies and political entities, an apparent reference to Shiite-majority Iran.

Early vote looms in Croatia: Croatian lawmakers voted to dissolve parliament, paving the way for early elections after the government fell in a no-confidence vote last week. The government fell after weeks of political deadlock that has stalled much-needed economic reform in the newest European Union member state. The dissolution takes effect July 15.

Congo declares yellow fever epidemic: Congo has declared a yellow fever epidemic in three provinces, including the capital, Kinshasa, after confirming 67 cases of the disease, with an additional 1,000 suspected cases being monitored. Five people have died, Health Minister Felix Kabange said.

 From news services
Last hope for the Republicans: Declare Donald Trump the winner at the convention in Cleveland next month, and then persuade him to go home.

This admittedly would be a delicate maneuver. Nothing like it has happened before. It could work, though, if, as many have believed all along, Trump does not really want to be president.

He wants to be elected, sure, but does he want to serve? He wants to be respected as the champion, but does he want the prize? If this were a beauty pageant, Trump would want the crown and the adoration but not the mandatory year of appearances at charity events and visits to the troops.

Trump himself has talked about how much he is sacrificing, what a good life he is giving up, to take on this quest. He understands that Camp David is no Mar-a-Lago.

He seems to have no interest in doing the things that most candidates, and up until now all presidents, have had to do. Listen to advisers, for example. Have advisers. Read policy papers. Read anything but his own reviews.

1 of 23 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  23 well-known people who support Donald Trump View Photos See who supports Donald Trump. Caption See who supports Donald Trump. Paul D. Ryan The House speaker endorsed Trumps bid for president on June 2. Joshua Roberts/Reuters Wait 1 second to continue.

Certainly there seems to be nothing that he particularly believes in as he campaigns for the White House . This is a man who admires Hillary Clinton one year, and considers her crooked the next; swears fealty to the National Rifle Association one month, and challenges its dogma the next; wants to punish women who have abortions one hour, and pardons them the next.

He believes in . . . Trump. But is it fair or logical to force him to attend four years of NATO summit meetings just to have his faith in himself vindicated?

This would have to be a voluntary and mutual pact, of course. On the Republican side, the calculation is easy. Republicans running for Senate are gasping and thrashing like hooked fish, knowing that they are doomed if they endorse Trump and doomed if they do not. The party last week tumbled to its lowest standing since Bloomberg began polling in 2009, Bloomberg Politics reported.

Persuading Trump to acknowledge what, deep down, he may know to be true might be trickier.

A financial inducement might help. Because the candidate will not release his tax returns or other relevant documents, we dont know to what extent his candidacy may have been motivated by business troubles  by a desire to run up the value of his brand. But surely there is room for creativity in designing some long-term contracts between the Republican Party and Trump Hotels, Trump Steaks and Trump Vodka.

Some ceding of captives also could be arranged. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who already allowed himself to be taken hostage, could be handed over permanently to serve as Trumps consiglieri. The GOP could toss into the deal its chairman, Reince Winning is the antidote to lots of things Priebus, one of Trumps earliest and most enthusiastic enablers. Priebus might suit as butler at Mar-a-Lago, to replace the longtime manservant who inconveniently posted vile threats against President Obama on his Facebook page.

But none of that would be enough. Anyone who has watched the candidate at a rally understands that what this campaign has really brought Trump is what he craves most: an audience. Finally, after years of feeling that his wisdom and humor were not receiving their due, Trump has people listening to him hour after hour, day after day, millions upon millions.

1 of 45 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Trump captures the nations attention on the campaign trail View Photos The Republican candidate continues to dominate the presidential contest. Caption Businessman Donald Trump officially became the Republican nominee at the partys convention in Cleveland. Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at Trump Doral golf course in Miami. Carlo Allegri/Reuters Wait 1 second to continue.

The GOP would have to crown Trump not just the winner, but also the Greatest Winner in the Land. The Winner in Chief. The Champion to End All Champions.

And then it would have to find some way to guarantee him an audience for the next four years. Partly that might just involve showing him the ratings for the presidents Saturday morning radio address. Partly it might require giving him his own radio or television show. In fact, Rupert Murdoch might have to give him a television network.

It would require, in other words, some sacrifices all around. It would not be easy to pull off. But it seems worth a try. Looked at from the point of view of Trump, the party and the nation, it would be a win-win-win.

Or, as we might have to call it, a WIN-win-win.

Read more from Fred Hiatts archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook.
A paddle boarder on the Pacific Ocean as the sun sets off of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu in 2013. (Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press)

We Americans have a confused and contradictory relationship with vacation. In theory, we love it; in practice, we often dread it. So much expectation is heaped on a few weeks of free time that disappointment, if not inevitable, is common. Worse, our escape from the job and daily routine fills us with anxiety that, somehow, this interlude will inflict a gruesome revenge once we return to work.

Nevertheless, we go forth.

We hustle to beaches, mountains, national parks, theme parks, unfamiliar cities or (best yet!) the back yard. The democratization of recreation is one of the 20th centurys quiet upheavals. Leisure travel spending in 2015 totaled nearly $651 billion and involved 1.7 billion person-trips, says the U.S. Travel Association. In the 19th century, only the rich could abandon sweltering cities for cooler resorts: Saratoga, N.Y.; Newport, R.I.; Cape May, N.J.

But some of us have trouble letting go. Millions of Americans arent taking all the vacation time theyve earned  and thats a commentary on Americas new work culture.

Here are the numbers. Among full-time U.S. workers, about 90 percent receive some paid vacation, says the Labor Department. From 1978 to around 2000, these workers earned  and took  an average of 20 days a year of vacation, according to studies done by a travel industry group called Project Time Off. In 2015, full-time workers actually earned almost 22 days of vacation but took only 16. About half of workers leave some vacation days unused.

This amounts to 658 million unused days, worth about $223 billion in spending, the study says. Naturally, the travel industry tends to describe this as a crisis. It would prefer to see all that money going into the coffers of airlines, restaurants, theme parks and other tourism businesses. It regards people who dont use all their vacation time as slightly deranged or worse. The industrys term for employees who dont exhaust their vacation days is work martyr.

You might think that this allergy to pleasure reflects the unsteady state of the U.S. labor market. People dont spend too much time away from the office for fear that their jobs will have disappeared when they return. There may be something to this. After all, the gap between vacation-earned and vacation-taken first appeared around 2000, just as the tech boom was ending, and has gotten worse ever since.

Some survey data are consistent with this view. When asked why they dont take more vacation, respondents to the Project Time Off study cited the following: fear of returning to a mountain of work (37 percent); a belief that no one else can do the job (30 percent); a decision that I cannot financially afford a vacation (30 percent).

But if the business cycles ups and downs mainly caused these anxieties, then the economys recovery (todays unemployment rate: 4.7 percent) should have reversed them. It should encourage workers to use more of their vacation time. It hasnt. What truly unnerves workers, argues study author Katie Denis, is growing Internet connectivity, from email to smartphones. The boundaries between work and home have blurred; the office is omnipresent, she says.

There is a new work culture. Americans increasingly check email on vacation or limit their time away from the office. Interestingly, these attitudes are strongest among millennials (born 1981 to 1997) and, says Denis, disprove the common notion that younger Americans are slackers who feel entitled to jobs. To the contrary, she cites figures  destined for a future report  showing why millennials are more fearful than most others of taking longer vacations:

 30 percent want to show complete dedication to work (compared with 22 percent overall).

 27 percent dont want to be seen as replaceable (compared with 19 percent).

 27 percent feel guilty about using vacation time (compared with 19 percent).

Probably most Europeans regard Americans obsession with work as lunacy. In Europe, vacations are a right. Countries in the European Union must provide at least a month. In 2014, average French employees worked one-fifth fewer hours than their American counterparts, reports the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

In some ways, the European system is superior to ours, and in other ways, it isnt. Encumbered by regulations, their labor markets are not especially flexible, and long-term unemployment, especially among the young, is a persistent problem. Americans focus on work reflects ambition, insecurity and personal identity. These old values survive and infuse the new work culture. Its worth remembering that our disregard of vacations also affirms that the American work ethic  often declared dead  endures.

Read more from Robert Samuelsons archive.
The June 17 editorial Gov. Hogans principled stand heaped praise on Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) for refusing to endorse presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, claiming that Mr. Hogan is putting principle and country over party. Well, its great that Mr. Hogan is refusing to endorse Mr. Trump, but he is clinging to some of Mr. Trumps outrageous positions and statements.

For example, the June 15 Metro article  I dont listen to Donald Trump, governor says reported that Mr. Hogan repeated his concerns about resettling Syrian refugees in Maryland, calling his request last fall to halt the flow of refugees a very reasonable and a very moderate one.  I beg to differ. Denying people in desperate need entry into this country on specious grounds is neither reasonable nor moderate. Seventysix members of Marylands legislature sent Mr. Hogan a letter opposing his stand on refugees.

Several counties and cities in Maryland have passed resolutions opposing the scapegoating of refugees; other county and city governments in the state have sent letters. And now a federal judge in Texas has ruled that the effort to keep Syrian refugees out of that state is unconstitutional. It isnt enough to back away from supporting Mr. Trump. If Republicans are to be considered principled, they also need to back away from the xenophobic positions that Mr. Trump articulates, including his anti-refugee statements.

Jean Athey, Brookeville

The author is a co-founder of

Maryland Welcomes Refugees.

The editorial board rightly commended Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) for using common sense and principle in his stated refusal to vote for Donald Trump. Many of us have witnessed Republicans tying themselves in knots to defend someone who was denounced earlier as a danger. Those Republicans have the integrity of a bowl of Jell-O.

However, for Marylanders of a certain age, the act of refusing to back the person at the head of their partys ticket is not all that difficult when the stakes are high. In 1966, George P. Mahoney won the Democratic spot for governor with slightly more than 30 percent of the vote. Attorney General Thomas B. Finian and Rep. Carlton R. Sickles split the Democratic primary vote. Mahoney ran on an anti-open-housing plank, among other things, and used the discriminatory coded slogan Your home is your castle  protect it. Many Democrats did not vote for Baltimore City Comptroller Hyman A. Pressman, who ran as an independent. They thought he didnt have a chance.

Consequently, many Democrats ended up voting for Republican Spiro Agnew. He was thought at the time to be moderate. Mahoneys politics were considered anathema by many. It was better for a Democrat to vote for a Republican moderate than a Democrat whose politics was toxic. Agnew won the governorship.

Marc Stein, Rockville
The June 9 editorial Poland tests the rule of law was critical of Polands recent actions to reform its judiciary and asserted that its government had revoked several appointments to its constitutional court, packed it with its own nominees and changed its procedures to require that its rulings be backed by two-thirds of the justices. The editorial stated that when Polands constitutional court found these actions unconstitutional, the new government refused to accept its decision and its leaders dismissed the European Unions determination that Poland had compromised the rule of law in its tampering with its constitutional court.

Are another democratically elected governments actions, taken in accordance with its own laws, to reform its judiciary a matter for censure? How would a fledging United States have taken criticism from another country in 1801 when Thomas Jefferson refused to carry out John Adamss 11th-hour judicial appointments of William Marbury and others under a questionable judiciary act, which the Supreme Court later struck down in part in Marbury v. Madison?

Poland is a democracy and staunch U.S. ally. Its constitutional court is a vestige of Wojciech Jaruzelskis communist government and was packed with additional justices just before Polands recent election.

What a democratically elected government in another country decides to do to reform its judiciary is not our business or cause for rebuke.

Terrell Roberts, Kensington
I am shocked at the irresponsible and outrageous statement from Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) that President Obama is responsible for the tragedy in Orlando [Obama, Biden console survivors, families of victims, news, June 17]. Mr. McCain, the National Rifle Association and everyone who opposes gun control share the guilt.

Gordon F. Brown, Bethesda

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) accused President Obama of being directly responsible for the Orlando massacre because our troops were withdrawn from Iraq. (Mr. McCain later said he misspoke and that Mr. Obama was not personally responsible.) He contended that was the reason for the formation of the Islamic State. It is a pity that Mr. McCain has such a short memory.

It was then-President George W. Bush, Mr. McCain and others who voted to send our troops to Iraq who bear the responsibility.

And it was the Bush administration that committed to the Iraq pullout before Mr. Obama became president.

Had we not invaded Iraq on trumped-up charges, there would be no Islamic State.

John O Hara, Bowie
Max Boot is a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

The world is transfixed by Britains referendum Thursday over whether to stay in the European Union. Some of the most interested and anxious spectators of the Brexit debate are in the Baltic republics, where I recently spent a week meeting with political and military leaders as part of a delegation from the Jamestown Foundation.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania know what can happen when Europe isnt united. Their freedom came to an end in 1940 when Soviet troops marched in, followed by Nazi troops the next year. Britain and France were too busy fighting for their own survival to offer assistance. The United States was still pursuing isolationism. Nor was the West able to do anything when, in 1944, the Red Army reoccupied the Baltics, imposing a brutal dictatorship that would last until 1991.

The Balts are prosperous and free now, but for how long? With a total population of just 6.2 million and just 56,000 military troops, the Baltic states sit next door to Russia, with 142 million people and more than 3 million troops in its active duty and reserve forces. Already Russias dictator, Vladimir Putin, has invaded Georgia and Ukraine. What is to stop him from marching into the Baltics?

The immediate deterrent is provided by NATO: All of the Baltic states are NATO members, and other NATO members, including the United States, are pledged to come to their defense if they are attacked. But the Balts are also members of the European Union, and they are convinced that a strong and vibrant E.U. is also necessary to maintain their prosperity and security. The E.U. enforces economic sanctions on Russia and provides the financial support needed for its more vulnerable members in Eastern Europe to withstand Russias economic pressure, such as threats to shut off the flow of natural gas.

That is why the Balts are alarmed at the prospect of Brexit passing. Their message for Britons is: Lead, not leave.

The Balts admire the Brits and believe that with their shared devotion to free trade, British membership in the E.U. serves their interests, because it counterbalances the more statist and protectionist impulses of Germany and France. Britain is also in favor of a stronger anti-Russian stance than are Germany and France.

If Britain left the E.U., the Balts fear that Scotland, which is more pro-E.U. than the rest of the United Kingdom, would leave Britain. Scotland just happens to be where Britains nuclear deterrent is based aboard four Vanguard-class submarines. The naval base at Faslane could be relocated, but it would be costly to do so at a time when the British defense budget has already been cut to the bone. Odds are that a Britain outside the E.U. would be smaller and weaker than it is today.

Moreover, if Britain does vote for Brexit, it will lead to a period of turmoil with Brits and other Europeans debating the nature of their future relationship. Britain and the E.U. will have to pass a trade treaty, and the terms are sure to be contentious. While the negotiations are going on, Europeans will be focused inward  not at the external threat to the east.

The Balts fear, finally, that a British exit could set off a chain reaction of other exits. There is great unhappiness with the E.U. in many member states, and Putin has been supporting anti-E.U. parties in Europe of both the far left and far right.

Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party and a leading pro-Brexit voice, has harsh words for Brussels but nothing but kind words for Moscow. He has expressed admiration for Putin and been a regular guest on the Russia Today propaganda channel.

Frances far-right National Front, led by Marine Le Pen, has admitted receiving tens of millions of euros in loans from a Kremlin-linked bank. Russia is also supporting in various ways other extremist parties, including the far-right Jobbik in Hungary, the far-left Podemos in Spain, the far-left Syriza in Greece and the far-right Freedom Party in Austria, that are pro-Russia and anti-E.U. Oh, and Putin goes out of his way to praise Donald Trump, who has called NATO obsolete and vowed to improve relations with Russia.

Its clear that the Russians are hoping to promote disunity in the West by breaking up the two alliances that oppose them  NATO and the E.U. The Balts are concerned  and so should we be  that a British vote for Brexit would play into Putins hands. The last thing the West needs is to see Europe divided, allowing Putins Russia to use a divide-and-conquer strategy. British voters may not care what anyone else thinks, but theres a good reason their allies want them to stay in the E.U.
The Supreme Court declined to take up the case to elaborate on individual gun ownership, but across the street from the building, the question embroils Congress. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)

The Supreme Court declined Monday to review bans on a lengthy list of firearms that New York and Connecticut have classified as assault weapons, the latest example of the justices turning down an opportunity to elaborate on an individuals right to gun ownership.

With an emotional debate about gun control reigniting across the street at the Capitol, the justices without comment said they would not review lower-court decisions upholding the laws.

Connecticuts ban was expanded shortly after a gunman used one of the military-style semiautomatic weapons on the list to kill 20 students and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown in 2012.

The decision Monday was not a surprise, as the justices have previously declined to review other lower-court decisions that uphold bans passed by cities and states. Maryland, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and New, Jersey as well as many cities and towns, have similar laws. None of the legal challenges to them have been successful in lower courts.

These prohibitions were enacted after a federal ban expired in 2004. Attempts to revive the federal ban have failed, although advocates are trying in the wake of the massacre at an Orlando nightclub that left 49 victims dead.

Orlando shooter Omar Mateen used the assault-style rifle Sig Sauer MCX to kill at least 49 people, authorities say. Heres what you need to know about the guns some are calling the gold standard for mass murder. (Editor's note: This video has been updated with more specific information.) (Gillian Brockell/The Washington Post)

Like other laws, Connecticuts ban includes semiautomatic guns and high-capacity magazines, covers popular weapons such as AR-15s and AK-47s, and names more than 180 weapons that cannot be sold.

But the individuals and organizations challenging the law said the state is an outlier in banning weapons that are popular and protected in the rest of the country.

In truth, the odd assortment of firearms Connecticut calls assault weapons are mechanically identical to any other semiautomatic firearm  arms that, as no one disputes, are exceedingly common and fully protected by the Second Amendment, the challengers said in their petition to the court.

Gun rights advocates have urged the court to review such bans, saying that they violate the courts 2008 decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, which said individuals have a right to gun ownership for self-protection.

After recognizing the individual right for the first time in Heller, which covered the federal enclave of the District, the court made clear in a subsequent case that state and local governments, like Congress, could not prohibit individual gun ownership.

But the court has not shown any interest since then in elaborating on what exactly that right covers. And in the process, the justices have passed up the chance to scrutinize lower-court decisions that have upheld the laws banning certain weapons as well as laws requiring tight restrictions on those who can legally carry guns outside their homes.

When the Supreme Court declined last December to review a lower-court decision upholding such a ban, Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia wrote that a similar law flouts the courts Second Amendment jurisprudence. Scalia died in February.

They criticized lower-court decisions that have allowed jurisdictions to impose what Thomas called categorical bans on firearms that millions of Americans commonly own for lawful purposes.

The lower court said the legislators in Connecticut were justified in banning the weapons.

The justices turned down a separate petition challenging New Yorks law. The full U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Richmond is currently considering Marylands ban. At oral argument, the case seemed likely to follow the pattern set by other appeals courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, which in October 2015 reviewed and let stand the bans in New York and Connecticut.

Because the prohibitions are substantially related to the important governmental interests of public safety and crime reduction, they pass constitutional muster, a unanimous panel of that court decided.
On June 20, the Supreme Court voted 5 to 3 in a case involving evidence seized after an illegal police stop. Here's what Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her blistering dissent. (Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post)

On June 20, the Supreme Court voted 5 to 3 in a case involving evidence seized after an illegal police stop. Here's what Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her blistering dissent. (Monica Akhtar/The Washington Post)

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that courts need not throw out evidence of a crime even if the arresting police officer used unlawful tactics to obtain it.

But the low-profile case more likely will be remembered for a fierce and personal dissent from Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who said the decision would exacerbate illegal stops of minorities. Her 12-page opinion explained the talk that black and brown parents have with their children about police interactions, invoked Ferguson, Mo., and, without direct acknowledgment, referenced the sentiments of the Black Lives Matter movement.

The court voted 5 to 3 to reverse a decision of the Utah Supreme Court that threw out drug-possession evidence seized from Edward Strieff in 2006.

Mondays U.S. Supreme Court majority agreed that South Salt Lake police officer Douglas Fackrell did not have reasonable suspicion to stop Strieff as he exited a house being watched for drug activity. But once Fackrell radioed in and found that there was an outstanding warrant on Strieff for a traffic violation, he was able to arrest and search him, and the discovery of the drugs was legitimate, the justices ruled.

While Officer Fackrells decision to initiate the stop was mistaken, his conduct thereafter was lawful, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the majority. He said the intervening discovery of the warrant meant the search that discovered the drugs was allowed.

The ruling was unusual in one way because it was the first time since the death of Justice Antonin Scalia that one of the courts consistent liberals  Justice Stephen G. Breyer  joined colleagues on the right to create a conservative majority.

But more memorable will be the blistering dissents written by Breyers fellow liberal justices Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, joined at least in part by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Kagans was a point-by-point disagreement with the majoritys misapplication of the courts precedents, a ruling she said offers police incentive to violate the Constitution.

But Sotomayor  writing only for myself, and drawing on my professional experiences  produced the kind of personal essay that has made the courts only Hispanic member a hero to liberals and caused conservatives to label her an activist.

The white defendant in this case shows that anyones dignity can be violated in this manner, Sotomayor wrote. But it is no secret that people of color are disproportionate victims of this scrutiny.

She referenced writers Michelle Alexander, W.E.B Du Bois and Ta-Nehisi Coates, and wrote of the conversations that minority parents for generations have had with their children, out of fear of how an officer with a gun will react to them.

By legitimizing the conduct that produces this double consciousness, this case tells everyone, white and black, guilty and innocent, that an officer can verify your legal status at any time, Sotomayor wrote. It says that your body is subject to invasion while courts excuse the violation of your rights. It implies that you are not a citizen of a democracy but the subject of a carceral state, just waiting to be cataloged.

The strong language came in a case that had gotten little attention. It involved the Fourth Amendments protection against unlawful searches and seizures and a court-developed standard called the exclusionary rule, which excludes evidence obtained by police in an unlawful manner.

The Utah Supreme Court found that the rule applied to the situation involving Fackrell and Strieff.

Fackrell in December 2006 was checking out an anonymous tip that a house was being used for drug sales. He watched the house for about three hours over the course of a week.

At some point, Fackrell decided he would question the next person he saw leave the house, which was Strieff. Fackrell explained his purposes and asked Strieff for identification. He called in the information and found that there was a warrant for Strieffs arrest on a minor traffic violation. He arrested Strieff, searched him and discovered drugs.

The Utah court said the evidence must be suppressed, because Strieff had no reason in the first place to suspect that Strieff had done anything wrong. It said the only way the search could be legal was if, after the initial stop, Strieff admitted to a crime or consented to the search.

But Thomas and the majority disagreed Monday.

The discovery of the arrest warrant attenuated the connection between the unlawful stop and the evidence seized from Strieff incident to arrest, Thomas wrote.

Fackrells initial instinct was unlawful, Thomas wrote, but there was no reason to believe that it was part of any systemic or recurrent police misconduct. To the contrary, all the evidence suggests that the stop was an isolated instance of negligence that occurred in connection with a bona fide investigation of a suspected drug house.

Thomas said that were evidence of a dragnet search presented here, the outcome might be different.

Besides Breyer, Thomas was joined by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justices Anthony M. Kennedy and Samuel A. Alito Jr.

Sotomayor replied that the Fourth Amendment does not tolerate an officers unreasonable searches and seizures just because he did not know any better.

She added: Respectfully, nothing about this case is isolated.

She and Kagan both noted that outstanding warrants are now a common feature in American life. A Justice Department report in the aftermath of the riots in Ferguson found that there were 16,000 outstanding warrants in the city of 21,000 residents.

The states and federal government maintain databases with over 7.8 million outstanding warrants, the vast majority of which appear to be for minor offenses, Sotomayor wrote. We must not pretend that the countless people who are routinely targeted by police are isolated. They are the canaries in the coal mine whose deaths, civil and literal, warn us that no one can breathe in this atmosphere.

The case is Utah v. Strieff.
Americans for Prosperity field director Jeremy Baker speaks with Laura Ocker while canvassing on June 16 in King of Prussia, Pa. (Mark Makela for The Washington Post)

Jeremy Baker, a field director for the Americans for Prosperity conservative group, was looping through this neatly manicured Philadelphia suburb on a mission last week to make the case against Democratic Senate contender Katie McGinty.

But nearly every voter had someone else on their minds: Donald Trump.

I thought you were going to ask about the presidential campaign, said Laura Ocker, a registered Republican in her 50s who quickly assured Baker that she was voting for GOP Sen. Patrick J. Toomey. Thats a lot harder.

Baker let the comment pass. The 1,200 people employed by AFP and other groups in the Koch brothers political network are mute when it comes to Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

Its an odd situation for the powerful conservative operation, which was expected to harness its sprawling machinery on behalf of this years Republican nominee. But Trumps incendiary statements and inconsistent policy stances have dismayed Charles Koch, the billionaire industrialist who leads the network and who has said he is unlikely to support the real estate mogul. Instead, Koch-backed groups are training their resources on boosting vulnerable Republican Senate candidates.

Americans for Prosperity field director Jeremy Baker uses an iPhone with targeted voter information and a map to canvass in King of Prussia, Pa. (Mark Makela for The Washington Post)

Last week, AFP launched ground operations on behalf of GOP incumbents in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Wisconsin  the earliest the group has ever begun making explicit political appeals in the field.

But just a few hours into the effort, it was apparent how difficult it will be to avoid Trumps outsize presence in the campaign. And it was clear that even if the Koch network stays out of the presidential race, it could still end up being one of Trumps best assets.

The Koch operations field teams are gathering reams of information on voters in key battleground states, intelligence that filters back to the Republican National Committee and GOP candidates through a data-sharing agreement. Even more valuable is the early organizing push by the networks robust ground force, which far outstrips Trumps meager field operation and could help prod ambivalent voters to the polls.

[Trump doesnt have a national campaign. So the GOP is trying to run one for him.]

That includes voters such as police officer Joe Glasgow, who was just waking up after working a night shift when Baker stopped by his home on a drizzly morning to discuss the Senate race.

Glasgow assured the AFP organizer that he liked Toomey, then offered, unbidden: Im not a big Trump guy. But he will probably end up voting for the GOP candidate, he told a reporter later, adding, I despise Hillary Clinton.

Over the next three days, AFPs state organizers, and volunteers and staffers from around the country, blitzed 375,000 independent and Republican-leaning voters in Pennsylvania and 434,000 in Wisconsin with porch visits and phone calls. The networks top Senate priorities also include races in Nevada and probably Florida  all swing states that will be pivotal in the White House contest.

Beth Anne Mumford, Pennsylvania state director for Americans for Prosperity, addresses volunteers and staffers before canvassing. (Mark Makela for The Washington Post)

Corey Lewandowski, who left his job as Trumps campaign manager Monday, said last week, I would think any effort to turn out Republican and right-leaning voters would benefit Mr. Trump.

Koch Industries general counsel Mark Holden said the organizations current focus is simply on promoting Senate candidates. He declined to discuss a private meeting he had last week with Trump campaign officials at their request. But he said network officials have yet to see a presidential candidate who shares their commitment to limited government and is not engaging in mudslinging.

Our priorities are always the issues and the framework for a free society, said Holden, who serves on the board of Freedom Partners, the networks main funding arm. This cycle, weve looked at where we have candidates that match up with that and the policies we care about.

Charles Koch, his brother David and their conservative brethren are on track to spend $750 million this cycle through the network, with roughly a third  $250 million  financing the policy and political campaigns of groups such as AFP, Freedom Partners Action Fund, Concerned Veterans for America, the LIBRE Initiative and Generation Opportunity, officials said.

Thats less than the $889 million spending goal that the network initially set at the beginning of the two-year election cycle, in part because of the networks decision to stay out of the presidential race. Holden said the original figure was more of wish-list number that was adjusted to reflect the reality of where we are now.

Even with a smaller footprint, the Koch operation is viewed as singular on both sides of the aisle. Most of the money flows into an alliance of nonprofit groups, allowing the organization to exert tremendous influence without revealing its donors.

I think its the most powerful machinery that has ever been assembled to execute at the state level, said Rob Stein, a Democratic strategist who has studied conservative political networks. They have created a virtual political party.

Already, the network has spent $15.4 million on ads in Senate races and has reserved $30 million more for August and September. But much of the money in this cycle is going into expanding its ground force and intensifying a data-analytics effort conducted by a Freedom Partners-backed company called i360, which maintains profiles of 194 million voters.

[Koch political network plans to spend more than $42 million on Senate ads through September]

After the 2012 election, we realized our capabilities werent where they needed to be, Holden said. We really upped our game and our investment in the permanent infrastructure.

The central database maintained by i360 includes information gleaned from tens of millions of voter contacts made by Koch network groups, along with data from numerous Republican campaigns that have hired the company and agreed to share the data they collected in the field. In this election cycle, i360 has more than 200 GOP campaigns and state parties as clients, officials said.

That reach has allowed the company to deepen its portraits of each voter. Currently, i360 has at least 400 to 500 pieces of data  and in some cases thousands of pieces  about each individual. The firms president, Michael Palmer, said a regular flow of new information makes it possible to constantly refresh and refine voter profiles.

Voters minds change, Palmer said. Making sure that data is updated in real time, or at least on a daily basis, so its actionable to the field is key to what weve built over the last few years.

The company spent most of last year engaged in data-science experiments, working to better identify not only which voters need persuasion but also which messages are most likely to move them, Palmer said. That information feeds directly back to volunteers on the ground, who are automatically served up scripts on their iPads tailored to the homes they are contacting.

If you go up to someone even remotely interested in health care and you say Obamacare in the first breath, they are almost always going to talk to you, said Tim Phillips, AFPs president.

[The Trump effect: Could Arizona go blue for the first time in 20 years?]

The Koch network is also pouring resources into tests that measure the effectiveness of various political tactics. In one experiment in Ohio in April, the organization found that waging an intense door-knocking and phone-call program over one weekend was comparable to a three-week television ad buy in lowering Democratic Senate candidate and former governor Ted Stricklands favorability ratings.

Thats one reason AFP decided to launch an early effort on the ground this month directly advocating for specific candidates, rather than the softer issue-based campaigns it typically runs until closer to Election Day. As a nonprofit social welfare organization, the group is permitted to spend less than half its money on such political activity.

You guys get a sneak preview of what were going to be doing pretty aggressively over the next few months, AFPs Pennsylvania state director, Beth Anne Mumford, told a group of volunteers gathered in a small office in a King of Prussia office park last Thursday.

Mumford and a group headed out into the wet morning with piles of slick brochures featuring a picture of a man holding a fistful of cash over the words, Pennsylvanians Cannot Afford Katie McGinty In The Senate.

Most of the voters they encountered, like Ocker, were already solidly committed to back Toomey. But she sighed heavily when a reporter asked about her views on Trump.

I still believe in the Republican Party, but I have mixed feelings about the candidate, Ocker said. He doesnt stick to one viewpoint, which scares me.

So how does she plan to vote? Will she sit out the presidential race?

Ocker paused. I think I probably will vote Republican.
The Supreme Court on Monday limited the scope of federal racketeering law, handing R.J. Reynolds a victory in its effort to fend off a lawsuit by European Union nations accusing the cigarette maker of running a global money-laundering scheme involving the smuggling of narcotics into Europe.

The justices in their 4-to-3 decision reversed a lower-court ruling in favor of the E.U. and 26 member states, saying that the racketeering law does not extend to claims concerning conduct that takes place overseas. The court sent the case back for further proceedings on some other claims in the lawsuit.

The case focused on whether the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), a U.S. law used to target illegal conspiracies including organized crime, applied to overseas conduct.

The E.U. countries accused Winston-Salem, N.C.-based R.J. Reynolds in 2002 of directing a decade-long scheme from the United States that involved the smuggling of illegal narcotics into Europe by Colombian and Russian crime groups, the laundering of proceeds from the sale of those drugs, and the use of the proceeds by importers to buy R.J. Reynolds cigarettes.

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit in New York City ruled in 2014 that the case could go forward.

Only seven justices heard the March 21 oral arguments in the case. Justice Antonin Scalia died in February, while Justice Sonia Sotomayor recused herself.

In another case, the court unanimously ruled against Cuozzo Speed Technologies in its challenge to a federal agencys procedures for canceling patents. The case involved a vehicle speedometer that tells drivers when they are speeding.

The justices decision backed a 2015 appeals court ruling that upheld the U.S. Patent and Trademark Offices invalidation of New Jersey-based Cuozzos speedometer patent.

The legal question was whether a federal agencys procedures have made it too easy to successfully cancel patents. In an opinion by Justice Stephen G. Breyer, the court backed the process.

Cuozzos speedometer patent was invalidated in a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office review procedure after being challenged by GPS device maker Garmin in 2012.

In other actions Monday, the court agreed to review a lower-court decision that invalidated part of a former U.S. labor board officials tenure, in a case that could curb the next presidents power to staff top positions in his or her administration.

The justices will hear an appeal of a 2015 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit saying that once President Obama nominated Lafe Solomon in 2011 to be general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Solomon should not have continued to fill the position on a temporary or acting basis pending Senate confirmation.

The appeals court said a 1998 federal law bars anyone from serving in an acting role while they are the nominee unless they were previously the first assistant to that post.

The Supreme Courts ruling in the case could decide whether the White House can temporarily fill high-level administration positions with nominees waiting for confirmation.

Although Obama withdrew Solomons stalled nomination in 2013, about six current high-level officials are serving on an acting basis while they await a Senate vote, the NLRB said in its petition for review.

Also Monday, the high court agreed to decide whether immigrants detained for more than six months by the U.S. government while deportation proceedings take place are eligible for a hearing in which they can argue for their release.

The decision by the justices to hear a case focusing on the rights of people flagged for deportation comes during a presidential election campaign in which immigration has been a hot topic.

The court agreed to hear an Obama administration appeal of an October 2015 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco that upheld a lower-court injunction requiring a hearing after six months of detention.

The long-running class-action litigation brought by the American Civil Liberties Union includes some immigrants who were held at the border when seeking illegal entry into the United States and others, including legal permanent residents, who have been convicted of crimes.
Mini-demonstrators for Brexit are seen in front of a miniature of British Parliament in the Mini-Europe miniature park in Brussels on June 20. (Olivier Hoslet/European Pressphoto Agency)

Days ahead of Thursdays British referendum on whether to break free from the European Union, many here fear the decision could lead to the destruction of one of the most ambitious political projects since the Holy Roman Empire.

Euroskeptics across the continent are salivating at the prospect of Britains departure, hoping to sever their own territories from a map that stretches from the sunny coasts of Portugal to the frigid taiga of Finland. With populist parties surging across the continent, the Brits could be only the first to leave.

The region has been dramatically tested in recent years, by the Greek debt crisis, renewed Russian aggression and, more recently, a historic migration crisis. Britains exit, officials and experts say, could provide the biggest challenge yet.

[Britains E.U. vote could bring Camerons government crashing down]

Britains departure could also damage the unions relationship with Washington. Britain remains one of the biggest advocates of globalization in Europe, and its exit could give new voice to trade protectionists across the region. Among the casualties, critics fear, could be plans for a massive free-trade deal between the United States and Europe.

On June 23, Britain faces a fateful decision: whether or not to leave the European Union. And the world will be watching. (Daron Taylor,Jason Aldag,Danielle Kunitz/The Washington Post)

The question is whether a British exit  or Brexit  could spark a stampede for the door in other countries where the Brussels-seated body remains highly unpopular. At the moment, the list of countries that might consider bolting is relatively short: France, Denmark, the Netherlands and a handful of others. But that could change quickly, experts warn.

Even if nations defuse their own burgeoning Euroskeptic movements, the days in which leaders convened in Brussels to hand ever more sovereignty to the E.U. may be over if Britain departs, diplomats say. That would be a major blow to a project that started after World War II to bind nations together so tightly that they could never battle one another.

[What would Britain look like post-Brexit?]

Some of those who have occupied the E.U.s highest offices now say they were mistaken to think that if they knocked down economic barriers, a feeling of political unity underneath the blue-and-gold E.U. flag would follow.

We have the flag and the anthem. We dont have much of what supports the flag and the anthem, said Pascal Lamy, who was the chief of staff to Jacques Delors, the leader of the European Commission from 1985 to 1995 and considered one of the main architects of the modern E.U.

The turmoil is extremely disappointing to the founding fathers, who thought they were like medieval alchemists, Lamy said. They thought they could transform the stone of economic integration into the gold of political integration.

As leave started to beat remain in British opinion polls in recent weeks, E.U. diplomats say that their sense of complacency was replaced by deep nervousness. Already, pressure to hold E.U. referendums is leaping across the English Channel. An Ipsos Mori poll last month found that 55 percent of French voters and 58 percent of Italian voters wanted plebiscites of their own.

[Frances triumphant far-right and the echoes of Donald Trump]

In France, where the far-right, Euroskeptic National Front has surged in the polls ahead of 2017 presidential elections, one center-right presidential hopeful suggested holding a referendum as a way of reaffirming Frances commitment to European values. Bruno Le Maire, who was Frances agriculture minister during the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy, last month proposed giving the floor back to the sovereign people about the European question.

But many analysts are not confident that French voters would choose to remain in the E.U. if presented with the choice. French views of the E.U. are even worse than Britons, according to a poll this month from the Pew Research Center. The center found that 61 percent of French people have negative views of the E.U., compared with 48 percent in Britain.

[Immigration backlash at the heart of British push to leave the E.U.]

Growing anger at the E.U. is also a product of what its critics see as its many failings: Running Greece into the ground in exchange for the right to remain in the euro zone. Failing to solve massive unemployment across southern Europe. Miscalculating the Russian response to the E.U. bid to bring Ukraine closer to Brussels. And the E.U.s fractured handling of the refugee crisis  including forging a deal with a man increasingly seen as an emerging dictator at Europes doorstep, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Proponents of the E.U., meanwhile, have sometimes struggled to mount arguments that appeal to the heart, not just the pocketbook. Part of the difficulty is that the bloc is now so large and diverse that there is no single, unifying selling point.

There is no European ideal that is clearly defined and on which all members would agree, said Latvias ambassador to the E.U., Sanita Pavluta-Deslandes. Latvia joined the E.U. in 2004, in part as a shield from its former rulers in the Kremlin.

In Vienna on Friday, leaders of right-wing and nationalist parties across Europe gathered for a show of force ahead of the British vote, calling it a step toward what Marine Le Pen, leader of Frances National Front, described as Europe a la carte.

Marcus Pretzell, a German member of the European Parliament from the anti-E.U., anti-migrant Alternative for Germany party, told reporters at the gathering that if Great Britain should leave the European Union . . . one will perhaps see that, contrary to all prophecies of doom, theres life after the European Union. Pretzells party recently made sweeping gains in local elections.

[If Britain leaves the E.U., Germany could be one of the biggest losers]

Many European leaders say they will impose tough divorce terms on Britain if it votes to leave, in part because they fear that making it too easy would embolden their own Euroskeptic voices.

In is in, out is out, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble said in a recent interview in Der Spiegel. He seemed to rule out the possibility that Britain could retain tariff-free access to E.U. nations if it decided to leave the bloc, contradicting a key argument of Britains E.U. opponents.

Still, even if Britain opts to leave, Germany and the rest of the E.U. have massive incentives to find a way to maintain a close economic relationship with London, and vice versa. In a recent op-ed piece in the Euro am Sonntag weekly, Matthias Wissmann, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry, noted that almost a third of all new cars sold in Britain  or 810,000  were manufactured in Germany. And of the almost 1.6 million cars manufactured in Britain in 2015, 1.2 million were exported.

For the thousands of British citizens in Brussels who have devoted their careers to the E.U., the razor-thin poll numbers are a painful counterweight to the influence they feel they have had since Britain joined the blocs predecessor in 1973.

The E.U. has become far less Francophone, far more Anglophone, far more globalized, said Michael Leigh, a British citizen who left the European Commission in 2011 as director general for enlargement, one of the highest civil-service positions in the system.

Now Leigh is a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, watching the turmoil from outside the system.

If you actually look at policy and substance, a great deal of what the E.U. does today bears the mark of the British, he said.

James McAuley in Paris and Stephanie Kirchner in Berlin contributed to this report.

Read more

Brexit could send shock waves across U.S. and global economy

In Brexit vote, emotional ties to Europe probably wont be on Brits minds

Its not just Britain: A new poll shows Europeans elsewhere are tired of the E.U.

Todays coverage from Post correspondents around the world
The Ministry of Transportation and Israel Ports, headed by Minister Israel Katz, has drawn up plans for how a seaport and airport built on an artificial island off the coast of the Gaza Strip would look. (Ministry of Transportation and Israel Ports)

 The Israeli government is considering a proposal to build an artificial island off the Gaza Strip that a top official says would give Palestinians living in the besieged enclave their one and only seaport  and maybe a hotel and an international airport, too.

The Israeli minister of intelligence who is promoting the plan, Israel Katz, said the Jewish state is actively seeking financial partners for the $5 billion project.

Katz mentioned the Saudis and Chinese as possible builders of the port  or maybe a mysterious Israeli entrepreneur. He declined to name names.

Why would the Saudi monarch construct a billion-dollar seaport-hotel a few miles from the Zionists coast  when the two governments have no formal relations? Thats unknown.

Katz insisted the project is no fantasy island.

Palestinians swim in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Gaza City. (Mohammed Salem/Reuters)

He said the plan is being debated in Israels security cabinet, where he said it has deep support. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is exploring the option but has not yet made a determination, said an Israeli official involved in the talks. The intelligence minister said he has briefed Obama administration officials on the proposal.

[Airbnb slammed for offering rooms with a view in Jewish settlements]

The Israelis envision the port complex to be constructed atop a man-made island  dredged with sand from the sea bottom, measuring four square miles  that would be located three miles offshore and connected to the mainland by a two-lane bridge.

In Israels planning, the bridge is the crucial component in the scheme, allowing access to the port to be tightly controlled.

A bridge could be closed during hostilities  and though the Israelis dont say this, a section could be blown up in an Israeli airstrike during a war, cutting off the harbor.

Skeptics call the Gaza island proposal farfetched. Critics describe it as another attempt by Israel to blunt criticism over the moribund peace process with the Palestinians and the decade-long trade and travel restrictions that Israel has imposed on Gaza since the Islamist militant movement Hamas took the enclave in 2007.

Hamas and Israel have fought three wars in the last seven years. Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by Israel and the United States. Gaza residents often compare their existence to an open-air prison.

Katz conceded that so far all that exists is a paper study and some drawings. Yet he talked about the project in grand terms, describing it as a way to both guarantee Israels security and award Gaza a portal to the world.

The Israelis have not spoken about the project with Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, which has nominal control of the strip.

Katz said the idea was to build an island connected by a bridge like we saw in New York over the Hudson River  an apparent referral to the George Washington Bridge, which is three-quarters of a mile long and not built across disputed territory fronted by a terrorist group.

The intelligence minister said there would be a checkpoint in the middle of the bridge staffed by international authorities. The island itself would belong to no single country but would have an international legal status and international security forces, he said.

Katz did not know which international authorities would agree to such duty. He suggested NATO.

Israel considers the United Nations a hostile forum, though there are international troops along the Lebanese, Syrian and Egyptian borders.

Israel would be responsible for security in the waters surrounding the island, Katz said.

[How Israel is turning part of the Negev Desert into a cyber-city]

Katz envisions a commercial port on the island that could handle goods coming into and out of Gaza. Currently, goods and people arrive via a crossing with Egypt, which has been closed for most of the last two years, and two others with Israel.

Israel restricts exits  people younger than 50 cannot generally get travel permits unless they need to be hospitalized. The state closely watches what materials move into Gaza, fearful the supplies will be used to make rockets or tunnels.

Palestinians could travel to the island and use the port  through a checkpoint. Thats the idea.

And this would be just the beginning, Katz said. We would create electricity, desalination plants. This island will be an island of initiatives of all kinds.

None of which the Israeli government plans to pay for.

It can be done, said Itamar Yaar, a former deputy head of Israels National Security Council. It is not a fantasy.

But Yaar said other, far less expensive options are available.

Floating islands for example. Or a direct shipping line from Cyprus, secured by Israel. Or more land crossings.

The Palestinians rejected all the plans at the time  they said it is all or nothing, Yaar said. Only way they would agree to any kind of shipment into Gaza would be directly into a Gaza port without security checks.

Palestinians have begged for just a small, ordinary port built on the shoreline, the kind that exist on dozens of little Greek islands  enough to handle a ferry or two and a couple of small freighters. There are about 1.8 million people in Gaza; most depend on food support from the United Nations.

Such an unsecured port would quickly become a duty-free transit zone for weapons and terrorists, Katz said.

Tania Hary, executive director of Gisha, an Israeli human rights group focused on Gaza, said that if the Netanyahu government really wanted to help Gaza there were many more immediate, less-expensive ways to buttress the economy and provide relief.

She said markets already exist for Gazas products in Israel and the occupied West Bank  but Israel denies permits to move the products. What is the real motivation behind this proposal? Hary asked.

Katz said the Israeli military has supported the idea.

Whats special about this is that from both right, left and center, you can find supporters for this, Katz said.

Mokhamir Abu Sada, a professor at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, said, Opening a seaport and airport would help Gaza to end the siege, people could travel, goods could be exported and easily imported from abroad.

But he wondered, How does this work without talking to Hamas or the Palestinian Authority?

If you talk to ordinary people in the street now, I am sure people would accept it and would be happy. After 10 years of blockade and three wars and daily difficulties, people are looking for hope, he said.

The problem of Gaza is political at the end, the professor said. The best solution is to end the occupation and let Palestinians have their own state in Gaza and the West Bank that is connected and livable.

Nakashima reported from Washington. Ruth Eglash in Jerusalem and Hazem Balousha in Gaza City contributed to this report.

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Work has begun to save the holiest shrine in Christendom. It wont be a simple patch-and-paint job.

This is the alpha and omega of restoration projects.

They are going to repair Jesus tomb  with titanium bolts.

Over the next nine months, a team of Greek conservationists will restore the collapsing chapel built above and around the burial cave where the faithful believe that Jesus was buried and rose from the dead after the Crucifixion.

To fix the chapel, which is buckling under its own weight, the crew will have to enter a few square meters of the ruins of the first-century tomb.

1 of 14 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad  Photos of the historic restoration of Christianitys holiest shrine, the tomb of Jesus View Photos The repair project at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalems Old City is decades overdue. Caption The repair project at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalems Old City is decades overdue. June 2, 2016 Pilgrims line up to visit Christs tomb as renovation work on the historic Church of the Holy Sepulchre is underway in Jerusalems Old City. Jim Hollander/European Pressphoto Agency Wait 1 second to continue.

It is called the Holy Rock.

To get there, they will clean centuries of candle soot left from votive lamps; they will reset and anchor the imported marbles; and they will inject 21st-century stabilizing mortar into 12th-century masonry from the Crusader times.

And at the heart of the heart of the edifice, in the center of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Old City of Jerusalem, they will lift the slab where millions of pilgrims have knelt and prayed, where the salt of tears and the wet of sweat have smoothed and worried the hardest stone.

And for the first time in more than 200 years, they will look inside.

[Airbnb slammed for offering rooms with a view in Jewish settlements]

The ruins of what is believed to be a rock-cut tomb are being breached because the chapel built above is falling apart.

Its repair is decades overdue. After years of squabbling among the Christian communities who occupy the site, work to restore the edifice began earlier this month.

Christian pilgrims stand in line near the rotunda as they await entrance into the Tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. (Jim Hollander/EPA)

The conservationists  whose jobs have included repairing the Acropolis in Athens  are not sure what they will find.

This is the most alive place we have ever worked, said Antonia Moropoulou, a leader of the team from the National Technical University of Athens.

We will see what we see, she said.

The conservation team has already probed the chapel and tomb with ground-penetrating radar and laser scanners.

They are flying drones with cameras above the indoor site now, which  like flying drones around the Vatican or Mecca  is not easy.

They have detected a fracture in the rock of the tomb, unknown until today.

They believe that the crack is the result of stresses put upon it by the columns supporting a cupola above. Still. No modern scientist has ever looked inside.

What will they see?

Archaeology at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre has been limited, not only by protective clerics but also by centuries of tradition. The site is considered the most sublime in Christendom, a place of pilgrimage, faith, passion and mystery  not digging and probing.

[Archaeologists rush to dig at Cave of Skulls before looters take everything]

Patriarch Theophilos III, of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, told The Washington Post: There is no doubt that there is some kind of energy. I dont want to describe it, but some kind of energy that emanates from this place.

Theophilos said he has reread the historical accounts of his predecessors who saw the ruins of the tomb when it was last exposed in 1810.

Here in the ancient alleys of Jerusalem, two centuries is not a long time. But in 1809, the last time clerics and workers exposed the Holy Rock, Thomas Jefferson was the American president, people didnt know that germs caused disease and the science of archaeology did not exist.

Theophilos sat perched on a velvet chair in the recesses of the church, surrounded by a dozen members of his retinue, including a pair of bodyguards each sporting a red fez and a long cane to push overeager congregants back.

The previous Crusader-era chapel was destroyed by a catastrophic fire in 1808, the patriarch said.

When the Greeks were rebuilding in 1809, Theophilos said, Everybody was so excited to see part of what has remained of the original cave that served as the tomb of Christ.

Now? To be honest, we have the same feelings, the leader of the Greek church said. You cannot remain indifferent.

He smiled but warned his guest: This is not an archaeological monument. Those stones are not mere stones.

What is there?

The British archaeologist Martin Biddle, who studied the site in the 1990s, speculated that there could be ancient graffiti left by pilgrims somewhere around the Holy Rock or beneath the floor under the rotunda, perhaps scribbles of He is risen!

Or maybe the small, scratched crosses left in the caves of Christians in the first centuries after his death.

Or maybe just cut stone.

Whatever evidence exists, the conservationists wont know until they get there  and even then, will it prove definitively that this was the tomb of Jesus?

The Greek team has promised to keep the church open to visitors and pilgrims throughout the restoration, meaning its members will be working in the deep of the night, the site lit by their own portable generators and a hundred vigil lamps.

This is a very challenging environment. Very profound. Yet very exciting, said Moropoulou, a leader of the Greek team.

Moropoulou said she is both an engineer and a believer.

This is a serious undertaking, she said. We know very well where we are, and we know what we are doing.

A place of piety and blood

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is one of the most popular religious sites in the world.

The cavernous basilica, filled with obscure niches, secret Crusader tombs, and hidden chapels and golden icons, marks the site where Catholic and Eastern Orthodox faiths believe that Jesus died, was buried and rose.

Where heaven and earth meet, said Theophilos.

Every year on Easter Saturday, thousands of Eastern Orthodox Christians pack into the Sepulchre to see the miracle of the Holy Fire, when a bundle of candles is lit by the tomb and passed, hand to hand, to reaffirm for believers the resurrection of Christ and the promise of eternal life.

[The rise and fall of Europe, in maps]

Religious scholars say the earliest followers of the new Jesus movement may have been praying here in A.D. 66. There is abundant evidence that Christian pilgrims have been making their way here since at least the 4th century.

The traditional tomb is now underneath a towering rotunda, cocooned in a small chapel called the Edicule, which according to tradition shelters the remains of the 1st-century burial cave the Bible says belonged to a prominent Jew  and a secret disciple of Jesus  who offered it to Christ.

Today, the site thrums with piety, but history knows it is soaked in blood. There have been at least four Christian chapels erected over the site. The first was by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, who swept aside a pagan temple Hadrian built to the goddess Aphrodite  perhaps a move by Rome to deny early Christians a place of pilgrimage. The Holy Sepulchre was saved by the Muslim conqueror Omar in 638; destroyed by the Egyptian Caliph al-Hakim in 1009; rebuilt by the Crusaders who themselves slaughtered half the city; protected again by the Muslim conqueror Saladin and laid waste again by the fearsome Khwarezmian Turks, whose horsemen rode into the church and lopped off the heads of praying monks.

The last chapel was built by the Greeks, after a tremendous fire, in 1810.

Today, a cage of iron girders, erected as a temporary emergency fix by the British governor in 1947, no longer can sustain the bulging edifice.

It is past time

The Rev. Jerome Murphy-OConnor, in his respected Oxford archaeological guide to the Holy Land, saw the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as a very human collision of the sacred and profane.

One looks for luminous light, but it is dark and cramped, he wrote. One hopes for peace, but the ear is assailed by a cacophony of warring chants.

The priest-archaeologist asked: Is this the place where Christ died and was buried? Yes, very probably.

It has taken years to get the Christian communities that worship at the Holy Sepulchre to agree to the restoration project.

The religious orders that have rights at the Holy Sepulchre  Greek Orthodox, Latin Catholics and Armenian Orthodox, alongside Syrians, Copts and Ethiopians  are notorious squabblers, each fiercely asserting its rights under an Ottoman-era status quo agreement to worship at this altar at that hour on this or that holy day.

It took a poke from the pope and a nod from the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church to get the project rolling  plus a commitment by King Abdullah II of Jordan, a Muslim who has rights as a protector of holy sites in Jerusalem, to foot most of the $3.4 million bill.

The work will finally begin, and it is past time, said the Rev. Peter Vasko, president of the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land.

The place is falling apart, he said.

Vasko recalled the first time he prayed over the covered tomb as a young priest and trembled with the realization, I am not worthy.

This is the real thing, Vasko said. It is not a holy place. It is the holy place.

When the restoration is complete, the British iron girders will be gone, the columns straightened, the tomb bolted, and the limestone and marble scrubbed clean and glowing again in colors pink, yellow, white, black and green.

Asked how long the repairs should last, one of the Greek conservationists guessed a thousand years.

Then, shrugging, Maybe forever, he said.

Hard to tell.

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Erol Onderoglu, the Turkey representative for international rights group Reporters Without Borders, during a press meeting in Istanbul on March 2. (Ozan Kose/AFP/Getty Images)

Turkish authorities on Monday arrested the local representative for Reporters Without Borders, a global press freedom watchdog, in a move likely to draw further criticism of a government already under fire for its crackdown on dissent.

A Turkish court ordered that Erol Onderoglu, the organizations Turkey representative, be placed in pretrial detention on charges of distributing terrorist propaganda. The court also detained journalist Ahmet Nesin and academic Sebnem Korur Fincanci, who serves as head of the Turkey Human Rights Foundation.

All three defendants had testified in front of the public prosecutor about their support for pro-Kurdish media outlet Ozgur Gundem. The publication has been targeted by critics who say it is too close to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a decades-old militant group seeking autonomy for Turkey's ethnic Kurds.

But Turkish authorities consider the PKK a terrorist organization and have moved to suppress voices critical of its military campaign in majority Kurdish towns in the southeast.

Onderoglu and others had expressed solidarity with Ozgur Gundem, participating in a campaign where the defendants each served as editor-in-chief for the day, media reports said. Turkey has detained scores of dissidents for alleged ties to the PKK since fighting intensified about a year ago.

Onderoglu has stood for all persecuted journalists in Turkey and abroad, Reporters Without Borders, widely known by its French acronym, RSF, posted Monday on Twitter.

The Paris-based organization called its employees arrest an unbelievable low for press freedom in Turkey. A senior Turkish official declined to comment on the courts decision.

The arrests show that expressing solidarity is regarded by the authorities as a crime punishable with prison, Dunja Mijatovic, media freedom representative for the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe, said in a statement. The OSCE is a regional security organization based in Vienna.

The authorities should drop the charges and stop using imprisonment as a way to fight differing voices," Mijatovic said.

Turkey has long been one of the world's worst violators of media freedom, according to watchdogs like RSF. In recent years, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has personally gone after critics, bringing hundreds of cases against dissidents for crimes such as insulting the president.

Authorities have also taken a hard line against demonstrations, dispatching riot police to disperse protesters with tear gas and water cannons. On Sunday, security forces fired tear gas and rubber bullets at a pride parade for the transgender population in Istanbul.

The job of the state is not to be an obstacle to citizens practicing their rights, said Levent Piskin, an Istanbul-based lawyer and rights activist. But of course, in Turkey, you can never actually trust the state.

Read more

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Afghan police inspect the site of a suicide attack Monday that hit buses carrying foreign security guards in Kabul. (Shah Marai/AFP via Getty Images)

A suicide bomber killed 14 Nepali and Indian security guards in the Afghan capital on Monday in one of the deadliest attacks on foreign contractors since the war here began nearly 15 years ago.

The attack occurred as two buses transporting the guards  all assigned to security details at the Canadian Embassy  pulled out of a housing compound in the eastern part of Kabul. A suicide bomber approached on foot and blew himself up next to one of the buses.

The attack also wounded nine people, according to the Afghan Interior Ministry.

[A young man is skinned alive. A sign of new Taliban brutality?]

In a statement, the Taliban insurgency asserted responsibility for the attack, saying it was aimed at forces of aggression. But the Islamic State militant group also issued a statement claiming responsibility, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors militant activity.

A Nepalese security guard victim receives treatment at a hospital after a suicide attack in Kabul. (Rahmat Gul/AP)

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned the attack, saying in a statement on Twitter: Todays attack on security workers in Kabul is appalling & cowardly. Our thoughts are with the victims as we stand with the Afghan people.

The attack shattered two months of relative calm in Kabul, but a spate of similar bombings has occurred across Afghanistan since a U.S. drone strike killed Taliban leader Akhtar Mohammad Mansour about a month ago.

[Afghan president puts aside peace bids and vows harsher fight against Taliban]

The guards provided security for Western embassies and firms in Kabul, Afghan officials said.

Kamal Thapa, Nepals foreign minister, condemned what he called a heinous crime against innocent people.

Many contractors who work for Western or large Afghan organizations live in camps on the outskirts of Kabul and are shuttled to work downtown in buses.

Because of a lack of parking and public transportation downtown, Afghan government workers also rely on shuttle buses.

Over the years, the Taliban has stepped up attacks on those buses, many of which have no armed protection.

A Taliban suicide bomber in April attacked a bus carrying government workers on the outskirts of Kabul, killing 11 of them. In January, a similar attack aimed at Afghanistans leading news channel, Tolo, killed seven media workers.

Thousands of Nepalis are thought to be working in Afghanistan, many for large security firms or embassies.

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Mexican federal police clash with teachers during a protest against an education reform and the arrest of two of its leaders, in Oaxaca State, on June 19, 2016. At least six people were killed and dozens injured. (PATRICIA CASTELLANOS/AFP/Getty Images)

The long-simmering dispute between Mexicos federal government and a radical arm of the countrys teachers union erupted into violence over the weekend, as riot police clashed with protesters in the southern state of Oaxaca, leaving at least six dead and more than 100 others wounded.

Teachers canceled classes in Oaxaca on Monday after the violence, where protesters threw rocks and molotov cocktails and set vehicles ablaze. Witnesses reported that police fired into the crowds...

The violence marked the bloodiest moment in a conflict that has intensified during the administration of President Enrique Pena Nieto. As part of Pena Nietos reform agenda, authorities overhauled the public education system, requiring mandatory testing for all teachers.



Teachers clash with Mexican Federal police in Oaxaca on June 20, 2016. (PATRICIA CASTELLANOS/AFP/Getty Images)

The National Coordinator of Education Workers, the dissident faction of the national teachers union, has fought those changes from the beginning by holding protests. Its members, particularly those from the most aggressive branch in Oaxaca, called Section 22, have blocked roads, burned buildings, seized oil-distribution facilities and tried to boycott last years mid term elections.

More recently, federal prosecutors accused union leaders of stealing public funds, prompting a new wave of roadblocks, bus stoppages and other civil unrest. In the past week, protesters also cut off access to the strategically important Salina Cruz oil refinery, which makes jet fuel.

[ Mexican government wants to tame teachers union ]

The most intense clash occurred in the municipality of Nochixtlan, northwest of the capital city Oaxaca. Police on Sunday responded to another roadblock, which escalated into gunfire. According to published reports in the Mexican media, rows of riot police faced off against masses of protesters, with buses blocking the road between them and plumes of black smoke rising from street fires.

The governor of Oaxaca, Gabino Cue, and the chief of the federal police, Enrique Galindo, told reporters Sunday evening that six civilians died. They said an additional 53 civilians, 41 federal police and 14 state police officers were injured.

Leaders of Section 22 on Monday put the death toll at eight. They said 22 people had disappeared and 45 suffered gunshot wounds. The union officials said during a news conference that the victims included teachers, parents and others. Union officials called the violence a massacre and demanded the resignations of Pena Nieto, Cue and others.

Mexican authorities denied that any teachers were among the dead and said that youths and local merchants, who may have been involved in the protest, or bystanders at the bustling Sunday street market in Nochixtlan, were among those killed.

In an interview on Mexican radio, Galindo described the violence as an ambush against police by about 2,000 people who had surrounded them. Authorities blamed at least seven militant organizations, including various guerrilla groups, of infiltrating the protests and firing on police to ignite the chaos.

We began to see that they brought molotov cocktails, powerful rockets. I have many police burned on their hands and feet, who lost fingers, Galindo said.

[ Crossing the border to receive a U.S. education ]

Violence was reported in other parts of Oaxaca. People set fire to a federal police station in Huajuapan de Leon, northwest of Oaxaca city, on Sunday night. On Monday, teachers protested in Acapulco.

Mexicos National Human Rights Commission said it would open an investigation into the deaths.

Some analysts blamed the federal government for the violence.

They know the limitations of the Mexican cops. Despite that, they sent them in there with guns, said Rodolfo Soriano-Nunez, a sociologist who formerly worked in the federal education ministry. The whole thing is a mess.

Pena Nietos administration has made education reform  and wresting power from the teachers union  a priority. Authorities opposed how the unions dissident factions could control decisions over state education budgets, teacher appointments and other administrative decisions. In addition to implementing the new testing program and firing about 5,000 teachers who would not participate, authorities dissolved a Oaxaca state education agency controlled by Section 22, arrested at least eight of its leaders and deployed federal police to ensure that teachers could take the required tests safely.

Opponents have argued that the federal government has ignored failing schools across the poor states in rural southeastern Mexico. They say that tests dont adequately assess teachers skills and particularly punish those in poor, rural areas who have different educational backgrounds.

[ Mexicos education secretary takes on a major battle ]

Aurelio Nuno Mayer, the education secretary, told The Washington Post earlier this year that 2016 will be brutally intense, with a level of transformation that we havent seen in decades.

Sundays violence has evoked memories of a decade ago, when teachers clashed with police in Oaxaca. The 2006 unrest lasted for months, as strikes over teachers salaries morphed into other demands. The colonial cobblestone streets of Oaxaca city looked like a battleground, with barbed wire and barricades, and police eventually drove out the protesters.

As the conflict has dragged on, all sides have been accused of corrupt behavior at the expense of students.

There are no saints, there are no heroes, down there, Soriano-Nunez said.

Read more

Today's coverage from Post correspondents around the world
The US-backed prime minister of Iraq, Haider al-Abadi, went on state television Friday to boast that government troops had recaptured the Anbar Province city of Fallujah from Islamic State (ISIS) fighters. After weeks of constant air strikes and artillery bombardments, Special Forces units pushed far enough into the city to raise the Iraqi flag over the former government building.

In 2004, the American military reduced Fallujah to rubble as part of its ruthless drive to crush popular resistance to the US occupation of the country. Now, what was rebuilt is being reduced to rubble again. Video and photography from the city show scenes of devastated streets.

Freelance journalist Florian Neuhof wrote on Sunday: Most buildings bear the scars of battle. Houses are pockmarked with bullet holes, sometimes walls have been knocked down by heavy ordinance. On the citys outskirts, coalition air strikes have collapsed roofs and turned buildings into mangled shapes of concrete and iron bars.

Murderous combat is still taking place. Most reports indicate that the surviving several hundred ISIS militants, surrounded and expecting no mercy, particularly from the Shiite militias that make up a large proportion of the government forces, are fighting to the death. The Islamist extremists, who took control of the city in early 2014, have constructed a network of tunnels under the city from which they are launching suicide bombings and other attacks.

Over the weekend, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), which has a team outside Fallujah, reported that 4,000 civilians were able to pass through government lines and reach relief camps. NRC spokesperson Karl Scheembri told journalists: Were extremely concerned that the most vulnerablepregnant women, the elderly, sick persons and people with disabilitieshave been unable to come out and they are the ones who need aid most after months under siege with no food, no water and no medical aid.

There are no reliable reports as to the number of civilians who have been killed or wounded. The estimate of how many people were trapped inside the city by the government siege ranged from 50,000 to 90,000.

To provide a justification in advance for casualties among the predominantly Sunni Muslim population of Fallujah, the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government had declared that people were being used by ISIS as human shields. Now that some people have been able to flee, government forces are declaring that the city is deserted in order to justify indiscriminate attacks. Florian Neuhof wrote: Unconstrained by fears of civilian casualties, the army is now bombarding Fallujah relentlessly. From beyond the ruined outskirts of the battered city, batteries of 155mm howitzers and Katyusha rocket launchers pour fire into the centre.

The Iraqi forces are being accompanied by US, British and Australian military advisors, whose main role is to call in and target air strikes against alleged ISIS positions. A despicable editorial in the June 20 edition of the Rupert Murdoch-owned Australian boasted of the prominent role that Australian Air Force FA-18 fighter bombers have played in the destruction of Fallujah, declaring that Australian units deserve the gratitude of the nation and the free world.

On June 18, the governor of Anbar Province, Suhaib al-Rawi, issued an impassioned condemnation of the wholesale killing and torture that is being inflicted by Shiite militias, known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF). He told the Rudaw news agency: Iraqi troops continue their advance into Fallujah, but with it, images of inhumane acts and abuse have come out, perpetrated by some armed groups that are sectarian in every sense. A spokesperson for one of the Sunni tribes in Fallujah told Rudaw that at least 650 people are missing, feared murdered by the militias.

Suhaib al-Rawi told Al Jazeera last week that he believed more than 49 civilians have lost their lives under torture.

Al Jazeera correspondents interviewed three men in a camp outside the city who claimed they had been subjected to brutal treatment by Shiite militias and had witnessed a number of executions.

Mahmoud al-Naji al-Shoukor reported that the men in his group fleeing Fallujah had been separated from their women and children and taken to a makeshift detention centre. They put some of us in a line on our knees, with our eyes blindfolded, he said. They started taking us one by one. They killed several men before it was my turn. I could hear the men scream and beg the militia to spare their livesthey were swearing that they never fought, and that they never joined ISISbut that did not stop the militia from killing them.

Mahmoud claimed he survived only because someone arrived who demanded that the killings stop, on the orders of the head Shiite cleric in Iraq, Ali al-Sistani. The other two men testified they had been beaten with pipes and tortured in other ways for six days before being rescued by government-aligned Sunni fighters.

Human Rights Watch released a report last week stating that it had received credible allegations of summary executions, beatings of unarmed men, enforced disappearances, and mutilation of corpses by government forces over the two weeks of fighting. It cited one case in which 17 males, including a 17-year-old teenager, were lined up and shot by Iraqi police and members of the PMF.

The atrocities against civilians are being carried out under the eyes of US and allied military forces. The Obama administration, the Cameron government in Britain and the Turnbull government in Australia share full responsibility for every war crime that is committed.

Further atrocities are now being prepared. Having destroyed the Anbar Province city of Ramadi and nearly recaptured Fallujah, the US-directed military campaign to shore up Washingtons puppet state in Baghdad is shifting its focus to the northern city of Mosul, which was taken by ISIS in June of 2014. Tens of thousands of troops and PMF militias will be sent to join the disparate government army units, US Marines, Kurdish forces and Christian and Yazidi militias that are already fighting ISIS in the north.

Reports over the weekend indicate that government forces advanced toward Qayara, a town 60 kilometres from Mosul that has a military airfield. This would be used as one of the staging bases for an offensive against the city. An estimated 1.5 million people are believed to be living in Mosul and the surrounding towns and villages.

A measure of the human catastrophe that has been inflicted on Iraq just during the last two years of fightingon top of the carnage inflicted during the US occupationwas provided a United Nations report released last month. It said that more than 3.4 million people had been internally displaced, 2.6 million had fled the country altogether, and a further two million were expected to be turned into refugees by the offensives on Fallujah and Mosul.

The author also recommends:

Fallujah: A symbol of US war crimes

[8 June 2016]
Anton Yelchin, known for his roles in Star Trek and Alpha Dog died early Sunday morning in Los Angeles, ET can confirm. He was 27.

The LAPD's Valley Traffic Division confirmed TMZ's first report of the death. According to the LAPD, Yelchin's friends grew suspicious when he didn't meet them for a rehearsal on Saturday. When they arrived at his house at 1 a.m. local time, they found him pinned between his car, a mailbox, and a security gate.

WATCH: Zachary Quinto, Chris Evans and More Co-stars React to Anton Yelchin's Death

"The speculation is that he got out of the car and it was in neutral and rolled back on him," the LAPD tells ET.

A rep for Yelchin also confirmed the late actor's death, telling ET, "Actor Anton Yelchin was killed in a fatal traffic collision early this morning. His family requests you respect their privacy at this time."

Yelchin was born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in 1989, the only child of famed figure skaters Irina and Viktor Yelchin.

"They wanted me to be a skater," he told ET's Kevin Frazier on the set of Star Trek Beyond in July 2015. "When I sucked, they just knew I sucked and they were cool with it."

However, his parents' figure skating background came in handy when he was developing characters. "You realize the intensity of their knowledge of the body is incredible," he said. "It's very inspiring. I'll talk to my mom about how to move. I'll be like, 'This is how I want this guy to move, what muscles should I [use]?' She knows all that."

Yelchin got his big break in 2007's Alpha Dog, alongside Justin Timberlake and Bruce Willis. His career took off from there, with a starring role in 2009's Terminator Salvation, as well as the recurring role of Pavel Chekov in the Star Trek reboot and its sequels.

"I love pushing fake buttons all day. I seriously love it. I know that sounds cynical, but I do really love it. It's like being like a little kid," he told ET while filming Star Trek Beyond last summer.

Story continues

"I have the best time sitting with these people! They're the loveliest, funniest, people to be around," he said of his co-stars. "It's such a privilege to be around such intelligent, funny people!"

PHOTOS: Stars We've Lost

This camaraderie was apparent when the tight-knit cast took to social media to honor their late co-star. "I loved Anton Yelchin so much. He was a true artist - curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. I'm in ruins," John Cho tweeted.

"Our dear friend. Our comrade. Our Anton," Zachary Quinto shared on Instagram. "One of the most open and intellectually curious people I have ever had the pleasure to know. So enormously talented and generous of heart. Wise beyond his years. And gone before his time. All love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief."

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UPDATED: Sumner Redstone has formally asked a Massachusetts judge to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman over his ouster last month as a board member of National Amusements and of the Redstone family trust.

In the filing Monday in Massachusetts Probate and Family Court, Redstone argues that there are only two ways to have him removed for mental incapacity from control of his family trust, neither of which has occurred: that is is judged incompetent by a court or that three doctors certify that he cant competently manage his affairs.

The filing asserts that Daumans argument that he is being manipulated by his daughter Shari Redstone is offensive and untrue. The billionaires lawyers also argue that his trust does not even contain a clause allowing actions to be reversed because of undue influence. They say that, despite the removal of Redstone and another former Redstone advisor, George Abrams, there have been no significant changes in National Amusements holdings that would warrant the intervention of a court.

Besides the legal and factual objections, Redstones filing also urges the court to move the case to California where Redstone lives, rather than Massachusetts where the trust was incorporated in 2002. Redstones declaration says he hasnt spent much time at all in Massachusetts during the past decade, most recently visiting in 2012. And it argues that the actions disputed in the court case, and most of the witnesses who would be called, all are native to California, making the courts there the logical ones to handle the dispute.

The furious tit-for-tat in the dispute continued later Monday, as representatives for Dauman responded with a statement accusing Shari Redstone and lawyers hired for Sumner with trying to avoid a fair inquiry into Sumners well-being and how various documents came to be. The Viacom CEOs camp urged expedited discovery in the case to allow the inquiry to proceed as quickly as possible.

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The Redstone filing includes a declaration from David Andelman, a longtime Redstone attorney who drafted the trust. Andelman backs up Redstones contention that he had every right to remove Dauman and George Abrams, another longtime Redstone confidant, from the trust.

It also includes a declaration from attorney Robert Klieger, who represented Sumner Redstone and advocated for his mental capacity in his earlier battle with former companion Manuela Herzer, who sought to reclaim her power over Redstones health care directive after she was removed by Shari Redstone last October. Klieger noted that, after the presentation of extensive evidence and arguments, a judge declined to take health care decisions out of Redstones hands and return them to Herzer, who had served as his health care agent.

Judge George Phelan has set June 30 for the next hearing in the case.

Related stories

Legal Battle Over Viacom Board Shake-Up Headed to Delaware Court

Judge Outlines Issues in Sumner Redstone Case Amid Furor Over Use of Corporate Funds

Philippe Dauman Urges Massachusetts Judge to Speed Up Viacom Case
Embark on the trip of a lifetime without busting your budget.

Taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip, particularly one in a far-flung locale, isn't always within reach for the frugal traveler. Perhaps, you're dreaming of heading on an adrenaline-fueled journey to Machu Picchu's famed "lost city of the Incas," or exploring the legendary temples of Southeast Asia. Or maybe your perfect trip involves immersive experiences, such as trekking across the Great Wall of China or admiring jaw-dropping views in Niagara Falls. While it's true that some exotic places aren't well-suited for the bargain hunter, there are many must-see destinations that cater to budgets high and low. To direct you to inspiring and affordable frontiers, we asked industry experts and seasoned explorers to share top trips to cross off your list.

The Great Wall of China

When it comes to extraordinary bucket-list destinations, it's hard to beat the Great Wall of China, which stretches across nearly 5,500 miles and has a history that dates back to about 200 B.C. "Every country has a must-see monument, but few of those monuments span the entire country," says Alex Howard, Lonely Planet's Western U.S. and Canada destination editor. Best of all, there are plenty of cheap dining options, moderately priced accommodations and easy public transportation in China, he adds. Beijing, which is only about 40 miles away from a popular stretch of the wall in Badaling, China, offers an easy and affordable starting point for your trip.

District of Columbia

Our nation's capital is home to must-see museums and monuments, a burgeoning culinary scene and plenty of vibrant neighborhoods. If you've never made the pilgrimage to D.C., the city is certainly one to cross off your list, whether you're a history buff, an art lover or simply looking to check out classic attractions such as the White House and the Washington Monument. As Robert Firpo-Cappiello, editor in chief of Budget Travel, puts it, "the not-so-secret magic of D.C. is that most attractions are free," he says, pointing out that the Smithsonian museums, the National Gallery of Art and the U.S. Capitol building offer free admission.

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Grand Canyon National Park

With the National Park Service's 100th anniversary fast approaching on Aug. 25, there's no better time to explore Grand Canyon National Park. At 277 miles long, the Grand Canyon is "truly one of the wonders of the world and perhaps the wonder of the United States," says Clem Bason, CEO of goSeek. To trim travel costs, he suggests flying into top hubs in Phoenix or Las Vegas, picking up a rental car and driving to Flagstaff, Arizona, which is conveniently located near the North Rim of the park, he says. Howard also points out that because the park is in the desert, "you won't have to worry about bad weather," making it easy to cut costs by camping beneath the stars.

Yosemite National Park

With striking natural splendors -- from majestic granite domes to dramatic waterfalls to massive sequoias -- Yosemite Valley offers a myriad of wonders. Whether you have your heart set on checking out Half Dome, the John Muir Trail or the vistas from Glacier Point lookout, you'll find plenty of captivating points of interest. To optimize savings, Bason recommends visiting in late spring or early fall, when crowds and prices go down. If you have a tight budget, he suggests looking at options in nearby Sonora, California, which offers many two- and three-star hotels and vacation rentals. "You should be able to spend less than $150 a night, if not less than $100," he adds.

Ireland

In the Emerald Isle, you'll find lush landscapes, history-filled enclaves and fascinating cultural traditions. Dublin, the country's largest city, offers a vibrant introduction to the country, with must-see sites such as Dublin Castle, St. Patrick's Cathedral and lively Grafton Street. "Dublin is closer, more affordable and friendlier than almost any other European capital, and we love how easy it is to explore its center city on a budget," Firpo-Cappiello says. Affordable flights are easy to come by, too, with Google Flights currently showing round-trip treks from New York City airports starting at $596 in August and $690 from Boston's Logan International Airport for the same period.

Niagara Falls

With three legendary falls -- American, Horseshoe and Bridal Veil -- Niagara Falls offers an awe-inspiring experience for spectators. Whether you want to soak in the scenery from the Maid of the Mist steamboats at the base of the falls or check out the plummeting water from unique vantage points behind the falls, there's no shortage of ways to experience Instagram-worthy views. To revel in the scenery without paying a hefty price tag, Bason suggests hitting the road to dodge expensive airfare. He also advises staying on the Canadian side to take advantage of the favorable exchange rate against the U.S. dollar. "You can find two- or three-star hotels for around $50 a night," he says.

Iceland

Iceland's towering waterfalls, striking geothermal pools and otherworldly landscapes beckon to the adventurous traveler. You can't miss taking a dip in the Blue Lagoon, heading on a drive to remember on Ring Road or admiring the northern lights. Reykjavik, the country's capital city, offers an excellent home base for taking in Iceland's diverse natural attractions. Plus, you won't have to pinch pennies to get there. Firpo-Cappiello points out that budget carrier WOW Air offers affordable flight prices, and with manageable distances from place to place, it's easy to drive around much of the island.

Machu Picchu

While getting to Machu Picchu's famed ruins won't be easy or cost-effective, once you make the trek to Cusco, Peru, you'll find plenty of affordable dining and lodging options. Plus, there are a variety of moderately priced, small group tours available with reputable outfitters. G Adventures, for instance, offers a seven-day trek through Machu Picchu, Cusco and other points of interest in Peru starting at $1,249 per person. If you decide to plan a trip to the UNESCO site on your own, remember tickets sell out weeks ahead of time during the peak season, from May to September.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Gazing at the centuries-old Angkor Wat temple is a sight to behold. "It's the world's greatest Hindu temple," Howard says. It is "quite literally a vision of heaven on earth," he adds. Reaching the city of Siem Reap, which is less than 4 miles from the temple complex, won't be an easy endeavor, and depending on your travel dates, airfare can be pricey. But Cambodia is an excellent budget destination that is packed with sophisticated urban centers and affordable places to stay, Howard notes. At the Golden Temple Residence in Siem Reap, for example, you'll find rooms starting at just $104 a night.

Quebec City

If you're based in North America and your perfect vacation involves strolling along cobbled streets, admiring graceful European-style architecture and reveling in old-world charm, Quebec City should be high on your list, Howard says. Plus, Old Quebec, a UNESCO World Heritage site, retains its storied 17th century colonial buildings and offers a myriad of historic sites, including the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame and The Battlefields Park. What's more, with the strength of the U.S. dollar, it's easy to pull off an affordable getaway.

Liz Weiss is the Travel editor for Consumer Advice at U.S. News & World Report. You can follow her on Twitter, connect with her on LinkedIn, circle her on Google+ or email her at eweiss@usnews.com.
Winner of The EVINE Live Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design: HEIRLOOM HANDBAGS, USA Designer name: Tiffany Wu Brand: HEIRLOOM Where to follow: On Instagram @heirloombags Inspiration: "A woman's strong independent spirit is shown through the hardware bars that gives structure to the soft supple cowhide. The HEIRLOOM logo is an artistic extension of the letter H, incorporating Chinese traditional latticework that is subtly sewn to create a perfect juxtaposition of edge and elegance." Sarah Balch

The results are in! Aspiring designers from around the globe gathered in Manhattan's School of Visual Arts Theatre last night as the winners of the tenth annual Independent Handbag Designer Awards were announced during a ceremony hosted by Handbag Designer 101 and its founder, Emily Blumenthal. Over 400 supporters came out to celebrate the winners and finalists in ten different categories, who were chosen from a pool of 1,500 submissions. Heirloom Handbags secured top honors as the recipient of The Evine Live Best Handbag in Overall Style and Design, while Ollie Quinn took home InStyle's Audience Fan Favorite award, chosen by you online.

"It means so much to be to be here tonight," said Washington D.C.-based Ollie Quinn designer Yanique Moore. "All of my designs are inspired by my grandmother, so they're very personal to me and it's amazing to see her style recognized on this scale." Kahlana Barfield Brown, InStyle's Fashion and Beauty Editor-at-Large, presented Moore with her award. Julee Wilson, Digital Fashion and Beauty Director of Essence, was also on hand to present the Iconoclast Award for Lifetime Achievement in Handbag Design to MZ Wallace.

RELATED: See all the Finalists in the 2016 Independent Handbag Designer Awards

"To have made it to ten years is incredible," noted Blumenthal. "What started as an idea for independent designers to get their voices heard, after having been one myself, has turned into something that the industry needs in order to discover new talent and also find out who could become the next 'It bag' designer. That's priceless."
From Delish

Grocery shopping can be a serious hassle, and with the long lines and convenience of grocery delivery these days, many people would rather place an order online than head to their local supermarket. In-store samples and funny store signs can help to make the experience more enjoyable, but a pleasant atmosphere and beautiful setting is much more likely to lure us to the aisles, and certain grocery store locations across the country really have that figured out. Whether they're situated in historic buildings or carefully designed with customer experience in mind, these 10 supermarkets are totally worth the trip. Heck, we'd visit even without a grocery list in hand!

1. Bi-Rite Market - San Fransisco, CA

Locals have flocked to this grocery store in the Mission District since it first opened in the 40s, and with such an Instagram-worthy facade, they're not slowing down anytime soon. Shoppers can browse the impressive selection of local produce and admire the old-school, art deco feel of the place. The original neon sign still lights up outside, and the understated cool style makes its way inside to the deli and cheese counter, as well as the uber-popular ice cream counter, serving small-batch scoops of the store's original flavors.

2. Heinen's Downtown - Cleveland, OH

Owned by twins Jeff and Tom Heinen, this family-run grocery chain is based in Warrensville Heights, OH, but a new location in downtown Cleveland caused excitement across the state in 2015. The 27,000-square-foot supermarket opened in the city's historic Cleveland Trust Building (designed by the same architect as the New York Stock Exchange) after $10 million in renovations. The central rotunda is the eye-popping highlight, surrounded by murals depicting the settlement of the Midwest and crowned with a gorgeous colored-glass dome.

3. Wegmans - Pittsford, NY

Sure, the in-store bakery and stellar store-brand products are part of the reason why Wegmans was recently voted the best grocery store in America, but the welcoming atmosphere at the chain's flagship store is enough to stop any shopper in their tracks. For east coast residents, a trip to Wegmans is almost a church-like experience-and with a fresh sushi counter, sub shop, and pizza station, this massive location definitely reigns supreme. Don't miss the impressive holiday decorations, which beautify the space even further.

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4. Papa Joe's Gourmet Market - Birmingham, MI

The gorgeous displays of fresh produce, meats and cheeses at this Michigan store make you feel like you're shopping at an upscale European market. The sprawling location in Birmingham (a suburb in the Detroit metropolitan area) is impeccably clean, with high ceilings and attractive lighting. Customers who can't get enough of the ambience can dine at Bistro Joes, the new restaurant in the store's mezzanine, or grab a drink at the wine bar where customers can taste vino selected by the in-house sommelier.

5. Whole Foods Market - San Jose, CA

We have yet to come across a Whole Foods that doesn't make our inner grocery geek squeal with delight, but this Silicon Valley location on The Alameda is on another level entirely. Picture everything you love about the chain already, and add in fun pops of color, cool design touches, a multi-level brewery and outdoor back seating area! Mission Creek Brewing Co. is connected to the store, so you can grab a craft brew or two after gathering up all your organic goodies.

6. Wilson Farm - Lexington, MA

If you've ever felt like your local supermarket looks more like a hospital-all fluorescent lights and immaculately organized aisles-than a place where you should be picking up dinner ingredients, this Massachusetts market is the perfect antidote. A 33-acre farm in Lexington provides the fresh produce that go on display in the open-air barn on the property. Shoppers stroll beneath gorgeous wooden beams in the recycled-lumber structure picking up fruit, veggies, meat, seafood, cheeses and prepared foods to take home.

7. New Seasons Market - Woodstock, OR

These privately-owned stores in the Pacific Northwest are local favorites for their laid-back, neighborhood vibe. Based in Portland, the chain sells big-brand favorites as well as organic items from small producers. They've expanded to Washington and Northern California, but the most impressive location is in Woodstock, where the market is topped with a rooftop patio. Outside of shopping, you can sip one of the off-beat beers on tap, take in live music and hit up other fun events!

8. Plum Market - Chicago, IL

Pricey groceries are worth it when the supermarket looks this good. The sleek design of Plum Market, a specialty chain in Michigan and Illinois is enough to draw anyone in for a look, but beware-you'll probably walk out having dropped at least $50. Fuel up with a java from Intelligentsia CoffeeBar and wander through the aisles browsing the carefully curated goods. The beautiful wood-backed WineBar offers tastings to customers daily, adding a sophisticated vibe to the store in the evenings.

9. Central Market - San Antonio, TX

If you can't find what you're looking for at mom-and-pop grocers in Texas, this gourmet market is the place to go. The San Antonio location opened in a converted H-E-B store on Broadway, and boasts way-cool displays to go with it's selection of specialty items like cold-pressed juices and hard-to-find Mexican ingredients. Don't forget to explore the full-service kitchen, plus cooking and wine classes offered onsite.

10. Trader Joe's - Brooklyn, NY

Grocery shopping in New York City is a unique hell that we hope most of you never have to endure-but if you have to battle the hordes, being in a beautiful setting makes things a bit more pleasant. Housed in the former South Brooklyn Savings Bank, Brooklyn's first Trader Joe's location at Atlantic Avenue and Court Street has the chain's usual kitschy decor on the shelves, but the high ceilings, massive arched windows and detailed crown molding steal the show. New Yorkers, get ready for a new 13,800-square-foot location popping up at City Point in Brooklyn later this year-we're sure that one will be a looker as well.

Follow Delish on Instagram.
Nearly half of American adults will take a vacation this summer, according to a new report from CreditCards.com.

The unfortunate reality for many Americans, however, is that summer vacation equals debt. Whether you're jetting off to Paris or loading the family in the Suburban and driving a few hours to the beach, vacations are expensive, and it's not uncommon for people to return home from their trips to a giant pile of bills.

The good news is that there are ways to avoid the debt spiral, and many Americans say they're doing just that. In the CreditCards.com survey, two-thirds of those vacationing this summer say they expect to pay their vacation off in a month or less. Just 11 percent of vacationers say it will take them four or more months to pay for their trip.

[See: 6 Ways to Treat Yourself on a Budget.]

So how are these folks doing it? Check out the following list of tips.

Paying With Savings

About eight in 10 Americans who are planning to take a 2016 summer vacation say they'd pay for at least part of their vacation with savings, according to the CreditCards.com report. That's great news because there's no better way to pay for a vacation than to do so with money that's already in hand -- and every little bit helps.

Saving isn't easy, though, especially if you're living paycheck to paycheck or on a tight budget. The best way to ensure that you're saving is to automate the process. Do your homework and figure out how much you'd like to save for your trip. Then, look at how much time you have left before your trip and do the math on exactly how much money you'd need to save each week or each month or from each paycheck to reach your goal. Finally, set up an automatic payment that moves that specific amount from your checking account into a savings account or a PayPal account or wherever else you plan to stash your vacation savings. That way, the choice of whether to actually move the money is taken out of your hands.

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Paying With a Credit Card

OK, this one might sound counterintuitive, but hear me out. Credit cards can work for you rather than against you, if you use them properly.

Take the Chase Freedom Unlimited card. This card offers a $150 cash back bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first three months with the card. That means that you can get the card before you go on your vacation, make $500 worth of purchases on the trip -- which between gas, food and hotels shouldn't be a problem -- and you'll get $150 back. Then, once you've spent that $500, you never have to use the card again if you don't want to.

That's a significant savings. That's a night at a hotel. That's a few days of a car rental. That's a whole lot of food. In short, it makes a difference.

Fifteen percent of vacationers say they'd use their credit cards to pay for at least a part of their trip. While that can lead to problems, it doesn't have to. Just be absolutely certain that you pay your balance off at the end of every month and that you don't overspend just to collect rewards. That's a sure way to get yourself in trouble.

[See: 12 Ways to Be a More Mindful Spender.]

Paying With Rewards Points or Miles

There's never been a better time to rack up rewards points or miles through credit card sign-up bonuses. Big deals are everywhere, and if you have good credit, you can probably find a bonus offer that can save you a substantial amount of money on your next trip. Here are a few:

-- Chase Sapphire Preferred card: Earn 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months. You can then transfer those points to airlines such as Southwest and United for free airfare or hotel chains including Marriott and Hyatt for free nights. You can also redeem them through Chase's Ultimate Rewards portal for an extra 20 percent off. That means that a $625 flight would cost you just 50,000 points instead of the typical 62,500.

-- Capital One Venture Rewards card: Get a bonus of 40,000 miles when you spend $3,000 in the first three months. That sign-up bonus would equate to $400. You can also redeem those miles for statement credit to pay off travel purchases.

-- Platinum Delta SkyMiles American Express card: This card gives you 60,000 Delta SkyMiles and 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles after you make $2,000 in purchases in the first three months. That's one of the biggest offers in the industry, though it's important to know that the card comes with a $195 annual fee. Many rewards cards will waive the annual fee for the first year, but this card does not, so that's important to factor in to your decision.

Thirteen percent of summer vacationers say they plan to pay for at least part of their vacation with rewards points or miles. That's nearly as many as are planning to use plastic to pay for their trips, and that's another good sign that people are finding more and more ways to cut vacation costs.

[See: 12 Shopping Tricks to Keep You Under Budget.]

The Bottom Line

It's great to see that so many Americans are planning debt-free vacations. The truth, however, is that many more Americans could do the same with a bit of forethought and planning. Still, as with anything with credit cards, the key to the whole thing is making sure that you pay your balance off in full and on time every single month. If you do that, you can put credit cards to work for you and save a great deal on an awesome family vacation. If you don't, the math starts to work against you in a big hurry.

Matt Schulz is the senior industry analyst at CreditCards.com, a site dedicated to helping people make smart decisions about obtaining and using credit. You can follow him on Twitter at @matthewschulz.
Nearly 100 million Americans, almost a third of the U.S. population, own mutual funds. Funds allow investors to have their money managed by some of the best money managers and research teams in the world, and they give investors the ability to participate in nearly any market sector or geographic region.

But creating and managing a portfolio of funds can be challenging at times. With thousands of funds available, investors have to decide what funds to buy and also when to sell them. They have to consider potential trading fees and tax consequences, and they may need to adapt their approach depending on the size of their accounts.

Here at FundX, weve been managing fund portfolios since 1969, and over the years, weve found that there are a few key ways that investors can better manage their fund portfolios, such as:

1. Plan to Take Action

Many investors tell us that even when they know what to do, they have trouble taking action. They know what funds they want to own, but theyll spend months, or even years, waiting for the right time to buy in. Or they have funds that they want to sell, but they continue holding the funds because selling them would feel like theyd made a mistake.

Weve found that investors are more likely to take action if they have a clear plan in place. Write down how you plan to get invested or change your fund portfolios, and then calendar out when youll make these changes. By deciding in advance what action you need to take and writing it out so you can refer to it later, you may be more likely to follow through, even as markets change.

2. Manage the Impact of Trading Costs

Trading funds often comes at a cost. Most investors trade funds at a broker, and brokers tend to have some funds that are available without a transaction fee (these are called NTF funds), while other funds come with a transaction fee (fee funds).

Transaction fees can be substantial, particularly for investors who are managing smaller accounts. Consider that if you invested $500,000 in a fund with a transaction fee of $75, the transaction fee would be a tiny fraction of your overall investment. But if you invested just $7,000 in a fund with a $75 transaction fee, youd have paid over 1% before the fund made a dime for you.

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Some funds charge investors a redemption fee if investors sell their shares within a certain period of time (often 90 or 180 days) and brokers often have their own short-term trading policy. These can also eat into returns.

Before you place a trade, check to see if a fund has a transaction fee, and make sure you know how long youll need to hold the fund to avoid redemption fees, too.

3. Be Alert to Tax Consequences

Investors who hold funds in taxable accounts should keep in mind the potential tax consequences of their trades. You will pay taxes on any capital gains realized when selling a fund, so youll want to keep track of how long youve held a fund before you sell it. Since losses can be used to offset gains, you may need to consider whether it would be advantageous to sell a fund at a loss.

Youll also need to trade carefully at year-end when many stock funds distribute capital gains and income to shareholders. Most funds make estimates available starting in November and you can use these estimates to avoid buying into a fund thats about to make a large distribution.

4. Take Care of Your Smaller Accounts

Many investors have more than one account. You might have a retirement account through your employer as well as your own Roth IRA, for example. Its easy to focus on your largest account, since thats where you own the bulk of your investments, but dont neglect your small accounts.

You may need to adapt your approach to suit the size of your account. For example, if you have a smaller account, youll want to be particularly mindful of trading fees. We often suggest that investors who have smaller accounts try to avoid transaction-fee funds, and instead focus on NTF or no-transaction-fee funds.

Since most funds require a minimum investment of $1,000 to $5,000, you may find it challenging to own enough funds to truly diversify your exposure to both stock and bond funds. You may find its best to focus on core positions and avoid potentially riskier stock and bond funds.

Janet M. Brown, president of FundX Investment Group and managing editor of NoLoad FundX, joined FundX in 1978. Janet has been researching funds and developing successful fund investment strategies for many years. Prior to joining FundX, she worked in Brussels with a financial services company where she specialized in mutual funds. Janet is frequently interviewed by the media on investment and mutual fund issues.

See more from Benzinga

 2016 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Dianne Feinstein

All four pieces of gun-control legislation proposed in the wake of the Orlando terrorist shooting failed to garner enough support to pass the Senate on Monday.

The two headline proposals, amendments to a spending bill, were offered up by Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California and Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas and focused on suspected terrorists being able to buy weapons.

The other proposals, from Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, focused on background checks.

Each amendment needed 60 votes to pass.

The Feinstein-backed bill, favored by Senate Democratic gun-control activists, would have effectively barred individuals on the terror watch list from buying firearms by allowing the attorney general to stop sales. It failed on a 47-53 vote.

The bill first failed on a 54-45 virtual party-line vote after the San Bernardino shooting. Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois was the only Republican to vote in favor of the legislation, which he still backs, while Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota was the lone Democrat to vote against it. Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia did not vote.

This time around, Warner and Republican Sen. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire voted for the bill. Heitkamp still voted against the legislation.

"Senate Republicans should be embarrassed, but of course they're not because the [National Rifle Association] is happy," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said in a press conference following the vote.

"The junior senator from New Hampshire said that she's going to vote yes on everything," he added of Ayotte. "She should make up her mind and not be a hypocrite. That's not logical, but that's what she's doing."

He pointed toward reports that Susan Collins, a Republican senator from Maine, is going to attempt to lead a bipartisan resolution on the issue of suspected terrorists being able to buy weapons, and said that he hopes that she "can drum up 20 votes" but added that "the NRA doesn't support even that."

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During the same press conference, Murphy said that he's "mortified by today's vote, but I'm not surprised by it."

Florida Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, used powerful language as well.

"What am I going to tell the 49 grieving families?" he asked.

guns assault rifle AR-15

Opponents to the Feinstein bill argued that because people could be placed on a terror watch list without being found guilty of a crime, the bill could result in US citizens on the list being stripped of their Second Amendment right without due process. There have been multiple cases in which people have been wrongly put on the list.

"Is going after the Second Amendment how you stop terrorism? No," House Speaker Paul Ryan said on Thursday during his weekly press briefing. "That's not how you stop terrorism."

Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Cory Booker of New Jersey, among others, have insisted that due process elements would be "baked into it."

The Cornyn bill, backed by Senate Republicans and the NRA, was a slightly altered version of the Shield Act proposed by the senator last year that failed. This time around, the Cornyn bill failed on a 53-47 vote.

The Cornyn proposal aimed to stop those suspected of terrorism from buying a firearm while also accounting for due process. The legislation would have authorized the attorney general to put a three-day hold on a firearm sale for a person on the terror watch list. Authorities would then have had the three days to show probable cause before a judge to permanently stop the sale.

"What law enforcement wants to do 90% of the time, 99% of the time, is let it go through," NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre told CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday. "They want to watch it. They want to build a case. They want to build patterns."

"The accommodation is the Cornyn bill, which does exactly what law enforcement set up," he continued. "It codifies the whole thing ... And it provides due process for the good people. And it gives law enforcement the ability where they can conduct these investigations and it won't blow what they're doing."

Senate Democrats and gun-control advocates had come out strongly against the Cornyn bill  the one bill that would have taken fewer votes from across the aisle to pass.

Booker said during a Thursday CNN interview:

"The Cornyn bill, which is the last version that I saw, creates a really impossible hurdle for the FBI. If they have someone under investigation, they're going to have three days to mount a court challenge to block them, expose their investigation, and create an environment where that terrorist, now being notified, will say, 'You know what? Instead of going to that brick-and-mortar federally licensed gun dealer, I'm just going to go buy off the internet.' That's where it falls down."

Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York called the bill a wolf "in sheep's clothing" during a Thursday news conference, adding that, under Cornyn's proposal, "every terrorist will get a gun."

"If the FBI had that evidence, they would've arrested them in the first place," he said. "It's a fake. It's a way to say they're doing something when they're doing nothing."

A "whole court case in three days?" he continued. "Who would think that would make any sense?"

NOW WATCH: FILIBUSTER IN THE SENATE: Democrats block spending bill to debate gun control





More From Business Insider


5 Refugee Tragedies You Should Know

Today, on World Refugee day, an estimated 60 million people around the world are either refugees or internally displaced -- a high since World War II. Here are five refugee crises, aside from the headline-grabbing situation in Syria, that should be on your radar.



1. Burundi

Burundi, a land-locked country in East Africa, collapsed into chaos after President Pierre Nkurunziza pursued and won a third term in office last year. Protests ensued, and many were killed by police. In January, rights group Amnesty International released satellite imagery revealing five possible mass burial sites.

As a result of the violence, 300,000 people became displaced inside the country or fled to Tanzania, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. Outside of the country, some risk being targeted by armed groups and security forces. "The risk of exploitation of the refuges and abuse is tremendous," says Michel Gabaudan, president of Refugees International. Funding is also concern. To date, the United Nations refugee agency has less than 30 percent of its Burundi operation funded.

2. Rohingya in Myanmar

The Rohingya is a Muslim group that lives in the Rakhine State of Mynanmar, also known as Burma. The group, often called the most persecuted minority in the world, has long been discriminated against by the Burmese government, which calls them "resident foreigners" and denies them citizenship. Their situation became more dire in 2012, when the murder and rape of a young Buddhist woman sparked waves of deadly violence.

About 140,000 people were internally displaced within Burma in 2012, and almost 86,000 made the dangerous journey to nearby countries, according to Amnesty International. Many drown during harrowing attempts to reach Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand by boat. If they get there, "they are not really welcome," Gabaudan says.



3. Central America

Central America is home to about 1 million displaced people, most of whom had to leave their homes as a result of gang violence and threats, according to Refugees International. El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala have among the highest murder rates in the world. In the last seven years, there's been a 10-fold increase in the number of people from those countries seeking asylum in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama, Gabaudan says.

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Those who try to escape from gangs have move neighborhoods and live in hiding. Kids don't go to schools. "It's not a situation that many people talk about and it's terrible," Gabaudan says.

4. Somalis in Kenya

For 30 years, armed conflict and food shortages have pushed Somali refugees into Kenya. Today, the country is home to nearly 500,000 -- most of whom reside in Dadaab, the largest refugee camp in the world.

In May, the Kenyan government said it would close the camp because of fears it had become a breeding ground for terrorists connected to al-Shabaab. Human rights groups say the move would send hundreds of thousands of Somalis back to their worn-torn country. They also fear that it will lead to abuse by Kenya's security forces.

Kenya has previously vowed to close its camps, but has never implemented the plan. This time around, however, the government set a timeline and closed the Department of Refugee Affairs.

5. Nigeria

About 1.6 million people living in Nigeria's northeastern Borno State have been displaced by the terrorist group Boko Haram, according to Refugees International. The terrorist group has killed about 20,000 people and abducted hundreds of men, women and children to use as soldiers and sex slaves. (In 2014, the group grabbed international headlines when it abducted hundreds of girls from a school.)

Many have fled to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno, where they live outside of camps with little access to food and services. Those beyond the capital are even more difficult to reach. To date, Gabaudan says, the international community has been slow to coordinate a response. "There has been tremendous violence against young women and girls and for those who are rescued there is a need for much stronger programming in both psychological support and physical support," he says.

Devon Haynie is news editor, international for U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at dhaynie@usnews.com.
The opinion of brokers acts as a valuable guide for investors in their course of action (buy, sell or hold) on a particular stock. In fact, a rating upgrade or downgrade by brokers has the potential to immediately influence the price of the stock.

Sell-side analysts, the most prevalent ones, are employed by brokerage firms to research on certain companies. They come up with information on various aspects of companies like their earnings performance, long-term growth prospects etc. and accordingly give their recommendations. Buy-side analysts are employed by hedge funds, mutual funds etc. while the independent ones simply sell their reports to investors. So, an analyst, irrespective of the type, does extensive research on the company(s) followed.

Why Broker Ratings are Important

Broker ratings do not come from the blue and are backed by sound logic. In fact, they have a lot more information on a company and its prospects than normal people as they not only scrutinize the publicly available financial documents but also attend company conference calls and other presentations.

Naturally, if investors see that brokers are improving their recommendations on a particular stock, they are more often than not inclined to believe that there is a catalyst behind it. For example, a company might have issued an improved earnings guidance based on some positive factors. This can well lead investors to follow brokers opinion on the same.

Before putting their hard-earned money into a stock, investors look at the earnings estimate revisions that serve as a guide to the direction of its price movement. Estimates can move north for a number of reasons  a bullish guidance, product launch or any favorable macro scenario. For example, if oil prices touch extreme lows then it is good for airline stocks. This causes analysts to adopt a bullish stance on such stocks and raise estimates. On the other side of the spectrum, analysts trim estimates if something negative concerning the company happens (say a pipeline failure can lead to estimates moving south for a biotech player, which might drag down its price).

Story continues

Making the Most of What Analysts Say

We have designed a screen to shortlist stocks based on improving analyst recommendation and upward revisions to earnings estimates over the last four weeks. Also, since the price/sales ratio is a strong complementary valuation metric in the presence of analyst information, it has also been included. The price/sales ratio takes care of the companys top line thereby making the strategy foolproof.

Screening Criteria

# (Up- Down Rating)/ Total (4 weeks) =Top #75 (This gives the list of top 75 companies that have witnessed net upgrades over the last 4 weeks).

% change in Q (1) est. (4 weeks) = Top #10 (This gives the top 10 stocks that have witnessed earnings estimate revisions over the past 4 weeks for the upcoming quarter).

We have also added the following screening parameters to ensure that the strategy is a winning one:

Price-to-Sales = Bot%10 (The lower the ratio the better, companies meeting this criteria are in bottom 10% of our universe of over 7,700 stocks with respect to this ratio).

Price greater than 5 (as a stock trading below $5 will not likely create significant interest for most of the investors).

Average Daily Volume greater than 100,000 shares over the last 20 trading days (Volume has to be significant to ensure that these are easily traded).

Market value ($ mil) = Top #3000 (This gives us stocks that are the top 3000 in terms of market capitalization).

Com/ADR/Canadian= Com (This takes out the ADR or Canadian stocks).

Here are five of the 10 stocks that made it through the screen:

Big Lots, Inc. BIG: Based in Columbus, OH and founded in 1967, Big Lots is a broad-line closeout retailer in the United States. The stock has an impressive track record with respect to earnings, having outshined the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters. The average beat is 8.54%.

Fred's, Inc. FRED: Based in Memphis, TN and founded in 1947, Fred's sells its products through company-owned discount general merchandise stores and franchised Fred's stores.The FY 2017 Zacks Consensus Estimate for the stock is 29 cents, representing a growth rate of over 100% with respect to earnings per share over FY 2016. Next fiscal years average forecast is 38 cents, corresponding with 31.62% growth.

Century Aluminum Co. CENX: Chicago, IL-based Century Aluminum is engaged in the production of primary aluminum in the U.S. and Iceland. The stock has outshined the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the last 2 quarters by 32.35% and 1.85% respectively.

Allegheny Technologies Inc. ATI: Pittsburgh, PA-based Allegheny Technologies is a diversified specialty materials producer. Alleghenys expected EPS growth rate for 3 to 5 years currently stands at 15%.

Group 1 Automotive Inc. GPI: The company, headquartered in Houston, TX, is one of the leading automotive retailers in the world. The stock has an impressive track record with respect to earnings, having outshined the Zacks Consensus Estimate in 3 of the last 4 quarters. The average beat is 0.59%.

You can get the rest of the stocks on this list by signing up now for your 2-week free trial to the Research Wizard and start using this screen in your own trading. Further, you can also create your own strategies and test them first before taking the investment plunge.

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.

Zacks Restaurant Recommendations: In addition to dining at these special places, you can feast on their stock shares. A Zacks Special Report spotlights 5 recent IPOs to watch plus 2 stocks that offer immediate promise in a booming sector. Download it free 



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GROUP 1 AUTO (GPI): Free Stock Analysis Report



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BIG LOTS INC (BIG): Free Stock Analysis Report



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At age 18, Alex Daily deferred his enrollment at a U.S. university, packed his bags and left his home in New Jersey to spend a year in Germany as part of a youth exchange program. As a Congress-Bundestag scholar, Daily lived with a German host family, attended a local high school and beefed up his German language skills.

"I enjoyed my experience in the country," he says. "I liked it a lot, and I could certainly have imagined myself just living there."

He went home after the exchange, but after convincing his parents, Daily soon ended up back in Germany. He enrolled at the Free Unviersity of Berlin, earned a bachelor's degree in political science and is now working toward a master's at the same institution.

[Discover countries in Europe where it's not too late to apply for a bachelor's degree program.]

And he isn't alone: In the 2013-2014 academic year, 301,350 international students studied in Germany, according to the Institute of International Education's Project Atlas.

For prospective international students interested in earning an undergraduate degree in Deutschland, here are six facts to know.

1. A foreign high school diploma alone might not qualify a student to study in Germany. For instance, students from the U.S. who want to head to Germany after high school need a GPA of 3.0 or higher, among other prerequesites, according to the German Academic Exchange Service, often called DAAD. The organization has a tool to help students from different countries determine if their high school education qualifies them to study in Germany.

"You can't just come over with any high school diploma," says Jay Malone, founder of Eight Hours and Change, an advising service for American and Canadian students interested in studying in Germany. "It's a pretty high bar."

Additionally, U.S. students who earned a GED diploma or were home-schooled cannot enroll in German universities, says Malone.

Story continues

Daily says his SAT score was "so-so," but his Advanced Placement course credits paved his way to a German school. "I'd taken enough tests and done well enough on them that they qualified me," he says.

2. Entry to some, but not all, degree programs is restricted. Admissions limits, called "numerus clausus" or NCs, cap enrollment in popular degree programs. Students can check university websites to see the average GPA cutoff for applicants who were accepted into a restricted program the previous year. Students with GPAs below but close to last year's cutoff for a program might still have a shot at getting in, according to the Eight Hours and Change website.

Some restrictions are national, while others are instituted by specific universities. Experts say it's a good idea to contact a university's international office to get information about which of the institution's programs are restricted.

The Study in Germany website, sponsored by the German Education ministry, offers resources for prospective students including some that discuss these restrictions.

3. Public universities generally don't charge udergraduates for tuition. But there are still costs. Students have to pay a fee each semester that ranges from around $113 to $281, depending on the university, according to the exchange service's website.

Private universities in the country often have tuition costs for their undergraduate programs.

[Read about the hidden costs of earning a degree overseas.]

4. There are English-taught programs available. While most bachelor's programs in Germany are taught in German, the exchange service has a database of international programs offered in Germany that lists more than 100 fully or partially English-taught programs.

Even if courses are given in English, experts say some knowledge of German will help students make the most of their international experience.

5. International students can hold jobs. However, students from non-European Union or European Economic Area countries have restrictions on the number of days they can work -- 120 full days or 240 half days per year, according to the exchange service's website.

An exception: International students who work as a research assistant at their universities don't face those limits.

[Learn about the four types of students who should consider international universities.]

6. Students need to be independent. "You get less homework," says Daily. "You're more self-sufficient, and you're supposed to basically just do well on your own."

Malone agrees: "The German university system basically throws the kids into the deep end."

Grades for many undergraduate courses at German universities are based almost entirely on an end-of-semester exam or project. Students need to establish good study habits early on in a course to ensure they are prepared for the final, say students and experts.

After prospective students do some initial research, they should reach out to the international offices at the universities they are interested in, says Irmintraud Jost, executive director of the Heidelberg University Association.

"Only if you talk to these people directly and ask them directly: 'I want to study A, B, C. What do I have to do?' Then you really get the 100 percent correct answer," she says. "There is no general answer to most questions related to studying in Germany."

See the complete rankings of the Best Global Universities.

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.






Watch out, Saturday Night Live.



An eighth grade student from a Chicago-area middle school used his graduation speech to roast the candidates of the 2016 Presidential race.



Jack Aiello had the audience at Thomas Middle School cracking up as he impersonated Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders while speaking about trials and tribulations of middle school.







According to NBC Chicago, all 350 people in the graduating class were given the assignment of writing a speech, but Aiello's was clearly the winner.



"He was hands down number one because it was going to speak to the kids," principal Brian Kaye told NBC.



Aiello, speaking as Sanders, said his school had the best cinnamon rolls he'd ever tasted, but "I do have one improvement for them, though: We need to make them free."



"Why should students have to pay for their own cinnamon rolls? Doesn't make any sense. What we need is a cinnamon roll revolution."



As Cruz, Aiello said: "Thank you, Donald. Let me start by saying this: God bless the great school of Thomas!"



The video of his speech, uploaded by his dad, has now been viewed on YouTube over 1,900,000 times, and even caught the attention of Cruz.





Ok, this kid is funny! Nicely done, and congrats on graduating! https://t.co/Al8zWOZd2L a Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 16, 2016





"Politics has been something he's been interested in for several years," Aiello's father, John, told ABC News. "He's always been good with impressions, so while watching along with his mom and I, he picked up phrases and mannerisms of the candidates."



"We brainstormed some quirky memories from school to work into the speech," said Jack's mom, Carla. "His classmates were encouraging of one another and when he delivered the speech, he got quite the reaction."
By Tova Cohen

TEL AVIV, June 20 (Reuters) - Seeking to shore up the cybersecurity services it provides to customers, Accenture Plc has acquired an Israeli company and is establishing a research and development centre in the country.

Israeli cyber security firms, many of which have their roots in the military, have attracted growing foreign investment over the past few years, raising a record $540 million in 2015.

Accenture, a professional services firm whose competitors include IBM and India's Infosys, did not disclose financial details of its acquisition of Tel Aviv-based Maglan which provides cyber forensics and simulation servives, malware defence and research on intelligence threats.

It employs about 30 people, who "are extremely expert ... from Israel's military and intelligence complex," Omar Abbosh, Accenture's chief strategy officer, told Reuters on the sidelines of a cyber conference at Tel Aviv University on Monday.

Abbosh said the company spent about $1 billion acquiring some 20 companies in fiscal 2015 and a similar amount in fiscal 2016, which ends in August.

"You can use that to work out a typical deal size," he said.

Maglan will help Accenture tailor services to clients' needs as the growing variety of cyber attacks today cannot be eliminated with standard off-the-shelf solutions, Abbosh said.

Maglan's clients include financial services, telecom and automotive companies.

Accenture's new R&D centre will focus on industrial Internet of Things (IoT) and active defence, which uses artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to see an anomaly before an attack has happened.

"They are working on research we expect to apply within a three-year time frame," he said.

Accenture is also collaborating with Team8, an Israeli firm that creates cybersecurity companies. In February, Accenture, which is incorporated in Ireland, participated in a $23 million funding round for Team8.

(Editing by Keith Weir)
On Thursday, June 23rd, Accenture Plc (ACN) will release its third-quarter fiscal 2016 earnings results. The company is currently a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and shares are up over 13% on the year.

In our latest live earnings preview, Dave Bartosiak will take a look at Accentures past earnings results, its recent estimate revision activity, and everything else you need to know before the company reports. Dave will also dig into some potential trade opportunities for investors looking to make a play on Accenture ahead of earnings.

ACN in Focus

Accenture Plc is a management consulting, technology services, and outsourcing company. Measured by revenues, Accenture is the worlds largest consulting company. The company works with major players in both the private sphere and the public sphere, and in recent years it has taken over jobs such as maintenance on HealthCare.gov and the Department of Defenses health records project.

Accenture is coming off of a slight earnings surprise last quarter, as the company beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 13.56%. Over the trailing four quarters, ACN has beat on earnings three out four times by an average of 5.58%.

ACCENTURE PLC Price and EPS Surprise

ACCENTURE PLC Price and EPS Surprise | ACCENTURE PLC Quote

Heading into this earnings report, our Most Accurate Estimate for Accenture is a penny higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, giving the company an Earnings ESP of 0.71%. Companies with positive Earnings ESPs and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) or above are more likely to beat on earnings.

Accentures recent success is being propelled by a series of moves that the company has made to improve its product offerings. The company has added products in the analytics application space and invested heavily in digital and marketing capabilities.

Accenture has also recently teamed up with GE Healthcare, a division of General Electric (GE), to introduce a new offering to help improve medical claims processing and related cash flow for healthcare providers.

Story continues

Accenture Plc Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Tune in this Wednesday at 3pm Eastern on our YouTube Channel, and subscribe to our channel to be notified of future live streams. And make sure to check out our other videos for more stock information.

David Bartosiak is the editor of the Momentum Trader and Home Run Investor service. He has over a decade of experience in the financial services industry. He has traded forex, futures, stocks, and options. Mr. Bartosiak is a frequent guest on popular business news TV channels such as Bloomberg TV. Hes also the host of a light-hearted, Millennial-minded series of videos called Trending Stocks.

Zacks Equity Research provides the best of quantitative and qualitative analysis to help investors know what stocks to buy and which to sell for the long-term.



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ACCENTURE PLC (ACN): Free Stock Analysis Report



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The mother of the Texas affluenza teen has had her curfew restrictions lightened after helping her son flee the country.

In 2013, Ethan Couch infamously got a light sentence of probation and therapy for killing four people in a drunk driving incident after a psychologist testified that he suffered from affluenza and was unable to distinguish between wrong and right because hed been spoiled by wealth.

Two years later, he and his mother Tonya violated his probation and fled to Mexico, where they were apprehended in Puerto Vallarta after a two-week manhunt. The mother was charged with aiding his flight and money laundering. She posted bond in January. Her lawyer said the terms of her curfew have now been eased in order for her to find work, but he did not elaborate on the conditions, Reuters reports.

Ethan is now serving a two-year jail sentence.

[Reuters]
Watch as a newcomer male hippo takes over a family in this amazing footage, taken at iSimangaliso World Heritage Site in South Africa. High levels of aggression are shown as these two hippos battle it out to prove who is the most dominant. Defintely would not like to get in the way of this particular hippo showdown! Credit: Facebook/stacey.farrell.167
The hope of new college graduates is to identify a meaningful and lucrative career path that is filled with intellectually challenging and important work which can be completed in eight hours a day. Throw in some great perks like free gym memberships, unlimited vacations and all-inclusive food -- and the vision of the "dream job" is complete. However, this vision is almost never reality. In every entry-level position, there is often a healthier dose of work than there is of fun. Of course, that is why people are paid to work. Here are a few tedious but necessary aspects of entry-level positions that, if handled well, can help you get ahead.

[See: 10 Things They Don't Tell You About Your First Job.]

Documentation. Even the word isn't exciting. Creating a record of things that you do, people with whom you speak and activities to be completed in the future doesn't sound intriguing. However, documenting these things is a very important part of work today. Let's say you are in customer support. A customer calls in to say that they didn't receive their product. You write down the address and product requested, agree to resend it, hang up and move on to the next call. The problem happens again one week later. Why? Because you never changed the updated address in the CRM system that the shipping department uses. There might have been an additional opportunity to deliver better service (or catch the repeated mistake) by also requesting a future follow-up call from customer service to check in to make sure the product was delivered.

Documentation not only records what happened, but it creates a guide for more efficient future transactions. Additionally, it can be used to proactively plan to deliver exceptional service by following up on issues or anticipating needs. It should be clear and concise and often requires adherence to an exact procedure. Digital records are the lifeblood of successful companies. Give documentation the importance it deserves.

Confidentiality. Social media has made sharing the intimate details of our everyday lives much more common these days. However, work can be filled with career-limiting moves for the loose-lipped employee. Let's imagine you are an accounting associate in a large company. As you are reviewing invoices from vendors to submit for payment, you notice that a consultant has a bill rate that seems unbelievably high for someone who doesn't seem to be doing all that much. Over lunch, you tell a co-worker about your discovery. Unfortunately, you are overheard by a manager from another department who reports your breach of confidentiality and your lack of judgement to your supervisor. Best-case scenario, you have a very uncomfortable conversation with your supervisor about your mistake. Worst case, you are terminated because lack of discretion and professional judgement in an accounting department is a huge liability.

[See: 8 Ways Millennials Can Build Leadership Skills.]

Here are some topics to keep to yourself: your pay rate, the pay rate of others, corporate expenses, awkward habits of co-workers, the personal lives of others, performance reviews and financial results that have not been officially released. Also, be careful about sharing information to others outside of the company, like proprietary processes, stealth projects, sales prospects and internal corporate communications. In short, being trustworthy is very important for long-term career success. It is very difficult to rebuild your reputation once it is tarnished.

Details. Clever employees recognize that success can come through mastering details. Why? First, because we all appreciate getting things the exact way we want. The proliferation of Starbucks and its culture of making customized coffee orders exactly the way you want is a perfect illustration of this point. But the second reason mastering the details is so critical is that most people will not take the time to do so. This means that delivering on the details automatically puts you ahead of all the others who underwhelm with their performance. Your manager will recognize it, your co-workers will appreciate it, your customers will value you for it and you will get ahead.

Attitude. Come to the job ready to work every day. Keep an eye on the big picture, and don't let an ego get in the way. Be interested and open to the feedback of others who have more experience than you. Aim to be the best at all that you do. Take responsibility for your mistakes and be responsible for your own success.

[See: 10 Job Resolutions to Revitalize Your Career in 2016.]

You will be asked to redo work when you didn't do anything wrong, but someone just changed their mind. You may be given the same request five times in a row because a client got too busy to review what you did the first, second, third and fourth times that you submitted it to them. You will have someone take credit for your great idea. However, you will be paid to do (and redo) and endure all of those things. There are many unglamorous parts of professional employment. Recognizing the steps that you can take to make the seemingly tedious things work for you is an excellent tactic for career success.

Robin Reshwan is the founder of Collegial Services, a consulting/staffing firm that connects college students, recent graduates and the organizations that hire them and a certified Women's Business Enterprise (WBE). She has interviewed, placed and hired thousands of people across a broad spectrum of companies and industries. Her career tips and advice are used by universities, national clubs/associations and businesses. A Certified Professional Resume Writer, Robin has been honored as a Professional Business Woman of the Year by the American Business Women's Association. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa and as a Regents Scholar from University of California, Davis.
Airbnb is willing to address its problems with systemic racism and discrimination, as long as nobody sues the company over it.

The New York Times reported Sunday that Airbnb wants to make announcements in the next 10 days about how it plans to root out racism and discrimination for its worldwide network of hosts. This comes only a few days after the Congressional Black Caucus urged Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky to take the reports of discrimination seriously.

S . Still, Airbnb is regularly owning up to the criticism that some of its hosts are prejudiced.

There's just one catch: Airbnb has n that prohibit its users from filing class action lawsuits against the company.

Systemic discrimination: A recent paper by Harvard researchers showed hosts are 16% less likely to accept Airbnb guests with "distinctively African-American names" than guests with white-sounding names.

In Washington, D.C., an African-American man named Gregory Selden is suing Airbnb after he couldn't get a booking when using a profile picture of his own face, but was able to book the same rooms when he set up fake profiles posing as white men, court documents allege.

Author and animator Shadi Petosky said she was by one host for being trans:

I was denied @Airbnb because I disclosed that I'm trans. Airbnb did nothing. Had I not disclosed I'd be "dishonest"pic.twitter.com/jEkbEFIG2r https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CkOZDJNUYAQ_7vI.jpg:large

Then there was #AirbnbWhileBlack, a Twitter hashtag that became a cascade of stories about how many African Americans experience the sharing economy.

Story continues

This was my first time w/ @Airbnb @AirbnbHelp & might be my last. At least w/ hotels I can always access what I paid for. #AirbnbWhileBlack

My White friends are my "race card"- like Master but different. They're credit when one needs a ref or to book AirBnB. #AirbnbWhileBlack

When you bring up #AirBnBWhileBlack and they say you're making it up. Show them this.pic.twitter.com/pFUkIfirTH https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cj3uMW7VAAEOJ4G.jpg:large

Airbnb openly acknowledges its problem with racism and discrimination.

"It's a really, really hard problem and we need help solving it," Chesky said at the company's tech conference in June, according to TechCrunch. "We want to move this forward. I myself have engaged with people who have been victims of discrimination on the platform. We take this seriously."

The startup is taking small measures here and there. Airbnb banned the host who shut out Petosky, and recently put out a video celebrating diversity and LGBTQ identities.

But to address systemic discrimination, Airbnb will have to handle prejudice on its platform with a broad solution that deals with discrimination more materially than feel-good videos, and more holistically than playing whack-a-mole with bad hosts each time a complaint makes the news.

So what will Airbnb do, exactly? It doesn't know yet.

Airbnb hired Laura Murphy  the former head of the American Civil Liberties Union's legislative office in Washington, D.C.  to head up the anti-discrimination effort, and Murphy told the New York Times she plans to have a full action plan publicly available by September.

But without the capacity to file a class action lawsuit against Airbnb, guests relinquish the ability to use the U.S. legal system to achieve their ends  a last recourse that has broken ground on civil rights issues over and over in the last century.

Those seeking justice will just have to see what Airbnb has in store for them.
Nicosia (AFP) - Aircraft from Britain and Greece have joined Cypriot firefighters in a battle to control some of the worst forest fires to have hit the island in years, officials said Monday.

A fireman died in hospital of injuries suffered when the truck he was driving plunged down a cliff at Solea, at the foothills of the Troodos mountains, police said.

Two others were injured in the accident, one of them seriously, during efforts now backed by the British and Greek aircraft to extinguish the blaze.

Israel had already sent aircraft to Cyprus when a fire broke out on Saturday at Argaka in the northwestern tourist region of Paphos, fanned by strong winds and scorchingly high temperatures.

Cypriot Interior Minister Socrates Hasikos told state television 16 aircraft were being used to douse the "unprecedented" fires, the first time so many have been deployed on the island.

They were supporting more than 300 firefighters and 56 vehicles at the Troodos foothills, where the blaze has already destroyed at least 15 square kilometres (six square miles).

The Argaka fire was brought under control on Saturday night, while police detained two people suspected lighting the fire deliberately.

The second blaze that started in the mountain village of Evrychou was still burning, with four aircraft from Greece and three from Israel carrying out flights until nightfall on Monday.

The Cypriot government had requested assistance from Israel and Greece, while British forces on the island are always on standby to help and are doing so with two helicopters.

On Monday, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades told reporters at the scene that "irreparable damage has been done" and described it as a "tragedy for rural communities".

Efforts to control the fires are being hampered by strong winds and tinder dry conditions compounded by a heatwave with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

As a precaution some homes have been evacuated, said police, who suspect a 12-year-old boy started the second fire on Sunday after playing with a lighter.
At the iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards in Toronto on Sunday night, a number of Canadian artists expressed their horror at the massacre in Orlando just over a week ago that killed 49 people and injured 53.

Music Stars React to Orlando Nightclub Massacre, Deadliest Mass Shooting in U.S. History

Onstage at Toronto's iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards, while accepting his award for international artist, Nick Jonas said, "It's been a tough couple of weeks -- a lot of hate and violence in the world. But it's moments like this where we can all come together and celebrate the good times and be full of joy and happiness. It's a beautiful thing, so thank you for this. I dedicate this to all the families and victims of the shootings recently. We love you and we have not forgotten."

On the red carpet, Billboard asked other artists for their thoughts:

Coleman Hell

"It's terrible and horrible to hear. It's almost like you can't go more than a week without hearing about some new tragedy. Someone's got to get a handle on that. I've been touring America a lot too. But I wasn't letting myself get afraid or anything to go out and talk and meet with fans. But it's awful and it sucks because all the people I meet there are so awesome. It's a really sad thing. And guns, Canada has them figured out. Come on, America!"

'This Is the New Reality': Artists & Concert Execs Weigh In on Security Challenges After Orlando

Alx Veliz

"It's very sad. A human life is a human life, no matter what. In moments like that, from a personal perspective, it gives us Canadians a feeling of security and makes us feel grateful to live here. I just hope the States can follow our way and maybe have the same policies that we have with gun control."

Dan Talevski

"Just thoughts and prayers for families. It's absolutely insane to wake up and see that news, especially in 2016. I'm totally against guns, and I just hope one day someone changes that gun law. No one should have a gun. No one should be carrying a gun."

Story continues

Surviving the Orlando Shooting: A Pulse Bartender Shares His Experience

Ruth B

"It's absolutely terrible and it's heartbreaking and I think the world needs more loving."

Shawn Hook

"I don't know what the answer is either. It's sad, but if there's any silver lining, people who haven't been paying attention to the LGBTQ community are now paying attention. It sucks that this horrible tragic event happened, but at least now voices are being heard and, hopefully, the LGBTQ community can continue and have their voices heard. I don't know what the answer is in legislation. Gun control is an ongoing debate and they will debate it forever."

RuPaul on Orlando Shooting: 'This Is A Huge Wake-Up Call'

Alessia Cara

"It definitely comes down to gun control. It's scary. The statistics, if you look at what's happening in America, it's absolutely sickening and scary and terrifying and my heart is broken for the LGBTQ community because you feel like they're making so much progress and then something like that happens. It just comes down to gun control. We have to control who has possession of these guns and how they're using them because it's causing innocent people to die and it's scary. I'm terrified for us. It's so shocking to hear that and my prayers go out to all the families and the people that are affected."
"What if we were the refugees?" This question lies at the heart of Alicia Keys' new short film Let Me In, released Monday in honor of National Refugee Day.

Directed by Jonathan Olinger and produced via Keys' We Are Here nonprofit in partnership with Oxfam, War Child, & CARE the 11-minute video flips the script on the refugee crisis currently gripping Europe and the Middle East. It puts the United States at the epicenter of the conflict and serves as an extended visual to showcase Keys' haunting, new single "Hallelujah."

Violence forces Keys and her family to flee her war-torn Los Angeles suburb to seek the safety of Mexico.

Alicia Keys Releases 'Let Me In' Short Film In Tribute to the Refugee Crisis

Our neighbor's border guards face a tough decision: let in the hungry and exhausted Americans, or leave them to more violence and pain?

Source: Alicia Keys/Mic

"I was stunned when I learned that there are more refugees living in the world today than at any other point in history, and half of them are children," Keys said in a statement describing her film's aims. "Creating this film really allowed us to imagine, what if we were the refugees? What if we were the ones torn from the arms of our families and loved ones? How would it feel if this were happening to us?"

It is extraordinarily to imagine this country's debates and rhetoric surrounding refugees taking on the same tone if it were L.A. in the crosshairs.

Source: Alicia Keys/YouTube

The film points viewers to a petition where they can pledge their support for the refugees of the world. "It ultimately blurs the lines between 'us' and 'them,'" Olinger offers in his own statement, "as we are all human."

Watch the full video below.
On Saturday, a group of men and women with the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre lined up together while dressed in all-white linen and makeshift wings by their sides. They were shielding mourners from anti-gay rhetoric of the Westboro Baptist Church, who were picketing the funeral of Orlando, Florida, shooting victim Christopher Leinonen.

But this wasn't the first time angels appeared to protect mourners from the Westboro Baptist Church members. In fact, these angels appeared nearly 20 years ago at another watershed moment in American LGBTQ history: Matthew Shepard's funeral.

"Angels" protecting Matthew Shepard's funeral from Fred Phelps' church. A reminder that love can triumph over hate.pic.twitter.com/x8BwxH4jhU https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BjMLd3kCEAAzzTY.jpg:large

On the night of Oct. 6, 1998, Shepard  a University of Wyoming student  was brutally beaten and tortured by two college-aged men who were reportedly motivated by homophobic sentiment. Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, offered to give Shepard a ride home from bar in Laramie, Wyoming. Instead, McKinney and Henderson drove Shepard to a remote area where they robbed him, then beat him until they fractured his skull.

Six days later, Shepard died. He was 21.

Angels covering picketing signs at the funeral of murdered gay student Matthew Shepard #FredPhelpspic.twitter.com/jtXO6HIIem https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BjLsEerCAAAAyde.jpg:large

Led by Fred Phelps, the Westboro Baptist Church picketed Shepard's funeral on Oct. 16 with anti-gay slogans. Disgusted by the sight of such hatred, Shepard's friend Romaine Patterson created Angel Action. Donning themselves with white linen robes and wings, the angels blocked the sight of the homophobic protesters from mourners at Shepard's funeral.

Story continues

In an 1998 interview with CNN, Patterson said she couldn't just sit and watch anti-gay slurs hurled at the funeral procession of her beloved friend. She felt like she had to do something.

"I could no longer sit idly by and watch others bring forth messages that were nothing more than vindictive and hate-filled," said then 21-year-old Patterson. "As a young person, I feel it is necessary to show the great nation that we live in that there doesn't need to be this kind of violence and hatred in our world."
(Reuters) - U.S. antitrust regulators are concerned about health insurer Anthem Inc's (ANTM.N) proposed acquisition of Cigna Corp (CI.N) and not sure the companies can offer enough concessions to maintain competition in the industry, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

Both companies have scheduled meetings this week with top U.S. Department of Justice officials, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Some of the sources said the DOJ had not yet made a decision on whether to sue to block the deal.

Wall Street does not seem convinced the deal will go through, as evidenced in the wide spread between Anthem's offer and Cigna's share price. As of the market close on Friday, Cigna shares traded at a 32.5 percent discount to the offer, which has an equity value of about $44 billion.

Anthem announced plans to buy Cigna last summer. Also pending is Aetna Inc's (AET.N) acquisition of Humana Inc (HUM.N) which faces significant antitrust concern as well. That deal is valued at about $34 billion.

(Reporting by Rodgrigo Campos in New York; Editing by Peter Cooney)
When Anton Yelchin died suddenly Saturday night in a car-related accident, he was still recording the voice for the lead character in the upcoming Netflix animated family event series Trollhunters from creator and executive producer Guillermo del Toro and DreamWorks Animation. While the project was officially unveiled by del Toro last week at the Annecy Animation Festival in Annecy, France, the series already had been in production and I hear Yelchin had completed a great majority of the episodes.

Trollhunters 2

Because Yelchins passing was so unexpected, Netflix and DreamWorks Animation are yet to make plans how to address it, possibly casting a new actor for the remaining episodes. Our hearts are heavy with this tragic news and Antons family and friends are in our thoughts, the two companies said in a joint statement Sunday.

In heartfelt tweets, del Toro shed light on how long Yelchin had been working on the series. The sweetest, most humble, delightful, talented guy youd ever meet. Worked together for about a year. Shocked, del Toro wrote Sunday, adding Anton was a sweetheart. Absolutely a great creative partner and artist.

Yelchin co-starred alongside Kelsey Grammer and Ron Perlman in Trollhunters, set to premiere in December 2016. The series features a tale of two fantastical worlds set to collide in an epic saga. Set in the fictional suburb of Arcadia, our unlikely hero, Jim (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.

Yelchins Jim is an ordinary teenage boy whose discovery of a mystical amulet sets his life on a course filled with high-stakes adventure.

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Los Angeles authorities continue to investigate the tragic death of Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin.

The 27-year-old was killed when he was hit by his own Jeep Grand Cherokee, which rolled down his driveway early Sunday, pinning him between the vehicle, a brick pillar and security fence, police said.

Authorities are looking into whether a possible defect with Yelchin's Jeep may have caused the accident. The defect surrounds gear shifters that have confused drivers, causing the vehicles to roll away unexpectedly. An LAPD spokesman told The Hollywood Reporter the investigation was ongoing and it was too soon to know why the Jeep rolled, but investigators are aware of reports about a vehicle defect.

Yelchin's body was found at his Studio City home by friends who went to check oh him after he was late for a rehearsal. It is unclear which project Yelchin was working on at the time.

The maker of Jeep, Fiat Chrysler, sent THR the notice for the voluntarily recall of an estimated 811,586 mid-size SUVs and full-size cars "to reduce the effect of potential driver error by enhancing warnings and transmission shift strategy."

In that notice, dated April 22, the company said it was aware of 41 injuries "potentially related" to vehicles not being properly put into park, so "enhancements" would be added.

"The enhancements will combine warnings with a transmission-shift strategy to automatically prevent a vehicle from moving, under certain circumstances, even if the driver fails to select 'PARK,'" the notice reads.

On Monday, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it was still trying to determine whether Yelchin's death was related to the gearshift issue that prompted the recall and what the position of his gear shift was at the time of the accident, according to the Associated Press.

An LAPD spokesperson told USA Today that when Yelchin's friends discovered him pinned between the rear of the car and a mailbox and fence, the Jeep's engine was still running. The account is consistent with previously reported incidents of Jeep drivers exiting after thinking they they had shifted to park, only to have the car subsequently roll away uncommanded. FCA replaced the shifter involved in the recall with a more traditional design in newer models, Jalopnik reported.

Story continues

In a separate statement, Fiat Chrysler said: "FCA US extends its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Yelchin. The Company is in contact with the authorities and is conducting a thorough investigation. It is premature to speculate on the cause of this tragedy."

Read More: Anton Yelchin in His Own Words: 'How Many Different People Can I Play?'

June 20, 3:35 p.m. PT: Updated with gearshift investigations and new reports
paul ryan

Apple CEO Tim Cook will host a private breakfast for Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan next week, Politico reports.

The breakfast is being hosted by Cook, according to the report, and not Apple itself. The event is expected to raise funds that will help elect House Republicans as well as Ryan.

The move is a sign that Apple remains a bipartisan tech company, even as it has withdrawn its support for the Republican National Convention because of presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump's controversial views and campaign.

Previously, Apple donated support to both the Republican and Democratic conventions, and according to OpenSecrets.org, it has donated to both Republican and Democratic candidates in recent cycles.

But strong government relations are becoming more important to Apple. Cook has taken strong public stances on certain issues in recent years, including gay rights and climate change.

Apple became embroiled in a complicated policy debate earlier this year when the FBI asked it to create a custom hack so it could tunnel into an iPhone used by a mass shooter. (Ryan unveiled a national-security plan last week that agreed with Apple that strong encryption was "the bedrock of internet security.")

And Apple is facing the end of a substantial European Union tax investigation next month, according to reports, that could end up costing the company billions.

Those issues all have a strong governmental component, and it appears as if Apple wants to curry favor among lawmakers and bureaucrats  no matter their party affiliations. As the most powerful person in the House of Representatives, Ryan is a good friend to have.

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Gurkha

Standing at 5-foot-3, the average Gurkha is easy to overlook, let alone be seen as a soldier.

However, that mistaken belief may very well be your last thought if ever you meet a troop of Gurkhas in battle: Their motto, "better to die than be a coward," suggests as much.

History of the Gurkha

Hailing from the mountainous region of Nepal, the Gurkhas were first witnessed by the world when they were invaded over 200 years ago by the British East India Company. Suffering immense casualties, the British forces were eager to sign a hasty peace treaty. A soldier even noted in his memoirs: I never saw more steadiness or bravery exhibited in my life. Run they would not, and of death they seemed to have no fear."

The_Nusseree_Battalion Gurkha

According to the peace treaty's terms, the Gurkhas were allowed to join the East India Company's army. Since then, more than 200,000 Gurkhas fought in virtually every military campaign  the World Wars, Afghanistan, and even the brief 1982 Falklands War. However, the UK wasn't the only country privy to the Gurkhas' services; Singapore, Malaysia, and India have all employed them in their own armies and police forces.

The Gurkha's heroism

Gurkha Lachhiman Gurung

The Gurkhas' bravery is illustrated in the case of rifleman Lachhiman Gurung. In 1945, Gurung was in a trench with two other soldiers when 200 Japanese fighters opened fire on them. After his comrades were wounded, Gurung noticed several incoming grenades fall into his position. He threw them back; however, after the first two, the third grenade exploded in his right hand.

Suffering massive injuries, Gurung managed to use his left hand to fire his rifle to kill several Japanese soldiers as they were storming his trench. All in all, 31 Japanese soldiers were killed during the fight.

Story continues

The Gurkhas' eagerness for battle comes at a cost, however  43,000 of them died during WWI and WWII. Although they have suffered heavy losses, their heroic actions haven't gone unnoticed. So far, 26 Victoria Crosses, the UK's highest award for bravery, have been awarded to Gurkha Regiments.

The Gurkha's training

Gurkha soldier training

Nearly 28,000 Gurkha candidates compete each year for just 200 places in the British Army. In order to qualify, they are required to do 75 bench jumps in one minute and 70 sit-ups in two minutes. Their next task seems like a scene from a kung fu training montage  running 5 kilometers up the foothills of the Himalayas with 25 kilograms' worth of rocks on their back in under 55 minutes.

Each Gurkha soldier is eventually awarded a traditional weapon known as a "kukri." Once drawn, this 18-inch curved knife is said to need to have tasted blood  that if the Gurkha had not managed to draw the blood of his enemy, he would have to cut himself before sheathing the weapon.

Although this may sound like ancient lore, evidence of this custom was provided by a Gurkha soldier fighting in Afghanistan in 2011  in order to provide DNA evidence of the death of a highly sought-after Taliban commander, the Gurkha proceeded to behead the insurgent and carried the body part back to his base in a bag.

Polished kukri gurhka knife khukri

Future of the Gurkha

As technology advances and weapons can be operated autonomously, the role these soldiers will play in the years to come isn't certain. Their numbers in the British army have already dwindled because of budget cuts  from 13,000 in 1994 to 3,000 now.

Gurkha soldier protest

Further, controversy surrounding their treatment from the UK arose when Gurkha soldiers were discovered to be receiving pensions of 37 a month, while British soldiers were receiving 800 a month.

Because Nepal is not a member of the Commonwealth, the Gurkhas are not considered British subjects, and as such, are subject to this disparity. UK officials have also claimed that allowing all 36,000 former Gurkhas into the UK would create massive pressure for immigration and social services.

Although budget cuts and disparate treatment may affect the future of these soldiers, their deeds have already been etched in the pages of history as some of the world's fiercest fighters.

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By David Schwartz

PHOENIX (Reuters) - An Arizona mother pleaded not guilty on Monday to murder charges in the fatal stabbing of her three young sons, whose bodies were found stashed in a closet where she lived, court officials said.

Octavia Rene Rogers, 29, sobbed loudly as court commissioner Julie Mata entered the plea on her behalf in Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix, her defense attorney said.

She faces three counts of first-degree murder, accused of killing her sons, aged 2 months, 5 years old and 8 years old.

Rogers cried, "Help me," several times as defense attorney Gary Bevilacqua said he tried to comfort her by putting his arm around the woman.

"It's obvious that my client has mental health issues," Bevilacqua told Reuters in a brief telephone interview.

The bodies of the two oldest boys, Jaikare Rahaman and Jeremiah Adams, were found partially dismembered, and 2-month-old Avery Robinson was inside a suitcase at their north Phoenix home. Police called it a "horrific scene."

Rogers was discovered with what police said were self-inflicted stab wounds to her abdomen and neck and was hospitalized before being booked into custody on June 5.Officers were called to the home by her brother after he came from work to find Rogers talking about religion and how she found the answer to life.

Police said the woman initially said the children were not at home and were being cared for elsewhere, but officers found the bodies of the slain boys in a bedroom closet.

Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty, a spokeswoman for the Maricopa County attorney's office said.

(Reporting by David Schwartz; Editing by Daniel Trotta andf Steve Orlofsky)
Its bagged 5,000 units in H1 alone.

The Ascott Limited (Ascott), CapitaLands wholly owned serviced residence unit, is breaking its own records as it recently bagged seven new properties with 1,714 units across seven cities in Asia. This puts Ascott on track to outpace its own growth in 2015, having secured over 5,000 units in 26 properties in the first half of 2016 alone.

According to CapitaLands announcement, Ascott nabbed properties in Karawang in Indonesia; Putrajaya in Malaysia; Danang in Vietnam; Tokyo in Japan; and Changsha, Shanghai and Shaoxing in China.

Ascott is set to continue this expansion momentum for the rest of the year to outperform 2015, which was our record year of growth with a total of 6,700 units added to our portfolio, said Lee Chee Koon, Ascotts Chief Executive Officer.

He added: This year, we have added more than 5,000 units in 26 properties, 22 of which are in Asia, while the remaining properties are in New York, London and Al Khobar in the Middle East. The addition of these seven management contracts will further boost our income from management fees.

Southeast Asia remains Ascotts fastest growing market and second largest globally after China where it has the most number of properties.

The 124-unit Somerset Ginza East Tokyo is poised to open in July 2016 while the 135-unit Citadines Festive Walk Karawang, 550-unit Citadines Blue Cove Danang, 180-unit Citadines Xingsha Changsha and 250-unit Citadines Keqiao Shaoxing is scheduled to open in 2018.

Meanwhile, the 200-unit Somerset West Hongqiao Shanghai will welcome its first guests in 2019 while the 275-unit Somerset Putrajaya is slated to open in 2020.







More From Singapore Business Review


By Evelyn Lirri BUGALA ISLAND, Uganda (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Mariam Nakakeeto listened quietly to the grievances of fellow farmers gathered outside the grounds of a local church on Bugala Island, by the shores of Lake Victoria. Nakakeeto, 35, is one of more than 100 farmers who say they were left landless in 2011 when Ugandan palm oil company Bidco Africa cleared their fields to make way for commercial palm oil agriculture. "I lost 15 acres (six hectares). They just came and started clearing the land without our permission," said Nakakeeto, a mother of six. "We were told the government had sold the land but we have lived here for two decades. We can't just lose our land like this," she added. Farmers on Bugula Island, the second largest in Lake Victoria, are now locked in a legal battle with Bidco, which says it has not been involved in any land transactions. "The Ugandan government was solely responsible for acquiring the land for the project," a company spokesperson told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "This was with the full involvement of all stakeholders and on a willing-buyer, willing-seller basis." The farmers' case is one of many conflicts over land in the East Afrian country, which lacks a nationwide tenure system, making it difficult to prove ownership. Many people live and work on land for generations but without official titles or documentation they cannot prove tenure. ADDRESSING POVERTY The decade-old Kalangala oil palm project is a public-private partnership set up to address high poverty levels in the area and only a small area of land is disputed, the government said. Under the deal, the government purchased 8,500 hectares (21,000 acres) of land, mostly from local landlords in the area, as its contribution to the partnership. The Ministry of Agriculture said local communities were benefiting from the project, with 4,700 hectares of the plantation currently held by smallholder contract farmers. "Out of the 8,500 hectares acquired for the project since 2000, only about 25 hectares...was ever in dispute and it remains a matter between tenants and the private landowner," the ministry said in statement. "A total of 1,700 households are involved as our growers and they have tremendously benefited from the project," the ministry said. Farmer Nakakeeto used to grow a variety of crops before 2011, including coffee, avocados, bananas and cassava. Coffee was her main source of income, earning her 2 million Ugandan shillings ($595) every season. Now, with no land to cultivate, she said survival is a daily struggle. "Without your own land, what more can you do? You find yourself working in other people's fields where you're paid 3,000 Ugandan shillings or less, depending on how much work you've done," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. COURT BATTLE John Muyisa, 54, said he too lost his livelihood when 44 acres of farmland were taken in 2011. "We had already planted crops on the land. Everything was destroyed without warning or compensation," said Muyisa, adding that he had lived on the land for over 30 years. "Some of my children cannot go to school now because I cannot afford the high university fee," he added. In 2015, Muyisa sued Bidco and his former landlord, Sylvia Nakato Sempa, in an attempt to retrieve his land and win compensation for lost income during the period that his fields were used by the company. Although he did not hold any legal deeds to the land, Muyisa said he is the lawful owner and longterm occupant and therefore deserves the right to remain on the land. Horatius Sempa, a spokesman for the landlord, said all squatters on the land under contention had been compensated before it was cleared to make way for the commercial palm production of palm oil, which is primarily used for cooking, cosmetics and producing biofuels. "We valued the land and paid everyone who was on it but others like Muyisa wanted to be paid more. The matter is now before the courts, let's wait for the ruling," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a telephone interview. COMPENSATION DISPUTE Land legislation enacted in 2010 stipulates that a person earns squatter's rights on land if they have occupied it for 10 years or more. If a landlord comes to reclaim the land, the squatter occupants must be compensated at the current value of the land before eviction. David Kureeba from Friends of the Earth Uganda, a charity supporting the smallholders' legal case, said affected farmers should not only have been consulted but also offered first priority to buy their fields before they were sold to Bidco. "Because they're poor, the farmers' interests were not considered," Kureeba said. "Many were given as little as 100,000 Ugandan shillings. Would anyone call that compensation?" Kalangala District Chairman Willy Lugoloobi said most of the disgruntled farmers seeking a return of their land sold it willingly. "Because they sold it cheaply at the time, they want to be given back the land," he said. "But they signed documents stating they had willingly sold the land. It will now be hard to justify even in courts of law." Lugoloobi said the project has benefited farmers and helped boost development in the district. "Its an economic activity that every farmer wants to be part of, especially if they see how much others are earning from it," he said. ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS Desire Nsamba Kiggundu, 43, another farmer said that after he lost 13 acres, he decided to purchase a plot in another area where he is cultivating palm oil on contract. "I did so to be able to make a living otherwise life would be hard. But I am still hoping that I can get back my land so I can expand the plantation," said Kiggundu. He harvests up to two tonnes (2,000 kg) of palm oil every season and sells it to Bidco at 400 Ugandan shillings per kilogram. Kiggundu said while the project is benefiting some farmers, many still have to bear the high costs of fertilizers and seedlings. The lack of an alternative market to sell the palm oil poses another challenge to farmers. "At the moment we only sell to Bidco but the prices are so low. We can't make good money from it," he said. For small-hold farmers like Sam Mutawunga, making a little extra money - over and above that made by selling raw produce to Bidco - has proved difficult. He now extracts oil from some of the fruit himself, allowing him in turn to sell it to local residents to earn an extra income. He sells a liter of his cooking oil for 4,000 Ugandan shillings. "There's no difference between the oil I make and that which Bidco produces. It is clean oil and the residents like it," said Mutawunga. The farmers petitioning Bidco said they are determined to get their land back - and Muyisa remains hopeful that the court will soon rule in their favor. "All we are asking for is to be given back our land. We are not asking for money," he said. ($1 = 3,360.0000 Ugandan shillings) (Reporting by Evelyn Lirri; Additional reporting by Katy Migiro. Editing by Paola Totaro and Astrid Zweynert.; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, which covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, property rights and climate change. Visit news.trust.org to see more stories)
Australia's prime minister insisted Monday a referendum on legalising same-sex marriage will be held this year if his government is re-elected despite the Labor opposition calling it "a taxpayer-funded platform for homophobia".

The country holds elections on July 2 with the latest opinion poll showing the ruling Liberal-led coalition and Labor neck-and-neck.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who is well-known for his support of gay marriage, is in favour of a referendum on the issue instead of a parliamentary vote.

But Labor has hardened its language against a public vote, in what commentators said was a strategic move to set up the issue as a clear choice on polling day.

"We have a very clear policy which is that every Australian will get a vote on the subject," Turnbull, the first sitting Australian leader to attend the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, told reporters.

"Of course, if we are successful on July 2, then I have every expectation that the parliament will swiftly legislate for a plebiscite and a plebiscite will be held shortly after parliament resumes, which I would assume to be in August.

"So I would hope that the plebiscite could be held before the end of the year."

Labor has pledged to hold a parliamentary vote to change the Marriage Act within 100 days if it wins office, and warned that allowing the public to decide risked exposing underlying homophobia.

It has suggested a plebiscite could unleash hateful advertising and expose children of gay parents to negative messages.

"In modern Australia, no one should have to justify their sexuality or their love, to anyone else," Labor leader Bill Shorten said at Labor's official election campaign launch on Sunday.

"And instead of sitting in judgement, instead of providing a taxpayer-funded platform for homophobia, we will gift every Australian an equal right in respect of love. Nothing less."

Australia is seen as lagging behind a growing number of countries on marriage reform and popular support for change is high.

Story continues

Same-sex couples can have civil unions or register their relationships in most states across Australia, but the government does not consider them married under national law.

The issue is shaping up as a key election issue, along with economic management, immigration, and climate change, in polls too close to call.

A Newspoll in The Australian broadsheet on Monday showed the outcome was on a knife edge with the Liberals and Labor both locked at 50-50 on a two-party basis.

The poll of 1,805 people from June 16-19 has Turnbull favoured as the better prime minister on 46 percent to Shorten's 31 percent, but neither of them polled well on performance satisfaction.
The hit Australian kids book series Alice-Miranda is heading to the small screen.

Aussie shingle SLR Productions, together with Germany's ZDF Enterprises, will adapt the Alice-Miranda series from author Jacqueline Harvey as an animated series for the 6-9-year-old demographic.

Australia's Nine Network has come on board as the commissioning network for the half-hour series and will carry the first 26-episode season.

The series follows the adventures of the 10-year-old Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones, who, together with her pony Bonaparte, is the youngest-ever girl to attend the prestigious boarding school Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies.

Part comedy, part teen drama and part mystery series, the Alice-Miranda books have sold more than 650,000 copies in Australia alone. The series, which now numbers 14 titles, has been published in more than 80 countries worldwide.

SLR Productions is one of Australia's most successful kids TV producers, with credits that include preschool series Guess How Much I love You and the Emmy Award-winning I Got A Rocket. ZDF Enterprises, a commercial subsidiary of German public broadcaster ZDF, is one of Europe's leading TV producers and distributors.

The German group has co-produced numerous international series, including Australian kids shows H20: Just Add Water and Mako Mermaids.
Slut-shaming trolls making rape "jokes" on social media aren't just being jerks. According to one judge in Australia, they're actually committing a crime.

In Australia, Zane Alchin, 25, was charged with making online sexual threats to Olivia Melville on Facebook. This week he changed his plea from "not guilty" to "guilty" on the first day of his trial, the BBC reported. If convicted, the crime could land him behind bars for three years.

Source: Facebook/Buzzfeed

The charges stem from an incident in 2015, when Australian woman Olivia Melville learned that a man had posted a screenshot of her Tinder profile on Facebook. In her profile, Melville quoted rap lyrics about a woman who will "suck you dry and then eat some lunch with you," for which she received a flood of slut shaming, insults and even rape threats from strangers.

Alchin was one of the many harassers who commented on Melville's viral Facebook post. He ended up writing more than 50 posts in response to Melville's, including such nuggets of wisdom as "the best thing about a feminist they don't get any action, so when you rape them it feels 100 times tighter."

Alchin will be sentenced in late July, but local advocacy group Sexual Violence Won't Be Silenced is already celebrating the case as a victory. "Our victory today sends a message to all women that they don't have to put up with harassment online," the group posted on Facebook. "There are steps and channels they can take, and that Australian law is on their side."

Online harassment is a global problem that affects young women in particular. According to one Australian study, up to 76% of women under 30 have been the victims of online harassment.

Yet courts and law enforcement have repeatedly failed to prioritize women's safety in digital spaces. London-based writer Emily Reynolds wrote about her experience being ignored by the police when she reported threats of sexual violence from Twitter users.

Story continues

"The police officer suggested that, in the future, I should 'expect' things like this to happen," Reynolds wrote. "I was a prominent feminist writer online, he said, so it was par for the course." Lawmakers like Congresswoman Katherine Clark have been outspoken about the need for lawmakers and tech companies to create laws and policies that protect women online, but there's been minimal progress.

Massachusets Representative Katherine Clark

Over the past few years, numerous states have passed legislation criminalizing cyberbullying and online harassment of minors. Yet the Australian trial is a landmark case that proves "trolling" and indirect threats of sexual violence on social media can still be legally classified as forms of harassment. Only time will tell if this will inspire lawmakers and judges in other parts of the world to treat online sexual harassment with the same gravity.
By Swati Pandey and Jonathan Barrett

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's four leading banks face the biggest test to their dominance since the 2008 global financial crisis as politicians calling for a public inquiry into how they operate look set to emerge from national elections in July with decisive influence.

The calls for a special parliamentary investigation, known as a Royal Commission, follow a series of poor conduct charges leveled at big banks, from giving consumers bad financial advice to claims of rate-rigging by three of the top four lenders.

A Royal Commission with far-reaching powers could be a headache for the "Big Four" - Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) <CBA.AX>, Westpac Banking Corp <WBC.AX>, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) <ANZ.AX> and National Australia Bank (NAB) <NAB.AX>. The four are behind 80 percent of the country's lending and have scored strong profit growth for years.

"A Royal Commission is very negative because anything can be opened up, so I understand why banks are so keen to avoid it at all costs," said Omkar Joshi, who manages A$1 billion ($738 million) at Watermark Funds Management.

Under Royal Commissions, executives can be compelled to attend public hearings and answer questions under oath. Findings can trigger major reforms: a police regulator was established after a Royal Commission into the New South Wales Police in 1995 uncovered widespread corruption.

Polls predict a tight race in the July 2 federal election. While the ruling Liberal-National coalition does not support a public inquiry into banks, even if it emerges from the ballot as the leading political force it could be outvoted on the issue in parliament, with both the main opposition Labor Party and key independent lawmakers backing a comprehensive probe.

"I think we need to have a robust Royal Commission," Senator Nick Xenophon, whose newly created party, Nick Xenophon Team, could have the balance of power in the Senate, told Reuters.

Story continues

"It should be about how do we better protect consumers, how do we strengthen those non-'Big Four' banks as well in relative terms?"

Pauline Hanson, leader of the right-wing One Nation party and well placed to win a seat in Australia's Senate, also supports a wide-ranging inquiry. "We definitely have to have one. That's high on our agenda," Hanson told Reuters.

Officials at the four main lenders did not respond to Reuters' requests for comment for this story.

DOMESTIC SHIELD

Bank executives have rejected the calls for a probe, saying consistent industry regulation offers the best solution.

"We are not denying there have been problems, we are not denying there has to be ongoing scrutiny of the industry," Australian Bankers' Association Chief Executive Steven Munchenberg said earlier this year. "The question is do we need a Royal Commission to do that? No, we do not."

NAB's CEO Andrew Thorburn said in a statement in April a Royal Commission would be a "serious distraction", while ANZ CEO Shayne Elliott said such an inquiry could damage Australia's standing among global investors.

The market grip of Australia's main banks - among the tightest of all developed economies - has left the sector in the political spotlight before. The big four's domestic scale helped shield them from the 2008 financial crisis, and has kept them largely insulated from competition with overseas rivals and financial technology disruptors.

A financial services inquiry in 2014 found the banking sector was concentrated to a level that could create risks to both the stability and the degree of competition in the financial system.

But banks have returned as an issue in the election campaign: public trust has been damaged by incidents including bad advice that led to thousands of customers losing savings and rejected insurance claims.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is also pursuing court actions against NAB, ANZ and Westpac over alleged manipulation of the bank bill swap rate, Australia's equivalent to Libor, for their financial advantage - an allegation the three banks refute.

Against that backdrop the concern for banks is that a Royal Commission has the ability to continually widen the scope of its investigation.

"It's a real worry and we're laying low until the election," one senior bank executive told Reuters, requesting anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue.

($1 = 1.3548 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Swati Pandey and Jonathan Barrett; Editing by Jane Wardell and Kenneth Maxwell)
Vienna (AFP) - Austria's highest court began a public hearing Monday on a legal challenge to May's presidential election brought by the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), whose candidate only narrowly lost.

The Constitutional Court's open session was due to last four days and hear 90 witnesses. It aims to rule before the scheduled swearing-in of the election winner, Alexander Van der Bellen, on July 8.

Van der Bellen beat FPOe candidate Norbert Hofer in May 22's runoff election by just 30,863 votes, narrowly preventing Austria becoming the first European Union country with a far-right president.

But on June 8, the FPOe launched a legal challenge to the result, alleging numerous procedural irregularities that party boss Heinz-Christian Strache said had cost Hofer the election.

Potentially the most explosive claim is that some 60,000 postal votes were counted by people not authorised to do so. This might be sufficient for the court to rule the entire election has to be held again.

If as a result Van der Bellen, an independent backed by the Greens, cannot be sworn in on July 8, outgoing president Heinz Fischer will be replaced on an interim basis by three parliamentary officials -- one of whom is Hofer.
VIENNA (Reuters) - Electoral officials broke one of Austria's vote-counting rules in last month's presidential poll because it was almost impossible to implement, witnesses told the Constitutional Court on Monday as it examined a challenge to the result by the far-right Freedom Party (FPO). FPO candidate Norbert Hofer, aspiring to be the first far-right head of state to be elected in a European Union country, lost narrowly to a former leader of the Greens Party. In announcing its challenge, the party cited irregularities on a "more than frightening" scale. A lawyer for winning candidate Alexander Van der Bellen described the court testimony so far as not giving rise to any suspicions of manipulation. "No manipulation is in any way apparent and it (the count) was largely carried out correctly," lawyer Maria Windhager told reporters outside the courtroom. No other officials, when questioned, said they believed there had been any manipulation of the vote. The FPO challenge focuses on most of the more than 700,000 postal ballots cast, which swung the election in favor of independent Van der Bellen. His margin of victory was roughly 31,000 votes, or less than one percentage point. The Constitutional Court must decide whether the law was broken in such a way that the result might have been affected. If so, it can order remedies including a re-run. It aims to rule before Van der Bellen's inauguration scheduled for July 8. The most widespread irregularity according to the FPO was that postal ballots were processed or counted before 9 a.m. the day after the Sunday election. The Interior Ministry agrees officials in several districts failed to wait until then. "Because ... of the enormous amount of postal voting ballots it would barely have been possible to provide a result in time starting on the Monday at 9 a.m.," Innsbruck-Land voting district head Wolfgang Nairz told the court. At the start of four days of public proceedings in which the court plans to hear around 90 witnesses, Nairz said his voting district had authorised him years ago to process ballots early. The candidates' lawyers dispute whether that is allowed. An official from another of Austria's 117 voting districts, Southeastern Styria, told the court postal ballots were processed early there, too, because there would not have been enough people to handle them on the day after the election. Other irregularities alleged by the FPO include that unauthorized people counted ballots. The Interior Ministry has countered that and other arguments by saying FPO observers signed documents stating the count was carried out correctly. Election observers from various parties said they signed those documents without reading them. "I assumed everything was in order," an FPO observer in Nairz's district, Johann Grassmair, said, adding that he did not know of the 9 a.m. rule at the time. "I am aware now." (Reporting by Francois Murphy and Kirsti Knolle; editing by Ralph Boulton)
Authorities have released the 911 call made by a Disney World employee after 2-year-old Lane Graves was snatched by an alligator last week.

Read: Another Boy Photographed Playing in the Same Spot as Lane Graves 30 Minutes Prior to Alligator Attack

The caller told 911: Someone drowned in the 7 Seas Lagoon lake.

The police dispatcher asked: Do you see the person right now?

No, I didn't. The other lifeguards are at the beach, the caller said.

The dispatcher asked: But they are pulling someone out of the lake, is that correct?

Yes, the caller replied.

Lane Graves body was actually found a day later at the bottom of the 7 Seas Lagoon, just 15 yards from where he was snatched while playing in ankle deep water at the Grand Floridian resort.

Disney World has now put up a fence at the beach where the attack took place.

Read: Parents of Boy Killed by Gator Break Their Silence: 'Words Cannot Describe the Shock and Grief'

Matt and Melissa Graves released a statement Thursday that read: Words cannot describe the shock and grief our family is experiencing over the loss of our son. We are devastated and ask for privacy during this extremely difficult time.

"To all of the local authorities and staff who worked tirelessly these past 24 hours, we express our deepest gratitude.

Watch: After Disney Alligator Attack, Survivors Talk Encounters With the Reptiles: 'He's Gone With My Arm'

Related Articles:
The worlds top automakers are warning of economic uncertainty if the U.K. cuts ties with the European Union, saying Thursdays so-called Brexit vote could have significant ramifications for the industry.

Supporters of the Remain camp have argued that a win for Brexit would upend existing trade deals between the U.K., the EU and the rest of the world. The U.K. produced 1.59 million vehicles in 2015, its best performance in a decade. The region exported a record 1.2 million of those vehicles, or 77% of total volume. And of all cars exported by the U.K. last year, 58% were shipped to other European nations.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, an industry group comprised of automakers and suppliers in the U.K., said 77% of its members believe it would be best for business if the U.K. stays in the EU, while 9% backed a vote for Leave. The survey, which was released in March, also found that 59% think a win for Leave would have a negative medium- to long-term impact.

The auto industry contributes 15.5 billion, roughly $22 billion, to the U.K. economy, according to the SMMT. Automakers and suppliers employ 160,000 people across the pond, and the SMMT estimates that a total of 800,000 U.K. jobs are supported by the industry. Ford (NYSE:F), Toyota (NYSE:TM), Honda (NYSE:HMC), BMW and Nissan all have plants in the U.K., in addition to 2,500 companies that make car components.

Toyota, which has recently butted heads with the Leave campaign, issued a letter to U.K. employees Monday to put the record straight regarding its position on the referendum. The company believes it will face significant business challenges as a result of a decision to withdraw from the EU, emphasizing that its two U.K. plants were built to make cars and engines for all of Europe.

Therefore, open and free access to the European Market is of critical importance for our U.K. manufacturing business, Toyota said, according to a copy of the letter obtained by FOXBusiness.com. The letter was co-signed by the union representing Toyotas U.K. factory employees.

Story continues

Toyota exports nearly 90% of its U.K.-made vehicles, and 75% of its production there supports sales in the EU. In the letter, Toyota predicted that a Brexit would likely force the U.K. to drop current trade agreements, which have no tariffs or duties attached. Executives warned that any cars it ships out of the U.K. could be hit with tariffs as high as 10% if the U.K. leaves.

Toyota has accused the Leave campaign of misrepresenting the companys views. Earlier in June, Toyota threatened to file a legal complaint against the Leave campaign for unauthorized use of the companys logo. Toyota does not wish to enter the campaign and we fully respect that whether to remain or to leave the European Union (EU) is for the British people to decide, the company said in a statement at the time. Toyota also reiterated its previously stated position that British membership in the EU is best for business.

Another Japanese automaker, Nissan, said Monday it will pursue legal action against the Leave campaign for using the Nissan logo on campaign leaflets.

European car makers such as Jaguar Land Rover, the British manufacturer owned by Tata Motors (NYSE:TTM), and BMW have also warned against an EU exit.

Our European supply chain has been fundamental in helping us to meet customer expectations worldwide and achieve sustainable, profitable growth, Jaguar Land Rover CEO Ken Gregor said.

A General Motors (NYSE:GM) spokesperson told FOXBusiness.com the company will be closely following the UK debate on the European Referendum, adding that GMs U.K. brand, Vauxhall, is part of a fully integrated European company where it benefits from the free movement of goods and people.

The U.K. is the top European market and fourth-largest global market for GM, the top U.S. automaker. GM has 4,500 employees in the U.K. The company indirectly employs a total of 11,000 people when including its retail network and supply chain.

The UK has a strong and growing automotive industry and trades freely within the worlds largest trading bloc, the EU. Not to be part of the EU would be undesirable for our business and the sector as a whole, GM said.

Ford, which has 14,000 U.K. employees, also thinks the EU is the best bet for the U.K. A Ford spokesperson said the company hasnt changed its current investment plans. However, if leaving the EU leads to a significant deterioration in the U.K.s business and trade environment, the vote could impact Fords business decision-making, including potential future investment.

Our primary interest is in maintaining stability and avoiding uncertainty in the trading environment. We believe this is best achieved if the UK stays as a member of a reformed EU, Ford said.

Speaking to reporters in Italy last week, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (NYSE:FCAU) CEO Sergio Marchionne said the U.K.s possible exit from the EU is not that disastrous for the company, given its limited business interests in the U.K. However, he added that Brexit is a huge risk for the European economy.

A spokesperson for FCA said the company had no additional comment beyond Marchionnes remarks.

While car makers are hoping for a Remain victory, they also hope the U.K. gains additional influence in the EU to pursue reforms. When asked why the U.K. should hold onto its EU membership, 52% of the companies polled by the SMMT cited the U.K.s ability to play a role in crafting industry standards and regulations.

On Monday, U.S. and European markets rallied amid possible momentum for Remain. A poll conducted by Survation showed a slight lead for the pro-EU side, 45% to 42%.

Related Articles
Constellation Brands Inc. STZ is slated to release first-quarter fiscal 2017 results on Jun 30. Last quarter, the company had delivered a positive earnings surprise of 4.4%. In fact, it has outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by an average of 9.2% over the trailing four quarters. Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement.



CONSTELLATN BRD Price and EPS Surprise

CONSTELLATN BRD Price and EPS Surprise | CONSTELLATN BRD Quote

Factors Influencing this Quarter



Constellation Brands has been gaining from its strategy of boosting growth via acquisitions, efforts to include new products in its wine and spirits businesses as well as strong demand for beer. The companys top and bottom lines are benefiting from strength in the beer business, improving trends at its wine and spirits business, and solid overall depletion trends. Further, the companys impressive outlook for fiscal 2017 reflects that it expects these robust trends to continue in the future.



While these factors make us hopeful of Constellation Brands upcoming results, we prefer to remain somewhat cautious, given the intense competition in the industry from other major players and the risk of increasing taxes.



Earnings Whispers



Our proven model does not conclusively show that Constellation Brands is likely to beat estimates this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1, 2 or 3 for this to happen. This is not the case here, as you will see below:



Zacks ESP: Earnings ESP for Constellation Brands is currently pegged at +1.97%. This is because the Most Accurate estimate of $1.55 stands above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.52.



Zacks Rank: Constellation Brands carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). We caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell-rated stocks) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.



Stocks Poised to Beat Earnings Estimates



Here are some companies you may want to consider as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:



Lithia Motors Inc. LAD, expected to report earnings on Jul 27, has an Earnings ESP of +2.04% and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).



AutoNation, Inc. AN, expected to report earnings on Jul 27, has an Earnings ESP of +0.95% and a Zacks Rank #3.



Blue Nile Inc. NILE, expected to report earnings on Aug 5, has an Earnings ESP of +5.00% and a Zacks Rank #3.



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James Lipton, dean-emeritus of The Actors Studio Drama School, insisted, during a recording of the 'Awards Chatter' podcast in his Upper East Side home, that not even he anticipated the success of Bravo's Inside the Actors Studio, the program featuring interviews with performing artists about their life and career, which he created 23 years ago and has hosted ever since: "If you had put a gun to my head and said, 'I will pull the trigger unless you predict that in 23 years, Inside the Actors Studio will be viewed in 94 million homes in America on Bravo and in 125 countries around the world, that it will have received 16 Emmy nominations, making it the fifth-most-nominated series in the history of television, that it will have received an Emmy Award for outstanding informational series and that you will have received the Critics' Choice Award for best reality series host - predict it or die,' I would have said, 'Pull the trigger.'"

Click above to listen to this episode now, or click here to access all of our episodes via iTunes. Past guests include Steven Spielberg, Amy Schumer, Louis C.K., Lady Gaga, Will Smith, Jennifer Lopez, Harvey Weinstein, Jane Fonda, Aziz Ansari, Brie Larson, J.J. Abrams, Kate Winslet, Samuel L. Jackson, Kristen Stewart and Michael Moore.)

Inside the Actors Studio is now the second-longest-running series in the history of cable, after only The Real World, and - like its host, who will turn 90 on Sept. 19 - it's still going strong: Guests this season, its 21st, have included Bryan Cranston, Steve Carell, Jeff Daniels, Sarah Silverman, Christopher Meloni and the cast of AMC's The Walking Dead. (Next up: the cast of HBO's Girls, for whom he was preparing when I arrived.) At this point, virtually everyone knows what Inside the Actors Studio is and who Lipton is - if not from watching some of its hundreds of episodes, then from Will Ferrell's classic impersonation on Saturday Night Live - but few know much about the evolution of the show and its bearded, bespectacled, poker-faced host, apart from what he wrote in his 2007 memoir, Inside Inside. It was the mission of this episode to correct that.

Story continues

Over the course of our conversation, Lipton - who was born and raised in Detroit and grew up poor after being abandoned by his father, a famous Beat poet - describes the many lives he led prior to Inside the Actors Studio. He acted on radio, as the title character's nephew on The Lone Ranger; he served in the Air Force; he moved to New York, intending to become a lawyer, but fell in love with the performing arts classes that he took on the side (including years of study with Stella Adler at the Actors Studio) and quickly landed work acting in - and then eventually writing for - soap operas and Broadway; he authored a best-selling book, An Exaltation of Larks; he worked as a pimp in Europe (you've gotta hear this story); and he became a producer, specializing in non-profit charity events like the USO's annually televised Bob Hope birthday specials.

Twenty-four years ago, Lipton visited the Actors Studio and found that it "was in great danger of vanishing" because TV work largely had moved to Los Angeles and actors had followed it. He joined its board and shortly thereafter awoke with an idea: "What if we opened the doors, not to let the public in, but to let the so-called Method - the system - out?" Thanks to his efforts, the Actors Studio and The New School soon partnered on a degree-granting program, the Actors Studio Drama School; he became its dean; and in three years it was the largest school of its kind in America and, he says, "one of the prides of my life." Lipton thought master classes might be a valuable addition to the curriculum, and though he had never previously interviewed anyone, he decided to serve as its emcee. "I sent word back into the community from which I had come, and where I was known and knew people," he recalls, "and said, 'These people are liable to say something worth preserving. That requires television. Anybody interested?' Bravo was." (The small cable network later was bought by NBC, largely because it possessed Inside the Actors Studio.)

Lipton shares how he prepares for each episode; why he rejects pre-interviews or discussing anything but craft ("the key to the show's success"); why the show almost ceased to exist after its first season; why his most memorable episodes include those with Steven Spielberg, Jack Lemmon and former student Bradley Cooper ("The night I waited for since we started Inside the Actors Studio, maybe since I started my life"); why he closes every episode with a questionnaire first employed by the TV host Bernard Pivot ("Many of the things I do I model after him"); what his own answers to its questions are; what he thinks of retirement and what will become of the show after he's gone; and much more. He says of his hundreds of interview subjects: "Because we're up on that high-wire with no net for three or four or five hours, we're on a journey together that is, for me, the greatest privilege of my life."
Moscow (AFP) - The leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia on Monday agreed at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to bolster the number of monitors in disputed Nagorny Karabakh in a bid to shore up a shaky ceasefire.

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev met key regional power broker Putin in Saint Petersburg after the worst violence in decades over the contested territory.

Fighting along the volatile frontline of the territory --- seized by ethnic-Armenians from Azerbaijan in a brutal war in the early 1990s -- spiralled in early April, killing at least 110 people.

A Russian-brokered ceasefire put an end to four days of heavy clashes but tensions remain high as both sides accuse the other of breaching the pact.

In a joint statement after the meeting the two sides said they had "agreed in particular to increase the number of international observers in the conflict zone" in order to help strengthen the halt in hostilities, Russian news agencies reported.

At present there are only six unarmed observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) deployed in the region to monitor the situation.

The statement did not give any indication of the target number of monitors or a timeframe for when they would be deployed.

April's violence was the bloodiest since an inconclusive truce in 1994 halted the earlier conflict and sparked fears of a return to an all-out war that could pitch regional titans Russia and Turkey against each other.

In separate meetings with Putin ahead of a sit-down involving all three, both of the leaders blamed each other for the violence.

"Our position on Karabakh is well known: we want this issue to be resolved exclusively peacefully," Sarkisian told Putin.

"Unfortunately such conflicts cannot be resolved just through the desire of one side."

Meanwhile, Aliyev shot back that the "status quo is unacceptable" as he sat down with Putin.

Story continues

"In order to change the status quo, we need to end the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories," he said.

Moscow has sold weapons to both of the former Soviet nations but has a military alliance with Armenia.

Turkey -- at loggerheads with Moscow since Ankara downed a Russian jet near its border with Syria last year -- pledged its full support to traditional ally Azerbaijan after the latest clashes erupted.

Sarkisian and Aliyev agreed to respect the Russian-backed ceasefire in a Vienna meeting with international mediators -- including representatives from Russia, the United States and France -- in mid-May.

After the 1990s war claimed some 30,000 lives, peace efforts have stuttered to a halt in recent years, and both sides in the conflict began rearming heavily, with energy-rich Azerbaijan spending vast sums on new weaponry.

Azerbaijan last week announced five days of major military exercises starting on Sunday near the breakaway region including some 25,000 servicemen and 300 tanks.
By Sami Aboudi DUBAI (Reuters) - Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of the spiritual leader of the kingdom's Shi'ite Muslim majority, the state news agency reported on Monday, prompting protests outside his home and a sharp rebuke from an Iranian paramilitary chief. The move against Ayatollah Isa Qassim comes less than a week after a court ordered Bahrain's main opposition al-Wefaq group closed, accusing it of fomenting sectarian unrest and of having links to a foreign power, in an apparent reference to regional Shi'ite power Iran. The move against Qassim was the latest one taken by Bahrain  where a Shiite majority is ruled by a Sunni monarchy  against Shiite figures in the country, in what appears to be an escalating campaign against dissent in the Western-allied Gulf kingdom. Bahrain has defended its actions against Shi'ite Muslim figures in the context of national security. Qassim could potentially face expulsion from the country. A crowd of up to 4,000 people gathered outside Qassim's house in the Shi'ite village of Diraz, west of the capital, Manama, to show their support for him, witnesses said. In a bluntly worded reaction, the top commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Qassem Soleimani, warned the Bahraini government it would pay a price for its decision and suggested Bahrainis may respond with armed action. "The Al Khalifa (rulers of Bahrain) surely know their aggression against Sheikh Isa Qassim is a red line and that crossing it would set Bahrain and the whole region on fire, and it would leave no choice for people but to resort to armed resistance," Soleimani said in a statement published by Fars news agency. Soleimani heads the Qods Force, the elite special forces arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Iran's Foreign Ministry also criticized the move. In a statement published on the Tasnim news agency, the ministry urged the Bahraini government not to burn all the bridges that connect the government to the people and to hold serious national talks to end the current crisis. Washington, which regards Bahrain as a top Gulf ally and is where the U.S. Fifth Fleet is based as a bulwark against Iran, said it was "alarmed" by the decision. "We are unaware of any credible evidence to support this action," State Department spokesman John Kirby said. The United States and Britain have expressed concern about Bahrain's human rights record. Bahrain in 2011 crushed an uprising by Shi'ites demanding reforms that would give them a bigger voice in governing the Sunni Muslim-ruled country. Bahrain denies any discrimination. DISCONTENT But discontent still smolders on the streets of Bahrain, where a financial crisis caused by lower oil prices has caused a slowdown in the economy. BNA, quoting an Interior Ministry statement, said Qassim had been trying to divide Bahraini society, encourage youths to violate the constitution and promote a sectarian environment in the country. "Based on that, the Bahraini citizenship had been dropped from Isa Ahmed Qassim, who since he acquired Bahraini citizenship had sought to form organizations that follow foreign religious and political reference," BNA said. Qassim's official website says he was born in a Shi'ite village in the kingdom in the 1940s, when the island state was still under British rule. The crowds gathered outside Qassim's house chanted Shi'ite slogans, witnesses said. "With our soul, with our blood we sacrifice ourselves for you, Hussein!" they chanted, invoking the name of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussein, who is revered by Shi'ite Muslims. Social media footage showed Qassim standing outside what looked like his home saluting the crowds. Dozens of police vehicles were seen surrounding Diraz, the witnesses said, but there were no reports of clashes. HEZBOLLAH SAYS DECISION 'DANGEROUS' The powerful Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah called Bahrain's decision "extremely dangerous" and warned it would bring severe consequences to the ruling system. "The authorities, with their stupidity and recklessness, are pushing the Bahraini people to difficult choices, which will have severe consequences for this corrupt dictatorial regime," Hezbollah said in a statement. Bahrain earlier accused the Iran-backed Hezbollah of supporting militants behind a spate of bombings in the country and has designated the group a terrorist organization. The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy said the withdrawal of Qassim's citizenship would stoke unrest. "We are deeply concerned that these actions will escalate tensions on the streets and may even lead to violence, as targeting the country's leading Shi'ite cleric is considered to be a red line for many Bahrainis," Sayed Ahmed al-Wadaei, the institute's director of advocacy, said in a statement. Bahraini media reported last week that authorities had been investigating a bank account of some $10 million in Qassim's name. The move spurred a strongly worded statement from top clerics, including Qassim, against any attempt to meddle with the collection of a Muslim tax called Khums, which is a pillar of Shi'ite Islam. (Additional reporting Noah Browning, Tom Perry in Beirut, Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in Dubai and Warren Strobel in Washington; Writing by Sami Aboudi; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Peter Cooney)
Bangladeshi police say they have killed a senior figure of an Islamic militant group involved in the killings of secular activists and bloggers.

Amid a large-scale crackdown on suspected militants following a spate of murders of liberal activists and minorities, the Dhaka Tribune reports that a man known as Sharif, who was responsible for training in the banned group Ansarullah Bangla Team, was killed in a gunfight in the capital, Dhaka, on Sunday.

Police claim Sharif, whose organization is believed to be the local affiliate of al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), took part in the murders last year of Bangladeshi-American secular blogger Avijit Roy and fellow blogger Niladri Niloy Chatterjee, as well as in the killing of a university student.

The deaths are among at least 20 similar killings since 2013, in which the victims are usually hacked to death in broad daylight. AQIS and the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria have separately claimed responsibility for many of the attacks.

A Hindu monastery worker, a Hindu priest, a Christian walking home from Sunday prayers, and the wife of an antiterrorism police officer have all been slain in Muslim-majority Bangladesh this month alone, sparking authorities to roundup thousands of suspects.

[Dhaka Tribune]
Barclays PLC BCS termed a $1.0 billion (721 million) lawsuit filed by British financier Amanda Staveley over the formers emergency capital-raising from Gulf investors during the global financial crisis of 2008 as "fundamentally misconceived".



Deal in Brief



Claims made by Staveleys private equity firm PCP Capital Partners involved nearly 7 billion fundraising dealings between Barclays, Qatari and Abu Dhabi investors in 2008.



In a suit filed in Londons High Court in January this year, Staveley sought compensation for alleged deceptive misrepresentation related to potential fees in the whole deal between Barclays and the Middle East, which helped the bank deflect a taxpayer bailout. Staveley sued Barclays for 721 million in fees owed by PCP Capital for being involved in the key financing.



According to Staveley, PCP Capital was supposed to be a potential investor in the Abu Dhabi syndicate and should have been compensated for participating in the fundraising. Notably, PCP Capital advised Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan on the deal.



Also, PCP Capital should have allegedly received the same deal as Qatari investors as all participants were assured of being treated equally. However, Qatari investors received an extra fee of 346 million more than PCP Capital.



Update



Barclays denied it made "representations which were false" in court documents. According to the bank, PCP Capital was just an adviser in the deal and not a prospective investor. Also, Barclays alleged that the extra fee paid to Qatari investors was for "separate services which required separate payment".



In a 45-page defence filed at the High Court, Barclays also claimed that Staveley's allegations make "a number of unfounded and unsubstantiated" assumptions that resulted "in a wholly artificially inflated loss calculation."



"The claim is fundamentally misconceived. Barclays' understanding at all material times was that PCP-LLP was acting on behalf of Sheikh Mansour, not on its own behalf," Barclays said.



"In any event the representations were not made as alleged, and PCP-LLP is unable to establish that it suffered any loss as a result of the alleged representations," the bank added.



As per the court document, "In so far as Barclays made any representations, Barclays denies that it made those representations dishonestly or recklessly."



SFO Inquiry



The lawsuit comes at the time when the Serious Fraud Office is investigating the supposedly undisclosed payments made by Barclays to Qatari investors during 2008. A separate criminal probe is ongoing into Barclays financial arrangements with Qatar at the time of the credit crisis in 2008.



Currently, Barclays holds a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Some foreign banks with the same rank include Bank of Montreal BMO, The Toronto-Dominion Bank TD and Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. ITUB.



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By Stephen Kalin FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S.-backed Iraqi forces fighting Islamic State militants in Falluja are advancing toward jihadist strongholds in western districts where they expect the final push to recapture the city will take place, the Iraqi commander said on Monday. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory on Friday after troops reached the center of the city, an hour's drive west of Baghdad, but an official in the U.S.-led coalition said on Sunday Iraqi forces had so far taken only half of Falluja. The operation to recapture the Iraqi city longest held by Islamic State entered its fifth week on Monday, and fighting has forced more than 85,000 residents to flee to overwhelmed government-run camps. Iraqi forces continue to face shooting, suicide bombs and mortar attacks as they confront militants north of a road running through the city. Heavily armored Interior Ministry police units were pressing toward Golan neighborhood, on the northwestern edge of the city, Lieutenant General Abdul Wahab al-Saidi told Reuters at his temporary command post in a southern district. "The biggest effort now is on the western axis. If they collapse on the western axis and our forces reach Golan, you won't hear any more shots inside Falluja," he said. Troops from Saidi's counter-terrorism force were fighting Islamic State in al-Dhubat district, further east. Fifty militants were killed there by coalition air strikes on Sunday and at least 15 others died in clashes, the commander said. Army troops moving north from the neighborhood of Shurta had not yet entered al-Jughaifi area on the city's northern edge, while units from Baghdad operations command were advancing in the easternmost district of Askari, according to Saidi. Sitting with other officers from the elite counter-terrorism service at a plastic picnic table littered with walkie-talkies inside an unfinished building, Saidi said the battle would end soon. Most of the militants, including a few hundred foreign fighters, were killed or captured trying to escape with civilians, he said. Only six counter-terrorism commandos had been killed. Government troops launched the operation on May 23 to retake Falluja, a bastion of the Sunni Muslim insurgency against U.S. forces that toppled Saddam Hussein, a Sunni, in 2003, and later against Shi'ite-led governments. Enemies of Islamic State have launched major offensives against the jihadists on other fronts, including a push by U.S.-backed forces against the city of Manbij in northern Syria. They amount to the most sustained pressure on Islamic State since it proclaimed a religious caliphate in 2014. MAIN HOSPITAL CLEARED In battle-scarred Falluja, which has witnessed more than a decade of violence -- between al Qaeda and U.S. forces and later Iraq's own security forces -- it is hard to tell how much of the visible damage has been caused by the latest fighting. Along the route from Saidi's outpost into the city center lie the remnants of vehicle-borne suicide bombs dispatched recently by Islamic State, al Qaeda's successor. Brown scraps of metal dot the barren roadside. The latest round of fighting, though, seems to have taken a lighter toll than previous campaigns, including the battle to retake Ramadi, the city 50 km (30 miles) further west recaptured six months ago. Falluja has incurred fewer air strikes and Iraqi forces' quick advance to the city center last week suggested the roads were less plagued by Islamic State mines. Saidi estimated damage to the city's infrastructure at less than five percent, which Reuters could not verify. Most houses have not yet been checked for explosives, a process that will delay the return of residents. Government forces said on Monday the main hospital, a stronghold of militants which they surrounded a day earlier, had been partially burned but was not booby-trapped and was not sheltering suicide bombers as initially suspected. Police checking the complex found little other than an unidentified body and the buried corpse of an Islamic State fighter. Saidi issued a ban over his walkie-talkie against anyone re-entering the hospital, in an apparent attempt to prevent looting by undisciplined security elements. Down a road littered with the detritus of urban warfare, a main mosque topped with azure domes, was mostly untouched. A soldier urged visiting journalists to stick to the middle of the street to avoid setting off roadside bombs. (Writing by Stephen Kalin; Editing by Dominic Evans)
By Tom Polansek

CHICAGO, June 20 (Reuters) - Bayer AG's crop science division apologized on Monday for a tweet that suggested reduced meat demand could benefit the environment, in a bid to appease outraged farmers who buy the company's seeds and chemicals.

The tweet, published on the official Bayer Crop Science (@Bayer4crops) account on Sunday, linked to a Vox.com article that said "going vegetarian can cut your food carbon footprint in half." (http://bit.ly/1mmwsdi)

The post sparked a backlash on Twitter from North American grain growers who sell much of their harvests to livestock operations and from farmers who raise animals. A decline in meat consumption would hurt their incomes.

"Oh you just lost all my business," Lance Schiele (@schiele_lance), a livestock producer and grain farmer, said in a tweet to Bayer Crop Science.

The gaffe comes as Bayer AG is trying to acquire Monsanto Co , the world's largest seed maker. The potential tie-up has faced resistance from some farmers worried about consolidation in the agriculture sector.

A Bayer Crop Science spokesman said on Monday that the tweet was a mistake and did not reflect the company's views.

The company has deleted the posting and tweeted apologies to about 130 individual Twitter users who complained about it.

"The livestock industry feeds our planet & we're glad to support it. It was never our intention to antagonize it - sorry!" Bayer Crop Science tweeted repeatedly.

Some farmers applauded the company for apologizing but others were fuming.

"This week we will decide about which fungicides to purchase. Probably won't be Bayer products after this tweet," tweeted Dane Visscher (@danevisscher), a grain farmer.

(Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by P.J. Huffstutter and Phil Berlowitz)
Ron Howards authorized documentary about the early years of the Beatles has been set for U.S. theatrical release on Sept. 16 through Abramorama.

The film, titled The Beatles: Eight Days A Week  The Touring Years, will become available to stream exclusively to Hulu subscribers on the next day, Sept. 17. It will be the first feature film to debut on Hulu following its theatrical premiere.

The film features exclusive footage and is produced with the full cooperation of Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison.

Producers are White Horse Pictures Nigel Sinclair, Scott Pascucci and Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainement with Howard. Apple Corps Ltd.s Jeff Jones and Jonathan Clyde are serving as executive producers, along with Imagines Michael Rosenberg and White Horses Guy East and Nicholas Ferrall.

Studiocanal is an anchor partner on the film having acquired U.K., France, Germany, Australia and New Zealand rights. Producers began selling rights at the Cannes Film Festival last month.

The Beatles: Eight Days A Week  The Touring Years is based on the first part of the Beatles career between 1962 and 1966 and will explore how John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr came together. The title is taken from a 1964 hit single by the group.

The Beatles Ed Sullivan Show appearance in 1964 caused their popularity to explode. When the band stopped touring, they had performed 166 concerts in 15 countries and 90 cities.

The film explores the inner workings of the group, their unique musical gifts and their complementary personalities and includes early performances at the Cavern Club in Liverpool to their last concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco in 1966.

The Beatles: Eight Days A Week  The Touring Years is the first film acquired by Hulus Documentary Films arm, which will serve as a new home for original and exclusive documentary film titles coming to Hulu.

The film will premiere on Sept. 15 in London as part of its release in the U.K., France and Germany, followed by the Sept. 16 release in the U.S., Australia an New Zealand and a Sept. 22 release in Japan.

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Paul Crowder is the editor and his long-time collaborator, Mark Monroe, is serving as writer. Marc Ambrose is the supervising producer.

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Brussels (AFP) - Belgian police on Monday briefly detained six people in connection with a foiled attack last year on a high-speed train travelling from Amsterdam to Paris, prosecutors said.

They were later released without charge after "simple verifications", the federal prosecutor's office told AFP in an email.

On August 21, Moroccan Ayoub El Khazzani boarded the train in Brussels armed with a Kalashnikov and other arms but was overpowered by a group of Americans and a Briton as he opened fire.

While he remains in custody, a judge leading the investigation into the attack ordered six raids carried out Monday in the Brussels area, including four in the Molenbeek district, considered a jihadist hotbed.

"Six people were detained for questioning," prosecutors said, adding that no weapons or explosives were found in the raids.

It added that the investigating judge will decide in the next few hours whether to keep them in custody.

Belgian authorities on Saturday charged three men with "attempted terrorist murder" after raiding dozens of homes in raids linked to a reported threat to fans during a Euro 2016 football game.

Raids were carried out across Belgium, including Molenbeek, where Khazzani stayed with his sister before boarding the Amsterdam-Paris Thalys train.

Molenbeek has also been the focus of the investigation into the March 22 Brussels bombings, which left 32 people dead, and the November 13 Paris attacks, which killed 130 people.
Although Bella Hadid won't be spending Father's Day with her "papa," the model had a date with dad to celebrate on Saturday.



The 19-year-old model shared a photo with Mohamed Hadid during lunch at Via Alloro in Beverly Hills, California.



"Had to have lunch with my papa before Goin backs Europe," she captioned the picture of her dad laughing as she makes a silly face. "I love you daddy. Happy almost Father's Day to one of my favorite men in the world! I love love love you."



Mohamed, 67, shared a photo of the daddy-daughter pair striking a slightly different pose.







"A day before Father's Day," he wrote. "Spend some quality time with my beautiful @bellahadid It was a great day."





A photo posted by Mohamedhadid (@mohamedhadid) on Jun 18, 2016 at 6:30pm PDT





Bella's older sister Gigi Hadid, 21, also paid tribute to her dad early (she'll be hosting the MuchMusic Video Awards in Canada on Sunday) with a sweet throwback photo.



"As I will be attending to my award-show-hosting duties tomorrow, I wanted to be the first to wish my daddio a HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!" she captioned the photo of her much younger self cuddling up to her dad in bed. "I love you more than you'll ever know."











A photo posted by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid) on Jun 18, 2016 at 7:52am PDT





Mohamed married Yolanda Hadid in 1994 and had three children  Gigi, Bella and Anwar Hadid, 16  who are now all models. The couple divorced in 2000, and Yolanda married music producer David Foster 11 years later. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star and Foster announced their plans to divorce in December 2015.
By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - California's insurance commissioner on Monday said a Berkshire Hathaway Inc insurance business evaded a state law designed to protect small businesses from unexpected workers' compensation costs.

Commissioner Dave Jones faulted Berkshire's Applied Underwriters Inc and California Insurance Co units over the sale to Shasta Linen Supply Inc of a nontraditional workers' compensation policy whose terms and rates had not been reviewed by state officials.

Jones said the policy sold by Applied essentially replaced a policy sold by California Insurance, and subjected Shasta, a family-owned employer of 63 people, to hundreds of thousands of dollars of extra costs. He ordered a refund of extra sums that Shasta paid.

"California employers should be able to trust that their insurance companies are doing business by the book and not exploiting them in the name of profit," Jones said in a statement. "Unfiled rates and unfiled major policy terms are void as a matter of law."

Berkshire had no immediate comment. Applied and a lawyer for California Insurance did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Shasta's lawyer did not immediately respond to similar requests.

Workers compensation insurance typically covers lost wages and medical costs for employees injured on the job. Jones said it is mandatory in California.

Monday's 70-page decision is a rare regulatory critique of Berkshire's insurance operations, which account for roughly a quarter of operating profit at the Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate run by Warren Buffett.

The policy in question is called EquityComp, which Berkshire has said carries a profit-sharing component and is meant for medium-sized employers.

Jones said EquityComp was launched in 2008, and now generates 80 percent of California Insurance's policy premiums.

He said it has helped the company roughly triple its profit and market share in the state, while reducing the percentage of premiums used to pay claims to well below industry norms.

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"CIC knew of the review and pre-approval process and deliberately ignored that process," he wrote.

Jones said he ordered a review by the state's insurance department of whether Berkshire and its rivals are selling other unfiled workers' compensation policies.

He said the outcome will determine whether enforcement actions and penalties are justified.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
From Cosmopolitan

The health benefits of coffee are spilling out from study after study after study recently. So many health benefits, in fact, that 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 (WHO), 25 years after declaring coffee a possible carcinogen, has reversed its course, joining the conventional scientific wisdom that coffee is good - or at least probably not bad - 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 reduced 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 researchers tend to agree that a cup of Joe can probably do more good than harm.

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 the drinks were.

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.
By Matt Spetalnick WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Joe Biden on Monday will denounce Republican Donald Trumps call for a halt to Muslim immigration as an appeal to intolerance and defend the U.S. fight against Islamic State at a time of dissent within the Obama administration over Syria policy. Biden will deliver a wide-ranging rebuke to Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for the Nov. 8 election, in a speech to the Center for New American Security think tank, according to excerpts released by the White House. Biden, who has joined President Barack Obama in endorsing presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, plans to wade deeper into the campaign a week after Trump sparked criticism for his comments on American Muslims after a U.S.-born Muslim man killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. In a speech last Monday on national security, Trump stood by his call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States and proposed a suspension of immigration from countries with "a proven history of terrorism." Biden, in his remarks, will say: Wielding the politics of fear and intolerance - like proposals to ban Muslims from entering the United States or slandering entire religious communities as complicit in terrorism - calls into question Americas status as the greatest democracy in the history of the world. Although not naming Trump, the vice president will say: Alienating 1.5 billion Muslims - the vast, vast majority of whom, at home and abroad, are peace-loving - will only make the problem worse. Biden will also apparently chide Trump for having spoken admiringly of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Embracing Putin at a time of renewed Russian aggression" could call into question the U.S. commitment to Europes security," he will say. Referring to Trump's vow to erect a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico if elected, Biden will assert: If we build walls and disrespect our closest neighbors, it will reignite anti-U.S. sentiment in Latin America. Bidens defense of Obamas strategy against Islamic State militants appears intended, at least in part, to push back against a recently leaked internal State Department memo critical of the presidents response to Syria's civil war. The document, signed by 51 diplomats and reflecting long-standing frustration among Obamas aides, calls for urgently broadening an approach, now focused on attacking Islamic State, to unleash air strikes against Syrian President Bashar al-Assads forces. U.S. officials made clear Obama would not be swayed. The use of force should be precise and proportional, Biden will say. There must be a clear mission that advances U.S. interests. Whenever possible, we should act alongside allies and partners." (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Peter Cooney)
(WASHINGTON)  Warning of a potential surge in anti-Americanism, Vice President Joe Biden is tearing into Donald Trumps views on foreign policy and urging the country not to follow the presumptive Republican nominee down a path of isolationism and bigotry.

Biden, in a speech Monday to the Center for New American Security, planned to deliver a point-by-point rebuttal of Trumps ideas on immigration, terrorism and relations with Russia. In excerpts of his speech released in advance by the White House, Biden cautioned against policies he said would make the U.S. and its neighborhood poorer, less democratic and less secure.

Wielding the politics of fear and intolerance, like proposals to ban Muslims from entering the United States or slandering entire religious communities as complicit in terrorism, calls into question Americas status as the greatest democracy in the history of the world, Biden planned to say.

Bidens speech to the Washington think tank was to form his most concerted and lengthy rebuke to date of Trump, and comes as Biden and President Barack Obama are increasingly inserting themselves into the election in an attempt to stop Trump. Earlier this month both Biden and Obama endorsed Hillary Clinton, and both Democrats are expected to start campaigning aggressively for her in the coming days.

Although Biden didnt mention Trump by name in the excerpts of his speech, his intended target was clear. On Sunday, Trump went beyond his previous calls for temporarily banning Muslim immigration by suggesting the U.S. should consider profiling Muslims already in the U.S. The Republican has also called for reinstating waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods to try to prevent terrorist attacks.

Adopting the tactics of our enemies  using torture, threatening to kill innocent family members, indiscriminately bombing civilian populations  not only violates our values, its deeply damaging to our security, Biden said. He echoed Obamas argument that demonizing the worlds Muslims would actually help the Islamic State group by playing into the narrative of extremists.

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Biden, who considered running for president before bowing out last year, said the country was at an inflection point in which hard-fought gains of the past several years risk being squandered. He dismissed those who seek sound bite solutions in a world defined by complexity, in another clear swipe at Trump.

If we build walls and disrespect our closest neighbors, we will quickly see all this progress disappear, replaced by a return of anti-Americanism and a corrosive rift throughout our hemisphere, Biden said.

The vice president also sought to undercut Trumps argument that if elected, the U.S. would enjoy a more constructive and friendly relationship with Russia, following a dysfunctional relationship under Obama. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has praised Trumps intelligence in the past, more recently dodged questions about whether he prefers Trump or Clinton and pledged to work with whoever wins.

Embracing Putin at a time of renewed Russian aggression could call into question Americas longstanding commitment to a Europe whole, free and at peace, Biden said. But neither is it time to dust off the Cold War playbook.

Though the U.S. cut off formal military ties with Russia in 2014 to protest its actions in Ukraine, the two militaries have sought to maintain lines of communication to avoid an inadvertent confrontation in Syria, where both militaries are fighting the Islamic State group but backing opposing sides in Syrias civil war. Biden said that as new military technologies raise the risk of a mistake or escalation, the U.S. needs to find new channels with Moscow to clearly communicate our intentions.
Vice President Joe Biden issued a thinly veiled, biting rebuttal of Donald Trump's foreign policy proposals on Monday, warning that they could put the U.S. in danger and trigger a surge of anti-Americanism.



Without mentioning the presumptive GOP nominee's name, Biden took time out during remarks to a defense establishment think tank to sharply criticize Trump's ideas on immigration, terrorism, and relations with Russia  specifically calling out his plans to ban all Muslims from entering the U.S., to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, and to use torture and kill family members of terrorists.



"Wielding the politics of fear and intolerance, like proposals to ban Muslims from entering the United States or slandering entire religious communities as complicit in terrorism, calls into question America's status as the greatest democracy in the history of the world," Biden said.





Does Donald Trump Rattle You?









"Adopting the tactics of our enemies  using torture, threatening to kill innocent family members, indiscriminately bombing civilian populations  not only violates our values, it's deeply, deeply damaging to our security," he continued. "If we build walls and disrespect our closest neighbors, we will quickly see all this progress disappear, replaced by a return of anti-Americanism and a corrosive rift throughout our hemisphere."



The vice president also criticized Trump's repeated praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin.



"Embracing Putin at a time of renewed Russian aggression, I believe, could call into question America's longstanding commitment to a Europe whole, free and at peace," Biden said. "But neither is it time to dust off the Cold War playbook."
A rare species of fish, typically found in Mexico, has been discovered in a cave in Texas suggesting the two countries are linked via caverns.

Since the 1960s there have been rumors of sightings of blind, white catfishes in that area, but this is the first confirmation, said Dean Hendrickson of the University of Texas at Austin. Ive seen more of these things than anybody, and these specimens look just like the ones from Mexico.

The blind catfishknown as a Mexican blindcatwas recorded by a team from the University of Texas at Austin after being spotted and captured swimming near Del Rio in Texas. A National Park Service employee first spotted the fish with translucent skin and short, eyeless bodies, last April near limestone cave.

This discovery marks the first time the fish was seen outside of Mexican waters. The fish is typical to the northern waters of the Rio Grande.

Because the fish dwell in subterranean habitats, the need for eyesight and scaly skin is diminished leading to their distinct look. Scientists says the fish rely on their sensitive hearing to capture prey. According to the University of Texas at Austin the fish are being held in a special facility at the San Antonio Zoo that can accommodate cave-dwelling fish. They are not currently on display.
Nikhil Puthran

A recent report on imports states that the BMW 725Ld has arrived in India for homologation purpose. Thereby, indicating on its possible debut in the country sometime soon. Interestingly, the new 725Ld gets a smaller 1995cc diesel engine and we believe that it might be offered as a base variant among the 7 Series variants in India.



The engine in the BMW 725Ld is expected to get the B47 four-cylinder common rail diesel engine offered by the German automaker. Owing to a smaller engine capacity, post launch, the BMW 725Ld will be surpass the Delhi-NCR regions ban on the registration of cars that are powered by over 2.0-litre diesel engines. This will also mean that the new BMW 725Ld will also have an upper hand in luxury car market where other leading automakers like the Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar are yet to come up smaller diesel engine options. In terms of features, the 725Ld will share similar features with the regular 7 Series. A detailed report on the specifications will be known in the coming days.



As for the pricing aspect, the 725Ld expected to be offered as a base variant, we believe that it might be priced lower than the current 7 Series range. Apart from Delhi-NCR region, the BMW 725Ld will also gain a stronghold in Kerala and other cities where NGT has been petitioning to ban the registration of over 2-litre diesel engine cars.

For more news,reviews,videos and information about cars, visit CarWale.com.

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Johannesburg (AFP) - Injured South Africa No.8 Duane Vermeulen has been ruled out of the series-deciding third Test against Ireland in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

The Toulon forward was forced off the field last Saturday during the opening half of a Test in Johannesburg with an elbow tear.

"He will be out for between two to six weeks, depending on how the injury responds to treatment," said Springboks doctor Konrad von Hagen.

Obvious replacement Warren Whiteley is receiving treatment for a shoulder injury and while he trained on Monday, the No.8 avoided contact situations.

Ireland were shock 26-20 winners of the first Test in Cape Town but a great last-quarter comeback earned South Africa a 32-26 victory last Saturday.
When Boko Haram pledged loyalty to the Islamic State in March 2015, it seemed to signal that the jihadi world was bending in the direction of the self-proclaimed caliphate. At the time, Boko Haram held more territory than any other Islamic State province outside the groups stronghold in Syria and Iraq, and it looked poised to expand from Nigeria into Cameroon, Niger, and Chad. The pledge of allegiance was also seen as a deep blow to al Qaeda, the traditional jihadist standard bearer, with whom Boko Haram had enjoyed a long if undeclared relationship. Islamic State, itself once an al Qaeda affiliate, was not just eating into al Qaedas potential pool of recruits  it was attempting to gobble up entire branches of the organization.

The tables have turned dramatically since then. Today, al Qaeda has an opportunity to bring Boko Haram back into its orbit, a move that would cripple the Islamic States already faltering global expansion efforts. Factions within the Nigerian militant group appear to have significant buyers remorse when it comes to the groups defection to the Islamic States camp. Despite the occasional spectacular attack or bloody offensive, Boko Haram today is substantially weaker, and controls much less territory, than when the group was rechristened as the Islamic States West Africa Province. And its relationship with the group bears a healthy portion of the blame.

Consider Boko Harams presence in Borno State, which is where the group was founded and where it has carried out more than 75 percent of its attacks. Boko Haram was the dominant military force in Borno State at the time of its pledge to the Islamic State, and it was bearing down on the regional capital of Maiduguri. Today, by contrast, it reportedly holds only two medium-sized towns in the state, although large parts of northern Nigeria remain insecure. The loss of territory has coincided with a decline in high-profile attacks  there hasnt been one in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, since October 2015  and the arrest of a number of the groups key leaders by Cameroonian security forces. Meanwhile, the escape last month of one of the more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped two years ago from the town of Chibok  and Boko Harams apparent willingness to negotiate the release of the others  suggests that the group is finding it difficult to hold hostages as its stronghold shrinks and the pressure from a regional military coalition grows.

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Boko Harams current weakness can be attributed in part to its decision to join the Islamic State. As the militaries of Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad bore down on the Nigerian Islamists last year, one might have expected the groups fighters to find shelter outside their home country. This is what they did the last time Boko Haram came under significant pressure from the Nigerian military. From 2009 to 2010, when Nigerian security forces were in the midst of a bloody crackdown on Boko Haram members and sympathizers, the militant group was able to melt away into neighboring countries as well as into more distant troubled states  such as Mauritania, Sudan, and Somalia  with the help of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and to a lesser extent the Somali militant group al-Shaabab, which publicly pledged allegiance to al Qaeda in 2012. But since it can no longer rely on the support of al Qaeda, which is the dominant force in the Sahel region, Boko Haram has lost its nearby safe havens and been forced to seek help in far-away Libya, where the Islamic State has carved out a de facto regional capital in Sirte. (Even this base is not assured, since Islamic State in Libya has come under increasing pressure from Libyan government-allied and anti-Islamic State forces.)

Even Boko Harams propaganda efforts have faltered since it hitched its wagon to the Islamic State. In early 2015, the groups media capabilities took a noticeable leap forward, almost certainly as a result of the Islamic States assistance. But since then, Boko Harams propaganda department has actually taken several steps backward. So far this year, the group has released only two videos of unimpressive quality: one affirming loyalty to its leader, Abubakar Shekau, and to Islamic State caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi; and another chronicling an attack in Bosso, Niger. And in an apparent slight, videos released by the Islamic States flagship province in Libya no longer encourage West African fighters to wage jihad in Nigeria. Instead, they call on these foreign militants to travel to Libya. Meanwhile, al Qaeda affiliates have upgraded their media capabilities across the board. Improvements in the propaganda produced by AQIM, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and Syria-based Nusra Front are striking.

Boko Harams record of failure as an Islamic State affiliate offers al Qaeda an opening to win back its former partner or at least persuade it that its allegiance to the Islamic State has become more of a liability than an advantage. Elsewhere al Qaeda has contested the Islamic States encroachments on its territory through a combination of military force, intelligence work, crafty propaganda, and effective coalition building. Take for example its role in bringing about the implosion of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) in Afghanistan. After the IMU joined the budding caliphate in August 2015, the Taliban, which has resumed close cooperation with al Qaeda, launched a major offensive against its erstwhile ally that killed over 100 IMU fighters, as well as its emir, Usman Ghazi. On Twitter, one IMU supporter marveled that what America and its agents could not do in 14 years, the Taliban did in 24 hours.

Al Qaeda has likewise helped publicize and accelerate the internal implosion of the Islamic States Yemen affiliate, which at its height managed to carry out spectacular attacks on Yemeni soil but never controlled territory. That affiliate has been wracked by several waves of defections, including one in December 2015 that saw some 70 fighters and senior leaders announce their break with the group on Twitter. AQAP, which until recently controlled a considerable amount of coastal territory, capitalized on the flop by tirelessly working to publicize these defections from the Islamic State. For example, it posted a video of one Islamic State defector detailing the groups fabrications in its propaganda videos, including its use of actors to play dead enemy soldiers. Particularly amusing to the online jihadi community was the defectors claim that the group used the soft drink Vimto as fake blood.

The stage has been set for a similar al Qaeda resurgence in Nigeria. One potential strategy for the group would involve building up a new pro-al Qaeda jihadi network in Nigeria that is designed to eclipse Boko Haram or pry away its members. To this end, AQIM could try to unite its Fulani members in Mali with Fulanis in Nigeria under a charismatic figure like Amadou Koufa, the leader of the Massina Liberation Front, an AQIM-created Malian faction that counts many West African Fulanis among its ranks. This could achieve a unified AQIM framework that stretches from Mali to Nigeria, allowing the group to exploit the grievances of Muslim Fulani herdsman, who have long felt abandoned and exploited by the governments of both countries.

Al Qaeda might also choose to negotiate directly with the leaders of friendly Boko Haram elements like the splinter group Ansaru, which could serve as a vehicle for sparking mass defections from Boko Haram. Although the top Ansaru commander, Khalid al-Barnawi, was arrested earlier this year, there are still key figures within the splinter group who maintain high-level contacts with AQIM and al-Shabaab, such as Mamman Nur, who masterminded the 2011 bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Abuja. The task of prying away Boko Harams foot soldiers might be made easier by Shekaus alleged flight to Libya, together with a key cadre of Islamic State loyalists, after facing increased pressure from the Nigerian-led regional military coalition.

Should Boko Haram ultimately turn its back on the Islamic State, it would send an enormous shockwave through the global jihadi movement. The Nigerian militant group is by far the highest-profile organization to leave an existing terrorist network to pledge allegiance to the Islamic State. If it were to suddenly cut ties with the Iraq- and Syria-based caliphate, it would send a powerful message to other al Qaeda affiliates toying with the idea of Islamic State membership: Baghdadis caliphate is a dying brand. But as brutal as it is, the Islamic States implosion would not herald an overall diminishment of the global jihadi threat. On the contrary, it would underscore that an even thornier problem remains: Al Qaeda, during its time under the radar, has become an even more formidable foe.

Image credit: ALI KAYA/AFP/Getty Images
Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - At least two people were killed in a Boko Haram raid on a village in northeast Nigeria on the border with Cameroon, residents told AFP on Monday.

The attack happened early on Saturday in Wumbi in the Kalabalge district of northern Borno state and forced hundreds of residents to cross into Cameroon, they said.

"Boko Haram gunmen attacked our village around 4:00 am (0300 GMT) and killed two people while everybody crossed the river into Cameroon," resident Konto Yamani told AFP by telephone.

"They came on 10 motorcycles and fired indiscriminately, which jolted people out of their sleep, before they began to set our houses on fire after looting our food stocks."

His account was supported by a second resident Haruna Wumbi, who said it was the second attack on the village in a week.

Details of the attack were slow to emerge because of poor to non-existent telephone networks in the remote region and the difficulties in contacting local residents who fled to Cameroon.

The attackers were believed to have come from Ndufu village in nearby Ngala district from where the Islamists were pushed out in February 2015.

Boko Haram has been largely routed out of Nigerian territory it controlled in 2014 by a military counter-insurgency since the turn of 2015.

But the Islamist militants still maintain control of some remote villages from where they launch raids on liberated areas, mostly in search of food.

Last week, at least 24 people were killed when Boko Haram fighters opened fired on mourners in a village near the town of Gulak, in Adamawa state.
Montreal (AFP) - Canadian aerospace giant Bombardier said Monday it would sell its fire-fighting amphibious aircraft program to Viking Air Limited so it could focus on its core businesses in aircraft and rail.

Viking Air, based in Victoria, British Columbia, will buy all variants of the CL-415 waterbomber aircraft considered a leader in firefighting around the world. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"While the Amphibious Aircraft program is part of our long history, this divestiture positions Bombardier to better focus on our core, higher-growth businesses," said Alain Bellemare, Bombardier president and chief executive, in a statement.

Bellemare cited business jets, commercial aircraft and rail transportation.

As part of the deal, Viking Air, a leading manufacturer of utility aircraft including the Twin Otter bush plane, will also assume responsibility for maintaining a fleet of 170 waterbombers currently in service with 21 operators in 11 countries. That will be done at a new facility in Calgary, Alberta.

"This acquisition expands Viking's capabilities in product support and parts into another vital niche aviation segment, and ensures that a unique and important Canadian innovation stays in Canada," Viking president David Curtis said in a separate statement.

"Our aim is to take the 415 to its highest potential and keep these aircraft in service for decades to come."

The transaction -- which is expected to close in the coming months, pending regulatory approval -- allows Bombardier to raise much-needed capital.

Bombardier has been beset by recent financial difficulties since launching its C Series jetliner to challenge the dominance of Airbus and Boeing in medium-range, single-aisle aircraft, and go head to head with their workhorses, the A320 and 737.

The CL-415 waterbomber -- its original design based on World War II flying boats -- was introduced by Canadair in 1969.

Bombardier later acquired it and updated the design in 1994.

It needs only 12 seconds to scoop up 6,137 liters (roughly 1,600 gallons) of water while skimming over lakes or rivers at high speed, earning it the nickname "SuperScooper."

Viking, meanwhile, is due to deliver next month its 100th new Twin Otter since obtaining the rights in 2006 from Bombardier to the 19-seat twin-engine bush plane.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolies kids are already powerhouses like their parents

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolies kids are already powerhouses like their parents

With Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitts genes coursing through their veins, it isnt hard to believe that the Jolie-Pitt kids are destined for greatness. Plus, considering that there are six of them, theres basically nothing they cant accomplish when theyre together. Theres Maddox (14), Pax (12), Zahara (11), Shiloh (10), Vivienne (7), and Knox (7).

Though both their parents are iconic actors, that hasnt made the Jolie-Pitt children feel as though they need to follow in Brad and Angelinas footsteps. None of my kids want to be actors, revealed Angelina, when appearing on BBC Radio 4s Womens Hour. They are actually very interested in being musicians. I think they like the process of film from the outside. Mads interested in editing  and Pax loves music and deejaying.

Nickelodeon's 28th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

Instead of being bitten by the acting bug, it seems that the six children have been intrigued by languages. This perhaps stems from the fact that their mom travels around the world as the special envoy to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees. All the kids are learning different languages, stated Angelina. I asked them what languages they wanted to learn and Shis learning Khmer, which is a Cambodian language. Pax is focusing on Vietnamese. Mad has taken to German and Russian. Zs speaking French. Vivienne really wanted to learn Arabic. And Knox is learning sign language. Overall, Jolie explained that her kids are becoming whoever they want to be as they show their parents who they truly are.

In addition to learning about the art of language, Angelina has made sure to educate them about the places theyre from. Specifically, the Jolie-Pitt kids celebrate World Refugee Day (which is today) in their household. We think of the [refugees] who are going through these difficult situations, but we also talk about their resilience and their strength and we admire them, said Jolie. And so theyre heroes in my house.

Story continues

Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation Visit

In addition to honoring the strength of refugees, Angelina aims to teach her children to never look upon these individuals with pity. Rather, she wants her children to have so much admiration and respect for people suffering different realities and surviving them with such grace and dignity.

*standing ovation*

The post Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolies kids are already powerhouses like their parents appeared first on HelloGiggles.
BRASILIA, June 20 (Reuters) - Brazil's telecom carrier Oi SA signed a debt standstill agreement for 180 days with state-owned development bank BNDES, the newspaper Valor Economico said on Monday.

The size of Oi's debt to BNDES was unclear, according to the newspaper. It added that, overall, the company owed about 10 billion reais to development banks.

Spokespeople at BNDES and Oi did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

Oi, Brazil's most indebted telephone company, is seeking to restructure about 25 billion reais ($7.3 billion) of debt. The restructuring would be Latin America's second biggest, behind Mexican cement maker Cemex SAB's bond reorganization in 2009, data compiled by Thomson Reuters showed.

(Reporting by Silvio Cascione Editing by W Simon)
DUBLIN (Reuters) - The number of British lawyers who have registered to practise in Ireland rose almost four-fold in the first six months of 2016, primarily due to concerns that Britain may vote to leave the European Union, the Law Society of Ireland said on Monday. A record 186 lawyers were admitted by the end of June, the regulatory body said, up from less than 50 at the same time last year and already almost four-times the amount that qualified to practice in Ireland during 2014. "Solicitors are flowing into this jurisdiction in unprecedented numbers. They don't intend to come here and practice, they are acquiring the additional qualification as an Irish solicitor as they are entitled to," Law Society of Ireland Director General Ken Murphy told national broadcaster RTE. "What they are saying to us informally and quite openly is that this is a contingency plan, particularly for solicitors who are specialists in European and competition law based in their London offices." Murphy said that of all EU member states, Ireland's legal system is the most similar to those of the United Kingdom, and that the right to argue before EU tribunals such as the Court of Justice of the European Union is only afforded to EU-qualified lawyers. Under EU rules, lawyers who have qualified in England, Wales or Northern Ireland need only undergo a simple process to be permitted to practise in Ireland, the Law Society said. The rules for Scotland are more onerous. While Ireland has much to lose if its nearest and largest trading partner decides on Thursday to quit the union, Brexit could see some firms relocate to Ireland from Britain. "There are several dozen applications that are still being processed. Depending on the result of the referendum, these applications may continue to rise," Murphy said. (Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
BERLIN (Reuters) - The British referendum on whether to remain in the European Union must not prevent other member states from pursuing further integration, regardless of the outcome of Thursday's vote, European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said on Monday. "A Brexit would be a loss for Britain and the EU. That's why I hope the British will vote to stay," Moscovici told a conference organized by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, a political foundation linked to Germany's Social Democrats. Moscovici, who is France's commissioner and is responsible for EU Economic and Monetary Affairs, also said: "I'm truly convinced, whatever happens on June 23, we have to be proactive." The EU won't be the same after the vote, regardless of the outcome, Moscovici said, adding: "It must not prevent the others from going further ... We must move on." (Reporting by Michael Nienaber; Editing by Gareth Jones)
The Daily Beast

Mark Hoffman/Pool/GettyDarrell Brooks, the man who killed six people and injured dozens of others when he plowed his SUV into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, last November, was found guilty on six counts of intentional homicide on Wednesday. The verdict puts an end to the dizzying trial where Darrell Brooks represented himself, unsuccessfully arguing that he didnt intentionally kill his victims. The jury began deliberations on Tuesday and reached a verdict by Wednesday morning. Brook
London (AFP) - Money is at the heart of many a battle and Thursday's referendum on whether Britain should stay in the European Union or quit is no exception.

Voters have been hit with a blizzard of statistics from the "Remain" and "Leave" camps, often produced selectively to boost their side of the argument.

Here are some of the facts and figures being disputed in the run-up to the vote:

Britain's contribution to the EU budget

"Leave" campaigners claim it is A350 million ($510 million, 455 million euros) a week.

But that is a gross figure that does not include the rebate famously won by prime minister Margaret Thatcher in 1984.

With the rebate stripped out, the figure is A280 million a week based on 2014 data, according to Iain Begg, a research professor at the London School of Economics' European Institute, in a study entitled "So how much does Britain pay the EU?"

In 2015, Britain contributed an estimated A17.8 billion to the EU budget, or A12.9 billion after the rebate, according to a parliamentary briefing paper.

Brussels subsidies

In return, Britain receives some A6 billion of subsidies, notably to the agriculture and scientific research industries.

"Remain" campaigners say this support would go if Britain pulled out, while "Leave" campaigners say British money would be better spent directly by the government.

Britain is the 10th biggest net contributor, proportionate to the size of its economy, of the 28 members, according to 2014 figures from the European Commission.

EU immigration

Immigration from the EU is proving to be one of the key battlegrounds of the campaign.

The total number of EU migrants living in Britain doubled between 2004 and 2015 to three million people, according to the Migration Observatory of Oxford University.

The rise is due to the EU taking in eight Central and Eastern European states in 2004, including Poland, but in the more recent financial crisis, immigrants from eurozone countries such as Spain and Italy also headed to Britain.

Story continues

The pro-Brexit Justice Secretary Michael Gove claims that if Britain stays in the EU, more than five million immigrants may arrive over the next 15 years, putting "unsustainable" pressure on the health and education systems.

The projection assumes Turkey, Albania, Serbia and Montenegro join the EU by 2020.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who supports Turkish accession, says it would be decades before there was the prospect of this happening.

Meanwhile Britons are also on the move and settled around Europe.

According to United Nations figures, 1.3 million Britons lived in the rest of the EU in 2013, of which 300,000 live in Spain, 250,000 in Ireland and 200,000 in France.

Trade

The EU as a whole is by far Britain's biggest trading partner. In 2015, 44 percent of Britain's exports went to other EU states, from which it imported 53 percent of its goods, according to government figures.

"Remain" supporters say this underlines the importance of staying in the single market, while "Leave" backers say EU exports to Britain mean Brussels will have an interest in negotiating favourable trade terms in case of a Brexit.

Jobs

The British government says three million jobs are directly or indirectly linked to trade with other EU countries.

The government says the figure is based on the assumption that "the share of UK employment linked to trade with the EU is equal to the share of total UK value added (GDP) generated in the production of goods and services exported to the EU".
By Robin Emmott

LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - Britain could not rejoin the European Union after leaving because membership requirements would be too onerous, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said on Monday.

He said Thursday's referendum on EU membership offered "no way back".

Since becoming a member of the bloc in 1973, Britain has negotiated exclusions from EU laws and membership of the single currency, as well as winning a rebate from the EU's annual budget. Such measures would not be available to a new member, Hammond said.

"It simply wouldn't be credible for the UK to ever contemplate rejoining," he said.

"Any future British government wanting to join the EU would be faced with standard terms," Hammond said, citing membership of the euro zone, the EU's passport-free travel zone and areas of security and justice legislation.

"So this makes this a very asymmetric decision on Thursday. If we decide to go, we're gone, forever, no second thoughts, no turning back."

Hammond, a former businessman who once said he would vote to leave the EU if the bloc refused to change, backed staying in the European Union after Prime Minister David Cameron negotiated additional exemptions from EU policy in February.

Hammond, who became foreign minister in July 2014, also said there would be no need for debate in Britain's parliament if Britons voted to leave because the message would be definitive.

"It would be redundant, unnecessary and frankly insulting to the British people to have a debate in the parliament on something they have just spoken on in a referendum," he said.

However, in the event of a British exit, Hammond was less clear on when Britain would inform the other 27 European Union governments it was activating the formal exit clause in the EU's rule book. The so-called Article 50 allows a member state to notify the European Union of its leaving and obliges the bloc to try to negotiate a "withdrawal agreement".

Hammond said it would have to be served "at some point" but it would be up to the government to decide.

"I hope the eventuality won't arise, because if we do serve an Article 50 notice, that is an irreversible process. It means we are out and there is no way back."

(Reporting by Robin Emmott; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
By Andrew MacAskill and Lawrence White LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's largest banks are disproportionately closing branches in the lowest-income areas while expanding in wealthier ones, taking bricks-and-mortar services away from communities where they are arguably needed most, an analysis by Reuters shows. HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group are among banks that have cut 600 branches from April 2015 to April 2016. More than 90 percent of the closures were in areas where the median household income is below the British average of 27,600 pounds ($39,042), according to an analysis of Office for National Statistics data on average incomes in the locations where branches were closed. By comparison, five out of the eight branches opened by these banks over the same period were in some of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Britain -- Chelsea, Canary Wharf, St Paul's, Marylebone and Clapham, all in the capital, London. The banks say in an era of falling revenues, they must look for ways to cut costs, which includes reducing staff as well as closing branches, an obvious measure as more and more people do their banking online. They say they choose which branches to close on the basis of where they have the fewest customers and deny they specifically target poorer areas. But campaigners say banks are cutting too fast in places where people are less able to fall back on digital banking services because of a lack of access, finances or ability to use the internet. "We are witnessing the creation of a dual financial system: one for the middle class and wealthy and another for the poor," said Fionn Travers Smith of Move Your Money, which campaigns for ethical banking. The situation is similar in the United States, where 1,600 branches closed in 2015, according to SNL financial. The result, according to a 2014 study by MIT economist Hoai-Luu Nguyen, is a decline in lending, especially in low-income areas. High Street bank branches are important to communities who use them for basic functions such as withdrawing money and cashing checks, politicians and business people told Reuters. The village of Cross Hands with a population of 4,500 in southwest Wales is a classic example. It is set to lose its last branch when the local Lloyds closes at the end of July. Local businesspeople say the closure will mean they are forced to travel to nearby Tumble, a 90-minute round trip by infrequent buses for many residents without cars. "It's going to have a big financial impact as I will have to close the shop during that time," said Jo Payne, who is set to open a cafe in Cross Hands next month and will need to deposit cash takings, which cannot be done online. Payne said the loss of ATMs in the village from branch closures has also hurt business, as few shops take credit cards. About a third of cash machines now charge customers to withdraw money, and studies such as one by Nottingham University say when branches close, less-regulated financial institutions, including payday loan providers and cash-checking centres, fill the void at a higher cost to customers. "If we want businesses to thrive in areas with scattered populations and lower incomes, they must keep at least the last bank in every community open," said Nia Griffith, Labour member of parliament for Llanelli and Shadow Secretary of State for Wales. With a population of 3 million, Wales has been plagued by high unemployment and poverty since the closure of coal mines in the 1980s. Western Wales and the Valleys has the highest level of poverty in northern Europe, with the average income at 67 percent of the European Union average, according to 2013 EU statistics. The large banks were three times more likely to shut a branch in Wales than in the southeast or London, the wealthiest areas of Britain, when closures were averaged out for the size of their populations, the Reuters analysis showed. "The fact that poorer areas are being hit the worst by branch closures, means you're going to see a perfect storm making it harder for them to regenerate," said Jonathan Edwards, an MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr in southwest Wales.HSBC, Barclays, RBS and Lloyds say they have signed up to protocols aimed at minimising the impact of branch closures, including partnering with the post office to offer services and carrying out impact studies before closures. Banks say they have not cancelled any planned closures as a result of the studies, but have delayed some. 'HEART OF THE VILLAGE'Taxpayer-owned RBS has closed the most branches overall in the last year and is responsible for more than one in every three branch closures among the top four banks. Lenders are expected to accelerate the closure of branches because of new technology and cost-cutting; a study by investment bank UBS published in January predicted half of Britain's branches may disappear in the next five years. A senior executive at a top four British lender said banks are stripping out unprofitable parts of the network to focus on more affluent urban areas, where customers are likely to buy products such as savings and insurance to boost profit."The majority of branch closures will be this year and next," the executive said. "Customer behaviour (toward online banking) has evolved faster than we thought and it's about cutting back to the minimum scale that's needed." Yet government data shows about 8.6 million adults among Britain's 64 million population -- mainly the poor and the elderly -- do not have access to the internet because they are deterred by the costs or lack the expertise. A report on financial inclusion produced by the Financial Conduct Authority last month even predicted poorer people could be shut out from in-person banking. "It is possible that, in the future, only the wealthy or those willing to pay for a personal service will be able to talk to bank staff in person," the report said.Laura Evans of Cross Hands estate agents Peters and Co said she typically visits the village's soon-to-be-closed branch twice a day to pay in hundreds of pounds worth of cash and cheques. Evans said she will now have to drive to Tumble, and fears what will happen if that bank closes too. Older residents of the village she has spoken to have little interest in going online to do their banking, Evans said, and will feel the loss of the branch even more keenly. "For older people it's a social occasion going in to the branch," she said. "It takes the heart out of the village to close it." ($1 = 0.7069 pounds) (Editing by Rachel Armstrong, Sinead Cruise and Sonya Hepinstall)
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper came out in favor of quitting the European Union on Monday, urging voters to tick the "Leave" box in a referendum on Thursday. The Telegraph, which has a daily circulation of nearly 500,000, joins The Sun, The Sunday Times and its own sister Sunday newspaper in the Leave camp. The Telegraph made its declaration in an editorial entitled "Vote leave to benefit from a world of opportunity". (Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Elisabeth O'Leary)
Brussels (AFP) - The brother of Mohamed Abrini, a Moroccan-Belgian implicated in the Paris and Brussels attacks, was detained Monday for having violated his bail conditions, Belgian prosecutors said.

In early March, authorities investigating the November 13 Paris massacres accused Ibrahim Abrini of "participation in the activities of a terrorist group" at the time police were looking for his brother Mohamed, the federal prosecutor's office spokesman Thierry Werts told AFP.

Investigators suspected Ibrahim knew more than what he had told them about the disappearance of his brother, even if he was not believed to have played a major role in the attacks that killed 130 people in Paris, according to Werts who confirmed a report in the Belgian daily La Derniere Heure.

Nevertheless Ibrahim Abrini was "allowed his freedom provided he respect a certain number of conditions," Werts said, without specifying what the conditions were or which ones he had violated.

An investigating judge ordered Ibrahim to be detained for violating the conditions, he said.

He said his detention is neither the result of new evidence against him nor of many raids on Saturday and Monday as part of separate counter-terrorism cases.

Mohamed Abrini, 31, is suspected of playing a role in both the Paris attacks and the Brussels attacks on March 22, which killed 32 people at the Belgian capital's airport and a metro station.

He was caught on camera with Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam at a petrol station north of the French capital two days before the Paris attacks. The two men were travelling in a car used to drive the jihadists to their targets. Abdeslam is now detained in France.

Abrini has also confessed to being the "man in the hat" caught on video with the two airport bombers and who was allegedly preparing to detonate a third bomb before fleeing the scene.

A Belgian court on June 9 approved Mohamed Abrini's extradition to France, but said the handover would not happen immediately.
Leading cable MSO (multi service operator) Cablevision Systems Corp. CVC recently faced a downgrade of its corporate family rating from Moody's Investors Service.

Notably, in Sep 2015, Cablevision had entered into a definitive agreement with the European telecom group, Altice NV, through which Altice will acquire Cablevision for a consideration of around $17.7 billion. Just a few days ago, Altice overcame the final regulatory hurdle with the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) approving the proposed acquisition. The deal is expected to be completed this month.

In the meantime, Moody's Investors Service downgraded the corporate family rating of Cablevision by two notches to B1 from Ba2. The rating agency cited the regulatory approval of the takeover deal as the primary reason for the downgrade. Moodys outlook on the overall rating is stable implying that no further downgrade is likely in the near term.

The rating agency is concerned about Cablevisions high leverage and aggressive financial policies of Altice. According to Altice, the takeover deal will result in around $900 million of cost synergies per annum. However, Moodys is of the opinion that this level of synergy cannot be achieved before 24 months.

High Hopes for Altice

Altice has recently been on an acquisition spree with focus on the U.S. cable companies. This strategy is in line with the European companys objectives of cross-border expansion.

In May 2015, Altice entered the U.S. market through its buyout of cable operator Suddenlink Communications in a deal valued at $9.1 billion. Upon the successful completion of the Cablevision deal, Altice will become the fourth largest cable operator in the U.S. Altice was also looking to take over Time Warner Cable at that time, but eventually lost out to a higher bid by Charter Communications Inc. CHTR.

Bottom Line

The U.S. cable TV industry has been witnessing a considerable downturn over the last six years. Bundled triple-play services by telecom operators and the evolution of Over the Top (OTT) video service providers like Netflix Inc. NFLX, Hulu, Amzon.com Inc. AMZN pose significant challenges to traditional video service providers.

Story continues

Moreover, the recent merger of Charter Communications and Time Warner Cable is bound to induce competition within the MSO space. In this scenario, it is to be seen how Altice benefits from its acquisition of Cablevision.

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New York (AFP) - Nestle-owned Nespresso announced Monday it will reintroduce Cuban coffee to the US for the first time in more than 50 years following the easing of United States sanctions on Cuba.

The Swiss food giant's company plans to sell Cuban coffee under its individual-capsule Nespresso brand, initially as a limited edition, starting in several months.

"Nespresso is thrilled to be the first to bring this rare coffee to the US, allowing consumers to rediscover this distinct coffee profile," said Guillaume Le Cunff, president of Nespresso USA, in a statement.

"Ultimately, we want consumers in the US to experience this incredible coffee and to enjoy it now and for years to come."

A spokesman for Nespresso said the coffee has "wood notes" and a "light caramel finish."

In April, the US Department of State in April updated its list of goods that could be imported into the US from Cuba to include coffee.

Nespresso said it planned to work with the nonprofit development organization TechnoServe to establish financing and technical assistance to improve sustainable practices among Cuban coffee farmers.

The announcement comes as more US businesses, including film producers, hotel chains and cruise companies, take steps to reenter Cuba following a series of moves by the Obama administration to ease the US trade embargo.

The United States and Cuba restored diplomatic relations in July 2015.

On June 10, the US Department of Transportation granted licenses to six US airlines to fly up to 90 round-trip flights per day to cities in Cuba, excluding the capital Havana.
The California Insurance Commissioner ruled against California Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE: BRK-A) workers compensation insurer.

The Scheme

The commissioner claims that California Insurance Company filed one set of rates and policies with the Department of Insurance, but then sold California businesses different policies through another Berkshire Company, with rates and terms different from those first filed.

The second set of rates in each case was never submitted for review as the law requires, and the terms generally shifted the risk of claims back to the businesses themselves, effectively making the businesses self-insured.

The Decision

As a result of the Commissioners findings, California Insurance Company is ordered to repay premium amounts paid in excess of the rates under the policies that were filed.

The department will evaluate other policies and rates sold by Berkshire Hathaway companies, possibly leading to further action by the Commissioner up to and including potential penalties.

The department says it found that other state departments of insurance are also seeking to prohibit the sale of similar insurance policies from Berkshire companies.

See more from Benzinga

 2016 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
(Adds extended hours for city cooling centers; adds color, quotes; updates peak demand figure by ISO)

By Steve Gorman and Nichola Groom

LOS ANGELES, June 20 (Reuters) - California's power grid operators warned homes and business on Monday to conserve electricity as rising demand for air conditioning stoked by a record-setting heat wave across the U.S. Southwest tested the region's generating capacity.

The so-called Flex Alert was posted until 9 p.m. Pacific time during a second day of triple-digit temperatures expected to strain Southern California's energy production, creating the potential for rolling blackouts on the first official day of summer.

The alert was the first big test of power generators' ability to meet heightened energy demands in the greater Los Angeles area without natural gas supplies normally furnished by the now-crippled Aliso Canyon gas storage field, effectively idled since a major well rupture there last fall.

The blast-furnace-like heat prompted the city of Los Angeles to keep its network of public "cooling centers" - libraries, recreation centers and senior centers - open for extended hours as a haven for people whose homes lack air conditioning.

Area home improvement and hardware merchants were doing a brisk business in fans and AC window units.

Brett Lopes, 31, a freelance lighting technician, stopped in a Home Depot outlet near downtown to buy supplies for a homemade air conditioner he called a "swamp cooler" to use while he waited for his landlord to repair his broken AC unit.

"It's brutal," he said of the heat, explaining that he looked up directions on YouTube for assembling the makeshift cooling device. "It doesn't work as well as AC, but it's better than sitting in 100 degrees."

Others flocked to public swimming pools.

"It was really refreshing today, but more crowded than usual," said Paul Stephens, 31, a pastor who was swimming laps at the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center in Pasadena, where the mercury climbed to 108 degrees.

Story continues

BALANCING THE GRID

The California Independent System Operator (ISO), which runs the state's power grid, urged consumers on Monday to cut back on electricity usage, especially during late-afternoon hours.

Utility customers were advised to turn off unnecessary lights, set air conditioners to 78 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, and wait until after 9 p.m. to run major appliances, such as clothes washers and dryers.

Much of the Desert Southwest simmered in a second straight day of record, triple-digit temperatures, as the National Weather Service extended excessive-heat warnings through Wednesday for southern portions of California, Arizona and Nevada.

Electricity demand on Monday and Tuesday was expected to top 43,700 megawatts, compared with last year's peak demand 47,358 megawatts and the all-time high of 50,270 megawatts in July 2006, according to the ISO.

All customers, including homes, hospitals, oil refineries and airports, are at risk of losing power at some point this summer because a majority of electric-generating stations in California use gas as their primary fuel.

Since the energy crisis of 2000-2001, the ISO has imposed brief, rotating outages in 2004, 2005, 2010 and 2015, mostly related to unexpected transmission line or power plant failures during periods of unusually high demand.

With California's largest natural gas storage field effectively shut down indefinitely at Aliso Canyon, state energy regulators have warned that Los Angeles faces up to 14 days of gas shortages severe enough to trigger blackouts this summer.

Aliso Canyon normally supplies the region's 17 gas-fired power plants, hospitals, refineries and other key parts of California's economy, including 21 million residents.

Southern California Gas Co, the division of San Diego-based utility giant Sempra Energy that owns the facility, remains barred from refilling the underground storage reserve until it is deemed safe to operate again.

The gas leak at the site, the worst-ever accidental methane release in the United States, forced thousands of nearby residents from their homes for several months. The leak was finally plugged in February.

(Reporting by Scott DiSavino in New York; Writing and additional reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Joseph Radford and Leslie Adler)
By Steve Gorman and Nichola Groom LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California's power grid operators warned homes and business on Monday to conserve electricity as rising demand for air conditioning stoked by a record-setting heat wave across the U.S. Southwest tested the region's generating capacity. The so-called Flex Alert was posted until 9 p.m. Pacific time during a second day of triple-digit temperatures expected to strain Southern California's energy production, creating the potential for rolling blackouts on the first official day of summer. The alert was the first big test of power generators' ability to meet heightened energy demands in the greater Los Angeles area without natural gas supplies normally furnished by the now-crippled Aliso Canyon gas storage field, effectively idled since a major well rupture there last fall. The blast-furnace-like heat prompted the city of Los Angeles to keep its network of public "cooling centers" - libraries, recreation centers and senior centers - open for extended hours as a haven for people whose homes lack air conditioning. Area home improvement and hardware merchants were doing a brisk business in fans and AC window units. Brett Lopes, 31, a freelance lighting technician, stopped in a Home Depot outlet near downtown to buy supplies for a homemade air conditioner he called a "swamp cooler" to use while he waited for his landlord to repair his broken AC unit. "It's brutal," he said of the heat, explaining that he looked up directions on YouTube for assembling the makeshift cooling device. "It doesn't work as well as AC, but it's better than sitting in 100 degrees." Others flocked to public swimming pools. "It was really refreshing today, but more crowded than usual," said Paul Stephens, 31, a pastor who was swimming laps at the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center in Pasadena, where the mercury climbed to 108 degrees. BALANCING THE GRID The California Independent System Operator (ISO), which runs the state's power grid, urged consumers on Monday to cut back on electricity usage, especially during late-afternoon hours. Utility customers were advised to turn off unnecessary lights, set air conditioners to 78 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, and wait until after 9 p.m. to run major appliances, such as clothes washers and dryers. Much of the Desert Southwest simmered in a second straight day of record, triple-digit temperatures, as the National Weather Service extended excessive-heat warnings through Wednesday for southern portions of California, Arizona and Nevada. Electricity demand on Monday and Tuesday was expected to top 43,700 megawatts, compared with last year's peak demand 47,358 megawatts and the all-time high of 50,270 megawatts in July 2006, according to the ISO. All customers, including homes, hospitals, oil refineries and airports, are at risk of losing power at some point this summer because a majority of electric-generating stations in California use gas as their primary fuel. Since the energy crisis of 2000-2001, the ISO has imposed brief, rotating outages in 2004, 2005, 2010 and 2015, mostly related to unexpected transmission line or power plant failures during periods of unusually high demand. With California's largest natural gas storage field effectively shut down indefinitely at Aliso Canyon, state energy regulators have warned that Los Angeles faces up to 14 days of gas shortages severe enough to trigger blackouts this summer. Aliso Canyon normally supplies the region's 17 gas-fired power plants, hospitals, refineries and other key parts of California's economy, including 21 million residents. Southern California Gas Co, the division of San Diego-based utility giant Sempra Energy that owns the facility, remains barred from refilling the underground storage reserve until it is deemed safe to operate again. The gas leak at the site, the worst-ever accidental methane release in the United States, forced thousands of nearby residents from their homes for several months. The leak was finally plugged in February. (Reporting by Scott DiSavino in New York; Writing and additional reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Joseph Radford and Leslie Adler)
By Scott DiSavino

(Reuters) - California will have its first test of plans to keep the lights on this summer following the shutdown of the key Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility as temperatures in the Los Angeles area are forecast to hit triple digits this week.

With record-setting heat and air conditioning demand expected in Southern California, the state's power grid operator issued a so-called "flex alert," urging consumers to conserve energy to help prevent rotating power outages - which could occur regardless.

Electricity demand is expected to rise during the unseasonable heatwave on Monday and Tuesday, with forecast system-wide use expected to top 45,000 megawatts, said the California Independent System Operator (ISO), which manages electricity flow through the state. That compares with a peak demand of 47,358 MW last year and the all-time high of 50,270 MW set in July 2006.

That could put stress on the power grid, particularly with the shut-in of Aliso Canyon, following a massive leak at the underground storage facility in October. The facility, in the San Fernando Valley, is the second largest storage field in the western United States, according to federal data, and therefore crucial for power generation.

All customers, including homes, hospitals, oil refineries and airports are at risk of losing power at some point this summer because a majority of electric generating stations in California use gas as their primary fuel. In April, millions of electric customers in Southern California were warned they could suffer power outages on up to 14 days this summer due to the closure.

The ISO said it was working with gas and power utilities and state energy agencies to mitigate potential reliability issues related to the limited operations at Aliso Canyon.

"We are confident we have a strong plan in place to meet the operational challenges posed by the upcoming hot temperatures," ISO CEO Steve Berberich said, adding that consumer conservation efforts would be key.

Story continues

ROTATING OUTAGES

Since the energy crisis of 2000-2001, the ISO has imposed short rotating outages in 2004, 2005, 2010 and 2015, mostly related to unexpected transmission line or power plant outages during periods of unusually high demand.

Southern California Gas (SoCalGas), the nation's biggest gas distribution utility and owner of Aliso Canyon, detected the leak in October and plugged it in February.

SoCalGas is a unit of California energy company Sempra Energy.

State regulators will not allow SoCalGas to inject fuel into the facility until the company inspects all of its 114 wells.

Aliso Canyon is the biggest of four SoCalGas storage fields. It provides service to the region's 17 gas-fired power plants, hospitals, refineries, and other key parts of California's economy.

In the summer (April through October), SoCalGas strives to completely fill 86.2-billion cubic feet (bcf) Aliso Canyon to prepare for the upcoming winter heating season when gas demand peaks.

State regulators, however, ordered the company in January to reduce the amount of working gas in Aliso Canyon to just 15 bcf and use that fuel to reduce the risk of gas curtailments and power interruptions this summer.

Unlike some other gas transmission systems that can store large amounts of so-called linepack gas in pipelines, like PG&E Corp in northern California, SoCalGas cannot function with only pipeline or storage supplies.

That makes storage fields much more critical for SoCalGas and the 21 million residents it supports.

SoCalGas uses Aliso Canyon to provide gas to power generators that cannot be met with pipeline flows alone on about 10 days per month during the summer, according to state agencies.

(Reporting by Scott DiSavino; Editing by Joseph Radford)
Cambodia said Monday it would deport 13 Taiwanese nationals arrested on fraud charges to mainland China, as Taipei said its emissaries had been prevented from meeting with the suspects.

The imminent deportations come at a time of increased tensions between Taiwan and mainland China, with Taipei accusing Beijing of "abducting" citizens from countries that do not recognise the island's government.

A group of 13 Taiwanese and 14 mainland Chinese were arrested by Cambodian police last week for Internet fraud, immigration officials said.

"We have decided to deport them to China because they all are Chinese. The Chinese side has asked us to wait while they work out whether to send a plane or buy tickets for them," Major General Uk Heisela, director of inspection and procedure at the General Department of Immigration, told AFP Monday.

He said Cambodia refused to draw a distinction between Chinese and Taiwanese as the country adheres to a "One China Policy".

Cambodia is historically one of Beijing's closest allies in southeast Asia.

In April both Malaysia and Kenya deported Taiwanese nationals to mainland China sparking uproar in Taipei.

Observers see the cases as China putting pressure on Taiwan's new government -- which took office in May -- as Beijing does not trust the traditionally pro-independence ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Taiwan's foreign ministry confirmed the Cambodia arrests and accused Beijing of pressuring Phnom Penh.

"China requested Cambodia to send all the suspects to the mainland as most of the victims in this case are in China, and they obstructed our personnel from visiting the Taiwanese suspects," the ministry said.

The island has sent its representative in Vietnam to negotiate with Phnom Penh, seeking to have the group repatriated to Taiwan instead.

The foreign ministry added that another four Taiwanese had been arrested at the Phnom Penh airport Saturday, but it is unclear whether it is related to the same fraud case.

Story continues

Taiwan is self-ruling after splitting with China in 1949, following a civil war, but Beijing still sees it as a part of its territory waiting to be reunified.

The island has never formally declared independence.

While Taiwan's new president Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly pledged to maintain the "status quo", she also has not bowed down to pressure to accept Beijing's definition of cross-strait relations.
Corey Lewandowski, the embattled campaign manager for presumptive Republican presidential Donald Trump, no longer works for the campaign, according to the New York Times.

"Corey Lewandowski will no longer be working with the campaign," campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks said in a statement, the New York Times' Maggie Haberman reported. "The campaign is grateful to Corey for his hard work and dedication and we wish him the best in the future."

Lewandowski was one of the members of Trump's original inner circle when the billionaire real estate magnate launched his presidential campaign a year ago. His position within the campaign had been tenuous for months, following allegations that he had physically assaulted a reporter earlier this year.

Paul Manafort, a longtime Republican consultant, was brought onto the campaign in March to overhaul the operation as Trump looked to lock down the nomination, in a move that was widely seen as sidelining Lewandowski.

While Lewandowski favored a sharp-elbowed, anti-establishment approach to the campaign, Manafort brought a wealth of experience as an establishment-aligned operative and well-connected lobbyist. There were widespread reports of tensions between the pair, with Bloomberg reporting Monday that there remained a "schism" between Manafort and Lewandowski.

Like his initial sidelining, Lewandowski's departure comes during a rough stretch for the campaign. Trump's poll numbers have plunged amid a growing backlash over his attacks on the Mexican heritage of the federal judge overseeing a lawsuit against Trump University and his incendiary response to the terrorist attack on Orlando's Pulse nightclub this month.

Some within the Trump campaign couldn't contain their glee at Lewandowski's ouster. Take New York State campaign director Michael Caputo.

Ding dong the witch is dead! http://youtu.be/rHJoj9IqeKg pic.twitter.com/5dE7GMeEK6 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ClZhXHiWkAArP7t.jpg:large

Meanwhile, Michelle Fields, the former Breitbart News reporter whom Lewandowski allegedly manhandled after a Trump speech in March, had the last laugh on Monday morning.
Ottawa (AFP) - Canada condemned attacks in Afghanistan on Monday including a massive blast that killed Nepali and Indian security guards as they rode in a minibus to work at its embassy in Kabul.

"Canada strongly condemns today's terrorist attacks in Afghanistan by the Taliban, including the attack on a bus carrying security guards who protect the embassy of Canada to Afghanistan, in Kabul," Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said in a statement.

The minister offered condolences on behalf of Canadians to the families and friends of "the Nepalese and Indian guards killed," adding that many had been "part of our embassy family for years."

"They will be remembered for their service in the protection of the men and women at the embassy of Canada to Afghanistan."
TORONTO (Reuters) - The Canadian dollar strengthened to a one-week high against its broadly weaker U.S. counterpart on Monday, tracking oil and stocks higher as worries eased that Britons will vote to leave the European Union and offset disappointing domestic data. Global stocks rose and oil rallied after polls showed support for Britain staying in the EU regaining momentum before Thursday's referendum. U.S. crude prices were up 2.06 percent to $48.97 a barrel, supportive of Canada's risk-sensitive commodity-linked currency. At 9:26 a.m. EDT, the Canadian dollar was trading at C$1.2779 to the greenback, or 78.25 U.S. cents, stronger than Friday's close of C$1.2878, or 77.65 U.S. cents. The currency's weakest level of the session was C$1.2878, while it touched its strongest since June 13 at $1.2778. The value of Canadian wholesale trade rose 0.1 percent in April, far less than expected, data from Statistics Canada showed. Volumes rose by 0.2 percent. It was the latest sign that the second quarter began on weak footing. Speculators cut bullish bets on the loonie for the second straight week, Commodity Futures Trading Commission data showed on Friday. Net long Canadian dollar positions fell to 18,440 contracts in the week ended June 14 from 21,537 contracts in the prior week. Canadian government bond prices were lower across a steeper maturity curve in sympathy with Treasuries as investor appetite waned for safe-haven assets. The two-year price fell 5.5 Canadian cents to yield 0.548 percent and the benchmark 10-year dropped 65 Canadian cents to yield 1.188 percent. Last week, the 10-year yield hit a four-month low at 1.052 percent. Canadian retail sales data is awaited on Wednesday. Retail sales are expected to have climbed by 0.9 percent in April after falling in March. (Reporting by Fergal Smith; Editing by Nick Zieminski)
California police are investigating whether the Jeep Grand Cherokee that fatally pinned Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin had a design flaw that made it possible for the vehicle to roll after being parked, PEOPLE confirms.



Yelchin's body was found Sunday pinned between the car and the gate of his home in Studio City, California, after the 27-year-old's vehicle rolled backward down the steep driveway, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson tells PEOPLE.



The spokesperson says the car was a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee  the same model that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles recalled in April after the vehicle was investigated for a possible transmission issue, an FCA official tells PEOPLE.



"We are looking into that," the LAPD spokesperson says. "The investigation is still ongoing and the traffic detectives will look at all of those factors as they would in any traffic collision investigation. So, at this time we're not sure what caused it, but that's something investigators are looking at."





Police Investigating Whether Car That Fatally Pinned Anton Yelchin Had Transmission Issues, Chrysler Cooperating with Cops| Death, Untimely Deaths, Star Trek, Star Trek, Anton Yelchin



The FCA official tells PEOPLE that 2014 and 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokees, manufactured between July 16, 2012 and Dec. 22, 2015, were recalled by the company after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated a possible transmission defect.



The vehicle's gear-shift design makes it difficult to tell what gear the vehicle is in, according to a report from the NHTSA.



In the report, the NHTSA said that "drivers erroneously concluding that their vehicle's transmission is in the 'park' position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged."



In a statement to PEOPLE, FCA officials said it is too early "to speculate on the cause of this tragedy."



"FCA US extends its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Yelchin. The company is in contact with the authorities and is conducting a thorough investigation."



The L.A. County Medical Examiner's Office told PEOPLE that it's believed Yelchin's vehicle was not properly parked before he walked behind the car. Lt. Larry Dietz with the L.A. County coroner's office told CBS News that the office "concluded that Yelchin's death was an accident" caused by "blunt traumatic asphyxia."



Dietz said it appeared Yelchin hadn't properly put his car in park  he added that it was "just one of those freak accidents."





Police Investigating Whether Car That Fatally Pinned Anton Yelchin Had Transmission Issues, Chrysler Cooperating with Cops| Death, Untimely Deaths, Star Trek, Star Trek, Anton Yelchin

No cause of death has been determined yet, but preliminary results were that Yelchin had head and chest injuries.



As of April, the automaker was aware of 41 injuries potentially related to the transmission defect, the company said in a statement.



However, "the vehicles involved in these events were inspected and no evidence of equipment failure was found."



The company official says that the vehicles have "warning chimes" and lights that let the driver know what gear the car is in.



"However, investigation suggested these measures may be insufficient to deter some drivers from exiting their vehicles without selecting 'park.' "



The company said it would enhance warnings and "transmission-shift strategy" on the vehicles, according to the statement.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 20, 2016 / CardioComm Solutions, Inc. (EKG.V) ("CardioComm Solutions" or the "Company"), a global medical provider of consumer heart monitoring and medical electrocardiogram ("ECG") software solutions, today confirms it is qualifying devices from multiple manufacturers with the aim to bring to market new Smartphone connected health and cardiac monitoring technologies. CardioComm Solutions approved devices will be supported by the CardioComm Solutions' SMART Monitoring ECG reading and GEMS WIN for use by consumers, physicians and hospital systems.

CardioComm Solutions has pre-qualified several devices of interest and expects pending sales and marketing agreements with manufacturers to be executed in 2016. When testing and integration is completed, the Company intends to apply for and secure Class II medical device clearances for sales of the devices in the USA and Canada under the HeartCheck brand. The Company will hold exclusive rights for the sale of the HeartCheck branded devices in North America. In turn, the integrated devices would be permitted to be distributed through the original devices' manufacturer's distribution networks under their own OEM agreements and brands in overseas markets while promoting connectivity to the CardioComm Solutions' ECG management software and ECG reading services. Multiple revenue streams for CardioComm Solutions will be created through direct sales from HeartCheck branded devices, a percentage of device sales from device manufacturer OEM sales overseas, and recurrent revenue generated through software licensing or fee-for-service use of the SMART Monitoring ECG reading service from all devices sold.

While large wellness product companies continue to try and out-compete each other by adding more and more built in sensor technologies to monitor wellness, sleep and activity, and consumers look for more credible health monitoring, there are no clear signs that these companies will seek medical device clearances for their devices. The CardioComm Solutions announcement signals that this may soon change.

Story continues

CardioComm Solutions' strategy is to focus on its established medical software engineering solutions and leverage its 17 years of medical device integration experience to enable new Medical-Wellness products to be cleared as Class II medical devices. The anticipated new HeartCheck devices will cover the wrist band, Smartphone case, chest strap, wearable ECG patches and cards utilizing Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GSM or USB technologies to transfer data to Smartphones, computers or the Cloud where data can be reviewed and shared with healthcare professionals as needed.

The device manufacturer partnerships will provide CardioComm Solutions with access to a supply of new and already developed hardware technologies without the associated high hardware development costs. Partnering device companies in turn benefit from immediate access to CardioComm Solutions' market-ready, physician proven ECG software technologies. Adding ECG and cardiac rhythm recording/monitoring, in addition to the array of established common-place wellness sensor technologies, would provide a differentiating and competitive edge for CardioComm Solutions and its device partners. Combined, the companies plan to bring to market novel devices with shorter product development cycle times, simplified medical device clearance applications and a lower cost of goods to the end user when compared to products from the likes of Samsung, Apple, Fitbit, AliveCor and Microsoft. CardioComm Solutions' goal is to establish a new class of Medical-Wellness and medical-grade health monitoring devices that will make it easier for consumers, and their physicians, to understand changes in their health patterns and manage serious health conditions.

CardioComm Solutions will be providing further updates as device partnership agreements are executed. CardioComm Solutions' technologies hold clearances for the sale of the HeartCheck technologies from the European Union (CE Mark), Australia (TGA), the USA (FDA), China (CFDA) and Canada (Health Canada). To learn more about the CardioComm Solutions' products please see the Company's websites www.theheartcheck.com and www.cardiocommsolutions.com or contact the Company at sales@cardiocommsolutions.com.

About CardioComm Solutions

CardioComm Solutions' patented and proprietary technology is used in products for recording, viewing, analyzing and storing electrocardiograms (ECGs) for diagnosis and management of cardiac patients. Products are sold worldwide through a combination of an external distribution network and a North American-based sales team. The Company has earned the ISO 13485 certification, is HPB approved, HIPAA compliant, and has received FDA market clearance for its software devices. CardioComm Solutions is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Etienne Grima, Chief Executive Officer

1-877-977-9425 x 227

investorrelations@cardiocommsolutions.com

www.cardiocommsolutions.com

Forward-looking statements

This release may contain certain forward-looking statements and forward looking information with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of CardioComm Solutions and certain of the plans and objectives of CardioComm Solutions with respect to these items. Such statements and information reflect management's current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management. By their nature, forward-looking statements and forward-looking information involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future and there are many factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and forward-looking information.

In evaluating these statements, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information contained in this release other than as required by applicable laws, including without limitation, Section 5.8(2) of National Instrument 51-102 (Continuous Disclosure Obligations).

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: CardioComm Solutions, Inc.
(Adds details and background)

By Michael Flaherty

June 20 (Reuters) - CDK Global said Robert Tarkoff was elected to its board on Monday, filling a vacant seat as the automotive software maker faces pressure from activist hedge fund Elliott Management.

The move comes ahead of CDK's annual meeting later this year and just before the shareholder deadline to nominate directors for the board.

Elliott, with around $28 billion of assets under management, is among the activist hedge funds that will nominate its own slate of directors if it is not happy with the progress of a company in its portfolio. The firm declined to comment on Monday on whether it would launch a CDK director slate.

Tarkoff is chief executive officer of software company Lithium Technologies and a former senior executive of Adobe Systems Inc and EMC Corp. He previously was on boards of three publicly traded technology companies.

In May 2015, Elliott issued a filing that said the firm owned 8.1 million shares, or 8.6 percent of the company. Elliott said CDK should accelerate its $1 billion buyback plan, and offered other proposals at the time to boost CDK's share price.

A few months later, news reports indicated private equity firms were interested in CDK, with Reuters saying last September that Elliott was considering teaming up with a buyer for the $8 billion company.

A buyer never surfaced, but CDK announced both a new CEO and a capital return plan before year end.

Still, with CDK shares falling, Elliott continued to push its campaign, saying in May that CDK needed to streamline its operations or explore a sale.

CDK said on June 8 that the company would accelerate its $1 billion capital return on the same day Elliott posted another letter saying that other shareholders support its plan to boost shares.

Tarkoff fills a vacancy on the CDK board, which now consists of eight directors, who are all independent except CEO Brian MacDonald, who took over in March.

CDK's one-month window for shareholders to nominate directors opens on July 8, according to its proxy statement.

(Reporting by Michael Flaherty; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Meredith Mazzilli)
Keira Knightley Chanel Coco Crush Perfume ad

Its only Monday, but this week is already getting off to a high (fashion) note  thanks to tons of campaigns starring all your favorite celebrities. See which stars have fancy new gigs, below.



To kick things off, Keira Knightley is debuting as the face Chanel fine jewelry in a Mario Testino-shot campaign. Shes a logical choice given the actress is already the face of two of their other perfumes, Coco Mademoiselle and Rouge Coco  and has even played Madame Chanel herself in a short film. In the ad, Knightley gazes pensively into the distance, clad in all black save for her dazzling jewels.

Once again, Marc Jacobs is also knocking his latest campaign out of the park, gathering together an extremely diverse smattering of his favorite fashion muses. Like previous campaigns from the designer, the images call upon some of his favorite fashion muses, like Cara Delevigne, mixed together with completely off-the-wall choices like Missy Elliott and Sissy Spacek, and taking a page out of Saint Laurents book with Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson.

Story continues

RELATED PHOTOS: Selena Gomez Wears 22 Outfits in 10 Days: See Them All

MATTIA  PARIS, MAY 28TH  #YSL01 BY @anthonyvaccarello TEASER 03  DIRECTED BY @ncanguilhem #YSL #SaintLaurent #YvesSaintLaurent A video posted by SAINT LAURENT (@ysl) on Jun 17, 2016 at 7:08am PDT

Anthony Vaccarello released the first images for his reimagined take of Saint Laurent on Friday, posting a string of cryptic, black-and-white shorts to the brands Instagram account showing models wearing next to nothing. It looks like the designer has a very minimalistic vision of the house in store for fans come fall, which will certainly be an extreme departure from Hedi Slimanes maximalist, more-is-more aesthetic.

Versace also released a new film, titled  Chicago Is My Beat, starring Donatellas favorite models, Gigi Hadid and Karlie Kloss taking the windy city by storm.

RELATED VIDEO: Gigi Hadid Steps Out After the AMAs



Introducing James Jagger as the new face of the forthcoming #jimmychoo #aw16 Mens campaign A photo posted by Jimmy Choo (@jimmychoo) on Jun 17, 2016 at 9:23am PDT

And it turns out another Jagger is getting into the modeling mix. Following in the footsteps of his sister Georgia May, Mick Jaggers son, James Jagger, was just announced as the face of Jimmy Choos mens collection. Sounds like theres a new heartthrob in the family.

Crushing on the new @Prada perfume dream team @anselelgort @miagoth @danedehaan #pradaxprada #beauty #perfume #prada A photo posted by MISS VOGUE (@missvogueuk) on Jun 20, 2016 at 2:41am PDT

Much like Chanel, Prada also chose today to announce the new faces of their latest fragrance and of course, theyre a few of the houses favorite models. At an event held on Monday in Milan, the brand debuted Prada x Prada, a unisex perfume that will be represented by actors Ansel Elgort, Mia Wasikowska, Mia Goth and Dane DeHaan (hopefully all in the same festive Hawaiian shirts they wore to the launch party).

And speaking of Miu Miu, the campaign for the brands Scenique sunglasses just got a new spokeswoman  and its none other than the latest supermodel on the come-up, Cindy Crawfords genetically blessed daughter, Kaia Gerber. If you arent already totally exhausted by all these thrilling announcements, make sure to check out the 14-year-old slowly walk around and touch everything in the short film above.

Which ad is your favorite? Sound off below!

Emily Kirkpatrick


When Chad Smith joined the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1988 he had little reason to think it was a long-term proposition. The group had been through three drummers in the previous five years, and guitarist Hillel Slovak had died months earlier. "I remember right after I joined we did a photo shoot for Spin or something," Smith tells Rolling Stone. "I'm standing on a rock somewhere in Malibu with a sock on my dick and I'm like, 'I wonder how long this is gonna last? I don't know about this, but it seems like something to do right now.'"

Flea Talks 'Crazy' Snowboarding Spill, RHCP's New Direction

It's 28 years later and the group is still going strong, and on Friday they released their new album The Getaway. We talked with Smith about the new LP, RHCP's ongoing world tour, the status of Chickenfoot and his new comedic partnership with celebrity look-alike Will Ferrell.

I've really been enjoying the new album

You're a man of good taste!

How did the process begin?

Well, we wrote some songs for probably nine months, which we normally do, and we were getting ready to record when my man Flea broke his arm snowboarding. So everything ground to a halt. He really did a number on himself. It took six months to heal. During that time we kind of reassessed our approach. Brian "Danger Mouse" Burton said to us, "I love your songs. I can help make them better, but if you really want to use my talents, you should go into my studio and just write a bunch from scratch."

At first we were like, "Wait a minute. ... I don't know. We've done this for a long time and it seems to work." But once we embraced it and were open to this new way to grow and change we were really able to challenges ourselves, and thank God we did because we came up with another batch. Probably six of the 13 songs on the record are the ones that we wrote with Brian in the studio, and the ones we had from before he helped us make them better.

Story continues

How did the idea of working with Danger Mouse first come up?

We know him and the bands he's worked with. We actually toured with Gnarls Barkley. Our guitar player Josh [Klinghoffer] was their keyboardist when we toured together. We had mutual friends and when his name came up we were like, "Yeah, let's talk to Brian." It was pretty simple.

How was his process different from other producers that you've worked with in the past?

He comes from a hip-hop, for lack of a better word to describe it, process where you start with a beat. We would just listen to different kinds of music and come up with stuff we both sort of liked, a vibe or whatever, and then I would go in and just play the drums. We'd go back and forth on suggestions, and then it would get laid down. Then Flea would come and play the bass on that. And then Josh would come in and play keys or guitar or whatever we needed. We sort of built it like that.

That's way different than anything we've ever done before. We were just starting out from thin air here and it was wild. Eventually we were like, "This is great. It's different, but it still sounds like us." Brian was so excited about it, and it just took off from there. He's in there from 11 in the morning until 11 at night. Rick [Rubin] doesn't really like to spend as much time in the studio. He'd be there for tracking and vocals, but Brian has a studio tan, as they say.

"Rick [Rubin] doesn't really like to spend as much time in the studio. He'd be there for tracking and vocals, but [Danger Mouse] has a studio tan, as they say."

Did you record a lot more songs than wound up on the album?

Yeah, we always do. We probably recorded over 20 songs. That always happens to us. Brian was really fighting for a short album. He's a believer in keeping it to 45 or 50 minute since attention spans are shorter now. We were like, "That's great, but this song has to be there." So we all agreed on about nine, and then the last four, everyone lobbied for their favorite song. We got it down to a whopping 13, which I think works. Everyone is pleased with the selections they made.

Do you see a theme to the lyrics? A lot of them seem to be about heartbreak.

Yeah. Well, I don't want to speak for Anthony [Kiedis], but I think you're right. There's other things, like "The Longest Wave." I'm sure there's a deeper meaning than surfing. "Detroit" is a love ode to the great city of Detroit. There's some other things, but yeah, I would say it's a lot of relationship stuff, sure. You break someone's heart and ... yeah.

You were just breaking in a new guitarist on the last record. The group must feel more comfortable this time around.

Josh is much more comfortable. He's a good part of this album, and he's a dedicated musician. We're lucky to have him. And I'm not the new guy anymore! I was the Ron Wood of the Peppers for 27 years. We've toured and played a lot of music in the past five or six years, and that makes a big difference, for sure.

You guys played a bunch of shows before the album came out. What was that about?

We kind of had to give ourselves a deadline. Our manager was like, "OK, summer is coming up. Are we gonna have an album?" And we were like, "Yeah ... I think so!" He was like, "OK, we gotta start booking these shows six months in advance and people want to know about festivals and whatnot." So we told him, "Yeah, we should have an album by June." We gave ourselves that deadline. Then it was rushed in that typical last-minute thing when you have a deadline. But we're super excited to go play these songs and bust them out live for people.

Fans were shocked to hear "Aeroplane" earlier this year.

Yeah, we're doing it. I think we worked up "My Friends" from the bastard album we never played. No one had a real connection to that one. Josh is like, "I don't care. I like it, man." And you gotta switch it up. We're going to play some older ones, stuff off the first album. We're playing "Nobody's Weird Like Me" from Mother's Milk. We're delving into our back catalog a bit. It's gonna be tough to figure out which new ones we can do. We can't do them all. We'll figure it out and keep 'em rotating.

You've got a ton of festival dates. When are you going to do a proper headlining tour in America?

We're doing all European festivals now, and then Korea and Japan and maybe a couple Canadian dates. Then in September we'll start our indoor arena tour in Europe until the end of the year. We'll be in North America next January.

I talk to some bands that have just given up on the album as an art form. You guys clearly really believe in it, though.

Absolutely. We might be old school, but my favorite artists make albums. And I think these songs are a collection of songs that deserve to be together. We wrote them all at the same time. It's a little snapshot of where the band is now. I hope people will listen to it in its entirety. It's a very satisfying experience.

Do you think that Chickenfoot are ever going to tour again?

We just played a few weeks go up in Tahoe, but everyone has different things going on. Sam [Hagar] has his own thing with Mike [Anthony] and Joe [Satriani] is on his own tour. We really enjoy playing together, but with my schedule I don't see us playing too much. I would love to make some new music with those guys, but we'd have to be in the same room at the same time. I just don't know. It's up in the air. I love playing with those guys, though. It's a real treat.

I spoke to you five years ago and you barely knew Will Ferrell at the time. Since then you guys have become this amazing new comedy duo.

[Laughs] I don't know if we're going to be making Step Brothers 2 together. But who knew that people would go so crazy for two guys who kind of look like each other and did some kooky drum-off on television. It turned into this big thing and so we were like, "Let's do some good with this."

We did this event at the Shrine recently and raised money for two great causes. He got his comedic pals to show up and I brought in the music and the drummers. It was really fun. He's amazing, even though I lost the drum-off again. I'm like the Washington Generals of the drum-off. I'm never gonna win, no matter what. He brought in Mick Fleetwood and the USC Marching Band. That's not fair!

That is unfair.

It's bullshit! I had Stewart Copeland and Tommy Lee, Taylor [Hawkins] from the Foo Fighters. I had a good team. ... But it was fun. So, who knows? We might do it again. It's just great that a couple of guys that happen to look like each other can raise millions of dollars.

Do you ever talk to John Frusciante?

I haven't. Once in a while, he'll send me a text or an e-mail or something. I know Flea saw him recently and they hung out. But I haven't had much contact. He's doing his thing. I love John. He's one of the most amazing musicians I've ever played with. I'm so fortunate he was in our group. But I think he's happy doing his own thing, what he wants to do, and that's great. I want him to be happy.

The band was great before him, and it's been great since he left.

As long as we keep doing it because we love it, and we play from our hearts and everyone wants to do it for the right reasons, we'll keep playing. What else am I gonna do? I'm 54 years old. I'm a professional musician. I'm not gonna start working at McDonald's or a law firm or rob a bank. This is what I'm going to do. We're all so fortunate we're able to do what we love and what we're passionate about. We make music, travel around and people still want to see us. Today it was like, "You've added a third night in Paris and two in Budapest and Helsinki's sold out." It's amazing to me. I'm like, "Holy shit. This is fantastic." I've got the best job in the world.

Related
The Internet sensation "Chewbacca Mom" has come full circle - her likeness has been made into a toy by the company she showered with free press, thanks to her viral Facebook video.

Candace Payne and her family visited the Hasbro company headquarters in Pawtucket, R.I., last week and while there, she was presented with a personalized action figure - her face on Chewbacca's body.

Brian Goldner unveiled Candace Payne's very own custom #ChewbaccaMom action figure @ Hasbro HQ! #HasbroStarWars pic.twitter.com/aTpQaCp1XW

- Hasbro (@HasbroNews) June 17, 2016

"Isn't that hilarious?" Payne asked in a video she posted to Facebook from the toy company's headquarters. Of course that was accompanied by her joyful laugh.

That new video already has more than 1.3 million views; a drop in the bucket for the person who broke the Facebook record with more than 157 million views of the May 19 video she made of her first trying on the mask in her car.

Since the video of Payne wearing the electronic Chewbacca mask went viral, she's made appearances on numerous talk shows and gotten shout-outs from Star Wars castmembers, including Peter Mayhew, the actor who portrayed Chewie in the Star Wars saga.

Hasbro previously declined to say just how much Payne's video helped sales, but the masks flew off the shelves afterward, going for more than $100 on eBay and Amazon.

Read More: Chewbacca Lady Carpools With J.J. Abrams and James Corden
Chicago (AFP) - The leaders of Muslim and gay rights groups in Chicago, one of America's biggest cities, on Monday joined forces to slam Donald Trump in the wake of the Orlando massacre, saying now was not a time for divisions.

On June 12, 49 people were killed and 53 others wounded in the shooting at a gay nightclub in the central Florida city. The shooter Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old Muslim American of Afghan descent, was killed in a shootout with police.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has since renewed calls for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States and controversially suggested on Sunday that profiling of Muslims was not off the table.

In Chicago, which has both a large Muslim population and a vibrant lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, leaders said Trump's comment were divisive and unproductive.

"We're scared, because it starts rhetorically, and then more people accept it if you don't nip it in the bud," Ahmed Rehab, the leader of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told AFP.

"If common sense doesn't step in right now, people are capable of mass hysteria, and he is fanning those flames," he said, speaking of Trump.

Rehab said there was fear in Chicago's Muslim community, one of the largest in the United States, that they could potentially become targets of hate crimes.

In the past week, there have been two threats emailed and phoned into area mosques, he said.

"There is never a time to divide Americans, and of course that is especially true at a time of deep national pain," James Bennett of Lambda Legal, an LGBT group, told a press conference.

Rehab told reporters that his group and Lambda Legal planned to meet every two weeks with the goal of making "clear statements on a mutual agenda of equal civil rights of all people regardless of their background."

Bennett chimed in: "I would encourage people to watch Chicago's example."

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- Sending a message -

Illinois is home to an estimated 400,000 Muslims and 370,000 LGBT people, most of them located in the greater Chicago area, which has a population of about 5.2 million people.

"We're trying to send a message that this is not the time to try to pit communities against each other," said Brian Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois, a gay rights group.

"Any public official or media personality who says such things that would not only suggest divides, but suggest putting in place actual divides, is deeply concerning," Johnson told AFP.

On Sunday, Trump said profiling of Muslims, and racial profiling more generally, was "not the worst thing to do."

"I hate the concept of profiling. But we have to use common sense. We're not using common sense," Trump said.

African-Americans, Latinos, Muslims and other minorities in the United States have complained bitterly for decades about the practice in which police use a person's race, religion, national origin or ethnicity as grounds for suspecting them of committing a crime.

"He questions Muslims' assimilation into America. I question his assimilation into our American values," Rehab said.
By Denny Thomas

HONG KONG (Reuters) - In less than six months of 2016, China's appetite for overseas acquisitions has already outgrown last year's record, as deal-hungry mainland buyers chase global assets such as real estate, chemicals and high-end technology.

China National Chemical Corp's $43 billion bid for Swiss agrichemicals maker Syngenta makes up almost 40 percent of this year's $111.6 billion total, but even without that deal the pace has quickened.

Bankers and lawyers say there could, however, be some slowdown in the second half, as mainland buyers face heightened scrutiny at home and abroad.

China International Capital Corp, the country's biggest investment bank, expects outbound deals to hit $150 billion this year.

Chinese acquirers announced $111.5 billion worth of deals in 2015 from 632 transactions, according to Thomson Reuters data. Completed deals, on which banks are paid fees, last year stood at $73 billion, compared with $45.6 billion so far this year.

Some recent Chinese technology deals have met with opposition, however, which could turn some buyers cautious. Midea Group Co's efforts to buy out German industrial robot maker Kuka, for example, provoked a political furore in Germany, and the company has had to offer numerous guarantees on preserving local sites and jobs.

"We expect outbound M&A activities will continue to rise, but not at the nose-bleeding rate of the first quarter of 2016," said David Wu, head of corporate finance, China, for ING Bank.

China's desire to temper the outflow of its foreign reserves, which dropped more than half a trillion dollars last year, could also curb deals.

Lawyers say the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), the custodian of the country's $3.19 trillion reserves, is anxious that the deal outflows could weigh on the yuan currency.

"SAFE cancelled the formal approval process for outbound transactions some time ago, but they are monitoring flows going out quite carefully, given the recent surge in money leaving the country," said Andrew McGinty, a partner at Shanghai-based partner at law firm Hogan Lovells International.

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Uncertainty surrounding the outcome of this week's referendum in Britain over its membership of the European Union and the upcoming U.S. presidential elections in November are also factors likely to slow Chinese overseas purchases, bankers say.

After many years of focusing on the booming domestic economy, Chinese companies are increasingly looking to diversify their revenues as growth at home slipped to a 25-year low.

Chinese state-owned and private companies are also looking to upgrade their manufacturing prowess with overseas technology.

Other big purchases announced by China Inc this year include HNA Group's $6.3 billion acquisition of Ingram Micro Inc and Haier Group's $5.4 billion bid for General Electric Co's appliances unit.

"Whether it be from the private sector, government or even middle market firms, this expansion is strategic and long-term focused," said John Kim, head of M&A, Asia ex-Japan at Goldman Sachs.

"The appetite is particularly voracious for technology, media, healthcare and financial services, and for the foreseeable future it won't be going away," he added.

(Reporting by Denny Thomas; Editing by Will Waterman)
Warsaw (AFP) - The presidents of China and Poland greeted a Chinese freight train as it rolled into the Polish capital on Monday, part of a drive to drum up business between the Asian giant and the European Union's largest eastern economy.

China's Xi Jinping and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda were on hand as the China Railway Express ended its 13-day journey from Chengdu, capital of central Sichuan province.

Experts say Warsaw wants to use the rail link with China launched in 2013 to correct a chronic bilateral trade imbalance by exporting more farm products like milk, meat and apples.

Poland is China's largest trade partner in the eastern EU and in 2015 bilateral trade reached $17.1 billion (15.2 billion euros), according to Chinese figures.

The rail link -- one of the world's longest -- is part of China's "new silk road" for trade with Europe and is touted as a revival of the ancient Silk Road trade route.

Around 20 freight trains run between China and Poland each week carrying electronics, food stuffs, alcohol and car parts, according to Poland's PKP state railways. The journey takes 11-14 days, a fraction of the 40-50 day transit by sea.

Xi and Duda also bit into rosy Polish apples as they greeted the train. One of the EU's leading apple producers, Poland has been hit hard by a Russian import ban on the fruit, levelled in retaliation for EU sanctions on Moscow following its 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

Thanks to deals sealed during Xi's visit, Poland can now start exporting apples to China.

- 'Multi-billion sums' -

Poland is also eyeing financing by the Asian giant.

Xi and Duda inked a broad strategic partnership deal on political and economic cooperation, part of Beijing's much vaunted efforts of establishing land and sea links for European trade, known as the "Belt and Road" policy.

China's head of state urged Poland to "fully take advantage of its position as a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank" (AIIB) to do business.

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Launched by China in January, the AIIB includes several European countries among its members, but the United States and Japan declined to join. Some view it as a rival to the World Bank.

Calling the AIIB the "world's largest investment fund", Polish Deputy Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told reporters that Warsaw was discussing "massive investments" with Beijing.

"It is certainly still too early to say we've reached some kind of conclusion," he said, revealing only that "multi-billion sums" were involved.

Warsaw's drive for closer ties with Beijing is rooted in its "need for capital and export markets beyond Europe, because of the upcoming decrease in EU funds and saturation of the European market," said Justyna Szczudlik, an analyst with the Warsaw-based Polish Institute of International Affairs.

- 'Lack of spectacular investment' -

Xi, who is on a three-nation tour, and Duda attended the New Silk Road Forum 2016, an international trade fair bringing together Chinese and European entrepreneurs.

Poland's Deputy Development Minister Radoslaw Domagalski said Warsaw was prepared to set up special investment zones "as gateways for Chinese capital into Poland."

A nation of 38 million people, Poland remains one of the EU's most vibrant economies, clocking uninterrupted annual growth since it shed communism in 1989. GDP is set to expand by around 3.7 percent this year and next.

Chinese activity in central and eastern Europe is rooted in the "16+1 Forum" for cooperation between 16 ex-communist eastern European states and China, launched in 2012 in Warsaw.

At the time, Beijing vowed to commit a total of $10.5 billion in credit lines and funds to boost economic ties with the region, but analysts say the capital injections have been slow to materialise.

According to Poland's PAIZ foreign investment agency chief Bartlomiej Pawlak there are currently around 900 companies with Chinese capital registered in Poland, but he admits that so far, there has been a "lack of spectacular Chinese investment".
Just two days after it unveiled the official title for James Marsh's buzzy Colin Firth-starring biopic about an ill-fated British amateur sailor, StudioCanal on Monday gave crowds at CineEurope an exclusive first look at The Mercy.

Formally known as the Untitled Donald Crowhurst Film, the drama sees Firth portraying the real-life businessman who disregards advice - including from his wife, played by Rachel Weisz - and enters into an around-the-world solo yacht race in 1968, with fatal consequences.

Another hotly tipped title in the growing European studios tradeshow lineup was the Matthew McConaughey-starring Gold, directed by Stephen Gaghan, which was given an exclusive work-in-progress preview. Due in the first quarter of 2017, the drama - which will be distributed by The Weinstein Co. in the U.S. - sees McConaughey teaming with Edgar Ramirez as an unlikely duo who head into the Indonesian forests in search of precious metal.

CineEurope was treated to another brand new glimpse of a similarly jungle-themed adventure in Lost City of Z, also due next year and starring Charlie Hunnam as Colonel Percy Fawcett, the British explorer often believed to have provided the inspiration for Indiana Jones.

Also: Ron Howard's Beatles documentary, The Beatles: Eight Days a Week, is due to hit international cinemas this fall following a major event in London on Sept. 15.

"It takes you closer to the experience," the director said via a video message. "Those who only know of The Beatles can fully appreciate the impact on the world they had."

Others titles in the StudioCanal presentation included the Liam Neeson-starring The Commuter, billed as a "smart action thriller" and due to go into production later this year, and a 3D "ultimate" version of Terminator 2: Judgment Day, set to launch in October on the 25th anniversary of the original pic's release.

"This is the definitive version of the film," offered helmer James Cameron in a recorded video.

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Away from action, the studio finished its presentation with its growing family slate, introducing Early Man, the Nick Park-directed feature with Aardman and revealing it is "currently in discussion" with the acclaimed animation studio about a sequel to Shaun the Sheep Movie, which grossed over $100 million last year.

But it was the sequel to StudioCanal's biggest ever film and most successful non-studio film of all time that brought the show to an end. Paddington 2 will start shooting in the fall, it was revealed, with a U.K. release date of Nov. 10, 2017.

"The first Paddington far exceeded our expectations," said producer David Hayman of the film that went on to gross $270 million worldwide. "All the Brown family are back."

Read More: Third 'Paddington' Film Planned as Studiocanal Acquires Brand
DreamWorks Animation outgoing founder and leader Jeffrey Katzenberg was given a surprise tribute on Monday following the first presentation at the annual CineEurope trade show in Barcelona.

Coming less than two months after Comcast announced its $3.8 billion buyout of the studio, DreamWorks' opening-day showcase saw Katzenberg reveal that after "many, many years" of coming to the European event, this was to be his "last time."

At the end of his hourlong slot, Katzenberg was presented with a lifetime achievement award, only the second to be given out in CineEurope's 25-year history, while a special video offered highlights of his 40-year career together with messages of support from figures including Fox chairman Jim Gianopulos and Steven Spielberg.

The product show itself was classic Katzenberg, showing extended clips from the major upcoming animation Trolls, due out in November, and new IP Boss Baby, set to bow in March 2017.

With Trolls, the DreamWorks Animation boss introduced the enemies of the "happy 24-7" creatures, known as the Bergen - miserable, fun-hating ogres Katzenberg suggested may carry an unintentional likeness to the presumed Republican presidential candidate.

"Any resemblance to Donald Trump is entirely coincidental ... I don't know how that happened," he joked.

Concluding the show, Katzenberg thanked the audience of European cinema industry executives for their support over the years, and said DreamWorks Animation and its 2,600 staff had a "fantastic future" in the Comcast family.

"Every day has been an adventure for me, it's been a great ride," he said before signing off with a piece of news that left the auditorium buzzing. "And we have a fantastic script for Shrek 5."

Read More: Katzenberg's Next Act: Digital Media Kingpin?
Unsurprisingly, Warner Bros. turned it up for the final presentation on the first day of CineEurope in Barcelona, bursting straight into its expanding DC universe with the promise of at least 10 new superhero movies over the next five years.

Crowds on Monday were treated to an extended Suicide Squad trailer, an exclusive behind-the-scenes sneak peek of Wonder Woman and a short skip to the London set of Justice League, where Zack Snyder, Gal Gadot and Henry Cavill gave a brief video hello.

From there it was off to the jungle for The Legend of Tarzan, with an action-packed extended look at (a mostly shirtless) Alexander Skarsgard swinging down vines in a film that director David Yates said would "change everything you think you know about this iconic character."

There also were shots of a gray-haired Tom Hanks in Clint Eastwood's Sully, telling the story of the pilot who heroically landed a U.S. Airways plane onto the Hudson River in 2009. The film marks the first feature to be wholly shot in Imax.

Both The Accountant, starring Ben Affleck as a freelance sleeper assassin with a mind for numbers, and War Dogs, starring Miles Teller and Jonah Hill as amateur arms dealers, were given exclusive, extended and high-octane previews. Teller and Hill gave a video message in which they attempted to explain the title of their film.

"What's a War Dog? It's a bottom feeder who makes money from war without actually stepping on a battlefield," said Hill.

Read More: CineEurope: Jeffrey Katzenberg Says Farewell, Talks Up 'Shrek 5'

The growing Lego world, part of the Warner Animation Group (WAG) stable, was given a hearty seal of approval, with a special, Barcelona-themed Lego Batman video from the Caped Crusader himself; a sizzle reel for the kung-fu themed Lego Ninjago Film; and even a mention of Lego 2 from Phil Lord and Chris Miller, despite its release having recently been pushed back to 2019.

There also was a special preview of Storks, one of the non-Lego WAG offerings, due out in September and with Jennifer Aniston recently announced as joining the voice cast, plus a glimpse of Smallfoot, about a yeti who believes in humans and set for release next year.

Story continues

A return to the jungle for an extended preview of Kong: Skull Island featured shots of stars Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson and John C. Reilly in action.

"This is going to be the biggest Kong there's ever been," boasted director Jordon Vogt-Roberts. "Not 10 foot or 30 foot, but a 100-foot ape."

After brief mentions of King Arthur, Guy Ritchie's adaptation of the British epic, and Christopher Nolan's now-in-production WWII drama Dunkirk, there was only really one way for Warner Bros. to sign off: with the return to the most successful film franchise of all time.

Behind-the-scenes footage of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them showed J.K. Rowling actively involved on the set, with Eddie Redmayne and Colin Farrell offering their best wand trickery among wizards and muggles alike in 1920s New York. The film is due out Nov. 17.

Read More: CineEurope: Colin Firth's 'The Mercy' Gets Previewed by StudioCanal
Abidjan (AFP) - Ivory Coast's former first lady Simone Gbagbo on Monday told the court trying her for crimes against humanity over deadly election violence in 2010-2011 the only battles she ever fought were "oral".

At the resumption of her trial in Abidjan after a week's hiatus, Gbagbo denied any contact with the militia that hunted down supporters of her husband Laurent Gbagbo's rival, current President Alassane Ouattara.

"I was not in contact with any death squads. I don't like weapons," said the woman nicknamed Ivory Coast's "Iron Lady," insisting "the fights I conducted were oral."

The decision by ex-president Gbagbo not to recognise Ouattara's victory in the November 2010 election triggered a crisis which cost the lives of more than 3,000 people within five months.

The violence ended only after troops stormed the bunker where the Gbagbo couple had holed up.

Simone Gbagbo, who turned 67 on Monday, was greeted at the courthouse by a dozen supporters chanting: "Happy birthday".

Her husband is currently on trial for war crimes at the International Criminal Court in the Hague.

The former first lady rejected allegations she was involved in a decision to shell a pro-Ouattara Abidjan neighbourhood and helping plan attacks by Gbagbo supporters on his detractors.

She denied knowledge of an official document that a lawyer for civil plaintiffs said detailed a "strategy for exterminating a group of individuals".

Her trial, which began on May 31, is her second in Ivory Coast where she is already serving a 20-year sentence for "harming state security".
BOGOTA (Reuters) - Colombia will have to raise taxes to fund its conflict with Marxist rebels if a possible peace deal falls through, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Monday, in comments roundly criticized by the opposition. Santos, whose government began peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, in late 2012 in a bid to end more than 50 years of war, has come under fire over the last week for his comments on the peace process. "It's been said we'll raise taxes to pay for peace, but it's the opposite, if the war continues we'll have to raise taxes to finance it - war is more expensive," Santos said on public television. Colombians will be asked to approve any peace deal agreed at the negotiating table in a referendum. Negotiators have said they are close to inking a final accord. The country's right-wing opposition, lead by hard-line ex-president and now senator Alvaro Uribe, has called for citizens to participate in a 'civil resistance' against the peace process, which he says will grant rebels impunity for human rights violations. Uribe told journalists the tax comments were "an act of intimidation" aimed at scaring Colombians into voting for a peace deal in the eventual referendum. Santos said last week that the FARC is prepared to return to the battlefield, especially in urban areas, if peace negotiations with the government fall apart, which opposition figures classed as fear-mongering. Negotiators have reached partial accords on drug trafficking, rural reforms, ex-rebel participation in politics, finding disappeared people and removing landmines. Still, they are negotiating a bilateral ceasefire and how to implement the accords. Santos has said a tax reform bill, considered vital to help the country cope with plunging oil revenues that have battered national income, will be approved by congress before the end of the year. The president also has said a peace deal could fuel economic growth of two percent. (Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta,; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb; editing by Diane Craft)
(Chinese warships conduct naval exercises near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea in May 2016. AFP photo)



The way China split Asean at a dramatic meeting in Kunming last week has exposed a major vacuum that has plagued the regional group for a while.

Aseans strongest link is now its weakest link. It doesnt have a country or politician to provide strong moral and ideological leadership to get a group of 10 countries at different stages of economic, political and social development into speaking with one voice.

How different things were when the regional grouping came into being with just five members in 1967. Then, Asean had a unity of purpose: to make sure that the vacuum left behind by the US military withdrawal from South Vietnam would not be exploited by a communist North Vietnam.

Indonesias Adam Malik, Singapores S. Rajaratnam and others took the fight to the UN arguing the case to punish a united Vietnam that marched into Cambodia with impunity.

Aseans fear was that if Vietnam was allowed to get away with its unlawful expansion, it would embolden its military to push south and create a South-east Asia that became a vassal of the communists.

It was a time when the Domino Theory was being pushed by diplomats and academics to stop the communist tide. By working behind the scenes and openly, Asean politicians and diplomats got cracking by denying Vietnam a moral victory in the UN.

Last weeks Kunming meeting showed Asean at its vulnerable worst with China using big money politics, convincing Laos and Cambodia to split Asean.

There was no joint statement. Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who was co-chair of that meeting, did not sit down with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to talk to the media and Malaysia added to the drama by issuing an Asean statement and then retracting it.

It seems Laos, the chairman of Asean this time round, was against the proposed Asean joint statement expressing serious concern over Chinas adventures in the South China Sea.

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The South China Sea has become a big irritant in relations with China. China says the sea belongs to them but the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam have staked their claims, with Manila taking China to the international court in The Hague.

Chinas intentions to drive a wedge in Asean are not new. In 2012, Asean foreign ministers ended their annual meeting when China talked chairman Cambodia into keeping the South China Sea off the table.

With most of the other members disagreeing, the customary joint statement was not issued  the first time this has happened in Aseans 45-year history.

China is opening another beach head with Timor Leste, which is likely to be admitted into the Asean fold soon. China was the first one to recognise the former Indonesian state when it gained independence in 2002 and has poured money into big development projects there.

Resetting the Asean leadership button looks unlikely as Indonesia, the natural leader because of its size, is still trying to sort out the turmoil left behind by strongman Suhartos downfall. And Singapore, whose diplomatic dance with the important players on the world stage makes it a good choice for Asean leadership, is viewed with suspicion by its neighbours.

Does all this mean Asean will continue its rudderless ride into the stormy waters of the South China Sea? Or will it wait for the problem to solve itself?

Both scenarios can only further weaken the regional grouping. The other possibility is for the regional bloc to abandon its long-held principle of reaching a consensus in its decision-making.

With the next Asean Foreign Ministers huddle looming in the background and with China not in the mood to compromise, Asean might have no choice but to move towards a view that the majority should not be held to ransom by the minority.

That is the stark reality facing a grouping that has become an important player in global affairs.

P N Balji is a veteran Singaporean journalist who is the former chief editor of TODAY newspaper, and a media consultant. The views expressed are his own.



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Chicago's Pride celebration is in full swing: Here are the official Pride events you should know about if you're going to be in the Windy City this week before the celebration's culminates with Sunday's 47th annual Pride Parade.

Thursday

The weekend starts off with a Professionals Do Pride happy hour at Sidetrack from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 and proceeds go to local LGBTQ nonprofit Chicago House and Social Service Agency. Pride Trivia also takes place at the Glenwood at 8 p.m.; entry is $10 per team.

Friday

The TKO Pride Celebration will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Center on Halstead, and will feature a performance from party host Lady Bunny.

The first night of Star Whores: The Pride Awakens at Boystown's Playground Theater, an improv and storytelling performance from GayCo Productions, starts at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.

The Urbano Blatino Pride Party begins at 11 p.m. at the Fantasy Night Club, and the GayGlow dance party starts at 11 p.m. at Charlie's Chicago.

The Back Lot Bash, a women's festival, kicks off its second weekend. The bash in Andersonville will feature appearances from Orange Is The New Black's Taryn Manning and Lisa Loeb.

Source: Nam Y. Huh/AP

Saturday

The 35th Proud to Run, a 10K run and 5K run and walk, begins at 8:05 a.m. and ends with a post-race celebration at Replay Beer & Bourbon. Late registration for the race opens at 6:30 a.m. Proceeds from the race this year will go to Trans Tech Social Enterprises, About Face Theatre and Center on Halsted.

The TransMale Beach Party will take place on Hollywood Beach from 10 a.m. until sundown. Organizers suggest bringing a picnic lunch (liquor is not allowed) and looking for the trans Pride flag.

The 20th anniversary Chicago Dyke March in Humboldt Park starts at 2 p.m. The Chicago Dyke March Collective is a grassroots organization that celebrates "dyke, queer, bisexual and transgender resilience."

Sunday

Pride weekend culminates in the 47th annual Pride Parade through the Lakeview and Uptown neighborhoods. The parade will begin at noon. Visit Chicago Pride online for more information about the parade, including a map of the route.

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For those who would rather enjoy the parade indoors, Scarlet Bar will host a Pride Parade Party from noon to 4 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in advance or at the door; tickets include drinks during the duration of the parade.

Visit Chicago Pride online for more "pearls of wisdom" for navigating Pride in Chicago.
KINSHASA (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday declared a yellow fever epidemic in three provinces, including the capital Kinshasa, after confirming 67 cases of the disease, with another 1,000 suspected cases being monitored. Health Minister Felix Kabange said only seven of the proven cases were indigenous to the Central African country, while 58 were imported from Angola, where the outbreak began. A further two cases came from remote forested areas not linked to the current outbreak. Five people in total have died, Kabange added. "I declare today a localized epidemic of yellow fever in the provinces of Kinshasa, Kongo Central and Kwango," Kabange told a news conference. Kinshasa is the primary concern for global health officials since it has a densely-packed population of more than 12 million and poor healthcare infrastructure. Yellow fever is transmitted by the same mosquitoes that spread the Zika and dengue viruses, although it is a much more serious disease. The "yellow" in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some infected patients. The global stockpile of vaccines has already been depleted twice this year to immunize people in Angola, Uganda and Congo. It stands at 6 million doses, but this may not be enough if there are simultaneous outbreaks in multiple highly-populated areas, experts warn. Almost 18 million doses have been distributed for emergency vaccination campaigns so far in the three African countries. The current method for making vaccines, using chicken eggs, takes a year. World Health Organisation (WHO) advisers have recommended using a fifth of the standard dose of vaccine in the event of a global shortage - enough to immunize temporarily but not to give lifelong immunity. "An epidemic in such a large city (as Kinshasa) is always difficult to handle," said WHO's Congo representative Yokouide Allarangar. A vaccination campaign has been staged in two of the city's health zones deemed as high risk because the virus is circulating but is not linked to imported cases, he said. "We need to quickly try to contain these zones where the virus circulates to prevent the disease from spreading to other zones," he said, adding that a million of the city's residents have been vaccinated so far. Manufacturers of the vaccine include the Institut Pasteur, government factories in Brazil and Russia as well as French drugmaker Sanofi. Congo's outbreak, since January, comes at a time when political tensions linked to an upcoming presidential election and an economic crisis stoked by a slump in global commodity prices is already putting a huge strain on the country's stability. President Joseph Kabila is facing opposition, which has sometimes turned violent, amid concerns that he will try to cling to power beyond the expiry of his mandate at year-end. (Writing by Tim Cocks; editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and G Crosse)
Brexit

Home buyers on American soil have enough to worry about without losing sleep over whether Britons, our neighbors across the pond, will vote to leave the European Union on Thursday. [Update: With the U.K. voting to leave, maybe it is time for concern!]

But a Brexit could spell trouble for U.S. buyers as more wealthy foreigners, concerned about the uncertainty in the United Kingdom, drive up prices on American properties by racing to scoop them up, according to the International Business Times. The effect could even trickle down to Americans looking at starter homes, according to one expert.

Typically, younger purchasers need a mortgage to become homeowners, National Association of Realtors Chief Economist Lawrence Yun told the Times. If they have to compete with foreign buyers with all cash, that hinders first-time buyers from getting their home.

Now, a Brexit may not come to pass. Recent polls have the U.K. nearly split down the middle with just slightly more voters, by a percentage point or two, leaning toward remaining in the union.

If it does happen, rich foreign buyers hungry for U.S. property are likely to head to popular housing markets such as New York; Washington, DC; Miami; Los Angeles; and San Francisco, according to NAR. They might also head to Chicago, Dallas, and Floridas Tampa Bay.

Foreign buyers invested about $80 billion in U.S. real estate last year, according to NAR. About 2% to 3% of all U.S. real estate is controlled by foreign investors, Yun told the Times.

The most foreign buyers hailed from China, at 16%, with Canada close behind, at 14%. About 9% of buyers were from Mexico, followed by 8% from India and 4% from Britain.

Most of these folks are investing in luxury real estate, worth about $15 million and up, New York real estate attorney Edward Mermelstein told the Times. Therefore, unlike Yun, hes doubtful these well-heeled buyers will be competing with first-time and cash-strapped millennial buyers.

Story continues

In addition, fewer British buyers will probably be interested in acquiring foreign residences, predicts New Yorkbased real estate appraiser Jonathan Miller, of Miller Samuel. Theyll be dealing with their own problems closer to home, he said.

But buyers from the rest of the world may steer clear of London and head for markets like New York and San Francisco instead.

About three weeks ago, New Yorkbased luxury real estate agent Dolly Lenz started receiving calls from foreign investors looking into unloading their London properties and buy up more real estate in places like New York, San Francisco, and Miami. It could lead to even higher prices in the big cities, particularly along the coast.

It could affect local buyers who have to compete with the buyers, who are very sophisticated and have cash ready to go, Lenz tells realtor.com.

The post Could a Brexit Be Bad News for U.S. Home Buyers? appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com.





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For a talent whose career was cut short by an accident at the age of 27, Anton Yelchin leaves behind an unusually long list of credits. Of course, it helps that he started young. Yelchin was only 10 when he made his TV debut on ER. It was a role thats chilling to revisit in light of todays tragedy, considering that Yelchin played a boy who survived a deadly crash. With scrapes on his face and his arm in a splint, Yelchin listens as Goran Visnjic delivers the news that his parents died in the operating room, and in a moment far more adult than his age, he asks to see their bodies.

In that first screen performance, we see the paradox the persisted for the rest of Yelchins career  that mix of uncanny maturity and childlike vulnerability, characterized by soulful, saucer-like eyes; the sort of face whose cheeks cry out to be pinched; and a voice that was forever on the verge of breaking, whether he was 10 or 27 at the time. (Just last week at the Annecy Animated Film Festival, director Guillermo del Toro unveiled Yelchin as the lead voice actor in his upcoming DreamWorks Animation series, Trollhunters. The troll hunters age: 15.)

Some directors recognized Yelchins uniquely paradoxical qualities as an actor and cast him accordingly. In Charlie Bartlett, for example, Yelchin looks hilarious dressed in his boarding school blazer and tie, like a baby in a business suit, but hes the most articulate actor in any scene, talking circles around Robert Downey Jr.s principal Gardner. In 5 to 7 (my personal favorite of Yelchins performances, and the closest well ever get to seeing him in a Woody Allen movie), he plays a callow 24-year-old New York novelist who falls for a married woman nearly a decade his senior. She towers over her earnest suitor, and yet Yelchin convinces us that his character sees himself as her equal.

The fact that Yelchin always looked so much younger and more vulnerable than nearly anyone else on screen defined him. As Chekov in the J.J. Abrams-directed Star Trek reboot, he comes across as a space-age prodigy, the runt of Starfleet Academy, yet the only one capable of solving the missions most complicated math puzzles. Tapping into his own Russian heritage for the accent, Yelchin (who immigrated to the U.S. before his first birthday) played Chekov as younger than his own age, and we never questioned it. I remember spotting Yelchin a few months ago in Paris. It was during Fashion Week, and he looked so tiny on that street corner, like a child playing dress-up in his grandfathers clothes.

Story continues

In Nick Cassavetes Alpha Dog, hes a mere pup among his peers, a kid who doesnt even realize that hes been kidnapped, so eager is he to prove himself to the older thugs around him (among them Justin Timberlake, Shawn Hatosy and Emile Hirsch, a quite-different actor for whom Yelchin was often confused). Compared to his hard-edged older brother, played by a near-feral Ben Foster, Yelchins fate is heartbreaking, from the moment his character, Zack, begins to whimper with the realization of what they have in store for him.

Alpha Dog was a turning point in the careers of nearly its entire cast, debuting at Sundance five years before Like Crazy, the movie that took the festivals grand jury prize and ultimately revealed just how far Yelchin might go as an actor. Prior to Like Crazy, it seemed that he might follow in the footsteps of fellow child actor Elijah Wood, who seems never to have grown up  and only made his physiognomic limitations worse by playing a hobbit.

The story of two lovers who meet in school but are forced apart when Yelchins lovely British obsession (played by Felicity Jones) overstays her visa, Like Crazy calls for its young cast to tap into a completely adult set of emotions. It may well have been the first time we saw the actors brow furrow. Behind it was a man, vulnerable and entirely relatable, wrestling with real-world problems too big for him to control.

That was the moment we knew for certain Anton Yelchin would be a star, that he had the chops to translate the career hed begun as a child into something of substance over the rest of his life. The evidence was there as early as 2001s Hearts in Atlantis, in which he co-starred with Anthony Hopkins. In that film, very loosely adapted from the Stephen King novella, Yelchin played the curious, warbly-voiced, 11-year-old version of a character who grows up to be played by David Morse, a couple years shy of 50. Its hard to imagine Yelchin  so gentle, so vulnerable  evolving into the sort of confident physical presence embodied by the relatively massive Morse, but its an incredible loss to know that we wont ever get to see the kind of actor, and the kind of man, that he might have become.

Related stories

Anton Yelchin Leaves Behind Several Unreleased Films, TV Series

J.J. Abrams Mourns 'Star Trek' Actor Anton Yelchin: 'You Were Brilliant'

'Like Crazy' Director Drake Doremus Remembers Anton Yelchin
Zagreb (AFP) - Croatian deputies voted to dissolve parliament on Monday, paving the way for an early election by mid-September, after Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic lost a vote of confidence last week.

The dissolution of parliament "will become effective on July 15," speaker Zeljko Reiner said, after which a new election must be held within 60 days.

The dissolution was backed by 137 deputies in the 151-seat assembly.

The right-wing government led by Oreskovic, a former pharmaceutical executive with no party affiliation, fell after only five months in power, inflicting a serious blow to the main party in the coalition, HDZ.

Cobbled together after indecisive November polls, the fragile coalition was beset by internal disputes between HDZ and its junior partner, Most, amid concerns over Croatia's shift to the right.

The political crisis escalated last month with a conflict of interest affair involving Tomislav Karamarko, the powerful HDZ head and deputy premier.

A national ethnics watchdog ruled last week that Karamarko had a conflict of interest due to a business deal between his wife and a lobbyist for Hungary's oil group MOL.

MOL is currently in arbitration with Croatia over its national oil group INA, in which it is a major shareholder.

As the coalition descended into chaos and its partners traded calls for resignations, HDZ filed a no-confidence motion against Oreskovic.

They accused the premier of trying to boost his own political power, instead of dealing with the economy as he had pledged -- accusations he firmly rejected.

- Reforms delayed -

Snap elections will delay much-needed reforms in the European Union's newest member, whose economy remains one of the worst performers in the bloc.

Croatia, which relies heavily on tourism along its Adriatic coast, emerged last year from a six-year recession.

Unemployment is above 15 percent, while public debt has reached 87 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

Story continues

Political risk consultancy Eurasia Group earlier said that a snap election was unlikely to offer a clear majority for a single party.

Surveys give the opposition Social Democrats, who were in power for four years until the November vote, a tiny lead over HDZ, whose popularity ratings have been hit by the oil affair.

Some local media reported Monday that Karamarko was to step down as HDZ chief later in the day to improve his party's prospects at the forthcoming polls.

The short rule of the conservatives came in for strong criticism from local activists, who warned of a growing climate of intolerance.

Critics accused the authorities of turning a blind eye and even contributing to concerns over a far-right surge, including nostalgia for a pro-Nazi past and increased pressure on ethnic minorities and the media.
(Adds details, analyst quote)

By Igor Ilic

ZAGREB, June 20 (Reuters) - Croatian lawmakers voted on Monday to dissolve parliament, paving the way for a snap election after bringing down the fragile five-month old government last week.

The election is likely to happen in early September as it must be held no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days after the date when parliament is dissolved, set for July 15.

President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, who will chose the election date, said she would take account of the fact that most parties favoured holding the vote after the summer holidays.

Analysts say a snap election may not solve the political impasse that has prevented Croatia getting a stable government capable of carrying out reforms needed to fix fragile public finances and improve the investment climate.

Neither the main conservative HDZ party - which called last week's no-confidence vote - nor the biggest opposition party, the Social Democrats, are likely to win an absolute majority.

"Another hung parliament is a distinct possibility ... potentially spelling prolonged political instability in Croatia," the IHS analysis company said.

"Croatia emerged from a six-year recession in 2015 and the latest political impasse will likely undermine the country's recovery."

One of the weakest European Union economies, Croatia is struggling to boost growth and reduce public debt.

Next year will be a tough one for Croatia financially as it has to repay almost 30 billion kuna ($4.52 billion)of maturing bonds and interest. For favourable borrowing conditions it needs to put forward a convincing reform plan. ($1 = 6.6343 kuna) (Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
(Reuters) - A bear cub believed to be the offspring of Grizzly 399, one of the best-known bears in the United States, has been hit by a car and killed in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, a park spokesman said on Monday. The blond-faced cub was killed at about 10 p.m. on Sunday night near Pilgrim Creek Road at the national park, said Andrew White. The driver of the vehicle did not report the incident involving the 50-pound (22.5 kg) cub to the park's dispatch center, White said. Witnesses said Grizzly 399 frantically tried to attend to her injured offspring, the National Geographic reported. Park officials are fairly certain the cub belonged to Grizzly 399, White said, but were waiting for DNA results to confirm the relationship. "The death of this cub is especially tragic since Grizzly 399 is nearing the end of her reproductive life, and sadly she has only replaced herself in the population with one adult female, Grizzly 610," the Wyoming Wildlife Advocates conservation animal group said on its Facebook page. A representative from the group could not be immediately reached for comment. Grizzly 399 is 20 years old and is known for being particularly fertile, often giving birth to triplets. She is responsible for 16 descendants, but more than half have died in negative encounters with humans, according to the National Geographic. The bear's latest cub, known as Snowy by the bear watchers of Grand Teton, was adored for its antics and distinctive white face, the group said. Grizzly 399 - named for the number given to her by researchers who track her by a radio collar - rose to fame in 2006, according to the National Geographic, when she was first spotted by the roadside. The bear is featured in a new book "Grizzlies of Pilgrim Creek" by nature photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen who spent nearly two years capturing Grizzly 399 and her extended family, the National Geographic reported. Grizzly bears are listed as a threatened species in the United States, but there are proposals to delist them in some areas of the country where their populations have rebounded. (Reporting by Justin Madden in Chicago; Editing by Fiona Ortiz and Sandra Maler)
By Lisa Baertlein and Marcy Nicholson

LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK, June 20 (Reuters) - Nestle SA's Nespresso says it will become the first company to import coffee from Cuba to the United States in more than 50 years amid smoothing trade relations between the Cold War adversaries.

The U.S. State Department in April added coffee and other products to its list of eligible imports produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs.

That regulatory change cleared the way for Nespresso to begin U.S. sales of Cafecito de Cuba, a premium espresso roast for its home brewers, this autumn, the company said on Monday.

Initially available in limited quantities, Cafecito de Cuba aims to deliver on Nespresso's mission to deliver "exclusive, unique coffee experiences," Guillaume Le Cunff, Nespresso USA president, said.

Nespresso also is partnering with nonprofit TechnoServe, to support independent coffee farmers on the Caribbean island.

"We want consumers in the U.S. to experience this incredible coffee and to enjoy it now and for years to come," said Le Cunff, who aims to forge long-term relationships with Cuban producers.

Cuba harvests about 100,000 60-kg bags of arabica coffee annually, according to International Coffee Organization (ICO) data. While that is about five times the annual production of Jamaica, it is just a fraction of this year's expected 13.5 million bag harvest from Colombia, the world's biggest grower of high-quality washed arabica coffee.

Nespresso sells brewing machines and single-use coffee capsules. Its flagship espresso maker dominates the market in Europe, where such drinks are preferred, but trails Green Mountain Coffee Roasters' Keurig system in the United States.

Nespresso competes with a bevy of other global brands for sought-after beans. Those rivals include Starbucks Corp , which told Reuters it has "no plans to import coffee from Cuba at this time."

The United States imposed trade restrictions on Cuba in 1960, after the government of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro seized private land, nationalized scores of private companies and imposed heavy taxes on U.S. imports. President John F. Kennedy issued a permanent embargo in 1962.

President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro stunned the world in December 2014 by abruptly announcing that the countries would move to restore diplomatic relations.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles and Marcy Nicholson in New York; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Anton Yelchin in 2015 (Photo: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)



Anton Yelchin was used to playing backup. When I met the young St Petersburg-born American actor for an interview in Paris seven years ago, much of the conversation centred on his Terminator Salvation co-star Christian Bale, who had just been involved in one of the most high-profile on-set meltdowns in Hollywood history.

In the intervening years, Yelchin has taken the occasional lead, such as in the 2011 remake of Fright Night, and in the well-received romantic indie Like Crazy opposite Felicity Jones and Jennifer Lawrence. But the 27-year-old actor, who has died in a freak car accident at his home in Los Angeles, will probably be remembered best among mainstream audiences for his supporting turn as precocious Starship Enterprise navigator Pavel Chekov in JJ Abrams rebooted Star Trek films.

In many ways the role of the Russian-born mathematics genius was symptomatic of Yelchins career. Those soulful, boyish puppy dog eyes meant the actor was always being cast as the wide-eyed ingenue, the young man who has not yet fulfilled his potential.

His youthful take on Kyle Reese as a wandering orphan of the apocalypse in 2009s Terminator Salvation, just waiting for John Connor to inspire him into time-travelling, mankind-saving adventures, was as excellent as all Yelchins performances. That it will not be remembered as fondly as Michael Biehns rigidly intense origination of the role in 1984s Terminator is entirely the fault of Salvation director McG, whose sole venture into science fiction left most long-term fans of James Camerons dystopian saga rooting for the robots to put us all out of our misery.

Yelchin was highly watchable in the title role in 2007s Charlie Bartlett, as a sort of rich-kid Ferris Bueller who becomes an amateur therapist and occasional provider of prescription drugs to his fellow high school students. With that gentle, charming countenance he hit all the right notes of pathos as the teenage kidnap victim who just wants to be part of his captors gang in 2006s Alpha Dog, and as the doomed plaything of a group of vampires in Jim Jarmuschs Only Lovers Left Alive.

Story continues

And yet it is for Star Trek that Yelchin will receive cult status. His version of Chekov was straight out of the Allo Allo school of foreign accents, with the young actor choosing to follow the Walter Koenig line from the original show and replace every v with a w, despite the fact no native Russian speaker would ever do so. Like Karl Urbans decision to maintain a perpetual scowl during every scene as ships doctor Bones McCoy, the sheer silliness of the parody helped Abrams movies tread an entertaining line between paying tribute to the original Star Trek show and delivering the brand new, knockabout space opera-influenced take on the long-running saga that ultimately brought it to a wider audience. And dont think for a second that Yelchin wasnt entirely aware of the preposterous nature of every mangled consonant: as a Russian-born immigrant to the US, the child of two Soviet-era figure skaters, he was entirely in on the joke.

The DVD bargain bins are littered with the latter day efforts of baby-faced Hollywood stars whose careers dwindled once their looks became a complication, rather than an aide to casting directors. But theres no reason to assume that Yelchin would have joined them. On the day of his death he was on his way to meet friends for what has variously been described as either a band or play rehearsal. Either way, this is a young man who was intensely dedicated to his art. For the record, this is what he had to say about Bales little episode.



- Star Trek Actor Anton Yelchin Dies at 27

- Anton Yelchin: LAPD Confirms Details About The Actors Tragic Death

- Hollywood Reacts To Anton Yelchins Untimely Death

When a person is disrupting the process of film-making and not being professional, they disrespect everyone on set  not just the actor, not just the person they are directly involved with, but everyone. Because we all show up at the crack of dawn and we all learn to do our jobs. Everyone is expected to be professional and when theyre not that means they dont give a s**t about what theyre doing and they shouldnt be there.

Harsh words perhaps, but they sum up exactly what Yelchin was about. Koenig will no doubt be remembered as Chekov Prime, especially to acolytes of the original Star Trek show and films who are not all that keen on the more action-oriented, science-light reboot movies. But Yelchins incredibly funny performances as the young navigator were the result of an actor who took his work incredibly seriously.

We will have one more chance to watch him as Chekov in the upcoming, Simon Pegg-penned Star Trek: Beyond, out next month. Its very sad to think Yelchin has now reached his own final frontier, and that we wont get to see how his ongoing journey of artistic discovery might have unfurled.
Theres more to Viacom than diminishing ad sales, a falling stock price, eye-popping compensation, and a power struggle with controlling shareholder Sumner Redstone, CEO Philippe Dauman tells Fortune editor Alan Murray in a Q&A out this morning.

The press loves drama, Dauman says. People are missing the business story. This is a great place to work. We have great values. Creativity is at the center of it. We want to do good while we do well. We attract great millennial talent.Why? Because its a fun environment to be in.

Its been no fun for Dauman. Hes in court arguing that Redstone, 93, is incompetent and being manipulated by his daughter Shari, whos Viacoms Vice Chair.

The CEO used the interview to continue to walk back comments he made in a previous case involving Redstones health care where he said that the old man had his wits about him when they met in November.

The issue at hand there was about his health care, Dauman says. And as I said, he was attentive and engaged. But this context is totally different. We werent addressing significant business decisions.

Viacom also has been no fun for shareholders, who have seen the value of their holdings diminish by a third over the last 12 months and by nearly half over the last two years.

But Dauman is confident that the company has hit bottom. Anybody smart will look forward to whats going to happen in the very near term based on everything that we are doing now. The market will get to the right place eventually.

Nor does he believe that Viacom is in what Murray describes as a creative lull.

Remember we have more networks than anyone else, Dauman says. We are number one. No one is bigger than us. We have the biggest reach and thats by Nielsen measurement, which misses a lot of the audience. Thats getting lost in all of this.

Story continues

He rejects the view, which his predecessor Tom Freston aired last week, that Viacom failed to take full advantage of digital media  which are especially appealing to the companys young viewers.

We have moved to digital, Dauman says. We have our content everywhere. We have close relationships with all the social media companies. We have two brands on the Snapchat Discover platform We were the first company to engage with SVOD companies like Netflix, and Hulu and Amazon. We were the first to put our content on mobile in a significant way. We are in conversations with all the digital players, and we are working to revolutionize measurement of the digital audience.

Dauman also defended his $54.1 million compensation package in 2015  which made him the nations third highest paid CEO with a 22.1% raise in a year when Viacoms stock value declined 42.5%.

What people fail to see there is that the vast majority of my so-called compensation is based on performance, so that its recorded according to Black-Scholes value when it is granted, but I dont realize that unless the stock performs, Dauman says.

In fact I have suffered, along with shareholders, because I have a lot of shares myself. In reality, I have lost far more than the $54 million in this period. Thats not inappropriate. I will be rewarded if and when the stock recovers.

Related stories

Redstone Lawyers Urge Massachusetts Court To Dismiss Dauman Charges

Bart & Fleming: On Stacey Snider's Ascension At Fox; Can They All Get Along?

Delaware Court To Hear Arguments About Viacom Board Changes On Wednesday
IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 20, 2016 / Khang & Khang LLP (the "Firm") announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Deutsche Bank AG ("Deutsche Bank" or the "Company") (DB). Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired shares between April 15, 2013 and April 29, 2016, inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the Firm prior to the July 11, 2016, lead plaintiff motion deadline.

If you purchased shares of Deutsche Bank during the Class Period, please contact Joon M. Khang, Esquire, of Khang & Khang, 18101 Von Karman Avenue, 3rd Floor, Irvine, CA 92612, by telephone: (949) 419-3834, or by email at joon@khanglaw.com.

There has been no class certification in this case. Until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. You may choose to take no action and remain a passive class member.

According to the complaint, the Company failed to disclose that (1) Deutsche Bank has serious and systemic failings in its controls against financing terrorism, money laundering, aiding against international sanctions, and committing financial crimes; and (2) Deutsche Bank's internal control over financial reporting and its disclosure controls and procedures were not effective.

If you wish to learn more about this lawsuit, or if you have any questions concerning this notice or your rights, please contact Joon M. Khang, a prominent litigator for almost two decades, by telephone: (949) 419-3834, or by email at joon@khanglaw.com.

This press release may constitute Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

Contact:

KHANG & KHANG LLP

Joon M. Khang, Esq.

Telephone: 949-419-3834

Facsimile: 949-225-4474

joon@khanglaw.com

SOURCE: Khang & Khang LLP
IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 20, 2016 / Khang & Khang LLP (the "Firm") announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against La Quinta Holdings Inc. ("La Quinta" or the "Company") (LQ). Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired shares between February 25, 2015 and September 17, 2015, inclusive (the "Class Period"), are encouraged to contact the Firm prior to the June 24, 2016, lead plaintiff motion deadline.

If you purchased shares of La Quinta during the Class Period, please contact Joon M. Khang, Esquire, of Khang & Khang, 18101 Von Karman Avenue, 3rd Floor, Irvine, CA 92612, by telephone: (949) 419-3834, or by email at joon@khanglaw.com.

There has been no class certification in this case. Until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. You may choose to take no action and remain a passive class member.

According to the complaint, the Company failed to disclose that: (1) La Quinta was experiencing declining customer demand in its key Texas market; and (2) there were on-going disruptions caused by the transitioning of La Quinta's call center operations.

If you wish to learn more about this lawsuit, or if you have any questions concerning this notice or your rights, please contact Joon M. Khang, a prominent litigator for almost two decades, by telephone: (949) 419-3834, or by email at joon@khanglaw.com.

This press release may constitute Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

Contact:

KHANG & KHANG LLP

Joon M. Khang, Esq.

Telephone: 949-419-3834

Facsimile: 949-225-4474

joon@khanglaw.com

SOURCE: Khang & Khang LLP
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f121329%2fazheat

According to the calendar, Monday is the first day of summer. For millions of people in the Southwest, from Phoenix to Los Angeles, the extreme heat today will make it feel more like mid-July.

High temperatures are forecast to reach nearly 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the Phoenix area, after hitting 118 degrees on Sunday. The 118-degree high temperature was the fifth-warmest day on record there, and if the city were to see a 120-degree high temperature on Monday, it would be only the fourth time such a heat record were reached.

SEE ALSO: Earth's hot streak continues with warmest May since at least 1880

The all-time high temperature record for Phoenix is 122 degrees Fahrenheit, set in 1990.

High temperatures in the desert areas of Arizona, Nevada and interior southern California are likely to eclipse 120 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday, with a high of nearly 100 degrees possible even in downtown Los Angeles and Burbank, California. Burbank hit 105 degrees on Sunday, which was a daily high temperature record.

Tuscon's high temperature of 115 degrees on Sunday tied that city's third-warmest temperature on record.

More daily high temperature records, and possibly some all-time high temperature records, are likely to be broken on Monday in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Needles, California, and Kingman, Arizona, among other locations.

The heat is helping to fuel an outbreak of wildfires across several states, including drought-parched California, but this heat wave is not accompanied by high winds, which is lowering wildfire risks somewhat, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.

Excessive heat warnings are in effect for parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada and California, given the health risks that such conditions pose.

Heat of this magnitude can be deadly, particularly for the elderly, small children or those with preexisting medical conditions. It can also make working outside downright perilous. Two people in Arizona have already died of heat-related illnesses.

Story continues

Air travel delays possible on Monday

If temperatures at the major airports in the Southwest reach the mid-100s, there is the possibility of travel delays since such heat can make aircraft components unreliable. It can also cause problems for departing aircraft by reducing the ability of a plane's ability to achieve sufficient lift while barreling down a runway.

Image: The Arizona Republic, Tom Tingle/AP

This occurs because hot air is far less dense than cold air is, and extreme heat plus high elevations can put some aircraft types beyond their certification limits.

The NWS in Las Vegas mentioned this possibility in an aviation forecast discussion posted on its website on Monday morning (McCarran is the name of Las Vegas' main commercial airport):

Unusually intense high pressure area An extremely intense, sprawling area of high pressure is causing the heat wave. Also known as a "heat dome," the high pressure area is sitting on top of the Southwest and pumping extremely hot, relatively dry air northward from Mexico, while encouraging the air to sink, thereby stifling any widespread rain showers and thunderstorms. Meteorologists often look to a metric known as geopotential height anomalies to gauge the intensity or unusualness of a heat dome like this. Geopotential height measures the elevation of an air pressure surface. Hot air masses expand, and elevate pressure surfaces, while cold air masses are more dense and compact, thereby lowering them. The 500-millibar geopotential height for this heat event is beyond the normal range on the high end, according to numerous computer model simulations.

According to the NWS office in Phoenix, the 500-millibar heights, along with air temperatures in the lower layers of the atmosphere, are "near record levels." Such intense heat domes are becoming more frequent occurrences in the Southwest and other parts of the world, which is possibly related to global warming. Weather pattern to overstay its welcome This heat dome will weaken somewhat by midweek, but it's not forecast to disappear entirely during the next one to two weeks. In fact, unusual heat is forecast to spread northwestward, into the Pacific Northwest, by early next week. In addition, parts of the Plains and southern tier of the U.S. could also see hotter conditions as a result of this sprawling high pressure area. If this heat dome becomes a semi-permanent feature of the 2016 North American summer weather pattern, it could make for an extremely miserable season for tens of millions of Americans. It could also exacerbate already high wildfire risks and help to dry out California even further, erasing any moisture gains made during the fickle El Nino winter. For now, at least, some residents of the Southwest are taking the heat in stride. Kim Leeds, 28, told the Associated Press that she decided to experiment with the heat, after living in Phoenix for three previous summers.

Map showing the intense heat dome across the West, with greatest anomalies and hottest conditions in dark red.

"I'm totally reveling in this experience because I'm actually baking cookies in my car," Leeds said. "I've been here long enough that I've got to do these things."
The death toll from landslides and flooding in Indonesia rose to 47 on Monday, an official said, after hundreds of homes were engulfed by surging torrents of mud and rock.

Rescuers used excavators and their bare hands to search through wrecked houses and earth for 15 villagers still missing after days of rain triggered the landslips and flash floods on mountainous Java island at the weekend.

The natural disasters happened across densely populated Central Java province, with fast-moving walls of mud, rock and water engulfing buildings as they raced down hillsides and drivers were swept off roads.

Villagers were trapped on their rooftops and watched helplessly as the rising floodwaters submerged their homes and cars.

Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said 47 people were confirmed dead and 15 were missing. Hundreds of homes were badly damaged, with some completely flattened.

"People should be prepared as there is still a high potential for flooding and landslides," he warned.

He said that a La Nina weather phenomenon, that typically causes unseasonably heavy rains, could have contributed to the weekend disasters. Java, which should be entering the dry season, has been hit by torrential downpours in recent weeks.

Indonesia and other parts of Asia had been affected by a strong El Nino, which brings drought and sizzling temperatures and is often followed by a La Nina.

He also blamed inadequate preparations, saying that his agency had warned local authorities that heavy rains were coming but it was not clear if they had taken action.

The area worst affected by floods and landslides was Purworejo district, Nugroho said. Deaths were also reported in Banjarnegara and Kebumen districts.

More than 400 rescuers were involved in search efforts. Evacuation centres, equipped with temporary shelters and kitchens, had been set up near the disaster zones.

Landslides and flooding are common in Indonesia, a vast tropical archipelago prone to natural disasters and torrential downpours.
Robert F. Kennedy and his wife Ethel were once admired as members of the American royalty, but new allegations reveal their love story may not have been as virtuous as one believed.

Read: Who Was Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy? The Untold Story of JFK's High-Spirited Little Sister

Friends knew him as Bobby Kennedy, and he was known to be at the head of what appeared to be a perfect family, including 11 children, until his assassination more than 50 years ago.

Larry Tye, author of new book 'Bobby Kennedy: The Making Of A Liberal Icon' spoke to Robert's widow Ethel Kennedy as well as others who were part of his inner circle to reveal that the late New York senator and U.S. attorney general may have been unfaithful in his marriage.

"Some who know him say that Bobby flirted (like other members of the Kennedy family), and may have been unfaithful," Tye said, but clarified, "I don't know whether or not Bobby cheated."

Tye explained that extramarital affairs within the Kennedy clan are not unheard of, though frowned upon. Despite rumor of possible infidelity, Tye believed "(Bobby) was the most puritanical and sanctimonious of the Kennedy boys."

According to Tye, rumors surrounding the family has plagued 88-year-old Ethel since her husband died, but "she long ago stopped listening to or reading them. She tried to block them out then, too, although they must have hurt."

Read: Rosemary Kennedy's Dad Ordered Her Lobotomy to Prevent Pregnancy, New Books Claim

Amid the gossip, Tye said Ethel never wavered in solidarity with her husband: "She never disclosed any suspicions. What she knew then and still does is that she loved her husband more completely than she'd dreamed possible. And she knew he always came home, not just to the kids but to her."

Watch: Jackie Kennedy's Lookalike Granddaughter Stars in New Web Series

Related Articles:
By Alisa Tang BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - From earthquakes in Nepal to flooding in Myanmar, disasters damage or destroy thousands of schools leaving hundreds of thousands of children unable to go to class, yet education is often overlooked in humanitarian responses, a charity said. Deadly earthquakes in Nepal last year damaged or destroyed more than 8,200 schools, leaving 870,000 children without classrooms. Nearly a year on, many children were still taking lessons in makeshift facilities without walls, exposed to cold winter weather, Save the Children said in a report on lost education due to disasters in the Asia Pacific. Part of the problem is that less than 2 percent of humanitarian aid is earmarked for education, leading to delays in the reconstruction and repair of damaged schools, the global aid agency said. "Regardless of the size of the disaster - it doesn't matter if it's small or big - education is disrupted, and students' lives are impacted," said Sarah Ireland, the author of the report, by telephone from Melbourne. The report, to be launched on Tuesday, details the impact on schoolchildren of five disasters in 2015, including flooding in Myanmar that put 4,100 schools out of action, leaving 250,000 children in limbo for several months. "Education needs to be prioritized as part of a holistic response," said Ireland, the humanitarian advocacy and policy adviser for Save the Children. "If education is supported before, during, and after disasters, it can save lives, protect children and benefit whole communities and countries." For example, many children attend schools that are not built to withstand the impact of natural disasters, Ireland said. "If you consider how much time a child spends in schools, if a disaster hits, like an earthquake or a flood, that school is likely to cause injury or loss of life," she said. "We need to ensure the school is a safe place for children to go." Schools - that are still standing - often play an important role in the humanitarian response to a disaster, serving as a community hub where disaster-hit families can access healthcare, clean water and food in safety. "If children are in a school ... their parents can actually go about their business rebuilding their lives, knowing their children are in a safe place and that their children will be less vulnerable to trafficking, abuse or exploitation," Ireland said. Save the Children's "Education Disrupted" report is due to be launched in Bangkok on the sidelines of a United Nations conference on disaster risk reduction. Ireland said the report aims to provide information that will help improve future data collection and thereby improve post-disaster support and response. (Reporting by Alisa Tang @alisatang, editing by Katie Nguyen. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, womens rights, corruption and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org to see more stories)
Disney World did something its never done before to honor the Orlando victims

Disney World did something its never done before to honor the Orlando victims

Over the past week, Disney World has shown its true colors loud and proud: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple.

Following the events of the Orlando shooting at the Pulse nightclub, which left 49 dead and dozens more injured, the entire Orlando community has come together out of love and support. Countless memorials and vigils have taken place over the past week, and Saturday night, an incredibly touching one happened at the happiest place on earth.

Though a completely unofficial event  meaning that Disney World did not have a hand in organizing it  thousands gathered in front of Cinderella Castle just before midnight to honor the Pulse victims. They had colored glowsticks and LED candles with them, and were waiting for the end of the parks Kiss Goodnight. The Kiss Goodnight is Magic Kingdoms way of announcing that the park is officially closed and everyone should go home.

A photo posted by Taylor Byerly (@funkyflyswim) on Jun 18, 2016 at 9:28pm PDT

A photo posted by Angelique Feeney (@icebabyange) on Jun 18, 2016 at 9:35pm PDT

But the Magic Kingdom didnt close right away Saturday night. Immediately following the Kiss Goodnight, Magic Kingdom silenced Main Street U.S.A. for 49 seconds. One second for every life lost the following week. It is no easy feat to completely quiet the Magic Kingdom, and while moments of silence have happened before, the music never goes out (you can still faintly hear Tomorrowland off in the distance).

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Though completely silent, the message was loud and clear, as rainbow colors were projected onto the walls of the castle.

castle

Disney, remember, did not sponsor this event, but they clearly supported it 100%, from the prolonged moment of silence to the color-changing castle. They even handed out rainbow Mickey Mouse pins to guests as they exited the park, and according to Twitter, let working cast members leave their location to go participate in the vigil, too.

Wow Disney, wow. Class act tonight. They handed these out as we exited the park tonight. #OrlandoStrong pic.twitter.com/z9y1hdmBH3  Mr. Brian in Orlando (@MrBrianORL) June 19, 2016

You can watch the full Kiss Goodnight below, the moment of silence starts at 5:20. Do you have some tissues handy? You probably should.

The post Disney World did something its never done before to honor the Orlando victims appeared first on HelloGiggles.
Firas al-Kubaisy, right, operating in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2011. (Photo courtesy of Preemptive Love Coalition Archive)

The Iraqi Army has claimed victory in Fallujah after driving out most of the Islamic State militants. As of Monday morning, fighting continued along the main road into the city and counterterrorism forces had surrounded Fallujahs main hospital after militants set it on fire.

But Fallujah has been a war zone for more than a decade. In 2004, the United States sent in troops twice following the grisly deaths of four American contractors whose bodies were burned after they were captured and executed by insurgents.

Slideshow: The battle for Fallujah, Iraq >>>

The warfare has resulted in over tens of thousands of deaths. The casualties have brought Iraqs doctors face to face with some of the worst physical defects. For Firas al-Kubaisy, a pediatric cardiac surgeon, the past decade of war has had a traumatizing effect.

Kubaisy, who was born in Fallujah, now lives and works mostly in Baghdad. Since 2004, he has seen some of the most extreme congenital heart conditions, involving severe and often fatal deformities.

In an interview with Yahoo News, he explained that when he returned to his home city to screen patients nearly three years after the U.S. invasion of Iraq, the battle between Sunni and Shiite militias was heating up. What he saw left him dumbfounded  heart-related conditions he was seeing for the first time, that he hadnt read [about] in the books. There were strange cases from Fallujah.

It started with a patient, a child whose frail and small body was blue from lack of oxygen. The baby had been born with transposition of the great arteries, a condition in which the two main arteries leading from the heart are switched.

What Kubaisy described next could only come from the script of a horror movie: Deformities from the outside. We had cases, we call anencephaly, which means the cup of the head is not there and the brain is small. And there were what we called Cyclops, which is very rare, which is a single eye in the middle where the nose is above the eye and the mouth is, well, there was no mouth.

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Most of the children he treated had died, he said. They were delivered, documented and buried.

He was aware of many babies whose births were not even documented and whom he never treated because they were from poor families.

Blood tests for the mothers were also difficult. We dont have the facilities, we didnt have the mothers for follow-up visits, Kubaisy explained.

The Fallujah hospital has been bombed many times over the last decade. Kubaisy recalled one instance after 2008 when his ward was hit while he performed an operation. I was doing an echo [cardiogram] for a child, and then you hear that  [sound], and then the ceiling is just over you, and there was just a lot of dust and there was a lot of injured. And you are looking everywhere, there is a lot of blood everywhere, and  we keep going.

It has been difficult over the years for Fallujahs doctors to treat patients, perform tests and operate because their facilities have been targeted and they have been left with little or no resources.

The most common congenital anomaly Kubaisy has seen in children is cyanosis, the appearance of blue limbs or faces from a lack of oxygen or inadequate circulation.

Three-year-old Noor Katim is one of those patients. She is small for her age, shy and anxious.

Noor Muhammed Katim, 3, was born with congenital heart disease, causing discoloration to her limbs and face. After several surgeries, she still struggles. Her family does its best to keep her stable. (Photo: Ash Gallagher for Yahoo News)

Her family left Fallujah and now lives in Halabja, in northern Iraq. They invited Yahoo News to visit. Her father, Muhammed Katim, 20, explained, They found a hole in her heart and said she had a tight valve. They found she had a lack of calcium.

After Noor was diagnosed, a hospital committee came to review her case. It determined she needed surgery, which could not be provided in Iraq, so it was recommended that she be treated in South Korea and, later, India.

But the surgeries havent been enough. When Noor gets excited or upset, her small fingers, toes and lips turn a deep shade of purple. The family has not been able to receive further support and struggles to do what it can to keep her stable.

In 2011, a relief and developmental organization, Preemptive Love Coalition (PLC), started sending doctors into Fallujah to assist Kubaisy and his colleagues in operations and to train new doctors.

Founder Jeremy Courtney told Yahoo News that when his organization went in for the first time, they were determined to help every child they could. These children were in need of lifesaving surgeries as a result of someone elses violence.

The PLC teams began to notice patients suffering from what appeared to be environmental fallout, Courtney said, leading to thousands of children being born with birth defects, which were taking their life or significantly curtailed the quality [of it].

Kubaisy and his colleagues were convinced the deformities came from materials used in American weapons.

He had hoped to bring in his own researchers, and he approached an American doctor for assistance. I remember his words, Kubaisy said. [He said] if we do such research, it will cost the American government millions of dollars.

Nevertheless, one of Kubaisys colleagues who also operated in Fallujah  and who did not wish to be named for security reasons  conducted individual studies, one from November 2009 to October 2010. The doctor found that out of 291 babies born, over 150 of them had some form of congenital disease or deformation. In another study in 2011, hair samples were taken from around 25 parents, and what appeared to be uranium contamination was found.

But there has been no definitive finding by any government or international organization.

The U.S. military in Iraq used munitions containing depleted uranium, a byproduct of uranium enrichment that is much heavier and denser than lead and can penetrate armor or hardened targets. It is radioactive, although not on the scale of a nuclear bomb, and public health and anti-war groups have protested its use.

A U.S. Army specialist stands over 25 mm rounds of depleted uranium ammunition at his base in Tikrit, Iraq, in February 2004. (Photo: Stan Honda/AFP via Getty Images)

The International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons is a group of experts who have worked to bring attention to the issue.

Yahoo News spoke with coordinator Doug Weir, who said one of the greatest problems he found was the lack of transparency from governments that use weapons containing depleted uranium. Often, [government officials] are reluctant to release coordinates for where the weapons are used or acknowledge they used them in conflict, he said.

Its much easier to do [a study] with explosive weapons or something where you lose an arm or a limb, but when its environmental pollutants, its very difficult, Weir continued.

Yahoo News asked the U.S. State Department for comment on the use of depleted uranium in Iraq and whether the issue had been studied in terms of its public health impact, but we did not receive a response.

Still trying to save the lives of infants, Kubaisy continued to travel to Fallujah through November 2014, after ISIS took over the city. The militants allowed him to enter and screen patients, but because hospitals had been destroyed and resources were scarce, there wasnt much he could offer.

Kubaisy, left, in Fallujah in 2011. (Photo courtesy of Preemptive Love Coalition Archive)

ISIS has since been accused of releasing mustard gas, but it hasnt been confirmed. Weir says that with each new conflict in Fallujah, its just more pollution being layered on.

After decades of warfare, Fallujah, cast in the center of ideological struggles, has become a wasteland of toxic materials affecting hundreds of thousands.

But Kubaisy says hell keep going. My father was a doctor; I have to complete his mission. I love the children; I suffer when they suffer.

With Fallujahs hospital likely destroyed, the good doctor can only hope the infrastructure will be rebuilt to save the next generation of children from the crippling toxins many hope wont infect their chance for a future.
What daddy's little girl wants, she gets  even if it's for her dad to babysit her doll for the day.

Read: Partially Deaf 2-Year-Old Boy Does the Wildest Happy Dance After Hearing His Mom's Voice

Trent McCain, who owns a Kansas trucking company, told InsideEdition.com that his 9-year-old daughter Joselyn recently suggested that he spend some quality time with her doll Abbie.

She said Abbie wanted to join him at work, on his semi-trailer truck.

"The next day, I didn't think she'd remember," the man from Colby said, but sure enough, she did  and the doting dad had no choice but to load the girl's doll into his truck as he started his day.

Sure enough, McCain babysat the doll for the rest of the day, and uploaded the pictures on Facebook so Joselyn, who spent the day at a neighbor's home, could check up on Abbie through her neighbor's account.

"Why not have fun with it?" McCain said. "We thought it would be fun to show Joselyn that we were doing our job and babysitting Abbie."

Throughout the day, McCain uploaded pictures of the doll buckled up in the passenger seat, unloading corn, and having a snack before finally putting the collection of the pictures to his company's Facebook.

Of course, like any overbearing parent, 9-year-old Joselyn had a thing or two to say about some of the pictures.

"Joselyn didn't approve of the snack," Jodi said. "Slim Jims and coke was a little questionable. She thought she maybe needed a milk."

She also thought her doll needed a nap or two throughout the day.

Joselyn's mom Jodi laughed: "She's very much a little mother hen, as you can tell with Abbie. She's got several dolls [but] Abbie is very much her favorite."

Read: Father Set to Compete In Ironman World Championship, Carrying His Son With Cerebral Palsy

McCain happily answered to his little girl's demands, because just as Abbie is the apple of Joselyn's eye, McCain's adopted daughter was very much daddy's little girl.

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Before McCain and Jodi were married four years ago, he said Joselyn had already asked for him to become her dad. The father-daughter pair have been inseparable since.

Watch: 9-Year-Old Girl Who Donated 1,800 Barbies Vows To Get Dolls To Kids Everywhere

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Donald Trump has been critiqued throughout his presidential election for lambasting the Mexican population, vowing to bar all Muslims (including Muslim-Americans) from entering the country, suggesting he'd attempt to repeal the Supreme Court's decision on marriage equality and, of course, his many dubious stances on black people in America.

But one would have to turn the dial back to 1989 to see how Trump really views the black experience in modern day America. In an interview with NBC, the real estate billionaire gives his thoughts on race relations in the United States  and it's damning.

In the video clip, Trump says he would have done better financially if he were "an educated black," suggesting that getting a job in America is much easier as an African-American.

A well-educated black has a tremendous advantage over a well-educated white in terms of the job market. And, I think, sometimes a black may think that they don't really have the advantage or this or that but in actuality today, currently, it's, uh, it's a, it's a great ... I've said on occasion, even about myself, if I were starting off today I would love to be a well-educated black because I really believe they do have an actual advantage today.

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!

Later in the program, NBC's Bryant Gumbel asked Spike Lee what being black in America meant to him. The director instead pointed his remarks toward Trump, saying, "Well, I certainly don't agree with that garbage that Donald Trump said. ... It's crazy."

"I mean, he, he  Bryant, I didn't believe he said that ... it's crazy."

Crazy, indeed, according to the numbers. Studies do not back Trump's remarks. A paper published in March suggested that job applicants who "whiten" their resumes have a better shot at landing employment.

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What's more, unemployment rates for black Americans remain systematically high compared to that of whites  even during times of economic progress. Education doesn't help, either: A black American with the same education as a white person faces unemployment rates twice as high, The Atlantic reported.

What's more, a recent Associated Press investigation revealed Trump officials can't say they ever remember seeing a black American hold executive power in Trump's organization  dating back to 1980.
Donald Trump

Donald Trump has done anything but fit into the traditional political mold with his position on guns.

Since the Orlando terrorist attack, the deadliest mass shooting in US history, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee has managed to support Democratic gun-control measures while also staking out a gun-rights position too extreme for even the National Rifle Association.

On one hand, Trump has championed the idea of "no fly, no buy" legislation that would bar individuals on the FBI terror watch list from purchasing firearms.

"We have to make sure that people that are terrorists or have even an inclination toward terrorism cannot buy weapons, guns," Trump said Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

Gun-rights advocates have argued that if those listed on the terror watch list are kept from buying guns, citizens may be wrongly stripped of their Second Amendment right without due process. There have been numerous cases in which individuals have been wrongly put on the list.

Supporters of legislation proposed by Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, however, insist that measures will be put in place to provide quick trials for anyone who believes he or she should be removed from the list.

"It could be that people are on there that shouldn't be on, you know, et cetera, et cetera," Trump acknowledged to ABC.

"I'll talk to them," the real-estate mogul added. "I understand exactly what they're saying. You know, a lot of people are on the list that that really maybe shouldn't be on the list, and you know their rights are being taken away, so I understand that."

But Trump has not come out in favor of the competing legislation offered by Senate Republicans, sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, that is up for a Monday vote as well. Cornyn's bill has been characterized as a "red herring" by Senate Democrats and gun-control advocates.

"I'm talking to [the NRA] about the whole concept of terror watch lists," Trump said Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation." "Should we take somebody directly off it  if there is a terror watch list and if somebody is on, should they be allowed to buy a gun?"

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"Now, we understand there are problems with that, because some people are on the terror watch list that shouldn't be on," he continued. "You understand that. And that's happened. Maybe you can reverse it. And we work very hard to find out. If they can't get a gun, we work hard and diligently to get them off the list, if they indeed shouldn't be on the list."'

Gun-control advocates aren't holding out much hope that he can get the NRA to back Feinstein's legislation.

"If he can get the gun lobby on board with doing the right thing, and not just getting on board with another red herring piece of legislation, great," Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a branch of Everytown for Gun Safety, told Business Insider. "That said, it's a little like, you know asking the tobacco lobby to weigh in on cigarette packages."

Donald Trump

But as Trump was making a push for gun control, he managed to simultaneously express a position that the NRA had to disavow as too extreme in the other direction.

Trump told a Texas rally Friday that if people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando "had guns strapped ... right to their waist or right to their ankle," it would have been a "beautiful sight" to see them shoot "the son of a bitch."

Wayne LaPierre, the CEO of the NRA, told "Face the Nation" on Sunday that he didn't "think you should have firearms where people are drinking."

"No one thinks that people should go into a nightclub drinking and carrying firearms," Chris Cox, the executive director of the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action, told ABC's "This Week" that same day. "That defies common sense. It also defies the law."

Trump said in a tweet Monday morning that his position was taken out of context.

"When I said that if, within the Orlando club, you had some people with guns, I was obviously talking about additional guards or employees," he posted.

NOW WATCH: The number of times Obama has had to respond to mass shootings during his presidency is staggering





More From Business Insider


After all the lies, innuendo and hyperbole, it turns out that Donald Trump is right about the U.S. being a loser to China on one front  supercomputers.

China beat the U.S. in 2013 by creating the Tianhe-2, the fastest supercomputer in the world. But they used Intel processing chips, so it didnt really count as a national win. Nevertheless, President Obama took the challenge seriously, especially when it was clear that China was well on its way to creating its own processor, and he promised to exceed the speed of the T-2, though that hasnt happened yet.

Related: Why Computer Code Is the Lethal Weapon of the Future

Today, Obama and the U.S. have an even greater hurdle. The Top500 List named Chinas Sunway TaihuLight the number one supercomputer in the world. Its powered by a new ShenWei processor and custom interconnect, both developed in China. Its based at the National Supercomputing Center in Wuxi, near Shanghai, and is nearly three times the speed of the TH-2.

IEEESpectrum, an engineering site, wrote, The new rankings further solidify Chinas status as a supercomputing force to be reckoned with. In addition to this new machine, the United States has, for the first time, lost its status as the country with the most systems on the list; China now has 167 systems to the U.S.s 165.

Supercomputer list

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f121336%2fdrakeshirtless

How about these views?

Drake  and apparently a personal photographer  enjoyed a nice weekend in the Dominican Republic. No shirts were invited, but Drizzy rocked a truly stunning robe poolside.

SEE ALSO: Drake is still the Internet's favorite heartbreak kid on 'Views'

Drake made the trip with French Montana to shoot a video for Montana's track "No Shopping," which we hope will include some more shots of that fantastic robe.
By Jeffrey Moyo MASVINGO, Zimbabwe (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - As prolonged drought dries up waterholes and grass, Zimbabwe's government is taking an unprecedented step to keep the wildlife in its game reserves alive: It is selling the animals to private owners. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority has invited bids to purchase the animals in its reserves, hoping private game reserves with cash and spare water and fodder may be able to get them through the worst drought the country has seen in three decades. ZimParks, as the conservation authority is known, has not specified what animals might be sold, their cost or whether they could be exported to other countries. But the countrys wildlife includes a range of big tourist draws, including elephants, rhinos and lions. "We have asked individuals and private gamekeepers to step in and buy wild animals in the light of the drought, but the number of animals to be sold would depend on the bids we receive," ZimParks spokesperson, Caroline Washaya-Moyo, told journalists. Oppah Muchinguri, Zimbabwes minister for environment, water and climate, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that the country aimed to use resources from the sales to support the other animals in its reserves through the drought. "We must mobilise resources for the upkeep of our wild animals, like elephants, by selling," he said. The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency estimates that 620 Cape buffalo died in 2015 as a result of the ongoing drought. Such statistics are one of the drivers of the current auction. There are no clear reports about the about the number of wild animals the country has sold so far, but last year Zimbabwe exported to China 100 elephants, out of a population of more than 84,000, according to ZimParks. Each fetched $40,000. In the past, the country has offered a range of animals for sale, including elephants, lions, impala antelope and zebras. 'STEALING THE FUTURE'? To auction animals, ZimParks authorities have invited "expressions of interest" from bidders with the capacity to manage the wildlife. Bidders are required to pay a non-refundable fee of $50. But critics warn the selloff could both hurt the future earning power of the country's national parks and fuel corruption. "Selling wildlife here has nothing to do with the El Nino-induced drought or any excuse; this is mismanagement, corruption and greed. The government is stealing from the future generation of this country, charged Johnny Rodrigues, chairman of the animal rights group, Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force. He said the government had warned as early as July 2015 that a strong El Nino phenomenon threatened to dry up pastures and drinking water and impact wildlife. "So why didnt they store food for wildlife way in advance, knowing that Zimbabwe has droughts periodically? he asked. In 2014, the government earned about $6 million from game viewing, according to the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate. Rodrigues said those who will benefit from wildlife sales include Zimbabwes government and private game reserves, whose workers are now taking a look at whats available. Leander Saburi, an independent animal rights activist, said it remains unclear whether animals sold would remain in Zimbabwe. "Nobody knows whether or not private rangers and farmers purporting to have keen interest in buying the starving wildlife will keep the animals. They could be ivory poachers posing as private game rangers so that they easily gain access to our wildlife, he warned. ZimParks officials said that was not a risk. "Remember there is paperwork needed for one to buy our wildlife and we dont just sell to anyone, and therefore there is no room for poachers, said a senior ZimParks official. In line with the ZimParks requirements, bidders for wild animals must provide information about where they intend to keep acquired animals, giving the name and address of the property, its size and its ownership. TAKING A LOOK Some Zimbabwe private game rangers, such as John Harugwa, have met the requirements. Harugwa recently took a peek through the security fence at Gonarezhou National Park outside Masvingo, in southeast Zimbabwe. On the parched ground inside lay a herd of Cape buffalo, resting near a dried-up dam. "Our countrys failure to look after its wildlife amid the drought may be our turn to make money as we gain dominance in the business of wildlife and start pocketing cash from game viewing. Some of us have the means to keep the animals alive, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Whats clear, he said, is that wildlife authorities dont have enough capacity to carry the countrys wildlife through the drought. Harugwas new private game reserve, called HaruPark in Zimbabwes Masvingo Province, covers about 85 hectares of former farmland that he recently converted into a game park for tourists. He is amongst 8,000 drought-affected smallholder farmers here benefitting from the U.N. Central Emergency Fund, which aims to help farmers acquire subsidised feed for their livestock. Harugwa said he had accessed approximately 2,000 tonnes of animal feed at subsidised prices, thanks to the U.N. initiative. (Reporting by Jeffrey Moyo; editing by Laurie Goering :; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, climate change, women's rights, trafficking and property rights. Visit http://news.trust.org/climate)
By Kathryn Doyle (Reuters Health)  Doctors who received even one free meal from a pharmaceutical salesperson were more likely than others to prescribe the drug being promoted, even when a generic equivalent was available, according to a new study. Each year in the U.S., $73 billion is spent on brand name drugs for which there is an equivalent generic available, and patients pay for $24 billion of that amount themselves, said senior author Dr. R. Adams Dudley of the University of California, San Francisco. Thats an awful lot of money, Dudley told Reuters Health by phone. The brand name drugs and the generics are so similar that theres no benefit, from using the brand name versions, he said. Dudleys team analyzed industry payment data from late 2013 and prescribing data for that year from doctors treating Medicare patients with common drugs for heart problems or depression. For each class of drug, the researchers chose the most prescribed brand name. For the heart drugs, they chose Crestor (known generically as rosuvastatin) to represent the statins, Bystolic (nebivolol) for the beta-blockers, and Benicar (olmesartan) for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or ACE inhibitors. They chose Pristiq (desvenlafaxine) to represent antidepressants known as selective serotonin and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs). National organizations in the U.S. and U.K. have deemed these brand-name drugs to be no better than their generic forms, Dudley said. Almost 280,000 doctors received a total of more than 60,000 payments associated with the four target drugs. The vast majority of the payments - 95 percent  were in the form of sponsored meals, on average less than $20 each. Almost 9 percent of statin prescriptions were rosuvastatin. The other drugs in the study were prescribed less often. But doctors who received even one sponsored meal from one of the pharmaceutical companies were more likely to prescribe the target drug over a generic alternative, compared to doctors who did not receive sponsored meals. As the number of meals and meal value increased, relative prescribing rates also increased, according to a report in JAMA Internal Medicine. Payments for food and beverages are by the far the most frequent type of industry payments to physicians in the United States, totaling about $225 million in 2014, the most recent year for which data are available, said Dr. Robert Steinbrook, an editor at JAMA Internal Medicine and a professor at Yale University School of Medicine. Recent research, including the new study being published in JAMA Internal Medicine, has convincingly shown an association between industry payments to physicians and the prescribing of brand-name drugs, Steinbrook said by email. A 30 day supply of rosuvastatin costs about $250, while a generic drug in the same class may cost $150 or less. You should ask your doctor, is there a generic thats just as good whenever you start a new medicine, Dudley said. Its not clear from this study whether receiving meals caused doctors to change their prescribing patterns, but humans are very responsive to gifts, he said. Normal human behavior is reciprocity. Often a pharmaceutical salesperson will give a doctor a presentation about a new or existing drug and offer to do so over a free lunch, or snacks, and doctors are more likely to listen to their pitch if they can eat lunch at the same time, Dudley said. The salesperson then focus on the positive aspects of the drug they promote, rather than talking about how it has no benefit over generic. This is sometimes a doctors only means of learning about new pharmaceutical developments, at least in the U.S., Dudley said. If were going to spend $75 billion on this, you can think of better educational approaches, without commercial interest, he said. Single-payer healthcare systems can negotiate the price of drugs, and negotiate lower prices for ones without proven benefit over existing options, Dudley said. The American Medical Association limits physician gifts to $100 or less, and many academic medical centers now dont allow drug reps on the premises. At UCSF they cant even give us free samples, Kaiser doesnt let drug reps in, for instance, Dudley said. Even without laws some organizations are responding. (Pharmaceutical industry) promotional events are usually perfectly legal and acceptable to many physicians; otherwise physicians would not be attending, Steinbrook told Reuters Health. But in the big picture, physicians have to ask themselves why they are accepting this largesse? he said. We should be advocating for drug and device manufacturers to spend less on promoting their products and more on independent bona fide research on safety, effectiveness and affordability. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/28JfcMO JAMA Internal Medicine, online June 20, 2016.
Firefighters in Los Angeles County battled two brush fires that broke out not far from each other on Monday, June 20. The Reservoir Fire, which was close to the Morris Dam in Azusa, had burned 1,200 acres and triggered evacuations in the San Gabriel Canyon, according to the National Forest Service.

A second fire, called the Fish Fire, which was burning in Duarte, had burned 1,000 acres and also triggered mandatory evacuations, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The two fires were combined into the San Gabriel Complex on Tuesday.

This video shows the smoke billowing from the mountains as seen from Azusa. Credit: Instagram/chippsofftheoldblock
Firefighters in Los Angeles County battled two brush fires that broke out not far from each other on Monday, June 20. The Reservoir Fire, which was close to the Morris Dam in Azusa, had burned 1,200 acres and triggered evacuations in the San Gabriel Canyon, according to the National Forest Service.

A second fire, called the Fish Fire, which was burning in Duarte, had burned 1,000 acres and also triggered mandatory evacuations, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The two fires were combined into the San Gabriel Complex on Tuesday.

This video, taken from Azusa, shows planes dropping fire retardant on the fire and also the extent of the smoke. Credit: YouTube/Ricardo Martinez
dunkin donuts doughnut sprinkles

If you're a spelling snob with a sweet tooth, you've encountered the question: Is it a doughnut or a donut?

The answer, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is that it is, in fact, both.

According to a post in the dictionary's Words at Play blog to celebrate National Donut Day:

"We've been encountering the variant donut in published, edited text since the mid-20th century. It was certainly helped along by famous doughnut purveyors  both Dunkin' and Mister  but in truth they and all who've accepted the variant were following in a tradition of phonetic-based spelling reform also embraced by the likes of Benjamin Franklin and Noah Webster ...

"Our inclusion of donut is based solely on evidence of the variant in a variety of published, edited texts."

Phonetic-based spelling reform aside, let's take a closer look at the donut chains: Dunkin' Donuts and Mister Donut, two chains founded by brothers-in-law in the mid-1950s.

Dunkin Donut

The first Dunkin' Donuts was opened in 1950, a revamp of William Rosenberg's coffee-and-doughnut shop Open Kettle. Rosenberg began franchising in 1955, opening the 100th location in 1963 and 1,000th shop in 1979.

A Dunkin' Donuts representative told Business Insider the company did not have additional information on why Rosenberg spelled Dunkin' Donuts as "donuts" versus "doughnuts," though the chain could confirm that it has been spelled that way since 1950.

The first Mister Donut opened in Boston in 1955, and it expanded to nearly 1,000 locations in the US before its American business was acquired by Dunkin' Donuts' parent company in 1990. Today, Mister Donut has a booming business in Asia, with more than 10,000 locations worldwide.

As pointed out by the grammar blogger Grammar Girl, the rise of Dunkin' Donuts (and, to a lesser degree Mister Donut), ran parallel to a significant growth of the use of the "donut" spelling since the 1950s, according to Google Books data.

Story continues

doughnut donut

Donut has gained ground even more rapidly in recent years. Since 2005, the use of the term donut has risen steadily, according to Google Trends, while the use of doughnut has remained constant  perhaps, in part, because of the character constraints connected to social media.

Still, don't count the doughnut out just yet.

Outside the US, "doughnut" is still the term of choice, though Dunkin' Donuts does use the term donut in the UK.

Krispy Kreme

In fact, the Associated Press Style Guide prefers doughnut, as do most style guides. Even BuzzFeed's public style guide, which has references to phrases such as Bernie Bros (both capitalized) and mansplain (one word), prefers doughnut, except in the case of Dunkin' Donuts. Despite its pro-phonetic-spelling spiel, Merriam-Webster actually refers to donut as a variant of doughnut.

But what about when discussing Dunkin' Donuts' sweet treats? Can a donut chain sell doughnuts?

Apparently, yes. A Business Insider copy editor pointed out that the Associated Press had spoken directly on the issue.

In 2013, the company answered the question "Does Dunkin' Donuts make donuts or doughnuts?" saying, "Donut is the company's brand name for the food item spelled doughnut in the AP Stylebook and dictionaries."

mojo donuts

At first, it's a counterintuitive answer. How can Dunkin' Donuts sell doughnuts, not donuts?

Upon further reflection, the fact there is even a question signifies the power of the chain. Sixty years ago, there was no doughnut-versus-donut debate. There was just the doughnut  and a coffee-and-doughnut shop in Quincy, Massachusetts, called Dunkin' Donuts.

Today the majority of the best doughnuts shops in America sell "donuts," not "doughnuts," with names such as Bob's Donut and Pastry Shop, Sugar Shack Donuts, and The Donut Man. Dunkin' may have popularized the donut, but plenty of other chains have been willing to adopt it.

You can thank one chain for the rise of the donut  and your spelling angst. And remember, at the end of the day, unless you're writing for a publication with a pledged allegiance to the AP Style Guide, the donut and doughnut are just two interchangeable names for "a piece of sweet fried dough that is often shaped like a ring."

NOW WATCH: A master sushi chef did something incredible with a bunch of Dunkin' Donuts





More From Business Insider


An elephant shot in the forehead wandered around a Zimbabwe park for weeks with a massive hole before help could arrive. When it did, he motioned for assistance.

Read: Veterinarians' Shocked When They Pull an Old Sock Out of Puppy's Intestines During Surgery

The elephant, named Pretty Boy, was shot in the forehead, which experts described as "too high for a 'kill shot.'"

When helped arrived inside Mana Pools National Park, Pretty Boy walked right up to veterinarians Dr. Keith Dutlow and Dr. Lisa Marabini for aide, according to AWAREs Facebook page.

The two vets from AWARE (Animal and Wildlife Area Research and Rehabilitation Trust), examined the elephant on June 13.

They tranquilized Pretty Boy so they could take X-rays and get a better understanding of what was going on in his head.

The vets discovered that the bullet was lodged just 5 centimeters from the open wound in his forehead.

They wrote on Facebook: The X-ray, which in our opinion, confirms the presence of a 'mushroomed' bullet that has glanced off the skull and lodged under the skin - which has caused a fracture of the sinus turbinate bones at the level of the entry wound. The opacity in the sinuses adjacent to the entry wound is suggestive of pus in that area.

Dr. Marabini told Sky News: He was lucky. The bullet must have glanced off the surface of his skull. After the first shot he must have turned to flee. The perpetrator fired another shot at his heart, because he had another abscess in his shoulder."

Once Pretty Boy woke up from the tranquilizer drugs; he slept with his head pressed against a tree for a half hour.

Read: Meet the Warthog Piglet and Rottweiler Puppy That Became Best Friends After Being Rescued

The elephant is recovering inside the park and the vets will return for routine checkups.

Watch: Arnold Schwarzenegger Nearly Terminated by an Angry Elephant While on Safari

Story continues

Related Articles:
Istanbul (AFP) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shared a Ramadan dinner with Turkey's best-known transgender celebrity hours after riot police broke up an LGBT rally in Istanbul, pictures distributed by his office on Monday showed.

The conservative president and his headscarf-clad wife on Sunday shared their traditional iftar meal at the end of the Muslim fasting day with a group of artists including Turkish trans celebrity and actress Bulent Ersoy.

Photos distributed by Erdogan's office show the couple sharing a meal with "The Diva", as Ersoy is known in Turkey, at the official presidential residence in the Istanbul suburb of Tarabya.

Ersoy, 64, underwent sex reassignment surgery in London in the 1980s. She became a celebrity but also faced verbal and even physical attacks at home.

Earlier on Sunday, Istanbul riot police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to prevent a "Trans Pride" event taking place during Ramadan.

Several hundred riot police surrounded the main Taksim Square -- where demonstrations have been banned since major anti-government protests in 2013 -- to stop the protest from taking place.

The demonstrators unfurled a rainbow flag, a symbol of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community, and then tried to read a statement but were prevented from doing so by the police.

Istanbul authorities said on Friday they had banned the annual gay pride parade set for June 26 to "safeguard security and public order" after a string of bombings around Turkey over the past year, some of them blamed on the Islamic State group, others claimed by Kurdish militants.

Critics have accused Erdogan of leading a creeping Islamisation in Turkey since he came to power as premier in 2003, undermining the secular foundations of the modern republic.

He has repeatedly annoyed activists with his comments on sex and family planning, but has generally steered clear of publicly commenting on gay issues.

Story continues

On Twitter, some Turks criticised Erdogan for dining with the trans star just after police broke up the rally.

"This country has become a real circus," wrote one user.

"This means you can be trans if you don't protest," wrote another.

"Erdogan is fine with you so long as you are pro-Erdogan," wrote a third.
Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google parent company Alphabet, on Monday took to the stage at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity on the French Riviera for a talk on the future of media.

He addressed the future of AI, saying his company will soon be launching an AI that can automatically respond to IM messages, and that several companies will quickly follow with similar tech based on Alphago from Google's Deepmind project. "The industry is now convulsed in this tech," said Schmidt.

This "limited intuition" tech - where an AI can do something on an "I just felt" impulse - will take over the assistant space within five years, he predicted.

While Schmidt tried to calm any AI fears stoked by Hollywood - "We've all seen these movies," he joked - Google has established a policy that its AI will be developed for the benefit of humanity and that there will be systems in place in case anything goes awry.

AI is fed data to work with humans in an assistant capacity, such as chemistry problems. "To be clear, we're not talking about consciousness, we're not talking about souls, we're not talking about independent creativity," said Schmidt.

The computers will not be clever, and military might is not in the plan.

"We'll make make sure that people know how to turn this stuff off should we get to that point," the exec said, though he wasn't clear on how.

"There are a large number of issues of automation from a military context, and Google has taken a very strong position in not being involved in that. But remember that for every offensive scenario you can think of, you can also think of a defensive scenario that's just as intelligent," he said. "And remember, these systems learn by training, so the more examples they have, the more they can protect you."

Schmidt also said that the technology of what he called "sophisticated teenage boy games" will drive changes in traditional television as these gamers grow up.

Story continues

"[They] are essentially combat strategy games, they are so photorealistic that that technology applied to more normal activities among humans and behavior will transform television and advertising," he said.

"We are going from the static television narrative to something much more interactive, and the graphics improvements are driven largely from this gaming community," Schmidt continued, predicting that once those gamers grow up they will become the influencers in the TV business.

"Those turn out to be your future viewers," he said. "If you are not playing in that kind of innovation and partnerships, you're going to get lost."

Alphabet's next big push is for YouTube 360 as OTT becomes more crowded with significant inroads made by SVOD players including Netflix.

"We are just at the beginning of what we can do with video," said Schmidt. "The next thing is obviously much more dynamic activity with video and eventually AI systems that drive the video into immersive experiences."

He did not address the political impact of taking away trucking, taxi and Uber jobs with self-driving cars, and assistant level jobs with Google's Alphago in the near future. "There are issues around the economic impact of these things and the job impact," Schmidt said, but dismissed it as too far in the future.

He said the EU's backlash against the giant on privacy, antitrust and tax issues has not had an impact on the company or the Google brand, and he deftly avoided questions about the upcoming U.S. election and this week's Brexit vote.

"I take the position that the complaining and the bitching is largely because people know more of what they see of injustice," Schmidt said, saying the flow of information has skewed people's perspective.

"But I see it as good, I think that is transparency, I think that is democracy," he added. "I'm a strong believer that democracies eventually work these things out. The systems will adapt and they will adapt to the new reality."

Read More: Cannes Lions: Hollywood Takes Center Stage at Ad Fest
By Tom Hals

WILMINGTON, Del., June 20 (Reuters) - Dallas billionaire Kelcy Warren will head to court on Monday to defend against allegations his pipeline company, Energy Transfer Equity LP , has purposely tried to scuttle a proposed $20 billion deal for rival Williams Cos Inc.

The two-day trial comes just days before Williams shareholders vote on June 27 if they want to accept the deal proposed in September by Energy Transfer Equity, or ETE.

While the deal was long-sought by Warren, who wanted to create one of the world's largest pipeline operators, Williams said he soon had buyer's remorse and began to search for a way out as an energy price slump deepened.

ETE has argued the deal cannot close because its lawyers at Latham & Watkins were unable to declare that it would be tax-free. The company originally raised the tax problem in April and rejected two possible solutions proposed by Williams.

Williams sued in May, accusing Warren, who maintains a tight grip on ETE as its chairman and chief executive, of failing to meet its obligation to try to get the merger done by June 28, when ETE can walk away without penalty.

Williams wants the judge to order that ETE cannot avoid its obligation to close based on the tax dispute or the June 28 termination date.

ETE countersued, alleging Williams was the one breaching the deal.

Brian Quinn, a professor at Boston College Law School, said ETE wants to reach June 28 so it can walk away without any settlement cost. "I think it's all about hanging on about as long as possible."

In addition to Warren, both sides said they may call Alan Armstrong, the CEO of Williams. When Williams' directors voted to support the deal in September by a margin of 8-5, Armstrong voted against it.

Other potential witnesses include Frank MacInnis, the chairman of Williams and several tax lawyers at Latham and other firms.

The trial is being held in Georgetown, Delaware, in the state's Court of Chancery before Vice Chancellor Sam Glasscock.

(Editing by Matthew Lewis)
Luxembourg (AFP) - EU foreign ministers on Monday agreed to boost the bloc's anti-people smuggling operation in the Mediterranean to include training of the Libyan coastguard and enforcing a UN arms embargo.

Ministers also agreed to extend Operation Sophia's mandate by one year, a statement said, as the European Union tries to stem a flood of migrants from North Africa and beyond trying to get to Europe.

"The Council (of member states) extended until 27 July 2017 the mandate for EU NAVFOR MED Operation Sophia, the EU naval operation to disrupt the business model of human smugglers and traffickers in the southern central Mediterranean," a statement said after the ministers met in Luxembourg.

"The Council also reinforced the operation's mandate by adding two supporting tasks -- training of the Libyan coastguard and navy, and contributing to the implementation of the UN arms embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya."

The EU launched Operation Sophia last year after hundreds of migrants died when their rickety boats sank off southern Italy, sparking popular outrage at their plight.

This Central Mediterranean route has seen more migrants risk their lives in recent weeks after the EU reached an accord with Turkey in March to halt an influx of more than a million refugees who crossed the Aegean to reach Europe last year.

Operation Sophia currently comprises five vessels and three helicopters charged with intercepting smugglers' boats and destroying them, in international waters.

- EU to review force needs -

Officials said they will review what additional assets the mission will need in July so Sophia can meet its new tasks.

They said the EU will likely train a first batch of some 100 Libyan coastguard officers and then another at which point 10 patrol boats ordered by slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi from Italy will be delivered.

The EU force cannot enter Libyan territorial waters without a formal request by the UN-backed Government of National Accord which is trying to extend its shakey authority from Tripoli to the rest of the country.

Story continues

The UN Security Council last week authorised the EU to intercept ships suspected of arms smuggling to Libya as part of moves to shore up the new government.

The Western-backed overthrow of Kadhafi in 2011 plunged Libya into chaos, with rival rebel forces seizing as much territory as they could.

Islamic State jihadi groups have taken advantage of the upheaval to establish a presence, deepening EU concerns over security on its southern flank.

The arms embargo was first imposed on Libya in 2011. UN monitors have reported arms shipments from Egypt, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Sudan to the various factions.

Libya is awash with weapons, with some 20 million of all types in a country of just six million people, according to the UN.
By Robin Emmott LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - The European Union was divided on Monday over how to end a stand-off with Moscow over the crisis in Ukraine, as Britain called for governments to maintain their tough stance and Slovakia said the current sanctions policy was untenable. France reiterated the West's position that there could be no change to the punitive sanctions on Russia's defense, energy and financial sectors until Moscow dropped its support for separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine, although Paris wants EU leaders to also seek a rapprochement with the Kremlin. Incoming EU presidency chair Slovakia said EU governments could not ignore the political pressure in some EU countries for a shift in sanctions policy with Russia, the bloc's biggest energy supplier. Slovakia's Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak, whose country will help shape European policy from July to December, said it was necessary to hold talks because there was "a growing demand for a political discussion" about sanctions levied on Russia. Diplomats said such talk was code for potentially softening the measures implemented by the West in July 2014 after Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea in February of that year. Italy, Bulgaria and Greece are keen to see some sanctions lifted. "I am not calling for abolishing the sanctions. But what I don't want to see is that we formally maintain the sanctions and behind the sanctions, everyone is signing big deals with Russia, visiting, meeting people who are blacklisted," Lajcak said. "This is the reality today, so I think it is fair to discuss," he told reporters in the margins of the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Luxembourg. EU envoys in Brussels are set to extend the sanctions on Russia on Tuesday until the end of the year. The United States and other Western nations have imposed similar sanctions. The West accuses Russia of directly supporting the rebels, which Moscow denies. Western governments say any relaxation of the sanctions are linked to progress on a peace deal signed in Minsk last year to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The war has killed more than 9,000 people since April 2014 and NATO warned last week the internationally-monitored ceasefire in eastern Ukraine was barely holding.. That view was restated in Berlin on Monday by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who helped negotiate the Minsk accord, following comments by her foreign minister saying he was in favor of lifting sanctions gradually if the Russian government took some steps linked to Minsk. Britain's foreign minister said there could be no middle ground and that the Minsk peace deal, which includes a complete ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, needed to be implemented in full. "If you want the sanctions relaxed, deliver your commitments at Minsk, not some of them, or moving towards, or talking about, but delivering," Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said. "The Russians are playing a game, frankly a game of divide and rule, targeting those who are temperamentally inclined to talk about relaxation, pressuring them. It is a big mistake." (Additional reporting by Paul Carrel in Berlin)
By Robin Emmott LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - The European Union on Monday gave its naval force in the Mediterranean the authority to search suspicious vessels at sea in a bid to stop arms getting to Islamic State in Libya and to break up gangs smuggling migrants to Europe. EU foreign ministers acted to boost the effectiveness of the five-frigate "Sophia" mission after winning a U.N. mandate to reinforce an arms embargo on Libya, where Islamic State is strengthening its grip, and limit the near-impunity of the people smugglers. "We must act, both against those who exploit the migrants, those traffickers who exploit this misery, and against the arms trafficking that benefits Daesh," French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told reporters at a meeting in Luxembourg, referring to Islamic State militants. European military powers Britain, France and Germany say ending the chaos in Libya that has reigned since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 is a crucial part of the EU's moves to end the migrant crisis. NATO ships have also been sent to the Aegean to stem uncontrolled flows to Greece from Turkey. Although EU ships in the central Mediterranean have picked up around 16,000 migrants at sea in the past year, their limited tasks of surveillance and information-sharing have meant they were not able to destroy weapons, catch traffickers or head off migrants trying to reach Europe by sea from Libya. At least one smuggler vessel loaded with arms was allowed to pass an EU inspection in the Mediterranean in the past few months for lack of U.N. authority to act, one diplomat said. Now, the European Union also hopes NATO ships already patrolling in the central Mediterranean could link up with its "Sophia" mission, providing intelligence about smuggling routes. The United States has said it supports such a move. "ACCESS TO AMMUNITION" Gangs, using profits from people smuggling into Europe, control arms networks stretching across Europe into North Africa via the Mediterranean. Libya U.N. envoy Martin Kobler has told the Security Council that Libya is already awash with arms, with 20 million pieces of weaponry in the North African state of six million people. By controlling new flows, the West could grant exemptions in the arms embargo to provide weapons to the U.N.-backed unity government in Tripoli and help it assert control in the lawless country. "Getting control of illegal arms trafficking then gives the international community a lever, because we can consider relaxations in the arms embargo to allow certain groups access to ammunition," said Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond. Britain is expected to send another ship to the mission, as well as helicopters and other assets from 24 EU governments. The EU and NATO say they could operate closer to Libyan shores if requested by the Libyan government, but for now the EU will focus on training the Libyan coast guard in international waters to help combat smugglers. (Reporting by Robin Emmott; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
If the rumours are true and Roy Hodgson is planning to make wholesale changes to his squad to the final Euro 2016 group game against Slovakia, he is about to put his own future as England manager on the line.



Imagine the reaction if Hodgson leaves out a host of his top players and his team end up losing in Saint-Etienne and finishing third in Group B, setting up a game against tournament favourites Spain or Germany next weekend?

EURO 2016 INTERACTIVE: EXPERIENCE THE TOURNAMENT AS IT HAPPENS

HENDERSON SET TO START WITH HODGSON LIKELY TO RING THE CHANGES

MEET THE SLOVAKIAN PLOTTING ENGLAND'S DOWNFALL

WALKER WARNS CONFIDENT ENGLAND FOR SLOVAKIA MATCH

He would be hammered by the media and all of us who are willing England to do well at this tournament and we would have every right to do just that.

This is a massive gamble and one that he doesnt need to make in my mind.

If Englands last-16 game was coming up in three days' time, then I would understand the desire of Hodgson to ring the changes and keep his players fresh. Yet they won't play their next match until Saturday if they win Group B and that is more than enough time to replenish your energy supplies.

I have been part of several England squads for major tournaments and playing three games in ten days is not a big ask. These guys play Champions League matches on a Wednesday night and then Premier League games a few days later, so why would they need to be rested now?

Clearly Roy has confidence in his players and it would be good to give a few more of his squad a taste of the Euro 2016 action ahead of the knock-out stages, but I cant help but think this is a risk too far for a side that are hardly in a dominant position heading into this game.

We are hearing that Spain and Italy will make big changes to their teams in the final round of group stage games, but those two nations already have six points on the board. England have just four from their opening matches and are in a vulnerable position if they fail to finish Group B with a flourish.

Story continues

WILL RINGING THE CHANGES ACTUALLY IMPROVE ENGLAND?

EURO 2016 - ALL THE FIXTURES

EURO 2016 - ALL THE TABLES

Topping the group and playing one of the third placed teams in the next round would offer England a chance to set up a base in Paris and would appear to be a prize well worth chasing in this Slovakia game.

Instead, Hodgson is playing a game of Russian roulette as he looks to give game time to the likes of Jack Wilshere, Nathaniel Clyne and a few others in an experimental side that could cost him dear.

Ill be especially surprised if he makes wholesale changes to his defensive line-up, as the quartet of Danny Rose, Chris Smalling, Gary Cahill and Kyle Walker have been impressive so far. England went into this competition with a perceived weakness in their back-line and yet those have look very good in the opening two games.

A defensive units wants to work together as often as possible to work fluently, but it looks like they will be broken up and then put back in place for the next game this weekend.

I still believe England will be good enough to beat Slovakia, but I wouldnt want to be in Hodgsons position if he makes wholesale changes to his team and they lose.

Good luck Roy!


By Paul Taylor BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European history may be about to go into reverse. If Britain votes to leave the European Union, it will likely start a process of fragmentation of the political and security structures on which the post-World War Two and post-Cold War European order was built. Even if the British step back from the brink on Thursday, the bruising legacy of the debate, the growing trend of national referendums on EU issues and the backlash against globalisation and internationalised elites on both sides of the Atlantic will not fade away any time soon. How far and how fast contagion may spread in case of a Brexit vote, no one can know. Just don't expect it to stop with one major country walking away from the EU. European Council President Donald Tusk, a historian and former Polish prime minister who took part in the struggle to overthrow Soviet-imposed communist rule in eastern Europe and join the EU, was both a witness and an actor in that history. Tusk, who knows from personal experience what it means to be on the wrong side of a wall or border, warned last week: "Brexit could be the beginning of the destruction not only of the EU but also of Western political civilisation in its entirety." He is equally aware that if British Prime Minister David Cameron succeeds in turning public opinion in the final days and winning the referendum, his tactics of demanding a renegotiation of EU membership terms using a plebiscite as leverage are bound to tempt politicians in other countries. In private, there is anger at Cameron among EU leaders and diplomats who feel he has played Russian roulette with Europe's future in a failed bid to end civil war in his own party. In case of a Brexit, EU founders Germany and France will work to shore up the remaining EU and put forward new projects in security and defence. But their lack of agreement on how to strengthen the euro zone - and the prospect of anti-EU populists gaining in elections in those countries next year - makes any big integration initiative impossible for now. POPULISTS WINNING? The forces of European disintegration are on the rise in many countries, fuelled by economic discontent, fear of job losses to foreign competition or to immigrants, and the anxieties of ageing societies. Eurosceptics in the Netherlands forced a referendum in April on an EU agreement on closer ties with Ukraine via a petition and mobilised just enough voters to make the "No" vote valid, leaving the Dutch and EU authorities with a legal conundrum. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who boasts of having established an "illiberal democracy", is planning a public vote in October to defy EU rules obliging member states to share the burden of taking in refugees flooding into Greece and Italy. And a eurosceptic rightist failed by a whisker to win Austria's presidential election last month, surfing a wave of hostility to migrants and defiance of "Brussels". The latest Pew Research Center survey of European attitudes shows public support for the EU has plunged across Europe, with the steepest fall in France, where only 38 percent have a favourable view of the Union, six points fewer than in Britain. Such findings do not necessarily indicate that other countries are likely to leave the bloc. Ironically support for the EU is strongest in Poland and Hungary, which are major beneficiaries of funds from Brussels but have two of Europe's most eurosceptic governments. But public hostility to sharing risks - financial, humanitarian or geopolitical - had gained ground around Europe even before the British vote, widening north-south and east-west gaps within the EU. "In a sense, the populists have already won, because they are setting the agenda for the mainstream parties," said Heather Grabbe, a visiting fellow at the European University Institute in Florence. Among those most alarmed are strategists in the United States and at NATO, the transatlantic defence alliance, who are convinced that a British vote to leave the EU would weaken the unity of the West and its resolve to tackle security challenges. Those include a more assertive Russia, Islamist militancy, war in the Middle East and North Africa that has put millions of refugees on the move, migratory pressures from sub-Saharan Africa and cyberattacks on economic and security networks. London has long been Washington's go-to partner in defence and intelligence but it has been more reluctant to join military action since the unpopular U.S.-led Iraq and Afghanistan wars. NATO is straining now to find European nations willing to deploy modest numbers of troops in rotation to support Baltic and East European allies alarmed by Russia's 2014 seizure of Crimea and support for pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine. Some Brexit advocates contend that the EU is "yesterdays story" and that leaving would allow the UK to be more global. Yet a Leave vote would sidetrack the European Union for several years in divisive debates about the terms of the divorce with Britain, its second largest economy and military power. It would make the UK more inward-looking, with both main political parties mired in recrimination and an emphasis on shutting borders rather than on the British tradition of liberal intervention. "The project of European construction that began in the aftermath of World War Two and that has done so much to ensure that Europe did not again become a venue of instability and violence would be further endangered," said Richard Haas, president of the Council on Foreign Relations in the United States and a former State Department policy planner. Writing in The American Interest magazine, Haas noted that for U.S. strategists, the continent that sparked two world wars had become "boring" after the end of Cold War. Brexit alone would not make Europe that much more interesting, he said, but it would contribute to the slow unravelling of a stable European order, leaving both the EU and the UK "weaker and more divided". (Writing by Paul Taylor; Editing by Alexander Smith)
European stocks surged by Monday's close, as declining fears of a Brexit vote buoyed global market sentiment, sterling and oil prices.

The pan-European STOXX 600 (^STOXX) closed up 3.65 percent provisionally, with all sectors posting sharp gains between 2 and 5.5 percent each.



The U.K.'s FTSE 100 (FTSE International: .FTSE) jumped 3 percent at the close. Meanwhile, France's CAC (Euronext Paris: .FCHI) and Germany's DAX (^GDAXI) popped 3.5 and 3.4 percent respectively, posting their best days for several months. In peripheral bourses, the Athens Stock Exchange jumped 5.4 percent, powered by the rally in banks, while Spain's IBEX (Mercado Continuo: .IBEX) jumped 3.4 percent.

Global markets have been reacting positively to several opinion polls over the weekend that showed that the remain camp was regaining momentum ahead of the referendum on European Union membership on Thursday.

Public opinion appears to have turned since the murder of pro-EU Labour MP Jo Cox last Thursday which led to the suspension of campaigning by both sides. However, pollsters claim that the death has had little impact on sentiment and the remain camp was always likely to gain support in the last few days running up to the vote. Campaigning has now resumed.

The British pound has climbed as the Brexit concerns have eased , reaching $1.4679 at the end of Europe's trading session, compared to levels of around $1.40 on Thursday. Oil prices also extended gains, due in part to the weaker dollar and Brexit concerns easing. Around the close, Brent hovered at $50.44, while U.S. crude was trading above 2.5 percent, around $49.30.

Despite Monday's rally, analysts said any further move in the Brexit polls could cause further moves either way in markets.

"The market will surely gyrate some more in the next few days as any shift in that position triggers an exaggerated reaction, not just for sterling but for wider risk sentiment," Kit Juckes, global head of FX strategy at Societe Generale, said in a note.



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Overseas, U.S. stocks marched sharply higher, as Brexit concerns eased and a rise in oil prices boosted sentiment. Asia markets also closed higher on Monday on the back of Brexit fears ebbing.

In other Asia news, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan announced at the weekend that he would not be seek a second term when his three-year reign ended in September, and would return to academia instead.

The banking sector closed up 4.5 percent, posting its best day since April 13, 2016.

London-listed banks, Lloyds (London Stock Exchange: LLOY-GB), Royal Bank of Scotland (London Stock Exchange: RBS-GB), Barclays (London Stock Exchange: BARC-GB) and Standard Chartered (London Stock Exchange: STAN-GB) posted gains between 4.8 and 7.6 percent, on hopes that the U.K. may vote to stay in the EU. Greek banks also posted sharp gains.



Meanwhile, shares of Unicredit (Milan Stock Exchange: UCG'S-IT) jumped 3.4 percent after Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano reported that former Italian industry minister Corrado Passera could become the new chief executive.

In individual stock news, Volkswagen (XETRA:VOW3-DE) shares jumped 5 percent after JPMorgan raised its price target and rating for the stock.

Pharmaceutical giant Roche (Swiss Exchange: ROG-CH) announced the availability of a tool to help medical professionals detect the Zika virus. Shares closed over 2 percent up on the news.

Elsewhere, the easing of fears around Brexit also helped boost U.K. housebuilders Taylor Wimpey (London Stock Exchange: TW.-GB) and Berkeley Group (London Stock Exchange: BKG-GB), both closing above 5.5 percent. Travel and leisure stocks was one of Europe's best performing sectors, closing up 5.1 percent, with Thomas Cook, IAG (London Stock Exchange: IAG-GB) and Ryanair (Irish Stock Exchange: RY4C-IE) jumping 5.5 percent or more each.



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LISBON (Reuters) - European Council President Donald Tusk issued a direct appeal to British voters on Monday, urging them to stay in the EU at a referendum on Thursday and saying Brexit would weaken not just Europe but the Western world. "I would like to appeal to the British citizens, on behalf, I know that for a fact, of almost all Europeans and European leaders: Stay with us," the former Polish premier who chairs EU summits said on a visit to Portugal. "Without you, not only Europe, but the whole Western community will become weaker. Together, we will be able to cope with increasingly difficult challenges of the future." EU leaders have refrained from engaging very directly in the campaign in Britain for fear that would be counterproductive. But they have long insisted they want Britain to remain in the bloc and, as opinion polls have remained tight, several have spoken out in recent days to warn of the dangers of leaving. Tusk will chair the next summit of European Union leaders next Tuesday and Wednesday in Brussels, when they will discuss how to respond to whether Britons have voted to stay or go. "In no way are we downplaying the economic costs that would accompany Brexit," he said. "I have no doubt, however, that we are already prepared for the day after the referendum." If Prime Minister David Cameron delivers a formal notice of Britain's intent to leave the EU, the other 27 leaders will have to set up a negotiating system to settle terms for divorce. If Britons vote to stay, then next week's summit will discuss pushing through a special deal agreed with Cameron in February. Tusk has urged leaders to consider why voters, not just in Britain but across the bloc, are disillusioned with the European Union and has cautioned against those who advocate pressing on with closer political integration without public support. "Whatever (the referendum) result is going to be, we must take a long, hard look on the future of the Union," Tusk said. "We would be foolish if we ignored such a warning signal as the UK referendum. There are more signals of dissatisfaction with the Union coming from all of Europe, not only from the UK." (Reporting by Alastair Macdonald, editing by Julia Fioretti)
Ahead of the United Kingdoms vote on whether or not to leave the European Union, author J.K. Rowling has intervened with a lengthy essay on monsters and villains.

Both sides of the Brexit debate have sowed division in the United Kingdom, Rowling writes, with both the Leave campaign and the Remainers arguing that a vote for the other side would lead to peril. As the author of the beloved Harry Potter series, Rowling compares the stories being told by both sides of the debate over whether the U.K. should stay in the E.U. to the process of creating villains in a fantasy novel.

In a few days time, well have to decide which monsters we believe are real and which illusory, Rowling writes in a blog post. Everything is going to come down to whose story we like best, but at the moment we vote, we stop being readers and become authors.

The author, who appears to be in favor of remaining in the E.U., also compares the debate in Europe to the divisive nature of the presidential election in the United States. Rowling warns that the likely Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is one of few prominent politicians who are in favor of the Leave campaign. Look towards the Republican Party in America and shudder. Make America Great Again! cries a man who is fascist in all but name, she writes. He achieved this pre-eminence by proposing crude, unworkable solutions to complex threats. Terrorism? Ban all Muslims! Immigration? Build a wall!'

Rowling argues that she understands why a Leave vote could be appealing, giving the threats all countries face by terrorists, but warns of the greater damage such a vote could cause.

For many of our countrymen, I suspect a Leave vote will be a simple howl of frustration, a giant two fingers to the spectres that haunt our imaginations, Rowling says. Yet how can a retreat into selfish and insecure individualism be the right response when Europe faces genuine threats, when the bonds that tie us are so powerful, when we have come so far together?

Recent polls suggest that the Remain campaign is seeing a bit of light. In the wake of the killing of politician Jo Cox, a poll showed 45% of support for staying in the E.U., while 42% still support exiting. The vote will take place June 23.
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India on Monday announced sweeping reforms to rules on foreign direct investment (FDI), opening up its defence and civil aviation sectors to complete outside ownership.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the changes would make India "the most open economy in the world for FDI" and provide a "major impetus to employment and job creation".

Here are the key changes:

AVIATION

The government has allowed 100 percent FDI in civil aviation, of which 49 percent is under the "automatic route", meaning that it would not require government approval. Beyond 49 percent would need to be approved by the government.

In addition, 100 percent FDI would be allowed in brownfield, or existing, airport projects under the automatic route.

The changes could benefit Gulf carriers such as Qatar Airways and Dubai's Emirates, which have previously indicated an interest in Indian aviation. Indian aviation firms Jet Airways, Spicejet and Indigo Airlines' parent InterGlobe all ended the day on a high.

SINGLE-BRAND RETAIL

The government said it has decided to relax local sourcing norms for up to three years for companies undertaking single brand retail trading. Among these, the companies selling products with "state of the art" and "cutting edge" technology would get another five years of local sourcing exemption.

Apple Inc is expected to be a key beneficiary of this provision, as it can immediately open its doors in India, a market it is relying on to offset slowing growth in China and the United States. Single-brand retailers like furniture giant IKEA also stand to benefit.

DEFENCE

The government has allowed up to 100 percent FDI in defence and done away with the requirement of "state of the art" technology while considering FDI cases of above 49 percent investment.

The move comes after India earlier this year outlined plans to focus defence spending more on the domestic market instead of importing combat planes, ships and submarines.

PHARMACEUTICALS

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The government has approved 74 percent FDI under the automatic route in brownfield, and beyond that would continue to require government approval.

Analysts said the new norms bode well for foreign drugmakers looking to get a pie of India's lucrative drugs market, and merger and acquisitions activity in the sector could pick up.

FOOD PRODUCTS

The government has permitted 100 percent FDI under the government approval route for trading, including through e-commerce, of food products made in India.

CABLE NETWORKS/DTH/MOBILE TV

The government has allowed 100 percent FDI under the automatic route.

PRIVATE SECURITY AGENCIES

The government has permitted up to 49 percent FDI under the automatic route. Beyond 49 percent and up to 74 percent would require government approval.

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Current norms allow 100 percent FDI in animal husbandry, pisciculture, aquaculture and apiculture under the automatic route, under "controlled conditions". Under the changes introduced on Monday, the government said it has done away with the requirement of "controlled conditions".

(Compiled by Mumbai and Delhi newsrooms; Editing by Nick Macfie)
By Victoria Bryan (Reuters) - A British vote to leave the European Union in Thursday's referendum would call into question EU agreements on open airspace that have fostered a huge expansion of air travel, creating uncertainty for both British and other EU airlines. Flying rights between two countries, including how many airports a carrier may fly to and how often, are typically negotiated in bilateral treaties. But by creating the single aviation market in the 1990s, the EU allowed the region's airlines unlimited access to the skies of fellow member states, doubling traffic growth in the four years after liberalization. Liberalization means an Irish carrier can fly between Britain and Spain, or a British carrier can operate domestic flights within France, opportunities seized upon by low cost carriers. A Brexit vote in Thursday's British referendum on EU membership would therefore affect all pan-European carriers, not just British ones. The biggest market for Ireland's Ryanair is Britain while UK-based easyJet is the second largest airline in France, and they have campaigned for Britain to stay in the EU. In the immediate future, airline bosses are worried about the impact a Brexit could have on travel demand. KPMG says the number of passengers carried between Britain and the EU increased to over 130 million in 2015 from 69 million passengers in 1996, while the top eight UK-based airlines made over 10.5 billion pounds ($15.4 billion) in revenue from travel between Britain and other EU states. Here are some of the scenarios for aviation. Britain's access to the single market is unchanged while an EU exit is formally negotiated: ECAA Industry experts say one way to ensure nothing changes for airlines is for Britain to agree access to the European Common Aviation Area, which comprises all EU member states, plus some non-EU states including Norway, Iceland and Albania. Tony Tyler, head of the International Air Transport Association, said this would be a plausible outcome. "If that were to happen, there would not be much impact, but nobody can make predictions." To rejoin as a non-EU country, Britain will likely have to ensure its aviation laws and standards comply with EU regulations, according to law firm Eversheds. Analysts at CAPA-Centre for Aviation have said Britain might not be guaranteed ECAA membership, because other signatory nations could object to protect their own national carriers. But James Stamp, UK head of Transport at KPMG, said he didn't think European states would restrict access to their markets, because they benefit from access to Britain's large travel market. SWITZERLAND STYLE OR BILATERALS As an alternative, Britain could negotiate bilateral deals with the EU as a whole, as Switzerland has done, or with individual EU countries. As with the ECAA, any Swiss-style deal with the EU as a whole would likely mean adopting EU law and principles. "It is important to note that negotiating such an agreement with the EU could be very complicated and time consuming, particularly if the UK government wishes to derogate (seek exemption) in any way from EU law," Eversheds wrote of this option. On the possibility of bilateral deals with each individual member state, airlines are skeptical. "We think it would be very difficult for our government to negotiate with 27 other member states to get the flying rights that we have today within the EU," easyJet CEO Carolyn McCall has said. U.S. ROUTES It is not only European routes that would be affected. Britain's airlines enjoy unlimited flying rights to the United States, including on lucrative trans-Atlantic routes, thanks to the EU-U.S. Open Skies agreement. Britain could either negotiate joining the Open Skies deal, or seek its own bilateral agreement with the United States. IF TIME RUNS OUT If no agreements are finalised during the two-year exit period, Andrew Meany, head of transport at consultancy Oxera, said airlines could use code shares and alliances to get partners to operate flights they were no longer permitted to make. London-listed IAG , comprising British Airways, Irish Aer Lingus and Spanish Iberia and Vueling and which has various code share arrangements, has been relaxed. CEO Willie Walsh said he did not expect any material impact. EasyJet, which like other budget carriers does not operate code share flights for cost reasons, is reported to have looked at setting up a separate holding company to get an air operator's certificate in an EU country. However, Oxera said that may not be possible due to restrictions on ownership rules, which do not allow non-EU investors to own a controlling stake in an EU airline. ($1 = 0.6841 pounds) (Reporting by Victoria Bryan; Editing by Adrian Croft)
Two-year-old Lane Graves, whose life was tragically cut short last week following an alligator attack at a resort at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, will be laid to rest on Tuesday, his family's church announced.



St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Elkhorn, Nebraska, will hold a rosary prayer service for the Graves family on Sunday night, with a wake on Monday and the funeral mass and burial on Tuesday, according to the church website. Lane will be laid to rest at Resurrection Cemetery.



Cameras, cell phones and any other recording devices have been strictly forbidden at all funeral services, "out of respect for the family."



On Saturday, the Graves again asked for privacy in the wake of their son's death.







Lane was playing in about a foot of water in a lagoon at a Disney resort on Tuesday when an alligator snatched him. His body was recovered later that week.



"Neither Melissa, myself or anyone from our family will be speaking publicly," dad Matt Graves said in Saturday's statement. "We simply cannot at this time."





Family Announces Funeral Plans for Son, 2, Killed in Alligator Attack at Disney World| Personal Tragedy, Walt Disney World, Real People Stories





St. Patrick's is accepting donations of all kinds on behalf of the family, including money and letters; and the Omaha Community Foundation is also accepting donations on behalf of the Graves family.



As they mourn, the Elkhorn community has rallied together around the Graves family, offering babysitting help and raising money through lemonade stand sales.
Vint Cerf

If you try to read the files on an old floppy disk, chances are you'll have trouble retrieving the information, considering today's computers don't have floppy disk-compatible drives.

Vint Cerf, one of the fathers of the internet and Google's chief internet evangelist, is worried the same thing might happen to future webpages: as web browsers continue to evolve, current websites will become unreadable for future generations.

Im concerned about a coming digital dark ages," Cerf told Wired.

In response, Cerf, his fellow internet creators, and a group of hackers and archivists, are working together to invent a system that can store every bit of the web, as well as data from apps, and make that data readable far into the future. The idea is to make the Internet like a library--except with computer-stored backups rather than pieces of paper.

One key part of the plan is calling the Interplanetary File System (IPFS). It takes archived snapshots of web sites and stores them on a distributed network of computers  much like peer-to-peer file sharing networks, but specifically for archived web pages.

One potential roadblock is that lots of users have to agree to run the software. But Benet's team has created a JavaScript version that runs in people's browsers, so at least they don't have to download anything.

We are giving digital information print-like quality, IPFS founder Juan Benet told Wired. If I print a piece of paper and physically hand it to you, you have it, you can physically archive it and use it in the future.

NOW WATCH: Switzerland spent $12 billion to build the world's longest and deepest train tunnel





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As authorities attempt to make sense of what drove Omar Mateen to open fire on Orlando nightclub Pulse last week, the public continues to wonder  could he have been stopped?

According to an interview with Sheriff Ken Mascara in local newspaper TCPalm, the FBI had not only monitored Mateen for suspected terrorism in 2013, but apparently had even tried to "lure" Mateen into "some kind of act" while he was working at the St. Lucie County Courthouse following comments he'd made about al-Qaida and the Middle East.

In addition to investigations into Mateen's phone records, travel history and acquaintances, Mascara told the paper that the FBI used the fake informant to "lure Omar into some kind of attack," but that he "did not bite." The FBI dismissed Mateen as a terror suspect afterward.

New transcripts from the 911 calls Mateen made amid Sunday's attack reveal he called himself an "Islamic solider" and asked that the United States cease attacks in Iraq and Syria, echoing early reports that Mateen had "pledged allegiance" to the Islamic State, better known as ISIS. In the transcripts, the entity to which Mateen pledges allegiance is omitted.

"Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God [in Arabic]," says Mateen, according to one transcript. "I let you know, I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings."

FBI agents investigate the scene of the Orlando shooting, where gunman Omar Mateen killed 49.

Former FBI agent Coleen Rowley told Alternet that the FBI's move to entrap Mateen in a fake terror plot is fairly standard.

"It looks like it's pretty much standard operating procedure for preliminary inquiries to interview the subject or pitch the person to become an informant and/or plant an undercover or informant close by to see if the person bites on the suggestion," Rowley said.

She went on to speculate that because Mateen was working for security company G4S, he may have been "too savvy to bite on the pitch or he may have even become indignant that he was targeted in that fashion."

Story continues

"These pitches and use of people can backfire," she told Alternet.

Mic has reached out to the FBI for comment and will update this story if we hear back.
In a call to 911 dispatchers during his brutal attack on the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Omar Mateen told authorities he was the shooter. Im in Orlando and I did the shootings, Mateen was recorded saying.

On Monday, the FBI released a partial transcript and a timeline of the events that occurred on June 12, when Mateen opened fire on club goers killing 49 and injuring 53.



Mateen, who was shot and killed by police, killed 49 people and injured 53 others during his attack on the gay club. In the 911 call, the shooter pledges allegiance to ISIS and other terrorist actors. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Sunday the transcripts would not include Mateens references to ISIS, but in the wake of intense scrutiny on Monday, the FBI and Department of Justice released an unedited version of the transcript to the public. As much of this information had been previously reported, we have re-issued the complete transcript to include these references in order to provide the highest level of transparency possible under the circumstances, the Department of Justice and FBI said in a statement.

According to the FBI, the first call Mateen made to police went as follows:

Orlando Police Dispatcher (OD)

Shooter (OM) OD: Emergency 911, this is being recorded.

OM: In the name of God the Merciful, the beneficent [Arabic]

OD: What?

OM: Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God [Arabic]. I wanna let you know, Im in Orlando and I did the shootings.

OD: Whats your name?

OM: My name is I pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the Islamic State.

OD: Ok, Whats your name?

OM: I pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may God protect him [Arabic], on behalf of the Islamic State.

Chilling, calm, and deliberate is how FBIs Ron Hopper described the killers voice during the phone call. Though the FBI released the transcript and the timeline of the shooters engagements with police, the FBI said releasing audio could be traumatizing to the victims. To expose that now would be excruciatingly painful to exploit them in this way, Hopper said.

Story continues

Officers appeared defensive of their actions during the press conference, saying that theyd received a lot of criticism over the fact that the initial attack started at around 2 a.m. but did not conclude until around three hours later. During a call to responders, Mateen said, There is some vehicle outside that has some bombs, just to let you know. You people are gonna get it, and Im gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid.

The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida said the transcripts were being released so that the public could have a better idea of the timeline during the early morning of June 12 and to have a better idea of what the responding officers were dealing with when they responded. The U.S. attorney said the actions of law enforcement should not be second-guessed during the press conference, likely in response to questions as to why officers didnt respond to the shootout more quickly.

Lives were saved during their historic work, Lee Bentley, the U.S. attorney, said.

According to the FBI, Mateen spoke to dispatchers three times during the attack and police say they were on the scene within minutes. The officers first entered Pulse for what was then an active-shooter situation, officers said. After the shooter retreated to a bathroom, however, the scene became a hostage situation. Police said there was about a three-hour lag between the active-shooter situation and the end of the hostage engagement.

During that three hours there was no gunfire, Orlando police chief John Mina said. During those three hours, he said, officers were entering and exiting the club and rescuing victims.

The investigation into the attack is still ongoing. Hopper, the FBI assistant special agent in charge of the investigation, said it could take months or even years to complete. Hopper said investigators had completed about 500 interviews and recovered 600 pieces of evidence from the scene. Law enforcement expects all of the crime-scene evidence will be processed soon and the area could be returned to the public early this week.

The FBI said the transcripts were redacted to curb any influence Mateens actions could have on future attacks, even though the details of the case and what the shooter said have been widely reported.
BANGUI (Reuters) - Two people died of gunshot wounds in fighting in the capital of Central African Republic on Monday as the sound of fire from machine guns and heavier weapons resounded across Bangui, witnesses and medical authorities said. Heavily armed members of the former rebel group Seleka took six police officers hostage in Bangui on Sunday, Jean Serge Bokassa, the minister of territorial administration and public security, told Reuters. It was not clear if the shooting and kidnapping were linked. The gunfire died down as night fell, witnesses said. "We demand the liberation of the officers who were taken hostage ... The government will do everything possible to free them," Bokassa said. Insecurity has persisted in the months since President Faustin-Archange Touadera was sworn in March, after winning an election intended to draw a line under inter-communal and inter-religious violence that involved the mainly Muslim Seleka and began in 2013. Medical aid charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) will suspend non-essential activity for three days, starting on Wednesday, to protest the killing of one of its drivers in an ambush, its country director said on Monday. It is the group's second suspension of operations in the country in a little over a month after acts of violence. Unidentified gunmen shot an MSF driver on Friday on the road between the towns of Sibut and Grimari northeast of Bangui. Last month, one of its drivers died in a similar incident. "This (ambush) shows that humanitarian work is becoming more precarious in Central African Republic," head of mission Emmanuel Lampaert told a news conference in Bangui. "MSF wants its cry for help to be heard." After the attack in May, MSF said it was forced to suspend activities until it could guarantee the safety of its staff. It resumed operations a day later. (Reporting by Crispin Dembassa-Kette; Writing by Nellie Peyton; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Hugh Lawson)
A trilogy of cautionary tales about the day-to-day lives and fateful decisions of frontline correspondents in Afghanistan comprises the affecting and well-made Austrian war drama Thank You for Bombing. Festivals including Toronto, Zurich and Thessaloniki have already feted director Barbara Eders second film following her 2010 grad school feature Inside America, and distributors brave enough to take on the subject matter will find this a prestigious addition to their libraries.

A timeframe for the action is never given, but the event that kickstarts the plots into motion is the burning of confiscated Qurans near Kabul, by American troops in February 2012. As the citizenry and military alike nervously await the blowback, the assembled journalists, as always a flaky bunch, walk the fine line between reporting the events and becoming the story.

In the first chapter, entitled Milan Vidic, older veteran reporter Ewald Bendl (Erwin Steinhauser) is summoned from Austria to cover the events. While waiting in the Vienna airport departure lounge, he recognizes the soldier, now travelling under the name Vidic (Merab Ninidze), who murdered his cameraman during their coverage of the Bosnian war in 1992. Or does he? Eder and cinematographer Christian Haake enlist Flughafen Wien as a character in this game of cat and mouse that concludes with the certainty that memory can be faulty but the scars of war are perpetually itchy.

Vermont-born, Berlin-based actress Manon Kahle gives a galvanizing performance as crusading journalist Lana in the second chapter, called Fitz & Bergman. With ambitions far beyond the Zumba classes that fill her downtime (Smile, youre in Kabul! screams the off-screen instructor by way of motivation), she uses networking and good old-fashioned bribery to find the two soldiers responsible for the burning, only to take her life in her hands getting the story. The brutal climax of the sequence is tough to watch, but thats the point: This is not the Afghanistan of Paramounts recent Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.

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Chapter Three, ominously entitled War, seems inspired by Captain Willards first-reel freak-out in Francis Ford Coppolas Apocalypse Now. I really need a war, says hyperactive talking head Cal, whose stand-ups keep getting cancelled for lack of anything on which to report. As Cal grows increasingly agitated by the inaction, his insubordination to his editor gets him fired, his lack of communication with his wife back home gets him an impending divorce and his unrelenting stir-craziness lands him on a desert sojourn with tragic consequences.

Though it clearly models its acerbic, English-language title on that of Jason Reitmans satirical Thank You for Smoking, these emotionally wrenching stories, laced with pitch-black elusive humor as they may be, come across more like a particularly judgmental O. Henry than the dramedic stylings of Tina Fey. When the violence finally restarts, as it must, the sense of relief amongst the journos, amongst whom the three protagonists may be glimpsed in the denouement, is, inevitably, one of relief.

Eders assured direction is aided by the brisk editing of Monika Willi and Claudia Linzer, Haakes limber lensing and the Maria Grubers production design on locations in Vienna, Jordan and Afghanistan itself. So, too, Eders balancing of a large and fine international cast speaking in multiple languages is seamless.

The script was written in collaboration with peripatetic director Michael Glawogger (Our Friend Glawo), who himself wasnt afraid to travel to risky destinations for a story and died of malaria in Liberia during a film shoot in 2014. Deftly and somewhat freshly underscoring the absurdity of war, the film is book-ended by the words of Lewis Carroll, used to caustic effect.

Related stories

Film Review: 'Embedded'

Sydney Film Review: 'Goldstone'

Mel Gibson's 'Blood Father' Highlights the 63rd Sydney Film Festival
W cooler than Marty McFly's self-lacing sneakers (or Nike's version it plans to release soon, but will probably cost an arm and a leg)? Italian shoe designer Vibram's stretch shoes that wrap and mold onto your feet, sans laces or socks.

You simply have to slip your foot into an item from the Furoshiki collection and pull the nylon and rubber fabric tight to fit your foot.

Source: YouTube

Furoshikis, which were inspired by the Japanese custom of packing items in cloth fabric, are meant to be worn during any and all activities, from skateboarding to yoga. Although Stephen Regenold, a writer at Gear Junkie who tried out the first model of the shoe back in September, believes they are more of an everyday shoe.

"They are essentially stand-ins for sandals, with the same kind of minimal support and breezy feel, though with a more flexible, grippy sole," he wrote.

Source: YouTube

So if you're looking for support when running or don't enjoy feeling like you are walking on the ground barefoot, you might want to stick with what you've already got.

What's different about Furoshiki's, when compared with traditional sneakers on the market, is that a pair of the wrapped shoes can easily be rolled up in a ball and thrown into your bag as opposed to having to lug a second pair of shoes around in your gym bag.

Source: Vibram

Vibram is known for its innovative products that attempt to redefine the traditional running sneaker. It's also the maker of FiveFingers  or gloves for your feet  that were popular (and interesting looking to say the least), a few years back. Besides everyday shoes, the brand also makes the wrapping product in boot form (think: wrapped UGGs).

Source: Vibram

Is this the holy grail shoe project of 2016? Maybe not, but it does give you the ability to have a sneaker custom-fit to your foot without having to dish out some hard-earned cash.
By Jibran Ahmed PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani authorities on Monday interrogated six Pakistani militant commanders, including the uncle and brother of former Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, after they surrendered to the military over the weekend, officials said. The surrender of Hakimullah's family may weaken the Pakistani Taliban's insurgency which has raged since 2007. The main force of the Pakistani Taliban has been led by Mullah Fazlullah since 2013, when Hakimullah was killed in a U.S. drone strike. Hakimullah's brother Ijaz and uncle Khair Mohammad had pledged allegiance to a splinter faction led by Khan Said, who was also reportedly killed by a drone attack in November. The two men, and four other militants, were taken into custody after pledging to renounce violence, officials said. "These six militant commanders of the Mehsud tribe of South Waziristan have surrendered to the military in the Kurram tribal region on Saturday night," a senior security official in Kurram, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, told Reuters. The men were taken to Dera Ismail Khan, a garrison town about 235 km (146 miles) south of Kurram, to be interrogated, a Peshawar-based military official said, also speaking on condition of anonymity. An administrative official in Kurram also confirmed the surrender took place in Kurram, where hundreds of militants fled after a Pakistani military operation forced them out of their stronghold in North Waziristan in 2014. "These militants from South Waziristan, North Waziristan and Afghanistan had been living in Kurram Agency for the past two years," said Nazar Hussain, a Kurram resident. (Writing by Asad Hashim; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
* Chemical widely used by farmers

* Licence lapses at the end of the month

BRUSSELS, June 20 (Reuters) - France will vote on Friday against the continued use of weedkiller glyphosate, its environment minister said, adding to uncertainty over the future of widely-used products such as Monsanto's Roundup in the European Union.

The EU licence for glyphosate expires at the end of June and, if it is not extended, manufacturers will have six months to phase-out products containing the common herbicide.

Contradictory findings on the carcinogenic risks of the chemical have pitted farming and chemical lobbies against citizen and environmental groups, making some EU politicians reluctant to approve its continued use.

"France will vote against the glyphosate vote," Segolene Royal told journalists, ahead of a meeting of EU environment ministers on Monday.

The European Commission - after failing to win support for a proposal to renew the licence for glyphosate for up to 15 years - had offered a 12 to 18 month extension pending further scientific study.

As big EU nations France and Germany abstained from a vote earlier this month, even the compromise proposal lacked enough support to be adopted.

The matter has now been referred to an appeal committee of political representative of the 28 EU nations, expected on June 24. If no decision is reached by qualified majority there, then the European Commission could choose to act on its own.

The Commission wanted the temporary extension to allow time for a study by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which it hopes will allay health concerns.

The topic is also on the agenda of a meeting of member state experts on June 28.

Monsanto has defended the safety of glyphosate and has not ruled out a legal appeal if its licence is not extended.

Bernstein senior analyst Jonas Oxgaard has estimated Monsanto could see earnings reduced by up to $100 million if the EU were to halt glyphosate sales.

(Reporting by Alissa de Carbonnel; Editing by Mark Potter)
Pezenas (France) (AFP) - Hundreds of people paid a final tribute to a policeman and his partner who were buried in southern France on Monday after being knifed to death by an extremist.

Police commander Jean-Baptiste Salvaing and his partner Jessica Schneider were killed at their home outside Paris a week ago by known jihadist Larossi Abballa, 25.

Family, friends, police officers and government officials gathered for an emotional memorial service in the small town of Pezenas in southern France, Salvaing's home town.

"Jessica and Jean-Baptiste will always be in our hearts," said a police officer who worked with the couple. Schneider was a civilian employee of the same police station as her partner.

The couple were then laid to rest at a cemetery in the nearby town of Montagnac.

The attack was the first of its kind in France since a gang of Islamic State jihadists struck Paris in November, killing 130 people.

Abballa was shot dead by police after killing the couple in the presence of their three-year-old son Mathieu who was traumatised but unhurt.

The attacker pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and, during the assault, streamed a live video on Facebook of himself inside the house with the toddler, urging "other surprises" and pledging to "turn the Euro into a graveyard".

Two men linked to Abballa were charged and detained by an anti-terror court Saturday.

Saad Rajraji, 27, and Charaf-Din Aberouz, 29, were charged with having links to a terrorist group, but were not found to have any connection to last week's murder.

The two men had been convicted along with Abballa in September 2013 as part of a network to send jihadists to Pakistan, judicial sources close to the investigation said.
Paris (AFP) - In one of the most eagerly awaited Paris art shows of the year, the ageing enfant terrible of French letters, Michel Houellebecq, does not disappoint.

From a room full of erotic photographs of the women in his life, to a heart-rending homage to his best ever friend -- his dog Clement -- France's most controversial novelist gives his wryly cynical, "reactionary" but oddly poetic world view full rein.

There is even a bar reminscient of the wife swapping clubs of his novel "Atomised" where visitors can pause for a smoke and a beer -- two of the writer's favourite vices -- to contemplate the full glorious emptiness of modern existence.

"I had not, more than most people, a real reason to kill myself," he declares in the opening rooms next to his shots of the drab "Suburban Avalon" in which he grew up on the edge of Paris.

The show spread over 18 rooms of the Palais de Tokyo gallery reveals not just Houellebecq the accomplished photographer-poet and cynical social commentator, but Houellebecq the dog lover, maker of lesbian soft porn films and disappointed romantic in love with the landscapes of rural France.

"My loyal readers will I hope rediscover my principal idiosyncracies," he said in the catalogue. "A clear taste for megalomaniac nonsense and the impression that I put everything in."

His photographs range from a discount supermarket contrasted with a chateau built into a cliff-face along France's Dordogne river to a young woman who Houellebecq said was "a distant inspiration" for the character Esther in "The Possibility of an Island" shot in S&M gear.

"Esther really liked that kind of clothing... I too like this kind of clothing. I have my little, really little vices," he added.

- Erotic photos -

"These photos of Esther are moments from life, I didn't stage them at all... All men take erotic photos of their girlfriends, and they mostly like that."

Story continues

Houellebecq said there were also photos of "Marie-Pierre, my ex-wife. When men are in love they look at women. They look at them a lot. Whenever I'm in love with a woman, I photograph her."

The show, called "To Stay Alive", also features watercolours by Marie-Pierre Gauthier of their dog, Clement, who the punk star Iggy Pop immortalised in his song "A Machine for Loving" inspired by Houellebecq's eulogy for his dead Corgi.

Curator Jean de Loisy said for Houellebecq Clement symbolised "unconditional love", and said that when he and Gauthier split -- "although they are still good friends" -- they divided Clement's toys equally.

He said Houellebecq was a true artist who had "multiple aspects to his work. He personally laid out and created the show as a vast installation which examines aspects of his life and work."

The show even includes a half-built red-brick reliquary for the writer's bones.

"It is an extremely rich and strong show," de Loisy added, with the visitor plunged into a total Houellebecqian world, bolstered by works by the French artists Renaud Marchand and Robert Combas inspired by the author.

Houellebecq said he organised the show as if he was putting together a poetry collection. "I think of myself as a producer of images rather than a photographer. I've organised the rooms so that they follow one another like in a book-length collection in which the poems produce a narrative."

Houellebecq's gift is to "shock, amaze and disconcert" in equal measure, literature professor Bruno Viard, who has written two books on the author, told AFP.

"He is not ashamed of his shame. His authenticity comes from his awkwardness, and he plays on his existential failures."

"He is really the hero of his books," acclaimed French writer Pierre Assouline added.
(Photos: HBO)



Warning: This recap for the Battle of the Bastards episode of Game of Thrones contains spoilers.

This weeks episode of Game of Thrones presented an existential question for every TV recapper: How can there be highlights when the entire hour is a highlight? How can one possibly choose a GIF to make when the episode presented thousands of GIF-able moments? If the point of a recap is to distill an episode to its best talking points in the service of brevity and analysis, then what happens when the proper analysis would take longer to read than simply watching the episode? Lots of questions here, guys, but the one thing we dont have to question was that Battle of the Bastards was a damn masterpiece.

Oh man, this episode. Aside from presenting one of the most complicated, ambitious, and downright expensive-looking war scenes in TV (or film!) history, Battle of the Bastards pitted arguably the shows biggest villain against its most beloved hero, which, stakes-wise, felt like an injection of steroids into an already compelling situation. We also lost at least three important characters, and this episode also had to go and show off by bringing us another little bonus battle right upfront, and that battle involved the kind of dragon carnage weve been promised ever since Daenerys was gifted a trio of eggs on her wedding day.

But, again, so much happened, and theres so much to talk about. Lets attempt to do this episode justice!

We began with the already-in-progress attack on a city that should absolutely be destroyed. Its not just that Meereen is the worst (it is), its that Meereen is where Daenerys plotline had been dead-ended for the past three seasons, so we had reason to harbor some bitterness toward it. In other words, I was not stressing over the thousands of flaming cannonballs currently raining down upon Meereen. Daenerys, on the other hand, was VERY steamed.

So steamed, in fact, that Tyrion had to briefly request that she not turn into a power-hungry destroyer of worlds, as her father had been. (Also, did you notice that he conspicuously mentioned the existence of tons of barrels of wildfire beneath Kings Landing Could that have been the rumor that Qyburn mentioned to Cersei last week?) Anyway, it was time for one of Daenerys patented youve underestimated me moments, and this one was a doozy.

Story continues

During a terms of surrender meeting with representatives of the Masters, the Masters mistakenly believed that Daenerys was going to concede, but that was BEFORE Drogon landed beside her.

In general, the best way to end an argument is to quietly climb atop a dragon, fly away, and then incinerate half of your opponents naval fleet. So in this case Daenerys definitely won the argument.

Like I was saying, in the span of about 30 seconds, I was gasping and clapping at basically every image and concept onscreen. Like when the other two dragons finally freed themselves from the basement and joined in the carnage? Incredible. What a show this is! (Also, these were probably the most stunning special effects Ive ever seen. No wonder HBO can only afford 13 more episodes.)

While all that airborne carnage was happening, a cute moment happened among the Masters representatives: Greyworm shamed their soldiers into leaving town, and then he slit the throats of the two most dickish representatives, at which point Tyrion encouraged the lone survivor to go back home and tell them what had happened here. In short, this was Daenerys official coming-out as a world leader and the people needed to know!

Meanwhile, this total piece of s*** met up for a pre-war pow-wow with Jon Snow, Sansa, Ser Davos, Tormund, and the Tough Girl of Bear Island. He openly mocked everyone there, and then threw the severed head of Rickons direwolf into the mud like a true jerk. He also declined to fight Jon Snow in a duel, on the grounds that his enormous army was probably a stronger choice.

Few things will ever be as bad-ass as Sansa looking Ramsay in the eye and declaring Youre going to die tomorrow Sleep well. YES, QUEEN SANSA.

Before the titular bastard battle (which lasted half the episode) got underway, we were treated to a series of little moments that were also pretty great in their own right. For example, I loved when Ser Davos attempted to explain what had happened to Stannis Baratheon, but Tormund couldnt get past the mention of demons and whether Ser Davos meant literal demons or not. Tormund does not care for literal demons!

Also, Jon Snow paid Melisandre a visit, mostly to encourage her to, you know, help them out in tomorrows battle somehow, or at least promise to not resuscitate him should he die again. But she was like, Nah. As she explained, she doesnt have magic of her own, merely the occasional moment of inspiration from the Lord of Light himself. Sure, whatever. That shadow baby incident sure was a weird thing to happen if she didnt have any power.

But this moment was really devastating: Ser Davos paid a visit to the spot where Princess Shireen had been burnt at the stake. In the ashes he found the carved stag hed given her. This incident had been one of the worst things thats ever happened on this show, so it meant a lot that the characters havent forgotten it. You know? Poor Princess Shireen.

Miracles are real. For example, Theon and Yara are now some of the most sympathetic characters on the show. How did this happen? Well, it helped that their uncle wants to murder them, so theyve got an underdog thing going for them. But now that theyre teamed up with Daenerys, it means theyre on the right side of history. I loved that Dany made them promise to stop pillaging and raping, and I also loved that Yara openly flirted with Dany and joked about being up for anything when it comes to political marriages. But yeah, just so were clear, Team Daenerys now includes a Targaryen, a Lannister, and two Greyjoys. What an odd assortment of houses! Very into it.

So, it was time. It was time for this. It was battle oclock. And it all began when Rickon was carted out to the front lines and Ramsay pretended to set him free. But I think we all saw this coming:

Rude! Rickon did not deserve that!

From here the battle just got increasingly insane over the next 20 minutes or so. You should honestly just watch the entire sequence because holy s***. My favorite feature of it was how baffled and frightened and confused Jon Snow was THE ENTIRE TIME. Relatable! We were treated to another one of those unbroken shot moments like in Hardhome where Jon Snow swung his sword around and murdered tons of people for a very long time. But this wasnt a cool or pretty battle, it was actual hell. Also at one point Giant Liam Neeson punched a headless man off a horse:

I mean, yeah:

A lot of dead bodies piled up right away. This was partly because Ramsay was slaughtering HIS OWN MEN in addition to Jon Snows. I honestly get the feeling that Ramsay was not the best leader, but thats just my opinion.

The battle was gruesome and, again, insane, and it culminated with the surviving soldiers finding themselves encircled by the rest of Ramsays forces, who in turn were closing in and stabbing everyone with spears systematically. Jon Snow was nearly trampled to death and in general nobody was having a good time. The music even dropped out, like in every war scene when were supposed to brace ourselves for a brutal defeat. But thats when the horn sounded. The horn of mercy!

Yes, it was a classic, last-minute were here to help moment, which is not the first time this show has done that. Littlefinger and his Knights of the Vale had arrived to kick Bolton patoot, and not a moment too soon!

I loved that Ramsay turned full Monty Python Run away! And Jon Snow, Tormund, and Giant Liam Neeson all gave chase.

Speaking of the Giant. I am crying right now and may never stop. Look at what he endured and put himself through just to help Jon Snow! He personally busted into Winterfell and saved the day, only to be met with hundreds of arrows.

And just when he was about to die, Jon Snow reached out to touch him and the Giant received an arrow in the eye socket! From Ramsay Bolton himself! Oh that piece of absolute garbage.

At this point Jon Snow finally beat the ever-living s*** out of Ramsay, but not to death. No, Sansa gave Jon one of those save me some? looks and Ramsay was carted away. At which point I know its cold in Winterfell, but nothing gave me chills more than THIS:

The Starks were BACK, friends. Winterfell might be a cold, dreary fort thatll probably get overrun by White Walkers within weeks, but it was also HOME. Now we just need Arya and Bran to get back and well really have something.

Our final scene involved Sansa offering a heartfelt goodbye to her delightful husband. Mostly she just informed him that he was less than garbage and was going to be forgotten (along with his family and House ) the instant his dogs ate his face off. And then his dogs ate his face off.

GOOD DOGGIE.

The best was when Sansa just stared coldly at him as his head was taken apart by animals and then she walked away smiling. As much as shed been through, this moment was nothing less than 100% satisfying. Same went for us too: This episode was exhausting and brutal but I couldnt help but feel exhilarated.

Battle of the Bastards was yet another high-water mark for this incredible, virtuosic series. I honestly cant praise it enough and Im already sick in my heart that after next weeks finale theres only two (short) seasons left. But let it be known that the characters are finally all making HUGE moves and the run-up to the final game (of thrones) is getting more and more harrowing by the day. This episode featured two separate battles, but the big war is already well underway.



What did YOU think of Battle of the Bastards?

Game of Thrones airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on HBO
And the winner of #BastardBowl is... Sansa Stark.

The much-awaited ninth instalment of this season, ominously called "Battle of the Bastards, delivered what it promised...with a twist.

Subverting expectations, the episode began in Meereen, still under fire by the masters. (Has no one reminded them that Daenerys has DRAGONS? They are pushing their luck.)

Inside the pyramid, Tyrion tries to reassure his queen that despite appearances, all is well. She doesn't buy it.

"I will crucify the masters. I will set their fleet on fire. Kill every one of their soldiers and return their cities to the dirt," she vows.

Tyrion points out that this smacks of the Mad King. "You once told me you knew what your father was," he says. "Did you know what his plan was for King's Landing?"

As we know, Aerys kept stores of wildfire under the Red Keep as a contingency plan. (This emphasis on the fire, combined with Cersei's conversation with Qyburn in the last episode, has me convinced that we're about to see something  or someone  go up in flames really soon.)

Whatever, Tyrion. Daenerys just wants revenge, it's not the same at all.

But is it? "You're talking about burning cities. It's not entirely different."

So they try it his way. Sort of.

A meeting with the masters reveals that if Daenerys surrenders, she will walk away from the city penniless. Her Unsullied will be sold; Missandei will be sold; and the dragons will be slaughtered.

But wait, there has been a misunderstanding. As she puts it: "We're here to discuss your surrender, not mine."

"Your reign is over," the master scoffs.

"My reign has just begun."

Right on cue, Drogon appears. There she goes, playing favourites again. (It's a satisfying sight, but also strangely disappointing. Can she not wield power without being on the back of a fire-breathing dragon?) We finally get to see the other two dragons, who have been locked under the pyramid for the last two seasons. The whole family has come to play.

Story continues

Down below though, things are not so badass. The good citizens of Meereen are getting slaughtered by stray Sons of the Harpy. Until, oh wait, here comes the Khalasar.

Daenerys sets most of the fleet on fire, and the masters surrender. But there's a catch. One must die for the collective's crimes.

A man is volunteered by his two more cowardly friends. Greyworm promptly kills those two. Tyrion warns the survivor: "Tell your people what happened here. Tell them you lived by the grace of her majesty."

Basically, forget retribution. "Remind them what happened when Daenerys Stormborn and her dragons came to Meereen."

Mansplaining Is Coming

In the North, Jon is being kind of a dick. He and his posse are meeting with the Bolton crew, and he would rather Sansa didn't join.

She stays. After a manly pissing contest of wits, Jon challenges Ramsay to one on one combat. This way, they can avoid the whole war thing. #BastardBowl

Ramsay has other plans. He has the numbers, and so would rather not risk it. Instead, he goads Jon.

"Will you let your little brother die because you're too proud to surrender?"

Jon, of course, falls right for Ramsay's spiel. Sansa does not.

"You're going to die tomorrow, Lord Bolton. Sleep well." (YAAAS KWEEN!)

Later, Ser Davos, Tormund and Jon plan for battle. Sansa looks bored. She clearly has ideas and no one is consulting her, something she makes clear to Jon after the others have left.

"So, you've met the enemy, drawn up your battle plans. You've known him for the space of a single conversation," she spits. Yet, his "trusted advisors" are more qualified to judge what actions to take. Obviously. Because they have penises.

"I lived with him. I know the way his mind works," she continues, adding: "Did it ever once occur to you that I might have some insight?" TBH, probably not.

Jon tries to defend himself, but Sansa is on a roll. She's had enough of being sidelined. This is personal and Jon is walking into a trap.

"Don't do what he wants you to do. If you had asked for my advice earlier, I would have told you not to attack Winterfell until we had more men."

And then, the kicker: "If Ramsay wins, I'm not going back there alive. Do you understand me?"

Jon is all "I'll protect you, I promise."

"No one can protect me," she says. "No one can protect anyone."

Yanerys Shippers, Unite!

Yara and Theon have finally reached their destination: the Meereen throne room. Tyrion is not overly fond of Theon, as the last time they met, the Greyjoy heir made quite a few lame jokes about his height.

But the siblings press on, explaining why they're here (they want Daenerys' help) and what they have to offer (100 ships from the Iron fleet).

Daenerys interrupts: "Has the Iron Islands ever had a queen before?"

"No more than Westeros," Yara quips.

We proceed to witness the beginning of a beautiful friendship that one can only hopes blossoms into many, many, many versions of fanfiction. These two would-be queens have a lot in common: their fathers were terrible kings, their brothers have been truly disappointing and they both have unapologetic sexual appetites.

Euron, Yara explains, demands an alliance by marriage, whereas, "I never demand but I'm up for anything really." (I could literally hear the tweets flutter by as these words were uttered.)

The final conclusion: Daenerys will back Yara's claim, if she backs her own claim in return. What's more, the Ironborn must stop all raids on Westeros.

"No more."

The two shake hands like the lady bosses that they are. Feminist hearts everywhere explode.

"Come, Bastard."

Up north, the time has come. Both armies stand on the field of battle, separated only by a handful of burning flayed men.

Ramsay approaches the no man's land, holding a rope. Rickon is attached.

He unsheaths a dagger. Jon dismounts.

After a tense moment, Ramsay cuts the rope that binds the youngest Stark child. "Do you like games little man?" he asks. "Let's play a game. Run to your brother." This cannot be good.

Rickon starts walking towards the Stark camp, obviously confused.

"No, you have to run remember, those are the rules." Rickon, along with the audience, suddenly realizes what this game is all about as Ramsay grabs a bow and arrow.

At this, Jon loses his cool and gallops forward. Ugh. SANSA TOLD YOU NOT TO FALL FOR IT.

The arrows miss Rickon until the last possible second. As Jon is getting to him, the final arrow goes right through the boy. Rickon dies in front of a distraught Jon.

At this point, Tormund, who knows his friend, whispers: "Don't."

In vain. Jon charges like the brainless, loyal fool he is. Will he never learn? Davos spent the entire battle planning session repeating that it was essential that Bolton charge first.

The Stark army follows into what is possibly the most gruesome battle ever captured on television. There are bodies everywhere, literally mountains of them. And the living are fighting on the mounds of the dead.

I won't give you the play-by-play of the battle, because I admit that I spent most of it hiding behind splayed fingers trying to avoid the squelching gut zoom-ins. But it suffices to say that what must happen happens. The Bolton army surrounds the Starks. It looks like the end. Jon almost gets trampled to death and emerges into a teaming mass of men, cornered and about to die a terribly violent death.

BUT THEN!

A bugle sounds. The Knights of the Vale are here! (Game of Thrones' trusty last-minute-save-by-random-army trick strikes again!)

As many suspected, the letter that we saw Sansa writing two episodes ago was addressed to Littlefinger, who stands alongside her now. She has saved the day and she knows it. Her face bears the most exquisite expression of disdain and triumph.

Jon, still eager to prove himself, spies Ramsay running back towards Winterfell. He follows.

Ramsay takes shelter in the castle, probably forgetting that the other side has Wun Wun, who is quite capable of taking down a measly wooden gate. He does, but not without injury.

As Jon watches, Ramsay deals Wun Wun a final blow by arrow, killing him.

"You suggested one-on-one combat didn't you?" Ramsay says. "I've reconsidered. I think that sounds like a wonderful idea."

He shoots off some more arrows at Jon, who, seeing it coming, has grabbed a shield. This is pretty much the end for Ramsay. Jon literally beats him to a pulp.

Kween In The North

As the Stark banners are unfurled over Winterfell once again (I cheered), they bring in Rickon's body. "I'm going to bury my brother in the crypt, next to my father," Jon declares.

But Sansa has business with him first: "Jon. Where is he?"

He, of course, refers to Ramsay, who is still alive, and tied up in the kennel. He wakes to a quietly staring Sansa.

"You can't kill me," he jeers at her. "I'm part of you now."

Her reply is scathing: "Your words will disappear. Your house will disappear. Your name will disappear. All memory of you will disappear."

And then, the growl. How fitting.

"My hounds will never harm me," Ramsay says. "They're loyal beasts."

Except oops, he hasn't fed them in seven days. Poor planning on his part.

"They were," Sansa responds. "Now they're starving."

One by one, the hounds appear. Ramsay panics. We hear him pleading with his beasts.

The attack comes swiftly and violently as Ramsay succumbs to the same death he has inflicted on countless others. Poetic justice has never been so satisfying. (In all honesty, it's all a little too clean for my taste, but I'm so happy they've finally killed him off that I'll let it slide.)

Sansa watches as the dogs rip her torturer to shreds. As he shrieks, she turns and leaves him to his fate. At the door, she smiles.

She has won, but at what cost?

Random Thoughts:

- Tormund's confusion about Stannis' metaphorical "demons" proves why he is the much needed comic relief on this show. In other words, please don't kill him. He and Brienne have unfinished business of the sexy variety.

- Ser Davos staring at Melisandre after having found the embers of Shireen's pyre does not bode well. Those two are due for some closure.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

All Men Must Tat  A Look At The Most Intense Game Of Thrones Ink

Would You Have Thought To Run In A Zigzag If Ramsay Were After You?

Binge Club: Orange Is The New Black Season 4 Recaps
By Luke Baker JERUSALEM (Reuters) - On the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in Washington in March, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a private meeting with Israel's energy minister, Yuval Steinitz. It was the highest level contact between Israel and Turkey since diplomatic relations broke down six years ago after Israeli forces raided a Turkish ship bound for Gaza, killing 10 Turkish activists. The meeting, which lasted 20 to 30 minutes and whose details have not been previously disclosed, discussed the war in Syria, Iran's presence there, terrorism  and natural gas. That last item is a key driver of efforts to forge a rapprochement between Israel and Turkey: At stake are reserves of natural gas worth hundreds of billions of dollars under the waters of Israel and Cyprus. To exploit them Israel will likely require the cooperation of Turkey. In an interview at his office in Jerusalem, Steinitz confirmed the Washington meeting. "It was in a very good atmosphere," he said. "I don't want to say more than that ... I'm a great proponent of this effort to resume diplomatic relations with Turkey." Since the Washington meeting, high-level envoys from Turkey and Israel have talked privately in Geneva and London to hammer out a deal on restoring relations between the former allies. Discussions have at times become bogged down: Israel wants Turkey to cut ties with Hamas representatives based in Turkey; Ankara wants reassurances on providing aid to Palestinians in Gaza, among other things. A senior Turkish official said he was not aware of the meeting and said it would have been outside normal protocol for a president to meet a minister. Overall, though, Israeli officials believe an agreement can be reached in the coming weeks. "We have resolved 80 to 90 percent of the difficulties, or gaps, and now with a little bit of goodwill and flexibility on both sides we can reach the remaining items," Steinitz said. "I think we are pretty close (to normalizing relations)." There have also been positive noises from Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on June 7 that Ankara was "one or two meetings away" from normalizing ties with Israel. However, he did not put a timeframe on the process. VAST RESERVES Israel and Cyprus, which have increasingly close ties, sit on an estimated 3,450 billion cubic meters of gas buried in the Levant Basin, according to a U.S. Geological Survey carried out late last decade. Those reserves are worth around $700 billion and equate to enough gas to supply the entire world for a year. And that's only proven reserves. A recent seismological survey conducted by a French consultancy suggested Israel alone may be sitting on nearly three times as much gas as first thought, according to Steinitz. The problem is not just the huge costs of drilling for the gas, but finding a route to deliver it to customers. While a portion of the gas would go for domestic consumption, the vast majority is earmarked for export. Unless Israel and Cyprus can lock in long-term export contracts, the costs of developing the deepwater fields will not be covered and the vast assets may never be fully exploited. Jordan, which has a peace treaty with Israel, may be a long-run buyer of Israeli gas, but is a modest market. Neighboring Lebanon and Syria  both sworn enemies of Israel  are out of the question. Instead, Turkey and Egypt, with 80 million and 93 million people respectively, would be a far better fit as potential long-term consumers. An initial plan was to send some of the gas to Egypt, which already has small contracts to buy gas from Israel. But in the past year Egypt has discovered natural gas off its coastline and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has said he will push ahead rapidly with developing its own energy resources. Steinitz says a deal with Egypt remains an option. But Israel is also turning towards exploring a pipeline to Turkey, both for consumers there and as a connection to Europe. A third option is a Cyprus-Greece-Europe route. As a result, restoring relations with Ankara is now a linchpin in Israel's strategy to unlock its natural gas wealth. "Turkey would very much like to diversify its energy imports and resources," said Steinitz, when pressed about the restoration of ties between the countries. "They don't want to be dependent on one source, or two sources of energy." RUSSIA CONNECTION Turkey imports the bulk of its gas from Russia. But Ankara's ties with Moscow are strained, particularly over the Syrian conflict after a Turkish fighter plane shot down a Russian jet last November. In 2015, Turkey trimmed its imports of Russian gas by 300 million cubic meters to around 27 billion cubic meters (bcm) a year, to the annoyance of Moscow. Yet Turkey's rapidly growing economy still consumes 50 bcm of gas a year and demand is set to double over the next seven or eight years, analysts say. Diversifying supply will be important. "They need other sources, reliable sources, of gas," said Steinitz. "We have an interest to export Israeli gas and to have export options - not to be totally dependent on one country for our exports. So it's a very good opportunity here." Turkish energy companies share that view. Both Zorlu Enerji and a consortium of Turcas and Enerjisa have been in talks with Israel over gas prices and potential pipeline routes, a Turkish industry source told Reuters late last year. "There's a potential of around 30 bcm of gas (a year) there, of which Turkey could buy 8 bcm to 10 bcm (a year)," the source said. Building a pipeline to Turkey or Egypt is about the same distance, around 540 km (340 miles), and about the same cost, around $3 billion. Turkey is more attractive because of its position as a gateway to Europe. THE CYPRUS PROBLEM Though Steinitz is hopeful of mending fences with Turkey, regional analysts remain skeptical of a gas bonanza in the East Mediterranean any time soon. "A lot of the talk is pie in the sky," said Michael Leigh, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund in the United States and an expert on gas discoveries in the East Mediterranean. He believes there are too many political and commercial obstacles to getting the gas out of the seabed and transporting it to markets. Perhaps the trickiest issue is Cyprus. Since 1974 the island has been split between the Republic of Cyprus in the south and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, after the Turks invaded following a military coup on the island backed by Greece. There are no diplomatic ties between the south, which is a member of the European Union, and Turkey. Large amounts of gas are located in the territorial waters of the Republic of Cyprus. If it and Israel are intent on coordinating their export strategy  and if Turkey is to be one of the routes  the divisions in Cyprus must be addressed first, analysts say. That's because at least part of the pipeline would have to pass through Cypriot territorial waters into Turkish territorial waters. British and Cypriot diplomats have talked hopefully about a breakthrough on reunifying Cyprus, but it remains far from certain. "We can see that there is an alignment of the stars and momentum from both sides," said a senior official directly involved in talks. "The prospects are certainly better than they have been in a very long time. But we cannot say there is a deal until everything is in place." Even if a deal can be reached, it still may not mean all hurdles are cleared. Leigh, of the German Marshall Fund, pointed out that Erdogan, whose imprimatur is critical to a resolution, has blown hot and cold on the issue. In relation to exploiting the gas reserves, Leigh added: "A resolution of the Cyprus problem is necessary but not sufficient  you need commercial viability, too." He is not convinced the Levant Basin is a reliable investment, given the decline in gas prices and the cost of extracting the gas and piping it to markets. Steinitz remains optimistic, convinced that Israel's economic stability and energy security depend on developing the country's gas resources in whatever way possible. "We are going to do it by hook or by crook," he said. "We have to overcome all the difficulties and do it because it is essential for Israel's future." (Additional reporting by Nick Tattersall; Edited by Richard Woods)
DailyFX.com -

Talking Points:

- New poll shows "remain" up by 3-points; betting odds evaporate.

- Not much on the calendar to help spark a US Dollar turnaround.

- FX volatility set to remain high with the Brexit vote next week - it's the right time to review risk management principles to protect your capital.

As far as wild swings in FX markets goes, the last few days is up there with the most memorable of them. For the British Pound, such was to be expected; implied volatility measures had been pricing daily moves in excess of +/-3% at one point last week. Certainly, after the gap open higher in GBP/USD and the rest of the GBP-complex, there's something to be said about market participants and their sharp swing in sentiment since Thursday.

Look no further than recent UK-EU referendum polls and developments in betting markets as to why the British Pound, and risk assets generally (Crude Oil and global equities to wit), are rallying so sharply at the start of the week. The latest poll showed 'remain' with a 3-point lead over 'leave,' and odds on betting markets, as examined by aggregator Oddschecker, have all but evaporated. Last week, Oddschecker showed an implied 44% chance of a 'leave' vote; today, the probability of a 'leave' slipped below 30%.

Considering that we know private polls have been commissioned, such a move in FX markets the past few days suggests that there is an extreme level of confidence growing in a 'remain' vote on Thursday, June 23. Markets are rather vulnerable right now for a big move, as positioning in the futures market (per the CFTC's recent COT report) is stretched across many currencies.

British Pound net-short positioning in the futures market among speculators fell to -36.7K contracts in the week ended June 14, 2016, from -66.3K contracts in the week prior - a significant short covering move (this doesn't even take into account the FOMC meeting on Wednesday or the developments at the end of the week that spurred the turnaround in risk sentiment).

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Likewise, both Euro and Japanese Yen speculative positioning is of significant interest given the swing in market sentiment. See the video (above) for a deeper discussion about positioning and technical considerations in EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, AUD/USD, GBP/JPY, EUR/JPY, and the USDOLLAR Index.

Read more: Being as Clear as Possible: Thursdays Brexit Vote a Direct Threat to the Euro

--- Written by Christopher Vecchio, Currency Strategist

To contact Christopher Vecchio, e-mail cvecchio@dailyfx.com

Follow him on Twitter at @CVecchioFX

To be added to Christophers e-mail distribution list, please fill out this form



original source

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

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Welcome to 21st century America, where we have longer lives than ever before and higher hopes for healthy aging. We are, happily, the beneficiaries of medical and scientific breakthroughs that have given us life spans that not long ago would have been the stuff of science fiction. But we also face serious challenges, including the number of seniors struggling to find and afford much-needed care.

Enter a bipartisan legislative effort, no doubt inspired by the unique needs of older Americans. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY), in a civilized, cross-party collaboration, have introduced the Credit for Caring Act 2016 (Senate version here; House version here) which would create a tax credit for long-term family caregivers.

This credit would take a huge burden off the backs of tens of millions of family caregivers, who suffer from high rates of depression and declining physical health.

Related: It's Time to Add Alzheimers to the List of Global Pandemics

The legislative effort comes alongside a new report from the Home Care Association of America (HCAOA) and the Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA), Caring for Americas Seniors: The Value of Home Care, which addresses the nations' elder caregiving crisis.

As documented in the report, working family caregivers are 50 percent more likely than their non-caregiver colleagues to experience daily physical pain. They also suffer from subtle but equally intrusive bouts of mental and emotional anguish.

The report highlights the growing importance of formal elder caregiving, needed even more as demographic and cultural changes increase the burdens on family caregivers. As the report states, The ratio of potential family caregivers to those over 80 will steeply decline from 7:1 today to 4:1 by 2030, and seniors live an average of more than 280 miles from their nearest (adult) child. Mobility is a feature of modern American life; its time to incorporate that fact into a more reality-based elder caregiving model.

Story continues

The new report describes how home care connects dedicated professionals with aging Americans, helping maintain more active and therefore healthier lifestyles, as well as providing cost-effective daily support for those suffering from multiple chronic diseases. Leading elder care issues -- including Alzheimers, non-communicable diseases, the deterioration of skin, bone, and muscle mass, and agings oral and vision conditions -- all can be efficiently attended to through home care.

The elder caregiving story on Capitol Hill also reveals insights about the best of American innovation. In the process of improving lives, home care is creating U.S. jobs while exporting this quality care model across the planet. This shatters the myth that innovation is somehow the domain of tech startups and billion-dollar unicorns. The home care sector is developing new solutions and shaking up outdated approaches, even if the innovation is low-tech or no-tech. For example, Home Instead Senior Care, hardly an Apple or a Google, has just won Queen Elizabeths Award for Innovation because theyre changing the way we provide care to those who need it.

Related: The American Retirement Crisis in 5 Charts

By disrupting costly and sometimes callous institutional care, home care is generating economic benefits for all of society. Elderly Americans receiving home care generally need fewer trips to the doctor and are admitted to hospitals at a lower rate. As the HCAOA reported, in 2008 alone home cares services saved the United States $25 billion in hospital costs. No doubt we will find that number and others like exploding in future years.

Over the next decade, home care jobs will be a major economic driver, increasing at a rate four times the cross-sector average to reach 2.3 million by 2024. Seniors and their families will largely pay for this growth, rather than government funding. Perhaps the biggest innovative disruption is that this industry allows seniors to age where nine out of ten want to  at home. As HCAOA president and Senior Helpers CEO Peter Ross said, "Home care enables people to remain in their homes for as long as possible, exactly where they want to be."

On the employment side, the innovative home care industry is changing who works and how. The report provides a voice to often-overlooked family and professional caregivers, ranging in age from 26 to 92.

Take Mary Hartsock a caregiver for Right at Home In-Home Care & Assistance who chose a second (or was it a third?) career in home care. She continues to work in the field into her 90s. Or 26 year-old Patty Meadows of Homewatch CareGivers International who switched to home care from an institutional setting, citing a sense of connection with her home care clients. The report also spotlights Lynn Wright, who says that her mother's aide, Tracey Read of BAYADA Home Health Care became more like a family member than an employee.

These are the faces of the home care revolution. The compassionate, enterprising individuals on the frontlines of the longevity and aging mega-trend. At a time of great need they are the innovators literally creating a new market, one that reflects the best values of the society we want for our children and grandchildren. They are re-writing the rules for how we provide elder care, launching a new industry and improving lives across the nation and around the world.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
From Road & Track

Hang out at any vintage motorsport event, any Rolex Historics or Motorsports Reunion, and you'll come across the phrase, uttered with the ingeniousness and ironclad truth of freshly-printed gospel: "ah, when sex was safe and racing was dangerous!"

Racing is just as dangerous, my good cliche-spouting man, and STIs have always been around, though not that kind of STI. Grand Prix racing is a roll call of the quick and the dead: Cameron Earl, the first to die in a Formula One car in 1952, while testing for ERA. Wolfgang Von Trips, at Monza, along with 15 spectators. Jo Schlesser, 1968 French Grand Prix. Piers Courage, Jochen Rindt, Jo Siffert. Cevert, Revson, Villeneuve, Ratzenberger, Senna, 1994. Jules Bianchi, 2014. Hell, the whole Le Mans field in 1955 (which led to John Fitch's personal crusade). Yes, racing is dangerous, it has always been dangerous, and it will always carry a certain amount of danger-but there used to be a time when our only response to such heightened levels of danger was a well-meaning shrug and a moment of silence. Not coincidentally, this is also the period in racing that we celebrate the most.

Sir Jackie Stewart was the most prominent figure to speak up about driver safety, and he was mocked for it. "Leave motor racing to the men," they told him: the same sort of people who today grin when they tell you about the time when sex was safe told him to go home, stop racing. If you can't stand the heat, to trot out another cliche, stay out of the kitchen.

The three-time World Drivers Champion spoke from personal experience. He had to. You have to, when 57 of your close friends die on the track. Most people can't even point out having 57 friends, much less dead ones. But "to be a racing driver between 1963 and 1973 was to accept not the possibility, but the probability of death," he wrote, starkly, for Britain's Telegraph, an excerpt from his 2007 autobiography: "I somehow taught myself to compartmentalise my emotions, to lock them in a box and put them awaythen I would be able to climb back into my car and go racing again."

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Writing in 2007, Stewart minces no words in expressing an anger at the ambivalence on the part of F1 organizers, track owners, authorities and even fellow drivers, one that evidently still remains strong today. "Why were so many of my friends being killed? Why did I look in my rear-view mirror every time I left home to race and wonder whether I would see it again? Why did we attend a dinner at the end of the year and bow our heads in memory of those who had died but do nothing to prevent more drivers being killed the next year? Why was the chief medical officer at one circuit a gynaecologist with minimal experience of neurology, burns or internal medicine?"

Even Sir Stirling Moss, who seems to speak his mind in that hilariously anachronistic manner that cranky grandpas across the Deep South do with aplomb, with nothing but his old age to discount such yelling at clouds, said at the time for a New York Times article: "the public needs its vicarious thrills."

The source for such pointed thinking may not cover the sort of things you-dear Motorsports Enthusiast, demographically young and male (like your humble author) and therefore instinctively impervious to danger-normally read about. In the world of human intelligence and thought, perhaps the Venn diagram for people who read car websites and people who read feminist blogs with the tagline "visions of female sexual power and a world without rape" are two giant circles separated by an ocean.

But: "the reason I'm writing about it on a feminist blog is because this has everything to do with masculinity, machismo and men," says writer Thomas Macaulay Millar. Spurred by an innocent comment by F1 commenter David Hobbs-who survived that tumultuous period of Formula One, incidentally-the end result covers in anguishing detail the perils of machismo, the efforts by one driver to change it, and the relative safety that ensues among one of the world's most dangerous and exciting forms of sport.

Yes Means Yes: When Men Were Men, And Burned To Death

Above: Jack Brabham slides past Jacky Ickx's burning Ferrari during the 1970 Spanish Grand Prix. Image via Petrolhead.net
(Adds details from note)

NEW YORK, June 20 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs said on Monday it was too early to bet on U.S. Treasury prices falling before the outcome of Britain's referendum on staying in the European Union is known as polls showed a tight contest between the two sides.

Investors had scooped up U.S. Treasuries, German Bunds and British Gilts in recent days as they loaded up on lower-risk government debt in case the "Leave" camp wins Thursday's referendum.

Benchmark U.S. yields fell to near four-year lows last week, while German 10-year yield slipped into negative territory for the first time ever. Longer-dated British and Japanese government yields declined to record lows.

"Should Brexit instead occur, government bond yields would most likely fall further reflecting the associated increase in macro and financial uncertainty," the U.S. investment bank's co-head of global macro & markets research Francesco Garzarelli wrote in a research note on Monday.

If "Leave" wins, the 10-year Treasury yield may fall by 30 basis points to 1.35 percent, while the 10-year Bund may decline by 15 basis points to -0.10 percent. The U.K. 10-year yield may slip by 15 basis points, Garzarelli said.

Italian government debt yield would rise to 1.80-2.00 percent, according to the note.

On the other hand, were "Remain" to come out ahead the gilt 10-year yield may rise as much 20-25 basis points from Friday's close. Its U.S. and German counterparts may rise by 20 basis points and 10 basis points, respectively.

Italian yield would fall about 30 basis points, Garzarelli wrote.

On Monday, investors pared their safehaven holdings of these bonds following the latest polls that showed a shift in voter sentiment with renewed support to "Remain" following the killing of parliament member Jo Cox, who was a proponent for Britain stay in the EU.

(Reporting by Richard Leong; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Alan Crosby)
Heres how Google employees are protesting sexism at work

Heres how Google employees are protesting sexism at work

Last week, a Google investor made a huge gaffe during a shareholder meeting  when he wanted to ask chief financial officer Ruth Porat a question, he addressed it to the lady CFO, though lady is not part of her job title, nor a qualification for being a CFO. Porat answered his question without acknowledging what had happened, but a few minutes later, another shareholder named Danielle Ginach went back to address the sexism, and said, I am sorry to put another shareholder on the spot, she said. But Ms. Porat is the CFO, not the lady CFO.

giphy

This may sound like a small event, but instances of sexism like this happen all the time  and they can add up. Now, other people at Google (both men and women!) are taking a stand against sexism and adding the word lady to their titles to point out how ridiculous the comment was, and why we need to pay attention to our word choices. So, that means instead of being Assistant Editor, Id officially become Lady Assistant Editor, and so forth.

Your Lady Social Media Manager suggests you read this article about Google's #LadyDay  https://t.co/4g6bIkKvAH pic.twitter.com/fytTrGmHHm  Google (@google) June 17, 2016

This has now gone further than Google. Pat Wadors, Lady SVP of Global Talent Organization, has posted a call to action on LinkedIn for other people, no matter where they work or what they do, to change their titles and protest sexism in the workplace.

They also made last Thursday and Friday Lady Day, though no word yet on what exactly that entailed, besides the changing of titles  but sign me up anyway!

The post Heres how Google employees are protesting sexism at work appeared first on HelloGiggles.
* Tax hikes part of financial reforms approved by parliament

* Taxes on mutual fund assets will jump by as much as seven-fold

* One fund freezes investment plan, another reviews share issue

By George Georgiopoulos

ATHENS, June 17 (Reuters) - Greece's latest austerity measures are choking off one of its few sources of local private investment, the funds management industry, thanks to massive tax hikes buried in 7,500 pages of financial reforms approved by the parliament last month.

One listed Greek fund has frozen a 300 million euro ($340 million) investment plan, and another has put a share issue of at least 250 million euros under review, since the hikes were passed -- a footnote in a reform package that appeased the government's European creditors and avoided another cash crunch.

The country's 7 billion euro ($8 billion) funds industry, though small, is a potentially important vehicle for much-needed investment in the shattered economy, helping firms to raise money and buying up property from banks burdened with bad loans.

The new tax rates, applied to funds under management, underline how Athens is relying on a narrow, overstressed tax base to stay afloat, depressing economic activity, while the country's large black economy remains out of reach.

The finance ministry, which is also overseeing a hike in value-added tax as well as separate taxes on Internet usage and fuel, did not respond to requests for comment.

Taxes on mutual fund assets will jump by as much as seven-fold, with new tax rates differing by type of fund.

Real estate funds, a fast-growing source of investment in recent years, fare the worst because Athens has also doubled a separate tax on landlords, in turn hurting property values.

Such a tax, which comes on top of normal corporate tax, is unusual for the asset management industry.

No major European fund management centre imposes such a levy, with taxes usually imposed on dividends, interest income or capital gains rather than a blanket rate on funds under management.

Story continues

"We were planning investments of more than 300 million euros, which would have beneficial multiplier effects, but now the plan has been frozen," said George Chrysikos, chief executive of listed real estate investment fund Grivalia Properties.

"The taxation is hard to bear and will likely force property funds to drastic moves, including freezing plans to raise capital, returning capital to their shareholders and even switching residence and delisting from the Athens stock exchange."

Another property investment fund, NBG Pangaea, is likely to ditch plans to raise between 250 million and 400 million euros in a share issue, said a senior executive at the fund who spoke on condition of anonymity.

It planned to invest the proceeds in commercial property.

IMPRISONED BY CAPITAL CONTROLS

Greek mutual-fund investors are mainly middle-class investors, each with around 20,000 to 30,000 euros invested, while the wealthy use private banking, industry insiders say.

"I would be looking to switch to a foreign mutual fund management company to avoid it (the tax hikes), but even if you pull the money out you can't send it abroad under capital controls," said Nikos Villiotis, 47, a civil engineer who has about 60,000 euros invested in Greek equity and bond funds.

Greece's capital controls, imposed a year ago to prevent the collapse of its financial system, have dissuaded investors from stampeding out of local mutual funds, but fund managers say redemptions are still likely once the controls are lifted.

"Today, due to capital controls, they cannot do it. But this is short sighted because at some point capital controls will be lifted," said Theodore Krintas, vice-president of Greece's institutional investors association.

Greece's mutual funds industry has shrunk dramatically since the financial crisis erupted in 2010 when investors took advantage of their then freedom to move money abroad, but the industry has remained a precious source of investment.

Property funds alone had planned to invest 1.5 billion euros over the next three years, including buying real estate from the nation's cash-strapped government.

"We shouldn't be shooting at the home fund management industry, money needs to stay at home to fund investments and help the economy recover," said George Koufopoulos, head of 3K Investment Partners.

Given investors are effectively locked into their funds due to capital controls, the shares of the largest listed property fund managers have actually outperformed the wider market.

Since late May shares in Grivalia Properties, part-owned by Canada's Fairfax Financial Holdings, have fallen about 6 percent while Pangaea has lost 5 percent, though both stocks are very thinly traded. The Athens bourse's broader market index has fallen 10 percent.

Greece's securities regulator agreed that the new tax burden weighed heavily on funds but said it could be eased later on.

"We also think the tax impact is heavy on growth vehicles such as mutual funds and property investment trusts but official lenders insisted," Charalambos Gotsis, chairman of the Capital Markets Commission, told Reuters.

"We had expressed our disagreement, suggesting that the tax should be on returns and not on the capital the funds manage."

($1 = 0.8829 euros)

(Additional reporting by Sinead Cruise; Editing by Michele Kambas and Mark Bendeich)
By George Georgiopoulos

ATHENS (Reuters) - Greece's latest austerity measures are choking off one of its few sources of local private investment, the funds management industry, thanks to massive tax hikes buried in 7,500 pages of financial reforms approved by the parliament last month.

One listed Greek fund has frozen a 300 million euro ($340 million) investment plan, and another has put a share issue of at least 250 million euros under review, since the hikes were passed -- a footnote in a reform package that appeased the government's European creditors and avoided another cash crunch.

The country's 7 billion euro ($8 billion) funds industry, though small, is a potentially important vehicle for much-needed investment in the shattered economy, helping firms to raise money and buying up property from banks burdened with bad loans.

The new tax rates, applied to funds under management, underline how Athens is relying on a narrow, overstressed tax base to stay afloat, depressing economic activity, while the country's large black economy remains out of reach.

The finance ministry, which is also overseeing a hike in value-added tax as well as separate taxes on Internet usage and fuel, did not respond to requests for comment.

Taxes on mutual fund assets will jump by as much as seven-fold, with new tax rates differing by type of fund.

Real estate funds, a fast-growing source of investment in recent years, fare the worst because Athens has also doubled a separate tax on landlords, in turn hurting property values.

Such a tax, which comes on top of normal corporate tax, is unusual for the asset management industry.

No major European fund management centre imposes such a levy, with taxes usually imposed on dividends, interest income or capital gains rather than a blanket rate on funds under management.

"We were planning investments of more than 300 million euros, which would have beneficial multiplier effects, but now the plan has been frozen," said George Chrysikos, chief executive of listed real estate investment fund Grivalia Properties.

Story continues

"The taxation is hard to bear and will likely force property funds to drastic moves, including freezing plans to raise capital, returning capital to their shareholders and even switching residence and delisting from the Athens stock exchange."

Another property investment fund, NBG Pangaea, is likely to ditch plans to raise between 250 million and 400 million euros in a share issue, said a senior executive at the fund who spoke on condition of anonymity.

It planned to invest the proceeds in commercial property.

IMPRISONED BY CAPITAL CONTROLS

Greek mutual-fund investors are mainly middle-class investors, each with around 20,000 to 30,000 euros invested, while the wealthy use private banking, industry insiders say.

"I would be looking to switch to a foreign mutual fund management company to avoid it (the tax hikes), but even if you pull the money out you can't send it abroad under capital controls," said Nikos Villiotis, 47, a civil engineer who has about 60,000 euros invested in Greek equity and bond funds.

Greece's capital controls, imposed a year ago to prevent the collapse of its financial system, have dissuaded investors from stampeding out of local mutual funds, but fund managers say redemptions are still likely once the controls are lifted.

"Today, due to capital controls, they cannot do it. But this is short sighted because at some point capital controls will be lifted," said Theodore Krintas, vice-president of Greece's institutional investors association.

Greece's mutual funds industry has shrunk dramatically since the financial crisis erupted in 2010 when investors took advantage of their then freedom to move money abroad, but the industry has remained a precious source of investment.

Property funds alone had planned to invest 1.5 billion euros over the next three years, including buying real estate from the nation's cash-strapped government.

"We shouldn't be shooting at the home fund management industry, money needs to stay at home to fund investments and help the economy recover," said George Koufopoulos, head of 3K Investment Partners.

Given investors are effectively locked into their funds due to capital controls, the shares of the largest listed property fund managers have actually outperformed the wider market.

Since late May shares in Grivalia Properties, part-owned by Canada's Fairfax Financial Holdings, have fallen about 6 percent while Pangaea has lost 5 percent, though both stocks are very thinly traded. The Athens bourses broader market index has fallen 10 percent.

Greece's securities regulator agreed that the new tax burden weighed heavily on funds but said it could be eased later on.

"We also think the tax impact is heavy on growth vehicles such as mutual funds and property investment trusts but official lenders insisted," Charalambos Gotsis, chairman of the Capital Markets Commission, told Reuters.

"We had expressed our disagreement, suggesting that the tax should be on returns and not on the capital the funds manage."

($1 = 0.8829 euros)

(Additional reporting by Sinead Cruise; Editing by Michele Kambas and Mark Bendeich)
Oprah Winfrey has spent a lot of her talk-show afterlife bringing religion to the masses. In 2014 she launched Oprahs The Life You Want Weekend, an arena tour that showcased Rob Bell, a new-wave Christian thinker who sparked controversy by arguing against the concept of hell. The following year she produced Belief, a docuseries that explored different faiths and different paths to God. Winfreys newest vehicle is Greenleaf, a blend of prime-time soap and Christian-culture critique, for her cable channel, OWN. Its fresher, wiser, and more relevant than most shows that tackle spiritual matters, and it brings more people of color in more unique roles to TV. Its provocative and progressive as religious pop but disappointing as wickedly delicious melodrama.

Merle Dandridge (Sons of Anarchy) plays Grace, the hotshot-journalist daughter of Bishop James Greenleaf (Keith David), flush patriarch of a prosperous megachurch in rural Tennessee. Grace was once a promising preacher who became estranged from her family for many reasons, including their ostentatious materialism and her evolving beliefs. But the suspicious death of her troubled sister Faith calls her home and inspires her to investigate while working as the bishops community-outreach minister.

Among many (perhaps too many) characters, few are pleased with the prodigal daughters return besides her father and Aunt Mavis (Winfrey), a blues-club owner determined to expose the familys sins. Graces mother, Lady Mae (Lynn Whitfield), deeply invested in the Greenleaf brand and lucre, sees Grace as a disrupter. Upon Graces arrival at the gated family estate, snowy with cottonwood blossoms and dotted with Civil War ruins, the queenly matriarch greets her with the ripe line Promise me youre not here to sow discord in the fields of my peace. Graces devilish uncle, Mac (Gregory Alan Williams), isnt a fan. Neither is Graces sister Charity (Deborah Joy Winans), the music minister whos bucking for more opportunity, or her rascal brother Jacob (Lamman Rucker) and his controlling wife, Kerissa (Kim Hawthorne).

As soap, Greenleaf bubbles with an abundance of intrigue and too many cliches. It doesnt shy from salaciousness, yet its uncertain about how hard and hot to present it. The church context makes it either sillier (like the adulterous back-room quickie during a worship service) or more interesting (like a character stifling his homosexuality while trying to be fruitful with his wife). Still, the characters are compelling enough, and the performances are uniformly strong, if a touch too serious.

Where the drama is most remarkable is its treatment of religious themes. Its sincere about Christianity, even as it attacks retrograde aspects of church culture that subvert the reputation of Christian faith. Show runner Craig Wright either knows his stuff or watches a lot of John Oliver; an ongoing subplot, for example, has the bishop fighting an inquiry into abuses of the churchs tax-exempt status. And while there are too many dinner-table arguments over doctrine, they represent difficult, important debates happening in churches across America. Graces relatives view her inclusive, liberal theology with heretical suspicionthe kind of heat that Winfrey, a target of conservative evangelicals, surely knows well. Greenleaf is Winfreys reformist wish-fulfillment fantasy and a bold expansion of her brand. With greater inspiration and a lighter touch, it might become more than that. B
(Recasts with central bank president, details)

By Brian Ellsworth

CARACAS, June 20 (Reuters) - A gunman opened fire inside Venezuela's central bank on Monday, wounding two guards before he was shot dead by security officers, according to two sources, in the latest violent episode to shake the country.

The unidentified assailant barged into the bank's headquarters in central Caracas shooting and shouting, "Where are the board members?," the institution's president, Nelson Merentes, said.

"He wounded two guards, fortunately they are stable and are currently in a clinic," Merentes told journalists, adding that the shooter's motives were unclear and an investigation was underway.

A security source and a central bank source who asked not to be identified said the attacker was killed.

The assailant set off a metal detector in the main entrance of the bank, at which point he took out his weapon and began firing, said a bank employee.

Merentes said the man briefly took a woman hostage in the reception area, ran up the stairs, and was confronted by security forces between the fourth and fifth floors.

Bank employees said they were holed up in their offices, in downtown Caracas, while the episode was underway.

One source inside the bank said the attacker was a young man who claimed to have a bomb in his briefcase, although the bag was ultimately found to be empty.

Venezuela is one of the world's most violent countries and illegal gun possession is common.

The country's opposition accuses the leftist President Nicolas Maduro of allowing crime to flourish, while he says right-wing opponents promote violence against his administration.

(Additional reporting by Deisy Buitrago, Eyanir Chinea and Alexandra Ulmer; Writing by Alexandra Ulmer and Andrew Cawthorne; Editing by Alistair Bell)
Entrepreneur Garrett Gee decided to ditch the regular lifestyle and travel the world after selling Scan, a mobile scanning app he co-founded, to Snapchat in 2014. The deal for Gee and his co-founders was valued at $54 million at the time  $30 million in cash and the rest in equity in Snapchat. Gee declined to disclose how much he personally made from the deal.

But here's the surprise: the family hasn't touched any of the money from the Snapchat deal yet to pay for their vacation, which they began more than nine months ago.

Instead, Garrett and his wife Jessica "Settie" sold most of their belongings, including their cars, furniture, TV and extra clothes, and are using money they made to fund their adventures.



The couple and their two young children, Dorsey and Manilla, call themselves "The Bucket List Family." So far, 25-year-old Garrett and 29-year-old Settie have traveled with their kids to a wide range of exotic spots, such as Turks and Caicos, Thailand, Australia, Tahiti and Hawaii.

"We were going to take the typical next step in life and 'grow up' and build a house and settle into careers..buuut how bout not!" the family wrote on their blog.

Garrett's LinkedIn (LNKD) profile reads "2016 : Sold everything for adventure around the world with family."



Most recently, the family was exploring Oregon. To follow their adventures, check out The Bucket List Family blog.

Video produced by Erika Santoro .





More From CNBC


Positive Results Include New Organic Customers Added, Order Conversion Rate and Average Order Value

NEWTOWN, CT / ACCESSWIRE / June 20, 2016 / Halitron, Inc. (the "Company") (HAON), today is excited to announce its next phase of growth through digital marketing will yield a 75% increase in sales at a much lower customer acquisition cost.

One of Halitron Inc.'s (OTC Pink: HAON) business units is vertically integrated with manufacturing located just over the border of San Diego, CA. It consists of four niche branded sales outlets in the US marketing scrapbooking, archiving, and printed products servicing businesses and consumers totaling over 400,000 customers.

Sales Analysis:

In its most recent analysis, the brands performed extremely well considering the distressed status at the time of acquisition by Halitron, Inc. The most recent sales campaign was segmented by expected customer value level to be generated, from high (A), which is current active customers to low (D), which is our prospecting list.

With the order rate at 0.7% for the most valuable customers (A), we are very excited to implement the next phase of growth by prospecting for new customers and adding in digital marketing services dramatically lowering the customer acquisition cost.

The table below represents the Average Order Value for each brand:

Management is forecasting improved orders rates by implement digital marketing techniques, new product introductions, and special promotions to re-engage its customer base. Based on an increase in the forecasted order rate to industry standards of 2% for A's, 1.25% for B's, .75% for Cs, and .5% for D's, Management can increase sales by 75% over the previous analysis. An additional benefit of increased order rates based on weighting between the brands results in a 16% increase in AOV.

Prior to our new efforts, the brands generated 922 new customers or 42% of total customer orders for the cycle. With our new digital marketing platform, Management is confident that sales will further increase.

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Cash Conversion Cycle and Margin Analysis:

Our cash conversion cycle is very attractive over a 13-week marketing cycle. If we spend $1 in marketing, that dollar will turn into $4 in sales over a 13-week period. The business operates at 75% gross profit or $3 and direct margins after marketing expense of 25% or $1 is estimated at 50% gross profit after marketing or $2. Now that the base business model has scale through the acquisitions made throughout 2016, all incremental sales generated by digital marketing will contribute to the bottom line at 65% on every new sales dollar.

In order to implement our growth plan, Management is in financing negotiations to invest in marketing which will enhance sales growth in the range of $3M to $5M. The range is based on how aggressively Management reinvests back into marketing to start the sales cycle over again.

About Halitron, Inc.

Halitron, Inc., an equity holding company, is focused on acquiring sales, marketing, and manufacturing businesses, and then rolling them into an efficient, low-cost operating infrastructure. The Company is structured with two Strategic Business Units; Sales & Marketing Division and a Manufacturing Division. Management targets operating entities that can either benefit from current operating infrastructure or operate autonomously and offer an additional product or service to scale existing operations. For more information on Halitron, Inc., please visit: www.halitroninc.com.

To learn more about our business model, please visit: http://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/HAON/video-and-presentations

Sales & Marketing Division - Companies that have operations in traditional marketing services and branded sales opportunities.

Current Equity Assets/Holdings:

NDG Holdings, Inc.  digital marketing

www.PiecesInPlaces.com  brand sales

www.ArchivalMuseumSupplies.com  brand sales

www.ArchivalPhotoPages.com  brand sales

www.CinchSigns.com  brand sales

Manufacturing Division - Companies that have operations in the manufacturing industry.

Current Asset/Equity Holdings:

PRD Holdings Inc.  Mexican-based manufacturing

Safe Harbor Statement:

The information posted in this release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by use of the words "may," "will," "should," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "continue," "estimate," "project," "intend," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, general economic and business conditions, effects of continued geopolitical unrest and regional conflicts, competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, delays in completing various engineering and manufacturing programs, changes in customer order patterns, changes in product mix, continued success in technological advances and delivering technological innovations, shortages in components, production delays due to performance quality issues with outsourced components, and various other factors beyond the Company's control.

Contact:

Halitron Investor Relations

3 Simm Lane, Suite 2F, Newtown, CT 06470

(877) 710-9873

www.halitroninc.com

info@halitroninc.com

Hayden IR

(917) 658-7878

hart@haydenir.com

SOURCE: Halitron, Inc.
Leslie Odom, Jr., who won the best actor in a musical Tony Award earlier this month for his portrayal of Aaron Burr in the blockbuster Broadway musical Hamilton, will be leaving the show after its evening performance on Saturday, July 9, along with his co-stars Lin-Manuel Miranda (whose departure The Hollywood Reporter was the first to report on June 2) and Phillipa Soo (ditto, on June 11).

'Hamilton' Cast Album Races to No. 3 on Billboard 200 Chart After Tony Awards

The 34-year-old actor, who previously was best known for his work in Broadway's Rent and on TV's Smash, announced the news in a Facebook Live broadcast on Sunday before Hamilton's matinee performance. "I am indeed leaving on July 9," Odom said. "It has just been the most completely wonderful, totally healing and inspiring experience from beginning to end. I will never forget the people that I've met here. I will never forget all of you." He added, "I can't wait to see all the guys that come after me and show me [more] about Burr."

It's no shock that Odom and others from the original cast are ready to move on. Their work began at New York's Public Theater way back in January 2015, following a lengthy workshop/rehearsal period. After transferring to the Richard Rodgers Theatre in August, the show became a cultural phenomenon, winning a Pulitzer, a Grammy and 11 Tonys.

Odom was integral to the original cast's months-long effort to secure a profit-sharing deal with the show's producers after it began raking in millions, which ultimately succeeded. Earlier this month, he also released a self-titled album, which shot to the top of iTunes' jazz charts.

This article originally appeared on The Hollywood Reporter.
London (AFP) - J.K. Rowling, creator of the mass-selling "Harry Potter" books, made an impassioned plea Monday for Britons to vote to stay in the EU, warning in a blog posting against rising nationalism across the world.

The British author, whose novels and films about the boy wizard have become a global phenomenon, said many of those backing a Brexit in Thursday's EU referendum were making a protest "against everything about modern life that scares us".

She condemned US presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump as a "fascist in all but name", and said his "nationalist cries" had been reflected in the campaign for Britain to end its 43-year membership of the European Union.

She especially condemned an anti-immigration poster by the UK Independence Party (UKIP), led by Nigel Farage, showing refugees trying to come into Europe as "an almost exact duplicate of propaganda used by the Nazis".

"Nationalism is on the march across the Western world, feeding upon the terrors it seeks to inflame," Rowling wrote on her website, in a posting entitled "On Monsters, Villains and the EU Referendum".

"Every nationalist will tell you that their nationalism is different, a natural, benign response to their country's own particular needs and challenges, nothing to do with that nationalism of yore that ended up killing people.

"Yet every academic study of nationalism has revealed the same key features."

Rowling said the EU was not perfect, but added research had showed Britons were "ignorant of what it gives us".

"How can a retreat into selfish and insecure individualism be the right response when Europe faces genuine threats, when the bonds that tie us are so powerful, when we have come so far together?" she wrote.

She concluded: "In a few days' time, we'll have to decide which monsters we believe are real and which illusory."
LONDON (Reuters) - Author JK Rowling has criticised the rhetoric surrounding the British referendum on the European Union, calling the campaign "divisive and bitter". Writing on her website on Monday, the Harry Potter author dissected the narratives of both sides and compared the campaigning process to the creation of a "monster". She criticised in particular the anti-immigration arguments put forward by the camp backing a so-called Brexit. "For many of our countrymen, I suspect a 'Leave' vote will be a simple howl of frustration, a giant two fingers to the spectres that haunt our imaginations," Rowling wrote. She also questioned the "grim" economic case disseminated by those who want to remain in the bloc. She did not state which way she would be voting. In the article, entitled "On Monsters, Villains and the EU Referendum," Rowling, one of the world's most successful authors, also called herself a "mongrel product" of Europe, thanks to her part-French heritage. Campaigners on both sides have been criticised for massaging facts and the increasingly vicious rhetoric of the campaign, particularly in the aftermath of the murder of British lawmaker and Remain supporter Jo Cox last week. "Everything is going to come down to whose story we like best, but at the moment we vote, we stop being readers and become authors," Rowling said. "The ending of this story, whether happy or not, will be written by us." (Reporting By Freya Berry; editing by Michael Holden)
The massive megaliths at Stonehenge have fascinated scholars and tourists for centuries, but one of the most enduring mysteries about the site is how the ancient builders of the monument moved the giant stones into place  some more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) from where they were quarried.

In the Middle Ages, a legend arose that Stonehenge was built by giants on the orders of the wizard Merlin, as a tomb for British nobles who were slain by the invading Saxons. Now, a group of university students in the United Kingdom has come to grips, literally, with how the Neolithic people of Britain might have transported the huge stones over such distances. Using only rope, wood and stone tools, in front of a cheering crowd in a park in central London last month, they put their theories  and their muscles  to the test.

In an archaeological experiment that combined the public demonstration with feats of strength, dozens of students joined an effort to haul a sycamore-wood sled carrying a 1-ton stone block over a wooden trackway. The experiment took place in Gordon Square, which is located next to the University College London (UCL) Institute of Archaeology. [Stonehenge Photos: Investigating How the Mysterious Structure Was Built]

The students said that they found the task much easier than they had expected: Just 10 people were needed to haul the sled and block over the short trackway. They pulled the apparatus at a rate of around 10 feet (3 meters) every 5 seconds, which works out to a continuous hauling speed of about 1 mile per hour (1.6 km/h).

"All we can really tell from experiments like this is the minimum number of people involved," the event organizer, Barney Harris, a Ph.D. student at UCL's Institute of Archaeology, told Live Science. "My preliminary calculations led me to believe it would take slightly more people. In the event, what I thought would take 15 people, at a minimum, actually needed only 10 people."

Story continues

Mysteries of the stones

In recent years, questions about the techniques and labor that were required to build Stonehenge have deepened with the revelation that the famous stone circle is just one part of a vast complex of Neolithic monumental circles made from stones and wooden posts, processional "avenues" and burial mounds.. Most have left little trace on the landscape and were discovered with the aid of modern archaeological techniques such as aerial surveys that use geomagnetic instruments and ground-penetrating radar.

In 2014, researchers identified the site where the 2-ton dolerite bluestones from Stonehenge were quarried, in the Preseli Hills of western Wales, about 140 miles (225 km) northwest of their eventual destination at Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, England. The giant "sarsen" stones, which make up the main ring of Stonehenge, weigh up to 32 tons and are made from a local sandstone that is thought to have been dragged from the Marlborough Downs, 20 miles (32 km) to the north.

Harris, who also conducts tours of Stonehenge for a company called Tours from Antiquity, said a scaled-up version of the wishbone- or Y-shaped wooden sled that was used in the recent experiment may have also been used to drag the larger sarsen stones, but over a much shorter distance than the smaller bluestones. Given the hilly terrain that the Stonehenge builders had to cover, he estimated that a group of around 20 people would have been able to transport a single 2-ton bluestone by sled from Wales.

Similar sleds are still in use today in India and Indonesia to build large stone monuments, Harris said, and the recent discovery of a Y-shaped wooden sled at a megalithic site in Japan that dates back to around 2000 B.C. shows that the technology was known in prehistoric times. [In Photos: A Walk Through Stonehenge]

"Although that's very far away from Stonehenge, at least we have some very convincing evidence that these kinds of sleds were used during prehistory, which is a lot better than we have for many other suggested techniques," Harris said.

Rocks and rollers

Whatever technique was used to move the megalithic stones, Harris thinks it's unlikely the builders laid cylindrical wooden rollers in front of the stone blocks as they moved forward  an idea that has been commonly proposed.

In previous experiments, researchers have tried to move large stones with rollers, but "with absolutely terrible consequences," Harris said. They found that unless the rollers were exactly the same diameter, any larger rollers would be crushed into the ground and jam, while any skewed or misaligned rollers would quickly make the whole arrangement unstable, he added.

Harris's experiment used sawn wooden logs only as a static trackway for the sled, to prevent damage to the grass in Gordon Square, and not as rollers. Future experiments in a less sensitive location could dispense with a trackway, giving researchers a better estimate of the labor needed to move the sled and stone block directly along the ground, he said. [Stonehenge: 7 Reasons the Mysterious Monument Was Built]

Data from the latest experiment and others will eventually be used in modeling software to produce a revised estimate of the number of people and length of time it took to build Stonehenge, Harris said.

In a study conducted by the British archaeologist Richard Atkinson in 1951, the researcher estimated that it would have taken around 30 million combined hours of labor to build Stonehenge, but Harris said he expects that his research will revise that figure down "significantly."

The completed research would set the probable length of time it took to build Stonehenge in "a wider study of the time required to build the hundreds of monuments in the region, so we can contextualize its impact on the society that built it," he said.

Original article on Live Science.

Editor's Recommendations

Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Troops marched in Rambouillet, kicking up dust just outside of Paris as the war correspondent dotted around town on assignment. Ernest Hemingway was there, ostensibly, as a reporter, not a combatant. But he may have been stretching the boundaries of press freedoms while commanding a group of French Resistance fighters and journalists to help liberate the capital in 1944.

The big story of how the Illinois native arrived in Paris as a journalist, faced a military tribunal and nearly got booted out of France is a lesson in the hazy ethics that govern embedded reporters still today. And the truth, like much of Hemingways life, remains blurry. If you model your journalism after Hemingway, you have some sort of complex, says Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists. And yet, that role was intrinsic to the famed authors image of himself: Hemingway saw himself as a journalist all his life, says James Nagel, a Dartmouth scholar and former president of the Ernest Hemingway Society.

Hemingway did what he did best: spun a tale.

Launching his career when he was a mere teenager, Hemingway wrote without bylines for the Kansas City Star. The recent high school grad was known to dash around the city compulsively, wanting always to know where the ambulance had [gone], says Hemingway expert Kelley Dupuis. On one assignment, bystanders refused to touch a man sick with some contagious disease, and when an ambulance didnt arrive quickly, Hemingway reportedly took action. Why, I wouldnt treat a dog like that, he said, according to an account in Matthew Bruccolis Ernest Hemingway, Cub Reporter, before picking the sick man up, ordering a taxi and taking him to the hospital himself  later expensing the cab fare.

The incident foreshadowed a lifetime of throwing himself into the very news he was meant to simply report. After a stint as an ambulance driver in World War I that saw him return home a hero  the first American injured on the Italian front, headlines proclaimed  Hemingway settled down as a writer for the Cooperative Commonwealth magazine in Chicago. Next was a cushy gig in Paris as the European correspondent for the Toronto Star, which he was fired from after he got caught publishing articles concurrently in another publication. By now a commercial success for his fiction, having published both A Farewell to Arms and The Sun Also Rises, Hemingway covered the Spanish Civil War for a North American wire service, sparking controversy in 1940 by penning For Whom the Bell Tolls. The storys protagonist, a guerrilla soldier, invited criticisms that the novelist was writing about himself  playing soldier rather than serving as an objective observer.

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At the start of World War II, Hemingway found himself unemployed in Havana and bitter that Martha Gellhorn, his new and third wife, was covering the conflict as a correspondent for Colliers Weekly. He was supposed to be the celebrity reporter, not Martha, Nagel says. Hemingway got the call a year later, also from Colliers, and landed on the beaches of Normandy  the day after D-Day. The Private Ryan business had already taken place, says Nagel, and Gellhorn was actually the first reporter to land in Europe. But her editors scrapped her frontline piece, choosing Hemingways day-after take instead for the cover. She never spoke to him again, Nagel says.

Gettyimages 104421243

The entrance to the restaurant of the Ritz Hotel, Place Vendome in Paris, around 1948.

Source: Getty

Reporting from the Western Front, Hemingway reunited with a friend, Maj. Gen. Charles Buck Lanham, who gave him a front seat for the American advance on Paris. But as they neared the City of Light, Hemingway didnt get the word that liberation was to be left to French locals. So he, along with a few dozen reporters and Resistance fighters, liberated the Ritz Hotel. In truth, he was welcomed with open arms by owner Charles Ritz, an old drinking buddy from his time there in the 1920s. Luckily for Hemingway, the German lieutenants who had roomed there were long gone. He avoided trouble then, only to find it again a few weeks later when a complaint was filed accusing Hemingway of keeping firearms, bazookas, grenades and other weapons in his Parisian hotel room. It was a serious charge and suspected violation of the Geneva Conventions rules insisting that news correspondents avoid compromising their status as noncombatants.

Faced with the embarrassing possibility that hed be expelled, Hemingway did what he did best: spun a tale. He argued that the hefty arsenal of Resistance weaponry was only in his possession because storage space was in short supply, Dupuis says. Although Hemingway was known to carry a rifle, he said he never took part in any fighting. He was cleared of the charges, and in 1949 the rules advising correspondents not to carry arms were clarified.

A true legend, its foolish to think Hemingway wouldnt toe the line between reality and fiction even in death. After his passing, scholars discovered his unpublished short story, Black Ass at the Crossroads. The gist? A story about a group of journalists who are fired upon by the Germans, Nagel says. These guys have weapons. And they fight back.

Related Articles
A version of this story first appeared in the print edition of TheWrap Magazines Comedy/Drama/Actors Emmy Issue.

Hey, Emmy voters: You know the usual suspects and the buzz-laden newcomers who are getting lots of attention this seasonand we all know that force of habit is strong at this awards show, with many of the same people landing nominations year after year. But in case you feel like shaking things up for a change, TheWrap staff would like to offer an Emmy voters guide to a few deserving candidates who might be a little further off the radar.

Underground

Underground offers a compelling look at the Underground Railroad, a part of American history that has largely been ignored by Hollywood (though the announcement that Harriet Tubman will grace paper currency has made it timely). Topnotch performances, great writing and excellent production design make this freshman series from WGN America a show worth watching. JOE OTTERSON

Jay Duplass and Amy Landecker, Transparent

Transparents Gaby Hoffman seems like the easy choice for most dysfunctional of Amazons Pfefferman clan, but dont discount the subtle and heartbreaking work of her onscreen siblings Amy Landecker and Jay Duplass. Theyre just as broken as their sister, and as desperate for their true identities as their transitioned former father, Maura.-MATT DONNELLY

Getting On

HBOs underrated dramedy set in the geriatric ward of a B-list hospital is caustically brilliant, with standout turns by Laurie Metcalfe as a delusional doc and Alex Borsten and Niecy Nash as put-upon nurses. (June Squibb also deserves attention for her guest turn as a foul-mouthed patient.) -THOM GEIER

Timothy Simons, Veep

Veep always has the best insults on television, and the best Veep insults are always directed at Timothy Simons Jonah Ryan, the most deliciously dunderheaded and misguidedly ambitious comic foil on any show anywhere. STEVE POND

Horace and Pete

Louis C.K. says he went into debt to finance this dark, online-only comedy about two middle-aged bar owners (C.K. and Steve Buscemi) and their troubled clientele. The writing is daring (in the premiere almost three minutes pass before a line of dialogue is uttered) and the cast (Alan Alda, Edie Falco, Jessica Lange) superlative. SCOTT COLLINS

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Krysten Ritter, Jessica Jones

Krysten Ritters comedic roles in the past could not have prepared audiences for her dark and dramatic turn as Marvel and Netflixs titular superhero Jessica Jones, but the whiskey-chugging, traumatized victim-turned vigilante looks just right on her. LINDA GE

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

No comedy in the last year featured an ensemble cast as strong or as well-utilized as Foxs Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Led by Andy Samberg and Andre Braugher, the shows large cast has only gotten better with time, delivering the strongest season yet for the best workplace sitcom on the air. REID NAKAMURA

Peaky Blinders

This British period drama about gangsters in the 1920sthink Boardwalk Empire in Birminghamis stylish and gritty, with a magnetic lead performance by Cillian Murphy as real-life mobster Tommy Shelby. Michael Mann, Snoop Dogg, Leonard Cohen and the late David Bowie are (or were) all fans, which ought to be recommendation enough. SP

Hannibal

Hannibal went off the air before its fans were ready to say goodbye, and just as its quality was peaking. An Emmy for Bryan Fullers creepy and complex cannibal drama would be a nice consolation prize in lieu of more seasons. LG

Catastrophe

A series about two strangers who decide to marry after their one-night stand results in a pregnancy is fertile ground for bawdy humor, but stars and co-creators Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney dont play it all for laughs (though there are plenty). By zeroing in on the challengessexual dysfunction, poopy diapersthat face parents on the brink of middle age, their U.K.-set show shines a smart, sassy light on all of the wicked and wonderful catastrophes that life has to offer. JOSHUA RICH

Eva Green, Penny Dreadful

Eva Green is in her third season of battling the devil on Showtimes Penny Dreadful, and shes overdue for her some Emmy recognition for her work as the steely-eyed medium Vanessa Ives. Week after week, Green delivers one of the most underrated and electrifying performances on television, at once conveying a seamless blend of confidence, vulnerability, pain and terror. RN

Shiri Appleby, UnReal

The series is deservedly getting Outstanding Drama Series consideration, but Lifetimes dark and twisted drama would be nothing without its leading lady. Shiri Applebys Rachel is a sociopath whos as broken as she is masterful. LG

Jordan Peele, Key & Peele

Keegan-Michael Key richly deserved his 2015 acting nomination, but his partner in Key & Peele shouldnt be overlooked. He might not be as exuberant as Key, but Peele was a sly comic superstar in the shows final season. SP

Please Like Me

Writer-star Josh Thomas funny-sad show about a gay Australian twentysomething maintained a sharp, bittersweet edge in its third season on Pivotas Joshs alter ego overcame his many insecurities and emerged as the unlikely stable one surrounded by ever-needier friends and family. TG

Youre the Worst

Starring Chris Geere and Aya Cash as a couple of cranks learning to be in a relationship and Kether Donohue and Desmon Borges as best friends with their own issues, Youre the Worst added an impressively nuanced depression arc this season that brought new dimensions to its characters, deepened its storytelling and proved the show is capable of reaching great heights even outside its initial premise. RN

Related stories from TheWrap:

Emmy Quickie: Exclusive StudioWrap Portraits (Photos)

Emmy Contender Sarah Paulson Talks About Hitting Career Peak at Age 41 in OJ Simpson Drama (Video)
Addressing a traumatic event, like the recent mass shooting in an Orlando, Florida gay nightclub this month, with high school students can be a challenging task for teachers.

With high school students in particular, there will be some discussion about the event, regardless of whether teachers explicitly mention the incident in class or not, says Benjamin Fernandez, lead school psychologist for Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia.

He thinks it's appropriate for teachers to talk briefly about what happened at the beginning of class with high schoolers, but educators need to first understand the situation themselves. Then, they can model calm and appropriate coping skills to students because no matter how old students are, they will take a cue on how to act based on how the adults in their lives are reacting, he says.

And teachers should stick to discussing the facts, says Fernandez, who is also co-chair of the National Association of School Psychologists School Safety and Crisis Response Committee.

"These adolescents have easy access to information and some of that information is misinformation so then rumors start and spread just so much faster," says Samantha Haviland, director of counseling support services for Denver Public Schools. "But then they feel a connection to people through social media also, whether they know them or not, because they get a little bit of that personal interaction that didn't used to happen."

Haviland was a student at Columbine High School in 1999 when two students killed 13 of their classmates. She didn't have access to information as the event unfolded like teens do today.

Educators need to consider students' cultures, beliefs and family dynamics when addressing these events, she says.

Events like the Orlando shooting may spark highly-charged conversations among teens surrounding hot-button topics like LGBT issues and gun control.

Adults and teachers need to recognize when such conversations occur and that shutting them down can make it difficult for students to process what happened and their own feelings and emotions, says Fernandez. Being able to engage in such conversation can help reduce anger and hate, and promote unity and tolerance, he says.

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While Haviland wouldn't recommend teachers facilitate discussions about these issues in class, if they were to occur, she suggests teachers have a school counselor or an administrator join in.

[Find out how schools are working to prevent school shootings.]

The best practice for educators when addressing a traumatic event is to share a mass, factual message to high schoolers through the classroom, while staying away from too much detail, she says. Adolescents might really cling onto these details and it can cause secondary trauma, she says. It's important for parents to be informed and involved, too.

If the event is more in the community rather than related directly to the school, there should be a safe place with counseling and a crisis response team provided in the school for students to go to, if needed, she says.

Research points to a return to normalcy as a primary factor in the healing process, so classrooms should maintain a largely academic environment, she says.

Elementary school students may not have the ability to understand what has happened, she says. High schoolers tend to internalize it much more.

[Learn how schools cope after a tragedy like suicide.]

Haviland says traumatic events can really change a community -- and hopefully for the better in that communities can become closer and more unified -- but it's a painful process.

The Orlando school counselors, she says, should take care of themselves, too.

Have something of interest to share? Send your news to us at highschoolnotes@usnews.com.

Alexandra Pannoni is an education Web producer at U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at apannoni@usnews.com.
Here is an unexpected Father's Day gift for former President Bill Clinton: A throwback photo of him, wife Hillary Clinton and daughter Chelsea Clinton, all grouped around a giant Donald Duck.



"Happy Father's Day, Bill!" Hillary, 68, posted on Instagram Sunday.



The photo, apparently taken in 1984 during the 50th anniversary celebration the beloved, feathered Disney character, shows the Clintons with big smiles and even bigger duck hats.



Her post comes on the heels of the news that Chelsea had given birth to her second child, son Aidan Mezvinsky, leaving the grandparents "overjoyed."







The throwback is not the only "gift" Hillary has shared on social media in recent days: To mark the anniversary of Donald's Trump presidential campaign, she posted a video of his work since (and his gaffes).



Indeed, Clinton's social media presence has become sharper and sharper as she turns her focus toward battling Trump, the Republican's presumptive nominee.



To a recent tweet quoting Trump as saying, "You tell me: who is better for the gay community and who is better for women than Donald Trump"  she replied, "Hi."





Related Video: Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Share the Last Time They Couldn't Stop Laughing











And after Trump, 70, took to Twitter  one of his preferred mediums  to criticize President Barack Obama for endorsing Hillary, she replied to him with "Delete your account" (referencing a longstanding Internet comeback).



Trump replied, "How long did it take your staff of 823 people to think that up--and where are your 33,000 emails that you deleted?"
BERLIN (Reuters) - Trousers with leather pockets worn by Adolf Hitler and a brass container that held the cyanide used by a top deputy to commit suicide were among a trove of Nazi memorabilia sold for hundreds of thousands of euros at an auction in Germany. The sale of items from a collection of an American medical officer who attended to the needs of defendants at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials was condemned by Germany's Jewish community as "scandalous" and "disgusting". The auctioneer did not respond to repeated requests for comment. German media said one Argentine bidder spent over 600,000 euros ($681,060) alone at Hermann Historica's weekend auction in Munich, snapping up Hitler's trousers and military jacket, and an aviator watch that belonged to Hermann Goering, the beefy Nazi air force commander, among other things. The trousers sold for 62,000 euros, the jacket - made from "finely-woven field-grey cloth" - went for 275,000 euros, the watch for 42,000 euros and some silk underwear owned by Goering for 3,000 euros, according to mass-circulation daily Bild. Other items under the hammer included the brass container for the hydrogen cyanide phial that Goering swallowed while awaiting trial in Nuremberg in 1946, which fetched 26,000 euros, and Hitler's medical X-rays after a failed assassination attempt in July 1944, Hermann Historica said on its website. It said the pockets of Hitler's black trousers were leather lined "so he could carry a gun unobtrusively with him". The Central Council of Jews denounced the auction in the run-up to the sale and had called on Hermann Historica to cancel the event. The auctioneer said on its website that it procured objects of contemporary German history only under strict conditions for museums, archives and serious collectors to help enable understanding and ensure the events of the Nazi era never recur. Bild said on Monday 169 items had been sold from the collection of medical officer John K. Lattimer, who died in 2007. The bidder from Argentina told Bild he was purchasing the objects for a museum whose name he did not disclose. ($1 = 0.8810 euros) (Writing by Caroline Copley)
Los Angeles (AFP) - Co-stars, friends and fans added their voices on Monday to a chorus of tributes from Hollywood for "Star Trek" actor Anton Yelchin, after he was killed in a freak accident.

The rising star, best known for playing Chekov in the new "Star Trek" films, was killed by his own car as it rolled backwards in his driveway in the early hours of Sunday, police and his publicist said.

Susan Sarandon, who starred alongside Yelchin in the 2008 coming-of-age comedy "Middle of Nowhere," described the Russian-born American actor, who was just 27, as "an original."

"One of the most curious, funny, sweet people I've ever known," she wrote on her Facebook page.

"He was a searcher, an incredible talent and a loyal and loving son. Any time would be too soon for his departure from this plane, but this is an unforgivable and unbearable loss."

Yelchin was preparing to meet friends for a rehearsal and momentarily got out of his car at his San Fernando Valley home, according to police.

It rolled backwards down his steep driveway, pinning him against a brick mailbox pillar and security fence. Friends found him dead by the car.

It emerged on Monday that the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Yelchin was driving had been under recall for the possibility that it could roll off without warning.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated hundreds of reports that the model would continue to move freely when drivers thought they had locked it in "park."

- 'Supremely talented' -

Yelchin moved to the United States when he was six months old with his parents, star figure skaters with the Leningrad Ice Ballet, and made his film debut at age nine in "A Man Is Mostly Water."

His breakout performance came in the 2006 crime thriller "Alpha Dog," and his movie credits include J.J Abrams's "Star Trek," "Star Trek into Darkness" and "Star Trek Beyond," which is set for release next month.

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"You were funny as hell and supremely talented. And you weren't here nearly long enough," Abrams tweeted.

"Star Trek" co-star Zachary Quinto described him in a tribute on photo-sharing platform Instagram as "one of the most open and intellectually curious people I have ever had the pleasure to know.

"So enormously talented and generous of heart. Wise beyond his years, and gone before his time. All love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief," he said.

Justin Lin, who directed "Star Trek Beyond," paid tribute to Yelchin's "passion and enthusiasm" while Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker in the "Star Wars" films, lamented that Yelchin had "his whole career ahead of him."

Horror novelist Stephen King and actors William Shatner, Tom Hiddleston and Anna Kendrick noted Yelchin's immense talent and passion, while Bryce Dallas Howard, his co-star in 2009's "Terminator Salvation," described him as "an angel on earth whose light will never be extinguished."

Milla Jovovich, who acted opposite Yelchin in 2014 Shakespeare big-screen adaptation "Cymbeline," described him as her "brother" and said she and her family were "destroyed" by his death.
The news last week that Home Depot is suing MasterCard and Visa for allegedly forcing consumers to use unsecure credit cards raises the question: Wasnt the whole point of the new chip-embedded cards to make payments safer? Given the delays the chip scanners are causing at checkout counters, youd certainly hope so.

The answer is yes, the new cards were supposed to improve security. However, the Home Depot suit and a similar one recently filed by Walmart against Visa claim that the system was executed poorly, leaving credit card transactions vulnerable to fraud.

Here's what you need to know.

Why Home Depot is suing

Home Depots lawsuit, filed Monday in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, points out that consumers who use Visa and MasterCard cards at a register are asked to verify their identity by signing their name, instead of typing in a personal identification number (PIN). Signatures can easily be forged, the new lawsuit says, and cashiers arent trained to decipher the messy scrawls that most shoppers employ.

Visa and MasterCard have pushed consumers to use payment card technology that Visa and MasterCard know is defective and subject to fraud and have colluded with each other and with the banks that issue debit and credit cards to do so, it reads.

As a result, Home Depot is charged higher fees by the card issuers, the suit claims.

The Interchange Fee on signature transactions is markedly higher than the fee on PIN transactions, Home Depots complaint alleges. According to data from the Federal Reserve Board, as of 2009, the average Interchange Fee for signature debit was 56 cents per transaction (or 1.53%) while the average fee for PIN debit was just 23 cents (0.56%).

A Visa spokesperson told Consumer Reports, We are aware of the lawsuit, but did not comment further.

MasterCard is still reviewing the claims, communications vice president Seth Eisen said in a written statement. MasterCard leaves the decision on how to verify the cardholder identity  PIN or signature  up to the merchant and the issuer.

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Home Depot argues that retailers don't truly have the option to choose the PIN method because the banks that issue the cards are not willing to move to that system, and that Visa and Mastercard have adopted rules that strongly favor chip-and-signature cards.

How a PIN improves security

To understand the controversy, you need a quick tour through the technology involved. Lets start with the tiny chip you should have on the front of most or all of your credit cards by now. That EMV (short for Europay, MasterCard and Visa, the three firms behind this standard) carries on an encrypted conversation with the slot in an EMV card reader. In contrast, when you swipe the magnetic stripe on a card, the data exchange is unencrypted, and therefore easy to read by both the retailer's card reader and potentially by criminals.

Your reward for using a chip card inserted in a reader is protection from having your card cloned. As the lawsuit reads, "the data on a magnetic stripe can be easily copied (skimmed) with a simple card reading device, which enables criminals to reproduce counterfeit cards." Thirty-three percent of credit-card fraud involves a counterfeit card, according to Visa.

Chip-and-PIN cards add a step. They require you to authenticate the transaction by punching in a PIN, as though you were at an ATM. This is a form of two-factor authentication, in which a transaction requires both something you have (the card) and something you know (the PIN). The addition of the PIN stops the fraudulent use of lost or stolen cards at cash registersa problem that accounts for 9 percent of all credit card fraud, again according to Visa.

The chip-and-PIN combination is already ubiquitous in other regions of the world, particularly in Europe.

However, a chip-and-PIN combination doesnt make a credit card account immune to fraud. According to Visa, half of all credit card fraud cases occur through phone and online transactions. Such transactions can happen when a criminal has acquired a stolen cardeven European merchants generally don't require credit card PINs for online purchases. Additionally, criminals can acquire account information through other means, such as phishing attacks in which users are tricked into providing account information in response to emails that appear to be from their financial institutions.

If the experience of European countries is any guide, those types of fraud cases may increase as chip-carrying cards become more widespread.

We have seen card-not-present fraud steadily rise in Europe since EMV's rollout, Stephen W. Orfei, general manager of the payment-technology group PCI Security Standards Council, said in a written statement. "EMV chip technology (PIN or signature) is not the silver bullet that some think it is.

Why the U.S. didn't adopt PINs

In Europe, PINs were introduced decades ago, when many card terminals were offline: They couldnt connect to card networks to verify a transaction. In the U.S., thats not an issue.

Still, though, PINs do improve security. So why aren't they used here? The lawsuit alleges that Visa and Mastercard are putting barriers in the way of adoption to keep retailers' fees high.

However, according to one analyst, card issuers actually worried that requiring shoppers to memorize a PIN would discourage them from using the cards.

Not all issuers were implementing a PIN; therefore, any card requiring a PIN was at a disadvantage in the competition to be top of wallet, says James Wester, research director for global payments at the market-analysis firm IDC. Also, the costs to issuers to implement PINs for credit cards is significant.

Michael Thelander, a product manager at the security firm Iovation, made a similar point in an email. Switching the world's largest, most distributed, and most fragmented credit card market to a chip-and-PIN plan would have been horrifically complex and expensive, he wrote.

From some consumers' point of view, incidentally, the lack of a PIN can also be inconvenient. This used to trip up Americans overseas when they tried to pay at automated card terminals that needed a number. More recently, moves by card issuers to waive the PIN requirement for small transactions seem to have resolved that issue. (I had no trouble paying with a chip-and-signature card at ticket-vending machines in the Barcelona Metro and the London Underground earlier this year.)

How consumers can stay safe

First, if you insist on a chip-and-PIN card, you can get one; for instance, Barclaycards cards offer this option as do some credit unions. You cant, however, add a PIN to a chip-and-signature card; your card issuer would have to replace it to make that switch.

However, some security experts advise consumers to keep the cards in their wallet and pay with their phones whenever possible. Mobile-payment apps such as Apple Pay, Android Pay and Samsung Pay boost security by generating one-time credit-card numbers for each transaction

That tokenization of the card number leaves nothing for a fraudster to use online, even if the stores payment system is as hopelessly compromised as, say, Home Depots was in the data breach discovered in 2014. Smartphone payments are definitely safer, IDCs Wester says.

At stores such as Whole Foods that accept mobile-payment apps but havent yet switched on EMV card readers at the same terminals, a phones security advantage becomes even greater.

The tokenization technology used in mobile-payments apps is promising to make online transactions safer as wellwitness the Apple Pay on the Web Mac software Apple unveiled at its WWDC conference last week.

Long term, card issuers are working to incorporate tokenization into every channel of payment. According to PCIs Orfei: Our best defense is to devalue the data so that it is useless in the hands of organized crime, state funded actors, and criminals.





More from Consumer Reports:

The best matching washers and dryers

Generator Buying Guide

8 ways to boost your home value





Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright  2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S.
By James Pomfret HONG KONG (Reuters) - Chain smoking outside a train station in Hong Kong last Thursday, a thin, bespectacled man called Lam Wing-kee was in a bind. He could return across the mainland China border to meet up with the Chinese agents who had just kept him captive for eight months and hand them a disk holding the names of hundreds of customers who had ordered politically sensitive books. The alternative was to hold a news conference in Hong Kong and tell the world how he had been arrested, blindfolded and handcuffed in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen on Oct. 22, and then taken to the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo where he was forced into solitary confinement and faced repeated interrogations. Lam chose the latter. By doing so, he reignited a controversy that first rocked Hong Kong, the former British colony that returned to China in 1997, late last year. That was when Lam and four other booksellers, who published gossipy and often scandalous books on the personal lives and power struggles of China's senior Communist Party leaders, had mysteriously disappeared. Just a year earlier Lam had led an ordinary life, managing a small bookshop, but he now found himself thrust into the center of an extraordinary political storm that had called into question Hong Kong's relationship with its Chinese rulers. In an interview with Reuters, Lam said he was released last Tuesday and sent back to Hong Kong with an express purpose - to bring back that hard disk containing the customer database. But as he prepared to board a train to the Chinese border, Lam vacillated. He paused at a 7-11 convenience store where he bought a bottle of water and a packet of cigarettes that he smoked, one after another. "I could have changed trains and gone directly to Lowu to give them the hard disk," he told Reuters, referring to the Chinese district bordering Hong Kong. "Once I crossed the border I'd have no chance. But I could still decide whether to go public." He chose to board a train back to the city and called the pro-democracy lawmaker Albert Ho, who helped arrange a press conference that same evening. "At the most intense moment of indecision, the pressure was great, but in the end I figured this wasn't an issue only for myself or for the five of us ... so I decided to come out," Lam said. STILL DETAINED Four of the booksellers have now returned to Hong Kong, including Lam and Chinese-born British national Lee Bo, who went missing from Hong Kong in late December. But Swedish passport holder Gui Minhai, who disappeared from the Thai resort of Pattaya last October, remains in detention in China. Chinese authorities have repeatedly said they would never do anything illegal and that Hong Kong's autonomy was fully respected. Beijing's representative office in Hong Kong declined to comment on Lam's account of his detention. Lam's recounting of repeated interrogations by Chinese agents, detention for months alone in a small room without contact with family or lawyers, does not mesh with statements by some of the other booksellers who said they had been well treated by authorities. Also Lam said that Lee had been abducted by Chinese agents in Hong Kong, but Lee has disputed this account, saying he went to China voluntarily with unspecified friends. A number of Western governments, including Britain, voiced concerns this year that Lee had been abducted, undermining the city's "one country, two systems" formula of governance granting Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy under Chinese rule. Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying, speaking on Monday after he returned from holiday, said he would write a letter to Beijing to express concern over the bookseller case. "Any law-enforcement entity, including mainland and foreign, does not have the right to exercise power in Hong Kong," said Leung. "It is illegal for any overseas entities to enforce law in Hong Kong and we shall not accept it." NO UNIFORMS Lam told Reuters he believed his bookstore, where he worked as the shop manager had come into the crosshairs of unspecified senior Chinese leaders given some of the controversial publications that they put out through the years. "Some books were affecting the leaders," Lam said. "They discovered some information channels were real and they tried investigating these channels, to find out the source. I think they blew the whole thing up for this reason alone." Lam worked for years as the face of the Causeway Bay Bookshop, a hole in the wall independent bookshop tucked upstairs in an old building behind the well-known SOGO Japanese department store in the teeming Hong Kong shopping hotspot. Lam said that it was rare for any of the 50 or 60 officers who dealt with him during his imprisonment to mention politics or give away any personal details. He said none wore uniforms nor showed him identification papers. (Reporting By James Pomfret; additional reporting by Sharon Shi, Tris Pan and Lindsy Long; Editing by Martin Howell)
In a rare, hastily convened press conference with the media on Monday, just hours after he returned from a nine-day vacation, Hong Kongs top official, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying, spoke in tepid terms about his concern over the remarks of a local bookseller who very publicly returned to the territory last week after eight months in detention in mainland China.

The bookseller, Lam Wing-kee, is one of five affiliates of Mighty Current Media, a publishing house known for gossipy texts critical of mainland Chinese leaders, who disappeared at the end of last year, only to resurface across the border in the custody of mainland police. The case of the missing booksellers, as it has been dubbed in the press here, is one of the most serious political crises in Hong Kongs history. The booksellers lived and worked in Hong Kong, but were detained for offending mainland Chinese law  an unprecedented breach, many legal experts agree, of the legal dynamic known as one country, two systems, designed to preserve Hong Kongs democratic governance and way of life after outgoing colonial power Britain ceded control of the territory to Beijing in 1997.

In a press conference on June 16, Lam spoke in stark terms about his abduction and detention, saying that his and his colleagues case shows that Hongkongers should be concerned for their security. On Saturday afternoon, more than a thousand people, led by Lam himself, braved the summer heat and marched nearly 4 miles  from Mighty Current Medias bookstore to Beijings liaison offices  to decry the Chinese authorities.

Despite the magnitude of the case, Leungs remarks on Monday were anodyne and vague. He told reporters that his government would write to the central government in Beijing to express its concern, and that Hong Kong would review the notification mechanism between Hong Kong and the mainland, for we believe there is room for review and possibly improvement in the notification system.

If necessary, I shall dispatch my government colleagues to follow up on these points, Leung said.

Leung is widely seen here as Beijings stooge; his comments on Monday appear to demonstrate the Hong Kong governments apparent reluctance to challenge or offend the sovereign power in Beijing. When asked about Lams comments that his safety depends on the Hong Kong governments ability to protect its citizens, Leung told TIME that the Hong Kong police have been trying to contact Mr. Lam and are waiting for his reply.

Lai Tung-kwok, Minister for Security, dismissed Lams suggestion that people here should be concerned by the case.

Any person in Hong Kong who has a reasonable fear for his personal safety should approach the police, Lai said. The police have established procedures to look into the case and provide all necessary assistance. This applies to everybody.

Later on Monday, Albert Ho, the pro-democratic lawmaker who facilitated Lams press conference last week, spoke out against what he saw as the chief executives reticence.

I am both surprised and disappointed to note that up to this moment the chief executive still takes the view that there is no necessity for him to take up this matter directly with Beijing, Ho said. The bookseller case has posed one of the greatest challenges to Hong Kongs high degree of autonomy.

Even pro-establishment lawmakers pushed the Hong Kong government to pursue their investigation a bit more diligently. What is important is for the government led by the chief executive to find out the facts and let the people know, Jasper Tsang, the head of Hong Kongs legislature, told reporters.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan called on Monday for the release of the full transcript of calls a gunman made as he killed dozens at a Florida nightclub as a political battle over gun violence brewed in the U.S. Congress. "Selectively editing this transcript is preposterous. We know the shooter was a radical Islamist extremist inspired by ISIS. We also know he intentionally targeted the LGBT community," Ryan, the top elected Republican official, said in a statement. "The administration should release the full, unredacted transcript so the public is clear-eyed about who did this and why," Ryan said. Ryan has not seen the full transcript of the calls that Omar Mateen made as he killed 49 people and injured 50 others during a three-hour rampage at gay nightclub Pulse on June 12. "The administration hasn't shared the full transcript with Congress," a spokesman for Ryan said. The massacre in Orlando prompted many congressional Democrats to renew calls for increased regulation of gun sales. Such controls are staunchly opposed by many of Ryan's fellow Republicans and some Democrats, who worry they could impinge on the U.S. constitutional right to bear arms. Since the shooting Republicans have focused more on what links Mateen may have had to radical Islamic groups, such as Islamic State. The U.S. Senate is due to vote later Monday on four weapons-related measured, two sponsored by Democrats and two by Republicans, but none is expected to get the 60 votes needed to advance. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
Friendly exes Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon celebrated Fathers Day with their twins. (Photo: Instagram)

Looks like these two have buried the hatchet  if the hatchet was ever out to begin with. On Sunday, June 19, aka Fathers Day, Nick Cannon posted several sweet pics with his ex-wife (and mother of his children) Mariah Carey and their twins, Moroccan and Monroe, from their trip to the Sky Zone, an indoor trampoline park. Leaving the Haters in the Wind!, he wrote alongside the happy snap. LOL They want us to be mad so bad! @MariahCarey but we happier than happy! #HappyFathersDay.

It certainly seems from the pics that these two former loves are making the most of their new co-parenting relationship. It also looks like their daughter might take after their mother a little bit. Nick mugs for the camera while their son plants a kiss on Mariahs cheek  and their little girl strikes a Vogue-worthy pose out front. In a second, equally adorable snap, Moroccan snuggles up to his dad while Monroe makes a funny face at the camera. Its probably worth noting that while Nick is uber-casual in a wife-beater tank, Mariah is glammed out to the nines in a skintight white gown with gold stilettos  not that wed expect anything less.

Of course, the diva wore a gown to the Sky Zone. (Photo: Instagram)

As for Mariah, to celebrate Fathers Day, the 46-year-old star posted a series of snaps of (drum roll, please) Mariah! Granted, she was honoring her wildly successful show in Vegas  which, ICYMI, new parents John Legend and Chrissy Teigen dropped by to see  but still, the songstress managed to post five photos on Sunday, all of just herself. Also worth noting, several of the snaps were barely SFW as she was clad in a black lace bra, chunky diamond jewelry, and pretty much nothing else.

Mmmmmm what should I wear ??? she wrote beside a playful pic. Since she posted two more photos still wearing nothing but the bra, its safe to say she didnt make any rash decisions. Based on the series of snapshots, it looked like she finally decided on a black bodysuit with tights, sky-high ankle boots, and a leather jacket. #Vegas she explained.

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Mimi was deep in thought while trying to decide what to wear. (Photo: Instagram)

Mariah appeared to be channeling Sandy from Grease in this #Vegas shot.(Photo: Instagram)

Recently, Nick spoke out to lament the legal process of divorce, which inspired his new song, Divorce Papers. The 35-year-old Americas Got Talent host also explained that the songs title is meant to address the rumors that he was the reason their divorce had not yet been finalized.

I was like, You want divorce papers? Well, here you go! he said to Genius. The lawyers line was also me releasing a little frustration at the attorneys on both sides because lawyers always think they control clients and they cause most of the friction, especially since my ex and I get along.

But just because they get along (and can take cute pictures together for holidays) doesnt mean that things have been easy for Nick. There is nothing more painful than parting with or having to drop your child off, he revealed. One day as my daughter was giving me a hug goodbye, my eyes welled up and she looked at me and said, Daddy, why do you have tears in your eyes? and I told her it was because I love her. She understood. She is a genius. She just hugged me harder and said, I love you too. Waterworks!

Nick and Mariah split in 2014 and filed for divorce in January 2015. Mariah has since gotten engaged to Australian billionaire businessman James Packer.
The decision of 51 State Department officials to sign a document dissenting from President Barack Obamas Syria policy elevates perspective over distortion. These officials resuscitated the artificially depressed reputation of the United States in the eyes of despairing and disgusted Syrians, their neighbors, and American allies in Europe. They killed the White House pretense that critics of the administrations Syria policy are partisan politicians, war-mongering neoconservatives, and clueless think tankers. Although their dissent will not likely alter the Obama administrations failed policy over its final six months, its a meaningful gesture that might help to restore U.S. honor.

Those who signed the document exhibited courage and character. Secretary of State John Kerry and his media spokesman have forthrightly defended those who dissented in the right way in the proper channel. Still, by speaking out, these diplomats knowingly put their careers on the line. When the document and the names of its authors become public  as they inevitably will  those who felt morally compelled to dissent will be subjected to all manner of abuse and harassment by back-shooters lurking anonymously in the digital world and, more quietly, in the corridors of the government. One can only hope the White House will not count among those questioning their motives and qualifications.

Because the dissenters have offered their president a much-needed opportunity to rethink his approach to a problem from hell. The essence of the administration strategy to date has been to divide, artificially and ineffectively, the problem of Syria in two: an Islamic State half, and a Bashar al-Assad half. The former has been harassed with coalition air attacks and ground operations by a Kurdish militia. The latter has been left free to conduct an unlimited campaign of civilian eradication, one that has benefited the Islamic State incalculably in terms of local and worldwide recruitment while creating a humanitarian catastrophe and a migrant crisis. Assad and the Islamic State are inescapably two sides of the same coin, one purchasing the destruction of Syria and the dispersal of its people.

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Obama has vowed to degrade and destroy the Islamic State. His director of central intelligence, John Brennan, just told Congress that this is not going so well. How can it  at least in Syria  with Assad piling onto his own citizenry endless war crimes and crimes against humanity? Since late September 2015, Russia has joined the regime and Iran in both facilitating and committing crimes against civilians. Moscow, incidentally, loses no sleep over Syrians emptying into Turkey and Western Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin enjoys and promotes the resulting nativist, populist drift of European (and American) politics.

None of the foregoing is disputed by the administration. Barely a day goes by without some senior American official or spokesperson condemning a civilian-centric military campaign by the Assad regime supported by Russia and Iran, one that guts the Geneva peace process on which Obama has bet everything. But the likelihood of peaceful political transition for Syria and the protection of its civilians (two issues that are inextricably linked) have been left entirely at the disposal and discretion of three parties: Assad, Iran, and Russia. Kerry earnestly implores these parties to show mercy. He may as well speak to a mirror. His boss has given him nothing beyond a smile and a shoeshine with which to work.

It would be reasonable to conclude that Obama has reluctantly accepted mass murder in Syria as a cost of doing nuclear business with Iran. No doubt he hates it. No doubt he wants it to stop. But to push back against Assad  to take limited military steps to make his attempts at mass murder slightly more difficult  risks angering Tehran and perhaps causing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to abandon the nuclear agreement. Indeed, while the agreement was being negotiated the president assured his Iranian counterpart in writing that Tehrans murderous client  a person who has put Syria at the service of Irans Hezbollah militia in Lebanon while breathing oxygen into the lungs of the Islamic State  would not be attacked as the United States chased the Islamic State in eastern Syria.

No doubt resisting mass murder in Syria would offend Iran. Would it be enough to cause Tehran to renounce the nuclear agreement and the economic benefits connected thereto? My assessment is probably not, although the risk is not zero. Preserving the ability of Hezbollah to menace Israel and imprison Lebanon is of paramount importance to Tehran. Iran knows that Assad is essential to its grand strategy: Even Syrian army officers reportedly cringe at their countrys subordination to foreigners, and surely Syrias humiliation would not last long in a post-Assad era. Khamenei has had no problem pursuing policies and practices in Syria that undermine the fight against the Islamic State and threaten Americas regional partners, even as he authorized closure on the nuclear agreement. It is Washington that has been unable to walk and chew gum simultaneously, with millions of people paying the price.

All of this requires urgent review by the U.S. government. The State Department dissenters have proposed a specific military methodology with cruise missiles to make it hard for the Assad regime to kill on an industrial scale where and when it wants. Although such action might well complicate and frustrate some aspects of civilian slaughter, the real center of gravity in this matter lies with the intent and leadership of the American commander in chief. If he decides that U.S. passivity in the face of a monumental massacre causing lethal political fallout is no longer sustainable, he must make clear his desires to Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and demand from the Pentagon a range of options aimed at making it hard for Assad to do his worst. It might be that cruise missiles aimed at Syrian military aircraft bases would top the list. But this is a matter for military professionals to sort out and for the president to decide.

There are, to be sure, risks associated with changing course and protecting civilians  at least some of them  from mass homicide. These risks cannot be swept under the carpet. Yet neither can the risks associated with leaving 100 percent of leverage in the hands of mass murderers  Russia, Iran, and the Assad regime  be ignored. The progressive emptying of Syria caused by the symbiotic Assad-Islamic State relationship cannot be permanently contained by Turkey and other neighbors of Syria. And as long as civilians are on the bulls-eye the prospects for diplomacy and political compromise are zero.

Fifty-one State Department officials who have loyally helped to implement a dysfunctional White House policy have finally said, Enough. Even if Obama is content to bequeath to his successor a humanitarian abomination and geopolitical catastrophe, these officials have placed before the world the proposition that the United States can and ultimately will do its duty. They have rendered a powerful service. They deserve the thanks of the nation.

Photo credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Avery and his wife recently rented a house that had a strict no pets rule. They owned two pet cats, so his wife was devastated when the animals had to stay with her parents. The landlord finally gave them the go-ahead however, and Avery decided to keep it a surprise from his wife. Check out the emotional tears when she sees her beloved felines! Credit: YouTube/averywithrow
DAVAO, Philippines (Reuters) - The incoming Philippines transportation chief said on Monday President-elect Rodrigo Duterte should be given emergency powers by Congress for two years to solve a debilitating traffic crisis in the capital Manila and elsewhere. The emergency powers will quicken the release of government funds aimed at declogging main roads that have hurt businesses and the overall economy. Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, speaking on the sidelines of a business conference, cited the 2.4 billion pesos ($52 million) in potential daily income lost due to the traffic problem based on a study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. (Reporting by Karen Lema; Writing by Erik dela Cruz; Editing by Sam Holmes)
By Aditi Shah

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India eased rules for foreign investment in the country's aviation sector on Monday in a bid to boost air travel and develop new airports in Asia's third-largest economy.

The new measures allow 100 percent foreign ownership of India-based airlines, raising the limit from 49 percent, but only with prior approval from the government, according to a statement issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office.

They also allow more than 74 percent foreign investment in brownfield airports, on condition of government approval.

Domestic airline stocks gained with SpiceJet Ltd up 7.4 percent, Jet Airways rose 6.6 percent and InterGlobe Aviation's IndiGo Airlines ended the day 5.8 percent higher.

"The opening of FDI (foreign direct investment) will help bring in much-needed cash, aircraft fleet and best practices," said Amber Dubey, partner and India head of aerospace and defence at consultant KPMG.

"We may see its positive impact over the next 6-12 months," Dubey said.

The liberalisation comes days after India announced a new civil aviation policy that eased flying rules for domestic carriers, which no longer need to wait five years to fly overseas as long as they deploy 20 aircraft in the domestic market.

This is a fillip for start-up airlines such as Vistara, 49 percent owned by Singapore Airlines and controlled by India's $100 billion Tata Group, and AirAsia India, an AirAsia Bhd and Tata venture.

However, there is still some ambiguity on the impact of the new foreign investment rules and analyst opinions are divided.

India has limited the equity holding of foreign airlines to 49 percent, but these airlines can bring in investors such as private equity firms or sovereign wealth funds to establish a 100 percent owned airline in India.

There is, however, still no clarity on whether such an airline would be allowed to fly overseas once it deploys 20 aircraft in India, the world's fastest-growing aviation market.

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"I don't think this would be applicable or impact present carriers," said Kapil Kaul, CEO at the Centre for Aviation, a consultancy, adding that for a carrier to fly overseas it needs to have substantial Indian ownership.

He said companies could have two separate entities - one to service the domestic market and the other for international operations but that may not be practical.

"This is a good headline statement but when you get deeper into it, there are fault lines," Kaul said.

A Singapore Airlines spokesman said the company is happy with the partnership it has with Tata.

"At this point there are no plans for changes to our 49 percent ownership of Vistara," the spokesman said.

(Additional reporting by Siva Govindasamy in Singapore; Editing by Douglas Busvine and Susan Fenton)
By Krishna N. Das

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India is seeking the participation of Rio Tinto and Anglo American's De Beers to explore for diamonds and gold, part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambition to make the country a major mineral producer, the mines secretary said.

Balvinder Kumar told Reuters on Monday that the Indian government will start to auction the rights to up to 70 diamond and gold exploration zones to mining companies this year.

India stopped producing diamonds years ago and produces only a small amount of gold, although it is the world's second-biggest consumer of the yellow metal. Modi wants to revive the sector, with most of the exploration and production conducted by the private sector.

The blocks that will go on sale are among 100 mineral zones identified by the state-run Geological Survey of India following an aerogeophysical assessment.

"We need resources to expand our mineral wealth and that's why we want private companies to carry out exploration of deep-seated minerals," Kumar said in an interview. "So far we haven't been able to do detailed exploration, but this proposal is a win-win for all."

However, he said diamond producer De Beers and Rio Tinto, which has already discovered a cluster of eight "diamondiferous pipes" in central India, have been cold to the latest exploration idea, citing high risks of failure.

To allay those concerns, Kumar said the government will reimburse companies' exploration costs if their blocks do not throw up commercially viable mineral reserves.

The blocks, which each cover over 100 square kilometres, are located in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan among others, Kumar said, adding it was difficult to estimate reserves without detailed exploration.

Companies that win the exploration rights will be able to transfer those rights to another party within three years if they wish, and the rights will then be auctioned again for actual mining. The exploration company will get a percentage of sales as royalty for 50 years from the company that wins the mining rights, if it does not participate or loses out.

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It will be the first time India has allowed private companies to just explore for minerals, with the mining rights auctioned separately.

State-run SBI Caps is advising the mines ministry on the proposal, which is expected to be cleared by Modi's cabinet ahead of a two-day government mining conclave in the eastern state of Chhattisgarh that begins on July 4, Kumar said.

De Beers said it continued to engage with the mines ministry but had no current plans to resume any exploration in India.

"There has been no change to the current situation since our exploration activity there closed in December 2015, with no prospecting activity planned for the foreseeable future," De Beers' spokeswoman Lynette Gould said in an email.

Rio Tinto's India head, Nik Senapati, did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.

India, which produced the Koh-i-Noor Diamond that is now in Britain, is a diamond polishing hub, polishing 14 out of every 15 rough diamonds in the world.

(Reporting by Krishna N. Das; Editing by Susan Fenton)
Indonesia on Monday defended opening fire on Chinese sailors as an action aimed at stopping illegal fishing, as China said it had overlapping maritime claims with Jakarta.

Beijing protested strongly over Friday's clash near Indonesia's Natuna Islands in the South China Sea, saying one Chinese fisherman was injured.

The Indonesian navy insisted no one was hurt when it detained seven sailors on a Chinese-flagged vessel after firing warning shots.

It was the third such skirmish in recent months between Indonesia and China near the Natunas, which are west of Borneo, as tensions rise between Beijing and several nations over its growing assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea.

Unlike some of its Southeast Asian neighbours, Indonesia does not dispute ownership of reefs or islets in the sea with China.

But Beijing's claims to fishing rights near the Natunas and some 3,000 kilometers from its mainland appear to overlap with Indonesia's exclusive economic zone around the islands.

Indonesian Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, who is leading a campaign to crack down on illegal fishing, defended the navy's actions.

"The Indonesian navy made the right move by maintaining the sovereignty of our seas," she tweeted. "The shooting was definitely according to procedure."

She added that "stealing fish is a crime. It is impossible that there is an agreement between countries that allows for stealing fish".

President Joko Widodo met with Security Minister Luhut Panjaitan on Monday following the clash and ordered him to defend Indonesia's sovereignty, presidential spokesman Johan Budi said.

"The president ordered him to defend Indonesia's territorial sovereignty that we have struggled to build up since our independence," he said.

But he added the president wanted this to be done without "affecting good relations". Indonesia's aggressive crackdown on illegal fishing, which began in 2014, has riled several of its neighbours.

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Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the latest clash took place in "traditional Chinese fishing ground".

"China and Indonesia have overlapping claims for maritime rights and interests," in the area, she told a regular briefing on Monday.

She did not provide a direct answer when asked whether those fishing grounds overlapped with Indonesia's exclusive economic zone.

Indonesia's navy said it intercepted 12 foreign vessels illegally fishing which fled as their warships approached.

Navy vessels pursued and fired several warning shots, until eventually a Chinese-flagged ship was stopped and boarded, it said.

In March Chinese coastguards rammed a boat detained near the Natunas and helped it escape as the Indonesians towed the vessel to shore.

Last month, the Indonesian navy opened fire on a Chinese trawler near the islands and seized the vessel. Beijing said it protested the move.

China asserts authority over almost all the South China Sea, basing its claim on historical documents, despite partial counter-claims from several Southeast Asian nations.
Indonesia and China clashed on Friday in their third naval confrontation this year when an Indonesian navy vessel fired at Chinese fishing boats and injured one person, according to Chinas Foreign Ministry.

Indonesia said it fired warning shots at the Chinese boats for allegedly fishing illegally near the Natuna Islands, but told Reuters there were no injuries.

Although Indonesia is not locked in territorial competition with China over the South China Sea  unlike its regional neighbors in the Philippines and Vietnam  Jakarta nonetheless rejects Chinas so-called nine-dash demarcation line that cuts through the water of Natuna Islands.

On Monday morning, Indonesias Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti tweeted in response to the altercation: We dont shoot for no clear reason. Protecting Sovereignity of your country is a must.

She then added later on Monday, The Indonesian navy is right to defend the sovereignty of our seas and resources. The shooting is according to the procedures. In the sea, we are glorious.

China does not deny Indonesias jurisdiction over the Natuna Islands, but maintains they share common interests in the waters around them.

 With reporting by Yenni Kwok

[Reuters]
By Kanupriya Kapoor and John Chalmers JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia is determined to assert its exclusive right to a corner of the South China Sea where there has been a run of skirmishes between Indonesian navy ships and Chinese vessels, the vice-president said on Monday. Jusuf Kalla told Reuters that Indonesia would send a message to Beijing demanding that it respect the Southeast Asian nation's sovereignty over waters around the Natuna Islands. China's Foreign Ministry said over the weekend that an Indonesian naval vessel fired on a Chinese fishing boat near the chain of islands on Friday, injuring one person. Indonesia's navy responded that it had fired warning shots at several boats with Chinese flags it accused of fishing illegally but there were no injuries. It was the third reported confrontation near the Natuna Islands this year and comes amid rising regional tensions over China's assertiveness in the South China Sea. "This is not a clash, but we are protecting the area," Kalla said in an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace. Asked if the Indonesian government had made a decision to be more assertive, he said: "Yes, we will continue." Asked about Kalla's remarks on Monday, Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for China's Foreign Ministry, said China had expressed condemnation of the "indiscriminate use of force". "We urge the Indonesian side to refrain from any action that complicates or magnifies the dispute, or impacts the peace and stability of the region," Hua said. Indonesia is not part of a broader regional dispute over China's reclamation activities in the South China Sea and Beijing's claims on swathes of key waterways. But Jakarta has objected to China's inclusion of parts of the Indonesian-ruled Natuna Islands within a "nine-dash line" Beijing marks on maps to show its claim on the body of water. China has said it does not dispute Indonesia's sovereignty over the Natuna Islands, but Kalla said its ships sometimes claim that they have the right to operate in waters around the islands because they are "traditional Chinese fishing grounds". "But we are focused on the legal basis," Kalla said, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. "We will send a message to the other side to honor the area in accordance with the law." 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. (Additional reporting by Megha Rajagopalan in BEIJING; Editing by Nick Macfie)
(Reuters) - Drug developer Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc and its partner GeneOne Life Sciences Inc said they had received approval from U.S. regulators to start an early stage human trial testing their Zika vaccine. The early-stage study will enroll 40 healthy subjects and evaluate safety, tolerability and immune response generated by the vaccine GLS-5700. "We plan to dose our first subjects in the next weeks and expect to report phase I interim results later this year," Inovio CEO J Joseph Kim said. In February, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika a global public health emergency. The virus has been associated with microcephaly, a birth defect characterized by an unusually small head and potential developmental problems. Last week, U.S. health officials reported three babies born with birth defects likely linked to Zika infection in the mother during pregnancy. French drugmaker Sanofi SA is likely to begin testing its own vaccine in humans next year. India's Bharat Biotech is another company that is in the race to develop a vaccine for the mosquito-borne disease. (Reporting by Amrutha Penumudi in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta)
In 2014 the UN declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga after a call from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to adopt the day as a global celebration of the practice.

Often seen as a holistic approach to health and well-being, many recent studies have shown that yoga can have significant health benefits on both body and mind. Here we have rounded up some of these health benefits and the reasons to get on the mat on Yoga Day, to celebrate the event and try this ancient Indian tradition for yourself.

Yoga can improve brain health

The benefits of yoga and exercise in general for good cognitive health have already been shown in many recent studies, helping to reduce the risk of developing diseases such as Alzheimer's. And in a study published just last month, and the first to compare yoga and meditation against memory training, researchers from UCLA and Australia's University of Adelaide found that a combination of the two could also help improve cognitive function.

Yoga can improve posture

Cameron Shayne the founder of Budokon Yoga, a style particularly popular with men, says that "Out of shape men especially benefit from postural yoga practice almost immediately because it lengthens and strengthens soft tissue, improves blood circulation, and relieves emotional tension," with recent studies also showing that yoga and meditation, included in yoga styles such as Kundalini, can help with back pain.

Yoga can alleviate arthritis

A study published last year in The Journal of Rheumatology and thought to be the largest randomized trial ever to explore yoga's effect on arthritis patients found that just eight weeks of yoga classes improved arthritis symptoms of patients with one of two common forms of the disease.

Those who took part in the yoga classes demonstrated a 20 percent improvement in pain, energy levels, walking pace, physical function, and reported being better able to perform physical tasks at work and at home, with the effects still apparent nine months after the study ended.

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Yoga can boost your mood

The same study that looked at the health benefits of yoga for sufferers of arthritis also found that after eight weeks of classes patients also reported an improved mood as well as an improvement in their symptoms, whilst the study that looked at the effects of yoga and meditation on memory training also found patients showed bigger improvements in levels of depression, anxiety, coping skills and resilience to stress.

Yoga can help you sleep

A 2015 large-scale US study of over 400,000 adults taking part in various different physical activities found that yoga was one of the most effective in helping you sleep better and achieving a minimum of seven hours a night, while a small clinical trial published in the Journal of the American Medical Association's Internal Medicine found that meditation, a part of many yoga classes, can help those with disturbed sleep achieve a deeper sleep and more restorative night of rest.

Yoga can help cancer sufferers

The results of a clinical trial published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship published late 2015 found that cancer patients who took in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program, practicing activities such as yoga and meditation, improved the symptoms of cognitive impairment that occur as a result of cancer treatment. And in a different study also published at the end of last year by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, the team found that men who underwent radiation treatment for prostate cancer could stabilize and even decrease the side effects of the treatment, including erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, and cancer-related fatigue, with yoga.

You can find out more about the practice of yoga and also search for events in your area on the International Day of Yoga website.
Tehran (AFP) - Iran's intelligence ministry said Monday it had thwarted a major jihadist plot to carry out bomb attacks in the capital Tehran and other parts of the country, state media reported.

"One of the biggest takfiri-Wahhabi terrorist plots was discovered and foiled," the official IRNA news agency quoted the ministry as saying, using terms applied by Iran to Sunni extremist groups.

"A series of bomb attacks prepared in various areas deep inside the country and especially in Tehran and some other provinces... were foiled, the terrorists were arrested and a number of ready-made bombs were recovered," it said.

No more details were provided. The ministry said they were interrogating the suspects and more information would come following investigations "both inside and outside the country."

The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, told the ISNA news agency the plot included plans for "suicide attacks in Tehran".

Iran, the predominant Shiite power, has been helping both the governments of Iraq and President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria to battle the Sunni extremist Islamic State group.

Iranian cities have not however faced any serious threat of jihadist attack, with the country's powerful security forces prioritising the protection of the country's borders.

In November, Iran's army conducted exercises close to its border with Afghanistan designed to simulate how it would respond if "terrorist groups" such as IS mounted an attack.

Before the drills in the northeastern province of Khorasan, General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan, the army's head of ground forces, announced a 40 kilometre (25 mile) limit on the borders with Iraq and Afghanistan, which if breached would trigger action.

"Before the enemy reaches borders, its actions will be neutralised," he said.

An increased police presence in Tehran in November and December -- with armed security forces guarding subway stations and other public areas in Tehran -- raised concerns that an attack was possible.

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But the capital's police chief, Hossein Sajedinia, said the presence was only part of "counter-terrorism drills".

Iranian forces clashed with militants last week on the country's northwestern and southeastern borders, leaving several dead.

The elite Revolutionary Guards killed 12 Kurdish rebels in fighting near the Iraqi border on Wednesday that also left three members of the Guards dead.

Police said the rebels were members of the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK), an Iranian Kurdish group with close links to Turkey's outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The same day, state television reported that a police officer and five members of Sunni militant group Jaish-ul Adl had been killed in clashes in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province.
By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - The Islamic State group launched a counter-attack against fighters trying to capture the Syrian city of Manbij on Monday, inflicting heavy casualties on the U.S.-backed forces, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the militants said. The monitor said the militants won back three villages south of the besieged city in a surprise assault against fighters from the U.S.-backed Syria Democratic Forces. At least 28 SDF fighters were killed. Two years after IS proclaimed its caliphate to rule over all Muslims from swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, its many foes are advancing on a number of fronts in both countries. Their aim is to close in on its two capitals, Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq. The SDF were poised to enter Manbij nearly three weeks after the launch of a major assault to regain the city backed by U.S. air power and American Special Forces, to seal off the last stretch of the Syrian-Turkish frontier The alliance, formed last year by recruiting Arabs to join forces with a powerful Kurdish militia, fought to nearly 2 km (1.24 miles) from the city center from the western side on Saturday before retreating. U.S-led coalition jets hit militants taking cover near a large wheat silo complex on the southern edge of the city that has been encircled by SDF forces. An SDF spokesman said forces succeeded in repulsing the militant attack and remained positioned on the outskirts of the city, most of whose residents remain trapped inside due to mines planted by the militants, who have dug in to defend it. "The situation is under control. They have many bodies on the ground," Sharfan Darwish, spokesman for the Syria Democratic Forces-allied Manbij Military Council, told Reuters. "We are at the four gates to the city. The whole city is booby-trapped. After 20 days of the campaign, we have yet to storm the city," he added, adding that some 2,000 people had succeeded in fleeing the city. Islamic State militants were also able to roll back the Syrian army, which had reached as close as 10 km (6.2 miles) south of the strategic town of Tabqa, an Islamic State-held city on the Euphrates River, in Raqqa province. The town, some 50 km (30 miles) west of Raqqa city, the militant's defacto capital, appears to be the first target of a major Syrian army assault in Raqqa province backed by Russian air power that began earlier this month. [L8N18W058]. Tabqa dam and a major air base have been in militant hands since 2014. The monitor said the army reverses on Sunday lost it territorial gains made in over two weeks of advances in Raqqa province which enabled it to cross its provincial boundary for the first time in over two years. Amaq news agency, which is affiliated with the militants, said suicide bombers had attacked Thawra oil field, south of Tabqa, which the Syrian army had captured earlier this week, and regained it. Eyad al Hosain, a Syrian journalist embedded with Syrian troops, told Reuters the militants had succeeded in regaining areas they lost near the oil field. He did not give figures on army casualties. "A very intense attack has targeted army and allied positions in Thwara field that led to the withdrawal of troops from areas they liberated... and their retreat," al Hosain said. Amaq also said militants seized a Syrian army checkpoint near a strategic junction which leads to Raqqa city that the Syrian government forces and their allies had seized in the early phase of its Raqqa campaign. The monitor, which tracks violence across the country, said the militants had sent reinforcements and cited at least 300 fighters heading to Tabqa from Raqqa. State media also reported clashes with the militants around the main Jazal field near the ancient city of Palmyra in the country's central desert. The army and its allies continue to fight a costly war of attrition against Islamic State militants several months after seizing the city from them. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Tom Perry in Beirut and Kinda Makieh in Damascus; Editing by Toby Chopra and Dan Grebler)
Jerusalem (AFP) - A senior Israeli official on Monday justified profiling Muslims for security reasons, after Donald Trump said he was open to adopting the controversial practice in the United States and cited Israel.

Intelligence agencies "must characterise, see where the dangers are coming from, and locate them," Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz said.

"It's not the entire population, but sometimes there is a certain type of terror such as Islamic terror. You can only look for it among Muslims," he said in a briefing to reporters.

Trump, the free-talking presumptive Republican presidential nominee, came close to endorsing profiling outright in an interview aired Sunday on CBS.

His comments came in a discussion on the Orlando nightclub massacre by shooter Omar Mateen, who was Muslim, and past comments by Trump to the effect that if elected president in November he "respectfully" would place mosques under surveillance.

Trump was asked point-blank if he was talking about increasing profiling of Muslims in America.

"Well, I think profiling is something that we're going to have to start thinking about as a country," Trump told the programme "Face the Nation".

He added: "So we really have to look at profiling. We have to look at it seriously. And other countries do it, and it's not the worst thing to do. I hate the concept of profiling, but we have to use common sense."

Trump asserted that Israel practices racial profiling, and that France also places mosques under surveillance.

Katz, who refused to address Trump's remarks directly or weigh in on the US elections, argued that the United States did in fact employ racial profiling in practice.

"The United States does it, they know how to act. At the end of the day, there's a war here... with a murderous ideology with very clear goals, that wants to topple Western civilisation," he said.

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Speaking of Israel's internal security agency, Katz said "the Shin Bet acts based on assessments and evaluations pertaining to specific communities."

"Anyone who thinks you can ignore the need to locate and prevent (threats) for the benefit of the entire population, including the Arab population, is simply wrong."

Israeli Arabs and Palestinians say they face abusive security measures, including in airports and at border crossings.

Katz, who is also transportation minister, said the world was seeking to learn from Israel's experience on airport security.

"It's a very sensitive topic, the threats are great, at the planes, at the airports. We collaborate on the issue and people come here to learn the Israeli practices."

A spokesman for Israel's Airport Authority denied the use of profiling at their facilities, stressing to AFP that "Israel conducts the same security checks to the luggage and bodies of all passengers."
By Dan Williams JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A senior Israeli official justified the "profiling" of Muslims as potential security threats on Monday after U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump said Americans should adopt Israel's disputed practice. Arabs, who make up a fifth of Israel's population, and Palestinians living under Israeli occupation have long complained of being singled out for scrutiny and searches at security checkpoints when going about their routine activities. Trump, the Republican front-runner who has been buoyed by Americans' worries about Islamic militancy, said on Sunday he believed that "profiling is something that we're going to have to start thinking about as a country". "You look at Israel and you look at others, and they do it and they do it successfully," he told CBS' "Face the Nation". Asked about the remarks, Israeli Transportation and Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz declined to discuss the U.S. election campaign but was unapologetic about Israel's methods. "Ultimately these (security) apparatuses ... must build a profile of characteristics as to where the danger comes from and locate it," he said in a briefing to foreign journalists arranged by the Israel Project advocacy group. "It is not the whole population, but sometimes when there is a specific form of terrorism, you can seek out Islamic terrorism only among Muslims." Trump has called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States, a suspension of immigration from countries with "a proven history of terrorism" and for greater scrutiny of American mosques. Some U.S. security officials, including FBI director James Comey, have chafed at Trump's suggestion that American Muslims do not do enough to report potential militants in their midst. I personally have been called by (Muslim) community members about several things, very significant things, Michael Downing, deputy chief of the Los Angeles Police Department and head of its Counterterrorism and Special Operations Bureau, told Reuters last week. What we say to communities is that we dont want you to profile humans, we want you to profile behavior. But Katz, who confers with foreign counterparts, said "profiling" on the basis of ethnicity was a de facto U.S. practice. "The United States does do this, by the way, beyond the debate over whether they refer to terrorism as 'Islamic' or do not refer to terrorism as 'Islamic'," he said. "Contrary to the Europeans, who do not do either - some of them neither define (potential threats) nor take this action - the Americans do do it, and do know how to take action, and they do this activity." (Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
By Crispian Balmer and Gavin Jones ROME (Reuters) - The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement trounced Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in local elections this weekend, clouding his chances of completing his term of office and winning a referendum he has called on constitutional reform. Five-Star, which feeds off popular anger over widespread graft, won in 19 of the 20 towns or cities where it had advanced to the run-offs, including Turin and Rome, where Virginia Raggi, a 37-year-old lawyer, became the first woman mayor. The party has so far controlled just a handful of medium-sized towns. Success in Rome and Turin could prove a springboard to victory in national elections due in 2018. Protest parties have made inroads in a number of European countries and 5-Star's advances in Italy this weekend mean a major European Union capital will be governed by a party which wants Italy to drop the euro. "A new era is beginning with us," said Raggi, who won 67 percent of the vote. "We'll work to bring back legality and transparency to the city's institutions." As a consolation for Renzi, his center-left Democratic Party (PD) held on to power in Italy's financial capital, Milan, and in the northern city of Bologna, beating more traditional, center-right candidates in both places. A magnanimous Renzi acknowledged 5-Star's "clear and undisputed" victories and said the PD would hold a "very real and very frank" discussion about the national and political implications at an executive meeting on Friday. "I don't believe it was a protest vote. It was a vote for change," he told reporters in Rome, promising his government would collaborate with newly elected mayors from all parties. Renzi has pinned his political future on an October referendum on constitutional reform that, he says, will bring stability to Italy and end its tradition of revolving-door governments. But the losses in Rome and Turin suggest he might struggle to rally the nation behind him, with opposition parties lined up to reject his reform and even his own PD divided over the issue. The prime minister took office in 2014 promising to revitalize Italy, but he has struggled to boost economic growth and create jobs after years of stagnation. He has also been hurt by repeated scandals in the banking sector. PD Vice President Matteo Ricci said the party would have to "reorganize" itself, particularly at the base. "We need a stronger, more structured party, with a more visible leadership that helps Renzi," he said, alluding to the PD's internal divisions, which political commentators said would be exacerbated by the results. TURIN SHOCK The PD's defeat in Rome had been expected after criticism of its management of the city over the past three years, with its mayor forced to resign in 2015 in a scandal over his expenses. But the loss to 5-Star in Turin, a center-left stronghold and home of carmaker Fiat, was a major shock. The incumbent, Piero Fassino, a veteran party heavyweight, was swept aside by Chiara Appendino, 31, who overturned an 11-point gap after the first round to win 55 percent of the vote. Comedian Beppe Grillo, 67, who founded 5-Star seven years ago, has mostly retreated from front-line politics over the last 18 months, making way for younger politicians who have given the protest party a more moderate image and broader appeal. However, Grillo basked in his creation's success on Monday, saying 5-Star would "fly high towards national government." The movement's protests against rampant corruption in Italian public life remains its chief asset. However, analysts say it has outgrown its image as purely a party of protest. Its policies include universal income support for the poor, tougher penalties on white collar crime and tax evasion, closing down or privatizing many publicly owned companies and cutting taxes for small businesses. Across the country, turnout fell sharply, signaling growing disenchantment with politics. Just 50.5 percent of those eligible to vote, or about 8.6 million people - about a fifth of the total electorate - went to the polls, against some 60 percent two weeks ago. (Writing by Crispian Balmer and Philip Pullella; Editing by Richard Balmforth)


Apart from international stars like Jackie Chan and Rajinikanth,

the movie will also feature Malaysian actors.





20 Jun  International actors Jackie Chan, Rajinikanth and Sonam Kapoor are reportedly to star in a Malaysian production, "The Chini Saga", which would revolve around the legend of the dragon from Chini Lake, Pahang. "I am not just making this up. The matter of making contact with popular actors like Jackie Chan, Rajinikanth and Sonam Kapoor, have all been done." "As this film is planned to be screened in the actors' home countries, therefore we would need their appearance in the film," said producer Mohd Rafeezi Mohd Zin a.k.a. Pveezi Zain as quoted by Sinar Harian. According to Pveezi, apart from international stars the film would also involve local Malaysian actors.



"The Chini Saga" teaser.





"The Chini Saga" was first announced four years ago, but it was delayed due to insufficient funds as it needed RM20 million to move forward. Pveezi said that his camp has managed to collect the funds and that the filming would commence in stages beginning from July 2016 onwards. The filming locations are Norway, India, China, Indonesia and Thailand. As for the colossal budget to make the film, Pveezi says that he is not nervous to take the plunge for this project as the film will not only be screened in Malaysia, but also in several other countries including Europe. Pveezi said that he has also added on RM5 million to the budget for promoting the film and coming up with an App for it. He added that "The Chini Saga" will feature 90 percent of CGI effects and it would also be 90 percent in the English Language.
Photo: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images.

Update: Jane Goodall offered more comments on the death of Harambe in a lengthy Q&A published over the weekend, reflecting on the gorilla's potential mindset, and how zoos can prevent situations like this from happening in the future. "It was awful for the child, the parents, Harambe, the zoo, the keepers, and the public. But when people come into contact with wild animals, life and death decisions sometimes have to be made," she said in the Q&A produced by the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

This story was originally published on June 2, 2016.

The death of a 400-pound gorilla shot and killed after a 4-year-old boy fell into his enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo has sparked a nationwide conversation about animal rights.

Now, one of the world's leading animal experts is speaking out about the incident. Jane Goodall published an email she sent to zoo director, Thane Maynard, regarding what she described as "a devastating loss to the zoo, and to the gorillas."

"I feel so sorry for you, having to try to defend something which you may well disapprove of," the primatologist wrote. "I tried to see exactly what was happening  it looked as though the gorilla was putting an arm round the child  like the female who rescued and returned the child from the Chicago exhibit."

In the email, which was published on the Jane Goodall Institute website, Goodall also asks about the reactions of the zoo's other gorillas. "Are they allowed to see, and express grief, which seems to be so important," she wrote.

After Harambe was killed, some people asked why the zoo didn't tranquilize him, rather than kill him. Maynard defended the zoo's actions, saying the boy's life was in danger, and tranquilizers could have agitated the animal and would have taken several minutes to become effective. A video of the incident appears to show Harambe dragging the child around the enclosure.

Story continues

Cincinnati police announced Tuesday, meanwhile, that they will investigate the boy's family to see what circumstances led to him falling into the enclosure. "After the review, we will determine if charges need to be brought forward," Tiffaney Hardy, a police spokesperson, told CNN.

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By Stanley White

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's exports fell at the fastest pace in four months in May on supply chain disruptions from the Kumamoto earthquake and slow growth in emerging markets - foreshadowing gloomy trade prospects for the current quarter.

Exports declined 11.3 percent year-on-year in May, Ministry of Finance data showed on Monday, versus the median estimate for a 10.4 percent annual fall and a 10.1 percent annual drop in April.

Exports are likely to expand in coming months as overseas demand shows signs of stabilizing, but Prime Minister Shinzo Abe remains under pressure to support growth as further gains in the yen threaten exports and corporate earnings.

"Exports in April-June have stagnated, reflecting disruptions to Japan's supply chain and soft demand overseas," said Hiroaki Muto, economist at Tokai Tokyo Research Center.

"There is strong reason to believe exports will pick up from July-September. We are not in a recession, but more gains in the yen would become a problem."

Exports fell in May on declines in shipments of steel, semiconductors and electronic parts, the data showed.

A series of earthquakes struck the southern manufacturing hub of Kumamoto in mid-April destroying homes, triggering landslides and stopping production of electronics and car parts at factories in the area.

Many companies were able to resume production quickly, but it has taken a while for some plants to return to full capacity.

Exports to China - Japan's largest trading partner - fell 14.9 percent in May, while the U.S.-bound shipments fell 10.7 percent year-on-year.

Exports to Asia, which accounts for more than half of Japan's shipments, fell 13.0 percent in the year to April, and EU-bound shipments fell 4.0 percent.

The yen has risen around 15 percent versus the dollar this year due to receding expectations for U.S. interest rate hikes, which is weighing on exports.

If the yen continues to rise, this could lower exporters' earnings, which could in turn discourage companies from raising wages and capital expenditure.

A strong yen also complicates the Bank of Japan's attempts to encourage inflation because it reduces the cost of imported goods.

(Reporting by Stanley White; Editing by Eric Meijer)
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will likely gain more than twice as many votes as the biggest opposition Democratic Party in the July 10 upper house election, newspaper surveys showed on Monday. Abe has delayed a sales tax increase by 2-1/2 years to October 2019, and said the LDP, along with its junior coalition partner the Komeito party, aimed to win a majority of the 121 seats to seek a mandate for his decision. The Democratic Party, however, said a constitutional revision should be a major issue for the election as Abe aspires to revise the U.S.-drafted, pacifist constitution. In a poll by the Asahi Shimbun daily, 38 percent of those surveyed said they wanted to vote for the LDP in the proportional representation seats, compared with 15 percent for the Democratic Party. A similar survey by the Yomiuri Shimbun daily showed that 35 percent of respondents intended to vote for the LDP, while 12 percent for the Democratic Party. Abe said in January the LDP wanted to win a combined two-thirds majority with Komeito and like-minded opposition parties at the July election to enable him to revise the constitution, although he has said in recent weeks that it is premature to discuss a constitutional revision as an election issue. A formal amendment of the constitution requires approval by two-thirds of both houses of parliament and a majority in a referendum. Abe's ruling bloc already has a two-thirds majority in the lower house. In an effort to prevent the ruling bloc and two opposition parties open to constitutional revisions from gaining a two-thirds majority of the upper chamber, the Democrats and three smaller parities have agreed to put forward unified candidates for the 32 single-seat constituencies for the July vote. (Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Michael Perry)
Japanese regulators said Monday that two ageing nuclear reactors can stay on line for up to 20 more years -- the first such exception under tighter safety rules imposed after the 2011 Fukushima crisis.

Environmental group Greenpeace criticised the decision, saying earthquake risks were being ignored.

Japan shut down dozens of reactors after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake-generated tsunami on March 11, 2011 triggered meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant in the northeast, the world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986.

The ensuing decrease in nuclear power generation forced resource-poor Japan to turn to pricey fossil fuels. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has declared that nuclear power is essential for the economy as he pushes to get reactors back in operation.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) said the No. 1 and No. 2 reactors at Kansai Electric's Takahama plant can operate for up to 20 more years because they meet safety guidelines.

The utility had asked the nuclear watchdog to extend the operational period of the reactors. Both are over 40 years old, normally the maximum period under NRA rules.

The reactors have been switched off since 2011.

The move comes after a district court in March issued an injunction ordering a temporary shutdown of the No. 3 and No. 4 reactors at the same plant.

The Takahama facility is located 350 kilometres (215 miles) west of Tokyo.

Monday's decision was quickly denounced by Greenpeace, which said the move "goes far beyond regulatory failure".

"The NRA is... doing everything it can to ignore the earthquake risks to nuclear plants in Japan," Kendra Ulrich, senior global energy campaigner at Greenpeace Japan, said in a statement.

Ulrich, citing "known seismic risks" in the area, added: "The NRA is showing itself to be incapable and unwilling to protect the people of Japan."
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...
Venkat Desirazu

Jeeps replacement for the Compass and Patriot crossovers has been spotted wearing camouflage on the back of a flatbed in China. This will be the American UV makers new entry-level vehicle and will be an important part of their Indian onslaught once the brand is launched locally. Parent company Fiat has already imported assembly line components into India for the same from South Korea.

These pictures reveal a low(ish) sloping roofline, signature slatted Jeep grille, multi-spoke alloy wheels and what appears to be decently high ground clearance. This vehicle appears to be the first vehicle of such design from Jeep and will share its underpinnings with the Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X.



In China it will be offered with a 2.0-litre and 2.4-litre petrol engine but in other markets we can also expect the car to be fitted with a new 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine. Most variants will be FWD with optional AWD being offered with at least one petrol and diesel engine option.

Source:CarNewsChina

For more news,reviews,videos and information about cars, visit CarWale.com.

Check On-Road Prices | Find New Cars | Upcoming Cars | Compare Cars | Dealer Locator
The vehicle involved in a freak accident that killed Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin on Sunday was part of a safety recall the government issued two months ago.

The 27-year-old, who was best known for playing Chekov in the new Star Trek films, was crushed by his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee in his driveway about 1 a.m, Los Angeles Police Department spokeswoman Jane Kim told TIME. When he got out of his SUV, it rolled backward down a steep driveway and pinned him against a brick mailbox and a security fence, Kim said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in late April warned drivers of a defect in the model, involving its monostable gear selector. The electronic shifter, which has a button to change gears instead of requiring drivers to physically move a lever, could cause drivers to mistakenly believe their vehicle is in park, when it is actually in neutral or drive, the federal safety agency said.

Drivers erroneously concluding that their vehicles transmission in the park position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged, the NHTSA said in its safety recall report. Yelchins model of Jeep was part of the recall, according to the New York Times.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles affected in the recall were produced between July 16, 2012 and Dec. 22, 2015, according to the recall report. Its unclear if Yelchins vehicle was made during that time frame, or whether it was produced later in 2015. Police are working to determine which gear his car was in during the accident and whether the vehicles engine was running when his body was found, Kim said.

Yelchins publicist did not immediately comment about the SUV or the recall.

Fiat Chrysler, which manufactures the Jeep Grand Cherokee, said in a statement that it is in contact with authorities and is conducting a thorough investigation. It is premature to speculate on the cause of this tragedy, said the statement, which also offered condolences to Yelchins friends and family.
Another day, another sweet date for Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux.



The couple have been spotted out and about in New York City numerous times since returning from their recent vacation to the Bahamas.



On Sunday, the 47-year-old actress and Theroux, 44, hit up Nobu for dinner  and were all smiles during the romantic date.



The Friends alum sported a black, loose-fitting top with matching capri pants and red heels. She let her blond locks tumble to her shoulders in waves.







Theroux opted for a striped, black-and-white shirt with black pants.



This is just the latest public outing for the couple after the tropical getaway.





Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux Continue String of Romantic Dates with Dinner in N.Y.C.| Couples, Most Romantic Couples, Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux



The two were spotted out to lunch at Mercer Kitchen in Soho on Tuesday before having a date night on Thursday at The Smile. The couple spent Saturday doing some shopping in Soho.





WATCH: Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux Are Back from Their Sweet Vacation



The two seem to be spending as much time together as possible before Theroux leaves for Australia to film the next season of The Leftovers, where he will be working on their actual anniversary date of Aug. 5.



A source previously told PEOPLE that the recent island getaway was an early anniversary trip for the pair.
It was a double date night for Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux on Father's Day.

The A-list couple joined Howard Stern and his wife, Beth Ostrosky Stern, on Sunday for dinner at Nobu in New York City, but left separately.

WATCH: Jennifer Aniston Shows Off Toned Arms in Tank Top After Rep Denies Pregnancy Rumors

Aniston, 47, was dressed in a flowing black jumpsuit and red, strappy heels, while her 44-year-old husband donned a muscle-hugging striped shirt and jeans.

Splash News

Splash News

The double date comes nearly a week after the couple was spotted enjoying a romantic, PDA-filled vacation in the Bahamas. In pics obtained by ET, the bikini-clad actress is seen sweetly kissing her shirtless hubby on the beach. Some tabloids speculated that Aniston was pregnant following the release of the vacation pics, but her rep told ET that the rumors were completely false.

"She is not pregnant. Shame on InTouch for making up the whole story, but this is not the first time they have done so," the Friends star's rep said last Wednesday. "What you see is her having just enjoyed a delicious big lunch and her feeling safe on private property."

WATCH: Jennifer Aniston Sparks New Pregnancy Rumors in Bikini on Vacation With Husband Justin Theroux

Related Articles
Beirut (AFP) - Jihadists of the Islamic State group drove Syrian regime troops out of Raqa province on Monday, killing dozens of fighters in a lightning counter-attack, a monitoring group said.

The attack was mounted late on Sunday in response to a regime offensive in the IS stronghold of Raqa launched on June 3 that advanced about 20 kilometres (12 miles) toward the town of Tabqa, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

It came as US Secretary of State John Kerry said he had read a memo from a group of frustrated diplomats urging strikes against the Syrian regime and found it "very good".

The "dissent cable" became public last week after 51 serving US officials signed a call for direct US military action to force President Bashar al-Assad's regime to negotiate for peace.

The memo was seen as a criticism of President Barack Obama's cautious approach, but the "dissent channel" is an approved mechanism for diplomats opposed to official policy.

Syria's civil war began with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations in 2011 and has now killed more than 280,000 people and displaced millions.

Government troops, backed by Russian air strikes, in early June pushed into Raqa for the first time since 2014, aiming for the country's largest dam at Tabqa on the Euphrates River.

"Daesh (IS) has managed to drive out regime troops from the administrative borders of Raqa province after a fierce counter-offensive," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

It said the jihadists had sent hundreds of reinforcements from their de facto capital of Raqa city to defend Tabqa, which also has an air base, located 50 kilometres to the west.

"More than 40 members of the pro-regime forces were killed," said the Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a vast network of sources on the ground for its information.

Jihadist losses were unavailable.

- IS kills villagers -

An initial IS offensive on Sunday failed but a second attack seized many positions southwest of Tabqa.

Story continues

On a separate front, IS also launched a surprise assault from another stronghold in Raqa province, killing residents of two villages it recaptured from US-backed fighters.

IS had dispatched a small group of jihadists -- including one driving an explosives-laden car -- into villages southeast of Manbij.

The villages had been seized in recent weeks by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The US-led coalition backing the SDF carried out a barrage of air strikes Monday to defend the villages, said Syrian Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.

At least four SDF fighters were killed in the clashes and many more were wounded.

The SDF -- a Kurdish-Arab alliance with air support from the coalition -- encircled Manbij nearly 10 days ago.

But since then, they had been slowed by almost daily suicide bombings as IS puts up a fight for the town.

Held by the jihadists since 2014, Manbij was a key stop along IS's supply route from the Turkish border southeast through the town of Tabqa and on to the city of Raqa.
A collection of Joan Rivers personal belongings are going under an auctioneer's hammer, including some jewelry, purses and  of course  her lavish gowns.

Read: 'Star Trek' Actor Anton Yelchin Killed in Freak Car Accident at Age 27

It's been nearly two years since the comedic legend and fashionista died. Now, her daughter Melissa, is ready to part with some of her mother's things with the help of famed auction house, Christies.

Joan's New York apartment was furnished like a French chateau. She proudly showed it off in the documentary, A Piece Of Work.

Bidding for an antique sideboard will start at $100,000 and her Faberge collection is valued at more than $1 million. The auction also includes her jewelry, handbags and the couture gowns she wore on the red carpet.

Even Joans dogs lived like kings. Her dog Spike's silver plated Tiffany dog bowl is for sale, as well as his designer dog house.

That was never used. Spike never set foot in that thing, Melissa admitted.

Not everything from Joans apartment is in the sale, like a vase that currently sits in the apartment of Inside Edition's Deborah Norville.

Read: JJ Abrams Leads Tributes to 'Star Trek' Actor Anton Yelchin: 'You Weren't Here Nearly Long Enough'

Shortly after Joan died, Melissa sent the vase to the host, saying she hoped it reminded her of the happy times they spent together.

I made sure people who she wanted to have things, got things, like yourself that were meaningful to that person, Melissa said. When we lose someone we love and they leave behind the things they loved. You're really learned a lot about letting go and feeling okay about it.



Bidding on Joans items can be done online at Christies.com. A portion of the auction proceeds will go to her favorite charities like Guide Dogs For The Blind and God's Love We Deliver.

Story continues

Watch: Garry Shandling Spoke About His Own Funeral During Show 2 Months Before Death

Related Articles:
Screen Shot 2016 06 20 at 8.59.38 AM

John Oliver has done the Brexit thing.

The "Last Week Tonight" host on Sunday broke down the referendum set for Thursday that will see British citizens vote on whether the UK should remain a member of the European Union.

Oliver spent most of the 15-minute segment making the case that a Leave vote is, well, not exactly what those campaigning to leave have made it seem.

For example, Oliver questions the assertion of Boris Johnson, the former London mayor, that EU membership costs the UK 350 million ($512 million) a week.

That claim has already been debunked  the UK gets a 100 million rebate each week, and 85 million of the remaining gets spent in the UK, according to iTV. But Oliver calls Johnson "a man with both the look and economic insight of Bam Bam from 'The Flintstones.'"

Oliver then suggested a counter to Johnson's campaign tactic of driving around London in a bus with the 350 million figure posted on the side:

Screen Shot 2016 06 20 at 8.56.27 AM

This is all a way of saying, in Oliver's view, that the "serious" arguments made by the Leave camp aren't all that serious.

Oliver noted that many of the major international economic commentators  groups like the International Monetary Fund, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Bank of England  had warned on the consequences of a Leave vote. He also shredded the anti-immigrant and sometimes racist bent that has been taken by many in the UK Independence Party, known as UKIP.

Oliver added that ranting against the EU  and, really, the whole of Europe  is a fundamentally British thing to do.

But this, in his view, is not a good reason to try to leave the European Union altogether.

"But this is how I feel about the EU," Oliver said. "It's a complicated, bureaucratic, ambitious, overbearing, inspirational, and consistently irritating institution  and Britain would be absolutely crazy to leave it. Especially because if it stays, it can reap all the benefits while still being a total d--- about everything, and that is the British way."

Story continues

After the Remain camp caught a bit of momentum last week, new polls over the weekend showed the Remain camp regaining some ground in the polls.

On Monday, the British pound was rallying, stocks were rallying, and markets that had long believed the Remain camp would win began to regain considerable confidence their long-held view would come to pass.

Watch Oliver's full piece below:





More From Business Insider


Lori Beer JPMorgan

JPMorgan has made a change in its giant corporate and investment bank.

The bank has promoted Lori Beer to the role of chief information officer for the corporate and investment bank, according to a memo seen by Business Insider.

"In an organization as diverse as the Corporate & Investment Bank, a strong leader who can navigate our rapidly changing environment is now more important than ever," the memo said.

In her new role, Beer will oversee as many as 10,000 technology employees.

Beer joined the bank in 2014 as CIO for banking, having previously spent 15 years at Wellpoint, the health insurer now known as Anthem. She filled various roles at that company, including CIO and head of operations. She was also responsible for developing the first commercial healthcare applications for IBM's Watson technology.

"Her experience in driving the transformation of technology in a highly complex and disparate environment and delivering a multi-year strategy ensures that well continue to execute and advance against our CIB and Global Technology priorities," the memo said.

She will report to Dana Deasy, global chief information officer, and Sanoke Viswanathan, chief administrative officer for corporate and investment bank. Deasy joined the bank in 2013 from BP, while Viswanathan joined from McKinsey.

Technology is a big focus at the JPMorgan. Business Insider reported late last year that the bank was "aggressively" investing in the next generation of technology, like blockchain and robotics, and that the investment drive in these areas was part of its "major priorities" in 2016.

In February, JPMorgan CFO Marianne Lake said the bank was "a technology company," with 40,000 technologists, including 18,000 developers "creating intellectual property." It has a $9 billion technology budget.

More recently, the bank appointed David Hudson to the new role of global head of markets execution. His promotion is part of an effort by JPMorgan to adapt to changing market structures.

Story continues

NOW WATCH: FORMER GREEK FINANCE MINISTER: How I dealt with stress when Greece nearly defaulted





More From Business Insider


By Curtis Skinner

(Reuters) - A federal judge in Mississippi has allowed to stand a new state law that permits people to deny wedding services to same-sex couples based on religious objections.

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves argued in his four-page order that since none of the lawsuit's plaintiffs would be harmed by the law in the immediate future, a preliminary injunction would be inappropriate.

"Here, none of the plaintiffs are at imminent risk of injury," Reeves wrote.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi said the measure, set to take effect on July 1, unconstitutionally discriminates against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

The ACLU is suing on behalf of state residents Nykolas Alford and Stephen Thomas, a gay couple engaged to be married within the next three years, arguing the law violates their 14th Amendment rights. The ACLU is also suing on behalf of at least one of its members, who plans to marry a same-sex partner next year, the order said.

"We are reviewing the options and we will plan our next steps accordingly," ACLU of Mississippi spokeswoman Zakiya Summers said on Monday.

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, a Republican, signed into law the wide-reaching measure in April, which supporters called necessary to protect businesses and individuals seeking to exercise their religious views.

Mississippi is among a handful of Southern U.S. states on the front lines of legal battles over equality, privacy and religious freedom.

In March, North Carolina became the first state to bar people from using restrooms based on gender identity versus sex at birth.

The far-reaching Mississippi law also clears the way for employers to cite religion in determining workplace policies on dress code, grooming and bathroom and locker access.

The ACLU has said the Mississippi law could affect people in sexual relationships outside of a heterosexual marriage. While the initial challenge is focused on the provisions pertaining to marriage, the organization said in a statement that it planned to fight the other provisions.

Story continues

Roberta Kaplan, an attorney representing the Campaign for Southern Equality, which has also challenged the law, said the decision did not suggest the judge would not consider other arguments.

"The cases present completely different issues," she said, noting the ACLU's is one of four pending legal challenges against the law.

The same judge heard arguments on Monday in one related case, and another hearing concerning two more related lawsuits is scheduled later this week.
Passenger load factor fell to 73.6% in May.

Singapores flag carrier is experiencing a rough patch in terms of yields, with capacity growth of 2.9% outpacing its 1.8% traffic growth.

However, according to analysts from OCBC, the weak yields environment is being offset by savings brought about by cheaper fuel.

Operating in weak yields environment, we expect SIAs FY17F earnings to be driven by much lower hedging losses and higher fuel savings from new aircraft being delivered over the year, offsetting lower yields, OCBC said.

Additionally, Singapore Airlines can also draw positive news from its sister airlines SilkAir and Scoot, which continued to show growth momentum.

SilkAirs posted solid performance as passenger loads for May 16 grew 16.7% YoY, which exceeded capacity growth of 15.1% resulting in a 0.9ppt improvement in PLF to 69.5%.

Another positive came from Scoot as it continued its strong growth momentum as May 16 passenger loads jumped 56.9% YoY but outpaced by capacity growth of 60.1% as number of aircraft increased from six to eleven, OCBC said.







More From Singapore Business Review


London (AFP) - From immigration to sovereignty, here are the main battleground topics in the referendum campaign as Britain prepares to vote on Thursday whether to stay in or leave the EU.

- Immigration -

Leave: Those who want to leave the EU say Britain should be able to limit the number of migrants coming from the European Union through a points-based selection system. They are particularly worried about the pressure on public services like schools, hospitals and access to doctors created by mass immigration. There are also concerns about migrants who claim welfare and the pressure on housing. Net migration to Britain hit 333,000 in 2015 -- 3,000 short of the 2014 record. EU net migration equalled the record high of 184,000 people. Some 270,000 EU citizens moved to Britain for at least 12 months last year.

Remain: Those in favour of staying argue that EU migrants contribute more to the economy in taxes than they cost. They say that since they are young, they often do not place an undue strain on public services. EU migrants contribute 34 percent more than they receive from the state, according to 2013 research conducted at University College London. Prime Minister David Cameron has secured a deal meaning in-work welfare for new EU immigrants will be limited for their first four years if Britain remains in the bloc.

- Economy -

Leave: Out campaigners say leaving the EU would mean Britain would no longer have to pay its contribution to its budget -- estimated at almost 8.5 billion last year. Britain could seek a bespoke trading relationship with the EU and strike trade deals with growing markets like China and India, they say.

Remain: In campaigners say EU membership means a stronger economy creating jobs, trade and investment in Britain. Some 45 percent of all British exports go to the EU and three million jobs in Britain are linked to trade in Europe, they argue. They say Britain would still have to pay for access to the single market if it wanted to remain inside it.

Story continues

- Sovereignty -

Leave: Britain would no longer have to abide by laws created in Brussels, campaigners say. Other states could not force through decisions against London's wishes and Britain would not have to abide by the European Court of Justice, they claim.

Remain: Leaving the EU would undermine Britain's standing in the world and could increase the likelihood of Scottish independence, campaigners argue.

As part of his reform package, Cameron has secured a commitment that Britain would not be bound by the EU's drive for ever-closer union.

- Regulation -

Leave: Brussels imposes too much red tape on British business, according to the Leave camp, which says the top 100 regulations cost Britain's economy more than 33 billion per year. If Britain leaves the EU, unburdened businesses, particularly small ones, would have more freedom to make their own decisions.

Remain: The Remain camp claims that if Britain left the EU, it would be bad for businesses as markets would be shaken by the uncertainty and it could take years to strike new trade arrangements with the EU. Britain would still be bound by single market rules if it wanted to remain in the free-trade European Economic Area and have to comply with EU standards if it wanted to sell goods in the EU market.
KELOWNA, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 20, 2016 / Laguna Blends, Inc. (CSE:LAG) (OTC:LAGBF) (Frankfurt: LB6A.F) (the "Company" or "Laguna") is pleased to highlight its inclusion in the June 2016 Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) quarterly magazine. This is a hard copy Magazine seen in financial and brokerage offices across the Country.

Online access of CSE Quarterly is available here. Laguna's profile can be found on page 18-19.

CSE Quarterly link

In the feature titled, "Laguna Blends - Combining unique product, technology edge to put own spin on network marketing," author Peter Murray writes:

"Not on that dangerous edge where you are re-inventing the wheel, nor on the lost-in-the-crowd track of doing the same thing as everyone else, Laguna Blends has apparently positioned itself in something of a sweet spot by introducing modern tools and unique products to an established industry. With an experienced executive team in place and sales underway, the company and its investors will soon find out just how many tech companies Laguna can leave in the rear view mirror."

The profile discusses Laguna's multi-level-marketing (MLM) strategy amid the broader market, as well as the Company's unique hemp-based functional beverage products and leadership team.



Stuart Gray, CEO of Laguna Blends, says "Laguna is ecstatic to be included in the CSE Quarterly Magazine. We are working hard to build the necessary foundation for long-term success, the formula of which we believe combines a world class management team, efficacious products and digital disruption, cloud-based, immersive 3D technology. Under this model, we recently launched sales in the USA and Canada and are happy to have exceeded internal sales goals. Laguna strives to be an International player in the direct sales industry within the next several of years, and we're appreciative of the CSE for recognizing our progress toward this goal."



About the Canadian Securities Exchange:

The Canadian Securities Exchange, or CSE, is operated by CNSX Markets Inc. Recognized as a stock exchange in 2004, the CSE began operations in 2003 to provide a modern and efficient alternative for companies looking to access the Canadian public capital markets.



Now in its third year of publication, the CSE Quarterly has witnessed the CSE's listed issues count grow from 220 to just shy of 330. Trading volume is continuing to set new highs and we have seen a greater diversification of our listings that reflects the spectrum of innovation in Canada.

Story continues

June 2016 - CSE Quarterly link

About Laguna Blends Inc.

Laguna is a network marketing company that generates retail sales through independent affiliates. Affiliates utilize tools and technology that enable them to build an international business from their own home or anywhere else in the world. This technology replaces the need for expensive travel and hotel meetings.

The Company is currently focused on the nutritional health benefits derived from hemp. Laguna's first product category as an entry to market are functional beverage products that contain hemp and other efficacious ingredients. Laguna's initial products to market are the following:



"Caffe" is an instant, "just add water" hot coffee beverage that is infused with both whey and hemp protein. With 2 grams of protein in every serving, our proprietary product packs a powerful protein punch. Caffe, contains Instant coffee, whey protein hydrolysate, hemp protein, natural flavors.

"Pro369" is a single serving, "on-the-go," plant based, instant, hemp protein that is served cold and comes in 4 delicious flavors. Pro369 is water soluble and can be directly mixed in water, added to milk, almond milk or coconut milk. Pro369 can also be blended in a shake or smoothie. Pro369 is also a source of Omegas, 3, 6 and 9 and contains ginseng.

Laguna Blends has been granted approval from Health Canada for four powdered Pro369 flavours: Chocolate Banana, Mixed Berry and Vanilla Caramel and Tropical Powder. Pro369 contains Hemp protein, natural flavors, stevia, and American ginseng.

The Minister of Health from Health Canada has granted Laguna a product license along with a Natural Product Number ("NPN") for all four of the Pro369 Flavours. They are all listed under the same NPN.

1. A source of protein that helps build and repair body tissues.

2. Source of amino acids involved in muscle protein synthesis.

3. Assists in the building of lean muscle.

4. An adaptogen to help maintain a healthy immune system.

5. Supportive therapy for the promotion of healthy glucose levels.



Hemp has long been recognized by the health and nutrition industry as a super food, cited in many publications as a balanced source of all ingredients required to achieve health and wellness.

HempOmega

HempOmega is an environmentally sustainable, vegetarian source of Omegas 3 and 6 that boasts a superior nutrient profile. A water soluble, homogenous, powdered ingredient, it can be easily integrated and/or manipulated, with no unpleasant taste or chemical contamination - opening up entirely new product formulation opportunities. Hemp Omega's greater ability to endure the digestive process delivers unmatched bioavailability, thereby maximizing its potential health benefits.

The Company sells its products through its independent affiliates in the USA and Canada.

HempOmega is a Trademark owned by Naturally Splendid Enterprises, Ltd. and is used under license by Laguna Blends Inc.



ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Stuart Gray"

Chief Executive Officer

FOR INVESTOR RELATIONS INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

QualityStocks

Scottsdale, Arizona

www.QualityStocks.com

480.374.1336 Office

ir@lagunablends.com

www.lagunablends.com

www.lagunaworld.com

Join Us On Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/LagunaBlends/

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Forward-Looking Information:

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to statements regarding the Company's business, products and future plans including, without limitation, statements regarding Laguna's long term potential and that there is strong demand for its products. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct and makes no reference to profitability based on sales reported. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance and developments to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risks that the Company's sales for the quarters ended March 31st and ending June 30th may be materially different that reported herein and the Company may not be able to carry out its business plans as expected. Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation, and does not intend, to update any forward looking statements or forward-looking information in this news release. The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release.

SOURCE: Laguna Blends, Inc.
Georgetown University 1861

The president of Georgetown University met with a descendant of two slaves it sold to help the school through financial difficulty, The New York Times reported last week.

John J. DeGioia, Georgetown's president, met with Patricia Bayonne-Johnson, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Nace and Biby Butler, two slaves sold by the school in 1838.

"He asked what could he do and how could he help," Bayonne-Johnson told The Times. "It was a very good beginning."

Historians believe that the meeting was the first time that the leader of a prestigious university has met with the descendants of slaves it sold, according to The Times.

"I came to listen and learn," DeGioia told the Times and described the meeting as "moving and inspiring."

Georgetown University students

Last year, DeGioia constructed the Working Group on Slavery, Memory, and Reconciliation to evaluate what steps Georgetown should take to address the benefit it received from slavery.

In a letter to the university community in April 2016, DeGioia outlined archival research to search for decedents of slaves as a primary focus over the last year.

The working group's recommendations are set to be released this summer.

While many universities across the US benefited from slavery, Georgetown has perhaps one of the most direct links. In 1838 the school sold 272 men, women, and children for about about $3.3 million in todays dollars.

In April, The New York Times editorial board published a blunt condemnation of the role that slavery played in the formation of Georgetown University.

"Georgetown is morally obligated to adopt restorative measures, which should clearly include a scholarship fund for the descendants of those who were sold to save the institution," the board wrote.

The Times put this number at 12,000 to 15,000 descendants of the 272 enslaved Americans, citing figures from the nonprofit Georgetown Memory Project's statistical model.

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georgetown university

The editorial added to the chorus of calls for the acknowledgement and rectification of the history of institutional racism at colleges across the nation.

In the case of Georgetown, The Times argued there's an even stronger argument for reparations, as the school's ties to slavery are irrefutable.

"At Georgetown, slavery and scholarship were inextricably linked," the board wrote. "When the school fell into trouble, the sale of the African-American men, women and children staved off its ruin."

For her part, Bayonne-Johnson, who is a genealogist, has been pivotal in revealing the history behind what became of the slaves sold by Georgetown, The Washington Post reported.

Before a family reunion she, along with the help of another genealogist, conducted some research which resulted in the uncovering of a document that showed family members were sold to a plantation in Louisiana.

NOW WATCH: Only a small percentage of law school graduates actually make big money  here's a simple way to tell if you'll be one of them





More From Business Insider


A busload of Nepali security guards were among 25 people killed in a string of bombings across Afghanistan Monday, days after Washington expanded the US military's authority to strike the Taliban.

A Taliban spokesman on Twitter claimed the first attack, which killed 14 Nepali security guards working for the Canadian Embassy in Kabul in a massive blast that left their yellow minibus spattered with blood.

However Islamic State's affiliate in Afghanistan and Pakistan released a competing claim in which they named and pictured the alleged bomber, according to the SITE monitoring group, in what would be their most significant attack in the country.

An Afghan intelligence source said officials were investigating the IS claim, which was flatly denied by the Taliban.

The Taliban also claimed a second, smaller blast in south Kabul Monday that the interior ministry said killed one person.

The bombings were followed hours later by an attack on a market in the remote northeastern province of Badakhshan that authorities said killed at least 10 people, with the death toll set to rise.

The wave of violence comes 10 days after Washington announced an expansion of the US military's authority to conduct air strikes against the Taliban, a significant boost for Afghan forces who have limited close air-support capacities.

- Competing claims -

Police said the attack on the Nepali guards was carried out by a suicide bomber on foot early Monday on a main road leading east out of the capital towards the city of Jalalabad.

Fourteen Nepali nationals were killed, the interior ministry said in a statement, with nine wounded -- five Nepali citizens and four Afghans.

The Canadian embassy in Afghanistan confirmed the "cowardly" attack in a tweet, and said that it had employed the guards.

The explosion could be heard across Kabul and a plume of smoke seen above the site of the blast on the Jalalabad road, a main route housing many foreign compounds and military facilities.

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More than two dozen ambulances rushed to the scene, an AFP journalist said, with police blocking off the road. The blast also shattered the windows of nearby shops.

Nepal's prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli said his country "strongly condemns" the killings.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, saying it was "against the forces of aggression" in Afghanistan.

The Islamic State claim, which SITE said was released on Twitter and Telegram, named the bomber as Irfanullah Ahmed and pictured him armed and dressed in combat fatigues in front of an IS flag.

The Taliban poured scorn on the IS claim.

"They neither have the capability to carry out attacks in Kabul, and nor are they supported by people. Today's attack was carried out by one of our mujahideen, and Daesh claiming they did it, is baseless and hollow," Mujahid told AFP by phone, using an alternate name for IS.

- Motorcycle bomb -

The Kabul blasts were followed hours later by a motorcycle bomb in a crowded market in the Keshim district of Badakhshan that local officials said killed at least ten people and wounded 40.

The UN mission in Afghanistan said five children were among the dead as it condemned the attack, for which no one has yet claimed responsibility.

Mountainous Badakhshan had been relatively peaceful until the Taliban briefly captured Kunduz city last year, with insecurity spreading into other northeastern provinces.

The resurgent Taliban have been fighting against the Western-backed Kabul government since they were ousted from power by a US-led invasion in late 2001.

They have been gaining ground all around the country but IS are also making inroads into Afghanistan, particularly in the east, where they are challenging the Taliban on their own turf.

The US and NATO combat mission in Afghanistan ended in December 2014. US forces have been in an advisory role since then, while carrying out counterterrorism missions against the IS group and remnants of Al-Qaeda.

US forces had only been authorised to hit Taliban targets for defensive reasons, or to protect Afghan soldiers.

But the recent changes mean US troops can now work more closely with local fighters in striking the Taliban, who have demanded the departure of all foreign forces.

Also on Monday, two crucial posts that have sat vacant for months were filled, with Afghan lawmakers naming senior defence ministry official Abdullah Habibi as the new defence minister and Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai, a former top peace negotiator, as head of the intelligence agency.
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah on Monday called on the people of Bahrain to express anger at the government's decision to strip a leading Shi'ite cleric of his citizenship and said it would bring severe consequences to the country's leadership. Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, said the move against Ayatollah Isa Qassim, "pushes the Bahraini people to difficult choices which will have severe consequences for this corrupt dictatorial regime". It added that it showed the Bahraini government had reached "the end of the road" in dealing with what it called a peaceful, popular movement. In a statement, Hezbollah called on the people of Bahrain "to express its anger and rage decisively" because it undermined the cleric's symbolic position. (Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Samia Nakhoul)
The Stairway to Heaven trial - the one examining if Led Zeppelin lifted its famous song from Spirits 1967 instrumental Taurus - hasnt yet made it to the chorus of a jurys deliberations. However, on Monday, attorneys for Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and Warner Music urged U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner to halt the proceedings now because the plaintiff hasnt established the elements of copyright infringement.

The move comes after Michael Skidmore, the trustee who manages the estate of songwriter Randy Wolfe, rested his case after three days of testimony. The plaintiff, represented by attorney Francis Malofiy, played the two songs and tried to pin Page down on hearing Taurus before composing Stairway to Heaven. Led Zeppelins guitarist testified that he hadnt heard Taurus until a few years ago and also refused to accept the two works are similar.

Its now Led Zeppelins turn to present their own case, but before the trial possibly resumes on Tuesday, the judge is being asked to make a judgment as a matter of law.

In a motion made today, the defendants argue that copyright claims fail because the copyright registration of Taurus hasnt been put into evidence, that the Wolfe Trustee does not own that copyright, and also that the plaintiff has not presented admissible evidence of Led Zeppelins access to Taurus nor evidence of striking or substantial similarity between the musical compositions.

When Judge Klausner decided to deny a summary judgment motion, he spelled out what would be triable issues.

Although the parties pre-trial filings identified what plaintiff Michael Skidmore needed to prove to establish his claims, Skidmore failed to prove required elements of his claims for direct, contributory and vicarious copyright infringement, states the defendants being led by attorney Peter J. Anderson.

Anderson says its not enough that Skidmore only submitted at trial a claimed printout of a summary of the 1996 renewal registration. Wheres the 1967 copyright registration? And who really owns Taurus?

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Pointing to Skidmores testimony about Wolfes songwriters agreement, the defendants argue that Wolfe assigned his renewal rights to Hollenbeck and thus Hollenbeck, not Skidmore, owns the composition. Further, since Skidmore abandoned his prior beneficial ownership claim, he has no basis to sue and judgment is proper in defendants favor, the papers add.

If Klausner gets past arguments of non-ownership of Taurus, the judge will also have to decide whether theres enough evidence to let a jury decide the Wolfe song has been infringed. The crucial factor here is access - something that didnt come up in the Blurred Lines copyright case because Marvin Gaye was so popular that Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke conceded the issue.

Here, Led Zeppelin say that the witnesses testifying thus far - including Wolfes sister, Spirits bassist Mark Andes and one of Skidmores friends - havent told the jury they saw members of Led Zeppelin at a Spirit concert when Taurus was performed. The band adds, And, while - nearly a half century later - Mr. Page found Spirits first album in his collection of 4,329 albums and 5,882 CDs, there is no evidence he had the album 45 years ago.

The other arguments being tossed to the judge - no substantial similarity, failure to present evidence of actual damages or defendants profits - are probably ones that wont end the case. But given that Klausner has made it a point of emphasis that the copyright at issue pertains to elements of the composition and not any of the sound recordings - who knows? If Led Zeppelin cant bring a halt to the trial now, the band will not only made these arguments of non-ownership, a lack of access and insufficient similarity in the coming days directly to the jury, they are expected to bring musicologists and possibly Page and Plant to the witness stand to talk about how whats claimed to have been stolen is generic and not protected by copyright law.

In a second development on Monday, Led Zeppelins lawyers have told the judge that Malofiy is committing ongoing misconduct that threatens to prejudice a fair trial. They say he has repeatedly sought to elicit testimony how the Wolfe Trust was formed for charitable purposes despite a pre-trial ruling precluding this as well as eliciting testimony from an economic expert about a 2008 agreement whereby Warner paid Page and Plant $60 million to exploit their catalogue for ten years. Malofiy is also being accused of violating a protective order in pretrial motions as well as in comments to the press. They demand the judge do something about it.
Lindsay Lohan beach cover-up crochet

Lindsay Lohan is nothing if not a bold proponent of complicated fashion looks. Even Kourtney Kardashian, the queen of difficult ensembles (that unitard over the pants look, anyone?), had to give the actress props on her latest trip to London, borrowing her fully-fringed, striped mini dress. But Lindsays latest look may just be her most impressive yet, proving the actress has yet to find a cut-out she doesnt like and is 100% fearless in the face of a pretty disastrous tan-line situation.

Over the weekend, the Mean Girls star visited Mauritius with her boyfriend Egor Tarabasov, hitting the island beaches in her most conceptual oceanfront apparel. To celebrate the couples little getaway, Lohan wore a pewter colored, strapless one-piece featuring a circular cutout right at the bust cinched with a bow, paired with a red pendant necklace, sheer black crochet pants and a pair of white jelly sandals.

RELATED VIDEO: Lindsay Lohans Changing Looks



RELATED PHOTOS: They Woke Up Like This: Celebs Best Makeup-Free Selfies

While Lindsays outfit may have been totally rave appropriate, and her pants could be considered a trigger warning for fish who recently had a near death experience with a net, the actress wore this look to simply take a casual, romantic stroll with her beau. While were still apprehensive to test out a relatively low key, multi-strap bikini top, were glad Lindsays willing to take such seaside sartorial risks and blaze trails for the rest of us to follow in her ever-trendy footsteps.

What do you think of Lindsays beach cover-up? Would you wear this look?

Emily Kirkpatrick


Continuing on with his yearly EP tradition, Luke Bryan has announced his first-ever Farm Tour companion piece, Farm Tour  Here's to the Farmer, set for release on Sept. 23rd.

25 Best Things We Saw at CMA Music Fest 2016

The project was unveiled Monday, June 20th, while Bryan was co-hosting NBC's Today, and it coincides with the announcement of his eighth annual Farm Tour, which is set to visit eight small farming communities from Oct. 5th  15th.

Filled with five all-new songs from the country superstar, Farm Tour  Here's to the Farmer will be Bryan's eighth career EP release and follows in the footsteps of his long-running Spring Break concert and EP series. But now that Bryan's handed the reins of those boozy Gulf Coast concerts over to Cole Swindell, it looks like he's refocusing on his charity-based fall tour.

At each stop, a portion of ticket proceeds provide college scholarships to students from farming families or students studying agriculture within the community, and Bryan and his corporate tour partner Bayer will also make a presentation to a local farmer onstage.

Fans who purchase tickets to the Farm Tour will also receive a download code for the EP, and tickets go on sale to the general public June 24th (June 21st at 10 a.m. local time for fan club members and Citi cardholders).

Here's a complete list of dates for the Bayer Presents Luke Bryan Farm Tour 2016:

Oct. 5 - Gaston, S.C., @ Culler Farms

Oct. 6 - Greenback, Tenn., @ Maple Lane Farms

Oct. 7 - Elizabethtown, Ky., @ Highland Farms

Oct. 8 - Monroeville, Ind., @ Spangler Farms

Oct. 12 - Batesville, Miss., @ FT Farms

Oct. 13 - Prairie Grove, Ark., @ Ogden Ranch

Oct. 14 - Centralia, Mo., @ Stowers Farm

Oct. 15 - Effingham, Ill., @ Mid America Motorworks

Related
This story originally appeared on FWx.com

Some of us give ourselves a razor-thin 30-minute margin to check in, get through security, and board an airplane. (Maybe a quick whiskey before you hit your gate.) But there are others among us, experienced fliers, who like to give themselves a bigger cushion of time between arrival and takeoff. Not so they can make that whiskey a double, or explore the airport for mediocre art installations. They want extra time before a flight for one thing: shopping. (Sometimes we all like to stop at the duty free shop)

Yes, the candy bars and bottled water may be egregiously overpriced, but theres one way airport retail saves you money: the duty free shop. Whether were in it for the perfume, the jewelry, a carton of cigarettes orah, yesthe alcohol, the duty free airport shops give us purchasing power without the added burden of taxation. (Money we can put toward a bonus carton of cigarettes.)

Related: The Key to Healthy Eating Could be Food Traffic Lights

So just where do duty free shops come from? Easy, albeit totally unexpected, answer: Ireland.

The duty free shop is actually an invention of the mid-20th century. For fairly obvious reasons, World War II had put kind of a damper on international travel. But once the war was over, civilians began traveling internationally again. One of their stop-overs was the airport in Shannon, Ireland, where a man named Brendan ORegan worked as a catering comptroller (which is a much cooler way of saying he ran the finances for airport catering).

Related: Some Coffee Beans on the Market Could be 9 Years Old

ORegan noticed that, while on layover in his airport, people liked to shop. In the aftermath of WWII, plenty of countries were in need of a significant revenue source, so ORegan got an idea: why not incentivize airport-specific shopping by making the goods on offer totally tax free? But how exactly to get around those pesky national laws about taxing goods and services? Easy. Just ask the Irish government to declare Shannon airport outside ofas in not a part ofIreland. They did so, and with that, ORegan inaugurated the era of duty free.

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Of course, he couldnt make that decision for every country in the world, so ORegan brought his proposal to the New York Convention on International Travel in 1954, where everyone could decide on the particular duty-free rules.

Related: Starbucks is Now Officially Inside Your Email Client

By the 1960s, duty free had come to America, courtesy of two guys: Chuck Feeney and Robert Miller, founders of Duty Free Shops. DFS got its foot in the door in Hong Kong, finally hitting American soil with an exclusive contract for all duty free sales in Hawaii.

Now duty free shopping is as much a part of air travel as weird Sky Mall purchases and those tiny cans of V8 (why do people only drink V8 at 36,000 feet above ground?). And theres good reason to check it out, even if youre not a big shopper. If, like us, you enjoy a nice glass of alcohol every now and then, you should know that as US citizens traveling internationally, liquor is discounted anywhere from 25 percent to 50 percent. Before you load up on Scotch and Cognac, bear in mind theres an $800 monthly limit ($1,600 if the whole family wants to get in on the luxury liquor spree).

Considering how many liquor and wine brands DFS alone carries, theres a chance you would hit that cap pretty easilyexcept (and heres the rub), everyone is actually also limited to 1 liter of alcohol. So make it a good one.

Related Articles
By Scott Malone BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Reuters) - The maker of the assault rifle used to kill 26 children and educators at a Connecticut school in 2012 argued on Monday that attempts to limit the sale of such weapons to civilians are best left to lawmakers and not families of the victims who sued the company. A lawyer for Bushmaster Firearms LLC, which manufactures the AR-15 that 20-year-old Adam Lanza used in his attack on Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, told a Connecticut judge the 2005 federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) prohibited the suit. "It's not the role of this court or perhaps a jury to decide whether civilians as a broad class of people are not appropriate to own these kinds of firearms," James Vogts, an attorney for Bushmaster's parent company, Remington Arms, told a courtroom so packed that more than a dozen spectators were watching the hearing standing in a hallway outside the court. Judge Barbara Bellis heard arguments eight days after a gunman armed with another model of assault rifle killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The judge did not say when she would rule on the gunmaker's request to toss the lawsuit. The case unfolded on the same day that the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a legal challenge brought by gun rights advocates to laws in New York and Connecticut that ban military-style assault weapons. The families of nine people who died in the attack sued Bushmaster in 2014 in Connecticut Superior Court in Bridgeport. The lawsuit said the AR-15 should never have been sold to the gunman's mother, Nancy Lanza, because it had no civilian purpose. "It was Remington's choice to entrust the most notorious American killing machine to the public," said the families' attorney Joshua Koskoff, who denied Vogts' claim that the lawsuit amounted to an attempt to ban assault weapons. "It's not our job to ban things. That's a legislative decision," Koskoff said. "But just as it's not our job to ban things, it's not the legislature's job to decide when there is a tort claim." The wholesaler and retailer involved in the sale of the Sandy Hook gun also said the PLCAA protects them from lawsuits having to do with the gun's sale. Matthew Soto, whose sister Victoria was killed in the Sandy Hook attack, said the Orlando shooting had intensified his desire to fight for accountability by gun makers. "When I heard the news from Orlando so many emotions went through me, from horror to sadness, grief and disgust," Soto told reporters outside the courthouse. "No other family should have to wait six hours to see if their loved one is alive or dead, but yet so many families have to go through that process in this country because our country cannot come together on the issues of assault rifles." The U.S. Senate's strongest push in years to tighten gun controls was likely to fall short on Monday. Lawmakers scrambled to forge a compromise that might keep firearms away from people on terrorism watch lists by later this week. Adam Lanza began his Dec. 14, 2012, attack by shooting his mother dead in their home and ended it by turning his gun on himself as he heard police sirens approach. (Additional reporting by Mike Wood; Editing by Howard Goller and Diane Craft)
LONDON (Reuters) - The man accused of murdering British lawmaker Jo Cox made a brief appearance via videolink at London's Old Bailey criminal court on Monday, speaking only to confirm his name. Thomas Mair was remanded in custody and will appear at the Old Bailey again on Thursday. At an initial hearing in a lower court on Saturday, Mair said his name was "death to traitors, freedom for Britain". At Monday's hearing, asked if he was Thomas Mair, he said "yes I am". The murder of Cox, a 41-year-old mother of two young children, has shocked Britain, elicited condolences from leaders around the world and raised questions about the tone of campaigning before Britain's referendum on EU membership which takes place on Thursday. Cox, an ardent supporter of EU membership, was shot and stabbed in the street in her electoral district in northern England last Thursday. (Reporting by Michael Holden; writing by Kate Holton; editing by Estelle Shirbon)
LONDON (Reuters) - The man accused of murdering MP Jo Cox made a brief appearance via videolink at London's Old Bailey criminal court on Monday, speaking only to confirm his name. Thomas Mair was remanded in custody and will appear at the Old Bailey again on Thursday. At an initial hearing in a lower court on Saturday, Mair said his name was "death to traitors, freedom for Britain". At Monday's hearing, asked if he was Thomas Mair, he said "yes I am". The murder of Cox, a 41-year-old mother of two young children, has shocked Britain, elicited condolences from leaders around the world and raised questions about the tone of campaigning before Britain's referendum on EU membership which takes place on Thursday. Cox, an ardent supporter of EU membership, was shot and stabbed in the street in her electoral district in northern England last Thursday. (Reporting by Michael Holden; writing by Kate Holton; editing by Estelle Shirbon)
LONDON (Reuters) - British police said on Monday a man had been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a pensioner in a row over this week's referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Union. Police said the incident had occurred outside a department store in Carlisle, northern England, on Sunday morning. "A 78-year-old man was struck in the face causing minor injuries by a 52-year-old man following an altercation about the EU referendum," Cumbria Police said in a statement. The 52-year-old man was arrested shortly afterwards. The debate between those wanting to leave the EU and those wanting to remain has become increasingly heated and febrile as the vote nears. Polls suggest the referendum, which will have huge implications for Britain, is on a knife edge. Last week, Jo Cox, an opposition Labour lawmaker who supported staying in the bloc, was murdered in her constituency in northern England in what Labour Jeremy Corbyn told parliament on Monday appeared increasingly likely to have been a politically motivated attack. (Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Kate Holton)
In early 2015, Fabio Moreno and his friend Fernando Salazar Calvo heard that someone was going to kill them for their efforts to block gold mining on their indigenous reserve in Colombia. The rumors were true: just weeks later, Salazar Calvo was shot to death outside his home and Moreno went into hiding. Salazar Calvo was just one of the 185 people killed for environmental activism in 2015, according to a Global Witness report released Sunday.

The author of the report, Billy Kyte, told Foreign Policy that he was shocked by the 59 percent increase from 2014. He was also dismayed that so many of those killed  almost 40 percent  were indigenous people trying to protect their own ancestral lands. Due to the challenges of gathering the information, said Kyte, the real total of activists killed is probably much higher.

He said that while in the West people think of environmental activists as left-leaning, urban dwelling people, those who are killed are on the frontline. Many are ordinary people who wake up to the sound of a bulldozer on their land and start asking questions.

After seeing the report, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said in a statement distributed by Global Witness that Berta Caceres death in Honduras made headlines around the world because of her notoriety, but there have been many like her who died in obscurity. Governments should be defending these people, not treating them like criminals and letting their killers go free.

Brazil and the Philippines had the highest incidents of murders of environmental activists. Colombia, where Moreno lives, came in third. In a phone interview with Foreign Policy, Moreno said that he had decided to come out of hiding and return to his community in January. Since then, he has heard rumors that a large amount of cash was available for anyone who killed him. Illegal armed groups remain active in the area.

We cant be afraid. After us, there are new generations coming that hope we do something for our territory, Moreno told FP. Despite the danger, we have to continue.

Story continues

Moreno says that the Colombian government has given 44 mining titles to multinational companies on the Canamomo Lomaprieta indigenous reserve where he lives. Although the land belongs to the Embera Chami people, the Colombian government claims subsurface mineral rights.

According to the Global Witness report, 2015 saw a sharp increase in murders related to mining.

Kyte said that the one hopeful piece of news he had found was the international outcry after the murder of Caceres. Never before have so many people come together around this issue, Kyte said. The international outcry led the Honduran government to arrest what Kyte called the triggermen if not the people who actually ordered her death.

This case could be a watershed, Kyte said. If the true masterminds of her killing are held responsible it could discourage future killings. Global Witness is calling for an international investigation into Caceress murder.

However, he has no illusions that it will be easy to get the governments of countries whose economies depend on the extraction and sales of commodities to protect environmental defenders.

I fear that with Brazil and the Philippines certainly that the move to the right with recent governments and the kind of condoning of death squads in the Philippines means that this issue will probably worsen in both countries.

Part of the problem is driven by international companies and investors.

In the case of Caceres, for example, the Dutch and Finnish investors in the hydroelectric project she protested have been very slow to definitively pull their investment.

Without international pressure and outrage I think well probably see violence continue in each of these countries, said Kyte.

Below, see a map that shows the approximate location where each environmental defender that Global Witness documented was killed in 2015:

Image credit: Global Witness/cartodb
(Reuters) - Chipmaker Marvell Technology Group Ltd named Matthew Murphy as chief executive and president, replacing its co-founders who stepped down from the posts in April after a probe raised questions about the top management's operating style.

Murphy joins after 22 years at Maxim Integrated Products Inc, where he most recently led product development, sales and field applications, marketing and central engineering, Marvell said.

Murphy will join Marvell on July 11 and his appointment will increase the size of the company's board of directors to 12. His annual base salary will be $750,000, according to a regulatory filing.

His appointment comes after a troubling few months for investors at Marvell, which has seen an internal probe and several executive changes.

In March, an audit committee investigation found Marvell's management put "significant pressure" on sales teams to meet targets and that the company booked revenue prematurely for some transactions, though there was no fraud.

A month later Chief Executive Sehat Sutardja and President Weili Dai stepped down, a move that analysts at the time had said could set up Marvell for a sale or a break-up.

Indonesia-born Sehat Sutardja co-founded the chipmaker in 1995, along with his brother Pantas and wife Dai.

The company has since hired a new chief operations officer, chief legal officer, as well as three independent board directors nominated by activist hedge fund Starboard Value LP.

Starboard disclosed a 6.5 percent stake in the company in February and urged Marvell to cut costs and exit its mobile-wireless business.

Marvell, whose weak sales have mirrored a declining market for personal computers, delayed its quarterly report filing for April, due to an ongoing internal accounting probe.

The company's shares were flat with their closing of $10.14 in extended trading on Monday.

(Reporting by Anya George Tharakan in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)
For the stars of BrainDead (airing Mondays at 10/9c), the reasons for signing onto CBS new summertime folly pretty much fall into two columns. But little did they suspect that they would also get pulled into perhaps the most bizarre scenes of their careers.

RELATEDBrainDead Premiere Poll: Did CBS Comic Thriller Infect Your Brain?

To recap the comedic-thrillers premise: alien bugs are creeping into the brains of Washington, D.C. power players, steering their personalities into strange directions. Among the early victims is Republican senator Red Wheatus, played by Tony Shalhoub,

BrainDead

who was delighted to work for creators Robert and Michelle King after being (unsuccessfully) courted to guest on The Good Wife.

A number of times I had phone conversations with Robert and Michelle and for certain various reasons it just didnt happen, so I was relieved that this came along, says the three-time Emmy winner, who infused his fictional politico with the smugness of Ted Cruz, a bit of Ron Paul and Donald Trumps fearless usage of words. Actors always talk and share war stories, and friends of mine who worked for them always spoke so highly of [the Kings] and the working atmosphere on [The Good Wife]. They are so smart and so open-minded and open to our input.

RELATEDCBS D.C.-Set BrainDead Features Trump, Clinton and Even Bernie, As Well As Brain-Chomping Alien Bugs

That said, many of the cast who chased the Kings prestigious pedigree were not prepared for their far-out, science-fiction-y take on todays political climate.

At the time I got the pilot script, I had already been, like everyone else, steeped in this particular election cycle that seems to have started in the Jurassic Period and feels like its never going to end, says Shalhoub. I started to be obsessed with the whole circus of it all, so this was a refreshing, comedic spin on whats going on out there. Although sometimes Im not sure which is the fiction which is the reality!

Story continues

I was pretty stunned by it, just in terms of what a shift it was for the Kings and for CBS, says Mary Elizabeth Winstead, whose Laurel begrudgingly goes to work for her brother Luke (played by Danny Pino), a Democratic senator. It was such an adventurous idea for everyone involved, it was risky in an exciting way, and it seemed like itd be a lot of fun! I had no idea of it would entirely work, because it seemed so experimental in so many ways, a mishmash of genres.

Graceland alum Aaron Tveit, who plays Senator Wheatus legislative director Gareth, concurs, saying: As a follow-up for the Kings, I thought it was a spectacularly different thing.

But just how different will things get?

While Tveit teases some very interesting scenes with food that was placed in kind of a different circumstance than you would imagine, Winstead  who, mind you, counts Final Destination 3, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, Death Proof, Scott Pilgrim and this springs 10 Cloverfield Lane among her credits  declares, We have done maybe the weirdest scene I have ever done, which is saying a lot. People are always asking me whats the weirdest thing Ive done, and now Ive got the answer!

Driving that point home, Tveit adds, The show is nuts. Its really nuts.

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Every year, thousands of dogs are stolen, kept in tiny cages and then slaughtered for consumption for the Yulin Dog Meat Festival, according to a new PSA. Celebrities like Matt Damon, Joaquin Phoenix, Kate Mara, Rooney Mara and many more are speaking out to stop the cruelty.



The celebrities teamed up with Marc Ching, the founder of the Animal Wellness Project who is on the ground in China trying to save dogs by the hundreds before the festival begins on June 21.



"This is built upon the belief that if you torture or abuse the animal, it makes the meat taste better or that it gives health benefit to who eats it," Ching explains in the PSA. "Whether or not you think it is something to be eaten or on the menu, cruelty and torture and violence is wrong."













Many celebrities have used their star power to speak out against the annual dog meat festival. In May, Ricky Gervais tweeted a photo of himself kissing a puppy, asking followers to sign a petition against the festival to end.



The Humane Society International saved 29 dogs and five cats from a slaughterhouse in Yulin this week, just days before the festival is scheduled to begin.



Peter Li, HSI's China policy specialist, led the rescue operation and said in a statement, "The police presence is heavy in Yulin right now, and the atmosphere is very tense, so this was not an easy rescue. But we were determined to save 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 realized we werenat 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 had not been there, all these animals would have been beaten to death and eaten."



The 34 lucky animals have all been transported to a shelter where they are receiving veterinary care and getting ready for adoption.



The Yulin Dog Meat Festival began in 2010 as a way to boost the area's dog meat trade. Prior to the festival, the city did not have a history of consuming the animal.
With the unemployment rate for adults with autism hovering around 90%, John D'Eri knew he needed to take action.

D'Eri, whose son is autistic, said he didn't want to let his son Andrew become part of that statistic  so he started a car wash business for him and others with autism to find paid work and a purpose.

"I want him to have a life," D'Eri told NationSwell in a video. "I want him to have a job. I want him to have friends that are like him."

Of the 43 employees at Rising Tide car wash in Parkland, Florida, 35 of them are on the autism spectrum.

Source: NationSwell/YouTube

"Typically people with autism are really good at structured tasks, following processes, attention to detail," Tom D'Eri, Andrew's brother and COO of Rising Tide, told NationSwell.

Source: NationSwell/YouTube

"They come to us with very little purpose and very little hope for their future," Tom D'Eri said of the car wash's employees. "But once they start working with us and they start to get the positive reinforcement of, you know, doing a good job, customer being happy, them getting a tip, that really starts to open them up."

"We wanted to try to identify a consumer business that could educate the broad community around how capable people with autism really are," he said.
As taxi hailing giant Uber enters Pakistan, it has to compete with a little-known local competitor Rixi, which targets low income residents and bets on autorickshaws not cabs.

Reuters said the service hails rickshaws instead of cars. Its platform isn't smartphones, but older SMS phone messaging that allows nearby drivers to bid for any user's business.

The move makes sense as Reuters noted Pakistan has more than 130 million cellphone subscriptions, but only 21 percent subscribe to data packages. The report added that though the numbers are rising, there are opportunities across emerging economies in Asia to tap a relatively low-tech customer base.

The report cited the example of Thailand where Taxi Radio uses calls and text messages to put cabs and people in touch and is popular with those without smartphone apps, and HeyKuya!, an SMS-based service provider in the Philippines, was recently acquired by Indonesia's YesBoss.

Related Link: Uber Is Testing A Whole New Way To Take A Ride

Rixi founder Adnan Khawaja told Reuters his company works with more than 1,000 rickshaw drivers in Lahore. Rixi works by bypassing poor smartphone penetration in the low-income rickshaw market by polling drivers' locations using cellphone towers and matching passengers' messaged locations to points on Google Maps.

"If you look at ... Uber's operational model, they will be depending on the smartphones," said Khawaja. "In countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, that population is [...] growing, but it's still smaller compared to the vast market."

Uber said, "We continue to explore products that would stimulate demand ... and better service the city, whether that is a motorbike, whether that is a rickshaw, whether that is a chopper," said Zohair Yousafi, Uber's head of expansion in Pakistan told Reuters.

So far, Rixi says it has registered about 100,000 rides since it launched in late 2013, and is averaging about 100 rides a day. That's just a fraction of the roughly 200,000 trips that rickshaws in Lahore take every day, according to the Awami Rickshaw Union.

Story continues

See more from Benzinga

 2016 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Memorial specialist Darren Tan. Photo: Andre He/Yahoo Singapore

More Than a Job

Whatever your chosen craft, vocation or profession, we all have work to do. In a brand new biweekly series, Yahoo Singapore talks to individuals who have chosen unique, unconventional and distinctive careers. For some, its about passion. Others have a sense of duty. But for all of them, its more than a job.

Fittingly for a man who helps families fulfil the final wishes of their deceased loved ones, Darren Tan already knows how he wants his family to handle his remains when he passes on.

In my younger days, I loved diving, I loved the sea, declared the 39-year-old memorial specialist. So I have already told them that when I pass away, get me cremated, send me to the sea.

Tan is director of Memories of Life by CCK Marble, which manufactures tombstones, columbarium plaques and urns. The father of two represents the third generation in a family business that has been around for almost 50 years.

Even though he has been in the business for some 16 years, Tan still gets curious comments from bereaved families such as Youre so young. I thought its supposed to be an uncle whos doing this kind of job.

So I tell them, No matter what, someone will have to be in this line. And here I am to assist you, said Tan, who previously worked as an engineer and a craftsman. He holds a diploma in mechanical engineering, as well as an advanced diploma in marketing.

A constant demand

(Video by Andre He)

Each month, Tan and his staff of 15 employees and craftsmen assist some 150 to 200 families who opt to cremate their loved ones, as well about 10 who choose to bury them. Meeting with bereaved families requires a great deal of sensitivity and patience, especially if the death was unexpected, said Tan.

Sometimes, when we are talking halfway through, they start crying, because they still cant get over the fact that the person has passed away.

The tombstones and plaques are typically made from granite, marble or glass. Greyish white marble, with its natural veins, is a popular choice. When it comes to granite, red, blue and black tend to be favoured. The materials are imported from countries such as India, China, Italy and Greece.

Story continues

The cost of a plaque ranges from a few hundred dollars to more than a thousand dollars, depending on the material and the complexity of the design. The plaques are engraved through a sandblasting process, which typically takes one to two days. Tan used to engrave up to 40 plaques a month before he took over the running of the business from his father Johnny Tan, who is now 69 years old.

My father used to do it by hand, with hammer and chisel. It took at least three to four days for one tombstone, recalled Tan. In the olden days, it was a very standard kind of plaque design. But we try to understand more about the deceased, and to design something that the deceased would like. That will really comfort the family during the bereavement period.

Final requests

A customised tombstone that took five months to construct. Photo source: Darren Tan

Based on these conversations, Tans artwork team does up three-dimensional drawings for the families to approve. And while they do request elaborate designs for columbarium plaques, the most unusual requests have been for tombstone designs.

Tan noted, We have done tombstones designed like a piano, a bass guitar, a car, a navy ship, and a lighthouse.

The more complex designs are outsourced to factories in China and India. One granite tombstone in particular took almost five months to complete, and cost a five-figure sum. It was carved to resemble a bass amplifier, complete with buttons, knobs and wire.

The mom asked us to do this design. They told us that the deceased loved music, so instead of a conventional design, they wanted something that would symbolise what the son would prefer, said Tan.

He added, What my father always told me is, What the family asks for, you must fulfill.

There is a great deal of satisfaction in helping relatives of the deceased find closure, especially when they are appreciative.

We do get calls and messages and thank-you notes from families. It does actually make us feel very fulfilled. At least our effort is being recognised, said Tan.

Related:

Look out for the next instalment of More Than A Job on Monday, 4 July.


Mexico City (AFP) - Mexican authorities said Monday they were conducting autopsies on six people who died during clashes between officers and teachers to determine if any were killed by police bullets.

The victims, aged 19 to 33, and more than 100 officers and civilians were injured in Sunday's violence in Asuncion Nochixtlan, in the southern state of Oaxaca, when police sought to break up a week-long road blockade.

A journalist, meanwhile, was shot dead by masked gunmen after taking pictures of looting in the town of Juchitan, raising the day's death toll to at least seven.

But Juan Garcia, a leader of the Section 22 of the CNTE union, which has been protesting President Enrique Pena Nieto's education reform and the arrest of two leaders, reported that eight people had died and 22 others were missing.

Authorities initially denied using firearms during the clashes but federal police Enrique Galindo later admitted that an armed unit was deployed after unidentified gunmen shot at civilians and officers.

"We were ambushed," Galindo told Radio Formula, adding that officers were surrounded by 2,000 people, including some who opened fire.

"(Officers) arrived with guns to try to help the population," he said.

Galindo said "autopsies are being conducted" to determine if any of the dead were hit by police bullets.

The six dead include two shopkeepers, a farmer, a worker, a student and a local official, Governor Gabino Cue said.

Section 22 leader Garcia said the violence was perpetrated by civilian "infiltrators" and that the union demands Cue's resignation.

Garcia also asked for an investigation by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and charged that police "fired without pity."
The ubiquitous Google Chrome web browser is great, but it has long been known to be a battery hog. Now, Microsoft is taking aim at Chrome's weak spot.

In a blog post published today, Microsoft boasts that the Edge browser that comes with every copy of the new Windows 10 operating system gets you as much as 70% more battery life than Google Chrome and 43% as much battery than Firefox on a laptop.

Previously, Microsoft claimed that Edge was 112% faster than Chrome.

To prove its battery-life claims, Microsoft did browser battery tests with Surface Book laptops under laboratory conditions. There's a time-lapse video:

"We used the same websites you spend your time on  Facebook, Google, YouTube, Amazon, Wikipedia and more," the post said of the lab test. Here are the results of its more scientific lab tests, in graph form:

microsoft browser power consumption tests

And then, to drive it home, Microsoft measured the battery life on real-world Windows 10 computers and tablets, using anonymized information gleaned from users:

rmicrosoft real world browser power consumption

Microsoft may be winning the battery-life battle per these results, which were independently corroborated by The Wall Street Journal. And the company promises that Edge is getting even more battery-efficiency improvements with the Windows 10 Anniversary update, coming later this summer. That update also adds browser-extension support for tools like password management app LastPass to Edge.

But Edge is still losing the browser war: Despite the fact that it comes with all of the nearly 300 million Windows 10 installations out there, the latest data from tracking authority W3Counter places the combined market share of Microsoft's Edge and Internet Explorer browsers at a meager 10.3%  versus Chrome's 58.7%.

Meanwhile, the race for better batteries goes on: Microsoft itself has an ambitious plan to build batteries that last much longer than the laptops we're used to.

NOW WATCH: Meet 'Edge,' Microsoft's bold answer to Google Chrome





More From Business Insider


donald trump

A new poll released on Monday illustrates a major hurdle facing Donald Trump's electoral prospects.

The Monmouth University poll found presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton up seven points over Trump in a head-to-head general-election matchup. No third-party candidate received more than 10% support.

But even more alarming for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, 49% of registered voters said that it is "very important" to make sure Trump is not elected president. The poll found that 41% said that it is "very important" to keep Clinton out of the White House.

Just 31% of respondents said that it was "not at all" important to stop Trump from becoming president, while 35% said the same about Clinton.

The gulf was even wider among self-described independent and undecided voters.

Among that group, 48% of respondents said that it is very important to prevent Trump from occupying the White House, compared to 32% who felt similarly about Clinton.

"The fear of either Clinton or Trump getting into the White House, though, may lead some to hold their noses and vote for the other major party nominee. And right now, a Trump victory appears to be the more troubling outcome for these voters," Monmouth University polling director Patrick Murray said in a statement.

Many experts caution against reading too far into statistics in national polls, though.

"Generally, it would be ideal to watch battlegrounds such as Ohio/Florida/Pennsylvania. However, state polls are sparse," Princeton University polling expert Samuel Wang told Business Insider in an email last week. "This year's states are mostly correlated with 2012, so there's no realignment. This means that watching national numbers is probably a reasonable substitute. "

Still, Monday's release is only the latest in a string of alarming statistics for the real-estate mogul.

A Bloomberg Politics poll released last week found that 55% of voters reported that they could never see themselves supporting Trump.

Story continues

NOW WATCH: These are some of the things Donald Trump has taken credit for





More From Business Insider


Washington (AFP) - The investigation into the infamous murder of three young activists which became known as the "Mississippi Burning" civil rights case has finally closed after 52 years, the US state's attorney general said Monday.

The three young men -- two Jewish and one black -- were executed in June 1964 in the midst of the "Freedom Summer" voter registration project. They had ventured south from New York to register African American voters.

The brutal killings of James Chaney, 21, Andrew Goodman, 20, and Michael Schwerner, 24, rocked the nation and went on to inspire the Alan Parker film "Mississippi Burning" in 1988.

"I am convinced that during the last 52 years, investigators have done everything possible under the law to find those responsible and hold them accountable," said Attorney General Jim Hood.

"There is no likelihood of any additional convictions."

At the time of the killings, the US Justice Department -- aware it had no chance of securing murder convictions faced with segregationist state authorities and all-white juries -- chose to prosecute the case under civil rights law.

In 1967, eight suspects received prison sentences -- serving less than six years in prison -- for federal civil rights violations connected to the murders.

Four decades on, in 2005, Hood and the county prosecutor won a manslaughter conviction against white supremacist Edgar Ray Killen, a former Ku Klux Klan (KKK) member who is currently serving a 60-year-prison sentence.

The night the activists disappeared, on June 21, 1964, local police -- allegedly infiltrated by the KKK -- arrested them on false pretenses, releasing them late that evening.

Shortly after the men left city limits, KKK members ambushed and shot them dead at point blank range. An FBI investigation uncovered their bodies 44 days later in an earthen dam on the secluded property of a Klansman.

The active federal and state investigation closed after the Justice Department found that no viable prosecutions remained, closing a significant chapter in Mississippi's history, said Attorney General Hood.

"Our state and our entire nation are a much better place because of the work of those three young men and others in 1964," he said.

"We should all acknowledge that our diversity is this state's greatest asset."
Some Pioneers may receive up to $1,250 in top-ups.

About 1.54m Singaporeans stand to benefit from the latest roll-out of GST vouchers and Medisave top-ups in 2016. According to an announcement by the Ministry of Finance (MOF), the vouchers and top-ups amount to roughly $890m.

MOF reports that around 1.3m eligible Singaporeans will receive up to $300 in GSTV-Cash. Additionally, a one-off GSTC-Cash Special Payment of up to $200 will be doled out to support households amid current economic conditions.

This adds up to $500 in cash for eligible GSTV recipients in 2016, which will be disbursed in two payments in August and November this year.

Meanwhile, about 425,000 Singaporeans aged 65 years and above will enjoy the GSTV-Medisave of up to $450 in August 2016.

On top of this, Singaporeans aged 57 years and above this year who do not receive Pioneer Generation (PG) benefits will receive a Medisave top-up of up to $200 each year until 2018. For this year, the top-up will also be made in August.

Non-Pioneers aged 65 in 2016 and living in an HDB flat and own no second property is looking at $450 of Medisave top-ups this year.

Further, provided they do not own a second property, Pioneers aged 70 in 2016 who are living in an HDB flat will see up to $450 of Medisave top-ups, while Pioneers aged 85 in 2016 will receive up to $1,250 in top-ups.





More From Singapore Business Review


Employees should be notified in advance if their contract will not be renewed.

Term contract employees should be entitled to leave benefits and must be given advance warning if their contracts will not be renewed, accordng to new tripartite guidelines developed by the Ministry of Manpower and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF).

Under the guidelines, term contract employees are eligible for leave benefits if they have been working for the same employer for over three months, even if the service was rendered on separate contracts that are each shorter thant hte minimum service period of three months.

The guidelines also stipulate that employers could prorate annual leave, sick leave and child-care leave benefits based on the length of the term contract.

Employers are also encouraged to give sufficient notice before the contract's expiry on whether either party wishes to renew the contract.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM), National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), and the Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF), have jointly developed a set of Tripartite Guidelines on the Employment of Term Contract Employees.







More From Singapore Business Review


A little teamwork went a long way for a family of raccoons separated by a concrete barrier.

Camdenton, Missouri, policeman Chris Williams was moonlighting as a high school security guard when he noticed two raccoons on the side of a road.

Read: See What Happened When These Animals Asked Police Officers For Help

He stopped and got out his phone, he told InsideEdition.com Monday. He watched in amusement as the momma scaled down a concrete fence to rescue a baby that had fallen onto the pavement, while another offspring at the top of the barrier held onto its mothers legs.

Great example of a mothers love and teamwork! he wrote last week after taking a 30-second video of the daring rescue, which has been posted by Viral Hog.

And, of course, it went viral.

Williams said hed seen a deer bedded down on a high school field just the week before, and had snapped a photo of it. He and his co-workers lamented that he hadnt recorded video of the strange sleeping sight.

When he stumbled upon the stranded roadside critters, Williams again pulled out his phone. And I was lucky enough that it was set on video this time, he said.

Read: Good Samaritan Saves 6-Year-Old Boy From Vicious Raccoon Attack

Hes been amazed by reactions to his post.

Ive been getting friend requests from all over the world, he said. At last count, he had 3,000.

His colleagues just think its hilarious. Nothing like that has ever happened to any of us.

Watch: Auto Body Tech Discovers Four Baby Raccoons Hiding In Car Engine

Related Articles:
The two showrooms will spearhead Morris Furniture Company's new brand and customer experience

COLUMBUS, OH / ACCESSWIRE / June 20, 2016 / After several years of searching for the perfect locations, Morris Furniture Company is pleased to announce 2 new showrooms in Columbus, Ohio. The showrooms will be constructed within the next 12 months.

The first showroom will open this summer in the Easton Square Shopping Center at 3850 Morse Road. This is an ideal location for a home furniture store as it is located near one of the country's most successful lifestyle centers, Easton Town Center.

The second showroom will be on Gemini Place near Columbus' largest retail shopping mall, Polaris Fashion Place. The showroom will be two stories, and the grand opening is scheduled for early 2017.

Both showrooms will spearhead the companies new look and sophisticated feel, with a showroom rebranding from "Morrison Home Furnishings" to "Morrison Home." Existing Dayton and Cincinnati Morris Home Furniture showrooms will be rebranded shortly thereafter.

"The new Morris Home brand and customer experience was created in conjunction with ChangeUp, a Dayton based branding and retail design agency," says Robert Klaben, Vice President of Marketing.

Morris Home Furniture invites shoppers to experience the new Morris Home at their first Columbus store. The showrooms will be constructed with the goal of helping customers imagine their ideal home. The lifestyle rooms will feature accessories, accent rugs, and lighting to create the feel of a total home environment. "The 43,900 square foot Easton Square store is an inspirational shopping environment," commented George Hartley, Morris Furniture Co., Inc. COO.

Morris Home also plans to expand their "Better Sleep Shop" which will feature the largest selection of Sealy, Stearns & Foster and Tempur-Pedic mattresses in the area. Sleep Specialists will be on hand to assist customers with mattress selection, and mattresses will include Sealy Posturepedic, Hybrid, Optimum by Sealy Posturepedic, Tempur-Pedic and Stearns & Foster.

Story continues

To learn more about Morris Home Furniture, please visit: http://www.morrisathome.com

About Morris Home Furniture:

Morris Home Furniture is a furniture store that has been operating out of Ohio and Kentucky since 1947. They pride themselves on providing volume pricing on both affordable and luxury home furnishings. They have recently announced their plans to expand through Columbus, Ohio, with 2 new showrooms. Both showrooms are planning their grand openings for early 2017.

 Morris Home Furnishings:

3850 Morse Road, Columbus,OH

5695 Wilmington Pike, Centerville, OH

2121 Harshman Road, Dayton, OH

11765 Commons Drive, Springdale, OH

8040 Burlington Pike, Florence, KY

 Ashley Furniture HomeStores of Dayton:

161 Mall Woods Drive, Dayton, OH

2850 Centre Drive, Beavercreek, OH

 Ashley Furniture HomeStores of Cincinnati:

11755 Commons Drive, Springdale, OH

4530 Eastgate Boulevard, Cincinnati, OH

5600 Deerfield Blvd. Mason, OH

9687 Colerain Ave, Cincinnati, OH

 Ashley Furniture HomeStore of Columbus:

3622 West Dublin-Granville Rd, Columbus, OH

2800 Brice Rd, Reynoldsburg, OH

3883 Gramercy St., Columbus, OH

 Ashley Furniture HomeStore of Florence:

8040 Burlington Pike, Florence, KY

 The Better Sleep Shops:

Located inside all of the Morris Furniture Company family of stores

 Morris Back Room:

2377 Commerce Center Blvd., Fairborn, OH

2121 Harshman Road, Dayton, OH

11755 Commons Drive, Springdale, OH

Contact:

Carl Quinn

admin@rocketfactor.com

(949) 555-2861

SOURCE: Morris Furniture Co., Inc.
It was, as they say, a dark and stormy night. The passengers on the enormous ship probably didnt realize they were in danger until the moment their vessel slammed into the cliffs of Antikythera, Greece.

As the ship sank and broke apart, its remnants drifted downward to a seismic terrace some 160 feet below the surface of the Mediterranean Sea. More than 2,000 years would pass before fishermen collecting sponges, in the year 1900, discovered the wreckage by accident. Divers then spent a year at the site, where they recovered hundreds of works of art, jewels, and life-sized marble and bronze statues. But they also discovered something they couldnt explain: A bizarre clockwork-like piece of technology, in the form of a disintegrating lump of corroded bronze, unlike anything known in the ancient world. It come to be known as the Antikythera Mechanism, and it remains one of the most intriguing objects in the history of technology.

Recommended: The Forrest Gump of the Internet

Early researchers suspected right away that the Antikythera Mechanism was a mechanical sky chart of sortsa machine that seemed to predict the position of celestial bodies, phases of the moon, and the timing of eclipses. But its mere existence was wildly anachronistic. The mechanism dated to around 200 B.C., yet nothing approaching its workmanship would reappear in history until the first mechanical astronomical clocks were built in Europe, some 1,500 years later.

What remains of the device today is a delicate shell of what it once was, and just a fragmented piece at that. Its on display, in three pieces, at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. Each piece is small enough that you could, theoretically, pick it upthough its far too frail for such handling. The mechanism is like the consistency of pastry, like filo dough, said Brendan Foley, a marine archaeologist from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution who spent several weeks diving the wreck this spring. Its really fragile.

Story continues

Yet scientists have been able to do remarkable research on what they have. In the past decade, 3D scanning technology has helped reveal the inner workings of the deviceincluding a set of interlocking gearsand an intricate set of inscriptions on the mechanism. Now, for the first time in the century since the Antikythera Mechanism was pulled from the sea, an international team of researchers has translated a significant portion of the text inscribed on the device. They published their findings in the science and history journal Almagest in May.

Recommended: 'You Are Not a Citizen of a Democracy, But the Subject of a Carceral State'

Its a lot of detail for us because it comes from a period from which we know essentially nothing about the technology, except what we gather from here, Alexander Jones, a professor of the history of ancient science at New York University, told the Associated Press. So these very small texts are a very big thing for us.

Big enough to determine that the mechanism was, Jones says, something of a philosopher's instructional device, and the text itself was a guide to reading it.

A fragment of the Antikythera Mechanism, displayed in Athens. (Alkis Konstantinidis / Reuters)

Researchers believe the machine was once housed in a vertical rectangular case with calendrical dials and inscriptions on both the front and back. A hand-crank on one side of the machine would have turned the gears that moved the dialsso that anyone using it could determine the precise position of the sun and the moon on a given day. (The dials on the back reflected these cycles in greater precision.) The mechanism could also tell you when lunar and solar eclipses would occur, and tracked the timing of the Olympic games. Such events, as the writer Sarah Kaplan pointed out, were seen as inextricably linked in antiquity. Eclipses were believed to have ominous implications; so it makes sense that you might want to know if an important cultural event overlapped with one.

An astonishing level of complexity would have been required to represent astronomical data this way, yet researchers say the mechanism was more of a textbook used for teaching than a computer used for calculating, as it has often been described.

Replicas of what the mechanism may have once looked like. (Alkis Konstantinidis / Reuters)

The newly translated inscriptions also give researchers an idea of the pieces of the mechanism that have long since vanished, including a display of tiny spheres which would have represented the movement of the sun and several planets on the front of the machine. The best preserved passages include descriptions of features on lost parts of the Mechanism, the authors of the recent paper wrote. A display of pointers were attached to small spheres that the sun and planets, they said.

Recommended: Rush Limbaugh Blames Trump's Struggles on Howard Zinn

Many researchers have dreamed of finding these and other missing pieces from the device, or perhaps even a second intact mechanism like the only one we have now. But such a discovery is improbable at best. In 1953, when the famous French diver Jacques Cousteau took a team to the site of the wreckage, they used a sieve-like contraption to lift artifacts from a portion of the sprawling wreck site. They picked up some 300 artifacts this way, but theres no telling what may have been destroyed. If any of the pieces of the mechanism went through that sieve, they would have disintegrated, Foley, the marine archaeologist, told me.

Foley, who has dived at the wreck several times over the years, says hes seen history turn to dust this way. In one case, when divers turned over a robust-looking bronze artifact to conservatorsan ornate decoration that may have once adorned a sofa or bedthey began to gingerly remove a thin layer of corrosion, only to have the object crumble entirely. The Antikythera Mechanism, too, which represents about 40 percent of the machine as it once existed, is now just a remnant of sorts. Theres almost no metal left, Foley said. Its mostly just corrosion products the dried out husk of the thing.

Now, because of the inscription, researchers can say with great authority how the thing was used, he added. The mechanismmade of these really thinly rolled bronze plates, like 2 millimeters thickits not quite aluminum foil, but it isnt much thicker. Finding the rest of it? Its not impossible, but I just think, unless its buried, the chances are slim.

Read more from The Atlantic:

This article was originally published on The Atlantic.
First comes summer then comes VidCon. And among the YouTube royalty descending upon the Anaheim Convention Center in California this week will be last year's King of VidCon, Tyler Oakley.



Even if you think you've never heard of Oakley, you've probably seen him before. As one of the most visible YouTube personalities (and with over 8 million subscribers) he often appears in viral videos and has even stopped by talk shows.



But, if you're still confused as we head into VidCon, here are five things you need to know about the uber upbeat YouTube star who redefined the word BFF.





1. He gets Snervous



Oakley, 27, was the subject of the documentary Snervous (which means "scared" and "nervous,") released last December. Directed by Amy Rice, the film follows the star on his Slumber Party world tour ,showing an intimate and never-before-seen side of the star.







"I was scared to relinquish control of content because my whole professional life I've been in charge of my own edits," he told PEOPLE. "I'm snervous about what people will think of seeing behind the scenes."





2. He's a published author.



In October Oakley's highly anticipated first book, Binge, was released and quickly shot to the No. 2 spot on the New York Times Best Seller list. Through a collection of essays, Oakley's literary debut reveals intimate stories of his past that are equal parts mortifying and hilarious.





3. He's friends with Jenna Marbles IRL!



Celebrity friends  even in the social media influencer world  are the best kind. Oakley and fellow ultra-famous YouTuber Jenna Marbles posed for a selfie at last year's VidCon and Oakley tweeted the pic declaring Marbles "one of the kindest people on the internet." Within an hour of posting the photo racked up over 1,500 retweets.





always great to see queen of youtube, @Jenna_Marbles, one of the kindest people on the internet #vidcon pic.twitter.com/slzg2fl21w a Tyler Oakley (@tyleroakley) July 23, 2015







4. He loves a good wig.



Known for donning wigs in his videos, Oakley also likes to dress up to just hang around.



"For Fourth of July, I went up to Ojai [, California]," he previously told PEOPLE. "It was in the middle of nowhere surrounded by orange trees and there was like no city for as far as you could see. We rented a house and it was me and all my San Francisco friends, and we just spent the whole weekend at the pool in high heels and wigs and got crazy."A





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fourth of july casual A photo posted by Tyler Oakley (@tyleroakley) on Jul 4, 2015 at 11:31am PDT







Related Video: See How These Amazing Fans Wished Tyler Oakley a Happy Birthday!





5. He's a Swifty, too.Even celebrities can get star-struck. And Oakley is no exception.



"At the VMAs I sawA Taylor Swift," he told PEOPLE. "And I was like, 'Holy crap.' I mean I've interviewed her, yeah, but I will always be starstruck by her because she's such a fixture of pop culture. I was like, 'Oh my God Taylor Swift, I'm dying.'"



If you're heading to VidCon, be sure to check out our Q&A with Oakley on Thursday at the Instant Interview Stage by PEOPLE/EW.
Mike Wallace, a longtime NASCAR driver, and his daughter Lindsey were attacked and beaten by three men after a Rascal Flatts concert on Friday in Charlotte, North Carolina, Fox News reports.

The assault took place in the parking lot outside PNC Amphitheater. Wallace told WSOC that he asked a group what they thought of the show when they became angry and attacked him, knocking him out. His daughter attempted to come to her father's aid, but she was beaten up as well. Both went to the hospital, where Wallace received 12 stitches. WSOC reports that he also lost three teeth and suffered a concussion.

Rascal Flatts Talk Las Vegas Residency & Tour With Kelsea Ballerini

Wallace addressed the assault in a Facebook post. "I normally would not post personal affairs," he wrote, "but this is to help and give advice to our friends, do not ever talk to a group of now what appeared to be drunk or drugged up young adult men or women when you're trying to get in your car to leave the un guarded PNC amphitheater in Charlotte, NC parking lot after a good Rascal Flatts concert. This is what I looked like after I was knocked out and crap beat out of me. The ambulance driver took this picture we were just supposed to have a fun night. I want to thank my family and friends for helping to protect me from a worse beating as I [laid] unconscious on the ground."

Three men were arrested in connection to the attack. According to police records obtained by WSOC, two of the men face charges of misdemeanor simple assault, while the third man was charged with misdemeanor assault on a female. All three posted bail. They will appear in court July 22.
LOS ANGELES -- Two of the major leagues' best pitchers, Clayton Kershaw and Stephen Strasburg, will face either other for the first time in their careers when the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals begin a three-game series Monday night in Los Angeles.

Strasburg, who signed a seven-year contract extension worth $175 million last month, has yet to lose this season. With 10 wins, the right-hander shares third place with Kershaw and three other major-league pitchers for wins. Strasburg also amassed 118 strikeouts, tied for the third most in the majors, while having conceded just 24 walks and 75 hits in 93 innings and allowing opposing batters to hit just. 220 against him.

Kershaw, meanwhile, is making the case for his fourth Cy Young Award in six years. The left-hander leads the majors with a 1.58 earned-run average and 133 strikeouts. Opponents are batting just .170 against the Dodgers' ace, the lowest such average in the majors. Kershaw also has walked only seven batters, by far the fewest of any starter this season.

Yet for Nationals manager Dusty Baker, Kershaw is the least of his worries as his team prepares for its fifth of seven games on the West Coast as part of a 10-game road trip.

"The West Coast has always been tough on teams," Baker told the Washington Post after Wednesday night's 5-4 home win against the Chicago Cubs. "Lot of distractions out there. I've seen the West Coast destroy teams. I've seen guys rent boats. I've seen guys sunburned. I've seen guys go to Universal Studios and can't get a ride back, can't play because they've got blisters on their feet."

Baker speaks from personal experience. He played 11 of his 19 seasons with teams in California, eight with the Dodgers.

But Baker can employ one weapon no other team owns: second baseman Daniel Murphy, who leads the majors with a .358 average and holds second place with a .995 OPS. Murphy's .595 slugging percentage ranks second in the National League.

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Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig is expected to be activated Monday from the disabled list. Puig just completed a rehabilitation assignment with Class A Rancho Cucamonga and could bring some adjustments to his swing with him.

"When he attacks the ball, he gets a little too rotational," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told MLB.com. "It affects his defense and his offense."

Extremely hot weather could become a factor. On Saturday, the National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning that will last until 8 p.m. Tuesday.
PRAGUE (Reuters) - NATO is not contemplating a troop build-up in East Europe and the Baltics beyond exisiting plans as there is no imminent threat from Russia, despite fears amongst Baltic states, the alliance's military chief said on Monday. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia see themselves in the frontline of any potential conflict with Russia and are putting their armies on a war footing. NATO is planning a new NATO force in Poland and the three Baltic nations. The four battalions, of up to 1,000 troops each, are part of a wider deterrent to be approved at a summit in Warsaw on July 8 that NATO hopes will discourage Russia from orchestrating the kind of campaign it used to annex Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in February 2014. General Petr Pavel, chairman of the NATO Military Committee, said the battalions would act as a political deterrent rather than a military one. No bigger force was needed at this point, he said. "Deployment of substantial military force is not being considered," he told a news conference. "It is not the aim of NATO to create a military barrier against broad-scale Russian aggression, because such aggression is not on the agenda and no intelligence assessment suggests such a thing." Nonetheless, the Russian threat could not be ruled out, he said. The Baltic states and their southern neighbor Poland fear NATO plans are too small and symbolic to deter an attack by Russia and want a sophisticated anti-missile shield to protect the region. Pavel said any attempted aggression by Russia using methods like it did in Crimea would not be allowed to go as far as it did there and there would be a collective NATO response. (Reporting by Robert Muller, Writing by Jason Hovet, Editing by Angus MacSwan)
Neil Young dropped by Marc Maron's garage for the latest episode of the WTF podcast. The pair's wide-ranging discussion covered the rocker's new "live" album Earth, his climate change concerns and his belief that a protest song like "Ohio" would have minimal impact in today's society.

5 Things We Learned at Neil Young's 'Earth' Album Preview

On the latter subject, Young pointed to the monopolization and resulting homogenization of radio stations  "All 300 stations playing the same thing," he said  as the reason why a protest song of any type could not thrive today. The relevance of the radio station has diminished, he said.

"If something happened and we wrote a song about it, there's no way it would come out," said Young. "There's just nowhere to play it ... You might not know what happened, because it would never be on the radio, people wouldn't be talking about it, because radio and TV and all the media and everything is controlled by a certain amount of people and corporations. Before it used to be many, many people doing this, but the Telecommunications Act in 1996 made it possible for corporations to own all the media, so it's six companies."

Earlier in the chat, Young, whose new album Earth incorporates the many sounds of Mother Nature, talked about the dangerous effects society is having on the planet as well as his longstanding feud with GMO companies like Monsanto. Young listed events like Hurricane Sandy as evidence that the planet is rebelling against the humans polluting it with greenhouse gases. "Climate change is one of the great prophet senders," Young said. He added that despite the pillaging of Earth and its resources, he's confident the human race will survive.

"I think we're going to make it, I really do," Young said. "I feel like Earth is just mistreated, and I think you just have to keep pointing it out and people will want to make a change. Want to eat food that they know is cleaner and better for the Earth, study the ways things are done."

Related
If you only read one thing: The Republican non-embrace of Trump shows no sign of ebbing just four weeks before the start of the GOP convention in Cleveland. Delegates are floating a rules measure to unbind delegates with moral or religious objections to vote for whomever they choosea last-ditch effort to steal the nomination from the presumptive nominee at the convention, or just a way for frustrated delegates to vent their frustration on the floor. The odds of such a measure making it through the conventionwhere Trump holds a majority of delegates (and a majority of those are firmly on his side)are exceedingly slim, particularly with the Republican National Committee firmly behind Trump. And a question these coup-plotters have yet to answer: in a year where Trumps rise was fueled by distrust and frustration with the establishment, would countering the will of 10+ million voters really be a net positive?

Donald Trump expressed openness to religious profiling of Muslims in an interview with CBS Face the Nationa step experts in both parties reject as casting the more than 1 billion practitioners under suspicion. The comments came days after President Obama called out Trumps rhetoric about Muslims, warningwith the backing of the nations military brassthat they made it more difficult to prevent the rise of extremism.

Hillary Clinton is set to attack Trumps economic policies Tuesday in a faux policy address much like her foreign policy-focused attack speech earlier this month. Clintons campaign is setting out to argue that Trump has pushed others down as he rose to the topa derivative of the Obama strategy against Mitt Romney in 2012illustrated by Trumps long history of colorful statements. Since clinching the Democratic nomination, Clinton has opened a clear lead over Trump in national and swing-state surveys.

Story continues

Why it matters who hacked the Democratic National Committee. A leading gay rights group makes a push for gun control after Orlando. And disdain for Trump and Clinton is so strong, even the dead are campaigning.

Here are your must-reads:

Must Reads

Human Rights Campaign Takes on Gun Control After Orlando Shooting

An expanding portfolio within Democratic folk, TIMEs Philip Elliott reports

Why It Matters Who Hacked the Democratic National Committee

TIMEs Haley Sweetland Edwards on the curious case of the hacked national party

Republicans Consider Conscientious Objector Rule for Convention Delegates

An out for frustrated delegates, or a last-ditch effort to dump Trump? [TIME]

United States of Trump

A look at the voters who took over the GOP [NBC]

Driven by Campaign Populism, Democrats Unite on Expanding Social Security

Calls for largest overhauland expansionin decades amid fears of costs [New York Times]

Sound Off

Well, I think profiling is something that were going to have to start thinking about as a country.  Donald Trump on profiling Muslims in an interview with CBS Face the Nation

The last thing I would do is tell anybody to do something thats contrary to their conscience.  Speaker of the House Paul Ryan on Republicans with objections to voting for Trump

Bits and Bites

Chelsea Clinton Gives Birth to Son Aidan, Her Second Child [TIME]

Hillary Clinton to add Jacob Leibenluft, Obamas long-time economic adviser, to campaign team [CNBC]

Bernie Sanders Die-Hards Gather and Try to Look Past November [New York Times]

An expensive reminder that Sanders still hasnt dropped out: His Secret Service detail [Washington Post]

Many What-Ifs in Donald Trumps Plan for Migrants [New York Times]

Disdain for Trump and Clinton is so strong, even the dead are campaigning [Washington Post]

Wall Street donors seek to block Warren VP pick [Politico]
Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey have been separated for a year and a half now, but Cannon wants you to know he's not to blame for the hold up in their divorce.



Speaking candidly to Genius, the father of two opened up about his new song "Divorce Papers," and told the outlet that although he and Carey, 46, are on good terms, dealing with lawyers is difficult.



Cannon also shared the meaning behind the song's title, adding that it was a way of throwing the divorce in everyone's face after rumors surfaced that he was the reason for the delay in their divorce proceedings.



"I was like, 'You want Divorce Papers? Well here you go!'" the 35-year-old said. "The lawyer's line was also me releasing a little frustration at the attorneys on both sides because lawyers always think they control the clients and they cause most of the friction, especially since my ex and I get along."







Another side effect of the divorce is that the two stars now have to co-parent their 5-year-old twins, Monroe and Moroccan, which Cannon describes as one of the hardest parts of the divorce.



Although he tries to be strong for the kids, Cannon admits that he lost his composure when exchanging them with Carey before.



"There is nothing more painful than parting with or having to drop your children off," he said. "One day as my daughter was giving me a hug goodbye my eyes welled up and she looked at me and said, 'Daddy, why do you have tears in your eyes?' and I told her it was because I love her. She understood. She is a genius. She just hugged me harder and said I love you, too. Waterworks!"



Cannon and Carey split in late 2014 and filed for divorce in January of 2015 after six years of marriage. Carey is currently engaged to Australian businessman James Packer.
Don't expect Mariah Carey's next feud to be with Nick Cannon! The exes have remained perfectly amicable since their split, despite Cannon's new song "Divorce Papers."

The rapper recently explained the tune to Genius, saying, "I named the song 'Divorce Papers' to throw it back in everyone's face. The media made up a lie that I was holding up the process saying I wouldn't sign the divorce papers. So I was like, 'You want divorce papers? Well here you go!'"

WATCH: Nick Cannon Drops Emotional 'Divorce Papers' Freestyle About Mariah Carey, Eminem

He went on to add that the lyric  "My lawyers said 'don't say s**t'  was about the unwanted involvement of "attorneys on both sides."

"Lawyers always think they control the clients and they cause most of the friction especially since me and my ex get along," he told Genius.

Cannon, 35, went on to further quash the rumors of a rift between him and Carey, 46, on Sunday, celebrating Father's Day with his ex and two children, Monroe and Morocco.

WATCH: Mariah Carey Shares Risque Pics of Her Wardrobe Choices, Welcomes John Legend and Chrissy Teigen to Vegas Show

"Leaving the Haters in the Wind! LOL They want us to be mad so bad! @MariahCarey but we happier than happy! #HappyFathersDay," he captioned one family group shot.

He also shared a sweet photo of his daughter, Monroe, holding up some custom artwork, writing, "Gift time! My kids are awesome!!! #HappyFathersDay."

In another post, the proud dad posed with his two adorable kiddos, writing, "Sky Zone and Ice Cream! Best Fathers Day Ever!! Photo credit @mariahcarey."

Related Articles
No criminal charges will be filed in the strange death of Kendrick Johnson, a black teenager whose body was found in 2013 wrapped in a gym mat at his Valdosta, Georgia, high school.

Johnson's parents have been agonizing over their son's death for three years now, disregarding investigators who said it was a "freak accident" and pushing the case all the way to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The DOJ ended its investigation Monday, finding insufficient grounds to file charges against local authorities for allegedly mishandling the investigation, the Associated Press reports.

"After extensive investigation into this tragic event, federal investigators determined that there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone or some group of people willfully violated Kendrick Johnson's civil rights or committed any other prosecutable federal crime," the DOJ said in a statement, according to AP.

"Accordingly, the investigation into this incident has been closed without the filing of federal criminal charges."

Supporters in Atlanta at a rally in memory of Kendrick Johnson

The circumstances around Johnson's death have fueled conspiracy theories for years. They are certainly strange: On Jan. 11, 2013, students at Lowndes County High School found their 17-year-old classmate's body wrapped in a large, rolled-up mat inside the gymnasium, where a security camera had captured Johnson entering the day before.

A Lowndes County sheriff's investigation and an autopsy performed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation concluded that Johnson had fallen onto the mat and asphyxiated while looking for a missing shoe. But no footage exists of that part of the incident  investigators suspected Johnson did not trigger the motion sensor cameras in the area of the gym where the mats were located, according to AP.

Sensing something was amiss, however, the parents, Kenneth and Jacquelyn Johnson, alleged foul play. They convinced a judge to exhume their son's body and performed in June 2013, only to learn Johnson's organs had been removed and his corpse stuffed with newspapers, according to CNN.

Story continues

"The pathologist ... Dr. William R. Anderson  said he'd detected hemorrhaging on the right side of Kendrick Johnson's neck, and concluded the boy died from what appeared to be non-accidental blunt force trauma."

This was apparently done by the county coroner's office before it sent Johnson's body to the funeral home  a measure the office deemed necessary, it claimed, because the organs were too badly decomposed to be left inside, according to CBS News. The Johnsons ended up filing a lawsuit against the funeral home in 2014, alleging its employees disposed of the organs to "thwart" the investigation into the death, CNN reported.

Things only got stranger from there. The pathologist the Johnsons hired to perform the second autopsy  Dr. William R. Anderson  said he'd detected hemorrhaging on the right side of Kendrick Johnson's neck, and concluded the boy died from non-accidental blunt force trauma, CBS News reported.

The DOJ stepped in to investigate the case in October 2013.

The family's attorneys have also since claimed the footage of Johnson entering the gym had been intentionally altered for the media, according to AP. In the end, however, none of this proved substantial enough to warrant criminal charges against anyone. And so, Johnson's death remains one of the more baffling mysteries of recent years  and a case the boy's parents have continued to pursue.

Lowndes County coroner Bill Watson did not immediately respond to Mic's request for comment.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN / ACCESSWIRE / June 20, 2016 / Noble Roman's, Inc. (NROM), the Indianapolis based franchisor and licensor of Noble Roman's Pizza and Tuscano's Italian Style Subs, today announced that it opened its first non-traditional franchise restaurant inside a Wal-Mart in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina on June 18, 2016.

The restaurant is located in a brand-designated area opening to the inside of the Wal-Mart, and contains inside seating for approximately 72 customers. The restaurant is a co-brand whereby Noble Roman's Pizza shares the facility with Auntie Ann's and Rita's Italian Ice. The restaurant is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to midnight.

The Noble Roman's Pizza in this facility serves a variety of breakfast items including its breakfast burrito and breakfast sandwiches, individual size pizzas, medium and large pizzas topped to order, its famous breadsticks with spicy cheese dip, baked sandwiches, pasta and more.

Scott Mobley, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are thrilled with this new location, and are encouraged by the strong opening sales over the weekend. We look forward to the opportunity to open additional such locations."

About Noble Roman's

Noble Roman's, Inc. sells and services franchises and licenses for non-traditional foodservice operations under the trade names "Noble Roman's Pizza," "Noble Roman's Take-n-Bake," and "Tuscano's Italian Style Subs." The company has awarded franchise and/or license agreements in all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Italy, Canada and the Dominican Republic.

The statements contained in this press release concerning the company's future revenues, profitability, financial resources, market demand and product development are forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) relating to the company that are based on the beliefs of the management of the company, as well as assumptions and estimates made by and information currently available to the company's management. The company's actual results in the future may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties that exist in the company's operations and business environment, including, but not limited to, competitive factors and pricing pressures, non-renewal of franchise agreements, shifts in market demand, the success of new franchise programs with limited operating history including the stand-alone take-n-bake locations, general economic conditions, changes in purchases of or demand for the company's products, licenses or franchises, the success or failure of individual franchisees and licensees, changes in prices or supplies of food ingredients and labor, and dependence on continued involvement of current management and the performance of the recently added sales staff and a franchise broker. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions or estimates prove incorrect, actual results may differ materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected or intended. The company undertakes no obligations to update the information in this press release for subsequent events.

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FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT:

For Media Information: Scott Mobley, President & CEO 317/634-3377

For Investor Relations: Paul Mobley, Executive Chairman 317/634-3377

SOURCE: Noble Roman's, Inc.
SEOUL (Reuters) - A North Korean diplomat who was part of the so-called six-party talks aimed at ending the country's nuclear program arrived on Monday in China, where she is expected to attend a forum in which the U.S. nuclear envoy will take part, Japan's Kyodo news agency said. If the diplomat does take part, it would be a rare gathering of experts from the six countries, coming weeks after Chinese President Xi Jinping said he would like to see the six-party talks resume. Isolated North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch the following month in defiance of U.N. resolutions, prompting the U.N. Security Council to impose new sanctions. China, reclusive North Korea's only major ally, has been angered by its nuclear and missile programs. Xi said in April China wanted to see a resumption of the six-party talks, which have been stalled since 2008. The North Korean diplomat, Choe Son Hui, is deputy director-general of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's U.S. affairs bureau, according to South Korea. She was a delegate to the stop-start six-party nuclear talks, hosted by China. Choe was expected to attend the closed-door Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Beijing, hosted by the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation at the University of California, San Diego, Kyodo said. The annual dialogue is an informal multilateral conference attended by government officials and scholars from the United States, South Korea, Japan, Russia and China, the five countries involved in the six-party talks along with North Korea. "We hope that this conference can make a meaningful inquiry into the relevant cooperation issues in northeast Asia," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing. The U.S. State Department said last week that Sung Kim, the U.S. special representative for North Korea policy, would attend the forum in Beijing. Kyodo said Japan may also send its top nuclear negotiator. State Department spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that Kim has no plans to meet with his North Korean counterparts during the session. It was unclear if Choe would hold separate meetings with officials from other countries. Choe attended a security conference in 2012 in China, but no representatives from North Korea have taken part since, according to the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. The visit comes after career diplomat Ri Su Yong, one of North Korea's highest-profile officials, visited China and held a rare meeting with Xi. (Reporting by Ju-min Park, additional reporting by Megha Rajagopalan in Beijing and Warren Strobel in Washington; Editing by Nick Macfie and Steve Orlofsky)
By James Pearson SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea will not negotiate with the United States over two American citizens it is holding until former detainee Kenneth Bae stops publicly talking about his time in prison, state media said on Monday. Criticized over its human rights record for years, North Korea has made use of detained Americans in the past to extract high-profile visits from the United States, with which it has no formal diplomatic relations. North Korea arrested Bae, a U.S. missionary, in November 2012 and sentenced him to 15 years' hard labor for crimes against the state. He was released two years later and has written an account of his detention in a memoir released in May. Since then, Bae has spoken about his experiences at several public appearances and given interviews to promote the book. During his detention, Bae said, he realized he had become a "negotiating tool" for the North Koreans, some of whom he described as "brainwashed" in a recent interview in South Korea with a defector-run group that broadcasts into the North. For translated version of Bae's interview with Unification Media Group, please click http://bit.ly/28Iu8fy "As long as Kenneth Bae continues his babbling, we will not proceed with any compromise or negotiations with the United States on the subject of American criminals, and there will certainly not be any such thing as humanitarian action," the North's KCNA news agency said. "If Bae continues, U.S. criminals held in our country will be in the pitiful state of never being able to set foot in their homeland once again". Pyongyang is holding two U.S. citizens, both of whom it has tried and sentenced to hard labor. In March, Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old student of the University of Virginia, was sentenced to 15 years' hard labor for trying to steal a propaganda banner bearing the name of former leader Kim Jong Il. In April, a North Korean court convicted Korean-American missionary Kim Dong Chul of crimes against the state and sentenced him to 10 years' hard labor. Last year, Canadian missionary Hyeon Soo Lim was sentenced to hard labor for life for subversion of the state. The United States and Canada both strongly advise citizens not to travel to North Korea. This May, the U.S. State Department said Americans who traveled there despite the warnings risked "unduly harsh sentences". (This story has been refiled to fix story link) (Additional reporting by Jee Heun Kahng; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
Washington (AFP) - On January 20, at the ripe age of 55, Barack Obama will leave the White House, unsure of what comes next.

"In seven months or so, I'll be on the job market. And I'm glad I'm going to be here, because I'm going to get on LinkedIn and see what comes up," Obama told the SelectUSA foreign investment summit.

He went on to laud America as an "extraordinary place to do business."

It's not the first time Obama joked about using the professional networking site LinkedIn, which Microsoft has purchased for $26.2 billion.

In February, he posted about youth programs on the social platform used to exchange career advice, contacts and job offers.

He used the occasion to discuss his first work experience as a teenager: Baskin-Robbins ice cream vendor in Honolulu.

"My first summer job wasn't exactly glamorous, but it taught me some valuable lessons: Responsibility. Hard work. Balancing a job with friends, family and school," Obama wrote at the time.
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fcard%2fimage%2f120563%2fc83e0381bd3d48c2bef248065c82d6ee

UPDATE: June 20, 2016, 3:58 p.m. AEST A Liberal party spokesperson told the Daily Mail that the tradesman in the advertisement is not an actor, as some people claimed, but indeed a real tradesman: "The claims are wrong. The name of the person who appears in the ad is A. MacRae and he is a tradie."

The looming federal election means peak political advertising season in Australia, where hastily put together attack campaigns become the unfortunate norm.

This includes a cringeworthy ad from the ruling Liberal party, featuring a tradie (translation: tradesman) taking aim at opposing Labor leader Bill Shorten on the issue of big banks. Thing is, a hilariously wooden performance had people thinking this tradesman might be little more than *gasp*  an actor.

SEE ALSO: Buffering bogs down Australia's first Facebook Live political debate

"Mr Shorten wants to go to war with my bank? He wants to go to war with our miners? Bill Shorten wants to go war with someone like me," the alleged tradesman said. "So I reckon we should just see it through and stick with the current mob for awhile."

Yes, despite the ruse of a hi-vis vest and baby blue coffee mug, the public was quick to accuse that this tradesman was little more than an actor posing as a #FakeTradie. The hashtag trended on Sunday night, shortly after the ad aired.

The ad's attributed to the spoken part to an "A. MacRae," who many mistook for voiceover artist Andrew MacRae. MacRae was quick to dispel claims of his involvement in the advertisement on Twitter on Monday.

"Dear all, It's not me. I'm not in the ad. I didn't voice the ad. I had nothing to do with the ad," he wrote.

The actual tradesman in the ad, actor or otherwise, is yet to speak out.
Warri (Nigeria) (AFP) - The Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group that has been attacking Nigeria's oil infrastructure since early this year, is anything but new, according to those familiar with the region.

Despite their fresh name, it was only a matter of time before the militants returned to the swamps and creeks of the delta region, the sources said.

The "boys" behind years of violence a decade ago surrendered their guns in 2009 when the government introduced an amnesty programme for militants, once described as a "bribe for peace".

Thousands stopped bombing oil pipelines to go overseas for skills training as divers, welders and boat builders using monthly stipends of 65,000 naira, which at the time was worth $400.

Then last year President Muhammadu Buhari announced he was planning to wind down the programme as well as lucrative pipeline security contracts to save money for the cash-strapped government.

"That infuriated everybody," said Silva Ofugara, chairman of the Ekpan-Uvwie community in the oil town of Warri in Delta state.

The militants had been getting something from the government, a monetary acknowledgement that they too should benefit from Nigeria's vast oil wealth.

People thought they could leave their lives as guerilla fighters behind and focus on a new future.

"A year ago nobody wanted to go back to the creeks," Ofugara told AFP alongside local leader Ufuoma "White Don" Ikaka, wearing a black leather jacket and shirt the colour of the US Stars and Stripes.

But Buhari's announcement changed their minds. For many, the amnesty money was their only income.

"This brought boys to the roundtable to prepare for the next phase."

- 'Kegs of gunpowder' -

Leading the charge are the Niger Delta Avengers, a previously unheard of group, which has claimed a series of attacks on pipelines and facilities mostly in Delta and Bayelsa states.

They have targeted facilities operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, as well as local subsidiaries of Shell, Chevron and Eni.

Story continues

In the impoverished region, the Avengers are anything but unknown.

"The only way they know how to survive is pulling a trigger," said Uche Ifukor, project manager at the Warri-based non-profit organisation AA PeaceWorks.

The militants never found jobs in Warri despite it being home to the biggest oil fields in Africa, he added.

Each militant kingpin -- or "civilian general" -- still commands legions of men from the days before the amnesty deal, Ifukor said.

The generals are effectively the "godfathers" of the oil mafias that run the creeks. Ifukor called them "kegs of gunpowder... just waiting for the wrong move".

- Anarchy returns -

The attacks have cut oil production to some 1.6 million barrels per day, well down from a budgeted 2.2 million bpd, as global prices remain low, sending Nigeria's economy into a tailspin.

In response, the army has started invading river land villages, hunting for the Avengers and the influential militant kingpin-turned-businessman Government "Tompolo" Ekpemupolo, who has been on the run since he was charged last year with corruption.

The result: a return to anarchy in the delta, shootouts between militants and soldiers -- and Ijaw civilians, the dominant ethnic group in the region, caught in the crossfire.

The villages of Okerenkoko and Kuritie in the Gbaramatu Kingdom, the region of snaking waterways stretching from Chevron's Escravos terminal on the Atlantic Ocean coast to Warri, have been abandoned.

People fear a repeat of air raids in 2009 that levelled communities in the final weeks before the government and Tompolo hammered out the amnesty deal.

"The average life in Gbaramatu Kingdom is brutish, short. I just buried my sister yesterday," said Chief Godspower Gbenekama, of the Gbaramatu Kingdom.

Floral Joel was selling wares in a houseboat on June 1. Soldiers chasing militants opened fire on the boat, shooting the 42-year-old mother of five in the heart, he added.

"My sister paid a supreme price," he said. "As it is, every Ijaw man is an Avenger. We are an endangered species."

- Muzzled hyenas? -

Not everyone in Nigeria is sympathetic to the Avengers, whose demands include self-determination for the delta region and the withdrawal of foreign oil majors.

One recent newspaper editorial depicted the militants as unleashed hyenas who had been muzzled by the amnesty and security contract cash doled out by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Yet without peace in the Niger delta, which produces the bulk of Nigeria's oil, Buhari will struggle to source funds needed to kick-start the economy during its worst slowdown in a decade.

"The best case scenario is the Avengers agree to hold talks with the government, and some form of compromise is made whereby the government gives payments in order to stop further attacks," said Rhidoy Rashid, an analyst at London-based Energy Aspects.

"Worst case is the attacks continue, and even worse turn violent. They are more than just aggrieved locals and have access to sophisticated weaponry and funding."
A transcript between law enforcement officials and Omar Mateen on the night of the Orlando massacre was released by the FBI on Monday with redactions interspersed throughout. The account details more than three hours of correspondence between Mateen and different officials, including a 911 operator and the Orlando Police Department's Crisis Negotiation Team.

According to the transcript, Mateen did not specify why he chose Pulse nightclub's Latin night as his target. He did, however, pledge his allegiance to the Islamic State at multiple points, telling the operator, "I pledge my allegiance to [omitted]."

United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch confirmed on Sunday's This Week With George Stephanopoulos that the transcript would include redacted portions so as not to "revictimize those who went through that horror."

We must examine how to make our country a place of safety for all-no matter who we are, what we look like, & whom we love. #OrlandoUnited

Below is the full transcript released by the FBI, via BNO News.

-- STARTS --

The following is based on Orlando Police Department (OPD) radio communication (times are approximate):



2:02 a.m.: OPD call transmitted multiple shots fired at Pulse nightclub.

2:04 a.m.: Additional OPD officers arrived on scene.

2:08 a.m.: Officers from various law enforcement agencies made entrance to Pulse and engaged the shooter.

2:18 a.m.: OPD S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons & Tactics) initiated a full call-out.

2:35 a.m.: Shooter contacted a 911 operator from inside Pulse. The call lasted approximately 50 seconds, the details of which are set out below:



Orlando Police Dispatcher (OD)

Shooter (OM)



OD: Emergency 911, this is being recorded.



OM: In the name of God the Merciful, the beneficial [in Arabic]



OD: What?



OM: Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God [in Arabic]. I let you know, I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings.



OD: What's your name?



OM: My name is I pledge of allegiance to [omitted].



OD: Ok, What's your name?



OM: I pledge allegiance to [omitted] may God protect him [in Arabic], on behalf of [omitted].



OD: Alright, where are you at?



OM: In Orlando.



OD: Where in Orlando?



[End of call.]



(Shortly thereafter, the shooter engaged in three conversations with OPD's Crisis Negotiation Team.)



2:48 a.m.: First crisis negotiation call occurred lasting approximately nine minutes.



3:03 a.m.: Second crisis negotiation call occurred lasting approximately 16 minutes.



3:24 a.m.: Third crisis negotiation call occurred lasting approximately three minutes.



In these calls, the shooter, who identified himself as an Islamic soldier, told the crisis negotiator that he was the person who pledged his allegiance to [omitted], and told the negotiator to tell America to stop bombing Syria and Iraq and that is why he was "out here right now." When the crisis negotiator asked the shooter what he had done, the shooter stated, "No, you already know what I did." The shooter continued, stating, "There is some vehicle outside that has some bombs, just to let you know. You people are gonna get it, and I'm gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid." Later in the call with the crisis negotiator, the shooter stated that he had a vest, and further described it as the kind they "used in France." The shooter later stated, "In the next few days, you're going to see more of this type of action going on." The shooter hung up and multiple attempts to get in touch with him were unsuccessful.



4:21 a.m.: OPD pulled an air conditioning unit out of a Pulse dressing room window for victims to evacuate.



(While the FBI will not be releasing transcripts of OPD communication with victims, significant information obtained from those victims allowed OPD to gain knowledge of the situation inside Pulse.)

Story continues

4:29 a.m.: As victims were being rescued, they told OPD the shooter said he was going to put four vests with bombs on victims within 15 minutes.

(An immediate search of the shooter's vehicle on scene and inside Pulse ultimately revealed no vest or improvised explosive device.)



5:02 a.m.: OPD S.W.A.T. and OCSO Hazardous Device Team began to breach wall with explosive charge and armored vehicle to make entry.



5:14 a.m.: OPD radio communication stated that shots were fired.



5:15 a.m.: OPD radio communication stated that OPD engaged the suspect and the suspect was reported down.



Based on OPD radio communications, there were no reports of shots being fired inside Pulse between the initial exchange of gunfire between responding officers and shooter, and the time of the final breach. During this time, the shooter communicated with an OPD 911 operator and an OPD crisis negotiator, and OPD radio communications reported that victims were being rescued.



The FBI urges the public to provide information about the shooter and any contact they may have had with him. Since the release of the FBI's Seeking Information poster, the FBI has received thousands of tips. The FBI will investigate every tip. To provide a tip, please call 1-800- CALL-FBI or visit tips.fbi.gov.



-- ENDS --
It wasn't long ago that we were celebrating the release of Opera's power saving mode, but on Monday, Microsoft decided to prove to everyone that its own proprietary browser might be the best in the market for your battery.

In a new blog post, Microsoft Edge web platform team director Jason Weber explains how Edge can help save your computer or tablet battery.

DON'T MISS: A week with iOS 10: Its fantastic, and Im bored

"We designed Microsoft Edge from the ground up to prioritize power efficiency and deliver more battery life, without any special battery saving mode or changes to the default settings," says Weber. "Our testing and data show that you can simply browse longer with Microsoft Edge than with Chrome, Firefox, or Opera on Windows 10 devices."

Performing three separate tests, Microsoft compared Edge with the other three leading internet browsers: Chrome, Firefox and Opera. The first was power consumption in a controlled environment; the second was real-world energy telemetry from millions of active Windows 10 devices; and the third was time-lapse videos of all four browsers performing the same tasks at once.

Microsoft Edge won every time, as you can see in the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjrxOOfi54k

That not enough for you? Microsoft also says that the Windows 10 Anniversary Update (scheduled to roll out later this summer) will include "even more power-saving improvements, using fewer CPU cycles, consuming less memory, and minimizing the impact of background activity and peripheral content like Flash advertisements," letting you browse even longer with Edge.

You can read more about the future of Microsoft's replacement for Internet Explorer in another post by Brandon Heenan over on the Edge Dev Blog.

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This article was originally published on BGR.com
While the benefit of Netflix's original series whole-season-at-once releases mean eager viewers can watch a season of a show in its entirety all at once, the downside is the inevitably long break in between the premieres. Those who have binged through the entire fourth season of Orange is the New Black since its Friday release are already probably wondering: When will season five be released?

Unfortunately, that might be a long way off. If previous seasons are any indication, viewers shouldn't expect the fifth season to come out until June 2017  a full year away. However, though Netflix has not provided a specific date for season five, there's still plenty more story to be told from Litchfield Prison.

In February, Netflix announced that the show has been renewed for a fifth, sixth and seventh season  unprecedented for network television, but that's what makes the streaming service's offerings so unique. Therefore, w

As for those who have yet to catch up, Orange Is the New Black season four is currently streaming on Netflix. You can watch the trailer for the new season below:
Walter Koenig and Anton Yelchin (CBS/Paramount)

By Ryan Parker, The Hollywood Reporter

Walter Koenig, the actor who brought the character of Pavel Chekov to life in the original Star Trek TV series and subsequent films, only met Anton Yelchin once, but it was memorable.

We spoke on a sound stage for about two hours, Koenig said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. His reputation as an artist preceded him, however. I knew I was in the presence of a gifted performer.

Yelchin, 27, was killed early Sunday morning when his Jeep rolled down his driveway, pinning him between the vehicle, a security fence and brick pillar.

Yelchin took over the role of Chekov for J.J. Abrams 2009 Star Trek reboot and two sequels. The third installment of the re-imagined franchise, Star Trek Beyond, is due out July 22.

Koenig says the two men were not close friends, but the young actor made in indelible impression.

More: Anton Yelchins Death Under Investigation, Possible Vehicle Defect Cited



What I learned that day was how bright and sensitive he was. I walked away thinking  this is a good person, Koenig said. My heart goes out to his mother and father. I know what youre going through. (Koenig lost his son, actor Andrew Koenig, to suicide in 2010.)



Yelchins death remains under investigation by Los Angeles authorities.

Yelchins Jeep was part of a voluntary recall issued in April by Fiat Chrysler. The recall was issued to reduce the effect of potential driver error by enhancing warnings and transmission shift strategy, according to the notice.

In a statement, the company said: FCA US extends its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Yelchin. The Company is in contact with the authorities and is conducting a thorough investigation. It is premature to speculate on the cause of this tragedy.
Barricaded in a hostage-filled bathroom at the Pulse nightclub, gunman Omar Mateen delivered a blunt if implausible demand to police negotiators. America, he said, should stop bombing Syria and Iraq.

Authorities said that Mateen identified himself as an Islamic soldier, and then said that forcing an end to the bombing campaign was why he was out here right now.

There is some vehicle outside that has some bombs, just to let you know, Mateen told police. You people are gonna get it, and Im gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid.

Though police never found any explosive devices, Mateen claimed he had a vest like those used in France  an apparent reference to suicide vests used in the November Paris attacks that killed 130 people and wounded hundreds more.

These new details of the Orlando police forces interactions with Mateen come from edited transcripts released by the FBI Monday. They provide the most detailed timeline yet of events inside the gay nightclub in Orlando where Mateen killed 49 people in the deadliest domestic terror attack since 9/11 and the worst mass shooting in American history. They also reveal some of what Mateen told police about his motives.

The material released provides crucial information about the formulation of Mateens pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State. In a 2:35 a.m. 911 call, Mateen told the dispatcher, I pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may God protect him, on behalf of the Islamic State.

Groups such as the Islamic State require adherents abroad who carry out violence in their name to pledge allegiance to their leader  and not the group. The Islamic State has encouraged its followers overseas to carry out attacks wherever they are, and to do so following a specified routine in declaring their kinship with the terror group. The wording of Mateens pledge to Baghdadi indicates he was familiar with those requirements. That pledge, however, did not use Baghdadis full honorific title.

Story continues

In Mondays release, the FBI first redacted all of Mateens references to the Islamic State militant group and its leader, Baghdadi. Were not gonna propagate their rhetoric  their violent rhetoric, Ron Hopper, the assistant special agent in charge of the FBIs Orlando office, told reporters when asked about the redactions. We see no value in putting those individuals names back out there. Mondays release does not mention Mateen by name, and refers to him instead as the shooter.

After coming under intense criticism for omitting mention of Baghdadi and the Islamic State, the FBI and the Justice Department later in the day released an unredacted portion of Mateens 911 call in which he pledges his allegiance to the Islamic State.

Key questions remain about Mateens motive for carrying out the attack, and Mondays transcripts come on the heels of reports that the gunman had repeatedly visited Pulse nightclub and that he had used a gay dating app. Asked by reporters at a Monday news conference about Mateens sexual orientation, Ron Hopper, the assistant special agent in charge of the FBIs Orlando office, said his agents are investigating the reports.

The FBI declined to release audio files of the phone calls, but Hopper described Mateens demeanor during them as chilling, calm, and deliberate.

Hopper said that the investigation has revealed no evidence Mateen was directed in his actions by a foreign terror groups, echoing remarks from other senior U.S. intelligence officials. Still, the transcripts released Monday reveal similarities between the Pulse massacre and last Novembers Paris attack.

In Paris, the gunmen who stormed the Bataclan nightclub, slaughtered concert goers, and took hostages before dying in a shootout with police demanded that France stop its military campaign in Syria against the Islamic State.

I want you to leave the country. I want you to remove your military. I want a piece of paper signed that proves it! one Paris gunman told police, according to the New York Times. Mateen made a similar demand directed at U.S. military action in Syria and Iraq.

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Omar Mateen's exchange with police from inside Latin night at the gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando, Florida, will be released by the FBI on Monday as a transcript  with some redactions.

Portions of his negotiations with authorities as he carried out the massacre of 49 club-goers will be left out in an effort "not to revictimize those who went through that horror," including the gunman's pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group, United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch told ABC's This Week With George Stephanopoulos on Sunday.

We must examine how to make our country a place of safety for all-no matter who we are, what we look like, & whom we love. #OrlandoUnited

This news follows last week's revelations that Mateen periodically checked Facebook, texted his wife and posted status updates while on his early morning rampage inside the club. According to CNN, the 29-year-old was seeking updates on whether his shooting was being reported on the news. Not long after, Mateen was shot and killed by law enforcement. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson wrote a letter to Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg seeking Facebook's support in the investigation of the attack.

"You kill innocent women and children by doing U.S. airstrikes," Mateen wrote in a Facebook post. "Now taste the Islamic State vengeance."

A candlelit vigil is held near Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

While the shooter was texting his wife, Noor Salman, at about 4 a.m. Eastern, he did not pick up her calls. At one point, she sent him a text letting him know she loved him. Reports also indicate that prior to the attack, Salman accompanied Mateen as he purchased ammunition. She also reportedly drove him to the Pulse nightclub on previous occasions. It's not yet known whether she will face charges. Mateen was also stopped from buying body armor and bulk ammunition at a Florida gun shop just weeks before the shooting.

Story continues

Mateen's massacre seems to have been a long time coming. The New York Times detailed his well-documented history with aggression, dating all the way back to his childhood.

"Omar Mateen was that chunky kid with glasses, remembered more for his scrapes with other classmates than for his academic performance," the newspaper reported Saturday. Later, his coworker would describe him as "agitated about everything ... always shaken. Always agitated. Always mad."

Mateen was obsessed with law enforcement, abusive husband and could be openly homophobic despite multiple reports alleging he was active on gay dating apps and even frequented the club that would eventually become the site of his early morning rampage.

L will travel to Orlando for a briefing on the investigation Tuesday.

H ic's original coverage of the :

At least 50 people are dead, including the killer, and 53 injured after a gunman entered Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and opened fire, first on patrons and staff and then on responding law enforcement personnel.

Law enforcement sources told CBS News they have identified the suspect as Omar Mateen, a U.S. citizen from Port St. Lucie, Florida, who was born to Afghan parents in 1986. The LA Times' Matt Pearce confirmed authorities had given the name to the paper's D.C. bureau as well.

Orlando gunman tentatively identified as Omar Mateen, 29, a U.S. law enforcement officials tells my colleagues in our Washington bureau.

In an interview with NBC News, the suspect's father, Mir Seddique, apologized and said the massacre had "nothing to do with religion." Instead, he said, the shooting may be tied to an incident several months ago, when Mateen became enraged upon seeing two men kissing in Miami.

WATCH: Father of shooter in Orlando club tells NBC News: "We are apologizing for the whole incident"https://amp.twimg.com/v/a1f07521-0c53-4010-b539-d7bf433f0361 ...

"At this point, this is an incident, as I can see it, we can certainly classify as a domestic terror incident," Orange County Sheriff's Office spokesman Jerry Demings said, according to CBS News.

C : June 20, 2016

A previous version of this story misstated the source that indicated Omar Mateen was seeking updates on whether his shooting was being reported on the news. That source was CNN.
By Mehreen Zahra-Malik ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan and Afghanistan failed to reach an agreement on border management in talks on Monday, officials said, after days of clashes at the border last week left four dead and thousands stranded. Fighting broke out when Pakistan started building a barrier at the crossing to stop Islamist militants crossing over from Afghanistan. That plan angered Afghanistan, which rejects the colonial-era Durand Line border drawn up in 1893 and objects to Pakistan building checkpoints along the disputed boundary. The two countries agreed on a ceasefire on Thursday, and it was decided that an Afghan delegation led by deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai would visit Pakistan for talks on Monday. Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry on Monday informed the Afghan delegation that Pakistan planned to build four gates at different points on the crossing, a Pakistani foreign office official said. "There was no final agreement but we have informed them (Afghanistan) of our position," the official said, requesting anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media. "These gates are important for the safety and security of both Pakistan and Afghanistan." A second Pakistani official said the foreign policy chiefs would hold further discussions at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tashkent later this week. A statement from the Afghan foreign ministry said the talks were held in an "amicable and friendly atmosphere" but said Karzai had raised what it called "various violations" by Pakistan, including setting up checkpoints in Afghan territory. "Moreover, he strongly protested against Pakistan's ongoing unprovoked artillery shelling of Afghan villages," it said. Thousands of vehicles normally pass through the crossing every week, making it a vital trade link between the countries. On Monday, dozens of Pakistani traders protested outside the provincial parliament in Peshawar, demanding that Afghan refugees be deported. Pakistan hosts some 2.5 million Afghans who have fled fighting in their home country. A protest leader said the free movement of Afghans into Pakistan had destroyed peace in the country and needed to be checked. Relations between the neighbors have been strained in recent months. Kabul accuses Pakistan of harboring militants seeking to topple the Afghan government and not doing enough to bring Afghan Taliban leaders, over which Pakistan holds some sway, to the negotiating table. Pakistan denies supporting militants and says it is constructing the border gate to prevent anti-Pakistan militants crossing over from Afghanistan. (Additional reporting by James Mackenzie in Kabul; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Hebron (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Palestinians on Monday buried a young man said to be suffering from Down's syndrome, who was fatally shot by Israeli troops in the occupied West Bank.

Arif Jaradat, 22, was wounded during clashes with the Israeli armed forces on May 4 in his home village of Sair.

He died of his injuries at a Palestinian hospital in nearby Hebron on Sunday, staff said.

He was "a special case" with "special needs", his mother Zakia Jaradat told AFP as she received a stream of condolence visits in the living room of the family home.

Jaradat's father, Sharif, who wore the traditional white headscarf of the Bedouin, said Arif had heard villagers and troops were engaged in clashes and had rushed to the scene.

"He got about 10 metres (yards) from the soldiers and put his hands in the air," said Sharif, 68, leaning on a walking stick.

"Four of his brothers were there and they called out to the soldiers in English and Hebrew not to shoot," he said.

"There were seven soldiers there; they started to leave but one came back and fired."

The Israeli army spokesperson's office had no response Monday when asked by AFP about the shooting.

"He was the most loveable (person) in the village," his father said tearfully, as dozens of relatives and neighbours walked in a long funeral procession with the body, which was wrapped in a Palestinian flag.

Violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories since October has killed at least 208 Palestinians, 32 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese.

Israeli authorities say most of the Palestinians were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks.

Others were killed in clashes with security forces or by Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - Repairing cars in the Gulf, a Palestinian mechanic from the Gaza Strip once spotted a vehicle that took his breath away. It was a classic: a Mercedes Gazelle. Munir Shindi knew that he had to have one. So, after returning home to Gaza, he set about building a replica of the 1927 model of the two-door, open-top roadster from scratch. Cannibalizing parts from used vehicles and importing a few items such as locks, hub caps and hinges from the United States, Shindi, 36, spent nearly two years shaping his masterpiece. It's now on display in his mechanic's shop. "I wanted to prove to myself that I can make it and that nothing was impossible," he said. Off-white with burgundy seats, the replica is built on a Mitsubishi chassis and powered by a 1,600 cc Mitsubishi engine. It drew admiring glances and cheers from motorists and pedestrians as Shindi, accompanied by two of his sons, took a rare drive down a main Gaza street on Sunday. "I am still waiting for the authorities to allow me to license it so I can drive it properly," he said. Designed by Ferdinand Porsche, the lightweight Gazelle series helped Mercedes dominate motorsport in the late 1920s and early 1930s. According to classic car websites, about 300 Gazelles were produced, and one unrestored model sold for $7.4 million in 2004. Palestinians in Gaza, territory controlled by the Hamas Islamist group, import cars from around the world via neighboring Israel. There are about 70,000 registered cars in the small, densely populated enclave of 1.95 million people. (Editing by Jeffrey Heller/Mark Heinrich)
House Speaker Paul Ryan criticized the FBI for not releasing all of the transcript of a 911 call made by Orlando shooter Omar Mateen. The agency later released the full transcript.

During the shooting at the Pulse nightclub, Mateen made a 50-second call to 911 to take responsibility. Law enforcement officials previously told NBC News that in the call he swore allegiance to the head of the Islamic State, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, during the call, but those key words were redacted in the initial transcript released by the Tampa division of the FBI Monday:

OD: Whats your name?

OM: My name is I pledge of allegiance to [omitted].

OD: Ok, Whats your name?

OM: I pledge allegiance to [omitted] may God protect him [in Arabic], on behalf of [omitted].

Ryan called the decision to selectively edit the transcript preposterous.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Sunday that portions of the transcript would not be released.

What were not going to do is further proclaim this mans pledges of allegiance to terrorist groups, and further his propaganda,she said in an interview on Meet the Press.

Later on Monday, the FBI released the unredacted transcript:

OD: Whats your name?

OM: My name is I pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the Islamic State.

OD: Ok, Whats your name?

OM: I pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may God protect him [Arabic], on behalf of the Islamic State.

President Obama has said that there is no clear evidence that the Orlando shooting was tied to a larger plot or the Islamic State.
This Tuesday at 10/9c, CBS Person of Interest wraps its five-season run  but not before heaping upon Team Machine more loss during their final battle against Samaritan.

PHOTOSPerson of Interest Series Finale Photos, Suicide Mission Teaser

Already during the shows 13-episode swan song, longtime frenemy Elias took one for the team he had just barely joined, while Root died a heros death by steering herself into the path of a bullet meant for The Machines creator, Harold. In the wake of that tragic loss, Finch has gone a bit rogue, securing and unleashing a computer megavirus capable of vanquishing Samaritan  as well as its kinder-hearted kin.

With one last, epic clash on the horizon, Michael Emerson spoke with TVLine about Harolds desperate act, the final runs more emotional moments and why hes walking away from the show a tiny bit worse for the wear.

TVLINE | Why has Harold splintered off and gone rogue, and not invited the team along?

Because I think he feels like this is really a suicide mission now. Too many people have died already because of him. He doesnt

person-of-interest-series-finale-finch-gun copy

want any more casualties.

TVLINE | In what specific ways do you think Roots death affected him and the decisions hes now making?

I think it kind of rocked his world a bit. I supposes its a thing that hes always understood in the abstract, but when [her fate] came to be, sitting there next to her and to have grown to have such a family feeling for this woman who four seasons ago kidnapped and tortured him! . When people are on your side, youre willing to forgive a lot, I think.

RELATEDMatts Inside Line: Person of Interest Finale Scoop and More

TVLINE | When it comes to deploying the Ice-9 virus, is putting The Machines livelihood at risk Harolds second-worst nightmare?

Yes, I think so. The Ice-9 virus puts everything cyber at risk. The Machine is his creation, and part of him is just sick of himself for having handled things badly. Now hes going to have to do something quite desperate to set things right.

Story continues

TVLINE | What do you think hed do differently, if he could do it over again?

He would have to sit down and think about that. He could have unfettered The Machine, but then that would be going against his character, and it would have created a thing that. I mean, Samaritan wasnt an evil code; it just does what artificial intelligences do. So when he looks at Samaritan, he sees what his machine would have been, uncontrolled.

TVLINE | You have a great scene with Jim Caviezel in the finale  a bit of it is in the trailer thats out now  where Harold discloses how his relationship with John ultimately surprised him. Did that turn out to be one of your favorite moments from the series?

It is good. There are a lot of great moments in these final two or three episodes that finally make explicit things that we and the viewers have been feeling for a long time. It rings the chords of the family that theyve made, finally saying it out loud.

TVLINE | As an actor, did it please you to see the show go there? Especially in a season where there wasnt much time to pause and touch on such things?

Yes, because as we were shooting these final 13, I kept thinking, even as far along as Episode 9 or 10, Wheres the ending? What form will it take? So its nice to see that they were able to put the brakes on, turn around and do something surprising and satisfying in the last few heartbeats of the series.

TVLINE | Even that conversation between Harold and Root in the car, during a high-speed chase and with guns a-blazing. What they were saying was tremendously important.



It was. It was. Their conversation has always been philosophically crucial to the show and to the thinking of the writers. Whatever agenda, social or scientific or political, that our writers might have, that was the conversation that they spent the most time on, and the most care.

TVLINE | Harold/Root was almost like Jack Shephard/John Locke, that ongoing faith-versus-science debate.

Yes. Yes, it was.

RELATEDPerson of Interests Amy Acker: Roots Sacrifice Makes Me Happy

TVLINE | Without naming names, obviously not everyone makes it out of the finale alive. Do you agree with the loss the team sustained in the name of doing the right thing?

You have to have casualties to give it gravity. Thats the only way that writers can say that these things have consequences, that these decisions have cost. To tell you the truth, Im not sure whos left standing, unitl I see it [Tuesday] night. But Im always the one that has a bunch of questions after I see a finished episode, like, Is that what that means? Sometimes I have to replay them just to make sure that Im getting what theyre putting out there! I had read the [series finale] script of course and acted in the scenes, but things change a little bit when they get cut and music is added, and they highlight the things they want highlighted and bury the things they want buried. Thats one of the interesting aspects of the job and one of the reasons why I always watch the finished episodes.

TVLINE | Whats your biggest takeaway from the Person of Interest experience? I mean, this is your second series in a row to have banked 100-plus episodes.

Thats right, thats unusual. Im really a lucky actor to have had two good shows like that, both of which I was proud of. My takeaway is: Its hard to do a big show like [POI or Lost]. Both were huge to shoot, technically, with action and explosions and effects and all of that. I dont know how much longer the network formula can support work that difficult, on the model that theyre using now.

To shoot a credible half-of-an-action feature every eight working days? I think its just unsupportable.

TVLINE | And worse, you have to limp through all of those action scenes!

Well yeah, and I thought I was so clever  Oh, I will [affect] an infirmity, with no wear and tear on my body! So guess whos got physical therapy now for a stiff neck? A stiff neck that was a fictional stiff neck for five years, and now its a real stiff neck! [Laughs]

TVLINE | Hugh Laurie has joked about his knees going bad because of his House limp.

I wouldnt doubt it. You end up favoring one leg over a lot of time. And I tell you, its not so bad with the day-to-day for any of those shows, but when Finch has to run for his life, through the streets of Chinatown? That is so bad on the leg youre using to support you. [Laughs] And we never get those scenes in one take!

TVLINE | Youre available again, and I think Terry OQuinn is available now? I know your pilot Odd Jobs didnt pan out, but might you two finally get together for a new show?

Were always talking about stuff, but I think hes just about to begin shooting that [Amazon] series Patriot, where he plays the paterfamilias of this wacky, crooked political family. But I think theyd only do 10 episodes, because theyre sensible. If they said to me, We want Person of Interest to keep going but were only going to do 10 or 12 [episodes], Id say, Sign me up. But I cant do 22 again. I think people always expect me to be broken up about things coming to an end, but we were so tired in December, I couldnt even have imagined coming back after the new year and shooting more.

TVLINE | Do you care where you work next? New York City versus L.A.?

I dont care as long as its in the lower 48 [states]. One of the POI writers has written a pilot that will be shot and produced in Nova Scotia, if it goes. And I thought, Im too old to do that. I cant go live in another country. Im supposed to audition for a part in a miniseries that shoots in Prague for months, and I thought, Im not sure I want to do that. I know its a charming city and my ancestors came from there, but I dont like living out of a suitcase like I once did!

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Catholic Church leaders in the Philippines expressed alarm Monday at a sharp rise in police killings of suspected criminals since the election of a firebrand president who has vowed a bloody war on crime.

The influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines also denounced signs of vigilantism and the offering of bounties for criminals, following the election on May 9 of Rodrigo Duterte who ran on an anti-crime campaign.

"We are disturbed by an increasing number of reports that suspected drug-peddlers, pushers and others... have been shot, supposedly because they resist arrest," said a statement by Archbishop Socrates Villegas, the head of the conference.

He was responding to national police figures showing that 29 drug suspects were shot dead between May 9 and June 15 -- compared to 39 killed in the previous four months of this year.

The most recent figure does not include eight drug suspects shot dead by police over the past weekend in different parts of the country.

"It is equally disturbing that vigilantism seems to be on the rise," the statement said, citing cases where bodies have been found with signs labelling them as criminals.

The bishops also condemned the practice of at least one city mayor of offering large payments to policemen who kill drug suspects.

"It is never morally permissible to receive reward money to kill another," the statement added.

Their condemnation flies in the face of Duterte's call to police and even civilians to kill drug criminals.

Duterte has previously been linked to vigilante death squads who killed about 1,000 people when he was longtime mayor of the southern city of Davao.

He has vowed to kill tens of thousands of criminals after he takes office on June 30.

The president-elect has often attacked the Catholic Church, which counts over 80 percent of Filipinos as followers and was instrumental in the toppling of dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

Duterte has previously labelled Pope Francis as "a son of a whore" and branded the church as a hypocritical institution.

Although he has not yet taken office, a police spokesman previously said that Duterte's remarks were a possible "motivation" for law-enforcers to crack down on illegal drugs.
Incoming Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has met with two Islamist rebel groups in what is seen as a historic move in the countrys efforts towards resolving its Islamist insurgency.

Muslim rebels pledged their support for Dutertes proposed shift to a federal government in the hopes it would redistribute wealth and be a step toward ending the troubles on Mindanao  the second largest island in the Philippines and the center of the 40-year separatist conflict  according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp. They also agreed to open a dialogue among Muslims on the island.

Duterte, who will assume office on June 30, is believed to hold sway with rebel leaders given his decades-long tenure as mayor of the islands most populous city Davao.

Analysts speculate that he could make considerable strides in tackling the long-standing insurgency that has recently been making world headlines through an ongoing hostage crisis.

[ABC]
Texas storm

Pimco is out with an urgent warning about the US commercial real-estate market.

In a report released Monday, Pimco's John Murray and Anthony Clarke wrote that the capital flows that propped up the market since the housing crash were decreasing.

And that spells trouble ahead.

From the report (emphasis added):

"Storms form when moisture, unstable air and updrafts interact. Similarly, a confluence of factors  volatility in public markets, tightened regulations, maturing loans and uncertain foreign capital flows  is creating a blast of volatility for U.S. commercial real estate (CRE) that we anticipate could lower overall private U.S CRE prices by as much as 5% over the next 12 months.

Last month, Deutsche Bank analysts similarly warned about a decline in commercial real estate; they noted that various measures of on-the-ground spending were near or above 90% of the levels where they most recently peaked from 2002 to 2008.

Pimco observed that real-estate investment trusts  securities known as REITs that invest in real estate and trade like stocks  have recently been slammed together with the equity market.

They observe a 71% correlation between S&P 500 and REIT returns since the beginning of 2015. The S&P 500 has risen just 0.3% since then; REITs have also been virtually flat.

This trading pattern has placed REITs below their net asset value (their value, excluding liabilities, divided by the number of outstanding shares), increasing net sellers of commercial real estate.

Regulation will also continue to be a challenge, Pimco said. New rules since the financial crisis have prompted banks, which act as market makers in commercial mortgage-backed securities, or CMBS, to slim their dealer inventories.

We already saw a liquidity constraint in February, when hedge funds tried to sell their positions but banks couldn't make a market, sending CMBS down by as much as 20% in weeks.

There's also a looming liquidation event, as $200 billion of 10-year CMBS loans mature over the next three years. Pimco notes that many fund managers have held on to them because of the fees but could now exercise their right to force liquidation.

Story continues

Amid all these challenges, there are opportunities for investors who understand commercial real estate, Pimco said. For example, sell-offs in stocks would create opportunities to buy them cheaply.

"For flexible capital, this storm might be a welcome one indeed," Pimco said.

NOW WATCH: Scientists discovered something heartbreaking about this newfound dinosaur





More From Business Insider


Johannesburg (AFP) - The family of Oscar Pistorius Monday said they had been threatened with extortion relating to the case of the convicted former athlete who is facing prison for the murder of his girlfriend.

An unknown person threatened to have Pistorius gang raped in prison, unless the family paid for evidence that would undermine the prosecution case against him, said family spokeswoman Anneliese Burgess.

Specifically the person sent messages to a Pistorius family member seeking payment in exchange for evidence that the prosecutor had paid a witness who testified against the athlete at his sentencing hearing last week.

The text message was sent to a cousin of the double-amputee, Arnoldus Pistorius, on June 16, the day after the end of the former athlete's pre-sentencing hearing.

Burgess said the anonymous person began making threats when the cousin did not respond to his demands, including to have Pistorius raped when he goes back to prison.

"These included threats that he would arrange for Oscar to be beaten up and gang raped in prison," said Burgess in a statement.

Police confirmed that they were looking at the threats made to the family but no arrests had been made.

The former Paralympic champion was in 2014 sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of culpable homicide for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, saying he mistook her for an intruder.

He 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.

His culpable homicide sentence has since been converted into murder, which carries a minimum of 15 years.

The High Court in the capital Pretoria is due to hand down his new sentence on July 6.
Nicosia (AFP) - The lionfish, a tropical creature with poisonous barbs and a painful sting that can kill humans in rare cases, may be spreading in the Mediterranean, a conservation group warned Monday.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (UICN) said the fish had been spotted in waters around Turkey and Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean.

"That shows that the fish is spreading, and that's a cause for concern," Maria del Mar Otero of the UICN told AFP.

The highly invasive, predatory fish, also known as the Devil Firefish, is a native of the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.

Stings from its barbs are rarely fatal to humans, but can cause extreme pain, vomiting and respiratory paralysis.

Environmentalists fear that the fish's arrival in the eastern Mediterranean could decimate stocks of other fish, with knock-on effects on the rest of the marine environment.

Dr Carlos Jimenez, a marine biologist at the Cyprus Institute, said the species "could have a heavy negative impact on the ecosystems as well as on local economies".

Despite their conspicuous colours and slow movements, even sharks won't go near lionfish, giving them free rein to feed and wipe out other species that normally keep algae in check.

This can attract the arrival of new invasive species because of the weakening of the local fauna and flora, said Jimenez.

The voracious fish caused environmental havoc after it was introduced to the Caribbean.

Lionfish were first recorded in Cuba in 2007, and within two years, they were common in waters around the island, said Delmis Cabrera, a marine biologist at the National Aquarium in Havana.

The Association of Caribbean States organised a summit to discuss ways of combatting the fish's spread.

Cuba, Colombia and the Bahamas have encouraged their populations to start eating the fish to keep down numbers.

Cuba now holds an annual fishing tournament for the species. Restaurants have begun serving its white, juicy flesh, long enjoyed as a delicacy in Japan.

Story continues

The first sightings of the fish in Mediterranean waters were off Israel in 1991. More recently, they have been seen in Lebanese and Tunisian waters, according to the UICN.

The fish may have been introduced by aquarium enthusiasts who let them loose, or via the Suez Canal from the Red Sea, where there is a flourishing population.

Cargo ships' ballast waters are an ideal hiding place for invasive species.
A 51-year-old Pennsylvania man was arrested on a series of charges after authorities in Bucks County allegedly retrieved 12 girls from his Feasterville home last Thursday, PEOPLE confirms.



Lee Kaplan was charged with statutory sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor and aggravated indecent assault after authorities searched his home and discovered he was the only adult living in the residence with the 12 girls, who ranged in age from six months to 18 years, according to court records obtained by PEOPLE.



Detectives raided the home after receiving an anonymous tip, police say. The oldest of the 12 girls told investigators she was 14 when her parents allegedly handed her over to Kaplan after he helped them financially.



Upon being rescued, the 18-year-old girl allegedly told police she and Kaplan had two children together  a 3-year-old girl and the six-month-old infant.



Kaplan's arrest affidavit says the 18-year-old girl's father told police he gave his daughter to Kaplan after he'd provided the family with financial support.



Police have charged the girl's father, Daniel Stoltzfus, with conspiracy of statutory sexual assault and child endangerment and they arrested his wife, Savilla Stoltzfus, on a single endangering the welfare of a child count.



The girl's Amish parents live in Lancaster County.



 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.



Kaplan and both parents are being held on $1 million bail.



According to court records, police are working to determine the identities of the other recovered children's parents, but note it will be challenging as none of them have any forms of identification.



Investigators are also working to determine how long the 12 girls were living in the home and whether any of the others were similarly abused by Kaplan.





Neighbor Previously Called Police to Report 'Something Creepy Going On'

Denise Horst, a traveling nurse who lives in the neighborhood, tells PEOPLE she often saw several girls in Kaplan's yard wearing traditional Amish clothing.



"This one time, back in October, they were all outside near the street, and that guy came out," Horst recalled. "The girls all went running into the house. It looked like they were frightened."



Horst tells PEOPLE she actually called the police last October to report "something creepy going on" inside Kaplan's home, but was told detectives couldn't find any concrete evidence of wrongdoing.



Police brought search dogs to Kaplan's home on Saturday, searching the house and its surrounding property for any additional evidence.



Kaplan and the girl's parents will appear in court for hearings scheduled for June 28. It is unclear whether any of them has retained legal counsel.



Police claim the 12 recovered children are together in protective custody.
London (AFP) - A British politician announced she would no longer support the campaign to leave the European Union, accusing it of "hate and xenophobia" on Monday, days before the referendum.

Sayeeda Warsi, former chair of the Conservative Party of Prime Minister David Cameron and a prominent Muslim, told The Times newspaper she had decided to "leave Leave" because of a poster launched ahead of Thursday's vote.

The poster, an image of migrants and refugees queueing on the border of Slovenia with the caption "Breaking point", was unveiled by the anti-EU leader Nigel Farage last week.

"That 'breaking point' poster really was -- for me -- the breaking point to say, 'I can't go on supporting this'," Warsi told The Times.

"Are we prepared to tell lies, to spread hate and xenophobia just to win a campaign? For me that's a step too far."

Accusations of divisive tactics by the Leave campaign intensified after the shock murder last week of lawmaker Jo Cox, a pro-EU campaigner who had advocated for refugees' rights.

Her alleged killer, Thomas Mair, replied "Death to traitors, freedom for Britain" when asked to give his name at a court appearance.

Farage was forced to fend off criticism of the poster over the weekend as polls indicated the two sides were neck-and-neck ahead of the June 23 vote.

Finance minister George Osborne called it "disgusting and vile" and said it had "echoes of literature used in the 1930s".

But Farage denied stirring hatred.

"When you challenge the establishment in this country, they come after you, they call you all sorts of things," he said.

Warsi, a member of the House of Lords, was a junior Foreign Office minister under Cameron until she resigned in protest at the government's policy on the Israel-Gaza conflict in 2014.

Following her announcement, Vote Leave questioned whether Warsi had ever supported their campaign.

"When I invited Sayeeda Warsi to join the Leave campaign, she declined," Daniel Hannan, a member of the Vote Leave campaign committee wrote on Twitter.
This post contains spoilers for Preacher, Season 1, Episode 4, titled Monster Swamp. To refresh your memory of where we left off, read last weeks Preacher recap.

This week in Annville, Texas

Paintballing down girls is the local sport, practiced by a group of meat-packing goonies  theyre Odin Quincannons men. Think of this as hunting, only more sexist and revolting. But the nighttime activity goes horribly awry when a young girl, after being hit in the chest by a neon green paintball, falls into pit, and proceeds to die of what can only be imagined as excrement asphyxiation. The pit was filled with literal crap. Meat-packers: 1; Scantily-clad ladies (because why not?): 0.

Tulip, being the badass feminist that she is, doesnt approve of the girls untimely demise. Pressure is building and its not long before she takes out her frustrations on moaning men at the local whorehouse. Just one problem  she mistakes one of the guys for the paintballing murderer and, instead, beats the living crap out of Cassidy. On the car ride to the hospital, she gives him a kiss  well call it the kiss of life  which may or may not have made Cassidy fall in love with Tulip on the spot. Will we get some Cassidy/Custer action soon?

Cassidy tries to explain to Custer about DeBlanc and Fiore showing up to take back whats inside him. But Custer mistakes this thing for his inner knowledge and the word of the Lord. Cassidy warns him to get away (head to Tijuana if necessary), but Custer has bigger fish to fry. Things have changed since Custers dad was Preacher. For one, Custer cant muster a full congregation. The church is run down and missing all its glory. There is little hope for it.

Custer toys with the idea of a raffle, because $1,000 televisions really get peoples religious juices flowing. But also decides he needs a bigger gesture, so he lands on bringing Quincannon (the towns most powerful and feared man) to church because people look up to him. In a little devious, and not-so-bright plan, Custer offers Quincannon his fathers land  something Quincannon has always wanted  as long as he listens to the sermon on Sunday. Then Custer tries to make an example of the power of the Lord. I ask you now, Custer says, will you serve God? Of course, Quincannon refuses, until Custer orders him to serve God. So Quincannon accepts. Is it possible that Custer is starting to control his power? Does anyone sense that this could go terribly wrong?

Story continues

Cassidy is stringing DeBlanc and Fiore along. Its pretty clear he isnt believing their script. They claim to be from Heaven and on the quest of extracting whatever is inside of Custer and putting it back into its domicile (by the way, their use of odd language is spectacular). How? By using a chainsaw, which, if you recall, they already attempted and it didnt go so well. But neither did their next idea, which was luring this thing out of him with a lullaby.

Cassidy entertains them, but ultimately asks for payment which he uses on drugs and hookers while DeBlanc and Fiore wait patiently (if a little naively) for him at the Sundown Motel. But Fiore isnt incredibly trusting of Cassidy either. He offers to call them or their superiors in heaven, and lets them know exactly whats been going on. That doesnt sound like its going to go well. But before they have a chance to do anything, they get a call from above, in a telephone of sorts that looks anything but heavenly. Well see if DeBlanc and Fiore pick up that phone call when Preacher returns next week.

Before you leave:

We get a little glimpse of Custers father. He was a strict man, but its clear that Custer is trying to live up to the glory days of his fathers congregation  seems our Preacher has a bit of a conflicted past.

Quincannon gets a little visit from the mayor. By the looks of it, Quincannon is Annvilles ultimate boss. The mayor, in an effort to bring the town out of its slump, met with a green agriculture group that could lessen Quincannons power over the town. Quincannon doesnt take this well.

Also, where was Arseface? Eugene has been underutilized so far.

What did you think of Preacher episode 4? Weigh in below.

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Heaven help him, in this weeks Preacher, our scruffy title hero put his gift to its greatest test yet by trying to return Odin to church  permanently. And, regardless of Jesses superpower, I would have said prior to watching the episode that there was about as much of a chance of that happening as there was of Tulip kissing Cassidy. So was I wrong or was I wrong twice? Read on and find out!

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A FALLEN WOMAN | Early on in Monster Swamp, a paintball game between the Quinncannon Meat & Power guys and Mosies unarmed and mostly undressed prostitutes ended with Lacey falling to her death in a sinkhole. As she was retrieved by Sheriff Root the following morning, Odin addressed both his crew and the hookers, sensitively urging the girls to watch where theyre going in the future.

Meanwhile, Cassidys attempt to explain to Jesse that a pair of angels was after the entity within him only made the preacher think that his pal was high. Which, after striking a lucrative bargain with the gullible duo, he was. Unfortunately, the blood-sucker chose to celebrate at Mosies whorehouse, where Clives callous reaction to Laceys demise so enraged Tulip that she threw him out a window.

Well, she threw someone out a window. Too late, she realized that shed mistakenly barged into the wrong room and attacked a total stranger  Cassidy!

As Tulip rushed to the E.R. with the vampire, he asked her to kiss him, which  since she was the reason he had shards of glass protruding from his neck and all  she did. After Cassidy went M.I.A. at the hospital, Tulip was shocked to find him enjoying Happy Hour at the blood fridge. You were right, love, he cracked. I think Im gonna make it.

Story continues

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PREDATOR AND PRAY | Paying a visit to Emily, Jesse expressed an eagerness to see the church full to capacity every week. How could they make that happen? Patience and hard work, she replied. Nah, he couldnt wait that long. Instead, he suggested they raffle off a TV that the church could in no way, shape or form afford. When she fretted that he was up to his old tricks, he came thisclose to kissing her as she reassured him that all he was going to do was somethin wonderful.

Later, after Miles suggested that Odin consider teaming up with the Green Acre Group  and Quinncannon responded by whipping out his johnson and pissing on the brochures  the mayor convinced crush Emily to have a glass of wine and a laugh with him. Im never gonna be with you, she reminded him. You know that, right? Sadly, he did. But, as long as he did, she was still willing to have sex with him (and apparently not for the first time!).

Preacher Recap 104

Back at the Annville Hotel, when not praying that Cassidy would honor their agreement and deliver Jesse to them, DeBlanc and Fiore debated alerting them to what was going on. In the end, DeBlanc settled the matter by pointing out that they didnt even know that the duo had come down to earth without permission, much less the reason that they had. (Of course, as the hour drew to a close, their Batphone to heaven rang. Ruh-roh.)

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A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL | Dropping in on Odin, Jesse asked him to attend church that Sunday. If folks saw a leader of the community doing so, theyd all follow suit, he reckoned. Since Quinncannon couldnt have been less interested, Jesse promised that, if he came to All Saints and wasnt turned back into a Christian by the sermon, he could have the Custer lands that hed always coveted.

Come Sunday, Jesses sermon started dark, with the preacher telling his congregation that the world is turning to s, and you know what? Its all your fault  for losing faith. But they were lucky, he continued. Because he was going to restore their faith, one by one, starting with Odin, the sinner whod strayed the furthest. Will you serve God? he asked Quinncannon. Nope, Odin replied. Again and again, Jesse asked the question, and again and again, he got the same answer. Finally, he told rather than asked Odin to serve God, and bam! That did the trick!

So, what did you think of the episode? I still think the show is wonderfully weird, but do you agree that the pace has slowed to kind of a crawl? Hit the comments.

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(Facebook/Stacey Wehrman Feeley)

When Stacey Wehrman Feeley snapped this photo of her three-year-old standing on the toilet, she thought her daughter was being funny, and wanted to share it with her husband. But when she discovered that this was part of a lockdown drill the young girl had learned at preschool, in the event that she be trapped in a bathroom during a school shooting, she took to Facebook to express her frustration.

Politicians - take a look, Wehrman Feely wrote in the post. This is your child, your children, your grandchildren, your great grand children and future generations to come. They will live their lives and grow up in this world based on your decisions. They are barely 3 and they will hide in bathroom stalls standing on top of toilet seats. I do not know what will be harder for them? Trying to remain quiet for an extended amount of time or trying to keep their balance without letting a foot slip below the stall door?



ALSO SEE: What its like having gay parents in 2016

She then goes on to question gun control laws in the United States.

Why on earth are there not universal background checks? Where is a universal registration database? Why are high capacity magazines ever permitted to be sold to anyone other than direct to the military?



She calls out to politicians, entrepreneurs, innovators, incubators and investors asking how she can help.

Banning together, signing petitions, rallying to get your voice heard is good, but is it actually doing anything or just making us feel better about the current situation? We need action, she says.



ALSO SEE: It will get better, says bullied 14-year-old trans girl

While Wehrman Feely is the first to state her personal limitations with regards to gun control, she hopes that this image will serve as a wakeup call for anyone who sees it and promote some sort of action or change.

I am not pretending to have all the answers or even a shred of them, but unless you want your children standing on top of a toilet, we need to do something!



Story continues

At the time of publication, the Facebook post had been shared more than 3,300 times, with comments of support pouring in.

This is both heartbreaking and frightening, writes one commenter.



There were 43 other shootings in and around our country the same day Orlando took place. Those, I guess, were just normal - not really news. What have we become? asked another.



What do you think of this mothers cry for help? Let us know your thoughts by tweeting to @YahooStyleCA.
ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari arrived back in the capital Abuja on Sunday after a nearly two-week stay in Britain where he had treatment for an ear infection and a holiday. Buhari exited his plane waving to ministers and army chiefs who came to greet him. "I am ok. I am better. You can see me inspecting the guards of honour. Now you can do the assessment yourself," Buhari told reporters at the airport. Buhari returns a day before the naira currency is set to be devalued under a new market-driven trading system, ending the central bank's 16 month fixed exchange rate policy. Buhari has for months said that he does not want the naira to be devalued, but backed a more flexible exchange rate policy when the central bank outlined its plans in May, without elaborating. The 73-year-old flew to London on June 6 to see an ear, nose and throat specialist after two doctors in Nigeria recommended further evaluation "as a precaution", his team said. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said last week that Buhari was in perfect health and would resume work on Monday. [nL8N1983B5] The People's Democratic Party, Nigeria's main opposition, said on its Twitter feed on Sunday that Buhari was "critically ill" and he had returned to Abuja to continue treatment, without giving a source for the information. Buhari left Nigeria days after cancelling a high-profile trip to the restive Niger Delta region at the last minute and two weeks after pulling out of what would have been his first official trip to the commercial capital, Lagos. (Reporting by Felix Onuah; writing by Joe Brock; editing by Ros Russell)
President Obama and his family celebrated his final Fathers Day weekend in office at Yosemite National Park.

Read: Puppy Love: Dogs and Their Dads Get a Special Father's Day Photo Shoot

Commemorating the centennial year of the countrys national parks, the commander-in-chief encouraged Americans to visit the lush areas of the country.

"This has to be the perfect way to spend Father's Day, and Father's Day weekend," he said in a speech from Yosemite Sunday. Just look at this scene. You can't capture this on an iPad or a flat screen, or even an oil painting. You have to come in and breathe it in yourself."

Michelle Obama tweeted a photo of the family near a waterfall.

Happy Father's Day  pic.twitter.com/peU8VZASRm  The First Lady (@FLOTUS) June 19, 2016

Hillary Clinton had a lot to celebrate on Father's Day weekend  a new grandson, Aidan Clinton Mezvinsky.

Read: Bill and Hillary Clinton Proudly Dote on New Baby Grandson

Aidan has made two dads very happy this Father's Day, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee tweeted.

Donald Trump spent Fathers Day with his oldest son, Donald Jr.

Great Father's Day lunch with the best dad in the world @realdonaldtrump, though I may be biased... Hope you all had a wonderful day as well. #fathersday #dad A photo posted by Donald Trump Jr. (@donaldjtrumpjr) on Jun 19, 2016 at 4:31pm PDT

Mark Zuckerberg posted an adorable snap of him with daughter Maxima as he marked his first Fathers Day.

Kim Kardashian gushed about hubby Kanye West, posting on Twitter:

Happy Fathers Day babe! Thank you for always putting our family first and being the best dad to our babies! pic.twitter.com/O3h5JdbL7a  Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 20, 2016

She also paid tribute to her father, the late Robert Kardashian.

Story continues

Happy Father's Day dad! You were the best dad in the world! I love you pic.twitter.com/0sb0Z7o9Ds  Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 20, 2016





Watch: 3-Year-Old Boy Breaks Down in Tears When Dad Shaves His Face: 'I Want Your Beard'

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June 20 - 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

Officials in Frankfurt are looking at plans to seize trading in hundreds of billions' worth of euros processed in London should UK vote to leave the European Union. (http://bit.ly/1YzBEf9)

Volkswagen AG is set to reward its shareholders with a small dividend this week, but its board will face the wrath of minority investors at its first annual meeting since its emissions-cheating scandal broke. (http://bit.ly/1YzCrg5)

The Guardian

Billionaire Richard Branson is stepping up his pro-European Union efforts, launching a nationwide campaign to urge people to back remain and warning of the economic and political pitfalls of a Brexit vote. (http://bit.ly/1YzCuZi)

Ten of the world's leading economists have issued a warning about the consequences of UK leaving the European Union as the City prepares for the pound to plunge and shares to fall in the event of a Brexit vote in Thursday's referendum. (http://bit.ly/1YzCV5Q)

The Telegraph

Boris Johnson has called on voters to seize the once in a lifetime opportunity of Brexit and "change the whole course of European history." (http://bit.ly/1YzBAMq)

National Grid Plc is recruiting cash-strapped National Health Service hospitals to fire up their emergency generators and turn down their air conditioning systems when power supplies are scarce. (http://bit.ly/1YzCx7m)

Sky News

One of Britain's leading business charities, Business in the Community, will announce the appointment of Amanda Mackenzie as its next chief executive on Monday amid increasingly intense scrutiny of private sector tax affairs and companies' treatment of their workforces. (http://bit.ly/1YzBDYC)

The Independent

Former Conservative Party chair Sayeeda Warsi has defected from the "Leave" campaign and opted for Britain to remain within the EU. She cited "hate and xenophobia" as the reasons for changing her position. (http://ind.pn/1YzD7C7)

(Compiled by Ismail Shakil in Bengaluru; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)
June 20 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Financial Times. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

Headlines

* UK newspapers consider ad sales venture (http://bit.ly/28Pqnw7)

* Ingenious Media signs $200m film deal with Chinese group (http://bit.ly/28Pqckb)

* Morgan Stanley lures M&A lawyer to head UK unit (http://bit.ly/28PsGPG)

* Volvo and Geely aim to deepen ties (http://bit.ly/28PsAaL)

Overview

- Newspaper groups such as, Telegraph Media Group, Trinity Mirror and News UK are in talks to find ways of working more closely to combat a brutal decline in print advertising revenues.

- Ingenious Media, which invested in movies such as Avatar and Life of Pi, has formed a joint venture with Hejing Culture to co-produce independent films in a deal worth $200 million.

- Morgan Stanley has tapped Mark Rawlinson to be new chairman of investment banking in London. Rawlinson will be in a banking role for the first time in his over three-decade career.

- Volvo and Geely are seeking to jointly work on autonomous driving and internet technologies. The companies look to work together on areas such as connectivity, engines and gearboxes.

(Compiled by Sangameswaran S in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Six years after their split, Prince Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy reveals the pair will always remain close.



The Zimbabwe-born beauty, who recently unveiled her new jewelry line, Aya, is opening up about her enduring friendship with the prince.



"I think we will always be good friends," she told The Sunday Timesa style section.



After studying at Leeds University in England, Davy entered the legal world, working for London law firm Allen & Overy. But she gave that up two years ago and started down the road to her dream project.







And Davy, who was Harry's first serious longterm girlfriend, is likely to have a big supporter in the prince.



 Want to keep up with the latest royals coverage? Click here to subscribe to the Royals Newsletter.



The pair met him in 2004 and they dated on-and-off for about seven years. Davy remains part of Harryas inner social circle and she frequently attends parties alongside other royal family members, including Princess Eugenie.



The pair, who bonded in Africa (after meeting on his gap year between Eton College and the Army) and toured the continent many times together, were wary of the intrusiveness of the media during their relationship.



"I found it tough," she admitted. "It's not something you get used to."





Prince Harry Didn't Follow the Dress Code?!





Davy has since thrown herself into her new business. She took a gemology course ("I'm quite a geek like that," she said about learning about the chemical structure of stones) and has been sourcing the precious raw materials for her delicate jewelry in Zambia herself. The company also helps out by donating to schools in mining areas.





Finding emeralds! #Emeralds #Zambia #KagemEmeraldMine #AYA #Gemfields @gemfields A photo posted by AYA AFRICA (@aya_africa) on Jan 16, 2016 at 8:38am PST

She has been in Africa sourcing gems, and an Insta of her proudly holding a rock at the Kagem Emerald Mine in Zambia shows her hands-on approach.





TeamAYA discussing building plans for Kapila School #Zambia #Gemfields #AYA #Kitwe #AYAclassrooms A photo posted by AYA AFRICA (@aya_africa) on Jan 12, 2016 at 3:02am PST





She says that while marriage is a "very beautiful thing"  and is in the cards for the future  for now, she is all about building her brand.



"I want to be my own person," she said. "I want to create something amazing and make a difference."




Prince's musical legacy could be turned into a Broadway musical or Cirque du Soleil show.

In an interview with The New York Post, the artist's manager Charles Koppelman said Prince left "vaults full of music" at his death -- songs that could be released as a musical.

"Prince was an icon on the level of The Beatles and Michael Jackson, and his legacy should be honored," Koppelman said. "Though his name was Prince, I always thought he was the king of music."

Cirque Du Soleil's show "Love" is based on the music of The Beatles. The production company also developed "Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour" which launched in 2011 and ended its run in 2014.
E at Google are not shying away from a sexist remark made to their CFO.

Durin s annual shareholder meeting last week, an investor addressed chief financial officer Ruth Porat as "the lady CFO," Business Insider reported. The investor then proceeded to address Alphabet SVP of corporate development David Drummond as "Mr. Drummond." Alphabet is Google's parent company.

And seeing as "Lady" is neither a job title nor a qualifier for a CFO job, both women and men at Google are changing their job titles as a symbolic gesture to call out the casual sexist remark made during the call.

As of Thursday, more than 800 Google employees changed their job titles in their professional email signatures or company directory to include "Lady," Business Insider reported. They also identified last Thursday and Friday as "Lady Day".

Happy Friday from your 'Lady' Communications Manager. #ladyday #justcommunicationsmanagerhttp://www.businessinsider.com/google-holding-lady-day-2016-6 ...

During the incident itself, Danielle Ginach, Sonen Capital associate director and impact manager, called out the investor for his sexist choice of words.

"I am sorry to put another shareholder on the spot," she said, USA Today reported. "But Ms. Porat is the CFO, not the lady CFO."

Damn right.

Your Lady Social Media Manager suggests you read this article about Google's #LadyDay ? http://goo.gl/glG8oW pic.twitter.com/fytTrGmHHm

The move to add "Lady" to job titles has even expanded to LinkedIn. Senior Vice President of Global Talent Organization Pat Wadors is encouraging LinkedIn users to join the movement. Wadors has changed her title to include "Lady" and posted a call to action on LinkedIn:

"Regardless of where you work or what you do, you can join in and support these conversations about equality in the workplace," Wadors wrote. "This weekend, change your title on your LinkedIn profile to 'Lady _______,' share this post, lend your voice, and join me in raising awareness. Let's change the world together!"

Story continues

http://www.businessinsider.com/google-holding-lady-day-2016-6 ... My official job title is now Lady who gets moonshots ready for contact with the real world. #LadyDay

Google is not where it wants to be in terms of diversity, the company itself stated in its 2014 diversity report. At the time of the report, the company was 70% men and 30% women and 61% of the total workforce was white.

Google even has a dedicated page to address unconscious bias:

"Combatting our unconscious biases is hard, because they don't feel wrong; they feel right," Google writes. "But it's necessary to fight against bias in order to create a work environment that supports and encourages diverse perspectives and people."

Perhaps Google should also extend these lessons to the people on its earning calls.
PARIS (Reuters) - French carmaker PSA Group (PEUP.PA) on Monday said it would invest 100 million euros (77.08 million pound) in a new Citroen model at its Rennes plant in western France, a move likely to help to assuage workers' concerns about the future of the site.

The new Citroen, likely to be a compact SUV, will be launched in 2018 alongside a larger Peugeot model following an upgrade to the factory due to begin next year.

The commitment to Rennes, often seen as vulnerable to closure because of the plant's relative isolation from other PSA sites, follows agreement on a new contract with unions, the company said. The deal includes wage restraint and increased flexibility on working time, according to local press reports.

(Reporting by Laurence Frost. Editing by Jane Merriman)
Berlin (AFP) - German sportswear maker Puma Monday blamed a manufacturing flaw after several Swiss players had their jerseys torn in their Euro 2016 match with France a day earlier.

Its investigation had found that "there was a faulty batch of material in which the yarn was damaged during production," the company said in a statement.
Closely-followed former global macro fund manager Raoul Pal says the United Kingdom's European Union referendum  no matter how the "Brexit" vote goes  could have really bad unintended consequences for the rest of Europe.

The EU is made up of 28 member countries, and it allows for the free movement of goods, services, workers and capital. Basically, if you're a citizen of an EU member country, you can freely live and work in another member country like Spain and use its health-care sytem and other services. A key focus of those who support a "Brexit" has been concerns about the recent rise in immigration to the UK.

On Thursday, British citizens will vote on whether the UK should remain in the EU or leave. The polls suggest the vote is going to be close.

It's about Europe, not Britain

Whether the UK remains or leaves, with a small margin of victory either way, it wont matter for Britain so much as it will for the rest of Europe, according to Pal.

The biggest issue is going to be Europe," Pal told Yahoo Finance, adding, "Regardless of what happens to the vote, something has really changed in the markets. It looks like they're starting to discount that if a Brexit happens, then it's a really big event for Europe more than it is tor the UK because it may allow other countries to think about leaving the EU. The risk is of Europe falling apart."

Pal pointed that there's been a "bit of a panic" going on in the market, with European bank stocks already in a free-fall and European government bonds negative yielding.

If the UK leaves on its own free-will, it could give the signal to other countries that they can leave. It could have a domino effect.

"What's stopping Greece saying 'we just want out too'? If the fifth largest economy has walked away, what's to stop anyone else? What's to stop the Spanish?"

Even if that doesn't happen, just having a vote in the first place isn't a good thing for Europe.

Lets say remain wins 51% to 49%, the unintended consequence is that it gives other European countries a hope that maybe if they were to have a referendum they would be able to exit, Pal explained.

Story continues

The thought is that if remain wins the vote, the market might have a relief rally after. However, its not about the reaction of the day, but the reaction in the weeks and months following.

Regardless of outcome, its going to make everyone realize that Europe has a problem. If the UK leaves, it will split the nation 50/50. If it remains, it will create a problem for Europe that they got the fifth largest economy to remain but only just. I really think it makes Europe a much weaker place.

It could also be more difficult for the EU to impose rules on the UK if 50% of the country doesn't want it.

"The EU gets a bit more paralyzed in what they can do. It's a bad all around outcome."

Pal, a UK citizen who has lived in Spain, previously co-managed GLG's global macro fund, one of the largest in the world. He retired in 2004 at age 36.

He now authors a research letter, The Global Macro Investor, which is read by some of the most prolific hedge fund managers. Pal is also the co-founder of Real Vision Television, an online subscription financial-news service.

--

Julia La Roche is a finance reporter at Yahoo Finance.

Read more:

John Burbank: This time of peril may herald the beginning of 'the liquidation'

Raoul Pal: The stock market is behaving the way it did back in 2000

Hedge fund titans warn of financial crisis-like market signals

Billionaire Rubenstein: These 6 traits will help you succeed on Wall Street

Druckenmiller: These 2 charts show how 'unproductive' and 'reckless' companies have been
Realtor holding sign

Your real estate agents are your guardian angels, magically leading you through the intense home-buying process, from open houses to offer letters to closing costs. So what happens when they go through the home-buying experience themselves? Do they employ all sorts of unique inside-professional home-buying tips and shortcuts, much the way that doctors do about surgical procedures and litigators do about Trump University class-action lawsuits?

In a word: yep. While agents always strive to provide top-notch service to their clients, they have a few secret strategies they use by default as a result of their vast knowledge of the housing market.

Here, Realtors reveal how they bought their housesand how you can use some of their techniques.

Use online tools to narrow the field

California Realtor Jose Tijam began his home search by using practically every Google tool there is.

It saves time by eliminating homes that you know youre not going to like, says Tijam. First, he used Google Maps to view what the available lot looked like from aboveIs there a dumpsite or club next to the house? Next came Street View to check out the neighborhoodIs there graffiti?and Google Earth to get an idea of what the traffic will look like throughout the day. Only if a home passed the Google checksand an online crime map to determine how safe a neighborhood iswould Tijam visit the property in person.

Dont obsess over cosmetic details like countertops

One of the big differences between agents and the average home buyer is shopping for true value, says Realtor Morgan Franklin of United Real Estate in Lexington, KY. Most of Franklins clients first look at superficial aspectsnamely those granite countertops. Franklin, on the other hand, shops for value first and amenities second. In other words: cosmetic eye candy pales in comparison to what really matters: a well-built home in a good neighborhood at a competitive price.

Story continues

Get your spreadsheet on

Franklin used an impressive spreadsheet to keep value at the forefront of his search. After plugging in basic parameters like ideal number of bedrooms, square footage, location, and total budget, he exported the resulting list from the MLS to an Excel format. Then hed do some side research with comps to find out exactly how much the homes were worth, then added that in its own field. From there, Franklin was quickly able to see if any of the potential homes on his list were a deal.

Next, hed look at online pictures of the houses that he thought he could buy.

After about a month of doing this every day, I finally found one, says Franklin. He knew the home was a great value before hed even set foot insideand luckily, his wife fell in love with the home as soon as they walked in. They made an offer that day.

Dont get caught up in the hype

Tijam finally purchased his single-family residence after looking for three months. While this may seem like ages for someone with constant access to new properties, realty experience prevented him from getting sucked into the local housing frenzy.

The California market I was buying into is very competitive, and other home buyers were willing to overpay, says Tijam. He never let himself get carried away; he kept his emotions in check and waited for a true deal before he bit.

Act fast when its right

Gillan Abercrombie-Frame, an associate at Partners Trust in La Canada, CA, had coveted the property behind her old house for years. She could see the barn and the old ranch house in the distance beyond her fence but had never been inside. One day, the owner called to say they were moving and asked if Abercrombie-Frame wanted to buy it. As soon as they agreed on a price, Abercrombie-Frame ran to her office, wrote the offer, and was in escrow by the end of the day.

Had we hesitated, it would have gone on the open market and gone crazy.

Use your imagination

Richard von Ernst, an associate partner in Pasadena, CA, saw what other buyers couldnt when he purchased his home. Built in 1927, its one of 16 Spanish casitas built as an artist colony in what is now Pasadenas Marguerita Lane Historic District. While the home had amazing original character, von Ernst says an unfortunate renovation done in the mid-1970s made the property show poorly. While most buyers couldnt envision the potential, von Ernst looked beyond what the house was toward what it could be. The result?

I was able to get it at a very reasonable price. He poured the extra money hed saved into renovations that fit his dream home vision to a T.



Watch: The Features That Help a Home Sell Fastest

The post Realtors Reveal: How I Bought My Own Home appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com.





Related Articles
Migrants and refugees beg Macedonian policemen to allow passage to cross the border from Greece into Macedonia during a rainstorm, near the Greek village of Idomeni, September 10, 2015. (REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis)

By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA (Reuters) - A record 65.3 million people were uprooted worldwide last year, many of them fleeing wars only to face walls, tougher laws and xenophobia as they reach borders, the United Nations refugee agency said on Monday.

The figure, which jumped from 59.5 million in 2014 and by 50 percent in five years, means that 1 in every 113 people on the planet is now a refugee, asylum-seeker or internally displaced in a home country.

Fighting in Syria, Afghanistan, Burundi and South Sudan has driven the latest exodus, bringing the total number of refugees to 21.3 million, half of them children, the UNHCR said in its Global Trends report marking World Refugee Day.

The refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean and arriving on the shores of Europe, the message that they have carried is that if you dont solve problems, problems will come to you, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told a news briefing.

Its painful that it has taken so long for people in the rich countries to understand that, he said. We need action, political action to stop conflicts, that would be the most important prevention of refugee flows.

A record 2 million new asylum claims were lodged in industrialized countries in 2015, the report said. Nearly 100,000 were children unaccompanied or separated from their families, a three-fold rise on 2014 and a historic high.

SLIDESHOW  Europes refugee and migrant crisis >>>

Migrants disembark from the Italian Navy vessel Aviere in the Sicilian harbour of Augusta, Italy, June 10, 2016. (REUTERS/Antonio Parrinello)

Germany, where one in three applicants was Syrian, led with 441,900 claims, followed by the United States with 172,700, many of them fleeing gang and drug-related violence in Mexico and Central America.

Developing regions still host 86 percent of the worlds refugees, led by Turkey with 2.5 million Syrians, followed by Pakistan and Lebanon, the report said.

RISE OF XENOPHOBIA

Asylum-seekers fleeing conflicts or persecution are increasingly confronted with walls or anti-foreigner sentiment, Grandi said. The rise of xenophobia is unfortunately becoming a very defining feature of the environment in which we work.

Story continues

"Barriers are rising everywhere - and Im not just talking of walls. But Im talking about legislative barriers that are coming up, including in countries in the industrialized world that have been for a long time bastions of principle in defending the fundamental rights linked to asylum.

After Balkan countries closed borders, Turkey and the European Union (EU) struck a deal in March to stem an influx that brought a million refugees and migrants to Europe in 2015.

The fact that that flow has stopped does not mean the problem of displacement has ended. It may have ended for some countries that dont have to deal with it anymore, for now, Grandi said.

Progress has lagged on a scheme to redistribute 160,000 asylum seekers from Greece and Italy to other EU states to alleviate pressure on the two frontline countries. Only 2,406 people have been relocated, EU figures show.

Grandi, asked about stalled relocation, said: There is no Plan B for Europe. Europe will continue to receive people seeking asylum.

Everybody has to share responsibility now, he said.

GRAPHICS LINK : http://tmsnrt.rs/1sMy0mi

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
UPDATED with Viacom response: Viacom CEO Philippe Daumans case to overturn a decision to dump him from Sumner Redstones family trust and the National Amusements board is legally insufficient and should be dismissed, Redstones lawyers told a Massachusetts court today.

Dauman and Viacom director George Abrams asked the state Probate and Family Court to find that Redstone, 93, is mentally incompetent and being manipulated by his daughter, Shari. They say that she wants to control her fathers media empire. When hes deemed unable to manage his affairs, a seven-member trust will vote his 80% stake in National Amusements, which owns 80% of the voting shares in Viacom and CBS.

But Redstones motion to dismiss says that his family trust lays out two conditions for finding him incapacitated, and neither has been met. Hed have to be assumed competent unless found otherwise by a court of proper jurisdiction  which they say would be in California, where he lives  or by three doctors.

Since neither has happened, Dauman and Abrams do not, and cannot, properly invoke either of the Trusts exclusive grounds for deeming Sumner incapacitated, the filing says.

The duos argument that Shari is manipulating her father also falls, Redstones lawyers say. The law governing undue influence is designed to protect a trusts beneficiaries from an unnatural disposition of assets  and that hasnt happened.

Absent a disposition of trust funds or property, there can be no common law claim of undue influence, the filing says. It adds that Sumners exercise of his right to remove and replace two of the seven Trustees who administer the Trust was decidedly administrative, not dispositive, in character.

Redstone wants a California court to validate his decisions to oust Dauman and Abrams  specifically, state Superior Court Judge David Cowen, who last month dismissed a separate case to have Redstone declared incompetent. Cowen has scheduled a hearing on the new matter for October 18.

Story continues

The motion in Massachusetts includes a declaration from Redstone, dated today, noting that its made under penalty of perjury, and with a diagonal line as a signature.

It says he understands that Dauman and Abrams contend that I was unduly influenced by my daughter to remove them as trustees and directors. That is offensive and untrue. I want that dispute, and any challenge to my competency, to be decided in Los Angeles, California. I object to having any such challenge decided in the courts of Massachusetts or otherwise outside of my home state of California.

Viacom says that the motions to dismiss come from Shari Redstone and the lawyers hired for Sumner. It adds that the arguments represent continued efforts to avoid a fair inquiry into Sumners well-being and how various documents came to be. The facts will only come out through discovery on an expedited basis. We are urging the court to allow the inquiry to proceed as quickly as possible.

Related stories

Bart & Fleming: On Stacey Snider's Ascension At Fox; Can They All Get Along?

Delaware Court To Hear Arguments About Viacom Board Changes On Wednesday

Philippe Dauman Says Wall Street And Press Miss Viacom's "Fun" Environment: Report
By Elisabeth O'Leary EDINBURGH (Reuters) - Two opinion polls on Monday suggested support for Britain staying in the European Union had recovered some ground following the murder of a pro-EU lawmaker, but a third poll found support for a "Brexit" ahead by a whisker. Britons vote on Thursday to decide whether to quit the bloc they joined in 1973, a choice with far-reaching economic and political consequences for Britain and the whole of Europe. Earlier on Monday, as expectations grew that Britain would stick with the status quo, the pound had its biggest one-day rise in seven years. Separately, George Soros, the billionaire who bet against the pound in 1992, said a vote to leave would trigger a bigger, more disruptive devaluation in Britain's currency than the fall on Black Wednesday. Campaigning had been suspended for three days after the killing of Jo Cox, a lawmaker and passionate advocate for Remain, led to soul searching about the campaign and its tone. Cox was shot and stabbed in her constituency. An ORB poll for The Daily Telegraph newspaper found support for Remain at 53 percent, up 5 percentage points on the previous one, with support for Leave on 46 percent, down three points. "All the signs of ORBs latest and final poll point to a referendum that will truly come down to the wire," said Lynton Crosby, a political strategist who advised the ruling Conservative Party at the last national election in 2015. The "Leave" camp had "failed to quash the almost ubiquitous perception that it is the riskier of the two options," he said. Respected social research body NatCen also published a poll that found Remain on 53 percent and Leave on 47 percent, using a method that took on recommendations by an official inquiry into why pollsters got last year's election wrong and conducted from May 16 to June 12. However, an online poll by YouGov for The Times showed Leave ahead on 44 percent, up one point, with Remain on 42 percent, down two points. That survey was conducted over the weekend after Cox was killed. Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, said her murder was likely "extreme political violence." Those wishing to stay in the bloc, including Prime Minister David Cameron, have focused on what they describe as the economic advantages provided by EU membership and the risks posed by leaving. Those arguing to quit have focused on what they say are pressures on public services and jobs created by high immigration levels that cannot be reduced due to EU freedom of movement rules. Sayeeda Warsi, a former co-chair of the Conservative Party, has switched her support to the "Remain" campaign because of the tactics used by the other side, she announced on Monday. She pointed to a poster from one of the "Leave" campaigns, which used a photo of refugees walking through a field in Europe under the slogan "Breaking Point" - a message she said she did not want to form "the basis of the kind of Britain that I want to live in and to bring my kids up in". Prior to the murder of Cox polls had shifted toward "Leave". (Reporting By Elisabeth O'Leary and Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Estelle Shirbon, Toni Reinhold)
DailyFX.com -

Talking Points:

- Retail crowd continues to trim GBP/JPY exposure, now net-short GBP/USD on approach to Brexit vote.

- Crowd has been historically wrong on GBP/JPY and GBP/USD in recent months.

- FX volatility set to remain high with Brexit vote next week - it's the right time to review risk management principles to protect your capital.

Why Do We Look at Positioning?

Unlike major equities or futures markets, there is no single centralized exchange for forex trading. Such decentralized activity makes finding uniform volume or open interest data nearly impossible. FXCM, as an industryleading FX broker, boasts important FX trading volumes and a significant trader sample size.

The firm makes its retail trader positioning data available to help fill this important gap in market information. We call it the Speculative Sentiment Index (SSI) because its exactly that: a measure of bullish/bearish emotion. To do so, we do not take trade size into account and simply compare total open long positions to short positions.

Why do we do this? After having compiled execution data for over 43 million live trades between March 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015, weve learned two key tenets: 1) the retail crowd is barely more often right than wrong; and 2) the retail crowd loses significantly more it gains per average trade. For example, we see that EUR/USD trades were closed out at a profit of 61%, but the average losing trade was worth -83 pips while the average winner was only +48 pips. Traders were correct more than half the time, but they lost over 70% more on their losing trades as they won on winning trades.

The track record for the volatile GBP/USD pair was even worse. Traders captured profits on 59% of all GBP/USD trades. Yet they overall lost money as they turned an average +43 pip profit on each winner and lost -83 pips on losing trades.

If we go against what the majority of traders are doing, we might expect to lose more often than we gain. Remember that past performance is not indicative of future results, but our experience shows that this may have nonetheless been a winning strategy. Characteristically, the retail crowd is analogous to commercial hedgers in the futures market: shortest at the tops and longest at the bottoms; and wrong for the meat of the move.

Story continues

A summary table of current positioning is listed below, noting the SSI ratio, open interest by pair, and changes in positioning by pair over past day and week.

FXCM Speculative Sentiment Index (SSI) Statistics (June 20, 2016):

Retail Crowd Flips Positioning in GBP/USD on Approach to Brexit Vote

How do we interpret the SSI? Visit the DailyFX Sentiment page and get the SSI trading guide.

There are two pairs of interest to us over the next few days in particular: GBP/JPY and GBP/USD. The reason is fairly obvious  the upcoming June 23 UK-EU referendum vote. For some time now, the retail crowd has been reliably on the wrong side of the downtrend in the British Pound, particularly throughout the end of 2015 and early-2016. Over the past few days, there have been significant shifts that suggest an increasing probability of a remain vote emerging.

Chart 1: GBP/JPY Daily SSI Chart (June 2013 to June 2016)

Retail Crowd Flips Positioning in GBP/USD on Approach to Brexit Vote

In GBP/JPY, the ratio of long to short positions stands at 1.84 as 65% of traders are long. On Friday, the ratio was 1.79; 64% of open positions were long. Long positions are 13.4% lower than on Friday and 25.3% below levels seen last week. Short positions are 15.7% lower than on Friday and 23.1% below levels seen last week. Open interest is 14.2% lower than on Friday and 25.5% below its monthly average.

We use our SSI as a contrarian indicator to price action, and the fact that the majority of traders are long gives signal that the GBP/JPY may continue lower. Falling open interest reduces confidence in the bullish positioning signal here (a tenet of technical analysis). In context of the the trading crowd dramatically trimming their exposure over the past week, it seems the crowd is starting to take their Brexit bets off the table. A closer look at GBP/USD is worthwhile.

Chart 2: GBP/USD Daily SSI Chart (June 2013 to June 2016)

Retail Crowd Flips Positioning in GBP/USD on Approach to Brexit Vote

The ratio of long to short positions in the GBPUSD stands at -1.05 as 49% of traders are long. On Friday, the ratio was 1.45; 59% of open positions were long. Long positions are 25.6% lower than on Friday and 33.0% below levels seen last week. Short positions are 13.0% higher than on Friday and 18.9% above levels seen last week. Open interest is 9.8% lower than on Friday and 22.0% below its monthly average.

As mentioned earlier, we use our SSI as a contrarian indicator to price action, and the fact that the majority of traders are short gives signal that the GBP/USD may continue higher. The trading crowd has flipped from net-long to net-short from Friday and last week. The combination of current sentiment and recent changes gives a further bullish trading bias.

Follow SSI updates in real-time on DailyFX's Sentiment page.

Putting Recent Positioning Swings in Context

Lets tie this all together. Our study of execution desk data shows that going against the trading crowd could make us lose on our trades more often than not. But a closer look also shows that crowds can go really wrong when theyre wrong. Our aim is to use retail FX trader sentiment to potentially catch and time major market swings. In this case we see that the majority of trades were long the British Pound versus the US Dollar from most of the second half of last year and the first four months of this year. This is typical: the crowd holds onto its losers longer than its winners  loss aversion in its clearest form.

Theoretically, a trader could have gained by doing the opposite of what the trading crowd was doing. These examples are very much the exception and not the rule. True, were aware that the majority of contrarian trades would have been closed out at losses, as the retail crowd is right more often than wrong. But due to poor risk management  whereby the trading crowd allows its losers to dwarf its winners - our aim is to use retail FX trader sentiment to potentially catch and time major market swingstaking a contrarian view of crowd positions all the while.

If theres a move around Brexit, the best bet may be to do the opposite of the retail crowd in the wake of the results  especially if its a big move, the crowd will miss most of the move. The fact that the crowd is reducing exposure in GBP/JPY and is now net-short GBP/USD gives greater confidence for a move higher in GBP-crosses, which in turn would translate into a remain vote resulting from Thursdays UK-EU referendum vote.

Read more: GBP/USD Surges Above $1.4600 as Brexit Odds Plunge

--- Written by Christopher Vecchio, Currency Strategist and David Rodriguez, Quantitative Strategist

To contact Christopher Vecchio, e-mail cvecchio@dailyfx.com

Follow him on Twitter at @CVecchioFX



original source

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

Learn forex trading with a free practice account and trading charts from FXCM.
Its been 15 years since Andrea Yates drowned her five young children in the bathtub of their suburban Houston home in a quintuple murder that gripped the nation.

Yates, now 51, was convicted of capital murder for the high-profile 2001 killings of her four sons and baby daughter. She was sentenced to life in prison, but her conviction was overturned on appeal. She was found not guilty in 2006 by reason of insanity and was sent to a Texas mental hospital, where she remains today.

I dont think people understand how shy and reclusive and how afraid Andrea is, especially since all this publicity descended on her, one of her lawyers, Wendell Odom, told PEOPLE in an article published on Monday. She is truly afraid.

Yates suffered from depression and had tried to commit suicide at least once before she systematically drowned all of her children on June 20, 2001. They ranged in age between 6 months to 7 years old.

Her attorneys said the murders were brought on by psychotic delusions, exacerbated by repeated episodes of postpartum depression, TIME previously reported in a lengthy investigation in 2002.

Her husband, Rusty Yates, at the time said the two of them had always planned on having a big family but demons took hold of his wife. The Bible says the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour. I look at Andrea, and I think that Andrea was weak, he had told TIME. Think about a field of deer, and theres one limping around, and thats kind of the way I see it. Andrea was weak, and he attacked her.

On the morning of the murders, after her husband left the house to go to work, Andrea Yates fed her children breakfast and drowned them one by one as their siblings ate.

Her firstborn, a 7-year-old named Noah, tried to run away when he realized he was the last to die. His mother told police how she chased him and drowned him facedown in 9 inches of cold water in the tub as his baby sisters body floated next to him, TIME reported.

Now Andrea Yates is likely living out the rest of her life at the Kerrville State Hospital, a low-security mental health facility in Texas, according to PEOPLE.

Her defense lawyer George Parnham, and his wife Mary Parnham, in 2002 created the Yates Children Memorial Fund in her honor to help raise awareness about postpartum depression. Yates keeps up with the activities of the fund, the Houston Chronicle reported. Shes very enthralled with what YCMF does, Mary Parnham told the newspaper. Shes thrilled to know that good things are being done for the legacy of her children, and that makes her very happy.
Riding on the Wrong Side: The Race That Won't Stop Killing

Five* racers were killed in this years Isle of Man TT races. Thats a few more than average, but nothing anyone's getting uptight about; ferry bookings to attend next years event have already sold out.

That people have died and will die  lots of them  is just the way of things. Its an accepted truth. There will always be Tuesdays; oranges are orange; men and women will die in horrific crashes at the TT. And perhaps Ive lived in these parts for too long that I hadnt really considered how deadly the TT is until RideApart Creative Director Jim Downs asked me to write a piece about it.

By these parts I mean the British Isles: the archipelago that also includes the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Isle of Man, a tiny strip of land sitting in the Irish Sea  only 14 miles across at its widest point  holds the status of UK crown dependency. Which means that it can make most of its own laws but its Olympic athletes compete under the United Kingdoms flag.

READ MORE: Will There be an Isle of Man TT Global Racing Series? | RideApart

Andrew Soar was killed at the 2016 Isle of Man TT

Its that element of self-governance that is at the heart of why the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy Race, to use its full name, even exists. Back in 1907, clever local officials saw that the United Kingdom had a national speed limit of 20 mph (cars and motorcycles were newfangled contraptions and British roads ill-equipped to support them), so they scrapped their speed limit entirely in hopes of drawing wealthy thrillseekers.

This year marked the 97th running of the TT, folks having taken a few years off here and there to fight each other in the world wars. Over the TTs history, some 146 competitors have died. That doesnt count the dozens of spectators and race officials who have also lost their lives by being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Add those in, along with amateurs outdone by the course when its been opened up to the public, and the death toll climbs closer to 270 (though, I can find no reliable figure for the exact number of total deaths that have occurred during the TT period).

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It is, as the man in this video says, totally out of order.

To put it into perspective, consider the closest thing the United States has to an equivalent: the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. In its 92-year history only six competitors have actually been killed. Just three of them were motorcyclists, but thats been enough for the PPIHC to make rules about bikes handlebars and even consider banning two-wheeled machines from the event.

Part of what makes the TT so incredibly dangerous is the fact its run through quintessential British Isles-style towns and villages, on the same streets that Isle of Man residents use throughout the year. The course consists of nothing more than public roads blocked off for a few hours each day. Its similar to when roads in the United States are blocked off for parades. But instead of the local belly dancing club and a high school marching band, its a motorcycle zipping past your house.

Actually, its a little more like having that motorcycle scream down your driveway. When American friends visit me in the UK theyre surprised at how narrow the roads are, how close houses are to those roads, how stone walls and hedgerows seem to creep in, and how generally unforgiving of mistakes is the whole set-up.

Paul Shoesmith was killed at the 2016 Isle of Man TT

That officials allow motorcyclists to hurtle themselves themselves through all this is, as TT organizers readily admit, madness. Its hard to imagine a race track being allowed to operate after its claimed 146 lives. Heck, its hard to imagine a sport being allowed to carry on with so many fatalities. For example, in the history of NASCAR  across all race series in all venues  with its long reputation for rag-tag reckless maniacs, only 83 drivers have died.

And yet the chances of the TT being called off grow less each year.

Part of it, of course, is money. The Isle of Man is somewhat difficult to get to and sits in a part of the world that is more often than not cold and wet. It has no real industry to speak of, apart from being a tax haven for the wealthy. The TT brings tourists and money. Lots of tourists and lots of money.

But greater than money is tradition. Weve always done it that way is a perfectly acceptable argument in the British Isles. Outside of the progressive metropolises like London, Dublin, Edinburgh, etc., folks prefer their change to come slow, if at all.

READ MORE: Al Jazeera Does the Isle of Man | RideApart

Sidecar pilot Dwight Beare was killed at the 2016 Isle of Man TT

Thats why people here dont drive cars with automatic transmissions. Its why you can find buildings that have stood derelict for 100 years. Its why many pubs, restaurants, and hotels (far more than youd ever imagine) still dont accept credit cards. Its why calling a woman youve never met love or darlin is as socially acceptable as saying hello.

The TT has been run for a long time. Back in 1907, when motorcycles were little more than glorified bicycles, the course probably didnt seem all that wild or insane. It was likely more a test of endurance than anything else. By the time technology had progressed enough to make the course truly dangerous the power of tradition had already grabbed hold.

In addition to all this is the great British Isles affection for those who do stupid/not sane stuff. People of this archipelago love a poorly conceived feat of derring-do. Thats always been the way of things, but has grown especially true in the post-war, post-industrial age.

In the 1970s and 80s motorcyclists here fell in love with the likes of Barry Sheene, but also Joey and Robert Dunlop: Northern Ireland racing brothers who both ended up being killed in crashes. Roberts sons, William and Michael, are current racers. William helped Victory earn a podium spot at this years TT; whereas Michael set a new TT superbike lap record.

In the 1990s, British Isles culture celebrated guys who consumed ridiculous quantities of drugs. In the 2000s, the Top Gear mindset of a person placing himself in a doomed-to-fail situation became all the rage, along with watching Bear Grylls drink urine from a dead camels bladder. These days, bike magazines are filled with tales of guys riding clunking, 30-year-old bikes to Africa. It all has the same theme: an appreciation for those who look a bad idea squarely in the face and think, Yeah, Ill have a go.

Though, TT fans prefer to think of it as bravery: a willingness to push to the very limit of human capability.

There are occasional calls to ban the TT, usually after a better-known racer is killed, but they never carry much weight. The tradition is too strong, the fans desire too great. And we know that many of the racers also believe that its worth the risk.

Sidecar pilot Ian Bell was killed at the 2016 Isle of Man TT

Racer Allan David Jefferies was killed at the 2003 TT. Famously, this quote from him is written on his gravestone: Those who risk nothing, do nothing, achieve nothing, become nothing.

The TT is dangerous. Racers have died; racers will die. It seems, though, that people here are willing to accept that. Its just the way of things.

Learn more about Chris and the rest of RideApart's excellent staff here: The RideApart Team

Follow RideApart on Facebook and Twitter, along with @RideApart on Instagram.

*NOTE: The figure of five deaths in this year's TT period comes from a report by the BBC. However, the folks over at Asphalt & Rubber take issue with this, pointing out that the death of racer Dean Martin took place at the Pre-TT Classic, which, they point out "is a different race, run on a different race course."
Imagine this couple's disappointment when mid-proposal, the ring dropped into the ocean in the middle of their big moment.

Read: Man Dressed as a Flying Monkey to Propose to Dancer Boyfriend Backstage at 'Wicked'

Like anyone planning a romantic proposal, Sergio Chudy, 53, thought the perfect spot to would be on a ledge overlooking the open ocean.

But, fate seemed to have other plans, as the newly engaged couple's excitement turned to sadness when they knocked the ring straight into the ocean while celebrating.

"I was shocked," said fiance Sarka Edwars, who agreed to marry him anyway. "I was crying [for] two days."

Edwars, who is originally from Czech Republic, said she and Chudy, who is from Poland, have been together since they first met in Key West about 10 years ago.

She explained that Chudy had invited her to have dinner with his daughter and his daughter's boyfriend at a hotel in Clearwater, Florida, two weeks ago as an early Father's Day celebration. Little did she know that his daughter, Natalia, was the one who helped organize the proposal.

After Chudy received a Father's Day present from Natalia, he asked Edwars to take a picture with him in front of the beautiful view of the ocean.

Then, a plane in the background appeared with the words: "Will you marry me Sarka? Love Sergio"

In a video posted to Rob Ward's YouTube page, Chudy can be seen then descending on one knee, and presenting Edwars the ring.

"I had no idea it was going to happen after (dinner)," she said. "It was like a surprise from beginning to ending."

But what appeared to happen next was much more surprising. She and her new fiance hugged and kissed, until suddenly, her elbow bumped his arm, and his hand slipped.

Suddenly, the diamond ring went flying out of the ring box and into the ocean.

"I didn't want to blame him or myself. It just happened," she said. "I was sitting at the table. People came to me and cried with me. (They said), 'You know, it's just a ring. You've got each other, and you're healthy and you're here  this is what matters, right?'"

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Even so, a team of at least 10 people helped Chudy search for the ring. Edwars said police, hotel staff, servers, and even professionals with metal detectors showed up to assist them.

"They came from [below] completely wet," she laughed. "It was very nice, because everybody tried to help and search."

Read: Woman's Engagement Ring is Found in a Sewer After She Flushed it Down the Toilet

They never found the ring, but Edwars said out of kindness, the hotel manager offered them a room to get changed and rest, and even paid for their meal.

Since the incident, she and her fiance have avoided the topic: "I don't want to talk about this situation because it makes everybody more upset."

But, they do intend to get married later this year  after she gets a new ring, Edwars joked.

Watch: Trash Company Finds Woman's Ring, Worth $240,000, After It Was Accidently Thrown in the Trash

Related Articles:
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- Two construction workers chatted while applying white grout to the walls of a new subway tunnel one recent day, their voices and the smells of the building materials stark reminders of what was missing: passengers and trains.

Seven weeks before the Olympic Games, a subway expansion that was supposed to transport hundreds of thousands of athletes and fans is not done. While Brazilian officials insist it can still be finished in time, frequent delays, skyrocketing costs, and a financing snag have created doubts.

Even if Rio de Janeiro completes the key part of the expansion in time, transportation experts worry it may be too late to adequately test the system before the Olympics open on Aug. 5. The launch date has been repeatedly pushed back, with officials saying they'll cut the ribbon four days before competition begins.

''They are leaving so little time to try this massive system,'' said Jose Manoel Ferreira Goncalves, president of FerroFrente, an organization of railway experts. ''What guarantee do we have that such a sensitive and complicated project is in order?''

''Every hour counts,'' Rodrigo Vieira, Rio de Janeiro's transportation head, told The Associated Press, insisting the job would be finished. ''We are working around the clock, 24/7 with 1,000 workers in each station.''

Line 4 of the subway system was to be Rio's most important Olympic infrastructure project. It was designed to transport passengers from Ipanema beach to the modern suburb of Barra da Tijuca, home of the Olympic Park and Village, in less than 15 minutes, as well as to most competition venues.

In contrast, the drive along the highway through lush mountains and shantytowns takes more than an hour on a good day, raising the specter of a logistics nightmare if the line isn't finished, and hundreds of thousands of visitors have to take buses or cars on already-clogged roads.

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When Brazil won the hosting rights in 2009, its economic fortunes were far different. The discoveries of rich oil fields in 2007 made major infrastructure projects like Line 4 seem possible back then.

But as global oil prices plunged in recent years, the state's accounts were hit hard. The oil sector in Latin America's largest nation has also been rocked by a major investigation into a colossal kickback scheme at state oil company Petrobras.

Now, Rio state's finances are in such bad shape, the acting governor on Friday declared a state of financial disaster, a move giving him more freedom to manage shrinking resources without breaking fiscal laws. Rio state has been skipping payments to teachers and retired workers. Some police stations are missing basic items like toilet paper, and residents have felt obligated to pitch in.

''As the wealth has been wiped out, the dreams we had of the big transformations have also faded,'' said Gilberto Braga, a finance professor at Ibmec university in Rio.

The state recently failed to make an $8.3 million payment on a loan to the French Development Agency, which is helping pay for the subway project, forcing the federal government to intervene.

Because of the missed payment, the federal government became wary of Rio state acquiring more debt. Brazil's finance ministry says it is reviewing the state's ability to handle more loans, and has held up $284 million that a national bank dedicated to infrastructure projects had earmarked to complete the line.

''Rio's financial worries are notorious. I acknowledge that it's not a small feat (for the federal government) to approve a loan to a state in financial problems,'' the state's financial secretary, Julio Bueno, told the AP. ''On the other hand, we have the Olympics. The subway is vital.''

Despite optimism it will come together, city officials have devised backup plans, such as special lanes and a rapid transit system for buses.

Officials have dialed down expectations for the subway project for months.

Last-minute construction on the line has created fears after a bike lane collapse that plunged two joggers to their deaths in April. It was inaugurated in January, and collapsed when struck by a large wave.

Problems with other recently inaugurated Olympics-related projects have multiplied worries. A new light rail system connecting Rio's renovated port area to one of the airports recently suffered a major power outage on the second day of service, forcing passengers to get off. A highway near Barra da Tijuca that was inaugurated this month was already damaged with potholes and large cracks.

State auditors are examining why subway costs ballooned from the initial $1.6 billion estimate several years ago to $2.9 billion now expected. They also are seeking more information about plans to test the new line.

''We want to know whether shortening the time to test the subway puts the safety of the passengers at risk,'' said Jonas Lopes, president of Rio state's court of auditors.

Federal police are investigating whether Odebrecht, a builder in the subway consortium, paid bribes to officials connected to Line 4's creation. Another builder in the project, Queiroz Galvao, had its assets frozen in the Petrobras scandal.

Meanwhile, full operation of Line 4 has been postponed to 2018.

''It's the way things work here,'' said Hivonete Reis, complaining about how long it has taken to expand the subway to the southern part of the city where she lives. ''They never give us anything on time.''
By Christian Lowe and Alexander Winning

ST PETERSBURG, Russia, June 20 (Reuters) - Rival camps inside President Vladimir Putin's entourage are preparing to do battle with each other over whether the Russian state should keep its role as custodian of the economy.

While to the outside world the Kremlin presents a united front, especially in its stand-off with the West, in reality it is divided with Putin often having to act as umpire in contests between different factions.

On one side of the economic argument is a loose coalition of pro-market liberals who say if robust growth is to return, the Kremlin must slash government spending, break up monopolies, and dilute state control over giant corporations.

In the other camp are the people who control those corporations, many of them with state security backgrounds, who have been close to Putin for decades, who say relinquishing the state's control is the path to chaos.

The debate has now acquired new urgency because, according to the reform camp, the economic slump in Russia of the past two years has left the state running out of money, and demonstrated that Russia cannot keep relying on oil exports in a volatile world market.

Putin last week promised to reduce bureaucratic interference in business, and announced he would head a new presidential council on strategic development. But there was no word on the kind of bold changes the pro-market camp says are needed.

According to several people who know him, Putin recognises the need for changes but is caught in the middle, unable to make a decisive move one way or another because that would risk a backlash from the losing camp.

"There is no consensus on what to do," said a senior figure in business circles who was in St Petersburg last week to hear Putin address investors at an annual forum.

Putin's apparent inability to choose decisively between the camps occasionally produces mixed signals or sudden policy reversals. In one example earlier this year, the government announced that all state-owned companies would be required to contribute more to state coffers by paying at least 50 percent of their profits in dividends.

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Officials insisted there would be no exceptions. But the state's two main oil and gas companies, Rosneft and Gazprom, both flouted the requirement, announcing far smaller dividends. Putin did not publicly take sides.

LIBERAL CIRCLES

The camps fighting it out over the direction of the economy are loosely formed and constantly shifting, but they coalesce around certain personalities.

The centre of gravity in the pro-market camp is Alexei Kudrin, who was finance minister for 11 years before he quit five years ago when Putin declined to make him the paramount economy policymaker.

Yet he stayed in Putin's orbit. In the past few months he was in talks about taking an official post in the presidential administration. That foundered because he believed he would have to share influence with officials from the statist camp, according to people familiar with the negotiations.

Kudrin, a bespectacled 55-year-old economist with a bookish manner, instead took on a part-time advisory role as deputy head of the presidential economic council, with the job of drawing up proposals for economic reform.

Moving in Kudrin's circle are figures such as German Gref, chief executive of state-owned Sberbank, Russia's biggest lender, central bank governor Elvira Nabiullia, and prominent business people from sectors outside the state-dominated mining and energy sectors.

Among the sort of reforms sought by members of that camp are cuts in state budget spending, a raising of the retirement age to re-balance the pension system, and the sale of the state's controlling interests in major companies.

"I think we need to stop uttering these mantras and actually do these reforms," said Alexander Shokhin, a former deputy prime minister who is now head of the Russian Union of Entrepreneurs and Industrialists, a business lobby.

Ziyavudin Magomedov, owner of Summa group, with interests in transportation, construction and agriculture, said Russia should privatise everything but the most essential monopolies.

"Then everything will flourish in glorious colours," he said. "The time is ripe for reforms."

INDUSTRY BOSSES

But some of those close to Putin, including many who derive their power from leadership positions in state-owned conglomerates, see those reforms as a threat.

"I believe we don't need more reforms," said Sergei Chemezov, chief executive of Rostec, a state-owned conglomerate that makes aircraft, weapons, and high-tech equipment and is part-owner with Renault-Nissan of automaker Avtovaz, which produces Russia's Lada saloon cars.

Like other figures in the statist camp, Chemezov has longstanding personal ties to Putin: they lived in the same east German apartment block in the 1980s, when the future Russian leader was working as a Soviet spy.

"Any reforms unsettle business. Unpredictability appears, and people don't know which direction things will go in," Chemezov told Reuters. "Any reform gives rise to a certain amount of anxiety among business."

The group's other major figures include Igor Sechin, the Putin lieutenant who runs state-owned oil giant Rosneft , and Sergei Ivanov, a former spy who is now Kremlin chief of staff.

Several members of this camp are subject to Western sanctions that were imposed over the conflict in Ukraine, since those sanctions sought to target Putin's closest associates.

In the view of this camp, sectors of the economy such as oil and defence manufacturing are of strategic importance to the state, and if the Kremlin relinquished control that could be a threat to Russia's national security.

For now, Putin is sitting on the fence. But staying in that position will grow more uncomfortable as the contest between the rival groups intensifies.

(Additional reporting by Darya Korsunskaya, Katya Golubkova, Oksana Kobzeva, Denis Pinchuk, Anastasiay Lyrchikova and Olesya Astakhova; editing by Peter Graff)
Https%3a%2f%2fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%2fuploads%2fstory%2fthumbnail%2f12080%2fvalens-reef-thumb

Few people will get to visit eastern Indonesia's remote Bird's Head region, but a new immersive film brings the crystalline waters and exceptionally diverse marine life directly to you.

Valen's Reef, a new 360-degree short film from environmental organization Conservation International, follows West Papuan fisherman-turned-conservationist Ronald Mambrasar and his 8-year-old son Valen as they explore the protected Bird's Head Seascape.

Created in collaboration with virtual reality production company Vrse.works and supported by the Tiffany & Co. Foundation, the film was shot in late March and early April, and debuted Monday at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.

SEE ALSO: 6 startling facts about wildlife trafficking  and how you can help

Now dubbed "the epicenter of marine biodiversity," home to 75% of the world's known coral species and other creatures found nowhere else on the planet, the Bird's Head Seascape was nearly destroyed by overfishing just 12 years ago. Fish populations fell by a staggering 90%, threatening the primary source of food and income for the 760,000 people living on Bird's Head's shores.

Through his narration, Mambrasar describes how his people lost  and ultimately reclaimed  their waters.

"When the illegal fishermen came, we welcomed them at first," he says in the film. "They brought us gifts. After they dropped bombs and poison, we would scoop up the fish for them. The fish and the coral started to be lost. We knew it was not right."

Over the course of a decade, however, his community mobilized, with the help of Conservation International and other partners, to restore and protect the Bird's Head Seascape through monitoring and patrolling efforts. It has since become a model for community-driven conservation around the world.



Image: Conservation International

Laure Katz, director of the Seascapes Program for Conservation International, tells Mashable that by training community members, the Bird's Head Seascape Initiative has reduced illegal fishing by poachers by 90%.

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"The resulting conservation success story is remarkable," she says. "Local fishers are now catching more fish with the same level of effort, and in key areas, ecotourism is growing by an average of 30% year over year."

In addition to attracting scuba divers from around the world, the Bird's Head Seascape also increases the area's resilience to climate change by reducing other ocean stressors. As a result, it could teach scientists more about how coral can adapt to global warming.

Image: Conservation International/photo by John Martin

Bird's Head was recently named a "bright spot" for coral reefs in a new study from the journal Nature, meaning the ecosystem is "substantially better than expected." But coral bleaching events are affecting many reefs in Indonesia and worldwide due to warming ocean temperatures, turning coral bone-white and vulnerable, like in Australia's iconic Great Barrier Reef.

Even in the Bird's Head Seascape, there's still work to be done. That's the goal of Valen's Reef  to capture people's attention and get them involved.

"At CI we have always known that we can generate support for conservation when we can take a person to see the place that needs their help  it creates a deep connection," Katz says. "In the case of the Birds Head region, that's a challenging proposition."

From the U.S., it can take 25 hours to fly on four or five planes, in addition to a three-hour boat ride. The film brings audiences there instantly.

"We're always looking for ways to encourage younger audiences to engage with our planets future and the concept that people need nature to thrive. We hope Valen's Reef reaches the widest possible audience, and will be thrilled if this amazing new technology draws interest from a new audience," she says.

The film also highlights the emotional aspect of this goal, especially when Mambrasar addresses his son directly.

"When you, my eldest, were born, my world changed," Mambrasar tells Valen. "I want to be able to give you all of the nature that is here now."
Rome (AFP) - Italy's anti-establishment Five Star movement (M5S) has achieved a major breakthrough by winning Rome's mayoral election.

The country's second biggest political force is a hard-to-describe broad church, resisting traditional categories of left and right and defined by its anti-establishment stance.

How did it emerge?

M5S as founded by comedian Beppe Grillo in 2009 as an alternative to established politicians and institutions in a country long blighted by corruption.

It eschewed traditional political channels and the media for civic lists and citizen meet-ups, embracing the expletive "vaffanculo" ("go screw yourself") as a political slogan.

Co-founder Gianroberto Casaleggio, a communications entrepreneur considered the M5S's "guru" until his death in April, created a series of online platforms for "direct democracy", and all the party's candidates are elected online.

What does it want?

The party is built on the dual pillars of mistrust of traditional politics and honesty of its members.

It wants greater transparency, a reduction in political salaries, action in favour of the environment, a referendum on the euro, growth measures for small and medium businesses and free Internet for all.

Populist or leftist?

Although based on a similar mass rejection of the establishment as Spain's Podemos and Greece's Syriza, the M5S is not left-wing or anti-austerity.

Grillo called for a "clamp-down" on humanitarian visas for asylum seekers in 2014. And the movement withdrew its support for gay civil unions in parliament earlier this year at the last minute, despite 80 percent of its voting members favouring the bill.

A government in waiting?

The M5S made a sensational debut by scooping 25 percent in the 2013 general election, becoming the second biggest political force in Italy behind the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) in one swoop.

It hopes Rome will be a platform for a tilt at national power but its party organisation remains weak: it presented candidates for just 18 percent of the 1,368 municipalities in the latest elections.

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How it operates:

M5S's political novices, dubbed "Grillini" after founder Grillo, are struggling to make their voices heard in parliament: the movement refuses to form any alliances with its opponents and cold-shoulders mainstream media.

Locally elected representatives are bound by a code of conduct that requires them to seek permission from the top for every important decision.

The party's anti-corruption banner has also been blackened by allegations it struck deals with local mobsters in Naples in southern Italy, while preliminary probes have been launched into the M5S mayor of Parma in the north for abuse of office and his counterpart in coastal Livorno for fraud.

Who follows the joker?

Although he has officially distanced himself from politics and returned to the stand-up circuit, outspoken Grillo drew bad press last month with an off-colour joke on London's new Muslim mayor and his blog is still perceived as a voice box for the movement.

Smart-suited Luigi Di Maio is tipped to replace him as the movement's figurehead but Rome's newly elected mayor Virginia Raggi is now equally well-placed to assume the role.
20 Jun - Actress Ruffa Gutierrez has denied allegations made by a Netizen that she is a 'suplada', or a snobbish person, after she declined a request for a photo.



As reported on ABS-CBN News, an Instagram user recently wrote a comment on one of Gutierrez's post, saying that that the actress was being snobbish when she refused to have a photo taken with the commenter's aunt, who spotted her at the Nagoya railway station in Japan.



She added that her aunt was furious that she was snubbed by the actress.



However, Gutierrez quickly responded to the comment, and asked, "Why is she angry? Is it a pre-requisite that I [must] have my photo taken with her?"



Gutierrez explained that she had to decline the request as she was rushing to catch her flight at the time.



"As soon as I jumped on the train with my four suitcases, the doors closed. [For your information], I've never had a reputation of being arrogant. There's a reason behind everything. Cheers!"



(Photo source: instagram.com/iloveruffag)
Moscow (AFP) - Russian investigators on Monday announced they had completed a first probe into the murder of Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov, describing the killing as a hit ordered by a low-ranking Chechen official and other "unidentified" suspects.

The night-time shooting on February 27, 2015 of Nemtsov, one of the most prominent critics of President Vladimir Putin, occurred just steps from the walls of the Kremlin and shocked Russia.

"The investigation of the criminal case has been completed," the powerful Investigative Committee said in a statement, naming five suspects who have been accused of organising the murder and weapons trafficking.

The suspects -- Zaur Dadayev, Shadid and Anzor Gubashev, Bemirlan Eskerkhanov and Khamzat Bakhaev -- are all currently in detention and have been charged with the killing.

According to investigators, they were approached in late September 2014 -- some five months before Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister, was killed -- and offered 15 million rubles (about $235,000) for the murder.

The amount was offered by "Ruslan Mukhudinov and other individuals," the committee said.

The case against these "unidentified persons" is ongoing, it added.

Mukhudinov is a low-ranking Chechen security official who has reportedly served in a Chechen unit called Sever which supported Kremlin loyalist Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

He has been named as organiser since December 2015.

Nemtsov's supporters and daughter have demanded that the investigation questions Kadyrov himself over suspicions that the strongman leader or those close to him ordered the hit.

Kadyrov has spoken in support of the accused men and denied allegations of involvement.

He has said Nemtsov was killed because he supported French satirical publication Charlie Hebdo, targeted in January 2015 after it published caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed.

The Investigative Committee however concluded that there was no religious motive and the Charlie Hebdo version "can be completely excluded".

A sixth alleged perpetrator, Beslan Shavanov, "blew himself up" to avoid arrest in November 2015, the committee said.

Russia's federal security service (FSB) on Monday said that Nemtsov was shot from a home-made weapon constructed from parts smuggled into Russia from abroad.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Beijing on Saturday at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Chinese state media has confirmed.

The two leaders are expected to ink a $6.2 billion high-speed rail deal as well as discuss extended military cooperation. Up to 30 trade agreements could also be signed, reports the South China Morning Post.

One deal on the cards would govern the supply of Russian wheat to China. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Rogozin told reporters in Moscow, We are talking about the construction of a grain terminal in the [Russian] Trans-Baikal region and may sign a contract for this kind of serious, large supplies of wheat to China.

The meeting is also seen as the latest attempt of President Xi to drum up support for his One Belt, One Road development strategy. Beijing wants to revive the iconic land and maritime Silk Road, which date back to the days of Marco Polo in the 13th century, by building a trade and infrastructure network stretching all the way to Western Europe and Africa. Geopolitically, it is seen as a rival to the Washington-led Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade pact, which Beijing opted not to join.

Xi has been traveling all over Central Asia and Eastern Europe in recent weeks  including stops in Poland, Serbia and Uzbekistan  but Russian support for One Belt, One Road is seen as particularly important, given Moscows sway over key Balkan states. Putin will be keen to bolster a bilateral relationship that remains robust despite widespread international censure at the Kremlins annexation of Crimea in 2014, which resulted in the U.S. and E.U. imposing economic sanctions on Russia.
Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy moved many last week when he concluded his 15-hour gun-control filibuster with an emotional tribute to 6-year-old Dylan Hockley, who was found in the arms of his teacher, Anne Marie Murphy, after they were both killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.



No one was more touched than Dylan's mother, Nicole Hockley, who tells PEOPLE that although she's spoken with the senator several times over the years about her son's tragic story, she was surprised when Murphy chose to share it on the Senate floor last Wednesday, in a call to action motivated in part by the terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida.



"The fact that he chose that moment to end his filibuster, talking about the last moments and the bravery that Mrs. Murphy showed  while begging legislators to show that same bravery  that meant a great deal to me, that he would share that with everyone," says Hockley, who runs Sandy Hook Promise, a group that aims to prevent school shootings through in-school awareness and training programs.



"I know it means a huge deal to him," Hockley adds of the Democrat, a gun-control advocate who was a new senator at the time of the Sandy Hook shooting in his home state of Connecticut. "It made me cry watching him on the floor. And I'm just very proud of him and glad that he's forcing a change to happen."













At the close of the filibuster, Murphy spoke beside a jumbo print of Dylan wearing a Superman T-shirt. His voice choking and breaking with emotion, the senator described how police found Dylan in his classroom  "dead, wrapped in the embrace of Anne Marie Murphy," his special-education teacher.





Sandy Hook Mom Sheds Yet More Tears for Her Son as Senate Votes on New Gun Control Laws| Shootings, politics





"It doesn't take courage to stand here on the floor of the United States Senate for two hours or six hours or 14 hours," Murphy said. "It doesn't take courage to stand up to the gun lobby when 90 percent of your constituents want change to happen."



"It takes courage to look into the eye of a shooter and instead of running, wrapping your arms around a 6-year-old boy and accepting death as a trade for just a tiny, little itty piece of increased peace of mind for a little boy under your charge," he said, calling on his fellow senators to ask themselves: "What can you do to make sure that Orlando or Sandy Hook never, ever happens again?"



Hockley was at the White House for a screening of the documentary Newtown when she heard that Murphy had taken the floor. The senator had been scheduled to present at the annual Sandy Hook Promise Gala that evening but Hockley says she thought it was "extremely appropriate that on a night we were honoring Promise Champions a that one of our most committed Champions would not be present because he was out fighting for us."



"I went to bed around midnight that night, so saw little of Chris' filibuster," she tells PEOPLE. "When I woke the next morning, my emails and news alerts were flooded with his last moments before yielding the floor. I watched the last eight minutes several times, crying as Chris spoke about my beautiful boy and the courage of Mrs. Murphy."



Thanks to Murphy's filibuster, the Senate will vote on four gun control proposals on Monday. But many already believe the votes won't pass.



Nevertheless, Hockley says she's hopeful that a "meaningful change" will come soon.



"I have to stay hopeful because I just think, as a people, we're better than this," Hockley says. "If Monday doesn't pass then we have to focus on the next day to make it pass. Momentum's still building."



Hockley says the pressure on politicians is even higher this year, due to the upcoming election in November.



"Anyone who doesn't vote the right way on Monday, they're going to face the anger of the American people come election day. And that's something they should bear in mind, especially considering that they continue to vote based on what lobbyists want them to do rather than what people want them to do," she says. "I mean, if Monday doesn't happen then we've just got to push ahead to the next thing  but meaningful change will come."



"We need more people with soul," she adds of Congress.
In the words of Justin Bieber, Scooter Braun is "#blessed" these days! The 35-year-old manager just celebrated his birthday on the Amalfi Coast in Italy and had a very special Father's Day shortly after.

MORE: Kanye West and Justin Bieber Now Share the Same Manager: Scooter Braun!

On Sunday, he took to Instagram to make a special Father's Day announcement, posting a photo of his pregnant wife, Yael, and son, Jagger.

"It's on! #2 on the way! @yael best Father's Day gift ever!" he captioned the shot of himself and his son pointing at Yael's baby bump.

Earlier in the week, Bieber's manager posted a cute shot of his son covered in chocolate cake with the caption: "Jagger rocked my birthday / Father's Day cake. Love this kid."

WATCH: Justin Bieber Falls Off Edge of Stage While Performing in Canada, Still Says He Had a 'Great Show'

Braun is currently vacationing in southern Italy, and showed off his picturesque backdrop in a birthday shot with his wife and son on Friday.

"35 feels pretty good. Beyond blessed and beyond grateful. Still can't believe it. Thankful. Bring on another 35 :)," he captioned the pic.

Related Articles
Paris (AFP) - At least 185 activists and indigenous people fighting environmental pillaging were murdered in 2015, the watchdog group Global Witness said on Monday.

The grisly toll is the largest recorded -- nearly 60 percent more than in 2014 -- since the NGO began tracking such violence worldwide in 2002, and is probably higher because many killings go unreported, it said in its annual report.

Brazil and the Philippines together accounted for nearly a third of the total, followed by Colombia, Peru, Nicaragua and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

More than 40 murders were related to mining operations, according to the report.

Disputes over agribusiness, logging and dam projects also led to numerous killings.

"Communities that take a stand are increasingly finding themselves in the firing line of companies' private security, state forces and a thriving market for contract killers," Global Witness campaign leader Billy Kyte said in a statement.

"Governments must urgently intervene to stop this spiralling violence."

Indigenous people -- nearly 40 percent of the victims -- are frequent targets of land and resource grabs, often in collusion with corrupt local officials, he said.

The area on Mindanao in the Philippines inhabited by the Lumad people, for example, saw 25 killings last year alone, the highest death rate of any region monitored.

The Lumad homeland is rich in coal, nickel and gold.

In a particularly brazen attack, the father and grandfather of Filipino activist Michelle Campos were murdered in public for their stand against mining operations, Global Witness reported.

"We know the murderers -- they are still walking free in our community," Campos, who escaped harm, said in a statement.

In Brazil, the NGO said, the fight to save the Amazon is "increasingly a fight against criminal gangs who terrorise local populations at the behest of timber companies and the officials they have corrupted."

Story continues

Thousands of unauthorised logging camps are scattered across Brazil's Amazon basin, where precious hardwoods -- mahogany, ebony, teak -- are cut and prepared for export.

A 2014 report from Chatham House estimates that 80 percent of timber coming from Brazil is illicit, accounting for a quarter of illegal wood on the global market.

"The murders that are going unpunished in remote mining villages or deep within rainforests are fuelled by the choices consumers are making on the other side of the world," Kyte said.

The top markets for precious woods are the United States, China and the European Union.

In early March this year, two masked men gunned down indigenous activist Berta Caceres, recipient of a prestigious international environmental prize for fighting a dam project in Honduras.

Last week, some 500 indigenous Lenca people held a protest in Honduran capital Tegucigalpa to demand an international probe into the murder.

One of five people arrested for Caceres' murder is a high-ranking employee of Desarrollos Energeticos (DESA), an electricity company involved in the construction of the hydro-electric dam against which she campaigned.
By Anusha Ravindranath

June 20 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stocks rose on

Monday, in line with Asian peers, as increased possibility of

Britain remaining in the European Union lifted risk appetite

across the board.

Britons will cast their votes this Thursday in a referendum

on whether to quit the EU.

The implied probability of a British vote to remain in the

European Union rose to 72 percent on Monday, up from a range

between 60 and 67 percent on Friday, according to Betfair

betting odds.

Three opinion polls ahead of Thursday's vote also showed the

'Remain' camp recovering some momentum, although the overall

picture remained one of an evenly split electorate.

"Perception is that the British public is likely to vote in

favour of remaining in the EU. If that is the case, it would

remove the overhang of risk in the markets," said Nirgunan

Tiruchelvam, an analyst with Religare Capital Markets in

Singapore.

There were fears that a "no" vote would be disruptive to the

markets and that seems to have dissipated, he added.

Safe-haven assets and currencies like gold, government bonds

and the yen retreated, while higher oil prices bolstered

investor sentiment.

Singapore stocks closed more than 1 percent higher,

led by oil and gas stocks, as a weaker dollar and easing worries

over Britain's possible exit from the EU helped support crude

prices.

Keppel Corp Ltd rose 2.2 percent, while Sembcorp

Industries Ltd gained 3.3 percent.

The Philippine market closed 0.6 percent higher, with

consumer cyclicals such as SM Investments Corp and

Bloomberry Resorts Corp leading the gainers.

"We are nearing our presidential inauguration. Things are

looking more positive for the Philippines," said Joseph Roxas,

an analyst with Eagle Equities.

"There is a lot of hope in the incoming president."

Philippines President-elect Rodrigo Duterte is to begin a

six-year term on June 30.

The new economic team under Duterte on Monday promised

changes to boost infrastructure, fix traffic woes, improve

Story continues

investment frameworks and maintain the country's robust economic

growth.

Vietnam was up more than 1 percent, as oil and gas

stocks such as Petrovietnam Gas Joint Stock Corp rose,

while Indonesia ended higher, helped by energy shares.

Earlier, Asian stocks gained, with MSCI's broadest index of

Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan up 1.3

percent.

For Asian Companies click;

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS

STOCK MARKETS

Change on day

Market Current Previous Pct Move

Close

Singapore 2800.87 2763.42 1.36

Bangkok 1421.99 1421.32 0.05

Manila 7665.33 7622.07 0.57

Jakarta 4863.531 4835.143 0.59

Kuala Lumpur 1634.23 1624.18 0.62

Ho Chi Minh 626.46 619.25 1.16

Change so far

this year

Market Current End 2015 Pct Move

Singapore 2800.87 2882.73 -2.84

Bangkok 1421.99 1288.02 10.40

Manila 7665.33 6952.08 10.26

Jakarta 4863.531 4593.008 5.89

Kuala Lumpur 1634.23 1692.51 -3.44

Ho Chi Minh 626.46 579.03 8.19

(Reporting by Anusha Ravindranath in Bengaluru; Editing by Biju

Dwarakanath)
Beirut (AFP) - The Islamic State group launched a surprise assault Monday near its besieged stronghold in northern Syria, killing residents of two villages it recaptured from US-backed fighters, a monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said IS had dispatched a small group of jihadists -- including one driving an explosives-laden car -- into villages southeast of their bastion of Manbij.

The villages had been seized in recent weeks by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in their push for Manbij.

"IS is trying to defend Manbij by sending fighters from outside the town to attack the SDF in these villages," said Rami Abdel Rahman, the director of the Britain-based Observatory.

"Daesh executed residents," he added, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

The Manbij clashes killed five SDF fighters and coalition air strikes left 42 jihadists dead on Monday, said the Observatory, which relies on a vast network of sources on the ground for its information.

The US-led coalition backing the SDF carried out a barrage of air strikes on Monday to defend the villages, said Abdel Rahman.

At least four SDF fighters were killed in the clashes and many more were wounded.

The SDF -- a Kurdish-Arab alliance with air support from the US-led coalition -- encircled Manbij nearly 10 days ago.

But since then, they have been slowed by almost daily suicide bombings as IS puts up a fight for the town.

Held by the jihadists since 2014, Manbij was a key stop along IS's supply route from the Turkish border southeast through the town of Tabqa and on to its de facto Syrian capital of Raqa.

IS is also mounting a fierce defence of Tabqa, which has been under attack by Russian-backed regime forces since early June.

On Monday, the Observatory said, a failed IS counterattack against regime fighters southwest of Tabqa killed at least 14 jihadists and six government loyalists.

"IS dispatched 300 fighters from Raqa to Tabqa to help defend the town," Abdel Rahman said.

Story continues

The jihadists launched a second counterattack in the afternoon, seizing many positions southwest of the town and pushing pro-regime fighters some 20 kilometres (12 miles) back from Tabqa airport.

IS has lost 21 jihadists since it began its assault on the region on Sunday, while 32 government loyalists have also been killed, according to the Observatory.

Syria's civil war began with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations in 2011 and has now killed more than 280,000 people and displaced millions.
The man who claims to be the inventor of bitcoin is reportedly attempting to secure his intellectual property via a host of new patent filings. Australian Craig Wright, who claims to be bitcoin founder Satoshi Nakamoto, has now filed at least 50 patent applications via Britains EITC Holdings Ltd.

It looks like he is trying to patent the fundamental building blocks of any blockchain, cryptocurrency, or distributed ledger system, Reuters consultant Antony Lewis says.

Related Link: Digital Currencies Could Completely Transform Global Markets

The blockchain is the decentralized public record of all transactions that is at the core of the bitcoin currency.

A number of startups and financial institutions have been investing heavily in technology that utilizes the blockchain framework that bitcoin made so famous. If Wright gets his way, these projects may soon be derailed.

Wright himself has declined to comment on the patent filings.

Earlier this year, the 45-year-old Wright stepped up and revealed that he was the true identity of Nakamoto, but much of the skeptical bitcoin community was not convinced by the initial proof he provided. After promising to publicly provide additional proof of his identity, Wright subsequently changed his mind.

The London Review of Books claims that Wright is in the process of filing hundreds of patents that will eventually be sold for more than $1 billion dollars.

See more from Benzinga

 2016 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Monday rejected four measures restricting guns after last weeks mass shooting in an Orlando nightclub, although lawmakers were still trying to forge a compromise that could keep firearms away from people on terrorism watch lists.

In a familiar setback for gun control advocates, all four of the measures to expand background checks on gun buyers and curb gun sales to those on terrorism watch lists - two put forth by Democrats and two by Republicans - fell short of the 60 votes needed for passage in the 100-member chamber.

The deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history last week had intensified pressure on lawmakers and spurred quick action, but the gun-control measures lost in largely party-line votes that showed the lingering political power in Congress of gun rights defenders and the National Rifle Association.

Republicans and their allies in the NRA gun lobby said the Democratic bills were too restrictive and trampled on the constitutional right to bear arms. Democrats attacked the Republicans plans as too weak.

Its always the same. After each tragedy, we try, we Democrats try to pass sensible gun safety measures. Sadly, our efforts are blocked by the Republican Congress who take their marching orders from the National Rifle Association, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, said the Democratic measures were ineffective and Democrats were not sincere in their effort.

Instead of using this as an opportunity to push a partisan agenda or craft the next 30-second campaign ad, McConnell said, Republican senators are pursuing real solutions that can help keep Americans safer from the threat of terrorism.

SLIDESHOW  Gun control debate >>>

A diverse coalition of groups and activists held an overnight peace vigil in front of the National Rifle Assiciation's (NRA) offices in Fairfax, VA to honor the 49 people killed in the mass shooting in Orlando. They called for a ban on assault weapons. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Gun control efforts failed after mass shootings at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012 and a conference center in San Bernardino, California, in 2015. But some senators see resistance to gun restrictions softening as national security looms larger in the debate.

Story continues

The Orlando gunman, Omar Mateen, pledged allegiance to the militant group Islamic State as he killed 49 people in a gay nightclub.

This country is under attack  its not a plane or an explosive device, its an assault weapon, said Murphy, who led a 15-hour filibuster last week to draw attention to the effort to restrict guns.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted last week found that 71 percent of Americans favor at least moderate regulations and restrictions on gun sales. That compared with 60 percent in late 2013 and late 2014.

Senior Senate aides on Monday left open the possibility of other votes later in the week on unspecified gun control proposals. Some Republicans pinned hopes on a compromise proposal by Senator Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, which was not one of the four bills being considered on Monday.

Her plan would restrict gun purchases to a narrow group of suspects, including those on a no-fly list or a selectee list of people who require additional screening at airports..

Even if the Senate approved a gun compromise, it would also have to be passed by the Republican-majority House of Representatives. House Republican leadership aides did not comment on the possibility that any bills proposing gun restrictions would be considered on the House floor this week.

Congress has not passed new gun restrictions since a 2007 expansion of the governments automatic background check database to include individuals with a history of mental illness and felons. The United States has more than 310 million weapons, about one for every citizen.

(Additional reporting by Amanda Becker and Emily Stephenson; Writing by John Whitesides; Editing by Alistair Bell and Mary Milliken)

Related slideshows

SLIDESHOW  Funerals and memorials for slain Orlando victims >>>

SLIDESHOW  Obama visits families of the Orlando massacre victims >>>

SLIDESHOW  Victims of the Florida nightclub shooting >>>

SLIDESHOW  Slideshow: Front-page coverage of the Orlando mass shooting >>>

SLIDESHOW  World reacts to Orlando mass shooting >>>

SLIDESHOW  Shooting rampage at Florida >>>
By Yeganeh Torbati WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama, his vice president and defense secretary took aim on Monday at policies of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump they said would alienate Muslims globally along with U.S. allies and neighbors. In a speech focusing on national security at a think tank in Washington, Vice President Joe Biden said Trump's calls to bar the entry of Muslims and to profile Muslim Americans reflected the politics of fear and intolerance. "There are 1.4 billion Muslims in the world" Biden said. "Some of the rhetoric I'm hearing sounds designed to radicalize all 1.4 billion." Biden's attacks on Trump as an isolationist, and others by Obama and Defense Secretary Ash Carter represent an unusually early and vigorous assault on an opposing party's presidential nominee. The election is on Nov. 8. Referring to Trump's vow to erect a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico if elected, Biden said that the most complex threats do not respect borders and a wall would destroy much of the progress the Obama administration had made with U.S. neighbors. "If we build walls and disrespect our neighbors, we will quickly see all this progress evaporating, replaced by a return of anti-Americanism, a corrosive rift throughout our hemisphere," Biden said. OBAMA, CARTER JOIN FRAY Obama, who last week assailed Trump for what he called a "dangerous" mindset and "loose talk and sloppiness" in defining the country's enemies, on Monday criticized Trump's anti-trade policies in a speech at a U.S. Commerce Department conference. "This is not just about jobs and trade, it's not just about hard, cold cash. It's also about building relationships across borders," Obama told the 2,400 people from 70 countries at the conference to attract foreign investment. Trump has threatened to impose steep tariffs on Chinese and Mexican imports and demanded a change in a U.S. trade policy he says allows other countries to shut out U.S imports, devalue their currencies and unfairly target U.S. industries. Speaking at the same event as Biden, Carter said a critical part of U.S. leadership is its "longtime network of allies and partners in every corner of the world." "Our allies around the world have stood with us - and fought with us - time and again, most recently in Iraq, Afghanistan, and against ISIL," he said, using an acronym for Islamic State. Carter did not mention Trump, who has called NATO "obsolete" and said he would consider letting Japan and South Korea develop their own nuclear weapons rather than relying on the United States for protection against North Korea and China.While Obama, Carter and other top officials generally have refrained from attacking Trump by name, Obama administration spokesmen have not denied that such remarks are directed at the presumptive Republican candidate. (Additional reporting by Roberta Rampton and John Walcott in Washington; Editing by John Walcott and Howard Goller)
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 20, 2016 / Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of BlueLinx Holdings Inc. (BXC) concerning possible breaches of fiduciary duty by the board of directors of the company. To obtain additional information, go to: http://zlk.9nl.com/bluelinx-holdings-bxc or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@zlk.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972.

Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, New Jersey, California, Connecticut and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities and shareholder lawsuits. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Levi & Korsinsky, LLP

Eduard Korsinsky, Esq.

30 Broad Street - 24th Floor

New York, NY 10004

Tel: (212) 363-7500

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SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
We are not going to be Cinderella and you better not lose your favorite heels in the hope of some Prince carrying them back to you  never gonna happen. I dont intend to dissuade you from the philosophies of fairy tale romance, but just like our regular lives, our prince will be a regular man too. Perhaps yours has entered your life already, but in case you are still debating, here are few traits that insinuate  he is the one, and you better not lose him.

You must be too full of yourself if you are averse to criticism. Like every human being, living or dead, on this planet, you have tons of flaws too. If your man is not afraid to point out a few of these, and loves you despite them, stick to him. He will contribute in the making of a better you.

Speaking of contributions, just as the saying goes, Behind every successful man, there is a woman the vice versa of it holds equal gravity. If the one by your side generously appreciates your talents, regardless of their relevance, you are one lucky woman. These men often bring out the best in their partners, encouraging skyward ambitions and lead them to soaring success, one might have never dreamed of.

It is a good idea to gravitate toward someone with a strong sense of security. An insecure man, who lives his relationship through standards set by people outside the relationship, will take you farther from yourself. If you find comfort in a loose fitted kameez, he shouldnt be embarrassed of your apathy for fashion. Also, he shouldnt bat an eye if you pick the shortest skirt at the mall. He is the right man whose sole aim in life is not to change a piece of you one day at a time. Your choices in food, clothing or religious beliefs should be a matter too trivial to cause him a headache.

And if you look all kinds of hot in that teeny-tiny skirt and he doesnt condone that too much of your cleavage show in the club, it is actually cute for your partner to be jealous of all those eyeballs gliding on you. Nevermind the age, every love story can use a lil jealousy. As long as he doesnt feel the same way about every man walking the earth or barges into all your calls and slides through all your texts, agree to curb your exchanges with that one colleague, who, your man reads as a total jerk. Being possessive comes naturally to love, embrace it.

Story continues

Most importantly, if you have ever witnessed your man, man up defiantly for you, against his own family, you have found yourself a collectors item. Whether dating or engaged, even if not your mother-in-law, there is a sibling, an aunt, or a cousin in every family always on her toes to shine the spotlight on your follies, how your hair is in a permanent state of disarray, how clumsy you are, or your amiability with some random male friend. As long as you have a strong man at your defense, with eyes full of trust in you, you my friend are in safe hands.

But the role played by families, especially in India, can never be overlooked. We dont encourage ourselves to abandon old parents. If you have volunteered to shoulder his responsibilities, your values are in place. But you too have a set of parents, and they arent growing any younger. You cant play the gender card when it comes to tending to your own folks. If your man acknowledges your duties as a daughter and doesnt shy away from partnering them, you have a star somewhere shining very bright on you.

Love is not all about flowers and rainbows. Love challenges you, scatters pebbles on your path, and waits for you to conquer them. If surmounting these impediments entail a few sacrifices, dont hesitate. The pains will fade away in a blink of an eye when your partner acclaims your endurance and strives to make up for those losses. You will know, all your sacrifices were worth making, and you are with the right man.
Moscow vs. Washington, Syria edition. American and Russian defense officials are offering conflicting versions of last weeks Russian bombing of U.S.-backed Syrian rebels. They aired their grievances during a weekend video conference where Pentagon officials expressed strong concerns over the Russian attacks. Russian planes hit opposition fighters on Thursday near the al-Tanf crossing, which sits on Syrias border with Iraq. The bombing runs came after U.S. officials warned the Russians of coalition aircraft operating in the area, according to a statement from Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook. Ignoring the American warnings created safety concerns for U.S. and coalition forces, Cooks statement said.

The Russians say the strikes were partially the Pentagons fault, however. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said on Sunday that the strike took place more than 180 miles away from where the U.S. told them opposition forces were operating. Konashenkov insisted Moscow had warned the U.S. in advance about the strikes, but the Pentagons refusal to coordinate air ops mak[es] it impossible to take measures to adjust the Russian air force action.

Russian cluster bombs? The Russian strikes may also have used cluster bombs. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights posted photos over the weekend showing the tail of a Russian RBK-500 cluster munition on the ground near al-Tanf. Several of the same bombs were seen strapped to the underbelly of a Russian bomber during the visit of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to Syria earlier this month.

Yemen for keeps. American special operators are back in Yemen, and it doesnt look like theyre going to leave any time soon. A group of about a dozen U.S. commandos sent to the country in April are going to stick around, U.S. defense officials say, and will help troops from the United Arab Emirates hunt down fighters from al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

Story continues

That sounds like a priority shift for Emirati troops, who have been fighting Houthi rebels for the past year. But Yousef al-Otaiba, the U.A.E.s ambassador in Washington, told the Washington Post that said his countrys fight against AQAP will go on for a long period of timethe military priorities have shifted from fighting the Iranian-backed Houthis to being more focused on AQAP.

Drones are back. On Friday, the Pentagon also announced three recent counter-terror airstrikes in Yemen, which occurred between June 8 and 12. The strikes are likely part of the recently disclosed joint operations between the CIA and the Joint Special Operations Command.

Truck touch. And heres something for you gear nerds out there: some smart Twitter users have spotted Iraqi special operations forces driving U.S.-made M-ATVs, which have been painted the signature ISOF black. The lighter version of the MRAP made by Oshkosh Defense was introduced in 2009 has been used by U.S. forces in Afghanistan  and theyve been sold the the U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, Poland, and given to African Union peacekeepers in Somalia. The Emirati special forces have been seen driving them in Yemen  and have lost some to Houthi rebels  but this is the first time theyve been spotted in Iraq.

Good morning again from the Sitrep crew, thanks for clicking on through for the summer 2016 edition of SitRep. As always, if you have any thoughts, announcements, tips, or national security-related events to share, please pass them along to SitRep HQ. Best way is to send them to: paul.mcleary@foreignpolicy.com or on Twitter: @paulmcleary or @arawnsley

South China Sea

The Indonesian navy fired on a Chinese fishing boat near the Natuna islands, reportedly injuring at least one person, according to the BBC. Details on the incident are a bit hazy, with China claiming one injured and Indonesia denying anyone was hurt in the attack. Indonesia detained a number of fishermen following the shooting, but theres no confirmation yet on whether theyre still in custody. China doesnt claim the islands but it does call the area a traditional Chinese fishing ground. The two countries have clashed over fishing rights off the Natuna islands before, including an incident back in March when a Chinese coast guard ship rammed an Indonesian vessel trying to detain a fishing boat from the Peoples Republic.

South Korea

South Koreas military is training up the next generation of cyber warriors to match wits with their counterparts from the North. Reuters reports that the South Korean defense ministry is now funding classes at Korea University, known as the Cyber Defense curriculum, where students can pick up the skills necessary to defend networks against North Korean instructions. Students can have the government pick up the tab for their education if they agree to work for the South Korean armys cyber warfare unit. North Korea has been beefing up its cybersecurity forces in recent years and is believed to have carried out a number of attacks against media, finance, and government networks.

Japan

Okinawans turned out for a massive protest against the U.S. military presence on the island following the murder of a woman allegedly carried out by a former U.S. Marine turned contractor, the New York Times reports. If the protest organizers claim of a 65,000-strong turnout at the demonstration is correct, it would make it the largest protest since three American servicemen raped a 12 year-old Japanese girl on the island in 1995. U.S. officials have been trying to soothe public anger, instituting a month-long mourning period following the victims death with both President Obama and Secretary of Defense Ash Carter offering apologies over the incident.

Europe

The British military has reportedly told its troops that its ok to give up classified information if theyre being held prisoner and tortured by jihadist groups. Britains defense ministry denies any change in policy from the traditional expectation that captive troops only give up name, rank, and serial number. But the Daily Telegraph reports that officials have quietly told pilots and special operations troops fighting the Islamic State that they should instead try to delay the release of information while being tortured, giving up the least important information first and holding onto the most sensitive details for as long as possible.

Refugees

Planet earth has a horrible new record  the most displaced people since organizations started keeping track of the metric. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees now estimates the tally of displaced at a staggering 65 million people. Nearly two thirds of that figure is comprised of internally displaced people. The conflicts in Iraq and Syria have produced some of the largest numbers of displacements. The increasing tide of refugees has also contributed to a growing backlash against migration rippling through the politics of the U.S. and Europe.

Technology

A computer scientist and a nonprofit are teaming up to use technology designed to stop child pornography from spreading across the web to take on terrorist propaganda. Defense One reports on the effort by the Counter Extremism Project and Hany Farid to use hash values to spot and stop extremist media in its tracks. Hash functions can generate unique values for data, allowing users to assign a kind of serial number to digital files. Farid and and the Counter Extremism Project are now hoping to apply the same principle to known images and video propaganda from terrorist groups so that social media providers can swiftly scrub material off their platforms.

The Pentagon has wrapped up its bug bounty program, after forking over around $150,000 in exchange for 138 vulnerabilities found in Defense Department public-facing websites. The Hack the Pentagon program allowed a select group of 1,400 hackers to participate in the bug hunt, including one as young as 18 year old high school student David Dworken. Defense Secretary Ash Carter says he wants to expand the program to other parts of the department and include incentives to allow defense contractors to report bugs and vulnerabilities they find.

Photo Credit: Vadim Savitsky\TASS via Getty Images
In a series of raids on Monday, Belgian authorities detained six people in connection to the 2015 Thalys train attack in France which was foiled by three Americans who overpowered and subdued the armed suspect.



According to the Belgian Federal prosecutor, the six were arrested in raids ordered as part of the attack's ongoing criminal investigation. House searches occurred in several Brussels area municipalities including Molenbeek-St. Jean, Woluwe-Saint-Lambert and Haren.



The searches went off without incident, according to the prosecutor's office. No weapons or explosives were found and a judge charged with the overall investigation will decide whether to hold, charge or release the detainees, the prosecutor's office said.



Officials did not identify names or nationalities of the detainees. Officials did not reveal what, if anything, the raids turned up.



The raids come amid a rash of anti-terror activities by Belgian authorities. Over the weekend it was disclosed that an eighth suspect  a Zaventum Airport employee  was arrested in relation to the attacks on the Brussels airport and metro station in March.



The Thalys attack last August 21st, on the high-speed Amsterdam-to-Paris rail line, caught world attention when three Americans on vacation in Europe intervened.



 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.



US Airman Spencer Stone, Army Spc. Alex Skarlatos and their boyhood friend, Anthony Sadler, were traveling on a Friday afternoon from Amsterdam to Paris when heavily armed alleged terrorist Ayoub El Khazzani stepped into their compartment wielding a Kalashnikov rifle. Another American, Sorbonne University professor Mark Moogalian, was non-fatally shot while wrestling the gunman before Stone, Skarlatos and Sadler took down the terrorist.



A trained emergency medic, Stone is credited with having saved Moogalian's life.



El Khazzani, who was tied down by passengers and arrested as the train passed the Belgian-French border, initially maintained he had "found" the weapons on a Brussels park bench.



French authorities have insisted the incident was an attempted terrorist attack but El Khazzani has said he wanted to commit a robbery.



Stone, Skarlatos, and Sadler Jr. along with British citizen Chris Norman were decorated with France's Legion d'Honneur for their actions. Moogalian was hospitalized and decorated by French President Hollande in a later September ceremony.
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian police released without charges six people who had been held for questioning on Monday over an attack on a high-speed train as it traveled between Amsterdam and Paris in August 2015, prosecutors said. In that attack, a man with a machine gun wounded two people on the train before being overpowered by passengers. The new detentions follow a series of police raids on homes over the weekend, after which three men were charged with plotting an attack. Prosecutors said that a judge had ordered six home searches and detained six people in the greater Brussels area. No weapons or explosives were found. "They were released as planned after some checks," a spokesman for the Belgian federal prosecutor said. "There were no charges, either." Belgium remains on heightened alert three months after three suicide bombers killed 32 victims in attacks on Brussels airport and a metro car. Belgian media reported the men arrested at the weekend had planned to attacks fans watching the Euro 2016 games in Brussels. (Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek and Julia Fioretti; editing by Larry King)
(Updates numbers of dead and injured, adds quote and details)

MEXICO CITY, June 19 (Reuters) - Six people were killed and 53 injured in Mexico on Sunday when clashes broke out between members of a teachers' trade union and police at a protest that police say had been infiltrated by armed individuals who shot at officers and threw petrol bombs.

The violence erupted as anti-riot police moved in to dislodge protesters blocking a highway in the southern state of Oaxaca. Television footage showed chaotic scenes of men running from police as gun fire rang out.

It was the worst incident in a spate of protests over the past several months against education reforms that the government pushed through three years ago.

Enrique Galindo, the head of Mexico's federal police, said masked individuals who were not affiliated to the union were behind much of the violence, lobbing Molotov cocktails and shooting at police and civilians.

"These kinds of radicalized protests generate violence," he told a news conference in the state capital of Oaxaca City.

State Governor Gabino Cue gave the casualty figures, and said most of those who died were young people and only two had "links to the union."

The protest on Sunday near the town of Nochixtlan, about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Oaxaca City was the latest of several in recent days that saw protesters blocking other highways with burning tires.

Earlier in the day, police escorted 120 tanker trucks carrying chemical waste from the nearby Salina Cruz refinery, owned and operated by state-run oil company Pemex.

On Friday, Pemex warned it could be forced to shut operations at the refinery in "a few days" if the highway blockade persisted.

The unrest escalated after police arrested the leader of the local teachers' union during the previous weekend. Ruben Nunez, head of one of the most combative factions of Mexico's CNTE union, was detained on suspicion of corruption.

Nunez is secretary general of the CNTE's Section 22 in Oaxaca, a hotbed of resistance to government efforts to reform the education system.

Similar, if less violent protests, have frequently caused chaos in Mexico City. CNTE has led efforts to resist the education reform, in particular its mandate to carry out evaluations of teachers.

(Reporting by David Alire Garcia and Luis Rojas; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Six people were killed and 53 injured in Mexico on Sunday when clashes broke out between members of a teachers' trade union and police at a protest that police say had been infiltrated by armed individuals who shot at officers and threw petrol bombs. The violence erupted as anti-riot police moved in to dislodge protesters blocking a highway in the southern state of Oaxaca. Television footage showed chaotic scenes of men running from police as gun fire rang out. It was the worst incident in a spate of protests over the past several months against education reforms that the government pushed through three years ago. Enrique Galindo, the head of Mexico's federal police, said masked individuals who were not affiliated to the union were behind much of the violence, lobbing Molotov cocktails and shooting at police and civilians. "These kinds of radicalized protests generate violence," he told a news conference in the state capital of Oaxaca City. State Governor Gabino Cue gave the casualty figures, and said most of those who died were young people and only two had "links to the union." The protest on Sunday near the town of Nochixtlan, about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Oaxaca City was the latest of several in recent days that saw protesters blocking other highways with burning tires. Earlier in the day, police escorted 120 tanker trucks carrying chemical waste from the nearby Salina Cruz refinery, owned and operated by state-run oil company Pemex. On Friday, Pemex warned it could be forced to shut operations at the refinery in "a few days" if the highway blockade persisted. The unrest escalated after police arrested the leader of the local teachers' union during the previous weekend. Ruben Nunez, head of one of the most combative factions of Mexico's CNTE union, was detained on suspicion of corruption. Nunez is secretary general of the CNTE's Section 22 in Oaxaca, a hotbed of resistance to government efforts to reform the education system. Similar, if less violent protests, have frequently caused chaos in Mexico City. CNTE has led efforts to resist the education reform, in particular its mandate to carry out evaluations of teachers. (Reporting by David Alire Garcia and Luis Rojas; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
June 21st is the International Day of Yoga  a day that celebrates the ancient practice and the many benefits it has. Derived from the Sanskrit word, yuj, which means to unite, yoga focuses on the development of the body, mind and spirit. From being practised in ancient India, to becoming a trend throughout the world, and having a day dedicated to it, the ancient art form has come a long way.

People choose to practise yoga for a number of reasons  as a form of relaxation, a way of staying healthy and fit, a means of connecting with their spiritual side, or for all of these. Whichever be the reason, though, experts say that regular practise of yoga can help fight a number of health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, reproductory disorders, cardiovascular problems, stress related disorders, among others. And, with the world cluing in to its health benefits, the ancient art form is being widely practised today. We take a look at seven popular styles of yoga, and their health benefits:

Hatha Yoga: One of the oldest styles, and among the six original branches of yoga, Hatha yoga refers to the practice of yoga in its physical form  introducing one to different postures and movements. Much of the yoga that is taught in the West is Hatha yoga and almost all the other styles are offshoots of it. When done properly, Hatha yoga benefits the body and mind on various levels. At a physical level, it helps improve flexibility, strengthens and tones the muscles, helps relieve back pain, increases stamina, strengthens the liver, helps improve the immune system and remove toxins from the body, improves cardiovascular functioning and helps in weight loss, and at a spiritual level, it helps in mental well being, calms and de-stresses the mind, and improves concentration and focus.

Ashtanga Yoga: Ashtanga Yoga refers to the eight limbs outlined by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra. While this style has been popularised by yoga guru, K Pattabhi Jois, the practice has been detailed in an ancient Sanskrit text known as Yoga Kurunta. This was then rediscovered by renowned yoga teacher, T. Krishnamacharya, often referred to as the Father of Modern Yoga and introduced to the West by Jois, who was a student of Krishnamacharya. Ashtanga yoga is practiced as a series of poses done in order, linked together with breath. While it is similar to Vinyasa yoga, the main difference between the two is that in Ashtanga yoga, the same postures are always followed in the exact same order. This physically demanding style of yoga helps build strength and immunity, detoxifies the body, helps with weight loss, tones muscles, aids in blood circulation, lubricates joints, massages internal organs, promotes self-awareness and improves concentration.

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Iyengar Yoga: Founded by yoga guru B.K.S Iyengar, who is considered as one of the foremost yoga teachers in the world, Iyengar yoga is a form of Hatha yoga which focuses on alignment and precision in the practice of asanas, and breath control. This style of yoga uses the help of props such as blankets, bolsters, blocks, straps, etc. to ensure the precision, and is based on the traditional eight limbs of yoga, as mentioned by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras. Iyengar yoga helps to relieve blood pressure, provides relief from back and neck pain, improves balance and concentration, relieves anxiety and stress, helps fight depression, and improves the immunity.

Kundalini Yoga: Influenced by the Hindu school of Shaktism and Tantra, Kundalini yoga focuses on the awakening the Kundalini energy (likened to a coiling snake located at the base of the spine) through regular chanting of mantras, practise of pranayama, stretching, meditation and performing yoga asanas. Regular practise of this form of yoga helps strengthen the nervous system, expand the lung capacity, purify the bloodstream, alleviates stress, awaken the mind and senses, aids in the functioning of the digestive system and nervous system, fights cardiovascular illnesses, relaxes the mind and helps build confidence.

Prenatal Yoga: Meant for moms-to-be, prenatal yoga is already a trend abroad, and is catching on fast in India as well. This style of yoga focuses on light and simple postures and breathing techniques to help relieve pain and stress during pregnancy and childbirth. When performed correctly, and under the supervision of a certified prenatal instructor, it helps the calm the mind, keeps the body fit during pregnancy and after child birth, builds core strength and helps prepare the body for the child birth process. However, before starting any yoga regime during pregnancy, it is always advisable to consult your doctor first.

Vinyasa Yoga: Vinyasa, in Sanskrit, means flow, and like its meaning, Vinyasa yoga focuses on fluid movements which are coordinated with the breath. In the west, it is sometimes practiced as Power yoga, and trainers often play music to aid the flow from one pose to another. Influenced by Ashtanga yoga, Vinyasa yoga is apt if you are looking for a fast-paced session, and a challenging workout. Vinyasa yoga helps improve flexibility, strengthens the body, builds lean body muscles,aids in better sleep and calms the mind. Physiologically, Vinyasa yoga has been found to reduce the risk of heart diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure and helps detoxify the body and improve immunity.

Bikram Yoga: Hugely popular in the west, especially among celebrities, Bikram Yoga has been conceptualised by controversial yoga guru Bikram Choudhury from traditional Hatha yoga techniques. This yoga style is also known as hot yoga, as it is usually practised in a room heated to 40 degrees, with a 40 percent humidity. Each yoga class is typically 90 minutes long, and consists of a series of 26 postures, including two breathing exercises. Practitioners of the technique state that it detoxifies the body as it is practised under hot conditions, making the body sweat, helps warm up the muscles, improves breathing, helps reduce weight and improves concentration. However, the extremely high temperature under which the yoga is practised, can lead to discomfort and possible dehydration, if you havent taken in enough liquids.
It's summertime, and Sofia Vergara is livin' easy.



The Modern Family actress took to Instagram this weekend to post a few envy-inducing photos of her summer activities  which included some quality pool time.



In true Vergara fashion, the 43-year-old uploaded a photo of herself sporting a black bikini as she lounged in a pool with a trendy inflatable white swan floating nearby.



Fittingly, the actress captioned the photo: "Pool time #hm #ilovesummer."







It seems Vergara was gearing up for a small party as she uploaded both a shot of an outdoor table set for eight with the caption, "BBQ" and a picture of a few servings of lemon sorbet.





I make them work A photo posted by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara) on Jun 19, 2016 at 12:18pm PDT







BBQ A photo posted by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara) on Jun 19, 2016 at 8:02pm PDT





"It's ready," she captioned a picture of two Swan inflatables  one gold and one white.



Vergara's figure-flaunting bikini photo is nothing new, though. The actress has long had one of the most enviable figures in Hollywood and she's managed to keep it that way  even if she doesn't consider herself a cardio bunny.





Its ready A photo posted by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara) on Jun 19, 2016 at 12:23pm PDT







Lemon sorbe#summerentertaiment A photo posted by Sofia Vergara (@sofiavergara) on Jun 19, 2016 at 9:09pm PDT





"I'm the first to admit that I hate wasting time in the gym  I'm not one of those people who spends hours on the treadmill or takes three spin classes a day," she told PEOPLE in April.



"When you work out smarter (and of course, eat healthy!), you'll love the way you look and feel and get the most out of your sweat sessions."





WATCH: Sofia Vergara's Sexiest Red Carpet Moments!

Vergara said that she goes for a healthy snack after her workouts.



"It's tempting to go eat something that's a little unhealthy as a reward, but instead of undoing all my hard work, I treat myself to a satisfying, healthy snack," she said.



"My go-to post-workout smoothie has chocolate protein powder, almond butter, coconut water and goji berries on top  it tastes like chocolate ice cream, but has none of the guilt!"
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 20, 2016 / Solar Alliance Energy, Inc. ('Solar Alliance') or (the 'Company') (TSX-V: SAN, OTCQB: SAENF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric Knutzen as Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Knutzen joins Solar Alliance with decades of finance experience, including assignments overseas in Sweden for the CPA firm of KPMG (formerly Deloitte in Sweden) and CFO for Lear Corporation AB with 3,500 employees and eight subsidiaries. Eric later co-founded a profitable consulting firm, bringing the firm within three years to 72 consultants, with offices in Sweden, England, Honolulu and Shanghai. Eric co-founded Green Energy Hawaii, LLC in 2005 and recently celebrated the opening of the "First Closed-loop Biomass-to-Energy Plant in the USA," supplying 12.4% of Kauai's energy. Mr. Knutzen is also familiar with public service, being appointed by the mayor of Kauai as Deputy Director of Finance. He is a Finance graduate of San Diego State University, where he also obtained his MBA.

"We're truly excited to have Eric Knutzen join our leadership team, as he is one of the pioneers in renewables, co-founding Green Energy Hawaii LLC back in 2005," said Solar Alliance Chairman and CEO Jason Bak. "Eric has extensive experience in corporate finance, project finance and renewable energy project development. His background in revenue generating and growth companies fits perfectly with Solar Alliance and will provide invaluable support for our expansion plans."

"It's an honor to join such a truly experienced leadership team at Solar Alliance," said Mr. Knutzen. "The sky's the limit as we strive to reach and beat each and every customer's expectations and grow Solar Alliance into a national solar energy provider."

Mr. Knutzen replaces Randy Strandt as CFO, who is leaving to pursue another opportunity.

"In Randy's short time with Solar Alliance he completed a key project, instituted a number of procedural changes and developed a key opportunity which places the Company in a much better position. I would like to thank Randy for his contributions and wish him the best at his next endeavor," concluded Jason Bak.

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Jason Bak

Chairman and CEO

For more information:

Solar Alliance

Myke Clark

Chief Marketing Officer

+1 (604) 288-9051

info@solaralliance.com

About Solar Alliance Energy Inc. (www.solaralliance.com)

Solar Alliance is a solar sales and marketing firm focused on residential solar installations. Our mission is to encourage the transition to an independent, distributed solar market through a strong management team that combines technical, sales, marketing and financial expertise. Solar Alliance is committed to an exceptional customer experience, effective marketing campaigns and superior lead generation in order to drive sales and generate value for shareholders. Since its inception in 2003, Solar Alliance has developed over 360 megawatts of renewable energy projects and subsequently sold them to utilities or large independent power producers, and has installed more than 2,000 residential solar systems in southern California. Solar Alliance is located in Vancouver, British Columbia and San Diego, California.

Statements in this news release, other than purely historical information, including statements relating to the Company's future plans and objectives or expected results, constitute Forward-looking statements. The words "would," "will," "expected" and "estimated" or other similar words and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different than those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: uncertainties related to the ability to raise sufficient capital, changes in economic conditions or financial markets, litigation, legislative or other judicial, regulatory and political competitive developments and technological or operational difficulties. Consequently, actual results may vary materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.

"Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release."

SOURCE: Solar Alliance Energy Inc.
New York (AFP) - The Solar Impulse 2 aircraft soared Tuesday on the second day of its marathon flight across the Atlantic, one of the most challenging legs of its historic sun-powered journey around the world.

The experimental plane, which took off from New York's John F. Kennedy airport on Monday, is being piloted by Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard, who is expected to spend between 90 and 110 hours crossing the Atlantic en route to Spain's Seville Airport.

After daybreak on Tuesday, the aircraft's batteries began recharging again, after soaring through the night sky powered by the energy stored in its 17,000 photo-voltaic cells.

The voyage marks the first solo transatlantic crossing in a solar-powered airplane and is expected to last up to four consecutive days, depending on weather.

The first day in Piccard's ocean-crossing saw whales cavorting in the waters beneath the plane, a gorgeous full moon in the nighttime sky, and more.

"You will not believe me, but to my right, I see an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean. Check it out!" Piccard wrote on the online blog he and fellow pilot Andre Borschberg have been keeping.

Piccard, who is taking catnaps during the marathon flight, has sounded exhausted but exhilarated by the challenge.

"Just got up from resting," he wrote on his Twitter account shortly after 0600 GMT, as day was breaking.

"Still a little tired but happy to see the sunrise while sitting in my little #Si2 home."

No heavier than a car but with the wingspan of a Boeing 747, Solar Impulse is being flown on its 22,000-mile (35,400-kilometer) trip in stages, with Piccard and his Swiss compatriot Borschberg taking turns at the controls of the single-seat plane.

Borschberg piloted the flight's final Pacific stage, a 4,000-mile flight between Japan and Hawaii that lasted 118 hours, smashing the previous record for the longest uninterrupted journey in aviation history.

The plane, now on the 15th leg of its east-west trip, set out on March 9, 2015 in Abu Dhabi, and has flown across Asia and the Pacific to the United States with the sun as its only source of power.

The plane typically travels at a mere 30 miles per hour, although its flight speed can double when exposed to full sunlight.
By Chris Michaud NEW YORK (Reuters) - An airplane powered solely by energy from the sun headed across the Atlantic early on Monday, on one of the longest legs of the first-ever flight around the globe without using a drop of fuel. The spindly, single-seat Solar Impulse 2 left John F. Kennedy International Airport at about 2:30 a.m. EDT on a trip expected to take up to 90 hours, the 15th leg of its round-the-world journey. Swiss aviators Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg have been taking turns piloting the plane, which has more than 17,000 solar cells built into wings whose span exceeds that of a Boeing 747, with Piccard at the controls for the transatlantic flight. The airplane's slow cruising speed, similar to that of a car, has required both men to take up meditation and hypnosis as part of training to stay alert for long periods. Solar Impulse 2 is due to land sometime on Thursday in Spain or France, with the precise location to be determined later depending on weather conditions, said Elizabeth Banta, a spokeswoman for the project team. The carbon-fiber, propeller-driven plane has four solar-powered engines and four batteries to store surplus energy. It weighs the same as a family car and can climb to 28,000 feet (8,500 m). The team behind Solar Impulse - part of a campaign to build support for clean energy technologies - hopes to complete the circumnavigation in Abu Dhabi, where the journey began in March 2015. Piccard and Borschberg completed a multi-flight crossing of the United States with an earlier version of the plane in 2013. Borschberg set an endurance record for the longest non-stop solo flight last July in a 118-hour trans-Pacific crossing from Japan to Hawaii. (Additional reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; editing by John Stonestreet)
NAIROBI (Reuters) - Somalia's al Shabaab militants killed five police officers in a border region in northeastern Kenya on Monday, the latest deadly incursion aimed at punishing Kenya for sending troops to Somalia. Al Shabaab said it was behind the attack. The group's military operations spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab told Reuters four officers were also wounded and a vehicle in their convoy was burned in the ambush by its fighters. The group has previously said it would continue attacks until Kenya withdraws troops from an African Union force fighting the militants in Somalia. "We condemn the attack by al Shabaab at Dimu this morning, five police officers killed," Mandera County Governor Ali Roba said on his Twitter account. Diplomats say Kenya's northeastern border with Somalia is a security weak spot, given the challenge of policing a long frontier, poor coordination between security services and a culture of corruption that allows those prepared to pay a bribe to pass unchallenged. Al Shabaab has targeted the Mandera region in the past. (Reporting by Neha Wadekar in Nairobi and Feisal Omar in Mogadishu; Writing by George Obulutsa and Edmund Blair; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
JOHANNESBURG, June 19 (Reuters)  South Africa flyhalf Pat Lambie will not be available for the third test against Ireland in Port Elizabeth due to concussion, the South African Rugby Union (SARU) said on Sunday. Lambie was knocked out by a high tackle early in the first test when Ireland beat the Springboks 26-20 in Cape Town, ruling him out of Saturdays second match at Ellis Park which South Africa won 32-26. Pat is still experiencing symptoms of concussion and because of that we cannot start the Return to Play Protocol, SARU said in a statement. Three other South African players will undergo scans on Monday. Loose forwards Duane Vermeulen (elbow) and Warren Whiteley (shoulder) and prop Trevor Nyakane (ankle) are doubtful for the deciding test in the series. Lock Lood de Jager, ruled out of the second test because of a calf injury, is still undergoing physiotherapy. (Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Ed Osmond)
By Tiisetso Motsoeneng

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African mobile phone operator MTN Group (MTNJ.J) named the head of Vodafone (VOD.L) Europe as its new CEO on Monday, bringing in an outsider with a risk management background less than two weeks after it agreed to a $1.7 billion (1.16 billion pound) fine to settle a dispute in Nigeria.

Rob Shuter, a South African national with a background in accounting, replaces Sifiso Dabengwa, who resigned last November after Nigeria imposed the fine, the latest in a series of disputes exposing governance issues at Africa's biggest mobile phone operator.

The telecommunications firm is trying to overhaul its corporate governance standards while looking for new revenue streams as competition hits profit margins in its key markets.

The Nigerian fine, originally set at $5.2 billion, was imposed after MTN missed a deadline to cut off users with unregistered SIM cards.

Nigerian authorities have been cracking down on unregistered cards on concerns they are being used for criminal activity in a country battling an insurgency by Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

MTN has also faced run-ins with authorities in other countries where it operates, including Uganda and Cameroon.

"MTN has weathered a rather difficult storm and will continue to review its governance and management operating structure," Executive Chairman Phuthuma Nhleko said in a statement, backing the appointment of Shuter.

Nhleko, who was appointed interim executive chairman following Dabengwa's resignation with an eye to renegotiating the fine in Nigeria, will revert to his role as non-executive chairman as soon as Shuter starts his new role by July 2017.

Shuter, who was head of investment banking at Standard Bank (SBKJ.J) and head of retail banking at Nedbank (NEDJ.J), has been CEO of Vodafone Netherlands since April 2012. In October 2015, his role was expanded to include the other European countries excluding the UK, Italy, Spain and Germany.

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Shares in MTN rose to as high as 151.70 rand shortly after the news, before giving all gains to trade nearly 1 percent lower at 143.30 rand. The blue chip JSE Top-40 index (.JTOPI) was up 1.2 percent.

Abax Investments, a Cape Town-based asset management firm that holds shares in MTN, welcomed the appointment.

"Given his background and track record wed be sure Rob will fit in very well at MTN," said Anthony Sedgwick, a founding member of Abax, with assets worth more than $5 billion.

Founded with the government's help after the end of apartheid in 1994, MTN was touted as one of South Africa's biggest corporate success stories.

But the company, which counted South Africa's deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa as a shareholder and board member until at least 2013, has been caught in the middle of controversies over its businesses in Iran, Syria and most recently in Nigeria.

In 2013, Turkish rival Turkcell unsuccessfully sued MTN for $4.2 billion, alleging it was a victim of corruption and bribery that caused it to lose an operating licence in Iran.

(Editing by James Macharia)
MADRID (Reuters) - The head of Spain's Socialist party, which has slipped to third place in polls ahead of parliamentary elections on Sunday, ruled out a coalition pact with either the center-right People's Party (PP) or the current leader of anti-austerity Podemos. Some polls have indicated that a coalition between the Socialists and Podemos could win enough seats to take a majority and end a six-month political deadlock. But Pedro Sanchez said in a radio interview on Monday: "We won't back or bet on any government led by the PP or (acting Prime Minister Mariano) Rajoy ... and (Podemos leader Pablo) Iglesias will not be prime minister." Sunday's ballot follows an election in December that left no single party able to form a government and led to a succession of inter-party talks that failed to produce a viable coalition. As it did six months ago, the PP is expected to win, but again falling well short of an overall majority. Polls have shown that a joint ticket between Podemos and United Left (Unidos Podemos or 'Together We Can') would likely overtake the Socialists this time around as the main contender for Rajoy's PP. Podemos finished third in the December ballot. Sanchez has previously baulked at joining with Podemos, mostly due to the far-left group's support for an independence referendum in Catalonia. He did not say whether he would be ready to back a coalition with Unidos Podemos not led by Iglesias, or if the Socialists would permit the PP to govern by abstaining in parliament. Rajoy, in a television interview on Monday, reiterated that the Socialists should either stand aside and allow the PP to govern or join forces in a two-party "grand coalition". (Reporting by Paul Day and Tomas Cobos; Editing by Julien Toyer and John Stonestreet)
After 2-year-old Lane Graves was dragged into the Seven Seas Lagoon by an alligator at Disney World last week, the conversation about gator safety at the amusement park has become a hot topic.



While Disney has posted new signage (and fences) warning guests about alligators and snakes in the area, one photographer just shared a chilling image that shows how discreet the reptiles can be, despite any prior warning of their presence.



Days after the Disney World incident, Rob Caizza took to Twitter, posting a photo taken in January of an alligator hiding among low cut grass and weeds just across the lake from the Grand Floridian, where the Nebraska toddler was attacked.



Although it's a clear, bright day, the animal is difficult to see.







Lane was taken into the water by the alligator on Tuesday night as he and his father played in about a foot of water at the Seven Seas Lagoon near the hotel at 9:30 p.m.





A photo I took of a 4 to 6 foot alligator in the grass outside Magic Kingdom right across from the Grand Floridian pic.twitter.com/KrFAhXrz10 a Rob Caizza (@raider4lf) June 15, 2016





After a one day search for the child, authorities recovered his body from the water.



On Sunday, the Graves family's church announced funeral plans for Lane, revealing that he will be buried in their hometown of Elkhorn, Nebraska in a private ceremony on Tuesday.



"Neither Melissa, myself or anyone from our family will be speaking publicly," dad Matt Graves said in a Saturday statement, "We simply cannot at this time."



The family's statement also asked that their privacy be respected.
(Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur have agreed to sign Southampton defensive midfielder Victor Wanyama for 11 million pounds ($16.11 million), British media reported on Monday. Wanyama heavily featured in the Premier League under Ronald Koeman, who was named Everton manager last week, making 29 starts as the club clinched sixth place to qualify for the Europa League. The 24-year-old, who picked up three red cards last season which led to a five-match suspension, had also been in talks with Spurs last year before the deal fell through. The Saints had hoped to tie down Wanyama to a new deal, with the player entering the final year of his contract, but British media reported that the Kenya international rejected the offers. Wanyama, who is due to undergo a medical, will become the first Southampton player to be reunited with manager Mauricio Pochettino since his arrival at White Hart Lane in 2014. Monday's deal also means Wanyama will become Tottenham's first signing during the close season, as Pochettino will look to build on last season's third place finish. (1 = 0.6827 pounds) (Reporting by Shravanth Vijayakumar in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Actor Anton Yelchin, who appeared in the Star Trek films and Terminator Salvation, died early Sunday morning in a "fatal traffic collision," his rep has confirmed to PEOPLE. He was 27.



"His family requests you respect their privacy at this time," Yelchin's representative said in a statement to PEOPLE.



The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed to PEOPLE that Yelchin's body was found pinned between a car and a gate at a home in Studio City, California. No cause of death has been declared yet while the coroner completes the autopsy. However, preliminary results were that he had head and chest injuries.



The medical examiner's office also said that it's believed the vehicle was not properly parked before Yelchin walked to the rear end of his vehicle and that the vehicle then rolled and pinned him between the car and gate. He was pronounced dead at 1:10 a.m. local time on Sunday.



Born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Yelchin and his family moved to the United States in 1989. His parents were celebrated Russian ice skaters Irina (nAe Korina) and Viktor Yelchin.



In a 2007 interview with PEOPLE, Yelchin talked about going back to Russia for the first time:



"Yeah, I was born in Russia and I haven't been back there," he said. "Like, I came here when I was 6 months old and that's it. So it's gonna be a crazy adventure, you know?"



In the same interview, Yelchin reflected on how he found beauty in the world.



"I sometimes faing hate people, that I faing hate this world sometimes, but at others I just sort of calm down and look around and it's a pretty incredible place," he said. "It's like, there's so much terror [a] in the world. There's so much crazy sa going on but at the same time, there are moments of such rare beauty. I think I stole that. That's a line from somewhere. But it's true.



"There are moments of something so beautiful like, people's interactions are so complex," he continued. "That's why I hate it when people say they're bored. You cannot be bored. This is not a world where boredom occurs, you know what I mean? This world is always crazy, it's always hard to deal with, it's always interesting."





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Star Trek Actor Anton Yelchin Killed at 27 in Freak Car Accident| Death, Anton Yelchin

He enrolled in the University of Southern California in 2007 to study film. Yelchin was also interested in music and photography, and documented the latter on Instagram.





nantasket #35mm #antonyelchin #egoist A photo posted by anton yelchin (@antonyelchinphoto) on Jun 16, 2016 at 6:16pm PDT





His last photo, a selfie during a trip to Nantasket, Massachusetts, was posted two weeks before his death.



Yelchin will appear this summer in the third entry in the rebooted Star Trek film, Star Trek Beyond.



In a 2009 interview with PEOPLE, Yelchin said he felt honored to play a part in such notable franchises.





Star Trek Actor Anton Yelchin Killed at 27 in Freak Car Accident| Death, Anton Yelchin

"It's bizarre. My past experience has been working on movies that take a month-and-a-half to shoot," he said. "Then, suddenly, I'm there for six or seven months. But, I look at them as really interesting, great characters. Both of these characters  Chekov and Kyle Reese [in Terminator Salvation]  are challenges because they have been these iconic, previous characters and previous performance that were great, and that established this legacy.



"So the challenge was to work with that legacy and to see how I could use it to inform my performance. It was just really interesting, and they were just really great characters to play, and I feel like I've been lucky to play them."



The actor's final film will be Thoroughbred, which he wrapped in Boston just two weeks before his death.



The project is a psychological thriller about a volatile friendship between two suburban teenage girls who discover that a murder might solve both of their problems. It will be released by Amazon and Roadside Attractions on Nov. 18.
The death of Anton Yelchin, whose body was found pinned between his car and a brick mailbox in Los Angeles, may have been caused by a faulty mechanism on the vehicle that was the subject of a recall, according to reports.

Yelchin, 27, was reportedly crushed to death after he had gotten out of his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo Saturday night.

His body was found by friends who came to his home at about 1 a.m. Sunday after he failed to show up for a meeting.

His car was still running and was in neutral gear when Yelchin was found, but foul play was not suspected, police said

Fiat Chrysler recalled more than 800,000 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokees, Chrysler 300s and Dodge Chargers that had Monostable shifter or E-shift transmission, according to a safety recall report filed in April.

[T]he existing strategies built into these vehicles to deter drivers from exiting the vehicle after failing to put the transmission into PARK have not stopped some from doing so, the report said, noting that drivers may believe their car had been put into park when it was actually in neutral, according to the report.

Read: 'Star Trek' Actor Anton Yelchin Killed in Freak Car Accident at Age 27

In doing so, they may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged, the report added.

NHTSA records claim that 121 crashes and 41 injuries have been linked to the shifter, with, "possible [driver] confusion over whether the vehicle had actually been put into park."

The company told owners it hoped to come up with a "permanent" remedy by the fourth quarter, Reuters reported.

Investigators have not established that the transmission in Yelchins Jeep was connected to his death, but NHTSA documents obtained by TMZ note that a recall notice was sent to the actor.

The recall notice for Yelchins SUV was sent out on May 14, 2016, noting drivers may inadvertently fail to achieve the PARK position before exiting, TMZ reported.

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Fiat Chrysler said on Monday it would probe the crash that killed Yelchin, with a spokesman telling Reuters that the company would conduct a "thorough investigation" of the incident. "It is premature to speculate on its cause at this time," he said.

Yelchin had risen to national fame after playing Chekov in the Star Trek reboot after gaining critical praise for his work in roles dating back to his childhood.

Read: At 82 This 'Star Trek' Actress Is Joining NASA Mission Months After Stroke

He moved from Russia to the U.S. as a baby with his parents, who were both successful figure skaters.

After a brief stint at his parents profession, a young Yelchin began taking acting classes.

I loved the improvisation part of it the most, because it was a lot like just playing around with stuff. There was something about it that I just felt completely comfortable doing and happy doing, he said in a 2011 interview with The Associated Press.

Though his father wanted him to pursue a college degree, Yelchins passion was in acting.

"[My father] still wanted me to apply to college and stuff, and I did," Yelchin said. "But this is what I wanted.

Yelchins family has requested privacy at this time.

Fiat Chrysler has not responded to InsideEdition.coms request for comment.

Watch: JJ Abrams Leads Tributes to 'Star Trek' Actor Anton Yelchin: 'You Weren't Here Nearly Long Enough'

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By Jonathan Stempel

June 20 (Reuters) - A federal judge said two Starbucks customers may pursue a lawsuit accusing the coffee chain of cheating patrons by underfilling lattes.

In a decision on Friday, U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson in San Francisco said the California plaintiffs may seek damages from Starbucks Corp in their proposed nationwide class action, including for fraud and false advertising.

Starbucks was accused of overcharging customers by systematically serving lattes that are 25 percent too small, based on a recipe it adopted in 2009 to save money on milk.

The plaintiffs, Siera Strumlauf of San Francisco and Benjamin Robles of Carlsbad, said Starbucks requires baristas to use pitchers for heating milk with etched "fill to" lines that are too low, and to leave 1/4 inch of free space in drink cups.

They said this shorts customers because Starbucks' cups for tall, grande and venti lattes hold exactly 12, 16 and 20 ounces.

"This is not a case where the alleged deception is simply implausible as a matter of law," Henderson wrote. "The court finds it probable that a significant portion of the latte-consuming public could believe that a 'Grande' contains 16 ounces of fluid."

Henderson did not rule on the case's merits. He dismissed three of the plaintiffs' eight claims against Seattle-based Starbucks, as well as their request for injunctive relief.

Starbucks spokesman Reggie Borges on Monday said the company believes the lawsuit is without merit and is prepared to defend itself against the remaining claims.

He also said that if a customer is not satisfied with how a beverage is prepared, "we will gladly remake it."

Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond on Monday to requests for comment.

The case is Strumlauf et al v. Starbucks Corp, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 16-01306.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Dan Grebler)
By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - A federal judge said two Starbucks customers may pursue a lawsuit accusing the coffee chain of cheating patrons by underfilling lattes. In a decision on Friday, U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson in San Francisco said the California plaintiffs may seek damages from Starbucks Corp in their proposed nationwide class action, including for fraud and false advertising. Starbucks was accused of overcharging customers by systematically serving lattes that are 25 percent too small, based on a recipe it adopted in 2009 to save money on milk. The plaintiffs, Siera Strumlauf of San Francisco and Benjamin Robles of Carlsbad, said Starbucks requires baristas to use pitchers for heating milk with etched "fill to" lines that are too low, and to leave 1/4 inch of free space in drink cups. They said this shorts customers because Starbucks' cups for tall, grande and venti lattes hold exactly 12, 16 and 20 ounces. "This is not a case where the alleged deception is simply implausible as a matter of law," Henderson wrote. "The court finds it probable that a significant portion of the latte-consuming public could believe that a 'Grande' contains 16 ounces of fluid." Henderson did not rule on the case's merits. He dismissed three of the plaintiffs' eight claims against Seattle-based Starbucks, as well as their request for injunctive relief. Starbucks spokesman Reggie Borges on Monday said the company believes the lawsuit is without merit and is prepared to defend itself against the remaining claims. He also said that if a customer is not satisfied with how a beverage is prepared, "we will gladly remake it." Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond on Monday to requests for comment. The case is Strumlauf et al v. Starbucks Corp, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 16-01306. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Dan Grebler)
The United States has something important to teach Europe about the migration crisis. Right now, though, Europe isnt listening.

Recently, I wrote about the deal that the European Union reached with Turkey to stanch the flow of refugees and, at least in theory, significantly improve their treatment in Turkey. But even as the EU-Turkey deal has drastically diminished the number of asylum-seekers coming through Turkey, and thus the death toll in the Aegean, the numbers dying on the route from Libya to Italy have shot up. From Jan. 1 to June 12, according to the International Organization for Migration, 2,438 migrants died on that route, 650 more than died in the first six months of 2015. Tens of thousands more have been pulled from the sea.

The United States has no lessons to offer on refugees, having accepted only 2,805 Syrians since last fall, but it does have something to offer on the equally vexed problem of illegal migration. And many of the people setting sail from Libya are Africans fleeing misery, rather than Syrians or Iraqis fleeing war. That is, they are migrants, not refugees.

One thing Americans know is that the politics of migration can be lethal, no matter what the facts. Over the past several years, stopping illegal immigration became a rallying cry, first for the Tea Party, and then for Donald Trump, even as the actual problem had slowed to a trickle. Illegal crossings from Mexico are now at a 40-year low. Advocates of increased migration came to recognize that they would never get anywhere unless they reassured voters that borders were under control. The administration of President Barack Obama has gone to great  at times grotesque  lengths to offer such reassurance, deporting unprecedented numbers of illegal immigrants and treating women and children fleeing violence in Central America as economic migrants rather than refugees. The 2013 immigration reform bill paired an increase in visas with a massive investment in border security. The fact that the bill was ultimately killed in the House after passing the Senate easily shows how toxic the issue remains: Perhaps no amount of enforcement is enough to reassure an angry and fearful public.

Europeans dont need to be told about the poisonous effect of migration flows on national politics: Anger over migration may propel Great Britain out of the European Union this week. But the American lesson is that political leaders will not be able to move publics to embrace sensible reform so long as migrants themselves seem to be dictating national policy. Demetrios Papademetriou, former president of the U.S. think tank Migration Policy Institute and a leading scholar on the issue, says, You must demonstrate to your populace that you are choosing most of the people who are coming to your country to give the public a sense that the government is in control. This premise may be put to the test in the U.S. presidential election: If Trump can ride fear of the outsider to victory, then immigration advocates will have to admit that no amount of reassurance will be enough.

This was the premise of the EU deal with Turkey, which German Chancellor Angela Merkel hoped would lower public anger enough to help other European leaders adopt more generous policies toward refugees (though not migrants), as Germany has. The deal has hardly mollified the advocate community: Medecins Sans Frontieres recently announced that it would no longer accept funds from the EU over disgust with the refugee deal, which a spokesman said was not aimed at providing for those most in need, but at border control. Sara Tesorieri, a migration advocate with Oxfam International, told me that Europe needs more migrants, not less, and that the dangers presented by right-wing parties had been exaggerated.

But this is NGO dreamland: So long as democratic publics dont want to admit more migrants, leaders wont be able to do so without risking a devastating right-wing backlash.

It remains to be seen whether European leaders will use the modest political space theyve won to improve the plight of would-be refugees in Turkey, and to resettle more of them in Europe. But when it comes to those coming through Africa, no such possibility even presents itself. Libya, the jumping-off point for many of them, has no functioning government and cannot keep any promises it might make. The only way that Europe can save these migrants from exploitation and death is to use stepped-up deterrence and interdiction to convince them that illegal migration wont work, though at the same time those who seek refugee status must be given the right to press their claims.

Europe cannot build a wall across the Mediterranean; the barrier will consist chiefly of boats. Last summer, after 700 migrants drowned off the Italian island of Lampedusa, the EU mounted Operation Sophia, a naval mission designed to disrupt smuggling networks and rescue migrants at sea. Since then, the operation has saved over 9,000 lives; but it has not been able to break up smuggling networks or affect the flow of migrants from Libya. The EU will have to do a better job of coordinating the effort of member states, increase the fleet, and perhaps gain permission from Libya to operate in Libyan waters. The EU should copy the example of Spain, which runs its own very robust naval operation in the western Mediterranean. The Spanish government has given substantial assistance to police authorities in Morocco, Algeria, and Mauretania, which have helped sharply reduce migration.

Last year, the EU authorized the funding of a 1.8 billion (about $2.04 billion) Emergency Trust Fund for Africa. The funds will go toward bolstering enforcement efforts and encouraging job growth and good governance in 23 immigrant-exporting countries, including such desperate cases as South Sudan and Somalia. The goal is to convince those countries that halting immigration is in their interest as well as Europes. Will that work? Papademetriou, who negotiated these issues as a Labor Department official in the George H.W. Bush administration, warns that Europes modest promises look feeble compared with the vast, long-term effort required to persuade Mexico to enforce border controls. He also observes that emigration from Mexico only subsided after 30 years, when the growth of a middle class and enhanced rule of law significantly improved local economic prospects (and when a U.S. recession made the alternative seem less attractive). Papademetriou suggests that, rather than trying to deal with dozens of African states, many of them vast and feckless, the EU focus its resources on a few more stable nations, such as Morocco and Tunisia.

What Europe can offer migrants  though only a fraction of those who want to come  are legal, temporary pathways to employment. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has argued that migrants fill both high- and low-skill niches and contribute far more to economies than they take. Nevertheless, the only major EU-wide initiative on legal migrant labor, the Blue Card for highly skilled workers, has failed to recruit large numbers of people, is hopelessly fragmented among member countries, and offers almost nothing to the less-educated migrants trying to reach Europe.

In this regard, Europe is far behind the United States. Although a political stalemate has kept the United States from developing a sane immigration policy, it has nevertheless developed innumerable ways to bring in foreign workers required by the domestic labor market, whether in the form of H1B visas for highly skilled workers or the vast program to import seasonal labor at harvest time. European and U.N. bodies are exploring these alternative pathways to legal and temporary migration.

It seems cruel to focus on deterrence and interdiction rather than on absorbing migrants desperate for a better life. Yet migrants are not refugees. States have an obligation under international law to offer asylum to refugees; they accept migrants as a matter of national self-interest. Of course its hard to draw a moral distinction between an Ethiopian seeking to escape a life with no prospects and a Syrian fleeing Islamic extremists. But absent such distinctions, Europe could be legally obliged to accept tens of millions of asylum-seekers. Migrants have a right to a refugee hearing, but Europe must commit the resources to establish interview centers in Africa and streamline an agonizingly slow process.

Whats more, while brave stateswomen like Angela Merkel can inspire citizens to rise above their fears, political leaders wont get far so long as European publics believe, rightly or wrongly, that their sovereignty is at risk. Put more bluntly, the only way to do something that will be in the long-term interest of both Europeans and African migrants is to do something right now that will look harsh, and will doubtless anger many advocates like Medecins Sans Frontieres.

Something very large is at stake here: the identity of Europe in a new age of mass mobility. The nativists want to magically return to the all-white, all-Christian culture of the 1950s. Activists on the left seem to take the position that people should be able to move where they wish, and that states should not have the sovereign right to decide who will live and work within their borders. In either case, Europe as we know it today  liberal, tolerant, free-thinking, and multicultural  would cease to exist. Immigration reform in Europe, like immigration reform in the United States, must mean harnessing the energy and ambition of new people while reassuring citizens that the nation is acting in the name of collective self-interest. Angela Merkel hasnt yet found the key. Neither has Barack Obama. If they fail, the answer may be given by the likes of Donald Trump.

Photo credit: SEAN GALLUP/Getty Images
Stocks are in rally mode as opinion polls shift toward remaining in the European Union. British residents head to the polls Thursday to vote on whether to stay or not to stay in the E.U. A big move in the polls happened in the weekend with unity in Europe, gaining traction, however the polls are still very close. Facebook (FB) is holding its annual shareholder meeting today and the biggest news may involve one of its board members. Peter Thiel, generated a barrage of headlines over his secret funding of a lawsuit against Gawker media. Thiel bankrolled the Hulk Hogan suit against the provocative online media group and it was revealed after the verdict was reached. The board of Facebook has also engineered a structure that puts founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg on control of its destiny. The switch from American Express (AXP) to Visa (V) for Costco (COST) membership credit cards goes live today. Shoppers can use Visa to pay for items as well as cash or check. Last year, the retail giant signed an exclusive agreement with Citigroup to provide Costco-branded Visa credit cards for Customers, ending its 16 year relationship with American Express.
(Reuters) - A tropical depression over the Gulf of Mexico was expected to strengthen to a tropical storm before coming ashore in southeastern Mexico on Monday and bringing torrential rains that could cause life-threatening mudslides and flash floods. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said that at 8 p.m. EDT, Tropical Depression Four was 275 miles (285 km) east-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph). The storm system will be named Danielle if it reaches sustained tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph (63 kph). It was moving at 8 mph (13 kph) and was due to reach the Mexican shore by 1 p.m. EDT on Monday, just north of Veracruz, a city of more than 400,000 people. The NHC said the storm would produce total rainfall in the area of 6 to 10 inches (15 cm to 25 cm), with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches (38 cm) possible in higher terrain over the Mexican states of Veracruz, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, Queretaro, Hidalgo, and northern Puebla. "These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides," the Miami-based center said. (Reporting by Sandra Maler in Washingon; Editing by Peter Cooney)
As awareness spreads and stigma declines, college students are demanding more resources and support for mental health on campus.

For LGBT students and students of color the need is acute. Advocates are finding they have to dig deeper to satisfy a growing desire for counselors attuned to the groups unique concerns. With more students of colormany of them first-generation college studentsattending college than ever, according to the U.S. Department of Education, campus psychologists face a greater variety of issues to handle.

RELATED: Good Luck Getting a Therapist If You're Black or Working Class

The JED Foundation, an organization that works to improve emotional health on college campuses, conducted a survey to measure the experiences of first-year white, black, and Latino students at colleges across the U.S. Asked how emotionally prepared they felt for college, 35 percent of white students responded positively, compared with 23 percent of black students (Latinos were not surveyed on this question). A survey on LGBT student mental health by Active Minds, which works to destigmatize mental disorders and illnesses, reports that 50.5 percent of LGBT studentscompared with 68.5 percent of their heterosexual peersfelt positive about their future.

Experiencing harassment, discouragement, and violence on the basis of identity can be contributing factors in mental health. Having counselors who share those experiences or specialize in working with those issues helps students feel more at ease, said Maggie Bertram, the assistant director of training and education at Active Minds, who identifies as lesbian.

If I were to seek a therapist," Bertram said, "I seek someone who is either LGBT or specializes in LGBT issues. Thats who I want to go see because from my point of view, that person has a better sense of what it means to live as a member of this community and the sense of marginalization that happens.

Over the past year, students across the United States have issued demands for diverse counseling staff trained to handle issues in multicultural communities, with some schools requesting specific numbers of staff.

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According to the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors annual report on college counseling services internationally, the makeup of clinical staff is 72.2 percent white, 10.2 percent black, 7.4 percent Asian, 6.7 percent Latino, 2 percent multiracial, 1 percent other, and 0.5 percent Native American.

College students are more diverse in racial makeup. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, white students account for 55.6 percent of the population, while 15.8 percent are Latino and 13.8 percent are black. The demands, supported by antiracism activist group WeTheProtesters, follow violence in and against black communities and ask for support for black students on campus.

Hiring is where it gets tricky. While students want to mobilize and enact change, they usually arent included on hiring committees for campus administrators and staff. According to Kevin Sabo, the president of the University of California Student Association, Californias Proposition 209, which ended affirmative action in enrollment at public universities in the state, also ended the practice in hiring of faculty and staff. We cant say we want to hire [people of color], he said.

Administrators concerned that psychologists will leave for better job prospects try to offer retention options, but that can be a challenge in a competitive field, Sabo said. We have to do targeted recruitment. At more rural campuses like U.C. Merced, how can we make sure we dont lose psychologists to prisons out there? he said, referring to the extensive prison network in Californias Central Valley. Theres more money in the [prison system], and were trying to do the best we can with Prop. 209.

While activists campaign for the services needed on todays diverse campuses, advocates try to connect students to the services that exist. Stigmatization of mental health can make it difficult for people to seek treatment. Having psychological services in heavily trafficked areas of campus could keep students from visiting counselors, Sabo said. Students who feel like their peers dont support them need that extra support to feel like they belong on campus.

Belonging can take a lot of different forms, so when a community rallies around a person, that can be a protective factor, Bertram said. When a community offers access to all students to care that is of high quality, and theres enough to go around, thats a protector, and thats the community rallying around that person.

Fixing these disparities is an important component to changing campus cultures and attitudes toward mental health, Bertram said. From the student side, if youre an ally or a member of one of these communities, you need to be advocating on behalf of the cultural and climate needs," she said. "The counseling intervention is really, really important, and any student on the campus should feel comfortable with something that is available and welcoming to students on any given campus.

Donate: Give to NAMI, and Support Access to Better Mental Health Services

Related stories on TakePart:





 'There's So Much Shame': Why We Need to Talk About Veteran Mental Health

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Original article from TakePart
In a move that will further solidify StudioCanals burgeoning family franchise, the pan-Euro film giant has acquired all intellectual property rights, apart from publishing, to Michael Bonds classic Paddington Bear series from Paddington and Company LTD. StudioCanal has also acquired The Copyrights Group LTD, which serves as the merchandising licensing agent for Paddington Bear, as well as other famous literary properties.

Paddington, produced by Harry Potter uber-producer David Heyman, was StudioCanals biggest ever hit. The first installment of the big-screen adaptation of Bonds marmalade-loving bear from deepest, darkest Peru was also StudioCanals biggest-ever bet  the company fully financed the $55 million picture  and its biggest success with worldwide grosses of $290 million. The sequel, currently in development, had buyers rushing to StudioCanals sales offices in Cannes.

Locking down the IP and merchandising rights puts StudioCanal in pole position to make a mint out of the property moving forward. Paddington Bear merchandise is a huge business, especially in the UK. With global awareness of the brand now growing thanks to the success of the film series, owning those properties could prove a lucrative business. StudioCanal execs cannily used a Paddington Bear cuddly toy to promote the film during the Berlin premiere of George Clooney-starrer The Monuments Men. Hugh Bonneville, who starred in both films, managed to convince the likes of Clooney and Bill Murray to pose with Paddington while tub-thumping their own pic.

Paddington has been a very important part of my life since the publication of my fathers first book, A Bear Called Paddington, exactly two months after I was born, said Karen Jankel, owner and Managing Director of Paddington and Company. For our family this is about so much more than selling a company but, as StudioCanal have already proved with the wonderful first film, they are more than capable of looking after Paddington. So we couldnt be more delighted that it is they who will be taking on the mantle of his guardianship and I feel confident that he will be in a very safe pair of paws.

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Jankel will retain a consultancy role on the future creative development of the brand in association with the team at The Copyrights Group Limited, which has repped Paddington since 1984. Bond will also continue to work closely with StudioCanal as regards the publishing rights which he retains. Harvey Unna and Stephen Durbridge (1975) Limited, which has represented all of the media rights in Paddington for the last 40 years is also part of the Studiocanal acquisition.

Following this success, we shall continue to develop Paddington, who is already a familiar feature in millions of homes worldwide, said StudioCanal chief exec Didier Lupfer. This will start with a second chapter of Paddingtons movie adventures, the shooting of which is to start this autumn. Beyond cinema, Paddington will benefit from the full strength of a media and entertainment group of Vivendis size, with a presence in television, music, live entertainment, video games and the digital world. Paddington is a 58 year old classic brand, and we shall continue to make it grow still further.

Other properties controlled by The Copyrights Group include Raymond Briggs The Snowman, Father Christmas and Fungus The Bogeyman characters and The Country Diary Of An Edwardian Lady.

The sellers were repped by ACF Investment Bank and Charles Russell Speechlys. StudioCanal was repped by Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.

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By Jessica Toonkel and Dan Levine

(Reuters) - Viacom Inc (VIAB.O) controlling stockholder Sumner Redstone called it "offensive and untrue" to suggest that he was unduly influenced by his daughter to remove Viacom Chief Executive Officer Philippe Dauman from a trust overseeing his shares, according to a court filing.

Redstone submitted to a Massachusetts court an affidavit made under oath on Monday in an effort to move litigation over his decisions to a California court from Massachusetts.

The 93-year-old media mogul, who has trouble speaking and needs around-the-clock care, last month removed Dauman and board member George Abrams from the seven-person trust that will control Redstone's majority ownership of media companies Viacom and CBS Corp (CBS.N) when he dies or is deemed incapacitated.

Dauman and Abrams shot back with their own Massachusetts lawsuit contesting their removal from the trust and from the board of National Amusements Inc, Redstone's privately held movie theater company through which he owns 80 percent of the voting shares of CBS and Viacom. In their suit, they claimed that Redstone is not mentally competent and has been manipulated by his daughter.

I understand that Philippe Dauman and George Abrams contend that I was unduly influenced by my daughter to remove them as trustees and directors. That is offensive and untrue. I want that dispute, and any challenge to my competency, to be decided in Los Angeles California, Redstone said in his affidavit.

In a statement, Dauman said the court filing from Redstone's attorneys "represent continued efforts to avoid a fair inquiry into Sumner's well-being."

In May, Redstone defeated a similar mental competency lawsuit brought by an ex-girlfriend in a Los Angeles state court. That case had lasted several months before Redstone eventually stated his wishes under oath. Once he did, the judge quickly dismissed the case.

The outcome of the court case, and who ends up with control over the trust, will have wide-ranging implications for Viacom and CBS shareholders and could result in changes at the top of both companies, possibly through mergers and acquisitions.

A hearing on the motion to dismiss is scheduled for June 30 in Probate and Family Court in Canton, Massachusetts.

(Reporting by Jessica Toonkel in New York and Dan Levine in San Francisco; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
By Lawrence Hurley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday widened the ability of prosecutors to use evidence obtained by police during an unlawful stop against a defendant in court in a case involving a Utah man who a narcotics detective found carrying illegal drugs.

The 5-3 decision threw out a lower court's ruling that key evidence against Edward Strieff, convicted of methamphetamine possession and a related drug charge, was inadmissible because an officer obtained it in violation of the U.S. Constitution's Fourth Amendment ban on unreasonable searches and seizures.

Three of the court's liberals dissented, saying the decision gave too much power to the police at the expense of individual rights. Liberal Stephen Breyer joined the court's four conservatives in the ruling, written by Justice Clarence Thomas.

Strieff's lawyers contended that his constitutional rights had been violated because, although there was an existing warrant for his arrest, narcotics detective Douglas Fackrell did not know that when he stopped Strieff in a South Salt Lake City parking lot.

In a blistering dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that while Strieff is white, "it is no secret that people of color are disproportionate victims of this type of scrutiny."

"The court today holds that the discovery of a warrant for an unpaid parking ticket will forgive a police officer's violation of your Fourth Amendment rights," she added.

In the 2006 incident at the heart of the case, Fackrell stopped Strieff after seeing him leave a residence that an anonymous tipster had said was being used by drug dealers.

After asking for his identification, the detective realized there was an outstanding warrant for Strieff's arrest. He then arrested Strieff and searched him, finding a baggie of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Thomas, writing for the court, said Fackrell was "at most negligent" and that his mistakes were made in good faith.

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The evidence obtained from the search was admissible at trial because the discovery of the existing warrant weakened the link between the unlawful stop and the search, Thomas said.

The court previously had allowed evidence from illegal searches in certain other situations, particularly when the police officer acted in good faith.

During the February argument in the case, Sotomayor said a ruling favoring the police would disproportionately impact localities where a large number of people have outstanding arrest warrants such as Ferguson, Missouri, where a white policeman killed an unarmed black 18-year-old in 2014, sparking protests.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham)
By refusing to hear a Second Amendment challenge to a Connecticut gun law, the Supreme Court delivered an important and timely victory on Monday to gun control advocates who are now pressing their case on Capitol Hill. The law was passed originally in the wake of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre of two dozen young children and adult educators.

The High Court let stand Connecticuts stringent state law making it a crime to purchase or sell semi-automatic, military-style rifles with high-capacity magazines, such as the AR-15s and AK-47s. Those rifles are comparable to the weapon used by Omar Mateen, the homegrown terrorist and self-proclaimed ISIS supporter who shot and killed 49 people and wounded 53 others at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida June 12.

Related: Trump seeks to clarify comments on guns at Orlando nightclub

The ruling  which was in line with other recent lower court decisions giving states and localities wide berth to restrict gun sales -- will have little direct bearing on the outcome of votes in the Senate today. Even as Connecticut, New York and five other states and the District of Columbia have banned certain types of assault weapons, congressional Republicans, under enormous pressure from the gun lobby, have stubbornly opposed any renewal of a federal assault weapons ban that expired in September 2002.

Partisan Views of Gun Control Proposals | Graphiq

It has been eight years since the Supreme Court recognized an individuals right to keep guns at home for self-defense, in the District of Columbia v. Heller case, which eviscerated sections of the citys unusually strict local law. Since then, however, the justices have said practically nothing about the scope of that right to own fire arms  leaving it up to the states and localities.

From a psychological standpoint, if no other, todays Supreme Court ruling gives added impetus to a growing movement to address glaring inadequacies and loopholes in federal gun laws following an epidemic of mass killings on U.S. soil, at schools, universities, a black church, a military installation, businesses and now  most recently  the Pulse night club in Orlando.

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The Senate is scheduled to take up four major proposals today  two offered by Democrats seeking to actually toughen gun laws and two by Republicans designed primarily to deflect criticism of their partys alliance with the gun lobby without appreciatively discouraging gun enthusiasts from continuing to purchase the highly lethal weapons.

Related: Heres Why Gun Control Isnt Going Anywhere in Congress

While it is unlikely that supporters will be able to muster the minimum 60 votes needed to reach cloture and pass any of the four measures, the action could end up sparking compromise between Democrats and more moderate Republicans. The Wall Street Journal reported that Republican Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Kelly Ayotte of Maine, among others, will unveil a bipartisan proposal today that would keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists.

Democrats have been on the defensive for years in arguing in favor of gun control measures since a spate of gun legislation in the 1990s drew major backlash from the gun lobby and their allies on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, while President Obama repeatedly says he has grown weary of consoling the families of victims of mass gun shootings, congressional Republicans and the National Rifle Association continue to insist that curtailing gun sales would make no difference while abridging Americans Second Amendment rights.

However, national polls indicate that a majority of Americans believe gun laws should be stricter. And the horrific Orlando shootings quickly transformed the national debate from simply one of how far the federal government can go in limiting gun enthusiasts right to bear arms to what must be done to protect Americans from additional domestic terrorism.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other GOP leaders initially resisted the Democrats call for debate and action on new gun control measures after the mayhem in Orlando, arguing that the proposals being advanced  including those to prevent the sale of guns to people listed on government terrorist and no-fly lists  were impractical or misguided.

Related: Clinton and Trump in Rare Agreement on Gun Restrictions

Democrats including presumptive presidential nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, immediately seized on the Orlando tragedy as an opening to reframe the gun control debate as one of national security and anti-terrorism. Just a day after the night club shootings, Clinton told CNN that Mateen used a weapon of war to kill his victims.

Surprisingly, presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump briefly appeared to break with his party last week by signaling support for an outright ban on gun sales to people on terror watch lists. Trump announced that he would meet with NRA officials to discuss his views.

However, in a telephone interview with CBSs Face the Nation on Sunday, a chastened Trump seemed to change his mind. Rather than distancing himself from the gun lobby, Trump said he was working closely with the NRA and that the organization has the best interests of our country at heart.

Murphy, who joined the Senate only days after the Sandy Hook shootings, forced McConnells hand to allow votes today by staging a nearly 15-hour late night filibuster. Murphy is calling for extending requirements for personal background checks of prospective gun buyers from just gun stores and other retailers to on-line sites and gun shows. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WVA) and Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) pressed for a similar, bipartisan plan in 2013 but failed to gather enough votes to break a filibuster.

Meanwhile, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) is co-sponsoring an amendment that would authorize the attorney general to deny firearms or explosives to any suspected terrorist whose name turns up on a government terrorist list or no-fly list. Mateen was investigated by the FBI in 2013 and 2014 and was placed on the terror watch list, according to media reports. However, his name was subsequently removed from the list after federal investigators failed to come up with evidence linking him to specific terrorist activities or wrongdoing.

Related: Top Advisor Says Trump Might Support New Gun Restrictions

A Quinnipiac University poll that was conducted after the mass shootings by a Muslim couple in San Bernardino last December found that 83 percent of voters were in favor of banning gun purchases for people on a government terrorist watch list. However, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) argues that Feinsteins amendment might unfairly prevent people from buying a gun if they were mistakenly placed a terrorist watch list, or mistakenly suspected of being linked to terrorist groups.

Veteran Republican Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) is backing the fourth amendment that will be considered today. That one would boost funding for the agency that runs background checks for gun purchasers. But it would not expand mandatory background checks for prospective gun buyers seeking weapons on the internet or at unlicensed and unregulated gun shows.

Top Reads from The Fiscal Times:
By Lawrence Hurley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a group of black South Africans seeking to revive human rights litigation aiming to hold Ford Motor Co and IBM Corp liable for allegedly conducting business that helped perpetuate racial apartheid.

The justices left in place a 2015 ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York that favored the two companies. That court decided that the plaintiffs failed to show that there was a close connection between decisions made or actions taken by Ford and IBM in the United States to killings, torture and other human rights abuses that took place in South Africa from the 1970s to early 1990s.

Ford was accused of providing military vehicles for South African security forces and sharing information about anti-apartheid and union activists. IBM was accused of providing technology and training to perpetuate racial separation and the "denationalization" of black South Africans.

Apartheid refers to South Africa's former white-minority government's policy of segregating and oppressing the majority black population from 1948 to 1994.

The plaintiffs, led by Lungisile Ntsebeza, sued more than a decade ago under the Alien Tort Statute, a 1789 U.S. law that lets non-U.S. citizens seek damages in American courts for human rights abuses abroad.

But the U.S. Supreme Court significantly narrowed the reach of that law in 2013, leading U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin in 2014 to dismiss the South African plaintiffs' case.

Germany's Daimler AG and Rheinmetall AG were dismissed as defendants in the case in 2013. Dozens of other companies were previously dismissed.

Apartheid ended in 1994 when South Africa held its first all-race elections, bringing Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress to power.

(Additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel)
On Monday, the United States Supreme Court refused two appeals from Connecticut and New York that asked for assault-weapons ban laws in those states to be reconsidered.

Without comment, the eight Justices denied the appeals in Shew v. Malloy (the Connecticut case) and Kampfer v. Cuomo (the New York case), which involved gun-control laws passed after the 2012 Newtown, Connecticut, mass shootings.

Related Story: Is there a constitutional right to have a rapidly firing assault gun?

The Connecticut law focuses on the sale or possession of semi-automatic weapons with detachable magazines and other features. It banned nearly 200 types of weapons. The New York law is similar.

The Court denied a similar appeal back in December 2015 when Justice Antonin Scalia was still sitting on the bench, in the case of Friedman v. City of Highland Park. The Court also didnt explain its reasoning in turning aside the Highland Park case, and its denial didnt create any new precedent on assault-weapon laws outside of the area of the Seventh Circuit Court.

A total of seven states and a few cities now have similar bans on the books, and so far none of those has been struck down in a final ruling, although a ban enacted in Maryland has been under a constitutional cloud because of a federal appeals courts initial reaction to it. In the Maryland case, a three-judge panel upheld using a strict constitutional test favored by gun-rights activist. A full court is considering that test in an appeal.

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By Lawrence Hurley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday left in place the top Illinois court's ruling throwing out a huge $10.1 billion verdict against Philip Morris USA, rejecting an appeal focusing on accusations that a judge in the case was biased in favor of the cigarette maker.

Plaintiffs in the case said Lloyd Karmeier, an elected member of the Illinois Supreme Court, should have stepped aside because he made statements during his 2014 election campaign criticizing the judgment and had received campaign contributions from a group partly funded by Philip Morris.

The justices rejected the appeal without comment.

The state high court's decision voided one of the largest U.S. verdicts against a tobacco company related to smoking and tobacco-smoke exposure, which the U.S. surgeon general estimates causes 480,000 premature deaths annually in the country.

The U.S. Supreme Court previously had put the matter on hold while it decided a Pennsylvania case also focusing on whether a state Supreme Court justice should have stepped aside.

The court ruled on June 9 that Pennsylvania's former top judge should have recused himself from the death penalty case. As a senior prosecutor earlier in his career, the judge had authorized seeking capital punishment against the defendant in the case, but refused to recuse himself when the state's Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty against the man.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel; Editing by Will Dunham)
By Lawrence Hurley and Andrew Chung

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court on Monday ruled against Cuozzo Speed Technologies Corp in its challenge to a federal agency's procedures for canceling patents in a case involving a vehicle speedometer that tells drivers when they are speeding.

The justices' 8-0 decision backed a 2015 appeals court ruling that upheld the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's invalidation of New Jersey-based Cuozzo's speedometer patent.

The legal question was whether the federal agency's procedures have made it too easy to successfully cancel patents. In an opinion by Justice Stephen Breyer, the court backed the process.

Cuozzo's speedometer patent was invalidated in a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office review procedure after being challenged by GPS device maker Garmin Ltd (GRMN.O) in 2012.

The Patent and Trademark Office's director, Michelle Lee, said in a statement that the decision will allow the agency to efficiently resolve disputes over patent validity "while providing faster, less expensive alternatives to district court litigation."

Despite Cuozzo's loss, its attorney, Garrard Beeney, said the case has already contributed to "more balanced" outcomes at the patent office, with more patent owners prevailing in the reviews.

Companies that are frequent targets of patent suits, including Apple Inc (AAPL.O) and Google Inc (GOOGL.O), have taken advantage of the patent office procedure, known as inter partes review (IPR), in unexpectedly high numbers since it was put in place in 2012.

The U.S. Congress created the reviews as part of a 2011 law called the America Invents Act to deal with the perceived high number of poor-quality patents that had been issued by the patent office in prior years.

Cuozzo was supported by several industry groups and companies. One friend-of-the-court brief filed in the case on behalf of 3M Co (MMM.N), Caterpillar Inc (CAT.N), Eli Lilly and Co (LLY.N) and Qualcomm Inc (QCOM.O) said the patent office reviews and litigation in district court needed to be streamlined for the "proper functioning of the patent system as a whole."

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On Monday, the Supreme Court also ruled that patent office decisions to initiate reviews may not be appealed. Justices Samuel Alito and Sonia Sotomayor dissented on that part of the decision, saying appeals should be allowed.

The cancellation of Cuozzo's patent came in the first-ever petition for an IPR. Garmin's action was in response to a lawsuit filed by Cuozzo in federal court in 2012. Garmin is no longer involved in the case.

The case is In re Cuozzo Speed Technologies LLC v Michelle K. Lee, in the Supreme Court of the United States, No. 15-446.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham)
Kino Lorber has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to Keith Maitlands animated documentary Tower, which won SXSWs Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award for best documentary feature.

The film explores the tragic story of Americas first mass school shooting, where lone gunman Charles Whitman climbed a clock tower at the University of Texas in 1966, shooting 49 people and killing 17.

Kino Lorber will release Tower on Oct. 12 at New Yorks Film Forum, to be followed by a national rollout, marking the 50th anniversary of the shooting. The company is also mounting an aggressive awards campaign for the documentary.

Tower, executive produced by Meredith Vieira and Luke Wilson, had its world premiere at SXSW in March. It has won awards at festivals including Dallas International, Montclair, RiverRun, and DeadCenter Film Festival.

Director Keith Maitland mixes archival footage with rotoscopic animation to create a dynamic, never-before-seen combination. Variety named Keith Maitland to its list of 10 Documakers to Watch.

Justin Chang said in his SXSW review for Variety that the film is a gripping dramatic reconstruction, a tribute to the heroes and the fallen, and inevitably an expression of nostalgia for the days when a mass shooting still had the power to shock.

Producers include Megan Gilbride and Susan Thomson. Executive producers are Steve Eckelman, Amy Rapp, Sandy Boone, Louis Black, Pamela Colloff and Lois Vossen.

Tower is that rarest of documentaries, seamlessly melding artistry and advocacy, said Richard Lorber, CEO of Kino Lorber, In Keiths brilliant filmic strategy animation distances us from the numbing historical reality that began as a painful unprecedented news event. Watching this graceful, immersive work of art, we let down our defenses to fully absorb the meaning of the nightmare and deeply feel the emotions of his characters.

Linzee Troubh of Cinetic negotiated the sale with Kino Lorbers Wendy Lidell. Cinetic will launch international sales for the film at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

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Beirut (AFP) - Syrian journalists who have sought refuge in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey remain in danger despite having fled war and hostility in their homeland, a media rights watchdog said Monday.

Both local and foreign journalists are considered legitimate targets in Syria, where regime forces, rebels, jihadists and Kurds are fighting over a country ripped apart by five years of conflict.

Those who have escaped Syria face oppression from the authorities in their host countries as well as other types of "predator," said Reporters Without Borders.

"Hundreds of professional and non-professional journalists have fled the country because they were exposed to both targeted persecution and the conflict's extreme violence," said the watchdog known by its French acronym RSF.

"Many of them face constant difficulties and continue to fear for their safety in the countries in which they seek refuge," it said.

The RSF report was based on interviews with 24 Syrian journalists living in exile in neighbouring countries.

"They found themselves in different sets of circumstances than they had experienced at home, especially in terms of regulations and living and working conditions, and they faced threats coming both from inside and outside their host country," it said.

As well as those threats and occasionally fatal attacks, RSF said authorities had restricted journalists' rights to move freely, choose their place of residence or leave the country and return.

"Their rights to protection are compromised, and they don't have equal access to legal protection. They are subject to work exploitation and servitude. They can be arbitrarily arrested, detained or sent back to Syria," it said.

"An official and legal recognition of Syrian journalists and their journalistic work in these countries could spare them many of these violations and threats, as well as provide legal and administrative framework for their activity."

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The Islamic State group has killed at least 27 journalists since 2013, with at least 11 others missing and feared dead, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

RSF says at least 51 professional and 144 non-professional journalists have been killed since the start of the conflict in 2011.

A further 50 are currently detained in government jails, held hostage by IS or other extremist armed groups, or have simply disappeared.
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The United Nations said Monday it delivered food and medical aid to besieged Syrians on the rural outskirts of Damascus over the weekend.

The relief shipments went to Ein Terma and Hamouria -- areas surrounded by regime forces -- as well as the difficult to reach Hazeh, Beit Sawa and Eftreis areas.

The communities are in the Kafr Batna region, which hasn't received aid since mid-April.

UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq welcomed the news, but said "much more progress is required."

"The UN continues to call for unconditional, unimpeded and sustained access to the millions of people in besieged and hard to reach locations across Syria," he added.

Since the beginning of the year, 86 land convoys have entered areas that are under siege or difficult to reach, delivering crucial supplies to 850,000 civilians.

Last year, the UN sent only 34 aid deliveries, down from 50 in 2014.

Erbin and Zamalka, two of 18 besieged areas identified by the UN, have gone without potentially life-saving assistance since November 2012.

The rural Damascus suburbs in East Ghouta are controlled by rebel forces and encircled by Syrian regime troops.

The UN plans on sending humanitarian assistance via airdrops, using planes in rural areas and helicopters in densely populated regions.

Some 592,700 Syrian residents are currently living under siege, according to the United Nations.

It says 452,700 of them are besieged by government troops, particularly in rural Damascus, 110,000 by the Islamic State group in the eastern city Deir Ezzor, 20,000 by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front and rebel groups in northeastern Idlib province, and 10,000 by pro-regime fighters and armed groups in the Yarmouk Camp district of Damascus, home to Palestinian refugees.
Airplane seats sleeping

Last week I flew from New York to San Francisco, and about halfway through the trip, somewhere in the clouds above Colorado, I had an epiphany.

The lights had been dimmed and I was trying to nap like many of my fellow passengers, but I just couldn't seem to get comfortable.

I'm a relatively short person, and I've always thought this to be an advantage when flying. I can stretch out my legs with ease, or curl them up under me in my seat if I want. I should have been more comfortable than the other passengers around me, but I wasn't.

And it was all because of my headrest.

It hit me, as I wiggled around in my seat, that my neck was killing me. Not only was my headrest too high to rest my head on, but it was actually pushing my head down in an unnatural way. The largest part of the headrest wasn't protruding at the nape of my neck, but rather right at the back of my head.

It would have been better for me to have no headrest at all.

As I gave up on sleep and opted for a book instead, I found that the only way I could get my head close to where it should fit on the headrest was by sitting up as straight as possible and scooting my body right up against the back of the chair. Not something I felt like doing for the better part of an afternoon.

Airplane headrest

I began to examine the headrest to see whether I could readjust it  it turns out that I could slide it higher, but not lower  and in the process, it occurred to me that this wasn't a new problem. In fact, I experience this on just about every flight I take. But it took a 5 1/2-hour journey in the middle of the day for me to put my finger on it.

I should note that I'm 5-foot-2  not even that short for a woman. And a cursory look around me showed that I wasn't the only short person dealing with this problem. The woman across the aisle from me had opted to slouch down so far that her head was resting below the headrest, against the middle of the seat back.

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And, for some inexplicable reason, the headrests on this particular aircraft actually lifted up on a hinge like the lid of a garbage can. Surely that's an unnecessary feature?

I can't recall experiencing this problem on trains or in any other sort of chair. And the solution seems relatively simple.

Why not design adjustable headrests, like cars have, that slide up and down the chair? Or, if the headrests do slide, why not expand the range within which they move? That way, the passenger can decide how high or low it should be.

In the meantime, I'll consider bringing a phone book along on flights.

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(KABUL, Afghanistan)  A Taliban suicide bomber killed 14 Nepalese security guards in an attack Monday on their minibus in the Afghan capital, Kabul, the Interior Ministry and an Afghan security official said.

The Nepalese were on their way to the Canadian Embassy where they work as guards, according to another Nepalese guard who was wounded in the attack.

It was the latest attack by the Taliban, who have stepped up assaults, including in the Afghan capital, as part of their summer offensive. The insurgents frequently target government employees and Afghan security forces across the country.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, a bomb rigged to a motorbike killed eight Afghan civilians during morning rush hour in a province in the northeast. And later on Monday in Kabul, a second Taliban bombing killed an Afghan civilian and wounded five people, including a provincial council member who was the intended target of that attack, authorities said.

In the bombing that killed the Nepalese guards, the bomber was on foot when he struck the minibus, said Gen. Abdul Rahman Rahimi, the citys police chief. He did not identify the foreign security company the guards work for.

An Interior Ministry statement confirmed that all 14 killed were Nepalese citizens, describing the attack as the work of a terrorist suicide bomber. It said the explosion also wounded nine people, five Nepalese employees and four Afghan civilians.

Amrit Rokaya Chhetri, a Nepalese guard wounded in the attack, told The Associated Press they were on their way to the Canadian Embassy when the blast took place.

Many people died, Chhetri said from his hospital bed, his head covered with bandage. I say to my family, I am ok and I will come home.

Abdullah Abdullah, the countrys chief executive officer, condemned the attack in a posting on Twitter, saying: This attack is an act of terror and intimidation.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement to media.

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In late May, a suicide bomber targeted a minibus carrying court employees during morning rush hour in Kabul, killing 11 people  judges and court employees. The Taliban claimed responsibility for that attack as well. The bomber, who was on foot, detonated his explosives vest as he walked by the vehicle in the western part of the city.

In Nepal, Bharat Raj Paudyal, spokesman for Nepals Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the government is aware of Mondays incident in Kabul and is trying to verify the names of the victims and details about the bombing.

Nepal does not have an embassy in Afghanistan but the embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, is working to get the details, he said.

In the northeastern Badakhshan province, the parked motorbike-bomb that killed at least eight Afghan civilians also wounded 14 others, according to Naved Froutan, spokesman for the provincial governor.

The explosion took place in the main bazaar in Kashim district, he said, adding that an investigation is underway to determine the target of the attack, but all victims of the attack are civilians.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the Badakhshan attack, though Taliban are active in the area and regularly target Afghan security forces there.

Meanwhile, the second blast in Kabul went off near the home of Mawlavi Attaullah Faizani, a member of the Kabul provincial council, said Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan interior minister.

Sediqqi said the bomb went off as Faizani was passing by in his vehicle. Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, said insurgents had targeted the provincial council member.

___

Associated Press writers Amir Shah in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Binaj Gurubacharya in Kathmandu, Nepal, contributed to this report.
(photo: The Wrap)

For the last three months, the music industry has been fighting  or at least negotiating in public  with YouTube.

Now, artists are adding their voices.

In an ad that will run Tuesday through Thursday in the Washington DC magazines Politico, The Hill, and Roll Call, 180 performers and songwriters are calling for reform of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which regulates copyright online. A range of big names from every genre signed the ad  from Taylor Swift to Sir Paul McCartney, Vince Gill to Vince Staples, Carole King to the Kings of Leon  as did 19 organizations and companies, including the major labels.

Music Industry A-Listers Call on Congress to Reform Copyright Act

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), enacted in 1998, gives services like YouTube safe harbor from copyright infringement liability for the actions of their users, as long as they respond to takedown notices from rightsholders. In practice, labels and publishers say, this gives YouTube a negotiating advantage. The big labels and publishers have long had deals with the video service, but they have often said that the DMCA gives it leverage that services like Spotify dont have. In March, the RIAA called this the value grab. Manager Irving Azoff, who organized the ad, has made DMCA reform a priority, speaking about the issue in February, when he accepted The Recording Academy Presidents Merit Award at Clive Davis pre-Grammy Awards gala, and two weeks ago at the National Music Publishers Association annual meeting.

Artists are usually reluctant to get involved in copyright policy debates, but several signed an April 1 petition on the same topic. Like the petition many artists signed in 2012 against the Internet Radio Fairness act, which would have lowered online radio royalties, this represents a rare case in which most of the music business agrees on something.

The major labels are now negotiating new deals with YouTube  Universal Music Groups contract has already expired, although the companies continue to do business on an ongoing basis. At the same time, the U.S. Copyright Office is conducting a study of the DMCA safe harbors as the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee is reviewing copyright law. This had made the DMCA an urgent issue for labels and publishers, which believe that YouTubes free service makes it harder to convince music consumers to sign up for subscription services like Apple Music and Spotify. As performers and songwriters become more willing to speak out about copyright issues, the famously contentious music business seems to have found an issue it can unite around.

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100 Percent Licensing: U.S. Copyright Office Argues New Proposal Threatens Song Owners Rights

The DMCA, this week's ad says, has allowed major tech companies to grow and generate huge profits by creating ease of use for consumers to carry almost every recorded song in history in their pocket via a smartphone, while songwriters and artists earnings continue to diminish. It suggests that the DMCA wasnt intended to protect the kind of companies that benefit from it now  a subject thats been debated by lawyers and policymakers as well  and asks for sensible reform that balances the interests of creators with the interests of the companies who exploit music for their financial enrichment.

YouTube has said it gets no advantage from the DMCA, since its Content ID system gives labels a way to remove or monetize their music, and 99.5 percent of music claims involve it as opposed to manual DMCA requests. This implies that Content ID is very effective, but its hard to know for sure, since no one measures how much music the system doesnt identify. YouTube also points out that it has paid more than $3 billion to the music business, and that much of this revenue is generated by casual music fans who might not subscribe to other services anyway.

However, some online-based artists have been speaking out on behalf of YouTube. After Azoff wrote an open letter to YouTube last month, the video creator Hank Green, who runs the YouTube channel Vlogbrothers, responded with a letter than made the case that the service is good for the music business. On June 15, Green announced that he and other creators were forming The Internet Creators Guild to advocate for professional online creators. The guild will apparently not pressure online platforms for better terms, but it will unify the voice of online creators to create change. One wonders whether this unified voice could be raised to oppose those of music rightsholders, since Google, which owns YouTube, has sometimes argued that copyright enforcement suppresses online creativity.

Wait, What? The Copyright Royalty Board, Webcasting Rates and Paying Artists, Explained

Two other artists have been especially critical of YouTube. Trent Reznor, no stranger to technology given his role at Apple Music, told Billboard on June 13 that YouTube was built on the backs of free, stolen content. Nikki Sixx band Sixx:A.M. also wrote a detailed open letter to YouTube, appealing to Larry Page, chief executive of Googles parent company Alphabet, to better compensate musicians. Last week, YouTube responded, in a statement to Music Business Worldwide that said the voices of the artists are being heard.

Now, it seems, those voices are speaking louder.
Just a few days before the start of Ramadan, Mohamed Rasheen Khan  a 59-year-old Muslim-American man of Guyanese heritage  was brutally attacked and beaten outside a mosque in Queens, New York. According to BuzzFeed, the New York Police Department arrested a 14-year-old in connection with the assault and charged him with a hate crime on Monday.

After finishing his night prayers at the Islamic Studies Center on Jamaica Ave, Khan, who was wearing traditional Islamic garb, hopped on his bike before attacked him. After knocking him off his bike, the teens repeatedly punched and kicked Khan. The other two teens have reportedly not been found.

The Council of American Islamic Relations u NYPD to investigate and charge the attack as a hate crime. attackers did not steal any of his belongings and laughed as they fled the scene.

Mohamed Rasheen Khan was brutally beaten and attacked when he left his mosque in Queens, New York.

After the attack, Khan was taken to the hospital, where he was treated for a concussion as well as . As BuzzFeed reported, Khan remains in the hospital and is unable to open his eyes or speak. He is scheduled to undergo surgery for fractures to his face on Monday.

Ramadan is one of the most joyful times of the year for Muslims worldwide, but many American Muslims say the holiday makes them more visible and vulnerable.

CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper explained that mosques are busy during Ramadan, raising fears of anti-Muslim violence. According to Hooper, CAIR releases safety alerts annually urging the American Muslim community to take precautions during the holy month.

"There's far more activity in mosques during Ramadan which tends to attract anti-Muslim bigots," Hooper said over the phone. "This heightens a lot of security concerns for American Muslims and is particularly why we send out safety alerts before the start of Ramadan."

On Friday, a family of Syrian refugees in Arizona received threats declaring that "America hates terrorist like you" and "Go Away Killers!" On Saturday, just a few miles from where Khan was attacked, an American Muslim man was beaten outside of his mosque in the Bronx. According to New York City's A, Mohammed Atique Ashraf was wearing a white prayer cap as he headed towards a prayer service. Three men attacked him from behind, leaving Ashraf with a swollen cut lip, bruises, scrapes and pain all over his body.
By Marice Richter

FORT WORTH, Texas (Reuters) - The mother of the Texas affluenza teenager had her curfew eased, her attorney said on Monday, in her first court appearance since being charged by a grand jury last month with helping her son flee to Mexico.

Tonya Couch, 49, was indicted by a Tarrant County grand jury on charges of hindering apprehension and money laundering for aiding her son Ethan Couch in violating a probation deal that kept him out for jail for killing four people while driving drunk in 2013.

The curfew easing came at a hearing that lasted a few minutes before a district court judge. Her lawyer said after the session that the change will make it easier for her to find a job. He did not provide other details on the curfew.

Couch, and her son, Ethan, 19, drew international attention last winter after fleeing the United States. He had apparently violated the probation deal that he stay drug- and alcohol-free after the deadly wreck.

At his trial in juvenile court in 2013, a psychologist testified in Ethan Couchs defense that the then 16-year-old was a victim of affluenza and unable to tell right from wrong as a result of being spoiled by his familys wealth.

The probation deal sparked outrage from critics who ridiculed the affluenza defense and said his family's wealth had helped keep him out of jail.

Tonya Couch was initially charged with aiding her son's flight, a felony that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The grand jury last month reaffirmed the original charge and added a second charge of money laundering of $30,000 to $150,000, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Couch and her son left Texas after a video surfaced on social media in early December showing Ethan at an alcohol-fueled party, in likely violation of his probation deal.

Mother and son drove in a pickup truck to Puerto Vallarta, where they were caught by Mexican authorities in December after a manhunt of more than two weeks.

Story continues

She was deported to Texas in January and posted bond after being remanded to Texas authorities.

Ethan Couch is currently serving a nearly two-year jail sentence as a condition of his new probation terms as an adult. His case was transferred from the juvenile to adult supervisory system on his 19th birthday in April.

(Writing by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
(Corrects June 17 story to show action was to repeal or leave standing, instead of approve in first paragraph adds background on ballot initiative in third paragraph.)

By Jon Herskovitz

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - An Austin City Council member who is a supporter of ride-hailing companies Uber [UBER.UL] and Lyft has filed a lawsuit to overturn a requirement for their drivers to undergo fingerprint criminal background checks left standing in a May municipal vote.

Donald Zimmerman filed the suit against the mayor on Thursday in a Texas district court seeking to overturn the May 7 ballot initiative, arguing its language was confusing, unlawful and did not provide enough information about fingerprint criminal background checks for drivers.

Residents were asked to decide whether a transportation ordinance passed by the City Council in December requiring the fingerprint checks should be repealed and replaced with one backed by Uber and Lyft that did not require the checks.

The two companies campaigned against the requirement, which they said was an unnecessary and costly barrier to entry for new drivers. They said their own background checks are comprehensive and ensure safety.

Uber and Lyft spent more than $9 million in their failed attempt to defeat fingerprint requirements in Austin's May 7 vote, making it the most expensive political campaign in the city's history.

The two companies halted service in Austin shortly after the vote, putting about 10,000 of their drivers out of work.

The Texas Supreme Court in March denied a motion to halt the Austin election brought by a plaintiff who argued the ballot language was confusing and unlawful. The mayor's office has said it stands by the ballot language.

Former Uber Technologies Inc and Lyft Inc drivers in Austin filed lawsuits this month in federal court in San Francisco, accusing the ride-hailing companies of breaking a federal law by abruptly halting operations in the city.

Many former Uber and Lyft drivers have since joined start-up, ride-hailing firms currently operating in the city.

(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; editing by Cynthia Osterman and Andrew Hay)
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha and opposition supporters of ousted populist premier Thaksin Shinawatra both reached out to the United Nations on Monday as tension rises ahead of an August referendum on a new constitution. Prayuth said he telephoned U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to express concern about an upsurge in political pressure, just a day after police shut down an electoral monitoring center at the Bangkok headquarters of the "red shirt" anti-government movement, formally known as the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship. "This morning I telephoned (Ban) to let him know about a movement of people who wish ill on Thailand," Prayuth told reporters. "The junta will deal with people who are acting illegally." Twenty-nine other electoral monitoring centers have been shut in recent weeks as Thailand prepares to vote on the constitution that critics fear will entrench the military's influence. The red shirts say the centers are needed to prevent fraud. Red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan said his group went to the regional U.N. headquarters in Bangkok on Monday. "We would like the United Nations to come in and monitor," Jatuporn told reporters. Thailand came under fire last month at a U.N. review of its rights record with some member states expressing concern over the deteriorating rights situation since the military took power. Under the proposed charter, a junta-appointed Senate with seats reserved for military commanders would check the powers of elected lawmakers for a five-year transitional period. The referendum will be the first real rest of the junta's popularity since it took power in a May 2014 coup. The army toppled the populist government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in another chapter in a decade of confrontation between the establishment and Yingluck's brother, Thaksin, and his red-shirted supporters. (Reporting by Aukkarapon Niyomat and Panarat Thepgumpanat; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Nick Macfie)
There are two main strategies we use when shopping for nail polish (or picking a color at the nail salon under pressure). Youre either the person who leaves the store with a new bottle and 10 fingers painted different hues, or you grab the first polish name you recognize. Either way, it can be hard to find a shade you love, especially when each brand offers (what feels like) endless color options.



Related: Glow International With These Asian Beauty Products

Take, for example, Essie. The popular brand is a salon, pro, and consumer favorite, and many of us are on a first-name basis with popular colors like Clambake and Mademoiselle. But with dozens upon dozens to choose from, youre majorly missing out if you never stray beyond your go-to orangey-red. For help navigating the massive selection, we turned to nail artist Michelle Saunders, who also serves as the brands official celebrity manicurist (and has an encyclopedic knowledge of its color offerings).

Related: What Happens When You Bleach Your Hair



Ahead, Saunders takes a break from her A-list clientele to share her favorite foolproof shades for every skin tone, from everyday nudes and pale pinks to more unexpected brights and, of course, the best reds.









Best Bright For Fair Skin Tones: Fiesta

This may be much brighter than youre used to wearing, but its actually pretty classic on the nail, says Saunders. People constantly ask about this shade when I use it [on shoots].

Essie Nail Polish in Fiesta, $8.50, available at Essie.



Or Try

If Fiesta is a little too bright for your liking, a magenta shade like this one will be just as eye-catching. Plus, the polish is part of the brand's new Gel Couture line, which boasts an updated brush stem and a gorgeous Frank Gehry-inspired bottle.

Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish in Sit Me In the Front Row, $11.50, available at Essie.







Or Try



If you want to add a little more flair to [Sit Me In the Front Row], you can apply it over a coat of Blanc, Essies opaque white, and it almost looks neon, Saunders says.

Story continues

Essie Nail Polish in Blanc, $8.50, available at Essie.



Related: The Best Way To Banish Acne Scars









Or Try

Essies spring 2016 collection has a host of colors that are perfect for warmer weather. This shade, Sunshine State of Mind, is our go-to hue to sport while lounging poolside.



Essie Nail Polish in Sunshine State of Mind, $8.50, available at Essie.







Or Try

A cantaloupe hue like this one is a great option for those who want to experiment with brighter nails, but dont want to dive deep into bright reds or pinks just yet.



Related: This Is What Female-Directed Porn Looks Like



Essie Gel Couture Nail Polish in Looks To Thrill, $11.50, available in June at Essie.











Best Dark For Fair Skin Tones: Carry On

For [those with fair skin who] want to dip their toes into a dark shade, but not go too dark, my pick is Chinchilly, Saunders says. Its like a deep neutral, almost like a warm gray. There is also this color that I love called Carry On. It feels like a rich, kind of mahogany wine color, which is good for a dark color that is also very on-trend.



Essie Nail Polish in Carry On, $8.50, available at Essie.















Best Neutral For Fair Skin Tones: Sugar Daddy



A good overall neutral color for a fair hand is a color like Sugar Daddy. Its a traditional shade that gives your nail bed a healthy, sheer sheen. Its especially great for spring, because were seeing a lot of pinks that lean on the sheer side, says Saunders.



Essie Nail Polish in Sugar Daddy, $8.50, available at Essie.















Or Try

Ballet Slippers is another classic your nails but better shade. Plus, the sheer, pinkish hue is extremely forgiving, meaning you can swipe it on in a hurry and dash out the door.



Essie Nail Polish in Ballet Slippers, $8.50, available at Essie.

Related: What Going Paleo Did To My Body









Best Pastel For Fair Skin Tones: High Class Affair

This is a vibrant [hue]  it looks a little soft in the bottle, but when you put it on its really a gorgeous peach pastel, and its great for those who are fair-skinned looking for a true pastel, says Saunders.



Essie Nail Polish in High Class Affair, $8.50, available at Essie.







Best Red For Fair Skin Tones: Fifth Avenue

For fair skin, there is a color I love called Fifth Avenue, Saunders tells us. People may look at it and think that it could be too coral, but on the nail its not; its a really bright red. I would call it a spring red.



Essie Nail Polish in Fifth Avenue, $8.50, available at Essie.







Best White For Fair Skin Tones: Tuck It In My Tux



Tuck It In My Tux is a creamy white, which is like the opposite of the super-opaque and classic Essie Blanc, Saunders tells us. Since Blanc is so concentrated, it can often be too harsh on fair skin tones, so the creaminess of Tuck It In My Tux is perfect for fair skin.



Essie Nail Polish in Tuck It In My Tux, $8.50, available at Essie.







Best Bright For Medium Skin Tones: Bikini So Teeny



This color looks great on medium skin tones, and I think were going to be seeing this color more this spring. Its the perfect sky blue, says Saunders.



Essie Nail Polish in Bikini So Teeny, $8.50, available at Essie.



Related: The One Product That Transformed My Brows





Best Dark For Medium Skin Tones: Wicked



Wicked is a bit like a plum burgundy, and its one of the best colors, maybe ever, Saunders says. I have to say, in my career, Wicked and Mademoiselle are the two most requested colors.



Essie Nail Polish in Wicked, $8.50, available at Essie.











Best Metallic For Medium Skin Tones: Penny Talk



Penny Talk is a true rose gold, which you couldnt be more on-trend with right now. With jewelry, thats what everyone is looking to add to their collection, so its the perfect SS 16 nail accessory, too, said Saunders.



Essie Nail Polish in Penny Talk, $8.50, available at Essie.







Best Neutral For Medium Skin Tones: Lady Like



There is a traditional color called Ballet Slippers that is great for medium skin tones, but if you want something that is a bit more on-trend, I love Lady Like, says Saunders. It looks like a natural flush of color if you apply it on hands [with a medium skin tone].



Essie Nail Polish in Lady Like, $8.50, available at Essie.







Best Red For Medium Skin Tones: A-List

I know that people think that this shade, A-list, may be too dark, but I think this is the real red of all of Essies colors, says Saunders.Its a true red, and I have had it in my kit forever. Its a classic, traditional red and a cult favorite. It looks great on anyone, and I love it on medium skin tones.



Essie Nail Polish in A-List, $8.50, available at Essie.



Or Try



Looking for something a little less vampy? You cant go wrong with Russian Roulette.



Essie Nail Polish in Russian Roulette, $8.50, available at Essie.







Best Bright For Dark Skin Tones: Shades On



This brand-new, super-bright purple called Shades On is probably the most on-trend color to wear right now, Saunders told us.



Essie Nail Polish in Shades On, $8.50, available at Essie.







Or Try

There is a another color that people dont really know about that I love for [dark skin tones] called Play Date, Saunders says. Its basically a neon lavender, and its perfect for pedicures, and I use it all the time for nail art, too.



Essie Nail Polish in Play Date, $8.50, available at Essie.











Or Try

This indigo shade may look dark in the bottle, but when its layered onto the nails it provides a pop of shiny, bold color.



Essie Nail Polish in All Access Pass, $8.50, available at Essie.







Best Dark For Dark Skin Tones: Bahama Mama



My top pick for deep skin tones is Bahama Mama, Saunders says. Its flattering for all darker skin tones; I would put that on anybody.

Essie Nail Polish in Bahama Mama, $8.50, available at Essie.







Or Try



I [also] love the color Smokin Hot and the shade Licorice, which is like a patent-leather black, says Saunders. Unfortunately both shades are sold out, but Luxedo (a deep plum) is a great alternative for those looking for vampier hues.



Essie Nail Polish in Luxedo, $8.50, available at Essie.



Best Neutral For Dark Skin Tones: Mamba



The most traditional color that looks reallygreat on a dark skin tone is Mademoiselle  you just cant go wrong with that on dark skin, Saunders told us. But, if you want to go more [trendy], I love this color called Mamba. Its the perfect peachy hue that were seeing a lot of. I would almost call it a secret color, because not many people know about it.



Essie Nail Polish in Mambo, $8.50, available at Essie.



Or Try



If peachy neutrals arent your jam, go for something taupe-toned, like Essies Glamour Purse.



Essie Nail Polish in Glamour Purse, $8.50, available at Essie.











Best Red For Dark Skin Tones: Lacy Not Racy

A few red colors that I love on dark skin tones are Berry Naughty, Bordeaux, and Lacy Not Racy. If you look them up online, they look very dark, but they go on quite red. Lacy Not Racy is my pick, If you see someone wearing it you cant help but think, Wow, she has really beautiful deep red nails, Saunders says.



Essie Nail Polish in Lacy Not Racy, $8.50, available at Essie.

By: Lexy Lebsack


Oaxaca (Mexico) (AFP) - The Mexican authorities investigated whether police were responsible for any deaths in weekend violence that killed 10 people amid protests by teachers opposed to the government's education reform.

The investigation came as thousands of people led by the radical CNTE teachers union marched in the capital of the southern state of Oaxaca to denounce Sunday's deaths as a "massacre."

The unrest followed months of protests by teachers who reject President Enrique Pena Nieto's landmark reform, which requires educators to undergo performance evaluations.

Eight people died in Asuncion Nochixtlan, where police said they were ambushed by an unidentified armed group after officers removed barricades set up by teachers.

Two other people, including a journalist, were killed in another town by unknown gunmen.

Pena Nieto said he "lamented" the deaths and that the attorney general's office would help state prosecutors investigate the violence "and punish those responsible."

The agency overseeing the federal police said its internal affairs department would also investigate the clashes in Asuncion Nochixtlan.

Interior Minister Miguel Osorio Chong said Sunday's violence was "grave" and that the investigation would determine whether the "use of weapons the state and federal police was adequate or not" in Asuncion Nochixtlan.

- Who shot first? -

Police officers were initially deployed without weapons to remove a weeklong road blockade in Asuncion Nochixtlan, federal police chief Enrique Galindo said.

But armed police were sent after officers were "ambushed" by 2,000 unidentified "radicals," some of whom were armed, he added. None of the gunmen were teachers, he said.

Seven civilians died of bullet wounds in Asuncion Nochixtlan and another person was killed by an explosive, Oaxaca chief prosecutor Joaquin Carrillo said. Officials had earlier reported six deaths.

Story continues

"Lines of investigation are being built," Carillo told a news conference, adding that "nothing will be ruled out."

Officers will give statements to prosecutors as part of the investigation to determine "who started or didn't start (firing)," Galindo said.

At least 55 officers were injured, including eight who had gunshot wounds. Others were burned, lost fingers to firework blasts or were hit with machetes.

Some 53 civilians were injured in the clashes and more than 20 people were arrested.

Juan Garcia, a leader of the CNTE union in the Oaxaca region, reported that 22 other people were missing.

The violence was perpetrated by "infiltrators," he said, adding that the police "fired without mercy" in response.

The union called for an investigation by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and Cue's resignation.

The unrest comes a decade after protests by the CNTE and other local civil organizations were marked by violence that killed around 20 people, including US cameraman Brad Will. A truth commission recently concluded that security forces committed torture and forced disappearances.

- Journalist killed -

The other two deaths on Sunday occurred in Juchitan, where unknown gunmen fatally shot a photojournalist and another man after the photographer took pictures of looting amid protests.

Governor Gabino Cue said the reporter may have been killed out of "revenge" for posting pictures on social media.

Pena Nieto's education reform, which requires teachers to undergo performance evaluations, has faced protests in Oaxaca and the southern states of Michoacan, Guerrero and Chiapas for months.

The CNTE is also protesting last weekend's arrest of its leader in Oaxaca, Ruben Nunez, who faces money laundering charges, and his deputy, Francisco Villalobos, accused of stealing textbooks.

The government says the reform seeks to improve the quality of education, but the union sees it as an attempt to fire teachers and privatize the system.
MANILA (Reuters) - Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines on Monday agreed to designate a transit corridor for commercial vessels crossing a maritime zone hit by a spate of hijackings by Islamist militants in the southern Philippines. Nearly 20 Indonesian and Malaysian tugboat crew have been kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf militants this year, with Jakarta airing fears that the problem could reach levels seen off the coast of Somalia. Alarmed at the frequency of attacks, port authorities in some areas of Indonesia, particularly Kalimantan on the island of Borneo, have stopped issuing permits to ships taking coal to the southern Philippines. Indonesia is the world's largest thermal coal exporter and supplies 70 percent of the Philippines' coal imports. "The ministers have agreed in principle to explore the following measures, including a transit corridor within the maritime areas of common concern, which will serve as designated sea lanes for mariners," the defense ministers of the three nations said in a joint statement after a meeting in Manila. Analysts say $40-billion worth of cargo passes through the Sulu and Celebes seas each year, including supertankers from the Indian Ocean that cannot use the crowded Malacca Strait. The three countries also agreed to step up air and sea patrols and escorts for commercial ships in the common maritime areas to fend off potential hijacks, kidnaps and robbery. Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the leaders agreed to share the best practices evolved by Indonesia and Malaysia during a joint effort to patrol the busy Malacca Strait waterway against pirates, as a model for three-way cooperation with the Philippines. It was the second meeting of officials of the three countries to tackle growing regional security challenges, after their foreign ministers met in Jakarta last month. In 2002, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, which share maritime borders, signed a pact to stiffen security against growing cross-border attacks by Abu Sayyaf militants. But they have not set up coordinated naval patrols, with navies operating in their own territorial waters. Kidnappings over the last 15 years have made the Abu Sayyaf militants notorious, with extorted ransoms running into millions of dollars. The seamen kidnapped this year were freed, with police and military officials saying at the time it was unclear if a ransom had been paid. The Philippines rarely publicizes such payments, but few believe captives are released without them. There was no immediate comment from the Abu Sayyaf rebels. Piracy near Somalia's coast has subsided after shipping firms hired private security details and international warships patrolled the waters. (Reporting by Manuel Mogato; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)
OTTAWA, June 20 (Reuters) - Tighter environmental rules for Canadian natural resource projects could start coming into force in 2017, ahead of schedule, an official said on Monday, giving industry an idea of when to expect the new measures.

The Liberals of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took power last November promising to toughen up a range of regulations they said the previous Conservative government had weakened in a bid to cut the time needed to approve pipelines and mines.

Government officials said in January they hoped to have a review of the required changes at the start of 2018.

"Some changes may be able to be made sooner ... we'll be moving forward as quickly as possible," Environment Minister Catherine McKenna told a briefing to outline how the government would examine what reforms were needed.

A specialist panel will consult Canadians on how to tighten environmental assessment rules to ensure projects are more sustainable. It will report back by the end of January 2017.

That is also the deadline for a separate panel to report on how to change the structure, role and mandate of the National Energy Board regulator, which rules on whether projects can go ahead. Critics say the body is not tough enough on the industry and does not adequately consult indigenous communities.

In January, the government announced new interim rules that will impose delays on two projects - TransCanada Corp's Energy East pipeline and Kinder Morgan Inc's expansion of its Trans Mountain Pipeline.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Bernard Orr)
These two toddlers are best buddies, giggling and screaming as they are pulled in a little red wagon.

But their pint-sized transport rolls down the pediatric cancer ward at Los Angeles Childrens Hospital and what brings them together is their shared suffering from a rare form of leukemia.

Read: Parents of Sick Girl, 5, Who Her Choose 'Heaven Or Hospital' Announce She Has Died

Aiden Kramer, 3, and Silas Rye, 2, are fighting for their young lives while managing to be there for each other in their times of need.

Medicine does its job, doctors come in and their compassionate, but having somebody, especially a child who is missing out on their childhood, to be able to be truly happy  happy while theyre fighting so hard  you cant buy that, Ashley Kramer told KCBS-TV.

The boys met in the Fall, in the hospitals playroom, not long after Aiden was admitted.

Aidens mother says the bond was instantaneous. It was like, Hes my size! And they hit it right off.

Silas has endured 17 rounds of chemo since being diagnosed shortly after he was born. Aidens leukemia was recently discovered.

Its extremely difficult, said Sabrina Rye. Its even harder when you see him get so excited about an elevator ride and you just know there is so much more out there that he deserves."

The 2-year-olds cancer has returned, and he remains at the hospital. Aiden was well enough to go home, and the boys miss each other.

Read: Girl, 8, Was Diagnosed With Breast Cancer After Hoping Lump Would Go Away

Aidens parents bring him back to the 4 East wing to visit Silas often.

When your son wakes up and says Lets go to 4 East, and Im like Honey, you have to go to school, its not negative. All the bad stuff, and its still not negative, said Aidens mother.

Story continues

The parents often dream of trips theyll take when both boys are feeling well.

Were like, Were going to Disneyland, were going up to see the Sequoias together, were going camping, Silas mom told the station.

Watch: 3-Year-Old Battling Cancer Becomes New York City Firefighter For The Day

Related Articles:
From Road & Track

In 1965, journalist Tom Wolfe was deployed to South Carolina to illustrate for his sophisticated New York overlords what this whole "stock car racing thing was." Wolfe, being a sharp-dressed Man Of The People, sought out Junior Johnson, the 1960 Daytona 500 champion and the winningest stock-car driver at the time. NASCAR was still a regional affair, a burgeoning motorsport confined to below the Mason-Dixon line, where no New Yorkers seemed to dare venture, especially not East Village writers in white suits.

Today, it's mind-boggling to think how such things were at one time so hyper-regionalthe plot to Smokey and the Bandit, after all, was about thirsty Georgians brazenly heisting that rarefied elixir, Colorado-brewed Coors beer, which today flows like a golden river at every Buffalo Wild Wings from here to Waxahachie.

But with no little hyperbole, the resulting profileoriginally titled "Great Balls of Fire"was published in the March 1965 issue of Esquire Magazine, then immortalized in Wolfe's collection The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby (now under its familiar and easily-excited title: "The Last American Hero Is Junior Johnson. Yes!") It remains today a defining piece of New Journalism, a veritable sacred text for its practitioners since, part of the Bible that the prophet Wolfe bestowed upon us. (Hey, it's not like the man invented hyperbole and exaggeration.) It made both people famous. It earned Junior Johnson the enviable nickname of "The Last American Hero," and a biopic with the same title starring Jeff Bridges. For the magazine's genteel readers, Johnson certainly painted a picture of the good ol' Southern boy. "He is a coon hunter, a rich man, an ex-whiskey runner, a good old boy who hard-charges stock cars 175 m.p.h. Mother dog! He is the lead-footed chicken farmer from Ronda, the true vision of the New South."

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(As an aside: one letter to the editor, published in June of 1965, lambasts Wolfe thusly: "I think Mr. Wolfe should be ashamed of himself for describing Southern preachers thus: 'They are greedy dogs. Yeah! They ride around in big cars. Unnh-hunh! And chase women. Yeah! And drink liquor. Unnh-hunh! And smoke cigars. Oh yes ! And they are greedy dogs. Yeah! Unnh-hunh! Oh yes! Amen!'")

Last October, fifty years after the article was published, Johnson revisited Wolfe at his East Village apartment. The two were participating in a documentary for FOX Sports. The two pile onto couches, surrounded by books, production crew jockeying for room behind them. Wolfe remembered how he dressed down for the trip to North Carolina, something casual, like a green tweed suit with a Borsalino hat. Johnson turned to Esquire writer Mark Warren. "He done more for me than anybody," he said. "He done more for NASCAR than anybody."

Wolfe put NASCAR on the map, writes Warren. If we are to believe our fathers, and believe that the Sixties really were as transformative as the nostalgia says it is, then Johnson transformed NASCARby, among other things, pioneering the art of draftingand Wolfe transformed NASCAR. Hard to believe that today, but things always expand somewhere. Says Warren, some cultural anthropology laid the way for that. "His 'statusphere' obsession'How do we look?' he says. 'How do we sound to other people?'turned him into an anthropologist once he was in Junior Johnson country, getting to the heart of a culture that made the biggest traffic jams in the world to go see stock cars race around a track."

Image via Esquire

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London (AFP) - Japanese carmaker Toyota sent a letter to its British staff Monday, jointly signed by Britain's biggest union Unite, warning of the economic consequences of the country leaving the European Union.

Ahead of Thursday's referendum on British EU membership, Toyota said it wished to clarify "misrepresentation" of its position by Leave campaigners which the company "strongly" objects to.

While holding back from urging staff and union members to vote for Remain, the letter warned of "significant business challenges" should vote to leave Britain leave the 28-nation bloc.

Toyota said "free access to the European Market is of critical importance" for its UK operations.

"Nearly 90 percent of all our vehicles (made in the UK) are exported and 75 percent of all our vehicle production is made for our customers in the EU," it added.

Toyota has two factories in Britain employing more than 3,400 people.

Earlier this year, British industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed that three-quarters of its members believed staying in the EU was best for business.

Political opinion polls put the contest at neck-and-neck, although financial markets and betting firms have Remain as the clear favourite.
After repeatedly suggesting the death toll in the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., might have been lower if more people inside the club had been carrying guns, Donald Trump now says he meant arming security and staff members  and not clubgoers.

When I said that if, within the Orlando club, you had some people with guns, I was obviously talking about additional guards or employees, Trump tweeted on Monday.

When I said that if, within the Orlando club, you had some people with guns, I was obviously talking about additional guards or employees  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 20, 2016

But last week, the presumptive Republican nominee was not so obvious.

Its too bad some of the people killed over the weekend didnt have guns attached to their hips, where bullets could have thrown in the opposite direction, Trump said on Howie Carrs conservative syndicated radio show the day after the shootings. Had people been able to fire back, it would have been a much different outcome.

He made a similar suggestion at a Wednesday rally in Atlanta.

If the bullets were going in the other direction, aimed at this guy who was just in open target practice, you would have had a situation, folks, which would have been horrible but nothing like the carnage that we all, as a people, suffered this weekend, Trump said then.

Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Phoenix on Saturday. (Photo: AP/Ross D. Franklin)

On June 12, a gunman opened fire inside the Pulse nightclub, killing 49 people and wounding 53 others in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. The shooter, 29-year-old Omar Mateen, was engaged by an armed security guard stationed just outside the clubs entrance, police say, before he holed up with hostages inside. He was later killed in a shootout with police.

Since then, Trump has repeatedly spoken vaguely about people in the club firing back at the gunman.

If some of those wonderful people had guns strapped right here  right to their waist or right to their ankle  and one of the people in that room happened to have it and goes, Boom, boom, you know, that would have been a beautiful sight, folks, Trump said at a rally in Dallas Friday night.

Story continues

He made similar remarks after last years terror attacks in San Bernardino, Calif., and Paris, and reiterated them in a Saturday speech in Phoenix.

If you had somebody with a gun strapped onto their hip, somebody with a gun strapped onto their ankle, and you had bullets going in the opposite direction, right at this animal who did this, you would have had a very, very different result, Trump said.

But the head of the National Rifle Association said Sunday that the gun lobby didnt want to see clubgoers armed.

I dont think there should be firearms where people are drinking, NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre said on CBS Face the Nation. But Ill tell you this: Everybody, every American, needs to start having a security plan. We need to be able to protect ourselves, because they are coming.

No one thinks that people should go into a nightclub drinking and carrying firearms, Chris Cox, executive director of the NRAs Institute for Legislative Action, told ABCs This Week Sunday. That defies common sense.

______

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Slideshow: World reacts to Orlando mass shooting >>>

Slideshow: Shooting rampage at Florida nightclub >>>
By Emily Flitter and Emily Stephenson NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump fired Corey Lewandowski, the campaign manager who helped him win the Republican Party's presidential nominating contests but clashed with other advisers on how to appeal to the broader general electorate, several people with knowledge of the decision said on Monday. The firing on Monday morning was another shakeup for a campaign already at odds with many senior Republican figures over the presumptive nominee's policies, with the party's nominating convention in Cleveland less than a month away. But it may also prove a step toward calming concerns among party leaders about Trump, a wealthy businessman and political outsider, and the conflicting advice he was getting from senior aides, as he battles presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton ahead of the Nov. 8 election. Three people close to the campaign said some of Trump's staff viewed Lewandowski as opposing strategic changes and staff hires urged for the general election campaign by Paul Manafort, a strategist hired in April partly for his experience on presidential campaigns that Lewandowski lacked. The three, a campaign staffer and two people in regular contact with Trump advisers, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized by Trump to discuss the firing. Manafort will take over as campaign manager, said Carl Paladino, co-chairman of the campaign's operations in New York state. "Paul's in charge," Sean Spicer, the Republican National Committee's communications director, said in an interview. Trump's decision to fire his manager came in part at the urging of his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, who have powerful advisory roles in the campaign, the two people in contact with Trump aides said. Hope Hicks, who single-handedly fields Trump's media inquiries, disputed reports she had complained about Lewandowski to Ivanka Trump. "That is entirely untrue," she said. The Trump campaign confirmed only Lewandowski's departure, not the circumstances. Lewandowski, 42, had been a near-constant presence at Trump's side since the New York developer launched his campaign on June 2015. In a brief statement read on CNN, Lewandowski said: "I stand by the fact that Mr. Trump is a great candidate and is better than Hillary Clinton ever will be." Lewandowski denied there were any tensions between him and Trump's family in an interview with CNN. Later on Monday, a campaign adviser resigned after reveling in Lewandowski's exit on his Twitter account, CNN reported. "Ding dong the witch is dead!" Michael Caputo, the adviser, wrote shortly after reports of the firing emerged. He later released a statement to CNN saying he had resigned. "In hindsight, that was too exuberant a reaction to this personnel move," his statement said. CAMPAIGN TENSIONS The RNC spokesman did not think there would be a change in Trump's tone. "It's going to be more of a streamlined effort and more of an understanding of the difference that a general election has," Spicer said. Clinton's campaign has hundreds more staff than that of Trump. In contrast to her unsuccessful 2008 presidential bid, there has been no public sign this time of any significant infighting among her advisers. The former U.S. secretary of state has also spent millions of dollars on television commercials in recent weeks. Trump has not aired any paid advertisements since becoming the presumptive nominee, preferring to spread his message through his Twitter account and in media interviews. Trump has faced setbacks in the past two weeks. His renewed calls to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States have drawn heavy criticism from Republican politicians in Washington and prompted corporate sponsors like Apple and JPMorgan Chase to withhold funding from the party's July 18-21 convention. Recent opinion polls show at least half of all voters approve of the Muslim ban. Lewandowski, a former New Hampshire field director for a conservative advocacy group, argued that Trump's unconventional campaigning style did not need to be changed after it proved successful in the last few months of primary contests. Lewandowski repeatedly defended that strategy with a line that became his mantra: "Let Trump be Trump." Known for his brusque manner, Lewandowski was accused of manhandling a female reporter in Florida during the primary campaign, but the battery charge against him was later dropped. He is still scheduled to attend the Cleveland convention as chairman of New Hampshire's delegation. The Democratic National Committee said Lewandowski's exit was unlikely to change Trump. "It wasn't Corey Lewandowski who called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States," Mark Paustenbach, a party spokesman, said in a statement, "it was Donald Trump." (Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu in Washington; Writing by Jonathan Allen; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Peter Cooney)
(Reuters) - Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump said he was referring to security staff, but not patrons, in comments that if more people had been armed during a Florida nightclub shooting last week, fewer would have died. "When I said that if, within the Orlando club, you had some people with guns, I was obviously talking about additional guards or employees," Trump said on Twitter on Monday. Trump had said last week that he wished someone inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando on June 12 was carrying a firearm to stop a gunman before he could kill more clubgoers. "If the bullets were going in the other direction aimed at this guy, who was just open target practice, you would have had a situation that was always horrible, but nothing like the carnage that we all as a people suffered this weekend," Trump said on Wednesday at a rally in Atlanta. National Rifle Association President Wayne LaPierre on Sunday appeared critical of the idea of having clubgoers armed. "I don't think you should have firearms where people are drinking, LaPierre said on CBSs "Face the Nation." An off-duty Orlando police officer was working security at the club when the shooting occurred, authorities have said. (Reporting by Kouichi Shirayanagi; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
Tim Cook

Apple is declining to support the 2016 Republican presidential convention, Politico and the New York Times reported over the weekend.

This means that Apple isn't donating any technology or cash to the event that will name Donald Trump the Republican nominee for president. The convention will take place in Cleveland in July.

According to Politico, Apple has supported Republican (and Democratic) conventions in the past, but won't contribute funds this year because of Trump:

Apple has told Republican leaders it will not provide funding or other support for the partys 2016 presidential convention, as it's done in the past, citing Donald Trumps controversial comments about women, immigrants and minorities...



Apples political stand against Trump, communicated privately to Republicans, is a sign of the widening schism between Silicon Valley and the GOPs bombastic presumptive nominee.

Apple declined to comment. Trump supporters are still upset though, with the hashtag #boycottapple filling up with angry tweets from Trump-related accounts  although few GOP leaders have taken up the anti-Apple banner so far.

On Monday morning, one commentator on Fox News said that Apple had "offended" him and threatened that if Apple didn't change his stance, he would no longer buy Apple computers.

This isn't the first time that Apple has been a target of Trump's. Trump likes to criticize Apple's usage of Chinese manufacturing, and supported the FBI over a debate between it and Apple over a locked iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters.

Trump also received speaking fees for giving a speech for Samsung in 2015.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has received praise in recent years for taking strong stances on certain issues, such as gay rights and climate change. Cook hasn't spoken publicly about his political beliefs as they apply to the Democratic or Republican parties, but he did like these two tweets from his favorite band, One Republic:

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Tim Cook Favs

Ultimately, Apple wasn't going to donate that much anyway. In 2008, it contributed $140,000, mostly in the form of MacBooks and other free computers. According to Politico, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft will continue to provide support to the GOP convention.

NOW WATCH: This unconventional keyboard is a must-have for power-programmers





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Shandong to bring high-end talent and companies together Updated: 2016-06-20 15:42 By Zhao Ruixue in Jinan(chinadaily.com.cn)

The ninth Shandong High-end Talent Talks will be held during Oct 11 to 13 in Dezhou, a city in East China's Shandong province.

Talks will be held among high-end talent with overseas experiences, foreign experts, domestic researchers and enterprises.

Experts who have made contributions to Shandong's economic and social development will be awarded at a ceremony.

The Talent Talks, which are held every two years, have become a platform for global talent to promote their high-tech achievements and look for cooperation, said Han Jinfeng, head of Shandong Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security.

Previous talks have attracted 4,000 overseas Chinese who have generated 2,500 projects and created 600 new enterprises, according to the statistics of Shandong Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security.

To provide sound infrastructure, the province has founded around 360 postdoctoral research centers, covering a variety of fields, including new energy, environmental protection, machinery, electronics, petrochemicals, biopharmaceuticals and healthcare.

In addition to the infrastructure, the province also provides financial support, as well as a package of support policies covering children's education, household registration, spouse's work and social security for the high-end talent who work in Shandong.
By Dasha Afanasieva ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish authorities on Monday arrested three prominent campaigners for press freedom, including the local representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), on charges of spreading terrorist propaganda, human rights groups said. The arrests further stoked fears for media freedom in Turkey under President Tayyip Erdogan following a series of high-profile cases against opposition newspapers and broadcasters. The three are RSF representative Erol Onderoglu, author Ahmet Nesin and Sebnem Korur Fincanci, president of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey. A court ordered they be held in pre-trial detention after they guest-edited a newspaper on Kurdish issues and campaigned against efforts to censor it, said RSF and another group, EuroMed Rights. A statement from European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn said the court decision "goes against Turkey's commitment to respect fundamental rights, including freedom of media. "The EU has repeatedly stressed that Turkey, as a candidate country (for EU membership), must aspire to the highest possible democratic standards and practices," read the statement, which was shared with reporters. Onderoglu was arrested for his work on three articles about security operations in Turkey's largely Kurdish southeast and infighting among security forces which appeared in the May 18 edition of the Ozgur Gundem magazine, said Johann Bihr from RSF. Bihr described Onderoglu, who had worked for RSF for two decades, as a "victim of the abuses he always denounced". An official at Erdogan's office declined to comment on the cases. It was unclear how long the three would be held in custody or when they would face trial. Separately, top-selling Hurriyet newspaper said its New York correspondent, Razi Canikligil, was detained on Monday upon his arrival at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport. It offered no further details, including what charges he might face. Canikligil has reported on the U.S. prosecution of Turkish-Iranian businessman Reza Zarrab on charges he helped Iran evade American sanctions. Zarrab's arrest in Florida in March and the case against him has captured attention in Turkey, where he was detained in 2013 in a corruption probe into individuals with close ties to Erdogan. A U.S. judge in New York on Monday scheduled Zarrab's trial for Jan. 23. Last month, Turkey came under fire for sentencing two prominent journalists at the opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper to at least five years in jail for revealing state secrets in a case in which Erdogan was named as a complainant. Authorities have seized or shut down several newspapers and taken broadcasters off the air in the last year, usually citing security concerns. They deny trying to muzzle free expression. Turkey's record on press freedoms and broader human rights has increased reservations among some European politicians about whether Turkey, a NATO member, is a suitable candidate for European Union membership. But their criticism has been relatively muted in recent months because the EU needs Turkey's close cooperation in curbing the flow of illegal migrants into Europe. Under a deal agreed in March, Turkey is set to benefit from speedier EU accession talks and visa-free access to Europe for its citizens if it takes back all migrants and refugees who cross the Aegean Sea to Greece illegally. (Additional reporting by Ayla Jean Yackley; Editing by Gareth Jones and Jonathan Oatis)
ANKARA (Reuters) - Artillery fire from Turkey and coalition air strikes killed 23 Islamic State militants in northern Syria, broadcaster Haberturk reported on Monday. Haberturk said a total of 33 strikes targeted militants thought to be preparing an attack on Turkey. It did not say when the operation was carried out. The U.S.-led coalition has stepped up air strikes against Islamic State positions in the area in recent weeks, in response to rocket attacks by the militants on the border town of Kilis. Kilis, just across the frontier from an Islamic State-controlled region of Syria, has been hit by rockets more than 70 times this year. More than 20 people have been killed and parts of the town reduced to rubble. Turkey has also increased retaliatory fire but security sources say soldiers with heavy artillery stationed on the border find it difficult to hit the militants, who sometimes fire from the back of vehicles. NATO member Turkey is also battling a Kurdish insurgency in its mainly Kurdish southeast. It has repeatedly said it needs more help from Western partners to keep Kilis and its Syrian border secure. (Reporting by Orhan Coskun; Writing by Humeyra Pamuk and David Dolan; Editing by Louise Ireland)
Ankara (AFP) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday condemned Islamists who attacked rock fans at a music store in Istanbul, but also said it was "wrong" for fans to have consumed alcohol in public during Ramadan.

"Both sides are at fault in this," he told the Dogan press agency.

"It is wrong to be involved in an activity which spills out into the street during Ramadan just as it is wrong to use brute force."

A group of about 20 men beat up customers and employees at the music store who were listening to the new album by the British rock group Radiohead on Friday night, angry that they were drinking alcohol during the Muslim holy month. At least one person was injured.

The next day, hundreds of people gathered in the city to protest the attack, shouting "Shoulder to shoulder against fascism!" and denouncing Erdogan as a "thief" and a "killer".

Police fired tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters.

Erdogan criticised those who he said have "exploited this regrettable incident" in order to condemn his government.

The Turkish opposition media viewed the attack at the music store as a reflection of the growing intolerance among religious conservatives to different lifestyles in Turkey, which is overwhelmingly Muslim but officially secular.

On Sunday, Turkish police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to break up a rally by the LGBT community in Istanbul.
Poor Grant Wood. Imagine being the artist responsible for American Gothic, a guy who just wanted to evoke the simple charms of Middle America, only have his painting serve as an inspiration for a slew of middling-to-terrible horror shows and movies.

One wonders what the late painter would have thought of CBS latest American Gothic (which is completely unrelated to the series that aired for a season on the network in 1995). Its no masterpiece, but it does share Woods theme of simplicity, in the sense that the new show is as standard as they come. It revolves around the tale of a rich and powerful Boston family that may have a serial killer in its moneyed ranks. Unlike the earlier show, this summertime filler has no supernatural elements. Neither are there any outlandish or memorable characters, nor a single indication within the first two episodes that the 13-part journey is worth following to the end. With the right execution, the new show could have been a fun summer diversion, but in its initial installments, it features a ponderous plot built around a drab mystery.

Even if they are a collection of unimaginative characters, the Hawthornes do have a stunningly decorated house, which is chock-a-block with the sort of cliches one would expect from a daytime soap opera  mainly in the form of secrets, lots of secrets.

That each member of the family might be married or related to a murderer is inconvenient for different reasons. Alison Hawthorne-Price (Juliet Rylance) is the clans resident politician and a mayoral candidate. Her brother Cam (Justin Chatwin) is a successful syndicated cartoonist who has distanced himself and his son, Jack (Gabriel Bateman), from his troubled ex, Sophie (Stephanie Leonidas).

Tessa (Megan Ketch) is the resident sweetheart who just wants the family to be closer, and who happens to be married to a Boston police detective (Elliot Knight). Family matriarch Madeline (Virginia Madsen) radiates blue-blooded propriety and is conscious of maintaining appearances, as is her husband, Mitchell (Jamey Sheridan).

Story continues

Problems arise when an accident linked to Mitchells construction business reveals evidence related to a famous murderer dubbed the Silver Bells Killer, a case thats been inactive for 14 years. Coincidentally, thats about the length of time as the familys black sheep, Garrett (Antony Starr), has been away.

The brooding Garrett resurfaces and behaves as if hes a few pages short of a manifesto, immediately raising everyones suspicions. Viewers who were fans of Starrs work on the Cinemax noir series Banshee may be entertained by the immediate sartorial similarities between Garrett and Starrs previous character, Lucas Hood. But the parallels end there, because even the squirrel-eating Garrett isnt all that compelling. None of the Hawthornes is particularly exciting to watch, actually  not even little Jack, a kid whose obsession with morbidity is meant to be chilling, but mostly just makes him annoying.

American Gothic eventually reveals itself to be a pedestrian murder mystery that slowly dies on the vine for want of interesting characters. This is no fault of the actors, most of whom have demonstrated their talent in far better work or, at least, in shows that were more exciting to follow. But sentimental attachment to the casts past performances isnt enough to carry this series.

Does Alison suppress evidence linking the family to Silver Bells for reasons unrelated to her ambition? Is Cam, a recovering addict, secretly self-medicating a well-hidden murderous impulse? Is Tessas gentle facade hiding a grave evil? These potentially intriguing queries pale before a question that begins to dwarf the others: How does a rich family living in a house this huge fail to have the foresight to employ a butler they could frame?

Much in the way that most summertime series fade from our memory before the leaves begin to turn, American Gothic is likely destined to be forgotten. Lets hope that the next project with the title aspires to do better. Otherwise, Wood himself would be justified in bringing along a few torch carriers with his pitchfork.

Related stories

CBS Sets Summer Premiere Dates for 'BrainDead,' 'American Gothic' and More

Murder Mystery 'American Gothic' Gets Series Order at CBS
Superstar Akshay Kumar is known to be an early riser and a quick finisher. His films complete on schedules as he is methodical and plans his time accordingly. He is one of the very few actors who does atleast 3-4 films a year, all of which are different Sent from my iPhone.

This time too the Kumars have headed to Italy and Switzerland for their summer break. Twinkle Khannas closest friend Gayatri Joshis family has also joined them on this wonderful vacation. Last year, these two families took a vacation in the South of France.

With regards to their frequent vacations, author Twinkle Khanna had tweeted, As I get older,I travel more.I can see the finishing line faintly in the mist ahead and before I reach there,I want to see it all.Au revoir.

Recommended Read: My Kids Will Have to Earn Everything they get in Life: Akshay Kumar

Twinkle Khanna who is known for her peculiar tongue-in-cheek humor captioned the photo quite wonderfully.

Check it out!
(Reuters) - Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) said on Monday it acquired London-based Magic Pony Technology, a machine-learning startup that specializes in working with images, to deliver better video and picture content.

Twitter did not disclose the financial terms of the deal. Technology news website TechCrunch cited sources saying the deal was worth $150 million. (http://tcrn.ch/28IW80e)

"Magic Pony's technology ... will be used to enhance our strength in live and video (imagery) and opens up a whole lot of exciting creative possibilities for Twitter," Twitter Chief Executive Jack Dorsey wrote in a blog post. (http://bit.ly/28Jbum8)

Magic Pony Technology, which has been around for 18 months, will join Cortex, Twitter's team of engineers, data scientists, and machine learning researchers, Twitter said.

The acquisition is Twitter's third in the machine-learning space in three years. It acquired Whetlab in 2014 and Madbits in 2015.

Twitter shares were up 2.2 percent at $16.46 in late afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

(Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)
Transgender writer and activist Tyler Ford went on an epic tweetstorm on Friday, calling out a systemic problem within the fashion industry: the misgendering of transgender and gender nonconforming models.

"When the makeup artist calls you 'she' & the hairdresser calls you 'he' but the shoot is supposed to be highlighting trans folks #No," the 24-year-old wrote, without specifying a perpetrator. "If you're in charge of a shoot featuring a trans or non-binary person, you need to make everyone on set aware of their pronouns."

if you're in charge of a shoot featuring a trans or non-binary person, you need to make everyone on set aware of their pronouns.

Ford, who is and uses they and them pronouns, wasn't issuing a public complaint, but rather making their unfortunate situation a call to action, with steps on how photo shoots can become more inclusive to folks who identify as transgender or outside of the gender binary:

make an announcement BEFORE i get to set. send an email BEFORE the shoot with my pronouns + this link for practicing http://pronoun.is

put everyone's pronouns on the call sheet so it normalizes the "what are your pronouns" question & people have it on hand for reference.

Ford made it clear that though they are an activist, their work as such should need not be put to the test when they are hired for a modeling shoot.

show that you actually care about trans folks rather than about getting "ally points" for "including" us.

Sadly, as they revealed, this is not a one-time offense, but rather an all-too-common occurrence at odds with the industry's ever-intensifying veneer of inclusivity.

Ford expressed the sad truth that they have been misgendered on every single set they've ever been on, calling it not only "unprofessional as all hell," but an act of violence.

i've been misgendered on every single set i've ever been on. this is not a one-time occurrence - it is the norm. do better.

While trans and gender nonconforming models are more visible than ever  seen with the successes of Andreja Peji? in Vogue, Hari Nef walking the Gucci runway and Benjamin Melzer covering German Men's Health  their treatment on-set remains a vital misstep, with many shoots half-heartedly attempting to include trans/GNC identities while (perhaps unknowingly) making them feel invalidated or violated in the process.

"When you make the decision to not respect someone's pronouns, what you are ultimately saying is that their personal truth is something you are more knowledgeable about than them," wrote trans writer Sam Dylan Finch in a personal essay on their websi

Source: Mic/Benedict Evans/Instagram

And it's the casual nature in which these interactions occur that Ford highlights as being the most threatening of all, correlating this sort of erasure to the Orlando massacre.

don't pretend that the ways u "casually" abuse/dehumanize LGBTQ folks isn't directly correlated to physical violence like the pulse shooting

Hopefully this can incentivize those on shoots to not only use the correct pronouns of the models  or anyone  on set, but to realize the importance of doing so.
United States Commodity Funds (USCF), the issuer of popular commodities exchange traded funds such as the United States Oil Fund (USO) and the United States Brent Oil Fund (BNO) , is planning an exchange traded product that focuses on Canadian oil.

California-based USCF is working with Auspice Capital Advisors, Ltd. (Auspice), a Canada-based alternatives fund manager, to develop an ETF that tracks the price movements of the Canadian Crude Excess Return Index (CCIER).

Related: The Worst Could be Over for Oil ETFs

That index was created by Auspice to mirror the returns investors would receive if they held an approximately 3-month rolling fixed price position in the nearby Western Canadian Select futures contracts, including rolling and rebalancing. The CCIER is closely related to Auspices Canadian Crude Index (CCI), a benchmark that provides a reference price for the bulk of the crude oil produced and traded in Canada (ticker CDNCRUDE). Both are published and calculated by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), according to a statement issued by Auspice and USCF.

After lagging over the past couple of years, oil ETFs such as BNO and USO, have helped drive the commodities complex higher in 2016.

Trending on ETF Trends

Palladium ETF Shines as Chinese Automobile Demand Jumps

Silver ETFs Surge Thanks to Safe-Haven Demand

A Very Bullish Call for Oil ETFs

A New Leg up Could be Coming for Gold ETFs

Oil ETFs Rebound on Easing Brexit Concerns

Fundamentals are improving in the energy market. For example, U.S., India and other major consumers are seeing increased demand, the Wall Street Journal reports. On the supply side, U.S. shale production has fallen off in response to the collapsed prices, and producers like Nigeria and Canada have experienced disruptions.

Related: Oil ETFs at 7 Month High on Falling U.S. Inventories

OPEC has kept up production to pressure high-cost rivals, such as the developing U.S. shale oil producers. The International Energy Agency expects it will take several years before OPEC can effectively price out high-cost producers.

Canadian crude oil is a natural complement to our suite of oil funds, which include the U.S. benchmark (WTI) and the global benchmark (Brent). USCF offers access to WTI via the United States Oil Fund (USO) and Brent via the United States Brent Oil Fund (BNO), said John Love, President and CEO of USCF, in the statement.

For more information on the oil market, visit our oil category .
By Robert Iafolla WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court agreed on Monday to review a lower court decision that invalidated part of a former U.S. labor board officials tenure, in a case that could curb the next presidents power to staff top positions in his or her administration. The justices will hear an appeal of a 2015 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit saying that once President Barack Obama nominated Lafe Solomon in 2011 to be general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Solomon should not have continued to fill the position on a temporary or "acting" basis pending Senate confirmation. The appeals court said a 1998 federal law bars anyone from serving in an acting role while they are the nominee unless they were previously the "first assistant" to that post. The Supreme Courts ruling in the case could decide if the White House can temporarily fill high-level administration positions with nominees waiting for confirmation, which could take on added importance if the next president faces protracted nomination battles in the Senate. The case will give the Supreme Court a second chance to weigh in on executive branch authority related to filling positions at the NLRB. In 2014, the court in NLRB v. Noel Canning ruled that three 2013 appointments Obama made to the board while Congress was in recess were invalid. Although Obama withdrew Solomons stalled nomination in 2013, about six current high-level officials are serving on an acting basis while they await a Senate vote, including officials at the Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency, the NLRB said in its petition for review. Former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush also tapped officials to permanently fill the posts that they were manning in a temporary capacity, the NLRB said. Clinton, Bush and Obama all relied on an interpretation of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act that viewed the restriction on first assistants as only applying to people who automatically become acting officers under a chain of command, rather than those nominated by the president, the NLRB said. But the D.C. Circuit, as well as the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2016 ruling, have disagreed. The case is NLRB v. SW General Inc, No. 15-1251, in the U.S. Supreme Court. (Reporting by Robert Iafolla, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi)
By Andrea Shalal BERLIN (Reuters) - Top U.S. Navy officials say increased U.S. and NATO exercises in eastern Europe do not amount to "saber-rattling," but are necessary steps to train with allies and deter the most aggressive Russian maritime expansion in 30 years. Vice Admiral James Foggo, who heads the U.S. Navy's fleet in Europe and oversaw the annual NATO exercise that just ended in the Baltic Sea, told Reuters he was braced for incidents such as the one last April when two Russian warplanes flew simulated attack passed near a U.S. guided missile destroyer. But he said this year's 'Baltops' exercise saw "much less Russian activity and harassment" than in 2015, and Russian officials had apparently shifted to more strategic messages by senior politicians than tactical incidents like the flyover. He said Russian surveillance ships did shadow U.S. ships during the exercise, and Russian jets and helicopters flew over U.S. and British ships, but they stayed at a safe altitude and acted professionally. Russian and U.S. officials also met recently to discuss ways to avoid incidents at sea, Foggo said. Foggo and Navy Secretary Ray Mabus both rejected comments from German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who warned this weekend that NATO exercises in eastern Europe could raise tensions with Russia at a time when more cooperation was needed. "What we shouldn't do now is to inflame the situation by loud saber-rattling and shrill war cries," Steinmeier told Bild newspaper in an interview published on Sunday. Mabus said the remarks likely reflected domestic political issues, and stressed that Germany was part of the 28-member NATO alliance, which had agreed by consensus to carry out the exercises in question. "Whats important is what comes out of NATO, and what comes out of the defense ministerial and the summit in Warsaw," Mabus told Reuters in an interview in Berlin. "And the aim and the resolution of NATO are pretty clear in terms of deterrence and reassurance." NATO is increasing its defenses in Poland and the three Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as part of a wider deterrent that NATO hopes will discourage Russia from a repeat of its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014. Russia sees NATO's deterrence plans as hostile. Mabus said increased U.S. shipbuilding deliveries - with the current fleet of 274 ships expected to grow to 308 by 2021 - would also allow the U.S. Navy to increase its presence in Europe for the first time in 15 years, even as it also boosts its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. "Baltops was not about saber-rattling," Foggo said in an interview from his headquarters in Naples, Italy. "It was not our intent to look like or act like an aggressor force."He said Russia - which last participated in the Baltops exercise in 2012 - could be invited to resume participation if its behavior improved. But he said it was still unclear that Russia would want to participate. Foggo said NATO and the U.S. Navy needed to maintain dialogue with Russia to minimize the risk of accidents, while also keeping an eye on a 50 percent increase in Russian naval operations. He cited Russian plans to deploy six more submarines in the Black Sea, and said U.S. officials reported a level of submarine operations in the Mediterranean not seen since 1999. "We need to be vigilant and we need to hone our anti-submarine warfare skills," he said. "You must negotiate from a position of strength." (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Markets remain cautious due to global uncertainties Updated: 2016-06-20 17:17 By LI XIANG(chinadaily.com.cn)

An investor looks at an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.[Photo/IC]

Uncertainties surrounding a potential departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the outcome of the US presidential elections will continue to grip markets in the months ahead, Dominic Rossi, global chief investment officer at Fidelity International said on Monday.

Rossi said that global stock markets are expected to record only moderate growth during the second half of 2016 on the back of intense political risks.

But earnings growth in 2017 underpinned by a stable dollar and stabilized commodities prices should provide ample buying opportunities, he noted.

"The economic fundamentals in certain developed markets are however improving, with industrial production and domestic consumption edging up, boding well for global growth prospects," Rossi said in a press statement.

"European industrial production has been surprisingly resilient and has recently accelerated and a modest rise in manufacturing surveys has also been observed in both the US and China," he added.

Raymond Ma, a portfolio manager at Fidelity International said innovations will become China's key growth driver in the next decade.

Ma said Fidelity International continues to remain biased towards the "New China" sectors  consumer-related and services as well as industrial upgrading sectors.

In particular, he expects companies that have strong technological knowhow and innovative products to witness the highest growth in the foreseeable future.
By Tracy Rucinski CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S. government agency created after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill plans in coming weeks to unveil tougher financial requirements for offshore oil producers aimed at protecting taxpayers from the risk of cleaning up abandoned oil rigs, an agency executive told Reuters. Under the new guidelines, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will demand additional guarantees to cover producers' legal obligation to plug offshore wells and dismantle rigs in the Outer Continental Shelf once they have extracted oil and gas, according to Renee Orr, chief of Strategic Resources at the agency. Currently, companies are exempt from providing supplemental bonds for the cleanup-process, known as decommissioning, if the total estimated liability is less than half of their net worth. The stricter bonding rules, which will demand more capital of more companies, were proposed by the federal agency in September and will be implemented this year, Orr said. They follow more than 80 bankruptcy filings by North American oil and gas producers since the beginning of 2015, when plunging oil prices gripped the sector, triggering concerns at the agency that companies would walk away from clean-ups. "BOEM's primary goal is to ensure that the U.S. taxpayer never has to pay for decommissioning OCS facilities," Orr said in an interview. Randall Luthi, president of National Ocean Industries Association, which represents the U.S. offshore energy industry, said in an interview: "We're looking forward to being able to review the guidance in detail and are hopeful that it provides flexibility to both the agency and the industry." If a company defaults on its financing obligations, the government will track down previous owners or operators of the wells, Orr said. Leases on many of the wells were originally owned by oil majors like BP, Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp. BALANCE SHEET PRESSURE Under the new rules, companies will be exempt from providing additional clean-up guarantees only if the total estimated liability is less than 10 percent of a company's net worth. It will be particularly difficult for companies to meet the new criteria given that net worth, which is closely tied to the value of proven reserves, has shrunk during a prolonged oil price slump. This could pose a hurdle for producers that are already struggling to make interest payments on their debt, some restructuring advisers said. "Bankruptcies have triggered BOEM's enthusiasm for bonding, but as industry groups have commented, the proposed cure may actually put more of them into bankruptcy," said Poe Leggette, co-leader of law firm BakerHostetler's energy team, which represents offshore producers. To mitigate financial risk for the companies, the government is working with small and large producers to craft tailored financial plans, Orr said. The agency already has met privately with dozens of oil-and-gas producers and insurers to lay out its new rules, which may permit additional forms of security previously not allowed, such as third-party guarantees and U.S. treasury notes, she said. Two energy exploration and production companies, Stone Energy and W&T Offshore, have been told by the agency that they no longer qualify for bonding exemptions for their Gulf of Mexico operations under the current rules. Both companies said in SEC filings that they are in discussions with the agency to meet its demands for hundreds of millions of dollars in guarantees to cover offshore clean-ups. In separate SEC filings, Stone Energy said it was considering a prepackaged bankruptcy petition, while W&T announced debt restructuring talks with its creditors. Neither company responded to requests for comment. (Reporting by Tracy Rucinski; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Dan Grebler)
By David Lawder and Roselle Chen

WASHINGTON/ORLANDO, Fla. (Reuters) - U.S. officials will release transcripts of phone calls placed to emergency 911 dispatchers by a gunman during a shooting rampage a week ago that killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said on Sunday.

Omar Mateen, 29, who died in a gunfight with police at the end of the attack, is said by authorities to have repeatedly paused during his three-hour siege to call 911 and post internet messages from inside the Pulse nightclub professing his support for Islamist militant groups.

Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union" program, Lynch said partial transcripts of Mateen's three 911 calls would be made public on Monday. She said they would include the "substance of his conversations," recorded as the security guard carried out the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Lynch said investigators were focused on building a complete profile of Mateen, a New York-born U.S. citizen and Florida resident of Afghan descent who has been described by U.S. officials as "self-radicalized" in his extremist sympathies.

The Pulse massacre, which also left 53 people wounded, has spawned a week of national mourning and soul-searching over the easy accessibility of firearms and the vulnerability of people in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community to hate crimes.

In the largest public show of solidarity yet for victims in the central Florida city where the June 12 slayings unfolded, thousands of people gathered at a lakeside park in Orlando for a memorial vigil on Sunday evening.

Many waved rainbow-striped flags with the message "Orlando Strong," while others wore T-shirts emblazoned with the slogans "Orlando United" and "Orlando Love." Organizers strolled through the ethnically diverse assembly of young and old handing out white daisies. As twilight fell, candles were lit and held aloft by the crowd.

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Many were moved to tears by the outpouring of emotion, briefly heightened as an actual rainbow arched across partly cloudy skies over the lake.

"We are all mourning for the people who died, and we totally condemn this act of violence," said Safia Akhtar, 71, a Pakistani native who lives in Orlando and works as a real estate agent. She carried a sign that read: "Muslims condemn extremism."

'TALKING TO EVERYONE WHO KNEW HIM'

Authorities have said preliminary evidence indicates Mateen was a mentally disturbed individual who acted alone and without direction from outside networks, despite a pledge of loyalty he made to the Islamic State militant group in one of his phone calls. Lynch told ABC's "This Week" program that the transcripts being released on Monday would not include such a pledge.

The attorney general, who will travel to Orlando on Tuesday to confer with investigators and meet survivors and victims' loved ones, declined to say whether a federal grand jury was likely to charge Mateen's second wife, Noor Salman, or anyone else.

U.S. officials have said Salman knew of her husband's plans to carry out the attack.

"Because this investigation is open and ongoing, we're not commenting on anyone else's role in it right now, except to say that we are talking to everyone who knew him, and that of course includes his family, to determine what they knew, what they saw in the days and weeks leading up to this," Lynch said.

On Capitol Hill, the Orlando massacre has triggered a fresh effort to break a long-standing stalemate in Congress over gun control.

The Senate was set to vote on Monday on four competing measures  two from Democrats and two from Republicans - to expand background checks on gun buyers and curb gun sales for people on terrorism watch lists.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey said last week that Mateen was on a watch list between May 2013 and March 2014 while under investigation after claiming a connection to or support for multiple Islamist extremist groups.

In an interview on the CBS show "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Comey said politicians were misguided in thinking tougher gun restrictions would stop someone intent on carrying out a massacre.

Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for the Nov. 8 election, said he shared the goal of keeping guns out of the hands of people on watch lists.

"We have to make sure that people that are terrorists or have even an inclination toward terrorism cannot buy weapons, guns," he said on ABC's "This Week."

But partisan divisions continue to cast doubts over whether Congress will pass new gun control legislation anytime soon.

Wayne LaPierre, chief executive of the powerful National Rifle Association gun rights lobby, said the Democratic proposals would undermine the due process rights of people unfairly put on watch lists, a view widely shared among Republican lawmakers.

(Writing by Frank McGurty and Steve Gorman; Editing by Paul Simao and Peter Cooney)
By Lawrence Hurley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday left in place gun control laws in New York and Connecticut that ban military-style assault weapons like the one used in last week's massacre at an Orlando nightclub, rejecting a legal challenge by gun rights advocates.

The court's action underlined its reluctance to insert itself into the simmering national debate on gun control. The Supreme Court issued important rulings in gun cases in 2008 and 2010 but has not taken up a major firearms case since.

The justices declined to hear an appeal of an October ruling by the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld laws prohibiting semiautomatic weapons and large capacity magazines in the two northeastern states.

"Sensible gun safety legislation works. The Supreme Court's action today in declining to hear this appeal affirms that the reforms enacted in Connecticut following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School were reasonable, sensible and lawful," Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen, a Democrat, said.

The New York and Connecticut laws, among the strictest in the nation, were enacted after a gunman with a semiautomatic rifle killed 20 young children and six educators in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

The gunman in the June 12 attack at an Orlando gay nightclub that killed 49 people, the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, used a semiautomatic rifle that would have been banned under the New York and Connecticut laws.

"The overwhelming majority of responsible gun owners want reasonable and effective gun control legislation," New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said. "They know that there is no place for weapons of war on the streets of America. New York's assault weapons ban keeps New Yorkers safer - period."

Schneiderman, a Democrat, urged other states to enact similar laws.

The legal challenge mounted by gun rights groups and individual firearms owners asserted that the New York and Connecticut laws violated the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment guarantee of the right to bear arms. The court denied the appeal with no comment or recorded vote.

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The challengers to the Connecticut law said it banned "some of the most popular firearms in America," guns they said are owned by millions of Americans for the lawful purposes of self-defense, hunting and recreational shooting. The state said these kinds of guns are used in "the most heinous forms of gun violence."

In December, the court declined to hear a challenge to a Illinois town's assault weapons ban. But the justices in March threw out a Massachusetts court ruling that stun guns are not covered by the Second Amendment and sent the case back to the state's top court for further proceedings.

The United States has among the most permissive gun rights in the world. Because the U.S. Congress long has been a graveyard for gun control legislation, some states and localities have enacted their own measures.

In total, seven states and the District of Columbia ban semiautomatic rifles. A national law barring assault weapons expired in 2004. Congressional Republicans and some Democrats, backed by the influential National Rifle Association gun rights lobby, foiled efforts to restore it.

In the aftermath of the Orlando massacre, the Senate was taking up gun legislation on Monday, although the four measures were not expected to win passage.

There is a longstanding legal debate over the scope of Second Amendment rights.

In the 2008 District of Columbia v. Heller case, the Supreme Court held for the first time that the Second Amendment guaranteed an individual's right to bear arms, but the ruling applied only to firearms kept in the home for self-defense. That ruling did not involve a state law, applying only to federal regulations.

Two years later, in the case McDonald v. City of Chicago, the court held that the Heller ruling covered individual gun rights in states.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham)
(Adds company, EU lawyers' reaction, details from ruling)

By Lawrence Hurley

WASHINGTON, June 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday limited the scope of federal racketeering law, handing R.J. Reynolds a victory in its effort to fend off a lawsuit by European Union nations accusing the cigarette maker of running a global money-laundering scheme involving narcotics smuggling into Europe.

The court, in its 4-3 ruling, reversed a lower-court decision that backed the EU and 26 member states, finding that the racketeering law does not extend to claims not made by U.S. authorities concerning conduct that takes place overseas.

"We are certainly pleased with the court's decision today. The company has long believed that the EU's claims are legally and factually baseless," Jeff Raborn, Reynolds' vice president and assistant general counsel, said in a statement.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based R.J. Reynolds is part of Reynolds American Inc, the second-largest U.S. tobacco company with brands including Camel and Pall Mall.

David Frederick, a lawyer for the EU states, said the litigation will continue in federal district court on certain remaining claims.

The case focused on whether the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), a U.S. law used to target illegal conspiracies including organized crime, applied to overseas conduct.

Writing for the court, Justice Samuel Alito said RICO can apply to overseas activity in some instances but not in legal action not brought by the U.S. government. Under the ruling, the federal government can bring both civil and criminal claims under the law based on overseas conduct, an outcome the Justice Department had requested in court papers.

The EU countries accused R.J. Reynolds in 2002 of directing a decade-long scheme from the United States that involved the smuggling of illegal narcotics into Europe by Colombian and Russian crime groups, the laundering of proceeds from the sale of those drugs, and the use of the proceeds by importers to buy R.J. Reynolds cigarettes.

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The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York ruled in 2014 that the case could go forward.

Cory Andrews, a lawyer with the Washington Legal Foundation conservative advocacy group, said the racketeering law was enacted to combat organized crime but that plaintiffs' lawyers had tried to expand its reach to include the overseas actions of U.S. companies.

"The Supreme Court's decision today, by clarifying that a private RICO plaintiff must be able to allege and prove a domestic injury, puts a welcome end to that gambit," Andrews said.

Only seven justices took part in the case. Antonin Scalia died in February. Sonia Sotomayor recused herself.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Will Dunham)
(Adds details on case, paragraphs 3-8)

By Lawrence Hurley

WASHINGTON, June 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a group of black South Africans seeking to revive human rights litigation aiming to hold Ford Motor Co and IBM Corp liable for allegedly conducting business that helped perpetuate racial apartheid.

The justices left in place a 2015 ruling by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York that favored the two companies. That court decided that the plaintiffs failed to show that there was a close connection between decisions made or actions taken by Ford and IBM in the United States to killings, torture and other human rights abuses that took place in South Africa from the 1970s to early 1990s.

Ford was accused of providing military vehicles for South African security forces and sharing information about anti-apartheid and union activists. IBM was accused of providing technology and training to perpetuate racial separation and the "denationalization" of black South Africans.

Apartheid refers to South Africa's former white-minority government's policy of segregating and oppressing the majority black population from 1948 to 1994.

The plaintiffs, led by Lungisile Ntsebeza, sued more than a decade ago under the Alien Tort Statute, a 1789 U.S. law that lets non-U.S. citizens seek damages in American courts for human rights abuses abroad.

But the U.S. Supreme Court significantly narrowed the reach of that law in 2013, leading U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin in 2014 to dismiss the South African plaintiffs' case.

Germany's Daimler AG and Rheinmetall AG were dismissed as defendants in the case in 2013. Dozens of other companies were previously dismissed.

Apartheid ended in 1994 when South Africa held its first all-race elections, bringing Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress to power.

(Reporting by Lawrence Hurley. Additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel.; Editing by Will Dunham)
By Asad Hashim LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - As taxi hailing giant Uber enters Pakistan, a little-known local competitor is counting on a mix of new ideas and old technology to tap what could be a big chunk of the market: low-income residents who travel in rickshaws, not cabs. Known as Rixi, the Lahore-based service hails rickshaws instead of cars. Its platform is not smartphones, but older SMS phone messaging that allows nearby drivers to bid for any user's business. Pakistan has more than 130 million cellphone subscriptions, but only 21 percent subscribe to data packages, and, while the proportion is rising, there are opportunities across emerging economies in Asia to tap a relatively low-tech customer base. In Thailand, Taxi Radio uses calls and text messages to put cabs and people in touch and is popular with those without smartphone apps, and HeyKuya!, an SMS-based service provider in the Philippines, was recently acquired by Indonesia's YesBoss. Rixi founder Adnan Khawaja says his company works with more than 1,000 rickshaw drivers in Lahore, where many people rely on small, noisy three-wheelers that are well suited to beating traffic in the eastern city's crowded streets. Rixi works by bypassing poor smartphone penetration in the low-income rickshaw market by polling drivers' locations using cellphone towers and matching passengers' messaged locations to points on Google Maps. "If you look at ... Uber's operational model, they will be depending on the smartphones," said Khawaja. "In countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, that population is [...] growing, but it's still smaller compared to the vast market." Uber declined to comment on Rixi's business model, and said that while it had tested SMS-based services, there were no immediate plans to deploy such a service in Pakistan. "We continue to explore products that would stimulate demand ... and better service the city, whether that is a motorbike, whether that is a rickshaw, whether that is a chopper," said Zohair Yousafi, Uber's head of expansion in Pakistan. To entrepreneurs like Shehmir Shaikh, who recently launched errand start-up Scooty Bhejo in Lahore, Uber is missing a trick over Pakistan's digital divide and its large, low-income transport market. "Abroad, Uber has made waves because of the readily available technology that people are using, like iPhones in their hands," he said. "We don't have that here. (And) the major form of transport is not cars." ROADBLOCKS TO SUCCESS Adam Ghaznavi, a technology entrepreneur who has studied the rickshaw market, thinks Pakistan will not necessarily be a large market for taxi ride hailing apps like Uber, but it could be very lucrative for an equivalent app for rickshaws. "If somebody can figure that out, the potential is huge," he said. So far, Rixi says it has registered about 100,000 rides since it launched in late 2013, and is averaging about 100 rides a day. That's just a fraction of the roughly 200,000 trips that rickshaws in Lahore take every day, according to the Awami Rickshaw Union. "Rickshaw drivers do not know anything about these (online apps)," said Majeed Ghauri, head of the union, which represents the drivers of 60,000 of Lahore's roughly 80,000 registered rickshaws. "They simply want their daily wages." Ghauri said market dynamics and consumer behavior in the low-income market were markedly different from those in the taxi ride sharing arena. Moreover, Rixi's location-tracking, reliant as it is on imprecise cellphone tower triangulation and Google Maps, has thrown up some major kinks. Several customers complained that Rixi's service was unable to deliver on its promised 15-minute service delivery time. "Even in the most densely populated cities in the country, the accuracy is no more than a few hundred meters, which is not good enough for a driver looking for a passenger," said Danielle Sharaf, a technology entrepreneur whose company provides value-added services for cellphones. Rixi says it has an error rate of only three percent, and says mismatches are because of its reliance on external services such as Google Maps. Ghaznavi said a major hurdle to adoption in the Pakistani market is the lack of literacy, both traditional and digital, among rickshaw drivers and passengers, compared to those using taxi ride hailing apps. "The rise of the middle class is the key to resolving the rickshaw situation. Right now, the middle class is not traveling on a rickshaw, the lower middle class is," he said. (Additional reporting by Neil Jerome Morales in MANILA and Khettiya Jittapong in JAKARTA; Writing by Asad Hashim; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
LONDON, June 20 (Reuters) - British insurance broking would be better off if Britain remained in the European Union, an industry trade association said on Monday.

The British Insurance Brokers' Association said in a statement that while it remained apolitical, it had reached its position following discussion with its members.

Britain votes in a referendum on Thursday on whether to leave the EU.

Brexit would lead to uncertainty for businesses, while a lack of access to the "passporting" system enabling financial services to be sold across Europe could reduce business for brokers and choice for consumers, BIBA said.

"A 'remain' vote would stimulate investment and boost confidence that we will be able to continue to trade freely under the EU freedom of services provision," BIBA chairman David Hunt said in the statement.

Major insurers such as Lloyd's of London and Legal & General have spoken in favour of Britain remaining in the EU.

U.S. insurer AIG said last week it may look for a European headquarters outside London if Britain voted out.

But Dominic Burke, chief executive of broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson, was among 110 signatories to a letter from City of London figures earlier this year backing Brexit.

(Reporting by Carolyn Cohn; Editing by Ruth Pitchford)
LONDON (Reuters) - Twenty-one European insurance associations said on Monday it was in Britain's and the European Union's interests for Britain to remain in the EU, and a British insurance broking association said the sector would be better off if Britain remained.

Britain votes in a referendum on Thursday on whether to leave the EU.

The 21 trade bodies who signed an open letter released by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) include those from Norway and Switzerland which are not in the European Union, although both countries are part of the EU's single market.

"The UK is an active and positive partner which also has a firm and critical eye and is willing to challenge as required," the trade bodies said.

"This brings results for the UK, and is healthy for the whole of the EU."

The ABI did not sign the letter but has also said Britain should remain in the EU.

The British Insurance Brokers' Association, meanwhile, separately said on Monday it would be better for Britain to remain in the EU.

Brexit would lead to uncertainty for businesses, while a lack of access to the "passporting" system enabling financial services to be sold across Europe could reduce business for brokers and choice for consumers, BIBA said in a statement.

"A Remain vote would stimulate investment and boost confidence that we will be able to continue to trade freely under the EU freedom of services provision," BIBA chairman David Hunt said in the statement.

Major insurers such as Lloyd's of London [SOLYD.UL] and Legal & General have previously spoken in favour of Britain remaining in the EU.

U.S. insurer AIG said last week it may look for a European headquarters outside London if Britain voted out.

But Dominic Burke, chief executive of broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson, was among 110 signatories to a letter from City of London figures earlier this year backing Brexit.

(Reporting by Carolyn Cohn; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
By Kylie MacLellan and William James LONDON (Reuters) - When slain British lawmaker Jo Cox made her first speech in parliament last year, she said that despite diversity in the area of northern England she represented, people had "far more in common with each other than things that divide us". That comment by Cox, a mother of two young children who was murdered in the street last week by a man heard shouting "Britain first", was repeated by many lawmakers paying tribute to her life in a rare specially convened parliamentary session on Monday. Prime Minister David Cameron, opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and lawmakers from all parties praised 41-year-old Cox as a woman who fought hard for causes from women's rights to refugees. "Out of the deep darkness of Jo's death must now come the shining light of her legacy. So let us build a politics of hope not fear, respect not hate, unity not division," said Labour lawmaker Stephen Kinnock, who shared an office with Cox. Parliament had been recalled from campaigning for Thursday's European Union referendum, and Kinnock criticized a poster from one of the "Leave" campaigns showing a photo of refugees walking through a field in Europe under the slogan "Breaking Point". The head of that campaign, UKIP party leader Nigel Farage, accused pro-EU campaigners of trying to exploit Cox's death to discredit the "Leave" cause and accuse its activists of fanning racism. APPLAUSE Cox's constituency in the northern English county of Yorkshire has an ethnically diverse population. In the seat in the House of Commons where Cox often sat, one red and one white rose had been placed. Lawmakers wearing white roses, the emblem of her home region, spent just over an hour paying tribute to Cox before abandoning parliamentary etiquette to stand and applaud. In the gallery above the chamber, Cox's husband Brendan and children, aged three and five, sat with her mother, father and sister, at times smiling as lawmakers recalled stories about her life, and at other moments wiping tears from their eyes. "Thank you to the whole House and staff for your kindness and compassion to our family today and for describing so well the Jo we love. #MoreInCommon," Brendan Cox said on Twitter. Cox, who worked for aid agency Oxfam before entering parliament, was on her way to a meeting with constituents last week when she was shot and stabbed in the street in an attack. An online fundraising page set up to raise money for charities Cox cared about has raised nearly a million pounds. In Westminster, where lawmakers do much of their work in parliament, armed police patrol the entrances, corridors and halls. In their home electoral districts, or constituencies, more often than not, there is no security. (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan and William James)
Ambassador Wu will be always remembered Updated: 2016-06-20 08:10 By ZHANG HAIZHOU(China Daily)

File photo of Wu Jianmin.[Photo/IC]

I was in Vietnam on Friday, and had a chance to meet a senior Filipino diplomat. Talking about how China and the Philippines should improve their strained ties under incoming President Rodrigo Duterte, he suggested inviting one prominent and open-minded Chinese diplomat to give a lecture in Manila later this year.

"Who do you think would be the right one?" I asked.

"Ambassador Wu Jianmin," the Filipino replied, without any hesitation. "He is a truly respectful diplomat for his exceptional manner, decency, and global view. I'm sure he will be welcomed."

He then asked if I could help. I accepted the request and said I would contact the 77-year-old former Chinese ambassador to France once I was back in the office on Monday.

But a huge shock came on Saturday morning, when Wu tragically passed away in a fatal car accident in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, that morning. He was on his way to give a lecture at Wuhan University to share his views of the current international situation.

I was devastated for I have been a longtime supporter of Wu's thoughts and views. His sudden death would be a huge loss to China's diplomacy and the academia of international relations.

In China, Wu was known as a hardcore "pigeon", who advocated always using peaceful and diplomatic means, like dialogue, to resolve differences between countries, instead of resorting to hardline ways, like showing muscle.

He famously argued that "anyone who resorts to war will fall in the current era of peace and development".

He was even involved in some recent debates with "hawkish" pundits. Some netizens, even labeled Wu as a "traitor" to the country.

But I would say that Wu's views should be cherished and appreciated in today's world when we see the slowdown, even retreat, of globalization.

It has never been perfect and some even claim the process has brought vicious byproducts to the world, like the spread of international terrorism.

But globalization has been humanity's creative means in global governance after two world wars. It has brought the international community an unprecedented level of interdependence, making it more difficult and expensive for countries, especially great powers, to declare war against each other.

I have recently been reading History of the First World War, by famous British military historian B.H. Liddell Hart, and it elaborated how the rise of nationalism and sometimes ultra-nationalism, led to a military buildup among European powers and the First World War from 1914-18.

But unfortunately, we recently have seen signs of the retreat of globalization and the rise of nationalism. Donald Trump's run for the US presidency and the UK's coming referendum on whether to leave the European Union are both vivid examples.

A veteran diplomat whose career began in 1959, Wu was a man whose lifelong experience made him a solid opponent of nationalism.

He is a proponent of communication and integration, which are both needed for today's China, when the international environment, especially in our surrounding areas, is getting increasingly complicated.

Shocked by his sudden death, I posted on my WeChat account, which I rarely do, my mourning for the respected senior: "Ambassador Wu was one of the few Chinese diplomats with true global vision, at a time of the retreat of globalization and the rise of nationalism. I hope it (his death) was not real."

Moments later, I was very grateful to receive a comment from another "hawkish" Chinese international relations scholar, who used to harshly criticize Wu for his softline stance.

"My tribute to Ambassador Wu. China needs to have different voices," he said.

Indeed. A hardliner or softliner, nationalist or globalist, no matter what your choice, communication should always be encouraged.

Mr Wu, you will be always remembered for your thoughts and bravery.

The author is a staff writer who focuses on China's foreign affairs and international relations. zhanghaizhou@chinadaily.com.cn
By Kylie MacLellan and William James LONDON (Reuters) - When slain MP Jo Cox made her first speech in parliament last year, she said that despite diversity in the area of northern England she represented, people had "far more in common with each other than things that divide us". That comment by Cox, a mother of two young children who was murdered in the street last week by a man heard shouting "Britain first", was repeated by many MPs paying tribute to her life in a rare specially convened parliamentary session on Monday. Prime Minister David Cameron, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and MPs from all parties praised 41-year-old Cox as a woman who fought hard for causes from women's rights to refugees. "Out of the deep darkness of Jo's death must now come the shining light of her legacy. So let us build a politics of hope not fear, respect not hate, unity not division," said Labour lawmaker Stephen Kinnock, who shared an office with Cox. Parliament had been recalled from campaigning for Thursday's European Union referendum, and Kinnock criticised a poster from one of the "Leave" campaigns showing a photo of refugees walking through a field in Europe under the slogan "Breaking Point". The head of that campaign, UKIP party leader Nigel Farage, accused pro-EU campaigners of trying to exploit Cox's death to discredit the "Leave" cause and accuse its activists of fanning racism. APPLAUSE Cox's constituency in the northern English county of Yorkshire has an ethnically diverse population. In the seat in the House of Commons where Cox often sat, one red and one white rose had been placed. MPs wearing white roses, the emblem of her home region, spent just over an hour paying tribute to Cox before abandoning parliamentary etiquette to stand and applaud. In the gallery above the chamber, Cox's husband Brendan and children, aged three and five, sat with her mother, father and sister, at times smiling as MPs recalled stories about her life, and at other moments wiping tears from their eyes. "Thank you to the whole House and staff for your kindness and compassion to our family today and for describing so well the Jo we love. #MoreInCommon," Brendan Cox said on Twitter. Cox, who worked for aid agency Oxfam before entering parliament, was on her way to a meeting with constituents last week when she was shot and stabbed in the street in an attack. An online fundraising page set up to raise money for charities Cox cared about has raised nearly a million pounds. In Westminster, where MPs do much of their work in parliament, armed police patrol the entrances, corridors and halls. In their home electoral districts, or constituencies, more often than not, there is no security. (Reporting by Kylie MacLellan and William James)
United Nations (United States) (AFP) - UN chief Ban Ki-moon will meet with Saudi Arabia's deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman Wednesday as the world body and Riyadh lock horns over the conflict in Yemen.

The two are to meet at midday at UN headquarters in New York, said Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq, who gave no details of their agenda.

Tensions flared recently when the UN briefly blacklisted the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, after an expert report found it responsible for 60 percent of the 785 children killed in the country last year.

The blacklisting infuriated Saudis, and the UN removed the coalition from the list pending a fact review.

Ban went on to publicly accuse Riyadh -- a major UN donor -- and its allies of financial blackmail, saying they threatened to cut off funds to certain UN agencies, including a Palestinian aid program.

Saudi Arabia has rejected both those charges and the report's findings.

The Riyadh-led military intervention is supporting the Yemeni government in its fight against Iran-allied Huthi Shiite rebels, primarily through air strikes that began in March 2015.

The Saudi government has requested that the UN send a team of experts to the coalition headquarters in Riyadh to jointly review the report and for the UN to provide details on its sources and methods.

The UN has not yet responded to the invitation and has indicated that any such meetings should take place in New York.

Prince Mohammed holds great sway in the Saudi hierarchy, and also serves as the country's defense minister.

He met Friday with US President Barack Obama, as well as Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and CIA Director John Brennan.

President Obama praised Saudi efforts to reach a political agreement to end conflict in Yemen.
Richard Martinez is spending Father's Day at a restaurant he used to go to with his son Christopher. But for the third holiday in a row, Christopher isn't there to celebrate it with him.



On May 23, 2014, Christopher, then 20, and five others were killed in a rampage near the University of California, Santa Barbara. The college student was killed at the IV Deli Mart in Isla Vista, California.



"He was hit by one bullet and it went really close to his heart. He just fell and died," Richard, 63, tells PEOPLE. "I lost my son to gun violence in this country and I'm angry. It's so unfair that Chris died in this way."





'It's So Unfair That Chris Died In This Way' Says Father of the 20-Year-Old Murdered in The 2014 Santa Barbara Massacre| Crime & Courts, Death, Murder, Personal Tragedy, Shootings, True Crime





Richard, a criminal defense attorney, says he understands what the families of the 49 victims in Orlando are going through after the shooting at Pulse nightclub.



"They had to wait hours to find out what happened and you're hoping during that whole time that somehow your child survived," he says. "At the same time you've been texting and calling."



Each mass shooting since then has motivated Richard to do everything in his power to change legislation.



He's traveled to dozens of states voicing his support to reduce gun violence and partnered with Everytown for Gun Safety, a group founded after the Newtown, Connecticut, elementary school shooting.



"Every second that passes were getting that much closer to the next mass shooting," he says. "There is going to be another one and congress is doing absolutely nothing."



He says that he's while legislation isn't going to prevent all shooting deaths, it could drastically reduce the numbers.





'It's So Unfair That Chris Died In This Way' Says Father of the 20-Year-Old Murdered in The 2014 Santa Barbara Massacre| Crime & Courts, Death, Murder, Personal Tragedy, Shootings, True Crime





"It's the 21st century in the United States of America and you can't tell me that we can't do better than this," he says.



Richard, who was "very close" with his son, adds that while people on the "other side" say that background checks don't work, they do in a significant amount of cases.



"People die wearing seat belts but that's not an argument to say that just because some people still die that we should stop wearing them," he says. "What happened to my son is not evidence for the argument that background checks don't work so we shouldn't have them  it shows that we need to make the background checks better."







He adds: "We need to have more information about people's metal health that entered into the database and prevents dangerous people like the seriously mentally ill, criminals and domestic abusers from getting guns."



The last time Richard and his ex-wife Karen saw Christopher was on Mother's Day in 2014.



"We had brunch and then we walked him out to the parking lot. We said goodbye and watched him get in his car and drive away," says Richard who wears bands on his wrists that are given to him by other people who lost a family to gun violence.



At times, he's "felt discouraged with the things I'm doing," but a few words his brother said to him has helped him to continue to push forward.



"He said, 'Don't think about that. Just do what you can do even if everything fails because it'll make it easier for the people after you to get it done.' We can't live in this country the way things are going with gun violence," he says.
Geopolitics has come to Hollywood in an unusual way, the subject of a new lawsuit from Universal Cable Productions after its insurer refused to cover expenses after rocket attacks were hurled into Israel.

USA Network's Dig, a mystery-thriller miniseries set in Jerusalem about an American FBI agent investigating a death, began filming in Israel before halting and then moving production to New Mexico as a result of security tensions in the region.

According to a complaint filed by Universal Cable Productions in California federal court on Monday, the U.S. State Department attributed the attacks to Hamas. When that happened, Universal says it submitted a claim to Atlantic Specialty Insurance Company, which denied coverage due to an exclusion for war or warlike action. Universal contends that coverage should have been provided because acts of terrorism are not excluded.

Thus, the very hot question this case poses is whether Hamas' acts were symptomatic of war between sovereign nations or should be classified as an act of terrorism.

"The United States government does not recognize the Gaza Strip as a sovereign territorial nation, and does not recognize Hamas as a sovereign government," states Universal in its complaint. "Rather, the United States government has officially designated Hamas as a terrorist organization. Nevertheless, Atlantic has ignored the United States government position and applicable law. It claims Hamas is a sovereign or quasi-sovereign government over the Gaza Strip territory (even though Atlantic admits the Gaza Strip is not a recognized sovereign nation), in a self-serving attempt to invoke the war exclusion and avoid its coverage obligations."

According to the complaint, a representative of Atlantic told NBCUniversal in a letter dated July 28, 2014, that "the terrorism coverage should not apply" because the focus of the acts "is not the United States or its policy" and "the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury has not certified the [Hamas/Israel] events as acts of terrorism."

Story continues

Ultimately, in March 2015, USA was able to complete and broadcast a 10-episode season of Dig, created by Homeland and Tyrant creator and Israeli director Gideon Raff.

But that's not stopping Universal from going to court to get reimbursed for more than $6.9 million in extra expenses after paying an insurance premium of more than $1.85 million. In the complaint, the plaintiff cites State Department reports and travel advisory warnings about Hamas and says that Atlantic initially agreed that an insured event had occurred before changing its position. The plaintiff, represented by Lucia Coyoca at Mitchell Silberberg, also demands exemplary and punitive damages.
Washington (AFP) - US airwaves should get ready soon for 5G wireless, the promising next generation of mobile networks that will help connect a myriad of devices, a top telecom regulator said Monday.

Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler announced he would propose a vote next month to free up large chunks of spectrum for 5G, which is expected to enable autonomous vehicles, smart cities, remote medicine and other innovations.

"If the United States is going to continue to be a world leader in wireless, we need to speed the deployment of 5G, here, on our shores," Wheeler said in a National Press Club speech.

Wheeler said the FCC will vote July 14 on his proposal that aims to allocate spectrum for the ultrafast wireless technology.

Even though most commercial deployments of 5G equipment are not expected until 2020, Wheeler said now is the time to act.

"We won't wait for the standards to be first developed in the sometimes arduous standards-setting process or in a government-led activity," he said.

"The interconnected world of the future will be the result of decisions we must make today. That is why 5G is a national priority, and why, this Thursday, I am circulating to my colleagues proposed new rules that will identify and open up vast amounts of spectrum for 5G applications."

The new 5G networks could open up a range of services by delivering data at up to 100 times the speed of current technology, enabling services such as remote surgery or driverless cars and allowing customers to experience video and virtual reality with ease.

"Yes, 5G will connect the Internet of Everything," Wheeler said. "If something can be connected, it will be connected in a 5G world."

Meredith Atwell Baker, president and chief executive of the industry group called CTIA the Wireless Association, welcomed the news, saying it is important for the US to lead this technology.

"America's current wireless success has stemmed, in large part, from the FCCs effort to be the first to auction 4G spectrum," Baker said in a blog post.

"That first-mover advantage enabled US mobile operators and innovators to invest billions in the world's first 4G LTE networks and smartphones we all love and benefit from today."

Baker also lauded the FCC's "stay out of the way" approach, saying it "will aim to avoid imposing regulations that could impede the rollout of the technology."
Washington (AFP) - The United States strongly rebuked its close Gulf ally Bahrain on Monday after the Sunni kingdom risked stirring unrest by stripping a top Shiite cleric of his citizenship.

Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, accuses Sheikh Isa Qassim -- spiritual leader of his country's Shiite community -- of stirring sectarianism on behalf of "foreign interests."

This is widely seen as code for Iran, a traditional foe of both Washington and its Gulf Arab allies, but the US State Department issued a strongly worded statement criticizing the move.

"We are alarmed by the government of Bahrain's decision to revoke the citizenship of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim," US spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

"We remain deeply troubled by the government of Bahrain's practice of withdrawing the nationality of its citizens arbitrarily," he said, citing concern that dissidents could be rendered stateless.

"Our concern is further magnified by reports that Sheikh Qassim was unable to respond to the accusations against him... or challenge the decision through a transparent legal process."

Kirby restated Washington's position that the best path to resolve political differences in Bahrain is through "reform and reconciliation," rather than through such legal action.

The move against Qassim came as the State Department itself came under pressure to release a long-delayed report into the progress or otherwise that Bahrain is making toward such reconciliation.

Kirby said the department is aware that it has been "delinquent" in failing to produce the report, but said staff were working hard on it and are "nearing the end stages" before its publication.
By Sarah Dagher CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan opposition sympathizers lined up on Monday around the country to validate signatures as part of a painstaking process to request a recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduro, who is deeply unpopular due to the country's economic crisis. The elections council has required that those who signed for a recall vote against the 53-year-old former bus driver return to polling stations to verify their signatures through fingerprint detection. Adversaries of the ruling Socialist Party say the requirement is part of a broader effort by the election council to stall the referendum at the behest of Maduro. "This is necessary because the political situation of the country is unsustainable, what we're living is horrible," said Jose Gomez, 45, a merchant, in a line of hundreds at one signature point in Caracas. "I feel terrible seeing neighbors selling television sets or belongings to be able to give food to their children." The recent slump in oil prices devastated the OPEC nation's socialist economic model, leading to snaking grocery lines, empty supermarket shelves and growing anger among the roughly 30 million residents. Maduro, elected in 2013 after the death of socialist leader Hugo Chavez, insists he is the victim of an "economic war" led by businesses with the backing of Washington. The elections council this month rejected more than 600,000 signatures of nearly 2 million collected by the opposition, including those of high-profile politicians such as two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles. The council also said the opposition handed over some 11,000 signatures corresponding to dead Venezuelans, which Socialist Party leaders cited as evidence the campaign is fraudulent. During the current phase of the process, the opposition must validate close to 200,000 signatures, equivalent to 1 percent of the number of registered voters. Doing so would give them a chance to conduct a second officially sanctioned signature drive, in which they would have to garner close to 4 million signatures in order to trigger the recall. Maduro and allies insist the referendum cannot take place this year because the opposition waited too long before beginning the referendum campaign. The timing is important because if Maduro loses a referendum this year, the elections council would call a new election - which polls indicate he would likely lose. Losing a referendum after January would mean he would be replaced by his vice president, effectively leaving the Socialist Party in power. (Writing by Brian Ellsworth; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Matthew Lewis)
Caracas (AFP) - Venezuelans seeking to remove President Nicolas Maduro from power launched a crucial phase Monday in their drive to hold a referendum on his rule in an economic and political crisis.

Here is a quick guide to the process:

PETITIONS

The opposition has submitted 1.3 million signatures to get electoral authorities to consider their referendum demand. That is more than six times the 200,000 needed to move to the next stage.

This week at least 200,000 of the names are meant to be authenticated by fingerprinting the signatories. After that, the opposition must gather a total four million signatures to demand a referendum be held.

In the referendum, in order to remove Maduro from office the number of votes in favor of doing so must be greater than the number he received in his 2013 election victory: some 7.5 million.

DEADLINES

Electoral authorities have set a July 23 deadline to authenticate 200,000 of the signatures of those who are submitting their fingerprints this week.

Then the opposition has three days to gather four million more signatures. After that the electoral council is supposed to fix a date for a referendum.

The opposition is hastening to complete the recall process by January 10, the cutoff date to trigger new elections.

After that date, a successful recall vote would simply pass power to Maduro's hand-picked vice president.

Opposition lawmaker Delsa Solorzano estimated the referendum would have to take place by early November to have a chance of succeeding against Maduro.

OBSTACLES

Maduro has challenged the referendum drive as unconstitutional in the Supreme Court. His opponents say he controls the court and the electoral authorities through his allies.

Maduro has warned he could take emergency measures if recent deadly looting and protests escalate. Such measures could prevent the recall referendum from taking place.

Time is also on Maduro's side. The opposition complains his influence over the electoral council can help him drag out the process so a vote does not happen this year.
Caracas (AFP) - Venezuelans queued to get fingerprinted Monday in a crucial phase of efforts to force President Nicolas Maduro from power, after food shortages sparked deadly protests and looting.

Thousands of Maduro's opponents lined up to submit their fingerprints so electoral authorities can authenticate signatures on a petition calling for a referendum on his rule.

The procedures, due to run until Friday, could make or break the bid to hold a recall vote on Maduro.

The opposition says he must be removed to rescue the South American country from economic disaster.

Crowds of citizens holding identity cards queued up to have their electronic prints taken at the National Electoral Council in Caracas and around the country.

"We want another country -- a nice one," said Amanda Zerpa, 59, leaning on a cane after giving her fingerprints.

"They are not governing the country well."

She had a heart attack seven months ago and, like many of her compatriots, has been struggling to get hold of medication.

Her clothes-selling business has suffered because she can no longer afford to buy stock abroad.

Of the 1.3 million signatures recorded by the electoral board in the initial petition, at least 200,000 must be authenticated to pass to the next phase.

The next step will require the collection of four million more signatures to call a full referendum.

- President resists -

Venezuela is grappling with an economic crisis sparked by the plunge in prices for its crucial oil exports.

People face shortages of basic foods and goods as well as electricity blackouts.

The opposition says Maduro's economic management is also to blame. They denounce the jailing of his political opponents.

Maduro is resisting efforts for a referendum. He has alleged irregularities in the signature process.

The country's food crisis erupted into deadly looting last week. Authorities said at least five people were killed and more than 400 arrested.

Story continues

The president has warned he may decree emergency measures if confronted with more violence.

Such measures could prevent the recall referendum from taking place.

- Referendum wanted this year -

The opposition is rushing to complete the recall process by January 10, the cutoff date to trigger new elections.

After that date, a successful recall vote would simply pass power to Maduro's hand-picked vice president.

Opposition lawmaker Delsa Solorzano said that the referendum would have to take place by early November to have a chance of succeeding against Maduro.

Maduro has challenged the referendum drive in the Supreme Court. His opponents say he controls the court and the electoral authorities through his allies.

Jorge Rodriguez, head of a panel appointed by the president to oversee the recall push, called the proceedings a "farce" by the opposition "trying to create a climate where violence would erupt."

The head of the electoral council Tibisay Lucena warned that any violence during this week's proceedings could cause the process to be suspended.

Maduro blames the crisis on an "economic war" by his capitalist rivals.

Analysts and some political leaders have warned of further unrest if the referendum is blocked.

"Venezuela is like a bomb that could explode at any moment," said senior opposition leader Henrique Capriles.

"If the social tension keeps rising, if starts to boil over, as is happening, the outburst is going to be much worse."
The wireline division of Verizon Communications Inc. VZ is again operating in full swing as the strike called by members of the two workers unions has officially come to an end on Jun 17, 2016. Nearly 36,500 workers of the companys wireline and cable TV (FiOS Internet and TV) segment went to strike since Apr 13, 2016.

On May 31, Verizon and the striking unions, The Communications Workers of America (CWA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), entered into a tentative deal following which all striking workers resumed work from Jun 1. However, union members were given a deadline of Jun 17 to vote on the tentative contract. Accordingly, the members of both unions voted and ratified the tentative agreement.

Verizon and its wireline workers were at a stalemate over a labor contract. The companys wireline employees were working out of contract since last August. In May 2016, the U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez met with the Verizon CEO and the heads of the two unions that represent the companys striking workforce. Perez requested both sides to sit at the negotiation table to resolve the issues.

The New Contract

Under the new contract, Verizon will provide a 10.9% pay hike to its unionized workers over a period of four years, a small increment in pension benefit and a promise to create nearly 1,400 new union jobs. This will include around 1,300 new call center jobs and about 70 wireless retail store jobs. Importantly, the company agreed to reduce subcontracting and withdrew a proposal to relocate employees for extended periods. These two were the main issues of the strike. The new contract is valid up to Aug 3, 2019.

Pros and Cons

Though Verizon had to make certain concessions, it stood to gain on some points. The company will be able to reduce benefit costs by modifying employee health-care plans. Verizon stated that it will achieve cost savings through healthcare plan design changes, adopting Medicare Advantage plans for its retirees, maintaining limits on post-retirement healthcare costs, and freezing the mortality table for lump sum pensions using the GATT rate.

Story continues

Verizons CEO had earlier warned that the companys second-quarter 2016 financial results may be affected by the strike. Lowell McAdam had stated that the company is currently on track with respect to repairing and maintenance issues of the existing installed bases. However, the number of new installations of FiOS high-speed Internet and FiOS pay-TV has dropped significantly. As a result, the company may suffer high-speed broadband and pay-TV customer attrition. In 2015, FiOS generated 29% of Verizons total revenue and slightly less than 7% of operating income.

Verizon is already facing severe competitive threat from its telecom rivals, AT&T Inc. T, T-Mobile US Inc. TMUS and Sprint Corp. S. Therefore, a solution to the labor problem will definitely be a tailwind to its near-term growth. Verizon currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

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Credit: Thos Robinson/Getty

After growing up in front of the cameras (with a recurring role on Zoey 101 at the age of 12 and her own show Victorious at 17), it's safe to say that Victoria Justice was exposed to fashion at a young age. Now, she's a front-row regular during New York Fashion Week and she slays every red carpet she graces. So who better than Justice to celebrate a store opening for one of Europe's most popular fast-fashion retailer? Primark recently unveiled its third location stateside, setting up shop in Danbury, Conn., and Justice brought her star power, along with an enthusiasm for all things Primark.

"It's a one-stop shop--you can get an entire outfit under $40," she says. "Now that summer is here, you can find really cute crop tops, high-waist shorts, and distressed jeans."

RELATED: How to Distress Your Jeans at Home

As it turns out, everything she rattled off was a list of pieces that comprise her personal off-duty uniform. "I love high-waist skinny jeans, especially with crop tops, because it makes them more tasteful--you're not showing off as much skin," she reveals. "And I love everything distressed."

But the one denim trend she doesn't see herself embracing?

"Cropped kick flare jeans," she reveals. "They remind me of elementary school jeans being too short and my wanting them to be longer. I don't know if I can get behind that."

Totally justified.
Frankfurt (AFP) - Embattled German auto giant Volkswagen will face the wrath of its shareholders at its annual meeting on Wednesday as it struggles to steer itself out of an unprecedented engine-rigging scandal.

Nine months after the "Dieselgate" affair, when it emerged VW had installed emissions-cheating software into 11 million diesel engines worldwide, the former paragon of German industry is still nowhere near drawing a line under its deepest ever crisis.

The costs of the affair are still incalculable and it is not yet known whether VW's own internal investigation will pinpoint the major culprits behind the scam.

But small shareholders are likely to use the upcoming AGM in the northern city of Hanover to let off steam at the way management has handled the affair.

On the eve of the meeting, prosecutors provided more fodder to the irate shareholders, as they said they were investigating former VW boss Martin Winterkorn for having allegedly manipulated the market by holding back information about emissions cheating at the automobile giant.

A second unnamed former member of the board was also under probe, but investigators said the suspect was not the group's current chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch, who was financial director when the scandal erupted in September.

Listed companies are required to disclose information that could affect market prices immediately.

But VW complied with its disclosure obligation only on September 22, 2015, prosecutors said, four days after US regulators went public that they were charging the company for emissions cheating.

Shareholders have accused management of dragging their feet in informing them about the scam, which led to a reeling 40-percent drop in the company's share price last autumn.

The stock has since recovered somewhat, but is still 26 percent below the levels before the scandal broke last September.

VW, which owns 12 brands ranging from Volkswagen and Porsche to Audi and SEAT, is facing regulatory fines, as well as a myriad of lawsuits from shareholders and car owners.

Story continues

Ulrich Hocker, head of the DSW association of small shareholders, told AFP he has been attending the company's AGMs for the past 20 years and he expects this one to be "very different, very contentious".

"There will be very little discussion about the group's operating performance. It will focus almost solely on the diesel engine scandal and claims for compensation," he predicted.

Nevertheless, the power those shareholders wield remains limited.

They hold just 11 percent of the voting rights in VW, while the founding families Porsche and Piech hold 52 percent, the regional state of Lower Saxony 20 percent and the Emirate of Qatar 17 percent.

- List of grievances -

Shareholder meetings in Germany tend to be long and drawn out as mom-and-pop investors stand up to have their say, but this one could stretch late into the evening.

A number of shareholder lobby groups, such as DSW and SdK, are demanding special enquiries into who should be held responsible for the affair, arguing that an investigation being carried out by US consultants Jones Day is not sufficiently independent.

Shareholders can also voice their discontent by withholding their formal "approval" of management actions over the course of the past year, normally only a formality at German AGMs.

But any such vote in the case will remain symbolic as VW's biggest shareholders are likely to give their support to the management.

The issue of the management board's pay is also likely to rile many, since the shareholders are seeing their annual dividend slashed to just 0.17 euro per share from 4.86 euros a year earlier, while board members are likely to still pocket generous bonuses.

The dividend proposal "will come under heavy fire," said Metzler bank analyst Juergen Pieper, while DSW's Ulrich Hocker slammed it as "ridiculous".

VW was compelled to set aside 16 billion euros in provisions to cover the costs of the affair so far, pushing it into a net loss of 1.6 billion euros, the carmaker's first loss in 20 years.
A wake was held Monday for Lane Graves, the 2-year-old boy who was snatched and killed by an alligator at Disney World last Tuesday.



The 3 p.m. CT vigil service took place at the Graves' place of worship, St. Patrick Catholic Church, in Elkhorn, Nebraska. The hour-long service was open to the public.



Lane's parents, Matthew and Melissa Graves, say they are overwhelmed by the support they've received from around the country since the tragic loss of their son.



"Melissa and I continue to deal with the loss of our beloved boy, Lane, and are overwhelmed with support and love we have received from family and friends in our community as well as from around the country," the family said in a statement.



"Neither Melissa, myself or anyone from our family will be speaking publicly; we simply cannot at this time," the statement continued.







Lane was playing in a foot of water in a lagoon near the Floridian Resort & Spa on Tuesday when the alligator attacked him, according to a witness. The toddler's father attempted to fight off the gator, suffering lacerations on his hand as a result, but could not save his son, according to the Associated Press.



His body was discovered by the Orange County Sheriff dive team on Wednesday.



The parents, along with 4-year-old daughter Ella, returned home to Elkhorn on Thursday.



Neighbors had decorated their home with blue and white balloons and tied ribbons around their mailbox.





Wake Held for 2-Year-Old Boy Killed by Alligator at Walt Disney World| Death, Real People Stories



"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 them during this difficult time," George A. Kalogridis, president of Walt Disney World Resort, said in a statement.



Lane's funeral will take place on Tuesday at 10 a.m. CT at St. Patrick Catholic Church.



The Omaha Community Foundation is accepting donations on behalf of the Graves family.
fake china sphinx

The Wall Street story on China has changed.

The restructuring reform promised last year is out the window. China has chosen risk.

Why? Well, because it can wait for now.

"In China specifically, where external debt is low, savings are ample, and maintaining high growth is a priority for policymakers, we do not see a sharp self-imposed tightening as likely in the near future," Goldman Sachs wrote in a note published to clients on Monday.

In other words, China isn't likely to start pulling back on the easy credit, or push through the tough reforms the economy requires, anytime soon. The problem with that is that, as debt builds, it's going to take more easing for policy makers to maintain high rates of growth.

The problem gets bigger. The solution gets harder to pull off. Says Goldman:

"This highlights the importance of interpreting policy signals (e.g. Japan's shift to policy rate hikes in 1989 and more aggressive controls on credit in 1990 proved a turning point, while investors in China have debated whether the recent People's Daily article featuring an 'authoritative figure' advocating reform signals a shift towards tighter policies)."

By "interpreting," Goldman likely means "watch what China does, not what it says."

Suspension of disbelief

Now you may be saying to yourself, Linette, we've known for years that China's economic model is predicated on building debt. This is nothing new.

To that I say, yes and no. Yes, China's current economic model relies heavily on investment spurring growth, rather than domestic consumption. But the country was supposed to be edging away from that model.

In September, the government made it clear that growing debt and a lack of productivity meant that the time to pull this off was now. That meant winding down unproductive industries, making credit harder to come by, and restructuring the debt on China's balance sheet.

That's when the government started talking about "supply side reforms" and laying out some pretty vague plans for turning its economy around.

Story continues

So for a while, that was enough for most people on Wall Street to believe that hard times were coming  but for everyone's good. This became the base case  believing in the Chinese government's ability to handle this situation and commit to reform.

The "authoritative figure" Goldman is referring to, for example, is the author of an op-ed written by the Chinese government that told investors not to lose heart. It said that officials are still focused on mitigating long-term risk.

China's actions haven't jibed with that, though, especially after a massive market scare in February after which the government started loosening monetary and credit policy again.

That is why now Wall Street has come to a different conclusion about China's base case. It is slowly evolving into China is going to delay reforms until it has no choice.

As a result, those problems will become larger and more difficult to manage.

It didn't take much to find things to support this narrative, either. Take, for example, the fact that developers are paying sky-high prices for land again, just as they did during the hottest times of China's housing boom. Now, of course, demand is not the same as it was then and prices are even less realistic than they were before.

Having cake and eating it, too

The way Wall Street talks about it, though, there's no telling how long China can make it like this, given that China owns most of its own debt.

There's a nuance with that, though, and Peking University economist Christopher Balding nailed it in a blog post recently. It's that you should believe what Chinese officials have been saying  that they will try to reform the economy while keeping credit spigots on.

The problem with that is that eventually it's going to take a gargantuan amount of credit to keep things going. He wrote on his blog:

"Beijing is essentially betting that they can manage the risks even if there is a significant financial or economic event that results from their continued economic incompetence which they have been warned about. They are telling us, even if there is some type of financial or economic event, they believe they have the tools at their disposal to address the situation.

"If we unpack this, it becomes a worrying scenario. First, it implies that Beijing continues to pump credit, money, and investment to drive growth. If the level of total credit growth was 4x the level of GDP growth in 2015, imagine how bad it would have been without that level of policy support. We can only expect this level of distortion to continue to increase. Even as the rate of expansion of credit has slowed so far, it still is three times faster than cash flow growth of firms and about 2.5x GDP growth rate. In other words, we should continue to expect more of the same policies that will build up the risks facing the Chinese economy."

As this debt problem grows, the divide between what China needs and what its government is willing to give will grow as well.

It implies that the economy is running away from the government  that eventually, just maintaining things as they are will be a form of tightening. That's when reform will come hard, whether officials mandate it or not.

NOW WATCH: A global intelligence analyst explains why the real China is not the China we think of





More From Business Insider


New York (AFP) - Wal-Mart will transfer its online Yihaodian operations in China to JD.com in exchange for a stake in the Chinese e-commerce giant in an alliance announced Monday.

Under the deal, JD.com will take ownership from Wal-Mart Stores of the Yihaodian brand, website and app. Wal-Mart will continue to run the Yihaodian direct sales business.

In exchange, Wal-Mart will receive nearly 145 million new JD.com shares, equivalent to about five percent of the Chinese company, China's second-largest online retailer after Alibaba.

Yihaodian has a strong presence in eastern and southern China and offers food and beverages, home goods and electronics. It had more than 100 million registered customers in July 2015, according to a Wal-Mart factsheet.

The deal is expected to benefit Wal-Mart by offering it exposure to other parts of China where Yihaodian is less known. JD.com will be able to offer more imported goods to the world's second biggest economy from Wal-Mart global distribution chain.

Wal-Mart's Sam's Club China also plans to open a flagship store on JD.com.

"We are very happy to announce this landmark agreement between two leading retailers, which we are confident will help bring e-commerce in China to the next level and benefit millions of consumers," said JD.com chief executive Richard Liu.

"Yihaodian will continue offering the outstanding user experience its customers have come to expect, which we will further augment by leveraging our unparallelled logistics capabilities and breadth of product categories."

"We're excited about teaming up with such a strong leader in JD.com, and the potential that this new relationship creates for customers in China, as well as for our businesses," said Wal-Mart chief executive Doug McMillon.

In midday trade, Wal-Mart shares rose 0.5 percent to $71.29, while JD.com surged 7.9 percent to $21.72.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) and Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com (JD) have reached an agreement to partner with one another. The two most notable aspects of the agreement are the following: Walmart will receive 144,952,250 newly issued JD.com Class A ordinary shares, amounting to approximately 5% of total shares outstanding, valued at roughly $1.5 billion, and JD.com will take ownership of Wal-Marts Yihaodian marketplace platform assets, including the Yihaodian brand, website and app.

Walmart will continue to operate the Yihaodian direct sales business and will be a seller on the Yihaodian marketplace.

Furthermore, Sams Club China will open a flagship store on JD.com and Wal-Marts China stores will be listed as a preferred retailer on JD.coms O2O JV Dada, Chinas largest crowd-sourced delivery platform. The Sams Club flagship Internet store will offer same- and next-day delivery through JD.coms nationwide warehousing and delivery network, which covers a population of 600 million consumers, while Wal-Mart customers can use the Dada delivery service to order fresh food and other items from Walmart stores for 2-hour home delivery.

Were excited about teaming up with such a strong leader in JD.com, and the potential that this new relationship creates for customers in China, as well as for our businesses, said Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart in a press release. JD.com shares similar values in making the lives of customers better. It also has a very complementary business and is an ideal partner that will help us offer compelling new experiences that can reach significantly more customers.

Walmart is synonymous with trusted-quality efficient retailing, and we believe that this tie up will increase both product selection and overall user experience, said CEO of JD.com Richard Liu. Yihaodian will continue offering the outstanding user experience its customers have come to expect, which we will further augment by leveraging our unparalleled logistics capabilities and breadth of product categories.

Story continues

JD.com Inc., which is the second-largest online retailer in China after Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. (BABA) in terms of market cap, closed Monday trading up 4.62%, while Wal-Mart stock only saw marginal movement.

WAL-MART STORES Price and Consensus

WAL-MART STORES Price and Consensus | WAL-MART STORES Quote

JD.COM INC-ADR Price and Consensus

JD.COM INC-ADR Price and Consensus | JD.COM INC-ADR Quote

The strategy of teaming up with JD.com could give Walmart a better chance of competing in the cutthroat retail industry in China and boost sales in the U.S.-based companys physical retail locations. Walmart has struggled to build its China business quickly. The retailer opened its first store in the country in 1996, but only has about 430 there today. Yihaodian has not had too much success either as it has a slim 1.5% market share in the online merchant-to-consumer sales segment, according to data from consulting firm iResearch, per a report from the Wall Street Journal.

The sale of Yihaodian comes as a surprise after Walmart took full control of the company last July, shedding its partner status and paying $760 million for the remaining 49% stake it did not own. Walmart has worked to link its physical operations to Yihaodians online operations to keep pace with Chinese consumers who are more rapidly accepting online offerings, which could continue in a bigger way after a partnership with JD.com.

JD.com gained popularity from its reputation for being a brand-name electronics retailer. The company has been chipping away at Alibabas market share, and its revenue growth has outpaced Alibaba for the past seven quarters. Still, its market share in sales of products online to consumers is about 23%, compared with Alibabas TMall market share of 58%, according to data from consulting firm iResearch, per the WSJ.

JD.COM INC-ADR Revenue (Quarterly)

JD.COM INC-ADR Revenue (Quarterly) | JD.COM INC-ADR Quote

Wal-Mart Stores has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and JD.com has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).

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Deepika Padukone has only recently returned to Mumbai and instead of taking a well-deserved break, the dedicatedlass has hit the gym and is working out diligently. The stunning actress has a special act at the prestigious Film Award this year. She will be seen at a Bollywood Event after a span of 6 months. She was away and busy with her Hollywood Debut, e. Deepika has been working on her fitness levels to perform non-stop at the awards show to be held in Madrid this year. Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra are also expected to perform at the event.

Deepika has returned to Mumbai only recently and is in talks with various A-listers regarding her next Bollywood flick. She is also auditioning for lead roles in the West.

Deepikas trainer is Yasmin Karachiwala who trains half of the Industry. Yasmin shared this video hailing Deepika for her work-out efforts even on a lazy Sunday!

Recommended Read: What Priyanka & Deepika are doing in Hollywood is Amazing: Anushka

Can any actress in Bollywood match up to Deepikas dedication?!
Henry Rollins has a lot to say. Through nearly 20 spoken word albums and countless tours in which he's spilled hundreds of hours of verbiage, you'd think he'd be out of words. Nope. In a new video for Funny or Die, the pumped-up punk icon takes down another sacred cow: Dr. Seuss' 1990 book, Oh, the Places You'll Go!"

One of the last books published in writer Theodore Geisel's lifetime, the slim volume is (as any teenager who has ever graduated from anything or gotten a gift from a well-meaning aunt knows) a guide to surviving the bumps and bruises life might serve up on your way to success.

Henry Rollins Pens Op-Ed on Anti-LGBT Law: 'It Seems Like a Long Way to go to Please a Handful of Hicks'

But, in his 16-minute rant, a bespectacled Rollins isn't letting the chipper tone of Seuss' well-meaning swan song sway him. Nope, he hauls off on the sexist nature of the very first page, asking "is travel just designated for smirking, self-satisfied caucasian males?" He also wonders how people who've been impacted by our gun culture, or who are disabled or might have been wounded in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars can truly walk around if they don't have "shoes full of feet."

Rollins touches on the epidemic of suicide among military veterans, poor grammar, humans pressing elephants into servitude, fake friends, Donald Trump's attack on Muslims, America's prescription pill addiction and why homo sapiens are the weakest, most vulnerable creatures on earth.

Henry Rollins Reads Dr. Seuss from Funny Or Die
Airbnb makes finding lodging seamless. But whats going on behind the scenes is a soap opera that could dramatically affect how the home-sharing site operates in some of its biggest markets.

On Friday, lawmakers in New York approved a new bill that will crack down on who can operate an Airbnb in New York City. Sponsored by State Assemblywoman Linda B. Rosenthal, the bill would ban the advertising of illegal hotels and entire home listings on Airbnb and other outlets. The bill is headed to Gov. Andrew Cuomo who can veto or sign it into law.

Essentially, the rule would enforce a law passed in 2010, which made it illegal for New Yorkers to rent out their entire apartments for less than 30 days  unless they were present at the time of rental or lived in a two-or three-family home. Currently there are thousands of people violating this short-term rental law, with some estimates predicting that nearly half of New York Citys 36,000 listings Airbnbs are illegal.

Under the new bill, city officials can fine someone caught violating the law $1,000 for the first time and up to $7,500 for the third offense.

The term illegal hotels refers to the phenomenon where commercial operators or building owners rent out multiple units in the same building to a steady stream of Airbnb guests. Rosenthal says they do this instead of renting to New Yorkers, which can have a negative effect on other tenants. When you sign a lease you have expectations, like to peacefully inhabit your unit, Rosenthal tells Yahoo Finance. If your neighbor rents out their unit to a new person every week, that violates your rights as a permanent New Yorker. You live in an apartment building, not a hotel.

According to an Airbnb spokesperson, the site regularly monitors for illegal hotels and removed thousands of these listings last year. We oppose illegal hotels; theyre bad for our community and do not offer our guests the authentic experience they seek, he said.

Story continues

While the legislation targets illegal hotels, individual tenants who rent out their own apartments on Airbnb to make extra cash will also take a hit. Josh Meltzer, head of New York public policy at Airbnb, says the law will put 30,000 New Yorkers at greater risk for bankruptcy, eviction or foreclosure. Lets be clear: This is a bad proposal that will make it harder for thousands of New Yorkers to pay the bills, said Meltzer.

Several Airbnb hosts echoed this statement, using the hashtag #IAmAirbnb on social media to share how Airbnb helps them make ends meet.

Hey @LindaBRosenthal!! Im an artist, not a hotel, & I need @Airbnb to live! #IamAirbnb, tweeted Kerry Coddett.

Linda Osborne tweeted, @LindaBRosenthal dont punish middle class New Yorkers with A8704C/S6340A! #IamAirbnb.

The fight in New York is big and confusing, but it isnt the only battle Airbnb is fighting. A handful of major cities in the Midwest and on the West Coast are also looking to tighten restrictions on short-term rentals. Similar moves have been made in European cities like Berlin, Germany and Reykjavik, Iceland.

In Chicago, people who want to rent out their home are required to obtain a license for $250 from the city to operate a vacation rental. Chicago also requires registration for bed and breakfast activities, and imposes a 4.5% tax on all listings. The issue is that many hosts remain unlicensed and Airbnb doesnt enforce it. In response, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is formulating a plan that could charge Airbnb a $60 fee for every listing. The money from fees would pay for enforcement to monitor wild parties (theyve been a big problem in the Wicker Park neighborhood) and illegal rentals.

But nowhere has the fight been messier than in San Francisco, the headquarters of Airbnb. In October 2014, city officials passed a law requiring hosts renting on Airbnb to get a $50 registration certificate with the city. In order to register their listing, hosts must live there for at least 275 days a year. This means you can rent out a room in your house as often as you like, but if you want to rent out your entire home or apartment while youre absent, you only have 90 out of 365 days to do it.

The registration process has been hard to enforce, with local officials estimating that there may be 5,399 hosts out of 7,046  around 76%  who are not registered. In response, this month the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 10-0 to urge Airbnb to only advertise listings that have been registered and approved by the city as a short-term rental. If the bill passes (the mayor has to sign off on it), Airbnb and other home-share sites like VRBO and Homeaway will be fined up to $1,000 a day for each illegal listing. Airbnb is clearly not happy with this news and has said it will consider all options moving forward.

Airbnb was recently valued at $25.5 billion by investors. The home-sharing company has more than 2 million listings in 191 countries.

Ultimately, the legality of your Airbnb listing is your responsibility. Every city has different rules concerning short-term rentals, so its important to do your research before becoming a host.

1. Check with your city

Use this list on the Airbnb website to check your citys regulations. Check if you need to obtain a specific license, and learn more about the types of homes that are allowed to be rented in your community.

2. Get permission

If you live in an apartment building, you will likely have to get some clearance before renting out your space on Airbnb. Check with your Home Owners Association or Co-op board to make sure there arent any rules against subletting. The last thing you want to do is violate your lease and get kicked out of your apartment.

3. Research taxes

According to Airbnb, taxes could include things like hotel/transient occupancy tax, sales, and other turnover taxes such as Value Added Tax (VAT) or Goods and Services Tax (GST), or income tax. Know what youre getting into before you start.

Have you had issues renting out your home on Airbnb? Email us at yfmoneymailbag@yahoo.com.
Today is the 234th birthday of the Great Seal of the United States. So how close did we really come to having a turkey instead of an eagle as our national symbol?

Earlier version of the Great Seal

It turns out the turkey was never a finalist as the animal of choice in the Great Seal when Congress approved the design on June 20, 1782. Benjamin Franklin had first argued for a snake and then Moses as symbols of our nation, but eventually he fell out of the Great Seal discussions.

In popular culture, the debate over the national symbol was memorialized in the musical 1776, in which the Founding Fathers debate three possible birds as the national symbol in a memorable scene. In the end, the eagle is picked over the turkey and dove.

The real debate over the Great Seal started in 1776 and it lasted six years. The first round involved the heavyweights of Founding Fathers: Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. They were tasked by the Continental Congress to come up with a Great Seal design.

Franklins idea was a design that featured a Biblical scene featuring Moses and Pharaoh. Jefferson wanted a scene depicting the children of Israel and two Anglo-Saxon mythical figures. Adams wanted another mythical figure: Hercules.

The three Founders brought in a designer, Pierre Eugene Du Simitiere, to work with them. He rejected those ideas and designed a seal with a shield held by the Goddesses of Liberty and Justice. The designs were quickly rejected by the Continental Congress.

A second committee of lesser known Founders tackled the Great Seal debate in 1780 and they brought in Francis Hopkinson, who had designed the American flag in 1777. His seal had a shield that added elements from the flag, and it was held by a warrior and Lady Liberty. Congress also rejected that design.

A third committee in 1782 came up with a complicated design that featured a crested imperial eagle and a dove as elements. The idea didnt fly with Congress.

The frustrated lawmakers asked Charles Thomson, the Secretary of the Continental Congress, to settle the Great Seal issue. It was Thomson who made sure the American Bald Eagle was the focus of the front of the Great Seal, while using the pyramid and eye design from the third committee as the back of the seal.

Story continues

Congress accepted Thomsons report as a written description of the Great Seal (there wasnt a design attached for it to critique), and within three months, the familiar design was in use.

The shield is born on the breast of an American Eagle without any other supporters to denote that the United States of America ought to rely on their own virtue, Thomson told Congress.

The current eagle design in use was cut into a die in 1885. The previous eagles were different, which is where Benjamin Franklin again enters into the story.

Franklin, in a rather catty way, tore into the eagle design and the choice of the eagle as a national symbol to shreds in a January 1784 letter sent to Sally Bache in Philadelphia.

To begin with, Franklin was not a fan of eagles in general, even though he was from Philadelphia.

For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character, said Franklin. He is a rank coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the district.

Franklin then said the eagle on the Great Seal looked more like a turkey.

For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, he says. He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.

But Franklin had his chance in 1776 to argue in favor of the turkey as the featured bird on the Great Seal, which he declined to do, and in 1775 he actually proposed that the rattlesnake should be the national symbol.

In 1801, Thomson wrote to James Madison about the decision to use the eagle as the national symbol and included his rationale within the letter.

The Presidential Seal is similar to the Great Seal and it also features an eagle. In 1945, President Truman officially mandated the use of the eagle in the Presidential Seal.

So to settle debate, while Franklin was a turkey supporter, he didnt champion the bird when he had a chance. And the turkey was never in the discussion about becoming a national symbol.
guns assault rifle AR-15

Major gun-control legislation will be before the Senate for a vote Monday, just eight days after the shooting that killed 49 people in Orlando, Florida  and none of it is likely to pass.

The two headline proposals, amendments to a spending bill, are offered up by Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California and Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas.

Each amendment needs 60 votes to pass. With Republicans holding a 54-46 majority in the Senate, that would be nearly impossible for Feinstein's proposal while remaining difficult for Cornyn's.

The Feinstein-backed bill, favored by Senate Democratic gun-control activists, would effectively bar individuals on the terror watch list from purchasing firearms by allowing the attorney general to stop the sale.

"We're just asking for people to come into this country and go out and buy a gun," Feinstein said during a conference call with reporters last Monday, later adding: "Even if you're a suspected terrorist, you can go out and buy a gun. And that's just not right. So I hope there will be a change."

The bill first failed on a 54-45 virtual party-line vote after the San Bernardino, California, mass shooting. Sen. Mark Kirk of Illinois was the only Republican to vote in favor of the legislation, which he still backs, while Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota was the lone Democrat to vote against it. Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia did not vote.

Opponents to the Feinstein bill say that because you can be placed on a terror watch list without being found guilty of a crime, the bill could cause US citizens on the list to be erroneously stripped of their Second Amendment right without due process. There have been multiple cases in which individuals have been wrongly put on the list.

"Is going after the Second Amendment how you stop terrorism? No," House Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday during his weekly press briefing. "That's not how you stop terrorism."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) speaks with Bob Schieffer on CBS News

Story continues

Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Cory Booker of New Jersey, among others, have insisted that due process elements will be "baked into it."

The Cornyn bill, backed by Senate Republicans and the National Rifle Association, is a slightly altered version of the Shield Act proposed by the senator last year that failed.

The Cornyn proposal seeks to stop those suspected of terrorism from purchasing a firearm while also accounting for due process. The legislation would authorize the attorney general to put a three-day hold on a firearm sale for an individual on the terror watch list. Authorities would then have the three days to show probable cause before a judge to permanently stop the sale.

"What law enforcement wants to do 90% of the time, 99% of the time, is let it go through," NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre told CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday. "They want to watch it. They want to build a case. They want to build patterns."

"The accommodation is the Cornyn bill, which does exactly what law enforcement set up," he continued. "It codifies the whole thing ... And it provides due process for the good people. And it gives law enforcement the ability where they can conduct these investigations and it won't blow what they're doing."

John Cornyn

Senate Democrats and gun-control advocates have come out strongly against the Cornyn bill  the one bill that would take fewer votes from across the aisle to pass.

"The Cornyn bill, which is the last version that I saw, creates a really impossible hurdle for the FBI," Booker said during a Thursday CNN interview. "If they have someone under investigation, they're going to have three days to mount a court challenge to block them, expose their investigation, and create an environment where that terrorist, now being notified, will say, 'You know what? Instead of going to that brick-and-mortar federally licensed gun dealer, I'm just going to go buy off the internet.' That's where it falls down."

Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York called the bill a wolf "in sheep's clothing" during a Thursday news conference, adding that under Cornyn's proposal "every terrorist will get a gun."

"If the FBI had that evidence, they would've arrested them in the first place," he said. "It's a fake. It's a way to say they're doing something when they're doing nothing."

A "whole court case in three days?" he continued. "Who would think that would make any sense?"

Chuck Schumer

Gun-control activists know it's going to be nearly impossible for Monday's late-afternoon vote to prove successful, but they're still holding out hope.

"I'm always hopeful that they will do the right thing," Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a branch of Everytown for Gun Safety, told Business Insider, calling the Cornyn-backed bill a "red herring" put forth by the NRA "basically to protect their own profit."

Watts said, in respect to the Feinstein bill, which will need an additional 15 votes to pass, she believes that Heitkamp and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte are the two senators who are most likely to flip their votes.

Although that won't be enough, Watts is encouraged by what she called "a sea change" in gun politics.

"After Sandy Hook, we waited four full months for a vote to close the background check loophole," she said. "That was after the slaughter of 26 kids."

"This time we're waiting a week," she continued.

She's encouraged by presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton talking about gun control "constantly" and said activists are "lightyears ahead of where we were after Sandy Hook."

If the vote fails, Watts had a simple message: "We will remember in November."

NOW WATCH: The number of times Obama has had to respond to mass shootings during his presidency is staggering





More From Business Insider


This story is part of a series about purple states  those coveted places in America that could just swing to either side of the aisle in November.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the last GOP presidential nominee, Mormon businessman Mitt Romney, won a whopping 93 percent of the vote in Utahs 2012 caucus en route to handing Barack Obama his biggest statewide thumping in the predominantly Mormon and Republican state. So naturally, when Donald Trump turned up in the states capital, Salt Lake City, prior to this years March caucuses for a major rally, he went right after one of Utahs favorite political sons. Are you sure hes a Mormon? Trump asked the crowd about Romney. Are we sure? He choked, he choked. It was so sad.

Trump later claimed he was joking, but if the caucus results were any indication  Trump finished last with 14 percent of the vote  many Utahns werent laughing. Utah hasnt gone for a Democratic presidential candidate in half a century, but the states largely Mormon population makes it an uneasy fit for the brash nominee, and theres a good chance the reddest state in the union could be looking unusually purple come November.

Can the Clinton campaign make Utah truly competitive in the fall?

In the lead-up to the caucuses in March, a local Deseret News/KSL poll made headlines when it had Hillary Clinton beating Trump by 2 points and Bernie Sanders beating him by 11 points among likely Utah voters. According to a Y2 Analytics poll, only 29 percent of likely GOP caucusgoers said they would vote for Trump if he were the nominee. (Neither the Trump or Clinton campaigns responded to requests for comment on their chances in Utah.) The best polling in the state, says political scientist Tim Chambless of the University of Utah and the Hinckley Institute of Politics, still has Trump with just a slight edge over Clinton, but both candidates have soft support, and there remains a large number of undecided voters  placing a state that has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1964 by at least 19 percentage points suddenly in play. Ive never seen anything like this, says Chambless. Utah Republicans are doing a very awkward dance right now  they just cant bring themselves to support Donald Trump.

Story continues

The main reason for this, of course, is how poorly Trump plays among Mormons, who make up around three-quarters of Utah voters. Despite his romp through the GOP primaries, Trump has consistently performed poorly in areas with large Mormon populations. Mormon voters value honesty, integrity and family in their political leaders, and Trumps colorful past, his habits of cursing and crude insults, including, says Chambless, his questioning of Romneys religious beliefs, has turned off large numbers of them in Utah.

But theres more to it than the vulgarity. Mormons also tend to be regular churchgoers and highly educated, two groups that have not tended to support Trump in high numbers. The GOP nominees proposed temporary ban on Muslims also does not go over well in a state settled by religious exiles who have experienced more than their fair share of religious intolerance. And the promise to build a massive wall to keep out immigrants is anathema in a state that promotes itself as welcoming to minorities and immigrants, and where 13 percent of residents are Hispanic. Moreover, many Mormons have served on missions in Muslim and Latin American countries where Trumps words, says Chambless, send a negative message to LDS missionary efforts.

So what can the Clinton campaign do to help ensure that Utah voters misgivings about Trump make the state truly competitive in the fall? For starters, says Christopher Karpowitz, co-director of Brigham Young Universitys Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy, she should come to the state. Clinton was the only major candidate who did not visit the Beehive State during the primary season, where she lost by almost 60 points to Sanders. To turn Utah purple, much less blue, Democrats will also need a high voter turnout, says Chambless, particularly among Hispanic and younger voters, something of a challenge in a politically uncompetitive state where turnout has been receding for decades. Utah has youngest by average age of population in the union, and Clinton will need to harness the enthusiasm that younger voters there expressed for Bernie Sanders, who turned out 14,000 strong for a rally in Salt Lake City.

Heres what I know. Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud. His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. (1/2)  Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) March 3, 2016

The other wild card is Romney. Were he to endorse Clinton, or throw his weight behind a third-party candidate such as libertarian Gary Johnson  who Chambless says could easily siphon off 6 to 10 percent of the vote (mostly at the expense of Trump)  then Utah could get very interesting. But Clinton still has her work cut out for her. Utah has never elected a woman to the U.S. Senate or as its governor. Its not a foregone conclusion that a Republican will win in November, says Karpowitz, but its still the most likely outcome. And to really change that, the Democrats would have to invest some considerable resources in building a ground game that could persuade voters that Clinton is worth leaving the GOP fold for  a big ask, particularly given voters misgivings about her own honesty and trustworthiness.

Still, says Chambless, 2016 represents the best chance Utah Democrats have had since LBJ to win the state. And just having a competitive presidential election for a change, says Karpowitz, would alone be a fantastic thing for the health of Utahs electoral politics.

Mitt Romney Reads Mean Trump Tweets on Jimmy Kimmel
Can large corporations afford a $15 minimum wage better than small businesses?

Despite the fact that roughly half of the minimum wage workforce is employed at businesses with fewer than 100 employees, corporations such as Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) have been used as the poster child in the case for a much higher wage floor.

This claim rests on three talking points: These companies sell billions of dollars of retail goods or food products; their CEOs are typically paid a lot of money; and the higher pay will help get their employees off government programs.

None of these justifications survive careful scrutiny.

Wal-Mart is "hugely profitable," writes the National Employment Law Project (NELP) in a recent commentary, generating "$482 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2016." Here, the writer falsely equates revenue (the money a company takes in before subtracting expenses) and profit (how much a company makes after it pays its costs). It's a common tactic used to shock readers and inflate the perception of a company's finances.

Wal-Mart's actual profit, according to SEC filings, was only 3 percent of its total revenue. That works out to roughly $6,400 dollars in profit for each of the company's 2.3 million employeesa profit that could be wiped out with a $15 minimum wage.

Labor advocates are also fond of appealing to their readers' sense of fairness by arguing that CEO pay at the company proves it can afford a $15 minimum wage. But the math here also doesn't add up. Wal-Mart CEO Doug McMillon earned a combined $19.4 million compensation package in 2015, including salary, stock options, and other perks. That makes for a dramatic sound bite. But if this money was somehow divided between all 2.3 million Wal-Mart associates, each associate would get a one-time $8.43 bonusthat's it.

The fights for $15 have even tried to appeal to conservative hearts by arguing that the higher pay requirement will reduce employees' need for public support programs. It's debatable whether this argument is offered in good faith: California Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D., Sacramento) recently let slip his mask of concern for the taxpayer when he and his fellow legislators pushed to raise the income thresholds for a public program so that recipients of the state's new $15 minimum wage could still qualify for state benefits. So much for ending welfare as we know it.

Story continues

More importantly, the data doesn't support this notion of a taxpayer windfall following minimum wage increases. In a report last year, Joseph Sabia and Thanh Tam Nguyen of San Diego State University examined 35 years of government data across a number of different datasets. Their results suggest that, on net, minimum wage increases have little to no ameliorating effect on participation in (or spending on) a range of means-tested programs. (Part of the reason lies in the fact that a majority of working-age adults in poverty don't have jobs; more importantly, as some of the working poor get a raise, others see their hours or jobs cut as employers adjust to consumers' reluctance to absorb price increases.)

When the best data doesn't support the case for $15, the UC Berkley Center for Labor Research and Education is on hand to fill in the gaps. Indeed, the work of this union-funded research unit has been used by advocates in almost all recent minimum wage debates. An Albany Times-Union expose from earlier this year gives some indication as to why. Reviewing hundreds of pages of emails obtained using a public records request, the paper reported that labor advocates often work hand-in-glove with the Berkeley team that is supposedly a neutral source of information.

The drive for a $15 minimum wage relies primarily on popular momentum, and not the strength of the movement's evidence. A 2015 University of New Hampshire survey of prominent economists found that nearly three-quarters oppose a broad minimum wage mandate of $15 per hour, and five out of six surveyed economists believe it would have negative effects on youth employment levels.

This economic consensus in opposition to the "Fight for $15" won't convince organized labor and its allies to stop promoting the policybut it should convince policymakers to stop listening to them.

Commentary by Michael Saltsman, research director at the Employment Policies Institute, which receives support from restaurants, foundations, and individuals. Follow him on Twitter @Mike_Saltsman.







More From CNBC


(Recasts to reflect conclusion of day's proceedings, adds details of trial)

By Tom Hals

GEORGETOWN, Del., June 20 (Reuters) - Williams Cos Inc and Energy Transfer Equity LP sparred in court on Monday over a tax dispute that threatens to scuttle their $20 billion merger just one week before Williams shareholders vote on the deal to create one of the world's largest pipeline companies.

The two companies are suing each other as Energy Transfer Equity, or ETE, looks for a way to back out of the deal amid falling energy prices and a volatile financial market. The deal was agreed upon last September and originally valued at around $33 billion.

Williams is asking a judge to force ETE to complete the takeover, alleging that the company and its chief executive, Dallas billionaire Kelcy Warren, have purposely worked to scrap the merger.

ETE has countersued, arguing that Williams has breached the agreement, in part by misrepresenting the level of its board's support for the deal.

The two-day trial kicked off in Delaware's Court of Chancery before Vice Chancellor Sam Glasscock on Monday.

Much of the day's testimony centered on the apparent discovery in March by the head of tax at ETE that the deal structure would trigger a big potential tax, something that had gone unnoticed previously.

Williams' legal team tried to show the tax issue was concocted by ETE as a last-ditch effort to back out of a deal that otherwise was relatively air-tight.

The company's attorneys showed a video of testimony from Jamie Welch, Energy Transfer's former chief financial officer, who was fired in February. Welch said Warren had raised concerns about the deal as early as January, saying it could trigger credit downgrades and an "implosion" of the company.

Welch said Warren called his management team and lawyers together in January to review his rights for ending the deal, and also tried to reach a settlement with Williams.

"He feared for the future of the Energy Transfer enterprise if the deal with Williams had to close on its current terms," Welch said in the video played in court.

Story continues

Weeks later, Brad Whitehurst, the head of tax at ETE, uncovered the tax problem.

Whitehurst and a tax attorney for Latham & Watkins, the firm hired to review the deal's tax treatment, described how everyone had overlooked the impact of a falling ETE share price on the tax impact of the deal.

"It's your worst nightmare," Whitehurst told the court about his discovery that the deal structure would cause a big tax hit. "Your heart stops. You panic."

BUYER'S REMORSE

The trial comes just days before a scheduled June 27 vote by Williams shareholders on whether they want to accept the deal.

While the acquisition was long-sought by Warren, Williams said the ETE chief executive soon came down with buyer's remorse and began to search for a way out as a slump in energy prices deepened.

ETE has made clear it believes the deal is no longer attractive. It has slashed estimates for expected cost savings and said it would likely have to cut distributions to shareholders entirely next year if it has to complete the deal.

Williams' legal team tried to show a split among ETE's advisers, with their deal lawyers at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz privately agreeing with a suggested solution to the tax problem proposed by Williams' lawyers at Cravath Swaine & Moore.

Minh Van Ngo, a corporate lawyer with Cravath, told the court that Wachtell lawyers said they were prevented by ETE from reviewing the tax issue.

"I always found it incredibly odd Wachtell was not involved in finding a solution," said Van Ngo.

(Additional reporting by Michael Erman in New York; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
When you buy a home, you expect to move into it. Seems pretty straight forward, right? Well, things don't appear to be working out that way for one Nashville woman.

Tamara Holloway closed on her house on June 1 but the seller, Justin McCrory, won't vacate the property, according to News 2. McCrory told a reporter for the Nashville station that he's lived on the property for four years and that he "technically [doesn't] have to go anywhere."

"The transaction went through. They're getting a good clean property. What's the problem?" he reportedly said.

Signature Title Services reported the closing processor sent an email to McCrory telling him to vacate the property. Holloway also filed a detainer warrant, the first step in the eviction process, to get McCrory out of her house, the station said.

"It's been a nightmare," Holloway told News 2.

It is possible to put an amendment in the closing papers saying a former tenant could stay in a home past a closing date, but there reportedly isn't one in Holloway and McCrory's case.

Grover Collins, a real estate attorney with Collins Law Firm in Nashville, is helping Holloway pro bono and told News 2 that it could take up to another 30 days before McCrory is out of the home for good.

Buying Your Home

If you're in the process of buying a home, or plan to do so in the future, it's in your best interest to get the keys when you close on the house (something Holloway didn't do) to help prevent this type of thing from happening. Denise Creswell, the president of the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors told News 2 that getting the keys at closing is particularly important if the seller isn't working with a realtor. McCrory, for example, did not have one  the transaction was a sale by owner.

Creswell also told the station that buyers should not "panic or rush" into any purchases, given how hot the Nashville real estate market is.

As you're searching for your home and the mortgage that will help you move into your dream house (assuming the seller vacates the property when they're supposed to, of course), it's a good idea to know where your credit stands. (You can view your credit reports for free each year at AnnualCreditReport.com and see your credit score for free, updated each month, on Credit.com.) Your credit is an important factor in what mortgage rates you'll qualify for and even how much house you can afford. And if your score isn't quite where it should be to get you the best deal, there are steps you can take to help improve it, like paying down credit card debt and disputing any errors you may find on your credit reports.



More from Credit.com


Chloe Goins doesn't remember everything.

Back in 2015, the model was one of dozens of women who came forward to accuse Bill Cosby of sexual assault. In her instance, she alleges being given a drink by Cosby at an event at the Playboy Mansion in 2008. She suspects that something was slipped into her drink and says she blacked out and awoke to find herself naked on a bed with Cosby biting one of her toes.

A few months after filing a lawsuit, she met with the Los Angeles Police Department and gave a statement. Around that time, TMZ had a story of how Goins claimed her incident with Cosby had happened at the Midsummer Night's Party at the Playboy Mansion on Aug. 9, 2008, and that Cosby had proof he wasn't there that night.

According to an amended complaint filed last week, Goins states "the incident 'did not' occur at the Playboy Mansion's Midsummer Nights Dream party as reported in certain media outlets. Additionally, police records show that Defendant Cosby did in fact attend a party at the Playboy Mansion in February 2008."

The date of the event holds some significance.

Goins was born on May 17, 1990, so if she actually was assaulted by Cosby in February 2008, she would have been a minor - triggering a significantly longer statute of limitations. But again, Goins doesn't remember everything.

"Because of the nature of events which occurred to Goins, namely a drugged sexual assault, Plaintiff is unsure of the exact date of the trip to the residence, but she knows that it occurred in 2008," states her amended complaint.

That's not precisely what she told authorities.

According to a charge evaluation worksheet from the Los Angeles County District Attorney, Goins - seemingly identified as Jane Doe #2 - was apparently sure her encounter with Cosby happened when she was 18.

"Initially, the incident described by Jane Doe #2 was reported to have occurred at an event called a 'Midsummer Night's Dream Party' held on August 9, 2008," states the report. "During the course of the investigation, however, Jane Doe #2 told investigators that she was unsure if the incident occurred during that event, but was certain the party she attended took place in the summer of 2008."

Story continues

The D.A. decided not to pursue charges. Investigators found that Cosby was only on the guest list for one event in February. Additionally, Goins provided investigators with the name of a friend who had accompanied her to the event, but when investigators located this possible witness, the individual denied knowing Goins.

Cosby's attorneys used this report from the D.A.'s office as part of an effort to dismiss her lawsuit as outside the statute of limitations. However, when Goins amended her complaint last week, the motion to dismiss became moot. Nevertheless, in more court papers, Goins' attorneys argue the charge evaluation worksheet is unreliable hearsay.

As for a faulty memory, Goins' amended complaint actually attempts to use it to some advantage.

"As to both the issue of equitable tolling and equitable estoppel, Cosby by and through his actions of using drugs on his victims like Goins, affirmatively created a condition by which the victims, like Goins could not exactly remember all details and the circumstances surrounding their assaults," it states. "Over time, given the use of drugs in his attack, Goins is not clear regarding the exact date of her assault. Cosby should be estopped from asserting the Statute of Limitations because he should not be permitted to benefit from the exact modus operendi of his act (i.e. drugging and sexually assaulting someone so they do not have a clear memory)."

Goins might not remember everything (and that could hurt her case down the line) but she essentially asserts Hugh Hefner does - or at least, should.

Hefner is a co-defendant in the case, and at present, a judge is being asked to remand this case to Los Angeles Superior Court. The defendants' attorneys have suggested that Hefner was fraudulently joined into the case so that Goins could get her abuse claims before a state judge. Hefner also has sought dismissal because of a lack of factual support to allegations he should have known about Cosby's activities.

The amended complaint (read here) looks to do more than get this lawsuit to a state judge, anticipate and beat the statute of limitations defense. Goins also is beefing up how Hefner is allegedly tied to the case. The amended lawsuit discusses Playboy Playmates and others who spoke in interviews of Cosby abuse and how this meant that "Hefner knew, from prior press and through the above events that occurred at the Playboy Mansion and directly through reading media about his close friend, Cosby, that Cosby was a threat to women, drugged and raped women. Despite this knowledge, Hefner continued to provide Cosby women directly and indirectly at his home, the Playboy Mansion."

Goins adds, "Hefner provided the means and access to young, beautiful, women with full knowledge that Cosby was a serial sexual predator."
Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported on Monday that the mass injury of coralknown as bleachinghas now covered a larger area than any previous bleaching event. And theres little chance the stress will end soonthe report shows a 90% chance of continued bleaching in many parts of the Pacific Ocean, as well as in areas off the coast of the U.S., thanks to high ocean temperatures that are disrupting coal ecosystems.

The ongoing bleaching eventthe longest in recorded history began in 2014 and has killed more than a third of coral in some locations. This is the most widespread, largest bleaching event ever to occur globally, said Mark Eakin, a NOAA coral reef scientist, at a conference on coral reefs in Hawaii.

If you think of corals as canaries [in a coal mine], theyre chirping really loudly right now, said Jennifer Koss, NOAAs Coral Reef Conservation Program director, at a press conference. The ones that are still alive, that is.

Read More: How Sunscreen Is Helping Destroy Coral Reefs

Bleaching occurs when disruption to coral ecosystems like pollution and unusually warm water cause the symbiotic organisms that give coral their color to flee. Some coral recover from bleaching eventsso called because they leave the coral reef bone whitebut others die. A recent survey found that as much as 35% of coral died in some regions of the Great Barrier Reef during the current bleaching event, though NOAA researchers said Monday that it is too early for a full global assessment of how much coral has died.

Coral experts fear that continued climate change may cause more frequent and devastating bleaching events as temperatures rise in the coming years and decades. That would be devastating for marine ecosystems that directly depend on healthy coral reefs.

Read More: Warm Temperatures Arent the Only Thing Killing the Worlds Coral Reefs

The El Nino climate phenomenon, characterized by unusually high ocean waters in the equatorial Pacific, exacerbated coral bleaching during this past fall, winter and spring. NOAA researchers say reefs will get little respite as La Nina takes the place of El Nino later this year. La Nina brings high ocean temperatures to the Western Pacific along with a slew of other weather impacts.
On a balmy Southern California night underneath a canopy of twinkling lights, chefs from across the globe converged for an invitation-only gala dinner to induct up-and-coming culinary greats into the MCF and ACF chef organizations. Founded in 1949, the Maitres Cuisiniers de France (MCF) is an exclusive group of French-born chefs whose motto is to preserve and spread the French culinary arts, encourage training in cuisine, and assist professional development. Throughout the past six decades, the association has bestowed a highly coveted titleMaster Chef of Franceupon immensely skilled French chefs who have at least 10 years of professional cooking experience and expand the influence and future of French cuisine. (There are currently 71 Master Chefs of France in the United States and around 500 worldwide.) MCF works in tandem with the Academie Culinaire de France (ACF), a group of over 1,000 non-French-born chefs of French cuisine from around the globe, to bring French cooking to a worldwide audience.

A tight-knit group bound by a mutual love for French cooking, the chefs meet annually to explore the current state of French cuisine and discuss recent techniques and technologies. On June 4 through 7, dozens of MCF/ACF chefs gathered in San Diego, Calif., for a series of seminars, product demonstrations, and, of course, mouthwatering meals.

Chefs Bernard Guillas of the Marine Room and Patrick Ponsaty of Bellamys Restaurant (the only two MCF/ACF chefs in San Diego) hosted the event. The get-together kicked off with a luncheon at Guillas seaside restaurant. Stormy waves crashed against the buildings exterior as guests dined on red-walnut-crusted Alaskan halibut, pork cheek and foie gras, and an array of desserts including macaroons, chocolate pyramids, and port sorbet.

This years MCF/ACF Congress was the first time that San Diego played host to such a significant event, and the first time hundreds of my colleagues have had the opportunity to come together in California, Ponsaty stated. The fact that this years Congress was hosted in Southern California speaks volumes not only to the growing number of incredibly talented Master French Chefs seeking out the region as the perfect place to develop new concepts, but also their dedication for continuing to lead French cuisine forward in America.

While the four-day-long festivities were characterized by informative sessions and delicious cuisine, the creme de la creme of the event was the red-carpet gala dinner on Monday night. Taking place at the Ranch at Bandy Canyona nearly 200-acre ranch with miles of winding trails, beautifully manicured vineyards, and over two dozen horsesthe gala was an affair to remember. Guests mingled around the grounds, sipping cocktails and listening to live music, as they waited for the meal to begin.

Four courses (as well as an amuse-bouche and dessert) were prepared by local chefs and served with wine pairings. Chef Guillas first coursea flawless trio of fresh ahi tuna, hiramasa, and vanilla-scented lobsterwowed guests and set the tone for a night characterized by refined comestibles. Chef Bruno Lopez fixed the second dish, a medley of succulent suckling-pig terrine garnished with English peas and a Bing cherry gastrique. The third coursepan-seared sea bream in a piquillo pepper emulsionwas cooked by chef Thomas Bellec. And host Patrick Posatys veal loin, stuffed with veal knuckles and sweetbread and served with orange veal reduction, was a fitting finale. During the ceremonious dinner, chefs Patrice Caillot, Jonathan Dendauw, Bruno Goussault, Christophe Joignant, Olivier Reginensi, and Fabrice Guinchard were inducted into the MCF; and chefs Jonathan Dendauw, Thomas Keller, and Carlos Oliver were inducted into the ACF. (mcf-acfcongress.com)

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A fishing village in southern Guangdong province, once a standard-bearer for small-time democracy in China, has now become a political disaster  and the most-censored term on Chinese social media.

In September 2011, amid protests over land sales in the village of Wukan, residents closed off roads leading in to the village and expelled local governing officials. Police laid siege as residents stockpiled food. Villagers conspicuously proclaimed their loyalty to the ruling Communist Party during the protest, indicating that they were not rebelling against it, but asking for its intervention. In what is sometimes called the Wukan model for handling dissent, the dispute was eventually resolved when the provincial party secretary negotiated with the villagers, granting them the right to elect a local leader.

The sudden detention of that democratically-elected leader, Wukan Communist Party Secretary Lin Zulian, has mobilized Wukan residents to protest once again, and has kicked Chinas massive online censorship apparatus into high gear. Some time in mid-June, Lin posted a letter to his account on Weibo, Chinas Twitter-like microblogging platform, announcing his intent to organize a mass demonstration protesting further illegal land sales, a practice endemic in China in which local governments seize land, often held by small farmers, for lucrative resale to commercial ventures.

But days later, on Friday, June 17, dozens of police cars arrived in Wukan; Lin was detained early the next morning. Law enforcement authorities in Lufeng City, which oversees Wukan, released a statement that Lin was suspected of taking bribes. Local residents claim theres been another land grab, and many felt the allegations were a cover for silencing Lin. According to the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post, 400 police faced off with villagers for several hours on June 18. On June 19, thousands of residents marched to the slogan Return our secretary, according to one residents interview with the New York Times.

As often happens during protests, Wukan residents soon took to the internet. They posted videos and pictures of the village surrounded by police, and shared images of recovered surveillance video of Lin being taken away in the middle of the night. But in what has become a common tale pitting netizens against Chinas increasingly controlled web, many posts were quickly taken down in a swift flurry of censorship. On June 19 and June 20, Wukan and villagers were the most censored terms on Weibo, according to censorship tracker Weiboscope, operated by the Journalism and Media Studies Center at the University of Hong Kong. Lins account is now deactivated. After the extensive elimination of Wukan-related posts and comments, only a few news stories from certain media and updates from government accounts are still available on Weibo. In an open letter published online by the local police department, villagers have been asked to cooperate with Lins investigation and to avoid extreme actions.

Only a fraction of the hundreds of comments that poured in on social media remain, but whats left evinces support of Lin and the villagers. A user who claimed to be from Wukan wrote, Secretary Lin is the one we voted for, one person, one vote. Our Wukan needs Secretary Lin. The user also disavowed the strong police showing to arrest a more than 70-year-old man. Another added, Everyone in Lufeng knows about this. He is a white-haired old man fighting for his people. Hes been laden with trumped-up charges. One Weibo user asked if the act was revenge for Lins previous activism.

While journalists continue to have access to Wukan, netizens widely reposted a video clip of a Wukan government official cursing and threatening Hong Kong reporters on June 20. The official, identified as the deputy mayor of Donghai county, which administers Wukan, barked at reporters, brandished an umbrella threateningly, and used it to shield himself from cameras as if it were a truncheon. One reporter shouted back, You shouldnt curse  Youre a government official. In a subsequent shot, Zhang Shuijin, appointed by the county as Lins replacement shortly after his arrest, tried to calm down the villagers but was called out by an unidentified woman in a flowered shirt for selling out the village.

Local government land grabs are endemic across China, leading to thousands of protests each year as landholders try to obtain fair compensation. Land sales are a major source of income for many local governments, which sometimes aim to boost development through expensive construction or infrastructure projects. In the process of clearing land for such projects, local officials often compensate farmers with only a fraction of the seized lands value. A 2011 survey of 1,791 farmers conducted across 17 provinces revealed that farmers whose land has been taken received an average of $17,850 per acre in compensation  whereas authorities pocketed an average of about $740,000 per acre after resale, largely for commercial ventures. Its unsurprising, then, that Wukan protesters seem to have struck a collective nerve across the country.

The redux in Wukan highlights an irony central to the rule of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who took power in late 2012. Xis signature policy has been a sweeping campaign against corruption, as well as harsh crackdowns on dissenting speech. Yet sometimes speech is necessary to highlight corruption, as it was in Wukan several years ago. Thats a reality that prevailing authorities dont seem to accept. As a June 20 editorial in party-owned newspaper Global Times stated in response to the Wukan protests, If the drastic actions of the Wukan villagers are adopted by other people involved in disputes, China will see mess and disturbance at a grass-roots level. In Xis China, the negotiation that mollified Wukan residents in 2011 may no longer be possible. Yet the corruption there continues.

MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images
* Chinese and Polish presidents sign trade deal in Warsaw

* Rail freight, via Russia, an alternative to sea, air

* Poland keen to export more farm produce to Asia

By Marcin Goettig

WARSAW, June 20 (Reuters) - Chinese and Polish leaders welcomed a freight train arriving in Warsaw from China on Monday in a ceremony marking a trade co-operation deal that they said showed the European country's importance as a gateway for Chinese exports.

Munching on Polish apples as another train set off back to China laden with foodstuffs, the presidents of the Asian manufacturing giant and Europe's biggest former Communist country celebrated their newly enhanced commercial ties.

"We have agreed to upgrade the relations between China and Poland to a comprehensive strategic parrtnership," Xi Jinping told reporters at a news conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda before the train laden with Chinese electronics and auto parts arrived.

While most Chinese exports travel by sea, the overland route by rail via Russia is quicker and brings goods directly into the heart of the continent, offering EU member Poland significant opportunities.

"I am convinced that Poland can still play a very important role in operating the connection between China and Europe. This will ... bring tangible, real benefits for both nations," Xi said.

The visit marks a strong push to boost political and business ties with Poland, the biggest ex-communist bloc state led since October by a right-wing eurosceptic government.

President Duda said: "I hope that Poland will become a gateway to Europe for China," adding greater co-operation with China would mean more business for Poland's deepwater container terminal in Gdansk on the Baltic Sea.

The Warsaw visit follows Xi's trip to Serbia, where he said the southern European country could also play a role in Beijing's plan for a new "Silk Road" to boost trade with Europe, Asia and Africa.

Polish freight group PKP Cargo which operates 20 trains a week between China and Poland, hopes for growing trade on the rails, which, with journeys of 11-14 days, is twice as fast as sea transport and cheaper that air freight.

Story continues

Poland is keen to increase its exports to China, which were worth about $2 billion last year, dwarfed by its exports to Germany worth $54 billion.

It is particularly keen to find export markets for agricultural goods since neighbouring Russia banned EU food imports following the Ukrainian crisis.

China is the biggest pork consumer in the world, but it put an embargo on Polish pork exports worth nearly 100 million euros($113 million) in 2014 following cases of African Swine Fever in Poland.

(Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand said on Monday it will extend the deployment of troops training Iraqi defense forces in their fight against Islamic State militants. The troops, which currently number around 105, would remain in Iraq until November 2018, 18 months longer than previously planned, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said in a statement. "This is having a tangible effect on the Iraqi army's ability to take and hold ground from Daesh," said Brownlee, referring to Islamic State. "It makes sense to continue doing something that adds value to the likelihood of Iraqi peace and security in the future, and to amend our mission to meet the changing environment in Iraq." The New Zealand Defence Force works with around 300 Australian troops providing training on basic weapons skills as well as medical support and logistics. The mission has trained around 7,000 members of the Iraqi security force since it began in 2015, according to the New Zealand government. The government had also authorized troops to train other Iraqi forces such as the police, who were tasked with securing cities once they had been freed from Islamic State, the defense minister said. (Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Nick Macfie)
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's new state-owned diamond miner has produced 513,000 carats since March when it started operations after the government ordered all mining companies to halt work in the Marange fields, its acting CEO said on Monday. The government on Feb 22 evicted all diamond mining firms in the Marange fields in eastern Zimbabwe saying their licences had expired and after they declined to merge under the state-owned Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC). Ridge Nyashanu, ZCDC acting chief executive, told a parliamentary committee that the company was mining from two concessions and exploring another two previously owned by firms ejected from Marange. The firms did not oppose their eviction. However, ZCDC is unable to mine from bigger concessions owned by Mbada Diamonds, the largest producer before the February evictions as well as two Chinese-run companies, Anjin and Jinan, which are all challenging their expulsion in court, Nyashanu said. The court action has reduced diamond mining in a country desperate for dollar inflows at a time the state has been forced to delay June salaries for its workers. Diamond production figures are not readily available from the ministry of mines but Zimbabwe was the eighth largest diamond producer in the world with 4.7 million carats in 2014, according to industry group Kimberly Process. (Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by James Macharia)
Remember when Donald Trump asked people to boycott Apple for refusing to help the FBI unlock the San Bernardino shooting (but then kept using his iPhone anyway)? Well, now it appears Apple is ready to boycott the Republican party's GOP convention over Trump.

DONT MISS: OnePlus 3 vs. iPhone 6s real-life speed test: Its not even close

According to Politico, Apple told Republican leaders that it would not provide funding or other support during the upcoming presidential convention. Apple cited Trumps controversial comments about women, immigrants and minorities among the reasons.

"We are working with a variety of major tech partners who are focused on being part of the American political process, a GOP spokeswoman told Politico, without naming any names. Facebook, Google and Microsoft are all supporting the GOP convention in some capacity.

Apple did not comment on the matter, but two sources familiar with the matter said that Apple decided not to donate any of its products or cash. Its not clear at this time whether Apple will provide support to the Democratic party.

In 2008, Apple offered about $140,000 each in MacBooks and other tech support to the Democratic and Republican events. In 2012, the company lent products to both conventions but did not write any checks, Politico says.

Apple isnt the only tech giant thats going to be absent from the GOP convention when it comes to technology and financial support. HP also announced in June that it will not provide any support to the Cleveland convention scheduled for next month.

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By Byron Kaye and Jeremy Wagstaff SYDNEY/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Craig Wright, the Australian who claimed to be the inventor of bitcoin, is attempting to build a large patent portfolio around the digital currency and technology underpinning it, according to associates of his and documents reviewed by Reuters. Since February, Wright has filed more than 50 patent applications in Britain through Antigua-registered EITC Holdings Ltd, which a source close to the company confirmed was connected to Wright, government records show. Interviews with sources close to EITC Holdings Ltd, which has two of Wright's associates as directors, confirmed it was still working on filing patent applications and Britain's Intellectual Property Office has published another 11 patent applications filed by the company in the past week. "None of this has stopped," one person close to the company said. The person declined to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to the media. Wright did not respond to requests seeking comment. The granting of even some of the patents would be significant for banking and other industries that are trying to exploit bitcoin technologies, as well as dozens of start-ups scurrying to build business models based around it. Financial institutions are expected to spend more than $1 billion this year and next on projects linked to the "blockchain" at the heart of bitcoin, according to a survey by boutique investment bank Magister Advisors. The blockchain is a public database that by-passes money-based payments by recording all transactions digitally. It forms the core of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies by maintaining a decentralized record of all transactions. Proponents say it has the potential to disrupt financial services by making payments and the settling of securities transactions, in particular, far cheaper. Patents that Wright has applied for range from a mechanism for paying securely for online content to an operating system for running an "internet of things" on blockchain. A patent schedule, one of a number of documents relating to the applications shown to Reuters by a person close to the EITC Holdings, outlines plans to apply for about 400 in total. "SATOSHI NAKAMOTO"? The London Review of Books (LRB) on Saturday ran an article by novelist and journalist Andrew O'Hagan quoting associates of Wright's as saying that they were working on filing several hundred patents. O'Hagan, who has spent extensive time with Wright and others close to him, quoted the associates as saying that Wright's patents would then be sold "for upwards of a billion dollars". The article did not explain how this valuation was reached, how far the process of contacting purchasers had gone or whether it was still active. Nearly all the British filings involve the term "blockchain" or its more generic description, the "distributed ledger". The patent approval process typically takes several years. "It looks like he is trying to patent the fundamental building blocks of any blockchain, cryptocurrency, or distributed ledger system," said Antony Lewis, a consultant on bitcoin issues to whom Reuters showed the patent titles and some of the texts. Wright, 45, has cut a controversial figure after some media last year identified him as the mysterious "Satoshi Nakamoto", who distributed a paper and later software that launched bitcoin in early 2009. Wright failed to persuade a skeptical bitcoin community in May that he was Nakamoto, performing a U-turn on his promise to provide further proof and saying that he lacked the "courage" to put "years of anonymity and hiding behind" him. He has since kept a low profile and declined interviews. While there is no conclusive proof about his authorship of bitcoin, documents seen by Reuters suggest that Wright has had a deep association with the cashless money system since long before it went live. (Reporting by Byron Kaye and Jeremy Wagstaff; Editing by Alex Richardson)
Few countries have benefitted more than India from the explosion in connectivity provided by modern smartphones. It is no exaggeration to say the smartphone revolution has single-handedly connected a billion people across the sub-continent to each other and the world, erasing one of India's most problematic infrastructure hurdles.

Along with India's remarkable adoption of smartphones has come dramatic increases in handset competition, dramatically increased data rates coupled with dramatically reduced data transmission cost, and dramatically improved features and functions. In 2008, Nokia was the leading handset manufacturer in India by far--with a market share approaching 60%. Today, Samsung holds the top spot while relative newcomer Indian manufacturers Micromax, Intex and Lava and Chinese multinational Lenovo round out the top five spots. Nokia (since acquired by , and sold back to Nokia just last month) has fallen to below 10% market share.

As the market has evolved, Indian consumers have enjoyed enormous benefits. Smartphone prices have plummeted, with the average sales price for a smartphone in India in 2014 at around 9,100 rupees--a 44% drop from 2010--and forecasted to fall another 25% to around 6,775 rupees by 2018. Today's Indian consumer can purchase a basic smartphone for under $10. Smartphones are by far the most technologically sophisticated consumer devices ever developed, and yet they are among the most affordable. Like other consumers around the world, Indian consumers have benefited tremendously from this evolution, with a dramatic 99% decrease worldwide in the average cost per megabyte of cellular data between 2005 and 2013, and 4G network speeds reaching 12,000 times those available on 2G networks.

Given this extremely impressive record of consumer benefits, it would seem unlikely that Indian antitrust regulators would take aim at the key driver of the innovation enabling all of these benefits--intellectual property--questioning whether it is holding back competition in India's mobile telecommunications industry.

But that is exactly what India's regulators have done, with its Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion ("DIPP") publishing (in March 2016) an inquiry directed to the processes for setting standards and licensing intellectual property--specifically patents--for technologies including, prominently, mobile telecommunications. Global technology standards, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, provide interoperability that allows systems and devices to work together--so that today's smartphones can call, text, email and Tweet from anyone in the world to anyone in the world in any location at any time. Standards are generally established by non-partisan groups that assess and balance the contributions and requests of innovators and implementers alike--a process that has functioned well for decades. The DIPP inquiry foreshadows potentially major regulatory intercessions, threatening not only to disrupt the balance of the Indian market by favoring implementers of standards while discouraging innovators, but also to put India in the tenuous position of asserting jurisdiction over multinational standard-setting organizations and the intellectual property regimes of other nations.

It is vital to understand that the backdrop against which DIPP's inquiry takes place is marked by strong intellectual property protection and effective standard setting, providing innovators with the confidence necessary to invest in technology improvements. Innovation is an extraordinarily risky undertaking. Estimates peg worldwide investment in mobile infrastructure and R&D at greater than $1.8 trillion from 2009 to 2013. Without the potential for a return on investment promised by strong intellectual property protection, there is no reason to expect the sort of risk-taking that is a prerequisite to India's enjoying the breakthrough technologies of tomorrow. Indeed, the calls for intercession that prompted DIPP's inquiry originate from competitors who stand to benefit from cheap or free access to others' innovative creations. Doubtful it is that those competitors would have agreed to share in the many failures preceding the successful end-results. There is a name for this behavior: free-riding. While tolerated in the dog-eat-dog world of free-market competition, it certainly is not appropriate for government regulators to become facilitators.

And then there is the global nature of mobile telecommunications and standards development for the mobile industry. Any undertaking by DIPP to regulate patent holders must be viewed through a global lens, since the applicable standards, products, and patents are all inherently global. The adoption of Indian regulations controlling standards-setting would risk having a negative impact on standards development and innovation by hindering cooperation both within India and globally. Furthermore, most patentees own and license patents across many countries and negotiate global license agreements--all of which are governed by the laws of other nations. Any attempt to intercede in the terms upon which non-Indian patents are licensed raises serious extra-territoriality concerns. India has enjoyed the fruits of global innovation in the standards-reliant smartphone industry by remaining in step with global norms, not by stepping outside of them--especially not in ways that threaten to affect the functioning of global industries and the sovereignty of other nations.

With the world watching, India's DIPP must look past the rhetoric that dominates the debate over the role of competition authorities in regulating standards-setting and licensing processes. Calls for intercession are motivated by specific players seeking to advantage a business model that benefits from cheap access to patented technology--technology that was the product of significant investment by innovators. It is impossible to ignore the profound success of India's mobile industry, as measured by any metric--success that was driven by current policies and incentives. Despite the cries of opportunists, the mobile telecommunications industry has increased remarkably in competitive diversity and produced enormous consumer surplus, all against the backdrop of standards-setting processes operating on free market principles. Given the progress India and the world have experienced and continue to experience on the back of the smartphone revolution, it is hard to imagine it being advisable for the Government of India to tamper with the highly successful balance between innovation and marketplace competition that marks the mobile telecommunications industry. It is no exaggeration to say global interconnectivity may hang in the balance.

The digital age is plaguing companies with new threats from abroad.

It's no secret that companies work hard to protect their intellectual property from theft. For innovations where confidentiality is integral to value, trade secrecy law offers a bargain: make reasonable efforts to maintain confidentiality, and those efforts will be backed up by legal sanctions. However, the rise of cybercrime is forcing companies to reevaluate the way they protect their most valuable trade secrets.

Trade secret theft costs companies billions of dollars every year. Traditionally, these crimes took the form of bribing, dumpster-diving or, as in one famous case, aerial photography. These days, industrial espionage has gone digital, introducing new threats and magnifying the impact of established techniques. Even employee raiding, an age-old tactic of trade secret mis-appropriators, is made more problematic in modern times by the sheer volume of secrets that can be stolen via digital media.

But a still more ominous threat spawned by the digital age comes from remotely launched computer attacks. Cyber espionage has reached crisis levels. One study puts the cost of cybercrime at $24 billion to $120 billion in the U.S. and up to $1 trillion globally.

For modern corporations, the cross-border aspects of cyber espionage can cause significant challenges. One stark example of the difficulty of prosecuting international cyber espionage is the plight of AMSC, a U.S. firm specializing in software for wind turbines whose core product was allegedly stolen by Chinese turbine manufacturer Sinovel Wind Group Co. in 2011. Sinovel reportedly convinced an AMSC engineer to misappropriate code from Wisconsin, decrypt it in Austria, and email it to China. AMSC did not promptly detect the IT breach; rather, it identified the leak only after accidentally discovering its code in a Sinovel test facility in China.

By the time AMSC launched a cyber investigation, contacted the FBI, and ultimately obtained an indictment, counterfeit copies of their software had already been sold back into the United States in Sinovel's products. Hamstrung by deficient cyber-intelligence, AMSC's legal action proved to be too little too late. The named defendants are now all in non-extradition countries and Sinovel has deployed litigation defense tactics that have stalled the case in U.S. courts while AMSC's stock has fallen from $370 per share to $5 per share.

The executive and legislative branches of the U.S. Government have ramped up anti-cyber espionage efforts and are on course to amend the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 to create a federal civil remedy for trade secret theft. These efforts, coupled with increased enforcement of trade secret laws at the state level, will address the majority of misappropriation that occurs domestically.

However, acts of trade secret theft originating from outside the U.S. continue to be difficult to address. In recent times, both domestic and international companies have begun to bring cases before the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC). In 2011, the Federal Circuit concluded that the ITC "has authority to investigate and grant relief based in part on extraterritorial conduct insofar as it is necessary to protect domestic industries from injuries arising out of unfair competition in the domestic marketplace."

This has been a helpful development, as the ITC is able to provide U.S. companies with a potent avenue of redress. It has the power to issue broad exclusion orders blocking importation and to draw adverse inferences against foreign parties who are non-responsive. Though the ITC cannot directly police the business practices of companies overseas, its adjudications can severely curtail the thieves' advantages.

All this firepower needs to be backed up by robust trade secret identification and protection programs, along with vigorous misappropriation detection and response capabilities. These moves are critical to building the "evidence" that U.S. corporations need to successfully bring and win legal actions against cyber-facilitated trade secret theft, no matter its origin.

The implementation of an effective trade secret program is no longer within the skill set of any one department. Rather, cyber defense now requires a cross-functional dynamism between legal departments and internal cybersecurity information technology teams. These proactive joint efforts must align to identify and safeguard trade secrets before cyber thefts are carried out, and to respond when attacks do occur, in order to capture, isolate, retain and use the "evidence" needed to bring -- and win -- cases against cyber perpetrators.

By addressing trade secret protection in the broader context of "people, processes and technology," companies can ensure that they are mitigating risks, more quickly identifying breaches and ultimately securing the information required to take meaningful action. This line of attack requires breaking down silos within companies and building strong, structured pathways for collaboration between cybersecurity and legal experts. This may require a realignment of organizational capabilities, but such a move is critical to enforcement and will ultimately deter cyber thieves, both domestic and foreign. At a projected annual savings in the many billions of dollars, innovative companies can hardly affordnot to invest in this collaboration.

David J. Kappos is a partner at New York City-based law firm, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, where he supports the firm's clients with a wide range of intellectual property issues. From August 2009 to January 2013, Kappos served as director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

See original article on Fortune.com

More from Fortune.com
childish-gambino-donald-glover-press

Image via Glassnote

On Friday evening, Donald Glover returned to Twitter to share a link to a mysterious app called Pharos. Downloading the app revealed a countdown timer and the sense of rushing through space towards something. As the timer counted down it became clear that users were approaching earth. Now, we know what the mystery app was all about.

Donald Glover will be performing new Childish Gambino music as part of what the app calls a full album experience in Joshua Tree, California on September 2, 3, and 4. Fans who buy a $99 ticket are told to bring a tent to take advantage of the on site camping.

Whatever form the new music takes, it will be the first from Gambino since 2014 mixtape/EP STN MTN / Kauai. His last official album was Because the Internet released in 2013

Pre-sale for what sounds like Glovers own three-day music festival will be available in app starting June 24 at noon ET / 9 a.m. PT. General onsale starts June 27 at noon ET / 9 a.m. PT. See screenshots from the app below and download it here to have a shot at pre-sale.

gambino-1_o91iaj

gambino-2_o91ibf

gambino-3_o91ibx

More from Pigeons & Planes
Dell logos are seen at its headquarters in Cyberjaya, outside Kuala Lumpur in this September 4, 2013 file photo. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad/Files (Reuters)

By Greg Roumeliotis and Liana B. Baker

(Reuters) - Buyout firm Francisco Partners and the private equity arm of activist hedge fund Elliott Management Corp are in advanced talks to acquire Dell Inc's software division for more than $2 billion, three people familiar with the matter said.

Divesting the software assets will help Dell refocus its technology portfolio and bolster its balance sheet after it agreed in October to buy data storage company EMC Corp <EMC.N> for $67 billion. EMC owns a controlling stake in VMware Inc <VMW.N>, a cloud-based virtualization software company.

Dell is seeking to sell almost all of its software assets, including Quest Software, which helps with information technology management, as well as SonicWall, an e-mail encryption and data security provider, the people said.

Boomi, a smaller asset focusing on cloud-based software integration, will be retained by Dell, one of the people added.

An agreement between Dell and the consortium of Francisco Partners and Elliott could be reached as early as this week, the people said, cautioning that the negotiations could still end unsuccessfully.

The sources asked not to be identified because the negotiations are confidential. Dell declined to comment, while Francisco Partners and Elliott did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A sale of Dell's software division would free it from some of its least profitable assets and cap the program of divestitures that the Round Rock, Texas-based computer maker embarked on following its deal with EMC. EMC shareholders are due to vote on the deal with Dell on July 19.

In March, Japan's NTT Data Corp <9613.T> agreed to buy Dell's information technology consulting division Perot Systems for over $3 billion to expand in North America and bolster its services business.

Dell also took its cyber security unit SecureWorks Corp <SCWX.O> public in April, raising $112 million in what was this year's first U.S. technology initial public offering.

Story continues

While Elliott has sought to buy companies in the past as part of its shareholder activist campaigns, the Dell software deal would represent its first major private equity investment since it hired Isaac Kim, previously a principal at private equity firm Golden Gate Capital, last year to help expand its capacity in leveraged buyouts.

EMC was also a target for Elliott. In 2014, the hedge fund called on the company to spin off its stake in VMware or pursue other merger opportunities. Elliott reached a settlement with EMC last year and subsequently voiced support for the deal with Dell.

Francisco Partners focuses on private equity investments in the technology sector. It has raised about $10 billion in capital and invested in more than 150 technology companies since it was launched more than 15 years ago.

(Reporting by Greg Roumeliotis in New York and Liana B. Baker in San Francisco; Editing by Richard Pullin)
- By Naman Shukla





I have always liked bottom-fishing for stocks. My last buy call on Qualcomm (QCOM), which was trading close to its 52-week levels back then, has returned over 10% in just a few weeks. This is another one of my bottom-fishing ideas.

Nokia (NOK) is trading just a little over its 52-week lows, and the company is facing tailwinds that can drive the stock higher in the coming months.





A deal with HMD Global

Nokia decided to return to the smartphone segment, and the company recently signed a deal with Finland-based HMD Global. According to the deal, HMD Global has been issued an exclusive worldwide license to manufacture Nokia-branded smartphones and tablets for the next decade. It is likely that HMD Global will pay Nokia in the range of $3 to $15 per device sold for using its brand and intellectual property from its industry foremost patent portfolio.

On the other hand, Microsoft (MSFT) has decided to sell what leftovers of its feature phone unit to FIH Mobile, a subsidiary of Foxconn, for around $350 million. As a result, Foxconn attains Microsoftas manufacturing, several design rights, and its widespread distribution and sales networks. Moreover, Foxconn is also involved in the Nokia-HMD Global deal.

Foxconn is strategizing to create a Nokia branded Android smartphone comprising Appleas iPhone exciting design. However, this is an amazing idea and carries lot of growth potential for Nokia.

In combination with the Microsoft sale, Nokia and HMD have made an agreement with Foxconn to work together on the block of a worldwide business exploiting properties from its $350 million acquisition.

Why acquiring Withings matter

Nokiaas return as a smartphone vendor is still tentative. Therefore, the company recently detailed its plan to acquire French wearables manufacturer Withings for $193 million. As per a research report from Statistaas, the wireless health and mobile-based gadgets markets are significant and lucrative.

Story continues

Withings has an inclusive portfolio of health-monitoring gadgets, as it comprises smartwatches and fitness wristbands that are compatible with Android as well as iOS devices. It also has wireless weighing scales, remote baby monitors, blood pressure monitors and last but not least camera/air quality monitors.

Two years ago, Nokia began developing Wellcare, but the purchase of Withings will hasten its extension into the digital health market. The unit should also fortify Nokia Technologies, which was formed to patent and license technologies after the sale of its device two years before.

Conclusion

Given the valuation, now is the ideal time to go bottom-fishing for Nokia. With the stock still trading near its 52-week lows, investors can witness significant gains as the aforementioned tailwinds materialize.

Start a free seven-day trial of Premium Membership to GuruFocus.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






Technological innovation is something the US prides itself on, but the world's leading superpower has been slacking a little on supercomputing. According to the latest edition of the Top500 world computers, a biannual ranking of supercomputers, China's 10.65 million-core Sunway TaihuLight takes the number one slot.

What makes is even more impressive -- and worrying for America's processor dominance -- is that the microprocessors inside are 100% Chinese.

DON'T MISS: A week with iOS 10: Its fantastic, and Im bored

In the past, China has relied heavily on US-made processors for its supercomputers. That's why a little over a year ago, the US government banned Intel from exporting its powerful Xeon processors to a number of Chinese supercomputer makers. The ban wa

sunway-taihulight-640x353

s imposed because the government thought that China was using the Tianhe-2, a Chinese supercomputer built with Intel cores, to run nuclear simulations.

Rather than halting Chinese progress, it looks like the policy has had the opposite effect. Chinese research into microprocessors had already been underway, but the speed of China's growth as a computing power appears to have increased. The development of the Sunway TaihuLight also marks the first time that the processing power of all Chinese supercomputers exceeds the processing power of all the US computers.

Contrary to some fearmongering, this doesn't mean that Chinese cyber-ninjas are about to start hacking every server stateside with their new, all-powerful mainframes. But it is an important milestone along the way to the US losing its position as the technological superpower of the world.

Related stories

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More from BGR: All the wild iPhone 7 rumors you might have missed this weekend

This article was originally published on BGR.com
By Malathi Nayak NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York State has passed legislation that would ban Airbnb users from listing some short-term rentals, a move that represents a new line of attack by legislators against the company in one of its most important markets. The bill was approved on Friday by the New York State Senate, having previously passed in the house. It now will go to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who could sign it, veto it or let it become law without his signature. New York already prohibits rentals that last fewer than 30 days if residents are not present, but posting listings for such rentals was not explicitly barred. Under the new legislation, people who post such listings could be fined up to $7,500. Airbnb said it believed that if the bill were enacted into law, New York would be the first jurisdiction in the world to ban ads for short-term rentals on home-sharing sites. Two of its more prominent investors, actor Ashton Kutcher and Silicon Valley investor Paul Graham, took to Twitter to express their disapproval of the New York Senate's passage of the bill. "The @NYSenate is trying to quietly rush through a bill banning Airbnb. If you'd like the decision to be more democratic, tell them," Graham said in a tweet. Airbnb has stirred controversy in New York where the company says its service supports tourism and helps residents defray high rents. Regulators and the hotel industry have complained that Airbnb is leading to a proliferation of homes that essentially function as illegal hotels in violation of zoning laws, safety codes and other requirements. Airbnb has said it has actively pulled down numerous New York City listings from its marketplace that were controlled by commercial operators. Some landlords do not want tenants renting out rooms because of increased wear and potential liability, and affordable housing activists worry the service diverts units out of the regular housing stock. San Francisco-based Airbnb, now operating in nearly 200 countries, argues if the bill becomes law, thousands of New Yorkers who rent out their places would find it harder "to pay the bills." The company, founded in 2008 and valued at over $25 billion, estimates that it contributes about $60 million in taxes to the state of New York. The company has faced legal and political battles in the United States and Europe. Last November, it spent more than $8 million to defeat a proposition in San Francisco aimed at restricting short-term rentals, and a Berlin court is due to rule on the legality of short-term rentals in the German capital. The New York measure could set a precedent for other cities and states with housing shortages that worry Airbnb reduces the number of homes available for regular rentals, Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst at Atmosphere Research Group, said. I think other communities will take a look at how this goes in New York and consider emulating it, he said. Other companies affected by the New York measure include Expedia Inc's services HomeAway and VRBO. (Reporting by Malathi Nayak; additional reporting by Heather Somerville in San Francisco; Editing by Eric Effron and Cynthia Osterman)
On Last Week Tonight, John Oliver took on the NRA  and politicians who dont support stronger gun laws  in the wake of the recent massacre at the Orlando nightclub that left 49 people dead. Its a lot easier to drum up support when youre just flatly against something, said Oliver of the NRAs faithful members, who will happily show up to vote no to any legislation the lobbying group doesnt like.



So where does that leave Americans who want the gun violence to stop? Oliver urged viewers to call their elected officials over and over again to urge them to take action. Call them on their birthday and say, Happy birthday, and also get rid of the Dickey amendment. (The Dickey amendment prevents the CDC from researching the efficacy of gun-control legislation.) Not sure how to contact your congressman? Click here.



Last Week Tonight with John Oliver airs Sundays at 11 p.m. on HBO.



Watch John Oliver Open the Show by Addressing Tragic Orlando Shooting:

Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Cynthia LuCiette, on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Since the introduction of Christianity to Ghana, the religion continues to take hold of the nation as statistics show that 71 percent of the population is Christian.

READ ALSO: No rotten chicken in the market - FDA assures public

The growth of Christianity has since expanded from traditional Catholicism to a new wave of Protestant Reformation which has seen the birth of millions of Charismatic churches across the country.

But how have these churches being able to expand so fast? Information reveals that the major means these churches expand is through the establishment of prayer camps. Yes, there are tens of such camps here in Ghana and YEN.com.gh will be making a list of the most popular.

READ ALSO: So adorable! See these top Ghanaian celebrity fathers and their kids

1. Moments of Glory Prayer Army (MOGPA)

Till date, MOGPA remains the largest prayer camp in the history of Ghana's Charismatic Christian religion.

Headed by Rev. Osei Bonsu, this prayer camp located Kumasi is said to be the home of huge conventions and Christian gatherings.

With noticeable wristbands, flyers, stickers, and merchandises, MOGPA is in no doubt a true reflection of how buoyant and 'prayerful' Ghanaian Christians are.

2. Achimota Forest

Although it remains a forest, it also remains the home of most of Ghana's Christian conventions and deliverance service. Located in Accra at the Achimota Forest Reserve, the said prayer camp has since time immemorial been the landmark of spiritual encounters by most Christians in Ghana.

3. Abasua Prayer Camp

This prayer camp is comfortably situated on the Atwea mountains in the Ashanti Region is in no doubt one of the popular praying mountains not just in Ghana but in Africa as a whole. Established by local Methodist Pastor, Abraham Osei-Asibey, the prayer camp is documented to have experienced a close encounter with Jesus Christ.

4. Edumfa Prayer Camp

The Edumfa Prayer camp is a faith healing centre that is highly patronized by some famed people in the country including Reverend Ministers, Pastors, Prophets, Business Executives, CEOs, Renowned Musicians, Traders, Students, the Sick and those under any form of spiritual bondage.

5. Hebron Prayer Camp

Headed by Elder Donkor, this prayer camp is reported to host up to 10,000 congregants on a monthly and annual basis with their advertisement and social media tactics said to be one of the best in Ghana. It must be stated that this prayer camp used to be under the Church of Pentecost.

READ ALSO: Childhood photos of Akufo-Addo with his family members

YEN.com.gh is building a platform where Ghanaians can share local news and own experiences with each other.

Witnessing an incident? Want to tell about a local problem? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition?

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Message us on Facebook now.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Embark on the trip of a lifetime without busting your budget.

Taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip, particularly one in a far-flung locale, isn't always within reach for the frugal traveler. Perhaps, you're dreaming of heading on an adrenaline-fueled journey to Machu Picchu's famed "lost city of the Incas," or exploring the legendary temples of Southeast Asia. Or maybe your perfect trip involves immersive experiences, such as trekking across the Great Wall of China or admiring jaw-dropping views in Niagara Falls. While it's true that some exotic places aren't well-suited for the bargain hunter, there are many must-see destinations that cater to budgets high and low. To direct you to inspiring and affordable frontiers, we asked industry experts and seasoned explorers to share top trips to cross off your list.

The Great Wall of China

When it comes to extraordinary bucket-list destinations, it's hard to beat the Great Wall of China, which stretches across nearly 5,500 miles and has a history that dates back to about 200 B.C. "Every country has a must-see monument, but few of those monuments span the entire country," says Alex Howard, Lonely Planet's Western U.S. and Canada destination editor. Best of all, there are plenty of cheap dining options, moderately priced accommodations and easy public transportation in China, he adds. Beijing, which is only about 40 miles away from a popular stretch of the wall in Badaling, China, offers an easy and affordable starting point for your trip.

District of Columbia

Our nation's capital is home to must-see museums and monuments, a burgeoning culinary scene and plenty of vibrant neighborhoods. If you've never made the pilgrimage to D.C., the city is certainly one to cross off your list, whether you're a history buff, an art lover or simply looking to check out classic attractions such as the White House and the Washington Monument. As Robert Firpo-Cappiello, editor in chief of Budget Travel, puts it, "the not-so-secret magic of D.C. is that most attractions are free," he says, pointing out that the Smithsonian museums, the National Gallery of Art and the U.S. Capitol building offer free admission.

Story continues

Grand Canyon National Park

With the National Park Service's 100th anniversary fast approaching on Aug. 25, there's no better time to explore Grand Canyon National Park. At 277 miles long, the Grand Canyon is "truly one of the wonders of the world and perhaps the wonder of the United States," says Clem Bason, CEO of goSeek. To trim travel costs, he suggests flying into top hubs in Phoenix or Las Vegas, picking up a rental car and driving to Flagstaff, Arizona, which is conveniently located near the North Rim of the park, he says. Howard also points out that because the park is in the desert, "you won't have to worry about bad weather," making it easy to cut costs by camping beneath the stars.

Yosemite National Park

With striking natural splendors -- from majestic granite domes to dramatic waterfalls to massive sequoias -- Yosemite Valley offers a myriad of wonders. Whether you have your heart set on checking out Half Dome, the John Muir Trail or the vistas from Glacier Point lookout, you'll find plenty of captivating points of interest. To optimize savings, Bason recommends visiting in late spring or early fall, when crowds and prices go down. If you have a tight budget, he suggests looking at options in nearby Sonora, California, which offers many two- and three-star hotels and vacation rentals. "You should be able to spend less than $150 a night, if not less than $100," he adds.

Ireland

In the Emerald Isle, you'll find lush landscapes, history-filled enclaves and fascinating cultural traditions. Dublin, the country's largest city, offers a vibrant introduction to the country, with must-see sites such as Dublin Castle, St. Patrick's Cathedral and lively Grafton Street. "Dublin is closer, more affordable and friendlier than almost any other European capital, and we love how easy it is to explore its center city on a budget," Firpo-Cappiello says. Affordable flights are easy to come by, too, with Google Flights currently showing round-trip treks from New York City airports starting at $596 in August and $690 from Boston's Logan International Airport for the same period.

Niagara Falls

With three legendary falls -- American, Horseshoe and Bridal Veil -- Niagara Falls offers an awe-inspiring experience for spectators. Whether you want to soak in the scenery from the Maid of the Mist steamboats at the base of the falls or check out the plummeting water from unique vantage points behind the falls, there's no shortage of ways to experience Instagram-worthy views. To revel in the scenery without paying a hefty price tag, Bason suggests hitting the road to dodge expensive airfare. He also advises staying on the Canadian side to take advantage of the favorable exchange rate against the U.S. dollar. "You can find two- or three-star hotels for around $50 a night," he says.

Iceland

Iceland's towering waterfalls, striking geothermal pools and otherworldly landscapes beckon to the adventurous traveler. You can't miss taking a dip in the Blue Lagoon, heading on a drive to remember on Ring Road or admiring the northern lights. Reykjavik, the country's capital city, offers an excellent home base for taking in Iceland's diverse natural attractions. Plus, you won't have to pinch pennies to get there. Firpo-Cappiello points out that budget carrier WOW Air offers affordable flight prices, and with manageable distances from place to place, it's easy to drive around much of the island.

Machu Picchu

While getting to Machu Picchu's famed ruins won't be easy or cost-effective, once you make the trek to Cusco, Peru, you'll find plenty of affordable dining and lodging options. Plus, there are a variety of moderately priced, small group tours available with reputable outfitters. G Adventures, for instance, offers a seven-day trek through Machu Picchu, Cusco and other points of interest in Peru starting at $1,249 per person. If you decide to plan a trip to the UNESCO site on your own, remember tickets sell out weeks ahead of time during the peak season, from May to September.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Gazing at the centuries-old Angkor Wat temple is a sight to behold. "It's the world's greatest Hindu temple," Howard says. It is "quite literally a vision of heaven on earth," he adds. Reaching the city of Siem Reap, which is less than 4 miles from the temple complex, won't be an easy endeavor, and depending on your travel dates, airfare can be pricey. But Cambodia is an excellent budget destination that is packed with sophisticated urban centers and affordable places to stay, Howard notes. At the Golden Temple Residence in Siem Reap, for example, you'll find rooms starting at just $104 a night.

Quebec City

If you're based in North America and your perfect vacation involves strolling along cobbled streets, admiring graceful European-style architecture and reveling in old-world charm, Quebec City should be high on your list, Howard says. Plus, Old Quebec, a UNESCO World Heritage site, retains its storied 17th century colonial buildings and offers a myriad of historic sites, including the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre-Dame and The Battlefields Park. What's more, with the strength of the U.S. dollar, it's easy to pull off an affordable getaway.





More From US News & World Report


Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan speaks during the annual convocation at the Shiv Nadar University in Dadri, on the outskirts of New Delhi, India, May 7, 2016. REUTERS/Anindito Mukherjee

Saturdays announcement that Raghuram Rajan would not serve a second term as governor of the Reserve Bank of India, the countrys central bank, is bad news  and not just for an India that could well be on the verge of finally unleashing more fully its huge growth and development potential. It is also unfortunate for a global central banking community that is facing its own set of increasing challenges, both political and related to the excessive policy burdens that key central banks have been forced to carry.

Rajan brought to the RBI job an admirable mix of talent, academic rigor and courage  as well as profound experience from his time at the International Monetary Fund. Under his leadership, the central bank restored Indias macroeconomic stability, a critical condition for high inclusive growth. Progress was also made in reforming and strengthening the financial system with a view to improving its soundness, efficiency and contributions to growth and development.

With such visible and determined progress, Rajan helped enhance the credibility of the RBI. This served as yet another catalyst for higher inflows of foreign direct investment, particularly given the importance that investors place on institutional soundness.

Inevitably, Rajans leadership of the RBI did not please every politician, including some particularly vocal ones who felt that insufficient attention was being given to specific credit facilities. With Narendra Modi, Indias reformist Prime Minister remaining rather quiet in the resulting controversy, Rajan informed his RBI colleagues on Saturday that he would not be serving a second term when his current one expire in September.

Allianz's Mohamed El-Erian (Scott Mlyn | CNBC)

Rajans departure serves as yet another example of messy and noisy politics getting the better of good economics. Depending on who is named as his successor, the losses could well extend beyond an India that now risks slipping on what has been an impressive surge in an important area of policymaking.

Rajan is also a highly respected member of the global central banking community. His contributions have proven particularly important when it comes to thinking about the international spillover effects from a period of prolonged monetary policy experimentation by Europe, Japan and the United States.

Rajan will be missed, and by many. And while he expressed a desire in his Saturday notification to return to academia, the world would surely benefit from him eventually assuming a top position at an influential multilateral economic institutions  be it the BIS (Bank for International Settlement), the IMF (International Monetary Fund) or the World Bank.

Mohamed A. El-Erian is the chief economic advisor to Allianz, the corporate parent of PIMCO where he served as CEO and co-CIO (2007-2014). He is Chair of President Obamas Global Development Council and the author of two New York Times Best Sellers: the 2008 When Markets Collide and this years The Only Game in Town.

Follow him on twitter (@elerianm), Facebook and LinkedIn.
* New biodiesel standards to use 709,000 T palm oil a year

* Mandate to call for B10 for transport, B7 for industry (Adds comments on automotive sector, updates prices)

By Emily Chow

KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Reuters) - Malaysia is in talks with oil companies about moving the start of its B10 biodiesel mandate to July, a month later than earlier planned, aiming now to complete full implementation of the new standard by August.

This takes into account time needed for oil companies to reset blending ratios and procure enough palm methyl ester (PME), said the ministry of plantation industries and commodities in an email to Reuters, referring to the bio component of biodiesel that comes from palm oil.

Malaysia, the world's second largest palm oil producer after Indonesia, had earlier said it would raise Malaysia's biodiesel mandate to 10 percent for the transport sector and to 7 percent for the industrial sector beginning in June.

The new standard would raise the minimum bio content of biodiesel from the current 7 percent, taking up more palm oil supplies and helping to stabilize Malaysia's palm prices.

Blending to the new standards is expected to consume 709,000 tonnes of palm oil annually versus estimates of 500,000 tonnes used under the current biodiesel mandate.

"The implementation of both B10 and B7 programmes requires coordination and cooperation from all petroleum companies, including Petronas, Shell, Chevron, Petron and BHP," said the ministry in its e-mail.

State-owned Petronas, Royal Dutch Shell, Chevron, Petron and BHP are responsible for blending diesel with PME at 35 blending depots throughout Malaysia, according to the ministry.

Construction of the blending facilities was funded by the government through the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).

The plantations ministry is also in consultation with automotive companies on the implementation of the B10 programme for the transport sector beginning in July, it said in a separate statement issued later.

Story continues

It also said that petrol stations in three of Malaysia's highlands would be exempt from providing that 10 percent blend, and petrol stations selling Euro 5 grade diesel would be allowed to retail the current B7 blend.

Local news outlet The Sun had earlier reported that the B10 programme would be suspended until further notice.

Palm oil traders, plantation companies and analysts had earlier questioned the feasibility of the government's B10 programme, citing low crude oil prices and weak implementation policies as barriers to the mandate's effectiveness.

Malaysia has 18 biodiesel plants in operation with 2.3 million tonnes in annual capacity, the plantations and commodities ministry said.

Benchmark palm oil prices have lost more than 7 percent so far this month on weaker export demand and as output is forecast to see a seasonal rise over the next few months.

Palm prices fell 1.7 percent to 2,409 ringgit ($593) per tonne on Monday.

($1 = 4.0620 ringgit) (Reporting by Emily Chow; Editing by Tom Hogue)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwired - Jun 20, 2016) - Security professionals in the video surveillance industry will be able to deploy new NVR storage servers that save costs and deliver incredible performance with the availability of the Promise Vess A2330 and A3340. Vess A2330 is a 2U 6-bay NVR which offers low latency recording for entry level deployments of up to 35 cameras per system. Vess A3340 is a powerful 2U 8-bay NVR designed for mid-sized surveillance deployments of up to 80 IP cameras. The new Vess NVRs will be featured at Promise's display during IFSEC International (stand G600) at the London ExCeL from June 21 - 23.

Promise Technology is the developer of the open storage platform for video surveillance. Promise's award-winning line of Vess NVR appliances are purpose-built for video surveillance environments and feature a range of proprietary technologies that enable the systems to handle a much higher number of IP cameras than competing solutions. The addition of the two new Vess NVRs expands Promise's portfolio of solutions to ensure that security professionals can deploy a Promise product for projects of any size and in any environment. The new Vess A2330 and A3340 NVRs are now available through the global network of Promise value added distributors and resellers.

"We are excited to introduce the new line of Vess NVRs at IFSEC as they offer security professionals greater flexibility, value and performance," said John van den Elzen, General Manager, Surveillance Business Unit, Promise Technology. "Our commitment to our customers doesn't end at developing outstanding products -- we place a huge emphasis on support, education and partnering with other leading brands in the industry. This is demonstrated through our Promise Presentation Theater at IFSEC which is an invaluable resource for security professionals looking to learn more about how we are working together with VMS and camera providers to meet the demands of customers in the UK and around the world."

Story continues

Promise Presentation Theater

Optimize the IFSEC experience by gaining access to the most relevant and informative seminar program for security professionals. The Promise Presentation Theater provides access to the latest intelligence in topics ranging from Video Management Software, IP Cameras, Recording and Storage Technologies and much more. Visitors to IFSEC can join Promise Technology, Aimetis, Axis, Axxonsoft, CamIQ, Digifort, SeeTec and Toshiba at stand G600 to learn more about the latest surveillance trends and technologies that are shaping the industry and after every presentation Promise will be giving away a fantastic prize. Plus, live demos of the presenter's products, in addition to solutions from Canon, Milestone and Samsung, can be seen together with Promise's NVRs and storage. To book a seat for the presentations, please click here.

Join Promise on the IFSEC show floor at stand G600 from June 21 - 23 at the London ExCeL. For more information, please visit www.promise.com and follow Promise Technology on LinkedIn for updates throughout the show.

About Promise Technology Inc.

Promise Technology is a recognized global leader with 28 years of experience in the storage industry. Promise creates innovative solutions tailored to the unique needs of the IoT, Cloud, IT, Rich Media, and Surveillance markets. From personal cloud appliances, to scalable enterprise IT Infrastructure, blazingly fast post production tools, video security solutions and hyperconverged systems, Promise adapts its products to meet the real-world challenges customers face every day. Promise's highly experienced sales and engineering teams are strategically located throughout the Americas, EMEA, and JAPAC regions to provide unparalleled services and support to its customers around the globe. For more information, visit: www.promise.com.

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By Asad Hashim

LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - As taxi hailing giant Uber enters Pakistan, a little-known local competitor is counting on a mix of new ideas and old technology to tap what could be a big chunk of the market: low-income residents who travel in rickshaws, not cabs.

Known as Rixi, the Lahore-based service hails rickshaws instead of cars. Its platform is not smartphones, but older SMS phone messaging that allows nearby drivers to bid for any user's business.

Pakistan has more than 130 million cellphone subscriptions, but only 21 percent subscribe to data packages, and, while the proportion is rising, there are opportunities across emerging economies in Asia to tap a relatively low-tech customer base.

In Thailand, Taxi Radio uses calls and text messages to put cabs and people in touch and is popular with those without smartphone apps, and HeyKuya!, an SMS-based service provider in the Philippines, was recently acquired by Indonesia's YesBoss.

Rixi founder Adnan Khawaja says his company works with more than 1,000 rickshaw drivers in Lahore, where many people rely on small, noisy three-wheelers that are well suited to beating traffic in the eastern city's crowded streets.

Rixi works by bypassing poor smartphone penetration in the low-income rickshaw market by polling drivers' locations using cellphone towers and matching passengers' messaged locations to points on Google Maps.

"If you look at ... Uber's operational model, they will be depending on the smartphones," said Khawaja. "In countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, that population is [...] growing, but it's still smaller compared to the vast market."

Uber declined to comment on Rixi's business model, and said that while it had tested SMS-based services, there were no immediate plans to deploy such a service in Pakistan.

"We continue to explore products that would stimulate demand ... and better service the city, whether that is a motorbike, whether that is a rickshaw, whether that is a chopper," said Zohair Yousafi, Uber's head of expansion in Pakistan.

Story continues

To entrepreneurs like Shehmir Shaikh, who recently launched errand start-up Scooty Bhejo in Lahore, Uber is missing a trick over Pakistan's digital divide and its large, low-income transport market.

"Abroad, Uber has made waves because of the readily available technology that people are using, like iPhones in their hands," he said. "We don't have that here. (And) the major form of transport is not cars."

ROADBLOCKS TO SUCCESS

Adam Ghaznavi, a technology entrepreneur who has studied the rickshaw market, thinks Pakistan will not necessarily be a large market for taxi ride hailing apps like Uber, but it could be very lucrative for an equivalent app for rickshaws.

"If somebody can figure that out, the potential is huge," he said.

So far, Rixi says it has registered about 100,000 rides since it launched in late 2013, and is averaging about 100 rides a day. That's just a fraction of the roughly 200,000 trips that rickshaws in Lahore take every day, according to the Awami Rickshaw Union.

"Rickshaw drivers do not know anything about these (online apps)," said Majeed Ghauri, head of the union, which represents the drivers of 60,000 of Lahore's roughly 80,000 registered rickshaws. "They simply want their daily wages."

Ghauri said market dynamics and consumer behavior in the low-income market were markedly different from those in the taxi ride sharing arena.

Moreover, Rixi's location-tracking, reliant as it is on imprecise cellphone tower triangulation and Google Maps, has thrown up some major kinks.

Several customers complained that Rixi's service was unable to deliver on its promised 15-minute service delivery time.

"Even in the most densely populated cities in the country, the accuracy is no more than a few hundred meters, which is not good enough for a driver looking for a passenger," said Danielle Sharaf, a technology entrepreneur whose company provides value-added services for cellphones.

Rixi says it has an error rate of only three percent, and says mismatches are because of its reliance on external services such as Google Maps.

Ghaznavi said a major hurdle to adoption in the Pakistani market is the lack of literacy, both traditional and digital, among rickshaw drivers and passengers, compared to those using taxi ride hailing apps.

"The rise of the middle class is the key to resolving the rickshaw situation. Right now, the middle class is not traveling on a rickshaw, the lower middle class is," he said.

(Additional reporting by Neil Jerome Morales in MANILA and Khettiya Jittapong in JAKARTA; Writing by Asad Hashim; Editing by Mike Collett-White)
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Washington, June 19 (CNA) The United States will be consistent in its handling of transit stops by President Tsai Ing-wen () in Miami and Los Angeles during her trip to and back from Taiwan's two diplomatic allies in Latin America in late June, Raymond Burghardt, chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), said Sunday.
Jo Cox death: MPs return to Parliament to pay tribute

BBC News20 June 2016MPs and peers are paying tribute to Labour MP Jo Cox, who was killed in her constituency in West Yorkshire on Thursday.Parliament, which was in recess for the EU referendum, has been recalled to remember Mrs Cox, 41, who was described as "perfect" by her family.After the Commons and Lords tributes, politicians are attending a memorial service at St Margaret's Church in the grounds of Westminster Abbey.Speaker John Bercow said they had gathered in "heartbreaking sadness".As he led the tributes in a packed House of Commons, he said Mrs Cox had "outstanding qualities... she was caring, eloquent, principled and wise"."Above all she was filled with and fuelled by love for humanity. Devoted to her family and a relentless campaigner for equality, human rights and social justice," he added.Mr Bercow added: "An attack like this strikes not only at an individual, but at our freedom. That is why we assemble here, both to honour Jo and to redouble our dedication to democracy."Mrs Cox's husband, Brendan, and their two children were in the public gallery to hear MPs' tributes, along with Mrs Cox's parents Jean and Gordon, sister Kim and other family members.A white and a red rose were placed in Mrs Cox's usual place on the Labour benches.Speaking next, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told MPs, who were wearing white roses in memory of Mrs Cox: "We have lost one of our own and society as a whole has lost one of our very best."He said Mrs Cox - whose 42nd birthday would have been on Wednesday - had spent her life serving and campaigning "for other people" - at home and abroad - both in her charity work and as an MP.He called her death as "an attack on democracy and our whole country has been shocked and saddened by it... and was united in grief".He appealed for "a kinder and gentler politics", saying politicians had a responsibility "not to whip up hatred or sow division".In her honour, he said "we can come together to change our politics to tolerate a little more and condemn a little less".Prime Minister David Cameron described Mrs Cox, the MP for Batley and Spen, as an "extraordinary colleague and friend", who was a humanitarian "to her core" who brought out "the best" in people."She was a voice of compassion, whose boundless energy lit up the lives of all who knew her and saved the lives of many she never met."He said her killing was a "sickening and despicable" act and, like the speakers before him, offered condolences to her family.Mr Cameron added: "We pay tribute to a loving, determined, passionate and progressive politician, who epitomised the best of humanity and proved so often the power of politics to make the world a better place."Several MPs could be seen in tears as tributes were made from across the House to Mrs Cox as a charity worker, an MP, a wife and a mother.She was "struck down too soon", said Labour MP for Leeds West Rachel Reeves, who told MPs "it now falls on all of our shoulders to carry on Jo's work - to combat and guard against hatred, intolerance and injustice and serve others with dignity and love".Ms Reeves added, to tears, that Batley and Spen would go on to elect a new MP, "but no one can replace a mother".Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell said Mrs Cox was a "truly exceptional woman" whose "goodness and passionate dedication to humanitarian values has inspired us all."He said she would not want her death to change the "open and accessible relationship" MPs enjoy with their constituents, but she would want the UK to redouble its efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis, which he called "the greatest catastrophe of our age".For the Lib Dems, leader Tim Farron said MPs stood "united" to mourn the death of "an enormous figure in this House".He added: "The snatching away of a wife and a mother, hugely loving and hugely loved, is what has moved Britain to stand in collective grief this last few days.""A proud Yorkshire lass," was how Conservative MP Stuart Andrew remembered Mrs Cox. He said he would miss her "passion and conviction" but above all "her smile".Meanwhile, Stephen Kinnock, who shared an office with Mrs Cox, a friend for 20 years, said Mrs Cox gave "a voice to the voiceless and spoke truth to power "and exemplified the "best values of Labour and the country.Echoing the sentiment of others, he said her legacy must be a politics of "hope not fear, respect not hate, unity not division".In very rare and emotional scenes in the Commons chamber, MPs broke in to applause in memory of the MP as they filed out of the chamber, many comforting each other as they wiped away tears.The MPs then proceeded to St Margaret's Church, alongside members of the House of Lords, where a short memorial service will take place for Mrs Cox.A church service was held in Batley and Spen on Sunday to remember the life of Mrs Cox, who was described as a "21st Century Good Samaritan".Mrs Cox's sister Kim Leadbeater has thanked the community for their support, saying it had "genuinely made a difference" and helped the family through some "dark times".Friends of Mrs Cox have announced plans for a public event in Trafalgar Square in London on Wednesday.There have also been calls for a memorial to be installed at Westminster to remember her, while a fund set up in her name has raised almost 1m.Mrs Cox is the first sitting MP to be killed since Conservative Ian Gow was blown up by the IRA in 1990, the last in a string of politicians to be murdered by Northern Irish terror groups.Thomas Mair, 52, from Birstall, faces charges of murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon in connection with the attack on Mrs Cox.He refused to give his correct name and did not reply when asked to confirm his address and date of birth at an appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday.When asked to confirm he was Thomas Mair at the Old Bailey on Monday, he replied: "Yes, I am."There was no application for bail and he was remanded in custody. He will appear at the same court for a preliminary hearing before Mr Justice Saunders at 10:00 BST on Thursday.Wearing a badge saying "IN". Traitor.
PLATTSMOUTH  Two eastern Nebraska residents appeared in Cass County District Court Monday morning for hearings on their drug-related cases.

The first case involved Weeping Water resident Vanessa L. Williams, 36. She pled guilty to one Class I misdemeanor charge of attempted possession of controlled substance-methamphetamine. The state said it would not be opposed to probation at the time of sentencing.

Deputy County Attorney Colin Palm told the court a Cass County Sheriffs Office deputy learned Williams was near a section of road he was patrolling last October. The deputy learned Williams had a warrant for her arrest on a traffic citation. He stopped her car near Weeping Water and transported her to Cass County Jail on the warrant.

Cass County Jail employees conducted a routine search of Williams while they were booking her into the facility. They found a small plastic baggie inside her cellphone case. Palm said the baggie contained a powdery substance that looked suspicious to jail employees. A test at the state crime lab confirmed the substance was methamphetamine.

Williams remains free on bond. Her sentencing hearing will take place Aug. 22.

The second case involved Bellevue resident Alan R. Watson III, 36. Watson appeared before the court for sentencing on one charge of attempted possession of controlled substance-methamphetamine. He entered a plea to the Class I misdemeanor count earlier this year.

Judge Jeffrey Funke sentenced Watson to 18 months of probation. Watson must complete an intensive outpatient treatment program, pay all probation fees and abstain from all alcohol and drugs. He must also complete 40 hours of community service.
PLATTSMOUTH  An Omaha man learned Monday that he would serve jail time for throwing a handgun out the window of his car while driving in Cass County.

Ernest C. Harrington, 36, appeared in Cass County District Court for sentencing on a Class ID felony charge. Harrington pled no contest to one count of possession of firearm by prohibited person in May. The state agreed to dismiss a second felony charge and a habitual criminal designation in exchange for the plea.

A Nebraska State Patrol trooper attempted to pull Harrington over last November after watching him speeding on Interstate 80. The trooper began a pursuit after Harrington did not slow down after the patrol cars lights were flashing. The trooper reported that Harringtons car began to move erratically along the interstate as the chase progressed.

The pursuit began on the Sarpy County side of the Platte River and continued into Cass County. The trooper reported seeing Harrington throw an object out the front window onto the Platte River Bridge. The object made sparks as it landed on the pavement and broke in half. Authorities later recovered parts of a .22-caliber handgun.

Deputy County Attorney Richard Fedde told the court he was concerned about Harringtons criminal history. Harringtons record includes a term of 20 months in the Nebraska Department of Corrections for two felony convictions in 2005. He was found guilty of operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest and felony possession of a gun in Douglas County. He was also convicted of possession of controlled substance in both 2007 and 2014.

Harrington appeared in Sarpy County June 6 for sentencing on a separate charge of possession of a short shotgun. He was ordered to serve 18 months in the Nebraska Department of Corrections on the felony charge. He came to Plattsmouth Monday from the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln.

Fedde told the court Harrington purchased the .22-caliber handgun while he was out on bond on the Sarpy County case. Fedde said he was alarmed that Harrington had decided to buy a gun at that time. He said Harrington was well aware that he was facing a separate gun charge in Sarpy County but decided to make the purchase anyway.

Defense attorney Michael J. Wilson asked the court to take Harringtons work history and family situation into account. Wilson said Harrington had a very supportive family and had a good reputation at work. He said Harringtons boss had complete trust in him and asked him to do plumbing work at his own house.

Harrington also spoke before the court. He apologized for his actions and said he appreciated the support his family had given him.

Judge Jeffrey Funke said Harrington was not a suitable candidate for probation because of his criminal record. He said Harrington had been charged with crimes involving firearms or drugs five times in the past 19 years. He said that was a risky combination for both Harrington and the general public.

Your words are impactful, Funke said. They are articulate and spoken from the heart. The problem is that you have these epiphanies only when you are in custody and your liberties are at stake. You have to have these epiphanies when these opportunities outside of the courtroom are given to you. Your actions have spoken much louder than your words.

Funke sentenced Harrington to a term of five to ten years in the Nebraska Department of Corrections. Harrington will begin serving his Cass County time after he completes the Sarpy County sentence.
PLATTSMOUTH  An Omaha woman who resisted arrest after authorities found her in a stolen car in Cass County was sentenced to jail time Monday morning.

Ameretta M. Trusler, 23, appeared in Cass County District Court for a sentencing hearing. She pled guilty in January to one count of resisting arrest and one count of theft by receiving-$500 to $1,500. Both charges were Class I misdemeanors.

A Nebraska State Patrol trooper noticed a disabled vehicle on the shoulder of a section of Interstate 80 located in Cass County last September. The trooper pulled over to assist the driver and a passenger. He then did a background check on the vehicle and learned it had recently been stolen in Omaha.

Trusler attempted to walk away from the trooper after he tried to place her under arrest. Deputy County Attorney Colin Palm said the trooper was able to handcuff Trusler after a short time. He had to place her on the hood of the car while he attempted to arrest the driver of the vehicle.

Palm said he felt a jail sentence was appropriate because of Truslers actions after she posted bond from Cass County Jail. He said Trusler was allegedly caught with methamphetamine in Lincoln while she was free. A charge of possession of controlled substance-methamphetamine is currently pending for her in Lancaster County.

Palm said Trusler is also facing pending charges in Jefferson County for allegedly carrying more than 28 grams of methamphetamine. Trusler also failed to appear at her previously-scheduled sentencing hearing in Cass County in March.

Judge Jeffrey Funke said Trusler was not a suitable candidate for probation. He said he was concerned about Truslers previous record and her absence from the original sentencing hearing.

Clearly you didnt understand the importance or seriousness of what this case was about, Funke said.

Funke sentenced Trusler to 180 days in Cass County Jail on the theft charge and 90 days on the resisting arrest charge. Trusler must serve the charges on a consecutive basis. Funke also ordered her to pay $1,069.70 in restitution to the victim of the stolen car.
An Ames man accused of multiple sexual assaults over a seven-year span pleaded not-guilty to the allegations Monday morning in Dodge County District Court.

Scott Spicer, 54, faces six counts of alleged sexual misconduct between the years of 2000 and 2007, court documents show.

The two alleged victims reported the sexual incidents to the Dodge County Sheriffs Office in September 2015.

Following the reported misconduct, Spicer was arrested in December 2015 on two counts of first-degree sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault of a child and two counts of indecent exposure all felony charges.

Spicer pleaded not guilty in the presence of his defense attorney, G.M. Wiseman.

Spicer is being held at Saunders County Jail on a $1 million bond with a 10-percent option, meaning he would have to pay $100,000 to be released.

District Court Judge Geoffrey Hall scheduled a status hearing for 9 a.m. July 25.

In other District Court News:

Scott Campbell, 50, of Fremont was sentenced to serve prison time after being found guilty of being in felony possession of methamphetamine. Campbell was sentenced by Hall to spend not less than one year and not more than two years in the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. Campbell was credited with serving 52 days in Saunders County Jail and under the Nebraska Good Time law, he could be eligible for release in six months. Campbell pleaded with Hall to be granted the privilege of probation, but Hall refused, highlighting the defendants lengthy history of drug addiction.
Charles Charlie Robert Hein, 83, of Sabetha, Kan., died peacefully surrounded by family and friends on June 10, 2016.

Charlie was born on June 3, 1933, in Yutan to Carl Otto Charlie and Irene (Suhr) Hein. Known for his strong will and graciousness, Charlie will be much missed.

Narrowly surviving a construction cave in at age 18, Charlie went on to join the U.S. Army where he served in the 371st Armored Infantry Battalion and was a graduate of the Leadership School, Fort Riley, Kan., in 1953. Employed as company clerk, he rose to the rank of corporal, earning the National Defense Service Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany). Discharged in 1955, Charlie attended Wayne State College, Wayne, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. While at Wayne State, Charlie met and married Margaret Peggy Anderson in 1957. She was the love of his life and best friend. They were together for 48 years, until her death in 2005.

As a graduate school student at the University of Nebraska, Charlie worked with R. Neale Copple as a researcher for the full-length history of Lincoln, Tower on the Plains, published in 1959 for the Lincoln Centennial celebration. A writer at heart, he next became an editor and writer for the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company in Omaha. He was also a special features editor and general assignment reporter for the Lincoln Evening Journal. From 1962 to 1968, Charlie was a reporter, editor and managing editor for the Sun Newspaper, Omaha.

Mr. Hein entered the political arena in 1961 as the Executive Secretary of the Nebraska Democratic State Central Committee. He chaired the Bonner for Congress committee in 1962. Ever a follower of national and international politics, Charlie was an avid reader and enjoyed any opportunity to discuss the political news of the day. Perhaps not surprisingly, Charlie was a member of Pi Kappa Delta, an honorary speech fraternity.

After his newspaper experiences, Charlie transitioned to working in higher education, becoming Director of Public Relations and Development at Doane College, Crete, in 1973. While at Doane, several high-profile ads he designed were published in Time Magazine. From 1978 to 1980, Charlie served as the Director of University Relations and Executive Assistant to the Chancellor of the University of Nebraska, Omaha (UNO). He was the recipient of the Chancellors Medal in 1978 in recognition of extraordinary service to UNO. Hein was next called to become University of Nebraska Foundation Associate Vice President at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Crossing the state line, Charlie became Director of Communications at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan., and held that post from 1982 to 1987. After K-State, he became Interim President and Director of Institutional Advancement at Cloud County Community College, Concordia, Kan. Charlie retired in 1999, then holding the post of President.

No matter where he lived, Charlie was involved the community. In Omaha, he was Vice Chairman of the Omaha/Douglas County Bicentennial Commission as well as a member of the Board of Directors of the Omaha City Library. He was a member of Leadership Omaha, the Speaker of Leadership Manhattan and Leadership Kansas. In Crete, Charlie was President of the Crete Chamber of Commerce. In Manhattan, he was a member of the Rotary Club and served on the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and was Chair of the Chamber Committee on University Relations and Student Development.

Nine years ago, Charlie moved to the Apostolic Christian Retirement Village in Sabetha, Kan., where he quickly established some of his most important friendships. A favorite part of his day was sharing a bit of daily history at the noon meal and then leading the dining room in prayer. Even as physical challenges presented themselves, Charlie remained sharp and his demeanor was gracious and full of humor.

His wife, Peggy Hein, his parents, Charlie and Irene Hein, and his sister, Kathryn Hein, preceded Charlie in death.

He is survived by his son, Charles Robert Hein II, and two grandchildren, Sydney Hein and Jack Hein, all of Omaha; his daughter, Jennifer Hein, Ann Arbor, Mich., and her partner, Julie Walstra; as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousin in-laws.

Mr. Hein has been cremated. A private family service will take place at a later time to spread both his and his wifes ashes along the Loup River in Nebraska, one of their favorite places on this earth.

Donations may be made in Charlies memory to the Apostolic Christian Retirement Village and the Sabetha Community Hospital, sent in care of the funeral home, 823 Virginia, Sabetha, KS 66534.
CEDAR RAPIDS  Democratic U.S. Senate Patty Judge bills herself as the judge Chuck Grassley cant ignore, a reference to the Senate Judiciary Committee chairmans refusal to hold hearings on President Barack Obamas Supreme Court nominee Judge Merrick Garland.

Grassley isnt ignoring her. His campaign committee is warning Shes back on a new website dedicated to reminding Iowans Judges one term as Iowas lieutenant governor.

A Patty Judge sequel would feature the horrific scandals, tears from lost jobs and heartache from out-of-control deficits that most Iowans do not want to relive, said Robert Haus, campaign manager for Grassley Works.

You be the judge, the website advises Iowans after listing what Grassley Works calls failures of the Culver-Judge administration: spending $1.14 for every $1 of revenue the state collected, job losses, flood victims waiting for state help, refusing to take even a token pay cut after ordering a 10 percent across-the-board budget cut.

The best way to predict the future is to look at a candidates past, Haus said, and Iowans thought they were done with Patty Judge in 2010 after voting her out of office.

He also was critical of her campaign, which has limited her interaction with Iowa voters.

Rather than traveling the state to meet with Iowans, Patty Judge is transforming herself to appeal to the liberal special interests and to kowtow to the Washington, DC, directives of Harry Reid, Haus said.

The new website and ad come on the heels of Judge calling on Iowa Democratic Party state convention delegates to join her in sending a clear message  that it is time for government to get back to work for us by helping her retire Grassley.

Its time to break up the old boys club and get back to work, Judge told more than 1,500 activists in Des Moines Saturday. Its time to change the way that Washington operates. That change begins right here, right now, in Iowa.
CEDAR RAPIDS | Everyone knows the sequel is worse than the original, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassleys campaign is warning in a web ad that hits his Democratic challengers record.

A Patty Judge sequel would feature the horrific scandals, tears from lost jobs and heartache from out-of-control deficits that most Iowans do not want to relive, Robert Haus, campaign manager for Grassley Works, said about the campaigns ad at www.therealpattyjudge.com that warns Shes back.

Judge was a state senator and Iowa agriculture commissioner before she was Gov. Chet Culvers lieutenant governor from 2007-11.

Before being voted out of office in 2010, Grassley Works says the Culver-Judge administration spent $1.14 for every $1 of revenue the state collected, was responsible for job losses and making flood victims wait for state help. Judge also refused to take even a token pay cut after she and Culver ordered a 10 percent across-the-board budget cut.

The best way to predict the future is to look at a candidates past, Haus said, and Iowans thought they were done with Patty Judge in 2010 after voting her out of office.

Judges campaign turned that around quickly Monday, pointing out at www.CostlyGrassley.com, federal spending has increased by 1,010 percent, the national debt has increased by 3,510 percent, and there has been a budget deficit reported 37 years during the Republicans 41-years in Washington.

Mondays back-and-forth come on the heels of Judge calling on Iowa Democratic Party state convention delegates to join her in sending a clear message that it is time for government to get back to work for us by helping her retire Grassley.

Its time to break up the old boys club and get back to work, Judge told more than 1,500 activists in Des Moines Saturday. Its time to change the way that Washington operates. That change begins right here, right now, in Iowa.

Among the changes she wants to make are a $15-an-hour minimum wage, free community college and lowering the cost of a college education; and passing a ban on gun sales to people on the no-fly list.

Judge is lunging to the left in an attempt to unite the liberal wing of her party behind her sputtering candidacy, Haus said. Her tired, old ideas didnt work in Iowa and they would be a disaster in Washington. Judges solutions always involve more government, higher taxes, and fewer personal freedoms.

Its another Grassley term that Iowans cant afford, Judge campaign manager Sam Roecker countered.

Hes failing to take any responsibility for the past 41 years of dysfunction in Washington, Roecker said. Not only did he support deregulating the financial industry, but he stood by as government spending and the national debt soared. Hes too costly for Iowa families.
ROCKFORD  A blaze that destroyed a machine shed filled with equipment and hay near Rockford is under investigation.

The fire broke out about 9:50 p.m. Saturday at the farm in the 11000 block of Vine Avenue.

The large shed and its contents  80 bales of hay and farm equipment  were destroyed, according to a Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Office statement.

Farm owners Thomas and Tammy Bahnsen were not home.

Crews battle hay fire in Ventura VENTURA | Firefighters battled a hay fire in in rural Ventura on Tuesday. Officials were cal

Officials are still trying to determine the cause of the blaze.

Firefighters from Rockford, Rudd, Marble Rock, Dougherty and Rockwell responded to the blaze.

 Molly Montag
MASON CITY  A pending state audit of Mason City School District finances may have begun after a school board member questioned how vacation pay was given to two retiring administrators last year, according to an email obtained by the Globe Gazette.

Earlier this month, the school district released a statement acknowledging the state Auditor's Office would begin a re-audit of its finances for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015.

Officials said in a statement they were notified by the state in a letter dated May 31. The review is expected to begin in July. Depending on initial findings, it could expand to other fiscal years, the letter stated.

The audit may have been set in motion after School Board member Jodi Draper emailed the state office with concerns Superintendent Anita Micich could have approved funds via purchase order for two outgoing administrators last year that fell outside of their contracts and were completed without board approval, according to an email forwarded to board members on May 17.

Draper's concerns appear to center on per-diem payments totaling $68,178 for vacation pay to former Assistant Superintendent Hal Minear and Business Manager Ramona Jeffrey in July and September 2015.

In the email, Draper questions a $35,178 payment for 60 vacation days to Minear authorized by Micich via purchase order on July 27, 2015.

She also raised concerns about two additional payments to both Jeffrey and Minear for $16,500 each by Micich for 30 additional days of vacation pay authorized on Sept. 11, 2015.

"It does not appear to me by minutes of Anita (sic) contract that she has the authority to authorize those types of payments without board action," Draper wrote.

Jeffrey's last two-year contract, signed in June 2014, gave her 30 days paid vacation per year with the option to forward a maximum of 60 unused days to cash out when leaving the district.

Minear's final two-year contract provided 30 days of vacation per year, but unlike Jeffrey's contract has no language restricting how much vacation time he could carry over to cash out when he left his position.

UPDATED: State auditor to review Mason City School finances MASON CITY  An audit request regarding Mason City Schools has been filed with the state, ac

Business Manager John Berg said the district did not have a "use it or lose it" policy for vacation days, meaning both would have been paid for all authorized number of unused vacation days upon their retirement.

After reviewing district records, Berg told the Globe Gazette on Friday that Minear and Jeffrey were each authorized to leave the district with a specific number of vacation days when they accepted early retirement in July 2015.

Minear was authorized to receive payment for 110 total vacation days  80 prior accumulated days, plus an additional 30 after July 31, 2015, Berg said.

Jeffrey was approved to cash out 90 total prior days of vacation  restricted by her contract to 60 carryover vacation days. She was also allowed payment for an additional 30 days to be paid after July 31, 2015, Berg said.

Both were actually paid for 90 total vacation days each at their retirement, Micich said in an interview and according to district purchase orders authorized by her.

Micich, Minear and Jeffrey are not accused of any wrongdoing. It is also unclear if Micich's actions would come under the scope of the state review, because the payments fall outside of the dates of the its preliminary re-audit.

Micich defended Jeffey and Minear via phone and email on Sunday as "exemplary" employees and said the decision to award each an additional 30 days vacation after they chose to delay their retirement was within her authority as superintendent.

In response to the Globe's questions, she wrote, "I dont wish to engage in a continuing process that attempts to generate smoke to give the impression that there is some kind of fire."

Both Jeffrey and Minear accepted early retirement effective in July 2015, but temporarily resumed duties that fall including assisting with the district's yearly audit, helping to prepare year-end reports to the state and training their replacements, Micich said.

The district "does not expect our employees or former employees to work for free," she wrote.

"We had to decide how to fairly compensate them for their anticipated additional work," Micich added. "They received nothing further for this specialized work they did."

Jeffrey and Minear both left in December 2015 after 27 and 25 years in the district, according to their early retirement contracts.

Micich cited meetings in April and May 2015, according to minutes where she informed the board of plans to keep Jeffrey and Minear employed in fall 2015 for their financial and technical expertise.

"In the course of board work sessions and meetings the board was made aware of the specific work that Minear and Jeffrey would be doing, and expressed their gratitude for the assistance of these dedicated employees."

There was an understanding both would receive compensation for that work, Micich said, but, she did not remember and the meeting's minutes do not state if additional vacation pay was specifically discussed as a means of compensation.

"There was talk of pay," she said. "We did our due diligence in this process."

Micich said on Sunday that she does not recall Draper contacting her personally with her concerns, before asking the state auditors review the payments.

"She never asked me," Micich said.

Draper did not return a call Sunday asking whether she had talked with Micich previous to sending the message to the state auditor.

In the email sent to board members in May, Draper emphasized the matter was merely under review.

"[U]ntil the State Auditor gives an official direction of these matters, they are alleged incidents and have not been founded or validated with the State of Iowa," she wrote.

When asked earlier this month if the vacation pay under question by Draper could be a focus of the state's audit, Deputy Auditor Tami Kusian said she could not yet publicly comment on what they would examine in the district's books.

Kusian also said she could not confirm publicly who requested the audit until the public report was released, but noted such as request could be made by a private individual, school employee or elected official.

Once an allegation was made, since the office found justification to investigate further, the district was notified, she said.

Typically, the auditor's office can re-examine finances for about five school districts each year. But, Kusian said, she does not recall a recent re-audit request for Mason City Schools.

If we have its been over 20 years, she said.

Once the auditor's office's work is complete, a public report will be issued.

In the statement issued last week, district officials pledged to correct any findings issued in the report.

The district will respond, after review of the findings, to make any recommended changes found needed through this re-audit process, School Board President Janna Arndt and interim Superintendent Mike Penca said in a statement.

Calls to Jeffrey were not returned by press time. Minear declined to comment when reached by phone.

Draper confirmed on Saturday she had contacted the state auditor's office, but that she would not comment further, because what the state would examine was not known, even to her, and the details of the pending audit would not be public information.

Two representatives from Hogan-Hansen, an auditing firm that annually reviews the district's finances, were out of the office and not available for comment on Friday.

Micich is on administrative leave in Mason City until June 29.

The Mason City School Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday for its regular meeting, including a discussion on interim Superintendent Penca's contract, according to the agenda.
EL PASO, Texas, June 20, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Western Refining, Inc. (NYSE:WNR) will announce earnings results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016, on Tuesday, August 2, 2016, before the open of trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The Company has scheduled a conference call for August 2, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. EDT to discuss these results.

The call will be webcast and can be accessed at the Investor Relations section of Western's website, www.wnr.com. The call can also be heard by dialing (866) 566-8590 or (702) 224-9819, passcode: 35667046. The audio replay will be available two hours after the end of the call through August 16, 2016, by dialing (800) 585-8367 or (404) 537-3406, passcode: 35667046.

About Western Refining

Western Refining, Inc. is an independent refining and marketing company headquartered in El Paso, Texas. The refining segment operates refineries in El Paso, and Gallup, New Mexico. The retail segment includes retail service stations, convenience stores, and unmanned fleet fueling locations in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas.

Western Refining, Inc. owns the general partner and approximately 61% of the limited partnership interest in Western Refining Logistics, LP (NYSE:WNRL) and the general partner and approximately 38% of the limited partnership interest in Northern Tier Energy LP (NYSE:NTI).

More information about Western Refining is available at www.wnr.com.
KITCHENER, Ontario, June 20, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IMPCO Technologies, Inc., a global leader in the alternative fuel industry and a division of Westport Fuel Systems Inc., has reaffirmed the release of its new Heavy Duty/Light Weight Rail Auxiliary Power Unit.



A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cb1258e5-635a-4d7d-9451-e10adaa3b48a.

This innovative technology, developed in collaboration with the railroad industry expert Canadian Environmental Technologies (CET), was presented in March 2015 at the ASLRRA Show in Orlando. It then launched at the Rail Interchange Show in Minneapolis, in October 2015, where it was received very positively by the market.

IMPCOs Light Weight Rail Auxiliary Power Unit generates great fuel savings, while guaranteeing engine heating, battery charge and cabin comfort. A Perkins/CAT 3 cylinder diesel engine powers a durable alternator capable of delivering up to 150A of 72V DC current, whilst providing the required heat to keep the locomotive engine warm, even in extreme cold weather.

The advanced control system and software allows safe operation of the unit and protects the locomotive by continuously monitoring the water temperature and state-of-charge of the batteries. The product is designed for minimized weight and footprint, low maintenance, minimum downtime and maximized fuel savings.

IMPCOs new Auxiliary Power Unit is distributed globally and exclusively by Canadian Environmental Technologies (CET) for all aftermarket applications.

For more information, please contact:

IMPCO Technologies Canada, 100 Hollinger Crescent, Kitchener, ON (Canada)

Tel: 1-800-667-4275, email: apusales@impcotechnologies.com

Canadian Environmental Technologies (CET), 1420 Crumlin, London, ON (Canada)

Tel: 1-800-565-3509, visit 3-ape.com

About IMPCO Technologies

IMPCO Technologies Inc., a division of Westport Fuel Systems Inc., develops, manufactures and markets products that enable internal combustion engines to operate on less expensive, cleaner burning fuel which promotes both energy independence and a cleaner environment. IMPCO Technologies provides turn-key solutions for mobile equipment and stationary engines, including industrial forklifts, sweepers, auxiliary power units/generators and construction equipment. IMPCO is also a world leader in Truck and Rail Idle reduction, a technology that allows Class 8 trucks and diesel locomotives to achieve significant fuel savings while improving comfort for the operators. For more information, visit impcotechnologies.com.

About Westport Fuel Systems Inc.

Westport Fuel Systems Inc. engineers, manufactures and supplies the worlds most advanced alternative fuel systems and components. More than that, we are fundamentally changing the way the world travels the roads, rails and seas. Our innovative and cost-effective solutions maintain performance while improving efficiency and reducing emissions. Offering a variety of leading brands for transportation and industrial applications, we serve customers in over 70 countries, including some of the worlds largest and fastest growing markets. To learn more about our business, visit westport.com.

For more information, please contact:

IMPCO Product Inquiries:

Ben Wray

Director of Sales, Truck and Rail

IMPCO Industrial

T: +1 714-788-9252

bwray@impcotechnologies.com

Investor Inquiries:

Ryder McRitchie

Vice President, Investor Relations

Westport

T: +1 604-718-2046

invest@westport.com

Media Inquiries:

Holly Black

Director, Communications

Westport

T: +1 604-718-2011

media@westport.com
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 20, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd. (Naturally Splendid) (NSP  TSX Venture) (NSPDF  OTCQB) (50N  Frankfurt) is pleased to announce that it has received additional purchase orders for $1,450,000 CDN from the Korea Beauty & Health Care Co., Ltd. who are based in South Korea.



The Company is pleased to report that with this most recent purchase order, the total value of export purchase orders to date in 2016 exceed $5,700,000 CDN.

Naturally Splendid CEO Mr. Craig Goodwin reports, "We are pleased with the success that we are having as Korea Beauty & Healthcare (KBH) continues marketing and selling our shelled hemp seed hearts in South Korea. We are pleased to report that in addition to the home shopping channel success that KBH is achieved with our shelled hemp seed hearts, shelf space has now been secured in mainstream grocery.

The Company initially anticipated shipping 100 tons of shelled hemp seed hearts to South Korea in 2016. We have now shipped over 400 tons of shelled hemp seed hearts to South Korea in just four months. In addition to shelled hemp seed hearts, we are now in discussion with KBH regarding additional products, including HempOmega, to be marketed through their distribution channels in South Korea. These products have the potential to be marketed through the home shopping channels and then moved into mainstream grocery, following the same strategy that made the launch of hemp seed hearts so successful. In short, our objective is to reach the same level of success that we have had with our shelled hemp seed hearts.

Korea Beauty and Healthcare reports, We are most pleased with the success of the shelled hemp seed heart launch in South Korea. We look forward to duplicating this success with multiple products from Naturally Splendid.

The South Korean opportunity secures Naturally Splendid a foothold in the growing Asian health and wellness market. We see increased interest for our hemp food products in Asia and have made significant progress in the Asian region while attending tradeshows as Members of the Canadian Trade Delegation in Singapore and Seoul and more recently as official Members of the Premiers Trade Mission to Seoul, Manila and Tokyo, which was lead by British Columbias Premier Christy Clark.

Naturally Splendid is positioning itself to export healthy foods and value added natural formulations globally. The global functional, allergen-free, organic and other healthy foods market will push through the $1 trillion (770m) mark for the first time in 2017, as consumer interest in preventing illness via foods snowballs, says Euromonitor International.1

1. Global healthy foods to hit $1 trillion in 2017: Report By Shane Starling, 26-Nov-2012

http://www.nutraingredients.com/Markets-and-Trends/Global-healthy-foods-to-hit-1-trillion-in-2017-Report

About Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd.

Naturally Splendid is a multifaceted biotechnology company that is developing, producing, commercializing, and licensing an entirely new generation of plant-derived, bioactive ingredients, nutrient-dense foods, and related products. Naturally Splendid is building an expanding portfolio of patents (issued and pending) and proprietary intellectual property focused on the commercial uses of industrial hemp and non-psychoactive cannabinoid compounds in a broad spectrum of applications.

Naturally Splendid currently has five innovative divisions: (1) Natera brand of retail hemp superfood products currently distributed throughout North America and Asia; (2) Chi Hemp Industries Incorporated (Chii) is selling natural and organic hemp products through e-commerce (3) PawsitiveFX brand of pet care products; (4) BCI Division of plant-derived bulk ingredients including patent-pending HempOmega; and (5) hemp-based cannabinoid nutraceuticals. The Company's advanced technologies, industry expertise, and strategic partners allow for the creation of customized solutions with a consistent focus on quality and sustainability.

For more information e-mail info@naturallysplendid.com or call 604-673-9573

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

J. Craig Goodwin

CEO, Director

Contact Information

Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd.

(NSP  TSX Venture; NSPDF  OTCQB; 50N Frankfurt)

2435 Beta Avenue

Burnaby, BC, V5C 5N1

Phone: (604) 570-0902

Fax: (604) 570-0934

E-mail: info@naturallysplendid.com

Website: www.naturallysplendid.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Naturally Splendid cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Naturally Splendid's control including, but not limited to, Naturally Splendids ability to complete the private placement financing. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Naturally Splendid undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

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.
LISLE, Ill., June 20, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the ultimate thank you on Fathers Day, Eckrich, the makers of naturally hardwood smoked sausage and savory deli meats, surprised an Ohio military family during Sundays Buckeye Country Superfest in Columbus, Ohio with a brand new truck, full of tailgate and grilling items.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a59e966f-edb3-4cb5-9894-43ef42b56b2a

http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/398e0bd5-4157-4526-993f-8f54e9722fc3

Eckrich partnered with Operation Homefront, Kroger and special guest Randy Houser, a platinum-selling country music star, to honor the military family for their service and sacrifice during a special presentation before Housers performance.

The Fearnow family, from West Union, Ohio, was invited by Eckrich and Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit whose mission is to build strong, stable and secure military families, to the Buckeye Country Superfest at Ohio Stadium where they were first surprised with free groceries for one year to Kroger, courtesy of Eckrich.

The family was then overwhelmed when Houser presented them with the ultimate thank you, including a brand new 2016 Chevrolet Colorado truck packed with a new grill, a cooler full of Eckrich Smoked Sausage and deli meat and other grilling accessories. The gifts from Eckrich, totaling more than $50,000, were given to thank the Fearnow family for their service and sacrifices.

Houser has partnered with Eckrich to honor U.S. military families since 2014. Houser is known for hits including his four No. 1 singles How Country Feels, Runnin Outta Moonlight, Goodnight Kiss and We Went as well as the Top 5 smash Like A Cowboy. He recently released his fourth studio album, Fired Up, via Stoney Creek Records. The 17-song project follows Housers breakthrough album, How Country Feels, and features his latest No. 1 hit We Went and current single, Song Number 7.

This is a great way for Eckrich to give back to our military families, said Houser. Our military families make tremendous sacrifices and Im humbled to have the opportunity to team up with Eckrich and Operation Homefront to give back to them. Todays surprise was really special and I want to thank the Fearnow family.

Jon Fearnow served in the Navy for seven years as an Intelligence Officer and another six years as a Combat Engineer in the Army National Guard. He served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. His wife, Brena, has been his caregiver for more than three years. The family has three children.

I wasnt sure Randy was serious when he handed me the keys, said Jon Fearnow. I just cant believe it. There are many deserving military families and were grateful for this. It is a bit overwhelming right now, but I think once it all settles in, Ill be even more excited. Its just a wonderful gift from Eckrich.

The event is part of the ongoing campaign by Eckrich to honor, thank and support military families through its partnership with Operation Homefront. The Fearnow family is supported by Operation Homefronts Hearts of Valor program, a network of caregivers for wounded, ill or injured service members.

Eckrich, a brand of Smithfield Foods, in its fifth year of partnership with Operation Homefront, has donated more than $2 million to the organization since 2012. Now through July 4th, Eckrich is donating 5 cents for every purchase of specially marked products, up to $500,000, to Operation Homefront to assist military families.

Eckrich is thrilled to honor the Fearnow family on this Fathers Day with free groceries for one year and a brand new truck, said Chuck Gitkin, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Smithfield Foods. We have been privileged to give back to our military families over the past five years through our partnership with Operation Homefront and we cant think of a better way to honor them. We want to thank Randy Houser and Kroger for their partnership and most importantly we thank the Fearnow family for their sacrifice.

For more information about Eckrich, please visit www.eckrich.com or follow Eckrich on Facebook and Twitter.

About Eckrich

Founded by Peter Eckrich in 1894, Eckrich has a rich heritage starting from a small meat market in Fort Wayne, Ind. Through it all, Eckrich meats have been recognized for their great taste and supreme quality, craftsmanship, care and pride. For more information, visit www.eckrich.com.

About Smithfield Foods

Smithfield Foods is a $14 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield, Eckrich, Nathan's Famous, Farmland, Armour, Cook's, John Morrell, Gwaltney, Kretschmar, Margherita, Curly's, Carando and Healthy Ones. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.

About Operation Homefront

A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront builds strong, stable, and secure military families so that they can thrive in the communities they have worked so hard to protect. With more than 3,200 volunteers nationwide, Operation Homefront has provided assistance to tens of thousands of military families since its inception shortly after 9/11. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity oversight groups, 92 percent of Operation Homefronts expenditures go directly to programs that provide support to our military families. For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.net.

About Randy Houser

With an inimitable voice the New York Times describes as wholly different, thicker and more throbbing, a caldron bubbling over, Randy Houser racked up three consecutive No. 1 hits and more than four million in singles sales to date with his Stoney Creek Records album, How Country Feels. He topped the charts with the title track, Runnin Outta Moonlight and Goodnight Kiss (also his first No. 1 as a songwriter) and earned critical acclaim for his powerful delivery of the Top 5 smash and CMA Song of the Year-nominated "Like A Cowboy." Houser added a fourth No. 1 to his catalogue with We Went, the lead single from his new album, Fired Up, and its second single Song Number 7 is currently available at country radio and digital retailers. He is currently on the Somewhere On a Beach Tour with Dierks Bentley. For more information, visit www.RandyHouser.com or follow on Twitter @RandyHouser and www.Facebook.com/RandyHouser.
apolo wrote:

Thanks Mike, really thanks. Indeed very interesting and helpful.

But a few points:



1. I think CR and RC sections, in general, are okay for non-native English speakers. At most, one might not know the meaning of a word or an expression, or cannot understand the tone used in a sentence.

The CR and RC passages and questions in any other language will not be essentially different from their American English version.

After all, the language of logic (used in CR questions) is universal.

I think only SC section can be complicated and ambiguous for non-natives.



2. I find some contradicting issues in your words: Before, you had said that any other grammar book is useless for preparation for GMAT (a couple of posts before). Now, however, you say: "Also, I want to make clear: the GMAT does NOT have its own rules."

Consider this issue of 'which' as the modifier of a clause: one of my grammar books, Communicate What you Mean (written by Carroll W. Pollock) says that 'which' (after a comma) can be used for this purpose. And I feel this book teaches the formal version of English.

But my question is beyond these 'controversial' areas of grammar (that you correctly describe them 'gray (not black or white) areas').

Suppose GMAT had not specified the correct choice for its SC problems. Could experts, like you, answer all the questions correctly?



3. Apart from those reading materials that you have mentioned on the blog, is reading academic papers from academic (business or management related) journals (like AMJ, AMR, Strategic Management Journal, etc.) useful?



4. In what you have written above, it seems to me that you have considered GMAT as a tool for entering MBA programs. However, many use GMAT, solely, for getting admission to PhD programs in Business, in which the language used is not similar to the one used in 'American business life.' The language used in a PhD in business environment is not very GMAT-like; the GMAT English, I 'd say, is a bit less formal than English used in academic environment or academic papers.



5. I should also confess that, now, I know much more about the rules of standard written English than about my mother-tongue grammar rules!



6. Finally (perhaps) a funny question: How could you become an expert in GMAT SC section? Have you read many grammar books and then analyzed many published GMAT questions to discover the common patterns among them? ...

apolo



Magoosh Test Prep





Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.  William Butler Yeats (1865  1939) Mike McGarryEducation is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.  William Butler Yeats (1865  1939) Signature Read More

Dear1) Hmm. It may be that CR & RC are easier for non-native speakers. I'm not one, and I never heard any other non-native speaker make this claim. Interesting. I will pay attention to what others say about this.2) Yes, I can see how these words would sound like a contradiction. You see, in the realm of English grammar, there's an entire range stretching from very casual to very formal. It exists in all the spoken and written language that has surrounded a native speaker from birth. Different books and different authorities, as it were, stake out a position in this realm and say "this is correct." Different authorities stake out the "region of correct." In a similar way, the GMAT stakes out a position in this realm --- a position toward the more formal side of the language, but not the most formal. Did the GMAT create these rules? Well, no, they simply staked out a position in the larger realm of grammar and defined their own "region of correct." Could we say that the rules here are the GMAT's rules? Well, that's a matter of semantics, and doesn't really matter. What matters is (a) don't trust a non-GMAT book to match perfectly the expectations of the GMAT --- any particular book may be more formal or not formal enough. For example, the web-authority Grammar Girl is considerably less formal than the GMAT. (b) To know what grammar is acceptable on the GMAT, consult the GMAT-prep sources. The volume on SC is very good. has an extensive set of lessons on SC grammar. (c) Remember, the rules you are learning are not just a hoop through which the GMAT makes you jump: speaking this way consistently will redound to your credit.3) Academic papers are wonderful reading for the GMAT. Also, GRE RC passages are good --- those tend to have harder vocabulary, and tend to concern more purely academic topics.4) True, some people use the GMAT to get into other programs. I would estimate that over 90% of GMAT-takers plan to earn a MBA and enter the business world. Some folks are aiming for other academic realms. Yes, I suppose the level of language in Ph.D. programs is a little more formal. Most of my remarks are designed for the majority of GMAT takers.5) Yes, and that is precisely the danger-zone for non-native speakers --- to know a ton about the rules of the language, but not be as familiar with the "feel" of the language. By contrast, native speakers have a good sense of the "feel" of English, though not necessarily of formal well-spoken English, and are hazy on the rules. The GMAT punishes folks who don't know the rules, and it also punishes people who know the rules but don't have the "feel" of the language.6) How did I become an expert in GMAT SC? That is an odd question. The funny thing is --- to some extent, the answer is: I don't know. For years, I read and strove to be as well-spoken as possible. Because I have a mathematical mind, I often picked up on patterns in grammar. After years of having this diffuse focus on grammar, I became interested in working with the GMAT. I took a GMAT with minimal preparation, got a 770, got a job with , and voila!, I was a GMAT expert! Of course, during my time working with the GMAT, I have honed my understanding on a few points. Certainly the practice of explaining grammar to other with questions, for example here on GMAT Club, as well as writing my own questions and seeing how they are interpreted has also deepened my understanding. The funny thing, though, is that a lot of my "expertise" was developed before I ever paid attention to the GMAT. To some extent, it's always a bit mysterious how any of us become good at those things in which we excel.Does all this make sense?Mike_________________
Can you evaluate my profile + Retake on GMAT for IR? [ #permalink

Hello Veritas Prep



I am wondering if you can provide some general feedback and suggestion if I should retake GMAT because of my mediocre IR score (5)



28 Asian Canadian Male

-top Canadian Univeristy engineering undergrad (think Waterloo, University of Toronto, McGill ) upward trending CGPA 2.88

-somehow got into master of engineering at the same school with that gpa. master GPA is 3.5



Realizing that my passion is really about business strategy during master studies , I gradually shift my career towards that path:

- couple internships, one at an decent Engineerng firm, another at a well known IT software company

- 3 years work experience(right after master graduation) at a pretty well known global consulting firm (somewhere around the big 4 level, but focused on technology). Projects include operation and technology transformations at a top US investment bank in NYC. Got promoted from analyst to consultant with the highest performance ranking within my practice.

- extra curricular activities include pro bono strategy consulting for Canadian non profits. I ran the analyst engagement group at my firm (in the Canadian offices) and was the president of an ethnic student club back in college.



My career goal is to join a strategy consulting firm in US or Canada after MBA. After a few years then go into Corp Strat roles or start my own company. I am trying to frame my goal to be as specific as possible so still doing a little bit of soul searching.

My target schools are: Kellogg, Booth, Columbia, INSEAD



How should I build my narrative and make my story unique?

My GMAT score is 740 (Q49/V41) (btw your youtube Video on SC was awesome), but IR is 5. Due to the low GPA, I pretty much need every other aspects of my application to be more than decent. Do you think I should retake the GMAT to get a better IR score?



Thanks
mikemcgarry wrote:

ashutoshsh wrote:



isnt the refernce of "it" in optionC unclear. "it" is for mexican war or for tax? ...

or may b we cn say it's refernce is clear bcoz "taxes" are plural and only singular term is war... m not sure hey!isnt the refernce of "it" in optionC unclear. "it" is for mexican war or for tax? ...or may b we cn say it's refernce is clear bcoz "taxes" are plural and only singular term is war... m not sure

ashutoshsh

it

DearI'm the author of this question and I am happy to respond.First, my friend, I am going to caution you. GMAT Club is one of the first steps you are taking toward the GMAT, so it is one of the first steps you are taking toward your entire professional life. The people here on GMAT Club may one day be your employers, your managers, your colleagues, your customers, your partners, your competitors, etc. You don't know where you may meet someone again in the global economy. Furthermore, in this life, you only get one chance to make a first impression, and several psychological studies have demonstrated that first impressions have massive influence on later interactions. In the business world, it is always worthwhile to be as professional as possible and, accordingly, to put your best self forward at all times. Your post here is extremely casual, full of slang and abbreviations and spelling errors. Such language would be fine in a text to your friends or a post on social media, but GMAT Club is NOT a social media site. This is a serious professional site where candidates can get valuable aid in preparing for the GMAT, applying to business school, etc. I would strongly urge to rise to the highest standard of language of which you are capable, each and every time you post on GMAT Club. This is not a place to experiment with whether you are an adult. This is an adult community, and regardless of whether you realize it, you will be evaluated according to adult and professional standards. I wanted to caution you, my friend, because I am concerned for you. I want you to be seen in the best possible light. If you always strive to do your best, you will have far fewer regrets in life. Furthermore, if you have ambitions to excel on the GMAT, you would be well advised to strive for excellence in every aspect of your life.In answer to your specific question, yes, because "" is a singular pronoun, it's absolutely clear that it refers to the only singular noun that precedes it in the sentence, the Mexican-American War . Whether a pronoun is singular or plural is always a crucially important delimiter in determining its antecedent.Does all this make sense?Mike
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A man was slashed in the neck during a dispute early Monday morning on a subway platform at the Columbus Circle/59th Street station. Two 21-year-old men got into an argument on a Northbound A train just before 2 a.m. this morning, according to police. When their train arrived at Columbus Circle, one man pulled a blade on the other and slashed him in the throat.

Emergency medical workers rushed the injured man to New York-Presbyterian University Hospital, where he was expected to survive. His attacker was arrested by officers at the scene. Charges are still pending, a police spokesperson said.

A second person was taken into custody following the slashing and charged with obstruction of governmental administration.

One newsstand worker who witnessed the slashing incident told CBS that many people were involved before police arrived. More than 10  10 to 12 to 15, like that, the worker said. It looked like two gangs were fighting.
A federal lawsuit filed Monday in New York accuses Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump of repeatedly raping a 13-year-old girl more than 20 years ago, at several Upper East Side parties hosted by convicted sex offender and notorious billionaire investor Jeffrey Epstein.

The suit, first reported by the Real Deal, accuses Trump and Epstein of luring the anonymous plaintiff and other young women to four parties at Epstein's so-called Wexner Mansion at 9 East 71st Street. Epstein allegedly lured the plaintiff, identified in the suit only as Jane Doe, with promises of a modeling career and cash.

Another anonymous woman, identified in additional testimony as Tiffany Doe, corroborates Jane's allegations, testifying that she met Epstein at Port Authority, where he hired her to recruit other young girls for his parties.

Trump had known Epstein for seven years in 1994 when he attended the parties at Wexner, according to the suit. He also allegedly knew that the plaintiff was 13 years old.



Jeffrey Epstein

Jane Doe filed a similar suit in California in April, under the name Katie Johnson, also accusing Trump and Epstein of rape. That suit was dismissed on the grounds of improper paperworkthe address affiliated with her name was found to be abandoned. Today's suit confirms that the plaintiffs are one and the same.

Monday's complaint details extremely violent and horrific alleged encounters between Trump and Doe. In what Doe's attorneys describe as a "savage sexual attack," Trump allegedly tied her to a bed and exposed himself before raping her. When she pleaded that he stop, Trump allegedly "responded... by violently striking Plaintiff in the face with his open hand and screaming that he would do whatever he wanted," according to the suit.

Afterwards, Trump allegedly threatened the plaintiff, saying that her family would be "physically harmed if not killed" if she were to speak about the abuses. Epstein allegedly proceeded to rape Doe twice more, attempted to strike her, and screamed that he, rather than Trump, should have taken her virginity. Epstein also allegedly reiterated threats to Doe's family.

Doe remained silent for many years, according to court papers, because she had no reason to believe that the threats against her and her family had been lifted. The constant media spotlight on Trump, taxing her emotionally and mentally since last summer, apparently pushed her to come forward. Monday's civil complaint makes the case that New York's statute of limitationsfive years for civil rape casesshould be waived, because the plaintiff was denied her "freedom of will" to speak.

Doe demands $75,000 in damages, according to the complaint, as well as attorneys fees and an order of protection against Trump and "such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper."

Trump's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Doe's allegations, but the candidate denied the claims in the California suit this Spring. The allegations are not only categorically false, but disgusting at the highest level and clearly framed to solicit media attention or, perhaps, are simply politically motivated, he told Radar.

Epstein served 13 months in prison in the early aughts for soliciting a minor for prostitution.
Whether you're looking to let loose during Pride celebrations or lay low and catch a couple of great movies, this week is full of fun summertime activities. Below, find five of the best happenings in New York City this week.

For the past five years, Nitehawk Cinema has been redefining "dinner and a movie." To celebrate their birthday, the Williamsburg cinema will be having a week-long screening event that highlights their original Signature Series programming and includes food and drink specials. Beginning on the 20th, you can sip $5 draft beers while watching films like Battleship Potemkin and Street Trash. On the 24th, you can catch a midnight screening of Drive while eating free tots. (Gabriela Del Valle)

Monday, June 20 - Friday June 25 // Nitehawk Cinema, 136 Metropolitan Avenue (between Berry and Wythe), Brooklyn // Tickets: $12

It's no secret that the parties happening at House of Yes are regularly insane, from weird half-naked Christmas pageants to immersive Beetlejuice screenings. The venue is both a cause and symptom of Brooklyn's unflagging weirdness, and as a way of showing gratitude for all their freaky patrons, House of Yes is once again hosting Thank You For Everything, a regular free party that puts some of their best talents on display. There'll be great music, a packed dance floor, flowing streamers, acrobats swinging from the ceiling, strange (but friendly!) characters hiding in the corners, and strong drinks. Just all-around goodness at every turn. This month's Thank You is coinciding with Pride weekend and will rock until 5 a.m., which means that you need to get there early and wear something extra-fabulous, darling.

Friday, June 24th, 9 p.m. - 5 a.m. // House of Yes, 2 Wyckoff Avenue, Brooklyn, // Free with RSVP

"Ethereal" doesn't even being to describe the music of Julianna Barwick. The Brooklyn resident uses effects to loop and distort her voice, turning soft whispers into choral gales. Barwick's new album Will is an excellent starting point for new listeners, and should comprise much of the setlist during her upcoming Bowery Ballroom show. Her process of taking a simple vocal melody, running it through complex machines, and rendering it into something universal and massive is unlike anything else in music today.

Saturday, June 25th, 8 p.m. // Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey Street, Manhattan // Tickets $15-18

The newly-formed Dead and Company matches three of the original Grateful members with hired guns, plus John Mayer. Against all odds, it works, and Deadheads everywhere have expressed strong approval of the new pseudo-revival band since they began touring last year. Dead and Company will play Citi Field this month and you should most certainly check them out, but if you're looking for improv jamming that's a little...stranger...get to Dave Harrington's late night show at Rough Trade. Harrington's most famous for his Darkside duo with producer Nicolas Jaar, and just about everything he plays ends up becoming weird, abstract gold. His semi-official Dead and Co. after-party should be the perfect setting for him to stretch out and really feel it. The nine-piece fusion jazz ensemble backing him up won't hurt either.

Saturday, June 25th, 11:30 p.m. // Rough Trade NYC, 64 N 9th Street, Brooklyn // Tickets $10-12

There are tons of great LGBTQ-pride events slated for this week all throughout New York City, but the annual parade is the joyous, colorful affair loaded with history that you won't want to miss. Each year, proud folks from all over the world link up for a day of celebration beginning in Midtown Manhattan and ending in the West Village. Hang out on the sidelines of the parade route as floats and performers pass, or get yourself a slot and strut your stuff for all to see. However you choose to participate, the only requirements are a good attitude and a willingness to dance.

The parade is free for onlookers, but the events surrounding it have their own ticket and purchase options. This year, you can catch a headline performance by Fergie along with a slew of other DJ performances at the 30th anniversary of Last Dance on the Pier, after the parade. (Kellylouise Delaney)

Sunday, June 26th, 12 p.m. // Fifth Avenue & 36th Street, Manhattan // Free
Capitol Records NashvilleLuke Bryan grew up on a Georgia peanut farm, so it was no surprise eight years ago when he launched what has since become an annual Farm Tour, during which he pares down his massive stage show and literally performs in farms and fields in college towns throughout the South.

This year, Luke adds a new element to the effort, which raises funds for college scholarships for students either from a farming family or those studying agriculture. In addition to the eight-city tour in October, Bryan will also release his first Farm Tour EP, titled Farm Tour  Heres to the Farmer, on Sept. 23. The set will include all new music, similar to his former Spring Break EP series.

Farm Tour tickets go on sale to the public June 24 following a pre-sale for fan club members. You can find tour dates and more details at LukeBryan.com/FarmTour.

Copyright  2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Former Helena Public Schools Superintendent Kent Kultgen was packing up some of his final boxes in his office at the May Butler Center Thursday morning.

He left his job here Friday, headed for Snohomish School District in Washington, where he starts as superintendent July 1. And, in fact, he will attend his first staff meeting there this morning.

Kultgen has been superintendent in Helena for the past four years and has seen a lot of positive changes.

I do truly believe kids are better off this year than they were last year, he said. Academics was always the thing we were going after. All indicators show our kids are doing better -- not just testing, but everything from remedial rates to being better prepared for the next level. Im really excited for that.

The district also reprioritized its budget, putting more resources in the hands of teachers, from curriculum to technology.

Its all overshadowed by facilities, he said, referring to the school districts facilities bond failure in June 2015. However, we did, honestly increase the academic rigor for our kids. Thats what Im excited about.

A diploma should indicate a student has met rigorous academic standards and has skills to be successful at the next level, he said.

A few years ago, 25 percent of Helenas high school graduates were needing remedial work in a combination of math and writing when they went to college, he said, and that has dramatically declined. Capital High School has gone to zero this year (in needing remedial writing)."

One thing that has been a good conversation here is the mental health (needs of students), he added. I think schools need to remove the obstacles that stand in the way of a child learning, whether its hunger or safety. ... I think another big obstacle we have to address is mental health safety. There are some mental health issues we have to recognize ... as obstacles.

Im excited to go to the new job. Its just exciting to take the experience Ive gained in Montana and plug into a system thats been real successful and see where we can go.

Kultgen started out teaching social studies in Hinsdale 25 years ago, he said, and then went on to work in Choteau and Stevensville School districts.

I want to thank the community of Helena, he concluded. I think it really does value education. I think there are a lot of good things happening. I want to thank them for allowing me to be a leader for that. And I know I am the change agent that started the conversation on a lot of hard topics, but the conversation started and I know theyll get there. And thank you.
Earlier this week, the Natural Resources Committee voted on a series of bills, two of which dealt with public lands. The first piece was an outright transfer of federal lands. The second piece dealt with establishing a land management pilot program. I have said this before, and will say this again: I do not support selling and transferring ownership of Montana's public lands. Anyone who says otherwise, whether they are knowingly lying to promote themselves, or unaware of the actual votes, is wrong.

I was the only Republican to vote against my own party, against the former Committee Chairman Don Young (AK), on a bill that would transfer away ownership of 2 million acres of U.S. Forest Service land. To put that in perspective, 2 million acres is about the size of the Flathead National Forest or Lolo National Forest.

This is not the first time I've bucked the Republican Party on public lands, often putting me at odds with my own chairman. During my address to the Montana Legislatures joint session last year, I promised that I would not tolerate the sale or transfer of public land, and promised that reforming our management practices remained a top priority.

That promise has guided every vote Ive taken since coming to Congress. In May of last year, I voted against the GOP budget because it had a vaguely-written provision that could open the door to selling public lands. Then again in July, I voted in support of an amendment from my Democratic colleague in Colorado to bar public lands sales. I also crossed the aisle multiple times to support the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This has often landed me in hot water, but my promise remains nonnegotiable.

Now there is no doubt we can manage our land better. When we have hundreds of thousands of acres of timber burn every year, and more lawyers than scientists in the woods because of litigation, theres a problem. When we have entire areas of the Bitterroot blocked off from recreational access so families, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens can't enjoy our land, that's a problem.

The solution to better management is not getting rid of our public lands; it's getting more state and local stakeholders involved. That's what led me to introduce and pass the Resilient Federal Forests Act last year and thats exactly what the bill I voted for on Wednesday does. It would create a flexible pilot program that engages the public and can only be implemented if a states governor chooses to do so.

Similar measures like Good Neighbor Authority, which allows the Forest Service to enter into agreements with states to perform forest management services on Forest Service lands, already passed Congress with the full bipartisan Montana delegations support. It is now public law and being utilized right now.

I don't know about you, but considering the state of our public lands, we need more tools in the land management tool box to foster healthier forests and communities. Anyone who perpetuates the idea that Montanans are satisfied with the status quo, which produced some of the worst forest fires we have ever seen last year, is nothing short of delusional.

I stood before the people of Montana and said I would never sell, give away, or transfer your public lands. That still stands true today, and in perpetuity. I never have voted to give away, sell, or transfer your lands and I never will.

Ryan Zinke is Montana's lone U.S. representative.
My wife and I have lived in Montana for 16 years. We have been a small business owner in a small town and today work for myself and family. I have spent the last 30 years in industrial automation and most recently with robotics. I can tell you that industrial automation is the fastest growing segment. Our great state has many talented and dedicated people who can have great paying jobs if we invest in our education.

Greg Gianforte understands that we need to do more in our education system to give more and more kids the opportunity to earn a high wage and most importantly earn a high wage in Montana. High technology industry is already 15 percent of our economy and growing seven times faster than other sectors.

I had the pleasure of meeting Greg Gianforte in Thompson Falls a few months back. Greg understands that Montanans face many challenges right now, specifically the importance of focusing on and improving education. We can prepare our kids to have jobs that can keep them in our great state. Greg is the only choice for governor. I urge you to vote for Greg Gianforte in November.

Barry Meyer

Plains
Montanas divided Senate delegation offered starkly different views on how Congress may fund wildfire suppression, conservation lands and the National Park Service centennial budget.

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed the 2017 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill on a party-line 16-14 vote Thursday. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., generally praised the results for Montana priorities, while Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said the majority party neglected many Montana concerns.

The $32 billion appropriations bill includes $3.78 billion for the U.S. Forest Service to fight forest fires and includes a provision to allow the agency to get additional disaster money if the 2017 fire season goes over budget. But it doesnt include a proposal supported by both Daines and Tester that would have created a long-term wildfire funding fix.

The Wildfire Disaster Funding Act would let the Forest Service seek additional funds after spending 70 percent of its annual wildfire budget. But that bill hasnt made it out of Congress yet. Instead, the committees appropriations bill requires it to spend 100 percent before applying for additional money.

Testers office argued the appropriations bill forces the agency to keep juggling funds from other programs like timber sales or trail maintenance while it waits for reimbursement from Congress. Using the 10-year average also will cause trouble because it always will be behind the continually growing costs of longer and more.

Daines office called the appropriations bill plan a good step forward, but added Daines also prefers the Wildfire Disaster Funding Acts fix.

The Appropriations Committee provided $400 million for the 2017 Land and Water Conservation Fund, a program both senators have fought to reauthorize and fund. Daines noted the program would have money for five Montana projects, including the Madison River Special Recreation Management Area, Whitefish Lake Watershed Project and Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail. Tester objected to an undiscussed cut of $50 million from the 2016 funding level of $450 million, and noted that the appropriation is nowhere close to LWCFs authorized amount of $900 million.

Daines praised the bills addition of $66.5 million to the National Park Services Centennial Initiative, which he said would help the agency revitalize its deteriorating infrastructure. Tester said it did not include money to fulfill a $150 million authorization the Senate approved in its Energy Policy Modernization Act for backlogged park maintenance work. That bill is stalled in the House of Representatives. But even if it passes the House, the maintenance fund will have no money if its not included in the appropriations bill.

The appropriations bill included a number of other measures Daines was happy with. Those included $4.99 billion for the Indian Health Service, $54 million for the Bureau of Indian Affairs forestry program, and $386.9 million for BIA public safety and justice programs. It fully funds the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program many Montana counties depend on at $480 million, and provides an extra $20 million for Forest Service forest management.

The Interior appropriations bill must now get a vote from the full Senate, and then be reconciled with a similar spending bill passed by the House. Negotiations on that combination aren't likely to start before September, and may spill into last-minute omnibus budget-building after the November elections.
The presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan are scheduled to meet today in St. Petersburg with Russian President Vladimir Putin in attendance.

This will be the second time that Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev have meet since the outbreak of fighting along the Karabakh Line of Contact in April of this year.

OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair James Warlick, from the U.S., has stated that he will also be present at the meeting.

In a tweet, Warlick says that Todays meetings with Sargsyan and Aliyev will build trust, accelerate confidence building, and create conditions for a framework document on Nagorno Karabakh peace.
At his meeting today in St. Petersburg with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the Karabakh conflict, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan thanked the Russian leader and those of the other Minsk Group co-chair countries for paying attention to the issue and the efforts they have taken to resolve it.

Sargsyan said that his government wants to resolve the issue solely through peaceful means but that Azerbaijan doesnt.

Of course, we would be very happy if we were able today to move forward in the direction of the agreements made in Vienna, in other words, if we could create mechanisms to investigate violations of the ceasefire, Sargsyan told Putin according to a statement released by Sargsyans office.

In addition to the Karabakh issue, the two presidents discussed regional development and security matters.

Sargsyan is also scheduled to meet with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, with Putin also sitting in.
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John Nichols: Assassination in Britain calls us to recognize our duty to keep barbarism at bay in America
If the perhaps thousands of people who flocked to the Leinie Lodge Family Reunion of Saturday thought it was great, wait until next year.

The Reunion will still be held at the Lodge in Chippewa Falls next Fathers Day weekend. But 2017 is the brewerys 150th anniversary, and Leinies has something special planned for August.

This event, I think, will be bigger, said Dick Leinenkugel, president of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co., who was at Saturdays festivities to greet visitors to the reunion.

Leinenkugel said the brewery will have a celebration for the anniversary that will be held at the Northern Wisconsin State Fairgrounds in Chippewa Falls on Friday, Aug. 11 and Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, during Pure Water Days.

Theres a good chance many of the people who were at the reunion Saturday will return for that.

The reunion is in its 13th year and continues to grow. I think it all relates back to their love of beer, Leinenkugel said. As the brand continues to grow in national prominance, he said, It just brings more people (to the reunion).

People such as Julie Kohles of Des Moines, Iowa, who attended the reunion with her family for a fifth year. Its a great family outing, she said, citing the brewery tours and live music at the lodge.

Ted Cook of Amery was among 18 motorcyclists to roll into Chippewa Falls for the celebration. Cook, the former owner of a bar and restaurant in Amery and the Cedar Lake Speedway, said he was enjoying his first reunion. I like it a lot, he said.

The reunion also brought for a fifth year Jason Smith of Coon Rapids, Minnesota and his wife, Sara Smith, and Jasons brother and wife. Leinies is my favorite beer, he said of why he makes the trip from the Twin Cities. He said the reunion has a wholesome atmosphere.

The reunion also had its share of volunteer workers.

Stephanie Linzmeier and Barb Dukerschein were especially busy at the concession selling bottled water and soft drinks for $1 apiece. The proceeds went to the Feed My People food bank.

In an infrequent break between customer requests, Dukerschein said she has volunteered at the reunion with her husband, Don, for six years.

It looks like the Dukescheins will be busy lending a hand next year, too.
A judge Friday sentenced a Holmen woman who ranked high in a drug trafficking enterprise to five years in prison.

Melissa Ozleplebici, 25, is one of 17 tied to the methamphetamine ring that operated between the Twin Cities and the La Crosse region for a decade before authorities interrupted it in October. Authorities estimate those involved moved hundreds of pounds of meth manufactured by Mexican drug cartels throughout the area.

Ozleplebici, who already is serving a prison sentence for possessing meth, also will serve three years on extended supervision under the sentence imposed by La Crosse County Circuit Judge Scott Horne.

Until you make a decision to separate from the drug community, you will remain a danger to the public, he said.

Ozleplebici, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit delivery of meth, sold $400 worth of meth at a time, said Tom Johnson, coordinator of the West Central Metropolitan Enforcement Group.

She had a high level position in this enterprise, he said.

Since 2014, Ozleplebici relished the role of a drug dealer, said La Crosse County Deputy District Attorney Brian Barton, who argued for a four-year prison sentence. She stated in text messages that it was nice to support other peoples habits and was on supervision at the time of her arrest.

If Ms. Ozleplebici was not stopped at the time that she was, I think she would have been one of the main players, he said.

Ozleplebici was an addict ingesting 3.5 grams of meth daily and used by higher-level players in the conspiracy to push drugs into the community, said her attorney, Sean ONeill, who argued for probation to allow her access to treatment in the community.

She was a part of this but she wasnt a part of the top tier, the inner circle, he said. She was a major step down.

Ozleplebici apologized for victimizing her community and asked the judge to consider that shes a mother missing her daughter grow up.

I dont think more prison time will do anything but hinder my progress, she said.
A lawsuit filed against Curt Johnson two years ago by a former Racine County teen  and then-friend of the family  alleging he molested her has been dismissed following a settlement, according to court records.

According to a document obtained by The Journal Times last week, the lawsuit was dismissed on March 16 before going to trial.

Online court records describe the action as settlement/stipulation to dismiss  before trial.

The Journal Times was unable to get comments about the dismissal from attorneys for the plaintiff or defendant Curt Johnson, and court records did not indicate what the settlement was or if any money was involved.

Johnson, 61, is the former chairman of Diversey Inc. and a son of the late SC Johnson chairman Sam Johnson. When the lawsuit was filed it stated Johnson lived in Wind Point. Online court records for a joint divorce petition filed in April indicate that Johnson, an heir to the Johnson family household products fortune, now lives in Caledonia.

The lawsuit

Filed on July 15, 2014, the lawsuit accused Johnson of molesting the plaintiff  his stepdaughters childhood friend  on multiple occasions between March 2007 and July 2009.

The incidents allegedly occurred while the plaintiff  then about 12 to 13 years old  was on vacation with the Johnson family in Mexico and in the Bahamas, as well as in Johnsons Wind Point home.

The lawsuit alleged the teen had suffered severe psychological and emotional distress as a result of the abuse, and sought an unspecified amount in monetary damages.

(Johnson) would come in and fondle them while they were sleeping. Her and (Johnsons stepdaughter), according to a comment the plaintiffs attorney, Stephen Estey of the San Diego-based Estey & Bomberger, made to The Journal Times in September 2014.

Estey said the then-teen  who would be about 20 or 21 years old now  was very close friends with Johnsons stepdaughter, whom the billionaire was convicted of molesting on June 6, 2014, following a plea agreement.

Reaction

Speaking to The Journal Times for the same September 2014 story, Johnsons criminal defense attorney, Mark Richards, denied the accusations, noting that such types of spurious allegations were not uncommon in cases involving high-net-worth individuals.

(The teen) is a troubled person with an admitted history of stealing from Mr. Johnson and his family, he claimed of the stepdaughter's friend. We have been aware of (the girls) claims since March 2011 when they were made, reviewed by the Racine County District Attorneys Office and rejected, Richards said. These claims are unequivocally and demonstratively false. We intend to vigorously defend him.

Racine County prosecutors charged Johnson in March 2011 with repeated sexual assault of a child  a felony punishable by up to 40 years in prison  after allegations surfaced that Johnson molested his stepdaughter.

The case experienced a number of delays as it was appealed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Johnson eventually pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges  fourth-degree sexual assault of a child and disorderly conduct  in connection with the case. He was sentenced to four months in jail and was also ordered to pay a $6,000 fine.
A survey of Midwest utilities shows electricity supplies for the region are adequate for 2017 but some areas could run short of power reserves starting in 2018 because of plans to close several coal-fired and nuclear power plants.

Wisconsin is not expected to face a power shortage, but by 2021, the amount of extra power generated within the state will shrink substantially, according to the annual report by MISO, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, and the Organization of MISO States.

The analysis shows MISOs Midwest region should be able to meet peak electric demand in 2017 with a surplus of 2.7 gigawatts of power generated in 2017. But the surplus could drop by two-thirds, to 900 megawatts, if potential power plant shutdowns are put into effect.

Retirements in excess of new generation are driving supply to tighten in the region, said John Bear, MISOs CEO, in a written statement.

MISO, based in Carmel, Indiana, is in charge of the flow of electricity over high-voltage transmission lines in all or parts of 15 states, extending down the nations midsection, from Montana to Louisiana, as well as the Canadian province of Manitoba.

MISOs report is based on information from utilities within the territory. It helps show whats going on across the region, MISO spokesman Andy Schonert said. It helps people make decisions about either keeping plants online or building new generation.

Just in the past two months, Dynegy Inc. said it plans to close three coal-fired generators in southern Illinois during the next year, switching off 1,835 megawatts of electricity. Earlier this year, Dynegy announced plans to shutter a 465-megawatt power plant in the southern part of the state by this month.

Dynegy said it is losing money on the power plants operations because of MISOs market design.

Exelon said it will close two nuclear power plants in Illinois, at Clinton and Cordova, over the next two years because of a lack of progress on energy legislation in that state.

Exelon said the reactors have lost a combined $800 million in the past seven years, despite being two of Exelons best-performing plants. Their total capacity is 2,940 megawatts.

DTE Energy said between 2020 and 2023, it will retire eight coal-fired power plants at three Michigan sites that represented one-fourth of its total generation in 2015, enough to power 900,000 homes.

The MISO report said in 2017, parts of Michigan and Missouri will fall short of the 15.2 percent reserve capacity that the organization considers adequate. By 2021, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana and Kentucky will be added to that list, based on the current closing announcements and expected growth in peak power needs.

After 2017, additional action will be needed to ensure sufficient resources are available going forward, the report said. It does not account for the potential effect of federal environmental legislation, currently tied up in court.

Leaders of two Wisconsin nonprofits were not concerned about demands on the states power supply that could result from tighter supplies elsewhere.

The report should create opportunity throughout the Midwest to bring even more renewable energy online, said Tyler Huebner, executive director of RENEW Wisconsin, a renewable energy advocacy group in Madison.

James Woywod, staff attorney for the Citizens Utility Board of Wisconsin, said Wisconsin has more generation capacity than required right now and so does the region.

MISO as a whole still has, at least in the short term, surplus capacity. I dont think this particular report is cause for concern for us, Woywod said.

MISOs report said areas falling below the reserve margin should be able to import power from other parts of the U.S. in 2017. But it suggested steps such as adding power sources and beefing up the network of transmission lines that will likely be needed to make sure enough electricity is available in the region beyond that time.
Construction of an expanded museum is underway in Mount Horeb after donors met the challenge of an anonymous benefactor.

The Mount Horeb Area Historical Society broke ground earlier this month on an addition to its existing 4,500-square-foot museum at 100 S. Second St. that will encompass three-quarters of a block when its completed.

The expanded museum will be called the Driftless Historium, and will celebrate the history of Mount Horeb and the entire Driftless Area. Plans call for the facility to be more of a public gathering point than a traditional museum. It will be complete with programming space, expanded research space, a kitchen and an old-fashioned ice cream counter.

With $850,000 in capital donations in-hand by January, an anonymous philanthropist pledged to fund the remainder of the $1.7 million project if other donors could pony up at least $300,000 to cover the facilitys first two years of expenses.

The Driftless Historium received $345,000 in donations as a result of the challenge, according to historical society officials.

Talk of a heritage center began in 2005 when the group launched a fundraiser to purchase and demolish the dilapidated former Mount Horeb House. The 1882 structure served as an inn for railroad users until it was converted into apartments during the 1930s.

The projects centerpiece will be a corner building that will replicate the look of the Mount Horeb House. It will be adjoined to the existing museum by a new building on the site of the former Troll Inn, which the historical society purchased with $200,000 from another donor.

Together, the three parcels will show off more of the societys collection, provide a permanent home for the societys archives, and increase educational opportunities about the areas history.
A man who was charged with the murder last year of a state and federal drug informant pleaded guilty on Monday to a lesser homicide charge, but wont testify at the trial next week of another man also charged with the same homicide.

Rudy Ramirez-Milian, 28, who was charged in April 2015 with first-degree intentional homicide for the April 7 stabbing and bludgeoning death of Jacob Payne, pleaded guilty to second-degree intentional homicide just before jury selection was to have begun for his trial.

Payne, 23, of Madison, was wrapped in a heavy chain and taken to Lake Mendota, where a canoeist found his body in the water near Governors Island four days later. A Dane County sheriffs detective testified last year at a preliminary hearing related to the case that Payne had been stabbed 31 times and slashed with a knife 12 times.

Just last week, Ramirez-Milian rejected a plea deal similar to the one he took Monday.

Under the deal he agreed to take, Assistant District Attorney Robert Jambois will recommend at sentencing in about two months that Ramirez-Milian spend no more than 15 years in prison. The charge carries a maximum of 40 years in prison and 20 years of extended supervision.

On Monday, a co-defendant, Juan Aguilar-Vargas, 28, rejected the same deal that Ramirez-Milian took. Dane County Circuit Judge Ellen Berz told Aguilar-Vargas that he would have no other chances to enter a plea and avoid a trial. If convicted of first-degree intentional homicide, he would face an automatic life prison sentence.

Aguilar-Vargas trial will begin on Monday.

Payne was working as an informant for the state Division of Criminal Investigation and for the federal Drug Enforcement Agency, buying cocaine from Ramirez-Milian, who ran an auto shop on Acker Road in the town of Bristol. Payne slept in his car on the property.

Police have said there was no indication that Ramirez-Milian knew that Payne was an informant.

A day before he was killed, according to court documents, Payne sent text messages to state and federal drug agents saying that Ramirez-Milian had pointed a gun at his head, but he got the gun away from him and punched him.

He also complained that he was being treated like a dog by Ramirez-Milian.

Ramirez-Milian and Aguilar-Vargas were to stand trial separately because each blames the other for inflicting the fatal injuries to Payne.

According to a criminal complaint, Ramirez-Milian told police that Payne pulled a knife on him first after he and Payne got into an argument. They struggled, and Ramirez-Milian got control of the knife and stabbed Payne in the shoulder several times.

Ramirez-Milian told police that Aguilar-Vargas then got involved and stabbed Payne with another knife, and bludgeoned him.

In court Monday, Jambois said Payne was hit with a sledgehammer, the shape of which matches an injury to Paynes head.

Jambois said that Ramirez-Milian will not be called as a witness by prosecutors, but he said there will be other eyewitness testimony.

Three other men are also charged with helping to dispose of Paynes body in Lake Mendota.
Police have arrested a 17-year-old who they say is responsible for a string of burglaries and thefts from cars in Cottage Grove, after a resident chased the teen from the scene of a crime and a K-9 helped track him down.

Authorities are recommending Teqwaune V. Adams face a raft of criminal charges, including five counts of burglary and others of theft, possession of burglary tools, credit card fraud and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a statement.

Adams was arrested Friday night after police searched his home on the 200 block of West Parkview Street in Cottage Grove and found several items that had been stolen from homes and parked cars since June 12, including laptops, tablets, cellphones, wallets and a fake gun, police said.

A resident chased Adams from the scene of a burglary on Northlawn Drive earlier on Friday, according to Cottage Grove police, and a police K-9 later tracked Adams to the home.

Online court records indicate prosecutors have not yet filed criminal charges against Adams, but he is expected to make his initial appearance in Dane County Court on Tuesday.
Gov. Scott Walker on Monday named Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Tom Engels as the agencys interim leader following the death Saturday of Secretary Kitty Rhoades.

Rhoades, 65, died in Madison of pneumonia with her family at her side, according to her obituary.

Engels, named deputy secretary of the health department in February, previously was deputy secretary at the Department of Safety and Professional Services. Prior to that, he served as vice president of public affairs for the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin.

Engels has also served as government affairs director for the Wisconsin State Telecommunications Association, deputy press secretary to former Gov. Tommy Thompson and communications director for the Senate Republican Caucus. He also worked for former U.S. Rep. Scott Klug.

I have no doubt that Tom will serve the people of Wisconsin well as interim secretary as we begin the process to appoint Kittys successor, Walker said in a statement.

The health department is one of the largest in state government, with an annual budget of roughly $10 billion and more than 6,100 employees.

Rhoades was named secretary of the health department in 2013 and deputy secretary in 2011. Her sudden death shook the many people she worked with in health care and state government, including in the state Assembly, where she served for 12 years as a Republican representative from Hudson. During her time in the Legislature and at DHS, Secretary Rhoades was a passionate long-term care advocate who routinely reached across the political aisle to gain support for person-centered services, Wisconsin Long Term Care Coalition Co-Chair Lynn Breedlove said Monday in one of dozens of tributes to Rhoades. She was one of the first legislators in either political party to truly understand and champion self-direction of long-term care services.

Michael Gifford, president and CEO of the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin, said Rhoades exemplified what it means to be a public servant, distinguishing herself by putting people above all else throughout her career.

Her steadfast commitment to improving the health of all Wisconsinites  and especially people living with and at-risk for HIV  helped ensure the adoption and implementation of enlightened public policy, Gifford said. Her legacy will be one of helping Wisconsin realize an era of long, healthy lives for people with HIV, ushering in new models of care for patients, and driving innovation that made our state a true leader in response to one of the most pressing public health crises of our time.

She is survived by her husband, Frank, and three sons. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at OConnell Family Funeral Home, 520 S. 11th St., Hudson. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at St. Patricks Catholic Church, 1500 Vine St., Hudson, with visitation an hour earlier. In her obituary, the family asked that memorials be directed to dementia-related charities.
Yes, Hitler.

Some of you questioned my evocation of historys great villain in a recent column on House Speaker Paul Ryans surrender to presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump. I likened Ryan to Franz von Papen, a German politician who helped Adolf Hitler rise to power under the naive delusion that he could control him.

A handful of Trump fans found that, as one put it, a bit of a stretch. One guy expressed his skepticism through the time-honored expedient of the triple punctuation mark: Hitler???

Yes, Hitler.

Not that their dubiousness is unreasonable. In recent years, Hitler and the Holocaust have popped up in political debate as routinely as dandelions on the lawn. One man said having to tack a No Smoking sign on his building was like being a Jew forced to wear a yellow star. Another claimed popular anger over the excesses of the rich was reminiscent of Kristallnacht.

Almost by definition, Hitler and Holocaust comparisons trivialize that era and reveal the ignorant insensitivity of those who make them. But the key word there is, almost.

Because for the record, Im not the only one who sees the shadow of Germany in the 1930s over America in the 2010s.

Once again, a clownish demagogue bestrides the political landscape, demonizing vulnerable peoples, bullying opponents, encouraging violence, offering simplistic, strongman solutions to difficult and complex problems, and men and women who bear more moral authority on this subject than I ever could see something chilling and familiar in him.

I dont want to make any comparison to Hitler, but believe it or not his delivery and the way he conducts himself is very similar to Hitlers way of doing things. He discredits everybody who disagrees with him. Hes insulting. He discriminates against everybody. So says Martin Weiss. Hes a survivor of Auschwitz.

It is repeating itself and it is again the inattention that people pay to real cues that one should understand. ... I think one has to speak up. And thats the one lesson from the Holocaust. Do not be a bystander. So says Margit Meissner, who fled occupied France on foot through the Pyrenees. Like Weiss, she spoke in January to Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank.

Then there is Eva Schloss, who in January said of Trump, I think he is acting like another Hitler... . Schloss, who spoke to Newsweek, was the stepsister of Anne Frank.

No, I dont predict a new Holocaust if Trump bamboozles America into electing him. But some new calamity, inconceivable to us now, but repulsive to the values we claim to hold dear, does seem certain.

And that raises a question: If one should never be too quick to make comparisons to Germany in the 1930s, is it not also important, on the rare occasions it is merited, to make sure one is not too slow?

One reason, after all, that no one saw Hitler for what he was is that people simply could not conceive of anything as preposterously monstrous as what eventually occurred. They took refuge in the assurance  the false assurance, as it turned out  that reason would eventually reassert itself.

The failure of imagination is often a component in tragedy. Thats why Ive always declined to blame the Bush administration for 9/11.

Before that, who could have conceived of fanatics using jetliners as missiles?

But afterward is another story. Once you have seen for yourself that the unthinkable is not, it moves from the arena of imagination to that of history. And then, you must use it to understand where we are and help chart where we should  and should not  be going. You cant blame people who didnt realize what Hitler was.

They had never seen anything like him before.

You and I, however, have no such excuse.
CHICAGO - Two expensive losses last spring didn't sour Governor Rauner on investing in political campaigns. He's apparently in for more in the General Election on key legislative races.

Despite losing nearly $4 million to unsuccessfully oust Republican incumbent Senator Sam McCann in the 2016 GOP primary, and the same on the Democrat primary race, failing to save incumbent State Rep. Ken Dunkin from challenger Juliana Stratton's bid, Governor Bruce Rauner is writing checks once again.

State Board of Elections shows that the Governor wrote a check to Liberty Principles PAC last week for $2.5 million. Radio talk show host Dan Proft oversees. Liberty Principles PAC, and is affiliated with other independent expenditure committees, including the Illinois Opportunity Project.
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nations largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, announced in March 2016 that the Public Policy Committee of HRCs Board of Directors voted to endorse Senator Mark Kirk for re-election. The endorsement was issued along with a first round of endorsements for pro-equality incumbents in the House and Senate.

CHICAGO - Illinois' Republican U.S. Senator Mark Kirk will be appearing in Chicago's annual Gay Pride Parade to be held next Sunday downtown, and he's seeking volunteers to walk along with him with a volunteer form HERE

Whether it was becoming the first Republican Senator to co-sponsor the Equality Act, co-sponsoring a bill to help schools combat anti-LGBT bullying or supporting marriage equality, Senator Kirk has demonstrated time and again that he believes in full federal equality, said HRC President Chad Griffin. Senator Kirks leadership on the Equality Act sends a strong message that fairness and equality are bipartisan values. Senator Kirk has fought for us, and we are proud to support him in his re-election campaign.

In addition to supporting the repeal of Dont Ask, Dont Tell, voting for numerous HIV/AIDS funding measures, voting twice against the Federal Marriage Amendment that would have outlawed same-sex marriage and serving as the lead Republican co-sponsor of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, HRC says, Senator Kirks record on equality includes:

The Equality Act: Co-sponsored a landmark bill to add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing civil rights laws that ban discrimination in employment, housing, public spaces, education, credit, federal funding and jury service.

Safe Schools Improvement Act: Co-sponsored a bill to help schools address bullying.

Social Security and VA benefits amendment: Voted for a budget amendment to ensure same-sex couples have access to Social Security and veterans benefits.

Veteran Spouses amendment: Voted for an amendment to extend access to critical veteran's spousal benefits to all same-sex couples.

Runaway and Homeless Youth amendment: Voted for an amendment which included explicit LGBT non-discrimination protections for Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs.

Student Non-Discrimination Act amendment: Voted for an amendment to prohibit LGBT discrimination in public schools.

In addition to Mark Kirk, HRC announced the following endorsements for incumbent members of Congress:

In the Senate, HRC has endorsed Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

In the House, HRC has endorsed Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Brad Ashford (D-NE), Ami Bera (D-CA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Bob Dold (R-IL), Gwen Graham (D-FL), Ann Kuster (D-NH), Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), Rick Nolan (DFL-MN), Scott Peters (D-CA), Raul Ruiz (D-CA) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ).

Senator Kirk has also been publicly commended for his work on behalf of the LGBTQ community in Chicago by the Equality Illinois group.
CHICAGO - Governor Rauner cancelled a celebration of Juneteenth - marking the June 19th, 1865 emancipation of slaves - planned for Monday at Chicago's DuSable Museum after protests were threatened.

The uproar began gaining momentum when St. Sabina pastor Father Michael Pfleger urged calls against the event last week. Pfleger said it was an insult for the governor to speak at DuSable because Rauner has "abandoned and raped" the community of its resources:

Governor Bruce Rauner had rented a portion of the DuSable Museum for an hour Monday to recognize the occasion. After Pfleger's call, the public sector union SEIU urged a protest that was carried out Monday despite the event's cancellation.
Imperial Valley News Center

Red Cross Responds to Grassley Memo: Defends Transparency and Spending of Donor Dollars in Haiti

Washington, DC - The American Red Cross strongly disagrees with the findings in Chairman Charles Grassleys Memo released today. We have accounted for every penny spent in Haiti and have posted on our website a detailed financial breakdown of how those donor dollars were spent. The publication of this breakdown represents a new level of transparency in the nonprofit sector.

The Red Cross already enjoys the highest rating for accountability and transparency from the independent nonprofit watchdog Charity Navigator, as well as meeting the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability from the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. The Red Cross is not a federal agencywe rely on the generosity or our donors and a volunteer workforceyet we receive more oversight from Congress than any other nonprofit we know.

Spending in Haiti

As outlined on our publicly-available website, the Red Cross has and is continuing to fund approximately 100 projects in Haiti, working with 50 partners to help us execute this work, and the funds awarded to each partner and status of each project are posted. We also fully shared what we spent on staff needed to carry out the work83 percent of our workforce are Haitiansand on the systems to support the delivery of our humanitarian assistance and conduct careful oversight of donor dollars. These are not overhead costs; they are legitimate expenses to implement humanitarian aid projectsand ensure they are properly implemented by our partners.

Chairman Grassleys Memo does not note a single finding of fraud or abuse in the Haiti Assistance Program. Red Cross accounting follows guidelines issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board. In addition, we are annually audited by an independent auditor (currently KPMG) and reviewed by the U.S. Army Audit Agency. Each year, the Red Cross publishes the results of its audits for the public to see.

The story of Haiti is a very positive story that shows the American Red Cross and our partners have and continue to deliver close to half a billion dollars of humanitarian assistance in the form of new hospitals, repaired homes, clean water, vaccinations, job training, improved sanitation and other life altering assistance to millions of Haitiansand spent our donor dollars wisely and well. Our statement that 91 cents of every dollar donated went to our programs and services in Haiti is absolutely true.

GAO Report

The Red Cross has always been committed to providing the Government Accountability Office (GAO) with the information it needs to conduct its research on the American Red Cross. The GAOs authority to review the Red Cross is defined by federal lawa law written by Senator Grassleyand is limited by this law to review the Red Crosss involvement in any Federal programs and activities. Initially, there were several issues the GAO began to explore but ultimately did not pursue after the Red Cross raised legitimate issues about its scope as going beyond that authorized by Congress. But at no point did the Red Cross refuse to provide requested information. A dozen Red Cross personnel participated in interviews, and we shared many internal documents with GAO and provided extensive information about many aspects of our disaster relief activities and coordination with FEMA.

Red Cross CEO Gail McGovern did respectfully request of Congressman Bennie Thompson, who ordered the GAO report, if he would consider meeting face-to-face with us to address these concerns and end the GAO inquiry which was using a great deal of staff resources while the Red Cross was preparing for hurricane season and simultaneously responding to tornadoes, storms, wildfires and floods across multiple states. When that request was not granted, we continued working with the GAO.

Channels for the Public to Report Concerns

The American Red Cross offers many ways for the public, employees and volunteers to report concerns regarding the ability of the organization to fulfill its mission, including two 24-hour, confidential, toll-free tip hotlines, as well as online.

We maintain an active Office of Investigations, Compliance and Ethics (ICE). We also have an Ombudsmans office created in 2007 as a result of bipartisan legislation first introduced by Chairman Grassley. The Ombudsmans office handles hundreds of questions and internal and external concerns and provides a report issued annually to 10 Congressional Committees and posted on our public website.

The reason our Office of Investigations, Compliance and Ethics (ICE) is not as big as it was during Katrina, is because we were handling a lot more investigations during Katrina. In addition, the number of whistleblower complaints have been declining over recent years, and we believe this is because we have improved fraud detection and other compliance measures.

However, to ensure our investigations unit is adequately resourced, we are combining ICE and the Ombudsmans office to pool those resources so we can more effectively respond to whistleblower and other concerns in a timely manner.
AIPVT 2016 results were declared on the official website today.

By India Today Web Desk: The Veterinary Council of India, under the Ministry of Agriculture, has declared the All India Pre-Veterinary Test (AIPVT) 2016 results today, on June 20, on the official website.

The candidates who appeared in the AIPVT 2016 written examination can now check their results online.

The aspirants will have to perform the following steps to check their AIPVT 2016 results:



Log on to the official website, the link for which is http://aipvt.vci.nic.in/

On the home page, under 'Online Services' click on 'Result' tab

When the new page opens, the candidates should enter the requisite details such as their registration number and roll number, as per their admit card, in the space provided and submit.

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The result would appear on the screen, they should take the print out of the same for future reference.



The council had successfully conducted the AIPVT 2016 on May 14, 2016 from 2 pm to 5 pm.

According to the official website, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur and Rajasthan States are also participating in AIPVT-2016 for admission to B.V.Sc. and A.H courses for filling up state quota seats (other than 15 per cent All India quota) in their veterinary colleges.

The counseling for 15 per cent of the all-India quota seats in the veterinary colleges shall be conducted by the Veterinary Council of India.

The counseling for admission in seats under the control of participating states (other than 15 per cent all-India quota) shall be conducted as per the notifications issued separately by the respective states.



Check: UPSC NDA, Naval Academy Examination II 2016 application process and other details



For more updates, followIndia Today Educationor you can write to us ateducation.intoday@gmail.com

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The result of Telangana TS Inter first year supplementary examination will be declared today, i.e on June 20. The exams were conducted by the Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education (TSBIE) in the month of May.

By India Today Web Desk: The result of Telangana TS Inter first year supplementary examination will be declared today, i.e on June 20. Supplementary exams for students who could not pass either inter first year or second year were conducted for improving their marks. So, all those candidates who have appeared for the same may check their scores at the official website, www.bie.telangana.gov.in or manabadi.com, once the result is out.

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The result of inter second year exam will also be announced soon. The exams were conducted by the Telangana State Board of Intermediate Education (TSBIE) in the month of May this year.

Steps to the results:

Log on to the official website, www.bie.telangana.gov.in or manabadi.com

or On the homepage, click on 'TS Inter 1st & 2nd Year Results 2016''

Enter your roll number and date of birth in the provided fields

Click on submit

Your result will be displayed on the screen

Download the same and take a printout for further reference.

(Read: Live! Rajasthan Class 10 board results declared at results.intoday.in)



Around nine lakh students appeared for the first and second year of Telangana intermediate supplementary examinations.

About TSBIE:

The Board of Intermediate Education executes and governs various activities that include devising of courses of study, prescribing syllabus, conducting examinations, granting affiliations to colleges, and providing direction, support and leadership for all educational institutions under its jurisdiction.

Read: Rajasthan Class 10 results declared at results.intoday.in: Steps to check the results online



Read: AAT Results 2016: To be declared tomorrow at jeeadv.ac.in



For information on more upcoming exams and results, click here.



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A 25-year-old man was killed in a gas cylinder blast in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore on Sunday, October 23. The police identified the deceased as Jameesha Mubeen who was quizzed by NIA in 2019. They also recovered low-intensive explosive materials from his house. Was this not an accident but a terror attack gone wrong?
By PTI: New Delhi, June 19 (PTI) The 39 Indians, kidnapped by the dreaded ISIS in Iraq in June 2014, are still alive, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, dismissing reports about their killing and insisting that efforts to trace them are on.

In her annual press conference, Swaraj said the government was was trying its best to ensure safe release of Judith DSouza, an aid worker and resident of Kolkata, who was abducted by suspected militants in Kabul on June 9.

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The External Affairs Minister also said India was in touch with top authorities in Bangladesh after a priest of Rama Krishna Mission in Dhaka received death threat.

About 40-year-old Judith, Swaraj said "We are trying our best. The way we are going ahead, I think it will be resolved soon."

Replying to a question on the 39 Indians kidnapped around two years back by ISIS militants from Mosul town, Swaraj said she did not have "any proof of their killing than the statement of Harjit Masih."

Masih, who had managed to flee from captivity of the ISIS, claimed all the 39 Indians had been killed. Swaraj questioned Masihs claim saying two heads of states in the Gulf region told her, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee that the Indians were alive.

"I am not giving false assurance. If I had confirmation that they were killed, then definitely, I would have sought apology from their families the with folded hands and said they were killed. Their killing in such a situation in Mosul in Iraq would not have been blamed on me.

"When I say they are alive, I have taken on myself a major responsibility of tracing them....Nobody except Harjit Masih said they were killed. I will do injustice to them if I say they have been killed. It is my the responsibility to (find them) and I will not shy away from it," Swaraj said, adding "I do not abandon any Indian national."

When asked about the death threat to a priest of the Ramakrishna Mission in Dhaka, Swaraj said, "It is very unfortunate. It is painful for us. We are in touch with top authorities."

Replying to a question on a spate of targeted attacks and killings of Hindus and other non-Muslims in Bangladesh, Swaraj said the Sheikh Hasina government is leaving no stone unturned in coming down hard on people who are involved in these incidents.

"More than 3,000 people have been arrested. Sheikh Hasina is taking strong action. More than this, I am happy that Islamic clerics and religious leaders have issued a fatwa saying these kinds of activities are anti-Islamic and it has been signed by one lakh religious leaders," she said.

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Swaraj said the government was drafting a policy to help persecuted minorities in various countries. She said the government will help people of all religions and not only the Hindus. PTI MPB SK SK

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Chennai has a lot of street food varieties on offer, you just have to know where to look. Photo courtesy: Instagram/cookinacurry

By Preeti Singh: What is the first thing that pops up in your mind when you think about food in Chennai? Idli sambar in all likelihood will be your answer. Some may add vada and dosa to the list as well. But is there anything else that Chennai can offer like Mumbai and Kolkata, the cities that are hailed as champions of street food? The answer to that question is yes; Chennai does have a lot to offer if you are ready to experiment with your taste buds.

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So if you are new to Chennai to pursue academics or planning to visit the city anytime soon, you must visit these places for the best street food the city has to offer.



Murugan Idli Shop

You will find idlis everywhere in Chennai, because as we all know, idli is the staple food of Tamil Nadu!

Murugan Idli Shop serves the yummiest idlis with a number of chutneys. Photo courtesy: Instagram/awara.photographer

Murugan Idli shop is famous for the soft idlis they offer along with hot sambar and a variety of chutneys. Apart from the idlis they also offer nice drinks, and are famous for their own jigarthanda. With 17 chains across Chennai, you won't miss out on the platters at Murugan Idli. And there's a lot of history attached to this place. It is rumoured that former Tamil Nadu CM, Perunthalaivar Kamarajar, used to frequent this eatery. If you want the best idlis in Chennai, Murugan is the place to be.



Also read: Chakraa, a well-known Indian restaurant in Korea, has just opened its first India branch in Chennai



Sundal at the Beaches

If you are at any of the popular beaches like Marina, Elliots or even Bessy, then you must try these sundals.

Sundal is a spicy treat with its best versions sold at Chennai's beaches. Photo courtesy: Instagram/nohupped Sundal is a spicy treat with its best versions sold at Chennai's beaches. Photo courtesy: Instagram/nohupped

Sundal is a dish which consists of boiled chickpeas topped with onions and shredded coconut. It is considered to be one of the most popular dishes in Chennai. So move over bhelpuri, dahi-bhalle and phuchka! This chickpea-based snack is great for your health and tastes so good that you might end up at Marina Beach more often just to get a taste.

Anmol Lassi-wala

If you are in Chennai in summer and dying for some respite from the heat and humidity, Anmol's lassi is just what you need. Lassi is the best thing to quench your thirst with. North Indians who have migrated to Chennai will also find that Anmol's little eatery offers more varieties of lassi than they would find back home. Their kesar lassi is a cold favourite and you must get a glass as soon as you get nostalgic. If you are not a big fan of lassi then give their amazing buttermilk a go.



Royal Sandwich

Royal Sandwich at Alwarpet in Chennai serves a great variety of unique sandwiches.

Royal Sandwich serves some of the quirkiest sandwiches you'll ever taste. Photo courtesy: Instagram/kalla_thaadi Royal Sandwich serves some of the quirkiest sandwiches you'll ever taste. Photo courtesy: Instagram/kalla_thaadi

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You have everything from chocolate sandwiches to Maggi and Lay's combination sandwiches. Sheik anna opened his stall in the year 2000 and is so popular that the crowds flock to him. Though he does serve some 'normal' sandwich varieties, his crazy-combo sandwiches are the real deal. It all depends on how versatile your tastebuds are. If you are ready to experiment then this is the place for you. If not, how will you know what you like if you don't give Royal Sandwich a try?



Titanic Food Corner

Titanic is a well known eatery in Chennai's Marina Beach, and serves hot sizzling noodles in the evenings. This place has regular customers throughout the week and also attracts a lot of college students because it's pocket-friendly. While this place has never boasted of selling authentic Chinese food, what they serve is one of the best Indian versions of the same cuisine. So if you are going to the beach and want to have something good and filling then this is the food corner you must try out.

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Kailash Kitchen

Want to relish some Tibetan cuisine in Chennai? Then Kailash Kitchen is the perfect place for you.

Kailash Kitchen serves delicious Tibetan food. Photo courtesy: Instagram/zendenlhamukazi

A small place, it is done up rather typically--with bamboo, a picture of the Dalai Lama, and Tibetan flags--and offers varieties of momos (veg, chicken and beef), thukpas, and a delicious chilly beef dish which is an all-time favourite with college-goers. Also try the Tsow Tse Mein, Thai rice noodles, and Alu Ping She. This place is famous for the most delicious momos served in the city, and here's how to get them: go to the Dalai Lama's photo, ring the bell under it and there will be a waiter at your side before you can say 'momo' out loud!

Also read: A chef guides us through Mumbai's street food and the top 10 places to find them



Burma Bazar

Want to try something different? Then head to Burma Road for the Tamil-Burmese food it offers.

Atho noodle salad is a dish you must try at Burma Bazar in Chennai. Photo courtesy: Instagram/gokul80

Few people know that many Burmese migrated to Chennai during the 1960s to escape the unrest in their country. They brought their beautiful cuisine with them and set up stalls in Burma Bazar. The famous atho noodles and the stuffed egg masala that many stalls offer here are the unique things to try. This place is a popular haunt and you must try it out, especially since Burmese cuisine adds a different flavour to the street food of Chennai.

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Whether you're in Chennai to study or work (or just on a short tour), you just have to try out the food on offer at these seven places. While some of it is typically Tamilian fare, there is more than enough variety to satisfy those who crave culinary experiences from other parts of the country.



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A veteran superstar, Ambareesh is the most powerful actor in Kannada films and heads the Film Artistes' Association in Karnataka.

Ambareesh has a huge fan following and wields clout across Karnataka.

By Aravind Gowda: A day after the Congress government in Karnataka dropped film star-turned-politician MH Ambareesh from the Cabinet, the Kannada film industry has suspended all film-related activities to express solidarity with their favourite star.

It doesn't matter if I am dropped from Cabinet: Ambareesh

MASSIVE FAN FOLLOWING

A veteran superstar, Ambareesh is the most powerful actor in Kannada films and heads the Film Artistes' Association in Karnataka. He has a huge fan following and wields clout across Karnataka.

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Since the last three years, he stayed away from the film industry because of his political commitments. His removal from the Cabinet has shocked the Kannada film fraternity.

PROTEST AGAINST REMOVAL

Leading actors and technicians of Kannada films staged a demonstration demanding the government to re-induct Ambareesh into the Cabinet. However, the Congress government is unlikely to accept their demand.

Many of the film stars, including Ambarish's wife, Sumalatha, a multilingual actress, are venting their ire against the government on leading social media platforms

Also Read:

Karnataka minister Ambareesh to help settle actor Darshan's case?







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In an interview, Anushka Sharma said she is personally not working towards Hollywood projects and doesn't want to play a cliched Indian girl.

By India Today Web Desk: According to Anushka Sharma, what Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone are doing on foreign shores is amazing, but she is personally not working towards Hollywood projects.

ALSO READ: Anushka Sharma's wrestler avatar left Ali Abbas Zafar spellbound



Both Priyanka and Deepika have bagged plum projects in the West. Priyanka will be seen as the main antagonist in Dwayne Johnson's Baywatch which is her Hollywood debut. Deepika is making her debut in Hollywood with XXX The Return of Xander Cage.

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When asked if she has a similar plan, Anushka said, "Everything that I am going to do as an actress doesn't matter where it's coming from. It just has to be interesting. I don't want to go and play a cliched Indian girl."

"The cliches are there, so if I do something, it has to be interesting. What Priyanka and Deepika are doing is amazing... More power to them. They are representing our country in a way and they are making more opportunities for other people. It's awesome, but I am not working towards it," she added.

The NH10 star, who will soon be seen in Sultan, said sharing the screen space with Salman Khan in the film was intimidating.

"He is not the kind of a person who will go out of the way to make you feel comfortable. I get intimated to work with Salman and there is no doubt about it. He is the same way with everyone and I really like this quality about him. He is very honest," she said.

Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, Sultan is slated to release on July 8.

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This traveler artist had enough seeing dirty walls painted in red with beetle stains. Unlike others who lived their lives ignoring it, she went to meet the mayor of Chandigarh and sought permission to fill the stained and smeared walls of Chandigarh with artworks.

By Mohak Gupta:

Sachita Aditi Sharma who hails from Chandigarh, knew by heart that she wanted to be an artist. Unlike many who bury their passion deep within and force themselves to continue being in a job that doesn't make them happy, Sachita decided to quit. To make art.



Many articles that say "Quit your job and follow your passion" are doing rounds on social media but what such articles seldom talk about is, the bed of roses that comes after the very decision. After quitting, Sachita took admission at Government College of Arts in Chandigarh but soon dropped out to further explore the practicality of the very art she wanted to learn. Now, Sachita is a freelance artist and puts up her work on her Facebook page.

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CHANDIGARH DIARIES

Recently, when she was out in the town with her friends, she noticed walls stained from beetle juice. People would not stop at that, though. The walls were further used to pee on.

"The walls are not to pee on. Neither should one spit on them just because they can," Sharma told India Today.

Sharma also went a bit investigative, for she had proof to offer.



MEETING THE MAYOR



Chandigarh is the second cleanest city in India but the apparent view came as a surprise for Sharma, and it was then when she decided to go up to the mayor of the city to convey the state of affairs.

Sharma met Mayor Arun Sood to discuss the issue but was asked to come the next day, and finally managed to get a call from the mayor after 3 days.

In the meantime, Sharma figured out the cost she would have to bear if she made artworks on the smeared walls of Chandigarh's Sector 35 C, approximately Rs 25,000.

Sachita also spoke about the state of urinals in the town. When some tend to overflow, others stink and are unclean. "The public convenience is located at the main market and the place is perpetually stinking as many even take it to the walls," Sharma exclaimed.

"Mayor thinks it's a good concept and asked me to take the project further. However, we could not zero down on a concrete plan and that bothers me," she added.

It is not the first time artists have come up to spruce up their cities. A few selected Mumbai railway stations recently got a surreal makeover which now look clean and animated.

Twitter/@ANI_news

Govind Puri Metro Station in Delhi has been decorated in a similar fashion, giving the station a facelift.





A photo posted by St+art India (@startindia) on Jan 29, 2016 at 5:04am PST

CHANGE IS INEVITABLE



Sharma is yet to meet the mayor again this week and she is hopeful that a proper plan will be laid out to achieve the task.

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She thinks it is a beautiful way to keep the city clean and even better a platform to let people admire art. She also hopes once the artworks are up, it would compel people to quit littering.

We hope Sachita succeeds, soaks Chandigarh in her artwork, and inspire many others to do the same.





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By PTI: Mumbai, Jun 19 (PTI) Jalandhar-based Balraj Singh Khehra today emerged as the winner of television show MTV Roadies X4 and is interested in participating in "Bigg Boss".

Balraj, a member of TV actor-host Karan Kundras gang, was announced as the winner of the 13th season of Roadies X4 after a gruelling finale task and awarded a Renault Duster as a winning prize.

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For the 27-year-old, who is an MBA by training, acting in films is his dream.

"I would like to do Bigg Boss. If get an opportunity I will do the show. I can do stunts as well as I can entertain the audience. Bigg Boss is not just a fun show, its quite a challenge to stay on the show and not lose your identity," Balraj told PTI.

Besides television, he harbours the dream of acting in films.

"I am open to act in Hindi and Punjabi films. I want to be an actor," Balraj said.

He said he did not expect he would win the Roadies this season.

"My sole purpose of doing the show was to challenge myself. I was not sure if I would win the show. When my name was announced as the winner I couldnt believe myself. I was shocked as well as surprised," Balraj added.

He competed in the finale against his own team member Gaurav and Navdeesh from Prince Narulas team.

Extensively shot in India and Bhutan, the 13th season of MTV Roadies was judged by Rannvijay Singh, Karan Kundra, actress Neha Dhupia and Prince Narula.

The grand-finale was aired this evening on the MTV channel. PTI KKP NRB NSK DIP JMF

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Lakshay had an accident in his school where he had severely injured two of his fingers when the desk he was sitting on fell on his hand. He was rushed to Mallya Hospital for treatment.

Lakshay was moved into the operation theatre for a minor operation. What ensued in the operation theatre is not known to the parents. All that Lakshay's father knows is that he had deposited the Rs 25,000 that the hospital asked him for and the next thing that they know is that they have been told that their little son has slipped into coma and they need to shift him to a hospital that has a bigger paediatric ward.

The doctors asked the child to be shifted to Manipal hospital as they did not have the necessary equipment to support the child's critical health status.

"? was told that we have to shift the child to another hospital. We were in shock, we thought our child would be safe as it is only a finger injury. Why did they have to bring the child in this state? It's been ten days, my child has been in coma and now they are trying to stabilize him", said Lakshay's father Purushottam.

The doctors treating Lakshay say that his heart and kidneys have stabilised and their major concern is the brain, as it still needs to respond adequately. But Lakshay continues to remain in coma. "Compared to the child's status when he was brought into our hospital, Lakshay has stabilised, we are trying our best to get his brain to respond positively", said Dr Shivakumar, the doctor who has been treating Lakshay.

Each time, Purushottam looks at his child, he is in tears, and hopes that his son bounces back on his feet.

When India Today contacted Mallya hospital, they refused to comment.
An angry woman lashing out on a cabin crew member was also seen chasing and hitting others in the aisle.

By India Today Web Desk: Five passengers involved in a brawl on a Hainan Airlines flight on Saturday night were later detained by Beijing airport police. The Beijing to Xian flight was delayed for nearly five hours because of this.

The fight began when a woman passenger started insulting the flight attendants because the flight was delayed. The other passengers tried to stop her but that did not go well.

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A video that was posted online showed an angry woman lashing out on a cabin crew member for the hold-up. She was seen chasing and hitting others in the aisle as well.



Also read: Forget road rage, here's air rage: 2 arrested in China over cockpit attack





According to witnesses a male passenger sitting next to the woman, who tried stopping the woman at first, was severely injured. The man later became the target and was attacked by several other male passengers.

Airport police took 5 passengers in custody for investigation after which the aircraft took off at 2:50 am on Sunday. Some passengers even asked for compensation for the delay.

This is not the first time a flight was delayed in China for such a reason. In 2014, a fight between four women from China on a Hong-Kong bound flight over a noisy baby led to aircraft's return to Chongqing.

Beijing's Capital airport has also deemed as the worst major airport in the world in terms of punctuality in 2013 as only 18 percent of the 22,000 flights departed on time from the airport.





--- ENDS ---
This is how Europeans are showing that EU stands for unity and love.

By India Today Web Desk: To show that the people of the European Union (EU) stand for unity and love, people across EU are coming together to take part in a kiss chain.

Europeans are lining up to kiss each other to 'send a call of love' to the United Kingdom and urge it to remain in the European Union.

At least hundred people gathered outside the Colosseum in Rome on Sunday to start the kissing chain. The kisses started in Rome and then will go on to Paris, Berlin and London.

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Photo: AP

Using iPad, the kissing chain travelled from Berlin to Paris and finally to London where over 420 people had taken part outside the Palace of Westminster.

After the killing of UK Labour MP Jo Cox the participants wanted to illustrate European support for Britain, said Luca Nicotra, a participant and spokesperson for the political website Avaaz.org.

Photo: AP

"It's a kissing chain that will start in Rome and will go through Paris and Berlin, and then to London, to show that the majority of Europeans are actually close to Great Britain in this moment of mourning for the death of Jo Cox, and we honestly hope that the UK will stay in Europe," said Luca.

United Kingdom is all set to vote on whether or not it will leave the 28-member European Union on June 23.

Photo: AP

--- ENDS ---
By PTI: From K J M Varma

Beijing, Jun 19 (PTI) On the eve of the infamous annual "dog meat festival" in China, majority of Chinese today for the first time called for an end to the gory event in which over 10,000 canines are expected to be slaughtered and eaten by dog meat lovers.

As the event is set to kick off tomorrow in Yulin city, in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today that majority of Chinese call for an end to "Yulin Dog Meat Festival", saying it has "harmed Chinas reputation" world over.

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About 64 per cent of those surveyed in age group of 16 to 50, said they would support a permanent end to the infamous annual event.

Yulin residents too backed the ban which link their town with the event.

About 51.7 per cent of the respondents - who included Yulin residents too - wanted the dog meat trade banned completely, while 69 per cent said they have never eaten dog meat.

"The poll shows most people here dont eat dogs," said Qin Xiaona, director of the Capital Animal Welfare Association charity, one of a cluster of animal welfare groups that commissioned the survey.

Yulin, a small town in southwest Chinas Guangxi region, has become notorious in recent years for its "dog meat festival", a commercial event in which thousands of dogs and cats are slaughtered and eaten.

Local businesses launched the festival - arguing it was a tradition and part of the local culture - in 2009 to promote the remote area to tourists.

"It is embarrassing to us that the world wrongly believes that the brutally cruel Yulin festival is part of Chinese culture," Qin said, adding "it isnt".

The festival in recent years evoked revulsion in China as many Chinese have turned to pets in recent years to cope up with loneliness as the only child permitted under law left home for education or jobs.

A 2015 survey showed an estimated 30 million urban households owned companion animals. PTI KJV SUA AKJ SUA

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In his complaint to the police, Dharmapal alleges that he is getting threatening calls from different people to face dire consequences, in case of any such complaint in the future.

By India Today Web Desk: Congress worker Dharampal Natkhat today accused Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Ajay Maken of hurling abuses at him. Dharampal Natkhat has filed a complaint against him in New Delhi's Gole market area.

Recalling the sequence of events which led to this episode, Natkhat told that he had come to meet Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on his 46th birthday.

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"I told him (Rahul) my son died and I am a party worker, but Ajay Maken ji didn't visit my place. Rahul ji asked Ajay ji to visit my place. He (Ajay Maken) thought I was complaining against him. He called me after half-an-hour and started abusing me," Natkhat said.

"What wrong did I do? I met Sonia ji. I have lodged an FIR in this regard at the Mandir Marg police station," he added. Natkhat further said that he got threatening calls to withdraw the complaint against Maken.



JAIRAM RAMESH ON AJAY MAKEN CONTROVERSY

Ajay Maken has already responded to it and I don't want to add anything . It is a conversation between the two people so this cannot be a national debate .

POLICE COMPLAINT AGAINST MAKEN

In his complaint to police, Dharmapal alleges that he is getting threatening calls from different people to face dire consequences, in case of any such complaint in the future. Natkhat further said that he got threatening calls to withdraw the complaint against Maken.

--- ENDS ---
Surabhi Shandilya, 24, a PR executive in Bangalore, has recently shifted out from Delhi. With a number of foreign visitors coming over to work with the IT and ITES industry, Bangalore has a strong dating culture. Many of her friends and colleagues use dating apps. Surabhi is in no mood for serious relationships. Single and new to a city, she has taken to dating apps to perk up her social life. She, however, avoids dating Indian men. "I have met a lot of people from foreign countries," she says. "I prefer going out with them than with Indian men." Why? "Because Indian men still don't understand what 'dating' is. Westerners do. Men here invariably think if a girl is on a dating app, she's looking for casual sex."

Also read:

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How swipe-savvy Indian youngsters have changed the dating game

Dating to the beat

"Most Indian men don't know how to woo a woman"





--- ENDS ---
Friday night. Single in Mumbai. Bright lights glitter outside the window. Everybody and their partner somewhere out there having fun. Boredom has a new name: bedtime. That hour when the mobile phone is one's best friend. The index finger automatically positions itself, to do the best thing it has ever done: swiping the screen-left, right, up, down. Who knows, of the billions of strangers out there, one swipe might just lead to that chance meeting of true love. Or at least a new Best Friend Forever.

The mobile screen lights up to a smiling face. Below that: Name, Age, Date. City. Height. And an explosion of identity-defining hashtags: #voracious gourmand, #animal lover, #sports nut, #whiskey connoisseur, #health freak, #party hopper, #avid reader.

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He: Hi. U r the most beautiful girl i've ever seen. Hit me up

She: Ha ha. How many other girls got that at 12.30 am?

He: Just you. U r a stunner. I am just a km from you.

She: You don't know anything about me.

He: You a snorer? A psychopath?

She: You a murderer?

He: Ha ha. I'm actually Superman ;)

She: Ha ha

He: So want to sneak out for a drink?

She: I want to jump off the terrace. save me?

He: Sure! What's your number?

She: Why shld I tell you? Becoz u r superman?

He: I was also the carom king of my college :)

She: Ha ha (number)

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the level of every day's most quiet need. By sun and candle-light. Music, moonlight, roses, chocolates. And?er?by smartphones and dating apps. If love is humanity's oldest question, what makes the heart go pit-a-pat in the second decade of the 21st century is a device that can fit into your pocket, connect to the wonderful World Wide Web through a bit of disruptive technology called mobile internet, download a myriad of computer programs-apps or applications-deliver a wealth of real-time services, depending on where you are and what you want: say, hail a taxi, shop online and, yes, match you to a partner of your choice. With the seismic explosion of dating apps-worldwide and in India-200,000 years of human history stand poised to solve the mystery of that elusive and essential emotion, this thing called love.

A SEISMIC EXPLOSION

The business of love is exploding. Nearly six per cent of web users currently use a dating app, according to research firm GlobalWebIndex. And that amounts to a roughly $4 billion worldwide market. Though at a nascent stage, with over 250 million singles aged between 18 and 34 and 235 million smartphone users currently, India is one of the largest and most exciting dating markets in the world. More and more dating apps are appearing every day. Tinder is the global behemoth. And India is among its top five growing markets, the largest in Asia, attracting over 14 million swipes each day from young, savvy 19- to 25-year-old Indians, according to Taru Kapoor, India head,Tinder Inc.

Illustration by Anirban Ghosh Illustration by Anirban Ghosh

Consumers are spoiled for choice, as app developers are bringing out simpler and diverse routes to love every day: there are now global dating apps for Indians-Tinder, okCupid, Badoo, Coffee Meets Bagel, Hinge, HowAboutWe-that are casual about relationships and sex; there are Indian apps for singles who want meaningful relationships-TrulyMadly, Woo or Marrily; apps that are exclusively for urban, independent Indians with similar wave lengths (Aisle) to those meant for Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities (iCrushiFlush); apps targeted at South Asians, global Indians and expats-Desi Crush to Dil Mil to ekCoffee; apps exclusively for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders; for persons with disabilities, for the super-rich, for teens, for music lovers, for flirting with people who have more brains than beauty.

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A DOUBLE REVOLUTION

June 10, 3 pm. About 15 girls and boys sit around a long oval table. They are from Delhi's top schools and colleges: socially confident, smart and attractive. People like them form 55 per cent of the brave new world of dating apps, whispers an executive of the dating app company that has invited them to share ideas and insights on love in the time of apps. "I had a break-up, tried a dating app. I got 13-14 matches in 15 minutes," says one girl, flicking her ponytail. "I have trust issues," says another. "I had a very bad experience. Apps are for hook-ups in the West, here they're for creeps." A bubbly girl protests: "I met three nice guys. We spoke for 5-6 days, exchanged numbers, found common friends, checked each other's Facebook profiles and then went out for coffee. We are now friends." Do their parents know about their experiment with dating apps? A silence hangs in the air.

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A double revolution sweeps the nation. As young Indians start playing with the play stores on their mobile phones, bursting with dating and match-making apps, years and years of safety nets built around the social space for love, romance and matrimony have started sprouting holes. "What happens to the shared comfort of caste, class, religion, culture and language if generation-next happily meets, greets and does more with complete strangers," says Ranjana Kumari, director of the Centre for Social Research, Delhi, who has studied 3,200 matrimonial ads published since the 1960s. This is not one blind date or one chance encounter, but the possibility of billions getting connected. That sounds like the death knell of arranged marriage. "And even if many of them don't marry but just mingle with the other sex, or ultimately follow the tried-and-tested route of arranged marriage, what happens to the precious ideas of virginity and chastity?" The Indian youth are aware of the dangers and dichotomy of their new exciting game.

THE PICK-UP LINE

"No. My parents don't know," says Anusha Nayar, a 24-year-old PR professional from Chennai, who has recently shifted out of Delhi. "First of all, they don't understand what apps are, and they don't understand dating. No girl takes a boyfriend to meet her parents unless she is sure that the relationship is serious. Although a lot of girls share profiles of men with friends and keep them informed about who they are dating and where. Anusha is in no mood for serious relationships. Single and new to a city, she has taken to dating apps to perk up her social life.

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But what is dating? Is anybody quite certain? "Of course," the Delhi students chime together: Dating is when you are romantically inclined but there's no commitment. Hanging out is just on the basis of physical attraction, either as Friends With Benefits or for casual sex. A "relationship" is committed and exclusive. But everybody is not so sure. "Everybody, especially men, misunderstand the word dating," says Anusha. "In the West, dating means a romantic plan with another person or maybe courtship. But I find a lot of men here think it's casual hook-up.. And they think I am some kind of a cheap woman, easy with my favours."

The Delhi students echo the same sentiment. They talk about 'judging' people on apps: "There's a lot of 'judgement' around dating apps," says a girl, who learnt about them on her brother's mobile phone. "My brother's friend saw me on a dating app and he called me to say, 'How can you join a dating app?' although he himself is there." But 'judgement' works the other way too. Ask the girls what sort of man they are looking for, and pat comes the reply: "Anyone who puts up a photograph shirtless or with six-pack abs is out." Amidst peals of laughter, they list their preferences: humour, confidence, well-spoken and, yes, "easy on the eye". The boys in the group add just one more adjective: "Pleasant."

VIRTUAL BEST FRIENDS

One fine day in 2013, three friends-Sachin Bhatia, Hitesh Dhingra and Rahul Kumar-sat in a cafe in Delhi, racking their brains. They had a great idea and they wanted to turn it into a business. "We had in mind a matchmaking platform, a virtual best friend who would always have someone great to introduce you to, no baggage of caste, or religion, no neighbourhood busybody, no slinking around nooks and alleys in search of privacy." They had experience: Bhatia was co-founder of online travel company, MakeMyTrip, Dhingra of electronics e-tail venture, Letsbuy, and Kumar, as a product manager for tech companies. But they just couldn't think of a name that would describe what they had in mind. Like Tinder, it would link up to Facebook, enable private conversations inside the app, but it would be super-safe for women and focused on love, romance and meaningful relationships, instead of casual dating and hook-ups. A song started playing in the background: "I'll love you more with every breath, truly madly deeply do." It was their 'aha' moment. And TrulyMadly, India's first dating app, was born in February 2014.

Illustration by Anirban Ghosh

Exactly around that time, 2,000 km away in Bangalore, serial entrepreneur Sumesh Menon was burning the midnight oil. He and his team were trying to solve a very human puzzle: how does one find a person one wants to spend one's life with in the always-connected-yet-isolated lifestyle of urban India? "We had a team working on different innovative app ideas," says Menon. "Most of them were single and actively searching for a committed relationship." The transactional approach of matrimonial sites, of judging future life partners by filters like weight or complexion, left them cold. "We immediately realised that we could build something for people like them." Internal brainstorming and extensive research brought to light the need for a safe platform for urban singles who share similar interests, career aspirations and passions. And so was born the Woo mobile matchmaking app for urban singles looking for a life partner. "The 'aha' moment came only after we went live," he says. "Within weeks of its launch in Bangalore in August 2014, we started hearing very positive stories. A real validation from the ground up and we knew we were on to something."

TRIUMPH OF CHOICE

According to digital data resource Mindshift Interactive, nearly 33 per cent couples today meet online, 67 per cent of singles know someone who has met or romanced online. The floodgates have opened, but can the business of dating apps manage to generate a profit? What happens when people find partners: will they stop using the service? "Online dating/matchmaking is a big market, in which investors are showing serious interest," points out Saurabh Varma of Mumbai, yet another IIT-IIM serial entrepreneur who has opened Marrily, a matchmaking app for serious relationships. "The business is also dependent on how many young independent professionals enter the workforce in big cities," he points out. With targeted marketing, changing demographics and the taint of judgement coming down, bringing new users to the fore will not be a problem, he holds.

Click here to Enlarge Illustration by Anirban Ghosh

The model is called 'freemium', says Rajesh Lalwani, CEO of Scenario Consulting, Delhi, a brand consultancy. The model of these businesses is to provide the basic service for free, or free for a limited period, and then adding premium options, services or profiles. Gifts, events, tie-ups with restaurants can all help to monetise the business and make it sustainable. TrulyMadly, for instance, has a programme, Datelicious, which helps users plan their dates better. The company has tied up with cafes and restaurants across metros to offer specially-curated lunch, dinner or coffee sessions at popular locations. The Woo marketing team has tie-ups with Californian burger chain Carl's Jr restaurants in Delhi "to celebrate beautiful moments of connection and encourage new ones to discover their spark for the first time over a wholesome meal of big juicy burgers". The scope of such platforms is enormous, believes Lalwani: "Casual sex to dating to affairs to marriage, anything is possible. It is also easier and guilt-free, with changing social norms and new technology."

LAND OF CREEPS

With some cultural confusion still over the word 'dating', there are horror stories aplenty about the 'creepy creeps' on dating apps-mostly men who send sexual messages, comment on bodily attributes of women, insult and abuse when snubbed or even take to stalking. Stories of men using fake profiles on dating apps and being found to be married later are common, as are those of men promising serious relationships and leaving without a trace after just one night. Stories of girls getting pregnant and then being left to their own devices are also doing the rounds. Meera, who works at a Mumbai law firm, recalls a man who, even before she had agreed to meet him for coffee, turned up at her office. "I had made the mistake of telling him where I worked," she says. "But when I asked him why he had come to my office, he simply said that he was close by and decided to drop in. I, of course, was very rude to him."

Click here to Enlarge Illustration by Anirban Ghosh

With a staggering half-a-million urban working women in their 20s and 30s taking big-time to dating apps-about 35 to 40 per cent of the dating traffic-safety, security and privacy are big issues with Indian app developers. TrulyMadly considers its "cool security features" its forte. "We have something called Trust score," says communications executive Shirin Gupta. "It ensures robust verification of all user profiles through Facebook, LinkedIn and ID proof." No one can log in without a verification score of 30. "You can ask your friends to back you up and report abuse anonymously. Share A Profile allows women to share a man's profile with others. And screenshots are disabled on Android," she points out. At Woo, there's a robust report-abuse system in place, where people can be flagged if they are deemed unfit to be on the app. "For added security, women's profiles do not show full name, only initials," says Menon. "And anyone can 'unmatch' if they are not comfortable in taking a conversation forward." Users can also continue chatting on the app for as long as they want without exchanging e-mail IDs or phone numbers.

IDEA WHOSE TIME HAS COME

This is an exciting moment in the life story of love and romance in India. The internet is now the lens. An explosion of dating apps hits young Indians every day, reflecting social attitudes and experiences. The role and place of a man and a woman in a relationship are being worked out anew, digitally, through mathematical algorithms designed by developers. Technology is stripping away the last vestiges of matching a 'suitable' boy or girl by the stars and planets. And 'love' is now unfolding in all its moods and variations-from friendship to casual sex, confusion to heartbreak, delirium to ecstasy, love to marriage.

At a time when everyone is connected yet lonely, young India is determined to let technology play Cupid. Even if there are hitches and hiccups along the way. At least, nobody can write any more, "You who never arrived in my arms." Amen, to that cheerful thought.

Follow the writer on Twitter @DattaDamayanti

Also read:

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The train is expected to cover the 782 km journey in just two hours and 40 minutes. Currently, the trains running on this route take around 10 to 14 hours to complete the journey.

The initial cost of the project has been estimated at about Rs 43,000 crore for the Delhi-Varanasi stretch.

By India Today Web Desk: Ahead of 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, the government has fast-tracked its ambitious plan to operate bullet train from New Delhi to Varanasi, PM Modi's constituency. The train is expected to cover the 782 km journey in just two hours and 40 minutes. Currently, the trains running on this route take around 10 to 14 hours to complete the journey.

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India's first bullet train will dive under the sea



According to The Times of India , the government has accorded the Delhi-Varanasi bullet train project topmost priority after it inked a deal for funds with Japan and set up the High Speed Rail Corporation for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad stretch.

High speed Talgo trains coming to India



FEASIBILITY REPORT

The report said that a Spanish firm has already been roped in by the Railways to study the feasibility of the project. The firm is expected to submit its final report in November.

DELHI TO KOLKATA IN LESS THAN 5 HOURS

Once operational, the train will take just 1 hour 45 minutes to cover 506 km from Delhi to Lucknow and it will cover 1,513 km from the national capital to Kolkata in 4 hours 56 minutes.

Modi's high-speed Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project may take elevated route



COST OF THE PROJECT

The initial cost of the project has been estimated at about Rs 43,000 crore for the Delhi-Varanasi stretch. The Delhi-Kolkata corridor will cost around Rs 84,000 crore. However, sources close to the development said that the final cost will be worked out after a detailed field study.

Also Read:

Agra in 100 minutes from Delhi, courtesy Gatimaan Express, India's fastest train

Indian Railways introduces new rules; 5 ways they will benefit a train traveller



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Ten different places were raided in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad in connection with the AugustaWestland scam. The agency has also issued freezing orders of shares worth crores owned by companies in Dubai, Mauritius and Singapore.

By India Today Web Desk: The Enforcement Directorate on Monday conducted raids at 10 places in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad in connection with its ongoing money laundering probe in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland helicopter deal.

"We conducted searches at 10 premises located in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad in AgustaWestland case," an ED official said.

The official said that the agency had also issued freezing orders under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against shares worth Rs 86.07 crore owned by companies in Dubai, Mauritius and Singapore.

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ED PROBES RS 360 CRORE PAID AS KICKBACKS

ED is probing the case in which Rs 360 crore were allegedly paid as kickbacks by Finmeccanica, the parent firm of AgustaWestland, to execute the deal for 12 helicopters in its favour in the "guise of" transactions for performing multiple work contracts in the country.

The agency had lodged a case in July, 2014 against former Indian Air Force chief S.P. Tyagi, businessman Gautam Khaitan, his wife Ritu, three Italian middlemen - Christian Michel James, Guido Ralph Haschke and Carlo Gerosa - and 13 others in the case.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is also conducting separate investigation into the AugustaWestland's AWA101 helicopter deal.



Also Read:

AgustaWestland scam: MoD quit trial in Italy as 'Attorney General adviced'; AG Rohatgi differs, says no recollection



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Essar's former staff Albasit Khan, who tapped VVIP phones allegedly on company orders, in his letter, a copy of which is obtained by India Today, Khan accused Essar's HR department of injustice and harassment.

By Rahul Kanwal: Essar's former staff Albasit Khan, who tapped VVIP phones allegedly on company orders, had strained relations with his former employer, a letter he purportedly wrote to the group's CEO shows.



Six months after he was fired from his job, Khan filed a complaint with company CEO Prashant Ruia on November 16, 2012.In his letter, a copy of which is obtained by India Today, Khan accused Essar's HR department of injustice and harassment.Albasit Khan has alleged that he had been wrongfully sacked and without reason. He also expressed his dissatisfaction over his final settlement upon dismissal. In his complaint, Khan claimed the company's vigilance and security head had threatened him of a criminal case over what he called was his official assignment."It is a fact that whatever I have done, it was exclusively on the instructions of my bosses in Essar and for the benefit of the company," Albasit wrote. "I am sorry to say that if anything goes wrong with me, the company as well as its directors/promoters and senior officers shall also not be spared from it. I shall submit everything in the court of law and also disclose it to public through media," he warned.Khan didn't specify what secret information he would disclose in the event of a legal battle with the company.Earlier this year, Khan approached SC lawyer Suren Uppal and allegedly handed over CDs of tapped conversations of VVIPs. The interceptions, Uppal alleges, were carried out on the orders of the Essar management, a charge the company strongly denies.In his email to the lawyer last week, Khan rebutted accusations that he had tapped phones as an Essar employee. "... the said allegation is absolutely incorrect, false and baseless and is a story concocted by to you engage in a criminal enterprise," he wrote in his email seen by India Today.In his note, Khan claimed that a senior official of Mumbai's crime branch had handed him "certain tape recordings" for "safekeeping". He claimed that he had met Uppal for his advice regarding that matter.

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India Today has accessed an internal letter allegedly written by Albasit Khan to the Chief Executive Officer of the Essar Group Prashant Ruia.Was it this so called injustice that made Albasit Khan turn against Essar?

In the letter to Essar CEO, Khan says he received a SMS from Prashant Ruia's Secretary asking him to meet SS Khandwawala who was the head of company's Vigilance and Security Department.



Albasit Khan complains that the head of the Security Department, had no idea about the work done by Khan during his employment with Essar and that he was threatened by Khandwawala and warned not to initiate police action against the Essar Group.

Basit also goes on to say that whatever he did was exclusively on the instructions of his bosses at Essar and for the benefit of the company.



And that if anything goes wrong with him, the company as well as its directors and promoters will not be spared.

Who is Alabsit Khan A high-end security expert, Khan worked in the UAE as a drug enforcer before he was hired by the Ruias in 2000. A resident of Mumbai, he was fired from Essar in May 2011 after the company allegedly grew suspicious of him. He is the man who allegedly tapped the phones of India's biggest corporates, politicians & senior bureaucrats while employed by Essar... A high end private security expert, Khan was hired by the Ruia family that owns Essar.. when they received threatening calls in the year 2000. He had claimed that he was asked by Essar officials to tap phones of VIPs as the government had authorised interception. Albasit Khan was suddenly sacked in May 2011. And that's when according to lawyer Suren Uppal, he turned whistleblower in the tapping case.

The key question is was Albasit Khan upset with Essar for sacking him?



And was the act of handing over the incriminating CDs and log books just a ploy to hit back at the company's management?

As the Essar tapes scandal unravels, the mystery around just how India's VVIPs were spied upon also deepens. Who were the people whose phones were tapped? How was the alleged tapping carried out?

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India Today has accessed six hand written diaries that have details of the numbers that were allegedly tapped into. These six log books, written between 2002-2006, were maintained allegedly by Albasit Khan.



The diaries contain detailed information about how phones were tapped. The first diary, dated 12th August 2002 has a comprehensive list of target mobile numbers.



Written next to the target numbers is a list of pre-paid SIM cards which were used for tapping phones. And on the target list were some of India's biggest businessmen, politicians, bankers and bureaucrats. In the diaries, several businessmen are identified by their initials. But there are code-words for some politicians who feature in the call logs.

Some of the key characters who appear repeatedly in the logs are



Chief engineer

Nxe

Bhondu

Tentwallah

Pista

Baapji

Uncle

The diaries even detail that so called action plan...& have a separate section on 'political discussion' and 'business strategies'.



Not just that, the diaries also have images of all the equipment that were used for the surveillance. It has detailed diagrams on the technology used for the tapping, and notes on which mobile numbers were used as the 'ghost phone.'



The investigating agencies will need to identify who are the VVIPs being referred to in the intercepted conversations.



Suren Uppal claims Albasit told him that he would routinely inform the Essar management about the contents of the recorded conversations.



But this claim is now being disputed by Albasit Khan.

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These six log books also raise questions about why Khan would hand over such sensitive material to Uppal?



Also Read:

Modi orders probe into Essar leaks, asks Home Ministry to submit report



--- ENDS ---
Independent legislator of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Engineer Abdul Rasheed today said Kashmiris have sacrificed about one lakh lives and can't compromise on right to self-determination.

By Naseer Ganai: Independent legislator of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Engineer Abdul Rasheed today said Jammu and Kashmir was not integral part of India.

"Even if I am hanged I will still say Jammu and Kashmir is neither India's integral part nor Pakistan's jugular vein", Rasheed said in the House.

When BJP member Ravinder Raina interrupted him saying he should know he has taken oath to protect sovereignty of Indian territory, Rasheed replied that, "even if I am hanged won't say Jammu and Kashmir is integral part of India."

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Rasheed talked about Kashmir issue after he was stopped by the deputy speaker Nazir Gurazi to speak about power issue.

DEMANDS RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION

"Even if you send me to jail, debar me from contesting elections or hang me, it will not force me to change my stand on Kashmir. We have sacrificed about one lakh lives and can't compromise on right to self-determination", he said.

"I am not against India's sovereignty and I am talking simply about Jammu and Kashmir which has become a bone of contention between India and Pakistan and Assembly has no authority to overrule UN Resolutions", he said.

SLAMS ARMY OVER HANDWARA KILLINGS

Over the years, Rasheed has been on forefront in taking up issues of alleged human rights violations. After the firing by the army in Handwara on April 12, Rasheed launched scathing attack on the army and supported anti-army and anti-India protests in Handwara. Even today he was demanding tabling of report about Handwara killings.

Rasheed, who is MLA from Langate Handwara, has launched his own party, Awami Itihad Party (AIP).

CONDEMNS HANGING OF AFZAL GURU

Rasheed insists that he has always described hanging of the Parliament attack convict Muhammad Afzal Guru as travesty of justice.

In February last year, Rasheed had said, Congress endorsed his stand on Guru when five legislators of State Congress to secure his vote in Rajya Sabha elections issued a statement on Afzal Guru. The Congress legislators issued a press statement saying that the hanging of Guru was a mistake and his mortal remains should be handed over his family. After the statement the independent legislator voted in favour of Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad.

The Congress legislators made the statement on Afzal Guru on Azad's behest as Rasheed wanted statement before voting of four Rajya Sabha seats. Azad won the Rajya Sabha seat later. Rashid had elicited similar statement from the PDP before voting for the party in the council elections. Rashid also condemned arrest of SAR Geelani. In 2011, Rashid brought clemency resolution for Guru in the Assembly. But, the resolution didn't come up for debate as the Congress and BJP scuttled it.

In July last year Jammu and Kashmir police detained Rasheed when he was protesting against hanging of Yakub Memon. Last year Rasheed also was first to submit a bill which called for repeal of laws that criminalizes beef sale in the state. In August 2015 Rasheed created controversy by visiting house of a militant commander Tariq Ahmad Mir, who has drowned in a rivulet while fleeing after attacking a police party.

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ALSO READ: 'I have a bomb' message on Kashmiri girl's bag creates panic at Delhi airport



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Here's everything you can do in Delhi on International Yoga Day, today.

These yoga events will help you unwind.

By Mail Today: What: Get ready to roll out your yoga mats with Reebok trainers for a free 'Morning Yoga' session in association with Ministry of AYUSH.

Connaught Place Inner Circle

Time:7:00 am-8:00 am

What: 'Yoga Night', featuring yoga by Mansi Mahajan, and Spiritual House Music by Ase, to help you unwind with energising asanas and uplifting organic tea.

Devang House, Amatrra, The Ashok Hotel, New Delhi

Time:6:00 pm onwards

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Also read: Jacqueline Fernandez to Nargis Fakhri: 5 fitness enthusiasts share their yoga tips

What: A deliciously healthy menu called Healtho-Meter, offering French Style Stuffed Eggs, Spicy chickpeas, Tofu Bites and a lot more.

Where: The Junkyard Cafe, N 91, 2nd Floor CP, New Delhi

Time: 12:00 pm-11:00 pm

What: Here's your chance to get a taste of yoga for free. You can also bring your friends & family.

Transformation studio 101-98, Sukhdev Viha; & E-256 lower ground floor, Lajpat Nagar, Delhi

Time:7:00 am-8:00 am(Sukhdev Vihar) and 6:00 pm-7:00 pm (Lajpat Nagar)

Also read:10 yoga asanas that work amazingly for weight loss



What: Complimentary pregnancy yoga class for expecting mommies.

Mamma Mia, Fortis hospital in Vasant Kunj, Shalimar Bagh and Gurgaon

Time: 11:00 am-12:00 pm

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PM hails sweeping liberalisation of FDI rules, saying they would make Asia's third-largest economy the most open in the world.

By India Today Web Desk: Shortly after announcing a series of big-bang economic reforms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed a sweeping liberalisation of rules on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) today, saying they would make Asia's third-largest economy the most open in the world.

"Key reform decisions were taken at a high level meeting chaired by the PM, which makes India the most open economy in the world for FDI," Modi said in a tweet. In a second tweet, he said the changes would provide a "major impetus to employment and job creation in India."

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Like in the past, even now, FDI beyond 49 per cent will require government approval. What has been changed is the requirement of 'state of art technology'. That is no longer required. 'Modern technology' will do or if not that then 'reasons to be recorded'

In a radical move aimed at improving the investment climate and creating more jobs, the government today announced major reforms including 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in defence and aviation. The major reforms in foreign equity norms, notably in aviation, pharmaceuticals and food processing sectors, further open the doors for the inflow of enhanced overseas capital.

HIGHLIGHTS:



The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office to make India more conducive for attracting foreign investment and technology. The FDI limit for the defence sector has also been made applicable to the manufacturing of small arms and ammunitions covered under Arms Act 1959. In the civil aviation sector, the government has decided to permit 100% FDI under automatic route in Brownfield Airport projects. FDI norms have also been relaxed for single brand retail, airports, pharmaceuticals and animal husbandry, including through e-commerce regarding food products manufactured in India. FDI up to 49% have also been permitted in private security agencies under the automatic route. FDI beyond 49% and up to 74% will be permitted with government approval. The reforms also mean the approval of the RBI or a separate security clearance will not be required for the establishment of any branch or project office for business in cases where FIPB approval or permission by the concerned ministry or regulator has already been granted. Last week, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had defended the Narendra Modi government's global outreach-driven foreign policy and said there are many benefits of such endeavours. "Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) does not come sitting at home," Swaraj had said, in an apparent dig at critics who have often Modi's frequent overseas travels. "Aaj jab Bharat bolta hai, duniya sunti hai (Today when India speaks, the world listens)," she said. The minister said since the Modi government took charge in May 2014, there had been a substantial FDI inflow. "As much as $55 billion or Rs 369,000 crore has come through the FDI route in the last two years. It is about a 43 per cent jump over what it was during the UPA rule," she said.



ALSO READ | India pips China and US as top FDI destination in 2015

--- ENDS ---
A former contestant on Arabs Got Talent, Mohammed al-Sheikh is a known name in Palestine--owing to his unbelievable acrobatic skills.

By India Today Web Desk: While our dream of chanellising our inherent superhero powers is far getting a literal translation, Palestine's 12-year-old Spiderman boy wants to enter his name in the coveted Guinness Book of World Records--one back flip and body twist at a time.

A former contestant on Arabs Got Talent, Mohammed al-Sheikh is a known name in Palestine--owing to his unbelievable acrobatic skills.



Also Read: These girls from Nepal were asked to photograph the things they aren't allowed to touch during their period

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All of 4 feet and 6 inches in height, Mohammed is reportedly "so good at twisting his body he can walk while his legs are bent all the way behind his head."



With the entire world in the know of the atrocities unleashed during the 2014 war between Gaza and Israel--Mohammed's skills on Arabs Got Talent made their mark and helped him garner attention for all the right reasons--with his body-bending act receiving almost 14 million votes, a report in Daily Mail UK states.



Also Read: Forced into prostitution at 10, this woman is the warrior you probably haven't heard about





Photo: Reuters

Photo: Reuters

But there's more to this story than acrobatic skills and fame.



Aware of the Gaza blockade, the little boy hopes to travel the world and serve his skills on a global platter someday.



"Many Arabs and people across the world support me by clicking 'Like' on my videos on Facebook, and it makes me sad not being able to meet and interact with the world because of the blockade," Daily Mail UK quotes Mohammed saying.





Photo: Reuters

Photo: Reuters

Photo: Reuters

"I'm in the air and there is no blockade," he says about the feeling of being free.

--- ENDS ---
Your digital subscription includes access to all content on our agricultural websites across the nation. Access unlimited content and the digital versions of our print editions - This Week's Paper.
By PTI: false

Panaji, Jun 19 (PTI) An FIR has been registered by Goa Police against Sussanne Khan, ex-wife of Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan, for allegedly cheating a real estate firm by "posing" as an architect.

However, Sussanne has dubbed the allegations against her as "false" and "defamatory" and a pressure tactic by the firm.

"The case was registered against Sussanne Khan on June 9 after the real estate firm lodged a complaint against her. The firm has claimed that she cheated them by posing as an architect through her firm The Charcoal Project," police inspector Siddhanth Shirodkar told PTI today.

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She has been booked under section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of IPC.

The Charcoal Project is a Mumbai-based interior design store set up by Sussanne.

As pat of the investigation, police have sought documents from Sussannes address in suburban Andheri in Mumbai.

The complaint was lodged by Emgee Properties alleging that Sussanne claimed herself as an architect to secure a contract to design its building in Panaji in 2013.

Companys Managing Director Mudith Gupta has mentioned in the complaint that his firm signed a contract for Rs 1.87 crore with Sussanne.

The complaint stated that she failed to submit the requisite design in a stipulated period of time and that the designs submitted by her were not of professional standards.

Sussanne, presently in London, rubbished the allegations in a statement today.

"The said complaint is motivated and preposterous and has been only filed to intimidate me and pressurise me to withdraw the arbitration proceedings initiated by me in the first instance to recover my dues and damages resulting from the breach of contract," she said.

As per the statement, Sussanne has challenged the termination of the contract and has invoked arbitration under the contract for recovery of her dues from the firm.

"As a counter-blast to the said proceedings, Mudhit Gupta, with the only intention to harass and pressurise me to give into his frivolous counter-claim, initiated the criminal complaint," she was quoted as saying.

Sussanne denied any "misrepresentations" while stating that she maintains the highest standards of ethics in discharge of her work.

The statement said that Sussanne intends to take the arbitral proceedings to the logical conclusion and will give a befitting response to the complaint.

"Such complaints do not scare me rather it encourages me to stand up for the truth. The allegations in complaints are false and defamatory. I will take appropriate proceedings in accordance with law," she added. PTI RPS KKP NSK IKA

--- ENDS ---
Commerce Minister Tofayel Ahmed, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, Harsh Bardhan Shringla, along with the members of different ministries and elites, will join the yoga exercise programme on June 21, 2016.

A rainbow appears in the sky as NCC cadets perform yoga at a ground in Kolkata on the eve of International Yoga day on Monday. (PTI Photo)

By Sahidul Hasan Khokon, Manogya Loiwal : The World Yoga Day has travelled across the border and is being celebrated in reality globally. It is being celebrated in neighbouring Bangladesh too.

To protect health and to reduce mental stress, World Yoga Day is going to be held for the second time in Bangladesh. Different organisations will observe the event with enthusiasm on 21st June, Tuesday.

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YOGA EXERCISE PROGRAMME



A yoga exercise programme has been arranged by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

First secretary of Indian High Commission in Dhaka, Rajesh Wicky told India Today that an yoga exercise programme is going to be held in Dhaka as per the call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. United Nations has already declared the 21st June as the International Yoga Day following the call of the Indian premier. After this declaration, this is the 2nd time International Yoga Day is being observed concurrently.

A press release from Indian High Commission in Dhaka says an yoga exercise programme is going to be held at Mirpur Indoor Stadium in the capital on Tuesday. Commerce Minister Tofayel Ahmed, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka, Sri Harsh Bardhan Shringla, along with the members of different ministries and elites, will join the program. From 8 am to 9 am, the program will continue. Over two thousand people are expected to join the program this year.

PRANAYAM EXERCISE

An yoga programme was also arranged last year by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka.

Besides, Bangladesh Hindu Mohajot, Chittagong District Branch, has taken an initiative to observe the Yoga workshop at the historical Chatteswari Kali Temple on the International Yoga Day. Prime priest of Shitaku Shankar Math and mission's monk of Jotisshar Geeta Learning Centre and Shrimat Brahmmachari will lead the program. Also, Shreemat Shaymol Sandhu Mohonta of Patharghata Shantoneswari Matrimandir premises will lead the pranayam exercise at 5 am.

YOGA EXISTED BEFORE JESUS CHRIST'S BIRTH

2700 years ago before Jesus Christ's birth this yoga exercise was started. Yoga is an ancient tradition of India. Now, that tradition has become the tradition of the world. Regular Yoga exercise helps to develop physical and mental health. It pacifies the body and mind.

ALSO READ: Rajpath turns into yogapath ahead of International Yoga Day

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The court also asked the govt to place before it the reports of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the issue of health hazards arising out of criminalisation of gay sex.

By Indo-Asian News Service: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday pulled up the government for using inadequate evidence to oppose decriminalisation of gay sex in private among consenting adults.

Additional Solicitor General P.P. Malhotra, while arguing before a division bench headed by Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice S. Muralidhar, cited a verse of the Bible condemning gay sex.

But the court did not seem to be convinced by the government's contention and asked it to produce scientific evidence to justify the ban on homosexuality.

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"Show us some scientific report which says that gay sex should be criminalised," the bench observed.

The court also asked the government to place before it the reports of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the issue of health hazards arising out of criminalisation of gay sex.

"We are not taking it (religious literature). We will be going by your report submitted by NACO (National Aids Control Organisation). We would rely on that report. You can counter it by some scientific report," the bench said.

The central government had previously argued during the case that repealing Section 377 would allow HIV/AIDS to spread, and that homosexuality is a reflection of a "perverse mind".

"We cannot compel our society to follow the trend of western society. There is no concept of sexual orientation in the Indian constitution," Malhotra said.

The Indian Penal Code terms homosexual acts as an offence under section 377, which provides for punishment up to life imprisonment.

The government had earlier taken a contradictory stand, with the home ministry favouring section 377 and the health ministry opposing its enforcement in the case of consenting adults.

The court was hearing a petition filed by 13 NGOs, including Naz Foundation, seeking the court's direction to decriminalise homosexual acts among consenting adults by amending Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

--- ENDS ---
United Nations headquarters is gearing to celebrate the second International Yoga Day. The headquarters has been lit up to mark the occasion. UN delegates, spiritual heads and members of Indian associations are expected to participate in the gala event.

By India Today Web Desk: Ahead of the International Yoga Day, headquarters of United Nations in New York is bracing itself for the occasion. The headquarters has been lit up for the Yoga Day celebrations to be held on June 21. Delegates from countries across the globe will join the celebrations.

Apart from UN delegates, thousands of citizens are expected to participate in the gala events that will be organised on the day. The iconic Times Square will be host a series of events on the occasion with several spiritual leaders and various Indian community associations marking their presence at the second International Yoga Day.

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The International Yoga Day was commemorated at the UN last year following a proposal made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The UN General Assembly in December 2014 adopted a resolution with 177 co-sponsoring member states to observe the International Day of Yoga on June 21.

SEVERAL DIGNITARIES TO MARK THEIR PRESENCE

According to sources, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev will lead the celebrations at the UN headquarters tower by hosting a yoga session. General Assembly President Morgens Lykketoft is expected to be the chief guest at the event, while Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Cristina Gallach will be the speaker.

Also Read:

Modi to arrive in Chandigarh today ahead of 2nd international yoga day













--- ENDS ---
Iranian intelligence officials have foiled a plan of terrorist attack in Tehran and other provinces of the country. An anchor on the state television broke out the news while attributing the information to the intelligence ministry.

By AP: Iranian intelligence officials have broken up "the biggest terrorist plot" ever planned to target Tehran and other provinces in the Islamic Republic, the country's state television reported on Monday.

An anchor on state television read off a statement attributing the information to Iran's Intelligence Ministry. Officials could not be immediately reached for comment to elaborate.

BOMBS, AMMO SEIZED

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Several suspects have been arrested and are under interrogation over the plot after agents seized ammunition and bombs, the state TV said.

The semi-official Fars and ISNA news agencies quoted Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, as saying the attack was timed to hit during the Muslim holy month of Ramzan. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, citing the Intelligence Ministry, said the attack was supposed to come on the anniversary of the death of the Prophet Muhammad's wife, Khadija, which was commemorated in small ceremonies across Iran on Thursday.

SUSPECTS CALLED NON-BELIEVERS



The report didn't identify those arrested, though it called them "takfiris," a derogatory term in both Arabic and Farsi referring to Muslims who accuse others of being "nonbelievers."

Iranian authorities often refer to followers of the Sunni militant Islamic State group as "takfiris," though it isn't clear if this case involved the extremist group that holds territory in Iraq and Syria.

Shia power Iran has been helping both the Syrian and the Iraqi government in their battles against the Islamic State group. It has warned of possible militant attacks targeting the country, which largely hasn't seen such attacks since the immediate aftermath of its 1979 Islamic Revolution.

WAHHABI ANGLE

IRNA, however, called those involved in the plot "Wahhabi takfiris." Wahhabism is an ultraconservative school of Islam practiced predominantly in Saudi Arabia.

Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have frayed following the kingdom's execution of a prominent Shia cleric in January and subsequent attacks by protesters on Saudi diplomatic posts in Iran. The kingdom cut diplomatic relations with Tehran following those attacks.

SAUDI PROBLEM

Iran recently announced it would not be sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the annual hajj pilgrimage, as it said the kingdom did not meet Iran's requests for better security for Iranian pilgrims. The hajj pilgrimage is required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their lifetime.

In May, Iran's Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi announced that 20 "terrorist groups" that planned to detonate bombs and cause insecurity across the country had been dismantled. It's unclear whether that included the plot announced Monday by state television.

THREATS

Iran faces threats from several militant groups. Last week, Iran's Revolutionary Guard battled armed members of an insurgent Kurdish group in the country's West Azerbaijan province near its border with Iraq and Turkey.

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Both sides gave conflicting death tolls from the fighting, as the Guard said its forces killed 12 insurgents while three of its own died. The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan said Kurds killed over 12 Guard members, including a colonel.

--- ENDS ---
The mega Cabinet reshuffle has been effected after days of deliberations and inputs from the party high command in New Delhi.

By Rohini Swamy: In a major Cabinet reshuffle, Karnataka Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah dropped a whopping 14 ministers and inducted 13 new faces into the state government.

The biggest Cabinet rejig so far by the Congress government is being seen as an image makeover exercise before the state goes into poll, due in less than two years.

Karanataka Governor Vaju Vala administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly-inducted ministers - nine as Cabinet and four Ministers of State with independent charge.

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Hours before the swearing-in ceremony, the Chief Minister sacked 14 of his ministers. Sources in the congress say that dissident MLAs may go on to support the BJP. Several MLAs such as Soamshekhar, Muniratna, R V Devaraj, Byrathi Basavaraj among others who have been denied a cabinet berth have threatened to quit the party.

The mega Cabinet reshuffle has been effected after days of deliberations and inputs from the party high command in New Delhi.

Fresh faces in the Cabinet

Congress' Lok Sabha leader Mallikarjun Kharge's son, Priyank Kharge, has got a berth in Siddaramaiah's Cabinet. By inducting Priyank Kharge, Siddaramaiah is looking at bringing the Dalit representation issue to rest. "The idea is to bring in fresh faces and we will do what the chief minister wants us to do, said the newly elected minister of state, Priyank Kharge to India Today.

Ambareesh dropped

The film industry is miffed with the removal of Ambarish from the Cabinet. He was dropped as housing minister for non-performance. A group of actors, film directors and producers have urged the CM to let Mr Ambareesh continue as minister.

Revenue minister Srinivas Prasad hits back

The biggest challenge for Siddaramaiah comes from his close aide Srinivas Prasad who removed as revenue minister. Prasad called him a traitor. Large scale protests have been seen in Mysore, Mandya, Nanjangud against the dropping of Srinivas Prasad.

New ministers

The newly inducted ministers are: Tanveer Sait, Kagodu Thimmappa, Ramesh Kumar, Basavaraj Raya Reddy, H.Y. Meti, S.S. Mallikarjun, M.R. Seetharam, Santosh Lad and Ramesh Jarkiholi while the ministers of state are Priyank Kharge, Rudrappa Lamani, Eshwar Khandre and Pramod Madhwa.

--- ENDS ---
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in an effort to undertake damage control, sent his aides today to convince Ambarish to withdraw the resignation. However, the film actor informed that he would announce his next course of action on Tuesday.

By Aravind Gowda: Kannada film actor Ambarish, who has the screen tag of 'Rebel Star', has indeed turned rebel against the Congress government in Karnataka with the superstar today tendering his resignation to the membership of the Legislative Assembly. This comes in the wake of the Congress removing from the Cabinet.

However, Deputy Speaker of the Assembly did not accept the resignation, as the actor had sent it through his staff. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in an effort to undertake damage control, sent his aides today to convince Ambarish to withdraw the resignation. However, the film actor informed that he would announce his next course of action on Tuesday.

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Meanwhile, the Janata Dal (Secular) is wooing the film actor, who has a large fan following in south Karnataka. Two legislators of the JD(S) met Ambarish today at his home. It is said that JD(S) supreme leader H D Deve Gowda spoke to Ambarish over phone. But Ambarish has not issued any public statement. The actor was originally with the JD(S) and later joined the Congress.

In addition to Ambarish, Congress legislators K N Rajanna and former minster Dr. A B Maalakraddy, who did not make it to the Cabinet, have threatened to quit the Congress.

--- ENDS ---
By Mail Today Bureau: Disturbances and violence continued for the second consecutive day in the Cauvery belt (Mysuru & Mandya) and Chamarajanagara district as supporters of sacked ministers V Srinivasa Prasad and M H Ambarish went on a rampage condemning Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.



On Monday, Congress party workers blocked the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway and vehicular traffic was held up. They burnt effigies of Siddaramaiah and Congress leader in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjuna M Kharge. The town of Chamarajanagara wore a deserted look, as commercial establishments downed shutters in protesting against the sacking of Srinivasa Prasad.



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CABINET RESHUFFLE DEFIES ALL LOGIC



An angry Prasad declared that he would quit Congress after completing his term as a legislator. "Siddaramaiah is the most inefficient politician that I have seen. The Cabinet reshuffle defies all logic," he told a Kannada TV channel. Since Sunday evening, several Janata Dal (Secular) leaders have been meeting him in an effort to woo him to the party.

In Tumakuru district, supporters of legislator K N Rajanna raised slogans against the Congress party and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President G Parameshwara, who hails from the same district. In Bengaluru, supporters of another MLA M Krishnappa burnt tyres and criticized Siddaramaiah for ignoring their leader, who was initially promised a Cabinet berth.

SIDDARAMAIAH IS UNAWARE

However, Siddaramaiah remained oblivious to the developments over Cabinet reshuffle. "I am not aware of anyone quitting the party," he told journalists in Bengaluru.

--- ENDS ---
The BJP in Uttar pradesh is facing a tough fight between Varun Gandhi and Yogi Adityanath, where each faction is claiming that their leader is the choice of youth and only they can end hibernation of BJP in the state.

The new Keshav Chalisa extols virtues of the new Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya and states how the state will become a foremost state if Keshav comes to Lucknow as chief minister. (YouTube)

By Brijesh Pandey: Jai Keshav gyan gun saagar,

Jai Keshav tihun lok ujagar,

UP doot atulit baldhama,

Maurya putra Keshav naama,

UP bishwaguru ban jawe

Jab Keshav Lucknow mein aawe.

KESHAV CHALISA



If you are a devout Hindu and have heard or rendered Hanuman Chalisa hundreds of time, you will be shocked to see this version. But in Uttar Pradesh, anything is possible including rewriting of Hanuman Chalisa, just to please a political boss. This version of Hanuman Chalisa extolling virtues of the new Uttar Pradesh BJP chief Keshav Prasad Maurya and how the state will become a foremost state if Keshav comes to Lucknow as Chief Minister. This spoof on Hanuman Chalisa, which has gone viral on social media, has triggered a new war of words in UP. Keshav Prasad Maurya has denounced any comparison with gods and called this chalisa a conspiracy of SP and BSP. UP BJP chief's prompt denial notwithstanding, the import of this message was not lost on anybody.

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THE RISE OF SANGEET SOM



How many faction and their leaders are nursing the ambition of becoming Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh was also visible in the Nirbhaya Padyatra carried out by Sardhana MLA Sangeet Som. During the march when journalists asked him about potential CM candidate of the state, it was cue for his supporters to start shouting slogans that Sangeet Som should be the CM candidate of UP. Though Som asked his supporters not to raise these slogans and said that final decision has to be taken by Parliamentary board of the party, but the body language and utterances of people close to him was clear what his denial really meant.

VARUN GANDHI'S POSTER WAR



For the BJP, which is already grappling with various faction laying claim for the top post, these development couldn't have come at a worse time. Already they have seen Sultanpur MP Varun Gandhi virtually plastering the whole city of Allahabad with his posters leaving nothing to imagination for the party top brass of how he thinks he is the fit candidate for the post of CM in Uttar Pradesh. Not to be outdone, a goup of Hindu Yuva Vahini, took out a procession in Allahabad demanding that Yogi Adityanath should be declared as the CM candidate of the BJP in UP.

SMRITI IRANI, MAHESH SHARMA IN THE FRAY?

Apart from open assertion of these two leaders, name of Smriti Irani and Mahesh Sharma couple of others are also doing the rounds, with denial coming in a way which makes you believe the story rather than reject it.

SAKSHI MAHARAJ PLAYS OBC CARD



But, if all these name are there, can Sakshi Maharaj be far behind. During the BJP national executive meet in Allahabad, he said that the party should announce a CM candidate and it should be form OBC caste only.

According to a senior UP BJP leader, "It's not a happy situation for the party as it is already facing a tough fight between Varun Gandhi and Yogi Adityanath, where each faction is claiming that their leader is the choice of youth and only they can end hibernation of BJP in Uttar Pradesh. To add more names as CM aspirant sends a wrong signal to the public."

Party insiders also say that though several leaders who are not revealing their cards are equally in reckoning and there is section within the party which feels that the party leadership should have a frank talk with these leaders to nip any aspiration in the bud. The party leadership is aware of these aspirations and how it has potential of self-goal but they also concede that all this is easier said than done.

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ALSO READ:

Why BJP doesn't want Varun Gandhi to be its CM face in UP

Amit Shah will make BJP see achhe din in UP



--- ENDS ---
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan who is on a five-day visit to China, will approach the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to seek support for the drinking water projects. Chauhan announced four industrial townships in the state to attract Chinese investors.

By Ananth Krishnan: Madhya Pradesh will approach the China-backed World Bank-rival, the $ 100 billion Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), for support for drinking water projects when Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan meets bank officials in Beijing this week.

The Madhya Pradesh CM is on a five-day visit to China courting investment in infrastructure, construction and automobiles.



Chouhan told an investors' meet in Beijing on Monday that the state will open up four industrial townships for Chinese investment, and would welcome clusters of Chinese companies to set up presence in the parks, for which he guaranteed smooth land acquisition and uninterrupted power.



INDIA IS AIIB'S SECOND LARGEST SHAREHOLDER AFTER CHINA



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Besides meeting with the heads of major Chinese infrastructure, construction and telecom companies, Chouhan will also hold talks with the AIIB, which was launched in January. India is the bank's second largest shareholder after China. Chouhan, who will meet AIIB President Jin Liqun, said he would approach the bank regarding support for a major rural water drinking projects that the state is taking forward, for which it has earmarked Rs. 15,000 crore.



The bank has already received applications for funding for a range of projects from India, including solar energy and road projects, which are likely to be considered when its board of governors meets in Beijing on June 25 and 26. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will travel to Beijing for the meeting. In May, the bank announced its first approved project would be a highway in Pakistan's Punjab province which would be co-financed with the Asian Development Bank.



Chouhan told an investors' meeting of major Chinese companies on Monday that his state welcomed their presence and was opening up four dedicated industrial townships for Chinese companies: a 206-hectare Chinese Industrial Township; 443 hectares in Vikram Udyogpuri along the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor; Plastic Park in Tamot near Bhopal; and Sitapur Industrial Area.



MADHYA PRADESH TO WELCOME MORE CHINESE INVESTMENTS



"Our idea is that if we invite Chinese companies to come as a group, they will invest and come," Chouhan said, pointing out that construction giant Liu Gong had already set up presence in the state three years ago. The CM said the state was particularly courting investment in food processing, automobiles, textiles and mining, and would offer customised incentives packages for different sectors.

This is Chouhan's second visit to China as CM. In 2011, he was first invited by the Communist Party of China as part of an on-going exchange programme. "Since that visit, it is clear that the level of interest is much higher," Chouhan said. Besides seeking investment, the visit is also aimed at strengthening party links between the BJP and the CPC. Chouhan will meet with Politburo member Zhao Leji and Song Tao, who heads the CPC's International Department on Tuesday.

--- ENDS ---

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By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: BJP MLA from Dombivli, Ravindra Chavan, was seen drawing comparison between Dalits and pigs in a video clip from an inaugural function by the Smart City Program in Thane. The comparison went awry and has the landed the BJP leader in big trouble after the video went viral on social media.

The opposition did not let go of the opportunity and vehemently criticised the BJP MLA and demanded an apology.

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THE BLUNDER

While speaking at the function at Kalyan in Thane, Ravindra Chavan went on to embarrass the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with his weird comparison. Chavan while addressing the crowd cited the example of Abraham Lincoln narrating a story where Lincoln picked up a piglet from a drain and cleaned.

Chavan went to state that similarly PM Narendra Modi and CM Devendra Fadnavis too are working hard to uplift dalits. The bizarre comparison has angered many. Dalit organisations have demanded an apology from the MLA.

The district unit of NCP went a step ahead by organising a "Naming Ceremony" of a pig and named it Ravindra Chavan as a mark of protest.

Despite several attempts the MLA did not respond to this controversy.

Earlier BJP leader VK Singh compared Dalits with dogs which sparked a huge controversy.

--- ENDS ---
A lady doctor from Jalgaon district working with the Public health centre has accused that Sunil Mali, PA of Health Minister Dr Deepak Sawant, called her inside the chamber of the minister and started vulgar communication.

By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: A few days after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis warned ministers to be aware of the activities of their Personal Assistants, yet another PA of a minister is in an eye of storm and this time it's for serious allegations. Sunil Mali, PA of Health Minister Dr Deepak Sawant, has been accused of molestation.

PA MADE LEWD COMMENTS



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A lady doctor from Jalgaon district working with the Public health centre has accused that the PA called her inside the chamber of the minister and started vulgar communication. The embarrassed woman left the cabin immediately. The incident took place in March during the Budget session of the state assembly. The victim had come to give a presentation on 'Digital PHCs. The lady has accused that the PA, told her that any such project would require a 'Godfather' and then made lewd comments.

VICTIM FILES COMPLAINT



The victim has now filed a complaint with the Marine Drive Police station; however no FIR has been registered yet citing delay in filing the complaint. Meanwhile, Health Minister Deepak Sawant has sent Mali on a leave and has briefed the CM about the incident and has even requested an Inquiry. This is not for the first time that a PA of a Maharashtra Minister has courted controversy. Recently, Former Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse's PA was alleged of demanding a bribe of 30 crores. Earlier, PA of education Minister Vinod Tawde was accused of manhandling protestors wanting to meet the Minister in Marathwada.

ALSO READ: Underage boy held for attempt to rape in Bengaluru

--- ENDS ---
Maheish Girri sat on a hunger strike outside Kejriwal's residence demanding him to prove his allegations regarding the murder of NDMC official.

By India Today Web Desk: BJP lawmaker Maheish Girri sat on a hunger strike outside Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal residence demanding him to prove his allegations regarding the murder of NDMC official MM Khan.

"Let Arvind Kejriwal come outside and prove charges," the BJP MP from East Delhi said.



Meanwhile, Kejriwal says that the BJP MP should be arrested and interrogated by Modi police as he feels that the cops are shielding him.

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The Delhi chief minister is deliberately targeting Modi, he wants to deviate from the issue, responded the BJP lawmaker when asked about Kejriwal's latest attck.



HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Kejriwal, in a letter to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, had accused him of trying to "save" Girri and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) vice-chairman Karan Singh Tanwar in Khan's murder. Khan, an estate officer of NDMC, was shot dead in Jamia Nagar on May 16, a day before he was scheduled to pass the final order on the lease terms of a hotel which was functioning on a property leased out by the civic body. BJP MP Girri had asked Kejriwal for a public debate over his allegations. In a letter to Kejriwal on June 16, Girri had invited him to Constitution Club to produce "evidence" he had against him in the MM Khan murder case on Sunday 4 pm. Kejriwal did not accept the challenge following which Girri, accompanied by his party supporters, reached the chief minister's flagstaff Road residence and sat on hunger strike. The BJP MP has asked Kejriwal to either prove his charge against him or "resign" from the post of chief minister. "If he manages to prove, then I will quit politics, otherwise he should do so," Girri said. Hitting back at Girri, AAP's Delhi unit convenor Dilip Pandey said an open debate with Kejriwal would not solve the problem, instead the BJP MP should be ready for a fair investigation. The party also reiterated its demand for arrest of Girri and Tanwar in connection with the murder. The owner of the hotel, Ramesh Kakkar, was arrested on charges of murder.

--- ENDS ---
The opposition Congress which failed to organise its 'Jumla Day' protest following the rainfall on Monday said it will present a bowl containing farmer's blood to Prime Minister Narendera Modi whose government failed to compensate Punjab's farmers who lost their crops and were compelled to commit suicides.

By Manjeet Sehgal: THE PROGRAMME

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach Chandigarh today at 9.50 pm to join the International Yoga Day celebrations being organised at Capital Complex on Tuesday morning. He will spend the night at Punjab Raj Bhawan and is also likely to meet some dignitaries before going to sleep.

Prime Minister will reach the venue at 6.30 am. Before starting Yoga, Modi will do 'Man Ki Bat' for 25 minutes between 6.35 to 7 PM.Yoga session will begin at 7 AM and will last till 7.45 am. Modi will leave the venue after 45 minutes at 7.50 am and will fly back to New Delhi.

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The Chandigarh administration has issued electronic entry passes to 30,500 participants. Elaborate security arrangements are in place to control the crowds.Besides 3000 Chandigarh Police Personnel, 4000 para military jawans has also been deployed in and around the venue.

The Capitol Complex has been divided in eight blocks.Besides the general enclosures, two enclosures of 250 VVIPs have been created out of which 100 VVIPs will be from central government .

40 LED lights,300 prefabricated bio-toilets, 200 dustbins, green carpets covering 10 lac square feet area besides 30,500 mats have been spread for the participants.

600 school buses will ferry the Yoga Day participants from various places to Capitol Complex which is being visited by the Prime Minister second time.



WEATHER GODS PLAY SPOIL SPORT

Despite the tall claims made by the local administration that it has made arrangements to deal with the rain, the rain gods on Monday played a spoil sport.

The green and red carpets spread over an area of 10 lac square feet were drenched by the rain that lashed the venue on Monday evening.

The soil on which the carpets were laid turned into a mud and spoiled the mats and carpets.At some places the large size potholes were seen and the land sinked as one placed his foot on the ground.

Met department has also predicted rainfall in the city on Tuesday morning when Prime Minister will be doing Yoga with over 30,000 people.

CONGRESS TO PRESENT BLOOD TO MODI

The opposition Congress which failed to organise its 'Jumla Day' protest following the rainfall on Monday said it will present a bowl containing farmer's blood to Prime Minister Narendera Modi whose government failed to compensate Punjab's farmers who lost their crops and were compelled to commit suicides.

President of Kissan Cell, and senior Congress leader Inderjit Singh Zira said that more than 8000 farmers have committed suicides in the state and the state and centre government have failed to address their problems.

"The farmer's are children of a lesser god. The Prime Minister who failed tor release even a single penny to the farmers is spending crores on Yoga. We have collected blood of 30 farmers including me and Congress President Captain Amrinder Singh which will be presented to the Prime Minister at Punjab Raj Bhawan," Inderjit Singh Zira said.

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Congress has termed the International Yoga Day celebrations as RSS show and has accused Chandigarh administration and Haryana government of misusing the public machinery and public money to organise the event. Punjab Congress leaders said the state police has detained its leaders to sabotage its protest.

Reacting to the Congress allegations, Health Minister Haryana Anil Vij said only a few people who were jealous of the event were crying false. He said it was an international event and people should come forward to support it.

"Those trying to criticise Prime Minister are trying to show light to the sun. India is the land from where Yoga originated and the world should know about us and the Yoga. We have selected top Yoga Sadhaks for the event who will be doing Yoga alongwith Prime Minister Narendera Modi," Anil Vij said.

Also Read:

Modi to arrive in Chandigarh today ahead of 2nd International Yoga Day



--- ENDS ---
More than 32,000 Yoga lovers are expected to reach the venue from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

By Manjeet Sehgal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Chandigarh, today to take part in the Second International Yoga Day scheduled to be held on June 21 at the Le Corbusier-designed Capitol Complex.

WARMING UP

On his third visit to the city ever since coming to power, Modi will be received by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal, Punjab and Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki and UT Adviser Parimal Rai.

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More than 32,000 Yoga lovers are expected to reach the venue from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. Sources say nearly Rs eight crore are being spent on the 45 minute event out of which Rs 2.89 crore will be spent on providing 1.25 lakh bottles of mineral water, Yoga mats, T-Shirts and lowers to the participants.

Elaborate security arrangements have also been made by the local administration to manage the visitors. UT Police has asked for additional police force from Punjab and Haryana apart from the paramilitary forces.

ALL IS NOT WELL

However, the local administration is facing criticism for mass rejection of Yoga lovers who wanted to participate in the event .Sources say that more than 45,000 local residents had registered online but only 6500 were selected. The selection process, according to the local residents was not transparent.

"Those selected are either BJP leaders ,their family members or influential. We regularly attended Yoga camps with the hope that we will be able to do Yoga with the Prime Minister but were surprised when we did not get the selection SMS," Ravikant a local resident said.

Sources also claim that Haryana government pressurised dozens of schools to provide their buses to ferry the Yoga enthusiasts to the camps. They were only released when the issue was highlighted by the local media.

A visit to the event venue further revealed that the Home Guard jawans were compelled to work continuously for 26 hours without any food or water support under the scorching sun.

"We have been working here from last 26 hours. There is no water or food .We are working like animals under the scorching sun spreading mats for the Yoga lovers. They (administration) claims it spent nearly eight crore on this event but not a single penny on water or food for us," a Home Guard jawan said requesting anonymity as the local SHO had warned them not to open mouth failing which they will be fired.

JUMLA DAY

Meanwhile Congress has decided to boycott the event. The party activists will organise 'Jumla Day' at sector 22 on Monday to show the resentment. The party has asked the party workers to wear black clothes.

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"Besides the Yoga Asanas, we will ask Narendra Modi about the promises made before the elections.People want to know the black money Asana,Vyapam Asna,Rising Prices Asanas,Malya Asana, Pulse-ration prices Asanas, petrol-diesel price asanas ,service tax asanas, Lalit Modi Asanas,Chhattisgarh Scam Asana, unemployment asana and the Asanas about the murder of democracy," Chandigarh Congress President, Pradeep Chabra said.

ALSO READ:

India gears up for International Yoga Day



--- ENDS ---
The government is working over both short-term and long-term strategies to control the rising prices of food grains, including that of pulses.

In some high-end markets in cities like Mumbai and Delhi, the prices of pulses are even higher.

By Kumar Vikram: The government is exploring a strategic route to control the rising prices of pulses which is being sold for around Rs 180 per kg now. Ahead of PM Narendra Modi's visit to African countries in the first week of July, a delegation of senior government officials would visit these countries looking for ways to improve the scope of contract farming and imports of pulses.

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Moreover, to control the rising prices of pulses, key intelligence agencies, including ED, IB and intelligence wing of the revenue department, have been told to keep an eye to stop the illegal stocking and black marketing of pulses.



RACING PULSE

PM Modi is scheduled to visit four African nations, Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya and Mozambique. A senior government official said Modi is expected to seek further strengthening of India's economic as well as maritime ties with these countries.

The official said ahead of the visit, a delegation may visit Mozambique and other countries to explore the possibility of growing pulses through contract farming.

The government is working over both short-term and long-term strategies to control the rising prices of food grains, including that of pulses. Exploring the option of contract farming with countries like Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi is a long-term strategy.

The government is, however, looking for a permanent strategy to fill the gap between demand and supply in India. Officials said the government will explore the option to take land for contract farming with the involvement of private players.

Officials say the demand in India is of 230-240 lakh tonnes whereas the supply is about 170 lakh tonnes. With each passing year, there is an increase in demand of pulses by a million tonne, thus making imports necessary.

Officials said food security is also a common concern for India and Africa. India being the biggest producer of food grain and horticulture crop could help the African continent develop its agri sector.

Diplomats from both sides have sought greater cooperation in agriculture and agro-processing, which would have a great bearing on the food security situation in Africa and India.

STRATEGY TO CURB PRICE MENACE

In boosting Africa's agriculture production, India too can meet its food needs with imports from Africa, especially pulses, where India faces huge shortfall, added the official.

Urad dal was selling at as high as Rs 196 per kg, while chana was also seen moving closer to Rs 100 per kg level. Tur dal continued to rule high at Rs 166 per kg, while moong and masur were being sold at Rs 125 and Rs 105 per kg, respectively.

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Moreover, in some high-end markets in cities like Mumbai and Delhi, the prices of pulses were even higher.



Concerned over the rising prices, the consumer affairs secretary held a meeting with the officials of the Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), income tax, the Enforcement Directorate and Intelligence Bureau (IB) last week.

Moreover, he also interacted with state government officials of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi via video conferencing and asked them to be alert to check hoarders. The possibility of black marketing and illegal trading cannot be wished away as hoarders try to exploit the situation to make profit, officials said.

ALSO READ:

Towering prices of pulses forces government to import



--- ENDS ---
A fitness fanatic, a fine actor and an avid traveller, Gurmeet Choudhary surely knows how to stay self motivated.

TV actor Gurmeet Choudhary is one of the fittest TV actors. Picture courtesy: Twitter/Gurmeet Choudhary

By India Today Web Desk: A fitness fanatic, a fine actor and an avid traveller, Gurmeet Choudhary of Ramayan fame surely knows how to live life to the fullest. Self motivated, he likes to set tough goals for himself and achieving them gives him a high.

Here are five of his tweets that will inspire you to do better in life.



You only fail when u stop trying. #mondaymotivation pic.twitter.com/uy1BaPZedo GURMEET CHOUDHARY (@gurruchoudhary) June 20, 2016

Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destination... pic.twitter.com/yQGAILSVAP GURMEET CHOUDHARY (@gurruchoudhary) June 15, 2016

Good shoes & A Good Life Partner take you good places?????? pic.twitter.com/D2vNZVjcuY GURMEET CHOUDHARY (@gurruchoudhary) June 14, 2016

Don't call it a dream... Call it a plan #mondaymotivation pic.twitter.com/zMHa6JemQB GURMEET CHOUDHARY (@gurruchoudhary) June 13, 2016

The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say u cannot do. #mondaymotivation pic.twitter.com/uLM9rbaJ5P GURMEET CHOUDHARY (@gurruchoudhary) June 6, 2016

--- ENDS ---

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Heavy pre-monsoon showers and gusts of wind brought respite from scorching heat and humidity in the capital on Monday but disrupted traffic in several places.

Vehicles move at Rajpath as it rains in New Delhi on Monday. (PTI Photo)

By India Today Web Desk: After a long wait, the Southwest Monsoon finally reached Mumbai. The city had been receiving good rainfall for the past 24 hours and on and off rains are expected to continue in the coming days.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) today issued a heavy rain alert in Uttarakhand and Himachal in next 48 hours. Declaring an Orange Alert for the two states, the IMD said there is possibility that both Kumaon and Garhwal region in Uttarakhand and Shimla and Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh will witness heavy rainfall for the next three days.

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Predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall, the Met department has also issued a Red Alert for Sikkim and West Bengal. IMD officials have forecast heavy rainfall there (exceeding 12 cm everyday) for next 5 days.

Meanwhile, the IMD predicted heavy rain in drought-hit Vidarbha and Marathwada regions in the coming two days, even as it said about 90 per cent Maharashtra has been covered by monsoon.

RAIN BRINGS RESPITE FROM HEAT IN DELHI

Heavy pre-monsoon showers and gusts of wind brought respite from scorching heat and humidity in the capital on Monday but disrupted traffic in several places.

Light to moderate rain was reported in almost every area of Delhi and the National Capital Region.

The temperature dropped from 38.4 degrees Celsius at 11.30 am to 26 degrees after the rains, an IMD official said.

According to the weather office, 9.2 mm rain was measured between 11.30 am and 2.30 pm at Safdarjung and 3.2 mm rain in Lodhi Road region in south Delhi.

The IMD predicted heavy rain in drought-hit Vidarbha and Marathwada regions in the coming two days.

Delhi witnessed the maximum 31 mm rain at Aya Nagar in south Delhi while Palam region closer to the airport recorded just 2.8 mm rain.

"Light to moderate rain is expected in Delhi and NCR in next few hours," the Met office said.

The rains brought respite to people from the dragging warm weather. Many people came out of their homes to enjoy the showers. A few got to the roof tops to get drenched.

"It was a much needed rain as the weather was becoming unbearable," said Yogesh Gupta, a resident of Karol Bagh in the heart of Delhi.

Though the pre-monsoon showers made the weather pleasant, it derailed traffic movement across several stretches in the city.

RELIEF FOR GURGAON RESIDENTS

Showers lasting over half an hour on Monday afternoon brought much relief to the Gurgaon residents, but also led to water-logging and traffic snarls.

Waterlogging in both new and old Gurgaon, including several stretches on the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway, caused problems for local residents and commuters alike after the rain that began around noon.

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Long traffic jams were witnessed at various points in the city. Traffic on the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway (Delhi-Jaipur National Highway) was disrupted at the Hero Honda, Jharsa, Iffco and Shankar chowks (intersections) as service lanes were filled with rainwater.

Traffic on both sides of the Gurgaon toll plaza (Kherki Daula) was also affected.

ALSO READ:

It's here: Heavy rains in Kerala as Monsoon hits state



--- ENDS ---
The woman charged the animal, yanked away one of its paws and discovered her son's whole head was in its mouth. She didn't back down.

By AP: Summoned by the sound of screams, a Colorado woman raced to her front yard to find a terrifying sight: A mountain lion was hunched over her 5-year-old son, biting him.

The woman charged the animal, yanked away one of its paws and discovered her son's whole head was in its mouth. She didn't back down.

"She was able to pry the cat's jaws open," Pitkin County Sheriff's Deputy Michael Buglione said. "She's a hero."

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HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED The ordeal started Friday evening when the 5-year-old and his older brother were playing outside their home near the resort town of Aspen. When the woman ran outside, she found the mountain lion crouched over her younger son, who was struggling to get free. "The boy was completely under the cat," Buglione told The Aspen Times. The mother grabbed the lion's mouth and pried it open, freeing the boy. She then scooped him up and ran away, the deputy said. The boy suffered deep cuts to his head, face and neck and was flown to a Denver hospital. The boy's father had just returned from a run when the attack occurred. He jumped in the car with his wife and son and called 911 as they sped to the Aspen hospital. From there, the child was flown to Children's Hospital in Denver. The mother also suffered bite marks on her hand and scratches on her leg, authorities said. She was treated and released. The mountain lion was estimated to be about 2 years old and was not fully grown. Wildlife officials killed two mountain lions in the area within several hours of the attack. The animals were being examined to determine if they were hungry, diseased or just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Colorado is home to up to 4,500 mountain lions, and they sometimes wander into urban areas looking for food, according to state wildlife officials. Since 1990, mountain lions have killed three people and injured 18 in the state. "They're wild animals. They find habitat where they can forage for food," Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesman Matt Robbins said. "When you have bunnies, you're likely to find foxes or coyotes. If you have deer, there is a good chance you'll find mountain lions." The last known lion attack on a human in Colorado was in July 2015, wildlife officials said. A young lion attacked a man as he fished north of Dotsero, about 60 miles from where Friday's attack occurred. The man suffered scratches and bites on his back and was treated at a local clinic and released.





Also read:

2-year-old dragged by alligator into lagoon near Disney World resort in Florida Enter the dragon: When there's a mini Godzilla at the door



--- ENDS ---
The much touted AICC reshuffle is yet to happen but the reshuffle of rooms in AICC is definitely on the cards.

By Ashhar Khan: Just after a brief shower, the winds of change are about to blow in the AICC headquarters at 24 Akbar Road, Delhi. After ending the controversy over the appointment of Kamal Nath as the general secretary of Punjab a new headache awaits the Congress party - finding suitable rooms for their two new general secretaries Ghulam Nabi Azad and Kamal Nath. The much touted AICC reshuffle is yet to happen but the reshuffle of rooms in AICC is definitely on the cards.

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GAME OF ROOMS

There are nine main big rooms in the main building of AICC. These include the rooms of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Treasurer Motilal Vohra. These are the rooms which are inside the building. In the exterior, there are six rooms of general secretaries, five of them are occupied by Janardhan Dwivedi, Madhusudan Mistry, Mukul Wasnik, Digvijaya Singh and Ambika Soni. While the sixth one is occupied by the incharge of media cell Randeep Surjewala

Now with the appointment of these two bigwigs Azad and Kamal Nath, need for rooms doing justice to their stature has arisen. After great deliberation, it was decided that General Secretary Mukul Wasnik and incharge of media Randeep Surjewala will vacate rooms for Azad and Kamal Nath respectively.

But allotment of rooms to these two Congress leaders did not solve the problem.

In the great musical chairs the Incharge of Media Cell Randeep Surjewala will move back in the room of former General Secretary Shakeel Ahmed. While Mukul Wasnik is slated to move in the room of General Secretary BK Hariprasad.

The changes do not end here BK Hariprasad goes to the room of Delhi Incharge PC Chacko. Chacko moves to the room of former Incharge and the current Chief Minister of Puducherry V Naryansami

This makes the top leaders of the Congress in the frontline rooms of the AICC headquarters. What is worrying the AICC administration is that this is just the beginning but with a slow paced reshuffle on the cards they will have to do with some fancy footwork to adjust all.



--- ENDS ---
Local industrialist and former chairman of Agra Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Chamber Nazeer Ahmed told India Today that today's youth believes in living in open and posh localities and this was the reason why a lot of houses in densely populated old city area of Agra have been sold off or closed by their owners.

By Siraj Qureshi: Agra is known as the city of Sulh-e-kul and the breeze of love has been blowing through this city of Taj Mahal since centuries, but of late, communal incidents in the city are on the rise due to vested political interests playing with the sentiments of the Hindu and Muslim communities who have always lived in harmony till now.

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Local industrialist and former chairman of Agra Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Chamber Nazeer Ahmed told India Today that today's youth believes in living in open and posh localities and this was the reason why a lot of houses in densely populated old city area of Agra have been sold off or closed by their owners.

'HOAXES DAMAGING THE IMAGE OF AGRA'

He said that this shifting of posh colonies is now being publicised as 'forced migration' of Hindus by some Hindu activist groups. They have issued some lists to the media where such people have been listed as been forced to migrate from Muslim-dominated areas of the city, when in fact, they had moved out as a part of a change in lifestyle. He demanded that the district administration should conduct a detailed inquiry into this hoax being spread by some anti-social elements.

Ahmed said that such hoaxes deeply damage business prospects in Agra, which is dependent on footwear exports and tourism. If the tourists and clients read about these 'manufactured' crises in the newspapers, they will change their itinerary to exclude Agra from their list of places to visit in India and that will affect business in this city.

AFMEC Chairman Puran Dawar said that whenever the elections come close, such hoaxes are raised to polarize voters in the favour of one party of the other. Such issues are only raised by political natured people. If a family shifts from one place in the city to the other on its own volition, it should not be termed as a forced migration.

He said that the administration should talk to the families that are said to have migrated from inside the city and ask for the reason for this migration, instead of believing such hoaxes that are only being raised to spoil the peaceful atmosphere of Agra.

Agra Tourist Welfare Chamber secretary Vishal Sharma said that the people of Agra are well aware of their rights and the state of law and order in this city should not compared with some backwater town like Kairana. In Agra, he said, nobody has had to migrate from one place to another due to the lack of law and order. Mostly, the reasons have been economic or lifestyle related. To treat such relocations as 'forced migrations' is a blatant lie which has been raised by the politicians and has nothing to do with the ground reality.

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He said that this unnecessary issue will create fear among the tourists, which will hurt the tourism prospects of Agra in the coming season. Already, he said, such manufactured communal incidents have done enough damage to the city's tourism industry in the past couple of years and the industry will not tolerate any such attempts by the political community now.

--- ENDS ---
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it had conveyed its stand to Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar during his visit to Beijing last week, and had "stressed that the NSG is still divided about non-NPT countries' entry into the NSG".

By Ananth Krishnan: China said on Monday that the Nuclear Suppliers Group was still divided on the issue of India's entry and that the matter was still "not matured" enough to be addressed at the upcoming plenary meeting in Seoul.

India's External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said on Sunday India was hopeful of its accession being granted into the elite global body that governs nuclear trade.

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NSG DIVIDED OVER NON-NPT COUNTRIES



But days ahead of the June 24 plenary, China, which along with at least four other NSG members has voiced concern on India's entry, said it was too early to discuss the specific issue of India's entry and that as far as it was concerned, it was not on the agenda of the upcoming meeting.



Beijing said it was of the view NSG first needed to arrive at a common position on allowing entry of countries that had not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) before discussing India's specific case.

"We maintain the need to have thorough discussions, so the NSG should first discuss the entry issue of non-NPT countries as a whole instead of specific non-NPT countries joining," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

NSG TO MAKE DECISION BASED ON CONSULTATION



China agreeing to come on board after taking such a public position days before the plenary will reflect a remarkable turnaround in Beijing's stand. The likelihood of doing so may well rest on the outcomes of a meeting on June 23 between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at Tashkent, where they both will attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.



In 2008, Beijing agreed at the last-minute to support the NSG's waiver for the India-U.S. nuclear deal, so such an outcome would not be unprecedented. But in that instance, analysts and officials say, Beijing had not repeatedly taken a public stand on the matter. Analysts in Beijing say that a likelier outcome is an agreement at Seoul that "may give both India and China some face", such as agreeing to consider India's membership and to have further talks on the issue, leaving open the case of India's entry for a future plenary session.

Hua on Monday said Beijing had "stressed" to Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar during his hushed visit to Beijing last week that the NSG was "still divided about non-NPT countries' entry into the NSG".

"We understand that non-NPT countries are very concerned about their entry into the NSG but since the NSG is still divided? [the entry issue is] still not mature[d] to talk about at the annual conference in Seoul," she said. "Under current circumstances, we hope the NSG will have thorough discussion to make decisions based on consultation."

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Hua further added that the issue of entry of India and non-NPT countries was not on the agenda of the Seoul meeting. "I want to point out the NSG agenda has never covered any issue concerning non-NPT countries joining the NSG. As we understand the annual conference in Seoul this year also has no such kind of issue or topic," she said.

However, it will be at the discretion of the host country to include the issue on the agenda before this week's meeting, so the matter may well figure at the plenary. Whether China will play ball is another question.

Also read:

NSG membership: How foreign secretary Jaishankar made secret trip to China

US urges NSG members to support India's bid: Will China come on board?







--- ENDS ---
The eastern mourning dove which built a nest on the police car got some tender loving care by officers in Ohio. They put an umbrella to keep her dry and went so far as to dig for worms to feed her.

By India Today Web Desk: One of the police mottos made famous by Hollywood is: 'To serve and protect'. Well, the Ohio Police just came good on that dictum.

This Dove getting Parma police protection after laying her 2 eggs in a cruiser last wk. @cleveland19news pic.twitter.com/XOKqVtNdtA Julia Tullos (@JTullosCBS19) April 27, 2016

Officers from Ohio's Parma Police Department discovered that one of their backup patrol cars turned into a home for a beautiful eastern mourning dove. Instead of shooing away the feathered squatter, they decided to make things a little more cozy for the bird and her two eggs.

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To protect the bird from the elements, they attached an umbrella to the windshield, dug up worms for her so she stays well-fed, and went so far as to police tape the entire parking space so people knew that a bird had built a nest on their car.

They even nicknamed the bird Gerty.

Parma PD protecting momma dove & nest she made in the hood of a police car! Awwww!! @wkyc pic.twitter.com/UZu13N7nHb lisa lowry (@lisalowrywkyc) April 28, 2016

"We care for all lives, human and animal," Parma Police spokesperson Kevin Riley told Fox 8 news.

Now that's called being human!





--- ENDS ---
Hindu locals of Sindh province held a protest after shoes with 'Om' inscribed on them were being openly sold in the markets. Communities appealed to Sindh government and local authorities to ban the sale of the shoes as it hurt their religious sentiments.

By India Today Web Desk: Members of the Hindu minority in Pakistan resorted to a large-scale protest after shoes with 'Om' inscriptions were sold openly in the Sindh province. The protestors deemed the actions of the shopkeepers and distributors as blasphemous. Angered over the incident, the community even sought a ban on the sale of the shoes stating that it hurt their religious sentiments. Acting on complaint, the police later arrested the shopkeeper selling the controversial footwear.

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Earlier, protests were carried out after the shoes were brought to the notice of the Hindu community. The Pakistan Hindu Council staged protests against the Sindh government and local authorities operating in Tando Adam Khan. According to Ramesh Vankwani, the patron-in-chief of Pakistan Hindu Council, shoes with 'Om' symbols were being sold during Eid festivities for the last three years.





1. Members of Hindu community alleged that the shoes were sold purposefully to insult the sentiments of Hindu locals.



2. Pakistan Hindu Seva, an organization working for inter-faith solidarity said that the shoes were being manufactured by Zeb Shoes.



3. A statement by the group requested the authorities concerned to take notice of the matter immediately to override any expected mistrust within the locals.



4. The organization demanded that Farman Ahmed owner of Zeb Shoes to be barred from manufacturing and selling the shoes.



5. The community alleged that the shoe company's actions were spreading hatred.





Zeb Shoes makes and sells 'Om' shoes (Image via Pakistan Hindu Seva's Facebook page)

6. Hindu communities asked locals of Tando Adam Khan town to seek legal help to settle the issue and refrain from violence.



7. Some local newspapers even reported that the sales were not restricted to Tando Adam Khan and that they were being sold at other parts of Sindh.



8. Pakistan is home to about eight million Hindus most of whom reside in southern province of Sindh.



Also Read:

Another case of forced conversion in Pakistan, this time married Hindu girl forcibly remarried by jirga







--- ENDS ---
By Amitabh Srivastava: Restina Horo, a 60-year-old widow, was hacked to death on Friday by her nephew Muni Horo in Dahkela village in Jharkhand's Khunti district, barely 75 km from the state capital Ranchi. Restina was just about to retire for the night on June 17, when Muni barged into his aunt's hut and hacked her to death. The murder weapon - a pickaxe - was later recovered from the youth.

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A jobless Muni, 25, had been nursing a grudge against Restina - the widow of his paternal uncle - who he blamed for his undiagnosed disease. He suspected Restina practised black magic, leading to his illness. This was second incident of witch killing reported from Khunti within a month after another woman, Mangri Mundain ( 65) was beaten to death in Arki area of the district on May 26.

HOTBED OF WITCH-HUNTING

Jharkhand, a state carved out of Bihar in November 2000, has clearly emerged as the hotbed of "witch- hunting" in India. The National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) records maintain that as many as 464 women, majority of them from tribal communities, have been branded "witches" and killed in cold blood in Jharkhand between 2001 and 2014.

India has seen killings of 2290 persons, mostly women for practicing witchcraft, in the same period. Jharkhand clearly the worst affected State, accounting for more than one fifth of the victims.

While the NCRB is yet to post updated figures for the subsequent years after 2014, it is unlikely to present a better picture in Jharkhand, which has continued to witness mindless killing of women. On June 14, septuagenarian Jugni Devi was axed to death in Kersai area of Simdega district. On June 10; a 46-year-old woman was stripped and gangraped in Tonto area of West Singhbhum district. While majority of these crime have been reported from Southern Jharkhand, , the menace is also seen in north east Jharkhand, called Santhal Paragnas, which borders Bihar and has a different tribal dialect.

On May 30, a 60-year-old tribal woman Bitia Hansda was killed for practicing witchcraft in Jarmundi area of Dumka district; Jharkhand's second capital.



GOVT FAILS TO CHECK WITCH-HUNTING

Government officials believe that their strategy to create awareness to check the menace of witch-hunting has not really worked. In many cases, relatives of the victims have been found to be the conspirators, who got the widows branded as witches and killed to usurp their properties.

The victims, nearly all of them women, have been swept up in motivated witch hunts. The tipsy crowds are often instigated by a neighbours or relatives to pick single women and punish them for "devious sorcery." The women have been blamed for everything from a bad harvest to an unexplained illness.

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With lowest literacy, child malnutrition and maternal mortality, the tribal communities, which has seen maximum of such killings, are miles away from social mainstreams in Jharkhand. They have often been found sandwiched between government apathy and Maoists insurgency, both contributing to their consistent neglect by successive governments.

Social interactions at micro levels have also confirmed that that superstition is deep seated in Jharkhand, which easily prompts villagers to murder the witches.

The tribal villagers believe in superstition, as they don't have easy access to health care. They are uneducated as well. It requires constant efforts to eradicate the evil practices," says Ganesh Reddy, Chief of a noted NGO Citizen Foundation. Created in December 2000, Jharkhand--- which is twice bigger than Kerala in terms of area but with a per capita income that is less than half of the southern State--- has been continuously ranked at the bottom of economic and human development indicators.



CURIOUS CASE OF HARYANA

A comparative study of the NCRB factsheet throws up curious details. At the beginning of the decade, from 2001 to 2004, not a single case of witch-killing was recorded in Haryana. But things turned for worse from 2005 to 2010, a period when as many as 204 women were branded witches and killed. In fact, in 2010, Haryana with 57 cases of witch killings was at the top. But, the State has once against scripted a turnaround, and after recording 5 such deaths in 2011, Haryana has managed to keep its slate clean in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

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Witchcraft Killing : Worst States



--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Puducherry, Jun 19 (PTI) Workers of the ruling Congress here today celebrated the 46th birth day of party Vice President Rahul Gandhi by holding several programmes including blood donation camp and distribution of stationery to under-privileged children.

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, the PCC leader and State PWD Minister A Namassivayam, Ministers, legislators and functionaries of different wings of the party dragged the golden chariot on the premises of Sri Manakula Vinayagar temple as part of celebrations.

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Distribution of food packets and also stationery to poor children added to the glitter of jubilant celebration of the day. PTI COR ROH RC

--- ENDS ---
It is impossible to miss out on a visit to Italy when you are on a trip to Europe.

Italy happens to be an integral part of most travellers' Europe diaries. Think of it--a trip to Europe is incomplete without a few days in Italy.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Literally. Traversing the bylanes of the Italian capital is a must--you can't afford to miss out on the several monuments and the amazing historic tales they are there to tell.

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As it is said, "Rome was not built in a day," the city has had a rich history of wars and the resultant empires that had come into being. It is said that the government has stopped digging in the city, because every time they dig, they unearth a history.

Walking in Rome is like walking among the magnificent ruins. However, the city boasts of a unique grandeur.



Here are some pictures from my travel diary...

The famous Trevi Fountain, which stands tall at 86 feet in the middle of the city, is an utter delight to the eyes. The water is crystal clear, and the design is impeccably beautiful.

The Trevi Fountain. Photo: Nivedita Dash The Trevi Fountain. Photo: Nivedita Dash

Colosseum, a 35-feet high half-ruined structure, is one other important monument in Rome. It is one of the Wonders of the World. There's an old saying: "When the Colosseum falls, so will Rome."

Ruins of Colosseum. Photo: Nivedita Dash

Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican City is the centre point of the walled city. The Pope rules this city. The city has many churches and cathedrals with St. Peter's Basilica being one of its main churches.

Saint Peter's Square in the Vatican City. Photo: Nivedita Dash

St. Peter's Basilica church in the Vatican City. Photo: Nivedita Dash

Piazza Venezia is the centre point of Rome. It was built in the memory of the 'Unknown soldiers'.

Piazza Venezia. Photo: Nivedita Dash

Italy is not just about Rome. The country is home to numerous other beautiful destinations as well. Pisa is one such place, known among travellers for being the location of the famed 'Leaning tower of Pisa.' The structure is leaning 1 millimeter every year because of the soft soil it is built on. The authorities have even installed cameras around the structure just to capture the eventual fall of the tower. (Wish it never happens!)

The Leaning tower of Pisa. Photo: Nivedita Dash

My next stop was the city of Florence, a place that can leave a traveller awestruck. The city was named after the word Feorre, which means flower. Again, rich in history, Florence is no less than an open museum. The character-specific structures are not put in a museum, but on the streets, where they are subjected to the mercy of weather Gods at all times of the year.

The city of Florence. Photo: Nivedita Dash The city of Florence. Photo: Nivedita Dash

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And of course, there is the famous Ferrari museum in Maranello in Ferrara province (F1 lovers, this place is for you!). By the way, there is also a road in Marnello which is named after Mahatma Gandhi.

Ferrari museum in Maranello. Photo: Nivedita Dash

My last stop was Venice, the water city. The city of Venice is every traveller's dream destination, thanks to its unmatched beauty. Believe it or not, there are no roads in this city. The city has 108 islands, 115 canals and 400 bridges.

The city of Venice. Photo: Nivedita Dash

The mode of transportation in the city are the gondolas (Remember the Bollywood song, 'Do lafzon ki hai dil ki kahaani...'). The gondola drivers even have a uniform! There are ferry stops, just like bus stops, and of course, there are traffic jams as well, but on the water.

Visit to Venice is incomplete without a Gondola ride. Photo: Nivedita Dash

One of the famous bridges in Venice is the 'Bridge of Sighs.' It is said that the prisoners would cross the bridge for the last time before getting imprisoned in the prison that was located on the other side of the bridge. Eventually, they would die in the prison and never see their family again.

The bridge of sighs. Photo: Nivedita Dash

--- ENDS ---

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The Gandhi scion today said he is going out of the country on a short visit.

By Indo-Asian News Service: A day after his 46th birthday, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Monday said he was going out of the country on a short visit. He did not disclose his destination.

"Travelling out of the country for a few days on a short visit. Thanks again to all who met and wished me yesterday (Sunday), truly grateful for your affection!" Gandhi tweeted .



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HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR



On his birthday, Gandhi met hundreds of party workers at the Congress headquarters. This was the first time he took to Twitter to make his travel plans public. His 60-day vacation between February-April 2015 had raised many eyebrows. He again went on a vacation in December last year for New Year.

--- ENDS ---
As the actor turns 44 today, here are five pictures that prove he is totally defying the laws of ageing.

By India Today Web Desk: What is it about some people? They seem to remain forever young while the rest of us spend our days pulling out grey hair and bathing in anti-ageing serum.

This is what we need to see everyday. Picture courtesy: Instagram/mrkhanna

With his Greek god looks, it's not a guess that Rahul Khanna belongs to the former category.

Did he really wake up like this? Picture courtesy: Instagram/mrkhanna

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Though he was last seen in the 2013 movie, Fireflies, we have been missing the actor on the big screen for some time now. Thankfully, the actor's strong social media presence makes up for it. With his drool worthy looks and chic sense of style, he keeps wooing fans on social media. His Snapchat game only seems to be getting better (and hotter) by the day.

Also read: Sonam Kapoor celebrated her birthday like a true fashionista; by walking the runway



His pictures on Instagram can make any girl diligently follow, and then stalk him forever Picture courtesy: Instagram/mrkhanna

And his pictures on Instagram can make any girl diligently follow, and then stalk him forever. Don't say later that we didn't warn you beforehand!

Those looks. Do we need to say more? Picture courtesy: Instagram/mrkhanna

Seriously, this suave actor's pictures are a clear proof of the fact that age is but a number.

With his drool worthy looks he keeps wooing fans on social media. Picture courtesy: Instagram/mrkhanna With his drool worthy looks he keeps wooing fans on social media. Picture courtesy: Instagram/mrkhanna

--- ENDS ---
In an exclusive interview with India Today, Sakshi Maharaj said that there are some "technical issues" which would be resolved soon.

BJP will get 2/3rd majority in the UP Assembly election, said Sakshi Maharaj.

By Ashok Singhal: With the crucial Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh a few months away, parties already begun preparations. In a statement aimed at raking up the old topic of Ram Mandir construction in Ayodhya, controversial BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj has said that "no power in the could prevent the construction of the temple."

In an exclusive interview with India Today, Sakshi Maharaj said that there are some "technical issues" which would be resolved soon.

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HERE'S WHAT THE BJP MP SAID:

On Ram Mandir

You need not worry about Ram Mandir. We are getting support from Muslims as well. Over 60 lakh Muslims have already pledged their support to the cause. I don't think anyone will object to our plans.

Sakshi Maharaj now wants people with more than 2 kids barred from voting

There are some technical issues but they will be resolved soon. The temple will be constructed in Ayodhya and no power in the world can stop this. And I am telling you the temple will be constructed in the Modi government's reign.

On Ramakant Katheria's 'saffronisation of education is good' remark

The media is misquoting Katheria. You must understand that saffron denotes nationalism while jihad means terrorism. I haven't heard what Katheria actually said, so, I can't criticise him. There should not be any comparison between saffronisation and separatism.

On projecting a CM face in UP

The BJP is a democratic party unlike Mulayam's Samajwadi Party and Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party. There is no dearth of competent faces within the party but the final decision will be taken by the Parliamentary Board. Whosoever is projected as the CM candidate, the person will have full support of the party cadre. We will get 2/3rd majority in the Assembly election.

Women in Islam no better than footwear, says BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj

On Varun Gandhi's candidature

I don't know what are your sources. I haven't heard any party leader saying anything about it.

On Kairana

The Samajwadi Party government has failed completely in Uttar Pradesh. Everyone saw what happened in Mathura. Ram Vriksh Yadav almost succeeded in his nefarious aims under the patronage of state government. The SP government has a history of providing benefits to the people on the basis of religion. Mayawati, Congress all are responsible for the religious divide that exists in the state. I want to ask the government - who forced over 300 people to leave Kairana? I humbly request CM Akhilesh Yadav to provide such an environment that those who left Kairana return. And if you fail, the matter can have far-reaching affects for which neither Sakshi Maharaj nor the BJP will be responsible.



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Sadhvi Prachi dares Kher to send her, Yogi Adityanath to jail

'No one can stop Ram temple construction'

BJP MP Yogi Adityanath had yesterday said that no one can stop Ram temple from being constructed.

"When they could not stop kar sewaks from demolishing the Babri mosque, how will they be able to stop us from carrying out construction," the BJP MP from Gorakhpur had said.

Also Read:

US minorities watchdog names Amit Shah, Sakshi Maharaj in report slamming Modi govt on tolerance



Yogi Adityanath hits back at Anupam Kher, calls him a real life villain



--- ENDS ---
This year's iftar party, though second of a first-of-its-kind initiative by the RSS, is claimed to be truly international in flavour owing to the expected participation in large numbers from foreign representatives.

The iftar party, an initiative by the RSS, will see more participation from foreign countries this year.

By Siddhartha Rai: In what appears to be a significant move to shed the RSS's 'anti-Muslim' image, ambassadors from nearly 140 countries - Muslim and non-Muslim 'allies' of India are invited by a Sangh Parivar organisation to attend an international Roza iftar party at Parliament House Annexe on July 2.

FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND

Organised by RSS propped Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), a body of Muslims patronised by Sangh pracharak Indresh Kumar, Pakistan too has been on the invitee list.

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This year's iftar party, though second of a first-of-its-kind initiative by the RSS, is claimed to be truly international in flavour owing to the expected participation in large numbers from foreign representatives.

According to Kumar, the move should not be seen as a political ploy, rather a way to profess to the world that in times of communal strife India is a country where all religions and shades of people have co-existed in harmony.

"The MRM, which is an organisation of - and for - Muslims, have organised this mega international iftar party. Muslim intellectuals from across the country would be participating in this event, apart from representatives from Muslim as well as non-Muslim countries.The aim is to tell the world that Indian-ness and the Indian culture are an umbrella under which people from all nationalities and religions live with equal rights and dignity.India is a symbol of world peace," Kumar told MAIL TODAY.



SPIRITUAL WAVES OF PEACE

"The last Prophet had himself said that in times of internal and external disturbances, the spiritual waves of peace and calmness come from the east, from India.

He said this nearly 1,400 years ago. India is a ray of hope and peace for the Muslim world. I hope this is the line of approach of all the speakers at the party," Kumar added.

The RSS pracharak, however, distanced the Sangh from the event. "It is being organised by Muslims and for the Muslim community. The Sangh does not organise iftar and this is not being done by the RSS either," Kumar said.

Meanwhile, MRM chief Mohammad Afzal too talked to MAIL TODAY, claiming this time the scale and canvas of this year's iftar had been expanded way over the last year's event. "This time we have invited ambassadors from over 140 countries, including Pakistan.

Also, the intellectual cream of the community in India would be attending, such as IAS, IPS officers and vice-chancellors as also the Vice-President of India. We will be going and meeting them in person to extend our invitation. Not just Muslim, but non-Muslim allies and friends of India have been invited," he said.

Afzal also said members of PM Narendra Modi's Cabinet would be taking part in the event, apart from representatives of the RSS.

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"We want to dispel the propaganda that Muslims are not happy or at peace in India. We want to give the message to the world that this (Modi) government is a good government for Muslims. It reflects a new chapter of global harmony being written by the Prime Minister. It will be dubbed politically, but then that is precisely what we want to counter," Afzal said.

Also read:

Aus PM regrets inviting anti-gay Islamic preacher to iftar



7 ways to eat dates this Ramazan



--- ENDS ---
Shyamvar Rai, the main approver in the Sheena Bora murder case, was made the main approver by a special CBI court in Mumbai today.

By Mustafa Shaikh: Special CBI court on Monday accepted the plea of driver Shyamvar Rai to turn approver in the case after which he will make revealations about Sheena Bora murder.



Rai, who can now depose as the main witness in the killing of the 23-year-old in 2012, told the court that he will "reveal everything" about the role played by him and the other accused in the case.

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WHAT HAS RAI REVEALED?

Last month, in a major twist, Rai expressed his desire to turn approver and sought the court's pardon in a two-page letter to the court from jail.

After he was summoned to the witness box and questioned by special CBI judge HS Mahajan, he admitted that Bora was strangled to death.

Rai was the first accused to be arrested in the case in August 2015, taking the lid off the murder, after he was picked up in connection with an arms case.

Arrested along with Indrani and her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna in August last year, Rai has been in continuous custody for the past nine months.

Last month in a two-page letter Rai had show willingness to become an approver. CBI in its reply on June 6 had said that they dont have any objection in Rai turning approver.

One of the defence lawyers claimed that it definitely calls for trouble for accused Indrani Mukherjea, Peter Mukherjea and Sanjeev Khanna.

"The case will be stronger agaisnt us after he disposes in the court. The advantage to accused depends on what statement Rai gave in his earlier statement agaisnt them. If his deposition in court is not consistent with the statement to the Magistrate, we can claim that he was pressurised to change the statements. Also it's been 10 months since he is in jail, but suddenly gave an application to turn approver raises doubts," the lawyer said.





HOW WAS SHEENA KILLED?



Rai has already confessed that he had witnessed the crime, and was present when Bora, Indrani's daughter from a previous relationship, was strangled and during subsequent developments culminating in the dumping of her half-burnt body in the dense forests of Raigad district, around 90 km south of Mumbai, in April 2012.

Sheena, 24, was reported to have disappeared mysteriously, but it later came to light that she was killed on April 24, 2012.

Her body was found on May 23 that year by the local police, but the crime remained unnoticed till August 2015 when the sensational murder case unfolded and forensic tests confirmed that the remains belonged to her.

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Among other things, certain financial deals are believed to be the motive behind Sheena Bora's killing, which the CBI is investigating.

The trio of Khanna, Rai and Peter Mukerjea is lodged in Arthur Road Central Jail, while Indrani Mukerjea is lodged in the Byculla Women's Jail.

ALSO READ | Sheena Bora murder: No objection to Indrani's driver Shyamvar turning approver, says CBI



--- ENDS ---
These dogs being trained by ITBP are experts in sniffing explosives and detecting improvised explosive devices.

The Special Protection Group has decided to double the strength of dog squad and has asked the Indo-Tibetan Border Police to train two batches a year.

By Abhishek Bhalla : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's security will get more canine power as the elite Special Protection Group (SPG) has decided to double the strength of its dog squad by the end of this year and has asked the Indo-Tibetan Border Police to train two batches a year. The "Crack K9 Wing" of SPG needs more dogs for PM'S security in wake of the heightened threat perception.

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These dogs being trained by ITBP are experts in sniffing explosives and detecting improvised explosive devices. The ITBP Chief, DG Krishna Chaudhary, has been told that there is an immediate need to train the third batch of SPG dogs in the highly-classified explosive detection module, in view of the heightened threat perception and activation of sleeper cells.

HOT DOGS

The SPG K9s, formed in 1984 by the then PM Rajiv Gandhi in the wake of the assassination of Indira Gandhi, entrusted to secure the life of PM and vital subjects, has once again requested the ITBP Chief, DG Krishna Chaudhary, to train the third batch of SPG dogs in the highly-classified explosive detection module, officials said.

A batch of SPG Labradors and German Shepherds have passed out from the ITBP's National Training Centre for Dogs ( NTCD) in June this year.

"Due to an urgent operational need to employ more trained dogs, SPG is seeking ITBP's help to bring their K9 wing at par with the ITBP 'Crack K9 dogs' who were the only ones selected by the US Marines to dove-tail with the Navy Seal Dogs during the visit of the US President in January 2015 and the French Premier in January 2016, in secret operations code named Op Obmo and Op French Toast, respectively," said a security official.

The next batch of dogs will begin training in July but security official did not want to divulge details of the exact numbers due to security concerns.

CANINE POWER

Earlier this year, a small batch was trained by ITBP following which another one was also sent to their dog training school in Bhanu near Chandigarh.

The dogs are enrolled in the grueling 24-week training programme when they are four months old and by the time they complete the training they can get the whiff of even a minuscule amount of explosive.

"Keeping in mind the changing dynamics of security the training methods modules are designed to keep pace. Not only sniffing but these ferocious dogs are trained for assault and reconnaissance patrols as well," said an official.

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The force has been successful in introducing and training Belgian Malinois, a breed that was used in the operation to hunt down Osama Bin Laden, for anti-Maoist operations.

ALSO READ:

SPG gets spl skills training for canine squad from ITBP



--- ENDS ---
Jayalalithaa declared that she would certainly succeed in her efforts to retrieve the 285 acre island on the Indian side of the maritime boundary and wished the DMK members stay well to see it happen in an oblique reference to arch rival and aging DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi.

By Amarnath K. Menon : An uninhabited island, off the eastern seaboard in the Bay of Bengal, Katchatheevu is a long standing contentious issue for the people of Tamil Nadu who are vocal and want it to be reclaimed from Sri Lanka. "I will certainly retrieve Katchatheevu", the Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa asserted on the floor of the state legislative assembly, on Monday, in keeping with her poll promise.

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WILL CERTAINLY RETRIEVE KATCHATHEEVU: JAYALALITHAA

She declared that she would certainly succeed in her efforts to retrieve the 285 acre island on the Indian side of the maritime boundary and wished the DMK members stay well to see it happen in an oblique reference to arch rival and aging DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi. Jayalalithaa, who has filed a case in the Supreme Court against the ceding of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka, alleged that the DMK was singularly responsible for the current imbroglio.

JAYA EXPOSES DMK IN ASSEMBLY

The DMK has in trying to score brownie points levelled allegations of earlier indifference against the Tamil Nadu chief minister by pointing out that the ruling AIADMK was the only party that failed to sign the resolution adopted in the all party meeting against the Indian government's decision to hand over the island and has failed to get it back even though she pledged to so while hoisting the national flag on Independence Day way back in 1991.

Jayalalithaa, who approached the Supreme Court, after exhausting all other options, maintained that the AIADMK has always demanded that the island which was recognized as Sri Lanka's after Independence be given back to Tamil Nadu. Now, she wants the resolution on Katchatheevu to be passed by both houses of Parliament for which she is now taking the lead. She pointed out the Supreme Court in 1960 stopped the government of India from conceding Berubari in West Bengal to Bangladesh on the ground that any part of a country could be given to another only after placing a Constitutional amendment in both houses of Parliament.

In trying to present the DMK as the villain of the piece, she said that "immediately after the all party meeting in 1974, the media persons brought to the notice of then chief minister Karunanidhi the decision of the Jan Sangh leader A.B. Vajpayee to approach the Supreme Court against conceding Katchatheevu. But Mr. Karunanidhi refused to make any comments."



KATCHATHEEVU ISSUE

Katchatheevu was ceded to Sri Lanka in violation under the 1974 and 1976 agreements without the approval of the two houses of Parliament. Though the DMK was part of both the BJP-led NDA government and the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, it never made use of its position to get back Katchatheevu. It did not also in 2008 implead itself in the petition she filed before the Supreme Court. Neither did it approach the court as there was a precedent.

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Yet, retrieving Katchatheevu remains a prestigious issue and a daunting task as it involves deploying boats and illegal fishing from and off a disputed land. But, for the moment, her latest assertion, like the earlier references by both the AIADMK and DMK, reminds politicians in the state from losing focus on the future of Sri Lankan Tamils.

--- ENDS ---
The authorities said that the students are wearing clothes, appropriate for going out to a party or to the gym or to a discotheque.

By Romita Datta: The Bar Council of India has imposed a dress code on the students of Hazra Law College in Kolkata. The Calcutta University affiliated college have asked boys to attend classes in black trouser and white shirt and girls either in white saree or salwar-kameez or in black and grey full-sleeved blouse.

This decision has left the law students livid. They argued with the college principal that since they will have to be in lawyers' garb, once they enter the professional life, they should be allowed to wear casual clothes during college days.

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STUDENTS CRITICISE DECISION

"Throughout our school life, we had to wear uniform and now they want to impose another set of uniform on us, which we find ridiculous," said Durba Bandopadhyay, a student.



However the authorities turned a deaf ear to the students' request. They counter argued that the students are wearing clothes, appropriate for going out to a party or to the gym or to a discotheque.

Fatwa on what women should wear is nothing new in West Bengal. It goes back to the Left Front regime when Asutosh College Principal, Subhankar Chakrabarty, in 2004 expressed displeasure over girls coming to college in fashionable salwar kameez. Though Chakrabarty was silenced by the higher education department, the issue of dress code kept on peeping behind the so called intellectual hemline of Bengal.

A series of government schools in Bengal kept on issuing diktats as to how teachers should come to schools. While in 2005, Bonhooghly Girls School expressed reservation against teachers wearing lipstick, danglers, bindi, eye make-up, schools such as Sarisha Ram Krishna Mission, Singur Golap Mohini Girls School wanted teachers to attend classes in white and thin bordered saree.

In 2015, Scottish College in Kolkata wanted its students to wear T-shirt without caption and writings. Short skirts, short pants, quirky hair style were a big no-no for girls. Boys were forbidden from wearing earrings, chin and other studs. The order came under the ire of students, teachers and people and it had to be withdrawn.



--- ENDS ---
The apex court has refused to put on hold the culling of vermin in Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand for damaging crops. Petitioners asked to give representations to their respective governments.

By India Today Web Desk: The Supreme Court today refused to put on hold the culling of nilgai in Bihar, monkeys in Himachal Pradesh and wild boars in Uttarakhand for damage to crops.

The apex court has asked the petitioners to give representation to their respective governments and the Centre about their objections. The court will begin hearing the matter from July 15.



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On December 1 last year, a Ministry of Environment and Forests notification declaring the crop-raiding antelopes (nilgai) to be 'vermin' had come as a godsend for farmers in Bihar who have struggled for years against the tenacious animals.



The ministry invoked the seldom used Section 62 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, to declare the blue bull and wild pig vermin in Bihar for a year. Following this, approximately 250 Nilgais were killed in six months by professional hunters.



The culling triggered a controversy when Minister for Women and Child Welfare Maneka Gandhi condemned the Environment Ministry as well as the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar for their "lust for killing animals".



Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar clarified, "There is a procedure to declare animals like blue bull and wild boar 'vermin' for a period of time."



West Bengal has been allowed to cull elephants while Goa kills peacocks, the ministry said as it defended its order.



Also Read:

Cull ho na ho: Here's why govt wants to kill Nilgai and monkeys



--- ENDS ---
According to police sources, the arrested top militant commander of Lashkar-i-Toiba is identified as Abu Ukasha.

By Ashraf Wani: Jammu and Kashmir police today arrested a top LeT militant from Sogam market in Lolab area of Kashmir's Kupwara district.

Here is all that we know so far

As per sources, a police team appeared in Sogam market around 7:00 pm today and detained a person. The apprehended person is believed to be the top militant commander of Lashkar-i-Toiba(LeT). Sources have confirmed that arrested Lashker commander is Abu Ukasha of Pakistan. One grenade and around 38 thousand cash has been recovered from him. Just after one hour of arrest, encounter started in near by forest of Sogam in Lolab valley of Kupwara district . Investigations into the case have been launched.

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--- ENDS ---
PM Modi, who has made as many as 40 foreign trips in the two years since taking charge, may soon get a taste of flying in the advanced aircraft fitted with the latest in technology.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is likely to finalize the deal of two new Boeing 777-300s in the Defence Acquisition Council meeting to be held on June 25. (Photo: Reuters)

By Manjeet Negi: The prime minister of India is set to get a brand new Air India One aircraft, much like US President Barack Obama's Air Force One. While the Indian prime minister has been travelling on an ageing Boeing 747 so far, Air India One's aircraft will be upgraded to a state-of-the art Boeing 777-300.

PM Modi, who has made as many as 40 foreign trips in the two years since taking charge, may soon get a taste of flying in this advanced aircraft fitted with the latest in technology.

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According to exclusive details available with Aaj Tak, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is likely to finalise the deal of two new Boeing 777-300s in the Defence Acquisition Council meeting to be held on June 25.

The VIP Boeing 747 jumbo jet, which has been serving VVIP's for two decades, will be replaced by a plush and highly-secure Boeing 777-300s which shall be renamed as Air India One.

With PM Modi high on the target list of various terror groups, the aircraft will be equipped with hi-tech security equipment.

Air Commodore Prashant Dixit (retired), a defence analyst, says the aircraft is made of special radar-absorbing metal. The plane is equipped with technology that can dodge enemy radar and also retaliate in case of an air attack.

Aircraft Specifications Equipped with the latest communication facilities Can withstand grenade and rocket attack Can dodge and jam enemy radar Anti-missile defence systems Its robust defence systems including radar warning receivers and missile-approach warning systems Can store food for 2,000 people Air-air refuelling facilities in case of emergency Doctors available 24x7 An operating theatre for emergency surgery Broadband, radio and telecom connections 19 TV sets A number of tools for official work The 777-300s will also have an executive office and bedroom

Also Read:

Amazing facts you didn't know about PM Modi's foreign visits





--- ENDS ---
By Nikita Bhalla: Procrastination is something that all of us do; the degree of it keeps differing. Procrastination is basically an act of sluggishness that prevents us from breaking bad habits and developing new, good habits. For an individual's overall well-being, being active is extremely important and procrastination leads to extreme cases of lethargy.

There are different kinds of procrastinators and each kind reacts differently to do away with their laziness. We spoke to Dr Ajay Phadke, CEO & Founder, Type a Thought, and learnt about the different kinds of procrastinators who are categorised into various profiles based on the following dimensions.

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" Whether quality of task is important to one

" Whether one likes to take decisions

" Whether one crumbles under pressure

" Whether what people say is important to one

" Whether one can take the heat of failure

" If one has a problem with getting started or getting done

Phadke told us, "According to Piers Steel, a professor at the University of Calgary's Haskayne School of Business in Canada, who spent more than a decade studying the science of dilly-dallying--Procrastination affects 95% of the global population some time or the other, while a quarter of are chronic procrastinators."

Here are the different types of procrastinators and the ways in which they beat their laziness.

The daring kind: This type of procrastinator starts working at the last minute and thinks that he/she works well under pressure. Their laziness makes them push work till the end and they tend to make errors due to haste. This group is more than happy, making important decisions about the project, and are fine by whatever quality of work, as long as it gets done.

Solution: People belonging to this type must get more organised by setting tighter deadlines. They could self-regulate their work performance by using reward-penalty method.

The hurdle kind: The hurdle kind also feels that they are good at handling pressure when working at the last minute. Individuals delay their work by putting obstacles in their own path which helps them get away from the task and its unpleasantness. When questioned about the delay of work, they easily get rid of the blame burden and pass it on to others. They do not worry a lot about what others say about them. These kind of procrastinators are happy letting other people take important decisions. Even with the hurdles, they like their work quality to be impeccable.

Solution: If you belong to this type, the only way to get out of this is to plan for obstacles. For example, you know that each time you take a break from work to browse Facebook, you lose 15 minutes of work time. Taking that into account, you must include the break time in your lunch hour so that you are prepared to finish the task in time.

The avoidant kind: The avoidant kind will try and avoid making any kind of decision. The main issue is that their fear does not let them get started. Also by avoiding, they need not fear failure or being judged by others. At the same time, they do not like to cut corners in their task, and so, deadlines become panic stations. They would want the quality of the task to be very good, but are not very good at handling stress and last minute pressure. They are usually happy with their work but are worried about what others will say.

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Solution: These individuals need to change or modify their self-talk. Talks like "I know some people will judge me no matter what and I will fail also sometimes, but that's fine. It won't be the end of the world as I will just learn from it."

The passing-the-buck kind: This type is very confused about choices so it would rather let others take decisions and the delay happens due to the confusion. They usually let other people take the heat for failure too. They are generally happy with their output but worry about what others say about them. Typically not cutting corners, this kind of procrastinators are prone to distraction and can't get started.

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Solution: There are two ways to work around this problem of choice--one way one is to do the biggest task first and then get to smaller ones and the second way is to divide the bigger job into smaller tasks and get on with them.

The perfectionist kind: This type wants their work to be perfect, which is not possible all the time. The delay happens as they try to make work more and more perfect so that they can save it from criticism. At the root of perfectionism, is anxiety. While these people don't have a problem getting started, the to-do list is just too long and unrealistic, therefore making them crumble under pressure. If you are a perfectionist, you could also be bothered by what others have to say. In order to make up for your perfectionist traits, you may let others take important decisions and keep yourself distracted in the meantime to keep anxiety at bay.

Solution: To beat procrastination, people belonging to this kind must develop SMART--Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound goals. It is not possible to avoid all mistakes, but it is definitely possible to learn from your mistakes and make yourself better at what you do.

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To overcome the lethargy and inculcate these habits into one's lives, one must be mentally strong and determined. Beating procrastination at the right time becomes crucial to maintain the much-needed mental wellness that you need to lead a healthy and happy life.

--- ENDS ---
Censor board troubles do not seem to die as a new Malayalam film Kathakali has been refused a certificate, following which the makers moved court against the board's directive.

More censor board trouble follows as makers of Malayalam film Kathakali, directed by Saijo Kannanaikkal, along with other filmmakers of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), protested outside the Central Board of Film Certification's regional office today against the board's decision to not certify the film. As Bollywood film Udta Punjab finally saw the light of the day after a public tussle between the CBFC, the court and the makers of Udta Punjab, the fresh controversy surrounding Kathakali has brought the debate on film censorship to the forefront again.

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ALSO READ: Shahid Kapoor thanks audience for supporting Udta Punjab, hails "honest and fearless cinema"

ALSO READ: Udta Punjab Movie Review



This comes after the makers had moved the Kerala High Court against the CBFC's decision. The court on Wednesday (June 15) issued a notice to the CBFC and the union government on the petition of the Kathakali makers.

The CBFC had demanded that a nude scene be cut off from the film's climax. The scene in question shows the protagonist walking away naked after shedding his Kathakali costume, which the director argues is a "symbolic representation".







Speaking on the censor board's decision, Saijo said, "There was nothing anti-national or sexual or offensive to women. It was a soulful scene of a man walking away. His rear is shown naked. It is a mid and long shot. A censor officer said they can't even give an 'A' certificate to the movie."

Kathakali is Saijo's first film.

In addition to the controversial scene, the CBFC also wanted the makers to delete the abusive word Kazhiveriyude Mone (Bastard) from the second reel as well as the scene of "undressing and beating character Dasan towards the end showing nudity".

"The censor officer did not even watch my movie," alleged Saijo.

Malayalam film director Rajasenan said, "It is not right to tell an artist what to show and how much. But the censor board is in place because of a fear that people will show whatever they want if there's no restriction."

Responding to the allegations, the board's regional officer A Prathibha said, "We have followed the certification rules. We had issued a notice after examining the film. They neither responded to it nor went for an appeal. They went straight to the public and media."

--- ENDS ---
By Devarsi Ghosh: Sudip Sharma, writer of Udta Punjab, cut his teeth in screenwriting in 2007, when he quit his plush corporate job and decided to delve into the world of films out of his love for cinema.

With back-to-back successes, 2015's NH10 and now, Udta Punjab, Sharma is quite the talk of the town.

ALSO READ: Shahid Kapoor thanks audience for supporting Udta Punjab, hails honest and fearless cinema

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ALSO READ: Udta Punjab continues its dream run at the box office

Both films were deeply rooted in the local culture and flavour of North India and explored intense themes like patriarchy and power relations in the badlands of Haryana (Anushka Sharma-starrer NH10) and the menace of drug abuse in Punjab (Shahid Kapoor's Udta Punjab).

Sharma revealed his process of researching for Udta Punjab and writing the film to IndiaToday.in.

Excerpts from the interview:

(SPOILER ALERT: The conversation has references to the movie at several points. Please read only if you have watched Udta Punjab. Or if you don't plan on watching it.)

What was the genesis of Udta Punjab?

Abhishek (Chaubey) approached me to write a movie on drugs. I had already done some research on Punjab so I suggested to him to base the story in Punjab. That's where the problem is quite rampant and real. So, I travelled to Punjab and saw things first-hand.

How long did the research take and when did you begin writing the movie?

Three years ago. Research was done in few rounds. In the first round, I went to Punjab and met journalists, doctors, rehab centre officials, drug addicts, drug peddlers, policemen. I got an idea of the supply side, the law enforcement side, the addicts' point of view and so on. I wanted to get an idea of why it is happening in Punjab, how it is spreading, how it's being controlled and is there a way out?

A few months later, after we had written the first draft, Abhishek and I went there again to feel the story a little more in detail, see some of the places where we were setting it.

Once the script was done, we showed it to Vikram (Vikramaditya Motwane) who was a common friend. He loved it and agreed to come on board as producer.

ALSO READ: Udta Punjab Movie Review

In the course of the research, you have engaged with and run into many unsavoury characters. Did they realise you were writing a movie on them or that you could have exposed them?

The idea never was to expose anybody. We did not go there as sting journalists. Our objective was to get a grasp of the situation to help make our story better. While making a movie, you need to know your goal, and that is to make a movie.

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People were forthcoming while speaking. We acted like city idiots who have no clue of the ways of the world (laughs). The standard modus operandi of research is that you frame your questions and behave in such a way that makes the subject comfortable; so the way we were with a peddler, we were not with an addict. Also, people love to boast, talk big. That helped.

We didn't face any life-threatening situation, at least not as dramatic as anything in the movie. At the most, you would go to a village and they would ask you to leave. So, we would pack our camera and notebook and head to another village.







Did you anticipate the restriciton from various quarters while writing Udta Punjab?

I wrote the film with a very free mind, in what I would call my 'age of innocence'. Both NH10 and Udta Punjab were written in a period of eight to 10 months with a certain degree of fearlessness. We encountered the censorship issue during NH10's release. We negotiated over cuts and finally released it. But what happened this time; call them restrictions or shackles, was plain shocking.

Shahid Kapoor in a still from Udta Punjab

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How were you feeling throughout the controversy when there was a possibility that the film might not release?

The idea that Udta Punjab wouldn't release was too depressing a thought to even entertain, so we tried blocking it. But, at one point, it was a reality that it might not release.

My biggest emotion was that of shock. I was not able to make peace with the fact that here we have made an honest, responsible film, one that is pro-Punjab, made with love for Punjab, an anti-drugs film, so we were asking ourselves where did we go wrong? When the CBFC objected, we wondered whether our instinct was right in the first place, whether I really have it all sorted as a writer because I don't know the difference between good and bad. When you start questioning your career, the very basics that make you a writer, that self-doubt gets difficult to handle.







What were your references for Tommy Singh and Alia's characters?

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In isolation, the rockstar-with-drug-issues is a tropey-character. But, when you put that into the thriving, indigenous Punjabi pop music scene, which is cinematically a new and fresh world, it comes alive.

Alia's character came out of research. There are numerous migrant labourers from Bihar, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, toiling day in and day out in the fields of Punjab. I wanted to tell the story of one such nameless, faceless, marginalised subaltern character that mainstream cinema usually doesn't deal with.

One of the most haunting scenes in the movie is where Tommy is in jail. Was it based on something you saw or heard?

I heard the story from an addict about this boy who killed his mother, went to prison, came out, got into severe depression and then committed suicide. It is not something you hear every day and it is hard to forget. While writing, we needed this moment from where Tommy starts questioning his entire life and purpose. This story made it more tragic and memorable.

Diljit Dosanjh in a still from Udta Punjab

Was the toilet scene a nod to Trainspotting and was the hyperlink nature of the script trying to ape Stephen Gaghan's Traffic screenplay?

I had seen Trainspotting a long time back and had forgotten about the toilet scene while writing; so, no. But maybe it was a subconscious thing.

The hyperlink argument is right. We wanted the stories to connect at some point and we were teasing the audience towards it in various ways such as the surreal cut from underwater where Alia swims towards the light and it cuts to Shahid's face.

There have been complaints that the romantic angle between Sartaj (Diljit Dosanjh) and Preet (Kareena Kapoor Khan) was jarring.

We wanted the script to have some ray of hope, some amount of lightness because the story was so dark and heavy. It did not, however, take you away from the plot. Not like we cut away to a song suddenly. The Sartaj-Preet story was embedded into the plot.

The audience I watched the film with laughed at inopportune moments, for example, when Alia's character recounts her experiences of rape. After the screening of a film which dealt with so many things, all that the men walking out of the theatre were going gaga over was "Arey yaar kaisa mast beh**c**d bola". What do you think is wrong with us?

There can be two reasons for this. One is because people tend to laugh out of nervousness, let out a giggle, if there is something uncomfortable around. We saw this during NH10's screening. Another is that the Indian audience is not used to cuss words in cinema, as opposed to in real life, so we laugh. I remember when I saw Bandit Queen as an 18-year-old, with my school friends, people laughed in the middle of the most darkest, disturbing scenes. But while walking out of the theatre, I could see that they were affected. They were touched somewhere. The laugh is just a show of nothing-affects-me kind of machismo.







Any directorial aspirations?

Not really. Writing is a specialised job, which needs a lot of dedication and I want to stick to it. Thinking of making movies will take me away from that. Also, I don't want to deal with the nonsense a director has to handle like budget, production, actors, dates, etc.

Favourite screenwriters?

William Goldman, Aaron Sorkin, Shane Black, Coen Brothers, Vishal Bhardwaj, Anurag Kashyap, Navdeep Singh and Abhishek Chaubey.

Any advice to budding screenwriters in Mumbai and all over India?

Find stories that really interest you, that would leave you with a vacuum inside if you couldn't tell them. In this town, we write scripts really fast, without spending time on them. Spend time on stories and find the right collaborator.



--- ENDS ---
The PCPNDT monitoring cell in Lucknow has cancelled the license of Dr. Amit Ultrasound center and now a drive will be conducted across Uttar Pradesh to nab such ultrasound centers that are engaging in the illegal practice of sex-determination.

By Siraj Qureshi: Acting on the story done by India Today on illegal sex-determination racket flourishing in Agra , the PCPNDT monitoring cell in Lucknow has cancelled the license of Dr. Amit Ultrasound center and now a drive will be conducted across Uttar Pradesh to nab such ultrasound centers that are engaging in this illegal practice. Any center engaged in such activity will be shut down immediately and its operators would be sent to jail under the PCPNDT act.

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Agra Chief Medical Officer Dr. B S Yadav said that the doctors connected to Dr. Amit Gupta are also being tracked down and for that, the diary maintained by Dr. Amit is expected to come handy. The diary lists all the doctors connected to this illegal trade, but since it was in code, an expert from Lucknow has been called to decode this diary and help in the arrest of the culprits.

SOCIAL CRIME

Social activist Deep Sharma told India Today that besides being a crime in the eyes of the law, sex-determination of an unborn foetus is also a social crime, yet a lot of people all over India are engaging in this illegal act in the hope of a male child. He said that such corrupt doctors have given rise to incidents of female foeticide as abortion is the first step most such men take when they discover that the unborn child their wife is carrying is a girl. He said that if such doctors are given strict punishment for their crime, this practice will soon come to an end.

--- ENDS ---
At one point of time, all that was visible in the drowned Venezuelan town of Potosi was a church spire sticking out of a lake. But now, after 30 years, the town has re-emerged owing to severe drought caused by El Nino.

By India Today Web Desk: In 1984, locals living in Potosi a Venezuelan town in western Tchira state, were forced to leave their homes when the government of the former president, Jaime Lusinchi, decided to deliberately flood the town to build a hydroelectric dam .

At one point of time, all that was visible in the drowned Venezuelan town of Potosi was a church spire sticking out of a lake.

Photo:Flickr/Alyona Bestuzheva

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But, now, after nearly three decades of being submerged, the town has resurfaced, owing to the El Nino weather phenomenon.

El Nino is a global climate phenomenon that occurs when a huge warm patch of water forms in the western tropical Pacific Ocean. The destructive climatic condition affects rainfall from western US and South America to Africa, India, Indonesia, and Australia.

This extreme weather condition dried out most parts of Venezuela as well.

But, the effect of El Nino in the quaint town of Potosi, with a population of barely 1,200 people, was remarkable to say the least.

The store, hospital, school, square and church tower, all of it stood strong, despite being submerged under water for years. And so, the town came to be known as a 'magical' place, a gate to paradise.

Local government posted some spectacular archival photos of the town from before and after it disappeared underwater. The water levels in the town began to steadily drop from 2003, and the last time it completely emerged from water was in 2010.

Photo: tachira.gob.ve

Today, the entire facade of the church is in full sight, with cows grazing on vast stretches of the grassland exposed due to the drought. Hundreds of tourists and resident throng to relive memories of the lost town.

Watch the video below:





--- ENDS ---
By PTI: Los Angeles, Jun 19 (PTI) Scientists have designed the worlds first microchip containing 1,000 independent programmable processors, that can compute upto 1.78 trillion instructions per second and is thought to be the fastest ever designed at a university.

The energy-efficient "KiloCore" chip contains 621 million transistors, researchers said.

"To the best of our knowledge, it is the worlds first 1,000-processor chip and it is the highest clock-rate processor ever designed in a university," said Bevan Baas, professor at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), who led the team that designed the chip architecture.

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While other multiple-processor chips have been created, none exceed about 300 processors, researchers said. Most were created for research purposes and few are sold commercially.

Each processor core can run its own small programme independently of the others, which is a fundamentally more flexible approach than the Single-Instruction-Multiple-Data approaches utilised by processors such as graphics processing unit (GPU).

The idea is to break an application up into many small pieces, each of which can run in parallel on different processors, enabling high throughput with lower energy use, Baas said.

Since each processor is independently clocked, it can shut itself down to further save energy when not needed, said Brent Bohnenstiehl, graduate student at UC Davis, who developed the principal architecture.

Cores operate at an average maximum clock frequency of 1.78 GigaHertz, and they transfer data directly to each other rather than using a pooled memory area that can become a bottleneck for data.

The chip is the most energy-efficient "many-core" processor ever reported, Baas said.

For example, the 1,000 processors can execute 115 billion instructions per second while dissipating only 0.7 Watts, low enough to be powered by a single AA battery.

The KiloCore chip executes instructions more than 100 times more efficiently than a modern laptop processor.

Applications already developed for the chip include wireless coding/decoding, video processing, encryption, and others involving large amounts of parallel data such as scientific data applications and data centre record processing.

The team has completed a compiler and automatic programme mapping tools for use in programming the chip. PTI MHN AKJ UZM

--- ENDS ---
A study published in the International Journal of Engineering Sciences and Research Technology concluded that even the expensive water treatment plants were incapable of treating the polluted water, and that the water was unfit for any purpose.

The study also found major groundwater pollution in the Yamuna riverbed.

By Neetu Chandra Sharma: With its status close to 'dead', the Yamuna river in Delhi sees no signs of healing. The water is toxic and unfit for any purpose even after treatment, a study has revealed.

WATER TREATMENT PLANTS INEFFECTIVE

"Even expensive water treatment technologies are incapable of treating the polluted river water. And, the conventional water processes based on chemical filtration and biological treatment are not suitable for removing the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)," stated the study published in International Journal of Engineering Sciences and Research Technology.

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Researchers collected and tested water samples from the Najafgarh drain, a nursing home drain out, the stream of Yamuna near the Nizamuddin Bridge, Okhala barrage, near the origin of Agra canal - all of which flow into the Yamuna.

POLLUTED WATER SUPPLIED FOR IRRIGATION

It was noted that an alarming amount of polluted water gets supplied to the Agra canal for irrigation in agricultural lands of 638 villages.

"We investigated the impact of urban runoff on the water quality of the Yamuna river in Delhi, which flows into the Agra canal and is used for irrigation purposes. Results showed drastic variations in each of the water samples after treatment," said R S Dubey, Department of Applied Chemistry, Amity University, Noida, the author of the study.

HERE IS WHAT THE STUDY SAYS "Water pollution levels are higher by multiples than the limit prescribed by the pollution control authorities for irrigation. The water quality of Yamuna is polluted and not suitable for any other purposes," Dubey said. Water samples were analysed for various physiochemical parameters such as pH, total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), total alkalinity (TA), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), chloride, sulphate, nitrate, toxic metals, and microbial population (MP) levels by following the standard method. The water quality was good along areas where the river enters Delhi before the Wazirabad barrage. While the optimum pH for river water is around 7.4, the study found that mean pH of the Yamuna water varies from 7.5 to 11.8 at different sampling points. Where BOD levels are high, DO levels decrease because the oxygen that is available in the water gets consumed by the bacteria. "An experimental observation shows the DO as zero. The type of water in Delhi falls under 'dead water quality', thereby making it unfit for irrigation or any other domestic or industrial purpose," said Dubey. "Most of the rivers in the urban regions are the end points of waste water discharged from households and industries, which create major problem for river water quality management. The wastewater discharges contribute to significant river water degradation, reduce agricultural products quality, land fertility and ultimately affect public health," he said. The study also found major groundwater pollution in the Yamuna river bed. The researchers have recommended industrial and untreated sewage waste to be checked immediately. Commercial establishments on the Yamuna river bank must be monitored strictly by appropriate authorities and the they should change the present sewage treatment technology as soon as possible.

Also Read:

Delhi govt lifeguards dive into toxic Yamuna without body suits, oxygen masks



Fast-track Yamuna boat service project: Gadkari to officials

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By PTI: Ranchi, Jun 19 (PTI) Jharkhand Governor Droupadi Murmu today said yoga helps in development of mind and body, besides engineering a stress-free life.

"Everyone is under stress; every person wants to be stress-free and only yoga can make (you) stress-free," Murmu said.

She said the art also helps in development of mind and body, besides assisting development in character.

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Addressing at the Yogada Satsang Ashram here ahead of the International Yoga Day, she said yoga was for everyone and reflected "Sarve Bhabantu Sukhino (let everyone remain happy)."

Stating that the aim of Yoga "is to connect body with the soul and the soul with the Supreme Soul", she said like rivers ultimate journey is towards the Sea, the souls is the Supreme soul.

Appreciating Paramhans Yogadanand, Ramakrishna Mission, Bramhakumari Eswariya Vidyalaya and Patanjali for their efforts in taking yoga to the people, Murmu said the objective for a healthy India could happen only by taking to yoga.

Murmu thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for highlighting yoga. PTI PVR SUS IKA

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By Indo-Asian News Service: China's new supercomputing system Sunway-TaihuLight was on Monday named the world's fastest computer at the International Supercomputing Conference in Germany.

The National Supercomputing Centre was also unveiled simultaneously in China's Jiangsu province, where the new-generation supercomputer is installed, Xinhua news agency reported.

With processing capacity of 125.436 petaflops (PFlops) per second, which means it can perform quadrillions of calculations per second at peak performance, Sunway-TaihuLight is the first supercomputer to achieve speeds in excess of 100 PFlops.

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The computing power of the supercomputer is provided by a China-developed many-core CPU chip, which is just 25 square cm.

"It would take 7.2 billion people using electronic calculators 32 years, or two million desktop computers working together for one minute, to do the same calculation the computer can solve in just 60 seconds," said Yang Guangwen, head of the centre.

Installed inside the centre's 1,000-square-metre computer room, Sunway-TaihuLight is composed of 40,960 processors.

In addition to its speed, it is much more energy-efficient than its predecessor Tianhe-2, which was the world's best supercomputer for six years. One watt of electricity can support six billion calculations by Sunway-TaihuLight, which is just a third of the energy consumption by the China-developed Tianhe-2, which registered 33.86 PFlops per second, for the same calculations.

However, other countries are advancing their own supercomputing prowess, said Fu Haohuan, deputy head of the centre.

The US aims to produce a supercomputer with 1,000 PFlops per second by 2025. At its current speed, by 2017, it is expected to have designed a supercomputer with speed three to five times that of Tianhe-2.

"Although speed is a primary target, controlling the energy level is just as vital. Otherwise, future supercomputers will consume power equivalent to the amount used by a middle-size city," said Fu.

China has channelled 1.8 billion yuan ($273 million) to support the development of Sunway-TaihuLight, about one third of which was from the central government and the other two thirds was shared by the Jiangsu provincial and Wuxi municipal governments.

China's supercomputing technology on Monday was also included on the shortlist of the German Innovation Award's Gottfried Wagnner Prize. This was the first time that China has been included on the shortlist. The winner will be announced later this year.

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In January this year Google and India Railways rolled out free WiFi at Mumbai Central. Since then the service has reached 19 stations and is now used by over 1. 5 million Indians.

By Javed Anwer: In January this year Google and India Railways rolled out free WiFi at Mumbai Central. Since then the service has reached 19 stations and is now used by over 1. 5 million Indians.

"Last week we rolled out the network at four of India's largest stations -- Sealdah, Lucknow Jn, Lucknow and Gorakhpur Jn -- and we are delighted to share that 1.5 million Indians are now enjoying the high-speed broadband experience across 19 stations," said a Google spokesperson. "At this scale, this is India's shining example of a project that is contributing in bridging the digital divide by making high-speed broadband Wi-Fi network more easily accessible to millions of Indians who cross these stations."

Also Read: All Indian train stations where free Google Wi-Fi is available

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According to Google, the free Wi-Fi that the company is providing using the RailTel infrastructure is very popular in Tier 2 cities. "We saw 100,000 users connect to the network within a week of launch at Mumbai Central and as we started rolling out the network at more stations, we saw exponential jump in the consumption of the network," the company spokesperson said. Apparently the poor state of broadband in smaller towns of India is ensuring that people connect to the railway stations Wi-Fi more often.

"Our data reveals that usage in Bhubaneshwar overtook Mumbai central within a day of the launch, and we're seeing similar usage patterns emerge in tier 2 cities like Patna, Jaipur, Vishakhapatnam. Per capita consumption of data in tier 2 cities far exceeds the consumption we are seeing in tier 1 cities," said the spokesperson.

Also Read: Google's free Wi-Fi service now available at 10 Indian railway stations

Google said that mostly the internet connection is being used for infotainment purposes or in other words YouTube etc. However, in some cities it has also seen significantly different usage pattern. "We see a lot of users in Tier 2 cities use the network to look up and apply for jobs online. Bhubaneswar and Pune see lots of students come to the stations to look for up information related to educational courses, exam results, downloading software and upgrading their phone apps," said the spokesperson.

Although Google and the Indian Railways had announced the project earlier in 2014, it created the real buzz when Google CEO Sundar Pichai, while visiting Delhi in December 2014, announced that the first station with Google and RailTel Wi-Fi will come online in January 2015.

Google's plan is to offer this Wi-Fi network in at least 100 Indian railway stations. Also compared to the free Wi-Fi offered at airports etc, the quality of RailTel Wi-Fi is really good with users reporting hassle-free process to connect to the network and speeds of up to 5mbps.

Also Read: All Indian train stations where free Google Wi-Fi is available

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The decision was taken at a high-level meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

By India Today Web Desk: Cupertino major Apple has been looking to open its exclusive Apple Stores - a one stop destination for all things Apple - in India for over a year now. The government of India just ensured that it can. The Indian government has decided to tone down its foreign direct investment rules as well as allow 100% FDI in single-brand retail trading in the country among other sectors.

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The decision was taken at a high-level meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

"It has now been decided to relax local sourcing norms up to three years and a relaxed sourcing regime for another five years for entities undertaking Single Brand Retail Trading of products having 'state-of-art' and 'cutting edge' technology," said a press release from the Prime Minister's office.

Also Read: Is this why India rejected Apple's refurbished iPhone plan?

Apple had sought exemption from India's local sourcing norms after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had apparently turned down its offer to sell refurbished iPhones -- phones that have been previously returned to the manufacturer -- in the country.

The company had, until now, been relying on distributors such as Redington and Ingram Micro to sell its products in the country. Monday's events will add India to the long list of countries where Apple sells its products through exclusive retail stores that are concerned with both selling as well as after-sales services. These include China, Germany, the US, the UK and others.

The move will also benefit Chinese tech honchos like Xiaomi and LeEco, that have been vying to open their own exclusive stores in the country.



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Although not promising a true night vision, the device is described in the patent to improve sight under low light by tricking the brain to focus on high contrast imagery.

By Indo-Asian News Service: US tech giant IBM has patented an eye wear like Google Glass that will have red-eyed night vision capabilities, a media report said.

Although not promising a true night vision, the device is described in the patent to improve sight under low light by tricking the brain to focus on high contrast imagery.

"IBM's Google Glass modifications include a sensor and 'a comparator device' designed to detect and contrast light intensity. When the light intensity drops below a set level, a pair of projectors -- one for each eye -- bathe the user's eyes in red light," a report in International Business Times (UK) said.

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The patent claims the effect is similar to that of dark rooms used in photography or the red-tinted glasses worn by some airline pilots.

Dark environment with a red tinge cause the rod cells, which are the photoreceptors in our eye, to send high contrast images to the brain.

When the user enters a low-light environment, the projector automatically projects a low-level red light in to each eye of the user.

Shining red light directly into the eyes creates the same response rods as casting red light onto an environment. Which means it tricks the rod cells into sending higher contrast images to the brain.

However, the company also issued a health warning.

The patent read: "The wearer of current glasses such as Google Glass is subject to the risk of a phenomena referred to as binocular rivalry and phoria -- a latent deviation or misalignment of the eyes that appears when both eyes are no longer looking at the same object."



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The TV's "Mosquito Away Technology" uses ultrasonic waves that are inaudible to humans but cause mosquitoes to fly away.

By Reuters: The Indian arm of South Korea's LG Electronics Inc has begun selling a TV with a feature that it says repels mosquitoes, which can spread diseases such as malaria, Zika and dengue.

The TV's "Mosquito Away Technology" uses ultrasonic waves that are inaudible to humans but cause mosquitoes to fly away, according to the company. It was released in the country on Thursday, LG said.

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The same technology, which was certified as effective by an independent laboratory near Chennai, India, has been used by LG in air conditioners and washing machines, the company said.

The technology, which also functions when the TV is switched off, is available in two models, priced at 26,500 rupees and 47,500 rupees ($394 and $706).

The TV is targeted at lower-income consumers living in conditions that would make them vulnerable to mosquitoes.

It will go on sale next month in the Philippines and Sri Lanka. Kim Sang-yeol, an LG Electronics official, said there are no plans for now to market it elsewhere.

The company began developing the set before the outbreak of the Zika virus in Latin America, which has fueled concern over safety at the Olympic Games set to begin in August in Rio de Janeiro.

LG said on its website that the TV is not intended to replace other mosquito-deterrent devices.

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By Reuters: A Belgian hospital has just welcomed its newest staff member: Pepper, a humanoid robot that speaks 19 languages.

Developed to improve social and health care by the Belgian company Zora Bots, Pepper joined the medical team as a receptionist at Ostend hospital AZ Damiaan.

Pepper will introduce visitors to the hospital, provide information and guide visitors and patients to the correct floor and room.

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With a speed of just 3 km/h (1.8 mph), Pepper is also able to guide slower patients. Fully charged, it can work for up to 20 hours on its own.

"The robot itself is a meter 20 high, so it is not like Arnold Schwarzenegger with a leather jacket and an 'I will be back' robot," said Zora Bots' co-chief executive, Fabrice Goffin. "It is a quite nice robot and the reactions are positive for the moment."

Also Read: Google's Schaft robot can walk like us. Almost

During the first week, Pepper was mainly used on the hospital's maternity department.

Bieke Vandeputte, the mother of a newborn baby, was amazed.

"it is another way of making contact and maybe it is reassuring that it is a robot for some people," she said. "The baby was really sure. He did not mind putting his hands on it. It did not frighten him so I think it will be important. Especially for children."

Pepper is not the first

Also Read: Asus Zenbo robot is as cute as it is smart

robot used at the AZ Damiaan hospital, but it is the first to communicate with patients and to have the ability to guide them.

Before the arrival of Pepper, the staff had already worked with a predecessor, Zora, for about a year. Zora is smaller and slower than Pepper and used mainly in physical therapy classes.

At a price of 30,000 euros, Pepper is expensive. So far, only Japanese customers have bought one to use at home.



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Samsung is expected to put a 4K display in Galaxy S8 to use with VR, mow with the launch of Google's Daydream it seems feasible that a leading Android brand will try to make use of it.

By Manish Sain: Samsung is all set to unveil its flagship phablet Note 6 -- or will it be called Note 7 -- this year. According to recent reports, the Note 7 will be launched in August. While currently all the buzz, as far as Samsung's Galaxy is concerned, is about the leaked images and specifications of the Note 7, rumours about the Galaxy S8, which should come in first quarter of next year have also started doing rounds.

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A report by Android Headlines suggests that Samsung will launch Galaxy S8 at Mobile World Congress (MWC) next year. But that's not the big leak because that is a given. Samsung, for the last few years, have always launched the next Galaxy at the MWC. The news this time is that the next flagship phone will sport a dual-camera setup on the back and a 4K UHD display on the front.

The rumour of a 4K display fits in line with the recent announces from Samsung. The company recently unveiled 5.5-inch 4K UHD display during SID Display Week last month. The UHD display has a resolution of 3840 X 2160 pixels.

The report says that the company is probably coming up with such high-resolution display because of increasing popularity of virtual reality. Now with the launch of Google's Daydream it seems feasible that a leading Android brand will try to make use of it.

Daydream is Google's in-house project to deliver high quality mobile VR. "Together with Android manufacturers, we're working on upcoming phones, and sharing designs with them for a VR viewer and controller that will be really immersive, comfortable and intuitive to use," Google CEO Sundar Pichai said at the IO event last month.

Other than the 4K UHD display, the report also suggests that the Galaxy S8 will come with a dual-camera setup on the back. Not much is known regarding the dual-camera. But it is expected, due to a 4K display and increased camera requirements, the phone will also carry a bigger battery.

Considering the launch of S8 is still a while away, not many details are available on the innards of the flagship. However, the phone is rumoured to carry a Snapdragon 830 processor, which is still in production. The Snapdragon 830 will be more energy efficient than the current 820.

None of the reports offer any details about the screen size or design of the phone. Since both the last flagships, S6 and S7, shared similar designs, we can expect the company to take a step forward and deliver something new.

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Known as Rixi, the Lahore-based service hails rickshaws instead of cars. Its platform is not smartphones, but older SMS phone messaging that allows nearby drivers to bid for any user's business.

By Reuters: As taxi hailing giant Uber enters Pakistan, a little-known local competitor is counting on a mix of new ideas and old technology to tap what could be a big chunk of the market: low-income residents who travel in rickshaws, not cabs.

Known as Rixi, the Lahore-based service hails rickshaws instead of cars. Its platform is not smartphones, but older SMS phone messaging that allows nearby drivers to bid for any user's business.

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Pakistan has more than 130 million cellphone subscriptions, but only 21 percent subscribe to data packages, and, while the proportion is rising, there are opportunities across emerging economies in Asia to tap a relatively low-tech customer base.

In Thailand, Taxi Radio uses calls and text messages to put cabs and people in touch and is popular with those without smartphone apps, and HeyKuya!, an SMS-based service provider in the Philippines, was recently acquired by Indonesia's YesBoss.

Rixi founder Adnan Khawaja says his company works with more than 1,000 rickshaw drivers in Lahore, where many people rely on small, noisy three-wheelers that are well suited to beating traffic in the eastern city's crowded streets.

Rixi works by bypassing poor smartphone penetration in the low-income rickshaw market by polling drivers' locations using cellphone towers and matching passengers' messaged locations to points on Google Maps.

"If you look at ... Uber's operational model, they will be depending on the smartphones," said Khawaja. "In countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, that population is [...] growing, but it's still smaller compared to the vast market."

Uber declined to comment on Rixi's business model, and said that while it had tested SMS-based services, there were no immediate plans to deploy such a service in Pakistan.

"We continue to explore products that would stimulate demand ... and better service the city, whether that is a motorbike, whether that is a rickshaw, whether that is a chopper," said Zohair Yousafi, Uber's head of expansion in Pakistan.

To entrepreneurs like Shehmir Shaikh, who recently launched errand start-up Scooty Bhejo in Lahore, Uber is missing a trick over Pakistan's digital divide and its large, low-income transport market.

"Abroad, Uber has made waves because of the readily available technology that people are using, like iPhones in their hands," he said. "We don't have that here. (And) the major form of transport is not cars."

Roadblocks to success

Adam Ghaznavi, a technology entrepreneur who has studied the rickshaw market, thinks Pakistan will not necessarily be a large market for taxi ride hailing apps like Uber, but it could be very lucrative for an equivalent app for rickshaws.

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"If somebody can figure that out, the potential is huge," he said.

So far, Rixi says it has registered about 100,000 rides since it launched in late 2013, and is averaging about 100 rides a day. That's just a fraction of the roughly 200,000 trips that rickshaws in Lahore take every day, according to the Awami Rickshaw Union.

"Rickshaw drivers do not know anything about these (online apps)," said Majeed Ghauri, head of the union, which represents the drivers of 60,000 of Lahore's roughly 80,000 registered rickshaws. "They simply want their daily wages."

Ghauri said market dynamics and consumer behavior in the low-income market were markedly different from those in the taxi ride sharing arena.

Moreover, Rixi's location-tracking, reliant as it is on imprecise cellphone tower triangulation and Google Maps, has thrown up some major kinks.

Several customers complained that Rixi's service was unable to deliver on its promised 15-minute service delivery time.

"Even in the most densely populated cities in the country, the accuracy is no more than a few hundred meters, which is not good enough for a driver looking for a passenger," said Danielle Sharaf, a technology entrepreneur whose company provides value-added services for cellphones.

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Rixi says it has an error rate of only three percent, and says mismatches are because of its reliance on external services such as Google Maps.

Ghaznavi said a major hurdle to adoption in the Pakistani market is the lack of literacy, both traditional and digital, among rickshaw drivers and passengers, compared to those using taxi ride hailing apps.

"The rise of the middle class is the key to resolving the rickshaw situation. Right now, the middle class is not traveling on a rickshaw, the lower middle class is," he said.

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By India Today Web Desk: Chinese major Xiaomi makes many phones. A majority of its phones tend to break the price barrier in some form or the other. But, waterproofing is something that has always eluded its phones. And, if company CEO Lei Jun is to be gone by, things are just fine the way they are and will most likely stay that way, unless buyers are willing to pay 20-30% more for its phones.

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Lei Jun has gone on record to explain why Xiaomi phones don't come with waterproofing capabilities. For one, the feature doesn't essentially guarantee long-term safety. According to the Xiaomi boss, even a minor damage to the phone -- in the form of a crack or something by way of an accidental drop -- can render its waterproofing ineffective.

Secondly -- and more importantly -- waterproofing a phone will add to manufacturing cost -- up to 20-30% -- and that is something Xiaomi would like to avoid, considering it is known globally for its aggressive pricing. If however buyers are willing to pay that price, the company may think about building such a phone, Lei Jun hinted.

Also Read: Xiaomi to launch 6.44-inch Mi Max phablet in India on June 30

In another news, Xiaomi co-founder and president, Lin Bin has said that the company is planning to launch a new high-performance flagship -- probably the Mi Note 2 -- in July, according to a new report .



The Mi Note 2 is rumoured to have a curved screen, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 821 processor with 6 gigs of RAM under the hood and a dual-camera setup on the back.

Meanwhile, Xiaomi will launch its 6.44-inch Mi Max phablet in India on June 30. The Mi Max was recently announced in China at a starting price of RMB 1,499 (roughly Rs 15,333) for the 3GB RAM and 32GB storage variant with Snapdragon 650. Meanwhile, the 4GB RAM and 128GB of memory variant with Snapdragon 652 of the Mi Max costs RMB 1,999 (roughly Rs 20,451). It's not clear which of the variants or both will be heading to India.



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A comprehensive approach

Guaranteeing the right to abortion isnt enough. We know that economic, cultural, religious, and systemic barriers prevent many people from accessing abortion care even where its legal and available.

Our solution: We work across institutions and communities to build sustainable abortion ecosystems. In such an ecosystem, people have the information they need to make decisions about reproductive health, theres community and health-system support for human rights and abortion access, and laws and policies support full bodily autonomy.
[June 20, 2016] Univa Announces Support for New Intel Xeon Phi Processor With the Release of Grid Engine 8.4.0

ISC High Performance Conference, Booth 1216 - Univa, a leading innovator of workload management, today announced the release of Univa (News - Alert) Grid Engine Version 8.4.0 with preview support for the Intel Xeon Phi processor (formerly code-named "Knights Landing"), enabling enterprises to launch and control jobs on Intel (News - Alert) Xeon Phi processor-based systems. The update simplifies running and managing applications on Intel Xeon Phi processor-based clusters. "Grid Engine 8.4.0 has many significant updates including Docker support and integration with the new Intel Xeon Phi processor," said Bill Bryce, Vice President of Products at Univa. "This latest release will allow a user or administrator to schedule jobs so that the right business-critical jobs are prioritized over other workloads-thus maximizing shared resources and allowing Univa customers to gain velocity." Of the more than 80 key features updates, the major updates include: Support of Docker containers - Univa Grid Engine will automatically dispatch jobs to run in Docker containers from a user specified Docker image

System Profiling - Administrators can examine different aspects of Univa Grid Engine to determine if a type of job, configuration or infrastructure outside of Univa Grid Engine is causing issues and slowdowns. "As a key element of the Intel Scalable System Framework, the Intel Xeon Phi processor is set to change the face of Hgh Performance Computing, bringing unprecedented parallel processing capability into the compute socket," said Hugo Saleh, Director of Marketing, High Performance Computing Platform Group, Intel Corporation. "Grid Engine 8.4.0 will extend Univa's enterprise class job scheduling and monitoring capabilities to maximize the effective use of the Xeon Phi processor."



Univa Grid Engine Univa Grid Engine is the leading workload management system. The solution maximizes the use of shared resources in a datacenter and applies advanced policy management tools to deliver products and results faster, more efficiently, and with lower overall costs. The product can be deployed in any technology environment, including containers: on-premise, cloud or hybrid cloud. A variety of add-ons can be utilized to extend workload management capabilities and create a customized solution for any enterprise infrastructure. For more information, please visit www.univa.com or follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @Grid_Engine

Availability Univa Grid Engine 8.4.0 is available now and is in production in some of the world's most demanding environments. For more information, contact Univa at: [email protected]. To download a free trial go to: http://www.univa.com/resources/univa-grid-engine-trial.php. About Univa Corporation Univa is the leading innovator of workload management products that optimize performance of applications, services and users. Univa enables enterprises to fully utilize and scale compute resources across on-premise, cloud, and hybrid infrastructures. Advanced reporting and monitoring capabilities provide insights to make scheduling modifications and achieve even faster time-to-results. Univa's solutions help hundreds of companies to manage thousands of applications and run billions of tasks every day. Univa is headquartered in Chicago, with offices in Canada and Germany. For more information, please visit www.univa.com. Intel and Xeon Phi are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160619005001/en/

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[June 20, 2016] The Aspen Institute Launches New Website

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the Aspen Institute announced the launch of its new, flagship website. The brand new design was created with a diverse audience in mind and provides the flexibility and functionality expected in the modern online experience. The new site can be viewed here: www.aspeninstitute.org. "The launch of this website marks an important milestone," said Walter Isaacson, President and CEO of the Aspen Institute. "The ability to creatively and effectively share our ideas with a worldwide audience  and engage with them in conversations that matter  is the natural evolution of our mission." SITE HIGHLIGHTS Design: A modern and minimal design system, inspired by Bauhaus style principles, features mre images, videos, and graphics.

A modern and minimal design system, inspired by Bauhaus style principles, features mre images, videos, and graphics. Flexibility: A fully responsive interface that works seamlessly across platforms to broaden the conversation.

A fully responsive interface that works seamlessly across platforms to broaden the conversation. Finding & Sharing: An improved user experience includes enhanced search, social media sharing, and commenting capabilities.



Firstborn, a New York City -based strategic design and technology agency. "We captured the essence of The Aspen Institute brand and developed a platform by which it could be communicated to a larger audience in a more engaging and effective way," said Dan LaCivita, CEO of Firstborn. "The new site will foster an online community, while broadening the reach of The Institute and its ideas."

Firstborn is an award-winning strategic design and technology agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1997, we create experiences, products and content that build brands, grow businesses and transform categories. We deliver a wide range of services for clients such as PepsiCo, L'Oreal, All Nippon Airways, Supercell, HBO and American Express. The experiences we create are multi-platform, both on and offline, and, when working together, create the ultimate reflection of our client's brand. For more information, visit http://www.firstborn.com/. The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org. Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130417/DC96489LOGO To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-aspen-institute-launches-new-website-300287071.html SOURCE The Aspen Institute

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John Coffee Hays

Perhaps the most famous Texas Ranger was John Coffee Hays born on January 28, 1817. Not only was he a captain in the Texas Rangers who brought the Comanche Indians under control, he also fought with distinction in the Mexican-American War.

Hays was born at Little Cedar Lick, Wilson County, Tennessee. Andrew Jackson was his uncle and young John spent the majority of time in his formative years growing up at the Hermitage prior to Andrew Jackson winning the presidency.

At the very young age of 19, Hays moved to Texas. While in Texas Sam Houston appointed young John to become a Texas Ranger. It was perhaps the letter from Andrew Jackson, giving his nephew a great recommendation, that Houston accepted Hays into the Rangers.

Assuming a leadership position as Captain in the Rangers, Hays led the Texas unit in a campaign against the Comanche and other tribes in the area.

It would take the friendship of Chief Placido of the Tondawa tribe, along with 13 other scouts from the Tondawa faction to assist Hays track down a large Comanche war party. The battle of Plum Creek was a decisive engagement where the Comanche Indians were defeated.

Later, Hays commanded a force of Rangers against an invasion force from Mexico in 1842. During the Mexican-American War, that lasted from 1846 to 1848, Hays commanded the First Regiment of Texas Rangers at the Battle of Monterrey. Hays also led six companies of Rangers as they patrolled the northern and western frontier of Texas.

With General Winfield Scott being in command, Hays led the Second Regiment of Texas Rangers in the Mexico City Campaign. It was during this battle in Mexico that Hays' Rangers gained nationwide fame.

Following the Mexican-American War in 1849, Hays was appointed by the United States government as the U.S. Indian agent for the Gila River country in New Mexico and Arizona.

Along with his wife and son, Hays joined the migration to California. With Hays' background as an officer in the army it came as no surprise when he was elected sheriff of San Francisco County in 1850. Hays later became interested in politics and in 1853 was appointed U.S. surveyor general for California.

In California, Hays amassed a considerable fortune through real estate and ranching enterprises. Never one to rest on his good fortune he again entered political life and was elected as a delegate to the Democratic Party national convention. At the convention, the Democrats selected Samuel J. Tilden for the presidency. Tilden lost the election to the Republicans and Hays then began his retirement.

Hays died in California on April 21, 1883, at the age of 66. He is buried in Oakland, California.
MATTOON (JG-TC) -- Police officers are seeking public assistance in locating a Mattoon man wanted for questioning in regard to the fatal shooting of a woman early Saturday morning.

A Mattoon Police Department press release reported that information is being sought regarding the whereabouts of Shawn Dale Adamson, 33, of Mattoon. A shooting on Saturday between Adamson and another man in Mattoon resulted in the homicidal death of a woman, according to the release.

The police department reported on Saturday that James T. Shafer, 24, of Mattoon was arrested on a first-degree murder charge in connection with the fatal shooting at approximately 12:25 a.m. Saturday in the 300 block of South 21st Street. The Coles County Coroner's Office later identified the victim as Ciara J. Faires, 23, of Charleston.

According to the press release, Adamson is also wanted on a Coles County warrant of arrest for possession of methamphetamine. The police department reported that Adamson should be considered armed and dangerous. He reportedly frequents residences in Mattoon and Charleston, and has numerous associates from the Chicago area.

Crimestoppers will pay a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the apprehension of Adamson. Those who contact Crimestoppers never have to provide their name and will remain anonymous.

Leads can be offered by texting to 274637, logging on to colescountycrimestoppers.org, calling 866-345-8488, or contacting the Mattoon Police Department at 217-235-5451 or via the department's page on Facebook.
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Frontier Bank is pleased to announce that Tezra Greder, VP Residential Lending, has joined its expanding Lincoln team. Greder will assist clients with all their mortgage needs through a full suite of products including conventional fixed rate mortgages, adjustable rate mortgages, jumbo mortgages, VA and FHA mortgages and construction and lot financing. Greder brings more than a decade of professional experience to the position, including time spent as director of client relations for a local wealth management company.

"Tezra has a terrific professional background and is extremely knowledgeable in the area of customer service. Tezra will help our customers make smart home financing decisions and will have access to all the products in Frontier's portfolio to make the process successful and enjoyable," said Steve Schmidt, market president.

Tezra can be reached at 402-434-2510 or at tgreder@frontbank.com.

Frontier Bank is a provider of full-service banking solutions, serving the Lincoln community from its location at 84th & GlynOaks Drive with a second location opening this fall at Meridian Park, 70th & O Streets. With affiliates across Nebraska, Frontier Bank manages over $900 million in customer assets. For more information on Frontier Bank please visit: www.frontbank.com or call 402-434-2525.
Investment from foreign companies directly supports 10 percent of Nebraska's jobs and 12 percent of the state's gross domestic product, according to a report released Monday.

The report, from the Organization of International Investment, also shows that foreign direct investment is responsible for 30 percent of Nebraska's manufacturing jobs and pays 11.5 percent of the all wages in the state, largely due to higher salaries.

According to the report, the average salary for jobs supported by international companies pay an average annual salary of $74,000 in Nebraska, more than 40 percent higher than the state average of $52,000.

For the most part, foreign companies have a slightly smaller effect in Nebraska than nationwide. According to the report, foreign companies are responsible for 13.3 percent of U.S. jobs, 15.2 percent of total compensation, and 15.6 percent of total GDP.

To see the full report, go to: http://ofii.org/jobsweneed
Gov. Pete Ricketts reiterated Monday he has "absolute" confidence in state Department of Correctional Services Director Scott Frakes despite the escape of two inmates 10 days ago in Lincoln.

The two sex offenders were caught, but not immediately after the Friday morning prison break.

Armon Dixon was back in custody Saturday afternoon, after he allegedly assaulted two women in a northeast Lincoln apartment building. Timothy Clausen was captured five days later in Omaha.

On Monday, Ricketts said Frakes and his staff are working to reform the culture of the Corrections Department.

"And we've got a lot of work to do," he said.

A lot of issues that came out in a recently released cultural study of prison workers have to do with employee retention and training, and making sure the department attracts the right people.

"We're only going to be successful through our people, so we're going to be focusing on that," he said.

Last week, members of the Legislature's Department of Correctional Services Special Investigative Committee sent a letter to Ricketts asking his office to take immediate steps to hire and train additional Corrections officers.

They said the union representing prison employees has questioned whether the numbers are adequate for the number of inmates.

But throwing money at a problem doesn't solve it, Ricketts said.

"We need to take a methodical approach to how we address it," he said. "We've got the right leader in the form of Scott Frakes to be able to do that."

Also Monday, Sen. Kate Bolz of Lincoln, who serves on both the investigative committee and the Legislature's Appropriations Committee, explained that the Corrections Department could repurpose funds or allocate money for additional prison employees and then bring the Legislature a deficit request in September when department budget requests are due.

Another option would be to shift funds as the department decreases the number of state prisoners being held in county jails. The Legislature appropriated $5 million for that use.

"As we ratchet down the county jail program, I think those dollars could be used to ratchet up key security staffing," she said.

"Those are the two strategies I would suggest."

It's appropriate to rebalance the budget to meet emergency needs, she said, but it should be done in a way that's transparent and communicated to the Legislature.

Any other ideas from the department on how to accomplish the request would be welcomed by the Appropriations Committee, she said.

Ricketts' spokesman Taylor Gage said Frakes is in the process of finalizing a staffing analysis to augment his strategic plan and developing his next two-year budget request.

"The strategy the senator is suggesting is in direct contradiction to the law that she voted for as an appropriator, which prohibits redirecting the county jail funds for other purposes, he said.

Bolz said that, of course, the Legislature appropriates dollars for specific purposes. So any strategies, such as using money directed for housing state prisoners in county jails, should be done as much as possible as a partnership.
Deb Shelden's attorney, Paul Korslund, got appointed to represent her on a murder charge late on a Friday afternoon in April 1989, started working on it on the following Monday and pleaded her to aiding and abetting eight days later.

With the quick plea, Shelden became the first of the Beatrice 6 to fall, starting what the prosecutor, former Gage County Attorney Dick Smith, later would call the "domino effect."

By the end of the year, five others -- Joseph White, Ada JoAnn Taylor, Tom Winslow, James Dean and Kathy Gonzalez -- would be convicted for the rape and murder of a 68-year-old Beatrice widow in 1985.

In 2008, the case would unravel after DNA testing tied another man, Bruce Allen Smith, to Helen Wilson's brutal killing.

White's conviction was overturned, and Shelden and the others later earned pardons. Then, they all sued Gage County, then-Sheriff Jerry DeWitt and the deputies involved in the cold-case investigation.

The first trial ended in a mistrial after the jury deadlocked.

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court let an appeals court decision stand that said Gage County can be tried civilly for the investigation.

Representing Gage County, attorney Jennifer Tomka had filed a petition asking the high court to review an 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision last August reinstating the county.

In it, she asked the court to consider whether a Nebraska sheriff is a county policymaker for purposes of liability when supervising a criminal investigation if there is no evidence presented of a policy, custom or practice of unconstitutional conduct.

Without elaborating, the Supreme Court denied the petition in its Monday order, issued about the same time a second jury trial in the civil rights case was moving into its third week in a Lincoln courtroom.

Korslund, who retired this spring as a Gage County District Court judge, took the stand, and Shelden's new lawyer, Maren Chaloupka, questioned him about the quick plea in such a serious case.

She asked him if his billing reports, which showed he had pleaded his client after doing 14 hours of work on her case, were right.

Korslund said they were.

"On a first-degree murder case with multiple defendants and forensic evidence?" Chaloupka asked.

Correct, he said.

She pointed out that Korslund didn't yet have serology reports or know that Shelden only confessed after multiple hours of being interrogated without an attorney present, and couldn't have checked out all the ways the statements didn't match up with the crime scene evidence.

Korslund said the main thing he relied on was Shelden herself and what she told him.

Shelden started having nightmares when she lived briefly in the apartment where Wilson, her great aunt, had been killed. Working with Dr. Wayne Price, also a part-time deputy, she came to believe the nightmares were memories of what had happened.

"I never had any doubt, at that time, that she was present," Korslund said.

He said Shelden was one of the most honest clients he ever had and didn't think she even was capable of lying. He believed what she told him.

Korslund also said he remembered being struck by the fact that her own husband, Cliff, had named her as a suspect, and directed the jail at one point not to allow her mother and stepfather to visit her.

"The only person she really had to stand up for her was you?" Chaloupka said.

Yes, Korslund answered.

After Shelden pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting second-degree murder, four more entered pleas. A jury found White guilty at trial.

On cross examination, Korslund told Tomka that under the circumstances Shelden was in, "I definitely felt that (a plea) was the best option for her."

And, to do it quickly, he said.

Korslund said he knew there would be an advantage to being the first one to offer cooperation.

On the day of her sentencing, Shelden testified Monday, she thought she was going to get two years of probation and cried when she got 10 years, a sentence that ultimately meant she would serve 5 years in prison.

Chaloupka said less than a week later Korslund, who had represented the local Crime Stoppers when it put out a press release looking for information on Wilson's killing six weeks before the arrests in 1989, sent a newspaper clipping to Deputy Burdette Searcey, the head investigator, congratulating him on the fine job he'd done.
In a basement room at the Lincoln Veterans Affairs office last year, University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law students helped veterans find peace of mind, drafting end-of-life documents that had until then remained blank.

The service proved so popular -- and necessary -- that UNL students continued to work with 10 more veterans who were placed on a waiting list.

This year, the law college is doubling the capacity of the Advanced Directive Clinic and plans to draw up wills, power of attorney and health care power of attorney documents for roughly 20 veterans.

Ryan Sullivan, who teaches at the Law College and helps direct its legal clinics, said interest in this clinic has grown among veterans and students alike.

I think every student has expressed interest, both this year and in previous semesters as well, Sullivan said. Weve found students are really inspired by working with veterans.

The third-year law students believe it is their duty to give back to those who have given so much, he said. Plus, students who did the clinic last year gave rave reviews to their peers, which also increased interest.

Its a similar mindset that a lot of folks who support veterans have, and there is just a great amount of inspiration all around, Sullivan said.

Five UNL law students will work with four veterans each at this year's clinic July 29 at the VA on 70th Street.

Veterans interested in working with the law students to draw up end-of-life papers should call the Law College's Civil Clinic at 402-472-3271 and press 0 when the recording begins.

Registration for the free clinic ends June 24.

After registering, veterans will spend one month working with students by phone and in interviews to draft documents that will be reviewed and signed in-person during the one-hour session in late July.
Five mini drones whiz around in the sky, making a high-pitched whir as their neon orange and green propellers lift them off the ground and around a racing course marked out by orange cones on the ground below.

As they turn around each corner theyre dodging trees, looping through man-made hoops and maneuvering around the other racers.

Below is a flock of lawn chairs, occupied by 10 or 15 people wearing big, bug-eyed goggles that make them look like they should be on a ski slope. But theyre not for snow -- theyre virtual reality goggles. From their perspective, this race track appears almost like a video game.

As the clock ticks down, racers try to squeeze in as many laps as they can before time is up. Playful smack talk is thrown about as each "pilot" claims that they will be the one to come out on top.

At one point, the leading drone flies into an obstacle, and its controllers goggles go from a clear view of the course to black and white fuzz, like an old TV.

Oh, crap! he shouts, running to the spot where his drone crash landed in the grass.

The group -- on Facebook as Nebraska Drone Racing -- meets a couple of times a month to race. The group even has fans who come out to support their favorite racer.

Each drone has a small camera attached that relays a signal to the goggles, giving the controller the perception of being inside the drone. In the drone world this is known as first person view.

Its a rush, said Ryan Meints, one of the groups administrators. Its like an out-of-body experience that makes you feel like youre flying. You can fly 70 mph, go up 50 feet, do flips.

Each race follows a format, with five drones racing per heat. Instead of timed races, success is based on how many laps around the course the drone can complete in two minutes.

While most races are solely for earning points on multigp.com and setting up a rank within the group, there are some qualifying races that allow some racers to move on to more competitive races. A regional competition will be held at the Kansas Speedway next month.

Nebraska Drone Racings founder, Zack Christopherson, bought his first drone about a year and a half ago. He enjoyed it so much that he began researching more drones, and built his own racer just a few months later. Shortly following, he created the Facebook group to find other drone junkies to race with.

Flying by yourself is fun for a little while, but its more fun to beat other people, Christopherson said.

Meints said he first heard about the group when he was selling a drone part on Craigslist, and Christopherson asked him to come join the next race.

Ever since, Ive been hooked, Meints said.

The third administrator, Jared Vakoc, found the group on Facebook and initially messaged Christopherson for tips on building his own mini drone. Now, he enjoys coming out to race every month.

Its the closest Ill ever be to being a pilot, Vakoc said.

Anybody can join Nebraska Drone Racing, but only experienced flyers are allowed to race, for safety reasons.

When inexperienced people join, Christopherson said, they have them begin racing without the FVP simulator. Oftentimes the virtual reality effect can be disorienting and dizzying, so getting the hang of maneuvering the drone is the first step.

We love to help the new guys and get their builds started, Vakoc said.

Along with the flying aspect, another element to flying drones is drone maintenance. Sometimes parts break or fail. Crashing into trees or other drones also inflicts damage.

You have to learn a lot of electronics and engineering, Meints said. Thats probably 75 percent of the hobby, just trying to keep your stuff working.

The group, which has more than 120 members, is looking for a new race location. For a year or so, racers have met on University of Nebraska-Lincolns East Campus.

Saturday's race was the last on East Campus after UNL released regulations requiring unmanned aircraft operators get permission before flying. Christopherson and Meints are scouring the city to find a new, secluded area to race.

While none of the participants have a drone-based career, they have each found a passion for FVP racing.

We just want to have fun and build a community doing this, he added. Were not looking to make a living off of this, its a hobby. We want to have a good time.
Ty Barger is big on beets -- specifically sugar beet brine.

The sweet liquid is the city's method of choice for deicing roads.

Salt (sodium chloride) is added to a mixture of beet brine and water, which is then applied to roadways. The brine mixture keeps the salt from blowing off the roads, getting scooped off the street by plows or stuck in tires, all of which are common with standard dry rock salt applications.

When the salt stays where it needs to, you need less salt, which saves the city money.

Since the city began using beet brine in 2014, Barger, now the city's street maintenance manager, and his team have worked with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering to test which brine formulas work best for the least amount of money. Different blends work better in different conditions, so they've created eight specific brine recipes to work with different outdoor temperatures.

Barger's research isn't done, either. The Journal Star reported that he's 24 weeks into a 130-week study on the effects of three brine blends on concrete.

Barger and the road tests have convinced the city administration. In January they announced their plans to patent and sell the brine mixture to other government agencies or private companies. That would create a new revenue stream for the city and could relieve some of tax burden.

The mayor's proposed budget also includes $575,000 to build a second brine processing plant.

But skeptics remain.

After an ice storm this winter, a photo provided by County Engineer Pam Dingman circulated on social media showed a section of North 14th Street, half treated with salt by the county and half treated by the city with brine. The county half of the road is clear while the city half is covered in now.

Miki Esposito, Lincoln's director of Public Works and Utilities, is right to criticize the photo. There's no way to know the timing of the treatments, and a single photo shouldn't be used to discredit the results of two years of practical experience.

Others, including City Councilman Jon Camp, have expressed concern that the city's pothole problems in recent years are related to the brine mixture.

But 2009 research from three professors at the university discounts these claims. Their research showed that sodium chloride doesn't affect concrete.

The research is clear. If skeptics want to sway opinions on beet brine, they are going to need more than anecdotal evidence.
On June 12, I wrote a letter to President Barrack Obama that I would like to share with Journal Star readers as I think the same message applies.

The horrendous shootings in Orlando have shocked the nation. I would ask you to challenge all Congressmen who support the sale of assault weapons to explain their reasoning at this time. If they remain silent, I would urge the press to have them explain their stand. They owe this to their constituents and to the American people. My guess is that most will remain silent, which is the cowardly way out.

Likewise, Congressmen Adrian Smith and Jeff Fortenberry as well as Senators Deb Fisher and Ben Sasse, if this is your position, you owe it to all Nebraskans to explain yourselves.

In the last four years we have experienced mass shootings in Sandy Hook, Aurora, Colorado, San Bernardino and now Orlando. This senseless loss of life must stop.

The Second Amendment is ingrained in American life. Nobody is saying repeal the Second Amendment but assault weapons, semi-automatic and automatic weapons must be controlled.

Bernard J. Ludvik, Crete
I agree with Cindy Lange Kubick in her article "Gender at the top of the presidential heap" that it's an important moment in America's history (June 12). Nebraska has a great record on this as we were the first state to have two female candidates for governor, Kay Orr, a Republican, and Helen Boosalis, a Democrat, in 1986.

I look forward to the day when a woman will be elected president. However, I do not believe former Secretary Hillary Clinton is the one for the job.

Voters should carefully examine her record as an advocate for women. Her Clinton Foundation gladly accepts millions of dollars in donations from countries around the world, such as Saudi Arabia, with a record of oppressing women. Women employed by Hillary Clinton were paid less than their male co-workers. She did not hold her husband accountable for his sexual exploitation of women but instead she attacked Monica Lewinsky, Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey and others. As a strong supporter of abortion without restrictions of any kind, Clinton shows no respect for the most vulnerable, unborn women.

Hillary Clinton has to answer for her abysmal policy failures as Secretary of State, for compromising our national security with her private email server and so much more.

When we do elect a woman to the highest office of the land, it should be someone better suited to serve than Hillary Clinton.

Kathleen Allan, Lincoln
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has joined the National Federation of Independent Business in endorsing Democratic Rep. Brad Ashford for re-election in metropolitan Omaha's 2nd District.

Ashford is seeking his second House term this November in Nebraska's only swing congressional district. Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Don Bacon is the Republican nominee.

"In Ashford's time in Congress he has put politics aside in order to deliver results for Nebraska's 2nd District," said Scott Eckart, director of congressional and public affairs at the U.S. Chamber.

"He has a proven record fighting for job creation and economic opportunity, and we're proud to partner with the Omaha business community to support him today," Eckart said Monday.

Earlier, National Federation of Independent Business/Nebraska State Director Bob Hallstrom hailed Ashford as "a refreshing change from the normal business-as-usual gridlock in Washington."

Ashford's votes in favor of legislative proposals providing regulatory and tax relief for small businesses are "proof he's sincere about wanting to get things done for Nebraska's small businesses," Hallstrom said.

"His joining the problem-solver caucuses was more than just a pose," Hallstrom said.

In accepting the Chamber endorsement, Ashford said, "We need to lower the tax burden on businesses, improve our infrastructure and make sure we have a highly skilled and trained workforce."

Ashford won the first Democratic House victory in Nebraska in 22 years when he defeated eight-term Republican Rep. Lee Terry in 2014.

"Nothing can change the fact that liberal Brad Ashford is a career politician who is the choice of the Washington Democrat establishment," Bacon campaign manager Mark Dreiling stated in response to the business endorsements.
Only about half of Nebraska's 93 counties accurately provide voting rights for ex-felons, according to a survey by the ACLU of Nebraska.

Nearly half of the county election officials contacted by ACLU researchers provided inaccurate information related to voting rights for people with felony convictions, the organization said.

State law allows a convicted felon to register to vote two years after completing all of the terms of a sentence, which include parole and probation.

Voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and the fundamental right upon which all our civil liberties rest, ACLU of Nebraska Executive Director Danielle Conrad said in a news release Monday. Nebraskans that have completed their sentences have a right to participate in our democracy."

The Legislature restored the voting rights for people with felony convictions more than 10 years ago, she said.

"But sadly today a significant amount of confusion still exists. These survey results are a call to action."

Public education efforts about ex-felon voting rights should be strengthened, and training opportunities for county officials provided to ensure no eligible voter is turned away, Conrad said.

The ACLU conducted the survey with volunteers who contacted each county asking, Can a former felon register to vote?

Lancaster and Douglas counties both gave accurate information, but 47 of the state's 93 counties did not. More counties initially provided wrong information but followed up with correct information, the organization said.

Responses from county election officials ranged from a simple "no" to saying convicted felons could vote after five years or that it depended on the person's criminal charge or sentence.

Officials in Dixon, Fillmore, Harlan, Hooker, Loup, Pierce, Saline, Scotts Bluff and Seward counties gave answers such as: An ex-felon could vote if his or her rights were restored by a court or if he or she had paperwork from a judge or has been pardoned.

ACLU of Nebraska Legal Director Amy Miller, author of the survey, said voter interest is high in this presidential election year, and election officials must continue to do all they can to ensure each vote can be cast and counted appropriately.

Everyone deserves a second chance, said former state Sen. DiAnna Schimek, also a former ACLU of Nebraska executive director.

Schimek introduced the 2005 legislation giving those with felony convictions the right to vote after two years.

Our democracy is strongest when as many people as possible can participate," she said in the news release.

People who have served their sentences and made amends to society should be able to vote, she said.

Given that Nebraskas criminal justice system disproportionately impacts low-income Nebraskans and people of color, we must also be concerned about whose voice is potentially being silenced at the ballot box, Conrad said.
Concrete overlay work is set to start Monday on Nebraska 4 from Plymouth to Beatrice and is expected to be completed in the fall, according to
Barry Gourley, executive director of the Family Service Association of Lincoln, likes to call his organization the champion for families and children.

Over the past 125 years, the agency has helped struggling families in Lincoln and throughout the state. Although the charitys founder, economics professor Amos Warner, didnt stick around for long, the Charity Organization Society was well established when he left the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to head back East.

Some of the societys first programs (it was renamed Family Service Association in 1945) included employing the poor at a woodyard in return for aid received (1895), providing lodging for the homeless (1900), establishing a visiting nurse program for mothers and children (1904), providing child care for working moms (1909), establishing Legal Aid Services (1910) and joining with Junior League of Lincoln to start a well-baby clinic (1937).

Originally, the nonprofit coordinated relief. Now it is more directly involved, like with Women, Infants & Children (WIC). Family Service operates as the state trainer for all WIC employees and serves about 2,700 clients a month who receive vouchers and have access to well-baby checkups.

To further support families, the agency offers parenting classes quarterly. I think we make them feel better in regards to support for their children, Gourley said.

Family Service established its first before- and after-school program at Huntington Elementary in 1974. And in 2002, Family Service became the lead partner at Community Learning Centers at four public schools. Now it has CLCs and before- and after-school programs in 21 different schools. Many families who cant afford the programs receive scholarships to attend. Over the past 12 years, Gourley estimates his agency has given out more than $6 million in scholarships.

Linda Sullivan, director of business and finance for the past two decades, believes the child-care component is one of the biggest benefits Family Service has to offer. Because were in the schools, it adds a level of safety and security for the children, a sense of well-being for their kids, not to have to worry about them being out.

Parent Beth Plants said her daughter, Winnie, shed a few tears on the last day of the before- and after-care program at Holmes Elementary in May. The soon-to-be sixth-grader had spent six years there.

My daughter woke up and wanted to be the first one there and the last one to leave because she loved Family Service so much, Plants shared.

She especially liked knowing where her daughter was and that she would get outdoor time. Staff also made sure Winnie finished her homework, which taught her an important life skill, Plants added.

The agencys involvement with children doesnt stop with child care. Its behavioral health program supports 15 elementary, middle and high schools in Lincoln and helps students be successful in that environment. This year, the program expanded into Saunders County and eight more schools.

Sherri Beldin, community resource specialist, goes into homes and schools and supports families who are having difficulty handling their childrens behavior or even paying their bills. Some other examples of the behavioral health programs implementation include an anger-management class at Lincoln High and social-skills training, which is integrated into the before- and after-school program.

Sullivan commented that Family Service had a good response to a recent behavioral health program survey, with several students writing paragraphs about how much it had helped them. The behavioral health aspect will continue to be a focus during Family Services summer school programs, which run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at five elementary schools.

By far the biggest program Family Service sponsors is the child and adult care food program, which serves 1,000 in-home care providers and credits $500,000 in snacks and meals each month. It is active in 85 of Nebraskas 93 counties and serves 16,000 families.

Heather Nolan of Grand Island has used the food service program for 12 years.

Its a great program, and it helps you make sure youre getting the right nutrition, said Nolan, a day-care provider. She attends regularly scheduled in-services and looks forward to visits from Sherryl Gannon, Family Service child care food program consultant. During home visits, Gannon alerts Nolan to any errors with her reporting and explains how she can meet her in-service hours and fine-tune her recordkeeping.

Nolan shared that the in-services she attends are motivational. Shes learned that she can try things and experiment.

Instead of saying Heres your food, you can ask, Whats on your plate? she explained.
NEW BUSINESS - Theron Ahlman, senior care consultant, has started CarePatrol of Lincoln, a new business to Nebraska. The business helps families find assisted living, independent living, memory care and in-home care. "Its a free service to those families we are helping," said Ahlman. "Our goal is to make sure the family finds the safest care options for their loved one or themselves, and walk them through the entire process." CarePatrol services are free to families. The business is compensated by our referral network providers.
The Lincoln Northeast High School Class of 1971 will hold its 45-year class reunion Friday and Saturday, July 15-16.

The opening-night gathering is at the home of Gordon Anderson, 9301 Duane Lane at 6:30 pm. Bring a snack to share, your own drink and lawn chairs. (In the event of rain, the event will be cancelled.)

The activities July 16 will be at The Isles Reception Hall, 6232 Havelock Ave., from 6 to 10 p.m. To register and prepay via PayPal, go to the class website www.LNE71Reunion.org. Cost is $20 per person. There is also a Facebook page, Lincoln Northeast High Class of 1971 Reunion.

Reservation and payment may also be sent to Cindy Hilsabeck, 6109 N.W. 9th Street, Lincoln, NE 68521 with checks made to Northeast High Class of 71. Any questions may be directed to LNE71Reunion@yahoo.com.
To put a slightly different twist on lyrics from one of the most recognizable musicals, you could say that the halls are alive with the sound of music at The Landing at Williamsburg Village.

Nearly a dozen residents of the retirement community at 3500 Faulkner Drive are attuned to their love of music through the enjoyment of playing the piano in the comfort of their own apartments and through access to the Yamaha model piano in the Williamsburg Square community room.

Whenever the urge to tickle the ivories strikes a piano is always at the fingertips of these musically-inclined artists. An abundance of talent can be found at 3500 Faulkner Drive, as the residents musical gifts are shared by those who gather for events such as church services, special music programs, and even melodramas.

Doris Lostroh, one of the nearly dozen residents who enjoy The Landing-owned piano on a regular basis, possesses more history than any current resident at The Landing. Doris moved into The Landing nearly 15 years ago, on Oct. 22, 2001, several weeks before construction of The Landing was completed. Music has been a way of life for Doris for more than 80 years.

I took two years of lessons beginning when I was 12, said Doris, who will turn 93 on Sept. 2. When the time came to move from Pleasant Dale to The Landing, her piano moved with her.

Doris, whose father play cornet in his hometown, quickly took advantage of the many musical opportunities at The Landing. Id played for church services and Sunday school in the past, she said, so I got involved playing for church services here and at other retirement centers. She also accompanied The Landing choir, called the Silver Chords, and played for the first six years of the widely-recognized melodrama series at The Landing.

Jerry Solomon, like Doris, was first introduced to the piano at the age of 12. He learned the piano through lessons taught by Jerry's uncle, Eric Claiborne, a member of the Flying Tigers. Jerry served in the Infantry Blue Devils in 1946-47 and shared his newly-found talents with appreciative crowds in faraway places such as Singapore and Hong Kong. Since he and wife Barb arrived at The Landing last August, he has regaled fellow residents with his talents. Jerry, now 89, loves to share his talents with charitable organizations and has entertained music lovers at symphony cocktail parties. He has also passed on his love of music to a grandchild whom he has taught.

Art and Fran Bates, who served a combined 60 years as professional instructors before retiring in the early 1990s, have also enjoyed a harmonious relationship during their nearly 63 years of marriage. Both graduated in 1951 with degrees in music from Nebraska Wesleyan University.

We couldnt exist without music, says Art, who joins his wife to perform duets and at church services at The Landing.

If you love to play music, or simply enjoy listening to it, lend an ear to what The Landing has to offer; call senior living consultant Stacie Sumovich at (402) 328-2223.
Welcome Group Workcamps participants! Over 450 teenagers (ages 14 to 19) from all across the country arrived in Racine on Sunday, on a mission of spending a week doing home repair projects in designated Racine and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods.

Racine Neighborhood Watch, Inc. (RNW) is partnering with Group Workcamps to address homeowner quality of life issues for the 18th consecutive year. At 8:30 Monday morning, teams of these volunteers, along with their supervising adults, began their mission work at more than 60 homes: Painting, erecting fences, constructing wheelchair ramps, and forging a stronger sense of community.

Group Workcamps is a program of Group Mission Trips, a nonprofit organization based in Colorado, which recruits youth groups and young people with diverse religious backgrounds from across the country to perform community service in more than 40 cities nationwide. The youth work to improve the living situations for elderly, disabled and economically disadvantaged homeowners while also building relationships with the residents they serve. Public and private grants cover the costs of materials; the teens pay for their own travel and lodging expenses.

By the end of this week, the total number of Racine area homeowners touched by the working hands and giving hearts of Group Workcamps participants will number more than 1,000 over the span of nearly 20 years.

RNW is proud to collaborate with Group Workcamps and other public and private businesses and organizations. This partnership is just one way RNW lives its mission to assist residents in creating safe, friendly and attractive neighborhoods throughout the Racine community.

National Night Out

National Night Out is a favorite summertime tradition. It is an evening where neighborhood camaraderie is embraced and positive neighbor-police relationships are recognized and celebrated.

National Night Out shines a spotlight on the importance of improving crime and drug prevention awareness, generating participation in local anti-crime efforts, strengthening neighborhood spirit, forwarding police-community associations, and sending a message to criminals letting them know neighborhoods are organized and on watch for suspicious activities.

On Tuesday, Aug. 2, the Racine community celebrates National Night Out as neighbors and friends give neighborhood crime and drugs a going-away party. It marks the 25th consecutive year that RNW has coordinated the event.

For a quarter century, RNW has encouraged neighbors to lock their doors and come outside to meet one another, and to take a united stand against crime. Last year in the Racine community, over 60 National Night Out events were attended by more than 6,000 adults and children. Neighborhoods, blocks, parks, churches and community centers hosted events such as parties, cookouts and visits from police, fire, sheriff and McGruff the Crime Dog.

Activities included carnival games, bouncy houses, Zumba, bands, obstacle course races, movie nights and more. Events were as unique as each neighborhood area  with participants numbering from ten to several hundred.

Americas Night Out Against Crime is a reflection of what RNW does every day: build positive and productive community-law enforcement relationships through RNW meetings, programming, and events. Through longstanding partnerships with police, local officials and other agencies, RNW helps residents in formerly troubled areas remain proactive in reporting crime and suspicious behavior.

Monthly RNW meetings held at the Community Oriented Policing (COP) houses bring neighbors and police together to reduce crime, problem-solve concerns, and improve the quality of life in neighborhoods. Neighborhood Block Watch presentations provide crime prevention education, encourage resident responsibility for the neighborhood, and promote neighbor-to-neighbor communication.

For a list of over 50 National Night Out event ideas, to register your event, or learn more about Neighborhood Block Watch, contact Program Director Susan Feehrer, 262-635-3327 or susan@racinenw.com.
KENOSHA COUNTY  An attorney for Michael L. McGee is continuing to fight a request to have the placement of the Racine County sex offender put on hold while Kenosha County appeals a local courts decision allowing McGee to live in the Town of Wheatland.

The attorney is also asking that a temporary hold on the treated sex offenders placement be dropped, arguing, among other points, that the county has failed to show its appeal will succeed or that the community will suffer irreparable harm if the stay is not granted.

Because the county does not develop, even in embryonic form, the legal argument it will make on appeal, it has not shown a likelihood of succeeding with that argument, states the response filed with the Wisconsin Court of Appeals on Wednesday.

On hold

The placement of McGee at 32200 Geneva Road (Highway 50), about 5 miles southeast of Burlingtons southern city limits, was slated to happen at the end of last month, but was put on a temporary  or ex parte  stay by the Court of Appeals on May 31.

That move came just hours after Racine County Circuit Judge Allen Pat Torhorst denied the countys request to stay his decision allowing McGee to live in the Town of Wheatland.

On June 7 Kenosha County filed a motion with the Court of Appeals asking that the stay of McGees placement be continued until the court makes its decision on the actual appeal.

In the motion, the county argues that Torhorst abused his discretion, misinterpreting elements of a new law designed to ensure that sex offenders remain in their home counties.

Kenosha County did not intervene simply because it does not want a violent sex offender in its community, states attorney Jennifer J. Kopp, in the written motion.  Kenosha County has had serious concerns with regard to whether DHS (Wisconsin Department of Health Services) followed the appropriate statutory procedures with regard to placing Michael McGee.

In his response, McGees attorney  Jefren E. Olsen with the State Public Defenders Office Appellate Division  argues that Kenosha County has failed to meet the necessary legal standards needed for a continued stay to be granted.

The countys claim that it will succeed in establishing that more should have been done is merit-less, he states.

It is not clear when the Court of Appeals will issue its decision.

About McGee

McGee, 53, was convicted in November 1987 in Racine County Circuit Court of second-degree sexual assault and burglary. During a Racine burglary, he raped a 26-year-old woman, authorities said.

McGee, who was declared a sexually violent person, is on supervised release and will be under house arrest for the next year. He had been slated to be released from Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center in Mauston on May 31.

In his May 26 decision, Torhorst said he believed McGee would be harmed if the judge halted his order, saying state law allowed McGee to be placed in Wheatland.

State officials placed McGee at the Wheatland address after it could not find suitable housing in Racine County, drawing the ire of neighbors and officials in Kenosha County.

The Town of Wheatland house is about 100 feet from a home in which a couple and their 1-year-old boy live. McGee in 1992 was accused of molesting a 10-year-old child relative, but because the case was dismissed, he is not considered a serious child sex offender, officials have said.
CALEDONIA  Need space for that 1.1 million-square-foot industrial facility you want to build?

Caledonia has just the spot.

Its on 74.81 acres of land at Highway K and Interstate 94 and will cost you about $9.7 million.

Too big? A 10.46-acre parcel at the same location will run you only $1.25 million.

Industrialists, developers and general contractors in the past few weeks are getting the details of what is available at DeBack Farms Business Park, a 138-acre development in Caledonia.

Milwaukee-based commercial real estate broker the Boerke Company, a member of the Cushfield & Wakefield Alliance, has created a full color informational brochure about the development, which was in the planning stages for many years before farmer Harold DeBack sold his land to Wispark LLC, the development arm of We Energies.

Marketing efforts also include radio spots espousing the benefits of the business park.

Boerke officials didnt provide many other details about who will get the brochure or hear the radio spots. We are just getting the campaign kick started, said Jeff Hoffman of Boerke.

The brochure, chock full of details of what has been dubbed DeBack Farms Business Park, was posted on the village website on June 9.

It proclaims the advantages of DeBack Farms, including: close, easy access to Interstate 94; that Wisconsin is a right-to-work state; Wisconsin has a pro-business environment; and work can start almost right away at the site.

The brochure also breaks down the age, education and occupation  either blue or white collar  of the population within five minutes, 15 minutes and 30 minutes of the business park.

Also listed are the drive times to 14 Midwest cities, from Madison (90 minutes away) to Kansas City, Mo. (eight hours away).

The brochure also emphasizes the states manufacturing and agriculture tax credit, business development tax credits, and the business opportunity loan fund.

The villages vision for the Interstate 94 corridor is becoming a reality, said Village Administrator Tom Christensen. We are delighted to see the project moving forward.

Several options offered

The developers of the park  Wispark LLC and Zilber Property Group  see six facilities of various sizes, ranging from 61,875 square feet to 1.17 million square feet.

The million-square-foot site could house an Amazon-type facility, Wispark President Jerry Franke has told village officials. Several years ago Amazon constructed two massive buildings along Interstate 94 near Highway 142 in Kenosha.

One of the six spots at Deback, 15.65 acres in the far northwest corner of the property, is slated to have a 138,000-square-foot Norco manufacturing plant.

The Caledonia Village Board recently approved the Norco project, and work is scheduled to begin sometime this month, company officials have said. The building should be up and running by January, they said.

Caledonia this spring began running water and sewer lines to the business park property along Highway K. The ensuing assessments levied on property owners along the route for the $3 million project werent popular, but approved.

The business park itself took some heat last month when several residents objected to a lack of information about the overall plan.

Some residents along Adams Road  directly south of the business park  complained that they did not want to look at a 1.1 million-square-foot facility every day across the street from them.
RACINE  Homeowners living along streets slated for repaving or reconstruction over the next year or two could have their private, lead water service laterals replaced with non-lead laterals.

The Racine Water Utility is in the process of gathering the information and approvals needed to apply for a loan from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources that would provide roughly $500,000 next year to replace private lead laterals as part of already planned water main and lateral replacement projects.

Water is provided to utility customers in the city and its suburbs through water mains that run beneath roadways. Those mains are then connected to individual properties through public-service laterals  smaller pipes that branch out from mains and connect to private-service laterals, typically located beneath front lawns. In Racine many homes were built with lead laterals, especially in older parts of the city.

We have been replacing lead service laterals in the public way for a number of years when we replace water mains. The public water main and lateral portion stops at about the sidewalk, and then what is your front lawn is private property and owned by the private property owner, explained Keith Haas, general manager for the Racine Water and Wastewater Utilities.

Milwaukee initiated action

The state decided to put $11 million in its Safe Drinking Water Loan program to replace private laterals made of lead in an effort to help cities like Racine avoid the lead exposure risks that can occur when a new public service lateral gets replaced, but the private lead service lateral remains, Haas said.

The program was spurred by an announcement by Milwaukees water utility made earlier this year stating that utility would stop replacing public service laterals, Haas said, because studies showed the replacements disturbed the private lead laterals that remained, creating a temporarily higher lead content in the water.

In Racine, the plan is to only use the loan money to replace private lead service laterals on streets already targeted for roadwork, Haas said. Among the streets that could see new private laterals are Douglas Avenue, Grange Avenue, 16th Street, Valley Drive, Blake Avenue, Green Street, Cleveland Avenue, Thurston Avenue and Monroe Avenue.

Our intent would be to only do it on properties where we are going to be replacing water mains in the next 12 months and the streets are already identified and the homes are already identified, he said. We know we are going to disturb 460 of them in the next 12 months, so when we disturb those we want to try and make it better for the residents rather than worse.

Haas said he expects the city to be awarded at least $500,000 for next years work, and perhaps another $500,000 or more for 2018. After that, he is not sure. The Legislature has only funded the program for two years, he said.

If the utility gets the permission it needs from aldermen to apply for the loan, Haas said he expects to hear by the end of July if the utility was awarded the funds.
The seemingly endless parade of provocative or outrage-inducing statements by presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump took a sharp pivot last week away from the Constitution, that same document we presumed he would swear to support, uphold and defend next Jan. 20 should he be elected president.

On Wednesday, speaking in Atlanta, Trump said: You know the Republicans, honestly folks, our leaders, our leaders have to get tougher. Our leaders have to get a lot tougher. 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.

We have to have our Republicans either stick together or let me just do it by myself.

Mr. Trump is aware thats not how American government works, right?

We have, on occasion during the presidency of Barack Obama, criticized his use of executive orders to circumvent the constitutionally mandated role of Congress as the originating branch of legislation. Such actions merit the term imperial presidency.

We have been critical of such presidential actions because they run contrary to the fundamental characteristics of American government as established in the Constitution: A separation of powers, and a system of checks and balances intended to ensure that none of the federal governments three branches becomes too powerful.

Trumps declaration that the Republican leaders  we presume that, within the group hes describing, he refers to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell  have to get tougher or let me just do it by myself is well beyond the issuance of executive orders. In this statement, he is calling for being given the authority to rule by decree, something seen only in dictatorships.

Admonishing the leaders of his own party to please be quiet is to tell those holding elective office to not only forego their First Amendment rights, but to abdicate their responsibilities as representatives of the people.

The presidency is not one of Trumps corporations; we doubt that any Republican in a congressional leadership position will accept a subordinate role, a designation below him on the organizational chart in Trumps mind. On the relevant organizational chart  again, that would be the Constitution  Congress is lateral to the presidency, not beneath it.

It would be worthwhile for one of Trumps advisers to point out an important fact that awaits him, should he become president. Perhaps he could phrase it this way, in terms Trump would most readily understand: If he becomes president, for the first time in his life someone named Trump will not be controlling the money.

The governmental purse strings? Those are held by Congress.
Wisconsins Government Accountability Board, the election and campaign agency that supporters laud as a pioneering success and critics call a failed experiment, ends this month after nearly a decade in existence.

The board, born in bipartisanship from the states caucus scandal in 2001, when both parties ran political campaigns from the Capitol, was the only nonpartisan model of its kind in the country with six former judges appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the state Senate to oversee elections. It was armed with a budget unfettered by Legislative oversight to investigate campaign finance, ethics and lobbying complaints.

Its dissolution on June 30, which came with a rewrite of the states campaign finance rules, signed into law earlier this year by Gov. Scott Walker, is a necessary reform to some, but step backwards for others who question whether violations of campaign finance law will be aggressively policed and how citizens will know from where money flows to politicians.

GAB, which oversaw historically tumultuous recall elections and joined an investigation into the 2012 recall campaign of Walker, is set to be replaced with separate ethics and elections boards. Lawmakers will have a bigger role in the agency charged with regulating them, with authority over the majority of the commissions appointees and its funding for investigations.

This is really a branch that has a strong legislative imprint, which can raise some serious separations of powers questions, said Kevin Kennedy, GABs outgoing director said in an interview. This is really a big change. Its bigger than the old model because of the legislative control and the very clear partisanship. How its going to play out, its going to be interesting to see.

Kennedy, Wisconsins longest serving election official who is set to retire in two weeks, says he doesnt regret the boards investigation into coordination between conservative groups and Walkers recall campaign with the Milwaukee County District Attorneys Office. He warned the states next iteration of lobbying and ethics regulation will remain contested, as past models have, because deliberations will not be public.

Republicans have criticized the board for operating unchecked in secret, launching expansive investigations with public money targeting their party. Republican legislative leaders and conservative groups have cast Kennedy as a liberal activist who unjustly targeted them.

The only criticism I would have of the GAB structure is we forced too much of it to be behind closed doors, Kennedy said. None of that changes. None of the discussion is going to be public  this is no more transparent because you put an R and D above the decision makers because none of the processes have changed.

Republican lawmakers and conservative groups disagree. They designed the new model to be different and it will come with more citizen oversight, said Rep. Dean Knudson (R-Hudson) who led the effort to dismantle the board and create a new model.

The concentration of all that power in one agency really led to problems no other state had ever done anything like that before, said Knudson, who is retiring from the Legislature this year after three terms.

He said the architects of the new model purposefully took what they learned from GAB and incorporated safeguards, including citizen appointees and Legislative review of the commissions rules to ensure better oversight.

The new model will ensure that violations are properly investigated and not politicized, said Lucas Fuller, executive director of the Wisconsin Alliance for Reform, a conservative advocacy group.

The new model prevents the organization from being weaponized by a political activist as we saw occur with the GAB, he said.

The new model will operate with clear guidance from the Legislature and updated campaign finance law, not with ad hoc rulemaking and an unlimited budget, he said.

Were transitioning to a very common and proven system, he said. I have every confidence it will work well. By no means are we going back to what we had before.

Critics of the Walker administrations handling of transparency and its changes to the campaign finance law balk at the idea that GAB was a failed experiment.

The only thing that failed was that they didnt do what you wanted them to do and they werent supposed to do what you wanted them to do, said Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause Wisconsin, which tracks campaign finance and elections issues.

Heck and others are concerned about how the new model will fare with the presidential and U.S. Senate election, the commissions first significant test.

 Its going to take an election cycle or two for that to play out for people to see how much money is flowing without public knowledge, Heck said. I think theres only a matter of time before theres another scandal.

Critics of the new model says it will have partisan gridlock akin to the Federal Election Commission.

The big problem with the bipartisan model is stalemate, said Daniel Tokaji, a professor of law at The Ohio State University, at who has written several academic papers praising the GAB. It becomes very difficult to take enforcement action. Politicians dont like watchdogs, so this entity was set up to be a docile watchdog.

Knudson disagrees.

I find people who bring that up to be stunningly disparaging to the citizens who have just accepted positions to these boards, he said. What youre assuming is that they will fail to do their duty because theyll be so blinded by partisan allegiance and I just dont expect that to happen.

Kennedy says he has continued to learn from his time as the states chief elections regulator, but said there is little in the way of the GABs major initiatives that he would have done differently.

There is very little to criticize that is not coming from some personal bias  in the sense that it went against their self interest.

He said despite changes to the laws and the model of campaign finance and election regulation, Wisconsins culture of clean government remains entrenched among those who run for public office.

There is less problems in Wisconsin than there are in other states because there is a culture of asking for advice from the former ethics board, from the former elections board, he said. We shouldnt overlook that. That doesnt mean that its better moving forward, but we do start with a heads up than other states because we do have a culture and the people who run for office come from that. Thats why we dont have three governors in jail like you do in Illinois.
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and his wife Peng Liyuan wave as they arrive at the airport in Warsaw, Poland, June 19, 2016. Xi Jinping arrived in Warsaw Sunday for a state visit to Poland. [Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping arrives in Warsaw, Poland, on Sunday afternoon for a state visit that is expected to boost China's ties with Europe.

During the visit, Xi will hold talks with Polish President Andrzej Duda and the two sides will sign a number of agreements on business, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.

China and Europe should closely match each other's development strategies and deepen joint interests, Xi wrote in an article published in the major Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita on Friday.

"Both China and Europe are currently pushing forward structural reform," Xi wrote in the article.

"As two major powers, major markets and major civilizations of the world, China and Europe can closely match each other's development strategies, deepen joint interests, promote joint growth and contribute to world peace and development," he wrote.

Wang Yiwei, a professor at the school of international studies at Renmin University of China, said Xi's visit will further develop China-proposed Belt and Road projects.

The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Xi in 2013, is aimed at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road. Considering their geographic importance, Central and Eastern Europe are key parts of the Belt and Road Initiative, as a quarter of the countries along the routes are in that region.

"Countries in Central and Eastern Europe including Poland are keen to develop ties with China to attract more Chinese investment," Wang said.

Poland is China's largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe, while China is Poland's third-largest supplier of imports. Trade between the two countries reached $17.2 billion in 2014.

Xi's state visit to the Czech Republic in March has produced fruitful results, prompting many other countries in Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland, to develop closer ties with China, Wang said.

The Central and Eastern Europe region now faces the challenge of upgrading its transportation, electricity and other infrastructure, as well as industrial equipment, while China is strong in construction capacity and support services and can meet the environmental standards of the region, said Chen Xin, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Last November, Polish President Andrzej Duda paid a state visit to China, during which Xi announced that China would explore a new logistics corridor to reach Central and Eastern Europe through Poland.

anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn
When the topic of Wisconsin's transportation infrastructure has surfaced lately, a study that puts the state's roads in a poor light is often mentioned.

A 2013 study by the American Society of Civil Engineers showed Wisconsin having among the worst road records in the nation, with 71 percent in mediocre or poor condition.

But state Sen. Duey Stroebel said all the talk of the declining condition of the state's roads needs to be debunked.

The Saukville Republican said in an interview broadcast Sunday on "UpFront with Mike Gousha" that people should consider the source and motivation of those who publicize road grades.

"We hear about these studies that say how bad our roads are," Stroebel said. "Well, you look at who pays for those studies? It's people who make money building roads. The road builders are paying for those studies."

Stroebel opposes tax or fee increases to help pay for what some claim is a crumbling state transportation system. He said other studies show a different picture for Wisconsin's roads.

A report by the conservative Reason Foundation showed Wisconsin's highway ranking improving from 31st in 2009 to 15th in 2012.

Stroebel said that in the Reason Foundation report, the four states ranked as having the worst roads have prevailing wage laws and no right to work law. The 10 states with the best roads, he said, do not have prevailing wage and have instituted right to work.

Prevailing wage sets a minimum pay level for construction workers on state projects, while right to work laws prevent workers from being required to pay union dues as a condition of employment.

"That is a place that we need to move to," Stroebel said. "We've begun to move there now with right to work and a partial repeal of prevailing wage, but we need to go all the way there. And then those are the things that are going to help us stack up better."

In an interview that aired Sunday on WKOW-TV's "Capital City Sunday," Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said he still hopes that the state will be able to avoid raising the gas tax.

"But I'm realistic enough to know that we're going to fix the roads one way or another," he said. "And it makes no sense to borrow the money and pay interest on it over time and not actually fix as many roads as are necessary."

Four major state highway projects have racked up more than $700 million in overruns in part because of delays, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

"It makes no sense for us to hold the lid on spending and then have costs go up over time and then have to raise revenues later," Vos said. "The one thing we do know is that we're not seeing a dramatic increase in gasoline usage. As more cars become more and more fuel efficient, we see that even if you have a hybrid vehicle where you basically pay nothing toward the maintenance of the roads, you're still using the exact same amount of wear and tear.

"So we've got to look at all the options on the table. How do we get hybrid cars to help pay for our roads? How do we ensure that we have the cars that are driving right now paying for the roads that we need to fix? And obviously I've been an advocate for tolling, to say how do we do some kind of a system where you pay as you go so that on big projects like those in southeastern Wisconsin or between Janesville and Madison, perhaps you could toll those to help get money from Illinois to pay for our own roads."

Vos said tolling can be set up faster and for less money than in the past, but that he doesn't expect any movement in that direction in the next budget.
Kabul attack victims are all Nepalis, Afghan ministry confirms

A suicide attacker hit a minibus in the Afghan capital, Kabul, early on Monday, killing 14 Nepali security guards, Afghanistans Ministry of Interior Affairs confirmed.
36 fake docs in CIB net

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Anton Yelchin, Star Trek's Chekov, killed by his own car

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Prahlad Rijal is a business reporter at The Kathmandu Post, focusing on the energy sector. Before joining the Post, Rijal was an online reporter at The Himalayan Times.
Bid to restrain online media draws flak

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China extends road to Korala border point

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David Cameron EU Question Time: PM attacks 'untrue' Leave claims

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Deliberations on Appropriation Bill begin

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Dhaulagiri base camp becoming dirty and polluted

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Domestic debt increases after falling for 4 years

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Foreign Minister briefs House about Kabul attack

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German ambassador hands over hospital building

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Govt tables Charter plan in House

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Binod Ghimire covers parliamentary affairs and human rights for The Kathmandu Post. Since joining the Post in 2010, he has reported primarily on social issues, focusing on education and transitional justice.
I am encouraged by the openness of Nepal government to discuss the fate of remaining refugees

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Kin of blast victims launch cylinder collection campaign

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Lightning kills one

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Mexico teachers protest: Six killed in Oaxaca clashes

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MH370 search: Photos of possible personal items released

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MJF-L refutes withdraw claims

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NC files war crime plaint against Dahal

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New SLC grading system reflects students capability better

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PMs 3-pronged strategy on Bhutanese refugee solution

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Police arrest 60 more fake examinees

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Ready to quit post to reinstate king: Minister Subba

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SC summons govt along with arrested doctors in 3 days

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Serial killer 'Budhathoki' arrested after 20 years

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Swaraj: No bad relationship with neighbours, including Nepal

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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

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Educationists have challenged the move by Uganda Christian University to ban non-Anglican worship on the campus.

The university Vice Chancellor, Dr. John Ssenyonyi last week announced the ban, explaining that the University was founded on an Anglican foundation which must be respected.

However educationists say this may affect the entire education chain, trickling down to secondary and primary schools.

Daniel Ndawula and Tom Fisher Kasenge of Bassajja Ssubi Education Consultancy have spoken to KFM challenging the ban which they say is discriminatory and an infringement on the freedom of worship granted by the constitution.
Judges handling the murder case of 32 suspects alleged to have masterminded the killing of several Muslim clerics across the country have asked journalists not to publish their pictures.

While meeting the journalists before the trial kicked off at the High Court this morning, the panel of three judges led by Justice Ezekiel Muhanguzi said publishing their pictures before, during and after the hearing of this case would jeopardize their security.

He noted that even the security of journalists covering the case will be compromised.

The suspects including the leader of Tabliq Sect Sheikh YounusKamoga and his brother Shiekh Siraje Kawooya are facing trial for the alleged murder of Muslim Shiekhs; Mustafa Bahiga, Hassan Kirya and the attempted murder of Shiekh Haruna Jemba.

They also face charges of terrorism and crimes against humanity where the prosecution says they orgainsed attacks against the Muslim Shias.

A panel of 3 Judges of the International Crimes Division of the High court, Ezekiel Muhanguzi, Percy Tuhaise and Jane Kiggundu are presiding over the trial.
ANGOLA  Steuben County airport officials are starting to get serious about relocating the airport from its current location.

Chuck Walker, president of the Steuben County Board of Aviation Commissioners, told Steuben County Commissioners on Monday that the airport board would start working on a study to move the Tri-State Steuben County Airport next year.

Walker said that would be part of the airport boards 2017 budget. Walker was the first up of unelected department heads to present budget data to the commissioners. The departments and non-profit requests were for budgets under the control of commissioners.

We want to look at a place where we can relocate the airport, Walker said.

Actual relocation of the airport probably wont occur for 15 or 20 years, he said.

Again, its really far down the road, Walker said.

Talk about moving the airport has ebbed and flowed over the years. The airport is landlocked by U.S. Highway 20 to the south and lakes and wetlands in other directions.

Walker said the push is coming from the Federal Aviation Administration to move the facility, which was founded in 1930 by Paul Eyster.

The feds said youve got to move the airport, Walker said.

Airport officials are hoping that a land swap could accommodate a new venue for the airport, which could hold down costs. Most likely the federal government will pay 94 percent of cost of a new facility with the county making up the other 6 percent.

Meanwhile, the budget being submitted by the airport board is double what was received initially for 2016. The total operating expense for 2017 is penciled in at $178,940. The budget amount approved for 2016 was about $89,000.

Since the airport board was changed last fall and the budget year began in January, commissioners have added funding to pay for a manager and part-time employees. Money was also shifted from a grant account to help purchase fuel.

Walker said based on six months of revenue for 2016, the airport expects to generate about $31,300 in revenue in 2017. The net balance for the airports spending would be $147,640.
Andy Foster is the director of Inspiration Ministries of Auburn, a nonprofit organization in place to assist men and women transitioning out of prison and being reintegrated back into society and the work force. Foster runs a coffeeshop downtown, The Cupbearer Cafe, that helps sustain the ministry.
Minnesota boaters and non-resident anglers renewing their licenses will now need to sign a card affirming they know the states aquatic invasive species laws.

Watercraft owners and non-resident anglers must read and sign an affirmation during their regular license renewal, then keep it with them, along with their license. The affirmation demonstrates understanding that Minnesota law requires license holders to:

Clean aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species from watercraft.

Drain lake or river water from all equipment and keep drain plugs out during transport.

Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash, not in the water.

Do your part in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species and the recreational, environmental and economic harm they cause.

Details about the affirmation and other measures that support Minnesotas aquatic invasive species laws are at www.mndnr.gov/affirmation.
TOMAH  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 lives 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.

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.

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
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WAUSAU, Wis. (AP)  Chong Lee remembers the explosion that took his arm. Its 1968 and a group of Hmong children chase each other in the shade of the Laotian jungles that are their backyard. Their laughter, echoing through the village, is cut short by a loud explosion. Then another.

A mere 12 feet away from them, another bomb falls from the sky and shatters the ground to pieces. A fragment of the mortar shell hurls through the air and lodges itself in 5-year-old Lees left arm before slicing through it completely.

His shrieks bring adults running and before they can even ask what happened the village is in complete chaos. The Vietnamese are here! someone screams before running off to help others escape. Lees family carries him through the frantic crowds to a Thai hospital above their village to try and save his arm. After attempting to wrap it and watching it hang limply by his side, the doctor determines it cant be saved. The boys arm is cut off and thrown away before Chong can even react.

When youre that young, he said, you dont remember much, other than what adults are telling you to do.

Lee recalls adjusting to his new life without his arm on the run, as his displaced family struggled to find relief in refugee camps in Thailand before eventually making it to the U.S. and settling in Wausau in 1990.

Looking at Lee now, youd never guess the kinds of hardships hes had to endure. In fact, you might not see him at all. As a small man with kind, bright eyes, Lee is used to working behind the scenes. He began taking English as a Second Language classes at age 22 and after a brief period at home, began working in the cleaning business. That eventually lead him to cleaning schools and three years ago he joined the custodial staff of Wausau East High, where he met English language teacher George Hagge.

Hagge and Lee formed a relationship and began chatting after school daily. Lees cheerful disposition and sense of humor despite seeing so much tragedy, drew him to Hagge who had seen Lee working in the hallways one-handed several times. After a year of friendship, he felt comfortable enough asking Lee what had happened to his arm.

Lee told him about the mortar shell and mentioned he had gotten a prosthetic arm seven years prior, but it was too heavy and uncomfortable for him to wear. Hagge realized something could be done about Lees situation.

Hagge came across Walkabout Orthotics & Prosthetics in Wausau who had a much more lightweight alternative for Lees outdated prosthetic. The new arm would connect at the shoulder and be a mirrored cast of his right arm. But when it came time to check for insurance coverage on the arm, his insurance company had already paid for the first one and wasnt going to cover a second.

I figured we could do something about this, he said.

Hagge, who also advises the Youth Culture Club at Wausau East, brought the idea of fundraising to cover the cost of the new arm to his students and everyone was on board. The YCC is a school-wide social club that every member of the school is a part of simply by being a student. Hagge started the club when he first began teaching at the school in 1988 primarily as a way to get refugees to participate in activities with American teenagers, but also as a way to offer students a chaperoned entrance into things they had never done before. Even all four of Lees children who attended Wausau East were able to get to know Hagge and participate in YCC.

Hes done so much for our Hmong kids, said Lee, and he is a very good teacher.

In order to raise the $2,500 for Lees prosthetic, students volunteered at places around town, made 2,000 egg rolls for the annual Cultural Arts Festival of East and received generous contributions from other faculty and staff at the high school.

Last spring, Lee was fitted for the prosthetic. Walkabout cast his right hand and created a mirrored prosthetic for his left hand. He got the arm in Sept. 2015 and was allowed to use it before payment while funds were still being raised.

In May 2016, after a successful CAFE event, students had enough money to cover the cost. At a school-wide event, student leaders from the YCC presented Walkabout with a check for Lees arm.

Hagge retired this year and although he loved many aspects of his 27-year career, hes been glad to have experienced the many cultures that enlivened his classroom.

It has been an honor to be a part of the Hmong community. Theres so many different groups with which Ive worked and it has been the most wonderful job with some of the most wonderful, kind people.

As for Lee, with memories of the Vietnam War fading into his past, he will continue working at Wausau East and is extremely grateful for all that Hagge has done.

I got a new hand, he said, it helps me do my job (and) many other things. But the most important thing is giving thanks to Mr. Hagge. I appreciate what he did.

Lee used a Hmong idiom in order to communicate fully how highly he thinks of Hagge: Nws yog ib tug neeg siab zoo.

He is a person with a good heart.
In the wake of last weeks attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., that left 49 people dead and 53 wounded, President Barack Obama renewed his call for gun control and chided Republicans for insisting on attributing the murders to radical Islam.

There is no magic to the phrase radical Islam. Its a political talking point, not a strategy, Obama said in an address Tuesday, later adding, We are now seeing how dangerous this kind of mindset and this kind of thinking can be.

But Republican leaders  and presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump  have pushed back. President Obama disgracefully refused to even say the words radical Islam. For that reason alone, he should step down, Trump said in a statement.

Does the language matter? Do American leaders understand who the enemy is? Ben Boychuk and Joel Mathis weigh in.

Joel Mathis

Does President Obama know who the enemy is? What a perfectly ridiculous question. Hes the president who oversaw the killing of Osama bin Laden, after all. And hes spent the majority of his presidency quietly overseeing a drone war to assassinate militants  in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere  hes judged pose a threat to the United States.

The drone war has problems: Far too many innocents have been killed, and theres reason to believe the targeting process could use a few more checks and balances. But Obamas actions indicate that hes more than sufficiently aware of the dangers posed by terrorists and more than willing to take the fight to them.

So why doesnt he use the phrase radical Islam? Because hes interested in protecting Americans.

The Islamic State and other militant groups want the broader Muslim world to believe it is in a civilizational war with the West. The rhetoric of Trump and his fellow Republicans who demand the president say radical Islam aids their cause immeasurably.

When we use loose language that appears to pose a civilizational conflict between the West and Islam, or the modern world and Islam, then we make it harder, not easier, for our friends and allies and ordinary people to resist and push back against the worst impulses inside the Muslim world, Obama said recently.

This is not a thought of Obamas alone, the journalist Jeffrey Goldberg  who has his own criticisms of Obama  wrote recently. Based on my own conversations at the Pentagon and in the intelligence community, I can say with reasonable certainty that there are no senior-level national security professionals in the U.S. who believe that it is in Americas best interest to risk making Islam itself the enemy.

Get that? Obama has the national security establishment on his side on this issue. Its not because theyre namby-pamby peaceniks. Its also worth noting: President George W. Bush took almost exactly the same approach, for exactly the same reason.

Its often the case that Republicans prize faux-toughness  and scoring political points against Democrats  over smarts in protecting Americans from violence. Thats simply foolish.

Ben Boychuk

President Obama is wrong. What the phrase radical Islam may lack in magic  as the president put it  it more than makes up in the one thing missing most from U.S. counterterrorism strategy these past 15 years: clarity.

Clarity  as opposed to mealy-mouthed condescension. Clarity  as opposed to politically correct rhetoric and bureaucratic obfuscation.

Clarity  and not the overly cautious, timid, infantilizing line that the U.S. government has taken since the 9/11 attacks made it obvious for anyone with eyes to see that we are at war with a distinct group of people with distinctive beliefs.

Never before in our history has the United States fought a foreign war against an abstraction. The Revolutionary War was war for independence from Great Britain. The War of 1812 was a war against British encroachments against American sovereignty. World War I was a war against German imperialism. World War II was a war against expansionist German National Socialism, Italian fascism and Japanese imperialism.

And this war? It used to be the global war on terror, which was bad enough. In 2013, Obama ended that war and redefined the current conflict as a series of persistent, targeted efforts to dismantle specific networks of violent extremists that threaten America.

It just so happens that those specific networks of violent extremists fight under the banner of violent Islamic jihad. Why not just say so?

Adjectives are important. The enemy is radical Islam or militant Islam or jihadi Islam. Not Islam simply. Not all Muslims. Unless, of course, you think that Islam simply is all of those things.

Our enemy knows why he fights. He declares his philosophy openly. He justifies his atrocities citing chapter and verse from the Quran and the recorded sayings and traditions of Muhammad known as the Hadith. He does not deny the imperialist strain of militant Islam in history; rather, he celebrates it.

Our enemy is clear. In the absence of clarity, were left with the sort of blinkered and insipid commentary over the past week that places the blame for a radical Muslims murderous attack on a gay nightclub on transphobia, Evangelical Christianity and the National Rifle Association. Its insane.
A crew member takes part in a fire drill on China's largest and most advanced patrol vessel Haixun 01 on the South China Sea, April 4, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Japan asks China to respect "freedom of navigation" when it talks about the South China Sea. But that freedom does not apply to other waters.

When China's naval ships passed by waters close to Japan (one frigate off China's Diaoyu Islands on June 9 and the other vessel through the Tokara Strait on June 15), Japan summoned China's ambassador in Tokyo to lodge a protest and criticized China for the "heightened tension" in the East China Sea.

Japan said the first Chinese warship was in its contiguous zone and the second in its territorial waters.

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea states have limited enforcement rights within the contiguous zone.

"For Japan, there was thus no basis under UNCLOS to protest about the Chinese ship, as there are no restrictions on passage through the contiguous zone," Steven Stashwick, a former US naval officer, wrote in Japan Times.

As for second Chinese warship's innocent passage, Japanese officials and media highlighted the territorial watersunder international law the area within 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) from a nation's land borderbut made no mention of the Tokara Strait which the Chinese vessel sailed through.

Under UNCLOS, the Tokara Strait off southwest Japan's Kagoshima prefecture is a passage used for international navigation. Foreign ships are entitled to innocent passage through those waters so long as they do so peacefully and pose no threat to the country with sovereignty.

Japan called China's two innocent passages provocation. "We are concerned about recent Chinese military activities which escalate situations," said Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.

Yet while Japan played up the "tension" caused by China's naval ships and was on "heightened alert", it did not say the same of Russia when two of its warships also passed through Japan's contiguous zone on June 9.

Japan claimed that it has different approaches to deal with Russia and China because Russia has no territorial claims in East China Sea. But Japan has played down the presence of the Russian ships for a purpose.

Japan and Russia will hold talks in Tokyo on Wednesday on their territorial row over the islands that Japan calls the Northern Territories and Russia the Southern Kurils. The islets are now under Russia's administration. The territorial row between Japan and Russia has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty till now.

In defiance of US President Barack Obama's appeal in February for him not to visit Russia, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Sochi in May for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Japan is eager to advance the territorial talks ahead of a proposed Abe-Putin meeting in Vladivostok in September.

Japan supported the United States when its biggest ally sent several warships to patrol around China's islands in South China Sea. And Japan has been all out to internationalize the South China Sea issue as Japanese officials say their government aims to protest against Chinese maritime advance at various international forums.

Japan's conflicting responses to China, Russia and the US highlight the triple standards in its foreign policy. The country's disregard of international law will hamper the freedom of navigation in the Western Pacific.

The author is China Daily Tokyo bureau chief. caihong@chinadaily.com.cn
Ocooch Dairy near Hillsboro hosted the 36th Vernon County Dairy Breakfast on Saturday, June 18.

Mother Nature cooperated for the host Mlsna family with sunny skies and warm temperatures, as approximately 1,700 people attended the event.

This was only the fourth time in the Vernon County Dairy Breakfast history that the event has been held in Hillsboro since it began in 1978.

Ocooch Dairy, located at E16843 Kouba Valley Rd., five miles west of Hillsboro, is one of Vernon Countys largest dairy farms, consisting of 1,125 acres of land and 700 milking cows.

The farm is owned and operated by Jim Mlsna, along with his five children, Jacqui (Davison), Stacy (Sosinsky), Peter, Thomas and Tony. The farm operates year-round and employs 25 full- and part-time team members, including its six family members.

When Jim Mlsna purchased the farm in 1978, he was also a licensed large-animal veterinarian and continued his practice for many years along with the farming operation, until a series of unfortunate work-related accidents forced him to choose his true passion in life, farming, over a thriving business in veterinary medicine.

Today he holds the title of general manager for the farm and handles the veterinary work; daughters, Jacqui and Stacy, care for the farms calves and heifers; Peter manages the farms 20 employees, as well as field work and maintenance; Tony oversees feeding and crop management; and Thomas oversees wildlife management.

Jim got choked up as he introduced and thanked his family, as well as the entire community, for working together and allowing Ocooch Dairy to host the dairy breakfast. He said it takes four virtues to keep the family business going, faith, hope, patience and love and it took the entire community working together to make the dairy breakfast happen. The family also presented a special award to Don Hubbard, the farms longtime milk hauler.

Guest speaker for the program was Viterbo Universitys Master of Arts in Servant Leadership Director, Thomas Thibodeau. He spoke about the importance of the dairy industry.

Farmers are peacemakers that know how to care for one another and people that serve the land, serve the country, Thibodeau said.

Outgoing 2015 Vernon County Dairy Promotion royalty and sisters Brianna and Krista Hall, of Westby, relinquished their crowns to the 2016 Princess, Mikayla Lepke, the daughter of Mark and Theresa Lepke was crowned. Joining Lepke in promoting the dairy industry throughout the year will be a trio of cousins and newly crowned Vernon County Dairy Promotion attendants, Bekka Bast, the daughter of Kristine Bekkadal and Tracy Bast of Viroqua; Lexi Wagemester, the daughter of Steve and Sara Wagemester of Viroqua; and Karly Anderson, the daughter of Rob and Kari Anderson of Westby.

Besides a hearty breakfast served by volunteers, events on the grounds included wagon and self-guided farm tours of the property; a souped-up tractor pull by the American Mini Pullers Club; a family photo booth; music by COW 97; health and information booths; plus kids activities and a petting zoo.

MedLink Air also made a short stop on the farm and drew a nice crowd of visitors who stopped by to check the flying medical center.

The 2017 Vernon County Dairy Breakfast will move to the other end of the county being hosted at Hamburg Hills farm, outside of Chaseburg on Co. K.

The farm is owned by Tim and Lisa Servais and family. The date of the 2017 event has not been announced.
The President of the European Union says members must deal with dissatisfaction in Europe whether Britain decides to leave the EU or not.

Donald Tusk spoke Monday in Lisbon, Portugal. According to the Associated Press, he said, "Whatever its result is going to be, we must take a long, hard look on the future."

He said, "we would be foolish if we ignored such a warning signal as the UK referendum."

The popular vote, or referendum, will take place on June 23. British citizens will vote on whether their country will remain an EU member.

Dissatisfaction in the EU has been growing every year among long-time members, such as the Netherlands and France. New eastern European members, such as Poland and Hungary, have also seen anti-EU feelings grow.

Tusk said, "There are more signals of dissatisfaction with the Union coming from all of Europe, not only from the UK."

The EUs biggest economies, Germany and France, hope that British citizens will vote to remain in the union.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Europe would in his words, lose more than just a country. We would be losing the history and traditions of Great Britain in the European Union."

He said, "Europe would be much poorer if Britain leaves."

Frances Foreign Minister spoke to reporters at an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Luxembourg Monday. Jean-Marc Ayrault noted the importance of the vote for all of Europe, not only Britain.

In his words, "all Europeans are looking to the British people, because we have - history reminds us - a long life in common."

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond also spoke Monday. He said "there will be no going back" if Britain decides to leave the European Union.

He said Britain could never rejoin the EU except on terms that would not be acceptable to the country.

He said such terms could include sharing a common EU currency or taking part in the Schengen Agreement for passport-free travel.

British public opinion appears to be turning toward staying in the EU, especially after the murder last week of British lawmaker Jo Cox. The Labour Party politician had been an opponent of the Brexit effort and a supporter of refugees and immigrants.

The marketing company ComRes in London told VOA that support between the sides is about equal. However, the head of the company, Andrew Hawkins, said the movement to leave lost some support after the killing.

Both sides in the referendum stopped campaigning after the deadly attack.

Im Caty Weaver.

The Associated Press reported this story from London with additional reporting by Luis Ramirez for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

referendum n. a popular vote on a law that usually deals with a single issue

xenophobia n. a state of fear or anger directed at foreigners

poster n. a large printed message put in a public place to gain attention for a cause or as an advertisement

remind  v. to make (someone) think about something again : to cause (someone) to remember something

currency  n. the money that a country uses : a specific kind of money


Orlando gunman Omar Mateen called himself an Islamic soldier and praised God in Arabic during the attack at the Pulse gay nightclub, according to 911 call transcripts released Monday.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation released parts of the transcripts of calls Mateen made during the June 12 shooting.

Audio was not made public. Officials said it would be too painful for victims of the shooting and their families to hear.

FBI Special Agent Ron Hopper said the calls showed the gunman acted in a chilling, calm and deliberate manner.

I let you know, I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings, Mateen said in his first call to a 911 dispatcher at 2:35 a.m., about 30 minutes after he began shooting.

During the call, the killer also spoke Arabic to the dispatcher and said, Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God.

Mateen was shot dead by police during the attack on the popular gay nightclub that left 49 people dead and 53 injured. The attack was the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history

The transcripts left out the names of groups and individuals Mateen praised during the calls. But authorities previously said he pledged allegiance to Islamic State and its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Special Agent Hopper said the names were left out to avoid giving credibility and publicity to other attackers. He said, We see no value in putting those individuals names back out there. Were trying to prevent future acts from happening again and for cowards like this one, people like that influence them.

U.S. Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan criticized the decision to edit the transcripts and called on the Justice Department to release the full text.

Selectively editing this transcript is preposterous. We know the shooter was a radical Islamist extremist inspired by [Islamic State], Ryan said in a statement. We also know he intentionally targeted the LGBT community. The administration should release the full, unredacted transcript so the public is clear-eyed about who did this, and why.

At 2:48 a.m., Mateen began one of three conversations with crisis negotiators. During these calls, he identified himself as an Islamic soldier. He again pledged his allegiance to Islamic State and demanded an end to U.S. bombing in Syria and Iraq, saying that was why he was out here right now.

When the negotiator asked what he had done, Mateen answered, No, you already know what I did.

New timeline details

The transcripts also provide some new information about the timeline for the attack.

Within six minutes of the first emergency call to police at 2:02 a.m. that shots were fired, Orlando Police Department officers arrived at the nightclub and exchanged gunfire with Mateen.

A SWAT team was called to the scene at 2:18 a.m. About two hours later, officers pulled an air conditioning unit out of a window at the nightclub and helped some people escape.

At 4:29 a.m., victims told police Mateen had threatened to put four explosive vests on people within 15 minutes. He also told police he had put explosives in a vehicle outside the nightclub. You people are gonna get it, and Im gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid, he said. No bombs or vests were found.

At 5:02 a.m., SWAT officers and a hazardous materials team broke through a wall of the nightclub with an armored vehicle.

At 5:15, Orlando police said they had killed Mateen.

The FBI said that during the three hours between the initial gun battle with Mateen and the final assault by SWAT, no shots were fired inside the nightclub. During this time, police said they were going inside to rescue as many victims as possible.

Im Bryan Lynn.

Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Additional information came from the Associated Press and Reuters. Hai Do was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Editor's Note: The FBI released the full transcript of the 911 call from Omar Mateen later in the day. Orlando Police Dispatcher (OD)

Omar Mateen (OM) OD: Emergency 911, this is being recorded.

OM: In the name of God the Merciful, the beneficent [Arabic]

OD: What?

OM: Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God [Arabic]. I wanna let you know, Im in Orlando and I did the shootings.

OD: Whats your name?

OM: My name is I pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the Islamic State.

OD: Ok, Whats your name?

OM: I pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may God protect him [Arabic], on behalf of the Islamic State.

OD: Alright, where are you at?

OM: In Orlando.

OD: Where in Orlando?

[End of call.] (Shortly thereafter, the shooter engaged in three conversations with OPDs Crisis Negotiation Team.)

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

transcript  n. a written or printed version of words that were spoken

dispatcher  n. person who takes emergency calls and sends police or rescue services

allegiance  n. loyalty to a person, country, group

propagate  v. to make known to many people

cowards  n. person lacking courage to do what is right

preposterous  adj. lacking reason or common sense

unredacted  adj. full version of a document that has not been edited or altered

assault  n. a physical attack

hazardous  adj. risky and dangerous
Iranian state media say intelligence officials have stopped a terrorist plot in the country.

The reports say it was one of the biggest attacks ever planned against the capital Tehran and other provinces in the Islamic Republic.

In a statement, the intelligence ministry said it had arrested several suspects and seized bombs and ammunition. Officials are questioning the suspects. The statement provided few other details.

Irans Supreme National Security Council chief reportedly said the attack was planned for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Irans state-run IRNA news agency reported the intelligence ministry said the attack had been set for the anniversary of the death of the Prophet Muhammads wife, Khadija. Iranians held small ceremonies on Thursday in honor of the anniversary.

The IRNA report called those who had been arrested Wahhabi takfiris. Takfiris is an insulting word in the Arabic and Farsi languages for Muslims who accuse others of being nonbelievers.

Iranian officials often use the word when they talk about supporters of the Sunni militant Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.

Wahhabism is a very conservative form of Islam practiced mostly in Saudi Arabia.

Iran is a Shiite Muslim country. It has been fighting the Islamic State and helping both Syria and Iraq fight the group.

Tensions have been growing between Iran and Saudi Arabia since January. That month, Saudi officials executed a Shiite Muslim clergyman who had criticized the government.

Iranians protested the killing in Tehran, setting fire to the Saudi Embassy there.

Recently, Iran announced it would not be sending people to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage. It said Saudi Arabia did not meet its requests for better security for Iranian visitors.

Im Anna Matteo.

The Associated Press news agency reported this story from Tehran and the United Arab Emirates. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

practice  v. to live according to the customs and teachings of a religion

pilgrimage  n. a journey to a holy place
Some smartphone shoppers are looking for phones with the best possible specs, a software experience that meets their needs, or an attractive price point. But there are at least some people interested in a phone that puts ethical considerations front and center.

The Fairphone 2 is easy to take apart and repair, in order to let you hold onto your phone for longer. A portion of the sales price goes to a worker welfare fund that helps the people who actually manufacture the device. And Fairphone builds the phones using materials from conflict-free sources wherever possible.

When I spoke with Fairphones Daria Koreniushkina for the LPX Show podcast in March, she told me that the Fairphone 2 wasnt actually a 100-percent fair phone yet, because it wasnt possible to solely use conflict-free materials. But now the company says that its taken a major step.

Fairphone says it now has traceable supply chains for all four internationally-recognized conflict minerals.

Tantalum, tin, tungsten, and gold are considered conflict minerals, because theyre often mined in regions where there are armed conflicts and abuse of workers. Proceeds from sales of these materials often funds further conflict.

One of the key goals of the Fairphone project was to produce phones that dont fund those conflicts and so the company has been working with international partners to mines that offer better conditions for workers and which do not provide money to groups engaging in armed conflicts.

Now Fairphone says it has made arrangements to procure tungsten from a mine in Rwanda that meets those conditions, and that starting in August, some of the tungsten used in the companys phones will come from that phone. Fairphone already conflict-free tantalum, tin, and tungsten sources.

The company isnt promising that all the materials used in its phone will be conflict-free, but at least some of the minerals are now coming from conflict-free sources and about 50 percent of the tungsten used in production of new Fairphone 2 smartphones is coming from recycled sources.

Fairphone is a fairly small company in the grand scheme of things. Its been a year since the Fairphone 2 was announced, and the company only celebrated the sale of its 100,000th phone a few weeks ago. But at least Fairphone is showing that its possible to take ethical considerations into account when making a complex consumer electronics device like a smartphone.

The Fairphone 2 is available for purchase in Europe for 529 (about $600).
It looks like HP and Lenovo are both planning to launch new Chromebooks with Intel Braswell processors soon. Brent Sullivan dug up some information about an unannounced Lenovo N22 Chromebook with a touchscreen display recently, and Notebook Italia spotted an HP document for the companys new Chromebook 11 G5.

Both laptops feature 11.6 inch displays, and its likely that theyre both aimed at the education market.

Update: HP has officially introduced the Chromebook 11 G5 with an optional touchscreen display and a starting price of $189.

HP Chromebook 11 G5

About half a year after launching the HP Chromebook 11 G4, it looks like HP has a new model with a similar design, but a newer processor and a slightly lighter body.

The HP Chromebook 11 G5 features an 11.6 inch, 1366 x 768 pixel display, an Intel Celeron N3060 processor, 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2, three USB 3.1 ports, an HDMI 1.4 port, headset jack, a micro SD card reader, and 720p webcam. The notebook has a 43.7 Wh battery.

HP will offer models with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage or 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and theres an optional touchscreen display.

HP says the Chromebook 11 G5 measures 0.72 inches thick and that the touchscreen version of the laptop weighs 2.6 pounds, while the non-touch version is 2.5 pounds.

Lenovo N22 Chromebook

Lenovo launched an education-oriented N22 Chromebook earlier this year, but Evans found details about a new model with 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, an Intel Celeron N3050 processor, and a touchscreen IPS display.

Internet retailer is showing a $274 price for the new touchscreen model.
Los Angeles: Anton Yelchin, a rising actor best known for playing Chekov in the new Star Trek films, was killed by his own car as it rolled down his driveway early Sunday, police and his publicist said.

The car pinned Yelchin, 27, against a brick mailbox pillar and a security fence at his home in Los Angeles, Officer Jenny Hosier said. He had gotten out of the vehicle momentarily, but police did not say why he was behind it when it started rolling.

Yelchin was on his way to meet friends for a rehearsal, Hosier said. When he didn't show up, the group came to his home and found him dead.

The freak accident tragically cuts short the promising career of an actor whom audiences were still getting to know and who had great artistic ambition. Star Trek Beyond, the third film in the rebooted series, comes out in July.

Director JJ Abrams, who cast Yelchin in the franchise, wrote in a statement that he was "brilliant... kind... funny as hell, and supremely talented."

His death was felt throughout the industry.

"He was a ferocious movie buff who put us all to shame," said Gabe Klinger, who directed Yelchin in the upcoming film "Porto," likely to be released this fall. "He was watching four or five movies every night  silent movies."

Yelchin began acting as a child, taking small roles in independent films and various television shows, such as ER, The Practice, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. His breakout big-screen role came opposite Anthony Hopkins in 2001's Hearts in Atlantis.

He transitioned into teen roles in films such as the crime thriller Alpha Dog and the comedy Charlie Bartlett. He also played a young Kyle Reese in 2009's Terminator Salvation.

Yelchin, an only child, was born in Russia. His parents were professional figure skaters who moved the family to the United States when Yelchin was a baby. He briefly flirted with skating lessons, too, before discovering that he wasn't very skilled on the ice. That led him to acting class.

"I loved the improvisation part of it the most, because it was a lot like just playing around with stuff. There was something about it that I just felt completely comfortable doing and happy doing," Yelchin told The Associated Press in 2011 while promoting the romantic drama Like Crazy." He starred opposite Felicity Jones.

"(My father) still wanted me to apply to college and stuff, and I did," Yelchin said. "But this is what I wanted."

The discipline that Yelchin learned from his athlete parents translated into his work as an actor, which he treated with seriousness and professionalism, said Klinger, the director.

He drew on his Russian roots for his role as the heavily accented navigator Chekov in the Star Trek films, his most high-profile to date.

"What's great about him is he can do anything. He's a chameleon. He can do bigger movies or smaller, more intimate ones," Like Crazy director Drake Doremus told the AP in 2011. "There are a lot of people who can't, who can only do one or the other. ... That's what blows my mind."

Yelchin seemed to fit in anywhere in Hollywood. He could do big sci-fi franchises and vocal work in The Smurfs, while also appearing in more eccentric and artier fare, like Jim Jarmusch's vampire film Only Lovers Left Alive and Jeremy Saulnier's horror thriller Green Room, a cult favorite that came out earlier this year.

Klinger recalled a conversation with Jarmusch about Yelchin before Klinger cast him in Porto.

"Jim was like, 'Watch out. Anton read Dostoyevsky when he was like 11 years old!'" Klinger said.

The director said that for Yelchin, every film was an opportunity to learn and study more. He admired Nicolas Cage's laser-focus on the Paul Schrader film Dying of the Light and also got to work with one of his acting heroes, Willem Dafoe, on the film Odd Thomas.

"He used to refer to Willem as an artist, not an actor," Klinger said. "That's the kind of actor he aspired to be, where people didn't regard him as an actor, they regarded him as an artist."

Yelchin's publicist, Jennifer Allen, confirmed his death and said his family requests privacy.
In an apparent effort to divert the attention and calm down investor sentiment after Raghurajan Rajan fiasco, the government on Monday announced big reforms in FDI, as reported by CNBC-TV 18, notably in aviation, pharmaceuticals, defence and food processing sectors, further opening the doors for the inflow of enhanced overseas capital.

The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office with an eye on creating more jobs, improving infrastructure and making the investment climate in the country more conducive for attracting foreign investment and technology.

These decisions were taken at a high-level meeting here on Monday, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Now most of the sectors would be under automatic approval route, except a small negative list. With these changes, India is now the most open economy in the world for FDI," said an official statement.

This is the second major reform in the FDI space. The Centre in last November had significantly relaxed the foreign investment regime.

Trading of food products manufactured or produced in India, including through e-commerce, is allowed to get 100 percent FDI under the government approval route.

In defence, as of now, 49 percent FDI under automatic route is allowed. Above 49 percent is permitted through government approval on case to case basis, wherever it is likely to result in access to modern and state-of-art technology in the country.

The government will now permit foreign equity beyond 49 percent through government approval route, in cases resulting in access to modern technology in the country or for other reasons to be recorded.

"The condition of access to state-of-art technology in the country has been done away with," the release said.

Also, FDI limit for the sector has also been made applicable to manufacturing of small arms and ammunitions covered under Arms Act 1959.

In the pharma sector, up to 74 percent FDI will be permitted under automatic route in brownfield projects and government approval route beyond 74 percent will continue.

As of now, 100 percent FDI is allowed in pharma under automatic route in greenfield projects and up to 100 percent under government approval in brownfield projects.

In the aviation, 100 percent FDI is allowed under automatic route in scheduled Air Transport Service/ Domestic Scheduled Passenger Airline and regional Air Transport Service. In this, FDI up to 49 percent is permitted under automatic route and FDI beyond 49 percent through government approval.

For NRIs, 100% FDI will continue to be allowed under automatic route. However, foreign airlines would continue to be allowed to invest in capital of Indian companies operating scheduled and non-scheduled air-transport services up to the limit of 49% of their paid up capital and subject to the laid down conditions in the existing policy.

The government has also decided to relax local sourcing norms up to three years and a relaxed sourcing regime for another five years for entities undertaking single brand retail trading of products having state-of-art and cutting edge technology. This essentially means such single brand retailing companies will get an eight-year leeway on 30 percent sourcing from local companies.

This relaxation will help Apple, the US-based maker of iPhones and iPads, to open its stores in India. On 21 May, Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook had met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the possibilities of manufacturing and tapping the young talent pool in the country.

On his maiden visit to India as Apple CEO, Cook also discussed with Modi issues regarding cyber-security and data encryption.

The company has been pushing to sell refurbished iPhones in India, which may help in making its devices more affordable to a larger audience.

It had also said that it was not in a position to comply with the 30 percent compulsory local sourcing norm to set up its stores in India.

While the finance ministry was not in favour relaxing local sourcing for Apple, the commerce ministry did not want the iPhone maker to sell refurbished handsets in the country.

With the latest development, both ministries seem to have reached a consensus on the issue.

With IANS/PTI
New Delhi: Did the Modi government time liberalisation of FDI caps across crucial sectors to lessen the impact of some other developments over the weekend? Namely, has the decision of the RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan to call it quits in September and not accept a second term played the part in Monday's crucial FDI-related announcement? Analysts had been issuing dire warnings of a complete bloodbath in the equity and currency markets this morning, the first trading day after the Rajan bombshell. But some sensible decisions by the equity market players and then the FDI announcement queered the pitch. It is all about timing, surely.

That the government was keen to ease FDI caps across some sectors, as reported by CNBC-TV 18, was known for some time but there was not even a whisper in the corridors of power about the wide sweep this reform would take. With one fell swoop, the Modi government seems to have shut up critics who carped on the lack of big bang reforms. This is as big a bang as it gets.

The Civil Aviation industry was one of the most surprised with the government's largesse, since just last week it had seen the unveiling of the Civil Aviation Policy which quietly removed any reference to a hike in FDI caps for airlines, something that was very much a part of the policy draft. Sources in the know said there had been enough indications that FDI would be liberalised but the government did not want it to become part of the civil aviation policy document.

Though Prime Minister Modi held a crucial meeting of his top ministers this morning where the FDI decisions were taken, no one really had an inkling about the issues the ministers had deliberated upon. Commerce Minister Nirmala Seetharaman was running late for a pre-scheduled interaction with journalists at the Indian Women's Press Corps this afternoon. When asked what held her up, the minister said that the Prime Minister was holding a meeting.

"He seeks views on different subjects" she said almost in a whisper when pressed further. When asked specifically about her reaction to governor Rajan's exit and then her views on government planning to relax sourcing norms for Apple, she wisely parried. Seetharaman had just finished her interaction when the FDI announcement was made through a government press release.

Among the most significant changes to the FDI regime announced today is a relaxation in sourcing norms for single brand stores, which means Apple can breathe easy. Niti Ayong CEO Amitabh Kant said in a chat with CNBC-TV18 that Apple now will not have to comply with local sourcing norms for three years and then five more years, giving it an 8-year window. He said the phone maker need not apply afresh and its existing application will be considered for allowing relaxed local sourcing norms.

Here are the FDI announcements and their possible implications:

1) Single brand retail: Relaxed local sourcing norms up to three years and a relaxed sourcing regime for another five years for entities undertaking Single Brand Retail Trading of products having state-of-art and cutting edge technology. Apple suits this definition to the T, therefore making it the biggest beneficiary of this liberalisation. Kant said that there was a clear definition of what comprised 'state-of-the-art' and 'cutting edge' as a committee of Niti Ayog officials had specified these parameters. This should encourage local sourcing of high tech stuff in India.

2) Defence: Presently 49 percent FDI participation in the equity of a defence company under automatic route is allowed; FDI above 49% is permitted through government approval on case to case basis, wherever it is likely to result in access to modern and state-of-the-art technology in the country. But now, foreign investment beyond 49 percent has been permitted through government approval route, in cases resulting in access to modern technology and the condition of access to state-of-the-art technology has been done away with. This should encourage local defence manufacturing and increased supplies of locally manufactured goods to the government. Since the government still retains control over FDI beyond 49 percent by approval, it means local manufacturers of defence equipment need not worry, their interests would be protected as well.

3) Civil Aviation: 100 percent FDI under automatic route permitted in brownfield airport projects. For airlines, 100 percent FDI allowed now with FDI up to 49 percent permitted under the automatic route and beyond 49 percent through government approval. However, foreign airlines would continue to be allowed to invest in capital of Indian companies operating scheduled and non-scheduled air-transport services up to 49 percent of their paid up capital only.

On the face of it, it seems the government had left foreign airlines drooling over the prospect of owning Indian carriers but it is possible that by teaming up with sovereign funds or other investment arms of their own countries, foreign airlines are able to buy up a substantial chunk of an Indian airline or even an entire airline. If this happens, existing Indian airlines will have a chance to sell out in case the promoters want an exit, while it could also lead to powerful global airlines arriving in India to either setup an airline from scratch or buy out/partner an existing airline.

4) Pharma: Already, 100 percent FDI under automatic route is permitted in greenfield pharma and up to 100 percent under government approval in brownfield pharma companies. Now, up to 74% under the automatic route will be allowed in brownfield pharmaceuticals. This could increase investments in India's pharma sector.

FDI caps have also been eased in food products made in India, broadcasting carriage services, private security agencies and animal husbandry sectors. The official release said measures undertaken by the government till now have resulted in increased FDI inflows at $55.46 billion in 2015-16 from $36.04 billion during 2013-14. This is the highest ever FDI inflow for a particular financial year. Will the latest move, liberalising the caps in nine sectors in all, raise this figure substantially for FY17? This remains to be seen.
In the extraordinarily shrill debate that has followed Raghuram Rajan's announcement that he won't seek an extension of his tenure as RBI governor, one question that repeatedly crops up needs to be tackled: Is the central banker a public intellectual?

Let's expand this a little. Even if the central bank chief is a celebrated economic thinker who brings remarkable intellectual heft to the table, to what extent can that individual indulge in 'free-thinking' and keep on making intemperate statements on public forums which can be perceived as unduly critical of the government, considering that the RBI chief is also part of it?

We must be careful here. This is not to suggest that the head of the central bank should act as a government cheerleader. That is a ridiculous leap and is being used deliberately by a section of commentators to stonewall a legitimate question: Doesn't a very outspoken and contrarian RBI governor  who may be wonderfully capable  undermine the very institution that he represents when makes incendiary comments such as 'one-eyed king in the land of the blind' or issues tacit references to Hitler while talking about 'strong governments', etc.?

By publicly criticising the government on sensitive issues such as the 'intolerance' debate, doubting the GDP numbers or casting aspersions on Central policies such as Make in India, Rajan was performing his duty as a public intellectual but at the same time, he was transcending his role of being an independent, technocratic RBI governor heading a strong, semi-autonomous institution and becoming more of a political figure. By holding forth on issues that were clearly political in nature, the RBI governor was politicising the institution and making his seat vulnerable to political wrangling and that surely runs at odds with the purpose of his chair.

To recall, the RBI isn't really an autonomous institution. The Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, gives the government the power to direct it which also includes appointing the central bank governor and four deputies. The Act also allows the government to technically supersede the RBI if it is convinced that the central bank has failed to carry out its obligations.

The chair on which the central bank chief sits is meant for regulation, not to initiate public debate on the government's many faults, even if the holder is convinced that he has a strong case. At the end of the day, the government has the mandate of the people and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, not Dr Raghuram Rajan, is accountable to the electorate.

Once again, let us be clear that while Rajan is more than welcome to pillory the government  as most public intellectuals, members of the academia, civil society or the media regularly do  but he cannot do so on open platforms while holding on to his chair.

Does that mean that a man of such integrity, depth of knowledge and sagacity as Rajan should have acted as a pliant puppet to the Modi government? Does it automatically follow, when it is being said that his chair is not meant for public criticism, that Rajan should have made better use of a sellotape?

Absolutely not. As a universally acclaimed economist who thinks out of the box, the RBI governor could have provided valuable critiques to the government policies, told it where it is going wrong (like slowing down the issuing of Jan Dhan accounts, for instance) but he would have been far more effective and commanded more say without making the government needlessly antagonistic had he rendered such policy advice in private than in public.

As Pratap Bhanu Mehta pointed out in a recent Indian Express column, "Outsiders can provide critiques but there is nothing like a warning from within government to concentrate the mind. Institutionally and structurally, the RBI is the only counterweight left to perform this function. The government must recognise that this critique, inconvenient as it is, enhances the credibility of the system as a whole. And the economy is as much about credibility as anything."

But then to expect Rajan to play by the book is wishful thinking. A fiercely non-aligned thinker and a man who thinks little of political correctness before speaking his mind, Rajan, in 2005, as a professor at the University of Chicago's Booth Graduate School of Business, took down Alan Greenspan just as he was about to retire as America's most celebrated Federal Reserve chairman. And that too on an occasion where high-powered economists of the world had gathered to honour the outgoing central banker, a giant of 20th century's economic policy.

It was inevitable that Rajan would be his own man and also equally inevitable that he would leave the confines of a seat which restricts him from giving free air to his ideas. The development is unfortunate and the government could have shown more eagerness to retain him instead of putting him through the due process but to say, as some have, that Rajan's departure is an indication of Modi government's 'intolerance', is specious nonsense.

If the NDA government wanted a 'yes man' on Mint Street, the Finance Minister wouldn't have complemented Rajan's tight monetary policy with an equally strict fiscal discipline. And Modi government would have shown Rajan the door much before his term ended.
Patna: The Economic Offence Unit (EOU) of the Bihar police will probe the money trail and assets of the kingpin and key accused in the Bihar toppers scam, police said on Monday.

The kingpin of the class 12 toppers scam  Amit Kumar alias Bachcha Rai  and key accused Lalkeshwar Singh, former Chairman of Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB), and his wife Usha Sinha have been arrested.

Singh and his wife were arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Varanasi on Monday.

The EOU will now track the money power play of Rai, Singh and his wife and other accused persons involved in the scam, a police official said. "The SIT probing into the toppers scam, is taking help of EOU to reach out to their ill-gotten income and money," he said.

The EOU will look into the properties accumulated by Bachcha Rai, Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife Usha Sinha and other accused in the case, police said.

Last week, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) during raids at Rai's residence and premises of VR College, which he ran, recovered huge amounts of cash, jewellery and documents of landed property purchased by Rai.

According to reports, the VR College used to charge Rs 25,000-40,000 for ensuring students got first division and Rs 1 lakh and more for making them toppers in the examinations.

Rai also sold Class 12 certificates for Rs 5 lakh to those who never appeared in the examinations.

According to the SIT, so far 15 people have been arrested in the case.

The state government has set up an Economic Offences Unit (EOU) as a separate branch to deal with the cases of economic crimes.

Singh resigned from the post soon after his name cropped up in the scam. After that, he was missing nd said to be on the run.

Last Friday, the SIT moved a local court to declare Singh and his wife as proclaimed offenders. The state police had also moved the Ministry of External Affairs to cancel their passports. The police are likely to attach their immovable properties after the court declares them proclaimed offenders in the case.

Rai, during his questioning in police custody that ended on Sunday, said that he was close to Singh and his wife. Rai, director-cum-principal of VR College in Vaishali district, surrendered before police last week.

According to reports, the SIT has found evidences that suggest Singh had a role in the Class 12 merit list scam. Evidences also indicate the state education board's complicity in the Class 12 toppers' results.
Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh): The BJP has not given up Ram Temple and Article 370 issues and the party will focus on these at an appropriate time, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan said on Monday.

Stressing that BJP's top priority is 'Rashtriya Dharm', he said, "Ram Temple, Article 370 (which grants special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir) have not been left. Right now, the party is working on common programme of the alliance (NDA)."

"The party will work on the two issues at the appropriate time," the Union Science and Technology Minister said at the sidelines of 'Vikas Parv' programme here.

On reservation issue, Vardhan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already spoken on it.

The Union Minister also said the Centre, after holding talks with the states facing drought, has swiftly provided help to them.

The Central government led by Modi has in the last two years strengthened the country's economy, which was in a crippled state, he claimed, adding "Foreign investment, growth rate have risen manifold and the country's economy is back on track."

The NDA government has set an example by remaining corruption free in last two years. The country has progressed, prospered and is marching ahead to emerge as an economic power in the world, he added.
Pune: A court here on Monday granted the special investigation team probing the murder of CPI leader Govind Pansare to take the custody of Virendra Tawde, arrested in the Narendra Dabholkar murder case by CBI.

As Tawde's CBI custody expired, judicial magistrate VB Gulve Patil sent him to 14 days' judicial remand, and also permitted the state-appointed SIT to take his custody.

"We have got the permission to take custody. We will decide when to take his custody now," said Harshad Nimbalkar, the special prosecutor in Pansare case.

Tawde, an ENT doctor and a member of the conservative Hindu group Sanatan Sanstha, was likely to be arrested in the Pansare case, he said. "After taking his custody, SIT will first interrogate him and then decision will be taken on his arrest (in that case)," said advocate Nimbalkar.

CBI produced Tawde in the court as his five-day custody got over. It sought another four days' custody saying he was not cooperating and was trying to be "deceptive". As Tawde's wife was returning from London on Monday, CBI wanted to confront Tawde with her, its lawyer BP Raju said.

Raju also informed that CBI had found out 119 bank accounts of Sanatan Sanstha. Rudra Patil and Vinay Pawar, two of its members who are absconding, were signatory of some of these accounts, it said.

While Dabholkar, an anti-superstition crusader, was shot dead in Pune in August 2013, Pansare, known for his rationalist views, was murdered in Kolhapur in February 2015.

A book on spirituality written by Sanatan's founder Jayant Athavale criticises Dabholkar, advocate Raju said, citing some passages. He also cited a passage from 'Kshatra Dharma Sadhana', another of Athavale's book, which says a 'sadhak' (Sanatan's disciple) can eliminate an enemy by only chanting a few lines from the book.

Defence lawyer Sanjeev Punalekar opposed CBI's plea for further custody, saying Tawde had already spent 11 days in the agency's custody.

Tawde was arrested on June 10 from his Panvel residence. According to CBI, he was one of the conspirators and "brain" behind both Dabholkar and Pansare murders.

It was the first arrest in the case which the Maharashtra police failed to crack before it was transferred to CBI.

The SIT has arrested Sameer Gaikwad, a former Sanatan follower, in the Pansare murder case.

Reacting to Monday's development, Megha Pansare, the late CPI leader's daughter-in-law who had earlier requested the Maharashtra chief minister that the probe in this case too should be transferred to the CBI, said, "We are still firm on our request to hand over the case to CBI.

"So far investigation (by SIT) is not satisfactory," she said.

The Pansare family today met Additional Superintendent of Police Suhel Sharma who has taken over as in-charge in the case, she said.

Though Sharma assured them of speedy investigation, the family still wanted a CBI probe, Megha said.

The family was expecting a reply from the CM soon, she added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trouble with the RTI Act does not seem to get over. The Delhi University has rejected an RTI application seeking details about the prime minister's academic degree. This is the second time in the past few months that the university has refused to divulge details citing privacy concerns.

With the latest rejection, Kejriwal has already stated that the mystery around the prime minister's degree has deepened. This may very well be the start of a new political slugfest.

Firstpost spoke to Shailesh Gandhi, former Central Information Commissioner and eminent RTI activist, on the degree row and the political misuse of the tool.

DU has rejected another RTI application which sought PM Modi's degree credentials citing privacy concerns. Your reactions?

What has happened is unfortunate. DU's action was legally wrong. Seeking educational information is not barred under the RTI. In the R Rajgopal versus State of Tamil Nadu case, the Supreme Court has clearly said that information regarding public servants is open to the public. Only information that can affect public decency and morality is barred. There is no issue of privacy here. It shows that people are ill-informed about RTI.

Arvind Kejriwal too invoked the RTI for procuring information regarding Modis degrees. Was he right in doing so or is it breach of privacy?



First of all, the controversy over Modis educational qualification was a non-issue blown out of proportion. However, I would completely disagree that it is a breach of privacy. Privacy has many times been defined by the Supreme Court as things relating to the house, the body, sexual preferences, medical records and things like that.

Do you feel RTI is nowadays being used by political parties to score brownie points?

My rough guess is that this year or last year, about 60 to 80 lakh RTI application might have been filed. I do not think such kind of application are very large but they might be there. However, that does not reduce the scope of anything. It is just like those few miscreants who come to temple only to steal chappals or pickpocket. But when we talk of temple we do not talk of that characteristic. I do not know how much political points they score but ultimately RTI is just a tool. People might use this tool for all kinds of purposes.

In April 2016, Naresh Agarwal of SP made an allegation that the RTI Act was passed under United States pressure. What do you make of such comments?



Naresh Agarwals statement, particularly, was unfortunate. This is an insult to my nation and to the parliament. I am ashamed none of the other members of the parliament got up and told him that his statement was an insult to the parliament.

It shows that anybody in power generally dislike being transparent and answerable to the people. Three serious attempts have been made to dilute the RTI Act  in 2006, 2009 and in 2013. This political dispensation (NDA) too does not like the RTI. It is hurtful that my friend Arvind Kejriwals government, to the best of my understanding, is no better nor worse than earlier governments. It is sad but true.

The RTI Act will complete 11 years this year. What more amendments are needed to strengthen it?

Nil. No amendments are needed. Nothing is perfect in this world. This law is good and it delivers. There may be certain issues but the law works reasonably well. Whenever there are talks of strengthening the RTI, and once it goes through a parliamentary modification, I am convinced that the RTI Act will be diluted.
New Delhi: Launching the second set of sweeping reforms, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said it makes India the most open economy in the world for FDI and would give boost to employment as part of efforts to transform the country.

He said amendments in FDI policy would promote ease of doing business as there will now be 100 percent FDI under government approval route for trading, including e-commerce for food products manufactured or produced in India.

"Govt radically liberalizes FDI regime with the objective of providing major impetus to employment & job creation," Modi said in a tweet.

"Key reform decisions were taken at a high level meeting chaired by the PM, which makes India the most open economy in the world for FDI," he said.

The government, after a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, announced the second wave of FDI reforms allowing 100 per cent inflows in civil aviation and food processing sectors while easing norms in defence and pharmaceuticals.

"In two years, Govt brings major FDI policy reforms in several key sectors... India now the most open economy in the world for FDI; most sectors under automatic approval route," Modi said in tweets.

"Today's FDI reforms will give a boost to employment, job creation & benefit the economy," the Prime Minister said in a series of tweets with hashtag '#TransformingIndia'.

He said with liberalisation of FDI regime, there have been more inflows to contribute to growth of investment, incomes and employment.

"India rated as Number 1 FDI investment destination by several international agencies...India records highest ever FDI inflows at US$ 55.46 billion in financial year 2015-16," he said.
Srinagar: JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik was on Monday arrested by police when he was on his way to meet hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani here.

Malik was arrested from Batmaloo bus stand when he was en route to Hyderpora residence of Geelani to meet him, a JKLF spokesman said.

He said Malik was initially taken to Kothibagh police station and later shifted to Central Jail Srinagar.

Condemning the arrest, JKLF spokesman said Malik was arrested more than six times by police since 25 May.

Malik has been making efforts to bring various separatist organisations on one platform. He had met Geelani about a month back, after which leaders of two factions of Hurriyat Conference  hardline faction led by Geelani and moderate faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq  along with Malik held a trilateral meeting.

During that meeting, they had decided to undertake joint protests against biulding of settlements for Kashmiri Pandits and sainik colonies besides the new industrial policy of the state government.
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Monday said the probe ordered by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee into the Narada sting controversy will not have any bearing on the multiple public interest litigations (PIL) pending before it on the matter.

Claiming the Banerjee-ordered probe tantamount to interference with the judicial process, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, one of the counsel in the PILs, drew it to the attention of the division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur which is hearing the petitions.

"The probe is an interference with the judicial process as well as contempt of court so I drew the court's attention to it. The Chief Justice said the matter is sub-judice and what one is saying about it outside is immaterial. The court alone will decide the matter," said Bhattacharya.

The court also directed the government pleader to furnish details of the probe by 24 June.

Carried out by a portal, Narada News, the sting caught on camera over a dozen Trinamool Congress leaders, including former union ministers, state cabinet heavyweights and MPs accepting money as "bribes" in return for allegedly doling out favours to a fictitious company.

Following Banerjee's 17 June direction of the probe, the city police initiated case under several offences including defamation against Narada News CEO Mathew Samuel.

The court on 29 April had ordered forensic examinations of the tapes as well as recording devices by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory Hyderabad. The report is awaited.
There are many hidden ingredients in your food that consist of solutions laced with dead insects, animal slime, vomit and faeces. Yes, seriously. Lets take a look at the list.

Confectioner's glaze

Many sweets, jelly beans, and chocolate products are coated in a solution called confectioner's glaze. Confectioner's glaze comes from the Lac bug  Laccifer lacca  a scale insect which lives as a parasite on plants, particularly banyan trees. The Lac bug is used to create a waxy, waterproof coating, called shellac, that is later used as shine on furniture and food, waxes, adhesives, paints, cosmetics, varnishes, fertilizers, medicine pills coatings and confectionery. Look for any of the following ingredients on labels to find the hidden Lac bugs in your food: candy glaze, resin glaze, natural food glaze, confectioner's glaze, confectioner's resin, Lac resin, Lacca, or gum lac.

Rat faeces

Every country has apparently come to terms with the fact that they cannot take out animals from food. So the Indian government has mandated that rat faeces are allowed in wheat and rice. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a body which oversees the protection of public health by insuring the safety of food. However, by giving food companies a strange loophole to protect themselves, the FDA permits a certain degree of insects, such as worms or aphids, so long as their presence doesn't compromise the aesthetic quality of the food. The FDA has a Defects Level Handbook which legally allows insect fragments, rat hair and faeces to be in included in food, this means you cannot sue the manufacturers of various foods, should you find insects in your food.

Insect fragments

Staples foods like broccoli, canned tomatoes, and hops easily contain insect fragments heads, thoraxes, and legs  and sometimes even whole insects. Fig paste can have up to 13 insect heads in 100 grams; canned fruit juices can contain a maggot for every 250 ml; 10 grams of hops can be the home for 2,500 aphids. Writers at the Scientific American estimate that an individual probably ingests about one to two pounds of flies, maggots and other bugs each year without even knowing it. For spinach, the action limit is 50 or more aphids, thrips and/or mites per 100 grams. Beer should be reclassified as Bug Beer. The FDAs limit on the hops that go into the tank is 2,500 aphids per 10 grams of hops. Five percent of the total weight of the hops making your beer can be insects. 100 kilos of chocolate allows one kilo of insects and 100 kilos of bread can have 1.5 kilos of insect. Ten insects and 35 fruit fly eggs per 8 oz. of raisins is allowed and four rodent hairs per 100 grams in wheat, curry powder, allspice, and ground pepper. The number of whole aphids that the FDA deems permissible varies from vegetable to vegetable. 30 whole aphids/100 grams in Brussels sprouts and about 60 in frozen broccoli is permissible. 50 Corn lice or thrips are allowed in every 100 grams of canned or frozen spinach or in a package of frozen cabbage / sauerkraut. 75 white mites and 20 maggots for 100 gms of canned mushrooms. 5 fruit flies in canned fruit juice. 5 brown weevil larva in every can of peas or lobia (blackeyed peas). 10 percent of coffee beans are allowed to be infested with insects.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has its own way of grading food with insects in it. For cabbage, 10 aphids on a head can still equal a no.1 grading during inspection, but any presence of worms on the head (not the leaves) brings the vegetable down to a no.2 grading  still permissible to be sold but cheaper.

The Jain community has been campaigning for years that tapioca (sabudana) should be banned because it has thousands of dead insects in it.

Enzymes

Rennet is a group of enzymes found in calves to digest their mothers milk. It is a crucial part of making commercial cheese. Rennet for cheese making is obtained by slicing up a calf's stomach, soaking it in whey and wine or vinegar, and then filtering it. Unless it says specifically on the label that rennet has not been used, you can be sure that your branded cheese has calf enzymes in it.

Additives made from anal glands

Castoreum, a common additive, is made from beaver anal glands. Castoreum is an anal secretion beavers use to mark their territories. It smells like vanilla. Castoreum (CAS NO. 8023-83-4; FEMA NO. 2261) is an extract that is used in baked goods, especially as vanilla flavouring. The beaver is killed and the anal sacs cut off and dried in alcohol and macerated. It has been used extensively in perfumery and has been added to food as a flavour ingredient for at least 80 years and labelled as natural flavouring. The raw form is described as "birch tar or Russian leather."

Fernelli's Handbook Of Flavor Ingredients puts individual annual consumption of castoreum extract at .000081 mg/kg/day, in products like frozen dairy, gelatines, puddings, and non-alcoholic beverages. Castoreum extract can be used to enhance raspberry or strawberry flavourings.

Amino acid made from boiled human hair

All commercial biscuits and breads contain an amino acid, called L-Cysteine, which is made from boiled and filtered human hair and duck feathers. This might shock you a little but the Tirupati Temple Trust sells the hair which they get from devotees who shave their heads to L-Cysteine manufacturers.

Colouring pigment / dye

Carmine  a red pigment obtained from the aluminium salt of carminic acid  is used in any cosmetics, food or drink that is red/pink in colour. 70,000 scale insects called cochineal bugs, which suck the sap from cactus, are killed, dried and crushed and used in cosmetics, wines, camparis, shampoos, sauces, sweets and food-colouring in everything from sausages and crabs to pink pastries, yogurts and juices. Recently, Starbucks admitted to using the dye in their drinks. To find out if a product contains cochineal bugs, look for any of the following ingredients on the label: cochineal extract, cochineal, carmine, carminic acid, E 120 or Natural Red No. 4.10.

Fish bladders

Fish bladders are used for clarifying or fining of wines, beers and other foods. Millions of fish are killed daily just for their bladders to form a collagen called Isinglass.

I havent even started on the bee products: for instance, honey is made from nectar the worker bees vomit. Or the industrial chemicals that dye food from fish to salad dressing.

So, we can casually eat bugs without even noticing it. Next week, I will write about the ingredients used in your cosmetics. Brace yourselves.
New Delhi: Days after calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi 'God's Gift for India', Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday said Modi means "Making of Developed India" and that the people had started realising this.

"Modi ji has undertaken a mission. Even people have started understanding that Modi means 'Making of Developed India'. This is why countrymen follow Narendra Modi. He tells his 'Mann ki Baat' and people accept it," Naidu said, adding that the Prime Minister's call for 'Swachch Bharat' has become a "people's movement".

The Union Urban Development Minister was speaking at a yoga event, presided over by Ramdev, at Rajpath in New Delhi.

Terming Ramdev as a "real sage", Naidu said his imparting lessons to the younger generation on the ancient practices is not a small thing.

"Wherever I went with him, people want to learn yoga. He is like a rishi. Like a saint. He has nothing to gain personally. But he is giving everything to people. That is why I call him a real sage.

"What our ancestors learnt in the ancient time, the Vedic time and what we inherited...the Indian culture, Hindu lifestyle, taking this to the new generation is not a small thing," Naidu said.

The senior BJP leader, while moving the political resolution at the party National Executive, had described Modias "God's gift for India" and a "messiah of poor".
Muzaffarnagar: "Kairana migration" will not be the main issue in 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election which the party will contest on the development plank, Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu has said.

"Kairana migration would not be a main issue in UP polls. It is a law and order problem. The party would contest the election on the development plank," he said here last evening.

The Union Urban Development Minister accused SP and BSP of playing caste politics.

A BJP MP has alleged that many Hindu families were forced to leave Kairana town in western Uttar Pradesh allegedly due to threat from a particular community.

Attacking the SP government over recent incidents in Mathura and Kairana, BJP President Amit Shah has said the prevailing "atmosphere of violence" in the state is a matter of serious concern.

"The present Samajwadi Party government each day is expressing its helplessness in dealing with these situations," Shah said on June 12 while citing recent clashes in Mathura.

Naidu said BJP is the only party to nominate Muslim leaders (Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and MJ Akbar) for Rajya Sabha elections earlier this month.

"No political party has given a single seat to Muslims out of 57 RS vacancies," he said after attending a private function in the city.

Naqvi won from Jharkhand, while Akbar from Madhya Pradesh.

Thirty of the 57 seats in the biennial elections were decided without contest.
BJP MP from East Delhi Maheish Girri on Sunday went on a hunger strike outside the residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, demanding that the chief minister prove the allegations regarding the murder of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) official MM Khan.

Girri challenged Kejriwal to public debate over his allegations.

BJP Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy, who had joined Girri in the dharna, said that with Raghuram Rajan gone, he will now focus on exposing the Delhi Chief Minister.

"All his life he (Kejriwal) has done fraud. He says he was a meritorious student in IIT but I have records of how he got his admission...which I will reveal in a press conference. Till now I was Rajan ke peechhe (was going after Raghuram Rajan) and he is now gone," Swamy said.

Earlier, in a letter to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, Kejriwal had accused the Governor of trying to "save" Girri and NDMC vice-chairman Karan Singh Tanwar in Khan's murder.

Khan, an estate officer of NDMC, was shot dead in Jamia Nagar on 16 May, a day before he was scheduled to pass the final order on the lease terms of a hotel which was functioning on a property leased out by the civic body.

The Delhi Chief Minister, meanwhile has reacted on Girri's hunger strike outside his residence. He said that BJP is pressurising the police to not take action in the case and is instead indulging in theatrics.

Police must arrest him (Maheish Girri) and must investigate. Police is not conducting probe because of pressure from BJP: Arvind Kejriwal  ANI (@ANI_news) June 20, 2016

"Maheish Girri forwarded the letter written by hotelier Ramesh Kakkar to the Lt. Governor which asked for removal of NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Council) legal adviser MM Khan. The LG then forwarded the letter to the NDMC chairman on the reference of Mahesh Girri," Kejriwal told the press.

He added: "Is this how criminal justice system works in the Modi government that whoever is accused of murder will sit on dharna outside my home?"

On the other hand, Subramanian Swamy came out in the defence of Girri and said "Delhi government will survive if Kejriwal apologises... government should be dismissed in national interest," he said. He claimed that in 1991 when he was the Union Law Minister, he "dismissed" four state governments and the decision of the then central government was upheld by the Supreme Court and supported in Parliament.

The Rajya Sabha MP charged that Kejriwal often uses the "shoot and scoot" tactic to attack political rivals. "He should either show documents (to corroborate his charges against Girri) or apologise," he said.

Swamy also demanded the dismissal of Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung stating that baseless allegations are being levelled against an elected MP.

Lt Governor Najeeb Jung must be dismissed: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy outside CM Kejriwal's residence. pic.twitter.com/IG4ibWS4P8  ANI (@ANI_news) June 20, 2016

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, who also joined the dharna, dared the chief minister to face Girri and alleged that hurling baseless charges and going into hiding was an "old habit" of Kejriwal.

Maheish Girri, who is continuing his hunger strike for the second day, said that Kejriwal cannot evade debate forever.

However, on BJP's demand for an open debate, Kejriwal asked if that is how BJP's justice system functions. Do we have open debates on murder cases? he wondered.

Aam Aadmi Party also called a press conference as the controversy gained momentum. While alleging that the Delhi police was shielding the BJP MP, AAP produced three letters in the conference and claimed that there is enough evidence against Tanwar and Girri.

Who killed MM Khan. Tanwar's letter to LG-False accusations on honest NDMC officer MM Khan #ArrestTanwarGirri pic.twitter.com/uvxGie4SwW  Aam Aadmi Party- AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 20, 2016

BJP's Tanwar & Giri's track record shows corruption and misconduct. Strong evidence of involvement in MM Khan's murder #ArrestTanwarGirri  Aam Aadmi Party- AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 20, 2016

Taking a dig at the BJP, AAP leaders also said that Modi controls top agencies, Girri should ask his own government for a probe.

"Modi ji has ACB, CBI, Delhi Police, LG since last 2 years". India never heard of so many attacks/ killings before that. #ArrestTanwarGirri  Aam Aadmi Party- AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 20, 2016

MM Khan,honest NDMC officer killed for BJP ally hotelier.Don't know how many more killed each day to protect the corrupt #ArrestTanwarGirri  Aam Aadmi Party- AAP (@AamAadmiParty) June 20, 2016

When asked about the letter the AAP leaders were citing, Maheish Girri said, "Waving a few papers in air proves nothing. If they (AAP) have evidence they should file it with the Delhi police." Girri, again denied all allegations as baseless.

Earlier, in a letter to Kejriwal, Girri had invited him to Constitution Club to produce "evidence" he had against him in the MM Khan murder case on Sunday 4 pm.

Kejriwal did not accept the challenge following which Girri, accompanied by his party supporters, reached the Chief Minister's flagstaff Road residence and sat on hunger strike.

The BJP MP has asked Kejriwal to either prove his charge against him or "resign" from the post of Chief Minister.

"If he manages to prove, then I will quit politics, otherwise he should do so," Girri said.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leaders also decided to throw their weight behind Girri maintaining that the Delhi CM must apologise if he cannot prove his allegations. As the BJP MP's hunger strike entered it's second day, Subramanian Swamy, Vijay Goel and Manoj Tiwari from the BJP have joined the protest in a bid to support Girri, so far.

MM Khan Murder case: BJP MP Manoj Tiwari joins protest led by Maheish Giri outside CM Kejriwal's residence in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/Ri9d2186Ip  ANI (@ANI_news) June 20, 2016

Earlier, Girri had also written to the Delhi Police Commissioner stating that he is ready for arrest if need be and that he will fully cooperate in a probe.

Question me if needed. Also, arrest me if required, I'll fully cooperate: Maheish Girri in letter to Delhi Police commissioner Alok K Verma  ANI (@ANI_news) June 20, 2016

Meanwhile, MM Khan's daughter has said that the politics being played around her father's death is hurting her family. She said that she and her family has not levelled allegations against anyone. In all the brouhaha around the issue, the investigation on the case is lost, she added. She also said," We are simple people and we do not understand all this politics. We only wish for an unbiased probe in his death."

Khan's daughter also requested the BJP MP to end his hunger strike, saying she doesn't want any one to go hungry.

We don't want this issue to be politicised. We're just seeking justice for my father: Daughter of Lawyer MM Khan pic.twitter.com/EXnm4N1Uql  ANI (@ANI_news) June 20, 2016

Hitting back at Girri, AAP's Delhi unit convenor Dilip Pandey said an open debate with Kejriwal would not solve the problem, instead the BJP MP should be ready for a fair investigation.

Pandey also alleged that Tanwar took money from Kakkar to get Khan transferred and the BJP leader had also threatened the NDMC officer.

Pandey claimed that a letter was written by Tanwar to Khan. AAP and people of Delhi want to know the content of the letter which has since gone missing, he claimed.

With inputs from agencies
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi is at it again.

On Monday, he tweeted that he will be travelling out of the country on a "short visit".

Traveling out of the country for a few days on a short visit.Thanks again to all who met &wished me y'day,truly grateful for your affection!  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) June 20, 2016

Rahul Gandhi's two-month trip to four South Asian countries last year from February to April had created a controversy as he had left right before the Budget Session of the Parliament that year.

In fact, his going on leave had been announced right on the eve of the budget session of Parliament in which Congress had earlier decided to target the government in a big way on land ordinance issue.

That trip had been quite an embarrasssment for the Congress as Rahul Gandhi faced a lot of criticism for going on leave at a time as crucial as the Budget Session of the Parliament.

In April last year, BJP had said that his return to India was like an 'item number' in politics.

The Congress vice-president's current trip also comes at a very crucial time for the Congress, when the BJP is facing criticism from many people in the country after RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan's decision to not extend his tenure, Chetan Chauhan's appointment as NIFT chairman and Union Minister RS Katheria saying saffronisation is inevitable, all in the same week.

The party leaders can only hope that when Rahul says he is leaving "for a few days on a short visit", he actually means it.

Because even when his earlier two-month trip had been announced, Congress had said that he was leaving only "for a few weeks".

(With inputs from PTI)
Why does the Shiv Sena, which parted ways with the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2014, want an alliance for the upcoming civic elections that will be held across Maharashtra? For a party that joined the BJP government as a junior partner, to see its leader Uddhav Thackeray now seeking a respectable alliance for local elections is a comedown.

The party has realised that being in the government, yet playing the role of the Opposition, with brazen name-calling may not pay dividends. To align with the government, the party would require to do a convulated asana which even Baba Ramdev may find it difficult to contrive. To the BJP, Sena is its divorcee who is now only a tenant.

The 2017 civic elections are crucial for the Sena as the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai is its lifeblood. It nurses an affection for the civic body and its Thane counterpart, which was its first governing body and projected the party as an organisation in electoral politics with substantial ambitions seeking rights of the locals. It cannot hope to lose it, and does not want the BJP to upset the applecart.

Neither the Shiv Sena, nor the BJP have won enough seats on their respective strengths so far, though it did manage to get enough to form a government, except in 1995. In 1990, they had 94, Sena accounting for 52. In the next elections, which led to their forming the government, Sena had 73, BJP 65. Even that was short of seven for a majority, which is at 145. Thereafter, they couldnt post better results for 15 years.

They had needed each other to score well, until the Modi wave the BJP was the lesser partner. When Sena broke away in 2014 and contested against not just the BJP, but the Congress and the NCP in four cornered contests, it did remarkably well by bagging 62 seats. Having achieved it, Sena thought it had the old partner, who was a new foe, by the short hair.

In the last couple of decades, Maharashtras political scene has been one of weak electoral results for any party or an alliance. Even the Congress has not had the good fortune of getting the magic number of 145 since 1990; it had to settle for 141 and rustle up support from smaller parties or Independent MLAs. After the Congress was split in 1999, neither it, nor the NCP could work up good numbers.

The BJP and the Shiv Sena had been allies since 1989, and till they broke it for the Maharashtra Assembly elections. During the entire period of their alliance, the relationship at best was troubled, with the BJP smarting under the domineering attitude of the ally. Often, seniors like Pramod Mahajan had to rush to Bal Thackeray to soften his ire.

Though they are in the BJPs government, as a partner post a bitter election campaign against each other, the Sena has not learnt to put the recent quarrel behind it. It remains in the government, slams the government at every opportunity and conducts itself as if it was the Opposition. It may have dulled the Congress and NCP into helplessness, but being in government has not diluted its bile.

It now runs with the hare and hunts with the hound and thinks that belittling the BJP suits its politics, but in the bargain has created a ridiculous situation for itself. On Sunday, party chief Uddhav Thackeray said it was ready for an alliance with the BJP, but only with respect. Respect in politics is an undefinable idea, but his remarks also reflected that the party has realised it has pushed the envelope too far.

The party was started at Bal Thackerays tiny ground floor apartment in Shivaji Park on 19 June, 1966. At its 50th anniversary, Uddhav betrayed some anxieties. He said he has never criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis; all the Sena ministers in the Cabinet are cooperative.

This willingness for a tie-up for the civic elections, as there are no parliamentary or Assembly elections till 2019 and Mumbai civic elections are next year, indicates its anxiety. The BJP has been returning the compliments to the Sena in the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai; it is a nay-sayer to every idea to Sena in the countrys richest civic body. The Sena is now not as sure-footed as it was believed to be.

BJP would no doubt relish this because the Sena had bitterly fought it in the Assembly elections, and in four-cornered contests, did better than anticipated  63 seats to BJPs 122 with smaller partners  and sat in the Opposition before changing its mind to join the government. It has been reduced to a status which is lower than what Sena had provided BJP in its own 1995 government. Even as Uddhav was suggesting a respectable alliance, the BJPs mood at its state executive was to go it alone.

BJP in all likelihood would revel at the discomfiture of its former ally and a quarrelsome partner in the government, and leave the question of alliances for civic bodies to local leaders. That, if it transpired, would invigorate the cadre, for each wants his time in the light. A civic bodys membership is no small thing.
New Delhi: BJP MP Subramanian Swamy on Monday mounted a sharp attack on Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, accusing him of seeking "guidance" from Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Political Secretary Ahmed Patel.

He made the attack on Jung while joining a protest by BJP MP Maheish Girri, who demanded an apology from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for linking him to the murder of an NDMC official.

Separately, Swamy, in a letter to President Pranab Mukherjee, said he has information to suggest that the Jung was playing a "mischievous role" in "abetting" Kejriwal at the behest of Congress to embarrass BJP.

"He (Jung) has no work other than making rounds of Ahmed Patel's place. He (Jung) should have spoken out for MPs such as Girri and he should have ordered Kejriwal to provide documents or apologise," Subramanian Swamy told reporters.

He also said Jung should have categorically told Kejriwal that if he does not substantiate his allegations against Girri or apologise, then he would recommend to the Centre dismissal of the AAP government.

The BJP MP said he would go after Kejriwal like the way he took on RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan. "I was after Rajan in the recent past. He has left now. Girri is a religious person who has dedicated his life to public service...You are the CM, give written complaint. And what this LG is doing."

In his letter to President Pranab Mukherjee, Swamy said, "I request you to intervene, particularly since I have information to suggest that the LG is playing a mischievous role in abetting Kejriwal at the behest of the Congress party to embarrass the BJP and, at the same time, appearing to oppose Kejriwal in public for sake of credibility."

Swamy said Delhi government should be dismissed if Kejriwal refuses to apologise to the party MP over his allegations.

He also accused Kejriwal of breaching constitutional norms in running the Delhi government and sought the President's intervention, saying there appears to be a complete breakdown of governance.

Subramanian Swamy requested the President to ask the Union Home Ministry to issue a directive as per provision of the Constitution and seek a report asking on what basis Kejriwal and his colleagues have made allegations of murder against Girri.

"There appears to be a complete breakdown of any semblance of governance in National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. The AAP is functioning in a highly arbitrary, unreasonable and malafide manner.

"Since the NCT is where the Union Government is also located, it has become crucial to restore some semblance of governance immediately," said Swamy in the letter.

Girri has been holding a protest outside Kejriwal's residence in Civil Lines demanding proof of his allegations. Subramanian Swamy had joined Girri briefly in the protest.
Mumbai: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said he does not desire to snap ties with BJP for elections to Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and 9 other civic bodies but would not settle for a "twisted" deal.

Uddhav was addressing Shivsainiks on the occasion of Sena's 50th foundation day in Mumbai. As he broached the topic of MCGM elections, it evoked a strong chorus from the crowd "no alliance, let us contest alone".

The Sena chief said that he would leave the decision on a tie-up for the elections to the judgement of the Sainiks but "I will not tolerate any 'twisted' alliance deal."

Referring to the debate over holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Uddhav took a dig at frequent foreign visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying, "it would be better if simultaneous polls are held or else it might create constant hurdles in someone's foreign visits."

On 50 years of the party's journey, Uddhav said, "25 years of it went in stitching alliance with the BJP. A lion always moves with a pride, but a tiger always moves alone and hunts head-on."

Lambasting NCP chief Sharad Pawar for advising Sena to leave (both state and Centre) government, he said that it was the NCP, which in order to avert split, had stayed in power for 15 years.

Clarifying that he was not criticising for the sake of it, Uddhav said he had praised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his leadership.

However, referring to the rising prices of Dal, the Sena chief asked the Chief Minister to do something to at least bring some relief to common man if not 'Achche Din' (better days).

Speaking on the recent reports of alleged exodus of Hindus from Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, Uddhav reminded the BJP that it was in power at the Centre.

"In Kashmir too it (BJP) is now in alliance and what has it done to give homes to those Kashmiri Pandits who have been displaced," he said.

Referring to the BJP wave in 2014, Uddhav said, "Even logs of wood float in water and flags wave in the wind, but its the saffron flag that keeps on fluttering even when there is no wind."

Taking a swipe at the rivals, he said Sena has welcomed people from other parties, but it has always been "the party of originals".

On critics terming Sena as regional, communal and narrow-minded, Uddhav said even (TMC chief) Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal is talking about regionalism when she says 'Ma, Matti and Manoosh'.

He said like his father late Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray, he too "was not desperate for power and would not compromise (for it)".

Uddhav said that he joined power at the Centre and (in the) state as he did not want people to again fall prey to false promises.
New Delhi: The 39 Indians, kidnapped by the dreaded Islamic State in Iraq in June 2014, are still alive, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said, dismissing reports about their killing and insisting that efforts to trace them are on.

In her annual press conference, Swaraj said the government was was trying its best to ensure safe release of Judith D'Souza, an aid worker and resident of Kolkata, who was abducted by suspected militants in Kabul on 9 June.

The External Affairs Minister also said India was in touch with top authorities in Bangladesh after a priest of Rama Krishna Mission in Dhaka received death threat.

About 40-year-old Judith, Swaraj said "We are trying our best. The way we are going ahead, I think it will be resolved soon."

Replying to a question on the 39 Indians kidnapped around two years back by Islamic State militants from Mosul town, Swaraj said she did not have "any proof of their killing than the statement of Harjit Masih."

Masih, who had managed to flee from captivity of the Islamic State, claimed all the 39 Indians had been killed. Swaraj questioned Masih's claim saying two heads of states in the Gulf region told her, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee that the Indians were alive.

"I am not giving false assurance. If I had confirmation that they were killed, then definitely, I would have sought apology rom their families the with folded hands and said they were killed. Their killing in such a situation in Mosul in Iraq would not have been blamed on me.

"When I say they are alive, I have taken on myself a major responsibility of tracing them....Nobody except Harjit Masih said they were killed. I will do injustice to them if I say they have been killed. It is my the responsibility to (find them) and I will not shy away from it," Swaraj said, adding "I do not abandon any Indian national."

When asked about the death threat to a priest of the Ramakrishna Mission in Dhaka, Swaraj said, "It is very unfortunate. It is painful for us. We are in touch with top authorities."

Replying to a question on a spate of targeted attacks and killings of Hindus and other non-Muslims in Bangladesh, Swaraj said the Sheikh Hasina government is leaving no stone unturned in coming down hard on people who are involved in these incidents.

"More than 3,000 people have been arrested. Sheikh Hasina is taking strong action. More than this, I am happy that Islamic clerics and religious leaders have issued a fatwa saying these kinds of activities are anti-Islamic and it has been signed by one lakh religious leaders," she said.

Swaraj said the government was drafting a policy to help persecuted minorities in various countries. She said the government will help people of all religions and not only the Hindus.
DUBAI Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of the spiritual leader of the kingdom's Shi'ite Muslim majority, the state news agency reported on Monday, prompting protests outside his home and a sharp rebuke from an Iranian paramilitary chief.

The move against Ayatollah Isa Qassim comes less than a week after a court ordered Bahrain's main opposition al-Wefaq group closed, accusing it of fomenting sectarian unrest and of having links to a foreign power, in an apparent reference to regional Shi'ite power Iran.

The move against Qassim was the latest one taken by Bahrain  where a Shiite majority is ruled by a Sunni monarchy  against Shiite figures in the country, in what appears to be an escalating campaign against dissent in the Western-allied Gulf kingdom.

Bahrain has defended its actions against Shi'ite Muslim figures in the context of national security.

Qassim could potentially face expulsion from the country.

A crowd of up to 4,000 people gathered outside Qassim's house in the Shi'ite village of Diraz, west of the capital, Manama, to show their support for him, witnesses said.

In a bluntly worded reaction, the top commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Qassem Soleimani, warned the Bahraini government it would pay a price for its decision and suggested Bahrainis may respond with armed action.

"The Al Khalifa (rulers of Bahrain) surely know their aggression against Sheikh Isa Qassim is a red line and that crossing it would set Bahrain and the whole region on fire, and it would leave no choice for people but to resort to armed resistance," Soleimani said in a statement published by Fars news agency.

Soleimani heads the Qods Force, the elite special forces arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Iran's Foreign Ministry also criticised the move.

In a statement published on the Tasnim news agency, the ministry urged the Bahraini government not to burn all the bridges that connect the government to the people and to hold serious national talks to end the current crisis.

Washington, which regards Bahrain as a top Gulf ally and is where the U.S. Fifth Fleet is based as a bulwark against Iran, said it was "alarmed" by the decision.

"We are unaware of any credible evidence to support this action," State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

The United States and Britain have expressed concern about Bahrain's human rights record.

Bahrain in 2011 crushed an uprising by Shi'ites demanding reforms that would give them a bigger voice in governing the Sunni Muslim-ruled country. Bahrain denies any discrimination.

DISCONTENT

But discontent still smoulders on the streets of Bahrain, where a financial crisis caused by lower oil prices has caused a slowdown in the economy.

BNA, quoting an Interior Ministry statement, said Qassim had been trying to divide Bahraini society, encourage youths to violate the constitution and promote a sectarian environment in the country.

"Based on that, the Bahraini citizenship had been dropped from Isa Ahmed Qassim, who since he acquired Bahraini citizenship had sought to form organisations that follow foreign religious and political reference," BNA said.

Qassim's official website says he was born in a Shi'ite village in the kingdom in the 1940s, when the island state was still under British rule.

The crowds gathered outside Qassim's house chanted Shi'ite slogans, witnesses said.

"With our soul, with our blood we sacrifice ourselves for you, Hussein!" they chanted, invoking the name of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussein, who is revered by Shi'ite Muslims.

Social media footage showed Qassim standing outside what looked like his home saluting the crowds.

Dozens of police vehicles were seen surrounding Diraz, the witnesses said, but there were no reports of clashes.

HEZBOLLAH SAYS DECISION 'DANGEROUS'

The powerful Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah called Bahrain's decision "extremely dangerous" and warned it would bring severe consequences to the ruling system.

"The authorities, with their stupidity and recklessness, are pushing the Bahraini people to difficult choices, which will have severe consequences for this corrupt dictatorial regime," Hezbollah said in a statement.

Bahrain earlier accused the Iran-backed Hezbollah of supporting militants behind a spate of bombings in the country and has designated the group a terrorist organisation.

The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy said the withdrawal of Qassim's citizenship would stoke unrest.

"We are deeply concerned that these actions will escalate tensions on the streets and may even lead to violence, as targeting the country's leading Shi'ite cleric is considered to be a red line for many Bahrainis," Sayed Ahmed al-Wadaei, the institute's director of advocacy, said in a statement.

Bahraini media reported last week that authorities had been investigating a bank account of some $10 million in Qassim's name.

The move spurred a strongly worded statement from top clerics, including Qassim, against any attempt to meddle with the collection of a Muslim tax called Khums, which is a pillar of Shi'ite Islam.

(Additional reporting Noah Browning, Tom Perry in Beirut, Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in Dubai and Warren Strobel in Washington; Writing by Sami Aboudi; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Peter Cooney)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Denials by Bangladesh government notwithstanding, intelligence agencies in India strongly suspect that the country has become the next battleground for Islamist terror groups. Indian security experts believe that with Al-Qaeda and Islamic State under attack in Afghanistan/Pakistan area, terror groups have decided to focus on Bangladesh by joining hands with local militant groups.

After a spate of killings of Hindus, Christians, secularists and a gay activist the latest to be threatened is the head of Rama Krishna Mission in Dhaka. At Indias request Bangladesh has provided security cover to the Mission head who has been warned that there is no place for Hindus in an Islamic country.

The Al-Qaeda in Indian Sub-continent (AQIS) was formed in 2014 and Islamic State announced its arrival in Bangladesh in April 2016. In Bangladesh Ansar ul Islam is the Bangladesh division of Al-Qaeda.

With Bangladesh as a base they plan to target India and also focus on Myanmar.

Denying the existence of IS in Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has, however, put the blame for such attacks on local militants and political opponents. She has vowed to tackle them but her assessment is viewed with scepticism in New Delhi and many western capitals.

On a visit to Dhaka last month the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Desai Biswal, was quoted as having spoken of Bangladesh terrorist groups, linking them with Al-Qaeda and IS.

In over one year the war crimes tribunal set up by the Awami League government convicted several people including leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami who have been hanged for mass murders of 1970s. Their convictions further fuelled opposition to Sheikh Hasina and her government.

Assessment by experts show that growing violence and killings of Hindus, Christians, secular bloggers, gays and missionaries is different from the political violence that Bangladesh has known for decades.

Bangladeshs deeply divided politics controlled by two women  Awami League of Sheikh Hasina and BNP of Khaleda Zia  has seen violence become a part of its landscape. Political vendetta has often taken the form of gruesome killings but new attacks belong to a new category of violence.

Experts argue that the nature and scale of these violent attacks are different. The Bangladesh government remains in denial mode asserting that Islamic State has no presence in the country.

On 12 June, newspaper Dhaka Tribune quoted Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal as having said that there are a few local homegrown militant groups but we have never found any kind of IS activity here, he said.

The minister said the propaganda about IS presence in Bangladesh was nothing but a conspiracy established by a group in support of some foreign countries.

Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque echoed the home minister. He claimed to have settled down around 80 percent militant cases that happened in the past couple of years and none arrested in connection with those cases have admitted having involvement with the IS or any other group.

In some incidents, especially in Satkania or Chittagong communal violence, we arrested a number of accused and all of them later confessed that all these activities were done at the directive of some top leader of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir, added the police chief in the newspaper report.

Over 30 people have been killed in last one year with 10 chopped to death with machettes and knives. Most of the killers riding on 'mobikes' disappear with government agencies quite clueless about their identity.

Over 5,000 people have been arrested in a crackdown that prime minister Sheikh Hasina has claimed would see security agencies catch every killer.

Indian authorities, however, are alarmed by jihadist literature that is in circulation. In April the English-magazine of Islamic State, Dabiq, carried an interview with the terror outfits Bangladesh head named Shaykh Abu Ibrahim Al-Hanif.

Asked to explain the importance of Bangladesh which they call Bengal he pinpointed its importance to its strategic geographic position that would facilitate performing guerilla attacks inside India simultaneously from both sides and facilitate creating a condition of tawahhush in India In Arabic the word, tawahhush means chaos.

Security experts told Firstpost that the interview speaks of Islamic States intent to target Hindus, Christians, Shias, missionaries and Muslim sects like Qadianis. Published in several languages including English, Dabiq is the official magazine of Islamic State.

Last week, Dhaka Tribune quoted a leading geopolitical intelligence and consulting firm, Stratfor, that the biggest impediments to the Islamic States expansion in Bangladesh will be al-Qaedas branch in the Indian subcontinent and its allies.

But, there is no evidence to show that these two outfits that are competing in Iraq and Syria are at loggerheads in Bangladesh.

The Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri had announced two years ago a plan for South Asia where he called upon the people of Bangladesh to launch a massive public uprising (intifada) in defense of Islam against the enemies of Islam.

In recent months Singapore deported 25 workers for being radicalised and eight were detained for planning terror strikes.

These pointers do not seem to have perturbed the Bangladesh government as it continues to blame Jamaat and local militant groups.

However, India, seriously concerned by developments in the neighbouring country sees growing threats and killing of Hindus as a bad omen.
FALLUJA, Iraq U.S.-backed Iraqi forces fighting Islamic State militants in Falluja are advancing towards jihadist strongholds in western districts where they expect the final push to recapture the city will take place, the Iraqi commander said on Monday.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory on Friday after troops reached the centre of the city, an hour's drive west of Baghdad, but an official in the U.S.-led coalition said on Sunday Iraqi forces had so far taken only half of Falluja.

The operation to recapture the Iraqi city longest held by Islamic State entered its fifth week on Monday, and fighting has forced more than 85,000 residents to flee to overwhelmed government-run camps.

Iraqi forces continue to face shooting, suicide bombs and mortar attacks as they confront militants north of a road running through the city.

Heavily armoured Interior Ministry police units were pressing towards Golan neighbourhood, on the northwestern edge of the city, Lieutenant General Abdul Wahab al-Saidi told Reuters at his temporary command post in a southern district.

"The biggest effort now is on the western axis. If they collapse on the western axis and our forces reach Golan, you won't hear any more shots inside Falluja," he said.

Troops from Saidi's counter-terrorism force were fighting Islamic State in al-Dhubat district, further east. Fifty militants were killed there by coalition air strikes on Sunday and at least 15 others died in clashes, the commander said.

Army troops moving north from the neighbourhood of Shurta had not yet entered al-Jughaifi area on the city's northern edge, while units from Baghdad operations command were advancing in the easternmost district of Askari, according to Saidi.

Sitting with other officers from the elite counter-terrorism service at a plastic picnic table littered with walkie-talkies inside an unfinished building, Saidi said the battle would end soon.

Most of the militants, including a few hundred foreign fighters, were killed or captured trying to escape with civilians, he said. Only six counter-terrorism commandos had been killed.

Government troops launched the operation on May 23 to retake Falluja, a bastion of the Sunni Muslim insurgency against U.S. forces that toppled Saddam Hussein, a Sunni, in 2003, and later against Shi'ite-led governments.

Enemies of Islamic State have launched major offensives against the jihadists on other fronts, including a push by U.S.-backed forces against the city of Manbij in northern Syria.

They amount to the most sustained pressure on Islamic State since it proclaimed a religious caliphate in 2014.

MAIN HOSPITAL CLEARED

In battle-scarred Falluja, which has witnessed more than a decade of violence -- between al Qaeda and U.S. forces and later Iraq's own security forces -- it is hard to tell how much of the visible damage has been caused by the latest fighting.

Along the route from Saidi's outpost into the city centre lie the remnants of vehicle-borne suicide bombs dispatched recently by Islamic State, al Qaeda's successor. Brown scraps of metal dot the barren roadside.

The latest round of fighting, though, seems to have taken a lighter toll than previous campaigns, including the battle to retake Ramadi, the city 50 km (30 miles) further west recaptured six months ago.

Falluja has incurred fewer air strikes and Iraqi forces' quick advance to the city centre last week suggested the roads were less plagued by Islamic State mines.

Saidi estimated damage to the city's infrastructure at less than five percent, which Reuters could not verify. Most houses have not yet been checked for explosives, a process that will delay the return of residents.

Government forces said on Monday the main hospital, a stronghold of militants which they surrounded a day earlier, had been partially burnt but was not booby-trapped and was not sheltering suicide bombers as initially suspected.

Police checking the complex found little other than an unidentified body and the buried corpse of an Islamic State fighter.

Saidi issued a ban over his walkie-talkie against anyone re-entering the hospital, in an apparent attempt to prevent looting by undisciplined security elements.

Down a road littered with the detritus of urban warfare, a main mosque topped with azure domes, was mostly untouched. A soldier urged visiting journalists to stick to the middle of the street to avoid setting off roadside bombs.

(Writing by Stephen Kalin; Editing by Dominic Evans)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
New Delhi: Markets bracing for the Monday of the week of "Brexit", when Britain possibly exits from the European Union, will now, following the BSE Sensex fall of 400 points last week provoked by this possibility, now have to contend with the shock news of RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan's Saturday decision to step down when his term ends in September.

Rajan's bombshell, coming just ahead of the Brexit vote on 23 June, could trigger volatility in the stock bond and currency markets.

In the letter to his colleagues on Saturday announcing that he was not seeking a second term and will return to academia when his tenure ends in September, Rajan made reference to the upcoming referendum in Britain.

"Colleagues, we have worked with the government over the last three years to create a platform of macroeconomic and institutional stability. I am sure the work we have done will enable us to ride out imminent sources of market volatility like the threat of Brexit," he said.

But the biggest risk to the key equity indices stems from Britain's possible exit from the EU. There might be far-reaching effects on global stock markets, as well as the international currencies, if Brexit materialises.

Besides, domestic investors will be concerned about the direct negative impact that some of the India-based companies and sectors that have investments and exposure to Britain will suffer.

The possible British exit will also lead to greater investments into less risky assets like gold and increase the overall outflows from the domestic equity markets.

"It is expected that the market would remain a little volatile due to the global events. Brexit is expected to heighten global volatility, thereby impacting capital flows at home," DK Aggarwal, Chairman and Managing Director, SMC Investments and Advisors, told IANS.

Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha has said the government is assessing the possible fallouts of Brexit.

Both Brexit and Rajan's decision not to seek a second term might flare up volatility in the Indian equity markets in the upcoming week.

Investors will also be concerned over an initial deficit in monsoon rains, fluctuations in rupee value and food prices.

According to market observers, come Monday, 20 June, a dour mood is expected to engulf investors.

"The RBI Governor's exit news could prompt investors to recheck their bullish convictions," Anand James, Chief Market Strategist at Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services, told IANS.

But the biggest risk to the key equity indices stems from the possible exit of Britain from the EU, with the decision subject to a referendum which will be conducted on 23 June.

"India invests more in the UK than in the rest of Europe combined, emerging as the UK's third largest FDI investor. Access to European markets is therefore a key driver for Indian companies coming to the UK," said Chandrajit Banerjee, director general of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

"Anything that lessens this attractiveness may have a bearing on future investment decisions. It is important also to ensure continued border-free access to the rest of Europe for the many hundreds of existing Indian firms that have base in the UK," he added.

Britain ranks 12th in terms of India's bilateral trade with individual countries. It is also among just seven in 25 top countries with which India enjoys a trade surplus.

As per data with the Commerce and Industry Ministry, India's bilateral trade with Britain was worth $14.02 billion in 2015-16, out of which $8.83 billion was in exports and $5.19 was in imports. The trade balance thus was a positive $3.64 billion.

This apart, the country brief of India's Ministry of External Affairs says Britain is also the third largest investor in India after Mauritius and Singapore, with a cumulative inward flow of $22.56 billion between April 2000 and September 2015.

Likewise, India is also the third largest investor in Britain. Last year alone the value was estimated at 1.9 billion pounds (around $2.75 billion). "UK attracts more Indian investments than the rest of the EU altogether," says the brief.

A Didar Singh, secretary general, of industry chamber Ficci has said: "We firmly believe that leaving the EU would create considerable uncertainty for Indian businesses engaged with UK and would possibly have an adverse impact on investment and movement of professionals to the UK."

Also, if Britain does leave the EU, it could lead to volatility in the pound, which would increase the risks for Indian businesses.
Sure, Brexit is about xenophobia. Sure, Brexit (next Thursdays referendum on Britains exit from the EU) is also about high EU production, trading and conservation standards. At least subliminally, it is about whats being called 'the refugee crisis'. At heart, though, it goes back to the fact that globalisation has not played out the way it was meant to. And some of those who had bet on the way it was planned are squirming desperately for a way out.

The dream of European unity was born immediately after the Second World War, but formal European Union was born on 1 November, 1993. The World Trade Organisation  also the result of an extended process  was formally born exactly 14 months after the EU.

There were high hopes then among many Europeans. A common market and free movement of labour would turn Western Europe into an economic powerhouse. In the bargain, the process would take care of the large workforces that the recent 'liberation' of Eastern Europe had freed up from state-owned enterprises.

There was even speculation that a united Europe would compete robustly with the US. The 'Asian Tigers' were already impressive in the early '90s but China was not yet viewed as a competitor that was bound to overtake the rest of the world. Chinas GDP hovered around 500 billion US dollars in the mid-90s; its graph had just begun to soar upward.

Not only did China expel a tearful Britain from Hong Kong in 1997, it took over the worlds manufacturing. Cheaper labour did migrate northwest from other parts of Europe, but the cost of labour was nowhere near the levels the Chinese state could conjure. As for working conditions and work culture, there was no comparison at all.

Traveling across Europe today, Germany strikes one as exceptional. There is a buoyant confidence about the future, even among people in a relatively poorly-off place like Berlin (Germanys capital has got used to living off subsidies since the days when it was a tiny island of West Germany, surrounded by East Germany).

There is little confidence in most of the rest of Europe. Indeed, there has been palpable pessimism in places like Slovakia. Young people in much of the south of Europe do not seem to look to the future with any confidence, particularly with regard to the job market. As for social security, even Germans generally have little confidence that the state  or rather, taxes from younger workers  will be able to support them as they age.

Migration nightmare

There is a far more frightening aspect of how globalisation did not pan out the way it was planned. Connectivity was meant to tap into cheap labour, who would remain in their home countries (at call centres, for example) without allowing 'outsiders' physically in to the West. Meanwhile, varying levels of expectation for remuneration were to allow 'market forces' to optimise costs within a united Europe.

Heres what has happened instead: the migration of 'outsiders' has only increased  and these are not 'guest workers' who were invited in the '50s and '60s with the expectation that they would return 'home' with their nice earnings. Often, new migrants are relatives and other associates of those initial 'guest workers'.

Human smuggling has become a huge illicit business. The tsunami of 'refugees' from devastated parts of Syria and Iraq last year only served to bring home to many Europeans just how much the dreams that accompanied the formation of the EU have soured.

The fact is that the 'Syrian refugee' is just the most visible metaphor of that. Last month, I visited one of Germanys largest transit camps for those seeking 'refugee' status. It was an eye-opener. I found people there from a slew of countries  Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Eritrea, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries, apart from Syria and Iraq.

There is amazing openness to 'refugees' in Germany. '(Kein Mensch ist Illegal (No one is illegal),' I saw on a yellow board hung outside a fourth floor window on the busy Alt Moabit road just outside the Turmstrasse metro station in Berlin. And I saw posters saying 'refugees welcome' in Goettingen and Muenster.

Of course, these are all university towns. There is no denying that there is resentment too among other Germans. I heard of resentment even among Arabs who settled in Germany some years ago. "My uncle complains that too many are coming in," grinned a 24-year old who was born in Berlin to an earlier generation of refugees (his parents had been born in Lebanon, since his grandparents fled Palestine in 1948).

To be sure, very few 'refugees' have managed to get as far as Britain, compared with the estimated 1.3 million that arrived in Germany last autumn and winter. But fear has made the journey quite easily. And that fear is not just about the recent wave of 'refugees' and other sorts of migrants. There is a haze of fear  about culture, about conservatism, about terrorism, about 'who we are', 'how will we earn', and 'how will we live'.

Underlying those fears is the gnawing sense that globalisation has gone wrong. Far wrong. Globalisation was supposed to make it easy for oil to flow from West Asia, not people. Globalisation was meant to open markets for Western goods, not Europe to Chinese exports  including chic Chinese tourists in superlatively deluxe buses. It was not meant to turn historic towns dotted across Europe into backpackers havens.

Brexit is not going to stop any of those trends. But to many, it seems more substantial than grasping at straws.
CARACAS An armed man opened fire inside Venezuela's central bank on Monday, wounded two people and was shot dead, sources at the institution said.

"The attacker, a young guy, came in with a briefcase and fired shots and said he had a bomb," said one bank employee, who added two people had been injured.

"He went up to the second floor where the macroeconomic accounts are and he was shot down there."

A police source outside the central bank's headquarters in Caracas confirmed the assailant had been shot dead.

Workers huddled in their offices at the bank in downtown Caracas during the episode, the sources said.

The central bank said on Twitter an "irregular situation" in the institution's financial tower had been controlled. The bank is headquartered in a vast building whose walls are decorated with a big picture of late President Hugo Chavez.

Venezuela is one of the world's most violent countries and illegal gun possession is common.

(Reporting by Deisy Buitrago, Brian Ellsworth, Eyanir Chinea and Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Alistair Bell)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
New Delhi: India is monitoring the developments of 'Brexit' as it would have a bearing on the

country's trade with European Union and the UK, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday.

She said that although decline in exports is bottoming out, "we will have to watch the two obvious developments globally as a result of which your international trade related matters are going to have a bearing such as the Brexit".

"We will assess the impact (as in) what happens if Britain continues or go out (from EU), she said when asked about the possible impact of Brexit on India. EU is one of the India's major trading partner. It accounts for about 15 percent of the country's exports.

She also said that the contracting economies and developments in nations, including Venezuela, too would have some impact on India's trade. "...EU demand is waiting for the outcome of Brexit. We still have some way to go before we say, yes there is a revival (in exports). But we can see it is bottoming out. To see the pick up (in exports), I want some international developments also to happen whichever way it happens," she added.

The remarks assume significance as exports fell the 18th month in a row in May, though marginally by 0.79 percent, to $22.17 billion as several non-oil sectors such as engineering and gems and jewellery saw a rise in outward shipments.

When asked about start-ups, she said the government has taken lot of steps for the budding entrepreneurs like helping them in a way to find investors also.

"There are issues with incubators...start-ups are not going out of India," she said adding there would a start-up function in Hyderabad in September where investors would also participate.

On the ongoing Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations, she said there is no pressure and talks are progressing.

On the issue of pulses prices, she said the government is taking lot of steps to rein in the prices including importing from countries and getting into government-to-government deals.

On GST, she said, the Finance Minister is talking to all the political parties.

Tamil Nadu has certain issues as that is a manufacturing state and they have some natural reservations and "I expect that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will support the GST".
Beijing: China on Monday said differences remain among NSG members over the inclusion of new countries and the issue was not even on the agenda of the group's meeting in Seoul this week, a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj asserted that Beijing was not opposing India's entry.

"We have stressed that the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is still divided about non-NPT countries entry into the NSG and under the current circumstances, we hope that NSG will make through discussions to make a decision based on consultation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing.

Answering questions about Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar's visit here on June 16-17 and Swaraj's remarks, Hua said India's admission into NSG is not on the agenda of the Seoul meeting of the 48-member elite club to be held on 24 June.

"As we understand the annual conference in Seoul this year also has no such topic. We understand that non-NPT countries are concerned about their entry into the NSG. But since NSG is still divided about the issue, so it is still not mature to talk about the entry issue in the annual conference in Seoul," she said.

"I want to point out that the NSG agenda has never covered any issue concerning the non-NPT countries joining the NSG," Hua asserted. Her remarks came even as Swaraj on Sunday said India was confident of getting NSG membership this year.

"China is not opposing membership of India in NSG, it is only talking of criteria and procedure. I am hopeful that we would be able to convince China as well to support our entry to the NSG," she told a press conference.

"I think that there is a consensus which is being made and I am sure that India will become the member of the NSG this year," she had said.

Hua said, "China maintains that NSG should have through discussion on the joining of the non-NPT countries in a way agreed by all parties, so as to make a decision based on agreement. This position is not directed against any country and applies to all non-NPT states," she said.

Asked for further clarification on whether the issue has not been listed for the meeting, Hua said, "non-NPT countries entry has never been a topic of the agenda of NSG meetings. So in Seoul meeting there is no such topic."

On Jaishankar's visit, Hua said Chinese foreign ministry officials met with him and discussed the bilateral relations and issues of common interest.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi also met with him, she said. "During Indian foreign secretary's visit, he expressed India's hope about joining the NSG because India is in need of large amount of nuclear energy to deal with climate change," Hua said.

"China said we understand India's requirement for developing nuclear energy and also reaffirmed that the NPT as the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. We stressed that the NSG is still divided about the non-NPT countries into the NPT," she said.

Responding to another question on China's stand, Hua said, "As you just said during foreign secretary's visit India has expressed its hope of joining the NSG. We have also exchanged views with the Indian side about that."

"As per the NSG meeting, whether or not it is proper platform to discuss the entry issue...as I just said the international community has different opinions concerning the non-NPT countries joining the NSG. Therefore we maintain that we should have a thorough discussion so as to make a decision based on consultation so the NSG should first discuss the entry issue of non-NPT states as a whole instead of any specific non-NPT countries joining," Hua said.

India's case for NSG membership is being strongly pushed by the US, which has written to other members to support India's bid at the plenary meeting of the group in Seoul. While majority of the elite group backed India's membership, it is understood that apart from China, countries like Turkey, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand were not in favour of India's entry into the NSG.

China maintains opposition to India's entry, arguing that it has not signed Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). China wants NSG membership for its close ally Pakistan if NSG extends any exemption for India.

India has asserted that being a signatory to the NPT was not essential for joining the NSG as there has been a precedent in this regard, citing the case of France. The NSG looks after critical issues relating to nuclear sector and its members are allowed to trade in and export nuclear technology. Membership of the grouping will help India significantly expand its atomic energy sector.

India has been reaching out to NSG member countries seeking support for its entry. The NSG works under the principle of consensus and even one country's vote against India will scuttle its bid.
Kabul: At least 14 Nepalese security guards were killed on Monday when a Taliban suicide bomber targeted their minibus in the Afghan capital, a government official said.

Interior Minister spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said that eight others were wounded in the attack, and that police were working to identify the nationalities of the victims.

"The suicide bomber targeted a minibus of security guards of a foreign company, right now we are working to identify the nationalities of the victims," said Sediqqi.

But a police official told The Associated Press that the 14 dead were Nepalese citizens working as security guards for the private company that was attacked.

The official, who did not want to give his name as he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the wounded included four Afghan civilians.

Dozens of police and many ambulances rushed to the scene to take the victims to hospitals of the capital.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack.

Taliban insurgents have increased their attacks on both government employees and Afghan security forces across the country.
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. The maker of the assault rifle used to kill 26 children and educators at a Connecticut school in 2012 argued on Monday that attempts to limit the sale of such weapons to civilians are best left to lawmakers and not families of the victims who sued the company.

A lawyer for Bushmaster Firearms LLC, which manufactures the AR-15 that 20-year-old Adam Lanza used in his attack on Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, told a Connecticut judge the 2005 federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) prohibited the suit.

"It's not the role of this court or perhaps a jury to decide whether civilians as a broad class of people are not appropriate to own these kinds of firearms," James Vogts, an attorney for Bushmaster's parent company, Remington Arms, told a courtroom so packed that more than a dozen spectators were watching the hearing standing in a hallway outside the court.

The families of nine people who died in the attack sued Bushmaster in 2014 in Connecticut Superior Court in Bridgeport. The lawsuit said the AR-15 should never have been sold to the gunman's mother, Nancy Lanza, because it had no civilian purpose.

"It was Remington's choice to entrust the most notorious American killing machine to the public," said the families' attorney Joshua Koskoff, who denied Vogts' claim that the lawsuit amounted to an attempt to ban assault weapons.

"It's not our job to ban things. That's a legislative decision," Koskoff said. "But just as it's not our job to ban things, it's not the legislature's job to decide when there is a tort claim."

Judge Barbara Bellis heard arguments eight days after a gunman armed with another model of assault rifle killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

The judge did not say when she would rule on the gunmaker's request to toss the lawsuit.

The wholesaler and retailer involved in the sale of the Sandy Hook gun also said the PLCAA protects them from lawsuits having to do with the gun's sale.

Matthew Soto, whose sister Victoria was killed in the Sandy Hook attack, said the Orlando shooting had intensified his desire to fight for accountability by gun makers.

"When I heard the news from Orlando so many emotions went through me, from horror to sadness, grief and disgust," Soto told reporters outside the courthouse. "No other family should have to wait six hours to see if their loved one is alive or dead, but yet so many families have to go through that process in this country because our country cannot come together on the issues of assault rifles."

The U.S. Senate's strongest push in years to tighten gun controls was likely to fall short on Monday. Lawmakers scrambled to forge a compromise that might keep firearms away from people on terrorism watch lists by later this week.

Adam Lanza began his Dec. 14, 2012, attack by shooting his mother dead in their home and ended it by turning his gun on himself as he heard police sirens approach.

(Additional reporting by Mike Wood; Editing by Howard Goller and Diane Craft)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Kathmandu: Nepal has reacted with grief and shock to a bomb attack in the Afghan capital Kabul on Monday in which a suicide bomber blew up a mini bus killing 14 Nepali citizens.

Nepals Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli condemned the attack on Nepali people and expressed grief over the loss of lives.

Five others were also injured in the attack.

I am shocked to hear that 14 Nepalis were killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan. I express my heartfelt condolences to their kin, Oli said in a statement.

The Nepal government strongly deplores the heinous crime in Kabul, said the Nepali premier adding: "I wish the early recovery of those who were injured in the incident."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa also condemned the attack.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was seeking details about the victims and those injured.

Nepal has no embassy in Afghanistan. Its mission in Islamabad is concurrently responsible for the country's Afghan affairs.

The attack was carried out at around 5.40 a.m. by a suicide bomber who approached the bus which was carrying the victims.

Sediq Sediqi of the Afghan Interior Ministry said primary reports revealed that the Nepali nationals worked for Canada's embassy in Kabul, Xinhua reported.

Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.
SEOUL A North Korean diplomat who was part of the so-called six-party talks aimed at ending the country's nuclear programme arrived on Monday in China, where she is expected to attend a forum in which the U.S. nuclear envoy will take part, Japan's Kyodo news agency said.

If the diplomat does take part, it would be a rare gathering of experts from the six countries, coming weeks after Chinese President Xi Jinping said he would like to see the six-party talks resume.

Isolated North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch the following month in defiance of U.N. resolutions, prompting the U.N. Security Council to impose new sanctions.

China, reclusive North Korea's only major ally, has been angered by its nuclear and missile programs. Xi said in April China wanted to see a resumption of the six-party talks, which have been stalled since 2008.

The North Korean diplomat, Choe Son Hui, is deputy director-general of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's U.S. affairs bureau, according to South Korea. She was a delegate to the stop-start six-party nuclear talks, hosted by China.

Choe was expected to attend the closed-door Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Beijing, hosted by the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation at the University of California, San Diego, Kyodo said.

The annual dialogue is an informal multilateral conference attended by government officials and scholars from the United States, South Korea, Japan, Russia and China, the five countries involved in the six-party talks along with North Korea.

"We hope that this conference can make a meaningful inquiry into the relevant cooperation issues in northeast Asia," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing.

The U.S. State Department said last week that Sung Kim, the U.S. special representative for North Korea policy, would attend the forum in Beijing. Kyodo said Japan may also send its top nuclear negotiator.

State Department spokesman John Kirby said on Monday that Kim has no plans to meet with his North Korean counterparts during the session.

It was unclear if Choe would hold separate meetings with officials from other countries.

Choe attended a security conference in 2012 in China, but no representatives from North Korea have taken part since, according to the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation.

The visit comes after career diplomat Ri Su Yong, one of North Korea's highest-profile officials, visited China and held a rare meeting with Xi.

(Reporting by Ju-min Park, additional reporting by Megha Rajagopalan in Beijing and Warren Strobel in Washington; Editing by Nick Macfie and Steve Orlofsky)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
New York: Republican Donald Trump on Monday claimed that he never suggested club-goers attacked in the Orlando massacre should have been armed.

Trump said on Twitter that when he said "if, within the Orlando club, you had some people with guns, I was obviously talking about additional guards or employees."

When I said that if, within the Orlando club, you had some people with guns, I was obviously talking about additional guards or employees  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 20, 2016

But Trump was not so obviously talking about guards or employees.

The presumptive GOP nominee has repeatedly suggested in the days since the attack that had the victims been armed, things would have gone differently.

"It's too bad that some of the young people that were killed over the weekend didn't have guns, you know, attached to their hips, frankly, and, you know, where bullets could have flown in the opposite direction," he told conservative radio host Howie Carr the day after the attack.

"It would have been a much different deal," he continued.

"I mean, it sounded like there were no guns. They had a security guard. Other than that there were no guns in the room. Had people been able to fire back, it would have been a much different outcome."

Trump made a similar case after the November attack on the Bataclan concert hall in Paris.

Trump's new tweet comes after a pair of NRA officials said on Sunday that people shouldn't be in nightclubs drinking and carrying firearms.

"Of course no one thinks that people should go in a nightclub drinking and carrying firearms," the NRA's chief lobbyist, Chris Cox, told ABC's "This Week." "That defies common sense. It also defies the law."
Orlando: US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Sunday that the FBI will release a partial transcript of the conversations between the gunman within the Pulse gay nightclub and Orlando police negotiators.

Meanwhile, Orlando residents paused throughout the day  at a bar in the early morning hours, at morning church services and at an evening candlelight vigil in the heart of downtown  to remember the victims of the worse mass shooting in modern US history, exactly a week later.

"We are hurting. We are exhausted, confused, and there is so much grief," said Larry Watchorn, a ministerial intern, during a sermon at Joy Metropolitan Community Church in Orlando, whose congregants are predominantly gay. "We come to have our tears wiped away and our strength renewed."

Lynch said in interviews Sunday on several news shows that the FBI would release a partial, printed transcript of the conversations between gunman Omar Mateen from within the Pulse nightclub and Orlando police negotiators. Armed with a semi-automatic weapon, Mateen went on a bloody rampage at the club June 12 that left 49 people dead and 53 others seriously hurt. Mateen died in a hail of police gunfire after police stormed the venue.

Lynch told ABC's This Week that the top goal while intensifying pressure on ISIL  the extremist group thought to have inspired Mateen  is to build a complete profile of him in order to help prevent another massacre like Orlando.

"As you can see from this investigation, we are going back and learning everything we can about this killer, about his contacts, people who may have known him or seen him. And we're trying to build that profile so that we can move forward," Lynch said.

Lynch said she would be traveling to Orlando on Tuesday to meet with investigators.

Investigators are still interviewing witnesses, and looking to learn more about Mateen and others who knew him well, including members of his mosque.

A lawyer for the Council of American-Islamic Relations said that the FBI interviewed a man who worshipped at the same mosque as Mateen. Omar Saleh said he sat in on the Friday interview at the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce, the same mosque that Mateen attended near his home. Saleh said the interview lasted about 30 minutes.

Speaking to CBS' Face The Nation, Lynch said that a key goal of the investigation was to determine why Mateen targeted the gay community. The victims were predominantly gay and Hispanic since it was "Latin night" at Pulse.

At the Parliament House, a gay club and resort near downtown Orlando, the music stopped as patrons paused for a moment of silence at 2 am, the time Mateen started shooting at Pulse just a few miles away.

Megan Currie, a Joy Metropolitan Community Church member, said during a Sunday morning sermon that Mateen's attack was an effort to put fear in the gay community.

"This was a hate crime and this happened because someone was homophobic," Currie said.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott described the attack as "devastating" while praying at the First Baptist Church of Orlando. He said the gunman targeted "two very vulnerable populations."

"But here is the positive out of it ... people have come together," Scott said. "There are so many people who have done so many wonderful acts."

Around the city, people left balloons, flowers, pictures and posters at a makeshift memorial in front of the city's new performing arts center and at Orlando Regional Medical Center where 49 white crosses were emblazoned with red hearts and the names of the victims.

The crosses were built by a Chicago carpenter with a history of constructing crosses for victims of mass shootings. Greg Zanis drove from Illinois to Orlando last week and installed the crosses at the medical center, where many of the 53 shooting victims who survived were taken for treatment.

He said Sunday that the crosses are a message for people of all faiths: "Quit judging and start loving."

A rainbow appeared over Lake Eola Park Sunday evening as tens of thousands of people turned out for an evening vigil to honor the victims of the shooting. The park was filled with people holding white flowers, American flags and candles.

One of those people attending, Traci Hines-McKenzie, said the timing of the rainbow was perfect.

"You know that's a sign," she said.

At the end of the vigil, people held up their candles as the names of each victim were read, creating a ring of fire around Lake Eola. They chanted "One Orlando," ''Orlando United" and "Somos Orlando," Spanish for "We are Orlando."
United States: US authorities were due on Monday to release partial transcripts of 911 calls made during last week's mass shooting by a gunman who slaughtered 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, before being killed by police.

Omar Mateen, 29, is said to have paused during a three-hour siege to telephone emergency dispatchers three times and to post internet messages from inside the Pulse nightclub professing his support for Islamist militant groups.

The FBI was due to hold a news conference near the club at 11 am to provide an update on the investigation and to release the partial transcripts of the 911 calls.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch said they would include the "substance of his conversations" recorded as Mateen carried out the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history, but not any pledge of loyalty he is alleged to have made to the Islamic State militant group.

Authorities have said preliminary evidence indicates Mateen, who worked as a security guard, was a mentally disturbed individual who acted alone and without direction from outside networks.

Lynch, who is due to visit Orlando on Tuesday, told CNN on Sunday that investigators have been focused on building a full profile of Mateen, a New York-born US citizen and Florida resident of Afghan descent, who has been described by US officials as "self-radicalized" in his extremist sympathies.

The Pulse massacre, which also left 53 people wounded, led to a week of national mourning and soul-searching over access to firearms and the vulnerability to hate crimes of people in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

While in Orlando, Lynch will meet with investigators, as well as survivors and loved ones of the victims.

The massacre has triggered an effort to break a long-standing stalemate in Congress over gun control.

The Senate was set to vote on Monday on four competing measures  two from Democrats and two from Republicans  to expand background checks on gun buyers and curb gun sales for people on terrorism watch lists.

Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the 8 November presidential election, has said he shares the goal of keeping guns out of the hands of people on watch lists.

Trump said on Monday he was referring to security staff, not patrons, when he said that if more people had been armed in the nightclub, fewer would have died.
Kabul: A Taliban suicide bomber killed 14 Nepalese security guards in a blast targeting their Kabul minibus, officials said, the first claimed attack in the capital since Washington expanded the US military's authority to strike the insurgents.

The attack, which police said was carried out by a suicide bomber on foot, came shortly before 6:00 am on a main road leading east out of the capital towards the city of Jalalabad.

"As a result 14 foreigners were killed, all Nepalese nationals," the interior ministry said in a statement, adding it "strongly condemns" the attack.

The guards were employed by a company that provides security to Western embassies in Kabul, a security official who asked to remain anonymous told AFP. Nine other people were wounded, including five Nepalese and four Afghans, the ministry said.

The sound of the explosion could be heard across Kabul and a plume of smoke could be seen above the site of the blast on the Jalalabad road, a main route that houses many foreign compounds and military facilities.

More than two dozen ambulances rushed to the scene, an AFP journalist said, with police blocking off the road. Children watched as the yellow, blood-spattered bus was taken away. There was also damage to shops near the explosion site with windows shattered.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, saying it was "against the forces of aggression" in Afghanistan.

The attack comes days after Washington announced an expansion of the US military's authority to conduct air strikes against the Taliban, significantly boosting Afghan forces who have limited close air-support capacities.

It was the first attack in the capital since the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan two weeks ago. The Taliban have rejected the government's call for a ceasefire over the month.

The last attack in the Afghan capital on 19 April left 64 dead and more than 340 wounded, and was also claimed by the Taliban.

The resurgent militants have been fighting against the Western-backed Kabul government since they were ousted from power by a US-led invasion in late 2001.

They have stepped up attacks in recent weeks as part of their annual spring offensive. Last month they named Haibatullah Akhundzada their new leader, in a swift power transition after former head Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan.

US forces have been in an advisory role in Afghanistan since the start of 2015 and had only been authorised to hit Taliban targets for defensive reasons, or to protect Afghan soldiers.

The recent changes mean US troops can now work more closely with local fighters in striking the Taliban, who have demanded the departure of all foreign forces.

Highways around Afghanistan passing through insurgency-prone areas have become exceedingly dangerous, with the Taliban and other armed groups frequently kidnapping or killing travellers.
Tehran, Iran: Iranian intelligence officials have broken up one of the "biggest terrorist" plots ever planned to target Tehran and other provinces in the Islamic Republic, the country's state media reported on Monday.

The reports quote the country's Intelligence Ministry as saying that it has arrested several suspects in the plot to bomb the capital and other provinces, seizing bombs and ammunition during the operation.

The Intelligence Ministry statement, read live on Iranian state television and carried across the country's news agencies, had little detail. The announcement comes as Iran finds itself battling the Islamic State group while also supporting Syria's embattled President Bashar Assad in his country's long, bloody civil war.

Several suspects have been arrested and are under interrogation over the plot after agents seized ammunition and bombs, state media said.

The semi-official Fars and ISNA news agencies quoted Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, as saying the attack was timed to hit during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, citing the Intelligence Ministry, said the attack was supposed to come on the anniversary of the death of the Prophet Muhammad's wife, Khadija, which was commemorated in small ceremonies across Iran on Thursday.

The report didn't identify those arrested, though it called them "takfiris," a derogatory term in both Arabic and Farsi referring to Muslims who accuse others of being "nonbelievers."

Iranian authorities often refer to followers of the Sunni militant Islamic State group as "takfiris", though it isn't clear if this case involved the extremist group that holds territory in Iraq and Syria.

Shiite power Iran has been helping both the Syrian and the Iraqi government in their battles against the Islamic State group.

IRNA, however, called those involved in the plot "Wahhabi takfiris" in its report in Farsi on the arrests. Wahhabism is an ultraconservative school of Islam practiced predominantly in Saudi Arabia.

Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have frayed following the kingdom's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric in January and subsequent attacks by protesters on Saudi diplomatic posts in Iran. The kingdom cut diplomatic relations with Tehran following those attacks.

Iran recently announced it would not be sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the annual hajj pilgrimage, as it said the kingdom did not meet Iran's requests for better security for Iranian pilgrims. The hajj pilgrimage is required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their lifetime.

In May, Iran's Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi announced that 20 "terrorist groups" that planned to detonate bombs and cause insecurity across the country had been dismantled. It's unclear whether that included the plot announced Monday by state television.

Iran faces threats from several militant groups. Last week, Iran's Revolutionary Guard battled armed members of an insurgent Kurdish group in the country's West Azerbaijan province near its border with Iraq and Turkey.

Both sides gave conflicting death tolls from the fighting, as the Guard said its forces killed 12 insurgents while three of its own died. The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan said Kurds killed over 12 Guard members, including a colonel.

Iran has warned of possible militant assaults targeting the country, which hasn't seen large-scale attacks since the immediate aftermath of its 1979 Islamic Revolution. It suffered its worst attack in 28 June, 1981, when a blast at the ruling Islamic Republican Party's central headquarters in Tehran killed at least 72 people, including the party's leader, four government ministers, eight deputy ministers and 23 parliament members.

Following that attack, Iran's security agencies and its paramilitary Guard tightened their grip on security in the country. While authorities have announced breaking up other plots in the past, they have not described those plots with the same terms used on Monday.
CARACAS Venezuelan opposition sympathizers lined up on Monday around the country to validate signatures as part of a painstaking process to request a recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduro, who is deeply unpopular due to the country's economic crisis.

The elections council has required that those who signed for a recall vote against the 53-year-old former bus driver return to polling stations to verify their signatures through fingerprint detection.

Adversaries of the ruling Socialist Party say the requirement is part of a broader effort by the election council to stall the referendum at the behest of Maduro.

"This is necessary because the political situation of the country is unsustainable, what we're living is horrible," said Jose Gomez, 45, a merchant, in a line of hundreds at one signature point in Caracas.

"I feel terrible seeing neighbors selling television sets or belongings to be able to give food to their children."

The recent slump in oil prices devastated the OPEC nation's socialist economic model, leading to snaking grocery lines, empty supermarket shelves and growing anger among the roughly 30 million residents.

Maduro, elected in 2013 after the death of socialist leader Hugo Chavez, insists he is the victim of an "economic war" led by businesses with the backing of Washington.

The elections council this month rejected more than 600,000 signatures of nearly 2 million collected by the opposition, including those of high-profile politicians such as two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles.

The council also said the opposition handed over some 11,000 signatures corresponding to dead Venezuelans, which Socialist Party leaders cited as evidence the campaign is fraudulent.

During the current phase of the process, the opposition must validate close to 200,000 signatures, equivalent to 1 percent of the number of registered voters. Doing so would give them a chance to conduct a second officially sanctioned signature drive, in which they would have to garner close to 4 million signatures in order to trigger the recall.

Maduro and allies insist the referendum cannot take place this year because the opposition waited too long before beginning the referendum campaign.

The timing is important because if Maduro loses a referendum this year, the elections council would call a new election - which polls indicate he would likely lose. Losing a referendum after January would mean he would be replaced by his vice president, effectively leaving the Socialist Party in power.

(Writing by Brian Ellsworth; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne and Matthew Lewis)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Last year, a photo of a little boy washed ashore on a Turkish beach jolted various classes of people into consciousness about the Syrian refugee crisis that has been rising steadily since 2011. Of course, there has been a more than a fair share of reportage on Syria's refugees, but it was only when the image of Aylan Kurdi's tiny dead body lying on a beach surfaced that the world took notice. It finally became morally criminal to ignore the screams, tears and pleas of thousands of Syrians who had been fleeing to Europe in search of a better lifeaway from war and misery.

According to an AFP report, the number of refugees and others fleeing their homes worldwide has hit a new record, spiking to 65.3 million people by the end of 2015. Europe's migrant crisis, its worst since World War II, is just one part of a growing tide of human misery involving Palestinians, Syrians and Afghans.

Globally, close to one percent of humanity has been forced to flee. "This is the first time that the threshold of 60 million has been crossed," the UN refugee agency said.

The figures, released on World Refugee Day, underscore twin pressures fuelling an unprecedented global displacement crisis. As conflict and persecution force growing numbers of people to flee, anti-migrant political sentiment has strained the will to resettle refugees, said UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi. "The willingness of nations to work together not just for refugees but for the collective human interest is what's being tested today," he said.

From danger to safety: Voices crying for help

"Life isn't safe. We cannot live here (Syria) anymore," says a young boy, who looks barely ten years old in a Human Rights (Watch video on the refugee crisis). "The Taliban warned us to leave or our lives would be in danger...they killed seven of my friends," said another woman. She was asked to leave because she was educating people about violence against women in Afghanistan provinces. In 2015, over 4000 people, including young children lost their lives trying to get to European Union.

Twenty days after my wife gave birth, we left the country. It took us two hours to reach the border. We stayed in a village close to the Syrian/Iraqi border for two nights before finding a smuggler. We paid 1100 USD to cross the border. I left the country for the sake of my family. I dont want my children grow up as orphans. - Waleed, Syrian Refugee (Name changed)

"I felt relief; I realised that we had escaped death." - Bushra, a Syrian refugee on how she felt when she saw a sign that said she was in Lebanon.

"I'm very happy today...with my new toys." - Four year old Rima who lives in a Turkish refugee camp

Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council and a senior UN diplomat, told AFP that refugees "are the victims of a general paralysis" among nations who are not meeting their responsibilities to the world's neediest. The pattern of migration has evolved  according to the Global Bilateral Migration Database, in 2000, most migrants, especially Syrian were men. However, now it is mostly women and children who are fleeing the country.

"Displacement as a result of conflict appears to have changed this typical migration pattern since many of the countries which previously hosted the most Syrian migrants  among them Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United States, and Germanyare not the top asylum destinations for refugees," said the Open Data report. According to a UNHCR, a significant number of refugees are children.

Europe is not the only continent facing crisis

According to a Foreign Policy report, Europe might look like it is battling with a massive refugee crisis, it isn't entirely the case. Countries such as Jordan, a moderate and stable Arab country has been swamped with refugees  it is caught between the Syrian civil war and the conflict in Iraq. According to Bustle, in Zataari camp  one of the world's largest Syrian refugee camps, there are 8,00,000 people being camped, the number is only growing  "What was meant to be temporary, a safe haven in which to wait out the conflict raging back home, becomes an increasingly more permanent home for many with each passing year," states the report.

Lebanon is equally plagued with a significant influx of refugees. Turkey, too, though it is a larger country and significantly richer than Lebanon and Jordan, refugees camped in Turkey are facing political and economic turbulence from the Syrian war. "Unless wars cease, the number of people fleeing them will likely reach mind-boggling proportions in the coming decades, with a potentially devastating effect on development. This would be especially tragic, considering that many African states currently enjoy the preconditions for solid economic expansion," says the report.

Rising conflict, shrinking solutions

A worrying mixture of worrying factors have led to rising displacement and narrowing space for refugee resettlement. "Situations that cause large refugee outflows are lasting longer," the agency said, including more than 30 years of unrest in both Somalia and Afghanistan. New and intense conflicts as well as dormant crises that have been "reignited" are further fueling the crisis, UNHCR said, pointing to South Sudan, Yemen, Burundi and the Central African Republic, aside from Syria.

Beyond the refugee hotspots in the Middle East and Africa, UNHCR said there were also worrying signs in Central America, where growing numbers of people fleeing gang violence led to a 17 percent rise in those leaving their homes through 2015.

Faced with a growing need to resettle those facing persecution, the answers are not always obvious. "The rate at which solutions are being found for refugees and internally displaced people has been on a falling trend since the end of the Cold War," the UN agency said.

Turkey  which struck a controversial deal with the European Union in March to stem Europe's migrant crisis  hosted the highest number of refugees through 2015 at 2.5 million, mostly Syrians. Germany received the highest number of asylum requests (441,900) over the 12-month span, demonstrating the country's "readiness to receive people who were fleeing to Europe via the Mediterranean."

Where's the future?

By the time the crisis ends, the Syrian economic situation will become abysmal  more than it is right now. According to Migration Policy Centre, it will be an uphill task to reconstruct the social fabric of the nation which has in the last five years, been "methodically ripped"  "International relations do not work according to the logic of charity and moral principles. However, the help of rich countries (not to mention the international community, which is a harebrained concept) in reconstructing civil society will be inevitable. These countries should invest in the reconstruction of a devastated Syria, not least to make amends for their present indifference," says the report.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said European leaders needed to do more to coordinate migration policies and to combat negative stereotypes about refugees. "Refugees... don't bring danger to us, they flee from dangerous places," said Grandi to AFP, who took office in January. National leaders need to better explain that immigration "in fact contributes to the development of societies," he said. "Those who do the opposite, who stir up public opinion against refugees and migrants, have a responsibility in creating a climate of xenophobia that is very worrying in today's Europe," he said. "It provides a negative example to countries further away."

At least eight Syrian refugees, including children were fired upon indiscriminately for attempting to cross the borders on Sunday. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the group of eight had been displaced by fighting around the northern Syrian town of Manbij, held by the Islamic State group and under attack by US-backed forces. The monitor group has reported numerous such incidents over the years. And in May, Human Rights Watch accused Turkish border guards of shooting and beating Syrian asylum seekers. Life for refugees is hard, it is up to us to think of them as human beings  as mothers, father, sisters, brothers, as friends and simply, as fellow human beings.

The plight of refugees will not change unless there is a change in the discourse. With the far right grip increasing in Europe and increasing xenophobia everywhere, there needs to be a significant change in how we talk about refugees and asylum seekers  to see them as humans and not those seeking to "take away jobs."

with inputs from AFP
Separate bomb explosions in Afghanistan Monday morning killed at least 24 people and wounded around 40 others.

The deadliest attack occurred in Kabul when a suicide bomber approached a minibus on foot and set off explosives.



The Afghan Interior Ministry says the explosion left 14 people dead and eight wounded. The Taliban swiftly claimed responsibility.

Those killed were Nepalese security guards who were part of a company looking after the security of the Canadian Embassy in Kabul. Five Nepalese nationals on board the bus were also wounded along with four Afghans.

Hours later, a roadside bomb planted by insurgents went off in another part of the city in which a provincial council member was wounded along with his two bodyguards.

Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah has condemned the violence as an "act of terror and intimidation.

'Horrific attacks'

NATO's Resolute Support Mission in Kabul, in similar comments, said, Horrific attacks like these show that, despite the Talibans promises, they have a complete disregard for the lives of innocent civilians.

Elsewhere, in northeastern Badakhshan province, officials said at least 10 people were killed and more than 30 others wounded when an improvised explosive device planted in a busy market was detonated.

The blast killed mostly vendors and shopkeepers in the Keshm district during the morning rush hours, district chief Abdul Salam Payman told VOA. He said children were among the victims.



There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, and a Taliban spokesman said in a statement it had nothing to do with the incident.

New defense minister



The deadly bombings came on a day when the Afghan parliament gave its approval to President Ashraf Ghanis nominees for the posts of defense minister and head of intelligence.

General Abdullah Khan Habibi was confirmed by lawmakers as the new defense minister while Masoom Stanekzai was confirmed as the head of the National Directorate of Security, or NDS.

The Afghan government until now had been under severe criticism for allowing caretakers to run the key security institutions despite deteriorating national security and a resilient Taliban insurgency.

In an assessment submitted to Congress this month, the U.S. Defense Department noted the security situation in Afghanistan continues to be dominated by a resilient insurgency.

The Afghan government retains control of Kabul, major transit routes, provincial capitals, and a vast majority of district centers, while the Taliban continue to contest district centers in the southern province of Helmand and in various provinces in the east and southwest, it said.
Climate change is likely the single most significant threat to the world's natural resources, including America's national parks, according to U.S. President Barack Obama.



Speaking Saturday in Yosemite National Park, Obama said, "One of the things that binds us together is we have only one planet and climate change is probably the biggest threat, not only to natural wonders like this, but to the well being of billions of people, coastal cities, agricultural communities that can be displaced in the span of a few decades by changes in temperatures that mean more drought, more wildfires," Obama said.



With Yosemite's iconic vistas as a backdrop, Obama's remarks were made during an exclusive interview with National Geographic. The full interview will air in late August in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of America's national park system.



On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed into law an act the created the National Park Service (NPS), an agency of the Department of the Interior that manages all national parks in the United States. Wilson formed the NPS to "protect the wild and wonderful landscapes" in the country.





During the interview in the western U.S. state of California, the president urged Americans to help protect the national parks. "This is a solvable problem," he added, by reducing carbon emissions and preserving open spaces.



In addition to climate change, the national parks are also feeling the brunt of a budget shortfall. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said on Thursday that deferred maintenance totaling a record $12 billion has led to hazardous bridges, crumbling roads and decaying facilities.



Obama last two budget requests included more funding for the parks but congress did not approve them, forcing NPS to seek funding from corporate sponsorships and other alternative sources.



Before visiting Yosemite, located in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, Obama visited two national parks with his family to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the park system.



Obama, his wife and daughters toured a maze of caverns beneath the desert Friday at Carlsbad, New Mexico, before flying to Yosemite.



The Interior Department said Friday that national park visits in 2016 are on pace to beat last year's record of 307 million. It said visitors to the parks last year spent $16.9 billion in local communities surrounding the national parks.



As Obama's presidency ends in January, he appears to be increasingly focused on leaving a favorable environmental legacy. The president added 20 sites or monuments to the national park system since taking office. Half of those were approved by Congress while the other half were created by Obama's use of executive authority.



Some members of Congress have accused Obama of overreaching his authority and argue the government should not acquire more land until it can end a backlog of maintenance projects for current parks.



Environmental groups have urged Obama to do even more to designate more public spaces before he leaves office in January.



The National Park System says it has a "clearly defined process" for screening proposals for new park areas.



Proposals may come from the public, federal, state or local officials. The proposals are then studied by officials with input from the public. Sites eligible for consideration must possess nationally significant natural, cultural or recreational resources; be a feasible addition to the system; and require direct NPS management. If a unit meets the criteria, it can be added to the park service system by and act of Congress.



Here are some other facts about the National Park System:

More than 307 million people visited places within the national park system in 2015;

The system has grown to include 411 areas since the nation's first national park, Yellowstone, located in the western states of Wyoming and Montana, was created in 1872;

The NPS manages more than 84 million acres with 28 different designations, including historical parks, national monuments and preserves;

The five most visited national parks in 2015 were the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee, the Grand Canyon in Arizona, the Rocky Mountains, which stretches 4800 kilometers from Canada to the western U.S., Yosemite, and Yellowstone;

Seven new national parks were designated in 2015. They are the Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico, the First State National Historical Park in Delaware, the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., the Pinnacles National Park in California and the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park in Kentucky;

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, in south central Alaska, is the largest park with 13.2 million acres; and

Annual visitor spending within 60 miles of NPS sites support more than 240,000 mostly local jobs and contributes about $27 billion to the U.S. economy.



Every week, VOA Learning English will profile one of the sites within the National Park Service. To learn more, visit
Russian authorities opened a criminal probe Sunday, hours after at least 14 children attending a summer camp in northwestern Russia died when their boats capsized in a storm-swept lake near the Finland border.

A spokesman for Russia's chief investigative agency, Vladimir Markin, said the deaths occurred overnight into Sunday on Lake Syamozero, in the Republic of Karelia, 120 kilometers east of the border with Finland.

Markin, speaking Sunday, said 47 children and four adult instructors were traveling in four boats when disaster struck.

He also said four members of the camp staff had been detained for questioning, as well as two adults who are alleged to have organized the boating excursion.

Karelia regional lawmaker Alexei Gavrilov told Rossiya 24 television that repeated bulletins had been issued for the area in recent days warning of an approaching Atlantic storm, along with advisories urging boaters to stay off the 270-square kilometer lake.

Another official, children's rights advocate Pavel Astakhov, told the Ria Novosti news agency the children were "apparently not wearing life jackets." However, an earlier report by Interfax News

Agency quoted a local official as saying all victims and survivors were wearing life jackets.

Russia's federal tourism agency was quoted in that report as saying the victims ranged in age from 12 to 15 and included orphans and children from disadvantaged families.

Most of the victims were from Moscow. The capital's Mayor Sergey Sobyanin tweeted his condolences to the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the accident.

Local experts said that lake can be extremely dangerous to navigate in strong winds, and even experienced local fisherman stayed off the water during the weekend.

"It was suicidal" to allow the group to go boating in those conditions, a local tour company director remarked in a television interview.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razaks coalition won a pair of by-elections on Saturday with bigger majorities, helping him solidify his grip on power.

Voters in Sungai Besar in Selangor state and Kuala Kangsar in the northern Perak region opted to keep ruling party lawmakers in the seats, with wider majorities than the 2013 federal election, according to the Election Commission.

The polls came after a helicopter crash last month killed incumbents from Najibs United Malays National Organization.

The vote was the first test of public support for Najib on peninsular Malaysia after a year of political turmoil over funding scandals. The size of the wins suggests Najib retains support within the broader Barisan Nasional coalition led by UMNO.

Still, turnout in the semi-urban constituencies was between 71 and 74 percent for the two seats, lower than the Election Commissions forecast of 75 percent and shy of levels above 80 percent recorded in 2013. That was due to voters living in other cities and outside Malaysia who didnt return to cast a ballot, official news agency Bernama said, citing EC Chairman Mohd Hashim Abdullah.

Former leader Mahathir Mohamad has recently lost traction in his bid to convince party officials that Najib is a liability and will cost them a reign unbroken since 1957. Most UMNO divisional chiefs back the premier, even amid concerns about slowing growth and its impact on ethnic Malays, the cornerstone of the party.

Najib desperately needs these wins, said Ahmad Martadha Mohamed, dean of the college of law, government and international studies at Universiti Utara Malaysia. It will validate his position that despite all the problems hes facing, they are able to win. Otherwise, his status will be in the balance, especially as president of UMNO.

Barisan Nasional also secured a bigger majority in recent elections in Malaysias biggest state of Sarawak, but the vote across the South China Sea on Borneo island was dominated by local issues. Voters on the peninsula are more attuned to the turmoil surrounding the premier.

Najib, 62, has battled graft accusations since July, and denies wrongdoing. He was cleared by the attorney general this year over revelations that USD681 million appeared in his accounts before the 2013 election. The money was a donation from the Saudi royal family and most was later returned, the government said. The premier has also been embroiled in probes into the finances of troubled state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Now, with these two huge majority wins, and BNs landslide 72 out of 82 seat Sarawak election win last month, the people have shown their confidence for and trust in BN, Najib said early yesterday in a statement. They rejected Tun Mahathirs lies, they rejected his unworkable coalition of former enemies, and they rejected the incoherent opposition.

Ministers in Najibs cabinet made daily trips to the two constituencies before election day, shaking hands and at times handing out bags of rice and other aid to the poor. They sought to counter an opposition focusing on questions about Najibs credibility. In a Twitter post on Friday, Najib told voters not to taken in by what he called the oppositions games.

I support the opposition more than BN, but you have to also think about who has better access to the government, who can get more things done and who can improve your life, said Mei, an ethnic Chinese fruit seller in Sekinchan town in Sungai Besar who would give only a partial name. You have to look out for your own interests, and not what the prime minister did or didnt do.

A divided opposition made it easier for BN coalition to win, and the presence of multiple candidates assisted it.

Two opposition groups ran against UMNO for both seats, while an independent candidate turned Kuala Kangsar into a four-cornered battle. UMNO won Sungai Besar in 2013 in a straight fight, and Kuala Kangsar in a three-way race, both by narrow margins.

UMNO held Sungai Besar by 9,191 votes, compared with a 399 vote majority in 2013. In Kuala Kangsar, its candidate  the widow of the parliamentarian who died in the helicopter crash  had 6,969 more votes than her nearest rival even though her Islamic mourning period meant she couldnt campaign in public.

Racial and religious issues are coming to the fore of Malaysian politics, including the past two weeks of campaigning. UMNO, in power since independence, won the 2013 ballot by its slimmest-ever result as Chinese and Indian electors deserted Najibs coalition.

Since then, Najib has wooed the Malay majority. Hes reached out to the opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia and proposed they work to promote Islams doctrines. PAS, which is pushing for the Islamic penal code to be implemented in a state it controls, also competed on Saturday.

Under PASs hudud laws, adulterers and apostates could face death by stoning, while those found guilty of theft could have their hands amputated.

About 68 percent of voters in Kuala Kangsar are Malay, 24 percent are Chinese, and Indians and other ethnicities make up the rest, according to the Bernama news agency. In Sungai Besar, Malays make up about 67 percent of voters, while 31 percent are Chinese and the rest minority groups.

The infighting within the opposition dampened the mood, said Ibrahim Suffian, an analyst at the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research in Kuala Lumpur. A lot of young voters, the outstation voters just didnt come back to vote, there is a lot of disillusionment, he said.

Many Chinese are not happy with the way the opposition has been going. BN has used the infighting to their advantage, and Najib is on much firmer ground than he was just after the general elections in 2013 even with the 1MDB issues, Ibrahim said. By Shamim Adam and Niluksi Koswanage, Bloomberg
The United Kingdom could be breaking away from the European Union in the near future, depending on the outcome of a vote this week. The June 23 referendum could set the stage for a British exit, or Brexit, from the EU, putting strain on their respective economies and creating political turmoil on both sides of the English Channel.

Earlier this week, it appeared increasingly likely that the British citizens were going to vote to leave the EU, which was causing investors to flee out of stocks and into gold and bonds, which are perceived as safer investments if trouble is looming.

However, the tragic murder of Jo Cox, a pro-EU British Member of Parliament, threw the vote into disarray on Thursday. The suspected killer may have right-wing leanings and is said to have shouted, Put Britain First! when he attacked.

The pro- and anti-EU camps suspended their campaigns, and Thursdays vote may even be delayed. As a result, investors worldwide will be following the unfolding tragedy and political responses in the coming days.

Wheat Market Wilts

As U.S. farmers are harvesting their winter wheat crop, prices are plunging. Crop yields are projected to be at record highs this year, which will add to a global supply that should break record levels as well.

Forecasts for dry weather will likely help speed up the harvest, which could continue pressuring prices.

Overwhelming supply of wheat knocked prices to 10-year lows last month, with Kansas City wheat dropping as low as $4.31 per bushel. Other major global producers have been discounting their wheat, undercutting US farmers, making it even more difficult to turn a profit this year.

Petro Production Picks Up

The recent price rally over $50 per barrel may have put an end to pessimism in the petroleum industry. The number of oil rigs in operation has been declining for almost a year, but the last two weeks have seen an uptick in the number of drilling operations.

The potential for rising production encouraged traders to begin selling crude oil holdings, knocking oil futures as low as $46 per barrel on Friday morning.
TWIN FALLS  Shane Browns office at the College of Southern Idaho fell silent as he struggled to pick just the right words from the thousands swirling in his head.

What I would like to say is, the arts he trailed off, taking a deep breath. This kind of chokes me up.

Browns voice broke away again, and he briefly looked down at his clasped hands.

Finally, the professor spoke: Ive seen the arts and theater save a lot of people. You know, literally save their lives. Ive seen people have substance-abuse issues, severe depression, almost any issue you can think of and find a place in the arts, to grow and to find happiness.

If the arts are saviors of souls, Brown is the shepherd. Sometimes, the people that touch our lives come to us not as family members or friends but as teachers, mentors and role models. They carry a sense of humble sincerity that helps us feel inspired, challenged and at ease. They are people like Brown, who was born and raised in Shoshone, where his love for theater began.

In high school Brown and his family started a community theater group called JCATS, or Junction City Amateur Theater. Armed with almost no theatrical knowledge but an intense yearning to provide a place for community theater lovers a place to express themselves, they began fundraising and asking businesses for their help.

Soon, Brown was performing once a summer with wonderful people of the community. Brown remembers that in that moment he felt the shows were very well produced, but looking back, he knows they probably were not as great as they could have been.

However, one show in particular really stood out to him as the turning point in his love for the arts.

I had really long hair back then, believe it or not. We did Cinderella, and we built the stage in the park out of pallets and wood, Brown said. I was actually one of the ugly stepsisters because I had long hair, and we just had a great time. Thats probably why Im still doing what Im doing.

For Brown, the performing arts brought him so much joy, but as he started college, he felt he was being called in a different direction. He began classes at CSI in Twin Falls and later moved to Boise State University.

He declared a major of secondary education with English literature, history and humanities and theater. But, after one year, his father had a heart attack so Brown stopped attending school to help his family and begin working.

He eventually went back and finished his degree at Idaho State University and received his masters with the Ashland School of Theater Studies at Oregon State University in Theater Studies.

This path taught him that he had a true desire to teach, and he found his way into high schools in Jerome, Gooding and Shoshone for 17 years. Now, hes one of two theater instructors and a professor of English composition at CSI, and a well-rounded director for several community theater programs.

Theres really a buzzing art community here, especially in the performing arts, Brown said. I mean, how many communities have this kind of stuff? Its a thriving community artistically, and were hoping to get bigger.

It comes as no surprise to those who know him that he is such a wonderful teacher. Browns friend Camille Barigar, the fine arts coordinator at CSI, says seeing Brown teach is an extraordinarily humbling experience.

Ive never been taught by him, but Ive watched him with these students. Hes a great teacher, she said. His students still contact him because he made an impact on them. I would imagine if you were to ask his students, Whos the best teacher you ever had that really made an impact on you? I know that his students would all say him. Its like something you would see on Dead Poets Society, with the teachers that just walk in and inspire people.

Brown once assigned his English composition 101 students an assignment that required them to recall and write about a fond childhood memory, Barigar recalled. He dismissed the students who already knew what they wanted to write about but stayed to talk with students who wanted his feedback for as long as it took.

He is so nice. So, so nice. Hes one of the kindest people Ive ever met in my entire life, Barigar said.

Those moments are defined by how Brown always strives to go above and beyond to teach students. He wants to help them fulfill their potential because he recognizes that no two students will learn the same way, but they are all equally bright and capable of learning at their highest potential.

He recalled a time while teaching in Jerome a class of 25 students who were considered the lowest performers in high school English. While many teachers would dread the idea of having to take on that challenge, Brown embraced it and soon fell in love with those students.

To this day, Brown said, its been one of the most rewarding teaching experiences hes had.

When you realize how intelligent those kids are, not in the pathway that wed expect them to be, and you convince them they are (intelligent) and watch them flourish under that thats pretty rewarding, he said.

This idea that we all have to learn in a certain way to be labeled as intelligent or smart is just a total disservice to people, Brown continued. You wonder how many Einsteins and Van Goghs weve kind of just swept under the carpet because of that, because we didnt let them go in the direction that would be most beneficial to them.

When Brown isnt teaching, hes exploring the Sawtooth Mountains, the desert and the northern foothills of Shoshone. He is an avid kayaker and runner, and he strives to keep himself doing the right activities to keep his body and mind healthy. He hardly watches TV.

Now, as a professor at CSI for three years, he is combining his love of teaching with his passion for the arts, a relationship that has helped him truly connect with his students. Through theater, Browns students have found an outlet for self-expression and answers to real-life problems. Brown joked that being a part of a community theater is not just about holding hands and singing Kumbaya.

Im passionate about the arts and how important and vital they are, both individually and as a community, Brown said. Theater is a place where we get to do writing, we get to do acting, we get to build things, painting Its so collaborative and we get to draw in so many types of people.

The arts save lives, Brown said. Its no wonder, then, he says his mission is to help people, no matter who they are, see the importance of adding a little art to their own lives.
Assyrian Genocide Monument Unveiled in Qamishli, Syria

Patriarch Aphrem (C), head of the Syriac Orthodox Church and Bishop Afram Athneil (R) of the Assyrian Church of the East at the opening of the Assyrian genocide monument in Qamishli, Syria. Qamishli, Syria (AINA) -- A genocide memorial monument for the victims of the Turkish genocide of Assyrians during World War One was unveiled today in Qamishli, Syria. The Turkish genocide occurred between 1915 and 1918 and targeted Assyrians, Armenians and Pontic Greeks -- the Christian subjects of the Ottoman Empire. 750,000 Assyrians were killed (75%), 1.5 million Armenians and 500,000 Pontic Greeks.

The ceremony was attended by Patriarch Aphrem, head of the Syriac Orthodox Church and Bishop Afram Athneil of the Assyrian Church of the East, as well as Syrian dignitaries.

Turkey has denied the genocide and claims the victims were casualties of war.

The monument is the 18th genocide monument erected by Assyrians in various cities throughout the world (AINA 2013-08-08). Yesterday a genocide monument was unveiled in Locarno, Switzerland (AINA 2016-06-19).

The genocide monument comes on the heels of the German recognition of the Assyrian and Armenian genocide two weeks ago (AINA 2016-06-06). To date, 13 countries, municipalities and organizations have recognized the Assyrian genocide.

Hours after the ceremony a suicide bomber attacked a related event but was stopped by members of the Sutoro Assyrian militia. Three Assyrians were killed and five wounded in the attack (AINA 2016-06-19).
TWIN FALLS  Authorities are denying reports that Syrians gang-raped a child at knife-point in a Twin Falls apartment complex earlier this month, saying the false claims are being spread to incite anti-refugee sentiments.

There were no Syrians involved, there was no knife involved, there was no gang-rape, Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs said Monday morning.

His comments largely refute several differing accounts about the incident circulating on anti-refugee resettlement and conspiracy websites and anti-Muslim blogs. Most of those accounts claim a group of Syrian refugees sexually assaulted a mentally disabled girl at knife-point June 2 in the laundry facilities of Fawnbrook Apartments, a low-income housing complex in Twin Falls, and that the attack was celebrated by the perpetrators families as city officials orchestrated a cover-up.

Investigators and the prosecutor were quick to dismiss nearly all those claims Monday. Loebs said he didnt want to fan the flames of anti-Syrian refugee people but suspects the false reports are the work of a local group opposed to refugee resettlement who hoped to stir up trouble by claiming the incident involved Syrian refugees who committed a violent sexual assault.

There is a small group of people in Twin Falls County whose life goal is to eliminate refugees, and thus far they have not been constrained by the truth, Loebs said.

They have not been constrained by the truth in the past, and I dont expect them to be constrained by the truth in the future.

An incident did occur, Loebs said, and two juveniles have been charged after authorities obtained video shot on a cellphone. But the details of the case dont match whats being reported by anti-refugee groups, the prosecutor said.

The criminal cases against those juveniles have been sealed, as is customary when children are charged. Although prosecutors and police are barred from discussing certain details in sealed juvenile cases, Loebs laid out the basics in an interview Monday with the Times-News. And Twin Falls Police Chief Craig Kingsbury briefed the public on the incident at a City Council meeting later in the evening, saying he wanted to clear up falsehoods circulating on social media.

According to those officials, three boys were involved, ages 7, 10 and 14, and the alleged victim was a 5-year-old girl. The boys are from Sudan and Iraq; none are Syrian. They are being held at a juvenile detention facility. Officials suspect the boys have been in the Unites States fewer than two years, but their refugee status wasnt immediately clear to the police chief.

There were no adults involved, Loebs said, the boys didnt have a knife, and the incident wasnt a gang-rape instigated by the oldest boy.

All those involved are juveniles, and the older one didnt touch the victim in any way, Loebs said. Only one person is alleged to have touched the victim, said the prosecutor, though he declined to elaborate.

The police chief also said there is no evidence to support claims the suspects fathers high-fived or praised the boys for committing the alleged assault, as has been reported on anti-refugee websites.

The prosecutor received a report Thursday from police. Further refuting claims made in the stories online that police bungled the investigation or tried to cover it up, Loebs said the police investigated the incident thoroughly, interviewed everyone who needed to be and followed proper protocols.

The police chief told the public the victims health and safety were the departments first priority, and apprehending the suspects was the second  regardless of eithers ethnicity or religious beliefs.

Kingsbury also addressed claims that it took the police department more than two hours to respond.

Simply, that just is not true, the chief said. The Twin Falls Police Department, the Magic Valley Paramedics, even the Twin Falls County Sheriffs Office, responded in due time.

Earlier in his comments, Kingsbury said the call originally came in as something a lot less serious than a sexual assault or lewd and lascivious conduct.

Loebs said sex cases between minors arent uncommon and implied that this case is being exploited by the local anti-refugee movement to make a political point.

Refugee-resettlement officials called the online reports deceptive attempts to incite anti-refugee sentiments.

Only a handful of people from Syria live in Twin Falls County  11 Syrians were receiving food stamps in the county and eight were on Medicaid in 2015, according to state statistics. No Syrians have been settled in Twin Falls through Idaho refugee programs, said Jan Reeves, director of the Idaho Office for Refugees.

There have been periodic website postings about hundreds of Syrians coming to Idaho that have all proven to be false in the past, and this is probably just one of those attempts to try and stir up hatred and bigotry, he said.

Loebs said the College of Southern Idaho Refugee Center, which oversees refugee resettlement in the Magic Valley, did not resettle the boys involved and that the program has absolutely nothing to do with this.

Zeze Rwasama, director of the CSI Refugee Center, said he knows no details about the incident or the names of those involved but is deeply concerned about what the online claims and misinformation are doing to the community.

A headline at the online news site Drudge Report read: REPORT: Syrian Refugees Rape Little Girl at Knifepoint in Idaho. Snopes, a fact-checking website, said the story was mostly false.

I think the community has seen a lot of negativity around the refugee programs, Rwasama said. Speculations are things that can destroy the entire community.

Echoing statements by the prosecutor, Rwasama said refugee opponents are trying to promote an agenda, particularly against Syrian refugees. He asked residents to confirm facts and refrain from speculating online.

It breaks my heart when people in the community are divided around issues of resettling refugees, he said.

Last week, residents at a City Council meeting called on city officials to release more information about the incident and questioned whether authorities were covering it up. The story blew up over the weekend when the juveniles were arrested, and differing accounts were widely circulated on conspiracy-oriented blogs such as Dr. Rich Swier, Refugee Resettlement Watch, Creeping Sharia and Info Wars.

People packed the Councils meeting on Monday, some speaking in favor of refugee resettlement and others warning that resettlement was a federal government plot overseen by President Barack Obama to allow Muslims to infiltrate the United States.

Supporters of the family started a Facebook group, Justice For Our Children, that had almost 9,000 members as of Monday morning. They have also started a GoFundMe page to raise money to help the family move and an online petition that had more than 1,100 signatures from all over the country as of Monday.

The incident is just the latest to rekindle a debate in Twin Falls over refugees, security, culture and religion.

News last year that Syrians fleeing a years-long civil war could be among about 300 refugees to be resettled in Twin Falls this year touched off an anti-refugee movement that sought to close the local resettlement office. Those efforts failed when organizers couldnt gather enough signatures to put the measure before voters. Critics of the program have raised concerns about security and refugee vetting, but some of the movements most prominent members have also pitched wild conspiracy theories and tried to frame the debate around religion by frequently making disparaging remarks against Muslims.

Though no Syrians refugees have been resettled in Twin Falls, 36 have been resettled in Boise.

These were all families, said Reeves, the director of the Idaho Office for Refugees. Theyre now resettled here. Theyre moving on with their lives.
Something remarkable has happened to recreational fishing.

Increasingly, game fishers no longer publicly display their catches at rodeo weigh-ins or on taxidermy fish mounts. Even the age-old practice of rendering the days catch to fillets destined for a grill or a deep fryer has waned.

Instead, more and more of America's 40 million fishers are enjoying fishing as a catch-and-release sport. Who could have imagined Ernest Hemingway in Key West battling an 800-pound blue marlin to the boat, taking a quick selfie, and then watching it swim off?

A lifelong fisherman, Ive practiced catch-and-release fishing on streams, rivers, and lakes, and on saltwater bays, estuaries, and open oceans.

Even the fish I catch to eat are culled carefully from the others. Following "slot limits" set by state and federal agencies, I release juveniles that are most susceptible to predators and large fish mature enough to spawn, because that contributes to the reproductive success of the population.

Some people worry that fish rarely survive being caught and released, but most scientific studies suggest otherwise. Scientists with the Florida State Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found that 90 percent of tarpon survive catch and release, for example.

Of course, that can vary considerably depending on the species caught  and on whether a fisher knows how to handle a fish. Our parents and grandparents fish were mishandled, casually dropped on the bank, dock, or boat deck. Flopping wildly, they beat themselves up. Those tossed back in the water were barely alive.

Times have changed, though. Like many fishers, Ive caught and released trout and bass that I nudge to the waters edge, gently cup the underbelly with my left hand, and tease the fly or spinner from the lip with my right.

The catch-and-release ethic has even hooked the competitive billfishing industry.

Fortuitously, at about the same time billfish  like marlins, sailfish, and swordfish  were becoming scarce, lifelike resin replicas created from measurements and photographs replaced taxidermy models that required actual skin, fins, and tails. Yet the ritual of catching a big game fish and hauling it to harbor for a triumphant hoisting would not die an easy death.

Brilliantly, fishing guides and tournament officials came up with a substitute ritual. Instead of hauling big catches in to shore, fishers who caught big game fish were permitted to hoist a flag for all to see, celebrate, and envy. Unique flags were created for each type of big game fish.

Each time a fisher watches their catch swim off, the moment serves as a subtle reminder of the intrinsic value of our connections with life on earth. Maybe that's why fishers across the political spectrum have long been ardent conservationists  a trend that's amplified today by the growing popularity of catch and release.

Trout fishers and billfish enthusiasts sit equally on the boards of industry and environmental organizations. Fishers organize river and ocean clean-ups, support fish sustainability programs and the establishment of freshwater and marine protected areas, participate in philanthropic fishing tournaments, and join national fishing organizations.

Fishers can play a role in fostering the next generation of conservationists by supporting the Take a Kid Fishing Foundation for disadvantaged youth and children with special needs or the Catch a Special Thrill foundation for urban kids. An act of promoting environmental conservation can be as simple as climbing into a boat or casting from a bank with your children, godchildren, or grandchildren.

Just release what you catch, so your grandchildren's grandchildren can enjoy it, too.
This appeared in Sundays Washington Post.

When House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., justified his endorsement of Donald Trump on the grounds that the reality television star would, as president, sign some of the House GOP agenda into law, it seemed fair to suppose that Ryans proposals must be truly transformational. What else could possibly justify making common cause with someone whose views and values run so counter to the speakers?

But last week, after Trump hurled bigoted attacks at a federal judge, Ryan released an exceedingly modest anti-poverty plan. This week, after Trump accused the Muslims in the United States of being complicit in terrorist attacks, Ryan unveiled an unimpressive regulatory reform plan. Not only do its virtues pale in comparison to the permanent dishonor of endorsing Trump, but the speakers latest plan also contains some bad ideas that no president should sign into law.

Ryans latest rollout, which highlights the way that federal regulations can slow the economy, contains some elements of wisdom. How long it can take to build public infrastructure in the United States is a scandal. Traditional, command-and-control regulation should not be the first choice when less costly yet equally effective, market-based options are available.

But in their anti-regulatory zeal, Ryan and the House GOP would, among other things, repeal or weaken a host of environmental regulations, particularly those concerning air pollution. They also would end the Environmental Protection Agencys efforts to slow global warming, arguing that the climate regulations would have practically no benefit for the planet by dishonestly ignoring the international emissions-cutting these regulations spurred. Unlike on other issues, the proposal does not offer any alternative to replace the climate policy the House Republicans would rip up, even though there are many policies that a true conservative could embrace. Part of the problem is that, on climate change, Republicans are not conservatives: They oppose market-based policies to cut emissions, such as a carbon tax, instead risking the fate of the planet on a decidedly imprudent wish that experts are wrong.

Then again, Ryan is making a similarly improvident bet on Trump. No policy or principle Ryan has articulated comes close to justifying the indelible stain of supporting a dangerous demagogue. Speaking up when Trump says reprehensible things is more than some Republicans have managed but insufficient. It is not reasonable for Mr. Ryan to say, as he did Tuesday, that he will not get into the day-to-day habit of commenting on what our nominee says. The speaker says he supports Trump, so he owes it to Americans to explain whether he agrees with the GOP nominee and, if not, how he can claim to be a man of principle and continue supporting him.
Americas got a problem. Im not referring to the current state of politics or the shifting moral values surrounding the debate about which bathroom .001 percent of the population should use. The real problem impacts both discussions and threatens to undermine the core that makes the American workforce great.

In July of 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that there were 5.8 million job openings, which was the highest number ever recorded. Some said it was a sign that the economy was growing and that the recession was over, while others pointed ominously to a greater problem  not enough skilled workers.

Since 2013 there has been a serious shortage of skilled technical workers in the United States. In 2014, it was estimated that there were as many as 600,000 unfilled skilled labor jobs. Dirty Jobs star Mike Rowe began a popular crusade to promote the glory of these skilled labor jobs and his message echoed loudly across technical college campuses throughout the nation.

While I dont disagree with Mr. Rowe and the glory of the technical jobs that are needed  while typing at my clean desk in the security of my office  I wonder if everyone is treating the symptom and missing the problem completely.

In a recent meeting I learned from economist Brian Greber that the American economy is service-based and that economic growth is limited by labor and productivity. Current unemployment rates are at an all-time low, which spells trouble for growing the labor force. To make matters worse, in May of 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the labor force participation rate dropped to a 38-year low of 62.8 percent. We cant replace the retiring Baby-Boomers with skilled workers fast enough to solve the shortage.

In his 2014 article for Psychology Today, Anti-Intellectualism and the Dumbing Down of America, Ray Williams cites a quote from Isaac Asimov which states, There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. Williams goes on to quote from The Dumbest Generation, by Mark Bauerlein, which claims Americas youth have been dumbed down by an aversion to reading anything of substance and an addiction to video crap via social media.

I once believed that the education system needed to operate like a factory and turn out high-quality workers to satisfy the needs of business and industry. Williams argues the opposite, stating that higher educations job is to teach people to think, to debate and to challenge beliefs. However, on many campuses today neither is happening  we give way to the voices on social media crying for safe spaces to avoid scary free speech. In addition, we have to overcome 40 years of parents urging children to pursue advanced degrees rather than more technically-oriented programs.

Along with failing to teach people to think, improving worker productivity is the other struggling leg of economic growth. As technology improves, there will be some natural gains in productivity, but real productivity cant come without an improvement in critical thinking skills. In an interview with an employer about incoming worker skills, the employer made the comment that todays youth are great at research as long as it appears on the first page of their Google search.

While the real worker shortage facing the countrys employers can be overcome by requiring everyone to think differently, and fears voiced by Mike Rowe are right, opinions like Ray Williams are also valid. The answer lies in bringing everyone together to re-think the way business and education is done. The current century-old model is broken and needs to be rethought. It is time to connect the seemingly random dots and shape a new future.
Iran announced that it had foiled bomb attacksin Tehran and several other cities and that the attacks were planned by members of the Islamic State group.

A series of bombings had been planned in several places of the country in the coming days and those involved have been detained, a statement of the Intelligence Ministry said.

The statement didnt mention any of the high profile terrorist leaders involved but labeled the foiled attacks as a criminal plot of the anti-Islamic terrorist takfiri groups.

Takfiri is a derogatory adjective used to refer to a Muslim who accuses other Muslims of being non-believers.

Ali Shamkhani, a Secretary at the Supreme National Security Council, said the attack was to be carried out during the period of Ramadan without going into details.

Iran, which has troops in Syria helping President Assad to fight terrorists and other rebel groups, has been able to avoid bomb attacks on its territory unlike other regional countries directly involved in fighting extremist groups in Syria and Iraq.

The statement of the Intelligence Ministry outlined that the terrorists were arrested and some bombs and a huge amount of explosives were seized.

The ministry described the operation as one of the biggest against extremists in Tehran and other provinces and promised to give more information after investigations are over.

Although it is still unclear if the Islamic State is behind the plot, Iranian state-run Irna news agency termed the suspects as Wahabbitakfiris, hinting thus that they are linked to Saudi Arabia. Wahhabism is an ultraconservative school of Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia.

Such a report could reignite the already strained relations between Tehran and Riyadh as both countries continue to accuse each other of promoting destabilization agendas in the region.

Last month, Iran said they dismantled 20 terrorist groups planning to detonate bombs across the country.
The Kuwaiti cabinet expressed Sunday at its weekly meeting full support for all measures taken by Bahrain aimed at combating extremism and terrorism in all their forms and manifestations.

Bahrain announced last week a number of strict measures in its fight against terrorism within its borders.

after a meeting on Sunday

Kuwaiti Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Sheikh Mohammed Abdulla Al Mubarak Al Sabah, said Kuwait has full confidence in Bahrains ability to firmly dealwith terrorist acts seeking to stir sedition and undermine its security as well as the security of other member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Kuwait has strongly cooperated with the other GCC members since the beginning of the Arab Spring and has taken tough stance against those who criticize regional Gulf States, as evidenced in the case of lawmaker Abdul Hamid Dashti.

The MPs parliamentary immunity was revoked in March because of his controversial statements against the Kuwaiti government, his sympathy for President Assad of Syria and for his strong criticism of Saudi Arabias role in Bahrain and Yemen.

He was reportedly sentenced in absentia to imprisonment because of defamation of Saudi Arabia.

A Bahraini court had previously sentenced him in absentia for illegal fundraising.

There is an international arrest warrant for him with reports that he is moving between Syria and Switzerland to avoid arrest and extradition to Kuwait.
Operations at Dangote Cement Company in Ghana Friday came to a standstill as workers at the firm protested against the management for failing to implement the recommendations stated in a memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides in 2010.

The MoU aimed to put in place conditions of service for all workers.

Dressed in red outfits, the workers were carrying placards with various inscriptions calling for the removal of the Finance Manager, Tunde Iddrisu, and Audit Manager, Tunji Olakokan. The two men are accused of thwarting the local unions efforts in getting better conditions of service for its members.

According to the Union, since 2010, poor wages have not seen any increment and workers can no longer foot their bills.

The local Union Chairman, Thomas Ngba, noted that the workers can no longer take the maltreatment inflicted on them by the management.

Last week we went on hunger strike thinking the management would call us at least for a discussion, but nothing was heard from them, Thomas Ngba stressed.

The multinational Dangote Cement Company is owned by Africas richest man, Nigerian Aliko Dangote.

The company is investing over $100 million in the construction of a new cement plant in the West African nation by the end of this year.

The facility which will be the second by the company since its entry into Ghana few years ago will also come with its own power generation plant.
In a study published in Child Psychiatry and Human Development, University of Georgia researchers found that environmental responses to tics in a child with Tourette syndrome play a significant role in helping or hindering that child's ability to fight the urge to tic.

Anxiety and emotional distress also affect tics in an indirect manner, as parents or teachers will alter their child's environment by accommodating that anxietysuch as allowing the child to leave the room when ticking or not making a child with Tourette syndrome present in front of the classrather than making children face their fears.

Rather than helping the child, this kind of accommodation actually can reinforce tics, said the study's lead author Cyd Eaton, a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology in UGA's Franklin College of Arts and Sciences.

What is helpful is getting the child to use a competing response to combat an oncoming tic, a component of comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics, said study co-author Anna Jones, also a doctoral candidate in clinical psychology.

"For example, if my tic is to shrug my shoulder, then a competing response may be to push the pressure down," Jones said. "It's really hard to shrug your shoulder when you're applying pressure, when you're pushing down."

The take-home message of the study, Eaton said, "is that the child's environment can make a big difference in how they are experiencing tics and having Tourette syndrome. That's really encouraging because families can really help their kids cope with having this disorder. And it just involves making small changes to their environment and how they interact with the child."

A common caricature of people living with Tourette syndrome is that they uncontrollably blurt out obscenities in inappropriate situations.

But it's much more likely that a person with the disorder will have involuntary physical movements or make noises rather than words, Jones said. She and Eaton wanted to explore what factors influenced tics and how those factors could be managed to help children with Tourette syndrome combat those urges.

People with Tourette syndrome experience a "physiological sensation within their body that's letting them know a tic is about to manifest," said Jones, who worked with children with Tourette syndrome in a lab at the University of South Florida for two years prior to returning to UGA for graduate school.

Children with Tourette syndrome may find it difficult to control their tics, but it's not altogether impossible, she said.

Sometimes a person's tics are so mild people don't even notice them; others are harder to ignore, involving vocalizations like grunting, the researchers said. Either way, children often have a hard time fighting oncoming tics, or what Tourette syndrome researchers call a premonitory urge.

"I think the best way to explain a premonitory urge to someone that is less familiar with Tourette's is to talk about it like a sneeze," Jones explained. "You sneeze and then the feeling dissipates. That's similar to an individual prior to having a tic."

For their study, Eaton and Jones analyzed responses from the caregivers of 45 children with Tourette syndrome. They surveyed the caregivers on their child's behavioral and emotional functioning and level of anxiety problems, any accommodations or reactions made by the parent in response to tics, and the severity of the tics. All the children included in the study were attending a summer camp for kids with Tourette syndrome.

Thirty-two of the children were male, demonstrating the tendency for more males to suffer from the disorder than females, Eaton said.

One lesser-known characteristic about Tourette syndrome is that the disorder frequently comes with some other kind of psychiatric condition, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, she explained. Because of these additional psychological disorders, Eaton expected to find that anxiety and emotional problems would compound children's tics, but environmental factors ended up driving the relationship with tic severity.

"I think that's really encouraging for us as behavioral health specialists treating this disorder because it shows that there's a lot that you can change," Eaton said. "It's easier to change the environment. So it's showing that if we teach parents to remind their child to use a competing response or to not let them escape a situation just because they're ticking, that can actually help augment the effects perhaps of comprehensive behavioral intervention for tics and help kids have more control over their tics."

The authors plan to repeat the study with this year's group of summer campers and hope to further explore the premonitory urge to tic and how anxiety and emotion regulation and environmental responses combine to affect tic severity and frequency.

More information: Cyd K. Eaton et al. The Influence of Environmental Consequences and Internalizing Symptoms on Children's Tic Severity, Child Psychiatry & Human Development (2016). Journal information: Child Psychiatry and Human Development Cyd K. Eaton et al. The Influence of Environmental Consequences and Internalizing Symptoms on Children's Tic Severity,(2016). DOI: 10.1007/s10578-016-0644-5
One in four Americans will experience a mental health problem or misuse alcohol or drugs at some point in their lives.Yet mental health and substance abuse disorders are among the most highly stigmatized health conditions in the United States, according to a recently released report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

The report recommends that the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, lead a national effort to identify and eliminate policies and practices that discriminate against people with mental and substance disorders.

Beth Angell, an associate professor in Rutgers' School of Social Work, contributed to the report, along with William Holzemer, professor and dean of Rutgers' School of Nursing. Angell conducts research on mental health services for people with serious mental illnesses, particularly on issues of engagement in and adherence to treatment. Holzemer is an expert in nursing education and HIV/AIDS. His research on living well with HIV/AIDS, including the aspects of stigma, symptoms and quality of life, has earned him international distinction.

Rutgers Today spoke with Angell about the report and about stigma and mental illness.

Why is a national campaign to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness and substance abuse important now?

Angell: Surveys show that over the past 50 years, public awareness of mental illness and its causes has grown, and yet negative attitudes and images  like dangerousness and incompetence  are as persistent as ever. As a result, people struggling with a psychiatric disorder have the added burden of being turned away by society in arenas like employment, housing and developing friendships. And because the stigma is so pervasive, people who develop mental illness often don't seek help. The consequences of untreated mental illness are enormous  the rising rate of suicide being a prime example  so it is critical that we address the stigma that holds people back from seeking needed help and moving on to live full and productive lives.

Can you give examples of the attitudes and behaviors the report addresses?

Angell: When we think about prejudice and discrimination, our thoughts often center on individual level behaviors  person-on-person discrimination and intolerance. While it is important to fight stigma at the individual level, our report also highlights the importance of other facets of stigma, such as the internalized stigma that people with mental illnesses apply to themselves  which may cause them to isolate or withdraw in anticipation of others' negative responses. Another key form of stigma is structural stigma, which refers to the way in which stigma is threaded into institutions and power structures such as the laws, courts and the health system.

What are some of the most promising strategies that can change this? Have there been successful campaigns surrounding stigma in other countries?

Angell: Three successful efforts we detail in the report are comprehensive efforts mounted in Canada, Australia and England. The program in England, Time to Change, is particularly notable in its scope and duration  it has been going on for more than seven years and 60 million dollars has been dedicated to it. Time to Change makes use of the best science available about attitude change. It combines public service announcements and other mass media activity that raises awareness with local events that bring together members of the public with people who have lived experience of mental illness for dialogue.

What has been the impact of recent mass shootings on attitudes surrounding mental illness?

Angell: This is a tricky question. On the one hand, the perceived connection between mental illness and mass violence has catalyzed efforts to reform the mental health system. But, it is important to be wary for a couple of reasons. One is that most mass shootings are not committed by people who have what we consider a serious "treatable" mental illness. Instead, these may be individuals with personality disorder psychopathology that is less easily addressed by the mental health system. For this reason, it is unrealistic to project that mass shootings will be prevented by mental health system reform. The other problem is that when we exaggerate linkage between mental illness and violence in the minds of the public, we further the stigma of mental illness. Having a mental illness may slightly elevate a person's risk of doing something violent, but the increased risk is smaller than many other risk factors, such as substance abuse or living in a dangerous neighborhood. So, promoting mental health system reform by overemphasizing the role of violence is short sighted and could produce a lot of negative consequences for people living with mental illness who are  statistically speaking  extremely unlikely to do anything violent toward others, and if anything, are more likely to be themselves victims of violence.

Your research involves evaluating the re-entry process for former prisoners with serious mental illness and the lives of former psychiatric patients discharged to the community. What steps is New Jersey taking to eliminate policies and practices that discriminate against people with mental health and substance disorders?

Angell: A criminal record compounds stigma and discrimination. Whereas a person with mental illness might be seen as potentially violent, they are not usually blamed for causing their condition. In contrast, people with criminal histories are seen as culpable in addition to being ostracized socially  and this affects their employment prospects, housing eligibility and even destroys their ties to their home communities. In our prison reentry study, which was conducted in collaboration with other researchers from Temple University, Hunter College and New York University, we found that one of the biggest problems faced by men with mental illness and substance abuse problems being released from prison was that many were unable to receive basic welfare benefits due to a New Jersey law placing a lifetime ban on benefits for those with drug felony convictions. Along with the welfare benefits would have come eligibility for other services, such as shelter, mental health treatment and substance abuse treatment. New Jersey lawmakers recently introduced legislation aimed at overturning this lifetime ban, but Gov.Christie vetoed it earlier this year. On the other hand, legislation that protects job applicants from being required to disclose a criminal record when applying for a job was successfully passed and this represents an important step toward community reintegration.

Explore further News stories often wrongly link violence with mental illness, study says
A potential new strategy to prevent breast cancer in women carrying a faulty BRCA1 gene has been discovered by Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers (L-R) Professor Geoff Lindeman, Ms. Emma Nolan, Professor Jane Visvader. Credit: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Australia

Australian researchers have discovered that an existing medication could have promise in preventing breast cancer in women carrying a faulty BRCA1 gene.

People who carry a faulty BRCA1 gene are at high risk of developing aggressive breast cancer. Currently many women with a gene mutation choose surgical removal of their breast tissue and ovaries to reduce their chance of developing breast and ovarian cancer.

By pinpointing the cells that give rise to breast cancers in women who have inherited a faulty version of the BRCA1 gene, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researchers have identified that the drug denosumab may have potential to prevent breast cancer from developing. If confirmed in clinical studies, this would provide a non-surgical option to prevent breast cancer in women with elevated genetic risk.

Using samples of breast tissue donated by women carrying a faulty BRCA1 gene, Ms Emma Nolan, Professor Jane Visvader and Professor Geoff Lindeman were able to pinpoint the cells that give rise to breast cancer. The research, which also involved researchers at the Australian familial cancer consortium kConFab and US biotechnology company Amgen was published today in Nature Medicine.

Cancer precursor cells in BRCA1-mutant breast tissue had many similarities to aggressive forms of breast cancer, said Ms Nolan, who is a PhD student at the institute enrolled through The University of Melbourne's Department of Medical Biology. "These cells proliferated rapidly, and were susceptible to damage to their DNA - both factors that help them transition towards cancer," she said. "We were excited to discover that these pre-cancerous cells could be identified by a marker protein called RANK."

Breast cancer researcher and oncologist Professor Geoff Lindeman from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute/The Royal Melbourne Hospital speaks about his team's discovery of a potential new way to prevent breast cancer in women carrying a BRCA1 gene. Credit: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Australia

Professor Lindeman, who is also a medical oncologist at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, said the discovery of RANK as a marker of cancer precursors was an important breakthrough, because inhibitors of the RANK signalling pathway were already in clinical use. "An inhibitor called denosumab is already used in the clinic to treat osteoporosis and breast cancer that has spread to the bone," he said. "We therefore investigated what effect RANK inhibition had on the cancer precursor cells in BRCA1-mutant breast tissue."

The research team showed that RANK inhibition switched off cell growth in breast tissue from women with a faulty BRCA1 gene and curtailed breast cancer development in laboratory models.

"We think this strategy could delay or prevent breast cancer in women with an inherited BRCA1 gene mutation," Professor Lindeman said. "A clinical trial has already begun to investigate this further."

"This is potentially a very important discovery for women who carry a faulty BRCA1 gene, who have few other options. Current cancer prevention strategies for these women include surgical removal of the breasts and/or ovaries, which can have serious impacts on people's lives. To progress this work, denosumab would need to be formally tested in clinical trials in this setting as it is not approved for breast cancer prevention," Professor Lindeman said.

Professor Visvader said the discovery had its basis in more than a decade of investigations of breast stem cell function. "By thoroughly dissecting how normal breast tissue develops, we have been able to pinpoint the precise cells that are the culprits in cancer formation," she said. "It is very exciting to think that we may be on the path to the 'holy grail' of cancer research, devising a way to prevent this type of breast cancer in women at high genetic risk."

The research team worked closely with Mrs Avis Macphee, a patient advocate, through the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute's consumer-researcher buddy system. The research was supported by The National Breast Cancer Foundation, The Qualtrough Cancer Research Fund, The Joan Marshall Breast Cancer Research Fund, the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, Cancer Council Victoria, the Cancer Therapeutics Cooperative Research Centre, an Amgen Preclinical Research Program Grant, the National Health and Medical Research Council, the Victorian Cancer Agency, and the Victorian Government Operational Infrastructure Support Scheme.

Explore further Prevention of genetic breast cancer within reach

More information: RANK ligand as a potential target for breast cancer prevention in BRCA1-mutation carriers, Nature Medicine, DOI: 10.1038/nm.4118 Journal information: Nature Medicine RANK ligand as a potential target for breast cancer prevention in BRCA1-mutation carriers,
Credit: Mayo Clinic

The incidence of Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism increased significantly in 30 years from 1976 to 2005, Mayo Clinic researchers reported today in a study in JAMA Neurology. This trend was noted in particular for men age 70 and older. According to the researchers, this is the first study to suggest such an increasing trend.

The study shows that men of all ages had a 17 percent higher risk of developing parkinsonism and 24 percent higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease for every 10 calendar years.

The study also showed that men 70 and older had an even greater increasea 24 percent higher risk of developing parkinsonism and 35 percent higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease for every 10 calendar years.

Using the Rochester Epidemiology Project, Mayo Clinic researchers were able to look at the complete medical recordsfrom birth to deathof anyone in Olmsted County, Minnesota, who received at least one of the diagnoses related to parkinsonism. The records were reviewed by a movement disorders specialist to confirm the diagnosis and to classify different types of parkinsonism, including the most common type, Parkinson's disease.

"We have reasons to believe that this is a real trend," says Rodolfo Savica, M.D., Ph.D., lead author and neurologist at Mayo Clinic. "The trend is probably not caused merely by changes in people's awareness or changes in medical practice over time. We have evidence to suggest that there has been a genuine increase in the risk of Parkinson's disease.

"The researchers point to environmental and lifestyle changes as potential causes for the increase.

"There has been a dramatic change in exposure to some risk factors in the United States," Dr. Savica says. "We know that environmental agents like pesticides or smoking or other agents in the environment have changed in the last 70 years or so. Changes in exposure to a number of risk factors may have caused Parkinson's disease to rise."

The study, based on almost 1,000 patients affected by parkinsonism, is the first to consider long-term trends in risk over 30 years. It also provides evidence contrary to two previous U.S. studies and one Canadian study that showed no trend, and particularly contrary to three United Kingdom studies that suggested a possible decline in the occurrence of Parkinson's disease over time.

The Mayo Clinic study also revealed a possible higher incidence of both parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease in men and women born from 1915 to 1924.

"This observation is important because the persons born in that particular decade may have been exposed to some environmental or other factors during their intrauterine life or early after birth that increased the risk," Dr. Savica says. "We need to confirm this hypothesis.

"Parkinsonism is the umbrella term that includes Parkinson's disease but also may include other disorders. The diagnosis of parkinsonism requires the presence of slowness of movement and at least one other symptoma tremor while at rest, muscle rigidity or a tendency to fall. Parkinson's disease is defined as having the manifestations of parkinsonism but without any other known causes, and it is the most common type of parkinsonism.

The researchers urged caution in interpreting the trends, which may be from an increased awareness of symptoms and improved access to care. In the study's earlier years, for example, patients with cancer or severe cardiac disease may not have been diagnosed with parkinsonism or Parkinson's disease if doctors did not consider their movement disorder to be important in their care.

"Parkinson's disease is an important disease and a cause of disability, especially in older ages, and we don't want to have people untreated for a condition that is treatable just because they have four or five other diseases that are more prominent," Dr. Savica says.

The observation that the time trends were more evident in men than in women may support a genuine trend in incidence. Recognition of symptoms in the context of multiple illnesses should have changed similarly over time in men and women, the study notes. Thus, if the trend was not genuine it should have been similar in men and women.

Parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease tend to affect more men than women in general. But Dr. Savica also notes that the increase was more dramatic in men, but the study also showed a similar trend in womenan increase in Parkinson's disease in women 70 years of age and older. However, the trend in women did not reach statistical significance.

"Differences in men and women may be important in understanding the environmental causes of Parkinson's disease," Dr. Savica says.

If the trend of increasing incidence rates is genuine, and can be replicated in other populations, it has major implications for finding the causes of Parkinson's disease and for public health, the researchers note. From a research perspective, the trend should prompt studies to identify environmental or lifestyle changes during the study subjects' lifespan. Environmental or lifestyle factors could include smoking, pesticide use, head trauma, coffee consumption and other factors.

Explore further Study examines Parkinsonism in one county in Minnesota

More information: Rodolfo Savica et al. Time Trends in the Incidence of Parkinson Disease, JAMA Neurol. Published online June 20, 2016. Journal information: Archives of Neurology Rodolfo Savica et al. Time Trends in the Incidence of Parkinson Disease,. Published online June 20, 2016. DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2016.0947

Provided by Mayo Clinic
Credit: Sasha Wolff/Wikipedia

An international research consortium has identified almost 30 new genetic risk factors for common migraine. The results provide further support for the theory that an abnormal function of the blood vessels of the brain is an important component in driving migraine attacks.

The results of the largest genetic study on migraine thus far were published online in the journal Nature Genetics today, June 20. The study was based on DNA samples of 375,000 European, American and Australian participants. Almost 60,000 of them suffer from migraine.

The researchers combined data from 22 genome-wide association studies including new data from around 35,000 migraine sufferers. From the millions of genetic variants analyzed, 38 independent genomic regions were shown to be associated with migraine. Only ten of these regions have been implicated in migraine susceptibility before.

The study was conducted by members of the International Headache Genetics Consortium including migraine research groups from Australia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the UK and USA.

- Our consortium is devoted to uncovering the genetic causes of migraine and during the past few years we have been able to identify many risk variants. Yet, in this latest, large-scale study, tens of new genetic risk factors were discovered. Because all of these variants modify the disease risk only slightly, the effect could only be seen when this large amount of samples became available, said Professor Aarno Palotie, leader of the International Headache Genetics Consortium.

- We simply can't overstate the importance of international collaboration when studying genetics of complex, common diseases, continues Palotie who works as a Research Director at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, and is an associate member at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

Migraine is a debilitating disorder affecting around 1 in 7 people worldwide, but its molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood which makes developing new treatments challenging.

When the researchers took a closer look on the genomic areas pinpointed in the study, they noticed that most of them overlap with known genes. Interestingly, as many as nine of the genes have been previously associated with some vascular disease and four more are known to be involved in the regulation of vascular tone, supporting the importance of blood vessels in migraine attacks.

- These genetic findings are the first concrete step towards developing personalized, evidence-based treatments for this very complex disease. We doctors have known for a long time that migraine patients differ from each other and the drugs that work for some patients are completely inefficient for others, said Professor John-Anker Zwart from the Oslo University Hospital.

- In the future, we hope that this information can be utilized in dividing the patients into different genetic susceptibility groups for clinical drug trials, thus increasing the chances of identifying the best possible treatment for each subgroup, he continues.

- These interesting findings linking migraine with vascular dysfunction were generated using novel computational approaches that utilize and combine data from various international biological databases. Such datasets are invaluable in situations like this when tissue samples from patients are not readily available, underscoring the importance of data sharing, commented Dr. Benjamin Neale from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

Explore further Genes may not be to blame for link between migraine and heart disease
In a remote northern community in the province of Quebec, Ryerson midwifery professor Vicki Van Wagner is seeing the benefits of bringing birth back home.

For generations, women in Nunavik, the Inuit region of northern Quebec, were flown from their homes to Montreal or Moose Factory at about 36 weeks gestation in order to have a hospital birth. This kept families apart for weeks or months, isolated young mothers during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives, and put them at risk for social and emotional problems that are amplified when the young mothers feel unsupported.

Now, this is all changing. The Inuulitsivik Health Centre has been training midwives within the northern communities of Nunavik with the support of Ryerson professors. Today, on average, 86 per cent of babies birthed by Inuit women are born in the region and attended to by indigenous midwives. A previous research project by Van Wagner studied the outcomes from 2000-2007. She is now updating that information for 2007-2015, and is working on a grant application that would study results in indigenous communities across Canada.

Bringing birth back to the community is important culturally, said Van Wagner. Sending the women away to large urban centres to birth is seen as "colonialist" within the community.

"In Inuit culture, birth is a celebration for the whole community," said Van Wagner. "It's something you do surrounded by family, having your partner or your mother there, and even your kids there if you want to." In addition to the cultural aspect, the research is showing that it is just as safe to birth within the community. In fact, birthing within Nunavik means that women who might otherwise forego prenatal care, because they were afraid of being sent away to birth, are now actively engaging in the process. Overall, pre-term labour, perinatal outcomes, and breastfeeding rates are all showing an improvement over birthing outside the community.

Van Wagner explained that previous pregnancies and the young age of expectant mothers make them less likely to experience complications in childbirth, than mothers in larger urban centres where women are delaying childbirth well into their 30s. "The average age for having a first baby here is 19," said Van Wagner, in a telephone call from the midwifery clinic in Nunavik. "And most women have more than one child. Both of these factors make birth safer." The establishment of mother-child care in the community contributes to the overall improvement of health, as the midwives also support better general community health programs and preventive care such as Pap tests.

The kind of on-the-job training that the northern midwives receive through the program established with the Inuulitsivik Health Centre is perfect for the local women, who often have families and would otherwise be reluctant to leave their community for training.

While the push to bring birth back to the community was cultural and motivated by traditional values, the medical training that the midwives receive is very modern.

Van Wagner notes that the midwives are trained in emergency skills. "If a baby needs resuscitating, the midwives will do it. Midwives are usually the lead in care with mothers and babies. They are really mixing traditional knowledge and medical skills very well."
Miami Congressional candidate Annette Taddeo has been endorsed by the AFL-CIO.

Taddeo is running in a Democratic primary against former U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia in a Miami-Dade/Monroe district currently represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo.

Fighting for working families in Florida is at the heart of my campaign, said Annette Taddeo in a press release. Its an honor to have the backing of the AFL-CIO and its members in South Florida, and I look forward to working with them to fight for South Florida working families.

Andy Madtes, president of the South Florida AFL-CIO, said in a statement: No one will fight harder for South Florida than Annette Taddeo. Annette understands our struggle, she knows that raising incomes is good for working families and its good for South Florida. Were proud to endorse Annette, and look forward to knocking on every single door, and making every last phone call to help send Annette to Congress.
While the rest of the Republican Party braces for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio's potential re-entry in the Senate race, Republican Carlos Beruff is putting more money into television ads, still touring the state, and taking a few swipes at Rubio.

Beruff's campaign has already said they won't back out of the race if Rubio gets in. Now, to prove that point his campaign has put another $300,000 into TV advertising over the next two weeks, planning campaign stops in Panama City later this week, and his campaign put out a statement warning that they will question Rubio's commitment to being in the Senate if he changes his mind and does seek re-election.

Chris Hartline, campaign spokesman for Beruff, in a statement said they will frame the race as Beruff, a guy with real world experience, versus Rubio, a "career politician."

"The most important question for Marco Rubio to think about today as he decides whether to run for reelection: Are you willing to look the voters of Florida in the eye and commit to serving out an entire 6-year term in the U.S. Senate? Do you commit to not running for President in 2020? Do you pledge to truly serve the people of Florida by showing up to work and not missing votes or committee hearings," Hartline said in a statement.

U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Indian Shores, has already dropped out of the Senate race, and U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis is likely to follow suit if Rubio jumps into the race. But Beruff and Todd Wilcox have both said they are ready to battle Rubio for the Republican nomination. During a campaign stop in Tallahassee last week, Wilcox noted that Rubio lost 66 of 67 counties to Donald Trump in the presidential primary, giving him confidence that Rubio is no lock to win a primary if he does run.

Rubio has to decide this week if he will run for the Senate again. The deadline to qualify for the contest in Friday at noon.

For most of the year, Rubio said he planned to become a private citizen at the end of his current term. But last week, Rubio left open the possibility of running again after noting the shootings in Orlando had given him "pause" to think about how he could best serve.

Rubio has been under pressure from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other national Republicans for weeks to run for re-election because he is seen as the best chance to retain the seat for Republicans. If Hillary Clinton wins the White House, Democrats need to win four seats currently held by Republicans to retake the majority. Florida, New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Illinois are key targets for Democrats.
Donald Trump would be "too dangerous for America," says a new ad from Priorities USA Action, a political action committee supporting Hillary Clinton.

The 30-second ad, which will air in eight battleground states, features several of Trumps own comments about foreign policy. Meet the Press host Chuck Todd played a portion of the ad on the June 19 show as an example of the kind of ads Trump can expect to face in the general election.

It starts with MSNBCs Mika Brzezinski asking Trump, "Who are you consulting with consistently so that you are ready on day one?"

"Im speaking with myself, number one," he responds.

Then the ad cuts to four more of Trumps comments:

"This is the Trump theory on war Im really good at war. I love war in a certain way."

"Including with nukes, yes, including with nukes."

"I want to be unpredictable, Im not going to tell you right now what Im gonna do."

"I know more about ISIS than the generals. Believe me."

The "nukes" comment in particular caught our attention. Its clear that its separate from the preceding comment  "I love war in a certain way"  but the implication seems to be that Trump is a warmonger who isnt afraid to use nuclear weapons.

We decided to check out the context of both of those comments and see if the ad is fairly representing Trump's position. We also looked at Trumps overall views on nuclear policy.

See what Lauren Carroll of PolitiFact found.
All of them have failed in political show votes after previous massacres. All need 60 votes to pass, an enormous hurdle  especially in an overheated election season on a topic on which compromise is hard to find.

What exactly are the proposals up for a vote? And is there any chance that this time around might be different? Heres a summary.
@ByKristenMClark & @MichaelAuslen

Three main contenders for Florida's U.S. Senate seat have officially secured their positions on the party ballots, and a couple newcomers also staked a claim in the race as the qualifying period for Florida's August primary elections began today.

Democrat Patrick Murphy and Republicans Carlos Beruff and Todd Wilcox all pre-filed their paperwork -- along with a $10,440 check -- earlier this month to qualify for the ballot.

Several other candidates actively campaigning have yet to file -- including several Republicans, and Democrats Alan Grayson and Pam Keith. They have until noon Friday to do so.

The Republican field remains largely in limbo, as uncertainty swirls about whether Sen. Marco Rubio will seek re-election despite promising during his presidential campaign that he would leave the Senate if he lost the March presidential primary.

Rubio has signaled for several weeks a growing change of heart and said last week, in the aftermath of the Orlando shooting, that he was re-considering his pledge to become a private citizen again in 2017. He had said he would take this past weekend to consider his options.

Until he announces his plans, other Republican candidates appear to be biding their time. Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera and U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Ponte Vedra Beach, had not filed to qualify, as of this afternoon.

Lopez-Cantera, a close friend of Rubio, said he will step aside if the senator runs again. DeSantis has hinted that he also may leave the race if Rubio runs. U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Indian Shores, announced Friday that he will seek re-election to his congressional seat, rather than continuing his Senate campaign.

Meanwhile, the Democratic field grew more crowded with two previously unknown contenders qualifying: Jacksonville attorney Reginald Luster and real estate developer "Rocky" Roque De La Fuente, who still has an active presidential campaign based in San Diego.
Anyone whos watched a herd of Missoulas urban deer bolt away from a dog may have noticed something: Despite their panic, the deer never run into one another.

Petr Obleser noticed the same thing with European roe deer, and he decided to figure out why. He concluded deer have an inner compass that can sense magnetic fields. When startled, they tend to escape along a north-south axis. So everyone knows where everyone else is going.

Thats the conclusion published in the scientific journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology this month. Obleser works at the University of Life Sciences in the Czech Republic, and did the research with Hynek Burda at Germanys University Duisburg-Essen. The journal editors reported their study appears to be the first looking at how magnetic compass directions might synchronize escape directions in animals.

This is something thats better studied in birds and other animals with long-distance homing behavior, said Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist Nick DeCesare, who has examined the study. This same group of researchers published a paper a few years ago posing this idea, and this is their follow-up experiment. That lends it some credibility. It looks like their data supports the idea but doesnt confirm it.

Obleser and Burda monitored roe deer in 60 separate areas in three hunting districts in the Czech Republic over 46 days in 2014. They noted the deer tended to graze along north-south lines.

When startled, the animals generally fled away from observers, Obleser told the journal editors. They did not merely make their getaway in the direction directly opposite the approaching threat, but consistently did so north- or southwards. In fact, they seemed to actively avoid escaping westwards and eastwards. Wind direction or the position of the sun had no influence on the direction of their escape route.

The north-south route choice was more common in groups of deer than individuals, the researchers reported. Obleser said this suggests the tendency helps coordinate movement within the herd, so they dont crash into one another. It may also help them maintain a mental map of their movements. That could be important to finding the way back to a good grazing area or to relocate a fawn left behind.

Most of the research took place in flat agricultural land. Many Montana wildlife watchers and hunters might question the study based on their observations of how deer tend to startle up- or downhill, regardless of compass direction.

It also doesnt address a much bigger question: When startled, why do so many deer run straight into cars?
EAST MISSOULA  The Feed the Need food truck was pumping out nachos after church on Sunday, leftovers from Saturday's taco feast.

Angela Johnson will be rolling through East Missoula and DeSmet this summer in the new food truck, designed to deliver lunches to children in two of Missoula's outlying areas who don't have easy access to free meals once school is out.

"Our church takes a mission trip down to the Dream Center in Los Angeles," said Johnson, a member of River of Life Church in East Missoula. "They have a mobile food bank, so they have big box cars that go out and what theyve found  which was similar to what we were looking at here  was that they go out where people cant get to the food bank. So they go out to the neighborhoods and bring the food to the people. We brought that concept back here."

While 42,000 Montana children receive free or reduced-price meals during the school year, according to the Montana Food Bank Network, that drops to 8,500 in the summer. Access is the No. 1 problem.

"The problem with this location is its not reimbursable through the USDA Summer Food Service Program, for two reasons," Johnson said. "Theres no school here. The children get bused in to Rattlesnake. The second is by census data. Unfortunately we have some new construction out that way that has bumped up the census, so we're right at that gap there.

"But for us, we know that theres a need out here. Theres pockets of low income that need to be served out here."

***

Most children who come from low-income households depend on school breakfasts and lunches during the school year.

"So when they come home for the summer, their (family's) budget does not have that in there, for them to feed them breakfast and lunch," Johnson said.

She applauded Missoula County Public Schools for its summer meals program, but pointed out the gap in the neighborhoods on the outskirts, where children either can't get to the meal sites or their area isn't eligible.

A year and a half ago, Johnson got to work. In that time, she's raised $36,000 through donations, fundraisers and grants, and now has her "kitchen on wheels."

They went to Portland to get the truck  fitting, considering the city's food cart reputation  and came away with nearly everything they needed. The base work, stainless steel, hood and vent system, plumbing, electrical and propane lines were all done. It was freshly painted. Everything is commercial grade and new except for the three-year-old fridge and freezer, which were donated.

"For me, it really comes down to my faith," Johnson said. "We are called on in the Bible to take care of the needy, the sick, the poor, the widowed, the orphans. We are called to do that. For me, I really have a heart for that."

Her pastor, Jason Tonn, was on board from the beginning and encouraged her to make her dream a reality: "If it is for serving people, it cannot be wrong."

"It's been really neat to watch this dream that God laid on Angie's heart about a year and a half ago, how it's come to fruition and in such a really cool way," Tonn said. "She's been a fighter. She's fought through the whole thing and it's not been easy a lot of the time."

***

Money was the biggest challenge.

"We've had several setbacks with the truck as far as electrical things we had to deal with," Johnson said. "We had a freezer that went out on us the week before inspections last week. We had a guy working on it just as the inspector came, like a half hour before."

Once lunch wraps up at the East Missoula site  where Johnson hopes to feed about 30 kids a day  they'll have half an hour to get to DeSmet, where they'll serve lunch at the Futura Trailer Court.

She's expecting to feed about 50 to 60 at the Futura site. Feed the Need is partnering with Clark Fork City Church, which will help set up tables and provide covering for bad-weather days.

"DeSmet School would love to have a site at their school, but the majority of their kids live across Highway 10, and theres no safe way for the kids to get to the site as far as crossing the highway," Johnson said. "When I spoke to the principal at DeSmet, she suggested we have it at Futura because she has a high number of children that come from that area."

The menu is diverse, with plans to serve cold lunches, and two to three days a week, hot lunches: lasagna, tacos, hamburgers, tater tot casserole, pulled pork sandwiches and more. On Monday, they'll ease into it with cold sub sandwiches.

But her mission isn't over.

"My ultimate dream is that we'll have a second vehicle that will have just hot and cold holding on it," Johnson said. "That would go out to two other sites that we could then spread out from our home base here.

"I also want to get a school bus and take out every other seat and turn them around so it would be like a dining bus."
Tyler Smith, vice president of research and development at Rivertop Renewables, a chemical company in Missoula, was just about to fly to Amsterdam to speak at a major chemical conference last year when he noticed a strange lump on his abdomen.

I kind of wish now Id waited a week until after I went to Europe, he jokes now. His life for the next year was about to drastically change.

It turned out to be stage 3 cancer that had spread to a large portion of his body. Needless to say, the trip was canceled. Smith and his wife, state legislator Ellie Boldman-Hill Smith, have three young children, and it was a scary revelation.

He had to undergo nine weeks of chemotherapy and a major surgery in Seattle.

It was a crazy time, he recalls. Those days of chemotherapy were like six hours where they drip stuff into you. So that was an intense period.

The surgery had to be performed by a specialist who made an 18-inch incision in his abdomen.

They literally take your guts out and set it aside and cut stuff out and then put you back together, Smith recalled.

July 7 will mark the one-year anniversary of doctors telling the 37-year-old that the cancer is in remission. He said his family handled the situation remarkably well.

Youre really focused on surviving, he said. Were going to do whatever it takes to get through to the next day. And Im still focusing on the processing part. Survivals first. And then well start processing what it all means. But it was hard on the kids.

He said he learned from the experience that people are both fragile and resilient.

One little DNA glitch can trigger this whole cancer proliferation throughout your body, and it can happen to anybody, Smith said. We dont understand very well why. And then the treatment is theyre going to basically give you the most toxic things they can think of that kill cells very quickly, and were going to hope that the cancer cells are going faster than your other cells, and were going to target the cancer, but theres collateral damage.

He realized that not only was his body very resilient, but his kids were mentally resilient to be able to handle their father getting that sick.

He also remembers that when he was at the St. Patrick Hospital getting treatment, everyone declined to sit in private rooms and gathered in a group space.

Everyones grumpy, hungry and sick, but nobody goes into those private rooms, he recalled. Everyone wanted to sit out and talk to each other. Theres people with all types of cancer in all different phases of their life. Some probably arent going to make it much longer. And it really is a remarkable group of people, kind of how upbeat they are. I dont know if gallows humor is the right word, but people are kind of making light of the situation and joking.

Smith said it was a bonding experience with strangers that will last his entire life.

I made some good connections with people and some friendships that will last, he said.

With his head bald from the chemotherapy, he even agreed to be the guest speaker before last years Relay for Life event in Missoula, right before his surgery.

This role generally inspires others who are battling cancer and the fight of their life, explained Linda Baumann, who helped organize the event. Tyler, along with his wife and children, brought the crowd to tears, laughter and cheers. Not only was Tyler inspiring with his honesty, he was sincerely grateful for the opportunity to be an important part of the lives of others."

Baumann said Smith and his family led the first lap of the 12-hour walk around Big Sky High School track, all while strangers, newfound friends and admirers hugged him and shook his hand for having the courage to share his fight.

"I will always remember how Tyler inspired me, shortly after losing my own husband and sister-in-law, to live my life stronger and with more compassion for others," she recalled.

***

It was a random pit stop on the Interstate on his way to tour the University of Oregon in Eugene that led Smith to discover Missoula. He grew up in Mississippi and attended graduate school at the University of Texas, but he realized he wanted to focus on environmentally friendly chemistry instead of trying to come up with the next Viagra pill.

What really attracted me to this grad program here was everybody was doing something really out of the box, he said of the University of Montana. It was really applied chemistry, and everybody was working on solving some environmental problem.

After receiving his doctorate in organic chemistry from UM in 2008, Smith helped launch Rivertop Renewables, which specializes in renewable, environmentally friendly chemicals and processes. The company has experienced rapid growth after patenting a process that efficiently uses oxygen to create glucaric acid out of corn sugar. The end product is used in everything from road-deicing salts to prevent corrosion to dishwasher detergent to prevent hard water stains.

Our chemical is used as an alternative to phosphate, Smith explained. Phosphate gets discharged from wastewater treatment plants into waterways, and it causes algae blooms, which sucks oxygen out of the water and kills fish.

The company started with five employees and now has 32, including 17 research scientists.

The company is still driven by research and development, Smith explained. We help the engineering team as they scale up this chemistry. We help the business side collect data and learn new attributes of our chemistry to help the marketing and sales team. Were also doing some novel and exploratory research to find new ways to use our products and core chemistry.

With a new perspective on life after his brush with cancer, Smith is headed in May to give a presentation on green chemicals to the American Oil Chemists Society. He believes Rivertop Renewables is poised for even more success in the future.

"Were very optimistic and excited, he said.
The man accused of abducting his biological son from North Carolina and taking him to Missoula appeared on felony charges in Missoula County Justice Court on Monday.

Chad Douglas Eastlack, 35, appeared before Justice of the Peace Karen Orzech. He is charged with felony possession of a stolen firearm and felony possession of a stolen motor vehicle. He also is facing a misdemeanor charge of stolen property or goods.

Eastlack was arrested at about 3 a.m. Sunday in Missoula on an outstanding warrant from North Carolina. An AMBER Alert for Eastlacks biological child was issued by North Carolina authorities on Thursday after the child was allegedly abducted by Eastlack and his wife, Penny Dianne Worthy.

According to North Carolina law enforcement officials, the 8-month-old boy was taken from the Randolph County Department of Social Services office last Tuesday and driven to Missoula.

Authorities in North Carolina are considering charging the parents. Andy Gregson, a prosecutor in Randolph County, said taking the child appears to be a civil  and not criminal  matter, but the judge could hold the couple in contempt for violating the order.

Eastlack is not facing any kidnapping charges relating to the abduction of the baby in Montana.

***

After the Amber Alert, Missoula Police officer Brian Vreeland started searching parking lots of local hotels in an attempt to locate the vehicle that was reportedly being driven by Eastlack. The vehicle was reportedly stolen from Franklinville, N.C. Early Sunday morning, the vehicle was spotted at the Howard Johnson hotel on Brooks Street.

The child was found unharmed, and Eastlack was taken into custody. Worthy, 20, was released on the scene. Missoula Child and Protective Services is now coordinating with North Carolina to safely return the child.

Orzech ordered Eastlack held on $50,000 bond. His public defender said he denies all the charges against him. He will appear in court again next month.

***

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes spokesman Rob McDonald recently declared PEER lost credibility on Bison Range issues long ago (Missoulian, "Tribes take issue with PEER, Bison Range lawsuit," May 30). But the record shows that Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility won an important part of their previous lawsuit against the Fish and Wildlife Service for its failure to comply with federal law and properly inform the public about the issues, impacts and costs at the National Bison Range. How does winning in federal court, causing compliance with the law, qualify for loss of credibility?

When CSKT won its lawsuit in federal court in 1971 and, on or about Jan. 1, 1973, received $22,204,007 from the federal government, was its credibility placed in doubt?

That money was additional payment for 485,171 acres taken from the Flathead Reservation under the 1904 Allotment Act, including the Bison Ranges 18,524 acres.

It was documented by the U.S. Claims Court: docket no. 50233, dated Jan. 22, 1971.

That second payment, added to original federal payments totaling $1,343,331 made during the implementation of the Allotment Act, increased the federal payments to the tribes and its members to $48.53 per acre  far above the $14 value claimed by McDonald.

Both CSKT and McDonald deliberately dodge the main point of PEERs lawsuitthe FWS has again failed to comply with federal laws.

One law, the National Environmental Policy Act, requires them to analyze proposed actions (including legislative proposals), provide a range of alternatives, analyze impacts of the actions, and fully inform the American public of those facts as the true owners of our nation's national wildlife refuges.

They are required to listen to and formally address objections, concerns, and suggestions  and only then decide on a preferred alternative and take action.

Despite CSKTs opinion, once again it will be the federal court deciding if FWS complied with the law. The suit is not about the CSKT  it is about obeying the law.

The National Bison Range has been owned and operated for 108 years through public funding of the FWS, as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It succeeded in maintaining the founding herds of bison, elk, deer, bighorn sheep and antelope which were donated to the government with money contributed by citizens across America, and other species that naturally come to the sanctuary.

The Bison Range contributes to international treaty commitments of the U.S. It has become very popular with citizens across America, thereby providing very positive economic benefits to the communities in the valley, and to the state of Montana.

Failure of FWS to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the NBR and other units in the complex also deprived the public of its right to be told about the potential future programs and benefits that could be achieved by this important, well integrated group of wildlife habitats.

Such a plan would have properly involved the public in shaping a future that would capitalize on the unique genetic diversity of the bison herd, while maintaining the biological integrity, diversity and environmental health of this important ecosystem.

Preparation of such plans are fundamental to sustaining the overall integrity of the National Wildlife Refuge System, and as a result they too fall under purview of the law.

PEER, and the other 10 plaintiffs have properly brought the FWSs failures to comply with the law to the attention of a U.S. court. Holding federal agencies accountable does not constitute a loss of credibility.
Theres a student movement afoot in the last best place.

University students in our great state are joining together and letting it be known they recognize and celebrate the vital role that public lands play in the everyday lives of all Montanans. The Associated Students of both the University of Montana (ASUM) and Montana State University (ASMSU) passed resolutions this spring urging our elected officials to maintain federal management of American public lands. Both resolutions passed with a majority vote. ASUMs vote was unanimous.

Public lands generate $6 billion a year annually in Montana  including $403 million in tax revenue  and support 64,000 jobs in the state. But more important than the economic benefits public lands offer Montana are the educational opportunities those lands provide.

Students at both universities are the next generation of wildlife biologists, foresters, engineers, artists, geographers, geologists and leaders. Students in all of these fields and more rely on the natural classrooms that our public lands provide. Furthermore, professors in these fields depend on public lands not only to educate their students, but also to conduct valuable and groundbreaking research that brings acclaim to UM, MSU and the state.

Most students at UM and MSU will tell you that academics are only part of why they decided to attend these schools. UM and MSU attract and retain students because of our states natural beauty and the easy access we have to the extraordinary public lands in Missoulas and Bozemans back yards. We have great respect for the indispensable place public lands have in the cultural identity of our state and its citizens.

Hundreds of MSU students have found community on public lands such as Hyalite Canyon through the schools Outdoor Recreation program, and hundreds of UM students have found the same on public lands throughout the state by taking part in the universitys Freshman Wilderness Experience. Both of these programs introduce incoming students to the importance of conservation, the sanctity found in natural beauty, and the lifelong friendships that can be made while enjoying Montanas amazing outdoor opportunities.

Having recognized federal public lands as an essential part of Montanas heritage, a majority of Montanans, including students at UM and MSU, are appalled by the short-sighted and irresponsible agenda to transfer ownership or management of American public lands to state or private hands.

If Montana took over American public lands, our state would be faced with a $367 million deficit, according to Lee Newspapers. This could lead to many areas losing vital federal protections, including access to conservation and firefighting budgets, or being closed to public access altogether. Opening public lands to such peril is not in our states interest, and does not have the support of our states students.

Many from UMs and MSUs student bodies will soon be joining the Montana workforce. We have a responsibility as the leaders of tomorrow to ensure that these public lands remain as pristine and accessible as they are today and an interest in ensuring their continued contribution to economic stability, education and recreation for generations to come.

As representatives of UMs and MSUs student bodies, we believe that our congressional delegation, our governor and our state representatives have a responsibility to their constituents to maintain the natural heritage of Montana by ensuring that federally owned public lands in Montana are not transferred to state or private hands.
BOZEMAN  A Montana lawmaker is proposing that the Legislature rename Columbus day with a name that celebrates Native Americans.

State Rep. Bridget Smith, D-Wolf Point, submitted a bill request last week that would change the holiday to celebrate indigenous people instead of the explorer.

Smith says Columbus has a legacy of cruelty and slavery and that he and his exploratory crew committed atrocities on Native Americans.

Montana would not be the first state to enact legislation changing the holiday. In 1989, South Dakota established the second Monday in October, federally recognized as Columbus Day, as Native American Day. Earlier this year, the Bozeman City Commission adopted a similar measure.
BILLINGS  There was plenty of snickering Thursday among the 50 or so participants when community historian Kevin Kooistra opened his talk about brothels and madams in Billings.

But the guffaws gave way to a few gasps as the capacity crowd heard of suicides, murders, beatings and incidents of white slavery, in which women were kidnapped and forced into prostitution in Montana in the late 1800s and early 1900s. There were three violent deaths on just one block of Minnesota Avenue over a matter of months in 1901 in what was sometimes called the South Side resort or the restricted district.

Kooistras talk, Houses of Ill Fame: A History of Prostitution in Billings 1882-1940, was part of the High Noon Lecture Series at the Western Heritage Center. The talks are free and open to the public.

On Friday, participants in the WHCs "Hoof-it with a Historian" tour of Mountview Cemetery will visit the elaborate grave of Billings most notorious madam, Olive Warren McDaniels. On July 8, there will be a walking tour of Billings brothel sites.

Olive operated her brothel, the Lucky Diamond, for many years in Billings. She came north to Billings from Denver in the 1890s because the competition was so fierce among the 1,000 prostitutes working there at the time.

She named her brothel after the diamond rings she was given by a prominent, unnamed Billings attorney. The Northern Hotel, where Olive occasionally worked as a hostess, eventually named its bar after Olive's brothel. Olive was a striking woman described by the Billings Gazette in a story in the 1980s as a dark-eyed, black-haired beauty.

Kooistra used newspaper archives and other sources to tell the story of Billings prostitutes. But, because they frequently changed their names and fudged on their ages, it was a challenge to sort fact from fiction, he said. Two colorful Billings prostitutes he researched were Dutch Mary and Calamity Jane.

I had no idea that this topic was so expansive, Kooistra said.

When Kooistra and a friend noticed so many references to female boarding houses on Minnesota Avenue in the early 1900s, the friend wondered if there was an all-female college nearby. They got a good laugh when they discovered that boarding houses were another name for brothels.

***

Billings citizens were torn on the issue of brothels. When a candidate for Billings mayor railed against prostitution in 1905, The Billings Gazette editorialized about high-minded folks forcing their morals on others. He lost the election.

When Carrie Nation, a radical leader of the temperance movement who often chopped up bars with an ax, visited a brothel in Butte, the madam attacked her and then called for a police officer to escort Nation out of the establishment.

Payoffs were so prevalent that at one point, there was a city ordinance passed in Billings banning police officers from collecting payments from local prostitutes.

An ad in the Billings Gazette informed people that the frail sisterhood should move away from the north side of the tracks, and in 1909, 100 citizens of Billings signed a petition forcing brothels to move to Minnesota Avenue so rail passengers at the depot on Montana Avenue couldnt see them.

The L & L Building on the corner of South 27th Street and Minnesota Avenue was at one time a brothel, and it marked the western edge of the red-light district on the South Side.

Before the push to move brothels away from the retail hub of Billings, Olive Warren opened her brothel on Montana Avenue, adding a staircase on the back side for those stuffed-shirt patrons who visit churches once a week and my premises every other night, Olive was quoted as saying.

A Gazette article from the early 1900s waxed poetic about Feeleys brothel near where North Park is now, stating Many an old-time cowhand saw Feeleys place as a bright spot in an otherwise drab existence.

As late as the 1960s, Kooistra said he found references to the "cribs" on Minnesota Avenue in Billings.
After Dan Cornell mastered the straight line, he wanted to look at how curves are made.

It is Cornell's fascination with a curving line that has kept him making boats as a hobby since his retirement as the art teacher at Butte High School in 2013. He builds cedar strip canoes for family members or friends.

Cornell's workshop is a simple garage in the home he built in a neighborhood off West Park Street in Butte. He keeps two canoes he made for two of his daughters. He has a cedar strip kayak in his workshop that is under construction for his son. He has also traded his boats for works of art. Cornell estimates that if he sold his handmade creations, they would cost thousands of dollars because of the costs of materials and labor.

Cornell, 69, started his 19-year career at Butte High School as the carpentry teacher. He got his students to build boats because it was a way of explaining the concept of two-dimensional drafts vs. three-dimensional objects to teenagers.

He also realized it was a way to build his students' confidence in themselves.

"They thought it was beyond their ability, but I knew it was well within their ability," Cornell said.

The students built their first boat, a cedar strip canoe, in the 1990s. After that, there were no more confidence issues for his students.

One of Cornell's former students, Luke Davis, said he remembers building a boat in Cornell's carpentry workshop.

"It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever done," Davis said.

Cornell believes building a boat is not just creating something beautiful, it's a way of defying consumerist culture.

"I think it's important for people to make things," Cornell said. "'The man' wants us to be a plain old consumer. Or we can build widgets (ordinary things built on straight lines). But that's not something that appeals to the heart and soul. A boat is a work of art."

Born in Brooklyn, Cornell found his way to Montana by attending Montana State University-Bozeman, where he started studying architecture but wound up getting his degree, instead, in education. Despite his urban upbringing, Cornell's father was a miner. Cornell's father worked in an iron ore mine in New Jersey when Cornell was growing up.

Cornell relocated to Butte after serving in the Army during the Vietnam War. He worked in construction before joining Butte High School as the carpentry teacher.

Cornell shifted to teaching art at Butte High after a female student received a small cut on her hand in his carpentry workshop. He feared another, larger injury might happen someday, so he decided to teach art instead. But he took up boat building again after he retired.

One reason Cornell is drawn to boat building is because a boat contains a complex curve  meaning it bends both up and down and in and out simultaneously.

"Most people don't take the time to look at a straight line, but they'll look at a curve. Why not take the time to make a curve?" he said.
MISSOULA  A child abducted from North Carolina was found unharmed in Missoula on Sunday, and his father was taken into custody.

An AMBER Alert for the 8-month-old child was canceled after the boy and his mother and father were found at Howard Johnson hotel, 3530 Brooks St. in Missoula, at about 3 a.m. Sunday.

Missoula police officer Brian Vreeland started searching for vehicles in parking lots of area motels, said Sgt. James Caton. At about 3 a.m. Sunday, Vreeland spotted a vehicle in the hotel's parking lot matching the suspected vehicle's description. He verified that the license plate matched the plate described in the alert.

Several officers responded to the motel and made contact with three occupants in one of the rooms: the child and his parents, 35-year-old Chad Douglas Eastlack and 20-year-old Penny Dianne Worthy. Eastlack and Worthy were transported to MPD for questioning.

Eastlack was charged on an outstanding warrant out of North Carolina. Worthy was released on the scene.

The child was unharmed, Caton said, and turned over to Missoula Child Protective Services. Missoula CPS is now coordinating with CPS in North Carolina to safely return the child.

The Randolph County Department of Social Services in North Carolina reported the baby missing on Tuesday and reported to the Randolph County Sheriff's Office that he had been taken by his biological parents, Eastlack and Worthy.

Eastlack was also suspected of stealing a van from Franklinville, North Carolina.

An AMBER Alert was issued on Thursday for the 8-month-old child. The alert reached Montana because law enforcement said the van could have been headed to Great Falls or Missoula.

Eastlack was booked at the Missoula County Detention Center at 9:19 a.m. Sunday. He is scheduled to appear in court at 2:30 p.m. Monday.
The Beaverhead County Sheriffs Department rescued an injured male hiker at Barb Lake in the Pioneer Mountains near Dillon on Saturday.

Sheriff Frank Kluesner told The Montana Standard a young man with an injured leg was evacuated by a Kalispell rescue helicopter early Sunday morning at about 1 a.m.

Barb Lake is a really remote, high-altitude lake," said Kluesner. Located about 30 miles northwest of Dillon in the Beaverhead National Forest, it is typically a 5-hour hike, or a 7-hour hike for rescue crews, he added. Authorities will release more details on Monday.

On Sunday, rescuers responded to a welfare check call for another young man, age unknown, who was hiking in a rocky area on a Bureau of Land Management trail. He was uninjured, said Kluesner. Responders accessed the trail using 4x4 vehicles and an all-terrain Vehicle in order to reach the second man.

More details about both incidents are expected Monday.
Police reports

PARTY PALACE FIGHT

A helicopter flew a Butte man to a Missoula hospital after another man head-butted and punched him at the Party Palace bar, Park and Main, early Friday.

Police say Bryant Mannie Hansen, 24, of Butte, punched the 37-year-old man shortly after midnight Thursday and left the scene. After being punched, the victim fell to the floor and struck his head, police said.

Hansen left the scene in a copper-colored Dodge pickup and was pulled over in the 800 block of Dewey Boulevard. He was booked for felony assault, driving drunk and having no liability insurance and was released hours later Friday after posting $25,000 bail.

The victim was reported in stable condition, police said Monday.

CHAIN LONGER THAN THOUGHT

A Butte man who misjudged how much slack a pit bull had on his chain was bitten twice on the arm, and after some confusion, the dogs owner was taken to jail on an outstanding warrant.

Police say the 42-year-old man was walking by in the 400 block of Iron Street Friday afternoon when the pit bull got to him. The victim was treated at St. James Healthcare.

Amber Ingram, 38, of Butte, came outside of her house and told police and Animal Control she didnt know where the pit bull was, but she was arrested for a warrant out of Butte City Court. A man in the house then came out with the dog, which was taken and quarantined.

THAT'S NOT AN ID

Police asked a man to show them identification late Friday night but he pulled out a colorful marijuana pipe instead and was cuffed.

Officers responded to 1800 block of Harrison Avenue on a report that someone was passed out on the sidewalk. Police asked for ID but Marcus Anthony Yerkich, 21, handed them a green, orange and blue marijuana pipe. They also found a bag of pot on him, and although he told police he had a Montana medical marijuana card, he did not.

He was booked for possession of drugs and paraphernalia, both misdemeanors.

PARKING LOT DISTURBANCE

A man who was yelling and throwing things around in the Walmart parking lot Friday night was arrested for having methamphetamine.

Leonard Ray Lillyblad, 60, told officers he was speaking to Lord and was from both Butte and Colorado but had no ID. He did have a wallet in his back pocket, however, and revealed a small bag of meth when he was placed in the back of a patrol car.

He was booked for felony possession of dangerous drugs and misdemeanor criminal contempt and obstructing a peace officer.

HOLED UP IN BATHROOM

A man who tried to shoplift a sweatshirt from a Town Pump locked himself in the stores bathroom stall and only came out after repeated requests from an officer.

Police say Joseph Loren Bates, 37, of Butte, took a sweatshirt off a rack, worked to get an anti-theft device off and put it on in the bathroom, then put on his coat over it. He was arrested for misdemeanor shoplifting and booked with bond set at $1,085.

SPARRING GONE BAD

Two men who were sparring on Broadway Street outside the Leggat apartment building ended up behind bars late Sunday.

Polcie say Brenden Lee White, 24, of Butte, had thrown objects at a street light and broke it before he and Jack Wayne Brown, 44, of Butte began sparring in the street.

Brown was arrested for misdemeanor disorderly conduct and White was booked on complaints of criminal mischief and disorderly conduct, both misdemeanors.

BOY PULLS KNIFE

An 11-year old boy was arrested Saturday night after pulling a knife on two girls at Clark Park.

The girls said they got into an argument with the boy when he pulled a knife and threatened them. He was arrested for assault with a weapon but was released to his parents.
An injured hiker who was helicoptered out of the Pioneer Mountains over the weekend was jumping off a boulder when he landed wrong and hurt his knee, authorities said Monday.

The hiker, 18, was descending from Barb Lake with three others in the rugged, nearly inaccessible area Saturday evening when the injury occurred. His friends called for help via cell phone.

The injured party was in extreme pain and was unable to walk or be carried out, said Beaverhead Undersheriff David Chase.

Initially, a Life Flight air ambulance from Idaho was summoned, but was unable to find a safe location to land and was forced to abandon the rescue, he said.

A Kalispell-based helicopter, Two Bear Air Rescue, arrived about 2:30 a.m., but was delayed until high winds subsided before using a basket and air-lift capabilities to rescue the young man. By 6:30 a.m. Sunday the rescue succeeded and the injured party was carried out of the area. He was taken to Barrett Hospital and Healthcare in Dillon.

Chase said the victim was treated at the hospital for possible multiple tears to his knee. His fellow hikers hiked out without problems. The hike can take five hours or more one way.

Barb Lake is a really remote, high-altitude lake," said Beaverhead Sheriff Frank Kluesner. Its located about 30 miles northwest of Dillon, and has no designated trail for access.
Neil Duane Swant was born July 26, 1948, to Marvin and Velma (Cole) Swant in Deer Lodge, the third of three sons.

He passed peacefully in his sleep June 13, 2016.

Neil attended Deer Lodge schools and graduated from Powell County High School in 1966. After high school, he attended General Motors Mechanics School in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was sponsored at this school by Dee Motor Co. of Anaconda. He later worked for Dee Motors and Downing Chevrolet in Deer Lodge. He moved to the Tri Cities area in Washington for a short while working as a mechanic in Richland, Washington.

He returned home to Deer Lodge in the fall of 1971 because he wanted to go hunting. While in Deer Lodge at this time, he met Marlene Anderson on a blind date arranged by his brother and wife. Neil and Marlene were married February 17, 1972. They were blessed with two sons, Thad and Aaron.

In 1980, Neil opened Swants Auto Repair in Deer Lodge. He ran the shop until 1994, when he went to work for School District 1 as maintenance and transportation supervisor, retiring in 2010.

He enjoyed hunting, camping, snowmobiling, and four-wheeling with friends and family. His most memorable hunting trip was this last year. After 30 years of applying for a moose tag, he drew one and shot a big bull while hunting with both of his sons.

Neil was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife of 44 years, Marlene; son, Thad and wife Lauren, and son, Aaron; his granddaughter, Hannah Sidner and husband Rodger, and his newest granddaughter, 8-month-old McKenna; his brothers, Dale and wife Arlene, of Davenport, Washington, and Gary and wife Laura, of Deer Lodge; his sister-in-law, Merna and husband Terry Nelson (Washington); sister-in-law, Vicki and husband Wayne Koterba (North Dakota); brother-in-law, Darrell and wife Alice Anderson (Washington); and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church in Deer Lodge Friday, June 17, at 3:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Memorial donations in Neils name can be made to Deer Lodge Christian Men Group at 268 Meadow Vista, Deer Lodge, MT 59722 or to donors choice.

Express condolences at www.mtstandard.com.
Yes, Hitler.

Some of you questioned my evocation of historys great villain in a recent column on House Speaker Paul Ryans surrender to presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump. I likened Ryan to Franz von Papen, a German politician who helped Adolf Hitler rise to power under the naive delusion that he could control him.

A handful of Trump fans found that. as one put it, a bit of a stretch. One guy expressed his skepticism through the time-honored expedient of the triple punctuation mark: Hitler???

Yes, Hitler.

Not that their dubiousness is unreasonable. In recent years, Hitler and the Holocaust have popped up in political debate as routinely as dandelions on the lawn. One man said having to tack a No Smoking sign on his building was like being a Jew forced to wear a yellow star; another claimed popular anger over the excesses of the rich was reminiscent of Kristallnacht.

Almost by definition, Hitler and Holocaust comparisons trivialize that era and reveal the ignorant insensitivity of those who make them. But the key word there is, almost.

Because for the record, Im not the only one who sees the shadow of Germany in the 1930s over America in the 2010s. Once again, a clownish demagogue bestrides the political landscape, demonizing vulnerable peoples, bullying opponents, encouraging violence, offering simplistic, strongman solutions to difficult and complex problems, and men and women who bear more moral authority on this subject than I ever could see something chilling and familiar in him.

I dont want to make any comparison to Hitler, but believe it or not his delivery and the way he conducts himself is very similar to Hitlers way of doing things.

He discredits everybody who disagrees with him. Hes insulting. He discriminates against everybody. So says Martin Weiss. Hes a survivor of Auschwitz.

It is repeating itself and it is again the inattention that people pay to real cues that one should understand.  I think one has to speak up. And thats the one lesson from the Holocaust. Do not be a bystander. So says Margit Meissner, who fled occupied France on foot through the Pyrenees. Like Weiss, she spoke in January to Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank.

Then there is Eva Schloss, who in January said of Trump, I think he is acting like another Hitler  Schloss, who spoke to Newsweek, was the stepsister of Anne Frank.

No, I dont predict a new Holocaust if Trump bamboozles America into electing him. But some new calamity, inconceivable to us now, but repulsive to the values we claim to hold dear, does seem certain.

And that raises a question: If one should never be too quick to make comparisons to Germany in the 1930s, is it not also important, on the rare occasions it is merited, to make sure one is not too slow?

One reason, after all, that no one saw Hitler for what he was is that people simply could not conceive of anything as preposterously monstrous as what eventually occurred. They took refuge in the assurance  the false assurance, as it turned out  that reason would eventually reassert itself.

The failure of imagination is often a component in tragedy. Thats why Ive always declined to blame the Bush administration for 9/11. Before that, who could have conceived of fanatics using jetliners as missiles?

But afterward is another story. Once you have seen for yourself that the unthinkable is not, it moves from the arena of imagination to that of history.

And then, you must use it to understand where we are and help chart where we should  and should not  be going. You cant blame people who didnt realize what Hitler was. They had never seen anything like him before.

You and I, however, have no such excuse.

-- Leonard Pitts is a columnist for the Miami Herald.
OMG! Missoula is still going to have refugees move into Montana? (Saturday's Standard).

I just keep asking my self WHY? Not just over the awful Orlando slaughter, but why is the IRC spending so much time and effort to move these refugees from Syria to Montana?

Who is paying for all this, and who is funding them after they get here?

Too bad you don't take all your hard work, and aim it in a different direction. Like the homeless and hungry right here in Montana and all over America.

-- Susan Mullen, Alder
Affordability and reliability team up for the Honda Fit hatchback, a veritable gas sipper that boasts the best gas mileage per dollar (33 mpg for less than $16,000). A subcompact that defies its small size, the Honda Fit offers 39.3 inches in interior legroom and 16.6 cubic feet of trunk space  an 8 percent advantage over other cars in its class.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  Miss Iowa, Kelly Koch, visited Muscatine on Friday to begin preparations for the Miss America Pageant and her family ties to Muscatine.

The 20-year-old attends Iowa State University where she is studying to become a child life specialist, a pediatric health care professional who helps children and families during their hospital stay.

Her mom, whom Koch said is also her best friend, Rhonda Koch, and her dad, Dan, are both graduates of Muscatine High School, and her uncle Jon Koch works for the City of Muscatine, and lives here with his wife, Lisa.

Her grandparents are also Muscatine residents, Dee Koch and her late husband Jeff and Ron Lange and his late wife Judy.

"I'm definitely no stranger to Muscatine," she said.

In her second year competing in pageants, Koch said preparing for the Miss Polk County and Miss Iowa competitions included a lot of studying, preparing for intense interviews with judges and learning more about presentation.

"I've gained so many speaking abilities... it varies person to person, and it's a lot of knowing what's going on in the world and understanding what you believe in, because a part of Miss America is they will question you on your beliefs and your goal is to stand your ground and be confident," Koch said.

She said she keeps a word document with a wide variety of issues and her beliefs to help prepare her to defend those beliefs and opinions if questioned.

"It's like studying for a final," she said.

Preparing for the talent part of the competition, however, came naturally to Koch, as she has been dancing ballet since she was four years old.

"I've always loved to dance," she said.

Koch was also the winner of the talent portion of the Miss Iowa competition.

She said that while she exercises regularly and continues to dance, as well as finding a daily routine for hair and makeup that lasts around 45 minutes, the focus of the competition really is service, scholarship, and success as well as style.

"The goal isn't to be pretty or perfect," Koch said.

One of the most important elements of her preparation, however, was looking forward to her goal, so that even as she prepared for competition to become Miss Polk County, she has always been preparing for Miss America.

"The way my parents taught me is I look toward the ultimate goal and the ultimate goal is to be Miss America," Koch said.

That goal-oriented attitude, she explained, was one of the reasons she is so proud to represent Iowa, a state she said has always encouraged her to have a healthy work ethic.

Le Chic Prom and Pageant Boutique in Muscatine is a Miss Iowa sponsor, and another important aspect of preparing for the Miss America pageant.

"They do a great job helping me feel fabulous and glamorous," she said.

The next three months will be a whirlwind of preparation for Koch, but she said she is excited to be able to promote her platform, Pinky Swear, an organization that helps families of children touched by cancer.

"It is so near and dear to my heart," she said.
MUSCATINE, Iowa Legos, oobleck, and school have more in common than meets the eye at College for Kids, a two-week summer program held at Central Middle School and Jefferson Elementary.

First through sixth grade students from eight different school districts participated in the program, which is organized by co-coordinators Laurie Schroeder and Troy Kulland.

The program, Kulland and Schroeder said, is designed to give students hands-on learning experiences they may not have time or resources to have during the regular school year.

"We fill in the gaps that a normal school year can't do, it gives them a chance to be creative, use their imaginations, think outside the box," Kulland said.

Teachers love being creative in the classes as well.

"Our teachers that come here, they also get the opportunity to teach a lot of things they don't have a chance to and they love it," Kulland said.

The 742 students move to different classes throughout the day, with 60 volunteers, soon-to-be high school freshman, in addition to teachers to help the classes run smoothly.

One volunteer, Kendra Degner, said she was beginning to earn hours for a silver cord, a community service recognition students are awarded for a certain number of hours once they reach high school graduation. But of course, she said, that was not the only reason.

"It's really fun to help," said Degner.

In new classes this year, students were able to build their own robotic racing cars with motion sensors that told the cars when to start and stop.

Garret Head, a sixth-grader, and Zachery Bean, a seventh-grader, said they enjoyed learning while using Legos. On Monday, they experimented with different variables to try to affect the speed of the car.

"We're trying to change the pulley system, and we're changing the tires to see what will be the fastest," Head explained.

Using an iPad, the students could see the car's reaction to the motion sensor and its speed.

"We're using fun kids toys with science, to make fun learning," Head said.

The Lego classes were added, Schroeder said, to increase the science and technology aspects of the summer school.

"This is being able to understand science at a higher level than just reading out of the text," she said.

The introductory Lego class was working on pulley systems, assembling the pulleys as a team.

Fifth-graders Fiona Glynn and Dakota Storm said they liked having a chance to build projects on their own and follow the instructions themselves.

"I have fun building and sorting the pieces," Glynn said.

"It's hands-on so you get to build it instead of just the teacher building it and you just answering a question," Storm agreed.

Students were able to move outside as well, with kiddie pools full of oobleck, a substance that will pour like a liquid but solidify when a force acts upon it.

The strange goo entertained students, teachers, and volunteers, but also taught students lessons in science.

Schroeder said that they tried to put themselves in students' shoes, and one important aspect of the program was allowing them to meet students from other school districts, as well as enjoying the classes.

"We want them to walk away with loving to learn more...they are learning, not just hands-on but technology, we have iPads, computers, projectors," she said.

The hands-on learning, Schroeder said, allows the accelerated summer program to reach more students who may not feel they fit in to traditional education structures, and continues learning throughout the summer.

Students must score a 75 percent or above on the Iowa Assessment to qualify, or be recommended by teachers. Fees and other information can be found at http://muscatinec4k.weebly.com/, a website that was created by students as part of the program.
MUSCATINE, Iowa  The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors tabled action Monday on a proposed wind energy ordinance to give county officials more time to prepare regulations involving protection of farmland and county roads.

West Liberty City Manager Lawrence McNaul said the city is partnering with West Liberty Foods to find renewable sources of energy. The city is working with Bluestem Energy Solutions, out of Omaha, Nebraska, to design the system and find an appropriate location. The city approached the county about the project.

Muscatine County has no regulations regarding the development of a wind energy project.

Tom Swierczewski, director of development services with Bluestem, spoke to the Board of Supervisors during Monday's meeting.

"We partner with local municipalities for coops and do two turbines, four turbines, those types of projects," he said.

Technological advancements, price declines and federal tax credits have made smaller projects like West Liberty's feasible.

"These factors have really played into wind becoming viable very recently in eastern Iowa," Swierczewski said.

"We're excited to be potentially partnering with West Liberty to do a two-turbine proejct in Muscatine County on the outskirts of the City of West Liberty."

The locations have yet to be finalized.

Bluestem was founded in 2008. The company acts as the developer, financier owner, and operator.

"We are really looking for long-term projects in our client communities. And this is our first project in Iowa. We're hoping that it goes very well," Swierczewski said.

The county's Planning and Zoning director Eric Furnas is going to prepare a scoring system which would help determine the impact of a wind turbine project including the effects of taking land out of crop production.

"I just don't see us getting a large number of these but we just don't know. We're writing it as if we are going to become a Buena Vista County sometime in the future," Furnas said.

Buena Vista County has a large number of wind turbines located around the county.

Furnas said the board needs to consider the impact on area roads during the construction phase, the impact on nearby residential communities as well as the corn suitability rating or CSR. Iowa's CSR was initially developed in 1971 as an index method to rate different kinds of soils for their potential row-crop productivity. The CSR rating system is designed to rate one soil's yield potential against another over time. It assigns a point system that has each soil start at 100 and then deductions are made for different factors such as land condition, slope, water and climate.

West Liberty has its own electric municipal utility, McNaul said.

"It's about efficiency of the turbines, and wind funnels, channels. The studies they go into have to do with migratory patterns for birds , wind funnels and then they do quite an extensive study. We started in this over a year ago just to do the feasibility with Bluestem to see if we were even a prospect site for something. It came back through the feasibility study that yes, we were," McNaul said.

Estimates are that each wind turbine takes about half an acre of farmland out of production. The farmers sign long-term leases with Bluestem and receive financial compensation.

Swierczewski estimated the impact on county roads of the construction of two turbines.

It would involve approximately 10 or 12 component deliveries including delivery of the large blades, 10-25 truckloads of cement for the foundation as well as other standard construction materials.

The estimated life of a wind turbine is 25 years. The blades are changed on average every 8 to 10 years.
WAPELLO, Iowa  The Louisa County Historical Society is gathering tractors old and new to be featured in the tractor ride to the Columbus City parade at 9 a.m. June 25.

Participants will pay $30 to drive in the ride and all proceeds will go to the Louisa County Historical Society.

Dick McCormac, one of the organizers of the ride, said they have been doing this event for almost seven years.

McCormac is expecting a good crowd.

Well probably have about 20 to 25 people, McCormac said. A lot of people will be coming from places outside of Muscatine.

The tractor ride will begin in Wapello, letting tractors travel through the countryside until they get to the parade in Columbus City.

Historical Society member Von Smith said there will be all kinds of tractors on this trip such as new and old John Deere tractors.

Well have about every kind of tractor, Smith said. Most have been restored.

In the event a tractor breaks down, its most likely the tractor will be left behind. Smith recounted one time when he had to abandon his tractor for the parade when a wheel popped. Luckily, one of the other tractor drivers took him to the parade. He returned later to pick it up with his trailer.

Both McCormac and Smith said tractor owners are still welcome to participate.

Anyone is welcome to come join, they both said.
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 []
Jeremy Clarkson announced at the start of June that the first episode of his new motoring show, The Grand Tour, would be filmed in Johannesburg.

However, at this stage it is not clear whether South Africans will be able to watch the finished episode.

MultiChoice told MyBroadband it has not yet acquired the rights to the show.

Amazon was asked whether we will be able to legally watch The Grand Tour in South Africa, but the company did not respond by the time of publication.

Amazons Prime Video offering is not available in South Africa.

Clarkson  along with his co-presenters James May and Richard Hammond  will shoot the studio section of the programme in front of a live audience housed in a giant tent.

Amazon ran a competition for three double tickets, including travel and accommodation, for the first studio recording.

While the tickets have been given away, no details about where to buy tickets have been announced.

More on Top Gear and The Grand Tour

Jeremy Clarksons new car show The Grand Tour  first stop is South Africa

New Top Gear  The Review

New Top Gear gets lowest viewer ratings in 10 years
Wi-Fi internet access is too expensive for it to be free to South Africans, says a national provider.

Monday is the global celebration of the inaugural World Wi-Fi Day by the Wireless Broadband Alliance to connect communities and promote Wi-Fi as a bridge to the digital divide.

However, despite free Wi-Fi provision in developed countries, South Africans should not expect free, public Wi-Fi internet access, said AlwaysOn.

In other parts of the world, one can to an extent provide free internet access. In South Africa however, the case is not so. The biggest reason why in South Africa we have to adopt either a paid-for or partially subsidised model is because of how expensive it is to transmit data from the US or Europe, Hayden Lamberti, managing director for AlwaysOn, told Fin24.

The public have a false sense of the cost-to-connect and therefore develop an expectation of free Wi-Fi provision. There have been unique cases such as Project Isizwe in the City of Tshwane where this has been a success. I dont think that it is possible to replicate this to other cities across the country, Lamberti added.

Crime against humanity

But Alan Knott-Craig Jnr has slammed this view.

The biggest difference between AlwaysOns model and Tshwane free Wi-Fi is that AlwaysOn believes that people should pay for Wi-Fi, whereas Tshwane believes Wi-Fi is a basic human right, akin to water, electricity, roads, sanitation, and as such should be free to the public, Knott-Craig, head of Project Isizwe told Fin24.

It seems like a crime against humanity that a poor child living in Soshanguve should be blocked from Wikipedia simply because he cant afford the internet, Knott-Craig added.

Subsidised internet

Despite the debate, AlwaysOn has replicated a Freedom Day offer of free Wi-Fi internet access at any one of the companys 1 843 hotspots on Monday.

The company has further said that subsidised internet access could help South Africans.

Having subsidised (partial) internet access can open up opportunities for those who arent connected, to be linked with the rest of the world while supporting the cost to operate the networks if the service is paid-for, Lamberti said.

It is therefore critical for the public to understand that service providers aim to make the cost of data (and particularly) Wi-Fi data as affordable as it can be.

The City of Cape Town recently rolled out a pilot programme of free Wi-Fi on MyCiti buses. In that programme, users get 50MB of free data and have to buy more.

Meanwhile, in Tshwane, all subscribers get 500MB of data per day.

Knott-Craig suggested that cost of provisioning free internet access could be met with clever strategy.

There are two ways of paying the bills: AlwaysOn hopes to pay by making a profit selling extra Wi-Fi to consumers. Tshwane subsidises free Wi-Fi and then uses the connectivity as a carrot for residents to pay-up outstanding rates and taxes, he said.

Fin24

More on Wi-Fi

South African 4G/Wi-Fi antenna to be used at Olympic Games

Free Wi-Fi on Cape Town MyCiTi buses
The Veterans Home of California will host a ceremony on Tuesday, June 28, honoring Vietnam War veterans for their service.

All Vietnam vets are invited to the ceremony, which will run from 10 a.m. to noon at the Lincoln Theater.

It is generally recognized that this era of veteran never received a proper welcome home or a thank you for their service, home officials said.

Attending the event will be dignitaries who are Vietnam veterans themselves, including Congressman Mike Thompson, Don Vererka, the Veterans Home administrator, and Jeff Jewell, director of the Concord Vet Center.
City officials are poised to settle a dispute between a north Napa plant nursery and a couple resisting the business move next door to their home.

Planning staff have called on the City Council to deny an appeal by Michael and May Imfeld seeking to block the relocation of DJs Growing Place to a 1.47-acre parcel at Big Ranch Road and Trancas Street. The nursery, which Curt and Debbie Gore opened more than two decades and operated from the unincorporated county for 11 years, gained the Planning Commissions support for its move on May 5. The Imfelds appealed the decision 11 days later.

At the heart of the dispute is the zoning of two parcels where the Gores plan to operate their herb, flower and vegetable operation. Under plans filed with the city, DJs would grow its plants on a residentially zoned area along Big Ranch Road, but sell its wares to customers on a commercially zoned parcel on Trancas, where the only entry and parking area would be located.

A sales kiosk and greenhouse-like cold frames would be designed for easy disassembly since the city permit would guarantee DJs only a two-year stay, with the option for a third. Planning commissioners declined last month to allow the nursery a permanent residence on the residential site, which may hold up to 10 new homes in the future.

Despite support for the nursery from friends and customers, Michael Imfeld spoke out against its move. He alleged months of preparations by the Gores to move their business had turned it into a de facto commercial lot, disturbing his propertys residential setting.

Also Tuesday, the council will decide on awarding a Marin County construction firm the job of dredging a silted boat ramp on the Napa River at Kennedy Park.

Salt River Construction Corp. offered the lowest of four bids for the dredging project, according to Public Works Director Jacques LaRochelle. The Corte Madera firms $332,500 bid undercut offers by Vortex Marine Construction Inc. in Antioch, R.E. State Engineering Inc. of San Diego and The Dutra Group of San Rafael. No Napa County firms entered the bidding, LaRochelle wrote in a memorandum to council members.

Napa plans to make up the rest of the projects $402,375 estimated cost using funds the city originally reserved for dredging the Napa River before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agreed to take on that job this summer.

Other business

The council  in its role as the Housing Authority overseeing affordable housing in both Napa and American Canyon  also will decide whether to issue vouchers for an housing complex envisioned for its peer to the south.

Satellite Affordable Housing Associates is developing Valley View Senior Homes, a cluster of 69 cottage and apartment units at 31 Theresa Ave. in American Canyon that will be affordable to lower-income residents 55 and older. The nonprofit developer is seeking 17 vouchers over 30 years to assist tenants at the project, which is reserving 17 homes for chronically homeless military veterans and two units for chronically homeless civilians.

Fifteen of the vouchers would be offered to seniors meeting Section 8 requirements, with the remaining two provided to homeless seniors.

The vouchers sought for the American Canyon apartments are tied not to tenants  as with the more typical Section 8 rental assistance  but to the property, saving would-be renters from the need to compete on the open market for housing, according to Community Development Director Rick Tooker.

Satellite is lining up financing for the project, including a $500,000 loan American Canyon will review Tuesday and $750,000 in Napa County financing that the Board of Supervisors will consider July 12.
Despite slick mailers and extensive hype, Measure AA did not pass in Napa, Solano, Sonoma or Contra Costa counties. However, because of the logic of the numbers as recently expressed by the Register editor, this regional tax did pass since these four counties account for only 20 percent of the total population of the nine counties in ABAG, the Association of Bay Area Governments.

Napa residents do believe in saving the bay. They have demonstrated these concerns with passage of Measure A. This measure has provided local flood control, bay clean up, restoration and remediation work for the past 18 years. Napas Measure A half-cent sales tax has resulted in a partnership with the Army Corp of Engineers and has already provided over $400 million for this work.

We did not need Measure AA, which is the first regional tax to be passed in California. Measure AAs passage now serves as a blueprint for funding for projects of additional regional government agencies outside of local county or state controls. For example the Metropolitan Transportation Commission is already planning a measure for the November ballot to add a regional five-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax in all nine ABAG counties. By similar actions, the more tax-conscious counties can easily become slaves to the more heavily populated taker counties.

Not many residents, including county supervisors, know how ABAG was formed. A Google search reveals that ABAG discussions started after World War II. In 1961, a joint powers agreement was reached for a voluntary organization of the cities and counties, which became known as ABAG. Initially, the counties were concerned about usurping of local controls and had insisted that it be bicameral fearing that some of the counties could be outvoted by all counties combined. These fears have now been realized with the passage of Measure AA.

Today, ABAG, the MTC, the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority and other similar regional agencies are governed by appointed boards and not elected representatives of their citizen constituents. Therefore, regional measures such as AA could be legally challenged based on the guarantee clause of Article IV, Section 4 of the United States Constitution. This clause guarantees a republican form of government and was based on the founders belief that for a government to be republican it had to be accountable to the voting citizenry.

ABAG, the MTC, the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority and other similar regional agencies are governed by appointed boards rather than by directly elected and accountable representatives of their citizen constituents. The governing board of the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority were all appointed by ABAG, whose governing board was also appointed, and not elected by the residents of the nine ABAG counties.

In fact, Solano and Sonoma counties have no representation on the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authoritys governing board.

Is it time to ask: How did we get involved in and subject to controls and taxation by these agencies? Or better yet: How do we get out of these organizations?

Jack Gray, director

Napa County Taxpayers Association
The NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg will meet the President of the State of Israel, Mr. Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday, 21 June 2016.

Media Advisory

17:00 - Joint press statement by NATO Secretary General and President of the State of Israel  Main entrance

The statement will be webstreamed live on the NATO website.

Still and video imagery will be available on the NATO website after the event.

Follow us on Twitter (@NATOPress and @jensstoltenberg)
(As delivered)

Minister Eriksen Sreide, admirals, sailors, its a great pleasure to be on board the F. Nansen.

For many reasons, but its great to see this modern, well-equipped ship, and with highly skilled personnel. And I have to admit that I feel in one way at home and its great to see how this frigate is contributing to the collective defence of NATO. And in many ways the F. Nansen is an example of how we are doing things together in NATO, because this ship was built at a Spanish shipyard, it was equipped with a lot of advanced and modern equipment from the USA and other NATO Allied countries and then its operated and owned by the Norwegian navy. And the ship has a proud history, participating in many different NATO missions and operations. Off the Horn of Africa fighting piracy, I saw you actually participating in the Trident Juncture exercise some months ago, I think it was out of Portugal. And youve also participated in our activities in the Mediterranean and now youre going to be part of this exercise in anti-submarine warfare.

And this exercise is one part of the adaptation of the Alliance, to a more challenging security environment with new threats, new challenges. We have to respond, and thats exactly what NATO is doing. And we know that naval capabilities are as important as ever. We know that 70% of the surface of the earth is covered by sea, oceans, and 90% of world trade is carried by sea and 50% of oil cargo is carried by ships at the sea. So navy capabilities, navies, are more and more important and therefore NATO has to be able to operate on the sea, over the sea and also under the sea. And that makes submarine warfare and anti-submarine warfare just more and more relevant for the Alliance.

Its important because you test equipment, you test different vessels, how the equipment can be used, how it can be applied on different kinds of tasks and challenges, but perhaps the most important reason why the exercises are so important is to make sure that people can work together, enhance the, what we call, interoperability, the ability of sailors, personnel from different NATO Allied countries to work together. So I welcome this very much. NATO has implemented the biggest re-enforcement of our collective defence since the end of the Cold War. Not to provoke the conflict, but to prevent the conflict. We know that strong deterrence is the best way to prevent a conflict and therefore we have responded in the way we have done. But NATO does not seek conflict. Actually, we continue to strive for cooperation, for a more constructive relationship with Russia. But we know that there is no contradiction between strong defence and dialogue and this exercise is a part of this adaptation where we emphasize both defence and dialogue at the same time.

So I look forward to learn more about the ship and more about the people and the personnel, which are on board, and I wish you all the best with the exercise and I say happy hunting because I know that you are going to hunt some submarines.

Thank you so much and its great to be here in Trondheim with this very typical Norwegian weather, so its always nice to be in Trondheim. Thank you.
This weekend, doctors had to conduct a delivery of a baby in a wild Yakutian taiga, since the mother who had gone fishing with her husband was on her 40 weeks of pregnancy. In the meantime, the rescuers and the armed police officers had to look out for bears who might be wondering nearby, reports RIA Novosti with a reference to the Russian Ministry of Health.

According to the Ministry of Health , the woman decided to help her husband and relatives in fishing. The group headed to a lake in a dense taiga . On Saturday her birth pangs began. Her sister and husband tried to drive her to the hospital, but the SUV fell into a swamp . The woman remained in the forest with her sister, whereas her husband ran to the highway hoping to enable the mobile connection.

On Saturday at 23.28 the emergency received an alarm about the woman giving a birth in taiga. It took the doctors, the rescuers, and the police several hours to overcome the swampy terrain and reach the woman . The delivery was complicated due to bleeding. The doctors were able to save the lives of the woman and the child thanks to a number of immediate measures they undertook. At the same time, the rescuers from the Emergency Situations Ministry and the policemen who had government-issue weapons had to protect the woman from bears who might be walking nearby.

All the jeeps that headed to the location fell into the swamp one after the other. The doctors and rescuers had to carry the woman and the child to the highway on their arms. They took them to Mirni central hospital . According to the doctors, the condition of the woman and the baby is relatively satisfactory. Fortunately, their lives are not in danger.
Saudi Arabia slams countries for using emergency oil reserves to manipulate prices

Biden's approval rating approaches lowest level of his presidency just 2 weeks before election

White House tones down its previous optimism about the midterm elections

Ford Motor leaves Russian market by selling its stake in Sollers joint venture

Council of Lazarev Club considers ban on Konstantin Zatulin to enter Armenia outrageous trick

The New York Times: Saudi Arabia pissed off U.S. by derailing a secret deal

Samvel Karapetyan: Various forces are pushing Armenia away from Russia, this cannot be allowed

Dubai Silicon Oasis interested in cooperation with Armenia in IT sector

Jens Stoltenberg announces his intention to visit Turkey

Wiktorin: EU observation mission will ease tensions

Saudi Aramco: European embargo on Russian oil increases uncertainty in global oil market

Commander of Lithuanian Armed Forces against transfer of howitzers and air defense systems to Ukraine

Armenian Finance Ministry gives outlook on economic activity and debt ratio

Minister: Rehabilitation works after Azerbaijani Armed Forces' invasion continue

About 230 kilometers of roads are being built and repaired in Syunik

Bloomberg: Europe has more gas than it can use

Pashinyan says he would like to sign Armenian-Azerbaijani peace deal before end of year

168.am: President of Artsakh leaves for Russian capital

Armenia's Pashinyan: I will attend trilateral meeting in Sochi

Bloomberg: China's budget deficit since beginning of year approached record trillion dollars

PM: There is expectation that CSTO will adopt roadmap to restore Armenias territorial integrity

Pope receives Armenian FM

Armenia ruling party convention to be closed to media

Dollar falls, euro rises in Armenia

Kremlin: Russia has information that Ukraine is preparing terrorist attack using 'dirty bomb'

Governor underscores EU envoy to Armenias efforts in returning of Shirak Province POWs (PHOTOS)

Putin: US is using Ukraine as battering ram against Russia, CSTO, and CIS

Russian journalist Ksenia Sobchak leaves Russia

Russian military practices massive nuclear strike in response to nuclear attack of adversary

Germany restricts visas for Iranian passport holders

Belarus Foreign Minister visits Iran

Iran expands sanctions against EU

Zatulin says it is necessary to discuss relations between Russia and Armenia at different levels

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

Legislature head on chances of Armenia leaving CSTO: There is very little time left for us to make decision

Mercedes confirms intention to leave Russia

Armenia parliament speaker: No document on table

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

Saudi Arabia decides to be more mature guy in its quarrel with US

Biden says Russia would make 'serious mistake' if it deploys tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine

Ukrainian media report on Dnipro rocket attack

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

New Serbian government plans to invest 12 billion euros in energy projects

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

New British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife are richer than royalty

Klaar: EU actively engaged in Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process at all levels

Nissan reveals updated Juke crossover

FM briefs Sovereign Order of Malta Grand Chancellor on Armenia position on normalizing relations with Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan prepares for peace with Armenia but dramatically increases military budget

North Korea completes preparations for nuclear test

Azerbaijan manipulates facts, creates information pretext to encroach on Lachin corridor

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
The number of forcedly displaced people reached new heights in 2015 , the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported.

According to the UNHCR estimates, due to the conflict and wars 65.3 million people were displaced at the end of 2015 compared to 59.5 million just 12 months earlier. Just 21.3 million of them are refugees. Forced displacement has been on the rise since at least the mid-1990s in most regions, but over the past five years the rate has increased. Also in the tally are a record 40.8 million people who had been forced to flee their homes but were within the confines of their own countries.

Measured against the worlds population of 7.4 billion people, one in every 113 people globally is now either an asylum-seeker, internally displaced or a refugee  putting them at a level of risk for which UNHCR knows no precedent. The tally is greater than the population of the United Kingdom  or of Canada, Australia and New Zealand combined.

The study found that three countries produce half the worlds refugees. Syria at 4.9 million, Afghanistan at 2.7 million and Somalia at 1.1 million together accounted for more than half the refugees under UNHCRs mandate worldwide. Colombia at 6.9 million, Syria at 6.6 million and Iraq at 4.4 million had the largest numbers of internally displaced people. Turkey was the biggest host country, with 2.5 million refugees.

The European continent, according to the estimates of the UNHCR itself made 593,000 refugees, the majority of whom arrived from Ukraine. At least 1.6 million people have been displaced within the country. The states of Europe have also received 4.4 million people, more than half of which (2.5 million) came from Turkey. The greatest number of asylum-seekers last year was recorded in Germany. In 2015, the population growth due to migration there was 46%. The conflict in Ukraine, migratory crisis and proximity of the European countries to Syria and Iraq became the reason of a similar situation in Europe.

The report, entitled Global Trends, noted that on average 24 people were forced to flee each minute in 2015, four times more than a decade earlier, when six people fled every 60 seconds. The report is based on the data submitted by the states, the UN partner organizations, including the International Centre for monitoring movements and also on information collected by UNHCR. It is the first time in the organizations history that the threshold of 60 million has been crossed.
YEREVAN.  Around 600 journalists have applied for accreditation to cover Pope Francis forthcoming visit to Armenia.

Armenian News-NEWS.am has learned the aforesaid from the Twitter account of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Fifteen thousand people from Armenia and abroad have been registered to attend the Holy Mass which Pope Francis will celebrate in Gyumri, within the framework of his visit to the country.

Fr. Hovsep Galstyan, the person in charge of the information system of the Armenian Catholic Church of Armenia, had told the abovementioned to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The central part of the [Gyumri] square will be divided into five sections, and the whole area will be barricaded, Fr. Galstyan had said. Those who have already obtained invitations will sit inside it, whereas the others can follow what is happening on the altar from the other side of the barriers. He had added that the altar will be 26 meters long and 12 meters high.

The official schedule for the Popes visit to Armenia is as follows:

Friday, June 24

15.00 Arrival at Yerevans Zvartnots Airport with welcome ceremony there.

15.35 Visit to pray at Apostolic Cathedral at Etchmiadzin (Greetings given by Catholicos of All Armenia, Karekin II and by Pope Francis)

18.00 Courtesy visit to Armenia's President in the Presidential Palace.

18.30 Meeting with civil authorities and the Diplomatic Corps in the Presidential Palace (speech by the Pope)

19.30 Private meeting with Catholicos in the Apostolic Palace

Saturday, June 25

08.45 Visit to Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan

10.00 Journey by plane to Gyumri

11.00 Holy Mass in Gyumris Vardanants Square (Homily By the Pope and greeting by Catholicos)

16.45 Visit to the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral of the Seven Wounds

17.15 Visit to the Holy Martyrs Armenian Catholic Cathedral in Gyumri

18.00 Journey by plane back to Yerevan

19.00 Ecumenical Encounter and Prayer for Peace in Yerevans Republic Square

Sunday, June 26

09.15 Meeting with Catholic Bishops of Armenia in the Apostolic Palace at Etchmiadzin

10.00 Participation in Divine Liturgy in the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral (Homily by Catholicos and greeting by the Pope)

Ecumenical Lunch with the Catholicos, Archbishops and Bishops of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholic Bishops of Armenia and Cardinals and Bishops from the Papal entourage in the Apostolic Palace.

15.00 Meeting with delegates and benefactors of the Apostolic Armenian Church in the Apostolic Palace

16.05 Signing of Joint Declaration in the Apostolic Palace

17.00 Prayer at Khor Virap Monastery

18.15 Farewell Ceremony at airport

18.30 Departure by plane for Rome

All times are in Armenia standard time.
One of the first books on post-Soviet Armenia will come out in Italy in early July. The author of the book entitled Armenia today: Dramas and challenges faced by living nation is the Italian journalist Simone Zoppellaro.

The introduction to the book has been prepared by Italian Armenian writer Antonia Arslan, who is famous for her novel Lark Farm. The author, who has visited Armenia for many times, told Armenian News  NEWS.am the details about his work.

According to Zoppellaro, books on the Armenian Genocide have already been written in Italian, and indeed by the best historians. But little or even nothing at all has been written on post-Soviet Armenia. Many Italians and Europeans generally associate Armenia with the tragedy of the Genocide, but many people dont know about the Karabakh conflict, as well as other problems of the Armenian people.

For this very reason I called the book a living nation. This phrase is from the poem by Pier Paolo Pasolini. Armenia lives despite all the sufferings and happenings in its past and present history. In my opinion, this speaks volumes. The book includes my stories for the Italian newspapers. They are linked by 2015, the year which marked the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. There I tell about the memorial ceremony, the concert of the System of a Down, dug positions of Karabakh, which I visited, Electric Yerevan protest, and the drama of the Syrian Armenians who escaped the war.

The book is about these events. I got to know something based on my own experience, finding out other things from the meetings and interviews in Armenia and Karabakh in the recent years, Zoppellaro said.

But how is it possible to convince the Italian readers of the impartiality of the book if they know that its author has many times been to Armenia and Karabakh, but never to Azerbaijan?

To this question he answered: I would be glad to go to Azerbaijan, but I have been put into the black list after my first trip to Karabakh. Like my colleagues Anna Mazzone from RAI and Roberto Travan from La Stampa, now I cant visit Azerbaijan. I have a clear answer for my numerous critics: during the Electric Yerevan protest I was one of the first to condemn the forceful actions of the police against the demonstrators and journalists and took an interview from some of them. I have never had problems with this respect, although there were people in Yerevan who didnt like that very much. The Armenian democracy has very clearly defined limits. Oligarchs are a great evil and there is a danger that they can choke off the democracy here once and for all. As a result, such a civilized society with such an enormous potential lives in poverty. All my articles and my book tell about this. As for Karabakh, Im far from taking anyones side but for victims  they are not divided into camps. I am for breeding in myself an allergy to nationalism, which, in my opinion, serves to justify what cannot be justified.

This doesnt mean that I share the position of the European organizations on this conflict.The role of the international community is just criminal. Simulating neutrality when it is obvious who the guilty party is (for instance, when cluster bombs were used against the peaceful population of Armenia in April), is no less cruel than committing violence yourself. Dante showed great contempt for those hesitant and placed them on the threshold of Hell. I think this decision is just even now. The fact that Russia and Putin act worse, selling arms to both sides to the conflict, in no way justifies us, Europeans.

In her introduction, Antonia Arslan noted: In its style - convenient and clear, but not indifferent - this is a story about Armenia and the authors thoughts on this small and proud country.
Aliyevs regime causes evil, and not just to his own people. Fifteen years of Council of Europe membership has not improved the democracy and human rights situation in Azerbaijan. All the statements about the progress of democracy in Azerbaijan are a bluff, and the situation is degrading further.

Head of the Armenian delegation to PACE, Hermine Naghdalyan, who is also the Vice Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly (NA), said the aforementioned at PACEs summer session, urging to suspend Azerbaijans membership to the organization.

Dictatorship has no place in the Council of Europe, and the Parliamentary Assembly must be firm about eradicating this plague and stopping Aliyevs regime , Naghdalyan said in her speech.

She also drew the attention of those present to the shortcomings and malfunctions in Azerbaijan with regard to freedom of expression, religion and association, as well as the wide-ranging crackdown on independent civil society, deficient integration policies for migrants and historical minorities, and problems with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights.

In this context, Naghdalyan specifically recalled the report published by the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance on 7 June.

Among the numerous problems in the country, the commission made specific reference to the policy of inciting hatred against Armenians, which is followed by Azerbaijans highest officials.

According to the report, Political leaders, educational institutions and media have continued using hate speech against ArmeniansAn entire generation of Azerbaijanis has grown up listening to constant hateful rhetoric.

Pursuant to the survey published in the report, 91 percent of Azerbaijani people perceive Armenia as Azerbaijans greatest enemy and feel real hatred towards everything Armenian. The President of Azerbaijan and other high-ranking officials designate the entire Armenian nation as enemy No. 1, and what is normally a crime is considered a glorious deed in Azerbaijan, Naghdalyan said.

A vivid example is that of Safarov, the Azeri officer who murdered an Armenian coursemate in his sleep. The ECRI report says about that case that the authorities pardoned, released and promoted Ramil Safarov, without taking into account the risk of cultivating a sense of impunity for racist criminals.

As another awful manifestation of xenophobic policies, Naghdalyan recalled the unprecedented military aggression that the Azerbaijani army unleashed against Nagorno-Karabakh in April this year, during which an Azeri soldier who beheaded an Armenian soldier and posted a photograph of the head on the internet  a cynical murder and a war crime  was decorated and promoted by the President of Azerbaijan.

She also noted that the Safarov case has been widely discussed and denounced in the PACE. We adopted a resolution on measures to prevent the abuse of the European Convention on Human Rights, and the rapporteur on that occasion, our colleague Mr Chope, explained the possible harm that could stem from an inadequate reaction. However, there was not a sufficient reaction from the Parliamentary Assembly to stop Aliyev. Our silence encourages the Azerbaijani regime to commit further crimes, Naghdalyan concluded.
President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz said that the process of liberalization of the visa regime with Turkey is suspended because of authoritative actions of the president Erdogan.

He spoke at a Europe Calling conference organized by the German fund of Friedrich Ebert on Monday, RIA Novosti reported.

Schulz noted that the main prerequisite for visa liberalization was the implementation (by Turkey) of a number of criteria that have not been met. Among the outstanding criteria are the law on data protection and the anti-terrorist law. Instead, they used this to remove the immunity of MPs, to invalidate their mandates in order to achieve the two-thirds of the qualified majority for introduction of the presidential system.

Schulz feels forced not to open process of liberalization of a visa regime because he considers that what happens to journalists and to deputies in Turkey contradicts the values of parliamentary democracy.

The European Parliament head also added that according to the different estimates, Turkey hosts from 2.2 to 2.4 million refugees. This means that if EU wants to help refugees, they will have to, whether they like it or not, to work with Turkey. However, Schulz is against paying any price to the government of Ankara. Therefore, he suspended process of liberalization of a visa regime in the European Parliament.
YEREVAN. - Armenian PM Hovik Abrahamyan received on Monday the delegation headed by President of Frances Bouches-du-Rhone Department General Council, Martine Vassal. Bouches-du-Rhone is the largest department, which includes 119 cities.

Welcoming the guests, the PM noted that the Armenian-French ties are based on strong friendship, and not only the high-level political dialogue, but also the wide involvement of French business circles in different spheres of Armenias economy, indicate the exemplary cooperation between the two states. According to Abrahamyan, the French Armenian community played a great role in the establishment and development of bilateral ties. He thanked the French authorities for the respectful treatment to the Armenian community.

Abrahamyan underscored the importance of the visit of the delegation headed by Ms Vassal in terms of the development of the decentralized Armenian-French cooperation, stressing that it has a great potential for the development of economic ties. The PM noted that nearly two dozens of provinces and communities, including Yerevan, effectively cooperate with Frances sister cities and provinces, which include Marseille and the delegations visit will contribute to the deepening of bilateral decentralized cooperation.

For her part, Ms Vassal noted that in the framework of the visit the delegation attended the event dedicated to the 10th anniversary of Etchmiadzin 10 French Treatment Center, which operates with the support of Bardzrunk 5165 French-Armenian organization (Marseille). They also visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial and paid tribute to the memory of the innocent victims.

Martine Vassal expressed satisfaction with the course of joint programs implemented by Armenia and Bouches-du-Rhone, stressing that the Department will continue to support Armenias strengthening and developing.

The meeting also addressed issues related to the widening of the decentralized cooperation. The sides agreed to set up a joint work group which will deal with the development and implementation of programs.

The interlocutors also exchanged views on the regional issues, referring to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement and the large-scale offensive unleashed by Azerbaijan along the Karabakh-Azerbaijani Line of Contact in early April. The PM noted that the unprecedented April action was another obvious manifestation of Azerbaijans policy aimed at the breakdown of the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict, to which the Armenian armed forces properly counteracted.

Both sides considered the large-scale military actions against Artsakh unacceptable, attaching importance to the exclusively peaceful settlement of the conflict in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.
STEPANAKERT. - Any meetings are very important. This means that the talks are continuing, and the resources for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict havent been exhausted.

Spokesperson for the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh) Davit Babayan stated the aforementioned, commenting on the results of the high-level meetings in St. Petersburg upon the request of Armenian News  NEWS.am correspondent.

In Babayans words, although the negotiation process per se is in a complicated state, and can even be said to be in a stalemate, nevertheless there is hope that it will be possible to reanimate it. According to the Spokesperson, one of the most important results of the meetings in St. Petersburg is the reference to the introduction of incident investigation mechanisms. But the most important thing mentioned is that there is no alternative to the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Babayan noted.

In his words, Azerbaijan will try to torpedo the process. The large-scale military drills carried out on the day of the high-level meeting came to confirm this.

Babayan recalled that Azerbaijan didnt inform the partners about the aforementioned drills thereby violating the international agreements.

But it is getting harder for Azerbaijan to manipulate the international community, he added.

Referring to the introduction of the incident investigation mechanisms, he noted that the process will be long and laborious. The most important thing is that a start has been made and it is necessary to exert every effort for its continuation, Babayan concluded.
Pope Franciss visit is to come to mark the brilliantly unique relations between Armenia and the Holy See and the excellence of cooperation between the two of ancient churches  Church of Rome and the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Member of the Armenian delegation Samvel Farmanyan stated the aforementioned at PACEs session Monday.

Pope Francis will be visiting Armenia in four days. He has asked the faithful to pray for his upcoming visit to Armenia. Let me quote His Holiness I ask you to pray for me, who in a few days will go as a pilgrim to an eastern land, Armenia, the first among Nations to receive the Gospel of Jesus.

Christianity has been a cornerstone of Armenian national identity throughout our long journey into history: Armenians have made an exceptional and invaluable contribution to the unity of Christ disciples while millions of Armenians have been martyred and shed their blood for Christ. The blood of martyrs, however, became a seed for renewed faith, passion, commitment and unity and Armenia and millions of Armenians world over will greet Pope Francis in Yerevan, Saint Etchmiadzin and Gyumri with a reborn and progressing statehood, strong commitment to peace, renewed love to others and enlightened souls praying for all children of Christ in any corner of the Globe.

Pope Francis will visit Tsitsernakaberd, a Memorial in Yerevan dedicated to the remembrance of 1.5 millions of saint martyrs of Armenian Genocide who were killed in Ottoman Turkey simply because they were different; they were Armenians; they were Christians. Pope Franciss visit to the Genocide Memorial will become a big question mark to the unwise and increasingly dangerous policy of denial by Erdogans Turkey.

This visit will re-deliver His Holiness precept that concealing or denying evil is like allowing a wound to keep bleeding without bandaging it. Life threatening, blackmailing, Nazi-style calls for analyzing the blood purity of all those parliamentarians of German Bundestag who courageously voted for recognition of the Armenian Genocide, President Erdogans statement about the possibility of deporting of all ethnic Armenians still living in Turkey are a dangerous alarm reminding the international community to keep its ears open towards Pope Francis precept.

His Holiness visit to Armenia will bring also a message of peace to the whole region of South Caucasus still suffering from deadly military provocations by Azerbaijan and anti-Armenian hate and intolerance dominating in that country. While Presidents of Armenia and Russia, are trying to deliver the opinion of the international community and explaining President Aliev right now in Saint-Petersburg that war is an option for Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, I hope that the ordinary people of Azerbaijan, including our beautiful colleague Pashaeva, will keep their ears open to the voice of Pope Francis and millions of faithful human beings in Armenia praying for peace, hope and love in the coming days to listen a simple message that darkness cannot drive out darkness and hate cannot drive out hate, Farmanyan noted.
The Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Center at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University in Atlanta is celebrating its 5,000th patient receiving a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. Started in 1979, the Winship program is the oldest and largest in the state of Georgia and has transplanted patients with leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes, myelofibrosis, aplastic anemia and sickle cell anemia.

Today, the transplant experience is easier for patients and outcomes have improved because of advances in anti-rejection drugs, reduced chemotherapy conditioning, better medicines for treating nausea, better methods for collecting stem cells, improved supportive care, and much shorter stays in the hospital. For some of WInships 5,000 patients, transplant was the only treatment option. For many, it has provided decades of cancer-free survival.

Bone marrow transplantation began at Emory with a strong leukemia program and two hematologists with a vision. One of the co-founders of the program, Elliott Winton, MD, is still a practicing physician and researcher with the Winship hematology team. Winton and (now retired) hematologist Ralph Vogler, MD, saw the promise of bone marrow transplantation early on, at a time when it was being tried at only a few cancer centers around the country.

Winton points to a milestone report that came out in 1977 from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, showing long term survival for 13 of 100 patients with acute leukemia. "It may seem like a small number, but those were people with end-stage disease with no other treatment options, so it was a breakthrough. Most of our patients with acute leukemia and aplastic anemia were dying as a consequence of those diseases," said Winton.

Winton traveled to other cancer centers to learn the necessary procedures, such as bone marrow harvesting. Only a handful of patients were transplanted in the earliest years, but the program had a dedicated team of doctors and nurses and in 1991, Emory made a major commitment to its growth by hiring Rein Saral, MD, a bone marrow transplant specialist from Johns Hopkins.

"We brought in a team of people who worked in the laboratory and people who were translational physicians, who took what we learned in the lab and put it into clinical practice to improve outcomes for patients," said Saral, now Professor Emeritus of hematology/oncology.

"We all felt that you needed a critical mass of physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, and ancillary staff, and we were given that opportunity by Emory. It was an exciting time. We took off fairly rapidly over a year or two and built a highly competitive clinical program, but just as importantly we really enhanced the pre-clinical, scientific components of the program."

The growth period of the 1990s brought in Edmund K. Waller, MD, PhD, from Stanford, now the current director of the Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Program, and Amelia Langston, MD, medical director and section chief of the Program.

"I was hired to help build the scientific platform to support stem cell transplantation. I love this work. Its a chance to do translational science in the best way, taking lessons learned from patients into the lab setting, and using science to make clinical care better," said Waller.

One of the greatest strengths of the program has been a group of highly skilled, dedicated nurses, several who have been in the BMT unit from the beginning. Early on, patients stayed in the hospital for as much as two months at a time. Emily Bracewell, RN, who has been in BMT for 37 years and is now director of the hospital unit, says nurses worked hard to keep patient spirits up, especially when they were isolated in their rooms for long stretches.

"It was a team effort. We had weddings, holiday parties, we had one nurse who put tacks on the bottom of her shoes and tap danced down the hall," said Bracewell.

"One of the best things about working in BMT is you get to know the patients, their families, their real lives. You develop a really strong bond with them," said Mitzi Smiley, RN, BMT Unit Charge Nurse with 35 years of experience.

The Winship transplant team is internationally recognized for its research and treatment of blood cancers and disorders. The 5,000th patient milestone represents a depth of expertise and experience in performing autologous, allogeneic, and bloodless transplants, for both blood cancers and disorders like sickle cell anemia.

"Our doctors have had years of experience in treating patients and each of us has transplanted hundreds of patients. Weve seen every possible condition occur and weve gained a familiarity with the problems of transplants and the ways to address those problems and restore patients back to health," says Waller.

Elliott Winton is gratified to have started a program that has been so successful and expanded exponentially over its 37-year history. "This is death-defying treatment. If we can cure somebody, particularly somebody with many years left of good quality of life, thats one of the biggest thrills of my career."
12:38

Overnight rains in Mumbai and its surrounding areas have played havoc with Central Railway train services in Mumbai, affecting thousands of commuters who depend on the railway network to ferry them to work and back.



Ambika Hanchate, a reader, narrates her experience at Thane railway station today:



"At around 9.15 am, when I reached the railway foot over-bridge at Thane station, it was crowded. Some trains were cancelled, while others were running late. Taking advantage of the crowd, some men were groping the women, and a few pregnant women were feeling suffocated in the crush but they couldn't even move. Around 10.10 am, when I managed to reach platform number 10, I saw two RPF personnel seated there busy reading the newspaper. I walked up to them and asked them why there wasn't a single railway personnel to manage the crowds.



One of them told me the RPF were busy with yoga day celebrations. When I asked him if yoga day was more important than the security of common people, he replied that yoga day was more important.



"I thought of approaching the station master. While crossing the bridge I saw three more RPF men strolling there and I asked them what they were doing there when the force was required on the other bridge. They replied that they had been given a duty on this bridge -- and let me tell you, there were no crowds on that bridge at all.



"There were many commuters around who were clicking photographs and recording the whole scene but only two of them joined me in lodging a complaint.



"When I explained the incident to the station master, he told me to go to the RPF in-charge. When I went there I found that the officers were busy chatting with each other. One of them was the person whom I had encountered before.



"When I tried to explain the situation to the RPF incharge, he officer didnt even listen to the whole thing but started barking at me, saying that only five RPF men were available and how was he expected to handle such things. I have got lots of other work to do, he said.



"Finally, he told a woman officer to help get me out of the office.



"I tried telling him that one of his men was busy reading a newspaper and told me that yoga day was important, to which the other officer said, 'Did you really if see he was from the RPF? They said I must be confused, and that he must be from the Mumbai police or the Government Railway Police.



"When I went back to the station master he asked me to go to the RPF headquarters in Mumbai and register a complaint with the commissioner."





Image: Crowds spill over on to the tracks at Diva station to protest the recurrent breakdown in suburban train services.


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BENGALURU: Indian Space Research Organisation on Sunday night said it has cleared the 48-hour countdown, starting on Monday morning, for the launch of record 20 satellites in a single mission on June 22 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradeshs Sriharikota.

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C34 will be used to carry the satellites, including Indias earth observation spacecraft Cartosat-2, from the second launch pad of the space centre at 9.26 AM on June 22.

Mission Readiness Review committee and Launch Authorisation Board have cleared the 48-hour countdown starting at 09.26 hr IST on Monday, June 20, 2016 and the launch of PSLV-C34/Cartosat-2 Series Satellite Mission for Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at 09.26hr IST, a senior ISRO official told PTI

The space agency had earlier sent 10 satellites into orbit in a single mission in 2008.

PSLV-C34 will launch 19 co-passenger satellites together weighing about 560 kg at lift-off into a 505 km polar Sun

Synchronous Orbit (SSO).

ISRO said the total weight of all the 20 satellites carried on board PSLV-C34 is about 1,288 kg.

The co-passengers include satellites from the US, Canada, Germany and Indonesia as well as two satellites from Indian Universities.

The mission would carry LAPAN A3 of Indonesia, BIROS of Germany, SKYSAT GEN 2-1 of US, MVV of Germany among the micro satellites, ISRO sources had earlier said.

Read Also: New Technology Developed To Create Clean Hydrogen Fuel

New Software Redefines 3-D Printing
New engineering online degree program available

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Online education opportunities are once again expanding at Southern Illinois University Carbondales College of Engineering, with a new degree program slated to hit the internet this fall.

Students can sign up now for the Department of Technologys Electrical Engineering Technology program. Prospective students can go here to find more information and register.

The program will train students to work in many different environments where electronics are used, including telecommunications, manufacturing, power and energy or electronics design and development. The broad scope of the fully accredited program makes it ideal for students who are creative and technically inclined, officials said.

The program will allow students who have already completed their general studies courses to earn the same Bachelor of Science degree they would receive by working and attending class on the SIU campus. Graduates from the program currently are working at major employers such as Ameren, Aisin Manufacturing, The Boeing Co. and Continental Tire, among others.

This is the third such program being offered online by the department, joining a masters program in Quality Engineering Management, which the college began offering online in 2011; and an undergraduate program in Industrial Management and Applied Engineering, which came online two years ago and now has nearly 40 students enrolled.

Julie Dunston, interim chair of the department, said its online offerings have great potential for providing high-demand skills to students interested in broadening their career opportunities in engineering fields.

Were really finding a niche with our online courses, she said. People have been calling for a method for us to get this content out there and we are responding.

A key portion of the EET online classes is the laboratory component, officials said. Such hands-on experience is critical to training students, and organizers have found ways to deliver the lab experience online by using miniaturized test instruments, computer-based tests instrument modules, circuit boards and other items in conjunction with online videos, lectures, software simulations and reading material.

The advancement in technology allow us to use commercially available miniature electronic test instruments to conduct experiments at home that a few years ago could only be accomplished in a laboratory, said Garth Crosby, associate professor of technology, who spearheaded this latest online effort, conducting surveys and testing methods of delivery during the last three years.

Instead of just working with simulations we wanted people to actually work with real devices  circuit boards and instruments like oscilloscopes, etc.

Crosby said the online program will make it possible for many people to increase their abilities and job prospects with its flexibility and convenience.

The key driving factors are the time flexibility and proximity to the Carbondale campus, Crosby said. We are in touch with many prospective students who are working shift jobs and reside some distance from Carbondale. And so its difficult for them to go to school. So the flexibility of time and location are the main reasons for this new program offering.

Carl Spezia, EET program coordinator, said the department is looking for students who already have some background in technology  ideally an associate degree in a related field. Such students can finish their EET degree online at SIU in two to three years, taking classes on a part-time basis.

Many times, people like this already have jobs and families and other commitments that prevent them from relocating to Carbondale, Spezia said. Weve had many experiences recruiting locally where weve come across students who thought it would be a good program to attend, but they are non-traditional students and traditional delivery is not going to work for them. So this is a very efficient way of delivering the content to people who want it.

The key thing about EET is that it will be offered with lab component that will very much parallel the campus program, Spezia said. The lab component is unique to EET and its an accreditation requirement. So students taking the online course will come out not only with a knowledge of theory but also practical skills they will utilize every day in the workforce.

Dunston said students will be excellent problem solvers in the field: a skill highly valued by employers.

They will be able to design something then build it and if it doesnt work, they will be able to use the problem-solving skills that we give them to figure out why and fix it. Because thats what theyll do in the real world, she said. Basically, they will know how to take something from paper to reality.

Organizers hope to put together a consortium of sites where students have the option to conduct labs or receive additional instructions at a physical location, and currently are in talks with several Illinois community colleges to come on board. Students also work with one point of contact for individualized advisement as they work their way through the program, Spezia said.

Nationwide, there are very few online programs like this, and it is the first of its kind in Illinois, Crosby said.
"We strongly condemn the horrible tragedy in Kabul," Modi tweeted.

"Our deep condolences to people and governments of Afghanistan and Nepal on the loss of innocent lives," he added.

At least 13 persons were killed and 25 injured when a suicide bomber struck a bus carrying security personnel in Kabul. Most victims were foreign security guards, mostly from Nepal, a security official said.

Modi said "steps were being taken to provide all relevant assistance to the Nepal government in this hour of tragedy".

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

--IANS ruwa/mr

( 123 Words)

2016-06-20-12:32:04 (IANS)
A suicide bomber approached and targeted the bus carrying personnel of a foreign company at around 5.40 a.m., killing 14 of them, Xinhua news agency quoted the ministry as saying in a statement.

The statement noted that five Nepalese and four Afghans were wounded in the attack which occurred in Banahi area along Pul-e-Charkhi road which is also called Jalalabad road.

The victims were serving as security guards in a foreign embassy in central Kabul, reported TOLO News.

Sediq Sediqi of the Interior Ministry said primary reports revealed the victims were Nepalese nationals who worked for Canada's embassy in Kabul, Xinhua reported.

The attacker was killed on the spot and the blast also damaged several civilian vehicles and shops near the site.

Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and the Afghan Interior Ministry condemned the attack.

"I condemn the terrorist attack on those travelling to their work places in Kabul. This attack is an act of terror and intimidation." Abdullah said in his Twitter account.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since early April when the militant group launched its annual rebel offensive in different places of the country, claiming hundreds of lives including militants, security personnel and civilians.

The Taliban has urged civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as legitimate targets by militants besides warning people not to support the government.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "strongly condemned the horrible tragedy in Kabul" and offered "deep condolences" to the governments and people of Afghanistan and Nepal.

But Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was yet to confirm casualties of its nationals.

"We are trying to verify the reports via our embassy," a spokesperson told The Himalayan Times.

Nepal has no embassy in Afghanistan. Its mission in Islamabad is also responsible for Afghan affairs.

--IANS ksk/mr

( 354 Words)

2016-06-20-13:02:03 (IANS)
Nepals Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli condemned the attack on Nepali people and expressed grief over the loss of lives.

Five others were also injured in the attack.

I am shocked to hear that 14 Nepalis were killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan. I express my heartfelt condolences to their kin, Oli said in a statement.

The Nepal government strongly deplores the heinous crime in Kabul, said the Nepali premier adding: "I wish the early recovery of those who were injured in the incident."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa also condemned the attack.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was seeking details about the victims and those injured.

Nepal has no embassy in Afghanistan. Its mission in Islamabad is concurrently responsible for the country's Afghan affairs.

The attack was carried out at around 5.40 a.m. by a suicide bomber who approached the bus which was carrying the victims.

Sediq Sediqi of the Afghan Interior Ministry said primary reports revealed that the Nepali nationals worked for Canada's embassy in Kabul, Xinhua reported.

Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

--IANS giri/ksk/dg

( 228 Words)

2016-06-20-14:14:03 (IANS)
"We have said that we have full faith in her, she will certainly do the needful," said Ali after a meeting with Banerjee at the state secretariat.

The meeting comes a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday saying she will soon initiate dialogue with Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, over the issue.

"Mamataji was busy with elections and so we could not talk. But now the Bengal polls are over and she is back in power a second time. "This is the right time to start dialogue on Teesta," Sushma Swaraj had said.

Ali also said the issue of a priest of the Ramkrishna Mission in Dhaka getting threats from suspected Islamic State militants was also discussed in the meet besides the export of Hilsa fish.

"For the export of Hilsa, the facilities at the ports here and the infrastructure must be developed," he said.

--IANS and/vd

( 190 Words)

2016-06-20-20:30:04 (IANS)
On the first trading day after Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan formally said no to a second term, key Indian equity indices opened in the red on Monday, but regained ground to trade in the positive territory soon after. The The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE opened at 26,497.11 points and a minute into trading, it was quoting at 26,486.57 points, lower by 139.34 points or 0.52 per cent, against the previous close at 26,625.91 points. But two hours after, it was ruling at 26,688.82 points, up 62.91 points, or 0.24 per cent. The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), which had closed at 8,170.20 on Friday, opened at 8,115.75. A minute after, it was trading 56.95 points or 0.70 per cent lower at 8,113.25 points. Thereafter, in line with the Sensex, the key index was up by 13.40 points or 0.16 per cent at 8,183.60 points. Ahead of the this trading week, analysts had said that the likely exit of Britain from the European Union (EU) and Rajan's decision not to seek a second term at RBI may flare up volatility in the markets in the near term. Investors will also be concerned over an initial deficit in monsoon rains, fluctuations in rupee value and food prices, they said. "It is expected that the market would remain a little volatile due to the global events. Brexit is expected to heighten global volatility, thereby impacting capital flows at home," D.K. Aggarwal, Chairman and Managing Director, SMC Investments and Advisors, had told IANS. --IANS ap-ag/vm ( 275 Words) 2016-06-20-11:22:19 (IANS)
The Narendra Modi government has treated the Goods and Services Tax Bill as a "bilateral" issue between it and the Congress instead of taking all parties on board, CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury said on Monday. He also demanded building a consensus on the important proposed legislation, pending in the Rajya Sabha. "We had asked the government to convene an all-party meeting on the GST Bill and build a consensus. But the government has treated it as a bilateral issue between them and the Congress," Yechury told the media here. Yechury said there were certain concerns about the bill in its present form, which need to be addressed before it is passed. "The GST Bill in its present form takes away from the state governments whatever little power they have to raise funds. The states will become totally dependent on the mercy of the Centre even for emergency funds in case of a natural calamity or to fund welfare schemes," the Communist Party of India-Marxist leader said. He said a meeting of all state finance ministers should be convened by the Prime Minister to thoroughly discuss the issue and reach a consensus. "The CPI-M gave its note of dissent in the Select Committee of Parliament on the issue, which contained our reservations that need to be redressed," he said. Another concern, Yechury added, was on what would happen after five years to the states which stand to lose revenue. "The Centre has proposed to compensate the states for five years for the revenue deficit. But what will happen after five years?" he said. Asked about CPI-M-led Kerala government's stand on the GST, the party general secretary said the question of the state government's stand does not arise. "If Parliament passes the bill, the states will have to implement it. But in any case, Kerala will gain through the GST," he said. --IANS mak/tsb/bg ( 326 Words) 2016-06-20-20:30:02 (IANS)
According to Pinkvilla, the 50-year-old actor is the guest of honour every year at this bash and this time was no different. If fact, the Iftaar party was attended by Salman's entire family including his sisters Arpita, Alvira, brother-in-law Aayush and little nephew Ahil.

It is being said that after socialising with his friends and family, he zoomed out of the bash. Later, he was spotted having a cozy dinner date with Iulia at Corner House.

Reportedly, Salman was to make a public appearance with Iulia at this party, but now it seems like we have to wait a little more to see Bhai with his ladylove. (ANI)
Despite the recent attention directed toward transgender people, they and their health needs remain unmet, according to a new Series. 2015 was an unprecedented year in the recognition of transgender rights in some high-income countries. However, as the study reveals, public recognition has yet to translate to a concerted effort to support and improve the health of transgender people across the world. The Series was compiled with input of members of the transgender community and provides an assessment of the health of transgender people worldwide. While the study points to major gaps in our understanding of transgender health because of a failure to recognise gender diversity in public health efforts, the authors say there is enough information about this marginalised group to act now. Estimates suggest there are around 25 million transgender people worldwide. Routinely denied their rights, transgender people often face stigma, discrimination and abuse leading to marginalisation which has further damaging effects on their physical and mental health. As a result of this social and legal context, transgender people have high rates of depression. Often excluded from families or the workplace, transgender people are at greater risk of engaging in risky behaviour (sex work or drug use for instance) and studies have shown transgender people are at almost 50 times greater risk of HIV than the general population. Violence against transgender people is widespread and in between 2008 and 2016, there were 2115 documented killings of transgender people across the world, with many other murders likely going unreported or misreported. "Many of the health challenges faced by transgender people are exacerbated by laws and policies that deny them gender recognition. In no other community is the link between rights and health so clearly visible as in the transgender community," says one of the lead authors for the Series, Sam Winter of the Curtin University. Winter added, "Faced with stigma, discrimination and abuse, transgender people are pushed to the margins of society, excluded from the workplace, their families and health care. Many are drawn into risky situations or behaviours, such as unsafe sex or substance abuse, which leave them at risk of further ill health." The new Series is published in The Lancet. (ANI)
The Capitol Complex, one of the acclaimed creations of French architect Le Corbusier, here has been spruced up for global attention as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead thousands of participants here in the International Yoga Day event on Tuesday. A total of 30,000 participants, 10,000 each from Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana, donning while T-shirts and black or blue lowers, will perform deep breathing and muscle stretch exercises against the backdrop of the Capitol Complex. While the main event will be held at Capitol Complex, local residents will do yoga at a total of 180 centres spread across the city for which nearly 45,000 people enrolled. More than 30,500 India-made coloured mats with the Yoga Day logo will be laid on around 12 lakh sq ft of area for the participants to perform yoga. "We have made special arrangements for the participants like 40 LED (light-emitting diode) screens and 300 prefabricated bio-toilets have been installed at the main venue," Home Secretary Anurag Aggarwal told reporters. Likewise, LED screens have been put up at 100 venues across the city for live telecast of the main event at Capitol Complex. "This would certainly benefit the residents who may not be able to reach the main venue due to space constraints," he said. He said after the one-hour event, which will start at 7 a.m., the participants would be allowed to take home the yoga mats. Each participant would be given one T-shirt and a bag containing printed material. Before the yoga session, Prime Minister Modi will make a short address. Deputy Commissioner Ajit Balaji Joshi, the nodal officer of the event, said 600 special buses would be deployed for transporting the participants from Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana to the venue. The administration has allowed participants to carry mobile phones. It has set up a selfie zone at the entrance of the Capitol Complex where people can click selfies. For streamlining the entry of participants, Aadhaar-linked radio frequency identification cards have been issued to them. Modi will arrive in the city late on Monday evening. He will spend the night at Punjab Raj Bhavan. As per his schedule, he will arrive at the Capitol Complex at 6.45 a.m. on Tuesday for the event. He will leave for Delhi later in the day. Punjab and Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki along with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will receive the Prime Minister at the airport. Eight VIPs -- Solanki, both Chief Ministers Badal and Khattar, union Minister of State for AYUSH Shripad Yesso Naik, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kanwar Pal, local Member Parliament Kirron Kher and Secretary (Ayush) Ajit M. Sharan -- will share the dias with Modi. A 24-member team of public broadcaster Doordarshan equipped with 22 cameras will cover the event live. In the run-up to the second International Yoga Day, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Baba Ramdev along with their thousands of followers participated in the four-day yoga festival in Chandigarh. This is the second visit of Modi in six months to Chandigarh's Capitol Complex. Last time Modi received visiting French President Francois Hollande at the Capitol Complex. Its nomination as a Unesco heritage site under the trans-serial nomination project will be decided by next month. The Capitol Complex comprises the buildings of the secretariat, assembly and the high court apart from several monuments. --IANS vg/rn/vt ( 580 Words) 2016-06-20-13:54:03 (IANS)
While the majority of cases of deadly violence are committed by men, women too have had their roles in acts of crime. But the women who commit deadly violence are different in many ways from male perpetrators, says a study. The characteristics of male and female perpetrators differ in terms of the most common victims, the way in which the murder is committed, the place where it is carried out and the perpetrator's background, researchers revealed. The findings, reported in the International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, are based on investigations carried out over time in Sweden that belongs to the group of countries with the lowest number of murders per capita. The data covered all cases of deadly violence in Sweden during the years between 1990 and 2010. There were 1570 cases of deadly violence committed during the observed time period, and of them 1420 were committed by men (90.4 percent) and 150 by women (9.6 per cent). The gender distribution of the perpetrators was stable throughout the investigation period. "There were more pronounced differences between male and female perpetrators with adult victims compared with when the victim was a child (under 15 years)," said one of the researchers Thomas Nilsson, Researcher at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. "The adult victims of female perpetrators were more often male and an intimate partner. The victims were often under the influence of substances at the time of the crime and they died mostly due to knife violence, Nilsson noted. Another difference was that previous violence between the victim and the perpetrator was more common in cases of female perpetrators than male perpetrators, and that women more frequently committed crimes in the home environment. The home was the most common murder scene for all cases but it was even more common for female perpetrators, where the murder took place in the home in nearly nine out of 10 cases, the study showed. --IANS gb/vt ( 333 Words) 2016-06-20-13:54:05 (IANS)
By allowing FDI up to 74 per cent under the automatic route in brownfield projects, the government has opened up the pharma sector for more mergers and acquisitions, experts said on Monday. "Further relaxation of FDI norms in the pharma sector is a good move, as it eases the process of M&A in the sector," Angel Broking vice-president for research in pharma, Sarbjit Kour Nangra told IANS. "As the M&A activity depends on the valuations that are agreeable to Indian promoters and foreign companies, I am not sure if it would increase the M&A activity in a major way," she said. On Monday, the Union government relaxed FDI norms further in key sectors, including pharmaceuticals, by allowing equity up to 74 per cent under the automatic route for existing projects. The phrama sector was already opened up for 100 per cent FDI under automatic route in greenfield projects and government-approved brownfield projects. "We need to see the fine print. Mostly the move would benefit companies in the formulations segment than those in the bulk drug space. Some Indian pharma companies were looking at raising funds from QIP (Qualified Institutional Placement) issue. The move may ease the process of raising funds," said Siddhant Khandekar, Senior Research Analyst, ICICI Securities. Terming the move a long-awaited reform, Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw said as a flagship sector, the pharma industry was in dire need of capital investment. "As the pharma sector is a very capital intensive sector, I think this move augurs very well because you need to have investment. As Indian companies are not able to invest themselves, FDI is very welcome to do this, scaling up," Shaw told IANS. Asked if Biocon would invite FDI, Shaw said though the company does not need FDI right now, many India pharma companies could do with FDI because India was part of the global economy, especially its pharma sector, as 75-80 per cent of the production was exported. "The timing couldn't be better, with (RBI governor) Raghuram Rajan's exit because we need some good news to balance the bad news," she said. Khaitan and Co associate partner Sameer Sah said as global players looking at establishing a presence in India would prefer having local partners, the new policy would facilitate those deals. "A sticky issue for M&A deals has been the non-compete issue as non-compete proposals were not permitted without approval. The official statement is silent, but one would hope that every aspect of the deal, including non-compete clauses, should be under the automatic route so long as the investment is 74 percent or below," Khaitan's other partner Rajat Mukherjee said in a statement. Noting that the Indian pharma sector was witnessing heightened activity in the recent past, BMR & Associates LLPO partner Kalpesh Maroo said liberalised FDI in brownfield projects would help in reducing timelines for deals. Assocham secretary general D.S. Rawat said in a statement from New Delhi that easing FDI norm would favourably impact the pharma industry by providing access to more capital/funds for investing in research and development and creation of more Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association president S.V. Veeramani told IANS that foreign investors were reluctant to invest in India owing to delays in getting approvals in greenfield projects and more interested in brownfield projects. "Now there will be more FDI inflows in the pharma sector. We expect FDI inflow of around $3 billion, but over a period. The investments will happen in Indian formulations companies," he added. Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance secretary-general Dilip G. Shah, however, told IANS that "with 74 per cent FDI, the government's control is totally gone. There are two vaccine makers in the country. They supply major portion of some vaccines within and outside India. If some foreign company takes 74 per cent control and jacks up the prices, then the impact will be severe". Observing that there was the risk of Indian industry's jewels going away, Shah said Indian companies with good manufacturing facilities were not willing to sell their stakes while there were no takers for companies with me-to products. "One has to see how much FDI would come into the Indian pharma sector," Shah added. --IANS fb/ap/vj/sth/vd ( 711 Words) 2016-06-20-20:22:04 (IANS)
Former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid on Monday took a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in connection with the return of business tycoons Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya from United Kingdom, saying that the Centre should avoid giving 'tantalising' news and should come out clear that by when will these be brought back and made answerable. Speaking to ANI, Khurshid said, "I would imagine if the government is serious about the presence of these two people on the Indian Territory so that they can be made answerable and if they have any defence they can put that defence as well." "What is the delay? I think instead of tantalising news of this nature, the government should actually say that this is what the problem is, and at least should give some idea that by when will they do it, if at all they want to do it," the senior Congress leader added. His remarks comes a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that India has not yet approached the United Kingdom for extradition of liquor baron Vijay Mallya and former IPL boss Lalit Modi, wanted by Indian investigators in multiple cases. Swaraj yesterday said that in the case of Mallya, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had sent her ministry the extradition request but certain changes were suggested and the probe agency was yet to respond. With regard to Lalit Modi's case, she said the Enforcement Directorate has not sent the required documents. Both liquor baron Mallya and Lalit Modi are wanted by the Enforcement Directorate in its money laundering probe and the agency has also sought a global arrest warrant against them from the Interpol. (ANI)
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has left for a short visit abroad. ''Traveling out of the country for a few days on a short visit,'' Mr Gandhi posted on micro-blogging site Twitter. ''Thanks again to all who met & wished me yesterday, truly grateful for your affection!,'' Mr Gandhi said. Sources said that the Congress vice-president left on his foreign visit last night. Mr Gandhi was yesterday greeted on his 46th birthday by party workers and leaders, including those from other political parties. Among those who wished the Congress vice-president on his birthday were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, DMK chief M Karunanidhi and NCP leader Praful Patel. UNI AR AKC SB 1126 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0432-794459.Xml
Shops and business establishments remained closed in Ladoo and adjoining areas in Pulwama district of south Kashmir, where a Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) militant was killed by security forces in an encounter yesterday.

Traffic was also off the road though some private vehicles were seen plying. Work in government offices and educational institutions was also affected. However, situation elsewhere in the south Kashmir was normal.

Business and other activities was affected in Bomai, Sopore, on the fourth day Fateha of two Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants killed by security forces in an encounter June 17.

Traffic was off the road though private and some passenger vehicles were plying on majority routes. Work in educational institutions and government offices was partly affected.

However, situation elsewhere in the north Kashmir was normal.UNI BAS SB 1110

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-794430.Xml
The truck collided head-on with the motorcycle killing Raiq Ali and Anwar Hussain on the spot last night.

The drive fled soon after the accident, police added. UNI XC-BDG SB RK1239

-- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-794552.Xml
At least three people were killed in Qamishli in northeast Syria when a bomber attacked an event commemorating the massacre of Christians more than a century ago by the Ottoman Army, according to reports.

Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II, who was leading the commemoration, escaped the attack without any injuries.

"This is shocking news. In the attack one of his security guards lost his life while he remained unhurt," Mar Baselios Thomas I, who heads the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, told reporters here.

"We still have not come to terms with the news and the only means of communication is through email as all other forms of communications are cut," he said.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also condemned the attack.

"The good news is that he is unhurt and I join the others who have expressed shock over this incident," Vijayan said in a statement issued in New Delhi.

Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II is the supreme leader of Syrian churches, including the Jacobite Church in Kerala.

It was in February this year that Ignatius Aphrem II visited Kerala and urged the two warring factions of Kerala's Syrian Orthodox Church to make peace.

One of these factions is the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church with its headquarters at Kottayam.

The other is the Jacobite Church which accepts the supreme leadership of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, a position currently occupied by Ignatius Aphrem II.

--IANS sg/kb/mr

( 277 Words)

2016-06-20-13:24:07 (IANS)
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday termed the central government's Special Investigation Team (SIT) on 1984 anti-Sikh riots an "eyewash". In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and advertised in the newspapers on Monday, Kejriwal said that during the previous 49-day rule of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, the Delhi cabinet took the decision to form the SIT to bring culprits to justice. "Unfortunately, our government didn't last long to implement that decision. We were keen to form SIT and included this in our election manifesto," the letter said. He alleged that the central government formed an SIT two days before he took oath as the chief minister for the second time in February 2015 to prevent the Delhi government from doing it. "Just two days before I took oath as a CM, the central government set up an SIT on February 12, 2015, which was supposed to file its report within six months. But it is one and a half years, yet the SIT has made no progress. Now, apprehension is growing in the minds of people that the SIT was just an eyewash to prevent us from forming an effective SIT," he mentioned in the letter. "I would urge you (Modi) to get your SIT to do something or wind it up and allow the Delhi government to set up an SIT which will do proper investigation and bring justice for the victims," he added. The SIT appointed by the central government last week decided to re-investigate around 75 cases of anti-Sikh riots in Delhi. --IANS av/pgh/vt ( 275 Words) 2016-06-20-13:58:04 (IANS)
Last minute efforts are being made by the political parties to woo voters in Anantnag Assembly constituency, where campaigning ended this evening. The seat fell vacant following the death of chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed in New Delhi on January 7, 2016. The by-election, being held on June 22, assume significance as it will decide the fate of chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, who is among eight candidates seeking mandate from the constituency, represented by her father Mr Sayeed during two successive terms in 2008 and 2014 as Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate. Though the separatist organizations have called for poll boycott, the trend of public meetings and road shows organized by different political parties indicate that boycott call will have little impact. Besides Ms Mehbooba of PDP, Hilal Ahmad Shah of Congress, Iftikhar Hussain Misgar of National Conference (NC) and independents Tejinder Singh, Manzoor Ahmad Khan, Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman, Masroor Ahmad Mir and Mushtaq Ahmad Shah are in the fray. Er Sheikh Abdul Rashid, a sitting MLA from Langate constituency, who is opposing PDP-BJP coalition and also NC and Congress withdrew his nomination papers at the last moment. The BJP, a partner in the coalition government in the state did not field any candidate this time and announced to support Ms Mehbooba. However, barring some indoor meetings, the BJP did not organize any outdoor meeting in support of the Chief Minister. A win in this by-poll is very crucial for Ms Mehbooba who is seeking to become a member of the state Assembly within the mandatory period of six months of her swearing-in as Chief Minister in April. The Election Commission had announced bye-poll in Anantnag segment in May. However, on the request of state government that situation was not conducive for polling following massive violence in which five persons were killed in security force firing at Handwara in north Kashmir, the polling was rescheduled and fixed on June 19. Polling was again rescheduled after almost all political parties filed a representation before the EC that they apprehend that voting percentage will be low as it coincidence with the death anniversary of Mirwaiz south Kashmir Dr Qazi Nissar. Later the polling date was fixed on June 22 and counting of votes will be held on June 25.MORE UNI ABS ADG RJ PM1429 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0433-794587.Xml
The Economic Offence Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police will probe the money trail and assets of the kingpin and key accused in the Bihar toppers scam, police said on Monday. The kingpin of Class 12 toppers scam -- Amit Kumar alias Bachcha Rai -- and key accused Lalkeshwar Singh, former Chairman of Bihar School Examination Board, and his wife Usha Sinha have been arrested. Singh and his wife were arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Varanasi on Monday. The EOU will now track the money power play of Rai, Singh and his wife and other accused persons involved in the scam, a police official said. "The SIT probing into the toppers scam, is taking help of EOU to reach out to their ill-gotten income and money," he said. The EOU will look into the properties accumulated by Bachcha Rai, Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife Usha Sinha and other accused in the case, police said. Last week, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) during raids at Rai's residence and premises of V.R. College, which he ran, recovered huge amounts of cash, jewellery and documents of landed property purchased by Rai. According to reports, the V.R. College used to charge Rs 25,000-40,000 for ensuring students got first division and Rs 1 lakh and more for making them toppers in the examinations. Rai also sold Class 12 certificates for Rs 5 lakh to those who never appeared in the examinations. According to the SIT, so far 15 people have been arrested in the case. The state government has set up an Economic Offences Unit (EOU) as a separate branch to deal with the cases of economic crimes. Singh resigned from the post soon after his name cropped up in the scam. After that, he was missing nd said to be on the run. Last Friday, the SIT moved a local court to declare Singh and his wife as proclaimed offenders. The state police had also moved the Ministry of External Affairs to cancel their passports. The police are likely to attach their immovable properties after the court declares them proclaimed offenders in the case. Rai, during his questioning in police custody that ended on Sunday, said that he was close to Singh and his wife. Rai, director-cum-principal of V.R. College in Vaishali district, surrendered before police last week. According to reports, the SIT has found evidences that suggest Singh had a role in the Class 12 merit list scam. Evidences also indicate the state education board's complicity in the Class 12 toppers' results. --IANS ik/pgh/vt ( 435 Words) 2016-06-20-15:10:04 (IANS)
Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) former chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife Usha Sinha were arrested on Monday in connection with the state Class 12 examination toppers scam, police said. Lalkeshwar Prasad and Usha Sinha were arrested from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj, who heads the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Class 12 toppers scam, said. He said the couple will be brought here on Monday and interrogated by a separate team of the SIT. Meanwhile, Bihar Police recovered a country-made pistol and five live cartridges from the office of Amit Kumar alias Bachcha Rai, the alleged kingpin in the toppers scam. He was arrested on June 11 after he surrendered to the police. Said to be a supporter of the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Bachha Rai is the principal of the V.R. College in Bihar's Vaishali district. He is alleged to have been manipulating, in collusion with the BSEB, the merit list of Class 12 examinees in favour of students who paid him bribes. "Police have lodged a case against Bachcha Rai under the Arms Act after recovery of the pistol and five live rounds. We will now again seek his custody," Maharaj said. After facing flak from the opposition over the toppers' scam, leaders of Bihar's ruling Grand Alliance of Janata Dal-United (JD-U), Rashtriya Janata Dal JD and Congress said the guilty will not be spared. "Whoever has committed crime and corruption cannot escape the long hands of rule of law. The guilty will be punished," state JD-U President Vashisht Narain Singh said, reacting to the arrest of the couple. RJD leader and Bihar's Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav said he has full faith in Bihar Police who have already arrested Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife Usha Sinha. Bihar state Congress President and Bihar's Education Minister Ashok Choudhary said the accused will face justice. Opposition leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, however, demanded that the toppers scam should be probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Manjhi is former Bihar Chief Minister and belongs to the Hindustani Awam Morcha party. Last week, a Patna civil court issued an arrest warrant against Lalkeshwar Prasad, who until recently headed the BSEB which conducts the Class 10 and 12 examinations in Bihar. Lalkeshwar Prasad went underground after resigning from the board. His wife Usha Sinha, who is former Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator of Bihar, was also missing since the time her name surfaced in the scam. So far, 10 persons have been arrested in the case, the police said. The scam surfaced after Aaj Tak TV channel showed a sting in which two Class 12 toppers could not answer even elementary questions about the subjects they 'topped' in. The sting showed Rubi Rai, who topped the Class 12 exam in the Arts, saying: "Prodikal (read political) science is about cooking." It also showed Saurabh Shreshtha, a Science topper, saying: "Most reactive element in the periodic table is aluminium." Both Rubi Rai and Saurabh Shreshtha belonged to Bachha Rai's V.R. College. The sting suggested that education in Bihar continues to be a very dubious affair with the possibility that cheating and fraud continue on a large scale. --IANS ik/kb/vt ( 548 Words) 2016-06-20-15:22:06 (IANS)
As China claimed that the issue of India's membership is not likely to come up for discussion during the plenary meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group in Seoul, South Korea, India today maintained that the matter is coming up at the meeting of the elite group. The External Affairs Ministry today said, "We remain optimistic on the issue. However, the NSG plenary meeting where this issue is coming up, is yet to take place." Sources in the the MEA advised TV news channels to refrain from running the highly premature reports announcing India's NSG membership. "As EAM pointed out in her Press Conference yesterday we remain optimistic on the issue. Channels would be well advised not to indulge in needless speculation, and wait for factual developments in the coming days," he said. The MEA is yet to react to China's assertions that the issue of Non-NPT members was not on the agenda of the NSG. "The inclusion of non-NPT members has never been a topic on the agenda of NPT meetings. In Seoul this year, there is no such topic," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in Beijing. China's reaction comes a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said that Beijing was not opposing India's bid for the membership of the nuclear cartel. The Minister has also expressed her hope that India would be able to convince China in the process of building consensus for its membership. UNI MK RSA RJ 1502 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0090-794836.Xml
Every minute, 24 people are displaced in the world and Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia are the three countries, which produce half the world's refugees, a UN report said today. The rate at which people are fleeing war and persecution, has soared from six per minute in 2005 to 24 per minute in 2015, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in its "Global Trends" report, marking the World Refugee Day. According to the report, Syria at 4.9 million, Afghanistan at 2.7 million and Somalia at 1.1 million together accounted for more than half the refugees under the UNHCR's mandate worldwide. ''At sea, a frightening number of refugees and migrants are dying each year. On land, people fleeing war are finding their way blocked by closed borders,'' said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. Colombia at 6.9 million, Syria at 6.6 million and Iraq at 4.4 million had the largest numbers of internally displaced people, the report said.Global forced displacement has increased in 2015, with record-high numbers. By the end of the year, 65.3 million individuals were forcibly displaced worldwide as a result of persecution, conflict, generalised violence, or human rights violations. This is 5.8 million more than the previous year (59.5 million). An estimated 12.4 million people were newly displaced due to conflict or persecution in 2015. This included 8.6 million individuals displaced within the borders of their own country and 1.8 million newly displaced refugees.The others were new applicants for asylum. UNHCR estimates that at least 10 million people globally were stateless at the end of 2015. However, data recorded by governments and communicated to UNHCR were limited to 3.7 million stateless individuals in 78 countries. Developing regions hosted 86 per cent of the world's refugees under UNHCR's mandate. At 13.9 million people, this was the highest figure in more than two decades. The Least Developed Countries provided asylum to 4.2 million refugees or about 26 per cent of the global total. Lebanon hosted the largest number of refugees in relation to its national population, with 183 refugees per 1,000 inhabitants. Jordan (87) and Nauru (50) ranked second and third, respectively. In all, 86 per cent of the refugees under UNHCR's mandate in 2015 were in low- and middle-income countries close to situations of conflict. Worldwide, Turkey was the biggest host country, with 2.5 million refugees. With nearly one refugee for every five citizens, Lebanon hosted more refugees compared to its population than any other country. The report found that measured against the world's population of 7.4 billion people, one in every 113 person globally is now either an asylum-seeker, internally displaced or a refugee putting them at a level of risk, for which the UNHCR knows no precedent.UNI NY RSA RJ 1515 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0099-794866.Xml
Within 10 days of its launch, 3.4 million users have hooked up with the online travel aggregator Goibibo's mobile app 'GoContacts'.GoContacts enables travellers to get connected on Goibibo app using their phone books.A consumer, who has joined GoContacts and travels by booking on Goibibo, gets all his/her connections on the Go App to get gratified with GoCash+ bonus. The same works in a reverse manner too. Each time any of the customer's contacts travels using Goibibo, then he/she is also gratified with GoCash+ bonus.In the next quarter, the company will expand the social network to its ''User generated Content pieces,'' including Photo reviews, ratings, Questions and Answers. Ashish Kashyap, Founder & CEO, ibibo (Owner of Goibibo & redBus) said ''By launching GoContacts, we are further strengthening the network effects on Goibibo. The 3.4 Mn users who have got connected on Goibibo, is a testimony of the fact that we are on our way to create India's largest traveler's community. ''We believe that the combination of an engaged travel community combined with a reliable and trustworthy booking experience will further strengthen Goibibo.''GoContact members will be able to see reviews, photos, questions and answers that have been generated by their social network contacts.Users will also be able to discover the destinations that their contacts have travelled to and accommodations that they would have used.The company is also building customise privacy settings, so as to enable the users to decide what they want to share and what they want to keep private.In the quarter ending January to March 2016, 82 per cent of hotel bookings took place on goibibo mobile. This number was 70 per cent in the quarter ending October-December 2015. Sixty-three per cent of bookings took place from Android App, 14.5 per cent from iOs and 4.5 per cent from mobile web. Share of iOs has increased by 11.5 per cent in the last quarter over the previous quarter. The launch of GoContacts is yet another first from an online travel booking platform. Previously, Goibibo launched various other industry first features such as Photo reviews and rating; Questions and Answers; GoTime Guarantee; Flights+hotels on mobile.UNI RN RJ 1514 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0311-794691.Xml
The retrenched PWD daily rated and voucher employees today observed a fast in front of the Head post office here to press for their immediate reinstatement. It may be noted that 2,612 employees of the PWD were terminated during the assembly election on direction by the Election Commission of India and they formed a joint action committee and were on a series of agitations to press for their reinstatement. They also met Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and PWD Minister A Namasivayam and represented in this regard. Several political party leaders and social activists joined the agitation led by Deivigan, the coordinator of the Joint action committee.UNI PAB MVR RSS 1516 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0414-794807.Xml
: The Puducherry French Indian Rights Forum(PFIRF) today urged the administration to take steps to set up a Puducherry Public Service Commission(PPSC) here. In a memorandum submitted to Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today, PFIRF president M Illango said, Puducherry with a population of 12, 44,464, as per the Census 2011 is growing as a major educational hub with one Central University, one NIT, one PG Centre, and 27 colleges, including nine medical and nine engineering colleges. They generate thousands of graduates and post-graduates and research scholars every year. Proportionate to the growth of educational institutions, there have been no employment opportunities in the territory. Therefore, there is widespread educated unemployment in the state. Adding fuel to the fire, there is centralised selection by UPSC at New Delhi, opening those restricted opportunities in Puducherry to all Indians. At the same time the States ' are not admitting resident candidates of Puducherry in their recruitment and restricting the same within the residents of the states concerned, thereby resulting in imbalance in the employment opportunity. Mr.Illango said as a permanent remedy for the gruelling problems of educated unemployment in the state, it is imperative that the state have its own PPSC for selecting and appointing the citizens of Puducherry for all posts in the state. The right to employment and in-built reservation system has been declined to the native citizens of Puducherry for the last 54 years and, hence, an independent PPSC may be established at the earliest to provide wider and adequate employment opportunities for the people of Puducherry, he reasoned.More UNI PAB KVV ADB 1530 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0414-794870.Xml
With the advancement of the Southwest Monsoon, Rain has been occurring in the two Telugu states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during the last the last few days bringing cheer to farmers. The weather office said today that light to moderate rain occurred at many places in Coastal Andhra Pradesh and some parts in Rayalaseema and Telangana during the last 24 hours. Light to moderate rain in many places in the two states with heavy spells in some parts were likely during the next three days,the weather office further said. Reports reaching here from various districts said that farmers were vigorously preparing for sowing and other farming operations following the rains.UNI SMS CS 1507 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0414-794881.Xml
Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) was again arrested and shifted to Central Jail today, while there was no relief for the chairman of hardline Hurriyat Conference (HC) Syed Ali Shah Geelani and another senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah. Malik was arrested at Batmaloo, when he was on way to Hyderpora, the residence of hardline Hurriyat Conference (HC) to attend the joint meeting of the separatist organisations, a spokesman of the front said. He said Malik has now been shifted to Central Jail, Srinagar. Vice Chairman Showkat Ahmad Bakshi remained detained in the Central Jail, Srinagar, while district president of the front for Anantnag remained under detention, he added. Spokesman of the hardline HC Aiyaz Akbar said chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani remained under house arrest. Security forces and state police personnel remained deployed outside his Hyderpora residence since he returned from New Delhi last month, he added. Shabir Shah, General Secretary of the HC also remained under house arrest since last month, the spokesman further said. Both the leaders were not being allowed to move out of their houses, even for offering prayers in mosque during this holy fasting month of Ramdhan, Mr Akbar alleged.UNI BAS CJ RJ PM1504 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-794761.Xml
Dallas billionaire Kelcy Warren will head to court on Monday to defend against allegations his pipeline company, Energy Transfer Equity LP , has purposely tried to scuttle a proposed $20 billion deal for rival Williams Cos Inc.The two-day trial comes just days before Williams shareholders vote on June 27 if they want to accept the deal proposed in September by Energy Transfer Equity, or ETE.While the deal was long-sought by Warren, who wanted to create one of the world's largest pipeline operators, Williams said he soon had buyer's remorse and began to search for a way out as an energy price slump deepened.ETE has argued the deal cannot close because its lawyers at Latham & Watkins were unable to declare that it would be tax-free. The company originally raised the tax problem in April and rejected two possible solutions proposed by Williams.Williams sued in May, accusing Warren, who maintains a tight grip on ETE as its chairman and chief executive, of failing to meet its obligation to try to get the merger done by June 28, when ETE can walk away without penalty.Williams wants the judge to order that ETE cannot avoid its obligation to close based on the tax dispute or the June 28 termination date.ETE countersued, alleging Williams was the one breaching the deal.Brian Quinn, a professor at Boston College Law School, said ETE wants to reach June 28 so it can walk away without any settlement cost. "I think it's all about hanging on about as long as possible."In addition to Warren, both sides said they may call Alan Armstrong, the CEO of Williams. When Williams' directors voted to support the deal in September by a margin of 8-5, Armstrong voted against it.Other potential witnesses include Frank MacInnis, the chairman of Williams and several tax lawyers at Latham and other firms.The trial is being held in Georgetown, Delaware, in the state's Court of Chancery before Vice Chancellor Sam Glasscock. REUTERS DS AS1648 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-795176.Xml
According to the revenue office sources the Bhima river was inspate near Balavadagi village of Chitapur taluk of Kalaburagiand the village was marooned.

This is the home constituency of Mr Priyank Khargeas he was inducted in the new cabinet and sworn in yesterday.

Chitapur Tahasildar Malesh Tanga said that the situation wasnow normal and revenue officers and a rescue team had rushed to thespot and were monitoring the situation. Heavy rain of about 186.66 mmlashed the area and rain water gushed into the houses of the village in low lying areas and washed away household articles including grains and food items.

Mr Tanga said the district administration made all preparationsfor relief operations and distributed food to those who wereaffected by rains.

A major railway mishap was averted by the timelyalert villagers made as heavy rain washed out all the ballast below the railway track near Shampurhallivillage of Yadgir district.

According to the railway police, the Rajkot Express which wasscheduled to pass the track was delayed for nearly one hour andafter the track was repaired it resumed, sources said .

Heavy rain also lashed Raichur and surrounding area lastnight claiming the life of a six-year-old girl .

According to the police, the house caved in at Edapanour villageof Raichur taluk last night and the girl was killed on thespot and two others injured. The deceased was identified as BhumikaEdapanour police registered a case, sources added.UNI SD RS MVR ADB 1625

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This was stated by AIG Special Task Force Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh and Kapurthala SSP Rajinder Singh while talking to media at DSP office this afternoon.

The arrested gangsters were identified as Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi of village Rurrka Kalan, Jatinder Singh alias Sonu of village Balalon, Sukhbir Singh alias Sukha of village Ghungrana, Gurwinder Singh alias Ginda of village Soondh, Miyank Chopra of village Mahal and Harwinder Singh alias Binda of village Wahid.

Giving details of the incident, the police officers said that the police was checking the vehicles at T-Point of Fatehgarh Gate this morning. The gangsters, who came in a Qualis, opened fire on the police party and the police also fired back in retaliation, forcing the gangsters to surrender. A total 20 rounds were fired from each side. Nine empty cartridges were recovered from the site.

They said that the arrested gangster Gopi was heading the gang which was operating in various districts including Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur and was interconnected with the criminals of Majha and Malwa.

The gang was also committing crimes on supari-basis too, the cops added.

The AIG and SSP told that gangster Jatinder Singh alias Sonu was close associate of dreaded gangster Goru Bacha of Ludhiana.

Several more disclosures were being expected from the arrested gangsters.

Phagwara SP Arjinder Singh and DSP Kanwalpreet Singh Chahal were also present on the occasion. UNI XC DB CJ AS1618

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Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today announced that a masterpiece entry point plaza would be constructed soon near Sri Durgiana Mandir to provide best facilities to the devotees visiting the religious place. Interacting with the media after paying obeisance at Durgiana Mandir here, Mr Badal said the state government was working on the master plan to construct a world class entry plaza near the entrance of Durgiana Mandir. He said the government would try its best to complete this plaza in next 3 to 4 months. He said that one of the best architects from the engineering world has been engaged to design this plaza and all the plans would be finalised in a meeting scheduled to be held next week. He said this plaza would host adequate parking besides other required facilities. Stating that he was personally monitoring the ongoing development projects in the holy city, the Deputy CM said the state government was all set to develop Amritsar Sahib as one of the best cities in the country by year 2017. He further said once the ongoing infrastructure projects were completed in the city, reputed international agencies would be roped in to project Amritsar Sahib as an international tourist destination.UNI DB CJ RJ 1620 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-794951.Xml
Shashi Bala (60) suffered a heart attack at around 0300 hrs. She was taken to PGI but could not survive.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has expressed profound grief over the demise of Shashi Bala.

In his condolence message, he said Bala was a generous lady and worthy companion of former MP Satya Pal Jain, who always stood rock solid behind him through every thick and thin of political life, besides working tirelessly and equitably to serve all sections of the society.

Mr Badal prayed to the almighty to grant peace to the departed soul and courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss.UNI DB RJ NS1646

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Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC), along with India Post, today launched a postal cover featuring Sikh general Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, to commemorate his 300th death anniversary.The cover was released by Delhi Circle Chief Post Master General LN Sharma, in the presence of DSGMC president Manjit Singh GK. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Singh said, ''This is a historic day for all of us as after almost 300 years of his death, Banda Bahadur is being felicitated not just in India, but worldwide. People are recognising and appreciating his efforts and sacrifices. I believe that his death anniversary unites all of the Sikh community.''Mr Sharma recalled Banda Bahadur's achievements and selfless efforts for the society and said, ''He was beyond caste and creed, therefore, deserves to be known throughout the world for his sacrifices.'' Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, on June 24, will unveil the silver coin of Banda Singh Bahadur to pay tribute to the great warrior. Born to Rajput parents, Baba Banda Singh Bahadur was a great Sikh general, who established Sikh rule in large parts of Punjab.UNI SHS RSA RJ 1712 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0329-795076.Xml
The Congress today opposed the National Democratic Alliance government's decision to allow 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in five more sectors, saying it believes that the real key to the country's development was domestic investment.Describing the FDI move as a 'panic reaction' to the fallout of the upcoming exit of Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan, senior party leader Jairam Ramesh said the government took the decision to send a signal that its business affairs were running smoothly despite the departure." This government believes that the magic wand for country's development is FDI. However, we oppose this and don't subscribe the same view. According to us, the real key is domestic investment,'' Mr Ramesh told mediapersons here at a regular press briefing.Calling it supreme irony that BJP, 'which had always resisted FDI', was now extending it to every sector, the senior party leader held that the country cannot progress till there is domestic investment.Accusing the NDA government of misleading the nation on the issue, Mr Ramesh said the incumbent regime had not told people that a major chunk of the total foreign investment, had gone into E-commerce sites, which he claimed, will not boost the economy.He added that the party will come tomorrow with a detailed statement on FDI. Earlier in the day, the government allowed 100 per cent FDI in five more sectors, including defence, pharmaceuticals, civil aviation, food product manufacturing and animal husbandry.This is the biggest push since November, when the government had liberalised FDI rules and norms for the 15 sectors.''The Union Government has radically liberalised the FDI regime today, with the objective of providing major impetus to employment and job creation in India. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today,'' said an official statement. UNI RG RSA RP1808 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0377-795365.Xml
Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today greeted the people on the birth anniversary of Guru Hargobindji. Mr Vohra expressed sincere hope that the celebration of this auspicious day would strengthen the bonds of amity, harmony and brotherhood and be a harbinger of peace, progress and prosperity in the State. In his message of felicitations, the Governor observed that Guru Hargobindji's noble example of selfless service, based on the high values of righteousness, truth and love, is more relevant today than at any time in the past. The Governor prayed for the well-being of the people of the State. Ms Mehbooba wished the people of the state well-being and prosperity on this auspicious occasion.In her message of greetings, the Chief Minister said J&K has a rich tradition of celebrating auspicious occasions of all the religions and festivals in an environment of amity and brotherhood. She also prayed for peace and prosperity of the State.UNI BAS CJ RJ AS1742 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-795237.Xml
As many as 11 fresh guests from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK) arrived Srinagar this afternoon while only one Kashmiri crossed over to other side of the Line of Control (LoC) to meet their relatives, separated in 1947. In the last three successive weeks, no Kashmiri had crossed over to the other side of LoC. Meanwhile, six returnees also cross sides at the Kaman post, the last Indian military post on this side of the LoC, official sources told UNI this evening. They said 11 POK residents, including four women and two children, arrived at Kaman post after crossing the Aman Setu, peace bridge on foot to meet their relatives here. Three Kashmiris, who had gone to POK, also returned to their homes after completing stay across the LoC. The returnees included a woman. Sources said only one man from Kashmir crossed over to other side while three residents of POK, who had come here in previous buses, returned to their homes after completing stay here. They included two women. The bus service has helped thousands of families, separated due to partition to meet each other after India and Pakistan agreed to allow travel of divided families, on Permits instead of International passports, to meet each other since the first bus was flagged off by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on April 7, 2005.UNI ABS CJ RJ PM1723 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0433-795185.Xml
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) today opposed the recent spate of Defence agreements with other countries, including the US and Japan and said today's decision to allow 100 per cent FDI in defence, aviation and pharmaceuticals was directly linked with these commitments. ''This is not in the interests of India and raised serious questions concerning both our internal security and our sovereignty,'' the CPI(M) said in a statement issued at the end of a meeting of its Central Committee. As a consequence of the Indo-US strategic partnership, the Modi government has now announced across the board greater access to FDI, and it was permitting foreign capital to reap super profits and seek to emerge out of their global economic crisis at the expense of the domestic economy, the CPI-M said. Following the recent spate of agreements by which India has committed itself to as a junior strategic partner of the United States of America, India had now become party to naval exercises with the US and Japan in South China Seas, the party statement said. ''These exercises codenamed "Malabar Naval Exercises" were earlier held on Indian coast in the Arabian Sea. Moving into the waters of South China Seas has many serious implications for our independent foreign policy and security concerns,'' the CPI(M) said. The Party demanded that the disputes in South China sea must be settled in accordance with the international law and established international procedures. The Indian government must adhere to this time tested policy position that India has always maintained, it said.UNI NAZ RSA RJ 1850 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0091-795473.Xml
The weekly service, a new CONCOR, initiative aimed toshorten the lead time for container service between Bangaloreand Delhi to 64 hours and is expected to bring a remarkable changein the speed of goods movement on train according to a CONCORrelease here today.

The first scheduled train was flagged off by Mr K.V. Gopinath,Sr. Divisional Operating Manager for Bangalore Railways at 0200 hrslast night. It would reach Okhla at 1800 hours on June 21.

This train will address the trade needs of assured transit timefor containers between Bangalore and Delhi. It will carry 80 containersin one train. The train has been named as ''Cargo Express 1UP''.UNI CNR MVR ADB 1810

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Punjab Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh today lashed out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for wasting the Delhi taxpayers' money on newspaper advertisements in an extravagant and lavish way in the state. "Kejriwal is suffering from chronic megalomaniac obsessions," Capt Singh remarked, referring to Mr Kejriwal's '300 word' letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which he has published in full page advertisements in newspapers in Punjab. In a statement here, he also questioned Mr Kejriwal's credentials about honesty and integrity. "You are abusing your position and misusing the public money to promote and project yourself as someone who actually you are not", he told Mr Kejriwal, while asserting this was no less than cheating and fraud with the people of Delhi, whose money was being wasted in advertisements in Punjab with an eye on the elections. Questioning the very purpose of publishing a letter to the Prime Minister, Capt Singh said, "It was more aimed at scoring some brownie points with people of Punjab on the eve of elections, than asserting your position with the Prime Minister, who would have read your letter in any case". "It is natural for a Prime Minister to read a letter written to him by a Chief Minister, so where was the need to waste public money using newspapers with full page advertisements as the medium", he pointed out, while asking," Or you fear that the Prime Minister or for that matter nobody else takes you seriously, hence the need for full page advertisements to over-emphasise your point and grab his attention. "More than seeking justice for the 1984 victims, as he claims, which he could have done in a better way without wasting public money and newsprint space, Kejriwal is trying to pronounce and proclaim himself as the new messiah as if ordained by divine decree", the PCC president said, he asserted that the purpose of Kejriwal's advertisements was too obvious, to seek public attention for petty partisan and electoral interests.UNI DB SW RJ BL1855 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-795395.Xml
Border Security Force (BSF) jawans guarding the Indian post AT Habibpur shot the two tress-passers for defying " halt" and went ahead for breaking the iron fence.

Police said the BJP jawans fired at them when they tried to attack the Indian para-military forces.

The bodies of the cows lifters were sent to the Malda Medical College and Hospital for autopsy. UNI XC-PC AKM PY RJ PM1930

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Troops of Guwahati Frontier of Border Security Force apprehended the smuggler.

He has been identified as Sadam Ali (22), of Dhubri district, a BSF official said.

The troops of BOP Binachar arrested him while he was trying to smuggle cattle heads from India to Bangladesh.

He has been handed over to local police for further legal action. UNI SG AKM AE RJ PM1936

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Haryana government has decided to set up a Observation Home and Place of Safety on the premises of Kasturba Sewa Sadan in Faridabad at a cost of about Rs 9.75 crore to provide care and ensure rehabilitation of any child alleged to be in conflict with law. Stating this here today, Women and Child Development Minister Kavita Jain said approval to this effect has been given by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. She said out of the total expenditure, the state government would contribute about Rs 8.19 crore and the Central share would be over Rs 1.55 crore. Ms Jain said under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, provision had been made for setting up of Observation Homes for temporary reception, care and rehabilitation of any child alleged to be in conflict with law. Provision had also been made for the setting up of Place of Safety for persons above the age of 18 years or child in conflict with law, who is between the age of 16 and 18 years and accused of or convicted for committing a heinous offence, she added.UNI DB SW RJ BL SW RJ BL1934 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-795543.Xml
: Union Minister for Rural Development andPanchayath Raj, Choudhary Birendra Singh today said that NDAgovernment headed by Narendra Modi has been making tremendousprogress for the uplift of common masses for the past two years sinceit came to power and has won the laurels not only of the countrybut also has attracted international attention. Talking to newspersons here, the minister said that the achievementof NDA Government has been acclaimed as long standing achievement ina short period of time. What the Governments in the past could notdo for the development of the nation in the past 60 years,Narendra Modi Government has proved it. "The success of the NDA Government in all fronts has been one ofthe record achievements thus bringing India in the eyes ofinternational fraternity," he reasoned.. Mr Birendra Singh said that the Government since coming to power has been tryingits best to improve the lot of common mass more so of farmers.Several programmes that could raise the standard ofliving of the people have been materialised and the effect of theprogress made is evidently felt as the people are leading a happy life. Referring to price rise of agriculture commodities, the ministersaid that if the benefit of the rise of price went to the farmers,it will greatly help them. The NDA Government has been successful ineradicating the middlemen who would grab the benefits from thefarmers. Citing the example of urea, he said that the fertilizer hasbeen made more user friendly instead of misusing it by changing thetechnique. And now merely farmers are taking the benefit of urea andthere has been no misuse, he pointed out. Mr Singh said that the Union Government's aim of bringing blackmoney to the country has been yielding results. It might take sometime, as many technical procedures are to be followed, he informed. Referring to Foreign Policy, the Minister said that even on thisfront, NDA has succeeded in bringing the nation to a prestigiousposition in the entire world and the credit must go to the PrimeMinister and NDA Government. He said that the NDA Government has sanctioned all the quota offunds under RDPR for Karnataka and it is up to the State Governmentto make the best use of it. He denied any injustice to Karnataka. Uttarakhand former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokriyal, Lok SabhaMember Pralhad Joshi, Opposition leader in the Legislative AssemblyJagadish Shettar were also present on the occasio.UNI XR MSP KVV ADB 2038 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0287-795427.Xml
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today extended greetings to the people on the occasion of International Yoga Day and described it as a moment to feel proud of India's heritage of Yoga, which he said has been recognised worldwide. Mr Chouhan, who is on a five-day visit to China, also extended thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on behalf of people of Madhya Pradesh saying that India has regained its glory due to his untiring efforts, an official statement said. "Yoga is a combination of body, mind and soul. It is purely scientific and is beyond religion, caste or community. Yoga gives peace of mind. It fills mind with positive energies. It is a way of life," the release quoted him as saying. The Chief Minister urged youths to find out time for Yoga. He also urged them to practice Yoga regularly and keep good health. He also appealed to one and all to do Yoga and contribute to the making of a spiritually healthy nation. Mr Chouhan also extended greetings to the people of China on the occasion saying that Yoga has strengthened cultural and spiritual bonds between the two nations. He also commended the initiative of opening Yoga College in Yunnan Minzu University. UNI PS AE BL2146 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-795878.Xml
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that the innovative 'Make In India' initiative launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made business and trading easier and ushered in a new economic era in the country. "India's GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) is increasing at pace spurred by liberal investment policies. Its GSDP in the financial year 2016 touched impressive 7.6 per cent. All Indian states are drawing benefits now. Madhya Pradesh is an easily accessible central Indian state whose GSDP is growing upward," said Mr Chouhan while addressing a business seminar on 'Invest in Madhya Pradesh' in Beijing, according to an official release issued here today. The Chief Minister highlighted key advantages of investing in Madhya Pradesh and also elaborated on investment avenues in priority sectors. He said that the state has been consistently revenue surplus since 2004 and has been able to maintain its double-digit GSDP. The growth rate in tax revenues is 17 percent. Madhya Pradesh is having world-class investment friendly infrastructure. The state has 230 developed industrial areas including micro and small medium enterprise and large industrial areas. This includes Chinese Industrial Township at Pithampur in Dhar district. Mr Chouhan informed business community about vast land resource meant for fresh industrial investments. Lands are available on concession for 30 years lease. Referring to investment opportunities in focused sectors, he said that automobile engineering, textile and handloom, pharmaceuticals, agri-business and food processing, new and renewable energy are the priority sectors. Speaking about Chinese Industrial Township in Pithampur, Mr Chouhan said that the total area is 205 hectare including 135 industrial plots. He said that it is the best offer to Chinese investment companies from Madhya Pradesh. Mr Chouhan listed out proposed incentives for prospective Chinese companies investing in the state that includes entry tax exemption for seven years, exemption in land development cost, 100 per cent exemption on stamp duty, 100 per cent reimbursement of Value Added Tax and central sales tax for 10 years, 100 per cent exemption on electricity duty for 10 years. He also invited the business community to Global Investors Summit to be held in Indore on October 22-23. Chinese Chamber of Commerce President Zhang Yujing welcomed the Chief Minister and delegation members. He appreciated the pro-active approach of Madhya Pradesh to the business and trade. He also praised the idea of inclusive growth in business, which the state is implementing in practice.UNI PS SHK 2140 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0044-795881.Xml
: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Grievances, Law and Justice, which is looking into the serious problem of 'Cash for votes' in elections, today advocated prosecution powers with the Election Commission and a designated special court to try such cases. The Committee Head EMS Natchiappan, MP, today said the parties that held talks with the group of Lok Sabha memebers of the Committee in the city, held that there should be some mechanism to end corruption in the elections and the EC given more powers. The parties who held meeting with the Committee includedCongress, BJP, BSP and Janata Dal(S). ''These party representatives expressed their opinion and we areof the view that there should be a Central and strong mechanismunder the law, to empower Election Commission with prosecutingpowers,'' Mr Natchiappan said. He said the Committee would advise to the Centre for an ElectionCommission which had prosecution powers. But it needed political consensus. ''The argument by the political parties giving special powers tothe EC is well taken. The Commission to have its own investigatingagency and special courts to try election malpractices is welljustified,'' he reasoned. However, Mr Natchiappan said the Committee would give suggestions in the bestspirits of Indian democracy and it was left to the government andthe Parliament in general to implement it. Opposiing corruption in elections, he said the postponement of two Assembly segment elections in Tamil Nadu recently, after an internal Committee of the EC had found corruption in the bye-polls after investigations, was disturbing. ''On that basis we decided that there should be a review of theworking of the Election Commission and ensuring model code ofconduct. We got information from EC that it had been episodes ofincidents of cash for votes in the two segments of Tamil Nadu, whichis regulatory principles of the (Election Act) in this election. ''We want this to end. We are working under the direction of theSupreme court to ensure free and fair elections in India,'' he said. Mr Natchiappan felt that Committee was of the view that there should be areview of the working of the Election Commission on enforcing themodel code of conduct before an election. ''We are inquiring into such incidents in Karnataka, Tamil Naduand in Madhya Pradesh," he pointed out. His comments comes in the wake of such corruption taking placeduring Karnataka election to the Legislative Council and the election in Madhya Pradesh, where sting operations had exposed sitting members allegedly demanding bribes. Mr Natchiappan also expressed disappointment over the StateElection Commission heads like Chief Electoral Officers not takingenough steps to take the allegations and cases against electionmalpractices to proper conclusion. ''These officials in the Statescan do better,'' he added.UNI RS MSP KVV ADB 2120 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0286-795918.Xml
A lady head constable posted in all women police station in the town attempted suicide by hanging in the police station last night but some staff members noted the incident, broke open the door brought her down and thus saved her. She was rushed to civil hospital for treatment. The victim had also prepared a suicide note in which she charged the SHO and MHC of harassing and torturing her mentally forcing her to take this extreme step. Her family members asked the doctors in civil hospital to refer her to Chandigarh but they later admitted her to a local private hospital. On getting information local police officials also rushed to the hospital. SP Sumit Kumar said that the matter would by thoroughly inquired and action as desirable would be taken. According to information, Head Constable Suman (32) at about 2000 hrs last night attempted suicide by hanging herself in a room bolted from inside in the police station. Another HC noticed this act and raised an alarm and after breaking glass of the door saved the victim and staff took her to hospital. The victim in her prepared suicide note recovered from the spot has alleged that she was continuously being harassed by SHO Nirmla MHC Dhanpati and she was not left with any other alternative but to commit suicide. The victim was being treated in a local nursing home. Her husband Dharam Veer, a resident of local Patti Afgan this evening said that his wife had met an accident some time back and she suspected that it was also part of a conspiracy to harm her physically. He said that Suman had told her that the SHO and MHC treated her so badly as if she was not an human being and they constantly threatened her of strict action. Meanwhile, repeated attempts to contact SHO over her mobile to know her version, failed. UNI XC DB SHK 2155 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0293-795888.Xml
"We have learnt that 2 Indian nationals, Ganesh Thapa & Govind Singh from Dehradun died tragically in the blast in Kabul today morning," MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a tweet.

"Govt. is in touch with the families of Indian nationals & is working with the Afghan Govt to repatriate their mortal remains at the earliest," he added.

The Afghanistan's Ministry of Interior Affairs earlier in the day confirmed the death of 14 Nepali security guards after a suicide attacker hit a minibus in Kabul.

A yellow minibus carrying Nepal and Afghan security guards was hit by a suicide bomber in the Banae area, PD9 Kabul city at around 5.40 a.m.

A statement issued by the Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs confirmed all the victims are Nepali citizens, reports Kathmandu Post.

The statement added that nine others including five Nepalis and four Afghans were also injured in the attack.

Condemning the incident, the ministry has expresses its condolences to the families of the victims.

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa have also expressed grief at the incident.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a tweet strongly condemned the Kabul attack and offered condolences to the Nepali people.

Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack which is said to be in revenge for execution of six Taliban prisoners. (ANI)
At least 16 people were killed and many injured in rain-related incidents in Uttar Pradesh during the past 24 hours even as monsoon reached up to Southwest and eastern parts of Madhya Pradesh. A UNI report from Lucknow said 16 people were killed due to lightning and other rain-related incidents as moderate showers coupled with dust storm lashed several places in the state. At least six people died when lightning struck them in Etawah, three in Mainpuri and one in Chandauli. Likewise, three labourers died as wall of under debris of a wall that collapsed in a cold storage in Mathura and an equal number were electrocuted in Azamgarh, reports from respective district headquarters said. Meanwhile, monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of central Arabian Sea, Konkan, Marathwada, Vidarbha, most parts of Madhya Maharashtra, some parts of south-west Madhya Pradesh and some more parts of east Madhya Pradesh. It is likely to cover parts of Gujarat in next two days.(Eds: rest pick up suitably from earlier series.)UNI Team SS AE 2313 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0089-796057.Xml
Christophe Charles(60) a martial art specialist of France died after he slipped in a hotel bathroom here today. According to the Sea Beach police Charles was on a tourist visa. He was staying in Dibyasham lodge in Chakratirth area of the city since last three months. He reportedly fell down in the bath room this morning. The hotel staff rushed him to Puri district head quarter hospital(DHH) where the doctors declared him as brought dead. Police registered a UD case and sent the body for post mortem. The French embassy was informed of the incident.The body would be kept in the morgue, police said.UNI XC DP BM AE BL2222 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0214-795989.Xml
Police today seized 245 Kg of contraband ganja worth Rs 20 lakhs from Taraiya village on NH 31 under Vaisi police station area and arrested two smugglers in this connection here. Police said here that acting on a tip-off, a vehicle coming from West Bengal was intercepted on NH-31 near Taraiya village.During the search operation, 245 Kg of contraband ganja contained in 40 packets were seized from the vehicle. "Two smugglers travelling in the vehicle were arrested soon after the recovery of contraband ganja," police said adding that both the smugglers were being interrogated in this connection.UNI XC KKS BM AE BL2219 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0214-796005.Xml
Twenty-three Islamic State militants were killed in northern Syria by coalition air strikes and cross-border artillery fire from Turkey, broadcaster Haberturk reported today.A total of 33 targets were hit in the operation which was carried out on militants thought to have been preparing for an attack on Turkey, Haberturk said.REUTERS SDR PR1050 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0431-794445.Xml
The annual plenary of the Nuclear Suppliers Group(NSG) is expected to have a far-reaching impact on future of South Asia, as the elite group will take up the membershiprequests from both India and Pakistan during the crucial meeting starting from today in Seoul. India had submitted its membership application on May 12, the day New Delhi resumed nuclearweapons testing in 1998 while Pakistan applied a week later on on May 19, a daily Dawn reportfrom Washington said. Though India is a favourite to join this 48-nation cartel, with an active support from the United States, Russia, Britain, France and other world powers, China is resisting the Indian application, arguing that it would enhance a nuclear competition in South Asia by isolating Pakistan. China wants the group to admit Pakistan as well, pointing out that both India and Pakistan possessed nuclear weapons and had not signed the NPT. While China may not force the NSG to admit Pakistan, it can block India, as new members areadmitted with a consensus of the existing members. Pakistan fears that if India becomes a member, it would use the consensus clause to prevent Pakistan from ever joining the group. Pakistan also fears that joining the NSG would increase India's access to nuclear technology, which could also enhance its weapons programme, evenif indirectly, the newspaper report observed. After meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House on June 7 earlier this month,US President Barack Obama welcomed India's application to join NSG, and re-affirmed that NewDelhi was ready for membership. "The United States called on NSG participating governments to support India's application whenit comes up at the NSG plenary later this month," said a Indo-US joint statement issued after themeeting. But some opinion makers, legislators and nuclear experts warned the Obama administration not to push forward India's application. "India's membership of the NSG is not merited until the country meets the group's standards,"the Pakistan daily quoted from The New York Times. The US newspaper argued that as NSG member, India would oppose Pakistan's entry and "that could give Pakistan, which at one time provided nuclear technologyto North Korea and Iran, new incentives to misbehave". India should be required to meet the NSG's standards, "including opening negotiations withPakistan and China on curbing nuclear weapons and halting the production of nuclear fuel for bombs," the NYT added. A key US Senator, Ed Markey, warned that enabling India to join the NSG would cause a "never-ending" nuclear race in South Asia, the newspaper report added. The Obama administration, however, ignored such pleas and in another statement this week,it reiterated its call to NSG members to support India. "The United States calls on NSG participating governments to support India's application when it comes up at the NSG plenary, which I think is next week," State Department spokesmanJohn Kirby told a news briefing in Washington. Earlier, US Secretary of State John Kerry sent a letter to the NSG members, saying they should "agree not to block consensus on Indian admission". India, though not a member, enjoys the benefits of membership under a 2008 exemption toNSG rules for its atomic cooperation deal with the US. Another expoert, Mark Hibbs, a senior associate in Washington's Carnegie Endowment forInternational Peace's nuclear policy programme, urged the NSG not to accept India as a member right away, the report further said. "The NSG should not say yes next week," he wrote in The Diplomat news magazine."It should tell India that there are good reasons to include it, but also that the group needs to complete an internal fact-finding and consensus-forming process in part to prepare the NSG for the consequences of possible Indian membership."UNI XC SV SS -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0103-794475.Xml
North Korea will not negotiate with the United States over two American citizens it is holding until former detainee Kenneth Bae stops publicly talking about his time in prison, state media said today.Criticised over its human rights record for years, North Korea has made use of detained Americans in the past to extract high-profile visits from the United States, with which it has no formal diplomatic relations.North Korea arrested Bae, a US missionary, in November 2012 and sentenced him to 15 years' hard labour for crimes against the state.He was released two years later and has written an account of his detention in a memoir released in May. Since then, Bae has spoken about his experiences at several public appearances and given interviews to promote the book."As long as Kenneth Bae continues his babbling, we will not proceed with any compromise or negotiations with the United States on the subject of American criminals, and there will certainly not be any such thing as humanitarian action," the North's KCNA news agency said."If Bae continues, US criminals held in our country will be in the pitiful state of never being able to set foot in their homeland once again".Pyongyang is holding two US citizens, both of whom it has tried and sentenced to hard labour.In March, Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old student of the University of Virginia, was sentenced to 15 years' hard labour for trying to steal a propaganda banner bearing the name of former leader Kim Jong Il.In April, a North Korean court convicted Korean-American missionary Kim Dong Chul of crimes against the state and sentenced him to 10 years' hard labour.Last year, Canadian missionary Hyeon Soo Lim was sentenced to hard labour for life for subversion of the state.The United States and Canada both strongly advise citizens not to travel to North Korea. This May, the US State Department said Americans who travelled there despite the warnings risked "unduly harsh sentences".REUTERS DUR SDR PR1251 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0386-794564.Xml
A North Korean diplomat who was part of "six-party talks" aimed at ending the country's nuclear programme arrived in China today where she is expected to attend a forum in which the US nuclear envoy will take part, Japan's Kyodo news agency said.If the diplomat does take part, it would be a rare gathering of experts from the six countries weeks after Chinese President Xi Jinping said he would like to see the six-party talks resume.Isolated North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch the following month in defiance of UN resolutions, prompting the UN Security Council to impose tough new sanctions.China is reclusive North Korea's only major ally but has been angered by its nuclear and missile programmes. Xi said in April China wanted to see a resumption of the six-party talks, which have been stalled since 2008.The North Korean diplomat, Choe Son Hui, is deputy director-general of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's US affairs bureau, according to South Korea. She was a delegate to the stop-start six-party nuclear talks, hosted by China.Choe was expected to attend the closed-door Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Beijing hosted by the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation at the University of California, San Diego, Kyodo said.The annual dialogue is an informal multilateral conference attended by government officials and scholars from the United States, South Korea, Japan, Russia and China, the five countries that were involved in the six-party talks along with North Korea.The US State Department said last week that nuclear envoy Sung Kim would attend the forum in Beijing. Kyodo said Japan may also send its top nuclear negotiator.It was unclear if Choe would hold separate meetings with Kim or officials from other countries.Choe attended the security conference in 2012 in China, but no representatives from North Korea have taken part since, according to the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation.The visit comes after career diplomat Ri Su Yong, one of North Korea's highest-profile officials, visited China and held a rare meeting with Xi. REUTERS DUR PR1253 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0442-794571.Xml
According to the Sunday Times, the 20 British jihadis are currently in Libya fighting with Islamist groups, some having travelled directly from British shores and others joining from Syria.

IS fighters have been pinned down in parts of Libya's Sirte since forces allied to the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) launched an operation to dislodge them from the coastal city last month.

The city represents the last IS stronghold in the country, and British fighters loyal to the extremist group are believed to have taken up arms to help the group cling on to the area, the Daily Mail reported.

"Its a worrying trend that around 20 of the British jihadis have travelled to Libya, and no doubt others will follow," an intelligence official said.

Officials estimate that IS has 5,000 fighters in Libya, most of them in Sirte.

--IANS ask/ksk/vm

( 174 Words)

2016-06-20-13:24:05 (IANS)
"A six-member Afghan delegation is being led by Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai," the Dawn quoted the Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria, as saying.

Zakaria added that the Pakistani side was being led by Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry.

Both sides will review all aspects of border issues and evolve a mechanism for better border management.

Earlier this month, the Torkham border was closed due to the clash which claimed four lives on both sides had started because of a dispute over the construction of the border gate.

However, Pakistan reopened the Torkham border crossing for traffic on Saturday after a diplomatic push to end the Pak-Afghan row. (ANI)
Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, said it is yet to confirm that the casualties are of Nepali origin.

"We are trying to verify the reports via our embassy," the Himalayan Times quoted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Bharat Raj Paudyal, as saying.

Paudyal said the facts will be shared publicly as soon as they are confirmed.

Earlier, Afghanistan Interior Minister spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said that eight others were wounded in the attack, and that police were working to identify the nationalities of the victims.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack. (ANI)
China and Pakistan were also seen celebrating the second International Day for Yoga yesterday.

The United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11 in 2014 after a call from the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi during his address to UN General Assembly on September 27.

In China, the Consulate General of India in Shanghai along with Wuxi Municipal People's Government on Sunday organised the second International Day of Yoga in Wuxi where nearly 3,500 yoga lovers registered and participated in the celebrations.

The Indian Consulate General, also arranged a Chinese speaking Indian yoga teacher, who conducted the yoga session for nearly 1,000 practitioners based on the Common Yoga Protocol sent by the Department of AYUSH.

In Pakistan, the second International Day of Yoga was celebrated on Sunday.

The Indian High Commission in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre organized the celebrations where around 200 yoga enthusiasts drawn from the diplomatic community participated in the celebrations.

Several other nations across the globe also celebrated International Yoga Day.

"Australia, Africa, Asia and Europe! #IDY2016 celebrated with great fervour in all parts of the world today," tweeted Ministry Of External Affairs Official Spokesperson Vikas Swarup yesterday.

Meanwhile, in India as many as 10,000 people will be participating in the International Yoga Day celebrations in the national capital on June 21 in collaboration with the Ministry of AYUSH and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC). (ANI)
Somalia's al Shabaab militants killed five police officers in a border region in northeastern Kenya today a regional official said."We condemn the attack by al Shabaab at Dimu this morning five police officers killed The info about their presence was long shared by the locals," Mandera County Governor Ali Roba said on his Twitter account. REUTERS DUR AS1413 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0442-794754.Xml
Indonesia is determined to assert its exclusive right to a corner of the South China Sea where there has been a run of skirmishes between Indonesian navy ships and Chinese vessels, the vice-president said today.Jusuf Kalla told Reuters that Indonesia would send a message to Beijing demanding that it respect the Southeast Asian nation's sovereignty over waters around the Natuna Islands.China's foreign ministry said over the weekend that an Indonesian naval vessel fired on a Chinese fishing boat near the chain of islands on Friday, injuring one person.Indonesia's navy responded that it had fired warning shots at several boats with Chinese flags it accused of fishing illegally but there were no injuries.It was the third reported confrontation near the Natuna Islands this year and comes amid rising regional tensions over China's assertiveness in the South China Sea."This is not a clash, but we are protecting the area," Kalla said in an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace.Asked if the Indonesian government had made a decision to be more assertive, he said: "Yes, we will continue."Separately, Indonesia's chief security minister, Luhut Pandjaitan, told reporters the government would seek the advice of legal experts on the matter."On the South China Sea we want to talk to experts in international maritime laws on what is the most appropriate way to resolve it," Pandjaitan said, without elaborating.Indonesia is not part of a broader regional dispute over China's reclamation activities in the South China Sea and Beijing's claims on swathes of key waterways.But Jakarta has objected to China's inclusion of parts of the Indonesian-ruled Natuna Islands within a "nine-dash line" Beijing marks on maps to show its claim on the body of water.China has said it does not dispute Indonesia's sovereignty over the Natuna Islands, but Kalla said its ships sometimes claim that they have the right to operate in waters around the islands because they are "traditional Chinese fishing grounds"."But we are focused on the legal basis," Kalla said, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). "We will send a message to the other side to honour the area in accordance with the law."China claims most of the South China Sea, through which 5 trillion dollars in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims. REUTERS DS AS1511 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-794899.Xml
Vice President Joe Biden today will denounce Republican Donald Trump's call for a halt to Muslim immigration as an appeal to intolerance and defend the US fight against Islamic State at a time of dissent within the Obama administration over Syria policy.Biden will deliver a wide-ranging rebuke to Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for the November 8 election, in a speech to the Center for New American Security think tank, according to excerpts released by the White House.Biden, who has joined President Barack Obama in endorsing presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, plans to wade deeper into the campaign a week after Trump sparked criticism for his comments on American Muslims after a US-born Muslim man killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.In a speech last Monday on national security, Trump stood by his call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States and proposed a suspension of immigration from countries with "a proven history of terrorism."Biden, in his remarks, will say: "Wielding the politics of fear and intolerance - like proposals to ban Muslims from entering the United States or slandering entire religious communities as complicit in terrorism - calls into question America's status as the greatest democracy in the history of the world."Although not naming Trump, the vice president will say: "Alienating 1.5 billion Muslims - the vast, vast majority of whom, at home and abroad, are peace-loving - will only make the problem worse."Biden will also apparently chide Trump for having spoken admiringly of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Embracing Putin at a time of renewed Russian aggression" could call into question the US commitment to Europe's security," he will say.Referring to Trump's vow to erect a wall on the US border with Mexico if elected, Biden will assert: "If we build walls and disrespect our closest neighbors," it will reignite anti-US sentiment in Latin America.Biden's defense of Obama's strategy against Islamic State militants appears intended, at least in part, to push back against a recently leaked internal State Department memo critical of the president's response to Syria's civil war.The document, signed by 51 diplomats and reflecting long-standing frustration among Obama's aides, calls for urgently broadening an approach, now focused on attacking Islamic State, to unleash air strikes against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces. US officials made clear Obama would not be swayed."The use of force should be precise and proportional," Biden will say. "There must be a clear mission that advances US interests. Whenever possible, we should act alongside allies and partners."REUTERS DS PM1545 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-794994.Xml
Mr Sartaj Aziz, adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Foreign Affairs, has maintained that Pakistan cannot fight Afghanistan's war on its own soil despite the United States proposal to Pakistan for acting against the Afghan Taliban. In an interview to the state-run Pakistan Television (PTV), Mr Aziz maintained that US authorities had the "misconception" that Pakistan is backing certain Taliban groups or the Haqqani network, while in reality Pakistan has effectively demolished their whole infrastructure during the anti-terrorist operation Zarb-e-Azb."Our viewpoint was that you (NATO and ISAF) have been fighting for the last 15 years but could not bring peace, now dialogue remains the only option, even if the Taliban cannot occupy Afghanistan they can still continue the fight for years to come," Mr Aziz added."We can only bring Taliban to the negotiating table using our influence, but ultimately Afghanistan has to talk with them, they (Afghan government) should strengthen their position on the ground and secondly they should offer them (Taliban) something which they cannot gain on the battlefield. In the end, the process should be consistent," the adviser said.UNI XC SDR RP -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0431-794706.Xml
Artillery fire from Turkey and coalition air strikes killed 23 Islamic State militants in northern Syria, broadcaster Haberturk reported today.Haberturk said a total of 33 strikes targeted militants thought to be preparing an attack on Turkey.It did not say when the operation was carried out.The US-led coalition has stepped up air strikes against Islamic State positions in the area in recent weeks, in response to rocket attacks by the militants on the border town of Kilis.Kilis, just across the frontier from an Islamic State-controlled region of Syria, has been hit by rockets more than 70 times this year. More than 20 people have been killed and parts of the town reduced to rubble.Turkey has also increased retaliatory fire but security sources say soldiers with heavy artillery stationed on the border find it difficult to hit the militants, who sometimes fire from the back of vehicles.NATO member Turkey is also battling a Kurdish insurgency in its mainly Kurdish southeast. It has repeatedly said it needs more help from Western partners to keep Kilis and its Syrian border secure. REUTERS DUR AS1530 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0442-794735.Xml
Democratic Republic of Congo declared a yellow fever epidemic in the provinces of Kinshasa, Kongo Central and Kwango today, after recording 67 cases of the disease.Health Minister Felix Kabange told journalists that seven of the cases were autochtonous, while five people in total had died. REUTERS DS AS1654 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0177-795195.Xml
The European Union today gave its naval force in the Mediterranean the authority to search suspicious vessels at sea in a bid to stop arms getting to Islamic State in Libya and to break up gangs smuggling migrants to Europe.EU foreign ministers acted to boost the effectiveness of the five-frigate "Sophia" mission after winning a UN mandate to reinforce an arms embargo on Libya, where Islamic State is strengthening its grip, and limit the near-impunity of the people smugglers."We must act, both against those who exploit the migrants, those traffickers who exploit this misery, and against the arms trafficking that benefits Daesh," French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told reporters at a meeting in Luxembourg, referring to Islamic State militants.European military powers Britain, France and Germany say ending the chaos in Libya that has reigned since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 is a crucial part of the EU's moves to end the migrant crisis. NATO ships have also been sent to the Aegean to stem uncontrolled flows to Greece from Turkey.Although EU ships in the central Mediterranean have picked up around 16,000 migrants at sea in the past year, their limited tasks of surveillance and information-sharing have meant they were not able to destroy weapons, catch traffickers or head off migrants trying to reach Europe by sea from Libya.At least one smuggler vessel loaded with arms was allowed to pass an EU inspection in the Mediterranean in the past few months for lack of UN authority to act, one diplomat said.Now, the European Union also hopes NATO ships already patrolling in the central Mediterranean could link up with its "Sophia" mission, providing intelligence about smuggling routes.The United States has said it supports such a move."ACCESS TO AMMUNITION"Gangs, using profits from people smuggling into Europe, control arms networks stretching across Europe into North Africa via the Mediterranean.Libya UN envoy Martin Kobler has told the Security Council that Libya is already awash with arms, with 20 million pieces of weaponry in the North African state of six million people.By controlling new flows, the West could grant exemptions in the arms embargo to provide weapons to the UN-backed unity government in Tripoli and help it assert control in the lawless country."Getting control of illegal arms trafficking then gives the international community a lever, because we can consider relaxations in the arms embargo to allow certain groups access to ammunition," said Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.Britain is expected to send another ship to the mission, as well as helicopters and other assets from 24 EU governments.The EU and NATO say they could operate closer to Libyan shores if requested by the Libyan government, but for now the EU will focus on training the Libyan coast guard in international waters to help combat smugglers.REUTERS RSD PM1846 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-795511.Xml
An interior ministry statement accused Sheikh Isa Qassim of using his position to "serve foreign interests" and promote "sectarianism and violence," BBC reported.

The cleric, who holds the religious rank of Ayatollah, has backed protests led by the Shia community groups for greater civil and political rights.

Bahraini authorities said the offices of the Wefaq National Islamic Society have also been closed and the Society's assets frozen. A lawyer for the group said the move came "out of the blue".

A US diplomatic cable published by Wikileaks described Sheikh Isa Qassim as Wefaq's spiritual leader. He is also regarded as the spiritual leader of Bahrain's Shia community.

The US cable said the cleric had studied in the Iranian city of Qom in the 1990s and also spent time in the Iraqi city of Najaf, another centre of Shia learning.

Announcing the move to strip him of his Bahraini citizenship, the interior ministry said the cleric had been in continuous contact with "organisations and parties that are enemies of the kingdom".

--IANS ahm/vt

( 203 Words)

2016-06-20-19:24:02 (IANS)
The mother of the Texas "affluenza" teenager is set to appear in court today on charges of helping her son flee to Mexico after he violated a probation deal that kept him out for jail for killing four people while driving drunk in 2013.Tonya Couch, 49, was indicted by a Tarrant County grand jury last month on charges of hindering apprehension and money laundering. The hearing will be her first since she was set free on bond in January.Couch, and her son, Ethan, 19, drew international attention last winter after fleeing the United States. He had apparently violated the probation deal that he stay drug- and alcohol-free after the deadly wreck.At his trial in juvenile court in 2013, a psychologist testified in Ethan Couch's defense that the then 16-year-old was a victim of "affluenza" and unable to tell right from wrong as a result of being spoiled by his family's wealth.The probation deal sparked outrage from critics who ridiculed the affluenza defense and said his family's wealth had helped keep him out of jail.Tonya Couch was initially charged with aiding her son's flight, a felony that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.The grand jury last month reaffirmed the original charge and added a second charge of money laundering of 30,000 dollars to 150,000 dollars, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.Tonya Couch and her son left Texas after a video surfaced on social media in early December showing Ethan at an alcohol-fueled party, in likely violation of his probation deal.Mother and son drove in a pickup truck to Puerto Vallarta, where they were caught by Mexican authorities in December after a manhunt of more than two weeks.She was deported to Texas in January and posted bond after being remanded to Texas authorities.Ethan Couch is currently serving a nearly two-year jail sentence as a condition of his new probation terms as an adult.His case was transferred from the juvenile to adult supervisory system on his 19th birthday in April.REUTERS RSD NS1933 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-795590.Xml
Author JK Rowling has criticised the rhetoric surrounding the British referendum on the European Union, calling the campaign "divisive and bitter".Writing on her website today, the Harry Potter author dissected the narratives of both sides and compared the campaigning process to the creation of a "monster".She criticised in particular the anti-immigration arguments put forward by the camp backing a so-called Brexit."For many of our countrymen, I suspect a 'Leave' vote will be a simple howl of frustration, a giant two fingers to the spectres that haunt our imaginations," Rowling wrote.She also questioned the "grim" economic case disseminated by those who want to remain in the bloc. She did not state which way she would be voting.In the article, entitled "On Monsters, Villains and the EU Referendum," Rowling, one of the world's most successful authors, also called herself a "mongrel product" of Europe, thanks to her part-French heritage.Campaigners on both sides have been criticised for massaging facts and the increasingly vicious rhetoric of the campaign, particularly in the aftermath of the murder of British lawmaker and Remain supporter Jo Cox last week."Everything is going to come down to whose story we like best, but at the moment we vote, we stop being readers and become authors," Rowling said."The ending of this story, whether happy or not, will be written by us." REUTERS RSD RAI2050 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-795882.Xml
The mother of the Texas "affluenza" teenager had her curfew eased, her attorney said today, in her first court appearance since being charged by a grand jury last month with helping her son flee to Mexico.Tonya Couch, 49, was indicted by a Tarrant County grand jury on charges of hindering apprehension and money laundering for aiding her son Ethan Couch in violating a probation deal that kept him out for jail for killing four people while driving drunk in 2013.The curfew easing came at a hearing that lasted a few minutes before a district court judge. Her lawyer said after the session that the change will make it easier for her to find a job. He did not provide other details on the curfew.Couch, and her son, Ethan, 19, drew international attention last winter after fleeing the United States. He had apparently violated the probation deal that he stay drug- and alcohol-free after the deadly wreck.At his trial in juvenile court in 2013, a psychologist testified in Ethan Couch's defense that the then 16-year-old was a victim of "affluenza" and unable to tell right from wrong as a result of being spoiled by his family's wealth.The probation deal sparked outrage from critics who ridiculed the affluenza defense and said his family's wealth had helped keep him out of jail.Tonya Couch was initially charged with aiding her son's flight, a felony that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The grand jury last month reaffirmed the original charge and added a second charge of money laundering of 30,000 dollars to 150,000 dollars, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.Couch and her son left Texas after a video surfaced on social media in early December showing Ethan at an alcohol-fueled party, in likely violation of his probation deal.Mother and son drove in a pickup truck to Puerto Vallarta, where they were caught by Mexican authorities in December after a manhunt of more than two weeks.She was deported to Texas in January and posted bond after being remanded to Texas authorities.Ethan Couch is currently serving a nearly two-year jail sentence as a condition of his new probation terms as an adult. His case was transferred from the juvenile to adult supervisory system on his 19th birthday in April. REUTERS RSD BL2056 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-795895.Xml
The gunman who slaughtered 49 people at a gay nightclub in Florida threatened to blow up a car rigged with bombs and to strap hostages into explosive vests, according to partial transcripts of 911 calls he made released today."You people are gonna get it, and I'm gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid," Omar Mateen said during one of the calls made from the Pulse nightclub in downtown Orlando, according to the transcript released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.No explosive vests or bombs were found in the nightclub or the suspect's car, however, the FBI said.Mateen, a 29-year-old security guard, paused several times during the three-hour siege at the club to speak by phone with emergency dispatchers and police negotiators, as well as to post internet messages pledging allegiance to Islamist militant groups."While the killer made these murderous statements, he did so in a chilling, calm and deliberate manner," said Ron Hopper, a FBI assistant special agent in charge.Mateen told an emergency dispatcher he was wearing an explosive vest like the kind they "used in France," apparently referring to the deadly assault in Paris last November by Islamic militants, according to the transcript.As patrons fled the club, they told police outside that the shooter said he was going to put four vests with bombs on victims within 15 minutes, the FBI said in its statement.Mateen, a New York-born US citizen and Florida resident of Afghan descent, who has been described by US officials as "self-radicalized" in his extremist sympathies.The partial transcripts did not include a pledge of loyalty that authorities say Mateen made to Islamic State's leader. Hopper told a news conference near the nightclub that only partial transcripts were released so as not to "propagate violent rhetoric."US House Speaker Paul Ryan accused the Obama administration of censoring references to the Islamic State militant group and called for the full transcripts to be released.'ISLAMIC SOLDIER'Mateen identified himself as an "Islamic soldier," according to the FBI, and he told a negotiator to tell the United States to stop bombing Syria and Iraq.The Joint Terrorism Taskforce has conducted more than 500 interviews about the massacre, Hopper said, and has processed 600 pieces of evidence.Orlando Police Chief John Mina said the initial engagement by authorities caused the gunman to retreat and barricade himself in a bathroom with hostages. He said officers were inside the club saving victims during the three-hour standoff."I am very confident that they saved many, many, many lives that night," Mina said, rejecting any criticism that police had failed to act quickly enough to end the siege."Those killings are on the suspect and on the suspect alone," he said. "It was a very difficult decision but it was the right decision and I stand by it."Authorities have said preliminary evidence indicates Mateen was a mentally disturbed individual who acted alone and without direction from outside networks.The massacre at Pulse, which also left 53 people wounded, led to national mourning and soul-searching over easy access to firearms and the vulnerability to hate crimes of people in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.The killings also triggered an effort to break a long-standing stalemate in Congress over gun control.The Senate was set to vote on Monday on four competing measures - two from Democrats and two from Republicans - to expand background checks on gun buyers and curb gun sales for people on terrorism watch lists.REUTERS RSD RAI2140 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-795963.Xml
The US Supreme Court today left in place gun control laws in New York and Connecticut that ban military-style assault weapons like the one used in last week's massacre at an Orlando nightclub, rejecting a legal challenge by gun rights advocates.The court's action underlined its reluctance to insert itself into the simmering national debate on gun control. The Supreme Court issued important rulings in gun cases in 2008 and 2010 but has not taken up a major firearms case since.The justices declined to hear an appeal of an October ruling by the New York-based 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld laws prohibiting semiautomatic weapons and large capacity magazines in the two northeastern states."Sensible gun safety legislation works. The Supreme Court's action today in declining to hear this appeal affirms that the reforms enacted in Connecticut following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School were reasonable, sensible and lawful," Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen, a Democrat, said.The New York and Connecticut laws, among the strictest in the nation, were enacted after a gunman with a semiautomatic rifle killed 20 young children and six educators in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.The gunman in the June 12 attack at an Orlando gay nightclub that killed 49 people, the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history, used a semiautomatic rifle that would have been banned under the New York and Connecticut laws."The overwhelming majority of responsible gun owners want reasonable and effective gun control legislation," New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said. "They know that there is no place for weapons of war on the streets of America. New York's assault weapons ban keeps New Yorkers safer - period."Schneiderman, a Democrat, urged other states to enact similar laws.The legal challenge mounted by gun rights groups and individual firearms owners asserted that the New York and Connecticut laws violated the US Constitution's Second Amendment guarantee of the right to bear arms. The court denied the appeal with no comment or recorded vote.The challengers to the Connecticut law said it banned "some of the most popular firearms in America," guns they said are owned by millions of Americans for the lawful purposes of self-defense, hunting and recreational shooting. The state said these kinds of guns are used in "the most heinous forms of gun violence."In December, the court declined to hear a challenge to a Illinois town's assault weapons ban. But the justices in March threw out a Massachusetts court ruling that stun guns are not covered by the Second Amendment and sent the case back to the state's top court for further proceedings.The United States has among the most permissive gun rights in the world. Because the US Congress long has been a graveyard for gun control legislation, some states and localities have enacted their own measures.In total, seven states and the District of Columbia ban semiautomatic rifles. A national law barring assault weapons expired in 2004. Congressional Republicans and some Democrats, backed by the influential National Rifle Association gun rights lobby, foiled efforts to restore it.In the aftermath of the Orlando massacre, the Senate was taking up gun legislation on Monday, although the four measures were not expected to win passage.There is a longstanding legal debate over the scope of Second Amendment rights.In the 2008 District of Columbia v. Heller case, the Supreme Court held for the first time that the Second Amendment guaranteed an individual's right to bear arms, but the ruling applied only to firearms kept in the home for self-defense. That ruling did not involve a state law, applying only to federal regulations.Two years later, in the case McDonald v. City of Chicago, the court held that the Heller ruling covered individual gun rights in states. REUTERS RSD RAI2201 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-796001.Xml
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi told the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights today that the government will avoid using the term "Rohingya" to describe a persecuted Muslim minority in the country's northwest, an official said on Monday.Also on Monday, the top UN human rights official issued a report saying the Rohingya have been deprived of nationality and undergone systematic discrimination and severe restrictions on movements. They have also sufferered executions and torture that together may amount to crimes against humanity, the report said.Members of the 1.1 million group, who identify themselves by the term Rohingya, are seen by many Myanmar Buddhists as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The term is a divisive issue.The UN human rights investigator, Yanghee Lee, met Suu Kyi in the capital Naypyitaw on her first trip to Myanmar since the Nobel Peace Prize winner took power in April."At their meeting here this morning, our Foreign Minister Daw Aung San Suu Kyi explained our stance on this issue that the controversial terms should be avoided," said Aung Lin, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Suu Kyi is banned from presidency by the military-drafted constitution because her children have British citizenship. She holds offices of the State Counsellor and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, but is the de facto leader of the administration.Feted in the West for her role as champion of Myanmar's democratic opposition during long years of military rule and house arrest, Suu Kyi has been criticized overseas, and by some in Myanmar, for saying little about the abuses faced by the Rohingya.POSSIBLE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITYUN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in the report the Rohingya are excluded from a number of professions and need special paperwork to access hospitals, which has resulted in delays and deaths of babies and their mothers during childbirth.It was the first time Zeid said these and other long-standing violations could add up to crimes against humanity, an international crime. Crimes against humanity are serious, widespread and systematic violations.Some 120,000 Rohingya remain displaced in squalid camps since fighting erupted in Rakhine State between Buddhists and Muslims in 2012. Thousands have fled persecution and poverty."The new Government has inherited a situation where laws and policies are in place that are designed to deny fundamental rights to minorities, and where impunity for serious violations against such communities has encouraged further violence against them," Zeid said.Reversing such discrimination must be a priority for the new government "to halt ongoing violations and prevent further ones taking place against Myanmar's ethnic and religious minorities," Zeid said.Suu Kyi has formed a committee to "bring peace and development" to the state in May, but its plans are not clear.On Friday, Myanmar's representative to the United Nations Human Rights Council, Thet Thinzar Tun, criticized use of "certain nomenclature" by a UN representative as "adding fuel to fire" and "only making things worse"."For the sake of harmony and mutual trust between two communities, it is advisable for everyone to use the term 'the Muslim community in Rakhine State'," he said, according to the United Nations.Suu Kyi said during a visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry last month that the country needed "space" to deal with the Rohingya issue and cautioned against the use of "emotive terms" that she said were making the situation more difficult.The previous military-linked government of former junta General Thein Sein referred to the group as "Bengalis", implying they were illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, though many have lived in Myanmar for generations.Lee, the UN Special Rapporteur, will meet several cabinet members and travel to areas where ethnic armed groups fight the military and sometimes between themselves, including Shan, Kachin and Rakhine states.REUTERS RSD RAI2203 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-796018.Xml
The maker of the assault rifle used to kill 26 children and educators at a Connecticut school in 2012 argued today that attempts to limit the sale of such weapons to civilians are best left to lawmakers and not families of the victims who sued the company.A lawyer for Bushmaster Firearms LLC, which manufactures the AR-15 that 20-year-old Adam Lanza used in his attack on Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, told a Connecticut judge the 2005 federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act PLCAA prohibited the suit."It's not the role of this court or perhaps a jury to decide whether civilians as a broad class of people are not appropriate to own these kinds of firearms," James Vogts, an attorney for Bushmaster's parent company, Remington Arms, told a courtroom so packed that more than a dozen spectators were watching the hearing standing in a hallway outside the court.The families of nine people who died in the attack sued Bushmaster in 2014 in Connecticut Superior Court in Bridgeport.The lawsuit said the AR-15 should never have been sold to the gunman's mother, Nancy Lanza, because it had no civilian purpose."It was Remington's choice to entrust the most notorious American killing machine to the public," said the families' attorney Joshua Koskoff, who denied Vogts' claim that the lawsuit amounted to an attempt to ban assault weapons."It's not our job to ban things. That's a legislative decision," Koskoff said. "But just as it's not our job to ban things, it's not the legislature's job to decide when there is a tort claim."Judge Barbara Bellis heard arguments eight days after a gunman armed with another model of assault rifle killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.The judge did not say when she would rule on the gunmaker's request to toss the lawsuit.The wholesaler and retailer involved in the sale of the Sandy Hook gun also said the PLCAA protects them from lawsuits having to do with the gun's sale.Matthew Soto, whose sister Victoria was killed in the Sandy Hook attack, said the Orlando shooting had intensified his desire to fight for accountability by gun makers."When I heard the news from Orlando so many emotions went through me, from horror to sadness, grief and disgust," Soto told reporters outside the courthouse. "No other family should have to wait six hours to see if their loved one is alive or dead, but yet so many families have to go through that process in this country because our country cannot come together on the issues of assault rifles."The US Senate's strongest push in years to tighten gun controls was likely to fall short today. Lawmakers scrambled to forge a compromise that might keep firearms away from people on terrorism watch lists by later this week.Adam Lanza began his December 14, 2012, attack by shooting his mother dead in their home and ended it by turning his gun on himself as he heard police sirens approach.REUTERS RSD BL2258 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-796046.Xml
The Baltimore police officer being tried for murder in the death of black detainee Freddie Gray failed to ensure his safety and should have called for medical aid, a prosecutor contended during the trial's closing arguments today.But a defense lawyer for Officer Caesar Goodson Jr said Gray himself was responsible for the broken neck he suffered inside a transport van Goodson was driving in April 2015. He also accused the prosecution of withholding evidence.Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams, who is deciding the case in a bench trial, said he would hand down a verdict on Thursday.Goodson faces the most serious charges, making his the marquee case for Maryland prosecutors over Gray's death. They have failed to secure a conviction in two earlier trials of officers.Gray's death triggered rioting and protests and stoked a US debate on police treatment of minorities. Six officers have been charged in his death, and Goodson is accused of second-degree depraved heart murder, manslaughter and other charges.Prosecutor Janice Bledsoe said the Supreme Court had ruled that police officers had a duty to guarantee a detainee's safety and well-being."Officer Goodson, as the driver of the van that Freddie Gray was in, neither ensured his safety nor his well-being," Bledsoe said.She said Goodson's repeated failure to summon a medic and to seat-belt Gray violated police policy and training.Matthew Fraling, Goodson's attorney, struck back by saying that Goodson lacked the training to recognize Gray's injuries and that Gray caused his own injuries."We certainly do not want to speak badly of the deceased but Mr. Gray created a high degree of risk," he said.He also compared prosecutors' case to three-card monte, a con game in which a card is hidden from a bettor. Prosecutors did "a dance with discovery" of evidence, Fraling said.Williams has sanctioned prosecutors for failing to turn over to Fraling and his team notes from an interview with a man who was in Goodson's van with Gray.Williams peppered both sides with questions and at times seemed skeptical of the prosecution's legal theories.Gray, 25, was arrested for fleeing officers unprovoked. He was bundled into Goodson's van shackled and was not seat-belted, a violation of procedure.The manslaughter trial of Officer William Porter ended in a hung jury in December, and he faces retrial in September. Williams acquitted Officer Edward Nero of misdemeanor charges last month. REUTERS RSD BL2259 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0435-796051.Xml
At their meeting at the Pentagon, Carter reaffirmed the US "unwavering commitment to Israel's security," the statement said.

The two defence chiefs also discussed regional security challenges in the Middle East and areas of mutual defence cooperation, Xinhua reported.

During his visit to the US, Lieberman will also travel to Fort Worth, Texas, for a ceremony as the first F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft destined for Israel rolls off the production line.

Israel will be the first US partner to receive the F-35, which will "play a key role in maintaining Israel's qualitative military edge in the Middle East," the statement said.

--IANS vr/

( 145 Words)

2016-06-21-02:42:17 (IANS)
UNITED NATIONS, June 19 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday called for more international efforts to end sexual violence in conflicting areas as "no region is immune to this scourge, which continues to affect women, girls, boys and men."

"The world continues to witness appalling levels of sexual violence in wartime," the secretary-general said in his message to mark the first International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

"Sexual violence is now widely recognized as a deliberate strategy used to shred the fabric of society; to control and intimidate communities and to force people from their homes," he said. "It is rightly seen as a threat to international peace and security, a serious violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, and a major impediment to post-conflict reconciliation and economic development."

Furthermore, the secretary-general said that the era of impunity for sexual violence as a tool of war is over, citing a host of landmark rulings against political and military leaders.

"There have been landmark cases against political and military leaders, demonstrating that the era of impunity for sexual violence as a tool of war is over," Ban said. "I pay tribute today to the many thousands of caregivers, medical practitioners, advocates, and others on the frontline of this battle, who are fighting for change."

In February, a national court in Guatemala convicted two former military officers of committing sexual violence during the country's civil war -- the first time that a national court anywhere in the world considered charges of sexual slavery during armed conflict.

Women's organizations worked for years with indigenous women to develop their case, which was presented in the court by Guatemala's female Attorney General before a female presiding judge.

In March, the International Criminal Court (ICC) handed down its first conviction for sexual and gender-based crimes.

An all-female panel of three judges presided over the case against former Congolese Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba, who was brought to justice by a female prosecutor, thanks to unprecedented levels of participation of women victims and witnesses from the Central African Republic.

In May, the Extraordinary African Chambers in Senegal convicted the former president of Chad, Hissene Habre, for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including rape and sexual slavery.

This was the first universal jurisdiction case to make it to trial in Africa, and the first time a former Head of State was held personally accountable for committing rape as an international crime.

This conviction would not have been possible without the testimonies of women and the inspiring determination of lawyers, victims' advocates, human rights defenders, and local and international civil society organizations.

Despite some clear progress and unprecedented political momentum to address these crimes, Ban said, "However, we still face serious challenges."

"One extremely disturbing aspect is the use of sexual violence as a tactic of terrorism," he said, adding that Da'esh,or the Islamic State which took some areas in Iraq and Syria, Boko Haram, a terrorist group which staged deadly attacks in Nigeria and Niger, and other extremist groups are using sexual violence as a means of attracting and retaining fighters, and to generate revenue.

"Abducted women, men, girls and boys suffer the most terrible trauma through brutal physical and sexual assault, child and forced marriages and sexual slavery on a massive scale," he said.

The abduction of more than 200 girls from Chibok in Nigeria, and the continued tragedy of women and girls subjected to forced marriage or sexual slavery by extremist groups in the Middle East, are two of the most horrific examples of the use of sexual violence as a tactic of terrorism, the secretary-general noted.

"I call for the immediate release of all those taken captive, and for the care and support of those who return, who can suffer from social isolation and depression."

"Women and girls with children may need specialized medical and psycho-social support, and this must extend to the children themselves, who can suffer complete rejection," he said.

"The shame and social stigma faced by these women and children should be redirected towards the brutal perpetrators of violence," he said. "We must continue to speak up for the women, girls, men and boys whose bodies for too long have been considered the spoils of war."

All of these were long overdue and all had one thing in common: the unstoppable force of women's voice and leadership, said UN Women, an agency tasked with promoting gender equality.

"With widespread sexual violence still a devastating reality in too many conflicts in the world, it is heartening to see that steps are being taken towards securing accountability for these acts, and that women are persevering with strength and unity in not letting these crimes go unspoken or unpunished," said a statement released by UN Women.

On June 19, 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to proclaim June 19 of each year the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, in order to raise awareness of the need to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence, to honor the victims and survivors of sexual violence around the world and to pay tribute to all those who have courageously devoted their lives to and lost their lives in standing up for the eradication of these crimes.

The date was chosen to commemorate the adoption on June 19, 2008 of UN Security Council resolution 1820 (2008), in which the 15-nation council condemned sexual violence as a tactic of war and an impediment to peacebuilding. Enditem
ISTANBUL, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police on Sunday fired tear gas and rubber bullets to break up a transgender rally in Istanbul.

Around 1,000 people gathered in Istanbul's bustling Istiklal Avenue to stage their annual rally of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) toward the nearby Taksim Square.

The rally, however, went against a ban released by the governor of Istanbul on Friday, forbidding the "pride parades" of LGBTI group on June 19 and June 26.

The riot police cordoned off Taksim square and mobilized armed vehicles and water cannons to block all roads to it.

Some members of parliament from the opposition parties also attended the rally and suffered from the tear gas, said Emre Demir, a volunteer.

During the rally, police also detained 15 ultra-nationalists who intended to break up the march when they beat up two people from the LGBTI group.

Islamist and ultra-nationalist groups had threatened the LGBTI groups to stop the rally during the Ramadan, the holly month for Muslims.

Turkish LGBTI groups have been organizing pride marches on Istiklal Avenue annually since 2003 demanding equality, freedom and legal status.

Since anti-government protests erupted in 2013 against a development program on Gezi Park near Taksim Square, the Turkish authorities have forbidden LBTGI rallies. Enditem
This file photo taken on May 19, 2016 shows an Egyptair Airbus A330 from Cairo taxiing at the Roissy-Charles De Gaulle airport near Paris after its landing a few hours after the MS804 Egyptair flight crashed into the Mediterranean. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

CAIRO, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The Egyptian Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee is running electrical tests on the recovered black box recorders of crashed EgyptAir Flight MS804, the committee said in a statement Sunday.

Under the supervision of Egyptian investigators and a certified French expert in flight recorders, the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and the flight data recorder (FDR) were first put through an 8-hour drying process Saturday at a military technical research center, the statement said.

The data and information in both recorders, if they are sound, will be extracted after the ongoing electrical tests, according to the statement.

On Wednesday, the investigation committee said the hired vessel, Lethbridge John, located several wreckage sites of the crashed plane in the Mediterranean.

A day later, the committee announced the vessel found the crashed jet's CVR although it was damaged.

"The device has been salvaged in several stages as it was found damaged, but the vessel managed to salvage the part containing the memory unit, which is the most important part in the voice recorder," the committee said in an earlier statement.

The probe into the cause of the tragic plane crash continues with all possibilities, including a terrorist bombing and a severe technical failure.

EgyptAir Flight MS804, an Airbus A320, went off radar en route from Paris to Cairo on May 19, with 66 people aboard, including 30 Egyptians and 15 French people.
LOS ANGELES, June. 19 (Xinhua) -- The world's first drone capable of autonomously carrying a person may test-fly in Nevada later this year, the United States, Chinese Aerial technology company EHang Holdings Limited told Xinhua on Sunday.

The Chinese company based in China's southern province of Guangdong and the state of Nevada are trying to make this happen by moving forward with testing the EHang 184 Autonomous Aerial Vehicle, the first drone to offer autonomous human flight over short-to-medium distances.

The state's Institute for Autonomous Systems(NIAS) has already given the China's company permission to test fly the drone. Ehang is now working closely with NIAS over the coming months to work through the UAS flight requirements.

"We will help guide EHang through the FAA regulatory process with the ultimate goal of achieving safe flight," Tom Wilczek, an Aerospace and Defense Industry Specialist of the Governor' s Office of Economic Development (GOED) told Xinhua early this month. He said that the program would take place at Nevada's FAA-approved test site, one of six such drone-testing locations across the the United States.

This partnership "is a big step for EHang 184 to move forward to government regulatory approval of the unprecedented innovation in US and globally, which will lay the foundation for its commercialization and building up the aerial transportation ecosystem in the future" , Huazhi Hu, Founder and CEO of EHang said in a statement.

The electrically powered Ehang 184, released at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this January, can carry a single passenger weighing up to 100 kg for a 23-minute flight at sea level at a speed of 100 km per hour, the company said.

Passengers using the "Ehang-184" enter a destination into the drone's linked smartphone app. There's no need for a runway because the drone takes off and lands vertically.

"We were very excited when we first saw EHang-184 at CES," Wilczek told Xinhua, "and we think there is enormous potential for EHang 184."

Many questions remain over how the human-carrying aircraft would function in the real world, but at least some of these may soon be answered with the company winning governmental approval to test the vehicle in Nevada airspace.

The eagerness of the so called "the birthplace of the UAV industry" makes sense given its tourism-driven economy. The empty desert holds the hope of hyperloops, drone delivery, autonomous trucking, and drone airports.

And EHang won't just be flying in the empty desert. Last month, EHang announced a collaboration with U.S. company Lung Biotechnology to develop and purchase up to 1,000 units of an modified version of EHang 184 to optimize it for organ delivery. The companies have agreed to work together over the next 15 years under a program named the Manufactured Organ Transport Helicopter (MOTH) system. Enditem
NICOSIA, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Cypriot authorities ordered the evacuation of four mountain villages which are in the way of a forest fire blazing out of control, Interior Minister Socrates Hasikos said on Sunday.

He said that the residents of the four villages, about 50 km southwest of Nicosia, were told to be out of their homes nightfall, as fire-fighting aircraft would stop operating after that.

A police spokeswoman said the fire was started by a 12-year-old boy who tried to burn dry grass outside the country house of his grand-father.

Heatwave temperatures and winds fanned the flames out of control driving them towards Cyprus' central Troodos mountain range forest, covered mostly by easy burning pine trees.

Cyprus requested Greece to send fire-fighting planes. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent three fire-fighting helicopters on his own initiative.

He said the help was a gesture of reciprocation, as Cyprus had sent a strong fire-fighting force to help put out a fire burning out of control on Mount Carmel, a few years back.

The helicopters had been actually sent to help in fighting another fire in the western part of Cyprus, which was put out by local forces by day-break on Sunday.

But they came handy when the fire west of Nicosia broke out at midday.

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said the situation in the region of the fire was dramatic.

He thanked Greece and Israel for what he described as their invaluable help towards fighting the blaze.

Cypriot firefighting services have been stretched thin since Saturday afternoon, having been called to put out at least four major forest fires.

Cyprus is in the grip of a heatwave caused by a warm air mass from Africa.

Temperatures reached 39 degrees Celsius on Sunday and are expected to soar to 41 degrees Celsius on Monday, staying there for at least three more days. Enditem
Women hold signs during a protest against ongoing violence against women, in Gugulethu, on May 21, 2016, about 20 Km from the centre of Cape Town. (AFP/file photo)

UNITED NATIONS, June 19 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday called for more international efforts to end sexual violence in conflicting areas as "no region is immune to this scourge, which continues to affect women, girls, boys and men."

"The world continues to witness appalling levels of sexual violence in wartime," the secretary-general said in his message to mark the first International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

"Sexual violence is now widely recognized as a deliberate strategy used to shred the fabric of society; to control and intimidate communities and to force people from their homes," he said. "It is rightly seen as a threat to international peace and security, a serious violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, and a major impediment to post-conflict reconciliation and economic development."

Furthermore, the secretary-general said that the era of impunity for sexual violence as a tool of war is over, citing a host of landmark rulings against political and military leaders.

"There have been landmark cases against political and military leaders, demonstrating that the era of impunity for sexual violence as a tool of war is over," Ban said. "I pay tribute today to the many thousands of caregivers, medical practitioners, advocates, and others on the frontline of this battle, who are fighting for change."

In February, a national court in Guatemala convicted two former military officers of committing sexual violence during the country's civil war -- the first time that a national court anywhere in the world considered charges of sexual slavery during armed conflict.

Women's organizations worked for years with indigenous women to develop their case, which was presented in the court by Guatemala's female Attorney General before a female presiding judge.

In March, the International Criminal Court (ICC) handed down its first conviction for sexual and gender-based crimes.

An all-female panel of three judges presided over the case against former Congolese Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba, who was brought to justice by a female prosecutor, thanks to unprecedented levels of participation of women victims and witnesses from the Central African Republic.

In May, the Extraordinary African Chambers in Senegal convicted the former president of Chad, Hissene Habre, for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including rape and sexual slavery.

This was the first universal jurisdiction case to make it to trial in Africa, and the first time a former Head of State was held personally accountable for committing rape as an international crime.

This conviction would not have been possible without the testimonies of women and the inspiring determination of lawyers, victims' advocates, human rights defenders, and local and international civil society organizations.

Despite some clear progress and unprecedented political momentum to address these crimes, Ban said, "However, we still face serious challenges."

"One extremely disturbing aspect is the use of sexual violence as a tactic of terrorism," he said, adding that Da'esh,or the Islamic State which took some areas in Iraq and Syria, Boko Haram, a terrorist group which staged deadly attacks in Nigeria and Niger, and other extremist groups are using sexual violence as a means of attracting and retaining fighters, and to generate revenue.

"Abducted women, men, girls and boys suffer the most terrible trauma through brutal physical and sexual assault, child and forced marriages and sexual slavery on a massive scale," he said.

The abduction of more than 200 girls from Chibok in Nigeria, and the continued tragedy of women and girls subjected to forced marriage or sexual slavery by extremist groups in the Middle East, are two of the most horrific examples of the use of sexual violence as a tactic of terrorism, the secretary-general noted.

"I call for the immediate release of all those taken captive, and for the care and support of those who return, who can suffer from social isolation and depression."

"Women and girls with children may need specialized medical and psycho-social support, and this must extend to the children themselves, who can suffer complete rejection," he said.

"The shame and social stigma faced by these women and children should be redirected towards the brutal perpetrators of violence," he said. "We must continue to speak up for the women, girls, men and boys whose bodies for too long have been considered the spoils of war."

All of these were long overdue and all had one thing in common: the unstoppable force of women's voice and leadership, said UN Women, an agency tasked with promoting gender equality.

"With widespread sexual violence still a devastating reality in too many conflicts in the world, it is heartening to see that steps are being taken towards securing accountability for these acts, and that women are persevering with strength and unity in not letting these crimes go unspoken or unpunished," said a statement released by UN Women.

On June 19, 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to proclaim June 19 of each year the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, in order to raise awareness of the need to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence, to honor the victims and survivors of sexual violence around the world and to pay tribute to all those who have courageously devoted their lives to and lost their lives in standing up for the eradication of these crimes.

The date was chosen to commemorate the adoption on June 19, 2008 of UN Security Council resolution 1820 (2008), in which the 15-nation council condemned sexual violence as a tactic of war and an impediment to peacebuilding.
Photo taken with mobile phone on June 13, 2016 shows an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle at a shop in Orlando, the United States. (Xinhua/file photo)

WASHINGTON, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Senate is slated to begin voting on gun control bills on the coming Monday in the wake of the Orlando nightclub massacre. However, the prospect of any bills getting passed looks bleak.

The four competing bills, two Democratic and two Republican proposals, focus on whether to expand background check and to block selling of firearms to anyone on federal government's terrorism watch list.

Democrats insist that the sales of firearms should be blocked if there is a "reasonable suspicion" that someone is and will possibly be on the government's terrorism watch list.

In an even longer shot, Democrats are also seeking a background check for the sales and transfer of guns with a handful of exception, a long-holding stance almost unanimously opposed by Republicans in both chambers.

Currently, purchasing firearms at gun shows and on the Internet does not require any background check in the majority of U.S. states.

On the Republican side, GOP lawmakers are pushing forward a measure that would allow the government to delay a gun sale to a suspected terrorist for 72 hours while attorney generals have to seek a court order within the period to permanently block the sale.

Also, instead of imposing an almost universal background check, Republicans' proposal for expanding background check includes providing incentives to share mental health records.

The Senate's latest legislative effort to curb rampant gun violence comes at a time when the whole country is still reeling from the deadliest shooting massacre in U.S. history.

Forty-nine people were killed and 53 others wounded, on June 12 in a shooting spree at a popular LGBT nightclub in Orlando, Florida. It was also the deadliest terror attack in the history 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 legally purchased a handgun and an assault-style rifle weeks before the attack. He was temporarily on Federal Bureau of Investigation's terrorism watch list in 2013.

In recent years, after high-profile mass shootings occurred, such as the carnage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012 which claimed 28 lives, including 20 children, Democrats tried but failed each time to reform the country's flawed gun laws.

In 2013, the Obama administration's gun control initiatives, including expanded background checks and bans on assault weapons, were stymied in Congress after staunch opposition from Republican lawmakers and gun-rights lobby groups.

After the shooting spree in San Bernardino, California, last year, in which 14 were killed and 22 more injured, Democrats downgraded efforts to trying to pass a measure to keep people on terrorism watch list from purchasing gun. That legislative effort again failed.

This time, all the four bills to be considered on Monday are required to first gain at least 60 votes to overcome procedural hurdles before heading to debates and final votes. However, it remains remotely likely that any bill could pass procedural Senate vote.

During his presidency, Obama has been confronted with more than a dozen of high-profile mass shootings, and in an interview last year he called the failure to reform U.S. gun laws "one of the greatest frustrations" of his presidency.

"If you ask me where has been the one area where I feel that I've been most frustrated and most stymied, it is the fact that the United States of America is the one advanced nation on Earth in which we do not have sufficient common-sense gun safety laws, even in the face of repeated mass killings," Obama told BBC in July, 2015.
ALGIERS, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Eight armed militants were killed on Sunday by Algerian counter-terrorism troops in Medea, 115 km southwest of Algiers, Algerian Defense Ministry said.

The source specified that the terrorists were killed during an ambush that is part of the ongoing wide scale operation launched earlier this month.

The number of terrorists killed since the beginning of this anti-terrorism operation has risen to 12, said the source.

The region of Medea is known by its dense forests providing refuge to terrorist groups. However, the continuous anti-terrorism operations being conducted by the Algerian army troops have managed to kill many militants.

Algerian army forces have been very active in the last five months, as they have killed as many as 73 armed militants in different operations nationwide, Defense Ministry said. Enditem
HOUSTON, June 16, 2016 (Xinhua) -- People attend a vigil in memory of the victims of the Orlando mass shooting in Houston, the United States, on June 15, 2016. At least 49 people were killed and 53 others wounded in the shooting at the popular gay nightclub Pulse early Sunday in Orlando, Florida, the United States. (Xinhua/Jia Zhong)

By Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, June 19 (Xinhua) -- The recent shooting massacre in Florida has revealed the U.S. vulnerability in tracking terror suspects to prevent similar lone wolf terror attacks.

In the worst shooting incident in the U.S. history, 29-year-old Omar Mateen attacked a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida last Sunday, killing 49 people and wounding 53 others.

The attacker had pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS), the deadly terror group that has carried out a brutal attack late last year in Paris that killed 130 people.

While it remains unknown whether Mateen had any direct contact with IS, it appears that he was highly influenced by IS and other radical Islamist propaganda disbursed online.

What disturbed U.S. authorities is the fact that Mateen had been on a watch list for alleged links to terrorism. He was interviewed twice by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for making inflammatory comments to coworkers alleging possible terror ties.

Mateen was later removed from the watch list as the FBI could not verify the substance of his comments. And he purchased the guns legally which he used in the shooting attack.

The shoot massacre raised the question of how to combat the influence of radical Islamist propaganda in the U.S., which has led hundreds of people in the West to join the ranks of IS.

It also casts doubts on U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies on their ability to track terror suspects to prevent them from launching lone wolf attacks.

Wayne White, former deputy director of the State Department's Middle East Intelligence Office, told Xinhua that reducing the influence of dangerously radical militant Islam in the U.S. involves multiple actions.

Harsh political rhetoric and inflammatory proposals such as shutting down Muslim immigration must tamp down, in order to reduce the U.S. Muslim community' s alienation, White said.

Indeed, presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump in a speech the day after the attack called for a ban on immigration from countries linked to radical Islam - a proposal experts say will only isolate the U.S. Muslim community and do little to thwart future attacks.

"We know from the experience of Muslims in even less tolerant countries like France and Belgium that such mistreatment causes homegrown Muslim extremism to spike," White said, referring to two countries that have witnessed horrific terror attacks.

American Muslims themselves must do even more to espouse moderation, heighten their awareness of potential extremism in their midst, and increase their willingness to report disturbing individual views and behavior, White said.

Laws perhaps should be toughened regarding those who assist violent extremists, he said, reflecting growing concerns that Mateen' s wife had assisted him in plotting the attack in some ways.

While Central Intelligence Agency chief John Brennan on Thursday said IS is plotting to send operatives to the West to carry out more terror strikes, it remains unknown exactly how many such radicals are in the West or the U.S.

Colin P. Clarke, an associate political scientist at the RAND Corporation, said the U.S. needs to dedicate more resources to countering violent extremism and countering the narrative of groups like IS.

Clarke added that the U.S. advertising industry could play a role.

"America spends a lot of money and resources on the kinetic aspects of warfare, but not nearly enough on information operations," he told Xinhua.
MEXICO CITY, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from over 30 economies will attend the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) Digital Economy 2016 Ministerial Meeting to be held in the Mexican seaside resort of Cancun between June 21 and 23, informed official sources on Sunday.

In this OECD meeting, jointly organized by Mexico's government, the theme of the conference will be "Innovation, Growth and Social Prosperity." Economy, Telecommunications, Science and Technology ministers from the invited countries will participate as well as representatives from international industry and civil organizations, said Mexico's Economy Ministry in a press release.

The current OECD's Secretary-General, Mexican Jose Angel Gurria, and Mexico's Economy Minister, Ildefonso Guajardo will host the ministerial summit.

According to the governmental ministry, the digital economy has progressed and been able to instill countless aspects involving the world economy such as banking, retail trade, energy, transport, education, publications, media and health.

In this forum, the Declaration of Cancun is expected to be signed which "will mark all participants' positions on digital economy and especially regarding the four main thematic axes: openness and innovation, global connectivity, trust and jobs and skills," according to the press release.

The Mexican ministry said Mexico's main goal is to ensure that all ideas put forward and developed throughout the eight discussion panels to be held as well as during the three parallel events (Hackathon, Stakeholders Forum and Business Expo), are transferred into agreements.

Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, South Korea and the United States are among the countries that will attend the meeting.

For the OECD, the member economies' governments are ever more aware of the need to give further momentum to the digital economy in a strategic way in order to increase benefits and react to the main challenges such as reducing unemployment, inequality and helping people out of poverty.

According to the OECD, Mexico's current digital strategies cover topics that range from creating companies and productivity growth to public administration, employment and education, health and aging, environment and development.
KOH TAO, Thailand, June 20 (Xinhua) -- An annual festival is held in the popular diving destination Koh Tao Island in southern Thailand this weekend during which many tourists joined in activities with Thais, while the protection of the underwater world was highly emphasized.

Tourists around the world joined the 13th Koh Tao Festival, enjoying the local food, beverages, and night parties on the tourism-dependent island and also taking part in an event on a beach Saturday Morning to break the Guinness World record for the longest chain of people clasping wrists.

The island is well known for scuba diving and snorkeling since it is the host to various specifies of corals of reef fishes, but these activities also cause damage to coral reefs and thus the underwater eco-system.

According to Yutthasak Supasorn, governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand(TAT), about 600,000 tourists come to Koh Tao annually for scuba diving or snorkeling.

"We have to admit that coral reefs here declined in number and degraded just like other tourist sites around Thailand in the past 10 years." Said Sak-anan Plathong, a scholar from Prince of Songkla University who visited the island in 1999 for research.

But since the last mass coral bleaching across Thailand in 2011, the recovery here in Koh Tao has been swift and dramatic, compared with coral reefs around Phi Phi Island and Mu Koh Surin Islands, said Sak-anan, while praising local people in Koh Tao for their commitment in the protection of coral reefs instead of waiting the government to help.

The local community established the Save Koh Tao Club in 2000 to conserve the environment there.

Sak-anan mentioned that some coral reefs around islands in Phuket province are facing tough situation now.

Sak-anan asked tourists to avoid treading on coral reefs, breaking them or even feeding fish, as these acts may damage the underworld world and are against laws and regulations of Thailand.

According to Sak-anan, some tourist guides let their customers standing on coral reefs and he also asked the government to do more job on those guides.

Yutthasak said his authority will cooperate with the local community and tourists to achieve a balance between tourism development and environmental protection and the experience they got here may be helpful for other places in the kingdom.

"The clasping wrists event we held symbolize a starting point of our hand in hand cooperation to achieve the balance," Yutthasak said.

According to Thai media Nation, over 3, 500 people joined in the clasping wrists event, thus breaking the record achieved by Japan with a chain of 2, 211 participants in March, 2016.
KATHMANDU, June 20 (Xinhua) --The Nepalese National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the opposition party in the country have slammed the government for slow action in the post-quake reconstruction.

NHRC pointed out that the earthquake survivors' fundamental human rights are in jeopardy.

In its statement issued Sunday following a study on the situation of the earthquake survivors living in Gorkha, Dhading, Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts of the Central Nepal, the country's constitutional human rights body made such an assessment.

The four districts are among the 14-worst-hit by the earthquake on April 25 and its aftershocks last year in Nepal

The NHRC also expressed deep concerns over the mismanagement of services being provided to the earthquake survivors even more than one year after the devastating earthquake that claimed nearly 10,000 lives in the nation.

Based on its field study, the NHRC assessed that the situation of the survivors have become worse as they have not even been provided with the titular amount of 150 U.S. dollars (Nepalese Rupee 15,000) that the government had pledged for rebuilding houses of the earthquake-hit people.

The NHRC further concluded that the National Reconstruction Authority, the District Disaster Relief Committee, the District Development Committee and other authorities did not exhibit cooperation in their works.

The human rights body also urged the government to collect the data correctly and to manage appropriate living arrangements for the elderly, children and women and also ensure their basic human rights.

Meanwhile, the main opposition party in the Nepal, the Nepali Congress, has slammed the government for not releasing funds to rebuild houses of the earthquake-stricken people even a year after the earthquake.

During a Parliamentary session on Sunday, Parliamentarians from the Nepali Congress lashed out over the government's irresponsibility toward the bad condition of the earthquake survivors who are awaiting the government's funds to rebuild their homes.

"We have been repeatedly raising questions in the Parliament sessions against government's irresponsibility towards the sorry state of affairs of the earthquake survivors who need early release of funds to rebuild their homes. However, the government still seems tight-lipped on the situation of the earthquake survivors," Kamala Pant, a Parliamentarian from the Opposition Party Nepali Congress, said during the House session.

Earlier last month, the Nepalese government in its annual program and policy stated that it will provide money to the earthquake survivors for their housing reconstruction.

In addition to the Rs 200,000 (about 2,000 U.S. dollars) announced to the each family whose house was destroyed in the quake as housing reconstruction fund, the government in its program and policy had decided to provide soft loan of Rs 300,000 (about 3,000 U.S. dollars) to each of the displaced families without collateral.

Addressing to the nation on May 8, Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari unveiled the government's annual policy and program for the fiscal year 2073-2074 (2016-2017), focusing on speedy post-quake reconstruction and economic development.

Similarly, on May 28, the government in its budget for the fiscal 2016-2017 also gave focus on post-earthquake reconstruction of Nepal.
by Ma Zheng, Shen Honghui

NAHA, Japan, June 20 (Xinhua) -- "The Japanese and American governments regard Okinawa as their 'military colony' and the Okinawan people should continue their fight to change the status quo," said Kantoku Teruya, a member of the lower house of the Japanese parliament from Okinawa during an exclusive interview with Xinhua recently.

A 20-year-old woman was raped and strangled by a former U.S. marine in April. The Okinawan police issued a further arrest warrant on June 9 on the already detained base worker who stands accused of raping the deceased in a grassy area beside the road in Uruma in central Okinawa before stabbing her to death and dumping her body in a forested area.

Regarding this, the Social Democratic Party lawmaker felt strong indignation against the base worker as the girl was so young. "It's unbearable that criminal cases involving U.S. military men repeatedly happened in Okinawa. The Japanese and American governments promised many times that they would introduce effective measures to eradicate crimes, but this issue remains unresolved," Teruya said, adding that he believes the root the problem is the disproportionate number of bases being hosted on the tiny island.

Okinawa hosts some 75 percent of U.S. bases in Japan, yet the tiny sub-tropical island accounts for less than 1 percent of the county's total land mass. Local citizens have become increasingly irate at their base-hosting burdens and the central government's ongoing pandering to the U.S.'s requests, amid rising instances of crime, noise and pollution connected to the bases.

According to the latest statistics, since the reversion of Okinawa from the United States in 1972 to the end of May this year, the prefecture saw 5,910 crimes in total with 575 of them being viciously committed by members and civilian workers of the U.S. forces and their relatives.

Teruya pointed out as the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) gives U.S. troops immunity from Japanese prosecution, the American soldiers have nothing to fear, believing that they'll get away from any crime they commit once they are inside the bases.

"I doubt whether Japan could be called a democratic nation with such an unequal and unfair treaty."

Under the current agreement, U.S. forcespersonnel can be granted a great deal of legal autonomy and while the Japanese court system has jurisdiction for most crimes committed by U.S. service members, if the accused was "acting in official duty," or if the victim was another American, the U.S. justice system is used, not Japan's, despite the location.

Following the murder of the young lady, the Japanese government confronted the American government with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe raising a formal protest over the tragic death to U.S. President Barack Obama during the G7 Ise-Shima Summit last month. Teruya regarded it as a bad show in which the Japanese government had awful acting skills. "The protest didn't ask for the revision of the SOFA and was a mere formality without any concrete move. Such kind of acting is beneath contempt and couldn't fool the Okinawan people."

Teruya said that for generations, successive Japanese governments have been subordinate to the United States and treated Okinawa with discrimination. "The two governments view Okinawa as their 'military colony,' putting military on the rights of Okinawan people and ignoring the base burdens of the island."

In Teruya's eyes, the only way out is to let the voices of the Okinawan people heard in the international community no matter how long it takes.

The Abe administration tries to move the Futenma military base located in the crowded residential area of Ginowan to a less populated area in Henoko despite the objections of the Okinawan people. Teruya said the reason the relocation plan hasn't been successful is the continued protest of the local people here.

"The Okinawan people want all U.S. bases kicked off the island and will keep fighting to achieve the final win," Teruya said.
CANBERRA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The 2016 Australian federal election is heading for a hung parliament, which would leave neither the current coalition government or the Labor opposition with a majority in the house, the latest Newspoll gauging voter preferences showed on Monday.

Both parties are currently locked at 50 percent apiece in the two-party-preferred vote, just two weeks out from the July 2 federal election.

The Newspoll showed support for both the government and the Labor opposition jumped by one point (to 41 percent and 36 percent respectively) in the primary vote over the past fortnight, but according to experts, the margin is still considered too little to avoid a hung parliament.

A hung parliament occurs when no single party holds a majority to form a parliament, requiring voter preferences to be funnelled to one of the major parties so that a majority can be formed.

The government's primary vote of 41 percent has remained the same for five of the past six Newspolls, while the Labor figure of 36 percent has been steady for four of the last six. Support for independent parties dropped from a record high of 15 percent two weeks ago to 13 percent on Monday.

With current preferences taken into account, the Newspoll showed the coalition and Labor were deadlocked at 50 percent -- a 3.5 percent swing to Labor since the last election.

Alarmingly for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, his voter satisfaction dropped to an equal record low of 36 points, down from a high of 60 percent after he took over the position in September 2015.

Despite the dissatisfaction with the prime minister, Turnbull is still the voters' preferred prime minister over Labor leader Bill Shorten. Turnbull has 46 percent of that vote to Shorten's 31, though trends since November has shown Shorten closing the gap.

Australian voters head to the polls on July 2.
WARSAW, June 19, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan disembark from the plane upon their arrival in Warsaw, Poland, June 19, 2016. Xi Jinping arrived in Poland Sunday for a state visit. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

WARSAW, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday kicked off his state visit to Poland and held discussions with his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, as the two countries jointly seek cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

SILK ROAD CONNECTS AMBER ROAD

Xi met with Duda soon after his arrival in Warsaw, at an informal meeting at Palace Belwederski, Poland's presidential residence.

Xi told Duda that Poland, which is situated at the heartland of Europe and is where the Amber Road and the Silk Road meet, has a unique geological advantage.

China, Xi said, welcomes Poland's active participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes of Silk Road.

Xi suggested the two sides strengthen cooperation under the framework of the grand development blueprint, tap into cooperation potentials in areas including interconnectivity and infrastructure development, and endeavor to seek more results.

The Chinese leader also said that China welcomes Poland to actively take part in the development of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, of which Poland is a founding member.

Poland has been an important hub for trade for millennia, from ancient Amber Road to nowadays' Belt and Road Initiative. Many China-Europe freight trains pass through the country.

In response to Xi's proposal, Duda said Poland is willing to actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, and deepen cooperation with China in such fields as infrastructure, railroad, and logistics and transportation.

During Xi's stay in Poland, the two countries are expected to sign agreements in areas such as finance, civil aviation, science and technology, and education, and to further align the Belt and Road Initiative with Poland's development plans.

GATEWAY INTO EUROPE

Poland is the second leg of Xi's Eurasia tour, which took him to Serbia from Friday to Sunday. The visit came on the heels of his visit in March to the Czech Republic, which is also situated in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region.

As an important member of the European Union, Poland leads the CEE region in many ways, said Xi, adding that China is "willing to promote China-CEE and China-EU cooperation by working with Poland."

With bilateral trade volume reaching 17.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2015, Poland has been China's largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe, while China has been Poland's largest trading partner in Asia.

During his state visit to China last year, Duda pledged efforts in helping boost Europe-China ties and expressed his country's willingness in dovetailing its development strategies with those of China.

Xi said his Poland visit aims at promoting mutual understanding and trust, facilitating exchange and cooperation in various areas, and deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries.

For his part, Duda said Poland has maintained sound relations with other CEE countries, and is willing to make concerted efforts with China for greater development of the CEE-China cooperation.

On Monday, Xi is scheduled to hold formal talks with Duda on bilateral ties. He will also meet with Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo and attend a luncheon hosted by Polish parliamentary leaders.

After visiting Poland, Xi will travel to Uzbekistan for a state visit and attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
WASHINGTON, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Police in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania have discovered 12 girls in residence of a man, who was later accused of sexually assaulting one teenager among the girls, according to local media.

Police searched the home of 51-year-old Lee Kaplan on Saturday after a neighbor called the authorities in growing concern about the weirdness of the house.

Kaplan was found living along with 12 girls from six months to 18 years. The 18-year-old told police that she and Kaplan had a 3-year-old and a six-month-old.

The teenager being sexually assaulted was given to Kaplan by her parents when she was 14 after the man helped solve a financial crisis of the family, said the police.

They said officials are working to verify where the other children were from.

Kaplan faces charges including sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, and aggravated indecent assault.
KABUL, June 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 people were killed and several others wounded after a suicide bomber struck a bus carrying security personnel in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Monday, sources and witnesses said.

"The stricken bus was running along a busy road in Pul-e-Charkhi area at around 06:30 a.m. local time. A terrorist rammed his car bomb into the vehicle, causing a heavy explosion," witness Farhad Mohammadi told Xinhua.

"Most of the killed were foreign security guards aboard the bus. The initial information shows the victims were Nepalese," a security source told Xinhua.

The attacker was killed on the spot.

At least 25 people were wounded by the attack, he said. Several civilian passersby were among the injured as the blast damaged several civilian vehicles, shops and houses near the site, he said.

Further details about the incident are still forthcoming amid the absence of official statement.

Security forces have cordoned off the area for precautionary measures.

The Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
WARSAW, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Poland-China cooperation is expected to deepen within the "16+1" mechanism between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries in addition to the Belt and Road Initiative.

Cooperation between the two countries is expected to get a great boost by the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who arrived here on Sunday.

Polish analysts see broad prospects for bilateral cooperation as long as Poland can catch the opportunity China offers to push forward its development and economic growth.

CHINA OFFERS OPPORTUNITY TO POLAND

Mutual understanding between Poland and China has progressed along with the development of bilateral ties, set onto a fast track by the 2011 establishment of a strategic partnership.

This has motivated the Polish leadership to "seek development of relations with Asian countries, particularly with China in its rapid development," Krzysztof Gawlikowski, an expert on East Asian civilization at the Warsaw University of Social Sciences and Humanities, told Xinhua.

In recent years, Poland and China have been each other's largest trading partner in the CEE region and Asia respectively. High-level exchanges increased, including the November 2015 trip to China by Polish President Andrzej Duda. Cooperation at the sub-national level went along, highlighted by a railway in use since 2013 connecting Chengdu, a city in the southwest of China, with Lodz, a central city of Poland, among other programs.

Gawlikowski said Poland finds itself increasingly attracted by China. Reasons include its economic well-being and an intention to cooperate with CEE countries.

More links are being built to boost bilateral ties under the "16+1" mechanism as well as the Belt and Road Initiative, he commented.

Former Polish Ambassador to China Krzysztof Szumski agreed. Poland faces now a window of opportunity opened by the aforementioned initiative and mechanism, in which Poland enjoys a key role, he said.

Warsaw highly values the opportunity China offers, and bilateral cooperation has great potential, said Chinese diplomat in Poland Liu Lijuan. She cited Warsaw's newly planned development projects capable of dovetailing with China's under the "16+1" mechanism and the Belt and Road Initiative.

The projects, including airport, highspeed rail and wharfs, require tremendous investment, as Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski briefed on the projects during his visit to Beijing in April.

BROAD PROSPECTS FOR POLAND-CHINA COOPERATION

For China, Poland can become a bridge in propelling its ties and cooperation with other European countries, according to Liu.

Many Polish people are upbeat about the future of cooperation with China that has much potential to tap.

For the moment, Poland hopes for increasing farm produce exports to China in order to alleviate a trade deficit. "I believe these products, of high quality, will be welcomed by Chinese consumers," said Gawlikowski from the Warsaw University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Poland keeps much of traditional farming, with less use of chemicals, to the relief of people's environmental and health concerns, he noted.

Bilateral cooperation in culture, tourism and other fields are also deemed promising. For instance, more than 1,800 Polish students went to China for study in 2015, and this year, Chinese students in Poland total more than 1,300, according to figures from the Chinese Embassy in Poland.
by Victoria Arguello

CARACAS, June 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's surprise announcement this week that Washington is willing to hold talks with Venezuela is not a real breakthrough, thought it appears positive, Venezuelan experts have said.

The move is motivated by Washington's goal of regaining its influence in Latin America, not by a sincere desire to mend fences with Latin America's largest socialist country, political analysts in Venezuela said.

"The leading factor is still the loss of its hegemonic influence in the region," Abraham Carrillo, a political analyst, told Xinhua.

Carrillo noted that Washington has expressed support for a campaign by Venezuela's right wing to oust President Nicolas Maduro via a recall referendum.

The U.S. State Department released in early June its 2015 Country Reports on Terrorism, including Venezuela for maintaining "a permissive environment" toward "terrorist groups."

Meanwhile, the Washington-dominated Organization of American States (OAS) is scheduled to vote Thursday on whether or not to apply the so-called Democratic Charter against Venezuela, for allegedly breaking with democratic principles.

While Washington backs the idea of invoking the charter against Venezuela, the United States would not pursue suspending Venezuela's membership in the OAS if the vote finds the South American country guilty of violating democratic norms, Kerry said.

Washington is aware that pressing for Venezuela's suspension could be "counterproductive," if it alienates other governments in the region that are sympathetic to Venezuela or if it simply pushes Venezuela outside of Washington's sphere of influence, said political observer Ali Rojas Olaya, a former rector of the Santa Rosa Catholic University.

"These countries' exit (from the OAS) could mean the strengthening of alternative organizations of integration, such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the Union of South American Nations (Unasur)," Carrillo pointed out.

When announcing Washington was willing to talk with Caracas, Kerry said the White House also backed an Unasur initiative in attempt to promote dialogue between the Venezuelan government and the right-wing coalition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD).

"Unasur has played an active and respectful role in the resolution of internal conflicts in its member countries," said Carrillo, adding "the U.S. government has set its sights on the organization, and will seek to influence policies of the bloc, now that it has new allies in the governments of Argentina and Brazil." Both South American countries have seen new pro-business governments with closer ties to Washington come to power.

Still, "no matter what the United States' interests may be, dialogue is important," said Olaya.

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shanno is expected to arrive soon in Caracas for talks with the Venezuelan government.
MEXICO CITY, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Six people were killed and more than 100 others wounded on Sunday in a violent clash between police and teachers in the southern Mexican city of Oaxaca, authorities said.

The six deaths were civilians, while the injured included 55 federal and state officers, Oaxaca state public security official Jorge Alberto Ruiz Martinez was quoted as saying by media reports.

Mexico's National Security Commission said Sunday that the police "were not armed and didn't even have batons," in their efforts to end the protesters' week-long blockade of a road in Oaxaca.

It added that the gunshots came from unknown gunmen and demanded a local investigation.

A total of 21 people were arrested by 14:30 p.m. local time (2130 GMT), local daily Milenio quoted Hector Gonzalez Hernandez, health minister of the Oaxaca state, as saying.

The protest in the state capital was among a renewed wave of protests the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) staged from May 15 against President Enrique Pena Nieto's education reform enacted in 2013.

The reform requires Mexican teachers to undergo performance evaluations in an effort to improve the country's poorly rated education system. It aims to remove the powers unions have over jobs and end the practice that teaching positions were inherited or sold.

The recent round of protests, held in Mexico City and states of Chiapas, Guerrero, Michoacan and Oaxaca, became more furious after the arrest on June 12 of Ruben Nunez, a CNTE leader in Oaxaca, for alleged money laundering.

During a news conference in Mexico City on Sunday, CNTE leaders denounced the government repression of Oaxaca protesters, asked for the release of Nunez and his deputy Francisco Villalobos, while reiterating a call for talks with the government to resolve the confrontation.

The CNTE has proposed to revise a few provisions in the reform program, which they believe violate their labor rights.

It also announced at the news conference continued protests on Wednesday, to be followed by another one in Mexico City.
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)

BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- An arbitral tribunal's jurisdiction over South China Sea disputes between China and the Philippines is abuse of international law and exerts baneful influence worldwide, experts have said.

"For the most part, the tribunal hasn't answered satisfactorily with respect to why there is a dispute under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and also how these claims do not relate to sovereignty, and in my view they do (relate to sovereignty)," Antonios Tzanakopoulos, an associate professor of public international law at the University of Oxford, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

In 2013, the Philippines unilaterally filed an arbitration case against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, the Netherlands, with respect to the two countries' dispute in the South China Sea.

The Philippines' action went against an agreement it reached with China in the mid-1990s on settling their disputes in the South China Sea through negotiation. The agreement has been reaffirmed in many other bilateral documents since then, including the joint statement the two countries issued in September 2011.

China maintains that the tribunal handling of the arbitration proceedings has no jurisdiction over the case, which is in essence about territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation.

Territorial issues are beyond the scope of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and China has excluded maritime delimitation from compulsory arbitration in a declaration it made in 2006 in accordance with Article 298 of UNCLOS. Therefore, China has made it clear it will not accept or get involved in those proceedings.

Tzanakopoulos noted the tribunal "hasn't to a large extent answered how the claims put forward by the Philippines do not fall within the Chinese exceptions to the jurisdiction, because the convention allows every state to exclude some disputes from the jurisdiction of the relevant tribunals."

"The dispute settlement system in UNCLOS is not the best way to go about it, if this is done unilaterally by states starting disputes against other states on a bilateral level," he said.

In the view of Peter Li, an associate professor of the University of Houston Downtown, it was unfair for the tribunal to accept the case brought forward by the Philippines.

First, China's opposition to the arbitration proceedings was rejected by the PCA. The admission of the Philippine's unilateral arbitration request was indicative of the Court's position biased toward Manila, according to Li.

Second, all of the claims made by the Philippines were admitted by the tribunal while China's arguments have all been rejected by the court, including its calls for the exclusion of delimitation of maritime boundaries from compulsory arbitrary proceedings, and to follow peaceful settlement and consultation principles agreed among Southeast Asian countries, he said.

Third, the tribunal has abused its mandate granted by UNCLOS by involving itself in a territorial dispute that it has no authority to rule over, he added.

Due to the unfairness of the tribunal's actions, China has no legal obligations to participate in or to accept the verdict, Li said.

"China's rejection of and non-participation in the arbitration proceedings are in compliance with UNCLOS," he added.

The expected ruling will stoke tensions in the South China Sea, as it could send a wrong signal to Manila that it has the backing of the international community behind its territorial claims, encouraging it to turn a blind eye to China's bid of peacefully settling the dispute through bilateral talks, Li said.

Greg Austin, a professor at University of New South Wales Canberra, told Xinhua that the South China Sea issue clearly involves two very separate issues, one is the sovereignty dispute around the Nansha Islands and the other one is the maritime rights dispute which is covered by UNCLOS, which China is a signatory to.

The two issues are "very dangerous combination," said the professor.

"There are no easy solutions by the international laws when the combinations of the two disputes exist. While the Philippines is quite within its rights to use UNCLOS, that will not answer any questions of territorial sovereignty and the Permanent Court will make no judgment and can make no judgment on territorial sovereignty," he said.

Yasser Gadallah, director of the Chinese-Egyptian Research Center at Helwan University, said that the Philippines' resort to arbitration requires China's approval.

"Arbitration requires the consent of the two concerned parties that resort together to an international arbitration committee whose decisions are binding for both of them," the expert told Xinhua.

A 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed by China and the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including the Philippines, states that all parties should resolve their disputes peacefully and avoid any move that would complicate or escalate the situation.

"I believe that the agreed-upon pact between China and the ASEAN countries can represent a suitable framework to resolve the Filipino-Chinese territorial dispute," said Mahmoud Allam, former Egyptian ambassador to China.
WASHINGTON, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The TOP 500 list of the world's fastest supercomputers was updated on Monday with a new Chinese supercomputer called Sunway TaihuLight on the top, replacing its precedent Tianhe-2.

The list, updated every half a year, is compiled on the basis of the machines' performance on the Linpack benchmark by experts from the United States and Germany.

The following are more facts about the new born TOP 500 list.

The No. 1 spot, Sunway TaihuLight, can perform 93 quadrillion calculations per second, or petaflop/s. With 10,649,600 computing cores comprising 40,960 nodes, it is twice as fast and three times as efficient as Tianhe-2, which has a performance of 33.86 petaflop/s.

Moreover, unlike the China-made Tianhe-2, which is an Intel-based system and claimed the No. 1 in the past six lists, Sunway TaihuLight entirely uses processors designed and made in China.

Compared to the last list, China, with 167 systems, rose to home of the largest number of supercomputers, 58 more than half a year ago, whereas the United States, with the amount of systems fell from 199 to 165, ranked the second. It is the first time that the U.S. leading position has been replaced by another country since the inception of the list in 1993.

With the No. 1 and No. 2 computers both coming from China, the Asian power also leads the best performance category in the latest list.

In terms of producing capability of companies making these super systems, the America-based Hewlett-Packard Development Company (HP) manufactured the most systems of 127 supercomputers, while Chinese Lenovo followed with a production of 84, which is 59 more than that in the last list.

The other three rounding out the top five supercomputer producers in order are Washington-based Cray Incorporation, which produced 60 systems in the list, Chinese Sugon Information Industry Cooperation with 51 systems, and IBM with 38 systems.

When it comes to the processor, Inter processor was applied by 455 supercomputers, while 23 systems used IBM-made processor and 13 others applied Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) brand.

If all the calculation capability of the TOP 500 put together, the newest 500 fastest supercomputers can perform 566.7 petaflop/s in total, while half a year ago, the record was 420 petaflop/s, and 363 petaflop/s a year ago.
ISLAMABAD, June 20 (Xinhua) -- At least five militants were killed in an armed clash with security forces in Pakistan's southwest Awaran district, local media reported on Monday.

The Dunya TV reported that the Pakistani troops launched a search operation, acting on an intelligence tip-off regarding presence of militants in Mashkay area of Awaran, a district in the southwest Balochistan province.

The search operation triggered off an exchange of fire, initiated by the militants who were cornered by the troops.

Arms and ammunition were also seized from the militants' hideout.

Officials said the killed militants were members of a banned outfit and were hiding in the area to avoid the crackdown in the province by the security forces.
FAIZABAD, June 20, 2016 (Xinhua) -- An injured man receives medical treatment at a local hospital after a blast in Kishim district of Badakhshan province, Afghanistan, June 20, 2016. About eight civilians were killed and 30 others wounded in a bomb attack in Afghanistan's northern province of Badakhshan on Monday, a local official said. (Xinhua/Stringer)

FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, June 20 (Xinhua) -- About eight civilians were killed and 30 others wounded in a bomb attack in Afghanistan's northern province of Badakhshan on Monday, a local official said.

"The blast ripped through the main square of Kishim district, southwest of provincial capital Faizabad city. As a result of the incident, eight civilians were killed and 30 persons were injured," Nawid Froutan, spokesman of the provincial government, told Xinhua.

The blast was caused by explosive attached into a motorcycle at the crowded circle, the spokesman said.

The casualties were shifted to nearby hospitals by ambulances and police vehicles while some of the wounded were transported to Taluqan city, capital of the neighboring Takhar province.

"Majority of the affected people were local vendors while several women and children were among the injured. Many shops around the site were also damaged," the spokesman noted.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

The explosion was the third bomb attack in the country within a day.

Some 14 Nepalese security guards of a foreign embassy were killed and nine people injured after a suicide bomber struck a bus in eastern part of the national capital of Kabul early Monday morning.

The attack was followed by a roadside bombing which injured five people including a provincial council member in western part of the city.

Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the Kabul bombings.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since early April when the militant group launched its annual rebel offensive in different areas of the country.

About 600 civilians were killed and more than 1,340 others wounded in conflict-related violence and Taliban-led attacks in the first quarter of the year, according to UN mission in the Asian country.
KATHMANDU, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa expressed deep sorrow over the killing of 14 Nepalese nationals in Afghanistan on Monday.

"I am saddened with the death of our Nepalese nationals in a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan. I pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the incident," the prime minister said on Twitter.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Thapa, on Twitter, said, "Shocked to hear the death of 14 Nepalese in a terrorist attack in Kabul today. Strongly condemn this heinous crime against innocent people."

A spokesman at the Nepalese Ministry for Foreign Affairs said the Nepalese Embassy in Islamabad, which is concurrently accredited to Afghanistan, is in touch with the authorities in Kabul following the incident.

"We will release details about the Nepalese killed in the incident. Our embassy in Pakistan is constantly in touch with the Kabul authorities," spokesman at the ministry, Bharat Raj Paudyal, told Xinhua.

Those Nepalese were killed after a suicide bomber struck a bus carrying security personnel in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Monday morning.

The Interior Ministry of Afghanistan stated in a press release that a suicide bomber targeted a minibus which was carrying employees working for a foreign company at 05:40 a.m. local time.

"As a result, 14 foreign (Nepalese citizen) were killed and nine others were wounded including five Nepalese and four Afghans," the ministry said.
HANOI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam created some 613,800 jobs in the first five months of 2016, down 3.8 percent year-on-year, according to Vietnam's Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) on Monday.

The five-month figure accounted for 38.3 percent of the whole year's estimate, Deputy Minister of MoLISA Dao Hong Lan was quoted by local Bao Dau Tu (Vietnam Investment Review) online newspaper on Monday.

Among the figure, as many as 573,000 labors work domestically, down 4 percent year-on-year while the rest of 40,800 labors work overseas, down 1.2 percent year-on-year.

In 2016, the MoLISA targeted to create 1.5-1.6 million jobs, among which, some 1.4-1.5 million jobs are domestically while around 100,000 Vietnamese people are supposed to work abroad.

In 2015, a total of over 1.62 million jobs were created in Vietnam, said a report by the Vietnamese government in late March.
ANKARA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were killed and one injured in a train-bus collision early Monday in Turkey's southeastern province of Elazig, Hurriyet News reported.

A train making its maiden voyage in Tatvan, a town in Elazig, crashed into a minibus that stopped on the track, Hurriyet said.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.




WUXI, June 20, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on June 16, 2016 shows monitoring panel of Sunway TaihuLight, a new Chinese supercomputer, in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province. Performing 93 quadrillion calculations per second, Sunway TaihuLight dethroned China's Tianhe-2 from the top in a list of the 500 most powerful supercomputers in the world. Sunway TaihuLight, with 10,649,600 computing cores comprising 40,960 nodes, is twice as fast and three times as efficient as Tianhe-2, which has a performance of 33.86 quadrillion calculations per second, or petaflop/s. The new system was developed by the Chinese National Research Center of Parallel Computer Engineering & Technology and installed at the National Supercomputing Center in Wuxi. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

NANJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China's new supercomputing system, Sunway-TaihuLight, was named the world's fastest computer at the International Supercomputing Conference in Germany on Monday.

The National Supercomputing Center was also unveiled Monday in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province, where the new-generation supercomputer is installed.

With processing capacity of 125.436 petaflops (PFlops) per second, which means it can perform quadrillions of calculations per second at peak performance, Sunway-TaihuLight is the first supercomputer to achieve speeds in excess of 100 PFlops.

The computing power of the supercomputer is provided by a China-developed many-core CPU chip, which is just 25 square cm.

"It would take 7.2 billion people using electronic calculators 32 years, or 2 million desktop computers working together for one minute, to do the same calculation the computer can solve in just 60 seconds," said Yang Guangwen, head of the Wuxi center.

Installed inside the center's 1,000-square-meter computer room, Sunway-TaihuLight is composed of 40,960 processors.

In addition to its speed, it is much more energy-efficient than its predecessor Tianhe-2, which was the world's best supercomputer for six years. One watt of electricity can support 6 billion calculations by Sunway-TaihuLight, which is just a third of the energy consumption by the China-developed Tianhe-2, which registered 33.86 PFlops per second, for the same calculations.

However, other countries are advancing their own supercomputing prowess, said Fu Haohuan, deputy head of the Wuxi center.

The United States aims to produce a supercomputer with 1,000 PFlops per second by 2025. At its current speed, by 2017, it is expected to have designed a supercomputer with speed three to five times that of Tianhe-2.

"Although speed is a primary target, controlling the energy level is just as vital. Otherwise, future supercomputers will consume power equivalent to the amount used by a middle-size city," said Fu.

China has channeled 1.8 billion yuan (273 million U.S. dollars) to support the development of Sunway-TaihuLight, about one third of which was from the central government and the other two thirds was shared by the Jiangsu provincial and Wuxi municipal governments.

China's supercomputing technology on Monday was also included on the shortlist of the German Innovation Award's Gottfried Wagnner Prize, for supercomputing technology. This was the first time that China has been included on the shortlist. The winner will be announced later this year.

Three Sunway-TaihuLight applications were nominated -- earth system modeling, ocean surface wave modeling and the microstructure of titanium alloy modeling.

In addition to the nominations, this new generation of supercomputer has already been used to determine precise calculations for weather forecasts with an accuracy of 9 square km. The technology was also used to support China's contribution to the international search for the missing Malaysian Airlines plane MH370. It processed big data sent via satellite radars.

After the invention of Tianhe-2, China has been been exploring the application of supercomputing, for example, in analyzing air pollution control measures, medical research and Internet technology applications.

Zhang Jian, a research fellow with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said China still lags behind developed countries in commercializing the use of its supercomputing technology.

He said commercial application is still dominated by the West. China needs more talent to explore and apply the technology in different fields.

With more precise marine forecast based on the high resolution supercomputing technology, patrol, shipping and fishing vessels will be able to optimize their route plans to avoid rough seas. Offshore oil platforms will also be able to make precautionary programs to prevent marine disasters, according to the First Institute of Oceanography under the State Oceanic Administration.
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen speaks during a graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Sovannara)

PHNOM PENH, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Monday that the country will not support an arbitral tribunal's upcoming decision over the South China Sea issue and called on all parties concerned in the disputes to resolve their differences through bilateral negotiations.

In 2013, the Philippines unilaterally filed compulsory arbitration against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague with respect to the two sides' disputes in the South China Sea.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony here, the prime minister said that the tribunal's upcoming decision is "politically motivated" and Cambodia will not support the decision.

"It seems that there is a badly political conspiracy between some countries and the arbitral tribunal because the decision is not yet delivered, but they have launched a movement to seek support for the tribunal's upcoming decision," Hun Sen said, referring to a powerful country which had sent its ambassadors to lobby ASEAN leaders to support the yet-to-be-released decision.

Hun Sen said that the country's ambassador to Cambodia proposed to him that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should have one voice or statement in support of the arbitral tribunal's decision, which will be issued in the upcoming period.

"I would like to declare Cambodia's stance that Cambodia will not issue any joint statement in support of the arbitral tribunal's decision," he said. "Cambodia will have its own statement."

The Cambodian leader also called on all parties directly concerned in the disputes to resolve their differences through bilateral negotiations based on international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

"I appeal to countries concerned in the disputes to negotiate with each other," Hun Sen said. "ASEAN cannot measure land for any sides."

He also urged uninvolved countries not to douse gasoline on fire.

"I'd like to appeal to countries outside the region not to meddle in the issue of South China Sea," he said. "I hope that the new president of the Philippines will be easy with China."

In the mid-1990s, China and the Philippines reached a clear agreement on settling their disputes in the South China Sea through negotiation. This has been reaffirmed in many other bilateral documents since then, including the joint statement the two countries issued in September 2011.

China maintains that the tribunal handling the arbitration proceedings has no jurisdiction over the case, which is in essence about territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation.

Territorial issues are beyond the scope of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and China has excluded maritime delimitation from compulsory arbitration in a declaration it made in 2006 in accordance with Article 298 of UNCLOS. Therefore, China has made it clear it will not accept or get involved in those proceedings.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement issued on June 8 that China has all along stood for peacefully settling territorial and maritime delimitation disputes through negotiations with states directly concerned on the basis of respecting historical facts and in accordance with the international law.

On issues concerning territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation, China never accepts any recourse to third party settlement, or any means of dispute settlement that is imposed on it, the statement said.
BELGRADE, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China and Serbia have agreed to upgrade their traditional friendly relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in a bid to further promote political mutual trust, economic and cultural links as well as cooperation in international affairs.

After formal talks Saturday in the Serbian capital, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Serbian counterpart, Tomislav Nikolic, inked a joint statement on the historic move and witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation deals.

Specific actions will be taken to boost bilateral cooperation in industrial capacity, finance, infrastructure construction, trade, energy, telecommunications, science and technology, culture and tourism, according to the statement.

Xi's visit to Belgrade from Friday to Sunday was the first by a Chinese head of state to the Balkan country in 32 years.

Both sides stressed their six-decade, time-tested "all-weather friendship" and "special brotherly bond," vowing to continue support for each others' core interests and join hands in promoting world peace and development.

"China and Serbia are all-weather friends and important cooperation partners. Our two countries enjoy a profound traditional friendship. Our relations have stood the test of time and history and grown even stronger," Xi told Nikolic during Saturday's talks.

"China stands ready to work with Serbia to keep the momentum and push our relations and practical cooperation to a higher level, ushering in a new chapter for our mutually beneficial cooperation and common development," he said in a written statement upon arrival Friday.

Nikolic told Xi during the talks that the Serbian people cherish the sincere friendship with the Chinese people and are glad to see the achievements China has made in economic and social development.

The two leaders also pledged to jointly promote the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, seek synergy between Serbia's national development strategy and the initiative, and align Serbia's development with the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries.

Xi's visit has raised high expectations from Serbians with a focus on new opportunities for development and jobs, as they see prospects for more Chinese investment.

"It is a great opportunity to cooperate with China," said Dusan Janjic, a Serbian political expert with the Forum for Ethnic Relations.

Xi came to Serbia with a big delegation that gathered a significant number of businessmen from both private and state-owned companies, noted Ivona Ladjevic, a researcher with the Institute for International Policy and Economy in Serbia.

Two-way trade grew by 2.3 percent year on year to 550 million U.S. dollars in 2015, according to Chinese customs.

On Saturday, Xi also held separate meetings with Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic.

Upon arrival in Belgrade on Friday afternoon, the Chinese president and his wife, Peng Liyuan, paid homage to three Chinese journalists killed in the NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on May 7, 1999.

Serbia is the first stop of Xi's three-nation Eurasia tour. He kicked off a state visit to Poland on Sunday and will also visit Uzbekistan, where he will attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
KABUL, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Fourteen Nepalese citizens were killed and nine people were injured after a suicide bomber struck a minibus in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Monday, Afghan Interior Ministry said.

"One suicide bomber approached and targeted a mini bus carrying personnel of a foreign company at around 05:40 a.m. local time. As a result 14 workers of the company, who were Nepalese citizens, were killed," the ministry said in a statement.

The statement noted that five Nepalese and four Afghans were wounded in the attack which occurred in Banahi area along Pul-e-Charkhi road which is also called Jalalabad road in eastern part of the city.

The victims were serving as security guards in a foreign embassy in central Kabul, according to a source.

The attacker was killed on the spot and the blast also damaged several civilian vehicles and shops near the site, he said.

Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Government Chief Executive Abudllah Abdullah and the Afghan Interior Ministry condemned the attack.

"I condemn the terrorist attack on those traveling to their work places in Kabul this morning. This attack is an act of terror and intimidation." Abdullah said in his twitter account.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since early April when the militant group launched its annual rebel offensive in different places of the country, which had claimed hundreds of lives including militants, security personnel and civilians.

The Taliban urged civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants besides warning people not to support the government.
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) PHNOM PENH, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Monday that the country will not support an arbitral tribunal's upcoming decision over the South China Sea issue and called on all parties concerned in the disputes to resolve their differences through bilateral negotiations.

In 2013, the Philippines unilaterally filed compulsory arbitration against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague with respect to the two sides' disputes in the South China Sea.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony here, the prime minister said over a month ago, the ambassadors of a country outside the ASEAN region had tried to lobby Cambodia and other ASEAN countries to support the tribunal's upcoming decision over the Sea China Sea.

Hun Sen said that the country's ambassador to Cambodia proposed to him that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should have one voice or statement in support of the arbitral tribunal's decision, which will be issued in the upcoming period.

The prime minister said that the tribunal's upcoming decision is "politically motivated" and Cambodia will not support the decision.

"I would like to declare Cambodia's stance that Cambodia will not issue any joint statement in support of the arbitral tribunal's decision," he said. "Cambodia will have its own statement."

In the mid-1990s, China and the Philippines reached a clear agreement on settling their disputes in the South China Sea through negotiation. This has been reaffirmed in many other bilateral documents since then, including the joint statement the two countries issued in September 2011.

China maintains that the tribunal handling the arbitration proceedings has no jurisdiction over the case, which is in essence about territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation.

Territorial issues are beyond the scope of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and China has excluded maritime delimitation from compulsory arbitration in a declaration it made in 2006 in accordance with Article 298 of UNCLOS. Therefore, China has made it clear it will not accept or get involved in those proceedings.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement issued on June 8 that China has all along stood for peacefully settling territorial and maritime delimitation disputes through negotiations with states directly concerned on the basis of respecting historical facts and in accordance with the international law.

On issues concerning territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation, China never accepts any recourse to third party settlement, or any means of dispute settlement that is imposed on it, the statement said.
NEW DELHI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- India on Monday began the countdown for the record launch of 20 satellites in a single mission on June 22 from the southern spaceport of Sriharikota.

The 48-hour countdown started at 9.26 a.m. (local time) and the satellites will be launched Wednesday morning, a senior official of the state-owned Indian Space Research Organisation said.

The 20 satellites, which will be launched using the home-made Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C34), include India's earth observation spacecraft Cartosat-2.

Apart from Cartosat-2, the PSLV-C34 will ferry two satellites from Indian universities and other satellites from countries including the United States, Canada, Indonesia and Germany.

In fact, it is the highest number of satellites ever to be launched by the Indian space agency that had earlier sent 10 satellites into orbit in a single mission in 2008.

U.S. space agency Nasa had sent 29 satellites to the orbit in a single launch in 2013, creating history that it yet to be broken.
Afghan security force members inspect at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, June 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah)

KABUL, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Fourteen Nepalese citizens were killed and nine people were injured after a suicide bomber struck a minibus in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Monday, Afghan Interior Ministry said.

"One suicide bomber approached and targeted a mini bus carrying personnel of a foreign company at around 05:40 a.m. local time. As a result 14 workers of the company, who were Nepalese citizens, were killed," the ministry said in a statement.

The statement noted that five Nepalese and four Afghans were wounded in the attack which occurred in Banahi area along Pul-e-Charkhi road which is also called Jalalabad road in eastern part of the city.

The victims were serving as security guards in a foreign embassy in central Kabul, according to a source.

The attacker was killed on the spot and the blast also damaged several civilian vehicles and shops near the site, he said.

Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Government Chief Executive Abudllah Abdullah and the Afghan Interior Ministry condemned the attack.

"I condemn the terrorist attack on those traveling to their work places in Kabul this morning. This attack is an act of terror and intimidation." Abdullah said in his twitter account.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since early April when the militant group launched its annual rebel offensive in different places of the country, which had claimed hundreds of lives including militants, security personnel and civilians.

The Taliban urged civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the legitimate targets by militants besides warning people not to support the government.

Firefighters wash a road at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, June 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah)
TEHRAN, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Iran said Monday that its intelligence services recently thwarted "one of the biggest" terrorist plots targetting Tehran and other cities, Iranian media reported.

"In this criminal plot, the anti-Islamist Takfiri terrorist group had schemed to carry out a series of bombings in different parts of the country, including in Tehran, on the occasions to come," state IRINN TV quoted the Intelligence Ministry as saying in a statement.

A Takfiri is a derogatory term referring to a Muslim who accuses another of apostasy.

"In the operations by the Intelligence Ministry, the terrorists were detained and a number of bombs, ready to explode, and a sizeable amount of materials for making bombs were seized from the terrorists," the statement said.

Further information about the terrorist plot will be announced in the following days as the investigation process advances, it added.

Also on Monday, Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani said that "the Iranian authorities had suspected several people of trying to launch bomb attacks in Tehran."

The plotters, who planned attacks for the holy month of Ramadan, were arrested over the past few days, Shamkhani was quoted as saying by semi-official Fars news agency.

"The capable and experienced security forces of Iran are able to foil any terrorist act in any part of the country," he said.

He said Takfiri terrorist groups seek to sow discord among Muslims.
BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to China on June 25, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang on Monday.

Putin will visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Lu said in a press release.

Xi will hold talks with Putin and they will have an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral ties and issues of common concern, another Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying, told a daily news briefing.

According to Hua, the two leaders will plan the development direction and priority cooperation areas of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, and they will sign important political documents and witness the signing of a series of documents of pragmatic cooperation.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and top legislator Zhang Dejiang will also meet Putin, Hua said.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation and both sides will hold events to mark the occasion, Hua said.

China hopes that Putin's upcoming visit will consolidate mutual political and strategic trust, promote pragmatic cooperation in various areas, inject new impetus to bilateral ties, and contribute more to international and regional peace, security and stability.
DJIBOUTI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh over the weekend held talks with a delegation of Chinese businessmen led by renowned international economist, Prof. Justin Yifu Lin.

The latter currently heads the Center For New Structural Economics that he founded himself. The center which is based at the Peking University, serves as a laboratory for expertise on matters of economic innovation.

In a press statement that was issued after the meeting, Djibouti's Government Spokesman Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said the two parties discussed about identification of potential industrial and economic projects in Djibouti.

He further noted that Lin's presence in Djibouti was aimed at reinforcing economic partnership between Djibouti and China.

The Center For New Structural Economics studies determinants of a country's economic structure, including technology, industry and infrastructure.

China which has already invested heavily in infrastructure projects in Djibouti, especially ports, airports, railways and pipelines, has in recent years considerably reinforced its position as Djibouti's number one economic and trading partner.
PHNOM PENH, June 20, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen speaks at a graduation ceremony in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, June 20, 2016. Hun Sen said on Monday that the country will not support an arbitral tribunal's upcoming decision over the South China Sea issue and called on all parties concerned in the disputes to resolve their differences through bilateral negotiations. (Xinhua/Sovannara)

PHNOM PENH, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Monday that the country will not support an arbitral tribunal's upcoming decision over the South China Sea issue and called on all parties concerned in the disputes to resolve their differences through bilateral negotiations.

In 2013, the Philippines unilaterally filed compulsory arbitration against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague with respect to the two sides' disputes in the South China Sea.

Speaking at a graduation ceremony, the prime minister said that the tribunal's upcoming decision is "politically motivated" and Cambodia will not support the decision.

"It seems that there is a badly political conspiracy between some countries and the arbitral tribunal because the decision is not yet delivered, but they have launched a movement to seek support for the tribunal's upcoming decision," Hun Sen said, referring to a powerful country which had sent its ambassadors to lobby ASEAN leaders to support the yet-to-be-released decision.

Hun Sen said that the country's ambassador to Cambodia proposed to him that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should have one voice or statement in support of the arbitral tribunal's decision, which will be issued in the upcoming period.

"I would like to declare Cambodia's stance that Cambodia will not issue any joint statement in support of the arbitral tribunal's decision," he said. "Cambodia will have its own statement."

The Cambodian leader also called on all parties directly concerned in the disputes to resolve their differences through bilateral negotiations based on international law and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

"I appeal to countries concerned in the disputes to negotiate with each other," Hun Sen said. "ASEAN cannot measure land for any sides."

He also urged uninvolved countries not to douse gasoline on fire.

"I'd like to appeal to countries outside the region not to meddle in the issue of South China Sea," he said. "I hope that the new president of the Philippines will be easy with China."

In the mid-1990s, China and the Philippines reached a clear agreement on settling their disputes in the South China Sea through negotiation. This has been reaffirmed in many other bilateral documents since then, including the joint statement the two countries issued in September 2011.

China maintains that the tribunal handling the arbitration proceedings has no jurisdiction over the case, which is in essence about territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation.

Territorial issues are beyond the scope of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and China has excluded maritime delimitation from compulsory arbitration in a declaration it made in 2006 in accordance with Article 298 of UNCLOS. Therefore, China has made it clear it will not accept or get involved in those proceedings.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement issued on June 8 that China has all along stood for peacefully settling territorial and maritime delimitation disputes through negotiations with states directly concerned on the basis of respecting historical facts and in accordance with the international law.

On issues concerning territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation, China never accepts any recourse to third party settlement, or any means of dispute settlement that is imposed on it, the statement said.
BAMAKO, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Mali is set to launch a program aimed at increasing utilization of reproductive health and family planing services in four of the country's regions, the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) announced over the weekend.

The program which will be implemented in partnership with UNICEF and funded by the World Bank to the tune of 1.7 million U.S. dollars, will target Koulikoro, Segou, Sikasso and Bamako regions.

The program aims to have 300,000 women and adolescents aged between 15 to 49 years to start using family planing services in the 652 health centers, between now and February 2017.

"The adolescents and women will build trust in the reproductive health services available in the health centers. Consequently, they will be able to properly space child births in order to plan their families," Mali's Health Minister Dr. Marie Madeleine said.

A recent study revealed that fertility rate among adolescents and young girls aged between 15 and 19 years stands at 151 out of 1,000 and 36.5 percent of women aged between 20 to 24 years gave birth at least once before reaching the age of 18 years.

However, only 15.6 percent of Malian women use contraceptive methods, whether modern or traditional.

"To reach more women and adolescents, religious leaders, community leaders, youths, women as well as health workers will be used in awareness campaigns that will be launched," said Fran Equiza, the UNICEF representative in Mali.
WINDHOEK, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Namibia has high hopes of harvesting huge profits in both trade and development from the recently signed Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union.

Namibia signed the deal under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) EPA group in Kasane, Botswana on June 10 together with Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, and South Africa after 10 years of stiff negotiations.

The other countries in the SADC region, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Mauritius, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zambia, are negotiating EPAs with the EU under other regional groups, namely Central Africa, Eastern or Southern Africa.

The agreement provides Namibia's products duty-free and quota free access into the EU market. In return, Namibia will also grant free market access for EU goods at the agreed preferential duty.

The EU is Namibia's biggest importer of beef and fish products. Namibia exports fish, especially hake, whose value is estimated to be worth 6 billion Namibian dollars (about 400 million U.S dollars) annually. It also exports beef worth 613 million Namibian dollars.

In 2015, the EU imported 32 billion Euros worth of goods from the southern African region which were largely minerals and metals, while the region also imported goods, such as engineering, chemicals and automotive products of the same value.

The signing of the deal comes after about 10 years during which Namibia was refusing to sign saying that the interim agreement presented then would curtail the country's options as a sovereign nation to conduct economic and industrial policies.

Namibia also argued that the interim agreement meant that the EU demands would amount to an unjustifiable encroachment into its obligations to the World Trade Organization.

The prolonged negotiation process ended in July 2014 with the SADC EPA group expressing satisfaction with the changes made to the interim agreement.

Just after the conclusion of the negotiations, the former trade minister, Calle Schlettwein, who is now the finance minister said Namibia took strong and consistent policy stances during the negotiations despite threats of isolation and exclusion from market access, and the risk of creating divisions within the negotiating group.

Schlettwein also said Namibia was more concerned with the Most Favored Nation (MFN) treatment the EU insisted upon, the abolition of quantitative restrictions upon entry into force, the freezing of existing export taxes and the prohibition of new export taxes, a highly restricted use of infant industry protection, among others.

Addressing the 31st Session of the African Caribbean and Pacific-EU joint parliamentary assembly in Windhoek on June 12, Schlettwein said there was consensus on the issue of the Most Favored Nation and other issues in the final text of the agreement.

"It confers latitude of additional policy space that ACP countries can leverage to address domestic supply side constraints and productive capacities within the special circumstances of each country," he said.

Schlettwein said the EPA presents immense opportunities for improved demand and export-led growth because of increased market access into the EU.

Namibia, the minister said, will focus on growth-at-home strategy towards industrialization since securing market access into the EU will support an enabling framework for production, manufacturing and value addition.

He also said Namibia needs to optimize the market access provided under the EPA to expand its agricultural and industrial output.

For Namibia that has a small population, Schlettwein said, expanding key resource sectors is key to development since the agreement provides for the export of other products other than beef, grapes, dates and fish.

Namibia's vice president Nickey Iyambo also told the ACP-EU joint parliamentary assembly that he hoped the EPA will make a positive contribution to Africa.

"It is important that we get the EPAs right from the onset to help manage Africa's food security, fresh water security and energy security," Iyambo said, adding that the finalization of the agreement in terms of signing and ratification was just beginning of the actual key process.

Iyambo further said he would like to see the agreement making the lives of ordinary people better by bringing immense benefits.
TIANJIN, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Volkswagen China said on Monday that it expects electric vehicles to account for up to 25 percent of its total auto production by 2025.

Vehicles driven purely by electricity will sell two to three million units by 2025 as Volkswagen expands its electric vehicle line to over 30 models in the next 10 years.

Batteries for electric vehicles could emerge as a new source of income, the automaker said, adding it is evaluating the research needed and potential income.

The automaker will continue to expand its business in China, such as customized auto services either through in-house research or acquisition.
NAIROBI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Kenya could be free of guinea worm disease before the end of this year as the country has intensified surveillance and public awareness to avert a re-emergence of the disease, an official said on Monday.

Jackson Kioko, the acting director of medical services in the Ministry of Health, said Kenya had put solid interventions in place to hasten the eradication of guinea worm disease in the country.

"In Kenya, the last indigenous case of guinea worm occurred in 1994 and through intensified surveillance over the years, we have reasons to believe the disease is inching closer to eradication," Kioko said.

The Ministry of Health, supported by multilateral partners and grassroots campaigners, has since last year intensified public awareness on guinea worm disease in high-risk counties bordering South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Kioko said surveillance had in particular been intensified in villages bordering South Sudan, where Guinea worm disease was still endemic.

"We have managed to mitigate re-emergence of guinea worm disease through sustained public education, improving access to safe drinking water and community-led surveillance in high risk counties," said Kioko.

The Ministry of Health will in September invite international experts to evaluate whether the country qualifies as a guinea worm disease-free zone.

Kioko said the East African nation had attained key benchmarks set by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be declared free of guinea worm disease.

"We have passed a critical threshold in the guinea worm disease certification process and are certain the country will be free from this devastating infection by the end of this year," Kioko said.

WHO says guinea worm disease is on the brink of becoming the second ailment in the world to be eliminated after small pox.

Only two cases of guinea worm disease were confirmed globally in 2016, down from three million cases annually in the 1980s.
MANILA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The incoming administration of Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte will prioritize the development of the impoverished rural areas, his economic aides said Monday.

Duterte's economic team gathered about 300 businessmen in southern Philippine Davao City for a workshop aimed at fine-tuning the socio-economic agenda that the incoming administration plans to pursue. Duterte is expected to speak at the end of the two-day workshop Tuesday.

"We are going to be an inclusive (government), a government that spouses policies that have growth for everyone," incoming Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez told a news conference in Davao, stressing the need to prioritize projects outside Metro Manila.

"(We) need to execute projects in the countryside and thereby create jobs there. Those are the areas we need to prioritize," he said.

Dominguez added, "We have 42 million people who are in the workforce. And the statistics show that about 5.7 percent of them are unemployed and around 18 percent of them are underemployed ... that's about 10 million who are unemployed and most of them as we know live in the rural areas. So, it's very important that jobs are created in those rural areas."

"We are listening to the people," Dominguez said, noting that Duterte won by a landslide because Filipinos are yearning for a better life which they did not feel during the administration of outgoing President Benigno Aquino.

Duterte, who will take his oath of office on June 30, has vowed to stamp out corruption, criminality and reduce poverty in the country during his six-year term of office.

To lure foreign investors to the Philippines, Duterte has said that he is open to lifting the restrictions on foreign ownership of Philippine corporations in the Philippine constitution and that more transportation infrastructure projects will be undertaken "in every region" during his administration.

Specifically, he is looking at a Mindanao railway system in the southern Philippines.

Duterte's economic team has bared the economic policies that the Duterte administration plans to pursue.

The incoming administration will "continue and maintain the current macroeconomic policies;" however, the team said that "reforms in tax revenue collection (in the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs) efforts will be complemented by reforms within the bureaucracy of these tax collecting agencies."

The team said the new administration will accelerate infrastructure spending by addressing, among others, major bottlenecks in the public-private partnership program while maintaining the target of setting aside 5 percent of the country's gross domestic product for infrastructure spending.

"(The Duterte administration) will ensure attractiveness of the Philippines to foreign direct investments by addressing restrictive economic provisions in the Constitution and our laws, and enhancing competitiveness of the economy," the team said.

The administration also vowed to "pursue genuine agricultural development strategy by providing support services to the small farmers to increase their productivity, improve their market access, and develop the agricultural value chain by forging partnership with agribusiness firms."

The economic agenda also includes unclogging the bottlenecks in the land administration and management system, strengthening the country's basic education system, improving the income tax system "to make it progressive to enable those who earn little to have more money in their pockets," and expand and improve implementation of the conditional cash transfer program.

The Duterte administration said it plans to promote science, technology and the creative art "to enhance innovation and creative capacity."

Moreover, it said Duterte will strengthen the implementation of the responsible parenthood and reproductive health law "to enable all, especially poor couples, to make informed choices on financial and family planning."

Dominguez said the economic agenda of the Duterte administration "is simply following what the electorate has spoken to us about," adding that Duterte got elected because "he stood for peace and order, no crime, no drugs, no corruption and inclusive growth."

Incoming Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia told a news conference that he predicts the economy to expand by at least 6.5 percent this year.

"Since it's the start of the new administration, we will have adjustment pains. It will not be smooth-sailing right away. There may be some adjustment hiccups," Pernia said.
Zimbabweans receive food ration from a World Food Programme (WFP) distribution center at rural Mupinga area in Chiredzi, Zimbabwe, Oct. 6, 2015. About 60 million people across Sub-Saharan Africa are at risk of acute hunger as food production situation is set to further worsen with the looming El Nino, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on Monday. (Xinhua/Stringer) (File photo)

NAIROBI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Conflict in countries like South Sudan and Somalia raised the total number of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in sub-Saharan Africa to 18.4 million in 2015, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).

The UNHCR's annual Global Trends report, which tracks forced displacement worldwide, says sub-Saharan Africa recorded the largest displacement totals in 2015 after the Middle East and North Africa.

"Continuing bitter conflict in South Sudan in 2015, as well as in Central African Republic and Somalia, plus new or continuing mass displacement in or from countries including Nigeria, Burundi, Sudan, DR Congo, Mozambique and elsewhere together produced 18.4 million refugees and IDPs as of year's end," UNHCR said.

The report, which was received in Nairobi on Monday, says sub-Saharan Africa currently hosts some 4.4 million refugees in all -- more than any other region in the world.

Five of the world's top-10 refugee hosting nations were African countries, led by Ethiopia, followed by Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad, UNHCR said.

The report was released as the world is marking World Refugee Day, which falls each year on June 20.

Across the globe, the report says 65.3 million people were displaced as of the end of 2015, compared to 59.5 million just 12 months earlier.

The 65.3 million displaced people include 21.3 million refugees and 40.8 million IDPs.

"More people are being displaced by war and persecution and that's worrying in itself, but the factors that endanger refugees are multiplying too," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.

"At sea, a frightening number of refugees and migrants are dying each year; on land, people fleeing war are finding their way blocked by closed borders. Politics is gravitating against asylum in some countries," Grandi said.

The report says children constituted 51 per cent of the world's refugees in 2015. Worryingly, many were separated from their parents or travelling alone.

The report says three countries -- Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia -- produce half of the world's 21 million refugees.

Forced displacement has been on the rise since at least the mid-1990s in most regions, but over the past five years the rate of climb has increased.

According to UNHCR, situations that cause large refugee outflows are lasting longer such as conflict in Somalia and Afghanistan.
ZAGREB, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The Croatian parliament on Monday voted to dissolve itself with 137 deputies in favour, two against and one absent, and an early election should be held in early September.

The decision of dissolution would take effect on July 15, when constitutional deadlines for an early election start running, local media reported.

According to laws, an election must be held no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days after parliament was dissolved.

The vote came after the Croatian parliament gave no-confidence to Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic and his government last Thursday.

Oreskovic's cabinet took office in January this year. It consisted of Croatian biggest party, the Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) which put forward the no-confidence motion, and a junior MOST party, who supported Oreskovic.

Related:

Croatian president calls for parliament dissolution, early election

ZAGREB, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Croatian President on Friday urged the parliament speaker to dissolve the assembly to pave a way for an early election after consultations with parliamentary parties.
ISLAMABAD, June 20 -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Pakistan Monday signed an agreement for a 100 million U.S. dollars loan to build parts of a motorway in Punjab province, the ADB said.

Tariq Bajwa, Pakistan's Secretary for Economic Affairs and ADB's Country Director for Pakistan Werner E. Liepach signed the loan agreement during a ceremony attended by Pakistan's Finance Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and ADB Vice President Wencai Zhang.

"Pakistan must grasp the opportunities presented by its strategic location. Investments in transport and connectivity under the framework of Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) programs, as well as other regional cooperation initiatives, can put Pakistan's economic development on an upward trajectory," said ADB Vice President Wencai Zhang, according to a statement

Once completed the 64-kilometer section of the motorway (M-4) connecting Shorkot and Khanewal in Punjab will help substantially cut travel time between Karachi and Peshawar and link up Pakistan with the Central Asia countries boosting regional trade and commerce.
ANKARA, June 20, 2016 (Xinhua) -- An injured person is wheeled to an ambulance after a train hit a minibus in Turkey's southeastern province of Elazig, June 20, 2016. Nine people, including four Syrians, were killed while another was seriously injured on Monday morning after a train hit a minibus in Elazig, Hurriyet News reported. (Xinhua/Mert Macit)

ANKARA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Nine people, including four Syrians, were killed while another was seriously injured on Monday morning after a train hit a minibus in Turkey's southeastern province of Elazig, Hurriyet News reported.

Earlier reports put the death toll at eight.

The train, heading from the Tatvan district of the eastern province of Bitlis to the capital Ankara, crashed into the minibus carrying agricultural workers at a level crossing in central Elazig.

News reports said there was neither a barrier nor warning sign at the crossing.

Elazig Mayor Murat Zorluoglu told reporters that the minibus was pushed by the train for around 400 meters in the "deplorable accident."
BRATISLAVA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Slovak scientist Rastislav Tamaskovic heads a team that could well have found a cure for breast cancer, reported Slovak daily Pravda on Monday.

"Until now, certain medicines have been able to stop breast cancer in its tracks, but the cancer cells are in fact only 'asleep' and could potentially 'wake up' again. The new drug has been shown to destroy cancer cells and to prevent the disease from returning, which is especially important for patients in which the disease has advanced to the later stages," explained Tamaskovic for Slovak daily.

A Swiss team led by the Slovak scientist appears to have found a weakness in the disease, which raises the hope that this form of cancer can be dealt with definitively.

According to the report, the breakthrough is important for Slovakia where breast cancer occurs very frequently. More than 2,000 new cases are recorded every year. Meanwhile, around two million new cases are reported around the world annually.

"The new medicine has proven to be effective on mice, and the first tests on humans are due to begin by the end of this year," added Tamaskovic.

Tamaskovic's team is based at the Biochemistry Institute at the University of Zurich in Switzerland. The results of the research have been published in the Nature Communications journal.
by Abdul Haleem, Manan Arghand

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, June 20 (Xinhua) -- "I hate poppies and the drug trade but poverty and my dire need for money have forced me into this lucrative business and I can earn a relatively good income and support my family from farming the plant," a farmer in the southern Kandahar province, Sadiq Agha, 55, told Xinhua recently.

Walking on his land in the Maiwand district to chalk out his plan for next season in October to cultivate poppies, Agha maintained his poppy plantation was a "profitable business" and said that growing poppies and its business has become the backbone of the local economy of the landlords and their farmers in the troubled southern region.

"The price of one Sir (7 kg) of wheat nowadays in Kandahar is 170 afghanis (around 2.5 U.S. dollars) while one Maan (4 kg) of opium poppies costs 1,000 U.S. dollars," Agha said, quizzing "which one is better for a farmer to grow, wheat or poppies?

Despite the obvious financial imperative, the farmer expressed his hatred of growing poppies, producing drugs and selling them, stating, "to be frank, growing poppies and harvesting them and producing heroin is in fact tantamount to "supplying poison" to human beings, which is forbidden in Islam, but extreme poverty has forced me to do this just to support my family."

The conflict-hit Afghanistan reportedly produces around 90 percent of opium poppies, the raw material used in the manufacturing of heroin to the world. The largest poppy-producing regions are in Kandahar and in the neighboring Helmand, Zabul and Uruzgan provinces where Taliban militants are active and security is fragile.

"We have no alternative crop to replace the poppy," another farmer in the Zharai district of Kandahar province, Assadullah, 32, told Xinhua.

Expressing his happiness over the poppy output he harvested this year, Assadullah exclaimed that the government "didn't destroy our poppy farms this year and I am hopeful the government do the same in future."

However, Mohammad Hanif Daneshyar, spokesman for the Ministry of Counter-Narcotics, rebuffed the notion and pointed out that the government is committed to eradicating poppy plantations but unfortunately, "Continued insurgency and shortage of fiscal means have undermined the government's campaign against narcotics so far this year."

In poppy growing Afghanistan, which has long been facing multi-faceted challenges, commensurate to the volume of poppies being grown, the number of drug addicts is rising, with some 3.5 million Afghans, including women and children, being addicted to the drug.

"Around 3.5 million people in Afghanistan including some 800,000 women and roughly one million teenagers are using and smoking the drug," Daneshyar told Xinhua in a recent interview.

According to the official, there are 110 drug rehabilitation centers in the country and each center after providing medical treatment for 40 days to an addict discharges the addict after a period of detoxification.

Although there is no official statistic about the number of active drug addicts in Afghanistan, the number has been constantly rising in the poppy growing country, according to local figures.

Drug addicts are also prevalent elsewhere in Afghanistan and even in the capital city of Kabul, in each corner of the city, especially under the bridges of the Kabul river, scores of addicts can be seen inhaling or injecting the poison into their bodies.

According to Daneshyar, 183,000 hectares of land were harvested for poppies in Afghanistan in 2015 and more land obviously would be covered by poppies in 2016 as the poppy-free Balkh province also joined the poppy growing provinces this year.

Blaming the Taliban, ongoing security concerns and economic strife for encouraging farmers to cultivate poppies, the official said that the Taliban outfit earns more than 500 million U.S. dollars from the drug business annually, which funds their militancy in Afghanistan.

"Like terrorism, drugs are an international problem and threatens the health of whole world, therefore, overcoming the challenge requires support from the global community to Afghanistan in fighting the drug's source, cultivation, transportation, international distribution and sale," Daneshyar said.

According to Daneshyar, some 70 billion U.S. dollars goes to international drug syndicates from drugs produced in Afghanistan and only 1.56 billion U.S. dollars stays in Afghan pockets.

In spite of the government's tireless efforts to clamp down on poppy cultivation, both poppies and hashish plantations are prevalent in the country.

"No farmer would abandon growing poppies unless and until the government provides alternative crops, a market for their products and, above all, a stable security environment throughout the country," said Agha.
COLOMBO, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) officers got the permission from the Indonesia government to interview 44 Australia-bound Sri Lankan asylum seekers and collect their data, after the authorities allowed them to temporarily disembark their stranded boat, Sri Lankan local media reported on Monday.

The group of asylum seekers last Saturday were allowed to come ashore and stay at a military tent near beach, after a tense stand-off for over a week in their stranded boat in Lhoknga Coast in Indonesia.

The report cited what an Indonesian official said that, the asylum seekers and their Indian-flagged boat have to go back to international waters after the damaged boat has been repaired, continuing their trip with 7 tons of fuel given by the Indonesia government.

Meanwhile, UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are still lobbying the Aceh authorities to move the 44 asylum seekers, consisting of 20 men, 14 women including a pregnant woman and nine children to a detention center in the province.

Every year many asylum-seeker boats still attempt to reach Australia, though at a much lower rate than at the peak of boat arrivals in 2011 and 2012, but most are intercepted and forced back before they reach Australian territorial waters.
A refugee mother and her child walk past an armed police at Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya, May 8, 2015. Dadaab, the world's largest refugee camp in northeastern Kenya, currently houses some 350,000 people. For more than 20 years, it has been home to generations of Somalis who have fled their homeland wracked by conflicts. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)

NAIROBI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Conflict in countries like South Sudan and Somalia raised the total number of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in sub-Saharan Africa to 18.4 million in 2015, according to the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).

The UNHCR's annual Global Trends report, which tracks forced displacement worldwide, says sub-Saharan Africa recorded the largest displacement totals in 2015 after the Middle East and North Africa.

"Continuing bitter conflict in South Sudan in 2015, as well as in Central African Republic and Somalia, plus new or continuing mass displacement in or from countries including Nigeria, Burundi, Sudan, DR Congo, Mozambique and elsewhere together produced 18.4 million refugees and IDPs as of year's end," UNHCR said.

A refugee child smiles with his mother at Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya, May 8, 2015. Dadaab, the world's largest refugee camp in northeastern Kenya, currently houses some 350,000 people. For more than 20 years, it has been home to generations of Somalis who have fled their homeland wracked by conflicts. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)

The report, which was received in Nairobi on Monday, says sub-Saharan Africa currently hosts some 4.4 million refugees in all -- more than any other region in the world.

Five of the world's top-10 refugee hosting nations were African countries, led by Ethiopia, followed by Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chad, UNHCR said.

The report was released as the world is marking World Refugee Day, which falls each year on June 20.

Across the globe, the report says 65.3 million people were displaced as of the end of 2015, compared to 59.5 million just 12 months earlier.

The 65.3 million displaced people include 21.3 million refugees and 40.8 million IDPs.

A refugee mother goes past a crowd with her child at Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya, May 8, 2015.Dadaab, the world's largest refugee camp in northeastern Kenya, currently houses some 350,000 people. For more than 20 years, it has been home to generations of Somalis who have fled their homeland wracked by conflicts. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)

"More people are being displaced by war and persecution and that's worrying in itself, but the factors that endanger refugees are multiplying too," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.

"At sea, a frightening number of refugees and migrants are dying each year; on land, people fleeing war are finding their way blocked by closed borders. Politics is gravitating against asylum in some countries," Grandi said.

The report says children constituted 51 per cent of the world's refugees in 2015. Worryingly, many were separated from their parents or travelling alone.

The report says three countries -- Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia -- produce half of the world's 21 million refugees.

Photo taken on May 8, 2015 shows an overlook of Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya. Dadaab, the world's largest refugee camp in northeastern Kenya, currently houses some 350,000 people. For more than 20 years, it has been home to generations of Somalis who have fled their homeland wracked by conflicts. (Xinhua/Sun Ruibo)

Forced displacement has been on the rise since at least the mid-1990s in most regions, but over the past five years the rate of climb has increased.

According to UNHCR, situations that cause large refugee outflows are lasting longer such as conflict in Somalia and Afghanistan.
KABUL, June 20, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security force members inspect the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, June 20, 2016. Fourteen Nepalese citizens were killed and nine people were injured after a suicide bomber struck a minibus in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Monday, Afghan Interior Ministry said. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah)

KABUL, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The three separate blasts that claimed 26 lives inclduing two suicide bombers and 14 Nepalese nationals and injured more than 50 others in Afghanistan on Monday have been widely condemned.

President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani in a statement released by his office blamed the enemies of Afghanistan for the attacks, saying the terrorists by conducting subversive activities in the month of Ramadan the Muslim holy month want to terrorize the people.

In his message, the president also expressed sympathy with the families of Nepalese victims and Afghans who lost their nears and dears in the deadly blasts.

Similarly, Afghan government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah denounced the deadly bombings by saying, "I condemn the terrorist attack on those traveling to their work places in Kabul this morning. This attack is an act of terror and intimidation."

In a suicide attack which targeted the minibus of Nepalese nationals reportedly worked as guards for Canadian embassy at 05:40 a.m. local time today 14 Nepalese citizens were killed and nine others including four Afghans injured.

Taliban outfit claimed responsibility for the deadly attack.

Joining the condemnation, the NATO-led Resolute Support (RS) mission also condemned the coward attack.

"The Taliban's actions repeatedly harm civilians in an effort to undermine the Government of Afghanistan's efforts to provide peace," said Brig. Gen. Charles Cleveland, Resolute Support Deputy Chief of Staff, Communication in a statement released here.

"Horrific attacks like these show that, despite the Taliban's promises, they have a complete disregard for the lives of innocent civilians," Cleveland said in the statement.

Similar bombing in a bazaar in Kasham district of the northern Badakhshan province at around 10:00 a.m. local time today claimed the lives of 10 civilians and injured 40 others, according to provincial government spokesman Nawed Frotan.

Moreover, a bomb blast injured five people including a member of Kabul provincial council Attaullah Faizani on the same day Monday.

Afghans from all walks of life have strongly condemned the three bombings in a single day as coward act of terror, calling upon militants to respect Ramadan, the Muslim holy month during which the faithful avoid eating and drinking from dawn to dusk.

A Kabul resident Abdul Ghani said, "Ramadan is the month of peace and reconciliation and killing people in this month is against teaching of Islam."

Earlier on the eve of Ramadan, Ulema or Religious scholars had asked Taliban to halt hostilities or at least observe ceasefire during Ramadan.

However, Taliban outfit in reaction described Ramadan as the month of Jihad or holy war and victory and vowed to intensify fighting in the month of Ramadan, a notion that has been widely condemned by Afghans.
JERUSALEM, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel would ratify a treaty banning nuclear tests, according to a statement from his office.

Netanyahu, who met on Monday morning with Lassina Zerbo, head of the United Nations organization overseeing the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), stressed that it is not a matter of whether or not Israel would ratify the treaty -- but a question of when.

"The issue of the ratification depends on the regional context and on the proper timing," Netanyahu told Zerbo in the meeting, according to the statement.

The Israeli prime minister also said that Israel supports the treaty and its goals. The country signed the treaty in 1996.

The CTBT requires its 196 member states to ban all nuclear explosions in all environments. The United Nations General Assembly adopted it on Sept. 10, 1996. However, the treaty did not come into effect as several states did not ratify the treaty, Israel being among them. If Israel ratifies the treaty, it would increase its odds of coming into effect.

Israel had never officially confirmed or denied being in possession of nuclear weapons, but it is widely believed to possess them. It is thought to be one of the four nuclear-armed countries not recognized as a nuclear weapons state by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

In a report issued by U.S. atomic scientists and nuclear weapon proliferation experts in 2013, it was assessed that Israel manufactured 80 nuclear warheads up to 2004 and then stopped their production.

The report, cited in international media reports, also charged then that Israel could double its arsenal to build at least another 115 bombs.
MANILA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Seven suspected robbers were killed Monday in a clash with the policemen in northern Philippine province of Pampanga.

Region 3 Police Office said that the armed encounter took place before noon along Angeles-Magalang Road in Mexico town when the suspects riding two separate private vehicles tried to evade a checkpoint.

Police said a reliable information was received that an armed group would rob a company at Pandacaqui, Mexico, prompting authorities to launch a dragnet operation.

But when the law enforcers tried to stop them, they fled, prompting a hot pursuit operation and exchanged of fires.

The suspects, allegedly involved in highway robbery, carnapping, robbery hold up and kidnapping, were killed in the incident.

Further investigation has been ongoing to identify the suspects.
TEHRAN, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has left Iraq for Syria as the conflicts in Syria heat up, a local news agency reported on Monday.

"Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani rushed to Syria to oversee Resistance operations as the fight with terrorists takes a violent turn in recent days," semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

Soleimani departed for Syria to join his fellow warriors in the suburbs of Aleppo on Sunday, the report said.

During the recent liberation operation of the Islamic State (IS)-held city of Fallujah in Iraq, Soleimani was providing military advice to the Iraqi armed forces, the report added.

The Quds Force, also known as Qods, is a special unit of Iran's IRGC responsible for "extraterritorial" missions of the Corps.

Iran, a major regional ally of the Syrian and Iraqi governments in their fight against the militant groups, has repeatedly announced the presence of its military advisors in both countries.
A web pic shows drowned three-year-old Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi lying washed up on a Turkish beach. (File photo)

BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- After more than a decade since the United Nations (UN) General Assembly started to observe World Refugee Day on June 20 every year, the refugee problem still remains unsolved.

Every minute eight people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror, according to the United Nations. The world is experiencing the worst refugee and humanitarian crisis since World War II, as the conflicts and turmoil waged by the U.S.-led Western forces are displacing a growing number of people.

UNPRECEDENTED REFUGEE CRISIS

According to UN data, the refugee population has currently surpassed 60 million around the world, and about 1.19 million people will need resettlement in 2017, likely up 72 percent on the projected needs of 691,000 in 2014, before the large-scale resettlement of Syrians began.

"With a multitude of conflicts and crises causing record displacement around the world, resettlement has become an increasingly vital part of UNHCR's efforts to find solutions and advocate for fairer responsibility-sharing for refugees," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said recently.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi said prior to the World Refugee Day, "we are in a period of deepening conflict and turmoil in the world, which is causing many more people to flee their homes than before."

"It affects and involves us all, and what it needs is understanding, compassion and political will to come together and find real answers for the refugee plight. This has become a defining challenge of our times," he added.

Millions of men, women and children face an uncertain road ahead.

So far this year, some 2,856 migrants and refugees have drowned crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe, standing at over 1,000 more fatalities compared to 2015's mid-year total, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

WESTERN FORCES BEHIND CRISIS

Among other factors, the interventions of the United States and its European allies have exacerbated the domestic contradictions of some countries like Syria and Libya.

Analysts said the crux of the long-running crisis in Syria is foreign interference, which has made the situation in the country unusually complicated and stripped the Syrians of the right to decide their own fate.

Metin Corabatir, vice chairman of the Asylum and Migration Research Center, said by the end of this year, some 4.7 million Syrian refugees are expected to be registered in the Middle East, besides the 5.6 million who will flee to other areas within the country.

Prior to Syria, the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan drove millions from their homes and into neighboring countries.

"Overwhelmingly, it was countries of the developing world that were most affected, but Europe too witnessed dramatic scenes, as hundreds of thousands of people crossed the Mediterranean in search of safety and refuge. Thousands died along the way," Grandi said.

Among the developed countries, it is the Europeans who are suffering from the rampant terrorist attacks and facing a culminating refugee crisis thanks to their geographical proximity.

Meanwhile, in the far away United States, U.S. President Barack Obama said that the "worst mistake" of his presidency is "probably failing to plan for the day after what I think was the right thing to do in intervening in Libya."

EFFECTIVE MEASURES NEEDED

As Chinese President Xi Jinping has said, the root of the current refugee crisis troubling Europe lies in unbalanced development and regional instability.

Thus, in addition to humanitarian aid, the international community should find an effective solution to poverty and social instability, and especially eliminate the cause of conflicts in the refugee source countries.

First, to end conflict and violence, any kind of foreign intervention should be abandoned, as neo-interventionism has proved to be a failure and seriously harmed the peaceful and stable international order.

Second, the refugee source countries should work together with relevant parties to find a political solution to domestic chaos, and exert efforts to develop their economies and improve people's livelihoods.

Third, the international community, especially developed countries, must do more to help people who live in war-torn countries. Actually, more than 90 percent of the 60 million refugees have been accepted by developing countries, and developed countries should shoulder due responsibility. Enditem
WARSAW, June 20, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a welcoming ceremony held by Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw, Poland, June 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

WARSAW, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China and Poland agreed on Monday to upgrade their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Poland.

Xi and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda made the announcement after they held talks at the Presidential Palace. The two countries established a strategic partnership in 2011.

During their talks, the two leaders agreed to align the two countries' development strategies and join hands to build a community of interests featuring mutual benefits and win-win cooperation.

The two leaders also agreed to promote the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, launching at an early date some major cooperation projects with exemplary significance for early harvest.

Xi urged the two countries to transform their political trusts into tangible achievements of sustainable practical cooperations, hoping their cooperative projects, including China-Europe freight train service, could play a leading role in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative while enhancing China-Poland inter-connectivity as well as production capacity cooperation.

Duda, for his part, said Poland is willing to work more closely with China on areas of economy and commerce, people to people exchanges, and become a portal to Europe for the world's second largest economy.

Before the meeting, Duda held a welcoming ceremony for Xi at the Presidential Palace.

Poland is the second leg of Xi's three-nation Eurasia tour. He visited Serbia before Poland, and is expected to travel to Uzbekistan for a state visit and attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
BORTALA, June 20, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Soldiers rescue two trapped children after a flood submerges dozens of villages in Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture of Bortala, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 19, 2016. A torrential rainfall triggered a flood in Bortala on Sunday. (Xinhua/Zhang Jia)

BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese disaster relief authorities have started an emergency response to floods in Hubei Province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The National Commission for Disaster Relief and the Ministry of Civil Affairs began the level-four emergency response on Monday afternoon and sent teams to help relief work in the two regions.

Heavy rains and floods have left six dead and 15 missing in Hubei and three dead and one missing in Xinjiang. Nearly 140,000 people had been relocated in the two regions.

Authorities have arranged 1,000 tents and 1,000 folding beds for the flood-hit areas in Hubei. Hubei provincial authorities also sent four work teams to guide disaster relief efforts.

Xinjiang authorities sent two work teams and allocated 932,000 yuan (142,000 U.S. dollars) in cash, food and drinking water worth 1.83 million yuan and hundreds of tents.
A typical wedding setting at Ayia Thekla beach on the south shores of Cyprus. (Photo courtesy of Sotira Municipality, Cyprus)

NICOSIA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The sight of a just married bride splashing in the sea in her expensive wedding gown is becoming a frequent feature at Ayia Thekla, a stretch of picturesque beaches on the south shores of Cyprus.

As more and more people opt to marry on the beach, several young couples make it a point -- some of them consider it a luck token -- to spoil their wedding attire in the turquoise and green shallow sea.

Ayia Thekla is a stretch of unspoiled coastline next to the Ayia Napa beaches on which thousands of mostly young holidaymakers bask in the sunshine every day.

It is within the boundaries of Sotira village, a mostly agricultural community several kilometers inland, producing mainly potatoes, tomatos. But the community has come out dynamically in tourism, mostly concentrating on offering wedding schemes to young couples on summer vacation.

"We started with a few weddings in 2013. We had about 100 weddings last year and we'll end with over 300 this year," said Marinos Pavlikas, in charge of the weddings section of the Sotira Municipality.

Ayia Thekla shot into world fame after Thomas Cook recommended it as the perfect place to hold a beach wedding in its Summer 2016 "Travel" magazine, listing similar destinations in the Greek Islands, Malta, Venice, Cape Town, Majorca and Los Angeles.

"The famous Ayia Thekla beach in Sotira is a lovely stretch of coastline where waters lap the shore... You couldn't find a more picturesque place for a wedding to remember," noted Tomas Cook's "Travel" magazine.

Pavlikas is kept busy every day arranging marriages or accompanying couples to the site to choose the spot of their liking.

"We offer facilities for either a beach wedding on one of our three beaches -- Poseidon, Ayia Thekla and Sirens -- of a church wedding in an all-denomination chapel next to the beach," Pavlikas told Xinhua, just after arranging another beach marriage.

Ayia Thekla was named after a chapel dedicated to a saint of the same name which was originally set up in an underground tomb chiseled in the beach rock -- a common feature of the nearby Makronisos (long island) necropolis of the Helenistic and Roman eras. An above the ground chapel was built later nearby.

Compared to its neighboring noisy cosmopolitan beaches of Ayia Napa, Ayia Thekla is a pristine region. There is not a single hotel in the vicinity, the only other tourist facilities being a complex of 12 hotel apartments well inland and a couple of restaurants.

The color pattern of the sea is remarkable, changing between turquoise and dark blue, depending on the time of the day and the amount of cloud and its color in the sky.

"Cyprus is the home of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. So if you are true romantics, there is not better place to choose to tie the knot," is the enticing message of the Sotira Municipality.

Pavlikas said that most of the marriages take place is May, which is rather early in the tourist season and in September, when there are fewer people on the beaches and the sometimes brutal Mediterranean summer changes into a mellow autumn.

They have the choice of a palm tree backdrop for their wedding or the settings of rocks lining the beach.

"Some people prefer to marry just before noon. But most arrange their marriage near sunset, when the sky is tinted purple and the sun sends streaks of light on the sea surface," he added.

He said he has seen couples who are so much carried away by the general surroundings that they wade with their wedding attire in the shallow lagoon formed between an islet and the beach.

The entire wedding ceremony can cost up to 500 euros, which is only a fraction of what it would cost people back home.

Some prefer more elaborate arrangements, hosting a wedding meal or dinner for their guests or treating them to a tour in an open-roofed bus, champagne and all, through the streets of nearby resorts.

Holidaymakers, many of them still in their bathing suits strolling along the busy streets lined with shops and cafes, cheer as the newlyweds pass by.
ARUSHA, Tanzania, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian researchers on Monday launched new beans varieties that won't hurt people with stomach ulcers and they are more resistant to drought and diseases.

The launch of the new bean varieties came at the time when there is an increasing number of people suffering from stomach ailments, and they have always avoided beans, but now researchers have come up with new beans varieties that will be friendly to all sensitive colons.

Agricultural Research Institutes in the country here have just floated 27 new types of seed inputs, among them nine new beans varieties are more resistant to drought and diseases.

"The new bean seeds are bountiful, being capable of producing 1.2 tons per acre which is six times the current rate and is a major stride from the traditionally recycled seeds whose yielding capacity stands at 200 kilogram per acre," said Firmin Mizambwa, Chief Executive Officer for the Agriculture Seeds Agency.

Seed producers in the country are heavily dependent on rain to grow the inputs, which plagues agricultural development in Tanzania.

"We need to synchronize the time when seed producer readies their inputs and the planting season for farmers if we are to be sure of interdependency between the two parties," Mizambwa said.

As far as the Agriculture Seeds Agency CEO is concerned, seed producers must use alternative ways other than waiting for rain like ordinary farmers.

"Only 25 percent of farmers use improved seeds varieties in the country and surprisingly many are those in Dodoma, Singida, Mwanza, Tanga and Coast," said Wilson Nkhambaku, the Arumeru District Commissioner.

He added that Arusha, despite hosting many of the agricultural research centers, does not make use of the new seeds.
GUANGZHOU, June 20 (Xinhua) -- A local procuratorate in south China's Guangdong Province said on Monday that the Party chief of Wukan Village has been detained for suspected bribe taking.

Lin Zulian, also head of Wukan Village, is suspected of taking bribes during the organization of bids for public projects since 2012, said the people's procuratorate in Lufeng City.

The procuratorate opened an official investigation on Friday following three months of initial investigation.

Prosecutors said the amount of bribes is substantial, without giving a specific figure.
GENEVA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- With an unprecedented 65.3 million displaced people recorded globally last year, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) indicated Monday that one in every 113 people is now either an asylum seeker, an internally displaced person or a refugee.

"This is very bad news. This means that few people have been able to find solutions while a much bigger number of people have chosen exile," said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.

Amid conflict, systemic violence and human rights violations, UNHCR's new Global Trends report shows that forced displacement dynamics are showing no signs of improving.

Factors threatening the lives of those forced to flee their homes are also multiplying, the high commissioner noted, a particularly worrying trend given that half of the world's refugees are children.

"At sea, a frightening number of refugees and migrants are dying each year. On land, people fleeing war are finding their way blocked by closed borders. Politics is gravitating against asylum in some countries," he explained.

In 2015 alone, some 12.4 million people were newly displaced as a result of conflict or persecution.

More than half were from three countries: Syria (4.9 million), Afghanistan (2.7 million) and Somalia (1.1 million).

Despite the attention given to the one million refugees and migrants who reached Europe last year, UNHCR indicated that 86 percent of refugees under its mandate were actually located in low and middle income countries in proximity to conflict areas.

"Refugees are a shared global responsibility, they cannot just be the responsibility of a few host countries and a few donor countries. There has to be a broader conscious, problems will come to all of you if you don't solve them," Grandi warned.

For the second consecutive year, Turkey was host to the largest refugee population in the world, with 2.5 million refugees recorded there at the end of 2015.

With only 201,400 individuals returning to their countries of origin last year, Grandi underscored the importance of cooperation to address the root causes behind record levels of forced displacement.

"The willingness of nations to work together not just for refugees but for the collective human interest is what's being tested today, and it's this spirit of unity that badly needs to prevail," he said.
MOGADISHU, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab on Monday burnt three trucks which were carrying food near Hudur town, the capital of Bakool region in southwestern Somalia, a local official has said.

Governor of Bakool region, Mohamed Abdi, told reporters that the Somali National Army had arrived in the area where the incident happened and launched a search for the militants.

"Al-Shabaab militants burnt down three big trucks at a location 70 kilometers east of Hudur town in Bakool region, two of the trucks left from this town to Beledweyne town in Hiiraan region, they were empty; the other one came from Beledweyne town with food shipment to Hudur.

"The militants removed all passengers and burnt the trucks but did not kill anyone," the governor said.

It is said the trucks belonged to individual companies and were used for business.

Al-Shabaab militants have isolated Hudur and many other towns in Bakool from other towns in the country and have been blocking humanitarian assistance from reaching vulnerable populations there.

The Somali army, alongside the African Union peacekeeping troops in Somalia, has been battling Al-Shabaab militants, which still control some rural areas in southern Somalia and often attack military and civilian targets in the country.
VILNIUS, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite signed a decree on Monday appointing Rasa Budbergyte, former state auditor of Lithuania, as the country's new finance minister.

The newly-appointed minister will face a challenge of tackling financial populism in the country despite short period of time at the office, Grybauskaite was quoted as saying in a statement released by the presidency.

Budbergyte will serve as finance minister until Lithuania's national elections which will be held in October this year. She took over the duties from Rimantas Sadzius.

After meeting with the president on Monday, Budbergyte admitted that Lithuania must stick to the rules of financial discipline, therefore, pre-electoral populism must be resisted. She also mentioned that radical tax reform must be implemented in Lithuania as it is recommended by major international organizations.

"As international experts underline, taxes more favourable to economy growth must be introduced sooner or later; real estate and environmental taxes are on the list," Budbergyte told reporters.

In recommendations to Lithuania published in May, the European Commission encouraged the country to shift the tax burden to sources less detrimental to growth and improve tax compliance. The International Monetary Fund repeatedly called for introducing real estate and vehicle taxes in Lithuania.

Budbergyte will have to submit Lithuania's state budget for 2017 this autumn.

According to the presidency, the priorities are national defence and social security.

"In addition, particular attention must be paid to the country's commitments and recommendations of international bodies, such as the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), regarding productivity, innovation and uptake of technologies," Lina Antanaviciene, the president's chief advisor for economic policy, was quoted as saying by ELTA news agency.

Budbergyte will assume office as of Tuesday after taking an oath in the parliament.
VIENTIANE, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Laos expects to make a submission to UNESCO for world heritage listing of the Plain of Jars in northern Xieng Khuang province as well as Phou Hin Nam Nor (stone pillar mountain) in central Khammuan province next year, locao media reported on Monday.

Officials from Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment, and Khammuan provincial authorities met last week in the province to discuss works prepared to submit the proposal to UNESCO for listing Phou Hin Nam Nor as Laos's first world heritage site bas ed solely on its natural charms, local Vientiane Times online newspaper reported Monday.

"We will soon finalize a report to the government for consideration and once the government approves it we can proceed to the next step, the submission of the proposal to UNESCO," Deputy Director General of the Heritage Department under the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Viengkeo Souksavatdy said to reporters last Friday.

Viengkeo, who attended the meeting and has been involved in the preparations since the early stages, added that all-round preparations have been set down.

Laos plans to submit a proposal to UNESCO to consider listing the Plain of Jars first, to be followed by potential listing for Phou Hin Nam Nor.

"We expect to submit the proposal to UNESCO to consider listing the Plain of Jars by early next year and then make a proposal for listing Phou Hin Nam Nor soon after," he told Vientiane Times.

Officials said creating a more detailed map to outline the boundaries of the Plain of Jars and removing unexploded ordnance (UXO) from remaining sites will be the focus of preparations for proposing the tourist attraction be listed as a world heritage site.

The Plain of Jars, some 200 km north of capital Vientiane by aerial distance, is a megalithic archaeological landscape that is thought to date back 2,500 to 3,000 years.

It contains more than 2,000 stone jars, the biggest of which is more than three meters high with a circumference of eight meters.

Scattered throughout the Xieng Khuang plateau, the stone jars appear in clusters, ranging from a single or a few to several hundred jars in the lower foothills surrounding the central plain and upland valleys.

With the Jars having been scattered over many sites, officials in charge have decided to select 12 sites on the Plain of Jars for inscription on UNESCO's list of world heritage sites.

The 82,000-hectare Phou Hin Nam Nor, some 300 km southeast of capital Vientiane by aerial distance, comprises a multitude of rocky outcrops that en masse resemble a stone forest.

Its attraction is enhanced by the wildlife and plant species that inhabit the area. A naturally created seven kilometre tunnel under the stone pillar mountain area through which the Xebangfai River flows creates additional natural charm. Phou Hin Nam Nor is believed to have formed due to a volcanic eruption several centuries ago. The site was added to the country's list of National Protected Areas in 1993.

If listed, Phou Hin Nam Nor would be Laos' first natural World Heritage Site. Two sites in Laos -- the historic town of Luang Prabang and Vat Phou Champassak were listed as cultural World Heritage sites in 1995 and 2001 respectively.
TEHRAN, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Iran's announcement on Monday of foiling a major bombing plot is believed to be the latest victory in its efforts to boost security across the Islamic republic.

The Intelligence Ministry, in a statement carried by local media outlets, said the intelligence services recently thwarted "one of the biggest terrorist plots" targeting Tehran and other cities.

"In this criminal plot, a terrorist group had schemed to carry out a series of bombings in different parts of the country, including in Tehran," state-run IRINN TV quoted the statement as saying.

"In the operations by the Intelligence Ministry, the terrorists were detained and a number of bombs, ready to explode, and a sizeable amount of materials for making bombs were seized from the terrorists," the statement said.

Further information about the terrorist plot will be announced in the following days as the investigation process advances, it added.

Also on Monday, Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani said that "the Iranian authorities had suspected several people of trying to launch bomb attacks in Tehran."

The plotters, who planned to carry out attacks in the holy month of Ramadan, were arrested over the past few days, Shamkhani was quoted as saying by semi-official Fars news agency.

"The capable and experienced security forces of Iran are able to foil any terrorist act in any part of the country," he said.

He said Takfiri terrorist groups seek to sow discord among Muslims.

Last week, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said that its forces smashed two "terrorist" cells and killed 12 terrorists in northwestern Iran.

Three members of the IRGC also died in the clashes with "counter-revolutionary terrorist groups" on Wednesday, the IRGC said in a statement on Thursday.

A sizeable supply of ammunition, equipment and documents were also captured in the operations, according to the statement.

Following the incursion of two terrorist teams into the country from the border region of Oshnavieh in Iran's northwestern province of West Azarbaijan on Wednesday, the Hamzeh Seyed al-Shohada headquarters of the ground forces of the IRGC managed to identify and bust them thanks to the intelligence and military operations, said the statement.

A report by Fars news agency said on Thursday that the "terrorists" belonged to outlawed "counter-revolutionary terrorist groups," including the Kurdish Democratic Party, who had crossed the northwestern borders into the country.

On June 13, Press TV also reported that Iranian security forces killed five Jaish-ul-Adl terrorist group members in the southeastern provinces of Sistan and Baluchestan.

Jaish al-Adl, which in Arabic translates to the Army of Justice, is a Sunni rebel group attempting to fight for the rights of Sunni Muslims in the Iranian provinces of Sistan and Baluchestan, and was responsible for numerous attacks against Iran's border posts.

Police spokesman Saeed Montazer-al-Mahdi said the terrorists had planned to conduct terror attacks and that Iranian security forces confiscated substantial amounts of ammunition from them.

The terrorists were killed during the clashes with police, Al-Mahdi said, adding that a policeman was also killed during the clashes, according to Press TV.

On June 13, the IRGC said they also disabled a terrorist group in the northwest of the country, killing five terrorists, all all members of the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK).

The PJAK is an Iranian offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, and the five terrorists were killed in an ambush near the city of Sardasht in Iran's northwestern province of West Azerbaijan along the border with Turkey, the IRGC said on its website.

The IRGC added that the PJAK members were also behind the "martyrdom" of three members from the local Basiji militia forces.
WARSAW, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China and Poland issued a joint communique here on Monday and agreed to upgrade their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, in a display of their shared commitment to further deepen bilateral cooperation.

China and Poland regard each other as a long-standing and stable strategic partner, and see the other's development as an important opportunity for mutually beneficial and win-win results, according to the document signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the country.

China and Poland pledged to promote bilateral ties in an all-dimensional manner to benefit the two peoples by enhancing cooperation in politics, economy, society and culture, and expanding coordination and cooperation on global and regional affairs in a spirit of mutual respect, equal treatment and win-win cooperation, the document said.

To further deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership, China and Poland agreed to strengthen high-level exchanges, and expand bilateral communication and cooperation at all levels between the two countries' central and local governments, legislatures and parties.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment on mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as mutual understanding on each other's interests and major concerns.

Poland said it supports peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait and renewed its adherence to the one-China policy in the document.

The two sides are ready to push forward bilateral cooperation within the framework of Poland's sustainable development strategy and China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, which refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, said the communique.

China and Poland will strengthen the synergy of their development strategies, and conduct and deepen mutual beneficial cooperation to realize peace, sustainable development and common prosperity.

The two countries stand ready to further deepen their all-dimensional economic relations in the light of the principles of equality and mutual benefit. They pledged fair treatment of each other's companies.

China and Poland will make use of existing bilateral mechanisms to deepen cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, finance, transportation and logistics, infrastructure construction, civil aviation, energy, agriculture, e-commerce, science and technology, and environmental protection.

The two sides vowed joint efforts to promote balance of two-way investment and bilateral trade by further facilitating market access.

China and Poland will continue to encourage and support their enterprises to extend cooperation and actively explore new modes of cooperation in the fields such as infrastructure construction and production capacity cooperation.

China welcomes Poland's participation in Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank as a founding member.

China and Poland agreed to expand cooperation in such areas as culture, education and sports, deepen exchanges in areas including tourism, medical care and think-tank, and push forward communication between the two countries' young people.

The two sides are willing to improve visa application procedures to best serve bilateral personnel exchanges.

China and Poland believe that the mechanism of China-Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) cooperation has effectively boosted practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and thus become a significant platform for China and CEE countries to deepen friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The China-CEE cooperation, in alignment with major initiatives by the European Union (EU), prompts the development of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

China and Poland stand ready to beef up communication and coordination in accordance with the principles of openness, inclusiveness, mutual benefit and win-win results, to jointly push for greater development of China-CEE cooperation.

China speaks highly of Poland's role in China-EU relations. Both sides support an early conclusion of negotiations on an ambitious and extensive China-EU investment agreement, which covers market assessment and investment protection.

The two sides stressed commitment to push forward democratization and institutionalization of international relations in accordance with principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations.

They called on world countries to jointly face challenges, seek development and share prosperity on the basis of equality and mutual trust, inclusiveness and mutual learning, and win-win cooperation.

The joint communique also includes items on other global and bilateral issues.

The Chinese president arrived in Poland on Sunday, the second stop of his three-nation Eurasia tour, which also includes Serbia and Uzbekistan.

Related:

China, Poland lift ties to comprehensive strategic partnership

WARSAW, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China and Poland agreed on Monday to upgrade their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Poland.

Xi and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda made the announcement after they held talks at the Presidential Palace. The two countries established a strategic partnership in 2011. Full story

Spotlight: Xi kicks off state visit to Poland, seeking Belt and Road gateway into Europe
DHAKA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- For businesses in Bangladesh, this time of year can be the most lucrative and and all sorts of food and enchanting lights adorn Dhaka's many posh markets including red Chinese lanterns which can also be seen hanging in front of the many bustling markets.

Such exquisite decorations are all aimed at attracting customers ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, one of the biggest religious festivals celebrated after Ramadan.

It is the month when millions of Bangladeshi citizens living in the capital are rushed off their feet shopping in preparation for the lavish festival.

And this year is no exception. Shoppers are flocking to markets as storekeepers are reveling in the sudden hike to their profits and each days sees the numbers of shoppers increase and the markets packed with those stocking up on essential festival goods.

All roads leading to the big shopping malls are clogged with vehicles from first thing in the morning almost every day. City markets and shopping centers are packed with customers from morning till midnight. The readymade garment shops and shoe stores are among the ones drawing the most customers as people are busying buying new clothes in preparation for Eid.

The Muslim majority in Bangladesh will celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr in the country on or around July 6 based on the sighting of the new moon.

With the largest festival drawing ever-nearer, Shoppers are combing various markets and browsing through the latest outfit designs.

In New Market, one of the busiest markets in the capital, and at the Bashundhara Market, many customers over the weekend were laying out a lot of cash on a variety of gifts either for themselves or for family members.

The owner of a children's outfit shop in Bashundhara said that more and more customers with kids are coming to his shop to buy dresses for their children as a priority.

Obaidul Anwar Khan, the manager of the Bashundhara outlet in the Infinity Mega Mall, a leading fashion brand and largest family shopping destination in Bangladesh, said they have a wide array of accessories to fit people of all ages.

"More and more customers are flocking to our store every day. With the Eid rush reaching its peak, we hope we will see further boom in sales from this weekend."

Trader Rahim Miah, in Dhaka's New Market, said they are buzzing with shoppers as many officials who have already received their Eid bonuses and salaries for this month in advance flocked to the market.

Shoppers were seen pouring over electronic items and mobile phone handsets. Outlets of leading China-made smartphone brands were a particular draw for those looking for some new high-tech gear.

Customers at this time of year do not jut spend money on themselves but also on their family members, because this is the month when rich Muslims support their poorer relatives. Makeshift stalls on street pavements are also drawing a large number of buyers.

"We're also getting tons of customers at this time of year," said Abdul Khaleq, a street vendor.

He sells his wares at a fixed price to avoid time-consuming haggling.

Usually Khaleq, like other street vendors, demand a higher price to sell something which later they will sell for far less. But these days none of the vendors have time to negotiate with penny-pinching customers.

"It's good to see that most of the street sellers are asking reasonable or fixed prices. I prefer to buy something from a fixed price shop, because I think I am getting a good deal," said Fahmida Akter, who was browsing some cosmetics and jewelry to match her Eid dresses.

As well as shopping, people are also flocking to kitchen markets. Butchers' shops, bakeries and confectioneries have also been witnessing a heavy rush of customers as Muslims started preparing for the Eid festival, which is not only a holiday for shopping, but also a holiday for family reunions and to provide support for poor relatives and neighbors.

According to estimates, around 5 million people from Dhaka will celebrate the holiday in their hometowns.

Due to the huge volume of people packing into the markets, the Bangladeshi Home Ministry has deployed additional police personnel around the markets to beef up security for the shoppers and the traders.
Demonstrators gather at Plaza Morelos for a march in Caracas, Venezuela, on June 17, 2016. Pro-government demonstrators marched on Friday to denounce the alleged fraudulent use of signatures seeking to activate a recall referendum against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, according to local press. (Xinhua/Str)

CARACAS, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Some 84 percent of Venezuelans are against foreign military intervention as a method to resolve social unrest, according to a survey released on Sunday.

The survey by Interlaces also found 74 percent of Venezuelans support dialogue between the ruling Socialist party and right-wing opposition groups.

The results of the survey, which questioned 1,500 people on June 7-15, were broadcast during a weekly TV program on channel Televen.

In May, the government proposed talks with rival political groups, with the presence of international envoys, to discuss the economic crisis and consequent social upheaval.

The first meeting took place on May 27 in the Dominican Republic, with the backing of the Union of South American Nations.

Venezuela and its main rival, the United States, have also agreed to hold parallel talks to ease the diplomatic tension between them.

Venezuelan Minister of Communication and Information Luis Jose Marcano on Sunday reiterated that his country expects "respectful treatment" from the United States at the upcoming talks.

"We request to be treated with respect for a diplomatic matter," Marcano said in an interview on Televen.
BRUSSELS, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Six people have been arrested in the Brussels region in connection with the foiled attack on a Thalys high-speed train from Amsterdam to Paris in August 2015, local media reported on Monday.

According to Belgian daily newspaper La Libre Belgique, four of the arrests were made in the Brussels district of Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, one in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert and another in Haren of the Belgian capital.

An investigating judge will decide later on Monday whether they should be kept in custody, the report added. No information about the identities of the six suspects has been made public.

The arrests are part of the investigation into a foiled attack on the Thalys train in the north of France on August 21 2015.

Ayoub El Khazzani was overpowered by two American soldiers after he boarded the train armed with a kalashnikov rifle, 300 bullets, an automatic gun and half a liter of petrol.

El Khazzani, who has Moroccan nationality, remains in police custody in France for attempted terrorist murder, La Libre Belgique added.

The report said he had stayed with his sister in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean shortly before the foiled attack.
BEIRUT, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Italian Parliament Speaker Laura Boldrini stressed Monday the importance of Lebanon to remain stable, strong and an example for coexistence in the region.

"Lebanon has an important and strategic role. It is in the best interest of the region for Lebanon to remain stable, strong and an example for coexistence," Boldrini told a joint press conference following talks with her Lebanese counterpart Nabih Berri.

The Italian official hailed Lebanon's capability to host the large influx of Syrian refugees and the presence of around two million refugees.

The United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) says Lebanon hosts around 1.1 million Syrian refugees, while the Lebanese government puts the actual number at more than 1.5 million.

In addition, Lebanon hosts about 500,000 Palestinian refugees residing mostly in 12 official camps across the country.

Lebanese officials have voiced their refusal to permanently resettle refugees in the country during meetings with UN envoys and foreign officials.

For his part, Berri said the meeting focused on the refugee crisis, "which poses a risk to Lebanon, the region and Europe, including Italy."
People hold a giant national flag of Venezuela during a demonstration to support Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government in Caracas, Venezuela, on May 31, 2016. (Xinhua/Fausto Torrealba/AVN)

CARACAS, June 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's surprise announcement this week that Washington is willing to hold talks with Venezuela is not a real breakthrough, thought it appears positive, Venezuelan experts have said.

The move is motivated by Washington's goal of regaining its influence in Latin America, not by a sincere desire to mend fences with Latin America's largest socialist country, political analysts in Venezuela said.

"The leading factor is still the loss of its hegemonic influence in the region," Abraham Carrillo, a political analyst, told Xinhua.

Carrillo noted that Washington has expressed support for a campaign by Venezuela's right wing to oust President Nicolas Maduro via a recall referendum.

The U.S. State Department released in early June its 2015 Country Reports on Terrorism, including Venezuela for maintaining "a permissive environment" toward "terrorist groups."

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (C) delivers a speech during a rally in Caracas, Venezuela, on June 1, 2016. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro urged the youth and the progressive movements of the country to keep on with permanent campaign against the intention of the "empire of intervene" in the Caribbean country. (Xinhua/Boris Vergara)

Meanwhile, the Washington-dominated Organization of American States (OAS) is scheduled to vote Thursday on whether or not to apply the so-called Democratic Charter against Venezuela, for allegedly breaking with democratic principles.

While Washington backs the idea of invoking the charter against Venezuela, the United States would not pursue suspending Venezuela's membership in the OAS if the vote finds the South American country guilty of violating democratic norms, Kerry said.

Washington is aware that pressing for Venezuela's suspension could be "counterproductive," if it alienates other governments in the region that are sympathetic to Venezuela or if it simply pushes Venezuela outside of Washington's sphere of influence, said political observer Ali Rojas Olaya, a former rector of the Santa Rosa Catholic University.

"These countries' exit (from the OAS) could mean the strengthening of alternative organizations of integration, such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the Union of South American Nations (Unasur)," Carrillo pointed out.

When announcing Washington was willing to talk with Caracas, Kerry said the White House also backed an Unasur initiative in attempt to promote dialogue between the Venezuelan government and the right-wing coalition Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD).

"Unasur has played an active and respectful role in the resolution of internal conflicts in its member countries," said Carrillo, adding "the U.S. government has set its sights on the organization, and will seek to influence policies of the bloc, now that it has new allies in the governments of Argentina and Brazil." Both South American countries have seen new pro-business governments with closer ties to Washington come to power.

Still, "no matter what the United States' interests may be, dialogue is important," said Olaya.

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shanno is expected to arrive soon in Caracas for talks with the Venezuelan government.
BRUSSELS, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) here on Monday announced to extend until July 27, 2017 the mandate of the EUNAFOR MED Operation Sophia, the EU naval operation to disrupt the business model of human smugglers and traffickers in the southern central Mediterranean.

According to a press release issued by the Council of the EU, the EU reinforced the operation's mandate by adding two supporting tasks: training of the Libyan coastguards and navy and contributing to the implementation of the UN arms embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya.

It said that legitimate Libyan authorities requested support in capacity building and training of their coastguards and navy. The mission's objective is to enhance their capability to disrupt smuggling and trafficking in Libya and perform search and rescue activities to save lives so that security in the Libyan territorial waters improves.

With regard to countering illegal arms trafficking, the operation will contribute to information sharing and support implementation of the UN arms embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya. This will increase maritime situation awareness and limit arms flows to Daesh (the Islamic State) and other terrorist groups, the EU statement said.

EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia was launched on June 22, 2015. The operation entered its active phase in October 2015, which enables the identification, capture and disposal of vessels used or suspected of being used by migrants' smugglers or traffickers.

Since then, the operation has contributed to the arrest and transfer to the Italian authorities of 71 suspected smugglers and traffickers and neutralized 139 vessels. In addition, the operation has helped save close to 16,000 lives.
ISTANBUL, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Turkish NGOs on Monday called on the world countries to do more to save Syrian refugee children from being "a lost generation."

Nine Turkish and international NGOs, in cooperation with Turkey's Jockey Club and the UN High Commission for Refugees, organized an event in Istanbul "to make Syrian refugee children feel children again."

Turkish and Syrian artists, musicians, performers and clowns made performances for more than 500 refugee children on the occasion of the World Refugee Day.

Representatives of NGOs noted that the refugee children urgently need to have psychological support to regain their mental health and overcome excessive trauma.

"Otherwise they will quickly become a lost generation," said Leyla Akca, a psychotherapist and clinical director of Turkish NGO Maya.

According to Akca, Syrian refugee children in Turkey feel discriminated, volatile and "don't feel like children."

"If we won't take necessary measures they will grow up as enemies of the host culture," she cautioned.

Psychotherapists with Maya have been working with more than 1,000 Syrian children across Turkey trying to heal their traumas through art and drama.

Referring to other countries' insufficient help to the refugees, Akca said, "We need them here to hear and understand the needs of Syrian refugees, not behind the closed doors of their parliaments."

Turkey's Jockey Club announced a new plan to hire some 1,000 young Syrian women as hostlers in the club's nine hippodromes in nine cities.

Turgut Alakus, the club's general director, also urged the international community to develop new plans and projects for Syrian women and children to help heal their psychological wounds.

"Turkey and Turkish NGOs are doing their best yet more is needed," he said.

Turkey hosts some three million refugees from Syria and Iraq, among them are some 1.5 million Syrian children.
Cuba today has four wind farms already in operation, including Gibara I and II, with total capacity of 11.7 MW, ranking Cuba 72nd worldwide in installed wind-power capacity.(File Photo)

GIBARA, Cuba, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Some 500 years after ocean winds swept Christopher Columbus' ships into Gibara Bay, in Cuba's eastern province of Holguin, officials are harnessing those same sea breezes to generate electricity.

The historic town of Gibara, where the famed explorer set foot during his first voyage to Cuba, is home to two wind farms that are part of a far-sighted government program to promote sustainable energy and reduce the country's reliance on imported fossil fuels.

The first wind farm, built by Spanish firm Gamesa, opened in 2008 with six 850 kW-wind-turbines, or a total installed capacity of 5.1MW.

Each megawatt is equal to the energy produced by 10 automobile engines, or put another way, one megawatt hour (MWh) is enough to run 330 homes for an hour.

"These are variable-speed (wind turbines), that is the blades rotate automatically looking for the intensity of the wind to generate more electricity," Rolando Gomez, representative of the state-owned wind farm, told Xinhua during a tour of Gibara I.

Gibara II opened close by in 2010, with another six turbines from Chinese firm Goldwind Science and Technology Co., Ltd, which produces fixed-speed wind turbines.

"These six turbines can last about 20 years and each with capacity of 750 kW, for a total capacity of 4.5 MW. Along with those at Gibara I, their total installed capacity reaches 9.6 MW," said Gomez.

The electricity they generate flows directly into Cuba's national grid, and according to Gomez, the two wind farms have contributed a total of 122.076 MWh since they began operating.

That figure represents a savings of 29,630 tons of petroleum oil, which in turn means about 96,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) was not released into the atmosphere.

Cuba today has four wind farms already in operation, including Gibara I and II, with total capacity of 11.7 MW, ranking Cuba 72nd worldwide in installed wind-power capacity.(File Photo)

"That's the main contribution of this type of energy," said Gomez, adding "we are compiling the results over the years at the country's experimental wind farms to determine which technology is the most feasible for each region in Cuba."

The data will also support decisions about where and how to allocate foreign investment, he said.

More wind farms may be in the works for Gibara, one of Cuba's most windswept regions.

In the meantime, Cuba is building its largest wind farm ever, Herradura 1, in the eastern province of La Tunas.

The facility will have thirty four 1.5 MW-turbines made by China's Goldwind, for a total of 51 MW.

Herradura 1 is expected to begin operating at the start of 2018, contributing one percent of the country's total energy production, and saving 40,000 tons in fossil fuels.

The project is part of a larger plan to build another 12 wind farms along the island's central and eastern northern coast, to generate up to 633 MW.

Some 600 million U.S. dollars in foreign capital has been earmarked to build at least seven of those wind farms.

Cuba today has four wind farms already in operation, including Gibara I and II, with total capacity of 11.7 MW, ranking Cuba 72nd worldwide in installed wind-power capacity.
by Marzia De Giuli

MILAN, June 20 (Xinhua) -- While the ongoing fashion week in Milan is subtitled "man", some brands' shows were decidedly unisex, featuring male models in clothes which could easily belong to women.

The geometric cuts of Chinese designer Miao Ran, who presented his spring/summer 2017 collection, adapted to the shape of the models' body to give them an androgynous look.

Colorful embroideries depicting creatures swimming on white canvas were the only decorative elements of his creations, which focused on clean lines and bold volumes with a play of light and shadow.

Rough denim, featherlight linen, white poplin and pure sand-washed silk, cotton mixed with a metallic thread, and weaved raffia were among the materials of his genderless collection.

"What I would like to do is just re-bring fashion back to the body, the body of people," Miao told Xinhua shortly after the show. In fact, fashion is made not for male bodies or female bodies, but for everyone, he explained. "And any person who feels self-confident, who knows who she or he is, can wear my clothes," he added.

Long coats in thick canvas were paired with flowing trousers, and loose-fitting bomber jackets and white shirts that fell well below the waist were matched with wide-legged pants.

"When I wear Miao Ran's creations I have the feeling that I am kind of free in my movements," one of the show's models, known as Roger B., said, "I feel comfortable and natural. More simply, I can say that I feel like myself," he said.

A clear distinction between menswear and womenswear also seemed to mean little to Vivienne Westwood, whose spring/summer 2017 collection recalled some of rock n' roll's greats, from fringe and military embellishments on jackets to fishnet detailing and velvet jackets.

Male models as often as did not wear skirts or dresses, while some female models also walked the runway dressed in wide, purposefully sloppy tailoring. Knit dresses in the British designer's new collection appeared to function as Arab-inspired tunics.

"Actually, Vivienne Westwood, who played a vital role in the emergence of punk rock in the 1970s, was the first designer to realize that some clothes can be indifferently worn by men and women. She also plays with the fact that -- whether we may like to acknowledge it or not -- men are often even vainer than women," Antonio Mancinelli, editor-in-chief at Marie Claire magazine, said after the show.

"With this and other collections, Westwood also encourages people to build their own style. For example, all the bold volumes and envelopes we saw today can be knotted, adjusted and adapted in a variety of ways according to different tastes," he added.

The spring summer 2017 menswear edition of fashion week opened on Friday and will run until Tuesday with 37 shows.
ISLAMABAD, Jun 20 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Ministry of Planning, Development, and Reform launched the country's first-ever official report on multidimensional poverty in Islamabad on Monday.

The report observed that poverty rate in Pakistan has dropped from 55 percent in 2004 to 39 percent in 2015. Four out of 19 Pakistanis live in multidimensional poverty, it stated.

Pakistan's official Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was earlier published in the Economic Survey of Pakistan for the Financial Year 2015-16. The report has been prepared with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), University of Oxford.

As per the findings, people living in Fata and Balochistan are the provinces worst hit by poverty while Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) and Punjab emerged as the least poor provinces. However, the poverty tendency and progress was found uneven across the country. On the urban-rural divide, the agriculture sector-based Pakistan showed 54.6 percent poverty in rural areas as compared to 9.3 percent in urban areas.

Similarly, disparity existed across the provinces. The report revealed that over two-thirds of the people living in FATA (73 percent) and Balochistan (71 percent) were living in the multidimensional poverty. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stood at 49 percent, Gilgit-Baltistan and Sindh at 43 percent each, whereas Punjab at 31 percent and AJK at 25 percent.

The MPI explored the poverty data at district level and declared that Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi have less than 10 percent multidimensional poverty while on the other hand Qila Abdullah, Harnai, and Barkhan all located in Balochistan- have more than 90 percent poverty.

As per the report, lack of excess to education contributed the most (43 percent) to the MPI, followed by living standards (32 percent), and health (26 percent). The figures confirmed that social indicators were still weak in Pakistan even where economic indicators appeared healthy.

On a cumulative basis, poverty ratio has decreased in Pakistan in the last decade but it actually increased in several districts in Sindh and Balochistan. The report also covered the level and composition of multidimensional poverty for each of Pakistan's 114 districts.

Pakistan's Minister for Planning, Development and Reform, Ahsan Iqbal said at the launching ceremony that poverty reduction was one of the core objectives of the government's Vision 2025. He further stated that inclusive and balanced growth was on top of the government's priority to benefit the marginalized communities. It would also help in Pakistan's progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, he added.

UNDP Country Director Marc-Andre Franche said on the occasion that the multidimensional poverty provides useful analysis and information for targeting poverty and reducing regional inequalities. "Many countries are using MPI to inform government priorities for planning and it is encouraging to see Government of Pakistan adopting MPI to complement monetary poverty measure in Pakistan," he added.

Director OPHI Sabina Alkire mentioned that the MPI has been development with input from all provinces which makes it a robust tool to target poverty in the country.

The Multidimensional Poverty Index uses a broader concept of poverty than income and wealth alone. It reflects the deprivations people experience with respect to health, education and standard of living. Since its development by OPHI and UNDP in 2010, many countries, including Pakistan, have adopted this methodology as an official poverty estimate, complementing consumption or income-based poverty figures.
BRUSSELS, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg marked the launch of the alliance's anti-submarine warfare exercise Dynamic Mongoose in a visit to Norway on Monday, NATO said in a press release.

The exercise, which focused on detecting and defending against submarines, will run for 10 days in the Norwegian Sea.

Joined by Norwegian Defence Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide, Stoltenberg addressed sailors aboard the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen.

Calling naval capabilities "as important as ever", he stressed that NATO must be able to operate "on the sea, over the sea, and also under the sea."

A total of 3,000 sailors and aircrew from eight NATO allies will be involved.

Four submarines from Canada, Germany, Norway and the United States, along with nine surface ships and four maritime patrol aircraft are taking part in the exercise.

This is the fourth time exercise Dynamic Mongoose has been conducted since 2012, 2014 and 2015.
TASHKENT, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The Uzbek Foreign Ministry held a press conference here Monday about the 16th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, saying a series of documents will be signed and tasks completed during the meeting.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Anvar Nasirov said according to the agenda, the heads of SCO member states will discuss issues of further deepening multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation within the SCO framework and exchange views on important regional and international issues.

In addition, they will address strengthening stability and security in Central Asia, expanding the SCO's contacts with other international organizations and states, as well as involving SCO observer states and dialogue partners more deeply in practical cooperation within the organization.

Moreover, the discussion is expected to include maintaining inter-state dialogue, achieving the SCO's common objectives in strengthening peace, stability and security, ensuring sustainable development of the SCO member states and joint efforts to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as deepening cooperation in economic and cultural areas.

At the end of the summit, a number of documents are set to be signed which are aimed at further improving the organization's activities, and developing mutually beneficial multifaceted cooperation among SCO member states.

The main outcome document of the meeting of the heads of state will be the Tashkent Declaration on the fifteenth anniversary of the SCO, which contains an assessment of the SCO's activities since its founding, a coordinated approach by member states, the organization's prospects and its positions on the current international and regional situation.

The SCO leaders will reaffirm that the organization is not directed against any other state or international organization in accordance with the principles of the SCO Charter.

The heads of state will approve the Action Plan for 2016-2020 to implement the SCO's Development Strategy, which includes specific actions in the main cooperative areas such as political, security, economic, cultural, humanitarian, informational and international spheres.

Meanwhile, the SCO countries will complete two tasks: one is to enhance peace, sustainable development, economic growth and progress, mutual trust, good-neighborliness, friendship and prosperity in the SCO area, the other is the development of the SCO as a multi-regional organization, which does not stipulate a formation of a military-political union or economic integration association by the establishment of supranational institutions of governance.

Nasirov said a Memorandum of Obligations by the Indian and Pakistani sides for obtaining SCO member state status will be signed, which is one of the important stages in the process of joining the organization as a full member.

Also, Nasirov said the two-day summit will kick off on June 23. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev and Tajik President Imomali Rakhmon have confirmed their participation in the 16th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State in Tashkent.

Presidents and senior officials from Afghanistan, Belarus, Pakistan, India and other observer states, as well as more than 1,000 representatives and journalists from various international organizations and countries will also take part in the meeting.
Afghan refugees hold protest over the living conditions at the accommodation center of Malakasa, 40 kilometers north of Athens, Greece, on June 8, 2016. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

GENEVA, June 20 (Xinhua) -- With an unprecedented 65.3 million displaced people recorded globally last year, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) indicated Monday that one in every 113 people is now either an asylum seeker, an internally displaced person or a refugee.

"This is very bad news. This means that few people have been able to find solutions while a much bigger number of people have chosen exile," said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi.

Amid conflict, systemic violence and human rights violations, UNHCR's new Global Trends report shows that forced displacement dynamics are showing no signs of improving.

Factors threatening the lives of those forced to flee their homes are also multiplying, the high commissioner noted, a particularly worrying trend given that half of the world's refugees are children.

"At sea, a frightening number of refugees and migrants are dying each year. On land, people fleeing war are finding their way blocked by closed borders. Politics is gravitating against asylum in some countries," he explained.

In 2015 alone, some 12.4 million people were newly displaced as a result of conflict or persecution.

More than half were from three countries: Syria (4.9 million), Afghanistan (2.7 million) and Somalia (1.1 million).

Despite the attention given to the one million refugees and migrants who reached Europe last year, UNHCR indicated that 86 percent of refugees under its mandate were actually located in low and middle income countries in proximity to conflict areas.

"Refugees are a shared global responsibility, they cannot just be the responsibility of a few host countries and a few donor countries. There has to be a broader conscious, problems will come to all of you if you don't solve them," Grandi warned.

For the second consecutive year, Turkey was host to the largest refugee population in the world, with 2.5 million refugees recorded there at the end of 2015.

With only 201,400 individuals returning to their countries of origin last year, Grandi underscored the importance of cooperation to address the root causes behind record levels of forced displacement.

"The willingness of nations to work together not just for refugees but for the collective human interest is what's being tested today, and it's this spirit of unity that badly needs to prevail," he said.
ISLAMABAD, June 20 (Xinhua) -- At least three policemen were injured when a bomb went off at their vehicle in Pakistan's northwest Peshawar city on Monday night, local media reported.

Dunya TV said that the police vehicle, carrying three cops, was on its routine patrolling when it came under attack at the outskirts of Peshawar, the capital city of the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Police said that the some unknown militants blew up the roadside planted explosives with a remote controlled device as the police vehicle passed by them, and fled the scene.

The injured policemen were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital in the city where one of them is said to be in critical condition.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

Police cordoned off the area for investigations. Enditem
BELGRADE, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Serbia and Croatia on Monday confirmed their readiness to improve relations by signing a declaration by which they oblige to solve all open bilateral issues.

Signing ceremony in the City of Subotica took place after a whole-day visit of Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitanovic to minority communities in Serbia and Croatia that started earlier Monday on the middle of the bridge over Danube River in the border zone between the two countries.

Both sides agreed at a joint press conference in Subotica City Hall in Serbia, that the declaration is a first step resolving many issues postponed in the past two and a half decades since the disintegration of Yugoslavia, and the war in the 1990s.

"Through this declaration we express that we wish our relations develop, while within that there are many concrete things we must achieve," Vucic said in Subotica after the signing ceremony.

"I thank Vucic for his pledge to make concrete steps to solve many problems of the Croatian community in Serbia," Grabar Kitanovic said, adding that the protection of Croatian minority in Serbia will also be her responsibility in the future.

Declaration that was previously adopted by both governments of Serbia and Croatia deals with six open issues - from protection of minorities,border line to succession of the Yugoslavian property, missing persons, migrant crisis and cross-border cooperation projects.

According to Monday's declaration, the two sides will first, improve protection of minorities in line with previous agreements and international conventions; second, delegation of the two countries will immediately start negotiations on defining the border line between Serbia and Croatia; third, the two sides are ready to speed up the implementation of the Agreement on succession from 2001; fourth, to search for missing persons their number one humanitarian priority.

The two countries also agree to actively coordinate act in the fight against terrorism and the migrant crisis and jointly engage in development and cross-border cooperation projects.

"If we cannot make a deal considering the border we will go to court, and that is a good solution," Vucic commented at the press conference in Subotica City Hall.

Before the signing of the declaration, Vucic and Kitanovic visited the birth house of Serbian scientist Milutin Milankovic in Dalj in Croatia, followed by a joint visit to the village Donji Tavankut near Subotica where many ethnic Croats live. Enditem




WARSAW, June 20, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and Polish President Andrzej Duda attend a press conference after their talks in Warsaw, Poland, June 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

WARSAW, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China and Poland agreed on Monday to upgrade their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the country.

Xi and his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, made the announcement after their talks in the Presidential Palace. The two countries lifted their ties to a strategic partnership in 2011.

ALIGNING DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

During their talks, the two leaders agreed to align the two countries' development strategies and join hands to build a community of interests featuring mutual benefits and win-win cooperation.

The two leaders also agreed to promote the development of the Belt and Road, and launch at an early date some major cooperation projects with exemplary significance for early harvest.

Poland is located in the heartland of Europe, with nearly all of the regular China-Europe freight trains going through the country. With its unique location, Poland can play an important role in realizing the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to revive the ancient trade routes stretching from China to the Middle East, Africa and Europe and even beyond.

Xi urged the two countries to transform their political trust into tangible achievements of sustainable practical cooperation, hoping their cooperative projects, including China-Europe freight train service, could play a pilot role in the joint construction of the Belt and Road and enhance China-Poland inter-connectivity as well as industrial capacity cooperation.

The two countries need to deepen their cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, finance, agriculture and high-tech industries, Xi said, adding that China and Poland should also promote their people-to-people exchanges and facilitate travels between the two countries.

Duda, for his part, said Poland admires what China has accomplished in economic and social development and stands ready to deepen its cooperation with China in the areas of economy, trade, and people-to-people exchanges, and become a portal to Europe for the world's second largest economy.

Duda also pledged to support China in hosting the 18th China-EU Summit scheduled in Beijing next month.

EXPANDING EXCHANGES

The two presidents agreed to expand high-level exchanges, as well as exchanges between legislative and administrative institutions, political parties and regions, and to enhance coordination in international affairs and within multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations and the Asia-Europe Meeting.

The two sides agreed to comprehensively push forward people-to-people exchanges, and to strengthen cultural and educational exchanges as well as cooperation in tourism.

They also agreed to strive for more tangible achievements in cooperation at local level and promote exchanges in sports, so as to build a solid social basis for the long-term development of bilateral ties.

As Poland is one of the first countries that recognizes and establishes diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, the two peoples have enjoyed a long-standing friendship, said Xi.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 67 years ago, China-Poland relations have continuously made headway, he added.

He noted that the two countries have witnessed frequent exchange of high-level visits, with fruitful results in cooperation and growing people-to-people exchanges, especially since they set up a strategic partnership five years ago.

The two leaders encouraged companies from both sides to invest in each others' countries and expand cooperation in the areas of agriculture, finance, telecommunications, environmental protection, high-tech, aviation and new energy.

Xi said China values its traditional friendship with Poland, and is willing to work with Poland to advance the continuous, healthy and in-depth development of bilateral ties.

Before the meeting, Duda hosted a welcoming ceremony for Xi at the Presidential Palace.

Poland is the second leg of Xi's current three-nation Eurasia tour. He visited Serbia before Poland, and is to travel to Uzbekistan for a state visit and attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
WARSAW, June 20, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping (C) meets with Marek Kuchcinski (L), marshal of the lower chamber of the Polish parliament (Sejm), and Marshal of Senate Stanislaw Karczewski (R) in Warsaw, Poland, June 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

WARSAW, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday urged Chinese and Polish legislative bodies to boost cooperation at various levels and through various channels, so as to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

He made the remarks when meeting with Marshal of the Polish Senate Stanislaw Karczewski and Marshal of the Sejm Marek Kuchcinski during a state visit to the Central European country.

The peoples of China and Poland have been supporting and learning from each other, and their traditional friendship has been growing since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1949, Xi said.

Noting that Poland is an important cooperative partner of China in Central and Eastern Europe and in the European Union, the Chinese president said he and his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, have decided to lift bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Friendly exchanges between the two countries' legislative bodies are an important part of bilateral relations and an important channel for people of the two countries to increase their friendship and learn from each other, Xi said, adding that the National People's Congress (NPC) of China has had close cooperation with Poland's Senate and Sejm with positive results in recent years.

He urged the two countries' parliamentary institutions to keep in touch and carry out cooperation at various levels, through various channels and in various forms so as to further advance bilateral ties.

Karczewski and Kuchcinski said that Poland's Senate and Sejm attach great importance to the Poland-China ties and are willing to enhance exchanges with the NPC and vigorously promote the bilateral cooperation in economy, culture and tourism, so as to bring bilateral ties to a new high and benefit the people of the two countries.

Xi arrived here Sunday for a state visit. It is the first state visit by a Chinese head of state to Poland in 12 years and the second leg of Xi's current three-nation Eurasia tour.

Xi visited Serbia before Poland, and is expected to travel to Uzbekistan for a state visit and attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
This file photo taken on March 15, 2016 shows Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump with his campaign manager Corey Lewandowski(L) addressing the media following victory in the Florida state primary in West Palm Beach, Florida. AFP PHOTO / RHONA WISE

WASHINGTON, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump dismissed his campaign manager on Monday as the New York billionaire developer was bogged down in controversies.

"The Donald J. Trump Campaign for President, which has set a historic record in the Republican primary having received almost 14 million votes, has today announced that Corey Lewandowski will no longer be working with the campaign," according to a statement offered by the Trump campaign to The New York Times.

Also with a belligerent character as Trump, Lewandowski was reportedly in constant conflict with GOP officials at the Republican national committee. His competing relations with Trump's new campaign chairman Paul Manafort, an experienced presidential campaign advisor to many Republican candidates, was also a reason behind his dismissal, according to local media who cited sources familiar with the issue.

The dismissal of one crucial member of Trump's core team came at a time when Trump was ripped by both Democrats and leaders within his own party after he made a series of controversial remarks, including his accusation that a Hispanic-American judge overseeing a civil fraud suit in California involving Trump University was biased.
Fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces prepare mortar shells in northern province of Raqqa, Syria May 27, 2016. (Reuters photo)

DAMASCUS, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) group has expelled the government troops from Syria's northern province of al-Raqqa, a monitor group reported Monday.

The IS unleashed a wide scale offensive on Monday, managing to reverse the progress of the Syrian army and allied fighters, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Syrian army retreated to a place 40 kilometer away from the al-Tabaqa airbase in al-Raqqa countryside; formerly they were only seven kilometers from that spot, which was the main goal of the military offensive on al-Raqqa, the de facto capital of the IS.

The observatory said the army is out of the administrative borders of al-Raqqa again.

The Syrian army entered al-Raqqa's administrative borders on June 4, days after offensive against the route between the town of Athriya in the central province of Hama, and the Al-Tabaqa town in al-Raqqa countryside.

Pan-Arab al-Mayadeen TV said the aim of attacking Al-Raqqa is to recapture the town of Al-Tabqa due to its strategic importance.

It would enable Syrian army to sever key routes linking Al-Raqqa to the northern province of Aleppo, where IS controls some of the border towns near Turkey and from where it smuggles fighters and weapons.




WARSAW, June 20, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Combo photo shows Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda (R), waving towards the first CHINA RAILWAY Express freight train as it arrives at the platform in Warsaw, Poland, on June 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi, Lan Hongguang)

WARSAW, June 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda, on Monday attended an arrival ceremony of a CHINA RAILWAY Express freight train, which signaled increasing railway links between the two countries.

The freight train carrying dozens of containers pulled into a cargo terminal in the Polish capital on Monday afternoon after travelling over 12 days from China.

Xi and Duda congratulated each other on the historic moment for the arrival of the first China-Europe freight train under the family brand CHINA RAILWAY Express.

The trans-continent train service began in 2011 before starting to use the family brand earlier this month. At present, there are 39 cargo train routes connecting the two continents of Eurasia.

Xi, who is on a state visit to Poland, has said he expects that cooperation projects like the China-Europe freight train service could play a pilot role in promoting the construction of the Belt and Road and China-Poland cooperation in inter-connectivity and industrial capacity.

"The great Belt and Road Initiative fully complies with Poland's development strategy of transportation and trade, and plays a pivotal role in cementing bilateral ties," said Polish Infrastructure Minister Andrzej Adamczyk at the arrival ceremony.

Proposed by Xi in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt that links China with Europe through Central and Western Asia by inland routes and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road connecting China with other Asian countries, Africa and Europe by sea routes.




WARSAW, June 20, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) meets with Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo in Warsaw, Poland, June 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

WARSAW, June 20 (Xinhua) -- China and Poland should join hands to further substantiate and broaden pragmatic cooperation to bring bilateral relations to a higher level, visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Monday.

Xi made the remarks when meeting with Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo during a state visit to Poland.

China and Poland should strengthen cooperation in various fields including transport, logistics and customs, and build a logistic center that could serve the Central and Eastern European(CEE) region, Xi said.

He called for Poland's deeper participation in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative by taking full advantage of the China-Europe freight trains, so as to enhance inter-connectivity between China and Poland as well as between China and other CEE countries.

Poland has been an important trade hub for millennia, both on the ancient Amber Road and the Belt and Road initiated by China. Many of the China-Europe freight trains launched in recent years, which have been brought under the family brand CHINA RAILWAY Express earlier this month, also pass through the country.

Hailing the traditional friendship between the two countries, Xi said that bilateral relations have been developing steadily since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1949, and have turned to be highly vigorous over recent years.

China is willing to participate in Poland's railway network upgrade, port construction and industrial zone projects, and push forward the bilateral production-capacity cooperation, said Xi.

The president encouraged the expansion of two-way investment and financial cooperation and urged the two countries to increase bilateral trade based on the principles of win-win and mutual benefit.

He also called on the two sides to deepen cooperation at local levels, enhance exchanges between think tanks, universities and scholars, and strengthen exchanges and cooperation in tourism and winter sports.

Xi appreciated Poland's contribution in the China-CEE cooperation, adding that China stands ready to work together with Poland and other CEE countries to deepen cooperation in economy, trade, energy and finance, so as to foster practical and long-lasting China-CEE cooperation, a mechanism linking China's Belt and Road Initiative with the European economic rim.

Szydlo, for her part, said that the Polish government attaches great importance to Xi's state visit and is willing to deepen cooperation with China in the areas of economy, trade, investment, agriculture, transport and infrastructure.

Poland is fully supportive of and vigorously participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, she said, adding that it is in the interests of both countries and the wider regions they are in.

Xi arrived in Warsaw on Sunday for a state visit, the first by a Chinese head of state to Poland in 12 years.

On Monday, China and Poland agreed to upgrade bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The two countries established a strategic partnership in 2011.

Poland is the second leg of Xi's three-nation Eurasia tour. He visited Serbia, and is expected to travel to Uzbekistan for a state visit and to attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
By Xu Xiujun, deputy director of International Politics and Economics Department, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; cartoon drawing by Liao Tingting, Chi Ying

On June 18, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Serbia, and attended a grand ceremony held by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic. They held talks amid a friendly atmosphere to reach an extensive common consensus.

They declared jointly to lift bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership level, while both had witnessed the signing of a series bilateral cooperation documents involving industrial capacity, finance and infrastructure construction.

Nikolic decorated Xi with the Order of the Republic of Serbia, the highest honor bestowed by Serbia to extend gratitude to the Chinese president for his outstanding contributions to advancing the bilateral ties. Xi also held meetings with Serbian Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic. Since the two nations established a strategic partnership in 2009, bilateral relations have accelerated.

Both sides have unanimously agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to comprehensive strategic partnership to revitalize a traditional friendship between China and Serbia.

It comes at the right time, which would be beneficial for docking the two nations development strategy and enhance cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The two sides can enjoy all-around cooperation, which symbolizes that the two nations have opened a new chapter of their traditional friendship, setting a good example for cooperation between China and other Central-Eastern European countries.

( The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com. )

(Source: CNTV.cn)
BEIJING, June 20, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Yoga lovers practise yoga at a glass sightseeing platform in Shilinxia scenic spot in Pinggu District of Beijing, capital of China, June 20, 2016. More than 150 yoga lovers practised Yoga on the 32.8-meter-long platform. International Day of Yoga will be celebrated on June 21. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
WASA employee charged with public nuisance

The man was arrested at a Sangre Grande grocery last Friday (June 17) by a team of Northern Division officers, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Surujdeen Persad, Snr Supt Rakjumar and Sgt Pitt.

The arrest followed extensive inquiries by police into a threatening phone call made to the E99 Command Centre on Corpus Christi (May 26).

This resulted in an evacuation of the Trincity Mall by bomb squad experts and although noting was found, Special Branch officers first detained a 42-year-old male employee of the Tunapuna/Piarco Regional Corporation for questioning.

After three days, the suspect was released after telling officers he had been at a popular bar in Arouca on Corpus Christi when he lent his phone to a man who wanted to make a call.

Officers carried out further investigations, which led to the arrest of the second suspect last Friday.

The man was placed on an identification parade on Saturday during which he was positively identified.
Boy, 17, among two murdered

At about 11.30pm on Saturday, Mickel Nichols, 17, was liming with two friends, Anthony Samuel and Anton James, at Building 13, Maloney, when they were approached by a lone gunman. The gunman began firing in their direction and Nichols was shot several times. He died on the spot. His two friends suffered minor injuries.

The body of Nichols was viewed by a district medical officer and ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre.

Officers of the Homicide Bureau are continuing investigations.

Meanwhile, the unidentified body of a man was discovered at Alcala Circular, La Horquetta, shortly after 12.15am yesterday (Sunday).

According to reports, officers of the La Horquetta Police Station responded to reports of loud gunshots at Alcala Circular.

When officers arrived on the scene they found the bullet-riddled body of the a man at the northern side of the roadway. The man appeared to be in his 20s and of African descent.

The body was viewed by a district medical officer who ordered the removal of the body to the Forensic Science Centre.

Snr Supt Rajcoomar, along with Insp Mark Maraj, and other officers visited the scene.

Investigations are continuing.
Six boys escape from St Michaels

According to reports, the six teenagers, ages 13 to 18, went missing shortly after 10pm on Saturday after a search of the dormitory at the Rehabilitation Unit where they were supposed to be.

The security guards at the school alerted the St James police and a thorough search was carried out for the missing teenagers.

The two who were recaptured were found walking along the streets of Port-of- Spain. The other four remain unaccounted for.

The six teenagers were sent to St Michaels Home for Boys for uncontrollable behaviour, possession of firearms and other serious offences.

Police sources told Newsday that this is not the first time that the teens have run away from the home. Previously, they were found and returned.

Investigators also said the security system at the home is not suitable and often the boys are allowed to leave freely and return whenever they feel like it. Yesterday, a team of police officers carried out several searches with the hope of locating the other teens but were restrained by inclement weather.
Morrison cops Walcott bursary

The panel comprising Jeanette Johnson, Merle Albino de Coteau, Michael Low Chew Tung, Garth Nicholas and Octavia Noel awarded the $10,000 bursary to Morrison who plays the tenor pan.

The busary, an initiative of the Patrons of Queens Hall, was presented on June 9 at the hall in St Anns.

Morrison who lives in Tobago and attends the University of the West Indies (UWI), is pursuing a BA (Musical Arts Special) and will complete this programme next year.

She will be continuing her studies for a Masters in Music, abroad. She studied under Liam Teague and others during a short summer programme in Wisconsin, USA.

She is already earmarked as a possible recipient of a music scholarship in pan at Northern Illinois University under Teague, a media release said.
Government angers JTUM leader

We are very unhappy with the way things are going, Roget said, adding, they continue to show absolute disregard for the Memorandum of Understanding and this can only be for the detriment of the government. Thus far they continue to show disregard for the Memorandum of Understanding, and this can only be to the detriment of the government. Because whilst we hold to our side of the MOU, there are certain Ministers who are very disrespectful to the process as defined in the document, he said, adding, their actions are even threatening the much needed industrial peace and stability, which is a major prerequisite for the countrys development, particularly in these challenging time, because if there was ever a time for collaboration, that time is now. Roget was addressing a noticeably smaller crowd of trade union members, who though numbered several hundreds, were visibly smaller from previous years where they had easily crossed into the thousands, at the traditional Labour Day celebrations at Charlie King Junction, Fyzabad yesterday.

And speaking on the theme- We demand Job Security and Protection for all Workers, Roget pointed out that government had implemented a number of measures in its midterm review without consulting the labour movement.

The midterm review did not address the sharing of the burden of adjustment and it seems as if no burden is being borne by the business community, Roget said, and noted that the reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT), as well as the raising of diesel had severely impacted the poor and the working class. And pointing out that the labour movement also had a responsibility to rescue our country from the difficult economic times, Roget then put forward the Movements economic roadmap saying a stimulus package comprising of 3 percent of the nations gross domestic product (GDP), should be invested in four sectors of the economy.

We propose that in the next budget government must provide a controlled stimulus package, with a fiscal injection in the vicinity of 3% of the GDP to be activated annually over the next three years, he said, adding, In other words, what the country needs at this time, is a major public investment in the economy. He said the public investment would focus on four productive areas: -Massive expansion in food production, with supporting expansion in processing capacity in the amount of TT$1.2 billion; Infrastructural projects  road repair and new roads in the amount of TT$1.5 billion; projects in tourism and manufacturing, with support for overseas market development in the amount of TT$1.5 billion and real investment in expanding our range of Energy products in the amount of TT$1.5 billion.

Our attitude to oil and gas must change, oil and gas must not only be seen as a natural resource to export with no added value, but as an input to manufacture a much wider range of energy products, he said.

He said an Industrial Development Fund should be developed with at least $2 billion dollars put aside for the growth of small and medium businesses which would offer employment to the workers which had been recently thrust onto the breadline.

And in typical stinging mode, Roget also declared JTUMs dissatisfaction with governments handling of the crime situation saying while they had seemed tom possess all of the answers on how to reduce crime but were now placing the fight against crime on everyone elses shoulders since assuming government ion September 21045. People feel less safe today than before, Roget said, and called on the Minister of National Security to consult with all of the major stakeholders including the Prisons Union regarding the critical area of prison reform.

We are holding you to account, he said.
Garcia calls on Govt run schools to step up

He was addressing the 2015 SE A Recognition ceremony at the Southern Academy for the Performing Arts, Rienzi Kirton highway, San Fernando on Saturday.

Saying there were approximately 480 primary schools of which 447 being government primary schools and the rest divided between the religious managed primary schools and privately run primary schools, he said the top 200 students had come from 68 primary schools.

As a government and as a minister, we look at these figures very closely, he said, adding, of the 200 students that we honour here today, 115 come from denominational schools, schools that are run by church boards. In the government section, there are 28 schools being represented here today and those private institutions which are engaged in primary school education, there are 57 being represented here today, (Saturday) he added.

It is important for us to take note of these figures because as a government, most of our resources that are spent on youth in education are directed towards the government schools and the government schools have the responsibility to step up to the plate, and while I congratulate the denominational schools, the government schools must really pull their socks up so that they too could have many more students working hard to ensure successes, he added.

Garcia also noted that in 2015, there were 18,310 students who wrote the SE A exams with 9,307 boys and 9003 girls, though of that figure only 74 boys were in the top 200 students with the remainder being girls.

It seems to me that the boys must do some soul searching, he added.

Garcia also urged parents to play an active part in their childrens education and lamented that a significant number of parents did not shoulder their responsibility in their education.

Another important partner in education is our parents, but far too often in many of our schools, we are finding that so many of our parents are not shouldering the responsibility that have been entrusted on their shoulders, Garcia said, adding, where students excel, one of the ingredients in that mix is the support of the parents. Meanwhile, top SE A student, Anusha Saha, who had attended Grants Memorial Presbyterian Primary School, and currently attends Naparima Girls High School, said her journey to SE A excellence began in standard 4.

She recounted that her daily routine began at 7.30 am when she would arrive at school and leave at 4.30pm, following which she would attend extra lessons which would conclude at 7.30pm. She would then go to bed at 10 pm after completing her homework.

Saha said she gave up electronics and story books which her mother locked in a closet until the SE A exams had been completed.
Brooks: The $$ does not matter to me

The money is of no consequence to me, Brooks told Newsday.

I came from the private sector.

It is a complex time for the country.

We need our best minds. The NCG chairman has been at the centre of much sparring between the Government and the Opposition over his overlapping roles.

There has also been some confusion over exactly how many boards he sits on.

In Parliament on Friday, Finance Minister Colm Imbert listed 14 boards, including several ex officio posts, while Minister of Energy Nicole Olivierre in February and May listed nine. The Minister of Finance gave the updated information, Brooks said when questioned on exactly how many boards he sits on. Said Brooks, The issue here really is my commitment to Trinidad and Tobago.

I left the private sector to utilitise my expertise for the good of Trinidad and Tobago. Of overlapping board postions, he said, In the private sector locally and internationally chairmen share all the boards in a sector. It is normal for chairmen to chair all of the Americas, at times all of Europe and to even travel 200,000 miles a year to ensure that there is a single message, a single focus and strategy and exellence in execution It is a well-established international model. Asked if he saw any risks to having so much power concentrated in one person, Brooks said, No, we have a board, we have a line minister, we have Cabinet, we have a Standing Committee on Energy.

There are several points in the governance structure that provide oversight. My publuc record is well known. It is one of integrity. Brooks also said, Many of these boards are special-purpose vehicles which sit once a year, again quite normal. Six or seven of these boards have a meeting once a year. Importantly, by having a single chairman you are able to have that single strategic focus and intent to the benefit of the organisation. On Friday, the Minister of Finance also said Brooks pay totalled $69,000 and that Brooks had given up travel allowances as at May 25.

But Olivierre, in May said Brooks got about $73,000 in pay and earned about $9,500 in travel. Brooks yesterday said he received no other allowances besides travel.

Imbert has said the Government will no longer maintain the long-standing policy of allowing certain chairmen to automatically sit on subsidiaries.

Instead, the posts on subsidiaries will be divided between the parent companys board members. Of this, Brooks said, I will abide by that policy as an officer in a company. The Minister of Finance on Friday also disclosed Brooks once sat on the board of the National Helicopter Services Limited. Of this, Brooks said, I was there very briefly. Asked how much he was paid, he said, I cannot remember, it was very small. Brooks is the vice-president of the Law Association.
We must practice what we preach

Gardner made, last Thursday, the comment at a National Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Energy held at the John S Donaldson campus of the University of Trinidad and Tobago. He made the comment after noting and pointing out that the door to the room wherein the meeting was being held was left ajar, while the air condition was running.

Over the past two months that weve been conducting these dialogues, we have been meeting in countries where there are net oil importers, and you would assume that at a time when oil prices are low, then there would be very little interest in sitting down in a room like this to discuss renewable energy and energy efficiency, and to an extent also, energy conservation.

And as I speak of energy conservation, I couldnt help but notice that we have a wide open door and an air condition that is running, and the door has a sign saying air condition room, keep door closed. Nonetheless, the door is even blocked with a chair to ensure that it doesnt close. And so the efficiency that we preach is sometimes that which we need to put into practice, as a starting point, Gardner said.

However, he pointed out that it was to the countrys credit that it even found the time to hold a discussion on sustainable energy  a fact, which showed, according to him, that the country had matured.

Coordinator of the Network Hazel Brown, pointed out that some of the barriers to Trinidad and Tobago implementing a sustainable energy policy included the lack of a proper legislative framework. She called for the amending of the TTEC Act and the RIC Act (Regulated Industries Commission Act).

The event was facilitated by the Network of Non Governmental Organizations of Trinidad and Tobago for the Advancement of Women.

Other members of the head table included Chelauna Providence, consultant project officer for the CPDC; Aidan Rogers, President of the Barbados Renewable Energy Association and Myn Garcia, Deputy Director of the Commonwealth Foundation.
Salvatori vendors ask mayor for space

In March, the vendors left the site as it was handed over to the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott). The vendors later met with Valentine, then Housing Minister Marlene McDonald and Udecott chairman, Noel Garcia, who said they were considering putting the vendors in a building next to New City Mall, on Independence Square. A few weeks later McDonald was fired and Randall Mitchell was appointed as the new Housing Minister. Since then, the vendors have not been given an update on the situation and many have taken up space on the Brian Lara Promenade to ply their trade.

DFVA President Oneil Benjamin said the vendors are tired of being hassled by police.

He said last Tuesday city police and vendors clashed as officers tried to remove them from the Promenade.

It is happening all hours of the night now.

The vendors are now being forced by the city police to put an end to their trade to which many of them have made their living and supported their families for the past 30 years. Often times many vendors complain about thousands of dollars in losses due to police seizures.

Some are now faced with the ordeal of having their items at home repossessed because of their inability to pay, he said. The association is now working with a team of lawyers to deal with the matter.
Kamla: No greetings for Labour, fathers?

The House adjourned after debate on the Miscellaneous Provisions (Anti-Gang and Bail) Bill 2016. The debate was suspended when Government and the Opposition quarrelled about consultation between them on the bill, which requires a three fifths majority for passage.

Speaking with reporters after the adjournment, Persad-Bissessar said, Theres absolutely nothing. I have never seen that in all the years that I have been here. Describing workers and fathers as two very important groups in TT, the former prime minister found the absence of greetings to them before the House adjourned was very distressing and very disturbing. She claimed this was evidence that the Government had collapsed.

The House sits on June 24 to debate a no confidence motion against Attorney General Faris Al Rawi, filed by Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal.
Griffith to Dillon: Stop playing politics

LastWednesday, Minister of National Security, Edmond Dillon confirmed that Government has scrapped plans, which were made by the former administration, to procure six APCs. In September 2014, four firms were invited to submit tenders, but Dillon told Newsday that plans to acquire the vehicles were altogether stopped. In response to the pronouncement, Griffith slammed the Security Minister saying that the scrapping of the plans is a slap in the face to law enforcement officials.

In an era when every nation that has been hit by terrorism, from Canada, Belgium and France, to the recent incident in Orlando, the vehicle used by the front line law enforcement agencies at the scene, were APCs, which were critical for their own protection. Minister Dillon however, based on his obvious lack of understanding modern day technology, tactics and assets required for such threats, says that APCs would not be appropriate in this country., the release read.

This illogical decision goes in line with his previous unfounded comment that our country is not at risk to terrorist activities, and had to be immediately contradicted by the Prime Minister, and rightfully so Griffith lambasted Dillon, saying that instead of supporting programmes which were instrumental in the reduction of crime, Dillon has seen the removal or virtual elimination of several security programmes such as the acquisition of helicopters for the National Operations Centre to replace the 30-year-old choppers that are now unserviceable, hovercrafts to patrol the nations swamps, which were pleaded for by the Army, and Coast Guard Patrol interceptors to patrol our low lying waters to replace the 24 defective Interceptors, pleaded for by the Coast Guard.

The security minister explained on Wednesday that economic conditions contributed to the decision to scrap the plans to purchase the APCs and added that the vehicles may not be appropriate for several areas in this country. In response to this statement, Griffith said: If four officers on patrol in the back of a pick-up are killed due to a grenade being thrown, it would cost the State four million dollars in compensation to their family, and all because of the need to save one million dollars for an APC which would have protected them. Griffith criticised Dillon, saying that he is putting a price on the lives of the law enforcement officers of this country.

Griffith was the Minister of National Security in 2014, when plans were initiated to acquire the APCs.
American kills himself in Taiwan after receiving a drug sentence for his personal marijuana use

An American man was recently convicted in Taiwan for growing marijuana and slashed his throat in court with a pair of scissors after receiving a four year prison sentence. Tyrel Martin Marhanka, 41, was rushed to hospital but could not be saved.

Tyrel Markhana had been convicted of growing marijuana at his home in Changhua, in central Taiwan, and of importing marijuana and opium poppy seeds. For this, he may well have received a 7 year prison sentence, but he received a more lenient sentence of four years because he claimed he had not sold the marijuana to other parties and was growing it for his own use. He would have been able to appeal the sentence, but apparently did not want to.

Mr. Marhanka had lived in Taiwan for a number of years and is survived by his Taiwanese wife and two children. He worked in Taiwan as an English teacher, but it seems he lost his job after he was charged for marijuana possession.

Why did he think he could get away with growing marijuana plants in Taiwan? Cannabis is not legal in Taiwan and the authorities are strict about enforcing drug laws. Smoking, carrying and trading marijuana are illegal activities. Toking weed is a big deal in the country and if caught, you will most likely land in jail for at least seven years. Trafficking and possession in commercial quantities are punishable by death.

Police in Taiwan are strict when it comes to marijuana and anyone caught will surely face penalties and most likely spend time in jail. Smoking weed in public is not tolerated. Never smoke in public or engage in any pot-related activities when you are in Taiwan if you dont want to go to jail.

Possibly, the authorities were more lenient on Markhana because he was a foreigner than they would have been if he was a local citizen. Tourists and ex-pats need to be very careful they understand the laws and penalties for drug related crimes in Asian countries. Never think that because you are British or Americal, you are above the law or that Taiwans laws dont apply to you. Hopefully, one day marijuana will be decriminalized in Asian countries as it is in other countries, but until then, marijuana is illegal to possess, transport, sell or cultivate in Taiwan.

Sources:

NYtimes

WashingtonPost.com

Submit a correction >>
Bullet Train to Delhi-Varanasi corridor, to cover distance in less than 3 hours

New Delhi, Mon, 20 Jun 2016 NI Wire

After the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, govt. is already started the process for the building the Delhi-Varanasi corridor which will cover the distance in less than 3 hours.

Delhi-Varanasi Bullet Train To Cover The Journey In Less Than 3 Hours

After the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, the second bullet train is expected to run in India, from New Delhi to Varanasi. The train is expected to cover a 782 km journey in less than three hours, (approximately 2 hours 40 minutes), whereas the trains running currently on this route take nearly 10 hours to 14 hours to complete this journey.

The proposition of bullet train connecting India's capital and to what is referred as PM Modi's Lok Sabha Constituency has been fastracked by the Modi Government ahead of the UP polls next year.

The train will pass through 13 stations, constituting of Aligarh, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow and Sultanpur. This proposition seems to be another agenda of the Modi regime to portray a developmenting image of UP ahead of the polls.

The estimated budget on the Delhi-Varanasi corridor is supposed to be around Rs. 43000 crore. It is to be said that a spanish firm will be studying the feasibility of the proposed corridor. The final report is most likely to come by november 2016, though it is said that an interim report has already been submitted by the spanish firm.

The consultants are also exploring the possibility of operating doubledecker high speed trains on this section.

The preliminary cost on Delhi-Kolkata stretch is said to be around Rs. 84000 crore. The first ever bullet train proposition between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is said to begin by 2023.

Highlights of the project:
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Specification and release date

New Delhi, Mon, 20 Jun 2016 NI Wire

Mobile phone giant Samsung is all set to release its Galaxy Note 7 model in August 2016, Check the features and specifications of this phone.

Samsung To Launch New Galaxy Note 7 In August  Features, specification and release date.

Samsung is likely to offer a new galaxy note in august and the market seems to be already going crazy over it. The rumored Galaxy Note 5's predecessor, Note 7 (Note 6) model number was spotted on samsung's website. The speculated date is said to be August 2, 2016.

The specs and features of Note 7, though speculated, are highly impressive. It has a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED display with 12-megapixel primary camera and Corning Gorilla Glass 4. Although, it can contain only a single SIM. It comes with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and an Iris Scanner. Its internal memory is of up to 128 GB and external memory can handle up to 256 GB. These are some basic features laid down but may not be as accurate as the model is sill not available in the market.

According to some industry observers, an early August release, is actually a strategically wise decision as it somehow implies getting the smartphone market all to itself, for if Apple takes a decision to go on with unveiling its upcoming handset flagship in September.

Rumor has it that Samsung has decided to release about 5 million units of Note 7 in the initial stage itself. What has got people more exciting about the Note is the rumored 7 GB RAM which is literally a lot for a handheld phablet.

Not just this, the Galaxy Note is supposed to be the very first Samsung smartphone to have the Samsung Focus App, a productivity app allowing users to manage almost everything like their e-mails, messages, posts, tweets, etc through just one portal.

Although, despite all such rumors, Samsung has yet not confirmed the existence of Note 7. All that triggered these rumors was the model number SM-N930 appearing on their website, hinting towards the possibility of having a brand new Galaxy Note generation handset.

Also, concentrating on the model number, one will find out that it does not have a G in its end which suggests that it would mainly be a regular Note 7 instead of an Edge.

But the most exciting and curious factor associated with it's launch is that will this phablet be affordable?

One must expect above average pricing but if the rumors are to be believed the features of Note 7 will definitely be worth paying each penny.
Moto G4 Plus to be launched in India on 22nd June

New Delhi, Mon, 20 Jun 2016 NI Wire

Moto G4 Plus to be launched in India on 22nd June, official post on the twitter account of Moto India confirms the release data of this phone in India.

Earlier last month it was released in Canada, now its coming to india tomorrow.

Moto G4 Plus has been in news since long and people have been eagerly waiting for the makers to give some hint about G4 Plus release. And now, after so much of wait, Motorola finally set out the word regarding G4 Plus release in India.

The Lenovo-owned Motorola had earlier revealed during the launch of the device that G4 Plus, which is a budget smartphone, official post revealed the date of release.

In India, Moto G4 Plus was released along with its lower-end sibling, the Moto G, in May. It has sought the attention of smartphone lovers with its imposing specifications, particularly the camera.

Official account of Moto India posted the release date of Moto G4 "Phone's battery let you down? Now #NeverMiss on turbo mode with #MotoG4. Coming on 22nd June. Exclusively @AmazonIn"

Phone's battery let you down?

Now #NeverMiss on turbo mode with #MotoG4. Coming on 22nd June. Exclusively @AmazonIn pic.twitter.com/BzRjn4gK7g  Moto India (@Moto_IND) June 19, 2016

Official Post state that Moto G4 Plus will be launched in India on June 22, 2016. The mid-range device is predictable to available through online portal and stores.

Moto G4 Plus: What It Has In Store?

Moto G4 Plus has got good reviews in India which had made everyone to predict that it will find a good customer base in Canada pertaining to many reasons. So let us here check out the impressive specifications Moto G4 Plus has to offer which will lure the customers.

Firstly, if we talk of the display then G4 Plus wins heart with its beautifully designed body featuring 5.5-inch display with 1,080x1,920 pixels (401 ppi pixel density). At the software part, the device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor. It runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and is available in two different models based on storage size. One of its variant has 16GB internal storage and 2GB RAM while the other model comes with 32GB internal memory and 3GB RAM. Talking of the battery, G4 Plus houses a 3,000mAh battery which comes with the Turbo charger.

Camera: The Most Eye Catching Feature in G4 Plus

Next we have the camera which has already won many praises from users. It is truly a photographers delight as the picture quality and camera are superb.

The device comes with a 16MP camera with OmniVision Pure Cel Plus sensor, PDAF (Phase Detection Auto Focus) and dual-LED flash. For selfies it has a 5MP camera with wide-angle lens. Fascinatingly, DxOMark, a website that is known for mobile phone camera review, gave the Moto G4 Plus a rating of 84 for exposure and contrast, 85 for colour, 91 for autofocus, 85 for texture, 86 for noise, 85 for artifacts and 77 for flash, which took its total still image score to 85.

This score of G4 Plus is said to be pretty higher than that of more popular smartphones like the iPhone 6s (83), iPhone 6s Plus (84), Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (84), and Samsung Galaxy S5 (80).

The device has certainly all features and a specification one looks for in a good smartphone and the price is also justified to the features it has. G4 Plus has made us happy and we hope that it will succeed in Canada too!

Price of Moto G4

There is still no information about the price of Moto G4, but it is expected to be in the price range of Rs. 13,999 to 15,000. Pricing information will be revealed tomorrow in the launch event.
Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain.

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1. Euan Mearns  the UKs contest for Government support to SMR development, which has been published at Euan Mearns Energy Matters blog.

HMG is making 250 million ($360 million) available in support for the winner of the contest

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) fall into a number of major classes. A short run through these is in order:

Light Water Reactors (LWRs)

Liquid Metal-cooled Reactors (LMRs)

High Temperature Reactors (HTRs)

Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs)

Nuclear Batteries

2. Forbes, James Conca  Energy Inequality  Trump Versus The Common Man Or Medieval Lord Versus Peasant

The growing disparity of wealth today has many parallels with the unequal societies that emerged in the Middle Ages, where wealth and power resided primarily in the hands of a few feudal lords including kings, dukes and assorted noblemen. But wealth inequality is not the same as energy inequality. And that is the primary difference between economic inequality in present-day America and Medieval Europe. Wealth inequality is still about a factor of a million, but energy inequality is down to a factor of about ten. And that is because energy has never been so cheap and plentiful in the history of humankind as it is today.

3. Neutron Bytes- Dan Yurman  Idaho Settlement Agreement?

When the nuclear waste cleanup deal was agreed to more than a decade ago, no one was thinking about small modular reactors.

4. Nextbigfuture  Sweden will build ten new nuclear reactors and update on new nuclear reactors from 2015 to 2020

Sweden says it will build up to 10 new reactors in the coming years. Currently Sweden has nine functional reactors at three nuclear power plants, which generated 38 percent of the electricity used in the country in 2014.

2016 BP oil world energy report showed that all of the nuclear output increase in 2015 was from China increasing nuclear power.

Global nuclear output grew by 1.3 percent in 2015 with China (+28.9 percent) accounting for all the net increase, the 65th edition of the BP Statistical Review of World Energy says. China passed South Korea to become the fourth largest supplier of nuclear power, while EU output (-2.2 percent) fell to the lowest level since 1992. The review, which looks at 2015, says nuclear power accounted for 4.4 percent of global primary energy consumption. Global primary energy consumption increased by just one percent in 2015, similar to growth in 2014 (+1.1 percent), but much slower than the 10-year average of 1.9 percent a year. Oil remained the worlds leading fuel, accounting for 32.9 percent of global energy consumption, and gaining market share for the first time since 1999. Coal remained the second largest fuel by market share (29.2 percent), but was the only fuel that lost global market share in 2015
The Israeli government is considering a proposal to build an artificial island off the Gaza Strip that a top official says would give Palestinians living in the besieged enclave their one and only seaport  and maybe a hotel and an international airport, too.

The Israeli minister of intelligence who is promoting the plan, Israel Katz, said the Jewish state is actively seeking financial partners for the $5 billion project.

Katz mentioned the Saudis and Chinese as possible builders of the port  or maybe a mysterious Israeli entrepreneur. He declined to name names.

Why would the Saudi monarch construct a billion-dollar seaport-hotel a few miles from the Zionists coast  when the two governments have no formal relations? Thats unknown.

The Israelis envision the port complex to be constructed atop a man-made island  dredged with sand from the sea bottom, measuring four square miles  that would be located three miles offshore and connected to the mainland by a two-lane bridge.

In Israels planning, the bridge is the crucial component in the scheme, allowing access to the port to be tightly controlled.

Katz conceded that so far all that exists is a paper study and some drawings. Yet he talked about the project in grand terms, describing it as a way to both guarantee Israels security and award Gaza a portal to the world.

Katz envisions a commercial port on the island that could handle goods coming into and out of Gaza. Currently, goods and people arrive via a crossing with Egypt, which has been closed for most of the last two years, and two others with Israel.

And this would be just the beginning, Katz said. We would create electricity, desalination plants. This island will be an island of initiatives of all kinds.

The Ministry of Transportation and Israel Ports, headed by Minister Israel Katz, has drawn up plans for how a seaport and airport built on an artificial island off the coast of the Gaza Strip would look. (Ministry of Transportation and Israel Ports)

SOURCE  Washington Post
NATO Defence Ministers agreed on 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 Strategic Defense Bulletin is a road map of the defense reform based on NATO principles, the Ukrainian presidential administration said, introducing the bulletin.

The document provides for the active participation in the implementation of the Common Security and Defense Policy of the European Union and active cooperation with NATO in the achievement of criteria necessary for the full membership in NATO.

Overlapping functions of the General Staff and the Defense Ministry will be eliminated until 2018. In accordance with NATO standards, duplicate functions of the Defense Ministry and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will be scrapped by 2018, there will be the clear-cut division of powers and responsibilities between them. This will ensure separation of the functions of forming national security policy in the military and defense spheres and force development from the functions of its implementation, the document said.

In keeping with the bulletin, Ukraine should allocate at least 5% of GDP for the security and defense sector every year.

The provisions of the National Security Strategy of Ukraine and the Military Doctrine of Ukraine provide that Ukraine should annually spend at least 5% of expected GDP on the financing of the security and defense sector with at least 3% on defense alone, the document said.

Ukraines army will reach full NATO standards by 2020.

SOURCES- NATO, UNIAN
The Irkut MC-21 is a twin-engine short- to mid-range Russian jet airliner with a capacity of 150-212 passengers. The MC-21 is being developed and to be produced by Irkut and Yakovlev Design Bureau of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) group. It was formerly known in English as MS-21.

The MC-21 is a replacement for the the Tupolev Tu-154 and Tupolev Tu-204/214s. The MC-21 certification and delivery was initially planned by 2016, but later delayed to the end of 2018.

The -300 was rolled-out on 8 June 2016 in Irkutsk, East Siberia, six years after program launch and with 175 orders. It could be the first commercial aircraft with an out of autoclave composite manufacturing for its wings. The program faces domination of the single-aisle market by Airbus and Boeing and Russian protectionism hampering critical western suppliers for the avionics, landing gear, hydraulics, power systems and engines

Russias United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) believes that the MC-21 airliner being developed by its Irkut subsidiary will prove to be a worthy challenger to other new generation narrowbodies, such as the Airbus A320neo, the Boeing 737 Max, Bombardiers CSeries and Comacs C919.

The MC-21-300 model can seat between 160 and 212 passengers depending on cabin configuration. This variant will be powered by Pratt and Whitneys PW1400G Geared Turbofan. Customers will be able to opt for Russian-made Aviadvigatel PD-14 turbofans.

About half the MC-21s structure will consist of composite materials, mainly used for the wings and empennage.

Azerbaijan Baku-based AZAL Airlines has signed a letter of intent with Russias Ilyushin Finance Co. to lease MC-21 aircraftthe exact number will be disclosed after the MC-21s first flight, as well as other details of the deal.

Through 2018, Irkut plans to assemble four MC-21s, while in 2023 it intends to assemble up to 70 aircraft per year, the Kommersant newspaper reported.

Irkut currently has 175 order the MC-21- made almost exclusively by Russian airlines and leasing companies.

Russias UAC president Yury Slusar was quoted by the RIA Novosti news agency as saying RUB100 billion ($1.5 billion) has been invested in the project to date. Out of this sum, 80% is state money and 20% comes from manufacturer investments.

Russian Rostecs Technodinamika Holding, which provides MC-21 landing gear actuating cylinders, said after the roll-out ceremony it could replace some Western-built systems on the aircraft.

Boeing 737 MAX unit cost of US$80.6116.6 million in 2015.

The Airbus A320neo has a wider price range of US$75.1125.7 million

There are several other planes that are trying to crack the Boeing and Airbus commercial airplane duopoly

The Bombardier C-Series is Airbus and Boeings most prominent rival. Although the Canadian airplane maker has long-been a major player in regional airliners, the C-Series is the first time the company has had to compete against the US and European titans .

The Bombardier airliner has, thus far, struggled to net the level of sales as the 737 and the A320. But the C-Series has garnered critical acclaim for its performance, fuel efficiency, and design.

The C-Series lineup consists of two variants of the plane. The 133-seat CS100 and the 160-seat CS300 In the marketplace, the C-Series competes against the Boeing 737MAX7 and the Airbus A319neo.

Embraer is also a major regional airliner powerhouse thats moving up to the big leagues to compete against Airbus and Boeing. Embraers contender is the second generation of the companys E-Jet called the E2. Even though the first generation airplane made a living mostly with regional airlines, Embraer is marketing the the second generation as a smaller alternative to the A319 and the mAX7.

The E2 lineup comprises three variants  the 88-seat E175-E2, the 106-seat E190-E2, and the 132-seat E195-E2.

The E2 is powered by two versions of Pratt & Whitneys geared turbofan engine.

The Embraer E-Jet E2 is expected to enter service in 2018. The Brazilian airplane maker currently has roughly 270 orders for its latest jet.

The Mitsubishi MRJ is Japans first native commercial airliner in 50 years. The MRJ or Mitsubishi Regional Jet lineup is made up of the 80-seat MRJ70 and the 92-seat MRJ90. Although the MRJ variants are much smaller any of the offerings from Airbus or Boeing, the plane represents a domestic alternative for a country whose airlines have long been one of Boeings most loyal customers.

The MRJ will also be powered by Pratt and Whitneys geared turbofan engine. The Mitsubishi airliner is expected to enter service in 2018. The company currently has more than 220 orders for the MRJ.

COMAC ARJ21 is Chinas first modern airliner. COMAC or Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, was founded in 2008 to design and produce indigenous airplanes for the countrys burgeoning airline industry.

According to Boeing, Chinese airlines are expected to order more than 6,300 airplanes over the next 20 years with a total value topping $1 trillion.

The ARJ21 is a 90-seat regional airliner designed for short-to-medium range duty Its powered by a pair of General Electric CF34-10A engines The Chinese government-owned company currently has almost 350 orders for the plane -.. Mostly from domestic airlines and leasing companies. The ARJ21 entered service late last year.

The C919 is COMACs first mainline jet designed to go head-to-head with the A320neo and the 737 MAX. The 168-seat jet is expected to be powered by a pair of CFM LEAP-1C engines.

Thus far, COMAC has 517 orders for the C919 with almost all of them from Chinese operators. The Shanghai-built airliner is expected to make its first flight next year and enter service some time after 2020.

SOURCES- ATWonline, Wikipedia, china aviation daily
The technical details of the new worlds fastest supercomputer are available. Here is a 24 page report by Jack Dongarra

The Sunway TaihuLight System was developed by the National Research Center of Parallel Computer Engineering and Technology (NRCPC), and installed at the National Supercomputing Center in Wuxi (a joint team with the Tsinghua University, City of Wuxi, and Jiangsu province), which is in Chinas Jiangsu province. The CPU vendor is the Shanghai High Performance IC Design Center. The system is in full operation with a number of applications implemented and running on the system. The Center will be a public supercomputing center that provides services for public users in China and across the world.

The complete system has a theoretical peak performance of 125.4 Pflop per second with 10,649,600 cores and 1.31 PB of primary memory. It is based on a processor, the SW26010 processor, that was designed by the Shanghai High Performance IC Design Center. The processor chip is composed of 4 core groups (CGs), see figure 1, connected via a NoC, see figure 2, each of which includes a Management Processing Element (MPE) and 64 Computing Processing Elements (CPEs) arranged in an 8 by 8 grid. Each CG has its own memory space, which is connected to the MPE and the CPE cluster through the MC. The processor connects to other outside devices through a system interface (SI).

Each CPE Cluster is composed of a Management Processing Element (MPE) which is a 64-bit RISC core which is supporting both user and system modes, a 264-bit vector instructions, 32 KB L1 instruction cache and 32 KB L1 data cache, and a 256KB L2 cache. The Computer Processing Element (CPE) is composed of an 88 mesh of 62-bit RISC cores, supporting only user mode, with a 264-bit vector instructions, 16 KB L1 instruction cache and 64 KB Scratch Pad Memory (SPM).

Sunway Computer Node

A computer node of this machine is based on one many-core processor chip called the SW26010 processor. Each processor is composed of 4 MPEs, 4 CPEs, (a total of 260 cores), 4 Memory Controllers (MC), and a Network on Chip (NoC) connected to the System Interface (SI). Each of the four MPE, CPE, and MC have access to 8 GB of DDR3 memory. The total system has 40,960 nodes for a total of 10,649,600 cores and 1.31 PB of memory.

The MPEs and CPEs are based on a RISC architecture, 64-bit, SIMD, out of order microstructure. Both the MPE and the CPE participate in the users application. The MPE performance management, communication, and computation while the CPEs mainly perform computations. (The MPE can also participate in the computations.)

Each core of the CPE has a single floating point pipeline that can perform 8 flops per cycle per core (64-bit floating point arithmetic) and the MPE has a dual pipeline each of which can perform 8 flops per cycle per pipeline (64-bit floating point arithmetic). The cycle time for the cores is 1.45 GHz, so a CPE core has a peak performance of 8 flops/cycle * 1.45 GHz or 11.6 Gflop per second and a core of the MPE has a peak performance of 16 flops per cycle * 1.45 GHz or 23.2 Gflop per second. There is just one thread of execution per physical core.

A node of the TaihuLight System has a peak performance of (260 cores * 8 flops/cycle * 1.45 GHz) + (4 core * 16 flops/cycle * 1.45 GHz) = 3.0624 Tflop/s per node. The complete system has 40,960 nodes or 125.4 Pflop/s for the theoretical peak performance of the system.

Each CPE has a 64 KB local (scratchpad) memory, no cache memory. The local memory is SRAM. There is a 16KB instruction cache. Each of the 4 CPE/MPE clusters has 8 GB of DDR3 memory. So a node has 32 GB of primary memory. Each processor connects to four 128-bit DDR3-2133 memory controllers, with a memory bandwidth of 136.51 GB/s. Non-volatile memory is not used in the system.

The MPE/CPE chip is connected via a network-on-chip (NoC) and the system interface (SI) is used to connect the system outside of the node. The SI is a standard PCIe interface. The bidirectional bandwidth is 16 GB/s with a latency around 1 us.

The next large acquisition of supercomputers for the US Department of Energy will not be until 2017 with production beginning in 2018. The US Department of Energy schedule is for a planned 200 Pflop/s machine called Summit at Oak Ridge National Lab by early 2018, a planned 150 Pflop/s machine called Sierra at Lawrence Livermore National Lab by mid-2018, and a planned 180 Pflop/s machine called Aurora at Argonne National Lab in late 2018.

The Sunway Interconnect

Sunway has built their own interconnect. There is a five-level integrated hierarchy, connecting the computing node, computing board, super-nodes, cabinet, to the complete system. Each card has two nodes.

Sunway Supernode and Cabinet

The complete system is composed of 40 Cabinets. Each Cabinet contains 4 Supernodes and each Supernode has 256 Nodes. Each node has a peak floating point performance of 3.06Tflop/s.

Each Supernode then is 256*3.06 Tflop/s and a Cabinet of 4 Supernodes is at 3.1359 Pflop/s.

All number are for 64-bit Floating Point Arithmetic.

1 Node = 260 cores

1 Node = 3.06 Tflop/s

1 Supernode = 256 Nodes

1 Supernode = 783.97 Tflops

1 Cabinet = 4 Supernodes

1 Cabinet = 3.1359 Pflops

1 Sunway TaihuLight System = 40 Cabinets = 160 Supernodes = 40,960 nodes = 10,649,600

cores.

1 Sunway TaihuLight System = 125.4359 Pflop/s

Assuming 15.311 MW for HPL using 40 cabinets, each cabinet is at 382.8 KW. Each cabinet has 4*256 nodes or 373.8 W/node.

The Flops/W for the theoretical peak is at 8 Gflops/W and for HPL the efficiency is 6.074 Gflops/W (93 Pflops/15.311MW).

The Sunway Software Stack is Linux based

The Sunway TaihuLight System is using Sunway Raise OS 2.0.5 based on Linux as the operating system.

The basic software stack for the many-core processor includes basic compiler components, such as C/C++, and Fortran compilers, an automatic vectorization tool, and basic math libraries. There is also the Sunway OpenACC, a customized parallel compilation tool that supports OpenACC 2.0 syntax and targets the SW26010 many-core processor.

Applications

There are currently four key application domains for the Sunway TaihuLight system:

 Advanced manufacturing: CFD, CAE applications.

 Earth system modeling and weather forecasting.

 Life science.

 Big data analytics.

There are three submissions which are finalists for the Gordon Bell Award at SC16 that are based on the new Sunway TaihuLight system. These three applications are:

(1) a fully-implicit nonhydrostatic dynamic solver for cloud-resolving atmospheric simulation;

(2) a highly effective

global surface wave numerical simulation with ultra-high resolution;

(3) large scale phase-field simulation for coarsening dynamics based on Cahn-Hilliard equation with degenerated mobility.

All these three applications have scaled to around 8 million cores (close to the full system scale). The applications that come with an explicit method (such as wave simulation and phase-field simulation) have achieved a sustained performance of 30 to 40 PFlops. In contrast, the implicit solver achieves a sustained performance of around 1.5 PFlops, with a good convergence rate for large-scale problems. These performance number may be improved before the SC16 Conference in November 2016.

The Gordon Bell Prize is awarded each year to recognize outstanding achievement in high performance computing. The purpose of the award is to track the progress over time of parallel computing, with particular emphasis on rewarding innovation in applying high-performance computing to applications in science, engineering, and large-scale data analytics. Prizes may be awarded for peak performance or special achievements in scalability and time-to-solution on important science and engineering problems

The system was funded from three sources, the central Chinese government, the province of Jiangsu, and the city of Wuxi. Each contributed approximately 600 million RMBs or a total of 1.8 billion RMBs for the system or approximately $270M USD. That is the cost of the building, hardware, R and D, and software costs. It does not cover the ongoing maintenance and running of the system and center.

The Sunway TaihuLight System is very impressive with over 10 million cores and a peak performance of 125 Pflop/s. The Sunway TaihuLight is almost three times (2.75 times) as fast and three times as efficient as the system it displaces in the number one spot. The HPL Benchmark results at 93 Pflop/s or 74% of theoretical peak performance is also impressive, with an efficiency of 6 Gflops per Watt. The HPCG performance at only 0.3% of peak performance shows the weakness of the Sunway TaihuLight architecture with slow memory and modest interconnect performance. The ratio of floating point operations per byte of data from memory on the SW26010 is 22.4 Flops(DP)/Byte transfer, which shows an imbalance or an overcapacity of floating point operations per data transfer from memory. By comparison the Intel Knights Landing processor with 7.2 Flops(DP)/Byte transfer. So for many real applications the performance on the TaihuLight will be no where near the peak performance rate. Also the primary memory for this system is on low side at 1.3 PB (Tianhe-2 has 1.4 PB and Titan has .71 PB).

The Sunway TaihuLight system, based on a homegrown processor, demonstrates the significant progress that China has made in the domain of designing and manufacturing large-scale computation systems.

The fact that there are sizeable applications and Gordon Bell contender applications running on the system is impressive and shows that the system is capable of running real applications and not just a stunt machine.

China has made a big push into high performance computing. In 2001 there were no supercomputers listed on the Top500 in China. Today China has 167 systems on the June 2016 Top500 list compared to 165 systems in the US. This is the first time the US has lost the lead.

SOURCE- Dongarra report on the Sunway supercomputer
The infant is in the custody of Child Protective Services who are coordinating the child's return to North Carolina Child Protective Services.

Several officers responded to the motel and made contact with three occupants in one of the rooms: the child and his parents, 35-year-old Chad Douglas Eastlack and 20-year-old Penny Dianne Worthy.

The Randolph County Sheriff's office said Sunday that John Eastlack was found by Missoula, Montana police officers at a hotel with his parents after officers spotted the minivan.

The 8-month-old is in good health and has been turned over to the local social services agency in Missoula.

Eastlack was booked at the Missoula County Detention Center at 9:19 a.m. Sunday.

Mother Penny Worthy is not facing charges at this time - but she is not allowed to see her child.

Caton said he could not confirm Chad Eastlack's relationship to the boy.

No phone listing could be found for an address that North Carolina authorities gave for Eastlack and Worthy.

The Randolph County Sheriff's Office is expected to release more information Monday. A message left at another phone listing for Eastlack wasn't immediately returned.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto at Los Pinos in Mexico.

"By bringing India on board, it's a slap in the face of the entire non-proliferation regime", a diplomatic source from one of a handful of countries resisting India's push said on condition of anonymity.

According to this wire agency, the handful of nations trying to block India's admission to the group, including South Africa, New Zealand and Turkey, have mellowed down somewhat, opening the door to a process under which non-NPT states such as India might join.

However, those opposed to India's entry do not want a non-Nuclear Proliferation Treaty signatory to join the NSG.

Pakistan sought membership of the exclusive nuclear trading club after PM Narendra Modi secured U.S. backing for India's bid for NSG. India, therefore, did not see merit in singling out Beijing's opposition.

Nevertheless, Obama called on governments participating in the NSG to support India's application to the group when it meets later this month in Seoul, South Korea. In the last week, two members who had questioned India's application, Mexico and Switzerland, have both signified that they will vote in India's favour.

This view was boosted by the fact that several other member countries, which had been opposing India's membership bid, softened their stand in Vienna and indicated their readiness for a compromise.

Mexico supported India's membership because of Modi's "commitment to the agenda of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation", Pena Nieto said.

"Getting membership of NSG will be very important for India as it will foster nuclear power generation in India".

Countries grouped in the 48-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group are focused on restricting nuclear proliferation by strictly controlling access to which country can gain access to technology used in making atomic weapons.

"The Prime Minister said it best that our two countries can have such a positive impact on peace, on prosperity and security". The NSG membership will allow India to trade in and export nuclear-related technology.

Ironically, the group was set up in response to India's own clandestine nuclear test in 1974, which made New Delhi something of a pariah in the West. Joining the club requires the unanimous approval of all members.

Modi was also still careful to paint the relationship as one of equals, stressing that Obama supports Delhi's bid to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

"Even during crisis, India has shown its leadership quality and has marked its place in the world", he said.

Modi on Monday had visited Switzerland, another member of the NSG which is known to have strong proliferation concerns, and it had announced support to India's candidature.
A J-10AY of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) fighter aircraft and crew are on alert at Chengdu airbase.

"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", read a statement issued by the ASEAN following the meeting.

The episode has some questioning the unity of Asean, including Malaysia's The Star newspaper. China has previously stated that it would not abide by the ruling. Whatever was released is the statement of Asean.

Notwithstanding the imminent ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, initiated by the Philippines to contest China's maritime claims, parties in the dispute should commit to time-bound negotiations for a code of conduct.

The kerfuffle over the Kunming meeting's outcome comes amid rising tension over China's building of artificial islands and military facilities on reefs and shoals in the South China Sea despite complaints from other claimants such as Vietnam and the Philippines.

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.

The recently concluded 15th Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore once again focused on the South China Sea disputes.

Bloomberg reported that ministers had initially agreed to the communique, but that it had been withdrawn after China lobbied Laos, the rotating chair this year.

ASEAN-China relations and the East Sea issue dominated a special meeting between foreign ministers from ASEAN and China in Kunming, in China's Yunnan Province, yesterday. China's trade with Laos rose almost 20 times to $2.7 billion in the 10 years to 2015.

"We have to retract the media statement by the ASEAN foreign ministers... as there are urgent amendments to be made", AFP quotes a Malaysian foreign ministry spokeswoman saying. "It is not meant to issue an official statement".

"Our cooperation is bigger than our differences; our opportunities are bigger than our challenges; our solidarity is bigger than our problems".

The ASEAN statement was issued by Malaysia's Foreign Ministry to an online chat group, which also sent out the retraction. Because some ministers had to leave immediately, there was no time to discuss how to release the guideline, he said.

Beijing, which claims nearly all of the South China Sea on the basis of a "Nine Dash Line" found on Chinese maps dating to the 1940s, says it will not budge. "Western media's insane thoughts". Despite pressure from Washington and elsewhere, China appears determined to avoid granting any hint of legitimacy to the United Nations abitration tribunal 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. It is expected to rule on a number of features claimed by both countries in the area, and may also determine whether there is a legal basis to China's "Nine-Dash Line". Countries like Singapore and Thailand have taken a neutral stance. The tensions go to the heart of a strategic rivalry between the USA, overseer of the region's security network for decades, and a rising China intent on becoming the region's dominant power. The choice of countries that Minister Wang visited - and the seven ASEAN countries that he did not visit - also provides some clues on China's assessment of the countries which would not have a huge negative reaction to this China-declared "consensus".

Luzianin said the launch of the tribunal is a collective effort to "impose on China an alternative view on the South China Sea division".

That may be. China, after all, is ASEAN's largest trading partner. On Tuesday evening, foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) performed a diplomatic magic trick. In August foreign ministers struggled to reach consensus on the matter, releasing a statement hours after the end of a three-day meeting.

After the foreign ministers initially forged an agreement on the statement, Malaysia's Foreign Ministry issued it to reporters, Jose said, suggesting that other member states later withdrew their approval for it to be publicly issued. After the meeting collapsed, Cambodia denied it had fallen prey to pressure from China to avoid raising the issue in the statement.

China has officially refused to participate in arbitration, saying that territorial issues are subject to global law and not UNCLOS.
Foreign ministers from China and the ten-member Association of South-East Asian Nations gather today in Kunming, in south-west China. But China, which has embarked on an ambitious island-building campaign in disputed waters, and has blamed the US for masterminding any regional conflict, was mentioned elsewhere in the statement.

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 Russian Federation.

"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".

It argues disputes in the waters that handle more than $5 trillion of trade a year have nothing to do with its relationship with Asean.

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. Beijing's envoy to Malaysia Huang Huikang said on Monday that Malaysia had handled the disputes in a friendly and proper way.

ASEAN-China relations and the East Sea issue dominated a special meeting between foreign ministers from ASEAN and China in Kunming, in China's Yunnan Province, yesterday. An amended version has not been released.

"I want to remind you that all countries including ASEAN countries are independent and make political choices independently in light of their own political judgment", said Lu Kang, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson. China's trade with Laos rose almost 20 times to $2.7 billion in the 10 years to 2015.

"We have to retract the media statement by the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) foreign ministers.as there are urgent amendments to be made", a Malaysian foreign ministry spokeswoman said. "It is not meant to issue an official statement".

"Our cooperation is bigger than our differences; our opportunities are bigger than our challenges; our solidarity is bigger than our problems. So by the time it was released, there was agreement".

Even before a ruling, China may have lost by refusing to cooperate with a United Nations arbitration tribunal over its claim to virtually the entire strategic South China Sea. "Western media insane thinking", the editorial's headline read.

Asean foreign ministers have emphasised the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint in conducting all activities, including land reclamation, which may raise tensions in the South China Sea. A ruling seen as unfavourable to Beijing would undermine its claims.

The US, which says it doesn't take a position on the disputes, has since October past year sailed warships three times near China's artificial islands to demonstrate the right to transit what it considers worldwide territory.

Under the Law of the Sea, countries are granted a 12 nautical mile territorial sea and exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles from their coastlines.

Luzianin said the launch of the tribunal is a collective effort to "impose on China an alternative view on the South China Sea division".

China insists the South China Sea disputes should be hammered out in bilateral talks between it and other claimants.

That may be. China, after all, is ASEAN's largest trading partner.

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi.

The ministers said they "stressed the importance of maintaining peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea, in accordance with universally recognized principles of worldwide law including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea".
More than 200 pages were stolen, detailing the exact lines of attack Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party plan to unleash on the Republican nominee. Jeff Merkley of OR told those gathered at the Democratic state convention, as the crowd erupted into boos from the Sanders supporters, mixed with cheers from the smaller Clinton camp.

So why hasnt Sanders withdrawn from the race?

Mentions of Trump charged up the whole crowd, Sanders and Clinton supporters alike. But he is no longer promising his supporters the nomination, just an effort to continue pushing the ideals that he has championed.

"It's not good enough to blame Republican governors or the Supreme Court for the 28 million people who remained uninsured", she told the drafting committee. And I think it's very unusual.

"Donald Trump is a thin-skinned racist bully, and I will do everything I can to make sure that he is never elected president of the United States", Warren told almost 1,000 attending the convention at Bedford High School.

His supporters kept the focus on certain issues - such as raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour or restricting large campaign donations - as delegates at the convention went through the largely symbolic task of adopting resolutions and crafting a party platform.

Doing so will become increasingly harder. But at the "People's Summit" in Chicago this weekend, the presumptive Republican nominee has been purposefully treated by organizers as an afterthought. Speakers here offer Sanders' primary success as clear evidence that 1990s-era liberals - with Clinton at the front of the pack - have fundamentally betrayed the working class, the poor and minorities and the schism could have big implications for the 2016 race.

"Hillary Clinton can not lead this movement", McClure said, saying she was displeased with Clinton shifting her views over time on gay marriage and the North American Free Trade Agreement, among other issues. Jeff Merkley or Oregon, Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, and the liberal activist group MoveOn - are now lining up behind her. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Massachusetts Sen. "It's because they know they can count on her to be a partisan rubber stamp for the Hillary Clinton-Elizabeth Warren agenda".

Ten of Bernie Sanders' delegates at the state convention switched over to Clinton today. "Between now and then we don't know what's going to happen". Im going to let him make that announcement on his own terms, but Hillary is going to be the nominee.. But backing Hillary soon could help Sanders cause, according to Welch.

Unfavorable ratings among both Trump and Clinton are higher than for any major-party presidential nominee in recent history, but Trump's bad marks clearly scream trouble for the outspoken candidate.

Out of 1,285 delegates to the convention, Clinton was originally allotted 704.
Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said there are ongoing talks with the Chinese on setting up a free trade zone at Smederevo, a city on the banks of the Danube, a short distance from Belgrade.

The two countries will also reaffirm their commitment to build a high-speed railway between Serbia and the Hungarian capital Budapest.

Foreign policy expert Aleksandra Joksimovic explained that by investing in infrastructure and other projects in southeast Europe China is seeking to "position itself strategically toward Europe with regards to economy".

China's Hebei Iron and Steel Group signed a 46 million euro (US$52 million) deal in April to buy the loss-making Zelezara Smederevo plant, a 100-year-old company that was part of US Steel during the early years of this century before being handed over to the Serbian government.

The two countries will continue to enrich their exchanges and cooperation in cultural and people-to-people fields such as education, sports, healthcare, tourism, science and technology, and news and publishing. The model of cooperation has also shifted from traditional loan granting to direct investment or joint ventures.

"China-CEE cooperation will boost China-Europe collaboration rather than bring negative effects", she said.

In 2015, China and Serbia signed a Memorandum of Understanding, pledging to jointly push ahead the Belt and Road Initiative.

Xi also said China supports Serbia's bid to join the European Union. "It is a platform to develop and strengthen relationships", Xi added.

In the past five years, the two sides have also started to reap fruits of their cooperation. Central and east European countries are competing for Chinese investment, looking to lure firms in need of new markets whilst securing access for their own products in China.

China's One Belt, One Road initiative, meant to open new trade links for Chinese firms, envisages a new Silk Road from western China to Central Asia and on to Europe via the Balkans, a region keen to attract Chinese investment.

Serbian and Chinese officials are expected to sign at least 20 trade and investment deals, including agreements on building highways and waste-to-power plants.

According to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, over 70 countries and global organizations have voiced their support for the initiative, with 34 of them having signed inter-governmental agreements on co-constructing it.

"Aligning the 16+1 mechanism with the Belt and Road Initiative will provide new opportunities for China and the CEE countries to deepen cooperation in production capacity, transportation, infrastructure and finance", said Cui Hongjian, a China-Europe relations specialist at the China Institute of International Studies.
The just-concluded visit to Serbia was the first by a Chinese head of state to the Balkan country in 32 years.

Xi wrote in an article published by the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita last week that China wanted greater cooperation with Poland and the rest of Europe.

PRESIDENT Xi Jinping said yesterday that his country's relations with Serbia should serve as an example for other nations in central and southeast Europe where China is seeking to boost ties.

Some 20 bilateral agreements are expected to be signed during the visit, including one reinforcing the 2009 strategic partnership, according to Serbian media.

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic on Saturday presented his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping with the Order of the Republic of Serbia on a Grand Collar.

Vucic said Serbia was in talks with China on setting up a free trade zone on Smederevo, a city on the banks of the Danube a short distance from Belgrade.

"Aligning the 16+1 mechanism with the Belt and Road Initiative will provide new opportunities for China and the CEE countries to deepen cooperation in production capacity, transportation, infrastructure and finance", said Cui Hongjian, a China-Europe relations specialist at the China Institute of International Studies.

Serbia's President Nikolic said "Serbia is ready to become China's most important partner, and not only in the region". Central and east European countries are competing for Chinese investment, looking to lure firms in need of new markets whilst securing access for their own products in China.

Summing up the successful experience in cultivating China-Serbia ties, the statement said it has proved that differences in historical background, social institution, ideology and development model are not necessarily blockages to developing relations between countries. Belgrade has proclaimed joining the European Union its strategic goal, but it has also sought to maintain close ties with both its traditional ally Russian Federation and China.

"I am convinced that Serbia's future will look completely different from today", said Nikolic. The agreements Saturday envisaged further work on a highway near Belgrade.

From Serbia, Xi will travel to Poland where he will ink deals on finance, aviation, science and education.

China's Hebei Iron and Steel Group signed a 46 million euro (US$52 million) deal in April to buy the loss-making Zelezara Smederevo plant, a 100-year-old company that was part of US Steel during the early years of this century before being handed over to the Serbian government.

Xi will wrap the tour in Uzbekistan, where he will attend a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit focusing on the fight against terrorism and crime.

Be Civil - It's OK to have a difference in opinion but there's no need to be a jerk.
Nobody has claimed responsibility for the murder.

Police say assailants hacked a Hindu holy man to death in northern Bangladesh and fled without anyone witnessing the attack.

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (Isis) claimed responsibility for the killing of a Hindu monastery worker in Bangladesh, according to a monitoring service tracking militant activity online.

There have been systematic assaults in Bangladesh in recent months specially targeting minorities, secular bloggers, intellectuals and foreigners.

At least eight people have been murdered since 1 May.

On Tuesday, the suspected Islamists hacked to death 70-year-old Hindu priest Ananda Gopal Ganguly in western Jhinaidah when he was going to a nearby temple.

Nityaranjan Pande was taking his regular early morning walk when unidentified attackers set upon him, killing him on the spot, police said.

Nitya Ranjan had been serving at the ashram for 40 years. The police have opened an investigation into the latest incident but so far they have been unable to contain such lone-wolf attacks by Islamist extremists.

Although it is officially secular, around 90% of Bangladesh's 160 million people are Muslims, while 8% are Hindus.

While the Islamic State group or the al-Qaida affiliate in South Asia have claimed responsibility for most of the dozens of attacks carried out in recent years, the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina denies that either has a presence in the country. Islamists were suspected in both cases.

Five suspected members of the outlawed Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen were killed in shootouts after the woman was stabbed and shot dead on Sunday.

On Thursday, AKM Shahidul Hoque, inspector-general of Bangladesh Police, pledged in an address to a meeting of senior police officers in the capital, Dhaka, that those involved in Khanom's killing would be "brought to justice very soon".
With India continuing to win support for its membership bid for the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), even nations that had been so far opposing the South Asian country's entry into the elite nuclear club are reported to have softened their stand. Regardless of what may be the end-result in terms of membership at NSG, it is certain that India's bilateral ties with these countries would reach new heights, FCCI said.

According to sources in the Indian government, this will help India and Russian Federation raise cooperation in space technology.

His visit was also significant on the trade and investment front as he obtained commitments from various companies for investing in the "Make in India" programme. India and Russian Federation co-produce the Brahmos, in a joint venture. For the past 13 years, India has imposed unwarranted sanitary and phytosanitary requirements on dairy imports, which have deprived Wisconsin's thriving dairy industry access to India-one of the world's largest and growing dairy markets.

Pakistan's Ambassador to Austria, Ayesha Riyaz, had in a letter addressed to NSG chairman Rafael Grossi on May 19 said the decision to seek membership in the group reflected Islamabad's support for global efforts aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. "Safe and sustainable civil nuclear energy is essential for Pakistan's future energy security and its economic development", he added. Another key factor standing in the way of India's nomination is that it is not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which seeks to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. The HCOC is meant to supplement the MTCR.

Russia, which signed on to the MTCR in 1995, was among the earliest members of HCOC.

China is not alone in opposition to India's membership.

"By bringing India on board, it's a slap in the face of the entire non-proliferation regime", a diplomatic source from a country resisting India's bid said on condition of anonymity. A meeting of the NSG later today in Vienna is scheduled to discuss India's membership application which will be followed by another meeting on June 24 in Seoul.

India is all set to become a member of the SCO after the grouping approved its membership past year.

India is slated to join the SCO after its membership was approved previous year. With all this in mind, foreign policy experts do not expect Beijing to relent on the NSG and help India to gain entry. "We are engaging all NSG members regarding this issue", said Jaishankar, at a media briefing last Friday.

Diplomacy over dinning table: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto have dinner at a restaurant in Mexico City yesterday. Both Switzerland, which was earlier opposed to India joining the NSG, and the United States of America have declared their support for India's bid. It would also infuriate India's rival Pakistan, an ally of China's, which has responded to India's membership bid with one of its own.
Ali's comments come as New Zealand Prime Minister John Key visits the country, the first PM to do so in 10 years.

He defended his actions leading the coup in 2006 and subsequent to that, saying he had replaced a "sham democracy" by leading a "revolution" that ensured every citizen had a level playing field. "They enjoyed a range of privileges that others didn't share - such as special access to jobs and to education". "He didn't. And I think to have our Prime Minister being insulted while he grandstands is just not acceptable", she said.

"History also records that New Zealand and certain other nations objected to that revolution because it was achieved by undemocratic means", he said.

Mr Bainimarama emphasised that he is now the "properly elected, freely chosen leader of Fiji" following elections in 2014 and he should no longer be seen as a "coup maker or dictator".

"Specifically, the government continues to show itself to be allergic to nearly any form of criticism".

"Frank Bainimarama used the opportunity of Key being there used the opportunity to lecture New Zealand on the way it treated Fiji. This is simply not borne out by the facts", Mr Bainimarama said.

Key said the time was right to visit Fiji after New Zealand played a major part in helping the country recover from super cyclone Winston, which killed 44 people in February.

"No one who reports on events in Fiji fairly and in a balanced manner is excluded".

"We can not allow the wilful propagation of false information that damages the national interest and undermines our vulnerable economy", the Fijian leader said.

Mr Bainimarama wants New Zealand and Australia removed from the Forum.

After the leaders' bilateral talks he was focused on the significance of his visit for the two countries' relationship.

"If the Prime Minister visits Fiji pretending nothing's happened and everything's fine, he will be doing a huge disservice to all the people working to bring a free media, democracy and human rights to Fiji", David Shearer says.

On his twitter handle after the departure of his New Zealand counterpart, Voreqe Bainimarama tweeted: "Thank you @johnkeypm for accepting our invitation to come to Fiji - marking a new start for our bilateral relations".
About a dozen people have gathered outside KayJay Gun Shop after reports of an accidental shooting.

As the owner of a popular gun store in Amelia, Ohio, James Baker was known for preaching safety first.

A man who owned a gun shop was fatally shot by one of his students in a hide and carry class.

The Clermont County sheriff says the unidentified man was shot in the neck around 1 p.m. Saturday and died at the scene. He was struck by a bullet that was sacked by a class participant while practicing weapon malfunction drills.

A neighbor of the gun shop told WCPO-TV that Baker spent his whole life teaching others how to protect themselves.

An adult male was accidentally shot and killed at a Pierce Township gun shop Saturday afternoon, the Clermont County Sheriff's Office said.

According to the gun shop's website, the concealed carry class consisted of basic pistol safety, shooting range sessions and a review of Ohio's gun laws. "He loved and wanted to protect". The name of the individual who discharged the fatal shot has not been released, the paper reported.

Another neighbor Sherri Ward, said Baker serviced law enforcement officers' weapons. "So it's a tragic thing that happened".

Sheriff AJ Rodenberg told local media that one of the students fired by accident while practicing "weapons-malfunction drills".
During Saturday's trial session, the court confirmed the death penalty against six defendants, including two Al-Jazeera journalists, for allegedly spying for Qatar.

Relations between Cairo and Doha have been fraught with tension since 2013 when the Egyptian army ousted Morsi, after vast protests against his rule. Qatar was a major backer of Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood group before he was overthrown by the military in July 2013.

"This sentence is only one of many politicised sentences that target Al-Jazeera and its employees", said the Qatar-based television station's acting director Mostefa Souag, accusing Cairo of a "ruthless" campaign against freedom of expression.

All of Saturday's verdicts can be appealed.

In a statement on Qatar's state news agency late Saturday, the Foreign Ministry said the verdicts lacked a "proper sense of justice" and did not help in consolidating ties between the two countries.

The court acquitted Morsi of charges of having supplied Qatar with classified documents but sentenced him to life for leading an unlawful organisation, his lawyer Abdel Moneim Abdel Maksoud told AFP.

Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid also said it was not surprising to see such comments from a government that had "devoted resources and efforts over the past years to mobilize its media mouthpieces to be hostile to the people of Egypt and its state and institutions".

The case involved a total of 11 defendants, of whom seven, including Morsi, are in custody. That death sentence and another two - life and 20 years in prison - are under appeal.

Under the nation's protocol in cases of capital punishment, Judge Mohammed Shirin Fahmy's recommendation of the death sentence went to the office of Egypt's Grand Mufti, the nation's top Muslim theological authority, the AP reported.

He has since been slapped with life-in-prison and death sentences for "conspiring against Egypt" - with Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah - and for breaking out of jail in 2011.

A news story that appeared earlier on the Al-Jazeera English website identified Hilal as a former director of news at Al-Jazeera's Arabic channel and said Alaa Omar Mohammed was an Al-Jazeera employee until previous year.

The three others sentenced to death, who were present at the trial, were documentary producer Ahmed Abho, EgyptAir cabin crew member Mohammed Kilani and Ahmed Thabet, a university teaching assistant.

The verdicts drew widespread criticism from rights groups, including Amnesty International, which described the outcome as "appalling".

Al Jazeera called on the worldwide community to "show solidarity with the journalists who received unjust sentences that outrageously oppose all global and regional laws and conventions that clearly support the protection of journalists and incriminate all forms of assault against them". Cairo also maintains that Al-Jazeera's news coverage of Egypt and elsewhere in the Middle East is biased in favor of militant Islamic groups.

The two journalists were falsely accused of wrongdoing under what is known as "The Espionage Case", together with the deposed former president Mohamed Morsi, and a number of media professionals.
The document, released by ASEAN member Malaysia and described as a joint statement from the bloc, warned developments in the hotly contested South China Sea could "undermine peace, security and stability".

While the original statement made no direct accusations against China, it referred to sensitivity over land reclamation in a nod to China's creation of man-made islands and the building of airstrips and other infrastructure.

The China-ASEAN Special Foreign Ministers Meeting in Yuxi, Yunnan province, was the first of its kind in three years.

China's state-run tabloid the Global Times published an editorial Wednesday with the headline: "Asean slapped China in the face over South China Sea?"

Their government spokesman Phay Siphan did, however, confirm two days after China's announcement that no deal had been reached with China: "There's been no agreement or discussions, just a visit by a Chinese Foreign Minister".

"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 FMs had to leave immediately", Armanatha Nasir told Reuters by text message.

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 Russian Federation.

It was a statement issued by the ministers after a meeting in Kunming to mark the 25th anniversary of Asean-China relations, which among others spoke on preparations for the Asean-China commemorative summit in September in Laos.

That may be an attempt to retain some credibility over its repeated evocations of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed between China and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The Straits Times understands that it was blocked after China lobbied Laos and Cambodia - both of which rely on the Asian giant for aid and investments - to raise last- minute objections.

The case before The Hague tribunal, filed by the Philippines, centers on the applicability of China's vaguely drawn "nine-dash line" boundary claim in the South China Sea under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

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.

"We have checked with the ASEAN side, and the so-called statement reported by AFP is not an official ASEAN document", spokesman Lu Kang said.

The statement reportedly said the group "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".

Asean has a history of struggling to agree on communiques amid disagreement over wording on the South China Sea.

In an apparent reflection of how hard the situation is, a joint press conference of the Chinese and Singaporean foreign ministers, Wang Yi and Vivian Balakrishnan, slated shortly after the meeting was canceled. China says the Singaporeans simply have the wrong end of the stick, but shows little real interest in what has interested ASEAN for years: a binding code of conduct, including, for example, a building ban, to avoid conflict in the sea.

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.

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.
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Egypt and Qatar Saturday exchanged blazing words after former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi was handed life sentence on espionage charges.

Qatar rejected Egypts highest criminal court Saturday ruling which handed ousted Morsi life in prison sentence for leaking state secrets to Doha.

Qatar foreign ministry spokesperson Ahmed al Romeihy lambasted the court decision, which he said was baseless, reports say.

Though it is not final, the verdict is unfounded, goes against truth and contains misleading claims which are contrary to the policy of the State of Qatar towards all sister countries, including Egypt, Romeihy said.

Ten other people including two aides of Morsi were condemned for the same charges and two Qatar-based Al-Jazeera journalists were sentenced in absentia to life in prison in

Egypt has accused the Qatar state-funded media of supporting the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood organization.

The charge of espionage for Qatar against a former president and media men is surprising and unacceptable,Romeihy added.

Romeihy also accused Cairo of trying to severe ties between the two countries, underscoring that Qatar is at the top of the list of countries that have supported the Egyptian people since the January 25 revolution.

Egypts foreign ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zaid said Cairo is not surprised by Qatars reaction as it comes from a country, which has strived to use media to distort the image of Egypt.

Zaid rejected Dohas criticism of the Egyptian judiciary, which, he said, has always showed its professionalism and integrity.

The relations and ties that bind Qatari and Egyptian societies will remain solid and Egypt will remain a faithful neighbor that cares for the interests of all the Middle East, never interferes in the internal affairs of other countries, and maintains the security and integrity of the nation, Zaid said.

Morsi, ousted in 2013 by current president al-Sisihas been handed other prison sentences including life in prison for facilitating a mass prison break of Islamists. He has also been sentenced to life in prison for leaking state secrets to the Palestinian Gaza-based Hamas movement.
Tunisian President Caid Essebsi has announced a unity government would be named no later than June 27, reports say.

President Caid Essebsiis still continuing consultation for the formation of the unity government that he announced early this month.

Local media, quoting close sources to the President, indicate that consultations will heat up this week to form the unity government said to help the country face up economic and security challenges.

Meanwhile state-run news agency TAP, quoting a source from the ruling coalition, reports that Prime Minister HabidEssid will announce his resignation at the end the consultations.

Prime Minister Essid had reportedly informed on Friday representatives of political parties and members of the ruling coalition of his decision.

Essid had earlier rejected rumors about his resignation and had said that replacing his team will be disastrous for the country, and will cause a constitutional power vacuum.

Tunisias economy has been unable to rise following the 2011 revolution. The economy has been further battered last year by three major terrorist attacks, which have dealt a serious blow to the tourism industry. 50 foreign tourists were killed in these attacks.

With national GDP estimated at near zero last year, the country is also facing a rise of youth umployment rate. More than 600,000 of the countrys graduates are jobless while national unemployment rate has been put at 13 per cent.
King Mohammed VI of Morocco hosts this week President of Rwanda Paul Kagame who arrived Monday in the North African country on a two-day official visit to foster cooperation ties.

The Moroccan Sovereign will hold talks with his African guest and will host an official iftar in his honor and his accompanying delegation at the Royal Palace of Casablanca, says the Ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery.

Moroccan-Rwandan relations are based on mutual respect and shared commitment to diversify and strengthen bilateral cooperation to serve the interests of the two countries peoples.

According to some experts, this trip will open up a new chapter in the political and economic relations between the two countries looking forward to enhancing their partnership within the frame of a win-win South-South cooperation spearheaded by King Mohammed VI for the sake of peace, stability and progress in the continent

The Moroccan monarch grants great importance to the strengthening of cooperation ties between Morocco and African countries through the exchange of experiences & expertise, supporting human development, encouraging investment and fostering security cooperation for peace and stability in the region and around the world.

The visit of President Kagame in Morocco is an opportunity to give a new momentum to bilateral political, economic and social relations as the North African Kingdom is expanding its presence in Africa through a long-term and global vision, combined with an inclusive approach.

Morocco, faithful to its centuries-old ties with sub-Saharan Africa, has actually made of cooperation with Africa a strategic choice, sparing no effort to consolidate bilateral political relations, establishing diverse and successful economic partnerships, putting at the disposal of other African countries its expertise and know-how, particularly in terms of human development, humanitarian assistance, security cooperation and religious guidance.

The Moroccan private sector is increasingly investing in the African continent. Several large companies operating in the sectors of banking, telecommunications and real estate and construction have established branches in Africa. These companies are now approached by European and American businessmen seeking partnership through triangular alliances.

As to Moroccan-Rwandan relations, experts say there are huge joint business opportunities to be tapped by the two countries namely in the fields of agriculture, trade, economy, air transport, vocational training
Omar Mateen.

About a half-hour after he stormed Pulse nightclub and began systematically murdering dozens of innocent people, Orlando gunman Omar Mateen called 911. In the name of God the Merciful, the beneficial, Mateen said, in Arabic, to the operator at 2:35 a.m. Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God, he went on, in Arabic. And then: I let you know, Im in Orlando and I did the shootings.

About a week after the nations deadliest mass shooting, the FBI published partial transcripts of Mateens 911 calls and subsequent crisis negotiations with Orlando police, redacting parts of the transcripts where Mateen pledges allegiance to an extremist group. But the FBI backtracked Monday afternoon and included Mateens declarations, saying the omissions had become an unnecessary distraction. The updated transcript confirms that Mateen pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the Islamic State. His ISIS declaration had been widely reported aftermath of the attack. The FBI said it is still not releasing audio of the shooter or of the 911 calls multiple victims made during the standoff. The audio was compelling, an FBI official said, but to expose that now would be excruciatingly painful to exploit them in this way.

Mateens first call with 911 lasted less than a minute, when he was holed up in the bathroom with hostages, where he retreated after officers first arrived on the scene and fired on the suspect, reports the Orlando Sentinel. His next call, at about 2:48 a.m., went on for approximately nine minutes, this time with the Orlando police departments crisis negotiators. He had two other conversations with the crisis negotiators: a 16-minute call at 3:03 a.m., and a 3-minute call at 3:24 a.m. Over the phone, Mateen said he was responsible for the shooting and called himself an Islamic soldier. He was out here right now, he explained, because of Americas bombing campaigns in Syria and Iraq. Mateen also boasted that he had explosives:

When the crisis negotiator asked the shooter what he had done, the shooter stated, No, you already know what I did. The shooter continued, stating, There is some vehicle outside that has some bombs, just to let you know. You people are gonna get it, and Im gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid. Later in the call with the crisis negotiator, the shooter stated that he had a vest, and further described it as the kind they used in France. The shooter later stated, In the next few days, youre going to see more of this type of action going on. The shooter hung up and multiple attempts to get in touch with him were unsuccessful. [Emphasis is added.]

Mateens claim that he had bombs turned out to be false, but authorities took his threats seriously, and believed the nightclub was booby-trapped with devices based on information they got directly from Mateen and other victims from the nightclub. The transcripts do not reveal exactly what motivated the authorities to breach the nightclubs walls around 5 a.m., leading to a shoot-out that eventually killed the Orlando gunman. Even after Mateen was down, bomb squads had to clear the building to make sure it was safe to enter, delaying authorities from getting inside the club and reaching victims who had been shot.

Mateen also allegedly texted his wife during the standoff, but he did not answer incoming phone calls from her. He also posted on Facebook, declaring his allegiance to ISIS, and keyed in search words such as Pulse Orlando and shooting on the social-media site to see if anyone had posted about the massacre in real time.

This post has been updated after the FBI re-released Mateens transcripts.
Donald Trumps rally at the Treasure Island Casino. Photo: John Gurzinski/AFP/Getty Images

A man drove from San Bernardino to Las Vegas last weekend to murder Donald Trump. Or at least thats what 19-year-old Michael Steven Sandford told police after he was arrested at the Treasure Island Casino on Saturday, the Associated Press reports. According to a criminal complaint obtained by the news wire, Sandford told officers hed been planning the assassination for more than a year, and had spent the day before taking target practice with a 9-mm Glock pistol at the Battlefield Vegas shooting range. Sandford had a U.K. drivers license on him at the time of his arrest, and told federal authorities that hed been in the U.S. about 18 months.

This (apparent) assassination attempt is the latest eruption of violence in a campaign cycle that has already seen its fair share. Considering the tenor of the general-election debate  in which both candidates are effectively arguing that the others election would be a forerunner of apocalypse  it seems unlikely that peace will reign from here to November.
Paul Ryan is stuck between a Trump and a hard place. Photo: Evy Mages/2016 Getty Images

When it comes to Donald Trump, Paul Ryan is more or less stuck. He cant outright dismiss the presumptive nominee of his own party  whether for fear a divided GOP would land Clinton in the White House or out of concern for his own political career  so the most he can do is distance himself in subtler ways from the man his party somehow nominated to run for president.

For instance, Ryan openly chastised Trump when the candidate claimed a federal judges Hispanic heritage was an inherent conflict of interest, and on Sunday, he said he doesnt blame his fellow GOP lawmakers for withholding their support from Trump. The last thing I would do is tell anybody to do something thats contrary to their conscience, he said on NBCs Meet the Press. This is a very strange situation. This is a very unique nominee.

Ryan also insinuated that, were he not the leader of the Republican party, he might not have thrown his weight behind the very unique nominee at all  but as speaker of the House, he has certain obligations to fulfill.

I feel like I have certain responsibilities, as not just Congressman Paul Ryan from the 1st District of Wisconsin, but as speaker of the House, Ryan said in an interview that aired Sunday. And imagine the speaker of the House not supporting the duly elected nominee of our party, therefore creating a chasm in our party to split us in half, which basically helps deny us the White House and strong majorities in Congress. The last thing I want to see happen is another Democrat in the White House, he continued. I dont want to see Hillary Clinton as president. I want to see a strong majority in the House and the Senate. And I think the way to achieve those goals is to have a more unified party, than a disunified party.

Ryans comments come as a handful of anti-Trump Republicans revealed theyre crafting a plan to wrest the nomination from his grasp. This literally is an Anybody but Trump movement, the groups leader said. Were just doing that job to make sure that hes not the face of our party. At a campaign rally in Las Vegas Saturday, Trump called the plan illegal and a hoax.

Whore they gonna pick? I beat everybody, he said. I beat the hell out of them.
Over there. Photo: Ralph Freso/Getty Images

In an interview on CBSs Face the Nation Sunday, Donald Trump told host John Dickerson that, I think profiling is something that were going to have to start thinking about as a country. Though Trump insisted that he hates the concept of profiling, its also not the worst thing to do, and he gave the rationale that, other countries do it; you look at Israel and you look at others and they do it and they do it successfully. It was simply a matter of common sense, according to Trump, which is increasingly the term he uses whenever he proposes that the U.S. government discriminate against a religious minority. We have to use, you know, we have to use our heads  we really have to look at profiling. We have to look at it seriously, he added.

As the Washington Post points out, Trump seemed to try and relate the security screening process at his rallies to what America should be doing to Muslims, though that section of his remarks didnt seem to make a whole lot of sense. Trump also cited the New York Police Departments use of profiling as a example to be emulated by the federal government, though he did not mention how that program seemed to accomplish nothing other than landing the city in court.

Originally, following the San Bernardino terrorist attack last fall, Trump had suggested the limited profiling of Muslims who behaved suspiciously, characterizing resistance to that idea as an expression of irresponsible political correctness. Relatedly, Trump has repeatedly said that the friends and families of Islamist terrorists are complicit in their actions, basically making the argument that Muslims cant be trusted to monitor their own communities, an argument he more or less repeated on Sunday. He has also previously pushed for the surveillance of certain mosques, and said he would strongly consider shutting down some mosques if needed. On Sunday, he celebrated France for how they have targeted mosques following the terrorist attacks in Paris last year.

At one point, Trump has even said that he wouldnt oppose creating a database of all Muslim Americans, though he has yet to revisit that idea since November. Trump has also insisted that he saw Muslim Americans celebrating the 9/11 attacks on 9/11, though no evidence or footage of such an event has ever been found (or seen by anyone else), and said he has no doubt that Muslim immigrants will stage another 9/11 in the U.S., as well as that Muslim immigrants have ISIS-funded cell phones, and that, in general, Islam hates us, noting that telling the difference between Islam and radical Islam (his favorite term) is tough because its very hard to define. Its very hard to separate. Because you dont know whos who. Trump has also called for the U.S. to once again torture its prisoners, when speaking about combating Islamic extremism and groups like ISIS. Thats all in addition to his recently renewed proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States until the government is in a position to properly and perfectly screen those people coming into our country, though the actual particulars of that proposal are still left to speculation at this point, and Trumps fellow Republicans have attempted to create significant distance between themselves and Trumps plan.
President Obama at the United State of Women conference. Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

I may be a little grayer than I was eight years ago, President Obama told a room of 5,000 at the White Houses United State of Women summit last week, but this is what a feminist looks like.

I was standing near the back of the crowd, which was mostly seated at large round tables in a cavernous and overly air-conditioned convention center in Washington, D.C.  probably among the least-inspiring places to witness anything. But as the president went on, I found myself getting emotional. He name-checked women who often go unrecognized for their contributions to progress, like Pauli Murray and Shirley Chisholm and Katherine Johnson. He refused to congratulate men who change diapers. He noted that many women choose to be single. He quoted Audre Lorde. Audre Lorde!

The speech wasnt just a choir-invigorating sermon on the importance of women in America. It seemed to be a direct address to women outlining what hes achieved as president  and what he tried and failed to accomplish, too. Obama has, of course, spent most of his years in office hampered by a Republican-led Congress that is studiously disinterested in using the power of government to end segregation, improve pay equity, protect reproductive rights, or acknowledge that a vast majority of American families are not nuclear, heterosexual, and led by a male breadwinner.

I couldnt help but notice, though, that the heres what we still need to do portion of his speech bore a striking resemblance to the promises he made to women on the campaign trail in 2008.

We need equal pay for equal work, Obama said last week, echoing his talking points from the campaign trail during the summer of 2008. The first piece of legislation he signed as president was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and while that law has enabled more women to file lawsuits against their employers for paying them unequally, it didnt narrow the pay gap. White women still make 78 percent of what white men make, black women make only 64 percent, and Latinas make 54 percent. Not even the most progressive Democrat has proposed a law mandating equal pay, which is what they have in Scandinavian countries and the Philippines.

We need paid family and sick leave, Obama declared, after the applause for equal pay had died down. Yet progress has been similarly slow on paid family leave. In 2008, candidate Obama pledged to invest $1.5 billion to help create paid leave systems across America  essentially offering states money to cover the cost of offering workers paid leave. He also said hed require all employers to provide workers with seven paid sick days a year. His administration has been able to offer better leave policies to federal workers and contractors, but everyone else lags: Only 61 percent of private-sector workers get paid sick days. And when Obama tried to get Congress to extend paid-family-leave benefits to non-government workers, Republicans were quick to shut him down.

We need affordable child care, Obama said last week. In 2008 he pledged to expand the child-care tax credit to an additional 7.5 million working moms, to provide after-school and summer learning opportunities for an additional 3 million children, and to give every child access to quality, affordable early childhood education. Obama put forth a huge proposal to do this early last year, but it went nowhere. Meanwhile, child-care costs have continued to soar, with no solution in sight.

Weve got to raise the minimum wage, he said last week  a nearly identical statement to his 2008 call to make sure the minimum wage rises each year to keep up with rising costs. More than two-thirds of minimum-wage earners are women, and on the campaign trail eight years ago he pledged that the federal hourly minimum would be $9.50 by 2011, giving 8 million women a well-deserved raise. Except that now, in 2016, its stuck at a dismal $7.25 per hour. After a failed effort to pass federal legislation to raise it, Obama kicked this effort to the states, some of which are making progress  many of which are not.

Even the victories Obama listed were caveat-laden. He mentioned that women are free to marry whomever they love  in large part thanks to a Supreme Court to which Obama appointed two more women. And that more women than ever are getting college degrees. And that birth control is now free. All great things! But he did not mention the rampant violence against trans women and openly gay women and gender-nonconforming women. He didnt mention the crushing weight of student-loan debt on most of those female college grads. And he definitely did not utter the word abortion.

This fact did not go unnoticed. Outside the convention center, protesters had gathered to demand that Obama issue an executive order to allow government agencies to distribute foreign aid to organizations that provide abortions. The Helms Amendment, passed in 1973, prevents U.S. funding for abortion as a method of family planning, which technically allows global aid recipients to perform abortions necessary to save a womans life, or in cases of rape or incest. Except agencies dont allow funding for abortion in those cases, either  which is something Obama could change with the stroke of a pen.

The reality, though, is that most of the presidents 2008 pledges to women were not achievable with a simple signature. They were  and still are  ambitious changes that even a dream Democratic candidate cannot deliver on alone. Obama has spent the past eight years doing his best to push for big, necessary cultural and economic shifts in the face of entrenched institutions and hostile opponents. And he mostly failed.

The real lesson of the Obama presidency is not that our sitting president is a failure. Its that having a president who looks like a feminist is not enough. For the kind of progress we want, we need politicians at every level who look like feminists. We need business leaders who look like feminists. And we need activists, like the ones outside the convention center, to stay loud and insistent that change is still possible.
Virginia Raggi Photo: VINCENZO PINTO/AFP/Getty Images

On Sunday, Virginia Raggi of the Five Star Movement defeated rival Roberto Giachetti of the Democratic Party to become Romes first female mayor in the citys nearly 3,000-year history.

The 37-year-old, relatively inexperienced politician won 67 percent of the vote by running on an anticorruption platform in a city thats plagued with it  along with decrepit infrastructure and astronomical municipal debt. Heres what you should know about her.

Whats her background?

Raggi, a lawyer, was born and raised in Rome. She initially became involved in politics in 2011, she told the New York Times, shortly after the birth of her son, Matteo. (Raggi is estranged from her husband, Andrea Severini, who posted a congratulatory letter lauding her for having the courage of a lioness on his blog following her victory.)

She told the Times she couldnt sit back any longer and just watch, and became involved with the Five Star Movement (M5S) in the spirit of mothers who want to change the world for their children. Raggi parlayed her grassroots activism into a city-council seat, and is not ashamed of her short time in the political arena. Experience in Italy belongs to the parties who have ruined Rome and the country, she told The Guardian.

What does her political party stand for?

Movimento Cinque Stelle, or the Five Star Movement, is a populist, antiestablishment, and Euro-skeptic party co-founded in 2009 by popular Italian comedian Beppe Grillo. According to NBC News, the five stars of the movement are to stop public water companies from falling into private hands, support sustainable development and environmentally friendly transport, ensure free internet access and promote environmentalism generally.

M5S secured several mayoral victories across Italy, including in Turin, where Chiara Appendino became that citys first female mayor.

Grillo has since stepped away from the spotlight of his party, which is likely for the best considering his incendiary comments over the years; most recently, he was criticized for making a suicide-bomber joke about Londons first Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan.

What particular issues make up Raggis platform?

Raggi vowed to end corruption and introduce a new level of transparency to the Roman government. Her main aim is to revamp Romes failing infrastructure, which she plans on doing by introducing new hybrid-electric buses, making people pay for bus rides (the current honor system isnt working too well), and ensuring that the trash is picked up on time and not overflowing into the streets. Our vision is of a city that is livable, first of all, which it is not at the moment, for all the Romans who live here and the tourists who  find themselves in front of a city that is devastated and very difficult, Raggi said to The Guardian.

Socially, she supports equal rights for same-sex parents and believes that Rome has legal obligations to house migrants.

Why is her victory as a woman significant?

Its worth noting that Raggi spoke openly about being a mother while campaigning, rather than downplaying her gender. After she won the runoff mayoral election, the AP reported that Raggi said she drew on her experiences as a mother in Rome in deciding she had something to offer if she becomes the citys first female mayor. She cites rundown playgrounds and chaotic traffic, including chronic double-parking making it difficult to maneuver baby strollers.

As Karen Beckwith, the chair of the political science department at Case Western Reserve University told the Cut via email, [T]hat women now govern two major cities is impressive, and that one of these is Rome  the largest Italian city and the seat of national government  is more impressive still. Women have been elected as mayors of Naples (Rosa Russo Iervolino, 2001-2011) and Milan (Letizia Moratti, 2006-2011). In short, women have been mayors of Italys four largest cities.
Tom Hiddleston. Photo: Mona Kuhn for W Magazine

Taylor Swifts relationship with Tom Hiddleston is not even a week old, and its already proving beneficial for all parties involved. After paparazzi caught the new couple making out on a secluded beach in Rhode Island, the resulting photos distracted the public from an unflattering depiction of Swift in GQ. Hiddleston, in turn, has enjoyed an elevated profile in his quest to become the next James Bond. W just published a hot, shirtless photo spread of the actor titled, Everything You Need to Know About Tom Hiddleston, Taylor Swift Boyfriend.

The corresponding interview is not about Swift, of course; it was most likely conducted before Hiddleston earned the vaunted title of Taylor Swift Boyfriend. But many people will be more interested to read it now, which is great for him and W. In the short profile, Hiddleston comments directly on the speculation that he may be cast as Bond:

Id make a terrible spy, because everybody knows who I am. But Susanne Bier, the director of The Night Manager, said that she thinks I am very enigmatic and good at keeping secrets.

And then, theres this:

Congrats to all.




UK ONTD'ers, what side do you think will get the most votes?



I really don't want to pay duties etc on things I order from the UK and having to get a visa/esta type of thing all of the sudden if they leave the EU.UK ONTD'ers, what side do you think will get the most votes?

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Isn't Leave in the lead, which is just a sign of the times unfortunately.

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It's too close to call. This time last week Leave had the momentum and I was sure that they were going to win however Jo Cox's murder has made people realise how racist and xenophobic the Leave campaigh is.

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I think the remain side will win /keeps fingers crossed

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As someone who just moved to Spain from the UK... They had best vote remain, I don't want to jump through any hoops. It does seem that Jo Cox murder has opened people's eyes to the racist, xenophobic campaigns of some brexiters, though. I do find it funny that most of the people that were voting for Scotland's independence are pro-EU and vice versa. It's interesting.

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Good Morning Britain recently went to Spain and spoke to Brit's currently living there.

Half said they would vote to leave because of immigration?!?!?!?

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I think we will stay. The Brexit campaign is unraveling each day.

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lol, oh my god. Seeing all of this at once...

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What is the source for this graphic? Were those ppl/representatives asked about what they'd vote for and someone compiled the answers in the list?

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pretty sure all of the listed people/organizations have spoken out in favor or against the Brexit.

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lol this is some cherry picking of support and it does no one any favors. Leaving or staying in the EU is not a black and white issue and it does not make you evil to want to leave the mess that the EU can be sometimes.



Here in Norway we've voted against joining the EU twice and according to polls this year around 80% still want to stay out. That does not mean we'd be in allegiance with the people in the leave side of this "infographic".

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almost totally OT, but i really wanted to ask you your opinion on virginia raggi's win + M5S' success in general...

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LOL @ "President of Canada". It's Prime Minister...

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Plus their policies are all pretty awful in regards to them being homophobics so seeing them on that side would not encourage me to remain(although I obviously am voting that way) I do really like this even read it out to my sister but when I read the DUP thing I shocked. Arlene Foster wants out see here Plus their policies are all pretty awful in regards to them being homophobics so seeing them on that side would not encourage me to remain(although I obviously am voting that way)

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like the "VOTE TO LEAVE - WORLD LEADERS" section says it all.

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who made this fail chart?



Canada does not have a President lol

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i wanted to have some relief over the frustration that is town of salem by checking out ontd but nope, even more frustrating.

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as an european, i'm sf tired of the Brexit media circus. fucking leave, or don't, but just stfu about it already.

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same tbh

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ugh, this week is going to be a fucking mess



and i have to read countless articles about this for class so there's no escaping it if i want to pass my exam, sigh

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I'm so stressed about this, and every time I manage to forget about it, something reminds me. (Not blaming you OP, I should be working not checking ONTD.)

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i have brit citizenship but live in the us (have done all my life). would be terribly disappointed if i never get to travel the EU visa-free.

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....so do you have US citizenship? You don't need a visa either

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sorry i guess i mean work* in the EU while i traveled/to support my travel. but yes i have US, UK, and Canada citizenship

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Lots of countries not in the EU can travel to the EU without visas already (including Americans) for three months, I think it is, so I doubt they'd make people from the UK get visas even if they do leave. It's the people who are going for more than a holiday who will get screwed, I think.

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you don't need a visa if you're American but if you're flying to continental Europe from the UK (or anywhere lol), you don't have to clear customs if you're an EU citizen (as far as I remember-I could be wrong, it's been 6 years).



Edited at 2016-06-20 01:43 pm (UTC)

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If they leave they will regret it lbr.

Just yesterday I was at a conference about the candidates to the EU (Western Balkan countries) and one thing all of them said was that they always felt European but being allowed to move freely and be able to participate in all types of mobility (which were implemented do to build tolerance and bring countries together) has made them question less their European status. I think we all forget how privileged we are to be able to do these things, even I sometimes forget it and take it for granted bc I don't even own a passport and travel quite often in the EU/Schengen area.

Leave thinks they will be like Norway if they out but they are so so wrong, they haven't got the prosper economy northern Europe countries like Finland, Denmark and Norway do and this is the sole reason why Norway works out of the EU. And it's not me saying this, I heard a speaker from the European Commission yesterday saying only an incredibly prosper country can work the way Norway does in the EU. And in any case, they have a EU spirit which clearly the UK doesn't so if they live the rest of the EU will never allow them to be a Norway.



Edited at 2016-06-20 12:20 pm (UTC)

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I remember my parents got denied for the first time they applied for Schengen to visit France. (I was going there for Erasmus, and they wanted to be with me for the first few days) and when we applied for the second time and got the text about our passports were shipped back, my mom was about to cry because she thought we were denied again.



Free mobility is such a dream for me tbh, it was the only reason I wanted Turkey to be a part of EU, along with not paying a fortune for an education there :/

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Yep, I was going on Erasmus to Istanbul (ended up not going bc our parents were scared of the Gezi Park protests) and the list of things I had to get was ridic: passport, visa, residence visa, etc. It would've cost me a fortune but I was so disappointed and regret not going anyway :/



It baffles me that people dgi, probably bc older people don't really care about traveling or being able to move freely but our generation doesn't really have that mindset, we want to just go and not have to deal with that bs bureaucracy. But I think people who don't have or didn't have the EU benefits before have a less privileged perspective and are able to see the amazing benefits in the mess that is the EU.

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This is going to sound weird: But is it possible, we were penpals at one point?

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yep, i'm from bosnia and i was so happy when the schengen area disabled visas from us, because i have ties to italy and i hadn't been there for years (my dad works with italians and everytime he'd have to seek a visa he'd go to the embassy with so many papers, it was such a hassle). i now study in ireland but it took me so long to get a visa that i actually missed half of my first semester. i'd love to visit the uk but getting a visa is so annoying.

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i think the leave campaign stopped wanting to be like Norway when they realised Norway is a part of the EEA and has to take up sth like 70-80% of EU directives and allow the free movement of people, two things they want to avoid lol.

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This referendum has truly exposed the nastiness of the general population, the utter and complete selfishness of the older generation who don't seem to give a SHIT about how leaving the EU would affect young people, and the total ineptitude of British politicians - and I include both the Tories and Labour in that last remark. Really fucking poorly handled by all.



I can't wait to watch this once I get home, I'm sure he slays as usual. I wonder how he feels about it as a Brit himself.



Edited at 2016-06-20 12:23 pm (UTC)

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It really has turned into a generational fight.

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Mte. Older generations saying it's a "sacrifice" they're willing to make, well it's not really their sacrifice is it? They're perfectly willing to throw our future under the bus to placate their xenophobia.

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it's really shown how awful the politicians are. i keep saying to people, you can vote in or out but it's still gonna be the same shit uk government. your main problems won't change because the eu isn't to blame

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This is so good. God I hate UKIP and Farage, that moron. My boyfriend is all in favour of Brexit, it drives me insane. We're not even European, he just has some sort of weird anglophile glasses on and seems to take in some of the rubbish pro-Brexit arguments.



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Tell your boyfriend he couldn't even begin to understand the benefits of being in the EU bc he never experienced them.

This is what pisses me off about people who are not in the EU bc they don't get the consequences and don't really understand fully how the EU works (not that most people in the EU do, bc clearly a lot of UK people don't).

Sorry for the rant.

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Nah that's ok, it annoys me too lol. I mean I know there are legitimate pros and cons to membership of the EU, but he's not European and didn't even really get the British context either - I had to point out to him that Farage is just a flaming racist and UKIP is BNP-lite. Basically he's a snob about the British vs European legal systems, and pretty much bases his opinion on that.

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it's not that simple either. the current EU is a bureaucratic monster that worries almost exclusively about the markets and internal political power play while being completely alienated from the actual people and their struggles. the EU is favorable mostly to countries with traditionally strong and stable economies, while imposing economic & socially-destroying austerity measures and sanctions upon the weakest countries & not taking ANY responsibility for both the contributing causes & the consequences. and don't get me started on the utter disaster that was the introduction of the euro. i think the EU needs either to disintegrate & reform under different principles, or to be radically restructured. given the current context, i think the former is far more likely that the latter.



my point being, we don't have to turn into EU apologists to be against Brexit.



Edited at 2016-06-20 12:44 pm (UTC)

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Even people in the EU don't realise what the EU does. I've seen so many posts on FB from people and I shake my head- I think for so long that the right wing media has perpetuated the "we wouldn't be dealing with this if we were out of the EU" and people have bought it hook, line and sinker.

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Most people don't understand how the EU works. A big problem of the EU is that it has become too big right now. They were too quick to let other countries join. But leaving the EU will do no good. People often want to forget, or simply don't know, about the benefits about being in the EU brings you

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What most worries me about Leave campaign is that some of the arguments re: Turkish people coming as migrants to UK. Like I get it to a degree, but I'm Turkish & will start my postgrad studies in September, and my long term plan is settling in UK. I am so fucking terrified of the amount of racism and bigotry and jfc. God help us all.

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where are you doing your postgrad?



i'm sorry you're worried about coming over, i wish i could reassure you :( as a poc i wouldn't say i've encountered a lot of racism in this country (relatively) but i think the experience is different for 1st gen immigrants and obviously dependent on environment etc.



if it helps, i do think the remain campaign will emerge victorious

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the university of edinburgh, hopefully. waiting for my diploma so i can finally get that unconditional offer :)



also thanks <3 i'm sure the people who are in their senses are a majority, and a few dickheads can be tolerated as long as they don't engage in violence, so there's that. :D

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I'm voting to stay. My husband is voting out, even though he acknowledges both sides aren't clear on anything and have no idea how it will turn out.



It's like Civil War all over again! (He was Team Stark going it, came out Team Cap!)



My mom is voting out as she wants our boarders closing, we have had many a discussion about how that probably isn't going to happen either way but she just won't concede. But that is her only reason for out.

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Your mum (and so many others like her) needs to realise that leaving the EU will not stop immigration. If Brexit does happen a lot of people who voted for it are not going to get what they want.



Edited at 2016-06-20 12:36 pm (UTC)

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maybe a dumb question, but doesn't the UK have border controls anyway? they're not in the Schengen area, so I'm not sure I understand where that argument is coming from. I didn't travel on my EU passport so I don't know what it's like entering as a European, but when I flew from Spain to the UK, the border control and immigration at Heathrow was so strict.

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I'm just here to congratulate your husband on seeing the light and changing to Team Cap. 

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Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ

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I'm worried no one cares enough about the EU to go out and actively vote to remain, whereas all the RWNJs will have been salivating with glee as they marked it in their calendars the date it was first announced.



History is made by those who show up...

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Well it's not so much about Blink,"



lmaoo



is he ok though someone should check on him

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Someone needs to confiscate his drugs or see his drug dealer and ask what they're adding to it.

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and give it to me for further investigation

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LMAO this gif usage

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lmao I love it

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lmao all for science

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Lmao

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seeing them in vegas next month

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That gif is the first thing that popped in my head! lol

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Lmao what in the appropriate gif hell

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What

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He was always my least favorite member anyway. I honestly don't miss him. He seems like a royal turd anyway.

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I got to see them back in 2001ish, like right at their peak. It was my second concert ever after Nsync. LOL I was such a child of my time.

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Lol I say this way too much irl

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I'm guilty of that as well...and doing his hand movements while saying it.

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I see.......

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i can't help the way i'm feeling, goddess of love, please take me to your leader!

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Edited at 2016-06-20 06:19 pm (UTC)

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lmao

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lolllll

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Perfect lol

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omg

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lol

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lol ta for this, actually choked a bit

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Lol irl

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lmfao

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pure gold

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There is a comedian that makes fun of the way he sings and I don't know his name but it was hilarious.

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ETA:



he starts talking about it at 6:49 here if this is who you're thinking of



and he also talks abt it here



Edited at 2016-06-20 06:30 pm (UTC) omg was it a video of the comedian performing stand up and making fun of the way he yelled WHERE ARE YEW? bc that was BEAUTIFULETA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4fWCHlNG90 he starts talking about it at 6:49 here if this is who you're thinking of https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EB-9Aa6G4g8 and he also talks abt it here

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Lmaooo

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lol SPOIDERS!

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lololol

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LMAO never gets old





WHERE ARE YEWWWWW

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lmao i want to see what mark would tweet about this tbh

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I thought he already quit like years ago...

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yeah this is old news at this point.

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I mean, this is dumb, but you know what it REALLY dumb? That humans actually think aliens would WANT this planet.



Any species out there with technology more advanced from ours is going to stay the fuck away from a planet which is being actively destroyed by one species.



Earth is the Tajikistan of the galaxy. No one wants to go there, ever.

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ikr? and even if they want it, which is bs, why they would be visiting (specifically US) since the 50's and doing nothing more? Why wasting time? I think traveling from whenever the hell they live to here takes a lot of resources.

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how did Tajikistan hurt you tho

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damn, I didn't know we had TajikiSTANs on ONTD

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lbr there's prob one lame loser alien that is like C'MON GUYS, EARTH LOOKS COOL! IT HAS MORE WATER THAN LAND! THEY DON'T EVEN EXPLORE THEIR WATER! and everyone else is like 'oh my GOD, just shut UP Todd, your ideas are the WORST." but todd can never convince them so we just chill here waiting



plus i bet aliens could fix our planet in like ten seconds. did you see the report the other day that like 99% of carbon dioxide is erased when you inject it into the earth or something, iceland figured out i think? so that's a lot of damage hopefully erased, if it pans out.



anyway interesting stuff:



Edited at 2016-06-20 06:49 pm (UTC) aww i wanna go to tajikistan!lbr there's prob one lame loser alien that is like C'MON GUYS, EARTH LOOKS COOL! IT HAS MORE WATER THAN LAND! THEY DON'T EVEN EXPLORE THEIR WATER! and everyone else is like 'oh my GOD, just shut UP Todd, your ideas are the WORST." but todd can never convince them so we just chill here waitingplus i bet aliens could fix our planet in like ten seconds. did you see the report the other day that like 99% of carbon dioxide is erased when you inject it into the earth or something, iceland figured out i think? so that's a lot of damage hopefully erased, if it pans out.anyway interesting stuff: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160609142426.htm

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i bet aliens would rather visit tajikistan than the rest of the earth

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the id4 aliens know this place is only good for one thing tbh.

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this comment is killing me (i once picked tajikistan as the topic for a final paper b/c i was writing it rly last min and figured all the sources would still be in the library...b/c who writes papers on tajikistan??? anyway, i had to hit up a DIFFERENT university's library to get books on tajikistan b/c apparently it was a hotter topic than i thought) /coolstorybro

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lol this whole comment thread is A+, would lol again

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Lmfao. So random because I was also just thinking about the aliens in the Aliens movie I watched on the other night and was like damn they had no chill.

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i think at the very least they would want to use us to do experiments and stuff. we are like animals to them

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i want to know the truth!





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where can I watch that?



and also, this one is kind of weird... but I feel like he disappeared on his own.





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watching your video now... omg of course he disappeared in new mexico!!!



IDK where you can find the travis walton doc :( i only know about it because it was part of the Philip K. Dick film festival a few months back and i wanted to go but couldn't!

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the video you linked reminded me of this book i read recently about Everett Ruess who was a young explorer and he loved the southwest. he disappeared in like the mid 1930s and no one found his remains or anything. stuff like that is so morbidly fascinating to me.

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I had such a crush on him in 8th grade. smh @ me.

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Same, it's sad he turned out to be such a douche.

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I remember one of my 8th grade BFFs being in love with him and none of us Mark fangirls understood her.

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I was always the lonely Travis lover

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my crush was always travis lol. i still think he's a swell guy.

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Norways parliament recently passed legislation vowing to make the country carbon-neutral by 2030. The bill passed with bi-partisan support and is a powerful indicator of the political desire among Northern Europeans to achieve a more sustainable energy future.

The bill is somewhat vague on details, stipulating only that Norway will work on reducing its carbon footprint through trading on the common European carbon trading market and emission reduction through international agreements. Norway has also planned to initiate widespread re-forestation in order to achieve a better carbon balance. The country had previously vowed to achieve carbon neutrality in 2008, pushing the target to 2050, before again re-scheduling it this week to 2030.

There is considerable skepticism among Norwegians that the promise to reach carbon neutrality can be kept, with critics noting an emphasis on carbon-positive actions (like re-forestation) in lieu of practical measure for reducing emissions. Norway, much like its southern neighbor Germany, has been vocal in its support of a positive climate change policy; but like the Teutonic giant, which has maintained its use of coal albeit with promises to cease using coal by 2018, Norways stance has been somewhat contradictory, with greenhouse gas emissions rising by 1.5 percent in 2015.

The question is: how does the new carbon-neutral policy impact Statoil, Norways huge (and hugely-profitable) state-owned oil company and Europes largest natural gas producer?

Last year, Statoil joined several other major energy companies in supporting significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Since the Paris agreement on climate change reached last year, Statoil has been a vocal proponent for new thinking in the energy industry, to reflect the changing economic, environmental and political conditions.

Norway wants to ban gas-powered cars by 2025. Statoil, for its part, has publicly recognized that at least 90 percent of cars sold by 2040 will be hybrid or electric and that renewable energy could account for 40 percent of world energy output by that time. It currently accounts for about 5 percent. Statoil, a major natural gas producer and the provider for 15 percent of the total European market, supports a shadow price of $50 per metric ton on the European carbon exchange. The price on Friday June 17 was $6.44.

The weak market conditions and low prices have eaten into Norways energy investments. Rystad Energy recently reported that Norways oil and natural gas fields declined in value to the tune of $50 billion in two years. This represents a fall of nearly one-third. The news comes amidst expectations of stagnant demand for natural gas in Europe lasting until 2020.

Norway, unlike any other European country with the exception of Russia, draws a significant chunk of its state revenue from the energy industry. Norway owns a 67 percent stake in Statoil ASA. Last year, Norways derived half of its oil and gas revenue from production taxes, 43 percent from the governments direct ownership in oil and gas assets, and 7 percent from dividends paid by Statoil ASA, in which the government has a 67 percent stake. Related: Saudi Aramco IPO, Not for BP

The bulk of its oil wealth has ended up in the sovereign wealth fund. Norways model of state-managed energy companies feeding into a public wealth account is being openly copied by Saudi Arabia, which hopes to achieve the same success in public investment that Norway has achieved: the sovereign wealth fund contains around $850 billion and is the largest such fund on earth.

As estimates of future prospects in energy grow increasingly bullish, Statoil remains pessimistic, with the companys chief economist predicting several years of a tight market and global production to fall drastically by 2040. The company has dropped an expensive off-shore contract in Brazil, a move that reflects the worldwide hesitancy toward further off-shore exploration. Yet at the same time, Statoil has vigorously pursued new production in the North Sea, bringing on a new field that promises 80 million barrels in oil equivalent. It recently concluded a 19-month exploration off the Newfoundland coast, an area known as Flemish Pass, which promises 300 million to 600 million barrels. This estimation allows for some cautious optimism, though Statoils CEO noted that the company was largely disappointed that estimates of the fields capacity did not come in higher.

There are other signs that Statoil is not ready to abandon off-shore contracts. After losing out with other bidders on Mexican contracts last year, Statoil has recently announced interest in new contacts with PEMEX for fields in the Gulf of Mexico. Despite low prices, Statoil is interested due to the regions relatively un-explored status. A spokesperson for PEMEX noted that Trion field contains roughly 485 million barrels and will cost $11 billion to fully develop. Winning the contract will allow Statoil to claim a significantly higher reserve replacement ratio for the year. In 2015 Statoils RRR fell to 55 percent from 62 percent in 2014.

So despite appearances to the contrary, Norways energy giant does not yet appear willing to give up on fossil fuels completely. Even expensive projects are being pursued if they promise high returns in the long run. And as Norway plans for a new energy future, it is likely that it will remain inextricably linked to its state-run energy industry, even as private competitors emerge to challenge Statoils dominance.

By Gregory Brew for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Alaska has long been one of the few U.S. states without an income tax. Thanks to its incredible bounty of natural resources, the state had more than enough cash coming in through oil company taxes and especially Prudhoe Bay production. All of that is starting to change. After a 40 year oil boom that transformed Alaska from a frozen tundra into one of the richest states in the country, the oil price crash is bringing reality back to bear.

Alaskas problems go deeper than the current oil price collapse though. Simply put, the state is getting long in the tooth  at least as far as its productive assets go. The Prudhoe Bay Oil field, once the largest such field in North America, is starting to reach the end of its life. In 1985, the Prudhoe Bay field was pumping 2 million barrels per day  roughly a quarter of the total U.S. output. Today it is pumping 500,000 barrels a day. Thats leaving the 800 mile Trans-Alaska pipeline seriously under-utilized.

Roughly 90 percent of Alaskas general fund revenues are tied to oil. Between the oil price collapse and the inexorable decline of oil production over time, Alaska now faces a $4B budget deficit, all while the state has slid into an oil related recession over the last year. With the States rainy day fund burning through $11 million per day, that energy fund will be exhausted in less than two years.

All of this is a new challenge for Alaska and its roughly three-quarters of a million residents. Alaska has traditionally lightly yoked its residents with the lowest tax burden of any state across the country. In contrast, it has also had the highest per capita spending in the country thanks to its vast swath of territory. Both facets of this social compact may have to change. The State and its new governor, Bill Walker are already looking closely at implementing a state income tax for the first time in 35 years. Walker is also looking to double the gas tax and cut corporate incentives for energy firms. Related: Oil Continues To Tumble On Brexit Fears

Against this grim backdrop, Alaska does have one very large Ace left in the hole  the $53B Alaska Permanent Fund. This fund, composed of past oil earnings for the state, is contractually untouchable by politicians. Or at least the principle is. The earnings from the fund have traditionally been paid out to Alaskan residents as a bonus for living in the state. Last year, every man, woman, and child in the state got a check for $2,072. That may change in the future as Walker is looking to take those earnings to help fund the state government.

Regardless of the political decisions made in Alaska, its clear that changes will need to be made going forward. Alaska is not alone in this situation. Traditional heavy weight producers like Norway and the Saudis have similar issues. The key to ensuring a prosperous future in all three cases is the same  investing the proceeds of the natural resource bounty when times are fat and revenues flow freely. Alaska needs to invest the proceeds of its past bounty while it still can to ensure a bright future for a time when oil revenues will no longer sustain the state on their own.

By Michael McDonald of Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
A key U.S. Congressman believes that the actions by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) regarding oil production could lead to regime change in Venezuela, according to an interview published last week.

I think ten years from now, well look back at this as a positive effect, possibly on regime change in Venezuela, said Rep. Jeff Duncan, reacting to OPEC member states failing to agree earlier this month to establish oil output limits.

In the judgment of the Republican legislator from South Carolina, Venezuela lacks sufficient revenues from the production of oil to sustain the government in power. Thus, regime change appears to be less a case of if but of when.

"If Maduro doesnt have the oil revenues to continue supporting the socialist government there may be regime change," Duncan said, in reference to the recent spate of mass protests against the regime led by President Nicolas Maduro.

These demonstrations staged by Venezuelans who are irate at the shortages of medicine and food supplies have become increasingly violent over the past week.

The Venezuelan economy has sagged heavily over oil prices that have nosedived from $115 per barrel in June 2014 to less than $30 per barrel by January this year. As a result, the governments strategy to rely heavily on oil revenues that make up 95 percent of Venezuelan export earnings and roughly 25 percent of its gross domestic product has backfired.

Nevertheless, Oil Minister Eulogio del Pino said that if the price of crude can climb towards $50 per barrel then domestic state-run oil producer PDVSA could prevent defaulting on its growing debt.

Venezuelan officials have pushed for greater action by OPEC to try to place levels on international oil production. The government proposed to the cartel a plan to assign individual counties a range of minimum and maximum oil output. Ultimately the suggestion was scrapped amid the lack of consensus among OPEC members at the recent summit in Vienna, Austria.

Del Pino insisted that he would push his proposal of customized national oil production limits to OPEC member states. He further alleged that Venezuelan oil output has not faltered and is anticipating production to rise up to 2.8 million barrels per day.

That may seem a little too hard to believe following news this week detailing how Venezuelas oil production plummeted by 120,000 barrels per day in May. Related: Where Does Wall Street See Nuclear Energy Going?

Duncan is a staunch opponent of the Maduro government, and among the accusations made against the government, Duncan blamed Venezuelan security forces for repression against opponents and political dissidents.

Duncan, who is also the chairman for the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, called into question Venezuelas close ties to an Iranian regime, including allegations of secret oil deals prior to the removal of international sanctions last January.

Duncans remarks over regime change in Venezuela could be interpreted as the ranting of a politico wishing to further his agenda. Certainly other economic and political factors come into play such as the loyalty of Chavistas to Maduro, and an opposition divided over how to pressure the president.

Yet Venezuelas overall economy cannot improve without a much improved oil sector, which appears to be a weak possibility in the months ahead. And without a solid economy, the odds of Maduro seeing out his presidential term to its completion will get slimmer.

By Erwin Cifuentes for Oilprice.com

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Russias Transport Ministry is considering the Elon Musk-proposed Hyperloop concept to connect China with the Russian Far East and may propose the idea to Beijing.

"The Russia-China intergovernmental council will convene in a month. I will suggest that my counterpart consider this project, in particular in terms of investments," Russian Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov told journalists, as reported by Russian TASS news agency.

According to TASS, the high-speed Hyperloop would potentially be between China and the port of Zarubino.

"Today we discussed this project with the companys leadership under the aegis of Elon Musk. We agreed that we would offer a project for developing the Primorye-2 corridor, a 70-kilomerter-long section between China and the Primorye territory with an exit to Zarubino port, to the company as a pilot project. Colleagues claim that the infrastructure will be cheaper than the railway: the cost of construction of a 70-kilometer-long railway may vary from 30 to 40 billion rubles [455.4-607.2 million U.S. dollars]," Sokolov said.

Sokolov noted that there is already a fund to support Silk Road projects, and that the hyperloop may count on a 100 percent co-financing from this fund".

The Russian Ministry estimates the cost for this Hyperloop to be around $455-$607 millionjust for the pilot section.

Invented by Elon Musk, the Hyperloop high-speed trains rely on technology that would represent the maximum speed for land transport in existence. Related: Saudi Aramco IPO, Not for BP

Musks Hyperloop One recently announced that its first track test of Hyperloop technology was a success. The Hyperloop can travel close to 1,000 mph. The company was set up two years ago with the aim of turning into reality Elon Musks vision of a superfast and affordable public transport network using magnetic propulsion in a near vacuum.

The crux of Musks idea was a long, straight tube, almost completely evacuated, along which a transport pod will travel at high subsonic speeds. A journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles would take half an hour in such a pod at 760 mph or more.

By Charles Kennedy of Oilprice.com

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In recent years, images of Chinas rapid industrialization have become all too familiar: from enormous factories, and infrastructure projects, to the ubiquitous smokestacks of the nations power plants. While Chinas industrial and service sectors have increasingly adopted a free-market attitude, the lifeblood of Chinas economy, energy generation, has been under strict control, driven by monopolies and government pricing restrictions  that is until now.

China is in the process of deregulating its energy sector, one of the last commanding heights of the central government. Electricity distribution, transmission, and sale reforms are urgently needed if China wishes to create a modern grid to support, rather than hinder, its changing economy.

Deregulating the dragon

Currently, 35 nations, representing 44 percent of global energy usage, have deregulated energy sectors. China makes 36, representing 25 percent of global energy use. Consequently, Chinas reforms will see the majority of worldwide energy become deregulated for the first time.

Specifically, China is in the process of ending the monopoly of state-owned power distributors, by allowing end-users to negotiate directly with generators: direct trading will bring end-users benefits as low coal prices and power over-supply push down rates.

(Click to enlarge)

Instead of fixed flat-rate pricing from the government, China will re-commodify electricity, by allowing generators to sell via regional power trading platforms. State-owned transmission companies will in turn operate as utilities and only charge a transmission fee. Related: Record Breaking Production Drop In North Dakota

The government is also evaluating the merits of an online payment system to aid consumer adoption and promote e-commerce. These reforms are also slated to create new investment and financial products, as Beijing is investigating the eventual implementation of electric power future and derivatives.

The electricity reforms began with a pilot project in Shenzhen in 2014, which was expanded to five more regions in 2015, with enterprises seeing savings of $854.6 million as result. Similarly, direct energy sales were expanded to seven more cities in 2015. The government is set to expand the program to ten more provincial, and one to two regional power grids in 2016 (including Beijing, Tianjin, Chongqing, and Guangdong), and the entire country by 2017. The government will be monitoring the progress of the pilot project until 2018.

Energy reforms needed to counter excess and wastage

As Chinas supercharged economy surged ahead in the 2000s, the central planning agency prioritised power plant construction, adding 80-100 GW annually from 2005-2010, despite China reducing energy usage by 19 percent over 2005 levels by 2010, as part of its efforts against climate change. This move was driven by fears of insufficient generating capacity holding back economic growth.

The problem China now faces is overcapacity, as the provinces have continued to add generating capacity, despite lower demand. Indeed there has been a 20 percent increase in the number of thermal power projects, despite lower demand, with 200 GW of additional capacity (more than all of Canada) to come online between 2015-2017.

This overcapacity has been compounded by the fact that industry uses 75 percent of Chinas energy, and it is this very tier of the economy that is being streamlined as the country moves towards a more consumption-based economic model.

Despite, or indeed because of, this trend, the provinces have continued apace with power plant construction in order to maintain local growth, at the expense of national efficiency. A narrow focus on local jobs, combined with state-set electricity prices that have not been sufficiently adjusted to reflect low coal prices  have until now allowed new power plant projects to remain profitable despite a lack of demand.

(Click to enlarge)

Until now, the government has sought to deal with overcapacity by dictating generating quotas for producers. However, this has led to inefficiencies and under-utilised facilities, as Chinas generating portfolio consists of thousands of old and dirty coal plants, alongside newer, cleaner ones, as well as a host of various alternative methods from nuclear to solar. Related: OPEC May Be Forcing Venezuela Into Regime Change

By shifting to a deregulated market, the government wants to use market forces to phase out less efficient and less environmentally friendly producers out of the market. With the market setting prices at various bidding increments, efficient producers will finally be able to fully utilise their assets, under-bidding less competitive producers. As a result, Chinas oldest and dirtiest generators will be confined to operating at peak hours, thus reducing pollution, a major domestic security concern for the Chinese government.

Concern about pollution is a major motivation for the reform

Pollution is a central driving factor behind Chinas efforts at energy reform, as cheap coal and overcapacity merely encourage wasteful consumption patterns. This frustrates the governments efforts to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution. Moreover, Chinas large scale investments in wind and solar are being under-utilised under the current system, which is too static to effectively incorporate fluctuating green energy generation rates, resulting in waste and the increased threat of brownouts.

The bottom line of these reforms is that they will open up competition and create new markets for power generation and sales businesses. The private sector is thus being allowed to enter one of the last unexploited sectors of the Chinese economy. As of November 2015, some 300 companies have signed up. In the short to medium term, these reforms, aside from creating a blossoming of Chinese energy companies, will also create opportunities for consultant and IT firms to aid major energy consumers in transitioning to the new system.

By Global Risk Insights

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A militia group in Libya calling itself The Benghazi Defense Forces launched an attack on eastern military units in an area close to oil facilities in the country on Sunday. Those facilities included three oil terminals north of the countrys major oil fields. Three people died during the fighting.

A spokesperson for Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) stated that the facilities were not threatened, but that the PFG was ready to protect them. The PFG controls the terminals in question. And is loyal to the government.

It was the second day of hostilities between the group and the UN-backed Libyan government, the Government of National Accord. On Saturday, the Defense Force attacked troops loyal to the eastern government in the town of Ajdabiya.

Fayez Al Sarraj, who heads up the government, condemned Sundays attack. A statement on the Presidential Councils Facebook page read: The Presidential Council strongly condemns this criminal act and holds the leaders and members of these militias fully responsible  These militias are attacking to assist the remnants of the Daesh terrorist organisation in Benghazi and Ajdabiya which have faded and had their strength sapped by the strikes by our brave military.

The Benghazi Defense Forces is made up of fighters that have been defeated by units loyal to the Khalia Haftar, who has been fighting Islamists for two years, including some with ties to the Islamic State. On Sunday, the group tried to break a siege in their holdouts in Sirte, but were thwarted to the pro-government fighters.

GNA spokesman Reda Issa stated that two soldiers were killed and that five were wounded. Issa said that the Daesh forces have barricaded themselves in homes, and that pro-government forces are opting not to use heavy weaponry in case civilians are also inside those homes.

By Lincoln Brown for Oilprice.com

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The horrific and hateful shooting in Orlando threatened to cast a dark, tragic cloud over Milwaukee PrideFest weekend. Instead, the community and the city came together in a defiant celebration of pride, resilience and life.

PrideFest reported last week that, with the help of a record-breaking Sunday attendance on its final day, the festival tallied a new overall attendance record of 33,438, serving as a two percent increase from the previous year. Then, last Monday, City Hall joined in solitary with the LGBT community, hanging a rainbow flag in tribute to the victims who lost their lives in Orlando. And though the flag was expected to stay up only through last Thursday, the sign of pride still hangs as of this writing.

The LGBT magazine The Advocate took notice of PrideFest's strong success in the face of hate and assembled a photo gallery of images taken the day before the terrible attack.

"We thought it important to show both these photos of 'the good old days' before the tragedy and also Milwaukees heartfelt response of love and support for Orlando," wrote The Advocate.

Click here to check out the day before gallery, and click here to see The Advocate's collection of photos of the tributes from the days after. It's a moving tribute to pride, life and how Milwaukee responded to some of the worst the world has to offer with some its best.
Reprinted from To The Point Analyses



Part I -- This Is Not about Islam



Though it seems to fit the political agendas of both Republicans and Democrats, the assertion that the shooter responsible for the Orlando massacre was motivated by the Islamic State (ISIS) is certainly wrong. This conclusion is supported by the recent testimony of CIA Chief John Brennan before the Senate intelligence committee. He said that the CIA has found no connection between Omar Mateen, the man who gunned down over 100 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando Florida on 13 June 2016, and any terrorist group. Thus, it makes more sense that this was a hate crime against gay people facilitated by gun laws that are demonstrably not in the interest of the citizens of the United States.

If this is so, why would Mateen claim on a 911 call, and later on a call to a television station, that he was slaughtering all these people in the name of ISIS? Can we take him literally on this? I don't think so. Just ask yourself -- Why would an alleged ISIS-inspired radical "Islamist" shoot up a gay nightclub full of Puerto Ricans?

Here is my theory to explain those phone calls and the ISIS claim. In Mateen's mind, connecting his slaughter to ISIS was emotionally satisfying. He could convince himself that this political rationale would bring him praise rather than shame within the small and violent "Muslim" subculture with which he seemed to identify. However, his target belies this claim. It is far fetched that ISIS would select a gay nightclub in a middle-sized Florida city as a target. No, this was a personal act on Mateen's part, motivated by a hatred of gay people, perhaps stemming from his own conflicted sexual feelings. However, if he explained his actions as an act against gays, later investigation might discover those conflicted feels, and that would certainly lead to shame in the sight of that same subculture. So he identified the whole thing with ISIS as a kind of false trail -- a cover-up, if you will, to delude himself and others.

There are at least two other unnamed accomplices in this slaughter. One is the Christian right who have long sought to promote an anti-gay climate across the nation. As ACLU staff attorney Chase Strangio noted soon after the massacre, "the Christian Right has introduced 200 anti-LGBT bills in the last six months." He concluded that it was not Islam, but rather "Christian homophobia" that contributed to the Orlando tragedy.

A second accomplice is even more culpable, and that accomplice is the nation's criminally inadequate gun laws. Mateen had easy access to a weapon that could do maximum damage in the crowded, confined space of the Orlando nightclub. This easy access to guns is the common denominator that places Mateen's action squarely in line with the hundreds of other gun deaths, singular and multiple, that have occurred in the U.S. in recent years.

Part II -- Awful Responses

The politicized responses to Mateen's awful act have themselves been awful.

Donald Trump unashamedly used the tragedy for political profit. "We've got problems," he said and then identified these with Muslims both at home and abroad. He repeated his demand that Muslims be banned from entering the U.S. He also implicitly blamed the Muslim community now living in the country for recent acts of violence by individual Muslims. Trump made this charge based on the assumption that the American Muslim community is not turning in the alleged terrorists in their midst. Actually, when it comes to the Orlando incident, this is not true. The authorities had been alerted about Omar Mateen multiple times, both from Muslim and non-Muslim sources, but at that time the authorities did not judge him enough of a threat to warrant arrest. Trump made no reference to this fact. One might also wonder how far Mr. Trump wants to take this proposed community responsibility. Does he expect the American Christian community to start taking responsibility for shooters coming from their ranks? After all, they account for most of these kind of slaughters.

In any case, Trump's reaction was selective at best. The presumptive Republican candidate simply ignored the possibility that the Orlando massacre could have been a hate crime against gays. He certainly made no mention of the need for much stricter gun control.

It should be noted that Trump's position melds with that of the more fanatical U.S. Islamophobes, a good number of whom are, unfortunately, also fanatical Zionists. Take for instance the words of Daniel Pipes: "Omar Mateen's obvious motives are almost ignored. ... It's time for the authorities to focus on Islamism as the problem, rather than bizarrely insisting Islam has nothing to do with it." This is just typical distortion on Pipes's part. What is truly bizarre is the attempt to conflate Mateen's insanity with the entire religion of 1.6 billion mostly law-abiding Muslims.

Pipes was joined in his distortion by none other than Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "We are all shocked by the terrible massacre in Orlando," Netanyahu proclaimed, adding, "Islamic terror threatens the entire world and all enlightened nations need to unite in order to fight against it." It goes without saying that he ignored his own country's brand of terrorism.

And then there was the response of Hillary Clinton. The majority of her remarks right after the massacre were not that different from Trump's. She concentrated on the need to destroy ISIS even though its leaders were certainly more in the dark about Mateen's violent potential than were local authorities in Florida. Like Trump, Clinton was maneuvering for political advantage here. She too seems uninterested in the fact that the vast number of these murder sprees in the U.S. over the last couple of decades have been carried out not by Muslims, but by white Christian males. In addition, it was only after much talk about "jihadists" that she threw in a brief reference to a truly relevant topic -- public access to assault rifles.

Part III -- Conclusion

The only reason that U.S. politicians can get away with pinning the violence in Orlando on Muslims is because they, and their constituents, live in ignorance and denial. The truth is that most Americans rely for their news and opinions on media sources which are at best shallow and at worse are manipulative and propagandizing. Often, these media sources are bereft of logical thinking as well.

Unfortunately, your average media editors and reporters do not know much more than their audiences when it comes to non-local affairs. They get their information from the government, politicized "talking heads," biased think-tanks, and news or "wire" service sources. This leaves all of us open to unwarranted exaggeration and fear, as well as the deemphasizing of selective topics deemed too politically or socially "sensitive."
Reprinted from Jonathan Cook Website

The law will have a "chilling effect" on Palestinian minority's solidarity efforts with Palestinians under occupation





Wearing a T-shirt, chanting songs at a demonstration or donating clothing could be enough for Israel's large Palestinian minority to fall foul of a newly passed anti-terrorism law, civil rights groups have warned.

The legislation, applied in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem, has been condemned as a "dangerous" threat to civil liberties. It dramatically broadens the range of offences to include sympathizing with, encouraging and failing to prevent terrorism.

According to legal experts, it also gives Israeli police sweeping new powers to arrest suspects and deny them access to lawyers. Courts will be required to hand out long jail sentences.

Leaders of Israel's 1.7-million-strong Palestinian minority, which accounts for a fifth of the population, said the law was "anti-Arab" rather than "anti-terror." They fear it will be readily exploited to jail Palestinian citizens and East Jerusalem residents for political activity in showing solidarity with Palestinians under occupation.

Palestinians in the West Bank will be largely unaffected because they are subject to a separate system of Israeli military courts.

Adalah, a Palestinian legal organization in Israel, says the law would effectively import into Israel many of the draconian military orders currently used against Palestinians under occupation.

Nadeem Shehadeh, an Adalah lawyer, told Al Jazeera the law's vague definitions meant waving a flag, sharing a Facebook post or being caught in clashes at a demonstration could result in prosecution under the law and several years of jail.

"Throwing a stone, jostling with police or chanting slogans could all be treated as violations of the law," he said.

In any future Israeli military operations in Gaza, he added, Palestinian citizens who make donations to humanitarian groups -- of clothing or food, for example -- could risk prosecution for aiding terror.

"If enforced harshly, this [law] could lead to lots of arrests and prosecutions -- with those found guilty facing heavy punishments."

Palestinian members of the Israeli parliament, or Knesset, denounced the new measure too, saying it was likely to have a "chilling effect" on efforts by the Palestinian minority to show support for Palestinians under occupation.

Haneen Zoabi of the Joint List, a coalition of mainly Palestinian lawmakers, told Al Jazeera:

"It is this law that is the act of terror. This law doesn't just deal with actions in the past but with what Israel thinks you might do in the future. It is designed to terrorize and persecute citizens over their political beliefs and sympathies."

Such fears were heightened on Thursday when the police minister, Gilad Erdan, said he would ensure that local activists who support a boycott of Israel "pay a heavy price."
Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121

"In Bottom-Up, Rob Kall offers a blueprint for human surviving and thriving that everyone can follow. Using personal stories from his many famous contacts (from Capra to Quinn), he shows how in every aspect of life we can reconnect with that which is in our DNA by replacing our artificial and oppressive hierarchical priorities via a return to a consciousness based on the kind of egalitarian relationships that we honored for most of human history."



Four Arrows, aka Don Trent Jacobs, PhD, EdD, author of Unlearning the Language of Conquest and Teaching Truly: A Curriculum to Indigenize Mainstream Education


No-Torture-No-Collaboration

(Image by Roy Eidelson) Details DMCA



Abolitionist and preacher Frederick Douglass once warned, "Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never has and it never will." Feminist and civil rights activist Audre Lorde similarly advised, "The master's tools will never dismantle the master's house." Their words are worth remembering as we now witness a coordinated campaign of intimidation, deception, and obfuscation targeting the American Psychological Association's recent efforts to right its ship and institute meaningful ethical reforms in national security contexts.

Background

To fully understand the duplicitousness of this campaign, some brief background is essential. Following the 9/11 attacks, the APA leadership sacrificed the profession's do-no-harm commitments, lured by the power and prestige available to participants in the Bush Administration's brutal "war on terror." As a result, for over a decade thereafter, the APA's primary response to evidence of psychologists' involvement in the abuse and torture of detainees was a combination of stonewalling, denials, and attacks against critics.

In late 2014, however, the APA Board finally authorized an independent review of longstanding allegations of collusion between APA leaders and government officials. Seven months later, after more than 150 interviews and the examination of thousands of emails and other documents, attorney David Hoffman and his Sidley Austin colleagues completed their 500-page report. It confirmed that senior APA representatives had indeed colluded with Department of Defense (DoD) officials to support policies that protected and preserved the ongoing participation of psychologists in harsh detention and interrogation operations.

In particular, the colluders stacked the APA's 2005 Presidential Task Force on Psychological Ethics and National Security (PENS) with carefully selected military intelligence insiders. As designed, and despite contrary evidence, the task force quickly concluded that psychologists helped to keep these operations "safe, legal, ethical and effective." Over the next several years, some of these same individuals worked secretly together to develop and vet statements and strategies aimed at maintaining the close alignment between APA and DoD policies, effectively disregarding the will of the APA's general membership.

Among the APA officials most directly involved in the collusion were psychologists Stephen Behnke, Gerald Koocher, Ron Levant, and Russ Newman. Among the DoD personnel most directly involved were psychologists Morgan Banks, Larry James, and Debra Dunivin.

Following these revelations, last August the APA's governing Council of Representatives overwhelmingly approved an historic resolution that incorporated three key policy changes. First, the resolution opposes psychologist involvement in national security interrogations. Second, the resolution adopts the UN Convention Against Torture and the judgments of UN representatives and other international bodies in determining what constitutes torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. And third, the resolution specifies, based on the 2008 membership referendum, that psychologists present at Guantanamo Bay (and similar international sites) are in violation of APA policy unless they are working directly on behalf of the detainees or providing treatment to military personnel.

That brings us to the current coordinated effort to undermine crucial reforms and the Hoffman Report that inspired them. Since the resolution's adoption, various individuals and groups--many of them facilitators or bystanders during APA's decade of ethical regress--have come forward, claiming that the methods and conclusions of the Hoffman Report are suspect and that careful review and reconsideration are urgently needed. At the extreme, two retired military officers, colleagues of Morgan Banks, have described the report as a "classic attack of cowards" and have asserted that the APA has now become "a willing co-conspirator to the likes of al Qaeda and ISIS." That kind of rhetoric catches one's attention, but it's actually less worrisome than the strategic ploys from the more sober-sounding standard bearers in this campaign. It's important to recognize that many of them--even those who were not directly implicated in the collusion--have self-protective and self-exculpatory interests in discrediting the Hoffman Report, overturning the new policies, and obstructing related reform efforts. Here are five such groups.

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Israeli judges retaliate against anti court corruption activists by unlawful, fraudulent use of their authority. US DHS/ICE colludes with them, and Google is a major partner. Spying, unreasonable detentions, unlawful search and seizure of computers, and draconian fake judgments - retaliation produces some of the best evidence of judicial corruption. Conditions in the US are similar.

OccupyTLV, June 17 - DHS/ICE refuses to respond on inquiry regarding an unusual "Information Preservation" instruction, issued to WordPress and targeting Israeli anti court corruption activist Lory Shem Tov and others. Lory is best known for her blogs and direct action, protesting corruption of the family courts in general. Particularly, protest is against the practices of welfare agencies and the courts in taking children from their biological parents and giving them to surrogates or adoption. Shem Tov and other social protest activists have often been targeted for retaliation by Israeli police and judges through unreasonable detentions, unlawful search and seizure procedures, and fraudulent court processes.

Unusual DHS actions

_________

The January 15, 2016 "Information Preservation" instruction was issued to WordPress/Automatic, Inc by J. Robert Klotz, Special Agent, Homeland Security Investigations, Cyber Crimes Center (C3). It requires that WordPress preserve "any and all information associated accounts" (32 blogs were listed), including "all subscriber information, account contents (images, emails, chat logs, account setting, and contacts, etc" (Figure 1). The instruction was addressed to Automattic Inc General Counsel Paul Sieminski, a well-known internet Free Speech advocate. Attorney Sieminski did not respond on request for comments either.

The inquiry on DHS asked for any comments by DHS regarding the Information Preservation instruction, in particular: Does it fall at all within the mission of the US ICE unit, since it appears that the involved blogs deal with social-political matters in Israel? DHS was prompt in answering, within less than 30 minutes, asking whether the inquiry was for publication. It then refused to comment without first obtaining the name of the intended publication outlet and "a letter of intent to publish by your editor"...

Spokeswoman of the Israeli Administration of Courts, the most likely mover in this case, failed to respond at all on inquiries, asking: Was the action initiated by the Israeli Administration of Courts? What was the foundation in Israeli law for such action?

The DHS action is unusual, since most of the blogs which are subject of this DHS instruction are blogs maintained by Israeli citizens in Israel, and the blogs deal with corruption of the Israeli courts, particularly - the family courts. The primary target appears to be Lory Shem Tov, a well-known activist against family court corruption. However, a couple of the targeted blogs post only media reports on court related matters, and one of the blogs, not owned by Lory, is simply a list of free online software and Hebrew explanation of its uses. One possible explanation for the DHS action is that US agencies also treat social-political protest in the US under "Counterterrorism"... (see below)

The case is not unique at all. Requests by the Israeli Administration of Courts to Google to remove web pages, or delete them from search engine results have been repeatedly reported by Israeli media. In an even more bizarre conduct, the Israeli courts try to prevent Google from including Israeli court rulings in Google search engine results, although the law in Israel, similar to the US is, that any person is permitted to inspect judicial records, which are not lawfully sealed. [i]

Unreasonable detentions

Figure 2: Lory Shem Tov, Moshe HaLevy, Moti Leybel -- Israeli anti-court corruption activists are targeted for unlawful retaliation by police and the courts.

______

Lory Shem Tov has been targeted by the Israeli courts for several years. She has been detained a number of times, and at least once an unreasonable detention inside a court building (on false suspicion of unlawful recording of court proceeding) involved police brutality. The most recent instance, a couple of weeks ago, appeared intended to retaliate against her for blogging on a case, involving abduction of a minor by a father, part of a family court dispute. Court transcript of the detention extension proceeding shows the unreasonable conduct by police and the judge. Lory's counsel made it clear that Lory did not know the father, that Lory objected to the father's conduct, and that Lory had no part in it. Lory's counsel argued that Police had nothing to investigate Lory about, and that if police wanted to catch the father, the most logical course of action was to leave Lory free, and track the father, while he called Lory to provide her information for her blog. Nevertheless, Lory's detention was extended. In contrast, Israeli media, often fed by police and the courts, reported that Lory was detained as suspect in collusion with the father's conduct. [ii]

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Why are Republicans trying to invest IRS Commissioner John Koskinen with vast new regulatory powers?

(Image by U.S. government) Details DMCA



As Barack Obama becomes the lamest of Lame Ducks, you can count on him to take every opportunity to aim a parting shot at what's left of the American economy and the U.S. Constitution. In recent weeks he has abused his Executive authority on guns , overtime pay , imposing gender-bending bathroom rules on states and parents , and slipping U.S. "boots on the ground" into Libya , Yemen , and Syria .

Unsurprisingly, the GOP leadership in Congress is utterly ineffective in blocking him.

Even worse, on some matters top Congressional Republicans have shown their readiness to carry Obama's water for him. The best-known examples are the 2014 $1.1 trillion "Cromnibus" abomination (which funded Obama's illegal actions on immigration) and approval of "Obamatrade" authority last year to expedite horrible deals like TTIP (the "Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership" with the European Union) and TPP (the "Trans-Pacific Partnership"), which Donald Trump rightly has called "insanity."

Now there's yet another monstrosity waiting in the wings. Obama and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew are trying to shoehorn the United States into a global financial reporting scheme that would trash American sovereignty, suck money out of the U.S. economy, and violate constitutional principles, such as respecting the Senate's advice and consent to treaties and requiring warrants for searches of personal data.

Unfortunately, the Republican leadership in the Senate is lining up to help Obama and Lew do it.

At issue are seven obscure tax treaties being held up by Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Mike Lee (R-UT). Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-TN) is trying to pry loose Paul's and Lee's "hold" on the treaties and to rubber stamp them without fixing data reporting standards that violate the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The two Senators are happy to quit blocking the pacts, which are otherwise acceptable, if they are amended to remedy that defect.

A Dear Colleague letter signed by Corker-- but clearly drafted by Lew's Treasury Department -- claims to debunk Paul's and Lee's objections in what amounts to a rehash of Obama Administration talking points. For example, the letter (evidently prompted by my recent commentary opposing the treaties ) claims blocking them won't prevent operation of a little-known 2010 law called the "Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act" (FATCA), which the Obama administration has sought to implement using a series of unauthorized and unratified "intergovernmental agreements ." With all due respect to Chairman Corker, this claim is inaccurate. For example, Article 5(1) of the relevant agreement with Switzerland says in so many words that FATCA requests 'shall not be made prior to the entry into force' of a treaty the two Senators have a hold on. If that's not blocking, what is?

From the standpoint of American jobs and foreign investment in the U.S., there is even more at stake. Since the "Panama Papers" story broke, foreign officials have accused the United States of acting as a tax haven as well as permitting states like Delaware, Nevada, and Wyoming not to disclose "beneficial ownership" of corporations. There have been calls to blacklist the United States, and even to apply sanctions against us.

Barack Obama has invited these attacks on America by his administration's practice over the past five years of subjecting our trading partners to one-sided, costly, and humiliating FATCA demands under threat of financial sanctions. They have capitulated, in part because Obama -- as noted above, with no legal authority -- has promised foreign governments the U.S. would provide reciprocal data under the FATCA agreements he refuses to submit to the Senate as treaties. Now he expects Congress to make good on his imprudent and legally deficient pledges.

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By John A. Charles, Jr.

The Portland Public School board recently voted to prohibit textbooks or classroom materials questioning the mainstream thinking about climate change.

The decision has sparked an outpouring of commentary, with many writers supportive of the School Board.

However, the wording of the Board resolution should greatly concern parents of Portland public school students. Resolution No. 5272 is two pages long, but the most chilling part is the final sentence:

[Portland Public Schools] will abandon the use of any adopted text material that is found to express doubt about the severity of the climate crisis or its root in human activities.

The primary purpose of education is to teach students how to be critical thinkers. Now that the School Board has declared that expressions of doubt about complex scientific topics will be banned, what is the point of going to school?

Regardless of the subject we should encourage students to be skeptical. The more questioning the better. They will be poorly prepared for adult living if they spend their childhood years being spoon-fed in schools where skepticism is prohibited.

Public education already faces a growing challenge from private schools, on-line learning, and home-based education. If Resolution 5272 is upheld, Portland Public Schools will give parents one more reason to leave.

John A. Charles, Jr. is President and CEO of Cascade Policy Institute, Oregons free market public policy research organization.
Former Flipkart Vice President Michael Mehran Adnani has joined Styletag, an online women's curated fashion platform, as its chief executive officer.

Adnani will spearhead the company's operations and helm its evolution as it enters into a new phase of growth and expansion, Styletag said in a statement.

He was earlier the Vice President of Flipkart and headed the strategic brand alliances for the e-commerce giant, it added.

Styletag has been able to create an enterprise, which has weathered the various weather patterns that have emerged in the eCommerce landscape, Styletag.com founder and Managing Director Sanjay Shroff said.

"We already have an omni-channel presence, which was established 2 years ago and which has turned profitable.

Styletag has reached the milestone of being margin positive...

We are pleased to welcome Michael on board as he brings with him hands-on experience in retail and e-commerce," he added.

Adnani holds over 30 years of experience in retail and ecommerce, merchandising, management, marketing and sales and has worked at firms like Sears Holdings, Nextag and Overstock.

"As the CEO of Styletag, my role is well-defined and comes at a time when the market is ripe with healthy competition. My job will be to leverage the strengths of the company and turn them into winning strategies to cement Styletag's position as a domain leader," Adnani said.

Styletag is based out of Bengaluru and has offices in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai.
Improved publication strategy for authors who use hydrological modeling software will make model data easier for readers to understand and reuse, according to an international team of researchers.

A growing number of computational models, such as the Penn State Integrated Hydrologic Model (PIHM), show coupled surface and subsurface water flow and its role in the diversity of Earth system processes. These models conceptualize representations of the physical processes governing the movement of water on, above and below the Earth's surface.

The problem with these models is that they are technically complex and involve many complicated coupled processes and so are not easily understandable by a potentially larger group of users in the geosciences and engineering fields.

To fix this, researchers from Penn State, the University of Delaware and the National Institute of Scientific Research in Quebec developed a publication strategy that allows authors to completely document data workflow so that the simulations can be easily reproduced. This allows a broader audience the ability to access the data and gain a better understanding of the research. The researchers published their results in Earth and Space Science.

"Clearly, there is a great deal of literature on reusable software," said Xuan Yu, recent Penn State Ph.D. recipient and postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Delaware. "Our work's value lies in the practical steps and best practices for preserving and reusing data as a potential routine in future geoscience publication."

The PIHM is a physics-based hydrologic model that simulates a natural water cycle. It was originally developed to support the concept of "community models" for environmental predictions. However, researchers quickly realized that there were several common problems with the PIHM learning process. In many of the data sets that were fed into PIHM, the authors left out critical publication details. Without these details, the adaptation could not be reused in later studies. Data preparation also meant users had to learn the source code due to complex data sets and parameters. If there was a tiny mistake, it threw the whole system off.

To solve this problem, the team developed better techniques for PIHM-related publication so that even novice readers can reproduce PIHM simulation results from scratch.

The researchers guided new users through data processing and model application using permanently accessible data sets and linked data sets, software and figures. This publication strategy enabled a more intuitive understanding of coupled surface-subsurface flow processes and how they translate into reproducible output strategies for an extensive range of consumers. Providing complete data sets and sources also helped users test the ability to reproduce each step of the computation and improve the model, developing new methods as they progressed. Users agreed that reproducibility of the model led to a deeper understanding of the model physics and the supporting data.

The team hopes that by adopting these practices when informing readers, they can increase the reliability of simulation results, reduce the learning curve and enhance the model utility.

The publication strategy could also be adapted for future geoscience research and integrated with community engagement to appeal to a larger audience of geoscientists and engineers.

"We intend to continue what we have started through workshops and lectures," Yu said. "Best practices for publication require effort by researchers and support by agencies and professional societies to be successful. Therefore, we have been giving lectures at many universities and research institutes to inspire wide discussion and involvement of open science practices."

Explore further IT tools enhance global crop management strategies
Acoustic modeling of wolf chorus howls. Credit: Universitat de Valencia

Researchers at the Universitat de Valencia's Cavanilles Institute of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology evaluated the usefulness of bioacoustic tools as a means of establishing the reproductive status of wolf populations.

Population monitoring is crucial for wildlife management and conservation. Wildlife researchers have increasingly applied tools that mimic the sounds of animals in order to establish ecological parameters such as distribution and abundance. The wolves respond to the simulated calls with what are known as chorus howls, which can then be analysed.

What the scientists are working on is the development of tools that can analyse the acoustic structure of chorus howls to ascertain the presence of wolf pups, as an indicator of the reproductive health of the pack. The complexity of the wolf chorus is such that this is a difficult task even for experienced observers, creating the need for accurate predictive tools.

Vicente Palacios of the Cavanilles Institute explains that to develop the tools, they first analysed 110 Iberian chorus howls of packs whose make-up was known, including packs with and without pups. The analysis revealed that the acoustic energy distribution of packs with pups was concentrated at higher frequencies than packs without. Based on this and other energy distribution features identified in the study, the team built mathematical models that were able to accurately predict the presence (or absence) of pups in 94 percent of the cases analysed.

As Jose V. Lopez-Bao of the University of Oviedo says, the quantitative analysis of chorus howls is an objective method for establishing reproductive status that gives accurate results, is easy to implement and is independent of the observer's subjective experience. "These advantages become significant when monitoring large wolf packs, or cases where many observers are involved," he adds.

This methodology has already been used in recent wolf population monitoring actions carried out in the Picos de Europa National Park in Galicia. It was also used in the 2012 to 2014 Spanish wolf pack survey, promoted and coordinated by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

Explore further New technology lets scientists identify wild wolves by their howls

More information: Vicente Palacios, Jose Vicente Lopez-Bao, Luis Llaneza, Carlos Fernandez, Enrique Font. Decoding Group Vocalizations: The Acoustic Energy Distribution of Chorus Howls is Useful to Detemine Wolf Reproduction. 4 May 2016. PLOS ONE. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153858.s001 Journal information: PLoS ONE Vicente Palacios, Jose Vicente Lopez-Bao, Luis Llaneza, Carlos Fernandez, Enrique Font. Decoding Group Vocalizations: The Acoustic Energy Distribution of Chorus Howls is Useful to Detemine Wolf Reproduction. 4 May 2016.
Countries that contain most of the world's species biodiversity are also spending the least on a per-person basis to protect these natural assets, according to scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the University of Queensland. The authors also noted that spending appears to be associated with the country's social and governance organization.

The study titled "Geography of Conservation Spending, Biodiversity, and Culture" appears in the latest edition of Conservation Biology. The authors are: Tim McClanahan of WCS and Peter Rankin of the University of Queensland.

Using open-source data from several international and research organizations, the authors found that cultural factors, such as individuality, defined as self-sufficiency, the equality of the society, and the strength of the rule-of-law governance organization are associated with relative spending on conservation activities. The problem is that countries spending the most are not located where the species diversity is most concentrated, which could undermine efforts to protect most the world's biodiversity unless spending and policies change.

"Our finding that the countries most in need of conservation are also not investing in saving it relative to their population numbers and economic output, indicates that more cross-cultural and culturally-specific initiatives are needed to conserve the Earth's species," said Dr. Tim McClanahan, Senior Scientist for WCS and co-author of the study. "Promoting conservation after economic development and cultural values change is a recipe for more species extinctions."

The authors reasoned that cultures change slower than the rapid rate at which species are being lost, and this requires a new set of conservation strategies that promote economic development and wealth before acting to conserve species. While these factors were associated with per capita spending on conservation, there is a need to act quickly with the current-funding constraints.

The researchers combined six sources of information to undertake a study investigating how culture influences spending on protecting the world's biodiversity and if that spending coincides with where most of the Earth's biological diversity is located. Cultural organization traits and values were informed by the cultural dimensions discovered by social scientists who study human values and management organization. The cultural axes were augmented with World Bank indices on national governance measures and environmental diversity data gathered from the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) and the Catalogue of Life, and a range of other data on individual countries, including: population; economic wealth; and recent compilation of within-country spending on biodiversity conservation.

Overall, the research revealed that cultures near or in the tropicswhere most of the diversity is locatedspent the least on biodiversity conservation. Social factors such as group identity and hierarchical leadership increase with proximity to tropical regions, but these factors do not indicate an inclination toward investing money in conservation. These same cultural attributes are associated with weaker rule-of-law governance, according to the authors.

Interesting outliers, such as Costa Rica, Croatia, and Thailand, spend more of their GDP on conservation. Similarly, some countries like Germany, Luxembourg, Israel, and Latvia, spent less than what would be expected for their cultures of individuality and stronger rule-of-law governance organization.

McClanahan added: "While culture is not destiny in terms of care for the environment, the study indicates that cultural context has to be considered when planning global conservation policies and activities. Care for the environment and high conservation spending in countries with strong individuality and rule-of-law has to show impact and be more than a symbolic response to declining natural resources."

The authors recommend that the need to protect areas of high biodiversity require approaches to natural resource management that consider the cultural context and use existing social traits embodied in the culture's collectivism and social hierarchies. This means, for example, engaging leadership and promoting bio-cultural heritages. To stop species extinction culturally appropriate conservation efforts are much more likely to succeed in comparison to market-oriented strategies.

"Rather than promoting markets, which has led to wealth, conservation values and spending in temperate countries, these individualistic cultures should use their desire to stop species depletion in tropical biodiversity rich countries by promoting more culturally appropriate conservation efforts," concluded McClanahan.

Explore further Is conservation aid preventing deforestation?
Researcher Sarah Legge concluded that Gouldian (pictured) and other species of finch thrived when they had access to spinifex seed from grass that was at least three years old, but which large hot fires tended to destroy. Credit: Kiyo

Improved bush burning methods by Indigenous Rangers in the East Kimberley have been hailed for the resurgence of Gouldian finches (Erythrura gouldiae) in the region.

Once classified as "threatened" Gouldian finches in their Kimberley habitat have just had their status downgraded to vulnerable, and World Wildlife Fund Ecologist Andrew Watson says he suspects this is due to better bush burning methods.

Dr Watson is collaborating with the Kija Indigenous Rangers in the region to mimic traditional cultural mosaic (low intensity) burning practices while putting into practice the discoveries of researchers.

Now in its third year, rangers working the program say they have seen the striking birds every day, whereas last year they only saw them a few times at a single location.

Ecologist Dr Sarah Pryke determined that Gouldian finches thrived when they had access to spinifex seed while Dr Sarah Legge concluded the birds preferred spinifex seed from grass that was at least three years old, but which large hot fires tended to destroy.

The rangers are systematically burning the bush at Aboriginal-owned stations Doon Doon, Glenn Hill, Bow River; and Violet Valley Aboriginal reserve using helicopters.

Kija Rangers Andrew and Leon setting up sensor camera experiment. Credit: World Wildlife Fund

At least one Kija Traditional Owner sits in the chopper which drops incendiaries on the ground following pre-mapped flight routes.

The rangers may follow this up with further burning on the ground using grip torches to target specific areas.

The result is a north-south string of burned firebreaks that prevents late season wildfires from spreading, and protects some of the old growth spinifex that the birds feed on.

Rangelands NRM coordinates the whole program from Broome, and project manager Kira Andrews says the rangers have now extended the program to nearby non-Indigenous run stations, who have also used their skill as firefighters.

Meanwhile, Dr Watson and the rangers have invented a device to measure Gouldian finch numbers in the form of an automatically refilling dish with water that is fenced off from large animals.

A camera records the presence of any birds every three seconds, allowing the rangers to work elsewhere for extended periods as the dishes are fed from 1,000 litre tanks.

Dr Watson says they developed the prototype last year, and Australian Geographic has funded them to make and place ten more near ten newly-identified Gouldian finch breeding sites which they have protected from fires.

Explore further Low intensity burns favour Gouldian finches

This article first appeared on ScienceNetwork Western Australia a science news website based at Scitech.
Fig.1 Qingmenodus yui, an early onychodont from Pragian, South China. (A) Anterior cranial portion (IVPP V16003.5) in ventral view. (B) Posterior cranial portion (IVPP V16003.6) in ventral view. (C) Anterior cranial portion (IVPP V16003.5) in right lateral view. (D) Tentative restoration of the natural shape of the neurocranium in right lateral view. Scale bars, 2 mm. (D) Not drawn to scale. Credit: LU Jing

Crown or modern sarcopterygians contain three major groups: coelacanths, lungfishes and tetrapods. With the exception of the tetrapods, sarcopterygians have a long evolutionary history of diversity decline and are nowhere near as diverse today as they were at the beginning of their history. They differ substantially from stem or primitive sarcopterygians such as Guiyu and Psarolepis, and a lack of transitional fossil taxa limits our understanding of the origin of the modern group.

Onychodonts are an exclusively Devonian group of mostly marine predatory sarcopterygians. Until recently, they are represented by only six named genera and seem to have characteristics of both primitive and modern sarcopterygians but it is difficult to place because of insufficient anatomical information, particularly in braincase components.

In a study published June 3 in the journal of Science Advances, Drs. LU Jing and ZHU Min, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, and their collaborators described newly discovered skull material of Qingmenodus, an onychodont from South China about 409 million years ago, using high-resolution computed tomography to image internal structures of the braincase. This study provides the first detailed interpretation of internal neurocranial anatomy in onychodonts, and helps us to understand the sequence of character acquisition in the early evolution of sarcopterygians, illuminating the early evolution and diversification of modern sarcopterygians.

Fig.2 Digital neurocranial endocast restorations of Qingmenodus yui. (A to C) In dorsal view (A), lateral view (B), and left lateral view with transparent braincase (C). Main color key: blue, cranial cavity; yellow, cranial nerves; light orange, tubule system; light purple, inner ear cavity. Credit: LU Jing

The new specimens of Qingmenodus, including a completely ossified anterior cranial portion (IVPP V16003.5) and a posterior cranial portion (IVPP V16003.6), were collected from the type site of Qingmenodus yui during 2009 to 2012 field trips. The anterior cranial portion is referred to as Qingmenodus yui based on the shared ornamentation and comparable size with the holotype of Qingmenodus yui (IVPP V16003.1). The new posterior cranial portion has not preserved the ventral part of the otic capsules, however, its preserved part matches well with the holotype, such as vermiculate impressions on the dermal surface, and the elongate otic shelf.

Qingmenodus, one of the oldest known onychodonts from the Early Devonian of South China, shows a virtually complete set of neurocranial structures of an onychodont. It exhibits a mosaic of features present in both primitive sarcopterygians and coelacanths.

"In addition to its remarkable similarities with primitive sarcopterygians in the ethmosphenoid portion, Qingmenodus exhibits coelacanth-like neurocranial features in the otic region", said lead author Dr. LU Jing of the IVPP, "It thus further bridges the morphological gap between primitive sarcopterygians (Guiyu, Psarolepis, and Achoania) and modern sarcopterygians, and provides unique insights into the sequence of neurocranial character acquisition involved in the origin and early diversification of the latter".

Fig.3 Comparison of the brain cavities of selected Devonian sarcopterygians in a temporally calibrated cladogram. Credit: LU Jing

"Our completely reconstructed virtual cranial endocast of Qingmenodusallows extensive comparisons with other sarcopterygians, in particular those that have been studied by serial grinding or computerized tomography (CT) scanning", said Dr. ZHU Min, project designer and study co-author of the IVPP, "It provides the first detailed interpretation of internal neurocranial anatomy in onychodonts, and helps us to understand the sequence of character acquisition in the early evolution of sarcopterygians".

"Our phylogenetic analysis based on a revised data set unambiguously assigns onychodonts to crown sarcopterygians as stem coelacanths. Qingmenodus thus bridges the morphological gap between stem sarcopterygians and coelacanths, and helps to illuminate the early evolution and diversification of crown sarcopterygians", said co-author Dr. Per Erik Ahlberg, Uppsala University in Sweden.

Fig.4 Life Reconstrution of Qingmenodus yui. Credit: Brian Choo
Credit: Wageningen University

Why does one orchard have many earwigs while another has only few? And if only a few are present, how can one ensure more are in place? This is the subject of a new research project by the Dutch fruit growers association (NFO) and Wageningen UR. "Apple and pear farmers obviously want lots of earwigs in their orchards," says Herman Helsen, entomologist and leader of the project. "They are extremely useful against problems such as the woolly apple aphid and pear psylla."

Insect with parental care

The earwig is one of the few insects that actually provide parental care. In autumn the adult insects go into the soil to overwinter. In the early spring they build an underground nest where the female protects and cares for the eggs. Once the young have reached the third 'nymph stage', they head into the plants, where they feed on insects, fungi or algae.

DNA analysis of stomach contents

It is not known what the youngest earwigs eat in the nest, Helsen explains: "You can check the stomach contents under the microscope, but the results are minimal. At most we find a lice leg here and there. Only by performing DNA analyses on the stomach contents can we learn more, and find genetic material of springtails and mites, among others."

Improving conditions

Wageningen UR and the NFO recently received a grant from the Top Sector Horticulture and Starting Materials for a new research project. The main question for Helsen and his colleague scientist Karin Winkler is: what is the difference between an orchard with few earwigs and one with many? "Could it be the availability of food in the soil for the young insects in the stage that they still live in the soil? And, if so, could one stimulate the number of earwigs by improving the conditions in the orchard? If this is the case, it could eventually lead to a reduction in the use of synthetic products against lice and other pests."

Credit: Wageningen University

Explore further Biologists study how insect moms fight cannibalistic neighbors
For Immediate Release

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) today calls for the immediate, unconditional release of Sebnem Korur Fincanc, chair of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey and a forensic expert who has fought alongside PHR to end torture worldwide. On Monday, Turkish authorities detained Fincanc, along with author Ahmet Nesin and Erol Onderoglu of Reporters Without Borders, on terrorism-related charges. PHR insists Turkish authorities release all three and drop all charges against them.

Dr. Fincancs detention is a blatant attempt to silence the voice of a woman at the vanguard of human rights in Turkey and around the world, said PHRs director of programs, Widney Brown. We are here to say that she and her cause cannot be silenced. And we at PHR wont be silent while our friend and colleague is being held unlawfully for exercising the very rights she defends. Dr. Fincanc must be released immediately. Full stop.

Fincanc was imprisoned after taking part in a solidarity campaign defending the editorial independence of Ozgur Gundem, a paper aligned with Turkeys Kurdish minority and frequently critical of the Turkish government. Fincanc, Nesin, and Onderoglu are being held in pre-trial detention over charges of disseminating terrorist propaganda under Turkeys widely criticized anti-terror laws.

These trumped up charges are part of a coordinated campaign in Turkey to silence any and all criticism, said PHRs Brown. Turkeys government has repeatedly used the very real threat of terrorism to squelch freedom of expression and other rights. These arrests cast a chill across all those who defend the rights of the powerless.

Fincanc has spent the past quarter-century working to end torture. Alongside PHR, she helped draft the Istanbul Protocol, the global standard for carrying out torture-related investigations. She has trained a generation of doctors and scientists in Turkey and around the world in forensic investigative techniques, and her expertise contributed to the first-ever successful torture prosecution in Turkey.

The United Nations has repeatedly criticized the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over allegations of grave human rights violations, including violence and harassment against human rights defenders, journalists, and doctors who support victims of torture.

President Erdogan, the world is watching, said PHRs Brown. Your governments legitimacy is on the line. Release Dr. Fincanc and her colleagues. Dissent is not a crime: it is a fundamental part of a society that respects human rights.

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.
Susan Rogers is vice chancellor for communications at the University of Pittsburgh. She comes to Pittsburgh from

Dallas, where she was vice president for university advancement at The University of Texas at Dallas. Previously, she was associate vice chancellor for university relations in the office of advancement at the University of Arkansas and director of marketing and communications

in the Office of Development at Stanford University. She has been a reporter and editor at The Dallas Morning News, the Miami Herald, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the Associated Press. She has a bachelors degree in journalism from The University of Texas at Austin. A native of

Fort Worth, she and her husband, Doug Swanson, will live in Oakland.

Cynthia Hundorfeanis the president and chief executive officer of Allegheny Health Network. A native of Kansas, she comes to Pittsburgh from Cleveland, where she worked for the Cleveland Clinic for 30 years, most recently as the chief administrative officer.

There, she oversaw the clinical operations of a network that included 16 family health centers and eight regional hospitals. She has a bachelor of science degree in healthcare management from Robert Meyers College and an executive MBA from Case Western Reserve University. She is a member of the American Hospital Association and Medical Group Management Association. She is living Downtown.

Dr. Jose Pedro da Silva is the founding surgical director of the Center for Valve Therapy at Childrens Hospital. He comes to Pittsburgh from Hospital Beneficencia Portuguesa de Sao Paulo, Brazil. Dr. da Silva has developed a technique to repair defective heart valves that is now the standard of care around the world. Known as the cone procedure, it reconstructs the tricuspid valve and the right ventricle. He completed his residency training in general surgery and thoracic and cardiovascular surgery at Instituto de Assistencia Medica ao Servidor Publico Estadual, Sao Paulo. He also completed a fellowship in cardiovascular surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. A native of Pirajui, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Dr. da Silva is living in Squirrel Hill with his wife, Luciana, and their son.

On July 1,Dr. David L. Finegold will become the 19th president of Chatham University. He comes to Pittsburgh from Washington, D.C., where he has been chief academic officer of American Honors, which improves the quality and affordability of undergraduate education by building honors programs in U.S. community colleges. He has taught at the University of Southern California and at the Keck Graduate Institute in Californias Claremont Colleges. He was dean at the school of management and labor relations at Rutgers. Dr. Finegold graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University and was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University, where he received his Ph.D. in politics. A New York City native, Dr. Finegold and his wife, Susan, who have two adult children, will live on the Chatham campus.

Dr. Barbara Clouser is the medical director of West Penn Hospitals Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. A native of McCandless, she returns to Pittsburgh from Akron Childrens HospitalMahoning Valley, where she was director of the NICU. She began her career as a neonatologist at the then-Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, and was director of the NICU at Allegheny General Hospital before it merged with West Penns NICU in 2008. Dr. Clouser is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Pittsburgh School of

Medicine. She completed a pediatric internship and residency at the University of California at San Diego and a neonatology fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Magee Womens Hospital. She and her husband will live in Wexford.

Dr. Terence S. Dermodyis the chair of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of

Medicine and physician-in-chief and scientific director at Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. He comes to Pittsburgh from Nashville, Tenn., where he was a professor of pediatrics, director of the division of pediatric infectious diseases, and director of the medical scientist training program at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Dr. Dermody is a virologist with interests in viral pathogenesis and vaccine development. He has a bachelors degree from Cornell University and a medical degree from Columbia University. He completed an internal medicine residency at Presbyterian Hospital in New York. He is currently looking for a house.

Scott Bartlett is the director of supply chain for PPG architectural coatings in the U.S. & Canada. He comes to Pittsburgh from Chicago, where he was vice president of frozen platform manufacturing at ConAgra Foods. Previously, Bartlett was vice president of supply chain, North America, for McCain Foods. He has a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University and an MBA in operations management from Webster University. A native of Parkersburg, W.Va., he and his wife, Joan, will be living in Wexford with their three children.
It was the early 1960s, and it was a different time, recalls John Jack Mascaro. Like many of his fellow baby boomers, the young student showed up to his engineering classes at the University of Pittsburgh sporting a sweater and a tie, while his professors wore suits. It was a time when engineering students were in growing demandthe American economy was on the rise, the Cold War threatened nuclear disaster and President Kennedy urgently called to put a man on the moon.

A little over 40 years later, Mascaro walked the grounds of his alma mater again, where he earned both his bachelors and masters degrees in civil engineering. Things had changed, and not just in students clothing choices. The worst financial crisis since the Great Depression had just hit, sending the global economy into a recession. Since the early 60s, the worlds population had doubled, and climate change and fossil-fuel dependence cast a dark shadow on the near future, as then presidential hopeful Barack Obama called to cut carbon emissions by a drastic 80 percent by 2050.

For engineers, such as Mascaro, the demand to find innovative solutions was clear, whether in energy sources that power our vehicles, buildings and infrastructure that make up our growing cities, biomedical technology that saves our lives, or the computers that control our systems. And the numbers seemed to agreeSTEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) jobs had been growing three times as fast as other jobs (as the U.S. Department of Commerce would report in 2011).

To Mascaro, head of Mascaro Construction Company, innovation inevitably involves sustainability. First turned on to the nascent concept of green building in the early 1990s, he went on to build many award-winning, LEED-certified buildings in and around Pittsburgh. It wasnt long before sustainability was adopted by the building industry by and large, and green became a household word.

Back on Pitts campus in 2008, having traded in his undergraduate sweaters for a hard hat, he led the development of a new buildinga 35,000-square-foot, multimillion-dollar, LEED Gold-certified addition to Benedum Hall, the tower that is home to Pitts Swanson School of Engineering.

Having donated a large undisclosed sum, the new additionthe Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovationis now a research center at the university that Mascaro hopes will bring concepts of sustainability and green building to Pitts engineering programskills Mascaro sees as essential for young engineers to both drive innovation and thrive in rapidly evolving industries, including the building industry.

Mascaro isnt alone. As industries evolve to meet 21st-century challenges, educators are pressed to symbiotically evolve with it. For engineering educators at Pitts Swanson School of Engineering, that means reinvention.

Problem Solving

In the early 2000s, Pitts School of Engineering faced several problems. Benedum Hall, the 15-floor concrete tower built in 1971 in the Brutalist architectural style, was sorely out of date. The aging infrastructure couldnt support much-needed new lab equipment or technologies, such as certain scanning electron microscopes or even a building-wide wireless network. Classrooms were in disrepair.

Plus, there simply wasnt enough room, says Dean Gerald Holder, who took office in 1996. The schools enrollment numbers had been on the rise since 2000, which Holder partly attributes to high school graduates turning toward more promising careers in STEM fields.

When it comes to engineering schools, Pitts School of Engineering already had a legacy to its name. Evolving along with the city of Pittsburgh, it was home to one of the nations first engineering programs, established in 1846, as well as the nations first industrial engineering department and the worlds first petroleum engineering department.

Through the years, it built long-term relationships with industrycompanies such as Westinghouse, U.S. Steel, UPMC and Eaton Corporation. Pioneering faculty and alumni have passed through its doors, including Reginald Fessenden, the little-known father of radio and Bob Colwell, chief architect on the development of Pentium processors.

Throughout the latter part of the 20th century, the school had established numerous centers of research and organized its strengths into six departmentsincluding bioengineering, mechanical engineering and materials scienceoffering 10 different degrees.

However, Holder knew that for the school to stay competitive, things in Benedum Hall had to change.

Working with faculty and bringing in global architectural firm NBBJ, Holder and the administration realized that the school required more than updates to power supplies and gas lines, new facilities and additional space.

It needed to radically transform from the bottom up.

A lot of innovation in research results from collaboration across disciplines, says Holder, through looking at the same problems but from different backgrounds, from different scientific cultures. And creating those interfaces where that can happen is key to collaboration.

As industries evolve to meet 21st-century challenges, educators are pressed to symbiotically evolve with it. For engineering educators at Pitts Swanson School of Engineering, that means reinvention.

In envisioning the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, Mascaro and his team also saw collaboration as critical to its success. Eric Beckman, the centers co-director and co-founder, knew from first-hand experience with start-ups, such as Cohera Medical, that todays industry requires cross-disciplinary collaboration.

For Mascaro and Beckman, preparing students for the future was key: Were going to break down barriers, says Mascaro. Were going to cross-fertilize and integrate all of the engineers, all of the all of the disciplines of those who want to be involved.

In Benedum Hall, those barriers were literal. Lab spaces were small and only allowed a few researchers to work together at a time. The schools six different departments were segregated by floors.

So beginning in 2008, as Mascaro started construction, the School of Engineering set out on a multimillion-dollar renovation project that would span the next seven years.

In addition to Mascaros contribution, the renovations were supported by a $41.3 million gift from alumnus John A. Swanson, founder of the engineering software company ANSYS, Inc. In his honor, in 2007 the school was renamed the Swanson School of Engineering.

A Culture of Collaboration

Walk into Benedum Hall today, and its a different place.

On the Innovation Floor, students sit in smart classrooms at U-shaped common tables instead of individual desks. They work in groups on computers that display engineering simulation software, like MathWorks MATLAB, as the instructor controls their screens from a podium. Cameras project the lecture to an overflow room or to distance learning classes.

Students meet in alcoves or rooms, such as the War Room, to solve engineering problems and write equations on white boards that line the hallways. In designated meeting rooms, they show faculty prototypes for products they want to develop, which they create using 3D printers and machines found in fabrication facilities throughout the building, such as the new Maker Lab in the basement.

On the Power Floor, walls have given way to large open labs, where electrical, bio, mechanical and chemical engineers work side-by-side, developing the technology of the future. Faculty and graduate students research renewable energy systems and smart grid technologies; they use high-powered microscopes to fabricate nanoscale materials; and they develop radio frequency identification technology, used in sensors and microchips.

And at the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, connected to Benedum Hall through the Sustainability Floor, a glass wall of windows floods common areas with natural light. Researchers from across the schooland across the universitycollaborate on seed-funded research, developing new technologies for cleaning water, making solar cells and improving the efficiency of power grids. Even undergraduates work on research.

Proof of Concept

The renovations total $100 million and have initiated a new culture of collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship. Since 2008, enrollment has spiked from around 2,000 undergraduates and 650 graduate students to nearly 3,000 undergrads and 1,000 graduate students last fall. Faculty, attracted by the schools new facilities, are sought after by leading research universities such as Carnegie Mellon and the University of California at Berkeley. The Swanson Schools recent explosive growth includes more research and teaching in energy systems,bioengineering, micro- and nano-systems, computational modeling and advanced materials development. New centers have arisen, including the Center for Energy and the Center for Simulation and Modeling.

And new connections have been made.

At the University of Pittsburgh, we like to say that innovation is a team sport, says University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Patrick Gallagher. Our Swanson School is embracing this philosophy full forceand nurturing partnerships with Pitt Schools of Medicine and the Health Sciences, major corporate partners and other research universities around the country. Additional partnerships include industry leaders Eaton, E.A. Fischione and Westinghouse, which is sponsoring a nuclear engineering program.

Industry partnerships are key for undergraduate students, 50 percent of whom participate in the schools long-running co-op program, where students spend a total of three semesters in their major working paid internships at companies.

Pitts team sport philosophy has reached beyond U.S. borders. Holders team has also established a joint engineering institute in Sichuan, China, known as the Sichuan UniversityPittsburgh Institute.

The schools whirlwind of growth in the past decade has caught the attention not only of potential students, researchers and industry partners, but also the media. A 2016 U.S. News & World Report ranked the Swanson Schools graduate program at No. 24 among top public universities.

And Gallagher believes the engineering school is just getting started. As the reputation of our university and the Swanson School growsespecially thanks to leaders like John Swanson and Jack Mascarowell be able to recruit the best and the brightest undergraduate and graduate students as well as academics and researchers from around the world.
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A total of 81 percent of the states high needs school districts are receiving less than 25 percent of the funding they are owed under the states settlement of an education funding lawsuit, according to an analysis by the Alliance for Quality Education.

As part of the settlement of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity lawsuit, the state was supposed to increase school funding by a total of $5.5 billion. When the Great Recession hit, the state froze and then cut the Foundation Aid funding. That money is awarded a per-pupil basis based on a districts income and property wealth, which is called its combined wealth ratio, or CWR.

A total of 93 districts are receiving less than 25 percent of their promised funding. The problem was particularly compounded in districts that serve a large number of African-American and Latino populations. Thirty out of 33 of those districts have received less than 19 percent or less of the funding needed.

The Alliance for Quality Education said there is a flaw in the Foundation Aid formula. The state sets an artificial floor, of how low a districts combined wealth ratio can be.

The alliance called for the state to phase-in the full Foundation Aid formula over the next three years.

Among the area districts that were spotlighted in the report were Schenectady and Albany.

AQE Executive Director Billy Easton said the 2016 state budget helped schools, but falls far short of what students need.

This report shows that in the great majority of high need schools, the CFE funding is totally off track following the 2016 state budget. The consequences for students are real in terms of overcrowded classrooms, shortages of guidance counselors and social workers, limited access to arts, music and advanced courses and more. Schools are struggling to catch up to where educational programming was in 2008 and the state has no plan to deliver the real improvement the court ordered in CFE, he said in a news release.
If you feel like fishing but don't want to shell out the $25 fee for a resident license, you are in luck this weekend.

New York will offer its annual "free fishing weekend" this weekend, and adults are free to fish sans license all weekend long if they wish.

The hope is that exposing more people to fishing will increase license sales.

Looking for some quick, easy-to-get-to spots to try fishing for the first time?

There are many spots along the Hudson River in our area where you can walk up, cast a line and catch bass or panfish. The town of Queensbury parks at the end of Big Boom Road or in the Hudson Pointe development, boat launch on Spier Falls Road in Moreau and Hudson Crossing Park in Schuylerville are good starting spots.

If you want to try a lake, Lake George can be fished from any of the state access points around the lake, including Shelving Rock Day Use Area, Mossy Point and even Dog Beach in the village of Lake George. Brant Lake, Schroon Lake, Saratoga Lake and Moreau Lake are other lakes in the area with good fishing and public access.

Free fishing weekend runs Saturday and Sunday, June 25-26.

-- Don Lehman
The newly formed Warren County Libertarian Party chapter will join in the call for Warren County Board of Supervisors to appoint a "citizens committee" to advise the board on county government structure, said Chris Schmidt, the chapter's state representative.

The chapter is not taking a position at this point on whether the county should convert to a legislative structure or keep a board of supervisors structure, but feels it is important for the board to thoroughly evaluate both options. Schmidt said in a telephone interview.

"Equal representation" is one of the chapter's priority issues, he said.

The chapter also will urge Glens Falls Common Council to redraw ward boundaries in the city to achieve equal population in each ward, Schmidt said.

Schmidt said the chapter has agreed to open its membership to residents of Washington and Saratoga counties, but will focus solely on elections in Warren County.

The committee hopes to have a slate of candidates for the 2017 municipal elections, he said.
SARATOGA SPRINGS  Ray O'Conor's "She Called Him Raymond  A True Story of Love, Loss, Faith and Healing" was released last week in audiobook form.

It was produced by Empire Audio Recording & Sound under the direction of Chuck Vosganian and recorded at the Grammy Award-nominated Edie Road Recording Studio. The audiobook is narrated by the author.

OConors narrative nonfiction book tells the story of Helen Gregg, one of eight children of Irish immigrant parents, raised in the miseries of Hells Kitchen during the Great Depression; and of Clarence Raymond Stephenson, an aspiring B-17 pilot from the small, struggling city of Ironton, Ohio.

Fate brought them together in New Yorks Central Park during the summer of 1942 while Stephenson was an Air Corps cadet.

The audiobook is available at Audible.com, Amazon.com and iTunes.com. A drawing will be held for 10 free audio book downloads. To enter, leave a message on the shecalledhimraymond.com website, email author Ray OConor at rayoconor5@gmail.com or "Like" the "Ray OConor, Author & Keynote Speaker" page on Facebook. Entries will be accepted until midnight July 4.
CAMBRIDGE  Cambridge is the latest district to hire an outside agency to assist students with behavioral and mental health needs.

The Cambridge school board on June 9 approved a contract with Parsons Child and Family Center for the 2016-2017 school year for a program that will cost about $126,000.

But the district will pay only $21,100 for the Albany-based center to provide individual and family therapy, case management and coordination, and psychiatric services, according to the contract.

The district will provide office space. The clinic will be staffed with a full-time clinician and part-time psychiatric clinical supervisor, director, support staff and nurse, according to the agreement. The minimum case load will be 25 people.

School board President Paul Baker-Porazinski said the district had to cut academic and support staff programs when school aid was reduced in the 2009-2010 school year.

Among the positions lost were a school psychologist and a special education director. These duties fell on other people, according to Baker-Porazinski. School officials have been trying to restore positions.

Baker-Porazinski said students are facing severe economic challenges and are having a difficult time coping with school, are depressed or have other issues.

Even though the districts staff is well trained, he said more help is needed. Staff members such as the principal have to spend a significant portion of the day to calm down a student, according to Baker-Porazinski.

If this happens once or twice a month its not a big deal, but its far more frequent. Its overwhelming at times, he said.

It is difficult for families to travel to places with more mental health services, such as Clifton Park or Ballston Spa, he added.

Whats available in Cambridge for families in terms of mental health support is minimal. There are long waiting lines, he said.

In addition to the district payment, the Mary McClellan Hospital Foundation provided a $20,000 grant for the program. Billable revenues of $85,000, which will be paid by students families or their insurance companies, will make up the rest of the program budget.

This is just a fantastic way to bring in the mental health support services that we need, while still being able to direct a large majority of our financial resources toward bringing back academics, said Baker-Porazinski.

Superintendent Vincent Canini said it will be nice to have Parsons employees work with district staff to handle children with issues.

Now everybody is working together on the same page, he said.

The district included the cost of the program in the budget, assuming that it would not get the grant, Canini added.

Other school districts have contracted with outside providers for health services. Queensbury began a partnership with Parsons last fall and Granville school officials have been working to establish a similar program.
QUEENSBURY  The administrator who was credited with improving conditions at the former Westmount Health Facility to make it the top-rated nursing home in the region has left, and the county that owns the home is having a regional administrator oversee it for the time being.

Lloyd Cote ran the home in Queensbury for more than three years before he left earlier this month. He had more than 30 years experience in the nursing home business before taking the top spot at the then-county-owned home as it struggled with state inspection issues.

It improved to the point that it received a four-star rating from the federal government last year, on a scale of one to 5. It had a two-star rating when Cote took the helm.

Now known as Warren Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, the 80-bed home was sold by the county late last year to Centers Health Care of New York City for $2.3 million.

Tom McCartin, a spokesman for Centers Health Care, said Cote retired, and that the company was searching for a replacement.

Lloyd was a very decent guy, a good administrator, McCartin said.

In the interim, McCartin said a newly hired regional administrator will oversee day-to-day operations at Warren Center.

That regional administrator oversees administrators at five other homes owned or with ties to Centers Health Care in the region, including former county nursing homes in Washington, Essex and Fulton counties and Indian River Nursing Home in Granville.

McCartin said Centers Health Care has offered more training to staff than was offered during county ownership, and the facility is now able to offer clinical services that it didnt before.

The Post-Star received a call Sunday from a relative of a resident who said there have been air conditioning problems in the building in recent weeks, but McCartin said the issue was tracked to a thermostat that needed to be replaced that affected one room.

Travis Whitehead, a Queensbury resident who was part of a group that opposed the sale, said he has not heard of any major problems at the home since the sale occurred. But he said the next round of ratings will be telling.

Queensbury Supervisor at-Large Rachel Seeber said she has been in frequent contact with family members of some residents and has heard the home seems to be running well. She said she was heartened to see staff from the home took residents to the Memorial Day parade in Glens Falls a few weeks ago.

We are hearing they are being responsive to the residents and their families, she said.

A phone message left at Cotes home was not returned Monday.
Smoking rates in the country dropped to an unprecedented low in 2015, with only 15 out of every 100 people still smoking, according to recently released data from the Centers for Disease Control.

That may sound like a lot of smoking is still going on, until you compare it to 1965 when 42 percent of Americans lit up regularly.

I know! Were psyched, said Maegan Frantz, a Glens Falls Hospital program coordinator of stop-smoking efforts, when a reporter mentioned the good news 2015 brought.

Frantz boasted that New Yorks rate is even lower  at about 14 percent  and she credited a multi-pronged approach that includes early education programs for kids, stronger cessation efforts using nicotine replacement products, and de-normalizing tobacco use in society including no longer allowing it in bars, restaurants or around hospitals.

But Frantz then turned reflective, saying the rate drop is nice, but a lot more work needs to be done.

I am really psyched that the numbers are going down, but it continues to be the No. 1 cause of preventable deaths in the country, she said. We lose 28,000 New Yorkers a year and half a million suffer from serious illnesses related to tobacco dependency.

Its great that usage is no longer the norm, but we have so far to go.

Efforts these days are targeted at reducing smoking rates in various segments of society that have not enjoyed the reduction, she said. People living in poverty, those with minimal education and those suffering from drug addiction and mental health issues continue to smoke at high rates, she said.

Brian King, deputy director for research translation for the CDCs Office on Smoking and Health, said in a recent Christian Science Monitor article that national decreases in smoking can also be credited to higher priced cigarettes and graphic advertisements.

Frantz agreed, saying the really hard-hitting ads are working  as is the high cost.

New York has the highest tax per pack in the country, she said.

For Hope Moses, a longtime SUNY Adirondack computer technician, it was primarily the banning of smoking at the college that pushed her to quit.

That and watching those ads on TV, she said on Monday. But it was very embarrassing as a staff member walking out to Bay Road to light up a cigarette, and I dont smoke in my car.

Moses said she quit April 1, and although she joked that previous attempts left her wanting to kill someone, this time, with the help of Chantix, a smoking cessation medicine, shes doing much better.

SUNY Adirondack President Kristine Duffy praised Moses and said the tobacco-free environment and support services to help people quit tobacco is encouraging healthier lifestyles on and off campus.

I am so proud of Hope and all others who have been able to quit what we know is a highly addictive behavior. Her perseverance and commitment to healthier habits are an inspiration for every member of our community, she said.Pete Smith, manager of Minogues Discount Beverage in Queensbury, said cigarette sales have decreased in recent years. Both he and owner Jack Minogue say high state cigarette taxes are the likely reason.

Both also said, however, that many smokers have switched to rolling their own cigarettes or buying cigarette tubes and filling them with pipe tobacco, which is taxed at a lower rate and is cheaper than buying cigarettes.

Its $16.99 for a 16-ounce bag and thats about 20 packs of cigarettes, he said. You understand immediately why they are going in that direction.

But while cigarette smoking rates are dropping, health officials are concerned about the increased use of e-cigarettes or vaping.

State Department of Health figures from 2014, the most recent data, showed while only 7.3 percent of high schoolers were smoking cigarettes, 10.5 percent were vaping. And studies show that those who vape often smoke later in life.

The dual use is of concern, Frantz said. Its a trend that needs to be watched. The FDA just ruled they will be regulating electronic cigarettes, so thats a start. Hopefully, research will be done to see if they are a viable quit assistance measure and what the health risks are.

For information on free smoking cessation programs at Glens Falls Hospital, call 926-9205. The next class starts July 17, Frantz said. Those interested in quitting can also call the New York State Smokers Quit Line at 1-866-NYQUITS or www.newyorksmokefree.com. Once enrolled, residents can qualify for two weeks of nicotine replacement patches, she said.
FORT EDWARD  The former Kingsbury couple serving state prison sentences for the drug-related death of a 13-month-old admitted to severe child abuse charges Friday in Washington County Family Court in a disposition that will let their children visit them in prison but could affect their ability to get custody in the future.

Joshua J. Bennett and Rachel Rae Ball were brought from the state prisons where they are serving sentences in connection with the death last year of Kayleigh Cassell to answer neglect and abuse charges in Family Court. The case was scheduled to go to trial Monday if an agreement was not reached.

After hours of closed-door conferences, both consented to findings that they severely abused Kayleigh and their treatment of her led to derivative child abuse of the other children who lived in the Route 4 home where the toddler died. The charges are civil and not criminal. The two have five surviving children between them, though none together.

The case brought by the Washington County Attorney, which prosecutes child abuse charges in Family Court, agreed not to seek permanent termination of parental rights against Bennett and Ball in exchange for their admissions before Judge Adam Michelini.

Lawyers for the children told Michelini that the children have expressed interest in visiting their parents in prison. Orders of protection had barred contact with them, but those orders will be dismissed and the children allowed to visit if they choose to.

The children are staying with their parents or other relatives.

The children are all in safe homes at this point, Michelini said.

Washington County Deputy Attorney Daniel Martindale said Ball and Bennetts prison sentences will ensure that there are no issues when visits do occur.

Any contact will be in a safe, structured environment, Martindale said.

The county had little reason to seek tougher sanctions, since the children will be adults when their parents are released from prison.

Nothing we were going to do today was going to bring Kayleigh back, which is the great tragedy of this matter, Martindale said.

Kayleigh died Feb. 16, 2015 of complications from narcotics use, which included drug overdose and pneumonia, although it was never determined who gave her drugs. She had heroin and cocaine in her system.

Bennett pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and three felony drug charges, and will serve between 12 and 14 years in prison.

Ball was sentenced to 8 1/3 to 11 years on a criminally negligent homicide count and two felony drug charges.

Both appeared in court wearing prison-issued dress clothes, and spoke only to answer Michelinis questions. Bennett, 36, is being held in maximum-security Green Haven Correctional Facility in Dutchess County. Ball, 28, is being held at maximum-security Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in Westchester County.
GLENS FALLS  Glens Falls Prides parade was bigger than ever Sunday, as was the crowd in Crandall Park, which was drenched in sun and scattered with gay pride flags.

Since it was just a week after 49 people were killed in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, security was also increased.

Were really glad to have the help from the Glens Falls Police and State Police, said Mark Petrie, president of The Bridge, the local GLBT group, which has sponsored the event for four years. You certainly dont want to think anything could happen, but its nice to have them here.

During the five-hour event, two State Police vehicles were parked in the shade on one side of the park, and a Glens Falls Police cruiser was on the other side. There were no incidents during the afternoon.

There was, as would be expected, talk of Orlando, but there was also a great deal of talk about community and coming together.

People are afraid after Orlando, but what we have been telling everybody is to be loud, be proud and not be afraid, said Jenny Streeter, of Hudson Falls, another member of The Bridge.

Some communities held pride events last weekend, and some, including Schenectady, Syracuse, New Orleans and Chicago, held theirs this weekend. The New York City Pride parade is scheduled for June 26.

Petrie said he felt the community  both LGBT and straight  had pulled together over the past week.

We always get a lot of support from the community, and it has been even more this week, he said. Were really getting a lot of people here. They are coming and going all day. And we got a lot of support when we marched from downtown. People from LARAC were cheering, and we got support from drivers, too.

The group marched down Glen Street to begin the event, then held a moment of silence for the Orlando victims, and the chorus from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Glens Falls sang Lean On Me.

The event included musical performances and several speeches and was followed by a drag show.

Jay Lawson, who will graduate from Queensbury High School at the end of the week, did a set of folk music, includingShe Keeps Me Warm, a song by Mary Lambert. I learned that this week, because I wanted to sing it in memory of Orlando, said Lawson, who attended Albany Pride and a vigil for the Orlando victims last week. Its been hard, she added.

Lawsons mother, Lisa McLeod, is the adviser of the Gay Straight Alliance at Glens Falls High School, and she said much of the commentary she has heard from students has been on the internet, partly because many of them were in testing last week and partly because they feel a little safer there.

I dont think it has sunk in for a lot of them, McLeod said. The kids have such masks that they wear every day, its hard to know what they are thinking. When they get on Facebook, thats where they show their emotions.

Alison Lattimore, a Hudson Falls school librarian who is her schools GSA adviser, said she sees a need for people to come together across communities.

We need to bring different groups together. Something like pride is great, but we need to reach out more, she said. We need to be more of a community as a society.

Two politicians spoke during the event  Matt Funiciello, the Green Party candidate in the 21st Congressional District, and Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, who represents the states 113th Assembly District.

Some of Woerners comments mirrored Lattimores.

I think we have a lot to do in our world and our society to embrace the notion that all people are created equal, Woerner said. The last two years, we have debated a transgender bill, and each year it gets uglier and uglier. I think that reflects our society as a whole.

Woerner talked about labels and said that, while sometimes they help people connect, in the wrong hands, they become hate speech.

We have these schisms in our society, she continued. They are getting deeper, and they are getting broader.
SARATOGA SPRINGS  There will be a sitdown protest Friday against the citys new ordinance that says people cant sit on or block a sidewalk.

The protest, the second against the law within a week, will take place at 6:30 near the former Lillians restaurant on Broadway, said Mary Mahoney of Malta, one of the organizers. Thats a busier pedestrian location than the site near City Hall where about 60 people protested last Saturday evening.

Theres more dinner traffic right there, Mahoney said of Fridays location. Poke the bear in a different place.

A volunteer at the citys Code Blue winter homeless shelter, Mahoney said she doesnt buy city officials arguments that the law isnt targeted at the homeless who sometimes sit or lie on Broadway sidewalks. She said the law isnt in keeping with the citys efforts to shelter and aid the homeless.

Its a town that pretty much deserves to hold its head up as far as taking care of that population, she said.

According to the ordinance, passed June 7, a person sitting or lying on the sidewalk would be issued a warning, and, if they refused to move, could be slapped with a violation and a $50-$100 fine. Second and third offenses, depending on how many days had passed since a prior offense, could result in a misdemeanor charge, $500 fine, and up to 30 days in jail.

City officials have said they have public safety in mind, and the right of all people to use the sidewalks.

Public Safety Commissioner Chris Mathiesen said he expects few arrests, but the law gives police some authority when they ask someone to move out of the sidewalk.
NORTHUMBERLAND  The path to the future looks a lot like the past at one of the regions biggest dairy farms.

The owners of the 115-year-old Kings Ransom Farm  which bottled its own milk as recently as the 1960s  have constructed a new bottling plant and are now making home deliveries of their milk in traditional glass bottles (as well as plastic jugs).

Their customer list is growing, benefiting from the popularity of locally produced food and from a production technique that preserves flavor.

Co-owner Jan King said as of Wednesday, theyre delivering milk to 70 food service businesses (mainly in and around Saratoga Springs, Ballston Spa and Schuylerville) and to more than 500 residential customers ranging from Queensbury to Halfmoon.

Weve had tremendous response, and our customers are telling us how much they like the product, King said. Weve been delivering milk for the last six years. Now we are bottling our own milk, just hours after it is produced.

Practical advantage

King Brothers Dairy, as the name suggests, is run by Jeff and Jan King, who also own Kings Ransom Farm.

King Brothers Dairy began delivering the farms milk to area customers in 2010, which worked out well while they had a local bottler. But their bottler went out of business in 2015, so they had to switch to a central New York bottler, and because of the distance, King Brothers Dairy wound up delivering other farms milk instead of its own. The idea that Jeff and Jan started talking about in the early 2000s  do their own bottling, like their grandfather did with King Brothers Colebrook Dairy  already had a nostalgic appeal to them, and now offered a practical advantage.

When the King Brothers Dairy bottling plant went online in April, the customers  whod been told they werent getting Kings Ransom milk for the last year  noticed the difference immediately.

Our milk, to start with, tastes better, Jan King said.

Thats not just pride  he offers a technical explanation for the taste difference:

We process a little bit the old-fashioned way, he said. Large commercial processors separate out the milkfat while the milk is still hot from pasteurization, which is quicker and more efficient than letting it cool first.

We separate our milk cold, King said. Thats very noticeable in the taste.

When we switched, everyone was very happy.

Family operation

Kings Ransom has always been a family operation, and remains so.

Jeff and I work together and play together, Jan King said.

Their wives also take active roles in the operation  Becky King, an accountant, does a lot of paperwork, and Pandora Davis, a veterinarian, provides medical care for the herd.

Jeff and Jans parents, Edgar and Carolyn, are semi-retired now, but Edgar King still maintains a nearly daily presence.

The next generation of Kings helps out here and there but theyre all still underage.

Its hard to say at this point whether theyll continue to run the family farm, but part of the reason for starting a milk bottling operation is to add a revenue stream to keep the farm viable, so that the kids will have the option of running it when they are done with school and ready to choose a career.

We want to make this a viable business, a sustainable business ... if they want to come back to the farm, Jan King said.

Kings Ransom is a major dairy operation, with 25 full-time employees including the delivery drivers. For the bottling plant, King said, Weve added three full-time positions and a part-time.

The farm milks 800 cattle three times a day; most of the milk still goes to the Dairy Farmers of America Cooperative in East Syracuse; the remainder is now bottled in-house, in a variety of sizes and styles: whole, reduced-fat, fat-free and chocolate milk in 64-ounce glass bottles and 14-, 32-, 64- and 128-ounce plastic containers. King Brothers Dairy also sells cheese, butter and yogurt from other producers, offers a range of other fresh food products, and has a dairy shop on-site.

King said the dairy operation is trying to expand through word of mouth and a presence at farmers markets, as well as through its web site, but the delivery operation has to grow in stages: There needs to be enough residential customers in a new area to make the extra drive time economical. Through sign-up sheets at a Colonie farmers market, King Brothers Dairy has gained just about enough interest to start a route there, possibly as soon as this week.

As all this marketing goes on, the basic job of keeping all those cows fed and healthy through good weather and bad never ends.

Kings Ransom grows hay, corn, alfalfa and soybeans on the 2,500 acres it owns or leases, providing a vertical food chain from soil to kitchen table for the dairy operation.

A good share of what we feed the cows is grown right here on the farm, Jan King said.
HUDSON FALLS  If two village boards approve its plans, the Strand Theater could be open before the end of the summer, according to Jonathan Newell, executive director of the Hudson River Music Hall.

Wed like to be able to close in mid-July, and we already have a request from the Hudson Falls High School class of 1956 to host their 60th reunion Aug. 26, said Newell, who has also talked about showing films in the building during

Sandy Hill Days in early September. Its exciting. Its going to be great to finally own it. And once we get in there, we think fundraising will really be a lot easier. We want people to get in there and see it.

The plan to eventually build a $4 million to $7 million multi-use theater has been more than four years in the making, and the final product is likely several years away.

The plans making their way through the village boards involve preliminary work of taking down the walls in the former town offices, building a small stage and putting in seating, sound and lights. The plans also call for a coffee house in the building. Newell said he has a commitment from an entrepreneur who will run the coffee house.

The Zoning Board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday, and the Planning Board, which has final approval on the site plan, meets June 27.

Newell said the Hudson River Music Hall will continue to host concerts and events at its Maple Street facility and at Grace Park.

The Strand will be for the sorts of act that need more space, Newell said, noting the initial plans for the Strand call for 300 seats, far larger than the music hall. He said a donor has discussed purchasing a digital projector, and the group also plans to include a movie screen in the initial phase of renovations.

The town moved out of the 210 Main St. building, relocating to a renovated pediatricians office at 6 Michigan St., earlier this year. The Strand group has a contract with the town to buy the building for $175,000, and Newell said as soon as the plans are approved by the Planning Board, the two sides will set a closing date.

Kingsbury Supervisor Dana Hogan said as far as he knows, there is not yet a closing date. Thats something the Hudson River Music Hall people will know better, he said. We are waiting to hear back from them after the Planning Board meeting.

The Strand is one of several major projects planned in the village. A local non-profit group is hoping to renovate the former Masonic temple. The village got word last week that a $250,000 state grant to help the village purchase the former Washington County courthouse  to use as community space and a youth center  has moved ahead. The grant, being coordinated by Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, passed the Assembly before the legislative session ended.

Woerner and state Sen. Elizabeth Little, R-Queensbury, also got a bill passed which will allow the village to turn Paris Park into a parking lot. The new lot is close to the Strand.

The theater was converted into town offices in the late 1960s, a year or two after it ceased operation.

Newell said specific plans for the final layout of the theater will hinge on fundraising efforts and response from donors and audience members to the initial renovations.
You dont have to be a pagan or a yogi to realize that the sun deserves a salutation now and then. It has, after all, been the major constant life energy force for us for over four and a half billion years. From Fajada Butte in New Mexico to Stonehenge in Britain, solar enthusiasts will gather to celebrate the sun break into the realm of Cancer.

TODAYS BIRTHDAY (June 20). Your deep and abiding respect for a certain team or artist will be rewarded this year as youll get more involved, make inside connections and experience other highlights that come with fandom. A kindhearted maternal influence is featured strongly at the end of the year. January brings a big cash-out. Taurus and Scorpio adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 13, 30, 2, 22 and 11.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). The frame of mind youre in when you wake up isnt how youll stay all day. This day of many moods has much to teach. Remember that each state of mind is a temporary one and move lightly through.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). When you let resentment go, it wont be because youre doing the other person a favor. Grudges are baggage, and baggage thats too heavy to harbor. Drop it, be light, laugh.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The afternoon will bring a small miracle that seems dropped from the heavens. This was actually a miracle of your own making though, created with stacks and stacks of good karma.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Feeling content is one of lifes greatest riches. Theres nothing fancy about getting to that state today. Contentment will naturally occur after a good nights sleep and a hard days work followed by a satisfying meal.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The one who says it better is getting into the minutia, the details and deeper definitions. Youll be inclined toward verbal acumen today, willing to re-examine the words you use. Do they mean what you think they mean?

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). A sensitive, vulnerable mood will pass quickly if youre willing to process the fear at the bottom of it. Dont turn away. You can handle whatever discomfort comes up. Talk or write about the feelings you experience.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Intuition awakens in the thick of intense drama. It also awakens in the serenity of a mental void that comes from doing very little other than deep breathing. If no intuition comes, no action is necessary. Only move when compelled.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). The stardust in your being is the same dust that lights up in your idols when they perform, seemingly just for you. When you celebrate others, you celebrate you.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The one who loves you will pay attention to where you go, whether you travel directly and with purpose or wander aimlessly and perilously. Sometimes youre the shepherd; sometimes youre the sheep.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You have habits you realize and habits you dont. Mostly the latter is true, as its the nature of automatic behavior not to think about it once established. Once again, its reason to get an objective view.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The thought is not always accurate, helpful ... or even yours. Today, theres something to be said for acting unthinkingly, heeding the basic instincts of your body and impulses of the moment.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). When the heroes in stories overcome sorrows and trials, its an entertaining escape. Its not as fun when youre the one facing adversity, and yet, make no mistake, its forming a hero in you.
Yes, its unimaginable for the sea to dry up, but one thing is clear, the fish stock in the sea can dry up, reducing the sea to only transportation and hydrocarbon production.

Statistics obtained on Sardinella [Emane], Anchovies [Keta School Boys] and Mackerel from the Fisheries Commission on the status of fish stock from 1980 to 2014 paints a glooming picture.

These species have been decreasing sharply since 2007 and have reached in 2014 about 15% of the maximum landings realized in 1996. This trend will soon lead to the collapse of the resources and the fisheries sector. Sustainable Fisheries Management Project, SFMP observes.

Current fishing pressure (Number of boats and fishing trips) on small pelagic fish stock in Ghana is estimated at 0.74, well above the acceptable level of fishing pressure estimated at 0.4.

There are several factors to why we are here, but the factors can be put into two groups. Fishing practices of fishermen and the politician.

The fisheries act empowers the minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to sign and issue license for trawler vessels to operate in Ghana. The law also requires that trawler vessels are owned hundred percent by Ghanaians.

However, some politicians invite Chinese trawler vessels and front for them. How can a Ghanaian owned trawler vessel have names such as Luo Huan Xi, Lu Jian Ho, Hia Jinx Tui etc?

The World Bank has in the past questioned Ghana on the continuous conflicting figures on the number of trawlers licensed to operate in Ghana.

The irony is that, it is only the minister who signs the license for the trawlers. So if there are conflicting figures to the World Bank, the minister would have to answer for that.

One of the common statements by fisheries law enforcement agencies is the order from above mantra. In other words, order from the politician.

Most fishermen who are caught for using unapproved methods of fishing are let go because an order was issued by a politician who owns the boat the fisherman operates.

Statistics has it that, only 9,000 fishing vessels are to be allowed from Keta to Half Assini. But, the number of canoes doubled since 1980 and continues to increase under open access. This sector comprises 12,728 canoes contributing about 65% of the annual landings of all species in the sea estimated at 254,000 metric tons in 2014. [Fisheries Commission-FSSD]. This statement simply implies that, there are many canoes [in excess of 3,728] fishing vessels chasing fewer and dwindling fish stock in the sea.

When fishing inputs are or any other commodity is subsidized, it encourages people to buy more. When the people are empowered to buy more, you encourage them to go after the already dwindled fish stock.

It is a pitiful sight to behold when politicians on political platforms in coastal constituencies promise more reduced prices of fishing inputs on the glaring face of the dwindling fortunes of the industry.

This complicates the fisheries management strategies the state institutions adopt to curtail the situation.
The Albert Bosomtwe Sam Fishing Harbor was constructed in 1995 with a 13.5 million dollars Japanese grant for the provision of modern fish landing and handling support facilities and services for inshore boats and large canoes.

The 21 year old harbor covers some 1.4 hectares of land and 12.6 hectares of sea. It is 15 kilometers from the Takoradi main port. It is equipped with a cold store, an ice making plant, offices, a berthing bay for inshore vessels, a jetty for canoes and a net dry area.

Since its construction, it estimated to have provided work to over ten thousand people in Shama, SekondiTakoradi and its adjoining fishing communities. .

Manager of the fishing harbor Peter Gussie Cudjoe at a stakeholders meeting noted that we are going to expand the break water by 15.5 meters in width and 180 meters in length. This will enable the harbor to accommodate more vessels. This will reduce the congestion because some of the vessels will now go to the newly constructed break water.

He said initially, the plant produced 20 tons of blocks per day but after the expansion, it will be producing an additional 15 tons of blocks, making it 35 tons a day.
The Senior Staff Association of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), has called on the government to come to the aid of the Authority before it collapses.The Association said some policies being implemented by the management of the GPHA, is not helping its operations and the workers are agitating to take over the running of the place.The Association and the Junior Staff Union of the Tema Shipyard made the call at a news conference addressed by the Local Union Chairman, Mr Samuel Attram.They appealed to the sector Minister, Mr Fiifi Kwetey to expedite action to resolve the impasse between the workers and the management, for the immediate reinstatement of the two senior staff executives whose appointments they claimed were unjustly terminated, to restore calmness at the workplace.The two staffs were sacked for drawing the attention of the government regarding the negative turn of events in the shipyard.He said previously the workers of the shipyard service 50 vessels yearly under the past management, but now their operation had declined to 18 vessels over the past two years.He said the GPHA workers have the expertise in haulage and engineering and they have what it takes to manage and improve the place to chalk out financial success.GNA
Outstanding debts coupled with continuous consumption of power by government institutions are affecting the revenue generation of the company, the general secretary of the Public Utilities Workers Union has said. The outstanding debts coupled with the continuous consumption of power by government ministries, agencies and departments and other institutions are seriously affecting the revenue generation of the company", he said

"As a trading concern, the fact that about 40% of our monthly billings are constantly not paid by these high consumers is aggravating the financial crisis of the company. As workers, we have exercised a lot of restraint and caution but have come to the realization that some drastic action needs to be taken to resolve this matter once and for all. Accordingly, we urge all consumers to take note that we are going to embark on massive disconnection exercise beginning June 20 to claim our monies, he added.

The exercise follows a decision by government to privatize ECG.

In April, a task force set up by the ECG managed to retrieve GHC36 million from defaulters who either steal power or use it without paying.

we have set up a task for that has started this operation to ensure that all those who are by passing, stealing and using electricity without paying, we would bring them into the net, deputy power minister John Jinapr said at the road show for investors on the concession for the management, operation and investment in company.
A memo signed by the Director of Finance at ECG, Frank Anokwafo, directed the General Managers of ECG in Accra West branch, Eastern, and Western Regions to prepare for a thorough declaration and revaluation of the assets of the company.

The memo noted that government has contracted Messrs KPMG as consultants to undertake a physical inventory and revaluation of the companys fixed assets in fulfillment of its policy of carrying out this exercise every five years and also to assist in determining appropriate values to be assigned them for the impending concession arrangement."The consultant and his team will be visiting your region and a number of districts from 20th June 2016 to 1st July 2016 to do a physical inventory of both movable and immovable property i.e. vehicles, substations, switchgear, computers, electricity networks and all others," according to the memo.

In addition, the memo ordered the release of the regional and district engineers to assist the team of evaluators in locating the networks and various substations as well as switchgear in the regions.It also called for the release of "transport officers to assist the team to identify all vehicles in the regional and district offices; the release of a human resource officer to assist the team in identifying structures in the region."

"The provision of first class accommodation (including meals) to the team which includes expatriates," it added.

The memo also urged the General Managers of ECG across the country to support the exercise with all the necessary attention and seriousness it deserves.

READ MORE: ECG to begin mass disconnection exercise

The directive is part of president Mahamas effort to fix the challenges in the distribution of energy in the country.

You fix a situation by taking risks. It is a risk we took when we deregulated telecommunications. If you are not ready to take risks then the world is not ready to make progress, president Mhama explained at an ICT expo in Accra.
A class five pupil of the school was punished by her teacher for misconduct. But she is reported to have rather snubbed the teacher and walked out of the class. She only came back twenty minutes later, with thugs to the school and that was when the attacks on the teacher and the pupils begun.

According to the headmistress of the school the Mrs Grace Richman the thugs who came to the school with broken bottles, canes and other weapons "moved from class to class to assault them.

The Member of Parliament for the area Henry Quartey gave the assaulted teachers money to go for a medical check-up before the police took their reports.

Though the police have interrogated the pupil and arrested some suspected persons the Association in a statement said they shall not back down on the call until the culprits have been arrested and brought to book.

The statement which was signed by the Greater Accra Regional Secretary of GNAT Le Roy Levi Me Nara said there have been other instances of assaulting and humiliating teachers in the region. He described such acts as a disappointment and demoralizing.

He further questioned the commitment of the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service towards the welfare and safety of teachers.

How more insensitive can the GES and the Ministry of Education be towards the plight of teachers in terms of welfare and safety at their work places? he quizzed.
The teachers came together with three other officials of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT). The identification session is to help the Nima Divisional Police Command, make out the suspects who allegedly assaulted some teachers in the school.

The police had earlier today accused teachers of the school of failing to corporate in identifying the culprits of the assault. According to the Nima Divisional Police Commander ACP Nuhu Django they arrested 17 suspects yesterday, 2 of them are female and 15 are male, their ages range between 20 and 45.

A class five pupil of the school was punished by her teacher for misconduct. But she is reported to have rather snubbed the teacher and walked out of the class. She only came back twenty minutes later, with thugs to the school and that was when the attacks on the teacher and the pupils begun

Investigations were later carried out by the police and some suspects were arrested. We are still in the process of taking their statements and screening them he said.

At the end of the identification session the female teachers could not identify the suspects who committed the crime among the 17 people arrested.
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!
In times past vigilante groups and unregulated security groups such as Kandahar boys, Bolga Bulldogs and Azorka boys have been involved in violent clashes which have left victims injured. This has led to members of the general public calling for such groups to be disbanded.

The Inspector General of Police earlier this year also indicated his intention to disband all vigilante groups associated with political parties ahead of this years general elections.

Speaking to journalists after a monitoring and evaluation session, Dr. Chambas said the presence of such groups could fuel violence. He said In our analyses it is evident to us that existence of the vigilante groups and macho men is one that could raise likelihood of violence.

We acknowledge that these groups are likely to stir a political climate of intolerance and violence that cannot be conducive and helpful in the preparations towards the impending elections he added.
Some sections of Ghanaians have expressed anger over reports that President Mahama was given a brand new Ford Expedition in 2012 by a Burkinabe contractor, Djibril Kanazoe who won the bid to construct the $650,000 Ghana Embassy Wall in the Burkina Faso capital, Ouagadougou.

Many anti-corruption campaigners have slammed the president for what they describe as his disregard for the guidelines on conflict of interest in accepting the vehicle gift.

However, Government in a statement issued by Communications Minister, Edward Omane Boamah said even though the car was received, it had nothing to do with the contract awarded.

In a statement, the PPP said The foreign Burkinabe contractor must face independent investigation and should be banned from participating in all Ghana Government contracts.

We urged all contractors - Ghanaian or foreign - to take a cue from this and desist from giving so-called gifts to the President, Ministers of State and other government officials, the statement said.

We reiterate our position on the crusade against corruption and call for national support for, as a matter of urgency, the need to separate the Attorney Generals Department from the Ministry of Justice and separate Parliament from the Executive arm of Government.

The STX Korea contract was aimed at buildng 30,000 housing units in phase one of the proposed 200,000 units project within five years.
According to Nana Akufo-Addo, anytime I bring an idea, my political opponents will say he cannot do it, only to turn round, use the backdoor, and try to implement it.

Nana Akufo-Addo made this known on the final day of his tour of the Central Region on Monday, June 20, when he paid a courtesy call on the Sarkin Zongo of Winneba, Chief Sulemana Salaga, on his tour of the Effutu constituency.

Reiterating his commitment to the establishment of the Zongo Development Fund, Nana Akufo-Addo urged the residents of Winneba Zongo not to be sidetracked into believing that this pledge cannot be fulfilled, citing examples of policies he introduced in the past, which was described by experts and political opponents as not doable.

When I said I was going to implement the Free SHS policy, Mahama said it cannot be done. But, later he turned around and tried to implement it, he said.

Again, the NPP flagbearer noted that the same way I proposed the Northern Development Authority to help the three Northern Regions, so as to help bridge the developmental gap between the North and South, there was the usual talk of it cannot be done, he cant do it. Again, he (President Mahama) tried, through the creation of SADA, to implement my idea. He failed woefully at it.

Nana Akufo-Addo, therefore, urged Ghanaians not to be hoodwinked by this propaganda, as it is a clear evidence of persons who have no vision of how to bring progress to Ghana.
According to him, it is the only way people can be uplifted from poverty.

We think industrialization as Nana Addo envisioned must be even in order to correct people always having to move from many areas of the country to Accra and Kumasi, and creating problems for us in these big cities, told Citi FM.

In order that this country will move its people out of poverty, we need to process our raw materials into finished products for export and also to do import substitution, he added.

The presidential candidate of the NPP, Akufo Addo, on Saturday promised to establish a factory in each of the 216 districts across the country when he wins the 2016 elections.

Nana Akufo-Addo made this commitment whilst touring the Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam, Mfantseman and Abura/Asebu/Kwamankese constituencies in the Central Region on Saturday, June 18, day 3 of his 5-day tour of the region.
As usual they will come with their usual politics of NPP does not like Moslems, but I am urging you to ignore them. In 8 years of President Kufuor, nothing was done to indicate that we did not like Moslems. Under my tenure of office, nothing of that sort will be done, he said.

According to him, the argument that the NPP is against muslims is baseless considering the fact that he had selected Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to be his running mate, just as all other flagbearers of the NPP before him had selected Moslems as their running mates, including the late Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Vice President to President Kufuor.

This is all propaganda. Do not listen to them, and, also, urge the young men and women under your care to ignore such talk. Let us vote for the person and party who can do the work and bring wealth and prosperity to the people, he added.

He said when voted into power, he will reintroduce the payment of allowances to Islamic instructors, which had been scrapped by the Mahama government.

Because of the good management of the economy by President Kufuor, he was able to pay these allowances. However, they have been cancelled by President Mahama because of the mismanagement of the economy. When I win the elections, I will reintroduce it, he added.
While the NCR admits that the move towards the full implementation of the process has delayed, it is refreshing that at last, positive results are bound to show in the best interest of the country, he said in a statement copied to Pulse.com.gh.

The Network also charged the Ministry not to renege its promise of providing free boxes for Ghanaians who cannot afford it.

The NCR would want to entreat the ministry to follow through its promise to provide settop boxes to people who cannot genuinely afford them. It is our hope that people will be selected devoid of political party affiliation while using objective and transparent means to select beneficiaries based on merit.

NCR then cautioned the Ministry to take steps to control lapses in the system of which criminals will like to take advantage.
An interesting story is told of how the humans and the over 1000- monkey population came to live together for 150 years.Dont be misled by the place being described as a sanctuary. The monkeys live in Boabeng-Fiema on their own volition. They are not confined in any way. They live in a beautiful co-existence with the humans.

READ MORE: 10 things only travelling around the world can teach you

The humans of Boabeng and Fiema believe that these monkeys are sacred. Mysterious stories are told of how misfortune befalls anyone who intentionally kills a monkey. This may be hard to believe in Western countries, but it holds a lot of truth for the people of Boabeng and Fiema.

It is believed that a young man and his entire family suffered mysterious deaths after he intentionally plundered one of the small monkeys to death for eating his food stuffs.

This myth, coupled with the adorably playful nature of the monkeys is the reason why they have peacefully coexisted with the humans for over a century and a half.

Apart from the beautiful experience of human- monkey co-existence, the monkeys themselves are a good reason to travel to Boabeng-Fiema, because of the different varieties present.

There is the typical Georffroys, that is the Black and White Colobus, and the Campbell's Mona which are smaller in size.

The Monas are the friendliest of the group. They come close to humans enough to take food from visitors, photographs, amongst others.

The Colobus, however like to stay on the tree tops, feeding mostly off fresh foliage.

Dont forget, Bel-Aqua Bottled Water is processed through several stages of filtration plus ultra filtration involving a variety of membranes and physical purification treatments (microfiltration, activated carbon filters, ultraviolet light, and ozonation).
According to the Area Fada, Nigerians were quick to quote the scripture when a gunman opened fire at a gay club but failed to do so when Christians lost their lives in terrorist attacks in the North.

He wrote;

"Na WA for some Naijas, can you believe that after about 50 people were murdered in cold blood at a gay club in Orlando, most Nigerian Christians who know the mind of God linked the incident to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Can you imagine?

They quickly used Leviticus 20:13 to prove their points. Many even said if God doesnt destroy America, he owes sodom and Gomorrah an apology. Humm

They wished more of it would happen, they even said that it was God's judgement upon gays. Useless fake people.

Now hear me out!

So, were the people in those bombed churches in Kaduna evil? The Christians who were bombed by Boko haram in the Redeemed church in Jigawa, did they deserve it? The christian in Borno state that were set ablaze, did they deserve to die like that? Where was God last year when those followers of Christ got shot up in a black church in America while praying? Since God has become your informant and you know his JUDGEMENT, I am waiting for your answer.

Some of these Naija Christians just make a mockery of Christianity while claiming to know the will of God. When an attack is carried out by demons and people who are mentally challenged some predict it was God's will, because the victims have a different sexual orientation than us. Why can't you just say, thank God they are dead. Silly, idiots.
Quirky, easy going and funny French Montana has confused a lot of people on how he has been able to bag these beautiful women. Check the list below of the hot Hollywood women he has been with it.

1) Sanaa Lathan

In September 2015, Hollywood actress Sanaa Lathan shocked everyone when she coyly confirmed that she was dating rapper French Montana on a radio interview while promoting her latest movie. In March 2016 it was even rumoured that she was pregnant for him which she later denied. In May 2016, French Montana finally spoke about Sanaa Lathan. Uh, we good people. We great friends. Shes a great person. Shout out to Sanaa Lathan said the rapper.

2) Khloe Kardashian

This is easily French Montanas most high profile relationship. It was such a high relationship that he started getting featured on Daily Mail. The pair started dating since 2014 when Khloe separated from her husband Lamar Odom. The relationship has been mainly on and off. While not dating presently, the two have been on good terms.

3) Trina

Just before hooking up with Khloe Kardashian, French Montana was dating female rapper Trina. When it got out that French had started dating Khloe, Trina was pissed at her Kardashian friend for taking her man away from her.

4) Deelishis
"

ALSO READ: Is Korede Bello in love with Tania Omotayo?

For those unfamiliar with Wizkid and Tania Omotayo, their love story has been one of ups and downs. The pair started dating circa 2011 but perhaps the first time they were seen together publicly was at the launch of Banky W's 2013 album ''. This was a turbulent time for Wizkid has he was facing serious issues with EME- the record label he was signed to at the time.

Of course the press couldn't help but notice the beautiful woman by Wizkid's side. The next day her photos with one of Africa's brightest stars was splashed all across the Internet. Her anonymity was gone. From then on her and Wizkid would go on to endure a rocky relationship at least publicly.

Tania Omotayo isn't another pretty face who hangs around celebrities. She is an executive in Upfront Bookings, a talent and management agency firm in Nigeria. On the list of the agency include Tiwa Savage, Don Jazzy, Ini Edo, Timi Dakolo, Saka, Dr. Sid, Sound Sultan, Harrysong, KCee and Chidinma Ekile. Apart from having a day job, Tania Omotayo was featured in both a radio and TV Coca-Cola advert campaign.

In July 2015 Wizkid made the blunder by tweeting that he was 'single' and enjoying his life. Thousands of his fans on Twitter bashed him for saying this and wondered what happened to Tania Omotayo. The online furore got so much that Wizkid has to delete the tweet. To further save his face, he claimed his account was hacked.

When it was revealed early this year that Wizkid had fathered a child with Binta Diamond Diallo, people asked about Tania Omotayo and wondered if Wizkid was using the poor girl. For once, Wizkid had to release a public statement saying that he and Tania Omotayo were no longer dating.

ALSO READ: Tania Omotayo denies she is pregnant

"Tania broke up with Wiz a while ago but both parties agreed to be friendly towards each other. Nonetheless, she kept her distance from him and missed a lot of his events and performances over the Christmas holidays. She went on vacation with her friends in Dubai during his industry night event" read the statement from his management.

We are infatuated with Wizkid and Tania Omotayo. The pop star has had a few women attached to him over the years but there seems to be a strong pull towards Tania. Some of Wizkid's ex-lovers include Sophie Rammal who recently got married, his two baby mamas- Sola Ogudugu and Binta Diamond Diallobut none of them have grabbed out time and attention like Tania Omotayo. Maybe because she strikes us as the good girl in love with the baddest boy of Nigerian pop music.
Da Viva, the textile sponsor for AFWN 2016 will sponsor the brands set to show their latest collections at the event set for 1st-3rd July 2016 at the Eko Hotel & Suites.

ALSO READ:Yemi Alade set to debut HOT brand at 2016 AFWN

The Nigeria based fashion brands will present their latest works alongside other designers from all over the world with an impressive lineup including five (5) Catwalk Shows, fifty (50) Designers, Fashion Gala & Awards Night as well panel discussions aimed at promoting Nigeria as a production hub.

ALSO READ:5 things to expect from the 2016 AFWN show

Details:

Date - 1st-3rd July 2016.

Venue -Eko Hotel & Suites

About EMINENCE 1129

EMINENCE 1129 (pronounced eleven twenty-nine) is a brand based in Lagos Nigeria, recognised for bringing indigenous African inspired designs in a variety of ways. A label that designs street and urban wears with a mission statement: celebrating African arts and culture by making beautiful functional and comfortable designs.

Started November 2009 by Olamide Olawale as the creative head, a graduate of Graphic designs from the prestigious Yaba College of Technology, a self-taught designer, a fashion illustrator and an instructor.

A native of Osogbo,the capital of Osun state and the son of the soil to the royal blood of Arogundade-Matanmi compound. Having grown in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, an environment where arts and culture is appreciated influenced his designs.

Our collections are inspired by the environment, nature and the naija vibes. Our designs are well planned cut out piece that signify simplicity and true elegance, while attention to every detail in the process of making our collections is our signature.

In April 2014, EMINENCE 1129 had one of its major international fashion show at the Alliance Francaise Lagos (the French community).Our designs at the Africa Fashion Week Nigeria 2015 at Eko Hotel Lagos with the theme "my indigo experience" were breathtaking.

He believes fashion is a true reflection of an era.

About House Of Salem

House of Salem Clothing is a Household name in clothing industry located in Lagos state Nigeria which started in April 2010. House of Salem clothing deals with men wear especially suit and traditional wears. House of Salem is in habit of designing an outfit that will suit your status and brings out the king in you; this we have been able to achieve by designing clothes for movie shooting and even some agencies in Lagos state and lot more.

About McStell

McStell is a haute couture brand based in Lagos Nigeria whose primary aim is to boost and brand individual image through clothing. The brand has evolved from its inception in December 2014 through innovative ideas and creativity and has gathered notable awards and recognition amongst which are: May 2015, Fashion and Style Award for Best Emerging Designer, African Fashion Week Nigeria (AFWN), FADAN Emerging Designer of the year and Best young designer of the year and Da Viva Brand Ambassador till date.
Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected!
The policemen, who are from the B Division Police Station, Otapete, fired at the students, who were carrying out a protest at the time.

They have been taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, for attention, after sustaining gunshot injuries.

The protest occurred on Sunday, June 19, 2016, at the police station, due to violent incident.

The students then took their protest to the Owo/Akure Expressway, which affected movement of vehicles.

According to Olanrewaju, who is a student at the polytechnic, a police vehicle hit some of his colleagues, but they were reportedly abandoned by the officers.

The students were on a motorcycle when the policemen used their vehicle to hit them. They did not bother to take the students to the hospital which prompted the students protest this morning (Sunday). The policemen were shooting continuously; three students were injured in the process.

Mr. Femi Joseph, who is the Police Public Relations Officer, apologised to the students for the incident, stating that it wasnt intentional.

Joseph said, The hitting of the students by the police vehicle was accidental. It was a total lie that the driver abandoned the students because he immediately took the victims to a hospital and they are currently receiving treatment.
The most annoying thing is that all he did for her and her family has been forgotten as the family even told him to calculate all he spent on Chinwe so her new husband who is based abroad can pay him back.

Read his story here:

"My name is Magnus, a 48-year-old very bitter man because a girl I did everything for, sent to school and even catered for her family needs has turned round to pay me in the worst coin anyone can ever imagine.

I came to Lagos after my primary school in my hometown to serve as an apprentice to a kinsman. After serving for seven years, I gained my freedom and my boss settled me fully and I set out on my spare parts business.

Over the years, I built up my business to be a success and I have been able to expand my coast into importation and being a distributor for big companies outside the country. Because of my lack of education, I vowed never to marry an illiterate and to make sure that my children acquire quality education.

It was this resolve that made me agree to send Chinwe to school with the understanding that we would get married once she was through. Chinwe is from my village and it was actually my parents that chose her for me, having watched her grow to be a very obedient and homely girl.

I actually wanted her to go to school in my house but her family begged me to allow her complete her education first before the marriage.

We did the wine carrying after she gained admission into a university and I made sure she went to school like a princess. I bought a car for her, rented a two-bedroom apartment for her and furnished it to taste.

I visited her once in a while and made sure she did not lack anything. I also brought her younger brother to learn my trade, gave her parents money to start a small business. But little did I know that I was polishing her up for another man.

Chinwe began showing her true colours in her final year in the university when she began rejecting my calls, giving one excuse or the other why I should not visit her in school and on her graduation, she told me I should not bother coming.

But the last straw that broke the camel's back was when I learnt from one of her close friends that she had concluded plans to travel out to meet her fiance who lives in Europe. Ijeoma was Chinwe's best friend but I still doubted her story, so I travelled home to find out the truth and lo and behold, I was told that Chinwe had already travelled out of the country.

When I confronted her parents, her elder brother told me plainly that Chinwe told them I was an illiterate and a local man and she could not marry me. They also told me that her new husband has promised to refund all that I expended on her.

I am devastated but though my family and friends say I should leave everything in God's hands, I have vowed to make sure Chinwe, her so called husband and her family suffer for this injustice.

Magnus."

The teaser for the day was:

How Nigeria voted:

She will have to pay all I spent on her - 10%

I will make sure she does not live to marry another man - 11%

I will leave her for God to judge - 80%
Okafor who was taken by the Iceland authorities Sweden, was handed his deportation papers by the Swedish immigration authorities, which gave him until June 1 to leave Sweden or be deported back to Nigeria.

Okafor who left Nigeria in 2010, had told the authorities that he was a target of the insurgent group after they tried to recruit him and he refused to join them and he and his brother were attacked in retaliation.

But Okafor who worked as a cook in the country, according to the report, was not in the mood to go without a fight as he tried every means to fight his deportation, just as his friends vowed to fight for him to be returned to the country.

This is how Okafor narrated his ordeal to Al Jazeera:

"Iceland is my home now. I have contributed to the society here. Many people know me. My friends have become my family. The Boko Haram members tried to recruit me, but I refused.

They stormed our house in Maiduguri, Borno State, in North Eastern Nigeria, stabbed me in the head and face and killed my brother, Okwy."

The report adds that Okafor fled Nigeria and made a long and dangerous boat journey to Europe, where in 2011, he sought asylum in Sweden. He told his story and showed his wounds, including the gash over his eye, which he feared would cost him his eyesight.

He was denied asylum and made his way to Iceland. He applied for asylum in Iceland in 2012 but was denied.

After many rejections, appeals and back and forth between various immigration authorities, a special immigration committee reviewing Okafor's case said the time limit to send Eze back to Sweden might have expired, and advised him to go to the immigration office and have his application for asylum processed.

He went to the immigration office as instructed to pick up the paperwork, and was told to wait 45 minutes, which he did. Unknown to him, the police officer was calling the immigration office.

"The police said I should come to sign and all of a sudden, they took me into custody. They arrested me. I spent the night in jail. The next morning, they said they were deporting me.

I said I should go and get my stuff from my house. They said no. They took me to the airport and manhandled me. In Iceland, I have been integrated into society, with so many friends. A lot of people know me. So when the police was beating me, when I was arrested, there was a lot of reaction."

Okafor was put handcuffed and put in a plane for deportation. Two members of the rights group, No Borders Iceland, boarded the plane and stood up in protest, asking other passengers to stand up as well to protest Okafor's deportation. After about 10 minutes, they were arrested by Iceland's police.

Eze Okafor says Boko Haram insurgents are after his life

Photo Credit: Al Jazeera

Okafor said he was taken to Stockholm. At the airport, he thought the Icelandic authorities would give him back the only ID he had - his Nigerian driver's license. They took it back to Iceland. He was handed papers by the Swedish immigration authorities, which gave him until June 1 to leave Sweden or be deported back to Nigeria.

He was also given a piece of paper saying he had no right to financial assistance. Without money or any identification, he was turned out onto the street where he spent the first night.

But Okafor insists coming back to Nigeria would further expose him to the Boko Haram threat and he risks being killed.
Health Minister Felix Kabange said seven of the proven cases were autochthonous, while 58 were imported from Angola, where the outbreak began. A further two cases came from remote forested areas not linked to the current outbreak. Five people in total have died, Kabange added.

"I declare today a localised epidemic of yellow fever in the provinces of Kinshasa, Kongo Central and Kwango," Kabange told a news conference.

Kinshasa is the main concern for global healthcare officials, because it has a densely packed population of more than 12 million and poor health infrastructure.

Yellow fever is transmitted by the same mosquitoes that spread the Zika and dengue viruses, although it is a much more serious disease. The "yellow" in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients.

The global stockpile of yellow fever vaccines has already been depleted twice this year to immunise people in Angola, Uganda and Congo. It currently stands at 6 million doses but this may not be enough if there are simultaneous outbreaks in multiple highly populated areas.

Almost 18 million doses have been distributed for emergency vaccination campaigns so far in the three African countries.

The current method for making vaccines, using chicken eggs, takes a year.

World Health Organisation advisers have recommended using a fifth of the standard dose of yellow fever vaccine in the event of a global shortage -- enough to immunise temporarily but not to give lifelong immunity.

Manufacturers of the vaccine include the Institut Pasteur, government factories in Brazil and Russia and French drugmaker Sanofi.

Congo's outbreak, since January, comes at a time when political tensions linked to an upcoming presidential election and an economic crisis caused by a commodity slump are already putting a huge strain on the country's stability.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) vowed to call out its members to oppose the order.

Speaking on the matter, Aregbesola said Let me say this there is no official pronouncement on hijab. I have not ordered the use of hijab in schools and I challenge them to bring evidence.

It might interest you that my wife does not use hijab, my daughter does not use hijab. So, I did not order the use of hijab.

My view on Islam is why I am suffering unmerited persecution. My crime is that I struggle to be a good Muslim and not because I hurt anybody.
32-year-old Eze Okafor was deported from Iceland on May 26 and taken to Stockholm after being put on a plane in handcuffs, Al Jazeera reports.

Prior to his deportation, Okafur had lived in Iceland for last four years, working as a cook in a local restaurant.

According to Al Jazeera, Eze fled Nigera after being targeted by Boko Haram. In 2010, he and his younger brother, Okwy, were attacked for not joining the group. Members of the sect invaded their home in Maiduguri, Borno State and Okwy was killed while Eze was left with stab wounds in the head and face. They tried to recruit me, but I refused, he said.

After the attack, Eze left Nigeria and embarked on a risky boat journey to Europe. In 2011 he sought asylum in Sweden but was denied. He then travelled to Iceland where he applied for asylum in 2012 but was also denied.

Before his deportation, he was working with a lawyer, Katrin Theodorsdottir, who applied for permission for him to stay in Iceland on humanitarian grounds and he was eventually given a temporary residency.

Eze was deported after he was arrested during what seemed like a routine visit to the immigration office to process his asylum request.

The police said I should come to sign and all of a sudden they took me into custody. They arrested me. I spent the night in jail. They next morning they said they were deporting me. I said I should go and get my stuff from my house. They said no. They took me to the airport and manhandled me, he told Al Jazeera.

Eze was left in Stockholm with no identification and a piece of paper saying he had no right to financial assistance. He was also handed papers by the Swedish immigration authorities, which gave him until June 1 to leave Sweden or be deported back to Nigeria.

What I am facing in Nigeria is that this Islamic group is after my life. My life is in danger. Boko Haram has a network. They have been looking for me since then, he said.

Eze is uncertain about his future but he says that he knows one thing for sure. If he returns to Nigeria, he believes it would mean death for him.

Boko Haram has killed many Nigerians and has rendered many others homeless in the troubled North-East.
This is coming following the forgery allegation levelled against some of the principal officers of the Nigerian Senate led by Senator Bukola Saraki.

In a recent report by Daily Independent Newspaper, the upper legislative chamber stated emphatically that it was aware that the latest attempt to drag its presiding officers into another round of court case is an attempt at forcing a leadership change in the parliament.

In a statement by the Senate, the legislative arm insisted that the fresh charges are instigated by party leaders and the Attorney General.

The Senate of the Federal Republic voted freely to elect its leadership into office and continuing attempts to change that leadership through the wanton abuse of judicial processes cannot stand in the eyes of the world.

It is clear that the Attorney General and party leaders behind this action either lack the understanding of the underlining principles of constitutional democracy, the concept of Separation of Powers, checks and balances and parliamentary convention or they just simply do not care if the present democracy in the country survives or collapses in their blinded determination to get Saraki and Ekweremadu by all means necessary, including abuse of office and sacking the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The Nigerian people have enough economic hardship at this time requiring the full attention and cooperation of the three arms of government, instead of these attempts to distract and politicise governance," the statement reads in part.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government slammed fresh forgery charges on the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

The two were accused of forging the 2015 Senate Standing Rules used in electing them to office.
Daily Trust reports that Fayose tried to withdraw money from a Zenith bank branch in Ekiti state, with his cheque, but was not paid.

The EFCC recently revealed that the freezing of accounts of those being investigated for financial crimes is lawful.

The spokesman of the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwujaren said Indeed, Section 34 (1) of the EFCC Act 2004 empowers the commission to freeze any account suspected of being used for financial crimes.

Fayose, while reacting to the incident, described the action of the anti-graft agency as criminal and illegal.

He also cited Section 308 of the 1999 constitution, saying he has immunity as a sitting Governor.

Fayose also called on President Buhari to remember that he is not a saint, adding that the first lady of Nigeria, Aisha Buhari was implicated in the Halliburton scandal.

He said Mrs Buhari was accused of wiring $170,000 to Jeffersons account and the man has been convicted. So Buhari and APC should not see themselves as saint.

The Governor also said I got mind of the fact that the EFCC had placed restriction order on my personal account and that of my associates. I came here today and I have been able to see it. This action shows that this government has no respect for the constitution because I enjoy immunity under Section 308.

I support government fighting corruption, but it has to be within the ambit of the law. You can investigate me, it is their right, but they have to wait till 2018, because I will be done by then. They should not be in a hurry because I will personally come to them for investigation."

Adding that I have become figure in this country that I dont have anywhere to run to. This rascality of EFCC must stop. If they like, let them investigate the whole world. Is it because they are sitting government now that nobody can ask them question? We will take every legal procedure to get things right.

I am not leaving this bank until they give meant statement of account. They must put it into writing because EFCC has no right under the law to freeze my account.

They did not communicate me. They want to destabilize the state and we will use all legal means to make them obey the constitution. They can investigate me, but they cant coerce me.
Daily Post reports that the state government will be one of the beneficiaries of the Buhari led administrations benevolence.

The Commissioner for finance, Chief Toyin Ojo also called on striking workers to return to work.

Also, speaking to newsmen on the alleged attempts by the Federal Government to intimidate Governor Ayo Fayose, the commissioner for justice, Owoseni Ajayi said We condemn in strong terms alleged threat, intimidation, harassment and embarrassment of officials of the state government by agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Security (DSS) and even the Presidency over issues already settled by Supreme Court.

The allegations are to coerce the people of the state and they should note that the government was popularly elected by the people of the state about two years ago and the All Progressives Congress (APC) which was defeated then went through all llegal processes to challenge the election and lost."

The commissioner also said Using a military panel that assessed not only Ekiti poll, but Osun, Rivers and presidential poll is an exercise in futility. Ekiti is peaceful, we dont have miltancy or Boko Haram trouble and we dont want anyone to provoke us and the people of the state. Nobody in the government, organs of the government and lawmakers doing their legitimate duties should be intimidated, harassed or threatened in whatever form.

They are doing all this because Fayose is the only voice of the opposition in the country and that is permissible under democracy and when Dr Goodluck Jonathan was the President, former Governors Kayose Fayemi, Rotimi Amaechi and Babatunde Fashola criticized him and they were not harassed or intimidated.To use state apparatus to harass anybody will be resisted. What Fayose is saying is assisting the government and the people of Nigeria in genera.
This is contained in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Uche Anichukwu on Sunday, June 19, in Abuja.

Ekweremadu was reacting to his purported invitation by the police and the charges reportedly preferred against him before a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.

"The hands of Sen Ike Ekweremadu are clean because he has no business whatsoever with the production of Senate Standing Orders.

"This is the latest attempt to try and convict him in the court of public opinion, notwithstanding that we do not want to mount a public defence.

"We would rather meet them in court if they so wish.

"We plead with our supporters across the nation to maintain the peace and go about their normal businesses unperturbed by this latest act of harassment and impunity.

"We want to reassure them that no form of intimidation and onslaught to rubbish him will make him shy away from diligently carrying out the constitutional duties.

"Ekweremadu will not legislate in fear, and he will certainly not fear to legislate, it stated.

The statement emphasised that though the deputy president of the senate had not been invited as reported, he would not be deterred.

"An attempt on his life in November 2015 did not deter him despite the fact that there is no information to show that the police investigated an incident of such magnitude duly reported to them.

"Certainly not even a purported police invitation, lawsuit, propaganda, and intimidation would cow him because Nigeria belongs to all of us, irrespective of our different political, ethnic, and religious leanings, it stated.

The statement said the police had told Nigerians in 2015 that Ekweremadu was not invited for questioning on the matter.

"We are, therefore, as surprised as other Nigerians at the current twists and turns by the same police one year after.

"Also after they had since submitted to the Attorney General of the Federation, their investigation report, which neither indicted nor made the slightest mention of Sen. Ike Ekweremadu.

"More so that the petitioners never named Ekweremadu in their petition in the first instance.
They made this known during a peaceful protest staged at the Abuja office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They said We are calling for the prosecution of those sacked military officers on charges of corruption, as well as confiscating of their properties and freezing of their accounts in accordance with the law."

Barrister Cletus Onwu, the leader of the group, also said they visited the EFCC office to express their stand on the issue.

Speaking on behalf of the EFCC chairman, the Director of Publicity, Osita Nwajah assured the group that the matter will be considered.

Nwajah also said The Chairman will do justice to all the petitions that come before him, including this one that was brought by you. I want to assure you that it will be treated.

We are very encouraged by this solidarity visit and the request you have made. The Acting Chairman of the EFCC, a man of courage, who has demostrated this by the mandate Nigerians gave him, will do justice to every petition that comes before him.
Gwani condemned plans by the Kaduna state Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to create grazing reserves in Southern Kaduna adding that the people of the area has rejected such a plan because they are not into cattle rearing.

The lawmaker said even though Section 43 of the Nigerian constitution stated that ownership and control of land is vested on the Government, added that for the interest of peace and development grasping reserves is not what the people of the area are yearning for.

The Land Use Act chapter 202 laws of the federation of Nigeria further explained that land is vested in the hand of Government who would hold in trust for the people. If that is the case then the people are major stake holders in land matters in their territory hence government needs to consider or take into consideration the interest of the people and their community when it comes to land usage," the lawmaker said.
The workers barricaded the entrance and exit into the building demanding the immediate sack of the Minister, Kemi Adeosun over what they described as "her inability to carry the workers along." They also accused the minister of incompetence.

Kemi must go! Kemi is a ghost worker and President does not want ghost workers in his government. She is our employee and we have sacked her, she cannot enter this building again," the workers said angrily.

Attempts to speak with the workers were unsuccessful as they were directed by their Union Leaders not to speak with the press.

However, a staff of the ministry who was denied access to building told our correspondent that the the minister has not met with the workers since she took over from her predecessor, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

"You see, this Kemi is very arrogant. Since she took over from Ngozi, she has never had a meeting with the staff. She does not care about the welfare of workers at all. We are being owed our allowances and other welfare packages. When our union leaders approached her, she said she is the not the . Can you just imagine?

"Her own is to just come to the office and go. The worst is, she does not even know her work. She is just making mistakes everywhere and she can't even relate with people so she can learn. was not wrong for saying that the young generation cannot lead this country. This is just a classic example," he said.

Another staff who simply identified himself as Olu told Pulse.ng stated that the gates would remain locked until their demand is met.

"It is unfortunate that at this time when Nigeria needs committed people to run the economy of this nation, some are just here to see the economy die. Kemi's incompetence has not only affected the staff of the ministry alone but Nigeria at large. She is not doing anything as far as we are concerned. That is why we are out here this morning and we will be here to prevent her from going into that office," he said.
Mimiko and Labour unions failed to reach any agreement to call off the strike despite interventions by traditional rulers as the Governor insists the government has no money to pay workers.

The Ondo chapter of the ruling party stressed that the Governor's trip outside the country is not only callous but unacceptable to the people as it had little or no economic benefit to the state.

This is the height of callousness on the part of Governor Mimiko and it is totally unacceptable to the people who elected him to take care of their welfare, the party stated.

In a statement released by APCs Director of Publicity, Steve Otaloro, the party found it confounding to see the Governor leaving the state to deliver a lecture despite the sufferings and agitations of the state workers.

In spite of this serious issue confronting the state, Governor Olusegun Mimiko still had the audacity to travel out of the country to the United Kingdom without making any meaningful effort to end the strike action of the state workers.

But this present trip to the UK which is of no economic benefit to the state is uncalled for at this time in the midst of serious crisis that has engulfed the state which requires serious attention of the governor that prides himself as running A Caring Heart Government, the statement said.

It should also be noted that Dr. Olusegun Mimikos previous trips seem not to have yielded a single foreign investment to the state. Instead, his policies have killed businesses in the state through multiple taxation inflicted on existing businesses.

The opulent lifestyle of the governor and his family at the Government House and the fact that hes living large enough at the expense of the state must have beclouded him not to appreciate the pains and the hunger that permeate the entire citizenry in the state.

But he should remember that this was not what he promised the people at his inaugural speech where he boasted I Will Work For You in his now infamous 2009 speech, the statement read.

In a report by Premium Times, Gov Mimikos trip to the UK was on the invitation of Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs.

The Governor was billed to speak in one of the sessions of its 2016 conference and deliver a lecture on Healthcare for All: From Aspiration to Implementation at a break-out session.
Buhari exited his plane waving to ministers and army chiefs who came to greet him.

"I am ok. I am better. You can see me inspecting the guards of honour. Now you can do the assessment yourself," Buhari told reporters at the airport.

Buhari returns a day before the naira currency is set to be devalued under a new market-driven trading system, ending the central bank's 16 month fixed exchange rate policy.

Buhari has for months said that he does not want the naira to be devalued, but backed a more flexible exchange rate policy when the central bank outlined its plans in May, without elaborating.

The 73-year-old flew to London on June 6 to see an ear, nose and throat specialist after two doctors in Nigeria recommended further evaluation "as a precaution", his team said.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said last week that Buhari was in perfect health and would resume work on Monday.

The People's Democratic Party, Nigeria's main opposition, said on its Twitter feed on Sunday that Buhari was "critically ill" and he had returned to Abuja to continue treatment, without giving a source of the information.
For today, June 20, 2016

VANGUARD NEWSPAPER

Alleged forgery: Its coup against legislature  Senate

The Senate, yesterday, strongly rebuffed what it termed a strong attempt to cripple the legislative arm of government through alleged plans to imprison the two presiding officers of the Senate, Senators Bukola Saraki, and Ike Ekweremadu.

In a strongly worded statement, yesterday, the Senate called on President Muhammadu Buhari to rein in the Attorney General, Mr. Abubakar Malami, and other senior officials of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who it claimed were seeking to use the courts to obtain what they failed to get during the Senate leadership election. READ MORE

Controversy forces CBN to amend new forex policy

A major controversy has hit the new foreign exchange policy announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, last week, a development which may have forced the apex bank to amend the policy, even before take-off. The flexible exchange policy is taking off today.

The controversial aspect was the Foreign Exchange Principal Dealers, FXPD, arrangement under which the apex bank said it would trade forex principally with about eight to 10 banks which it would register as principal dealers or FXPDs, who in turn would deal with other banks and traders. READ MORE

Obanikoro could face extradition from America  US Justice Dept

The U.S. Justice Department has said former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, could be extradited to the country to stand trial as long as the Federal Government follows the due process to make this possible.

Obanikoro had last week, dared the federal government to extradite him from the U.S, his current place of residence, following the invasion of his home in Lagos by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, who made away with cars and other valuables. But Peter Carr, an official at the United States Department of Justice, DOJ, said the former ministers extradition from the U.S. was possible provided the Federal Government did the needful. READ MORE

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BUSINESS DAY NEWSPAPER

What to expect as interbank FX market re-opens today

As Nigeria today embarks on a historic move to re-open the interbank foreign exchange (FX) market and have the value of its currency, the naira (NGN) completely determined by market forces, analysts say to expect initial wild volatility and a currency that trades much higher than parallel market levels. Nigerian bank treasurers including, Michael Anyimah, READ MORE

FMCG firms set to resume expansion on FX flexibility

Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) firms operating in Africas largest consumer market are expected to resume long stalled expansion plans following todays reopening of the interbank foreign exchange (FX) market. With the adoption of a market driven FX policy, analysts say firms ranging from Nestle to Unilever, whose profit margins and inventory levels had nosedived READ MORE

FX speculators hit as naira firms on CBN liquidity mop up

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may have succeeded in checking speculators at the Foreign Exchange (FX) market who hitherto bet on naira devaluation as naira shortage at the parallel market is squeezing dollar demand. Africas biggest economy today launched its FX interbank trading window in line with the apex banks decision for a free-floating READ MORE

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THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER

Forgery case against Saraki, Ekweremadu, a coup Senate

The Senate on Sunday described the forgery case initiated by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, against principal officers of the Senate as a coup against the legislature.

It claimed the move was aimed at subjecting the National Assembly to the control of the executive.

The upper chamber also accused the executive arm and some unnamed party leaders of instituting the case to ensure that Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, were remanded in prison and prevented from presiding over the affairs of the Senate. READ MORE

Death toll in Benue herdsmen attack hits 59

At least, 59 persons were late Saturday night and early hours of Sunday allegedly killed following the renewed hostilities between suspected Fulani herdsmen and farmers at Turan Council ward of Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Our correspondent learnt that the attack also left so many members of the community with varying degrees of injuries while several others were still reported missing and property worth millions of naira destroyed.

According to a source, the suspected armed herdsmen stormed the Gabo Nenzev community in large numbers from the neighbouring Nasarawa State, shooting sporadically and burning down houses at the time of filing this report. READ MORE

Buhari returns, challenges journalist to wrestling contest

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday returned to Nigeria after spending 14 days in London, United Kingdom.

In a short interaction at the airport, Buhari challenged one of the State House correspondents, who asked him about his state of health, to a wrestling contest.

You know I am taller than you. Do you want to wrestle me? the President asked in Hausa language.

He had earlier told the journalists that they could see him while he was inspecting the guard of honour, an indication that his health was in perfect condition.

I am okay. You can see me inspecting the guard of honour. You have seen me, you saw me when I was going. You can do the assessment yourself, he said. READ MORE

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THE NATION NEWSPAPER

15 die in Lagos-Ibadan expressway crash

Fifteen people yesterday died in a multiple auto accidents on Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

It involved a truck, a fuel tanker and a commercial bus.

The accident, which occurred at the Fidiwo-Ajebo, Ogun State stretch of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, left 14 passengers and driver of the commercial bus dead on the spot.

The truck was marked AJG 40 XA and fuel tanker has registration number RAN 571 XA. The passenger bus was marked (LAGOS) AGL 373 XR.

It was learnt that the accident occurred, when the driver of the fuel-laden truck moving in the direction of Ibadan, Oyo State, attempted to overtake another truck at a road diversion point. READ MORE

Senate: AGF leads plot to jail Saraki, Ekweremadu

Apparently shocked that the stage is set for the trial of its key officials for alleged forgery, the Senate has launched a battle to stave off a major crisis.

It yesterday accused the Executive of attempting to force out its leaders and named Attorney General Abubakar Malami leader of the plot. President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate said, should tell Malami to pull the brakes on the plot.

In a statement, Media and Public Affairs Committee Chairman Senator Sabi Abdullahi said the reopening of the case by the police posed a danger to the autonomy of the legislature. READ MORE

N350/dollar interbank exchange likely today

With the flexible foreign exchange policy driven by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) opening today, analysts have predicted a volatile and interesting trading for the day.

The interbank market, which opens by 9.00am and closes at 2.00pm, will see the naira-dollar exchange rate in a volatile state. The local currency is likely to exchange around N340/N350 against the greenback, it was predicted yesterday.
PENGASSAN also issued a seven day ultimatum, after which they will shut down operations in the oil and gas industry.

The spokesperson of union, Emmanuel Ojugbana said I want to reiterate our demands that the Federal Government and the concern organisations including H15, IEME Chevron, Universal Energy, Chevron Contracts Tecon and Avion Oil and Fugro should resolve the critical industrial relation issues in their companies, particularly in the recent retrenchment in Fugro and Petrostuff should be reversed.

Let us stated unequivocally that industrial peace in the oil and gas sector will not be guaranteed if these issues, especially the retrenchment in Fugro, are not resolved within seven days effective Monday, June 20, 2016.

He also lamented the non-payment of staff salaries saying The effect of non-payment has led to thousands of job losses across the sectors and non-creation of new jobs against the backdrop of the electoral promises of employment generation by the current government. A stitch in time saves nine.

Ojugbana also said some of its members were sacked by some companies despite an agreement which PENGASSAN and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) signed with the Federal Government.

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) is one of the 24 registered Senior Staff Associations in Nigeria.
In a statement issued by the Shiites spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, the group said the annual event which they have peacefully marked for the past three decades in solidarity with the suffering of Palestine every last week of the Holy month of Ramadan is set to be disrupted by security agents.

"Two years ago, the event held simultaneously in more than twenty towns and cities across Nigeria, but it was only in Zaria that soldiers under the command of Lt. Col. S.O. Okuh brutally attacked the peaceful protesters, killing 34 people, including three children of our Leader Sheikh Zakzaky. With the benefit of hindsight, that was only a dress rehearsal for the Zaria genocidal attack of December 2015, in which over a thousand members of the IMN were extra-judicially killed in cold blood," the statement said.
Punch reports that the union described the move by the legislators as ungodly and disgraceful.

Speaking to newsmen, the President and Acting Secretary General of the TUC, Bala Kaigama and Simeso Amachree in a joint statement said it was surprising that the lawmakers could plan such a move without considering the present economic situation of the country.

The labour leaders The Trade Union Congress condemns and describes as unfortunate the proposed life pension for presiding officers of the National Assembly after their tenure in office, even at a time the economy has collapsed and brought about massive job losses and unprecedented poverty.

We also insist that those who violate the law no matter how highly placed should face the wrath of the law

Is it not unfortunate that while we are yet to recover from the shock caused by some lawmakers who molested some white ladies in a hotel in the US, another drama is unfolding with the latest proposal of life pension for Senate president, deputy, Speaker of House of Representative and deputy?

They also wondered why a Senator who has not raised any bill in a legislative year, should earn more than the President of the United States of America (USA).

Adding that the excessive privileges of the lawmakers is the cause of their desperation to remain in office.
Premium Times reports that eight out of the fourteen members of the board signed a resolution approving Ibrahims suspension.

The board members accused the embattled chairman of making requests for reimbursements which were false.

A statement from the board said The coordinating committee has, therefore, resolved unanimously that you be suspended as chair of the coordinating committee and executive committee of TMG pending investigations of the above allegations levelled against you.

You are required to hand over to the vice chair all TMG property in your possession with immediate effect.

The spokesperson of the group condemned the action of the board members saying We have a 16-member board and eight cannot take such a drastic action.

Their action is in complete nullity and I will urge the general public to ignore the jokers and continue to see TMG as a honourable organisation that will continue to work for a better Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim has dismissed the boards purported resolution suspending him saying only a national congress can remove him from office.

He said They are only making a mockery of themselves because the TMG is a strong institution that was properly constituted.

So these guerrilla tactics of those purporting to have dismissed me from office are in vain.
Members of the National Assembly, including the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu at a constitution review session held in Lagos state, proposed that principal officers of NASS be given the benefits.

Speaking further on Monday, June 20, 2016, Sagay said I have always said that the Senate seems to be an institution of people who are there to promote their personal interests. Saraki is a former governor. Is he not earning pension in Kwara already? The proposal is annoying, immoral and outrageous; it is the height of insensitivity. These demands show that they dont fear Nigerians.

Those pushing for the demands should have asked how the public would react before presenting the demands. I will ask the President to totally disregard the bill. The President should veto such bill if it ever gets to his desk.

Adding that Many are still questioning the immunity granted the President and the governors and then some are proposing immunity for senators. Should all Nigerians be asking for immunity then? I am so shocked that some could be dreaming of such outrageous and annoying idea, it is nonsensical.
The Senator also said that public office holders do not need to enjoy any form of immunity, adding that if it is allowed, it will be impossible to prosecute them

Sani said "I am personally opposed to life pension for legislators, governors or their deputies as well as against immunity for public office holders, but I am not opposed to immunity for the President and his vice."
DailyPost reports that the victims were accidentally shot during the clash which began when a private car of a police officer allegedly hit two students in the town.

The police were accused of abandoning the victims after the car crash. The students then embarked on a protest to the Police Station, B Division at Otapete.

During the protest, the police, with the use of tear gas and sporadic shooting, attempted to disperse the students. The victims were reportedly hit by the bullets.

This intensified the protest as students reacted by destroying residents and vandalizing cars parked in the station.

According to eyewitness reports, the students were seen burning tyres at the main gate of the school, Fasawe and white House areas, which are mainly occupied by the students.

The police were eventually able get a hold of the situation after an armored tank was brought in to clear the blocked road.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph confirmed the story while alleging that the students attacked the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Akande and that he was presently on a critical condition.

Joseph added that the students were not truthful when they blamed the police for hitting and abandoning their colleagues.

The police vehicle that hit the students was not deliberately done; it was a total lie that the driver abandoned the students, because he immediately took the victims to a hospital and they are currently receiving treatment," he said.
The now-deceased gunman, Omar Mateen, paused during his three-hour siege at the club in Orlando last Sunday to call emergency 911 dispatchers and post internet messages professing support for Islamist militant groups, authorities have said.

The rampage, the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, has triggered a week of national mourning and soul-searching over the easy accessibility of firearms and the treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union" program, Lynch said the partial transcripts of Mateen's calls from the Pulse nightclub would be released on Monday and include the "substance of his conversations."

She later told ABC's "This Week" that the transcripts would not include Mateen's pledge of allegiance to Islamic State, the militant group that has urged its followers to attack targets in Europe and the United States.

Lynch said the investigation was focused on building a complete profile of Mateen, a 29-year-old U.S. citizen born to Afghan immigrants, including what motivated him, in order to prevent another Orlando massacre.

Authorities believe Mateen was "self-radicalized" and acted without any direction from outside networks.

Lynch, who will travel to the central Florida city on Tuesday to confer with investigators and meet survivors and victims' loved ones, declined to say whether a federal grand jury was likely to charge Mateen's second wife, Noor Salman, or anyone else.

U.S. officials have said Salman knew of her husband's plans to carry out the attack.

"Because this investigation is open and ongoing, we're not commenting on anyone else's role in it right now, except to say that we are talking to everyone who knew him, and that of course includes his family, to determine what they knew, what they saw in the days and weeks leading up to this," Lynch said.

She noted that the transcripts would be redacted to avoid causing further pain to Mateen's victims and their loved ones.
Shuter, who will start no later than July 2017, replaces Sifiso Dabengwa, who resigned last November after a $5.2 billion fine in Nigeria exposed corporate governance flaws at Africa's biggest mobile phone operator.

Shares in MTN rose 3.8 percent to 150.19 rand in early trade, outpacing an 1.7 percent gain the blue-chip JSE Top-40 index.

Shuter, an accountant with experience in managing risk, inherits a company in the middle of overhauling its its corporate governance standards and in search of new revenue streams as tough competition hit profit margins in its key markets.

"MTN is confident that Rob will bring experience and new insights to the CEO role having had many years in the telecoms sector both in Africa and Europe," MTN said in a statement.

Phuthuma Nhleko, who temporarily took over as an executive chairman following Dabengwa's resignation, will revert to his role as non-executive chairman as soon as Shuter starts his new role.
According to a report by All Africa, the country's engineers have started building the country's first set of locally made choppers.

"We are complementing President Magufuli's industrialisation policy in pioneering the first locally made helicopters that will be available to ordinary residents at affordable prices," explained the man behind the ATC chopper project, Engineer Abdi Mjema.

ALSO READ: Tanzanian President sacks minister for being drunk on the job

Also speaking on the development, the Tanzanian Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Ms Maimuna Tarishi, expressed delight at the project.

"We are contacting the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) for the permission to fly the chopper for trials. The Tanzania-made helicopters will fly before 2020 -- and specifically 2018, which is two years from now," said Engineer Mjema.

Already, the prototype model, a two-seater aircraft is in its final stages of completion at the Mechanical and Engineering Department of the Arusha Technical College, which runs a fully-fledged factory producing various forms of machinery, including a prototype motor vehicle and a number of industrial engines.
Finding Peace of Mind: Discover These Five Places in Europe to Unwind
The Scott County Treasurer's Office raised $1.1 million Monday in its annual auction of delinquent property taxes.

The sale typically draws investors who can earn 2 percent monthly interest for as long as the taxes aren't paid by the property owner.

This year's auction was notable because of the increased number of bidders  and the lower amount of delinquent taxes being offered up for auction.

At a half-day session at the Scott County Administrative Center, $1.3 million in delinquent property taxes were offered for sale on nearly 1,300 parcels.

That's significantly down from the $2.7 million put up for sale last year and the $2.3 million that was up for auction in 2014.

It's not clear why there was a decline in delinquent taxes and special assessments this year  whether it's an improving economy that has allowed people to keep up on their payments or if there is some other reason. Scott County Treasurer Bill Fennelly said that, in addition to having less delinquent taxes, there were fewer parcels with large amounts of taxes due.

"You'd think people are hurting, but they must be paying their property taxes," he said.

Nancy Coon, managing partner at Oak Helm Partners, said last week that Scott County isn't alone in seeing fewer delinquent taxes being auctioned.

"Weve noticed that across the state," she said. "The economy is better. Thats my guess."

Brian DeLaney, chief executive officer at Consumer Credit of the Quad-Cities, speculated last week that people may be reacting to an economy that has improved but still is struggling by taking out less credit card debt. That, he said, may leave them with more money to pay their taxes.

"They're not getting into a lot of debt," he said. "They're protecting what they have."

The taxes up for sale Monday were due last September and in March. State law allows investors to pay the taxes and then earn monthly interest for as long as the taxes aren't paid by the property owner. The property owner doesn't relinquish their land or homes, but that could happen if they don't pay their taxes within a certain amount of time. The earliest an investor could petition the treasurer's office to take ownership of the properties in this instance would be March 20, 2018, the treasurer's office said.

In the Scott County Board room Monday morning, about 20 people sat at rows of tables looking at a screen, which in rapid-fire succession, displayed properties and the amount of delinquent taxes. A computer would randomly select a bidder, who then had to decide quickly whether they wanted to buy the taxes.

The properties with larger amounts of delinquent taxes appeared to be the most popular.

"I just go by the amount," said Chris Johnson, a bidder from Davenport.

Some bidders were contracted by large investment firms.

A young man in the back of the room said he was being paid $500 to bid on properties for a client.

Iowa law has allowed tax sale auctions for years. Local officials say they are beneficial for cities and schools, who need the tax proceeds to keep up with their expenses. Last year, the county sold $2.5 million of the nearly $2.8 million in taxes that were up for sale. This year, the $1.1 million in taxes sold was about 86 percent of the amount offered for sale.
LeCLAIRE  Mark J. Huber, 62, of LeClaire, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 17, 2016, surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous battle with COPD. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, 2016, at the Runge Mortuary, Davenport. A celebration of Marks life will be 2 p.m. Thursday, June 23, 2016, at the Runge Mortuary. Burial will follow in Davenport Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the family. Online condolences and tributes may be expressed at www.rungemortuary.com.

Mark was born March 23, 1954, in Davenport, the son of Jerry and Marilyn (Johnson) Huber. He was united in marriage to Sherlyn Dove on March 23, 1974, in Dillon, South Carolina. Mark was very dedicated to his family. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, boating and riding his Harley. He loved vacationing with his family in Myrtle Beach, and he always looked forward to spending time with his grandchildren.

Mark had a great sense of humor and was known for his teasing and his playful spirit. He had a nickname for just about everyone he knew  Mark never met a stranger.

Those cherishing Marks memory include his loving wife of 42 years, Sherlyn; daughter, Kristen Huber (Lewis Reed), LeClaire; granddaughters, Justice and Destiny; and siblings, Pam Huber, Davenport, Tom (Darcy) Huber, Iowa City, Iowa, and Jon Huber, Minnesota; a nephew, Jeremy; and nieces, Emily and Jennifer.

Mark was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.
CLEAR LAKE, Iowa  Shaun Cesar, 60, of Clear Lake, Iowa, passed away June 15, 2016, at home, with Laurie and Tracey by his side after battling cancer. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Memory of Shaun Cesar. Please join family and friends in celebrating the beautiful life of Shaun Cesar from 4-6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 25. The service will be at 5 p.m. The celebration will be on the Lady of the Lake dockside at the Seawall in beautiful Clear Lake, Iowa.

He was born March 19, 1956, to Ben and Sandra Cesar and enjoyed a wonderful zest for life full of incredible experiences and the love of family and friends. How can such a life be summed up in a column? It can't. But one can reflect upon how Shaun Cesar touched so many lives during his life. The people he surrounded himself with define what kind of man he was during his time on Earth.

Shaun's early life was spent in Clear Lake. His family moved to the Quad-Cities, where Shaun enjoyed exploring by the creek near his house. As a young boy during Iowa summer thunderstorms, Shaun would wake his little sister, Tracey, and tell her he would protect her from the storms. Shaun has protected Tracey his entire life. Life in the Quad-Cities also helped Shaun expand his love of music and explore the mechanical world while working at GE. Shaun had an innate talent for science and how things worked. He was curious and had a wonderful ability to problem solve, fix, create, and build anything. His artistry knew no bounds.

Shaun briefly returned to Clear Lake to work with his grandpa, Chuck Davis, at Clear Lake Bakery. With a change in environment, Shaun landed in Flagstaff, Arizona, to be with his Uncle Chuck and worked at a paper mill. Shaun continued this life as a hippie always finding work and adventure. Eventually Shaun returned to his love of music and the Quad-Cities. He played in bands, Scatter Band, Desaeray and Step Child, among others, created musical joy and lifelong friendships with Scott Ford, Mark Dekalb, Dave Craft and more. The Yankee Clipper was a favorite venue. His love of motorcycles also deepened and his '76 Shovelhead is still a prized symbol of independence. Because he rode, he developed a large group of lifelong friends, including John Stowe.

A new path in Shaun's winding life arrived with the band I.V. Pauli. Shaun was the spark to this band, but destiny had other plans for Shaun, because while playing in I.V. Pauli, he met the love of his life Laurie Cesar. They eventually married in McIntosh Woods, Clear Lake, with Shaun's Grandpa as his best man. Since that time, Shaun and Laurie spent almost every single day together building a life filled with love. Along with love, Shaun and Laurie built their cabin, created art, rode bikes, enjoyed music and formed friendships. They built two beautiful little houses out of love. The River Roost cabin, their place of peace, on the Mighty Mississippi, near Buffalo, Iowa. While at the cabin, Shaun was able to reconnect with many old friends and develop new friendships. Shaun and Lauries other home in The Hood is where Shaun became the best form of himself. He was surrounded by his community, his roots, and many friends. He brought people together, past and present, old friends and new friends, blending beautifully together. Clear Lake is the place he felt safe and could give love.

The people he loved who are still on this Earth are many, including, as he would say, his beautiful wife and best friend, Laurie; sis Tracey Connell (Bob Lucas); nephew Bryan Connell; half brother Chuck Cesar; his mother Sandra Cesar; his Outlaws Frank and Ruth Carlson; brother-in-law Eric Carlson and sister-in-law Linda Clark, dear friends, Jack and Nancy Meyer and Roger Medendorp. There are so many family and friends that it is hard to name them all, but know you are all in Shaun's heart. And those who are now loving him include Grandma Catherine and Grandpa Chuck Davis; Aunt Jill Deuel; Tracey's baby, Jeffery Jr.; Sam the cat; and those who loved Shaun and passed before him.

Arrangements are being handled by Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake, IA 50428, 641-357-2193 and ColonialChapels.com.
Evelyn Nelson wants to continue the legacy at United Neighbors Inc. that began 44 years ago by Ida Johnson in her home.

Nelson was named deputy director Monday, effective immediately, and will become executive director Jan. 1. Johnson will retire Dec. 31.

I am so excited to be joining the United Neighbors team, Nelson said. Ida's selflessness and dedication to the community really inspired me. I am excited to be here. I like to engage in the community as much as possible.

Nelson comes from Solon, Ohio, and has a background in law, grant-writing, fundraising, community-organizing, among other experiences. She has master of public administration degree from the University of Akron.

After almost 44 years at United Neighbors, Johnson is ready to slow down a bit.

Johnson created the Davenport nonprofit agency in 1973.

I'm tired, Johnson said with a laugh. I think it's time. I want to spend more time with my family and do some traveling. I have a daughter in Florida and family in Hawaii and California, some of which I have not seen in many years. So, I will do some traveling, too.

Johnson said she hopes the new director can take the agency to a new level, but she will not drop out of sight in terms of community service.

I still will be involved in the community but on a volunteer basis, she said.

The organization has expanded beyond youth outreach to include assistance for housing, food, utilities and transportation. Its annual operating budget is $1.4 million, and money comes from grants from the city, state and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as well as through fundraising efforts.

Board president Shirley McLemore praised Johnson for her many years of service. She also thanked the personnel committee and search team for its work in bringing candidates to them.

(Nelson) came to us and told us how she will continue what Ida has done the last 44 years with the same passion as Ida, she said.

It is a great day, Johnson said during the news conference. We have been in business a long time, and I have taken it as far as I can. It is a staple in this community. This program has served thousands and thousands of families over the years. When we met (Nelson), I thought she was the person."

United Neighbors, located at 808 N. Harrison St., provides many services, including after-school programs for children, summer park youth programs, housing education for first-time homeowners, crisis resource advocacy and graffiti removal.

Nelson said that in addition to maintaining existing programs, she hopes to improve branding and marketing of the agency so people will know better about all the services it provides. She hopes to expand the after-school program and tutoring, create internships for youth, expand housing services and have it become more connected to social media.

The after-school program, I want to make it a premier partner of the Quad-Cities, she said.
The FBI had the Orlando gunman under watch -- twice -- and, after much consideration, decided to stop following him. Was this a mistake? Obviously, tragically so.

But in this massive lost opportunity to prevent a slaughter dwells a positive sign for our ability to stop future attacks. Law enforcement at least had its eye on him. Scarier would have been that it had never heard of Omar Mateen.

Protests against government surveillance programs tend to grow in the quiet stretches between terrorist outrages. Absence of immediate fear is when the critics can best downplay the stakes -- that even one miscreant can kill large numbers, and with weapons far deadlier than assault rifles.

It's when privacy advocates have the most success portraying surveillance programs as highly personal invasions of ordinary folks' privacy. Actually, there's nothing very personal in the National Security Agency's collection of our communications metadata. Basically, computers rummage through zillions of emails and such in search of patterns to flag. The humans following leads have zero interest in your complaints about Obamacare, as some foes of the surveillance programs have ludicrously claimed.

In the Orlando case, co-workers had alerted the authorities to Mateen's radical rantings. The FBI put him on a terrorist watchlist, monitoring him for months. He was taken off when investigators concluded he was just mouthing off. The FBI had reason to probe him again, but again he was turned loose.

That was a failure, but a failure highlighting a weakness in the surveillance laws. The FBI dropped the case because the standard for showing probable cause -- evidence of a crime or intent to commit one -- is too high for needle-in-haystack terrorism investigations.

(Note that a local sheriff was able to use Mateen's ravings as reason to have him removed from security guard duty at the St. Lucie County Courthouse in Fort Pierce, Florida.)

The bureau clearly erred in expecting a real terrorist to be informed. That Mateen had expressed sympathy for both al-Qaida and the Islamic State -- groups in conflict with each other -- was apparently seen as a sign that the man wasn't seriously engaged in their politics.

Perhaps not, but he seriously approved of their bloody activities. That should have spelled danger, especially when added to his history of mental instability and spousal abuse and possible sexual confusion (an apparently new consideration).

But the FBI has been dealing with thousands of cases of potential homegrown terrorists not unlike Mateen. It must also consider that expressing support for a terrorist organization is protected by the First Amendment right to free speech.

We need a new standard for potential terrorists inspired by online jihadist propaganda. Meanwhile, the public should back law enforcement's stance on encryption. Recall the FBI's battle to force Apple to unlock the iPhone of Syed Rizwan Farook, the San Bernardino gunman.

Privacy advocates have harshly rapped President Obama for defending the government surveillance programs he himself once criticized. There's a simple difference between them and him (and then and now): Obama receives the daily threat reports, and they don't.

Government surveillance programs do need rules. Court review is important. But it simply isn't true that public safety can be maintained in the age of lone-wolf terrorism without considerable surveillance. And the risks advocates ask us to take on in the name of privacy should be addressed honestly.

The parade of major terrorist attacks -- Paris, San Bernardino, Brussels and now Orlando -- has sped up. The more horror the less the public cares about reining in surveillance activities. Defenders of privacy should recognize this reality and more carefully choose their battles. The quiet times seem no more.
DES MOINES  Gov. Terry Branstad and state public safety officials are encouraging Iowans to speak up if they see something they think could be the sign of an impending terrorist or violent attack.

In the wake of a recent shooting in Orlando, Florida, that claimed 49 victims lives and with the Fourth of July approaching, Branstad on Monday highlighted the federal See Something, Say Something campaign that encourages people to notify law enforcement of suspicious activity.

The states emphasis on the program will include radio public service announcements that will be broadcast statewide later this month, the governors office said.

The recent mass shooting in Orlando and other acts of violence that have occurred in the U.S. and abroad have left Iowans feeling nervous and uneasy, Branstad said Monday at his weekly news conference. It is understandable that we sometimes feel fearful of this violence and want to prevent it from happening in our state. 

That doesnt mean that we stop living our normal lives or live in fear. But we need to pay more attention. As individuals we can make a difference.

Branstad said he receives a monthly intelligence briefing that includes potential threats and there are no specific threats being monitored by the state, including for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.

Roxann Ryan, commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, also encouraged Iowans to report suspicious activity. As examples, she listed a person who talks in detail about shooting others, unattended vehicles in areas where they are seldom seen or a person seeking excessive information about a public place, among others.

This is behavior that is observable and should be reported to law enforcement, Ryan said. We may actually be able to prevent these tragic events from occurring in the first place.

Ryan also said people should report suspicious activity based on behavior, not just a persons physical characteristics.

Branstad added that certain religious people, such as Muslims, should not be viewed suspiciously simply because of their religion.

But he also said the nations biggest threat is from Islamic terrorism, saying the terrorist group the Islamic State has encouraged its members and sympathizers to strike in areas with large public gatherings.

Just because somebody goes to a particular mosque or whatever, thats not an issue, Branstad said. The question is, are they making statements about, We want to kill all these people that dont share our viewpoint, which the person that committed this crime in Orlando did, which the people in San Bernardino (California) did, which the people in Boston did.

You can go on and on and on connecting the dots, and you can see theres a common thread here. They are radicalized, and they are committed to committing some terrible act against Americans.

The "See Something, Say Something" campaign was first developed by the New York City Transportation Authority, and in 2010, it was adopted by the federal government.
CEDAR RAPIDS  In the wee hours of Sunday morning, Iowa Democrats approved a platform plank calling for the legalization of all drugs.

Monday, Democratic legislative leaders made clear they dont embrace that position and will either run away from it or ignore the policy position adopted by party activists.

Ive spent a good deal of my life as substance abuse counselor, and Im not going to support legalization of methamphetamine and illegal opioids, House Minority Leader Mark Smith, D-Marshalltown, said. I just cant go that direction.

In calling for the legalization of all drugs, delegates rejected a minority report from the Platform Committee that called for replacing legalizing with decriminalizing all drugs, Platform Committee Chairman Mike Robinson of Linn County said. Another minority report called for deleting the plank altogether.

Interestingly enough, they went with legalizing all drugs, Robinson said.

That prompted a flurry of social media posts along the lines of who put Keith Richards on the platform committee? and when smack is outlawed only outlaws will shoot smack.

Longtime activist and blogger John Deeth of Iowa City tweeted that he claimed copyright on Hillary Is Our Heroin just so Jeff Kaufmann will have to pay me royalties when he prints it on bumper stickers.

Its fair game, Kaufmann, the chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, said Monday. They will be looking at every semicolon in our platform, so turnabout is fair play.

Kaufmann acknowledged that conventions can sometimes mirror the typical Iowans, sometimes they dont. Still he was taken aback by Democrats adopting a plank most Iowans will consider way outside the mainstream.

Weve had some agitation for that sort of thing, but it was rejected pretty strongly, he said.

Its not unusual that there are elements to the platform that some Democrats agree with and some Democrats disagree with, Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs, said, and legalizing drugs is not a position exclusive to Democrats.

Do some Democrats want to do that? Yes. Do some Libertarians want to do that? Did Ron Paul want to do that? Gronstal asked.

He thinks Iowa voters will understand there are very few people running for office who would advocate for that.

That legislation will not move through the Iowa Legislature, Gronstal said.

Legalizing all drugs is clearly not in the mainstream  but I think there are a lot more times the Republicans face that challenge, he said.

The Democratic convention also approved a plank calling for a $15-an-hour minimum wage rather than the committees proposal to eliminate the minimum wage in favor of a living wage.

There was little disagreement among Democrats about raising the minimum wage. The question was how much and how fast. The fight for $15 plank replaced one that simply called for replacing the minimum wage with a living wage.
SIOUX FALLS  Courtney Werner knew high school wouldn't be the end of her education.

First came cosmetology school. Then paramedic training. Today, the 2009 Britton graduate is pursuing a nursing degree at Southeast Tech in Sioux Falls.

"Everyone always told me I should be a nurse," Werner said.

South Dakota education officials project a growing need for workers like Werner in the state. The Board of Regents last year adopted an ambitious goal of preparing students for a future in which nearly two out of three jobs in the state require more than a high school degree.

It's a bold projection based on a single academic study from Georgetown University, and it's likely to influence education policy decisions in the state from kindergarten to college.

An Argus Leader Media analysis of federal employment data, though, shows demand for degrees in South Dakota is growing only slightly. Most of the jobs projected to be added in the state between now and early next decade won't require more than a high school diploma.

There's no question higher education unlocks opportunities for higher pay and career advancement, but overstating the necessity of a college degree could add to the state's student loan debt and brain drain.

Attention-grabbing goal

The South Dakota Board of Regents, the governing body for the state's six public universities, set a goal in October of seeing 65 percent of the state's under 35 workforce achieve some type of post-secondary education by 2025.

As of 2014, about 37 percent of working-age South Dakotans had an associate's degree or higher, according to the American Community Survey.

Mike Rush, the Board of Regent's executive director, described the goal at the time as something that should grab the attention of state leaders.

The post-secondary target has since found support from the South Dakota Workforce Development Council and, informally, within the state's Department of Education. Regents presented the goal last month to the Board of Education, which sets K-12 policy in the state.

The goal is based on a 2013 report by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce that offers a state-by-state forecast of job growth and educational requirements through 2020.

In South Dakota, job growth in health care, social sciences and other STEM-related fields are projected to increase demand for degrees. The state's need for educated workers won't be limited to college graduates, though. The report's definition of post-secondary education includes industry-specific licenses and certificates.

"A lot of people when they think of college, they only want to focus on bachelor's degrees," said Nicole Smith, chief economist for the Georgetown institute and co-author of the study. "We don't. We talk about middle-skill jobs and middle-skill competencies that are highly valued in the economy."

Middle vs. low-skill jobs

Even with a broader definition, the Georgetown study and Regents goal appear to contrast with official data and projections from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

An Argus Leader Media analysis of BLS data shows that two-thirds of jobs in the state do not typically require more than a high school degree. The share of jobs in occupations that typically require more education has risen only slightly over the last five years and is projected to remain flat into the next decade.

By 2022, the number of registered nurses employed in South Dakota is projected to grow by almost 1,500 from to a decade earlier. That's good news for nursing students like Werner. In raw numbers, it's more projected growth than any other occupation in the state.

After registered nurses, none of the occupations projected by BLS to be in the top 10 for growth in South Dakota typically require a college degree. They include food preparation, retail sales, customer service, carpentry and child care.

The projections aren't perfect, but they're widely used by colleges and the Board of Regents to plan and petition for new degree programs.

The Georgetown authors acknowledge the gap between their conclusion and the government projections. They argue that the federal labor data, while "useful and highly regarded," also "systematically under-predicts the demand for post-secondary education and training."

Student debt and brain drain

What should state education officials  or students facing post-secondary decisions  make of the various projections?

"The risk at having an under-educated population is much higher than an over-educated population," Rush said. "The sophistication of the workforce is only going to get more and more complicated, and education will never be not valuable."

But it's also not free.

Nationally, borrowers hold about $1.3 trillion in student loan debt. Bryce Love doesn't want to add to that figure.

Love, 17, knew as a high school freshman he wanted to work under his uncle, who owns two Sioux Falls restaurants. He graduated from Washington High School on June 5. He was back in the restaurant the day after, learning from his uncle and working to start his own business someday.

"I figured I can learn for free instead of paying huge payments and student loans," he said.

Despite the pressure he felt from some to go to college, his plan is to learn on the job, not in the classroom.

"I know a lot of successful people ... my uncle's one of them. He never went to college."

Beside student loan debt, another risk is brain drain. if the state produces more college grads than its employers can hire, South Dakota could lose people to out-of-state jobs, said Craig Johnson, executive director of the University Center in Sioux Falls.

Err on the side of over-educating

Mike Allgrunn, associate professor of economics at the University of South Dakota, said it's risky to place too much emphasis on any one prediction. In this case, the Regents' goal doesn't even have a clear starting point. While the U.S. Census tracks degree holders by region, there isn't a measure of other training included in the goal.

"We don't even know there's a gap," Allgrunn said.

Marcia Hultman, South Dakota's secretary of labor and regulation, recognizes that most workers in the state don't need more than a diploma.

Still, the state needs to expand its labor pool for certain higher-paid occupations with growing workforce needs. South Dakota will need more civil engineers, nurses, electricians, physicians, welders, truck drivers, and teachers in the next five to 10 years.

For Mark Lee, director of public affairs at the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, the risk of planning around an estimate that's too low is more dangerous than overestimating the state's education needs.

"Financial capital will follow human capital every time," Lee said, adding that the state's businesses will rise to accommodate a highly educated workforce.

"The reality is, if we educate or we set up our systems to educate to today's needs, we will forever be behind."
A Rapid City man was arrested on domestic violence and other charges after a standoff with law enforcement Sunday, according to a press release.

Just before 4 p.m. on Sunday, Rapid City Police received a call from a woman in the 2600 block of Cameron Drive who said "a male suspect was threatening her with a shotgun." The woman was soon able to get out of the residence, and police set up a perimeter around it.

Attempts at contacting the suspect, identified as 45-year-old William Smith, continued for "an extensive period of time" before he came out of the residence, the release said. Smith was arrested on several charges, including aggravated assault, domestic violence, false imprisonment and violation of a no contact order.
LEAD | If you happen to have some extra xenon lying around  say about 1.8 million liters  officials at the Sanford Underground Research Facility would like to talk to you.

Thats the amount of the colorless, odorless element that makes up only 0.0000087 percent of the Earths atmosphere that scientists say will be needed for the deep underground laboratorys $50 million to $60 million LUX-ZEPLIN experiment, so the Sanford Lab is going to start stockpiling it soon.

At its annual meeting Thursday, the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority unanimously approved a loan from the University of South Dakota Foundation and authorization for its executive director to procure up to 500,000 liters of xenon.

The SDSTA truly appreciates the USD Foundations investment in the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment, said Mike Headley, the Science Authoritys executive director. Their investment along with similar investments by the South Dakota State University Foundation and the South Dakota Community Foundation, along with tremendous support from Gov. Daugaard, will help keep the U.S. in a leadership role in the global search for dark matter.

Two years ago, xenon was priced at nearly $25 per liter, meaning the necessary gaseous element of atomic number 54, obtained through the distillation of liquid air, would have set the Science Authority back a cool $45 million. Fortunately, the price has dropped significantly since then.

We will pay $5.50 per liter and this is not a discount; its the current market price, said Sanford Lab spokeswoman Constance Walter. Basically, the increased use of LED lights in vehicles, etc., has decreased the demand for xenon lighting. So, the price has dropped dramatically from a couple of years ago when they were in excess of $20 per liter.

Headley said late Thursday that the Science Authority had secured the first 500,000 liters at a cost of $6.25 per liter and the remaining 1.3 million liters would cost $5.50 per liter. Consequently, even with the price reduction, the xenon will likely cost the Science Authority nearly $10.3 million.

Initially, the Science Authority will purchase 1.5 million liters, or about 80 percent of the 1.8 million liters the experiment will require, Walters said. The xenon will be delivered over the next two-plus years and when it is purchased, it will first go to the U.S. Department of Energys SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park, Calif., where it will be purified. Then it will be shipped to the Sanford Lab to be placed in the detector sometime in 2018, she explained.

Discovered in 1898 by Sir William Ramsay, a Scottish chemist, and Morris M. Travers, an English chemist, shortly after their discovery of the elements krypton and neon, xenon was used in the Sanford Labs original Large Underground Xenon experiment known as LUX.

In October 2013, more than 100 science enthusiasts and government officials gathered at the Sanford Lab to receive initial findings of the LUX, while hundreds more from around the world joined via webcam. In that complex three-month trial involving particle physics, scientists sought to detect mysterious dark matter particles previously observed only through their gravitational effects on galaxies.

Nearly a mile deep in the bedrock of the Black Hills and shielded from vast amounts of cosmic radiation that constantly bombard the earths atmosphere, the LUX was comprised of a phone booth-sized titanium tank filled with nearly a third of a metric-ton (370 kilograms) of liquid xenon cooled to minus 150 degrees, scientists explained. The detector was further buffered from background radiation by its immersion in a 72,000-gallon tank of ultra-pure water.

Now, scientists around the globe are awaiting the start-up of the much larger 60-ton particle detector known as the LUX-ZEPLIN or LZ, which will be approximately 30 times larger (10 metric tons or 10,000 kilograms of xenon) and 100 times more sensitive than the LUX.

And, its going to take quite a bit of xenon to make that happen.
I recently joined Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman John Barrasso and the other members of the South Dakota congressional delegation in a field hearing in Rapid City to discuss the inadequate health care being provided to our tribal members.

The purpose of the hearing was to shed additional light on the ongoing crisis at Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities within the Great Plains Area and to work with tribal leaders toward permanent solutions.

Nearly every week, if not every day, our newspaper headlines tell the tale of new problems with IHS facilities. It is important to understand the impact that IHS is having on real people on our tribal land. The Great Plains Area IHS, which covers South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa, has the second-highest mortality rate among all IHS regions.

We also have the highest diabetes death rate, almost double the average among all IHS regions. Tragically, our life expectancy rate is also the lowest of all IHS regions, at 68.1 years. The U.S. average life expectancy is nearly a decade longer at 77.7 years. It is clear the IHS is failing our tribal members, who are suffering and in some cases even dying due to this inadequate and disgraceful care.

As we all know, Rosebud has essentially had its emergency department shut down for approximately 200 days and counting, meaning tribal members are having to drive over 50 miles to receive emergency care. The same is true for their obstetrics and surgical departments. These circumstances are going to continue to occur until we demand a thorough review and reform of IHS. More specifically, we need an external audit.

I had the opportunity to meet with the Great Plains Tribal Chairmans Association in April. We discussed an in-depth profile analysis on IHS that my office put together in an attempt to seek answers and gain a better understanding.

We talked about the administrative imbalance; of the 15,000 employees at IHS, only 750 are doctors and nearly 4,000 are administrative medical billers. We also found that IHS employees and administrators cant explain or dont understand their own budget.

After reviewing the data with me, the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen voted on a resolution supporting an audit of IHS. The IHS needs major reform but more taxpayer money wont solve the dysfunction, because what IHS lacks is an efficient system and accountability.

I appreciate Health and Human Services Acting Deputy Secretary Mary Wakefields support for an independent audit and look forward to working with her to get the answers necessary to turn the agency around. From my standpoint, investing more taxpayer money in a dysfunctional system will only compound the problem.

This is a serious issue that requires tangible solutions, not temporary fixes. There are significant administrative, financial and quality-of-care issues that must be addressed.

The hearing helped us better understand where the problems lie so IHS, working in close collaboration with the tribes, can take steps forward to fix these problems. IHS will never be able to deliver the timely, quality care the federal government has a trust responsibility to deliver, without broad reforms.
Convict in Defense Ministry embezzlement case granted parole

MOSCOW, June 20 (RAPSI)  A court in the Vladimir Region on Monday granted parole for Irina Yegorova, one of the convicted defendants in the Oboronservis embezzlement case, her attorney Yuri Gervis told RAPSI.

Yegorova has filed a petition for parole after she had served over half of her sentence. The colony administration gave an upbeat assessment of the convict but opposed her early release, the lawyer said. However, prosecutors have supported Yegorovas motion.

The courts ruling will not be enforced today; its necessary to wait until a ten-day period prescribed for appeal expires, Gervis added.

The Oboronservis criminal case was opened in 2012 after a major embezzlement scheme inside the Defense Ministry was revealed. This resulted in the dismissal of Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.

Under the scheme, the accomplices, led by former Defense Ministry official Yevgeniya Vasilyeva, allegedly sold facilities owned by the Defense Ministry at undervalued prices through Oboronservis companies and several other private companies. The embezzled funds amounted to 3 billion rubles ($45.8 mln). The deals were closed as part of a major Defense Ministry reform program that was to close unnecessary facilities and functions.

Vasilyeva was sentenced on May 8 to five years in prison for fraud, money laundering and abuse of office. Four of her accomplices were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 36 to 51 months. In late August 2015, a court in the Vladimir Region released Vasilyeva on parole.
Moscow court approves amicable agreement between Apple and two Russian firms

MOSCOW, June 20 (RAPSI)  The Moscow Commercial Court has approved an amicable agreement in a trademark dispute between Apple Inc. and two Moscow firms dealing in computers and household appliances, according to court records.

The case therefore has been closed.

Apple Inc. earlier filed a lawsuit against Computer, Ivanhoe and Pavel Sukhachev who is listed as the head executive of the Computer company, according to the government registration records. The plaintiff demanded recovery of 9 million rubles (about $138,000) from the defendants.

Under the amicable settlement, Sukhachev and two companies have admitted the fact of using plaintiffs trademarks including Apple, Iphone, Mac, on the Internet without consent of Apple Inc. The defendants have promised not to use the plaintiffs brands without permission and to delete all links to the companys trademarks. If the defendants violate the agreement within two years after its approval, they would face fines (8 million rubles ($122,250) for Ivanhoe, 500,000 rubles for Computer and 500,000 rubles (about $7,700) for Sukhachev).

In July and August, the court will consider three similar claims lodged by Apple Inc. against other Moscow companies.

Apple Inc. was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. Apple's headquarters complex is located in Cupertino, California. The company is engaged in production of personal and tablet computers, audio players, software, smartphones and smartwatch.
MOSCOW, June 20 (RAPSI, Diana Gutsul)  The Russias Investigative Committee had completed the investigation into the murder of Boris Nemtsov, an opposition politician, Vladimir Markin, the Committee official spokesperson told RAPSI on Monday.

Investigation into the case of Zaur Dadayev, Anzor Gubashev, Shadid Gubashev, Temerlan Eskerkhanov, and Khamzat Bakhayev standing charged with a contract murder in the composition of an organized gang, and of illegal acquisition, transportation and possession of firearms, has been completed,  Markin said.

According to investigators, in late September 2014, Ruslan Mukhudinov, a former officer in the Chechen Interior Ministry, and some unnamed persons offered the five accused to murder Nemtsov for 15 million rubles ($230,000).

The Investigative Committee spokesperson said that the accused had thoroughly prepared to commit this crime: they studied Nemtsovs schedule, spied upon him, prepared suitable weapons, vehicles and communication equipment. On the day of the murder, 28 February, after following Nemtsov from his home, at about 11.31 p.m. Dadayev, having received a signal from Anzor Gubashev and Shavanov that the situation was suitable for the murder, shot Nemtsov at least six times as he walked across a bridge near the Kremlin. Nemtsov, 55, died at the scene succumbing to injuries.

The criminal case of the five accused, according to Markin, has been waiting for the approval of indictment. The investigation into Mukhudinov, the alleged mastermind behind this high-profile murder, who has been on the international wanted list since 2015 and other unidentified persons, is still going on, the Committee spokesman noted.
Investigators conduct searches in Moscows Department of Labor over Karelia lake tragedy

Context Five suspects arrested in Russia after tragic death of children at Karelian lake

MOSCOW, June 20 (RAPSI, Diana Gutsul)  Searches are conducted on Monday in the Department of Labor and Social Security of Moscow in connection with the death of children at the lake Syamozero in Russia's Republic of Karelia, the Investigative Committees official spokesman Vladimir Markin told RAPSI.

Investigators intend to check activity of officials who supervised the childrens camp Park-Hotel Syamozero where the tragedy happened, Markin said.

A case earlier was opened under the Criminal Codes Article Fulfillment of Works or Rendering of Services Which Do Not Meet Safety Standards. Five suspects including the Park-Hotel executive Elena Reshetova, her deputy Vadim Vinogradov, instructors Lyudmila Vasilyeva and Regina Ivanova and Valeriy Krupodershikov were arrested.

According to investigators, on June 18 children and instructors of the childrens camp Park-Hotel Syamozero were sailing on a raft and two canoes over the lake Syamozero in Karelia. 47 children were accompanied by 4 adults (Vinogradov, Krupodershchikov, Ivanova and Vasilyeva) who did not take gathering storm into account. Storm made sailing extremely dangerous: a raft with children and two adults washed up near one of the islands while both canoes were capsized, leaving passengers in the open waters.

Only some managed to swim across to the shore. According to the latest data of the Investigative Committee, 14 children drowned with 13 bodies found. Searches for the last one are in progress. Other children survived and were evacuated.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Acting Ambassador to Pakistan Tritha Raj Aryal has been sent to Kabul of Afghanistan to take initiatives to bring bodies of 12 suicide attack victims home.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa said informing to the Parliament about the decision of the Nepal government on Monday.

Twelve Nepali lost their lives on Monday at the fatal attack on Nepali migrant workers, who were deployed as security guards at the Kabul-based Canadian Embassy.
Nepali Congress (NC) senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel

Biratnagar, Nepal: Nepali Congress (NC) senior leader Ram Chandra Poudel has blamed the incumbent CPN UML chairman KP Sharma Oli led government for failing to implement the constitution by bringing to the disgruntle parties into consensus.

The Prime Minister should have given an outlet to the country by bringing all the disgruntle parties to consensus, but the government has failed not only to accomplish the tasks but also to make a conducive environment for consensus, Poudel said.

Speaking at a function here on Monday Poudel said the prospect of a national unity government to implement the constitution is hampering due to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress senior leader Poudel said.
Afghan security forces inspect the damage of a minibus that was hit in a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday, June 20, 2016. Photo: Reuters

KABUL: As many as 14 Nepalis were reportedly killed on Monday when a Taliban suicide bomber targeted their minibus in the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Interior Minister spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said that eight others were wounded in the attack, and that police were working to identify the nationalities of the victims.

The suicide bomber targeted a minibus of security guards of a foreign company, right now we are working to identify the nationalities of the victims, said Sediqqi.

Though Sediqqi did not reveal the victims as Nepalis, a police official told The Associated Press that the 14 dead were Nepali citizens working as security guards for the private company that was attacked.

The official, who did not want to give his name as he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the wounded included four Afghan civilians.

Dozens of police and many ambulances rushed to the scene to take the victims to hospitals of the capital.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack.

Taliban insurgents have increased their attacks on both government employees and Afghan security forces across the country.
Nepali security guard victims receive treatment at a hospital in Kabul. Photo: AP

Kathmandu, Nepal: The identities of 12 Nepali nationals, who had lost their lives in the deadly suicide bomb attack in Kabul on Monday, have been made public by the Nepal government.

Though it was reported earlier that 14 Nepalese were killed in the suicide attack, the the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the death of 12 Nepalese.

The Nepali security guard who were hired by a private British company to provide security to the Canadian Embassy in the Afghan capital, were killed by a suicide bomber on Monday morning while they were traveling in a mini bus.

According to reports, the suicide bomber had also blown him off targeting a the mini bus, which was ferrying the Nepali security guards.

According to the Ministry, the deceased and injured Nepali are as following

Deceased

Chandra Bahadur Rana Magar, Kathmandu

Amrit Bahadur Thapa, Lamjung

Dambar Bahadur Tamang, Nuwakot

Krishna Bahadur Dhungana, Chitwan

Suka Bahadur Gurung, Syangja

Jiwan Singh Thapa, Rupandehi

Madhusudan Koirala, Nuwakot

Bidur Bahadur Subedi Chhetri, Kathmandu

Lil Bahadur Gurung, Nuwakot

Nabin Bahadur Chhetri, Parbat

Akur Tamang, Sunsari

Hari Bahadur Baduwal Chhetri, Kathmandu

Injured

Prem Bahadur Chhetri, Morang

Chet Prasad Sherchan, Myagdi

Kumar Bahadur Gurung, Gorkha

Man Bahadur Thapa, Chitwan

Krishna Kumar Deuja, Chitwan

Amrit Rokaya Chhetri, Surkhet

Chyanwa Tamang, Nuwakot
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Researchers will examine glacial erratics to better understand the last glaciation

Scientists will study about 60 glacial erratics in north-western Poland to better understand the course of the last ice age in our country. They will collect samples from all the rocks and - for the first time in history - examine them using cosmogenic isotopes dating.

The project is being carried out by the team led by Dr. Karol Tylmann from the Department of Marine Geology, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography of the University of Gdansk.

The study will allow, among others, to determine the time frame of the last glaciation in Poland. "We want to find out when the ice sheet began to melt and leave the territory of our country. We also want to determine when completely left Poland" - Dr. Tylmann told PAP.

He noted out that in theory, a lot is already known on the subject. "We know that the ice sheet reached its maximum range probably 20,000 years ago, and it left Poland about 14,000 years ago. However, these data are not accurate: some sources claim that the ice sheet reached the maximum range about 21 or even 24 thousand years ago, and left our country about 12,000 years ago. The purpose of our studies is to clarify these data" - explained Dr Tylmann.

He added that because of other studies previously conducted by scientists from several countries today we already have accurate data on the course of the last glaciation in Germany, Denmark and Belarus, Lithuania and Russia. "Several years ago, the relevant research was performed in the north-eastern Poland. There are, however, no such data for north-western Poland. Isotopic tests of glacial erratics in this part of the country have not been carried out yet" - Dr. Tylmann told PAP.

"The data we collect will fill the gap in the studies on the last ice age in this part of Europe, and thus will allow to create a complete chronology of the last ice sheet in this large area" - said Tylmann.

Researchers will test the samples taken from about 60 glacial erratics located north of the line, on which are Leszno, Konin and Sierpc. Scientists carefully selected the erratics. They selected only the largest ones - with a circumference of more than five meters (some specimens have even more than 20 meters circumference), located on the flat surfaces of moraine hills, which were created at the head of the glacier.

According to researchers in the case of such rocks it can be said with very high probability that - after melting from the glacier thousands of years ago - they remained in the same place over millennia. The choice of such erratics - unmoved from the time of glacier crossing - was necessary because the tests, which will be performed on the samples, are based on one of the so-called cosmogenic isotopes, which are associated with the interaction of cosmic rays.

Reliable results in such studies may be provided only by samples from the surface of rocks which have not been moved. Last year, scientists collected samples of 30 erratics. Before any of these operations, even though it involves only a small interference in the rock, scientists had to obtain the consent of local governments of the areas in which the objects were located. This was necessary because most of the large glacial erratics have the status of natural monuments. Samples taken last year have already been sent to a specialized laboratory, where they are being studied.

In the autumn of this year, the team plans to collect samples from the remaining 30 erratics and send them for testing. "In the laboratory test the isotopic content will be determined in order to determine, among others, for how long the rock has been on the ground, so when it was melted from the glacier" - Dr. Tylmann told PAP. The authors assume that the results of their work will not only allow to determine the details of the course of the last glaciation in today\'s Poland, but also, to some extent, help predict the behaviour of the ice sheets that still exist on Earth. "The more we know about how the ancient ice sheets melted, the more we can tell about how the current ones will behave" - said Tylmann.

The project "The recession of the last Scandinavian ice sheet in Poland in the light of glacial erratics dating using cosmogenic isotope 10Be (DatErr)" began in July 2015 and will be completed in mid-2018.

The project team members also include Dr. Piotr Wozniak from the Department of Oceanography and Geography of the University of Gdansk and Dr. Vincent Rinterknecht from the Laboratoire de Geographie Physique.

For their project, Dr. Tylmann\'s team acquired a grant in the amount of nearly 265 thousand zlotys in the competition Sonata of the National Science Centre.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

aks/ dym/ mrt/

tr. RL
This week the worlds longest continually running film festival opened its doors for a monumental 70th occasion. Edinburgh International Film Festival may be old, but its content is as fresh as ever. Running June 15-26, the diverse lineup consists of new local and international work alongside a finely curated set of retrospective screenings. Spread across 20 different Strands Edinburgh brings a wealth of cinema to Scotlands historic capital.



Offering more than just films, the EIFF offers visitors the chance to join in the conversation with an array of special guests. Actors Dominique Pinon and Kim Cattrall, legendary British producer Jeremy Thomas (Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence, The Last Emperor, Naked Lunch, the list goes on) and director Kevin Smith will all be present talking about works past and present.



While strands on European Perspectives, World Perspectives, and Focus on Finland bring fresh cinema from across the globe, Best of British focuses on the finest new cinema the UK has to offer. Its a good time for young British acting talent as evidenced across the category; Juno Temple teams up with veteran Timothy Spall in David Blairs heart wrenching drama Away, while Cara Delevingne and Will Poulter are Kids in Love in the debut feature from Chris Foggin. Coming-of-Age drama Moon Dogs and deadpan comedy Pikadero represent up-and-coming Scottish talent.



In the retrospective category, Look Again: A Celebration of the Cinema of Cinema Du Look explores the lasting impact of the 80s/90s French cinema movement. Luc Bessons La Femme Nikita, The Big Blue and Subway, Leos Caraxs The Night Is Young, and The Lovers on the Bridge, and Jean-Jacques Beineixs Betty Blue and Diva all feature.



The Festivals Directors Showcase throws up such intriguing fare as Taika Waititis What We Do In The Shadows follow-up Hunt for the Wilderpeople, there's a zombie apocalypse in Korean animator Yeon Sang-hos latest, Seoul Station and comedy from Kevin Smiths Yoga Hosers.



Things take a turn for the dark in the evenings as the Night Moves screenings open. Theres sex and comedy from Japan in rare 1973 anime classic Belladonna of Sadness and Sion Sonos The Virgin Psychics respectively. The UK and USA cover horror with The Rezort, The Love Witch and anthology Holidays, fantasy in Chinese blockbuster Mojin: The Lost Legend and Oscar-nominated Nils Gaup brings Norways medieval history to life in The Last King.



Oh, and what could be more fitting for this fine Scottish festival than a screening of the magnificent 4K restoration of Highlander? There can be only one EIFF.



For more info and full listings check out the EIFF website here.
At first glance, six-year-old Coy Mathis seems to be just like other little girls her age. Shes madly in love with Justin Bieber, and has his posters plastered over the walls in her room. Her favorite color is pink, and the overwhelming color scheme of her bedroom attests to that fact.

However, when one gets closer to her and the rest of her family  her parents and four siblings, two of whom are her twins  a very different picture emerges. Coy was born biologically male, but since she was 18 months old, she has identified as a girl. After initially thinking it was a phase, her parents, Kathryn and Jeremy, soon understood that this was much more serious, and from then on affirmed their childs gender identity, and as loving parents, did all they could to help her be comfortable and fully live the way she was.

What happens after this, and how Coy and her family became the subject of controversy and a media firestorm is the subject of Eric Juholas documentary Growing Up Coy, which will have its world premiere at this years Human Rights Watch Film Festival. Theres no fancy stylistic trickery or artsy approach to be found here. Juhola tells the story straight, and puts us in intimate proximity to the family as they face an often hostile and misunderstanding society, but are also helped along the way by forceful advocates and other supporters. This turns out to be an effective approach, as the Mathis story gains its power by simply letting it unfold before our eyes mostly unadorned. Also in its favor is the inherent burning topicality of its subject, as a number of state lawmakers attempt to pass harsh and discriminatory laws targeting transgender people.

The controversy that Coy gets caught up in revolves, as it does in an overwhelming number of cases, around restroom use. As Coy identifies as a girl, quite naturally she wishes to use the girls restroom. Up until the middle of her first year of grade school, Coys transition  she began kindergarten officially registered as a boy  was supported by her teachers and classmates, and Coy was able to use the girls restroom without incident.

However, during the first grade, the school administration abruptly reversed its affirmation of Coys gender identity, and decreed that she must either use the boys bathroom or the one in the nurses office. Not wanting their daughter to be ostracized, stigmatized, or worse, Coys parents began to fight the schools decision. The school refused to respect Kathryn and Jeremys wishes in regards to Coy, and in documents refused to acknowledge Coys identity, referring to Coy as a boy, he, and him. Making things worse was the community they lived in, the very conservative town of Fountain, Colorado, where Coy and her parents couldnt count on much support and understanding from their neighbors.

Eventually Kathryn and Jeremy were forced to pull Coy out of school and begin home schooling her along with her siblings. However, they continued to pursue legal action against the school, recognizing that if they could win their case, this would set a precedent that would benefit other parents and children in their situation. To this end, they retained New York civil rights attorney Michael Silverman, of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, to help them strategize their next move.

The thematic meat of the documentary occurs after this, when Coys parents and their lawyer make the difficult decision of making their case public, with the idea that inviting media attention, though risky, would on the whole benefit their case.

After Silverman and Coys family hold a press conference on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol, they all find themselves in the midst of a media firestorm, with the case immediately making national, and even international news. Though this exposure to the media shines a necessary light on the struggles of transgender people of any age to live lives according to their identities, the negative aspects of this attention soon rears their ugly heads. TV pundits engage in pseudo-psychology and rank scare-mongering, for example raising the spectre of girls seeing a penis while using the bathroom. Internet comments cast aspersions on Coys parents, accusing them of using their child to gain fame, and the negativity even includes death threats. How Coys parents must deal with the mass medias tendency to sensationalize, dumb down, and exploit all they touch occasion some of the most interesting and revealing scenes of the film.

Although this was a very high-profile case, and some readers will be aware of how the case turned out, for those not familiar, I wont give away the conclusion, since much of the interest of this film lies in watching everything unfold, and how all the media scrutiny and the attendant loss of privacy affects Coy, her parents, and her siblings.



Growing Up Coy is recommended viewing for anyone interested in these issues, and especially those interested in witnessing first hand the often harsh and non-comprehending atmosphere that transgender people must face on a daily basis, even those as young as Coy. Its also a necessary reminder that despite the rapid gains LGBT communities have made in acceptance and understanding in the larger society, theres still a very long way to go, as the recent mass-killing tragedy in Orlando has sadly confirmed.

Growing Up Coy screens on June 16, 7pm at IFC Center and June 17, 6:30pm at the Film Society of Lincoln Center. Panel discussions with director Eric Juhola, attorney Michael Silverman, and other guests will follow both screenings. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Human Rights Watch Film Festivals website.
Getting to interview filmmakers and actors can sometimes be quite a thrill, sometimes a surprising dud. The fluctuation in quality is sometimes disheartening, when people youd like to think of in glowing terms give pat answers honed by years of simply not giving a shit.

On rare occasions, however, something kind of magical happens, where you meet a spirit thats almost electrifying. Anton Yelchin was such a person, a person who was clearly passionate and committed to his craft. More than that, he exuded a love of cinema, namechecking art films and blockbusters alike, showcasing a genuine adoration for his chosen profession. What was clear was that this was a guy that worked his ass off to be where he was and took nothing for granted, taking in every moment like it was his last.

We spoke on a sun-spackled beach front in Cannes as part of a very small roundtable conversation with two other journalists, writers who became my friend after that day as we recognized our shared interest from this very talk. It was that kind of chat, that kind of feeling sitting on the shores of the Mediteranean, talking about a project (Jeremy Saulniers masterful Green Room) that we all seemed to love the same way. I had originally planned on saving this interview for that films eventual home release but on today of all days, the day when something as trivial as a rolling car could cut a mans life so short, I felt it important to remember this spark of a talent.

I only knew Anton via our discussion in a professional situation, but I still felt I knew what made him tick, what drove his passions, and how happy he was to be doing what he loved. From Star Trek to Alpha Dog to his upcoming work with another passionate cinephile, Guillermo Del Toro, we can only mourn the man and miss what was to come, all while cherishing the work and memories he left us with.

So here, in a slighty edited form, is that conversation. Its a bit rambling, a bit all over the place (as most of my chats are), but it should hopefully give a sense of just what a terrific guy Anton was and what a pleasure it felt like to be in his presence. We began with a discussion of his love of music, especially apt given that he was meant to be headed to a rehearsal with some friends.

Were you personally connected to the whole hardcore punk scene?

Oh hell, yeah. I had a punk band for awhile. I kept trying to get us to play, kind of 80s type hardcore. Because the hardcore that the Ain't Rights plays is more like late 80s, 90s, like, it's like New York thrash where it switches up and shit, but I like the 30 second void. I like void a lot and shit like that, so yeah, I was really in to that.

Could you talk about working with Jeremy Saulnier on set? What was your response was to BLUE RUIN, and was that what drew you to the project?

Yeah, I really liked and continue to like Blue Ruin a lot. The idea of genre is that it's sort of an organizing force. Traditionally, it's the construct by which you can analyze, and not only cinema. You can place various things into it. In noir, which is so sort of anti-meaning, the plot really moves, you know? What I like about Jeremy's films that it's like genre collapsing in on itself. Let me take this back - there are certain films like Maltese Falcon, there is no movement to the plot really. It just moves because it has to, but things are just happening as opposed to being pointed in some fashion to say, oh well, in the end there will be some sort of payoff. You'll get the reveal, the guy will die, or it's completely arbitrary and absurd. [Similarly], you spend all of Blue Ruin wondering what the grand answer is to why this is happening.

In any other genre film, or films from the 40s or 50s - other than like Kiss Me Deadly or something. The more I go through my favourite noirs I'm finding a lot of examples to counteract what I'm saying! [Take] some wonderful ones like Anthony Manns Raw Deal - it's very simple. Guy gets out of jail, guy falls in love with one girl, other girl assists him, they defeat the bad guy. If it was Jeremy's film, itd be guy gets out of jail, you're not really sure why he's in jail, he doesn't get with either of the chicks, the bad guy has no real reason to be against him, you can get robbed.

It's just compeltely absurd.

And she gets eaten by a dog.

Yeah. Thats where the melancholy comes from - There is no explanation, which is what genres usually offer. This happened because he stole something, this happened because he slept with this guy's wife, this happened because he's a psychopath. In [Blue Ruin or Green Room] there is no answer - It happened because it's absurd. There's no reason. Why do these kids get murdered, pointlessly, by these Nazis? Because. Because the Nazis had no better idea. They didn't really have to. They could have let them go and nothing would have happened. So, there's that melancholy that runs through the fact that when dealing with the unknown we just cannot have answers.

Did Jeremy come to you with a script?

Yeah, I read the script and skyped with him, I was working on a film at the time. A ways down the line it came to me and I went to Portland, read some stuff for him, it evolved kind of traditionally.

Did you find it a challenge to bring your character Pats arc to life on screen?

I like to map things out. I feel like most actors map stuff out - I don't know, that's a weird statement, I don't know what the fuck most actors do! But I like to map stuff out. Pat, you know, is a very Jeremy like character. Based on Blue Ruin, he wants to know that there's some logic or some reasoning behind these actions so that he can actually reason his way through a situation that is becoming exceedingly absurd. So [playing Pat] was really mapping how his reason is trying to counteract and make sense of the impending absurdity that he senses, but he's just not the kind of person [who can] say about a situation, oh, I can't figure this out. I mean, he literally goes to the very end, loses all of his friends, shows up to these murderers, to the residence, and thinks he's going to sabotage. I mean, I think it's genuine.

It played as a joke last night [when Green Room played Cannes], and it does play funny. But Pat genuinely thought he was going to sabotage the crime scene when it's obvious there's no way out of this other than violence. There's no way out. Either they're going to get shot, or they're going to shoot them.

In Pat's mind violence is sort of the unknown, it's this chaotic realm. He can figure his way out of this. So it was building that step by step - as a reasonable guy, how scared is he here? Because suddenly, there are these points where he's realizing, oh fuck, I may not be able to figure this out, then he's realizing, no I've gotta figure this out, then he's realizing ok, my objective is to protect my one remaining friend. It's subtle, but there are shifts.

I feel like you have to look for the arc, even if that's not what the filmmaker will use in the end, for your own mind, to be able to differentiate every moment and understand that you have to build something, so that's that.

And Jeremy's there to keep you straight.

Yeah. I sent Jeremy some e-mails and he was, I talked to him about stuff, and I feel like he trusted us a lot with things and on the day that things were off, he'd just tell us.

I know you said you were in a punk band, but when you're in a film, you don't really need to be able to play an instrument.

No, you don't really need to play an instrument if you're in a punk band as I'm sure you know. I'm not very good at guitar, but I can play fast, sloppy songs and have a great time. And I really like bass now. I kind of want to play bass in a band instead of playing guitar.

Would you have the time for it?

Yeah, I mean, I had this band for a while, we never took it super seriously, but I would love to go to Japan and just play Japan. Like do a tour, to have a 9 song, 10 song, just a demo. I don't like clean sounds anyway. Just record a demo in my garage and then go to Japan with it.

Why Japan?

Just because they have amazing music there. I love Japanese punk. I was really in to Jelly Roll Rockheads, which is a crazy. Their songs are like 17 seconds, you know? And Total Fury is another like Japanese hardcore band, or Guitar Wolf and Boredoms, and they have beautiful psychedelic music, like Ghost - I just love their music. There's an avant garde guitar player that would just sort of howl and moan and play these really dissonant things on guitar that I listen to a lot. I feel like there's definitely a sense of things that I like in Japan that I'm really in to so I want to go there. Plus it would be fun to tour around Japan, why not?

Music's obviously really important to you, is that one of the things that you think the film gets most right? And I have to ask, what's your desert island disk or desert island band?

Someone asked me earlier, so I can tell you what my desert island punk bands are for sure. Misfits and Badbrains would be my desert island punk bands. Desert island band, I don't know, it would be like, I don't know.

It would not be Steely Dan?

No, it would not be Steely Dan. Insane Clown possibly. Could you imagine It's like a bad dream - You wind up on a desert island and it's just Insane Clown.

Jeremy has his own interest in the hardcore scene - is that one of the things that you two bonded on on set?

Yeah, it's something that I just responded to when I read the script. To be honest, the thing that I most felt in talking with Jeremy was that he said the film is sort of him saying goodbye to a certain part of his life, a certain part of his youth. This idea of saying goodbye to something and having it come in this form, where a guy is losing his bandmates, his family, his best friends, is really heartbreaking to me. I could feel that melancholy, and that sadness when Jeremy talked about it. Plus, yeah, hardcore music.

Do you connect with being a poor artist?

Well, I'm better off than [Green Room band] the Ain't Rights. I've been working since I was a little kid. Maybe if the Ain't Rights started when they were 9, they would be, I don't know. The thing is, I never toured around with my band. While we were in L.A. We went to Santa Barbara, it wasn't really a tour, just loaded in to a truck and then drove our shit up there. So that was something that I'm purely imagining. It's rooted in my idea about what it would be to pile in to a van and go on tour.

Having acted for that long, how do you pick your roles?

Sometimes I probably should be more careful. But if I really like a character, I'll go do that film. It might not be the brightest way to choose a project, because the movie might suck, but the character might be great. I feel like if there's a great character, you can take away, even if necessarily you have doubts, maybe about the movie as a whole, the adventure of studying something interesting is pretty exciting.

So you are looking for these films that are totally different, as opposed to signing up for a franchise

The only franchise I'm a part of is Star Trek and those have come I guess 4 years apart or something. So in the four year interim it's pretty much like it always is for me, just auditioning and reading scripts and stuff. I'm sure for the guys in Avengers or Marvel, where they crank them out and they seem to be doing a lot of those, it makes sense that they might want to [escape]. But for me, it's not really relatable in that sense.

I have to ask the nerdy question: Did you and Patrick Stewart ever talk about the shared connection of working on STAR TREK?

We didn't really. I met him one time - he's such a gracious man I don't know if he remembered or didn't remember  but we met somewhere at some party and some people were hey Star Trek guys, you should talk! It was incredibly awkward. But not on set, no, we didn't.

Might be awkward bringing it up as a question.

No, it's not awkward, but it's a funny thing. What do you say to each other? Hey, I like your uniform!

You have the one pivotal scene with him, of course, but for most of it youre physically divided. Could you talk about working with such a giant of the stage and screen?

There's something kind of fascinating about acting with someone who's behind a door, because you're supposed to be studying their body, their energy, and you have to feel what they're feeling through their voice. Stewart obviously has such a tremendous ability to convey everything through that voice.

Also, my side of the movie, or our side of the door is so different from his. I remember just having meltdowns and him saying it's all right gentlemen. That voice sounded so terrifying! It was the worst thing I could hear in a way, from the most kind, lovely, gracious human being. But on set, the energy is very heavy.

He was actually there for those scenes? Because he could have easily been done with a script reader

Oh yeah, we were doing them for each other. You're absolutely right, someone else, less gracious and less kind would piece that on me. But no, we were doing them together.

His voice is in part honed by his stage work. Is that something youd like to consider doing?

I think I would love to at some point challenge myself and do that. I don't know enough about theatre unfortunately. Even if I read a play, I envision it as a film. I just really love films. I'd be a fool to slight theatre in any way, it's just simply that I've grown up not going to theatre or going to the theatre but going to see films and watching films at home.

There isn't much of a theatre scene in L.A. My parents love theatre, the were in St. Petersburg in the 70s and there was a thriving theatre scene. In L.A., not so much, you have to be really committed to seek it out.

What are the films that you would watch? What are the films that continue to excite you about cinema?

When I was little, my folks said if you're going to do this [acting thing], you'd better know your shit. They took me through film school 101. 70s American New Wave films, Scorsese, Midnight Cowboy, I watched Scorsese, Kubrick, films like Scarecrow, Peckinpah films, Fellini and Antonioni, Truffaut, Goddard, DeSica, all when I was a little kid.

Were they in the film business?

No, they're figure skaters. They just loved movies.

It's always exhilirating to hear an actor who actually knows cinema history

Yeah, people don't really give a shit. It's funny, my parents built this wonderful sort of background for me and then my tastes went all over the place, stuff I don't think they're even in to, and so I've had to revisit things that I saw when I was younger that I loved. I watched [Fellinis 1983 film] And The Ship Sails On for the first time since I was 12 or 13 or something and I loved it. Going back, there's so many films I saw when I was a little kid that I've got to see again.

Did you watch anything in prep for this? And when was the last time you saw Straw Dogs?

I haven't seen Straw Dogs in a long time - I saw it for the first time when I was like 12 or 13.

Not a happy time to see STRAW DOGS

My favourite movie was Taxi Driver. I saw that when I was 13, yeah. I also watched [Just Jaeckin 1974 soft-core porn] Emmanuelle. I fucking loved that movie. That movie I think has influenced all of the festishes, sexual fetishes I have. When I think about, why am I in to this, I'm like because of Emmanuelle.

Im just thinking that GREEN ROOM film owed a lot to STRAW DOGS.

I think it's got sort of a Peckinpah hardness, kind of materialism. I mean, maybe we should have put a gang-bang in it. I'll talk to Jeremy if we could maybe throw that in there.

When you read a script, are you a guy who then re-watches films for inspiration, or are you simply in the frame?

No, I definitely do. I watch different things, like, for this though, I watched [Penelope Spheeris 1983 film] Suburbia, and I watched the punk rock documentary made by her, The Decline of Western Civilization. I watched that great road movie, where they go on that shitty tour with, that ill-fated tour where they had the bus, they got on this bus - I'm sorry guys, I got two and a half hours of sleep, no the road movie, these idealist hardcore kids, they got on a bus and drove across the country and the bus kept fucking breaking down, and they lost everyone, and people would peace out. You know the band I'm talking about, I'm blanking, very prominent, anyway, he's on the tour and they're all fucked up, it's a really, it's a great film. [Hes talking about Another State of Mind, the Adam Small and Peter Stuart documentary about Social Distortion and Youth Brigade].

So I watched that, and then I watched Deer Hunter, actually, as its about people trapped and trying to figure out how the fuck. Pat's like the DeNiro of this crew. I watched this one [Fugazin/Minor threat punk rocker] Ian MacKaye interview over and over and over again to get the cadence of how he speaks. But I'll pick random shit sometimes.

Switching gears, you looking forward to doing a Simon Pegg-written STAR TREK?

I feel like Simon's, Simon's a) very smart and b) very funny, so I'd be surprised if he doesn't bring those qualities to the script. If it's a really stupid film that lacks humor, I'd be really surprised. So I think it's a great choice, it was very smart of them.

And then Scotty will be in every scene?

Yeah, we're like, Scotty, Scotty! And in the rewrites, they'll be constantly taking lines away from people. No, Scotty!

What about Justin Lin taking over?

I think it's great. The thing is, I really trust J.J., so he wouldn't put someone on a film just arbitrarily. I feel like Justin's got great ideas about things, the little things he's told me. I met him and I really look forward to it, I think it's going to be great.

Given where J.Js headed, if you had your choice, would you have been in STAR WARS or STAR TREK?

I'd say Star Trek of course, why would I . . .

But as a kid....

I'm also not a big sci-fi guy. That's the thing. I wasn't a Star Wars guy growing up. I was a Spaceballs guy.

Regarding these big franchise, some of the people get tired of it, feeling sort of locked in. You're clearly a guy who brings a ton of passion to all your projects, yet are you still finding doing the huge things as exciting as doing the indie things?

I've done a couple of big films, but like I said, this is the only franchise and it's a really fun character. He's not the straight man, ever, so I can fuck around. I love Walter Koenig's performance, I think it's wonderful. I think he did something that is so joyous that there's a wealth of things to go through try to bring them into the new films. Som yeah, I have a blast, the character's great.

You get the same thrill out of doing something like that as you do something like GREEN ROOM?

It's different, this Green Room is a lot heavier. The actors I'm really inspired by right now are silent film actors and so just the experimentation is really put in silent films. People like Fairbanks, Conrad Wiene, this guy Rudolf Klein-Rogge. I don't know if I'm good enough, or know my shit enough to figure out how to bring that successfully to a role, but it's certainly what interests me right now, with that kind of experimentalism.

Is it frustrating that your colleagues don't give a shit about your craft or its history the way you do?

No, there are people that give a shit. There's a filmmaker named Gabe Klinger, who's also, some of you guys might know him, he's a critic as well, he made a film about James Benning and Richard Linklater, called Double Play. I just worked on his first feature, his fiction film [Porto], and Gabe is like an encyclopedia. I was lucky enough to work with Joe Dante - I feel that Joe's my guru, my film guru, he knows more about film than anyone I've ever met. It's encyclopedic. Every film, everything.

When I meet people like that I'm inspired by that. I feel like, shit, instead of lamenting that I have no one to talk to, I'm like, fuck, there's so many people to talk to! In order to talk to them, I've got to get up on my game. But then there are people like Brady Corbet [24, Melancholia] - Brady's fucking up on his stuff. I met him once in New York, I don't know if he'd remember this, but, and I had a great talk with him and I was very inspired by it. There are plenty of people that give a shit.

But on the other hand, there's a lot of people who don't give a shit.

That's true.

Is it hard to work with them?

No, because the people that I become friends with that I work with, I'm not going to go like, oh, you haven't seen this film, well, fuck you. I'm not like that. So obviously, if I become friends with them, if I become close with someone it's because I appreciate something about them but people that have nothing to offer and haven't seen good films, I just don't like.

Can you tell us a bit more about Gabe's film?

Gabe basically reached out to me through my friend [director] Michael Almereyda and said I have a short story, and he wanted to make an improvised film based on this short story. We talked about the character and we agreed it would be sort of influenced by Lon Chaney. Theres a kind of grotesque nature of Chaney's characters - they're obsessive, but at the core, they want love. They do fucked up shit because they're deeply want to be loved.

Gabe ended up writing an outline and then an 80 page script that we rewrote with Lucie Lucas, who ended up being in the film as well. We shot on 3 different film stocks - on 35mm, 16mm and on 8mm, and it basically follows two people who spend one night together from birth to death. One part of the film is one duration of time, during a certain part of their life. One is another length of time in a different set of years in their life, and then one is that one event.

I found that really interesting because what it really explores, which is the same thing as Double Play, is how cinema is creating spatial constructs within time.

That's all we have - We construct things when we carve up time. That's about how we do it on an individual basis. How we do it with each other, how that creates contexts within time and then that affects not just our perception of the moment, how a moment can last - it can be 5 hours and that stays with us for the rest of our lives, and 20 years pass by and we don't remember them. A film can be an hour and a half and deeply impactful, and 7 hours and not so impactful.

I find Gabe to be a very interesting thinker and so I feel like the film is going to be interesting.

Can you think of a contemporary film that you've seen that has excited you in the way that classics do? And have you read a script and thought this is not right and then seen the finished product and thought, oh, I missed this?

I've definitely made some poor choices when I've agreed to do things like. I've never seen a film that I thought was amazing but definitely saw actors do things where I knew that was a good part and for some reason I made the wrong choice. The films I'm really excited about now are Romanian films. Corneliu Porumboiu has a film here [Le Tresor], unfortunately I won't be here, hopefully it will get sold in the States, I'm really rooting for him, I think he's amazing. I think Cristi Puiu [Sieranevada] is amazing, I think those guys are so hard core.

You're making us all look bad, man.

No, they're dope. Those guys are hardcore and I really love their films. I really liked [Kornel Mundruczos 2014 film] White God. I know people are mixed on that movie, but I had a blast. I really liked it a lot. I saw it at the Nuart Theater L.A. and someone at the end went boo! and I was like, fuck you. I was so pissed. Don't ruin my fucking shit by booing at the Nuart! It's not a film festival, what are you doing?

What film would you boo?

I don't think I'd boo a film. But I do like watching films with the sound off sometimes. I've watched people's screens on the plane on the way over here and I saw the best film. It was like part Hobbit, part 12 Years a Slave, part I think the Julianne Moore film Still Alice, I thought this is a fucking great movie, I can sort of mix and match. So I'm just going to re-cut those movies.
Seoul Searching is a dramedy that firstly present us a peculiar real-life situation that, if you are not from Korea, probably has remained unknown.

Back in the 1980's, the Korean government developed a summer program with camps that allowed the sons and daughters of Korean immigrants to actually return to their origins and learn about the culture of the place. These camps were especially important because, as we are told, since the Korean War a huge amount of people migrated to a vast variety of countries, where they established and eventually formed a family.

Korean-American director Benson Lee uses this scenario, and a bunch of teenagers as protagonists -- who travel for the first time to Seoul from places like the U.S., Germany and Mexico -- to explore such common fun situations of youth as a girl drinking way too much alcohol during a party, while also dealing with more profound issues, particularly the relation between the teens themselves and with their parents.

This coming-of-age film has the support of Ken Jeong (of Dr. Ken, Community and The Hangover trilogy fame), who functions as executive producer. Find out why Jeong fell in love with what he now considers as his favorite Korean-American film of all time.

ScreenAnarchy: How did you became involved with this project?

Ken Jeong: I was at Sundance for another film that I helped produce and also appeared in, called Advantageous, that was written and directed by the very brilliant Asian American filmmaker Jennifer Phang. I had met Benson Lee, the writer/director of Seoul Searching, and he invited my wife and I for a private screening of his film. I saw it and I just felt in love with that film, its literally my favorite Korean American film of all time its really just one of my favorite movies of all time. So I told them, anything you need from me to support the film, to get the word out, Ill be happy to. And thats my involvement in this movie, Im really just a big fan of it.

Back in the eighties, what did you know and think about the summer camps program in Korea?

I actually went to one of these camps in the eighties, thats why I loved the film so much, because its something I related to as I had a very similar experience that same year (1986). Its something that a lot of Korean Americans have experienced.

This movie affectively takes me back to that memory, while also gives it a twist of its own with the eighties soundtrack and the performances by Justin Chon and Jessica Van that really carry the film, as well as Esteban Ahn who plays Sergio. You have these amazing comedic performances, and also great performances by all the actors involved. The film effortlessly blends comedy and drama and its something I truly related to.

Now that I know you actually went to one of these camps in Korea, is there a particular part of the story that connects with you the most?

Yeah, theres a scene with Klaus, played by Teo Yoo, in which he calls his parents in Germany and he realizes how brave his parents were making the move from Korea to Germany. I think Klaus had taken this for granted. Every Korean who grew up in another country can relate to that. I recognized that dynamic: my parents were very brave to move to America and create opportunities for themselves and the family. To me that was done in a very unique way, in the eyes of a Korean who grew up in Germany, and thought it was really inspiring and moved me to tears. The beauty of that scene is that you never see Klaus face, its a simple and beautiful shot just my favorite scene in the movie.

Parenting is a very important theme in SEOUL SEARCHING. As a father, what did you learn from the film?

Its a reminder not to take life and each other for granted, thats kind of the theme of this in general. In life youre always searching for something, youre searching for a goal, for something material or an achievement that completes you; and (the film) is a reminder to take a moment and think that at the end of the day, is really the ones that you love that complete you. To me thats a very universal theme of this movie. Its called Seoul Searching for a reason, and searching within yourself you can find the real answer of what is the key to happiness.

You mentioned already how the film is colorful, with the eighties soundtrack. Why do you think Benson Lee decided to go for this style?

Benson uses the soundtrack very effectively, right when the opening scene of the movie takes place in Korea and then you hear The Clash, it just takes you back, you are just right there, thats it, pretty much defines the movie! Its pretty amazing.

How meaningful was to see such Korean spots as the Joint Security Area in the film?

I think in general what Seoul Searching really highlighted was that when I was a kid in these camps, to me it was important going by the countryside and seeing different aspects of Korea, not just Seoul. That was the take on point for me when I went to these camps; I thought: this is who you are.

The film starts telling the audience about the Korean War and how it affected a lot of families. Can you talk about this context

I was born in America but I grew up knowing family and friends who went through the Korean War. The whole movie serves as a historical template of where we all came from.

Finally, to repeat one question that is asked to the characters in the film, what does it mean for you to be Korean?

What it means to be Korean for me is family. The themes of family recur over and over in this film, in different ways and points of view. Seoul Searching is about family, universally, and love of family.

Seoul Searching opens theatrically in New York City on June 17 and in Los Angeles on June 24. More cities should be announced soon.
In Sean Anders comedy hit Daddys Home, Will Ferrell plays Brad, a middle-aged man who is very much in love with his wife (Linda Cardellini) and with the notion of being a responsible family man. He has everything - a good job, a house, a van for the family-, however theres a small problem: he is not the biological father of his wifes two kids and, though he tries really hard, the children dont really care for him (theres a reason why he appears death or injured in every drawing the daughter makes).

Another problem is the fact that the biological dad Dusty (Mark Wahlberg) returns and becomes the uncomfortable guest of the house; aside of being a suave, handsome dude who is admired by his kids, he also knows how to be manipulative in order to make Brad feel jealous and insecure.

When we were developing the script, the central dramatic question that emerged was: if you are a stepfather trying to gain the love of your kids, what would happen is someone like Indiana Jones appeared as the biological dad?, said director Anders about the genesis of the film, while it was being shoot in New Orleans back in early 2015.

From that peculiar question, Anders began looking for the perfect actors to play both the charming and the badass dad. Will is really good at what he does and has a big background of comedies, but I actually never realized about the number of comedies in which Mark appears; even films that are not strict comedies, like Boogie Nights, have hilarious stuff. Will is a kind, friendly guy, while Mark is quite simply the coolest guy in the universe, so each one of them brought their real personalities to the film, revealed Anders.

The growing confrontation between these two characters is certainly the basis for this decent comedy. We come from different worlds, Will is a genuinely sweet guy, my old self probably would have been a dick to him. And thats the thing about the movie; on the page, Dusty could have been just a dick to him but the moment we thought about Dusty being sweet to Brad it was much more interesting. He genuinely likes Brad but he is uncomfortable that some else is assuming that role, so he starts this competition in which he is going to win his family back, said Wahlberg about his role.

Daddys Home wasnt the first movie with both Wahlberg and Ferrell as protagonists, as the buddy cop flick The Other Guys was released way back in 2010. Were a good pairing because we are opposites. But I think we both approach it the same way, whenever we improvise is in the context of the scenes; its about the attention to the character rather than trying to think about the funny line, commented Ferrell.

Talking about improvisation, I had the chance to visit the set of Daddys Home at New Orleans Aquarium of the Aeries, where the cast and crew spent several hours filming a scene in which Brad tried to teach a group of kids, including his stepsons, stuff related to the sea animals and the work opportunities in marine biology; however, the kids seemed way more interested in videogames. This was the mere scenario for adding another moment of conflict between Brad and Dusty, as the latter made a point that kids could actually do something big out of playing videogames with real commitment, pointing out that PewDiePie was making millions by commenting videogames on YouTube.

While in the final cut this scene was drastically reduced to mere seconds as part of a montage (which just worked in benefit of Ferrells character), it was a great way of realizing about the amount of improvisation that was going on in the set, as the cast and the director changed lines, added jokes (there was one involving Steve Irwin) and even visual gags (i.e. Ferrell imitating the manta rays).

We get to improvise a lot, the script is very well written so we always shoot whats on the page and then play around. Theres fearlessness when youre actually doing it, youre not worried about looking cool or ridiculous, you just let it go, trusting who you are working with, said Wahlberg.

A sequel of Daddys Home is already confirmed, and it should continue the epilogue where Dusty gets married and becomes the stepfather of a little girl, as John Cena appears as the new badass biological father. Dusty will probably try to become the exemplar dad and Wahlberg has some insight for his character: Its funny because at the beginning of the movie we are talking about Dusty not being able to be in home, and thats still kind of what I do. I work and travel a lot, but I go home every chance I get or my kids are able to come with me, and if Im not working Im at home. For me being a good dad is just being involved in every aspect of their lives, concluded Wahlberg.

Daddy's Home is now available on Blu-ray/DVD in Mexico.
John Woo, the celebrated Hong Kong director behind such action masterpieces as A Better Tomorrow, The Killer and Hard Boiled, has begun prinicpal photography on Manhunt in Osaka, Japan. The US$40 million Media Asia production is a remake of the 1976 film starring Ken Takakura, which itself was adapted from the novel by Kimi yo Funnu no Kawa o Watare by Juko Nishimura.

Woo's international cast includes mainland star Zhang Hanyu (The Taking of Tiger Mountain), Japanese actors Masaharu Fukuyama (Like Father, Like Son), Jun Kunimura and Tao Okamoto, South Korean actress Ha Ji-won (Duelist) and Mandopop star Qi Wei. The crew behind Manhunt is also an impressive mix of Chinese and Japanese talent, including producer Gordon Chan and cinematographer Takuro Ishizaka.

"Manhunt tells the story of international lawyer Du Qiu (Zhang Hanyu), who finds himself accused of murdering a female colleague following his farewell party. Detective Yamura (Masaharu Fukuyama) is summoned to chase Du, but when he manages to escape repeatedly, the hard-boiled detective starts to develop respect for the fugitive, and begins to believe in his claims of innocence. In the end, the duo joins forces in pursuit of the truth."

The production is expected to shoot until October and hit cinemas in China in the Spring of 2018.

While John Woo's recent output, most notably his two-part "Chinese Titanic" disaster flick The Crossing, has failed to capture his former glories, Manhunt sounds like rock solid material with great talent involved that taps into the themes of loyalty and betrayal that feature in all of Woo's best films. Put me down as cautiously optimistic at this stage.
Normally, I don't like to let the Blu-ray cover provide a synopsis for me, but I'll make an exception in this case:

For a group of young friends, a weekend of survival games in the wilderness turns into a genuine battle of life and death when one of their number turns up dead. Finding themselves hunted by a bloodthirsty band of maniacs intent on slaughtering them one-by-one, the self-styled "Zero Boys" must now play their war games for real. Starring Kelli Maroney (Night of the Comet, Chopping Mall) and featuring an early score from the legendary Hans Zimmer (Inception, The Dark Knight Trilogy), The Zero Boys mixes action, survival and all-out slasher movie elements in a thrilling horror yarn that falls somewhere between Friday the 13th and Deliverance.

The Zero Boys is a strange movie. Part survival horror, part hillbilly panic, and part slasher, the film covers a lot of ground in its eighty-nine minute run time. Even though I was the perfect age to be corrupted by this movie when it released in 1986, I somehow completely missed it until Arrow Video sent me the release to review. Looking back, I don't know that my ten-year-old self would have known what to do with this film, but I'm sure glad to have found it as an adult.

A curious mix of grown-up Goonies, Deliverance, and Wrong Turn, The Zero Boys ticks a lot of boxes on my list. The titular crew of weekend warriors feels a lot like overgrown pre-teens, even though they are clearly in their twenties. When they stumble onto someone else's cabin to stay for the night, things start to get bloody and the whole thing takes a decidedly violent and bloody turn.

Mastorakis was no stranger to violence, in fact not only did he make a perverse art of it with Island of Death, he also made a career out of low budget action potboilers in the '80s. But the nature and feel of the violence in The Zero Boys seems very at odds with the film's jaunty opening in a weekend warrior paintball dual. The group finds themselves at odds with a pair of backwoods torture aficionados that eerily echo real life serial murderers Charles Ng and Leonard Lake who terrorized my northern California during my youth.

Lake and Ng were serial sadists who would abduct women to torture and kill in their backwoods cabin all while a video camera rolled to capture their final moments. This was a story that terrified me as a kid, and even though I'd already begun to explore an academic interest in serial killers, this one was literally very close to where I lived, making the fear less academic and more visceral. The Zero Boys was completed fairly shortly after Lake and Ng were caught, so surely they were aware of the methods and incorporated them into the film, imbuing the whole thing with an unusual sense of dread.

That being said, this feels more like a Friday the 13th film than any other slasher series I can think of. Teenagers having fun being interrupted and stalked by bloodthirsty maniacs who just happen to be silent hillbilly sadists sounds like a party to me. It's an unusually successful cross between teenage action/adventure and horror that really worked for me.

The Disc:

Arrow Video does their typical A+ best in their Blu-ray release of The Zero Boys. We're presented with a brand new 4K (!!!) restoration of the film, approved by Mastorakis and it looks fantastic. There is also an uncompressed LPCM stereo track that sounds amazing. I have no issues with the A/V presentation of The Zero Boys, it is quality work.

As usual, Arrow Video goes above and beyond in terms of their commitment to bonus material for The Zero Boys, helped largely by a director who is enthusiastic about sharing his work. We are presented with a new commentary featuring star Kelli Maroney, moderated by Chris Alexander, which is fun as Maroney clearly has an affection for this film. In addition there is a fantastically unique Nico Mastorakis on... Nico Mastorakis featurette in which Nico plays both himself and his inquisitor to a shockingly amusing and insightful degree. Following that up is an interview with Maroney, perhaps best known for her work in films like Night of the Comet and Fast Times at Ridgemont High, who shares her affinity for the film and Mastorakis as a director. Maroney may play a supporting role in the film, but she's clearly the biggest name and she's very appreciative of the cult following of the film. Lastly is an interview with Nicole Rio, who also stars in the film, and provides more positive memories of the experience. Cap it all off with an excellent essay from James Oliver discussing the film, its place in the culture, and the insane crew (Frank Darabont, Hans Zimmer, etc) and you've got a definitive release for a little known film that deserves a bit more love. Definitely recommended.
German cult home video heroes Camera Obscura are at it again, rescuing an Italian gem from the dustbin of history. This time around it is director VIttorio Salerno's No, the Case is Happily Resolved from 1973, and it is a doozy that combines some of the best elements of the contemporary film scene in Italy at the time. As far as I can tell, this film has never had an English friendly release on home video, but this is definitely one to check out for fans of European thrillers of this era.

Fabia Santamaria is going about his own business one day on a casual fishing trip to a local lake when he inadvertantly stumbles upon the brutal murder of a prostitute. As he's walking back to his car, the perpetrator of the murder, unaware that he'd been spotted, catches Fabia's eye and the two become inextricably linked in a web of deceit and lies. It turns out that the murderer is a local college professor, a well-respected man with excellent, strong ties to the community who is not going down without a fight.

Doing what any decent man would in such a situation, Fabia takes his story to the police, only to find that the professor got their first and when they point their fingers at each other, the cops believe the professore. Suddenly Fabia's innocent fishing trip has become his final act as a free man as he spends the rest of the film trying to find any evidence to free him from the noose that's tightening around his neck with every passing day. He goes from a carefree family man, to a hunted villain, all at the whim of a murderer who, it turns out, just wanted to see if he could get away with it.

No, the Case is Happily Resolved is a criminally underseen gem of '70s Italian crime films. Before Camera Obscura's release I'd never even heard of this film, and neither had most of my Italian film fan associates. Thankfully, it has been revived from obscurity and it's a wonderful addition to the canon. More than simply a crime film, No, the Case is Happily Resolved is a story about the deeply entrenched power structure and just how easy it is for the most powerful among us to do as they plase and pass the buck along to those less fortunate, a lesson that we're still learning today.

The Disc :

Yet again, Camera Obscura have gone above and beyond with a stellar presentation of this film that you never knew you needed in your life. The new HD transfer is gorgeous, with no siginificant damage or color issues, and plenty of crisp fine detail. The audio track is also clean as a whistle and beautifully shows off some great orchestration from the legendary Riz Ortolani (Mondo Cane, Cannibal Holocaust). Overall I have no complaints about the A/V presentation on the film.

There are two significant bonus features on this disc, but one really shines as worthy of the film. We get an hour long extended interview with director VIttorio Salerno who discusses his career, his family ties in the Italian film industry, and the general anger that lead him to make this film. It's a great interview with an articulate man that is well-worth watching.

The other siginifcant extra is an audio commentary from Marcus Stiglegger and Kai Naumann. Normally I really enjoy these commentaries, which have become compulsory on Camera Obscura releases, however this one was a bit lacking. Even though the two gentlemen clearly have a good rapport, it becomes clear pretty early on that they have next to no specific knowledge about the film or the players. Sure, they are great to listen to, even though the commentary is in German it is subbed in English, but I don't think that's enough to warrant an entire commentary.

Wrap it all up with another great booklet essay from Christian Kessler and we have yet another Camera Obscura recommendation. Definitely worth checking out.

No, the Case is Happily Resolved is now available on Region B Blu-ray from Camera Obscura.
Its crazy to think that at 24 years of age, Jessica Harper made her onscreen debut in a film that would live forever in the hearts of its passionate fans.

Those who love Brian DePalmas 1974 rock opera masterpiece, The Phantom of the Paradise, love the film an awful lot, and I certainly include myself in this group. Our love is an old love. I know Im not the only fan who, although having seen the film countless times, will never cease to show up when it plays in a theater. If banished off to sea, wed take it with us onto our desert island.

There are many elements of the film that make it so special and each one contributes equally to its overall wonder. Theres DePalmas Faustian script, bursting with hilariously absurdist disdain for the record industry. Theres his colorful direction, which youthfully delights in all the cinematic trickery that would come to define his impressionistic trademark. Theres Paul Williams, who along with portraying the slick Phil Spector-meets-Satan record producer, also provides the films wickedly catchy and perfectly apropos soundtrack, lending it an infectious pulse.

Theres The Juicy Fruits, The Beach Bums, and The Undead: a one-and-the-same all-purpose rock outfit that capitalizes on happening trends. Theres Winslow - The Phantom himself - who, like Job or Candide, falls and falls again in extravagantly cruel twists of fate despite his good nature. Then theres Winslows true hearts desire, Phoenix, a pure starlet who alone recognizes Winslow as the films tragic genius. Harper plays Phoenix with wide eyes, a graceful presence, and killer steps to accompany her penetrating voice.

Lastly theres The Paradise. In reality, the majestic theater that housed DePalmas cinematic rock & roll magic back in Winter 73-74 is appropriately called The Majestic and it still proudly stands today in Dallas, Texas. Now for the truly unbelievable part: If youre a fan of Phantom of the Paradise and you live within a relatively reasonable distance of Dallas, Texas, consider yourself bewilderingly lucky, as the circus is coming to town care of The Oak Cliff Film Festival. Since Oak Cliff is already screening Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrows excellent documentary, DePalma, the programmers went full out Santa Claus by also offering the ultimate accompanying screening of Phantom of the Paradise in the actual Paradise theater!

As if this isnt exciting enough, there to grace the screening with her presence will be the one and only, Jessica Harper, discussing her memories of playing Phoenix. Harpers career, which got off to an epic start with Phantom, was an especially fascinating one, considering her appearance in many subsequent favorite cult films, like Dario Argentos Suspiria, two of Woody Allens finest films, and most curiously, playing Janet Weiss in Shock Treatment aka The Rocky Horror Picture Show II. Though many consider Rocky Horror to be the cult film, though I love it dearly, I know Im not the only one who enjoys pointing out that Phantom beat Rocky to the punch by a year. While both initially bombed at the box-office, only Winnipeg, Canada would embrace Phantom as the cult miracle it is.

All this to say, it is with great upset that I myself will not be able to attend the Oak Cliff Film Festival and shake Mrs. Harpers hand personally. Luckily, I was able to arrange the next best thing: my own Q & A for those who are simply too far from The Paradise. As for those of you who happen to live within a reasonable distance, whether youve seen the film or not, GO!!!

Buy tickets to DePalma and Phantom AT The Paradise here



ScreenAnarchy: What kind of feelings did it stir learning that you'll be returning to The Paradise?

Jessica Harper: I was just thinking about the fact that I often get asked to go to certain events and conventions and things like that, none of which I really particularly want to do. I got this communique from this particular film festival and it was about, of course, the fact that the screening is being held at The Majestic - the scene of the crime.

I have such strong feelings about this movie and also about the way the people who organized it are approaching this, which I think is just a genuine love for the films that they're screening in the festival. It's not about hustling me to sign autographs.

They just seemed to have a lovely feeling about it. Of course the idea of going back to that theater is kind of thrilling for me, because I love that movie so much. It was my first movie and I had a wonderful time doing it. I feel very strongly about it and so do the people who like it. They like it very much.

That's very true.

They contact me a lot through Facebook and so on, more than any other movie I've ever been a part of even. Like movies I've done with Woody Allen or Steve Martin or whatever. Nobody cares as much about those as they do about this movie. Not even remotely. It just makes me happy, the whole thing. It's not appreciated by, I'd say, millions of people, but those who do appreciate it are wildly appreciative of it. That makes me happy, too.

So youre on board with Oak Cliff for the same reasons youre on board with Phantompalooza, for example (the annual Winnipeg festival entirely dedicated to POTP)?

Yes, exactly. As with people like William (Finley), Gerrit (Graham), Paul (Williams). People in the movie all felt strongly about (Phantompalooza) because there was this unique bubble of fandom up there in Winnipeg, which is beyond explanation, but it's very sweet. I think there's another such bubble in ... Where is it? Somewhere in South America.

Really?

Yeah. There's a little pocket there of people too who are beside themselves about this. Also in Paris, they quite liked it. Those may be the only three places.

It should be adored by the masses! Like the ROCKY HORROR.

Yeah, I think it didn't get the attention it deserves, but I am pretty crazy about it. And Phantompalooza was nothing but fun - all the Winnipeg fans.

When did you first catch wind of the response in Winnipeg? You must have been so confused when it initially bombed, as anyone who loved the film must have been.

That was really disappointing. The Winnipeg thing, I don't think I became aware of until years later, actually. Maybe not even until this whole Phantompalooza thing came up and somebody pointed it out to me.

Going back to the beginning, can you remember the first time you heard of the project? How did you get the script?

I was appearing in an off Broadway show called "Dr. Selavy's Magic Theatre", which was a very odd musical directed by Richard Foreman - avant garde director. It got a lot of attention. It got a rave review in The New York Times, which of course meant that everybody in New York had to see it and came to see it including a variety of people who would later hire me for other work. I got a lot of work out of that show.

No kidding.

Yeah, oddly enough. Like Woody Allen's people were there. I did Love & Death with him and then he offered me a part in Annie Hall. That I couldn't do because I was too busy doing a movie called Suspiria.

Yes!

Anyway, I got a lot of exposure, including Brian DePalma. I can't remember if he actually came or if his sidekick / assistant or somebody came and suggested that I go and sing for Paul Williams. I got to show off my rock and roll chops in the show.

So yeah, I went up and met with Paul in New York and sang "Superstar", the song Karen Carpenter made famous and I believed Leon Russell had something to do with it originally. I can't quite remember. Anyway I sang for him and he liked my singing. Then they flew me out for a screen test, out to LA, which was like crazy for me. I mean, I was just 22 or three or something and I had absolutely no idea that something like this would ever... I'd seen it in the movies, like with Judy Garland and stuff, getting screen tests, but I thought it would never ...

So, I flew out to LA and I did a screen test and I knew I was up against Linda Ronstadt which, of course, made me less than optimistic. Then a few days later I got a call from Brian that I got the part and I was beside myself.

My God. So at that point were you sent the screenplay?

That's a good question. I don't remember when I was sent the screenplay

Do you remember reading it?

It was still, at that point, being called "Phantom of the Fillmore", which of course they had to change because Bill Graham got pissed off or something.

Right. Long list of people who got pissed off by copyright infringements.

Yeah. I don't remember when I saw the script. I must have seen it because when I screen tested I had to do some acting scenes as well as singing.

Do you remember meeting DePalma? What were your impressions of him?

I mean, I knew about him already. I knew about the work he was doing and so on. I already knew and thought he was kind of, you know, hip and interesting and an upcoming director. I met him and he seemed very smart. He was very charming, funny, and all the right things. I felt like I would be in good hands and that his work seemed to be kind of cool and interesting. The big performances hed get from people were good.

I liked him very much right away. I liked Paul a lot too, Paul Williams is very, Paul is very sweet, incredible gentleman. I felt like I was in a good place.

What was the vibe on set like? It was a lot of young people, right?

Yeah and there were these guys, the Juicy Fruits... We were all a gang. It was just fun. George Memmoli who rests in peace and Gerrit Graham and Bill Finley became a dear friend, also rests in peace, sadly. It was a fabulous group. That's what we were, we were a group... Just look at the movie, you can imagine it was really fun to shoot.

Do you think if I time traveled back and told you on set that PHANTOM would become what it's become, would you believe me?

Possibly. I might have believed you. I would have, I might have been indignant and said, "What do you mean? It's going to be a blockbuster. It's not going to be a cult movie, it's going to take over the world." I don't know.



Everybody has their own favorite song. I think a lot of people like "Old Souls," and not that I don't, but "Special to Me" is one of my favorite song-scenes in the film. I love the choreography of the dance. There's something just so enchanting about the whole thing. Do you remember how that came to be? The process of choreographing and all of that?

I kind of made it up.

Really?

Oh, yeah. There was that kind of configuration of the stage where the piece of stage going out into the audience, a strip of stage so I had to move. I had to get from A to B to C and back again so I had to figure out something, some kind of thing I could do that would get me where I needed to go doing some kind of dancey thing that would accommodate the necessity. The famous chicken dance.

I think I just came up with it and I just started messing around on stage and made it work. I had this fedora. I think the costume designer really wanted to kill me because I kept saying, "I think I should wear this," or "I think I should wear this." I really misbehaved with the costume designer including, I brought this fedora in. It was something I wore in real life. I went around with this little fedora at that time. I thought, This will be a great prop. I'm going to take this hat and I'm going to throw it out. I like to take credit for that scene in terms of the choreography and the hat.

Well, it's very good work.

Thank you.

I just love it. Even the moments of calm, I guess the chorus, where you're just sort of staring into the camera, it's so hypnotizing. Do you have a favorite song or a favorite scene?

I love that scene. I also love "Old Souls" too. I think it's a beautiful song.

Indeed! (Guillermo del Toro and his wife danced to it at their wedding.)

I was so lucky I got to sing these gorgeous songs, but that was called for, of course. I really liked "Old Soul" and "Special to Me."

Do you recall one scene as being really fun to shoot?

"The freak who killed Beef is up on the roof. I just remember finding that really hard to say. The freak who killed Beef is up on the roof.

That is a bit of a tongue twister.

That's something you can say three times fast.... Doing "Special to Me" could not have been more fun. Oh! You know what was fun - except it was really hair-raising? The first day of shooting we did all that stuff that was at the beginning where I come in and audition and there's this scene that's kind of hilarious where, first of all, I'm going up this staircase and Finley comes up and we meet and there's a spark.

And then there's the scene, which was also the first day of shooting on the first movie I'd ever done. (DePalma) said, "Hit your mark!" I didn't know! Who's my Marc and why do I have to hit him? I didnt know what they were saying.

There's another scene where I was like in tears all the time. When I say it was fun I would say in addition it was also completely terrifying, because I didn't know anything. I had to run into the casting room, where George Memmoli is standing wearing a velour shirt and huge turquoise trunks, like underpants.

I had to go in there and then the door closed and there's a certain amount of commotion and I come screaming, tearing out of the room again, saying, you know, indignant things because he's obviously jumping on top of every actress who goes into the so-called casting chamber. I came here to sing! I can't remember what I said, but some indignant, full of myself remark.

That was just funny because George is so funny and it was just, you know. And again, just so fun because I was getting the hang of what you were supposed to do on a movie set, which up to that point I had absolutely no idea about.
Actor Orlando Bloom will be setting up shop in China later this year with the emergence of BlissBloom Productions - created between Bloom's Viddywell Productions banner and China's own Bliss Media. For this, word from Variety broke last week that the actor and star of the upcoming Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, will star and co-produce in Smart Chase: Fire And Earth, news accompanied by the very teaser poster you see above from the festival.

Night Fare (2015) helmer Julien Seri will direct from a script by Elephant White (2011) scribe Kevin Bernhardt which tells of a washed-up private security agent who gets ambushed as he attempts to escort a pricey Chinese antique out of Shanghai. Also starring are Special ID (2013) and The Great Wall (2016) co-star Jing Tian with actors Leo Wu, Cao Kefan and up-and-comer Liu Enyou. Filming commences in August with Bliss Media financing, producing and overseeing its China release with The Odyssey (2016) helmer Jerome Salle co-producing.
I suppose if you have The Dirty Dozen in space with Star Wars Rogue One you can go in the opposite direction and take them to Hell too.

A couple days ago it was announced that Irish director Corin Hardy has been asked to direct Hell Bent, a film described as The Dirty Dozen Go To Hell.

In Hell Bent, a group of mercenaries imprisoned in a Brazilian jail are murdered and led into the depths of hell by a priest who wishes to use their skills to kill Satan before he brings hell to Earth.

Corin Hardy got on a lot of people`s radar with his evil fairy flick The Hallow. It got him a gig working on the next The Crow but that is on hold for whatever reason (Hollywood. Amirite???) so he is free to raise a little hell, or keep it subdued. Subdued with bastards. Bastards with machine guns. Count me in.
I know that the folks here at ScreenAnarchy (or is it Screen Anarchy? Space or no space?) have long been big fans of martial artist Scott Adkins. I wonder if any of them knew that there was a sequel for John Woo's calling card for Hollywood, Hard Target? And that it stars Scott Adkins.

A trailer for Hard Target 2 dropped out of nowhere the other day, like, no one knew it was coming. I just sat there staring at my screen and said, "Really?". This sequel was directed by Dutch director Roel Reine who has done a tonne of straight to video sequels of franchizes that started with a theatrical release then everything after the first film was DTV. The Marine 2. Death Race 2 and Death Race Inferno. There was a third The Scorpion King movie??? Yep, he directed it.

Disgraced and retired mixed martial artist Wes "The Jailor" Baylor (Scott Adkins) couldn't refuse the million dollar purse offered to fight in Myanmar. When he arrives to fight, he learns he's been tricked into becoming the target of a human hunt. Carrying only water and a ruby-filled money belt for the last person standing, Wes must outsmart the heavily armed group who's paid to kill him. As Wes fights for his life in the treacherous jungle terrain, the hunters become the hunted. Hard Target 2 is a must see film for action and martial arts fans featuring Adkins in incredible fight scenes.

I am like some of these SA guys and gals (at least I think so) that I was also old enough to remember seeing the original Hard Target in the cinemas. I did not get it at the time. But it grew on me. It starred JCVD (and Yancy Butler's liquid blue eyes) so of course we went, but we had no idea who this John Woo guy was and why it was such a big deal that his name was mentioned in all the adverts.

It would not be until Broken Arrow that I started looking into Woo a bit more seriously and went into his Hong Kong films. Then I would realize that he pretty much brought his bag of tricks from HK with him when he made Hard Target. It plays out like a Greatest Hits record really.

Hard Target 2 comes out on DVD and Blu-ray on September 6th.
Trollhunters features a tale of two fantastical worlds set to collide in an epic saga. Set in the fictional suburb of Arcadia, our unlikely hero, Jim (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.

Yelchins Jim is an ordinary teenage boy whose discovery of a mystical amulet sets his life on a course filled with high-stakes adventure. Grammer plays Blinky, a kind-hearted troll who befriends Jim; and Perlman provides the voice of Bular, a sinister troll who targets Jim and his friends for battle.
 A couple of SCOTUS wins for prosecution in procedural cases | Main | Intriguing review of Georgia's intriguing modern history with capital punishment 

The title of this post is the title of this revealing new empirical paper available now via SSRN and authored by Amanda Agan and Sonja Starr. Here is the abstract:

Ban-the-Box (BTB) policies restrict employers from asking about applicants criminal histories on job applications and are often presented as a means of reducing unemployment among black men, who disproportionately have criminal records. However, withholding information about criminal records could risk encouraging statistical discrimination: employers may make assumptions about criminality based on the applicants race.

To investigate this possibility as well as the effects of race and criminal records on employer callback rates, we sent approximately 15,000 fictitious online job applications to employers in New Jersey and New York City, in waves before and after each jurisdictions adoption of BTB policies. Our causal effect estimates are based on a triple-differences design, which exploits the fact that many businesses applications did not ask about records even before BTB and were thus unaffected by the law.

Our results confirm that criminal records are a major barrier to employment, but they also support the concern that BTB policies encourage statistical discrimination on the basis of race. Overall, white applicants received 23% more callbacks than similar black applicants (38% more in New Jersey; 6% more in New York City; we also find that the white advantage is much larger in whiter neighborhoods). Employers that ask about criminal records are 62% more likely to call back an applicant if he has no record (45% in New Jersey; 78% in New York City)  an effect that BTB compliance necessarily eliminates. However, we find that the race gap in callbacks grows dramatically at the BTB-affected companies after the policy goes into effect. Before BTB, white applicants to BTB-affected employers received about 7% more callbacks than similar black applicants, but BTB increases this gap to 45%.
 Some highlights from Marijuana Law, Policy & Reform . . . for Fathers' Day(?) | Main | A couple of SCOTUS wins for prosecution in procedural cases 

June 20, 2016

GVRs based on Foster generates opinions, including dissent from Justices Alito and Thomas

Last month, as reported here, the Supreme Court's reversed a conviction in Georgia capital case, Foster v. Chapman, because the Court had a "firm conviction" juror strikes in the case were "motivated in substantial part by discriminatory intent." Today, at the end of this order list, the Court now has relied on Foster to issue this order in a few cases:

The motion of petitioner for leave to proceed in forma pauperis and the petition for a writ of certiorari are granted. The judgment is vacated, and the case is remanded to the Supreme Court of Mississippi for further consideration in light of Foster v. Chatman, 578 U. S. ___ (2016).

Justice Ginsburg explains this order via a concurrence in one of the cases, while Justice Alito joined by Justice Thomas cries foul. Here is how Justice Alito starts his dissent on one of these cases:

This Court often GVRs a casethat is, grants the petition for a writ of certiorari, vacates the decision below, and remands for reconsideration by the lower courtwhen we believe that the lower court should give further thought to its decision in light of an opinion of this Court that (1) came after the decision under review and (2) changed or clarified the governing legal principles in a way that could possibly alter the decision of the lower court. In this case and two others, Williams v. Louisiana, No. 149409 and Floyd v. Alabama, No. 157553, the Court misuses the GVR vehicle. The Court GVRs these petitions in light of our decision in Foster v. Chatman, 578 U.S. ___ (2016), which held, based on all the circumstances in that case, that a state prosecutor violated Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986), by striking potential jurors based on race. Our decision in Foster postdated the decision of the Supreme Court of Mississippi in the present case, but Foster did not change or clarify the Batson rule in any way. Accordingly, there is no ground for a GVR in light of Foster.

June 20, 2016 at 09:49 AM | Permalink

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It's kinda sorta the end of the line for Aquarius Records, the independent Valencia Street shop that's been in continuous operation in various locales since at least 1970  as they say on their ca. 1990's website, they're the oldest independent record store in San Francisco, and they're "the store that's old enough to not

remember exactly how old it is." The late 60's and early 70's were, indeed, a blurry time for many. Pitchfork reports on the closure, which happens on July 4, but the store will remain a record store, reopening as a second brick-and-mortar location of Oakland's Stranded, owned by reissue label Superior Viaduct.

Aquarius owners Andee Connors and Allan Horrocks write on the site, "It's getting to be time for us to move on," saying that the Superior Viaduct team are "worthy successors" who will "carry on aQ's unique mission and legacy of 'getting the music to the people.'"

Horrocks, who's owned the shop with Connors since 2003 and who now has a two-year-old who's been occupying a lot of his time, tells KQED, "We were looking to have someone take it over, and after some searching and discussion, we knew the guys over at Stranded were interested in opening a new shop, adding, This store needed a reboot and we couldnt really do it ourselves."

The store had its beginnings next door to Harvey Milk's camera shop on Castro Street, later relocating to Noe Valley before landing in the Mission in 1996, just as Valencia was showing the first signs of gentrification.

Aquarius has long been known for eclectic tastes and in-house reviews, and annual staff picks lists, and apparently there may be a book in the works collecting their reviews. As they always close out their newsletter announcements, "Please try to buy your records from us. That way we can keep on doing what we do, and we'll always be here with our ears to the ground, and with cds full of metalcore pitbulls, death metal parrots, gamelan playing elephants, recordings of glaciers cracking, ice melting, zamboni's, life support systems, drag races, audience applause, and of course self flagellating Norwegian dwarves, moaning telephone wires, recorded exorcisms, acapella straight edge metalcore, high school battles of the bands, movie theater organ music, Christian psychedelic folk, Bhangra Black Sabbath as well as all the metal, indie rock, electronica, punk rock, reggae, dub, sixties psych, krautrock, classic rock, country and anything else your heart may desire."

Following a couple weeks dark, Stranded will open on July 29.

Related: The 13 Best Record Stores In SF & Oakland


Early reports from residents of the Graywood, a single-room-occupancy (SRO) residence hotel at 29th and Mission, suggest that Saturday's five-alarm fire that displaced 58 people may have begun somewhere inside the hotel. The official investigation began Sunday, but the Chronicle spoke to at least one Graywood resident, Joe Williams, who went to inspect a circuit breaker box on the second floor after smelling something burning, and "smoke and fire shot out of the box" when he opened it.

While it is not uncommon for SRO's around the city to have multiple building code violations at any given time, the Graywood had a list of violations in its recent history. As Mission Local reports, the only one that remained unresolved at the time of the fire was a heating system that had been installed without a permit.

Mission Local also speaks with a number of the displaced, some of whom are staying in a temporary shelter set up by the Salvation Army, and they include a man who had recently emptied his bank account and was storing a large amount of cash in his home in preparation to pay a ransom to free kidnapped family members in Mexico.

The facade is all that's left of this building after fire in SF. 58 people displaced, no one allowed back in yet. pic.twitter.com/b6mTKxsrKv  Tiffany Wilson (@TWilsonTV) June 20, 2016

Incidentally, some may recall that the Graywood was the site of a gruesome 2004 murder in which 28-year-old Jan Erickson castrated and killed his 65-year-old father with a meat cleaver while high on crack, while other residents of the hotel listened to the father's cries for help.

Multiple businesses were wholly or partially damaged in the blaze. The beloved 3300 Club suffered mostly water damage and owner Shukry Lama tells the Chronicle that they're insured, suggesting the damage is fixable. Also closed are Cole Hardware, Playa Azul restaurant, El Gran Taco Loco, La Altena, El Paisa, the cannabis dispensary Bernal Heights Collective, and the bar Coronitas.

Around the corner, The Front Porch barely escaped significant flooding from the firefight with the help of neighbors who piled sandbags around the entrance, as Mission Local reports.

Previously: 58 People Displaced By Intense Mission Street Fire
A San Francisco man was shot to death near SF State Saturday, in the city's 26th homicide of 2016.

According to the San Francisco Police Department, at 12:18 Saturday morning, police were called to the area of Lake Merced and Font Boulevards, an intersection at the edge of the San Francisco State University campus.

When officers arrived, they discovered a man suffering from at least one gunshot wound. He was transported to San Francisco General Hospital, but was dead on arrival, according to police.

When contacted by SFist, the San Francisco Medical Examiner identified the victim as Thanh Tam Nguyen, a 34-year-old SF resident.

An SFPD spokesperson confirms that Nguyen's death is the city's 26th homicide of 2016, following a fatal shooting last Tuesday outside Shotwell's bar in the Mission District.

Police say that they believe the suspect in Nguyen's slaying was a man aged 20-25, armed with a handgun, but did not have any additional details on the suspect or a motive in the crime at publication time.

As always, anyone with information on the case is urged to call SFPD's Anonymous Tip Line at 415-575-4444 or to text a tip to Tip411 with SFPD at the beginning of the message.
An undercover agent from the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control was able to sell alcohol described as stolen to staff members at the Brown Jug and also to purchase illegal drugs from other bar patrons with bartenders' assistance, and now the bar is super closed forever. The ABC confirms to Hoodline that they have indefinitely suspended the liquor license at the long-running Tenderloin booze den, where the establishment's phone number has been disconnected. Yelp users also reported the closure.

A member of the bars-that-open-at 6 a.m. club, the Brown Jug (496 Eddy at Hyde) has reportedly operated since 1941, according to Tenderloin blog Up From The Deep, although judging by the location's unique musk, you might be forgiven for assuming it was even older.

The ABC conducted its independent investigation over the course of five months. The agency's undercover agent allegedly sold the "stolen" liquor to multiple bartenders' and staff and reportedly involved the bar's owner, too. Samson Christopher Eric Baker of San Francisco, one bartender, allegedly facilitated the sale of cocaine, connecting the undercover agent with another patron. He was arrested when the ABC contacted SFPD on June 2.

Hoodline observes that talk of the Brown Jug's closure had been swirling before the ABC investigation was completed, digging up this tweet as evidence.

Time is fast running out. The Brown Jug will be closing down forever in 2 or 3 weeks, a month at most, & the future looks grim. 8^((  Me and My Shadow (@tobiemarx) May 26, 2016

The Brown Jug's liquor license was suspended on June 16 and is not eligible for reinstatement. The best owner Max McIntire can do would be to transfer the license to another business at a new location, and any bar hoping to serve booze at 496 Eddy will need to wait a year to apply for its own license.

Related: The 25 Best Dive Bars In San Francisco
When we left our story last week, one of the daring pawn shop bandits had been shot down by a police detective, while the other three had just made their getaway in a hijacked taxicab

As the driver Ulrich sped west on Wells Street, the gunman Malloy punched out the passenger-side window and peppered shots back towards Detective Mauger. Malloys simple plan had gone terribly awry. One of their men had been shot and perhaps killed, the police had spotted their car, and the bulk of their loot  everything but the hundred or so dollars they had shoved in their pockets  lay back at the scene. As Malloy ordered Ulrich to turn left onto North Thirteenth Street, their fortunes were crossed yet again. Motorcycle patrolman Herman Rehberg just happened to waiting for a light at the corner of Wells and Thirteenth. When he saw the taxi screech wildly through the intersection, he hit his siren and gave chase.

Cab driver Harry Ulrich, the unwilling wheel man in the get-away.

Rehberg quickly caught up to the cab. He pulled alongside and was about to order it to the side of the road when Malloy stuck his pistol out the window and fired twice. The shots shattered his windshield and sent him careening wildly in the snowy street. As the cab passed Clybourn Street, a patrol car alerted to the robbery on the radio joined the chase. As Rehbergs bike slid off the road, the patrol car slowed and Rehberg jumped aboard.

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The chase continued south, blasting across the Ember Lane Bridge and onto South Sixteenth Street. Malloy continued to fire back at the cops, hitting the grill of the car at least once. With the streets busy and pedestrians all along the route, the cops held fire. The taxi made a sharp left turn on West National Avenue and unleashed a volley of shots at their pursuers. On the sidewalks, people ducked for cover and fell flat to the ground. As the chase neared Greenbush Avenue (now South Fourth), the police car began to stagger. One of the bandits gunshots had pierced the radiator. The car struggled and slowly rolled to a stop on the snowy street as the hijacked taxi sped away.

The bandits finally ordered Ulrich to stop a few blocks later, at the corner of Kinnickinnic and East Bay. The three fled in the direction of the car ferry docks. Ulrich phoned police and, within minutes, cops swarmed all over the area. The abandoned cab, littered with shell casings and its windows all broken or shot out, had a large pool of on its floor, the result of Malloys badly-injured hand. Searching an area saloon, police were told that men matching Fitz and Vilatiss descriptions had just left, walking towards another nearly bar. Detectives surrounded the place and the first men inside found the two men in the back washroom, cleaning up. They offered no resistance, and quickly admitted to the crime. In a drawer of one of the bars tables, police recovered $120 in cash taken from the pawn shop register  the only money the bandits had managed to escape with.

Detective Mauger, who felled one of the bandits with his pistol.

From the saloon, the police spread out. There were only two houses in the area. After officers found nothing in the first, they moved on to the home of Fred Luedke at 153 Allen Street. Luedke told the cops that he had been shaving in an upstairs bathroom, but had heard an odd noise from his basement. Police entered the basement with guns drawn, and quickly focused on a lop-sided potato sack leaning against a wall. They shouted for Malloy to show his hands. The sack rustled and a pair of hands emerged from the opening. Malloy was placed under arrest and soon confessed.

William Knight, who limped into court and was blindsided with a 20-year sentence.

The following day, the men were hauled into court, where each plead guilty. Knight struggled into the room with a cane and was helped to his seat by a bailiff. He noted to the judge that the doctor had told him he would likely never walk normally again. Speaking to the groups motivation, Malloy only offered, We were broke I told the other fellows it would be easy money. Malloy admitted being the ringleader and that he had done nearly all of shooting, but insisted that he had not intended to injure anyone. The men expected sentences topping out at two or three years, but the judge held no sympathy for them or their rotten luck. He gave Malloy 30 years and gave Fitz, Knight, and Vilatis 20 apiece. The next day, they were taken on the train to Waupun to begin their sentences.
LOS ANGELES | A Los Angeles Superior Court spokeswoman says the temporary restraining order Amber Heard obtained against Johnny Depp will remain in effect until Aug. 15.

The matter originally was set to be heard Friday, but court spokeswoman Mary Hearn said the hearing had been postponed. She says such delays aren't unusual.

Heard was granted a temporary restraining order against her estranged husband May 27 after submitting a sworn declaration in which she alleged Depp threw her cellphone at her face and repeatedly hit her.

Heard and Depp were married in 2014. She filed for divorce last month, citing irreconcilable differences.

Attorneys for each of the actors did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursday.
Cloud-based accounting software platform provider Xero (NZE:XRO) and banking behemoth Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) just did their small business customers a huge favor.

The two recently announced (PDF) in a press release the formation of a strategic relationship built around an API (application programming interface) that connects Xeros accounting software with Wells Fargos servers to create a secure shared data feed.

In laymens terms, that means the two systems can talk to one another enabling the business owner to see, at a glance, what his financial picture looks like  something that, up to now, has only been possible with enterprise organizations.

Although this qualifies as major news on its own, it is just one part of a much larger story thats been brewing for some time: the financial Web.

The Financial Web Defined

The financial Web is a term coined by Xero CEO and founder Rod Drury to describe a tectonic shift in the way small businesses manage their financials.

Small business owners, working in the cloud, can now do their bank reconciliation using any device in real-time, bringing to a close the end of the month cycle. They can see their complete financial picture in a single snapshot at any given moment and can grant access to their accountant and financial institution so that everyone is on the same page.

Eventually, other organizations will be able to gain entrance into the system, according to Drury.

As we connect financial institutions  we believe there will be a myriad of opportunities to help grow small business including lending, insurance, factoring, currency services and much more, Drury said in a blog post introducing the concept.

He explains the full ramifications of the financial Web in this video:

How the Financial Web Works

The key to making the financial Web work is interoperability  the ability for different technology platforms to connect, interact and share data in a secure cloud-based environment.

Data sharing is driven by an API, and creates a secure, tokenized handshake between the companies servers, the announcement said.

It is not unlike how some websites allow customers to log in with their social media accounts. The API eliminates the need for Xero customers to share their Wells Fargo usernames and passwords or for the accounting platform to store them to retrieve bank account data.

You will be seamlessly sharing your accounting data with your bank and your banking data with your accounting system as easily as youre syncing bookmarks between your smartphone and browser or your location from your rental car, said a Xero blog post describing the data exchanges inner-workings.

It takes just a few steps to connect the businesss bank (in this case Wells Fargo) to the accounting software.

When Xero customers are logged into the service and wish to set up or add a Wells Fargo account, they will be directed to a Wells Fargo secure server to begin the enrollment process.

After the customer logs in, a Connect Accounts page appears where the customer can select which accounts and data he wishes to share with Xero. This feature gives customers control over the data they want to share.

After confirming the account information, the customer is then directed back to Xero. Data sharing between Wells Fargos servers and Xeros servers takes place via a unique token that identifies the customer and the customers accounts.

Access to Capital Key Component of Financial Web

In a telephone interview with Small Business Trends, Russ Fujioka, president, Xero Americas, said that the new data exchange will speed up a small businesss access to capital.

A small business gets a new contract, which stipulates that the client pays in 90 days, but the suppliers need their money in 30 days, Fujioka said, citing an example. Traditionally, when applying for a loan, the business would have to explain to the banker what it does, who it serves and the reason it needs the funds. The application process can be lengthy, putting the business at risk regarding cash flow.

Conversely, when the bank connects to Xero, it can easily see the businesss full financials and make a decision more quickly, thus speeding up access to capital by order of magnitude. It also helps transform small businesses from what banks perceive to be a risky, fragmented market with a small yield, to one that is reachable, serviceable and profitable.

Importance of Xero-Wells Fargo Relationship

Wells Fargo isnt the first financial institution with which Xero has forged a relationship. Five of the top six banks in the UK already run direct feeds, as do 50 Australian financial institutions and all of New Zealands biggest banks.

What makes Wells Fargo important is that, with more than three million small business customers, it is, by far, the largest bank in Xeros portfolio and a foundational block in building the financial Web across the U.S.

See Also: Xero Introduces a New Analytics Dashboard for Your Business

In citing Wells Fargos significance regarding the financial Web, Fujioka said, We cant enable the vision of the financial Web until we get major institutions like Wells Fargo to connect to us directly. That relationship, with their size, allows the capability of making the financial Web story a reality very quickly in the U.S.

Xero recently surpassed more than 700,000 subscribers around the world. North America is the companys fastest growing market with more than 62,000 subscribers. With Wells Fargo now on board, that number is likely to grow swiftly.

The new data exchange model will begin rolling out for new Xero customers who have Wells Fargo accounts in July. Wells Fargo customers who are currently using Xero will be moved to the new service starting in Q4 2016.
Thinking about starting your own coffee shop? Youre not alone. Coffee shops are already incredibly popular. A variety of coffee franchises to challenge industry leader Starbucks are already available, but theres no need to spend a huge amount of money on a franchise. You can launch your own independent coffee shop or cafe as well. Just take a look at the list of essential tips below.

10 Steps to Open a Coffee Shop

Secure the Right Equipment

Start by considering the kinds of products you want to offer for sale. The type of coffee you sell will determine the equipment that you need to have on hand. That list can include a cappuccino machine, drip coffee machines, press pots or French presses. Depending on your space and resources, you might even secure a variety of different items so that you can offer a larger variety of coffee beverages for sale when you open a coffee shop.

Choose a Space

Then youll need to find the right space to open a coffee shop. This can range from a full brick and mortar location to a small cart or truck. The smaller the space you have to work with, the less variety of beverages and food items you can realistically offer to customers. But if you have a full shop space, you can offer a full menu of different selections.

Find the Right Location

The location of your space can also play a major part in the success of your coffee shop. If youre opting for a brick and mortar space, choosing one thats in a downtown area or along a major thoroughfare can really increase your foot traffic. If youre going with a cart or truck, you might choose to set up at local fairs or farmers markets. Or you could even set up a coffee space within a college, hospital, shopping center or office building.

Adhere to All Local Regulations

Different states and local governments have different regulations when it comes to zoning and local health department mandates. Youll need to check in with your state and local governments to find what they require of coffee shops in the area where you want to open a coffee shop.

Research the Competition

Youll also need to take a look at the other businesses that sell coffee in the area. Dont just look at actual coffee shops, but also consider diners, carts and any other business that might compete with you. Then look at the prices and offerings to see if its an environment where youll be able to compete. That doesnt necessarily mean that your products need to be cheaper than everyone elses, but if your products are much more expensive you should at least offer something that customers cant get on every other corner when you open a coffee shop.

Hire Some Staff

Depending on the size and offerings of your business, you may need to hire some staff to help you serve customers and run the day-to-day operations. The amount of staff youll need will depend on your budget, the area where you want to set up, the amount of products you plan to serve and your hours. If youre running a small cart with just regular old coffee, you may be able to do it yourself. But if youre starting a shop with a full line of coffee products and other food items in a high traffic area, youll likely need a larger team.

Source Specialty Items

You may be able to get away with selling regular old wholesale coffee to some customers. But more and more people are becoming aware of the differences in quality among coffee suppliers. That means theyre getting picky about where their coffee comes from. So it can be beneficial to find a specialty blend or reputable roaster that more sophisticated coffee buyers will appreciate. You can even create your own signature blends to help your products really stand out from the competition.

Think About Food Items

Its not a necessity, but a lot of coffee shops find it beneficial to sell some sweets or other food items to go along with the coffee. If thats a part of your business plan, youll need to also consider the equipment that youll need to make those food items. You also may need to adhere to some additional regulations in order to serve food to customers safely.

Furnish Your Space

If you have the space, you can also set up some places for your customers to sit and relax in your coffee shop. Invest in some couches, chairs and tables to make it a comfortable environment for people. And maybe even offer free WiFi to attract connected customers.

Market Your New Business

Once you have all the essentials in place, its time to market your new coffee shop. Even if youve set up shop in a high traffic area, your business could benefit from some additional marketing activities. At the very least, you can set up a website and social media presence to make it easy for online customers to find and communicate with your business. You might also consider local ads or sponsoring local events.
If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

Want to get your business found? Small business and niche directories can be an easy way to get your business in front of as many potential customers as possible. Here are some free small business directories you can add your business to.

28 Top Free Business Listing Sites You should Be On

Google My Business

The most popular search engine is a natural place to start when it comes to small business listings. Google lets you add some basic details like your business name, location and hours so customers see that information when they Google your business.

Bing

Bing provides a similar option for updating small business data. You can also add photos and a variety of different ways consumers can contact you.

Aabaco

Run by Yahoo, this small business directory lets you add your business information and even create websites and market your business locally.

Yelp

Known mostly for online reviews, Yelp allows you to add information about your business including hours, location and even menus. Its become a popular place for consumers to find information about local businesses.

YP.com

The online hub of the Yellow Pages, YP.com lets you add your business name, location, category and several other details so that customers can find the right service providers and other businesses for their needs.

Better Business Bureau

The BBBs platform lets consumers search for businesses in a given area. They can also sort by BBB accreditation. So having that designation can help create trust among consumers.

Manta

Manta allows you to create a listing for your business so that the sites 20 million monthly customers can find you. But it also offers educational resources and even marketing tools for businesses.

Citysearch

Businesses in various industries can use this platform to add basic information to make it easy for customers to find them. Citysearch also creates local guides and best of lists to help customers make decisions.

MerchantCircle

MerchantCircle lets you add some basic information about your business, respond to business reviews, and even add photos and blog posts to your company page.

Angies List

You can set up a free profile with your basic business information on Angies List. Then people can leave reviews about your business and you can even communicate with consumers using the platform.

EZlocal

This platform lets you add your local business to its online platform by adding your basic business information and some extra info like what payment methods you accept and if you offer free WiFi. Then EZlocal also ensures that your information is added to other popular platforms like Google and Bing.

Kudzu

Kudzu specializes in listings for businesses that deal with home repair and home services. You can create a free small business listing on the site or even pay for an upgraded listing to improve your chances of getting found.

Superpages

A basic platform for people to find contact information for individuals or businesses, Superpages lets you add your basic business details and contact information so customers can easily get in touch.

Thumbtack

Thumbtack is a platform that asks customers questions about what they need from a professional. Then they can compare quotes from professionals that could meet their needs. You can sign up for a business account to receive updates from customers seeking quotes.

Facebook

The social media giant is also a popular place for people to find information about different businesses. Its not exactly a directory, but if you sign up for a Facebook business page, people can find your business and all the information you add just by searching on the platform or other search engines.

LinkedIn

Another social platform, LinkedIn lets you add all of the basic information about your business. But you can also post jobs, company updates and even full blog posts.

Foursquare

This location based social platform lets you add the basic information about your business so that customers can find you. But then you can also create offers or promotions to attract customers who use the Foursquare app.

Whitepages

Whitepages is a platform that people can use to look up phone numbers, individuals, addresses and businesses. You can use the platform to add your business name and contact details so that customers can easily get in touch with you.

Yellowbook

This is another platform that offers basic contact information for individuals and businesses. You can even use the Yellowbook platform to offer coupons or deals to customers in your area.

See Also: Top SIP Trunk Providers

USdirectory.com

Similar to the other online phone book platforms, USdirectory.com lets you add all of your basic business information. But the site also creates city guides to help customers find the best businesses in various locations.

MapQuest

If people are looking for businesses on an actual online map, they can get some of your basic business information if you update your business listing on MapQuest.

The Business Journals

Businesses in various cities around the country can add their basic information in listings to this platform, which can reach the thousands of BizJournals.com readers.

Discover Our Town

Discover Our Town is an online travel, tourism and relocation guide. You can add your business and some basic information to the platform to get found by customers who are traveling or moving to your location.

YellowBot

With a YellowBot listing, you can update your basic business information like name and location. But the site also offers a premium listing that includes business websites and total control over your profile.

CrunchBase

CrunchBase might not be what youd traditionally think of as a business directory. But the crowdsourced platform offers users the opportunity to update information about various businesses, startups and entrepreneurs.

TripAdvisor

Aimed mainly at tourists, TripAdvisor can be a good method for businesses like hotels and restaurants to connect with customers, who can also use the platform to leave reviews.

HomeAdvisor

For remodelers, plumbers and other home improvement professionals, HomeAdvisor gives you a platform for giving customers the basic information about your business. They can also leave reviews on the site.

ChamberofCommerce.com

ChamberofCommerce.com lets customers search for different types of businesses in cities around the country. By signing up for a free business listing, you can get exposure to the sites 15 million annual visitors.
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
ST. MARY'S COUNTY, Md. (June 20, 2016)Senator Steve Waugh (R, Calvert & St. Mary's Counties) and the St. Mary's Delegation are honored to jointly announce the formation of AeroMaryland, an exciting new venture of local businesses, the Navy Alliance, the Patuxent Partnership, and the County Government in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Commerce.



AeroMaryland will be an umbrella of businesses pursuing fast new contracts to deliver critical technologies to the Department of Defense. It will enable businesses and universities in St. Mary's County to quickly respond to the needs of the Naval Air Warfare CenterAircraft Division (NAWC-AD) through AIRWORKS, their rapid prototyping and integration office.



"We've got to grow the economy and diversify our industry in St. Mary's County and the State. AeroMaryland is how," Senator Waugh stated.



Delegate Deb Rey (R, St. Mary's County) said, "AeroMaryland will uncover hidden technical potential and value from research and development facilities," first at NAS Patuxent River and eventually Aberdeen Proving Grounds. They will use commercial service contracts and cooperative research agreements to optimize and leverage each other's resources.



AeroMaryland will make the State an aviation powerhouse and provide diversification for Southern Maryland. It will apply the preeminent technical capabilities from across the entire state to new areas of the civil and commercial aerospace and autonomous systems economy.



Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Mike Gill stated, "I'm all in for growing our target industries in Maryland, and aerospace is one of the sectors that is so important to the state as well as to the nation. With NAS Patuxent River and Indian Head, Southern Maryland is a center of naval aviation and I wouldn't trade those assets for anything."



"The Navy's acquisition requirements are changing and we have to change with them." stated Retired Rear Admiral Steve Eastburg, who has spearheaded the AeroMaryland effort for months.



The official backing of the State comes after months of meetings in Senator Waugh's Annapolis office and in St. Mary's County with delegates, commissioners, the Maryland Department of Commerce, local businesses, non-profits and initial customers to discuss the best path forward. The program will officially launch with the hiring of an Executive Director who will be tasked with executing business planning and market analysis.



Incoming President of the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance, Brian Norris, stated "The Alliance is ready to commit a share of the funding needed to help make this a reality. AeroMaryland is a path to further economic prosperity for Southern Maryland and the State."



Patuxent Partnership Executive Director Bonnie Green said "AeroMaryland is the route to aviation technology innovation and growth, including autonomous and manned systems, additive manufacturing, and increased foreign military sales opportunities."



AeroMaryland, once active, will attract businesses from across the country to Maryland. St. Mary's County Commissioner Tom Jarboe (R) stated, "Maryland is Open for Business, and St. Mary's is nailing up the shingle for AeroMaryland."



Delegate Matt Morgan (R-St. Mary's County) stated, "Exciting things are happening as Maryland expands the A,B,C's of a new economy. For years, Maryland's Department of Commerce focused on building Bio-tech and Cyber-tech as the State's primary industries, and AeroMaryland creates a third leg to Maryland's economy."



Governor Larry Hogan's (R) business friendly policies made AeroMaryland possible. Capping spending prevented tax increases for two years, creating a more favorable business climate.



"Jobs are the issue, and AeroMaryland will bring completely new jobs here from existing Navy customers, then from Army customers at Aberdeen, and ultimately from foreign military and commercial customers around the world. AeroMaryland is a better return for the State than anything else we've done," Senator Waugh said.
Most Catholic masses include a prayer for two or three recently departed souls.

But at a special mass Sunday for Holy Angels Catholic Community in Wilton Manors, the list of names was 49  those murdered in the LGBT nightclub Pulse in Orlando on June 12. All 49 names were read aloud in the mixed Spanish and English mass amongst the hope that their families and loved ones would find comfort and consolation.

Weve come together to mourn those lost in Orlando. We all know too well the presence of evil and the destruction of hate, said Bishop Terry Villaire. But despite the hideous acts committed, Villaire and his clergy urged their congregants to respond with love and forgiveness, as they are commanded to according to their beliefs. Forgive others as we have been forgiven.

But for congregant Kelly Graham, forgiveness is a day by day work in progress.

I think of fear. People fear what they dont understand. They only know what theyve been taught all their life about other people, Graham said. It doesnt mean were not angry. But I do have some anger . . . forgiveness will come.

Father Richard Vitale said Christians would find a way to turn the tragedy into unimaginable good. He also called on the congregation to resoundingly reject the invitations to hate the Muslim community and to arm themselves with the very same weapons that were used to kill club patrons. All they were doing was dancing. Its our job to keep dancing for them.

Vitale compared the temptation to hate now as the same temptation Jesus faced for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert. Nothing good comes out of hatred. The terrorist was not of Islam. He was of the terrorists.

Villaire ended the special mass with a call relating to Fathers Day. He talked about how he was very lucky to have parents who knew and understood that he was gay, and whom supported him.

The hope, he said, is that all parents show love and kindness to their children, no matter who they are or who they love.

If you can relate to any part of this story . . . pray for your father today.

For more photos check out our Facebook gallery here.
In a mix of solemn remembrances, countless proclamations of love always wins, confetti, bikini bottoms, military and police uniforms, showboating motorcyclists, female impersonators in sky-high heels and Jell-O shot fundraisers, the LGBT community used the Stonewall Parade and Festival on Saturday to respond to the tragedy in Orlando.

They did it in the same way they always do: by being themselves.

Were having a crazy gay time. Its love, laughter, life, Willie Montoya said. Lifes too short to be afraid.

That same defiance was on full display throughout the event.

Commissioner Justin Flippen did so from atop the pickup truck he was riding as part of the parade that made its way down Wilton Drive. I am so proud to be here today with you. In one loud voice . . . we celebrate our community. We stand united. Ahead of Flippen were 49 individuals dressed in white. Each held a sign with the name and age of one of the victims of the Orlando attack.

For many, those 49 represented the new meaning the event had  a sobering reminder that the LGBT struggle hasnt ended with the acquisition of many legal rights. Theres more of a community presence and support than Ive ever seen, and Ive been coming here 11 years, Kimber White said. Theres more of a solidarity. More of a coming together, Tom Conklin said.

Even the days entertainers paused multiple times to pay homage to Orlando.

Hold someones hand. We can be as corny as we want to be. This is our damn pride, said blues artist Kat Riggins as she sang A Change Is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke. We stand together in love. We stand together proud. We stand together tall. But most importantly, we stand. Change [gay marriage] has already come. Im so grateful to god I lived to see it.

The new meaning was also apparent to many of the straight allies who were also in attendance. Broward Sheriff Scott Israel spoke to the crowd gathered in front of the stage at Wilton Drive and Northeast 6 Avenue and called the individuals murdered in Orlando heroes. You know what Orlando did to Stonewall? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Chief Paul OConnell praised organizers and gave a rough attendance estimate of between 15,000 and 20,000. But other than the increased police presence, OConnell said Stonewall went the way it normally goes: without major incidents. We thought it went very well. The feedback that we got was that everyone felt safe because the extra police presence.

For more photos check out our Facebook gallery here.
When is a Joe not like a Joe?

The venerable New York City cafe brand opened its twelfth location late last month in Manhattan, in a neighborhood realtors have taken to calling Hudson Square. By now the cafe formula for our longtime friends & partners at Joe is no secret: pair contemporary roasting & cafe design with an earned New Yorky identity, plunk it down in a busy neighborhood, earn a brigade of die-hard regulars, then wash, rinse, and repeat. Its a model that echoes back to Joes original location, on Waverly and Gay just off Washington Square Park, and has been adapted to fit high-volume settings in Grand Central Terminal and Columbia University. Except that this latest Joe comes in the form of a collaboration with a powerful partner: Cadillac.

Yes, Cadillacthe venerable American automobile institution, formerly of Detroit, now of Manhattan. Cadillac has transformed several floors of an office tower in lower Manhattan into its new world headquarters, a move aimed at updating the brand for 21st century relevance. The main floor of that headquarters is now primed to become a culture hub for the neighborhood, with rotating art installations, DJs, plentiful tables and meeting nooks, a spacious and airy outdoor patio that feels more DTLA than NYC, and perhaps most astonishing of all, free WiFi. All they needed was a coffee brand to make the whole thing work.

Enter Joe, whose founder Jonathan Rubinstein chatted with me over an Underwest donutwe nibbledand a cappuccino on the terrace during the cafes second day in business. The typical Joe is 400 square feet, he tells me, and this one is 12,000. With Cadillacs design budget for the project estimated at several million dollars, the space offered an incredible ready-made opportunity for the team at Joe. All we had to do is bring our equipment and staff, Rubinstein says.

But that doesnt mean the project was built to some focus group formula. We can do anything that we choose to do here, Rubinstein tells me. Theres no parameters based on Cadillac. That means for the first time Joes range of offerings will grow to include beer and wine, perfect for enjoying that spacious outdoor patio scene, or for a sip-and-gawk at the spaces interactive art exhibits (curated by Visionaire). Guests can expect beer curated by Beer Table, alongside a food program from Watty & Meg.

On the coffee side, its a La Marzocco Strada EE espresso machine serving up a proprietary blend Joe has built for Cadillac. Dubbed The Runabout, its a bit more conservative of a flavor profile than Joes standard Waverly blend, and was named in honor of the first Cadillac car. Collaborations like this are always a give and take; on my visit the space was dominated by no fewer than 3 sexy new Cadillac luxury automobiles. Never before have I been less inclined to spill my mug of filter.

But maybe thats the hook. For a proudly independent company like Joe, this style of collaboration might seem a bit differentcoffee at the fancy auto boutique!but in reality, it offers them the ability to occupy locations for which theyd otherwise be unlikely candidates. You may have noticed that were in the era of the investment and / or buyout here in specialty coffee; for an indie like Joe, collaborations with major brands offer a different sort of platform for exposure, while maintaining control over the product and services. The press bonanza around this cafes openingsee this feature in Bloombergamounts to a major PR coup for an indie like Joe.

Were now seeking these opportunities where the investment is minimal, Rubinstein says, and thats the way of the world when you havent been heavily invested in and dont have $500,000 to go find locations. Next up, the brand will open one of several coffee bars planned for the Westfield World Trade Center shopping destination. In the meantime, Joes collaboration with Cadillac is definitely something a little different for the brand.

The light airy patio, the free WiFi, the nice furniture, the expanded menu with adult beveragesit all works. Would that it were so simple, Id write this damn website from there most weekdays. Fusing brand collaborations into spaces that dont suck is actually very hard to do, and on paper Im not sure the Cadillac brand renaissance vis-a-vis the Manhattan specialty coffee scene should work. But the proof is in the cafe, which is one of my favorite new bars to open in the United States this year. For the torrid year this has been so far for openings in this country, that is saying something.

Jordan Michelman is a co-founder and editor at Sprudge Media Network. Read more Jordan Michelman on Sprudge.

Photos by Zachary Carlsen.
Downtown Los Angeles is one of the most rapidly changing areas in the city, so its no surprise that its also a major target for new coffee-shop openings. New denizens, new businesses, new housing developmentsall are contributing to a booming coffee scene. One of the latest arrivals is Lazy Brewing Company, in the Historic Core area.

I spoke to owner Jiniee Yooa DTLA residentwho says she decided to open a cafe after watching the neighborhood change over the years as more and more quality businesses and products moved in. I decided now would be a good time. We are one of several specialty coffee shops in Downtown LA, the only one in the immediate neighborhood with a space that is big enough to have group meetings or friends hang out for long periods of time.

That spacious designin fact, all of the decor and design in the roomy yet down-to-earth cafewas handled by Yoo. I used the space itself, she says. The old exposed brick, unfinished concrete floors, and rustic metal framed windows were an inspiration on the design of the interior. The end result is charming, a simple environment completely apart from the busy street outside.

Coffee drinks are all made on a La Marzocco GB5 espresso machine and ground on Mazzer grinders. Lazy Brewing also offers pour-overs via Hario products. Drinks include your standard espresso beverages, with special add-ons to your latte like house-made vanilla or dark chocolate syrup to add to your latte. Giving the food menu substance are vegan donuts from Lamke Handcrafted, homemade jam with toast, and dressed-up avocado toast topped with arugula, radish, daikon sprouts, cilantro, and a slice of lemon all on sourdough. In the future, Yoo hopes to add a few more food items but says that in the end she wants to keep things simple and focus on the coffee. The rotation of roasters spotlights many local to Southern California: Portola Coffee Roasters from Orange County was being featured upon my visit, while recent stars include Suits and Knives, Bar Nine, and newcomer Take Flight Coffee.

With such a large space, Yoo wants to present local artists and musicians on a regular basis. Itd be a perfect fit since Lazy Brewing Company sits in the area where the popular monthly Downtown LA Art Walk happens. For now, Yoo says, we are just settling into a groove.

Tatiana Ernst is a Sprudge staff writer based in Los Angeles. Read more Tatiana Ernst on Sprudge.
Paris, June 20, 2016 (SPS) - French Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Jean-Marc Ayrault has called on the Moroccan authorities to implement the provisions of the "new" constitution that provide "strong" guarantees of human rights.

In response to questions from a member of Val-de-Marne, deputy Jean Luc Laurent on the position of France on the question of Western Sahara and the situation of the Saharawi political prisoners, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs indicated that France maintains a regular dialogue of "trust" with the Moroccan authorities on human rights and public freedoms.

As for the position of France on the question of Western Sahara, the head of French diplomacy said that his country "actively supports the search for a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution under the auspices of the United Nations in accordance with international law and resolutions of the Security Council. (SPS)

062/090/TRA




In a statement, Fabrizio Caligaris Ramos said: "This agreement is a big step for our partnership. It opens doors for exchange of information not only between the countries, but also between the continents."

Sputnik (sputniknews.com) is a news agency and radio network with multimedia news hubs in dozens of countries. Sputnik broadcasts through its websites in over 30 languages, as well as on analogue and digital radio, mobile apps, and social media. Sputnik newswires, available by subscription, 24/7 in English, Arabic, Spanish and Chinese.
At the same time, British voters' possible decision to support the United Kingdom leaving the EU will not mean the end of Europe though exact consequences for the bloc and the UK are still hard to predict.

"Surely a Brexit won't lead to an end of Europe, as some EU-supporters want make us believe," Roland Rino Buchel said.

Buchel added that being a citizen of a non-EU country and a member of Swiss People's Party, which always opposed becoming a member of the European Union, he understands the considerations of Brexit supporters.

"But to make this point clear: For the time being, it is simply impossible to say what the exact consequences of a Brexit will be  be it on the UK, the EU or Switzerland Whoever pretends the opposite, is just guessing. The short term effects might be different from the long term consequences," the lawmaker stated.

On Sunday, campaigning for the referendum resumed after a three-day hiatus caused by the murder of Jo Cox, a Labour Party lawmaker and ardent pro-European, by a man who allegedly had right-wing nationalist links.

Last week, over 50,000 people have signed a petition calling for cancellation of the national referendum on UK's continued membership in the EU which the national media linked to Cox's murder.
A young woman successfully gave birth in Russia's remote northeastern taiga, in the republic of Yakutia, a process that came as rescuers and police protected the woman from bears roaming about nearby, RIA Novosti quoted Yakutia's Health Ministry as saying.

At 40 weeks pregnant, the woman helped her husband and relatives with fishing-related activity at a remote lake in the taiga. She felt labor pains on Saturday and her husband and sister tried to rush her to a hospital in a SUV, which eventually fell into a swamp and stalled.
Last year alone, the Norwegian authorities had to handle about 400 cases of girls married off against their will, sexually mutilated or forcefully kept abroad. Most of the girls were from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia, but last year even Syrians formed a significant group. However, these figures are only the tip of the iceberg, as many more young people are unable to stand up for themselves and go against their parents will, Immigration and Integration minister Sylvi Listhaug argued.

"Summer is high season for forced marriage and female genital mutilation because children are off from school and many [immigrant] families plan trips to their home countries. We also see that many young people are being left abroad because their parents are afraid that they will become "too" Norwegian," Listhaug said as quoted by Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang.
This sums up how I'm feeling, but knowing I've got incredible support makes me feel very humble. Thank u so much pic.twitter.com/gHh96MGWDI  Zara Holland (@zaraholland11) June 19, 2016

Love Island is a celebrity reality show, set on an island in Fiji. Throughout the series, viewers vote on which of the scantily clad celebrities go to the so-called "love shack" for some "alone time". In this specific instance, Zara Holland and model Alex Bowen slunk off to the love shack and things got a little bit steamy.

Just a couple of days later Zara Holland was informed that she had been stripped of her "Miss Great Britain" crown, prompting accusations of prudishness against the pageant's organizers, who said in an official statement:

"The feedback we have received from pageant insiders and members of the general public is such that we cannot promote Zara as a positive role model moving forward We wholly understand that everyone makes mistakes, but Zara, as an ambassador for Miss Great Britain, simply did not uphold the responsibility expected of the title."


MOSCOW (Sputnik)Islamabad considers a dialogue with the Taliban movement "the only option" to solve the conflict in Afghanistan, the adviser to Pakistan's prime minister on foreign affairs said.

"Our viewpoint was that you (NATO and ISAF [NATO-led International Security Assistance Force]) have been fighting for the last 15 years but could not bring peace, now dialogue remains the only option, even if the Taliban cannot occupy Afghanistan they can still continue the fight for years to come," Sartaj Aziz said, as quoted by the Dawn newspaper.

The official added that Islamabad could use its influence to bring Taliban to the negotiating table but expected Kabul to strengthen its ground positions and offer Taliban "something which they cannot gain on the battlefield."


TOKYO (Sputnik)The North Korean Defense Committee said earlier in the day, it would respond with nuclear strikes against US military bases in South Korea.

"False peace offensive of North Korea failed, the Northerners try to change our attitude with threats," Jeong said, as quoted by Yonhap.

He added that Seoul regards peace initiatives of Pyongyang as blatant propaganda.


New Delhi (Sputnik)Chinas indifference towards Indias NSG membership has surfaced again, just before the crucial meeting in Seoul on June 24.China has said that differences still persists among NSG members over the inclusion of new countries and the issue was not even on the agenda of the groups meeting in Seoul this week.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying, We have stressed that the NSG is still divided about non-NPT countries' entry into the NSG and under the current circumstances, we hope that NSG will make it through discussions to make a decision based on consultation.

Chinas reaction is in stark contrast to what Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday during a press conference. She said that India is hopeful about getting NSG membership next year.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Cluster bombs banned in more than 100 countries could have been used during the last stages of the civil war in Sri Lanka, media reported Monday.

The Guardian obtained photos with cluster bombs uncovered by demining groups that worked in the regions that witnessed heavy fighting in 2008-2009.

Deminers also told the newspaper that they had found munitions in the so-called "no-fire zones," in which around 300,000 people were said to gather for security concerns.
The group of Indians was captured by the Islamist organization in June, 2014 in its de facto capital, Mosul. Ever since, there have been mixed reports on their statuses. Repeatedly, has been reported that there were killed during these months but these reports were later denied.

Once again, in her attempts to clear the air, Swaraj said: "I am not giving false assurance. If I had confirmation that they were killed, then definitely, I would have sought an apology from their families with folded hands and said they were killed. Their killing in such a situation in Mosul in Iraq would not have been blamed on me." She said the leaders of two of the Gulf nations have assured that the Indians were alive.

Masih returned to India in July 2014 but the families of the missing Indians have ignored his account of the events he witnessed in Syria and insist the victims are still alive. All the Indians are construction workers who went to Syria and Iraq before the conflict broke out.
In Delhi, an International Yoga Day event will be held along the Rajpath (central boulevard) where several ministers and parliamentarians will take part in the event. Apart from the Rajpath celebration, around 10,000 participants will also perform Yoga at various locations throughout Delhi.

India at UN Building International Yoga Day.Proud moment.



pic.twitter.com/Mz8nAFiWQE  Vikram Singh (@vicky2479) 20 June 2016

International Yoga Day celebrations have already started in various countries around the world.

PM Modi thanks the world for enthusiastic response to International Yoga Day

https://t.co/dKqhXrKkB5



via NMApp pic.twitter.com/K0DqGvEds6  Jual Oram (@jualoram) 20 June 2016

Furthermore, ministers from the Modi government will lead International Yoga Day celebrations across the country. In Tamil Nadu, the government will run 104 medical helplines to answer yoga-related calls.

The following December, India and 177 co-sponsoring member states resolved to celebrate the event annually, and last year the first International Yoga Day was commemorated. The event is slated to occur on June 21 every year, approximately coinciding with the summer solstice, the longest day of the year in Earth's northern hemisphere.

The headquarters has been lit up for the Yoga Day celebrations, and delegates from around the world will take part in the celebrations.
The system was developed by a 20-year old Afghani IT specialist named Mostafa Vahriz, who started working on it as a graduate project back when he was a student of Kabul University. His work eventually attracted the attention of investors from Vatan ICT technological company, and several months after that the "System of Administering Schools in Afghanistan" was introduced in 25 public and private schools in the provinces of Kabul and Herat.

"The program allows parents to keep track of their childrens attendance from virtually any location in the country as long as they have a computer. You dont even need Internet access. A students parents can, at any given time, send a message to the teacher who then has to send a reply, and vice versa," Vahriz explained.

He also told Sputnik that his system allows schools to efficiently handle a wide variety of functions, like creating timetables, codifying textbooks, and preparing financial reports. It even has an option to automatically handle the government taxation of private schools, effectively thwarting possible attempts at tax evasion.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Japan is set to begin exporting rice from the country's Fukushima region to the European Union, starting with the United Kingdom, next month, local media reported.

"With the U.K. as a foothold, we hope to expand the sale of prefecture-produced rice to other EU member countries," the head of the Zen-Noh federation of agricultural cooperatives, Nobuo Ohashi, was quoted as saying by The Japan Times on Sunday.

According to the newspaper, around 1.9 metric tons of rice from Fukushima, which experienced a nuclear power plant accident in 2011, will be sold in London. The farmers group Zen-Noh will further export the grain to Europe via a British trading company.


SAMARA (Sputnik)African and Asian states are expressing interest to procure Russia's Ilyushin Il-76-MD-90A heavy military transport aircraft, the managing director of aircraft-maker Aviastar-SP said.

"We are receiving calls and appeals over this aircraft. It shows a wide geography of interest among costumers. Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) members, Southeast Asian and African states express their interest. That is why this aircraft has very good [export] prospects," Andrey Kapustin told RIA Novosti in an interview.

The Aviastar-SP enterprise is part of the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), which is engaged in exports issues, according to Kapustin.
"We are witnessing the creation of a dual financial system. One for the middle class and wealthy and another for the poor," said Fiona Travers Smith, of Move Your Money , which campaigns for ethical banking.

Travers Smith was reacting to an analysis by Reuters of data from the Office for National Statistics on average incomes in areas where bank branches have closed since 2015.

Reuters found that more than 90 percent of the closures were in areas of the UK where the average household earns less than US$39,042 (27,600) a year.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)More than a hundred Russian retailers will work at the Alibaba Group e-commerce company's AliExpress website by the end of August, Director General for Alibaba Russia Mark Zavadsky told Sputnik.

"Currently, we are focusing in particular on the work with Russian producers, and some 100 shops are at the various stages of integration with us, that is why by the end of summer we will have more than 100, which will work on the territory of Russia and the [Eurasian] Customs Union," Zavadsky said.

The general director added that about 30 shops from Russia were cooperating with AliExpress already.
Julian Assange, the founder of world-famous WikiLeaks website, said in his interview for ITV channel that he "pretty much" believes that the UK should vote to leave the EU on June 23.

Assange backs Leave because, as he sees it, David Cameron's government is using EU legislation as an excuse for its own decision-making.

"It launders things to the EU and then claims that it can't do anything about it," he said.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Voters across the United Kingdom will take part in a referendum on Thursday to decide whether or not the country should exit the European Union.

The share of pro-Brexit voters decreased to 44 percent from Saturday's 46 percent, the Financial Times' Brexit poll tracker indicated on Sunday.

The decline converged supporters and opponents of EU membership, with both currently at 44 percent, according to the poll of polls. EU membership support stayed at 44 percent throughout the weekend.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  In February 2015, Kiev forces and eastern Ukraine's pro-independence militias signed a peace agreement in the Belarusian capital of Minsk after talks of the Normandy Four countries, comprising Russia, Germany, Ukraine and France.

"We are trying to organize another meeting soon," the source told the Stuttgarter Nachrichten newspaper.

The four leaders' advisers met for preliminary talks in Minsk last week, according to the source.
However permanent deployment of NATO battalions on Russias borders underscores that they are there not for the defense. They could easily grow in size for a possible future attack on Russia.

The expert also noted that Stoltenbergs announcement of the move right after the meeting of the blocks ministers in Brussels signals that the issue has been discussed there.

And the announced start day for the deployment (January 2017) means that the sources of financing of the move have already been found.

Ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit in Warsaw it only shows how fast such issues are being solved, Perendzhiev said.

The expert also commented on NATOs Anaconda 2016 military exercises, which recently wrapped up in Poland and which have become the biggest exercises on NATO's eastern flank since the end of the Cold War.

Perendzhiev explained that it was carried out for the purposes of further development of NATO infrastructure along Russias borders.

And noted that the project of the deployment of NATO troops on Russias frontier has already been agreed upon before the kick-off the drills.
LUXEMBOURG (Sputnik)  In case of Brexit, the United Kingdom will be allowed to re-enter the European Union only on "unacceptable" terms for the country, such as the eurozone and Schengen memberships, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said Monday.

"If Britain decides to leave, there will be no going back. Britain could never rejoin the European Union at a later date, except on terms that would be unacceptable  membership of the euro, membership of Schengen, and so on," Hammond told reporters before the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting.

PM is right: The UK has a special status in the EU. If we leave there's no going back. Don't risk your family's future. #bbcqt #StrongerIn  Philip Hammond (@PHammondMP) 19  2016 .

Voters across the United Kingdom will take part in a referendum on Thursday to decide whether or not the country should exit the European Union.
BERLIN (Sputnik)  The Munich Security Conference chairman Wolfgang Ischinger told Sputnik on Monday that the relations between Russia and NATO, including Germany, will unlikely be improved by year's end.

"It should not be expected that any of the sides would lose face [by year's end] after the situation has developed by the moment. Now we need a strategic patience  at least for a year, until a new US president will assume his office. During this period we should focus on the elimination of possible damage and to seize any chance to renew the dialogue," Ischinger said.
BRUSSELS (Sputnik)  On Saturday, police conducted nationwide raids, arresting three people suspected of devising terror plots to be carried out throughout the country, two of whom are believed to have links to the men who staged the March terrorist attacks in Brussels.

"The chances that a new attack is being considered are still high. There is [now] less risk, as it decreases with every new arrest of a terrorist suspect. However, the terror alert is still at level 3, so the risk remains," Jambon told RTBF broadcaster, urging Belgian nationals not to panic.

On March 22, two explosions hit Brussels Airport. A third blast went off in Maelbeek metro station near the headquarters of the EU institutions. The series of attacks killing over 30 people and injuring at least 300. The Islamic State terrorist group, outlawed in many countries including Russia, claimed responsibility for the attacks.
Opinion polls are predicting a close finish at the referendum on Britain's membership of the union, with the Leave campaigners, often known as the Brexiteers, on 44 percent, and the Remain campaigners, aka Bremainers, also on 44 percent.

Panos Koutrakos, Professor of European Union Law at City University London, has told Sputnik that unravelling the UK from the EU in the event of a Brexit would be extremely tortuous and fraught with legal difficulties.

However, he says the European migrant crisis  which exposed deep flaws in the Schengen zone and damaged the principle of freedom of movement  and the crisis in the Eurozone are paving the way for member states to gain more leeway in certain areas. Remaining within the EU, he says, the UK could have more room to maneuver on certain issues.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, will consider an initiative on Wednesday to address Western parliaments regarding the stationing of missile defense system in eastern Europe, Deputy Speaker Ivan Melnikov said Thursday.

"On Wednesday, on the request of [lawmaker Sergei] Zhelezniak a statement linked to the address to parliaments, interparliamentary organizations concerning stationing the missile defense system in eastern European countries and with an initiative to make steps aimed at easing tensions in Europe, will be included [on the agenda]," Melnikov said.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Croatian Parliament adopted a decision to dissolute, following the last week's no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Tihomir Oreskovic , which will come into affect on July 15, the local media reported Monday.

The early parliamentary elections are likely be held in September, the Nacional reported.

According to the media, the request for dissolution was made by 91 representatives in 8 separate notions. The motion for dissolution received 137 votes in favor, 2 votes against, and 1 abstentions.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The future of the European Union is "doomed" even if country's nationals support London remaining in the 28-bloc at the upcoming referendum, United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage said Monday.

"If this proposition gets rejected, then we will not be the first country to leave the European Union The Danes, or the Swedes or the Dutch will beat us to it. Believe me, this project is doomed," Farage told the BBC, answering a question about the future of the European Union if UK voters decide to stay in the bloc.

At the same time, Farage added that he hoped the voters would choose to end London's membership in the European Union.
The UK is going to the polls Thursday (June 23) in the biggest test of public opinion on the EU for more than 40 years. At issues is growing Euroskepticism  which is not confined to Britain  and a desire to fee the UK of some of the bureaucracy of Brussels.

Hans van Baalen, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe party president, wrote  in an opinion column on EUObserver:

"The UK is a crucial ally of the Netherlands in the EU and provides a counterweight against French-German dominance. Moreover, the Dutch and Brits are pushing in Brussels for the same agenda: eliminating unnecessary regulation, empowering national parliaments on European legislation (red card), completing the internal market and negotiating more free trade agreements to foster economic growth and jobs. "
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Bulgaria hopes to reach an agreement with Russian nuclear corporation Rosatom that would allow the country to sell Russian equipment from the Belene nuclear power plant to a third party, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said Monday.

"All the other alternatives are quite difficult in today's hard cold war, which is colder and more serious than it was," Borisov said as quoted by the Investor media outlet.

He added that installing the Russian equipment amid the anti-Russian sanctions would be problematic for Bulgaria as an EU member state, so the country wishes to sell the equipment. However, Bulgaria needs permission of the manufacturer to do that.


WASHINGTON (Sputnik)Commander of the Canadian Army Marquis Hainse has visited troops deployed to Poland and Ukraine, and met with local officials, Canadas Department of National Defense said in a press release on Monday.

"Canadas commitment to Operations REASSURANCE [in Poland] and UNIFIER [in Ukraine] provides opportunities for the Canadian Army to contribute to stability in Central and Eastern Europe," Hainse stated.

The visit took place on June 14-18, according to the Defense Department.
The European Union will extend anti-Russian sanctions for six months but France is going to initiate a discussion on the issue at the EU Summit that will take place on June 28-29, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Monday.

"As economic sanctions will be extended for six months, there is a need for a discussion to understand that if there is significant progress, it will be possible to make a step forward. But in order to do that the conditions must be met, the Russians and the Ukrainians must do their part of work in implementing the Minsk agreements," the minister told journalists.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described the murder of the party's lawmaker Jo Cox as an act of political violence during the meeting of the House of Commons on Monday.

"The horrific act that took her from us was an attack on democracy and on our whole country has been in shock and saddened by it Her community and the whole country has been united in grief and united in rejecting the well of hatred that killed her in what increasingly appears to be an act of extreme political violence," Corbyn said.

Cox, 41, a Labour lawmaker and pro-Remain campaigner, was shot and stabbed in the street on Thursday as she held a regular meeting with her constituency in West Yorkshire, a week before the United Kingdom is scheduled to vote in a referendum on whether it should stay in or leave the European Union.
"As Turkey is host to over two million Syrian refugees it is hardly surprising that many are not getting the support they desperately need to maintain livelihoods. The EU is morally, and indeed legally, obliged to share some of the refugee burden by not sending Syrian refugees back to Turkey without assessing their asylum claims," said Stephanie Gee, fellow in the refugee rights program at Human Rights Watch.

Desperate Delays

One 21-year-old Syrian man said he went five times to two different police stations before he was even able to make an appointment  for a date three months later  to apply for registration. Others said officials imposed requirements for registration that were not specified in the regulation, such as a rental agreement with a landlord.

Syrians of #AzraqCamp make their voices heard underneath the blazing summer sun #WithRefugees pic.twitter.com/VokQJNxTvE  UNHCRJordan (@UNHCRJo) 20 June 2016

Ali, 21, said that registering for temporary protection in Istanbul was a months-long ordeal. "I went to the police station in Fatih [a neighborhood of Istanbul] last October to get the kimlik. It was so crowded, they told me to come back the next day. I did, waited for hours, and still didn't get an appointment."

"I heard from others that the Taksim [a different neighborhood] police station also does registrations, so I went there. They said come back next week, so I did. They said come back two days from now, so I did. They said come next week. So I gave up. I finally tried again in February, and I received an appointment for [mid-May]."

Jemaa, 23, said of his family-of-four: "When we first went to register, they said it would be a two or three-month wait. We paid US$43 (125 lira) and we all got a kimlik right away."

Rama, 19, said she paid a broker to facilitate her registration process because she was pregnant and otherwise might have needed to pay even more exorbitant amounts for crucial neonatal and maternal care during her pregnancy and delivery.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  A NATO summit is scheduled for July 8-9, and will be held at the National Stadium in Warsaw.

"We are fully confident that the relevant authorities will take all necessary security measures," Coca said.

She added that the detailed information about the security at the summit would not be spread ahead the event.
A riveder le Stelle! pic.twitter.com/zHbwg2Xm2Y  Virginia Raggi (@virginiaraggi) June 19, 2016

Though the party's ideology is not so clear cut, it doesn't fall into the traditional left-right dichotomy. While M5S are a Euroskeptic party, their arguments against the European Union differ from those given by right-wing Euroskeptics in other European countries, focusing on the detrimental impact that the adoption of the Euro had on the Italian economy. They are often referred to as 'soft' Euroskeptics as they seek a referendum on Italy's withdrawal from the Eurozone, but not a full withdrawal from the European Union.

With the major wins in Italy, and the party's continual gain in popularity, M5S could spark a discussion over the future of the European Union which differs from the rhetoric of the traditional Euroskeptics.

The EU leave campaign is so right wing and gross it annoys me how the media concentrate on this rather than lefties who want to leave too  Isabel  (@isabeldiana_) June 5, 2016

The current EU referendum in the UK has seen the Leave campaign dominated by right wing arguments, a trait seen in many European countries, though as research by American think tank Pew Research Center shows, Euroskepticism is not unique to the right of center parties. Greece has seen a strong rise in Euroskepticism amongst left of centers voters following the election of Alexis Tsipras's Syriza, the left of center anti-austerity party, with many viewing the EU as "austerity obsessed".

Greece: a democratic result that needs to be respected & a clear message  austerity obsessed EU must come to an end http://t.co/0ouuV1Rlw0  PES (@PES_PSE) January 26, 2015

Research by the Pew Research Center also showed that there are some European countries in which "EU favorability" is higher amid right wing voters, such as Spain and Sweden.

With the rise of parties such M5S, many left of center Euroskeptics are hoping that this may bring about a wider discussion about the problems with European Union, rather than one focused on migration and nationalism.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addressed Norwegian sailors during his visit to the country, highlighting the importance of the naval capacity and adding that the bloc should be able to operate "on the sea, over the sea, and also under the sea," the press release reads.

The Dynamic Mongoose drills are focused "on detecting and defending against submarines" and will last ten days. According to the press release, Norway, Spain, Canada, France, Germany, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States are taking part in the drills.

"Four submarines from Canada, Germany, Norway and the United States are taking part, along with nine surface ships and four maritime patrol aircraft", the press release reads.
Ladbrokes: 95% of money staked today has been for REMAIN #EUref pic.twitter.com/lkiIg0en5G  Ladbrokes Politics (@LadPolitics) June 20, 2016

Sputnik spoke with Ladbrokes' head of PR, Alex Donohue, who said that political betting has grown massively in recent years, especially since the Scottish independence referendum in 2014.

"We think [the EU] referendum will be the biggest political betting event of all time, we think across the industry there could be anything up to USD$146 million (100 million) riding on the outcome of the vote on Thursday, so it's a pretty big deal for us."

"Polling and betting are two very separate things  a poll is a snapshot of voter intention on any given day, or given moment, it represents the opinion of a very small sample size at a given point on how they intend to vote. Betting is all about predictions  it's about people taking money out of their pockets and placing a bet on a prediction about what they think will happen in the future," he added.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  The United States and its NATO allies will discuss ways to deter alleged Russian aggression at the alliance meeting next month in Warsaw, Poland, US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter said at the Center for a New American Security in Washington, DC on Monday.

Next month when I accompany President [Barack] Obama to the NATO Summit in Warsaw, we all need to do more to deter and defend against Russian aggression, Carter stated.

A NATO summit is scheduled for July 8-9, and will be held at the National Stadium in Warsaw. The members of the alliance are set to discuss increasing military activities on NATO's eastern flank among other issues.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Polish President Andrzej Duda and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Monday signed an agreement on bilateral strategic partnership, Duda's press office said Monday in a statement.

Earlier in the day, Xi arrived in Poland to meet the country's leadership and discuss economic cooperation and ties in such spheres as education, infrastructure and culture.

"The presidents of Poland and China, Andrzej Duda and Xi Jinping, in Warsaw on Monday signed a declaration on strategic partnership in which they reiterated that Poland and China viewed each other as long-term and stable strategic partners," the statement said.
French charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) has produced an eight-part internet miniseries which criticizes Europe's reaction to the migrant crisis.

Its release follows news on Friday that the organization has decided to refuse the funding it usually gets from the EU, which had constituted eight percent of its budget; the rest comes from private funding. In 2015 it received 55 million euros ($62 million), 19 million from the EU and 37 million from member states.

The charity said it refused the money from the EU and member states "in opposition to their damaging migration deterrence policies and intensifying attempts to push people and their suffering away from European shores."
Einarsson also expressed concern about the fact that airplanes currently fly directly over the volcano.

There are also 20-30 planes full of passengers flying right over the top of Hekla every day, he warns. This is a risky moment which we need to take seriously.

Readings indicate that magma has been collecting and that the pressure will need to be alleviated. Otherwise an explosion could occur without warning.

Hekla is ready  at any moment, Einarsson said.


MEXICO (Sputnik)Six people were killed and 100 more were injured in clashes between police and teachers demonstrating in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, local media reported Monday, citing the Mexican Health Secretariat.

Teachers blocked municipal roads to protest against employment reform in education sector, TeleSUR broadcaster said.

The reform launched by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto tightens requirements for teacher applicants. The reform has faced much criticism from teachers claiming that it fails to assess effectively professional skills and justifies mass layoffs.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The Brazilian authorities have proposed to freeze the budget spending for 20 years to stabilize the economy and curb the debt growth, the country's finance minister said.

"With this kind  of tough fiscal policy  everyone will be able to project the numbers lot of the uncertainty is coming down," Henrique Meirelles told The Financial Times in an interview on Sunday.

Meirelles took office in mid-May, as the Brazilian parliament voted to start impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff after she was accused of concealing the countrys budget deficit ahead of the 2014 re-election. Following her suspension, part of her government was dismissed.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The man, whose identity is being investigated, took a woman hostage on the second floor of the building, the Ultimas Noticias newspaper reported.

"The irregular situation in the financial tower occupied by the Central Bank of Venezuela has been taken care of," the bank said in a Twitter posting.

Armed forces of the National Guard were summoned to the scene. Two BCV security employees received arm and leg gunshot wounds. Their lives are out of danger, according to the local outlet.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Over 25 tonnes of humanitarian aid, including flour, food sets and confectioneries have been delivered to families in the Syrian provinces of Homs and Aleppo, as well as the city of Deir ez-Zor currently besieged by Daesh (ISIL), the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"Citizens of Mharram al-Fauqani (Homs province) and Fajdan (Aleppo) have received 8 tons of humanitarian cargoes. Flour, food products and sweets are the basis of the cargos. Aircraft of Abakan Air Russian aviation company has dropped 18 tons of UN humanitarian cargoes (food products and grains) on Deir ez-Zor, which had been besieged by ISIS terrorists," the Russian Hmeymim-based reconciliation center in Syria said in a statement on Sunday.

On Saturday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu ordered the Hmeymim airbase command to increase assistance to the Syrian population, especially to those trapped in settlements blocked by terrorists.
There is no immediate information on the cause of the blast.

Afghanistan is experiencing political, social and security instability, as the Taliban Islamic movement and other radical extremist organizations such as Daesh militant group, prohibited in many countries, including the United States and Russia, continue staging attacks against civilian and state targets, seeking to establish the rule of Sharia law in the country.


UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik)Bangura and the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Jan Kubis, have expressed their solidarity with the victims of sexual violence related to conflicts, who have been targeted by Daesh, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

"As we celebrate the first International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, we confront a new reality, where sexual violence is used not only as a tactic of war, but also as a tactic of terrorism. The United Nations is steadfast and committed to live up to its sacred duty to prevent conflict-related sexual violence and provide care for the survivors," the statement published on the UN website Sunday quoted Bangura as saying.

The Daesh, outlawed in a range of countries including Russia and the United States, has seized vast areas in Iraq and Syria since 2014, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. The group is notorious for its human rights atrocities and brutal tactics, such as public beheadings and the stoning of women.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)According to Press TV, the authorities have arrested the perpetrators over the last few days, while the attacks were plotted for the holy month of Ramadan.

"Wherever it may occur in Iran, any suspicious move will be swiftly detected; this is thanks to the presence of the people and capable and experienced organizations," Shamkhani said, as quoted by the broadcaster on Monday.

Radical Islamist have planned a major terrorist attack in Tehran and other regions of Iran, the country's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) said in a statement on Monday.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)In September 2015, IAEA experts found "chemically man-made particles of natural uranium" at Parchin military complex from soil and air samples collected at the site.

"The existence of two particles of uranium there would be consistent with our understanding of the involvement of Parchin in a past weapons program, but by themselves dont definitively prove anything," the Wall Street Journal cited a US senior official as saying.

On July 14, Iran and the P5+1 group consisting of Russia, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, France and Germany signed a historic deal to guarantee the peaceful nature of Tehran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Beirut hopes for greater support from Moscow in resolving the political crisis in Lebanon, Lebanese Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said Monday.

"We want Russia to provide us with greater support, and also help us to resolve the political crisis in the country. I am holding a meeting in the [Russian] Foreign Ministry soon, where we will discuss the mechanism of support," he said at a meeting with chairperson of the Council of the Federation Committee on Foreign Affairs Konstantin Kosachev.

Khalil noted that Russia played a very important role in the Middle East and maintained good relations with all political parties in Lebanon.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)The person in charge of the terrorist organization Islamic State's security service was killed in a special operation carried out by the Iraqi army in Anbar province, Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled Obaidi said Monday.

"A special unit of the Iraqi military stormed a building in the Iraqi Anbar province where the head of the Islamic State Security Service, Ahmed Madjid, and other terrorist group members were hiding. As a result, Madjid was killed in a shootout together with seven other terrorists," the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) press service cited Obaidi as saying.

Fighting in the Anbar province comes is concentrated around the Iraqi army operations near the city of Fallujah against Daesh, a terrorist organization prohibited in many countries around the world, including in the United States and Russia.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)The Syrian Democratic Forces killed the commander of Daesh in the city of Manbij, Abu Hamza Ansari, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said Monday.

"The Kurds are advancing from the east, having seized the el-Khatib district, the last stronghold of Daesh on the way to Manbij Abu Hamza Ansari, Daesh commander in Manbij, was killed," the PUK press service reported.

According to the PUK, the death toll among Daesh militants has reached 22 people over the past 24 hours of fighting in Manbij.
BEIRUT (Sputnik)  Since May, the Syrian army launched an offensive in the direction of Tabqa, which lies on the way to the city of Raqqa, the Syrian stronghold of the islamists, outlawed in many countries worldwide, including Russia and the United States.

"Fierce fighting near the oil field still continue. At night, parts of the Syrian army drove terrorists out of Ash Shola, but an intensive counterstrike forced them to regroup in the morning. The field is not yet completely liberated," the source said.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with numerous opposition factions and Islamic extremist groups fighting government forces seeking to topple the government of President Bashar Assad.
On June 14, Bahrain's Court of Cassation ruled to close all offices of Al-Wefaq in a response to an appeal lodged by the country's Ministry of Justice.

Al-Wefaq has organized mass protest rallies against the current constitutional monarchy in Bahrain. Al-Wefaq's leader, Sheikh Ali Salman, was arrested in 2014 and sentenced to four years in prison for inciting hatred and disobedience as well as insulting public institutions in 2015. Earlier in June, the court decided to increase the sentence to nine years.
TEL AVIV (Sputnik)  Israel supports the goals of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and considers that a specific "regional context" and a proper time are necessary for its ratification, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday.

Earlier in the day, Netanyahu held a meeting with Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo in Israel.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the State of Israel supports the treaty and its goals and has, therefore, signed the treaty. The Prime Minister added that the issue of ratification depends on the regional context and the appropriate timing," the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On June 17, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Abadi announced that the Iraqi security forces had regained control over most part of the city of Fallujah from IS militants, who continued to maintain resistance in the north of the city.

"The military have managed to liberate a railway line in the norther part of Fallujah. They continue liberating the rest city's districts from IS militants," Abdul Amir Shammari, the commander of Baghdad Operations Command, told the Alsumaria television broadcaster.

Fallujah, located some 42 miles west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, is one of the largest cities in the Anbar province. The IS, outlawed in many countries including Russia, has been in control of the city since 2014.
"We have been systematically working to normalize relations between Turkey and Syria for a long time, and came up with an initiative to provide the necessary basis for dialogue between the Turkish and Syrian leadership," he explained.

"In my last trip, I noticed a softening from the Syrian side, and a similar tendency in representatives of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, when I told them about the outcome of our delegation's visit. The Foreign Ministry as a whole received my information favorably. They used to reject everything out of hand."

Pekin said the most pressing issue on the agenda during talks is improvement in the region's security situation, which requires compromise from both sides.

"Security is of prime importance, the issue of ensuring the integrity of Syria and, related to that, the question of closing the Turkish border."

"Turkey wants the Syrian leadership not to give support to the Democratic Union Party (PYD, a Kurdish opposition party in northern Syria) and prevent the strengthening of the Syrian Kurdish position in the region. But for that, Turkey has to help Syria," Pekin explained.

"Turkey has to close the border, stop supporting opposition groups. Just that on its own would create the preconditions for a huge breakthrough in relations."
BAGHDAD (Sputnik)  Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi declared the city liberated on Friday as the countrys forces gained control of the city center.

"Iraqi security forces took control of the Fallujah train station," the source said.

However, local media reports on Monday indicated that fighting continued for areas of the city still under the control of the Islamic State, outlawed in many countries worldwide, including Russia and the United States.
The artillery was fired from El Khalid Sheikh Maqsood, Az Zagra, Al-Nayrab airport, and the nearby town of Handrat.

The cessation of hostilities was observed in most Syrian provinces, with five recorded violations in Damascus province.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  The European Union should progressively lift its anti-Russian sanctions in response to the country's steps toward fulfilling the Minsk accords on Ukrainian settlement, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said.

"I think that we should gradually arrive at a stage where every move toward fulfilling the Minsk accords, every step is met with the progressive removal of sanctions," Kurz said told the Austrian ORF public broadcaster.

A substantial step in reconciling with Russian should be made, he added, expressing hope that Russia makes a similar move.
Moscow's relations with the West deteriorated in 2014 over the Ukrainian crisis, when the European Union along with the United States and some other countries imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia, accusing it of meddling in Ukraine's internal affairs, a claim Moscow has repeatedly denied.

The loss of trust will continue to overshadow relations between Russia and Germany for a long time, Wolfgang Ischinger told Sputnik.

"I think that it is possible to recover the poisoned atmosphere created by propaganda of recent months relatively quickly. The prerequisite for this would be, first and foremost, a consensus between the US, EU and Russia, especially in complex issues, particularly on the issue of Donbas. At the same time, I fear that the loss of trust will be reflected in our relations in a long-time perspective," Ischinger said in an interview.

According to Ischinger, relations between Russia and Germany have worsened primarily due to a "propaganda war which leads to alienation between the people and the total loss of confidence between the governments."

The relations between Russia and the European Union, including Germany, deteriorated in 2014 amid the crisis in Ukraine. Brussels has introduced several rounds of anti-Russia sanctions since Crimea seceded from Ukraine and reunified with Russia in 2014 and Moscow was accused of meddling in the Ukrainian conflict.

Moscow has repeatedly refuted the allegations. In response to the restrictive measures, Russia has imposed a food embargo on some products originating in countries that have targeted it with sanctions.


BERLIN (Sputnik)Munich Security Conference (MSC) chairman Wolfgang Ischinger told Sputnik on Monday that it is possible to abolish visas between Russia and the European Union to show Brussels' will to improve relations between Russia and the 28-nation bloc.

"I think that the right move [in relations between Moscow and Brussels] would be not to remove the [anti-Russia] sanctions, but [the introduction of] visa-free entry to countries of the Schengen area for ordinary Russian citizens, who are not to blame for the Ukrainian crisis and have nothing to do with sanctions. It would be a positive signal that we do not want to deepen the divisions between Europe and Russia. It would be great if more Russians visit us  not only the rich ones and oligarchs  to see that Europe is not so decadent and is not standing on the verge of collapse like Russian propaganda portrays," Ischinger said in an interview.

He added that such an initiative could find support in Europe, but probably not in Russia.
Most recently, he had been put on the defensive in his own residence in Kultaranta in the vicinity of the town of Naantali during a summit with high-ranking politicians from neighboring Sweden. President Niinisto had to hold the Finnish line in favor of the ongoing dialogue with Russia, after coming under fire from Swedish MPs.

Karin Enstrom, deputy chair of the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs voiced surprise over the fact that Sauli Niinisto had invited Vladimir Putin to visit Finland, whereas Swedish MP Allan Widman specifically stressed that Sweden would not have invited the Russian leader.

And although the questions were rather directed to the participants of the panel discussion, Sauli Niinisto himself chose to take the floor and answer it. In turn, Niinisto wondered why Sweden should be puzzled about Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit to Finland despite the fact that Europe is well aware of the importance of negotiations with Russia. Niinisto recalled hearing such opinions from the Baltic countries, but it was a few years ago.
"Im confident that somebody, somewhere in the US government is considering what sort of contingencies may need to be considered in the event that this vote goes down in the direction of the UK leaving the European Union."

The press secretary noted that the United States continues to believe and value "a strong UK and a strong EU." However, he underscored the British people should decide what is in the best interest for their country.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Earlier in the day, a Turkish judge ordered the arrest and pre-trial detention of Erol Onderoglu and his two colleagues, Ahmet Nesin and Sebnem Korur Fincanci, who have been charged of spreading terror propaganda while participating in a campaign of solidarity with the Kurdish Ozgur Gundem daily which has recently experienced pressure from Ankara.

"This is another dark day for media freedom in Turkey. Erol Onderoglu has fought tirelessly to defend persecuted journalists for the past 20 years. He is a leader in this field because of his honesty and integrity, which are recognised the world over. It says a lot about the decline in media freedom in Turkey that he is now also being targeted," Johann Bihr, the head of RSFs Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk, said as quoted in the statement.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari told Sputnik earlier in June the implementation of the Russia-Iran agreement on the delivery of S-300 air defense systems goes according to plan, and Tehran hopes that all systems will be delivered by the years end.

"We are still examining what the repercussions would be on our end of that," Kirby said. "We are continuing to examine what it would mean for us in terms of the sanctions regime."

In 2007, Russia and Iran signed a $900-million deal for the delivery of five S-300 missile systems to Tehran. In 2010, Russia suspended the contract, citing a UN Security Council resolution that placed an arms embargo on Tehran until it proved the peaceful nature of its nuclear program. Iran filed a lawsuit against Russia over the incident in the International Court of Arbitration.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On Monday, EU foreign ministers held a meeting in Luxembourg, where the issue of the Brexit referendum was high on the agenda.

"I hope that there will be a majority of British citizens who choose to remain in the EU," Steinmeier said following the meeting.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Both Moscow and the US-led NATO alliance are building up military forces on Russias border with Eastern Europe amid ongoing tensions over Ukraine.

At the same time, Russia and the United States continue to work together in areas such as space exploration and, in some cases, attempts to combat Islamist terrorism.

"Embracing Putin at a time of renewed Russian aggression would, I believe, would call into question Americas longstanding commitment to Europe whole free and at peace," Biden said. "But, neither is it time to dust off the Cold War playbook. We have to continue cooperating with Russia where our interests overlap."
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Ukraine and Canada have signed the memorandum on support for Ukrainian exports, trade and investment, the Ukrainian Ministry of Economic Development and Trade said Monday.

The memorandum has been signed at the first Canada-Ukraine business forum held on Monday in Toronto.

"Ultimately, we want to help create stability in Ukraine so that the middle class can grow and thrive," Trudeau stated. "Thats why, under the leadership of our Minister of International Trade Chrystia Freeland, our government has made the signing of Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement a top priority."
"Today's meeting was quite effective, and I can say with some caution that it was held in a constructive atmosphere," Nalbandyan told reporters.

Baku echoed this positive assessment of the meeting, saying it could help bring peace process back on track.
Nekrasov also notes that the Magnitsky Act cites the "independent investigation by presidential Human Rights Council." But when he obtained the document, he discovered several inconsistencies within the document. Of particular note was the fact that a person named Kirill Kabanov, a leader of a workgroup on the Magnitsky Case, admitted in the interview that there was "no independent investigation" at all.

"This is incompetent, if you want to use it as a basis for the law," Nekrasov says.

Emotional judgements may have also obscured what really happened to Magnitsky while in prison. The mainstream media, for example, relies on our collective "natural sympathy for victims" to represent Magnitsky as something he never was.

While many opposition members call the conditions of Magnitsky's prison "torturous," there is a difference, Nekrasov says, between the legal definition of torture and what one could call a "torturous condition".

Nekrasov points out that not a single person who saw Magnitsky's body after his demise, including the doctors, saw any sign of torture.

"The fact that he died of negligence, doesn't mean he was a whistleblower," the filmmaker says.

"He was not a lawyer, he was not a whistleblower, and he was not fighting corruption," Nekrasov adds. "He was a witness in a crime that the police were investigating, that he allegedly was investigating himself."

While Nekrasov says he doesn't have enough proof to accuse Browder of violating the law, he does blame Browder for telling US lawmakers a story that is so riddled with inaccuracies.
Nekrasovs film, The Magnitsky Act  Behind the Scenes, has caused great controversy by presenting a side of the story of Sergei Magnitsky seldom heard in the West. Nekrasov has been known for most of his career as a fierce critic of the Russian government, and was embraced by the pro-Western opposition. This has all dramatically changed with the release of The Magnitsky Act. Nekrasov attempted to screen the film in several European countries, but the film was blocked.

The official story in the mainstream media about Sergei Magnitsky goes something like this: Magnitsky was a courageous lawyer, who uncovered huge government fraud that implicated members of the Russian government. He was imprisoned on trumped up charges, beaten and tortured in prison, and finally died as a result of this abuse and medical neglect about a year into his pretrial detention. However, Nekrasovs film challenges this narrative. It argues that in fact Magnitsky may have been Browders accomplice in one of the largest cases of tax fraud in Russian history. Browder, with the help of his accountant Magnitsky, may have falsely claimed that they had taken a loss on what was in fact a tremendously profitable investment. In doing so, they may have been able to claim a tax rebate of $230 million.

The controversy over Magnitskys death has had serious implications for U.S.-Russia relations. In the context of growing hostility towards Russia as their geopolitical interests came increasingly into conflict, the U.S. Congress passed a law in 2012 called the Magnitsky Act (from which the film takes its title). This law imposed sanctions on a wide range of Russian officials the U.S. government accuses of being involved in Magnitskys death.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)The criminal case over Syamozero drowning incident in Russia's Republic of Karelia has been passed to the Central Administration of Russia's Investigative Committee, committee spokesman Vladimir Markin said Monday.

On Saturday, three boats carrying a 51-member group, consisting of children and their adult instructors, capsized in Syamozero lake during a storm. Thirteen children have died and one remains missing, according to the latest information. A criminal case was opened on Sunday, with several arrests made.

"A decision was taken to pass the case to the Central Administration of the Russian Investigative Committee," Markin told the Vesti FM radio station.
According to Kapustin, state agencies, as well as private companies can become potential customers of the aircraft.

Mass production of the plane is scheduled for 2019 at the Voronezh aircraft plant after all state tests are completed.

The Russian Ulyanovsk-based Aviastar-SP aircraft maker, plans to supply two Tupolev Tu-204-300 jets to the Russian Presidential Administration in 2016 and three more before 2019, the company's managing director said.

"This year, two Tu-204-300 planes will be supplied to the Russian Presidential Administration's special flight detachment. One of these is already being tested at the Ulyanovsk Vostochny airfield. The second plane will leave the [Ulyanovsk] plant to be tested in a month. There are ongoing discussions about supplying a further three aircraft to the President Administration in 2017-2018," Andrey Kapustin told RIA Novosti in an interview.

The Tu-204-300 project has been frozen by the Aviastar-SP board of directors, with up to eight aircraft currently remaining at advanced stages of production, he added, noting that there is continuing interest in the planes.

"For example, a company like Russian Post has shown interest. There is also interest in the plane by Chinese companies," he said.

Russian Post plans to create its own fleet of cargo planes, with the Tu-204 aircraft to potentially be modified to carry cargo, according to Kapustin.

Russia's Tu-204-300 aircraft is a twin-engine airliner of high fuel efficiency and comfort level that has been fitted with modern communications systems and a noise-protected interior, according to the website of Tupolev Public Joint Stock Company, which designed the aircraft.


SAMARA (Sputnik)Production of the An-124 plane has been suspended amid the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. The jet was previously manufactured by Aviastar-SP and Ukraine's Antonov State Company aircraft manufacturing and services enterprise.

"Currently, we are looking into different alternatives for constructing a completely new Russian plane. However, the project is still in the conception stage," Andrey Kapustin told RIA Novosti in an interview.

The Aviastar-SP Ulyanovsk plant currently works on upgrading An-124-100 commercial transport aircraft, with three upgraded planes due to be ready by 2018.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)The US Embassy in Moscow on Monday expressed its condolences to the families of children who died in the Syamozero drowning incident in Russia's Republic of Karelia.

"Our thoughts, prayers and condolences to the relatives of those killed in Karelia," embassy spokesman Will Stevens said on Twitter.

On Saturday, three boats carrying a 51-member group, consisting of children and their adult instructors, capsized in Syamozero lake during a storm. Thirteen children died and one remains missing, according to the latest information.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)A fire broke out Monday at a storage area at the Ashuluk military proving ground in Russia's Astrakhan region, a source said.

"According to preliminary data, a warehouse with spare parts is on fire. Around 600 people have been evacuated from the nearest settlement," the source told RIA Novosti.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  A recent statement of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) about a firearm used to kill prominent Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov in 2015 will not affect the ongoing investigation into the crime, a lawyer representing the Nemtsov family said Monday.

Earlier in the day, the FSB reported that Nemtsov, who was shot dead in central Moscow in February 2015, was killed with a homemade firearm assembled using imported parts.

"Anyway, the origin of the handgun will not have any impact on the common version of the investigation. I am sure that the majority of the detained are implicated in the crime, and Zaur Dadayev is a shooter, who had a service gun, but he shot not with it," Vadim Prokhorov told RIA Novosti.
The new 770 km train line will enable new high-speed trains to travel at speeds of up to 400 km/h, and is set to become part of an international high-speed train line that eventually continues to Beijing.

According to Izvestiya, Russian Railways is the main shareholder in a consortium currently seeking tenders for its construction, and the China Development Bank is proposing to join the consortium and provide a loan of 400 billion rubles ($6.2 billion) for its construction.

"Regarding the Moscow-Kazan high-speed rail project, of course it won't be today's Sapsan, it will be a new generation Sapsan," Liebscher said.

"We are not considering replacing the Sapsan engines. We see this as a good project for trains that are capable of accelerating to speeds of over 300 km/h. It will be a new model of train, for which the permanent magnet motor is really useful."

Maglev trains are currently used in Japan, South Korea and China. Shanghai is home to the world's fastest commercial maglev train, which was built by a joint venture between Siemens and ThyssenKrupp. It connects the Shanghai Metro with Shanghai Pudong International Airport at a top speed of 430km/h.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Moscow has no preferences in the issue of Indian or Chinese investors' participation in the privatization of Russia's energy giant Rosneft, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

"There is no single preferred option, there is a balance between feasibility of the future composition of shareholders and cost parameters, or the income which the [Russian] Federation's budget will receive from the privatization," Peskov told journalists answering a question whether the Kremlin considered attraction of an investor from China or India to the process of Rosneft's privatization a preferred option.

Russia is due to sell 19.5 percent of Rosneft's shares in the second half of 2016.
A plant in the Vladimir Region of Russia is expected to deliver hardware for the modules, while Skolkovo is due to develop software for them.

The Skolkovo Innovation Center opened in 2010 is intended to lead Russias drive to diversify and modernize its economy and increase the country's output of high-tech products.
The Ivan Gren landing ship has arrived in the port of Baltiysk in Russia's Kaliningrad region for testing before it joins the Russian fleet later this year, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported on Monday.

The vessel was the first Project 11711 ship to be launched to water in 2012 after construction at Kaliningrad's Yantar shipyard. Construction of a second landing ship of the same class, Petr Morgunov, began in 2014.

Ivan Gren has a water displacement of 6,000 tons, its length is 120 meters and its beam is 16.5 meters. It can carry up to 300 marines, 36 armored transport vehicles or 13 tanks. It is fitted with two Ka-29 naval combat and transport helicopters, and a 30mm automatic cannon.
French authorities detained Shprygin, head of the Russian Supporters Union, in Toulouse during a game between Wales and Russia. Police did not provide any explanation at the time of the arrest. He was trying to reach his seat inside the stadium when plainclothes officers approached him.

"As they told me, Shprygin was in fact detained and transferred to a police department in the airport," said the head of the Russian Consulate General in Marseille Sergey Molchanov said. "A decision on his case will soon be taken and he will be deported from the country."

Molchanov also said a ban on Shprygin's travel within France took effect on Monday.
However, if you go a little deeper in the Internet youll find the Dark Web.

Getting a Little Darker

The Dark Web then is classified as a small portion of the Deep Web that has been intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through standard web browsers.

The Dark Web is a term that refers specifically to a collection of websites that are publicly visible, but hide the IP addresses of the servers that run them. Thus they can be visited by any web user, but it is very difficult to work out who is behind the sites. And you cannot find these sites using search engines.

Almost all sites on the so-called Dark Web hide their identity using the Tor encryption tool.

The TOR network is an anonymous network that can only be accessed with a special web browser, called the TOR browser.

In other words, to visit a site on the Dark Web that is using Tor encryption, the web user needs to be using Tor. Just as the end user's IP is bounced through several layers of encryption to appear to be at another IP address on the Tor network, so is that of the website.

Not all Dark Web sites use Tor. Some use similar services such as I2P. The principle remains the same. The visitor has to use the same encryption tool as the site and  crucially  know where to find the site, in order to type in the URL and visit.

This is the portion of the Internet most widely known for illicit activities, such as drug markets and child pornography, because of the anonymity associated with the above networks.

However the most difficult thing here is knowing where to look.

What a user can actually find in the deeper segments of the Internet are the examples of the net art, such as a photo project by Jon Rafman The Nine Eyes of Google Street View.
Soyuz ST is a version of the Soyuz-2 rocket adapted for launches from Kourou. Due to its location near the equator, the Kourou launch site gives the Soyuz greater thrust to put larger payloads into orbit.

"We are ready to sign an agreement on space science and research regarding microgravity. We are talking about Bion program [agreement] which we intend to sign in the coming weeks," Le Gall said.

Bion-M biosatellites are designed for conducting research in space biomedicine and biotechnology, the results of which are returned to Earth in order to improve the system of long-term manned missions planning.

The previous Russian biosatellite Bion-M1 took a monthly spaceflight in spring 2013, with a series of experiments conducted on board. The satellite contained about 100 different living organisms, in particular, Mongolian gerbils, mice, geckos, fish, freshwater crustaceans and algae.
I proposed CSS in 1994, which was a long time ago, more than 20 years ago now. But the Web was very different then. And understanding the reasons why CSS was invented, helps us understand now why things are the way they are, and maybe why they are not the way we think they should be. There are some requests, which is very understandable, and which will help move CSS forward. When I proposed CSS I wasn't really after the fancy fonts or animations, that wasn't the main driver. The main driver was to protect HTML, so that you have another language to put all these requests for rounded borders and colors and backgrounds and all the fancy stuff, which is very important. We shouldn't underestimate the aesthetics. I think aesthetics is incredibly important, and if we don't offer beautiful web pages, nobody's gonna use the web.

May I shake your hand, Mr Gergiev is a beautiful sentence for an @opera @operaen lover to say. And be heard. @ValeryGergiev #SPIEF2016  Hakon Wium Lie (@wiumlie) 17 June 2016

Besides tech talk, business and politics, the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum, is known for its art and music events, for sharing Russian culture and cuisine. Hakon Wium Lie says he was impressed by the music of Valery Gergiev who gave a concert in the city's Palace square, and by Russian kvass  a traditional drink made from fermented rye bread.

The real reason for going to @SPIEF: kvasshttps://t.co/b2jHWqCUqK pic.twitter.com/AyxrQQS4mf  Hakon Wium Lie (@wiumlie) 16 June 2016

Knowing that Wium Lie runs an organic farm in Norway where he grows apples, and that he also likes pickled foods, Sputnik invited him to St.Petersburg's Vasileostrovsky market, where local farmer sisters Gulya and Malina shared with the Norwegian guest the secrets of traditional Russian pickled apples, garlic, beets and cucumbers.

From pickled garlic we moved on to The Onion Router. Opera recently introduced built-in Virtual Private Network technology in its browsers. Just like the famous privacy tool TOR, or The Onion Router, VPN allows users to stay anonymous by "tunneling" the traffic between user's computer and the web page he's visiting through a special encrypted gateway.

Is Opera trying to follow into the footsteps of TOR by providing VPN privacy features?

We acquired a small company that does the VPN service. And we've calculated that of course it costs us money to run this, but we think that it will benefit us overall. With TOR  the example you mentioned, I think there is healthy  not competition, maybe, you know, we have different ways of achieving the same goals. I do think it's important that there is a community that is very conscious about privacy. Edward Snowden, he lives in Moscow, he cannot go to the West anymore because of the things he disclosed, so I think governments are having problems all over, some of them are little too eager sometimes. We need to make sure that they don't win the battles here.

Just as SPIEF-2016 discussions were in full swing, big IT news hit the headlines: Microsoft announced the upcoming $26.2-billion deal to acquire LinkedIn  world's largest professional network. The issue came up in the conversation when Sputnik asked Hakon Wium Lie about the future of the IT industry.

I think you'll see big companies will do big things. Like, you know, LinkedIn acquired by Microsoft. I'm not sure I want Microsoft to own all the CVs on the planet. So I think there will be a healthy reaction to that, people would want to start other activities. You don't really want to be owned by a huge American corporation.

There is a lot of pressure that the Web is experiencing from the governments and from the corporate world. What can we expect in the future? What's the direction, in which the Web will be going and things that will be possible on the WWW?


MOSCOW (Sputnik)According to the deal signed by Sputnik's Deputy Editor-in-Chief Sergei Kochetkov and Paraguayan Communication Minister Fabrizio Caligaris Ramos, Sputnik will exchange information with Paraguayan IP news agency, Paraguay TV channel and with country's national radio broadcaster.

"This agreement is a big step for our partnership. It opens doors for exchange of information not only between the countries, but also between the continents," Ramos said, as quoted by the statement.

The statement added that the cooperation deal with Paraguayan media became the 10th Sputnik's partnership agreement with international media signed in 2016.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  In December 2015, Trump expressed support for limited profiling of Muslims, in cases when relatives or neighbors thought they acted suspicious.

"You know, I hate the concept of profiling. But we have to start using common sense, and we have to use, you know, we have to use our heads we really have to look at profiling. We have to look at it seriously," Trump said, speaking on the CBS television channels "Face the Nation" program.

He noted that there are countries that conduct such profiling.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)According to The Chicago Tribune, the shootings occurred between Friday evening and early Monday, with the Friday night being the deadliest as five people were shot and killed, while nine were injured.

The weekend injuries in Chicago include 16-17-year-old minors, and a 3-year-old boy, according to the newspaper.

The issue of US gun safety laws has drawn particular attention following the June 12 massacre in Orlando, when a shooter identified as US national Omar Mateen opened fire in a crowded gay nightclub, killing 49 people and injuring at least 53 others. The Orlando massacre has become the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the United States.
WASHINGTON(Sputnik)  US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet with refugees and hosting American families in the US state of Virginia on Monday to honor World Refugee Day, the State Department announced in a press release on Monday.

US Secretary of State John Kerry will be attending an interfaith Iftar reception this evening at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society center in Sterling, Virginia, where he is looking forward to meeting with refugee families and the communities that have so generously welcomed them to the United States, the release said.

The State Department noted that Kerry will be joined by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Special Envoy Angelina Jolie Pitt.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Omar Mateen, the US national who carried out a deadly attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida last week, pledged allegiance to the Daesh terrorist group, and told the United States to stop bombing Syria and Iraq, according to partial 911 transcripts released by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Monday.

"In these calls, the shooter [Mateen], who identified himself as an Islamic soldier, told the crisis negotiator that he was the person who pledged his allegiance to [omitted], and told the negotiator to tell America to stop bombing Syria and Iraq and that is why he was out here right now," one transcript stated.

US Attorney General Loretta Lynch had previously stated that the FBI would redact the transcripts to omit references to the terror group, which is outlawed in the United States, Russia and numerous other countries.
Students have their reasons for their support, with the girls of the view that if Hillary Clinton wins then she will create as the first female US president which will be a big step for women worldwide.

Some students are of the view that Hillary Clinton will be friendly towards India like her husband and former US President Bill Clinton.

Impressed by the support for the Hillary Clinton, students from the neighboring villages have also pledged to support Hillary as the first woman president of US.

Whether it will help Hillary to win the race is a matter of discussion but it will definitely warm her heart to get support from such an unexpected quarter.
Mateen called 911 during the June 12 attack and pledged his allegiance to the terrorist group, which is outlawed in the United States, Russia and many other nations.

Earlier in the day, the FBIs Tampa Field Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ron Hopper said the bureau will not include terrorists names in future transcripts in order to deter future attacks.

During a press briefing in Orlando on Monday, FBI officials said there was no evidence Mateen was directed by foreign terrorists, and was likely radicalized in the United States.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  On Monday, the Supreme Court struck down an appeal by guns rights activists challenging the constitutionality of New York and Connecticut laws that ban citizens from owning military-style assault weapons. The two northeastern US states passed their ban on semi-automatic weapons and large capacity magazines following the tragic mass shooting at the Sandy Hook elementary school in 2012.

Connecticut has led the country with our gun safety laws, and now more than ever we should be seen as a model for Congress when it comes to how best to help keep our communities safe from gun violence.

Murphy, a strong gun safety advocate, continued that commonsense limitations on weapons of war do not infringe on the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners.
In the case of Mateen, since he already worked for a security contractor [G4S], he was either too savvy to bite on the pitch or he may have even become indignant that he was targeted in that fashion. These pitches and use of people can backfire, Rowley continued.

Mateen was working for the seven years up to the shooting as a security officer for G4S Secure Solutions  government contractors who have had several scandals involving their employees in the past.

On the other hand, many on both the right and the left have argued that the FBI did not do enough. They counter that Mateen, with his outrageous claims and perhaps loose grasp on religion, was a perfect recruit for radical terror groups  and that the FBI let him slip through their fingers due to tightening the limits on the agency.

Sputnik News spoke to former FBI informant and current Editor-In-Chief of Breitbart Texas, Brandon Darby, who explained that the role of an informant is to be no more and no less radical than the subject that they are investigating. He explained that they must maintain the same level as the person of interest as to not tip them off and blow the entire thing  a fact which makes it unlikely that the agency shaped his radicalization.

No thinking person would jump to such a conclusion based upon the one comment allegedly made by a local law enforcement official. The only way such a conclusion could be reached is if the person asserting the absurd claim wanted something like that to be true. In my experiences, the FBI enters the scene when a radical extremist is wanting to hurt others. The FBI interferes with and stops such plans, they do not encourage radicalism, Darby explained.
What this would allow is U.S. forces to be more proactive in supporting conventional Afghan forces as they take the fight to the Taliban, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said on Friday. But when theyre accompanying, they continue to remain focused on the advise-and-assist mission that theyve been carrying out for almost two years.

Prior to the announcement, there had already been a sharp increase in strikes. From January through May of this year, there were approximately 450 airstrikes in Afghanistan, compared to just 189 during the same period in the previous year.

The US combat role in Afghanistan ended at the end of 2014, and the President is not considering restarting it, Earnest said on Friday. But the question is, is it possible for us to be more proactive in supporting conventional Afghan security forces? And we anticipate that by offering them more support in the form of advice and assistance, and occasionally accompanying them on their operations, that they are likely to be more effective on the battlefield.


TOKYO (Sputnik)Approximately 65,000 people took part in a rally on Sunday to protest US military personnel crimes in Okinawa, which became the largest demonstration against US presence Okinawa in 20 years.

The protesters signed a petition calling for the withdrawal of US marines corps from Okinawa, which contained the figures taken from Japanese police, the Kyodo news agency reported.

A total of 571 incidents fell under the category of serious crimes, according to the petition.
"Running large-scale military war games in Poland that are going to be seen by the Russians as a threat  and if anything, give them an incentive to go into the Baltic States  is, I think, remarkably foolish," he pointed out.

He was echoed by German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who warned NATO against carrying out military exercises close to the Russian border.

In an interview with the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag late last week, he cautioned the alliance against flexing its military muscles and urged its members to work together with Russia for the security of Europe.

"What we should not do now is to inflame the situation with loud saber-rattling and war cries. Anyone who thinks that symbolic tank parades on the Eastern border of the alliance create more security is mistaken," he said.

Anaconda 2016, one of the largest military drills held in Poland in over 25 years, kicked off on June 6 and involved troops from over 20 NATO member states. It brought together some 31,000 servicemen, 100 aircraft, 12 vessels and 3,000 vehicles.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)According to the Wall Street Journal, Japan's energy giants are reviewing their contracts in a bid to sell surplus fuel. The moves are included in government-supported steps to turn Japan into a LNG trading hub.

"Now is our chance, and we have a window of three or four years to act, [before the balance of supply and demand might change]," Ken Koyama, the managing director at Japans Institute of Energy Economics, told the newspaper.

In May, Jera Co., a joint venture of Tokyo Electric Power Co. and Chubu Electric Power Co., and French Electricite de France SA sealed the first deal on reselling 1.5 tonnes of LNG to France. Jera is currently in talks with a number of European companies on similar contracts, Hiroki Sato, the companys vice president of fuel procurement, told The Wall Street Journal.


HUANGSHAN (Sputnik)Moscow and Beijing are set to sign a deal on the protection of intellectual property in the field of rocket technologies during Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit to China, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Monday.

"First and foremost we are talking about deliveries of RD-180 engines [to China]. This is a very successful engine of ours that we deliver even to the United States," Rogozin said at a preparatory meeting ahead of Putin's visit.

"Secondly, the Russian side is interested in acquiring an electronic component base  radio microelectronics for space purposes, meaning highly durable microelectronics. Agreements on both will be reached after we sign a deal on the protection of intellectual property during President Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit to China. This will open the gates to these two major contracts," he added.
Sooner after his arrival in the Serbian capital on Friday afternoon, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan, accompanied by the couple of Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, attended a memorial ceremony for the three Chinese reporters who were killed in May 7,1999, when satellite-guided bombs from an US Air Force B-2 bomber hit the embassy during the NATO's intervention in Yugoslavia.

Xi is paying a state visit to Serbia from Friday to Sunday. It's the first state visit by Chinese president to Serbia since the country's independence in 2006.

Xi paid a silent tribute to the deceased, without giving any speech. Senior officials from both countries bowed and offered flowers in front of the memorial stone.
Xi called on both sides to adhere to the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, make ties more strategic and comprehensive and expand practical cooperation in various fields to promote all-round and in-depth development of the China-Serbia relationship.

China highly values its friendship with Serbia and cherishes the good momentum of vigorous development of bilateral ties, Xi stressed.

As an old friend and true friend, Serbia is glad to see China's great achievements in socialist development and reform and opening-up, Nikolic said, stressing that both sides should firmly support each other on issues of core interest and major concern.

Xi and Nikolic stressed that the time-honored traditional friendship and the special friendly sentiments between their two countries are forged with blood and lives, and will be passed down for generations.

China and Serbia will join hands in promoting development and peace, the two presidents said.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)Last Wednesday, Polish Defense Minister Antoni Macierewicz expressed hope that four Polish F-16 fighter jets would join the anti-Daesh coalition led by the United States prior to the alliance's summit, scheduled for July 8-9 in Warsaw.

"[The decision] is the worst possible, because it is made ahead of the NATO summit and World Youth Day, large-scale events attracting many people from the outside. It also attracts the attention of terrorist groups, as the security services admit," Schetyna was quoted as saying by RMF, adding that Warsaw should have postponed the announcement.

A US-led coalition of over 60 nations has been conducting airstrikes on Daesh positions in Iraq and Syria since 2014, the terrorist group prohibited in the United States and Russia among others countries.


BERLIN (Sputnik)The next NATO summit will take place on July 8-9 in the Polish capital of Warsaw. The intensification of the Alliance's activities on NATO eastern flank is on the agenda, among other issues.

"Many non-member states have been invited to the summit. But, as far as I know, Russia will not participate [in it]. That's why, I hope very much that not only the German government, but also the US government will find a way to inform the Russian side about any decisions that are made in Warsaw not only within the framework of the NATO-Russia Council at the level of ambassadors, but also at a political level. The best option would be a meeting between Obama and Putin the day before or just after the summit," Ischinger said.

Ischinger added that he hoped the summit would not result in an escalation of tensions between Moscow and the Alliance.


GENEVA (Sputnik)Russia does not exclude the possibility of engaging in IT dialogue with NATO if the alliance offers a constructive agenda, the Russian president's special representative for international cooperation in information security told Sputnik on Monday.

"Russia does not exclude constructive contacts, especially if they are substantial, and not a cover for military preparations, meaning that if the alliance wants talks as a disguise to build cyberpower, we are not ready for such talks. Dialogue needs to be about how to ease tensions in Europe and not legitimize their escalation," Andrei Krutskikh said.


BAKU (Sputnik)Baku and Ankara are holding joint military drills in Turkey, the Azerbaijan Defense Ministry said Monday.

"According to the military plan of bilateral cooperation, Azerbaijan and Turkey launched the ISIK-2016 military drills," a press release from the ministry reads.

According to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry, three Mil Mi-17 military transport helicopters and three Mil Mi-35 attack helicopters left Azerbaijan for a Turkish military base in the central city of Konya.
MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Wellington agreed to extend the deployment of its troops to Iraq within the framework of the joint New Zealand-Australia mission to train the Iraqi army to combat Daesh militants, the press service of the country's Defense Ministry said Monday.

The decision sees the deployment of troops extended until November 2018. The number of troops deployed in Iraq will not change. Approximately 105 New Zealand personnel are currently deployed at Iraq's Camp Taji, which is located around 17 miles north of Baghdad.

New Zealand Defense Minister Gerry Brownlee said that the mission had been a success, adding that it had helped to rid Iraq of Daesh militants.


ST PETERSBURG (Sputnik)The status quo of the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis must be overcome, with Armenian troops withdrawal needed, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said Monday.

"The conflict is dragging on, as Russia and other co-chairs of the Organization for the Security and Co-Operation in Europe [OSCE] Minsk group have stated, the status quo is unacceptable and we support that statement, Aliyev said in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to the Azerbaijani leader, withdrawal of Armenian servicemen is needed to change the status quo.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)On Saturday, a huge forest fire swept through a mountainous area in the east of Cyprus, with firefighters only managing to contain it by late evening. The authorities requested assistance under an existing agreement to cooperate in emergency situations, and Israel dispatched three planes on Sunday to help put out the fire. Earlier in the day, media reported that two Greek planes were also helping on site.

"I want to cordially thank Prime Minister of Israel [Benjamin Netanyahu] and Prime Minister of Greece [Alexis Tsipras]. We have already been in contact, and two more Super Pumas [helicopters] will be sent, which I believe will contribute significantly to the work being performed," Anastasiades wrote in a statement on his Facebook page.

The president said that there were 66 fire engines with 314 firefighters at the scene, and thanked the emergency workers for performing "their duty even when their lives are endangered" in what they see as their obligation to the state.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  US President Barack Obama is calling on other countries to allocate more humanitarian funds and immigration opportunities for refugees ahead of the Leaders Summit on Refugees planned to be held on the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly in September, according to a statement published by the White House.

In advance of that Summit, the United States is urging other governments to contribute more funding for humanitarian aid operations, to grant more refugees the chance to work and attend school, and to provide more resettlement opportunities for refugees who cannot safely go home or remain where they are, Obama said.

Obama also urged US non-governmental partners, including the private sector, to contribute more to help refugees.
ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik)  Presidents of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan reaffirmed their commitment to achieve steady progress in political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.

"Presidents [of Russia, Armenia and Azerbaijan] adjusted the trilateral statement that reaffirms their commitment to normalize the situation on the contact line, includes their agreement on increasing the number of OSCE monitors working in the conflict zone and expresses [their] commitment to create conditions for steady progress in negotiations on political settlement of the conflict," the minister said.

The outbreak of violence erupted in the self-proclaimed Nagorno-Karabakh republic on April 2, and resulted in multiple casualties. On April 5, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a Russian-brokered ceasefire in Moscow.
BERLIN (Sputnik)  Iran's decision to pay off 500 million euros ($569 million) debt to Germanys Hermes company will revive economic relations between the countries, German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said Monday.

Earlier in the day, Iranian media reported that country had settled the debt to Hermes insurance company, which protects Germany's companies if foreign debtors fail to pay.

Gabriel noted that he welcomes the Iran's decision as "it is another important step to revive our economic relations."
WASHINGTON (Sputnik)  Increased economic cooperation and business investment among nations reduces the likelihood of violence and conflict, President Barack Obama told business leaders at the SelectUSA Summit in Washington, DC on Monday.

"[T]he ability for us to trade and do business and to integrate our companies and people learning from each other and innovation-spreading and connecting the globe, promises, prosperity and reductions in poverty and  ultimately  less likelihood of war and violence and conflict," Obama stated.
Avigdor Liberman, Israels new Defense Minister, assumed leadership over the deal from Kahlon on May 30 and is currently in Washington for talks. The deal will provide $40 billion in aid over a ten-year period. Amounting to roughly $4 billion per year, the package represents a slight increase from the current $30 billion contract enacted by former President George W. Bush in 2007.

As the UN Security Council meeting approaches, Israel hasnt let concerns over Obamas stance on Middle East peace issues affect these talks. A Pentagon press secretary said that Liberman and US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter "also discussed regional security challenges in the Middle East and areas of mutual defense cooperation," but this was separate from the aid package discussion.

Most of Carter and Libermans conversation centered around Irans "destabilization tactics."

In March of last year, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a speech before the US Congress, with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden conspicuously absent. Michael Oren, a former aide to Netanyahu, said at the time that Netanyahus criticism of the Iran deal is "not going to change" because "The badness of the deal is going to become increasingly clear if it hasnt already. This is a country that wants to destroy us."

A letter signed by 83 senators back in May urged President Obama to sign a military aid deal with Israel.

"In light of Israels dramatically rising defense challenges, we stand ready to support a substantially enhanced new long-term agreement to help provide Israel the resources it requires to defend itself and preserve its qualitative military edge," the letter read.

"That MOU [memorandum of understanding] should pledge aid at a level that will enable Israel to combine our assistance with its own increased defense budget to meet its essential defense needs over the coming decade."

The bipartisan group noted concerns over terror groups in the Sinai peninsula, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syria and rockets held by Hamas in Gaza and by Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The Israeli government claims that the extra funds are needed because of an increase in Palestinian gun and knife attacks since October.

Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), called Netanyahus plans a "slap in the face of the international community", and stressed that continued Israeli construction would encroach upon land that could be used for a future Palestinian state.

"Israel is doing everything possible to sabotage every effort to achieve a just and lasting peace," he added.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon believes that increased settlement funds will do little to effectively address the root of the recent attacks.

"Security measures alone will not stop the violence." he said. "They cannot address the profound sense of alienation and despair driving some Palestinians, especially young people."
Red Shores Summerside hosted three divisions of the Atlantic Aged Pacing Mares series on Sunday, June 19.

Ramblinglily and Walter Cheverie added their names to the history book when the six-year-old daughter of Articulator stopped the timer in 1:54.4 in a $2,980 division of the series to equal the track record for aged pacing mares set by Abby Best on August 28, 2009. The series is sponsored by Standardbred Canada, Red Shores and PEI Harness Racing Industry Association.

Trained by co-owner Allan Jones for Norman Leger of Shediac, N.B., Ramblinglily tracked down fraction-setter All Chocolate (Steven Shepherd) to notch her 39th lifetime victory and third in a row.

The other winners in the mares pacing series were Best Risque in 1:56.2 for Charlottetown trainer/co-owner Brian Ladner and driver Jason Hughes along with Dustylane MsVickie in 1:57.3 for trainer/driver Marc Campbell and Greyland Farms of Pugwash, N.S.

Motorino, with trainer/co-owner Terry Gallant in the bike, captured the afternoon's $2,300 top class in 1:57.1. The black pacing gelding turned back Bazzillion (Brian MacPhee) and Smiley Bayama (Ron Gass).

Marc Campbell had a driving triple. Wade Sorrie and Gallant posted driving doubles on the 14-dash program.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Summerside Raceway.

(With files from Red Shores)
The Pickaway County Fair kicked off the 2016 Ohio Colt Racing Association stakes races with two beautiful days of harness racing this past weekend.

Saturday's (June 18) card of 17 races and Sunday's (June 19) card of 16 races featured 28 stakes races and five overnights, including the Steamin Demon Pace, a local history lesson and feature race.

With more than $90,000 in purse money available, the horsepeople turned out with more than 200 colts and fillies and the fans lined the backstretch fences and enjoyed the view from the stands with the Adelphi Community Band on Saturday and the Pumpkin Show Band on Sunday.

The speed committee at Circleville deserve kudos as they had great publicity, advertisements, giveaways and plenty of food vendors. They also promoted several races with honourariums to horsepeople through the ages in Pickaway County.

John Fissell and Tish Arledge memorial races were held on Saturday and Forrest Short, Bill Mayhugh and Edward Yock Strawser memorials were raced on Sunday. Two Pickaway County campaigners were also honoured in the Macs Classic trot and the Steamin Demon pace. Sixty-plus years after Stemin Demon won the hearts of round town fans, the Van Camp family was on hand to present trophies in the feature race and the George W. Van Camp trot.

With two-sub 2:00 races and several others right at the mark, the track was fast and well maintained by the crew. Steve Carter led all trainers with four wins, while Jim Arledge Jr. and Bret Schwartz posted doubles on Saturday's card. The ladies were not to be outdone, with several driving, and Sherri Holliday and Devan Miller sending winners to the post.

(Pickaway County Fair)
On Monday, June 20, The Meadows Racetrack & Casino will offer a $15,000 total-pool guarantee for its Pick 5 wager as part of the United States Trotting Association's Strategic Wagering Initiative. The Meadows added the instant guarantee after Saturdays Pick 5 was uncovered, resulting in a two-day carryover of $4,364.93.

In addition, Mondays card includes a $5,000 total-pool guarantee for the Pick 4, a regular feature of each program at The Meadows.

Minimum wager for the Pick 4 (races four through seven) and Pick 5 (races 10 through 14) is 50 cents. Since Pennsylvania law requires a minimum per-race wager of $2, a player wagering at the 50-cent level must bet at least four tickets.

First post for Mondays program is 1 p.m.

(The Meadows)
The Harness Horse Breeders of New York State would like to remind horse owners and trainers about some updates and other information.

The date at Monticello Raceway for all two-year-old colt trot New York Sire Stakes events has been changed to June 30 (draw date of June 27 by 9 a.m.).

Please make sure you have USTA eligibility paperwork done and your USTA license to race at county fairs.

The 2015 proposed USTA rule to stop two-year-olds from racing on consecutive days did not pass. You may enter and race two days in a row if you wish.

You must have a W-9 on file in the NYSS office to receive county fair (only) purse cheques.

The Monticello race program for Monday, June 27 will have a class for NY-bred three-year-old trotting fillies with a purse of $5,000.

Residency Form B is due after your resident mare has been in New York for a total of 180 days. These forms must be done every year you bred to a NY-eligible stallion and are in the state for at least 180 days.

If you have any questions, please call 518-785-5858

(Harness Horse Breeders of New York State)
A Historic Night for Jewish-Christian Relations at the LA Jerusalem Banquet

Contact: Stephen Jenks, 716-759-1058LOS ANGELES, June 20, 2016 / Standard Newswire / -- The Israel Christian Nexus, in partnership with Eagles' Wings, held the fourth Los Angeles Jerusalem Banquet at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on June 14, 2016. The iconic International Ballroom, site of the Golden Globes and other Hollywood awards shows, hosted a very different gathering as celebrities, business, political, and religious leaders from both the Jewish and Christian communities gathered to celebrate Jerusalem and their shared values.The high-energy evening included an address from Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles, David Siegel. Prominent leaders of the evening included Rabbi Yehuda Feigen, Dr. Judea Pearl, Rev. Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, Mr. Simon Etehad, Pastor John-Paul Foster, Mr. David Suissa, Mrs. Angela Evans, Rabbi Pini Dunner, and Dr. Jack Hayford.The four event co-chairs Dina Leeds, Gila Milstein, Aline Shomof and Miri Shepher opened the evening, welcoming the largest-ever Jerusalem Banquet crowd to this evening of solidarity with Israel.President of the Israel Christian Nexus Rev. Robert Stearns spoke to the crowd, enthusiastically sharing, "Tonight we have an opportunity to continue the legacy of incredible leaders like General Shimon Erem and Pastor Jack Hayford in standing together as Jews and Christians, united in our love and support for Israel and the Jewish people."The event centered around honoring outstanding leaders in the Jewish and Christian communities, and equipping the next generation to be strong voices in support of Israel and the Jewish people. Dr. Judea Pearl, award winning professor of computer science at UCLA and the father of slain Wall Street Journalist Daniel Pearl, was honored for his life of impact in education, his work for interfaith understanding, and his strong stand for Israel.Rev. Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the world's largest Hispanic Christian organization serving as a representative voice for the more than 100 million Hispanic Evangelicals around the world, was honored for his leadership and his strong stand on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people.In addition two emerging young leaders were honored at the gala. Mr. Simon P. Etehad, Esq, is a highly-successful trial lawyer and a leader in the Jewish community. Pastor John-Paul Foster is a pastor at Faithful Central Bible Church, led by Bishop Kenneth Ulmer. Pastor Foster recently returned from a pastors' trip to Israel with Rev. Robert Stearns. Both men received awards for their outstanding example and leadership in the community.One of the highlights of the evening was hearing from students impacted through the Shimon Erem Israel Experience College Program. The Israel Experience, which has been dubbed the "Christian Birthright," trains the best and brightest Christian college and university students to be informed ambassadors for Israel in the midst of a rising tide of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment on university campuses.The group of Israel Experience students currently in the land brought a greeting from Israel via video, while several Israel Experience Alumni were present at the gala, including Ryan Mauro, 2009 Israel Experience Alumnus and leading national security analyst. Mauro, who is featured regularly on FOX News and other media outlets, shared, "The knowledge and understanding I gained through the Israel Experience has been integral to all the work I have done since. The best thing you can do to combat BDS and the rise of Anti-Semitism on the university campus is to support the Israel Experience."Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles, David Siegel, also addressed the gathering, saying, "The work that Robert Stearns and the Israel Christian Nexus is doing is vital for Los Angeles and for Israel."The evening of honor and celebration included special musical selections of joyous traditional songs which brought the room to their feet, singing and clapping.Concluding an extraordinary and historic evening in Jewish-Christian relations in Los Angeles, Dr. Jack Hayford, who has been one of the leaders of the Israel Christian Nexus from its earliest days, said, "Tonight we have seen there is more that unites us than that which separates us. We join together with one voice in prayer for the peace of Jerusalem."Support was raised from the evening to strengthen the work of the Israel Christian Nexus, including the Shimon Erem Israel Experience College Program, a study tour which gives tomorrow's leaders an educated heart for Israel. Each year students are educated first-hand on the realities in Israel. Students have participated from over 113 American Universities. For more information, visit: www.jerusalembanquetla.org
By Daisy Handfield

THE THREE men who were arrested in relation to the Sunny Foods supermarket robbery appeared in the magistrates court in Providenciales on Friday, June 3, for a sufficiency hearing.





The judge adjourned the matter until June 22.





Wilbert Almonor, Fritzner Prevaus and Reginald Presil were remanded at Her Majestys Prison in Grand Turk until the court date.





They could all face prison time for the charge of conspiracy to rob.





The three men are all in their early 30s and of Haitian descent.





Alboin Williams, owner of Tag Security Services, was the victim of multiple gunshot wounds to his back during a money pick up at the Sunny Foods supermarket heading in the Five Cays area in Providenciales on April 10.





Williams has since been discharged from the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre in Providenciales.





Police are urging anyone with information about this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1-800-8477 or use the Crime Stoppers reporting page at www.crimestoppers.tc.




BY OLIVIA ROSE

FortisTCI Limited inked a US$5 million bond agreement with the Turks and Caicos Islands

National Insurance Board (NIB).





This comes as the country`s electricity giant and the NIB held a joint press conference to close a bond agreement of US$5 million on Thursday June 16.





According to a release from Fortis the net proceeds from the bond issue will be used to finance a portion of the companys estimated capital expenditure of approximately $70 million during 2016 and 2017.





Negotiations for this bond began in February of this year, it was during this period that members of the FortisTCI Senior Management Team met with the NIB Board of Directors to provide a complete overview of the Companys operations and for the NIB to conduct its due diligence exercise, the release read.





"Historically, the NIB has always made special provision for local investments in its portfolio which is guided by the Domestic Investment Policy in the Investment Policy Statement.





"The NIB believes that besides the social impact of investing locally that the TCI being a rapidly growing economy provides an opportunity to earn competitive risk-adjusted returns.





"Over the years, the NIB has primarily invested with the public sector or with quasi-government entities but has also invested in private entities.





"While historically this investment is not the largest local investment to date, it is significant in terms of the fact that it affords the people of the Turks & Caicos Islands an avenue to invest in a local reputable and fiscally sound company through their contributions entrusted to the NIB.





Speaking at the signing, NIB Chairlady Lillian Misick said: "The Board of Directors believes that this investment with FortisTCI represents the ideal type of local investment that the NIB should be pursuing, considering the underutilization of funds allocated for domestic investment.





"It also provides the opportunity for the Board to pursue its mandate to grow the fund to meet its future statutory obligations.





FortisTCI President and CEO Eddinton Powell expressed elation with the new agreement.





"We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the Board of Directors of the Turks and Caicos Islands National Insurance Board. FortisTCI is indeed a strong company and a good investment that the Turks and Caicos Islands can be proud of.





"I join in celebrating this landmark achievement for FortisTCI, the NIB, and the people of Turks and Caicos Islands. I hope that this bond investment by the NIB in FortisTCI will be the first of many.





The National Insurance Board is a social security program established under The National Insurance Ordinance and subsidiary legislation, to establish a system of National Insurance providing for payment in respect of retirement, invalidity, death, sickness, maternity, employment injury and old age.




BY OLIVIA ROSE

DEPUTY Leader of the People`s Democratic Movement (PDM), Sean Astwood had chided the Government for not demonstrating their national pride at the last National Heroes Day memorial observance.





Astwood recently called out government officials in the House of Assembly for not showing up to activities that were held across the Turks and Caicos Islands to commemorate National Heroes day.





He said: "Some might get mad that I highlighted their absence, and thats fine and good, but they would undoubtedly say that they have national pride, but I can assure you, the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands and you yourself did not see their pride displayed at that last National Heroes Day memorial ceremony.





"Therefore Mr. Speaker let me put our country on notice, next year on National Heroes Day, under a PDM lead government, every minister, every member of Cabinet, every head of government departments, all school and uniformed officers will be mandated to turn out to official functions and parades.





Astwood went on to lament the importance of leaders of the country attending and participating in events that ignite a spirit of national cohesion.





Responding to his comments Minister of Finance Washington Missick on Friday June 10, adamantly pointed out that it was under his administration that National Heroes Day was recognised.





He said: "To have the gall to come in and say that we dont respect his memory, or in somehow dishonoring the heritage and his contribution to make political mileage, I could not sit by and allow that to pass.





It was under my administration that the National Heroes ordinance was passed.





Many residents also took to social media to call out Government Ministers for not showing up to many events held to mark the life and achievements of the countrys first Chief Minister, James Alexander George Smith McCartney.





It was noted that only Premier Rufus Ewing attended the National Heroes Day Memorial Service.




TWO senior members of staff from the Office of the Deputy Governor completed a managing and recruitment programme recently.





Tito Lightbourne, Director of the Deputy Governors Office, and Keisha Taylor, HR manager within the Human Resource Management Directorate, both attended the Professional Certificate Training programme in Managing Public Service Recruitment and Selection in London, England.





The training was hosted by Public Administration International (PAI), a world renowned and professionally accredited organisation.





Deputy Governor Anya Williams said: "The Office of the Deputy Governor is pleased to facilitate these types of continuous learning programmes for staff via the Professional Development Fund.





"During the past several years the Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) has implemented several public sector reform initiatives which lead to a new Public Service Ordinance and handbook.





"However, many of our HR procedures and practices had remained unchanged.





"It has been and will continue to be a priority for my office to continue to improve the efficiency of the Human Resource Directorate by implementing new and innovative procedures which we hope will result in recruiting the best people into TCIG as well as properly managing our existing staff.





"We at the moment are maximising the potential of our vacancies web page, social media job postings and for the first time will be hosting a job readiness fair.





"All of these efforts are aimed at attracting greater talent to civil service and in ensuring that we maximise the full potential of the resources made available to us.





"Congratulations to our staff members Mr Lightbourne and Ms Taylor, I am certain that this training programme will yield great benefit to the Turks and Caicos Islands Government.





The initiative was funded by the Professional Development Fund (PDF) within the Office of the Deputy Governor which was recently established to provide public officers with financial assistance for continuous development programmes.





These include short courses or workshops, certificate programmes, secondments, online degree programmes, professional certificate programs such as CPA and ACCA as well as providing financial support for civil servants attending the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College and grants to civil servants pursuing Bachelor or Graduate degree programmes.





Participants of the training programme benefited from presentations from various leading UK experts in areas such as civil service reform, recruitment and selection, competency frameworks, HR transformation, increasing the use of technology in HR which includes implementing HR management programmes and using the various social media platforms to assist with recruiting.





In addition, participants visited the UKs Civil Service Resourcing Department as well as the Cabinet Office which is responsible for the UKs Fast Stream/Graduate Programme.




BY OLIVIA ROSE

ILLEGAL beach vending and littering are some of the major issues affecting the tourism product in the nations capital, Grand Turk.





These issues were highlighted in the House of Assembly on Monday June 13, when the Deputy Speaker of the House, Josephine Connolly questioned the latest decline in the country`s ratings which took a significant dive from being number one to number four.





She said: "This government took over a tourists` product which was the best in the world; this led to increased tourists numbers and increasing financial revenues, which this government has taken credit for. But under the guardianship of this government our tourists ratings have fallen dramatically.





"One (reason) is the harassment of tourists by beach vendors. We have a regulatory framework for businesses, and it is the business license ordinance. Why is it not being enforced.





The Deputy Speaker`s comments sparked a heated debate among several members of the House, who were eager to give their two cents on the issue.





Minister of Tourism Porsha Stubb-Smith said the Government is aware of the issue and is actively engaging key stakeholders to address the problem.





She said: "Turks and Caicos Islands is still number one, we just received an award from global travelers award while we were on the premier`s promotional tour for number one beach.

"

"And we are continuously receiving honorable mentions and accolades throughout the world as we have seen this weekend by our junior chiefs.





Minister of Natural resources George Lightbourne in his response to the Deputy Speaker's remarks noted that the Government is making a concerted effort to address the issue.





He said Government is assiduously working on legislation that will standardize beach vendors.

"

"This Government is currently in the process of trying to put a structure together to manage the beach vendors. I want the public to know that we support beach vending, we do not support harassing. If they are harassing the guests then I appeal to them on a daily basis, do not harass the guests. Allow them to come to you.





"You can advertise your business without harassing people. But to ask this Government to get rid of beach vendors, I will have a problem.




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!)
A THIRTY foot blue and white wooden boat carrying 57 illegal migrants from Haiti was captured on Wednesday, June 8, attempting to enter the Turks and Caicos Islands shores illegally.





The boat was intercepted by marine police at about 11.49pm that night and all aboard were transported to the immigration detention centre for further processing.





Kevin Clarke, press officer for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF), said in an interview that the force continues to work along with the radar station to detect illegal sloops.





Clarke said that the marine branch of the force is also always patrolling the TCI waters for any intervention that may be needed.





He said: "We continue to ask people that if they hear of anything or of a boat planning to enter the country illegally, to please contact the police so that they can be on guard.





Last month there was an incident where a security guard was choked and handcuffed to a cell door as 12 Haitian migrants staged an escape from the immigration detention centre in Five Cays, Providenciales.





The situation spiralled after one of the detainees began complaining of stomach pains and asked to be taken to the restroom.





As the guard began to help the man a struggle took place and the guard was choked and handcuffed to the cell door meaning that 12 male detainees were able to escape before back up arrived.





The escapees were aboard an illegal sloop which was intercepted by the RTCIPF Marine Branch on May 1, off the coast of Providenciales.





The boat carried 108 illegal Haitian migrants.





Clarke is warning residents of the TCI that the harbouring of illegal individuals is a serious offence and if found, they will be dealt with according to the law.




BY OLIVIA ROSE

THREE hundred and thirteen students obtained fifty percent or higher in this year`s, Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT).





This announcement was made on Thursday June, 16 by the Deputy Premier and Minister of Education Akierra Missick in the House of Assembly.





Missick told the house that a total of 417 students representing the ten public primary schools and eleven private primary schools in the Turks and Caicos Islands, wrote the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) on May 25 and 26, 2016.





The test consisted of five papers: English Language Paper 1, English Language Paper 2, Mathematics, Science and the General Paper.





Students were required to obtain an overall average of 50% percent from a total of five hundred and twenty five (525) marks.





A media release from the Ministry, noted that the 2016 results indicate that the students collectively achieved 75.1% a rise in the pass rate from 2015 which was 72.1%.





The Education Minister expressed satisfaction with the overall performance of the students who sat the examination and lauded their efforts.





She said:"It is a clear indication that our primary school age students are continuously raising the bar in their academic achievements; but with a near 3% percent increase in a 12 month period, also indicates we have the best educators in the region, if not the world.





"I am very pleased with these results and note that more work will be done by the Department of Education and our school administrators, to ensure each year we have such stellar increases in passes at GSAT.





"Once again, congratulations are in order to all the students, their schools administration and staff, and of course the parents who assisted with preparing our students who sat and passed the exams and we wish them the best as they move into their High School career.





The Minister also, encouraged those students who were unsuccessful in passing their GSAT, to not be discouraged, and urged parents to meet with teachers to identify areas of weakness so that a plan of action for "Success at GSAT can be put in place to ensure every child is afforded every opportunity to transition to High School.





It was noted that the top three positions in the four subjects were shared among male and female students representing public and private schools.





A list of the top students for this year is below:

The top ten averages, range from 86.48% to 90.29% and is equally shared between male and female students representing private and public schools:

1 Sambuta-Jahtee Meier Precious Treasures

2 Britney Gardiner Adelaide Oemler Primaries

3 Michaella Archille Oseta Jolly Primaries

4 Jarius Robinson Richmond Hill Preparatory

5 Ashley Archibald Shining Stars Preparatory

6 Kyfani Campbell Eliza Simons Primary

7 Syr.DAnjhu Steward Precious Treasures

8 Naethia Williams Ona Glinton Primary

9 Arquino St. Paul Oseta Jolly Primary

10 Shandia Gardiner Providence International School




BY OLIVIA ROSE

THE Turks and Caicos Islands is gearing up to welcome a new Governor, as the incumbent Governor, Peter Beckingham prepares to bid the islands farewell.





Dr .John Freeman, CMG has been appointed Governor of Turks and Caicos Islands in succession to Peter Beckingham, who will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service.





Dr. Freeman who has been appointed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will take up his appointment during October 2016.





Freeman will be coming to the TCI from Argentina, where he has been serving as ambassador since 2012.





Commenting on the announcement, Governor Peter Beckingham in a release, said: "Jill and I will be sad to leave Turks and Caicos.





"We have had three very happy years here, the work has been stimulating and everyone most welcoming. Our two daughters and our new grandchildren have also loved visiting.





"I hope we can see many friends, colleagues and business contacts before we leave in October;





"Jill is planning another Footsteps4Good in September, so that will be a great opportunity to catch up with lots of people across the Family islands."





Beckingham was appointed Governor of the TCI in October 2013; he succeeded Governor Ric Todd, who was transferred to another diplomatic service appointment.





Beckingham before becoming the Governor of the TCI was the Deputy High Commissioner to India, heading the Mumbai Western Indian offices.





His previous appointments overseas included Ambassador to the Philippines (and non-resident Ambassador to Palau, Micronesia and the Marshall Islands), Consul-General and Director-General of Trade and Investment Sydney, and Director British Information Services New York.





He was also Director of the Joint FCO/DTI Export Promotion Directorate in London, ran the commercial section of the Embassy in Stockholm, and had a short-term secondment to Cadbury-Schweppes.





On his appointment as Governor of Turks and Caicos Islands in 2013 Beckingham said:





"I am honoured and delighted to have been appointed Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands.





I look forward to working with the elected government there to strengthen the Islands prosperity, and helping to support, with my wife, their rich culture, world-class environment and important relationship with the UK.




By Daisy Handfield

PROVO Discount Pharmacy, a business establishment in the Central Square Plaza on the Leeward Highway was robbed during broad daylight on Tuesday (June 14).





At 12:53pm police arrived on the scene where the complainant informed officers that around 12:48pm a slim built male of dark complexion, height unknown and with a white shirt tied around his head covering his face, entered the store pointing a small silver gun at her and demanded cash from the cash register.





After telling the man that she did not have access to the register, he jumped the counter and took an undisclosed amount of cash before fleeing the scene.





A crime scene was established.





No one was injured during the incident.





The police are urging anyone who was in the area at that time to call Crime Stoppers on 1-800-8477 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: www.crimestoppers.tc.





The Chalk Sound police station can be reached at telephone 338-5901.





PR for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF), Kevin Clarke, gave a list of safety tips during an interview with this newspaper so that businesses could minimize the possibilities of becoming victims of crimes.





He encouraged business owners to consider having proper lighting on their premises encase a robber decided to rob at night.





He said: "At least if a robber is going to rob a business place at night and they put on a mask, if they know people inside can see them, they will hesitate.





Clarke also urged business owners to install surveillance cameras around their establishments.

"They must have a DVR capability which can record and play back video and allow to monitor for suspicious behaviour, Clarke said.





The officer said that workers must be as vigilant as possible when people enter their work establishments because sometimes people might go into stores or businesses to see what kind of security is inside of the building before launching their attack.





He said: "Be mindful of the questions that they are asking.





"Certain questions like, what time do you close and do you have security guards are suspicious questions.





"The RTCIPF always urges business owners and members of the public to continue to remain vigilant of their surroundings, be mindful of persons walking into their businesses (in and around) and do not hesitate to report suspicious persons or suspicious vehicles.





"Always remember that safety is first!




Googles Doodle, a well-known way to celebrate auspicious days on its homepage, has celebrated the Fathers Day yesterday. The search engine giant released an image that comprises a doormat with the shoes of a father and a child.

Majorly countries mark third Sunday of June as Fathers Day. In the early 1900s, it came in tradition to complement the Mothers Day and to celebrate fathers and male parenting.

Google had marked the occasion with doodles in previous years as well! However, this time, the public reach was comparatively quite lower than most of the Google doodles.

Though Fathers Day isnt considered as a holiday in India but it is celebrated with a great pleasure and exuberance to thank our good dads for their instruction, guidance and love.

Recently, Google also launched a new video that celebrates the dreams and aspiration of a father. Google has also launched a video recently celebrating the dreams and aspiration of a father.
After six months of travel in space, the British astronaut, Tim Peake has landed on Earth on Saturday. It looked as if it would be quite an easy list that nearly did not appear appropriate for a space age.

I think I will have some pizza later and a cold beer, maybe, Peake said after returning to the earth. Peake landed with two other astronauts in south-east of Zhezkazgan in Kazakhstan at 3.15pm local time (0915 GMT).

And that was his wishlist, not after just any trip. It was incredible, the best ride I have been on, ever, Peake said after landing in Kazakhstan at the end of a seven-hour journey. I just felt fantastic from start to finish, he added said after completing the 186-day trip to the International Space Station, since their launch in December 2015.

NASAs Tim Kopra of NASa, European Space Agencys Tim Peake and Yuri Malenchenk from the Russian agency Roscosmos were taken by the landing capsule. They have conducted hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science during the mission.

Revealing his wishlist he said that he wanted to be back in the fresh air. The smells of Earth are just so strong, just so good to be back on Earth. Ill look forward to seeing the family, he added. I would love some cool rain right now as it is very hot inside this suit, Peake wished while sitting in scorching heat.

He was enjoying the earths atmosphere after returning back, however, he was missing the view of earth from space during the media conference. Its a life-changing experience. To be up there for six months and see and experience everything from there was just truly incredible, he said.

Time to put on some weight! What an incredible journey it has been- thank you for following & see you back on Earth, he tweeted before starting his journey back to Earth. In the past six months, Peake was actively tweeting from the space platform, sharing variety of pictures from the space.

Time to put on some weight! What an incredible journey it has been thank you for following & see you back on Earth! pic.twitter.com/ffAhPvsAFv  Tim Peake (@astro_timpeake) June 17, 2016

According to Wikipedia, Timothy Nigel Peake CMG (born 7 April 1972) is a British Army Air Corps officer, European Space Agency astronaut and International Space Station (ISS) crew member.

He is the first British ESA astronaut, the second astronaut to bear a British flag patch (the first was Helen Sharman), the sixth person born in the United Kingdom to go on board the International Space Station (the first wasNASA astronaut Michael Foale in 2003) and the seventh UK-born person in space (the first was Helen Sharman, who visited Mir as part of Project Juno in 1991). He began the ESAs intensive astronaut basic training course in September 2009 and graduated on 22 November 2010.

First Published on: Jun 19, 2016, 08:39 PM
tech2 News Staff

At I/O 2016, Google confirmed that Android apps will be coming to Chrome OS devices in the near future. The apps were supposed to be available through the Google Play Store on Chromebooks.

The first such apps have now started to show up, but you need alpha software to try them as they are only available on developer release channel.

The first devices that are supported by Google to run Android apps are the ASUS Chromebook Flip, the 2015 Chromebook Pixel and the Acer Chromebook R11  all of them running the Chrome OS 53, alpha version of Chrome that was released on developer channel.

To clarify the apps only work if they don't need the features dependent on hardware like telephony (calls and SMS), GPS, rear camera or the app being a custom launcher. There are quite a number of bugs and issues like the apps open as windows in Chrome OS cannot be resized and video apps go dark as soon as the focus is removed from them.

These flaws are not Google's fault or the developers fault, because this is how everything has been working since years and features to accommodate and make apps work side-by-side need to be implemented. Apps here don't serve you notifications unless and until you have minimised in the background. These flaws will only go with time and after doing minor tweaks to the UI and working of apps. While some of the bugs and flaws like the lack of resizing of apps, has been marked to be fixed in Android N and other fixes should come as the software matures from alpha stage to stable release.
tech2 News Staff

In celebration of World Wi-Fi Day, Google has released some stats showcasing the success of their project with Railtel to bring free Wi-Fi to railway stations in India.

Since launch, Google and Railtel have extended service to 19 cities and claim that 1.5 million Indians have so far availed themselves of the service. Adding that theyve only hit 20 percent of their expected rollout this year, Google says theyre very positive about the response so far and that its been phenomenal.

They point out that 100,000 people were online within a week of launch at Mumbai Central, but apparently, Bhubaneshwar surpassed that record within a day of launch. In fact, Google says that Tier 2 cities like Bhubaneshwar and Visakhapatnam are seeing the highest adoption rates and the highest data consumption. On average, users in Tier 2 cities consume about 15 times their daily 3G consumption, says Google.

Speaking of usage patterns, Google says that people are mostly looking at infotainment, but that a lot of people are looking for and applying for jobs online. A lot of students in Bhubaneshwar also seem to appreciate the service as theyre searching for educational related information.

With everybody talking about data caps, throttling and net neutrality, its actually nice to see a company get excited about free Internet and high data consumption.
tech2 News Staff

Making the self-driving segment more competitive, IBM has showcased Olli, a 3D-printed self-driving bus that is ready to hit roads in the US. This electric-powered bus is based on IBM's AI platform Watson and designed by Local Motors.

The vehicle will hit roads in Washington, DC, followed by Miami and Las Vegas later this year. While Local Motors and IBM, have earlier worked on a Rally Fighter concept car, but Olli could be its first commercial vehicle. Olli will be using a special version of Watson, which focuses on improving passenger experience. It can carry up to 12 people, and comes equipped with technologies including IBM Watson Internet of Things (IoT) for Automotive, to improve the passenger experience and allow natural interaction with the vehicle, the company claims.

Passengers can interact with Olli while travelling and discuss topics about how the vehicle works, where they are going, and why Olli is making specific driving decisions. Watson empowers Olli to understand and respond to passengers questions. These interactions, acording to the company, are aimed at offering pleasant, intuitive and interactive experiences for riders. And, the 3D printing helps bring down the cost.

The platform leverages four Watson developer APIs such as Speech to Text, Natural Language Classifier, Entity Extraction and Text to Speech. This will help with interactions between the vehicle and passengers. "Cognitive computing provides incredible opportunities to create unparalleled, customized experiences for customers, taking advantage of the massive amounts of streaming data from all devices connected to the Internet of Things, including an automobiles myriad sensors and systems," said Harriet Green, General Manager, IBM Watson Internet of Things, Commerce & Education.

Local Motors CEO and co-founder John B. Rogers, Jr. said, "Olli with Watson acts as our entry into the world of self-driving vehicles, something weve been quietly working on with our co-creative community for the past year. We are now ready to accelerate the adoption of this technology and apply it to nearly every vehicle in our current portfolio and those in the very near future. Im thrilled to see what our open community will do with the latest in advanced vehicle technology.
Naina Khedekar

Edutech or e-learning is gaining a foothold in India, but this wasnt the case back in 2009 when Krishna Kumar started his blog called Simplilearn.com. Today, with close to 500 employees and office operations in San Jose, California and Bangalore, its a professional training startup aimed at the upskilling and reskilling of working professionals across the world. It's available to access on the web and also in the form of iOS and Android apps.

Kumar, the CEO and founder of Simplilearn has always been inclined towards education. He started blogging in 2009 after he sold his first venture named TechUnified. "The blog was a personal platform where I helped PMP aspirants to crack their certification examinations through audio and visual e-tutorials. There was a surge of people visiting the blog from various parts of the world and in less than nine months, I trained over 3,000 professionals from over 30 countries. Over time, I realized that this personal blog on project management had immense potential to become an online business that can cater to the training needs of professionals, he tells us.

Simplilearn blends modern online learning models and next-gen customer experience, offering short-term certification courses in domains like Digital marketing, Big Data, Data Science, Mobile App Development, IT Security and Project Management, among others. According to Kumar, the aim of offering short term yet accredited training that will directly influence and increase the career opportunities for professionals sets it apart from other, similar ventures.

Our courses bring tangible impact to individuals and result in better jobs, higher salary packages and so on. Leveraging the latest technologies to offer best-in-class online training experience, weve also pioneered several industry firsts like the Flexible Online Classroom, Global Teaching Assistants and bringing gamification to courses like Agile Scrum Master, he said.

He further explains that professionals want to learn new skills but struggle with physical classrooms due to time constraints and other logistics issues. Besides, several e-learning options have low engagement. At Simplilearn, the default offering is the Flexi Online Classroom that combines the interactivity of classrooms and the on-demand nature of online learning, he adds. It lets learners attend unlimited live online sessions with world class trainers, unbound by geographies and time-zones, he further added.

Simplilearn has raised $28 million in capital, so far. The latest funding was in April 2015, with $15M in Series C funding from Mayfield Fund, Kalaari Capital and Helion Venture Partners. The startup makes money by charging a fee per course and also via subscription to its entire catalogue.

Kumar says that now the plan is to strengthen the courses Simplilearn offers and also add newer categories like finance, HR and so on. Our robust technology and recurring innovations on the product front will help us reach a much wider consumer base, he said. It is hoping to transform careers of at least 180,000 professionals this year.
The Florida Panthers mini makeover continues.

George Richards of the Miami Herald reports the Panthers have traded for the rights to veteran defenseman Keith Yandle from the New York Rangers.

.@FlaPanthers getting the negotiating rights to UFA defenseman Keith Yandle for a draft pick as well as a conditional if he signs.  George Richards (@GeorgeRichards) June 20, 2016

The deal is for a sixth-round pick and a conditional fourth-round pick if Yandle signs with the club, according to Darren Dreger of TSN.ca.

Its a nice pick-up for the Panthers, as Yandle is an excellent point-producer and offensive defenseman. Hes scored five goals and 47 points in 2015-16 and hit the 50+ point mark in his previous two seasons. Hes a top-pairing defenseman who excels at generating shot attempts.

Yandles not an amazing defensive player, but hes not a negative in that regard either. Hes exactly the type of defenseman youd expect the Panthers analytical-minded front office would go after. Floridas got plenty of cap space to work with.

The Panthers are clearly reworking their teams defense, as earlier this offseason they traded Erik Gudbranson and a 2016 fifth-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks in a coup for Jared McCann, a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick in the 2016 draft. Both Willie Mitchell and Brian Campbell are unrestricted free agents this offseason, so the Panthers are rebuilding the d-core around Aaron Ekblad and Michael Matheson.

At the end of the day, a sixth-round pick isnt costly to effectively get an extra week-plus to negotiate with Yandle. If the Panthers can seal the deal and sign the talented rearguard to a contract, its going to be a heck of a signing for Florida.
Mir Quasem files review prayer

Staff Reporter :

Mir Quasem Ali, former Al-Badr leader and Jamaat-e-Islami Majlish-e-Shura member, on Sunday prayed for a review of the Supreme Court's verdict upholding his death penalty for his crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War in 1971.

Barrister Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem, son of Mir Quasem, submitted the review petition with the Appellate Division yesterday morning mentioning 14 grounds of seeking release from the war crime charges.

He submitted the 86 pages review petition.

Senior lawyer Advocate Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, defence counsel claimed that the International Crimes Tribunal-2 (ICT-2) had convicted Mir Quasem taking unverified statements of prosecution witnesses for true.

"The verdict of Appellate Division is contrary to the rule of Law. The tribunal had delivered its verdict depending on the documents submitted by the prosecution. The documents and witnesses submitted by the prosecution against Mir Quasem were motivated," said Khandaker Mahbub in a press briefing on the Supreme Court premises.

"The Appellate Division upheld the verdict of the tribunal considering Mir Quasem as principal accused, while the tribunal considered him as apparatus. This is a clear ground of motivated verdict," he said.

"Mir Quasem was in Dhaka when incidents took places in Chittagong, but he had been considered as principal accused thereof," Khandaker Mahbub also said.

In his petition, Mir Quasem prayed for his acquittal overturning his life-term and death sentence upheld by the Appellate Division on March 8 for crimes against humanity committed during the War of Independence.

The Supreme Court released full text of its verdict upholding the death penalty of Mir Quasem Ali, the Chief Financier of Jamaat-e-Islami, on June 6.

He had filed an appeal with the Supreme Court challenging the death penalty on November 30 in 2014.

The ICT-2 had sentenced Mir Quasem, chief of Al-Badr during the Liberation War in port city of Chittagong in 1971 to death on November 2, 2014.

Out of total 14 charges brought against him for war crimes, the tribunal convicted him on 10 counts of charges and acquitted him from four.

Once the matter of review is resolved and if the death sentence is upheld, the war crimes convict will have the opportunity to seek a presidential clemency. And if the clemency is rejected, the government will order the jail authority to execute the court's order death sentence.

Mir Quasem Ali was the third most important functionary after Jamaat-e-Islami chief Matiur Rahman Nizami and Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid. The government executed death sentence of both Nizami and Mujahid for their alleged crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation War in 1971.

Mir Quasem, a terror during 1971 in Chittagong, has proved to be a shrewd businessman and politician.

The 63-year old media tycoon pumped billions into the Jamaat-e-Islami since the mid-1980.

Quasem had allegedly paid $25 million to an American lobbyist firm to carry out a smear campaign to make the war crimes trial controversial, said the then Law Minister Shafique Ahmed in the Parliament on April 28, 2013.


ASI killed in Gazipur road crash

Gazipur, June 20 (UNB) - An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of police was killed as a truck hit his motorbike at Sutrapur Boardghor on Dhaka-Tangail highway in Kalikoir upazila on Sunday night. The deceased was identified as Taiyubur Rahman, an assistant sub-inspector of Sylhet Kotwali Police Station and son of late Abdul Ahad Miah of Datpara village in Mirzapur upazila of Tangail district. Sub-inspector of Mirzapur Gorai Highway Police camp Abdul Motalib said a speeding truck hit a motorcycle carrying Taiyubur from opposite direction in the area at about 8:30pm, leaving him critically injured. Taiyubur was rushed to Mirzapur Kumudini Hospital where doctors declared him dead.
SEU recognized Best Blood Donor organization

Campus Report :

Southeast University (SEU) was awarded by Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) as one of the Best Blood Donor Organizations. The award was handed over at a program organized by BDRCS on the occasion of World Blood Donor Day-2016 held at the auditorium of Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College recently.

Dean (Acting), School of Science and Engineering of SEU Prof Syed Fakhrul Hassan received the award from the Treasurer of BDRCS Adv Tauhidur Rahman, while among others, Deputy Registrar (Academic) of SEU Md. Saiful Alam (Munir) and Associate Professors of the Department of Textile Engineering Dr Arun Kanti Guha and Dr ANM Ahmed Ullah were present with him.

World Blood Donor Day was observed on June 14 in the country as elsewhere in the world with the theme of "Blood Connects US All".
CMU delegates visit DIA

Campus Report :

A 6-member high-powered delegate from Cardiff Metropolitan University (CMU), UK led by Beverley Smith, Deputy Dean, Academic Standards and Quality Unit visited Daffodil International Academy (DIA) recently, a renowned education provider of Bangladesh. The other members of the delegate are Theo Koukouravas - Deputy Dean, Cardiff School of Management and Head of Partnerships, Ayette Bounouri - Standards and Quality Officer, Andrew Miles - Senior Lecturer, Cardiff School of Sport, Claire Salmon - External Panellist, Bruce Sheppy - External Pannelist.

The delegates attended the series of meeting with the management committee, faculty members and students separately in the day long program. The delegates also visited the environmental and infrastructural facilities of DIA. Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman of DIA & Daffodil Group, Mohammad Nuruzzaman, Executive Director of DIA and other high officials of DIA were present during their visit. The objective of this visit was to justify the provable feasibility of conducting the quality (QA Visit) of Cardiff Metropolitan University Programs at DIA. The delegation expressed their high satisfaction at the end of their visit.




EU arranges discussion on budget

Dr Biru Paksha Paul, Chief Economist, Bangladesh Bank speaks at a discussion on \"Students\' thoughts and debate on National Budget 2016-17\" organized by the Faculty of Business Administration of Eastern University held at the University Seminar Hall on

Campus Report :

An open discussion on "Students' thoughts and debate on national budget 2016-17" organized by the Faculty of Business Administration (FBA) was held on Monday at the Seminar Hall of Eastern University (EU). Dr Biru Paksha Paul, Chief Economist, Bangladesh Bank was present as the chief guest while Abul Khair Chowdhury, Chairman of BoT of EU was present as the guest of honor of the discussion.

The seminar was chaired by the Vice Chancellor of Eastern University, Prof Dr Abdur Rab. Prof Dr Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Pro-Vice Chancellor; Prof Dr. Sharif Nurul Ahkam, the Dean of Faculty of Business Administration (FBA) and students spoke on the occasion. Among others Prof Dr Ashraf Hossain, Chairperson of FBA; teachers, officials and students attended the program.

The chief guest, Dr Paul in his lively and smiling way of presentation has indicated many interesting aspects of budget; and said that proposed budget and implementation is not the same thing.

The chief guest and all of the guests have answered to the various questions raised by the students.

The Chairman of the seminar, Dr Rab, observed that education at the tertiary level was emphasized in the present budget. He also added that the brilliant students are to be given scholarships who are studying at the private universities by the government.


BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir speaking at a rally organised by Dhaka Mahanagar BNP at the Engineers\' Institution in the city on Monday in protest against mass arrest all over the country.
Mou, Shahadat together in three plays, telefilms in Eid

Sheikh Arif Bulbon :

Viewers choice popular actress and model Sadia Islam Mou and actor Shahadat will be seen to work together in three plays and telefilms in Eid-ul-Fitr.

They last worked together in Raisul Islam Asad directed a play titled Ebong under the story written by Naznin Hasan Chumki. Director Asad informed that Mou and Shahadat worked together in an exceptional story based play. This play will be aired on Desh TV in Eid.

While talking about the play Mou told this correspondent, As a director, it was second work by Asad. He worked as an assistant of Soud for some years. He works well. In his first direction, I also worked. It is a nice story. I believe viewers will like my acting with Shahadat in the play.

Shahadat shared his feelings by this way, Mou is my one of the best friends. Overall she is a good human being. While working with her I really could not realise when we have finished the work.

Besdies Ebong, Mou and Shahadat will be also seen in Faria Hossain written and Arif Khan directed a telefilm titled Shunnyota and Badrul Anam Souds play Mon Tar Shonkhini, which story was written by Hasan Azizul Haque. These will be aired on Channel i and RTV respectively.

Today is Mous birthday. While talking about her birthday Mou told this correspondent, In fact, there is nothing specially happened on my birthday. Specially I pass time with my son and daughter because due to my busyness I cannot give them time properly. Everybody pray for me as I can remain well.

It may be mentioned that five years ago, Mou and Shahadat first worked together in Alvi Ahmeds a play titled Jodi Nirbashon Dao.

Meanwhile, Mou recently became brand ambassador of a multinational company.
Dhaka briefs diplomats on undocumented Rohingya census

UNB, Dhaka :

The government on Monday briefed diplomats over the recently held census on undocumented Rohingya nationals living in Bangladesh and progress over the upcoming GFMD Summit.

Foreign Secretary and Chair of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) Md Shahidul Haque briefed the diplomats and representatives of the UN agencies on the two issues at the state guesthouse Padma in the afternoon. Talking to reporters after the briefing, the Foreign Secretary said Bangladesh is the current chair of the GFMD and its next summit will be held here in December. "We're hoping that many ministers and various level delegates will attend the summit. We've informed the diplomats about the progress made so far over the event," Haque said. The 9th GFMD Summit is scheduled to be held in Dhaka on December 10-12 2016.

As 2016 marks the first year after the adoption of the Agenda, the summit will be held under the overarching theme "Migration that works for Sustainable Development of All: Towards a Transformative Migration Agenda." Meanwhile, the government has recently conducted the first-ever census on the undocumented Myanmar nationals living in Bangladesh.


SC stays HC order on Khan Jahan owner`s bail

Staff Reporter :The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a High Court order that had granted bail to Nur Mohammad, owner of "Khan Jahan Ali Limited", accused in the case filed in connection with the seizure of liquid cocaine at Chittgong Port. Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Hasan Foez Siddiqui passed the order upon a petition filed by the government. The next date for the hearing of the case was fixed on July 14. Customs Intelligence on June last year found a suspicious container at Chittagong Port that had 107 barrels of sunflower oil and later liquid cocaine was detected in the sample of barrel no.96. Existence of liquid cocaine was found in barrels of edible oil, seized from the container, after their contents were retested in two laboratories in Dhaka. The container was imported from Bolivia in the name of Khan Jahan Ali Limited of Chittagong. As per the import documents, the consignment was that of sunflower oil arrived at Chittagong Port on May 8 from Bolivia via Uruguay and Singapore. The accused are importing firm Khan Jahan Ali Ltd's Chairman Nur Mohammad and its employee 'Sohel', who was arrested after the seizure of the drug. Laboratory tests on the liquid samples from the consignment detected cocaine in two of the drums each having 185 kg of oil which was imported in the name of Bolivian sunflower oil.
Vehicles on Hanif Flyover halted for three hours

Hanif flyover was kept blocked by two groups of rival transport workers when they clashed over occupation of union office near eastern side of Bangabhaban on Monday.

Staff Reporter :

Vehicular movement on Mayor Hanif Flyover in the city came to a halt for about three hours following a clash between two groups of transport workers on Monday, causing sufferings to commuters amidst the unbearable heat.

Police said the trouble began at around noon, over taking control of a labour union office on the east side of Bangabhaban at Gulistan. The vehicular movement, however, resumed at around 3pm. Shafiqul, a transport worker, said that the office belonged to Bangladesh Road Transport Workers' Union. But Dhaka District Workers' Union leader Safar Ali forcibly took control of it on Sunday night.

"That's why members of the Bangladesh Road Transport Workers' Union stopped operating and put the office under lock today leading to the clash."

"Traffic resumed after discussions were held with both groups," Wari Division's Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Mainul Hasan told The New Nation.


Big push a must to boost pvt investment

Kazi Zahidul Hasan :

With private sector investment failing to pick up due to high cost of doing business, energy crisis and scarcity of industrial plots, the proposed budget for the fiscal 2016-17 lacks measures to address these critical issues, creating further uncertainty over the country's investment climate.

Economists and entrepreneurs on Monday come up with the observation while giving their budget reactions to The New Nation.

"The proposed budget lacks measures to promote and facility ate private investment. It does not also address the concern of the investors which is vital to improve sluggish investment climate," Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam, a noted economist of the country told The New Nation yesterday. According to him, the proposed budget mainly focused on revenue collection by increasing tax burden on the taxpayers, ignoring the issue of investment promotion, a pre-condition to achieving inclusive economic growth.

Mirza Aziz said Bangladesh needs huge investment to accelerate GDP growth in line with the Seventh Fifth Year Plan. To attain such a growth we must give a 'big push' on private investment eliminating all constraints behind it.

"The government should adopt policies to remove the existing constraints behind the investment and such policies should be reflected on the proposed budget," he said, adding, "Measures should be there to promote and facilitate investment, ease of doing business and reforms in tax and energy pricing."

"Only such measures help accelerate investment and encourage the investors," added the economist.

"The Finance Minister, in his budget proposals, gives more push to public investment through increased allocations in various sectors, including infrastructure and communications. But he did not outline the plan how to accelerate private investment which is vital to economic growth and job creation,' Mahmudur Rahman Sumon, one of the leading textile entrepreneurs of the country, told The New Nation yesterday. He said private investment remains stagnant (22 per cent of GDP) for the last couple of years which is a matter of concern. Poor private investment has badly affected economic activities, industrialization and job creation.

The reasons behind the sluggish investment are high cost of doing business, gas and electricity crisis, inadequate infrastructure, political instability, inefficiency of the government agencies and non-availability of industrial plots, he mentioned.

Mahmudur Rahman Sumon, also the Secretary General of Bangladesh-Grecce Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the Finance Minister may think that allocating more funds to the infrastructure sectors may give a fresh boost to private investment. But this may not happen unless the above mentioned issues are settled.

"Private investment is playing a major role in economic growth as well as job creation. So, the government must take proactive measures to encourage the entrepreneurs as well as boost domestic investment," he added. "Bangladesh economy remained strong and resilient despite external and internal challenges. It achieved 6 plus per cent growth in the last few years braving all odds. But the growth is not satisfactory if we consider the potential of the economy," Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, former governor of Bangladesh Bank (BB) told The New nation on Monday.

The growth would be exceeded over 7 per cent if the economy could exploit its full potential. We have failed to achieve the desire economic growth mainly due to lack of necessary investment, particularly in the private sector, he added.

Dr Salehuddin Ahmed opined that stagnating private investment remains a concern and it may hinder sustainable and inclusive growth. He also said that the proposed budget lacks structural reforms and policy directives to boost private investment.

"We need a big push to accelerate private investment. And if we fail to do this, achieving an inclusive and sustainable economic growth would remain a mirage", he commented.

Dr Salehuddin Ahmed also expressed skepticism of achieving 7.2 per cent GDP growth next fiscal taking up the issues of prevailing investment climate and energy crisis.
Mamata supports Hasina's steps

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday reiterated her full support to the recent actions taken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to root out all terrorist activities.

The chief minister said this when Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali met her at her office in the afternoon. During the meeting, the High Commissioner conveyed the greetings and best wishes of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to a message received here from Kolkata.

Mamata also expressed her desire to strengthen people-to-people contact between the two countries through cultural exchanges.

The High Commissioner also congratulated Mamata on her landslide victory in the recently held state assembly elections which once again underlined the huge trust and confidence of the people of West Bengal on her leadership. He hoped that in her next term she would continue to undertake development works with renewed efforts. The diplomat also recalled the historic ties which always existed between Bangladesh and West Bengal and the supportive role the people of the State had played during the war of liberation.

Since assumption of office, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has undertaken various efforts to restore the 'spirit of 1971' and she has shown zero tolerance to all forms of terrorist activities, he said.

Welcoming the High Commissioner, Chief Minister Mamata expressed her deep satisfaction over the progress made in Indo-Bangladesh relations. Mamata assured him that she will actively contribute towards further strengthening of friendly relations to take it to newer heights. They also exchanged views on various bilateral matters and issues of mutual interest. At the meeting that lasted around 40 minutes, the Bangladesh High Commissioner expressed his full confidence upon Mamata over the Teesta water-sharing treaty, said a diplomatic source.
CJ vents anger seeing kids at court lockup

Seeing four children with four female accused at a court lockup here on Monday, Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha vented his anger, saying these kids could be the country's president, prime minister or chief justice."I was left shocked when I visited the CMM Court lockup at 9:10am. I saw four children with four female accused there. They are innocent. They could be the country's president, prime minister or chief justice," he said. The chief justice was addressing judges, lawyers and journalists in the Dhaka Bar Association conference room after a surprise visit to the court.He underscored the need for proper rehabilitation of such kids. "We have to ensure so that they do not turn criminals alongside those in lockup," he said. Issuing a note of warning that no corruption will be tolerated in the judiciary, Sinha called for making the Dhaka court free of graft first to set an example for others.He asked the judges to take measures so that witnesses can come to court for making their depositions timely, saying many accused have to suffer for long absence of witnesses. Replying to a query, the chief justice said he knows nothing officially about the 'judicial killings'.Earlier, he witnessed the trial proceedings for an hour at the courtroom of the CMM Judge.
He was Mukul, not Shariful: Claims family

Slain militant used many fake names

Staff Reporter :

The name of slain militant was Mukul Rana, not Shariful -- who was killed in a so-called crossfire in the city's Meradia area in the small hours of Saturday, family members of the deceased confirmed on Monday.

Police earlier had claimed that he was directly involved in the murdering of two bloggers -- Avijit Roy and Niladri Niloy. After analyzing video footage, his presence was seen in the crime spot where Avijit Roy was killed.

Besides, the slain militant, who usually used five more names, was also involved in murdering seven other bloggers and free-thinkers, including gay magazine Rupban's Editor Xulhas Mannan, the police had also claimed.

But the claim of police now turns into shambles when victim's family members said that they were not sure whether Mukul Rana had joined in any militant outfit after coming to Dhaka from his village home Satkhira.

Earlier in the morning, victim's brother-in-law Hedayetul Islam and cousin Rahmat went to hospital to receive the body. At that time, they identified him as Mukul Rana, hailed from Baluigachhi village under Dhulihar union in the district of Satkhira. They also said Mukul Rana was second year student of English Department at Satkhira Govt College. He has one brother and one sister. Mukul went to Satkhira February this year for marrying and returned to Dhaka again.

The family members also said that they were totally unaware about publishing of his picture as a 'wanted' in the newspaper. They came to Dhaka from Satkhira after seeing the picture of the victim's body in the television.

Hedayetullah said that victim's [Mukul Rana] national ID No: 19938718254000068 where father's name mentioned as Abul Kalam Azad and mother's name Mosammat Shakhina Begum. His date of birth is November 25, 1993.

Principal of Satkhira Govt College Md Liakat Parvez said: "As per document in the college, his name has been registered as Md Mukul Rana. He passed SSC and HSC in 2008 and 2010 respectively.

Father of victim Abul Kalam Azad, who works in a shrimp project, said: "I came to know about my son after seeing television news on Sunday. My son had been missing since February 23. Some unidentified people picked him up on the day from Basundia area of Jessore."

Sister of victim Sharmeen Hossain Rimi said that her brother [Mukul Rana] was very brilliant. He obtained GPA-5 in SSC and HSC examinations.

Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Didar Ahmed said, "Deceased Shariful was secretly involved in militancy using different fake names. He was coordinator of six killings, including Avijit Roy."

He said, the militant was seen in the CCTV footage which was recovered after the killings. Of the six wanted militants, Shariful was the second in ranking for whom the police headquarters declared bounty for them.


Best possible diplomatic relations with Myanmar

BANGLADESH has taken a fresh move to build the best possible relations with Myanmar with the change of regime in the neighbouring country and decided to send a special envoy in Nay Pyi Taw to convey Dhaka's intention to that end, as per a report in a national daily.Diplomatic sources said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is sending Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque as her special envoy to meet Myanmar President Htin Kyaw and its supreme leader and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi to renew ties that will serve both countries strategic interests.The Foreign Ministry officials said Bangladesh has decided to handle Myanmar "very softly" and would not raise any issues that may irk the neighbouring country. To remove irritants Bangladesh last month suggested Myanmar should not register Rohingya Muslims in their country as Bangalees and also refrain from registering Rohingyas as "illegal migrants from Bangladesh." But on Rohingya issue Dhaka would go soft to assist Myanmar in resolving the Rohingya problem.Dhaka has already expressed the readiness to allow Myanmar vessels to use its inland ports of Chittagong, Mongla, Narayanganj and Teknaf in while Myanmar has agreed that Bangladesh can use Yangon, Pathein, Sittwe and Maungtaw Ports expansion of trade. In fact Bangladesh has no problems with Myanmar save the push out of Rohingyas by successive Myanmar governments into Bangladesh beginning from 1978. Over 200,000 Rohingyas fled their homes due to military operation in the Rakhine state across Bangladesh border. They were temporarily sheltered in Bangladesh making it the bigger issue of discord between the two countries. The Rohingya people have been described as "amongst the world's least wanted" and "one of the world's most persecuted minorities." They are deprived of the right to free movement and of higher education. They have been denied Myanmar citizenship since the country's nationality law was enacted in recent past and not allowed to travel without official permission. More restrictions include they have to sign a pledge not to have more than two children. Rohingya have also lost a lot of arable land, which has been confiscated by the military to give it to Buddhist settlers.We in Bangladesh believe that Rohingya issue is a domestic Myanmar issue but since it has extended wings across the border, Bangladesh wants to help Myanmar government in resolving the issue. It is sensitive to Bangladesh as Myanmar also takes it a sensitive issue from its national perspective. So we believe that the move that Bangladesh government has taken up to improve the relations is a right step. We want to live with our southeastern neighbours in peace and cordiality at a time when an era of connectivity down to East Asia through Bangladesh and Myanmar is on card. We want closer government to government and people to people relation. We hope the new move may usher in an era also closer understanding from both sides.
India`s concern is understandable but we expect constructive cooperation

The President of West Bengal Congress Mr Adhir Chowdhury urged the Chief Minister of West Bengal Ms Mamata Banerjee to use her cordial relationship with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to address the issue of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. BJP's state executive committee also condemned terrorist attacks on minorities blaming communal forces in Bangladesh.The Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh visited Ramkrishna Mission in Dhaka and he was satisfied with security arrangement put in place. Mr Harsh Vardhan Shringla was careful in recognising the responsibility of Bangladesh Government to protect the citizens of Bangladesh.In our view Mr Shringla was right in evaluating the crisis of militancy we are facing. Our people are far from being communal but there are some over enthusiasts who are too eager to find communalism as the only serious problem in Bangladesh and nothing else is wrong here. They are political non-entities but they have a strong anti-democracy political agenda. They are at the root of misguiding the government. They are power hungry but have no support of the people.We feel they are making the grave mistake by ignoring the lack of safety and security for the entire population. It cannot be right that the militancy in Bangladesh can be explained away so simplistically by blaming communalism. India's External Affairs Minister Ms Sushma Swaraj gave full support for the measures taken by Prime Minister and in particular mentioned as a strong step the arrest of 3000 people.By now in fact more than fourteen thousand mostly young men are in jail and arrests were made indiscriminately without arrest warrants and not based on serious intelligence. It is widely suspected that the decision to mass arrest was a political decision taken non-politically.Such mass arrest cannot be helpful to contain militancy. All responsible sections of our population, including the Chairman of Human Rights Commission, has expressed deep concern and anxiety in massive violation of human rights committed by mass arrest and extra-judicial killings.More people have been antagonised by such mass arrest than those who want to be helpful to the government in dealing with the human crisis of killing and counter-killing going on freely. It will be a myopic view to think that militancy is against the minorities.The crisis of power struggle without tolerance and without caring to build good governance but depending on abuse of police power cannot be considered conducive to peace and order anywhere.We are living under extremely divisive politics where the general public cannot expect protection of the rule of law. The massive arrest of innocent people speaks volume how helpless the people are. The people are living in fear and the government in darkness about the reality on the ground. The abuse of police power undermines not only police professionalism but also the people's respect for law.We need for the safety of all the correct assessment of reasons for unrest and violence in the country. The situation is more helpless for the fact that in Bangladesh we do not have democratic opposition. In truth, not to allow responsible democratic opposition is the policy of the government. The picture is clear from the composition of the parliament. This is the only parliament under parliamentary democracy where opposition has chosen as part of the government.Crossfire killing by police is encouraged and defended by the government about which the government is surely misguided. No one can deny that our government is dominated by bureaucratic ideas and not political considerations.One can rightly claim that the government has no political considerations to understand and deal with the political antagonism growing in the absence of politics of tolerance and unity. The government has no politics to secure public support or face free elections. Corruption is used extensively for buying loyalty of the wrong people. The Finance Minister himself had to admit that ocean level corruption is going on.As a mature democratic nation and closest neighbour of Bangladesh, India must know we are conscious of the importance of peace and order in Bangladesh and that India must not make wrong assessment of the crisis in Bangladesh. Bangladesh's relationship with India needs to be treated as a very sensitive issue and must be handled with care and political maturity. Our people's deep commitment to democratic freedoms and democratic government cannot be considered as unimportant for our people to live together and in harmony. Bangladesh is confronted with an election-less power struggle where the people must not have any role in choosing their government or deciding their politics. The few "wise men" will decide the fate of the nation, but that is not clear who those Bangladeshis are.Because of India's help in our liberation war the leaders of India cannot allow themselves to be misguided about the democratic aspirations of our people.We are not talking about party squabble between Awami League and BNP, we are emphasising national politics which has to be democratic.
Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux got choked with emotion at least once during a Monday morning press conference during which he announced that the Louisiana Board of Ethics had cleared him of any impropriety when he was employed in Vermilion Parish as a youth counselor for the 15th Judicial District Attorney's Office, nearly eight years of which overlapped his first two terms as an elected official.

I have been cleared of all charges, and the case has been totally closed, and no formal charges ... are being brought against me, Boudreaux proclaimed late in the press conference after reading a lengthy statement detailing the investigation and the toll it took on him personally.

Boudreaux betrayed in his comments a lingering rawness with the release of a Louisiana legislative auditors report in late March of this year that questioned the legality of his employment with the D.A.s office, suggesting that releasing the audit unnecessarily impugned his integrity. Boudreaux was not retained after current D.A. Keith Stutes assumed office in January of last year. The report, based on a 2015 audit of the DAs office, suggested that Boudreaux might have violated a state ethics law because some funding for the DAs office flows through the Lafayette City-Parish Council, which Boudreaux won a seat on in 2007 and began serving on in 2008. Boudreaux would have been prohibited by state law from voting as a council member of the allocation of funding that directly benefited him.

Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux addresses media during a Monday press conference. Photo by W. DeVane Pierce IV

Boudreaux reiterated at the Monday press conference that he sought multiple opinions from the state attorney general and the ethics board before being sworn into office in January 2008, and he took an eight-month leave of absence from the D.A.s office at the start of his first term on the council as he awaited clear direction from those agencies. He was ultimately told by the AGs office that if he was employed in Vermilion Parish  one of three parishes along with Lafayette and Acadia that comprise the 15th JDC  and was paid by Vermilion Parish, there would be no conflict with state ethics law. For 12 years Boudreaux had worked out of the D.A.s Lafayette office but moved to Vermilion based on the opinion he received from the AG. It was discovered in the 2015 audit, however, that former District Attorney Mike Harson had been reimbursing the Vermilion Parish Police Jury for Boudreauxs salary. Had those reimbursement funds been monies approved by the city-parish council on which Boudreaux served, there would have been a violation of state law, possibly even if he was unaware of the financial arrangement.

However, the investigation found that the funds used to reimburse Vermilion Parish were from the District Attorneys 'special Account' derived from fines and not from Lafayette Parish general funds ... board attorney Suzanne Quinlan Moore writes to Boudreaux on behalf of the board in a letter dated May 24. The letter concludes: After careful review, the investigation report did not reveal clear and convincing evidence that you accepted a salary from your agency to which you were not duly entitled, therefore the Board declined to take any enforcement action against you. Further the Board has instructed me to close the file.
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.
CARBONDALE  Diane Nilan, national activist for the homeless and president of the Hear Us campaign, has been speaking out against homelessness for more than 30 years.

On Tuesday, Nilan  in collaboration with the Sparrow Coalition for the community forum series on poverty  will present her short film, "Social Insecurity for Seniors," which elaborates on homelessness issues in the small college town of Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

The film, screening from 5:30 to 7 p.m. today in Carbondale Public Library, gives a first-person view into the struggle of being homeless and elderly.

"I interviewed several people who are (homeless seniors) and tried to let them tell the story of how they became homeless, whats keeping them homeless and whats it like to be homeless," Nilan said.

Despite her 15 years advocating against child and family homelessness in America, Nilan said her production had been crucial, mostly because of her identification with the film.

"It was actually a very difficult film to make, mostly because my own age," she said. "I am 65 so I identified age-wise, and, you know, I am certainly not that far from homelessness (myself)."

Nilan, who has been living and traveling out of her mobile home since her ambition to fight homelessness in 2005, said she hopes her film applies perspective, and enables her audience to acknowledge homeless in their communities.

"It's eye-opening for any audience," she said. "(It's also) a great tool to help audiences everywhere understand who are some of the homeless people out in their own community."

Sparrow Coalition member Peter Lemish said Nilan's film offers two significant things for the city.

The first is creating ideas for combating homelessness, he said. The second: Finding ways in which the community can assist the homeless.

"Prior to her work with homeless seniors, (Nilan) was setting up shelters for the homeless  particularly in the winter time," said Lemish, who also organizes the groups activities. "(Nilan) has a wide range of experience  and we are considering a number of options in terms of how to go about that here so she is also (here) to consult with us and share her ideas."
DESOTO -- The 4-Way Quik Stop and Jackson County Health Department are teaming up to find creative solutions to tackle an ongoing health problem: the lack of easy access to healthy foods in some rural communities.

Melissa Parsons, who owns the convenience store and gas station with husband Tim in De Soto, located about halfway between Carbondale and Du Quoin, said entering into this partnership was an easy decision. Caring about the people you serve is an integral part of being a responsible business owner, she said.

The couple has owned the 4-Way Quik Stop since 2006, and also are owners of Pagliais Pizza in Carbondale on the strip.

The 4-Way is such a local hangout, Parsons said. I thought it would be a way to give back because they (the customers) give us so much by patronizing our place. If we can do something to help that would be good.

And Im a health nut anyway, she added of the appeal of the project. I like whole foods.

There are quite a few people in town who drop into the Quik Stop for last-minute meal ideas, she said. Its a roughly 10 to 15 minute drive to a grocery store in Carbondale or Du Quoin, and there are times when families dont want to get in the car and drive into town when they return from work to discover the cupboards are bare.

And there also are some families who lack reliable transportation, or who cant afford the gas.

While there already are a few decent options at the convenience store for healthy meals, such as from the fresh deli, and a small offering of vegetables on a stand by the door, Parsons said shes thrilled about the idea of adding a more diverse selection with help from the health department.

The partnership to help stock the store with more fresh and healthy food options is made possible by a Plan4Health grant the Jackson County Healthy Communities Coalition, said Angie Kuehl, a Plan4Health educator at the Jackson County Health Department. Grant management includes the city of Carbondale, and is aimed at strengthening partnerships between governmental planners and public health officials.

The $120,000 awarded by the American Planning Association and ultimately funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is intended to be used to identify solutions to reduce two determinants of chronic diseases: lack of physical activity, and lack of access to nutritious foods.

To that end, the coalitions two targeted activities for the grant funds are to promote biking and walking in Carbondale and rural Jackson County; and to increase access to fruits and vegetables at farmers markets and convenience stores throughout the region.

Kuehl said that under the partnership with the 4-Way Quik Stop, the Jackson County Health Department and its student interns have conducted extensive research about what types of foods customers would like to see in the convenience store, and what theyre likely to purchase. According to survey results, customers are highly interested in quick access to items such as salads and containers of ready-made chicken salad  ideal for grab-and-go lunches or to take home for dinner between grocery store runs.

Were not going on a hope and a whim here, Kuehl said. Were looking at it from a comprehensive approach using actual information from the customers. With the research in hand, the Parsons will still be responsible for deciding which food items they want to stock, based on their business model, and the health department will provide additional support through the project with marketing.

For example, that may mean offering a morning coffee and bagel deal to lure some away from the sugary donuts on occasion, given that the 4-Way Quik Stop is a regular morning meet up for retired folks.

At the end of the day, Kuehl said, its not enough just to tell people they should eat healthier. Most people already know that, and this is a project targeted at making those options easier to obtain, and more front-and-center for patrons. And the survey results indicate this is what people want.

Weve got actual data that says this is a good business opportunity thats also good for the community, she said.

Michelle McLernon, the Jackson County Health Department's director of health education, said the local partnership underway here has gained national attention for its creativeness in tackling health challenges, and success in building bridges between stakeholders.

McLernon said there were only 32 Plan4Health grantees nationwide, and the Jackson County Healthy Communities Coalition was asked to be one of three presenters about grant implementation at this year's annual American Public Health Association conference, taking place this fall in Colorado.

"Thats pretty awesome," McLernon said of the recognition.

The health department is interested in expanding this project through partnerships with other owners of rural convenience stores, gas stations and general stores. To find out how to get involved in promoting healthy food options, email Kuehl at angiek@jchdonline.org.
GREENVILLE  Wood is diverse, plentiful and sustainable  three reasons why it is the preferred building material for many in South Carolina.

Clemson University  together with the U.S. Department of Agricultures Forest Service and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, along with the S.C. Forestry Commission, S.C. Forestry Association, S.C. Biomass Council, Woodworks-Wood Products Council, the American Wood Council, the APA-The Engineered Wood Association  struck out across the state to tout the benefits of building with wood. Building Sustainably in S.C. with Wood workshops were held in Greenville, Columbia and Charleston.

Wood is the material of the 21st century, said Pat Layton, director of the Wood Utilization + Design Institute at Clemson University. We want everyone to know there is plenty of wood available and there are plenty of ways to use it in both commercial and residential construction.

Economic impact

More than two-thirds of land  12.9 million acres  in South Carolina is forested.

Our forests are interesting and diverse, said Gene Kodama, state forester. Materials generated from our forests provide food and shelter, as well as help provide water and oxygen.

South Carolina forests also have economic benefits. According to Kodama, forestry has an $18.6 billion impact on the states economy, making forestry the No. 1 industry in the state in the following categories:

Manufacturing  90,320 jobs with a payroll of $4.5 billion

Harvested crop  totaling $759 million

Exported commodity  No. 1 for the past eight years from the Port of Charleston at $1.5 billion

Opportunities

Opportunities for wood have opened up, said Paul Coats of the American Wood Council. And South Carolina is positioned to reap the benefits that come from having such a diversified industry, coupled with the states adoption of the International Building Codes (IBC).

South Carolina has been very progressive in its adoption of building codes, Coats said. South Carolina has continued to keep up with all changes in the codes and, therefore, has remained a leader in building practices.

The psychological effect wood has on people, in addition to cost savings, is another reason it is the building material many choose.

Bruce Lindsey from WoodWorks-Wood Products Council said, Wood has been found to have a calming effect on people. Studies show peoples stress is found to be lower in rooms constructed of wood. It is also less costly to use than other building materials. School districts are using wood to build new buildings and save money. They then use this savings to invest in energy-savings construction elements, which results in even more savings.

Lindsey also talked about how the wood products industry has helped introduce Cross Laminated Timber-based structures to provide taller, more cost-effective structures. CLT is an engineered wood building system designed to complement light-frame and heavy timber framing options. Because of its high strength and dimensional stability, CLT can be used as alternative to concrete, masonry and steel in many building types.

Wood connection

The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism knows the importance of using wood to make people feel at ease. The department is using wood in the design of its welcome centers across the state. Elissa Bostain of Liollio Architecture in Greenville said the design includes front porches on each of the centers.

Nothing says Welcome like a front porch, Bostain said. In addition to front porches, the centers will have an open, more welcoming feel about them. A lot of wood is included in the new design. Wood is reliable, easily accessible, familiar and can be used in a progressive way. It responds to our heritage and the past, but it also is forward-looking.

Other speakers during the workshop included Phil Gerald, who gave an update from the State Engineers Office; Tim Adams of the S.C. Forestry Commission, who described wood products manufactured in South Carolina; and Al Goetzl from Seneca Creek Associates, who talked about the building construction market and wood use.

Dan Len of the USDA Forest Service talked about the states forests and the USDAs regional biomass program, which uses trees to produce energy. Len said healthy forests have helped maintain existing wood products markets

Healthy forests need good management, which requires wise stewardship, Len said. Wise stewardship creates sustainability, which drives confidence in managing forest land. The benefits we get from healthy forests are economic, environmental, as well as social. Everybody wins when we have healthy forests.

Cesar Rodriguez, an architect from Greenville, said the workshop was an excellent educational opportunity for him.

(Events such as) this help me keep up with what is going on in the industry, Rodriguez said. Everything is so organized and the day is so well-planned, I learn more in one day than I could learn if I had to do this on my own.
As Ralph Reed, the longtime evangelical leader, sees it, Donald Trump did two smart things in his appearance before Reed's 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 Trump's 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 Reed's issues. The bigger question is whether there is sufficient basis for conservative voters to believe him.

As an example, I asked Reed about Trump's list of possible Supreme Court justices. Most conservatives said it was a great list, of top-notch candidates. It's just that some of those same conservatives don't trust a President Trump to actually do what he says.

Reed's 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 O'Reilly. In a later interview with a religious blogger, Reed praised Trump's performance, and almost immediately after the post hit the internet, Reed's cellphone rang. It was Trump. Reed invited Trump to that year's 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 that's what he's going to do, based on my interaction with him, I don't really have any questions about whether or not he means it."

But that wasn't Reed's 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 O'Connor 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 don't trust them.'"

Of course, that's exactly what some evangelical leaders say about Trump. I asked Reed about one, the Southern Baptist Convention's Russell Moore, who has called Trump representative of the "reality television moral sewage coming through all over our culture." (Moore's 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, he's 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 it's 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 can't 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, we're 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 group's 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 Reed's. 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 that's on his side.

-----

Byron York is chief political correspondent for The Washington Examiner.
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/By Azernews/

By Amina Nazarli

Prospects to boost the Azerbaijani-Russian economic relations were thoroughly mulled in Baku, as the capital hosted the business forum on June 20, with participation of about 200 companies engaged in light, heavy and food industries, as well as finance, energy, transport, commerce, engineering, health and other areas.



Azerbaijans Deputy Economy Minister Niyazi Safarov, addressing the event, stated that Russia has invested $3 billion in Azerbaijans economy in total. Safarov mentioned that more than 600 enterprises operating with Russian capital have been registered in Azerbaijan.

More than $235 million of the total volume of Russian investments were invested in the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan, and $ 2.8 billion were invested in the oil sector. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan has invested over one billion dollars in the Russian economy. Russian companies are also contractors of 10 projects implemented through public investment, he said.

Safarov went on noting that over 170 agreements were signed between the two countries, more than 50 of which were inked in economic field.

Russia continues to be one of the main trade partners of Azerbaijan, according to the deputy minister, who emphasized that in the past four months of 2016, Russia takes the second place in the turnover of Azerbaijan, and first place in the import and 10th place in export.

In 2015, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $1.9 billion, some $1.5 billion of which fell to import and $0.4 billion to exports. In January-April 2016 the trade turnover between the countries amounted to $470 million, he said.

During the bilateral business forum Azerbaijan and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding on establishing pharmaceutical production in Azerbaijan. The document was signed by Azerbaijans Vita-A company, Russian R-Pharm and Azerbaijan Investment Company.



The event also saw signing of several other documents : a memorandum of cooperation between Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) and All-Russia business association Delovaya Rossiya" (Business Russia), a memorandum on promotion of investment projects in industrial and agricultural sectors both in Moscow (Victoria Industrial Park) and in Azerbaijan, between AZPROMO and Victoria Estate Management LLC, a memorandum of cooperation between AZPROMO and Bank VTB (Azerbaijan).

Azerbaijan and Russia are tied by firmly based ties, which were officially established in 1992. The Azerbaijani-Russian cooperation is completely based on the principles of mutual respect and good neighborly relations. The cultural relations between the two countries are also highly evaluated.

Russia and Azerbaijan established an active and productive dialogue on many important issues in the foreign economic and political agenda.

The southern neighbor is one of the largest importers of Azerbaijani agro-products. The country exports fruits, vegetables and melons to Russia.



After the deterioration of relations with Turkey, Russias demand in Azerbaijani agro-products increased. Azerbaijan has entered the top 3 suppliers of agricultural products to Russia among the CIS countries, after Moscow imposed anti-Turkish sanctions.
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev expressed condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 20 over the death of children in Karelia.

The message reads:

Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,

I was deeply saddened by the news of the death of children as a result of a storm on Lake Syamozero in Karelia.

On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my deepest condolences to you, the families and loved ones of those who died and the whole people of Russia.
/By Azernews/

By Laman Ismayilova

Azerbaijan's Armed Forces have today started operational-tactical exercises, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported.

The military exercises involving about 25,000 military personnel, more than 300 tanks and armored vehicles, 100 rockets and artillery units, up to 40 units of military aircraft and more than 30 air defense systems will run till June 24. Moreover, Navy ships and special units will also participate in the exercises.

The training takes place in the polygons on the frontline area and Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Furthermore, the Navy Forces will practice in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.

The main objectives of the exercise is improving of commanding skills over military units and subjects, increasing the level of operational coordination and cooperation between combat elements in complex military environment.

New technological tools and weapons of Azerbaijani Armed Forces will be widely used during the exercise days, also live firing will be performed.

Azerbaijans armed forces are continually modernized and equipped with newest and strongest weaponry as the revenue of Azerbaijan increases.

Azerbaijan's military expenditure has developed rapidly in recent years, and in a short time, the military budget has increased more than 20 times.

The development of the military is under special focus in Azerbaijan, a country that remains in a state of war with Armenia.

Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor that had caused a lengthy war in the early 1990s.

The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenia's withdrawal from the Azerbaijani territory, but they have not been enforced to this day.
Gulf Development Company (GDC Partners), an Abu Dhabi-based advisory and investment firm, recently conducted a three-day roadshow in Brussels to promote business initiatives between Belgium and the GCC.



The delegation of three was led by Houssam Nasrawin, CEO of GDC Partners. They met with business entities including local banks, investment funds, law firms and industrial groups.



GDC Partners has been built upon the idea of building bridges between the GCC and Europe. Belgium with its capital Brussels, the heart of Europe that hosts the headquarters of the main EU institutions, is obviously one of our privileged countries, said Mohammed Al Hunity, vice chairman of GDC Partners, during the visit.

The delegation was received by the European Commission, Brussels Enterprises Commerce & Industry, the Flanders Investment & Trade; Mr. Qaisar Hijazin, secretary general of the Arab-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber; and Professor Adnan Amkhan Bayno, head of the Mena Chambers.



Several projects were discussed and MoUs with local entities signed during the meetings.



Meanwhile, a gathering of business institutions from Belgium and the GCC will be organised by GDC Partners in October 2017, it has been revealed.  TradeArabia News Service


Hyflux, a Singapore-based specialist in water treatment, said its Omani subsidiary has achieved financial close for the non-recourse project financing of Qurayyat Independent Water Project in the Oman.



The $185-million facility is being provided to the Qurayyat Desalination by Mizuho Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Dubai International Financial Centre Branch and Singapore-based Clifford Capital Private.



A key feature of this facility is an innovative fixed-to-floating rate term loan provided by Clifford Capital Private, said the Singaporean group.



Qurayyat IWP is a seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant located in Qurayyat in the Muscat governorate and the groups largest desalination project in Oman.



Under the water purchase agreement, desalinated water from this project will be supplied to Oman Power and Water Procurement Company SAOC for a period of 20 years starting from 2017.



This will add another 200,000 cu m per day of drinking water to the countrys water supply, said the statement from Hylux.



The Qurayyat IWP was named the Best Water Deal Award at the annual EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Finance Project Finance Awards 2015.



Nominated by bankers and borrowers, and selected by the EMEA Finance team, the award aims to recognise the importance of financing that has been provided to the regions leading companies and sovereigns as well as projects which exemplify innovative efforts in the capital markets.



Singapore-listed Hyflux boasts operations and projects in Southeast Asia, China, India, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas.-TradeArabia News Service
The American University of Beirut (AUB) has honoured the founders BB Energy, Baha and Walid Bassatne, by naming its new Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering after them.

At a prestigious ceremony, which was attended by ambassadors and members of the diplomatic and consular corps, university professors, staff and friends of the family, the Baha and Walid Bassatne Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering was unveiled.

BB Energy is one of the world's leading independent energy trading companies. Chairman of BB Energy, Baha Bassatne and his brother and company director Walid Bassatne, believe that education will play a fundamental role in the development of the business and that its legacy will be to provide superior education for generations to come. As such, a generous donation was awarded to the AUB.

Fadlo K Khuri, president of AUB commented: Chemical and petroleum engineering provides numerous opportunities for sustainable development, and as you have noticed there are many new approaches in Saudi Arabia and Iran for the development of the sector, which is reflected in our duty as a university to fund and support these studies and programs and to strengthen our teachers and our students.

For all that, I would like to thank the Bassatne family for their wonderful gift that will enable a radical change, which is part and parcel of our perennial academic objectives, he added.

In 1937 Baha and Walids father, Mohamed Bassatne, established a commodities business, trading in items such as grain, sugar and wheat. It was in 1963 that the company started trading in oil and began to grow at pace with both Baha and Walids entrepreneurial leadership spotting real opportunity in global energy trading.

Baha Bassatne commented: The Bassatne family is doing what it can to promote the growth of Lebanons offshore oil and gas industry, so that we are able to exploit the opportunities that exist with our own talent, rather than importing knowledge from overseas.

We want to enable the development and ensure the strength of the department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the AUB for the benefit of our future generations, he concluded. TradeArabia News Service
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (Cima) and the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), are joining forces to create a new association that would represent the breadth of the accounting profession.

The new association aims to become the most influential professional accounting body in the world, and will represent 600,000 current and next-generation professionals. It has been designed to complement rather than replace both constituent organisations. While it will bring extra weight and influence to Cima, Cimas existing structure and Royal Charter will remain, and Cima will retain its management accounting focus.

Cima and the AICPA members will retain membership of their existing member organisation but will gain additional membership of the new association.

The decision to create the new association was taken after both organisations member bodies voted to endorse the move in ballots which concluded on June 16. 89.7 per cent of Cima members voting endorsed the resolution, with 86.5 per cent of AICPA members who cast ballots voting in favour. Work to create the association will begin straight away, and it will launch in 2017.

Cimas president Andrew Miskin, said: We live in a time of rapid change and increasing competition. Responding to this, I am delighted that Cima and the AICPA members have endorsed the proposal to create a new association so that we can stay ahead of market changes and developments.

We will build on the history and strengths of both Cima and the AICPA, which will enable us to accelerate our strategy, and to expand the opportunities for CGMAs around the world, he added.

The formation of the association represents a deepening of the joint venture that Cima and the AICPA have operated since 2011, which has expanded management accounting within the USA, and created a new global designation, Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).

The proposal is designed to ensure that not only do members keep the status and recognition of Cimas qualifications and designations, but also benefit from the additional relevance, resources and global reach that comes from integrating the activities of two of the worlds most influential accountancy bodies. Students will also have access to more learning tools, as well as benefitting from increased recognition of the qualification they are studying towards, a press release said.

AICPA president and chief executive Barry Melancon, said: In developing this proposal, we were careful to structure commitments to CPA and CGMA, Cima and AICPA and public practice and management accounting. We are excited about crafting a path forward that reflects how the world is changing. At the same time, we will be extraordinarily mindful of protecting our collective history and the strong reputation both organizations have built over the past century. This is about building on what is great and addressing an exciting evolving world. TradeArabia News Service
Republican Donald Trump said on Sunday the US should consider more racial profiling, in response to a question about whether he supported greater law enforcement scrutiny of Muslim Americans after the Orlando mass shooting.



"I think profiling is something that we're going to have to start thinking about as a country," Trump told CBS' "Face the Nation."



"You look at Israel and you look at others, and they do it and they do it successfully. And you know, I hate the concept of profiling, but we have to start using common sense," he said when asked if he supported increased profiling of Muslims in America.



Trump made similar comments last December about profiling, the targeting of specific demographic groups for extra scrutiny, after a Muslim American and his wife killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California.



Last week, Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee for the Nov. 8 election, sparked criticism from many in his party for his comments on American Muslims after the Orlando attack on Sunday, in which a US-born Muslim man killed 49 people at a gay nightclub.



In a speech on national security on Monday, Trump stood by his call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States and proposed a suspension of immigration from countries with "a proven history of terrorism."



He also said the Muslim community had to "cooperate with law enforcement and turn in the people who they know are bad."



Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has said the comments show Trump is unfit to be president.



The Florida gunman, Omar Mateen, was born in the United States to Afghan parents. During a three-hour siege at the club, he expressed support for Islamic State, but officials believe he was "self-radicalized."



In his interview on Sunday, Trump said there were "red flags" around Mateen, who had been investigated twice by the FBI but ultimately cleared.



Trump also reiterated his support for more scrutiny of mosques, saying that could resemble a controversial New York City surveillance program that has been shut down.



"If you go to France right now, they're doing it in France. In fact, in some instances they're closing down mosques," he said.



Police in France closed some mosques shortly after gunmen aligned with Islamic State militants killed 130 people in Paris in a series of attacks on Nov. 13.



House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan endorsed Trump but has said a Muslim ban is not in US interests. In excerpts of an NBC interview released on Friday, Ryan, the top elected US Republican, said Republicans weighing whether to vote for Trump should follow their "conscience."



Trump brushed off the criticism on Sunday and said he would put up his own money for his campaign if needed. "It would be nice if the Republicans stuck together," Trump said in an ABC interview. "I can win, one way or another."  Reuters
Paladion, a leading managed security services company, has secured significant multi-year managed services contracts with two of the biggest financial institutions in the GCC.



The information security company uses state-of-the-art proprietary technology to protect the interests of its customers, helping them maintain the highest banking security standards in the world, said a statement.



Paladions leading edge cyber security model called CyberActive is maintained by an expert team of security professionals, security analysts, technicians, support staff, researchers and ethical hackers. They handle the analysis and timely response of close to 7 billion pieces of security-related events each day, it said.



In recent times, the number of highly sophisticated cybercrime attacks around the globe has been a huge cause for concern for enterprises. Trusted by over 700 of the largest companies in the world, Paladion has been in the fore protecting its clients from attacks from ruthless cybercrime syndicates. Industry leading big data capabilities from its RisqVU Security Intelligence platform combined with its Global Security Operations Center, SOC translates into advance threats being detected and remediated faster, said the company.



Banks in the GCC need information security partner that they can completely trust upon. Our next generation security operations centres built on the CyberActive framework are the best in the industry, asserted, Amit Roy, vice president and regional sales head. Our two new highly respected financial institution clients in the GCC appreciate the confidence that Paladions huge cyber arsenal brings to prevent advance and targeted threats, he added. - TradeArabia News Service
Permasense, a leading provider of corrosion and erosion monitoring solutions to the global energy industry, has appointed Starc (Saudi Trading And Research Company) as its exclusive representative in Saudi Arabia.



Starc is an oil and gas, petrochemical, energy and water desalination solutions provider. The company has delivered pipeline and corrosion services in Saudi Arabia for over a decade.



This move is the first step on our mission to break into the biggest oil and gas market in the world  the Middle East. It is estimated that 70 per cent of the fixed platforms and bridges in the region are more than 25 years old, while some exceed 40 years. These ageing assets mean that there is a clear opportunity for Permasenses continuous pipe-wall thickness sensors, says Kevin Clarke, chief revenue officer at Permasense.



Nadim Borini, Mena regional sales manager at Permasense, added: The partnership with Starc will put us on the doorstep of key customers, give clients access to an in time-zone team, and provide us with crucial local insight.



Permasenses ambitious growth strategy has seen the company open three offices since the start of 2015. It currently has four global offices in Aberdeen, Houston, Horsham and Kuala Lumpur. The company also engages a local agent to support its activity in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.



Permasenses future growth strategy is focused on the Russian market, where it hopes to announce its first contract later this year, the statement said. - TradeArabia News Service




Bahrain has amended its visa rules for GCC visitors, said a report, adding that the validity of the visas will be three months with a condition of an actual residency of the same period, compared to the previous mandatory six-month visa.



According to a report in Bahrain News Agency (BNA), the director of exits at the Nationality, Passport and Residence Affairs (NPRA) said the amendment is a new facility Bahrain provides to visitors during their entry or transit as part of a plan to attract tourists and businessmen. The amendment promotes air traffic, while considering security regulations.




CG Hotels and Resorts, the hospitality division of Nepals only billionaire Binod Chaudhary, has kickstarted the construction of its latest hotel project in Dubai's Jumeirah Lake Towers.

The new hotel follows the announcement of the group's latest property opening next month in Kigali, Rwanda.



CG Hotels and Resorts, in partnership with Jayant Lal and Raju Shroff, have jointly entered into this venture with Indias reputed Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces aiming to make the 200-key luxury hotel in Dubai one of the most recognised destinations for business travellers.



The two new hotels represent the start of CG Hotels and Resorts strategic expansion across the Middle East and Africa, having identified key markets such as Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Saudi Arabia and Iran in the Middle East as well as Kigali, Nairobi, Dar E Salaam, Kampala, Burundi and Mozambique in Africa as potential incestment destinations. This is a part of its larger global development strategy, with a target to more than double the number of hotels to 200 by 2020, which would make CG Hotels and Resorts a dominant player in the hospitality sector globally.



Speaking about the companys expansion plans, Rahul Chaudhary, director, CG Hotels and Resorts, said: With the opening of The Zinc & Zinc Living luxury hotel in Kigali, Rwanda, soon, we will be setting a new benchmark in hospitality in East Africa. The hotel is due to open in time for the African Union Conference in July and will host various dignitaries and heads of state amongst its first guests. Our presence in so many different countries and geographies along with an array of profitable brands gives us a greater flexibility and an edge over other brands, to invest in properties with various affiliated brands.



Comprising 79 hotels in 59 destinations across 12 countries including its own Zinc & Fern branded hotels and resorts, CG Hotels & Resorts has a proud history of successful joint ventures with esteemed partners and brands such as Taj, Alila, Jetwing and The Farm, amongst others. Its diverse and unique portfolio of owned and partner hotels under these brands include acclaimed properties such as the iconic Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Maldives, Taj Samudra Colombo, The Farm in Philippines, Jetwing Vil Uyana in Sigiriya Sri Lanka and Taj Safari lodges in central India.



CG Hotels and Resorts also has strategic investments in multiple management companies, which owns several brands in the luxury, business, wellness and budget space across various geographies such as Alila, Zinc & Fern. Under its management company arm, Concept Hospitality and Alila, the group manages over 40 hotels and another 35 projects in the pipeline within India. - TradeArabia News Service
Investigators have begun analysing the two severely damaged black boxes from EgyptAir flight MS804 as they seek to explain why the plane plunged into the sea, killing all 66 people on board.



It would require "lots of time and effort" to fix the two badly damaged black box recorders, sources on Egypt's Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee told Reuters on Sunday.



The committee said it started the analysis of the devices, with representatives from France and the United States, which are crucial to explaining why the Airbus A320 crashed on May 19 en route from Paris to Cairo.



The memory units from both the Cockpit Voice Recorder and the Flight Data Recorder were extracted from the devices and dried in a military facility for eight hours, the committee said in a statement.



Investigators are now conducting electrical tests on the memory units, the final step before trying to extract data.



If intact, the cockpit recorder should reveal pilot conversations and any cockpit alarms, as well as other clues such as engine noise. But crash experts say it may provide only limited insight into the reason for the crash.



With the data recorder, investigators have a greater chance of discovering the cause, provided its chip is still intact.



Investigators need to further analyse the memory units before deciding if they can be fixed locally or if they need to be sent abroad for repairs.



Search teams retrieved the Cockpit Voice Recorder on Thursday which they said was damaged but had the memory unit intact. They found the Flight Data Recorder on Friday.



While no explanation for the disaster has been ruled out, current and former aviation officials increasingly believe the root of the crash lies in the aircraft's technical systems, rather than deliberate sabotage.



There has been a series of airplane accidents at high altitude blamed on a cocktail of technical and pilot flaws.



The crash is the third blow since October to Egypt's travel industry, which is still suffering from the 2011 uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.



A Russian plane crashed in the Sinai Peninsula in October, killing all 224 people on board in an attack claimed by Islamic State. In March, an EgyptAir plane was hijacked by a man wearing a fake suicide belt. No one was hurt.  Reuters
An airplane powered solely by energy from the sun headed across the Atlantic early on Monday, on one of the longest legs of the first-ever flight around the globe without using a drop of fuel.



The spindly, single-seat Solar Impulse 2 left John F. Kennedy International Airport at about 2:30 am EDT on a trip expected to take up to 90 hours, the 15th leg of its round-the-world journey.



Swiss aviators Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg have been taking turns piloting the plane, which has more than 17,000 solar cells built into wings whose span exceeds that of a Boeing 747, with Piccard at the controls for the transatlantic flight.



The airplane's slow cruising speed, similar to that of a car, has required both men to take up meditation and hypnosis as part of training to stay alert for long periods.



Solar Impulse 2 is due to land sometime on Thursday in Spain or France, with the precise location to be determined later depending on weather conditions, said Elizabeth Banta, a spokeswoman for the project team.



The carbon-fiber, propeller-driven plane has four solar-powered engines and four batteries to store surplus energy. It weighs the same as a family car and can climb to 28,000 feet (8,500 m).



The team behind Solar Impulse - part of a campaign to build support for clean energy technologies - hopes to complete the circumnavigation in Abu Dhabi, where the journey began in March 2015.



Piccard and Borschberg completed a multi-flight crossing of the US with an earlier version of the plane in 2013.



Borschberg set an endurance record for the longest non-stop solo flight last July in a 118-hour trans-Pacific crossing from Japan to Hawaii. - Reuters
Rezidor, one of the most dynamic hotel companies worldwide, is expanding its global portfolio with plans for two new hotels in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.



The mid-scale Park Inn by Radisson Hotel & Residence Dammam Industrial City will feature 300 units and open in 2016. The upper-upscale Radisson Blu Hotel Dammam Al Faisaliyah with 260 keys is scheduled to welcome the first guests in 2018.



With a Park Inn by Radisson already operating in Dammam, the new properties increases its local portfolio to three hotels with 650 rooms and serviced apartments.



"Dammam is the capital and centre of the Eastern province and a strategically important location for us. Our growing portfolio in this key city further strengthens our network in Saudi Arabia, which is a focus country for our group. The recent vision for the country lays further confidence for our commitment to accelrate our expansion in the kingdom," said Wolfgang M Neumann, president and CEO of Rezidor.



"We are delighted to be present in Dammam with our two core brands Park Inn by Radisson and Radisson Blu. Cluster developments allow us to use operational and commercial syngergies and to unlock value for our guests, business partners and owners. We look forward to contributing to the socio-economic journey of Saudi Arabia," added Elie Younes, executive vice president and chief development office of Rezidor.



The Park Inn by Radisson Hotel & Residence Dammam Industrial City is under construction and located in a business hub with 340 factories and 75,000 employees. The hotel comprises 196 rooms and 104 serviced apartments, an all-day-dining restaurant and a speciality restaurant, meeting and event facilities with a surface of almost 950 sq m, a gym, spa, pool, and children's play area.



The Radisson Blu Hotel Dammam Al Faisaliyah will be built at the intersection of King Fahd Road and Dharan Jubail Express Way, two major arteries in town. It will be part of the upcoming 5D Business Park, a 6,500-sq-m landmass. The property will have 200 guest rooms and 60 serviced apartments, two restaurants, conference facilities of almost 650 sq m, a business class lounge, a gym, and a kids daycare centre. - TradeArabia News Service
Egyptian aviation investigators will finish on Monday repairing memory units from the black box recorders of an EgyptAir flight that crashed into the Mediterranean last month, a senior investigation official said.



Extracting data from the memory units of the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Data Recorder from EgyptAir Flight MS804 should help the country's Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee explain why the plane went down on May 19.



The repairs will be complete "within hours" after which the committee will be able to determine how easy it will be to extract the data, said the official, who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak.



Both black box recorders from the Airbus A320, whose crash en route from Paris to Cairo killed all 66 people on board, were recovered from the Mediterranean last week.



Investigators said the devices were heavily damaged and needed repair before they could be transcribed.



If intact, the cockpit recorder should reveal pilot conversations and any cockpit alarms, as well as other clues such as engine noise. But crash experts say it may provide only limited insight into the cause of the crash.



The data recorder, provided its memory chip is in good condition, will offer investigators a greater chance of determining the cause.



The crash was the third blow since October to Egypt's travel industry, which is still suffering from the 2011 uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.



A Russian plane went down in the Sinai Peninsula in October, killing all 224 people on board in an attack claimed by Islamic State. In March, an EgyptAir plane was hijacked by a man wearing a fake suicide belt. No one was hurt. - Reuters
Meet award-winning artisans and buy their products at Kerala Arts and Crafts Village
Weekly coal shipments are on the rise, government data shows.

Nationwide, shipments are up 26 percent since hitting a low of 10.3 million tons in early April. The 7.3 million tons transported by Western coal mines for the week of June 11 represents a 25 percent increase from the early-year low.

That development comes as welcome news for an industry stuck in a historic slump. An increase in natural gas prices and improving demand, thanks to warmer temperatures around the country, are largely responsible for coals improving position.

Analysts were nonetheless wary in declaring the turnaround complete. A significant draw down of coal stockpiles and new wave of buying on the part of utilities are needed to alter coals outlook, they said.

First of all, you dont want to read too much into short-term events, said Jim Thompson, who heads up North American coal research at IHS Energy, a consulting firm. You dont want to catch yourself prematurely saying, Were climbing out of a ditch. That said, the fact that production has been cut, utilities opportunities to work into their inventories is meaningful.

The rebound follows the worst quarter in more than three decades for Americas coal producers. The 173 million tons mined between January and March was the lowest level since 1981, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Producers, many of whom are tangled up in bankruptcy proceedings, have slashed output and trimmed payrolls in the face of dwindling demand.

Powder River Basin coal, which accounts for the vast majority of Western production, is best placed among its peers to benefit from the increase in natural gas prices. The low cost of strip mining in Montana and Wyoming means Powder River Basin coal generally becomes competitive with natural gas when gas prices hit $2.75 per million British Thermal Units.

Henry Hub, the national gas benchmark, finished last week at roughly $2.60 per mmBTUs. Opal, a western Wyoming trading hub, was at $2.30 mmBTUs while Wyoming Pool in Cheyenne closed around $2.27 per mmBTUs.

Weekly shipments from Western coal mines hit a low of 5.8 million tons the week of April 9. Those figures have risen steadily in the two months since.

A move by utilities to purchase long-term supply contracts will be the first sign of a more sustained rebound, Thompson said. But then companies will need to complete their restructuring and emerge from bankruptcy, he noted.

Coal, in short, is showing signs of life, but it has a ways yet to go.
LARAMIE  The Laramie Plains Civic Center is a huge building encompassing an entire city block and housing more than 40 local organizations, agencies and studios. Some do not know the vast history and hidden treasures of the nearly 140-year-old building.

When first constructed, the old school was at the far east side of Laramie surrounded by empty land and small farm plots. An iron fence circled the building, filled with trees and a trimmed lawn.

"This was considered way out in the countryside," Theater Manager David Soules said. "People were complaining because it was so far away from town."

Known at the time as the East Side School, it was the first brick-and-mortar school in the state and dwarfed many of the surrounding houses and farmsteads, said Melissa Daniele, Civic Center executive director.

"That was a real boom time if you think about the history of the railroad," she said. "You had a lot of people here all of the sudden."

The original 1878 facade is now inside the building  the entrance where the original doors were now opens into Laramie Head Start at the end of the north lobby.

"The original structure is in the center of this block," Daniele said.

"They covered (the walls) in stucco to make it match. They reframed the windows to match the new windows. The arched windows are all gone, and the roof is gone."

The 1926 addition added what is now the Gryphon Theatre, the Kenny Sailors gym on the north side of the building and the underground pool, along with a third story to the original building and other classroom space.

The 1939 addition added the entire southern portion of the building, including the south gym and the west side of the building, Daniele said.

The building was used as the high school up through the early 1970s and as a junior high school until about 1979, after which it became the Laramie Plains Civic Center through a joint powers board agreement.

"There's never been a time when this building wasn't in use, but it's never been used to the capacity it is now," Daniele said. "The last 6-7 years is when you've seen a sharp uptick in occupancy."

Previous tenants include the Laramie County Community College-Albany County Campus, the Department of Motorized Vehicles and the Department of Workforce Services.

"This building has really been instrumental to all of these agencies that have served the community over the years," Daniele said.

Some areas of the building, specifically the entire third floor, were neglected during much of this time. A major renovation project allowed many rooms to be occupied, but some still show the damage done after more than 35 years of emptiness. Leaks through the ceiling and other problems have relegated the spaces to storage only.

We don't really know why the third floor was shut down and used for trash and storage," Daniele said.

The renovated rooms did keep the original flooring and other fixtures from the building.

There are many places in the Civic Center hidden away from the public eye. Some are unsafe; others are not renovated or are not available for public use. These nooks and crannies make the Civic Center unique to Laramie.

The basement space underneath the Gryphon Theatre was once used as an indoor rifle range for junior high students. Like many other spaces in the Civic Center, it is now used as storage for various tenants. Most of the shooting range space now has props for Relative Theatrics.

An unfinished dirt path with exposed piping, originally meant as a locker room, leads to the underground pool  a completely dark room with no lights or windows. Original skylights were covered long ago, as the pool was never actually filled with water.

"You can't use this pool," Daniele said. "They built it below the water table. You can't drain it."

Graffiti from break-ins years ago now fill the pool and surrounding walls.

One wall of the underground area is the foundation from the original 1878 building, with uneven stones mortared together into a solid wall.

The pool was eventually covered with a false floor and used as a wrestling room and cheerleader practice area.

Three 10-foot boilers in the basement underneath the Kenny Sailors Gym provided heat for the entire building until 2003. A coal shoot still exists, although the boilers were converted to use natural gas at some point. New heating devices now sit only feet from the old massive hunks of metal  parts of the wall had to be torn down to get the machines down the coal shoot and into the basement.

The Kenny Sailors Gym, previously known as the North Gym or, after the 1939 addition, the Girl's Gym, was finished in 1928. The bleachers were used up until the building became a junior high.

"Kenny Sailors took his first jump shot in competition in this gym," Daniele said. "During the dedication as the Kenny Sailors Gym, an old lady came up and said, 'This is really great, but you're dedicating the wrong gym. This is the Girl's Gym.' I said, 'No, the Boy's Gym was finished in fall of 1939. Kenny Sailors graduated in the spring of '39, so he never played in the other gym."

Shower spigots still hang above tiled drains in the women's locker room underneath the gym. The space was recently painted to make it more easily inhabitable.

"We had a group of tenants who were artists that wanted to be down here and use this as their art space," Daniele said. "We were totally game. But then the city said, 'No, we aren't going to let you put a door to the outside for an emergency exit because of where our gas lines are."

A pottery workshop is also on the ground floor, originally created after a contract with the city was made. While currently unused, Daniele said they are looking for possible teachers for classes. A group of artists also occupy what was originally the boy's locker room.

The Phoenix Ballroom on the second floor was restored to its original state in late 2015. Walls added throughout the years dissecting the ballroom were removed, and the original walnut floor was refinished.

A conference room on the second floor, which still has the original slate chalkboard, was an English classroom, Daniele said.

"One of my favorite stories was, there was a male teacher here that, if he caught you chewing gum, you had to bring it and put it on the chalkboard ledge, so you had a row of gum," she said. "At the end of class, you had to come and go take someone else's gum."

The band room is the only room on the fourth floor. Huge windows fill the room with sunlight, even with the 15-foot-high ceilings.

"Most people don't even know there is a fourth floor," Daniele said. "Every time people see this, they want it to be their office or their flat."

Many people want to turn rooms of the building into apartments, Daniele said, but lack of plumbing to provide showers and toilets is a major hindrance.

There are also no Americans with Disabilities Act required access to the fourth floor, so turning the space into a public area is unlikely in the near future.

The band room also has roof access, although the door has to be propped open once outside  it only opens from inside. Besides communications equipment, including a Union Wireless tower, a rooftop vent has names going as far back as the '40s etched into it. Parts of the original facade are also visible from the roof.

Some areas of the building are still a mystery. The basement of the original building is still hidden away, with several entrances sealed by later additions.

"There's a hatch in the Laramie Head Start Kitchen closet," she said. "There's a utility closet, and you can remove a floor panel, and there's a ladder that goes down.

"None of us have ever been in the basement of the original 1878 section," she continued. "But according to the maps, there is a basement. And if you look at photos of the original building, there are basement buildings that have been covered."

Older photos of the building show a room not present in the current Civic Center, which Soules thinks could be hidden in the basement.

"There's a room with a stage in it as well, and I think that might be the basement," he said. "From my understanding, the seats that are in the balcony (of the Gryphon Theatre) came from that room."

While preserving the historic aspects of the building is now a top priority, it was not always so in the past.

"Just seeing some of the stuff they've done makes me think (historic preservation) wasn't too important," Soules said. "Acoustic ceiling tiles in the theater used to run in every classroom and hallway to this building. During the great asbestos scare, they came in and ripped all those tiles out, thinking they had asbestos in them. It turns out, the tiles were negative  it was the glue holding the tiles that were positive. They actually exposed the asbestos when, if they had done nothing, it would have been fine.

Now, every time a new room is restored, the ceiling has to be abated to ensure the glue is safe.

Remains of the original slate chalkboards rest in an unused third-story room.

"One of the former directors  if you wanted slate, someone could go to his office and ask for slate," Daniele said. "He'd say, 'Do you have five bucks?' Then he came up with a hammer and just break slate off from chalkboards."

The original doors were also sold during this time.

When Alec Shea became executive director of the Civic Center in 2010, he began searching out grants and other funding sources to begin major upkeep and renovation projects and brought new life to the nearly 140-year-old building, Daniele said.

"He was brave enough to come into an aged facility that needed a lot of work," she said.
About 25 employees of a Cheyenne building that houses a number of state agencies and private businesses were evacuated Monday afternoon because of a heavy paint odor.

About 3 p.m., a crew working on the heating and air conditioning system smelled the odor at the Wyoming Financial Center, 2020 Carey Ave., where the state treasurer and secretary of state offices are located as the Wyoming State Capitol undergoes renovation.

The odor quickly dissipated and employees returned to the building in about 10 minutes, according to the Cheyenne Fire Department.
BOISE, Idaho  Nearly a fifth of the Idaho Legislature is currently receiving a monthly state pension payment while still being paid a state salary.

According to the states public pension system, 18 out of the states 105 lawmakers partake in double dipping  a practice in which elected officials collect government salaries and pensions at the same time, sometimes for the same job.

The practice is legal under state law, and a private one. Individual pension records, including state elected lawmakers, are exempt from Idahos public records law. Furthermore, lawmakers rarely mention if they have a possible conflict of interest while debating pension reform.

This all makes it difficult for taxpayers to know what kind of benefits their representatives are collecting; and increased scrutiny from fellow lawmakers and other supporters of pension change have called for change inside the system.

More than 20 lawmakers are listed as retired according to the states legislative directory, but only a handful note if they retired from a state position. However, the states Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho can disclose general information.

For example, the average monthly payment for the 18 lawmakers currently receiving a state pension is $1,630, or $19,560 a year. The highest payment is $4,300 per month, while the lowest pension payment is $280 per month.

Additionally, all lawmakers receive a $17,358 annual salary, travel reimbursements and a per diem when the Legislature is in session.

Other advantages granted to lawmakers include allowing them to be vested into the states pension system after five months  essentially guaranteeing them benefits  while most other public employees are vested after five years.

The Legislature has given itself special perks, and it has done via the pension system, said Wayne Hoffman, executive director of the Idaho Freedom Foundation.

Hoffmans organization, a free market think tank, has been one of the growing critics of the Legislatures pension system. Specifically, his group is advocating for the removal of a loophole, carved out by the Legislature in the 1990s, that allows lawmakers to calculate years of legislative service differently than any other Idaho employee when it comes to retirement benefits.

For example, say a mayor makes $17,000 a year for more than 20 years, but then gets appointed to a state position that pays $106,000 a year. After 42 months, her retirement pay would be split between her city service and state service, rounding up to a total of about of about $19,500 a year.

Meanwhile, a lawmaker who serves the exact same amount of time in the Statehouse for the same pay, but then gets appointed to a similarly high paying state position will receive $65,700 a year in pension. This is because the law exempts legislators from having their pensions be split up.

Earlier this month, a legislative citizens committee agreed to draft a letter urging legislative leadership to address the so-called pension spiking during the 2017 session.

A year before, Rep. Kelley Packer, a Republican from McCammon, attempted to bring legislation changing the way lawmakers receive their pension in 2015, but her bill stalled in the Senate after passing the House.

Lawmakers shouldnt have a special perk for them, it should be equal for everyone, she said.
BOZEMAN, Mont.  In contrast to the whitewater raging down parts of the Gallatin River, Montana is also home to calmer waters with accompanying mountain views and wildlife, perfect for novice canoeists.

Lower Madison River

Located near Three Forks, Missouri Headwaters State Park offers the newbie with lots of possibilities on the Madison River. As the Madison combines with the Gallatin and Jefferson rivers to form the Missouri, it begins to ox-bow, slowing and splitting in multiple channels.

Park ranger Dave Andrus recommends putting in at the Milwaukee Fishing Access Site on Frontage Road. From there it's a five-mile float to the confluence with the Jefferson, a good place to take out inside the park. This line takes between one and two hours, with lots of birds as well as some Montana history.

It was on this stretch of the Madison, Andrus said, where in 1809, famed mountain man John Colter made his run, hiding inside a beaver lodge while fearing capture by members of the Blackfeet Tribe who had just killed his partner.

"We like it because it's easy to put in and easy to take out," said Eleanor Mest, former mayor of Manhattan. Mest, her 85-year-old husband and their West Highland terrier, Annie, have for the first time spotted a cinnamon-colored bear this year while paddling this stretch.

To get there: Avoid Interstate 90 by taking Bozeman's North Seventh Avenue north until it becomes Frontage Road. Follow this historic highway for 33 miles through Belgrade, Manhattan and Logan. A mile after passing the park, the Milwaukee Fishing Access Site is on the south side of the road.

Hyalite Reservoir

All summer long Hyalite Reservoir supplies the city with water and recreation by offering a big, flat paddlers playground. The big advantage Hyalite has over other locales is its proximity to Bozeman. It's surrounded by the 10,000-foot peaks of the Gallatin Range and campsites, so it's busy all summer long. But even when it's busy, the 206-acre reservoir doesn't feel overcrowded, plus there's a no wake rule for motorboats.

To get there: Follow South 19th Avenue out of Bozeman. After it curves west, turn south on Hyalite Canyon Road for roughly 10 miles to the reservoir.

Cliff and Wade lakes

The water is so clear at the twin Cliff and Wade lakes that in the shallows they glow aqua marine like the Florida Keys coastline. These spring-fed spectaculars are hidden at the southern end of the Madison Valley. They're a little further away from other spots but definitely worth it. While paddling Wade Lake last weekend, a river otter appeared 20 yards away, curling above the surface like a miniature Loch Ness monster.

But it's Cliff Lake that has more water and better fishing. A mile from the boat ramp and campground, the water shallows, allowing sight casting with the fishing rod. Another half mile back and a tall island marks the lake splitting into three remote fingers with mountain peaks in the background. Several primitive camping sites are available.

To get there: Follow Huffine Lane west out of Bozeman. Go through Four Corners and continue on Norris Road, past the hot springs until reaching U.S. Highway 287 in Norris. Turn south for 55 miles, through Ennis, and get off the highway at the Three Dollar Bridge on the right and follow the signs to the lakes.

Ennis Lake

Mike Garcia, owner of Northern Lights Trading Co., recommended that Ennis Lake be on the list. This wide-open reservoir splits the upper and lower Madison River near its namesake town. There's plenty of places to put in. The road on the east side offers endless access. And paddlers can get a little taste of backcountry river by going up the first two miles of Bear Trap Canyon before reaching the dam.

"Really pay attention to the wind," Garcia said of Ennis Lake. "It can pin you against the shore."

To get there: Follow Huffine Lane west out of Bozeman. Continue through Four Corners on Norris Road, past the hot springs until U.S. Highway 287 in Norris. Go south eight miles, turning east on North Ennis Lake Road in McAllister.
Months before the 1940 Republican convention nominated Wendell Willkie, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, Theodore Roosevelts waspish daughter, said that Willkies support sprang from the grass roots of a thousand country clubs. There actually was a Republican establishment in 1940, when GOP elites created a nominee ex nihilo.

According to Charles Peters book Five Days in Philadelphia, three months before the convention, Willkie registered zero percent in polls measuring public sentiment about potential Republican nominees. This was not surprising: He was a businessman  president of Commonwealth & Southern Corp., the nations largest electric utility holding company  who had given substantial support to Franklin Roosevelt in 1932. Willkie had never sought public office and had not registered as a Republican until late 1939 or early 1940.

And he was not an isolationist regarding European events. Eighty percent of Americans were more or less isolationist, as were the three strongest Republican candidates  Ohio Sen. Robert Taft, Michigan Sen. Arthur Vandenberg and New York prosecutor Thomas Dewey, just 38 but favored by 60 percent in early 1940 polls. Herbert Hoover hoped a deadlocked convention would turn to him.

The Republicans Eastern establishment, however, was interventionist to the extent of favoring aid to Britain. The adjective Eastern was superfluous: Two-thirds of Americans lived east of the Mississippi (Californias population was under 7 million) and the South was solidly Democratic.

The Republican establishment had power and the will to exercise it. As the convention drew near, Willkie Clubs suddenly sprouted like dandelions, but not spontaneously. Their growth was fertilized by Oren Root, a lawyer with the Manhattan law firm of Davis, Polk, Wardwell, Gardner & Reed, whose clients included the J.P. Morgan banking empire. Root began seeking support for Willkie with a mailing to Princetons class of 1924 and Yales class of 1925. Another close Willkie adviser was Thomas Lamont, chairman of the board of J.P. Morgan & Co. Roots uncle Elihu had been a U.S. senator and Theodore Roosevelts secretary of war. By opposing his friend TRs bid to defeat President William Howard Taft for the 1912 Republican nomination, Elihu Root helped to rescue the country from having both parties devoted to progressivism.

One of the few politicians among Willkies early backers was Sam Pryor, Republican national committeeman, whom the candidate met at the Greenwich Country Club, naturally. Willkies top adviser was Russell Davenport, managing editor of Henry Luces Fortune magazine, which together with Time and Life made Luce, an ardent interventionist, a mass media power unlike anyone before or since. The April issue of Fortune was almost entirely devoted to praise of Willkie. Look magazine, second only to Life in importance, chimed in, as did Readers Digest, which had the nations largest magazine circulation.

On April 9, Dewey won a second of the few primaries  and Hitler invaded Norway and Denmark, with Belgium, Holland and France soon to follow. Willkie said he would vote for FDR over a Republican opposed to aiding Britain and France.

Willkie, the barefoot boy from Wall Street, cultivated an Indiana aura, but had become a Manhattan fixture, and by 1937 his criticism of the New Deal had Fortune applauding his presidential stature, and the letters column of the New York Herald Tribune, the Republican establishments house organ, concurred. In May, The Atlantic Monthly carried a Willkie essay, in June it was the Saturday Evening Posts turn. In July, Time featured a celebratory cover story on him. Madison Avenue titans of advertising  Bruce Barton of BBDO and John Young of Young and Rubicam  joined the effort. Root would have a meeting for Willkie, under the clock at the Biltmore, followed by another at the University Club or Century Club. Between May 8 and June 21, Willkies support rose from 3 percent to 29 percent.

Willkie also was lucky: In May, the Taft man in charge of tickets had a stroke and was replaced by a Willkie man who would pack the gallery with raucous Willkie supporters, including a Yale law student named Gerald Ford. The Herald Tribune endorsed Willkie in its first front-page editorial and tens of thousands of pro-Willkie telegrams inundated delegates in one day. Delegates heard from their hometown bankers, who had heard pro-Willkie instructions from New York bankers. He won on the sixth ballot.

Willkies nomination neutralized much Republican opposition to FDRs war preparations and was crucial to the narrow congressional approval of conscription. Willkie lost the election, but the coming war would be won. Time was, party establishments had their uses.
Sprouts Farmers Market is looking to hire 25 workers in the Tucson area on Tuesday as part of the companys National Hiring Day.

The Phoenix-based company will be hiring about 2,500 people across its more than 200 stores in 13 states.

Interested job candidates can visit any Sprouts location between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. to apply and interview; no appointment is necessary. Qualified applicants may walk away with a job offer, the company said.
Consumers in Arizona and 32 other states who purchased e-books will begin receiving checks in the mail or account credits from Apple Inc. after a price-fixing settlement, state Attorney General Mark Brnovich said.

Arizona consumers are in line to receive about $8.6 million of the $400 million nationwide Apple consumer compensation payout, the attorney general said.

The settlement stems from an antitrust case accusing Apple of conspiring with five of the nation's largest publishers to artificially raise the price of e-books between 2010 and 2012.

Customers eligible for account credits should expect to receive an e-mail between Tuesday and Thursday, indicating that the credits are available in their accounts.

The amounts received by e-book purchasers will be based on the number of e-books purchased during the relevant time period.

Consumers will receive $6.93 for each New York Times best-selling e-book they purchased.

They will receive $1.57 per e-book for all other e-book purchases.

For more information, go to www.ebooklawsuits.com or call 1-866-686-9333.
The Total Force Training Center, a 162nd Wing detachment based at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, is in the customer service business, and business is good.

Since last October, the center has facilitated training for 1,533 military personnel from 15 separate units across the joint force  all seeking to improve their warfighting skills before they deploy, or to complete required training they may not have been able to efficiently accomplish at their home base.

We are a one-stop shop operation, said Senior Master Sgt. Samuel Roberts, superintendent for the TFTC.

Established in 1975 as Operation Snowbird, the TFTC was a succession of training exercises  as opposed to an actual unit  catering to northern Air National Guard bases that came to Tucson during the winter months, according to Roberts. The name change was a result of the operation receiving more active-duty and foreign units, and handling an increased variety of assets and resources year-round.

Now, we sometimes get units that literally come off the street, redirected by the 355th Fighter Wing here at D-M, said Roberts.

With a crew of 11 full-time members  comprised of munitions, aerospace ground equipment, vehicle maintenance, personnel and flight line Airmen, along with a command staff  Roberts described the center as our very own little Air Force base.

We have a game plan before they (visiting units) come here, and this allows them to be more mission-oriented to their training, explained Roberts. Then when they arrive, we serve as liaisons.

In May, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron - 165, a Miramar, California, based unit that brought their MV-22 Ospreys to D-M, came to Arizona to fly side-by-side with A-10 Thunderbolt IIs.

Coming here is excellent for training. The environment that we work in right now in theater, with the topography and climate, really mirrors what is here in Arizona, said Marine Corps Maj. Paul Bisulca, the visiting squadrons executive officer.

Technical training aside, Bisulca added the facility design lends for greater cohesiveness and camaraderie among the White Knights, the nickname for the 50-year-old squadron.

Currently, the TFTC assumes the role of a host, providing the means and capabilities for Air Force components to conduct an A-10 bombing, missile and gunnery competition named Hawgsmoke.

A walk through one of TFTCs six buildings highlights its joint-service mentality, with ceiling tiles painted like murals, representing the wide range of missions of the units that have called the center its temporary home.

With the words Fights On displayed on its own patch, the TFTC is poised to continue its services as the total package for future customers.
Tucson recorded its third heat-related death on Sunday night when a woman walking on The Loop multi-use path collapsed and died, sheriff's officials said Monday.

Officials on Monday also identified the two hikers who died while out on trails north of Tucson as well as a third hiker who is presently believed to be missing in the Catalina Mountains.

The woman, 54-year-old Jana Kirkpatrick, was reported missing at around 7:30 p.m. Sunday. She was found dead on the walking path in the 4900 block of South Outlet Drive, near East Irvington Road and Interstate 10.

Sheriff's officials are attributing her death to the heat.

The two hikers who died were identified as Adrienna Rasmussen, 18, who was hiking with a male companion on the Finger Rock Trail, and Stefan Guenster, 57, from Germany, who died while hiking on the Ventana Canyon Trail No. 98 on Sunday.

Also, authorities are still searching for another hiker who went missing in Ventana Canyon on Sunday during record-breaking heat.

Search-and-rescue officials resumed the search Monday morning for another German man who was hiking with Guenster. The missing hiker, identified as Marcus Turowski, 33, of Germany, was in a group of three men hiking up a trail when they apparently became dehydrated.

One of the men was able to hike out of the trail and searchers found Guenster dead about four miles from the trailhead, officials said.

Two people died Sunday while hiking in the Tucson area, including a woman hiking on the Finger Rock Trail. The rescue effort in Ventana Canyon was one of three major rescue efforts conducted Sunday.

Sundays high reached 115, which broke the 112-degree record set in 1989. Look for a high of 109 in Tucson on Monday. The National Weather Service said the dangerous heat will continue today and Tuesday, with slightly lower high temperatures expected by Wednesday.

More heat-related deaths, including a 28-year-old woman who died while mountain biking, were reported in the Phoenix area this weekend as temperatures topped out there at 118 degrees.

Despite the intense Arizona heat, hikers could still be found on trails along the Catalina Mountains.

The female hiker, believed to be 19 years old and from out of state, was hiking the Finger Rock Trail with a male partner when they lost their way, according to Deputy Courtney Rodriguez, a Pima County sheriffs spokeswoman.

A call for help was placed around 11:30 a.m., Rodriguez said.

Search-and-rescue deputies from the Sheriffs Department and Southern Arizona Rescue Association attempted to retrieve the two by helicopter, but the woman died before they reached the scene.

The male hiker was taken to Tucson Medical Center, where he was being treated for his injuries.
Two hikers, a man and a woman, traveling with different hiking groups on separate trails north of Tucson died Sunday, as temperatures soared to 115 degrees in the city, its third-hottest day on record.

More heat-related deaths, including a 28-year-old woman who died while mountain biking, were reported in the Phoenix area this weekend where temperatures topped out at 118 degrees.

Despite the intense Arizona heat, hikers could still be found on trails along the Catalina Mountains.

The female hiker, believed to be in her early twenties and from out of state, was hiking the Finger Rock Trail with a male partner when they lost their way, according to Deputy Courtney Rodriguez, a Pima County Sheriffs spokesperson

A call for help was placed around 11:30 a.m., Rodriguez said.

Search and rescue deputies from the sheriff's department and Southern Arizona Rescue Association attempted to retrieve the two by helicopter, but the woman died before they reached the scene.

The male hiker was transported to Banner-University Medical Center, where he is being treated for his injuries.

Another hiker, believed to be European, died Sunday afternoon while exploring a trail in Ventana Canyon with two friends, one of whom is still missing, Rodriguez said.

Three search and rescue operations were conducted in total in the Tucson area, including one near Seven Falls in Sabino Canyon.

Tucson's 115-degree high surpasses the previous record for the date of 112 degrees set in 1989. It's also a few degrees shy of Tucson's hottest temperature ever recorded of 117 degrees set on June 26, 1990.

Phoenix also hit a new record for the day, reaching 118 degrees and surpassing the previous record of 115 degrees set in 1960.

Other areas that experienced record-breaking heat for the day included the Bisbee-Douglas International Airport with 109 degrees, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument with 119 degrees, Nogales with 109 degrees and Safford with 112 degrees.

An excessive heat warning has been in effect for most of southern and central Arizona since Saturday. It will remain in effect until tonight at 8p.m.

People are encouraged to drink plenty of water, dress for the heat and limit your time outdoors.
Its Sunday morning in Tucson. The lights are off, the air is cool, and people are dancing.

Some move like ballet dancers, others are more aerobic. One woman dances with a walker, another lies on the floor.

Theres no talking on the dance floor of this growing gathering called The Spirit of Movement, which regularly attracts upward of 60 people ranging in age from young adults to senior citizens.

Instead of speaking, this gathering is all about moving to a variety of music for two continuous hours. Some participants say its spiritual, others say its physical. Many say its both.

The creator of Spirit of Movement is Sandra Morse, a local communications expert who was inspired after she learned about a moving meditation called 5Rhythms when she was at a workshop in California. She cites benefits as both emotional and physical health.

The physical aspect certainly cant hurt. A study that came out in March in the Journal of Alzheimers Disease says regular physical activity, including dancing, can reduce the risk of Alzheimers as people age.

And the effects of meditation, prayer and spiritual practice on overall health are currently being studied at the University of Arizonas Center for Integrative Medicine, led by renowned mind-body researcher Dr. Esther Sternberg.

Sternberg is using scientific rigor to show how stress makes people sick, and the way activities like prayer and meditation trigger reactions in the body that can make them well.

No wrong way

UA professor Tracey Osborne and her partner Sapana Doshi, also a UA professor, have been going to Spirit of Movement for the past year and a half. The weekly movement sessions began in November 2014.

There are no limitations. You could be in a chair, Osborne says. You can be your authentic self.

Both Osborne and Doshi are energetic on the dance floor, and have the glow associated with a rigorous workout.

Its a time when I reset for the work week  negotiate out the craziness, Doshi says. There is no wrong way to do it.

She says after two hours, she always feels an emotional lightness, perhaps from the endorphins. Endorphins are chemicals that the body releases during exercise and are associated with positive feelings.

But its not just about working out. Doshi says there is a false dichotomy between mind and body, but that really they are very connected.

This is about reconnecting to ourselves, our bodies, and doing it with other people. It is uplifting and inspiring, she says.

Once people start, they find it hard to stop, says Melanie Cooley, who is beginning a movement teacher training program to earn her certification in 5Rhythms. Cooley says she believes shell be the first person in Arizona to be certified in the practice, and eventually expects to teach locally.

Body language

The 5Rhythms was developed by the late American dancer and musician Gabrielle Roth as a practice intended not just for a physical workout but to ignite creativity, connection and community.

Learning about the 5Rhythms got Morse thinking about connection in the Tucson community, and about the way Americans have typically worshiped  passively sitting in pews. Getting people collectively moving on Sunday mornings seemed like a good alternative.

The Spirit of Movement is not a 5Rhythms class, nor is it an official practice of Roths method. But its based on Roths idea of expanding ones world through dance, using music that corresponds with her 5Rhythms  flowing, staccato, chaos, lyrical and stillness.

Morses husband Michael Morse is a DJ for the local gathering, and plays tunes that range from Celtic to reggae to Brandi Carlile.

Sometimes people link arms and dance together, while others remain alone. They take cues from body language.

We want freedom for people  freedom to move, freedom to express, Sandra Morse says. Everyone has rhythm. They dont always know it, but they do.

Mind and body

The Sunday Spirit of Movement sessions start at 10:30 a.m. and begin slowly. People drop in and occasionally sit on the sidelines for a drink of water.

The music picks up speed, and by 11:30 a.m., many people are moving quickly, some of them vigorously jumping up and down. Shortly after noon the music slows, and by 12:30 p.m., most dancers are on the ground.

At the end of each session, the group forms a circle and joins hands. They briefly share announcements and welcome newcomers before leaving for the day. In spite of sharing almost no words, participants say theyve become a community.
Help India!

By TCN News

Lucknow will witness huge congreation of Muslims to offer Friday (Juma Prayers) led by Imam of Kaba Sheikh Khalid Bin Ali Al Ghamdi. The Imam will lead the Juma prayers at Nadwatul Uloom while later he will lead Maghrib and Isha prayers in Aishbagh Eidgah.

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Both the venues are being decked for the Namaz. People from adjoining districts are also expected to attend the namaz. At Nadwa, the count is expected to be nearly 50000 while at Aishbagh Eidgah, it will cross 30000.

ADM Umesh Mishra who is making all arrangements on part of district administration claimed that all arrangements are in place including security and safety. Tents have been put up all around the venue to provide relief from the hot and humid conditions. The Imam will attend a conference on world peace being organised by Islamic Centre of India. The conference will be presided over by president, All India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Syed Mohammad Rabey Hasani Nadwi.

On Saturday, Sheikh Ghamdi will visit Integral University for an interaction with the students and faculty members. The Imam-e-Haram is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav at the latters official residence on Sunday evening before returning on Monday.

Masjid al Haram in Mecca, encircling the Kaba, and the Prophet Mohammads mosque at Medina in Saudi Arabia, collectively called the Harmain-al-Sharifain (the sacred sanctuaries), are the two most sacred sites for Muslims and the centre-points of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Meanwhile Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad has requested the Imam to lead prayer congregation jointly attended by both Shia and Sunnis to set a precedent. Shia and Sunni generally offer prayers separately.


Help India!

Party feels Muslims cannot win in present environment

By Mohd Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net,

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Hyderabad: Telangana Rashtriya Samithi (TRS) supremo K. Chandrashekar Rao has finally pricked the balloon which he has been filling with dreams and promises to Muslims of political empowerment for over a decade.

Muslim community who have been kept on cloud nine pampering with promises during Telangana statehood struggle has finally been brought down to the ground reality. Muslim candidates cannot win elections in the present environment, observed none other than KCR whose party TRS is expected to sweep elections in the region.





TRS cheif with Jamat-e-Islami leaders



This eye-opener from TRS came when a delegation of Muslim religious leaders representing districts of Telangana decided to meet KCR along with party minority cell president Mehmood Ali. This meeting came in the backdrop of partys release of its first list of candidates where not a single Muslim found a place.

Even with a strong wave TRS leadership is cynical about chances of its Muslim candidates scoring a success. In a communal-polarized Telangana they feel fielding a Muslim candidate is not worth the risk.

Maulana Zahed from Warangal district who was also part of the delegation informed TCN about the discussions with KCR. We were quite clear to KCR; we told him that we supported congress loyally for past 60 years but that party always ditched the community. Muslims will be saddened if TRS doesnt stand on its words because we genuinely believed that your party was different than Congress, Maulana narrated the initiation of discussion.

KCR sensing displeasure in the delegation started to reassert all the poll promises, scholarship to economically weak Muslim students, protection of wakf properties, first official language status to Urdu and 11% reservation for community. He kept on speaking for at least one hour even gave a power point presentation of his ideas on community empowerment, Maulana Zahed said.

After soothing delegation with sugar coated reaffirmations KCR drops the final bomb, My party has done a private survey, he said with serious gaze, We found that communalism has engulfed rural Telangana. There is a huge Hindu-Muslim divide. At this juncture its not possible for Muslims to win and my party to provide large number of tickets to community.

In the present circumstances TRS chief said he can allot only 2-3 tickets to Muslims in district assembly constituencies and in a balancing act he promised some more tickets from Hyderabad city, to which a member of delegation commented You also know that TRS cannot win from citys Muslim dominated seats. That is MIMs bastion we already have them in our basket, we wanted proper representation in districts.

KCR was quick to respond, I will not just give tickets and forget like other parties does. Even though I might be giving only 2-3 tickets but I will make sure those Muslim candidates win at any cost. KCR disclosed assembly segments of Khammam town in Khammam district and Bodhan in Nizamabad district that has been finalized for Muslim candidates of TRS.

TRS promise of political representation according to population ratio has scored lot of enthusiasm for the party in the community. The reason is not a single Muslim was able to register victory outside of Hyderabad in 2009 assembly and parliamentary elections in Telangana region.

Community which formed 13% of population in the newly crafted state expected a surge in their representation from rural districts riding on TRS wave. Presently in 119 Assembly seats in Telangana only 7 are represented by Muslims all of them from MIM elected from Hyderabad city alone. Out of 17 parliamentary seats only one again Hyderabad is represented by a Muslim.

TRS has earlier promised 15 assembly tickets and 2 parliament tickets for the Muslim community in 2014 elections. Till last minute little did community knew that KCR has chosen politics over promise.

TRS minority cell Chief Mehmood Ali speaking with TCN defended his party chiefs strategy, It is to keep communal forces at bay. At this juncture if lot of tickets is to be given to Muslims, BJP will polarize the electorate to gain.

Mr. Ali said although party has to drop its electoral representation promise due to strategic reasons but KCR has reiterated in the meeting that he is committed to appoint a Muslim as first Home Minister of Telangana.

Asking not to paint KCR as hypocrite he continues to defend his boss, If KCR is unable to keep this promise then he is ready to compensate for it. In lieu of legislative assembly he is ready to provide legislative council (state upper house) seats to Muslims equal to their population ration. Mr. Ahmed Ali who himself is a MLC explained the partys consolation plan.





KCR interracting with a local Muslim.



Mahbubnagar town assembly segment was the most heated issue in the meeting. In 2009 and 2011 TRS Muslim candidate Syed Ibrahim lost the seat with marginal votes. In 2011 by election Ibrahim lost to BJP candidate by just 1,897 votes. That by election has remained in news due to the stiff polarizing where BJP rhetoric even termed the election India vs. Pakistan match.

TRS this time is not ready to take any risk, and has decided to field Telangana Gazetted Officers Joint Action Committee leader Srinivas Goud as its candidate replacing Ibrahim. Mahbubnagar is now an honor issue for our party, told Ahmed Ali, We want a winnable candidate from this seat.

A heartbroken Syed Ibrahim has got assurance of compensation from TRS chief himself. And you guessed it right; he has been promised a legislative council seat.

In the open heart discussion K. Chandrashekar Rao has even gave a time period for Muslims to be able to contest from rural Telangana. Wait for more five years, TRS chief said not because existing communalism will die down in coming years but as he believes the political calculations will change.

In the next elections there will be delimitations of constituencies. Assembly seats will increase from 119 to at least 153. Urban towns where Muslim community in Telangana mostly resides will be the main benefiter, explained KCR with a revived promise TRS in 2019 election will make sure at least 35 Muslims gets elected to Assembly.
Help India!

By A Mirsab, TwoCircles.net,

Mumbai: In an apparent display of dubious action, the state of Maharashtra state has decided to challenge the discharge of nine Muslim youths in Malegaon 2006 blasts case, even as it has decided to not even appear before court in Malegaon 2008 blasts in which Hindu radicals are accused.

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Two serial bomb blasts had taken place in Muslim-populated areas at Maharashtras textile town Malegaon in 2006 and 2008.

On September 8, 2006 Malegaon was rocked with three serial bomb explosions near a Muslim cemetery at around 01.15 pm soon after Friday prayers leaving 37 dead and 125 injured.





(Photo: The Week)



Two years later, on September 29, 2008 bomb blast had taken place at Bhiku square opposite Shakil Goods Transport Company in Malegaon. The blast was caused by LML Freedom motorcycle with explosives concealed inside. 4 people had dead and 79 injured due to the blast.

Initially both the cases were investigated by Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and in 2006 case it accused nine Musim youth of orchestrating these blasts. The team of Hemant Karkare, former chief of ATS,arrested 10 Hindu radicals including Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and Col Purohit in relation to 2008 blasts.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs transferred both these cases from ATS to NIA in April 2011 to unearth the larger conspiracy as the role of Hindu radicals was established in both the cases after Swami Aseemanand confessed in 2010.

Subsequently, NIA provided clean chit to Muslim youths in 2006 case and did not object to their discharge from the case. On April 25, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court discharged nine arrested by the ATS in connection with the Malegaon blasts, observing that they became scapegoats at the hands of the ATS.

On May 13 this year,NIA provided clean chit to Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and five others in 2008 case. It also lifted MCOCA from the case. On the basis of NIA chargesheet Thakur has applied for bail before NIA court which is not opposed by NIA.

Government action reeks of bias against Muslims

Even if NIA has given clean chits to some accused in both the cases, it has maintained that both blasts were the handiwork of Hindu radicals. However, the BJP-led Maharashtra government is now siding with ATS in the 2006 case, maintaining that Muslims had orchestrated blasts. The state has backed ATS and decided to challenge the discharge of nine Muslim youths. Public prosecutor Sandip Shinde on Friday informed Bombay High Court that the government had filed an appeal challenging the discharge of the accused.

Shinde was responding to a public interest litigation filed by journalist and AAP leader Ashish Khetan alleging that Muslims were being framed by the Maharashtra ATS in cases of terrorist attacks. Khetan sought the intervention of the high court in the July 11, 2006 local train bombings, the 2006 Malegaon blasts case and the 2010 German Bakery bomb blast case. He alleged the ATS had created bogus evidence and extracted false confessions through torture.

ATS had strongly objected discharge applications of Muslim accused in 2006 case but in 2008 case it does not even appear for hearing. In 2008 case, ATS has neither objected to NIA charge sheet nor is objecting to bail of accused.

Importantly, the NIA is not objecting to Thakurs bail application. As ATS is not appearing in court, a victim of the blast, Nisar Ahmed, is opposing this bail as an intervenor.

Ideally, to save its face, ATS should have abided by its charge sheets submitted in both the cases but surprisingly it is a mute spectator in 2008 case where Hindu radicals were arrested by it but strongly opposing discharge of Muslims in 2006 case.

Related:

Malegaon 2008 Blasts victim files protest application against NIAs charge sheet

Two years ago, Sadhvi was principle conspirator for NIA. What changed now?

NIA gives clean chit to Sadhvi and others without conducting custodial interrogation

Unlike Sadhvi NIAs clean chit to Muslims in 2006 case was not before brain mapping and lie detector tests

Malegaon 2008 Blasts: HC and SC accepted MCOCA then why did NIA drop it?
Help India!

By Rekha Bhattacharjee

With the dust settling on a raucous election campaign and with a new regime taking the reins in its hands, an analysis of the Assam poll results becomes apparent. The passing of the baton from a well-entrenched Congress to a debutant (in the state) BJP should be seen as nothing less than a paradigm shift in northeastern politics.

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The Bhartiya Janata Partys Sarbanand Sonowal has become the 14th Chief Minister of Assam, ending the unprecedented 15-year tenure of Tarun Gogoi of the Congress.

There are a number of reasons which have seen BJP conquer another impregnable Congress bastion.

A polarisation of various sections of Assamese community (including tribal and non-Bengali Muslims) in favour of Prime Minister Narendra Modis party is being cited as the major reason for what the BJP called the Last Battle of Saraighat in Assam.

For the first time, Hindus have voted aggressively; Hindus and, you can say, the local Assamese people  BJP campaign manager and former Congress minister in Assam Himanta Biswa Sharma was not mincing words when he made this statement in a media interview.

According to the post-election analysis, the parties in the NDA alliance transferred votes to each other while taking on an isolated Congress and All India Democratic United Front (AIUDF).

While the Assamese populace is clear about this polarisation, some confused commentaries are emanating from some leading centre-left media houses. Sarbananada Sonowals and the BJPs mercurial rise in Assam politics have been dismissed by many political commentators as mere vote for change made inevitable by the anti-incumbency factor. This conclusion is not only simplistic but also reveals the Delhi-centric medias refusal to acknowledge BJPs gains in the northeast.

Issues like development and poor infrastructure did play a role but the reason which catapulted BJP from single-digit performance to near majority in the 126-member house is the consolidation of a vote against political groupings which depend heavily on the so-called Bangladeshi Muslim immigrants or settlers vote.

The Amit Shah-led BJP think tanks cause was made easier by a prominent section of the voting community. The Assamese youth, disillusioned and angry over the contentious issue of the illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, played a decisive part in voting 53-year old Sonowal and his party to power. The anger and eagerness of the voters to replace the Congress was reflected in the high polling numbers. Nearly 85 per cent of Assamese voters exercised their universal adult franchise.

The 2016 elections would be also remembered for the rejection by the ethic Assamese Muslims of sectarian politics. The number of seats won by the All India Democratic United Front (AIUDF) has gone down along with Congress, with which Assams Muslim community broadly aligned till the 2011 elections. While the polarization of the ethnic Assamese voting communities did take place, the two parties helped the BJP by not forming a coalition that everyone expected.

In an ironical twist, AIUDF founder Badruddin Ajmal lost in his constituency, Salmara South, to a Congress candidate. The AIUDFs seat tally reduced from 18 to just 12. Before the elections, Ajmal was being projected as a king-maker.

As mentioned earlier, the lack of development and infrastructure in Assam did force the state voters to look for the alternatives. The promises made by youthful state BJP leadership would have made more sense to the electorate than the rusted wheel-barrow the incumbent 81-year old Tarun Gogoi was pushing.

Assams new ruling dispensation would have to work strenuously to meet the voters expectations.

We hope Sarbonanda Sonowal will bring in youthful resilience and new ideas to take Assam forward. But Sonowal needs to be vigilant that he does not sacrifice the unique indigenous distinctiveness of Assam  both in terms of culture, worldview and development, social-activist Roshmi Goswami said while talking to this correspondent from Guwahati.

Goswamis views are shared by many among the hoi-polloi and the elite.

Unfortunately, public perception is of widespread corruption at all levels, the ineptitude of the government machinery and lack of investment and employment opportunities, particularly in rural areas. These are the challenges facing the new government. We wish them luck and look forward to a new dawn for Assam, Jayanto Chaudhary, a retired DG of the National Security Guard, said.

The Sonowal government will be a steady government with little scope for corruption  development, improvement of the northeast is very much in the Agenda, said Pradip G. Baruah, the publisher of Assamese journal Prantik.

When the euphoria over the rise of saffron party ebbs, many would point out that the Congress has still managed to poll the largest number of votes in the state. Many die-hard Congress followers blame the inept national leadership for the loss.

It remains to be seen for how long the party cadre would continue to tolerate a leadership swimming an ocean of indifference. Whether said in jest or with seriousness, Narendra Modis promise to make India a Congress-mukt country is fast becoming a reality. With every state election, the Congress graph is dipping southwards  a sign which should alarm those who would like Indias vibrant democracy to thrive.


Help India!

By Special Correspondent, TwoCircles.net,

Washim, Maharashtra: Rukayya Parveen, 25, a simple and quiet girl from Karanja town in Washim district of Maharashtra, considered herself blessed when she conceived twin baby girls last year. This made her mother of three daughters: elder amongst them Yasra Maherin,2, and the twins Umera and Rumaisa.

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Her family was overjoyed as both the mother and twins were doing well after the normal delivery.

However, this happiness did not last more than a month for Rukayya.On July 13, 2015 she received the shocking news that her husband had been killed by an angry mob, leaving her facing an uncertain future with heavy responsibilities staring at her face at a tender age. Shujaoddin was killed only a few days before Eid; therefore familys celebration of Eid turned into a mourning day.





[R to L] Rukayya, Fahemida Bi and Javedoddin



On the morning of that fateful day, the situation in the Karanja town turned violent and there was a clash between people from two communities, resulting in the death of 35-year-old Shujaoddin, injuries to many due to stone pelting and damage to scores of shops. Shujaoddin was not connected to the groups involved in the violence but was murdered by enraged Hindu men while he was walking down the street to his home.

The communal tension had erupted under the pretense of Love Jihad following the marriage of a youth from minority community with a girl from another community. The couple in love had a court marriage but the people from the girls community were unhappy at the alliance as the groom belonged to the minority community.

One year later, Rukaiyya has still not recovered from the distress that had struck her in the month of Ramadan. She is fasting but speaks little. She is now left to live with the sole aim of raising her three daughters.

Rukayya could not maintain her posture and breaks down while recalling the fateful day and tells TwoCircles.net with a broken voice, I will never forgive killers of my husband. They (killers) made my daughters orphan, woe unto them.





Shujaoddin with his daughter Yasra Maherin



Shujaoddin was the eldest son to parents  Islamoddin, 60, and Fahemida Bi, 55. He was a family person who successfully executed his responsibilities. Although he was eldest, he married only after all of his five sisters had got married.

He lived for his sisters and when a time came to live for him, he is not amongst us, Fahemida Bi almost clogs while mentioning this.

Javedoddin,24, the youngest brother of Shujaoddin told TwoCircles.net, My parents dont consider Rukkaya as a daughter in law but told her that she is more than a daughter to them. After the fateful incident she does not speak much.

Javedoddin does furniture work in the town to earn livelihood for the family. We are a joint family. Abba and Ammi looks after the girls whole day. I and elder brother Ayyazoddin have shouldered the responsibilities that were earlier on Bhaiyya (Shujaoddin), he adds.

Ayyazoddin, 33, who is a carpenter, recalls Ramadan memories with Shujaoddin and says, He used to take care of everything and everyone in Ramadan. He would bring eateries every evening for iftar, would buy clothes for all.

His eyes are filled with tears when he says, Now we will never have those days at home. He is not amongst us at a time when it was most needed.

Related:

NO compensation announced by Maharashtra govt for victims of communal violence EVEN 3 months later

Compensation to communal violence hit family in Maharashtra lost in red-tapism

Two Maharashtra towns in communal turmoil

Communal tension forces Maharashtra town to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr under curfew

Communal violence hit family in Maharashtra still awaits compensation
Help India!

By TCN News,

The Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaath (TNTJ), a South Indian Organization organized a mega blood donation campaign at King Fahad University Hospital, Al Khobar in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Support TwoCircles



The campaign was held after Friday prayers on June 3 when more than 160 donors were gathered at the hospital premises while 135 volunteers of various nationalities from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Bangladesh registered themselves in the blood donation campaign and donated 100 units of blood.

A large number of expatriates, mostly from the Tamil speaking community from India pledged to donate on a regular basis.

TNTJ Volunteers were helping the hospital staffs in registration and co-ordinations.

A standard health screening procedure was done prior to blood donation. Each donor underwent tests for blood pressure; sugar and hemoglobin count before donation. The checks also included communicable diseases.

TNTJ volunteers from Al Khobar, who own vehicles, helped to bring enthusiastic donors to the blood bank.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rubaish  President of Dammam University along with Dr. Ahmed Sayyah  Director of Laboratory Medicine took care of this campaign and thanked TNTJ for organizing blood donation on regular basis.

According to Syed Ali, the TNTJ Head, Dammam, so far TNTJ organization has conducted 48 such massive blood donation campaigns in Al Khobar, Dammam, Qatif and Jubail Hospitals.

He also claims TNTJ to be the number one organization in Blood Donation Camp in Tamil Nadu as well as in GCC countries. In India & Saudi Arabia, Health authorities have awarded TNTJ number of times for its Noble work.
Bill and Hillary Clinton, as in common with most on the left, trade on the notion of how friendly they are to ethnic minorities and, conversely, how sexist, racist, homophobic, and bigoted their Republican opponents allegedly are. But a new book by Dolly Kyle, a childhood friend of Bill Clintons who grew up to be one of his many mistresses, presents a far uglier portrait of the Clintons dating back from their days in Arkansas. It seems that both said things back in the 1970s and 1980s that would be career killing for any other public official.

For example, Bill Clinton is alleged to have referred to civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson as a GD----- N-----. Both Clintons are said to have used the same insult toward Robert Say McIntosh, a local Arkansas civil rights leader, and political gadfly McIntosh needled Clinton for stories about how he consorted with African American prostitutes while governor of Arkansas.

On another occasion, while Gov. and Ms. Clinton were hosting a group of physically disabled children for an Easter egg roll at the Governors Mansion, Hillary Clinton lost her patience and is said to have openly wondered "When are they going to get those f------ r------ out of here?"

Hillary Clinton also is alleged to have displayed more than a little anti-Semitism, using phrases such as stupid k--- and f------ Jew b------ to refer to Jewish people.

To be sure, the then-Arkansas first lady and the current presidential candidate was an equal opportunity hater, regarding the white inhabitants of the state her husband served as governor of as nothing more than inbred hillbillies.

Kyles book also covers other scandals concerning the Clintons, from the familiar such as Whitewater to the obscure, including a money-making scheme to sell blood donated by state prisoners which in some cases turned out to be tainted.

The book also suggests that Bill Clinton instituted racial profiling for criminals while governor of Arkansas and that his three strikes policy as president fell heaviest on African American and Hispanic convicts.

To be sure, Clinton supporters will maintain that Kyle is just another disgruntled former mistress (though they would never acknowledge that is true) of Clintons with an ax to grind.

Her account of long ago racism and other displays of bigotry meshes with other descriptions of Ms. Clintons often explosive temper.

One only wonders what would have happened if similar stories had arisen about  say  Donald Trump. But the Clintons have always been judged by different standards by their supporters.
When it comes to deadly shooting statistics, headlines in the Chicago Tribuneoften read more like a typical day in the Vietnam War for American troops. Parts of the city mayored by former top aide to Pres. Barack Obama, Rahm Emanuel, have devolved into a chaotic war zone where 1,800 people have been shot - including 200 fatally - just this year. While the financially insolvent city government of Chicago has many problems, including keeping its teachers in classrooms, violent and deadly stabbings and shootings have come to define west and south-side Chicago.

Chicago's pension debt and civility deficit

As sure as bloated city government pensions threaten to bankrupt Chicago, unabated gun violence has contributed to a decline in population as people flee the social tension and unrelenting, ever-rising rate of homicide. In all, the Windy City recorded its 300th homicide over the Fathers Day weekend. A stark and troubling report in the Chicago Tribune published today states 59 people were shot including 13 fatalities between Friday afternoon and Monday morning, all within 60 hours. One of the survivors of the shooting is just three-years-old, however he remained in critical condition at press time. The boy was shot in the shoulder while sitting in a car seat.

Rahm Emanuel reins over city's decline

Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently fired his police chief to deflect criticism from his administration however the firing had little or no affect on the escalating violence on city streets. A 16-year-old boy was shot dead Friday and a 65-year-old woman and 73-year-old man was shot in the head that same day, underscoring the fact that victim's age has no bearing.

Respectfully recording the location and circumstances of all of the shootings would prove nearly impossible in one news article since it would require too much newspaper space to record and too many words for the average reader to absorb. Meanwhile, Emanuel seems politically unfazed and prepared to lord over the weekly massacresat least for the duration of his term.

Generally, the Harrison District neighborhood has been hit harder by homicides than any other district in the city, with 37 deaths. The Englewood district on the South Side follows closely with had 36, so far. The Austin District on the West Side, the Gresham District on the South Side and the Deering District on the South and Southwest sides each saw 24 deaths by homicide to date this year.

Fleeing Chicago

As homicides and street violence in Chicago continue to escalate, recent census data reveal more people are leaving Chicagothancome to the city. The numbers are drastic enough that last year Illinois joined the unenviable list of states with declining populations. From July 2013 to July 2014, Illinois shrank by about 10,000 residents in all, joining other states in decline such as West Virginia, Connecticut and Alaska.
Half-year space experiment starts Updated: 2016-06-18 07:17 (China Daily/XINHUA)

Four volunteers wave to the cameras before starting a six-month living experiment in an enclosed space capsule in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, on Friday. The project is designed to support China's deep-space exploration plan. ZHU JIUTONG/XINHUA

Four volunteers on Friday started a 180-day living experiment in a sealed space capsule, which will test technologies that support China's deep-space exploration projects.

The volunteersthree men and one womanwill live in a sealed capsule in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. Scientists hope the experiment will cast light on how oxygen, water and food can be used and recycled under controlled conditions.

The project has been designed to test the "controlled ecological life support system", which is inspired by technologies used on China's Shenzhou spacecraft.

The 1,340-cubic-meter capsule, which has a floor space of 370 square meters, is divided into eight compartments, including the passenger compartment, resource compartment and greenhouse compartments.

Scientists have cultivated 25 kinds of plants in the capsule, including wheat, potatoes, sweet potatoes, soybeans, peanuts, lettuce, edible amaranth and bok choy. Strawberries, cherries, tomatoes and horseradish are also on the list.

The plants are part of a larger ecological treatment system that will help regenerate oxygen and water, reducing dependency on outside supplies.

Scientists will also monitor and observe how a hermetic environment affects physiological changes, biological rhythms, sleep patterns and emotional well-being.

The Astronaut Center of China launched a call for volunteers in May last year, and selected eight people, including an alternative team, from 2,110 candidates.

Two of the volunteers are from the center.

More than a dozen Chinese and overseas institutions are involved in the experiment, including the Shenzhen-based Space Institute of Southern China and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
US does not support 'Tibet independence': Kerry Updated: 2016-06-19 09:55 (Xinhua)

BELGRADE - The United States maintains that Tibet is an inalienable part of China and does not support the independence of Tibet, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday.

During a telephone conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Kerry said the U.S. policy on the Tibet issue remains unchanged and will not change.

Wang, for his part, reiterated China's principled position on the issue of Tibet, urging the U.S. side to refrain from interfering in China's domestic affairs, and take practical actions to safeguard the overall China-U.S. relations.

Kerry hailed the success of the recent U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogues and U.S.-China High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange, which were held in Beijing earlier this month.

The United States stands ready to further push forward U.S.-China relations, Kerry said.

Wang said the latest round of China-U.S. dialogue was successful thanks to the joint efforts by both the Chinese and U.S. sides.

The recent dialogue has sent clear signals that both sides are committed to building a new type of major-country relationship, which will create favorable conditions for the further healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations, Wang said.
China adds state-of-the-art marine science ship Updated: 2016-06-19 19:05 (Xinhua)

QINGDAO, Shandong - China's most advanced marine science ship Xiang Yang Hong 01 went into service in the eastern port city of Qingdao on Saturday.

The 100 meter ship with displacement of 4,980 tonnes and a range of 15,000 nautical miles has plentiful remote sensing equipment to explore as deep as 10,000 meters.

The ship will conduct its first task in the Indian Ocean, said Qiao Fangli, Communist Party Secretary of the First Institute of Oceanography of the State Oceanic Administration, the owner of the ship.

The ship is fully automated and can be piloted by a lone sailor. Satellite broadband enables video conferencing on board, said Yang Zhigang, board chairman of its builder Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group of Hubei province.
Red tourism gains traction ahead of CPC's 95th birthday

Updated: 2016-06-20 09:18

(chinadaily.com.cn)

This photo was taken on May 24, 2016. It shows visitors, including CPC party officials, walking along the road that was once embarked on by the Red Army during the Long March about 80 years ago. [Photo/IC]

"Red tourism", featuring visits to historical sites with China's revolutionary legacy, is gaining more popularity across the country, as July 1st of this year marks the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Meanwhile, this year also marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of Red Army's Long March as well as the 85th anniversary of the Red Detachment of Women's establishment.

Among all scenic spots, Ji'an city in Jiangxi province, as an important part of the Jinggangshan revolutionary base, attracts many visitors including CPC party officials to commemorate the party's 90th anniversary.

A report released by China National Tourism Administration suggested China's red tourism sites received more than 4 billion tourists in the past decade, with numbers growing by 16 percent annually.
Cartoon commentary: High time for China-Serbia comprehensive strategic partnership Updated: 2016-06-20 18:01 (cctv.com)

On June 18, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Serbia, and attended a grand ceremony held by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic. They held talks amid a friendly atmosphere to reach an extensive common consensus.

They declared jointly to lift bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership level, while both had witnessed the signing of a series bilateral cooperation documents involving industrial capacity, finance and infrastructure construction.

Nikolic decorated Xi with the Order of the Republic of Serbia, the highest honor bestowed by Serbia to extend gratitude to the Chinese president for his outstanding contributions to advancing the bilateral ties. Xi also held meetings with Serbian Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.Since the two nations established a strategic partnership in 2009, bilateral relations have accelerated.

Both sides have unanimously agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to comprehensive strategic partnership to revitalize a traditional friendship between China and Serbia.

It comes at the right time, which would be beneficial for docking the two nations development strategy and enhance cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The two sides can enjoy all-around cooperation, which symbolize that the two nations have opened a new chapter of their traditional friendship, setting a good example for cooperation between China and other Central-Eastern European countries.
Japan shows its colors with different standards on freedom of navigation Updated: 2016-06-20 08:16 By Cai Hong(China Daily)

Japan asks China to respect "freedom of navigation" when it talks about the South China Sea. But that freedom does not apply to other waters.

When China's naval ships passed by waters close to Japan (one frigate off China's Diaoyu Islands on June 9 and the other vessel through the Tokara Strait on June 15), Japan summoned China's ambassador in Tokyo to lodge a protest and criticized China for the "heightened tension" in the East China Sea.

Japan said the first Chinese warship was in its contiguous zone and the second in its territorial waters.

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea states have limited enforcement rights within the contiguous zone.

"For Japan, there was thus no basis under UNCLOS to protest about the Chinese ship, as there are no restrictions on passage through the contiguous zone," Steven Stashwick, a former US naval officer, wrote in Japan Times.

As for second Chinese warship's innocent passage, Japanese officials and media highlighted the territorial waters - under international law the area within 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) from a nation's land border - but made no mention of the Tokara Strait which the Chinese vessel sailed through.

Under UNCLOS, the Tokara Strait off southwest Japan's Kagoshima prefecture is a passage used for international navigation. Foreign ships are entitled to innocent passage through those waters so long as they do so peacefully and pose no threat to the country with sovereignty.

Japan called China's two innocent passages provocation. "We are concerned about recent Chinese military activities which escalate situations," said Japan's Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.

Yet while Japan played up the "tension" caused by China's naval ships and was on "heightened alert", it did not say the same of Russia when two of its warships also passed through Japan's contiguous zone on June 9.

Japan claimed that it has different approaches to deal with Russia and China because Russia has no territorial claims in East China Sea. But Japan has played down the presence of the Russian ships for a purpose.

Japan and Russia will hold talks in Tokyo on Wednesday on their territorial row over the islands that Japan calls the Northern Territories and Russia the Southern Kurils. The islets are now under Russia's administration. The territorial row between Japan and Russia has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty till now.

In defiance of US President Barack Obama's appeal in February for him not to visit Russia, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Sochi in May for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Japan is eager to advance the territorial talks ahead of a proposed Abe-Putin meeting in Vladivostok in September.

Japan supported the United States when its biggest ally sent several warships to patrol around China's islands in South China Sea. And Japan has been all out to internationalize the South China Sea issue as Japanese officials say their government aims to protest against Chinese maritime advance at various international forums.

Japan's conflicting responses to China, Russia and the US highlight the triple standards in its foreign policy. The country's disregard of international law will hamper the freedom of navigation in the Western Pacific.

The author is China Daily Tokyo bureau chief. caihong@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 06/20/2016 page12)
Deepening ties with Belt and Road nations Updated: 2016-06-20 08:16 By Chu Yin(China Daily)

President Xi Jinping is on an eight-day visit to Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan from Friday, during which he will also attend the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tashkent on June 23 and 24.

High hopes have been placed on his visits to the three countries, each of which plays a significant role in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and in their respective neighborhoods. Poland and Serbia are gateways to Central and Eastern Europe, and Uzbekistan is at the heart of Central Asia, where a railway connecting China, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan is under construction.

The three countries' geopolitical importance has increased in the face of rising regional tensions. For one, the security risks following Crimea's inclusion into Russia and alleged involvement in the Ukraine crisis remain high and have gradually spilled over into neighboring states, including Poland.

Serbia, a key power in the Balkans, is also at the forefront of an ongoing immigration crisis as refugees from the Middle East, some of whom may be terrorists, keep flooding into Europe from its southern end.

The well-orchestrated terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels have not only taken many innocent lives, but also highlighted the need to safeguard Europe's stability by, among other things, protecting its border areas.

Central Asia, too, is not a stranger to terrorist attacks. With terrorists and extremist ideas from the Middle East continuing to make inroads into Central Asia, the countries in the region, especially Kazakhstan and Afghanistan, face grave security threats. In the light of global governance, therefore, China has every reason to seek closer economic and strategic ties with the three countries to not only safeguard its national interests but also play a more responsible role as a major global power.

As a leader in both economic growth and industrial transformation in Central and Eastern Europe, Poland has close economic and security ties with Germany and the United States while exercising some influence on neighboring Ukraine and Belarus. This should make it a key stabilizing factor in the region against the backdrop of the Ukraine crisis.

Serbia, too, has long played a crucial security role on the Balkan Peninsula. Its importance for the security of the European Union and Turkey has doubled after the refugee crisis intensified last year.

As for Uzbekistan, it has always been a valued member of the Central Asian community as well as the Commonwealth of the Independent States.

Of course, promoting the Belt and Road Initiative is expected to top the agenda of Xi's visits to the three countries, because they have maintained time-tested partnerships with China and responded positively to the initiative.

China and Poland already have a series of agreements, ranging from heavy machinery, and port and road construction to power generation and agriculture. And we can expect many more during Xi's visit to Warsaw. The infrastructure and energy cooperation with Serbia and Uzbekistan, too, will get fresh momentum.

To include these countries in a community with shared destiny and make them pillars of the Belt and Road Initiative, however, requires more than coordination. That explains why Xi's visits to the countries carry a crucial message that China is more than willing to deepen its partnerships with nations along the Belt and Road.

The author is an associate professor at the University of International Relations, and a research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization.

(China Daily USA 06/20/2016 page12)
Deepening ties with Belt and Road nations Updated: 2016-06-20 08:10 By CHU YIN(China Daily)

A worker adjusts Chinese and Serbian flags for the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Belgrade, Serbia, June 16, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

President Xi Jinping is on an eight-day visit to Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan from Friday, during which he will also attend the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tashkent on June 23 and 24.

High hopes have been placed on his visits to the three countries, each of which plays a significant role in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and in their respective neighborhoods. Poland and Serbia are gateways to Central and Eastern Europe, and Uzbekistan is at the heart of Central Asia, where a railway connecting China, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan is under construction.

The three countries' geopolitical importance has increased in the face of rising regional tensions. For one, the security risks following Crimea's inclusion into Russia and alleged involvement in the Ukraine crisis remain high and have gradually spilled over into neighboring states, including Poland.

Serbia, a key power in the Balkans, is also at the forefront of an ongoing immigration crisis as refugees from the Middle East, some of whom may be terrorists, keep flooding into Europe from its southern end.

The well-orchestrated terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels have not only taken many innocent lives, but also highlighted the need to safeguard Europe's stability by, among other things, protecting its border areas.

Central Asia, too, is not a stranger to terrorist attacks. With terrorists and extremist ideas from the Middle East continuing to make inroads into Central Asia, the countries in the region, especially Kazakhstan and Afghanistan, face grave security threats. In the light of global governance, therefore, China has every reason to seek closer economic and strategic ties with the three countries to not only safeguard its national interests but also play a more responsible role as a major global power.

As a leader in both economic growth and industrial transformation in Central and Eastern Europe, Poland has close economic and security ties with Germany and the United States while exercising some influence on neighboring Ukraine and Belarus. This should make it a key stabilizing factor in the region against the backdrop of the Ukraine crisis.

Serbia, too, has long played a crucial security role on the Balkan Peninsula. Its importance for the security of the European Union and Turkey has doubled after the refugee crisis intensified last year.

As for Uzbekistan, it has always been a valued member of the Central Asian community as well as the Commonwealth of the Independent States.

Of course, promoting the Belt and Road Initiative is expected to top the agenda of Xi's visits to the three countries, because they have maintained time-tested partnerships with China and responded positively to the initiative.

China and Poland already have a series of agreements, ranging from heavy machinery, and port and road construction to power generation and agriculture. And we can expect many more during Xi's visit to Warsaw. The infrastructure and energy cooperation with Serbia and Uzbekistan, too, will get fresh momentum.

To include these countries in a community with shared destiny and make them pillars of the Belt and Road Initiative, however, requires more than coordination. That explains why Xi's visits to the countries carry a crucial message that China is more than willing to deepen its partnerships with nations along the Belt and Road.

The author is an associate professor at the University of International Relations, and a research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization.
US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's rhetoric may resonate with her supporters when she talks tough and claims lots of credit, as she did in her national security speech earlier this month, but for people in China, the words ring a bit hollow.

It's a well known truth that politicians like to take the credit and never the blame, but when Clinton said "I wrestled with the Chinese over a climate deal in Copenhagen," it is a pat on the back she doesn't deserve.

Most experts in the field know well that China's strong resolve to fight pollution and climate change is not a result of outside pressure from people like Clinton, but rather the desire of its 1.4 billion people.

In Washington last week, Nick Stern, known for his Stern Review on climate and economics, praised China for being a global leader in the fight against climate change and for its action and ambitious goals in its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20).

Clinton loves to tout her experience. "I have sat in the Situation Room and advised the president (Barack Obama) on some of the toughest choices he faced," she said.

What she did not say is that as secretary of state, she was directly responsible for some of the worst decisions he ever made, such as the regime change in Libya in 2011. Libya is in chaos and is now a haven for Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists largely because of US intervention.

The ISIS group itself is largely a byproduct of the US'invasion of Iraq, which Clinton endorsed as a senator from New York.

Despite being accused of all sorts of things by US politicians like Clinton, China has never done anything even remotely as damaging to peace and stability in a country or region.

To many Chinese, Clinton's rhetoric reflects a Cold War, zero-sum mentality, something many people working on China-US relations have warned against. She claims Moscow and Beijing are "deeply envious of our alliances around the world, because they have nothing to match them".

Yet she conveniently avoids mentioning that China by principle is a non-aligned country and the US' alliances are a legacy of the Cold War, which ended more than 20 years ago.

A group of scholars discussing restraint in US foreign policy at the Cato Institute in Washington on June 15 rightly condemned such alliances, saying they had emboldened US allies to take provocative actions in the belief that Washington would always come to their aid.

Clinton also claims that if the US doesn't lead the world, there will either be chaos or other countries will rush in to fill the void, and the choices they make will not benefit the US.

She clearly believes that the US is the savior of the world, and that the world will come to an end without US supremacy. But does that suggest her "presidency" will be one of total US global dominance, leaving no room for the rise of countries such as China, Russia, India, Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia?

Such a mentality is the most likely reason why the US has been engaged in constant wars. Scholars say the US has been at war 93 percent of the time since its founding in 1776. That is literally 222 out of 239 years, meaning the US has been at peace for only 17 years.

It is true that most researchers in China-US relations are worried by the lack of strategic trust between China, a rising power, and the US, the only superpower. But when US politicians like Clinton make these kinds of confrontational speeches, it only makes things worse.

In her speech, Clinton bellowed: "Countries like Russia and China often work against us".

Such rhetoric does not suit someone who aspires to be the president of the United States, especially because she knows China is not the villain and which country is.

Or is she trying to reinforce Americans' misunderstanding of China with a definite purpose?

No one knows how the election will play out, but whoever gets elected in November would do well to abandon the Cold War zero-sum mentality and pursue a path of 21st century win-win cooperation with China.

Contact the writer at chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com.
DC plays role of suitor for potential investors Updated: 2016-06-20 11:11 By Hua Shengdun in Washington(China Daily USA)

Max Baucus, US ambassador to China, welcomed a delegation of Chinese business people to the GWCIC reception in Washington on Sunday. CAI CHUNYING / CHINA DAILY

With more than 150 Chinese delegates set to attend the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington this week, there is plenty of opportunity for the US to attract much sought-after Chinese investment.

Max Baucus, US Ambassador to China, was optimistic in his keynote talk about Washington's potential role in the greater scheme of the US-China economic relationship.

"As our countries grow and as we combine in many ways, economically and politically, I think it is very important that SelectUSA is in Washington DC, which symbolizes the strength between our two countries," said Baucus at a reception for more than 100 Chinese delegates at the Phillips Collection in Washington on Sunday.

The reception was held by the Greater Washington China Investment Center (GWCIC).

Bill Black, president of GWCIC, shared a similar sentiment.

"They're the two largest economies, and in some ways mirror images of each other," he said. "We have a tremendous opportunity in Washington for mutual benefit, not to mention the benefits that come in the larger geopolitical realm."

The greater Washington region, in particular, will be playing the role of matchmaker, an often-overlooked region with an abundance of new opportunity.

"When Chinese investors look at the Washington area, they tend to only see a political and government center," said Black. "And when they do that, they may miss some of the real economic opportunities."

At the reception packed with businessmen from real estate to manufacturing, as well as local government officials, Charlie Yao, CEO of Yuhuang Chemical Inc, saw the event as an opportunity to learn from other companies' successes and failures in investing in the US.

"Really I think this is a good platform for us to get to know people and to be known," said Yao. "Continuing to network is important, but talking to people, and picking up the lessons they've learned is also important."

Yuhuang's investment into the US took the shape of a $1.85 billion methanol complex in Louisiana, by far the largest greenfield investment by a Chinese company in the US.

Sunday's event, however, focused on investment into the Greater Washington and mid-Atlantic region, an area that local officials said prides itself as a technology hub and real estate center.

"We've seen more than $400 million in investment in the last two years coming from China directly to Washington, DC," said Brian Kenner, deputy mayor of DC. "So we very much want to thank people for doing that and encourage them to invest more."

GWCIC plays the role of the matchmaker, exposing the Chinese investors to the vibrant economy that exists in the Washington area, and the great opportunities for investment.

"You have access to the whole country from this area," said Black. "Being the capital, every major company has an office here, every state in America has an office here, every trade association, and every country has an embassy. So just as a place to start when entering the US, it's a good place to locate and then explore the opportunities beyond."

Black said that the region has been underperforming in their pursuit of Chinese foreign direct investment, but a recent push by the public and private sectors has garnered the attention of potential investors.

"It's all about people to people. It's all about relationships, and in the past we have not done much," said Libby Garvey, chairwoman of the Arlington County Board. "I'm relatively new to the board, and clearly we've been underperforming, but now we're trying really hard to foster a relationship."

Jim Coleman, president and CEO of Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation, even brought over a specially made magazine, titled Prince George's County China Mission 2015, which outlines the $10 billion potential investment projects that are waiting for Chinese investors.

Allan Fong in Washington contributed to this story.
Real estate investors face cultural differences Updated: 2016-06-20 11:11 By Lia Zhu in San Francisco(China Daily USA)

When international deals go bad, you can't always blame the language barrier.

Transactions of Chinese real estate investment in the US more often fail because of a difference in culture and expectations than because of a difference in language, experts said.

Real estate may be the most highly regulated and taxed asset class in the US and is considerably more regulated and taxed than in China, which can be challenging even to the most sophisticated and experienced investor, Alan Pomerantz, a senior counsel with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, told a panel on Chinese investment in US real estate in San Francisco on May 24.

In addition to the regulations at the federal level, each state has different regulations that come in the form of ownership restrictions and environmental reviews. On the tax side, while there exists a tax treaty between the US and China, it generally does not apply to taxes imposed on profits by states, cities and counties.

"One of the barriers to entry in doing business in the United States for Chinese investors is failure to understand the nature of the laws of the United States when things turn not so good," he said.

"The problem is the market always goes down, it always has and it will again," said Pomerantz. "When it goes down what happens in China is banks and borrowers sit down and talk about it. In the United States, not only do they not do that, the law prohibits them from doing that.

"Chinese people do not use lawyers the way US people use lawyers," he added. "We'd like to say that in China the negotiation starts after the deal is signed; in the US, it's exactly the opposite."

It would be a "big, big surprise" for Chinese investors and their US partners, US construction companies and US banks if they were not aware of when there's a hiccup in the real estate market, Pomerantz said.

Chinese people believe the most important thing is the relationship and that guanxi, or relations, can fix almost anything, said Thomas Shoesmith, a partner at Pillsbury who leads the firm's China practice.

The truth is, in the US, the documents rule. "Rules are rules and the rules are not flexible," he said. "Government officials have very little ability to bend rules to help businesses make deals."

Chinese investors tend to rely on trust, said Zhengyu Huang, chairman and founder of ImmCaptial, a Chinese immigration capital service firm.

When asked why they made the investment, the Chinese investors would say "someone I trust invested there and told me to invest", he said.

Shoesmith said rules, not trust, are key to successful transactions. "In China, often business is personal. In the US, business is business," he said.

"I've seen a lot of deals. I've never seen a projection that didn't make money, but not every deal makes money," said Pomerantz. "It's easy to give your money to somebody to buy something. The barrier is how to make money and how when things don't turn out exactly the way the projection shows, which is almost always the case."

liazhu@chinadailyusa.com
Real estate investors buck barriers Updated: 2016-06-20 13:29 By LIA ZHU in San Francisco(chinadaily.com.cn)

When international deals go bad, you can't always blame the language barrier.

Transactions of Chinese real estate investment in the US more often fail because of a difference in culture and expectations than because of a difference in language, experts said.

Real estate may be the most highly regulated and taxed asset class in the US and is considerably more regulated and taxed than in China, which can be challenging even to the most sophisticated and experienced investor, Alan Pomerantz, a senior counsel with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, recently told a panel on Chinese investment in US real estate in San Francisco.

In addition to the regulations at the federal level, each state has different regulations that come in the form of ownership restrictions and environmental reviews. On the tax side, while there exists a tax treaty between the US and China, it generally does not apply to taxes imposed on profits by states, cities and counties.

"One of the barriers to entry in doing business in the United States for Chinese investors is failure to understand the nature of the laws of the United States when things turn not so good," he said.

"The problem is the market always goes down, it always has and it will again," said Pomerantz. "When it goes down what happens in China is banks and borrowers sit down and talk about it. In the United States, not only do they not do that, the law prohibits them from doing that."

"Chinese people do not use lawyers the way US people use lawyers," he added. "We'd like to say that in China the negotiation starts after the deal is signed; in the US, it's exactly the opposite."

It would be a "big, big surprise" for Chinese investors and their US partners, US construction companies and US banks if they were not aware of when there's a hiccup in the real estate market, Pomerantz said.

Chinese people believe the most important thing is the relationship and that guanxi, or relations, can fix almost anything, said Thomas Shoesmith, a partner at Pillsbury who leads the firm's China practice.
DC plays role of suitor for potential investors Updated: 2016-06-20 13:52 By HUA SHENGDUN in Washington(chinadaily.com.cn)

Max Baucus, US Ambassador to China, makes a keynote speech as Jim Coleman, President and CEO of Prince George's County Economic Development Corporation; and Libby Garvey, chair of the Arlington County Board, look on at a GWCIC reception for the Chinese business delegation in Washington on Sunday. [Photo by Cai Chunying /China Daily]

With more than 150 Chinese delegates set to attend the SelectUSA Summit in Washington this week, there is plenty of opportunity for the US to attract much sought-after Chinese investment.

Max Baucus, US Ambassador to China, was optimistic in his keynote talk about Washington's potential role in the greater scheme of the US-China economic relationship.

"As our countries grow and as we combine in many ways, economically and politically, I think it is very important that SelectUSA is in Washington DC, which symbolizes the strength between our two countries," said Baucus at a reception for more than 100 Chinese delegates at the Phillips Collection in Washington on Sunday.

The reception was held by the Greater Washington China Investment Center (GWCIC).

Bill Black, president of GWCIC, shared a similar sentiment.

"They're the two largest economies, and in some ways mirror images of each other," he said. "We have a tremendous opportunity in Washington for mutual benefit, not to mention the benefits that come in the larger geopolitical realm."

The greater Washington region, in particular, will be playing the role of matchmaker, an often-overlooked region with an abundance of new opportunity.

"When Chinese investors look at the Washington area, they tend to only see a political and government center," said Black. "And when they do that, they may miss some of the real economic opportunities."

At the reception packed with businessmen from real estate to manufacturing, as well as local government officials, Charlie Yao, CEO of Yuhuang Chemical Inc, saw the event as an opportunity to learn from other companies' successes and failures in investing in the US.

"Really I think this is a good platform for us to get to know people and to be known," said Yao. "Continuing to network is important, but talking to people, and picking up the lessons they've learned is also important."
'Heroes' helped DC bus-crash victims Updated: 2016-06-20 11:11 By Bian Ji in Washington(China Daily USA)

Army Sgt Gracie Vaughn and Army Sgt 1st Class David Cooper were among passers-by who came to the aid of Chinese tourists whose bus crashed on June 14 on the George Washington Parkway near Mount Vernon, Virginia. provided to china daily

When journalists rushed to the scene and hospitals on the evening of June 14 to cover a car crash outside of Washington that involved Chinese tourists, they were focused on the dead and injured.

Few had time to notice the heroes at work.

The crash, between a shuttle bus carrying a group of Chinese tourists and a car, resulted in one death and two serious injuries. The injured were rushed to the three nearby Inova Virginia hospitals in Fairfax, Alexandria and Mount Vernon.

A retired kindergarten teacher from Jiangsu province died in the crash.

The Washington Post reported on Friday that after the accident occurred at around 5 pm on Tuesday on the George Washington Memorial Parkway about a mile north of Mount Vernon, the heroic actions of US military personnel and citizens at the scene helped save lives.

The Post described US Army Sgt 1st Class David Cooper joining a US Coast Guard officer and two others in lifting the bus.

After finding the rear door of the bus bolted and seeing the impracticality of crawling into the bus to reach the passengers, Cooper said they decided to lift the bus up back onto its wheels.

The report cited Army Sgt Gracie Vaughan as saying that she arrived at the scene the moment the bus was righted. She heard it land on its wheels with a thud.

Asked how the four men were able to lift the bus, Cooper was at a loss, the Post reported.

"Adrenaline, grace of God, I don't know," Cooper was quoted as saying.

Vaughan, who also joined the rescue, saw the citizen rescue crew had developed into some 15 people, with some directing traffic around the scene and others using belts as tourniquets to stanch bleeding.

It all it happened in 10 minutes after the accident and before the emergency crews arrived on the scene.

"We'd like to express our heartfelt appreciation to all the American friends who stood with us and offered us help in this tragedy, including the police officers, doctors and nurses in the hospital, local government officials, as well as many ordinary people who offered their sympathy and helped voluntarily," said the Chinese Embassy in Washington. "We are deeply grateful."

When the Post quoted US Park Police calling the passers-by efforts "heroic," Cooper and Vaughan declined to call themselves heroes.

"I just see it as doing what should be done," Vaughan told the Post.
Breaking a lot of ground in LA real estate Updated: 2016-06-20 11:11 By Chang Jun in Los Angeles(China Daily USA)

Asian investment, including billions of dollars from China, is changing the skyline of downtown Los Angeles. Direct investors have begun to diversify away from low-risk properties and into sectors such as retail and development projects, expanding their search outside gateway cities.

Industry insiders discussed the trend in the booming Southern California real estate market at a panel discussion at the SELECT LA Investment Summit, an international trade event on June 17 in Los Angeles that drew some 250 participants from 30 countries and regions.

The face of Los Angeles has changed dramatically in recent years, , a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, said in her keynote remarks.

Chinese investment in American real estate accounted for 7 percent of the foreign total in 2015, a number that many industry observers, such as Todd Tydlaska, executive vice-president at commercial real estate company CBRE, and Bill Allen, CEO of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), consider an underestimate.

It's difficult to capture Southern California real estate transactions by private companies and individuals from China, which might cause a misinterpretation of Chinese direct investment performance and market penetration, said Christine Cooper, senior vice-president of the Institute for Applied Economics, affiliated with LAEDC.

According to a survey by CBRE, 28 percent of global investors choose multifamily/ residential as their preferred property sector, followed by office (24 percent), industrials/logistics (23 percent) and retail (17 percent).

Global investors are advised to widen their property searches to new areas, seeking lower-priced properties with higher returns, said Tydlaska, adding that inland America and Midwestern states are seeing a growth in foreign investment.

Los Angeles, however, remains a preferred destination for foreign investment, especially for China investors.

Since 2014, Chinese developers such as Shanghai-based Greenland, Beijing-based Oceanwide and Shenzhen Hazens have made headlines with their multi-tower mega development in downtown Los Angeles.

Greenland USA is constructing the first and second phases of its $1 billion, 2.1 million-square-foot Metropolis mega project in the South Park area of LA. The first phase, which includes the 18-story, 350-room Hotel Indigo and a 38-story condo tower, is scheduled to be completed this year.

Oceanwide in March broke ground on its $1 billion, 752,000-square-foot Oceanwide Plaza. The project has one 49-story tower and two 40-story towers with 504 condominiums and 183 hotel rooms.

In 2014, Hazens spent $105 million to acquire the Luxe City Center hotel at Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard to construct three high-rises. The first phase of the project would create a 30-story hotel with 250 rooms and a 30-story condominium tower. The second phase would demolish the old hotel and raise a 42-condominium tower with 650 condos and 80,000 square feet of retail space on two floors.

junechang@chinadailyusa.com
A rare forum to gather Six-Party Talks envoys Updated: 2016-06-20 22:37 By Zhang Yunbi(chinadaily.com.cn)

Diplomats from countries involved in the stalled Six-Party Talks on the Korean nuclear issue are expected to convene at a gathering in Beijing this week.

Experts said that although it is not clear if the six nations will have in-depth contacts or consultations during the meeting, the gathering gives hope for a resumption of the talks.

The diplomats will meet at a forum on Northeast Asian security.

The Six-Party Talks between China, the United States, Japan, Russia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea stalled in 2008.

Beijing hosted two international seminars on the talks in 2013 and last year, but not all the six countries sent key officials to attend.

Choe Son-hui, deputy director-general of the DPRK Foreign Ministry's US Affairs Bureau, arrived in Beijing on Monday, the Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency reported.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying confirmed that key diplomats from all six countries, including Choe and China's special representative for Korean Peninsula affairs Wu Dawei, will attend the 26th Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue on Wednesday and Thursday.

Other diplomats attending the forum include the US State Department's Special Representative for DPRK Policy, Sung Kim; and Kim Gunn, the Republic of Korea's deputy chief nuclear envoy.

Zhang Liangui, an expert on Korean studies at the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said, "The most important contacts of officials on the sidelines and at the venue  if there are any  will be those between the DPRK and the US."

Liu Qing, a researcher at the China Institute of International Studies, said that with the Six-Party Talks stalled, "there is no other multilateral mechanism to replace the talks in Northeast Asia", and some parties involved are looking to tweak policies.

Liu Jiangyong, deputy dean of the Institute of Modern International Relations at Tsinghua University, said the stalled talks have reduced the chances of detente and given rise to military means to resolve the issue.

The Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue is co-hosted by the China Institute of International Studies and the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation at the University of California.
Man charged with murder of British legislator Jo Cox denied bail hearing Updated: 2016-06-20 23:10 By Angus McNiece in London(chinadaily.com.cn)

The man charged with the murder of British member of parliament Jo Cox did not ask for a bail hearing when he appeared before a judge at the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales  commonly known as the Old Bailey  on Monday.

Thomas Mair, 52, appeared via prison video link from the high-security prison at Belmarsh, east London, to allow him to apply for a bail hearing.

When asked to confirm he was Mair, he replied firmly "yes, I am."

His lawyers made no application for bail, and he was remanded in custody until his next appearance at the Old Bailey on Thursday.

Cox, a 41-year-old mother of two who became a Labour member of parliament in 2015, was stabbed and shot outside her constituency surgery in Yorkshire last Thursday, and 77-year-old Bernard Kenny is recovering in hospital after he suffered a stab wound to the abdomen while attempting to defend her.

Police said on Saturday morning they had formally charged Thomas Mair, 52, with murder, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, and grievous bodily harm.

Mair's preliminary hearing was held at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London later that day, and gave his name as death to traitors, freedom for Britain during proceedings. His lawyer provided the court with his legal name and address.

EU referendum campaigning resumed on Sunday, ending a two-day suspension agreed by Prime Minister David Cameron and campaigners for the 'Leave' campaign following Cox's murder.

Cox - an avid advocate for refugee and human rights - was active on the "Remain" campaign trail prior to her death. Witnesses said her assailant shouted the name of a right-wing anti-immigration group during the attack.

On Monday, Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow recalled Parliament  which had been in recess due to the referendum campaign  to allow MPs to pay tribute to their late colleague. MPs were granted permission to sit across the benches in a show of unity between political parties.

To contact the reporter: angus@mail.chinadailyuk.com
Russian president to visit China Updated: 2016-06-20 23:22 (Xinhua)

BEIJING -- Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to China on June 25, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang on Monday.

Putin will visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Lu said in a press release.

Xi will hold talks with Putin and they will have an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral ties and issues of common concern, another Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying, told a daily news briefing.

According to Hua, the two leaders will plan the development direction and priority cooperation areas of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, and they will sign important political documents and witness the signing of a series of documents of pragmatic cooperation.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and top legislator Zhang Dejiang will also meet Putin, Hua said.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation and both sides will hold events to mark the occasion, Hua said.

China hopes that Putin's upcoming visit will consolidate mutual political and strategic trust, promote pragmatic cooperation in various areas, inject new impetus to bilateral ties, and contribute more to international and regional peace, security and stability.
British parliament in rare recall for tribute to murdered legislator Updated: 2016-06-20 23:54 By Chris Peterson in London(chinadaily.com.cn)

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron walks from Parliament to St Margaret's Church with Jeremy Corbyn (2nd R) the leader of the opposition Labour Party for a service of rememberance for Labour MP Jo Cox who was shot and stabbed to death last week outside her constituency surgery, in Westminster, London, June 20, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

British political leaders and legislators led tributes to murdered member of parliament Jo Cox, who was shot and stabbed to death in the street in her constituency last Thursday, as parliament was recalled in a rare tribute on Monday.

As members of the House of Commons took their seats, Cox's place was marked by a single white rose and a single red one  a white rose is the symbol of her native Yorkshire and the red flower the symbol of the Labour Party, who she represented as representative for Batley and Spen, in Yorkshire.

Parliament is rarely recalled in the UK except in times of crisis, but MPs and members of the House of Lords were determined to pay tribute to Ms Cox, a mother of two who was only elected to parliament in 2015.

It was in recess ahead of Thursday's referendum, when Britons are to vote on whether to remain in the European Union or leave.

Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, said they had gathered in "heartbreaking sadness," and Prime Minister David Cameron said Cox was an "extraordinary colleague and friend."

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition and head of the Labour Party, told MPs We have lost one of our own, and society as a whole has lost one of the very best.

Corbyn described her killing as an attack on democracy, and our whole country has been shocked and saddened by it", adding "we can come together to change our politics to tolerate a little more and condemn a little less."

A book of condolence for Labour Party MP Jo Cox is seen near her houseboat in Wapping in London, Britain June 16, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Cox was attacked by a man on the main street of Birstall in West Yorkshire Thursday as she prepared to run a regular advice session for constituents. The man allegedly shouted "Britain First," a slogan used by an ultra right-wing nationalist group, as he attacked her. Police are now investigating to see if the suspected killer has any ties to right wing groups.

Her death caused Cameron and other political leaders to call a 48-hour halt to campaigning for Thursday's referendum.

Cox was an ardent supporter of the Remain campaign, and many commentators have linked her murder to the extreme emotions exposed by weeks of often bitter campaigning.

Thomas Mair, 52, was remanded in custody by an Old Bailey Criminal Court judge on Monday, on charges of murder, possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, and grievous bodily harm.

At an earlier hearing on Saturday he had given his name as "death to traitors, freedom for Britain" before his lawyer provided his correct name and address.

He will appear in court again on Thursday.

Contact the reporter at chris@mail.chinadailyuk.com
The Olori of Ife just said some things that have left me speechless. Before the new Ooni of Ife was crowned, I had never heard of the Ooni of Ife. After his coronation, I remember watching a video of him talking about why its important for us to buy Nigerian. He talked about Nigerians not being proud of products that are made in Nigeria, and he basically said a lot of things that I liked and agreed with. I judged him as being a progressive king, a man in a traditional position who embraced culture with both eyes open. That was my judgment of him.

Then he got married, and although I did not pay much attention to the wedding or the celebration, I was happy that the Ooni had found a wife. [I didnt know at the time that he had a wife already, but thats beside the point]. I just loved his swag.

I heard a little while ago that he was coming to the US with his wife. It was hard to miss that news because it was everywhere. I cannot count how many times I received the message on Whats App. Although he was in my neck of the woods (Maryland), I just didnt go. I saw several clips of him on Facebook/YouTube, and I was happy that it was him because I was sure he would come here and make us proud, that he would not come and act like Americans are demi-gods, but that he would stand tall in all his Nigerianess. I dont think he disappointed (unless theres a clip of him disappointing us that I have not seen).

The same, unfortunately, cannot be said for his wife, the Olori. Lets just say I respected her a whole lot more before I heard her speak. According to the Olori, she is not in support of gender equality. But the Olori was wrong.

Why The Olori of Ife was wrong about gender equality:

1. She said, We cant be equal; we cant be men; we have our roles to play,  But gender equality is NOT about women wanting to be men. In spite of what society tells us these days, it is actually impossible for a man to be become a woman, or for a woman to become a man.

2. She said people who believe in gender equality think that what a man can do, a woman can do better: But again, gender equality is NOT about women doing what men can do. To reduce gender equality to being about who can do what better is to insult every brave woman that has been championing the cause of women.

3. She said we (women) are limiting our potential of where we can be by saying that we are equal to men: Huh??? So women would go further if they just concede to being inferior to men?

4. She said she doesnt say to her husband that she wants to be king and hold his staff because hes the king and shes the queen: Errrr, duh. Of course, you cannot want to be king because you are not king! The Ooni of Ife is king because of who he is and the family hes from. The people (or the Force) chose him to be king. Shes his wife. Saying she wants to be king based on her gender is not even an option.

5. She said women need to stay in their lane because when they leave their lane to be in someone elses lane, two things will happen; they will either be behind or in front of the person: Before nko? When you switch lanes, do you climb on top of the person in the next lane? You automatically have to be in front or behind. Anything else would be a vehicular accident.

6. She said men are hunters by nature, so theres always a tendency for them to be ahead of us: What does being a hunter by nature have to do with gender equality? What are they hunting sef? When a man gets paid more than his female colleague who does the same work as him, its because his employer is bastard baby, not because the man is a hunter.

7. She said women are a force of nature and can do just about anything: This is a contradiction to everything she said previously. She said women cannot be equal to men. So how are we supposed to do everything if we cannot even be equal?

8. And the one wey pain me pass was when she said that relationships and marriages are breaking because women want to be men and are taking roles that arent theirs: No, maam! That is not why marriages are breaking. Marriages are breaking because women are learning that they do not have to die there. We still have a long way to go, but some women are determined to not live the lives of their mothers. Our mothers and grandmothers were enslaved and tortured in the name of marriage. Some of them were beaten and killed physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially, and although they saw it coming from hundred miles away, they did not leave because they did not know they could leave. Some women today have chosen to not die there, and their men cannot take it. Kpom Kwem.

What the Olori of Ife needs to understand is that shes only able to stand there and hold that mic because some women have gone before her to make it possible. If not for the actions of those women, she will simply be seen and not heard because women have nothing to say. Does she even know how many African-American women were raped and killed for her to be able to stand there and talk?

What the Olori of Ife needs to understand is that whether a woman decides to kneel down to serve her man everyday, or whether she decides to throw the food at him does not have a bearing on the gender equality movement. What a woman chooses to do in her home does not further or hinder the cause of gender equality.

What the Olori of Ife needs to understand is what gender equality really means: it means that when Simbi and Eze have the same qualification and both work for Verastic LLC, doing the same job, they should both get paid the same amount. Eze should not get paid more simply because he has a piece of muscle between his legs.

What the Olori of Ife needs to know is that women are already doing this supposed thing that men do. How many families have women as breadwinners? I remember my neighbors in our former house in Nigeria. They had six or seven children, and I never knew that man to have a job. His wife, however, woke up early every morning and carried kunu on her head to the market, and she made the best damn kunu. But who got all the glory? He did. Because he was a man. What lane was he on when he left his wife do all the heavy lifting?

A little while ago, we did not know who this woman was; today, shes the Olori, a woman in position of power. What she says, while rejected by some (*cough* me), will be bought hook, line, and sinker by others. Somewhere right now, theres a woman dumbing herself down, killing her ambitions, and settling for the life she never wanted  all in the name of staying in her lane.

Like my beautiful African-Americans say, stay woke! Stay woke, ladies. Think. Think critically about the things you do with your life, so you do not enter one chance. I do not blame the Olori of Ife for saying what she said because she cannot give what she does not have, but it will not hurt for her to learn what gender equality (and feminism) really mean. I know she did not say these things to mislead women, but because that is unfortunately all that she knows. We, as a gender and as a nation, need to know more.
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Vietnamese bidders will face many challenges when approaching the government procurement market due to limited capacity and experience.  Photo baodauthau.vn

HA NOI  Vietnamese bidders will face many challenges when approaching the government procurement market due to limited capacity and experience, experts said in a conference on government procurement commitments in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement held last week.

Speaking at the event held by the Public Procurement Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Nguyen Thanh Tuan from the agency introduced the government procurement adjustments in the TPP, goods and services that need to be procured and the prices of bidding packages. He also analysed differences in selecting bidders before and after the deal takes effect.

Michael Trueblood, director of USAIDs Economic Growth and Governance Office, said USAID was assisting Viet Nam in reforming its policies on government procurement.

USAID expert Mai Lam said the TPP was the first free trade agreement where Viet Nam had made commitments on government procurement, noting the government procurement agency would face difficulty in selecting bidders for bidding packages that properly observe the TPP requirements.

To improve effectiveness in government procurement, Lam said Viet Nam would need to study and then provide its bidders with information on the government procurement market of other TPP countries.

It is necessary to conduct a survey on the capability of Vietnamese bidders and to build trade promotion programmes to boost Viet Nams exports via the government procurement channels, according to Lam.

Jean Heilman Grier, an international consultant, said when joining the TPP, Viet Nam would need to recommend common requirements and principles as well as specific regulations and guidelines to be included in sub-law documents.

The country should also detail bidding requirements, including international commitments on bidding, he added.

Grier also recommended Viet Nam revise Decree 63/2015/N-CP on selecting bidders and focus on preferential programmes for small- and medium-enterprises, form independent arbitration agencies, disseminate the TPP government procurement commitments and issue tight regulations to avoid conflicts of interest and to prevent corruption. -- VNS
HCM CITY  The US Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has allowed an additional 12 Vietnamese catfish companies to export to the US, raising the total number of exporters to 57.

The US is the leading export market for Vietnamese catfish.

FSIS, which is part of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) made the decision following a proposal from the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (Nafiqad), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Viet Nam, according to Viet Nams Government portal.

Nafiqad has asked FSIS to reconsider the remaining four companies, which have yet to be added to the list.

The statement also said that newly approved companies had been asked to closely control their processing operations to make sure their export products meet strict FSIS requirements.

Exporters of catfish and other Siluriformes fish have been struggling with the USDAs Final Rule, which took effect in March. It regulates locally raised and imported catfish Siluriformes.

Under the rule, domestic and international catfish producers have an 18-month transitional implementation period.

On May 25, the US Senate voted to cancel the US Department of Agricultures inspection programme on catfish imports. But the vote must be taken up by the US House of Representatives as well.

Viet Nams export value of catfish to the US rose 7.2 per cent to US$115.1 million from January to April, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

VASEP expects the export value of catfish to the US to increase by about 10 per cent to 15 per cent in the second quarter.

Viet Nams catfish exports are estimated to reach $1.5 billion this year, a drop of 5 per cent from last year, VASEP said.

The anti-dumping tariff, the US catfish inspection programme and competition with white-flesh fish have all been blamed for the decline in catfish exports, according to VASEP.  VNS
In the first four months of this year, the country imported 3.7 million tonnes of steel from China. Photo laodong.com.vn

HCM CITY  Steel demand in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Viet Nam are expected to maintain a growth rate of 6 per cent next year despite exposure to Chinas steel exports, according to World Steel Association (WSA).

According to WSA, Viet Nam is the biggest steel importer in ASEAN and is ranked seventh in world.

WSA said that infrastructure construction will increase steel consumption in the five ASEAN countries to 74.6 million tonnes in 2017.

In emerging and developing economies excluding China, WSA forecasts that steel demand would grow by 1.8 per cent and 4.8 per cent in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Steel demand in these economies will amount to 457.1 million tonnes next year, accounting for about 30 per cent of the worlds steel demand.

Last year, Viet Nam imported 11.3 million tonnes, mostly from China, the Viet Nam Steel Association reported.

In the first four months of this year, the country imported 3.7 million tonnes of steel from China.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade revealed that steel imports in May increased by 32.4 per cent in volume and 7.2 per cent in value.

Growth in the first five months was 50.5 per cent in volume and 1.6 per cent in value.

The ministry said the steel industry had faced difficulties from the beginning of this year due to tough competition from foreign countries.

However, there are positive signs as the demand is recovering and the price is up.

Companies are increasing production to meet demand, according to the ministry. VNS
HCM CITY  A concerted effort has been launched by markets, retailers and distributors to get Vietnamese southerners to eat lychee.

A district each in Bac Giang and Hai Duong Provinces and 13 cities and provinces in the south, three wholesales markets in HCM City and retailers like Saigon Co.op, Big C, Lotte Mart and Satra have agreed to increase consumption of the fruit.

Tran Quang Tan, director of the Bac Giang Department of Industry and Trade, said the fruit quality now is much better than in previous years, with lychees meeting VietGap and GlobalGap standards accounting for more than 1,050 tonnes.

He said 40 per cent of the provinces output would be exported this year, with the rest (around 78,000 tonnes) sold in the domestic market.

The province has prepared well for the harvest and consumption of the fruit, he said, adding there are nearly 3,000 purchasing points and more than 3,000 local and foreign traders.

Nguyen Trong Tue, director of the Hai Duong Department of Industry and Trade, said more than half the provinces lychee is expected to be consumed domestically, especially in Ha Noi, Hue, a Nang, HCM City and other cities and provinces in the south.

There are more than 100 lychee purchasing points in Hai Duong, he said.

According to the two provinces, early-season harvests have been fully sold and the main harvest has begun.

The domestic market is always the main target for the fruit, Tan said.

The meeting to promote lychee consumption in southern cities and provinces is an effective bridge to enable the northern specialty fruit to reach consumers in the south via wholesale markets, supermarkets and distributors, he said.

Nguyen Thanh Ha, deputy director of the Thu uc Wholesale Market Management Company in HCM City, said the volume of lychee transported to her market has increased to 400 tonnes daily, on average, from June 1 to 15.

The market has linked up traders in the market with producers, she said.

Nguyen Phu Toan of Saigon Co.op said the Co.opmart supermarket chain expects to sell 600 tonnes of lychees this year, 100 tonnes more than last year.

More than 200 tonnes are expected to be sold through the Big C supermarket, 30 per cent more than last year.

Lotte Mart hopes to sell more than 90 tonnes, Bui Tuan Tu, head of its fresh food purchasing division, said.

Under a programme to promote consumption of the fruit, more than six tonnes were sold since June 17 at Lotte Mart outlets, he said.

These retailers offer promotions to boost sales.

Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Industry and Trade, said lychee is now mainly consumed as a fresh fruit, and so preservation methods to keep it fresh for longer are needed.

Businesses should also focus on packaging and building brands for the fruit, he added. - VNS
Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (Centre) speaks at a roundtable discussion in Ha Noi Friday. Photo vov.vn

HA NOI  Viet Nams international integration will be intensified over the next five years, Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said at a roundtable discussion in Ha Noi Friday.

The talks on Viet Nams international integration attracted more than 50 delegates, including foreign ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic corps, foreign organisations, research institutes, businesses and localities.

Son underlined the countrys consistent policy of comprehensive and intensive integration in all spheres, focusing on international economic integration.

In the new phase of development, Viet Nam would intensify its integration through its economy, politics, defence, security, culture and society, Son said. It would enhance its integration into the region through the ASEAN Community and into the world through multilateral diplomacy.

"Viet Nam, as a developing nation, attaches importance to south-south co-operation and is willing to play a greater role in fostering these efforts by sharing its experiences in oi moi (renewal), socio-economic development and international integration," the official noted.

Pratibha Mehta, UN Resident Co-ordinator in Viet Nam, said international integration had strongly contributed to the countrys socio-economic development and diplomatic stature.

Viet Nams achievements in realising the Millennium Development Goals were precious lessons that should be shared with other countries, particularly developing ones, to help implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Mehta said. That would also demonstrate Viet Nams active role in promoting south-south co-operation.

At the roundtable, participants said that in order to facilitate international integration, Viet Nam would need assistance from the international community. It was also important to step up reforms, especially institutional reforms, fine-tune the legal system, train manpower and assist vulnerable fields amid the intensive integration period, participants said.

In addition, support from a developed partner would help Viet Nam effectively contribute to south-south co-operation, especially sharing skills and experiences in carrying out the Sustainable Development Goals, they added.  VNS
President Tran ai Quang receives ADB President Takehiko Nakao in Ha Noi last Friday.  VNA/VNS Photo

HA NOI  President Tran ai Quang has asked the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to continue providing soft loans to Viet Nam to realise its socio-development goals. He spoke at a meeting with ADB President Takehiko Nakao in Ha Noi last Friday.

Quang pledged that Viet Nam would work hard to maximise the efficiency of the favorable loan capital, especially given the serious challenges it faces as a result of climate change. Many regions were suffering drought, salinity intrusion and environmental pollution, which endangered the whole countrys growth and needed to be urgently tackled, he said.

The country also had a high demand for capital for its sustainable and rapid socio-development targets, with priority given to economic restructuring, infrastructure improvement and human resources training, Quang said.
The administration has urged authorities of Phu Tho in the north as well as Ha Tinh, Khanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Binh and Quang Ngai in the centre to take precautionary measures and prepare firefighters.  VNA/VNS Photo

HA NOI  Baking hot temperatures have raised the forest fire warning in six provinces to level 5  the extremely dangerous level, according to the Vietnam Forest Administration under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The administration has urged authorities of Phu Tho in the north as well as Ha Tinh, Khanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Binh and Quang Ngai in the centre to take precautionary measures and prepare firefighters. They were asked to deploy more forest rangers to guide locals on safe farming practices, zone off areas where slash-and-burn practice is strictly forbidden, and keep strict control on forest entry.

On June 13 three forest fires were recorded in Nghe Ans Thanh Chuong district. They were promptly dealt with but still caused damage. Another fire, which took hold on peat land in Ca Maus U Minh district on June 10, has yet to be extinguished, with damage mounting to VN100 million (US$4,500) so far. Locals said the fire is now smoldering in the peaty soil about one metre under the grounds surface. VNS
Turbine group 2 with a capacity of 400 MW of the Lai Chau hydropower plant in northern Lai Chau province will provide electricity for the national grid starting this week.  Photo VNA/VNS Photo

LAI CHAU  Turbine group 2 with a capacity of 400 MW of the Lai Chau hydropower plant in northern Lai Chau province will provide electricity for the national grid starting this week.

According to Director of the Son La-Lai Chau Hydropower Plant Project Management Board Pham Hong Phuong, the turbine group, which has completed a test run, will be put into official operation four or five days ahead of schedule, on June 25 and will help ensure supply of power in the summer season.

The first 400MW turbine group of the plant went on line last year. Located in the upper reach of the a River, the three-turbine plant is designed for a combined capacity of 1,200 MW. It will supply over 4,670 million KWh of electricity for the national grid per year when all three of its turbines become operational.  VNS
AK LAK  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged authorities in the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) to focus on socio-economic development and improve living conditions for local people.

Speaking at a working session with the Tay Nguyen Steering Committee in ak Lak Provinces Buon Ma Thuot City yesterday, PM Phuc said local authorities should pay more attention to the management of land, water and forest resources.

It is necessary to create favourable conditions for local people to have land for stable living and cultivation in Tay Nguyen, he said.

The Government leader added that it was crucial to restore forests in Tay Nguyen and keep the region green.

He also urged local authorities to ensure social security and order, which would be the concrete foundation for sustainable development.

The PM suggested that the steering committee create conditions for business development and take advantage of the regions potential.

The steering committee and localities should focus on training and fostering cadres for the regions development, Phuc said.

Deputy head of the Tay Nguyen Steering Committee Tran Viet Hung reported to the PM on recent developments in the region.

He said that the committee had outlined infrastructure improvements as the key task in the coming time.

The system of national highways and provincial roads in the region served residents interests, but had yet to serve the regions economic development, Hung said.

The steering committee also suggested adding the construction of small hydro-power plants to the national programme on building new-style rural areas to help cope with climate change.

On the same day, Prime Minister Phuc visited and presented gifts to ethnic people in Hok Village in Eakao Commune.

Other meetings

Earlier on Saturday, the Prime Minister received local authorities from Tra Vinh and Ben Tre provinces at separate meetings in Ha Noi.

Speaking with a Tra Vinh provincial official, he said that the best way for the province to fulfil its socio-economic tasks in the next few years would be to foster economic restructuring in an extensive, practical and effective manner.

He applauded the Mekong Delta provinces development efforts in the first half of 2016, when it was severely affected by saltwater intrusion and unfavourable global and domestic economic conditions.

However, he pointed to Tra Vinhs weaknesses, such as the modest number of businesses, slow economic restructuring and underdeveloped infrastructure. As the Government has no plan to adjust socio-economic development targets for this year, the province should take every measure to address difficulties facing local residents and businesses, he said.

It must try to improve the business environment and support enterprises operations, the PM said, adding that Tra Vinh also needed to step up the construction of new-style rural areas.

He asked concerned agencies to help the province cope with short- and long-term problems. They should soon carry out infrastructure projects to enhance the provinces ability to respond to saline encroachment and climate change.

Tra Vinh, a coastal locality in the southeast of the Mekong Delta, relies mostly on agricultural and sea-based economic activities. It is still a low-income province with a large number of ethnic minority people.

The recent drought and saltwater intrusion have affected 29,067ha of rice in Tra Vinh, while 18,770 rural families have lacked water for daily use.

From January to June, the provinces gross regional domestic product grew by 6.26 per cent, lower than the 11-12 per cent target, including declines of 12.8 per cent and 10.12 per cent in agriculture and aquaculture. However, industrial production there rose by 98.9 per cent, construction by 10.89 percent and services by 4.32 per cent.

Meeting Ben Tre officials the same day, the Prime Minister said he supported the idea of building a startup ecosystem.

The PM said this novel mindset would contribute to reducing poverty, improving management in State-run agencies, and supporting farmers and entrepreneurs.

A startup ecosystem is formed by people, startups in their various stages and different types of organisations in a location, interacting as a system to create new startup companies.

The PM extolled Ben Tre for proactively enacting measures to cope with saltwater intrusion and ensure social welfare.

He suggested that the province promote the spirit of innovation in management and concentrate financial resources on tackling barriers to local development goals and improving local living standards.

It was important to boost the application of science and technology in farming and raise public awareness of integrating economic development with climate change adaptation, he added.

The Government leader asked the locality to diversify and mobilise capital resources to build climate change-adaptive facilities, as well as prioritise investment in transport, irrigation and water resources projects to ensure sustainable development.

Addressing the event, Deputy PM Trinh inh Dung suggested Ben Tre review its planning scheme in line with that of the Mekong Delta, focusing on transport infrastructure development and economic restructuring in accordance with the provincial and regional climate change strategy.

He urged the province to improve roads and waterways while developing a seaport system to develop industry and marine transport.

The province should develop its land fund as a primary factor to appeal for investment, he said, adding it should balance financial resources, select suitable investment models and prioritise build-operate-transfer (BOT) projects to yield higher efficiency.

With a 65km coastline and favourable infrastructure network, Ben Tre boasts strengths in aquaculture and rice production. It also connects the Mekong Delta with the southern key economic zone.

Like other Mekong Delta localities, Ben Tre had to bear the brunt of the severe saltwater intrusion in the first half of 2016. The total economic loss was estimated at VN1.5 trillion (US$67.5 million). In addition, more than 20,000ha of rice and over 4,000ha of fruit were damaged.

In January-June, the gross regional domestic product (GRDP) increased by only 2.68 per cent against the same period last year, failing to reach its target of 6.5 per cent and recording the lowest growth over the past few years.  VNS
HA NOI  Nine military personnel on a CASA 212 turboprop plane are still missing since the aircraft went down last Thursday in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Deputy Prime Minister and head of the National Committee for Search and Rescue Trinh inh Dung yesterday called for an intensive search operation in the coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Ha Tinh to search for the missing personnel.

The CASA-212-40 with nine people on board went missing on June 16 during a search operation for a Su-30MK2, which crashed offshore the central province of Nghe An last Tuesday. One of the two pilots on board, Major Nguyen Huu Cuong, was rescued, but the other, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Quang Khai, 43, was found dead at sea last Friday and was brought ashore.

Search and rescue teams found debris belonging to the CASA-212 plane, which crashed on June 16 during a search operation for missing Su-30 fighter pilot Khai. The debris of the plane was found to the southwest of Bach Long Vi Island near the delimitation line in the Tonkin Gulf.

China sent one rescue and two coastguard boats to help search for the CASA plane in response to Viet Nams request for assistance. It also allowed Vietnamese vessels to enter the Chinese side of the maritime boundary agreed to between the two countries.

Deputy PM Dung called on fishing boats and local authorities in the coastal provinces to cooperate with the search and rescue teams to find the missing aircraft and the pilots as soon as possible.

They were also told to report any signals or objects suspected to be related to the missing aircraft and pilots.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc earlier offered condolences to the relatives of the officers and soldiers involved in the two separate incidents of the fighter jet Su 30MK2 and the search aircraft CASA-212. He urged the deployment of all forces to search for the missing people.

Besides search and rescue teams from the National Defense Ministry and the localities, the Ministry of Public Security has also joined the search operation. The police have been told to get ready to assist other forces. Two contact numbers  0692320160 and 0692320136  are being used to receive and respond to any call for assistance from the military forces.

The deputy prime minister Trinh inh Dung attended a ceremony this morning to commemorate Colonel Tran Quang Khai at Military Hospital No. 4 in central Nghe An Provinces Vinh City. Other leaders, including President Tran ai Quang, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent wreaths and offered condolences to Khais family.

Khais body was carried from Vinh City to his hometown in northern Bac Giang Provinces Lang Giang District where his funeral will be organised tomorrow.

The Ministry of Defence has posthumously promoted Lieutenant Colonel Tran Quang Khai to Colonel to recognise his contribution and sacrifice for the military and the nation.

Ha Noi Peoples Committee Chairman Nguyen uc Chung today asked the citys Department of Education and Training to employ Khais wife as a teacher at Chu Van An High School. The couple got married three years ago and their daughter is now around two years old. They had rented a house in Ha Noi while Khai worked in central Thanh Hoa Province.  VNS
HCM CITY  inh La Thang, the secretary of the HCM City Party Committee, said the city must formulate a detailed plan this month to speed up the upgrading of old residences.

Projects to upgrade old residential quarters in HCM City often encounter obstacles due to lack of agreement between local residents, investors and local authorities.

Tran Trong Tuan, the director of the HCM City Department of Construction, said some residents demand high compensation to move out of their existing homes to make room for new buildings.

Local authorities also need more determination. For example, the District 1 Peoples Committee intended to move residents from the Co Giang Residential Quarter in 2005, but the committee was afraid some residents were not satisfied and the move has not been completed yet, said Tuan.

Red tape is another problem. It takes at least two years to complete administrative procedures, not to mention obstacles in clearing the ground, according to Tuan.

Pham Ngoc Lam, the chief executive officer of the uc Khai Corporation which partnered in the renovation of six old residential quarters, said residents are reluctant to move for fear of losing their housing. Meanwhile, new residential project management boards are afraid local authorities may not support the projects. This results in delays and cost overruns.

Because of the shortage of belief between residents, enterprises and state authorities, enterprises are not interested in upgrading old residential quarters. Profits are low but risks are high, said Lam.

This month, the city will assign local authorities to approve and inspect projects and will select investors to speed up progress, Tuan said. He also committed to shorten and simplify administrative procedures for investors.  VNS
HA NOI  The Health Ministry plans to conduct a 45-day-long inspection at Coca-Cola Beverages Viet Nam Ltd Company for compliance with food safety laws.

Fifteen inspectors from the ministry will examine the companys distribution units and those that provide the company with materials, food additives and substances to support food processing as well as packaging.

The inspection team is expected to check for any shortcomings or positive factors, so that penalties or praise can be applied accordingly.

The inspection is part of the ministrys inspection scheme this year, which was approved late last year.

Accordingly, the ministry will also inspect three other beverage producers: Pepsico Viet Nam, the Viet Nam URC Ltd Company and Wonderfarm.

Earlier this month, the Vietnam URC Ltd Company was fined VN5.8 billion (US$264,000) for selling beverages contaminated with lead.

The two beverages, a green tea C2 product and energy drink Rong o (Red Dragon), contained higher levels of lead than those mentioned on the labels.  VNS
LONDON  Rival camps vied to seize momentum on Monday for the final stretch before Britains referendum on European Union membership, after the shock killing of a lawmaker halted the campaign.

Politicians will return to parliament, which had been in recess, for a special sitting to pay tribute to Jo Cox, a pro-EU campaigner murdered on a village street last week.

Politicians on both sides of the debate sought to lay out their case to voters with just three days left until the ballot.

"You can change the whole course of European history," wrote pro-Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson in the Daily Telegraph.

"I hope you will vote Leave, and take back control of this great countrys destiny," he implored. "This chance will not come again in our lifetimes, and I pray we do not miss it."

Prime Minister David Cameron called on voters to pick "Remain" in a sometimes heated BBC television appearance on Sunday evening.

"If we do leave we are walking out the door, we are quitting," Cameron urged.

"I dont think Britain at the end is a quitter. I think we stay and fight.

That is what we should do."

The Leave and Remain sides have battled each other to a stalemate with each on exactly 50 percent support, according to an average of polls calculated by research site What UK Thinks.

The vote on Thursday could see Britain become the first country to leave the 28-member European Union, a prospect that rattled markets last week, when the Leave side appeared to be gaining.

Opposition Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, is due to be grilled by a live television audience later on Monday as he makes his case for Remain.

The murder of fellow Labour party politician Cox, who was known for her pro-EU stance and refugee advocacy, caused widespread shock and questions over whether the tone of the campaign had been divisive. AFP
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday put the delay by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in sending to the United Kingdom requests for extraditing industrialist Vijay Mallya and former Indian Premier League Commissioner Lalit Modi on the doorstep of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) PJSC and First Gulf Bank (FGB) PJSC said they're in talks to merge in a deal that would create the largest lender by assets in West Asia. A working group of senior executives from each bank is reviewing the commercial, structural and legal aspects of a potential transaction, according to a filing to the Abu Dhabi stock exchange on Sunday. Bloomberg News was first to report the two banks were considering a potential merger on June 16. A deal would create a lender with assets of about $170 billion and mark the first major banking merger in the United Arab ...
Five Kenyan policemen were killed today when suspected radical Shabaab fighters attacked their convoy in the far northeast of the country, the local governor said.

The police vehicle exploded into flames after it was hit by a suspected rocket-propelled grenade as it provided security for a bus near the remote Kenyan town of Elwak, on the border with southern Somalia.

"We condemn the attack by Al-Shabaab, five officers were killed," Mandera governor Ali Roba said.

The killing is the latest in a long line of attacks in Kenya's restive northeast.

The Shabaab, East Africa's long-time Al-Qaeda branch, is headquartered in Somalia where it is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government in Mogadishu, which is protected by 22,000 African Union troops, including Kenyan soldiers.

The Somali-led insurgents have staged repeated attacks in Kenya, including the killing of at least 67 people at Nairobi's Westgate Mall in 2013 and the massacre of 148 people at a university in Garissa in April 2015.
Abandoned the families: Kean lashes Labors first budget NSW Treasurer Matt Kean has slammed the Albanese Government for failing to provide families with cost of living support amid soaring inflation and electricity prices.

Isnt sufficient: Experts reply to Chalmers bold housing crisis solution Jim Chalmers has announced a historic national Housing Accord which will see one million homes built over five years - but experts are not convinced the "bold" plan is enough to address the housing crisis.

Fill up now: Petrol prices set to soar Motorists in major cities have been warned to "fill up" as soon as possible as Australians face several surging costs following the Albanese Government's first budget overnight.

Police saddle up for return of crowds at Melbourne Cup Victoria Police sent a message to racegoers as cops prepare for hundreds of thousands of punters to descend upon Melbourne for the race that stops the nation.
WATERLOO  Visitors from more than 40 states converged on Waterloo last week for the 15th annual VGM Heartland Conference in and around the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center.

However, the absence of one person likely got more attention among the approximately 1,000 people in attendance at what has become one of the largest conventions in the home medical equipment industry.

It was the first Heartland Conference without Van Miller, co-founder of the Waterloo-based VGM Group, who came up with the idea for the annual event and got it rolling.

Miller, VGMs longtime CEO, died in October at age 67.

Back in 2001, Van had a vision of an HME industry gathering in Waterloo, said Mike Mallaro, who became VGMs CEO. He wanted VGM members and vendor partners to come together for training and learning, peer-to-peer networking, sharing best practices and new ideas, exploring new product innovations and energizing them for the challenges ahead.

Miller thought of Heartland as a kind of family gathering, and the event never has wavered from that ideal, Mallaro said.

He wanted to ensure we put on full-scale Iowa hospitality for our guests; now, 15 years later, Heartland is the best conference in the medical equipment industry, which is a great legacy to Van, Mallaro said.

Indeed, Miller could regularly been seen visiting with exhibitors at the conference trade show in the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center.

Louis Feuer, with Sunrise, Fla.-based Dynamic Seminars & Consulting, gave a presentation at last weeks Heartland Conference  something he has done every year since the events founding.

I think just from a personal point of view, Van was so much a part of it for so many years, it was a great opportunity to lay the groundwork for this year, Feuer said.

Millers influence continues to be felt across the industry and, so it was a the conference, Feuer said.

Its certainly is a long time to create certain standard of practice, and I think thats the fortune here is that this is not a new event; its an evolving event and was a number of years ago, Feuer said.

Therefore, he said, he went to the event expecting to see more of the same  with one major exception.

We miss Van, Feuer said. I think he helped ensure it would be a quality program for all the years Ive been there. Its more than a conference; its such a well-oiled operation.

Mindy Casterton Humpal, a member service representative, conducted a tour through VGMs corporate headquarters in Waterloo  also annually part of the event.

That events took a natural course was a tribute to her late bosss acumen, Humpal said.

I think there comes a point where theres more of a desire for the business to be successful in a way he meant it to be successful, and this is just continuing his legacy, she said.

Andy Miller, with Elgin, Ill.-based Total Home Health and a VGM member since 1989 and a conference attendee since that time, said Van Miller  who is no relation  built an event that benefits an entire industry.

You know, its the best educational event of the year for us, and Van and his team have done a great job of putting an event together that, in some ways, is bigger than one person but continues to just embody what he set out to do in the very beginning.

Arienne Berst, a one-year employee with VGM branch Homelink, said Millers presence at the conference was palpable.

Ive only been here for about a year, but on the few occasions that I have met him, it was a great experience, and you can feel his legacy still living on here just in the way we work and the way we prepare our members and providers, she said.

Bobby Lankford, national sales manager with International Biophysics Corp. of Austin, Texas, said Van Miller left a lasting impression.

I met him last year  great guy, Lankford said. Its a shame to see him go and not be part of this anymore, but it seems like his legacy is living on, and the people who are in charge now seem to have that same philosophy and are carry the torch.

Jason Vallery, territory sales manager with Lebanon, Tenn.-based Permobil Group, agreed, but he also said the conference somehow wouldnt be the same without its founder.

We even had some upper management who didnt attend because Van wasnt here, he said. When you become friends with people, its a hard thing to lose people like that.
ELGIN  A tight-knit community in Northeast Iowa has come together to honor the life of a young child who police say accidentally shot himself.

Four-year-old Jayden Phillips of Fort Atkinson died Friday after he was rushed to Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union with a gunshot wound to the head, according to the Fayette County Sheriffs Office. Authorities said he accidentally shot himself around 2:30 p.m. at an Elgin home.

Residents gathered in a community park for a candlelight vigil in the boys memory Sunday. Volunteers set up luminaries in white bags with phrases such as Mommys Angel, Little Man, Big Brother and Until we meet again.

Colletta Harnisch, who helped organize the event as a friend of the family, said money collected at the vigil will go toward funeral expenses and whatever else the family needs.

Jayden was attending preschool in the Turkey Valley School system, and the Turkey Valley School District will have counselors on hand to assist students.

According to the sheriffs office, the investigation determined Jayden was visiting the home at 210 Main St., Elgin, with his mother, a two-year-old brother, 5-month-old sister and a family friend. Jayden was inside the residence alone with his two siblings when the shooting took place, deputies said.

On Saturday, the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy and found he died from a gunshot wound to his head, which at this time appears to be accidental, according to the sheriffs office. The incident remains under investigation.

Fayette County Sheriff Marty Fisher thanked the community of Elgin for all the support and individuals who assisted with this incident and to all emergency personnel who responded and helped.
CEDAR RAPIDS  Garwins former city clerk will serve 28 months in federal prison for stealing money from the community.

Anna Welcher, known until recent divorce proceedings as Anna Leytham, was sentenced Monday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids. She previously entered a guilty plea for theft concerning a program receiving federal funds.

Judge Linda Reade also ordered Welcher to pay about $450,000 in restitution to the city and $35,000 to EMC Insurance.

In recommending incarceration, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Schunk argued the court needed to send a strong message of deterrence.

The remarkable thing about this case is that the setting for the case is not remarkable, Schunk said.

Garwin, like most small towns in Iowa, rely on the trustworthiness of a few people, or in some cases, one person, Schunk added.

Welcher took advantage of this opportunity, which Schunk said, exists in many communities.

Most people dont make the decisions this defendant did, he added.

Schunk also revealed the towns losses probably included an additional $71,000 Welcher was paid in error. But, he said, the government could not prove the claim in court.

Defense attorney Leon Spies conceded Welchers crime was significant.

There is no happy spin on this, he said.

Spies noted Welcher led two lives, one a devoted and eager volunteer involved in a variety of city activities. She was also dedicated to her family, Spies said, and reliable, steadfast and hardworking in the jobs she had.

But, he said, there is no justification, of course.

She had an opportunity, and she stole from the city, Spies added later, suggesting Welcher wants an opportunity to make it right.

Spies told Reade his client planned to surrender her share of a 401k retirement plan to Garwin. Reade, however, was uncomfortable accepting the word of someone accused of stealing from that same community and stopped Mondays sentencing hearing until the attorneys got the promise in writing.

According to Spies, the retirement plan should yield about $250,000.

Welcher later addressed the court and gallery, which included Garwin Mayor Wilford Karsjen, Councilman Leonard Untiedt and City Clerk Lori Speck. Welcher first apologized to Garwin, her friends and family.

Im very ashamed of what I did, she said.

It was always my intention of making this right but it became overwhelming, Welcher added.

She alleged her husband was physically and emotionally abusive and made her feel unworthy. Welcher also alleged financial security made life easier for her at home.

Welcher asked Reade for in-house arrest or probation as punishment.

It will be my priority to make right my mistake, Welcher added.

Reade, though, said she found little exceptional in Welchers story.

Frankly, Mrs. Leytham is a very typical embezzler, Reade said.

Such criminals are often highly regarded by their family and community, the judge said, and in fact need such trust to get sensitive jobs in the first place.

Reade also noted Welchers crime spanned 13 years, and she could have stopped at any time.

But she just kept going, Reade said.

They have the mindset they are going to make it right, she added, but the idea is ridiculous unless the person wins the lottery.

Reade said the city would get a big chunk of money from the 401k plan. But given Welchers limited skills, lack of assets and financial future, Reade doubted Welcher could ever make the city whole again.

 ... I dont know how the city will ever fully recover from this embezzlement, Reade said.

Miss Leytham, you are going to prison, she added.

Reade did allow Welcher to self-surrender, meaning Welcher is free for a limited time until the federal Bureau of Prisons picks a facility.

After the sentencing hearing, Mayor Karsjen said Garwin is doing fine.

The town is getting through everything. This was an initial shock, he said.

Karsjen, though, said some residents still dont believe Welcher committed any crimes.

Even now, Karsjen said.

He is convinced.

To all those people who thought she was innocent, she is a criminal. She deserves to go to prison, federal prison. That may sound harsh, Karsjen said.

Karsjen praised Speck for learning the city clerks job and pulling the town through the chaos.

Were operating like a city should, Karsjen said.

Now we can move forward, Speck added.

On their Facebook page, Garwin officials Monday announced ideas on how to do just that.

Moving forward, the City Council will give careful consideration as to how funds received from the restitution will be used to rebuild and revitalize our community. The City Council has discussed that initial goals may include consolidating, reducing and eliminating city debt as well as paying for upcoming mandatory improvements to the city sewer lagoon facility, the site said.

All decisions will be made in a manner receptive to community input through normal City Council meetings that will allow for public input and transparency.
WATERLOO  In Iowa, just like in many states across the nation, buying a semiautomatic rifle is easier than purchasing a single-action revolver.

Thats by design, say firearms regulators. Nationwide homicide rates show handguns remain the deadliest weapon.

When the federal Gun Control Act was signed into law in 1968  as with the original Federal Firearms Act of 1938  pistols were the biggest problem gun, mostly because they could be concealed, said Ross Loder, bureau chief of the Program Services Bureau at the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

The general rule is that theres a higher regulatory bar or hurdle for handguns, Loder said. Its linked to perceptions that long guns were primarily used for hunting, sporting, recreation, and handguns carry the greater potential for criminal activity.

After high-profile mass shootings like the one at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando on June 12, however, semiautomatic long guns  with an ability to shoot dozens or hundreds of rounds of ammunition before reloading  can seem a lot deadlier.

AR-15-style rifles are one of the most popular firearms on the market today, according to the National Rifle Association. The organization says thats mostly due to the guns appearance, light weight and ability to be customized and modified in a variety of ways.

But theyre also much easier to obtain, said John Ham, public information officer for the Kansas City region of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which covers Iowa. While federal law stipulates you must be 21 years old to buy a handgun, an 18-year-old can purchase any long gun, such as an AR-15.

Why that is ... I have asked myself several times, asked other people several times. Im sure there was a very valid reason, Ham said. Clearly the handgun is much more concealable. Did that play into it? Maybe.

Besides the age restriction, AR-15s also dont require a permit, which is required to buy a handgun per state law.

Loder said he didnt know whether treating long guns differently than handguns still makes sense.

I think there have been changes in design, function and use over a period of time, he said. What used to be perceived primarily as a hunting rifle might look very different than the capabilities 50 years ago. With the features of some modern long guns, that certainly is the case.

But while AR-15s are more easy to acquire, when it comes to homicides, handguns still reign supreme.

In 1994, after growing since the 1970s, the firearm murder rate peaked at 16,305 people, according to the FBIs homicide database. That year, nearly 1 out of 3 murders, robberies and aggravated assaults involved a firearm, according to the FBI.

It has mostly decreased since then. In 2004, 9,326 people were murdered by a firearm, and in 2014, the last year for which data was available, that number dropped to 8,124, with firearms accounting for 67.9 percent of all murders in the U.S.

When the data is broken down by weapon, its clear handguns are still the murder weapon of choice  but not as much as in years past.

In 2000, the first year when the data is broken out by type of firearm, 6,778 people were murdered with a handgun, accounting for 78 percent of all firearms homicides that year.

In 2014, the last year for which data was available, handgun murders dropped to 5,562  but as a percentage of all firearms homicides, dropped to 68 percent.

Its not clear which guns are picking up steam in the homicide rate. Both rifle and shotgun murders also declined, while the other guns and firearms, type not stated categories both grew over the period since 2000. The FBIs data does not collect data on the homicide rate for semi-automatic weapons.

Loder pointed to the background check system  both federally and statewide  as helping to keep guns out of the wrong hands.

In Iowa, generally speaking, were considered to be a best-practice state, with extremely comprehensive rates of reporting, he said. If we have an arrest, its reported.

But he admitted background checks only can go so far.

It is just a database  it is not a psychiatrist or a psychologist, he said. It doesnt detect intent.
Its a nice problem to have.

Both downtown Waterloo and Cedar Falls have seen a plethora of development projects in recent years compared with the numerous empty storefronts they saw during the 1980s.

Along with that, downtown merchants, property owners and civic-minded citizens are trying upgrade and maintain the appearance of each downtown, aspiring to high standards without being, well, snooty about it, for want of a better term.

Thats the balancing act both downtowns were faced with in a couple of recent projects.

Two months ago, officials with Main Street Waterloo and its Design Review Council butted heads with Black Hawk County public safety agencies over a plan to replace a communications tower at Waterloo City Hall. After a couple of false starts and miscommunications, the parties cleared the air and the plan was approved.

A similar situation occurred over the past month in Cedar Falls over a business plan to paint a storefront on the Main Street Parkade pink.

The Cedar Falls City Council voted 5-2 against allowing Krista Dolash of Janesville to paint the storefront of her organic cosmetic business, Root, at 116 Main St. in solid pink, which Dolash says is part of her business brand.

Council members upheld the recommendation of the city staff, Community Main Streets design review board and the citys Planning and Zoning Commission. Lengthy discussion took place before all three bodies.

Again, as was the case with the radio tower discussion in Waterloo, there appeared to be miscommunication and confusion about the design review process.

Cedar Falls city and Main Street officials made it clear they want Root downtown and praised its success. Dolash made it clear she wants to be in downtown Cedar Falls. Council members made it clear they want middle ground to be found. City planning staff promised to coordinate that process.

We are confident the situation will be resolved and strengthen downtown and Community Main Street.

There is a difference between the two cities, in that Main Street Waterloos Design Review Council has some statutory power over downtown projects. Cedar Falls Community Main Street serves in an advisory capacity and is a private nonprofit organization not created or appointed by the City Council. However, Community Main Street is publicly funded with proceeds from a self-supported municipal improvement property taxing district among other revenues.

In a previous editorial, we suggested the Main Street Waterloo board of directors and its Design Review Council should follow the Iowa Open Meetings Law and post public notice and agendas of meetings  as they did years ago. That has now resumed after a lapse of several years due to personnel turnover. The organization also is spreading word of its design review process among its members and downtown property owners and merchants.

We would respectfully suggest Cedar Falls Community Main Street and its design review body post notice and agendas of its meetings as well to raise awareness of the organization and its activities.

Both downtown Cedar Falls and Waterloo have had considerable success and growth in 30 years. Both Main Street bodies are a big part of that. Theyve promoted activities that have brought many people back to both downtowns.

Having open meetings and a transparent, understandable design review process will further raise the profile of both organizations, stimulate public participation, foster goodwill and collegiality among businesses and, most importantly, continue the momentum and growth both communities and the entire metro area can and should be proud of.

Downtown Cedar Falls and Waterloo are open for business. The best way to spread that message is for both Main Street organizations to have open doors in the conduct of their business.
Legion events are announced

WATERLOO  American Legion Post 138 at 728 Commercial St. will serve brats, barbecued riblets, quarter-pound hot dogs and cottage cheese starting at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

On Saturday, there will be Easy Does It karaoke from 7 to 11 p.m.

Veterans and the public are welcome to attend.

Genealogy group to meet Tuesday

CEDAR FALLS  The North East Iowa Genealogical Society will have the annual dinner meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Pizza Ranch on University Avenue.

People can buy their own dinners and join together in our reserved room for conversation and searching suggestions.

There will be a short business meeting and then a garage sale of donated genealogy items. All money donated will go into the special projects fund.

For more information, go to https: sites.google.com/site/neigsblackhawkcounty/home.

ODonnell event set for Saturday

WATERLOO  A celebration of life and benefit is planned for 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Columbus High School Gym, 3231 W. Ninth St. to honor Jerry ODonnell.

Sloppy joes, side dishes, and homemade desserts will be served for a free-will offering. T-shirts and support bracelets will be for sale and a large selection of raffle items and silent auction items will be available.

ODonnell was diagnosed with duodenum cancer in 2013 and underwent several chemotherapy infusions. He died June 5.

Awards banquet slated for July 6

WATERLOO  The Waterloo Historic Preservation Commission will host the 2016 awards banquet July 6 at the Waterloo Boat House.

Social hour starts at 6 p.m., with the ceremony at 6:30 p.m.

Award recipients this year ar Dr. Chen and Associates, JSA-Walden block redevelopment; John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum; Robert Saulresidenence; and Donna Nelson.

Reserve a place with Adrienne Miller at 291-4366 or adrienne.miller@waterloo-ia.org.
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.
Canl Bahis siteleri sektoru son derece onu ack ve farkl ozelliklere sahip bir sektordur. Elbette bahis secenekleri arasnda yuksek kazanc getiren alan kuskusuz canl bahistir. Peki, canl bahis nedir?

Canl Bahis Nedir?

Canl bahis adndan da anlaslacag gibi devam eden musabakaya bahis yapmaktr. Bu bahis musabaka devam ederken de yaplabilir olmasdr. Basta futbol olmak uzere voleybol, tenis, hentbol, basketbol, buz hokeyi ve masa tenisi gibi spor organizasyonlarna canl bahisler yaplabilmektedir. Canl bahis siteleri bu oyunlarn hepsine yuksek oranlara bahis yapmanza imkan tanr. En fazla tercih edilen futbol canl bahisleri diger alanlara gore daha fazla on plandadr. Siteden siteye degisen sartlar ve uygulama esaslar soz konusu olsa da kurallar sabittir.

Canl bahisi populer klan ve heyecan katan en onemli ozellikle musabakann basladg ana dek bahis yapabilmedir. Canl bahis icerisinde yer alan secenekler kazanma sansnz da dogrudan arttrmaktadr. Ilk korneri kim kullanr, ilk tac, gol, sar kart, krmz kart gibi futbol musabakas icerisinde olabilecek hemen hemen her seye bahis yaplabilmektedir. Normal bahisegore de son derece yuksek oranda olmas avantajl yonlerini ortaya koymaktadr. Nitekim dogru secenek ksa surede kazancl ckmanza etki edecektir.

Strateji ve dogru analizle 90 dakika gibi bir surede anaparanzkatlayabilirsiniz. Tabi bunu basarabilmek icin mutlaka musabakaya dair ayrntlar iyi degerlendirmek gerekir. Soz konusu musabakann detaylarn inceleyip, cezal, sakat oyuncu veya performans dusen takm oyunu gibi detaylar bilmek canl bahiste kazanc belirleyen onemli unsurdur. Guvenilir Canl bahis hem heyecanl zaman gecirmeyi hem de musabakalar takip ederken para kazanmay saglamaktadr.

Canl Bahis Nasl Oynanr?

Bahislerinizi guvenilir sitelerden gerceklestirdiginiz zaman herhangi bir sekilde para cekme de sorun yasamazsnz. Guvenilir bahis siteleri tespit edip sonrasnda da uyelik islemlerini tamamlamanz gerekmektedir. Belirlenen uyelik sartlarn yerine getirip hesabnza da paray aktardktan sonra bahis islemlerini sorunsuz yapabilirsiniz. Peki, canl bahis nasl oynanr?

Oncelikle bahis konusunda mutlaka dogru site arastrmas yapmalsnz. Yapacagnz arastrma neticesinde buldugunuz site uzerinden canl bahisislemlerini gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Bunun icin uye olup, hesaba para atp, canl bahis bolumune girmelisiniz. Sonrasnda dahil olmak istediginiz musabakann saatini ogrenip, gerekli analizleri yapmalsnz. Tahminlerinizi belirledikten sonra karsnza ckacak olan bahis sayfasndan istediginiz hamleyi yapmalsnz. Bahis tutarn belirledikten sonra musabaka baslayacaktr.

Canl bahis diger normal bahis esaslarna gore farkllklar icermektedir. Bunlardan en onemlisi musabakann gidisatna gore islem yapabilir olmaktr.Ayrca musabakann 2. Yarsna gore hamle yapp ayr bir bahisin soz konusu olmas da ciddi avantajdr. Dogru hamle ile sizde istediginiz bahisi yapp kazanc elde edebilirsiniz. Nitekim canl olarak yapacagnz bahis icin mac oncesi raporlara gore hareket etmek onemlidir. Cunku takmlarn durumlarn analiz etmek tahmin gucunu arttracaktr. Misal tamnn en iyi oyuncusu sakat ya da kart cezals ise takmn performansnda dusus yasanacaktr. Buna ek olarak takmn deplasman performans ile evinde ki performans ayr olacaktr. Burada da takmn musabakay nerede yaptgna bakmak gerekir. Bu ayrntlar da iyice analiz ettikten sonra bahsinizi yapp kazanmann keyfini yasayabilirsiniz.

Canl Bahis Siteleri

Son derece yuksek getiriye sahip bahis sektoru uzun zamandr faaliyet gostermektedir. Cok ciddi rakamlarn soz konusu oldugu bu sektor zamanla sanal ortamlara donusmustur. Elbette guvenli ve bir o kadar da avantajl olan bu siteler cok yonlu frsatlar sunmaktadrlar. Canl iddaa siteleri gerek yeni uyelere gerekse de hali hazrdaki uyelerine bolca bonus frsatlar vermektedir. Yatracagnz tutara gore belirlenen bonuslar site icerisinde rahat hareket etmenizi de saglayacaktr.

Canl bahis sitelerini kullanmadan once mutlaka guvenli olup olmadgna goz atmalsnz. Zira baz kullanclar guvenli olmayan sitelerden yaptklar islemlerden dolay magdur olmaktadrlar. Nitekim guvenli ve sorunsuz hizmet sunan yurt ds site tercih etmek en dogru secenektir. Sektorde uzun yllar faaliyet gosteren siteleri tercih edebilirsiniz. Bu alanda yer alan yabanc siteler musteri memnuniyetine onem vermektedir. Oncelik site kullanclarn sorunsuz sekilde bahislerini yapabilir olmasn saglamaktr. Bahis sitelerinde amac hem daha fazla kullancya hizmet vermek hem de sektorde emin admlarla ilerlemek onceliklidir. Dogru site tercihi ile sizde canl bahislerinizi sorun yasamadan gerceklestirebilirsiniz. Sizler icin hazrlams oldugumuz canl bahis siteleri listesi su sekildedir;

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Sralams oldugumuz bu siteler sektorde basarl islere imza atms sitelerdedir. Canl bahis konusunda beklentileri karslayacak olan bu siteler sizlere kolaylk sunmaktadrlar. Bol bonuslu secenekle de sizlere farkl bahis yonlerini sunacaklardr. Sistemsel etki icerisinde her zaman etkin sonuc alabilmek icin surekli olarak faaliyet icerisindedirler.

Canl Bahis Taktikleri

Bahis sektorunun en fazla dikkat edilmesi gereken hususu dogru taktik ve dogru tahmindir. Elbette dogru tahmini yapabilmek icin analizi cok iyi yapmak gerekir. Canl bahis taktikleri arasnda ilk sra analiz gelmektedir. Analiz yapamadgnz zaman basarl tahminlerde bulunmanz pek de mumkun degildir. Cunku bahiste onemli olan konu musabakann analizini cok iyi yaplmas gerektigidir. Canl bahisin ozelliklerini iyi bilmek ve nasl bir hamle yapacagnz bilmek gerekir. Ozellikle riskli maclarda yaplacak degerlendirmeler cok daha onemlidir.

Canl bahis yapacaklarn takip edecegi degerler takmlarn durumlar ile alakal olmaldr. Performans uzerine kurulu bahis sisteminde takm degerlendirmesine iyi bakmak gerekir. Iki takmn son 5 macta nasl bir sonuc ortaya koyduguna bakarak hareket etmek onemlidir. Ayrca hangi takm evinde daha iyi performans sergiliyor diye de ayrca bakmak gerekir.

Analizlerle alakal puan durumlarna da goz atmak cok onemlidir. Puan degerlendirmesinde oncelikle takmlarn ihtiyaclar ile dogru orantl hareket etmek gerekir. Cunku olusturulan performans takmn da durumunu ortaya koymaktadr. Nitekim istenilen sonucu elde edebilmek icin tum ayrntlar bilmek gerekir. Takm ici duzenden tutunda da takmn son durumuna kadar her ayrnt onemlidir. Iki takmn birbirleri arasnda ki sonuclar da incelemek gerekir. Burada dikkat edilecek detaylarn basnda maclarda kac gol oldugu ve gollerin hangi dakikalarda atldgdr. Cekismeli gecen musabakalarda bazen goller ilk yarda daha fazla olurken baz maclarda da ikinci yarda daha cok gol olmustur. Iki takm arasnda ki maclarda gollerin cogunlugu ilk yarda geliyorsa buna gore bahis yapabilirsiniz.

Canl Bahis Siteleri Bonuslar ve Kampanyalar

Bahis yapanlar veya yapmay dusununler sitelerin sunmus olduklar frsatlar merak etmektedirler. Cunku siteler daha fazla kullancya erismek icin her donem kampanyalar duzenleyerek kullanc odakl hamleler yapmaktadrlar. Canl bahis bonuslar ve kampanyalar oldukca populer olup, siteler bu konuda adeta birbirleri ile yarsmaktadrlar. Birbirinden farkl ozelliklere sahip olan kampanyalar size frsatlar sunmaktadr. Daha cok kazanma ihtimalinizi arttran bu bonuslar daha cesur olmanza da dogrudan etki edecektir. Nitekim bonuslar sitelerin cekiciligini ve avantajlarn arttrmaktadr. En cok kazandran canl bahis siteleri bedava bonuslar ve kampanyalar icin http://www.milano2018.com/canli-bahis-siteleri-2022/ linkinden yardm alabilirsiniz.

Hos geldin bonusu ile baslayan ve sonrasnda para yatrdkca bonus veren cok sayda site bulunmaktadr. Canl bahis bonusu veren siteler yeni uyelere sunduklar frsatlar farkl kampanyalarla mevcut uyelerine de sunmaktadrlar. Hali hazrda siteyi kullananlarn da bonus frsatlarndan yararlanmalar icin donemsel kampanyalar olusturmaktadrlar. Boylece baska sitelere gidisler olmayacag gibi site de daha keyifli zaman gecirmek mumkun klnmaktadr. Bu tur eklentiler yapan sitelerde musteri memnuniyeti daha fazladr.

Bahis siteleri ozellik ve uygulama bakmndan farkllklar bunyelerinde bulundurmaktadrlar. Verilen bonuslarn olusturulmas ve kullanclar aktarlmasnda yatrlan para miktarlar belirleyici olmaktadr. 1.000 TL yatran bir kullanc yuzde 20 bonus frsat olan bir kampanyadan 200 TL bonus kazanabilmektedir. Yatracag tutar 10.000 TL oldugunda bu bonustutar 2.000 TL olabilmektedir. Gerceklesen ve uygulanan esaslar tamamen donemsel olarak yaplan kampanyalarla alakaldr. Iyi Canl bahis siteleri bonuslar ve kampanyalar icin sitelerin vermis oldugu oranlar takip edebilirsiniz.

Canl Bahis Siteleri Para Yatrma

Online Canl bahis yapacaklarn merak ettigi konulardan bir digeri de para yatrma islemleridir. Oldukca onemli olan bu konuda hata yapmamak cok onemlidir. Canl bahis sitelerine para yatrma islemi sanlann aksine son derece basittir. Oldukca basit ve uygulama esas dogru etki olusturan bu yapda sizde islemi rahatca tamamlayabilirsiniz. Para yatrma konusunda su yolu izleyebilirsiniz.

Guvendiginiz ve herhangi bir sekilde aklnzda soru isareti kalmayan bahis sitesine uye olmanz gerekmektedir. Uyelik islemini sorunsuz sekilde tamamladktan sonra para yatrma islemine gecebilirsiniz.

Kullanacagnz siteye uye olduktan sonra karsnza kullanc ad ve sifresini gireceginiz yer gelecektir. Buraya giris yaptktan sonra site icerisine islemlere devam edebilirsiniz.

Sitede yer alan para yatrma sekmesine tklayp sonrasnda karsnza gelen sayfay inceleyebilirsiniz. Para yatrma bolumunde yer alan ksma ne kadar para yatracagnz yazp devam tusuna basmalsnz.

Yatrmak istediginiz tutar girip sonrasnda da devam tusuna bastktan sonra karsnza kart bilgilerinizi gireceginiz sayfa gelecektir. Kredi kart kullanarak para gondermek isteyenlerin tercih ettigi bu sayfa tum bilgiler girilip islem onaylanmaldr.

Canl bahis sitelerine para yatrma islemini gerceklestirmek icin hesaba havale secenegini de kullanabilirsiniz. Site icerisinde musteri hizmetleri ile iletisime gecerek banka hesap numaralarn ogrenebilirsiniz. Belirtilen IBAN numarasna istediginiz tutar havale edebilirsiniz. Havale ederken acklama ksmna yazlacak bilgilere dikkat etmelisiniz.

Kredi kart veya banka havalesi ile gerceklesen para yatrma islemi sonucunda site hesabnzdan bakiyenize bakabilirsiniz. Bakiyenize gore dilediginiz sekilde bahislerinizi gerceklestirebilirsiniz.

Canl Bahis Siteleri Para Cekme

Canl bahiste dogru hamleler ve dogru tahminler sonucunda kazandgnz bedeli geri almak isteyebilirsiniz. Kazanclarnz istediginiz banka hesabnza cekebilmek icin uymanz gereken kurallar soz konusudur. Oncelikle bahis sitelerinden para cekebilmeniz icin uye olurken dogru bilgi paylasmnda bulunmanz gerektigidir. Cunku canl bahis sitelerinden para cekme islemi icin kullanc hesab ile talep edilen banka hesap bilgilerinin ortusmesi gerekir. Yani uye olurken verilen bilgi ile banka hesab kime ait ise o bilgiler ayn olmaldr. Bu uygulama sitenin hem kullancsn hem de kendisini guvene alma politikasdr. Ayrca frsatclarn onune gecerek yeni bir uye olusumunun da onune gecmek amac gutmektedir. Uye olan kisi farkl para cekilme talebi verilen hesap farkl oldugunda para cekme islemi gerceklesmeyecektir.

Bahisleriniz sonucunda kazanc elde edebilir ve bu kazancnz da hakknz olarak almak isteyebilirsiniz. Burada son derece basit uygulama soz konusu olurken siteler aras farkl gorunumler soz konusu olabilir. Fakat yine de tum sitelerde uyenin site icerisinde para cekme bolumune girmesi yeterlidir. Burada cekilecek olan tutarn belirlenmesi ve hesap numarasnn girilmesi ile birlikte islem onay gerekecektir. Para cekme taleplerinde sizden gerekli bilgiler istenmekte ve havale islemi istenilen bilgiler esliginde yurutulmektedir. Dogru bilgi paylasmak sorunsuz para cekebilmeniz en onemli kuraldr. Istenilen bilgiler girildikten sonra site sorumlular gerekli kontrolleri yapp herhangi bir sorun yoksa ksa surede hesabnza gerekli paray aktaracaklardr.

Canl Bahis Sitelerinden Para Cekmek Icin Istenen Belgeler

Bahis sitelerine uye olduktan sonra baz kullanclar para cekme taleplerinin karslanmadg konusunda sikayetlerde bulunmuslardr. Bu sikayetlersektorde uzun zamandr bulunan guvenilir bahis siteleri de yer almaktadr. Fakat sikayetlerin dayanaklarna bakldgnda ise islerin tamamen farkl oldugu gorulmektedir. Yasanan bu durum kullanclarn hatal bilgi girmesi ve uyelik bilgileri ile banka bilgilerinin uyusmamas ile dogru orantldr. Birde canl bahis para cekmek icin istenen belgeler eksik ya da hatal olarak sunulmus olabilir. Ortaya ckan karsklar neticesinde para cekme talebinde bulunan kisi istedigini alamadg icin sikayetci olmaktadr. Oysa ki istenilen bilgiler dogru ve istenilen evraklar eksiksiz sunulsa para cekme islemi sorunsuz olacak.

Sitelerin para cekme konusunda dikkatli hareket etmesi hilelerin ve illegal faaliyetlerin onune gecmek adnadr. Cunku baz kullanclar farkl bilgiler vererek ikinci hesap acabilmektedirler. Bazen de bilincsizce hatal bilgi girilebilmektedir. Hatal islemlerin cozumu konusunda islem yaptgnz sitenin musteri temsilcileri ile gorusebilirsiniz. Talepleriniz dogrultusunda para cekme islemlerinde ki sorunlar giderilecektir. Canl bahis para cekmek icin istenen belgeler listesi su sekildedir;

Kullanc bilgileri ile banka bilgilerini karslastrmak icin kimlik fotokopisi

Banka hesap bilgileri

Ikametgah ve kisiye ait herhangi bir fatura.

Kacak Iddaa

Turkiyede dogrudan bahis yapmak icin resmi kanallar kullanlabilmektedir. Fakat tercih edilen ve oran olarak cok daha fazla frsatlar sunan kacar iddaasiteleri bulunmaktadr. Bu siteler kanunlara aykr sekilde yaplmakta olup, yasal bir dayanag yoktur. Elbette bu sitelerin kurulus merkezi Turkiye olmayp, ds ulkelerdedir ve faaliyetler belirlenen siteler uzerinden yaplmaktadr. Kacak Iddaa oldukca riskli olup, cok dikkatli olunmas gerekir.

Kacak Bahis

Kanunlar cercevesinde istediginiz gibi bahis yapamayabilirsiniz. Bahis yapabilmek icin ya kanuni olarak sorun olmayan ulke dsnda ki kumarhanelere gitmeniz veya kacak bahis sitelerinden islem yapabilirsiniz. Zira bu durum tehlikeli olsa da cok sayda site guvenli sekilde bu alanda hizmet vermektedir. Kacak bahiste oldukca fazla secenek bulunurken yuksek oranda kazanc sunuyor olmas da ragbeti arttryor.

Illegal Bahis

Bahisin bircok alanda yasak oldugu Turkiyede bu alanda cok sayda yabanc merkezli siteler hizmet vermektedir. Illegal bahis sektorunde faaliyet gosteren siteler guvenli hizmet anlays ile kullanclarna frsatlar sunmaktadr. Yurt ds merkezli bu siteler sorunsuz sekilde hizmetlerini surdururken bulunduklar ulkelerde kanunlara uygun sekildedir. Elbette faaliyet noktasnda bulunduklar ulkelerde sorun teskil etmese de Turkiyede faaliyet gostermeleri kanunin yasaklanmstr.

Yasads Bahis

Gerek olusturulan etkenler gerekse de ortaya konulan riskler yasads bahis de oldukca tehlikelidir. Kanunlarn mudahil olduklar bu alanlar da hem kullanclar hem de populer bahis yaptranlar tum riskleri goze almaktadrlar. Fakat yasaklardan uzak sekilde guvenli hizmet sunan siteler de bulunmaktadr. Takipler neticesinde kapatlan sitelerin muhakkak alternatifleri kurularak yollarna devam etmektedirler.

Canl Iddaa Siteleri Nelerdir?

Dunya genelinde kabul gormus cok sayda guvenli hizmet veren populer bahis siteleri bulunmaktadr. Elbette bu siteler dunyann bircok ulkesinde faaliyet gosterse de Turkiyede yasaktr. Sektorde yer alan cok sayda legal iddaa siteleri bulunmaktadr. Herhangi bir kanunsuzlugun olmadg bu sitelerden hzl ve guvenli islem yaplabilmektedir. Tabi bu sitelerde uygulanan oranlar yasal olmayan sitelere gore daha dusuktur. Illegal sitelerin tercih edilme sebeplerinin en onemli etkeni de olusturulan oranlardr. Peki, Iddaa siteleri nelerdir? Faaliyetleri ve uygulama esaslar nelerdir?

Turkiyede faaliyet gosteren yasal iddaa siteleri listesi su sekildedir;

Iddaa

Bilyoner

Tuttur

Birebin

Oley

Nesine

Misli

Iddaa

2004 ylnda hizmet vermeye baslayan Iddaa Spor toto tarafndan kurulmus olup, ilk etapta bayilik seklinde calsmaya baslamstr. Elbette zamanla gelisen teknolojiye ayak uydurarak internet uzerinde de populer bahis severlerin hizmetine sunulmustur. Kuruldugu donemde devletin resmi kurumu olarak faaliyet gosterirken gelinen yeni donemde ozellestirilmistir.

Bilyoner

Turkiyede faaliyetine 2006 ylnda baslayan Bilyoner ilk ozel yasal bahis sitesi olma ozelligine sahiptir. Guvenilir bahis siteleri Turkiyede bunlardr. Ksa surede populer olan site halen faaliyetlerini sorunsuz sekilde surdurmektedir.

Tuttur

Ksa surede adndan bahsettirmeyi basaran Tuttur 2009 ylnda faaliyetlere baslamstr. Guvenilir bahis siteleri arasnda yerini almstr. Gunumuze dek bircok alanda populer bahis yapanlara frsatlar sunarken avantajlar ile de begeni toplamstr.

Birebin

Kullanc odakl calsmalar surdurse de 2011 ylnda sektore giren Birebindiger sitelere gore daha az ragbet gormektedir. Bahis oynamak ise bu sitede oldukca kolaydr. Elbette farkl yaklasmlara sahip olmasndan dolay ilerleyen sureclerde adndan sklkla bahsettirecek gibi gorunuyor.

Oley

2009 ylnda Dogus yayn gruplarnn istiraki olarak kurulmus olup yasal olarak herhangi bir sorunu olmayan sitelerdendir. Bahis siteleri arasnda hzl cks yapms bir sitedir. Oley yapms oldugu yenilikler ile kullanclarn da dikkatini ksa surede cekmeyi basarmstr.

Nesine

Birbirini takip eden surecte Nesine de yine 2006 ylnda hizmet vermeye baslamstr. Yasal bahis siteleri arasnda yerini almay basaran firma ksa surede sevilen ve ragbet goren bir site olmustur.

Misli

2009 ylnda sektore cok hzl giris yapan Misli cok sayda reklam filmi ile on plana ckmay basarmstr. Internet uzerinden hem yasal hem de sorunsuz hizmet veren bahis sitelerinden bir tanesi olmustur.

Canl Bahis Siteleri Kayt ve Uyelik Islemleri

Her zaman populerligini koruyan ve surekli gelisim gosteren canl bahis gun gectikce daha da gucleniyor. Bahis oynamak icin ise sitelere uye olunmas gerekir. Yuksek getirisi ve begeni toplayan faaliyetleri ile cok sayda site bu alanda faaliyet gostermektedir. Elbette sorunsuz sekilde uye olmanz ve faaliyetler gostermeniz de oldukca kolaydr. Canl bahis siteleri kayt ve uyelik islemleri dakikalar icerisinde gerceklestirilecek yapya sahiptir.

Uye olacagnz siteyi belirledikten sonra siteye girmeniz gerekmektedir. Girdiginiz sitenin ana sayfasnda uye ol ya da kayt ol bolumu bulunacaktr. Siteler arasnda degiskenlik gosteren bu alanda temel unsurlar bulunmaktadr. Elbette farkllklar olsa da temelinde benzer bilgiler uye olmak isteyen kisilerden talep edilmektedir.

Uye ol bolumune tkladktan sonra karsnza uyelik bilgi formu ckacaktr. Bu formda sizin kim oldugunuzu ogrenmek ve sitenin guvenligini saglamak adna islemler yaplmaktadr. Uyelik formunda yer alan ad soyad bolumunu eksiksiz ve dogru sekilde doldurmalsnz. Sizden bu formda istenen bilgilerin tamamn girmeniz istenecektir. Istenen bilgiler mutlaka dogru ve eksiksiz sekilde olmaldr. Eksik veya hatal bilgi uyelik islemlerinde sorun teskil edebilir. Yine de yanls bilgi girisine ragmen uyelik islemleri tamamlanabilir. Fakat boyle bir yol izleyenler sonrasnda buyuk skntlarla karslasabilirler. Bu skntlarn basnda da para cekme islemlerinde yasanan sorunlardr.

Uyelik islemleri dikkatli ve ozenle doldurulmas gereken yapdadr. Canl bahis siteleri kayt ve uyelik islemleri gerceklestirilirken verilen bilgiler site yonetimi tarafndan muhafaza edilmektedir. Herhangi bir sekilde 3. Sahslarla paylaslmas gibi bir durum soz konusu degildir. Bu faaliyetleri surduren sitelerin guven unsurlar arasnda bu nokta onceliklidir.

Bahis sitelerine uye olurken hatal bilgi paylasmnda bulunmak size faydadan cok zarar verecektir. Diyelim ki bilgileri hatal girdiniz ve uyelik onayland. Uyelik tamamlandktan sonra siteye para yatrdnz ve kazanc elde ettiniz. Kazancnz sonrasnda hesabnza almak istediginizde karsnza banka bilgileri bolumu gelecektir. Para cekme talebi gerceklestikten sonra site uyelik bilgileri ile banka hesap bilgileri ortusmez ise paranz alamazsnz. Boyle bir durumla karslasmamak adna bu hususa ayrca dikkat etmelisiniz.
Jun 20, 2016 | By Tess

Toronto, Canada based startup Matter and Form Inc. has just received over $800k in funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). The government funding, along with money from two private investors will help the company, which specializes in 3D scanning technologies, to develop its second generation 3D scanner.

Matter and Form Inc. was founded in 2013 by a team of designers and programmers who found the need for an affordable and high-resolution 3D scanner. Their first generation product, the Matter and Form 3D Scanner, which they released to the market in 2014, was a success and since then they have released a number of innovative products, such as Cashew, a content sharing platform, and the Bevel Clip, a 3D scanner smartphone attachment.

With the new funding from FedDev Ontario, a total of $858,560, the company will continue its development and commercialization of its second generation 3D scanner. The repayable funding is also expected to help Matter and Form Inc. expand its team by at least 12 people in order to enhance sales, customer growth, research and development, and operations.

The funding for the Canadian 3D scanning company was recently announced by Julie Dzerowicz, Member of Parliament for Davenport, who spoke on the behalf of Navdeep Bains, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, also responsible for FedDev Ontario. "We are proud to support Matter and Form to further develop its 3D scanner technology, stated Dzerowicz. This product is an example of the innovative ideas that our companies are bringing to market here in Canada and abroad.

Minister Navdeep Bains added to that in a press release saying, Our support to Matter and Form is a great example of the Government of Canada's commitment to creating the right conditions for ideas to thrive, helping Canadian companies develop innovative products while creating high-quality jobs here in southern Ontario.

Bevel Clip

As mentioned, two private investors, Sandstone Asset Management and the MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund have also contributed funding to Matter and Form Inc. The government funding has leveraged up to $1,717,120 in funding for the 3D scanner development between them.

"Canada has the opportunity to establish itself as a powerhouse in 3D and other emerging technologies. Supporting companies like Matter and Form Inc. shows the Government's commitment to ensuring the success of Canadian businesses that will lead us into the future. We are grateful for the support and the vision this demonstrates, concluded Drew Cox, CEO of Matter and Form Inc.

Paul Banwatt (COO), Drew Cox (CEO), and Trevor Townsend (CTO)

Posted in 3D Scanning

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Jun 20, 2016 | By Benedict

3D printing giant Stratasys has joined forces with Japanese car manufacturer Daihatsu to launch a range of patterned, 3D printed Effect Skins which customers can tailor to their own specifications. The skins can be ordered for front and rear bumpers and fenders of the Daihatsu Copen.

After years of developing 3D printed tools, jigs, and fixtures for customers in the automotive industry, its nice to see Stratasys buckling up for a slightly more glamorous auto project: flashy, 3D printed Effect Skins, whose sole purpose is to improve the aesthetic and contribute to the unique personality personality of a Daihatsu Copen, a two-door roadster with a 660cc turbo three-cylinder engine. Other contributors to the collaborative project, which was first announced last year, were industrial design company Znug Design and 3D creator Sun Junjie.

For many drivers, the individual personality of a car forms an important part of the driving experience. To bring out that personality, many drivers choose to customize their vehicle in various ways, making their cars stand out from others in the parking lot. Daihatsu, Japans oldest car manufacturer, has embraced this culture of auto customization over the years, and has brought additive manufacturing into the frame for its latest project, giving drivers a whole new degree of personalization and control.

The car manufacturer asked Stratasys to take care of the 3D printing, while 3D designer Sun Junjie was tasked with coming up with the unique designs: What was really good with this project was that, by using Stratasys 3D printing, we were able to create not only prototypes, but the very designs Id come up with in my own mind and produce them to a quality sufficient for final products, said Junjie.

Daihatsus 15 3D printed Effect Skins, available in a range of geometric and organic patterns and in 10 different colors, are all being 3D printed on Stratasys Fortus 3D printers, and can each be personally tailored by the customer before printing, allowing for each driver to put their own spin on Junjies design. When the customer has put the finishing touches on their product, Stratasys will print the one-of-a-kind skin in ASA thermoplastic, which is durable, UV resistant, and looks the business when fitted to a cars bumper or fender.

According to Daihatsu, the 3D printing process has enabled the company to produce the products at a much faster rate than would have been possible with any other manufacturing process: What would have taken two to three months to develop can now be produced in two weeks, said Osamu Fujishita, General Manager of the Corporate Planning Department at Daihatsus Brand DNA Office.

The 3D printed Effect Skins have caused quite a stir since their initial announcement last year, and it seems as though Daihatsu could be open to working with Stratasys again for future 3D printing projects: Were interested in expanding the market for customized plastic-bodied cars, and we see Stratasys 3D printing technology as extremely effective for this, Fujishita said.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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by Jonathan Kujawa

In April Donald Trump howled that the Republican delegate selection process was rigged. This was back when it looked like he wouldn't have a majority of the delegates going into the Republican convention. In the first round the delegates are required to vote for a particular candidate according to how they were allocated in their state's vote. If Trump didn't win a majority in the first round, then in subsequent rounds delegates would be free to vote for whomever they liked (Nixon 2016!). Now that he has a solid majority of the delegates, the fairness of the rules used in the arcane underworld of delegate selection no longer holds Trump's interest. Of course, if the Anybody but Trump cabal inserts a conscience clause in the convention rules to unbind Trump's delegates, he'll no doubt once again start screeching rigged. Trump's dire warnings of riots at the convention must be causing lots of sleepless nights among party bigwigs.

On the other side, the supporters of Bernie Sanders have vociferously argued that their guy is also the victim of a rigged system. For a party which claims the high ground of reason and adulthood, the Democrats have done their fair share of conspiracy theorizing: dark suggestions of voter suppression, frenzied freak-outs at the Nevada State convention, and ominous grumbles about super delegates subverting the process. Even now there are fantastical scenarios involving the super delegates spontaneously throwing their vote to Sanders and causing a contested Democratic convention.

It turns out democracy can be wickedly unfair.

The bizarreness of this election year aside, surely democracy will tick along and ensure the will of the people comes out on election day. After all, on November 8th the votes will be counted and the numbers won't lie [1]. Right?

A voting system is a procedure which takes in the voters' preferences and outputs a ranking of the candidates. Since there are lots of different voting systems, including ones where each voter has multiple votes they can allocate, or some voters count more than others (super delegates!), maybe we should first agree on the basic principles of what constitutes a fair election.

Let's imagine we have an election consisting of Clinton, Johnson, Trump, and maybe some other candidates who shall remain nameless. Here are some reasonable rules:

1. Each voter should have a complete list of preferences. That is, given any two candidates in the election the voter should be able to tell you which one they would vote for, no ties or complete indifference allowed. We also don't want obviously absurd scenarios such as a voter who prefers Clinton to Johnson, Johnson to Trump, and Trump to Clinton since that voter wouldn't be able to make a selection in the polling booth. To avoid such obvious absurdities let's require that if a voter prefers X to Y and Y to Z, then they must also prefer X to Z. That's what any reasonable voter would do [2].

2. If every voter prefer X to Y, then the voting system should end with X ahead of Y. For example, if everyone prefers Trump over Johnson, then the outcome of the voting system should put Trump ahead of Johnson.

3. If a voting system would put X ahead of Y, then, as long as every voter's preference of X versus Y is unchanged, the voting system should continue to put X ahead of Y regardless of how the voters' preferences otherwise change. For example, if the voting system would put Clinton ahead of Johnson today, then no matter how voters change their minds about Clinton/Trump, Johnson/Trump, and any other candidates who may be running, as long as their preferences about Clinton/Johnson are unchanged, the voting system will continue to put Clinton ahead of Johnson.

I think we can agree that the above rules are reasonable as a starting baseline. All we have required so far is that when push comes to shove a voter has an opinion about each candidate; voter preferences have a minimal level of consistency; unanimous voter opinions are respected; and for any particular pair of candidates the outcome should only depend on voter preferences for that pair of candidates  the voter preferences involving other candidates should be irrelevant.

Voting in North Korea [3].

Here comes the bad news. In his 1951 PhD thesis Ken Arrow proved what is now known as Arrow's Impossibility Theorem. It states that any voting system which has three or more candidates and satisfies the ground rules listed above is in fact a dictatorship! After all the paper shuffling and vote counting is over, the final outcome of the election is completely determined by the preferences of a single voter.

The good news is that democracy is messier in real life. It turns out that voters can be unreasonable. It wouldn't surprise me in the least to learn there are 3QD readers who have pairwise preferences among Clinton, Sanders, and Trump which put them in a circle. And if Trump were to implode versus Clinton and Johnson, who's to say that it wouldn't change the voters' preference between Clinton and Johnson? If there is one thing we've learned this year, it is that voters are anything but predictable. Just ask Nate Silver.

Arrow's theorem warns us that no system is perfect  even when it works exactly as designed. Voters need to be ever vigilant that the outcome of elections reflect their true preferences.

[1] Hanging chads, Diebold election machines, etc., aside, of course.

[2] Not to say voters are actually reasonable.

[3] From Wikipedia.
by Ahmed Humayun

Mr. Obama's refusal to speak of radical Islam also betrays his failure to understand the sources of Islamic State's legitimacy and thus its allure to young Muslim men.Mr. Obama's refusal to acknowledge the real nature of the Islamist threat creates an opening for Mr. Trump's immigration ban. It suggests to Americans that the President is so hostage to political correctness that he might not be doing all he can to combat the threat. Wall Street Journal, June 15, 2016.

If you follow the debate about terrorism, Islam, and anti-Muslim bigotry in America today, you will observe a small but strident faction fixated on American officials and leaders who do not use the phrase radical Islam' to describe terrorist groups like ISIL, Al Qaeda, and others. This faction maintains that if you do not talk about terrorism through the prism of Islam, you are soft on terror, you lack moral clarity, and you are paralyzed by political correctness.

This is a heavy burden for one phrase to bear. The good news is that there is no evidence that American security and law enforcement agencies have been 'soft' on terror. Under the current administration, numerous operations have been conducted around the world to disrupt the operations of terrorist groups, even resulting in the capture of Bin Laden, the perpetrator of the September 11 attacks. The lack of use of the phrase radical Islam' by our leaders has not prevented these operations from occurring or succeeding.

In fact, blurring the distinction between Islam and terrorism will hurt counterterrorism efforts rather than aid them. While it is true that terminology is important in this struggle, the Journal's editorial board has it exactly backwards. Consider that ISIL wants to be called the Islamic State', and that it has previously threatened to cut the tongues out of people who refer to it as Da'esh. ISIL's leaders want the world to make no distinction between Islam and its brutish practices. They claim exclusive authority to speak on behalf of Islam, and they slaughter anyone else who has a different view. When we say that ISIL is Islamic, we concede their core contention at the outset. We can either deny our enemies what they want, or we can hand it to them on a silver platter.

In contrast, distinguishing between Islam and terrorism is a smart tactic that aids in countering terrorism. When American officials make this distinction, it suggests that Americans distinguish between the acts of nihilistic groups like Al Qaeda or ISIL and the rest of the Muslim community. It creates the opportunity for potential alliances against this threat across national, cultural, and civilizational boundaries.

Similarly, we should want Muslims to say that ISIL is un-Islamic'. This position rejects the authority or legitimacy of terrorist groups to define the nature of contemporary Islam in our ongoing global debate. It distances mainstream Islam from the activities of these groups. It is similar to other types of disavowals. For example, when Americans say that a certain belief or action is un-American'  such as, say, racism or bigotry  we recognize this as a positive thing.

But for the faction obsessed with using the phrase radical Islam', this type of argument is mere political correctness and obscurantism. According to the Journal's editorial board, when American leaders don't use the phrase 'radical Islam', citizens allegedly become convinced that their government is failing to protect them and therefore will support extreme and discriminatory measures against Muslims. The Journal believes that if its preferred terminology isn't used, then not only will counterterrorism efforts be weaker, but support for anti-Muslim discrimination will inevitably grow.

Nothing, however, is inevitable. If support for illiberalism grows when there is fear, then we should strive to be less fearful. The fact is that terrorist acts carried out or inspired by groups like ISIL or Al Qaeda are terrible crimes against humanity, but these acts are by no means the most significant threat, even domestically. Terrorism is only one of many threats confronting Americans today. Addressing this challenge requires concerted effort by our law enforcement agencies and our communities  including Muslim American communities  but it is not an existential danger to America.

There is no necessary cause-and-effect relationship between fear and illiberalism. We have a choice in how we respond to legitimate fears, and this choice should not be obscured. America is a democracy, not an autocracy. We should strive to meet higher ethical standards  our own standards  and stand up for American values instead of sacrificing them.

The choice faced by Americans genuinely concerned about terrorism is not over the use of the phrase radical Islam'. The real choice is whether to grant groups like ISIL enormous power over the nature of our society and the structure of our government  a power that they do not possess and will never be able to acquire on their own, but which we can voluntarily cede to them. If we become open to suspending parts of our constitution or our laws, or diverging from our values, then whether or not we use the phrase radical Islam', the terrorists will win.
by Kelly James Clark

Maarten Boudry has argued here at 3 Quarks Daily that religion and religion alone motivates ISIS and ISIS-like extremists to violence. He claims (without citation) that other factors, socio-economic disenfranchisement, unemployment, troubled family backgrounds, discrimination and racism, have been repeatedly refuted. Thinking that religion plays any lesser motivational role is, he claims, a dramatic failure of imagination.

Since the claim that religion plays a lesser motivational role in extremist violence is empirically well-supported, I think Boudry's claim is a dramatic failure of imagination. Moreover, I think it's dangerously uninformed.

Let's start with uninformed.

It's easy to think that the troubles in Ireland were religious because, you know, Protestant vs. Catholic. But giving the sides religious names hides the real sources of conflictdiscrimination, poverty, imperialism, autonomy, nationalism and shame; no one in Ireland was fighting over theological doctrines such as transubstantiation or justification (they probably couldn't explain their theological differences). It's easy to think that the Bosnian genocide of 40,000 Muslims was motivated by Christian commitment (the Muslim victims were killed by Christian Serbs). But these convenient monikers ignore (a) how shallow post-Communist religious belief was and, more importantly, (b) such complex causes as class, land, ethnic identity, economic disenfranchisement, and nationalism.

It's also easy to think that members of ISIS and al-Qaeda are motivated by religious belief, but

Blaming such behaviors on religion commits the fundamental attribution error: attributing the cause of behavior to internal factors such as personality characteristics or dispositions, while minimizing or ignoring external, situational factors. As an example: if I'm late, I attribute my tardiness to an important phone call or heavy traffic, but if you're late I attribute it to a (single) character flaw (you are irresponsible) and ignore possible external contributing causes. So, when Arabs or Muslims commit an act of violence we instantly believe that it's due to their radical faith, all the while ignoring possible and even likely contributing causes.

Let's look at some examples.

Within minutes of Omar Mateen's massacre of gays in Orlando, before learning that he had pledged allegiance to ISIS during the attack, he was labeled a terrorist. Pledging fealty to ISIS sealed the deal for most people  he was a terrorist, motivated by radical Islam. If a white (Christian) man kills 10 people, he's crazy. If a Muslim does, he's a terrorist, motivated by exactly one thing  his extremist faith.

Yet, Mateen was, by all counts, a violent, angry, abusive, disruptive, alienated, racist, American, male, homophobe. He was likely bi-polar. With easy access to guns. According to his wife and father, he wasnt very religious. His multiple pledges of allegiance to warring factions such as ISIS, Al Qaeda and Hezbollah suggest that he knew little of any ideology or theology. The CIA and FBI have found no connection with ISIS. Mateen was a hateful, violent, (mostly) irreligious, homophobic racist who killed 50 people on Latin Night at the club.

While the structure of motivation for Mateen is murky, it would be bizarre to elevate his religious beliefs (such as they were) to some special motivational status.

Mohammad Atta, leader of the 9-11 attacks, left a suicide note indicating his fealty to Allah:

So remember God, as He said in His book: 'Oh Lord, pour your patience upon us and make our feet steadfast and give us victory over the infidels.' And His words: 'And the only thing they said Lord, forgive our sins and excesses and make our feet steadfast and give us victory over the infidels.' And His prophet said: 'Oh Lord, You have revealed the book, You move the clouds, You gave us victory over the enemy, conquer them and give us victory over them.' Give us victory and make the ground shake under their feet. Pray for yourself and all your brothers that they may be victorious and hit their targets and ask God to grant you martyrdom facing the enemy, not running away from it, and for Him to grant you patience and the feeling that anything that happens to you is for Him.

Surely we should take Atta at his word.

Yet Atta (along with his fellow terrorists) seldom attended mosque, partied almost nightly, was a heavy drinker, snorted cocaine, and ate pork chops. Hardly the stuff of Muslim submission. When his stripper girlfriend ended their relationship, he broke into her apartment and killed her cat and kittens, disemboweling and dismembering them and then distributing their body parts throughout the apartment for her to find later. Makes Atta's suicide note seems more like reputation management than pious confession. Or maybe it was a desperate hope that his actions would attain some sort of cosmic significance that his otherwise insignificant life lacked.

When Lydia Wilson, a research fellow at the Centre for the Resolution of Intractable Conflict at Oxford University, recently conducted field research with ISIS prisoners, she found them woefully ignorant of Islam and unable to answer questions about Sharia law, militant jihad, and the caliphate. Not surprising then that when wannabe jihadists Yusuf Sarwar and Mohammed Ahmed were caught boarding a plane in England authorities discovered in their luggage Islam for Dummies and The Koran for Dummies. In the same article, Erin Saltman, senior counter-extremism researcher at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, says that Recruitment [of ISIS] plays upon desires of adventure, activism, romance, power, belonging, along with spiritual fulfillment.[1]

England's MI5's behavioral science unit, in a reported leaked to the Guardian, revealed that, far from being religious zealots, a large number of those involved in terrorism do not practise their faith regularly. Many lack religious literacy and could . . . be regarded as religious novices. Indeed, the report argued, a well-established religious identity actually protects against violent radicalization.

Why would England's MI5 think that religion plays virtually no role in extremism?

Boudry is half-right about those other factors. There is no single, well-established profile of terrorists. Some are poor, some are not. Some are unemployed, some are not. Some are poorly educated, some are not. Some are culturally isolated, some are not. Nonetheless, these sorts of external factors, while neither necessary nor jointly sufficient, do contribute to radicalization in some people under certain circumstances. Each extremist has his or her own unique socio-psychological profile (which makes their identification nearly impossible).

In parts of Africa, with sky-high unemployment rates for 18 to 34-year-olds, ISIS targets the unemployed and impoverished; ISIS offers a steady paycheck, meaningful employment, food for their families, and an opportunity to strike back at those viewed as economic oppressors. In Syria many recruits join ISIS solely to topple the vicious Assad regime; liberated criminals find ISIS a convenient place to hide from their past. Palestinians are motivated by the dehumanization of living as disempowered second-class citizens in an apartheid state.

In Europe and America, where most of the recruits are young men who are educated and middle class, cultural isolation is factor number one in driving Muslims to extremism.[2] Young, alienated Muslims are attracted by slick media that offer adventure and glory to their tedious and marginalized lives. German Muslims are motivated by adventure and alienation.[3]

Long gone are the days of listening to boring and monotonous Osama bin Laden sermons. ISIS's highly-skilled recruiters use social media and personal contact (through the internet) to create personal and communal bonds of otherwise disaffected Muslims who are then enticed to leave their mundane and meaningless lives and fight together for a noble cause. That is, they are motivated by a sense of belonging and a quest for human significance.

One might think that dreams of afterlife virgins are especially conducive to violence. But as far as some greater good goes, just about any ideology will do. Indeed, non-religious ideologies in the 20th century caused vastly more suffering and death than all of the religiously-motivated violence in human history combined. Adolf Hitlers Germany killed more than 10,000,000 innocent people, while WWII saw the deaths of 60,000,000 people (with many more deaths attributable to war-related disease and famine). The purges and famines under Joseph Stalins regime killed millions. Estimates of Mao Zedongs death toll range from 40,000,000-80,000,000. The current blaming of religion ignores the staggering death toll of secular ideologies.

Once human beings feel like they belong to a group, they will do anything, even commit atrocities, for their brothers and sisters in the group. I have a friend who fought for the US in Iraq. He and his mates grew increasingly cynical of the US mission in Iraq. Although he was no longer ideologically committed to US goals, he told me that he would have done anything, even sacrificed his own life, for members of his group. This dynamic increases if one is able to disidentify with and dehumanize those who are not in one's group.

Anthropologist Scott Atran, who has spoken with more terrorists and their families than any Western scholar, concurs. In testimony to the US senate in 2010, he said, What inspires the most lethal terrorists in the world today is not so much the Quran or religious teachings as a thrilling cause and call to action that promises glory and esteem in the eyes of friends, and through friends, eternal respect and remembrance in the wider world. Jihad, he said, is thrilling, glorious and cool.

Oxford's Harvey Whitehouse directed an international team of distinguished scholars on the motivations of extreme self-sacrifice. They found that violent extremism isn't motivated by religion, it is motivated by fusion with the group.[4]

There is no psychological profile of today's terrorist. They are not crazy, they are often well-educated and many are relatively well off. They are motivated, like many young people, by a sense of belonging, a desire for an exciting and meaningful life, and devotion to a higher cause. Extremist ideology, while not a non-factor, is typically low on the list of motivations.

I said that Boudry's views are dangerously uninformed. I've shown why they are uninformed. On to the dangerous part.

Perpetuating the myth that religion is the primary cause of terrorism plays into ISIS's hands and prevents recognition of our responsibility for creating the conditions for ISIS.

ISIS's playbook is, interestingly, not the Quran, it's The Management of Savagery (Idarat at-Tawahoush). ISIS's longterm strategy is to create such chaos that submission to ISIS would be preferable to living under the savage conditions of war. To attract young people to ISIS, they seek to eliminate the Gray Zone between the true believer and the infidel (in which most Muslims find themselves) by employing terror attacks to help Muslims see that non-Muslims hate Islam and want to harm Muslims. If moderate Muslims feel alienated and unsafe as a result of prejudice, they will be forced to choose either apostasy (darkness) or jihad (light).

Boudry, and those like him who hold that religion is the primary or most important motivator of extremists, are helping to squeeze out the gray zone. By tarring Islam with the extremist brush, they perpetuate the myth that Islam is a violent religion and that Muslims are violent. Boudry's mistaken narrative reinforces Western media's predominantly negative portrayal of Muslims as violent, fanatical, bigoted, and terrorists (ignoring the 99.999% of Muslims who are not). And then we're on to Islamophobia.

It is very difficult for Westerners to isolate their understanding and loathing of ISIS and other extremists without sliding into Islamophobia. And increasing Islamophobia, ISIS hopes, will entice young Muslims out of the gray and into the fight.

The vast majority of Muslims, it must be noted, find ISIS and other extremist groups tyrannical, oppressive and vicious.[5] Violent extremism is, they believe, a perversion of Islam (as the KKK and Westboro Baptist are perversions of Christianity). They cite the Quran which states that there is no compulsion in matters of religion (Al-Baqara: 256). According to the Quran, war is only for self-defense (Al-Baqarah: 190) and Muslims are instructed not to incite war (Al-Hajj: 39). Abu-Bakr, the first Caliph following Prophet Muhammad's death, gave these instructions for (defensive) war: Do not betray or be treacherous or vindictive. Do not mutilate. Do not kill the children, the aged or the women. Do not cut or burn palm trees or fruitful trees. Don't slay a sheep, a cow or camel except for your food. And you will come across people who confined themselves to worship in hermitages, leave them alone to what they devoted themselves for. Given this background, violent extremism does indeed seem like a perversion of Islam.

Muslim leaders are in a pitched battle against extremist ideologies. For example, in 2001, thousands of Muslim leaders around the world immediately denounced Al Qaeda's attacks on the US. On September 14, 2001, nearly fifty Islamic leaders signed and distributed this statement: The undersigned, leaders of Islamic movements, are horrified by the events of Tuesday 11 September 2001 in the United States which resulted in massive killing, destruction and attack on innocent lives. We express our deepest sympathies and sorrow. We condemn, in the strongest terms, the incidents, which are against all human and Islamic norms. This is grounded in the Noble Laws of Islam which forbid all forms of attacks on innocents. God Almighty says in the Holy Qur'an: No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another' (Surah al-Isra 17:15).

Finally, I think it is dangerous to attribute extremism to religion and to ignore external conditions, because it makes extremism their problem when it is also our problem. If extremism is motivated by their religion, then they are entirely responsible (and they need to change). But if extremism is motivated in response to external conditions, then those who are responsible for those conditions are responsible (and need to work to change those conditions). As James Gilligan, in Preventing Violence, writes: We cannot even begin to prevent violence until we can acknowledge what we ourselves are doing that contributes to it, actively or passively.

How has the West contributed to the conditions that motivate violent extremism? For starters, we overthrew a democratically-elected President in Iran and installed a despotic Shah (to regain access to cheap oil). After the breakup of the Ottoman Empire, we divided up the Middle East according to our own economic advantage and in defiance of good cultural sense.[6] For decades we have purchased cheap oil from Saudi Arabia, the profits of which have fueled Wahhabism, the ideological roots of Islamic extremism.[7] We destabilized Iraq on false pretenses resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians.[8] We tortured Arabs in defiance of international law and basic human dignity, and have kept Arabs that we know are innocent imprisoned without charge or legal recourse in Guantanamo.[9] Our drones have killed countless innocent people and their constant buzzing in the skies plagues children with PTSD.[10] And the US's unilateral support of Israel perpetuates injustices against Palestinians.

In short, our shaming, humiliation and harming of Arabs has created the conditions which inspire violent responses.

Given the huge power imbalance, the weaker power is forced to resort to guerilla tactics and suicide bombing.

The problem is not just theirs. It is also ours. Justice demands that we stop laying the blame entirely on them and assume responsibility for our contributions to the conditions that inspire terror. Without attending to the conditions that are conducive to terrorism, it will not go away. Therefore, carpet-bombing mostly civilian populations within which ISIS hides will just exacerbate these conditions.

Boudry and I surely agree that insofar as extremist violence is motivated by religion, the religious motivation needs to be resisted. I support the efforts on the parts of Muslim leaders to inoculate young Muslims against the co-option of true Islam by extremists.

Boudry's insistence on religious motivation is empirically unsupported. The motivational structure of extremists is vastly more complicated. Moreover, we Westerners have contributed conditions that motivate extremism. We need to work hard and together with our Muslim brothers and sisters to create instead conditions of justice, equality and peace.

Even if conditions conducive to extremism are rectified, some true believers will probably continue their violent struggle to create the caliphate. But their pool of recruits will have dried up.
by Scott F. Aikin and Robert B. Talisse



In the real world of political talk, getting the last word is often what counts most. This is especially the case where political talk is conducted in the limited space between commercial breaks. In such a forum, getting the last word does not mean what it means in a purely academic setting. In academic argument, one gets the last word when one articulates a decisive point, a point to which not even one's smartest and best informed opponents could object. In popular political talk, by contrast, getting the last word means being the last speaker to utter a coherent and self-contained thought. Statements of this self-contained variety tend to be received by one's audience as the take away from the exchange, and hence they are most likely to be remembered. The arena of national politics is high-stakes and highly-public; and the need to get the last word creates a strong incentive for a distinctive kind of conversational distortion, namely, that of derailing discussion. One derails a discussion when one speaks for the sake of creating a conversational disruption that substitutes the topic previously under consideration with some ambiguous and unwieldy alternative. Once derailed in this sense, conversation loses focus, and the disorientation leaves subsequent speakers unable to get the last word.

Derailing of course takes many forms. But one derailing strategy has become so prevalent in current political discourse that it is worthy of focused analysis.

The derailing strategy we have in mind may be called spitballing. At its core, spitballing works as follows: One makes multiple contributions to a discussion, often as fast as one can think them up (and certainly faster than one can think them through). Some contributions may be insightful, others less so, but all are overtly provocative. What is most important, though, is that each installment express a single, self-contained thought. Accordingly, slogans are the spitballer's dialectical currency. As the metaphor of the spitball goes, one keeps tossing until something sticks; hence it helps if one's slogans are tinged with something disagreeable or slightly beyond the pale. As the spitballer's interlocutors attempt to reply to what he has said, the spitballer resolutely continues spitballing.

That is, instead of defending his claims against the interlocutor's pushback, he simply introduces an entirely new topic, usually by voicing another slogan that is even more outrageous than its predecessor. As a result, the interlocutors cannot keep up, and in the process of reacting to so many provocations, they never have the chance to fully respond to any of them. By the time the next commercial break arrives, the spitballer will have voiced multiple memorable slogans, and none of them will appear to have been adequately challenged. To many in the viewing audience, the spitballer will appear uniquely reasonable, informed, collected, and decisive, while the interlocutors will seem scattered, irrational, and desperate. In the high-stakes world of national politics, that's a huge win for the spitballer.

As we have said, spitballing is understandably effective in formats where discussion is shoehorned into 12-minute segments in between commercial advertisements. But as spitballing trades in slogans, it brings correlate advantages in other forums as well. Slogans are intrinsically vague and suggestive, and they thereby admit of multiple interpretations. Accordingly, when a spitballer's pronouncement is subjected to critical analysis in, say, print media, the spitballer's response is simply to return to the confines of the television studio to denounce the interpretation of the slogan that was scrutinized. The denouncement begins with an indignant what I actually said was . . . and is followed with the introduction of a new slogan hence a new provocation  which is no more precise or transparent than the original. Thus the process begins anew. All the while, the spitballer derails the discussion by ensuring that no one else actually gets to speak about anything other than what the spitballer has said. Yet, as the spitballer trades only in vague but provocative slogans, there can be no real discussion about his claims.

We are sure that you already recognize that Donald Trump is an incorrigible spitballer. It is thus no surprise that his favored communications outlet is Twitter, a platform that permits only slogans. And his performance in longer-form interviews confirms our diagnosis. He is infrequently well-informed or temperate, but what he lacks in quality, he makes up for in sheer quantity; he is never at a loss for words, and he is a wellspring of slogans, many of which suggest underlying commitments that seem outrageous. In only a short while, he has accrued a substantial and public record of claims which do not form a coherent set. And for the most part his critics are overwhelmed; they do not know where to start with substantive evaluation. Whenever a critic voices an objection to one of Trump's slogans, Trump indignantly protests that he has been willfully misrepresented and treated unfairly. Indeed, that's the central value of political slogans  they're moving targets. So, to cite only one familiar example, we are all acquainted with Trump's pronouncements about national security and Muslims, but what exactly is his view? Unsurprisingly, it shifts opportunistically. Sometimes the view seems to be that no Muslims at all should be allowed into the United States; on other occasions, the proposal is that the US suspend legal immigration for Muslims; and at other moments, the claim is weakened to the view that Syrian asylum seekers should be thoroughly investigated. Moreover, although the policy is always presented as a temporary measure, the conditions under which the ban would be lifted are never articulated. Trump only says the policy (whatever it actually is) should stay in place until we know what's going on (whatever that means).

This deliberate imprecision makes Trump's proposal impossible to evaluate according to its feasibility, costs, and probably effectiveness. And those who have tried to assess the proposal along these metrics have been rebuffed by Trump representatives; any assessment must fix on some particular interpretation of the Trump slogan, but the entire Trump strategy depends upon escaping precision so that every criticism can be instantly dismissed as a willful and unfair misrepresentation, thereby creating opportunities for introducing new slogans, which then draw critical responses that are again swiftly dismissed. Consequently, the spitballer controls the discussion by derailing any attempt to scrutinize what he has said; thus, in a very real sense, he always speaks unopposed. Meanwhile, public conversation is dominated by counterfeit ideas; popular political discourse is crowded out by a mode of exchange that merely mimics dialogue; and the pressing political issues that face the nation remain undiscussed.
On May 4, 2016, around the dinner table at an Oakland restaurant, my family shared an eerie toast: "To Lyme disease!" It sounds absurd, but let me explain.

For the better part of a year (really more, now that I think about itbut we'll save that for later), I had been chasing answers to my various "issues." They were relatively mundane at first and seemingly easy to explain: a stiff neck, no doubt product of my deskbound day job; headaches, low-grade enough to let me function but so constant as to pull a dull film over just about everything; poor balance (disappointing since perfect balance was my calling card as a little girl in Miss Laura's ballet class); blurring vision and a charming nystagmus that pitted me against all of San Francisco's evening commuter cyclists whose flashing lights taunted me toward panic attacks; oh, and panic attacks; and a nettlesome "whooshing" in my right ear that was either (a) just a symptom of the headaches or (b) a thoughtful heads up from the Angel of Death that I was about to have an aneurysm.





I don't know why my mother calls me a drama queen.





I began weekly visits in the Nob Hill office of Dr. Sergio Azzolino, a neurological chiropractor and great guy for whom my husband Jake (a chiropractic student) is an intern. After a few months, with regular adjustments for my rigid neck and some neat neurological video games to help with my vision and balance, things seemed to improve a little. That is, until I nearly fainted in my chili on the tail end of a snowshoeing trip to Tahoe. In the moment, I chalked it up to wine and altitude, but I knew. I knew, how you do, that something was off.





For the next seven straight days, I couldn't work. Hell, I couldn't even stand up without falling back onto the sofasweating, dizzy, and nauseated as though I'd popped a molly. Strange things happened. One night, I was just chilling on the couch in my drafty SF flat, and some feisty demon turned a blow torch on my right foot. Out of nowhere, for no reason at all, my right footjust the one!swelled into a red-hot fireball ready to explode into a Chihuly sunburst. I shit you not.





[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2F2012%2F06%2Fpacific-sun-and-glasshouse-evening-web.jpg&ho;=https%3A%2F%2Fartblart.files.wordpress.com&s;=940&h;=aa6b2ccd9886440b7fca7a7fd77be76478b672339adbcce257d4ae1e6f63f7a4&size;=980x&c;=1121510127 photo_credit="" pin_description="" image-library="0" expand="1" caption="Dale Chihuly's 'Pacific Sun'"] Dale Chihuly's 'Pacific Sun'

So, it was back to the chiro for more neuro tests. Follow my finger. Close your eyes. Touch your nose. Stand on one leg. Do the alphabet backwards. Spin this beach ball on your nose. (Just kidding.)







"I'm convinced I have MS," I told Azzolino. "I have all the symptoms."





Numbness, tingling, clumsiness, vertigo, double vision, anxiety, headaches, muscle aches. The list went on. I will spare you.





"You forgot to mention the 200 other diseases whose symptoms match yours," he retorted, admonishing my Googling ways.





Wonderful. Comforting.





Blood work galore turned up a plethora of dormant viruses as well as autoimmunity. See. And yet, I'm healthy"the healthiest we'll see all day."





An MRI was ordered. A Lyme test, too. Yeah right, I thought. I haven't had a tick bite since I was too young to remember it exactly.





A clean MRI dashed my self-diagnosis, but some fluid in my cerebellum left me unconvinced. A decade earlier, my mom had experienced identical symptomsunlike me, though, she had also been falling downand a nearly identical MRI. "The brain of a person with MS," her doctor had said. Only it wasn't. She was diagnosed with MGUS ("Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance"), which can be a precursor to multiple myeloma. Years later, she was also diagnosed with rheumatism (inaccurate, according to a second opinion at Stanford). But mom has a cousin, who lived in the same Missouri assisted care facility as my grandmother (miss you, Mama), with ALShe had once regaled us with tales of mom's Slovenian kin from his wheelchair straight out of science fiction. My cousin, mom's niece, has Hashimoto's. Autoimmunity is in my blood. I was screwed.





And then, on the morning of May 4, Dr. Azzolino called me himself. Uh oh. My test results were in from iGeneX, the Palo Alto lab known to be the leader in testing for tick-borne illness, and the only one Azzolino trusted to yield an accurate result. (There's much more to say about this. Stay tuned.)





"Your test came back positive for Lyme."





"But I never saw a tick."





"They can by tinylarval."





"Sick."





"Yes. We need to start you on antibiotics tomorrow."





"I'll be there."





And that was it. Eight hours later, I raised a glass of Champagne to a diagnosis I knew nothing about. It wasn't MS. It wasn't a tumor. I wasn't going to die. Yay! I hadn't even bothered to Google Lyme disease because the notion seemed so far-fetched. To me, in that moment, the disease was little more than a urinary tract infectionnothing a round of antibiotics wouldn't kill.





Fifteen days later, I couldn't walkat all. Five days after that, I landed in the ER with a full-blown seizure. Journal entry on May 25: In three weeks, I have gone from being a person who hikes every morning to a person who has "episodes" and seriously considers crawling to the bathroom.





If you (1) do not have Lyme disease, (2) don't know anyone who's had Lyme disease, and (3) are anything like me, you might be saying to yourself,What the f*@#?!





Welcome to Lyme diseasethe most twisted and fastest growing global pandemic, which is being systematically brushed under the rug thanks to shystie medical/pharmaceutical/insurance company politics while, each year, 300,000 new sufferers are diagnosed with Lyme, just waiting to lose their lives and livelihoods in pursuit of proper modern treatment.





I will share it all straight up, from my own experience to all I learn along the way. Get readyLyme disease is fully loaded.





Cheers!







Follow "Love in the Time of Lyme" on Wordpress.
As I nibble on yuba at the new Miminashi in downtown Napa, I'm very, very happy. The tofu skins are fresh, firm and creamy, with subtle, nutty soybean flavor. The fresh wasabi is sharp and pungent, and chives offer a hint of acid. It's the real, Japanese deal.







Japanese food is everywhere in Wine Country these daysjust look at the newly expanded Ramen Gaijin in Sebastopol, Persimmon in Healdsburg, the soon-to-open Two Birds One Stone in St. Helena, and the upcoming Single Thread, also in Healdsburg. Yet even amid the heady competition, Miminashi shines, boasting authentic dishes as good as anything I enjoyed when I lived in Tokyo.







It's quite a departure for chef-owner Curtis Di Fede, who leapt into the spotlight with Oenotri, his southern Italian restaurant in downtown Napa. But two years ago, he and co-owner Tyler Rodde dismantled their partnership, with Rodde keeping Oenotri.







Shoyu ramen (Carey Sweet)







Now, instead of Oenotri-style braised-pigeon pasta, Di Fede gives us shoyu ramen ($15), a savory broth-and-noodle symphony studded with pork chashu, maitake mushroom, negi (onion), and crowned with a silky onsen egg, expertly poached inside its shell. Di Fede adds sugar snap peas and asparagus for freshness and texture.







In the style of an izakaya, the menu focuses on bowls, small plates, and drinks with a few larger entrees for more ravenous appetites. Di Fede fell in love with the concept while touring the country a few years ago. He gave Minimashi some Napa-style flair with wood-clad walls and tall wooden booths that look like origami tents.





Tucked in the historic Young Building on Coombs Street between 2nd and 3rd, the space holds 85 seats, but feels busier, with nearly half of those chairs at the bar. Napa has long needed this level of chic; as I sat at a window table overlooking the street, I felt like I was in an actual, stylish big city.







Pottery (Carey Sweet)







Even the plates are artimported pottery that makes food even prettier. Hamachi sashimi is elevated with avocado slabs and diced chives ($8), while flukea mild, sweet, flaky fishgets a flavor boost from sansho (little, green fireball peppers), lime, and shaved sunchoke.







Croquette (Carey Sweet)







Start with a perfectly crisp croquette ($4.50) stuffed with creamy mashed potato, chicken and negi; it's delectable dunked in sweet, rice-vinegar mayonnaise. The gyoza also features appealingly crunchy edges that offset the tender wrappers and juicy filling of Georgia white shrimp and vinegar-sharp shiso ginger broth.







While the fried rice didn't thrill me (it's a little greasy and strongly flavored with blood sausage), I'd suggest pairing it with a cocktail to cut through the fattiness of the dish. I love the botanical sharpness of the Oshidori ($11)Ford's gin mixed with aromatic Carpano Bianco, lemon, ginger beer and a golden-beet switchel (honey-ginger vinegar water).





Drinking heavily is de rigueur in izakaya culture, though Japanese patrons would usually slam Asahi Super Dry draft ($6) or chilled Gunma Izumi sake ($15) rather than the earthy, yet floral, Axolotl ($11; Olmeca Altos blanco tequila, St. Germain elderflower, makrut lime cordial, celery juice and bitters; $11).







But drink awaythere's a sake "sommelier" on staff to help navigate the nearly two dozen choices including a prized Junmai Daiginjo ($100) from Japan's Niigata prefecture.







Assorted Yakitori (Miminashi)







On the robata, the kitchen makes 15 kinds of grilled skewers, including chicken skin ($7), chicken thigh ($7), beef tongue ($8.50), and tiny whole potatoes kicked up with togarashi ($3.50). I'll pass on the chicken tail ($5) next time, though. I know it's a delicacy, but it's too fatty for my taste, and the odd calamari texture doesn't help.







When my dining companion insisted we order a Porterhouse ($68), I thought he'd dropped some brain cells. A 24-ounce hunk of beef seems so, well, American, especially when the menu also tempts with sake marinated black cod ($24) or pork donabe with grapefruit kosho pepper and braised fennel ($28).







Snake River Farm Rib Eye with brassicas and yuzu koshu (Miminashi)







Yet this beast was one of the best steaks I've ever enjoyed, served on the bone and sliced into thick, glistening, impossibly juicy slabs and dressed in green garlic-and-ginger butter and charred leeks.







With such filling meals, it would be easy enough to skip dessert, but don't. The soft serve ice cream ($6) is actually seductive, in classic Japanese flavors such as matcha green tea or black sesame. Spring for the super-crispy waffle cone ($1), and sprinkle on cornflakes and sesame honeycomb candy (50 cents each).







If you're wondering about the restaurant's name, it's a reference to Mimi-nashi Hoichi, a mythological character with a long and complicated story, but in a nutshell, he his ears are ripped off by a samurai. According to Di Fede, this tale evolved into the real-life Japanese tradition of a chef covering his ears with a towel while making ramen. Luckily, all you have to do with your ears is listen very closely: Go to Miminashi now.





// Miminashi, 821 Coombs St. (Napa), miminashi.com
Getty Images

Last week the prestigious National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued a report with a series of recommendations that, if adopted, could revolutionize the way consumers receive and pay for hearing health care in the United States.

About 30 million Americans have hearing loss, but 67 to 86 percent of those who could benefit from hearing aids do not use them. The report called hearing loss "a significant public-health concern."

The June 2 report by the Committee on Accessible and Affordable Hearing Health Care for Adults represented input from experts in hearing research, public health, geriatrics and audiology, as well as from industry and consumer groups.
And if that isn't enough to convince you, a major Australian study in 2013 found that daily use of sunscreen significantly slowed skin aging in healthy middle-age men and women.

In fact, the study's results were rather dramatic: Those who used a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily had no detectable increase in skin aging effects  such as wrinkling, coarser skin, age spots  after 4-1/2 years. What's more, the everyday users had 24 percent less skin aging than those who used sunscreen only occasionally.

So how do you choose the best sunscreen?

It's not always straightforward. Part of the problem may be the overwhelming number of options. There's SPF (sun protection factor) to consider, as well as spray versus lotion, name brand versus generic, and whether the growing number of moisturizers with sunscreen are really effective.

In its survey, Consumer Reports found that consumers are most influenced by SPF in deciding which sunscreen to buy. But you can't always rely on that number, says Trisha Calvo, deputy content editor for health and food at Consumer Reports. The magazine's research center tested 20 popular water-resistant sunscreens and found that only two  Bull Frog Water Armor Sport InstaCool SPF 50+ and Coppertone Sensitive Skin SPF 50  provided the SPF protection promised on the label. The others ranged from 4 to 40 percent below what they claimed.

Still, Calvo says, even though "the ones we rated highly may not have met their SPF claims, they're still protective." The simplest rule to remember: "Any sunscreen is better than no sunscreen."

In the same vein, dermatologist Lisa Garner of Garland, Texas, encourages her patients to try different products and pick one that feels good on their skin: "Otherwise they will not use it regularly."

Because the sun's rays are strong most of the year in Texas, Garner says she spends a lot of time telling patients the importance of sunscreen and the best way to choose it. Here are some of her tips:

Aim for SPF 30 to 50

Although manufacturers can still sell sunscreens with an SPF that exceeds 50, it's not clear that the higher numbers are really more protective. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration is considering not allowing anything higher than 50. The sunscreen should also offer "broad spectrum protection," meaning it protects against both UVA and UVB rays, and it should be water-resistant, preferably up to 80 minutes. Products cannot claim to be waterproof, the FDA says.


1. Manage blood pressure. Do you even know what your typical blood pressure is? Check yours whenever you check your loved one's blood pressure.

2. Control cholesterol. It's easy now to get your cholesterol checked  you can even get a kit for home testing. If high cholesterol is a problem, address it using many of the other steps listed here.

3. Reduce blood sugar. Find recipes that won't spike your blood sugar (or your loved one's). Using a healthy substitute for soda will make a major difference.

4. Eat better. It's tough to find time to cook healthy meals, right? Wrong. There are so many easy-to-make healthy recipes! It's all about making good choices. I love AARP's healthy recipe tool  and it's free.

5. Lose weight. This is the step with which I struggle the most. Yancy suggests the 50 percent portion plan: Eat half of what you would consider a normal portion.

6. Stop smoking. You know you should, but have you quit yet? Thankfully, I've never been a smoker, but my sister was. She quit several years ago, and I'm glad not to be around the secondhand smoke.

7. Get active. Caregivers are on our feet a lot, which is actually great exercise (and walking is good for your brain, too). Yancy says monitoring your steps throughout the day can have the biggest impact, even if it's difficult for you to find time for a long walk or exercise classes. It's easy now with wearable devices, and a University of Pennsylvania study indicated most smartphone applications are just as accurate if you carry yours with you. I also do exercises with my dad that are good for both of us.
If parents can control their emotions, they should sit down with a troubled child and listen without comment. Start the conversation by acknowledging we all feel anxiety at times. "Ask what stresses him and then listen without freaking out or making a judgment about what the kid should or shouldn't do."

Aude Henin, a Massachusetts General Hospital psychologist who specializes in cognitive therapy, urges parents to be alert to subtle changes in behavior. Ask conversationally (not grill!) about how they are feeling, and their activities, social life, and eating and sleeping habits. "If something seems different, it's always worth asking about." Alternatively, Henriques offers a quick self-assessment of well-being that parents can urge an adult child to take.

Henin also suggests that parents don't try to solve problems. "Don't go full mommy mode. Be supportive and ask, 'What's the most helpful thing I can do for you?' You're leaving the emerging adult in the driver's seat."

Talking it out may be sufficient. At other times, professional help is warranted. Colleges have increased counseling services. Also, several groups, including the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, provide links to resources for older millennials.

Finally, Henin urges parents to keep in contact with adult children. "Although interactions change, there's a lot of data to support that ongoing close supportive relationships with parents make a really big difference in mental health."

Mary W. Quigley, a journalist and author, has written two books about motherhood and work. An NYU journalism professor, she is the mother of three adult children and blogs at Mothering21.com.
Tsinghua Tongfang Co., Ltd. is engaged in information and environmental industries. The Company's information businesses include computer business; application information business such as digital urban and industrial information systems, as well as security systems, and digital television systems such as digital communication and equipment manufacture, as well as Internet application. The Company's energy and environmental business include environment protection and building energy saving. The Company is also involved in science and technology park related business. During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company obtained approximately 76% and 22% of its total revenue from information and environment businesses, respectively.
The political season is full of changes, and not just in the U.S.

On June 5, the northern Mexico state of Chihuahua held statewide elections. Chihuahua is a major industrial powerhouse, ranking No. 1 out of all Mexican states for exports. It has hundreds of thousands of people involved in manufacturing, and firms such as Ford, Delphi Auto, Bombardier and Johnson & Johnson have invested billions of dollars in major operations within the state.

For the first time in 24 years, a PAN candidate (Mexicos National Action Party), Javier Corral, won the governorship, which was previously held by a series of Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) governors. The PAN also swept 37 municipalities, accounting for 80 percent of the population within the state. This will give the party a strong mandate and a majority in the state legislature. The results handed the PRI its biggest loss ever in Chihuahua.

Many people I spoke to in Chihuahua before the elections were adamant that the PRI party and its gubernatorial candidate, Enrique Serrano, the former mayor of Juarez, were strong enough to be considered a shoo-in. However, the citizens of Chihuahua resoundingly spoke and the PAN emerged victorious.

In Juarez, the states largest city, voters chose neither the PRI or PAN, electing independent candidate Hector Armando Cabada the new mayor. He will now need to build his own political coalition to govern Juarez, which has become its own global industrial center.

Political pundits are having a field day trying to interpret what Chihuahuas election results mean, not only from the standpoint of the voters, but also their potential effect on the ability of the state to continue to grow economically. PAN is traditionally viewed as Mexicos pro-business party, often compared to the Republican Party in the U.S. Many foreign investors will feel comfortable with PAN leadership in Chihuahua. However, historically, when a political party wins a state governorship that is different from the presidents political party in Mexico City, problems in cooperation, coordination and funding can occur. After the results of the governors race became clear, President Enrique Pena Nieto called Corral to congratulate him and offer his support.

While this is a good sign, there will be a microscope on the Chihuahua-Mexico City relationship going forward. Hopefully, Chihuahua is too important an industrial state in Mexico for the old-style tit-for-tat PRI-PAN antagonism to rear its head in any significant form. Mexico has made major strides as a democracy and this should be a positive factor in making the different political groups cooperate for the good of states such as Chihuahua.

In the Chihuahua elections, 54 percent of eligible voters turned out to vote, compared to the 34 percent of eligible voters who voted in the June 7 primaries in my home state of New Mexico. The 34 percent was the highest turnout in a New Mexico primary in 20 years, which had been averaging less than 30 percent during this time period.

I often say that, in Mexico, politics are played for keeps. People believe that by voting they are exercising their power. From 1929 to 2000, Mexico was a nation ruled by one party  the PRI. In most elections during the PRI rule, it could be argued that individual votes did not count as the PRI strong-armed elections and used incentives to make sure that it would win races handily. From 2000 to 2012, the PAN held Mexicos presidency, before handing over power to current President Enrique Pena Nieto and the PRI. The peaceful changes in power during the past 16 years, and the ability for either party to win important offices, tend to empower Mexicans that their vote counts and that they matter in the political process.

In the U.S., our voter turnout has remained low for several decades. Many people feel apathy that their vote wont change anything, the candidates are subpar, or voting is not as important as other daily tasks. Ironically, with technology and early voting, it is easier to vote now than at any time in history. The current controversial U.S. presidential election could actually do some good by increasing voter turnout.

In Chihuahua, the citizens voted for change. We will now need to see how this change is affected by the outcome of the elections in the U.S. and how we interact in the future.

Jerry Pacheco is the executive director of the International Business Accelerator, a nonprofit trade counseling program of the New Mexico Small Business Development Centers Network. He can be reached at 575-589-2200 or at jerry@nmiba.com.
PHOENIX  In 120-degree temperatures, some airplanes might not take off. Power grids strain as the outside air keeps transmission lines from cooling. And for desert dwellers, a cold bottle of water and some shade can mean the difference between life and death.

Parts of the U.S. Southwest, long accustomed to triple-digit temperatures, are preparing for a heat wave.

In Phoenix, the high for Saturday was 111. But meteorologists believe the next two days could be record-breaking. Officials are warning residents the mercury may rise to 120 on Sunday and Monday, approaching the citys record of 122.

If we are going to 115 or 120, people need to realize they are really in a life-threatening situation if they dont wet themselves down and drink water, said Kevin Kalkbrenner, Phoenixs director of homeland security and emergency management.

Excessive heat contributed to 84 deaths in the state last year, officials said in Maricopa County, the states largest. Officials already confirmed this years first heat-related death  an elderly woman who died from heat exposure in her backyard in early June.

Dr. Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, is warning residents to watch for signs of heat illness: thirst, red skin, cramping, exhaustion and a lack of sweat. The agency is telling local officials to prepare for an influx of heat-related illnesses.

The Phoenix parks department is posting extra rangers at hiking trails warning visitors of the dangers and asking them to be off the trails by noon.

Arizonas power companies are prepping extra maintenance crews and securing extra power to keep the cool air blowing, said Jacob Tetlow, general manager of operations with Arizona Public Service Co.

Airlines will be monitoring temperatures as excessive heat can throw off performance calculations preventing planes from taking off, said Polly Tracey, spokeswoman for American Airlines.

Tracey said they may have to have to delay flights until the heat lets up, but officials will have to wait and see before making any decisions.

Arizonas hottest day on record was in 1990 when temperatures hit 122 degrees, said Nancy Selover, state climatologist. Airlines grounded all the flights out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, she said.

Selover said the heat impacts everything from the expansion of the metal tracks along the Valley Metro Rail  though theyre designed to handle it  to cotton crops thirsting for more water, to increasing evaporation on the states lakes and reservoirs.

But the quick jump from moderate to scorching temperatures may have the biggest impact on people, she said.

At Redeemed Outreach Center in downtown Phoenix, volunteers pass out cool water for anyone who walks by, many of whom are homeless.

Were a church so its what God called us to do, said pastor Jerry Savocchio, whose church is one of 50 cooling stations in Maricopa County.

Nearby, Arizonas largest homeless shelter is working to amass 300,000 water bottles to pass out to the homeless over the summer, said J. David Smith, spokesman for Central Arizona Shelter Services.

Our clients are out most of the day, if they are not staying with us regularly they can be out 24 hours a day, said Smith.

But people arent the only ones affected by the heat. Pets walking outside in the daytime can face surface temperatures of 150 to 170 degrees.

If its too hot to walk in your bare feet its too hot to make your dog walk on it, said Melissa Gable, spokeswoman for Maricopa County Animal Care and Control.

Gable advised pet owners to bring pets inside if possible, and to make sure pets have shade and a supply of cool water that wont tip over.
NEW YORK  Wherever you look in this nation born of a bloody revolution of musket fire, chances are theres sharp disagreement over firearms.

Democrats war with Republicans, and small towns are against cities. Women and men are at odds, as are blacks and whites and old and young. North clashes with South, East with West.

The current gun debate is more polarized and sour than any time before in American history, said Adam Winkler, a constitutional law professor at UCLA and author of the 2011 book, Gunfight: The Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms in America.

___

EDITORS NOTE  This story is part of Divided America, APs ongoing exploration of the economic, social and political divisions in American society.

___

In the midst of debate over the latest mass shooting, in Orlando, its easy to imagine that guns have always divided us this way. But a close look at survey data over decades shows they havent.

There was a time, not that long ago, when most citizens favored banning handguns, the chief gun lobbyists supported firearm restrictions, and courts hadnt yet interpreted the Second Amendment as guaranteeing a personal right to bear arms for self-defense at home.

Today, in a country of hundreds of millions of guns, public opinion and interpretation of the law have shifted so much that outright gun bans are unthinkable. Its true that large segments of the public have expressed support for some aspects of gun regulation  but when Americans have been asked to say which is more important, gun control or gun rights, they trend toward the latter.

That shift has come, perhaps surprisingly, as fewer Americans today choose to keep a gun in their home. The General Social Survey, a massive study undertaken by NORC at the University of Chicago since 1972 and one of the foremost authorities on gun ownership, found 31 percent of households had guns in 2014. That was down from a high of 50.4 percent in 1977.

Institutions have repeated, More guns, less crime. More guns, less crime, over and over again for almost 40 years, and its hard to turn that belief around in any easy way, said Joan Burbick, an emeritus professor at Washington State University who wrote Gun Show Nation: Gun Culture and American Democracy and who owns a gun for hobby shooting.

Among the longest-existing measures of public gun sentiment is a Gallup poll question asking whether there should be a law banning handguns except by police and other authorized people. When it was first asked, in July 1959, 60 percent of respondents approved of such a measure.

By last October, only 27 percent agreed.

Many point to a single date as crucial in the societal shift: May 21, 1977, when the National Rifle Association held its annual meeting at a convention hall in Cincinnati.

That was the moment, in one evening, when the gun debate in America radically changed, said Winkler.

The turmoil of the country in the 1960s and 1970s roiled institutions of all kinds, the NRA included. The organization had fought gun laws in the past, but also had come to accept some, including the Gun Control Act of 1968. As the next decade wore on and the NRA entered its second century, it faced an identity crisis: Was it a coalition of sportsmen, or a political powerhouse?

Leaders were set on the former, drawing up plans to move its headquarters from Washington to Colorado and to retreat from politics. Some of its most fiery members disagreed, staging a revolt that night that stretched into the next morning, and remade the groups leadership. Plans for a westward move were scuttled, and a rightward move politically was sealed.

The gun lobbys increasingly powerful voice found receptive ears among a public that witnessed the countrys civil rights battles, assassinations of beloved leaders and growing lawlessness in cities. Over time, statehouses and Congress bowed to the influence of the NRA and its allies. And in 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court finally declared Americans have the right to a gun for self-defense.

What they (gun rights advocates) did is a classic example of how you make constitutional change: They realized they needed to win in the court of public opinion before you could win in the court of law, said Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University and author of The Second Amendment: A Biography.

Pew Research Center data provides a sketch of what the gun-owning populace looks like today:

74 percent of gun owners are men and 82 percent are white.

Those in rural areas are more than twice as likely as urbanites to own a gun.

Ownership rates in the Northeast are lower than in the rest of the country.

Gun owners are far more likely to identify with or lean toward the Republican Party.

Data from GSS shows gun owners are more likely to have higher incomes  and to vote.

Taken together, this is a description of a motivated and politically potent group. But their clout sometimes obscures a simple fact: Though polarization appears in broad questions on gun rights, far more consensus emerges on individual proposals.

A Pew poll released in August showed 85 percent of people support background checks for purchases at gun shows and in private sales; 79 percent support laws to prevent the mentally ill from buying guns; 70 percent approve of a federal database to track gun sales; and 57 percent favor a ban on assault weapons.

The fact is its not divisive. The things that were advocating in the American public, when youre talking about keeping guns out of dangerous hands, we all agree. We all agree on the solutions, said Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and whose brother was severely hurt in a shooting. The only place where this is truly a controversial issue is, tragically and disgracefully, in Congress and in our statehouses across the country.

In the wake of the Orlando shooting that claimed 49 lives, Democrats mounted a 15-hour filibuster in the U.S. Senate to try to break a stalemate on a gun bill  just as attempts to revive legislation have followed other recent mass shootings, though with little effect. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a moderate Republican, likened it to Groundhog Day, while Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat from Florida, said he couldnt see how even the NRA could object to a bill such as the one being considered, to keep those on a terrorist watch list from purchasing guns.

There is little expectation that the Democratic bill will pass. They are accustomed to getting their way around here, Nelson said of the NRA.

The NRA did not respond to an interview request.

Gross sees signs for hope for gun control supporters. Social media, he said, has helped get out a message that his side, for years, struggled to spread against the deep pockets of the gun lobby. The Democratic presidential primary, in which Hillary Clinton made gun control a flagship issue in differentiating herself from Bernie Sanders, showed its not an untouchable political issue. And changing national demographics could further bolster the case of those who favor gun restrictions, because minorities are comprising a larger share of the populace and are less likely to own guns.

Still, this debate remains one of the most toxic in America.

Winkler, the UCLA professor, knows divisiveness. He worked on the defense teams of O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson. His research has prompted impassioned debates on issues from free speech to campaign finance.

Nothing has ever come close to the level of vitriol I have seen with guns, he said. Both sides feel that life and death is at stake.

The fear expressed by many gun owners that the government seeks to confiscate their weapons harkens back to the time of the Constitutions framers. When James Madison first proposed the right to bear arms, Waldman said, it was specifically seen as a right for gun ownership in the service of militias, which were seen as a bulwark against the possible tyranny and risk of overreach from a central government. That rationale for gun ownership still exists among many today.

People were worrying about overreach from Washington when it was George Washington and not Washington, D.C., Waldman said.

___

Associated Press data reporters Larry Fenn and Angeliki Kastanis contributed to this report.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  Orlando gunman Omar Mateen identified himself as an Islamic soldier in calls with authorities during his rampage and demanded to a crisis negotiator that the U.S. stop bombing Syria and Iraq, according to transcripts released by the FBI on Monday.

The partial transcripts were of a 911 call made by Mateen and three conversations he had with the police crisis negotiators during the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, in which 49 people died and dozens were wounded.

Those communications, along with Facebook posts and searches Mateen made around the time of the shootings, add to the public understanding of the final hours of Mateens life and to the possible motivations behind the rampage.

The first call came more than a half-hour after shots rang out, when Mateen told a 911 operator, Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God, he told the dispatcher, referring to God in Arabic.

I let you know, Im in Orlando and I did the shootings.

During the 50-second call with a dispatcher, Mateen made murderous statements in a chilling, calm and deliberate manner, Ronald Hopper, FBI assistant special agent in charge in Orlando, said during a news conference.

However, there is no evidence Mateen was directed by a foreign terrorist group, and he was radicalized domestically and on his own, Hopper said.

Mateens name and the groups and people to whom he pledged allegiance were initially omitted from the excerpt. But the Justice Department reversed course later Monday, providing a more complete transcript confirming Mateen pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State. The extremist group encourages its followers who seek to commit violence in its name to make public pledges of support.

The Justice Department said in a statement it initially withheld the names so as not to give extremists a publicity platform for hateful propaganda, but the omissions became an unnecessary distraction.

Shortly after the call with a 911 operator, Mateen had three conversations with crisis negotiators in which he identified himself as an Islamic soldier and told a negotiator to tell America to stop bombing Syria and Iraq. He said that was why he was out here right now, according to the excerpt.

City officials have refused to provide hundreds of 911 calls to The Associated Press and a coalition of news organizations, citing confidentiality under Florida law, and arguing that an ongoing investigation kept the tapes secret. Hopper also said Monday that the tapes would not be released out of respect for the victims.

Yes, the audio was compelling, but to expose that now would be excruciatingly painful to exploit them in this way, Hopper said.

Hopper also said: Part of redacting is to not give credence to individuals who have done terrorist acts in the past. They are not going to propagate their violent rhetoric.

The AP and others requested the 911 tapes and related data, a common practice after such major events. The recordings could offer insight into how law enforcement responded.

Also at Mondays news conference, Orlando police Chief John Mina said that if any fire from responding officers hit victims at the club, gunman Mateen bears the responsibility. He wouldnt give further details but said: Heres what I will tell you. Those killings are on the suspect, on the suspect alone in my mind. He stressed that the officers acted heroically.

Mina acknowledged that questions have been raised by media outlets and the public about whether Orlando police waited too long after the start of the rampage at 2 a.m. to send in a SWAT team about 5 a.m.

He said an exchange of fire between police and Mateen shortly after 2 a.m. prompted the attacker to retreat into a bathroom and take hostages, shifting the incident from a shooting to a hostage-taking. Mina said there was no additional gunfire for about three hours until the SWAT team entered the building, although survivors have describing at least some firing taking place inside one of the bathrooms.

Surviving hostage Patience Carter, in a live televised interview two days after the attacks, described the attacker firing when he entered the bathroom and more firing when the SWAT team burst into the building.

I think theres this misconception that we didnt do anything for three hours, Mina said. Im trying to clarify: Thats absolutely not true. Our officers were within the club within minutes, exchanging gunfire with the suspect, forced him to stop shooting and retreat into the bathroom.

From there, we let our negotiator take over and try to negotiate this to a peaceful resolution in an effort to save lives while our SWAT team set up, Mina said.

Meanwhile, hospital officials said four people remained in critical condition Monday morning, more than a week after they were wounded in the attack.

Orlando Regional Medical Center said 18 victims from the shooting were still at the hospital and three more surgeries were scheduled for Monday. The other 14 patients are listed in stable condition.

Armed with a semi-automatic weapon, Mateen went on a bloody rampage at the Pulse nightclub June 12. He died in a hail of gunfire after police stormed the venue.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch will travel to Orlando on Tuesday to meet with investigators. She said that a key goal of the investigation was to determine why Mateen targeted the gay community. The victims were predominantly gay and Hispanic since it was Latin night at Pulse.

Around Orlando, people left balloons, flowers, pictures and posters at a makeshift memorial in front of the citys new performing arts center and at Orlando Regional Medical Center where 49 white crosses were emblazoned with red hearts and the names of the victims.

The crosses were built by a Chicago carpenter with a history of constructing crosses for victims of mass shootings. Greg Zanis drove from Illinois to Orlando last week and installed the crosses at the medical center, where many of the 53 shooting victims who survived were taken for treatment.

Dr. Khurshid Ahmed was part of a group of Muslim-Americans at a Sunday vigil attended by tens of thousands who held signs reading, Muslims Condemn Extremism. A letter from the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Republican Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, said Mateen wrote on Facebook that real Muslims will never accept the filthy ways of the West.

Tucker reported from Washington. Alex Sanz in Orlando and Jack Gillum and Sadie Gurman in Washington contributed to this report.

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BIGFOOT, Texas  The worst oil bust since the 1980s is putting Texas and other oil producing states on the hook for thousands of newly abandoned drilling sites at a time when they have little money to plug wells and seal off environmental hazards.

As U.S. rig counts plunge to historic lows, and with at least 60 oil producers declaring bankruptcy since 2014, energy-producing states are confronting both holes in their budgets and potentially leaking ones in the ground. In Texas alone, the roughly $165 million price tag of plugging nearly 10,000 abandoned wells is double the entire budget of the agency that regulates the industry.

The problem is forcing states to get creative: Texas regulators now want taxpayers to cover more of the cleanup, supplementing industry payments. Wyoming and Louisiana are riling drillers with steeper fees. Oklahoma is reshuffling money among agencies in the face of a $1.1 billion state budget shortfall, while regulators also grapple with earthquakes linked to oil and gas activities.

As downtown turns go, this one happened faster and accelerated. It moved downward faster than the big downturn we had in the 80s, said John Graves, a Houston oil consultant. For some people in our industry, its been more intense. Crude prices that peaked above $100 a barrel in 2014 plunged by 60 percent in just six months.

But these responses  if they even wind up working  are still years from meeting the growing backlog of untended wells. Texas officials predict the number of orphaned wells could soar to 12,000, which would be nearly 25 percent more than what regulators cant keep up with now. Landowners, meanwhile, are growing restless with abandoned pump jacks and damage while drillers warn that crackdowns would only put them out of business faster at a time when oil has finally crept from below $30 a barrel to about $50.

Its the magnitude because this bust is so deep. In Wyoming they had a single operator walk away, and instead of it being 5, 10, 20 wells, it was 150, said Bruce Baizel, who monitors oil and gas regulators for the environmental group Earthworks. Its not the small, marginal operators. Youre starting to get into some medium-sized independents walking away from things.

Orphaned wells are potential environmental hazards below ground as well as rusted-out eyesores above. A 2011 report by the multistate Ground Water Protection Council found at least 30 cases of groundwater contamination in Texas caused by orphan wells between 1993 and 2008.

In the Bigfoot Field south of San Antonio, tall stalks of weedy thistle surround dormant wellheads, some stained with crude or leaking fluids. State regulators place a higher priority on bigger hazards.

The problem is not new. Energy-rich states had thousands of orphaned wells on the books for decades, particularly in Texas, where the backlog exceeded 25,000 in the early 2000s before landowners pressured lawmakers to light a fire under state regulators. Landowners are getting antsy again, as the states Republican comptroller, Glenn Hegar, has predicted that a third of oil producers in Texas will go bankrupt this summer.

These landowners are chained to a corpse, said Trey Scott, a managing partner of Trinity Mineral Management, which represents landowners who own thousands of acres in the Texas oil patch. With the state facing an average cost of $17,000 per well, Scott said, If you have those wells, your chances of getting them plugged are slim to none.

Such expenses are normally covered by fees paid by producers, a reliance that Texas regulators say is no longer sufficient as they appeal for more taxpayer funding. Texas hasnt raised the price of required bonds on drillers since 1991, which are as low as $25,000 for smaller operators. Last year, Texas collected $4 million from drillers who abandoned more than 1,500 wells  about a fifth of the cost of plugging all of them. Texas lawmakers wont decide whether to give regulators more money until 2017, while a critical report by the states Sunset Commission in April urged finally hiking bonding rates to protect both the environment and public safety.

Last winter, Louisiana started requiring producers to put up a new bond of $7 for every foot drilled in an attempt to deal with the states roughly 3,000 abandoned wells. After drillers revolted, however, Louisianas Office of Conservation in April suspended the new bonding until August.

The states broke and theyre trying to raise funds however they can, said Dempsey Oil Company owner Jimmy Dempsey, an operator in northwest Louisiana. It doesnt take a genius to fill a well with concrete.
Associated press

NEW YORK  On a Friday evening almost a year ago, the White House was awash in rainbow-colored lights, celebrating the momentous Supreme Court ruling that led to nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage. Across the country, gays and lesbians embraced and partied and in some cases scrambled to arrange cant-wait-another-day weddings.

Love Wins! was the catchphrase of the moment.

Since that ruling last June 26, same-sex marriage has been widely accepted as the law of the land, with only small pockets of defiance. Yet it has not been a year for LGBT-rights activists to bask in triumph, as starkly underscored by the June 12 attack that killed 49 patrons and staff at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

Were still living with this random violence that can strike at any time, said Ken Darling, owner of a gay bar in Minneapolis. We had the White House lit up with colors, the Supreme Court finally acknowledges our right to marry, and at the same time this kind of stuff can happen.

In the aftermath of the attack, some conservative leaders have expressed a new degree of empathy for LGBT Americans  raising the question of whether the massacre could change the political equation on LGBT rights the way the 1963 Birmingham, Ala., church bombing and other acts of violence against blacks helped change the course of the civil rights movement. Thus far, however, theres been no rush by Republican politicians to back a pending LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination bill in Congress or to enact state-level versions of that bill in the many states, including Florida, that lack such protections.

Even before the Orlando attack, LGBT gains were being challenged by many of the social conservatives who had opposed same-sex marriage. They have asserted that religious freedom is threatened by various legal advances for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and they are trying to prevent transgender people from accessing public bathrooms and locker rooms on the basis of their gender identity.

Indeed, the Love Wins! slogan of a year ago has a blunt successor: We Just Need To Pee.

LGBT-rights groups are playing both defense and offense, city by city and state by state. Theyre working to persuade more jurisdictions to broaden nondiscrimination protections, while fending off lawsuits and legislation by their opponents that threaten to weaken such protections.

Theres no question that momentum is on our side for equality, said Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign. But theres no question our opponents are working harder than they ever have before to roll back our rights where they can.

Among the conservative groups engaged in multiple lawsuits is the Arizona-based Alliance Defending Freedom. Earlier this year it lost a bid to overturn a $13,000 fine against an upstate New York couple who, citing their religious beliefs, did not want two lesbians married at their wedding venue.

Kristen Waggoner, the alliances senior vice president of legal advocacy, said such cases reflect bullying tactics by gay-rights supporters.

The Supreme Court decision has sharply increased the polarization of our culture, she said. Its not just about marriage. Its about silencing any dissent, and basically ridding our culture and marketplace of those who disagree.

Still a big battle

In hindsight, the spread of same-sex marriage came relatively swiftly after Massachusetts became the first state to legalize it in 2004. By the time of the Supreme Court ruling, gay marriages were taking place in 37 states as a result of lower court orders, referendums or legislative action.

Since last June, however, the pace of gay-rights advances has been sporadic. There are still 28 states that do not cover gays and lesbians in their statewide nondiscrimination laws. Efforts to change that in Pennsylvania stalled in the Republican-controlled legislature; in Indiana there are plans for a study committee to look into the matter.

From the other side, about 200 bills were introduced in state legislatures this year that would have curtailed LGBT rights in some way, according to the Human Rights Campaign. The vast majority of these measures were shelved, defeated or vetoed, but a few have created a furor after being signed into law.

North Carolinas legislature passed a law limiting protections for LGBT people and requiring transgender people to use public bathrooms corresponding to the sex on their birth certificate. Mississippi passed a law allowing certain government employees and businesspeople to cite their religious beliefs as grounds for denying some services to LGBT people.

Both those measures have prompted strong counteraction.

The Mississippi law is already the target of three federal court lawsuits. North Carolinas law has sparked wide protests by activists, businesses and entertainers. Bruce Springsteen was among many performers canceling concerts in the state, and Pay-Pal dropped plans to open a new global operations center in Charlotte.

The ultimate goal for LGBT-rights activists is to win passage of a sweeping federal nondiscrimination law, the Equality Act, which would extend basic civil-rights protections to gays, lesbians and transgender people. At present, the measure has no chance of passage due to minimal Republican support; activists are hopeful they can win court rulings that would accomplish some of the goals of the proposed act.

Marriage support up

As for same-sex marriage, national support for it is at an all-time high of 61 percent, up slightly from a year earlier, according to a Gallup poll released in May. In 20 years of Gallups polling on the topic, it marked the first time a majority of Americans 65 and older joined other age groups in backing legal gay marriage.

Its impossible to calculate how many same-sex marriages have taken place as a result of the court ruling, but its certainly in six digits. Gallup calculated last November that there were about 486,000 same-sex marriages in the U.S.  96,000 of them occurring in the four months after the ruling came down.

In the 13 states where same-sex marriage remained banned until that ruling, there were many gay and lesbian couples who had waited for years for the chance to be wed in their home states  forgoing the option of getting married elsewhere.

A Dallas couple, Patti Fink and Erin Moore, married on April 1, the 15th anniversary of their first date. Moore, 51, is executive assistant to a county commissioner; Fink, 54, is president of the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance and co-host of a weekly radio show.

They feel comfortable in Dallas, which has a sizable LGBT community, and are somewhat amused that the states powerful conservative forces can no longer block couples like themselves from marrying.

They want to treat us like they always treated us, but they cant anymore, said Moore. Its fun to watch their heads explode trying to think of some new way to discriminate against us.
Hot weather met and shattered heat records in Albuquerque and several cities across the state Sunday, meteorologists said.

National Weather Service meteorologist Jennifer Palucki said theres potential for more record-breaking heat Monday.

In the coming days, yes, were still expecting it to be quite hot, Palucki said. Especially tomorrow across central and western New Mexico, there will be a few areas that may tie or break records again.

Albuquerque temperatures reached 103 degrees, the hottest its been on June 19 since 1989, Palucki said. She said its less likely that Albuquerque will meet or surpass Mondays record. The June 20 record is 102 degrees, but meteorologists are expecting a high of 97.

It might be just shy, she said.

The Gallup and Santa Fe airports both reached new records Sunday, as did Aztec Ruins National Monument. Gallup reached 98 degrees, beating the previous record of 95 degrees; Aztec Ruins National Monument also saw 102 degrees, breaking its 100 degree record.

Santa Fe hit 102 degrees, up from the previous 97 degree record for June 19. And Palucki said that although there are gaps in the period of record for Santa Fe, 102 ties the City Differents all-time high record, set June 27, 2013.

Matching records were Farmington, at 99 degrees, and Grants, at 98 degrees.

Palucki said the hot weather will taper off a bit on Tuesday, through it will stay warm throughout the week.

Were still talking 90s plus, she said. Truthfully, its going to be hot all week long, and there will be potential for records to be broken each day at varying locations across the state.
FOR THE RECORD: This op-ed incorrectly stated the owners of the Gold King mine are among the defendants named in a lawsuit filed by the state of New Mexico over the mine spill. New Mexico is suing the owners of an adjacent mine in addition to the EPA and its contractor.

Normally the Environmental Protection Agency wastes no time in bringing the cudgel of the Clean Water Act to bear against companies whose negligence leads to environmental damage, but apparently the agency dedicated to guarding against health risks and protecting the environment is making exceptions. For the EPA, the degree of punishment and compensation required for causing an environmental catastrophe depends on the guilty party.

Consider the aftermath of the Gold King Mine spill in Colorado last year. The flooded mine was struck open by an EPA contractor, releasing 3 million gallons of wastewater contaminated with heavy metals like mercury and lead. The deluge turned the Animas River a bright brown-orange and disrupted wildlife, agriculture and local water supplies in neighboring states. Ten months later, the EPA has been remarkably lackadaisical in its response.

In response to the EPAs light-handedness, the state of New Mexico has filed a lawsuit against the EPA, Environmental Restoration (the federal contractor responsible) and the owners of an adjacent mine, contending the defendants violated multiple laws.

Court documents assert that Environmental Restorations negligence, gross negligence and intentional misconduct caused or contributed to the release of hazardous substances from the mines, thus rendering them liable for the spill. Its not far-fetched. A report from the House Natural Resources Committee earlier this year found the agency may have violated multiple federal laws.

So whats the key difference between the Gold King spill and other environmental catastrophes over the past several decades? The EPAs response.

In 1994, the supervisor of a backhoe operator in Alaska  who unintentionally struck an oil pipeline, which in turn led to several thousand gallons of oil spilling into the Skagway River  was sentenced under the Clean Water Act to six months in prison and six months in a halfway house. Just last year, Duke Energy was fined $102 million for environmental crimes under the Clean Water Act and placed on probation for five years after three subsidiaries of the electrical utility company were accused of polluting four North Carolina rivers with coal ash.

The Clean Water Act is the EPAs favorite method of punishing companies that wreak havoc on the environment, even unintentionally, and of bringing justice to the people and communities harmed. But when the agency found itself the guilty culprit at Gold King, it responded by downplaying the extent of the damages, claiming the Animas Rivers conditions were trending toward pre-event conditions, and leaving communities to bear the brunt of the cost. Court documents, the congressional report, and numerous news reports have found the EPA continues to understate the personal and environmental costs of the spill by claiming the river is safe without thoroughly testing the drinking water.

Theres a double standard here, and the hypocrisy is heightened by the words of EPA Regional Director Shaun McGrath, who said shortly after the spill that the agency would hold to the same standard that [it] would anyone that would have created this situation.

No one at the EPA has been charged for criminal negligence under the Clean Water Act or punished in any way.

Duane Chili Yazzie, a Navajo farmer and activist, captures the disappointment and frustration of the victims of the Gold King disaster in his poem Yellow River: Corn are thirsty and dying, damn the EPA, damn the government, damn the industry!

Though Yazzies rhetoric is harsh, the poem highlights how agencies that are allegedly committed to serving the people are often motivated by their own self-interests or political agenda instead. The EPA is the last entity that should be turning a blind eye to environmental travails of minorities like New Mexicos Native population. Its a shame that it will take a lawsuit from a state, one of the few entities with enough clout and resources to mount a formidable challenge, to force the agency to take full responsibility for its actions.

Nicole Neily is president of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, a nonprofit that publishes public-interest journalism at Watchdog.org.
Sometimes its hard to imagine life without oppression when its all Ive ever known. It seems like the only time I have sovereignty is when private companies want to build a casino or a power plant on my land. All of a sudden they have concern for my rights.

Roughly 60 percent of PNMs energy is derived from coal-fired power plants. The coal for these plants is mined from beneath Navajo feet. The smoke from these plants fills Navajo lungs. The 5 billion gallons of water used annually to operate the Four Corners Power Plant alone is sucked from Navajo aquifers.

And yet, the electricity and revenue from these plants never seems to reach Navajo homes. One third of our people lack electricity, even when the power lines drift overhead for miles on end. Our average median family income is $7,200, while in the meantime the top five PNM executives make more than $9 million per year. How can this be?

To be honest, even if this coal-fired money and electricity were made available to me  a Dine woman with roots in Church Rock, N.M.  I wouldnt want it. A Hunkpapa Lakota elder named Leroy Comes Last once told me: All these resources that are taken out  like your oil, coal, uranium  the Creator put them there for a purpose. And they take them out without realizing what the purpose is all about. The way Creator designed it, thats the way we like it. Every human being has a purpose: every plant, every rock, every animal. They all have a purpose.

Reflecting on his words, I realize my people not only survived, but thrived, in this harsh desert for tens of thousands of years without coal mining. We understood and we embodied the fact that what Creator gave us was enough.

And now, PNM wishes to push another rate case through the Public Regulation Commission. This case, which would lock New Mexico customers into payments for a 15-year, $580 million coal contract, would also usher more expensive, toxic nuclear power from Palo Verde Nuclear Station into our energy system. As Dine people, we know the hardship of uranium mining and enrichment, and we live with its horrific legacy still today.

This rate case also proposes to more than double the fixed residential fee. Why would we do this when there are cheaper and less destructive energy technologies at hand? The answer to this question is simple: PNM proposes these rate hikes because they purchased expensive energy from obsolete sources and now they want New Mexicans to foot the bill.

In fact, because of the way the regulatory system is set up, for every dollar they spend as a company, they earn that dollar back through rate hikes like this, plus 11.4 percent of that dollar on top as a return on equity. This backward system actually encourages PNM to spend more on energy and evade cheaper, less destructive and maintenance-free renewable energy solutions. Again, this is because the more they invest, the more they get back from us. Why dont we have a system that protects us from overspending and environmental degradation?

It would be a disservice, not only to ourselves, but to the morality of PNM leadership, if we allowed them to fleece us once again. There is no amount of gold, no amount of shareholder value, no nice house or fancy car that is worth ones honor. And so, not only for the sake of our people, our land and our children, but also for the sake of our dear relatives at PNM headquarters, who risk losing their very honor, we must refuse this.

Sometimes it is hard to imagine a world without oppression if that is all you have ever known. But the times are changing. We dont have to live like this anymore. With the global community behind us, we can stand up to this oppression, create viable alternatives and throw off the yoke of PNMs incessantly irresponsible, climate-altering behavior. Reject the rate case. Invest in renewables.

Lyla June Johnston is a Dine/Tsetsehestahese (Navajo/Cheyenne) poet, musician, anthropologist and community organizer with a degree in Environmental Anthropology from Stanford University. She is currently earning a masters degree in American Indian Education from the University of New Mexico.
Its a sweet little gun, Martin Bryant said of his AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle when being interrogated by police. Twenty years ago, on April 28, 1996, Martin took that gun and committed a massacre in the Australian state of Tasmania. Over 24 hours, in what became known as the Port Arthur Massacre, he killed 35 people and injured 23 more. The violence and senselessness of the act, the largest massacre in Australias post-colonial history, so shocked that nation that, within 12 days, comprehensive gun control legislation was agreed upon. There has not been another mass shooting in Australia since. Which brings us to Orlando, Fla., and another semi-automatic weapon.

About 10 days before he committed the single largest shooting massacre in modern U.S. history, Omar Mateen walked into the St. Lucie Shooting Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and bought an AR-style semi-automatic rifle and a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol. He passed the background check that every single person that purchases a firearm in the state of Florida undergoes, store owner Ed Henson told the press. Mateen was a U.S. citizen with a state-issued Florida photo ID permitting him to carry guns. He walked into Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, on Latin Night and opened fire. Forty-nine people were killed and more than 50 were injured.

In America, the background check consists of, usually, looking at a computer to see if someone has a criminal conviction. Thats not a background check, Rebecca Peters of the International Action Network on Small Arms told us on the Democracy Now! news hour. In New York City, if you want to apply to rent an apartment, if you want to apply to go to university, theres a background check. The authorities talk to people who know you. They ask their opinion of you. And, similarly, in Australia and most other developed countries, a background check consists of asking for references  your family doctor, talking to your spouse or your previous spouse, asking, Is there any concern?'

A more comprehensive background check on Omar Mateen might have exposed details, such as how he abused his first wife, Sitora Yusufiy, so severely that she left him after just four months of marriage. Or that Dan Gilroy, one of his co-workers at the security company Mateen worked at, G4S, felt that Mateen was unhinged, unstable and full of rage, a racist and a homophobe, as he told ABC News. Yet reports are that Mateen was seen at Pulse on numerous occasions and used gay dating apps. Mateen, a New York-born U.S. citizen, the son of Afghan immigrants, was investigated twice by the FBI for potential terrorist sympathies or statements. Yet he bought two powerful semi-automatic weapons with no problem.

In the wake of Australias Port Arthur Massacre, Rebecca Peters led the national fight for gun control. We had had a campaign for about 10 years at that time to reform the gun laws, which were weak in some states and it was a patchwork across the country, as it is in the U.S., she told us. In April of 96, this tragedy occurred  at that moment, our prime minister said: This is the time. After all this prevaricating, were going to do something.' The Australian prime minister at the time was conservative John Howard.

Peters went on: A crucial part of the new laws is proper checking of the background of people who are applying to have guns. Its not only domestic violence, its also depression and alcohol abuse, and many other factors can make a person at risk of violence, not to mention people who have  who are vehemently racist or resentful.

Guns are still legal in Australia, since, as Peters said, the self-image of Australia is often sort of an outdoor guy on a horse with a gun type of thing, not too dissimilar from the traditional image of Americans. In fact, iconic Crocodile Dundee Australian men supported the ban on semi-automatic weapons, arguing that real men didnt need such weapons to survive in the Outback. Australia now has serious background checks and semi-automatic weapons are illegal. When the law was passed, owners of guns like the AR-15 were legally compelled to sell them to the government, after which the weapons were destroyed.

U.S. Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Conn., launched a filibuster, vowing to speak, he said, for as long as I can to force a debate on gun control. Four years ago, he was in the U.S. House. Twenty schoolchildren and six adults were massacred at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in his district. The killer, Adam Lanza, used an AR-style semi-automatic weapon there, as James Holmes did in his shooting spree in the Aurora movie theater in Colorado earlier that year.

These weapons would have been illegal under an assault weapons ban that Congress let expire over a decade ago. We need a ban on semi-automatic guns, which are no more than weapons of mass destruction designed to efficiently kill as many people as possible.

Amy Goodman is the host of Democracy Now!, a daily international TV/radio news hour airing on more than 900 stations in North America. Distributed by King Features Syndicate.
Copyright  2016 Albuquerque Journal

Accused murderer Charles Robinson was released from jail last October after the

District Attorneys Office failed to order DNA tests needed to prosecute his case.

Since his release, Robinson has been implicated in four new cases and now faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault.

The mother of the man police say Robinson shot and killed remains bitter about his release and said she was stunned to learn that he had been arrested in connection with another violent crime.

I was furious, absolutely livid, said Joy Melancon from her home in Louisiana.

Her son, Thomas Manuel, 25, was shot to death in Tijeras in May 2014 after sheriffs deputies say he and Robinson, 38, had an altercation at a friends house.

Robinson was arrested a couple weeks after the shooting, but more than a year later, the DAs Office had yet to order tests on his DNA.

With Robinsons trial only 40 days away and without DNA evidence or cooperative witnesses, prosecutors agreed to drop charges against Robinson with an option to refile.

In court records and statements to the Journal, the District Attorneys Office cited a couple of factors for the delay in testing the DNA, including an oversight by a staff member. And District Attorney Kari Brandenburg pointed to new speedy trial rules issued by the Supreme Court as a factor in the dismissal.

The District Attorneys Office said the DNA was critical because it would prove that Robinson was at the scene of the crime. The only eye witness, who originally named Robinson as the shooter, later refused to testify, according to court transcripts.

Several delays

After the deadly shooting on May 23, 2014, deputies say Robinson fled the state. He was arrested a couple of weeks later in Wyoming and extradited to Bernalillo County in December 2014.

In mid-August 2015, the state asked Robinsons DNA be taken with a cheek swab, a move his attorney opposed, saying if prosecutors wanted his DNA they should have taken it earlier.

The state has chosen not to attempt to obtain these standards for eight months, said attorney Randy Chavez. Defendant contends that the standards are being requested in an attempt to gather additional evidence in an otherwise weak case.

Chavez didnt return calls for comment.

It is unclear from court records why the District Attorneys Office waited so long before collecting Robinsons DNA, and a spokesman for the office did not respond to questions about the delay.

The judge granted the order and deputies collected Robinsons DNA on Sept. 3, 2015.

Then there was another delay, and this time the judge did not side with the prosecution.

At a motion hearing nearly two months after Robinsons swabs were taken, Assistant District Attorney Kara Kupper told the court that her office had yet to order tests on those samples.

I asked my paralegal to order the DNA from the defendants buccal (cheek swab) that the court ordered be taken, and I asked her to do that the first week of September, Kupper said, according to a transcript of the Oct. 28 hearing. Because of an oversight on her part, she did not get that done.

Given the rapidly approaching trial date, which was about 40 days away, Judge Alisa Hadfield asked Kupper if she would prefer to exclude all scientific evidence from the case or have the charges against Robinson dismissed without prejudice, meaning the case can be refiled at any time.

Kupper agreed to having the charges dismissed.

Hadfield filed an order dismissing the case due to the states failure to provide scientific evidence by the deadline in the scheduling order and the states uncooperative eyewitness.

Robinson was released from jail eight hours later.

In response to questions about the oversight in seeking DNA tests, Brandenburg stated that the case might have had a different outcome if new orders had not been in place aimed at speedier trials.

Racking up charges

About six months later, William Martinez, 33, was shot and killed during an argument in his friends Southeast Albuquerque apartment.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, Robinson was in the apartment when his cousin allegedly shot and killed Martinez.

The man who lived in the apartment told detectives that he jumped out the window and saw Robinson pointing a gun at him and shooting as he ran away. He wasnt hit.

Robinson was indicted on aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon.

The charges are one of several he has picked up since his release from jail last year.

In February, Robinson was charged with possession of burglary tools.

A couple months later, he was charged with racketeering and 20 counts of forgery for his part in a fake tax scheme in March, according to online court records.

In mid-May, while in jail for the aggravated assault case, deputies say Robinson was one of as many as 43 inmates who threw towels over security cameras and blocked all exits and entrances to the recreation yard while three inmates attacked a corrections officer. He was charged with assault by a prisoner, conspiracy and unlawful assault on a jail.

Mother keeps watch

Melancon said she is hopeful the new charges against Robinson will lead to his conviction.

Just make sure all the is are dotted this time and the ts are crossed, she said.

Melancon said that, since Robinson was released last year, she has been following him on Facebook and keeps in touch with his estranged mother and half brother.

I felt the need (to keep track of him) because I was upset by it, she said. He gets to spend time with his children, he got to be home for Thanksgiving, and he got to be home for Christmas, when my son couldnt be.

Save
Homicide detectives are investigating after a man was found dead of a gunshot wound in the middle of a quiet, well-maintained Northeast Albuquerque neighborhoods cul-de-sac early Monday.

Albuquerque police spokesman Tanner Tixier said its likely that the shooting happened elsewhere and someone dumped the mans body on Casa Feliz NE, a neighborhood southeast ofWyoming and Academy. But detectives continue to investigate and had not learned where the original scene of the crime was Monday morning.

Police have released very few details about the case.

Spokesman Fred Duran said early Monday morning that a man called 911 around 2 a.m. saying that his friend had been shot. Duran initially refused to say where the body was found, saying officers didnt want people to think the crime had occurred in that neighborhood.

Tixier later confirmed the body was found on Casa Feliz NE.

Detectives interviewed the man who called police, but its unclear whether he is a suspect in the case or whether he was detained or released.

Later Monday, Tixier said nobody was in custody to his knowledge, but said he didnt have any recent information on the investigation.

Neighbors said the area was relatively quiet, with some break-ins, but not much violent crime.

Its so foreign to us for something like that to happen on our street, said Jessie Tipton, 20, who grew up in a home there. Ive lived here my entire life and nothing like this has ever happened, not that I know of. Its kind of disturbing, but this is typically a safe place.
A key spending bill headed for a Senate floor vote contains an extra $600 million for fighting wildfires next years, according to Sen. Tom Udalls office.

Udall, a New Mexico Democrat who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, convinced his colleagues to include the extra money in the Interior Department spending bill late last week as the 12,000-acre Dog Head Fire raged in the Manzano Mountains south of Albuquerque.

More than 900 firefighters were on site Sunday night helping to suppress the blaze, which during its six-day tear through the Manzano Mountains has charred 17,891 acres and destroyed 24 homes along with 21 minor structures, according to a Sunday night update posted on the federal Incident Information System. An update released Saturday night reported that the fire had burned through 17,615 acres.

In New Mexico right now, we can see the devastating toll wildfires take  they are just as dangerous and damaging as hurricanes are on the East and Gulf coasts, and we should treat them that way. And this bill  with my amendment  finally allows us to do that, Udall said after the markup. Were finally putting the emphasis in the right place  on protecting people and homes, giving our firefighters the resources they need, and providing certainty for land managers and everyone who depends on our forests.

The bill approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee late last week contains $661 million, including $490 million for the U.S. Forest Service and $171 million for the U.S. Department of the Interior, bringing the total for wildfire suppression to $2.304 billion, equal to the amount requested by the White House.

Udalls office said his amendment means the government wont have to borrow from other accounts and programs if the cost of fighting fires in FY 17 exceeds historical budget estimates, as has been the case over the last several years.

Although the committee included his wildfire request, Udall said he chose to vote against the bill because it included too many provisions that would weaken clean air and water laws and gut protections for endangered species. Udall offered an amendment to strip the so-called riders related to environmental protection, but the measure failed in the Republican-controlled committee.

This bill funds critically important priorities in New Mexico  including my amendment to keep our communities safe from wildfires  so Im extremely disappointed that I was unable to support the full bill, Udall said.
FARMINGTON  How a 1.9 million-acre parcel in southeast Utah dotted with archaeological and historical sites is managed has been a source of contention for years. Now, with less than one year left of Barack Obamas presidency, multiple groups have petitioned him to declare the land  known as the Bears Ears region  a national monument.

The latest push comes from a group of more than 700 archaeologists who have signed a letter to the president asking him to create a national monument if Congress does not pass a bill adequately protecting the areas fragile archaeological sites.

The monument proponents cite looting and vandalism as a reason to create the national monument. But San Juan County (Utah) Commissioner Phil Lyman argues that those issues are minimal, considering the large amount of land involved.

Archaeologist Bill Lipe said he wants to see the region protected, whether through national monument designation or through congressional action. Two congressmen have drafted a bill to protect 1.1 million acres in the Bears Ears region. The main difference between the proposals is that the draft bill works to balance economic development and preservation while the monument status would be more oriented toward preservation, Lipe said.

Either approach would be better than whats out there now, he said.

The land is currently managed by multiple agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service. Lipe said the agencies have not been able to adequately protect the sites because of a lack of funding.

They do a good job with limited resources, he said.

The BLM has teamed up with Friends of Cedar Mesa, a conservation-oriented nonprofit organization, to create a monetary reward system for information leading to prosecution of looters and vandals of the archaeological sites. People can call the BLM Resource Protection Hotline in Utah at 1-800-722-3998 to report damage, according to a BLM press release.

Lyman said a national monument designation for the area could spur additional tourism in San Juan County, which already benefits from tourism generated by a national monument. The Natural Bridges National Monument, located west of Blanding, Utah, attracted nearly 95,000 visitors in 2015.

The truth is national monuments are potentially really great things, Lyman said.

But he said he is concerned about how the land would be managed.

My gripe is more with the federal agency that would be entrusted with management, Lyman said.

Lyman was referring to the BLM, which is one of the agencies identified in the proposal to cooperatively manage the monument. Lyman has clashed with the BLM in the past and was convicted of trespassing and conspiracy in December in connection with leading a protest ATV ride on a closed trail.

Lyman said the movement to create a national monument should come from the local area. Many of the residents of San Juan County, including a group of Navajo residents, have opposed the proposal. In January, a group of Utah Navajo expressed their opposition to the proposed national monument during the Navajo Nation Council session in Window Rock, Ariz.

Lyman said local residents have supported the Natural Bridges National Monument. In the 1960s, local groups, including the County Commission, campaigned to extend the boundaries of the Natural Bridges National Monument. That expansion, which was approved in 1962, more than doubled the size of the national monument and brought sites like the Bear Ladder Ruin and a collapsed natural bridge known as Fallen Monarch into the boundaries of the Natural Bridges National Monument.

We are the most sensitive to the area, Lyman said. Its our backyards.

The proposed Bears Ears National Monument would include the current Natural Bridges National Monument. Archaeologists say the national monument designation would provide more protection from looters, especially commercial looters.

The dry climate, and sheltered canyons and alcoves of the area have preserved many of the archaeological sites, allowing people to essentially look in on the houses of people who lived there 800 years ago, Lipe said.

While an archaeologist follows a set of rules and documents even small items while exploring such a site, looters dig specifically to find certain items, he said.

A looter can go through a site that would take an archaeologist weeks if not months to go through in a day, Lipe said.

Other people pick up artifacts while having picnics or exploring canyons, he said.

These archaeological sites, these artifacts, are the footprints of our people, said Leigh Kuwanwisiwma, director of the Cultural Preservation Office for the Hopi Tribe, in a press release from the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center. We do not see these sites as ruins or as being abandoned. The spirits of our ancestors still inhabit the Bears Ears. When these sites are looted or damaged, not only our history but our future is disrespected.

In the letter to Obama, archaeologists state that there have been several dozen incidents of looting and vandalism in the past two years. Friends of Cedar Mesa cites several incidents of damage to cultural sites, including a petroglyph partially removed in January from a wall near Bluff, Utah; rock art vandalized in March, a fire ring built in March using rocks from an archaeological site and a wall at another site being knocked over, possibly by a cow, about two years ago.

Any incident is a problem  even cows knocking over a wall is a problem, Lyman said.

An email that San Juan County Sheriff Rick Eldredge sent to county commissioners in May reported that, since 2011, there have been four documented thefts and 11 reports of vandalism.

Eldredge informed commissioners of two criminal cases involving excavation or removal of archaeological resources.

With tens of thousands of sites within our 8,000-square-mile county, I would say that the looting is extremely minimal, Eldredge told commissioners in the email. In comparison, if law enforcement stops tens of thousands of cars over 8,000 square miles and only comes up with two drunk drivers, I would say that drunk driving was not a problem.

Hannah Grover covers Aztec and Bloomfield, as well as general news, for The Daily Times. She can be reached at 505-564-4652.



2016 The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.)

Visit The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) at www.daily-times.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

_____
SAN DIEGO  An FBI veteran was named Monday to head the U.S. Border Patrol, a departure from the historical practice of picking someone who has risen through the ranks.

Mark Morgan, who briefly led the internal affairs department at the Border Patrols parent agency, will oversee a multibillion-dollar annual budget at the agency in the crosshairs of the national debate about border security and immigration.

His selection doesnt reflect lack of confidence in the Border Patrols leadership or performance, said Customs and Border Protection Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske. He said nearly all federal law enforcement agencies, from the Coast Guard to the Drug Enforcement Administration, had outsiders take over at one time.

In the case of the Border Patrol, the current leadership across the top, from headquarters to the field, consists of the finest group of men and women that I have worked with in my more than 40 years in law enforcement, Kerlikowske wrote in a memo to staff.

Morgan, 50, is no stranger to the Border Patrol. In 2014, the FBI loaned him to Customs and Border Protection to serve as acting assistant commissioner for internal affairs. He oversaw an extensive review of complaints of excessive use of force and employee misconduct.

The National Border Patrol Council, which represents 18,000 agents, said it was disappointed the commissioner passed over several highly qualified internal candidates, ending what it called a 92-year tradition of choosing a leader from within that dates back to the agencys creation.

The Border Patrol has a unique mission that is reflected in its culture and we realize it will be difficult for an outsider to quickly gain the trust and respect of his subordinates, the union said. We hope that Chief Morgan will quickly overcome this hurdle.

Advocacy groups that have criticized the Border Patrol and its parent agency over use-of-force practices were generally positive on the appointment but said Morgan had work cut out for him.

During his 2014 stint at Customs and Border Protection, Morgan acted with independence and integrity that promise to serve the agency well in his new role, said Chris Rickerd, policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union Washington legislative office.

Morgans challenge will be to foster trust in border communities still suffering painful memories of an era when Border Patrol imposed no accountability for numerous abuses, Rickerd said.

Morgan is currently an assistant FBI chief who leads the training division. He joined the FBI as an agent in Los Angeles in 1996 and has held various positions, including head of its El Paso, Texas, office.

Marks outstanding investigative work and leadership have been an incredible asset to the FBI, and he will be missed, FBI Director James Comey said.

Morgan replaces Michael Fisher, who retired in 2015 after five years on the job. Ronald Vitiello, who was deputy chief under Fisher, has been serving as interim chief. Morgans appointment is not subject to congressional approval.

The appointment may be one of the last significant acts by Kerlikowske as commissioner of the nations largest law enforcement agency. Commissioners are typically replaced when presidential administrations change.

The former Seattle police chief said he considered applicants from within and outside the Border Patrol.
(c) 2016, The Washington Post.

WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court ruled Monday that courts need not suppress evidence of a crime even if the arresting police officer used unlawful tactics to obtain it. The decision prompted fierce dissents from three of the courts liberals.

The court voted 5 to 3 to reverse a decision of the Utah Supreme Court that threw out the drug possession evidence seized from Edward Strieff in 2006. The majority agreed South Salt Lake police officer Douglas Fackrell did not have reasonable suspicion to stop Strieff. But once Fackrell radioed in and found there was an outstanding warrant on Strieff for a traffic violation, his search that turned up the drugs was legitimate.

While Officer Fackrells decision to initiate the stop was mistaken, his conduct thereafter was lawful, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the majority. He said the intervening discovery of the warrant meant that the search that discovered the drugs was allowed.

Justice Stephen Breyer joined the courts conservatives in the majority.

But Breyers fellow liberals, Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, each wrote blistering dissents, and each was joined by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

The court today holds that the discovery of a warrant for an unpaid parking ticket will forgive a police officers violation of your Fourth Amendment rights, Sotomayor wrote.

And writing only for herself and drawing on her professional experiences, Sotomayor added that unlawful stops have severe consequences much greater than the inconvenience suggested by the name. She said that minorities are more likely to be the subjects of such stops, and thus to be treated as second-class citizens.

Sotomayor wrote: By legitimizing the conduct that produces this double consciousness, this case tells everyone, white and black, guilty and innocent, that an officer can verify your legal status at any time.

Kagan said Fackrells actions were far from a Barney Fife-type mishap, referring to the incompetent deputy for The Andy Griffith Show. She and Sotomayor noted that there are millions of outstanding warrants for Americans on minor charges that could be used as justification for seizures.

Without specifically addressing the dissents, Thomas wrote that there was no evidence that the officers actions were more than negligence. If there was reason to believe that the police department used outstanding warrants to create a dragnet situation, the outcome could be different, Thomas wrote.

Fackrell in December 2006 was checking out an anonymous tip that a house was being used for drug sales. He watched the house for about three hours over the course of a week.

At some point, Fackrell decided he would question the next person he saw leave the house, which was Strieff. Fackrell explained his purposes and asked Strieff for identification. He called in the information and found there was a warrant for Strieffs arrest on a minor traffic violation. He arrested Strieff, searched him and found drugs.

The discovery of the arrest warrant attenuated the connection between the unlawful stop and the evidence seized from Strieff incident to arrest, Thomas wrote. Besides Breyer, he was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Anthony Kennedy and Samuel Alito.

The case is Utah v. Strieff.

scotus-cops

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Keywords: courts
Dions is boosting its presence in New Mexicos second-largest city.

The Albuquerque-based pizzeria chain has announced plans for another Las Cruces location, its second in the market. The new restaurant at the intersection of El Paseo and Idaho should open by fall, according to a news release.

Thats about a mile away from the New Mexico State University campus.

Its even closer to Las Cruces High School.

It marks store No. 22 for the chain, which continues its steady growth within the region. Dions opened its first Denver-area location last fall, and also has stores in West Texas.

The new Las Cruces site will reflect the companys new look  an interior design currently seen only at the Denver-area and newest Lubbock stores, according to Codi Coulter, Dions communications coordinator.

It will employ about 70 people.

Dions first expanded to Las Cruces in 2005, Coulter said.

Our current Las Cruces location has been greatly successful, and many fans have expressed interest in a location closer to the University, CEO Mark Herman said in a statement.
DEA agents arrested two men and a woman and seized a total of nine pounds of methamphetamine and 1.73 pounds of heroin in separate arrests at the Greyhound Bus station in Downtown Albuquerque on Friday.

The three, all from Arizona, made their initial appearances in federal court Monday on separate criminal complaints. They remain in custody pending preliminary hearings and detention hearings, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a news release.

Antonio Manuel Hernandez, 26, of Phoenix was arrested after agents allegedly found him with 5.6 pounds of methamphetamine. According to the criminal complaint, Hernandez had bundles containing meth strapped around his abdomen that were concealed by his clothing.

Toni Baldonado, 23, of Tucson was arrested after DEA agents allegedly found her in possession of 3.4 pounds of meth. The criminal complaint said the drugs were concealed in the lining of her purse.

In the third criminal complaint, agents say Johnathan Jacob Rios, 28, of Phoenix was arrested after DEA agents found that he had concealed 1.73 pounds of heroin inside his jeans.

The three cases were investigated by the DEA office in Albuquerque.

The case against Rios is being prosecuted as part of the New Mexico Heroin and Opioid Prevention and Education Initiative.

The various charges against the three could prodcue prison terms ranging from five years to life.
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz.  Authorities are searching for a Florida man was reported missing by his hiking group in Grand Canyon National Park.

Park officials say 52-year-old Floyd E. Roberts III, of Treasure Island, was on the first day of a multiday backpacking trip when he was reported missing Saturday afternoon.

They say a member of Roberts hiking group reported him missing near Kelly Tanks in the extreme western portion of Grand Canyon National Park.
If youre pushing 65 and have money saved for retirement, congratulations. Youre in better shape than almost a third of older Americans.

But even if you have a substantial nest egg, savings can quickly dwindle due to a number of factors  and one of the biggest is geography.

Results from two different rankings Monday cast varying perspectives of the Land of Enhancement for those considering how far their bucks will go in retirement.

If you want to retire rich and maintain your wealth, New Mexico is the fifth worst place for well-heeled retirees, according to research by the personal financial website GoBankingRates.com.

Despite having the cheapest health insurance premiums in the country, New Mexico falls to No. 47, dragged down by low Social Security benefits and low Medicare payouts, the report says.

New Mexico taxes your Social Security benefits as well, though you can avoid some of this through a retirement income exemption of up to $8,000 per person. The hefty 7.51 percent state sales tax further makes the case for New Mexico as one of the worst states to retire rich.

The worst? Hawaii, the study says. Not only is Hawaii the No. 1 state where youre most likely to live paycheck to paycheck, but it ranks as the worst state for even wealthy retirees due to a number of factors, says the report, citing high housing prices: the average home lists at over $800,000.

To make dollars stretch in retirement, GoBankingRates.com suggests moneyed seniors head east. Delaware tops the list of the best states to retire rich thanks to two components: taxes and healthcare costs, says the report.

On the other hand, personal finance website SmartAsset said New Mexico offers pretty good value for early retirees. SmartAssets ranking of the best states for an early retirement focused on two financial considerations most important to this group: taxes and living expenses.

Senior citizens seeking to remain in the labor force past the average age of retirement should look at or stay put in the Land of Enchantment, said SmartAsset.

While retirees who are 65 or older are eligible for Medicare, early-retirees (62-plus) may need to buy their own health insurance on the individual market, the report says.

Health insurance rates for seniors are limited to three times the rates for 20-year-olds, which means seniors will no longer face exorbitant premiums. Nonetheless, in some states, average annual premiums on seniors can be more than $10,000 per year, the report stated. Not so in New Mexico. We found that a 60-year-old buying a silver plan in New Mexico would pay $5,150 annually on average. Thats the third lowest rate in the U.S.

The best state for early retirees is Kentucky. Not so good: California, New Jersey and Connecticut.
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.
IMGCAP(1)]My partner, Frank Boutillette, just completed his term as president of the New Jersey Society of CPAs. I was asked for some reflections and want to share them with you. I think there are interesting things here that could add insights in how we ran our practice.

I met Frank through the N.J. Society of CPAs, where he and my partner Peter Weitsen were active in the Middlesex/Somerset Chapter. When the firm Frank worked at for 10 years went out of business, he called Peter looking for a position and was hired. This is but one example of the value of Society participation.

Frank joined us Dec. 1, 1994 and he started immediately working on the clients of a practice we had just arranged to acquire as of Jan. 1, 1995. That practice had three pretty decent-sized business clients and we still have two of them (one went out of business). Last year the fees of one of them were almost double the fees of the entire practice we acquired. Frank still is the relationship partner but has a manager handling mostly everything there. Buying a practice is an effective way to grow; great service has its rewards.

When Frank joined us we had two partners with two professional staffhe was number threeand two administrative staff. Franks start date coincided with our hiring of a full-time salesman who brought in 35 business clients the following year. Frank was put in charge of those clients (many, but not all, were pretty small; however, they all required some sort of monthly services). In addition to the new clients, he took over managing and doing much of the work I was doing on the larger clients we had. Needless to say he got very busy very quickly. After 20+ years we still have some of the clients the salesman brought in. Acquiring practices and using a salesman paid off very well for us.

One great thing about Frank is that he has very broad shoulders. He sought and took on more and more responsibility and always did what he said he would do, and on time. He became someone who could be counted on and was extremely reliable. And he grew, as did the firm.

When Frank had to do something new, he learned from Peter and me, read what he could, learned on his own, and took whatever CPE or industry courses were necessary for him to grow.

He also became more active in the N.J. Society of CPAs and has just now finished his term as Society President.

As I got involved in new things, they moved over to Frank. I was a Team Captain and did peer reviews. As soon as Frank was able, these transitioned to Frank. He still does them, traveling to firms all over the country. This is also an excellent way for Frank to meet other CPAs and get referrals. After I got my Accreditation for Business Valuations, Frank assisted me on valuations. He then studied and passed the ABV exam. However, he doesnt do this work anymoreour firm has 35 people specializing in valuations and forensic investigations.

One time we had to audit a mutual fund, which none of us had any experience doing. Frank found an accountant in Pennsylvania who agreed to teach him what to do. He worked his ass off and got the job done. We still have that client more than 15 years later. It became the first of many funds, hedge funds and financial service firms we now audit.

Frank was involved in every facet of services our clients needed, and he worked closely with Peter to coordinate the tax plans for the clients. Frank also became and is the confidant of many of the clients he works with.

One of Franks no-nos was public speaking and he refused to give any speeches. One day I told Frank he had to present an A&A update at our annual Partners Network CPE program, which he adamantly fought against. He lost the fight and prepared the handout and rehearsed the speech. However, he figured out how to avoid the presentation. He got such a bad case of poison ivy that weekend that he ended up in the hospital and I had to make the presentation. The next time we organized a CPE program Frank was told that he was going to give the speech, even if we had to drag him out of the hospital to do it. Well, he gave it. He said he was a basket case before and during the speech, and that he would never give another speech. Today he is a popular and sought after speaker and even gets higher ratings than me or Peter!

After Frank was with us seven years he was made a partner. He did not ask to be a partner, nor was it ever discussed. When it was time to do his annual evaluation, he was asked if he would join us as a partner. Three years later we merged into Withum.

Frank was the exception to our practice of hiring people out of school. He worked out because he was with a good firm for 10 years, where there was a consistency to his training. Once he joined us it did not take long to figure out where he stood in our training progression and to pick up from there. He was the exception, partly because he was also exceptional.

Energy, reliability, desire to learn new things, and meeting his responsibilities. That sums up Franka great person, professional, employee, partner and friend.

Edward Mendlowitz, CPA, is partner at WithumSmith+Brown, PC, CPAs. He is on the Accounting Today Top 100 Influential People List. He is the author of 24 books, including How to Review Tax Returns, co-written with Andrew D. Mendlowitz, published by www.CPATrendlines.com and Managing Your Tax Season, Third Edition, published by the AICPA. Ed also writes a twice-a-week blog addressing issues that clients have at www.partners-network.com. Art of Accounting is a continuing series where Ed shares autobiographical experiences with tips that he hopes can be adopted by his colleagues. Ed welcomes practice management questions and can be reached at (732) 964-9329 or emendlowitz@withum.com.
Moss Adams LLP, based in Seattle, has agreed to combine with a Dallasbased firm, CF Accountants & Consultants, effective June 30.

The combination is expected to increase Moss Adams' capabilities in serving the financial services industry, particularly broker-dealers and hedge funds, along with real estate clients and high net worth individuals. Other clients will be coming from the fiber optic telecommunications and technology industries.

Fifty-seven CF Accountants & Consultants professionals, including seven partners, will begin working for Moss Adams. The combined group will occupy CFs current office space in Dallas, growing Moss Adams' presence in Dallas to nearly 90 professionals.

Clay Sturgis, partner in charge of the Dallas and Austin offices at Moss Adams, anticipates the deal will add about $10 million in extra revenue to the firm. Moss Adams ranked 15th on Accounting Today's 2016 list of the Top 100 Firms, with $477 million in annual revenue. The firm has been growing its presence in both Texas and California in recent years. Moss Adams entered the Texas market in January 2015 through a combination with a local telecom consulting practice, which included six professionals in Dallas, and has steadily increased its service offerings in the area by adding 27 local hires and intercompany transfers.

In addition, Moss Adams announced the establishment of a Fresno, Calif., location earlier this month, expanding the firms presence in the region and further increasing its expertise in food and agriculture, manufacturing and real estate.

A lot of folks see us as a California-based firm, even though we're headquartered in Seattle, said Sturgis. Our identity for a long time has been West Coast based, but for a long time our national strategy has been that you do need to have some locations outside of the West Coast.

His goal is to grow the Dallas office to about 100 employees in short order. He came to know the CF partners through industry events. Its a pretty competitive marketplace, so some of the partners and I would run across another at various events, as you do with other CPA firms, said Sturgis. I believe there was a mutual connection with one of our partners, Kerry Gordon, from another merged in firm in Sacramento, California, who knew this organization. They had known each othertheir firm and oursover the years, and they were impressed about how the combination went with Kerrys former firm. Once they knew that connection, seeing us here just led to some natural conversations. I think we started conversations last October.

Roughly 33 accountants from Moss Adams will be moving into the CF offices. Established in 1956, CF Accountants & Consultants provides audit, tax, accounting, business valuation and business advisory services to clients in a variety of industries, including real estate, construction and financial services. The combination will continue to build the Moss Adams office in Dallas, which has resources in these areas along with strong capabilities in the technology, communications and media industries, among others.

This combination with Moss Adams felt like a natural step in the growth strategy of our firm, said Bret Robertson, managing partner of CF Accountants & Consultants, in a statement. Our firms have similar company cultures, business ideals and long-term goals, and we couldnt ask for a better partner to carry us into the future. Our clients will benefit from the expanded resources and opportunities available to them from a firm the caliber of Moss Adams.
The Internal Revenue Service has issued a notice offering additional transition relief for employers claiming the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.

Notice 2016-40 provides additional transition relief for employers claiming the WOTC under Sections 51 and 3111(e) of the Tax Code as extended and amended by the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015, also known as the PATH Act. In March the IRS issued Notice 2016-22, providing guidance and transition relief for employers claiming the WOTC (see IRS Provides Relief for Work Opportunity Tax Credit).

The PATH Act, which Congress passed last December, amended the Tax Code to extend the WOTC through Dec. 31, 2019. The PATH Act also amended the Tax Code to expand the targeted groups of individuals, the employment of whom may qualify the employer for a credit listed in the statute, to include qualified long-term unemployment recipients, people who have remained unemployed for 27 weeks or more.

Notice 2016-40 expands and extends by three months the transition relief provided in Notice 2016-22 for meeting the 28-day deadline in Section 51(d)(13)(A)(ii) of the Tax Code. The notice applies to employers that (1) hire members of targeted groups (other than qualified long-term unemployment recipients) on or after Jan. 1, 2015, and on or before Aug. 31, 2016, or (2) hire members of the new targeted group of qualified long-term unemployment recipients on or after Jan. 1, 2016, and on or before Aug. 31, 2016. This notice does not otherwise modify or add to the guidance provided under Notice 2016-22.
By Peter A. Kirby

The following excerpted chapter is presented here to inform the reader of the completion and availability of the first edition of the paperback book Chemtrails Exposed: A New Manhattan Project.

Along with this new Conclusions chapter, Chemtrails Exposed contains two other new chapters titled Organizations and Persons of Interest and Solutions as well as a brief afterword. Coupled with the fact that the rest of the book has been extensively revised and updated, the reader should have a very informative reading experience. Now please enjoy an important chapter from the newly completed paperback and ebook Chemtrails Exposed: A New Manhattan Project; available exclusively at the CreateSpace estore and Amazon.com. Audiobook coming soon.

***

A covert, global weather modification project involving aircraft, dispersed particles, electromagnetic energy, and a command and control apparatus is currently operating mostly in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries. America has led this projects development and execution. From historical American weather modification literature and many other sources, a developmental timeline of this project can be derived. Here is the New Manhattan Projects developmental timeline:

Pre-1946

The New Manhattan Project (NMP) was probably first conceived by Nikola Tesla. Although there is a lack of direct documentary evidence revealing his hand, conceptualizing the use of electromagnetic energy in the context of a weather modification scheme such as this is right up his alley. We have seen that many of his inventions became different aspects of the New Manhattan Project. Documents proving Tesla as the originator of the overall project may exist, but, if they do, they have not been made public.

Tesla died in 1943. That was three years before the combined beginning of the scientific era of weather modification and the kick-off of the New Manhattan Project (ch 2). When Tesla died, the Federal Bureau of Investigation confiscated his papers. A concept for the NMP may have been among those papers.

When Teslas papers were posthumously confiscated, John G. Trump (1907-1985), a scientist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technologys Radiation Laboratory, officially examined them. As we have seen, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has been central to developing the technologies used today as part of the New Manhattan Project. Let us reference a passage from W. Bernard Carlsons Tesla: Inventor of the Electrical Age. Carlson writes:

Consequently, Walter C. Gorsuch of the OAPC [Office of the Alien Property Custodian] went to the Hotel New Yorker and seized all of Teslas property in his bedroom and the adjoining storeroom. Consisting of two truckloads of material, this property was taken to the Manhattan Storage Company where there were already eighty barrels and bundles that Tesla deposited nine to ten years earlier. To determine whether there was anything vital to the war effort, the OAPC called in John G. Trump to examine the papers. Working on radar at MITs Radiation Laboratory and an expert on high-voltage generators, Trump was well suited to undertake the review. In addition to Trump, the OAPC allowed one of the top agents from Naval Intelligence, Willis De Vere George, to be present along with two enlisted men. On 26-27 January 1943, Trump reviewed Teslas files while the navy personnel microfilmed the papers that they found interesting.

If you are wondering yes, John G. Trump is related to the current Republican nominee for president, Donald Trump. He was his uncle.

In the years between Teslas death in 1943 and the beginning of the NMP in 1946, longer-term plans for the NMP and shorter-term plans for the famous 1946 rollout may have been concocted. After the end of WWII in 1945, these plans may have been greatly accelerated.

Tesla is known to have conceptualized and realized many things which are or may have been useful to Humanity. Thats what he was all about. He wanted the products of science to vastly improve peoples lives. Being that todays New Manhattan Project is a mass murder machine and is concurrently wrecking our environment (ch 8), Teslas intentions (assuming the original concept is his) have been inverted. In life, Tesla was often foiled by the corporate establishment and, in this case, he may have again been foiled in death. In fact, it appears that his old competitor General Electric ended up running away with his invention.

1946-1949

The post-WWII environment was fertile ground for the scientific establishment and the military/industrial complex. These two longtime co-dependents had combined efforts to produce the worlds first atomic bombs which had just ended war. Aside from the horrors suffered by the Japanese, this was seen as a good thing. The scientific establishment in particular was suddenly seen as a group of benevolents ready, willing, and able to provide Humanity with solutions to all the worlds problems. Into this scenario, stepped General Electric as represented by Irving Langmuir, Vincent Schaefer, and Bernard Vonnegut. They were going to make it rain as needed on demand at the push of a button. Their activities suggested future weather control. The ensuing cold war with the Soviets served as a catalyst for many defense related projects including the NMP.

Bernard Vonnegut not only started the cloud seeding industry with his discovery of silver iodides usefulness as a nucleant. With his space charge experiments, he also went on to bear the New Manhattan Projects standard.

1950-1959

The 1950s saw many space charge experiments conducted by Vonnegut and others (ch 2). These experiments demonstrated the New Manhattan Projects feasibility. Once it was established that weather modification could be accomplished in the fashion of the NMP, large-scale research into the fundamental physics of the atmosphere began. This is evidenced by the large influx of funding and subsequent atmospheric research activities which began in the late 1950s. The basic mechanisms of the greater atmosphere were needed to be understood so that space charge-type experiments could be modified and expanded into larger operations.

Throughout the 1950s, individual elements of the New Manhattan Project began to take shape. The SAGE anti-aircraft system (the nucleus of the New Manhattan Project) began in the early 1950s (ch 6). Extensive, high-level study of weathers effect upon business activity began in the early-to-mid 1950s (ch 7). The first mention of aluminum particles used for weather modification appeared in 1954 (ch 5). In 1955 researchers began injecting materials into the high atmosphere as a way to map the auroral electrojet (ch 6). In the mid-1950s, Norman Phillips perfected the fundamentals of supercomputer atmospheric modeling (ch 6). In 1958 Project Bassoon/Shelf/Sanguine/Seafarer/ELF began (ch 3). This project was the pre-cursor to todays ionospheric heaters. Also in 1958, the Central Intelligence Agencys Air America took flight. Air America was one of the airlines which most probably turned into todays chemtrail fleet. The most probable chemtrail fleet aircraft, Boeings KC-135 made its first appearance at Wright-Patterson AFB in 1957 (ch 4). In the late 1950s the first meteorological instruments were carried aboard satellites (ch 6).

In 1958, the organizational foundations of the New Manhattan Project were laid. The Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA / later DARPA) opened its doors in 1958 with Roy Johnson (a General Electric vice president) as the first director. Herb York, who later went on to become the first director of Lawrence Livermore National Labs, served as ARPAs chief scientist. Another great New Manhattan Project progenitor, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was created in 1958. 1958 also saw the establishment of the NMPs probable manager, the MITRE Corporation.

1958 was a big year. In that year, not only did the NMP gain its bureaucratic foothold, but it also saw many other notable events. 1958 saw the earliest mention of the SRM geoengineering thesis as part of the most cited weather modification document, the Final Report of the Advisory Committee on Weather Control. As part of this same report, the earliest description of the New Manhattan Project appeared in the article The Future. 1958 also saw the earliest mention of the theory of man-made global warming in Howard T. Orovilles Popular Science article Weather as a Weapon. In 1958 Operation Argus used high-altitude detonations of nuclear bombs to map the auroral electrojet. Lastly, in 1958 the Interdepartmental Committee for Atmospheric Sciences (ICAS) was created and began producing reports.

1960-1969

After many years of successful space charge experiments, basic atmospheric research, initiation of applicable technologies, and the establishment of an appropriate bureaucratic framework, the progenitors of the New Manhattan Project were feeling quite confident. This confidence was demonstrated in Vice Admiral Raborns 1963 paper New Horizons of Naval Research (ch 2). By the early 1960s, the New Manhattan Project was set to roll for a long time. There was another vast increase in government spending. Funding was flowing freely all throughout the 1960s. Much of this spending had no congressional oversight. Those aboard this gravy train were quite happy to be there.

As evidenced by the Restoring the Quality of Our Environment document (ch 10), by 1965 the decision to roll out the New Manhattan Project domestically had been made. Restoring the Quality of Our Environment began the process of gaining the publics acceptance to airplanes routinely blanketing the country with dispersed particles; the most apparent aspect of the otherwise secret New Manhattan Project. Restoring the Quality of Our Environment began the large-scale information war. This was probably about the time that the first experiments involving aircraft dispersed particles and directed electromagnetic energy began. They needed a cover story.

Throughout the 60s, the New Manhattan Projects constituent technologies continued developing. A 1962 report by the National Academy of Sciences expounded upon the usefulness of radioactive isotopes such as barium as atmospheric tracers and throughout the 60s many researchers such as A.C. Zettlemoyer found ways to use different forms of aluminum as nucleants (ch 5). In 1964 Raytheon demonstrated their wirelessly powered helicopter and throughout the sixties automated takeoffs and landings of the Boeing KC-135 were demonstrated (ch 4). In 1966 the first known ionospheric heater appeared in Pennsylvania (ch 3).

As far as command and control is concerned, the 60s were a busy time. The Jason scientists began meeting in 1960. In 1960 the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) began operations in Boulder, CO. Also in 1960, NASA launched the first dedicated weather satellite, TIROS-1. Many other weather satellites were launched into orbit throughout the rest of the 60s. These satellites were complimented by a concurrent overall fortification of our nations weather data gathering abilities. Remote sensing capabilities flourished. In 1963 the National Science Foundation (NSF) wrote of atmospheric models capable of demonstrating the result of injecting energy into the atmosphere. Major developments in holography continued throughout the 60s. In the late 1960s the improved availability of atmospheric data fostered international cooperation and programs. Also in the late 1960s DARPA began using rockets and an ionospheric heater at Poker Flat, Alaska in order to map the auroral electrojet. Lastly, in the late 1960s the MITRE Corporation was developing an air traffic control system capable of keeping track of as many as 1000 planes (ch 6).

The economic aspects of the New Manhattan Project continued to develop as well. A 1966 book featured a comprehensive plan for the management of a national weather modification program titled Evaluation of Weather and Climate by Socio-Economic Sensitivity Indices. The catastrophe reinsurance market started in the 1960s with the leading industry association founded in 1968. In their 1968 weather modification report, the NSF laid the foundations of Enrons later weather derivatives market by studying the potential effects of weather modification upon the electrical industry (ch 7).

1970-1979

Throughout the 1970s events in the information war were moving quickly. In 1970 the earliest use of the term persistent contrail yet known to the author appeared in the proceedings of the Second National Conference on Weather Modification. Also in 1970 Gordon J.F. MacDonalds paper How to Wreck the Environment was published in the book Unless Peace Comes. In 1974 the CIA produced their disinformation screed titled, A Study of Climatological Research as It Pertains to Intelligence Problems. This document is about all the dangers posed by the climate change and appears to be the fount of all the fear mongering about how a slight change in the Earths average temperature will cause the end of the species (ch 10). In 1977 the earliest use of the term geoengineering yet known to the author appeared in the premiere edition of Climatic Change. Throughout the atmospheric sciences literature the term climate replaced the term weather. This was also the era when the term and field of atmospheric chemistry became widespread and advanced spectrometers began analyzing the atmosphere for many more elements and compounds.

The electromagnetic energy portion of the NMP saw minimal developments. In 1970 Vice Admiral Raborn became a member of the LTV Electrosystems board. LTV Electrosystems went on to help build the High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Project (HAARP) antenna as E-Systems (ch 2). By the mid-70s, ionospheric heaters had been constructed at Arecibo, Puerto Rico and Armidale, Australia (ch 3).

The chemtrail fleet continued its development. In 1974 all the airlines formerly of the Central Intelligence Agencys Pacific Corporation (including Air America) were disbanded. This freed up a lot of airplanes to later be used in the New Manhattan Project. In 1975 Delford Smith got a sweetheart deal when he bought the former CIA proprietary Intermountain Airlines and began his Evergreen Aviation empire. In 1975 E-Systems bought world-class aviation maintenance facilities in Taiwan which formerly belonged to the CIA proprietary airline Air Asia. These were the same facilities known to have been producing the CIAs untraceable aircraft. In 1977 the field of wireless power transmission got a big boost from a joint Department of Energy (DOE) and NASA assessment study of a solar-powered satellite concept (ch 4).

There were some evolutionary chemtrail spray developments. A 1972 ICAS report described how the entire hydrological cycle can be traced with radioactive particles. Throughout the 70s, researchers continued to find new uses of aluminum compounds as nucleants (ch 5).

The New Manhattan Projects command and control apparatus saw major developments. The early 1970s saw continued rocket and ionospheric heater operations at Poker Flat, Alaska. In 1973 Jason moved their headquarters to the facilities of the Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park, CA. In 1974 a paper by Paul M. Tag established the modern method of computerized atmospheric modeling as it pertains to the influences of artificially produced electromagnetic energy. Beginning in the mid-1970s, Lawrence Livermore National Labs began to establish itself as the nations premiere atmospheric modeling facility. Throughout the 1970s the field of supercomputer assisted atmospheric modeling continued to develop. In 1977 Jason began studying Earths climate. By the end of the seventies, satellite remote sensing, along with other observational methods, provided excellent global atmospheric monitoring capabilities. These developments enabled the massive 1978 First GARP (Global Atmospheric Research Program) Global Experiment (ch 6).

The economic aspects of the NMP saw some developments. In 1971 an organization called Research Applied to National Needs was created within the National Science Foundation to study the economic benefits of weather modification. Subsequently, throughout the 1970s researchers found positive cost/benefit ratios from weather modification programs. The earliest use of the weather derivative term degree day yet found by the author appears in a 1975 report by James McQuigg (ch 7).

Rounding out the seventies, large-scale basic atmospheric research came to a big slowdown with the publication of the last ICAS report in 1978. This marked a transitionary period for the NMP; a transition from development to application.

1980-1989

In the eighties ionospheric heater developments were moving quickly. Construction of the HIPAS (High Power Auroral Stimulation) observatory began in 1980 and was completed in 1986. In 1987 ARCO Power Technologies Incorporated (APTI) was granted the patent titled Method and Apparatus for Altering a Region in the Earths Atmosphere, Ionosphere, and/or Magnetosphere. This is the document which says (among other things) that HAARP can move atmospheric particles for the purpose of weather modification (ch 3).

Throughout the 1980s, chemtrail fleet developments were many. As explained in chapter 4, the developmental timeline of the New Manhattan Project suggests that the offending airplanes began to be retrofitted in about 1980. In 1981 Evergreen Aviation moved to their final resting place of McMinnville, Oregon. Evergreens aircraft trading arm, Evergreen Aircraft Sales and Leasing was established in 1983. Evergreen derived the lions share of their profits from trading aircraft and aircraft parts. The director of the Center for Energy and Combustion Research at the University of California at San Diego suggested in 1984 that commercial airliners emit more and better particles in order to save us from global warming. This provides evidence for the assertion that todays common jet fuel has been spiked with some sort of additive so that common commercial airliners have therefore been added to the chemtrail fleet. Raytheons William Brown wrote in 1984 that wireless power technologies had advanced to such a stage that researchers were seriously considering using it to the tune of hundreds of thousands of kilowatts for propulsion or payload. In the same piece, Brown depicts and writes of a rectenna attached to the wing of a small airplane said to be achieving 85% efficiency. In 1988 the Davis-Monthan boneyard came under the command of Wright-Patterson AFB; the development site of many technologies used in the New Manhattan Project including HAARP (ch 4).

Chemtrail spray developments appear to have been few. A.C. Zettlemoyer became head of the American Chemical Society in 1981. The 1988 U.S. patent Selective Thermal Radiators described how atmospheric particles can be induced, through the use of electromagnetic energy, to heat up while exhibiting the Welsbach effect. This patent was granted to the same inventor listed on the later Stratospheric Welsbach Seeding for the Reduction of Global Warming patent. Hughes Aircraft was listed as the assignee on both.

Command and control developments continued. In 1981 Jason left their offices at the Stanford Research Institute and made a new home at facilities owned by the MITRE Corporation. In 1986 Gordon J.F. MacDonald led a group advising the Department of Energy in regards to their new, interagency atmospheric monitoring and analysis effort called the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement program. In the late 1980s NCAR developed the Internet Remote Job Entry System which greatly enhanced the speed of communications between atmospheric modeling supercomputers and end-users (ch 6).

Lastly, Gordon J.F. How to Wreck the Environment MacDonald contributed to the information war by, in Congressional testimony, advocating for a national shift towards natural gas usage and a carbon tax to help fight global warming (ch 6).

1990-1996

In the 1990s, the information war went into overdrive. The earliest use of the term chemtrails yet known to the author appeared as the title of a 1990 U.S. Air Force Academy chemistry manual. Throughout the 1990s, many high-level organizations and individuals began publishing documents advocating for Solar Radiation Management geoengineering (chemtrails). Concurrently, many high-profile individuals began speaking in favor of activities pertaining to the New Manhattan Project.

Assigned to the Hughes Aircraft Corporation, 1991s U.S. patent Stratospheric Welsbach Seeding for the Reduction of Global Warming suggested aluminum-spiked jet fuel as a way to disperse particles into the atmosphere in order to save us from global warming. In 1996 the U.S. Air Force released the seminal document Weather as a Force Multiplier: Owning the Weather in 2025 which outlined the New Manhattan Project. Also in 1996, the Air Force produced An Operational Analysis for Air Force 2025 which outlined the New Manhattan Project as well. Both of these documents were part of the Air Force 2025 series which spoke to an extensive overhaul of operations. In a 1997 paper, Edward Teller, et al. called for the spraying of megatons of stratospheric aluminum to save us from global warming.

The ionospheric heater aspects of the NMP consolidated. Construction of HAARP began in 1993. E-systems built the first version of HAARP which was completed in 1995. Also in 1995, Raytheon acquired E-Systems. Despite the Department of Defenses denials, all throughout the 1990s, credible documents (including the book Angels Dont Play This HAARP) were published describing HAARPs ability to modify the weather.

Exciting technologies pertaining to the New Manhattan Projects chemtrail fleet emerged. The 1991 U.S. patent Power Beaming System (one of the HAARP patents) outlines the technical details of how to remotely power airplanes. The authors of Angels Dont Play This HAARP write that in the early 1990s the technology outlined in this patent was used to keep a microwave-powered aircraft at 80,000 feet for 10,000 hours. The 1996 Air Force document Aerospace Sanctuary in 2025  Shrinking the Bulls Eye described extensive automation of all aspects of routine aircraft handling and maintenance.

The NMP command and control operations thundered along. By 1990, Lawrence Livermore Labs (LLNL) had established itself as the premiere atmospheric modeling facility. Throughout the 1990s, LLNL produced the leading climate models running on the best supercomputer configurations. A 1996 Air Force Document titled Space Operations: Through the Looking Glass suggested that satellites of the Iridium constellation can be used to modify terrestrial weather. A 1998 Army document titled 3D Holographic Display Using Strontium Barium Niobate speaks to a breakthrough ability to both record and produce very realistic holographic imagery in real time and free space.

The financial aspects of a global weather modification project were finalized. Catastrophe bonds first started trading in 1992. In response to increased demand, in 1995 the New York Insurance Department approved the Catastrophe Exchange. This is where catastrophe reinsurance bonds are negotiated today. The first weather derivative transactions were conducted over the counter in 1997. The weather derivatives market was greatly expanded in 1999 when weather derivatives began trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. the leading weather derivatives industry association was founded in 1999. The repeal of Glass-Steagall in 1999 allowed lots of capital to flow into both the catastrophe reinsurance and weather derivatives markets.

This timeline ends at 1996 because that is about the time, as evidenced by reports such as those contained in the book Chemtrails Confirmed, which large-scale deployment of this project began. From the time large-scale deployment of this program began, we can reasonably expect that further developments would be, for the most part, only in size and scope rather than technological.

Since the mid-1990s, the information warriors at the CIA have continued to launch assaults upon our consciousness. Top level government and scientific organizations have continued to advocate for the New Manhattan Project.

We can assume that at least incremental technological advancements have been achieved.

As collected by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, the California Air Resources Board, Francis Mangels, and countless other individuals, hard evidence of the New Manhattan Project chemtrail spraying operations have since been realized.

The Network of Global Corporate Control

Some of the biggest men in the United States, in the field of commerce and manufacture, are afraid of something. They know that there is a power somewhere, so organized, so subtle, so watchful, so interlocked, so pervasive, that they had better not speak above their breath when they speak in condemnation of it.  U.S. President Woodrow Wilson

As we have seen, the New Manhattan Project has been and continues to be a coordinated effort between many organizations from many different disciplines. The New Manhattan Project involves the worlds most prominent organizations: scientific, military, political, intelligence, industrial, media, and others. Who has the power to orchestrate all these seemingly disparate groups? What organization is capable of directing the New Manhattan Project from its origins to its advanced state today? It has obviously been a coordinated effort. For its coordination, somebody or something has to be responsible.

Evidence suggests that a group called the Committee of 300, also known as The Network of Global Corporate Control is responsible.

In his magnum opus The Conspirators Hierarchy: The Committee of 300, Dr. John Coleman asserts that this Committee evolved from the British East India Company and currently consists of some of the most prominent movers and shakers of the Western world. He asserts that this supra-national Committee commands the Western worlds most dominant movements of: science, militaries, politics, intelligence, industry, and media. He asserts that the Committee of 300 commands most of the organizations we have since come to know as the developers and most probable implementors of the New Manhattan Project. Dr. Coleman asserts that the Committee of 300 controls or heavily influences: Stanford Research International, the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), The New York Times, The Washington Post, General Electric, International Business Machines (IBM), Raytheon, UBS Warburg, Brown Brothers Harriman, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Institute for Defense Analyses, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the RAND Corporation, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Ford Foundation. We will summarize some of these organizations New Manhattan Project involvement in the next chapter Organizations and Persons of Interest.

Dr. Coleman asserts that the Committee of 300s executive council is referred to as The Olympians and that their chairperson is the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II.

A few men whom we have found to be implicated in the New Manhattan Projects development and implementation are purportedly members of this Committee. These men are: George Herbert Walker Bush (Bush Sr.), the former U.S. ambassador to NATO Harlan Cleveland, former Rhode Island senator Claiborne Pell, and Jay Forrester of MIT. George Herbert Walker Bush and Jay Forrester are still alive. In this chapter, we will only concern ourselves with a life which has already been concluded.

As noted in the first chapter, Dr. Harlan Cleveland (1918-2008) is on record talking the talk. In 1976, the aforementioned MITRE Corporation (ch 6) sponsored the Aspen Institutes Symposium on Living with Climactic Change. Dr. Coleman writes that the Aspen Institute is one of the Committee of 300s main vehicles. One of the transcripts published in the proceedings of these talks was something titled The Climate for a New World Order. This was Harlan Clevelands talk. The gist of his speech was that the validity of the science of man-made climate change is not important because the theory is simply a good way to bring about a necessary, authoritarian New World Order. He said:

There are two options, each of them backed by weighty evidence, or at least by weighty meteorologists. One is that the weather is getting warmer. The other is that the weather is getting colder. You can pay your scientists and take your choice.

Cleveland served as the director of international affairs at the Aspen Institute from 1974 to 1980.

Cleveland became LBJs ambassador to NATO in 1965. The following year, French president Charles de Gaulle pulled France out of NATO and banished it from French soil. Of Mr. Cleveland, Dr. Coleman writes:

Cleveland was a top official in the Club of Rome and what one intelligence officer described as a Socialist specialist on China. Cleveland got his Socialist education at Oxford in 1938. He later became Assistant Secretary of State for International Affairs, and the UNRRA [United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration] delegate to China and a director of the ECA [Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs] China program. Cleveland had a perception, that the way America was going was not the way the Socialists wanted it to go and methods had to be devised to make America change direction. The Institute for Social Relations and the Club of Rome were the vehicles he felt could be instrumental in bringing about the changes needed to socialize America.

Harlan Cleveland

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Dr. Coleman writes that former Rhode Island senator Claiborne Pell (1918-2009) was the leader of the American chapter of the Club of Rome. Coleman describes the Club of Rome as instrumental to the Committee of 300. Pell attended the 1945 conference in San Francisco where the United Nations (UN) was established. We have seen many UN connections to the New Manhattan Project and the theory of man-made global warming.

Supporting Dr. Colemans thesis is a 2011 study produced by three mathematicians from the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland titled The Network of Global Corporate Control. This report scientifically proves the existence of a supra-national mega-conglomerate with the capability to exert a highly disproportionate influence over the Western world. Intuitively, we have always known it is there. Now it is proven. Vitali, Glattfelder, and Battiston write:

We present the first investigation of the architecture of the international ownership network, along with the computation of the control held by each global player. We find that transnational corporations form a giant bow-tie structure and that a large portion of control flows to a small tightly-knit core of financial institutions. This core can be seen as an economic super-entity that raises new important issues both for researchers and policy makers.

The authors state that the nucleus of the Network consists of: Franklin Resources, Prudential Financial, Commerzbank AG, Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse, AXA, Citigroup, Deutsche Bank AG, Merrill Lynch, Barclays PLC, Bank of America Corp., UBS AG, JP Morgan Chase & Co., State Street Corp., T. Rowe Price, and Goldman Sachs. Barclays is noted as the most powerful overall. Of these financial corporations determined to be at the center of this Network, two have been named by Coleman as instrumental to the Committee of 300. Those corporations named are Credit Suisse and Barclays.

Nazi Connections

Being that the Nazi regime of World War II had little regard for Human life, lots of cutting-edge technology, and an authoritarian power structure, one can see how their former scientists would fit right into something like the New Manhattan Project. Evidence suggests that this is what has taken place.

Chapter 6 mentioned Operation Paperclip. In the years after WWII, Operation Paperclip was conducted in order to make over 1,600 former Nazi scientists Americas own. These scientists went to work for our army, navy, air force, and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Operation Paperclip was originally supported by an investigation into Nazi science and scientists called Operation Alsos. Operation Alsos was an offshoot of the original Manhattan Project.

A man named Colonel Donald L. Putt (1905-1988) was instrumental to Operation Paperclip and in charge of Operation Paperclips activities at Wright-Patterson AFB. The then Wright Field was where all the information gathered by Operation Alsos and other similar operations was organized and archived. By the fall of 1946, there were 140 Nazi scientists working at Wright Field under Colonel Putt. Review chapters 4 and 8 for Wright-Pattersons connections to the New Manhattan Project. Colonel Putt was also the man in charge of modifying the B-29 bomber that dropped its nuclear payloads on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Of all the Nazi scientists spirited into the U.S., the most famous was rocket scientist and former SS officer Wernher von Braun (1912-1977). By the end of January, 1946, 115 Nazi rocket scientists, including von Braun, were working out of Fort Bliss, Texas. Small groups of these scientists were periodically sent to the White Sands proving ground where they lived in barracks alongside men from the General Electric Company. White Sands ended up launching 64 V-2 rockets. Chapter 6 recounts the use of modified versions of von Brauns V-2 rocket for atmospheric sounding and satellite delivery.

Another Nazi scientist by the name of Kurt Debus (1908-1983) became the first director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administrations John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. As we have seen, NASA has been instrumental in the development of technologies used in the New Manhattan Project.

In 1958, yet another famous Nazi scientist and developer of the V2 rocket by the name of Dr. Martin Schilling (1911-2000) went to work for those great progenitors of the New Manhattan Project; Raytheon. At Raytheon, he attained the rank of vice president for research and engineering.

NASAs Nazis were a powerful bunch. Annie Jacobsen writes:

In 1960, von Braun and a group of approximately 120 Operation Paperclip scientists, engineers, and technicians were transferred from the army to the newly established National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, with a mandate to build the Saturn rockets designed to take man to the moon. Von Braun was made director of the new NASA facility, the Marshall Space Flight Center

Jacobsen continues:





The Saturn V rocket would need its own launch complex and hangar. Cape Canaveral, on Floridas east coast, was chosen as the perfect site. On July 1, 1962, NASA activated its Launch Operations Center there, naming Kurt Debus as director. Debus was the ardent Nazi who, during the war and on his own volition, had turned an engineering colleague over to the Gestapo for making anti-Hitler remarks. To house the giant Saturn rocket, NASA constructed the Vertical Assembly Building on nearby Merritt Island. The structure would soon become the most voluminous building in the world  larger than the Pentagon and almost as tall as the Washington Monument.

As part of Operation Paperclip, it is noted in chapter 6 that Allen Puckett, a Hughes executive, was asked to visit Germany in order to select Nazi scientists for U.S. weapons development programs. Later acquired by those great progenitors of the New Manhattan Project, Raytheon, Hughes was active in many areas applicable to the NMP such as: radar, satellites, and air traffic control. Former Hughes executive John Richardson worked at Wright-Patterson AFB where he made longtime business contacts. Hughes worked on many highly classified projects. Hughes was also the assignee of the infamous 1991 Welsbach Seeding patent (ch 5) and contracted for Vice Admiral Raborns (ch 3) Polaris project.

Vice Admiral Raborn visiting a Hughes factory

Image source: The Donning Company Publishers / Hughes

In 1962, the organization that oversaw Operation Paperclip was disbanded. What remained of the Paperclip program was taken over by the Pentagons Research and Engineering Department; an Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) division. Today this department is known as the Department of Defense Research and Engineering Enterprise; a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) department. Operation Paperclip was folded into DARPA. The evidence suggests that DARPA has been overseeing the New Manhattan Project from the beginning and on through to today.

In closing

Former United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower was famous for warning the American people in early 1961 about the rise of what he termed the military/industrial complex. The first chief scientist of DARPA (then ARPA) Herb York asked Eisenhower what he meant by this. Annie Jacobsen recounts the story:

In the mid-1960s, York went to visit Eisenhower at the former presidents winter home, in the California desert. I asked him to explain more fully what he meant by the warnings, but he declined to do so, York said. I pressed this line of questions further by asking him whether he had any particular people in mind when he warned us about the danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite. York was surprised when Eisenhower answered without hesitation: Wernher von Braun and (Edward) Teller [father of the hydrogen bomb].

Eisenhower warned us about the New Manhattan Project.

Its not the weather or the climate which need to be brought under our control. We need to bring the military/industrial complex under control and abolish the CIA. Thank you.

Peter A. Kirby is a San Rafael, CA researcher, author, and activist. Follow him on Twitter @PeterAKirby. Visit his website www.PeterAKirby.com.

Notes

Tesla: Inventor of the Electrical Age a book by W. Bernard Carlson, published by Princeton University Press, 2013

Tesla: Man Out of Time a book by Margaret Cheney, published by Simon & Schuster, 2001

Cult of the Atom: The Secret Papers of the Atomic Energy Commission a book by Daniel Ford, published by Simon and Schuster, 1982

Fixing the Sky: The Checkered History of Weather and Climate Control a book by James Roger Fleming, published by Columbia University Press, 2010

The Conspirators Hierarchy: The Committee of 300 a book by Dr. John Coleman, published by World Intelligence Review, 4th edition, 2006

Proceedings of the Symposium on Living with Climatic Change Phase II a book published by the MITRE Corporation, 1977

Harlan Cleveland; Dean, Author, Statesman and Lifelong Learner an article by Joe Holley, published in The Washington Post, June 6, 2008

Harlan Cleveland, Diplomat and Scholar, Dies at 90 an article by Dennis Hevesi, published in The New York Times, June 13, 2008

Claiborne Pell, Ex-Senator, Dies at 90 an article by William H. Honan, published in The New York Times, Jan. 1, 2009

The Network of Global Corporate Control a paper by Stefania Vitali, James B. Glattfelder, and Stefano Battiston, 2011

Operation Paperclip: The Secret Intelligence Program that Brought Nazi Scientists to America a book by Annie Jacobsen, published by Little, Brown, and Company, 2014

Martin Schilling, Developer of V-2 Missile, Dies at 88 an article by William H. Honan, published by The New York Times, May 8, 2000

Hughes After Howard: The Story of Hughes Aircraft Company a book by D. Kenneth Richardson, published by Sea-Hill Press, 2012

Call Me Pat: The Autobiography of the Man Howard Hughes Chose to Lead Hughes Aircraft a book by Lawrence A. Pat Hyland, edited by W.A. Schoneberger, published by the Donning Company Publishers, 1993

Websites
Ashish Bhasin, Chairman and CEO of Dentsu Aegis Network South Asia and Chairman of Posterscope and MKTG-Asia Pacific, has his hands full as part of the jury panel for Media Lions.

Following Indias wins at Pharma and Health & Wellness Lions, the mood is upbeat in the Indian camp.

Bhasin is no stranger to jury duties across the globe, having judged earlier at Cannes Lions in 2007, Dubai Lynx in 2008, Festival of Media Global Montreux in 2013 and Asias Most Promising Brands in 2013.

He was awarded the 2015 IAA Leadership Award for Media Agency Head of the Year, was nominated Campaign Asias South Asia Agency Head of the Year 2015, Business Excellence Award 2015 and the E4M Hallmark Chairman of the Year 2015. He received UKs Business Excellence Awards for Media CEO of the Year India and Chairman of the Year India 2013 and in 2014 was awarded the Indira Super Achiever Award and the Media Marketer of the Year, Brief Media Awards.

Bhasin serves on numerous industry bodies, chairs the AAAI-IBF committee, is Secretary for the Executive Committee of the AAAI, is on the Goafest Committee. He is the former Chairman of the Readership Studies Council of India and Board of Governors, MRUC.

Taking some time out of his busy schedule as a jury member, Bhasin gives a Ground Zero insight as to what goes on behind the windowless jury room at Cannes Lions. Heres Ashish Bhasin in his own words...

Intense, yet invigorating

Its very intense to get into the jury early in the morning and keep seeing a lot of work till pretty late. First, a large number of jurors look at the work, as far as Media is concerned, then there is the shortlisting that happens and towards the end there is a process of awarding metals to some among the shortlisted entries.

Ive judged in the past as well  in 2007 I was part of the Direct jury at Cannes Lions, I have also judged Interactive in Dubai Lynx in 2008  so I have some experience. Its quite rigorous and much hard work than what people think it is.

While judging the entries, we look at 2 or 3 things, one is we look at outstanding work that is really creative and innovative, because work of that quality stands out irrespective of any directions or markers or parameters. We look for really innovative work, the kind that hasnt been done before and is of great quality. We also look at how much the work is in sync with what the task in hand was and what the brand involved is, because if the creativity or innovation is not in sync with what the brand stands for and the brand USP, then it doesnt end up being a very effective media innovation in any way. Now, media is divided into several sub-categories, so you also want to make sure that it is fitting for that particular sub-category. For example, a work may be good but may not be appropriate for the sub-category it is entered in, so every time you are judging a piece of work you have to take that into consideration. Often people enter the same piece of work across sub-categories because when they have good work, agencies tend to enter it in 2 or 3 different headings. So, youve got to make sure that you are judging for that particular sub-category, that you are putting on the filter for that category and not in general.

On Indias performance

I hope it will be an improvement on last year, because last year wasnt a great year for India. To be honest, in general as a country, there are a few areas where we need to pull up our socks; literally, when I am seeing entries across continents and across countries, I think the presentation of our work in most cases is still not up to the global standards. You have to appreciate that on any single day, in a windowless room, the jury is in from 8.30 in the morning, sometimes till pretty late in the night and are judging at least 150 entries per day. And you do it for a period of 6-7 days. So, its much better when the presentation of your work stands out and speaks for itself; it rests much easier with the juries. Often we say that some of our work is in different languages and so on, I dont think thats an excuse because Im seeing, for example, the Latin American countries, their presentation of the work is far better than the way we present in general.

Within the entries, there are some entries in Media which are done by creative agencies and some which are done by media agencies. I am finding that the presentation of work by the creative agencies is better, while the media agencies have some way to go in how they present their work. So, in general for all agencies in India I would say that the quality of presentation of our work has to significantly improve, especially the videos that we make. Video is very important and everything is closely scrutinised  from its communication to its length to its tonality. The work is viewed by a multi-cultural jury from across the globe, so the language has to be understood, the action, the speed at which somebody is talking, the presentation of visuals, the key thought and idea  all have to jump out from the video itself. It cant be hidden deep down and you expect somebody to automatically understand it, it doesnt happen that way.

Every market is different and therefore, there are a lot of cultural and local nuances, but the good thing is that a brilliant idea strikes out. It doesnt matter what the nuances are, it doesnt matter what the issues are  a good idea will always stand out.

Busy schedule

Unfortunately, when you are in the jury you dont have too much time and I am just staying on for one extra day after my jury duties are over, after which I have to rush back due to some meetings, hence, I would not be able to attend many of the sessions. But I do look forward to attending 1 or 2 good sessions around June 23, which is probably the only day that I will have free. Our diary fills up so fast that it doesnt leave much breathing space at all.

In Media, there are two types of juries  some people are involved up to the shortlisting process, while some people stay on till the awarding process. Coincidentally, this year Nick Waters (CEO, Dentsu Aegis Network, Asia Pacific) is the Jury President for Media Lions.
Winners of the 2016 Pharma and Health & Wellness Lions were announced at the Lions Health Awards Ceremony, where a total of 99 Lions were presented. Indias Medulla Communications bagged a total of seven metals, which included 2 Gold Lions, 2 Silver Lions and 3 Bronze Lions. The agency was also adjudged Healthcare Agency of the Year.

In the third year of the competition, a record-breaking 2,605 award entries were received across the Pharma and Health & Wellness categories.

Pharma Lions

From 582 entries submitted in the Pharma section, 52 Lions were awarded and Ogilvy & Mather Londons Breathless Choir for Philips claimed the Grand Prix.

Medulla Communications won the 2 Gold Lions the Last Words campaign done for the Indian Association of Palliative Care in the Integrated Campaign and Digital - Online Video sub-categories. The Last Words campaign also secured a Silver Lion in the Digital - Social sub-category.

Palliative care or end of days care is an alien concept in India with just 1 in 100 patients in need actually getting it. Awareness about this stream is the biggest hurdle and this film is an earnest attempt to bridge this gap and popularise palliative care. The film draws insight from nurses, who happen to be majority who hear the last words of dying patients, rather than their family members. When nurses across India recount the last words they have heard, it not just leaves a lump in the throat, but raises the all-important question  do the dying not deserve dignity?





The Slums for Worms campaign dome for GlaxoSmithKlines Zentel fetched Medulla a Silver Lion in the Standard Print sub-category. The same campaign also won a Bronze Lion Print & Poster Craft - Art Direction sub-category.

Medulla took home two more Bronze Lions for its campaign  ADHD Symptom Stamps  done for Concerta from Johnson & Johnson (Concerta). The Bronze was won in the Branded Content - Live Experience and Direct and Promo & Activation sub-categories.

Medulla was the only entrant from India to make it to the shortlist for Pharma Lions.

Jury President, Alexandra von Plato, Group President of Publicis Healthcare Communications Group, described the campaign as one that challenges the traditional product as hero approach to focus on patient as hero. Its a stunning example of cinematic storytelling in the medical devices industry and clearly breaks the mould, she said.

Health & Wellness Lions

47 Lions were awarded in Health and Wellness, from a total of 2,023 entries. The Grand Prix went to London agency FCB Infernos Project Literacy campaign for Pearson.

Commenting on the winner, Jury President, Joshua Prince, Chief Marketing Officer of Omnicom Health Group, said, The campaign is devastatingly good at showing the real costs of illiteracy and shows that before we even get to health, we have to start with peoples fundamental ability to understand.

Of the six shortlisted entries from India in Health & Wellness Lions, only one secured a Lion  the Dipper Condoms initiative done by Rediffusion Y&R for Tata Motors. The campaign won in the Direct and Promo & Activation sub-category.





Young Lions Health Award

The winner of the Young Lions Health Award, in partnership with UNICEF, was announced at the ceremony. The jury, including UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Shakira, chose Eleanor Howe and Lina Benmansour of DigitasLBi, Frances UNICEF Brain Food. Their idea answered the brief innovatively, by using everyday objects to stimulate play, and providing creative ways for caregivers to interact with children and will be used as part of UNICEFs overall communication outreach on Early Childhood Development.

Commenting on the results, Lions Health Festival Director, Louise Benson, said, Were delighted to reward and celebrate the ground-breaking work providing a benchmark of excellence in the healthcare communications industry. Now in its third year, Lions Health is an arena to recognise achievements and we would like to thank the jury for collectively selecting our 2016 winners.

Lion Health also encompasses a two-day Festival of content, learning and debate and this year, celebrates the life-changing innovations, trends, and game-changing technology transforming the current healthcare industry, taking place on June 18 and 19.
Romania's largest hybrid carrier, Blue Air, has launched three times weekly flights three times a week from Birmingham to Cluj, the second largest city in Romania.





The second route follows in quick succession from the airlines inaugural Bucharest launch which was celebrated in March this year. This route has been such a success that frequency will increase from two to three flights per week from the start of winter.



Served by a 189 seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft, the carrier will fly to the city of Cluj on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 16th December 2016.



Tom Screen, Head of Aviation Development at Birmingham Airport, said: Blue Air has had a very successful few months at Birmingham Airport flying thousands of passengers to and from the Romanian capital city of Bucharest.



We are delighted that they are already introducing this second route to Cluj. The city is a cultural and historic centre home to universities, vibrant nightlife and landmarks dating to Saxon and Hungarian rule. We look forward to seeing the carrier continue to go from strength to strength here at Birmingham Airport.



Tudor Constantinescu, Chief Commercial Officer at Blue Air, said: We are extremely pleased to announce our second route to Birmingham starting in December this year, as we expand the network from our newest base at Cluj-Napoca.



The growth of tourism and trade between the UK and Romania, and especially Cluj-Napoca which recently has rapidly been emerging, means we have no doubt that this new route will be another success. Cluj is a charming city, the second most populous in Romania, situated in the heart of Transylvania and the central point for seven nearby cities.



We look forward to continuing working closely with Birmingham Airport to ensure the longevity of this new service.
AETC officials announce 2016 Outstanding Airmen of the Year

Air Education and Training Command senior leaders recognized nine Airmen selected as the commands 2016 Outstanding Airmen of the Year, June 16.



The award distinguishes AETCs enlisted Airmen for their leadership, job performance, community involvement and personal achievements.



These Airmen are an exceptional representation of the 60,000 Airmen that make up AETC today, Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson, AETC commander, said. The winners are AETCs finest and each one plays a role in our mission to recruit, train and educate.



AETC Command Chief Master Sgt. David Staton also praised the winners for their accomplishments.



It still astounds me that an Airman can do so much in a short time period, Staton said. These nine Airmen are deserving of the honors bestowed upon them as the best of AETC.



The 2016 AETC Outstanding Airmen of the Year are:



Airman of the Year: Staff Sgt. Cody Sparks, 47th Communications Squadron, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas



NCO of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Cassandra Cruz, 81st Force Support Squadron, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi



Senior NCO of the Year: Senior Master Sgt. Joseph Arce, 14th Operations Support Squadron, Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi



First Sergeant of the Year: Senior Master Sgt. Jason Dahlquist, 326th Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas



Honor Guard Member of the Year: Senior Airman Jan Diaz Garcia, 56th Maintenance Group, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona



Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year: Staff Sgt. Richard Bates, 47th Flying Training Wing, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas



Military Training Instructor of the Year: Master Sgt. Raul Hernandez Jr., 326th Training Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas



Military Training Leader of the Year: Tech. Sgt. Kyle Mullen, Technical Training Operations Center, Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi



Recruiter of the Year: Master Sgt. Eric Hart, 344th Recruiting Squadron, Waco, Texas


Ellsworth unit executes first-ever MQ-9 participation in AF virtual exercise

The 432nd Attack Squadron achieved another remotely piloted aircraft first last month by using an MQ-9 Reaper flight simulator in Virtual Flag, the Air Force's largest virtual warfighting exercise.



The 432nd ATKS -- an Air Combat Command tenant unit located at Ellsworth Air Force Base -- has been flying combat air patrols since the squadron was formed in 2012.



In previous exercises, MQ-9 crews had to travel to Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, where the exercise is hosted and used a generic computer to participate. But through a ground-up effort, the 432nd ATKS was able to build and test a new capability to join these exercises from home station using a realistic MQ-9 cockpit.



"For 15 years, the MQ-1 and MQ-9 units in the Air Force have not been able to fully participate in one of the main training venues of the Air Force and the other services. Today we've solved that problem," said Lt. Col. Matt Martin, who initiated the project. "Every other weapons system in the Air Force has had this ability for years, and they use it to conduct complex, joint training at a fraction of the cost of live flights. But, because the MQ-1/9 enterprise has been flying nonstop combat missions since 9/11, we're only just now catching up."



Called distributed mission operations, the new capability gives the 432nd ATKS the ability to connect its flight simulator to potentially hundreds of other simulators via a global network. The participants can then conduct combat training that simulates highly complex missions and prepare for future wars.



According to Lt. Col. David Henshaw, the 432nd Operations Group deputy commander at Creech AFB, Nevada, the achievement is the product of hard work.



"This is a great example of innovation at the unit level to solve urgent problems when we have limited budgets and constrained resources," Henshaw said. "With the help of the 28th Bomb Wing, and some groundbreaking work being done by an Army lab in Huntsville, Alabama, called the Joint Simulation Integration Laboratory, the 432nd was able to achieve this using existing resources. We hope to spread this capability to the rest of the MQ-1/9 fleet."



The flight simulator provides the squadron with the ability to take part in complex, realistic exercises where they are able to work with live forward air controllers, aircrews from other aircraft, and different command centers, added Capt. Andrew, an MQ-9 pilot who participated in the exercise.



"We can connect all our simulators and get great training," he continued. "It's a game changer for us."



Stated on the Kirtland AFB website, the Virtual Flag exercises are currently the only exercise to train full-spectrum Theatre Air Control System warfighters from start to finish, and warfighter focused events.



"One of our missions in the 28th Communications Squadron is to support the 432nd so they can conduct 24/7 combat operations," said Staff Sgt. Kelby Rossmiller, the 28th CS's lead communications technician on the project. "But they've always had a real challenge getting the training they needed. So when we found out we could help close that gap, we were eager to put in the extra hours and make it happen."



Now, with innovative efforts from Airmen at multiple levels, 432nd ATKS aircrews are able to participate in this training.



(Editors note: Some last names were not included due to safety concerns.)
433rd AW becomes first Reserve wing to get new C-5M

The saying history repeats itself has become all too familiar to the 433rd Airlift Wing, as hundreds of Airmen and distinguished guests gathered along the flightline here June 17 to welcome the wings first C-5M Super Galaxy, named The City of San Antonio.



The move makes the 433rd AW the first and only Air Force Reserve wing to receive Lockheed Martins modernized strategic airlifter.



Almost 32 years ago, a similar crowd gathered at Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, as the wing, then the 433rd Tactical Airlift Wing, welcomed its predecessor, the first C-5A Galaxy, also named The City of San Antonio, into the Air Force Reserve Commands inventory.



This is a remarkable day for the 433rd Airlift Wing, said Maj. Gen. John C. Flournoy Jr., the Fourth Air Force commander, who piloted the aircraft to Lackland. The opportunity to take an older aircraft and bring it up to todays standards for aviation is absolutely phenomenal. This was my first time landing in a C-5M and let me tell you it flies like a dream. Its absolutely a wonderful piece of modern technology in that cockpit, and it felt great.



This particular C-5M is the first of nine aircraft that will make up the wings fleet by late 2018.



Tony Frese, Lockheeds Air Mobility and Maritime Missions vice president, noted that the aircraft is superior to its predecessor, the C-5A, in every way.



The biggest step up the C-5M brings are the upgraded engines, which provide not only about 22 percent improved thrust but up to 20 percent more fuel efficiency, he said. That converts into over 20 percent more range for this aircraft, much shorter takeoff distances, much faster time, but also more reliability. Also, the engines are 10 times more reliable than the previous versions engines. However, what most people dont realize is the other 70 improvements that have been made to other systems of the aircraft, and they really bring together the significant reliability of this aircraft.



Tech. Sgt. David Ponce, a 433rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron C-5M crew chief, accepted the ceremonial key to the aircraft and said hes ready to get to work.



Were really excited to get our hands on our own C-5Ms, said the 16-year airlift aircraft maintenance technician. Weve been working on what we call loaners from Dover and Travis (Air Force Bases), and now we have our first one. I love my job as a dedicated crew chief and knowing that the maintenance we provide on the aircraft makes a difference.



Performance abilities aside, one thing both the 1984 C-5A, tail number 69-0016, and todays modernized C-5M, tail number 70027, have in common is their unique City of San Antonio distinction. They are the only two C-5s to be bestowed The City of San Antonio, a testament to the solid relationship between the military and San Antonio community. The name, along with a depiction of the famous Alamo, is showcased on the aircraft to the left of the door.



During the ceremony, San Antonio City Council member Rey Saldana read a proclamation on behalf of the city to the 433rd AW welcoming its first Super Galaxy.



Im a member of the San Antonio community, and more than anything; we like to pride ourselves on being called Military City USA, he said. Its not just a slogan for us.



Ive lived outside the Lackland Air Force Base community my entire life, so to be invited in as an elected official, and more importantly, as a San Antonio community member it means the world to me, especially on a great day like this, where you get to get close up to the mission and to see the arrival of the great C-5M Super Galaxy. Its amazing.



As the ceremony came to a close, guests were invited to explore the largest plane in the U.S. military fleet. This was especially exciting for retired Gen. Thomas M. Ryan Jr., the former Military Airlift Command commander, who piloted that first C-5A to Kelly AFB.



It feels good to be here around a great bunch of people in the 433rd, said the 88-year-old command pilot who has flown more than 8,000 flying hours. This brings back a lot of good memories.



The M is a great addition to the fleet, he added. They finally have a modern, reliable plane to accomplish their mission. Im happy for them.
Team Minot welcomes new 91st MW commander

Col. Colin Connor accepted command of the 91st Missile Wing from Col. Michael Lutton during 91st MW change of command ceremony at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, June 17, 2016.



Connor comes to the 91st MW from the Pentagon where he served as a Chief of Staff of the Air Force Fellow with duty as Deputy Division Chief Operations Training and Support Division in Joint Staff Operations Directorate in Joint Staff.



Connor said even though the leadership has changed, the mission will not change.



"Our mission stays the same:Safe, secure, intercontinental ballistic missile mission, that's it, bottom line." Connor said. "My family and I are delighted to be here at Minot. Bully!"



Presiding over the change of command ceremony was 20th Air Force Commander, Maj. Gen. Anthony Cotton, who spoke about how Connor's past positions have led him to becoming the leader of the Rough Riders.



"Col. Connor's distinguished career includes a well-rounded pedigree in national level missions, plus unique staff experiences that make him superbly qualified to command this wing," said Cotton. "I am proud to welcome him to the 20th Air Force senior leadership team."



Lutton, who promoted to Brig. Gen. just after the change of command ceremony, will be heading to the Pentagon to support of the Department of Energy.



"Thank you all for what you do every day for our Rough Riders and our nation. Bully!" said Lutton.
The Mumbai Police arrested four site engineers on late Sunday in connection with the Rs 352-crore BMC road scam. All the accused were produced in Kila court which gave them police custody till June 21.

With Sundays arrests of Sanjay Dinanath Singh, Sunil Bapusaheb Chavan, Sandip Ashok Jadhav and Santhanavel Velmani, 14 accused have been booked till date.

Last week the Mumbai police had arrested 10 auditors, who were the employees of two private engineering audit firms appointed by the BMC to inspect the road works by the contractors.

This is the first time that so many accused have been arrested in a BMC road repair scam; earlier they were either blacklisted or were slapped with fines.

Mumbai police said more arrests were likely to be made, adding that the investigation in the multi core scam was underway.

It should be noted that the FIR was registered after the MCGM constituted an inquiry team for inspecting 24 roads in the city, including 11 in the suburbs. Various irregularities were found and, on an average, 53 percent of the road work was found to be shoddy.
Three people were killed in northeast Syria when a suicide bomber attacked a Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II-led event commemorating the massacre of Christians more than a century ago, state media and a security source said.

The attack yesterday in the city of Qamishli took place as locals gathered at a hall to commemorate the deaths of tens of thousands of Christians by the Ottoman army starting in 1915 in what is known as the Sayfo (Sword) massacre.

A photographer working with AFP and attending the event said he heard the blast and saw pieces of flesh lying next to damaged cars.

The suicide attacker tried to enter the hall where people were gathered but was stopped by local security forces, and he detonated himself among them, a security source at the scene told AFP.

The security forces belonged to the Sotoro, a Christian militia based in Syrias northeast.

Three Sotoro members were killed and five wounded, the security source said.

One Sotoro member told AFP that the suicide bomber detonated himself near our checkpoint after he couldnt reach his real target, Patriarch Ignatius.

Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II is the head of the Syriac Orthodox church and was leading the commemoration.

Syrias state news agency SANA also reported three people killed in a terrorist suicide explosion in Qamishli but did not specify whether they were civilians or security forces.

Situated along the border with Turkey, Qamishli has been regularly targeted by suicide bombings, many of which have been claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.

Control of the Kurdish-majority city is split between Kurdish militia and pro-government fighters.

Syriac Christians belong to the eastern Christian tradition and pray in Aramaic. They include both Orthodox and Catholic branches, and constitute around 15 per cent of Syrias 1.2 million Christians.
In first part of the edit, we were discussing the communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and police registered cases against 150 people and fourteen were taken into custody. Clashes between the two communities, Hindu Jats and Muslims, in Shamli and Muzaffarnagar grew on 27th August 2013. The original cause of the rioting was disputed according to bipartisan claims largely concerning the affected communities. How did the Muzaffarnagar riots started, and whats the present situation, no one knows and many have their own version.

Muzaffarnagar riots are an example of what happens when minority appeasement in the name of secularism reaches a disgusting level. Or in the other words when the Hindutva is promoted and minorities left neglected. So the whole unfortunate incident started with a simple case of eve teasing. There was a girl from Muzaffarnagar who was being regularly troubled and molested by a guy named Shahnawaz from neighboring village Kawal. She reported these incidents to her family who took her to the police station to file a case but the police simply refused to take any kind of cognizance or action and drove them away. Now this was not an isolated case of police inaction against Muslims. Ever since SP govt. came to power, the police have been ignoring even the heinous crimes like Rapes if the perpetrators of these crimes are Muslims. There had been a string of rapes and gang-rapes by Muslim youths of the area not only against Jats but also against Dalit women and they had been given a free run by the police which led to an attitude of fearlessness among these criminals.

The same thing happened in this case too. It should be noted even Dalits of the area were boiling in anger against the Muslims at this point and a combined wrath of Jats and Dalits against Muslims was always probable. The nation is boiling because of crimes against women but the police here didnt even take a note of this continued harassment of a girl. As a result, her brother Sachin when going to college now accompanied the girl. Undeterred even by that, Shahnawaz tried to harass her once again. Sachin then called his cousin Gaurav and confronted Shahnawaz and a scuffle broke out between the two brothers and Shahnawaz. The brothers beat him up; seriously injured him and he had to be taken to the hospital where he died later. After some time though, Sachin and Gaurav were attacked, tortured and killed by a Muslim mob for defending their sisters honour. As such incidents of womens harassment by Muslims youths were on a rise and police just refused to help them, the Jats called for Khap Panchyat in which it was decided to call for a Bahu-Beti Samman Bachao Mahapanchayat to demand action and justice against the criminal Muslim youths of that area.

People returning from this Panchayat were ensnared with automatic rifles and even killed in droves by some Muslim mobs and their bodies dumped in a nearby canal. Many of these bodies have now been fished out and many are still being searched for. This blew a plug and is considered as a flash point in the starting of the riots as the Jats were already angry and now they were being attacked without any reason. So the Jats, in the heat of the moment, decided to exact revenge instead of waiting for administrative and police help which was never going to come. They started attacking Muslims anywhere and everywhere and killed them in droves. Meanwhile someone circulated a fake video of the incident of the killing of the two brothers that added fuel to the already raging fire. And as usual innocent Muslims had to pay for the mistakes of their radical community members. Now the UP government blamed BJP. The Jats are not one of BJPs strong vote banks. They usually support the Congress and RLDs and UPAs Ajit Singh is their biggest leader. Here they were working under the umbrella of their Khaps and their Panchayats. But BJPs silent involvement in every communal incident cannot be ignored and their horrendous mistakes, so it happened once again. The media also mindlessly propagated their own theory, as BJP is the easiest scapegoat in any such incident.

Let me bring to your notice, that it was not a Hindu-Muslim riot but a Jat-Muslim riot and members of SP, BSP, Congress and one from BJP too were caught on tape allegedly making provocative speeches. Once again Muslims are being projected as helpless victims and the Jats as oppressors, which is so not true. None of this would have happened if UP government had not adopted an incredibly biased approach in favour of one community at the expense of law and order. Meanwhile, these riots killed around 43 people including a news reporter and a photographer. The casualties occurred before the army was deployed and a curfew was imposed in Muzaffarnagar and nearby Shamli district. Even with the curfew and the use of army, the clashes continued for next three days, with casualties increasing to 43 by September 12, 2013. Then the state home department official said that 38 people died in Muzaffarnagar, 3 in Baghpat, and one each in Saharanpur and Meerut. It was reported on November 15, 2013 that a total of 13 rape and sexual harassment cases were registered over the past two months of rioting and the report named 111 people accused, but no arrests had been made then. A Maha panchayat (great council) of 40 villages was held in Khera, Sardhana on September 29, 2013 to protest against the Uttar Pradesh government charging the local BJP led MLA Sangeet Singh Som under the National Security Act. The incident is widely seen as repercussion of the violence that took place in September 2014 during Lok Sabha elections. In May 2014, Bharatiya Janata Party won the parliamentary elections in Muzaffarnagar district, along with all the seats in Uttar Pradesh. BJP led MP Sanjeev Balyan, a Jat leader became a Union minister of the Narendra Modi government. Those days approximately 50,000 people have been displaced. Some of them took shelter at state-run relief camps. But so far no government bothered to find out what happened to the displaced Muslims and those who are still languishing in relief camps, meanwhile BJP came up with Kairanas Hindu migration issue but they could not succeed.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@afternoonvoice.com)
I wonder why media is so silent on my case; should I say lack of guts to expose these men in fancy black gowns? This is what encourages them to commit more criminal acts of subverting justice says Indur K Chhugani.

Mr Indur Chhugani who is a victim of judiciary and police department, he has become almost homeless and fighting for the justice from past many years. He suffered serious accidents in past few years on account of severe stress.

In 2005 Mr Chhugani was booked in a fake case of, breaking seal on the court orders but surprisingly there was no order passed to seal the property or the property itself was never sealed, but he was accused of doing so. Against all the directions of the Supreme Court regarding unnecessary arrest of citizens Chhugani says I was kept in police custody for 6 days in 2005 my wife and son was also arrested (they obtained anticipatory bail). He alleged the Police for extorting Rs 50,000 from his family to not harm him in police custody. This has not stopped here but further a lawyer extorted Rs 25,000 for Magistrate. Thereafter there was no end to such expenses. He been to Supreme Court four times and also wrote letters to the Prime Minister and the President stating the atrocities that he faced but the letters went unanswered. Finally he decided to argue in person, as he was going through sever financial crunch.

Now the question here, can an Individual file Criminal Writ Petition in 2005, whose prayers are solely based on order passed in his favor in 2006?

This is the basis of the order passed against Chhugani, which made him homeless at age 66, they took away the only property that he owned.

Punjab National Bank filed Four crore WPs to evict him, and did not succeed High court Judges concluded, that Chhugani filed those petitions.

Both Banks via Affidavits admitted having called for tenders  HC concluded On his own volition approached banks on 24.2.2005 for purchase of flats and made the payment (Which means, If you trust High Court judge, the Banks never called for tenders?).

Order passed in his favour by Sessions Court stated that The fallacious observations of the then MPID Court are reproduced, there is no convincing material available on record against the notice Chhugani regarding the alleged removing of seal of property attached by the order of the Court and making illegal entry into the property attached by the Court and especially in the light of registration of FIR into the matter which is pending investigation. The said show-cause dated 22.3.2005 is hereby discharged. ( the Judges were A R Joshi and A M Khanwilkar of Bombay High Court )

And the Supreme Court Judges refused to consider  That no human can file Writ Petition in 2005 with prayers SOLELY based on order of The Sessions Court passed favoring him in 2006.

Further Mr Chhugani said I do not owe money to anyone  I purchased the flats from the Joint Asset Sale Committee of 2 Banks PNB and Bharat Overseas Bank  in an auction under the SARFAESI Act  They called for Tenders on 15.2.2005. These Banks did not inform that there was an attachment order against the flat in a case against the person who had mortgaged these flats to them Flat 501 and Flat 502  Both Banks had filed Applications before the MPID Sessions Court on 25.2.2005  for release of attachment order and were 100% confident that they had first right as they had advanced huge loans (Rs 17.5 Crores) to the borrower  and obtained physical possession in 2004 of Flats under SARFAESI Act from Chief Metropolitan Magistrates Court.

The MPID Court Judge on 21.3.2005  told the Bank Officers  I was to release the flat today, for you to sell but you have sold it 3 weeks before, so you deserve to be sent to Arthur Road Jail  scared bank officers denied having sold the flat and claimed Mr Chhugani has forcibly left the Bank Drafts in their office. Meanwhile the Applications filed on 25.2.2005 have not been certain till today. After this incidence Mr Chhugani was arrested for trespass  and remanded to Police Custody for 5 days  And the same Sessions Court (MPID Court) discharged him on 30.1.2006 from the charge of trespass.

To conclude, if we revise the present status of Mr Chhugani, he lost the Flat and also Rs 51 lakhs that he paid in 2005 (consider property prices have jumped 800% in these 9 years and is now worth over Rs 4 Crores). After all the atrocities and agony, he is still waiting for the justice to happen.
Chapter Two: The Insanely Good Soul of Dr. Andrew Wakefield  British researcher, Dr. Andrew Wakefield first published his findings suggesting the MMR vaccine was linked to autism in The Lancet in 1997, even going so far as to share these results with the CDC prior to publication. In the ensuing years, Wakefield was subjected to unbelievable persecution and his name was vilified throughout the world. Hooker brings the Thompson documents to Wakefields attention. Hooker also initiates contact between Thompson and Wakefield, with Thompson apologizing for participating in the cover-up of research that would have vindicated Wakefields research. Wakefield accepts Thompsons apology.

Chapter One: The Call  Dr. Brian Hooker, a university biology professor was working in his office when he got a call from a senior Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) scientist, Dr. William Thompson. The two worked together years earlier when parent groups were clamoring for the CDC to conduct research into vaccines and autism. Thompson reveals that the CDC found such evidence, but covered it up. Thompson had retained these documents and eventually turned them over to Congressman William Posey. The most explosive of these allegations is that earlier administration of the MMR vaccine is causing a 3.36-fold increase in autism among African-American males. With Thompsons guidance, Hooker publishes this information in the summer of 2014.

In the meantime, I got a powerhouse agent, Johanna Maaghoul of the Waterside Literary Agency, the world's #1 agency for New York Times non-fiction bestsellers. Johanna has been taking the book around to publishing companies, getting some positive interest, but they are absolutely terrified of the subject. Publishing companies like to sell books, so that's where you come in. I want you to read the chapter outline and if this is a book you would like to buy, leave a comment to that effect. How's that for simple? That way when my agent is talking to a publisher she can say something like, "Five hundred and seventy two people said they would buy this book immediately!" Thanks in advance for your comments.

About ten months ago I started writing a new book, INOCULATED: How Science Lost Its Soul in Autism, which would utilize the CDC whistleblower story as a way to review the corruption in science regarding vaccines and autism. I knew Andy Wakefield was working on his documentary, and when I interviewed him for this book he mentioned it, but in my wildest dreams I never imagined VAXXED would explode onto the scene the way it has. I have been writing furiously to make sure that story is included as well.

Chapter Three: The Lipkin-Hornig Team  No two scientists are more frequently quoted in the media regarding vaccine issues then Drs. Ian Lipkin and his collaborator, Mady Hornig of Columbia University. And yet the picture is more complex than painted in media accounts. The author reviews the Lipkin/Hornig publication of 2004 and their Congressional testimony which DID show a link between the mercury in vaccines and autism in laboratory animals. Also reviewed is their debunking investigations regarding the XMRV retroviruses and chronic fatigue syndrome/ME, the MMR vaccine and autism, and the simple flaws in their experiments which would be clear to anyone with a passing familiarity in scientific principles.

Chapter Four: The Documents  On December 22, 2015, science teacher and author Kent Heckenlively applied for and was granted access by the office of Congressman William Posey to the documents turned over by Dr. William Thompson. Heckenlively reviews some of the most damaging documents and also reflects on how his own struggle with his daughters autism would have been significantly different if this information had been publicly released in 2001. There would have been no Vaccine War or dismissal of autism parents as being anti-science, just researchers and parents working together to find solutions for their disabled children.

Chapter Five: The CDC Runs Away to Simpsonwood Retreat Center to Defend Mercury in Vaccines  On June 7-8, 2000 more than fifty scientists from the CDC, private universities, and vaccine makers gathered at Simpsonwood Retreat Center in Norcross, Georgia to discuss findings that suggested thimerosal in vaccines, a mercury derivative, were linked to increasing rates of autism and other neurological disorders. The meeting was supposed to be secret, and the study was not published until more than two years later, after a lot of the incriminating information was eliminated. Using the actual transcript of the meeting, Heckenlively shows how the science was twisted by the same individuals who would later prevent Dr. Thompson from honestly reporting his own findings about the MMR vaccine.

Chapter Six: The View from Congress  Heckenlively interviews Beth Clay, a former senior staff member of the House Oversight Committee chaired by Congressman Dan Burton which had looked into the mercury issue and issued a report in 2003 called Mercury in Medicine: An Unnecessary Burden. The report concluded that mercury was probably linked to the autism epidemic and made numerous suggestions for change, none of which were adopted. Clays memories of the investigation provide a chilling look at scientists who do not want to honestly investigate one of their most cherished practices. The chapter ends with a speech in 2004 by another Congressman, Dave Weldon, a medical doctor, in which he reviews the shameful conduct of the CDC in this investigation. Weldons talk got minimal press coverage.

Chapter Seven: The Legal View  Most Americans dont realize they cannot sue a vaccine manufacturer for injuries. That right was taken away by the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, which established a special Vaccine Court which hears all claims. Injured parties are not allowed to obtain documents from the companies which manufactured the vaccines, or are they allowed to call researchers who worked on those products. Even with all of these obstacles, the court has paid out more than three billion dollars in claims, including to several children whose injuries included autism. This chapter features an interview with a judge who worked in the Vaccine Court for twenty-two years as well as a Stanford law professor who conducted an in-depth investigation of the court, ultimately concluding it did not provide a good model for other proposed alternative courts.

Chapter Eight: Those Who Oppose Goliath - Brandy Vaughn was a pharmaceutical sales representative for Merck pharmaceuticals, selling the medication, Vioxx, which was later pulled off the market because it was causing heart attacks among those who took it. The experience forced Vaughn to more deeply consider what she had been a part of, and led her to research vaccine ingredients when she had her own child. Vaughn went on to found the Council for Vaccine Safety and has been a leader against efforts in her own state to mandate vaccines for all children. The story of Dr. Jeff Bradstreet, an autism doctor who died under mysterious circumstances is also profiled.

Chapter Nine: Curious Alliances - After publication of his article, Dr. Brian Hooker becomes part of a group of individuals trying to work in concert with other groups trying to get to the bottom of Thompsons allegations. Most groups turn away, but significant and enthusiastic support is given by three unlikely groups: right-wing Republicans, the Nation of Islam under Louis Farrakhan, and the Church of Scientology.

Chapter Ten: De Niro, Tribeca and the Real Goodfellas  Wakefield and Hookers documentary film about CDC whistleblower, Dr. William Thompson, VAXXED: From Cover-Up to Catastrophe, is accepted to the Tribeca Film Festival in March of 2016, immediately becoming the subject of controversy. De Niro supports the film at first, then pulls it, then later on The Today Show says he regrets pulling the film and everybody in America should see it and make up their own mind. The film is also pulled from the Houston International Film Festival under pressure from the mayor and a local judge on the grounds that it conflicts with the citys immunization program. The film is now opening in theaters across the country, attracting record crowds, and provoking a long overdue national conversation.

Chapter Eleven: Can Science End the Autism Epidemic? - Can the autism epidemic be reversed? Can we give those people who currently suffer from this affliction a normal life? Heckenlively sounds a hopeful note by interviewing a leading scientist from the University of California, San Diego, who has been using a century-old drug to reverse autism in animal models, and has had similar success in his initial human trial. Sometimes science can make quantum leaps, and this research holds the promise of not only transcending the current bitterness, but pointing towards treatment for many other diseases. A doctor in private practice who is working with the UC San Diego team also shares his perspective on the difficulties inherent in bringing new approaches to the public.








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Following an eight-year hiatus, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality employees are back in the Atchafalaya River Basin looking for fish that contain unsafe levels of mercury.



The department's mission is to catch fish randomly and test them for mercury contamination, which will then be formulated into data that the state Department of Health will use to issue fish consumption advisories, according to a report by The Advocate. At present the advisories are outdated, as DEQ ceased regular mercury testing of fish  a program that cost state taxpayers $500,000 a year  in 2008 as part of budget cuts to most state agencies under the administration of then-Gov. Bobby Jindal.



Late in 2015, however, the Jindal administration announced that it would resume the testing, and that is now beginning to occur, say officials, who added that workers will begin in southwest Louisiana. That said, environmentalists and other state officials are hopeful that lawmakers and current Gov. John Bel Edwards will be able to come up with more funding to also revive additional aspects of the mercury testing program.



Educating the public



In recent days, and for the first time since 2008, a group of environmental organizations met with state DEQ officials and others with an interest in the project to discuss the mercury program of the past and how it could be revived in the present day.



"We're hoping to get everything geared up and keep it running this time," Al Hindrichs, a DEQ environmental scientist in the water permits division, told The Advocate.



Barry Kohl, who heads up the Louisiana Audubon Council and is a longtime proponent of the mercury program, told the news site that staffers and Secretary Chuck Carr Brown, a onetime DEQ employee until he was appointed this year to head up the agency by Edwards, are all supportive of revitalizing the mercury testing program. Besides examining fish, the groups noted that there ought to be more public awareness campaigns to education state residents about the dangers of consuming fish with higher levels of mercury.



"If the public doesn't understand the problem and don't understand the fish they're eating is contaminated, then we really have a problem," Kohl said.



Adequate public awareness can be as easy as putting cautionary warning signs back in waterways that direct people to the state's guidelines regarding what fish species are safe to consume, as well as obtaining additional information about the annual fishing guide that is published by the state's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, said Kohl.



The Advocate reported further:



Other aspects of the program include locating and cleaning up mercury-containing gas meter sites and enforcement of mercury-reduction regulations, Kohl said. But, he added, it all comes down to money and finding a way to pay for the additional work in a department that has seen staffing cuts during the past eight years.



New life



The program's reimplementation comes from a four-year. $1.5 million consent agreement between the DEQ and NRG Louisiana Gathering, which earmarked the money for a beneficial environmental project. And while that level of funding doesn't match the previous level of $500,000 a year before the program was cut  a dollar amount that enabled officials to collect fish samples at 100 sites a year  it is nevertheless a start, officials have noted.



At current funding levels staff will be able to visit about 36 sites in 2016 in the southwestern portion of the state, with at least seven already done, said Hindrichs.



"But we're hitting it where it's important," he told The Advocate.



Officials said that DEQ was first revisiting sites that were on the state's advisory list before, and if there are enough funds left over at year's end, they will next test areas with readings high enough they were close to making the advisory list. Officials have so far not determined which region of the state will be tested next year.



Sources:



TheAdvocate.com

DEQ.Louisiana.gov

NaturalNews.com



Read More..
WASHINGTON, June 19, 2016 - Lawmakers are down to their last week to reach a deal to stop the first GMO labeling requirements from taking effect in Vermont on July 1.

Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and ranking Democrat Debbie Stabenow of Michigan continued negotiating into the weekend, but an industry source said that they still hadnt reached a final deal as of Sunday afternoon.

Roberts and Stabenow have been trying to cut a deal on national GMO disclosure standards that could garner the 60 votes to move it though the Senate. House members leave town Friday for their July 4 break, and they would need to approve a Senate deal before they go.

Should Stabenow and Roberts reach a deal, it may not be easy for opponents to mobilize opposition to it, given that the Senates attention, and the publics, is focused on the gun control debate in the aftermath of the June 12 mass shootings in Orlando, Fla. The Senate has votes scheduled Monday evening on rival GOP and Democratic proposals for restricting access to assault-style rifles.

Meanwhile, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Gina McCarthy, returns to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to testify before the House Science, Space and Technology. Shes likely to be questioned about a range of issues, but her appearance comes as the Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, has been questioning the agencys review of the safety of the herbicide glyphosate.

Earlier this month, Smith wrote McCarthy demanding interviews with four agency officials about EPAs role in the World Health Organizations deliberations over the safety of glyphosate.

Smith said he was concerned about the integrity of the process that the WHOs International Agency for Research on Cancer used in making its decision that the herbicide could cause cancer. Smith said he wanted to know what influence EPA had on the IARC deliberations.

In May, Smith wrote McCarthy questioning why the agency posted - and then removed - a study that said glyphosate was unlikely to cause cancer. The report was labeled as final and contained the signatures of thirteen members of EPAs Cancer Assessment Review Committee.

Also on Wednesday, a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee will look into the EPAs proposed biofuel usage mandates for 2017 under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The witness list will include the president of the Renewable Fuels Association, Bob Dinneen, who has challenged the EPAs policy of using its waiver authority to set the annual requirements lower than the statutory levels.

Do you find the information on Agri-Pulse helpful? See even more ag and rural policy news when you sign up for a four-week free trial Agri-Pulse subscription.





Dinneen told Agri-Pulse that he would remind the subcommittee about all of the success provided by the RFS over the years - lower carbon emissions from transportation fuels, competition at the pump and lower consumer prices, dramatic reductions in imported petroleum, increased farm income and reduced farm program costs, technology innovation and efficiency in ethanol production, including the launch of commercial scale cellulosic ethanol.

Heres a list of agriculture- or rural-related events scheduled for this week in Washington and elsewhere:

Monday, June 20

SelectUSA Investment Summit, through Tuesday, Washington Hilton

8 a.m. - U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and Merit E. Janow, dean of the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs, discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership, Council on Foreign Relations, New York. Livestream available.

4 p.m. - USDA releases Crop Progress report.

4:40 p.m. - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks to the SelectUSA Summit , Washington Hilton.

Tuesday, June 21

SelectUSA Investment Summit.

Acting Deputy Agriculture Secretary Michael Scuse participates in a Business Forward conference call to discuss Cuban agriculture.

10:30 a.m. - Center for American Progress forum, The National Security Implications of Climate Change and Food Security, 1333 H St. NW.

11 a.m. - Agricultural trade negotiator Darci Vetter moderates discussion of prospects for food and agriculture processing, SelectUSA Investment Summit.

1 p.m. - Food and Drug Administration webinar on sodium reduction guidance.

1 p.m. - Froman speaks to the SelectUSA Investment Summit.

2:30 p.m. - Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee hearing on the Bureau of Land Managements Planning 2.0 initiative, 366 Dirksen.

4 p.m. - Friends of the Earth hosts webinar , Can Organic Feed the World?

Wednesday, June 22

10 a.m. - House Agriculture Committee hearing, Past, Present, and Future of SNAP: Evaluating Effectiveness and Outcomes in Nutrition Education, 1300 Longworth.

10 a.m. - House Energy and Commerce subcommittee hearing on implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard, 2123 Rayburn.

10 a.m. - House Natural Resources Committee hearing on the role of the National Environmental Policy Act in the permitting process, 1324 Longworth.

10:30 a.m. - House Appropriations Committee markup of the fiscal 2017 Homeland Security bill, 2359 Rayburn.

1 p.m. - House Science, Space and Technology Committee hearing with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, 2318 Rayburn.

2:30 p.m. - House Natural Resources subcommittee hearing on BLM's Wild Horse & Burro Program, 1334 Longworth.

2:30 p.m. - Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee hearing on bills affecting implementation of national standards for ground-level ozone, 406 Dirksen.

Thursday, June 23

Vilsack announces National Drought Resilience Partnership expansion, Denver.

8:30 a.m. - USDA releases Weekly Export Sales report.

10 a.m. - House Agriculture subcommittee hearing, Big Data and Agriculture: Innovation in the Air, 1300 Longworth.

10 a.m. - Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the Wildfire Budgeting, Response and Forest Management Act of 2016, 366 Dirksen.

2 p.m. - House Natural Resources subcommittee hearing on the Public Lands Service Corps Act, 1324 Longworth.

Friday, June 24

Vilsack discusses opioid abuse with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy at the Aspen Ideas Festival, Aspen, Colo.

9 a.m. - USDA releases monthly Food Price Outlook.

3 p.m. - USDA releases Quarterly Hogs and Pigs and Cattle on Feed reports.

#30

For more news, go to: www.Agri-Pulse.com
Etihad Cargo has launched a new twice weekly A330 freighter service between its Abu Dhabi hub and Europes Brussels Airport.

The Middle East carrier said it would complement bellyhold space on its existing passenger flights to the Belgian capital.

The carrier adds that one of the attractions of Brussels is that it has dedicated infrastructure for the transport and handling of products requiring an unbroken cold chain, particularly pharmaceutical products and perishables.

Etihad Cargo launched a specialised product for the pharmaceutical industry, TempCheck, in March 2015. It ensures that all temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products including blood plasma, tablets, medicines and anaesthetics are transported in line with industry guidelines.

The programme is supervised by experienced Etihad Cargo teams and supporting ground handling staff.

David Kerr, vice president of Etihad Cargo, said: Brussels is an important route into Europe with the freight operation returning to full strength.

Brussels provides vital connections across Europe and is also a key connector into Africa so we know that it will be another important route on our global freighter network.

Brussels Airport has reported that its cargo on full freighter traffic had fully recovered, following the March 22 terrorist attacks, with total volume in May 2016 at 40,396 tonnes.

Belly hold cargo is still lagging behind, as it has taken longer to reinstate passenger flights in the wake of the incidents. although, the airports capacity to handle passenger flights was increased from 22 to 28 flights per hour.

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June 20, 2016

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  Chicken, a basic component of iftar (breaking of the fast) during Ramadan, is no longer available to most Gazans. Its increasing price has led citizens to hold the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip responsible amid the spread of the black market for chicken and the governments failure to sanction the traders manipulation of prices.

During a field tour conducted by Al-Monitor in the markets of Gaza City to check on the price of chicken, many citizens expressed their discontent at the merchants exploitation of citizens calling on the government to put an end to the monopoly and price manipulation plaguing Gaza.

Gazans believe that the government should not cater to the interests of a couple of traders and choose to overlook the majority of the citizens. They say the government cannot remain silent as traders raise the price of chicken, while its representatives issue countless reassuring statements about a drop in prices during Ramadan, without the situation changing. One kilogram (2.2 pounds) of chicken now costs 15-16 Israeli shekels (about $4), while it did not cost more than 10 shekels ($2.60) before Ramadan started two weeks ago.

Citizens started a hashtag in Arabic, which would translate into #IBoycott Exploitation, to express their disapproval of the high price of chicken in the Gaza Strip during the month of Ramadan.

Hamas government employee Imad Selmi told Al-Monitor from the Sheikh Radwan market north of Gaza City, I could not afford to buy chicken, even long before Ramadan started. My family is made up of 10 members and we need at least three chickens per day, which cost 90 shekels. Given that we are not getting our full salaries and the price of chicken is on the rise, I chose to not eat chicken pending its price decrease.

Amani al-Othmani, a housewife whom Al-Monitor spoke to while she was shopping at the Shajaiya market, said, My husband is sick and does not work, and we live off [support provided by] the Ministry of Social Affairs, which gives us a check of 1,800 shekels [$466] every three months. I was waiting for Ramadan to be able to eat chicken with my family. The statements made by the officials led me to think that the price of poultry would be falling and would become accessible to everyone, but unfortunately the prices have further increased amid the merchants exploitation of citizens during Ramadan. They are controlling the price [of chicken] while turning a blind eye to the decrees of the Ministry of Economy that sets and decreases prices.

In contrast, chicken vendors interviewed by Al-Monitor complained about the deterioration of the economic conditions and the lack of demand for their merchandise due to the high prices.

Zuhair al-Hor, a chicken vendor in the market of Nuseirat refugee camp, told Al-Monitor, Selling chicken has become difficult due to the increasing prices, which are the result of the high prices of feed and chicks. He added, The increasing prices have had an equally adverse effect on the vendors given that they are no longer making a profit. Prices are high in general and do not suit all social strata.

For his part, Mohammed al-Kurdi, who sells chicken at the market in Shati refugee camp, told Al-Monitor that he has fallen  just like citizens  prey to the high cost of poultry, because as a seller he does not control the price of chicken.

According to Kurdi, it is the big traders who import chicks and fertilized eggs from Israel as well as farm owners and black market traders who are in control of these prices, knowing that they are not subject to the control of the government in Gaza. This negatively affects citizens, who then avoid buying chickens, leading vendors to suffer losses.

The director of the Animal Production Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, Taher Abu Hamad, told Al-Monitor that he expects the price of chicken to decrease in the coming days. The high prices result from increased demand and limited supply during Ramadan due to the low number of chickens reaching the Gaza Strip. Add to this the heat wave and the diseases that contribute to the death of large numbers of chicks at the farms.

Abu Hamad said that his ministry has requested many of the traders who are registered with the Ministry of Economy and work in the trade of meat and chickens to import large quantities of fertilized eggs. This could result in more than 5 million chickens, thus covering the needs of Gazans during and after Ramadan. He added that the Ministry of Agriculture directly interferes by importing frozen chicken and meat as a temporary substitute for chicken, which will help bridge the needs of citizens and will work to reduce the price of chicken.

On June 13, the Ministry of Economy in Gaza set in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture the market price of 1 kilogram of chicken at 11.50 shekels ($3) and ordered the application of this price immediately after the issuance of the decision. But many traders raised their prices further, which has sparked a wave of discontent among citizens who directed their anger at the government for failing to follow up on its decree and leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by chicken traders and vendors.

Abdul Fattah Abu Musa, the spokesman for the Palestinian Ministry of Economy, told Al-Monitor that his ministry is working with the Ministry of Agriculture and in coordination with the meat and chicken traders who are registered at the ministry to import large numbers of fertilized eggs and frozen chicken and meat to Gaza.

This policy will certainly reduce the price of chicken in the near future, Abu Musa said, stressing, The ministry's Consumer Protection Department will begin to follow up on and monitor the price [of chickens] and intervene in emergency situations and in times of crisis.

Economist and professor of economics at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, Mazen al-Ajala, told Al-Monitor, The price of chicken increases every Ramadan amid the officials failure to provide solutions, such as setting a fixed price for 1 kilogram of chicken throughout the year and laws to deter and punish monopolizing traders. This is either due to an increased demand for chicken during Ramadan or to the monopolistic policy adopted by senior traders toward citizens.

Ajala also attributed the increase in the price of chicken to the fact that there are poultry companies and farms run by people and officials in the Hamas movement and those who have relations with the government in Gaza. It is in their interest to keep prices high until their goods are sold. In both cases, citizens are the ones paying the price of this unjust policy.
June 20, 2016

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  The man constantly checked his watch as he stood at the entrance to the Borno Mosque in the center of Gaza City. Anyone coming across him couldnt help but wonder why he wasn't praying inside with the others. Why did he keep checking his watch? For whom or what was he waiting? Then a man wearing dark glasses exited the mosque. The man at the door guided him and helped him put on his shoes. Al-Monitor asked after the two men and found that the one by the door is a Christian who regularly waits there to assist his blind Muslim friend.

Kamal Tarzi, 55, known as Abu Elias, has stuck by his Muslim friend, the 45-year-old pharmacist Hatem Khreis since Khreis lost his sight preparing a prescription five years ago. Tarzi says he is Khreis best friend and eyes.

Hatem and I have been friends for 15 years, and we have been through joy and pain, Tarzi told Al-Monitor. I always accompany him, and people are shocked when they learn that I am Christian and that he is Muslim, given the depth of our relationship.

Tarzi explained how he came to escort his friend: After my friend lost his sight, his life turned upside down. He went from preparing medical prescriptions for patients to relying on peoples help to be able to live his daily life and take his own medicine.

Growing up, Hatem would always perform prayers at the mosque, but after the incident five years ago, he was no longer able to do so because there was no one available to guide him there. I saw how he would shed tears whenever the call to prayer would come from the mosque. That is why I decided to take him to the mosque to pray as he did in the past.

The first day I helped him get to the mosque, four years ago, he was so happy. So I told him I would be taking him every day to perform all the prayers. He was thrilled to hear my decision. It was as if he had found something he had lost for a long time.

In the early morning, Tarzi accompanies Khreis to the market to help him buy what he needs. Once the shopping is done, Tarzi goes to his friend's house, and the two sit together to read the headlines.

Tarzi does not work, so he spends most of his time with Khreis. Sentenced to nine years in jail in 1988 by an Israeli court for political activities, Tarzi now lives off his prisoners pension from the Palestinian Authority (PA). He served seven years in jail and was released in 1994 under a provision of the Oslo Accord.

Tarzi told Al-Monitor that if experts said some sort of transplant would be successful and allow his friend to regain his sight, he would gladly sacrifice one of his eyes so his friend could see his five children again.

When I lost my sight, I was not able to do anything, Khreis told Al-Monitor. I couldn't even make it to the mosque where I usually pray. I stopped seeing my friends because of their preoccupation with other things. My life changed a lot.

At first, I was upset and sad since I would not be able to do what I used to do in the past, but after my Christian friend Abu Elias volunteered to help me go to the mosque and started spending most of his time with me, I felt better because the void I was struggling with got filled.

Khreis said that Tarzi also takes him to relaxing places where the two chat until midnight about life, the political situation and the blockade on Gaza. Khreis prefers Tarzis company over his other friends and relatives because he feels comfortable with him. Khreis is, nonetheless, sometimes obliged to turn to someone else when Tarzi is sick or busy.

Khreis said that what Tarzi is doing shows how Palestinians do not differentiate between Muslims and Christians, who share almost the same customs, traditions and everyday life. Tarzi agreed, saying, Nothing distinguishes Christians from Muslims in Gaza. Christians and Muslims in Gaza face the same reality. In such difficult times, Christians cannot escape the situation experienced by other Gazans, especially as economic conditions are affecting both Christians and Muslims. Christians in Gaza protect Muslims just like Muslims protect Christians. They are both united. They support each other and rejoice for each other. They suffer from the same occupation and the same blockade.

Tarzi stressed that like every other Palestinian who loves Palestine, he does not distinguish between himself and his Muslim brothers and friends because he grew up with them under the same circumstances. He asserted that Christians in Gaza are respected, appreciated and treated well by everyone. They freely perform their religious rites and rituals and enjoy the legal protection to do so.

Out of the 2 million people living in Gaza, there are 3,500 Christians, most of them Eastern Orthodox and some 15% Latin. There are three churches, which were all damaged by the Israeli bombing during the 2014 war but eventually restored. They are an integral part of Palestinian societys fabric and structure.
June 20, 2016

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  Rehabilitation and re-entry support centers in the Gaza Strip house hundreds of prisoners who are incarcerated for crimes and violations of the law. Based on the idea that imprisonment is aimed to reform and rehabilitate and not punish, these centers seek to implement educational and employment programs during the prisoners stay in prison.

In this context, the Reform and Rehabilitation Center in Deir al-Balah governorate inaugurated Fateh Bakery on May 18, in collaboration with the Edmaj Aftercare Center. On Jan. 6, the Reform and Rehabilitation Center opened as part of its Productive Inmate project, which aims to employ inmates and includes a sewing factory and a handcraft workshop.

The director of the sewing factory, inmate Abu Akram (a pseudonym), told Al-Monitor, Before being imprisoned I owned a sewing factory in eastern Gaza City, and this is why the administration decided to assign me as the official in charge of this factory. They asked me to train other inmates in sewing, who currently number 15."

He said, My experience was limited to the field of ready-to-wear clothes. Israeli traders would place an order and send me a model [to work on], and I would send them back [the clothes they had ordered] to be sold in Israel. Now I can design and make custom-made clothes.

Abu Akram, 53, who has served 8 years of his 15-year sentence for drug trafficking, said that he has benefited from the sewing project in many ways. By practicing his profession he feels more optimistic and he is able to support his family of seven on his weekly salary of 200 Israeli shekels ($50). He said that working hours are flexible, the centers administration provides inmates with the necessary facilities for the completion of their work, and the promotion and sales of products are supported.

Inmate Abu Ahmed (a pseudonym), who has served six years of a 15-year sentence for drug trafficking, told Al-Monitor at the handcraft workshop that embroidery and the manufacturing of wooden frames and cotton cushions has been his hobby since his childhood. He said that before the launch of the Productive Inmate project in January, he created products that he sold inside and outside the prison through one of his relatives who marketed his products.

Abu Ahmed, 52, added that before the handcraft workshop was set up, no sharp tools were allowed inside the prison cells except for blunt needles, a few pieces of cloth and some pieces of string.

While rehabilitation and re-entry support centers are affiliated with Gazas Ministry of Interior, the lack of financial resources  provided by the Hamas government, and thus the Interior Ministry  forces these centers to appeal to international and regional institutions for the support of programs for inmates.

Sameh Hamdan, the chairman of the board of directors of the Edmaj Aftercare Center, told Al-Monitor that once the judge decides on incarcerating someone in a rehabilitation and re-entry support center, the inmate starts working immediately in a job that suits his skills. He said that this process aims to curb the spread of crime in the Gaza Strip and to provide a source of support for the inmates families.

In this context, Article 41 of Law No. 6 of 1998 regarding rehabilitation and re-entry support centers states, The center shall seek to train the inmates professionally and develop their skills as well as make them acquire beneficial trades or professions during the period of execution of the punishment that would help them earn their living after their release. The theoretical and practical vocational training shall be carried out in the training and employment workshops inside or outside the center according to the regulations and instructions issued by the Directorate General [of Rehabilitation and Reform Centers] in this respect."

Hamdan said that Fateh Bakery falls within the scope of the program for the economic empowerment of prisoners and released prisoners launched by the Edmaj Aftercare Center in early 2015, noting that the Bahraini al-Eslah Society contributed $140,000 to the funding of the bakery.

The revenues and profits of [Fateh Bakery] will be deposited in a fund allocated for the payment of outstanding debts by some impoverished prisoners, detained for failing to pay their debts, he said.

Hamdan explained that the criteria for the selection of prisoners to work at the bakery are based on the inmate's health, physical ability to work, skills and the economic situation of his family. The Edmaj Aftercare Center and the Reform and Rehabilitation Center collaborate closely in the selection of the prisoners who may work at the bakery, to make it a viable project.

He added that prisoners do an internship before starting work at the bakery. The bakery is open 15 hours a day with a production capacity ranging between 4,000 and 5,000 loaves of bread per hour. Twenty inmates are employed with 10 of them working a 7-hour shift, he said.

For his part, the head of the Reform and Rehabilitation Center, Chadi Yassin, told Al-Monitor that the center implements several educational and employment projects for the prisoners to encourage them to become better citizens, noting that the center resorts to the private sector to finance projects due to the governments lack of financial resources.

Inmates can choose the activity or the program they would like to be part of, but the scarcity of employment programs forces us to set specific criteria to choose the inmates who will benefit from the projects, since we cannot employ everyone, he said.

Yassin added that inmates are divided into three categories: The first group includes inmates who are fully committed to follow instructions in terms of the implementation and respect of orders inside prison, avoiding problems with other inmates or inciting them to escape; the second group includes those who only abide by the law when supervised; and the third group includes the most dangerous inmates, accounting for only 1% of prisoners, who are employed under tight security measures. The latter do not generally follow instructions and are more likely to use violence.

According to Yassin, the work program distinguishes between these groups of prisoners to limit any possible breaches on the part of inmates, stressing that the center is equipped with surveillance cameras and security guards are deployed throughout the center.

As per the regulations of the rehabilitation and re-entry support centers in the Palestinian territories, any financial returns made by these projects shall revert to the centers, provided that one-third is allocated to the inmate and his family. In addition, Article 44 of Law No. 6 of 1998 stipulates that inmates need to be paid for their work inside or outside the prison, according to set wages as per the centers rules and regulations.

The Reform and Rehabilitation Center for Women in Gaza City, the only women's prison in Gaza, organized on March 12 an exhibition under the name Ishrakat Amal (Shining Hope) for hand-made crafts and embroideries by male and female inmates. The event saw a large turnout of citizens and more than two-thirds of the products were sold.

In this context, Amal Nofal, a warden at the women's prison, told Al-Monitor, The Rehabilitation and Reform Center inaugurated two projects at the beginning of 2015  one for the bakery that sells pastries and sweets, and the other for handcrafts and embroideries, in collaboration with Edmaj and funded by al-Eslah Society. The projects aim to help inmates secure their needs through financial remuneration and acquire skills and professional experience enabling them to work once they leave prison.

Nofal said that a number of inmates who underwent intensive training before being allowed to work at the bakery were chosen for these projects according to specific terms and conditions.

Through these programs, inmates in the Gaza Strip leave prison having acquired a new skill set, profession or degree, as inmates are allowed to pursue their studies in addition to attending seminars on legal, religious, scientific and literature topics. This helps them improve their perceptions and way of thinking, raising their awareness and rendering them better citizens.
June 20, 2016

For Iran, the ongoing war in Syria is no longer a matter of regional security. The conflict now has direct effects and implications for Iran's national security. This perspective is clear in the daily statements coming from Tehran, from the images of slain Iranian soldiers and high-ranking officers laid to rest in the Iranian capital and most recently the appointment of Rear Adm. Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, as military and security coordinator of the joint cooperation group on Syria with Moscow and Damascus.

Shamkhani's appointment came in the wake of the recent summit that brought together the defense ministers of Syria, Iran and Russia in Tehran. It was clear from the meeting that the three countries are keen to boost their cooperation after having suffered some major setbacks in past weeks. These losses have been blamed on a lack of coordination and major differences over objectives, according to a Syrian official who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. The Syrian official said, Russia, as a major world power, was looking at the scene from its position  and thought that giving peace a chance should have saved a lot of lives. The other side  the United States, mainly  wasnt serious about its commitments. Therefore, the attacks by militants were more brutal than before and this caused some losses in the field.

Once a naval commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Shamkhani will report directly to Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whos the man who has the final say on main issues in Syria, an Iranian official told Al-Monitor in a telephone interview. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that Shamkhani knows Irans red lines very well and that hes in direct contact with Khamenei. He said, The supreme leader is following every detail in Syria because he believes that this war is in fact on Iran the same as it is on Syria. He also supports every kind of coordination with friendly and allied parties to this war, as it is a world war that needs each and every effort.

The official indicated that Tehran supports every effort aimed at ending the Syrian conflict, saying, In Geneva, Vienna or anywhere, seeing people sitting together around the table is the best thing. Yet sitting just to buy time doesnt make sense. The Americans are buying time for their new president at the cost of lives in Syria. We cant accept such hesitation amid peoples tragedies. He added, Our friends the Russians went to the end [of the road] with the Americans. We warned on several occasions that this is not right. We even lost several officers and observers because of Russias position, and now that they discovered that theres no outcome, we are going to start a new level of cooperation.

The Iranian official concluded, Iran, Russia and Syria agreed on a common goal: combating terrorism, which today is the main threat to the whole region. Our cooperation, common vision and commitment will give good results, and this happened in the past months and years despite some complexities we are facing. What we are quite sure of is that this cooperation will achieve a lot of hope, and for sure we will all emerge victorious.

But how will this be reflected on the ground?

A Syrian field commander told Al-Monitor he expects that the coming weeks will see an escalation of the situations in north and east Syria, The Iranians are sending more troops.  Some have already arrived. And the Russians informed us that new plans are going to be implemented in Syria and this might involve real changes in tactics. What we are sure of is that the more our allies are on the same track, the closer we are to victory. The commander suggested that even on the Iranian side, there have been some differences in the way things are done on the ground, and said, As time is passing, this is becoming part of the past and we hope from now on that things will assume a better direction.

While a major portion of Aleppo is under the control of the Syrian army and its allies, battles are expected in districts that were lost to opposition groups and Jabhat al-Nusra. As for Idlib and Raqqa, a major attack by the Syrian government and its partners will mean the deployment of thousands of forces and aerial cover by Russia, a move that might sabotage the fragile cease-fire agreed on with the United States.

On June 6, a Russian official who spoke off the record in Moscow told a group of journalists, including Al-Monitors correspondent, that relations with Washington are surreal. One day we agree on something, the second day they do the opposite. When we ask them, they blame it on others. Theres difficulty in building confidence with them. Even when they commit themselves to an agreement, it takes them months to implement it. While the Russian official stated firmly that his country is committed to a peaceful solution in Syria, he suggested that some Persian Gulf countries are becoming more flexible about Syria. They are ready to accept a provisional period with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in office, but in return they want guarantees that Iran will have no role: not in Syria alone, but in the whole region. This is not possible, for Iran is a main power in the region along with Saudi Arabia  and both have a role to play. The official concluded, We regard our forces, the Iranian forces and Hezbollah as the only legitimate foreign forces in Syria, and therefore we are coordinating together.

Indeed, one Syrian official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that visiting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu informed the Syrian president in their June 18 meeting that new Russian troops are to be deployed in Syria next week.
June 17, 2016

One of the main reasons for the emphasis on the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative as a basis for a future two-state peace process is that it also entails, in the view of the United States and the European Union, an expression of the Israeli position on the contentious issue of the Palestinian right of return. The initiative says on this point that a joint solution by the parties to the problem of Palestinian refugees should be agreed upon in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 194. While the initiative is based on a resolution that calls for the return and resettlement of Palestinian refugees to their pre-1948 homes, it still stipulates that the resolution of the issue be agreed upon with Israel.

For the Palestinian national leadership, this is the crux of the conflict. The return of the refugees is the heart of their historical narrative, namely, that Israel was established by robbing the Palestinian inhabitants of their land and homes. Peace and justice can only prevail in this with the return of Palestinian refugees from their diaspora. For Israel, this amounts to national suicide.

An influx of approximately 5 million Palestinian refugees  those who left and their descendants  into sovereign Israel would put an end to Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people. Therefore, all Israeli governments have rejected the right of return and treated this demand as an existential danger. The issue has been brought up, although only marginally, in all previous peace negotiations between the parties, including in the Oslo talks.

The current Palestinian leadership is well aware that the issue is taboo to Israel. President Mahmoud Abbas, originally from Safed in northern Israel, alluded to this understanding when he told several Israeli journalists in a 2012 interview on Israel Channel 2 that while he wishes to visit his original house, he does not seek to return there.

Following up on the June 3 Paris conference, policy planners in the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) are working on creative solutions to all the permanent status issues while maintaining the principles of the Palestinian national position. A senior PLO official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that Palestine will never give up on the principle of the right of return, saying, This is our historical narrative and dream. Yet, he added, in return for a two-state solution based on the 1967 lines, the PLO would be ready to discuss practical solutions in line with several important elements.

The first element is that the PLOs main aim is the achievement, in the foreseeable future, of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with agreed upon land swaps and East Jerusalem as its capital. He stressed that the issue of the Palestinian refugees is central to putting an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Another central and essential element would be Israeli recognition of the injustice done by Israel to Palestinian Arabs in 1948 and international recognition of the principle of the right of return. In practical terms, this means that the PLO would be ready to explore the possibility of Israeli-controlled Area C in the West Bank (excluding minor settlement blocs) being designated land on which Palestinian refugees can be resettled in an international effort with Israeli economic contributions.

With that in view, a symbolic (agreed upon) number of the originally expelled Palestinians who are still alive (between 30,000 and 50,000) would be allowed to settle in sovereign Israel within the context of family reunion. All other refugees would be entitled to international compensation to be decided by a multilateral committee headed by Canada and the United Nations. The PLO official added that Palestine would see in such a solution the implementation of UN General Assembly Resolution 194.

Undeniably, this issue is probably the most difficult decision that a Palestinian leader would have to face, and indeed, negotiation should take place on the practical elements of the refugee problem. A senior Israeli Foreign Ministry official who worked on the issue in past multilateral talks told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that although these ideas were interestingly creative, there was no chance that Israel would accept them.

Israel must on the one hand comprehend the centrality of the issue to Palestinians, yet insist on negating the Palestinian right of return on the other. The historic Israeli-Palestinian compromise should be a right of return of Jews to sovereign Israel within the 1967 lines and a right of return of Palestinians to the future Palestinian state within its new borders.

In the meantime, the Israeli government would do well to reflect also on creative practical solutions to this critical narrative-based issue. Yet, for that to happen, Israel needs a government that is interested in a two-state solution.
June 20, 2016

Animosity continues to define Egyptian-Qatari relations, as demonstrated when officials in Doha recently condemned a Cairo court for sentencing two Al Jazeera employees to death on charges of passing Egyptian secret security documents to Qatar during Mohammed Morsis presidency. In response, Qatars Foreign Ministry accused the court of lacking a proper sense of justice, denounced the unfounded verdict and called the espionage charges surprising and unacceptable. Egyptian officials fired back, blaming the gas-rich Persian Gulf emirate for having devoted resources and efforts over the past years to mobilize its media mouthpieces to be hostile to the people of Egypt and its state and institutions.

This diplomatic spat highlights Egypt's and Qatars positions on opposing poles of a divided Sunni Arab world. Qatar largely sided with the Arab Spring movements of 2011, which led to the loss of power for long-standing rulers in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Yemen, creating political vacuums and opportunities for Islamist movements to gain greater visibility and clout across the region. Dohas critics have argued that the Muslim Brotherhoods political wings performed well in elections in Egypt and Tunisia (and to a lesser extent in Libya) due to Qatari support.

Egyptian officials' distrust of the Qataris dates back to at least the 1990s. The Hosni Mubarak regime perceived Qatars ownership of Al Jazeera, Dohas relationship with the pro-Muslim Brotherhood regime in Sudan and the emirates permission for prominent Muslim Brotherhood figures such as Yusuf al-Qaradawi to freely blast Egypts government from Qatari soil as a threat to the stability of Egypt and the greater region. Officials in Cairo said that as a result of a Qatari vendetta against Mubarak, Doha sponsored Egypts 2011 uprising. The officials also complained about Dohas meddling in Egypts internal affairs years before the Arab Spring erupted.

Morsis ouster in July 2013 marked a grave geostrategic and ideological setback for Qatar, which had gambled on the Sunni Arab world riding a pro-Muslim Brotherhood current following Morsis rise to power. Dohas resentment of Egypts military for overthrowing a leader whose political capital received much Qatari investment and Cairos view of Qatar as being supportive of terrorist networks (including some in the restive Sinai Peninsula) have defined the poor state of Cairo-Doha relations for the past three years.

As Qatar stands on one end of this ideological spectrum with pro-Muslim Brotherhood Turkey while Egypt stands on the other with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia seeks to unite these four influential Sunni Muslim states within the Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism, an anti-terrorism coalition announced by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in December that has grown to 39 members. The Al Saud rulers envision the military alliance as establishing a strong pan-Sunni front against Iranian/Shiite influence. In Riyadhs quest to establish a new sectarian order in the region, the kingdoms leadership has vested interests in seeing its Sunni allies overcome their own divisions and back Saudi plans for the Middle East.

In November 2014, shortly after the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates returned to Doha following a rift, then-Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud sponsored an initiative between Egypt and Qatar. The former Saudi kings efforts to reconcile Egypt and Qatar received Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisis support and resulted in a meeting in Cairo of Sisi and a member of Qatars ruling Al Thani family accompanied by Khalid al-Tuwaijri, a former chief of the Saudi Royal Court.

From the Saudi leaderships viewpoint, the kingdom simply cannot afford to simultaneously counter both Iran and Sunni Islamist movements whose ideologies represent challenges to the kingdoms Islamic legitimacy. With King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud (who is more favorable to conservative Sunni Islamist movements than his predecessor) at the helm, Riyadh has softened its tone on the Muslim Brotherhood. By permitting important figures from various branches of the movement to visit the kingdom and making sincere efforts to reconcile with Qatar and bury the problems of the past (which climaxed with the diplomatic spat of March 2014), Salman has reached out to Qatar, which has aligned closely with the Saudis on a number of regional issues such as Syria and Yemen since Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani inherited the Qatari throne eight days before Morsis ouster.

Tamim's attendance at the Sharm el-Sheikh Arab Summit in March 2015 raised speculation in the press of an Egyptian-Qatari rapprochement. This was only one month after Doha officials recalled their ambassador to Egypt after a tense Arab League meeting in Cairo in which the Egyptian delegation alleged Qatari support for global terrorism in response to Dohas expressed reservations on Egypts military campaign against the Islamic State in Libya. Also, one month before Abdullah died, Doha suspended its Egypt-focused Al Jazeera channel, which many analysts understood as a diplomatic overture to Sisi on Dohas part.

Despite these occasional indicators of progress in Egyptian-Qatari relations mixed with setbacks, the Cairo courts recent ruling and the angry response from Doha officials appear to suggest that any reconciliation between these two countries is far away. The political leadership in Cairo still views Qatar as Egypts enemy because of its perceived role as a major contributor to the growth of extremism and terrorism across the Arab world.

Saudi Arabias plans to unify its Sunni allies within the Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism will face many challenges, some of which the Gulf Arabs are learning from painful lessons in Yemen. Although the kingdom has managed to bring Egypt and Qatar together in military coalitions since July 2013, officials in Riyadh have thus far failed to ease the political and ideological tension between post-Morsi Egypt and the Gulf Arab emirate. The continuation of distrustful and poor relations between Egypt and Qatar will likely undermine Saudi Arabias plans for the region and vision of Sunni Arab states unifying against the Islamic Republic.
June 20, 2016

King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud's 18 months on the Saudi throne have been marked by an unprecedentedly energetic and dynamic foreign policy expanding Saudi influence. Riyadh has been far more willing to take risks in national security choices than in recent decades. In the process, the Saudis have acquired some strategic territory.

The king's decision to restore Saudi sovereignty over two uninhabited islands, Tiran and Sanafir, in the Gulf of Aqaba and take possession of them from Egypt is a prime example of his aggressiveness. Saudi kings since Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud have left the two islands under Egyptian control to avoid getting involved in the sensitive issue of passage through the Straits of Tiran. Now Riyadh plans to build a bridge across the straits to provide a land link from the kingdom to North Africa. The islands will be inhabited at least by customs and toll collectors.

The annexation provoked controversy in Cairo and undermined Salman's client, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Egyptians complained Sisi was giving away part of their country. Many saw it as a naked payoff for the billions in aid and investment Saudi Arabia has made in Egypt since they helped orchestrate Sisi's coup in 2013. It makes Saudi Arabia the dominant power in controlling access to the Gulf of Aqaba and the ports of Eilat in Israel and Aqaba in Jordan. Riyadh has committed to ensuring free access.

At the other end of the Red Sea, the king's war with the Houthi rebels in Yemen has given Saudi Arabia de facto control of the Yemeni side of the crucial Bab al-Mandab Strait between Asia and Africa. The Saudis took control of the port of Aden on the entrance to the Red Sea a year ago and the strategic island of Perim in the Bab al-Mandab last October. Their Yemeni allies control Socotra Island in the Gulf of Aden as well. This spring, Saudi and Emirati troops took control of the capital of the Hadhramaut region of southeast Yemen, Mukkala, away from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Mukkala is the fifth-largest city in Yemen and provides the Saudis with land access across the Empty Quarter Desert to the Indian Ocean.

Yemen is now de facto partitioned by the war. The Saudis have backed the shaky UN-brokered cease-fire and the political negotiations in Kuwait. During Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Washington last week, he promised President Barack Obama the kingdom is committed to a "political settlement of the conflict." While the parties to the talks in Kuwait say they want a united Yemen, many southerners would prefer a return to southern independence. Saudi Arabia backed a southern secessionist rebellion in 1994. In the Middle East, "temporary" partitions have a tendency to last.

In the Persian Gulf, Salman has sharply escalated Saudi Arabia's rivalry with Iran. The war in Yemen is justified as a conflict to prevent Iran from developing a proxy in Arabia. Diplomatic relations with Tehran were severed in January, and Iranians will not be participating in the hajj this year. While Tehran has hinted at an openness to cooling tensions, there is no sign of any such interest in Riyadh. The influential Wahhabi clerical establishment has strongly endorsed the tough line with Shiite Iran.

In Syria, the Saudis hope that defeating the government of President Bashar al-Assad will lead to the unraveling of Hezbollah and Iran's position in the Levant. Last summer, the Saudi intelligence service nabbed Ahmed Ibrahim al-Mughassil, chief of Saudi Hezbollah, after he got off a flight from Tehran to Beirut and spirited him away to the kingdom. Mughassil was the mastermind of the 1996 truck bombing of the Khobar Towers that killed 19 Americans. He was also involved in several attacks on Saudi diplomats in the 1980s. His rendition is the boldest Saudi intelligence coup ever.

The favorite son of the king, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 30, has been at the center of all the action. As defense minister he has also presided over the creation of the new Islamic military alliance announced last winter by the king. The alliance is clearly aimed at isolating Iran and Iraq, though officially it is a counterterrorism pact. Its 30 or so members have established a secretariat in Riyadh.

Mohammed bin Salman's high-profile visit to Washington, New York and California, with extensive Saudi press coverage, further enhanced his status as the king's emissary.

Crown Prince Mohammad bin Nayef keeps a lower profile. But his hand has been critical in the Mughassil caper, breaking ties with Iran, the tough hajj policy and the taking of Mukkala. He also leads the battle against the Islamic State terror challenge at home.

This aggressive foreign policy is expensive. Billions have gone to prop up Sisi and others. The war in Yemen is costing more. The king and his two deputies clearly feel the price is worth it. Whether by accident, design or some combination of the two, Salman has acquired some of the most strategically valuable terrain in the Middle East.
Main Street Alabama is taking a regional approach toward downtown revitalization through a new partnership with the North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments.

The statewide organization is working with NARCOG to add Courtland, Eva, Falkville, Hanceville, Hartselle and Town Creek to the Downtown Network Communities of Main Street Alabama.

Main Street Alabama will use the nationally-recognized Four Point Approach to strengthen each community's downtown through organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring.

"Main Street programs have a catalytic effect on communities quality of life for both citizens and corporations," said Mary Helmer, president and state coordinator of Main Street Alabama. "A vibrant downtown is critical to a communities business growth and retention plan. We are pleased to partner with NARCOG to achieve their mission."

Each community will receive Main Street Alabama visits, as well as two regional NARCOG workshops each year in the spring and fall. Training will also be available as each town works to explore downtown redevelopment.

The communities join Albertville, Arab, Atmore, Attalla, Butler, Cordova, Cullman, Daphne, Fayette, Foley, Gulf Shores, Grove Hill, Jackson, Leeds, Lincoln, Luverne, Prattville, Prichard, Russellville, Thomasville, Trussville, Tuskegee, Union Springs, and York in the Downtown Network. To become a Designated Main Street Alabama community, each town must attend new city application workshops and complete an extensive application due in spring 2017.

Main Street Alabama reports 239 net new businesses, 2,392 net new jobs, $187,262,002 in private investment, $32,555,955 in public improvements, and 26,652 volunteer hours in Designated communities since 2014.
Loveman village

The plan for the Loveman Village redevelopment includes tearing down the 500 high-density units in the Titusville neighborhood, shown here on Monday, June 20, 2016, and replacing them with lower density units.

The proposed master plan for the Loveland Village redevelopment.

When the Birmingham Housing Authority told a packed house Monday that it got the funding that will allow it to rebuild one of the oldest and largest public housing projects in the city, the room broke out in applause.

A packed house at the Loveman Village Community Center buzzed with residents waiting to hear details of how their home would be transformed from a high-density housing project to a modern, lower density community in Birmingham's Titusville neighborhood.

"This is just a glorious day for Loveman Village. It's a glorious day for Titusville. It's a glorious day for the city of Birmingham," said Cardell Davis, a commissioner of the Board of the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District. "The time has come: we are going to revitalize Loveman Village."

The 500 units in Loveman Village are stacked on top of each other, with little green space and their 61 years of age showing. Many windows are boarded up - but unlike other parts of the city where it's a sign of neglect, in Loveman Village, it's a sign of progress. The housing authority has stopped leasing these units as it prepares to demolish the barracks-style units in a $79.6 million redevelopment.

All 500 units will be demolished, and 220 units will be built on site. The idea is that lower concentrations of poverty will lead to better outcomes for residents.

Jessica Wilburn, 29, grew up spending time in Loveman Village - her grandmother lived there - and now she lives there herself with her three children. She said the renovation is needed because the neighborhood has changed since she was a kid.

"I have three kids, and I don't feel comfortable with them playing at the park now, or if they do, I need to be there with them," Wilburn said.

She said she also hopes the community will work to sustain a safe neighborhood, and having a nicer place to live will help give people some pride in their neighborhood to do just that.

"I support it, and I also support us doing right by it," Wilburn said.

The federal Rental Assistance Demonstration, or RAD, is financing the project. The program allows housing authorities to mortgage its properties or use conventional private loans to finance redevelopments.

RAD requires replacing each unit, so the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District plans to add units to several existing sites, including 120 units off Sydney Drive in the Oxmoor Valley neighborhood. Some homeowners in the area have opposed adding more public housing.

Hollyhand Development of Northport is developing the project.
20160616_182141.jpg

The Factory Store in Florence. (Courtesy photo)

The same company that launched a high-tech clothing manufacturing facility in Florence two years ago is expanding again in the Shoals.

PerformanceScrubs.com, a Tennessee-based Performance HealthCare Products company, will host the grand opening of its new Factory Store from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 25 on 4001 Helton Drive, Building A, in Florence. The facility, which is in the old Dalmation Press building, has been selling new and overstock inventory since early June.

"The addition of the Factory Store will help us serve the healthcare community of Florence, Alabama," said David M. Prentice, senior vice president of sales at

PerformanceScrubs.com. "The Factory Store is located in the same location as our manufacturing facility, so customers will be able to see where their garments are made."

The company designs, manufactures and sells 100-percent American-made medical scrubs and uniforms and sleepwear for men and women. The scrubs are wrinkle, stain and fade resistant, and shoppers can mix and match to create different looks.

The Factory Store is open from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesdays and by appointment. Private fittings rooms are available and current inventory will receive a 15 percent discount. Free pickup is available for local orders.
In the latest work from coastal Alabama novelist Frank Turner Hollon, a protagonist commits himself to a troubled survivalist commune in Alaska only to find uneasy refuge at best.

Mobile-area readers interested in following Hollon's career - which includes having two novels turned into films - won't have to travel nearly that far to see him unveil "Jamestown, Alaska." Hollon will introduce the book to the world Saturday, June 25, with an appearance at Page & Palette, 32 S. Section St. in Fairhope. The event runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in The Book Cellar, and is free.

Hollon's previous novels include "The God File;" The Pains of April;" "Life is a Strange Place," which was turned into the movie "Barry Munday;" and "Blood and Circumstance," the basis of a film of the same title.

Hollon's range includes serious drama and comic absurdity, and promotional materials for "Jamestown, Alaska" suggest it blends both. It is described as "walking the line between ludicrous and ominous in the style of Karen Russell, Jim Shepard, and Kurt Vonnegut."

In the book, a "bestselling novelist bored by his life of suburban monotony" and troubled by the violence of society accepts an invitation to get away from it all and join a chosen few preparing for worldwide revolution. What he finds is a faltering utopia troubled by paranoia and other human vices.

For more information on events at Page & Palette, visit www.pageandpalette.com. "Jamestown, Alaska," was published June 7 by Dzanc Books.
Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver said five people were arrested Friday as a result of a months-long investigation in Ellisville.

Shaver said deputies executed a search warrant at a home on County Road 14, along with deputies of the U.S. Marshal's Service and ATF agents.

Among those charged were:

Clifford A. Wright, 33, charged with trafficking methamphetamine, three counts of drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and five counts of drug distribution.

Gerrick L. Glass, 30, was charged with drug distribution, drug possession, tampering with evidence, second degree marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hurley A. Henderson, 40, Tommie M. Wright, 53, and Antonio V. Wright, 34, were all charged with drug possession, tampering with evidence, second degree marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Shaver said investigators recovered more than quarter of a pound of methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and illegal firearms. The five were transported to the Cherokee County Detention Center.

The case remains under investigation by Sheriff's Office investigators and federal authorities.
A 20-year-old woman died this morning of injuries from an accident at a Chambers County industrial plant.

The Chambers County Sheriff's Office, in a news release, said the accident happened Saturday about 11 a.m. at the Ajin USA plant in the Cusseta Industrial Park.

Ajin USA is a metal-stamping plant that supplies for Kia.

A woman was critically injured in what has been termed "an industrial accident" and transported to East Alabama Medical Center. She was later flown to UAB Hospital where she died of her injuries.

The accident is under investigation. The victim's name has not yet been released.
Authorities have now identified two people - including a teen - who were shot to death over the weekend in separate slayings in Birmingham and Fairfield.

The Jefferson County Coroner's Office this morning identified the Fairfield victim as 17-year-old Arrico Eatmon. Horacio Cooks, 28, was one of three people shot to death in Birmingham between Friday night and Monday morning.

Fairfield police responded just before 5:30 p.m. Sunday to a report of a shooting in the 5500 block of Avenue D. Fairfield police Chief Nick Dyer said Eatmon was in front of a home when the gunfire rang out.

Eatmon was taken to UAB Medical Center West, where he was pronounced dead at 6:44 p.m. Police have not announced a motive or any arrests in the killing.

Cooks, who lived in the Leeds area, was found dead of multiple gunshot wounds in Birmingham's Woodlawn community late Saturday afternoon. Birmingham police received a report of a shooting at around 4 p.m. near the corner of 61st Street North and 1st Court North behind the Sky Inn, Sgt. Bryan Shelton said.

He was lying on the grass outside an abandoned house. Shelton said the victim was disabled.

Authorities said Cooks was seen earlier on Saturday in the company of a white woman and two black men. Witnesses told police the victim, later identified as Cooks, was the woman's pimp, and they were both known to live in abandoned houses in the neighborhood.

On Friday, 19-year-old Daniel Wideman was found lying in the street, wounded, about 10:30 p.m. in the 4800 block of Avenue R in the city's Central Park community. He was taken to the hospital where he later died.

His family said he recently graduated from Southside High School and was an aspiring rapper. "This case is connected to behavior that promotes violence," Lt. Sean Edwards said of Wideman's case. "The shooter was not a stranger."

Earlier today, a man was found shot to death in an alley in southwest Birmingham. Police have not identified the victim, but said he appeared to be in his 30s. Neighbors reported hearing gunfire, and one man told police he saw two men running in the alley.
Much of the rhetoric around refugees centres on whether young, male refugees need protection or pose a security threat.

Berlin, Germany  Once a popular destination for tourists, Syrias coastal city of Tartus has seen little fighting during the five-year civil war that has engulfed the country.

Sitting in his room in a crowded refugee camp in the Prenzlauer Berg area of Berlin, 29-year-old Adham, who asked not to give his surname out of fear for the safety of relatives back in Syria, recalls his reasons for leaving the city.

There is no fighting in my city; there are no guns, he says. But its not safe for young men there. They are collected from the street and taken to the army. So, there are a lot of children, women and old men there and thats it.

For a year and a half, Adham, who worked as a marine engineer in Syria, dodged military conscription by leaving home and hiding in the houses of friends whenever recruitment officers came to deliver his army summons.

A charismatic young man with a broad smile and a tendency to make jokes, Adham sits on the unmade bottom bunk of his bed and assumes a sombre tone, fidgeting nervously as he recounts his flight from his homeland.

Although he was initially granted an official exemption from military service by the Syrian government after paying a fee, recruitment officers started returning to his home every four or five months.

There was no solution, so I had to leave, he says. There are a lot of young men leaving Syria because they dont want to be in the military. Its better than being Syrian and killing one another.

Evading military conscription in Syria is punishable with imprisonment  a looming threat that touches close to home for Adham, whose cousin died in custody after being locked up for refusing to join the army.

Syrias uprising started with largely unarmed protests against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011, but it quickly evolved into a full-scale civil war that has killed more than 270,000 people, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Efforts to mediate a ceasefire between rebel forces and the Syrian government have collapsed time and again.

Exhausted from the stress of dodging military recruiters and the trauma of seeing friends and neighbours return to Tartus in coffins, Adham decided to leave the country and make the perilous journey to Europe in January 2016.

They should stay back to fight

Right-wing and centrist politicians across Europe have argued against providing asylum for young men who are of military age. In Germany, the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has been at the forefront of these efforts.

In March, the AfD capitalised on some Germans resentment towards the governments refugee policies in order to make huge gains in regional elections, winning 12.6 percent, 15.1 percent and 24.2 percent of the ballots in the German states of Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Wurttemberg and Saxony-Anhalt, respectively.





Georg Pazderski, the AfDs Berlin chairman, folds his arms on the conference table in his partys headquarters and casually notes that he spent several years as an officer in the German military.

Let me ask you a question: Who is liberating Syria now? Is NATO liberating Syria? Should the Russians liberate Syria? Or should these young men liberate Syria?

I think they should fight for their country  and they should stay back to fight for their country, he adds.

Pazderski argues that the presence of single, male refugees creates the potential for security risks in Germany.

Maybe they have a different picture of women in the public, he says, alluding to the more than 1,000 assault complaints largely attributed in public discourse to asylum seekers in Germanys Cologne on New Years Eve. At least 492 of those complaints were related to sexual assault.

Though the number of asylum seekers involved in the attacks remains unclear, German media reports suggest few of those involved were recent arrivals in the country. Nine men have so far been convicted of theft during the New Years Eve incidents, while there hasnt been a successful sexual assault prosecution. Nevertheless, the German government weighed the option of deporting any asylum seekers found guilty.

An organised invasion

Germany is not the only European country where politicians espouse such sentiments. In December, Czech President Milos Zeman described the influx of refugees into Europe as an organised invasion carried out mostly by young men.

A large majority of the illegal migrants are young men in good health and single. I wonder why these men are not taking up arms to fight for the freedom of their countries against Islamic State, Zeman said in a Christmas address to the country, referring to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, or ISIS as it is also known) armed group. I am profoundly convinced we are facing an organised invasion and not a spontaneous movement of refugees.

This position is not uniquely European, either. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in November 2015 announced that his country would accept 25,000 Syrians, but that single males were excluded from the resettlement programme.

In the United States, several right-wing Republicans, including presidential candidate Donald Trump, have spoken out against accepting young, male asylum seekers, as well. Speaking to Yahoo News in November, Trump linked young, male refugees to ISIL: You look at the migration, its young, strong men. We cannot take a chance that the people coming over here are going to be ISIS-affiliated.

Refusing to spill more blood

According to the European Union, an estimated 55 percent of asylum seekers 13 or younger who applied in 2015 were male, while around 80 percent of those aged between 14 and 34 were male. Of those who have arrived by boat in Europe by May of this year, less than half  45 percent  are men, while children and women constitute 35 percent and 20 percent respectively, according to the UNHCR.

Ahmad Nazir Atassi, a history professor at Louisiana Tech University in the United States, explains that many Syrian males first make the perilous journey to Europe alone with the hope of bringing their families through unification programmes. They go ahead in order to spare more vulnerable groups  such as women and children  the dangerous and physically exhausting trek.

OPINION: A philosophical approach to the refugee crisis

Usually deportation is  proposed and this time deportation can be masked by a loftier cause, which is resolving the ongoing civil war in Syria, he tells Al Jazeera. I doubt any of these politicians have the slightest idea as to where to send these male refugees to fight and on which side . Those who wanted to fight are already fighting.

Behind the rhetoric lies deep-seated colonial misconceptions of Syrians and Arabs at large, Atassi argues, pointing to the media and popular discourse following the events in Cologne. [T]he pattern is well known in colonial theory. It is the perceived sexual threat posed by the colonised males.

Conscientious objectors such as Adham reject the notion that young men have an obligation to spill yet more blood in a war they feel is increasingly dominated by parties that do not represent their dreams and desires for Syrias future.

Adham explains that the possibility of being forced to fight was enough to make him spend his last 2,000 euros ($2,270) to reach Germany and apply for asylum. We grew up together and live together in the same neighbourhoods only to fight and kill each other.

In 2015, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said more than 70,000 had dodged the draft or deserted from the army since 2011. In February, Assad announced a presidential pardon for army deserters and others accused of being military service violators. In practice, however, rights groups and defectors say amnesty has not been implemented.

Killing has become obligatory in our country

Rights groups also reject the notion that young men should be denied asylum on the grounds that they are of military age. These politicians comments are purely populist political statements and have nothing to do with international refugee law, says Lydia Gall, a lawyer and researcher at Human Rights Watch.

Conscientious objection could be a reason for asylum, and especially in a state like Syria, where we know people are being detained for refusing to serve in the army, Gall adds. Syrians could face inhumane and degrading treatment in prisons and the risk of bodily harm and death.

Samer, a 29-year-old from the government-controlled Jaramana area of Damascus, delayed his mandatory military conscription for as long as possible. But after finishing his masters degree in December, recruitment officers informed him that he would no longer be exempt from service.

Like Adham, Samer asked not to provide his family name because his relatives still live in government-controlled areas.

Though gentle-mannered, Samer speaks passionately of Syria and his hopes for an end to the ongoing violence, which has turned more than 4.8 million people into refugees and left another 6.5 million internally displaced within the borders of the country.

Throughout the civil war, Samer and his wife volunteered in the Syrian Red Crescent and other humanitarian organisations to work with people displaced by the fighting. Killing has become obligatory in our country, he says, shaking his head sadly. If you dont serve, the government will label you as a wanted man.

For Samer and others like him, evading military service became increasingly difficult as the government grew more desperate for soldiers. Every time he passed a checkpoint, he risked being arrested and sent to the military. They have our names at the checkpoints, and the country is at war, he explains.

Of the 65,000 people who were forcibly disappeared since the beginning of the Syrian conflict, at least 58,000 were civilians, according to a November 2015 report published by Amnesty International. These disappearances often take place at checkpoints, when soldiers remove people wanted for interrogation or arrest and whisk them away to detention centres.

The country is at war, so going [to fight] means youll lose everything  your life, your family, your future. Killing each other has led us to losing our country, our dignity, Samer adds. Many young men leave and never return. This war is bigger than us.

A few days before the new year, Samer and his wife fled to Lebanon. From there, they travelled to Turkey and voyaged by sea and land through Greece and the Balkans before arriving in Germany several weeks later.

Back in his room, Adham says the only way to stop the bloodletting in Syria is for more young men to follow in the footsteps of conscientious objectors. I hope we learn something new here [in Germany] to build up our country again. If the war stops and they need a lot of young men to build up the country, I will be the first to go back.

Follow Patrick Strickland on Twitter: @P_Strickland_
Research centre in the Himalayan foothills under scrutiny after revelation that it trained North Korean scientists.

New Delhi, India  Hong Yong-il is the North Korean embassys new first secretary to India and has been in the country for just a month.

He lives on the first floor of a two-storey house in a tree-lined lane in Delhis busy Lajpat Nagar.

The apartment is huge but nondescript, sparsely furnished; a modest affair as compared with many other diplomatic residences in the Indian capital.

Hong wears on his shirt a miniature badge, with the face of Kim Il-sung, the countrys founding father and grandfather of current leader Kim Jong-un.

Kim Jong-un says North Korea is a responsible nuclear state

This is not Hongs first stint in India. In 1996, he stayed in the country for nine months, studying a course in remote sensing technology at the Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (CSSTEAP).

The research centre is located in Dehradun, a small town in the foothills of the Himalayas, about 235km from the Indian capital New Delhi.

Dehradun is a very quiet town, Hong said in an interview with Al Jazeera. The course was very informative, the teachers were very good.

Hong was, in fact, one of the first students North Korea sent to train at the centre, a school set up in 1995 by the United Nations, to ensure that in years to come, no country in the region will have to look abroad for expertise in space science & technology application.

Training North Korean students

Since then, North Korea has sent at least 30 students to train at the institute.

Two are currently studying there, one of whom is affiliated with the National Aerospace Development Administration, which, the report says, plays a key role in the countrys nuclear development programme.

And it kept sending scientists and space employees, even after the UN issued the first set of nuclear sanctions in 2006, prohibiting member countries from providing technical training to North Korea.

The lapse was exposed only in March 2016 in an annual report to the UN Security Council.

The repeated applications by North Korea, the report said, indicates the courses were relevant to its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development programme.

The UN has issued five major sanctions against North Korea since 2006.





However, some of the course modules at the centre training the North Koreans might have violated provisions of the sanctions.

For example, the report states, one of the courses offered instructions that could be directly relevant to designing and testing a launch vehicle using ballistic missile technology, such as those on launch vehicles, attitude control, and telemetry, tracking, command and data-handling systems.

Investigators also found a course on satellite communications, which is in violation of a resolution banning any transfers to or from North Korea, technical training, advice, services or assistance related to nuclear-related, ballistic missile-related or other weapons of mass destruction- related programmes.

Not traditional allies

India and North Korea are not traditional allies. They have shared diplomatic relations since the 1970s, but India has also been one of the staunchest opponents of North Koreas nuclear weapons development programme.

The centre is funded in part by the UN, along with India and several other organisations. It said that the sanction was taken into account in the admission process.

India justified the content of the courses, saying that the topics covered are very general and the basic principles of these courses are available from open-source.

It also said that topics covered would certainly not contribute to acquiring expertise in those specific areas by the participants.

However, North Korean students who trained in the school have gone on to occupy important state positions in Pyongyang.

After finishing his course in India, Hong, the official at the North Korean embassy in Delhi, went on to head a research group on remote sensing technology at the State Commission for Science and Technology, where he worked until his assignment in India.

Paek Chang-ho, who had been on the satellite communications course at the institute in 1999-2000, before the sanctions were issued, became the head of an agency involved with North Koreas first satellite launch in 2012.

The 52-year-old Paek, who ended up on the UNs sanctions list for his role in the 2012 launch, is now a senior official at a scientific research agency.

The training may very well have helped North Koreas military programmes, Bruce Bechtol, president of the International Council on Korean Studies, said in an email.

But the Texas-based professor and Korea expert said that the result of the probe does not necessarily make India complicit with North Koreas programme.

Global navigation studies

According to the report, North Korea tried to send at least one student to the institute in 2015 to attend a global navigation satellite systems course, although his application along with those of four others was rejected.

I dont know why they have rejected all the applications, Hong, of the North Korean embassy in Delhi, told Al Jazeera.

I have contacted the university officials but they are yet to give me an explanation.

Hong seems unaware of the Security Council report, or that India has been asked for an explanation over the apparent lapse.

Kimjongilia display celebrates late N Korea leader

Skand Tayal, a former Indian ambassador to South Korea, told Al Jazeera that whatever cooperation India has with North Korea is meant for civilian application.

India has been consistently opposing North Koreas nuclear development programme, said Tayal, who has observed North Korea for many years.

If there has been a violation, it would be an oversight.

The Security Council report said it too believes that the slip-up was inadvertent.

An email to the institute requesting for comment went unanswered.

Sarnam Singh, programme coordinator and director of one of the courses, said the institute was not accepting applications from any more North Korean students.

Serious error

India is due to present a detailed report to an UN advisory committee on the issue.

It doesnt take a rocket scientist to realise how extraordinarily unwise, and indeed irresponsible, it is nowadays to train North Korean operatives in technologies that can be used to improve and perfect their ballistic missile programme, Nicholas Eberstadt, a political economist at the American Enterprise Institute think-tank, said in an email.

The government of India needs to acknowledge the seriousness of this error, take accountability for it, and publicly commit that it will not be an enabler of North Korean WMD programmes thenceforth.

RP Singh, a former Indian ambassador to North Korea (2002-2004), said the idea behind the courses is to provide professional and not technical training.

India wont knowingly violate US sanctions, he said.

Earlier in January, India condemned North Koreas claim of detonating a hydrogen bomb, and called it a matter of deep concern.









India is concerned about proliferation links between North East Asia and our neighbourhood, Vikas Swaroop, Indias foreign office spokesman, had said, in an indirect reference to Pakistans AQ Khan network.

The network was ran by Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistans nuclear weapons programme, and who is credited with selling sensitive nuclear technology to North Korea.

In 2004, Khan got a pardon from then Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf and made a televised confession saying he acted alone and absolved the Pakistan government of any hand or knowledge in the network.

Pakistan, backed by China, and India, backed by the US, are currently seeking the much-coveted membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), an elite group of 48 nuclear supplier countries.

On Monday, the NSG begins a week-long meeting in Seoul, South Korea, to decide on the membership of both India and Pakistan.

The controversy surrounding the training of North Korean scientists may or may not have much bearing on the outcome of the Seoul meeting, but it does amount to a curious footnote to the global debate on nuclear non-proliferation and missile technology control.
Dr Nang Pann Ei Kham, coordinator of the Drug Policy Advocacy Group, speaks to Al Jazeera about the deadly addiction.

In Myanmar, thousands of families earn a living farming the crop that feeds the heroin habit of the worlds drug users. But not all of the countrys opium is smuggled abroad.

Pure, cheap heroin is flooding Myanmars villages, leaving a trail of death and devastated families in its wake.

Dr Nang Pann Ei Kham, the coordinator of the Drug Policy Advocacy Group, talks about how the fear of corporal punishment and imprisonment prevents many drug users from seeking help, and the rehabilitation centres where treatment is based on religious teachings.

Her pressure group includes experts, opium farmers and drug users themselves.

They are the ones whose lives, livelihoods and health are directly affected by repressive drug policies based on criminalisation and forced eradication. Unfortunately, their voices are too often ignored, she explains.

I strongly believe that repressive and punitive approaches only make problems worse. Drug-related issues should be addressed through policies that are grounded in public health, human rights and alternative development.

Al Jazeera: How many people are estimated to be addicted to drugs in Myanmar?

Dr Kham: The only data that is available in Myanmar is related to the number of people who inject drugs.

According to a recent survey conducted by the Myanmar Ministry of Health, there are an estimated 83,000 injecting drug users in the country. To provide you with some means of comparison, it is about twice as many as Thailand (40,300), but only half the estimated number of drug injectors in Malaysia (170,000).

Al Jazeera: Has drug addiction worsened in recent years? And, if so, why?

Dr Kham: It is very difficult to say whether drug use and drug addiction have increased in recent years. This would require conducting nationwide surveys on a regular basis, and no such data exists. However, the Myanmar Ministry of Health reviewed that the estimated number of people injecting drugs rose from 75,000 last year to 83,000 currently.

That seems to suggest at least a slight increase.

What happens is also that drug-related problems were largely neglected and under-reported until recent years, due to the political context. Journalists and civil society organisations are now much more free to report about problems raised by drug addiction. So those have become a lot more visible than they used to be in the past.

Al Jazeera: What is the most problematic drug?

Dr Kham: From a public health perspective, heroin is unequivocally the most problematic drug in Myanmar, because it is most commonly injected. Northern regions, such as Kachin, Northern Shan or Sagaing Division, are particularly affected.

The most severe consequences of heroin use include lethal overdoses, the transmission of blood-borne infections such as HIV, Hepatitis B and C due to unsafe injection practices and needle sharing, but also family and other social problems.

Some mental health disorders induced by excessive use of amphetamine-type stimulants, known as Yaba or Yama in the region, have been reported, too, but little data is available yet.

Al Jazeera: Is there a stigma attached to being an addict?

Dr Kham: There is a huge stigma towards drug users. People often refer to them using derogatory terms such as Bein Sar, literally meaning opium eater, that would be a Burmese version of junkie.

If a drug user turns out to contract HIV/Aids, then he or she is even more discriminated against. Most people despise, or at least distrust, drug users. So they are facing immense challenges and difficulties, not least to find a job, even when they are seeking treatment or recovering.

Al Jazeera: How is drug use contributing to the HIV/Aids epidemic?

Dr Kham: It is actually not drug use itself that contributes to the HIV/Aids epidemic, but rather the high prevalence of unsafe injecting practices such as needle sharing. And those can be very effectively reduced if harm-reduction services are provided at a sufficient scale and users are free to access sterile injecting equipment without fear of arrest.

Thanks to harm-reduction programmes, HIV prevalence among people who inject drugs has decreased from more than 70 percent in the early 1990s, to around 23 percent in 2014, according to statistics released by Myanmars Ministry of Health.

Despite the increasing availability of sterile injecting equipment, some drug users can still be reluctant to carry new needles and syringes, due to their fear of being arrested, prosecuted and incarcerated. I would argue that more than drug use itself, it is the criminalisation of drug use that fuels HIV/Aids epidemics among people who inject drugs.

Al Jazeera: What facilities and treatment options are available for drug users?

Dr Kham: Government-run drug treatment centres propose drug detoxification services, however their number and resources are very limited. Such facilities merely focus on treating withdrawal symptoms without providing a more holistic approach of drug treatment that would address broader psychological or social issues faced by people with a drug dependency problem. Relapse within a few months is therefore extremely common.

The government provides methadone substitution therapy with the support of international donor agencies, which to date remains the most effective treatment for opiate dependency. This programme has grown steadily over the years and more than 10,000 drug users are currently benefiting from this treatment.

Other types of treatment and rehabilitation centres are run by private or faith-based organisations, which offer therapies that are essentially based on Bible studies. Those programmes can work for some people, but they hardly meet the minimum standards one can expect from a treatment centre proper: treatment is often compulsory, sometimes following arrests that involve corporal punishment, and no medical assistance is provided.

Finally, local and international NGOs provide harm-reduction services to reduce the most adverse consequences of drug use. Services include the distribution of sterile needles, syringes and condoms, but also basic healthcare, HIV-related services and overdose management. The reduction of HIV prevalence among people who inject drugs in Myanmar can certainly be attributed to the existence of such programmes, which are funded by international donor agencies.

Al Jazeera: What more needs to be done in Myanmar to help drug users?

Dr Kham: Many drug users are still being harassed, arrested and jailed for numerous years  not because they are committing serious criminal offences, but just because they are using drugs. I would, therefore, like to invite our new government to reconsider the 1993 Narcotics Law and stop regarding drug users as criminals.

After years of military oppression, Im only dreaming to see our already scarce resources being used to promote access to health and other social services, rather than jails and prisons to detain even more people.

Click here to watch the 101 East documentary, Myanmars Poppylands
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  Many of the approximately 150,000 (PDF) Rohingya who live in Malaysia came here hoping to be relocated to other countries through UNHCR programmes, but some of them have made Malaysia their home, despite the fact that they have no legal status and face many hardships as a result.

Many Rohingya refugee children are born in Malaysia, and remain stateless owing to the undocumented status of their parents.

According to Chia Wei, founder of The Berani Project, the main consequences of this undefined status and lack of identification documents is that the children are cut off [from] the basic childs rights to education [and] healthcare.

The Berani Project is a social enterprise advocating and creating opportunities for the Rohingya communities and other marginalised people in Kuala Lumpur. Wei explains that many [children] are forced to work from a young age to help their families.

The Rohingya, as most of them are undocumented, live in fear of being detained, arrested or deported, explains Ustaz Rafik, a leader of the Rohingya community in Selayang, on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.

The thought of risks like being harassed, abducted, detained, will discourage the parents from sending their children to school, he says. As a result Rohingya refugee children spend their childhoods in their neighbourhoods, and almost never leave their community.

The children attend community schools funded by donations, where they learn about religion, the Malay language, and other literacy basic skills. Some of the schools offer longer daily schedules to help parents who work.

Nazri Mazlan, a teacher at Floating Children School for Rohingya children, says the children face many challenges. The primary issue with education is the lack of reinforcement from home. We can teach the children but if what they are taught is not reinforced by the families of the community the children will see little value in the lessons.

READ MORE: Rohingya refugee  we were hunted down by mob in Myanmar
For years Noora Husseini had loved her grandmothers stories and it is this love that led her to find a way of documenting and retelling these tales.

Noora set out to show that Palestine is in fact full of rich and beautiful history as well as a colourful culture, which is what Taita Leila project is all about.

The project brings together Palestinian history through a different language: The language of thread. The core idea of the project is to produce modern clothing inspired by traditional Palestinian dress as well as revive and restyle the embroidery.

The first thing that draws attention to the project is its name: Taita Leila. Taita is an Arabic term of endearment for grandmother and Leila is the lady who is the inspiration behind the project.

Her full name is Leila Hussein Fakhri Khalidi, author of The Art of Palestinian Embroidery that retells the stories of old traditional dresses from Palestine.

Leila left Jerusalem in 1946 and wasnt allowed back into what became a divided city. I left from West Jerusalem and since [then] I only saw East Jerusalem, Leila explains. Living in Beirut, she became the head librarian at the Palestinian Liberation Organisation Research Centre and headed a research unit for Folklore and Folk Arts and Crafts.

The unique aspect of Taita Leila is that everything about and associated with the project breathes Palestine; clothes are entirely made in Palestine, fabrics are sourced from local factories or vendors in the region, women are employed to hand-embroider the designs, even their website was developed in Gaza.

Traditional dress varies considerably depending on region, class, status and taste. This language of threads hides interesting stories about the people in this area.

Those behind the Taita Leila project want to tell these stories. For example Jerusalem  Leilas hometown  did not really have a thoub (traditional dress) because it was a metropolis so people adopted modern dress.

The type of costume found there was either very modern, reminiscent of early 20th century New York or influenced from Ottoman dress.

Nablus, on the other hand, did not have a lot of embroidery because people were too busy working in the fields and this is where the famous Palestinian saying I am not working so I embroider comes from.

These are precisely the kind of stories that Taita Leila tells through their designs.
The racialised and nativist hostility Trump has exploited will not evaporate with his defeat.

Lauren Carasik is the Director of the International Human Rights Clinic at Western New England University School of Law.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trumps recent attack on a federal judge presiding over fraud lawsuits against Trump University ignited a firestorm of controversy.

The bigoted attack on the judges heritage was hardly surprising since white nationalism is part of his appeal. His vitriol also elicited condemnation for his flagrant disregard for judicial independence and the rule of law.

Yet, the Republican party is largely circling the wagons, privileging party loyalty and reclaiming the White House over principled resistance to the pernicious politics of hatred and exclusion and the authoritarianism Trumps demagoguery threatens to usher in.

Inflammatory rhetoric

Trump said that federal Judge Gonzalo Curiel, a respected jurist who was born in the United States, had an inherent conflict of interest, and issued unfair rulings because of his Mexican heritage, owing to the nominees plan to build a wall on the US-Mexico border and his immigration policies.

Facing an outcry, Trump was unrepentant, initially doubling down instead and suggesting Muslims could also be unqualified to preside over a case against him because of his proposed temporary ban on Muslims entering the country.

Having shed the patina of respectable deniability, Trump finally crossed a line, eliciting push back from that party that had been impervious to his inflammatory rhetoric.

OPINION: An Introduction to Trumpology

Yet, Trumps Republican support remains largely intact: Only a handful of legislators distanced themselves from the candidate. Others, like House Speaker Paul Ryan, denounced the remark as the textbook definition of a racist comment, but vowed ongoing support. A few even rallied to Trumps defence, denying the comments were offensive.

Bowing to mounting pressure, Trump later toned down his accusation, arguing that his comments had been misconstrued, but notably declining to apologise. He was clearly not chastened by the rebukes, continuing to call Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren Pocahontas, to denigrate her claimed Native American heritage.

Nothing new

The incendiary rhetoric is nothing new: Trumps campaign has been predicated on bigotry since its inception.

He built his platform on white nativism, launching into an attack on Mexican migrants just minutes into his speech announcing his candidacy, but opportunistically stoking resentment predates Trumps candidacy.

In the aftermath of the horrific Orlando massacre and the escalating importance of tolerance and unity, GOP leaders should muster the integrity and courage to reign in Trump's dangerous demagoguery. by

In 2013, when questioned about his support for birtherism  a xenophobic campaign to discredit President Barack Obamas legitimacy by questioning his birthplace, Trump said I dont think I went overboard. Actually, I think it made me very popular  I do think I know what Im doing.

He has since failed to see the offence in pointing out my African American at a rally, retweeted misrepresented black murder statistics, and dragged his feet in disavowing the Ku Klux Klan.

Exploitation of white disaffection

Inflaming racism is not new to the Republican party. Richard Nixon rode to victory in 1968 on the partys southern strategy of stoking racial resentment.

Ronald Reagan dog-whistled about states rights to mask opposition to federally mandated equality at a speech in Philadelphia, Mississippi, not far from where three civil rights workers were gunned down in 1964, and employed the disparaging, racially coded imagery of welfare queens.

Similarly, Trump has deftly exploited the disaffection of white voters already beleaguered by the erosion of financial stability, the projected diminution of the white majority and the insecurity that demographic change engenders, and the unfolding backlash against a black president.

Unsurprisingly, Trumps comments about Curiel elicited a partisan response: according to a recent poll, only 22 percent of Republicans believed the comments were racist. In contrast, 81 percent of Democrats and 44 percent of independents believed they were.

The resentments stoked by Trumps invective will not be easy to extinguish, and the damage is already evident.

ALSO READ: Rise in school bullying connected to US election

Aside from an even more bitterly polarised electorate, the inflammatory rhetoric is exacting a harrowing toll on minority children.

In one study by the Southern Poverty Law Center, 67 percent of teachers reported alarming levels of anxiety, that students of colour are worried about what will happen to them under a Trump presidency, and an increase in racially motivated bullying.

Nativist hostility

Trumps disregard for principles of democratic accountability and the rule of law should also sound alarm bells.

Federal judges are not required to recuse themselves based solely on race or ethnicity. They are bound to carry out their duties impartially, and there is no evidence Curiel has failed to do so here.

OPINION: The US election is about the past

In fact, his rulings appear quite even-handed. If Trumps attorneys had any real evidence of biased rulings, they could seek his recusal. Their failure to do so suggests that he is improperly trying to influence the outcome of the case or divert attention from evidence he defrauded vulnerable students.

The self-serving accusations bode poorly for Trumps future respect for the independence of a judiciary that will inevitably be called on to rule on questions of constitutional import.

This is not the only area in which Trump threatens core democratic principles: he said he will expand libel laws so he can silence his critics, threatening the First Amendment, and advocated for expanding torture and killing the families of terrorists, in violation of international law.

Especially in the aftermath of the horrific Orlando massacre and the escalating importance of tolerance and unity, Republican leaders should muster the integrity and courage to reign in Trumps dangerous demagoguery.

Though the racialised and nativist hostility he has exploited will not evaporate with Trumps defeat, it would be immeasurably amplified if he wins.

Either way, the enduring damage to the countrys international standing and founding ideals is already incalculable.

Lauren Carasik is a clinical professor of law and the Director of the International Human Rights Clinic at Western New England University School of Law.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Oromos have been the victims of indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks in the hands of security forces.

So much for the Ethiopia rising meme which Ethiopian authorities ostentatiously promote to camouflage the repressive nature of the state.

A new report published by Human Rights Watch on the Oromo protests depicts a disturbing picture of a government that thrives on systematic repression and official violence.

The report, which puts the death toll from the seven-month-long protest at more than 400, exposes the Ethiopia rising narrative for what it is: a political Ponzi scheme.

Underneath the selective highlighting of Ethiopias story of renaissance and transformation lies a Janus-faced reality in which the triumph of some has meant the utter submission of others.

The Oromo protests are exposing the senseless suffering and brutality that lies beneath Ethiopias rhetoric of development and revival.

Long-simmering ethnic discontents

After 25 years of absolute control over the countrys public life, the ruling party is facing its biggest political challenge yet: an unconventional and innovative resistance to its iron-fisted rule.

What is unfolding in the drama of this increasingly defiant and unprecedented protest is the subplot that producers and cheerleaders of the Ethiopia rising myth neither anticipated nor fully understood: the power of the indignant to wreak havoc and paralyse the state even as they were met with murderous official violence.

Though the protest was initially triggered by the threat of displacement by Ethiopias development policies  particularly the proposed expansion of the territorial limits of the capital, Addis Ababa, into neighbouring Oromo lands  this is not the sole reason and cannot provide an adequate explanation of the level of defiance on the streets of Oromia.

Rather, the protest is a manifestation of long-simmering ethnic discontent and deeper crisis of representation that pushed Oromos to the margin of the countrys political life.

READ MORE: Ethiopia  Oromo protests continue amid harsh crackdown

Despite a rare concession by the authorities to cancel the master plan, the protest is still ongoing, demanding genuine political reforms aimed at an equitable reorganisation and overhauling of existing frameworks and arrangements of power in the country.

Protesters argue that the prevailing arrangements with the ethnically mixed morphology of the Ethiopian state, in which ethnic Tigray elites dominate all aspects of public life, are not only undemocratic, they are also an existential threat to the peaceful co-existence of communities in the future.

The Oromo question

As the single largest ethnic group in a multi-ethnic country in which ethnicity is the pre-eminent form of political organising and mobilisation, the prevailing arrangement presents a particularly unique and challenging problem for the Oromo.

According to the 2007 Ethiopian National Census, Oromos constitute 34.49 percent of the population while Tigray, the politically dominant ethnic group, represents 6.07 percent of the total population. The real figure for the Oromo people is much higher.

The silence of the international community in the face of consistent reports raising alarms about systematic and widespread atrocities is deafening. by

By virtue of being a majority ethnic group, Oromos represent an existential threat to the legitimacy of ethnic Tigrayan rule and therefore have to be policed and controlled to create an appearance of stability and inclusiveness.

In a landmark report titled Because I am Oromo, Amnesty International describes a widespread and systematic repression, astonishing in scope and scale, in which the conflagration of ethnic identity and political power gave rise to the unprecedented criminalisation and incarceration of Oromos over the past five years.

Oromos have been the victims of an indiscriminate and disproportionate attack in the hands of security forces. This, protesters argue, had a far deeper and more corrosive effect of rendering Oromo identity and culture invisible and unrecognisable to mainstream perspectives and frameworks.

OPINION: Ethiopia drought  How can we let this happen again?

The governments response so far has been to dismiss the movement as misinformed, and besmirch it as anti-peace or anti-development elements controlled and directed by external forces  an old tactic used by the government to discredit and criminalise dissent. The most vocal and outspoken members of the movement are being tried for terrorism.

Western influence

The silence of the international community in the face of consistent reports raising alarms about systematic and widespread atrocities is deafening.

The obsessive focus of the West on the war on terror and the tendency to define human rights policy through the lens of the war on terror means that those who abuse their citizens under the guise of the war on terror are impervious to criticism.

READ MORE: Ethiopias Oromo people demand equal rights in protests

In the decade since 9/11, the West went beyond technical and financial support to providing diplomatic cover to abuses of human rights including by creating make-believe stories that Ethiopia is a democracy and an economic success story.

High-ranking government officials, including the United States President Barack Obama, praised the ruling party as democratically elected, providing much-needed endorsement and legitimisation to the government.

Ethiopia is a classic case of US counterterrorism policy inadvertently producing the very thing it seeks to prevent: helping to create an Orwellian surveillance state reminiscent of the Stasi in East Germany.

The Ethiopia rising narrative and its economic fiction is beginning to unravel. With the IMF significantly downgrading its economic forecast to 4.5 percent from 10.2 percent last year, the exodus of people fleeing its repression, and the droughts that made a fifth of its 100 million people dependent on food aid, Ethiopias economic miracle is being exposed for what it is: the benefit of the elite.

The Ethiopian government and its partners in the West are thinking that the outcry will die away, that the outrage will pass. We should lose no opportunity to prove them wrong.

Awol K Allo is Fellow in Human Rights at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Authorities impose partial block of social media after baccalaureate exams were leaked.

More than half a million secondary school pupils are retaking their baccalaureate exams in Algeria after a major leak of the papers online earlier this month.

Algerian authorities have decided to temporarily block several social media websites including Facebook and Twitter, starting on Sunday, to prevent further cheating.

A total of 555,177 pupils will be resitting partial baccalaureate exams from June 19 to 22.

The Ministry of National Education said all measures have been taken to ensure the smooth running of the exams, in collaboration with other sectors concerned, namely the National Police, National Gendarmerie, Civil Protection and Health authorities.

Authorities reportedly arrested dozens of people, including officials working in national education offices and printers, earlier in June, as part of an investigation into how parts of the 2016 high school exams were leaked onto social media.

In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Post, Information Technology and Communication said the cut of social networks has a direct relationship with the matriculation exams.

The ministry said the unusual move was made to protect pupils from phony topics that might appear on social media.

It added that all other parts of the internet were not affected.

Access to the internet through the 3G mobile network, however, appeared to be disrupted.
World Refugee Day: Meet the Nigerian who was kicked out of Iceland and now remains in limbo in Sweden over deportation.

Stockholm, Sweden  As Eze sat in the pew at a church where he goes most mornings to pray, his phone buzzed with a new message. His Icelandic teacher was checking in on him, giving him support.

A calm and composed man, Eze began to cry, the emotion intensifying as he continued to read. His friends in Iceland were standing with him, the message said, they would fight for him.

Eze Okafor, 32, had been living in Iceland for the last four years, working as a cook in a local restaurant, learning the Icelandic language, building a community.

Iceland is my home now. I have contributed to the society here. Many people know me. My friends have become my family, he told Al Jazeera.

Eze fled Nigera after being targeted by Boko Haram. In 2010, he and his younger brother, Okwy, were attacked in retaliation for not joining the armed group. They tried to recruit me, but I refused.

Members of Boko Haram stormed their house in Maiduguri, Borno State, in northeastern Nigeria. Eze was stabbed in the head and face. Okwy was killed.

Soon after, Eze fled Nigeria and made a long and dangerous boat journey to Europe, where in 2011 he sought asylum in Sweden. He told his story and showed his still fresh and infected wounds, including the gash over his eye, which he feared would cost him his eyesight. He was denied asylum and made his way to Iceland.

He applied for asylum in Iceland in 2012 but was denied.

He has been working with a lawyer, Katrin Theodorsdottir, who then applied for permission for Eze to stay in Iceland on humanitarian grounds, as his case has slowly made its way through the system. Eze said that in October he was given temporary residency and could work.

His case in Iceland has hinged on what time limit is relevant to his asylum request, as defined by Article 19 of the Dublin Regulation, which determines which European Union member state is responsible for asylum seekers.

Article 19 lays out a timeframe of six months within which an asylum seeker must be sent back to the country where they were originally asking for asylum, otherwise the current country is responsible for processing their asylum case.

After many rejections, appeals and back and forths between various immigration authorities, Theodorsdottir said there was a twist. A special immigration committee reviewing Ezes case said the time limit to send Eze back to Sweden might have expired, and advised him to go to the immigration office and have his application for asylum processed.

Boko Haram attack: 50,000 flee town in Niger

Eze went to the immigration office as instructed to pick up the paperwork, and was told to wait 45 minutes, which he did. According to Theodorsdottir, unbeknown to him, the police officer was calling the immigration office. And then another twist.

The police said I should come to sign and all of a sudden they took me into custody. They arrested me. I spent the night in jail, Eze recalled.

They next morning they said they were deporting me. I said I should go and get my stuff from my house. They said no. They took me to the airport and manhandled me.

In Iceland, I have been integrated into society, with so many friends. A lot of people know me. So when the police was beating me, when I was arrested, there was a lot of reaction.

Early on May 26, Eze was put handcuffed on to a plane for deportation. Two members of the rights group No Borders Iceland boarded the plane and stood up in protest, asking other passengers to stand up as well to protest at Ezes deportation. After about 10 minutes, they were arrested by Icelandic police.

Eze was taken to Stockholm. At the airport, he thought the Icelandic authorities would give him back the only ID he had  his Nigerian drivers licence. They took it back to Iceland. He was handed papers by the Swedish immigration authorities, which gave him until June 1 to leave Sweden or be deported back to Nigeria.

He was also given a piece of paper saying that he had no right to financial assistance. Without money or any identification, he was turned out on to the street where he spent the first night.

Nigeria finds Chibok girl abducted by Boko Haram

Boko Haram is an continuing threat in Nigeria with members and supporters at all levels of government and the police, Ezer said. Several years ago, members of Boko Haram kidnapped his mother in what he said was a bid to force him to return to Nigeria. After brutalising her  including an attack to her face that compromised her eyesight  the kidnappers demanded a ransom.

What I am facing in Nigeria is that this Islamic group is after my life. My life is in danger.

He said he believes that when he lands at the airport in Nigeria he fears he will be apprehended by the police. Boko Haram has a network. They have been looking for me since then.

Today, Eze is uncertain about his future. He does know one thing for sure. If he were to return to Nigeria, he believes it would mean death for him.

With his friends, he is working hard to find a lawyer who can take his case in Sweden. His dream is to return to his home in Iceland.

Theodorsdottir said there is something the immigration office could do. She has requested that he be granted permission to live in Iceland on humanitarian grounds, a request that is still pending.

Eze said his mother, Celina, taught him how to cook at an early age and it is his passion. He loved working in the restaurant in Iceland and had a good relationship with his boss. He loves to cook Nigerian food. Maybe, he said, once he is back in Iceland, and his life has found balance again, he could pursue a dream. There is no Nigerian restaurant in Iceland.

Maybe one day, when I am back in Iceland, I could open a restaurant, Eze said, smiling.

When I was in handcuffs on my way to Sweden, I was pleading with them, Eze said. I am not a criminal. I did not commit any crime. I am asking for refuge. They should treat me like a human.
Dareen Tatour is among dozens of Palestinians arrested by Israel for incitement allegations over social media posts.

Kiryat Ono, Israel  With a flick of her wrist, Dareen Tatour turned a page in her notebook, smoothed the paper and began reading aloud in a slow, steady cadence.

The charges are like pieces of clothing. They brought me these clothes and forced me to wear them, from my toes to my head, she said, before bursting into excited laughter at the novelty of her work being translated into English.

The lines are from A Poet Behind Bars, a piece that Tatour wrote in an Israeli prison in November 2015 after being charged with incitement to violence and supporting a terrorist organisation.

Tatour, a Palestinian poet, has since had ample time to work on new material  both during her three-month jail term and, more recently, while under house arrest in the Israeli city of Kiryat Ono, far from her hometown of Reine. I have been writing a lot about my arrest and everything that happened to me, Tatour told Al Jazeera.

READ MORE: Israel jails Palestinian beautician over Facebook post

Tatours ordeal began in the early hours of October 11, when she was alerted by the frightened shouts of her parents. She did not know why at the time, but Israeli police had come to her family home to arrest her.

Fifteen days and multiple interrogations later, Tatour says she was presented with the allegations against her, some of which were related to a Facebook post.

Interpreting an artistic work as a direct call to terrorism dangerously misconstrues an act of free expression by an Arab citizen of Israel as a serious security threat punishable by preventative detention and prosecution. by Karin Deutsch Karlekar, director at PEN America

She had posted a picture of Israa Abed  a Palestinian woman shot at a bus station in Afula while brandishing a knife  with the comment, I am the next martyr. Abed, who has a history of mental instability, survived the shooting and charges against her were later dropped .

What I meant with that post was that I, as a Palestinian, or any Palestinian, could be killed at any time, Tatour told Al Jazeera.

On November 2, Tatour was initially charged with inciting violence and terrorism, as well as supporting a terrorist group, in relation to posts on her Facebook and Youtube pages.

Since then, the specifics of the charges against her have shifted, and now relate to a poem that was posted to her Youtube account.

The poem, whose title translates roughly as Resist my people, resist, is read aloud against background images of Palestinians clashing with Israeli security forces.

Under the conditions of her house arrest, Tatour is confined to the flat for all but six hours a week, when she can leave and walk around the neighbourhood if accompanied by her brother.

The trial is currently underway  evidence hearings have begun. The next hearing sessions are expected to take place in July and September. Tatour will remain under house arrest until the trial is over.

Tatours brother, who asked not to be named, left his job as a nurse to take on the task of watching his sister day and night. He rented the apartment in Kiryat Ono after the court ruled that his sister was too dangerous to be confined in her family home and must be held at least 40km away.

We havent seen much of our family. Our father is not able to drive long distances, so they havent been able to visit much, he said. Its not easy, but we adapt.

Before her arrest, Tatour said she felt free to write and publish poetry without any fear or restrictions. I never imagined that I could be arrested for something that I wrote, she said. Back in the 60s, all the poets, like Mahmoud Darwish, were arrested  but in this century, I never expected this. I didnt know that democracy was not for everyone in Israel.

Tatour began writing as a child and realised that she was talented. In 2010, she published her first collection of poems entitled The Last Invasion. I wrote about everything to do with Palestinian life: Politics, social life, women children and emotions  whatever a human being feels, she said.

I was preparing to publish a second volume,Stories of the Canary, when they arrested me. This collection is mostly about women in general, not just Palestinian women, but sexual harassment, rape and social issues, Tatour said.

PEN America, a human rights group that works to defend freedom of expression around the world, released a statement on June 17 condemning Tatours detention and prosecution. Interpreting an artistic work as a direct call to terrorism dangerously misconstrues an act of free expression by an Arab citizen of Israel as a serious security threat punishable by preventative detention and prosecution, said Karin Deutsch Karlekar, director of Free Expression Programs at PEN America.

The connection between Tatours activities and the charges of incitement to violence and support for terrorism relies solely on suggestion in the form of a poem and video rather than actual evidence. Her detention, one in a string of recent arrests of writers and journalists, signals a worrying expansion in Israeli law enforcement policy to silence views the government deems unsavory.

Tatours lawyer, Abdul-Majeed Fahoum, says Dareen could face five years in prison.

READ MORE: Israel jails Palestinians for Facebook comments

Tatour is among dozens of Palestinians who have arrested for incitement allegations in relation to social media posts in recent months. Anas Khateeb, 19, was charged with incitement to violence and terrorism relating to three Facebook posts he allegedly uploaded in October 2015. The posts garnered no more than a few dozen likes, said Khateebs lawyer, Aram Mohammed, who is with Adalah  The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel.

Hes a political activist. But is he a politically influential figure? No, Mohammed said. None of his posts received more than 70 likes, indicating that he was unlikely to foment unrest on any scientific scale.

There are no clear legal grounds for the charge, Mohammed added. Incitement should be clear, specific and not subject to interpretation.

Israeli security services have increased their surveillance and monitoring of Arab social media activity since the 2014 Gaza war. But while Palestinians such as Tatour and Khateeb have been indicted in relation to social media posts since last autumn, Jewish Israelis have not been held to an equal standard, Mohammed said.

We do not live in a state where everyone is equal before the law, he said. We know that.
Taliban claims responsibility for two of three blasts in Afghanistan, with 14 Nepali security guards among the dead.

A wave of attacks in Afghanistan has killed at least 23 people, with the Taliban claiming responsibility for at least two of the blasts.

On Monday morning, at least 14 Nepali security guards were killed after a suicide bomber hit a minibus in Afghanistans capital, Kabul, along the main road to the eastern city of Jalalabad, police said.

The attacker was on foot, police said, as they reported a number of casualties among the passengers who worked at the Canadian embassy.

.@CanEmbAFG confirms that todays cowardly attack targeted our security company. Our thoughts with families and friends of victims.  Canada in AFG (@CanEmbAFG) June 20, 2016

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, saying it was against the forces of aggression in Afghanistan.

Less than three hours later, another attack in eastern Kabul targeting a politician killed at least one, injured the MP and wounded five others. The Taliban also claimed that attack.

A security official said a magnetic bomb planted on the vehicle of MP Ataullah Faizani was detonated in the Chel Siton area.

A third attack  a motorcyle bomb blast at a market in the remote northeastern province of Badakhshan  killed at least eight people and wounded 18, and it is feared the death toll will rise. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Al Jazeeras Qais Azimy, reporting from Kabul, said after the first attack that Afghan police told us they have reports that this kind of attack could happen again.

The bus bombing was the first attack in Kabul since the start of holy fasting month of Ramadan on June 6. More than 24 ambulances attended the scene.

Kabul had been quite peaceful during the first two weeks of Ramadan, said our correspondent.

But this is not the first such attack. Most of the time, the target they [the Taliban] take shows they have good intelligence and capability, he added. They want to show they can attack any target they want.

The last attack in the Afghan capital on April 19 left 64 dead and more than 340 wounded.

That attack was claimed by the Taliban, which has fought the Western-backed Kabul government since the group were driven from power by a US-led invasion in late 2001.
Police vehicle escorting passenger bus in Mandera is set on fire after being attacked by suspected al-Shabab fighters.

Five Kenyan policemen escorting a passenger bus have been killed after suspected al-Shabab fighters ambushed their convoy in the northeast of the country, according to officials.

The officers came under attack early on Monday near the remote Kenyan town of Elwak, on the border with Somalia.

The bus driver sped away, but the police vehicle was set on fire after being hit by a suspected rocket-propelled grenade.

Two of the victims were burned beyond recognition, Job Boronjo, the police commander in Mandera county, told the Associated Press news agency, adding that four officers survived.

This was a well-arranged ambush by the militants, he said, noting that the attackers were believed to had fled towards the Somalia border.

Ali Roba, the governor of Mandera, confirmed that five policemen were killed in the attack by al-Shabab.

We condemn the attack by Alshabab at Dimu this morning 5 police officers killed The info about their presence was long shared by the locals  HE Capt. Ali I Roba (@aliiroba) June 20, 2016

There was no immediate statement from al-Shabab, the armed group fighting to overthrow the internationally backed government in Mogadishu, which is protected by 22,000 African Union troops, including Kenyan soldiers.

READ MORE: From a fishing village to al-Shababs most wanted

Al-Shabab fighters have made a series of deadly incursions into neighbouring Kenya, including the 2013 killing of at least 67 people at the Westgate Mall in the capital, Nairobi, and the massacre of 148 people at a university in the town of Garissa in April 2015.

The armed group has also targeted the Mandera region in the past, including in late December 2015 when a Muslim teacher was shot after refusing to be separated from Christian passengers during another attack on a bus travelling to Nairobi.
Violent clashes between police and members of a radical teachers union, who had blockaded roads in southern Mexico, have left at least six people dead and more than 100 injured, officials said.

The teachers from the National Coordinator of Education Workers, or CNTE, are opposed to the mandatory testing of teachers as part of Mexicos sweeping education reform and are also protesting against the arrest of union leaders on money-laundering and other charges.

In Sundays clashes in the southern state of Oaxaca, protesters threw stones and Molotov cocktails, and burned vehicles, while journalists saw riot police firing on demonstrators. Clashes took place in several municipalities in Oaxaca, but the most violent were in Nochixtlan, north of the state capital also called Oaxaca.

Officials said six people were killed in Nochixtlan while 53 civilians, 41 federal police agents and 14 state police agents were injured.

Oaxaca state Governor Gabino Cue said all the dead were civilians, with two having ties to the CNTE union. A state official had previously said a state police officer was killed but it turned out that the person was a civilian.

Gun attacks

Earlier on Sunday, Mexicos federal government released a statement saying 21 federal police had been wounded, three of them by gunfire, and that its agents who participated in the operation were not carrying guns.

The attacks with guns came from people outside the blockades who fired on the population and federal police, it said.

But footage filmed by The Associated Press agency shows at least one police officer firing a gun several times, though it was unclear if he was a federal or state agent.

Late on Sunday night, Federal Police chief Enrique Galindo acknowledged that he had sent in some officers with guns after agents came under fire.

The police obligation is to protect the population, he said.

Clashes were continuing on Sunday night outside Oaxaca city and in the municipalities of San Pablo Huitzo and Santiaguito, where protesters had burned federal police installations.

Over the past week, unionised teachers have blockaded streets, a shopping mall and even train tracks in the western state of Michoacan. They have also forced some bus lines to cancel trips to Oaxaca, which is a popular tourist destination, and blocked a highway. And in Oaxaca city, protesting teachers have set up an encampment in the citys main square.

Federal prosecutors accuse union leaders of setting up an illegal financial network to fund protests and line their own pockets. They allege that the scheme operated in 2013-2015, when the union effectively controlled the payroll of Oaxacas teachers.

Following the arrest of some if its top leaders, the union called for a revolt against Mexicos government.

Ten years ago, the teachers started a six-month takeover of Oaxaca that did not end until police stormed the barricades.
US presidents appeal comes less than a week after mass shooting in Orlando gay nightclub that left 49 people dead.

US President Barack Obama has renewed his call to reduce gun violence, calling easy access to weapons unconscionable.

Speaking on Saturday for an early Fathers Day address, Obama said gun violence was preventable and too common. Its unconscionable that we allow easy access to weapons of war in these places.

The address comes less than a week after the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, that left 49 people dead, including the attacker.

Even after we see parents grieve for their children, the fact that we as a country do nothing to prevent the next heartbreak makes no sense, he said.

Obama called on parents who are concerned for their childrens safety to speak out about the dangers guns present.





We need our kids to hear us speak up about the risks guns pose to our communities, and against a status quo that doesnt make sense. They need to hear us say these things even when those who disagree are loud and are powerful.

Omar Mateen, the suspect behind the worst shooting in recent US history, pledged his loyalty to the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant (ISIL) as well as some other often-conflicting groups, according to FBI.

Obama said: Being tough on terrorism, particularly the sorts of homegrown terrorism that weve seen now in Orlando and San Bernardino, means making it harder for people who want to kill Americans to get their hands on assault weapons that are capable of killing dozens of innocents as quickly as possible.

Five more mass shootings  all of which left four or more people dead, excluding the gunman  took place in the US over the same weekend.

On Thursday Obama travelled to Orlando, where he met the families of the victims and demanded that the Republican-controlled Congress pass gun control.
Police investigate Punjab-based supplier of shoes carrying Om symbol after arrest of shopkeeper in small town in Sindh.

Pakistani police have arrested a Muslim man under the majority-Muslim countrys strict blasphemy laws for selling shoes with a sacred Hindu symbol, according to police and Hindu community leaders.

Jahanzaib Khaskheli, the shopkeeper, was arrested on Monday in the southern town of Tando Adam and the shoes, which carried the Om symbol, were confiscated, said Farrukh Ali, the district police chief.

Hindu community leaders called for the shopkeeper to be punished.

The state must play a proactive role in punishing the culprits under the blasphemy laws, Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, the patron of the Pakistani Hindu Council, said in a statement.

Tando Adam, about 200km northeast of Karachi, is in Sindh province, where the vast majority of Pakistans approximately three million Hindus live.





The blasphemy laws make it a crime to insult any religion and have specific sections for defiling the Quran or insulting Islams Prophet Muhammad that carry a life sentence and mandatory death sentence, respectively.

If convicted, the shopkeeper faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, in addition to a possible fine.

Ali, the police chief, said Khaskheli had cooperated with authorities and appeared not to have intended to inflame religious sentiment.

We will do this according to law, but prima facie it seems that he did not have any intention, he said.

READ MORE: Pakistans laws fail to check violence against women

Ali said that the police were now investigating the supplier of the shoes, who is based in Punjab province.

The responsibility in this case will be with the people who actually manufactured the shoes  they would probably have done it intentionally, he said.

Pakistani rights groups say Hindus are often at risk of discrimination and hate crimes, including forced conversions and economic discrimination.
Protest comes in solidarity with Bilal Kayed who was put on administrative detention after completing 14-year sentence.

At least 65 Palestinian prisoners have declared an open-ended hunger strike in solidarity with activist Bilal Kayed, who was put on administrative detention last week after completing his prison sentence of more than 14 years.

Sixty of the prisoners, all of whom are affiliated with the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), are being held at Megiddo prison in northern Israel.

Five others in Gilboa prison are also participating in the strike.





Israeli authorities have imposed a visitation ban on those taking part.

Kayed was imprisoned when he was 19, and has spent more than 14 years behind bars since 2001.

He was charged with being a member of the PFLP, a political party with an armed wing banned by Israel.

He was due to be released on June 13, but it was announced that he would be put under administrative detention for six months.

This order allows Israel to detain Palestinians on secret evidence without charge or trial for renewable six-month intervals.

Israeli authorities say he poses a security threat to the state and that he was conducting activities in the prison which cannot be disclosed.

Mahmoud Hassan, attorney and head of the legal unit at Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, says there is no basis to the accusations.

After speaking to Kayed and reviewing his file, Hassan said Kayed had a personal feud with one of the guards in the prison named Amal Kayouf, who threatened Kayed with getting the authorities to extend his detention.

READ MORE: Palestinian hunger striker protests Israels detention

This was an act of revenge. The community is confused. There was no sense in this and the decision does not even comply with the laws of punishment, Hassan told Al Jazeera.

He was not taking part in any activities in the prison that threatened Israel  Bilal was barely getting ready to start his life outside of prison.

Israeli prison authorities were not available for comment.

Thousands detained

Under international law, the use of administrative detention is permitted only in exceptional cases related to security.

Israel, however, has detained thousands of Palestinians, and for years without charging them or allowing them to defend themselves in trial.

Of the estimated 7,000 Palestinians behind Israeli bars, at least 715 are administrative detainees, according to Addameers statistics.

A military judge will review Kayeds detention order on June 27.

The judge can either confirm the order, cancel it, or reduce the detention period.

In the majority of cases, however, such hearings are merely used to confirm the orders.

Follow Zena Al Tahhan on Twitter: @ZenaTahhan
UN says Myanmars Muslim minority group is being subjected to forced labour, sexual violence and denied of citizenship.

Widespread and ongoing violations against Myanmars Muslim Rohingya minority, including denial of citizenship, forced labour and sexual violence, could amount to crimes against humanity, the United Nations has said.

Some 125,000 Rohingya remain displaced and face severe travel restrictions in squalid camps since fighting erupted between Buddhists and Muslims in 2012. Thousands have fled persecution and poverty.

In a report issued on Monday, the UN human rights office said it had found a pattern of gross violations against the Rohingya  [which] suggest a widespread or systematic attack  in turn giving rise to the possible commission of crimes against humanity if established in a court of law.

UN human rights chief Zeid Raad Al Hussein said he was encouraged by statements by Myanmars recently elected government in recent weeks, but added that the new leadership had inherited a situation where laws and policies are in place that are designed to deny fundamental rights to minorities.

Reporters Notebook: Myanmars shame

Hussein said impunity for serious violations against the Rohingya has encouraged further violence against them.

The report was published amid hopes that Myanmars new government, steered by Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi and her pro-democracy party, will address deep hatreds in the western Rakhine state.

In a meeting on Monday with Yanghee Lee, UNs special human rights investigator, Aung San Suu Kyi herself avoided the use of the word Rohingya.

Summary executions

During its year-long probe, the UN found an alarming increase in incitement to hatred and religious intolerance by ultra-nationalist Buddhist organisations against the Rohingya.

Buddhist nationalists have staged protests across the country against even using the term Rohingya.





They label the group Bengalis, casting Myanmars more than one million Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, denying them citizenship even though their families have lived in Myanmar for generations.

Mondays report also found that state security forces have committed a wide range of other violations against the Rohingya.

These include summary executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture and ill-treatment and forced labour, the report said.

Members of the Rohingya community in Rakhine also need official authorisation to move between, and often within, townships, severely restricting their freedom of movement, it added.

The report also outlined abuses against other minorities, especially in the restive Kachin and northern Shan states, where children are allegedly forced into fighting.

The report called on Myanmar to carry out an independent probe.
Only two weeks after the last round of severe weather, Queensland is slammed by damaging winds and flash floods.

Winds have ripped the roofs from homes and crushed cars as another storm battered the east coast of Australia.

The strong winds hit Mooloolaba on Queenslands Sunshine Coast on Sunday evening and are believed to have been caused by a tornado.

Fortunately there were no reports of injuries, but in the Guardian newspaper, one survivor describes the event as the scariest two minutes of his life.

The heaviest downpours hit further south, with some parts of Brisbane reporting up to 180mm of rain.

This triggered flooding, with a number of homes inundated and dozens of people needing to be rescued.

Road Safety Minister Mark Bailey told ABC that it was disappointing to still see people driving through floodwater.

Only 15 centimetres of water can move your car off the road and I think people dont realise. Its not the height of the water, its the velocity of the water that gets you into trouble, he said.

This severe weather comes only two weeks after the last storm battered the east coast. This storm caused major erosion along the coast of New South Wales.

The current bad weather is now clearing away from Queensland, but has moved south towards Victoria.

Warnings are in force for the southeast of the state, with winds gusting up to 100kph and flash flooding expected.

The storm will then head towards New Zealand over the next few days.
Turkish police have fired rubber bullets and tear gas to break up a banned rally by the LGBT community in central Istanbul.

Several hundred riot police surrounded the main Taksim Square on Sunday to prevent the event called Trans Pride from taking place. The rally was to kick off the LGBT  Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender  week in Turkey.

Istanbuls governor had banned the LGBT from holding rallies this week, citing security concerns.

As the police swooped in on the rally of a few hundred people, the crowd fled into nearby streets.

Demonstrators unfurled a rainbow flag, a symbol of the LGBT community, and then tried to read a statement but were prevented from doing so by the police.

Turkish media reported that at least two people were arrested.
The UN says the number of refugees reached a record high of more than 60 million people last year.

The United Nations marked World Refugee Day on Monday with a new report that says forced displacement reached record levels last year.

It is a crisis facing one in every 113 people somewhere in the world: families being forced from their homes, sometimes at a moments notice, because of war on their doorsteps; children having to leave their schools and friends behind for uncertainty ahead.

According to the report, 24 people were being displaced every minute.

The refugees are mainly from Asia and Africa. More than half of them are children.

The UN is launching a new petition calling for education for every refugee child and shelter for every refugee family.

So, what is being done to stop so many people losing their homes?

Presenter: Dareen Abughaida

Guests:

Maya Mailer  Oxfams head of Humanitarian Policy and Campaigns

Salim Salamah  Head of the Palestinian League for Human Rights Syria

Daphne Bouteillet-Paquet  Senior Legal Officer at the European Council on Refugees and Exiles
Dr Marc Lamont Hill is an award-winning journalist and author and is the Steve Charles Professor of Media, Cities, and Solutions at Temple University. Hill is known for his work addressing the intersections of race, justice, politics and culture. His latest best-selling book is We Still Here: Pandemics, Policing, Protest and Possibility which follows on the success of Nobody: Casualties of Americas War on the Vulnerable from Flint to Ferguson. Hill has received numerous prestigious awards from the US National Association of Black Journalists, GLAAD, and the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.
           2005     ..        
The Council discussed the EU comprehensive approach to security and development in the Sahel region and adopted conclusions. Ministers discussed how to strengthen the political dialogue and partnership further with G5 countries on security and migration. Ministers also underlined the importance of the full implementation of the Mali peace agreement, exactly one year after its []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric...
The UK is providing an additional 15.0 million to help meet the urgent needs of Burundian refugees arriving in western Tanzania. This brings the total UK support to the current refugee influx to 29.25 million (c TZS 90 billion) since June 2015. The UK previously provided 14.25 million for food, medical care and clean water []Source : http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric...




AR's Editor Joe Shea Talks About Elections On Iranian TV Bear Stearns Saved By Fed As Lehman Bros. Falters; Major Bank

Failure Looms Over Wall Street, Sends Markets Into 200-Pt. Dive Lie Upon Lie Five Years Into the Iraq War

The Administration Still Churns Out Lies by Randolph Holhut A Small Tragedy Even at 90, As Friends Turn Cool

She Knows the Show Must Go On by Joyce Marcel I'll Take Me Imagine John Wayne or Arnold

In Heels, Silk and a Girdle by Elizabeth Andrews Sen. Nelson Calls For New Fla. Primary; Gov Crist Backs 'Do-Over' Who'll Win? Ask Spock Spock.com Engine Predicts Winners

By Site Searches; It Can be Wrong by Jay Bhatti Chatting Up The Cat God Gave Me Dominion Over Him

But I Think He's a Non-Believer by Constance Daley Death of a Thug The Life and Horrors of Suharto by Andreas Harsono ___________________________ This Just In Sierra Club: McCain Ducked All 15 Key Votes On Green Laws (AR) A Work By AR's T.S. Kerrigan Is Chosen As 'Best Poem' By Wordpress Site Murder At Mile 63

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AFTER 5 YEARS, WE'RE STILL LIED TO ABOUT IRAQ by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Next week is the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. And it is likely that sometime in the next couple of weeks, the 4,000th American soldier will die in Iraq. [MORE] Momentum

OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - It's 1931, and a 14-year-old girl is standing alone on a stage. She's small and lively with dark curly hair, widespread hazel eyes, slender wrists and an open, eager face filled with the wonder of performing. Her name is Rose, and one day she will be my mother. But now she is performing an Eugene O'Neill monologue called "Before Breakfast" for a ladies' club in a wealthy suburb of Long Island. [MORE] One Woman's World

COMFORTABLE WITH MYSELF by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- I'm not sure but I think I may be socially incorrect. [MORE] On Native Ground

ENOUGH FOR A WAR, NOT FOR A PEOPLE by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Last week, the National Governors Assn. met in Washington, D.C. One of the tasks the NGA had on its agenda was to ask President Bush to increase federal spending on roads, bridges and other public works projects as a way to stimulate the economy. He rejected their pleas out of hand, claiming that infrastructure projects wouldn't offer any short-term economic boost. [MORE] Brasch Words

BEWARE THE SELF-REVERENTIAL PRESS by Walter Brasch BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -- Shortly before the primary votes this past week, Newsweek's Jonathan Alter called Sen. Barack Obama's surge to the Democratic nomination "inevitable." It also called for Hillary Clinton to "start her campaign for Senate majority leader." [MORE] Constance

A CONVERSATION WITH MY CAT Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- Normally, when the cat starts his evening rant of meowing continuously until he makes his point, I just take it as long as I can, pick him up, and put him in the garage for the night. He doesn't want to go, but the meowing stops and I don't care if he likes it or not. [MORE] Momentum

OUT OF STRUGGLE, ART by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Here we are again at the crossroads of art and social change, having the opportunity to watch good and great films about the lives of women in support of the Women's Crisis Center. [MORE] Campaign 2008

HOW TO PREDICT SUPER TUESDAY II WINNERS? ONLINE SEARCH by Jay Bhatti NEW YORK, March 4, 2008, 7:00PM ET -- With the outcomes of the Texas, Vermont, Ohio and Rhode Island primaries to be decided tonight, how possible is it that online searching can predict who will win tonight's primaries? [MORE] One Woman's World

DON'T VOTE; IT ENCOURAGES THEM by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Call me angry and disgusted but don't call me un-American because I won't be voting come November. [MORE] On Native Ground

BUSH AND THE KEYBOARD COMMANDOS by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- As the days tick down toward the eventual departure of President George W. Bush from the White House, it's a hopeful sign that most Americans are no longer moved by his Administration's constant exploitation of terrorism for political gain. [MORE] Momentum

WHICH AMERICA DO YOU LIVE IN? by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- It's a little confusing. [MORE] Make My Dat

THE LAWYER THAT ATE NEW YORK by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- I used to know a guy who, quite literally, didn't get hyperbole. He didn't understand exaggeration. As a result, he missed most jokes that came his way. [MORE] On Native Ground

FIDEL RETIRES: NOW THE COLD WAR IS REALLY OVER by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Maybe now, we can finally say the Cold War is over. [MORE] Make My Dat

THE LAWYER THAT ATE NEW YORK by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- I used to know a guy who, quite literally, didn't get hyperbole. He didn't understand exaggeration. As a result, he missed most jokes that came his way. [MORE] One Woman's World

POLITICS IS NO PARTY by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- Are you having a hard time focusing your eyes? Do you have faint red spots all over your body? Is there a ringing in your ears and do you see wavy lines when you look at your television set? Do your hands shake when you try to hold a cup of coffee? And have you recently been forgetting what day of the week it is - or what year? [MORE] Make My Day

FOR BETTER OR WORSE ... A LOT WORSE by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- "Marriage: It's Only Going to Get Worse." [MORE] Constance

YOU CALL THESE RIGHTS? by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- When you express an opinion you hope to persuade others to your point of view. It doesn't always happen but still, opinion writers try. [MORE] Momentum

THE BRIDGE WOMAN by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - Out there in America - yes, still - is a generation of women who were born in the 1940s, raised in the 1950s, and who came to radical consciousness in the late 1960s and early 1970s. I am one of them. Hillary Clinton is one of them. [MORE] On Native Ground

OBAMA AND MY GENERATION by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- I originally planned on voting for Dennis Kucinich in the Vermont Primary on March 4. [MORE] The Willies:

WARNING: THIS MEDICATION MAY MURDER YOUR FRIENDS by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla. -- You've heard the warnings, haven't you? Stop Prozac and you may take a shotgun, an Uzi or an AK-47 and mow down your family and friends, or even a whole classroom full of your fellow students. You didn't? Well, that warning is not on the bottle, but like countless mass-murder incidents before it, Friday's shootings at Northern Illinois University, as well as the Virginia Tech shootings that killed 32 last year, was probably precipitated by the effect of stopping medications that suppress anger and other powerful emotions but do not relieve the underlying cause. Isn't it time we started warning people - or stopped prescribing these medicines? [MORE] One Woman's World

DON'T KNOCK ON MY DOOR by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- I wish I could feel delight in my poet's mansion being like Grand Central Station all the time, but I can't. And I wish my place was such a place that someone would one day write: "Her door was always open and she always made you feel all fuzzy and warm in her presence. She could make a cup of coffee seem like a banquet." [MORE] Reporting: Panama

PANAMA'S VIOLENT LABOR UNREST INTENSIFIES Mark Scheinbaum PANAMA CITY, Panama, Feb, 15, 2008 -- After just one day of relative calm, wildcat construction strikes by some members of Panama's largest union flared up again Friday morning, four days after a police sniper shot one worker. More than 140 demonstrators have been injured and at least 500 arrested, authorities say. [MORE] Brasch Words

TO STIMULATE ECONOMY, BUY A CHINESE-MADE U.S. FLAG by Walter Brasch BLOOMSBURG, Pa. -- Walking down Main Street, pushing a grocery cart loaded with clothes, toys, and appliances was Marshbaum. Fastened to the right front corner of the cart was an American flag tied onto a three-foot ruler. [MORE] Make My Day

THE TOOTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TOOTH by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- To commemorate the death of noted shark exploder Roy Scheider, and the "Jaws" movies that resulted in Erik never setting foot in the ocean again, we are reprinting this column from 2003. Shark Experts 0, Sharks 1 [MORE] Momentum

THE WINTER OF MY DISCONTENT by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. - As I write this, it's raining ice. Maybe a half a foot of snow and ice has already landed up here in the woods of Dummerston. Our cars are encased in it, and the door to the house is blocked. The satellite dish that brings in our Internet service quit about 20 minutes ago - frozen solid. [MORE] The Willies

AMERICA TO HILLARY: GET OUT! by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 13, 2008 -- Sen. Hillary Clinton has adopted the Rudy Giuliani strategy, and it's working - for Sen. Barack Obama. It turns out to be the strategy all Democrats are seeking - an exit strategy. But it's not for Iraq. It's for her exit from the race for the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination. [MORE] Constance

CONFESSIONS OF A DISAPPOINTED VOTER by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. -- A week ago at just about this time, I completed an article and was about to submit it as scheduled to The American Reporter. I was feeling rather elated, ready to show up on Super Tuesday morning, firmly touch the X next to Rudy Giuliani's name and get on with my day. He was my choice; he would get my vote. [MORE] Reporting: Florida

SIERRA CLUB SET TO SUSPEND FLA. CHAPTER by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 10, 2008 -- The national Sierra Club is set to suspend its Florida chapter after years of divisive infighting, the president of the national club told Florida members in a letter delivered to some this weekend. It is the first time in its 116-year history that such a step has been considered by the club, according to news reports. [MORE] One Woman's World

PLANT A NEW WORLD THIS SPRING by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- For a little while, the men will just have to toss and turn in their fear-free-women beds. For a small space of time Hillary Clinton will just have to trudge on toward the White House without my faint applause in the background. [MORE] On Native Ground

VERMONT AND THE 5 STAGES OF CONSERVATIVE GRIEF by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- First, Vermont tried to convince the nation to impeach President Bush and Vice President Cheney. [MORE] Make My Day

REBEL WITHOUT A TONGUE by Erik Deckers INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Kids' brains work in amazing ways. At times, they can grasp complex concepts and make impressive discoveries. Other times, you have to wonder how we ever survived as a species. [MORE] The Willies

FOR DEMOCRATS, NOW IT'S ABOUT RACE, INCOME AND GENDER by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Feb. 6, 2008 -- It's not a good time to be a Democrat. As the Super Tuesday results demonstrated, the presidential race between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton has divided the partly along clear racial, income and gender lines - the very distinctions the party has sought to erase in principle but has emphasized in its pursuit of diversity. [MORE] Momentum

SUPER TUESDAY BLUES by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- Super Tuesday has come and gone and I still can't get excited about the upcoming presidential elections. [MORE] The Willies

ON THE BRINK OF HISTORY, YOUR PUSH IS NEEDED by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Feb. 5. 2008 -- I'm expecting a sea change tonight. I believe that for the first time in this nation's history we will once and forever banish racism as the deciding factor in the destiny of African-Americans, and indeed adopt diversity as our path to the future. [MORE] Campaign 2008

AT 88, EVERY VOTE REALLY COUNTS by Ted Manna DENVER, Feb. 5, 2008 -- Pearl Turner will caucus for Mitt Romney tonight in Denver. [MORE] One Woman's World

STAND BY YOUR WOMAN by Elizabeth T. Andrews CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- The black vote. The gay vote. The fundamentalist vote. The Hispanic vote. [MORE] An AR Special

SUSPECTS IN BENAZIR ASSASSINATION HAVE TIES TO MUSHARRAF by Ahmar Mustikhan WASHINGTON, D.C. -- When Gordon Brown this past Monday feted coup-leader-turned-President Pervez Musharraf at 10 Downing Street, Britain's new prime minister probably didn't ask the Pakistani dictator a question that is now on many minds: Did you order the murder of Benazir Bhutto? [MORE] Momentum

TO THE VERMONT DELEGATION: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR US LATELY? by Joyce Marcel DUMMERSTON, Vt.  Back when President George W. Bush and Dick Vice President Dick Cheney were building up to their loathsome war in Iraq, very few people were brave enough to call the bullies' bluff. [MORE] On Native Ground

IF BUSH HAS HIS WAY, WE'LL NEVER LEAVE IRAQ by Randolph T. Holhut DUMMERSTON, Vt. - In his final State of the Union address on Jan. 28, President Bush cautioned against accelerating U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq, saying that it would endanger the process that has been made over the past year. [MORE] Campaign 2008

CLASH OF COMMENTS AND PROTESTORS AT CLINTON, OBAMA RALLIES IN DENVER by Ted Manna DENVER, Feb. 1, 2008 -- At least four presidential campaigns of both partiers rolled into in Denver this week ahead of the Feb. 5 "Super Tuesday" primaries in 22 states, but it was the Democratic presidential contenders who drew the big crowds and duked it out Wednesday. If sheer numbers are any indication, Sen. Barack Obama - preceded by a buoyant and beautiful Caroline Kennedy - won the round handily. He is the overwhelming favorite to win the Colorado primary next Tuesday. [MORE] The Willies

WHY THE FLORIDA PRIMARY STINKS by Joe Shea BRADENTON, Fla., Jan. 30, 2008 -- I was with my wife and daughter driving the back way from Miami home to Bradenton when we stopped at a McDonald's in Clewiston, the only big town along the vast shore of Lake Okeechobee, the state's precious freshwater reservoir. The McDonald's had three televisions at a central seating area, each tuned to a different network, and our table was in front of CNN as the very first election results started to pour in around 7:30PM. With them, almost as counterpoint, suddenly came such an overwhelming odor of cow plop that my wife started to throw up as we all ran to the parking lot. [MORE] Passings: Suharto

DEATH OF A KEMUSU THUG by Andreas Harsono JAKARTA - A few minutes after hearing that former president Suharto had died in his hospital bed, Marco, a militia leader in downtown Jakarta, raced to Suhartos house, wearing his jungle camouflage and began guarding the Suhartos residence on Cendana Street. [MORE] Constance

I REMEMBER YOU by Constance Daley ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga.. -- It seems to be more often lately that the sentiment is spoken but it's always been out there: "You never get over the death of your child." This is true. But the heartfelt expressions come from some who cannot fathom the notion of losing a child; their own child is who is in their mind, not another mother's child. [MORE]
Bank of America Chief Executive Brian Moynihan's recent comments on the inadvisability of starting up a new bank point to everything wrong with our current banking environment.

Moynihan said he wouldn't recommend that investors launch a new bank due to the industry's excessive regulatory burdens and dominance by large institutions like his. In other words, the banking industry's barriers to entry have become so impenetrable that they completely rule out new competitors entering the market.

The data shows that investors are indeed being boxed out of the industry. Regulators have approved just two de novos since 2011, compared with an average of 100 new banks formed per year since 1990, according to the Richmond Fed. As Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Martin Gruenberg has noted, the "trickle" of applications poses tangible economic problems, with de novo banks providing credit and services to communities that may be overlooked by larger institutions.

The question, then, is what can be done to re-energize investment in new bank charters. Moynihan himself points to the answer: tiered and proportional regulations. As he notes, community banks are overburdened by needlessly excessive regulation that is disproportionate to their size and risk.

Streamlined Rules for Main Street

Federal regulators made a down payment on easing entry barriers when the FDIC in April reduced the period of heightened supervisory monitoring of new banks. However, the agencies can more thoroughly refocus the regulatory system through their current Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act review of outdated, unnecessary or unduly burdensome rules.

That means regulatory changes that will have a substantial and noticeable impact on Main Street institutions, including reforming the call report, easing restrictions on raising capital, raising asset thresholds, and even rolling Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules into the decennial EGRPRA review.

Unfortunately, in response to a congressional inquiry, the federal banking agencies in March cited several statutorily mandated reforms in a rundown of progress on the current EGRPRA review. With all due respect to the agencies, expanded access to the 18-month exam cycle and Small Bank Holding Company Policy Statement  both of which were required under the FAST Act transportation law  have no bearing on the distinct EGRPRA mandate. Federal regulators should avoid settling for a handful of minor changes alongside more meaningful reforms they are already required by Congress to implement.

Meanwhile, numerous bills pending in Congress would do much to roll back the excessive regulatory burden facing community banks. House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling's Financial CHOICE Act and House Speaker Paul Ryan's Better Way agenda offer a comprehensive rundown of pro-community bank policies, such as easing mortgage rules on portfolio loans and providing relief from the Basel III capital standards.

Strict Oversight of Wall Street

Of course, the flip side of tiered and proportional regulation is appropriate oversight of the nation's largest and riskiest financial institutions. There is much evidence that these institutions enjoy a taxpayer-financed freedom from failure, which incentivizes risky behavior and offers competitive advantages over the rest of the industry. But while there are many potential solutions to this problem  from limitations on the federal safety net to an outright breakup of the largest banks  questions remain about the political will for additional Wall Street reforms.

Nevertheless, there is no shortage of support for common-sense regulatory relief for community banks. By advancing reforms to help existing community banks promote economic growth and encourage the entry of new institutions into the industry, Congress and the financial regulators can right many of the wrongs in our nation's banking system.

Camden R. Fine is president and CEO of the Independent Community Bankers of America.
Barclays Africa Group has a market penetration problem.

Though its parent company, the $1.8 trillion-asset Barclays PLC, has had operations in Africa for more than 100 years, today Barclays Africa has only 12 million customers, about 1% of the continent's total population. Clearly, said Stephen van Coller, Barclays Africa's chief executive for corporate and investment banking, "you've got an opportunity to bank significantly more people than you currently are banking."

But to reach the other 99%  to bank the next billion customers  will require more than marketing efforts, more than simply better outreach, van Coller said. It will require building an entirely new bank, a "virtual bank" that will strip out legacy costs and offer new products and services, such as faster, cheaper payments, tailored to the needs of people at "the bottom of the pyramid."

Bank technology B of A's Bessant on AI, Blockchain, Patents and Swift Throw Cathy Bessant of Bank of America a question about a hot tech topic, and she's got answers. Blockchain? She loves it but is still waiting for its use case. Patents? The law is making us be aggressive. Swift? A call to action. And that's just the start. June 8

Bank technology Big Banks Will Look More Like Google by 2025 Nonbanks now set the digital banking experience bar, but in less than a decade large banks will have swallowed them up and will have become digital financial superstores. June 13

For more than a year now, Barclays Africa has been engaged in building this bank, partnering with Deloitte and various fintech startups to get it done. At a time when bank profits often seem to depend more on reducing costs than on growing revenue, Barclays is taking a long-term view: that a dramatic improvement in its bottom line depends on plugging the unbanked en masse into the global economy.

"If you can create financial inclusion for the 80% of the [African] population that doesn't have financial inclusion today, imagine what that does to the GDP," van Coller said. "And if I can grow the GDP, even if my business does nothing better, I'll grow my business."

Barclays' effort to bank the unbanked has implications far beyond Africa. Some 2 billion people worldwide have little or no access to banking services, and many live in countries where Barclays already has a presence.

The bank's attempt to rethink its business from the ground up, though still in utero, could have even larger implications. The virtual bank, when fully developed, is intended to replace the existing core banking system and its attendant cost structures. It will serve not only the formerly unbanked but existing customers as well, starting at Barclays Africa.

"A lot of banks have innovation labs, and a lot of banks are spending money on [fintech] experiments, and a lot of those experiments are focusing on digitization and efficiency," said Thomas Jankovich, the financial services innovation leader at Deloitte, who has worked closely with Barclays on the initiative. "Barclays is doing something unique with the virtual bank, where it is entirely reimagining and re-platforming the concept of what a bank is."

A New Approach

With all banks struggling to find new revenue streams while trying to adapt to customers' ever-changing preferences, Barclays attempt to build a virtual bank alongside a traditional one is likely to be watched closely by other institutions. But building a new approach to banking is not like coding an app. It doesn't happen overnight.

Barclays' initiative emerged out of a months-long program that Deloitte was running on its behalf. Its aim was to forecast the future of the financial services industry and create a growth strategy to capitalize on it.

After priming the pump by immersing Barclays executives in the techno-futurism of Singularity University, a Silicon Valley think tank, Deloitte's team came up with a list of more than 100 new business opportunities. It narrowed the list down to eight and began to develop four of them into real ventures.

The first to be executed, in March 2014, involved Barclays taking a 49% ownership stake in RainFin, South Africa's largest peer-to-peer lender. After working with the bank to refine its credit model and marketplace and expanding loans to small businesses, RainFin has increased its daily lending from about 400,000 rand, or $26,000, to well over one million rand, according to the company's CEO, Sean Emery.

Two of the other business concepts are still in stealth mode. The final idea, said Jankovich, was for Barclays to create a streamlined virtual bank. It would have "extremely simplified processes, simplified architecture and simplified products" that could scale massively and cheaply. It had to be able to handle 1 billion customers  and do it for less than 10% of the current cost per person.

Traditional banking processes, it became clear, were irrevocably mired in legacy costs. So Deloitte began looking for fintech startups that could help the bank achieve its goals.

The move made sense: The virtual bank initiative itself is being run like a startup within the larger bank. An initial team of 14 soon grew to more than 70 people between the U.S. and South Africa.

And like any startup, it has faced resistance or incomprehension from more hidebound executives.

"There's a lot that has to be done just to keep the bank alive," van Coller told an audience at a conference in New York earlier this month. "So people are reluctant to spend too much money on innovating. There's always the naysayers trying to stop you."

His perseverance is due to his belief that pretty soon banks will have to start changing how they charge their customers. Take foreign exchange, he said. Currencies are swapped electronically now, yet banks are still charging the same fees to exchange them as they did in the old days of paper bills. This won't last.

"There are going to be components of the virtual bank that will just not earn income in the way that the old bank did," Jankovich agreed. "That requires some very difficult conversations, where you're basically making a conscious decision to say, 'We used to charge for this, and it used to make us a lot of money, but in the future it has to be free. So let's just go and make it free now.' These are not small decisions."

Moreover, the unbanked are unlikely to be interested in the same products and services as existing, relatively affluent customers. "If you're trying to solve for your current architecture and your current clients and your current products," you're on the wrong track, said van Coller. The opportunity lies elsewhere.

Email for Payments

Van Coller is betting that one of the areas in which old fee structures will no longer be tenable is payments.

With that in mind, Deloitte turned to a nonprofit blockchain startup, Stellar, to build the payments component of its virtual bank. Much like bitcoin, Stellar is a decentralized, peer-to-peer payments network. But whereas only bitcoin can be sent through the bitcoin network, Stellar's payment rails work for ordinary currencies.

In an era of new payments technologies, banks will have to compete by growing their customer networks and slashing their fees, van Coller said. "If you assume that payments are tending to zero, you need massive scale."

In other words, Barclays hopes to make up for the drop in fees by enormously increasing its volume of transactions.

"The goal with Stellar is to make payments work the way that the internet works  to be an email-type analogue for payments," said Jed McCaleb, Stellar's co-founder and chief technology officer.

Just as it's no trouble to send an email from a Google account to a Yahoo account, McCaleb built Stellar to allow the instant conversion of one currency into another. So money being sent from a Londoner's bank account, denominated in pounds, would arrive in the form of rand in a South African's bank account  in a few seconds and for practically no cost.

"If I want to send money to London using my bank account, that will cost me $25 and take five to seven days," Jankovich said. With the Stellar-powered prototype, by contrast, "we can do it in less than six seconds and for less than one U.S. cent."

When British banks, including Barclays, set out in the early 2000s to build a real-time payments system, it took years of consensus-building and development before the system, Faster Payments, finally launched in 2008. The initial prototype that Stellar built with Deloitte took just four weeks.

The "no-brainer use case" for the new technology, said Jankovich, is cross-border payments, because those transactions carry the highest surcharges and are the most painful for customers.

"The stuff we're working on makes payments better everywhere," McCaleb said, "but it makes it way, way better" in the developing world."

There is a mobile app for the prototype, and the technology will also work on feature phones, which are still common in many parts of the world. Deloitte revealed its partnership with Stellar last month, though at the time it didn't identify which bank had commissioned the project.

Van Coller said that Barclays does plan to charge for payments made through its virtual bank, and that at scale it will make it a lucrative service. Its fee model for the prototype was based on 10% of what the bank currently charges.

A test of the prototype found that it could process 36 million transactions an hour using Google cloud servers, van Coller said.

"We've got massive confidence in the underlying Stellar protocol and its ability to handle volume," Jankovich affirmed.

Barclays is now in the early weeks of a pilot program for the technology, making it available to students at select Johannesburg schools. The pilot began after one of the schools approached Barclays looking for an electronic wallet to use in its digital-learning program. "It was just by chance that we stumbled into it," van Coller said.

Barclays has no intention of stopping there, of course, nor does McCaleb want to stop at Barclays; he hopes to plug plenty of other financial institutions into the Stellar network. That's fine with van Coller, who said it was never Barclays' intent to be "100% owner of the platform."

Barclays is also in talks with one African government that wants to run its own pilot of the payments platform.

"My personal view is that every government should be building this," van Coller said, comparing the payments network to transmission lines for electricity. "It's almost like a public asset. Theoretically, every government should have low-cost payment rails within the country."

'From a Telegraph to an iPhone'

Along with the payments platform, several other components of the virtual bank are also complete, at least in prototype form, including a digital "vault" for customer identities. But most of the components won't be debuted in isolation.

"We should start making it real, as the next step, with up-and-running applications that actually work," Joe Guastella, Deloitte's U.S. managing director of financial services, said at the Consensus 2016 blockchain conference in May. "We are now anywhere in between tomorrow and 18 months from now for something to actually happen."

When the virtual bank does launch, said Jankovich, it will be "like going from a telegraph to an iPhone." Customers with accounts on the old system will be transitioned to the new platform. Exactly when this will happen is unclear, however, as is the expected date, if there is one, for applying Barclays Africa's innovations to the parent bank and its other subsidiaries.

"There will be a structural shift when the virtual bank is launched. But how and when that manifests, that's Barclays' decision," Jankovich said. "Whether they run two different versions for some time, or whether they create an entirely new brand that targets an entirely different customer segment, that's their prerogative."

But he suggests, somewhat ominously, that the changeover may be enormously disruptive for Barclays' workforce. "A virtual bank does not have scores of people doing a whole bunch of redundant things," he said.

Deloitte, for its part, isn't standing still. Having "cracked the code on how you match a very large, established brand and highly regulated bank with a bunch of very fast, very powerful but very small fintech players," as Deloitte believes it has, the firm is now offering its expertise to U.S. banks, Jankovich said.

In addition to Stellar, Deloitte has partnerships with a handful of other blockchain startups, including BlockCypher, Bloq, ConsenSys Enterprise and Loyyal.

The challenge is figuring out how to integrate blockchain and other digital applications into each bank's back-end system. But the pace of development is rapid nonetheless.

"We now have a global blockchain development capability," Jankovich said. "We've moved beyond prototypes. These are actually now 'accelerators' that we offer for clients."


Access National Bank's goal to boost its wealth management business is an example of how the importance of scale often creeps up.

The bank, in Reston, Va., started its Access Capital Management unit in 2011 and has $523 million in assets under management today. In an interview Monday, Michael Clarke, Access' president and chief executive, said he would like to triple the amount of assets under management over the next five years. Currently, the wealth management business is boosting fees, but so far there has been no benefit to the bottom line.

"I think if we scale it, wealth management can provide a great net fee contributor," Clarke said. "We wish we had ventured into the business earlier. The client value proposition is tremendous."

For Access, as for scores of other community banks that have moved into the wealth management field, the allure is obvious  it's a potentially rich source of fee income at a time when margins are thin and loan growth is only modestly improved. Access earned $3.6 million in the first quarter, but it saw its net interest margin shrink by 9 basis points from 3.83% at the end of 2014, while it grew loans 2%.

"The margin squeeze is real, so fee income is very important to our investor value proposition," Clarke said.

Access Capital Management generated $2.1 million of fee income in 2014, more than double the $975,000 reported for 2012. Head count has grown, too. Although the business is in the red, operating losses have narrowed every year of operation. It had a loss of $350,000 last year compared to $751,000 in 2013.

Access' other two business lines, commercial banking and mortgage lending, generate enough cash to subsidize the cost of developing Access Capital Management, though. Their pretax profit totaled $24 million in 2014 and Access reported overall net earnings of $13.9 million.

Largely because of its mortgage banking business, fees made up about 33% of Access' total revenue in 2014. Such a percentage is high, as fees typically make up less than a quarter of community banks' revenue. However, the mortgage business can be uneven  in 2013, fees made up 44% of revenue.

In addition to growing its wealth business, the $1.1 billion-asset Access also wants to boost its assets to $1.5 billion by 2020 while maintaining a 12% return on equity.

The development and path to profitability of Access' wealth management business is on schedule, said Daniel Wheeler, a partner with Bryan Cave in San Francisco. It typically takes about five years to break even.

"It simply takes longer" to grow a portfolio than many bankers would like, Wheeler said.

On top of that, "a successful wealth management business depends on having good people and you have to be able to compensate and care for those people appropriately," Wheeler said.

Still, Access is well positioned for a breakthrough year in wealth management, Clarke said. It has no lack of prospective clients. Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia, the company's two biggest markets, both boast median family incomes in excess of $100,000.

Offering the service adds to the bank's appeal to customers and aligns with a move away from traditional wealth managers. Since the 2008 financial crisis, the wealthy have been more willing to consider community banks as stewards of their money, Clarke said

"There's a growing distrust of Wall Street and New York-based firms that is real," he said.

With nearly $103 million of capital on its books, Access has the money to grow its wealth management business by acquisition. Clarke didn't rule a deal out, but he said it was more likely Access would continue to expand on what he termed a "guerilla basis" by hiring individual wealth managers.

Access has pursued a "slow and methodical" expansion into wealth management largely out of necessity, according to Clarke. Banks are the last institutions independent wealth management firms want to merge with "because of how often things have gotten messed up," he said.

Banks have trouble attracting wealth management professionals and holding onto their hires because in many cases they don't offer a product set as wide as those offered by independent firms, said Jeff S. Vollmer, managing partner at Hyde Park Wealth Management in Cincinnati.

"You see a ton of turnover in bank trust departments. I've had customers tell me they had three or four different trust advisors in just a few years," Vollmer said. "At banks, the opportunities become more compressed. A lot of alternative investments are too risky or go against what the bank is trying to accomplish . That more narrow opportunity set is not something that excites professionals who have worked in this industry and achieved real success."

Vollmer agreed with Clarke that in the aftermath of the financial crisis the industry has seen an ongoing exodus of wealth management customers from money-center banks and Wall Street firms. He said banks have benefitted to an extent, but he added that many customers have bypassed bank wealth managers because they realized "the relationship would be limited in scope."

Hyde Park has engaged in discussions with a number of banks about various types of "private-label" arrangements or other types of partnerships "but every time I realized we were going to be so hamstrung it wasn't worth the time to continue the discussions," Vollmer said.

Wheeler, however, said it would be a mistake for community banks to attempt to keep pace with larger wealth management players.

"Community banks that get into this business shouldn't try to match the full range of offerings of the likes of U.S. Trust," he said.

In any event, Wheeler added that is unlikely clients interested in pursuing an alternative investment strategy would seek out a community bank to manage their funds.

There are plenty of potential clients whose needs extend no further than a manager who will ensure that their cash is actually invested in a diversified portfolio and restrain them from fleeing the market when they panic.

"Not being able to offer fancy alternatives is probably doing most people a service," Wheeler said.
A few days after the horrific Orlando terrorist attack, another tragic incident, this time involving a toddler, occurred at nearby Disney World. A two-year-old boy was wading along the shore of a lagoon at the Grand Floridian Resort when an alligator emerged from the water and dragged the young boy to his death.

Not to make light of any of these tragic incidents, but there is always the issue of fault and blame. The mass shooting at The Pulse nightclub has been blamed on a variety of people and groups. From the shooter himself, to radical Islam, the National Rifle Association, the Republican Party, Donald Trump, or Christians. What about the alligator attack?

Was that the fault of the parents for allowing their child to play on the shore of a Disney resort lagoon? Was it the fault of Disney World that alligators are in their resort lagoons or that an explicit sign warning of alligators wasnt posted? Was it the fault of the alligator for acting like an alligator? And what does any of this have to do with radical Islam?

My contention is that the Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, had much in common with the Orlando alligator, acting out of instinct, each following his obligatory course of action. Alligators are predatory creatures. When hungry they will eat whatever food is available, whether an animal drinking out of the lagoon or in this case a defenseless toddler splashing at the waters edge.

Omar Mateen was following his own instincts, in this case sharia law. Unlike an alligator, which is not capable of rational thought, Mateen made a conscious decision at some point in his life to not follow the laws of America, where he was born, but instead to follow the laws of his Islamic religion, sharia. Adhering to sharia, his act of terror was as natural to him as was the actions of the San Bernardino killers, the Tsarnaev brothers, or Major Hassan at Fort Hood.

While the media frets about assault weapons, the NRA, and Donald Trump, they conveniently overlook sharia law, which if followed faithfully, can lead to an Orlando type massacre.

For a review of sharia law, go here. Sharia includes laws quite antithetical to Western values such as a female rape victim needing four male witnesses to make the rape charge and allowing a man to beat his wife for insubordination. Not to mention, sodomites should be killed in the worst manner possible. Like being thrown off buildings or hanged in public.

Conventional wisdom says most Muslim-Americans dont follow sharia. Otherwise Muslim women wouldnt be driving cars or speaking alone to a man who is not her husband or relative. Yet 51% of American Muslims want sharia law, according to a recent survey. More specifically, 58% of US Muslims reject First Amendment criticism of Islam as a right. 46% want blasphemy punished, 12% want them killed. Perhaps Mateens views are not that far out of the mainstream. President Obama suggests otherwise, simply passing off his actions as those of a lone wolf, we know he was a person filled with hate.

Is he a person filled with hate? Or is he just following his religious teachings, which are themselves filled with hate for Western customs, values, and traditions? Ask any imam or even ask President Obama and they will tell you that Islam is a religion of peace, charity, and justice, not hate. But what is the Islamic view of our culturally permissive society with same sex weddings, transgender bathrooms, soft core porn on magazine covers and nightly television shows, and womens fashion that leaves little to the imagination?

This leaves the President and most of the political left in a contradictory position. While embracing Muslim migration to America, along with preaching tolerance and diversity, they are also taunting Muslim-Americans by promoting ideas and behaviors, such as same-sex marriage, transgender bathrooms, and womens rights that half of Muslim-Americans find abhorrent based on their sharia beliefs. As provocative as waving a red flag in front of a bull.

This would be analogous to encouraging swimming in Florida lakes and lagoons, tempting the ever-present alligator to act on its natural instincts. And then wondering why an occasional person is attacked by an alligator.

Going further, this raises the question of American immigration policy. Donald Trump suggests a pause in immigration from predominantly Muslim countries. Hardly a novel concept, despite Paul Ryans consternation, as the six past presidents, including Obama, have temporarily paused immigration of particular groups of people. Does Disney World want to keep alligators out of its lagoons or do they want to bring more in?

Yet as a country thats exactly what we are doing. Between 2001 and 2013, 30,000 Afghan migrants settled in the US. Afghanistan is country where 99 percent of Muslims believe in sharia law. Ten countries, most of which supply refugees to the US, have actual laws mandating the death penalty for same sex activities. Such countries include Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria, Somalia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. These are also countries where the majority of Muslims support sharia law. Is it then surprising when one of these refugees carries out the sharia commands of his or her religion?

Can we vet those refugees to the US with terror ties or radical beliefs potentially harmful to America? FBI director James Comey says we cannot. Can Disney World vet every lake and lagoon on its properties to ensure that they are alligator free? Obviously not. Hence their belated signs. Where was the sign on the Orlando nightclub warning gays that they could be slaughtered by a radical Muslim in the name of his religion?

Its clear that mass migration policies are not working either in the US or in Europe. Rather than doubling down, increasing the number of migrants under the guise of compassion or principles as Paul Ryan is suggesting, and hoping for a different result, its time to rethink the immigration process. Unless assimilation is not the goal of the current administration as an astute writer recently suggested on this website. Otherwise, there will be more Omar Mateens, acting on their instincts, much like the Disney World alligator.

Brian C Joondeph, MD, MPS, a Denver based retina surgeon, radio personality, and writer. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
The media's unbridled giddiness over the #NeverTrump camp's worsening Trump Derangement Syndrome is palpable.

Without delving into the debate on the merits of the #NeverTrump movement, it is painfully clear that at this point, the #NeverTrump movement is aiding and abetting the left.

There's no question that many in the #NeverTrump movement aren't just refusing to vote for Trump; they actually want Hillary Clinton to win. But even if you think that's insane, there's an enormous difference between wanting Donald Trump to lose and legitimizing the left's unrelenting assault on our values. The former is a short-term political calculation; the latter is a massive strategic blunder.

It appears that #NeverTrump Republicans, who receive ample air time from the press that adores them for their implicit commitment to electing Hillary Clinton, are happy to validate every left-wing talking point, every calumny, so long as it damages Trump.

The hordes of #NeverTrump Republicans pervading the airwaves to supply political analysis in the aftermath of the Orlando terrorist attack crystalize this phenomenon. They're not on TV to defend the Second Amendment, or to explain to the ignorant media elites what an "assault" rifle is. Nor are they there to describe the threat posed by radical Islam, or make the case for why the Obama administration has been an abject failure in the fight against barbaric savages. They're certainly not on TV to rebut the leftist narrative blaming American culture and Republicans for the Orlando massacre, a narrative underscored by a vile New York Times editorial.

No, instead of pushing back, the media's #NeverTrump darlings obsequiously oblige the media's Trump-bashing and are routinely baited by the media into attacking Trump.

This is criminally shortsighted and negligent. Like all political actors, Trump is a transient phenomenon, whereas the battle for the soul of our republic is perennial. If you're willing to allow the left's propagandists in the mainstream media to bait you into accepting left-wing dogma, then you're not on the winning side of the battle.

The #NeverTrump camp could distance itself from Trump, even ridicule him, while at the same time forcefully counter the left's narratives. Not liking Trump and opposing the left aren't mutually exclusive. It should be every conservative's duty to rebut dishonest left-wing propaganda. Prioritizing Trump-bashing over rejecting the malicious notion that Trump's rhetoric is strengthening ISIS or that alleged American homophobia is responsible for Orlando is surrendering to the left. It is sacrificing long-term strategic imperatives (leftism vs. American exceptionalism) for short-term gain (Trump losing).

In the wake of the Orlando terrorist attacks, the left and their media allies have employed a military maneuver known as the pincer: they're attacking conservatives simultaneously on both flanks.

On one flank, the left is exploiting an attack carried out by an Islamist terrorist to push for overreaching gun control measures, repeatedly misrepresenting, either deliberately or out of ignorance, what so-called assault weapons actually are and the fact that if we enforced the law, there's a high likelihood that the Orlando shooter wouldn't have been allowed to purchase a gun. That is not to say that we couldn't do more to prevent ISIS sympathizers from buying guns; it is to say that the left's end goal extends beyond making tweaks to federal gun legislation.

On the other flank, the left-leaning media is feverishly downplaying the incontrovertible Islamist roots of the attack by slandering Republicans and pro-traditional marriage Americans for cultivating a "culture of hate" against the LGBT community that planted the seeds for this massacre.

Of course, this kind of abominable scapegoating is nothing new. The far left exploits nearly every tragedy to push an ideological agenda. In 2011, before the blood was dry in a Casas Adobes, Arizona supermarket parking lot, where Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords and eighteen others were shot by a madman, The New York Times columnist Paul Krugman penned an op-ed blaming Sarah Palin and the Tea Party for the murder. Over the next several weeks, the mainstream press legitimized the libelous accusation.

In 2012, following a mass shooting inside a movie cinema in Aurora, Colorado, ABC's Brian Ross bizarrely noted that there was a Colorado Tea Party activist with the same name as the shooter. That was just a coincidence, but the fact that a supposedly objective news reporter's first instinct in the aftermath of a mass shooting was to see if the shooter was a member of the Tea Party is the ultimate indictment on the media's perverse mindset.

And now, as Democrats, the professional left, and their media allies politicize the terrorist attack by pushing the gun control and the phony "culture of hate" narratives to divert attention from the undeniable Islamist threat that has now manifested itself on U.S. soil in multiple deadly incidents, the #NeverTrump folks are eagerly taking the bait, excoriating Trump for his proposal to halt immigration and travel from certain regions that disproportionately breed jihad (notice he's no longer talking about a "Muslim ban"), and for his relatively trivial gaffe that the Islamic terrorist was born in Afghanistan.

While the piling on may hurt Trump, the more consequential result is that it helps the left.

I know most of the #NeverTrump crowd vehemently opposes the left's narratives and ideological agenda. But blinded by their Trump-hatred, they appear to be oblivious to the fact that their inability to deftly pivot from disagreeing with Trump to countering the media's left-wing talking points is aiding and abetting the left.

Don't like Trump? Won't vote for him? Fine. But don't lose sight of the bigger conflict between the left and the right, between two competing visions for our country. Understand that the media is using you as pawns in their war on our values. Fight back as hard as if your preferred Republican had won the nomination, because I know that you know the media would be viciously attacking any other Republican nominee right now. They are not anti-Trump so much as they're pro-Hillary, and more broadly, pro-left.

Eugene Slaven is a freelance writer and the author of the comedy thriller A Life of Misery and Triumph. Follow Eugene on Twitter @eslaven or connect with him on LinkedIn and Facebook.
First, a little background on me. I served in the Infantry as an officer for a few years, in Vietnam, Germany, and the U.S. Why that matters now is that I can look at a firefight like Orlando from a tactical point of view and comment professionally on the dos and don'ts that I see.

The inevitable suggestions arose from the usual suspects on Day 1  more background checks, and ban AR-15s, even though none were used in the nightclub. Mateen had passed several such checks and an FBI investigation, so he wouldn't have been stopped by such changes. Neither would any of the other mall killers.

The Centers for Disease Control have gotten involved by once again proclaiming gun violence to be a public health issue, claiming that the CDC themselves should no longer be prohibited from speaking out on the subject.

Let's get the CDC out of the way first. They were prohibited from doing research on guns by the Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986. Their "reports" on gun violence were so biased as to reduce their credibility on any subject. If the CDC ever got the message and changed their ideology, they would at least say all violence is a public health issue, not just gun violence.

Now the CDC want the FOPA Act repealed "in the public interest." What doesn't show here is that even if such were a good idea for the CDC, FOPA also forbids the federal government from creating in "any form or by any means" a federal firearms registry. Without this act, gun registration would be an accomplished fact, and the Second Amendment would be endangered or useless. I'm sure the CDC are aware of that.

Moving along to Orlando, the fact that someone walked into a nightclub with a 3- to 4-foot-long rifle unnoticed and unaided leaves me curious as to how that happened. The answer should be instructive.

Once inside, the shooter probably moved to a pre-selected place to begin his attack. Black rifles are highly noticeable, even short ones or ones with folded stocks. However, Mateen had been a security officer and had handled guns for years, so he was able to bring the rifle up smoothly and begin shooting before he was noticed. That had to mean that people in the room were spread out from each other, not elbow to elbow.

Nothing gets my attention like a gun being fired anywhere! At a range, in the country, up close.

We don't yet know how the patrons around Mateen reacted  in disbelief or sheer terror and "feet don't fail me now."

A video I watched on YouTube recently shows a company teaching people how to respond to a nearby shooter. It's the same tactic that was taught in Vietnam. You all charge the shooter, and you do it right bleeping now! A few may be shot, maybe killed, but standing in one spot or trying to run means the shooter can continue to shoot unimpeded and kill a big bunch of folks. On the other hand, even a drunk can run ten feet to tackle a shooter in two seconds. After that, it should all be over as the shooter is overwhelmed by late arriving angry bodies.

Charge or die! It's that simple. No permission required.

From what I know, the three to four police on the scene responded quickly and followed the shooter into a back room. Along the way, more people were killed than can now be blamed on Mateen with certainty. Once in the back room and contained, the police treated Mateen like any other criminal, bank robber, or distraught individual, who wanted to live; backed off; and waited for a negotiator. Meanwhile, the people hiding in that back room were being shot at will.

The Clinton administration made a fundamental error when it decided to treat terrorists as criminals. The result has been acknowledged as less than spectacular by most everyone but Madeleine Albright and the Clintons. Our police, though, followed this example.

Police follow procedures, with good cause, but it's time for procedures to discriminate killers from crooks and treat them differently. A shooter in the midst of a mass of people, particularly in a gun-free zone, should be responded to as a terrorist by police and by civilians in the vicinity acting in self-defense.

Think back to Littlefield, Colorado. That incident became the driving example for police departments for years. If you wait to completely understand a situation, people will die. The lesson is that you go in with what you have and react to what you see. It's tough, but it saves lives. That's why you wear a badge.

The police in Orlando waited. Why? I don't know. Procedure? Waiting for SWAT? Procedures are supposed to save lives, but this one was incorrect for this shooter. The police gave no indication that they ever thought of Mateen as a terrorist even while he posted on Facebook. Procedures and awareness need to adapt for such people.

Lots of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan know how to enter rooms and houses and live through it. Street police can learn those same tactics and not wait long minutes for other police to show up. They become a quick reaction force and go with what they have.

If the reports about innocents being killed while going in are true, it's also time to reconsider how police are taught to shoot and the standards they must achieve to qualify. "Center of mass" isn't good enough anymore. Even if the reports are not accurate, shooting where innocents are nearby requires a higher level of proficiency than currently demanded.

This is not about how to handle crooks or angry exes. It's about how to handle terrorists. Police waiting for other police just doesn't work here. It's a certainty that this will happen again. We should prepare.
As the Milo LGBTQ drama-fest endlessly goes on at Breitbart, supported by many other media outlets, the presidential campaign of Donald Trump must avoid getting caught up in the jet wash of this gong show.

The last thing the vast base of Trump's support  the Silent Majority  wants to see as being in any way seriously influential in the GOP nominee's campaign is the sort of drama that comes with Yiannopoulos and his self-described "Dangerous Faggot Tour." In fact, Milo's behavior in and around college campuses is exactly what we don't need more of in academia. The college system needs to return to serious, reflective, and quiet intellectualism  not drama queens coming from any portion of the political spectrum.

As repulsive as Hillary Clinton's personal life and political positions are, if Trump's campaign gets linked to this LGBTQ drama, he can kiss his chances at the presidency goodbye. Social conservatives will run for the hills, choosing to not vote or even moving over to Clinton. Those Reagan Democrats  who hold the key balance in this cycle  tend to be fairly socially conservative and moderate on fiscal issues, and they detest this type of drama like the plague.

Writing at Breitbart, Jim Hoft of The Gateway Pundit argues that "gays will come back home to the Republican Party." Home?

Other activists in the GOP claim that "Donald Trump is the most pro-gay Republican nominee ever."

If so, Trump has a major electoral challenge ahead of him. Many conservatives have not forgotten, or forgiven, the LGBTQ mafia's disgraceful treatment of Brendan Eich and are unwilling to allow this type of mob activism into the POTUS chair.

Canada was under a decade-long spell of what VICE finally came out and made public in mid-2013 as the conservative "gay mafia" of Stephen Harper's administration. Social conservatives deserted the party in droves, leaving behind the libertarians and other fiscal conservative/social liberal hybrids, and by the time the next election rolled around in October 2015, the conservative "gay mafia" was decisively tossed out of office in an unprecedented majority win for Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party. Since the election, the Conservative Party of Canada has gone all in for LGBTQ activism, and its polling numbers continue to slide downward.

Only about 2.3% of the American public self-identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, making it an exceedingly small  but excessively vocal  voting bloc. Some strategists argue that given the potential tight race in November, every vote counts. Certainly, but if you lose more voters off the social conservative end of the spectrum than you gain from the LGTBQs, the strategy is a failure.

And if polling data is any indication, any pro-LGBTQ activism in Trump's campaign will fail miserably, handing the election to Clinton. Just 20% of LGBTQs are conservative versus 46% that are liberal and 33% who are moderate. They overwhelmingly like Barack Obama, having handed him a 61% approval rating and just a 33% disapproval rating as of mid-2014. And their party affiliation is unequivocally hard left: 63% identify as or lean Democrat versus only 21% that identify as or lean Republican.

Breitbart is having difficulty dealing with the polling data anyway. In Mike Flynn's latest article, he claims that, among likely voters, Clinton is up 10.7% over Trump, 45.5% to 34.8%. But the Reuters poll cited from June 17 has 1,133 respondents, of which 554 (48.9%) were Democrats and just 409 (36.1%) were Republicans, for a 12.8% Democrat advantage. Among those surveyed, 52.9% voted for Obama in 2012, with just 32.0% voting for Romney last election.

Thus, since Democrats only outweigh Republicans by about 1% among the general public at present, at least according to the previous two months of Gallup polling data, and because Obama beat Romney by just 3.9% in 2012, the Reuters poll has a liberal bias ranging anywhere from 11.8% up to 17.0%.

Translation: Trump is undoubtedly in the lead once that "yuge" liberal bias is corrected for.

So while I agree with Flynn's thesis that Trump's post-Orlando comments on being pro-guns and renewing his call for a Muslim immigration ban have helped him in the polls, the effect appears to be much more dramatic than Flynn's use of the flawed Reuters data suggests. Rather than reducing the size of a large Clinton lead, in the post-Orlando period, the corrected Reuters data indicates that Trump may have actually jumped out to a large lead.

However, the social conservative problem remains. For all the claims by moderates and progressives that the social conservatives are in large-scale retreat, they clearly remain the majority of the GOP base. Mess with them at your electoral peril. Long-term polling data shows this as clear as day.

In May 2004, a CBS News poll asked Republicans, "Is it possible that you would ever vote for a candidate who does not share your views on the issue of gay marriage, or is the subject so important to you that you could not vote for a candidate who disagrees with you?" The GOP base was evenly split on the issue, with almost half of respondents saying they could not vote for a candidate who disagrees on this important issue, despite whatever else the voter and Republican candidate had in common on fiscal and other social issues.

In February 2010, a FOX News/Opinion Dynamics poll showed that more Republicans (46%) oppose than support (44%) gays and lesbians being able to serve openly in the military.

In February 2013, a Quinnipiac University poll asked Republicans, "Do you think the Boy Scouts of America should continue its ban on openly gay members or end its ban on openly gay members?" Only 33% supported an end to the ban, with a majority (51%) supporting its continuation.

During April of 2015, CNN/ORC surveyed Republicans on their views about the following issue: "If a business provides wedding services, such as catering or flowers, should that business be allowed to refuse those services to same-sex couples for religious reasons, or should they be required to provide those services to same-sex couples as it would to all other customers?" A full two thirds of Republicans said the business should be able to refuse service.

A Quinnipiac University poll the same month found similar results. When asked whether a business should be able "to refuse service to gays and lesbians ... if the business says homosexuality violates its owners' religious beliefs," 56% said yes, and only 37% said no.

From May 2016, a CNN/ORC poll revealed that nearly 40% of Republicans oppose "laws that guarantee equal protection for transgender people in jobs, housing and public accommodations," and the party's base is split evenly on the question of whether or not to "require transgender individuals to use facilities that correspond to their gender at birth rather than their gender identity."

Just a few weeks ago, Quinnipiac University released another poll indicating that an overwhelming majority (82%) of Republicans do not think "public schools should be required to allow transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that are consistent with the gender they identify with." Only 12% thought schools should be required to provide these accommodations.

While support for same-sex marriage may have increased slightly among Republicans during the past decade, it is still at only 33%. Among conservatives, just 30% support same-sex marriage, and this level of support has not changed since 2011.

The danger in any political campaign is that by attempting to court a small and controversial segment of the voting population, you experience a net loss in support by angering the traditional base. If the views of the Republican base are any indication, social conservatives are still in command. Any campaign approach that does not retain their vote will undoubtedly fail.
When I see former FBI New York honcho Jim Kallstrom appear on Fox News, I see a tortured soul. As boldly honest as he has been on the subject of Islamic terrorism, this once honorable man has lived a lie for the last twenty years on the subject of TWA Flight 800. Others have lived the lie as well, but none so personally.

It was Kallstrom who spoke to the press, Kallstrom who testified at congressional hearings, Kallstrom who consoled the families of the 230 dead with the assurance he would leave no stone unturned in his pursuit of the truth.

When Kallstrom arrived on the scene in Long Island the day after the crash in July 1996, the truth was indeed what he was seeking. By July 30, 1996 -- less than two weeks after the 747 blew up -- FBI agents had interviewed 144 excellent witnesses to a missile strike. As revealed in a recently unearthed CIA memo, the evidence was overwhelming and the witness testimony too consistent for the cause of the planes destruction to be anything other than a missile.

1996 being an election year, however a missile strike on an American airliner involved far too much political risk for the Clinton White House. Working through the CIA, its operatives took effective control of the investigation. For reasons only he knows, Kallstrom knuckled under.

By mid-August his agents were now telling the New York Times only a few eyewitnesses were credible. They allowed the Times to interview just one of them, and that witness saw what appeared to be a bomb blast out of the corner of his eye. His testimony, the Times reported on August 17, substantially weakened support for the idea that a missile downed the plane. The White House could live with a bomb scenario. So apparently could Kallstrom.

On August 22, for the first time, Kallstrom was called to Washington to meet with deputy attorney general, Jamie Gorelick. From a political perspective, the meeting came a day or two too late. Three senior officials had already provided the Times enough information to generate an above the fold, front-page headline on Friday, August 23, reading, Prime Evidence Found That Device Exploded in Cabin of TWA 800.

The other above-the-fold headline on August 23, three days before the start of the Democratic National Convention, read as follows,

Clinton Signs Bill Cutting Welfare. At the Convention Clinton planned to sell the partys peace and prosperity message. Front page headlines about explosive devices destroying an American airliner would remind America of what Clinton was not -- namely, a trustworthy wartime leader.

One can only speculate on the threats and/or promises Gorelick made, but Kallstrom returned to Long Island a changed man. Based on his subsequent performance, he seemed to have no more urgent task than to negate the Times reporting on the explosive residues found throughout the plane. Kallstroms new mission prompted a series of dishonest moments, none more stunning than his testimony under oath at a July 1997 congressional hearing.

To explain away the explosive traces, the FBI blamed a sloppy dog training exercise aboard the TWA 800 plane six weeks before the crash. You know for sure the dog was on the plane? Rep. James Traficant asked Kallstrom. We have a report that documents the training, dodged Kallstrom.

Kallstrom had reason to be evasive. As was easily proved, the trainer worked his dog on another 747, used explosives other than those found on TWA 800, and placed them in areas other than those where the residue had been found.

When pressed, Kallstrom dug in deeper. The test packages that we looked at, that were in very bad condition, that were unfortunately dripping those chemicals, were placed exactly above the location of the airplane where we found chemicals on the floor, he lied. No euphemism can paper over the depth of this deception.

This epic misdirection climaxed with the November 1997 press conference announcing the suspension of the FBI investigation. There, Kallstrom set forth a bill of particulars that misled the public on almost every detail, the most spectacular of which was a specious CIA animation created to discredit the eyewitnesses.

Maybe it is because my father was a cop, but when I watch Kallstrom I find myself feeling sorry for the man. He helped construct a case he knew to be fraudulent, and he had to sense just how fragile the construction was. If it collapsed, the CIA analysts could run and hide. The NTSB bureaucrats could plead ignorance. The Clintons could seek executive privilege, and he alone would have to answer to the victims mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. Nothing the courts might throw at him would wound that deeply.

I sense that Kallstrom has long wanted to atone. On September 11, 2001, while speaking with Dan Rather on CBS News about the events of the day, he blurted out in no particular context, We need to stop the hypocrisy. On Megyn Kellys Fox News show last week, he called out the Obama administration for its hypocrisy and dared mention the wet blanket of political correctness that has blunted the FBIs ability to smoke out Islamic terrorists.

Kallstrom then turned his attention to the Clintons with a candor that shocked Kelly into silencing him. You've got people associated with the administration in the Muslim brotherhood, said Kallstrom. You've got Huma Abedins family (sic) high ranking people in the Muslim Brotherhood. You've got monies from Saudi Arabia and the other from Qatar and others going into the Clinton Foundation. And you've got this connection going on, and there are also connections with Iran, which is the other big supporter.

Kallstrom understands the dangers awaiting America if the Clintons return to the White House. If he wants to stop them in their tracks and restore his own reputation, there is one thing he can do: tell the truth about TWA Flight 800. In the process, he will restore the faith in American justice of the millions of citizens who have all but lost it.

Anyone with information about TWA Flight 800, Mr. Kallstrom included, please email me at jcashill@aol.com.

To learn more about Kallstroms plight please read Jack Cashills new book, TWA 800: The Crash, The Cover-Up, The Conspiracy (Regnery: July 5).
One of the favorite arguments Democrats use against requiring voters to provide a photo ID is that it risks disenfranchising masses of the poor. The numbers are now in from the first election in North Carolina in which voters had to present one of several forms of government issued photo identification cards. It turns out it wasn't much of an issue.

Procedures allowed those without a valid photo ID to cast a provisional ballot after being instructed that if they would then go the Board of Election (BoE) office in their county and present a proper ID by the day before the official canvas took place the week following the election, their vote would be counted. If no ID was presented before the canvass, these people were told the law is clear: A provisional vote cast because the voter failed to provide photo ID will not be counted.

On March 15, there were 2,323,590 primary ballots cast in North Carolina. According to the state Board of Elections, there were 40,193 provisional ballots cast. Of those provisional ballots, 2,371 were cast because the voter did not present an acceptable photo ID at the polling place. That is about one tenth of a percent of all ballots cast, or about one in a thousand voters who couldn't or wouldn't comply.

Election judges are instructed to allow all those who don't appear to be qualified to vote at a given precinct for whatever reason the option of casting a provisional ballot. The reason for this policy is to allow the process to move smoothly by keeping the election judges from getting into arguments with their neighbors. The often-irritated person gets to vote and it may or more likely may not count after the decision of the three-person county BoE commission. In North Carolina,t he party of the sitting Governor gets two seats on the county commission, the party out of power gets one.

A provisional ballot is a machine-readable paper ballot similar to a standardized test form. The name of the voter and the reason why they cast a provisional ballot are not on the paper ballot itself. That information is on the provisional application to vote, which becomes part of the package the ballot is in. If the BoE commissioners determine the provisional ballot should count, the identifying information is removed so that ballot secrecy is maintained during the actual tally.

The reason provisional ballots were cast in North Carolina's March primary were as follows, in order of frequency

No record of voter registration 14,502 Voter said they changed party affiliation, but no change shown in record 7,189 Voter is registered in the county, but went to the wrong precinct 6 6,671 Voter moved within same county more than 30 days before election but didn't change voter registration to new address 6,160 No acceptable ID presented 2,371 Voter previously removed from rolls 2,075 System does not recognize address on registration for purposes of assigning voting jurisdictions (Geocode issue) 452 Jurisdictional dispute: voter insists they are in different electoral district than what is shown on the official record 449 System shows voter already voted 300 Voter showed no reasonable resemblance to photo ID 13 Voted during extended hours (precinct opened late or emergency effected ability of people to vote during normal hours) 11

There are formal guidelines for the county BoE to follow when determining if a provisional ballot shall count in all the above situations. Many involve a double-checking of official records because clerical mistakes will happen. Most of the time, however, the would-be voters were mistaken as to their registration status.

Showing up to vote at the wrong precinct is particularly disliked by election officials because such voters almost always will have then cast a provisional vote in at least one local race they are not eligible to vote in. To prevent this from happening, the secrecy of the paper ballot has to be compromised in order to redact one or more votes in down ballot races, such as a state legislative seat, a county commission ward, local school district seat and the like.

As a general rule, the provisional ballots most likely to be counted are those of the registered voters who showed up with proper ID in the proper polling place for their current address after not reporting a move within the same county to the local board of election. Indeed, the new computerized check-in systems allow election judges at each precinct to access the registration records for the entire county and to make such address changes to the laptop, which are then downloaded to the county voter database the next day. Such changes used to involve going though paper forms for transferring voters in and out of precincts, which was both time-consuming and more prone to error.

In the precinct where I serve as chief election judge there were only a handful of provisional ballots cast in the March 15 primary. One was a case of no record of voter registration by a person who insisted her registration had been transferred from her old county of residence. One was an unreported move within the county. Then there was all election officials worst nightmare: two people with the same name and almost the same address, a father and son who live in separate houses located side by side on the same farm. During early voting that set of election judges marked off the older Joe Jones in the database as voting when it was Young Joe who voted early. On Election Day when the error was discovered Joe Jones the elder then had to vote a provisional ballot, which was certainly counted under the circumstances.

We also had one person who declined to cast a provisional ballot when he learned the record showed he was still registered as a Democrat and thus could not vote in the Republican primary. Another person showed up without proper ID but when informed that her provisional vote would only count if she drove to the county seat within the next week decided to go back home to fetch her wallet.
The Olympics will start in a few weeks. Normally, such an event would be a source of national pride and excitement. Not really in Brazil!

Brazil's president, Dilma Rouseff, is on the sidelines watching her corruption trial. She was elected in 2014 in one of the most polarizing elections in the nation's history. Her successor is also under investigation.

Frankly, it looks as though everybody in Brazil is under investigation these days. The latest is the minister of tourism, a rather odd choice, given that the country expects lots of tourists for the Olympics:

Less than two months before Brazil hosts the Olympics, the countrys tourism minister resigned Thursday, becoming the third minister in a month to step down amid a sweeping graft investigation of the state oil company Petrobras. Tourism Minister Henrique Alves was one of two dozen officials named in plea bargain testimony by a former Petrobras executive linking the interim president, Michel Temer, and several of his closest allies to Brazils biggest corruption scandal ever. While Mr. Temer dismissed the accusations as frivolous lies, the latest resignation emphasized the risks that come with the sweeping Petrobras investigation, which has thrown Brazils politics into chaos and deepened its worst recession in decades.

And did I tell you that the Zika virus has many of the world's athletes thinking twice about going to Brazil?

And let's not forget that the economy is really, really bad. The economy is expected to shrink 4%!

The latest shocker is that the governor of Rio de Janeiro has declared an economic disaster! This is like California declaring an economic disaster. The governor is begging the federal government in Brasilia for emergency funds to avoid a total collapse in public security, health, education, transport, and environmental management.

It's hard to see how the government survives this crisis.

In the past, Latin American governments settled these problems by putting tanks on the streets  i.e. "el golpe," or the coups that the history books are full of. Most of the time, the corrupt civilian was replaced by a strongman who brought tranquility but did not necessarily make the country better in the long run. Augusto Pinochet in Chile is probably the exception: a man who took down a leftist named Salvador Allende, turned the Chilean economy upside-down, and left power, and now the country is the envy of the Latin world. It wasn't perfect, as many of his opponents will remind you.

So what happens in Brazil, the world's 8th largest GDP? The bad news is that the public does not trust anyone. The good news, whether it's Venezuela or Brazil, is that corrupt crony capitalism is being exposed to more and more people.

Memo to Democrats: Want to see what a country looks like when the government picks winners and losers? Talk to a Brazilian!

P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
At the New York Times, Canadian-born commentator David Brooks writes one of the most illogical statements made lately by a supposed "conservative" (although, granted, the list of absurdities is long and distinguished this election cycle):

Donald Trump is abhorrently wrong in implying that these [Islamic terrorism] attacks are central to Islam. His attempt to ban Muslim immigration is an act of bigotry (applying the sins of the few to the whole group), which is sure to incite more terrorism. His implication that we are in a clash of civilizations is an insult to those Muslims who have risked and lost their lives in the fight against ISIS and the Taliban.

We'll tackle the low-hanging fruit first. Given how ISIS is supposedly vastly outnumbered in the Middle East by so-called "moderate Muslims," why haven't these "moderate Muslims" put up much of a real fight? There are large numbers of supposedly "moderate Muslims" with advanced militaries in nations all around ISIS controlled territory. Why aren't they coming to the direct defense of "moderate Muslims" attacked in this region?

Imagine if all the other forces of good  assuming that's what these "moderate Muslims" are  just ran away whenever the fight came their way.

Imagine if Britain's entire population sailed across the Atlantic and tried to claim refugee status in the U.S. and Canada rather than standing to fight the Nazis? And why aren't all the "moderate Muslims" in Europe and North America clamoring to go back and fight ISIS  armed, of course, by the "moderate Muslim" nations in the Middle East  and reclaim their "homeland" from the "Islamic extremists," rather than hiding in the West?

To ask these questions is to obtain the answer. If you are not willing to fight for your freedom, and die for it, you don't deserve it. The West should not be doing the dirty work for the "moderate Muslims." A shocking afterthought: Perhaps these aren't "moderate Muslims" after all.

As Sarah Palin wisely said, "let Allah sort it out."

We are indeed in a clash of civilizations between the Christian West and Islam and its precursors. This has been ongoing for millennia, and it never ended. The West already paid in plenty of blood and treasure for its freedom over the past several centuries. If "moderate Muslims" really do value the type of freedoms our ancestors and current freedom fighters died for in the West, they can fight for it back in their homeland, rather than running away. If we in the West had run away from our fights for freedom, there would be no free West for the "moderate Muslims" to hide in.

The time for freeloading is over. Freedom is never free, and the millions of "moderate Muslims" pouring into the West need to go back to the Middle East and fight for the freedoms they supposedly cherish. These are tough statements, but we live in difficult times.

Back to Brooks's claims: He states that if the United States attempts to ban Muslim immigration, this will result in more terrorism. If so, doesn't that prove the point that these are exactly the type of individuals we do not want living in the West?

What kind of people will resort to terrorism against a nation that refuses to let them immigrate to it? I'll answer the question for Brooks: they are terrorists. What Brooks has unequivocally admitted is that the United States is being blackmailed by Muslim immigrants, who are saying, "Let us in or we will kill you." This translates into blackmail by terrorists posing as "moderate Muslim" immigrants.

Thus, what Brooks has finally done is give politicians such as Trump another piece of ammunition for why all Muslim immigration should be halted until we "can figure out what is going on." The immigrants that the West wants are those who will not kill us if we don't let them in. By the way, many in the West have also been killed by Islamic terrorists whom we did let in as immigrants, so Brooks's argument fails on all possible angles.

In our current state, we have Scott Baio  yes, Chachi from Happy Days  who has perhaps best said what everyone reasonable in the West is thinking:

[President Barack Obama's reluctance to say] Islamic terror [means] he's dumb, he's Muslim or he's a Muslim sympathizer ... And I don't think he's dumb ... [what is the] end game? ... Is it to totally eliminate the United States as it was created and founded and the way it is now? I'm baffled by the lack of anything happening.

And now word is coming out that the Attorney General will be "scrubbing" the 911 calls made by the Orlando Islamic terrorist of any reference to Islam.

The days in the West grow dark, indeed.
The House Science and Technology Committee sent a letter to the 17 Democratic Party state attorneys general who are looking to prosecute ExxonMobil and other climate "dissenters," demanding they cooperate in an oversight investigation into a threat to the First Amendment and "the free flow of scientific research."

Several of the state A.G.s ignored a letter sent on May 16 requesting information on the investigations.

Washington Times:

The House Science Committees authority to investigate the concerns raised in my prior letter are grounded in the Constitution and reflected in the rules of the House of Representatives. The Committee strongly disagrees with your contentions, said the letter, led by committee Chairman Lamar Smith, Texas Republican. The Committee intends to continue its vigorous oversight of the coordinated attempt to deprive companies, nonprofit organizations, and scientists of their First Amendment rights and ability to fund and conduct scientific research free from intimidation and threats of prosecution, the letter said. The committee renewed its request for the 17 attorneys general  sometimes called the Green 20  to turn over documents related to their campaign, including communications with 10 environmental groups and foundations, by June 24. New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, who hosted a March 29 press conference to unveil AGs United for Clean Power, declined last month to cooperate with the committees investigation, citing the lack of congressional jurisdiction over state law enforcement activities and the committees intrusion into sovereign state actions protected by the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Climate advocacy groups including Greenpeace, the Union of Concerned Scientists and the RockefellerBrothers Fundhave also refused to comply with the panels request for information related to their work with the attorneys general. The premise of Chairman Smiths letter is a farce, UCS President Ken Kimmell said in a May 19 statement. The attorneys general are not investigating ExxonMobils scientific research, but rather whether the company misled shareholders and the public about the dangers of climate change in order to continue profiting from a lucrative product. So far, the committee has issued requests only for information, not subpoenas.

Whenever a liberal cites the 10th Amendment to make a case, you know they're in trouble.

The A.G.s are conspiring with powerful green groups to extort money from Exxon and silence dissenters to their scientific viewpoint. If there was ever a clearer case where congressional oversight was needed, I can't think of one.

I don't think there's any doubt that the committee will issue subpoenas if there is continued non-cooperation. This kind of lawfare must be stopped if any shred of the First Amendment is to be maintained. You cannot use the law as a club to silence people you disagree with. Even if you believe that this is not the intent of the A.G.s  we all know it is  the unintended consequences of their actions requires that they be blocked.

The case for Exxon fraud is ludicrously weak on its face. The A.G.s are threatening the oil giant, hoping they will see that it is far less expensive to settle than go through a trial, leading to a multi-billion-dollar award. This will become a state slush fund to "mitigate" the effects of climate change, no doubt with most of the cash ending up in the hands of cronies.

This is the way that Democrats "govern" in the early part of the 21st century.
Ginnie Thomas, wife of Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas, took to Facebook to shoot down rumors of her husband's retirement.

The story of a possible Thomas retirement began with a Washington Examiner article, now edited to reflect Mrs. Thomas's statement. The article author, Paul Bedard, claimed that "court watchers" believed that Thomas would leave the bench after the presidential election.

The Hill:

For all those contacting me about the possibility of my husband retiring, I say --- unsubscribe from those false news sources and carry on with your busy lives. The Examiner reported Sunday that Thomas is mulling retirement after the presidential election. The report, which cited anonymous sources, said the George H. W. Bush appointee has been considering retirement for awhile and never planned to stay until he died.  It is bogus, Gini Thomas wrote in all capital letters on her post before calling out the reporter by name. Paul Bedard needs to find a phone in his life and unnamed sources are worth as much as their transparency is. She called the report "disgusting click bait by desperate people who want clicks" in the comment section. Thomas is one of the courts most conservative members. The court has been evenly split since the court's leading conservative Justice Antonin Scalia's unexpected death in February.

Thomas has no obvious health issues, although neither did Scalia, despite his being afflicted with heart problems. Given the precarious position of conservatives on the court, why would Thomas leave? Much of what the conservative court has accomplished over the years will be in danger of being lost if the liberals get a majority.

I suspect that Bedard's sources were engaging in some wishful thinking rather than passing on hard intel. This is an occupational hazard for reporters covering one of the most secretive institutions in government.
The Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya began as a temporary shelter for 90,000 Somalis displaced by the civil war 25 years ago. Since then, it has grown into a regional business hub of 350,000 refugees, featuring markets, movie theaters, and an elected council.

But it has also become fertile recruiting for al-Shabaab terrorists  the Somali-based jihadists who have carried out several shockingly brutal attacks in Kenya.

To stop the attacks, the Kenyan government feels it has no choice but to close the sprawling camp and send the 350,000 residents back to Somalia.

But there are going to be unintended consequences to shuttering what is now the third largest city in Kenya.

Washington Times:

Halima Gure, 40, who owns a clothing shop at Hagadera market, one of the biggest in Dadaab, said the region will lack services if the refugees are repatriated. Most locals in this northern region come here to buy clothes and food in bulk, said Ms. Gure, a mother of 10, who arrived at the camp in 2012 after al-Shabab militants overran her native Gedo region in Somalia. The market is an economic hub for residents here, and its run mostly by refugees. When we leave there will be no business here. Many in the region complain that the government believes only Somalis  the majority of the refugees in the camp  would be affected by the closure. They say that fails to take into account that over the more than two decades of the camps existence, intermarriage between Kenyans and the refugees has become normal, which has in turn promoted the growth of the camp, said Nazlin Umar Fazaldin Rajput, a political analyst and chair of National Muslim Council ofKenya. Refugees have intermarried with Kenyans and created families; the offspring of these unions are citizens of all social classes, she said. In the northeastern region, joint business ventures have been established by the refugees and locals, warning of the negative impact that will descend upon our weakening economy if the refugees are sent home. Somalian Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke said the refugees have been unfairly blamed for terror incidents such as the Garissa university massacre inside Kenya, but said his first priority now is to make sure the shutdown is orderly. We want our refugees back, definitely, he said in an interview on WashingtonPost.com last week. But you have to calibrate the way they are coming back. You cant just throw them back with nothing. The aftershocks may be felt even beyond the region, some say. There are more than 100 schools in the camp, with trained teachers and an education system that is far better than what is available in Somalia, say refugees, as are the employment opportunities after graduation.

Al-Shabaab is a particularlly violent and remorseless terrorist group, so the Kenyan government's desire to close down the camp makes sense. But the reality of putting 350,000 people on the move is daunting. Plus the refugees are returning to a violent, chaotic homeland with no guarantee that they will be safe in their homes. Many of the refugees might keep moving on to other, crowded refugee camps, worsening the problem across the region.

The U.N. now says there are more displaced persons than there were after World War II. More than 65 million people are on the move, fleeing war, poverty, pestilence, and violence. What they are really fleeing is bad government, which makes this tragedy preventable. Until the world begins to take collective action, those 65 million people will be looking to enter the paradise of rich Western democracies, turning societies upside-down and endangering everybody.
Venezuelans are starving and desperately ransacking supermarkets and food delivery trucks in order to avoid death. The consequences of socialism are grim indeed, and the New York Times is wringing its hands over the human misery just across the Caribbean from the United States. Its Sunday edition report on the situation was full of pathos:

With delivery trucks under constant attack, the nations food is now transported under armed guard. Soldiers stand watch over bakeries. The police fire rubber bullets at desperate mobs storming grocery stores, pharmacies and butcher shops. A 4-year-old girl was shot to death as street gangs fought over food. Venezuela is convulsing from hunger.

Yet, oddly enough, in over 1,500 words on the situation, there is no mention whatsoever of socialism as a root cause. Instead, low oil prices are blamed, and the only mention of a word related to socialism was this:

[1989 riots in Caracas] seared the memory of a future president, Hugo Chavez, who said the countrys inability to provide for its people, and the states repression of the uprising, were the reasons Venezuela needed a socialist revolution.

Beyond that, there is no mention of the price controls, the demonization of business owners, the seizures of businesses, the decline in oil production thanks to state management, or any of the other socialist policies that make Venezuela the only oil producer in the world to see mass starvation in the wake of the oil price decline (that, incidentally, has reversed course of late).

Quite clearly, the leftist media are busily engaged in covering up the evils perpetrated by socialism, just as assiduously as the Obama administration is covering up Islams root cause role in global violent jihad terrorism.
I made my first trip to Israel in 2003. Israels tourism had suffered from the Intifada as suicide bombers blew up pizza parlors and bus stops. Before we entered a mall, we were stopped for a security check by a young man in civilian clothes with a ponytail and an Uzi, and cars were stopped and inspected before they entered the parking lot underneath the stores.

There was a security check 20 feet before you entered a restaurant to avoid allowing a potential bomber from charging into a crowded setting. Even McDonalds restaurants had uniformed security guards. Parts of East Jerusalem were off limits to us for security reasons.

Arafat and other Palestinian leaders encouraged and praised young martyrs, their twisted term for suicide bombers. Dying for a cause became indistinguishable from killing for a cause.

Ambulances were made bulletproof, and BMW motorcycles were specially equipped to bring emergency medical aid through traffic to the victims.

When I returned in 2007, the scene was dramatically improved. The border wall was largely erected under international protest, and not only did terrorist activity drop sharply, but other less serious crimes on the border towns dropped as well. East Jerusalem was safe to visit, but we were still warned to stay out of Jericho, visible from the edge of the city. Modern art sculptures memorialized sites where busloads were murdered during the Intifada.

We are witnessing in America in San Bernardino, Fort Hood, and Orlando a tiny sample of what Israel encountered. In our country, the population is divided as to whether Orlando was a terror attack or another incident of gun violence. There was no such lack of clarity in Israel. As divisive and contentious as Israeli politics has always been, there has been remarkable unity in both identifying and addressing the threat. Israel has long understood that foreign policy and homeland security must address the same threat.

I noted during my first visit how much the Israelis were like us: energetic, entrepreneurial, innovative, and adaptable. If we want to contain the American Intifada, we should try to be more like them.

Henry Oliner blogs at www.rebelyid.com.
The lost Porcelain Tower of Nanjing, ranked one of the seven wonders of the medieval world, is back in Nanjing more than a hundred and fifty years after it was destroyed. One of the most famous of Chinese buildings, the tower was constructed in the 15th century by the Ming Dynastys Yongle Emperor in honor of his deceased mother. It was part of a large complex of the Bao'en Temple. Neither the original temple nor the tower survive today.

The tower was built with glazed white porcelain bricks that were said to glitter in the sunlight. Worked into the porcelain of the walls was a mixture of green, yellow, brown and white glazes and stonework shaped in the form of animals, flowers, bamboo, landscapes and Buddhist images.

Early illustration of the Porcelain Tower, from An embassy from the East-India Company (1665) by Johan Nieuhof

When renowned 17th century Dutch traveller Johan Nieuhof saw the tower and wrote about in his illustrative and informative China memoirs, at once it captured the imagination of the Europeans. Porcelain, at that time, was one of the most prized material, an expensive luxury ware that came only from China, because the Western people did not know how to make porcelain before the 18th century. The idea of an entire tower made of porcelain excited all sorts of Orientalist fancies. The tower became one of the most well-known pieces of Chinese cultural heritage abroad, and subsequently, a national treasure for China.

The Porcelain Tower rose nearly a hundred meters and consisted of nine stories with a spiraling staircase in the middle. From each level protruded a roof that curved upwards and encircled the tower. From the projecting flanges of these roofs were suspended bells that decreased in size proportional to the taper of the tower. At the top was a golden pineapple. When it was built, the tower was one of the largest buildings in China.

The tower stood for four hundred years until 1801, when a bolt of lightning hit the tower and destroyed the top four stories. It was quickly rebuilt, but in the 1850s, during the Taiping Civil War, rebels took control of the city. At first they smashed the Buddhist images and destroyed the inner staircase of the tower to deny the Qing enemy an observation platform. Then eventually, they destroyed the tower completely.

In 2008, numerous relics belonging to the tower were discovered in an excavation generating a new interest to try to rebuild the landmark. In 2010, a Chinese businessman donated one billion yuan ($156 million) to the city for the cause. This was reported to be the largest single personal donation ever made in China.

In December last year, the Porcelain Tower Heritage Park (also called the Porcelain Tower Relics Park) officially opened to the public. The highlight of the park is the reconstructed Buddhist temple, featuring the distinctive porcelain pagoda. The park also includes a conservatory of the ruins exhibiting Buddhist relics and past archaeological discoveries.

Porcelain Tower, from An embassy from the East-India Company (1665) by Johan Nieuhof

The Porcelain Pagoda, as illustrated in Fischer von Erlach's Plan of Civil and Historical Architecture (1721)

The reconstructed Porcelain Tower at the newly opened Porcelain Tower Heritage Park in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu. Photo credit: bbs.photofans.cn

The reconstructed Porcelain Tower at the newly opened Porcelain Tower Heritage Park in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu. Photo credit: Xinhua

Photo shows an exhibition hall at the newly opened Porcelain Tower Heritage Park in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu Province on Dec 16, 2015. Photo credit: Xinhua

Photo shows an exhibition hall at the newly opened Porcelain Tower Heritage Park in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu Province on Dec 16, 2015. Photo credit: Xinhua

The original blocks of the Nanjing Tower's arched door, now pieced back together and on display at the newly opened Porcelain Tower Heritage Park. Photo credit: Xinhua/Sun Can

Details from the Nanjing Tower's arched door. Photo credit: www.talknj.com

Details from the Nanjing Tower's arched door. Photo credit: www.talknj.com

Sources: www.hellonanjing.net / Wikipedia / shanghaiyangtzedelta.wordpress.com
While the concept of the self-driving car may not be original to Google, its safe to say that the current push toward the technology that were seeing right now is certainly at least partly creditable to them. Googles own self-driving car tech is rather far along, testing on real roads in select markets and working on gathering test data that will allow the cars to overcome limitations like other drivers, bad weather and sudden intrusions into the roads like jaywalkers and falling objects. The Silicon Valley giant is also testing the cars on custom-made ranges in various places, allowing them to do things like test out circumstances that would be incredibly unlikely on real roads, or figure out what makes the cars wig out and focus in on training them for that scenario  heavy rain, for example. Theyve also made a deal with Ford, one of the biggest U.S. automakers, to help their self-driving technology make a wider splash in the market when it does drop.

Google isnt alone in this field, of course; Tesla Motors is working on fully autonomous vehicles and already essentially has the market cornered on semi-autonomous ones. Their cars can find their way to you from where theyve been left, under certain circumstances. Other manufacturers are implementing the ability to do things like help a driver keep their lane, help avoid collision and even navigate certain mapped-out highways on their own. Uber ran a recent successful test of their own self-driving tech with a specially-made Ford Fusion Hybrid. Even Apple has announced that theyll be getting in on the fun at some point. A surprise contender, however, is the tech industry of China.

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While there are more than a few companies in China pursuing the self-driving car market in one way or another, three particular companies are making waves and presenting the possibility of real competition with Google on the world stage. The first company is Alibaba, a huge global trade firm with the kind of deep pockets it takes to move into the industry by virtue of investing and sinking man-hours into research. While not quite in the self-driving game yet, the framework is there and Alibaba is producing connected cars that could potentially be turned into self-driving cars with a few tweaks, and an auto show in Beijing had them unveiling their Roewe RX5 SUV connected vehicle, which should be seeing a commercial release in September. A partnership with car-sharing service Didi Chuxing points to the possibility of the service having self-driving cars in the future. Not one to put all their eggs in one basket, of course, Alibaba has made their Alipay service Uber-friendly.

Next up is Baidu, affectionately known as the Google of China, whose own self-driving systems met with a successful test back in December when they were mounted onto a BMW 3 Series. Baidus systems included voice recognition, artificial intelligence, mapping data and a cloud computing setup that helped do some of the heavy lifting for the car, rather than having the magic happen onboard. Baidu has even brought their efforts straight to Googles backyard, opening up a self-driving car development and testing facility in California. Meanwhile, theyre investing in and partnering with Uber, and have said that their goal is to bring the tech to market by 2021. As far as partnering up with car-sharing services, Baidu has chosen to align themselves with Uber.

Tencent, aspiring buyer of Supercell and owner of the developer of League of Legends, does not have a toe quite as deep in the waters as Baidu or Alibaba, but is throwing some cash around to potentially bring the technology to life a bit faster and, of course, score a cut of the market once it launches. Tencent, like Alibaba, is investing in Didi Chuxing, but has taken things a step or two further outside of that particular venture and set up a coalition called Future Mobility. The firm is in cahoots with the likes of Foxconn and Harmony Auto on the Future Mobility venture, though they have yet to announce anything at this time.
Samsung is well known for having the power to promote its products in interesting ways, and the same philosophy has been used for keeping the Samsung Galaxy S7 flagship series in the spotlight for as long as possible after its market debut. Throughout these past several months, Samsung Electronics published a variety of TV ads highlighting some of the most interesting features flaunted by the Samsung Galaxy S7, and the latest such commercial called Time, invites actor Danny Glover to show us the importance of wireless charging in a humorous manner.

As readers may recall, back in February 2016 Samsung published a series of promotional videos for the Samsung Galaxy S7 series, called Why?, Water, and The Dark, with each video focusing on highlighting features such as water resistance and the smartphones new camera, able to capture high-quality pictures and videos in low light environments. More to the topic at hand, Samsung has now published yet another promotional video for the Galaxy S7 lineup, called Time. As expected from a Samsung commercial, the ad puts great emphasis on a particular hardware characteristic in a rather exaggerated and humorous tone. This time around the main focus is the Samsung Galaxy 7s built-in wireless charging capabilities, which can save users from the hassle of plugging and unplugging microUSB charging connectors and, in turn, save them time. To highlight how important wireless charging is for saving up time, the commercial shows Danny Glover of Lethal Weapon running away from a salsa can rigged to explode in a matter of seconds. Unfortunately, Danny Glovers colleague was still waiting for his phones battery to recharge through conventional means, and could not leave the Taco stand in time  pun intended. But words alone dont do the commercial justice so you should probably check it out below; and without spoilers.

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As a reminder, the Samsung Galaxy S7 is the companys second flagship in the series to support built-in wireless charging, following the Samsung Galaxy S6 released last year. While the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5 could have been rigged to support wireless charging too, this feature was not available out of the box before the Samsung Galaxy S6 came to be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmnR0XncYAU
The Fairphone 1 and its successor, the Fairphone 2, may not be the most well-known or highest-selling smartphones in the world, but the devices come with a unique proposition that understandably appeals to many a user. The company behind the brand says that its main motivation behind embarking on the project was to develop a smartphone that does not fund violence and human rights abuses in conflict-prone zones around the world. Fairphone is based out of Amsterdam, Netherlands, and most of the materials it acquires for use in its phones are reportedly conflict-free, even though the company makes it a point to source its materials from high-risk regions like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda so as to help rebuild the communities in these war-torn nations.

However, try as they might, the Fairphone staff could not get all of the materials from conflict-free sources for either of the two devices the company has released thus far. Now, however, things seem to be changing for the better, as the company has now announced that it has traceable supply chains for all four internationally-recognized conflict minerals, which happen to be tantalum, tin, tungsten and gold. While the Dutch firm already uses certified Fairtrade gold and conflict-free tantalum and tin in its Fairphone 2, it is now saying that after a long and arduous struggle trying to get more conflict-free materials for its phones, it has finally been able to integrate conflict-free tungsten in its supply chain.

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Starting this August, the tungsten used in Fairphones devices will come from the conflict-free New Bugarama mine in Northern Rwanda that employs between 700 and 1200 people and has comparatively improved health and safety standards for its workers. Fairphone also says that about half its tungsten requirement comes from recycled sources, thus making the Fairphone 2 environment-friendly. Whats interesting is that the company does not only take great care in sourcing its raw materials responsibly, but also reportedly pays out a portion of its revenues to a worker welfare fund that helps the workers who actually manufacture the Fairphone devices. While the popularity of the Fairphone wont help end all the bloodshed around the world, the founder of the company and buyers of the device need to be lauded for starting and sustaining a movement that will hopefully gain more momentum in the days to come.

https://youtu.be/2ONjzELD4r0
Even though the final stable release of Android N is believed to be just months away, most Android OEMs arent yet done rolling out Android Marshmallow to their existing smartphones and tablets. Although most major manufacturers have already updated their premium flagship smartphones to Android 6.0, tablets, unfortunately havent seen the same amount of love for one reason or another. However, Samsung Electronics is one manufacturer that has started to roll out Marshmallow to its tablets over the past month or so, now that its done with the Marshmallow updates for its premium handsets from the past couple of years. Some of the Samsung smartphones to have received Android Marshmallow are the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy Note 4 and the entire Galaxy S6 lineup from last year.

With all that out of the way, the South Korean consumer electronics company rolled out Android Marshmallow to the Galaxy Tab A 9.7 last month, and now its time for the Galaxy Tab A 8.0 to receive the same treatment in Australia. According to reports from Down Under, the mid-range device has started receiving an all-new update earlier today that weighs in at 1.1 GB and comes with a number of bug fixes, stability improvements and speed optimizations. However, the most important and exciting part of the changelog is the part that says the latest incoming update will install Android 6.0 Marshmallow on the device.

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While Samsung hasnt always been the quickest off the blocks in rolling out software updates to its smartphones and tablets, the latest move from the company is certainly a welcome move for users of the said device. As for the changelog, it isnt immediately clear if Samsung has officially published one on the web, but the latest update is expected to bring native Marshmallow features to the device. Those include a battery-saving feature called Doze, an all-new app drawer and a revamped app permissions manager for more granular control over app permissions. On top of that, Samsung is expected to have added its own tweaks and enhancements to its TouchWiz UI, which is said to have gotten lighter, less bloated and more user-friendly in its latest iteration.
Honor is Huaweis subsidiary, and a very successful smartphone manufacturing company at the same time. This company had released a number of successful smartphones in the last year or so, including the Honor 5X and Honor V8 which are quite probably the best-known ones. That being said, it seems like Honor is planning to release some new hardware soon, at least according to the latest teasers the company released on social media, read on.

Both Honor India and Honor UK released teasers for upcoming events, two separate events actually. The Honor UK released a teaser for the June 20th event (which is later today), and Honor India teased the June 22nd event. Now, were still not sure, but it seems like the Honor 5C, which was introduced in China back in April, could be the main attraction at these two events. Honor UK included the NoFear hashtag in their teaser, while the Honor India teased the Kirin 650-powered device, and included the DareToPerform hashtag. You can check out all of these teasers below the article, but as already mentioned, chances are were looking at the Honor 5C here, the hashtag Honor India shared is kind of giving it away, not to mention the Kirin 650 SoC.

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The Honor 5C is a mid-range smartphone, this device features a 5.2-inch fullHD (1920 x 1080) IPS LCD display, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable internal storage. The device is fueled by the Kirin 650 64-bit octa-core processor, along with the Mali-T880 MP2 GPU for graphics. The 13-megapixel snapper is placed on the back of this smartphone, and an 8-megapixel shooter can be found up front. The 3,000mAh battery is also a part of this package, and it is not removable. The Honor 5C ships with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box, and on top of it, youll be able to find Huaweis Emotion UI (EMUI) 4.1 skin. This smartphone comes with two SIM card slots, and a fingerprint scanner is placed on its back. The device measures 147.1 x 73.8 x 8.3mm, while it weighs 156 grams. The phone launched in Silver, Gold and Black color variants in China, and chances are all those models will be available in both UK and India, but well see.

Get enhanced security features on the Kirin 650 16nm chipset. Stay tuned for June 22. #DareToPerform pic.twitter.com/4Stx6vTBzF  Honor India (@HiHonorIndia) June 17, 2016 Advertisement

Superior performance with the Kirin 650 16nm chipset on our all-new smartphone, launching June 22. #DareToPerform pic.twitter.com/irBW0Ni1Hu Advertisement  Honor India (@HiHonorIndia) June 14, 2016

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Xiaomi had already introduced companys flagship smartphone for 2016, the Xiaomi Mi 5. This smartphone was long awaited considering the Mi 4 launched back in August 2014, so it took Xiaomi over a year to introduce its successor. That being said, the Mi 5 is currently available in select regions, and people are wondering when will this China-based smartphone manufacturer announce the successor to their Mi Note and Mi Note Pro flagship phablets. These two devices were introduced back in January last year, and some people presumed the 2nd-gen Mi Note device(s) might arrive in January this year, but that didnt happen. So, when will they arrive? Well, a newly surfaced rumor might have an answer for us, read on.

The companys co-founder and president, Lin Bin, confirmed that the company plans to release a new high-performance flagship next month. Now, the only flagship device that comes to mind is the Mi Note 2, even though Lin Bin did not mention this phablet by its name. The Mi Note 2 announcement next month is more than likely, but theres a small chance Xiaomi might introduce a new line of devices by introducing a smartphone with a curved display which was also rumored heavily lately. Well just have to wait and see what happens, but until then, lets presume the Mi Note 2 is on the way, shall we, after all, it is possible Mi Note 2 will ship with a curved display, who knows. Anyhow, according to a number of previous rumors, the Mi Note 2 might ship with the Snapdragon 821 on the inside, and 6GB of RAM might be included as well. The dual camera setup has also been rumored, and as weve already mentioned, the curved display might also be introduced. Chances are that the company will use Mi 5s materials in order to manufacture the Mi Note 2, which means this device might be made out of metal and glass, which will certainly make it both premium looking, and offer a premium feel when youre holding the device.

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Before we wrap this up, do keep in mind that Xiaomi is expected to release their first laptop soon, so theres also a slight chance Lin Bin has been talking about that device considering he did not specifically say smartphone or phablet, but as already mentioned, chances are were looking at the Mi Note 2 here. Either way, stay tuned, well report back soon.
Although they might not be the notebook of choice for power users, over the past few years Chromebooks have become increasingly popular in certain market areas, especially the education sector where cost effectiveness plays a big role in how a product is perceived. The accessibility of Chromebooks also seems to be the reason why the Robertsdale High School in Robertsdale, Alabama, recently decided to switch from MacBooks and iPads to Chromebooks for the upcoming school year. For readers who may need a bit of background story, this is a rather unexpected turn of events for Apple fans, mainly because Apples CEO, Tim Cook, used to attend Robertsdale High.

For the past several years, teachers and Robertsdale High students from 3rd to 12th grade have relied on MacBooks to get their schoolwork done, while younger students used iPads instead. In total, this accounted for roughly 20,000 Apple devices covered by a three-year plan named Digital Renaissance worth $24 million. However, according to fresh reports, starting next school year Robertsdale High students will be given Lenovo Chromebooks for their school work. The school intends to acquire 23,500 brand new Lenovo N21 Chromebooks for roughly $6.6 million, and apparently the school will manage to cover these costs simply by reselling their old MacBooks. According to the school board, Chromebooks with an average price of $200 are roughly 75% more affordable than the alternatives bearing the Apple brand; this being one of the reasons why the school decided to switch gears. Furthermore, according to the Baldwin County Public Schools Systems chief technology officer Homer Coffman, Chromebooks are simpler to maintain and [] use, and are also more secure than MacBooks. Students and teachers already use a wide variety of Google education applications; a practice that is most welcomed by the world of Chromebooks. The CTO added that Baldwin County will not be using bleeding edge technology with this implementation. It will be using proven technologies.

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Sure enough, the Lenovo N21 Chromebook is not a high-end device by any means, but it can be a very cost-effective machine for education, and has already been discounted by online retailers several times before, including in April and May 2016. It is equipped with an 11.6-inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768, an Intel Celeron N2840 CPU clocked at 2.16 GHz, 4 GB of RAM, 16 GB of SSD storage expandable via SD, and a 3,200 mAh battery rated for an average of 9.5 hours of usage. It also weighs only 1.2 Kg which can definitely be a plus. The school intends to have all 23,500 Chromebooks ready for students before the new school year starts this fall.
California-based FreedomPop is an MVNO that offers plans running the gamut from 4GB of data for $34.99 per month all the way down to a basic plan that gives users 500MB of data along with limited minutes and texts for free. Their free plan may stand out, but according to CEO Stephen Stokols, they actually have a higher proportion of paid to free users than some bigger services like WhatsApp and Spotify. With the decent prices and value for their plans, its not hard to see why that is. They also use gathered data from users to serve up offers that bear the promise of things like free data. Naturally, in an advanced market like the UK, where they just landed last September, its easy to think that they may have a hard time. According to the CEO, however, that isnt exactly the case.

While a number of new arrivals in the area, FreedomPop included, have yet to truly prove themselves, Stokols says that FreedomPop is poised to see its first net profit in the very near future. Considering the fact that this is an MVNO with operating costs like any other who offers a basic plan to consumers at no cost, that is quite an accomplishment. Their conversion rate  the percentage of free users who jump on board the paid service  is at a pretty favorable 48% in the UK. Combined with conversion rates elsewhere, its becoming clear that FreedomPop and others like it are able to compete with other MVNOs and even the major local carriers prepaid options on some level.

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FreedomPops expansion plans wont stop at the UK, of course. On the nose of what could be their first net profit and a possible deal with another U.S. carrier, and on the heels of a $109 million fundraising round, the underdog MVNO has the capital and flexibility to bring their free service just about anywhere they see a possible profit. For now, theyve expanded into Spain, with future plans still unannounced at this time. Along with the rise of MVNOs like FreedomPop, big carriers are expected to see a shakeup from tech giants in the near future, whose developing networks, currently used to link their own data centers, could end up accessible to the public in the near future. One analyst, Dan Bieler with Forrester, put it nicely when he said that carriers can shoot yourself in the foot today or be shot in the head.
Madeleine McCann: Freud, Murat and a lynching at the Plough and Paedophile

Madeleine McCann: a look at the missing child in the news.

Daily Star (page 8): Peado MPs New Links to Maddie

The paedo MP is the alleged paedophile MP Sir Clement Freud. Hes dead. Hes no longer an MP. Indeed, when he was alive he was not a known paedo, either. For a man who achieved celebrity and popularity in his lifetime, Freuds post-breathing career has been disappointing.

The Star says that bombshell emails between Freud and Kate and Gerry McCann will be investigated as part of the police probe into the dead mans alleged crimes against children. The former BBC TV broadcaster reached out to the McCanns when their daughter vanished. He had a home in Portugal not far when were Madeleine went missing. Kate says Freud cheered her up. Now a source close to the family says: They took it at face value that he sympathised with their situation. They did not see anything sinister in his behaviour.

You wonder what sinister intent he might have had? The mind boggles.

Daily Mail (Page 8): Freud drank in resort bar with ex-Maddie suspect'.

Who is this former suspect? Why, its the entirely innocent Robert Murat, the poor sod libelled by sections of the British press. The Mail says the paedophile ex-MP  now a fact, apparently  was said to have been on nodding terms with Robert Murat. What happened to Murat and Freud being drinking buddies, drinking with each other?

The Mail says the ex-MPs local was dubbed the Plough and Paedophile. Its the Plough and Harrow, dubbed a haven for child molesters after a Briton working at the pub went on the run after police tried to talk to him about allegations of child sex abuse images and grooming.

But that is not where Murat drank. The pub Freud and Murat visited  but not together  is called the Pigs Head. The landlord, one Robert Hurst, has been speaking with the Sun. That paper reports:

Freud, who was unmasked as a child abuser last week, was also a regular at a pub in Praia da Luz dubbed The Plough and Paedophile. The fact Freud and Murat knew each other is one in a series of odd links that the dead former Liberal MP had to the McCanns. He had also entertained Gerry and Kate at his house in the days after Madeleine disappeared in 2007.

Is that an odd link  two Britishers abroad on the Med frequenting the same local pub? Murat is innocent. The Sun features a photo of him and the caption Prime suspectMurat was later cleared by cops. So, hes not a prime suspect, then. Hes not a suspect at all. He was an arguido, much as the McCanns were branded. They too were libelled in the British Press. They too must be presumed innocent. There are no suspects in the case of Madeleine McCann. But there are victims who have been tarnished by association.

Robert Hurst, landlord of the Pigs Head, said: I find that really odd. I cant imagine why he would suddenly want to invite them to his house. At the time Madeleine went, all hell was going on. Police everywhere, people just stunned and hes straight in there having them over to dinner. When it came out this week that he was a paedophile, it made you wonder what he was up to?

Back in the Mail, we hear of Vicky Hayes, one of Sir Clements victims, who says she told the police of Freud after she read of his befriending the McCanns in Kate McCanns book. She was convinced he was part of a paedophile rings operating in the Algarve. The paper notes that Freuds son, Matthew, says his dad was in the UK when the child vanished.

Some claims cant be hard to prove. The rest of it invites nothing but speculation.

Anorak

Posted: 20th, June 2016 | In: Key Posts, Madeleine McCann, Reviews, Tabloids Comment (1) | TrackBack | Permalink
(ANSA) - Rome, June 20 - Refugees enrich countries with aging populations such as Italy, President Sergio Mattarella said Monday while marking World Refugee Day. "Refugees enrich our country," he said. "Italy suffers from a low birth rate and the arrival of talented and capable young people will enrich it if managed correctly". "Europe stands for respect for human rights, but this principle can't be on again, off again - it can't be applied only to those living in Europe".

Refugee arrivals "can only be managed by intelligent reception, one that will guarantee peace and order," said the head of State.

"Sometimes there are reactions driven by fear, disorientation, attempts at closure (or) worse still, indifference," Mattarella went on.

Those fleeing to Europe do so because this is "the continent of freedom, democracy and wellbeing," the president said.

"We can't make it uglier in order to make it less attractive".


(ANSA) - Turin, June 20 - Turin's newly elected mayor said Monday she will "bring to the table" the reasons for popular resistance to a high-speed rail (TAV) line being built through Piedmont's pristine Susa Valley. Local residents and environmentalists have staunchly fought construction of that stretch of railway. "A mayor can't block the TAV, but what she can do is bring the reasons of the 'no' front to the table," said Chiara Appendino of the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S). The M5S early on made 'No TAV' one of its banner slogans.

"I will talk to everybody and I will listen to everyone's arguments," she said.

"We will carry out what is written in our program...what (Sunday's vote) did is it reopened a citywide debate and this is good for everyone, no matter their political stripe".

Appendino added her administration will not enter into any alliances for the sake of holding on to power or preventing the formation of a credible opposition.


(ANSA) - Perugia, June 20 - Further doubts have emerged over the conviction of the Somali national Omar Hashi Hassan in the 1994 murder in Mogadishu of Italian reporter Ilaria Alpi and cameraman Miran Hrovatin. "I never told anyone that he was part of the commando," Ahmed Ali Rage, also known as Gelle, said in relation to Hassan, who was released to the custody of social services in June last year after serving 16 years of a 26-year sentence.

Rage was one of the main witnesses that led to Hassan's conviction. The testimony emerged during a review trial for Hassan underway in Perugia and made available to the defense and prosecution. Alpi, 32, and Hrovatin, 45, were ambushed and shot in their jeep in Mogadishu by a seven-man commando on March 20, 1994.

Photos taken of the dead body of Alpi, who worked for public broadcaster RAI's third channel, and a medical report on the deaths, along with other key evidence including Alpi's notes, camera and video cassettes, mysteriously went missing on the journey back from Africa to Italy, fuelling suspicions of a cover-up.

In February last year, Rage - a key witness for the prosecution - said that Hassan was "innocent".

Speaking to RAI Channel 3, he claimed that he was asked to testify against Hassan.

"I did not see who fired the shots," he reportedly told RAI 3.

According to the Italian diplomat who investigated the case in Somalia, former ambassador Giuseppe Cassini, the driver who acted as a key witness for the prosecution was "an unreliable individual who would do anything to survive".

Alpi, 32, and Hrovatin, 45, were ambushed and shot in their jeep in Mogadishu by a seven-man commando unit on March 20, 1994.

Rage said in his testimony that he did not known Hassan well, but he knew that Hassan had "complained of them because they hit him once".

To the question of who he was referring to, Rage said "Italians. He complained to them because he said that there was a problem.... I did not say that he was part of the commando, but I told Cassini that Hashi was in the car". He then repeated that "there was nothing true in this. The entire story was made up". When he was asked who told him to say that Hassan was in the car, Rage said that it was a Somali man but he didn't know his name.

Rage added that he did not know committed the murder since "I wasn't there. How could I know who it was?" On Hassan, Rage said that he had mentioned him "only to get out of the country". "My plan, he continued, "was to leave, not to collaborate with them and take part in the investigation."
(by Michele Monni)

RAMALLAH - Five years from the start of construction work, Rawabi, ''the first Palestinian city to be built in the modern era'', according to its creator Bashar Al-Masri, continues to attract residents and is gearing up, in the near future, to become an important technological and commercial center.

Located on the hills north of Ramallah, Rawabi ('hills' in Arabic), has attracted as of today investments for a total of 1.2 billion dollars thanks to an investment fund from Qatar and, along with stably employing some 800 people, has boosted the weak Palestinian economy, creating about 5,000 jobs.

''We already have 250 families who have moved over the past few years and we await many more when schools will open in September'', Ibrahim Natur, one of the planners of Rawadi, told ANSA. Over the years, Al-Masri and his project have had to deal with criticism from several Palestinians who perceive the city as an example of the ''normalization of Israeli occupation'', given that the material has been provided by Israel. Al-Masri has slammed the criticism as coming from ''left-wing living rooms''.

It is clear just by walking on its streets that Rawabi is different from the rest of Palestinian cities - which, according to analysts, have over the years expanded in a chaotic way, due to Israeli restrictions and the lack of a serious urban plan that has favored construction speculation. There is order, good quality of life and sustainability. ''All buildings have last-generation solar panels, drain water is reused for irrigation, optic fiber is available in all homes and all stones used for the streets and buildings come from Rawabi'', said Natur, adding that technologies used to build the Smart City professionally trained many workers.

''I was one of the buyers and I am very satisfied with my choice'', said Munter, one of the residents of a city vying to attract 25,000 people in the first phase.

''The atmosphere here is very different from Nablus - he added - there is order, cleanliness and a sense of security never experienced before''.

In order to understand the commercial potential and the new urban-social approach of the city, you just need to visit the mall that is being completed and the splendid amphitheater able to seat 12,000 people.

''We are in contact with international brands like Zara and Mango and several Italian brands that want to open stores and coffee shops in Rawabi'', added Natur. In spite of difficulties due to the Israeli occupation - according to local media only in May 2015 the city started receiving a modest quantity of water (300 cubic meters) from state company Mekorot - Rawabi continues to grow, attracting young couples thanks to housing prices -less expensive than in Ramallah - and the hope of normalcy that seems hard to find in the rest of Palestinian cities.
Lebanon 'strategic partner for Italy', says Boldrini Dealing with 2 mln refugees amid 4 mln inhabitants

(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, JUNE 20 - Lebanon plays a key role in the Mediterranean, which is ''currently the most critical place on the planet'', Italy's lower house speaker Laura Boldrini said on Monday.



This is why the country is a ''strategic partner'' for Italy, she said in meeting in Beirut with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, with whom she signed a Memorandum of Understanding for exchange and cooperation between the two parliamentary assemblies. ''Especially at this time, the (two) parliaments must speak to each other ever more,'' Boldrini said, underscoring that one of the main places for this dialogue is in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), a parliamentary body with MPs from 43 European, Balkan, Middle Eastern and North African countries. Italy has recently taken on the UfM yearlong presidency. One of the main issues of the talks between Boldrini and Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, was that of refugees.



There are about 1.5 million Syrian refugees on Lebanese soil and almost half a million Palestinian ones alongside a local population of about 4 million, Boldrini noted The lower house speaker planned her trip to coincide with World Refugee Day. Mass migration, however, Berri said, ''constitutes a threat for Italy as well, due to terrorism risks''. As she had done the previous day during a visit to Syrian refugees in the Bekaa Valley, Boldrini underscored the need to go to the root of the problem, stepping up efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict. ''No one,'' she said, ''can ask Lebanon to stably integrate the refugees present since there is the need to safeguard equilibriums in the country, which are invaluable for regional stability as well.'' Berri thanked Italy for the role it plays in UNIFIL, the UN force along the border with Israel, the command of which will be handed over at the end of July by Italian general Luciano Portolano. Boldrini will on Tuesday visit the base of the Italian UN troops in Shamaa, one of the three largest contingents in the international force. (ANSAmed).




BEIRUT - Lebanon plays a key role in the Mediterranean, which is ''currently the most critical place on the planet'', Italy's lower house speaker Laura Boldrini said on Monday.



This is why the country is a ''strategic partner'' for Italy, she said in meeting in Beirut with Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri, with whom she signed a Memorandum of Understanding for exchange and cooperation between the two parliamentary assemblies. ''Especially at this time, the (two) parliaments must speak to each other ever more,'' Boldrini said, underscoring that one of the main places for this dialogue is in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), a parliamentary body with MPs from 43 European, Balkan, Middle Eastern and North African countries. Italy has recently taken on the UfM yearlong presidency. One of the main issues of the talks between Boldrini and Berri, Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil, was that of refugees.



There are about 1.5 million Syrian refugees on Lebanese soil and almost half a million Palestinian ones alongside a local population of about 4 million, Boldrini noted

The lower house speaker planned her trip to coincide with World Refugee Day. Mass migration, however, Berri said, ''constitutes a threat for Italy as well, due to terrorism risks''. As she had done the previous day during a visit to Syrian refugees in the Bekaa Valley, Boldrini underscored the need to go to the root of the problem, stepping up efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian conflict. ''No one,'' she said, ''can ask Lebanon to stably integrate the refugees present since there is the need to safeguard equilibriums in the country, which are invaluable for regional stability as well.'' Berri thanked Italy for the role it plays in UNIFIL, the UN force along the border with Israel, the command of which will be handed over at the end of July by Italian general Luciano Portolano. Boldrini will on Tuesday visit the base of the Italian UN troops in Shamaa, one of the three largest contingents in the international force. (ANSAmed).
ROME - The price of oil has risen to 50 dollars but it is still far from the peaks reached over the past few years. Public expenditure is constantly reduced and the economy is having a hard time recovering at the desired pace.

This is why Gulf countries, starting from the UAE, are pushing on finance as the next source of development.

It is in this context that the merger project between the National Bank of Abu Dhabi and First Gulf Bank, respectively the seventh and 15th banks for assets managed n Middle Eastern and African regions was created. If the plan becomes concrete, which is currently being studied by two groups of senior managers that have the role of evaluating its commercial potential, a giant worth 170 billion in managed assets would be born, over that Qatar National Bank at the top of the Middle East's ranking.

The market capitalization would be around 30 billion dollars, 13 from the National Bank and 16 from the Gulf Bank.

The positive reaction of the market to this announcement was evident in the Abu Dhabi index, which went up 4.7%, the highest rise over the past 18 months, driven by +15 of Nbab and +11% of Fgb.

If it is completed, the merger will be an exception in the local scenario, where most banks are controlled by the government of the country or royal family, with consequential reluctance in operations to sell or merge.

The United Arab Emirates are a country with some nine million people and about 50 banks: this is why, now, everybody is betting on the fact that the next wave of mergers and acquisitions will be fundamental for the sector: ''It will be the beginning of a trend for the sector, considering that the outlook for UAE growth is quite weak'', explained an analyst from Efg-Hermes.
Mideast: Rawabi, the new Palestinian city in West Bank It attracts residents with low prices, good quality of life

(by Michele Monni) (ANSAmed) - RAMALLAH, JUNE 20 - Five years from the start of construction work, Rawabi, ''the first Palestinian city to be built in the modern era'', according to its creator Bashar Al-Masri, continues to attract residents and is gearing up, in the near future, to become an important technological and commercial center.



Located on the hills north of Ramallah, Rawabi ('hills' in Arabic), has attracted as of today investments for a total of 1.2 billion dollars thanks to an investment fund from Qatar and, along with stably employing some 800 people, has boosted the weak Palestinian economy, creating about 5,000 jobs.



''We already have 250 families who have moved over the past few years and we await many more when schools will open in September'', Ibrahim Natur, one of the planners of Rawadi, told ANSA. Over the years, Al-Masri and his project have had to deal with criticism from several Palestinians who perceive the city as an example of the ''normalization of Israeli occupation'', given that the material has been provided by Israel. Al-Masri has slammed the criticism as coming from ''left-wing living rooms''.



It is clear just by walking on its streets that Rawabi is different from the rest of Palestinian cities - which, according to analysts, have over the years expanded in a chaotic way, due to Israeli restrictions and the lack of a serious urban plan that has favored construction speculation. There is order, good quality of life and sustainability. ''All buildings have last-generation solar panels, drain water is reused for irrigation, optic fiber is available in all homes and all stones used for the streets and buildings come from Rawabi'', said Natur, adding that technologies used to build the Smart City professionally trained many workers.



''I was one of the buyers and I am very satisfied with my choice'', said Munter, one of the residents of a city vying to attract 25,000 people in the first phase.



''The atmosphere here is very different from Nablus - he added - there is order, cleanliness and a sense of security never experienced before''.



In order to understand the commercial potential and the new urban-social approach of the city, you just need to visit the mall that is being completed and the splendid amphitheater able to seat 12,000 people.



''We are in contact with international brands like Zara and Mango and several Italian brands that want to open stores and coffee shops in Rawabi'', added Natur. In spite of difficulties due to the Israeli occupation - according to local media only in May 2015 the city started receiving a modest quantity of water (300 cubic meters) from state company Mekorot - Rawabi continues to grow, attracting young couples thanks to housing prices -less expensive than in Ramallah - and the hope of normalcy that seems hard to find in the rest of Palestinian cities. (ANSAmed).




CAIRO - Egypt's human rights activists and lawyers are posting photos on social media showing themselves behind ''symbolic'' bars to demand an end to expanding use of solitary confinement for political detainees, AP reported on Monday. ''The photos are part of a monthlong campaign launched on June 12, calling on relatives of detainees subjected to solitary confinement to file complaints to parliament and the chief prosecutor against the Prisons Authority,'' it reported.



''Egyptian prison regulations stipulate that solitary confinement should only be used as a disciplinary measure and not exceed 30 days.'' However, some political detainees are in solitary confinement for much longer periods, rights lawyer Mohammed Abdel-Aziz said. ''The campaign was inspired mainly by the case of Malek Adly, a prominent rights lawyer who has spent most of the six weeks since his detention in solitary confinement, according to his wife and lawyers.

Ahmed Douma, an iconic figure from the 2011 popular uprising, is said by lawyers to have been in solitary confinement for the past two years. He is serving a 25-year sentence for his alleged part in 2011 riots in central Cairo during which fire broke out at a library containing rare books''.
ZAHLE (LEBANON) - A new Marshall plan for Africa is the initiative the European Union should implement to deal with the poverty behind part of migrations, Italian Lower House Whip Laura Boldrini said Monday.

''We don't live in an enclave - said Boldrini, visiting a refugee settlement in the Bekaa valley, in Lebanon - and we must therefore find solutions that are both political and economic to confront the causes of migrations. If we don't stabilize these countries, this phenomenon will destabilize us''.

In order to confront the problem of economic migrations, Boldrini called for ''a development plan, not made with little money but of the same kind approved by the United States after World War Two, and made with generosity because it was convenient for them''.
ROME - Refugees enrich countries with aging populations such as Italy, President Sergio Mattarella said Monday while marking World Refugee Day.

"Refugees enrich our country," he said. "Italy suffers from a low birth rate and the arrival of talented and capable young people will enrich it if managed correctly".

"Europe stands for respect for human rights, but this principle can't be on again, off again - it can't be applied only to those living in Europe".



Refugee arrivals "can only be managed by intelligent reception, one that will guarantee peace and order," said the head of State.



"Sometimes there are reactions driven by fear, disorientation, attempts at closure (or) worse still, indifference," Mattarella went on.



Those fleeing to Europe do so because this is "the continent of freedom, democracy and wellbeing," the president said.



"We can't make it uglier in order to make it less attractive".

Mattarella also underscored that the refugee crisis requires smart policies not walls.

Policymakers have two choices when dealing with the refugee crisis, he said. Either "pretending the emergency doesn't exist under the

illusion that an entry ban, a law, a border barrier" will be enough to stop them coming, or "confronting it with a sense of reality and responsibility," he said.

"This is an epochal phenomenon that is destined to grow," Mattarella said. "Italy has always opted for the second choice and we hope all of Europe will do the same, once it has overcome its sense of disorientation".

Matteralla called for "smart policies...that can guarantee serenity and security". "In Italy, solidarity and respect for the dignity of the

individual are central to the Constitution and have always been practiced," concluded the president.
Tunisia extends state of emergency for an extra month President makes decision after talks with PM

(ANSAmed) - TUNIS, JUNE 20 - The Tunisian president's office on Monday announced a one-month extension of a state of emergency across the entire country beginning on June 21. The state of emergency was proclaimed by President Beji Caid Essebsi after a terrorist attack on a bus carrying presidential guards in central Tunis on November 24, 2015 and has been extended several times. The decision to extend it another time was made by Essebsi after speaking to Prime Minister Habib Essid and Parliament Speaker Mohamed Ennaceur on Monday. (ANSAmed).




Both Legacy 650s will be managed on behalf of owners for their private use, as well as being offered to the global charter market. Empire Aviation San Marino was awarded an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) for aircraft management and charter by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Republic of San Marino, in 2015. The company has additional managed business jets in the registration pipeline.

The San Marino AOC enables Empire Aviations registered aircraft to perform worldwide commercial air operations, regardless of the aircraft base. EAG also holds a United Arab Emirates AOC and the company currently manages a fleet of more than 20 business jets with bases in the UAE, Oman, Nigeria, India and Hong Kong.

Paras Dhamecha, executive director of Empire Aviation Group, commented: Our San Marino AOC is proving attractive to the aircraft owners of our increasingly global managed fleet because it gives us more flexibility in the operating solutions we can offer, more convenient locations to base their aircraft, and also includes the option of commercial charters.
The well-known KLM Blue is being combined with orange highlights. The transition between the two colours features aspects of the Dutch flag. The combination emphasizes KLMs Dutch roots and pride in the national colour of the Netherlands.

The introduction of the special aircraft was partly prompted by a social media post KLM published on Kings Day 2015. At the time, KLMs followers were presented with a picture of an orange aircraft, along with the question: Should we colour orange next year on Kings Day? #OrangeExperience. 30,000 likes and 2,500 positive responses later, KLM rolls out its only orange aircraft today.

KLM will deploy the orange Boeing 777 on routine flights within the network and, whenever possible, during events that offer opportunities to promote the Netherlands. The aircraft will debut this summer and will be in operation on the Rio de Janeiro-Amsterdam route during the Olympic Games. On 22 August, KLM will use its orange Boeing to operate the Medal Flight that brings the Dutch Olympic heroes home

Abu Dhabi and Muscat are among the first routes of the Orange coloured aircraft of KLM.

Painting procedure

335 litres of paint were used to spray the aircraft orange fading into KLMs distinctive blue. Applying the colours in multiple, thin layers, requires less paint and the sustainable, chromate-free paint can be easily washed off. The colours of the Dutch flag have been incorporated in the transition between orange and blue, completing the aircrafts Dutch image. It took a team of 35 people four days to spray on the orange livery.
It is not, as yet, clear how the passenger died but it is understood the passenger was already ill when boarding the B777-300 aircraft in Dubai.
The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing PDO to support the training of the jobseekers in a variety of cabin and ground staff positions, along with the upskilling of a further 100 existing Oman Air customer service staff.

The successful completion of the internationally accredited vocational courses will lead to guaranteed full-time positions with the National Carrier in customer relations and ramp services.



The agreement, which was signed by PDO Managing Director Raoul Restucci and Oman Air chief executive officer Paul Gregorowitsch, was forged as part of the drive to support His Majestys call for sustainable jobs.

Restucci said: As part of our National Objectives programme to create job and training opportunities for Omanis, PDO is going beyond our natural boundaries of the oil and gas sector to support economic diversification and development.



Working with our trusted partners at Oman Air, we will ensure that hundreds of young jobseekers are ready to play key roles in the new Muscat International Airport which will be a showpiece for the country and the region.



PDO is proud to support His Majestys call to create sustainable jobs and will be working even harder in the future, both on our own and in collaboration with other organisations, to reach that goal.



Despite the oil price environment, we continue to ramp up our In-Country Value drive and ensure Omanis are equipped with the skills and talents to forge rewarding careers, either in our industry or other sectors of the economy.

Gregorowitsch said: Oman Airs partnership with PDO demonstrates the airlines continuing commitment to the Sultanates policy of Omanisation. The overwhelming response to the programme and the progress made in training have given us very positive feedback. We are pleased and proud to be working together to deliver training that will enable Omani citizens to pursue meaningful and rewarding careers.



Oman Air takes seriously the responsibility to employ as many Omani citizens as possible and provide them with rewarding careers and career development opportunities. Raising the skills and experience bases of the Omani workforce, have always been the focal point of our business. Oman Air will increase the percentage of Omani citizens it employs to 63 per cent in 2016, in line with its commitment to the Sultanates policy of Omanisation.



Not only will this benefit Oman Air and the broader aviation sector in Oman, but it will also help the trainees make a greater long-term contribution to the Sultanate and its economic growth. We look forward to welcoming the first 120 candidates to their ramp services training very soon.



The courses will last for up to 12 months and include a mixture of technical and on-the-job training. Those who pass customer service and ramp service training will gain an International Air Transport Association (IATA) diplomas and National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) certification.
Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) took off early this morning from Kennedy Airport, New York, to attempt the crossing of the Atlantic Ocean and prove that an efficient energy future is possible.



Si2, the solar airplane of Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg, capable of flying day and night with no fuel, is expected to land at the Seville Airport in Spain on 23 June.





The flight, that should take four days and four nights non-stop depending on weather conditions, is one of the most challenging legs of the Round-The-World Solar Flight, the goal of which is to show that the world can be run on clean technologies.



Bertrand Piccard took off this morning from New York at the controls of Si2 at 2:30am EDT (UTC-4) to attempt the first electric, solar and emission-free transatlantic flight. Currently in the single-seater zero-fuel aircraft he is heading to Europe where he is expected to land in Seville on 23 June after a flight of four consecutive days and nights. The parallels with The Spirit of St. Louis solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean are striking, but while Lindberghs achievement sparked peoples interest in aviation, Solar Impulse aims to inspire adoption of clean technologies as way to improve the quality of life on Earth.



Andre and the team have created more than a revolutionary airplane; they materialized my vision for the future of energy, said Bertrand Piccard, Initiator and Chairman of Solar Impulse, currently at the controls of Si2. Lindberghs transatlantic flight marked a new area in aviation and contributed to the progress of air transport on a large scale. With Solar Impulse, our aim is to encourage the deployment of clean technologies everywhere. If an airplane can fly day and night without fuel, everybody could use these same efficient solutions in their daily lives.



Last year, Andre Borschberg landed Si2 in Hawaii after a record breaking flight of five days and nights over the Pacific Ocean, thereby proving that Solar Impulse can fly perpetually. Today, Bertrand Piccard is taking the mission one step further. For years, transatlantic flights have been the testing ground for airplanes, gliders, balloons, steamboats and even windsurfs  a rite of passage confirming their maturity and usability. However, Solar Impulse is not only a means of transportation; it is an entire vision for the future of energy that is being proven over the Atlantic Ocean. More than an aviation first, this flight is a first in the history of renewable energy.



With this flight over the Atlantic, we are further demonstrating Bertrands vision that clean technologies work and can be applied everywhere. We can now make our world more energy efficient. Its not a question of technology anymore, its only a question of mindset: Solar Impulse is like a flying smart grid, and if we can make it work in an airplane, where we cant cheat, we can make it work on the ground, in our cities, for our homes and for all applications, commented Andre Borschberg, CEO, Co-Founder and Pilot of Solar Impulse.



Thanks to the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey which provided a hangar for the airplane, Solar Impulse was able to welcome key stakeholders such as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, as well as Partners who hosted a series of events for their employees, clients and customers, during more than a week in New York. In addition, the Swiss Consulate, the New York Department of Education and the United Nations Environment Programme jointly welcomed more than 500 children to visit the airplane and meet the pilots. Lastly, the team received valuable support from the Federal Aviation Administration, not only for the Statue of Liberty flyby, but also for all the mission flights across the United States.



Action need not wait. As we see before us, innovation and experimentation will help us move into a sustainable future. The science used in this flight can also be put to use here on the ground. The planes technologies can help halve the worlds energy consumption, save natural resources and improve our quality of life, said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon during his visit to the project.



After landing in Europe, the mission will continue onward to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates where the adventure started in March 2015. By flying around the globe propelled solely by the energy of the sun, Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg are making history with clean technologies. Through innovation and pioneering spirit, their adventure proves that change is possible and that there is good reason to hope for a clean energy future. Solar Impulses solutions can already be used, not only in the air, but also on the ground, and have the potential to change lives, societies and future markets in an unprecedented way.
YEREVAN, JUNE 18, ARMENPRESS. Diaspora Armenian Helen Azaryan, an entrepreneur who has invested in the Armenian economy and healthcare system for the past ten years, is founding a new center in Armenia, and creating new jobs.

The opening ceremony of the medical center was attended by Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan, entrepreneur Helen Azaryan (who was acknowledged as Best Woman Businessman of 2013), officials and renowned doctors.

The symbolic ribbon was cut by Minister Hranush Hakobyan, Helen Azaryan and Dermato-venerologist, Professor Eduard Danielyan.

The Kuwaiti-Armenian entrepreneur opened the first Helios medical center in 2007, with the ideology of healthy and beautiful lifestyle. The center offers aesthetic and medical services.

During the years the center broadened its services and employed dozens of people. Today  in the center of Yerevan, at 27/1 Amiryan Street, the new, large and modern medical center is being opened, for the first time giving medical significance to foot care in Armenia.

Helios Podology offers foot and hand medical care services, with the Careless Trail motto.

Minister of Diapora Hranush Hakobyan toured the newly opened center and shared her impressions with reporters.

Helios is operating in Armenia for already 10 years, displaying itself brilliantly, introducing new culture, new approach, new technology. All of this had great impact on underlining the beauty of our women. And today, they will try to understand issues linked with foot health and by broadening their services they are doing a helpful job for people with similar problems, both women and men, the minister said.

She thanked the founder Helen Azaryans Diaspora Armenian husband  Phillip Patatanyan, who has made generous investments and founded the beautiful and attractive center in the heart of the city.

One of the great advantages of this center is that Helen Azaryan was able to have scientist by her side, such as Professor Danielyan. As in this case only the results can be satisfactory. I want the Helios network to expand in different regions of Armenia, the minister added.

According to the Centers Founder Helen Azaryan, their main goal is to unite forces and offer high quality services to the Armenian public. She assured that the center is equally intended for both women and men. By realizing that Armenians need strong feet, we decided to have a center, which will deal with the treatment of foot and nail issues, she said.

Helen Azaryan stressed that modern German technologies and equipment are used in the center. Id like to point out sterility. We always had the fear of catching some disease while going to foot or nail care procedures. We have paid serious attention to this issue as well, she said.

The Diaspora Armenian entrepreneur, who already has a history of success, Helen Azaryan advised to follow her example and make investments in Armenia. Of course, I have always given this advice. If you have to start a business somewhere, why not in Armenia? This is ours, as much as we invest elsewhere, it will never become ours, and we dont know what to expect elsewhere. I will advice to be a little patient and strong, I know everything will be all right, she added.
YEREVAN, JUNE 20, ARMENPRESS. German political figure, a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament and the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee Renate Sommer considers a good idea the inclusion of the Armenian Genocide in the curriculum of the German schools.

The Armenian Genocide encouraged Hitler to start the Holocaust, and this shows that we should not forget what happened during the history, since otherwise, such horrible things may repeat. It is very important to have classes on this issue in schools, she said during an interview with Armenpress.

She said the adoption of the Armenian Genocide recognition resolution by Germany will definitely serve as an example for other states.

I think that it will be not only within the EU, but also globally, and as you know, many other national Parliaments have already formed the Armenian Genocide recognition resolutions, the EU also did the same in April last year. I hope many Parliaments will join Germany over this issue, Renate Sommer said. She considered unacceptable Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans response on this issue.

No one, in particular, the President of a foreign state cannot dictate the German Parliamentarians what to do, how to vote or ban them to say something. And one of the MPs call to ban Erdogans entry to Germany perhaps shows that Erdogan has gone too far, she stated.

On June 2 the German Bundestag adopted the Armenian Genocide recognition resolution, which is entitled "Remembrance and commemoration of the genocide of Armenians and other Christian minorities in 1915 and 1916".

Thereafter, Turkey recalled its Ambassador from Germany, then blamed the Bundestag MPs with Turkish origins which created a huge complaint against Turkey within the Bundestag.

On June 16 discussions were being held in Germany over the inclusion of the Armenian Genocide in the educational program.
Dhaka (AsiaNews) - Police in Bangladesh have killed the mastermind behind the murders of blogger Avijit Roy and activists of the LGBT community, assassinated in recent months in the escalation of Islamic violence that has hit the country.

The killer, identified as Sharif, was one of the prominent members of the banned Islamic Ansarullah Bangla Team. He was killed in "crossfire" between police and extremists. The dynamics of the killing, however, throws shadows on the police operations.



Ajoy Roy, Avijit's father, told New Age newspaper that the "cross-fire was intentional. If Sharif had been captured alive, he could reveal more information. " The same position is shared by a Catholic source, anonymous for security, who told AsiaNews: "This mode of death, 'crossfire' is becoming a joke. The police operations are like photocopies: a suspect is arrested, but then accidentally dies in armed clashes between security forces and his supporters linked to extremist groups ".



Sharif was the prime suspect in the death of Avijit Roy, an American citizen with Bangladeshi origins. In February 2015 the man was hacked to death in front of his wife, who was wounded in the attack, while returning from a book fair. Avijit was the founder of Mukto-Mona blog ( "Free Thought") and supported democratic and secular ideas in a country with a Muslim majority.



His killing was the first episode of a long trail of blood unleashed by extremists against free thinkers, activists, students, professors. Their fault, that of being considered "atheists" and criticizing radical Islam.



In recent weeks the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has launched an anti-terrorist raid that led to the arrest of about 11 thousand people. Among these, however, the number of those who are really involved in terrorist groups is small. Also in police operations six suspected killers of other bloggers were killed. "All these coincidences do not seem random - says the source - and often the gunfights occur at night, while the police raids the criminals dens in search of weapons."



Although the prime minister said that "we will do whatever is necessary to stop these attacks", there are lingering suspicions of collusion between the police and the government, through "targeted" arrests apparently trying to marginalize the political opposition.
by Mathias Hariyadi

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - At least 35 people have died in the floods and landslides that have continued for two days in Central Java. The death toll is still provisional and there are several dozen scattered villages covered by mudslides. Budhi Harjono, head of the rescue efforts, said that his men have now recovered 27 bodies in the sub-district of Loano. The rescue operations were suspended yesterday due to heavy rains.



Local priest Fr. Tukiran describes how his mother and the family of his younger brother were saved in the village of Donokerti: "But nine others belonging to my extended family are still missing and perhaps killed under this ocean of mud.



The Jakarta office against environmental disasters (Bnpb) published a note stating that dozens of districts and regencies of Central Java are still in emergency because of rivers that are breaking their banks. The spokesman Sutopo Juwono confirmed the death of 35 people and the disappearance of other 25. The seriously injured so far number 14.



Purworwjo district is worst affected by landslides and flooding. Fr. Tarcisius Puryatno, vicar general of the Purwokerto Diocese (including the district), says that the local Caritas is organizing an immediate rescue plan: "As soon as the damage assessments are completed, the Church of Purwokerto is ready to intervene to address this natural disaster. "



In Padang, capital of West Sumatra, hundreds of people were forced to flee their homes because of torrential rains.
The Chaldean Church opened a two-day meeting today in the presence of the patriarch, bishops, and priests. The latter have to bear witness to Christ not with his words, but with his examples." Last weeks day of fasting and praying in solidarity with Muslims on Ramadan was successful. Some US$ 50,000 have been allocated for displaced people from Anbar and Fallujah.

Erbil (AsiaNews)  The Chaldean Church opened a two-day meeting today to reflect upon the work of evangelisation and the role of priests in the community. The event is taking place in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan where hundreds of thousands of Christians have found shelter after fleeing Mosul and the Nineveh Plain following their seizure by the Islamic State (IS) group in the summer of 2014.

The goal of the meeting is to breathe new life in the Iraqi Churchs pastoral outreach and in its mission in the country and among the Diaspora by boosting our faith and hope, and taking responsibility for what is happening in a country and region, which have been subjected to pillage, devastation, violence and migrations.

In a note posted on the website of the Chaldean Patriarchate, signed by Mar Louis Raphael Sako, the meeting of the Chaldean hierarchy is presented as an opportunity to reflect upon on Iraqs "rapid political and social changes" in the last decade.

Since the US invasion and the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, the country has experienced a change that has "affected all walks of life." The political, social and human upheaval has affected "the very life of priests". In this Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis, this has itself become a starting point to renew the mission.

The future of the Chaldean community is based largely on the quality of its clergy. This is why the meeting in Erbil provides local Church leaders an opportunity "to find a new approach" to meet challenges and the needs of the faithful "at home and in the Diaspora."

In addition, new ways to experience the priestly path must be found. This requires proper training from a cultural and psychological perspective.

Priests must be witnesses of Christ," the post said, live with their people, sharing His heart "not with His words, but His examples."

The meeting will hopefully boost the mission and be a source of consolation for the survival of the Iraqi Christian community and its fidelity to Christs calling.

Yesterday, the Chaldean Patriarchate noted the success of last Fridays day of fasting and prayer held in "solidarity" with Muslims in the holy month of Ramadan.

Fasting and praying are "a message of love and brotherhood," patriarchate sources said. They are a sign of respect between Muslims and Christians, as well as a rejection of extremist ideology, divisions, and hatred".

The call by Mar Sako and the Chaldean hierarchy to share a meal was welcomed "in many churches in Baghdad and across Iraq", in spite of some controversy over the opportunity to partake in another faiths practice.

On the day of fasting and prayer, the Chaldean Patriarchate also decided to allocate US$ 50,000 to buy food and other essential items for displaced, mostly Muslim families from Anbar and Fallujah. Many Christian families in the capital agreed with the step and silently gave a helping hand to prepare the aid.
by NAT da Polis

The leaders of the Churches of Antioch, Russia, Georgia and Bulgaria are not present. They decided not to come a week ago, despite agreeing to the gathering and its agenda. The Orthodox Church must urgently meet the challenges of the contemporary world. Synodality must be a permanent feature of the Church. Pope Francis sent his greetings and prayers.

Crete (AsiaNews)  The first Pan-Orthodox Synod in more than a thousand years opened today following the celebration of Pentecost in the Byzantine rite.

In yesterdays Angelus, Pope Francis, speaking before the faithful in St Peters Square, sent his best wishes, calling on Our Lady to shed her light on the path the Synod must follow.

The meeting is not an Ecumenical Synod, like those of the first millennium, when the Universal Church was united. Since the fateful schism of 1054 between Rome and Constantinople, effectively consummated in 1204 when Venetian-led Crusaders shamefully sacked the city, the two Churches have followed different paths, with disastrous results for the Christian world.

The Western Church, led by the Church of Rome, went through another schism - that of Luther and the Reformation - with nefarious consequences.

The Eastern Church, centred in Constantinople, broke up in national Churches, as most of its territories fell to Ottoman conquest followed by the Ottoman Empires implosion, undermining Christianitys universal principles.

As nationalism and localism prevailed, the Eastern Church became increasingly marginalised, using inappropriately the rich Orthodox tradition.

Archbishop of Albania Anastasios said this morning that the inspiration of the Holy Spirit has not stopped in the past, and must continue to inspire us today, if we continue to invoke it.

Within the Orthodox Church, the first attempts to deal with the contemporary world began in the 1960s with the Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras.

The Church in Constantinople is considered the Mother Church of the East, since it has always maintained the universal idea of the Christian message. The Church had already censured the dangers of nationalism to the Christian message in a synodal decision.

More recently, in the service of synodality, Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch, as first among equal, took the initiative of convening the primates of the Orthodox Churches to a Pan-Orthodox Synod.

Like the synods of the past (from the 4th century AD), this one began amid complaints, disputes and absences. In the end, as in the past, a modus vivendi will be found.

Four of 14 autocephalous Orthodox Churches will be absent. After initially agreeing on the meeting, its agenda, and Synaxis regulation in January, Antioch, Russia, Georgia and Bulgaria asked for a postponement a week from the meeting, citing various reasons.

For Antioch, the issue was a jurisdictional dispute with Jerusalem over the Orthodox in Qatar, about a 1,000 immigrants living the Gulf State. The other three Churches said that they were not ready to discuss the agenda agreed upon. Constantinople responded to their objections by saying that if they come, their issues would be discussed.

Yesterday, the day of Pentecost for the Orthodox, a leaflet was handed out in all the churches of Crete noting that synodality is the true essence of the Orthodox Church.

The brochure explains that the synodal spirit was founded on the day of Pentecost, when the assembled apostles (Acts 2.1) were awaiting the arrival of the Holy Spirit.

The agreed upon agenda includes the mission of the Orthodox Church in the world; the Orthodox diaspora, its autonomy and recognition; marriage and its impediments; the importance of fasting; and the relations of the Orthodox Church with the rest of the Christian world.

The synod, which is expected to last until 26 June, will discuss and finally approve the agenda.

The most important element is the permanence of the synodal spirit, facilitated by the ecclesiastical economy, that is, the ability to grant exemptions to the canons, since the superior end of the Church is eternal salvation.

For Metropolitan Maximos of Silivri, "The most important thing is to meet and discuss in order to realise in time and history the salvific work of the Church."
by Xin Yage

Taipei (AsiaNews) - The Camino de Santiago is the famous pilgrimage which from different parts of Spain and Europe arrive at Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of the apostle James (the elder) are venerated. The tradition is ancient, but was re-launched in recent decades, especially since the 1989 World Day of Youth which was held in the town of Galicia.



And Asian Catholics are no strangers to it either. In fact, yesterday morning a lively encounter at Fu Jen Catholic University began preparations for the pilgrimage. Organizers include Mr. Ken Chen (  ), Asia's largest supporter of the Camino. He is originally from Taiwan and lives on the island: the meeting introduced the history of the tradition and the latest statistics. There were a hundred people ready to take up their rucksack and undertake the adventure.



Mr. Chen Ken has already produced books and other publications on the Camino. And he is now active online to spread popularity of the initiative among lay people. His enthusiasm brought together participants of all ages and backgrounds and religions. He has already made the entire journey starting from Roncesvalles several times, and every pilgrimage makes him even more passionate about it.



"The Camino will change you profoundly, you meet people who you would never dream of meeting in your daily routine, and it brings you into a special contact with God and with yourself," he said opening the morning. The meeting was professionally organized providing details and data for those unfamiliar with the Camino.



Participants were divided into groups on arrival according to their enrollment in the three weeks prior to the meeting on Sunday. Everyone was enchanted by the experience and all present said they "can not wait" to share the pilgrimage.



The morning continued with a message from the vibrant, active and dynamic Vicar General of the Diocese of Beijing's Father Zhao Jianmin ( ), another great Camino fan who just wrote and published the book containing his diary of the pilgrimage (titled in Chinese: "800  ,     ", "a journey of 800 kilometers, the pilgrimage to Santiago").



In the message he apologized for not being present at the meeting and added that he was very happy for the fact that the experience is expanding among people of all ages also in Taiwan. Fr. Zhao is raising awareness of the Camino in China thanks to his books and blogs. More and more Chinese are intrigued by the Camino and above all more and more Chinese are literally starting to walk it.



"Thanks father Zhao!" Exclaimed Ken Chen after reading the message; then he continued by presenting statistics.



In Taiwan this year for the first time will participants will number over 100, mainly thanks to the initiatives of the parish of the Sacred Heart, in the center of Taipei, where Fr Tachi ( ), a native of Madrid, actively works as deputy parish priest together with Fr. Ku ( ), the pastor of Korean origin. "In fact, Koreans are arguably at the top of participants - presses Ken Chen - with more than four thousand pilgrims last year; Japanese pilgrims are growing significantly (more than 300) as well as Singapore, Hong Kong and the mainland (nearly a thousand), led by the enthusiasm of Fr. Zhao and many young people who discover a different way to visit Europe ".



"The Camino can literally unite people who are distant from each other and make them walk together, and this miracle takes place during all months of the year. Do not be afraid to go and invite your friends!, concluded Chen Ken with warmth.
With deal signed at the Sant'Egidio Community in Rome, humanitarian aid can start to flow into Libyas southernmost region. Rich in natural resources, it is also a gateway to all sorts of trafficking. Currently, it is experiencing a serious health and humanitarian crisis. Reopening roads is crucial to jumpstart the process of national reconstruction.

Fezzan (AsiaNews)  Political and ethnic groups in southern Libya signed an agreement in Rome at the Sant'Egidio Community to deal with the serious humanitarian situation in the Fezzan, a region that has always been marginalised.

Inked last Friday after a week of talks between the various groups that make up the southern tribal and ethnic mosaic, the agreement was made possible thanks to the mediation of the Sant'Egidio community, which was able to bring together all the parties involved for the first time.

Fezzan is a big region with a population of about 400,000. Rich in natural resources, in addition to underground water and uranium, it has some of Libyas main oil fields. It is also a gateway for all sorts of smuggling and trafficking, including humans. Fezzan has in fact become a magnet for people fleeing Niger, Mali, and Sudan.

Its complex ethnic composition, and external interference have made it a place of tensions, as was the case when the Gaddafi regime collapsed and the country plunged into civil war. The power vacuum that followed turned the region into a major point of transit for migrants trying to reach Europe and a point of entry for the Islamic State (IS) group, also known by its Arabic acronym of Daesh.

Taking advantage of Libyas lawlessness, IS seized the city of Sirte, turning it into its stronghold. Should they lose the city, they have an escape route to the south, to the Fezzan, a windfall in terms of resources and logistical advantages for various terrorist groups, IS included.

In the Fezzan, the collapse of Libyan state institutions and the lack of security have prompted the flight of Korean medical doctors, leaving a few Libyan health professionals to cope heroically with the pressing needs of the local population.

The proliferation of diseases, compounded by the massive influx of desperate people precariously crossing the deserts, has aggravated the situation. To these must be added those wounded in fighting against IS in Sirte, who are evacuated to the Fezzan.

Local hospitals have been in short supply of everything, from drugs to staff, with dire consequences for the sick. Failure to provide adequate care has increased the mortality rate among children, women and seniors. Power shortages have also increased, further undermining local health care facilities.

Faced with a situation of divisions and power struggles, many groups have tried to overcome differences and conflicts to face the pending dangers.

In Fezzans case, the SantEgidio Community was again a crucial venue for finding a solution, compared to the lack of interest by Libyas northern governments and the international community.

The Community was crucial in the recent past in other cases. It helped the Toubou and the Tuareg reach a peace deal after years of confrontation.

As a result of the agreement, roads with the south were reopened, and the authority of the Government of National Accord under Fayez Mustafa al-Sarraj was recognised. The latter is backed by Italy, the United Nations and the international community.

Last Fridays deal should enable the delivery of medical supplies to all five of Fezzans provinces, which have run out of everything, including vaccination material for children.

It should also facilitate the flow of other humanitarian aid, and the arrival of the Red Cross and other international NGOs, including some from Italy.

Open roads are also crucial for the UN-backed process of national reconstruction. (PB)
It is the highest ever recorded figure. The data published on the occasion of World Refugee Day. 50% come from Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia. 80% are housed in poor countries. Europe's divisions. The positive example of Iran. Pope Franciss admonition.

New York (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The number of refugees worldwide has reached the figure of 65.3 million people, including those seeking asylum and internally displaced persons. This is what emerges from the annual report of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published on the occasion of World Refugee Day, which is celebrated today. The figure of over 65 million is the highest ever recorded before, with an increase of at least 5 million from last year.



50% of the refugees come from war-torn or unstable countries: Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia. Another significant finding is that the majority of refugees - at least 80% - are housed not in rich countries, but in those with medium and low incomes.



In an interview with AFP, the head of UNHCR, the Italian Filippo Grandi, noted that due to the pressure of refugees, there is a worrying and growing "climate of xenophobia in Europe. According to Grandi, at the head of the organization since last January, European leaders need to better explain to their people that refugees flee from dangerous places and "do not represent a danger to us ... In fact, they contribute to the development of society" .

According to the International Organization of Migrants, in 2015 more than 1 million migrants arrived in Europe by sea and 35,000 by land. Most of them want to go to rich countries like Germany and Sweden.

The wave of refugees, however, has dealt a blow to the European Union instead of united and coordinated action, some states have imposed new barriers and border controls within the Schengen area.

Filippo Grandi, traveling in the Middle East to monitor the crisis of Afghan refugees, praised Iran which has welcomed more than 3 million Afghan migrants. Of these, only one million are regular.

What is being done in Iran - he said - "is a true example for other nations, such as to give children free access to the school system."



Yesterday during the Angelus, Pope Francis, recalled that today is World Refugee Day. "Refugees - said the Pope - are people like everyone else, but war has taken away their home, work, relatives, friends. Their stories and their faces call us to renew our commitment to build peace in justice. So we want to be with them, meet them, welcome them, listen to them, to become peacemakers according to the will of God".
Qamishli (AsiaNews) - The Syrian Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Efrem II Karim escaped a suicide attack by a bomber who blew himself up during a commemoration in memory of the Ottoman genocide against the Assyrian Christians (and Armenians) in Turkey at the beginning 1900. The attack took place yesterday morning at 11 am, during celebrations for the Orthodox Pentecost, in the Church of St. Gabriel in the Al Wusta district, Qamishli, north-eastern Syria. The toll is four dead, including Kurds and Christians, and several wounded.



According to sources of the Federation of Arameans (Syriacs), the target of the attack was the patriarch of the Syriac Church Efrem II. During the celebration, the 51 year old head of the Syriac Orthodox community blessed a memorial of the genocide monument, better known as the Sayfo massacre (the sword).



Thousands of faithful had gathered to participate in the celebration and commemoration. In response to the attack, the Aramean Christian militias of Sootoro immediately mobilized, surrounding the area.



Local witnesses claim that the attacker blew himself up outside the building, being killed along with three other people. The victims are three guards of the Assyrian Sutoro security forces. At least five people were wounded.



There are no official claims of the attack, which was probably a jihadist plan. In the past a suicide bomber loyal to the Islamic State (IS) struck in the area. However, other hypotheses cannot be excluded given the strong political significance of the celebration - the tensions still present today surrounding the issue of the genocide - and the strong Kurdish presence in an area disputed with government forces.



Yesterday's was the fourth attack against the Assyrian community in Qamishli in the last six months. On May 22, an IS suicide bomber last struck in the same district, killing at least five people three of them Assyrian Christian. On January 24, two explosions targeted the Assyrian Qamishli district, killing three worshipers and wounding another 20. Finally, three bombs targeted local businesses on December 30 last year, killing 16 people.



Different personalities of the Church and civil society have strongly condemned yesterday's attack, aimed at one of the most important personalities of the Syrian Orthodox community. The Federation of the Arameans (Syriacs) points out in a note that it is the responsibility of the "international community" to protect the Aramean who have "remained in their homeland." "We must not ignore - the statement continues - the heart-rending cries and demands of a civilization endangered and at the same time, the people of Syria." Hundreds of thousands of Aramedi "have already left their lands," the statement concludes, a people who still struggle "for recognition and survival."



In an official statement sent to AsiaNews the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) speaks of "brutal suicide attack" perpetrated by " Islamic extremist militants " who wanted to target the head of the Syrian Orthodox Church. "The deadly cocktail of terrorism - the statement says - is spreading fast from the Middle East to Asia and Africa, without encountering any opposition." All while the United Nations and other agencies born with the aim of promoting peace are floundering in "political games" instead of "fighting the monster."
by Nirmala Carvalho

The first was demolished to widen a road. The second was torched after two weeks after it was inaugurated. The Hyderabad administration decided to tear down the church without informing its pastor. Christians fear for their lives and places of worship.

Mumbai (AsiaNews)  Two Pentecostal churches have been destroyed in recent days in the Indian state of Telangana. The first, Hosil Pentecostal Church, was demolished on 17 June to widen a road. The second was torched on Saturday by unknown criminals. It had just been inaugurated on 2 June.

Speaking to AsiaNews, Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), condemned the latest act of persecution against Christians in India.

The Christian leader noted that the Hosil Church had been open for two decades, and that prayer services were held every Sunday. People came of their free will to worship Jesus in the church. This [incident] has hurt the sentiments of Christians."

Last Friday, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation had the church torn down in order to widen the road by 40 feet (12 metres).

GCIC coordinator Lion C Francis, who is also the secretary general of Telangana Christian Council, told AsiaNews that the pastor was never informed by local authorities. The community is upset. This is a slum area and locals work mainly as stone crushers.

People just came to pray and worship Jesus, and experience his liberating grace in order to survive their heavy and oppressive situation.

The pastor and some members of the congregation have gone to a police station to voice their concerns. The Christian community lives in insecurity because of the high-handedness of civic authorities, Francis explained.

Fire was set at the second church around midnight on Saturday. "The Pentecostal pastor had just built and inaugurated the building at the beginning of the month and it was reduced to dust by strangers," George said.

Since the beginning of 2016, Indias Pentecostal community has been the victim of several violent incidents.

In February, a minister in Maharashtra was arrested on suspicion of practicing witchcraft.

In April, worst befell Christians in Bihar. In Nabinagar, some believers were attacked, the pastor and other religious badly beaten. In Barh, a Christian was abducted and tortured for hours, after he had refused to insult the name of God.
Star Trek Actor Anton Yelchin Dead At 27

Trending News: Actor Anton Yelchin From 'Star Trek' Reboot Died After A Freak Accident

Why Is This Important?

Because he had a blossoming career.

Long Story Short

Actor Anton Yelchin, famous for his role as Chekov in the Star Trek reboot series died in a scary and tragic accident, according to reports.

Long Story

Hollywood lost one of its bright future stars on Sunday morning.

According to TMZ, 27-year-old Anton Yelchin was killed after being hit by his own car.

Fuck. I was lucky enough to call Anton Yelchin my friend for the better part of the last decade. This is so fucking awful.  Jay Baruchel (@BaruchelNDG) June 19, 2016

Yelchin was reportedly hours late for a rehearsal, when a friend went to go check on him and found the body pinned to his car and a brick mailbox connected to a security fence at the end of his home driveway in San Fernando Valley. Police said the car engine was still running and it was set in neutral.

They also added that the driveway was on a steep incline, suggesting that he left his car and then it rolled down the hill. Law enforcement are calling it an accident as no foul play is presumed.

UPDATE: It now looks like his vehicle, a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee had been part of a recall. From Jalopnik:

"LAPD officials confirmed to Jalopnik that Yelchins SUV was a 2015 Grand Cherokee, meaning it was among the vehicles covered by Fiat Chryslers shifter recall from April. The investigation into Yelchins death is ongoing and authorities have not determined the exact cause of the wreck, but this is almost certainly something they will be looking into. Fiat Chrysler said in a recall notice that the shifter confusion had led to 41 injuries."

I loved Anton Yelchin so much. He was a true artist - curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. I'm in ruins.  John Cho (@JohnTheCho) June 19, 2016

What a tragic loss and in such horrific circumstances. Yelchin, who plays Chekov in the Star Trek reboot series, will appear in Star Trek Beyond, which hits theatres on July 22 . In the past, he's appeared in a bunch of movies including Alpha Dog and Terminator Salvation.

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Star Trek Beyond will be the third and final time Yelchin reprises the role of Chekov.
The lawyer who represented members of the Chaouk family  the arch enemies of the Haddaras in relation to the 2009 murder of Mohammed Haddara  was arrested and questioned over an alleged conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in relation to the murder.



He was arrested at his home in Fairfield by homicide squad detectives early on Friday morning and released without charge several hours later. Police told The Age that the lawyer denied any involvement but the investigation into the alleged conspiracy is continuing.



He is not suspected of any involvement in the murder of Haddara, who was shot dead in his parents home, but was questioned about an alleged conspiracy between two members of the Chaouk family to avoid conviction by making a false confession which would later be recanted.



Haddaras death sparked a feud between the two western suburbs crime families, sparking a series of drive-by shootings.



Ahmed Hablas, a member of the Chaouk family, confessed to the crime less than 24 hours after the murder and told police he had been held captive in a car by Haddara, shooting him in self-defence. He was charged with murder a year later, despite police finding no evidence that linked him to the shooting.



But Hablas told the Supreme Court the day before the trial that he wanted to recant his confession, saying he had been taking the blame for Ali Chaouk who he said was the real killer. Hablas said he had made up the confession when he gave evidence, saying he did it because he feared Chaouk. He was acquitted of the murder in 2011.



They can blame each other and walk away, and that's not in the interests of justice, Justice King said at the trial.



He's a boastful, stupid, irresponsible and very guilty young man ... if he's not guilty of murder, he's guilty of an incredibly serious attempt to pervert the course of justice.



The lawyer said he had no knowlege of the conspiracy and didnt know who shot Haddara.



I have no idea at all who the shooter was, or whether there was any conspiracy, he said.



The Haddara clan has been investigated for more than 15 shootings and suspected drug empire, which has links to motorcycle gangs and other crime syndicates.


(Bloomberg) -- Led Zeppelins opening act in its trial defence over claims its rock classic Stairway to Heaven ripped off an earlier song was a musicologist tapping out the tunes on an electronic piano.



Lawrence Ferrara played the melodies of the jazz standard My Funny Valentine and Michelle by the Beatles among other songs to illustrate that the descending chromatic progression of the opening bars of Stairway" is a common element of pop music.



The similarities are limited, Ferrara said in response to questions by a Led Zeppelin lawyer, Peter Anderson, regarding the obscure 1968 instrumental Taurus by the group Spirit.



In the Los Angeles federal court trial, a trust for the late Spirit guitarist Randy Wolfe is seeking a songwriting credit for him and potentially millions of dollars in royalties. The trust ended its presentation to the jury Friday, with a witness testifying that damages in the trial should be based on revenue from the song of $58.5 million since 2011, including album sales.



Fridays testimony in the copyright trial followed that of witnesses including Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, who told jurors Taurus was alien to him when he first heard it a few years ago. Page said he only became aware of Spirits song after his son-in-law alerted him to comparisons posted on the Internet between Led Zeppelins 1971 classic and the California bands track.



Page, 72, said he would have remembered the Spirit instrumental if he had heard it before because of its memorable orchestral opening. He was stopped by U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner from answering questions about similarities between the two recordings because any copyright infringement would only pertain to the sheet music of Taurus, not to the version that appeared in Spirits debut album.



On Friday, Led Zeppelin bass player John Paul Jones testified briefly. He told jurors that he worked on the arrangement of Stairway with Page. He said he had no Spirit records and hadnt been aware at the time that Spirit played at a 1968 concert in Denver where Led Zeppelin was the opening band and made its first U.S. appearance.



The case is Skidmore v. Led Zeppelin, 15-cv-03462, U.S. District Court, Central District of California (Los Angeles).


By David Yeates, Director of the Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO

Turns out that in Australia, you are probably closer than you think to hundreds or thousands of species that dont have names. They are scientifically and culturally anonymous Australians.

If you live in a capital city, these unnamed Aussies are in your state or territory museum, and if you live in a regional area, they are living in your local nature reserve.

Why is this the case? Australia is acknowledged as a megadiverse nation, with a particularly large slice of the worlds biodiversity. Our natural environments span from tropical forest to alpine meadow, and from some of the driest deserts to mangrove swamps.

Because almost all of our species only live on this continent, it is up to us to study them. Here is the catch  because this is a large continent with relatively few people, there are also few dollars to fund such discovery research.

Of the estimated 500,000 Australian species, half are insects and only perhaps 20% to 30% of these have been named, so there are at least 100,000 unnamed Australian insect species. These unknown elements of biodiversity represent an almost completely untapped opportunity and resource.

Whats in a name?

So whats in a name and why does it matter, all this naming in the name of science? Is it just a pointless, egotistical quest for scientific immortality?

No, turns out that its important, and often quite challenging. When they are minted, species names are carefully crafted so that they do not duplicate other species' names.

For example, one of the first Australian insects to be given a scientific name was the metallic green weevil discovered during James Cooks first voyage, Chrysolopus spectabilis, also known as the Botany Bay Weevil.

The Danish zoologist Johan Christian Fabricius gave it that name in 1775, and no other animal can now have the name. Type that name into Google, and you will retrieve all sorts of information on it, including beautiful pictures, maps of its distribution, plants that it feeds on.

Worldwide, we have named more that 1.5 million species over the past 250 years, so finding a unique name also can take some careful sleuthing in online databases, such as the Australian Faunal Directory.

This is because species names are used as globally unique passwords to information. You can use the species name to search for information on the species in books, and online resources such as the Atlas of Living Australia.

If a species doesnt have a name, any information on it is impossible to find. Conversely, if we gave every species the name Bob, information on any particular Bob would be impossible to separate out.

The research to figure out if a species is new can be very challenging. Some species physically look almost exactly the same as other species (they are called sibling species). And this can have real-world consequences.

I estimate that distinguishing a Queensland fruit fly (scientific name Bactrocera tryoni), a major fruit pest, from one of its many closely related but harmless sibling fruit fly species, would be impossible for all but a few well-trained entomologists.

The biosecurity factor

But being able to accurately distinguish these species matters a lot in the real world when it comes to biosecurity and developing international trade.

It is almost always the case that species that are siblings in an anatomical sense are also very difficult to distinguish genetically; they very often have the same DNA barcode sequences, or overlapping sets of DNA sequences.

Government quarantine services often contract our scientists to develop protocols for distinguishing quarantine threats from harmless local species.

If you live in Canberra, you are very close to swarms of unnamed species in CSIROs Australian National Insect Collection. We manage a collection of more than 12 million specimens, almost all of them from Australia.

Not surprisingly, it is the largest collection of Australian insects in the world.

We have the vast majority of named Australian insect species in the collection, plus tens of thousands of unnamed species. The collection is like a vast hard drive of Australias biodiversity.

Our researchers continue the task of describing and understanding Australias insect species using more and more sophisticated techniques.

Unnamed species belong to a wide range of groups such as mosquitoes that bite humans, and innocent native beetles that look just like major timber and grain pests native to our overseas trading partners.

Often species wait in the collection for decades before study. A PhD student and I are in the process of naming an entire new lineage of flower pollinating insects in the collection, from specimens found in a remote corner of Western Australia 35 years ago.

We decide if a species is new by comparing it closely with all its named relatives, siblings and others. Hence the need to have a comprehensive set (a collection) in one physical or virtual place.

Because there are so many insect species, there are too many to compile a book or website with every species photographed and listed. Even if we did, it would have too many pages of very similar-looking species to flick through to make the comparisons.

So we use various identification tools to help us work out if a newly collected species already has a name, or needs one.

I name that critter

Traditionally, we have used anatomical keys (What bug is that?), that guide the user to an identification by making a series of carefully selected physical observations and comparisons.

But more recently, weve been using vast databases of molecular sequence barcodes, analogous to the white pages for biodiversity, to help us decide whether the species is new or not.

The number of genetic mutations shared among populations are increasingly used as evidence of species status.

We are also experimenting with image recognition software to help us. A little bit like a criminal investigation, the best result is when all lines of evidence point in the same direction, telling us that the species is new.

Federal government and private industry joint initiatives, such as Bush Blitz, are providing valuable information on the species in our national parks and other reserves, but we have a long way to go.

While we continue to grapple with the task of keeping trade routes open and managing and conserving our biodiversity for future generations and opportunities, remember the salient point here: most of Australias species are unnamed, and we know next to nothing about them.

If we have information on where these unnamed species occur, what features they have, or what they do in the environment, we cannot easily retrieve and analyse it. Hence we cannot readily distinguish native species from important overseas pests.

We also dont have the information needed to make a choice about where to invest our conservation resources optimally. Efforts to build trade and conserve our biodiversity are compromised until we know more about Australian species. This compromise is a risk we dont need to take.

The census is coming

We are on the eve of the 2016 Australian census. What a great nation-building goal it would be to initiate a species census.

It would give us the confidence that we had a good handle on our biodiversity  what it is, where it occurs, how well we are conserving it and what properties make it beneficial or harmful to us.

In terms of Australias federal budget (somewhere around A$450-billion dollars), the annual resources required for such a species census would be a drop in the ocean.

Are we responsible stewards of this ancient and fascinating land, or are we renting a share house? And can we really say that we know what it is to be Australian when we dont know the names and addresses of most Australians?

David Yeates receives funding from CSIRO, The Australian Biological Resources Study, the US National Science Foundation, and holds the Schlinger endowed research position at the Australian National Insect Collection.

Originally published in The Conversation.
If you're a student and he's only going to be just getting on his feet, I'd look at share housing if I were you.



Renting in Melbourne is ULTRA competitive, and if you have no rental history, it's gonna be hard. You're gonna be up against people who have long rental histories, with stable long term income etc.



Going into an existing sharehouse also free's you of the commitment of a 12month lease in case you don't like the area, or your jobs end up being on the other side of the river. You can use sharehouse as reference, you can even look at getting put on the lease once you're in.



ID points is hard for a non-resident with little history.



My partner has been in Australia for 3 months and we were renting from a friend who owned the house and he had a full time job in a trade and we struggled to make up the 100points of ID required for him.



If you MUST go into a rental on your own, outer burbs are your better bet, but not in boom areas. Inner suburbs you have no hope. There was appartments open in collingwood the other weekend that had THOUSANDS of people queueing up around the block to view them and people were offering between $50-$200 more a week AND saying they were willing to do 2+ year leases.
Australia is highlighting the contribution made by refugees who have made a new life in the country to mark World Refugee Day.The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) says that Australia has history of resettling refugees and people in humanitarian need, and recognise the achievements of humanitarian entrants who have driven innovation, built successful businesses, or achieved academic success.By the conclusion of the 2015/2016 programme year, Australia will have resettled more than 840,000 refugees and people in humanitarian need since the end of World War II and many humanitarian entrants have built successful careers in business, sport, education and in the community sector.In 2014/2015, Australia resettled more than 11,000 refugee and humanitarian entrants from countries in current priority regions of Asia, Africa and the Middle East and an extra 12,000 will be given visas to live in Australia from the wars in Syria and Iraq.Refugees are also telling their stories. After fleeing Iran with nothing, Sima Mahboobifard has turned her passion for hand crafted bags into a successful business. "My life was hard in Iran because I am of the Bahai faith. During the revolution, my parents were fired from their jobs because of their beliefs. Before I was one year old, my father was killed," she said."Later, I was kicked out of school and our house was taken from us. We had nothing. My mum and I worked in aged care, but when Muslim people gave us a job, the government told them to fire us," she explained."That was why I started a business making and selling bags. The first bag I made was from a pair of my jeans. One of my friends then suggested I work with leather, so I started to make and sell leather bags to survive," she added.In 2011 she fled to Turkey and was granted a visa for Australia where she decided to restart her bag making business. She funded it through the Ignite Small Business Start-ups initiative which found the equipment and leather she needed, then helped her buy them.Sam Eisho has built a successful construction company that gives back to the Australian community. In 1996 as a newly married 28 year old civil engineer he fled Saddam Hussein's regime and civil strife in Iraq. Sam and his wife spent three years in Turkey and Greece before resettling in Sydney through Australia's Humanitarian Programme.Faced with the challenge of making a new life for himself in Australia, Sam studied for a builder's licence and found work in the construction industry. Sam went on to establish SR Construction, an innovative construction company that now employs more than 40 staff and 100 plus subcontractors.SR stands for Social Return, which reflects the company's focus on social development and providing employment and training to people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Through its training and development programmes, SR Construction equips underprivileged people with practical skills, experience and qualifications that boost their self-esteem and employability.Sam's life has changed dramatically over the past 20 years, from fleeing persecution in Iraq to developing an impressive record of achievement in Australia, including innovative social and economic contributions.
ampk said: Due to process times I too would wait 3 + months to do medicals, I would apply online (if time runs short later fly to another country to do them if worried about Kenya - Bots, Nam or Joberg).



Has your partner been to Australia before?

Has the child got other parent permission (form 1229) if applicable? Click to expand...

We would love to have the money to fly and do elsewhere but that's just not going to happen.We know that we would have to do them again if we do before submitting- we are only considering it atm as a way to reduce the stress of it all - still a long way off before we have enough evidence to apply.Form 1229 was already completed but I will start a new thread on whether we can use them a year after they were signed or we have to do again. Her mother is in full support of coming- have Form 1229, a small custody agreement, a letter of approval, a statement of custody written by my partner and we are maybe considering me adopting her (though, I am not sure if I can handle that stress or waiting for close to a century for it to happen atm ;/)He has never left Kenya and only got a passport not long ago for the purposes of immigration. Coming to Australia was not on our plans so we are a little stressed about it to start with...Thanks for your advice, will consider how we will goxo
HI,

I am Usability specialist by profession and currently on a 457 visa which was applied under 263213 ICT SYSTEMS TEST ENGINEER as I predominantly performed a role of a Accessibility tester, along with other UX activitieis such as documenting requirements and designing wireframes etc. A typical UX designer role has an overlap on Bus-Sys Analysis, Software engineering and testing.



Considering all this, Recently I submitted my RPL for 261112 as a system analyst as i can see a definite overlap in two skill codes. I have received a positive assessment for 261112.



When i see the definition of closely related skills, it states :



What is a Closely Related Occupation?

Any periods of employment in a closely related occupation must be undertaken at the equivalent skill level of your nominated occupation. This means that any employment that you claim as 'closely related' to your nominated occupation should be:

in the same ANZSCO Unit Group. For example, the occupations of Management Accountant and Taxation Accountant are in the same group, or

consistent with a career advancement pathway. For example, Accountant to Chief Financial Officer, or

where the relevant assessing authority has determined that the employment is closely related to the nominated occupation.



Questions:

a) Going by my details above, is it safe to assume that i can claim points for my Australia work experience since ACS has already regarded my experience as valid?



b) Historically, has anyone experienced that the CO gets adamant on the unit code level and rejects the application? Considering they COs are not ACS subject matter experts... what are the chances they actually
Dear Gents,I have been following this useful forum for some time, but now I have an inquiry regarding points calculation for Skilled employment.I have been working as a Civil Engineer for almost 4 years now (in 3 different companies), but Engineers Australia is only awarding me 15 months (in the previous 2 companies due to lack of governmental evidence), plus the full duration in my current company (13 months).My question consists of two parts:1) Should I fill my EOI with the awarded dates only, or I can use the actual dates and try to convince Immigration department to overwrite Engineers Australia's decision ?I only have experience certificates from previous companies, but the social insurance covers portion of employment in each one (which is the portion Engineers Australia approved).2) If not, I will have to wait few months to meet 36 month target. In this case, Will I have to re-assess my experience duration again even if I'm still working in the same company that Engineers Australia approved all my employment duration with, or Immigration department can increase my employment duration easily ?Waiting your appreciated commentsThanks in advance,
The new Honda City-based hatchback, Genia is a China-only model; will debut at the Chengdu motor show next month.

The new Honda Genia has been officially revealed in China at the Chengdu Motor Show. The Genia gets a notchback-like design and is based on the current-gen City sedan sold in India.

The new hatchback gets Hondas signature styling up front, partly inspired by the Concept B, shown in 2014. It gets Hondas Solid Wing Facedesign, also seen recently on the Avancier SUV. The thick gloss black grille holds the large Honda logo and has a chrome strip that runs across it which lowers down to the chin in the centre. The headlights get projector units along with LED daytime running lights. They do resemble the ones seen on the City sedan sold in India.



The side profile of the Honda Gienia is City-like but features a truncated boot design. The Gienia looks very stylish when viewed from the back, thanks to the new boomerang tail-lamps like those on the Civic, a neatly sculpted bumper with subtle chrome accents and a distinct rear spoiler as well. The hatchback will be powered by a 1.5-litre petrol motor and will get the option of a CVT gearbox.

While the hatchback is expected to launch in China sometime in the near future, there is no news about Honda bringing this model to India as of now.

Source
SUV

This information comes courtesy of the peeps at Automotive News . The publication adds that output of the current Compass and Patriot at Fiat Chryslers Belvidere, Ill., plant is to end December 23, according to sources. Dont know about you, but I believe that the Compass and Patriot are long due to be stamped out.For starters, both models slot in the same car segment (compact crossover). Why, oh why? Secondly, both are underpinned by the Chrysler PM / MK platform, also known as the Mitsubishi GS platform, an architecture that first appeared on the 2005 Mitsubishi Outlander. Thirdly, the Compass and Patriot arrived at a time when Chrysler and Daimler pulled every unneeded penny out of research & development. Hence, the shockingly awful interior.Similarly shocking is the continuously variable transmission you can get on models equipped with the entry-level 2.0-liter engine. When all is said and done, I wont be missing the Compass and Patriot once the production line shuts down. All in all, Im looking forward to the all-new compact crossover SUV.Other than the United Mexican States, the brand spanking new Compass will also be manufactured in the Federative Republic of Brazil and People's Republic of China, which is saying something about the weight it carries on its shoulders. These spy photographs will have to suffice until more intel becomes available.In related Jeep news, the Belvidere plant will remain offline through May 15, 2017, the day the Cherokee will move from Toledo to Belvidere. This should free up Toledo for the 2018 Jeep Wrangler (JL). The all-new Wrangler will spawn a pickup truck body style and will debut a 2.0-liter turbo-4 and a hybrid powertrain.
SUV

While not confirmed in official announcements, Citroens latest model will probably be a production version of the Aircross, first exhibited at the 2015 Shanghai Auto Show The new SUV is expected to commence manufacturing in 2018, alongside the Peugeot 5008 SUV and the Citroen E-Mehari, and electric crossover.Together, the three models will raise output at the factory in Rennes to 100,000 units per year. Last year, the facility in Rennes made approximately 60,000 vehicles. To achieve this, the French brand will invest 100 million euros to support the increase output plan.Citroen has also disclosed that the new crossover will be based on the EMP2 platform, and that it is called Project C84. We believe the new car is a production version of the Aircross concept, which you can observe in the photo gallery of this article.The "secret" model announced by Citroen has been confirmed as part of a product offensive planned by the French PSA Peugeot-Citroen Group, which will include the launch of four new models by the dual-chevron brand in less than 18 months.PSA Peugeot-Citroen will begin upgrade work at the facility in Rennes by early 2017, and will complete the expansion in 2018. Other industry players in the area will benefit from PSAs investment, as suppliers and local businesses will cater to an increase in demand. From more tires to more steel, each provider that lives from the existence of the Rennes facility will benefit from the move. PSA Peugeot-Citroen has disclosed that this decision was not part of its initial plan, but has been agreed with five of the groups six trade unions. These unions represent approximately 80% of the companys workforce, so you can imagine their leverage in the situation.No investment would have meant an uncompetitive plant which focused on only two products, a dangerous strategy in todays market, especially for an automaker which has seen its share of economic distress.
We expect the second to be a derivative of the Fiat 500, a car that already has an electric version. The Fiat 500e is only sold in the United States of America, and the company reportedly loses around $10,000 for every electric 500 it makes.As Marchionne explained in an interview with Bloomberg , Maseratis electric vehicle could be used to follow the economic model of Tesla . This is not the first time when Marchionne refers to Tesla and claims that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles could replicate its results if desired Interestingly, the electric version of the Alfieri was not announced for the five-year plan of the Italian brand. However, Marchionne mentioned that this model is expected to be launched after he retires as CEO of Fiat Chrysler, a function he plans to keep until 2019.Marchionne claims he is not convinced that electrification is the solution to all of the problems of the automotive industry. The CEO of FCA is interested in experimenting with solutions of this kind so that the market will see hybrids and electrics from the Italian-American corporation. The tests that Marchionne refers to will be similar to the companys exploits in the field of connected cars and mobility, so that they will advance in small steps.Hybrid vehicles will have to be introduced in the entire portfolio of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, so that the automaker will manage to comply with European emission norms on a group average. The American brands in the portfolio will also require hybrids to meet EPA rules. The Jeep brand has already been confirmed with hybrid versions scheduled for 2018.
Before we go any further, it must be mentioned that Kogods method incorporates a research methodology that also accounts for the American Automotive Labeling Act of 1994. According to the act, a car is considered to be a domestic product if at least 75 percent of the given cars parts by value are manufactured in the United States or Canada.The Kogod Made In America Auto Index also weighs in data thats unaddressed by the American Automotive Labeling Act, including: profit margin (location of the car brands global headquarters); labor (where the vehicle is assembled); R&D (location of research and development activities); inventory, capital, and other expenses; engine (location of production); transmission (location of production); body, chassis, and electrical components. The lot, basically.Having said these, youll be surprised to find out that the most American-made vehicle on the 2016 Kogod Made In America Auto Index is also one of the oldest cars on the index. That car is [wait for it] the Buick Enclave . The number 1 spot is tied with the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia , the half-brothers of the of the Buick Enclave. Believe it or not, the total domestic content of these three SUVs sits at 90 percent.Other models that made the top 10 are mostly built by American brands such as Ford, Lincoln, Jeep, and Chrysler, albeit there are some exceptions from popular Japanese automakers. Here is a selection of those: Ford F-150 (85 percent total domestic content), Chevrolet Corvette (83 %), Cadillac Escalade (82.50 %), Honda Accord (81 %), Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (80.50 %), Ford Taurus (80.50 %), GMC Canyon (80.50 %), Cadillac CT6 (80 %), Ford Mustang (80 %), Chevrolet Camaro (80 %), Jeep Cherokee (78.50 %), Honda Pilot and Odyssey (78.50 %), Toyota Sienna and Camry (78.50 %), Chrysler 200 (76 %), Lincoln MKS and Navigator (76 %), Acura RDX (76 %), Honda CR-V and Civic (76 %), Toyota Highlander and Avalon (76 %).For the least American-made nameplates of the index, you can visit the Kogod School of Business website
SUV

Unlike the mid-size or compact sedan segments, where most cars do roughly the same thing, the small luxurymarket is varied. This cross-section of four vehicles doesn't cover everybody, since the Germans only have one representative, but it does offer insight.Just as the title says, we are dealing with four SUVs, namely the Infiniti QX50 , Mercedes GLC-Class, Lincoln MKX and Lexus NX. The quartet was taken on a 500-mile road trip from Los Angeles to Paso Robles, which is what the average wine-loving Californian business person might do.The QX50 is old, but it received a major refresh for 2016 that includes a much longer wheelbase and updated interior. It's cheap and features an old-school V6 engine, in contrast with the downsized turbo rivals.KBB says the Infiniti is surprisingly fun to drive. Is that what you are looking for? Then you'd better decide to buy it yourself because the magazine doesn't declare a clear winner of the test.The Infiniti being tested is the NX200t , its 2-liter turbo being the least powerful engine of the test, but not by a lot. It's more of a crossover than anything else, as power goes to the front wheels. The reviewers found an unpleasant amount of wind noise at highway speeds.The GLC-Class could be considered the winner in a way. Its only major flaws being the lack of a V6, which is only temporary, and the high price of its options. If you're not careful with the goodies, you could end up spending $60,000.The Lincoln is a financial nightmare too, but a different reason. Because of the brand, resale values are projected to be horrible. If you can get one cheaper or lease it, you might still be able to enjoy its dynamism and powerful 2.3-liter turbo with 285 hp.
Nissan has announced it will take legal action against the official campaign that promotes Great Britains departure from the European Union Not only does the Japanese company not support the Vote Leave campaign, but its logo was used without permission or approval of any kind. In other words, Nissan is not suing the Vote Leave campaign for its intentions, but for the way it used the trademarked logo and brand image.Toyota, another Japanese automaker with a factory in the United Kingdom, was also displeased with the misuse of its trademarked logo.Like Nissan, Toyotas logo was placed in the major employers category, and the campaigners claimed that Japans largest automaker has no intention of leaving the UK if the referendums vote will be to leave the European Union.Nissan has stated that it prefers Great Britain to remain a member of the European Union. The Japanese automaker will be issuing legal proceedings in Britains High Court to stop Vote Leave from using its name and logo, The Independent reports. Nissan also wants to prevent the campaigners from making any further false claims concerning the company.Nissan and Toyota are not the only major employers in the United Kingdom to speak up against the unauthorized use of their logos and names in the campaign to leave the European Union.The heads of Unilever, Airbus, and GE, all major companies with extensive facilities within the United Kingdom , have come forward to the media to criticize the deliberately misleading attempts of Vote Leave campaigners. To further stir outrage, the leaflet is printed on taxpayer money, and it is an evident effort of shameless propaganda.
Photo of 2017 Ridgeline courtesy of Honda.

Honda's 2017 model-year Ridgeline mid-size pickup will arrive at dealers on June 21 with a significant refresh that includes improved driving dynamics, updated styling, and a bed storage locker, Honda has announced.

The 2017-MY Ridgeline will retail for at least $29,475 for the front-wheel RT and at least $31,275 for the all-wheel RT model. Higher trim grades include the RTS, Sport, RTL, RTL-T, RTL-E, and Black Edition.

The Ridgeline arrives with more traditional truck styling compared to the outgoing model. It will arrive with an "in-bed truck" storage locker, dual-action tailgate, and in-bed audio system.

A 3.5L direct-injected V-6 powers the Ridgeline, delivering power via a 6-speed transmission. The front-wheel Ridgeline gets an EPA-rated 26 mpg on the highway, 19 mpg in the city, and 22 mpg combined.
Solar Impulse 2 is expected to launch from New York to Seville, Spain, Monday on the longest leg of its circumnavigation using solar power only. The flight was to start on Sunday but weather concerns delayed it by a day. The flight will take an estimated 90 hours and will be flown by Bertrand Piccard. The aircraft flew the Pacific in two legs with a prolonged stop in Hawaii to repair batteries damaged in the flight from Japan. Piccard splits the flying with Andre Borschberg.

The aircraft has been at New Yorks Kennedy Airport since June 11 when it came from Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania. After Seville, the plane will fly mostly over land on its way to the starting point of the journey in Abu Dhabi. By the end of the flight, the aircraft will have covered more than 20,000 miles.
Two Canadian Twin Otter aircraft are in Punta Arenas at the southern tip of Chile waiting out weather to launch a rescue at the South Pole. The aircraft operated by Kenn Borek Air, of Calgary, Alberta, were dispatched last Wednesday to pick up a person who has fallen ill at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. Because of the extreme weather conditions in the southern hemisphere winter, there are no regular flights in and out of Antarctica. But medical officials have determined that the condition of the crew member at the station, one of 48 people living there at this time of year, warrants the complicated rescue.

When the weather looks flyable, the Canadian crews will head from Chile to the British Antarctic Survey Station at Rothera, the northern tip of Antarctica. From there, one of the Twin Otters will make the trip to the pole while the other waits in Rothera in case its needed for search and rescue. You cant carry enough fuel to go from Rothera to the South Pole and back, so theres a point of no return on the way in, after about four or five hours, where you have to make a decision that you are pretty sure youll be able to land, said Peter West, a spokesman for the National Science Foundation, which is coordinating the rescue. Kenn Borek Air is a major aviation contractor in Antarctica in the flying season and has done two previous mid-winter rescues. Although there will be no daylight for the mission, there will be a dazzlingly bright full moon to help out the crews, according to Crikeys Ben Sandilands.
image: Click-2 News

Three small general aviation airplanes have crashed at off-airport sites in the last two days, killing one pilot and injuring another. In Houston, Texas, a Piper PA-24 crashed onto the flat roof of a Macys distribution center about five miles northwest of Hobby Airport, just before midnight on Sunday. I was watching it, and I just seen it like struggle, witness JonathanSiguenzatold the local Click-2 news. The FAA said the 52-year-old pilot was flying in from St. Louis when the airplane lost power. The aircraft clipped the side of the building before landing on top. The aircraft was substantially damaged; the pilot was taken to a hospital, but was expected to recover. The other crashes took place on a freeway and a train track.

In Georgia, the pilot of a Cessna 182F told ATC this morning he was having mechanical problems and couldnt make it to the airport. The pilot set down safely in the northbound lanes of Interstate 185; nobody was hurt in the incident. In Hayward, California, a pilot was killed on Sunday about noontime when his Piper PA-23 twin crashed into railroad tracks at a BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station. The site is about four miles east of Hayward Executive Airport. Bystanders tried to pull the pilot out of the burning airplane, according to local news reports.
Bombardier will sell its amphibious aircraft program to Viking Air Ltd., the two Canadian companies announced today. The agreement covers the type certificates for all variants of the CL-215, CL-215T and Bombardier 415 airplanes, which are used worldwide as water bombers for firefighting. This transaction supports our goal of rebuilding a clear path to profitable earnings growth, said Alain Bellemare, CEO of Bombardier Inc. While the amphibious aircraft program is part of our long history, this divestiture positions Bombardier to better focus on our core, higher-growth businesses  business jets, commercial aircraft, and rail transportation. Bombardier has had the program on hold since December 2015.

Viking will assume responsibility for product support, parts and service for the fleet of 170 water bombers in service with 21 operators in 11 countries. Viking said it will work from a newly acquired and specially repurposed 50,000-square-foot facility in Calgary. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Viking, which also manufactures and supports the Twin Otter line, said it will add up to 40 workers in Victoria and Calgary to support the new product. Bombardier said the 50 employees affected by the sale will be transferred elsewhere in the company.
The plodding search for EgyptAir 804, which went down in the eastern Mediterranean en route to Cairo on May 19, has again ignited the discussion about real-time transmission of critical flight parameters via satellite. In an age when the world is stitched together with numerous satellite systems, doesnt relying on ancient flight and voice data recorders seem utterly backward?

Perhaps, but theres also this reality: Real-time data monitoring of everything flight recorders store is still not practical nor would it impact system safety in any broad way sufficient to justify the cost. The reason for that is despite AF447, MH370 and now EgyptAir 804, the number of accidents or incidents in which flight recorders are difficult to access is still quite small in the overall scheme of things. Overall system safety is described by a torrent of data and a couple of flight recorders resting in two miles of salt water represents but a trickle of the total. Thats why, says a friend of mine in the accident investigation business, accident agencies arent too spun up about real-time monitoring as a tool to move the safety needle. That fruit is at the very top of the tree.

Thats not to say there isnt a valid argument for real-time data, however, but its economic, not safety-related. A company called Star Navigation is making just that pitch for a system its been working on for more than a decade and has now developed for STC-based installation. The Star ADS system is essentially a smart box installed in the airplane that taps into the various data bussesthe flight recorders, the ADAHRS system, the engine and electric busses, and so on. Its highly customizable to the airlines requirements, but it can be set up to monitor all sorts of parameters and exceedances, such as over-rotation on takeoff, flap and gear overspeed, over-bankingthe list is a long one.

For transmitting this data in areas where VHF or wireless links arent available, says company CEO Viraf Kapadia, the Star system uses the Iridium satellite phone network. How often it reports and what it reports is, again, something each airline can specify. Kapadia says its economically unrealistic to attempt either real-time trend monitoring or full telemetry on oceanic airline flights but that the system can be programmed to push all the data through the pipeline that it can in the event that it senses an aircraft-threatening abnormal, such as a loss of pressurization, rapid altitude loss or fire. Thats the accident scenario that would apply to the EgyptAir 804 loss. Quite a bit of data could have been reported, not the least of which is actual position, before the airplane disappeared. Real-time DFDR/CVR telemetry is out of the question at the moment. And, in any case, investigators had radar data to work with in Flight 804. Even on AF447, the delay in retrieving the recorders had more to do with interagency squabling than it did not having a good position hack. I wouldnt be surprised is that were also the case with EA804.

By airline avionics standards, the Star system is not expensive: about $60,000 installed on a one-off basis, but substantially less at fleet volumes. Operating costs are $13.50 per hour, plus $1250 a month for software and support. Thats about $4000 per month for an airliner turning 200 hours a month or maybe $114 per month per seat for a typical two-aisle airplanefractions of a cent per seat mile. Still, airlines wont buy it just to make CNN commenters happy or to assure the relatives if they lose one over the ocean.

Realizing this, Star is pitching the ADS system a cost-management tool, allowing airlines to accurately track maintenance issues and attend to them in the most efficient way. One of the big ones is OOOI for on-off, out-in times used to schedule heavy maintenance like D-checks. Kapadia says many airlines do this manually and inaccurately, giving away flight hours for too-early maintenance hours or grounding airplanes when the maintenance capacity isnt available but the airplane is timed out. He argues that on this alone, the Star ADS could pay for itself in less than a year; the rest is just operating costs.

This idea is nothing new, by the way. Airbus, Boeing and the major aerospace engine makers have offered data reporting in various forms for years. Kapadia says the Star system is more all-inclusive and thus superior to whats been offered before. I suppose the market will decide that.

So are we at the point that such systems should be required for oceanic routes? My vote is no. Even though its not that expensive, it does add cost for a service thats unlikely to move the system safety needle much. You can keep adding mandatory safety systems forever, until the aircraft cant get off the ground for the weight of them. But if a smart airline can make the economic case, why not? Pennies on seat-mile costs do matter on competitive routes and if Kapadia is right, the investment in systems like these might actually reduce them.
20 June 2016 10:24 (UTC+04:00)

Armenian armed forces have 11 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 20.

Armenian armed forces stationed in the Dovegh village of Armenia's Noyemberyan district opened fire at the positions of the Azerbaijani armed forces in the Kemerli village of the Gazakh district.

Azerbaijani positions also underwent fire from the positions located in the Goradiz village of the Fizuli district and Kuropatkino of the Khojavand district.

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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20 June 2016 11:09 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Camal

Todays meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will build trust, accelerate confidence-building, and create conditions for a framework document on peace on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

James Warlick, OSCE Minsk Group's US co-chair, tweeted on June 20, ahead of the meeting of President Aliyev and President Sargsyan, with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen in St. Petersburg.

The May 16 meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan become the first talk since a surge in fighting in early April that killed Azerbaijani civilians and sparked fears of a return to full-scale war.

Top diplomats from the United States, Russia and France, who are spearheading efforts to end the decades-long conflict, participated in the talks aimed at strengthening a precious ceasefire brokered by Moscow.

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.

Azerbaijan and Armenia called a truce 22 years ago, on May 12 1994, to end the devastating war, but violence has flared up from time to time, most recently along the frontline of the troops. The Armenian troops most recently resorted to the aggression and provoked a deadly exchange of artillery fire in early April.

Experts and politicians agree that keeping the status quo raises fears for anew of all-out war, which can spread to larger area than its region.

---

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20 June 2016 16:01 (UTC+04:00)

By Gunay Camal

A presidential summit scheduled for June 20 in St. Petersburg is a positive step towards a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Head of the EU Delegation to Baku, Malena Mard made the remark while talking to reporters on June 20, further adding that the EU supports all steps taken in this direction.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan are expected to meet in St. Petersburg, with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairmen.

"We, as the European Union, are in favor of a peaceful settlement of the conflict. We support all efforts in this direction, including the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group. This meeting, of course, is a positive step in resolving the conflict. In order to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the conflict it is necessary to establish a dialogue between the parties, Mard stressed.

The May 16 meeting between President Ilham Aliyev and his Armenian counterpart Sargsyan in Vienna was their first face-to-face encounter since the April hostilities.

The presidents agreed on following of ceasefire, as well as on a next round of talks, to be held in June at a place to be mutually agreed, with an aim to resuming negotiations on a comprehensive settlement.

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.

Azerbaijan and Armenia called a truce 22 years ago, on May 12 1994, to end the devastating war, but violence has flared up from time to time, most recently along the frontline of the troops. The Armenian troops most recently resorted to the aggression and provoked a deadly exchange of artillery fire in early April.

--

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20 June 2016 10:04 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received President of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) Jean Todt.

President of the International Automobile Federation Jean Todt said Formula 1 race was excellently organized. He said the event was of great importance not only in Azerbaijan, but also on the international arena, and in the region.

The head of state stressed the importance of Formula 1, and said the event contributed to the international cooperation. President Ilham Aliyev said the race created a good opportunity for tourists to familiarize themselves with Azerbaijan.

They hailed successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and the International Automobile Federation.

---

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20 June 2016 12:23 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

World Banks Board of Directors approved additional allocation of funds in the amount of $66.7 million for the implementation of the Internally Displaced People (IDP) Living Standards and Livelihoods Project on June 17.

The objective of the project is to improve living conditions and increase the economic self-reliance of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Azerbaijan, the Bank reported.

Approximately seven percent of Azerbaijans population is considered internally displaced and they constitute one of the most vulnerable segments of society. Many IDPs still lack access to quality infrastructure, social services and jobs. This additional financing aims to continue World Bank support to improve basic local infrastructure, living conditions, income, skills and job opportunities for IPDs, as well as non-IDP populations.

Meeting the needs of IDPs is a key priority for Azerbaijan to achieve shared prosperity for all of its citizens, and we commend the efforts of the government so far in creating decent living conditions for them, says Larisa Leshchenko, World Bank Country Manager for Azerbaijan.

Leshchenko believes this project will complement existing efforts by providing better public services and income generation opportunities, in particular for youth.

The project will support rehabilitation of community infrastructure, such as water and power supply, roads, drainage systems, schools and health centers. Additionally, it will include training and business development opportunities for young IDPs, income generation and micro-credit activities.

While this project builds on our successful experience in the sector, it also has new features such as supporting IDPs to diversify their sources of livelihoods and income, thus contributing to the overall economic growth of Azerbaijan, says Michelle Rebosio, who leads the World Bank team working on the project.

The funds are expected to be used for the implementation of 250 projects concerning IDPs in Azerbaijan.

The project is the third in succession within the framework of the IDPs well-being improvement project implemented by the WB in Azerbaijan.

The first credit was allocated by the bank in 2001 with the view to improve IDPs economic conditions in Azerbaijan. The worth of the credit was at the rate of $10.7 million with $10 million being provided by the WB and $700,000 by the government of the country.

Means covered financing of the 199 projects of communities, while as many as 175,000 of IDPs made use of the gains acquired as a result of the project implementation

As many as 12.6 million was allocated for the implementation of the second project. The share of the bank amounted to $11.5 million. However, funds turned out to be insufficient, the fact lead to the necessity of additional financing. Some $ 24.19 million was allocated for the project close-out. The share of the WB in additional financing amounted to $15 million, while the share of Azerbaijans government is $8.69 million.

Azerbaijan joined the World Bank in 1992. Since that time commitments to the country have totaled over US$3 billion for 55 projects. The current World Bank portfolio in Azerbaijan consists of 11 active projects.

--

Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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20 June 2016 13:55 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev expressed condolences to Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 20 over the death of children in Karelia.

The message reads:

Dear Vladimir Vladimirovich,

I was deeply saddened by the news of the death of children as a result of a storm on Lake Syamozero in Karelia.

On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my deepest condolences to you, the families and loved ones of those who died and the whole people of Russia.

---

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20 June 2016 17:04 (UTC+04:00)

The government of Azerbaijan has so far allocated more than 2.5 billion manats ($1.6 billion) for solving refugee problem in the country.

Ali Hasanov, the deputy prime minister, head of the State Committee on Affairs of Refugees and IDPs has announced about this while addressing the event dedicated to the World Refugee Day.

Noting that the problem of refugees and IDPs is one of the problems interesting and worrying the whole world, he reminded that Azerbaijan is facing this problem for more than 20 years.

The number of refugees and displaced persons in Azerbaijan amounts to more than a billion people. The country implements state programs on the improvement of the social and living conditions of refugees and displaced persons, he said.

Azerbaijan is among the countries carrying the highest IDP caseload in the world in per capita terms. Every 8th citizen in Azerbaijan is a refugee as a result of the Armenian aggression. Out of more than 9.6 million population, 1.2 million are refugees and IDPs in their native land.

The Nagorno-Karabakh war, which flared up in the late 1980s due to Armenia's territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor, left 700,000 civilians from Nagorno-Karabakh and the regions adjoining it, as well as the regions bordering Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, without homes.

Moreover, 250,000 Azerbaijanis were expelled from Armenia and became refugees due to Armenia's ethnic cleansing policy after the emergence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Azerbaijan.

Hasanov further added new conflicts lead to the sharpening of the problem of displaced persons. Unfortunately, the number of refugees and displaced persons in the world currently amounts to 60 million. Certain documents have already been developed to solve the problem but this is insufficient, he added.

Despite Azerbaijans continues efforts and hard works to deal with the problem, there is still refugees and IDPs that are in need of better conditions.

More than 400, 000 internally displaced people continue to live in difficult conditions and due to the size and continuation of problem of IDPs in the country; Azerbaijan needs support of international organizations and donors.

The official further added that the state continues its efforts for the release of hostages Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev taken hostage by Armenian militaries.

Noting that the head of state tackles the issue personally, Hasanov said the president has repeatedly raised the issue of release of Dilgam Asgarov and Shahbaz Guliyev during meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin

Hasanov has voiced a hope that the issue will also be considered during todays meeting of the two presidents.

Armenian forces killed an Azerbaijani, Hasan Hasanov, and detained Guliyev and Asgarov while they were attempting to visit the graves of their relatives in July 2014.

Guliyev and Asgarov have been judged illegally by the unrecognized courts of a separatist regime in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh. Following an expedited judicial process" in December 2015, Asgarov was sentenced to life imprisonment and Guliyev to 22 years.

--

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20 June 2016 21:42 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijan`s First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva has met with a French delegation led by President of the Association of Friends of Azerbaijan in France, member of the National Assembly Jean-Francois Mancel, Azertac reported.

Mehriban Aliyeva expressed her confidence that the French delegation`s visit was successful.

I am happy that you watched the Formula 1 race which was held in Azerbaijan for the first time, said the first lady. Mehriban Aliyeva thanked Jean-Francois Mancel for an increase in the number of members of the Association of Friends of Azerbaijan in France.

The first lady said there were first time visitors in the French delegation, expressing hope that those who become familiar with the country would contribute to strengthening Azerbaijani-French ties.

Mrs.Aliyeva hailed the development of relations between the two countries in all fields, particularly in political, economic and inter-parliamentary areas. She also highlighted humanitarian ties, and said a French lyceum was inaugurated in the country a year ago.

Mehriban Aliyeva said an Azerbaijan-French University is expected to open this year. I am sure that joint efforts in humanitarian field will bring our peoples closer to each other, she said.

Mancel praised high-level organization of the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe in Baku, saying Azerbaijan had a rich experience in arranging such international events.

Mehriban Aliyeva was presented with a keepsake on behalf of the Association of Friends of Azerbaijan in France.
20 June 2016 15:27 (UTC+04:00)

By Amina Nazarli

Prospects to boost the Azerbaijani-Russian economic relations were thoroughly mulled in Baku, as the capital hosted the business forum on June 20, with participation of about 200 companies engaged in light, heavy and food industries, as well as finance, energy, transport, commerce, engineering, health and other areas.



Azerbaijans Deputy Economy Minister Niyazi Safarov, addressing the event, stated that Russia has invested $3 billion in Azerbaijans economy in total. Safarov mentioned that more than 600 enterprises operating with Russian capital have been registered in Azerbaijan.

More than $235 million of the total volume of Russian investments were invested in the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan, and $ 2.8 billion were invested in the oil sector. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan has invested over one billion dollars in the Russian economy. Russian companies are also contractors of 10 projects implemented through public investment, he said.

Safarov went on noting that over 170 agreements were signed between the two countries, more than 50 of which were inked in economic field.

Russia continues to be one of the main trade partners of Azerbaijan, according to the deputy minister, who emphasized that in the past four months of 2016, Russia takes the second place in the turnover of Azerbaijan, and first place in the import and 10th place in export.

In 2015, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $1.9 billion, some $1.5 billion of which fell to import and $0.4 billion to exports. In January-April 2016 the trade turnover between the countries amounted to $470 million, he said.

During the bilateral business forum Azerbaijan and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding on establishing pharmaceutical production in Azerbaijan. The document was signed by Azerbaijans Vita-A company, Russian R-Pharm and Azerbaijan Investment Company.



The event also saw signing of several other documents : a memorandum of cooperation between Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) and All-Russia business association Delovaya Rossiya" (Business Russia), a memorandum on promotion of investment projects in industrial and agricultural sectors both in Moscow (Victoria Industrial Park) and in Azerbaijan, between AZPROMO and Victoria Estate Management LLC, a memorandum of cooperation between AZPROMO and Bank VTB (Azerbaijan).

Azerbaijan and Russia are tied by firmly based ties, which were officially established in 1992. The Azerbaijani-Russian cooperation is completely based on the principles of mutual respect and good neighborly relations. The cultural relations between the two countries are also highly evaluated.

Russia and Azerbaijan established an active and productive dialogue on many important issues in the foreign economic and political agenda.

The southern neighbor is one of the largest importers of Azerbaijani agro-products. The country exports fruits, vegetables and melons to Russia.



After the deterioration of relations with Turkey, Russias demand in Azerbaijani agro-products increased. Azerbaijan has entered the top 3 suppliers of agricultural products to Russia among the CIS countries, after Moscow imposed anti-Turkish sanctions.

--

Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli



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20 June 2016 16:55 (UTC+04:00)

Substantial rebalancing of oil market will support the prices through 2017, according to the analysts of the US JP Morgan bank.

Analysts revised higher their 2016 and 2017 oil prices forecasts in late May as rebalancing of the market has been substantial, with faster declines in supply in mature, hight cost production areas occurring alongside outages that are outpacing market expectations.

JP Morgans analysts raised 2016 price forecasts to $45.3 a barrel for Brent and $44.66 a barrel for WTI. They forecast 2017 prices at $55 a barrel for both WTI and Brent.

US production peaked in July 2015 and we see a tighter market for 2H16 and 2017 absent further deterioration in the world economy, or macroeconomic shocks that derail demand, analysts said in a report, obtained by Trend.

Analysts expect global oil demand growth at around 971,000 barrels per day in 2016 and 1.14 million barrels per day in 2017.

The big picture supply adjustment that was anticipated to take hold in 2H16 has arrived one quarter earlier than we expected. Outages in Nigeria, Canada and Libya have offset higher Iranian and Russian supply, analysts said.

"Furthermore, 2Q16 balances are materially tighter in part as Chinese strategic stockpiling reached 0.9 million barrels per day in April. Real oil prices are now back to average.

Oil prices started the week higher on Monday as global stock markets soared on growing expectations that the UK is likely to remain in the European Union after this weeks referendum, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Brent crude flirted with the key $50 a barrel mark, rising 1.6 percent on Londons ICE Futures exchange. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, WTI futures were trading up 1.6 percent at $48.75 a barrel.

According to the latest forecasts of the International Energy Agency (IEA), global oil demand growth will stand at 1.3 million barrels per day.

In 2017, IEA forecasts the same rate of growth with the global oil demand to reach 97.4 million barrels per day.

---

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20 June 2016 17:25 (UTC+04:00)

The projects of the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) for the delivery of Azerbaijani gas to European countries are of particular importance for Europe's energy security, Head of Energy Security Section in the Emerging Security Challenges Division of NATO Michael Ruhle said in an interview with Anadolu news agency.

Ruhle said that the issue of implementation of the projects will be discussed at the Warsaw NATO Summit July 7-8.

The TANAP and the TAP pipelines are of particular importance in order to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian gas, Ruhle said. In this issue, a big part of the responsibility lies on Turkey as well.

TANAP and TAP pipelines are an integral part of the Southern Gas Corridor project to deliver gas as part of the Stage 2 of development of Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz field to Europe. Other sources can connect to this project at a later stage.



TANAP project envisages transporting gas from Azerbaijani Shah Deniz field from the Georgian-Turkish border to the western border of Turkey. The gas will reach Turkey in 2018, and after the completion of the TAP construction, the gas will reach Europe around early 2020. The initial capacity of TAP will be 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year, which can be expanded to 20 billion cubic meters.

---

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20 June 2016 15:15 (UTC+04:00)

By Fatma Babayeva

Irans biggest non-oil sector car industry looks like slipping into recession recently. The situation got even worse with the disagreement between auto-parts makers and carmakers of the country.

The problem is that car producers prefer low quality imported auto parts from China. Nevertheless, domestic producers of auto parts would be in a better position if the exchange rates were market determined and safety standards were rigorously applied to domestically produced cars, said Kamran Dadkhah, associate professor of Economics at the Northeastern University via email to Azernews on June 19.

The outstanding debts of the Iranian carmakers to auto-parts makers are also believed to be among the main reasons for the disagreements between the two main sectors of the country's automotive industry.

Irans car industry had very limited opportunity to work with foreign companies and lacked investments due to sanctions imposed on Iran during past years. Some auto-parts makers imported auto-parts from China and India and sold those products to carmakers under their own brands, which was disclosed by the automakers later.

In order to revitalize Irans car industry, Dadkhah believes that the first step is to encourage and facilitate foreign investment in Iran auto industry.

It seems that Iran has already taken steps in this direction. The French auto manufacturer Citroen has bought 50% of Iran Saipa of Kashan. There are talks that Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz of Germany are also interested in joint ventures with Iran. Such investments will bring both the needed investment and the modern technology to Irans car industry", said the expert.

Dadkhah further noted that in addition, Iran has to have a free market for foreign currencies where the exchange rates are determined by supply and demand.

Through enforcing safety regulations, the government could improve the quality of domestic products. Needless to say, prerequisites for the success of such policies are true privatization and reliance on market forces, he added.

Dadkhah reminded that auto industry is the second largest industry (after oil) in Iran, which dates back to the 1960s. The first car was produced in Iran in 1967.

At the beginning, the industry was engaged in assembling auto parts imported from England, he said, adding that as time passed more and more parts were produced domestically.

After the revolution the auto industry was nationalized, and the government assumed a much greater role in the economy, Dadkhah said by emphasizing that in particular, the foreign exchange rates were kept artificially low.

This meant that imported products would cost less while Irans exports would cost more. To counter this, tariffs and customs duties were increased. As a result, there were no incentives for innovation or the use of modern technologies, said the expert.

Dadkhah said that innovation and improvement of quality in Irans auto industry came to a halt as low quality parts which imported from China further hampered the development and improvement of quality in auto parts industries.

In the past twenty years the only exception has been the joint investment of the French company Renault with an Iranian auto company that has led to the introduction of modern improved technology in the production of an Iranian automobile named Tondar, said the professor by highlighting that in general, domestic autos were bought by low and average income people because they could not afford foreign cars. While the rich who could afford them and get exemptions from paying import duties were buying high quality imported cars.

Dadkhah noted that the auto industry has survived because of extensive demand. Other industries havent been as lucky.

Recently Arj, a producer of appliances and other products went bankrupt and closed shop. It should be noted that Arj was the first producer of appliances in Iran, he added.

The expert also underlined that there is no ban on importing cars from the United States based on the statements made by the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Trade.

Needless to say, imports require permission and sometimes they are denied, he added by stressing that many rich Iranians are displaying their expensive American and European cars in the streets of Iran.

Overall, any selective interference in the market (unless it is based on safety issues) would damage the economy and the industry, emphasized the expert.

The automobile industry accounts for nearly 10 percent of Irans gross domestic product.

In April, Irans Industry, Mines and Trade Ministry has obliged foreign carmakers to allocate a 20-percent share for Iranian-made car parts if they want to operate in the country's market.

The ministry has also obliged the Iranian car makers to purchase 40 percent of the parts used in car production from the domestic market.

Today, only 15-20 percent of car parts cannot be produced in Iran which is due to the fact that launching their production lines is not economically beneficial. These parts mostly include electronic car parts.

The government sees fully privatization of the car industry as a tool to improve this field.

Officials believe privatization is a key strategy for the rehabilitation of the Iranian economy and will facilitate upgrading the Iranian car industry, as well as, its growth.

---

Fatma Babayeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Fatma_Babayeva

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20 June 2016 13:21 (UTC+04:00)

By Nigar Abbasova

Turkmenistan and Romania are engaged in developing cooperation in energy and transport spheres.

The issue of further cooperation between the two countries was high on the agenda during the 6th meeting of the intergovernmental commission on economic and scientific-technical cooperation in Bucharest, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry reported.

Particular importance in bilateral relations is attributed to the creation of a new Eurasian transit-transport corridor.

The corridor is intended to combine the potential of the Caspian and Black Sea regions and ensure new fuel-efficient routes for international cargo transportation.

Previously the sides have agreed to create a joint working group to examine the best ways of the Black Sea-Caspian Sea trade and transportation corridor using the advantages of Constanta and Turkmenbashi ports.

The supply route involves the use of special containers and stretches across the Caspian Sea to Baku (Azerbaijan), further - by railway to Batumi or Poti (Georgia, the Black Sea region), and then by sea - to Romania.

Turkmenistans State Service of Maritime and River Transport is exploring the possibility of cargo transportation, including liquefied natural gas, to Constanta. The Port of Constanta which is located on the Western Coast of the Black Sea has a handling capacity of 100 million tons per year.

The energy sector along with the transport and communications sector is considered to be priority areas of cooperation in view of large-scale projects of regional and continental importance initiated by Turkmenistan. The country has abundant reserves in the energy resources and plans to diversify the routes of deliverance.

Being the forth in the world in terms of the volume of natural gas reserve the country is considering the European market as one of the most promising areas of gas supply.

--

Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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20 June 2016 13:45 (UTC+04:00)

By Fatma Babayeva

Iran is moving forward with its plans to boost the countrys petrochemical industry and increase exports of finished petroleum goods.

The Islamic Country is in talks with Japanese and South Korean investors to attract funds worth 520 million to its petrochemical projects in the form of letter of credit.

Managing Director of Irans Petrochemical Commercial Company International (PCCI), a subsidiary of Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (PGPIC), Isa Mashayekhi told Shana news agency that the company has initiated negotiations with Japanese and Korean investors for that purpose.

Mashayekhi noted that South Korean credit line for Iran is estimated to equal to 13 billion, whilst Japanese line to 10 billion. The credit is expected to be available in August 2017.

Iran's Ministry of Economy and Finance should provide state guarantees with the supervision of the Central Bank of Iran for PGPIC to access credit lines from other countries alike Japan and South Korea, according to the Managing Director.

Iran has recently signed a contract with Swiss Welding Engineers Ltd in the petchem sector for the construction of a plant for the production of the synthetic polymer ESBR which is a strategic product used in the petrochemical industry and rubber manufacturing.

Earlier in May, South Korean contractor Daewoo Engineering and Construction (Daewoo E&C) concluded a MoU with Iranian engineering firm Bahman Geno to carry out construction of an oil refinery in Bandar Jask located in the southern coast of Iran, which will have the capacity of 300,000 barrels per day.

Additionally, the Islamic Republic inked a deal with South Korea SK E&C to develop and optimize Iranian oil refineries. The cost of the contract amounts to $20 million.

Iran controls the second largest oil refining capacity in the Middle East region after Saudi Arabia. Its current crude oil refining capacity, including gas condensate, equals almost to 1.8 - 1.85 million barrels per day.

The Islamic Republic plans increasing its oil refining capacity to 3.2 million barrels a day by 2020.

Iran will upgrade its refineries in Tabriz, Tehran, Isfahan, and Abadan and build three new one - Bahmangenoo, Anahita and Pars refineries.

In the meantime, Iran plans to decrease gasoline imports to zero in 2016 with the implementation of the first phase of the Persian Gulf Star Refinery.

Previously, Iran expressed an interest in buying shares of existing refineries or building new ones abroad, and held talks with Spain, Indonesia, and Brazil.

The removal of anti-Iran sanctions following a nuke deal signed with the world powers has helped Tehran to pursue a rapid boom in its oil industry.

---

Fatma Babayeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Fatma_Babayeva

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20 June 2016 18:23 (UTC+04:00)

By Fatma Babayeva

Iran keeps regaining its oil market share by pumping additional barrels to the already oversupplied market.

However, the country needs to recover the aging fields and to develop new ones in order to realize its oil ambitions. Now, attracting foreign investment is a key task that Irans oil industry faces to boost production levels.

While it is true that Iran needs to improve the terms of its new oil contract models to attract investors, the most significant factor currently affecting the timetable of foreign investments is the U.S. presidential election, Michael Tanchum, a specialist in energy geopolitics told Trend.

Foreign investors are waiting to see what level of continuity will exist between the policies of the next U.S. president and the policies of the current U.S. President Barack Obama, said the expert by emphasizing that one of the two major presidential candidates declared that he would seek to renegotiate the Iran deal, however, there is too much uncertainty for foreign investors to finalize their decisions.

Tanchum further added that Irans accomplishment of JCPOA will encourage foreign investment if contract terms are sufficiently attractive and U.S.-Iranian relations continue on their overall constructive course.

Iran looks not very hopeful about petro-dollar transactions anymore. On June 17, Iran's Petroleum Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh announced that the country sells its crude oil to international markets only through euro.

The U.S. sanctions banning dollar transactions with Iran impedes foreign investors as well.

The root reason for Irans decision is said to be the countrys blocked assets worth $2 billion by the U.S. Treasury. Having diversified foreign assets makes the Islamic state feel safer.

Moreover, Iran is expanding ties and hydrocarbon exports to the European countries, most of which has euro-based currency.

The main economic threat that Irans mentioned decision poses is the conversion risk. If Great Britain leaves the EU at the result of the referendum that was scheduled for June 23, the economies of remaining countries are expected to suffer, and the exchange range of euro to weaken.

Iran ranks fourth in the world in terms of proven oil reserves. The country holds 9.3 percent of the worlds total proven reserves, and produced 4.2 percent of the worlds total oil output in 2015, according to BPs statistical review of energy market 2016.

Irans crude production currently amounts to 3.8 million a barrel, according to Iranian officials. Nevertheless, OPECs latest monthly report stated Irans oil output to equal to 3.562 million barrels a day.

During the sanctions period, the countrys oil production and output fell drastically and averaged to 2.8 million barrels a day in 2015.

Irans Petroleum Minister recently stated that the countrys recapture of share it lost in the global oil market under the western sanctions did not reduce prices. However, Irans increasing oil exports were mostly offset by the disruptions in some major oil producing countries.

If Iran will be able to further increase its oil output in the coming years is a question depending mostly on investments as the countrys spare production capacity is limited for now.

---

Fatma Babayeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Fatma_Babayeva

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
20 June 2016 17:22 (UTC+04:00)

Kazakhstans President Nursultan Nazarbayev plans to visit several countries by late 2016, the countrys Foreign Minister Erlan Idrissov said during a meeting with the population June 20.

Nazarbayev will pay an official visit to Kyrgyzstan which will host a meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council, he said.

Moreover, Kazakhstans president plans to visit Japan and South Korea where he will focus on the economic aspects of cooperation, as well as political topics.

Nazarbayev is also expected to visit Saudi Arabia and Jordan in 2016, said Idrissov.

---

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Miss Macaroon, the Essex patisserie concept from chef Rosie Gindlay, is set to open 100 shops and concessions in the next five years.

Michelin-trained pastry chef Gindlay has announced that Hockley-based Miss Macaroon will open 100 UK shops and concessions by 2021.

In February of this year, Gindlay produced her one millionth macaron, and told British Baker: Were in the process of finalising some new funding, which were hoping to reveal shortly. This will be the catalyst to kick-starting our expansion.

Miss Macaroon makes, hand-pipes, bakes and hand-fills 5,000 macarons every day from its dedicated kitchen. All of its products are gluten-free and by the end of the year there will be up to 40 flavours  passionfruit, mango and tonka bean will be introduced in time for next spring.

Miss Macaroon is targeting space in UK towns and cities including London, Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester and Bristol. It is looking for shops of 150 to 500 sq ft and is targeting shopping and leisure schemes, transport hubs and high-footfall locations.

Gindlay agreed a deal last year with John Lewis to sell her products at its new Birmingham flagship at Grand Central. The concept has received financial backing from Black Country Reinvestment Society and Big Venture Challenge.
A Lakeland orthopedic surgeon is making a special effort to get the word out about scoliosis in children this month.

June is Scoliosis Awareness Month

Surgeon: Too many parents unaware of warning signs

Dr. Chukwuka Okafor with the Spine Institute of Central Florida says too many parents are unaware of the warning signs of the disorder.

"The shoulders are not even, the pelvis or the hips are not even, you may notice some difference in the gap between the arms and the torso," Okafor said.

Okafor said he performed the first ever pediatric scoliosis correction in Polk County in 2010, when he worked on Stephanie Ackloo. Ackloo was 15 years old at the time and describes her life now as "beautiful."

I dont have any pain," Ackloo said. "I dont have nothing at all anymore.

Ackloo was diagnosed with scoliosis when she was 5 years old. She wore a brace for much of her childhood and was unable to dance and have fun like other children.

She said another doctor told her she was destined to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.

It was very painful. I would not be able to walk a far distance, Ackloo said.

Then she met Okafor, who recommended surgery because her curvature was at 55 degrees. Okafor said there are several treatment options depending on how much growth the child has remaining and the angle of curvature of their spine.

However, when someones curvature is greater than 40 degrees, he recommends scoliosis correction surgery.

Okafor said scoliosis often runs in the family, so it wasnt a surprise when Stephanie's little sister, Emma Ackloo, had the disorder, too. She had scoliosis correction surgery in July of 2015 and said she feels a lot better.

It was definitely worth it because if I did not get the surgery, Id probably be suffering right now," Emma said. "I couldve got worse every single day to the point where I couldnt hold it anymore."

Both sisters admit that recovering from the surgery was long and painful. But they look forward to the rest of their lives, knowing they can do anything and their spine will not hold them back.

Okafor urges parents to take their kids to the doctors office if they believe their children might be showing warning signs. Left untreated, he said scoliosis can get progressively worse, and down the road lead to daily disabling pain and heart and lung problems.


Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney honored Orlando and the victims of the Pulse attack Tuesday during his concert in Berlin, Germany.

At one point McCartney unfurled a rainbow flag on stage and shouted "We stand together with Orlando" in German. He then launched into a performance of the Beatles song "Yesterday."

McCartney is no stranger to Orlando. He last performed here in 2013.

McCartney's stepson also attended Rollins College in Winter Park, and over the last few years McCartney was spotted along Park Avenue several times, including at Luma on Park restaurant. He even took the mic at a graduation party for an impromptu performance last year.

McCartney is currently on his One on One World Tour.
After some pushback from lawmakers, including Florida Governor Rick Scott, for only releasing a redacted transcript, Monday the Department of Justice released a full version of the exchanges between the gunman who killed dozens at Pulse nightclub and 911 dispatchers.

FBI provides partial timeline of events the night of the Pulse shootings

FBI: Mateen talked to 911 dispatcher in 'chilling, calm and deliberate manner'

Mateen said he wanted US to stop bombing Syria, Iraq



More than 500 interviews have been conducted, and thousands of tips have poured into the FBI's tip line, FBI Assistant Special Agent Ron Hopper said during a news conference Monday. More than 600 pieces of evidence have been gathered and processed from the crime scene, he said.

Omar Mateen, whom law enforcement authorities have identified as the man who opened fire inside the nightclub June 12, told the 911 dispatcher that "I let you know, I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings," according to the FBI's released excerpts.

The gunman described his actions to 911 dispatcher in a "chilling, calm and deliberate manner," the FBI said.

At about 2:35 a.m., Mateen called 911 from the club:

Dispatcher: "Emergency 911, this is being recorded."

OM: "In the name of God the Merciful, the beneficial [in Arabic]"

Dispatcher: "What?"

OM: "Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God [in Arabic]. I let you know, I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings."

Dispatcher: "What's your name?"

OM: "My name is I pledge of allegiance to [omitted]."

Dispatcher: "OK, What's your name?"

OM: "I pledge allegiance to [omitted] may God protect him [in Arabic], on behalf of [omitted]."

OM:"All right, where are you at?"

OM: "In Orlando."

OM: "Where in Orlando?"

"Rush to Judgement"

At a news conference Monday, investigators and police were on the defense, setting the record straight about the events which transpired Sunday. The DOJ released an approximate timetable, from the time of the first calls for shots fired at 2:02 a.m., to after 5 a.m., when OPD SWAT rushed the nightclub to free hostages, they said so the public could understand the timeline of events and "what law enforcement officers on the ground were dealing with" the night of the shooting at Pulse nightclub.

Some have mistakenly rushed to judgment regarding the actions of these brave men and women, said Ron Hopper, Assistant Special Agent in the FBI.

The Orlando Police Department, Orange County Sheriff's Office, the FBI and others should not be second guessed, added U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley.

During the three-hour timespan, crisis negotiators spoke with the gunman three times, totaling nearly 30 minutes. In the conversations, Mateen told them to tell America to stop bombing Syria and Iraq. He also claimed he had a vehicle outside with bombs and vests, like those used in France, and alluded to future attacks. None of those claims were substantiated, according to the FBI.

"We currently have no evidence that he was directed by a foreign terrorist group but was radicalized domestically," Hopper said.

In the partial transcript, the version initially released to the public, the FBI said it intentionally omitted the name of the shooter and the group to whom he pledged allegiance, which was ISIS according to original information released by authorities and surviving victims within the nightclub who heard Mateen make his pledge.

"Part of the redacting is meant to not give credence to individuals who have done terrorist acts in the past," Hopper said.

Police asserted they were going in and out of the club, saving victims, readying the SWAT team and getting their explosives in check to bust through the wall.

At about 4:21 a.m., Orlando Police officers pulled out an air conditioning unit from a window of a Pulse dressing room to let clubgoers get out, according to investigators. Orlando Police Chief John Mina said Monday that about eight people were saved through that window. As the clubgoers were being rescued, they told officers that the shooter inside said he was going to put explosive vests on people in 15 minutes.

Just after 5 a.m., OPD SWAT and Orange County Sheriff's Office hazardous device teams set off an explosive charged to breach a wall and used an armored vehicle to try to get inside the club.

"Upon that entry of our officers, there was no other gunfire until the hostage rescue situation took place," Mina said. "During that three hours, I want to make sure everyone is clear: There was no gunfire."

"I am extremely proud of the officers, and I am very confident they saved many, many lives," he said.

Questions concerning reports of shots fired inside the bathroom, where the gunman was barricaded alongside victims, were dismissed as part of the ongoing investigation.

Long-term investigation

This investigation is one week and one day old, and it may last months, or even years. I want you to know we will endeavor to bring justice to the victims who survived, as well as the family of the deceased, Hopper said.

Also Monday, the Orange County Medical Examiner's Office said it had released Mateen's body from the office. At the request of the FBI, no further information will be available regarding the shooter's autopsy report, who the body was released to and when the body was released, the office said.

The FBI said it won't release any audio of the 911 calls or calls between Mateen and the OPD negotiators. Releasing redacted and partial transcripts complies with state law, U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley said. "We are not in any way trying to hide anything," he said.

Said Hopper: "Yes, the audio is compelling, but to expose that now would be painful to exploit them in this way."

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch is scheduled to visit Orlando on Tuesday to meet with investigators. She will also be meeting with first responders, local law enforcement and victims of the attack.

Interactive timeline of Pulse shooting

Open PDF in a new window
The murder victim in a shooting over the weekend has been identified as 35-year-old Benito Ruiz Gonzales, the Beaumont Police Department said in a news release Monday.

Gonzales drove a black Chevrolet Tahoe on Saturday night when he was shot in the torso, causing the SUV to veer off the road and strike a telephone pole in the 1900 block of Gilbert Street.
A 46-year-old Silsbee native is being held on a $75,000 bond following his June 4 arrest in Midland County for solicitation of a minor, according to arrest records.

Chad Alan Potts is accused of soliciting sex from a child under the age of 14, a Midland County records clerk confirmed via a phone call on Monday morning.
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In the year since elderly companions were found stabbed to death in a sleepy Vidor neighborhood, the city's police chief has consistently said the investigation is held up by pending DNA test results.

Authorities last month charged a suspect with stealing a truck related to the double homicide, but still no one has been charged in their deaths.

It's not an isolated case.

Local cops, prosecutors and judges are pushing for a regional facility that can pull DNA profiles from evidence as an end-around solution to the state Department of Public Safety's network of crime labs, which offer the service free but have a 9,600-sample backlog with wait times as long as two years.

The state's labs review material sent from all but a few of the state's largest counties, like Harris County, which have their own DNA labs.

The same thing that caused the logjam is what makes it so burdensome: DNA testing has become a staple of felony cases, with no fewer than 50 on Criminal District Judge John Stevens' docket awaiting results at any one time, he said.

"It's not that DPS is playing dominoes. It's because there are so many cases," said Orange County District Attorney John Kimbrough, a proponent of a regional DNA lab modeled on - or implemented within - the current Jefferson County Regional Crime Lab.

The quickest turnaround by the state DNA lab is usually six months, but many samples aren't returned for up to two years, said Emily Esquivel, director of the regional crime lab, which with a $1.3 million operating budget handles narcotics, alcohol and firearms testing.

Defense attorneys, who have the right to contract with private labs to challenge the state results, are also supportive of quickening the process.

"If you have a client that's innocent, (wait times are) very significant," said Beaumont defense attorney Doug Barlow, who tried the first case involving DNA in Jefferson County. "People who spent many, many years in prison, on death row even, have been exonerated."

Cost estimates for a regional DNA lab range from $2.5 to $5 million to cover new space and necessary equipment. The lab would also need between four to six new employees - it currently has 11 - and would have to gain the necessary accreditation.

That multi-million-dollar capital investment cost doesn't make sense to Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick.

Branick said the county's financial crunch - lagging sales tax collections combined with a dive in crude oil trading prices that has devalued industrial properties - means no new, non-emergency capital projects are likely to be included in the 2017 budget.

"(The DNA lab) is not going to happen this year," Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick said. "It's not going to be discussed."

The county green-lit an engineer to look into the project in 2010, but the plans faltered amid budget concerns.

Advocates are looking into other sources to pay for the project, which they said should be shared by outside agencies who use it to speed up their testing and would result in at least some savings by removing inmates from the county jail more quickly.

Stevens said state lawmakers, prosecutors, judges and Lamar University officials will discuss the issue at a meeting this month at the regional crime lab. If Lamar partners with the project, it could also include teaching space for students, Stevens said.

"The great thing is we have a consistent support behind it by all the necessary people," Stevens said. "If the state can help fund it through Lamar, wouldn't that be great? That would ease the burden of the county taxpayers, which was the stumbling block."

EBesson@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/EricBesson_news
There is an industry-led effort to develop quality measures, publicly report quality data and advance quality in ambulatory surgery centers. And while quality reporting in the ASC industry is still voluntary  CMS pays for reporting, not performance  there is no doubt quality reporting is on its way to becoming mandatory for ASCs.

"This is not an option," Ann Geier, RN, CNO of Birmingham, Ala.-based SourceMed, said in a presentation at the Becker's 14th Annual Spine Orthopedic and Pain Management meeting in Chicago. "When I say it's not an option, I mean it's going to impact your bottom line if you don't do it."

Ms. Geier offered the following five strategies for managing ASC quality reporting measures.

1. Ensure you have the most up-to-date version of the implementation guide. The ASC Quality Collaboration, an organization that launched in 2006 to help lead the industry in reporting and advancing quality in ASCs, published an implementation guide to help ASCs implement and collect quality data. The measures are vetted by the collaboration's internal panel and by an external panel. The measures have also been pilot tested for validity, feasibility and reliability. The "ASC Quality Measures: Implementation Guide" is available at ascquality.org. "The implementation guide is critical," Ms. Geier said. "You have to have that handy."

2. Download the current version of the specifications manual from the QualityNet site. This manual provides measure information and specifications for the Medicare ASC Quality Reporting Program. The most up-to-date manual, version 5.1, is for data collection from July 1 through December 31 and is available on qualitynet.org. It helps ASCs measure all patient volume of procedures on specific CPT codes. ASCs that measured in 2015 are now reporting in 2016, according to Ms. Geier. "CMS is just tracking volume to see where we are doing what," she said.

3. Submit your data on time. For calendar years 2016-2017 payment determination, data submission deadlines are available here. ASCs must be careful to submit data on time because once an ASC submits quality measure data it is considered to be "participating" in the program. Though the quality reporting program is voluntary, continued participation is assumed unless an ASC formally withdraws from the program. "If you decide to stop submitting data, your reimbursements will go south if you don't withdraw," Ms. Geier said. "Don't sign up if you are not ready to keep doing it."

4. Download CMS public data to see how your center compares to others.

ASCs have been reporting quality data for 10 years and CMS made this data public May 4. "We are finally reaching a point when the quality of care we provide in ASCs is public," Ms. Geier said. The comprehensive data is available on medicare.gov/hospitalcompare, and each facility can be compared to state and national results. Patients, payers and other ASCs are looking at this data, so you should be too, Ms. Geier advised.

5. Develop quality improvement studies to improve performance, thus improving patient safety and quality of care. There is a difference between quality assessment and improvement, Ms. Geier noted. "Quality improvement is all about what we can do better," she said. "We assess a lot of things in our center, but the next step is to ask, 'Do we actually take steps to improve?'"

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ASD Management celebrated its 20th anniversary on June 1, 2016. Robert Zasa co-founded ASD Management with Joseph Zasa.

Mr. Robert Zasa commented the company's client-centered emphasis led it to success. He added the company has never taken on too many projects, which allows a partner to be involved in every project.

"Whether we have an ownership stake in the surgery center or a management contract, we have a vested interest in the outcomes," said the aforementioned Mr. Zasa. "Our reputation is always on the line."

Back in the 1970s, Mr. Robert Zasa worked with Wallace Reed, MD, when Dr. Reed coined the term, "surgicenter." At the onset, Mr. Zasa said anesthesiologists owned surgery center practices. Then, hospitals started joint venturing with surgeons, and today health systems are purchasing surgery centers.

"Many centers founded in the 1990s are going through ownership restructuring and reorganization," said Mr. Robert Zasa. "Founding physicians are retiring from practice and looking to sell their shares to younger doctors and hospital partners."

ASD Management includes locations in Dana Point, Calif., Dallas and Dade City, Fla.
Here are seven updates:

AmSurg, Envision Healthcare finalize $10B merge

AmSurg and Envision Healthcare Holdings signed a definitive merger agreement, with the combined company having a pro forma market cap of nearly $10 billion. The combined entity, Envision Healthcare Corp., will have an enterprise value of approximately $15 billion, based on Envision and AmSurg's closing price on June 14. The new company will have headquarters in Nashville, Tenn., and Greenwood Village, Colo.

SCA establishes its 1st physician advisory board

Deerfield, Ill.-based Surgical Care Affiliates established its inaugural Physician Advisory Board, composed of six board members. The board members will offer guidance and industry expertise to enhance patient care and serve SCA's physicians. Andrew Hayek, SCA's chairman and CEO; Goran Dragolovic, SCA's senior vice president; and James Grant, MD, SCA's regional vice president, will be the board's company representatives.

SCA, Naperville Surgical Centre partner

Surgical Care Affiliates partnered with Naperville (Ill.) Surgical Centre, a joint venture between Advocate Health Care and DuPage Medical Group. In 2015, Advocate and SCA entered a joint venture agreement to acquire and develop a surgery center network, paving the way for SCA's partnership with Naperville Surgical Centre.

Healthcare CEO gets 10 years for fraud that led to 2 patient deaths

The CEO and co-owner of a Maryland diagnostics company has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for charges related to healthcare fraud resulting in the deaths of patients. According to evidence presented at trial, Dr. Chikvashvili was involved in a scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid. He and others allegedly conspired to create false radiology, ultrasound and cardiologic interpretation reports. He also allegedly submitted insurance claims for medical examination interpretations that were never completed by licensed physicians, according to the DOJ.

3 US infants born with Zika-related defects

The CDC reported three infants born in the United States had Zika-related birth defects. The CDC also reported three other cases in which women had miscarriages or terminated pregnancies with infants who had birth defects, which Zika caused.

NJAASC seeks consistency in ASC oversight

In New Jersey, different government agencies regulate single-room facilities and ambulatory surgery centers, creating confusion in terms of which standards apply to which facility type. Andrew Weiss, president of the New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers, is hoping a proposal aimed at consolidating parts of the licensing process will take effect, arguing the association "wants the same standards for the sake of the patients."

St. Luke's Hospital ASC to create 300 jobs for local community

Northampton County Council approved a financing agreement with Easton, Pa.-based St. Luke's Hospital to build an ambulatory surgery center at its Anderson Campus in Bethlehem Township. St. Luke's expects the ASC to bring in an additional 300 jobs to the area. The hospital said each job, on average, earns $60,000 annually.

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The following data breaches were reported within the past six weeks on Becker's Hospital Review. Breaches are listed here in reverse chronological order from when they were reported.

1. Mental health officials from KernCounty in California notified patients of a potential data breach after a report containing protected health information was left behind during the agency's move to new offices. Read more

2. More than 2,800 patients at University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque received notification of a data breach after a technical issue with hospital billing systems caused medical information to be mailed to incorrect addresses. Read more

3. Seven employees at Toledo, Ohio-based ProMedica accessed 3,472 patients' medical records at two hospitals in Michigan. Three employees were fired for accessing the records, which were unrelated to their job responsibilities. Read more

4. Stamford (Conn.) Podiatry Group notified more than 40,000 patients of an incidence of unauthorized access in its computer systems, which may have compromised personal information. Read more

5. The protected health information of more than 1,000 patients who visited Carondelet St. Mary's and Carondelet St. Joseph's emergency rooms, both in Tucson, Ariz., was compromised after a logbook was stolen from a physician's car. Read more

6. Southeast Eye Institute, which does business as Eye Associates of Pinellas, notified 87,000 patients their protected health information may be compromised after a third-party vendor suffered a data breach. Read more

7. A chiropractic clinic in Ann Arbor, Mich., reported a data breach after learning a server containing patient treatment and billing information was infected with malware. Approximately 4,000 patients' information was compromised. Read more

8. After hackers locked files at KansasHeartHospital in a ransomware attack, the Wichita-based hospital paid the ransom. But hackers didn't fully unlock the computer files, and they demanded more money to do so. Read more

9. Hackers accessed a computer at a treatment center in New Mexico, potentially compromising the sensitive information of up to 12,000 people. Read more

10. California Correctional Health Care Services, a provider of healthcare to adult inmates in the state, reported a data breach after a laptop was stolen from an employee's car. Read more

11. A setting mistakenly turned on by Greenway Health, the vendor that provides Zephyrhills, Fla.-based Florida Medical Clinic's patient portal, compromised the private data of at least 1,000 patients. Read more

12. Waterloo, Iowa-based UnityPoint Health  AllenHospital notified approximately 1,620 patients of a data breach after discovering a former employee had accessed patient information. Read more

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Sue Schade, interim CIO of Cleveland-based University Hospitals, made a plea for unity and peace in a recent post on her blog. Ms. Schade, who currently is a leader and founding advisor at Next Wave Health Advisors in Cleveland and formerly was CIO of Ann Arbor-based University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers, remarked upon recent events, including the Orlando shooting, and her family history in a piece about coming together.

Ms. Schade is expecting her fourth grandchild next week, she wrote, and she used the premise of future generations to reflect on her past. She shared how her maternal grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from Slovenia in the early 1900s, and how several of her mother's cousins were executed in their village in Slovenia in 1942.

"If your family immigrated from Europe, you too may have a horrific story. If your family immigrated from another part of the world, there maybe equally horrific stories or worse," she wrote.

"This week we are grieving for the families and victims in Orlando," Ms. Schade continued. "We are standing with the LGBT community and with our Muslim neighbors and colleagues. We must stop the hate and the violence. That is not who we hope to be."

This violence, Ms. Schade wrote, is not what healthcare professionals stand for, nor is it something Americans should stand for.

"This violence and hate is not who we intend to be as Americans," Ms. Schade wrote. "For my entire professional career, I have worked in healthcare; we take care of people and we save lives. That is who we are  a welcoming and caring people."

Click here to read her full post.

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Retired physician, Ray Scallen, MD, is joining nurses on the picket lines at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, according to Minneapolis Labor Review.

Nurses at Abbott Northwestern are on strike as part of a larger, system-wide strike at Minneapolis Allina Health, the hospital's parent organization. More than 4,000 Allina nurses went on strike Sunday, starting a seven-day walkout.

"Nursing is tops in this hospital," Dr. Scallen said, according to the report. "The best in the city." He added: "I want to keep it that way  I've known most of these nurses for many years. They're wonderful, wonderful people. I don't want them to lose their union  that's what this is all about."

Dr. Scallen is 90 years old and worked at Abbott Northwestern for 60 years, according to the report. This is the third strike he has participated in.

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More than 4,000 nurses at Minneapolis-based Allina Health went on strike Sunday, signaling the beginning of a planned seven-day walkout, according to a Star Tribune report.

The nurses, represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association, went on strike at five Minnesota facilities  Abbott Northwestern in Minneapolis, Unity Hospital in Fridley, United Hospital in St. Paul, Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids and Phillips Eye Institute in Minneapolis. As the strike began, some of the nurses were in tears as they left their shifts, and patients were left in the hands of replacements recruited from across the country to cover the walkout, according to the report.

Allina Health brought in 1,400 replacement nurses to get through the week. However, the MNA reported problems at Abbott Northwestern, such as replacements showing up to work in intensive care with their licenses to practice in the state still pending, the Star Tribune reports.

Allina Health officials told the publication physicians, nursing supervisors, respiratory therapists and nursing assistants helped the new nurses acclimate. They also noted that Abbott Northwestern had overstaffed for the day and compensated for the nurses whose licenses weren't finalized or whose skills were mismatched to their initial assignments.

The MNA announced June 6 that nurses rejected a contract offer from Allina and authorized a strike. The contract offer would have phased out nurses' union-backed health benefits.

Allina Health wants the nurses to give up their union-protected health benefits, which include higher premiums but low or no deductibles, and transition to company plans that provide more financial incentives for using lower-cost care, according to the report. The health system anticipates it would save $10 million by eliminating the union-backed health plans.

But MNA nurses don't want to give up their current health benefits without Allina Health making concessions in other areas.

To prepare for the strike, Allina condensed units at Unity so the hospital could function with fewer nurses but planned for full operations elsewhere, according to the report. The report states that between the start of the strike at 7 a.m. and noon, the hospitals had 1,109 patients on their inpatient floors, 67 new emergency room patients and 12 newly delivered babies.

Allina Health President and CEO Penny Wheeler, MD, told the Star Tribune that as of Sunday, 144 union nurses had decided to continue to work during the walkout.

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A federal jury has convicted the former CEO of two nonprofit health clinics in Alabama of diverting $14 million in federal funding to private companies he formed to contract with the clinics.

Fifty-two-year-old Jonathan Dunning is the former CEO of Birmingham (Ala.) Health Care and Central Alabama Comprehensive Health in Tuskegee. After leaving his post as CEO in 2008, Mr. Dunning continued to exercise control over the two nonprofit health clinics and diverted $14 million in government funds meant for the clinics to his own for-profit companies.

On Friday, after about three days of deliberation, a jury found Mr. Dunning guilty of 62 counts of wire fraud, 33 counts of money laundering and two counts of bank fraud, according to the Department of Justice. They also found him guilty of one conspiracy count, finding that he conspired with another person to commit wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering.

Regarding the guilty verdict in the case, Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson said, "The jury's verdict speaks volumes. Stealing federal money meant to treat the poor and homeless will not be tolerated. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the vulnerable beneficiaries of these taxpayer-funded programs from greed-fueled schemes."

Mr. Dunning's sentencing is expected to be scheduled in about 90 days. The maximum prison penalty for conspiracy is five years, for wire fraud and money laundering the maximum is 20 years, and for bank fraud, 30 years, according to the DOJ.

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Don Verrilli Jr., solicitor general of the U.S., says he believes the legal battle over the Affordable Care Act is over, according to an interview with MSNBC.

Mr. Verrilli announced plans to step down this month, marking the end of a tenure during which the ACA was one of the most controversial legal and political issues. Mr. Verrilli argued two cases about the ACA in the Supreme Court.

Becuase the court majority backing the law grew from five to six justices, Mr. Verrilli told MSNBC, "I think the debate is effectively over." Since the law has been held up by the Supreme Court twice, Mr. Verrilli believes the ACA is sure-footed is secure in terms of legal challenges.

Mr. Verrilli's comments provide some insight on his perspective of another ACA case currently in the courts that a federal judge ruled on in May, but will be appealed. The judge ruled in favor of Republican lawmakers who alleged the Obama administration cannot make "cost sharing reduction payments" without a Congressional appropriation, according to The Hill.

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Becker's Hospital Review is pleased to release the 2016 edition of its 100 Great Community Hospitals list.

For the purposes of this list, Becker's defines a "community hospital" as one with fewer than 550 beds that have minimal teaching programs. Critical access hospitals were excluded from this year's list  our list of 50 Great Critical Access Hospitals will be released in July.

Some of the hospitals on this list are not far from major metro areas, while others serve more rural communities. Regardless of their location, or their independence or affiliation with a major system, these hospitals are a vital part of their respective communities.

The Becker's editorial team selected hospitals for inclusion based on rankings and awards from such organizations as iVantage Health Analytics, Truven Health Analytics, Healthgrades, CareChex, the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the Leapfrog Group. Included organizations have earned recognition from one or more of these organizations.

Note: This list is not exhaustive, nor is it meant to be a ranking  organizations are listed in alphabetical order.

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athenahealth alleviates administrative burden by taking on paperwork, tracking claims, managing pre-registration and more. With athenahealth as a partner, practices, hospitals and health systems are always connected to the latest knowledge and well-prepared to thrive into the future.

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Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital (Downers Grove, Ill.). Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital is part of Downers Grove-based Advocate Health Care, the largest health system in Illinois. [READ MORE]

Alhambra (Calif.) Hospital Medical Center. The 144-bed Alhambra Hospital Medical Center is the first solely Chinese-owned hospital in Southern California and has more than 600 employees and affiliations with 300 physicians. [READ MORE]

Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center (Medford, Ore.). Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, a 378-bed regional referral and trauma center, is the flagship facility of Medford, Ore.-based Asante. [READ MORE]

Aspirus Riverview Hospital (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.). Aspirus Riverview Hospital's roots date back to 1912, when the hospital was organized by community leaders. [READ MORE]

Augusta Health (Fishersville, Va.). This 255-bed hospital opened in 1994 and today has 2,300 staff members and hosts more than 12,000 annual admissions. [READ MORE]

Aurora BayCare Medical Center (Green Bay, Wis.). Aurora BayCare Medical Center is a joint venture of Milwaukee-based Aurora Health Care and BayCare Clinic. [READ MORE]

Bear River Valley Hospital (Tremonton, Utah). In 2016, Bear River Valley Hospital was named an iVantage Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital. [READ MORE]

Blanchard Valley Hospital (Findlay, Ohio). Blanchard Valley Hospital, a 150-bed acute care facility, has served patients for more than 125 years. [READ MORE]

Bozeman (Mont.) Deaconess Hospital. This 86-bed, nonprofit facility is a licensed Level III trauma center serving southwest Montana. [READ MORE]

Brookings (S.D.) Health System. This nonprofit, city-owned health system serves patients in Brookings, the fourth largest city in the state, and surrounding communities. [READ MORE]

Cape Cod Hospital (Hyannis, Mass.). Cape Cod Hospital includes the 20-bed inpatient and outpatient Cape Psych Center, 14 medical office buildings, 14-operating room surgical pavilion, breast care center, infectious disease clinical services and a hospital-supported community health center. [READ MORE]

Cedar City (Utah) Hospital. Cedar City Hospital, formerly Valley View Medical Center, is part of Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare. [READ MORE]

Centinela Hospital Medical Center (Inglewood, Calif.). Centinela Hospital Medical Center, the only hospital in Inglewood annually serves more than 140,000 patients and their families from Los Angeles and the South Bay regions. [READ MORE]

Central Vermont Medical Center (Berlin). This 122-bed hospital serves as the primary healthcare provider for 66,000 people who live and work in central Vermont. [READ MORE]

Charlotte Hungerford Hospital (Torrington, Conn.). Founded in 1916, the 109-plus-bed Charlotte Hungerford Hospitalserves 30 towns in northwest Connecticut. [READ MORE]

Childress (Texas) Regional Medical Center. Located in the southeast corner of the Texas panhandle, this 39-bed hospital is operated by a county hospital district formed in 1965 and governed by directors elected by Childress County voters. [READ MORE]

Chino (Calif.) Valley Medical Center. Chino Valley Medical Center, established in 1972, is part of Ontario, Calif.-based hospital chain Prime Healthcare. [READ MORE]

Christus Mother Frances Hospital - Tyler (Texas). Mother Frances Hospital has served east Texas for more than seven decades. [READ MORE]

Clermont Hospital (Batavia, Ohio). Established in 1973, Clermont Hospital features one of the Cincinnati region's newest and largest intensive care units. [READ MORE]

Delray Medical Center (Delray Beach, Fla.). This 493-bed acute care hospital has served the communities of South Palm Beach County for more than three decades. [READ MORE]

Dickinson Memorial Hospital (Iron Mountain, Mich.). Dickinson Memorial Hospital is a general medical and surgical hospital and part of Dickinson County Healthcare System. [READ MORE]

Edward Hospital (Naperville, Ill.). Edward Hospital is part of Edward-Elmhurst Health, one of the larger integrated health systems in Illinois. [READ MORE]

El Camino Hospital (Mountain View, Calif.). This 300-bed, Magnet-recognized hospital serves the Silicon Valley. [READ MORE]

EvergreenHealth Kirkland (Wash.). TheEvergreenHealth Kirkland campus includes a 318-bed medical center and four medical specialty buildings. [READ MORE]

Fairfield (Ohio) Hospital. Fairfield Hospital, part of Cincinnati-based Mercy Health, has served residents of Butler County and northern Cincinnati for more than three decades. [READ MORE]

Fairview Northland Medical Center (Princeton, Minn.). Fairview Northland Medical Center, part of Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services, is home to an emergency department that treats more than 17,000 people annually. [READ MORE]

FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital (Pinehurst, N.C.). This 387-bed hospital, the flagship facility for FirstHealth of the Carolinas, serves as the referral center for a 15-county region in North Carolina and South Carolina. [READ MORE]

Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center (Daytona Beach, Fla.). Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center comprises two campuses: a 277-bed main hospital in Daytona Beach, Fla., and a 119-bed hospital in Ormond Beach, Fla. [READ MORE]

Fort Madison (Iowa) Community Hospital. Sacred Heart Hospital, operated by the Sisters of the Third Order of Saint Francis for 65 years, became Fort Madison Community Hospital in 1977 when the building and equipment were sold for $1.00 to a nonprofit board of directors. [READ MORE]

Franciscan St. Francis Health-Indianapolis. Franciscan St. Francis Health, one of the largest health systems in Indiana, houses various treatment centers, including a heart center, joint and spine center and weight loss center. [READ MORE]

Franklin Woods Community Hospital (Johnson City, Tenn.). The 80-bed Franklin Woods Community Hospital opened in 2010 to replace two hospitals that closed that same year and provide healthcare for Johnson City and the surrounding Northeast Tennessee area. [READ MORE]

French Hospital Medical Center (San Luis Obispo, Calif.). French Hospital Medical Center, part of San Francisco-based Dignity Health, is a 112-bed nonprofit facility. [READ MORE]

Gordon Hospital (Calhoun, Ga.). Gordon Hospital is part of Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based Adventist Health System, the world's largest nonprofit Protestant healthcare system. [READ MORE]

Hawkins County Memorial Hospital (Rogersville, Tenn.). Hawkins County Memorial Hospital has served the Rogersville community since 1961 and employs more than 50 board-certified physicians and approximately 160 nurses, technicians and support staff. [READ MORE]

Henry County Hospital (New Castle, Ind.). Henry County Hospital is a 90-bed general medical and surgical hospital. [READ MORE]

Hill Country Memorial Hospital (Fredericksburg, Texas). When Hill Country Memorial opened in 1971, more than 5,000 people arrived to see the new facility. [READ MORE]

Holland (Mich.) Hospital. This 189-bed community hospital served its first patient in 1917 and now employs 2,000 people. [READ MORE]

Holy Family Memorial (Manitowoc, Wis.). When Holy Family Memorial opened its doors in 1899, it was hailed as one of the premier hospitals in the country, boasting modern amenities like an elevator. [READ MORE]

HonorHealth John C. Lincoln Medical Center (Phoenix, Ariz.). This Magnet-recognized hospital has 266 beds and has been part of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based HonorHealth since October 2013. [READ MORE]

Houston Methodist Sugar Land (Texas) Hospital. This hospital has grown steadily since it opened in 1998 and now has 850 physicians across a range of medical specialties. [READ MORE]

Howard Young Medical Center (Woodruff, Wis.). Built in 1977, Howard Young Medical Center is a 99-bed acute care facility offering community members a wide range of healthcare services. [READ MORE]

HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital (Breese, Ill.). St. Joseph's Hospital Breese is part of Springfield, Ill.-based Hospital Sisters Health System and has been part of the community for more than 100 years. [READ MORE]

Inova Fair Oaks Hospital (Fairfax, Va.). Inova Fair Oaks, a 182-bed community hospital, is the No. 3 hospital in the Washington metro area, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report's 2015-16 rankings. [READ MORE]

Kalispell (Mont.) Regional Medical Center. At Kalispell Regional Medical Center, nearly 200 physicians and 1,400 employees across 100 departments provide care for the community. [READ MORE]

Lake Region Healthcare (Fergus Falls, Minn.). Excavation for the hospital that would eventually become Lake Region Healthcare began in 1902. [READ MORE]

Lakeview Hospital (Bountiful, Utah). This 128-bed, 210,000-square-foot acute care hospital opened in 1976 and is staffed by 226 physicians. [READ MORE]

Lakeview Medical Center (Rice Lake, Wis.). Lakeview Medical Center was established in1919 and has since grown as a 40-bed community hospital. [READ MORE]

Lawrence (Kan.) Memorial Hospital. Founded in 1921, Lawrence Memorial has grown throughout the years into a 173-bed facility regularly recognized for excellence. [READ MORE]

LeConte Medical Center (Sevierville, Tenn.). Part of Knoxville, Tenn.-based Covenant Health, this 79-bed hospital opened in early 2010 as a modern medical center in a mountain setting. [READ MORE]

Logan (Utah) Regional Hospital. Logan Regional dates back to its establishment in 1914 and it became part of Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare in 1975. [READ MORE]

Major Hospital (Shelbyville, Ind.). Major Hospital has served residents of Shelbyville for nearly a century. [READ MORE]

Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center (Houston). This 444-bed hospital has served residents of Greater and West Houston since 1971 and boasts more than 1,800 employees. [READ MORE]

Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center (Jasper, Ind.). Memorial Hospital has been serving community residents for more than six decades. [READ MORE]

Mercer County Community Hospital - Coldwater (Ohio). Mercer County Community Hospital's roots stretch back more than six decades. [READ MORE]

Mercy Health - Defiance (Ohio) Hospital. Mercy Defiance is a 23-bed progressive care hospital staffed by 123 physicians. [READ MORE]

Mercy Hospital (Coon Rapids, Minn.). Mercy Hospital is part of Minneapolis-based Allina Health and serves the northwestern Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. [READ MORE]

Mercy Hospital Washington (Mo.). This acute care hospital, founded in 1926, offers comprehensive medical, surgical, obstetric, emergency and pediatric services to its community. [READ MORE]

Mercy Iowa City (Iowa). Mercy Iowa City is an acute care hospital delivering healthcare to residents across southeast Iowa. [READ MORE]

Mercy Regional Medical Center (Durango, Colo.). Part of Englewood, Colo.-based Centura Health, this hospital's history dates back to 1882. [READ MORE]

Mid Coast Hospital (Brunswick, Maine). Mid Coast Hospital is a full-service, 93-bed, independent hospital staffed by more than 180 physicians and advanced practice providers. [READ MORE]

Ministry Saint Michael's Hospital (Stevens Point, Wis.). Founded in 1913, Ministry Saint Michael's Hospital is a fully accredited acute care facility staffed by more than 200 physicians. [READ MORE]

Morris (Ill.) Hospital & Healthcare Centers. Located 55 miles southwest of Chicago, Morris Hospital has served area residents for more than a century. [READ MORE]

Mosaic Life Care (St. Joseph, Mo.). This community hospital is no stranger to accolades. [READ MORE]

Newberry (S.C.) County Memorial Hospital. Newberry County Memorial Hospital opened its doors in 1925 and has since undergone numerous major expansions and renovations. [READ MORE]

Newton (Kan.) Medical Center. This 103-bed nonprofit hospital was established in 1988 when two community hospitals, with histories stretching back more than a century, merged. [READ MORE]

Northern Hospital of Surry County (Mt. Airy, N.C.). The origins of this hospital can be traced back to the 1950s. [READ MORE]

Northern Maine Medical Center (Fort Kent). This 49-bed facility on the border of Canada offers complete obstetric, surgical, pediatric and general medical services. [READ MORE]

Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital (Winfield, Ill.). Central DuPage Hospital, a Magnet-designated, 333-bed facility, joined Northwestern Memorial HealthCare after Cadence Health joined the Chicago-based system in 2014. [READ MORE]

Novant Health Huntersville (N.C.) Medical Center. Huntersville Medical Center, part of Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health, opened in 2004 as a 50-bed hospital, but has since grown to house 92 beds. [READ MORE]

Ochsner Medical Center-Baton Rouge (La.). Ochsner Baton Rouge includes a 150-bed hospital as well as 13 health centers and a physician team more than 300 strong. [READ MORE]

OhioHealth Dublin (Ohio) Methodist Hospital. Dublin Methodist Hospital opened in 2007, making it the newest hospital in central Ohio, according to OhioHealth. [READ MORE]

Parkview Huntington (Ind.) Hospital. Parkview Huntington Hospital is located about 25 miles southwest of Fort Wayne, Ind., where its parent system Parkview Health is based. [READ MORE]

Penn Highlands DuBois (Pa.). Penn Highlands DuBois is one of four hospitals that make up DuBois-based Penn Highlands Healthcare. [READ MORE]

Pomerene Hospital (Millersburg, Ohio). Not only was Pomerene Hospital named a Top 100 Rural & Community Hospital by iVantage this year, the National Rural Health Association also named it as a 2016 Top 20 Rural Hospital and Truven named it as a 100 Top Hospital as well. [READ MORE]

ProMedica Flower Hospital (Sylvania, Ohio). This 311-bed hospital, part of Toledo, Ohio-based ProMedica, has been serving the community in greater Toledo for more than a century. [READ MORE]

Renown South Meadows Medical Center (Reno, Nev.). South Meadows Medical Center is part of Reno, Nev.-based Renown Health. [READ MORE]

Riverside Medical Center (Kankakee, Ill.). Riverside Medical Center, the area's only Magnet-designated facility, has been a central part of the Kankakee community since it opened in 1964. [READ MORE]

Roper Hospital (Charleston, S.C.). Roper Hospital was founded in 1829 as the first community hospital in the Carolinas. [READ MORE]

Russell Medical Center (Alexander City, Ala.). Russell Medical Center opened in 1923 and has undergone many expansions and improvements since, including adding a da Vinci robotic system in 2011. [READ MORE]

University Hospitals Samaritan Medical Center (Ashland, Ohio). Part of Cleveland-based University Hospitals, this 55-bed hospital is based between Cleveland and Columbus, two of Ohio's largest cities. [READ MORE]

Salem (Ore.) Hospital. Salem Hospital is part of Salem Health, which became a partner of Portland-based Oregon Health & Science University in November 2015. [READ MORE]

Sentara Williamsburg (Va.) Regional Medical Center. Not only is this 145-bed hospital a certified primary stroke center, it is also Magnet-recognized for nursing excellence. [READ MORE]

Sherman Oaks (Calif.) Hospital. Sherman Oaks Hospital is a nonprofit community hospital that became part of Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare in January 2006. [READ MORE]

Spectrum Health Zeeland (Mich.) Community Hospital. Zeeland Community Hospital, part of Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Spectrum Health, has 57 beds and a mission to improve the health of the communities it has served for more than 80 years. [READ MORE]

St. Clair Hospital (Pittsburgh). This 328-bed independent hospital serves more than half a million residents throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. [READ MORE]

St. Cloud (Minn.) Hospital. St. Cloud Hospital was founded in 1886 by the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict, but it is now part of St. Cloud-based CentraCare Health. [READ MORE]

St. David's Medical Center (Austin, Texas). St. David's Medical Center, part of St. David's HealthCare in Austin, has served the community since 1924. [READ MORE]

St. Luke's Quakertown Campus (Pa.). Bethlehem, Pa.-based St. Luke's University Health Network acquired the hospital, formerly Quakertown Community Hospital, in 1995. [READ MORE]

Sycamore Medical Center (Miamisburg, Ohio). Part of Kettering (Ohio) Health Network, Sycamore Medical Center is one of the 100 Top Hospitals in the nation this year, according to Truven. [READ MORE]

Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton (Ga.). Clocking in at 201 beds, this acute care hospital serves the residents of west Georgia and east Alabama. [READ MORE]

Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Southwest Fort Worth (Texas). This hospital opened in 1987 to serve the communities of Fort Worth, Benbrook, Crowley, Aledo and Granbury. [READ MORE]

The Monroe (Wis.) Clinic Hospital. This hospital is the main campus of the Monroe Clinic, which got its start in 1939 when five physicians teamed up to offer community-focused, comprehensive primary and specialty healthcare. [READ MORE]

Timpanogos Regional Hospital (Orem, Utah). Timpanogos Regional Hospital, a 122-bed hospital part of Cottonwood Heights, Utah-based MountainStar Healthcare, has served its community since 1998. [READ MORE]

UPMC Bedford Memorial (Everett, Pa.). Part of Pittsburgh-based UPMC, this 27-bed community hospital is one of the 2016 Top 100 Rural & Community Hospitals, as named by iVantage. [READ MORE]

Valley View Hospital (Glenwood Springs, Colo.). Valley View Hospital has been a Planetree Designated Patient-Centered Hospital since 2007, meaning the community hospital has embraced and implemented patient- and resident-centered care in a comprehensive manner. [READ MORE]

Waynesboro (Pa.) Hospital. Part of Chambersburg, Pa.-based Summit Health, Waynesboro Hospital was established in 1992 by volunteers in response to the Spanish flu. [READ MORE]

West Florida Hospital (Pensacola). West Florida Hospital, part of Nashville, Tenn.-based Hospital Corporation of America, boasts itself as the first hospital in the Pensacola area to offer all private rooms. [READ MORE]

WellStar West Georgia Medical Center (LaGrange). West Georgia Health officially became WellStar West Georgia Medical Center in April. [READ MORE]

West Valley Medical Center (Caldwell, Idaho). West Valley Medical Center is affiliated with HCA Mountain Division, a system spanning Idaho, Utah and Alaska that is part of Nashville, Tenn.-based Hospital Corporation of America. [READ MORE]

Yampa Valley Medical Center (Steamboat Springs, Colo.). This 39-bed, nonprofit, non-tax-supported, independent community hospital was founded in 1946. [READ MORE]
A man is in custody after he stole an ambulance from Nix Hospital in San Antonio and led the police on a chase early Saturday morning, according to a KSAT 12 report.

Local police officials say the man was being transferred from University Hospital, also in San Antonio, to Nix around 12:30 a.m. when he took off running and got into an empty ambulance in the hospital's parking lot. The ambulance had just dropped off another patient, so it was empty when the man stole it, according to the report.

Shortly after driving off, a police helicopter spotted the stolen vehicle. Officers followed the ambulance on a "long and winding route," according to the report, before pulling it over and taking the man into custody.

The police told KSAT 12 the man was unharmed and no damage was done to the ambulance.

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Tests from donated blood indicate that the Zika virus is spreading rapidly across the island territory of Puerto Rico. The rapid rate of transmission could result in hundreds of newborns afflicted with debilitating birth defects, according to the CDC.

The CDC began screening donated blood in Puerto Rico for the Zika virus in April. Donations that test positive are discarded. In early June, more than 1 percent of all the blood donations on the island tested positive for the virus. Based on the organization's knowledge about blood donation screening and infection rates, the CDC interprets the 1 percent of Zika-positive blood tests as indication that the infection rate could be as high as 2 percent for the general population.

In a briefing to reporters, CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, said, "In the coming months it's possible that thousands of pregnant women in Puerto Rico could become infected with Zika. This could lead to dozens or hundreds of infants being born with microcephaly in the coming year."

Birth defects associated with Zika infection include microcephaly and other fetal brain defects, abnormal eye development and nerve damage.

As of June 9 in the U.S. and the District of Columbia, three infants have been born with Zika-related birth defects and three pregnancies were lost due to miscarriages or abortions caused by birth defects linked to Zika.

To see where Zika has been reported in the U.S. as of June 17, click here.

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Earlier in June, Linda Cendales, MD, and her team performed North Carolina's first hand transplant surgery on a Texas patient. Serving as Dunham, N.C.-based Duke University School of Medicine's director of the hand transplant program, Dr. Cendales weighed in on the procedure and the outlook for hand transplant surgery, according to Duke Chronicle.

When performing the procedure, various team members comprised of surgeons, nurses, operating room staff, anesthesiologists, radiology technicians and a research team worked collaboratively to ensure the transplant's success. The surgical team completed the 12-hour procedure on May 27.

Here are three key points:

1. Hand transplants are more complex than other organ transplantsbecause they entail a visual aspect, which impacts an individual's body image and quality of health. Dr. Cendales explained the more challenging aspects of this procedure pertain to immunosuppression and different transplanted tissues' immunogenicity. Following the transplant, patients undergo a "rigorous" occupational therapy regiment, where medical professionals closely monitor their immunosuppression regimen.

2. Dr. Cendales has performed a hand transplant at University of Louisville (Ky.) as well as Atlanta-based Emory University, where she learned hand transplants require both a multidisciplinary approach as well as an emphasis on the population in need.

3. Dr. Cendales hopes the transplants will spearhead the beginning of a comprehensive vascularized composite allograft clinical program, which an investigational program will support. The U.S. Department of Defense granted Duke University $4 million to develop a program supporting limb translation for veterans.

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Insurance company associations from across Europe have written an open letter urging Britain to vote to stay in the EU in the referendum

Insurance company associations from across Europe have written an open letter urging Britain to vote to stay in the EU in the referendum.

The letter, signed by 21 associations, says it is in the "best interests" of all of Europe for Britain to stay in the union.

It states: "While the referendum is clearly a matter for the British public to decide, there will be implications for all EU markets.

"We believe it is in everyone's interest - the UK and the EU - for the UK to remain.

"And we will be watching and hoping that the result means that constructive relationship will continue with the UK playing a full role as a full EU member."

It adds: "The UK is an active and positive partner which also has a firm and critical eye and is willing to challenge as required.

"This brings results for the UK, and is healthy for the whole of the EU. No-one can doubt its contribution has been positive for all."

Insurance associations from Germany, Belgium and France are among those who have signed the letter.

The Association of British Insurers said it supports the letter, but is not an official signatory of it.
A jury has retired to consider its verdict in the case of five former Barclays bankers accused of rigging the Libor rate for trades involving "eye-watering" sums of money.

Jonathan James Mathew, 35, Stylianos Contogoulas, 44, Jay Vijay Merchant, 45, Alex Pabon, 37, and Ryan Reich, 34, are accused of manipulating the US Dollar London Interbank Offered Rate between 2005 and 2007.

The rate is used to set millions of pounds worth of financial deals, including car loans and mortgages. It is also used in complex overseas financial transactions.

To maximise profit from their trades, the men are said to have rigged the US Dollar Libor their way to put themselves at an advantage and to disadvantage the people they were dealing with.

The jury of seven men and four women retired on Monday afternoon to consider their verdict after a three-month trial at Southwark Crown Court.

The traders were dealing with "eye-watering" sums of money when they allegedly manipulated the US Dollar Libor between June 1 2005 and August 31 2007, prosecutor James Hines QC said.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation into the alleged fixing of Libor began in 2012.

British and US regulators fined Barclays 290 million over the scandal in 2012.

Mathew, from Shenfield in Essex, Contogoulas, from Greece, and Merchant, Pabon, and Reich, all of whom live in America, deny conspiracy to defraud.
Digital economy minister Ed Vaizey has warned that voting to leave the European Union could damage the UK's technology industry.

Speaking at the launch of London Technology Week, Mr Vaizey said that being part of the EU had benefited UK technology start-ups in terms of investment and market access - but voting to leave would put that at risk.

"The digital single market is a massive opportunity in the UK for businesses and start-ups to spread their wings," he said.

"We can't put that at risk. We have had massive success stories from the talent pool coming in from Europe, but if we vote to leave on Thursday we put that at risk, and that talent could start going elsewhere."

However, the Leave campaign has suggested that leaving Europe and negotiating individual trade deals with the rest of the world will be better for UK businesses.

London Technology Week is designed to showcase the best start-up technology businesses in the UK, with demonstrations of prototype technology in the fashion and healthcare industry among those on show.

Events are expected to be attended by around 43,000 people, according to organisers, with Gordon Innes from organiser London & Partners calling the city one of the "global hotspots" for technology.

"Tech-savvy Londoners welcome new digital advances that are going to revolutionise the way that we live and it is crucial that we harness those ideas to help the capital work even better as a city," said London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

"As someone who has helped to run a successful business, I look forward to supporting the tech sector so it goes from strength to strength over the coming years."
Bright future: the new name for the Science Park, where its hoped 5,000 new jobs will be created

Northern Ireland's biggest burgeoning tech hub is being given a rebrand as it unveils an ambitious 10-year plan to target 100m of investment.

The Northern Ireland Science Park will now be known as Catalyst Inc, and says it will expand its huge Belfast base, along with two new developments in Londonderry, as part of its new growth plans.

And it hopes to increase the size of Northern Ireland's knowledge economy by as much as five-fold in the next 15 years.

Set up in 1999 to grow and expand the province's emerging knowledge economy, the science park aims to create 5,000 top jobs, and a total of 1 million sq feet of office space.

It's already created around 2,600 jobs for the Northern Ireland economy, and has worked closely with the universities, Stormont and the private and public sectors.

It's already home to some 160 businesses across the world of technology, science and other fields.

That includes some of Northern Ireland's top home-grown businesses, such as Novosco, PathXL and 8over8.

Norman Apsley, chief executive of Catalyst Inc, said the newly rebranded business-building organisation is "built upon the deep belief that in Northern Ireland we have a community of innovators so powerful its people can change the world".

"We provide the home, networks and empathy to support this talent and ambition to develop world leading products and services that will transform Northern Ireland into one of the most entrepreneurial knowledge economies in Europe.

"Everyone talks about the need to grow the economy and drive our expertise and skills in technology as it is applied to every business sector. What we have done at Catalyst Inc is to provide the right environment for that ambition to take hold and to prosper. Through our collaborative approach we have developed significant and successful partnerships."

He said the success in securing key EU funding for the development of the North West campus in association with Letterkenny Institute of Technology was one such example.

Dr Joanne Stuart, director of development, said the park had "exceeded all targets" since its creation in 1999.

"We are ready at this next stage of evolution, and accelerating the programmes and providing the physical infrastructure," she said.

Dr Stuart said it was an "exciting time" for the organisation, adding that she hoped Northern Ireland could be "one of the most entrepreneurial knowledge economies by 2030".

She said that within 15 years Catalyst would have one million square feet of space throughout several campuses across Northern Ireland.

She added: "It would be a bigger community-led ecosystem, and more people engaged in that network, which could be three to five times that size - enabling Northern Ireland to have a much more balanced economy."

The latest Knowledge Economy Index (KEI) revealed that almost 36,000 people were employed in the sector which pays higher than average wages and is worth around 3.4bn annually, representing 10% of the Northern Ireland economy.
Countryfile's Adam Henson has made a bid to appear on Top Gear.

The TV presenter and farmer believes he could bring some countryside pursuits to the relaunched BBC Two motoring show.

He told the Press Association: "It would be lovely to take some celebrities... out of London... and take them on a tour of the countryside to show them what it's all about.

"I think we should get a load of tractors on Top Gear with Chris Evans - I'd love to do that."

A Countryfile crossover could bring in new viewers and provide a boost for Top Gear, which has seen disappointing ratings since Evans took the helm from axed Jeremy Clarkson.

The Top Gear audience hit 4.4 million in the first week, and plummeted to 2.8 million in its second outing. In contrast, BBC One's Countryfile can attract up to nine million viewers.

On beating Top Gear in the ratings, Henson said: "It's absolutely delightful, yes, and producing it on a third of the budget. So I think it's great. I think that Countryfile is really going from strength to strength."

Henson, 50, who has just released his memoir Like Farmer, Like Son, said he would also love to welcome the Queen on to the show and take her on a tour of his Cotswold Farm Park where he conserves rare breeds.

He said: "S he loves animals, she loves her farm animals and she's got a herd of Highland cattle. I bought a bull off her a few years ago.

"I know that she would just be totally engaged in looking at some of our wonderful animals. I've got about 50 different breeds of seven different species and I'd love to show them to her. I know she would be genuinely interested."

Henson learned his own ease with people from his father Joe, who is also a farmer and TV presenter - and is the subject of his book.

He said: "He had time for people, he was a real gentleman and certainly with rare breeds conservation and livestock breeding, which was his passion, he would have time to encourage people."

On the upcoming EU referendum, Henson said he will be voting Remain.

"What I don't know is what agriculture or the country will look like if we come out," he said.

"We haven't been given a clear picture of what it's going to be like, and I'm a little bit risk-averse, I wouldn't want to jump off a step in a blindfold not knowing what I was jumping into."

He added: " I believe that staying in will give us more opportunities. I think it's better environmentally, I think it's better for green energy, I personally think it's better for agriculture to stay together."
Casualty fans have been given their first look at actress Cathy Shipton's return in a new clip of the show's 1,000th episode.

The milestone episode about Holby City Hospital's emergency department (ED) will be broadcast this Sunday on BBC One.

Shipton, who plays Lisa "Duffy" Duffin, featured in the original cast when the medical drama launched in 1986.

In the new video, Duffy has taken a telephone call and is heard saying: "ED? Yes, I think I can remember the way."

Towards the end of the dramatic clip, she asks Doctor Gardner (Jaye Griffiths) to make a snap decision about a patient in a critical condition.

London-born Shipton spent 17 years in Casualty and has long been a favourite with viewers.

She made a brief return for the show's 20th anniversary in 2006 before popping up again in 2015.

Ahead of her permanent return in August, this Sunday's episode will fill in more details about Duffy's life away from England.

Duffy will reconnect with her old colleague Charlie Fairhead (actor Derek Thompson who is also a member of the original cast), and reveal why she left her family in New Zealand.

Talking about her forthcoming comeback, Shipton told the BBC: "After returning last year for episodes one and two of series 30, many asked if Duffy was sticking around long-term.

"Well, the response was so positive that I've stepped right through and am thrilled to be back on the show."

She added: "The future looks very exciting for Duffy both professionally and personally, and I am equally excited to be working with such a talented and creative team of actors, writers, directors and producers."

Casualty actor Charles Venn, who plays nurse Jacob Masters, recently hailed the forthcoming 30th anniversary special.

The adrenalin-charged 110-minute episode will be broadcast soon.

"I don't want to give anything away, but my character Jacob is an integral part of it," he said.
The Catholic Church has remained silent after shocking reports that a killer's remains were removed from a rural graveyard.

It was reported yesterday that garda killer Adrian Crevan Mackin's cremated ashes were stolen in a ghoulish raid.

Mackin was secretly cremated in Belfast last October in front of a handful of mourners after one undertaker from his home city of Newry finally agreed to handle his remains.

Garda Tony Golden was shot by the 25-year-old last year in Omeath, Co Louth, as he escorted Mackin's partner to her home. She had made a complaint of domestic abuse against Mackin. The killer then turned his gun on himself.

The 'body-snatcher' controversy erupted following a report and photographs in the Sunday World, in which it was claimed the remains were exhumed under cover of darkness and taken away.

Mackin, who had been disowned by family members, was cremated in Roselawn crematorium last year and his ashes remained unclaimed for months.

But it is believed they were buried in a casket at a family plot in Drumgath, reportedly without the family's permission.

Despite Mackin's violent past, the exhumation has caused dismay. A source told the Sunday World: "It may shock people but we could not stomach the idea that his remains had been secretly interred in the family plot without their knowledge or permission. People will no doubt think it was a desecration to open the grave and take him out but it was a bigger desecration to leave him there.

"It was agreed to dig up the remains of a killer and dispose of the ashes in a place less worthy."

The whereabouts of Mackin's remains are unknown. It is also unclear if the removal of the remains is a matter for the police. The PSNI was unavailable for comment last night.

Yesterday, Fr Tom McAteer said he could not comment on the shock news which has stunned parishioners at St Patrick's Church at Drumgath near Newry. When asked by the Belfast Telegraph yesterday if he could confirm the incident, he said: "I know nothing about it."

He added: "I am sorry, I cannot help you."

When asked if he would appeal for the remains to be brought back, he responded: "I know nothing at all about it so I wouldn't comment."

He said he was unaware if the church authorities are making any comment on it.

The Belfast Telegraph left messages for another priest in the parish, Fr Charlie Byrne, but there was no immediate response. And the Catholic Church press office was also asked for a comment but did not respond last night.
An army bomb disposal team along with PSNI forensic experts carried out a search at Maeve House in the New Lodge area of north Belfast on Monday June 20 following what is believed to be the discovery of bomb making equipment and a terrorist explosives find. Alan Lewis- PhotopressBelfast.co.uk

The PSNI has uncovered a stash of explosives weighing approximately 1.5kg at a block of flats in north Belfast.

The find was made at Maeve House in the New Lodge area following a report from a member of the public.

It is thought the quantity of explosives would be enough to make three under car bombs.

Army bomb disposal experts attended the scene and examined the stash.

In 2014 a substantial amount of high explosives were found in the same property which is home to scores of people. It emerged in court that the find included 2.5kg of semtex.

PSNI Detective Inspector Stuart Griffin said considerable inconvenience had been caused to residents and he thanked them for their co-operation.

"This has caused residents considerable inconvenience and I would like to pass my thanks on to them for their patience and co-operation throughout the duration of this operation," he said.

"Thankfully these suspected explosives are no longer in the public domain.

"I would ask anyone who knows anything about this incident to contact detectives at Castlereagh Police Station on the non emergency number 101."

Sinn Fein councillor JJ Magee has welcomed the news that explosives found in the New Lodge area have been made safe.

Approximately 1.5kg of suspected explosives have been recovered by police at Meave House in the New Lodge area of North Blefast today.  PSNI (@PoliceServiceNI) June 20, 2016

"I welcome the fact that these explosives have been made safe and I hope the area can now return to normal following the disruption of the security alert," he said.
Police and emergency services at the scene of an road traffic accident on the Ballyutoag Road near Crumlin. Pic by Peter Morrison

Police and emergency services at the scene of an road traffic accident on the Ballyutoag Road near Crumlin. Pic by Peter Morrison

Police seal off the Ballyutoag Road near Crumlin following a Road Traffic accident. Pic by Peter Morrison

A man aged in his 70s has died following a crash between a car and a lorry on the A52 Ballyutoag Road near Dundrod.

Part of the road remains closed to traffic between the junctions of Seven Mile Straight and Carnaghliss Road.

Anyone travelling to Belfast International Airport and intending to take this route should allow extra time for their journey.

Anyone who knows anything about this fatal rtc is asked to contact the Collision Investigation Unit at Sprucefield Police Station on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 608 of 20/06/16.
Frank McCoubrey has condemned the graffitti attack at Ballygomartin church in west Belfast.

A Belfast church and care home have been targeted in a sectarian graffiti attack.

'IRA' and 'KAH' were scrawled on St Columbas Church and a care home facility on the Ballygomartin Road sometime overnight into Monday morning.

A number of homes in the area were also attacked.

West Belfast DUP Councillor Frank McCoubrey condemned the attack.

He said: "This is a disgraceful sectarian attack which has damaged the local Church of Ireland, residents homes and sheltered accommodation.

"This is a settled area with long-term residents and there is no history of such attacks. It would appear to be an attempt by some people to ratchet up tensions ahead of the Whiterock parade and other upcoming parades.

"I have been in the area this morning and I know the PSNI have spoken to residents and are pursuing a line of inquiry. This disgraceful attack is to be condemned and I would hope there would be no tit-for-tat response which is what those who carried it out clearly want to see.

"I hope the police can identify those responsible and bring them swiftly to justice."

Police are investigating.

Inspector Kelly Moore said: We are treating this as a sectarian hate crime and extensive enquiries are already underway.

Officers from both the Neighbourhood Policing Team and the Local Policing Team have been in the area this morning to help with the investigation and to offer reassurance to local people. We have also spoken with local representatives.

Enquiries will include reviewing CCTV in the area and I would appeal to anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the area overnight, or who has any information that could assist in this investigation, to contact police on the non-emergency 101 quoting reference 192 of 20th June.

Alternatively, information can also be given anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A man was mugged on a Belfast street under the nose of one of the city's most senior police officers.

Chief Inspector Robert Murdie had just stepped out onto the Ormeau Road after a meeting to discuss crime in the area, as a Romanian man was robbed of his bookies winnings around 30 yards away.

The PSNI area commander for South Belfast had been meeting local MP, Dr Alasdair McDonnell, to discuss flags, drugs and crime in the neighbourhood.

The SDLP politician was walking the top policeman to the door of his constituency office after their discussion when they were confronted by the incident at 1.50pm on June 10.

Two local men fled the scene as their victim lay injured on the ground. Eyewitnesses said the middle-aged Romanian man was leaving Sean Graham's bookmakers with around 500 in winnings when the muggers struck.

They jumped on him, wrestled him to the ground, and repeatedly smashed his head off the pavement, according to witnesses. Dr McDonnell said: "This was a scandalous attack by two local hoods on a man leaving the bookies, happy with the good fortune that saw him win a few pounds.

"Chief Inspector Murdie and myself did all we could to help.

"He was on the ball immediately, ringing for assistance, and uniformed officers arrived speedily on the scene. I went to give medical aid to the injured man.

"He was lying on the ground, having been very badly assaulted.

"He was clearly confused and concussed. He took a terrible thumping.

"When he got up, he didn't even know where he was."

One witness said the Romanian man's head was slammed into the ground so often she thought his assailants had wanted to kill him.

Dr McDonnell said he hoped the muggers would be caught quickly.

"Not only did these thugs steal the few pounds that this poor man had won but they were callously and brutally violent in the process," he added.

A friend of the victim, and family members, arrived outside the bookies immediately after the attack.

"Around 20 Romanians surrounded him.

"It was very difficult for me to communicate with the man who had little English but a 12-year-old schoolboy was able to translate for us and that was a big help," the MP said.

The PSNI has appealed for anyone who witnessed the mugging to come forward and help with their enquiries.
Belfast dental surgeon Chris Loughridge was faster than a ferry when it came to crossing the North Channel

A dentist will walk into his surgery this morning as a world record-breaker, after windsurfing from Northern Ireland to Scotland in 100 minutes.

Belfast dental surgeon Chris Loughridge was faster than a ferry when it came to crossing the North Channel.

The 57-year-old Malone Road adventurer set sail yesterday from Cushendall, arriving at the Mull of Kintyre lighthouse a mere one hour and 40 minutes later.

And while Chris enjoyed a wee dram of whisky to celebrate the historic journey on the waves, it's Guinness he now has on his mind.

That's because his race against time looks set to be accepted by the Guinness World Book of Records, after the sail was recorded independently by those accompanying Chris by boat, including a UTV cameraman.

"I am over the moon," an ecstatic Chris told the Belfast Telegraph last night.

But the record attempt was always going to be subject to the whims of the wind and waves.

"The weather was so fickle, I didn't know if I'd even make it.

"It changed so much, I didn't know where I'd end up when I sailed out. The wind direction changed completely. It was very difficult to sail - very choppy."

So choppy in fact, that even the experienced sailor behind the wheel of the boat was sick on arrival.

And with the waves throwing him about so much, Chris felt that he had flown for much of the ride.

"I was doing about 26 knots - I was in the air quite a bit," Chris said.

With visibility "awful", Chris was concerned about missing his target - the Mull of Kintyre lighthouse.

"I only saw it when I was about 400m away," he said. "We got it right on the nose. It was an absolutely incredible sight."

Chris, who took on the challenge for charity, stepped off his board and onto a rock to mark the end of his trip.

He said that it had been "a crazy thing to do". But, he added, it was one more thing to tick off his bucket list.

His wife Kathy was herself a surfer, as are their two teenage children, and she is perhaps more understanding than most partners. The courageous couple have enjoyed previous adventures together.

"We climbed Ben Nevis, and climbed to the Everest base camp," said Chris.

"But I got altitude sickness.

"I said to her that the next time I tried something, it would be at sea level. And you don't get much more sea level than this."

Rather than take it easy after such a gruelling challenge, Chris will be back at work this morning in his Lisburn Road dental practice in Finaghy. "Gym at 6am, then work at nine," he said.

Chris said it had helped raise around 10,000 for Marie Curie cancer care.

Just over half of that - 5,210 - has been donated so far on his JustGiving fundraising page.

"I'm fundraising to support the amazing work that Marie Curie do," he said.

"It would be great if you could donate and share my page so I can raise as much as possible to help them care for people with terminal illnesses to give them the choice to die at home."

To donate to Chris' charity drive for Marie Curie, visit justgiving.com and search for Chris Loughridge
Traffic crosses the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland

People living along Ireland's border are gripped by trepidation and fear in the countdown to the referendum, business chiefs have said.

The 310-mile frontier that separates Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is the only land border between the UK and the rest of the EU.

Although heavily militarised with checkpoints and road closures during the Troubles, the peace process has opened up a seamless crossing between both jurisdictions.

Hundreds of thousands pass over the border every day on their way to work, for shopping or on day trips.

The Remain camp in the in/out referendum, including chancellor George Osborne, have warned a hardening of border controls would be inevitable in the event of the UK voting to leave the EU.

But those backing a Leave - including Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers - claim there would be no need for a return to checkpoints.

Sinead McLaughlin, chief executive of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, which represents traders in the UK's most westerly city, says everyday life could be plunged into disarray with the outcome of Thursday's vote.

"We are the largest city on the periphery of the UK, in three directions in this city we have an EU border, so we are watching with interest, trepidation and fear this referendum," she said.

Nestled against Co Donegal in the Republic, Derry is a de facto cross-border capital for much of three counties in the north-west of Ireland.

"The impact of a Brexit will have a devastating economic impact on this region, which is already experiencing stark indices in relation to economic development and well-being," said Ms McLaughlin, who is campaigning for a Remain vote.

"We are a frontier city, and our prospects depend on that union between the regions working effectively together.

"Instead of any barriers we need closer alliances with our neighbours."

Businesses are "extremely frightened" at the prospect of new obstacles to trade and free movement being put in force while foreign investors - much needed in the historically economically deprived region - are also spooked.

"No one has been able to tell us what will happen after June 23 if the UK votes to leave," said Ms McLaughlin.

"That has real negative impact, particularly with foreign investors."

But Robert Moore, whose beef and tillage farm just outside the city is a stone's throw from the border with Co Donegal, said there is a lot of scaremongering about the impact of a Brexit.

"I'm not overly concerned," he said.

"My family have lived here for 200 years and since the border was created, so we have managed to cope with the border long before the Troubles.

"I remember as a child having to jump in and out of the car to get a card stamped when crossing.

"If that were to happen again it would be replaced by technology, cameras, etc. I think there is a lot of nonsense being talked about the border."

Mr Moore describes himself as a reluctant member of the Leave camp.

"I just feel I've been pushed that way because of European policy," he said.

"A lot in the Remain campaign are saying it depends upon reform within Europe, that we stay in and fight from within.

"The problem I see with that is that David Cameron has already negotiated his reforms.

"Britain has been the biggest thorn in the side of the EU for many years now. If we vote to stay in and then demand even more reform, they will tell Mr Cameron where to go."

Mr Moore said people on both sides of the Irish border would not accept a hardening of frontier controls and believes "a deal will be done" between the British and Irish governments to ensure continued free movement.

However, Toni Forrester, chief executive of Letterkenny Chamber across the border in Co Donegal, is not convinced.

"Well, how will they control immigration which is the big thing that everyone is talking about?" she questioned.

"How will they control this land border we have with the UK? We believe there would have to be some type of control."

Ms Forrester says traders in the Republic are frustrated that they have no vote in a decision that could have a major impact on their livelihoods.

"It might seem easy if you are in the middle of the UK where there aren't any borders, but here it is a land border and we haven't had to bring our papers out for many, many years," she said.

"It's a bad feeling that we might go back to that."
First Minister Arlene Foster has paid tribute to murdered Labour MP Jo Cox and offered her prayers to her family and friends.

Speaking at Stormont on Monday, Ms Foster described the murder of Ms Cox last week in Leeds as a "dark day for politics" and an "attack on the whole democratic process".

The House of Commons was recalled on Monday to allow MPs an opportunity to pay tribute to the Labour MP.

Roses were left on her empty seat in the House.

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Ms Foster said we in Northern Ireland understand the pain of the loss of a colleague, referring to a number of Northern Ireland MPs murdered during the Troubles including Robert Bradford.

"This is a very sad day for politics in the United Kingdom. I join others in thanking you, Mr Speaker, for the action that you have already taken in conveying to the Speaker of the House of Commons our deepest sympathy to her colleagues there," she told Stormont.

"The murder of Jo Cox was shocking. It was undoubtedly a tragic event that will live long in the memory. Thankfully, the murder of a Member of Parliament is a rare event, but we feel the loss all the more because of that.

"Outside of the murders carried out by Irish republicans in connection with the Troubles in Northern Ireland, this was the first murder of a Member of Parliament since 1812.

"Perhaps nowhere more than in Northern Ireland, we on all sides of the House understand the pain of the loss of a colleague, whether as Members of the Westminster Parliament, the old Stormont Parliament or those more broadly involved in politics in Northern Ireland.

"Although the threat to those involved in politics here is not what it once was, we must all still remain vigilant. However, we must never close our doors to those who elect us or become detached from those who send us here."

She said last Thursday was a dark day for politics, but above all, it was a tragedy for Ms Cox;s family and close friends.

"We especially remember her husband Brendan and her two young children," she said.

"I did not know Jo Cox personally, but it is clear from the many tributes to her and from talking to some of my Westminster parliamentary colleagues that she was a remarkable individual and was going to have a very strong, maybe even exceptional, career.

"Our prayers and sympathy go out to all those who knew Jo Cox personally in the difficult days that lie ahead.

"Jos murder serves as a timely reminder to all of us involved in politics that, despite the differences that we may have on one issue or another, there are values that are shared across the political spectrum and that we must never lose that thing that unites us. That was something very clear that came from her husband."

The DUP leader also said that we owe it to Ms Cox to "conduct ourselves in a manner that is consistent with the best traditions of democracy".

"That does not mean that we should not argue or differ, but it does mean that we should do so in a more respectful tone than is sometimes the case," she said.

"When I took over as First Minister, I made a call for us to do politics differently. We have made progress, but let this event help us to redouble our efforts in Northern Ireland.

"On this day, let us remember the words of President Kennedy that civility is not a sign of weakness and remember that this dreadful event can bring a new civility to politics and not just for a few days.

"It can be seen as a new start in how politics is done."
Sex predator Robert Howard was a psychopath who posed a severe risk to schoolgirl Arlene Arkinson, according to a top psychiatrist who examined him in prison.

Dr Ian Bownes, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, also told an inquest the cunning child killer honed his manipulation skills over decades and targeted victims using a sophisticated selection process.

He said: "It is highly probable that Mr Howard would have had only one interest in Miss Arkinson and that would have been in fulfilling his sexual desires."

Fifteen-year-old Arlene, from Castlederg in Co Tyrone, vanished after a night out across the border in Co Donegal.

She was last seen being driven off during the early hours of August 14 1994 down a country road with Howard.

Her body has never been found.

Dr Bownes said Howard, who died in prison last year, would have interpreted the teenager's presence in his car as consent and he would have been enraged at any attempt to resist him.

"His whole activities would have been trained towards obtaining his sexual interests within a short space of time of being in contact with her," he said.

"Any sort of affirmation, a smile or something innocuous would be taken as full consent for some sort of sexual activity."

Howard was acquitted of Arlene's murder in 2005 by a jury which, for legal reasons, was not told of his lengthy criminal history, which included two jail terms for rape and the killing of south London teenager Hannah Williams in 2001.

A violent physical attack could have precluded a sexual assault on Arlene, the court heard.

Dr Bownes said: "It is highly probably if he had expended quite a lot of money and effort towards winning Arlene over, if she had in any way resisted he would have got annoyed and felt thwarted in his sexual activities."

Howard was interviewed by the psychiatrist on two occasions in November 1994 while he was being held on suspicion of raping another teenage girl in Castlederg.

He had tried to manipulate test scores and repeatedly contradicted himself, it was revealed.

In a report which was read to the court, Dr Bones said: "His primary aim was not to provide me with information but to answer the questions in a way that would present him in the most favourable light.

"I feel Mr Howard tended to omit those questions to which it was unclear what the right response would be.

"He had an ability to behave in a calculated manner and there was an unwillingness to present information which would paint him in an unfavourable light."

Howard also tried to explain his preference for teenage girls.

He told the doctor: "Maybe I cannot accept I am getting older; I prefer younger people's company in general; it could be a fear of dying and; it is less work to get a young girl into bed than a 50-year-old woman."

His sexual fantasies included forcing someone to do something, it emerged.

The doctor concluded Howard had probably used his girlfriend, identified during other hearings as Patricia Quinn, to conceal his activities from the local community.

"He needed a lair from which to branch out and target his victims and what better than to have a relationship with someone."

Rehabilitation at the age of 51 was also unlikely, he added.

"Mr Howard had been a psychopath for many years at the time when I examined him so the chances of changing his behaviour would have been slim."

Meanwhile, coroner Brian Sherrard has said he plans to write to the Commissioner of An Garda Siochana, Noirin O'Sullivan to request co-operation on the inquest.

He said: "My proposal is to send a letter to the Commissioner to see if they can offer any assistance.

"There are a number of discreet matters that the Guards can assist us with."

The case has been adjourned until Wednesday.
Stormont Education Minister Peter Weir last night defended his refusal to meet parents campaigning for a resolution to the crisis at a troubled west Belfast school.

The Concerned Parents Committee of De La Salle College in Andersonstown had written to the DUP minister, who recently took over the education brief from Sinn Fein's John O'Dowd.

The committee said it was disappointed at the rejection of its plea for a meeting with Mr Weir.

The news comes as vice-principal Marian O'Neill takes on the role of acting principal today.

An independent investigation into events at the school is currently under way.

There have been ongoing major problems over the last year. About a third of the 70-strong teaching staff at the school were absent for a number of days before the Easter holidays.

A Parents Committee statement said: "At the start of this week the Concerned Parents Committee requested a meeting with the new Minister for Education, Mr Peter Weir MLA.

"We regret to inform that the minister has declined to meet with us. We are extremely disappointed by this announcement as we wanted to discuss matters with the minister that fall outside of the remit of the independent investigation.

"This is further concerning as we know the panel will continue to interview stakeholders throughout the remainder of June and July, therefore demonstrating that the panel are nowhere near a conclusion.

"So much for the delivery of a final report early summer."

On Sunday night, Mr Weir told the Belfast Telegraph: "An Independent Panel is currently in the process of meeting a range of stakeholders associated with the circumstances in the school.

"I also understand that a provisional date has been arranged for the Concerned Parents Committee to meet with them.

"In light of this, I believe it is not appropriate to meet with the Concerned Parents group at this time as the Panel must be allowed to adhere to due process in taking forward this investigation."

Last week it emerged two associate principals, Imelda Jordan and John Wilkinson, have left. They were appointed earlier this year as relations between De La Salle principal Claire White and staff grew tense. The Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) said Ms Jordan and Mr Wilkinson's roles were temporary:

"They are no longer available in these roles as the term comes to an end, however to ensure continuity, they will both provide support to the school as educational associates working through CCMS".

The Concerned Parents Committee has previously called for the principal, vice-principal and board of governors to be stood down, and for an investigation.
More than half believe the NHS is going to get worse over the next few years

The public are "increasingly concerned" about the future of the NHS, leading doctors have said ahead of their annual meeting in Belfast today.

The comments from the British Medical Association (BMA) come as a poll found that 78% of people in England claim they are "worried" about the future of the National Health Service.

More than half believe the NHS is going to get worse over the next few years. And the majority do not think the health service is getting enough money from Government.

Meanwhile 77% said that Government policies are leading to growing discontent across the NHS workforce.

A Department of Health spokeswoman said the NHS was performing well, despite the pressures of an ageing population, adding: "We are committed to delivering a safer seven-day NHS and have fully funded the NHS own plan for the future with an extra 10bn per year by 2020 to transform services."
Vote Leave has pledged to fund the NHS with money currently sent to the EU

Claims that the NHS would get billions of pounds extra funding if Britain votes to leave the EU are "farcical", doctors' leaders will say.

The remarks made by the Vote Leave campaign are "irresponsible", the leader of the British Medical Association (BMA) is expected to say as he condemns "continental game-playing" with the NHS.

Dr Mark Porter, chairman of the BMA's council, will open the doctors' union's annual meeting in Belfast by admonishing some remarks about the health service by the Vote Leave campaign.

While the BMA has said it remains neutral on Thursday's vote, Dr Porter will say the NHS would not exist without the contribution of medics from overseas.

Referring to claims about additional funding for the NHS in the event the UK votes to leave the EU, Dr Porter will say the claims are "farcical and fatuous", adding: "It's beyond irresponsible. It relies on the unknowable assumption that the United Kingdom's economy will be the same size, and the money would still be available. It is a promise that has been proven to be based on fantasy figures, but it is maintained as a slogan designed to deceive.

"And further, do we really believe that some of the most ardent, fanatical and dogmatic supporters of austerity are suddenly desperate to increase public spending if only they had the chance? That the only thing holding them back from investing in the people's health before now, has been saving it up as a mammoth bribe?

"Instead we have a promise, made by senior politicians, of money they don't know they can find, and probably no inclination to spend if they stumbled across it.

"The NHS deserves better than that. It's not a logo to misuse on a leaflet or a bus."

He will add: "We've warned before about politicians playing games with the health service. Here we see game-playing on a truly continental scale."

On immigration and the health service, he will add: "It has been implied that those who come to this country take from us, or threaten us. 'Close our borders' has been the call, keep out the Europeans and while we're at it, people from beyond Europe's borders, whether seeking refuge or with much to offer to our society, or both.

"Anyone who attacks the contribution to this country of people from around the world, attacks us all. They attack many of us personally, but they attack every one of us, because the health service we love would not exist without their contribution.

"We are one profession. And that means you, who trained in India, you, from Pakistan, you, from Nigeria, from Poland, from Germany, from South Africa, from every single country that makes the world's greatest health service a health service that the world has built.

"The health service would be poorer without you. There might not even be a health service without you."

Other issues that are expected to be debated at the BMA's annual representative meeting in Belfast include concerns about staff morale, privatisation, NHS funding and reduced hospital bed numbers.
Police officers at Workmans Avenue junction of the Springfield road , a parades commission determination has ruled that the Whiterock Parade will not pass through the gates for the first time this coming weekend. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye

Police officers at Workmans Avenue junction of the Springfield road , a parades commission determination has ruled that the Whiterock Parade will not pass through the gates for the first time this coming weekend. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye

Police officers at Workmans Avenue junction of the Springfield road , a parades commission determination has ruled that the Whiterock Parade will not pass through the gates for the first time this coming weekend. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye

Police officers at Workmans Avenue junction of the Springfield road , a parades commission determination has ruled that the Whiterock Parade will not pass through the gates for the first time this coming weekend. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye

Police officers at Workmans Avenue junction of the Springfield road , a parades commission determination has ruled that the Whiterock Parade will not pass through the gates for the first time this coming weekend. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye

Police officers at Workmans Avenue junction of the Springfield road , a parades commission determination has ruled that the Whiterock Parade will not pass through the gates for the first time this coming weekend. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye

Police officers at Workmans Avenue junction of the Springfield road , a parades commission determination has ruled that the Whiterock Parade will not pass through the gates for the first time this coming weekend. Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye

The Whiterock parade has been banned from passing through peace line gates at Workman Avenue.

The Parades Commission met on Monday to consider the annual Belfast parade and issued a determination this evening.

In previous years a small number of parade participates were allowed through the gates while the remainder of the parade travelled through the nearby Mackies site.

However this year the entire parade has been re-routed.

Around 950 participants and 16 bands are due to take place in this year's parade on Saturday June 25 which will travel from West Belfast Orange Hall along the Shankill Road, Ainsworth Avenue, Workman Avenue back towards the Shankill Road.

Several parade supporters have voiced their fury about the ruling on social media.

DUP MLA William Humphrey has expressed shock and disappointment at the Parades Commission decision.

Mr Humphrey - who is a member of No 9 District which organise the Whiterock parade - said the decision to reroute it is "bizarre, illogical and unhelpful".

"The Whiterock parade has passed off peacefully in recent years with the Orange Institution fully abiding by previous determinations which restricted the number of participants allowed to pass through the gates," he said.

"It is notable that the only breaches have been by nationalist protesters, some of whom travel a great distance to be offended.

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Whatsapp North Belfast MLA William Humphrey has blasted the Parades Commission decision over the Whiterock parade as "bizarre"

"I will be discussing this ruling with other members of the Orange Institution and how we might move forward.

"I have already spoken to PSNI representatives. Given the attempts by some to increase tensions only last night this ruling once again demonstrates how the Parades Commission are part of the problem in parading rather than part of the solution.

"No explanation or rationale has to be provided by the Parades Commission of course as to why they appear happy to reward those who have breached previous determinations."

TUV councillor Jolene Bunting said she is "disgusted" at the decision.

I am disgusted by this decision," she said.

In the new peace process Northern Ireland there is much glib talk about shared space but all too often there seems to be no thought given to those to whom no space is given and who see their cultural being relentlessly suppressed.

The West Belfast UPRG also condemned the decision, criticising it as "short sighted"/

"West Belfast UPRG roundly condemn the short sighted decision making process entered into by the discredited Parades Commission around loyal order parades and their rewarding of Republican residents groups," a spokesman said.

"Their nonsensical decision making has again been highlighted in their decision to prevent loyal orders from accessing Springfield Rd via the gate at Workman Avenue during this years annual Whiterock parade."

The UPRG said local residents from the Ainsworth Community met with the Parades Commission last week, and presented them with a dossier which they have claimed proves Republican protesters breaking the protest determination at the parade last year.

"This ridiculous decision clearly demonstrates why it is absolutely pointless engaging with the Unelected Charades Commission as it is quite clear their bias knows no bounds as they follow their Republican driven agenda," he concluded.

A spokesperson for the Parades Commission said it has received complaints about the conduct of the parade and related protest last year.

The Commission has determined that no part of the parade may cross the peace lines through the Workman Avenue gates, but should instead proceed in full via the Invest Ni site to the Springfield Road.

"Conditions about paramilitary trappings have also been imposed.

"In reaching its decision, the Commission is mindful of the persistent breaches of determinations particularly in relation to colour parties, flags and emblems. The Commission has also received complaints about conduct of the parade and related protest last year.

"This decision reflects perceptions of paramilitary influences at the interface and is consistent with the approach by statutory agencies in relation to putting victims and survivors needs at the centre of decision making.

"The opening of permanently closed gates of the peace wall without cross community consultation is not in keeping with current policy recommendations. No dialogue about the parade has recently taken place.

"The impacts are escalating tensions at the Springfield Road interface each summer, with community life disturbed over many hours and an extremely high risk of public disorder."

She added: "the Commission continues to urge all parties to engage in dialogue about all aspects of the parade."
Police are appealing for help from the public to trace the final movements of a woman whose body was found close to a Co Londonderry lake.

Agnieszka Szypulska was found close to Binevenagh Lake outside Coleraine on Saturday.

The 39-year-old Canadian/Polish national's body was found by a member of the public just before midday.

Sergeant Stephen Taylor added: It is believed Agnieszka was on holiday in Northern Ireland and may have been in the Articlave area on Thursday, May 12.

"I am trying to trace anyone who may have spoken to or seen Agnieszka over the past few days.

"If you believe you have any information that may assist us in our enquiries please contact police at Limavady on the non-emergency number 101."
Whitehall officials told David Cameron told four years ago that it was "impossible" for the Government to meet its immigration promises while Britain remained in the European Union, the Prime Minister's former policy guru has said.

Civil servants said "directly and explicitly" that the pledge to reduce net migrations to the tens of thousands would fail, according to Steve Hilton.

Just weeks ago Mr Cameron insisted he stuck by his ''ambition'' of bringing net migration into the UK - which last month hit 333,000 - below 100,000.

Mr Hilton said the premier reaffirmed his commitment to target in the 2015 general election even though he "had been told was undeliverable".

Writing in The Daily Mail, the Leave campaigner recalled the details of a meeting in the final months of his time as director of strategy.

He said: " We were told, directly and explicitly, that it was impossible for the Government to meet its immigration target as long as we remained members of the EU, which of course insists on the free movement of people within it."

Mr Hilton added: " You don't need to sit in a 'stock take' meeting at No 10 Downing Street to see the obvious truth: our immigration system is completely broken, and as long as we're in the EU, our elected governments are powerless to fix it.

"In the 2015 Conservative manifesto, the Prime Minister reaffirmed his commitment to the immigration target he had been told was undeliverable.

"When I saw that, I assumed this was either because he was certain he could negotiate a solution within the EU, or was assuming we would leave.

" For the Government to continue to make the promise today, after no negotiated solution was achieved and while campaigning to stay, is, I think, what (Michael) Gove and (Boris) Johnson meant when they described this as corrosive of trust in politics."

Mr Cameron's election strategist, Sir Lynton Crosby, said Thursday's vote will "come down to the wire" as polling showed a boost for the Remain campaign.

Research for The Daily Telegraph said the In camp was seven points ahead with 53% of the vote among those who intend to have their say at the ballot box.

But the Orb International study found when all voters are taken into account, the Remain lead drops to two points on 49%, compared to 47% for Leave.

"All the signs of Orb's latest and final poll point to a referendum that will truly come down to the wire," Sir Lynton said in an article for the newspaper.

" Since the start of this polling series in March, Leave has seen steady improvements across a variety of attributes, ranging from the economy to credibility.

"However, it has also failed to quash the almost ubiquitous perception that it is the riskier of the two options."
MPs gather in the House of Commons, London, to pay tribute to Labour MP Jo Cox.

Westminster MPs are to pay tribute to the murdered Labour Batley and Spen representative Jo Cox

The 41-year-old mother of two young children died on Thursday after being shot and stabbed while working in her West Yorkshire constituency of Birstall.

Thomas Mair, 52, from Birstall, is charged with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.

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Monday's recall of Parliament is the sixth since David Cameron became prime minister in 2010.

In a break from the norm, MPs from different parties are to set together in a sign of unity.

Members of the Northern Ireland Labour Party and others braved the rain at noon on Sunday to sign a book of condolence.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close A picture shows tributes laid by the Syria Solidarity Campaign during a vigil in remembrance of slain Labour MP Jo Cox (photo) in Parliament Square in front of the Houses of Parliament in central London on June 19, 2016. British MP Jo Cox was on Sunday remembered as a "21st century Good Samaritan" at a service of thanksgiving in the village where she was murdered. Three days after the 41-year-old MP died in a shooting and stabbing attack in the northern English town of Birstall, parishioners at St Peter's Church prayed for her widower Brendan and two young children, Lejla and Cuillin / AFP PHOTO / Daniel Leal-OlivasDANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images People at Belfast City Hall pay their respects to Jo Cox Prime Minister David Cameron speaks in the House of Commons, London, as MPs gather to pay tribute to Labour MP Jo Cox. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday June 20, 2016. See PA story POLITICS MP. Photo credit should read: PA Wire PA The British union flag flies at half-mast above the Victoria Tower on the Palace of Westminster in honour of slain Labour MP Jo Cox in London on June 20, 2016. British lawmakers gathered Monday to honour a murdered colleague, attempting a rare show of unity in a heated, neck-and-neck race for votes three days before a referendum on whether to quit the EU. / AFP PHOTO / Niklas HALLE'NNIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Prime Minister David Cameron speaks in the House of Commons, London, as MPs gather to pay tribute to Labour MP Jo Cox. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday June 20, 2016. See PA story POLITICS MP. Photo credit should read: PA Wire PA The British union flag flies at half-mast above the Victoria Tower on the Palace of Westminster in honour of slain Labour MP Jo Cox in London on June 20, 2016. British lawmakers gathered Monday to honour a murdered colleague, attempting a rare show of unity in a heated, neck-and-neck race for votes three days before a referendum on whether to quit the EU. / AFP PHOTO / Niklas HALLE'NNIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images The British union flag flies at half-mast above the Victoria Tower on the Palace of Westminster in honour of slain Labour MP Jo Cox in London on June 20, 2016. British lawmakers gathered Monday to honour a murdered colleague, attempting a rare show of unity in a heated, neck-and-neck race for votes three days before a referendum on whether to quit the EU. / AFP PHOTO / Niklas HALLE'NNIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A Union flags flies at half mast over Portcullis House in front of the clock face of Queen Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) at the Houses of Parliament in honour of slain Labour MP Jo Cox in London on June 20, 2016. British lawmakers gathered Monday to honour a murdered colleague, attempting a rare show of unity in a heated, neck-and-neck race for votes three days before a referendum on whether to quit the EU. / AFP PHOTO / Niklas HALLE'NNIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images A white and red rose lie on Jo Cox's empty seat in the House of Commons, London, as MPs gather to pay tribute to her. PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp A picture shows tributes laid by the Syria Solidarity Campaign during a vigil in remembrance of slain Labour MP Jo Cox (photo) in Parliament Square in front of the Houses of Parliament in central London on June 19, 2016. British MP Jo Cox was on Sunday remembered as a "21st century Good Samaritan" at a service of thanksgiving in the village where she was murdered. Three days after the 41-year-old MP died in a shooting and stabbing attack in the northern English town of Birstall, parishioners at St Peter's Church prayed for her widower Brendan and two young children, Lejla and Cuillin / AFP PHOTO / Daniel Leal-OlivasDANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images

Before a minute's silence was held, a musician in the small crowd performed a version of the Bob Dylan song, She Was A Friend of Mine.

Yesterday, Mrs Cox's husband Brendan tweeted about how his family had remembered Jo in tents under the stars.

"Jo loved camping. Last night the kids & I camped in her memory & remembered the last time we were all woken by the dawn chorus #MoreInCommon", he wrote.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Pacemaker press 19/06/2016 Vigils have been held across the UK after the killing of the Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox on Thursday. Picture Mark Marlow/pacemaker Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is a vigil in memorial to Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox at Belfast City Hall in Belfast , Northern Ireland on Sunday 19th June 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye A man has been charged with the murder of Jo Cox Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is a vigil in memorial to Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox at Belfast City Hall in Belfast , Northern Ireland on Sunday 19th June 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is a vigil in memorial to Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox at Belfast City Hall in Belfast , Northern Ireland on Sunday 19th June 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Pacemaker press 19/06/2016 Vigils have been held across the UK after the killing of the Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox on Thursday. Political figures in Belfast at Belfast City Hall and members of the public came out to pay tribute to her. Picture Mark Marlow/pacemaker Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is Dr Raied Al-Wazzan at a vigil in memorial to Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox at Belfast City Hall in Belfast , Northern Ireland on Sunday 19th June 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Murdered Labour MP Jo Cox PA Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is Finance minister Mairtin O Muilleoir at a vigil in memorial to Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox at Belfast City Hall in Belfast , Northern Ireland on Sunday 19th June 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is Caral Ni Chuilin at a vigil in memorial to Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox at Belfast City Hall in Belfast , Northern Ireland on Sunday 19th June 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Tommy Mair has been named locally as the suspect in the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is a vigil in memorial to Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox at Belfast City Hall in Belfast , Northern Ireland on Sunday 19th June 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is Caral Ni Chuilin at a vigil in memorial to Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox at Belfast City Hall in Belfast , Northern Ireland on Sunday 19th June 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Jo Cox speaking in the House of Commons AFP/Getty Images Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is Dr Alasdair McDonnell at a vigil in memorial to Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox at Belfast City Hall in Belfast , Northern Ireland on Sunday 19th June 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is a vigil in memorial to Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox at Belfast City Hall in Belfast , Northern Ireland on Sunday 19th June 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Jo Cox. Pic: PA PA Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is Dr Raied Al-Wazzan at a vigil in memorial to Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox at Belfast City Hall in Belfast , Northern Ireland on Sunday 19th June 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is Dr Alasdair McDonnell at a vigil in memorial to Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox at Belfast City Hall in Belfast , Northern Ireland on Sunday 19th June 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is a vigil in memorial to Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox at Belfast City Hall in Belfast , Northern Ireland on Sunday 19th June 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is a vigil in memorial to Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox at Belfast City Hall in Belfast , Northern Ireland on Sunday 19th June 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is a vigil in memorial to Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox at Belfast City Hall in Belfast , Northern Ireland on Sunday 19th June 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is a vigil in memorial to Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox at Belfast City Hall in Belfast , Northern Ireland on Sunday 19th June 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye Picture - Kevin Scott / Presseye Pictured is Dr Alasdair McDonnell at a vigil in memorial to Labour MP for Batley and Spen, Jo Cox at Belfast City Hall in Belfast , Northern Ireland on Sunday 19th June 2016 ( Photo by Kevin Scott / Presseye) Kevin Scott / Presseye / Facebook

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Whatsapp Pacemaker press 19/06/2016 Vigils have been held across the UK after the killing of the Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox on Thursday. Picture Mark Marlow/pacemaker

Mair appeared before magistrates on Saturday, he gave his name as "Death to traitors, freedom for Britain".

Brigitte Anton of the Labour Party in Northern Ireland first met Jo Cox three years ago while working in the Labour Women's Network.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph at City Hall yesterday she described her late colleague as "a lovely, lovely person and a very dedicated politician."

"She was like one of the sisters, as we say. Very gentle and very kind, very authentic. I just can't believe anybody would attack her, it's just horrible to think about it."

Ms Anton said she believed the killing had been politically motivated.

"It was brought about by the poison in society, that hatred that has been going on for quite a while now, especially in political discourse. We were talking today about overcoming that hatred and making a better life for our children."

Also attending was Emma Hutchinson, the women's officer for the local party.

"I think it's possibly the first time an MP has been killed outside of terrorism for their political beliefs," she said.

"She wasn't a big hitter MP, but she worked diligently for her constituents and further afield for the Syrian children. Across the water the EU referendum has stirred up some quite unsavoury opinions and a nasty debate at times, but it's great to see people speaking from a progressive voice who won't be silenced and have come out in support of her to show she won't be forgotten."

South Belfast MP, the SDLP's Alasdair McDonnell, had known Jo Cox briefly during her first year in Westminster.

"Thursday was stunning for all of us," he said. "While MPs do suffer a certain amount of abuse and antagonism, to have somebody shot dead is quite frightening and intimidating for all of us. Jo was a tremendously passionate individual in the issues she took up, in particular Syria and the refugees."

He continued: "We have a particular solidarity here in Northern Ireland as MPs lost their lives."

Dr McDonnell noted that in his own constituency of South Belfast, a predecessor, Robert Bradford - a Vanguard Unionist MP killed by the IRA in 1981 - was shot dead, and 1982 Assembly member Edgar Graham of the UUP was also gunned down a year after the election.

"We've had a sense of this and the pressure MPs are under, but no matter how and when it happens it's not acceptable and can never be justified."

In the village where she was killed, prayers were said yesterday at St Peter's Church for Jo Cox and her family.
Anton Yelchin is best known for playing Pavel Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek films (AP)

Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin was killed when he was struck by his own car, police have said.

The American actor, 27, was hit by the vehicle as it rolled backwards down his drive in Studio City, California, according to Los Angeles police officer Jenny Hosier.

The car pinned Yelchin against a brick letterbox pillar and a security fence.

He had got out of the car, but police did not say why he was behind it when it started rolling.

Yelchin was on his way to meet friends for a rehearsal, Ms Hosier said. When he did not arrive, the group went to his house and found him dead.

Yelchin started his acting career with parts in indie films and television shows such as Judging Amy and The Practice before getting his big break in 2006 crime thriller Alpha Dog.

He is best known for playing Pavel Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek films.

The actor is in the third film in the franchise, Star Trek Beyond, which is due to be released in the UK next month.

Several celebrities have paid tribute to Yelchin on Twitter following the accident on Sunday morning.

His Star Trek co-star Zachary Quinto wrote: "Our dear friend. our comrade. our anton. one of the most open and intellectually curious people i have ever had the pleasure to know. so enormously talented and generous of heart. wise beyond his years. and gone before his time. all love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief."

Actor John Cho, who also appears in the films, said: "I loved Anton Yelchin so much. He was a true artist - curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. I'm in ruins."

Justin Lin, director of Star Trek Beyond, said: "Still in shock. Rest in peace, Anton. Your passion and enthusiasm will live on with everyone that had the pleasure of knowing you."

Actress Anna Kendrick wrote: "This is unreal. Anton Yelchin is such a talent. Such a huge loss."

Night Manager actor Tom Hiddleston tweeted: "Absolutely devastated to hear about Anton Yelchin. He was such a gifted, natural actor & a deeply kind man. My thoughts are with his family."

Little Britain star Matt Lucas said Yelchin was "an amazing actor".

Glee actor Kevin McHale said: "Anton Yelchin has always been one of my favorite actors. I've seen every movie. This is awful. Im so sorry for his family & friends."

Yelchin, an only child, was born in Russia. His parents were professional figure skaters who moved the family to the United States when Yelchin was a baby.

The actor's publicist, Jennifer Allen, confirmed his death and said his family requests privacy.
In Budapest for a few days and reading about Hungary's history, I couldn't help yet again dwelling on MOPE, the Most-Oppressed-People-Ever narrative of Irish history thus nicknamed, skewered and demolished by my friend Liam Kennedy.

Those who would like to challenge saddos like Gerry Adams, who still cling to this mythology like a comfort blanket, should get hold of professor Kennedy's brilliant Unhappy the Land: the Most Oppressed People Ever, the Irish?

As Maurice Hayes - a Catholic who became a top-level senior Northern Ireland public servant and later an Irish senator - put it, the book "slaughters almost every sacred cow in sight, from the Famine to the Rising, the Ulster Covenant and the Proclamation of the Republic, the Troubles (however labelled retrospectively) and the Civil War".

In his review, Mr Hayes recalled how an elderly Czech lady, the choreographer and Belfast resident Helen Lewis, reacted at the height of the Troubles to cross-community activists bemoaning their mutual victimhood, "intolerable" living conditions, "oppression, discrimination, paramilitary and security-force violence, their unparalleled suffering and the hopelessness of their position".

A survivor of three concentration camps and a forced march, who had lost to the Nazis, among others, her husband, mother and cousins, Mrs Lewis became impatient with the caterwauling and interrupted: "And you think you got troubles!"

So, for MOPEers of all denominations and none, here are a few highlights in Hungarian history.

In the 13th century, between 20% and 50% of the population were wiped out and the country devastated by Mongolian invaders.

In the 16th century, after shattering defeats, it was divided into three parts, one a Turk-occupied province of the Ottoman Empire; another, semi-independent for a time, gradually became its vassal state; and the third was ruled by the Austrian Habsburgs.

Around 150 years of incessant warfare ended with the Hungarians defeating the Turks, but remaining under heavily-resisted Austrian dominion.

After a period of peace under the dual Austro-Hungarian monarchy, Hungary was forced into the First World War by Austria, which drafted four million from the Hungarian kingdom, and was on the losing side.

Post-war, communists were responsible for the Red Terror and royalists for the White Terror.

In the 1920 settlement imposed by the victors of the Great War, Hungary had to surrender two-thirds of its territory: its population went from around 20 million to eight.

Its military losses during the Second World War as a German ally were in the region of 300,000, in addition to about 80,000 civilians, and around 600,000 Jews were murdered.

Then, the Soviet Union took over and, as our taxi driver put it mordantly, forgot to go home until 1991.

The persecution and repression led to the unsuccessful 1956 revolution, in which 20,000 died, mainly from Soviet bullets, after which the communist government killed 400, imprisoned almost 22,000 political opponents and interned 13,000 more.

You get the picture.

I would not want any country to forget its history and I believe victims of the Troubles are all entitled to sympathy, truth and justice, but is there any chance that those who go on and on about the unique suffering of the Irish might get a sense of proportion?

Human beings do terrible things to each other, but, by being so far off the beaten track, this little island has been spared much horror.

Yes, we were occupied and colonised by our nearest neighbour, but we were luckier than most small countries (pause for squawks of MOPE outrage), as it was more benign than most invaders and protected us from all kinds of dreadful alternatives.

The eternal whingeing resembles that so brilliantly satirised in The Life of Brian: "But apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh-water system and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?"

The British did most of that for us, along with giving us their language, democratic, legal, educational and other institutions, access to all opportunities in their country even after independence and - in the case of Northern Ireland - the right to stay in, or leave, the United Kingdom as the majority decides.

Forget about the self-pitying, ignorant absurdity of MOPE.

LOPE (Least Oppressed People Ever) is nearer to reality.
There can be no denying that UDR widows who have remarried have been given a raw deal. Their pensions were cut off when they wed again in what is clearly an injustice to women who have already suffered grievously.

These are people who were bereaved when their husbands were killed by terrorists during the Troubles. Those men donned a uniform to fight the scourge of violence and gave their lives for their country.

One wonders if they would have joined up had they known how their wives would be treated after their deaths?

The women were entitled to the pensions when their husbands were killed, and how they live the rest of their lives should be no concern of the Ministry of Defence or the Government. Why should remarrying invalidate their claim to continue to receiving the pension?

The same injustice also applies to around 250 regular Army widows in the UK, and both groups joined forces yesterday to bring their campaign to the House of Commons.

The situation is all the more iniquitous because the widows of RUC officers and prison officers in Northern Ireland can continue to receive their pensions even if they remarry. Both groups had previously seen their pensions stopped, but the RUC widows had their rights restored in 2015 and prisoner officers' widows in April this year.

What is the difference between UDR widows and RUC or prison officer widows? The only difference is the colour of the uniforms their husbands wore, and that is no reason for them to be treated unfairly.

They saw their husbands take huge risks in joining the UDR and ultimately giving their lives for their country. Surely the country should then treat these widows with the respect they deserve?

Sometimes, it seems that those who suffered most during the Troubles are the same people slighted at each and every turn.

This newspaper has consistently urged the politicians to grasp the nettle of legacy issues. However, in spite of many fine words and countless meetings with groups of victims from all sections of the community, little has been done, while the bereaved continue to grieve and to feel aggrieved.

They should be treated with respect. Their suffering should be forefront of the minds of those seeking a solution to legacy issues. Failure to deal with these issues is a festering sore in the peace process that will not disappear.
IN a few days' time we will be voting in the referendum. This will be the biggest decision that the people of the United Kingdom will take for generations to come and will have a profound effect on the people of Northern Ireland.

I believe that all the negative campaigning from the Remain camp will be counter-productive and that they have lost the argument, because there is nothing positive to say about the European Union.

Past prime ministers, who, while in office, allowed the economy to stagnate, collapse and wasted billions of our gold reserves propping up the euro, are the last people to listen to about the EU and financial advice.

The Chancellor's intervention, saying that, if we leave, the economy will collapse and an emergency Budget will be called to raise 30bn, is scaremongering. This will not happen, nor will the many outrageous claims by the Prime Minister.

All that will happen is that we will then be in control and the negotiations will start about how and when we will withdraw from the EU on terms for our benefit and not the European Union's.

There is no advantage that can, in any way, justify the billions we give to the EU each year and that are never seen again.

The UK is the world's fifth-largest economy and the amount of trade we do in the EU is shrinking each year, while trade to the rest of the world is increasing. The EU has always looked after the EU and not what is best for the people of the UK.

We have no control over the policy-makers in the EU; that is why the farming and fishing industries are facing ruin. The yearly membership fee we give to the EU will continue to increase. And for what?

We do not need politicians telling us how to vote. Just look at the evidence and remember that, if we vote to leave, we will be voting for a new, optimistic future - a future in which we can set our own destiny and not be governed by unelected bureaucrats from the EU.

STEVAN PATTERSON

Castlederg, Co Tyrone
Later this week, as a nation, we will be making one of the biggest political decisions in a generation as we vote on our relationship with the European Union. Essentially, in my view, the question comes down to which option - Remain or Leave - best safeguards jobs and investment in Northern Ireland and maintains the unity of the United Kingdom.

Over the past 27 years, I have seen great change in Europe. For example, we have moved from 12 to 28 member states. I have also seen Northern Ireland's relationship with Europe evolve and mature.

I will always remember when, in October 1994, just as the loyalist ceasefire was announced, Ian Paisley, John Hume and I met with then European Commission president Jacques Delors. He shared our optimism that Northern Ireland would move to a new beginning away from violence and pledged EU financial support.

And he was true to his word - weeks later, 240m of European funding for peace-building in Northern Ireland was approved. By 2020, Northern Ireland and the border region of the Republic will have received more than 2bn in PEACE funding alone.

Of course, PEACE funding only makes up one part of the money we draw down from Europe. Our local agri-food industry benefits immensely from EU support - in terms of agricultural funds, Northern Ireland currently receives four times as much per capita as England. Would that continue to be the case if we voted to leave?

It's not just farmers and community groups who have benefited from EU funding - EU funds have contributed to many of our major infrastructure investments, from new roads to our rail network and many other projects across Northern Ireland.

Overall, we are huge net recipients of EU funding - even Leave campaigners in Northern Ireland had to admit that, in 2014 alone, we were a net beneficiary by some 60m.

Northern Ireland is uniquely placed within the United Kingdom. We are the only part of the UK to share a land border with another EU country. As a result, Brexit would have a specific effect on our economy and local jobs.

For example, the EU is the UK's biggest trading partner, and almost half of UK trade is with the EU. According to a report published by the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee at Westminster just weeks ago, Northern Ireland is the UK region most reliant on EU trade.

One study has suggested that more than 111,000 jobs in Northern Ireland are linked to EU trade.

When Leave campaigners shrug their shoulders at the idea of even a short-term recession post-Brexit, it is these jobs they are putting at risk.

HM Treasury predicts that 14,000 jobs in Northern Ireland could be under threat simply from the short-term shock of a Brexit alone.

Being part of the EU's Single Market means unfettered, tariff-free access to a bloc of 27 other nations and a market of 500 million customers.

If we vote to leave the EU, even the best deal that currently exists wouldn't give us that. For example, no non-EU country is more integrated with the Single Market than Norway - but even Norway has to pay high tariffs on agri-food exports into Europe.

It is, therefore, little wonder that the vast majority of our local business community opposes leaving Europe.

It is not just on the economy that our geographical position within the UK is significant. The question of border controls has been a serious issue for those living along the border, commuters and those involved in business.

In particular, small and medium-sized enterprises in the border areas have already had to deal with volatile currency fluctuations in recent times.

These concerns have been brushed off carelessly by Leave campaigners, but the reality is clear: there has to be a "hard" border between the UK and the EU. If that hard border isn't on the island of Ireland, it will be at ports and airports in Britain, such as Cairnryan and Heathrow.

This is not simply Remain "scaremongering" - even the Eurosceptic Secretary of State Theresa Villiers has conceded that border checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK cannot be ruled out.

As someone who is a firm believer in the United Kingdom, I do not want to live as a second-class citizen in my own country.

As someone who has spent the past 27 years fighting for Northern Ireland in Europe, I see first-hand the many imperfections the EU has. The EU is far from perfect - and I don't think anyone arguing for a Remain vote thinks it is beyond criticism. But the question we have to ask is, what problems would leaving the EU actually solve?

For some, leaving the EU and walking away would be the easy choice. But if we leave the pitch, the other 27 member states will keep playing. But if we then still want to trade freely with the EU we would, like Norway, have to sit on the bench and accept the rules and result without any say in the matter. We need to be rule-makers in Europe, not rule-takers.

At the table, we can continue to lead the charge for EU reform.

In Northern Ireland, we should be doing much more to promote ourselves in Europe and to make the most of our special position. Our devolved ministers can sit alongside UK Government counterparts in Brussels; they should be doing that more often.

The Executive's office in Brussels should be given more ambitious targets and direction from Stormont in terms of European engagement.

Northern Ireland and the EU both look very different than they did in 1994. I am proud that Northern Ireland is now a region that can showcase itself to the EU and beyond as a place to travel to, to do business with and to invest in.

I want a prosperous Northern Ireland as part of a secure United Kingdom. On balance, the best way to take that ambition forward is for the United Kingdom to lead in a reformed European Union.

Jim Nicholson is Ulster Unionist MEP for Northern Ireland
National armies rarely act alone. Two hundred years ago Napoleon Bonaparte was defeated by a coalition at Waterloo.

A century later it was the Triple Entente of the UK, France and the Russian Empire who formed the core of the allies who stood against the Central Powers of Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Much more recently it was a disparate group of countries who took on the Taliban campaign fought amongst the deserts, kalays and green zones of Afghanistan.

Armed coalitions tend to work. Created by ideology or the pragmatism needed to ward off a shared threat, they bring together military capabilities and capacity, uniting nations to achieve a common goal.

Yet the EU Referendum has cast a spotlight on what sort of collaboration the UK should engage in to ensure its security. Some foresee an ever-more centralised EU where the inevitable result is a single European Army beyond our control.

Others fear that if we cast ourselves adrift from the EU then our military might will be diluted; our armed services relegated to an impotent defence force without call on others.

Yet more believe that it is our membership of NATO which offers us the greatest protection. And there is no doubt that the guarantor of peace in Europe since World War II has been the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. But a clue to its limitations lies in the name.

Article 5 of the NATO treaty states an attack on one nation would be deemed as an attack on all nations in the alliance. Yet when the Falkland Islands were attacked by Argentina in 1982 NATO didn't send ships to join the Task Force which set sail for the southern hemisphere.

The reason is simple enough; the Falklands lie far beyond the organisation's geographical jurisdiction.

In the absence of access to this pan-national military might we had to look to old friends for assistance. Some were older than others.

Portugal's offer to the Royal Navy to use the facilities in the Azores was based on the Anglo-Portuguese Treaty which was first signed more than six hundred years ago in 1373.

And for all its power NATO can only impotently stand and watch when member nations start to bicker amongst themselves. The dispute over Cyprus is between two such countries: Greece and Turkey.

And what would happen if Spain ever carried out its veiled threats and annexed Gibraltar?

NATO would shrug its shoulders and if the UK was outside the EU then it would once again have to look on the shelves for other treaties of mutual obligation. The UK-France Defence Cooperation Treaty might be one - to assist in creating a bi or multilateral response.

The argument from long retired senior military figures who say the UK military capability is being eroded by being part of the EU Common Defence Policy makes little sense. They argue the UK should concentrate on NATO - yet the majority of countries contributing to NATO are also members of the EU. Therefore if we carry this argument to its conclusion NATO is therefore less capable.

But what is the practical likelihood of a standing EU army? The logistical difficulties are legion and the political difficulties of getting 28 sovereign nations to agree an acceptable chain of command, let alone shared objectives, are formidable and probably insurmountable.

The day when French troops are stationed on Salisbury Plain and called out to help with civil contingencies such as fire-fighter strikes, flooding and foot and mouth is not a realistic option.

But if a fully-fledged EU Army is pie in the sky an EU Force is already a reality. EUFOR, as it is known, has been deployed on five missions: Macedonia, Bosnia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Chad and the Central African Republic.

These operations were part of the EU Common Security and Defense Policy and it is up to member states to decide to what extent they will involve their own national forces.

In this instance the UK would have a national veto on the deployment of British forces.

Likewise EUROCORPS, a coalition of five nation members and five associated nations, has been operational since 1995 and does not include the UK. It has a 1,000 strong HQ element in Strasbourg with its nucleus a Franco-German Brigade.

The picture I am trying to paint is one of multiple routes to mutual cooperation. Inside or outside the EU we face security challenges but whatever our political and sovereign status there will be options to work with others militarily.

During the 34 years I spent in the army I rarely felt that I was acting in splendid isolation. More often than not I was working in a chain of command where people above and below me were of other nationalities.

Which is not to say that I do not have a view on whether our national security would be better maintained in the EU or out. I feel we have more options as part of the Union. It has been shown to work. Our support mechanism is already in place. It's the proven option.

And why change something that isn't broken - and it isn't broken.

Former Royal Irish Regiment Doug Beattie is an Ulster Unionist MLA and a winner of the Military Cross
(SPOILER ALERT: One day, you will die. Me too.)

Actor Anton Yelchin, best known as Chekov in the Star Trek movies from 2009 onward, died some time late Saturday evening/early Sunday morning at his home in Los Angeles California. He was 27 years old.

It always gets our attention when someone whos young and healthy dies suddenly, and although I dont think famous people die any more readily than any others, it always stands out. But both in terms of the observable details and the astrology  the death of Anton Yelchin is a strange one.

Anton was found by friends dead in the driveway of his home, on his steeply-inclined driveway. His body was wedged between his car and a brick mailbox pillar which was attached to the homes security gate. When he was found, the car was still running and was in neutral. If there were such a thing as the textbook definition of a freak accident, this would be it.

The astrology, as one might expect with an incident like this, is unusual. Not long ago I asked rhetorically if an astrologer could have saved Prince, and the answer was more than likely, yes. In this case though? The astrology is as weird as you might expect.

Anton Yelchin was born March 11 1989, time unknown, St. Petersburg Russia. Its always risky to try to extract too much information from a birth chart without a time of birth (which determines the House placements and rulerships), and Ive often seen things in a case like this that didnt make immediate sense but Ive never seen transits that made no sense at all (except on a couple of occasions when it turned out I had the wrong data in the first place). In this case? The transits do make sense but they arent at all what one would normally expect.

Yes, Anton had a Saturn-Neptune conjunction in Capricorn in his birth chart, and yes transiting Pluto was conjunct that. But, like all outer planet transits, a Pluto conjunction is slow, taking years to complete and even if its a factor in a death, its not like that transit made someone died every day over the course of the three or four years a Pluto transit can take. Its worth keeping in mind, but its not going to be the only contributing factor to a major life event.

What may strike many of you as unusual is that in this case, the primary target being hit in Antons birth chart was his natal Venus at 14 degrees Pisces.

What? you might think. Transits to your Venus might mess with your love life or your finances or your kidneys or blood sugar but kill you? Nonetheless, that appears to be exactly what happened here. At the time of his death, Anton Yelchins Venus was under a surprising amount of stress from transiting planets. Transiting Saturn was square it, transiting Jupiter and the North Node were within a degree of the exact opposition to it, Neptune was conjunct it, and even the transiting Moon was square it. And, for bonus points the March Solar Eclipse in Pisces (which still has an effect now) was conjunct that Venus of his.

So, yeah what, as an astrologer, can I say about this? Its obvious in hindsight that something major was likely to happen, but who could have foreseen this? Even with a time of birth on hand, this is simply one of those things that by its nature would be hard to predict. What kind of excuse can I present for the less-than-obvious astrological cause of Anton Yelchins death? Im afraid the best I can do is pass the buck and quote physicist Richard Feynman: I think natures imagination is so much greater than mans. Shes never going to let us relax

In the meantime SPOILER ALERT: One day, you will die. Me too. Hopefully not too soon though.

See also: The Astrology Of Mars: George Zimmerman Has A Temper

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India should tread carefully in pressing Bangladesh to act over a death threat allegedly sent by the Islamic State (IS) to a Hindu priest in Dhaka, experts cautioned on Monday.

The Indian government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), intervened diplomatically on Friday after the Kolkata-based Ramakrishna Mission in Dhaka received a threat-letter addressed to one of its priests.

The intervention is rare, if not unprecedented, because India had until then refrained from voicing concern to Dhaka about the safety of Hindus in majority Muslim Bangladesh, where members of religious minorities, secular bloggers and others have been targeted in a spate of killings by suspected Islamic militants dating to February 2013. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for some of the killings, but local officials have consistently denied that IS has a presence in the country.

Modis government has to be very cautious in dealing with Bangladesh to ensure that its interference does not fuel another round of resentment among radical groups who are of the view that the Hindus in Bangladesh seek help from India for protection, Joyeeta Bhattacharjee, a Bangladesh expert at the New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation, told BenarNews.

Regardless of Modi being a follower of the R.K. Mission, the Indian government has to intervene in the matter because the institution is from India. But is has to exercise immense caution, Bhatacharjee added.

India intervened after the head priest at the mission received the menacing letter on Wednesday.

Bangladesh is an Islamic state. You cant preach your religion here. If you continue preaching, youll be hacked to death with machetes between [the] 20th and 30th, read the letter, which bore computer-generated IS letterhead, according to Bangladeshi media reports.

The letter was signed by one A.B. Siddique but did not mention the month.

According to a top Indian government source, Modi, who is a follower of the Ramakrishna Mission, has ordered the Ministry of External Affairs to give high priority to the security around the mission, where five Indian citizens are based.

Intelligence officials in India and Bangladesh also are coordinating an investigation into the threat, the anonymous source told BenarNews, adding that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had taken up the issue as well with the ministry.

High Commission of India, Dhaka, has contacted both Bangladesh police and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and has been assured of full support and protection. We are also in direct contact with the R.K. Mission in Dhaka, Vikas Swarup, spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted on Friday.

Security beefed up at Dhaka mission

Sanjoy Hazarika, a distinguished expert on affairs related to northeast India, agreed with Bhattacharjee, saying the Indian government should be careful in how it handled the matter so as not to be seen as meddling in Bangladeshi affairs.

Bangladesh is a country which has acted against war criminals who committed atrocities against Hindus in the liberation war of 1971, Hazarika told BenarNews, adding that India need not pressure its neighbor for assuring action.

The Indian government has to carry our complete assessment of the ground situation and be extremely careful in handling the situation, he said.

But Rakesh Sinha, a member of Indias right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological mentor of the BJP, urged the Modi government to exert more pressure on Bangladesh through diplomatic channels to curb a growing trend of Islamic radicalism there.

It is Indias moral responsibility to intervene in such acts of terror in Bangladesh to safeguard Hindu institutions and members of minority groups facing such death threats regularly, Sinha told BenarNews.

In Bangladesh, a spokesman the Dhaka Metropolitan Police said that it and other security agencies were doing all they could to protect the priests at the Hindu mission.

The police have taken the threat very seriously and we have [already] deployed more troops around the Ramakrishna Mission compound, spokesman Masudur Rahman told BenarNews.

The police and intelligence officials have been tasked to ensure fool-proof security of the compound and all staff of the mission, he said.

Kamran Reza Chowdhury in Dhaka contributed to this report.
Ajoy Roy, father of the late Bangladeshi blogger Avijit Roy, speaks during a candlelight vigil in Dhaka for Niladri Chottopaddhya, another slain secular writer, Aug. 14, 2015. On Monday, Ajoy Roy confirmed that police had killed one of the men who allegedly hacked his son to death.

The father of slain Bangladeshi blogger Avijit Roy says that a suspected militant shot dead by police over the weekend was one of the men who killed his son.

I do not have any doubt that the person killed in the shootout was Sharif, one of the killers of Avijit, Ajoy Roy told BenarNews on Monday, referring to a man identified as a member of the banned militant group Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) and who was killed in Dhaka on Sunday.

Sharif was one of three men who took part in a machete-attack that killed his son Avijit and gravely injured his daughter-in-law, Rafida Bonya Ahmed, as the couple was leaving the Ekushey Book Fair in Dhaka on the night of Feb. 26, 2015, Ajoy Roy said. His son was one of seven secular bloggers killed by suspected religious zealots since February 2013.

Police had informed him of the identities of the three suspects at least a year ago but had not publicized this information, Ajoy Roy said during an interview at his apartment in Dhaka.

The suspect Sharif was killed after three motorcyclists shot at detectives on Sunday morning in the Meradia area of Dhaka, Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesman Masudur Rahman told BenarNews.

The police counter fired. Two of them fled while one of them was killed in the shootout. We are sure he is Avijits killer, Sharif. We had announced 500,000 takas [U.S. $6,371] as a bounty on him, said Rahman, adding that Sharif had used several aliases.

The notice for the bounty claimed that Sharif had participated directly in the killings of blogger Niladri Chottopaddhya and Riyad Morshed Babu, a student at Shanto-Marium University of Creative Technology in Dhaka.

The notice identified Sharif  also known as Shariful, Hadi and Sakib  as the planner of the killings of gay-rights activists Xulhaz Mannan and Mahbub Rabbi Tonoy, publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan and secular bloggers Washiqur Rahman and Nazimuddin Samad. Sharid also took part in a non-fatal attack on publisher Ahmedur Rashid Tutul, the notice said.

We have come to take the body

The police had their identities, their parents identities, their photos, their DNA profiles at least one year ago, but police did not disclose these for the sake of investigation, Ajoy said. Police refrained from publicizing the information as they could not catch them.

He said he learned these details when he went to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to verify reports that police had identified Avijits killers.

I asked one of the CID officials, Do you know how many persons killed Avijit? He replied Sir, specifically there were three  two of them were killers and the other was the communicator; two persons hacked [him] with machetes and the other gave them instructions on Avijits movement over a mobile phone.

During the hours leading up to and immediately after the killing, his sons killers were communicating with their religious leader over the phone. The leader was in charge of the ABTs information technology wing, Ajoy Roy said.

Meanwhile, Sharifs brother-in-law, Hedayetul Islam, told reporters in Dhaka that Sharif hailed from Satkhira, a district in southwestern Bangladesh, and that his original name was Mukul Rana. Sharifs relatives did not know that he was a member of ABT and that he had taken part in the killing of Avijit Roy, Islam said.

We have come to take the body as we saw his corpse on TV, he said.
A Royal Malaysian Navy combat boat sets out on a routine patrol in the South China Sea in the handout photo, Oct. 6, 2014.

Defense ministers from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines on Monday agreed in Manila to pursue coordinated air-and-sea surveillance in a joint effort to halt kidnappings by Abu Sayyaf militants in the Sulu and Celebes seas.

Such surveillance would be modeled on the Malacca Strait Patrols (MSP), a system of air-and-sea operations coordinated by Indonesia and Malaysia in the Andaman Sea, according to a trilateral statement issued at the end of Mondays meeting in the Philippine capital.

The Malacca Strait model had significantly reduced hijackings in that maritime zone, Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said.

Threats in Sulu waters cannot be eradicated without cooperation from neighboring countries which share borders, he said in a statement following the meeting in Manila.

Joining Hishammuddin there were his Indonesian and Philippine counterparts, Ryamizard Ryacudu and Voltaire T. Gazmin.

In their joint statement, the ministers said the three neighboring countries had agreed to establish a trilateral maritime patrol working group, which would set operational plans for those patrols.

The ministers raised concern over the recent incidents of kidnappings and armed robbery at sea in the maritime areas of common concern, and reaffirmed the need, commitment and collective responsibility of the countries to address such threats that undermine peace, security and prosperity of the region, the statement said.

The three countries also agreed to establish a transit corridor designating sea lanes for mariners entering the common area, and share information and intelligence by establishing a trilateral database.

Mondays meeting enhances efforts by members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to combat crime and terrorism, according to Zaini Othman, director of the Center for Strategic and Security Studies at Universiti Malaysia Sabah.

I see this agreement as a reflection of the seriousness among the three countries to address these issues, he told BenarNews.

Second trilateral meeting

Mondays talks reaffirmed commitments made at a similar meeting in Jakarta on May 5, when foreign ministers from the three countries agreed to a four-point plan to stop hijackings in the seas separating the southern Philippines from Borneo island. They agreed to establish three-way hotlines and coordinate maritime patrols.

The efforts are occurring as the three nations deal with a series of kidnappings by Abu Sayyaf and other militant groups in the Philippines.

Most recently, four Malaysian sailors were released June 8 after being held by Abu Sayyaf for two months. Their families claimed they paid 12 million ringgit (U.S. $2.94 million) for their release while Malaysian officials claimed that the money did not go to the militant group.

Previously, four Indonesian sailors were released by a different Philippine militant group on May 11, and 10 Indonesian sailors kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf were released on May 1.
Workers clean a sign above the CIMB bank in Kuala Lumpur, May 8, 2015.

Malaysians fighting overseas for the Islamic State (IS) militant group are believed to be tapping funds from their compatriots by using local banks instead of the traditional underground financial network, according to officials and experts.

At least three IS sympathizers in Malaysia have been charged in recent weeks with funding Malaysians fighters for the extremist group overseas, including Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedi, who was seen in a video of an IS execution of a Syrian man.

Intelligence reports have suggested that Wanndy is using sympathizers from Malaysia to fund his jihad activities, Malaysian police counter-terrorism chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said.

I believe the money is being used to cover his expenses in Syria, he told BenarNews.

A handful of Malaysians have given Wanndy their own money because they are convinced that he is using it to fund jihad in Syria, Ayob Khan said.

Just two months ago, Malaysian authorities had told BenarNews they were having difficulty tracing funds flowing to IS fighters because they were sent through a black market network in Southeast Asia, or the elusive international Hawala informal money transfer system.

The recent Malaysian cases, however, indicate that IS sympathizers were taking the risk of using the conventional banking system to remit funds to the groups fighters.

On June 15, two IS sympathizers were charged in separate courts in Malaysia for providing funds to Wanndy, who is a member of the Katibah Nusantara, a Malay language-speaking unit with fighters mainly from Indonesia and Malaysia.

He is responsible for recruiting Malaysians through social media platforms to join the group in Syria, according to reports.

On June 17, an audio technician was charged for funding alleged terrorist Wan Mohd Aquil Wan Zainal Abidin, 37, who is in Syria. Little information is known about Wan Mohd Aquil, a former musician.

On June 10, a Malaysian car painter was charged with funding Muhammad Joraimee Awang Raimee, 41, a member of the Philippine militant group Abu Sayyaf.

Muhammad Joraimee has been on the Malaysian polices wanted list since April 2014.

According to news reports, Muhammad Joraimee is part of a group planning to form an official faction of the IS in Southeast Asia by bringing together militant groups in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

To date, Malaysian police have arrested at least 193 suspects with alleged links to IS, 64 of whom have been charged in court, according to police statistics.

Terror-financing landscape changing

Rohan Gunaratna, an international terrorism expert, said investigations into terror attacks and several foiled terrorism plots revealed that IS operational entities received funds from the groups central and local support cells.

The funds are used for foreign fighter travels, planning, preparing and attack activities, said Gunaratna, who heads the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

Authorities need to have a deeper understanding of the changing money laundering and terrorism financing threat landscape, he told BenarNews. This is imperative.

Using indicators, terrorist funds can be detected in the collection, storage, movement and disbursal stages but banks and governments should work collaboratively, he said.

IS plans to build a global and regional financial infrastructure to complement its existing local revenue, said Gunaratna, who is also a columnist for BenarNews.

Through its financial networks based in Turkey, IS is transferring money to support groups, networks, cells and personalities in target countries or countries neighboring target countries, and on occasion through global financial hubs, he said.

Meanwhile, Malaysian security expert Zaini Othman said the issue over IS relying on locals for funding was nothing new.

But we need to read the situation between the lines. Either IS is really running out of financial assistance to support their struggle or their financial assistance is becoming stronger from time to time, Zaini, who directs the Security and Strategic Research Center (SASSREC) at the University of Malaysia  Sabah, told BenarNews.

According to Malaysias home ministry, more than 130 Malaysians have tried to join IS in Iraq or Syria. At least 19 Malaysians have been killed while fighting for IS in the Middle East, according to Ayob Khan.

Nani Yusof contributed to this report.
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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.





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For Immediate Release, June 20, 2016 Contact: Jenny Loda, (515) 441-1636, jloda@biologicaldiversity.org Endangered Sonoma County Tiger Salamander Gets Recovery Plan SANTA ROSA, Calif. In accordance with a settlement with the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released a final recovery plan for the endangered Sonoma County population of the California tiger salamander. The plan calls for purchase and permanent protection of approximately 15,000 acres of the salamanders breeding ponds and adjacent uplands. Photo courtesy USFWS. This photo is available for media use. With a recovery plan we can fight threats like habitat destruction that have pushed these salamanders to the brink of extinction, said Jenny Loda, a biologist and attorney with the Center who is dedicated to protecting rare amphibians and reptiles. This plan gives us hope for one of our most imperiled salamanders. The recovery plan focuses on alleviating the threat of habitat loss and fragmentation by permanently protecting breeding ponds and their adjacent uplands through acquisition and conservation easements. The plan also calls for restoring breeding habitats, as well as assessing and reducing risks of non-native predators, road mortality, contaminants and disease. Without adequate habitat protections, these salamanders cant migrate safely between their wetland and upland homes, said Loda. I hope the habitat protections and other actions identified in this plan will be put in place immediately to help move these salamanders toward recovery. Although Sonoma County California tiger salamanders have been protected under the Endangered Species Act for more than a decade, the Fish and Wildlife Service had not developed a required recovery plan to guide management of the species. In April 2012 the Center sued the Interior Department for its failure to develop such a plan for the endangered salamanders; the plan released today is the result of the December 2012 settlement agreement that resulted from this lawsuit. Recovery plans are the main tool for identifying actions necessary to save endangered species from extinction and eventually remove their protection under the Endangered Species Act. Research by the Center has found that the status of species with dedicated recovery plans for two or more years is far more likely to be improving than the status of those without. Background

The California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense) is a large, stocky, terrestrial salamander with a broad, rounded snout and gorgeous black-and-yellow body. These amphibians are restricted to vernal pools and seasonal ponds in grassland and oak savannah communities in central California. The primary cause of their decline is the loss and fragmentation of habitat through human activities and encroachment of nonnative predators. The Sonoma County population of California tiger salamanders was listed as endangered in 2003. This species is endemic to the Santa Rosa Plain, in central Sonoma County, Calif., and is genetically and geographically distinct from other California tiger salamanders. For more information about the Centers campaign to curb the amphibian and reptile extinction crisis, please visit http://BiologicalDiversity.org/herps. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.


For Immediate Release, June 20, 2016 Contact: Michael Robinson, (575) 313-7017, michaelr@biologicaldiversity.org 3.2 Million Animals Killed by Federal Wildlife-destruction Program in 2015 Ignoring Calls for Reform, Wildlife Services Kills Half-million More

Coyotes, Bears, Wolves, Foxes, Other Animals Than Previous Year WASHINGTON The highly secretive arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture known as Wildlife Services killed more than 3.2 million animals during fiscal year 2015, according to new data released by the agency. The total number of wolves, coyotes, bears, mountain lions, beavers, foxes, eagles and other animals killed largely at the behest of the livestock industry and other agribusinesses represents a half-million-animal increase over the 2.7 million animals the agency killed in 2014. Despite increasing calls for reform a century after the federal wildlife-killing program began in 1915, the latest kill report indicates that the programs reckless slaughter continues, including 385 gray wolves, 68,905 coyotes (plus an unknown number of pups in 492 destroyed dens), 480 black bears, 284 mountain lions, 731 bobcats, 492 river otters (all but 83 killed unintentionally), 3,437 foxes, two bald eagles and 21,559 beavers. The program also killed 20,777 prairie dogs outright, plus an unknown number killed in more than 59,000 burrows that were destroyed or fumigated. Despite mounting public outcry and calls from Congress to reform these barbaric, outdated tactics, Wildlife Services continues its slaughter of Americas wildlife with no public oversight, said Michael Robinson of the Center for Biological Diversity. Theres simply no scientific basis for continuing to shoot, poison and strangle millions of animals every year  a cruel practice that not only fails to effectively manage targeted wildlife but poses an ongoing threat to other animals, including pets. Agency insiders have revealed that the agency kills many more animals than it reports. The data show that the Department of Agriculture boosted its killing program despite a growing public outcry and calls for reform by scientists, elected officials and nongovernmental organizations. The Department of Agriculture should get out of the wildlife-slaughter business, said Robinson. Wolves, bears and other carnivores help keep the natural balance of their ecosystems. Our government kills off the predators, such as coyotes, and then kills off their prey  like prairie dogs  in an absurd, pointless cycle of violence. Background

USDAs Wildlife Services program began in 1915 when Congress appropriated $125,000 to the Bureau of Biological Survey for destroying wolves, coyotes, and other animals injurious to agriculture and animal husbandry on national forests and other public lands. By the 1920s scientists and fur trappers were robustly criticizing the Biological Surveys massive poisoning of wildlife, and in response in 1928 the agency officially renounced extermination as its goal. Nevertheless it proceeded to exterminate wolves, grizzly bears, black-footed ferrets and other animals from most of their remaining ranges in the years to follow. The agency was blocked from completely exterminating these species through the 1973 passage of the Endangered Species Act. In 1997, after several name changes, the deceptive name Wildlife Services was inaugurated in place of Biological Survey. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.


For Immediate Release, June 20, 2016 Contact: Andrea Santarsiere, (303) 854-7748, asantarsiere@biologicaldiversity.org Reward of More Than $10,000 Offered Over Wolf Pups Killed in Northern Idaho VICTOR, Idaho The Center for Biological Diversity is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for illegally killing wolf pups after removing them from their den in north Idahos Kootenai County, about 15 miles outside the city of Coeur dAlene. The pledge, along with an undisclosed reward offered by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, comes as Idaho officials are seeking leads in their criminal investigation of the poaching incident, which likely occurred the week of May 16, officials said. Pulling young wolf pups from their den and killing them is repulsive, said Andrea Santarsiere, a staff attorney at the Center. Coming on the heels of a protected grizzly bear being killed last month, its a stark reminder that Idahos still-recovering populations of big carnivores are at constant threat from poachers. Wolves are currently managed as big-game animals in Idaho, but there was no open hunting or trapping season for wolves at the time the pups were killed. Fish and Game officers are asking anyone with information about the incident to call the Citizens Against Poaching Hotline, (800) 632-5999. Callers may remain anonymous. Sadly, these poaching incidents reflect what a growing body of research is making more and more clear  that allowing extensive hunting and trapping of wolves has not increased social tolerance for them, as the state predicted, said Santarsiere. Instead were seeing evidence that state-supported hunts of big carnivores actually devalue them among a certain segment of the population, and in fact likely trigger an increase in illegal killings. The federal monitoring program required by the Endangered Species Act after protections are removed expired last month. Poaching, along with continued state-sanctioned hunting and trapping, demonstrate why ongoing monitoring is crucial. In January the Center, along with four other conservation organizations, filed a petition asking the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to extend the monitoring period by an additional five years, and in March the organizations filed a notice of intent to sue the Service for failing to extend monitoring. Idaho officials are continuing to seek information about last months grizzly bear poaching in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest near East Dry Creek, off the Yale-Kilgore Road in Island Park. Conservation officers concluded that the young grizzly bear had been dead a few weeks and did not die of natural causes. More than $15,000 in reward money is available for information leading to an arrest and conviction in that case. In March the Fish and Wildlife Service announced plans to remove Endangered Species Act protections for Yellowstones famed grizzly bears, paving the way for state-supported trophy hunts that are already being planned in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.


No. 831, June 16, 2016 Petition Aims to Protect Tricolored Bats From Disease, Habitat Loss

Tricolored bats have declined dramatically over the past 10 years due to a deadly fungal disease called white-nose syndrome: Rangewide they've lost a third of their population, and in the Northeast the disease has killed 98 percent of tricoloreds in some areas.



These small, insect-eating bats, with fluttery flight patterns and fur of three colors, are also at risk from cave disturbances, habitat loss and wind-energy development. They need help soon. That's why the Center for Biological Diversity and allies this week petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect them under the Endangered Species Act.



"Tricolored bats are in grave trouble, and it's time the feds took action to keep them from tumbling off the cliff of extinction," said the Center's Mollie Matteson. "Among the three bats most devastated by white-nose syndrome, the tricolored has been virtually forgotten -- but that can't continue if it's to survive this disease."



Read more in our press release.

West Coast Whale Entanglements Increasing, On Track to Break Record Nearly 40 reports of whales entangled in fishing gear have been recorded off the West Coast in 2016. And 2015 saw 61 reported entanglements, up from 30 confirmed in 2014. Before that, the average was around eight entanglements a year.



Some whales do end up escaping from fishing gear -- often with the help of whale-rescue teams that are now being overwhelmed -- but those that don't escape often die slow, painful deaths.



In response to the latest figures, the Center is calling on Dungeness crab fishermen to remove more fishing lines from Monterey Bay and other areas where whales, including endangered humpbacks and blues, are now feeding and being seen entangled. The Center also has urged regulators to take swift action to address the problem.



"This has become a crisis. We recognize that crabbers don't want to harm whales -- now they need to act to avoid important biological areas where whales feed," said Kristen Monsell, a Center attorney.



Read more in our press release.

$15,000 Reward Offered Over Poached Grizzly Bear in Idaho

The Center is contributing to the reward for information about the killing of a grizzly bear found dead over the weekend of June 4 in Idaho. To help bring the killer (or killers) to justice, the Center has offered a $5,000 reward, adding to $5,000 from the Fish and Wildlife Service, $5,000 from the The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust, and $600 from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game's Citizens Against Poaching program.



"The illegal killing of any wildlife is appalling," said the Center's Andrea Santarsiere. "But this particular incident is even more tragic because this bear was killed in the heart of a wildlife corridor connecting central Idaho and Yellowstone, which is important to healthy, sustainable bear populations in both areas. The Service's recent proposal to strip federal protections from Yellowstone bears makes it all but certain that other bears traveling through the Centennials will face the same fate as this bear."



The Center filed a petition with the Fish and Wildlife Service to reintroduce bears to the area in December 2014, but the Service hasn't yet produced a meaningful response.



Read more in our press release. Tell Gov. Brown: Stop Irrigating California Crops With Oil Wastewater

Did you know that California crops, which make up more than half of the nation's produce, are being grown with wastewater from toxic oilfields?



Oil companies sell treated oilfield wastewater to Central Valley farmers for irrigation of crops. Farmers are desperate for cheap water, and oil companies see nothing but dollar signs. Regulators have never conducted an independent analysis of recycled oil wastewater to determine what toxic chemicals it may contain, but an independent scientific study published last year showed that samples of treated oil waste sold to California farmers contained oil, acetone and methylene chloride -- a known carcinogen.



We must take swift action to stop Big Oil from poisoning our nation's grocery basket. Join us in asking California's Governor Brown to keep our food safe by immediately stopping the use of toxic oil wastewater to irrigate crops.

Reno Protesters to Feds: Dont Auction Away Our Climate Center staff and supporters were prominent at a large rally Tuesday in Reno, Nev., where at least 150 people protested a Bureau of Land Management fossil fuel auction, calling on the Obama administration to cancel the lease sale to protect Nevada's water, communities and climate future from fracking. The protest included public speakers, songs and visual and performance-art spectacles that included a large "human oil spill."



The BLM planned to auction more than 74,000 acres of the Big Smoky Valley for fracking that could deplete and pollute water, industrialize indigenous lands and wildlife habitat, and create almost a half-million tons of greenhouse gas pollution.



The protest was part of the national "Keep It in the Ground" campaign, a rapidly growing movement calling on President Obama to halt new federal fossil fuel leases on public lands and oceans -- which would keep up to 450 billion tons of potential carbon pollution in the ground.



Read more in our press release.

Lawsuit Launched Over Protections Denied to Pacific Fishers The Center and allies this week filed a notice of intent to sue over the Fish and Wildlife Service's decision in April to deny Endangered Species Act protection to Pacific fishers, the latest species to fall victim to the Service's efforts to cater to industry.



Closely related to martens and wolverines, fishers are severely threatened by habitat loss caused by logging and the use of toxic rodenticides on illegal marijuana-growing sites. Although the Service had recently proposed federal protections for Pacific fishers -- which have dwindled to just two populations in Oregon and California -- the agency reversed course at the last minute in a bow to the timber industry.



"Fishers are staring extinction in the face, so it's deeply disheartening to see the Service deny them the protection they need to survive," said the Center's Justin Augustine. "Science, not politics, should drive these kinds of decisions, and that didn't happen here."



Read more in The Siskiyou Daily News.

Excited About Finding Dory? OK, But Don't Buy These Fish as Pets Disney/Pixar's movie Finding Dory comes out this week, and the Center and allies are urging consumers not to buy fish like Dory, a royal blue tang, or other wild-caught saltwater fish as pets for home aquariums. While many freshwater fish can be bred in captivity, most saltwater fish sold for aquariums are captured in the wild and taken from coral reefs in the Philippines and Indonesia, often through a method using cyanide -- which kills coral and other animals.



Although movies like this raise awareness about marine species, we're concerned Finding Dory might trigger a sharp rise in consumer demand for blue tangs -- with severe impacts on the species and their reef homes. There are already millions of fish brought to the United States for the pet trade each year that are captured with cyanide. The Center and allies have petitioned the Obama administration to halt the import of fish captured via cyanide poisoning.



"People can love these beautiful fish to death, and we don't want to see that happen," said the Center's Nicholas Whipps.



Read more in the Chicago Tribune and urge the Obama administration to ban imports of fish stunned with cyanide.

Wild & Weird: El Jefe's Four-legged Neighbors -- Watch Video

Earlier this year when we released remote-sensor camera footage of El Jefe -- America's only known wild jaguar -- the big cat with muscular grace became an overnight sensation. He's roamed the mountains outside Tucson since 2011, and his species lived in the American Southwest for untold generations before extermination programs drove them to near extinction in the north.



El Jefe is unique, but he isn't the only wild and awesome critter living very near the Center's Tucson headquarters. The Sky Islands -- as the isolated mountain ranges in the Southwest are nicknamed -- boast the highest biodiversity in inland North America. A unique array of geographic, topographic and climatic influences create a bewildering variety of plants and animals here, many imperiled or found nowhere else. So while El Jefe is the star of our remote-sensor cameras, we also have footage of ringtails, javelinas, bears, cougars, Mexican opossums, deer, bobcats and two species of skunk, all of which share a home with the jaguar.



Watch footage of El Jefe's neighbors, including a cougar kitten and a bear cub. Kieran Suckling

@KieranSuckling

Executive Director View this message in your browser and share it on social media.



Photo credits: tricolored bat by davidjthomas/Flickr; humpback whale by demed/Flickr; grizzly bear by petechar/Flickr; wolves by John Pitcher; oil derrick and crops by David Meyer/Flickr; Reno "Keep It in the Ground" rally photo by Kyla Whitmore, Center for Biological Diversity; fisher by guppiecat/Flickr; grizzly bear (c) Robin Silver; blue tang by Rafal Zych/Flickr; ringtails, public domain.



Donate now to support the Center's work.



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MTN will take steps to repair its battered reputation not only in Nigeria, but across most of the 22 markets in which it operates. The company has been accused of avoiding tax by practising illegitimate transfer pricing, which moves profits from source to tax havens, thus robbing states of tax revenues.

Image by 123RF

Among the first steps to get back into the good books of regulators and the public, MTN will list its local unit on the Nigerian Stock Exchange "as soon as commercially and legally possible", it said last week.

The company reached agreement with the Nigerian Communications Commission to pay US1.67bn "in full and final settlement".

The fine will be paid in instalments until mid-2019. MTN was originally fined $5.2bn last year for its failure to properly register all users of its network, or to disconnect those who were unregistered.

Nigeria later reduced the fine to $3.9bn, but MTN pushed for more concessions, taking the matter to court. When a settlement was reached out of court last week, the market immediately gave its nod to the deal. The stock jumped 13.2%, to close at R140/share.

MTN's reluctance to list shares on the Nigerian bourse has always been one of the complaints by local politicians against the company.

Executive chairman Phuthuma Nhleko says more than a fifth of the company is already being traded over the counter in Nigeria, and that listing in that country "was always contemplated". "We'll only do that (the listing) when market conditions are sufficiently conducive."

The mechanisms of the proposed listing have not been worked out yet, but MTN will maintain a majority ownership in the listed unit. It is the first time MTN has given a firm commitment to floating the local unit.

When that comes to pass, it will be one of Nhleko's three major achievements (along with settling the fine and finding a new CE) since he took over the reins at MTN after the unceremonious departure of former CE Sifiso Dabengwa, under whose watch the group incurred the fine.

But first he has to find Dabengwa's successor, for which Nhleko has missed a self-imposed six-month deadline. MTN will probably make the appointment before the end of June, says Nhleko.

That MTN has still not been able to appoint a CEO, almost seven months after Dabengwa's departure, reveals its lack of proper succession planning.

Nhleko's assumption of an executive role also cements his role as the most dominant force on the MTN board over the past 15 years, during which he has twice served as chairman and twice as CE.

Asked about a succession plan, Nhleko says the group's plan isn't very different from those of many other companies. "But succession plans don't always work out in the manner that one envisaged," he says. It is not only succession plans that have not always worked out for the group.

Across its markets - from Cote d'Ivoire to Uganda and elsewhere - MTN has been subjected to penalties for its failure to uphold various regulatory requirements, or has fallen on the wrong side of the law, which has dented the credibility of its management.

Many of the alleged offences occurred under the watch of Nhleko in both his roles. When asked about MTN's credibility, Nhleko takes a defensive stance.

"That's a statement you've made that I would not agree with," he says. "MTN Nigeria faced a specific set of circumstances that resulted in the fine and we've dealt with that. I wouldn't allow anyone to say that management is not credible," he says.

Whether or not that acknowledges the truth, investors hope the resolution of the Nigerian fine will free the company to focus on operational matters. That will help MTN regain lost ground, and also its status as the largest mobile operator in terms of market capitalisation, which it lost to Vodacom in May.

UPDATE: MTN today, 20 June 2016, announced the appointment of a new CEO.

Source: Financial Mail
This week we're going to continue to remind ourselves of what kinds of advertising copy works better than others. You may very well know all this, but being reminded of the basics every now and then is good for the soul.

For example, it is easier to recognise a product than to remember it.

Use plain and simple Anglo-Saxon English (if your audience is English-speaking of course, if not then still stay with simple everyday expressions). David Ogilvy once ran an ad with the word 'obsolete' in the headline, only to discover that 43% of readers didn't understand what the word meant.

A well-known South African company, trying desperately to sound sophisticated, introduced a 'corporate pledge' into their advertising  which many thought was a variety of furniture polish

In addition to simple language, use short sentences within short paragraphs. Most of the longer and complicated words are derived from Latin and Greek. So stick to Anglo-Saxon wherever possible  it's easier to read and understand.

Don't exaggerate (too much). Be colloquial and use the present tense. Treat the reader as an intelligent friend and give him or her nothing to argue about or disagree with. In other words, be honest and credible.

Humour  when to use it and when not to

Claude Hopkins said, Never seek to amuse. People don't buy from clowns. I don't subscribe to that particular point (and I'm guessing his offices weren't exactly fun places) but he does have a point. A huge number of ads are made with a humorous slant and, very often, the concept is remembered vividly whilst the product is forgotten  and that's bad.

Also, humour doesn't travel well  what's funny in New York may not create so many smiles in Johannesburg. Furthermore, translating a funny line from Afrikaans to Zulu is almost certain to fail.

It's hard to be a comedian.

Of course you have to be careful with all styles of creative approaches. Avoiding being patronising is difficult, trying to be believable is harder still  as is authenticity. Humour is the highest risk, but can produce highly rewarding results.

Just be careful  especially these days, as it appears you can offend anyone for just about anything at the moment.

Knocking copy

Unlike many countries (particularly America), we have self-imposed regulations which deny the option to knock someone's copy  it means to ridicule and/or criticise the advertising of a competitor.

Note that this is not the same as comparative advertising.

It does happen of course, we're just a little more subtle than other countries. Overall, it's a bad idea.

Honesty and credibility

The consumer isn't interested in your advertising  at first. But he can quite easily become very interested once you tell him things he really does want to believe.

And he will believe you, provided he has no relevant experience to dispute or disagree with what you're saying. And this is where honesty is often the best policy.

For example, give him a good reason why you've reduced your prices. Not many people do this  they still use tired lines like March Madness or the boss is away so we've slashed prices  those sort of headlines. They mean nothing to the consumer except, perhaps, feeling slightly offended because you think they're so gullible.

You don't always have to try and convince the consumer that your product is better than your competitor. What you have to do is tell him why it is so good (and give him reasons). It won't take him long to work out for himself that your product is better  and he'll like you even more because you're being respectful.

Treat you target market as you would like to be treated yourself. Be open, honest, friendly and credible.

Read my blog (brewersdroop.co.za) or see what other amazing things we do at brewers.co.za

*Note that Bizcommunity staff and management do not necessarily share the views of its contributors - the opinions and statements expressed herein are solely those of the author.*
The top 100 grocery retail companies in the world chose to focus their expansion efforts on Africa and the Middle East in 2015, even as countries in this region struggled with adverse economic conditions.

Pick n Pay CEO Richard Brasher is optimistic, despite most African economies going through a rough patch.Picture: Supplied

In 2010, Africa and the Middle East accounted for 12% of the top 100 markets.

That figure grew to 15% in 2013, and to 16.2% in 2015.

"This focus perhaps comes as no surprise, given the fact that the regions population is not just very young, but is also the fastest growing worldwide," said Planet Retail analysts.

"Combined with the relatively underdeveloped and fragmented nature of the retail sector, (this growth) is proving a strong magnet to leading grocery retailers across a range of channels," the analysts said.

Speaking at the Consumer Goods Forum in Cape Town last week, Pick n Pay CEO Richard Brasher said even though most African economies were going through a rough patch, there was no better time to invest.

"By any metric, this is the best time to be in Africa. You cant hope to control Africa or anything that happens in it, but what you can do is learn to adapt."

Brasher said it was important not to adopt a one-size-fits-all attitude, as consumers in the different countries had differing needs. Pick n Pay operates in SA, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique, Mauritius, Swaziland, and Lesotho. Additionally, the grocer owns a 49% stake in Zimbabwean business TM Supermarkets.

Later in 2016, Pick n Pay will enter the Nigerian market through a joint venture with Lagos-based AG Leventis.

It intends rolling out a combination of large and smaller formats to meet consumer needs in Nigeria, offering ranges tailored to local communities.

"Africa is not just the statistics and spreadsheets:, its about the people. You have to be on the ground to do business here. We have ambitious plans for this continent, and we believe theres a bright future," he said.

One of the most active retailers in the Africa and Middle East region in 2015 was Spar International, which entered Cameroon, Lebanon, and Oman, adding to its existing presence in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, SA and Swaziland.

Walmart CEO Doug McMillon said there were regional opportunities in Africa. Parent Walmart has a controlling interest in JSE-listed Massmart.

"Its not only SA. The whole region has something to offer. We have aspirations for the sub-Saharan African region."

The population in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to double to 2-billion by 2050. This growth adds to continued urbanisation and broad economic development, which is raising living standards and incomes across the region.
Gold Brands Investments, the restaurant franchisor that listed in February, reported R235.5m revenue and R9m aftertax profit for the year to end-February.

Donna Oosthuyse from the JSE; Praxia Nathanael, Gold Brands Investments CEO and chief operating officer, Stylianos Nathanael, at the groups listing.Picture: Martin Rhodes

Gold Brands best-known brands are the Chesanyama and Black Steer fast-food chains.

Chesanyama focuses on typically South African foods such as braaied meat and pap. Gold Brands said in Fridays results statement that Chesanyama had reached the 300-store milestone, and it was looking for sites for another 41 applicants.

It said its 1+1 Pizza chain had grown to 15 outlets, while its Pitaland and Wild Wings brands had a combined 10 outlets.

Another addition to its brand portfolio was Hot Chicks, which opened its first store in May.

The results statement said it paid R15.9m to acquire Franchising to Africa, R3.5m for Black Steer and R902,562 for Goldbrand Food Services.

In June, Gold Brands said its talks to acquire the South African rights for UK fish-and-chips chain Harry Ramsdens had been called off.

Gold Brands was reprimanded by the JSE on June 15 for late submission of results, and given a deadline of 30 June to produce them.
The Zone @ Rosebank is undergoing a R500m revamp and the second phase of the project has introduced new big-name tenants, and a city-sightseeing bus stop will follow shortly.

The phase one renovations of the trendy lifestyle destination, located between Cradock Avenue and Oxford Road in Rosebank and owned by Old Mutual Life Assurance Company South Africa, started mid-2015. The latest developments at the shopping centre have been The Zone Boulevard, which opened Rosebanks first Rocomamas and new-look News Cafe. The shopping centre is also home to the largest vertical living wall in Africa. The wall is filled with an array of plants bringing along with it a breath of fresh air to the busy shopping environment.

The phase-two redevelopments, which started in March 2016, will also be adding a Hamleys toy store in the next quarter of the year. Hamleys is well known and prides itself on being the finest toy shop in the world. With the store opening soon, The Zone @ Rosebank will play home to the sixth store of its kind in Africa.

A new architectural design

The intention of phase two is to bring a new architectural design to the area that is aesthetically pleasing, and will enhance our shoppers experience, said Rui Moca, The Zone @ Rosebank's facilities manager.

Clicks opened in The Zone @ Rosebank at the beginning of this month. With 650 stores across the country, Clicks is a trendsetter in the health-care market and boasts over 360 in-store pharmacies.

The City Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off red bus tours are a great way not only for tourists, but also locals to explore Joburg. When its latest stop opens at The Zone @ Rosebank in September, the busy bus line will enable an even more diverse group of shoppers to visit the shopping centre.
Superbalist.com presents a unique winter campaign shot in Dakar, Senegal. Breaking new ground for SA retail, Superbalist.com recently travelled to Dakar, Senegal to shoot its bold winter campaign under the guidance of style director Tammy Tinker.

Against the backdrop of the historic Dakar Railway Station and train carriages, Senegalese models were at the forefront of a story with nods to the work of Wes Anderson and the nostalgia of train travel.

The campaign mirrors SA youth's passion for exploration and the joy we take in discovering everything that our world, and continent, has to offer. It celebrates a generation of documenters, creators and trailblazers, and talks to our group mentality of wanting to empower each other. Nostalgic cues from the 60s and 70s come together with modern styling to create a mood and images that are at once intriguing, unexpected and totally unique.

Were always on the hunt for standout locations around the continent, said Tinker, and after months of searching, we stumbled across the train station and fell in love. Not knowing if it was just a beautiful photo or an actual place, we consulted 10-4, a production studio with an office in Cape Town. The team at 10-4 had previously scouted the location and helped us immensely, as did Senegalese musician and producer, Sy.

Accompanying Tinker and apartment contributor and consultant Charl Edwards were SA photographer Rudi Geyser, who captured the campaign on film, and Pete Verster-Cohen who was there to document the shoot and the trip of a lifetime on video. To complete the narrative on site, Bevan Davis photographed Wes Anderson-inspired flatlays conceptualised by Edwards and art directors Bennett Atkinson and Sabrina Scott.

Superbalist is a fashion-focused, multi-channel e-commerce platform that brings the worlds best brands into the homes of its SA customers, and is the first of its kind in Africa.

For more, go to Superbalist.com.
The 25 young Africans participating in the first and only energy-themed institute offered through the Mandela Washington Fellowship are all committed to providing the energy needed to empower the continent.

The University of California: Davis' West Village - the largest planned zero-net energy project in the United States.

Representing 19 countries, their work ranges from placing solar lanterns in humble huts to advising the leadership of South Africas national power utility.

Over the next six weeks, they will be at the University of California, Davis, to leverage the campuss energy expertise and better equip themselves to tackle the enormous energy challenges on their continent.

Theyre super impressive, says UC Davis professor, Kate Scow, of the department of land, air and water resources and the institutes academic director. Bringing these young leaders together in one place is amazing.

The fellows are between 25-35 years old, and have already promoted innovation and accomplished positive change. They include:

entrepreneurs promoting renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies;

other innovators setting up solar kiosks for off-grid villages or providing solar-powered cold storage to smallholder farmers;

the head of the Djiboutian Energy Management Agency, charged with implementing a law liberalising the electricity sector; and

the founder of a coalition that advocates for transparency, accountability, local participation and environmental management in Tanzanias oil and gas industry.

Clean energy activist

Of the two South Africans on the programme, Adele Boadzo is a clean energy activist and solar entrepreneur with over five years' experience in Africa's energy sector. She is passionate about delivering clean energy projects to electrify the continent and is currently a project manager at a South African solar PV company.

She is also the founder of Hope Rises Solar, an organisation that empowers women to distribute and install solar technologies to transform their communities.

Major impediment to Africas growth

Grant Harris of Davis, who helped launch the Young African Leaders Initiative, the flagship of President Obamas Young African Leaders Initiative, for the White House, says the lack of access to energy is an enormous impediment to Africas growth and economic development. Without electricity, you cannot study at night, refrigerate a vaccine or dependably run a factory or business.

Whether Africas young leaders receive the skills and opportunities they need is going to determine the future of the continent.

Full academic programme

UC Davis is one of 36 universities hosting the summer programmes for about 1,000 fellows selected through a competitive process from among 40,000 applicants. At the Specialised Institute on Energy: Pathways to Zero-Net Energy, fellows will experience a living lab for energy efficiency at the university, ranked third in the world for sustainability by the GreenMetric World University Ranking.

A few of the academic sessions will focus on empowering women to help address energy needs. In one workshop, a gender adviser and policy team member from USAID will discuss how developments in the energy sector affect men, women and children differently.

While there, they will be staying in the universitys West Village - the largest planned zero-net energy project in the United States.
Ratings agencies have given South Africa a breather by keeping the country above the feared junk status. However, the shock of Nenegate and the dramatic economic consequences remain very much top of mind as South African corporates continue to withhold cash reserves and defer growth decisions.

Sean Segar

Shaken to the core

With approximately R725bn in cash reserves currently sitting on the balance sheets of South African non-financial sector corporates, it is clear that companies are holding back. The crisis that unfolded, following President Zumas strange decision in December to fire then-finance minister, Nhlanhla Nene, shook corporates to the core and created a cloud of uncertainty that still lingers. Decisions are being deferred and cash is being held back as opposed to being deployed for growth, says Sean Segar, head of cash solutions at Nedgroup Investments.

Segar says practically every speaker at the companys recent Treasurers Conference brought up the events of 9 December 2015, and local treasurers spoke with a unanimous voice when reflecting that business confidence in South Africa is at an all-time low in the wake of very turbulent economic and political developments.

However, the good news is that the dust is settling, and South Africa has come through all three rounds of rating agency reviews and avoided junk status.

Good result, despite leaving it a little late

The decision taken by rating agencies to re-affirm the countrys investment grade status reflects the positive outcome by government, business and labour working together, even if they did leave it a little late, and despite some factions self-destructing behaviour, he says.

Hopefully lessons were learned while we were under the rating agency spotlight. The message is very clear: foster economic growth and ensure political stability, or face downgrades at the next reviews and all the negatives that come with that. It is now crucial that every South African does their bit to demonstrate to those rating our country that we are not junk, that we have confidence in our country and that we can keep working together. Most South Africans relish a challenge, so here is one to rally around.

Ensuring money is working efficiently

Among issues discussed was how corporates could start to regroup and accelerate the path to growth for their businesses in the current turbulent markets. The small boost from the rating agencies has lifted confidence slightly and we hope this continues, but the key issue at the moment is to ensure that while corporates are in this phase of holding back, cash withheld is working as efficiently as possible.

At times like this when companies have high cash reserves of billions of rands, a difference of 1-2% yield is significant, particularly in times of such low earnings growth. Therefore, corporate treasurers are increasingly making use of money market funds to park cash in this interim period.

Of course the most desirable scenario for all is to have this cash deployed into the expansion of local companies and therefore create jobs in the local economy, says Segar.
Alan Winde, Western Cape Minister of Economic Opportunities, sat down with agri-leaders to discuss the joys and woes of agriculture currently in the Western Cape and Africa. Winde's department is dedicated to improving agriculture and identifying the challenges in agribusiness.

Alan Winde

At the moment on Windes desk are the drought issues, funding issues, and land reform. His department is also doing a lot of work on skills in the artisan space in the Western Cape and has found out some interesting facts.

The average age of an artisan in our province is 55 years old, Winde says. This means that if you are a young trained artisan, then in 10 years time you can name your price. The same goes for plumbers, electricians, and welders who are going to start earning more than doctors  that is what happens in the system of supply and demand.

In agriculture, the average age of a farmer in this province is 65 years old. It is a big problem. We need more and more young people coming into agriculture. So the big task now is finding ways to make agriculture attractive and instead of seeing the number of farmers diminishing (not only in this country but across the world in agriculture,) we need to start finding ways that young people can see a career.

Winde feels that technology is the space to make agriculture cool. We see disrupters at the moment in transport, food, and tourism. Disruptors such as Uber, Airbnb, etc. but what are the agricultural disrupters? We do see some cool stuff happening - we can tell you what the moisture content is via satellite, even your biomass. We can tell you from a drone how many sheep you have, whether the fence has got a hole in it, and we can tell you whether a spout in you irrigation nozzle is not working properly.

This is something that would pique the interest of a young inspired farmer but it is still in development. But Winde says once it gets to that point, he wants to hear young people saying, I want to be a farmer.

Land reform

One of the big risks Winde also pointed out in the Western Cape and South African agriculture sector is land reform. If we don't fix this it is something that can make us non-competitive, Winde says. And at the moment I think we are not competitive because of the lack of redress and the lack of creating fair opportunity within agriculture.

So we have to become very creative to bring the market and the private sector players into this sector. We are mapping where the agricultural land reform is in the province, but even though my mandate is the Western Cape if we can find a solution, it becomes a solution for South Africa.

Africa

Lately, the whole world is looking at Africa slightly differently. Africa is the fastest growing continent and Winde feels the continent is going to be the food security continent for the world.

We need to able to set those rules, and although I am just a provincial player in a country, on a continent at least if I start saying these things then it starts to push those levers. I have some important people saying they want to come on board for funding, so we're starting to pull this together and hopefully we can get a couple of leaders - global leaders, political leaders or business leaders  to also buy into Africa.

We need to lay down the rules and understand that, long term, we need to actually do things and make some serious decisions that have implication across the continent.
In the agribusiness sector, the value proposition for companies looking to locate investments into Western Cape is twofold. This is according to Salmon Kajie, head of investment for Wesgro. The first is proximity to resources - with the Western Cape being resource-rich in the agricultural sector - and secondly is proximity to new growth markets.

Salmon Kajie

Economic and political state of the Western Cape agriculture sector

Companies are looking to locate investments near to new consumer markets and to enter markets with higher GDP growth rates. If you look at SADC (Southern African Development Community), they show growth rates from between 4.5% and 6% GDP benchmarked against where the source destinations of where these investments are coming from  such as USA and Europe  growing around 2% to 3% GDP. The Western Cape, therefore, has a value proposition in place and that is the message that we take to the international market.

From an economic perspective, Western Cape agriculture contributes 4.1% when looking at it from a sectorial composition. Although it may sound small, it's only deemed that small because the services sector has grown so significantly.

Kajie feels that agriculture is one of the cornerstone industries and contributors in the Western Cape and its economy. The sector has the ability to create a substantial amount of jobs against the backdrop of the fact that South Africa has roughly a 25% unemployment rate. From an investment and industrial perspective, Kajie says, there are huge opportunities in this sector, particularly in the sectors that are using primary goods.

Primary goods are exported in its raw form to countries where the beneficiation happens. However, there is an economical potential to be unlocked where instead of sending our goods internationally for production, we should find the expertise in South Africa or in the Western Cape in order for us to grow the industry base here.

Exports

Kajie says the Western Cape is reaching strategic markets in Europe, such as Germany, Netherlands and the UK. In Asia, our biggest export market is China. In Africa, exports reach high growth markets such as Nigeria, Angola, and Mozambique.

The most important agriculture commodities being exported out of the Western Cape are apples and pears; wines and table grapes; and citrus.

Growth opportunities

Western Cape-based companies have seen the opportunities that exist in Africa. You have retailers such as Shoprite, Checkers and Pick n Pay locating investments into strategic locations in Africa. The importance of that is it leads to a stronger growth economically for the Western Cape and South Africa, Kajie says.

The IMF (International Monetary Fund) indicated that 7 of 10 fastest growing economies in the world are located on the African continent. Because of our strategic location we can access those markets, for exporters out of Cape Town and the Western Cape to target those high growth economic hot spots on the African continent and work competitively.

The local agriculture market in five to 10 years time

Kajie says there are particular industries and sub-sectors that are emergent in the Western Cape. And while industrialisation has taken place the province has a strong value chain and supply chain.

Naturally the next thing to do is look further up the value chain to technology and innovation. Two particular instances of international companies establishing a footprint in the Western Cape in the last year or two is a market in organic animal feed. It's a first to the world market, which means that new global innovation and technology globally is now starting to happen in the Western Cape agribusiness sector. The second is an investment that was placed in Cape Town where the company wants to develop, manufacture, and distribute ready-to-use therapeutic foods into the rest of Africa to combat factors such as malnutrition.

This tells us that international companies are seeing Cape Town as a headquarter base to target the African story. We feel that it is because of our first-world infrastructure and a well-regulated business and political environment  generally speaking when benched-marked against the rest of Africa.

All in all, Kajie says it's really about rolling out the red carpet for international investors and local businesses so that they can optimise their activities destination and to make Cape Town and the Western Cape a globally competitive business destination to attract other countries to set up shop here.
The Namibian agriculture ministry has suspended the import of live pigs and raw pork from South Africa due to an outbreak of African swine fever in that country. African swine fever is a virus which causes hemorrhagic fever with high mortality rates in pigs, and persistently infects its natural hosts - warthogs and bush pigs.

Hans via pixabay

In a press statement this week, agriculture's acting permanent secretary of Namibia, Sophy Kasheeta, said the South African department of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries officially reported an outbreak of African swine fever.

"As a result, the MAWF hereby announces the immediate suspension of the importation of live pigs and raw pork from the RSA until the outbreak is adequately resolved," she stated.

Surveillance activities at the official border points will be increased to ensure that products entering Namibia do not pose an increased level of risk for the pork industry of Namibia.

South African media reported that the country confirmed two separate cases last week.

Albertina Musilika-Shilongo of the department of veterinary services in the agriculture ministry told The Namibian yesterday that she is not aware of the exact number of cases recorded, but the ministry received a letter warning them of the outbreak. "I do not think there are only two cases, but I am not sure of the exact number. They just sent us a letter, informing us that they recorded cases in the Western Cape and the Free State," Musilika-Shilongo said.

Importers who may experience specific problems with this suspension should contact the ministry. For now, the country will continue importing these products from other countries such as France and Brazil, amongst others.
WASHINGTON, USA: Apple said it continues to sell its iPhones in China pending an appeal of a ruling which said the smartphones violated a patent of a Chinese manufacturer.

An Apple spokesman said in a statement to AFP that "iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus as well as iPhone 6s, iPhone 6S Plus and iPhone SE models are all available for sale today in China."

"We appealed an administrative order from a regional patent tribunal in Beijing last month and as a result the order has been stayed pending review by the Beijing IP Court," the statement said.

The ruling on 19 May 2016 said Apple violated design patents of Chinese maker Shenzhen Baili for its iPhone6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and would be barred from selling those models.

The news comes with China an increasingly important market for Apple as it deals with a slowdown in global smartphone sales.

Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge
I have to say that Paarl hasn't really registered on my list of places to explore, besides a trip to the beautiful Laborie Wine Farm last year. It's usually been a town that I just drive through. However this is a shame as Paarl has much to offer (even in winter) as I recently experienced.

Courtesy of the good folk at Peridot Communications myself and fellow journalists spent a pleasant couple of hours creating, eating and drinking in this charming town. It was bucketing down the whole time; in fact I think it might have been the wettest day we have seen yet this winter. But this indoorsy weather was perfect for the itinerary on offer.

Fanglasstic creations and boerekos

We started with a glass-creating and decorating workshop at Fanglasstic, situated at the Zandwyk Park in Old Paarl Road. Created by sisters Janette and Ronel in 2010 Fanglasstic creates uniquely designed and decorated glassware. We were lucky enough to test-run the first ever workshop in their shop and studio space. After a quick tour of the studio and the glass-making process we snapped on our rubber gloves and surgical masks and sat down to decorate a candle stick and rectangular plate. I went jungle fever crazy and decorated both with delicious monster designs. Cant wait to see how these turned out. Unfortunately we couldnt collect our creations on the day as it takes a couple days to mold and dry the products. The workshop was a great experience and provides a unique activity in the area - different from the more well-known feasting and wine tasting.

That said, I find feasting and drinking to be the best and most enjoyable way to explore any place so luckily the rest of the day's activities included just that. Next stop was lunch at the newly opened Knus Karoo Kombuis. Also run by sisters this charmingly quaint restaurant offered us a roaring stove fireplace to cuddle around, red wine and rustic boerekos style cuisine. I sampled the cubed lamb cooked in boboetie style spices on a slice of farm bread and accompanied by sliced banana and coconut shavings. The flavours were spot on, however I felt the portion could have been more generous. Hearty rustic food deserves volume.

Sugar rushing and winter wines

However perhaps it was just as well the portion wasnt too over indulgent as next point on the itinerary was a sweet wine/liqueur and mini cake pairing at KWV Emporium. This is one for the sweet tooths who dont mind a little sugar rushing. Supremely indulgent, KWV pairs three of their sweet wines; Muscadel, Tawny Port, Van der Hum and the Wild Africa liqueur with four mini cakes. My favorite combination was the KWV Tawny Port and an apple and pecan nut mini cake. A lovely complement of toasty, oaky and spicy flavours.

Last stop of the day was a wine tasting at the family run boutique winery, Mitres Edge, just on the outskirts of Old Paarl road. A somewhat scary, slippery and muddy drive to the vineyard and tasting cellar was well worth it for the warm reception and sumptuous reds we got to sample. We also tasted two whites, but as owner Lola explained the vineyard is much better suited to creating award winning reds. My favourite was the flagship 2012 Sholto, a perfect winter wine, and winner of the Novare SA Terroir Wine 2015 Award. However their entry level wine with the clever name nvME, is great for everyday drinking.

If looking for a weekend or day getaway close to Cape Town this winter dont forget to put Paarl on your list. With hospitable places such as Fanglasstic, Knus Karoo Kombuis, KWV Emporium and Mitres Edge, where you'll feel part of the family, you wont be disappointed.

www.paarlonline.com
With over 10,000 new vehicles exported, Transnet and Mercedes-Benz South Africa (MBSA) recorded the highest units being handled in East London in April 2016. This significant record bodes well for the partnership of MBSA, Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) and Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) as well as the economy of the region and the country.

According to MBSAs CEO and executive director: manufacturing, Arno van der Merwe, the total number of Mercedes-Benz W205 C-Class vehicles exported via the East London port over the last three months amounted to 25,860. In April, we were the highest exporter of new vehicles in South Africa when we recorded a total of 10,674 exports, which is a huge achievement and a record for MBSA, the East London Port and the Eastern Cape as a province. It is pleasing to see this type of successful collaboration between manufacturers, shipping lines and ports in achieving increased volumes with quick turnaround times as this will contribute to a much-needed injection into the economy, stated Van der Merwe.

He added that this achievement is part of building up from the record number of units that the East London plant produced in 2015, which has made it a net exporter from South Africa. We are thrilled in being a key enabler of the automotive sector, an industry that makes up about 7% of South Africas gross domestic product and accounts for almost 12% of the countrys manufacturing exports. By being custodians of exporting such goods, we contribute immensely in the sustenance of jobs and in turning the tide against the current economic slump, said Karl Socikwa, chief executive of Transnet Port Terminals.

He added that TPT values its close working relationships with key stakeholders, such as MBSA, that are fundamental across the various sectors that contribute to the growth of the nations economy. This achievement helps to not only instill further confidence in TPTs clients that Transnet Port Terminals is committed and geared up to take on increasing volumes through operational efficiencies  but it also speaks volumes for the nations readiness on an international platform.

High volumes

TNPAs invoiced figures for April 2016 also confirmed MBSA to have exported the highest volume of new vehicles of the six OEM exporters of which the RoRo exports amounted to 27,112 new vehicle units and containerised units amounted to 1,680 new vehicles units totalling 28,792.

Richard Vallihu, CEO of TNPA says this success story is also reflective of the strong value chain partnerships that MBSA and Transnet have developed and nurtured over the past few years. As a proud partner and link in this chain, TNPA has seen first-hand the benefits of working closely with our customers and stakeholders, to the benefit of the entire regional economy. Together, MBSA and Transnet are engineering the fastest, most cost-effective and mutually beneficial model to bring product to market  wherever those markets are.

According to the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) comment on the vehicle sales and export figures released by the Department of Trade and Industry, new vehicle exports during April 2016 had registered a substantial improvement rising by 9,254 vehicles or 39.2% from 23,602 vehicles exported in April last year to 32,856 exports in April this year.
Mitsubishi Motors said on Friday it will post a $480 million special loss for the current fiscal year to pay compensation to customers over years of cheating on fuel-economy tests.

DariuszSankowski via Pixabay

Mitsubishi first admitted in April it had been falsifying the tests, manipulating data to make cars seem more efficient than they were. Since the scandal emerged, its sales in Japan have slumped and the company last month said its president would resign. The scandal - reported to cover almost every model sold in Japan since 1991 - also includes mini-cars produced by Mitsubishi for Nissan as part of a joint venture.

"We will post a special loss of 50 billion yen ($480 million)" for the year to March 2017, the automaker said in a statement, "as costs for payments to customers of our company and Nissan Motor". It has already booked 15 billion yen in payments to customers for the year ended in March.

It was Nissan that first uncovered problems with the fuel economy data, but Mitsubishi has said the company had no part in the cheating. Yokohama-based Nissan last month threw a lifeline to Mitsubishi as it announced plans to buy a one-third stake in the crisis-hit automaker for $2.2 billion, forging an alliance that will challenge some of the world's biggest auto groups.

For the past year to March, Mitsubishi posted a net loss of 72.6 billion yen and operating profit of 138.4 billion yen on sales of 2.27 trillion yen. Following the scandal, it has been slow to give a full-year earnings forecast for the current fiscal year, with the company now "estimating other (future) costs" related to the cheating, Mitsubishi said.

Source: AFP
Telkom has plans to establish a technology fund to invest in digital startups. The fund is part of new digital plans that the fixedline operator has introduced in an effort to seek out new revenue to offset falling income from its core fixed-line voice business.

Telkom already funds innovative ideas through its FutureMakers programme, which provides seed capital to technology entrepreneurs to help them take their business ideas to the market. FutureMakers also works with incubation hubs.

CEO Sipho Maseko says Telkom's creation of a technology fund is still in the planning stages. He says the company will look at partnerships with other companies to "invest in startup businesses that fit with our [digital] plan".

Telkom's existing digital strategy will also yield growth for the company. Included in its plans is the use of its subsidiary Business Connexion to provide enterprise customers with telecommunications and technology products and services, such as the Internet of Things, and big data analytics.

As Telkom ramps up its fibre-to-the-home investments, residential and other individual clients will also be able to access digital services such as video streaming. Its efforts may make it easier for tech entrepreneurs to secure finance. They also have the option of Niveus Ventures, an initiative launched last month by Niveus Investments.

Source: Financial Mail
Sappi has commissioned the construction of a demonstration plant at Sappi's Ngodwana Mill in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.

The demonstration plant will extract hemicellulose sugars and lignin from Sappi's existing dissolving pulp line.

The sugars platform will include beneficiation to higher value organic acids, glycols and sugar alcohols which find application in many everyday products.

The plant continues Sappi's strategic move into the biomaterials and bio-energy business fields to extract more value from the production processes and in response to the global demand for renewable materials with a lower carbon footprint.

The investment in biochemicals follows on the earlier investments in biocomposites, nanocellulose as well as Sappi's expansion of lignosulphonate capacity.



Sappi Limited, a leading global producer of dissolving wood pulp and graphics, speciality and packaging papers, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with leading global supplier, Valmet, for the construction of a second-generation sugar extraction demonstration plant to explore and optimise the extraction of bio-renewable chemicals. The plant will be close to industrial size and will be located at Sappis Ngodwana Mill in South Africa. Start-up of the new plant is scheduled for the beginning of 2017.

Commenting on the decision, Andrea Rossi, Group Head Technology, explained that the demonstration plant will accelerate Sappis move into new adjacent business fields based on renewable raw materials. Sappis strategy includes seeking growth opportunities by extracting further value from existing production processes. The feedstock for the demonstration plant would be supplied from Sappis Ngodwana dissolving wood pulp plant. The demonstration plant is the precursor for Sappi to consider construction of commercial plants at its dissolving wood pulp mills. The plant will also be used to improve the dissolving wood pulp manufacturing process.

He goes on to say, The demonstration plant will make it possible to study the next-generation dissolving pulping process and test new ideas at mill scale. The main features which we hope to demonstrate include increasing production output, higher dissolving pulp quality, lower operating cost and a new optimised hydrolysate revenue stream. The products from the demonstration plant will assist in the development of various beneficiation options for the different dissolving wood pulp lines operated by Sappi.

Louis Kruyshaar, leader of the new Sappi Biotech division commented: New revenue opportunities include possibilities to extract bio-based materials from the cooking plant pre-hydrolysate stream (such as hemicellulose sugars and lignin) for beneficiation to higher value biochemicals. These applications respond to the global demand for renewable materials with a lower carbon footprint. The products under development will expand Sappis renewable biomaterials offering which include nanocellulose, biocomposites and lignosulphonate. This technology will also further enhance Sappis global competitiveness and cost leadership and strengthen its production base in South Africa.




BBM is inviting the freshest everyday photographers from all around South Africa to enter the #BBMEveryday competition by sharing their photographs. Each week for four weeks, they can submit images of everyday South Africa to the competition website.

We currently have millions of registered BBM users in our South African community, sharing their lives and passions with each other every day, says Matthew Talbot, senior VP - BBM. This contest opens the doors for more talented artists to let their imagination run wild and we encourage them to get creative and make their images unique, creative and memorable. We are hoping to see huge enthusiasm in South Africa.

Winners will receive great prizes including all-expenses paid trip to Zanzibar, a Cape Town weekend getaway and five Android powered Blackberry PRIV smartphones.

For more information, go to www.bbmeveryday.com, download BBM app, join #BBMEveryday channel, retrieve clue and upload images. Submissions are now open.
The deployment of South African firefighters in Canada impacted positively on the country's brand and reputation. Our firefighters, with the expertise to work with the Canadians to fight massive and unrelenting fires, highlighted an area of South African competence, excellence and competitiveness. The team was celebrated and welcomed warmly in Canada by citizens, domestic and international media. Their unceremonious departure from Edmonton equally attracted significant media attention and public comment.

What lessons can we extract from this for the nation brand and national reputation?

One, reputation is fickle and can shift quickly, particularly in an age of technology, social media and the 24 hour news cycle. Reputation is not constrained by national borders. What is feted and celebrated today can be seen very differently tomorrow, enabled by powerful new media channels.

Two, reputation cannot be fixed entirely by public relations, press statements, interviews or even mediation. Reputation is based primarily on action and behaviour and a negative reputation can be resistant to fixing!

Three, personal reputation is no longer just about oneself. Your personal reputation now impacts on your professional, and wider, environment.

Four and perhaps most significant, the behaviour and reputation of an individual has a ripple effect on the reputation and brand of the nation.

South Africas reputation and brand is influenced by all citizens and entities within the country, it is a composite of everything within the country. As such, we all have a responsibility, and an opportunity, to behave in a manner that creates positive associations for ourselves and therefore for the country.

Amidst the attacks on foreign nationals last year, one of the most important messages emanating from government, business and civil society was that millions of South Africans should not be tainted by the actions of a few.

We hear a similar message over crime in the country. Many South Africans are honest and law abiding yet the brush of crime is a blemish all citizens must endure through comments like, South Africa is dangerous and others. Such perceptions created by the actions of a few, soon becomes a fact associated with the country.

Similarly, South Africans who do great things for themselves, equally impact on the countrys brand  albeit positively.

Earlier this month, five South Africans under 30 made the Forbes Africa list of 30 under 30 future billionaires! Their strong and positive reputations - based largely on their consistent efforts to build their own brands, brings honour to the nation brand  particularly when they are associated with the country as South African.

Similarly, an article talking about three young designers from Cape Town  the Deep Settle Movement  who are now taking their work to New York, communicates a message of young people with the spirit to export South African talent, innovation and excellence.

Operation Hydrate, where public and corporate South Africa, came together to donate water to drought ravaged communities earlier this year, also contributed positively to the nation brand. This initiative communicated the values of our country  our Ubuntu, non-racialism and non-sexism, in a far stronger manner than any press release.

These examples indicate how individuals can impact on the reputation and brand of an entire nation! They bring to life the theory on reputation management and nation brand building in that actions and behaviour give expression to perceptions, image and ones personal, and therefore the nation's, brand.

Public relations, marketing and communication efforts to position a country positively must rest on the reality of a nation that acts and behaves as it wants to be perceived. We are the brand of South Africa. What is our contribution to our nation brand?
The MTN Group Board advises that following the successful resolution of the Nigerian dispute, it has completed the review of its governance and management structures and appointed a new group president and CEO.

Rob Shuter

Rob Shuter is the new group president and CEO. Shuter, a South African national, is the current CEO of the European Cluster at Vodafone Group and has extensive experience in telecoms and banking; having held senior management roles at Vodacom Group, Standard Bank and Nedbank, prior to joining Vodafone Group.

The appointment of new executives and the expansion of the roles of others, together with the appointment of additional non-executive directors, will achieve the objective of strengthening management, enhancing governance and aiding strategy in the MTN group, MTN said in a statement today, 20 June 2016:

The Company is pleased to advise that after conducting an extensive global search for a candidate suited to the demands of the Groups future strategy, the Board has resolved to appoint Rob Shuter as the new group president and CEO.

Rob may commence as soon as it is practically possible in 2017, but not later than 1 July 2017, after the completion of his current contractual obligations. MTN is confident that Rob will bring experience and new insights to the CEO role having had many years in the telecoms sector both in Africa and Europe as well as in banking where his expertise will help as MTN continues to develop its new business strategy.

A new vice president: mergers and acquisitions and strategy has also been appointed, but his name will only be announced later this month.

New VP: South and East Africa

To further enhance governance and depth of experience of the business operations, MTN Group also announced that Godfrey Motsa has been appointed by the countries in the SEA Region (excluding South Africa), as vice president: South and East Africa, to oversee the operations in those regions with effect from 1 July 2016.

Motsa joins from Vodacom where he was chief officer for consumer business. He was previously CEO of Vodacom DRC Congo and CEO of Vodacom Lesotho. He brings 10 years of experience of telecoms in the region to MTN and has various other commercial experience.

Additional non-executive directors have been appointed to refresh the board and deepen commercial experience in the group, particularly in risk management and governance, with effect from 1 August 2016, for the group. They are: Paul Hanratty, chairman Emerging Markets Board; Stan Miller, executive chair MTS; Nkululeko Sowazi, KTH and Grindrod independent director.

Transition time

Phuthuma Nhleko assumed the position of executive chairman on 9 November 2015 in order to resolve challenges that the company experienced at the time. The MTN Group statement elaborates: Given the appointment of Rob Shuter as group president and CEO, Phuthuma will revert to his role as non-executive chairman as soon as Rob assumes his new position as soon as is practicably possible.

Until then, in order to facilitate a smooth transition, MTN Group CFO, Brett Goschen, and the new VP M&A and Strategy, will assume clearly defined additional responsibilities under the guidance of the executive chairman. Phuthuma remains fully committed to the MTN Group and will continue to provide the necessary leadership as non-executive chairman for the next two and a half years when he plans to step down as chairman.

Commented Shuter: I am honoured to have the opportunity and look forward to working with Phuthuma and the MTN Group board to ensure that we build on a strong foundation laid over the last 15  20 years for the group to realise its full potential.
The township judge sets 24 June as the next hearing, said a family member.

Maung Aye with Tun Tha Pru and Zaw Win Maung were arrested by the Burma army intelligence (Sarafa) from Lake Kha Maw village in Kyauk Pru township on 21 January with the accusation of being involved with the outlawed Arakan Army. All three individuals were picked up under the unlawful association acts (section 17-1 & 17-2).

It was for the thirteenth time, they were brought to the court, but no verdict has been pronounced. I expect the final order by next few weeks. Except one witness, all others were already examined. So we expect an order soon, said U Tin Myint, assigned lawyer for the three accused individuals.

The accused Maung Aye hails from Kyauk Pru township, where as Tun Tha Pru hails from Pauk Taw township and Zaw Win Maung from Ponna Kyunt township in the western province of Burma.
This visit takes place at a key juncture for Myanmar with a new government in place since April following last years historic elections.

Important steps have already been taken to further democratic transition, national reconciliation, sustainable development and peace, Ms. Lee said. I intend to make a comprehensive and objective assessment of the human rights situation taking these elements into account.

During the 12-day visit, at the invitation of the Myanmar Government, the expert will address a broad range of human rights issues with the authorities and various stakeholders, including political and community leaders, civil society representatives, as well as victims of human rights violations and members of the international community.

In line with her mandate from the UN Human Rights Council, Ms. Lee will monitor the situation of human rights and assess progress in implementation of her previous recommendations*, including for the Governments first 100 days in office, and the year ahead. She will also take into account the Governments own 100-day plans. Finally, she will identify benchmarks for progress and priority areas for technical assistance and capacity building.

My main objective, as Special Rapporteur, is to continue to work closely with the Government and people of Myanmar, for the promotion and protection of human rights in the country, she noted. I thank the Government for the excellent cooperation with my mandate thus far and look forward to an open, constructive and frank exchange of views during my visit.
The groups will keep an eye on the government and TTCL due to concerns that the meeting would lead to a resumption in construction work at TTCLs proposed coal-fired power plant project in Anndin Village.

On 10 June the representatives of TTCL, led by its chairperson, met with the state chief minister and government officials at the chief ministers guest hall. At the meeting, they discussed the potential for a liquid propane gas bottling plant, which would provide gas for cooking instead of firewood.

Min Poe Zaw, of Anndin Youth Group said: We, locals from the Anndin area, are worried that the meeting between the Mon State Government and Toyo-Thai could guarantee the companys operation of the coal-fired project. We do not know the finer points of the meeting yet. We would like the government to consider the peoples concerns regarding the coal-fired project.

TTCL signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Union Government and the Electric and Energy Ministry on 9 April 2015, to build its coal-fired power plant.

It was planned to construct the plant on 500 acres of land, in Anndin Village, Ye Township, Mon State using an investment of $2,700 USD

U Aung Naing Win, the secretary of the Ye Social Society (YSS) group said: They [Toyo-Thai] already signed the MoA, so they wont renege on the deal. At their meeting on 9 April they also decided that they would proceed to implement the project. Therefore, the recent meeting with the government seems like the company is coaxing the government to re-start the Anndin coal-fired plant project.

We, the YSS group, will keep monitoring the potential coal-fired plant in Anndin Village, and we will continue to protest against any issues rising from the project.

A Facebook post by U Min Min Oo, the Mon State Chief Minister said that the meeting covered the TTCLs gas bottling project, land for the factory, the factorys projected production dividends, environmental concerns and TTCLs guarantees.

The post went on to state that the government is interested in the proposal presented by TTCL because over 70% people in the state primarily used wood[en sticks] for cooking and this project could create job opportunities in the state and could also reduce the use of firewood. The government will carefully consider the proposal and inform the company in accordance with the law next time they meet.

The TTCL signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the government in early 2013, to start its coal-fired plant project in Burma. In late April 2014 the company went to Anndin Village, Ye Township, and informed the locals that it would build its coal fired project in the area.

In opposition to the coal-fired project, about 500 locals staged a protest, led by the YSS, in Ye Town, on 14 December 2014. Additionally, they sent letters stating their opposition to the project to the company on 1 January 2015.

On 5 May 2015 over 6,000 locals staged a protest after the Union Government and TTCL signed an MoA on 9 April 2015.

Edited in English for BNI by Mark Inkey
The National League for Democracy (NLD), has made expanding household list registration to include internal migrants, such as people from central Burma who have migrated to ethnic areas such as Shan State, one of its priorities for its first 100 days of office.

Previously internal migrants would have to wait many years to be registered for a household list the new rules will make it possible for those who have lived in an area for at least 6 month to register. This proposed policy change has raised many concerns amongst ethnic people worried that it will help contribute to a radical change in the ethnic make up their local communities.

U Sai Nyunt Lwin, the General Secretary of the SNLD, the second largest party in the Shan State parliament, said: Our party will oppose it in parliament. We can accept it if they [the government] issue temporary registration cards, but now they are going to issue household lists. If [the migrants] get the household lists, they will become residents of that area.

Ethnic Mon groups, including monks, have also called on the government to review the proposed changes. The Mon groups have alleged that the revised lists procedures are part of a territorial expansion into ethnic areas and internal colonization policy. They also claim that internal migration will lead to the disappearance of literature, culture, traditions and customs of ethnic people and ruin friendship between ethnic people.

The previous military regime was accused of using internal migration as part of its overall strategy to expand control over the country by sending non-ethnic residents, including former military officers, to ethnic areas. Resettling outsiders to ethnic areas was alleged to have been part of the army's plan to expand territorial control over ethnic areas.

Reached for comment a representative of the of the Restoration Council of Shan State/Shan State Army (RCSS/SSA) told the Shan Herald that the issue of internal migration was an ongoing concern.

Col Sai La, Secretary (2) of the RCSS/SSA said: What will our Shan [people] do? The amount of migration is high so its like trying to find the start of the problem."

Some observers have also questioned whether the proposed household list registration changes were being done to make it easier for the NLD to win the vote in ethnic areas in future elections.

Sai Aung Myint Oo from the Shan Youth Network said: We need to ask whether this is advance preparation for the 2020 Election."

Many cities and towns in Shan State, including the state capital Taunggyi, are thought to have more residents who originate from outside the state than residents who originate from inside the state.

Reporter: Sai Aung Saing for SHAN
KNPP Secretary (2) U Shwe Myo Thant said that the KNPP, had a meeting at its headquarters with top-ranking leaders on the subject of future peace talks with the new government. At the meeting it was decided that the KNPP would continue to advocate for an all-inclusive peace process.

He said: The policy hasnt changed. We will continue to cooperate with the UNFC [United Nationalities Federal Council], which is a coalition of ethnic armed groups. We have decided to sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement only when everyone is included.

During the meeting held at the KNPPs headquarters on the Thai-Burmese border, Khu Oo Reh the KNPP's Vice Chairman and Commander-in-Chief Gen Bee Htoo were selected to lead the negotiations with the government.

Under the leadership of the State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese government is planning on holding a 21st Century Panglong Conference. The governments Peace Committee plans to meet with ethnic armed groups that still have not signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement.

Only eight ethnic armed groups signed the nationwide ceasefire agreement with the previous Thein Sein administration. A number of other armed groups have refused to sign it citing the government's failure to include other groups.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Burma Forces Snr Gen Min Aung Hlaing has said the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Arakan Army (AA), and the Taang National Liberation Army/ Palaung State Liberation Front (TNLA/PSLF) need to disarm first before beginning peace talks.

Reported by Sai Aung Saing for SHAN
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How To Pick The Best Masalas: An Expert Guide Wellness oi-Staff

When we talk about food in India, masala becomes a very indispensable ingredient.

From Kashmir in the North to Kanyakumari down South, and then from Gujarat in the West to Arunachal Pradesh in the East, all the secret of tasty curries lies in the use of various blend of masalas.

The aroma of these masalas often arouse our hunger and draw us closer to where these foods are being served.

It isn't just about the aromas, but masalas are loaded with health benefits as well.

For instance, cumin is rich in iron content, which is very beneficial for the body. Coriander helps lower the cholesterol level and also controls the blood sugar level. Cardamom, on the other hand, helps in treating cough and bronchitis.

Now, the most worrying fact is, "how do we choose the best of masalas?"

"How do we know whether a particular masala is good or bad?"

"How do we differentiate the good masala from a bad one?"

Now, don't ponder on these questions a lot. Here is a simple guide for you to choose and pick the best masala in the market, keeping in mind all the benefits that you can reap from it. Take a look at the below pointers.

1. Keep in mind to check for the manufactured date:

When you choose a masala, make it a point to check for the date of packaging. The packaging date can be related to the freshness of the masala. The taste of a 1-2-month packaging will obviously be more fresh when compared to 6-8-month packaging. Pick your masala carefully.

2. Next, make sure to check the content listed on the packaging:

Checking out for the content/ingredients is one of the foremost things you need to do, while picking the best of masalas. For example, when you look for chilli powder, check for the presence of Capsaicin in it. Capsaicin is one natural ingredient that makes the chilli powder a lot more hot. In case of turmeric powder, check if it has curcumin in it. Curcumin is one of the natural yellow ingredients that is present in turmeric, which helps ease pain and inflammation and gives the yellow colour. Fortunately, masalas by Tata Sampann, specially the red chilli powder and turmeric powder that have these ingredients, are said to the best in the industry today and that is the reason it is the preferred choice of top chefs & are also recommended by most of the food experts.

3. Check if the natural oils are kept intact in the masalas:

Usually the natural spice oil from the masalas are extracted and what is left behind is just the 'Spent' masala. Make it a point to choose a masala that has its natural spice oils intact, only then you will get the purest taste of the masala. This is where Tata Sampann differs from the rest of the masalas that are available in the market. Tata Sampann masalas are filled with natural spice oils, and thus give the dish a wholesome, rich flavour.

4. Do check if the masalas are sourced from the best of farms:

Masalas need to be sourced from the best of farms, and from the best of varieties, in order to get that original flavour and taste. That's why we suggest Tata Sampann. It gets the selective masalas from the region known to sow the best varieties. For example, pepper from the Malabar region of Kerala, Turmeric from Salem in Tamil Nadu, and the spicy chilly from the Hilly Region.

5. Finally, choose the one which promises to give you a multiple-pouch packaged product:

In order to get the same freshness and taste in the masalas every time you open, check out for the masala blends that contain a multiple-pouch packaging. Tata Sampann, in this way, brings to you a 5-pouch packaging for each of the masala blends that you pick from. Every time you open one, you will still get the same freshness, richness and goodness, which is kept intact.

We suggest Tata Sampann masalas, as these are hand-crafted masalas that promise to provide you innovative masala blends, like no one else. Chef Sanjeev Kapoor himself has created these blends.

If you would like to know more on what are the best features of the Tata Sampann masalas, see the below video.
This guest house is located in the historic Back Bay area in Boston. Just 1 km from Copley Square, these studios in a row of houses offer a fully equipped kitchen.



Each room at Copley House includes a cable TV. Free WiFi access is also offered. The purpose of the trip to Boston was an expo, but we needed a well positioned place to stay so we could visit other places around the city. Copley House offers both a great position in the city and a nice and quiet place to rest after busy days. Therere metro (T) and bus stops nearby, neighbourhoods beautiful and quiet at night - but also with good options for bars/restaurants/shops/groceries on a walking distance. Room is clean and comfortable, with big windows and a good shower. Facilities are great for longer stays (refrigerator, stove, sink, etc.) and the bed is very good. Staff very friendly and helpful. Would definitely recommend for any visitors to Boston - being leisure or business trips (and would stay there again!)

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Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) has condemned the Botswana government for failing to speak up against the government of Zimbabwes oppression of workers but instead fought alongside her counterpart at the recent International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva.

The Zimbabwe and Swaziland governments were brought before the ILC committee of Application of Standards for failure to domesticate some ILO conventions and Botswana intervened on behalf of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).Addressing the media this week, BFTU President, Bohithetswe Lentswe said they were disappointed by Botswanas response. He said Zimbabwe failed to domesticate the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention while Swaziland continues to violate Convention 87, which talks about Freedom of Association and Protection of the right to Organise. He said Botswana also speaking on behalf of SADC countries as the chair of the region defended Swaziland and expressed confidence that the country would resolve the matter and be put to finality.

It is not a secret anymore of what is happening to the workers in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe was not appearing for the first time before this committee for breaching the ILO Convention. The severity of these breaches, notably the serial physical and psychological attacks on workers and their trade union leaders are worrisome. Now Botswana instead of condemning this, requested that Zimbabwe be given another chance to sort herself. Botswana further said since Zimbabwe is going through constitutional reforms she is confident that things will be restored to normal, he said.





Lentswe said as Zimbabwes neighbor, Botswana government knows very well the implications felt by the country and its citizens due to the way the Zimbabwean government is treating its workers. The president said workers in Zimbabwe are abused which forces some of them to flee to Botswana. He explained that the conference has however agreed that a commission of inquiry of experts should be sent to Zimbabwe and Swaziland to investigate. The commission is expected to report back in September this year. He said BFTU as a member of World Workers Actors, strongly believes in social dialogue and they condemn with outright the decision of Botswana Government to condone the bad behaviour exhibited by Zimbabwe and Swaziland.
Retrospectively speaking, the recent reckless comments by Botswana on the highly sensitive South China Sea issue did not come as a surprise. Rather, it would have been a surprise had they said something substantive, objective and conforming to diplomatic etiquette.

I suppose by now, the diplomatic community here has gotten too accustomed to these schizophrenic feats of its host. Although the comments were aimed at embarrassing China at international stage, they also served as a calculated move directed at exploiting strategic differences in US-China relations. A kind of rudimentary move to divide and conquer. All those keenly following the issue would be acquainted to the fact that the dispute is now snowballing into a geo-strategic and military tinderbox and the risk open conflict is real. The strategic warning signals are already there for all to see. The ongoing strategic posturing by both US and China in the South China Sea, which includes heightened rhetoric and deployment of strategic air and naval assets, are indicative of heightened risk of open conflict.

The US has so far shown determination to present itself as guarantor of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea dispute, thereby, not only challenging China in her sphere of influence but also disputing her territorial claim of the region. In backing this position, US Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter declared that, United States will fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows, as we do around the world, and the South China Sea is not and will not be an exception.





This prompted an angry response from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang, who said, I advise the US not to make a fool out of themselves in trying to be smart. Recently, Admiral Sun Jianguo, Deputy Chief of the Chinese Joint Staff Department has remarked that, We dont make trouble but we dont fear trouble. In the light of these overt developments, one would have expected our foreign policy practitioners to be aware that the South China Sea issue is evolving into a textbook standoff between two great powers. This would have surely informed approach and sensitivity into the issue.

However, Botswanas comment on the South China Sea issue came from a foregone conclusion that China was an aggressor. This inversely supported US position on the matter and to an extent gave the Chinese an impression that Botswana was just following through on US instructions.

As far as I am concerned, this was not the case because it would insinuate an ally-type of relationship between US and Botswana. Under President Khama, US-Botswana relations can be described as love-on-the-rocks. They are no longer at a level where US can rely on Botswana for policy projection. The way I see it, the US retains peripheral influence and it is mostly institution-to-institution based. Although there are many factors affecting this relationship, as far as I am concerned, it boils down to trust. Khamas government does not seem to trust Americans.

There is unpronounced suspicion by the Khama regime on US activities here, especially their relationship with private media. Having said that, there is also a narrative doing circles in political and security corridors, which accuses Americans of propping UDC. Therefore, there is little or no room for US to have dictated to Botswana what to say. As far as I am concerned, the move was directed at further polarising the two major powers.

The more polarised, the more they are vulnerable to his personal exploits. This would then mean, the two countries would have to out-compete each other for his attention and ultimately for his Khamas pseudo-philanthropy projects.

The fact is, the strategic end-goal of Khama in any engagement, is always premised on acknowledgement and affirmation.
Micro lender Blue Employee Benefits Botswana (BEBB) finds itself on the wrong side with the tax agency, Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) and the industry regulator, Non-Banking Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority (NBFIRA), it has been established.

BEBB is a micro lender with government employees as its clientele. This publication has seen strong worded documents from the two compliance organisations to BEBB. Information gathered by Botswana Guardian suggests that poor working relations between the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Financial Manager and some of the senior managers have contributed to the company failing to pay tax between 2012 and 2015 and not submitting audited financial results with NBFIRA.

The company is now paying about P500 000.00 each month to clear the debt after its request for a payment model was approved. Some industry players are dissatisfied with the soft treatment BEBB got from both BURS and NBFIRA.It seems the two organisations are lenient with BEBB. The micro lender is having its own internal problems. We are told the finance manager is not working well with his other junior who assists him to prepare the financial reports and be able to submit to NBFIRA and to update with tax payment. It has been the case even with the past finance managers, said an industry player who did not want to be mentioned.





An employee at BEBB also revealed that things are not run properly at the company hence its failure to abide. The employee who cannot be named for fear of victimization told this publication that staff morale is low at the company as the finance manager and the CEO are not taking the whole team on board in running the company.However, Botswana Guardian can reveal that the company has been subjected to forensic auditing for the past two weeks. In one of the letters dated November 9th 2015 from NBFIRA in which BEBB was fined P35 000.00, the authority explained that the mitigation by the micro lender regarding failure to comply were not satisfactory. The letter from NBFIRA Acting Compliance Director Motsisi Sebonape further states that the micro lender has failed to submit audited financial statements timeously in previous years and is thus not a first time offender.

She further warned that the notice of fine does not limit the authoritys right to take further regulatory action.When contacted, BEBB CEO, Favour Marebole dismissed claims of low staff morale and poor working relation between his office, finance manager and other senior staff members. He said the audited financials for the year ending 2014 were signed and sent to NBFIRA on the 15th January 2016. Regarding withholding of tax, the CEO explained, indeed the company has an outstanding Tax liability which was communicated to BURS as part of a voluntary tax disclosure process in 2014 and was facilitated by one of the major tax audit companies. The total Principal Tax owing as per the latest statements is just over P1m (P1, 025,873.93 to be exact) as at May 2016, he said, adding that the company has an existing payment plan with BURS that it has been honouring throughout this period since the disclosure. It is important to note that the efforts shown by the company towards settling its tax liability were at some point commended by BURS to the extent that a waiver of penalty interest was also secured.

A letter from BURS seen by this publication dated 29th January 2016 informed the company that its tax returns for 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 have been selected for audit. Marebole confirmed the ongoing forensic review but rubbished claims that there is mismanagement of funds. It is company policy that all issues be investigated and until the report is out, we are not able to comment, he said. He said the company is currently up-to date with its compliance for the Audited Financials of December 2014 and currently working through the Financials of up-to December 2015.

The current audit for the year ending 31st December 2015 is still on-going. The delay was caused by the fact that the company has recently changed its Loan Management System in August 2015, and there is a process which is on-going to confirm the core asset, being the loan book. The whole of the Finance team is new, having recently joined the department during the last quarter of 2015, he stated. Said Marebole, As a result, it is expected that since they joined the company at the end of the financial year and they have to deal with auditors for the financial year they were not there, certain delays will be experienced. An audit process is not an easy and straight forward process and it requires preparation.

Matshediso Pule of BURS said they are constrained to make any comments on your questionnaire because we cannot divulge taxpayers information to third parties on consideration of our taxpayer confidentiality policies and laws.Communications and Public Affairs Manager at NBFIRA, Tapologo Kwapa said as part of their regulatory process they are at liberty to afford entities audit or any form of extension given prevailing circumstances as long as there are no regulatory contraventions. On the point of charges we are compelled by the Act and our internal policies to make a final determination on penalties by ensuring compliance with the Financial Services Laws, explained Kwapa.
The dark spectre of tribalism looms large over Kenya ahead of the historic first-ever summit of Tokyo International Conference on Africas Development (TICAD VI), due 26th to 27th August 2016 in the capital, Nairobi.

While punters are upbeat over the immense economic prospects and benefits that the international meet portends for the countrys hotels, taxis, SMEs, curio shops and food industry- the fly in the ointment is the ethnicity issue abetted, according to a Kenyan delegate at the civil society sensitisation meeting, by poor governance and the absence of democracy.TICAD  Japans multilateral development framework for Africa incepted in 1993 will gather Africas 54 heads of state and government together with the Japanese Prime Minister at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in August for its sixth Summit to sign the Nairobi Declaration, which Africas Ministers, were this week (June 16 and 17) busy drafting in the capital of The Gambia, Banjul.

Politics has nevertheless poisoned the atmosphere in the host country as President Uhuru Kenyattas Jubilee Coalition faces off with Raila Odingas CORD ahead of next years general election, which marks the second and last term of office for Uhuru, the son of the countrys founding president  Jomo Kenyatta.

One after the other, the civil society delegates convened at Hotel Royal Orchid in Westlands along the Lantana Road in Nairobi, quivered with emotions of anger and trepidation as they recounted the sob stories of how tribalism has divided Kenya so much that people even fear to openly mention their surnames. They said that to get a job in todays Kenya, one has to come from one of the dominant tribes, either Kenyattas Kikuyu  or his Vice President, William Rutos Kalenjin. Excluded and marginalised from national development and state opportunities, other tribes, including the Luto of opposition leader, Odinga, will not be cowed by what they perceive as state-sponsored ethnicity war. Its so sad, said a government delegate at the conference, Political affiliation is no longer based on support for party policies and ideology but on which tribe the leader belongs to.





He added for good measure, In fact, if your tribe has no leader in government, you can kiss rural development initiatives goodbye, you just have to bide your time and await your turn for someone from your tribe to ascend the rungs of the ladder of state power. And for some like Raila Odinga, whose father, Oginga, was also an opposition leader, the wait is never-ending, says the delegate.Its an open secret that Raila commands the largest support base in Kenya, his only undoing is that he belongs to a wrong tribe, thats why people fear to support him openly, says a banker in Nairobis central business district. On this week of the civil society sensitisation meeting, both Jubilee and CORD are navigating a political impasse occasioned by disagreements over the composition, mandate and terms of reference for the appointment of an Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

The stalemate is now being resolved through open demonstrations held twice a week  on Mondays and Thursdays at the instigation of CORD. But these have not been without reprisals and repercussions  some fatal, as trigger-happy security agents respond swiftly  in their bid to restore order and normalcy. Press reports here recount gory stories of police brutality not only in the cities of Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa, but also in the hinterlands.Unemployment, like in other African counties is a serious problem here in Kenya, especially for the youth. President of Africas Youth Union says compounding the problem is that government stopped hiring in 2009. I think they (elite power brokers) want to push us out of the city. Look, its hard for me to pay monthly rentals for the house I am renting hardly two years since I left University, now what does that tell you about an unemployed youth? he asks.

However, it is the vexing subject of tribalism, which according to one of the African diplomats at the meeting will require serious attention from the TICAD process. Some suggested that the issue could be covered under social security, which is one of the three thematic areas identified for development financing in the draft Nairobi Declaration and kits plan of action. The others are Industrialisation and Health, Water and Sanitation. Yet other delegates felt that the problem of ethnicity in Africa, just like terrorism and organised crime, deserves attention under the Yokohama Declaration Plan of Action 2013 -2017, the outcome document of TICAD V, which was held last year in Yokohama from 1 - 3 June under the theme, Hand in Hand with a More Dynamic Africa. The Yokohama Declaration envisages among others, inclusive and resilient societies in Africa as well as peace and stability in the region.

According to one of the TICAD co-organisers, the Office of Special Adviser for Africa (OSAA), Japan committed a staggering US$26 million to support the consolidation of peace and stability in the Sahel Region. Information scanned from OSAA website and corroborated by spokespersons of the AU-CIDO, which is the Secretariat for ECOSOC, the department responsible for civil societies at the African Union Commission as well as representatives of the Japanese Citizens Network for TICAD, the Government of Japan pledged US$32 billion at the TICAD-V in Yokohama in 2013, for five years from then to support infrastructure and human resource development.It is said that Japan has disbursed US$3.5 billion in Official Development Assistance (ODA) to support the implementation of some 617-development initiatives in Africa. This amount represents 25 percent of the US$14 billion in ODA committed at TICAD V as a part of the overall $32 billion that was pledged.

Given these figures, some of the civil society delegates at the June 9- 10, 2016 meeting in Nairobi while appreciative of Japans support, warned Africa against a mounting debt burden, and called instead for mobilisation of domestic resources to finance Africas development agenda. They said this can only be achieved if development partners such as TICAD support Africa to build industries that produce finished products in Africa and through promotion of intra-Africa trade and facilitation of technology and skills transfer.

Yet for Africas real situation, this is a mirage! As we left Nairobi in east Africa on June 11th for the ministerial meeting, I couldnt help but notice the two-day journey to Banjul, The Gambia in West Africa via Morocco (north Africa) and what it actually implies for the ability of Africas aviation industry to contribute to GDP growth through the holding of international meetings.

Worse still was the open hostility light skinned Arabs at Mohammed V airport in Casablanca displayed towards black Africans. Perhaps this explains why Morocco is not a member of the African Union (AU) but wants to join the European Union. In fact, the countries of north Africa- Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Tunisia (which has softened its stance as a result of the Arab Spring) and Morocco- have for a long time deferred to the Arab League instead of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU)- the AUs predecessor. A lingua franca (common language) for Africa has also been yet another divisive factor in Africas quest for real and meaningful integration. While KiSwahili and any other African language were mentioned alongside English, French and Portuguese in the founding OAU Treaty, its an indictment on Africas integration agenda that over five decades later, no African language is recognised as a vehicle for integration in Africa.
Dukwi Refugee Camp leadership is said to have arrested and detained some of the Congolese leadership and threatened them with deportation after they requested that their fellow countrymen and women be given naturalisation.

This is said to have happened on the 2nd of this month during a meeting held at Dukwi Refugee Camp. A member of the delegation, which attended the meeting, told Botswana Guardian that they requested that they be given local integration but this did not sit well with the camp leadership and the refugees were told they should forget about such a request. Local integration is one of the three options that refugees are given. The other two are resettlement in a third country and repatriation back to their countries. Dukwi is said to have around 100 Congolese. A delegation of six Congolese is said to have proposed the meeting on workable solution regarding Congolese who have been in the camp for more than 16 years. UNHCR Regional representative, UNHCR- Botswana Chief of Mission, Dukwi Settlement Deputy Commandant and UNHCR Head of Field attended the meeting according to the source.

The delegation raised various issues at the meeting, one of them being that they want local integration or naturalisation for some of the Congolese especially the ten families who have been in the country for over 16 years. This infuriated Dukwi Settlement, Deputy Commandant Fortunate Majingo.





He told the delegation that this would not happen and the only option they could be assisted with could be resettlement or be sent back home. Following this we were briefly detained and threatened that we would be deported back to our country. They told us at the meeting that this is Botswanas position and they are protecting their small labour market, said one of the members who attended the meeting. The Congolese community is said to have tried on several occasions in the past six months to engage the camp management with no luck.

The source said they were released later that day following the intervention of the UNHCR Head of Field Office, Benoit Hamenyimana and Dukwi Police.Botswana Guardian is in possession of a letter dated the 6th of June 2016 where the delegation expressed their grievances and displeasure at the way they were treated during the meeting. The letter has been addressed to Botswana Centre for Human Rights (Ditshwanelo) and copied to U.S Embassy, British High Commission, European Union, UNHCR Pretoria, UNHCR Geneva and Botswana Council of Churches among others.

In the letter the Congolese Community Leaders claim that they were unreasonably detained. They state that theirs was a genuine request but they were ill treated. They request Ditshwanelos intervention in the matter. Contacted Congolese Community Leaders Chairperson, Samuel Byamungu Nondo confirmed the meeting and that they have since written a letter to Ditshwanelo. He could not be drawn into discussing the matter further saying he is constrained to discuss with the media. Dukwi Settlement Deputy Commandant Fortunate Majingo claimed ignorance about events that unfolded at the meeting. He said he is also not aware of the letter of complaint written to Ditshwanelo. Ditshwanelo Public Relations Officer, Tlatsetso Badime was not available for comment as she was said to be in a meeting.
The school of film, television and performance, AFDA showcased movies produced by its first batch of graduates last week at New Capitol Cinema in Riverwalk, Gaborone. The event was graced by fittingly dressed patrons who witnessed home grown productions that were influenced by diverse backgrounds from the country.

All the movies were produced, scripted, directed, and sound designed as well as ushered with digital effects in Botswana. Almost all the settings of the stories related to historical and fairy tales of Botswana. This is even highlighted by title names such as Sebonta and Rasekanta. Gatwe e rile, meaning once upon a time was one of the titles of the movies inspired by oral traditions. The movie was produced by the Btv news anchor Kabelo Kgakololo and Amantle Lesetedi. It is derived from a folktale exploring issues of morality with the central theme of botho.

Tshepo Makgasa, a 34 year old gentleman produced the film, Zola my beginnings, a bitter sweet romantic gangster film about two lovers who live in Zola, a township in the city of Gaborone, hence the title of the film. Having stayed in the same township, for all his 34 years of life, Makgasa aspired to dismiss perceptions that most kids growing from that area end up as gangsters. His film is about everyday life situations in the township. He told BG Style that the moral of the story is acceptance, patience, repentance and remembrance in order to beat any obstacles in life.





The CEO and Founder of AFDA Botswana, Tsholofelo Ntshingane said that he was really impressed by the standard of good work demonstrated by his graduates, despite that they had to learn within a short period of eight months. He is confident that they are achieving the aim of their school which is to produce quality work that can compete in the international arena.Ntshingane highlighted that their school is the only one in Botswana and second one in Africa in terms of using high digital cameras.

It was challenging to teach these students as they came from various institutions such as Limkokwing, Francistown Technical College and UB with different qualifications, but we are honoured because at the end of the day good work has been produced, he said.

Like anyone else, Ntshingane was also amazed by the movie that grasped everyones attention, Sebonta, which is about a young teenage boy who transformed from a homophobic bully into openly exploring homosexuality. The conservative society is still shocked by homosexual issues around the communities of Botswana.




The intricate details of putting together a suit, and looking at its many dynamics is an art only grasped by a select few across the sexes. More often than not many men or women who are into suits often rely on ready- made suits, which in some instances call for alterations.

This is where these two entrepreneurs, Thobo Kerekang and Donald Nnoto come in. Since 2014, the duo that is better known for their long history in the music industry have been in business and are changing the perception about suits in Batswana. KeNo Custom Suits located at African Mall is one business that offers clients a unique experience. From raw material, they make office related, special events wear as well as uniforms for the corporate. Headed by Thobo Kerekang and Donald Nnoto, the business is targeting everyone who has a fashion sense and wishes to leave their house with a success look.

For those who are social media savvy, KeNo Custom Suits is one of the most talked about local companies on social media right now. Every time that they post a picture about their latest creation, social media goes crazy with most expressing their sentiments about wishing to wear the one of a kind creation produced right here at home.





Detailing how the business came into existence, Kerekang explains that they wanted the sort of business that would fuse their passions together. He also says that they wanted something stylish and fun targeting almost everyone from different industries. Our target market is everyone. If you need a suit then you fall into that market, he says. He also emphasizes that even the older markets are most welcome in their premises. And that they will craft something that will suit that client. We advise them accordingly on areas such as buttons and slits. And we will look at things such as the complexion of the customer and what will suit them, he notes.

Nnoto handles the operations side of the business. We also look for factors such as the personality of the client. And we make recommendations to the customer on what will suit them, he says. According to Kerekang, one of the misconceptions that people have about custom made suits is that they are expensive. This is far from the truth. Their cost model he says caters for everyone. And that they are even cheaper than what is being sold in the market. Off the shelf is expensive taking into consideration the fact that you might have to alter it, says Kerekang.

For material, they rely on local supplies as well as South Africa. But one day they wish to have a direct supplier who will be synonymous with their brand. We want to have our own customized fabric, he says. One of the things that they wish people to take into account is the suit etiquette. One of these is leaving your jacket buttoned while sitting down, which they both say is a big no. They also say that the common mistake that they find everyday on the street include people who do not study their bodies, complexions, length of trousers and the fact that a jacket has to show your watch. But we have observed that of late Batswana have upped their game when it comes to fashion, he says.




HYDERABAD (PTI): The Boeing-Tata joint venture in the aerospace sector is a significant step towards developing India's capabilities in the aerospace and defence manufacturing, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said.



"The joint venture between Tata and Boeing is a significant step in developing India's capabilities for aerospace and defence manufacturing, and becoming a global exporter. This is a clear example of the significant progress made towards "Make in India" in defence (sector)," he said on June 18.



Boeing, the world's largest aerospace company, and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) last year set up a joint venture to manufacture aerostructures and collaborate on integrated systems development opportunities in India.



Parrikar was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of a new production facility of TBAL.



K T Rama Rao, Telangana IT and Industries Minister, S Ramadorai, Chairman of TASL and Pratyush Kumar, President, Boeing India, and a board member of TBAL, among others, were present at the event.



TASL has been established to co-produce Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter fuselages and other aerostructures, as well as to pursue integrated systems in aerospace.



The Hyderabad production facility will eventually be the sole producer of AH-64 fuselages globally. TASL will also provide affordable manufacturing capabilities to the global aerospace industry.



Ramadorai said the joint venture brings together the core strengths of both companies and will help them take this strategic relationship to the next level.



Dave Koopersmith, Boeing Vice-President, Vertical Lift, said the event was the next step in Boeing and TASL's journey to develop key technologies and capabilities.



"We will be making significant investments to ensure the success of this joint venture as we bring value to our customers globally and compete for additional manufacturing work in the global market," he said.



Sukaran Singh, MD and CEO, Tata Advanced, and a Board Member of TBAL, said the Tata Group Company has developed expertise in manufacturing as well as in large-scale systems integration work in the aerospace and defence sector. Their capabilities are further enhanced through collaborations and partnerships with leading global aerospace majors.



"We intend to grow this unique joint venture partnership with Boeing, focusing on opportunities to collaborate on development and life cycle management of integrated systems," Singh said.




Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar with three newly commissioned women fighter pilots -- Flying Officer Avani Chaturvedi, Flying Officer Bhavana Kanth, Flying Officer Mohana Singh -- at Air Force Academy, Hyderabad on June 18. A PIB photo

HYDERABAD (PTI): Creating history, Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh became the first women fighter pilots to be formally commissioned by the Indian Air Force on June 18.



Batting for gender parity in the armed forces, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, who was chief guest at the combined graduation ceremony at Air Force Academy, Dundigal on the city outskirts, termed the event as a "milestone" as it is also the first time that women have been given a combat role.



"It is a golden letter day...," he said, asserting that "step-by-step", "total gender parity" will be achieved in the armed forces in the coming years.



"There are technical and administrative difficulties which we are likely to face in certain areas, so, step by step we will see that this parity is achieved. Number will depend on how many we can accommodate depending on our infrastructure," Parrikar said.



Expressing happiness, the three women pilots, who successfully completed pre-commissioning training by the Flight Cadets of various branches of IAF, said they consider themselves "fortunate" and were excited to take on their duties.



The trio will go to Bidar in Karnataka for their stage-III training for a year on Hawk advanced jet trainers, before they get to fly supersonic warplanes.



Six female cadets were competing to become fighter pilots after the government, in a landmark move, approved an IAF plan in October to induct them as fighter pilots.



However, only three female trainees were selected for the fighter stream.



Parrikar, who reviewed the passing out parade, conferred 'President's Commission' on behalf the President to 130 Flight Cadets, including 22 women trainees, who were commissioned as Flying Officers.



It was also a proud moment for 93 young pilots and seven navigators who earned their coveted 'Wings and Brevets' along with nine officers of Navy and one officer of Coast guard on successful completion of their flying training.



Earlier, the defence minister gave away various awards to the Flying officers who had excelled in their training.



Flying Officer Adarsh Hooda from the Flying branch was awarded President's Plaque and the Chief of the Air Staff Sword of Honour for standing first in overall merit in Pilot Course.



Flying Officer Narendra Kushwaha and Flying Officer Sahil Yadav, were awarded President's Plaque for securing first place in overall merit in Navigation and Ground Duty branches, respectively.



Spectators were mesmerised by the breathtaking aerobatics of the skilled pilots of SU-30, 'Sarang' - the Helicopter Aerobatics Team and PC 7 MK-II of the IAF.



Sky divers of the 'Akash Ganga' team also enthralled the audience.



"Before going solo in the aircraft, we have been trained a lot by the instructors and cleared by the examiners. We feel confident and feel good definitely because flying solo in aircraft gives one a special feeling and we enjoy it," the women pilots said.



"As of now we are concentrating on training and with time whatever opportunities we get and whatever the task is assigned to us by the Air Force, we will do good in that," they added.




The PSLV-C34 rocket will launch the satellites on June 22. An ISRO photo

BENGALURU (PTI): The Indian Space Research Organisation on Sunday night said it has cleared the 48-hour countdown, starting Monday morning, for the launch of record 20 satellites in a single mission on June 22 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota.



Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C34 will be used to carry the satellites, including India's earth observation spacecraft Cartosat-2, from the second launch pad of the space centre at 9.26 AM on June 22.



"Mission Readiness Review committee and Launch Authorisation Board have cleared the 48-hour countdown starting at 09.26 hr IST on Monday, June 20, 2016 and the launch of PSLV-C34/Cartosat-2 Series Satellite Mission for Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at 09.26hr IST," a senior ISRO official told PTI.



The space agency had earlier sent 10 satellites into orbit in a single mission in 2008.



PSLV-C34 will launch 19 co-passenger satellites together weighing about 560 kg at lift-off into a 505 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).



ISRO said the total weight of all the 20 satellites carried on board PSLV-C34 is about 1,288 kg.



The co-passengers include satellites from the US, Canada, Germany and Indonesia as well as two satellites from Indian Universities.



The mission would carry LAPAN A3 of Indonesia, BIROS of Germany, SKYSAT GEN 2-1 of US, MVV of Germany among the micro satellites, ISRO sources had earlier said.






BENGALURU (PTI): The Indian Government has decided in principle to allow export of missile systems to 'certain' countries who have friendly relationship with India, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said.



"The government had taken a very conscious decision about 4-5 months ago that 10 per cent of the missile capacity will be permitted to be exported if producers manage to get export orders subject to parameters set by the Union Government and External Affairs Ministry," he told reporters in Bengaluru on June 17.



Policy of export was always existing earlier, but the problem was lack of spare capacity after meeting requirement of the country's armed forces, he said, adding that the production capacity for various missile systems like 'Akash' had been improved now.



"In-principle, decision has been taken to allow exports to certain countries who are in friendly relationship with us...



if they manage to export, then we would enhance the capacity by 10 per cent so that the forces are not deprived," he said.



Parrikar, who was in Bengaluru for the inaugural flight of indigenous basic trainer aircraft Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40), was responding to a question on export policy.



On possible export of BRAHMOS missiles to Vietnam, which he had visited earlier this month, he said the Southeast Asian country had expressed interest and a group would be set up to discuss about their requirement.



About Rafale fighter plane deal, the Defence Minister said discussion between both sides had concluded and he was waiting for a report from the Indian team which had held negotiations.



"....may be next week I should receive their report, once the report is received, the Ministry will analyse it and then it will go to the government," he said.



The deal was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April last year during his visit to France when he said India would purchase 36 Rafales in a government-to-government contract.



To a question about the delay, he said "...I think we are now fast coming to a conclusion."



Asked about the standby, if the deal does not come through, Parrikar said: "I don't think you should see it from the negative side, because it is a declaration by two governments and we have signed in principle memorandum also."



Noting that finalization of the deal was not very far, he said "we waited almost 14-15 years for acquisition.



"This is not a big time if you compare...it is a big purchase we have to be careful."



On Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Parrikar said the squadron should be formed by July. "These are replacements for MiG-27... next year I think two MiG-21 squadrons are being decommissioned; this will go into initially replacing them.



"They (LCA) are ten times better than the MiGs which are old and parts are difficult to get," he added.



On US-India Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), Parrikar said "we are on the final stages of agreeing to aircraft carrier technology."



He said: "The engine, there is reservation, because the percentage of TOT (transfer of technology) is not to our liking, so we are discussing about it. There are many more projects which are there..."



Responding to a question, Parrikar said Aero India air show will be held next year in Bengaluru.



His reply assumes significance as there were reports earlier that the show, being held once in two years here, might be shifted to Parrikar's home state of Goa.


The head of Enterprise Ireland has said there is still a lot to play for as far as the Brexit vote is concerned.

Their Annual Business Review shows that exports by Irish companies exceeded 20bn, with the biggest growth markets last year being the US and Canada.
Irish exporters are being urged to keep diversifying their business regardless of the outcome of the EU referendum.

With record overseas trade of more than 20bn last year, state agency Enterprise Ireland reported homegrown firms have already felt the effect of uncertainty around the Brexit vote.

Half of the record exports from Irish companies are now in the food sector.

But Enterprise Ireland said diversification of trade into Northern Europe, the US and high-growth markets such as China, India, the Gulf and Brazil was paying off.

It said exports to the UK shrank from 45% of overseas sales in 2005 to 37% last year.

Julie Sinnamon, Enterprise Ireland chief executive, said Irish exporters were a big success story with record levels of business being won internationally.

"Significantly, growth was recorded across all sectors and we are seeing that diversification into high growth markets is a focus for our clients," she said.

"The UK remains our largest export market, but we are seeing a trend whereby the exports to the UK as a proportion of our total client exports has declined."

But Ms Sinnamon added: "There are a number of risks to the continued growth in exports and the uncertainty associated with the UK referendum has already had an impact on clients exporting to the UK.

"We are hopeful that the UK will remain within Europe, but we will continue to work on our strategy over recent years of supporting our clients to diversify into new markets."

A review of 2015 exports showed business in the US and Canada soared by 27% to almost 3bn while exports to the UK grew 12% to 7.5bn and those to Northern Europe grew by 8% to 4.2bn.

Enterprise Ireland is targeting 22bn of exports this year.

Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor said: "Irish companies continue to deliver for the Irish economy and the figures announced today show the strength and capabilities of Irish companies competing at a global level."
A British Airways pilot received a turbulent ride from other air crews yesterday after he argued with an air traffic controller at Dublin Airport, writes Patrick Flynn.

The verbal exchange was overheard on an airport radio frequency and later posted on social media.

Several aircraft suffered delays yesterday after a transatlantic jet was forced to make an emergency landing at Dublin.

Aircraft due to depart were held up for a time and the majority of pilots waited patiently for their turn to taxi and take off.

The pilot of British Airways (BA) flight BAW-837 (BAW-81D) from Dublin to London Heathrow took exception to the hold-up.

The BA flight had been cleared to be pushed back from its stand, but the ground crew stopped during the procedure.

The BA pilot called air traffic controller to query this decision. The controller advised the pilot that she had tried call him over the radio but he hadnt responded.

The controller told the pilot: Yeah, I was trying to call you sir, and then said that an Aer Lingus aircraft was pushing back and when they were clear, he could then push back and start his engines.

The pilot acknowledged the instruction but told the controller: You should have told us that before really.

The controller replied: I was trying to call you sir, you werent listening out but they (Aer Lingus) were also cautioned reference you, they were supposed to give way.

The pilot retorted: I wasnt listening out because we were talking to the ground crew and theyre telling us the same thing, so youre a bit late.

Im just too busy to continue any further conversation about this on frequency, the controller told the disgruntled pilot.

The pilots of several other aircraft jumped to the controller's defence, broadcasting messages to the effect over the radio.

One pilot said: Youre doing a great job, thanks very much.

After a time, the British Airways pilot requested permission to taxi and was cleared to do so and acknowledged his instructions.

Then he said: And to advise, we will be filing a safety report.

One pilot replied: Oh my God while another called the BA pilot a "tool".

The BA flight finally departed with a delay of about 40 minutes.

A similar incident involving the same airline occurred at Dublin on Christmas Eve, 2014.
Police in the US are looking to speak to three people in connection with an act of arson at a Walmart store in Phoenix, Arizona.

In footage released to the public, two men and a woman can be seen entering the aisle where the fireworks are on display just before the blaze starts.
Housing Minister Simon Coveney has said he will consult the Attorney General's office tonight on measures to protect householders from higher bin charges.

Mr Coveney is due to bring plans on the new pay-by-weight system to Cabinet tomorrow before the new charges are introduced on July 1.

The Minister is also due to speak with members of the waste industry tonight after meeting with them on Friday last.

Bin companies have warned some home owners their bills could double or treble under the new system, causing outcry.

Minister Coveney, who met bin company representatives last week, said he would like the reassurance for households that "no one is going to be ripped off here".

"I want the assurance that no one is going to be asked to pay more next year than this year," he said.

"We're not simply going to ask the industry on a voluntary basis to do this. I want to be sure that what I ask for is actually followed through on."

Speaking at South Dublin County Council offices ahead of a council meeting this afternoon he said that he therefore needed to take the advice of the Attorney General's office this evening before announcing the details of planned measures tomorrow.

The Housing Minister (pictured) is suggesting that bin charges are capped for a year, during which homeowners are made aware of how to save on their bins.

"That's why I have asked the industry to agree to a cap on charges so that we can reassure people that nobody would pay more next year than they would this year," he said.

"If you ask people who are currently operating on a pay-by-weight system, and about 20% of households are, very few of them would change away from that now."

Bin companies will not be able to charge customers more under the new pay-by-weight regime, if Minister Coveney is permitted to change the law.

A protest greeted the Minister as he arrived at South Dublin County Council this afternoon, with protesters calling for bin collections to pass back into public control and away from private bin collection companies.
Update 3pm: A small but vocal group of protestors calling for bin collection to be returned to county councils, has gathered outside South Dublin County Council where Minister Simon Coveney is meeting councillors.

One protester said: "We want to get greed and corporations out of our state services and take it back into public, democratic ownership again."

Earlier:

Minister Simon Coveney is expected to reveal his plans to tackle the current impasse in relation to bin charges later today.

New pay-by-weight charges will come into effect on July 1 and a number of companies have said they have been forced to increase the price as a result.

However Niall Killilea, the Managing Director of City Bins says he has not hiked up charges "just" because of the new rules coming into effect.

He said: "The previous minister made a statement that 87% of households would see reduced bills. That was always mathematically impossible.

"What we would expect among our customer base is that roughly speaking about a third would see a decrease in their bill, a third of the bills would stay the same, a third would see an increase.

"That's what we would expect if there was no change in customer behaviour."

Mr Killilea said the company supported the new charging system as a way to encourage conservation.

Even greater numbers could save money by changing their waste practices, as the legislation intended, he added.

Mr Killilea estimated that the waste industry has invested close to 10m in putting weighing and billing systems in place ahead of the introduction of the new regime.

The National Standard's Authority of Ireland will be responsible for the bin weighing mechanisms.

Paul Turner from the organisation explains how it will work.

Mr Turner said: "When the bin truck pulls up outside your house to collect the bin, it is an automatic system so the bin truck will automatically lift your bin, weigh it and put it back down on the ground.

"Then all the data from that weighing will be automatically transmitted to a central location."
Gardai in Crumlin are investigating a shooting incident in Dublin at approximately 4am this morning.

A man in his 30s was discovered with a gunshot injury on Monasterboice Road.

He was taken to St James's Hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening.

The scene has been preserved for a technical examination and investigations are on-going.

Anyone with any information should contact the Gardai at Sundrive Road in Crumlin.
Concern is being raised that new dads will not take up paternity leave when it comes into force this Autumn.

From this September, Irish fathers will be entitled to two weeks' paid paternity leave under a new bill being published today. The legislation will allow new fathers to start the combined package of paternity leave and benefit within the first six months of a child's birth.
Social Justice Ireland say that the Government could raise money for social housing using an EU rule.

The group said the Government could invoking a "structural reform clause" in the fiscal rules of the EUs Stability and Growth Pact to raise the money for the initiatives in Budget 2017.

Dr Sean Healy, of Social Justice Ireland, said: "This clause allows Governments to cater for the short-term costs of implementing structural reforms that will have long-term positive budgetary effects.

"While additional off-the-books financing would still be required, this clause would allow for substantial additional on-the-books financing to be available to address one of the biggest scandals of Irelands current reality - the lack of appropriate accommodation for more than 90,000 low-income households."

The group said that the European Central Bank President Mario Draghi had already said that "existing flexibility" within the rules could be used to make room for the cost of needed structural reforms.

Michelle Murphy, Research and Policy Analyst, Social Justice Ireland said: "Investment in social housing will yield significant returns in terms of both employment and productivity, and will also address one of the largest infrastructural deficits in Ireland today.

If Ireland is to have strong long-term macroeconomic stability and a vibrant economy then a substantial increase in the level of public investment is required."

"Government must take responsibility to explore every avenue towards resolving Irelands social housing crisis. It is imperative that the structural reform clause be explored to increase finance available in Budget 2017."
Police are appealing for information after the sudden death of a woman who was on holiday in the North.

The body of 39-year-old Agnieszka Szypulska, a Canadian Polish national, was found close to Binevenagh Lake on Saturday.
A mother in England whose 16-year-old son died after taking ecstasy said that drugs are being designed to appeal to children.

It comes after three 12-year-old girls were rushed to hospital in the UK after taking "Teddy Tablets".

Fiona Spargo-Mabbs, whose son Daniel died after taking MDMA at an illegal rave in London in 2014, said that children need more awareness on drugs.

On Saturday evening, the three girls were rushed to hospital in a serious condition after taking the tablets in Salford, Greater Manchester.

Mrs Spargo-Mabbs, from Croydon, south London, said conversations about drugs needed to be "open and frank".

Her son Daniel died of multiple organ failure three days after taking MDMA, or ecstasy, when he went to a rave in Hayes, west London. He was among five friends who had clubbed together 80 to buy the class A drug before the party.

She said: "It's just so awful, they are just so young. I know what it's like being in the hospital, the awfulness of not knowing. I'm so relieved that hopefully they are going to be OK."

Following Daniel's death, Mrs Spargo-Mabbs and her husband Tim set up the Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation to make youngsters aware of the dangers of drug abuse and take their drug awareness programmes into schools.

She added: "For most young people, even if they know it is ecstasy, they are not going to understand what that means. They look like sweets and are designed to appeal to kids - there has been ones shaped like Lego bricks, ones called Rockstar. They are designed to appeal to young people."

One of the girls was due to be discharged from hospital on Monday, while the other two remain in a stable condition.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a 22-year-old man and 21-year-old woman who were arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a controlled substance have been bailed until July 15.

They warned people to stay away from the party drug - which has already led to the death of a 22-year-old woman in recent weeks and a 17-year-old girl a few months ago.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Walker, of GMP's Salford Borough, said: "The girls took a type of ecstasy described as 'Teddy Tablets'.

"It is imperative young people understand the implications and avoid taking drugs, to stop any more young people ending up in hospital."

Mrs Spargo-Mabbs added that she believed that young people were using ecstasy more because of its availability and cost, but stressed that the drugs were "much stronger".

She added that parents needed to keep conversations about drugs "open and frank" and said youngsters needed to be armed with life skills to be able to navigate peer pressure.

"It's just ecstasy in a different form but it has all the same risks. They have no kind of awareness how strong it is. A 12-year-old's body is really small and not able to cope."

Anyone in possession of illegal substances is urged to hand them in to police, chemists or medical practitioners.

For help or advice on all drugs, UK residents can contact the Talk To Frank service on 0800 777 6600 or at www.talktofrank.com.
Criminals obtaining and trading in personal data in England should face a jail term of up to two years, MPs there have said.

The UK's Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee also called for the data watchdog to be given greater powers, including the ability to fine firms if they do not make it easier to verify whether online or phone messages are genuine.

The cross-party committee's inquiry into cyber-security was triggered by a series of data breaches at TalkTalk, but the MPs warned that the problem is significant, growing, and affects all sectors with an online platform or service.

The committee said 90% of large organisations have reportedly experienced a security breach, and 25% of companies experience a cyber-breach at least once a month.

In the public sector, the latest research from the UK's Information Commissioner's Office shows that the health sector has the most data breaches, followed by local government.

More than 40% of data breaches are caused by employees, contractors and third-party suppliers, and half of these are accidental.

Committee chairman Jesse Norman said: "Cyber-security is a critical issue for consumer confidence, and increasingly important for the UK economy.

"Companies must have robust strategies and processes in place, backed by adequate resources and clear lines of accountability, to stay one step ahead in a sophisticated and rapidly evolving environment.

"Failure to prepare for or learn from cyber-attacks, and failure to inform and protect consumers, must draw sanctions serious enough to act as a real incentive and deterrent.

"As the TalkTalk case shows, the reality is that cyber-attacks are a constant, evolving threat.

TalkTalk responded quickly and well to this attack, but appear to have been much less effective in the past, failing to learn from repeated breaches of different kinds.

"They should now publish as much of the PWC investigation as commercially possible without delay, and set out exactly how they will implement any necessary changes.

"Everyone must take the lessons from the Talk Talk breaches as a wake-up call - both in how they prepare to prevent cyber-attacks, and in how they deal with their consumers when those attacks occur."

The report recommended that bosses should be hit in the pocket if data breaches occur, suggesting that a portion of chief executive remuneration should be linked to effective cyber security.

The MPs said it should also be easier for victims of a data breach to claim compensation.

They also warned that the vulnerability of the massive new data pools which will be created by the Investigatory Powers Bill needs to be urgently addressed by Government.

A public information campaign, similar to that used to promote smoke alarm testing, should be used to make consumers aware of the risk of online and telephone scams.
Jo Cox was planning to launch a report in Britain's Parliament on the dangers of nationalist radicals, according to reports.

The Labour MP for Batley and Spen, who died after being shot and stabbed in the street outside her constituency surgery on Thursday, had also recorded a video about preventing Islamophobia, according the The Times.

The report by Tell Mama, an organisation that monitors anti-Muslim incidents, warns of rising aggression by far-right nationalists and an increase in Islamophobia in the last year.

Mrs Cox was known for her commitment to causes such as the plight of Syrian refugees.

The Times reports that on June 29 she planned to launch the report and play the video.

It shows her saying she had spoken to Tell Mama about preventing Islamophobia and discussing the problem that in her constituency "many of our young women don't feel safe when they're out on the street".

The director of Tell Mama, Fiyaz Mughal, told the newspaper there were significant clusters of far-right activity in Yorkshire and that the charity's annual report would detail an increase in anti-Muslim activity in the UK last year.

Mr Mughal said: "In the last 18 months South Yorkshire is one of the leading areas in the country (for Islamaphobic incidents)."

Thomas Mair, 52, from Birstall, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday charged with murdering Mrs Cox, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of a knife.
The gunman who killed 49 people in a shooting at Orlando's Pulse nightclub was not directed by a foreign terror group but was radicalised domestically, according to the FBI.

At a news conference on Monday, the FBI's Ron Hopper also said that in 911 emergency calls, Omar Mateen described his actions to an operator in a "chilling, calm and deliberate manner".

Transcripts released on Monday show that Mateen told a crisis negotiator the US needed to stop bombing Iraq and Syria.

Mateen (pictured) spoke three times with an emergency dispatcher once the massacre was underway.

The FBI said Mateen identified himself as an Islamic soldier. He also claimed to be equipped with bombs in a vehicle outside, though authorities say they have found no evidence of explosives.

He said to a 911 operator: "I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings."

The communications, along with Facebook posts and searches made before and during the shooting, add to the public understanding of the final hours of Mateen's life.

The investigation into the June 12 shooting is continuing.

US Attorney General Loretta Lynch will travel to Orlando on Tuesday to meet with investigators. She said that a key goal of the investigation was to determine why Mateen targeted the gay community. The victims were predominantly gay and Hispanic since it was "Latin night" at Pulse.

Around Orlando, people left balloons, flowers, pictures and posters at a makeshift memorial in front of the city's new performing arts centre and at Orlando Regional Medical Centre where 49 white crosses were emblazoned with red hearts and the names of the victims.

Dozens more people were wounded in the massacre, which is the worst mass shooting in modern US history.

The first call came more than half an hour after the first shots were fired, when Mateen told a 911 operator: "Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God."

Mateen's name and the groups and people to whom he pledged allegiance were omitted from the excerpt. But the FBI has previously stated that he pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State.

Shortly after the call, Mateen had three conversations with crisis negotiators in which he identified himself as an Islamic soldier and told a negotiator to tell America to stop bombing Syria and Iraq and that is why he was "out here right now", according to the excerpt.

Orlando's police chief said officers were on the scene within minutes and saved many lives.

Chief John Mina said the timeline clearly shows officers' arrival. He says officers' initial entry caused gunman Mateen to stop shooting. Mina also emphasised that the incident started as an active shooter situation.

He said: "There was never a concern that he was going to get away. We were going to take him into custody."

Officials have conducted over 500 interviews and have more than 600 pieces of evidence from the crime scene at Pulse. He said they are nearly done processing the scene.

The release of the transcripts came a day after tens of thousands of people held a candlelight vigil in the heart of Orlando for the 49 victims who died. The victims were also remembered at church services and at makeshift memorials throughout Orlando.

"As a community, its important that we gather together to show our support because only together can we move forward," said Gabrielle Claire, a musician and Universal Orlando worker who says she knew three Pulse victims who died. She was holding a "Hugs for Healing" sign at the vigil and numerous strangers came up to hug her.

"We don't have to be afraid of holding each other. We don't have to be afraid of saying to other people, 'I'm here for you,'" she said.

Meanwhile, hospital officials said four people remained in critical condition on Monday morning, more than a week after they were wounded in the attack.

Orlando Regional Medical Centre said 18 victims from the shooting were still at the hospital and three more surgeries were scheduled for Monday. The other 14 patients are listed in stable condition.
Fourteen Nepalese security guards were killed when a Taliban suicide bomber attacked their minibus in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, the Interior Ministry and an Afghan security official said.

The Nepalese were on their way to the Canadian Embassy where they worked as guards, according to another Nepalese guard, who was injured in the blast.

The attack was the latest by the Taliban, who have stepped up assaults, including in the Afghan capital, as part of their summer offensive. The insurgent attacks frequently target government employees and Afghan security forces across the country.

The bomber was on foot when he struck the minibus, said Kabul police chief General Abdul Rahman Rahimi. The vehicle belonged to employees of an unnamed foreign security company, he said.

An Interior Ministry statement confirmed that all 14 killed were Nepalese citizens, describing the attack as the work of a "terrorist suicide bomber". It said the explosion injured nine other people - five Nepalese employees and four Afghan civilians.

Amrit Rokaya Chhetri, a Nepalese who was wounded in the attack, told the Associated Press they were on their way to the Canadian Embassy when the blast took place.

"Many people died," he said from his hospital bed, his head covered with a white bandage. "I say to my family, I am OK and I will come home."

Abdullah Abdullah, the country's chief executive officer, condemned the attack in a posting on Twitter, saying: "This attack is an act of terror and intimidation."

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement to media.

In Nepal, Bharat Raj Paudyal, spokesman for Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the government was aware of Monday's incident in Kabul and was trying to verify the names of the victims and details about the bombing.

Nepal does not have an embassy in Afghanistan but the embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, is working to get the details, he added.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, a bomb rigged to a parked motorbike killed eight Afghan civilians during morning rush-hour in a province in north-eastern Badakhshan province.

At least 14 other people were injured in the blast, according to Naved Froutan, spokesman for the provincial governor.

The explosion took place in the main bazaar in Kashim district, he said, adding that "an investigation is under way to determine the target of the attack, but all victims of the attack are civilians".

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the Badakhshan attack, though the Taliban are active in the area and regularly target Afghan security forces there.
A Taliban suicide bomber has killed 14 Nepalese security guards in an attack on a minibus in Afghanistan's capital city, Kabul.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, a bomb rigged to a motorbike killed 10 Afghan civilians during the morning rush hour in a busy market in a province in the country's north-east.

And later in Kabul, a second Taliban bombing killed an Afghan civilian and injured five people, including a provincial council member who was the intended target of the attack, according to authorities.

The Nepalese were on their way to the Canadian Embassy where they work as guards when the explosion took place on Monday morning, according to a Nepalese guard who was hurt in the attack.

The attack was the latest to hit Kabul as the Taliban has stepped up its assaults as part of a summer offensive. The insurgents frequently target government employees and Afghan security forces across the country.

In the bombing that killed the Nepalese, the bomber was on foot when he struck the minibus, said General Abdul Rahman Rahimi, the city's police chief.

Afghanistan's Interior Ministry confirmed that all 14 killed were Nepalese citizens, describing the attack as the work of a "terrorist suicide bomber". It said the explosion also injured nine people, five Nepalese employees and four Afghan civilians.

Amrit Rokaya Chhetri, a Nepalese guard wounded in the attack, said they were on their way to the Canadian Embassy when the blast took place.

Abdullah Abdullah, the country's chief executive officer, condemned the attack on Twitter, saying: "This attack is an act of terror and intimidation."

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement to the media.

In Nepal, Bharat Raj Paudyal, spokesman for Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the government is aware of the incident in Kabul and is trying to verify the names of the victims and details about the bombing. Nepal does not have an embassy in Afghanistan but the embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, is working to get the details, he said.

In a conflicting statement, Afghanistan's Islamic State affiliate also claimed responsibility for the Kabul attack, identifying the suicide bomber as Erfanullah Ahmed and saying he carried out the attack by detonating his explosives belt.

Insurgents frequently target buses with government employees - or those perceived to be working for the Kabul government. In late May, a suicide bomber struck a minibus carrying court employees during morning rush hour in Kabul, killing 11 people - judges and court employees. The Taliban claimed responsibility for that attack as well.

In the northeastern Badakhshan province, the parked motorbike-bomb that killed at least 10 Afghan civilians on Monday also wounded 40 others, according to Naved Froutan, spokesman for the provincial governor.

The explosion took place in the main bazaar in Kashim district, he said, adding that "an investigation is under way to determine the target of the attack, but all victims of the attack are civilians". He added that women and children were among those killed and hurt in the attack.

A Taliban spokesman denied any involvement by the insurgents in the blast in Badakhshan, though Taliban are active in the area and regularly target Afghan security forces there.

The second blast in Kabul took place near the home of Mawlavi Attaullah Faizani, a member of the Kabul provincial council, said Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan interior minister.

Mr Sediqqi said the bomb went off as Mr Faizani was passing by in his vehicle. The Taliban confirmed it had targeted the provincial council member.

Afghan President Asharf Ghani condemned all three of Monday's attacks. Mr Ghani said "terrorists do not hesitate to kill people even during the holy month of Ramadan" and that they are seeking to "create fear among the people".

Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion condemned the attacks, including the one that killed the security guards, and offered condolences.

"Many of the victims have been part of our embassy family for years, and they will be remembered for their service in the protection of the men and women at the Embassy of Canada to Afghanistan," Mr Dion said.
Donald Trump's troubled US election campaign has lost its second high-level member of staff of the day.

Michael Caputo, who was poised to serve as director of communications for the campaign at the Republican convention, resigned after firing off a celebratory tweet after news of campaign manager Corey Lewandowski's sacking broke.

He tweeted: "Ding dong the witch is dead!"

Accompanying the tweet was a photo from the Wizard of Oz, showing the feet of the Wicked Witch of the East protruding from under a house.

Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks confirmed Mr Caputo is no longer with the campaign.

Mr Caputo had served as the campaign's state director for the New York primary and as a senior adviser.

Mr Lewandowski was axed earlier in a shake-up designed to calm panicked Republican leaders.

He had been by Mr Trump's side since the beginning of his unlikely rise to become the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, but he clashed with those brought in to make the campaign more professional.

"I have no regrets," Mr Lewandowski told CNN, just hours after he was escorted out of Mr Trump's Manhattan campaign headquarters.

The former conservative activist seemed to acknowledge the limitations of his aggressive approach, which has sparked widespread concern among Trump supporters.

"The campaign needs to continue to grow to be successful," he said.

However Mr Lewandowski made clear that campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who has taken over from him, has been directing events.

"Paul Manafort has been in operational control of the campaign since April 7. That's a fact," he said

Ms Hicks described Mr Lewandowski's departure as a "parting of ways".

A source close to Mr Trump said Mr Lewandowski was forced out largely because of his poor relationship with the Republican National Committee and party officials.

The move came as Mr Trump faces continued deep resistance from many quarters of his party concerned by his contentious statements and his reluctance to engage in traditional fundraising.

Mr Trump was upset that so many Republicans such as House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell were reluctant to support him, and partially blamed Mr Lewandowski, according to the source.

"Firing your campaign manager in June is never a good thing," said veteran Republican operative Kevin Madden.

"The campaign will have to show dramatic changes immediately on everything from fundraising and organising to candidate performance and discipline in order to demonstrate there's been a course correction. Otherwise it's just cosmetics."

Mr Lewandowski has long been a controversial figure in Mr Trump's campaign, but benefited from his proximity to the presumptive Republican nominee.

He was a chief promoter of the idea that the best campaign strategy was to "Let Trump be Trump".

Mr Lewandowski frequently dismissed the notion that Mr Trump needed to hire more experienced political hands, spend on polling and sophisticated data operations, and moderate his rhetoric as he moved towards the general election.

Mr Lewandowski was charged with misdemeanour battery in the spring for an altercation involving a female reporter during a rally. The charges were later dropped. Mr Trump defended Mr Lewandowski throughout the episode and repeatedly framed his own actions as a sign of loyalty and a demonstration that he would not give in to outside pressure.

"Folks, look, I'm a loyal person," Mr Trump told voters at the time.

"It's so important," he said of loyalty in a subsequent interview. "And it's one of the traits that I most respect in people. You don't see it enough."

The move comes a day before Mr Trump is to attend a major New York City fundraiser, organised by long-time Republican financier Woody Johnson. Mr Trump will spend part of Tuesday and Wednesday at finance events in his home city.

Republican strategist Ryan Williams, a frequent Trump critic, said that Mr Lewandowski's dismissal "is the first major public admission from Donald Trump that his campaign is not going well".

"This shows donors, activists and party officials that he is willing to make significant changes, even if it means parting ways with a trusted political aide," Mr Williams said.

"Now Trump needs to demonstrate that he is willing to change his own approach by toning down his rhetoric and becoming a more disciplined general election candidate."
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Human trials could begin within the next two years. Fairfax's health reporter Rania Spooner has more here .

Big news in the health space today. Australian researchers have discovered an existing drug may be able to prevent breast cancer caused by the faultly gene BRCA1, which Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie made a household name when she revealed she had had a double masectomy after finding out she was a carrier.

Another day of Brexit campaigning dominated by the aftermath of the murder of Labour MP and Remainer Jo Cox. Parliament was recalled so tributes to the late mother-of-two could be paid. Mrs Cox's friend Stephen Kinnock drew a direct link between the MP's death and her politics, saying she was killed for what she stood for. He also said she would have been "outraged" by UKIP's "breaking point" anti-migrant poster. Nick Miller has more here.

The polls tightened today and showed Leave and Remain neck-and-neck. This is great news for Remain. It needs voters who may be reluctant to vote (no mandatory voting in the UK) to turn out, and a super close prediction is exactly the incentive it needs. Any outright lead for either side is bad news as it feeds into complacency if voters think the race is already won.

No surprise, then, that this popped into my letterbox today.
A Labor candidate has quit the election race after it was revealed he had links with radical Islamic group Hizb ut-Tahrir.

Christian Kunde, a trainee doctor from Albury, declared himself a friend of the group's controversial spokesman Uthman Badar in an opinion piece he penned in 2014.

Christian Kunde, a trainee doctor, said he had decided to stand aside in order not to distract from Labor's campaign. Credit:Mark Jesser

He also delivered a lecture at the University of Sydney in which he said same-sex marriage was not compatible with Islam, and referenced a comparison of gay marriage and incest.
The software company at the centre of a growing storm about Liberal Party finances rented prime Melbourne office space used by the Liberals as their national headquarters for the last federal election, Fairfax can reveal.

The revelations raise fresh questions about the flow of money between the Liberal Party and its software company, which receives hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in money originating from taxpayer-funded allowances.

Liberal MPs around Australia direct $2500 in taxpayer allowances each year to Parakeelia Pty Ltd, which is wholly owned by the Liberals. MPs pay to use its voter-monitoring software which compiles information about constituents.
A Brisbane police officer has been suspended over allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour.

The 40-year-old male constable from the Brisbane region is facing criminal charges and will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on July 4.

A police officer from the Brisbane region will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on July 4. Credit:Tom Threadingham

A Queensland police spokesman was unable to confirm specific charges.

AAP
Traffic heading south on the Pacific Motorway is banked up for kilometres as emergency services work to clear the scene of an earlier accident.

Police have opened an additional lane of the motorway near Coomera but two lanes still remain closed.

Traffic is banked up for kilometres on the M1 due to an earlier accident. Credit:Nine News

The on-ramp to the motorway near Dreamworld is also closed.

Images from news helicopters show cars slowly crawling along the motorway as peak hour traffic continues to grow.
A former Queensland Anglican priest previously jailed for molesting three altar boys will spend more time behind bars after pleading guilty to abusing a fourth child more than 40 years ago.

Barry John Greaves was on Monday jailed for three months after pleading guilty in the Brisbane District Court to indecently dealing with a child under 14 years.

The court heard the victim was left feeling confused and alone by the abuse but didn't tell anyone about it because he thought it would shame his family. Credit:Sonia Autelli

He had been sentenced to three years' imprisonment in 2009 for sexually abusing three other boys while working as an Anglican rector for the Boonah and Harrisville districts in the early 1980s.

The 79-year-old was sentenced to a head term of 12 months, to be suspended after three months have been served, with Judge Tony Moynihan describing the offending as "a gross breach of trust".
A six-year-old Canberra girl has become the official sponsor of an Australia Zoo tiger cub after donating the inheritance from her grandparents.

Just how much Audrey Joyce donated remains a secret between her, Australia Zoo's Bindi, Robert and Terri Irwin and the 11-week-old cub, which she has named Reggie.

Audrey Joyce named the tiger cub Reggie after her parents' grandfathers. Credit:Ben Beaden

It's believed Audrey's donation was in the thousands and was so significant she was instantly given naming rights to the newest feline addition to Australia Zoo.

The vibrant youngster said she gave the money to the Wildlife Warriors' program to help save tigers because "they (poachers) want their faces, skin and their bodies to make money from them".
Residents at an east Brisbane estate have failed in their bid to have their corner of Murarrie absorbed by the neighbouring suburb of Cannon Hill.

But the Park Hill residents have vowed to continue their fight, despite Natural Resources Minister Anthony Lynham's decision to knock back their request.

The Park Hill Village estate at Murarrie has failed in its attempt to become part of Cannon Hill. Credit:Google Streetview

According to Fairfax Media's Domain, the median house price in Cannon Hill was $648,000.

Over the border in Murarrie, the median price was $547,000.
A Queensland woman whose ex-husband posted a vicious attack about her on Facebook has won $10,000 in court.

Bowen woman June Marion Kelly was seeking $150,000 in damages after a post was published on Facebook by her former husband David Levick, stating that she, among other things, "commits criminal offences".

The "new payments platform" will allow for real-time fund transfers to someone using a different bank. Credit:BRW

"June turned out to be a thieving, lying, money crazed bitch who screwed me out of nearly 3 million rand  may she rot in Hell," Mr Levick wrote in a post on his Facebook page in November 2014.

Magistrate Simon Young said Mr Levick's post happened in the context of years of a bitter divorce and property settlement in South Africa with Ms Kelly.
"The resource emphasises that teachers should listen to and understand the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. It provides some basic resources and 'pointers' as preliminary guidelines that may be of practical use for such contexts. These ideas are not prescriptive or exhausted, and we have ample feedback from experienced teachers that suggestions like teaching outdoors can be enjoyable and effective. "Christian Education Publications recognises that there are constant changes and improvements to specialist pedagogy, such as for teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and welcomes guidance from bodies like Education Queensland, as well as from frontline users of Connect in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander contexts." The Queensland Christian Religious Instruction Network also defended the materials, found under "appropriate teaching methods" in a section titled "the special needs of indigenous students", with a spokeswoman first pointing to a 2008 NSW Board of Studies document, which is mentioned in the Connect teaching materials, as the guide. While the Board of Studies 'Working with Aboriginal communities; a guide to community consultation and protocols' does include a line urging educators to consider "taking the students to a venue outside the school where Aboriginal people might feel more comfortable", it is in reference to indigenous guests, not school students. The spokeswoman later provided comment from the Chair of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, Reverend Dennis Corowa in defence of the Connect materials, particularly the "most teachable" comment, which was referred to word-for-word as it appears in the syllabus.

"I fully endorse the Connect curriculum for Aboriginal students," Rev Corowa said in a statement released by the QRIN. "I have been using it for many years across all year levels. I love it. No student or instructor of RI has ever expressed a problem about the material to me. I believe that the teaching approach is culturally sensitive to the particular needs of Aboriginal students. "In particular I agree that Aboriginal students can be most teachable when sitting outside in small groups under a tree. And I never met any student who did not enjoy a barbecue lunch on a Friday." Comment was also anonymously provided from a second "Aboriginal community member and Christian leader" via the QRIN. "I dispute any attempt to claim the Connect material is racist," the unnamed defender said.

"...I am grateful that Connect has acknowledged the cultural differences of Aboriginal students and our unique role as first peoples of this land. I'm also sure that all my students, of any culture, would much prefer any education and yarning take place sitting under a tree with a BBQ lunch afterwards." The materials first made headlines after a primary school lesson plan, which encouraged students to re-enact a beheading as part of the telling of a bible story, was made public. The materials also teach children "every single person has sinned and rejected God and deserves to be punished" and are believed to be used by large numbers of volunteer religious instructors across the state. Other lesson plans include aims "to help students to understand that everyone deserves the punishment of God because we have all sinned and ignored Him", to ensure student's learn "to acknowledge their own sinfulness" and asks children to "reflect on whether they accept or reject Jesus". It is understood that religious groups planned on challenging the decision to suspend religious instruction from Windsor State School while other materials were reviewed, with the spokesman for the Queensland Christian Religious Instruction Network Paul Clark, telling Fairfax Media earlier this month, independent legal advice "clearly" found the decision "a mistake".

At the same time, Mr Clark said the group believed "cooler heads" would resolve the issue and religious instruction would continue. "We're a little disappointed that the decision of one principal, in one school, that independent legal advice clearly shows is a mistake, is somehow precipitating a 'review' and media attention, without the stakeholders - all the providers of RI represented by RIQA [Religious Instruction Quality Assurance - Christian, Muslim, Bahai, Buddhist, etc] - being informed or included", he said earlier this month. "We're comforted to know that the RI regulations/guidelines are very clear, and that the Government, DET and RIQA always work together well to ensure RI is done according to the guidelines." The Education Department has not approved, or endorsed, any material or program used during religious instruction, which most closely resembles a bible class and is faith based, rather than rooted in any educational aspects of religion or theology, such as its history or cultural impact. Instead, religious leaders are responsible for the quality of the program. Under the Queensland Education General Provisions Act, up to one hour of curriculum time a week is made available for the provision of religious instruction.
Following final approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Ninox Robotics is one of the companies who will begin commercial operations this month, deploying unmanned aerial systems for customised services to government, NGOs and private sector clients.

With the ability to detect animals, monitor plants or land areas, create detailed maps, improve fire management and search and rescue operations and provide surveillance, commercial drones are for more than just speeding up insurance claims.

Commercial drones are for more than just speeding up insurance claims.

Biosecurity Queensland leads the Queensland Government's efforts to prevent and manage pest and disease threats, and is using UAS to test new capabilities for surveying and monitoring pest populations throughout the state.

LogiCamms, an engineering and consulting services company for minerals, metals, hydrocarbons and infrastructure industries, will rely on UAS for monitoring existing linear assets, as well as mapping remote assets and proposed infrastructure.
A factional brawl has been avoided after Labor MP Marlene Kairouz was elected to Premier Daniel Andrews cabinet unopposed.

Ms Kairouz was backed by a special caucus meeting on Monday to replace former minister Jane Garrett who quit cabinet over her long-standing opposition to the Premier's deal with the firefighters union.

New Minister for Consumer Affairs Marlene Kairouz with Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau and Premier Daniel Andrews. Credit:Eddie Jim

The new minister, who was cabinet secretary, has been given the Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation portfolios left vacant by Ms Garrett

Despite Ms Garrett hailing from the Socialist Left, the Right faction was successful in arguing that the Left for too long had been over represented in cabinet and that her replacement should be from the Right.
Accused would-be cop killer Rodney Phillips was allegedly heard to murmur the words 'you're f--ked' to a prosecution witness during the first day of his court appearance.

Proceedings were immediately stopped as prosecutor Neill Hutton leapt to his feet to object.

Mr Hutton then told media in the court room that he'd heard Mr Phillips say "you're f--ked".

Mr Phillips, 24, and his co-accused Sam Liszczak, 21, appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday to answer charges of attempted murder after a young policeman was shot in the back of the head.
Students are missing out on learning time as schools cut their classes to reduce spiralling costs.

Some schools have shortened their lessons by so much that they are now breaching Education Department rules, which say students must receive 25 hours of face-to-face instruction every week.

Schools are winding back their classes to save money. Credit:Erin Jonasson

Northcote High School was faced with a tough decision two years ago  it either had to wind back the VCE subjects it offered, or scale back its tutorials.

It choose the latter, and its students now spend 31 minutes less time in class every week than the Department says they should.
The Aldi hysteria in Perth is showing no signs of abating, with hundreds of shoppers pouring into the Belmont store on Monday morning.

The German supermarket giant has been given a rock star-like reception since opening four stores in Perth two weeks ago.

More than 100 people braved freezing cold temperatures to line up outside the Kwinana store on June 8, to get a sneak peek at what the discount store had to offer.

It was the same at the Belmont, Mirrabooka and Joondalup outlets.
The 18-year-old man accused of kicking a security guard in the head at a youth festival has pleaded guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm and trespassing, but his victim has refused to accept his apology.

Martin Fulton was silent outside Perth Magistrates Court on Monday after pleading guilty to jumping the fence at the Good Life Festival on February 27 and kicking security guard Michael Rigby in the head as he was trying to restrain another man.

The incident was caught on video and went viral shortly after the festival.

Mr Rigby's friend and fellow security guard, Shane Poulton told media outside court the 56-year-old had refused an invitation from a mediator to meet with Mr Fulton for him to say sorry, because he believed any apology would be insincere.
Low-income households in Australia are paying up to 85% of their income on rent, reinforcing calls for policy reform to address rental and housing affordability.Under current market conditions, the Rental Affordability Index (RAI)  released in partnership by National Shelter, Community Sector Banking and SGS Economics & Planning  reveals low-income households typically need to pay 50 to 85% of their income on rent.Ellen Witte, an associate at SGS Economics & Planning, said it is generally accepted that a household is in housing stress if it pays more than 30% of its income on rent. She told Australian Broker that this could have alarming knock-on consequences on the broader economy and the Australian quality of life.When housing stress starts to occur, it starts to impact on the wider health and well-being of households, Witte said.Households will have limited opportunity to spend income on food, bills, health and education. It is not only having an impact on the current generation, but even on the children of these rental households. Their children may have less opportunity for education and this may again impact of their future ability to earn incomes once they are adults.According to the index, Sydney continues to be the least affordable of the metro areas. However, affordability levels have stabilised in the harbour city in recent years. Sydney was followed by Hobart, Brisbane, and Adelaide. Perth is the most affordable of the metro areas studied in the RAI.Wittes said the rental affordability crisis has largely been driven by an increase in demand.We really saw the affordability crisis starting to develop from the early 2000s onwards. For the first time in decades we have seen demand for housing outpace new supply of dwellings, she told Australian Broker.The second thing we have seen is the introduction of the 50% reduction of the capital gains tax. This has attracted a surge of investment into the housing market and pushing out first home buyers.She said there needs to be drastic changes to address the problem.I dont think there is a simple solution; it needs some drastic structural changes. The supply of housing needs to be pushed up.Also, importantly, there needs to be an increase in affordable housing. Growing the community housing sector will really help to address the issues for the lowest income households.In addition to that, there are issues around capital gains tax in combination with negative gearing. We dont say it should all be completely abolished but there is a need to change those policy levers to make the environment more attractive to homebuyers who actually own and live in their houses, she told Australian Broker.
The Mortgage and Finance Brokers Association of Australia ( MFAA ) has reported a spike in parental loans through brokers as house prices continue to rise across the country.Parental guarantee loans now represent over 15% of loans written for some of its members, the MFAA has reported. The association said it has witnessed a trend in requests for these types of loans over the past three years.Melissa Gielnik, a director of the MFAA and managing director of Smart Lending said the MFAA expects this trend to continue.The housing affordability issue gripping the nation for first home buyers is not improving. Many parents who have built up equity in their home are ideally placed to help their child or children move onto the housing ladder sooner, she said.In recent months the banking industry has announced significant changes to tighten lending policies for borrowers. There is no longer an option to borrow 100% of the mortgage and associated fees.St George is offering a loan covering 97% of the mortgage cost, while most lenders require a minimum of 95%. A 5% deposit, combined with stamp duty plus mortgage insurance fees of around 3.2% of the overall house price adds up to a significant deposit for any young person.According to data from CoreLogic , house prices across the combined capital cities rose 1.6% over May, taking values 5% higher over the calendar year to date and 10% higher over the year to May.To combat affordability hardship, Gielnik said brokers bear a responsibility to educate younger generations about financial literacy."We are also combating a new generation being Generation Y, many of which are now trying to enter the mortgage market. Generally, they live week to week and don't have a savings pattern and perhaps feel more entitled than other generations.Education is the key. We need to get back to basics and teach children from a very young age how to save and the rewards which can be achieved from working and saving.
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Boys will be girls!

A Park Slope theater company will conduct a gender-swap experiment this month, presenting a reading of a play about women at a nail salon with seven female actors on June 24, and seven male actors on June 25. The writer of Pick a Color says that she wants to see if her play about women is still seen as a feminist work when men are in the roles.

I was wondering if feminist work was stories of women being powerful, or if it could also be stories that privileged womens emotional lives, said Emily Feldman. I wondered if that would open up the space for there to be more conversation of what makes a womans play or if it raises it to the realm of mens drama.

The male actors of the Piper Theatre Company will play female characters, and the script will not change to accommodate the different demographic of the cast.

The only thing thats essential is that the actors play the emotions and the conversations in the play as honestly and compassionately as possible, wrote Feldman in the script.

The playwright came up with her plays casting switchup while in a nail salon, where a boisterous young man intruded on the usually all-woman space. His very presence disrupted the discussions between women, she said.

A nail salon is a place where you let another person clip your toenails and massage lotion into your hands. Its a womans world where people take gentle care of one anothers sensitive parts. Its a place where you can overhear some very personal anecdotes. I didnt like that there was a loud bro sitting close to me, Feldman said. The code felt broken. The conversations were different before and after he was gone.

The results of the experiment will have her tweaking her script according to audience and actor reactions, she said.

Thats what you learn from a reading  the audience response. Thats also part of the experiment  watching it in a room full of people and watching how its received. Feldman said.
Ridgeons is delighted to have kickstarted the second year of fundraising for its 2015-2017 elected charity, Macmillan Cancer Support.

Having raised over 15,000 within the first year of the partnership, the timber and builders merchant has a packed calendar of fundraising events that will be taking place across its 26 branches in the East of England.

An initial target of 20,000 was set for the two-year partnership and Ridgeons now looks to exceed this throughout the year by hosting events such as quiz nights, branch coffee mornings, Go Green Week and a festive Merry Macmillan Week.

In addition to corporate fundraising events, Ridgeons has also set up a corporate Just Giving page to encourage employees to fundraise for Macmillan Cancer Support in any individual charity events that they may be taking part in.

Macmillan Cancer Support provides comfort, guidance and specialist healthcare to people affected by cancer. The money raised so far by Ridgeons could fund a Macmillan nurse for approximately three months. Macmillan nurses help people living with cancer and their families receive essential medical, practical and emotional support. It could also be used to pay a Macmillan cancer information and support specialist for approximately five months. This service allows people affected by cancer to have someone to talk to about their concerns and answer any questions they may have.

Ridgeon Group PR director, Gordon Ridgeon said: We are thrilled by the total raised for Macmillan Cancer Support throughout 2015. Id like to take this opportunity to thank all Ridgeons employees for their outstanding efforts to reach this milestone. Together we are now determined to surpass our two-year target for a worthwhile cause that affects so many.

Jordan Russell, fundraising manager in Cambridgeshire for Macmillan Cancer Support, added: We are absolutely delighted with the amount of money Ridgeons has raised so far. We really appreciate all of their hard work and effort. Were very excited for all of the events they have planned this year and look forward to continuing our partnership with them. Their fundraising is going to make such a different to those affected by cancer.
An employee from Rudridge is gearing up to take part in the Prudential Ride London-Surrey 100 to raise money for Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care in Farnham.

Mr Burrell, who works as an assistant manager at the civil engineering and groundworks specialist, will set off on 31 July from Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London to ride 100 miles to raise funds for the worthy cause.

Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care is the only hospice care service for adult patients, and their families, across the West Surrey and North East Hampshire area. For over 35 years it has provided support to the local community and needs to raise over 20,000 a day to continue operating.

Mr Burrell said: I have been training extremely hard for the London-Surrey 100, and, although I am sure it will be incredibly tough, I am very much looking forward to the challenge and raising as much money as possible for such an important and worthwhile charity.
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has created a clear route into membership for those with military experience, and is backing a cross-industry initiative to increase recruitment from the armed forces into the construction sector.

This follows a CIOB survey of more than 700 construction professionals, in which 77% of respondents said ex-service personnel could help plug the management skills gap in the industry.

230,000 new recruits are needed in construction by 2020 and with three quarters of UK contractors operating at or near full capacity, skills shortages are no longer confined to the trades: demand for professional technical and managerial staff is escalating.

Chris Chivers, CIOB president, said: Construction is a people-based industry, and it needs leaders just as urgently as those with technical skills. For ex-military personnel, there has never been a better time to join the sector; technological advances are creating new and exciting opportunities.

Without a pipeline of new decision makers, the UK construction sectors growth and global competitiveness will be severely under threat. Its important that we act together to establish and strengthen recruitment paths across the armed forces, tapping into this very valuable resource, supporting our ex-military personnel and boosting the UK economy.

Roughly 20,000 men and women leave the armed forces annually, having developed strong teamwork, leadership and communications skills. Military personnel have learnt to adapt to rapidly changing environments, collaborate with people from diverse backgrounds and take responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of large numbers of workers. This makes them ideally suited to many managerial roles in construction.

As Armed Forces Day approaches on 25 June, CIOB is supporting BuildForce - a cross-industry initiative to raise awareness of the construction careers with armed forces leavers and veterans, and strengthen recruitment pathways from the services into the sector. In support of BuildForce, CIOB is promoting to armed service leavers accessible routes into a professional qualification that will help them gain management roles in construction.

Andrew Parker, director of defence at Morgan Sindall and chair of BuildForce, said: With nearly 20,000 men and women leaving the armed forces every year, this provides a natural resource of managerial talent for employers. In many cases, ex-military personnel have already developed strong leadership and management skills, but may lack specific construction knowledge.

Our aim at BuildForce is to bridge that gap, alerting people to the opportunities in the construction sector at an earlier stage in their military career, providing access to training, mentoring and working with organisations such as CIOB to help them gain built-environment qualifications before they leave the services.
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.
Amazon, which has an open cheque to capture India, has begun a pilot in Bengaluru to display smartphones sold exclusively on its platform at Vodafone stores for customers to touch and feel, then order for these devices on its website or the smartphone app.

The pilot, being done for the first time in the world in India by Amazon, will allow the Jeff Bezos company to tap consumers who are uncomfortable to buy large value items online. An trained person will hand hold a customer in deciding the product, a common practice at offline smartphones stores, a business model that e-commerce firms are trying to disrupt.
is strengthening processes to eliminate the likelihood of incidents similar to the organ sale racket which was busted recently in Delhi, said Executive Vice Chairperson Preetha Reddy.

Speaking in the sidelines of launch of the Centre for Colorectal Diseases based in the Chennai medical institution of Group, she said, "We have strengthened our authorisation committee by adding more external experts. We have set up one more comittee to go through the whole system." She added that it was not the staff of the hospital who were allegedly involved in the racket.

It may be recalled that the police had arrested the personal secretaries of some doctors working in Indraprastha Medical Corporation Limited (Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals) for alleged connection with the racket.

"Only thing we can do is to make it tighter than what was there," she said. "We realise that it is a problem, which is like somebody making a fake document like a passport, so we have to work on it," she added.

Earlier, Indraprastha Medical Corporation has said that it has constituted an independent inquiry committee to look into the matter. The hospital has invited eminent jurist, Justice Mukul Mudgal, former Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court to head the committee who will be accompanied by forensic expert, N C Sood along with an eminent medical professional.

The hospital, in order to ensure compliance with the law and diligence in process, has an independent body (with external members also) for according consent for any transplant surgery, said the company earlier. "This committee goes through all documents necessary to ensure that requirements under the Act are complied with. Further, the hospital has ensured that all due process in line with the law has been followed," it added.
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Marking its debut in solar energy, CLP India, one of the largest foreign investors in the Indian power sector, announced on Monday it was buying a 49 per cent stake in a Suzlon Group company.
Sellers on Indias largest e-commerce platform, Flipkart, are listing their products as out-of-stock for a day, to protest against the firms move to increase its commissions and charge them a fee for customer returns. The new policy came into effect on Monday, days after rival Amazon reduced commissions on electronic goods, a segment which contributes a third of the revenue.
The Radio Taxi Association, whose members include Meru Cabs and Easy Cabs, have defended in the Karnataka High Court new rules by the state government that mandates online taxi aggregators to acquire licenses and end .

The association, which has over 50,000 taxis spread across 14 taxi firms, has pleaded that the norms should be uniform in the interest of consumers and ensure that a monopoly is not created by playing the price arbitrage.
At 16.5 million units sold a year, this country's market is one of the world's largest. And, these have doubled in seven years, with a boom in new model launches.
Group today announced that a Special Committee of independent members of its Board of Directors has completed its review of allegations regarding SBG President and Chief Operating Officer Nikesh Arora in a purported shareholder demand. The Special Committee has concluded that the claims concerning the conduct of Arora during his tenure at SBG are without merit.

The allegations had been raised in a number of letters from a law firm which claimed to represent the interests of certain unidentified SBG and Sprint Corporation shareholders. The Special Committee was formed in February of this year. It conducted its review with the assistance of independent counsel at Shearman & Sterling LLP and Anderson Mori & Tomotsune.

A group of investors in a critical letter had asked the board to dismiss Arora and also questioned his track record and qualification to become the second highest authority at the Japanese firm. Billionaire and founder Masayoshi Son had also in the recent past hinted that he could well succeed him.



As I said when these allegations first became public, I have complete trust in Nikesh and I am pleased the special committee has looked into these claims thoroughly and concluded they are without merit, said Masayoshi Son, CEO, .

SoftBank's investment in India had crossed $1 billion mark and it also stated that its investment in the country could cross $10 billion in the coming years. The company has invested in e-commerce players such as Snapdeal, Ola Cabs, Housing.com and Oyo Rooms.
Jaguar Land Rover, luxury vehicle arm of Tata Motors, is one of the most affected by the sales ban in the National Capital Region on diesel vehicles with engines above 2,000cc Region, imposed by the Supreme Court last December. It has hastened introduction of petrol options; on Monday, it launched a petrol variant of its SUV Discovery Sport. Rohit Suri, president of India, tells Ajay Modi it wants to make sure that volumes are not lost due to lack of petrol variants. Edited excerpts:



Tell us about the significance of petrol variant launch in Discovery Sport?



We didn't have a petrol variant of the Discovery Sport, unlike in others such as the Jaguar XE, XJ and Range Rover Sports. We are adapting ourselves to the ban in the NCR and ensuring we dont lose customers for want of a petrol variant. In the Range Rover Evoque, too, we will bring a petrol variant.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi governments latest attack on Reliance Infra-promoted  one of the power distribution companies in the city  is likely to backfire at them.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government on Monday morning swung into action to liberalise foreign investment rules in nine sectors - aviation, pharmaceutical, defence, food trading, retail and television broadcasting, animal husbandry, broadcasting carriage services and private security agencies, branding it as a gateway for job creation and Make in India.
Indian Space Research Organisation tonight said it has cleared the 48-hour countdown, starting tomorrow morning, for the launch of record 20 satellites in a single mission on June 22 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota.

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C34 will be used to carry the satellites, including India's earth observation spacecraft Cartosat-2, from the second launch pad of the space centre at 9.26 a.m on June 22.

"Mission Readiness Review committee and Launch Authorisation Board have cleared the 48-hour countdown starting at 09.26 hr IST on Monday, June 20, 2016 and the launch of PSLV-C34/Cartosat-2 Series Satellite Mission for Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at 09.26 hr IST," a senior official said.

The space agency had earlier sent 10 satellites into orbit in a single mission in 2008.

PSLV-C34 will launch 19 co-passenger satellites together weighing about 560 kg at lift-off into a 505 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO).

said the total weight of all the 20 satellites carried on board PSLV-C34 is about 1,288 kg.

The co-passengers include satellites from the US, Canada, Germany and Indonesia as well as two satellites from Indian Universities.

The mission would carry LAPAN A3 of Indonesia, BIROS of Germany, SKYSAT GEN 2-1 of US, MVV of Germany among the micro satellites, sources had earlier said.
The Karnataka High Court on Monday adjourned the hearing on a petition by app-based taxi aggregator which sought to quash new rules requiring online taxi aggregators to acquire licences and end surge pricing.

Judge Aravind Kumar adjourned the hearing after the state counsel sought additional time to respond. On June 1, the Judge had directed the Karnataka transport department to stop impounding taxis on grounds of non-compliance with rules that came into effect in April. A spokesperson confirmed the development.
Sometime in 2011, Neha and Rahul Rastogi faced a personal emergency. Rahul's father was admitted to hospital after complaining of a heavy feeling in his chest, and tests showed he had been on the brink of a massive heart attack. That near-crisis and the drudge of regular follow-up tests after an angioplasty for the elder Rastogi set husband and wife thinking. Heart attacks are notoriously difficult to detect. A gadget to help people monitor their heart function on their own, at home, would go a long way towards providing an early warning signal of a crisis.
The successor to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan would be chosen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and not by a search panel headed by the Cabinet secretary, government sources said on Monday.
Students seeking admissions in the University of Mumbais (MUs) first year (FY) degree courses can heave a sigh of relief. MU has extended the deadline for submission of forms for degree college admissions till Friday, June 24, 2016. With this extension, the new academic session (2016-2017) is likely to start on July 5.
HSBCs latest edition of the Value of Education 'Foundations for the future' study found that a vast majority (71 per cent) of parents in India were willing to go into debt to fund their childs university or college education. This rose to 76 per cent among those parents considering a university education abroad for their child.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach Chandigarh today at 9.50 pm to participate at 2nd celebrations at Capitol Complex tomorrow morning. Union Territory of Chandigarh Administration has selected 500 master trainers to perform yoga and 30,500 participants have been issued electronic cards, confirming their seats. 4,000 paramilitary forces and 3,000 Chandigarh Police Personnel have been deployed for the event. This is the second visit of PM Modi to the Capitol Complex designed by the French Architect Le Corbusier- the first was in January this year when he met the French President Francois Hollande at this site and later addressed a business delegation from France in the city.Two enclosures of 250 VVIPs each have been made. According to sources 100 VVIPs from Government of India will also witness the event in Chandigarh. International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) has submitted the trans-serial nomination of Le Corbusier's work to UNESCO and the final result is expected in July, this year.This nomination has 17 sites of seven countries and Chandigarh's Capitol Complex is the biggest out of these 17 contenders. Ten nominated sites are from France and remaining are from Japan, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Agrentina and India. The officials in UT of Chandigarh expect this event to highlight Chandigarh at international forum and earn it the publicity as arguably one of the best designed towns of India.
A special CBI court here today made Shyamvar Rai, former driver of key accused Indrani Mukerjea, an approver in the 2012 sensational .

Special Judge H S Mahajan also granted pardon to Rai, who is currently lodged in Thane Central Jail.

The accused had moved an application in the court last month seeking to become an approver and had sought pardon. The CBI, too said they have no objection in making Rai an approver.

Today, Judge Mahajan told Rai he will have to speak the truth.

"You will have to speak the truth about what you know, what happened, what you did and what others did. Is it OK?", Judge Mahajan asked Rai.

When Rai replied in the affirmative the judge said that he will have to explain the role that he and others played in the to which he agreed.

CBI sources said that since pardon has been granted to Rai, he is now a witness in the case and not an accused.

Expressing his desire to turn approver, Rai had earlier said that he wanted to "disclose all truths" as he had taken part in Sheena's murder.

Recording his statement before the court, Rai had said he was under "no pressure, threat or coercion" to reveal the facts in the case and was "repentant" about his act.

Rai had written a two-page letter to the court last month seeking pardon in the case while stating that he wants to reveal everything.

Rai was the first accused to be arrested in the case in August 2015, taking the lid off the murder, after he was picked up in connection with an arms case.

Last year, Rai had recorded his confessional statement before the magistrate under the provisions of section 164, which unlike the police statement, is admissible in the trial.

Key accused in the case, Indrani Mukerjea, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and Rai had allegedly strangled Sheena (24), Indrani's daughter from an earlier relationship, inside a car in April 2012.

Sheena's body was found in a forest in Raigad. The crime, which came to light in August last year, is allegedly linked to certain financial dealings.

The trio was arrested in August last year while Indrani's husband and former media baron Peter Mukerjea was arrested in November. According to CBI, Peter was part of the murder conspiracy.

While Peter and Khanna are lodged in Arthur Road prison, Indrani (43) is in Byculla womens' jail in Mumbai.
The UN headquarters in New York has been lit up ahead of that will be celebrated on June 21.

China and Pakistan were also seen celebrating the second International Day for Yoga on Sunday.

The UN General Assembly declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga on December 11 in 2014 after a call from the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address to UN General Assembly on September 27.

In China, the Consulate General of India in Shanghai along with Wuxi Municipal People's Government on Sunday organised the second International Day of Yoga in Wuxi, where nearly 3,500 yoga lovers registered and participated in the celebrations.

The Indian Consulate General, also arranged a Chinese speaking Indian yoga teacher, who conducted the yoga session for nearly 1,000 practitioners based on the Common Yoga Protocol sent by the Department of AYUSH.

In Pakistan, the second International Day of Yoga was celebrated on Sunday.

The Indian High Commission in collaboration with the UN Information Centre organized the celebrations, where around 200 yoga enthusiasts drawn from the diplomatic community participated in the celebrations.

Several other nations across the globe also celebrated .

"Australia, Africa, Asia and Europe! #IDY2016 celebrated with great fervour in all parts of the world today," tweeted Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Sunday.

Australia, Africa, Asia and Europe!#IDY2016 celebrated with great fervour in all parts of the world today pic.twitter.com/EQ6rSqjB7e  Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) June 18, 2016

Meanwhile, in India as many as 10,000 people will be participating in the celebrations in the capital on June 21 in collaboration with the Ministry of AYUSH and the NDMC.
Foreign investors, barring overseas airlines, can now have up to 100 per cent stake in local carriers, the government said on Monday.
Promising a hassle-free business climate to Chinese investors, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said he would also seek assistance from China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for a rural irrigation project in his state.

On his second visit to China, Chouhan addressed a well-attended business forum here to highlight investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh, where he said investors will not find any hassles to get land, water and uninterrupted power for their businesses and factories.

Stating that was among the top five Indian states in the list of ease of doing business, he said the state government itself has a land bank from which investors can secure the required land online without the hassle of getting it themselves.

In case the investors wanted land outside the land bank, the government has a special scheme to secure it through mutual consultations and sharing under, which the landholders acquire certain stakes in the projects, he said.

Also the state now has surplus power removing the biggest infrastructure bottleneck faced by foreign and local firms. The state now produces about 17,000 Mw of power making it available 24/7, he told the media later.

There is so much power in the state that at times it goes waste due to surplus production, he said.

The state also emerged water surplus due to successful implementation of water diversion projects, he said.

Also the state also has more skilled manpower due to steady promotion of educational institutions such as IIMs and ITIs, Chouhan said asserting that the red tape has been cut down to minimum by clearing all licenses at one table.

It is not single window but a single table, he said.

He sought Chinese investments in infrastructure, food processing, automobile and manufacturing sectors.

Besides promoting four Chinese industrial townships, the state also was keen in Chinese investors participation in smart city development projects in which his government plans to spent Rs 75,000 crore in the next four years.

This included Rs 15,000 crore for water supply scheme for 13,000 villages.

Besides meeting some top officials of ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), Chouhan is due to meet the president of the AIIB Jin Liqun and Vice-President D J Pandian during with he would seek the bank's assistance for his rural irrigation project.

India is a leading member of the AIIB in which 56 other countries have joined.

Chouhan is also scheduled to meet Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the ruling CPC and Zhao Leji, Politburo member and Minister of the Organisation Department of the CPC.

In his meetings with Song and Zhao, he said he would discuss improving relations between BJP and the ruling CPC which maintains fraternal ties with various political parties in India and the world.

Chouhan is also scheduled to meet several Chinese CEOs and industrialists individually in the next two days and later go to Guangzhou where he would address a business forum and meet top officials of China's telecom giant Huawei.

Stating that India's image has improved after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over power, he said initiatives like 'Make in India' are attracting substantial foreign investments.

While central government policies are improving the image of the country, he said the policies can succeed only if the state governments implement them well.

States are important as Indian governance is based on cooperative federalism, he said.

States have to perform well for central policies to be successful and development of states means development of India, he said in his interaction with the media.

About his first trip to China in 2011, he said his efforts to get Chinese investments did not yield much results because of poor investment climate at that time.

But he is hopeful of the present visit as it is generating lot of interest and officials of top Chinese firms evinced interest to meet him to discuss specific investment projects.

Besides top officials of the state, Chouhan's delegation included a number of top industrialists from his state.
The FDI reforms announced by the government on Monday were slammed by an RSS affiliate as "betrayal" of people's trust while opposition parties said "sweeping" changes in the policy in defence posed "big threat" to national security with Congress demanding its withdrawal.

The Congress also went on to say that the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) reforms were a "panic reaction" with its spokesman Jairam Ramesh asserting it would not have come about had Raghuram Rajan not announced his decision on Saturday to exit RBI as Governor. The government, however, maintained the reforms initiative had nothing to do with Rajan's decision.

CPI (M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said the "dangerous part" is FDI in defence, noting there are very few countries where it is allowed in this sensitive sector.

Opposing the major reforms, the Trinamool Congress said that in the name of 'Make in India' the Modi government is "breaking India".

The Swadeshi Jagran Manch, the RSS affiliate which has been criticising some economic policies of the Modi government, said the FDI reforms is not aimed at job creation. "It is aimed at snatching away jobs from Indian people. It will spell a death knell for local businessmen."



"Opening sectors like retail, defence and pharma to FDI and by relaxing norms is 'betrayal' of people of the country. In doing so, this government has not done good to the country in general and local businessmen in particular," SJM's national co-convener Ashwani Mahajan told Press Trust of India.

In a strongly worded statement, senior Congress leader and former defence minister A K Antony said allowing 100% sector means it is thrown mostly into the hands of Nato-American defence manufacturers.

Antony said "sweeping" changes in the FDI policy posed a "big threat" to national security and India's independent foreign policy.

"Naturally it will affect India's independent foreign policy too. It will also threaten the national security. Moreover, it will have an adverse impact on the ongoing indigenous defense research activities in the country," he said.

It is "very important" to note that all such changes happen immediately after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the US, he added.
The government on Monday made it easier for Walmart, Marks and Spencer and Tesco, among others, to set up food manufacturing and food-only retail bases in India, by allowing 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in the sector.
The NDA government on Monday announced relaxed foreign direct investment (FDI) norms in single brand retail, civil aviation, airports, pharmaceuticals, animal husbandry and food products.



It has allowed up to 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) in defence through the approval route, 100% in food product e-commerce, 100% in greenfield pharma via the automatic route, 100% in browfield pharma - of which 74% will be through automatic route - 100% in scheduled airlines, and up to 49% FDI in airlines through automatic route.



While FDI in defence beyond 49% was already allowed through approval route and up to 49% through automatic route, the new norms have done away with the condition of access to state-of-art technology in the country for FDI more than 49%.
China on Monday said the members of the were divided over India's entry since it wasn't a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The Chinese foreign ministry said the issue of India's membership to the 48-member group wasn't even on the agenda of the NSG's plenary meeting in Seoul.
The of the environment ministry has proposed several relaxations in the coastal zone regulations.



These relaxations could provide a boost to real estate, construction, ports and tourism sectors in coastal states.



The changes could lead to a largely diminished role for the central government and the central environmental rules over coastal areas. State government would get a larger say through their town and country planning departments. Rural coastal zones, too, could get greater room to develop under such a revised regime, when compared to the restrictions in place.



The report commissioned in June 2014 to relook at the coastal regulations was submitted in January 2015. It was kept under wraps since then by the environment ministry. The report was released in June 2016 to Kanchi Kohli of the CPR-Namati Environment Justice Program after the Central Information Commissioner ordered so  18 months after the first Right to Information application was filed.



The coastal regulations were last amended in 2011. The amendment did not go down well with most coastal states. The states had protested strongly about the impediment the regulations would have on development. The 2011 regulations required development of coastal development plans, which have been pending ever since with the Centre extending the timeline for finishing these.



The Nayak committee report has not been implemented so far.



It recommended that except for activities covered under environmental clearances, the state governments and the local authorities should be left in charge of managing coasts in towns, rural areas as well as the waters up to 12 nautical miles. With the environmental clearance regime also relaxed, especially for construction activity recently, the Nayak committee recommendations could lead to a boom along the coastline.



The panel has gone with most demands of the states, such as that of Maharashtra, to let the states decide the floor area ratio (FAR) according to town and country planning decisions, rather than the coastal regulations freezing it.



It had also asked for opening up seas for reclamation of land for an array of activities. Calling for larger public interest, the panel had said land could be reclaimed for ports and harbours, fisheries-related activities and other infrastructure required in the larger public interest such as bridges, sea links on stilts, roads, important national installations related to coastal security, tourism.



It had recommended that states be allowed to do rehabilitation and redevelopment of slums according to their plans, rather than via the 2011 coastal regulations. One of the limitations that the 2011 central regulations put in place was to tie private developers to work jointly with governments for the redevelopment projects.



Recommending relaxation of regulations for the tourism industry in the coastal states, the committee said temporary tourism facilities can be set up in no-development zones. Such tourist facilities can be built on a permanent basis as well on the landward sides of national or state highways cutting through these zones.
New aviation policy: Bengal to push for new airports at Malda, Coochbehar



The West Bengal government will, under the new Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) announced by the Union aviation ministry, seek to develop two new airports, at Malda and Coochbehar. These will be under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
As the National Informatics Centre (NIC) plays a key role in the Digital India campaign, a high level committee headed by Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan on Monday called for permitting NIC to partner with private sector players and academia.
Four property advisory firms, including Colliers International, are in the fray to bag the mandate from Bank of Baroda (BoB) to advise the public sector lender on monetising its properties, valued Rs 4,800 crore.
In a first of its kind initiative in the country, the government plans to team up with the having operations in the state to roll out about 100 mobile vans in 2016-17 to provide banking services in the un-banked gram panchayats.
The rupee opened weaker against US dollar in morning trades on Monday, at 67.68 against greenback, signalling markets displeasure over RBI governor Raghuram Rajan's decision to move back to academia on finishing his term at the central bank in September.
President of India to inaugurate 2nd International Yoga Day celebrations in Rashtrapati Bhavan at 0630 hrs tomorrow .

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee will kick off tomorrow (June 21, 2016) a mass Yoga demonstration involving around 1000 persons at Rashtrapati Bhavan to mark the 2ndInternational Yoga Day. .

.

The participants will include officers and staff of Presidents Secretariat, their family members, members of Delhi Police, ITBP and Presidents Bodyguard, etc. as well as other residents of the Presidents Estate. Participants of the In-Residence Programme for scholars from IITs, IISERs and IISc-Bangalore currently underway at Rashtrapati Bhavan will also participate in the event. They will all perform the common protocol finalized by Ministry of AYUSH. .

.

The event is being organized in collaboration with Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga. .

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The first International Yoga Day was celebrated in Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 21, 2015 with participation of around 1000 people. .

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Giving away prizes to winners of 1st National Yoga Olympiad in New Delhi today the Union HRD Minister, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani exhorted the participants of Yoga Olympiad to make Yoga as an integral part of their life. She emphasized that Yoga is the only source to ensure peace and stability in life and to remove academic stress. Scientific evidence shows that Yoga improves motor skills and betters hand-eye coordination. It ensures good health as well as peace of mind. The Minister appealed to parents as well as teachers to spare time for Yoga themselves so that children imbibe the habit of Yoga on regular basis. Announcing revamping of Yoga departments from this academic session in 6 Central Universities she expressed hope that seeds of Yoga being sown at school level today will fructify at university level tomorrow. .

.

Making a special mention of participants in Yoga Olympiad from Andaman & Nicobar Islands she hoped participation from every State/UT in next years Yoga Olympiad. Smt. Irani asked all parents/guardians and students to convey special thanks to Honble Prime Minister for his unique initiative of organizing international Yoga Day on June 21st throughout the world. .

.

State/UT teams were divided into four categories viz., Upper Primary Girls, Upper Primary Boys, Secondary Girls and Secondary Boys. A total of 322 students along with their 80 teachers from 21 states/UTs participated in the Yoga Olympiad Performance on June 18 and 19. Students belonging to different communities took part in this event with the spirit of yoga.

In the four categories, a total number of 48 participants, 4 each for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals were selected. .

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AYUSH Minister, Shri Shripad Yasso Naik said that practising yoga in daily life promotes health by fighting with ailments in natural way. Referring to various medical science studies, he said Yoga has fostered the process of learning in a speedy way. He acknowledges the collaborative efforts of AYUSH and NCERT under the aegis of Ministry of HRD popularising yoga among the youth. .

.

Quoting a shloka from our ancient Indian philosophy, yoga? karmasu kau?alam, Secretary, Ministry of HRD, Dr. Subhash Chandra Khuntia explained that focus and dedication to Yoga is a key to bringing equilibrium in physical, mental, emotional and social developments, .

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Dr. H. R. Nagendra, Vice Chancellor, S-VYASA University, Bangluru said that yoga is not only about asanas, its holistic way includes asanas, kriyas, bandha, mudra, etc. He expressed his happiness over the NCERTs initiative to cover all these in Yoga Olympiad. .

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Director, NCERT, Prof. H. K. Senapaty, also addressed the gathering. .

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At least 14 Nepalese security guards were killed today when a Taliban suicide bomber targeted their minibus in the Afghan capital, a government official said. .

Interior Minister spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said that eight were wounded in the attack, and that police were working to identify the nationalities of the victims.

"The suicide bomber targeted a minibus of security guards of a foreign company, right now we are working to identify the nationalities of the victims," said Sediqqi.

But a police official told The Associated Press that the 14 dead were Nepalese citizens working as security guards for the private company that was attacked.

The official, who did not want to give his name as he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the wounded included four Afghan civilians.

Dozens of police and many ambulances rushed to the scene to take the victims to hospitals.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack.

It is the first attack in Kabul since the start of holy fasting month of Ramadan on June 6. The last attack in the Afghan capital on April 19 left 64 dead and more than 340 wounded.

That attack was claimed by the Taliban, who have been waging an insurgency against the Western-backed Kabul government since they were ousted from power by a US-led invasion in late 2001.

Washington recently announced an expansion of the US military's authority to conduct air strikes against the Taliban, significantly boosting Afghan forces who have limited close air-support capacities.

US forces have been in an advisory role in Afghanistan since the start of 2015 and were only authorised to hit Taliban targets for defensive reasons, or to protect Afghan troops.

The changes mean US troops can now work more closely with local fighters in striking the Taliban, who have demanded the departure of all foreign forces.
Leading single-sex private schools in the UK have been told not to use the words 'girls', 'young women' and 'young ladies' because they might offend pupils who are questioning their gender identity.

The advice, which also recommends creating unisex lavatories, has been issued by the Girls' Schools Association, which represents head teachers at independent schools.

Teachers have been told that they should instead use gender-neutral words such as pupils or students, The Sunday Times reported.

"In assemblies instead of saying 'Girls, go to lessons', staff should consider saying 'Pupils, go to lessons'," Caroline Jordan, association president and headmistress of Headington School in Oxford, was quoted as saying.

"I feel that every year there are more young people posing questions around their gender identity. I do not want anyone to think that girls' or boys' schools are invested in one way of being a girl or one way of being a boy," she said.

Jay Stewart, chairman of the gender diversity group Gendered Intelligence, which advised the association, said that about 1 per cent of the population were transgender and could start to feel they were the wrong sex from as young as four.

"Young people want to feel they belong and they are not made to feel weirdos or freaks," he said.
The Israeli government approved $18 million in extra funding for Jewish West Bank settlements on Sunday, in a move that angered both opposition lawmakers and Palestinians.

A statement from Netanyahu's office said the funding aims to assist small businesses, encourage tourism and strengthen security. It follows months of Palestinian attacks on civilians and soldiers.

Some 600,000 Jews live in settlements built on the West Bank and in east Jerusalem on lands Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 war. Most of the world considers them to be illegal. Israel has faced strong criticism for their continued expansion. The Palestinians demand the territory as part of their future state.

Opposition lawmakers attacked the decision, saying that instead of boosting Israel's struggling periphery the government was pouring money into an enterprise that undermined Israel's security and standing. US State Department spokesman John Kirby reaffirmed Washington's opposition to settlement building.

"Our position on settlement activity remains clear and consistent. We strongly oppose all settlement activity, which is corrosive to the cause of peace," Kirby said. "We continue to look to both sides to demonstrate with actions and policies a genuine commitment to a two-state solution. Actions such as these do just the opposite.?"

Later, the Palestinian Health Ministry said a 22-year-old man died of wounds sustained in clashes with the Israeli military in the West Bank in May. Over the last nine months, Palestinians have carried out dozens of attacks, including stabbings, shootings and car ramming assaults, which have killed 32 Israelis and two Americans.

About 200 Palestinians have been killed during that time, most identified as attackers by Israel. The rest died in clashes.

The assaults were once near-daily incidents but they have become less frequent in recent weeks.
The speaker of Libya's eastern parliament has declared martial law in areas under its control, a move intended to empower its military to respond quickly to infiltration by militias loyal to the rival, UN-brokered government in the capital, Tripoli.

Parliament Speaker Agila Saleh's declaration places the military on high alert and expands its powers.

The measure reflects the eastern administration's consternation as it comes under growing pressure by the community to recognise the Tripoli-based national unity government.

descended into chaos after its 2011 civil war, with Islamic militants gaining in strength as two rival governments in the east and west vied for control. The U.N.-backed government arrived in Tripoli in March.
will extend its deployment in Iraq to train Iraqi Security Forces until November 2018 and to expand to a second military base, Prime Minister John Key said on Monday.

The government agreed to extend the joint New Zealand-Australia mission, which had been set to finish early next year, Xinhua news agency reported.

It also agreed an amendment to the mission's mandate to allow small numbers of training and force protection team to travel from current Taji Military Base to Besmaya military base.

The 105 military trainers from would remain "behind the wire", Key said.

While he could not rule out a further extension to the deployment beyond November 2018, Key said that he did not want the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to be in Iraq "forever".

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said that the government had also agreed to provide training to stabilisation forces, such as the Iraqi Federal Police, in addition to the Iraqi Army.

Till date, around 7,000 Iraqi Security Force personnel have been trained by the mission at Taji, including around 975 officers who have graduated from four junior leadership courses.

At present around 105 NZDF personnel and some 300 Australian Defence Force troops are deployed in Taji.
warned, on Monday, that it would not even consider the release of two jailed Americans if former detainee Kenneth Bae keeps "jabbering" about his imprisonment.

Bae, a South Korean-born American missionary, was arrested in November 2012 and later sentenced to 15 years' hard labour on charges of seeking to topple the North Korean government.

He was released in November 2014, along with one other US detainee, after a secret mission to Pyongyang led by US intelligence chief James Clapper.

Since his release, the 47-year-old has published an account of his time in a North Korean prison and revealed plans to set up a foundation to support North Korean defectors.

"As long as Kenneth Bae continues jabbering, there will be no negotiations on American criminals," said the North's state-run KCNA news agency.

"In that case, the US criminals held in our country will never be able to set foot in their homeland," it said.

Two US citizens are currently serving prison time in .

Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old college student, was sentenced to 15 years' hard labour in March for stealing a propaganda banner from a tourist hotel in Pyongyang.

In April Korean-American missionary Kim Dong-Chul was sentenced to 10 years' hard labour on charges of subversion and espionage.

In the past has used the detention of US citizens to obtain high-profile visits from the likes of former US presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton to secure their release.

The United States has no diplomatic or consular relations with the North. The Swedish embassy in Pyongyang provides limited consular services to US citizens detained there.

The US State Department "strongly recommends against all travel" to North Korea and specifically warns of the risk of arrest.
US Attorney General Loretta Lynch said that the FBI will release a partial transcript of the conversations between the gunman within the Pulse gay nightclub and Orlando police negotiators.

Meanwhile, Orlando residents paused throughout the day at a bar in the early morning hours, at morning church services and at an evening candlelight vigil in the heart of downtown to remember the victims of the worse mass shooting in modern US history, exactly a week later.

"We are hurting. We are exhausted, confused, and there is so much grief," said Larry Watchorn, a ministerial intern, during a sermon at Joy Metropolitan Community Church in Orlando, whose congregants are predominantly gay. "We come to have our tears wiped away and our strength renewed."



Lynch said in interviews yesterday on several news shows that the FBI would release a partial, printed transcript of the conversations between gunman Omar Mateen from within the Pulse nightclub and Orlando police negotiators.

Armed with a semi-automatic weapon, Mateen went on a bloody rampage at the club June 12 that left 49 people dead and 53 seriously hurt. Mateen died in a hail of police gunfire after police stormed the venue.

Lynch told ABC's "This Week" that the top goal while intensifying pressure on ISIL the extremist group thought to have inspired Mateen is to build a complete profile of him in order to help prevent another massacre like Orlando.

"As you can see from this investigation, we are going back and learning everything we can about this killer, about his contacts, people who may have known him or seen him. And we're trying to build that profile so that we can move forward," Lynch said.

Lynch said she would be travelling to Orlando tomorrow to meet with investigators.

Investigators are still interviewing witnesses, and looking to learn more about Mateen and who knew him well, including members of his mosque.

A lawyer for the Council of American-Islamic Relations said that the FBI interviewed a man who worshipped at the same mosque as Mateen. Omar Saleh said he sat in on the Friday interview at the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce, the same mosque that Mateen attended near his home. Saleh said the interview lasted about 30 minutes.

Speaking to CBS' "Face The Nation," Lynch said that a key goal of the investigation was to determine why Mateen targeted the gay community. The victims were predominantly gay and Hispanic since it was "Latin night" at Pulse.
Three people were killed in northeast when a suicide bomber attacked a Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II-led event commemorating the massacre of Christians more than a century ago, state media and a security source said.



The attack yesterday in the city of Qamishli took place as locals gathered at a hall to commemorate the deaths of tens of thousands of Christians by the Ottoman army starting in 1915 in what is known as the Sayfo ("Sword") massacre.



A photographer working with AFP and attending the event said he heard the blast and saw pieces of flesh lying next to damaged cars.



"The suicide attacker tried to enter the hall where people were gathered but was stopped by local security forces, and he detonated himself among them," a security source at the scene told AFP.



The security forces belonged to the Sotoro, a Christian militia based in Syria's northeast.



"Three Sotoro members were killed and five wounded," the security source said.



One Sotoro member told AFP that the suicide bomber "detonated himself near our checkpoint after he couldn't reach his real target, Patriarch Ignatius."



Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II is the head of the Syriac Orthodox church and was leading the commemoration.



Syria's state news agency SANA also reported three people killed in a "terrorist suicide explosion" in Qamishli but did not specify whether they were civilians or security forces.



Situated along the border with Turkey, Qamishli has been regularly targeted by suicide bombings, many of which have been claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.



Control of the Kurdish-majority city is split between Kurdish militia and pro-government fighters.



Syriac Christians belong to the eastern Christian tradition and pray in Aramaic. They include both Orthodox and Catholic branches, and constitute around 15 per cent of Syria's 1.2 million Christians.
The United Nations headquarters in New York has been lit up ahead of Yoga Day that will be celebrated on June 21.

China and Pakistan were also seen celebrating the second Day for Yoga on Sunday.

The United Nations General Assembly declared June 21 as the Day of Yoga on December 11 in 2014 after a call from the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi during his address to UN General Assembly on September 27.

In China, the Consulate General of India in Shanghai along with Wuxi Municipal People's Government on Sunday organised the second International Day of Yoga in Wuxi where nearly 3,500 yoga lovers registered and participated in the celebrations.

The Indian Consulate General, also arranged a Chinese speaking Indian yoga teacher, who conducted the yoga session for nearly 1,000 practitioners based on the Common Yoga Protocol sent by the Department of AYUSH.

In Pakistan, the second International Day of Yoga was celebrated on Sunday.

The Indian High Commission in collaboration with the United Nations Information Centre organised the celebrations where around 200 yoga enthusiasts drawn from the diplomatic community participated in the celebrations.

Several other nations across the globe also celebrated .

"Australia, Africa, Asia and Europe! #IDY2016 celebrated with great fervour in all parts of the world today," tweeted Ministry of External Affairs Official Spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Sunday.

Meanwhile, in India as many as 10,000 people will be participating in the celebrations in the national capital on June 21 in collaboration with the Ministry of AYUSH and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).

(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.)
In another controversial remark, presumptive Republican presidential nominee today said that the US should start thinking about racial profiling to prevent incidents like the mass shooting in Orlando.

Citing the example of Israel and other countries in this regard, 70-year-old Trump argued this is not the worst thing to do.

"Well I think profiling is something that we're going to have to start thinking about as a country," Trump told the CBS's 'Face the Nation' in an interview.

"Other countries do it, you look at Israel and you look at others, they do it and they do it successfully. And I hate the concept of profiling but we have to start using common sense and we have to use our heads," he argued.

Trump's comments come one week after 49 people were shot and killed in a gay nightclub in Orlando, the deadliest mass shooting in US history. Following the massacre, Trump renewed his calls for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the US.

During the interview, Trump, said horrific incidents like Orlando shooting could be prevented if the Muslim community would report suspicious things.

"When you look at, when you look at people within the Muslim community and where people are living and they don't report, and a good example of that would be San Bernardino," he said.

"I mean, they had bombs all over their apartment floor and people saw it and nobody reported them, and 14 people were killed, many injured," he added.

Trump said Omar Mateen, the Orlando shooter, had red flags before the attack.

"You look at his past, I mean? I've never seen a past quite like that. You look at his record in school, you look at a lot of other things. There were a lot of red flags, this was not a very good young man," he said.

Trump said he is working with the National Rifles Association (NRA) to develop a policy that people on no fly list would not be allowed to buy a gun.

"We understand there are problems with that because some people are on the terror watch list that shouldn't be on. So I'm working with the NRA, we're discussing it and again the NRA has the best interests of our country, it just has the absolute best interests of our country," he said.
Russian President was to meet with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan on Monday in a bid to shore up a shaky truce over disputed Nagorno Karabakh.

Putin, the regional power-broker, was to sit down separately with Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Saint Petersburg. The three would then meet together.

In the contested region's worst violence in decades, at least 110 people were killed and scores were wounded in April before a Russia-mediated ceasefire dampened the bloodshed.

Nagorno Karabakh - controlled by ethnic Armenians but internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan - has been a flarepoint since a brutal war between the two sides erupted as the Soviet Union collapsed.

April's violence was the bloodiest since an inconclusive truce halted the conflict in 1994 and sparked fears of a return to an all-out war that could pitch regional titans Russia and Turkey against each other.

"The talks will be difficult," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists.

"The main task is to insure against a resumption of military hostilities."



Moscow has sold weapons to both of the former Soviet nations but has a military alliance with Armenia. Turkey pledged its full support to its traditional ally Azerbaijan after the latest clashes erupted.

Sarkisian and Aliyev agreed to respect the Russian-backed ceasefire in a Vienna meeting with mediators - including representatives from Russia, the United States and France - in mid-May.

But tensions remain extremely high along the volatile frontline and both sides have accused each other of breaking the truce.

Armenian separatists seized the landlocked territory in a war in the early 1990s that claimed some 30,000 lives, and the two sides have never signed a final peace deal.

They began rearming heavily in recent years, with energy-rich Azerbaijan spending vast sums on new weaponry.

Azerbaijan last week announced five days of major military exercises starting on Sunday near the breakaway region.
The rest of the European Union nations are looking at the possibility of a British departure from the bloc with disbelief, trepidation and anguish. But they are also preparing to retaliate.
While market commentators debate over whether India is the next China or vice versa, Michael Page turns to job seekers, the drivers of economic growth, to uncover some interesting insights across the two Asian giants. A study by the global specialist recruitment firm found that, while both nations compete for the coveted number one position as the fastest growing economy, employees in India were far more confident about the state of their economy (50 per cent) over the Chinese who seemed to be less self-assured (28 per cent).

The study drew a comparison between the responses from over 1,200 employees in India and over 700 employees in China, from mid-senior level, across organisations and sectors. It found that employees in India were less satisfied about salary (21 per cent compared to 16 per cent in China) and opportunities for promotion (31 per cent compared to 28 per cent in China). They were also less satisfied about job security (20 per cent compared to 14 per cent in China).
Some of India's top business houses were termed "House of Debt" last year as they went on a massive expansion and diversification spree fuelled mainly by debt. As the economy slowed down, some of these groups failed to repay loans and were forced by banks to sell assets. We look at how these groups performed during the fiscal ending March this year and whether they managed to save themselves or sunk deeper into crisis.
was trading higher by nearly 4% at Rs 780, extending its Fridays gain on the BSE, after the company announced that it has signed a strategic IT partnership contract with LeasePlan, a global fleet management and driver mobility company of Dutch origin.


have wiped off early losses and are trading near days high led by strong buying among IT shares and select auto shares.



At 13:20 pm, S&P BSE Sensex is up 167 points to quote at 26,793 and the Nifty50 is up 47 points to quote at 8,217. Broader are underperforming the benchmark indices- BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices are up 0.1%-0.3%.



Top gainers from the Sensex pack are Tata Steel, TCS, ONGC, Infosys and Bharti Airtel, all surging between 2%-3%.



IT shares have gained momentum following a slump in the Indian rupee. The local currency opened at 67.68 against the greenback, despite dollar weakening against major currencies globally. At 11.25, the rupee was trading at 67.42 a dollar, recovering some of its strength on possible intervention from RBI once rupee touched 67.69 level in opening trade.



Shares of tyre manufacturers are trading weak, with the sector major MRF hitting 52-week low of Rs 31,005 on the BSE in intra-day trade. Ceat, MRF, JK Tyre, Balkrishna Industries, TVS Srichakra and Apollo Tyres are down up to 2%.



Shares of real estate companies are trading higher for the second straight day on the bourses after the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) proposed further relaxations to the real estate investment trusts (Reits) regulations, to attract real estate developers towards launching these instruments.



Among the individual stocks, SSPDL, Unitech, DLF, Phoenix, Housing Development & Infrastructure (HDIL), NBCC (India), Kolte-Patil Developers and Sunteck Realty are up 2%-10% on the BSE.



Eros International Media is up over 2% at Rs 211 on the Bombay Stock Exchange after the company said it has entered into a television syndication deal for their new and catalogue films with Zee Network.



Max Financial Services has moved higher by 12% to Rs 531, also its 52-week high on the BSE, after the company and Max Life on Friday entered into an agreement for a merger with HDFC Life.



*****************************

Updated at 10:57 am



are trading with strength on the back of a strong rally in the technology stocks follwing a slump in the Indian rupee.



The Indian rupee slipped in the early trade on Monday after Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan's decided not to seek a second term. It is trading at 67.40 down 33 piase.



At 10:57 am , S&P BSE Sensex is up 62 points to quote at 26,688 and the Nifty50 is up 15 points to quote at 8,185. L&T, TCS, Dr Reddy's Lab, Infosys and M&M have gained between 0.6%-2%. Among the IT frontliners, TCS, Infosys and Wipro have gained up to 1%.



HCL Technologies was trading higher by nearly 4% at Rs 780, extending its Fridays gain on the BSE, after the company announced that it has signed a strategic IT partnership contract with LeasePlan, a global fleet management and driver mobility company of Dutch origin.

_____________________

(updated at 10:00 am)



After witnessing a knee-jerk reaction in the early morning trades, benchmark indices have turned flat as investors digested the exit of RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan.



At 9:35 am , S&P BSE Sensex is up 23 points to quote at 26,649 and the Nifty50 is down points to quote at 8,160. L&T, TCS, Dr Reddy's Lab, Infosys and M&M have gained between 0.6%-2%.





ALSO READ: Are Indian markets headed for more volatility?
Mentioned below are some of the stocks that are likely to be in focus in trade today:



Banking stocks are likely to remain volatile after Governor Raghuram Rajans decided to not renew his term after September 3.
IContribute, a social enterprise, has teamed up with Beeing Social and Spin N Press for "Tweet a Cloth" campaign that is set to take Mumbai youth by storm.

India is the second most populated country in the world. Though rapid progress is being made, yet a considerable number of people are still living below the poverty line. About 12.4 percent of the total population is still living under the poverty line.

This campaign targets primarily Mumbai's youth who often end up discarding their old clothes which can prove beneficial to underprivileged people. Every week,

IContribute's van will visit a designated area and collect old clothes from people which will be handed over to the people who deserve them.

Manish Handa, Director of IContribute, was beaming when asked about this development."These are exciting times for us. The power of social media will connect us with a large audience out of which we expect an equal large number of people to come out & give away their old clothes."

Abhishek Rajpurohit, Co-Founder of Beeing Social said, "We are proud to associate ourselves for such a noble cause. We always wanted to give something back to the society and when this opportunity presented itself, we decided to grab it with both hands."

Rahul Tuljapurkar, the proprietor of 'Spin N Press', which is also the logistics partner of this campaign said, "It is always a pleasure to give back to society, but sometimes it is difficult to find the correct medium to do so. With this campaign, we are looking forward to finally get a chance to help out and are proud to be associated with such a meaningful cause.
Having lost the first T20 in a thrilling encounter, India will look to level the three-match series when they would take on Zimbabwe in the second T20 here today.

The hosts, who put up a spirited show on Saturday, did not just help them turn the gloomy affairs of the home series against India, but also added a bit of spark to an otherwise dull looking series.

The men in blue, who looked completely unchallenged in the 50-over format, walked into the shortest format with the confidence of repeating their stellar performance.

It was evident as skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni gave an opportunity to five players to make their T20I debut in the last match, but none of the debutants came out with an impressive performance.

Chasing a target of 171, India were restricted to 168 for six. Needing only eight off the final over, Dhoni who could not connect a single big shot during his sedate 19 off 17 balls.

On the other hand, Zimbabwe, outclassed in all three ODIs, were able to register their second successive win over India, which acted as a soothing balm over the bruises of recent annihilations.

The victory helped the two senior most players in their line up, Elton Chigumbura and Hamilton Masakadza, to find a way to strike form.
The World Tamil Sangam on Sunday gifted 16 life-size statues of renowned Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar to Sri Lanka at an event in Chennai.

The World Tamil Sangam, founded by VG Santhosam, handed over the statues to Sri Lanka State Minister of Education, Thissa Hewavithana, and Deputy High Commissioner, Chennai, V. Krishnamoorthy.

"Naturally, this is very good opportunity for Tamil Nadu people and Lankan people to get together and have a bit going with a very good relationship, cultural and educational relationship, with the two countries and two states," said Hewavithana.

The statues will be installed at 16 different places across the island nation.

"Our relationship, the bondage, all will be highlighted. The people get to know the good part of the human relations, that is, what even Thiruvalluvar (poet), he is the one, he preached in his poems. So, that will all be strengthened, humanity, human values, what it shown from these aspects, it will be further strengthened. I hope it will have a good, excellent relation in our country, especially both Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka," said Krishnamoorthy.

Indo-Lankan ties have deepened in recent times, especially after President Maithripala Sirisena took over from his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa in January 2015. High-level bilateral visits have increased in frequency and trade has received a boost.
Maintaining that yoga is a cultural asset of the country, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said it must not be seen in religious context.

Talking to reporters after attending an Iftar party in Lucknow, Singh said almost 191 countries across the world celebrated International Yoga Day last year.

"When this decision of observing Yoga Day was taken in the United Nations, around 46 Islamic countries supported this move. So it should not been seen on the basis of religion, but on the basis of humanity," Singh said.

"Yoga is an asset of Indian culture and that is why the United Nation decided to observe June 21 as International Yoga Day," he added.

Singh also said that the yoga is a medium to maintain a balance between body, mind and soul.

Meanwhile, the nation is all set to commemorate the second International Day of Yoga which will be celebrated across the globe tomorrow.

The theme this year is to 'connect the youth'.

The main event will take place in Chandigarh where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the celebrations at the Capitol Complex of the City by participating in a mass Yoga demonstration with around 30 thousand people.

The function which will begin at 6.30 in the morning includes a 45 minute Yoga protocol demonstration.

This year the emphasis is on the participation of Divyangs, Youths, and people from the weaker sections of the society.
On 7 July 2016

Kovai Medical Center & Hospital will hold a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company on 7 July 2016.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News
At least 13 persons were killed on Monday when a suicide bomber struck a bus carrying security personnel in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, officials said.

"The bus was running along a busy road in Pul-e-Charkhi area at around 6.30 a.m. A terrorist rammed his explosive-laden car into the bus, causing a heavy explosion," witness Farhad Mohammadi told Xinhua news agency.

"Most of the victims were foreign security guards onboard the bus. Initial information showed they were Nepalese," a security official said.

Twenty-five others were inured in the attack, the official said.

The Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

--IANS

ksk
Fourteen Nepalese citizens were killed and nine people were injured after a suicide bomber struck a mini bus in the Afghan capital on Monday, the Interior Ministry said.

A suicide bomber approached and targeted the bus carrying personnel of a foreign company at around 5.40 a.m., killing 14 of them, Xinhua news agency quoted the ministry as saying in a statement.

The statement noted that five Nepalese and four Afghans were wounded in the attack which occurred in Banahi area along Pul-e-Charkhi road which is also called Jalalabad road.

The victims were serving as security guards in a foreign embassy in central Kabul, reported TOLO News.

Sediq Sediqi of the Interior Ministry said primary reports revealed the victims were Nepalese nationals who worked for Canada's embassy in Kabul, Xinhua reported.

The attacker was killed on the spot and the blast also damaged several civilian vehicles and shops near the site.

Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, claimed responsibility for the attack.

Government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and the Afghan Interior Ministry condemned the attack.

"I condemn the terrorist attack on those travelling to their work places in Kabul. This attack is an act of terror and intimidation." Abdullah said in his Twitter account.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since early April when the militant group launched its annual rebel offensive in different places of the country, claiming hundreds of lives including militants, security personnel and civilians.

The Taliban has urged civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as legitimate targets by militants besides warning people not to support the government.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "strongly condemned the horrible tragedy in Kabul" and offered "deep condolences" to the governments and people of Afghanistan and Nepal.

But Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was yet to confirm casualties of its nationals.

"We are trying to verify the reports via our embassy," a spokesperson told The Himalayan Times.

Nepal has no embassy in Afghanistan. Its mission in Islamabad is also responsible for Afghan affairs.

--IANS

ksk/mr
At least 23 Islamic State militants were killed in an attack by Turkish artillery and US-led international coalition in Syria, the media reported on Monday.

The attack took place on Sunday, after Turkish surveillance systems detected that IS was preparing to launch mortars into Turkish territory from northwestern Syria.

The joint attack also destroyed 33 IS positions.

Last week on Monday, Tuesday and Friday very similar attacks took place and left 28 IS militants dead, according to military sources.

--IANS

py/dg
In a bid to stop cheating in secondary school examinations, Algeria on Sunday temporarily blocked access to Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms across the north African country.

According to a report in africanews.com, following the earlier exams leaks, police arrested several people, including officials working in national offices and printers after high school exam papers were leaked onto social media.

The students accessed questions on Facebook and other social media ahead of the exam in early June.

Owing to the leaks, 300,000 of the 800,000 students who sat for the "baccalaureate" exam earlier had to sit for re-exam on Sunday.

"This (move) is to protect students from the publication of false papers for these exams," the report said, quoting an official.

While Algeria blocked social media to fight exam leaks, similar blockages have been reported in Uganda and Congo Brazzaville regarding unsettling political situations in those countries.

--IANS

na/ksk
Britain is set to become the first European Union (EU) country to resume rice imports from Fukushima prefecture in Japan, which experienced one of the worst nuclear disasters in history.

From July onwards, Fukushima-harvested rice will be on store shelves in London due to the efforts of a joint campaign by a group of Fukushima natives in Britain and a local Japanese agricultural cooperative.

The groups have managed to export 1.9 tonnes of a rice variety, known as 'Ten no tsubu' -- meaning 'grain of the sky' in Japanese, EFE news reported.

According to March data from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 34 countries had imposed prohibitions or limitations of some sort on products grown in the Fukushima prefecture and its surroundings, fearing radioactive contamination.

Since January, the EU has allowed imports of tea, livestock products, and fruit (with the exception of persimmon) without any certification, although rice from Fukushima will need to confirm that it cleared radiation controls in Japan, or in the country of destination in order to enter the EU.

Britain, after Malaysia and Singapore, will be the third country in the world and the first in the EU, to import rice from Fukushima since the nuclear accident.

Emissions and radioactive discharges resulting from the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, caused by the earthquake and tsunami of March 2011, have displaced thousands of people from the neighbourhood of the plant and have negatively affected agriculture and local fishery.

--IANS

ksk/dg
The CPI-M on Monday denounced the 100 per cent FDI in defence, aviation and pharmaceutical industries, saying this was not in India's interests.

Referring to the growing strategic ties between the US and India, the Communist Party of India-Marxist said the FDI decision was "a consequence of these defence agreements".

"This (FDI decision) is not in the interests of India and raise serious

questions concerning both our internal security and our sovereignty," the CPI-M said in a statement.

"As a consequence of the Indo-US strategic partnership, the Modi government has now announced across the board greater access to FDI.

"India is permitting foreign capital to reap super profits and seek to emerge out of their global economic crisis at the expense of our domestic economy."

The CPI-M also said that India had "now become party to naval exercises with the US and Japan in South China seas.

"These exercises, code-named 'Malabar Naval Exercises', were earlier held

off Indian coast in the Arabian Sea. Moving into the waters of South China

seas has many serious implications for our independent foreign policy and

security concerns."

The CPI-M reiterated its demand that the disputes in the South China Sea

must be settled in accordance with international law and established

international procedures.

"The Indian government must adhere to this time tested policy position that India has always maintained."

--IANS

mr/
Economic reforms, along with value buying and higher global equity markets, lifted key domestic indices on Monday.

The equity markets opened on a downside prompted by news of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan formally declining a second term. However, they pared their early losses to close the day's trade in the green.

The wider 51-scrip Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) edged up by 68.30 points, or 0.84 per cent, at 8,238.50 points.

The barometer 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 26,497.11 points, closed at 26,866.92 points -- up 241.01 points or 0.91 per cent from the previous close at 26,625.91 points.

The Sensex touched a high of 26,885.49 points and a low of 26,447.88 points during the intra-day trade.

The BSE market breadth was tilted in favour of the bulls -- with 1,385 advances and 1,193 declines.

Both the key Indian indices ended in the green on Friday, following positive global cues and value buying. The barometer index had surged by 100.45 points or 0.38 per cent, while the NSE Nifty had risen by 29.45 points or 0.36 per cent.

Initially on Monday, the equity markets opened on a flat-to-negative note in the face of RBI Governor Rajan declining a second term and major upcoming referendum in Britain on whether or not to stay in the European Union (EU).

Further, investors were concerned about the US Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen's testimony to the US Congress.

However, value buying after the initial downside lifted prices. Besides, higher Asian and European markets buoyed domestic indices.

In addition, investors cheered after the government made announcement of major reforms in foreign equity norms, notably in aviation, pharmaceuticals and food processing sectors.

A stable rupee after it fell to a low of 67.70 also helped restore investors' risk-taking appetite. The rupee opened on a weak note as investors reacted to the news on Rajan's exit.

It touched a low of 67.70 against a US dollar, but sales by exporters and sovereign intervention pushed it back below 67.40 levels on spot.

"All in all, we do not expect much of negative impact of the news of Rajan on the rupee over the short term. Market would be now keeping a close eye on the new appointment," said Anindya Banerjee, Associate Vice President for Currency Derivatives with Kotak Securities.

The Indian rupee weakened by 0.23 paise during the day's trade. It closed at 67.31-32 against a US dollar from its previous close of 67.09 to a greenback.

"Value buying after a lower opening helped markets recover," Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services, told IANS.

"Even the healthy rise in Asian stocks, higher global crude oil prices, government's decision to ease FDI norms and a strengthening rupee too pushed up prices."

Dhruv Desai, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Tradebulls, said that aviation stocks rose on the back of increase in FDI limits into the sector.

"IT and pharma sector stocks traded firm on positive USD/INR prices. Banking sector stocks traded with mix sentiments on profit booking," Desai said.

According to Nitasha Shankar, Senior Vice President for Research with YES Securities, broader markets ended trade in the positive territory.

"Auto, IT, realty, metal and PSU bank indices surged in trade," Shankar said.

In terms of investments, the foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net sellers during the day's trade, while the domestic institutional investors (DIIs) turned net buyers.

Data with stock exchanges showed that the FIIs divested stocks worth Rs 537.46 crore, whereas DIIs divested scrip worth Rs 724.06 crore.

Sector-wise, all the sub-indices except FMCG (fast moving consumer goods) witnessed healthy buying.

The S&P BSE automobile index augmented by 287.48 points, followed by the IT index, which surged by 226.25 points; and the capital goods index gained by 180.94 points.

On the other hand, the S&P BSE FMCG index dipped by 4.74 points.

Major Sensex gainers during Monday's trade were Tata Motors, up 3.98 per cent at Rs 481.65; Tata Steel, up 3.27 per cent at Rs 336.15; Bharti Airtel, up 2.60 per cent at Rs 364.95; Infosys, up 2.57 per cent at Rs 1,208.60; and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), up 2.00 per cent at Rs 2,655.70.

Major Sensex losers during the day's trade were Asian Paints, down 0.60 per cent at Rs 991.90; Coal India, down 0.46 per cent at Rs 311.90; Axis Bank, down 0.39 per cent at Rs 524.65; Sun Pharmaceuticals, down 0.37 per cent at Rs 740.05; and ITC, down 0.35 per cent at Rs 358.30.

--IANS

ppg-rv/vt
Yoga won't give you immortality but this ancient discipline of bringing union between the body, mind and spirit can definitely help you fight age - both physical and mental, say health and wellness experts.

"In my practice in India and abroad I have seen several cases where my clients have gotten better by regular yoga, pranayam and meditation," Preeti Rao, Health, Lifestyle and Wellness Consultant at Max Healthcare here, told IANS.

Regular yoga practice can help fight chronic lifestyle diseases like hypertension, hormonal imbalances, diabetes, reproductory disorders, and respiratory and cardiovascular related health concerns. Besides people with obesity, anxiety, constipation and digestive disorders can benefit significantly from practising yoga, according to the experts.

"From diabetes to high blood pressure, high cholesterol to heart problems, yoga can help you combat many such health issues that usually develop over the years. Also, arthritis is one of the most common problems among elderly people and yoga is a great way to tone it down and help the body become more active and flexible," said Nidhi Arora, physiotherapist at AktivOrtho, an orthopaedic, neurological and gynaecological rehabilitation centre here.

Founded by German orthopaedic specialist Gerd Mueller, AktivOrtho now has several centres in New Delhi and Gurgaon.

"Individuals prone to osteoporosis or are already suffering from the problem can gain a lot from yoga as a daily life discipline which increases bone density and growth. To keep a watch over increase in weight as well, yoga proves to be very helpful," Arora noted.

Yoga can improve blood flow in the body and increase oxygen supply to body cells. It helps improve balance which tends to become weak as one ages, acclaimed fitness expert and nutritionist Sonia Bajaj said.

What's more, the benefits of yoga transcends physical fitness alone.

"Yoga is not limited to yog or physical exercise," Rao said.

Scholarly studies and research in this area have strongly documented how yoga helps in improving cognitive abilities.

"Pranayama helps one to attain a better balance between the right and left-brain bringing more balance between emotional and rational thinking. Meditation facilitates a process of introspection, and brings more clarity and focus in one's life. Regular yoga also improves memory," Rao noted.

"A regular yoga practice even for just 20-30 minutes daily that is simple and involves varied breathing exercises and mediation is what I would recommend to remain sharp, alert and for a balanced life," she added.

A recent study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease found that a three-month course of Kundalini yoga and Kirtan Kriya meditation practice helped minimise the cognitive and emotional problems that often precede Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, brain disorders that impair the memory.

Kirtan Kriya, which involves chanting, hand movements and visualisation of light, has been practised for hundreds of years in India as a way to prevent cognitive decline in older adults.

Yoga and meditation was even more effective than the memory enhancement exercises that have been considered the gold standard for managing mild cognitive impairment, the findings showed.

"Historically and anecdotally, yoga has been thought to be beneficial in ageing well, but this is the scientific demonstration of that benefit," lead author of the study Harris Eyre, doctoral candidate at the University of Adelaide in Australia, said.

"If you or your relatives are trying to improve your memory or offset the risk for developing memory loss or dementia, a regular practice of yoga and meditation could be a simple, safe and low-cost solution to improving your brain fitness," Helen Lavretsky, the study's senior author and professor in residence in the department of psychiatry, University of California-Los Angeles, suggested.

"Yoga forms like asana, pranayama and a regular devotion towards meditation are such strong tools that they are bound to invigorate the brain, help enhance the power of the mind and stimulate the nervous system as well. Yoga should be taken seriously as results from it are long-lasting and life-changing for sure," Arora of AktivOrtho noted.

However, with many different types of yoga being practised today, it is important for you to find out with the help of experts which type of yoga meets your needs, she said.

(Gokul Bhagabati can be contacted at gokul.b@ians.in)

--IANS

gb/vm/tb
The Congress on Monday accused the Narendra Modi government of lying on the issue of the extradition of Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya and said the government has "no intention" of bringing the two back to India.

"Modi government doesn't want to get back Lalit Modi or Vijay Mallya. The government has been lying that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had sought extradition of Lalit Modi from the External Affairs Ministry. This was made clear by the External Affairs Minister yesterday (Sunday)," said senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, newly-elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday said that her ministry will seek extradition of former IPL chairman Lalit Modi and industrialist Vijay Mallya, both in Britain, once it receives revised requests from the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

"In November 14, 2015, for the first time a statement came from Finance Ministry's enforcement department that they were seeking the extradition of Lalit Modi. Again on May 27, 2016 ED made a statement that they were seeking the extradition of Lalit Modi," said Ramesh.

"Yesterday (Sunday) Union External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj in a statement said that ED has not sent us extradition request on Lalit Modi. This means there has been no request to External Affairs Ministry on Lait Modi's extradition from ED department, which comes under the Finance Ministry. This makes it very clear that this government doesn't want the extradition of Modi," he added.

Mallya left India for Britain earlier this year with more than Rs 9,000 crore of outstanding dues to 18 Indian banks. A non-bailable arrest warrant has been issued by a Mumbai court against the business tycoon.

The ED is probing Lalit Modi and other executives associated with IPL since 2012 for alleged violation of anti-money laundering laws.

"Swaraj also said in her statement that there are some gaps in the extradition papers of Vijay Mallya? What are the gaps? Can't the ED make the request for extradition properly?" Ramesh asked.

--IANS

sid/rn/bg
People in nine different cities of Hungary, including Budapest, had a tryst with things Indian as part of the Ganges-Danube Festival and International Day of Yoga.

The Yoga display, with many historic sites forming the backdrop, was observed four days ahead of International Yoga Day that would be observed globally on June 21.

The emphasis this year was on lifestyle, health, restraint, fulfilment -- not so much on exercise -- in the eight other cities of Balatonfured, Debrecen, Eger, Esztergom, Nagykanizsa, Sopron, Szeged and Szentendre.

Hungary can boast of 60 centres with varying membership that train and practise in Yoga on a regular basis. The Danube bank near seven of its famed bridges formed the venue of the Yoga display here.

Begun on June 17, the three-day festival was organised by the Indian Embassy, the Amrita Sher-Gill Cultural Centre (named after the celebrated Indo-Hungarian painter of the last century) of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the local branches of Art of Living and other cultural bodies that have a strong India connect.

Over the weekend (June 18-19), several cultural performances, yoga practices, and workshops on traditional Indian crafts like mehndi (applying of henna designs on hands and feet), lac bangle exhibition, puppeteering and food festival were held.

Screening of Bollywood movies invariably drawn crowds of admirers throughout Hungary and all events over the weekend were open to the public, free of cost, to ensure maximum participation.

Depicting the Benaras temples on the Ganga and various illuminated bridges on the Danube as the two banks of a single river, the Ganges-Danube Indian Cultural Festival this year introduced many firsts, Indian envoy Rahul Chhabra told IANS.

They included a Yoga session at the Budapest Central Jail. A Quiz Contest posed many interesting questions. One was which Bollywood film had its climax scene shot at the Szechenyi Chain Bridge on the Danube, but was passed off as an Italian venue. Facebook entries had many posts that answered "Hum Dil De Chuke Hain Sanam".

The Quiz contest was conducted online first and subsequently live in three cities by a professional quiz master flown in from India.

Also flown in from Hyderabad was noted fashion designer Asmita, who staged a fashion show while exhibiting products in Khadi and had as its theme environment and sustainability.

Puppeteers from India staged performances in different cities where the audience was told of the origin of the art and its enmeshing with the Indian folk traditions.

A team from Kerala introduced to the Hungarians the martial art of Kalaripayattu.

Hungarians are no strangers to various forms of Indian dances with many trained at the Amrita Sher-Gill Centre. Famed Kathak danseuse Shovana Narayan conducted lectures and tutored the Hungarian students.

--IANS

ved/rn/dg
In view of the prevailing shortage of pulses and their rising prices, India is negotiating with neighbouring Myanmar and other countries towards creating a buffer stock of up to eight lakh tonnes eventually, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sithraman said on Monday.

"The government decided we will initially have 1 lakh tonnes of buffer stock both by procuring from farmers and by importing. Now that buffer stock limit has been enhanced. We will take it gradually, not immediately to 8 lakh tonnes," Sitharaman told members of the Indian Women's Press Dorps here.

"So, Myanmar can supply us a few... In all probability we will be having a government-to-government import of pulses from Myanmar... the agreement will be signed soon. Mozambique, Malawi are countries we are having pulses-related talks," she said.

"As it is pulses can be imported by private traders without restriction. Unfortunately last year, because of speculation there was lot of price rise that was unwarranted," the minister added.

In this connection, she said India produces 17 lakh tonnes of pulses annually, as against the requirement of 23 lakh tonnes, and the country has been importing pulses for decades.

"We are already in talks with these countries and hope to make government-to-government arrangements so that whenever market prices of pulses rise, the government is able to infuse its stocks in the market to stablise the prices," she added.

--IANS

bc/vd
Actor Johnny Depp took a break from all the murky divorce battle with his estranged wife Amber Heard by chilling out with belly dancers at private party in Romania.

The only large checks in sight were the ones on the jacket over his chair as he relaxed with his friends from his rock band - The Hollywood Vampires.

The group hired out a swanky restaurant here for an after-party following a gig on their European tour.

The video footage from the bash at the Trattoria il Calcio shows Depp, 53, chatting with his friends and watching the glamourous girls on stage, reports mirror.co.uk.

A party-goer said: "If Johnny was under any stress, he didn't show it. He was quite relaxed, sipping beers and chatting with his friends. He even talked about Amber a little - but he clearly feels that he is the innocent party in all of this.

"Johnny told the restaurant owner he's always had a weakness for being too trusting, and said that was what had caused his problems."

With an age gap of 22 years, the couple got engaged in January 2014. Now, Heard is making shocking domestic violence claims.

But he gave the impression of someone who wasn't worried. He doesn't accept the things that have been said.

"He also said their relationship was great until they got married."

--IANS

sug/nn/
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday stepped in to quell the simmering discontent in the ruling Congress over the cabinet reshuffle in which 14 ministers were dropped and 13 new faces inducted on Sunday.

"Siddaramaiah spoke to some of the dropped ministers and explained to them reasons for revamping the ministry. He advised them not to rebel and help the government in serving the people as lawmakers," a party official told IANS.

Though Kannada rebel actor M.H. Ambareesh resigned as Mandya lawmaker for being sacked, Deputy Speaker N.H. Shivashankara Reddy rejected his resignation letter as it was not written as per the rules.

"The chief minister also called on Ambareesh and told him not to take any hasty decision like resigning, as his services were required for the party in the run-up to the next assembly elections, due in early 2018," the official said.

Similarly, in a bid to pacify supporters of Dinesh Gundu Rao, one of the ministers removed, and a lawmaker from Bengaluru, Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi announced in New Delhi that party president Sonia Gandhi had approved appointing him (Rao) as the party's state unit working president.

Earlier in the day, about 200 Rao's supporters and party workers demonstrated near the chief minister's official residence to protest his removal from the cabinet.

Rao, a three-time lawmaker and party's national spokesman, is the son of former Congress chief minister R. Gundu Rao (1980-83).

A dawn-to-dusk shutdown was also observed in the Mysuru region, with thousands of people staging rallies and demos, to protest removal of Srinivasa Prasad as a minister along with Ambareesh and others.

As the chief minister's consultations with senior cabinet colleagues remained inconclusive, list of portfolios for the 13 new ministers, including nine with cabinet rank and four ministers of state, was not sent to Governor Vajubhai R. Vala.

"Consultations are on as some of the portfolios held by the incumbent ministers may be changed and allocated to the new ministers," the official added.

Meanwhile, on the advice of the chief minister, the governor elevated Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda and Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash R. Patil to cabinet rank.

Of the 33-member ministry, including the chief minister, 27 hold cabinet rank and six ministers of state rank.

Resentment is also brewing in a dozen aspiring lawmakers who failed get ministerial berths despite lobbying, as only one more cabinet post is vacant.

--IANS

fb/vd
On June 21, when the world celebrates the International Yoga Day for a second year in running, yoga enthusiasts around the world must remember Paramhansa Yogananda, who did more than anyone else to take the ancient science beyond India's shores.

If the UN decided to honour June 21 every year as the yoga day, the primary credit for this must go to Yogananda, who went to the US in 1920 and taught yoga and meditation for over three decades to many thousands of Americans at a time when yoga was a strange word.

Yogananda returned to India on a short visit just once - when he taught Kriya Yoga to Mahatma Gandhi at Wardha. He went back to the US at the urging of his guru, passing away there in 1952 under unique circumstances.

It was in 1946 that Yogananda published his path-breaking "Autobiography of a Yogi". In no time, it was recognised as one of the 10 best spiritual classics of the 20th century. No other book perhaps has done more to propagate yoga and spirituality. It has been translated into 21 languages and sold millions of copies.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of "Autobiography of a Yogi" - which continues to be a best seller in the spiritual category and has pushed millions on the spiritual path around the world.

Yogananda was born into a spiritually inclined family on January 5, 1893 in Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) as Mukunda Lal Ghosh. He was the fourth of eight children and showed an early inclination for the self-realization path. His guru, Yukteswar Giri, goaded him to graduate and later ordained him as Yogananda. "Some day you will go the West. Its people will lend ears more receptive to India's ancient wisdom if the strange Hindu teacher has a university degree," was the guru's counsel.

Three years after founding the Yogada Satsanga Society of India (YSS) in Ranchi in 1917, the young Yogananda sailed to Boston to take part in the International Congress of Religions. His mission was to unite the East and West by spiritual understanding, to show the underlying unity of all religions. He travelled extensively in the US and captivated millions with his talks on yoga and meditation -- thus laying the foundations of yoga in the West that has today catapulted into the International Yoga Day.

Yogananda was not ritualistic. He spoke secular language and never imposed his ideas on others. In the US, he underlined the spiritual and cultural heritage of India and held classes on balanced living -- using yoga as a medium. Finally, however, it was the "Autobiography of a Yogi" that put Yogananda on a spiritual pedestal where he remains even today.

On March 7, 1952, at an event at Biltmore Hotel at Los Angeles attended by India's ambassador to the US, Yogananda gave what turned out to be his last talk - and hugely memorable. "I am proud that I was born in India," said the ochre-robed swami with flowing hair. "I am proud that we have a great ambassador representing my spiritual India. I am very proud today."

And after reading out a few lines from his poem "My India", Yogananda slid to the floor, a beatific smile on his face. He had passed away. The stunned Indian ambassador, Binay R. Sen, who saw Yogananda's final moments, paid rich tributes: "He was born in India, he lived for India, and he died with the name of India on his lips."

The Indian government issued a postage stamp in his honour way back in March 1977. Unfortunately, unlike Swami Vivekananda, Yogananda doesn't figure in schoolbooks the way he deserves to. Prime Minister Modi must pay his homage to this great yoga guru on June 21.

(M.R. Narayan Swamy can be reached at narayan.swamy@ians.in)

--IANS

mr/rn/sar/hs
Amid poll boycott appeals by separatist politicians and underground militants, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehmooba Mufti will be worried by the voter turnout on Wednesday.

A total of 84,081 voters are eligible to vote in this south Kashmir assembly constituency to decide the fate of eight candidates including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader.

Others in the electoral fray include Iftikhar Hussain Misgar (National Conference) and Hilal Ahmad Shah (the Congress). An independent candidate, Tejinder Singh, is also trying his luck.

Both Misgar and Shah fought the 2014 elections against Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, Mehbooba Mufti's late father. Sayeed defeated his nearest rival, Shah, by around 6,000 votes.

The seat fell vacant because of Sayeed's death in January this year.

The contest is believed to be mainly triangular involving Mehbooba Mufti, Misgar and Shah.

No one doubts that Mehbooba Mufti has a definite edge over her rivals; so victory is not the main challenge she faces.

Her main worry is going to be the voter turnout on Wednesday. At present, she represents the Anantnag parliamentary seat in the Lok Sabha.

Having been sworn in chief minister on April 4, it is constitutionally obligatory for her to get elected to the state assembly within six months.

After picking the constituency represented by her late father, the 57-year-old first woman chief minister of India's only Muslim-majority state will not be comfortable if she does not get a decisive mandate.

When she sought a "decisive mandate" from voters during her electoral campaign on Saturday, what the chief minister was actually seeking was a respectable voter turnout.

Separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik and others have urged the people to boycott the polls.

The appeals have been backed by guerrilla attacks in the Kashmir Valley. Two policemen were killed by militants in Anantnag town on June 4.

Based on threat perception by intelligence agencies and security forces, the Election Commission has categorized 52 of the 102 polling stations as "hyper sensitive" and 50 as "sensitive" - official parlance to mean they could see violence.

No polling station has been categorized as "normal".

A total of 514 staff members is being deputed to manage the 102 polling centres where EVMs would be used.

There are 4,229 Kashmiri migrant Pandit voters in the constituency for whom polling stations are being set up: 15 in Jammu city, four in Delhi and one in Udhampur town.

To ensure transparency, authorities have decided to do web casting at 20 polling stations and videography at five.

Police and paramilitary forces are being deployed in sufficient strength to secure the polling stations -- and voters.

Voting will begin at 7 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. Counting of votes will take place on June 25.

--IANS

sq/mr/ruwa
Nepal has reacted with grief and shock to a bomb attack in the Afghan capital Kabul on Monday in which a suicide bomber blew up a mini bus killing 14 Nepali citizens.

Nepal's Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli condemned the attack on Nepali people and expressed grief over the loss of lives.

Five others were also injured in the attack.

"I am shocked to hear that 14 Nepalis were killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan. I express my heartfelt condolences to their kin," Oli said in a statement.

The Nepal government strongly deplores the heinous crime in Kabul, said the Nepali premier adding: "I wish the early recovery of those who were injured in the incident."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa also condemned the attack.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was seeking details about the victims and those injured.

Nepal has no embassy in Afghanistan. Its mission in Islamabad is concurrently responsible for the country's Afghan affairs.

The attack was carried out at around 5.40 a.m. by a suicide bomber who approached the bus which was carrying the victims.

Sediq Sediqi of the Afghan Interior Ministry said primary reports revealed that the Nepali nationals worked for Canada's embassy in Kabul, Xinhua reported.

Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

--IANS

giri/ksk/dg
Mehbooba Mufti could have easily got herself elected to Kashmir's legislative council (Upper House) and fulfilled the constitutional requirement to continue as the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister.

But she chose a difficult path, seeking to be people's representative in the lower house from Anantnag constituency, thus making the assembly bypoll, scheduled for Wednesday, in this erstwhile hotbed of militancy a battle of prestige.

Nobody is predicting defeat at the hustings for the first woman chief minister of the state from Anantnag, but poll pundits say the sailing may not be easy for her.

Mehbooba Mufti is not only battling an initial anti-incumbency factor -- passed on to her by her late father and then Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed -- but also a hyper-pitched allegation by the opposition that her Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has conspired with its ruling alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to demographically change the Muslim-dominated valley.

"She is the chief minister and all the agencies are on her side. That is the only factor that can help her to win. Otherwise, people have lost faith in her and the PDP, because they aligned with the RSS and BJP," state Congress President G.A. Mir told IANS.

Mehbooba Mufti, who currently represents Anantnag-Kulgam constituency in the Lok Sabha, has never lost an election in her 20 years of political career. She was first elected to the state assembly in 1996.

According to sources close to the PDP President, Mehbooba Mufti was advised by her aides to get elected to the upper house in the state's bicameral legislature. She was sworn-in chief minister on April 4 and it is constitutionally obligatory for her -- or any minister -- to get elected to the state legislature within six months of assuming office.

She ignored the suggestion to get elected to the council, which would have been an easier option, and instead chose to run the gauntlet in the Anantnag constituency, left vacant by her father's death in January.

"We know there is a public anger against us (PDP). There was a suggestion about the upper house but she decided against it and appears confident about Mufti Saheb's legacy," a close aide of the chief minister told IANS, requesting not to be named.

Traditionally, Anantnag has been a National Conference bastion. But the Muftis emerged stronger in and after 2002 elections when the senior Mufti fought the battle, promising to bring an end to the reign of terror unleashed by former militants who had formed a militia to fight alongside government forces.

They were called Ikhwanis and were instrumental in eliminating top militant commanders in this south Kashmir belt -- known for its vocal pro-Pakistan stance.

The senior Mufti won the 2002 assembly elections and formed the government with the Congress. And among his first priorities, he got the Ikhwanis disbanded. The PDP won from Anantnag again in 2008 and 2014. Mehbooba Mufti is hoping to repeat history. But it may be more difficult than previous polls.

"The PDP in 2014 came to power by promising development. They won a mandate against the BJP. But formed a government with them and no development actually is seen on the ground even after a year in power. She has betrayed us and this time there is no chance for her," said Zahoor Ahmed, a local businessman who claimed to have voted for the PDP in the last polls.

Another of major challenges for Mehbooba Mufti is a deep division within her party with many of its mid-rung leadership not happy over the alignment with the BJP.

A high voter turnout is not expected on Wednesday. A united separatist leadership has called for poll boycott and there has been a sudden surge in militancy related incidents across the state, including in south Kashmir.

But the PDP appeared confident of Mehbooba Mufti's victory.

"There is nothing new in the boycott call. People will come out to vote. We had a wonderful turnout in 2014 too, so we are looking forward to Wednesday," PDP chief spokesperson Mehboob Beigh told IANS.

Experts say that a low turnout could actually go in favour of Mehbooba Mufti because she has already attracted sympathy from the voters loyal to her late father. They would come out to vote despite a boycott call.

However, Congress' Hilal Ahmad Shah, who gave the senior Mufti a tough fight in 2014 polls and is pitted against Mehbooba now, could still emerge as a strong opponent, the observors say.

(Aadil Mir can be contacted at aadil.hussain@ians.in)

--IANS

ahm/sar/hs/vt
A six-year-old girl from Canberra has been given the naming rights of a tiger cub at the Australia Zoo after she donated the inheritance from her grandparents to a "Wildlife Warrior" programme.

It is believed Audrey Joyce's donation was in the thousands of dollars, but the amount will remain undisclosed, Xinhua news agency reported.

After making her donation, Joyce was granted the naming rights of the new 11-week-old cub, which she chose to name "Reggie".

The young Australian became a "Wildlife Warrior" after she said she gave her money to the wildlife conservation programme which is aimed at protecting endangered species.

"They (poachers) want their faces, skin and their bodies to make money from them," Joyce said on Monday.

It seems there was a secondary reason for Joyce's generosity: "I was born in the Year of the Tiger," she said.

Reggie is the third Sumatran tiger arrival this year, taking the Australian zoo's tiger population to 14.

Australia Zoo's tiger manager, Geoff Neubecker, said on Monday the zoo had donated more than $1.5 million to help defend poaching.

"It's great to see the next generation wanting to donate to save wildlife," Neubecker said.

"It's creating awareness and will go to protecting tigers in the wild."

The cub's parents are from the first Sumatran tigers to be released from Indonesia in more than 30 years.

-IANS

py/vm
Solar Impulse II, a plane exclusively powered by solar energy, began the trans-Atlantic stage of its planned world tour on Monday, taking off from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport for Seville in Spain.

The plane, which is attempting to become the first aircraft of its kind to circumnavigate the world, took off at 06.60 GMT and is expected to land about 90 hours later, with arrival scheduled for Thursday, Efe reported.

During this stage, one of the most difficult because it will last four days and four nights, Solar Impulse II is being flown by one of its inventors, Bertrand Piccard.

The plane will fly non-stop if the weather allows it.

Last year, the other engineer involved in the project, Andre Borschberg, flew five days and nights across the Pacific Ocean, breaking a record and demonstrating that the airplane is able to fly non-stop.

This year, with a round-the-world flight on an aircraft powered only by solar energy, the developers hope to raise awareness among governments and persuade them to support technology solutions to protect the environment.

So far, Piccard and Borschberg, taking turns as pilots, have completed 80 per cent of their circumnavigation quest.

In the previous stage, Borschberg flew 129 km (80.1 miles) from the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania to New York.

After landing in Europe, Solar Impulse II will be ready for the flight to Abu Dhabi, in the UAE, where the journey began in March 2015.

--IANS

py/vt
The Congress on Monday termed External Affairs Sushma Swaraj's statement that India would not oppose application of Pakistan for entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) as "surprising".

"This is a very surprising statement. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday (Sunday) said that India will not oppose Pakistan's entry into Nuclear Suppliers Group," said senior party leader Jairam Ramesh, noting that Pakistan "is known across the world for nuclear black-marketing".

To a question on Pakistan also trying to get NSG membership, Sushma Swaraj said: "Look, India is not a member in the group. But we will not oppose entry of any other country. What we want is all the applications are decided on their own merits."

--IANS

sid/vd
At least three persons were killed in violent clashes between teachers opposing an overhaul, and security forces in Mexico's Oaxaca state, officials said.

In a statement, the state government confirmed the deaths in the clashes on Sunday in Asuncion Nochixtlan with 45 others injured, EFE news reported.

The clashes started when federal and state law enforcement officers moved in to clear a roadblock set up by members of Local 22 of the teachers union on the Oaxaca-Puebla federal highway in that municipality.

The clashes lasted more than two hours and left dozens injured by stones and other projectiles and firearms.

Oaxaca authorities said at least six police officers were injured by gunfire, one of whom suffered head trauma, and 21 people were arrested.

The teachers torched a truck to prevent officers from advancing, regrouped after being dislodged and set up a new roadblock in the same area. They also overturned official vehicles.

The teachers union, a powerful labour organisation that has around 200,000 members, opposes the 2013 overhaul implemented by President Enrique Pena Nieto's administration.

The union contends that the teacher evaluation process introduced by the overhaul is punitive and fails to account for regional differences in educational methods.

--IANS

ksk
Two Indians were killed in the suicide blast targetting a mini bus carrying private security guards in Kabul on Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The Indian nationals were identified as Ganesh Thapa and Govind Singh from Dehradun.

At least a dozen Nepalese were also killed in the blast.

"We have learnt that 2 Indian nationals, Ganesh Thapa and Govind Singh from Dehradun died tragically in the blast in Kabul today morning," tweeted MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

"Govt is in touch with the families of Indian nationals & is working with the Afghan Govt to repatriate their mortal remains at the earliest," he further tweeted.

According to MEA sources, the two Indian nationals who died in Kabul were working for a private security company Sabre International and probably deployed at the Canadian Embassy.

Both the Islamic State terrorist group and the Taliban claimed responsibility for the bloodbath.

--IANS

sid-vd
The world is ready to observe the second International Day of Yoga (IDY) on Tuesday as Indian missions abroad held many practice sessions to prepare thousands of people for the day.

Indian missions in countries like China, Australia, the US, Britain, Pakistan and others organised Yoga practice sessions on various postures that are to be performed on June 21.

Pictures on websites of Indian missions across the world showed that people gathered in large numbers to be part of the international event.

Also, the iconic United Nations (UN) building in New York displayed different Yoga postures.

Syed Akbaruddin, who serves as India's permanent representative at the United Nations, shared the pictures of the building on Twitter.

"Yoga lights up UN, To celebrate #IDY2016, Yoga postures light up @UN headquarters in New York," he said in one of the tweets.

The Yoga postures, the pictures suggest, could be seen from far off places in the US city of New York.

The Indian High Commission in Britain held a session at Potters Fields Park, Tower Bridge in London.

Similarly, a mass Yoga practice session was organised in Australia's capital Canberra as part of the celebrations of the second IDY.

Yoga sessions were also held by Indian missions in China and Pakistan to prepare Yoga enthusiasts for the event.

--IANS

sk/pgh/bg
The curtains are up on another act of the Greek debt drama. Euro zone finance ministers and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have agreed with Greece to begin, per the IMF's demands, providing some debt relief to the country, and to release 10.3 billion euros ($11.6 billion) in bailout funds. Greece, for its part, has agreed to another round of austerity and structural reform.
With reference to "Our 10, Drowning St" (June 18), Shekhar Gupta beautifully articulated what might cause the death of the grand old party - the Congress. Running a political party, or for that matter even the nation, has a lot of similarities with the running of a business conglomerate.
Citing "privacy" reasons, the University of Delhi (DU) has rejected another right to information (RTI) query seeking information about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's degree.

The RTI query was filed by Delhi-based lawyer Mohd Irsad.

"DU, as a matter of policy, seeks to maintain the privacy of every student as it holds the data pertaining to a student in a fiduciary relationship with the student concerned," the RTI response from the university read.

The refusal of the university to disclose the information related to Modi's degree has raked up the controversy.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal, who had alleged that Modi's degrees were fake, said that the university cannot reject the RTI query.

"This deepens the mystery around PM's degree. If DU feels that it is private info, then under RTI Act, DU shud write to PM and seek his permission. DU can't reject (sic)," tweeted the Delhi chief minister.

In April, Kejriwal wrote to the Central Information Commission (CIC) to make public the details of Modi's educational qualifications.

Following Kejriwal's letter, the CIC asked the DU to make the degrees public.

In an attempt to put the controversy to rest, Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had called a press conference to reveal the prime minister's degrees.

However, the AAP alleged that the degrees provided by Shah and Jaitley were fake.

"What? But why? Didn't Amit shah n Jaitley ji say that degree was genuine and anyone cud take it from DU? (sic)" Kejriwal said in another tweet on Sunday.
The controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's educational degrees is back in news, with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying that Delhi University's (DU's) recent rejection of a right to information (RTI) query seeking details of the prime minister's Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree "deepens the mystery".
The 19 Indian fishermen, detained off the coast of British island Diego Garcia since May 27 for allegedly trespassing into its territorial waters, were released, Kerala government said here today.

Of the 19 fishermen detained in the island, 12 were from Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district, six from Kerala and one from Assam.

The Keralite fishermen hailed from coastal hamlets of Poovar and Poonthura near here.

"The state government had been in constant touch with the External Affairs Ministry and the British authorities in this regard. The released fishermen are expected to reach Kochi next week," Kerala Fisheries Minister J Mercykutty Amma said in a release.

Though a trawling ban is existed in the state, relaxation would be given to the two mechanised boats, in which the fishermen were arriving, to enter the state coasts, the minister added.
The first batch of 55 Indian pilgrims undertaking the annual Kailash Mansarovar yatra today entered Tibet through the Lipulekh pass in Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.

"First batch consisting of 55 pilgrims, bound for Kailash Mansarovar, entered Tibet early this morning at 7:30 AM," Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN) GM, Trilok Singh Martolia said.

KMVN is the nodal agency of the yatra.

The batch reached the last trek route camp at Nabhidhan last evening and leftfor 17500 feet high Lipulekh pass at 4:00 AM this morning, he said.

"All the members of the first batch were fit and fine at the time of crossing over to the Tibetan plateau from the pass," he added.

The batch will stay at Taklakot town ofTibet tonight and resume their journey for Kailash Mansarovar tomorrow," Martolia said.

He said the members of first batchwill remain in Kailash Mansarovar region in Tibet till June 27 and return to Lipulekh pass on June 28 before reaching Delhi through Jageshwar route on July 3.

Meanwhile, the second batch of 48 pilgrims reached the Bundi camp along the trek route today whereas the third batch of 41 pilgrims arrived at Kathgodam in Kumaon region from New Delhi.
Two Indians are among 25 people killed in a string of bombings across Afghanistan today.

In the first attack, a Taliban suicide bomber hit a minibus carrying foreign security guards in Kabul along the main road to the eastern city of Jalalabad. The Taliban also claimed a second smaller blast in south Kabul.

The third blast took place in a market in the remote northeastern province of Badakhshan.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup in New Delhi said, "We have learnt that 2 Indian nationals, Ganesh Thapa and Govind Singh from Dehradun died tragically in the blast in Kabul today morning."



"Government is in touch with the families of Indian nationals and is working with the Afghan government to repatriate their mortal remains at the earliest," he said.

Fourteen Nepali security guards working for the Canadian Embassy in Kabul were also killed in the first blast.

The attacks come days after the US announced an expansion of the US military's authority to conduct air strikes against the Taliban, a significant boost for Afghan forces which have limited close air-support capacities.

The two Indians were working for a private security



company Sabre International and probably deployed at the Canadian Embassy.
Government today launched a second wave of FDI reforms allowing 100 per cent inflows in civil aviation and food processing sectors while easing norms in defence and pharmaceuticals, steps apparently aimed at neutralising fallout of Raghuram Rajan's decision to exit RBI.

A significant change in local sourcing policy for single-brand retail trading could now enable US-based Apple Inc to open stores under today's decisions which also cover broadcasting carriage services, private security agencies and animal husbandry.

The major reform measures were decided at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was earlier said to have been planned for tomorrow.

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said the decisions will make "India the most open economy in the world for FDI", but critics said it was a "panic" reaction to Rajan's decision on Saturday to exit RBI and return to academia after September 4.

The stock markets also reacted positively to the of FDI reforms even as they recovered from early morning plunge after talking-up by influential marketmen that helped counter Rexit (Rajan's exit) jitters.

Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh described the decisions as a "panic reaction" which would not have come had Rajan not made the announcement. He also said the Congress does not believe that FDI is a magic wand.

Briefing media, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the decisions would help in attracting more investments, creating jobs and making India the global manufacturing hub.

Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das said the changes would do away with dual clearances of proposals and will boost manufacturing and generate more jobs.

"Now most of the sectors would be under automatic approval route, except a small negative list. With these changes, India is now the most open economy in the world for FDI," the PMO statement said. The first batch of FDI reforms were announced by the government in November 2015.

The most important announcement made today relates to civil aviation in which 100 per cent FDI has now been allowed in airlines, except by foreign carriers. Norms for overseas investment have also been relaxed in brownfield airports.

Under the present policy, foreign investment up to 49 per cent is allowed under automatic route in domestic airlines. It has now been decided to raise this limit to 100 per cent, with FDI up to 49 per cent under automatic route and beyond that through Government approval.

In the defence sector, the policy has been tweaked to allow 100 per cent FDI by doing away with the condition of access to "state of the art" technology. It has now been modified to "modern or for other reasons", a move that will widen the scope of investment by foreign players.

The new norms have also been made applicable to manufacturing of small arms and ammunitions covered under Arms Act 1959. Under the current policy, FDI up to 49 per cent was allowed under automatic route and beyond that under the approval route.

For the pharmaceuticals sector, the government relaxed



the norms and permitted FDI up to 74 per cent through automatic route in brownfield projects and approval route beyond that limit to promote the development of this sector.

The move assumes significance as FDI in the existing pharma companies has been a contentious issue as concerns have been raised over some M&As of Indian pharma companies by foreign giants.

Some analysts stated that such activities were impacting accessibility and growth of the generic industry in the country.

In case of private security agencies, FDI up to 49 per cent is now permitted under automatic route and up to 74 per cent through approval route.

The current policy permits 49 per cent FDI under government approval route in private security agencies.

The government has also permitted 100 per cent FDI under automatic route in several wings of the broadcasting carriage services which include teleports, direct-to-home, cable networks, mobile TV and headend-in-the sky broadcasting service.

However, the statement said: "Infusion of fresh foreign investment beyond 49 per cent in a company not seeking licence/permission from sectoral ministry, resulting in change in the ownership pattern or transfer of stake by existing investor to new foreign investor, will require FIPB approval."



In order to promote manufacturing of food items, the government decided to permit 100 per cent FDI under approval route for trading, including through e-commerce in respect of such products manufactured or produced in India.

The government has decided to do away with the



requirement of separate security clearance or RBI approval for setting up of branch or liaison offices by foreign companies dealing in defence, telecom, private security or information and broadcasting if the requisite approval of FIPB or the ministry or regulator concerned is in place.

The government has also decided to do away with the 'controlled conditions' for FDI in these activities relating to animal husbandry.

As per the existing policy, FDI in animal husbandry (including breeding of dogs), pisciculture, aquaculture and apiculture is allowed 100 per cent under automatic route under controlled conditions.

Measures undertaken by the government have resulted in increased FDI inflows from USD 36.04 billion in 2013-14 to US 55.46 billion in 2015-16, the highest ever FDI inflow for a particular financial year, the statement said.

"However, it is felt that the country has potential to attract far more foreign investment which can be achieved by further liberalising and simplifying the FDI regime. India today has been rated as number one FDI destination by several international agencies," the statement added.

The changes in the FDI policy, it said, are aimed at liberalising and simplifying the norms with a view to promoting ease of doing business, encouraging greater capital flows and making India an attractive destination for foreign investors.

(REOPEN DEL51)



Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said these initiatives are expected to increase FDI inflows which have been very encouraging over the last two years.

"Now there is a greater clarity in terms of the caps, in terms of the process of approval, in terms of making it easy so that the rigours of going through an investment proposal are all eased out," she told reporters here.

Explaining about the relaxation in the defence sector, she said the idea behind dropping the term "state of the art" was "essentially we are spending time in defining things and spending time in understanding what exactly is state of the art and what exactly is this cutting edge".

"So instead of keeping it verbose and instead of making too many things binding us down on what is it that you have to comply. By using this one word 'modern', we thought we are able to cover on bring in technology which was required and there is no other thing behind the logic," she added.

On single brand retail, the minister said the policy was relaxed but she is conscious that there is a need to protect small industries.

"Local sourcing has the noble objective, we can't completely forget it...So we thought we should allow them to come and stabilise. But then not to forget that commitment," she said.

When asked after this relaxation, what would happen to Apple Inc's application, she said: "It will be considered if they apply".

She further said: "We have done, we are doing, we will keep it doing as much as it takes to make India a manufacturing hub...We are on our toes".

Reacting on the single brand issue, tax consulting firm PwC India said the policy already provides for the window of granting relaxations from sourcing norms for single brand retail trading of products made with 'state of the art' and 'cutting edge' technology.

"It seems proposed announcements seeks to provide more clarity on the framework for relaxation," it said in a statement.

Consulting firm KPMG said easing out of conditionalities in the retail sector would have a positive impact on investment inflow.

"Liberalising of sourcing conditions may make entry for companies like Apple in SBRT activities easier," it said adding 100 per cent FDI in food sector will also give opportunity to multinational companies like Walmart, Tesco to embrace this new policy into their existing presence in India.
Six persons were killed and three others injured when a vehicle ploughed into a place where they had gathered at Chiknibad village in Giridih district, the police said.

The mishap happened last night when the vehicle crushed them, killing four on the spot and two during treatment, DSP Dipak Sharma said.

Expressing grief at the accident, Chief Minister Raghubar Das announced Rs one lakh each to the families of the deceased, official sources said.
An abandoned one-year-old girl child was found abandoned under the portico of the district collector's office here today.

The physically challenged baby girl was rescued by Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and was shifted to near Sishu Bhawan, paediatric hospital.

"The police are on the lookout of the parents of the abandoned child and we admitted the baby in the hospital for her immediate treatment," informed the CWC member Pradip Kumar Patnaik.
A case was today registered by Delhi's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in connection with the alleged 400-crore water tanker scam linking former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

ACB chief M K Meena said two complaints were received with regard to the scam and those named in the complaints include Dikshit and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. He said both Dikshit and Kejriwal will be quizzed.

"An FIR has been registered under relevant sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act and both of them will be quizzed," Meena said.

Last week, the Delhi government had sent a report of a fact-finding committee on the scam to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung. Delhi BJP leader Vijender Gupta had also filed a complaint with Jung accusing Kejriwal of "suppressing" the committee's report for 11 months.

The Lt Governor had forwarded the committee's report as well as Gupta's complaint to the ACB.

Last week, Delhi's Water Minister Kapil Mishra had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jung recommending either CBI or ACB probe against Dikshit in connection with alleged scam.

"The report of the committee suggests that the acts of omission and commissions by the Delhi Jal Board under Dikshit has resulted in loss of approximately Rs 400 crore to the exchequer," Mishra had said.

Sources said the fact-finding committee found glaring irregularities in the appointment of consultants, tendering process as well as in overall procurement of the tankers by the previous Congress government.

When the tankers were purchased, Dikshit was chairperson of the Delhi Jal Board.

Dikshit has already dismissed the allegations as politically motivated.

Gupta said it was a "moral defeat" of Kejriwal as ACB was looking into his complaint of delay on the part of the Delhi chief minister in recommending probe into the case.

"He had come to remove corruption but now it appears he himself become a part of it," Gupta said.

Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay has welcomed registration of the FIR in the alleged water tanker scam.

The party has demanded Kejriwal's resignation.
Afghan lawmakers today approved President Ashraf Ghani's nominees for defence minister and intelligence director, two crucial posts that sat vacant for months as the country struggles to rein in an ascendant insurgency.

The confirmations came as attacks left at least 23 people dead across Afghanistan today and wounded dozens more, as the Taliban's resurgence continues to raise serious questions about the ability of Afghan forces to hold their own without the support of US-led NATO troops.

MPs voted for Abdullah Habibi, formerly a senior official in the defence ministry who holds the rank of army general, to become its new minister.

Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai, a former top official in the government body overseeing the country's peace process who has worked to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table, was named head of Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS) intelligence agency.

"We congratulate them and wish them success," parliament chairman Abdul Rauf Ibrahimi announced after the vote, which was welcomed by Ghani.

"Now that we have all security ministers in place, it will have a very positive impact on the ground," analyst Zalmay Wardak, a former military official, told AFP.

"In the past, as acting ministers, none of them would feel responsible, but now they can be taken accountable. This also gives a new energy to our security forces," he said.

Ghani had originally named Stanekzai to head the defence ministry last year, but parliament rejected him, leaving the post vacant until Monday's confirmation of Habibi.

In December, the country's former intelligence chief resigned over disagreements with Ghani for his diplomatic outreach to Pakistan aimed at reviving peace talks with the resurgent Taliban.

Today's wave of violence saw three bombs -- two in Kabul and one in northeastern Badakhshan province -- kill at least 23 people, including 14 Nepali security guards in the capital.

It comes ten days after Washington announced an expansion of the US military's authority to conduct air strikes against the Taliban, a significant boost for Afghan forces who have limited close air-support capacities.

US forces have been in an advisory role in Afghanistan since the start of 2015 and had only been authorised to hit Taliban targets for defensive reasons, or to protect Afghan soldiers.

Afghan forces, beset by record casualties, desertions and troop shortages, suffered a string of setbacks last year at the hands of the Taliban, underscoring the fragile security situation.
A day after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley attacked him over his family's alleged foreign accounts, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today hit back at him, accusing him of trying to "avenge his humiliating defeat" in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

He also asked the senior BJP leader to "furnish the address with the proof of ownership" of properties abroad and said he would "produce all the evidence" as how he was "trying to abuse his position" to target him.

The Congress' deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, who defeated Jaitley in the 2014 General Elections from Amritsar, lashed out at him for allegedly behaving like the "spokesman of the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax department and not as their boss".

"Time, they say, is a great healer, but unfortunately nothing seems to work or heal for Jaitley", he said, while reacting to Jaitley's charges made during a speech in Bathinda yesterday.

"The way Jaitley spat venom at me, has only vindicated and validated my stand that he is trying to avenge his humiliating defeat by unleashing these departments (the ED and IT) at me and my family"," Amarinder said.

Addressing a 'Vikas Parv' rally in Bathinda, Jaitley yesterday said, "I recall when there was Congress government in Punjab in 2002 led by Capt Amarinder Singh, he used to cook up stories about the Badal family, claiming that they have land in Australia, petrol pump in America, besides levelling other charges, but he failed to prove the allegations. We have found accounts of Capt Sahib's family."



The PCC president said, it was good that the Finance Minister "betrayed" his intentions at Bathinda yesterday, as it will further strengthen his case and establish that the ED was "directly acting" under the minister's instructions.

"Unfortunately Jaitley seems to have chosen and resolved not to let his wounds and the bruised ego to heal over his humiliating defeat in Amritsar, even after the passage of two long years", the PCC president said, adding, "anyway, if he has chosen to use his agencies to avenge that defeat, I am ready for it and will fight it to the finish and expose his ulterior motives and intentions".

"It is not only unprecedented but also unbecoming of a



minister to make a suo motu statement related to investigations being carried out by the department under him, which only justifies our stand that he has a personal grudge and score to settle with me", Amarinder alleged, claiming "the courts will also take note of it, as it is difficult to expect the ED and IT to do fair investigations when their boss has already pronounced us the guilty".

On Jaitley's claims that he has located Amarinder's "illegal properties" abroad, the former Punjab CM asked him to furnish the address with the proof of ownership and not rely on the "documents which someone stole" from a Swiss Bank years ago and sold to the French government, that in turn gave to the government of India.

He also alleged, "Jaitley was behaving as if he was the sole and ultimate arbitrator in the matter, than just an aggrieved (over his Amritsar defeat) complainant."



"I have firm faith in law of the land and I will produce all the evidence as how Jaitley is trying to abuse his position to target me", he said, while alleging , "immediately after taking over as the Finance Minister, he had asked a senior official of the Income Tax department to 'find something' to fix me, which the officer refused saying there was nothing against me that can stand the legal scrutiny".

Taking a dig at Jaitley, Amarinder said, "much against the public perception, you have turned out to be a mediocre lawyer with a parochial mindset that can stoop to any depths to target his political opponents".
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today lashed out at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for allegedly wasting taxpayers' money on newspaper advertisements in an "extravagant and lavish way".

"You (Kejriwal) are abusing your position and misusing public money to promote and project yourself as someone who actually you are not," Amarinder said in a statement here.

"Kejriwal is suffering from chronic megalomaniac obsessions," the statement added, referring to Kejriwal's letter to the Prime Minister which was published in full page advertisements in newspapers in Punjab today.

Questioning the Aam Aadmi Party leader's credentials, the former Punjab Chief Minister alleged, "This is no less than cheating and fraud with the people of Delhi whose money is being wasted in advertisements in Punjab with an eye on the elections."



Questioning the very purpose of publishing a letter to the Prime Minister, he said, "It was more aimed at scoring some brownie points with the people of Punjab on the eve of elections than asserting your position with the Prime Minister who would have read your letter in any case."



"It is natural for a Prime Minister to read a letter written to him by a chief minister. So, where was the need to waste public money using newspapers with full page advertisements as the medium," the statement added.

"More than seeking justice for the 1984 (anti-Sikh riots) victims, as he claims, which he could have done in a better way without wasting public money and newsprint space, Kejriwal is trying to pronounce and proclaim himself as the new messiah as if ordained by a divine decree," the Punjab Congress chief said.

The AAP-led Delhi government today published newspaper advertisements in Punjab showing a letter written by Kejriwal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi pertaining to the Centre's Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the 1984 riots.

Punjab is scheduled to go to Assembly polls in 2017.
As the anger of dropped ministers and aspirants for a berth in the Cabinet boiled over in Congress-ruled Karnataka, actor-turned politician Ambareesh today resigned as MLA and several "like minded" legislators have threatened to quit.

As Chief Minister Sidddaramaiah faced discontent a day after the major reshuffle in which 14 ministers were axed and 13 inducted, at least eight MLAs ae to meet here tomorrow to take a call on their future course of action while several others have decided to stay away from party activities. Some others plan to petition the party high command.

Ambareesh sent a one-line resignation letter addressed to the Assembly Speaker through his personal assistant.

Deputy Speaker Shivashankara Reddy, who is officiatingas the Speaker's post is lying vacant with Kagodu Thimmappa being appointed as the Cabinet Minister, has not accepted the letter as the Member himself did not submit it. "Ambareesh has sent a letter of resignation through some other person; any such letter will be considered valid only ifthe member himself submits it. I have sent it back," Shivashankar Reddy told PTI.

The letter stated he is resigning as MLAof Mandya constituency, without assigning any reason. Ambareesh was the Housing Minister before he wasdropped. Popularly known as "rebel star", Ambareesh himself hasnot made any public comment so far.

His wife Sumalatha, who was also a movie star, in atweet had yesterday said "Being non-corrupt , straight forward & honest might not win today's battle...But time will prove the ultimate winner in any war."



S T Somashekar, who had yesterday claimed that eight legislators were contemplating resigning their Assembly membership in protest, met Ambareesh today and later said he has requested him not to quit in haste.

Somashekar said, "I told him (Ambareesh) don't take decision in haste and press for acceptance of the resignation, tomorrow by 3 or 4 pm we all MLA's will meet at one place and decide.

"If at all, situation arises wherein you (Ambareesh) may press for acceptance of your resignation, we will also resign along with you. Till then don't take any decision....; he has accepted," he added.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda seized



upon the opportunity to get Ambareesh to JD(S) fold.

Gowda, who spoke to Ambareesh, also sent his MLC T A Saravana for ameeting.

"Along with requesting him not to resign we have also requested him to consider joining JD(S), he said he will thinkabout it," Saravana told reporters after the meeting. Ambareesh had won first time as Member of Parliamentin 1998 from Mandya on Janata Dal ticket.

His supporters in Mandya continued their protest for the second consecutive day today. They had blocked the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway yesterday.

Some film producers also stopped film shooting expressing solidarity with Ambareesh.

Resentment is brewing within Congress after thereshuffle carried out by Siddaramaiah, with several dropped Ministers and cabinet aspirants openly expressing theirunhappiness against the party leadership.

The ministers who faced the axe are: Qamarul Islam, Shamanoor Shivashankarappa, V Srinivasa Prasad, M H Ambareesh, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Satish Jarkiholi, Baburao Chinchansoor, Shivaraj Sangappa Tangadagi, S R Patil, Manohar Tahasildhar, K Abayachandra Jain, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Kimmane Ratnakar and P T Parameshwar Naik.

Senior leaders like Srinivasa Prasad, Mallikayya Guttedar and Qamarul Islam are among others who have made no secret of their displeasure over being dropped or not being considered. While Prasad and Guttedar have decided to stay away from party activities, Islam, who met his supporters in Kalburgi today, has decided to meet Congress chief Sonia Gandhi soon. Prasad, a veteran Congress man, today openly hit out at Siddaramaiah and Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge for dropping him from the ministry.

His supporters had called for a bandh in Chamarajanagar and Nanjangud.

Similar protests by supporters of various aspirants Congress MLA's and dropped Ministers have been reported from different parts of the state.
The Supreme Court today asked the animal rights organisations to make representations before the Centre regarding three notifications declaring Nilgais, monkeys and wild boars as vermins, with the Animal Welfare Board of India terming it as an "arbitrary" decision.

The board, which is an statutory advisory body on animal welfare laws and promotes animal welfare in India, questioned the notifications issued by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change declaring these animals as vermins for one year in the states of Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

"The arbitrariness is there. We have seen the video. There has to be a basis. How can the Ministry do this? There has to be compassion towards animals," the lawyer appearing for the board told a vacation bench of Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and A M Khanwilkar.

However, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar said the board has not challenged these notifications.

The bench said it would hear the contentions of the board when the main matter is heard.

The bench, which refused to issue notice on the petitions, asked the Centre to consider the representations within two weeks and take approprite steps as required.

During the hearing, the bench posed several queries to the petitioners on whether these notifications specifically talk about forest areas.

"Prohibition (on hunting) will apply to forest area or animal habitat and not outside that. Absolute prohibition applies to animal habitat only. You cannot hunt them in their home. Suppose they are found outside their habitat, then how to deal with it," the bench asked.

Responding to the query, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, who appeared for one of the petitioners, referred to killing of Nilgais in Bihar and said "there are scientific ways to deal with such situations. Wild animals cannot be killed like this."



The first notification issued by the Ministry dated December 1, 2015, declared Nilgai and wild boar as vermin in some districts of Bihar for one year.

The second notification dated February 3 this year declared wild boar as vermin in some districts of Uttarakhand for a period of one year, while the third notification, issued on May 24 declared rhesus macaque (monkey) to be vermin in some districts of Himachal Pradesh.

Luthra told the bench that the wildlife department was



competent to tackle such issues.

"They (wildlife department) can come and capture the animals and if the animal has become a man eater then it can be killed," he said.

During the hearing, the bench asked, "Have you made any representation before the Central government?."



"Further notification or corrigendum to a notification has to be issued by Central government," the bench said, adding, "The authority is with the Central government to issue a notification. You make a representation and we expect that the Central government will take action whatever is required. The main petition can be kept pending."



Senior advocate Anand Grover, who appeared for another petitioner, said Center had asked the state governments to give them information about conflicts between animals and humans.

He claimed that Bihar and Himachal Pradesh had neither given any report to the Centre nor had they conducted any such study despite the fact that people had complained about it.

Referring to the Bihar incident, Grover said men from Mumbai were hired to kill animals and they were "shooters".

To this, the bench said, "this statement is questionable."



Grover, however, said, "I am not casting aspersions. They were shooting the animals at random."



He also said that the conflicts between humans and animals were outside the forest area.

One of the counsel representing another petitioner told the bench that intent of Parliament was to reduce the number of vermins.

"A scientific study has to be there. One state admittedly say they have not conducted study. All the material is with Central government but still they issued such notification," he said.

The Solicitor General, however, questioned maintainability of these petitions and said that the apex court was not the appropriate forum.

He said these notifications were applicable for outside forest area.

To this, Luthra said they were challenging notifications



issued with respect to Bihar, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and it was a national issue.

The bench, however, observed, "it is difficult to make this court as the first court."



At the fag end of the hearing, Luthra requested the bench to issue notice but the court said it would not issue any notice today.

"We are not issuing any direction. We are not issuing any notice today. We are adjourning the matter," the bench said.

When the bench asked petitioners to make representation before the concerned authority, the SG said they would look into it.

The bench has now fixed the matter for further hearing on July 15.

"The impugned notifications have been passed in absolute disregard of the human-wildlife conflict plaguing the country and without any scientific survey backing them," one of the pleas filed before the apex court has said.

It has said that once an animal is declared vermin, it is deprived of the protection provided to the wild animals by the Wildlife Protection Act.

It has said that the provisions of the Act "authorises the government to permit mindless slaughter of protected wildlife without any inquiry or investigation into the need for declaring protected species of wildlife as vermin for purpose of slaughter.
Assam Government has started an SMS campaign to ensure all educational institutions are tobacco free in the state.

The Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Sarba Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) have started sending SMSs to the Principals and heads of government educational institutions in the state reminding them to ensure their institutions were tobacco free, Assam Secretary to Secondary Education Department, R C Jain said.

The state education department had already instructed Principal/Heads of education institutions and district education officers to implement the campaign across the state.

Jain said they have started sending SMSs to the Principal and heads of institutions through the centralised system of RMSA and 4,000 such SMSs have been sent on June 18.

"Our efforts will be to ensure that Principals and heads of educational institutions implement at the earliest. We shall continue to send the SMS until it is completed in all government educational institutions," he said.

In order to declare educational institutions tobacco free, the Heads/Principals of educational institutions need to ensure that all signages inside and outside the educational institutions be put up as per law and there must not be any use of tobacco products in the premises.

In Assam, 140 children are initiated to tobacco use everyday and over 85 lakh adult consume tobacco in some form or the other as per the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2010.

Healis-Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health and Tata Trusts in association with Assam education department and Dr B Barooah Cancer Institute in Guwahati had launched the Tobacco Free Educational Institutions (TFEI) campaign in Assam on World Environment Day this year.

The study also took 539 bidi packs of 23 bidi companies



and 50 brands of non-identified bidi companies in pre- identified tobacco vendors.

In cigarettes, brands like Bristol, Gold Flake, Navy Cut, Classic, Flake, Capstan, India Kings, Marlboro and others were found to be fully complaint with the mandated warnings while smokeless tobacco brands like Kuber, Baba 120, Miraj, Tulsi, Dilbag, Pan Bahar and Shikhar were found to be compliant.

"In Delhi, 54 per cent of the cigarette packs were fully compliant with all the labeling requirements of the law while 22 per cent of the bidi packs displayed a pictorial and text health warning label that covered 85 per cent.

"55 per cent of the smokeless tobacco packs displayed a pictorial and text health warning label that covered 85 per cent of the principal display area," it said.

These new and larger pictorial warnings will allow people to see clearly the devastating truth about tobacco consumption that leads to death and disease for majority of its users, the study said.

"Even though some tobacco companies are opposing in implementing the new health warnings on tobacco products, the study results show that implementing 85 per cent pictorial warnings on tobacco products is possible and practical and tobacco companies are abiding by the law.

"The government must strictly enforce the new rules as health warnings on tobacco packages are a direct, cost- effective means of communication to inform the health risks of tobacco consumption to the consumers, new users and illiterate," said Bhavna B Mukhopadhyay, Chief Executive, Voluntary Health Association of India.

Scientific studies demonstrate that larger pictorial warning labels on tobacco packages are an effective way to inform users about the dangers of tobacco dependence, motivate consumers to quit, and prevent youth from starting to use tobacco, it said.

"The government needs to redouble its efforts to strictly enforce the implementation of the new pictorial warnings on every tobacco product sold across the country and must aim for a full compliance of the law by all tobacco manufacturers," added Seema Gupta, Director VHAI.

The new pictorial health warnings also need to apply to imported cigarettes and other tobacco products for sale in India, it said.
Bangladesh has full confidence in West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on resolution of the dispute over sharing of Teesta water between India and his country, the country's High Commissioner in India Syed Muazzem Ali today said.

"During her last Bangladesh visit, Mamata Banerjee had told us to have confidence in her on the Teesta issue. Today we have told her that we continue to have confidence in her on the issue," he said after a 40-minute meeting with the Chief Minister at the state secretariat.

The Bangladesh envoy said that he was hopeful that his country's relation with West Bengal would grow simultaneous with the negotiation over the Teesta and other issues.

"I am hopeful that we will be able to take forward our relation (with West Bengal) along with the Teesta and other issues," Ali said.

This was the Bangladesh envoy's first meeting with Mamata after she became the Chief Minister for a second term.

The four-member delegation which met the Chief Minister also included Zokey Ahad, head of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata.

"This is basically a courtesy call. I've come here to congratulate her after her re-election as the Chief Minister on behalf of our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," he said.

On whether there was a discussion on the Ramkrishna Mission in Bangladesh getting threats from suspected ISIS, the envoy said, "The two countries cooperate on security and after this (threats to RKM) security has been considerably enhanced. We had a discussion with West Bengal earlier on this... Today we told the Chief Minister about our discussion with Sushma Swaraj," he said.

On export of Hilsa fish to West Bengal, the envoy said "facilities at the ports here and the infrastructure should be developed."



"We will export (Hilsa)... But I must say that the facilities at the ports and the infrastructure must be developed...Otherwise fishes get rotten while exporting," Ali pointed out.

On Mamata Banerjee's massive victory in the recent Assembly election, the envoy told reporters, "This is a mammoth victory. It shows that the people of West Bengal have faith in her."



He said that they have also invited Mamata to visit Bangladesh.
The Bar Council of India has warned the Tamil Nadu lawyers that disciplinary action would be initiated against them for indulging in court boycott to protest against certain amendments made to existing rules under the Advocates Act.

The BCI also directed the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to identity such lawyers and submit a list to it by June 22.

"The state Bar Council is requested and directed to find out, earmark such errant advocates, representatives members, and forward their names along with their full details to BCI latest by June 22," said BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra in the communication.

If names were sent "necessary disciplinary action" could be taken against them at the earliest, he said.

The communique has come in view of continuation of court boycott in some districts of Tamil Nadu, despite assurance from the Madras High Court and the full court meeting that the recent amendments to disciplinary rules empowering High Court and district courts to debar lawyers indulging in serious misconduct would not be used against lawyers.

A precondition for the offer was withdrawal of strike by various Bar associations.

"...Such action cannot be tolerated. The action of these so-called leaders of Bar Associations makes it apparent they are acting with some ulterior motive. Some of the representatives of a few Bar Associations are acting and behaving in most irresponsible manner, and, in fact, this is a clear case of misconduct", the communique said.

Confirming receipt of the order from Delhi, Chairman of Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry D Selvam said he had dispatched the BCI order to all 24 members of state Bar council.

The threat of further action on the lawyers has come at a time when more than 40 lawyers in the state are serving suspension, after being proceeded against for various acts of misconduct since September 14.

On May 25, the High Court had issued a notification making amendments to existing rules under Advocates Act with a view to ensuring peaceful conduct of court proceedings and suggesting disciplinary action to be taken against erring advocates.

However, on June 13, Chief Justice of Madras High Court had said he would not act against lawyers in pursuant to the amended rules, but he could not prevent BCI from proceeding against bar associations if they continue agitation.
An all-out war broke out between BJP and AAP today after East Delhi MP Mahiesh Girri sat on an "indefinite fast" a few metres away from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence even as the latter kept on demanding the former's "arrest" in connection with the murder of an NDMC official.

BJP MPs Subramanian Swamy and Manoj Tiwari and party general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya lent weight to Girri's protest, who has vowed not to end his fast till the AAP chief "apologises". Swamy launched a scathing attack on Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, accusing him of taking Congress' guidance.

Vijayvargiya said he has urged Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to order a probe into the case so that all the doubts are cleared. Girri also wrote to the Delhi Police Commissioner saying that he was ready to be questioned and face arrest if the probe demands so.

Girri, whom his supporters dubbed as the "lion of East Delhi", accused Kejriwal of "running away" from a debate, while Kejriwal sought to turn the tables on BJP asking the people to decide as to "who is dharna party of India".

"He (Girri) shud be arrested n interrogated by Modi police in MM Khan murder case. Modi police shielding him...If Del police were wid us, Mahesh Giri n Karan Singh Tanwar wud have been arrested and interrogated by now in MM Khan murder case (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted.

In a press conference, the AAP alleged that Girri "accompanied" Ramesh Kakkar (an accused in Khan's murder case) to the LG's office in connection with a hotel lease which was to be decided by the official, M M Khan.

Showing the copy of a "covering letter" purportedly written by Girri, Delhi AAP convenor Dilip Pandey alleged that it was attached to the hotel owner Kakkar's letter to put pressure on Jung.

Khan's family demanded that Girri's role be probed into the case for the sake of a fair investigation.

"Roles of all the individuals whose name have come up related to the case should be investigated. Even the Chief Minister has demanded just that," one of Khan's daughters said.

Posters came up at the protest venue, which was lashed by heavy rains in the afternoon, describing Kejriwal's refusal for a debate on the matter as a "tweet-and-run-case".

NDMC Vice Chairman Karan Singh Tanwar, who was present at the demonstration site, said he would file civil and criminal defamation suits against Kejriwal. AAP has alleged Tanwar's involvement in the case as well.

Delhi BJP leaders Vijender Gupta, Vijay Goel and Vijay Malhotra also showed up at the protest venue "in solidarity" with Girri.

On the purported evidence produced by the AAP to prove



his involvement in the case, Girri said he writes thousands such covering letters to the LG which has no bearing with the murder issue.

"It is unfortunate that AAP is politicising the issue solely because the surname Khan is involved. I am mulling legal action," Girri said.

Vijayvargiya said that party president Amit Shah has asked him to tell Girri to not take Kejriwal "seriously".

He said the party wants Girri to have at least water, a plea that the MP turned down.

Swamy, who was one of the first BJP bigwigs to turn up at the dharna site, mounted a sharp attack on LG Najeeb Jung, accusing him of seeking "guidance" of Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Political Secretary Ahmed Patel.

Swamy, in a letter to President Pranab Mukherjee, also said that he has information to suggest that the Jung was playing a "mischievous role" in "abetting" Kejriwal at the behest of Congress to embarrass BJP.

"He (Jung) has no work other than making rounds of Ahmed Patel's place. He (Jung) should have spoken out for MPs like Girri and he should have ordered Kejriwal to provide documents or apologise," Swamy told reporters.

He also said Jung should have categorically told Kejriwal that if he does not substantiate his allegations against Girri or apologise, then he would recommend to the Centre dismissal of the AAP government.

Khan, an estate officer of NDMC, was shot dead in Jamia Nagar on May 16, a day before he was scheduled to pass the final order on the lease terms of a hotel located on a property leased out by the civic body.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today said the BJP would make the Santhal Pargana region free from Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

"The BJP has decided to make the Santhal Pargana region Jhamumo-mukt (JMM-free)," Das told reporters on the last day of the two-day Executive Committee meeting here.

He said political parties in Jharkhand have indulged in dynastic politics and now the BJP was on its way forward to finish such politics and the decision was taken during the two-day meeting.

Apparently hinting at the JMM, he said it has become a party of one family.

Das said his government was carrying out speedy development works and Jharkhand would be among the developed states in the country by 2019.
At least eight people were killed and 18 injured this morning when a motorcycle bomb exploded in a crowded market in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, local authorities said.

"Our initial information is eight people were martyred, and 18 were wounded, all the victims are civilians," the Badakhshan provincial governor's spokesman Naweed Froutan told AFP, adding that the death toll is set to rise.

The district governor of Keshim, where the attack took place, gave a higher toll of at least ten killed and 30 wounded.

"It was a motorcycle bomb explosion inside a main market in Keshim district of Badakhshan province," Abdul Salam Paiman told AFP, adding that some of the wounded were in critical condition and all had been taken to hospital.

No one has yet claimed responsibility for the blast in the remote, mountainous province.

It was the second major attack to shake today. The Taliban claimed responsibility for an earlier suicide blast in the capital Kabul that killed at least 14 Nepali security guards.

The attacks come just days after Washington expanded the US military's authority to carry out airstrikes on the insurgents.
Britain's exit from the European Union will have a negative impact on the USD 108-billion Indian IT sector in the short term, industry body Nasscom said today.

However, Nasscom said the exact nature and extent of the impact - if "Brexit" happens - will emerge over a longer period of two years or more.

Brexit refers to the possibility that Britain will withdraw from the European Union with the in-out referendum on its EU membership to be held on June 23. The UK would have two years to figure out the exact terms of the nation's departure.

"An initial analysis indicates that the impact on India's technology sector may be mixed; clearly negative in the short term and harder to discern in the longer term - with either scenario having some positive and some negative points," Nasscom said.

It added that how and to what extent it will impact Indian IT companies in the region will become fully clear only after "the dust settles on the referendum".

Leading IT firms like TCS, Infosys, Wipro and HCL Technologies did not comment on the issue.

A Tech Mahindra spokesperson said the company will "wait and see what the outcome of the referendum is" and then assess the situation.

According to reports, Indian IT companies get anywhere from 6-18 per cent of their revenues from the UK. The UK has traditionally been the gateway for Indian IT firms to enter Europe and they have set up a large presence in the UK to serve the EU markets from their headquarters in London.

"Consequently, a negative implication of Brexit is that Indian IT companies may need to establish separate headquarters/operations for EU, leading to disinvestment from the UK and diversion of activity from the UK to EU," it said.

Also, the immediate fallout of Brexit on the IT industry in India would be the impact of any possible decline in the value of the British pound, which would render many existing contracts losing propositions unless they are re-negotiated.

In the longer run, Brexit could help strengthen India-UK economic relationship as the UK seeks to compensate for loss of preferential access to EU markets.

"India's focus on innovation, entrepreneurship and high-end work renders it a very attractive destination from a talent standpoint and equally in terms of market access. This could work to the benefit of the IT sector in India since the UK currently accounts for about 17 per cent of India's IT exports worldwide," it said.

Additionally, with the UK less dependent on intra-EU



immigration into the UK, it could become more open to high-skilled immigration from other non-EU countries including India, it added.

However, in case Britain decides to stay a part of the EU, the IT industry would need to contend with easy intra-EU migration of skilled workers from India into the UK, since it may continue to be dealt with as an immigration issue and not a trade issue.

"In this scenario, in spite of a felt need for skilled workers from overseas, including India, such immigration may remain a lower priority below intra EU and political asylum linked immigration, thereby adversely impacting the IT industry in India," Nasscom said.

Consequently, it is important for the UK government to take note of the views of the IT industry as the details of the deal are worked out, it added.
A British vote to leave the European Union (EU) would be "irreversible" and the country could only rejoin the bloc on what would be unacceptable terms, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond warned today.

"The message we are trying to get across to the British people is that this is an irreversible decision  if they decide to leave, there will be no going back," Hammond said as he arrived for a meeting with his EU counterparts in Luxembourg.

He said any idea that a vote Thursday in favour of leaving the EU could be followed by fresh negotiations with Brussels on a new deal was an illusion.

"Britain could never rejoin the EU at a later date except on terms that would be unacceptable  membership of the euro, membership of (the) Schengen (passport-free zone) and so on," he said.

The most recent opinion polls show voters once more swinging behind the 'Remain' camp after a strong showing by supporters in the previous two weeks, which rattled the markets badly and sparked a series of dire warnings about the consequences of Britain becoming the first country to leave the bloc.

Hammond said, "the referendum battle ... Is close fought. It will be a very tight result either way."

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said British Prime Minister David Cameron was living up to his pledge to give the country a vote on the EU and while no one wanted to interfere, everyone in Europe was watching closely.

"All Europeans are turned towards the British people because our history reminds us of what we have lived through together, good and bad. The choice the British people will make will be important for them and for Europe alike," Ayrault said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said the cabinet expansion could take place this week.

"It can take place this week," he told reporters here.

As to the alliance with Shiv Sena, which is increasingly coming under strain, Fadnavis said the power sharing, allocation of departments, etc., had been decided when the Uddhav Thackeray-led party joined the government after the 2014 Assembly polls.

Fadnavis had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month, reportedly to discuss the expansion.

As per the power-sharing deal with Sena, it could get two more ministers of state posts.
AIMIM President on Monday said one cannot have a uniform civil code in a pluralistic and diverse country like India.

"Would the Sangh Parivar be ready to let go of Hindu Undivided Family (HUF) tax rebates they are getting?" the Lok Sabha member from Hyderabad said, when asked if his party is in favour of a debate on uniform civil code.

"There are 16 Directive Principles in our Constitution. One of them talks about total prohibition (of liquor). Why don't we talk about it and have total prohibition throughout India because it's also mentioned as Directive Principle," Owaisi told PTI here.

He noted there is data which says many women are being harassed or beaten by their drunkard husbands, and that one of the major causes of road accidents is drunken driving.

"So, why don't we have total prohibition in India?" he asked.

Owaisi also noted that a section in Article 371 of the Constitution gives "special provisions" to Nagas and Mizos.

"Will you be taking that off?" he asked.

"These are the questions which one must answer and in a pluralistic and diverse country like India, you cannot have a uniform civil code because this is the strength of India," he said.

"We celebrate our pluralism because this is the country which celebrates religion. You cannot have one uniform civil code. So, this is next to impossible in India," he said.

On whether there is a need to review 'triple talaq' and polygamy in Muslim personal law, Owaisi said, "This question has to be answered by Islamic theological 'Ulemas', experts and Muslim scholars."
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today called for celebrating the forthcoming 'dahi handi' and 'Ganesh Chaturthi' festivals with traditional fervour but in accordance with the guidelines laid down by Supreme Court.

"Celebrate upcoming festivals of 'dahi handi' and 'Ganesh Chaturthi' with gusto but at the same time follow the guidelines given by the apex court," Fadnavis told reporters at Mantralaya here.

He said the Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) officials will assist the police in monitoring the noise levels during the festival.

Meanwhile, Mumbai unit BJP president Ashish Shelar said that 'Govindas' in the age group of 12-18 years should also be allowed to participate in the festival and that the restriction on the height of human pyramids should go.

Those who participate in the festival are called as 'Govindas'.

Dahi Handi festival is celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Srikrishna. The celebration involves forming a human pyramid and breaking an earthen pitcher filled with buttermilk which is tied to rope at a height.

"The task of monitoring the decibel levels during the festivals rests with the Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB)," Shelar said in a statement issued today.

"The Bombay High Court in its 2014 judgement had set the age limit of 18 years and above for the 'Govindas' and also restricted the height of human pyramids at 20 feet while suggesting an amendment in section 143 (B) of Mumbai Police Act," he stated.

Claiming that the apex court in its order had relaxed the norms set by the HC, Shelar stated that the Chief Minister has also taken a favourable stand on these demands.

The state government had recently sought to give dahi handi festival the status of "adventure sports".

In its order in 2014, the Supreme Court had put on hold the HC's order which barred participation of children under 18 years in the festival.

The apex court had also said that state authorities should ensure that the festival be allowed subject to the condition that the organisers follow all guidelines containing safety measures, recommended by Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, are followed.
JJ Abrams, Jodie Foster, Kat Dennings, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Guillermo del Toro, Tom Hiddleston among other celebrities mourned the loss of actor Anton Yelchin, who died after a car accident.

The 27-year-old Russian-born actor, died early Sunday morning in a fatal traffic collision. His body was found pinned between a car and a gate at a home in Studio City, California.

Yelchin stars in the upcoming "Star Trek Beyond," which is set to release on July 22. Director of the film, Abrams posted a tribute to the actor on Twitter. He shared a photo of a handwritten note which reads, "You were brilliant. You were kind. You were funny as hell, and supremely talented. And you weren't here nearly long enough. Missing you. JJ"



Actress-filmmaker Foster, who directed the young actor in "The Beaver," issued a statement after the of his demise broke.

"Anton...What a rare and beautiful soul with his unstoppable passion for life. He was equal parts serious thinker and the most fun little brother you could ever dream of. I am so honored to have been able to direct such a deep actor, so committed and genuine.

"I will forever be grateful for all of those little exchanges we shared, his contagious enthusiasm, his questions, his company. My heart breaks for his mom and dad who were a part of every anecdote. He carried their love into everything he touched," the statement read.

Drake Doremus, director of indie film "Like Crazy" starring Yelchin, Felcity Jones and Jennifer Lawerence, said he is still in shock.

"I'm still in shock. I'm having a hard time processing it. I just woke up and saw it online and thought it was a hoax, you know, like some of these things are. Then I talked to some people who confirmed it and it's just devastating.

"Everyone's devastated. I spoke to Felicity, who is very devastated and very upset. And Jon Schwartz (the film's producer). You just try to touch base with all the people you love and who changed your life, and he certainly changed all our lives," Doremus said.

Several of his "Star Trek" co-stars took to social media to pay tribute.

"Our dear friend. Our comrade. Our Anton. One of the most open and intellectually curious people I have ever had the pleasure to know. So enormously talented and generous of heart. Wise beyond his years. And gone before his time.

"All love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief," Quinto, who plays Spock in the new film, wrote on Instagram.

"I loved Anton Yelchin so much. He was a true artist-curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. I'm in ruins," John Cho, who plays Sulu, wrote on Twitter.

"I can't believe it..." tweeted Urban.

"The sweetest, most humble, delightful, talented guy you'd ever meet. Worked together for about a year. Shocked. Anton was a sweetheart. Absolutely a great creative partner and artist, " del Toro wrote.

Adam Nimoy, whose father, original 'Star Trek' actor Leonard Nimoy died in 2015, tweeted, "Heartbreaking to hear the today about Anton. An incredible talent, lost much too soon. He will be missed."



Dennings, who starred with Yelchin in the 2007 movie "Charlie Bartlett," said on Twitter, "Anton Yelchin was one of my best friends. Can't say anything that conveys what this feels like."



"Devastated to hear about the brilliant Anton Yelchin," wrote "Captain America" star Chris Evans.

Hiddleston, who worked with the actor in "Only Lovers Left Alive," tweeted. "Absolutely devastated to hear about Anton Yelchin. He was such a gifted, natural actor & a deeply kind man. My thoughts are with his family."



"Anton Yelchin was a bright, brilliant talent, and a truly kind person. I was so taken by him, and won't ever forget his sweet smile. RIP," tweeted Olivia Wilde.
Three years after six national parties were brought under the ambit of the RTI Act, Congress today asked the Central Information Commission to set aside its 2013 full bench order, saying it is neither a court nor a competent authority to exercise plenary jurisdiction and the order is "arbitrary and illegal."



Counsel for Congress K C Mittal today told a full bench of the Commission, which is hearing the complaint against political parties for not responding to RTI applications seeking details of the donations received by them, elections and other related issues, that an application has been moved to quash its order bringing political parties under the RTI Act.

"...It has been held that CIC is neither a court nor is competent to exercise plenary jurisdiction. There is no power even to decide upon its jurisdiction or interpret the provisions of the act and the definitions," the plea filed by Congress treasurer Motilal Vora on June 17 said.

The party, whose government opened a new chapter of transparency by enacting Right to Information in 2005, said as per Section 12 of the RTI Act, the Chief Information Commissioner has only limited powers of superintendence, directions and management of internal affairs of the Central Information Commission.

"It is further submitted that the powers conferred on the Commission are defined under Chapter V of the Act which no where gives the adjudicatory powers," it said.

The plea said applicant (Association for Democratic Reforms and SC Agrawal) failed to substantiate their case and in the absence of any documents/evidence on record to show that the political parties are substantially financed by the Government, declaring political parties as substantially financed by the Government is "arbitrary and illegal"



"The order...Is based on surmise and conjecture. The order is without jurisdiction and has no sanction of law, therefore it is per se nullity and unenforceable," it said.

The petition said political parties have income from voluntary contributions from their members, individuals or companies.

"The exemptions, concessions given under a statute neither constitute financing a political party nor it amounts to financial contribution by a Government. Such concession and exemptions are allowed to large number of individuals, persons, bodies, organisations (but) they have not been brought under the RTI Act," it said.

(REOPENS DEL52)



A full bench of the Commission headed by the then Chief Information Commissioner Satyananda Mishra had on June 03, 2013 brought six national parties--Congress, BJP, NCP, BSP, CPI and CPM--under the ambit of RTI on the premise that they are substantially funded by the Government in the form of subsidies, cheap land for offices, and tax concessions.

The order has neither been stayed nor set aside by any of the high courts or the Supreme Court.

The plea said political parties do not get any funding from the Government.

Congress said Representation of People Act provides for adequate transparency regarding finances of a political party.

"Declaring a political party as public authority under the RTI Act would hamper its smooth internal working, which is not the objective of the RTI Act and was not envisaged by the Parliament under the RTI Act. Futher, the political rivals may maliciously file a large number of applications under the RTI Act...Thereby adversely affecting the political functioning of the political parties," it said.

The party said it was felt necessary to annul the adverse effects of the "erroneous conclusion" by the CIC that political parties are public authorities.

It said the exemption granted to political parties under the Income Tax Act cannot be construed their being substantially financed by the Government.

"The Commission has exceeded its power and jurisdiction to assume an authority which commission does not possess under the RTI Act," it said.

The party cited a Supreme Court order to buttress its point that Congress is not substantially financed by the Government which has no specific control over its management and affairs.

Citing Supreme Court case of Thalappalam service



co-operative bank vs State of Kerala, Congress said perusal of the judgment will show that political parties do not fall within the definition of "Public Authority."



However, Information Commissioner Sridhar Acharyulu during the hearing today in the complaint case against the Congress observed that the question of political parties being brought under RTI Act has reached finality with the full bench order of June 03, 2013 which cannot be reopened.

It is to be noted that that the bench of Sridhar Acharyulu is not hearing the petition of the Congress.

The party said the June 03, 2013 order of the Commission has "no substance in law" and is "non-est" (does not exist).

Congress cited CIC order of July 8, 2009 which said political parties were not public authorities under the RTI Act which was set aside by the full bench on June 03,2013.

"It is stated that the full bench of the Commission is neither the appellate authority against the order passed by CIC nor is competent authority to set aside the order dated July 8, 2009. The Commission is not a Government and functions within RTI Act and there is no provision under the Act to set aside the order of Commission by the Commission," it said.

It said every order whether passed by a single Information Commissioner, division bench or full Bench is the order of Commission, passed under the Act.

"Thus the order dated July 8, 2009, having been passed by single nench by Chief Information Commissioner is the order of the Commission under the Act. It attained finality. It is an admitted position that the full bench is not an appellate/ reviewing authority against the order passed by the Commission," it said.
Coal India today said it has entered into an agreement with state-run power company NTPC for revival of two fertiliser plants following the direction from nodal ministries after a meeting at the PMO.

As per the deal, the 50-50 joint venture company will establish and operate new fertiliser complex (ammonia urea) at Gorakhpur and Sindri units of the Fertilizer Corporation of India Limited (FCIL) and to market its products, it said.

"Ministries of Coal and Power directed CIL and NTPC to enter into joint venture for revival of these projects and hence JV agreement was signed between two companies," CIL said in an NSE filing.

NSE had sought a clarification over the announcement of signing of an agreement for setting up of a joint venture company at 50:50 shareholding basis for revival of Sindhri & Gorakhpur units.

As per the minutes of the meeting held at the PMO, both coal and power ministries were told that they can involve more than one PSU belonging to their ministries in the joint venture, Coal India said.

The PMO had held the meeting on April 7 to discuss to finalise modalities for revival of Sindri and Gorakpur units of FCIL and and Brauni unit of Hindustan Fertiliser Corporation Ltd (HFCL) for setting up of an ammonia urea plant at each location, it added.

Last year, CIL had entered into a joint venture agreement with GAIL and fertiliser majors RCF and FCIL to incorporate a firm for setting up and operating new ammonia urea complex in Talcher, Odisha.

These agreements are part of the governments plan to revive loss-making and closed fertiliser plants through JVs of profit-making PSUs with a view to increasing domestic production of the farm nutrient.
Japanese conglomerate SoftBank today said allegations levelled by some shareholders against its Indian-origin President Nikesh Arora, including those questioning his conduct and qualifications, have been found to be "without merit".

Earlier this year, allegations had been raised in a number of letters from a law firm that claimed to represent the interests of certain unidentified SoftBank Group (SBG) and Sprint Corporation shareholders.

The letter called on the board to investigate and possibly dismiss the India-born executive, the second in command at SoftBank, questioning his trackrecord and qualifications as President and heir apparent to billionaire founder, Masayoshi Son.

A Special Committee (SC) of independent members of its board of directors has completed its review of allegations regarding SBG President and COO Nikesh Arora in a purported shareholder demand, SoftBank said in a statement.

"The SC has concluded that the claims concerning the conduct of Arora during his tenure at SBG are without merit," it added.

"As I said when these allegations first became public, I have complete trust in Nikesh and I am pleased the special committee has looked into these claims thoroughly and concluded they are without merit," Son said.

SoftBank said the SC was formed in February this year and it conducted its review with the assistance of independent counsel at Shearman & Sterling LLP and Anderson Mori & Tomotsune.

According to reports, the law firm had questioned whether the executive has conflicts of interest due to his existing role as a senior advisor to the private equity firm, Silver Lake.

It also suggested that the former Google executive may have been involved in past wrong-doing and generally poor business decisions.

Last month, Son had reiterated his confidence in Arora, saying "I have complete trust in Nikesh and one thousand per cent confidence in him and know he will continue to do great things for SoftBank in future".

Arora, 48, had also denied allegations against him as "baseless".

"I take my fiduciary responsibilities seriously and have acted appropriately and in the best interest of shareholders throughout my tenure at SoftBank and Sprint, just as I have conducted myself throughout my professional life. I am completely confident the allegations in the letter are baseless," he had said in a statement.

Arora had joined SoftBank as its Vice-Chairman and CEO of



SB Group US -- previously SoftBank Internet and Media Inc -- in September 2014 from search giant Google.

In May last year, the Banaras Hindu University-graduate was elevated to President and COO, the first time in 35-year history of SoftBank that anyone was given the president title.

At that time, Son had also mentioned that Arora is the most likely candidate to succeed him in future.

Arora is one of the highest-paid business leaders globally. He received a pay package of about USD 73 million (Rs 500 crore) in the fiscal year ended March 2016.

Arora, who is responsible for global operations, has led SoftBank's investments in India's e-commerce provider Snapdeal.Com, ride-hailing service Ola Cabs, real-estate website Housing.Com, hotel-booking app Oyo Rooms and Grofers.

SoftBank's investment in India has crossed the USD 1 billion mark and has recently stated that its investment in the country will cross USD 10 billion in coming years.

In June last year, SoftBank along with contract manufacturing giant Foxconn, had partnered with Bharti Enterprises with plans to invest USD 20 billion in solar power projects in India.
Wind Turbine maker Suzlon Group today said it has entered into a pact with CLP India for a 100 mw solar project at Veltoor in Telangana.

CLP India acquired 49 per cent stake in SE Solar, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) set-up by Suzlon, as per the agreement signed between CLP India and Suzlon last week.

CLP India, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based power company CLP, has the option to acquire the remaining 51 per cent in future, the company said in a statement.

The project is expected to be commissioned by May and will be funded 80 per cent by debt and 20 per cent by equity.

India is a primary growth market for CLP, and the Veltoor solar project will make an important contribution to CLP's expansion plan. Besides, it will help CLP to meet its target to generate 20 per cent of power by renewable energy by 2020.

The 100 mw project will be Suzlon's first venture in the solar energy sector.

Recently, CLP India signed an MoU with Haryana government to set up a 132 MW solar project at its Jhajjar power station.

"We have been keen to invest in solar in India to complement our wind portfolio, and have evaluated projects that will be value-enhancing for our shareholders... We will continue to explore such projects to expand our renewable energy footprint in Telangana and across India," Rajiv Mishra, managing director, CLP India, said.

Suzlon has won solar projects of 210 mw in Telangana through a competitive bidding process, and the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for the same were signed in February, 2016. These include one project of 100 mw, one of 50 mw and four projects of 15 mw each.

"Globally, renewable energy is witnessing a paradigm shift from being considered alternate to mainstream source of energy. Investments in both wind and solar have garnered traction owing to the improving cost competitiveness enabled through technology advancements and the need to transition from fossil fuel dominated energy architecture," Suzlon Group's chairman and managing director Tulsi Tanti said.
A Congress MLC in Jammu and Kashmir today withdrew his resolution seeking twice-a-day 'rest' for the goddess at the revered Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, after the government said it was a matter of religion and interfering in it was beyond the scope of the House.

Congress MLC Jugal Kishore Sharma had tabled a resolution in the House seeking adoption of a system of providing "rest to the goddess twice" in accordance with the Hindu shastras, as is the practice in Bawe Wali Mata Temple, Raghunath Temple, Nauv Devi in Himachal Pradesh, Tirupathi Balaji, Shri Kedarnath Temple, and other temples of the country.

Sharma said the House could make a suggestion to the Board or constitute a House committee which visits the shrine to see how crowded the place is and why the goddess should require some "rest" for some time.

He claimed the Board was not following the shastras (prescribed rules) as the deity has to take rest and has to sleep for some time.

The government has opposed the resolution, saying it was purely a matter of religion and faith and as such would not be appropriate to debate or discuss in the legislature.

Any attempt to interfere with established tradition shall be beyond the scope of the House, Minister of State for Tourism Priya Sethi said.

Surinder Choudhary of PDP also objected to the resolution, saying when a god goes to sleep and when should the deity be asked to get up is a decision that he should not take.

Why does he (Sharma) not go to some Mutt or a Shankacharya and get it solved, Choudhary said.

He said there is such a huge rush of pilgrims from all over the world at the temple shrine that if it is closed for an hour, it will create a mess.

BJP legislators also opposed the resolution.

BJP MLC Surinder Mohan Ambardar suggested Sharma to consult some competent person to throw light on the issue first.

Sethi said the decision should be left to saints and competent religious persons as no document is available which could suggest that the goddess needs rest.

She also read an explanation that the government had sought from an expert on the issue.

It is intimated that the ritual and tradition of 'darshans' of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine around the clock has been in practice since time immemorial and there has been no instance or document available indicating providing rest to the deity during noon and shayan in the night hours, she said.

The minister said a detailed note strictly based on religious texts and facts on this issue has been furnished by the expert.
A court here today granted the special investigation team probing the murder of CPI leader Govind Pansare to take the custody of Viredra Tawde, arrested in the Narendra Dabholkar murder case by CBI.

As Tawde's CBI custody expired, judicial magistrate V B Gulve Patil sent him to 14 days' judicial remand, and also permitted the state-appointed SIT to take his custody.

"We have got the permission to take custody. We will decide when to take his custody now," said Harshad Nimbalkar, the special prosecutor in Pansare case.

Tawde, an ENT doctor and a member of the conservative Hindu group Sanatan Sanstha, was likely to be arrested in the Pansare case, he said. "After taking his custody, SIT will first interrogate him and then decision will be taken on his arrest (in that case)," said advocate Nimbalkar.

CBI produced Tawde in the court as his five-day custody got over. It sought another four days' custody saying he was not cooperating and was trying to be "deceptive". As Tawde's wife was returning from London today, CBI wanted to confront Tawde with her, its lawyer B P Raju said.

Raju also informed that CBI had found out 119 bank accounts of Sanatan Sanstha. Rudra Patil and Vinay Pawar, two of its members who are absconding, were signatory of some of these accounts, it said.

While Dabholkar, an anti-superstition crusader, was shot dead in Pune in August 2013, Pansare, known for his rationalist views, was murdered in Kolhapur in February 2015.

A book on spirituality written by Sanatan's founder Jayant



Athavale criticises Dabholkar, advocate Raju said, citing some passages. He also cited a passage from 'Kshatra Dharma Sadhana', another of Athavale's book, which says a 'sadhak' (Sanatan's disciple) can eliminate an enemy by only chanting a few lines from the book.

Defence lawyer Sanjeev Punalekar opposed CBI's plea for further custody, saying Tawde had already spent 11 days in the agency's custody.

Tawde was arrested on June 10 from his Panvel residence. According to CBI, he was one of the conspirators and "brain" behind both Dabholkar and Pansare murders.

It was the first arrest in the case which the Maharashtra police failed to crack before it was transferred to CBI.

The SIT has arrested Sameer Gaikwad, a former Sanatan follower, in the Pansare murder case.

(Reopens LGB 10)



Reacting to today's development, Megha Pansare, the late CPI leader's daughter-in-law who had earlier requested the Maharashtra chief minister that the probe in this case too should be transferred to the CBI, said, "We are still firm on our request to hand over the case to CBI.

"So far investigation (by SIT) is not satisfactory," she said.

The Pansare family today met Additional Superintendent of Police Suhel Sharma who has taken over as in-charge in the case, she said.

Though Sharma assured them of speedy investigation, the family still wanted a CBI probe, Megha said.

The family was expecting a reply from the CM soon, she added.
The identification parade of a migrant labourer, prime accused in the rape and murder of a 30-year-old Dalit woman in Perumbavoor, was held in a jail here today.

The identification parade of Ameerul Islam was held in the presence of a magistrate at Kakkanad sub-jail.

A woman witness in the case, who had given statement to the police earlier claiming that she had seen a man walk out of the residence of the victim on April 28, was brought to the jail for identifying the accused.

Police and jail authorities remained tight lipped about the outcome of the parade.

The 23-year-old Islam, arrested last week, has been lodged in Kakkanad sub-jail after a magistrate court in Perumbavoor remanded him into 14-days judicial custody.

While announcing the arrest on June 16, a top police official had declined to produce him before the media as they wanted to build a strong case against him.

"We will collect more evidence, including identification parade, to build a strong prosecution," Additional Director General of Police, B Sandhya, heading the Special Investigation Team in the case, had said.

The accused, hailing from Dholda Gramam in Assam's Nauga district, was arrested on June 16 for allegedly killing the law student, 50 days after the gruesome incident, that had become a major issue in the recent Kerala Assembly elections.

The woman who hailed from a poor family, was raped and brutally assaulted using sharp-edged weapons before being murdered at her house on April 28.
A Delhi-based man was today found dead in a city hotel while his four companions were missing, police said.

Virender Kumar (60), who had checked into the hotel with four unidentified men, was found dead in his room this morning.

"Kumar died due to suffocation. Medical examination revealed that he was killed (strangled) by using a bedsheet," Inspector Siddhanth Shirodkar told PTI.

CCTV footage of the hotel showed him entering the room with four others, he said, adding hotel owner had not taken down the names of these four men.

Kumar and the four men had last night returned from a casino, according to the probe.

Panaji Police are looking for the four men in connection with alleged murder.
Major differences over CPI(M)'s alliance with Congress in West Bengal cropped up at the Left party's Central Committee meeting here, with the party today expelling a senior member and the 101-member decision-making body saying that the move was not in accordance with its political line.

The first Central Committee (CC) meeting, held after the Left's rout in West Bengal, is understood to have witnessed a large number of members opposing the tie-up, as the party expelled CC member and AIDWA General Secretary Jagmati Sangwan, who claimed to be one of the opponents of the tie-up, for "gross indiscipline".

"The CC concluded that the electoral tactics adopted in West Bengal was not in consonance with the Central Committee decision not to have an alliance or understanding with the Congress," CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury told reporters here on conclusion of the 3-day meeting.

The CC also said the decision "should be rectified" and added that "the importance of adhering to the political- tactical line adopted at the 21st Congress of the Party."



The CC authorised the Politburo "to ensure its implementation in consultation with the state leadership of the party," Yechury said. The political-tactical line adopted at the 21st party congress had spoken of forging a Left, democratic alliance in the states.

However, it had also spoken of "flexible tactics" to meet new, emerging situations.

The day also saw the expulsion of Sangwan, with a party statement saying "the Central Committee of the CPI(M) now in session in New Delhi has decided to expel Jagmati Sangwan (member of the Central Committee) from the primary membership of the Party for gross indiscipline."



However, Sangwan maintained she had announced in the meeting itself that she was quitting the party and all posts.

Reacting to her expulsion, she said "I told the meeting it was a wrong decision to have the tie-up which was a violation of the party's political-tactical line."



"The political-tactical line and democratic centralism are the life-line of a communist party which have to be maintained at all cost," Sangwan, who led the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), told PTI.
As discontent simmered over the reshuffle of his ministry by Chief Minister Sidddaramaiah, cine-actor turned politician Ambareesh today resigned as Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.

Ambareesh sent a one line resignation letteraddressed to the Assembly Speaker through his personal assistant, the move coming a day after Siddaramaiah dropped 14 ministers and inducted 13 others in the major revamp.

Deputy Speaker Shivashankara Reddy, who is officiating asthe Speaker's post is lying vacant with Kagodu Thimmappa being appointed as the cabinet Minister, has not accepted the letter as the Member himself did not submit it.

"Ambareesh has sent a letter of resignation through some other person; any such letter will be considered valid if the member himself submits it. I have sent it back," Shivashankar Reddy told PTI.

The resignation letter states he is resigning as MLA of Mandya constituency, without assigning any reason.

Ambareesh was the Housing Minister before he was dropped.

He had earlier also served as Member of Parliament and was Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, but had resigned from the Lok Sabha membership, expressing dissatisfaction with the Cauvery Dispute Tribunal award.

Ambareesh's supporters in Mandya continued their protest for the second consecutive day today.

They had blocked the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway yesterday.

Resentment is brewing within Congress after the reshuffle, with several dropped Ministers and those who were aspiring to join the cabinet openly expressing their unhappiness against the party leadership.

The ministers who faced the axe are: Qamarul Islam, Shamanoor Shivashankarappa, V Srinivasa Prasad, M H Ambareesh,Vinay Kumar Sorake, Satish Jarkiholi, Baburao Chinchansoor,Shivaraj Sangappa Tangadagi, S R Patil, Manohar Tahasildhar, K Abayachandra Jain, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Kimmane Ratnakar and P TParameshwar Naik.

Srinivasa Prasad and Islam are among others who have made no secret of their displeasure over being dropped.

Supporters of Srinivas Prasad had called for a bandhin Chamarajanagar and Nanjangud today.

Similar protests bysupporters of various aspirants Congress MLA's and dropped Ministers have been reported from different parts of thestate.
The Dravidar Kazhagam today urged the Tamil Nadu government to adopt a special resolution in the Assembly pressing for release of Rajiv Gandhi's assasination case convicts.

A resolution should be passed by the Assembly urging the Centre to release the convicts -- V Sriharan alias Murugan, T Suthendraraja alias Santhan, A G Perarivalan alias Arivu, Jayakumar, Robert Payas, Ravichandran and Nalini, DK President K Veeramani told reporters here.

His suggestion for a resolution comes days after a rally was held in Chennai by pro-Tamil outfits and political parties pressing for release of the convicts on the ground that they had completed 25 years of jail term.

Acting on petitions from the seven convicts, the Tamil Nadu government twice decided to release them, but the Centre had rejected the proposal.

The Assembly had also passed resolutions on the issue in the previous house.

Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by an LTTE suicide bomber on May 21, 1991 in Sriperumpudur near Chennai during an election rally.

Veeramani also urged the Centre to take immediate steps to rescue Sri Lankan Tamils stranded in Indonesia, and appealed to the UN to intervene and find a solution to the problem.
A homoeopathic doctor belonging to the Ahmadi religious minority was shot dead today inside his clinic in this Pakistani city, the latest attack on the community members in the country.

Chaudhary Abdul Khaleeq, 50, was in his clinic on Abul Ishpahani road when unidentified gunmen walked into the clinic and opened fire, police said.

According to a Ahmadi community spokesman, it is the second such attack in the same vicinity within a month.

"The clinic was located in a slum area and the doctor used to provide low cost treatment," SSP Malir, Rao Anwar said.

"He sustained a single bullet wound to his head," Anwar said, adding, "It looks like a targeted attack."



The Jamaat Ahmadiyya spokesman said that earlier in May a member of the same community was gunned down outside his home in a suspected targeted attack in the Metroville-II area of Karachi.

Ahmadis claim to have been subjected to various forms ofreligious persecution and discrimination in Pakistan.

The largest Ahmadi community in the world is in Pakistan and followers are frequently the target of blasphemy allegations. Legislation framed in 1974 and 1984 bans Ahmadis from calling themselves Muslims.
Resident doctors and nurses at Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya In Geeta Colony continued their strike for the third consecutive day today over the alleged assault on them by a group of people after a 'premature' baby died, demanding arrest of the accused.

The ongoing strike has affected health services at the only government-run children's hospital in the city.

"Patients at present admitted at the hospital are being treated by the faculty of the hospital," said hospital director Anup Mohta.

According to Dr Mohta, on June 14, the 'preterm' baby had died following which the grandfather, along with other family members, abused and assaulted the doctor and nurses in the ward.

"They even tried to strangulate the junior resident doctor using his stethoscope. This is not at all acceptable as the baby died due to sickness. We have filed a police complaint. The family members of the deceased baby also have filed a complaint," said Mohta.

An FIR has been filed by the hospital administration.

The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) had yesterday written to Delhi Health Minister demanding the resignation of the Director in connection with the incident.

"The incident, which happened on June 14, was because of the absence of ventilator facility in the ward..., for which the administration should be held responsible. Instead doctors and nurses were assaulted by relatives of the deceased baby which is not correct.

"The administration is trying to hide its fault so we demand his (Director of the hospital) resignation and action against him," FORDA president Pankaj Solanki had said.
A domestic help who had allegedly decamped with jewellery worth Rs 90 lakh and cash from the house of his former employer when she had gone on a 10-day trip to Europe has been arrested and the valuables recovered, police said today.

The accused, identified as Brijesh (20), a native of Badayun in Uttar Pradesh, was arrested from his maternal aunt's home in Babral village and the stolen jewellery and Rs 8,500 in cash were recovered from him, said DCP (south) Ishwar Singh.

In her complaint lodged at Vasant Vihar Police Station, Namrata Kumari said she had left for Europe with her daughter on June 6, while her husband and son stayed at home, the officer said. On their return on June 16, she found that the almirah and drawers in her room were open and diamond and gold jewellery worth Rs 90 lakh and Rs 20,000 in cash were stolen, he said.

She also alleged that Brijesh, who she had hired as domestic help and later removed from work as his services were not satisfactory, had visited her house between June 7-9, he said.

During investigation it was revealed that Brijesh was hired without proper police verification. But the complainant had kept some documents about him, Singh said.

On the basis of the papers, a police team raided Brijesh's native village in Badayun but he managed to flee. However, he was later arrested from his maternal aunt's home, he added.
The education system in India is still "a continuation of Lord Macaulay's legacy" and it should be "Indianised", Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said today.

"We need to Indianise the modern education being imparted to our students. We need to take ahead what we have inherited from our ancestors," he said at an event to dedicate the new building of Saraswati Sishumandir at Bhilai in Durg district of Chhattisgarh.

"There is a need to change Lord Macaulay's education system which is continuing....It is the need of the hour to make the students aware of Indian culture and values," the Union UrbanDevelopment Minister said.

"Bhartiyata is a way of life and the students should be told about Indian history and great Indian personalities," Venkaiah said.

He attended various programmes in the district as a part of the month-long 'Vikas Parv' to inform people about achievements of the Narendra Modi government in the last two years and also addressed a public meeting at Surana College ground in the city.

"Students from the tribal region of Bastar who were studying in the state-run Prayas Vidyalaya have cracked the IIT (mains) exam and I congratulate Chief Minister Raman Singh for this," the Union Minister said.

Stating that Naxalism is a hindrance to development and violence can't change people's lives, he lauded the Raman Singh government's efforts for development in Bastar region.

The NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is corruption-free and has ushered in significant growth in the last two years, he said.

India's global prestige had touched new heights and countries from across the globe are coming forward to develop trade and other relations with us, Venkaiah claimed.
EU foreign ministers today agreed to boost the bloc's anti-people smuggling operation in the Mediterranean to include training of the Libyan coastguard and enforcing a UN arms embargo.

Ministers also agreed to extend Operation Sophia's mandate by one year, a statement said, as the European Union tries to stem a flood of migrants from North Africa and beyond trying to get to Europe.

"The Council (of member states) extended until 27 July 2017 the mandate for EU NAVFOR MED Operation Sophia, the EU naval operation to disrupt the business model of human smugglers and traffickers in the southern central Mediterranean," a statement said after the ministers met in Luxembourg.

"The Council also reinforced the operation's mandate by adding two supporting tasks -- training of the Libyan coastguard and navy, and contributing to the implementation of the UN arms embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya."



The EU launched Operation Sophia last year after hundreds of migrants died when their rickety boats sank off southern Italy, sparking popular outrage at their plight.

This Central Mediterranean route has seen more migrants risk their lives in recent weeks after the EU reached an accord with Turkey in March to halt an influx of more than a million refugees who crossed the Aegean to reach Europe last year.

Operation Sophia currently comprises five vessels and three helicopters charged with intercepting smugglers' boats and destroying them, in international waters.

Officials said they will review what additional assets the mission will need in July so Sophia can meet its new tasks.

They said the EU will likely train a first batch of some 100 Libyan coastguard officers and then another at which point 10 patrol boats ordered by slain dictator Moamer Kadhafi from Italy will be delivered.

The EU force cannot enter Libyan territorial waters without a formal request by the UN-backed Government of National Accord which is trying to extend its shakey authority from Tripoli to the rest of the country.

The UN Security Council last week authorised the EU to intercept ships suspected of arms smuggling to Libya as part of moves to shore up the new government.

The Western-backed overthrow of Kadhafi in 2011 plunged Libya into chaos, with rival rebel forces seizing as much territory as they could.

Islamic State jihadi groups have taken advantage of the upheaval to establish a presence, deepening EU concerns over security on its southern flank.

The arms embargo was first imposed on Libya in 2011. UN monitors have reported arms shipments from Egypt, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Sudan to the various factions.

Libya is awash with weapons, with some 20 million of all types in a country of just six million people, according to the UN.
Former Governor of Assam and Tamil Nadu, Bhishma Narain Singh, today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a ban on alcohol and tobbaco in the country on the occasion of International Yoga day.

"Yoga is an age-old Indian remedy for physical and mental health. However, it has its effect only when practiced with abstinence from alcohol and tobacco," he said in a statement.

"I call upon the Prime Minister to forget his political rivalry for once and endorse Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's call for banning alcohol and tobacco throughout the country on this day," he added.

Singh also claimed that "the revenue lost will be more than compensated by the joy it will bring to crores of family reeling under both economic and social hardships on account of these two biggest scourge for Indian society".

During his tenure, Singh had also banned alcohol from the parties hosted by the Governor.

"During my tenure as Governor in North East, so called regions where drinking is socially acceptable, I was surprised when I received congratulations and accolades from all corners for banning alcohol from parties hosted by Governor," he said.
"In the name of 'Make in India', they (the Centre) are breaking India," the Trinamool Congress today said as it opposed the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) reforms announced by the Narendra Modi government.

"Trinamool has consistently opposed this policy and often outlined reasons for it at different forums, including our election manifestos and Parliament," TMC chief national spokesperson Derek O'Brien said.

"This (FDI reforms) will have a negative effect on employment, the economy and the Indian market as a whole. In the name of 'Make in India', they are breaking India," he said in a statement here.

The NDA government has relaxed FDI norms in a host of sectors including civil aviation, single-brand retail, defence and pharma by permitting more investments under automatic route.

The other sectors in which FDI norms have been relaxed include e-commerce in food products, broadcasting carriage services, private security agencies and animal husbandry.
Four persons, wanted by Bhilwara Police in Rajasthan in connection with a house breaking and theft case, were apprehended from Kasa here, police said today.

Based on specific inputs, a police team kept a vigil on the Western Express Highway and intercepted the vehicle in which the four accused were travelling, on its way towards Mumbai in the wee hours on Saturday, police sub-inspector of Kasa police station, M U Ugale said.

"The group had committed housebreaking and theft in Bhilwara on June 15. After visiting Delhi and UP, they were heading towards Mumbai and were nabbed around 2 AM on June 18 at the Kasa toll plaza," the PSI said.

The accused have been identified as Surji Gurvind Singh (32), Devendra Sardar Singh (46), both from New Delhi, Shailander Rajkishore Singh (24) and Surendra Balram Singh (48), both from Uttar Pradesh.

The police recovered cash Rs 21,000 and silver articles from their possession, police said.

Sadar Police in Bhilwara had registered an offence under IPC sections 424 (dishonest or fraudulent removal or concealment of property) and 380 (theft in dwelling house, etc) against them.

The four accused have been handed over to Bhilwara Police, who have taken them to Rajasthan, the Sub-inspector added.
A French woman went on trial today for abandoning her baby daughter on a beach at the mercy of a rising tide, which swept in and killed the infant.

Fabienne Kabou, 39, described as highly intelligent but believed to be suffering hallucinations and depression, travelled with her daughter from their home in Paris to the northern resort town of Berck-sur-Mer in November 2013.

She enquired about the local tidal forecast before leaving 15-month-old Adelaide near the water on the vast sandy beach on a wintry night.

The baby's lifeless body was discovered early the next morning by prawn fishermen.

"I put an end to her life because it was easier that way," Kabou told investigators. "Everything went perfectly. It was as if I felt carried along, I just couldn't say stop."



Her lawyer Fabienne Roy-Nansion said shortly before the start of the trial that Kabou "sees her act as we all see it, that is to say, something utterly horrible, and she considers herself indefensible."



Kabou, of Senegalese origin, is charged with premeditated murder and faces life in prison.

From the start she has made little effort to hide or deny her crime, and video surveillance allowed police to track her down 10 days afterwards to her home -- a renovated art studio where she lived with Adelaide's father, some 30 years her senior.

Roy-Nansion describes Kabou as from a well-to-do Catholic background and of "remarkable intelligence".

After moving from Dakar to Paris she studied architecture and philosophy.

Kabou has given varying reasons for her act, from the difficulty the child caused in her relationship, to witchcraft and hallucinations.

"Her psychological status is largely influenced by cultural references and an individual history linked to Senegalese witchcraft that radically altered her view of the world," one psychological expert found.

However another court psychiatrist, Paul Bensussan, said her act was possibly triggered by a deep depression related to the birth of her child.

"Infanticide committed by the mother is often underpinned by a psychiatric pathology," he said. "In most cases the mother is deeply depressed" and sees her act as a kind of "altruistic suicide", saving her child from suffering.

Her lawyer has said the child was born in the couple's home and was never registered. No one close to the couple, not even Kabou's mother, knew of her existence.

The pregnancy "was a happy surprise for her, not necessarily for the father. I think she felt deeply alone," said Roy-Nansion.

The father, Michel Lafon, a sculptor, did not take an interest in, or recognise the child, according to court documents. A DNA test was carried out after Kabou's arrest to prove his paternity.
The government today banned use of potassium bromate as a food additive following a CSE study that found its presence in bread as causing cancer.

The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), however, has referred potassium iodate -- also claimed to be carcinogenic used as a food additive -- to a scientific panel.

"FSSAI has banned potassium bromate. A notification has been issued in this regard. As far as potassium iodate is concerned, it has been referred to a scientific panel," FSSAI CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal told PTI.

Last month, the regulator had recommended to the Health Ministry removal of potassium bromate from the list of permissible food additives after a study by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

The CSE study had found that 84 per cent of 38 commonly available brands of pre-packaged breads, including pav and buns, tested positive for potassium bromate and potassium iodate. These two food additives are banned in many countries and listed as "hazardous" for public health.

According to CSE, potassium bromate typically increases dough strength, leads to higher rising and uniform finish to baked products while potassium iodate is a flour treatment agent.

CSE had also urged FSSAI to ban the use of potassium bromate and potassium iodate with immediate effect and prevent their routine exposure to Indian population.

After the CSE study, a bread manufacturers' body had said they will stop using controversial potassium bromate and potassium iodate as additives.

The All India Bread Manufacturers Association, which represents over 90 organised bread manufacturers such as Harvest Gold and Britannia, had asked FSSAI to verify the findings of the CSE report that claimed most of the breads sold in the national capital contained cancer-causing chemicals.
Biotech regulator GEAC today deferred its decision on commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) mustard in the country and asked its risk assessment group to look into the deficiencies pointed out by a sub-committee.

Even as activists upped their ante against commercialisation of GM mustard, the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), under the Environment Ministry, in its meeting chaired by an Additional Secretary, asked the risk assessment group to submit within 60 days its report, which will be put in public domain for further consultation.

The senior ministry official said the objections put forth by the activists would be forwarded to the risk assessment group.

GEAC had sought suggestions and recommendations from agriculture experts and farmers on the commercial cultivation of GM mustard and its possible impact on bio-diversity.

The Delhi University's Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants had sought GEAC's permission for environmental release of its transgenic mustard variety. The regulator was to take up the matter in its meeting today, which was second on the issue in this year.

In its earlier meeting in February, GEAC had asked the institution to submit more details to it about the field trial.

Activists opposing commercial cultivation of GM crops



demanded that GEAC be scrapped as it has become "opaque and unscientific" while alleging that scientists at Delhi University notched up yield increases through "rigged protocols".

The activists, who appeared before GEAC, submitted their objections against transgenic crops.

However, 'Coalition for GM free India' comprising civil society groups and scientists alleged that they were not given adequate time for presentations on the concerns related to the issue.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar had earlier said GEAC, in its meeting on February 5, had directed the applicant (Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants, University of Delhi) to revise the biosafety dossier in respect of its application for environmental release of transgenic mustard hybird -DMH, developed using barnase, barstar and bar genes.

"The revised dossier has been forwarded to the Sub-Committee of GEAC constituted for the purpose of review and experts' comments," Javadekar had said.
The Chhattisgarh High Court today began preliminary hearing of a PIL seeking judicial probe of an alleged fake encounter in which a tribal girl was killed by police in Sukma district last week.

The division bench of Chief Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Sanjay K Agrawal asked the girl's parents to file an affidavit about their version of the incident, said the petitioner's lawyer Amarnath Pandey.

According to police, Madkam Hidme was a Naxal and was killed in a gun fight between rebels and police in Gompad village in Sukma on June 13.

Aam Aadmi Party's state convener Sanket Thakur filed the PIL claiming that she was not a Naxal and the encounter was fake.

Thakur has demanded a special investigation team and a judicial inquiry, along with compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the family.

Advocate Rajni Soren, who also appeared for the petitioner, said, "When we informed the court that the parents of the girl were also present today, it asked them to present their side on an affidavit. Court posted the hearing for tomorrow.
Lashing out at BJP MP Mahesh Girri, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said CM Arvind Kejriwal cannot go for a debate with him as he is an "accused" in the murder of NDMC official M M Khan and that he should argue in court and tell what is his "relation" with the accused.

Sisodia also sought to know why BJP leaders are coming out in "support" of hotel owner Ramesh Kakkar who is a prime accused in the murder case. Girri, however, rubbished Sisodia's allegation that he is an "accused" in the case, terming it as totally "baseless".

The BJP MP, meanwhile, continued for the second day his hunger strike outside the residence of Kejriwal, demanding that he prove his allegations regarding the murder of Khan.

Girri had asked Kejriwal to either prove his charge through against him or "resign" from the post of Chief Minister. Giri had asked the Delhi Chief Minister for a public debate over his allegations.

"Ramesh Kakkar is under arrest who is an alleged murderer. Why did Mahesh Girri meet the LG along with Kakkar? Girri should answer questions being raised over his alleged involvement in the murder of M M Khan.

"We will definitely prove CM's accusation against Girri, but BJP should also answer what is its relation with Kakkar for whom its MP and former MLAs are coming out in his support...They must apologise to the entire country for getting an honest officer killed," Sisodia said here.

He also said, "At this time, Maheish Girri is an accused and in view of this, CM cannot debate him and instead, police, lawyers should argue with him over his involvement in the murder case. Girri should argue in court and tell what is his relation with Kakkar."



"The Deputy CM's allegation is totally baseless. They are showing one recommendation letter to paint me as guilty. I write thousands of such letters to the Lt Governor and if I had actually put any pressure on the LG, where is that particular letter. The attachments they are showing have nothing to do with me," Girri said.

Khan, an estate officer of NDMC, was shot dead in Jamia Nagar on May 16, a day before he was scheduled to pass the final order on the lease terms of a hotel which was functioning on a property leased out by the civic body.
The number of refugees and fleeing their homes worldwide has hit a new record, spiking to 65.3 million people by the end of 2015, the United Nations said today.

Europe's high-profile migrant crisis, its worst since World War II, is just one part of a growing tide of human misery led by Palestinians, Syrians and Afghans.

Globally, approaching 1% of humanity has been forced to flee.

"This is the first time that the threshold of 60 million has been crossed," the UN refugee agency said.

The figures, released on World Refugee Day, underscore twin pressures fuelling an unprecedented global displacement crisis.

As conflict and persecution force growing numbers of people to flee, anti-migrant political sentiment has strained the will to resettle refugees, said UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi.

"The willingness of nations to work together not just for refugees but for the collective human interest is what's being tested today," he said.

The number of people displaced globally rose by 5.8 million through 2015, according to the UN figures.

Counting Earth's population at 7.349 billion, the UN said that one out of every 113 people on the planet was now either internally displaced or a refugee.

They now number more than the populations of Britain or France, the agency said, adding that it is "a level of risk for which UNHCR knows no precedent."



Displacement figures have been rising since the mid 1990s, but the rate of increase has jumped since the outbreak of Syria's civil war in 2011.

Of the planet's 65.3 million displaced, 40.8 million remain within their own country, while 21.3 million have fled across borders and are now refugees.

Palestinians are the largest group of refugees at more than five million, including those who fled at the creation of Israel in 1948 and their descendants.

Syria is next on the list, with 4.9 million refugees, followed by Afghanistan (2.7 million) and Somalia (1.1 million).

A worrying mixture of worrying factors have led to rising displacement and narrowing space for refugee resettlement.

"Situations that cause large refugee outflows are lasting longer," the agency said, including more than 30 years of unrest in both Somalia and Afghanistan.

New and intense conflicts as well as dormant crises that have been "reignited" are further fuelling the crisis, UNHCR said, pointing to South Sudan, Yemen, Burundi and the Central African Republic, aside from Syria.
Describing yoga as integral to India's culture, Uttarakhand Governor K K Paul today said celebration of International Yoga Day reflected international acceptance of the value of the ancientIndian discipline and asked people to make it a part of their daily lives.

"Yoga is an integral part of Indian cultureand civilisation. It is a matter of pride that the International Yoga Day is being celebrated on an international level as the whole world had recognisedand accepted the significance and scientific nature of yoga," Paul said in a message.

Terming it as a reward of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts that the UN had taken the historic decision to celebrate June 21 as International Yoga Day, he said it proved that the entire world realised the importance of yoga.

He said Uttarakhand was the home of yoga and its identity as the yoga capital of the world had been established.

Terming the ancient exercise form as the "excellent art of living life with positive energy," he said, adding it is also pure science which is above religion, faith and superstition.

"It is a comprehensive health system which is beneficial in our physical, mental and spiritual health. Yoga nourishes qualities like patience, tolerance and compassion. It keeps us away from stress and hasthe magical power to change the impossible into possible," he said.

The Governor said in this fast-pacedera of science and technology, every individual was living in stress and suffering from diseases. Yoga is the only non-controversial way which can give people the power of living a healthy life.It did not cost anything and just requires that people devote a few minutes in 24 hoursto it, he said.
Concerned over shortage of veterinary doctors, Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Balyan today said it is considering amendments to the 32-year old Indian Veterinary Council Act in order to ease norms for setting up of private vet colleges in the country.

At present, there are about 52 veterinary colleges in India and out of which, two are private-owned.

"We have proposed amendments to the Indian Veterinary Council Act (VCI) Act, 1984 to address the problem being faced in opening new colleges," Balyan told reporters here.

More number of colleges, both public and private ones, are required to address the growing shortage of veterinary doctors in the country, he said while sharing the government's achievements in this field.

Balyan, who holds a PhD degree in veterinary science, said the land requirement norms mentioned in the existing law for setting up of a new veterinary college is not possible to adhere due to the growing urbanisation.

"A permission for a new college is given if anyone has 35 acres of land for a college campus and additional 45 acres of farm land for research clinics and others. In the current context, it is not possible to get this much land," he said and added that private players were not keen due to this stringent requirement.

In the last two years, the NDA government has set up 16 veterinary colleges including two private owned, taking the total to 52. The number of seats have been raised, while SC/ST reservation has also been implemented from 2015, he added.

Stating that Niti Aayog is studying the status of vet doctors in India, the Minister said, "It is believed that there is only one vet doctor for 12 villages. There is no exact data to rely. So, Niti Aayog is looking into it and will submit the report by October."



Based on the report, more measures would be taken to improve the strength of vet doctors and colleges, he said.

Balyan also hoped that all states will admit students in veterinary courses through a national common admission test from next year onwards on the lines of NEET for medical courses.

"Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur and Rajasthan participated in the All India Pre-Veterinary Test 2016 to fill their quota of seats. I hope other states will do next year," he said.

At present, Veterinary Council of India (VCI) conducts an All India Pre-Veterinary Test (AIPVT) for admission to veterinary courses for filling up 15 per cent of all-India quota seats in veterinary colleges, and the rest 85 per cent state quota seats is filled up by states via separate test. The Union Agriculture Ministry had asked all states to fill up the state quota through AIPVT.
Congress today said the government is "not interested" in bringing back liquor baron Vijay Mallya and former IPL boss Lalit Modi from Britain as it latched on the remarks by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj yesterday that India has not yet approached the UK.

Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh said he saw something fishy in the ED not sending the required documents to the Ministry of External Affairs on the issue of extradition of Mallya, who is facing the charge of not paying back loans taken from banks to the tune of thousands of crores of rupees.

Swaraj's statement that India has not yet approached the UK for extradition of Mallya and Modi is a clear indication that this government is "not interested" in bringing them back, Ramesh said.

As regards Lalit Modi, Ramesh noted that the Enforcement Directorate had on Novermber 14, 2015 made a statement that it was seeking his extradition and had reiterated it in May this year.

Such a statement cannot be made "without the knowledge" of the Finance Minister, the former minister said, adding yesterday, Swaraj had, however, tweeted "ED has not sent us an extradition request on Lalit Modi."



Taking a dig at the government, he said this showed that the "distance between North Block (housing the Finance Ministry) and the South Block (housing the Ministry of External Affairs) is more than the distance to UK".

Both Mallya and Modi are wanted by the ED in its money laundering probe and the agency has also sought a global arrest warrant against them from the Interpol.

Ramesh also attacked Swaraj's statement that India will not oppose Pakistan's entry into the NSG.

"It is a strange statement....Because it is known the world over that Pakistan is notorious for black marketing and illegal activities in matters nuclear".
The government today allowed 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment in trading of food products, including through e-commerce, to provide a boost to the country's food processing sector.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"It has now been decided to permit 100 per cent FDI under government approval route for trading, including through e-commerce, in respect of food products manufactured or produced in India," an official statement said.

The government had in Budget this year announced that 100 per cent FDI would be allowed through FIPB route in marketing of food products produced and manufactured in India.

Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Secretary Ramesh Abhishek said that 100 per cent FDI has been allowed in marketing of food products without any condition.

Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had earlier demanded that foreign players looking to invest in the sector should mandatorily invest a portion of their investments in building infrastructure at the farm gate level.

The minister was pitching for a condition that 25 per cent of the foreign inflows should be invested in creating agri infrastructure.

The food processing sector has attracted USD 5,285.66 million FDI during April 2012 to December 2015 period.

Badal had recently said that the foreign direct investment in the food processing sector could cross USD 1 billion in the next two years, helped by reforms in FDI space and streamlining of regulations by food safety regulator FSSAI.

The government is making efforts to double the food processing level of fruits and vegetables, which currently stands at only 10 per cent.

"Price fluctuation in vegetables like tomato can be controlled effectively if we strengthen entire chain of food processing," Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Balyan said, adding that the government has allowed 100 per cent FDI in this sector as more investment is required.
The Gujarat High Court today issued notices to Central Information Commission (CIC) and Arvind Kejriwal on a petition filed by the Gujarat University against the CIC's earlier order asking the varsity to provide information on degrees of by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Delhi Chief Minister.

After admitting the application of Gujarat University (GU), seeking to quash the CIC order on technical grounds, judge S H Vora issued noticed to Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu and Kejriwal to furnish their responses and kept further hearing next month.

In its application before the court, the GU stated that "the Gujarat University is not a party to any of the proceeding before the Information Commission. Hence, the order is adverse to the interest of the Gujarat University."



The University further argued that the jurisdiction of CIC extends to the public authority under that central government while GU falls beyond its jurisdiction.

"Therefore, the said order of CIC is patently erroneous and requires to be quashed and set aside," stated the application.

GU further argued that Kejriwal's status as the Chief Minister has been kept in mind by the CIC while issuing the order, a move which is against the law, said the application.

"CIC has passed a direction on the basis of the status of Kejriwal. The CIC has considered the CM on a different pedestal which is against the principle of rule of law."



The GU authorities claimed that "no notice of hearing has been served upon the GU, and the order is passed by CIC without hearing the GU. There is no application given by Kejriwal before the information officer of GU, nor is there any complaint made against the GU before the Information Commission, Gujarat.

Citing the Right to Information (RTI) Act provisions, GU argued that Kejriwal has not sought any information directly from the university.

"Kejriwal has not sought any information from the GU at any time till date and no application has been preferred under section 6(1) of the RTI Act".

Further, it is argued that the "CIC is not the authority constituted under the RTI Act for the purpose of any information to be supplied by the GU."



Earlier on April 29, CIC directed Delhi University and Gujarat University to provide information on degrees earned by Modi to Kejriwal, who had criticised the functioning of the transparency panel.

The CIC's order came a day after Kejriwal wrote a letter to Acharyulu saying he does not object to government records about him being made public and wondered why the Commission wants to "hide" information on Modi's educational degree.

The Information Commissioner had treated Kejriwal's letter as an RTI application and passed the order.
The Madras High Court today allowed a murder accused, detained under the stringent Goondas Act, to avail treatment at a private hospital for heart ailment.

"A prisoner is a human being and crime does not reduce him to a non-person," Justice S Vimala of the bench here observed granting three days parole to the man, lodged in Tiruchirappalli Central Prison, on a petition by his wife seeking treatment for him in the private hospital.

The judge also suggested that the legislature codify the rights of prisoners.

The court rejected the contention of Superintendent of Tiruchirapalli Central Prison that prisoners could not be permitted to take medical treatment at private hospitals.

The judge said though petitioner Sumathi's husband Pandidurai was facing severe charges, the human life of a prisoner was also precious and its preservation was of paramount importance.

Justice Vimala allowed the prisoner to avail treatment at the hospital in Tiruchirappalli on the condition that the petitioner would bear the entire medical expenses besides the cost of escort to the prisoner.

The court rejected the prison SP's argument that other prisoners would make similar demand for treatment in private hospitals and it would lead to administrative problems.

However, the judge said request for medical treatment in private hospitals could be considered only on merit of each case and "this order cannot be a precedent for every case".

The petitioner submitted her husband had suffered chest pain and was treated at the government hospital last month.

She said government hospitals were flooded with patients and there was shortage of manpower and equipment and hence prayed for treatment at private hospital.
The Madras High Court today granted conditional anticipatory bail to former DMK minister K R Periyakaruppan and four others in connection with a case of alleged attack on AIADMK workers during the run-up to the May 16 assembly elections.

When the matter came up, Justice V M Velumani of the bench here directed Periyakaruppan to sign at the Thirukoshtiyur police station in Sivaganga district every Sunday till further orders, while the others should sign at the same station every day.

The judge, however, rejected the anticipatory bail applications of two other persons, who also apprehended arrest in connection with the case related to alleged assault of AIADMK workers in Tirupattur constituency during the electioneering.
Delhi High Court today gave the go-ahead to Delhi University's Khalsa college to commence its admission process for this academic year under the minority status.

"How are the teachers of the college affected if students are given admission under the minority status," Justice G S Sistani asked the varsity teachers who have sought a stay on the National Commission for Minority Educational Institution (NCMEI) order granting minority status to the Sri Guru Teg Bahadur (SGTB) Khalsa College.

"Life of students cannot be put into uncertainty," the judge said, adding that "fresh appointments of teachers in the college will be subject to the final outcome of the writ petition."



It said the authorities concerned should inform the new joinees that the petition challenging the minority status given to the college was pending.

The high court in its interim order yesterday had only allowed the counselling process and not the admissions.

The court's order came on a plea by the teachers who had claimed that if admissions under the minority status are allowed, their service conditions would be affected. They had also challenged the grant of minority status on the grounds that it will affect the interests of SC/ST students.

The college was granted minority status in 2011, which was then challenged by teachers as well as Delhi University (DU) on whose plea a stay was granted by high court in 2012, according to the petition filed by the teachers.

As per the plea, DU had withdrawn its petition in July last year saying it had no objection to the minority status granted to the college.

Last July, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), which runs the college, had assured the court that admission and appointment of teachers would "continue in the old system" which allows admission in general as well as SC/ST/OBC categories. The teachers, however, alleged that the "minority tag" will adversely affect SC/ST/OBC students.

On April 18 this year, the DSGMC lawyer DSGMC said since DU and the government had accepted the minority status, it would not continue the "interim arrangement" and not be bound by the provisions of the SC/ST Reservation Act. The teachers had then again filed a plea seeking a stay on the order.

Four colleges run by DSGMC - SGTB Khalsa College, Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College and Mata Sundri College - were declared minority institutions in 2011.
Pakistan's Interior Minister today alleged that Hindu "extremist groups" like RSS and Shiv Sena are the "biggest hurdle" to normalisation of Indo-Pak ties as he asked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to name the "forces" which she said are against good bilateral relations.

"If the Indian foreign minister is serious and determined for (good) ties with Pakistan, then she should not talk through riddles or try for political point scoring. In fact, she should clarify and point out which forces in her opinion were against good ties between Pakistan and India," Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan said.

Khan was reacting to Swaraj's remarks that there are forces which do not want good relations between the Prime Ministers of the two countries and better ties between the two neighbours.

The Pakistani minister said in his opinion "extremist groups like RSS, Shiv Sena and Abhinav Bharat were the biggest hurdle in the way of normalisation of ties as such groups have influence over the Indian government."



"If Indian government was serious in normalisation of ties, then why it has closed doors for talks," Khan said.

He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in the US Congress, sarcastically saying that "each word used by him showed his friendship policy" for Pakistan.

Khan said Sharif's relations with any world leader were above his personal relations and Indian foreign minister should not try to portray Sharif-Modi relations as personal.

Swaraj yesterday said Pakistan has not refused to allow an NIA team to visit that country to probe the Pathankot airbase attack case and just sought "more time".

She had said the "warmth and ease" in relationship between Modi and Sharif can help resolve complex issues between the two neighbours.
Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL) today said it has come out of difficulties and is hopeful of getting contracts worth Rs 20,000 crore in next five years.

The PSU which had been incurring losses for the over last three decades came out of difficulties and posted profit last year, CMD of HSL Rear Admiral L V Sarat Babu here.

The shipyard, running in the red since 1981, earned a profit of Rs 20 crore in 2015-16 and hopes to continue well in the coming years, he told reporters ahead of HSL's platinum jubilee celebrations tomorrow.

HSL is expecting orders worth Rs 20,000 crore for the construction of ships in the next five years. Some of these orders will be executed with technical support of Hyundai Shipyard of South Korea, Babu said.

Established in 1941, the city-headquartered HSL's first cargo ship 'Jala Usha" was launched by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on March 14, 1948, he said.

"During the last 75 years of its existence, the Shipyard had constricted 177 different vessels, including cargo, warships, passenger ships and tugs."



The company has also undertaken repair works of 1,950 vessels, Babu said, adding that HSL has constructed nine ships since January 2016, and will enhance its production capacity in future.

The company has orders worth Rs 1,200 crore in the current financial year, the Rear Admiral further said.

"In a major boost for both Hindustan Shipyard and the Indian Navy, submarine INS Sindhukirti successfully completed its maiden deep dive trails recently after undergoing repairs and modernisation at HSL."



"Repair-cum-upgradation of INS Sindhukirti was the first-of-its-kind exercise undertaken by an Indian shipyard with support from the Navy. Its a noteworthy achievement for Hindustan Shipyard as it emboldens the nation's will and pursuit towards the 'Make in India' campaign," Babu said.

Another submarine INS Sindhuvir will also come at HSL for partial refit work later this year.

The shipyard, working under the Ministry of Defence, has a sent proposal to the MoD seeking financial assistance of Rs 200 crore in view of losses incurred by it due to 'Hudhud' cyclone which hit the Visakhapatnam coast in October 2014, he added.
India's hopes of making progress towards NSG membership at the plenary meeting of the 48-nation grouping which began in Seoul today received a setback with China saying that this was not even on the agenda of the meeting.

Nuclear Suppliers Group remains divided over non-NPT countries like India becoming its members, China's Foreign Ministry said less than 24 hours after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had exuded hope that "we would be able to convince China to support our entry to the NSG."



Even as the 5-day annual NSG Plenary began in the South Korean capital, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying in Beijing said that India's admission into NSG was not on the agenda.

"We understand that non-NPT countries are concerned about their entry into the NSG. But since NSG is still divided about the issue, so it is still not mature to talk about the entry issue in the annual conference in Seoul," she said.

Beijing's response came a day after Swaraj at a press conference in New Delhi had said "China is not opposing membership of India in NSG, it is only talking of criteria and procedure. I am hopeful that we would be able to convince China as well to support our entry to the NSG."



Officials in New Delhi sought to downplay the snub with the MEA Spokesperson saying that India remained "optimistic".

The main meeting of the NSG Plenary on June 24 comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Tashkent for SCO Summit, which is also being attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Modi may meet Xi during which he is expected to raise the issue of India's NSG membership but whether the discussions will lead to break in the logjam is a moot point.

"China maintains that NSG should have through discussion



on the joining of the non-NPT countries in a way agreed by all parties, so as to make a decision based on agreement. This position is not directed against any country and applies to all non-NPT states," Hua said.

India's case for NSG membership is being strongly pushed by the US, which has written to other members to support India's bid at the plenary meeting of the group in Seoul.

While majority of the elite group members backed India's membership, it is understood that apart from China, countries like Turkey, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand were not in favour of India's entry into the NSG.

China maintains opposition to India's entry, arguing that it has not signed Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). However, it has been batting for its close ally Pakistan's entry if NSG extends any exemption for India.

India has asserted that being a signatory to the NPT was not essential for joining the NSG as there has been a precedent in this regard, citing the case of France.

India is seeking membership of NSG to enable it to trade in and export nuclear technology.

The access to the NSG, which regulates the global trade of nuclear technology, is expected to open up the international market for energy-starved India, which has an ambitious energy generation programme. India is looking at 63,000 MW energy requirement through nuclear programme by 2030.

The NSG looks after critical issues relating to nuclear sector and its members are allowed to trade in and export nuclear technology. Membership of the grouping will help India significantly expand its atomic energy sector.

India has been reaching out to NSG member countries seeking support for its entry. The NSG works under the principle of consensus and even one country's vote against India will scuttle its bid.
Indo-US military ties are closer than ever as America's re-balance policy in the strategic Asia Pacific region is complimenting India's Act East policy, Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said today as he praised India for helping strengthen Vietnam's military capabilities.

"In the closer than ever US-India military relationship which - thanks to America's strategic and technological handshakes, with America's re-balance shaking hands with India's Act East policy and the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative grasping the hand of Prime Minister Modi's 'Make in India' programme - includes more frequent exercises and more mutual defence co-development and co-production," Carter told a Washington audience.

In his address to the Centre for New American Security - a top US think-tank - Carter said that the Asia-Pacific security network is coming together in three key ways.

"First, some pioneering trilateral mechanisms are bringing together like-minded allies and partners to maximise individual contributions and connect nations that previously worked together only bilaterally," he said.

For example, the US-Japan-Republic of Korea trilateral partnership helps us coordinate responses to North Korean nuclear and missile provocations.

"And our three nations will conduct a trilateral ballistic missile warning exercise later this month," he added.

"And through joint activities like the aforementioned MALABAR Exercise, the US-Japan-India trilateral relationship is starting to provide real, practical security cooperation that spans the entire region from the Indian Ocean to the Western Pacific," Carter said.

Second - and beyond relationships involving the United States - many countries within the Asia-Pacific are coming together on their own in bilateral and trilateral mechanisms, he noted.

"For example, India is increasing its training with Vietnam's military and coast guard on their common platforms. And the Japan-Australia-India trilateral meeting last year was a welcome development and addition to the region's security network," Carter said.

"And third, and even more broadly, all of our nations are creating a networked, multilateral regional security architecture - from one end of the region to the other - through the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus," he said, adding that later this year he would host an informal defence ministers dialogue in Hawaii with all of the ASEAN countries.

Carter said the Asia-Pacific security network is not aimed at any particular country.

"Although we have disagreements with China, especially over its destabilising behaviour in the South China Sea, we're committed to working with them and to persuading them to avoid self-isolation," he said.
A well known yoga centre established by an Indian and his Chinese wife has been selected by China's prestigious Peking University to conduct research in the ancient Indian exercise form.

An MoU in this regard has been signed with the varsity, said Mohan Singh Bhandari who established 'Yogi Yoga' centre in 2003.

This is first time a Chinese university has come forward to do research in Yoga, he told PTI.

Local teachers trained by Yogi Yoga will take part in the research programme, he said.

'Yogi Yoga' which has branches all over China has an annual turnover of USD 10 million.

Bhandari along with his wife Yinyan, a former China editor of the Elle Magazine established the centre which has become immensely popular all over China.

It has currently over 20,000 students including those undergoing yoga teacher training, Bhandari said.

The centre actively take part in the yoga events being organised by Indian Embassy in Beijing.

Over the years yoga has become popular all over China. Thousands of yoga enthusiasts are taking part in the event all over China in the run up to June 21 UN Yoga Day.

Last year China established first yoga college in assistance with India.

Based in the Yunnan Minzu (Nationalities) University, the country's first yoga college has become popular with participation of over 3,000 people participating in free yoga sessions offered by the college. India has deputed yoga teachers to conduct training.
Opposition parties in West Bengal today alleged that the inquiry into Narada sting operation ordered by the state government is a "gimmick" to save the "real" culprits.

"How can a state government order inquiry into the matter (Narada sting) when it is sub-judice ? It is completely illegal. The state is holding this inquiry to hush up the case and save the real culprits," CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty alleged.

"This inquiry is actually being done to cover-up the case and remove evidences. If the state is so honest about this inquiry why didn't it order an inquiry when the matter first came up ?" he asked.

Despite the matter being sub-judice, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Friday ordered a porbe by Kolkata police into Narada sting operation, in which several Trinamool Congress leaders were purportedly shown accepting money for consideration.

Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Abdul Mannan accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of trying to fool the people by forming the inquiry committee.

"Earlier, in the case of Saradha scam we had seen that she had formed a SIT on similar lines to save the culprits, who were later arrested by CBI. In Narada case too the Chief Minister is doing the same. But she can't fool the masses all the time," Mannan said.

Criticising the "dual standards" of TMC, state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh said, "In 2001, TMC had demanded resignation of George Fernandez and Bangaru Laxman after the Tehelka sting. But now when they themselves are at the receiving end, they are questioning the credibility of sting operations. There can't be two rules. Rule has to be one and equal for all."



The TMC leadership has welcomed the state's decision and said it wants the truth to come out.
The Islamic State group launched a surprise assault today near its besieged stronghold in northern Syria, killing residents of two villages it recaptured from US-backed fighters, a monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said IS had dispatched a small group of jihadists -- including one driving an explosives-laden car -- into villages southeast of their bastion of Manbij.

The villages had been seized in recent weeks by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in their push for Manbij.

"IS is trying to defend Manbij by sending fighters from outside the town to attack the SDF in these villages," said Rami Abdel Rahman, the director of the Britain-based Observatory.

"Daesh executed residents," he added, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

The head of the Observatory, which relies on a vast network of sources on the ground for its information, did not have an immediate toll from the villages.

The US-led coalition backing the SDF carried out a barrage of air strikes today to defend the villages, said Abdel Rahman.

At least four SDF fighters were killed in the clashes and many more were wounded.

The SDF -- a Kurdish-Arab alliance with air support from the US-led coalition -- encircled Manbij nearly 10 days ago.

But since then, they have been slowed by almost daily suicide bombings as IS puts up a fight for the town.

Held by the jihadists since 2014, Manbij was a key stop along IS's supply route from the Turkish border southeast through the town of Tabqa and on to its de facto Syrian capital of Raqa.

IS is also mounting a fierce defence of Tabqa, which has been under attack by Russia-backed regime forces since early June.

Today, the Observatory said, a failed IS counterattack against regime fighters southwest of Tabqa killed at least 14 jihadists and six government loyalists.

"IS dispatched 300 fighters from Raqa to Tabqa to help defend the town," Abdel Rahman said.

Syria's civil war began with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations in 2011 and has now killed more than 280,000 people and displaced millions.
With formal inauguration of the revised Inland Water Transit and Trade Protocol (IWTTP) with the provision of third-country access, Indian goods are now entering Tripura through Bangladesh by using the Ashuganj port on River Meghna, about 45 km from here.

"A shipment of 1,005 tonnes of iron rods arrived here on Sunday through Ashuganj river port in Brahmanbaria district of Bangladesh.

"This was possible because of the revised IWTTP with the provision of third-country that was formally inaugurated on June 16," Manager of the Land Port Authority of India (LPAI) and In-charge of Agartala-Akhaura Integrated check post, Debasish Nandy, told PTI.

Bangladesh Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan inaugurated the transit facility at Ashuganj port.

"Now many more consignments of goods will enter Tripura by using the waterways of Bangladesh through Ashuganj port. A consignment of pulses will reach here soon. For transshipment of iron rods, the rural development department of Tripura government had to pay tax at the rate of Rs 192 per tonne," Nandy said.

The protocol was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Dhaka in June last year. The facility has reduced the distance between Kolkata and Agartala from 1,650 km to 500 km and subsequently reduced transport cost and time.

The revised IWTTP also facilitates the Bangladesh government or its people to use Indian territory for transshipment and gives them access to Nepal and Bhutan.

Earlier, as a goodwill gesture in 2012, Bangladesh allowed India to carry over-sized and heavy machines for India's Palatna power project by using this water route and Ashuganj port free of cost.

"India had long been seeking transit facility for its land locked Northeast region, which is being implemented now. Our state being the closest neighbour of Bangladesh, has been immensely benefited," Tripura transport and power minister Manik Dey, said.
In a blistering attack on DMK in the Assembly, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today accused the M Karunanidhi-led party of doing "nothing" to prevent the ceding of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka, as she vowed to make all legal efforts to retrieve the islet.

After DMK member K Ponmudi referred to Jayalalithaa's 1991 assurance that Katchatheevu would be retrieved and sought to know the "action taken", a fierce debate ensued involving him, her and Leader of Opposition M K Stalin.

Claiming that DMK does not have any locus standi to speak on the issue, she said Katchatheevu, an islet in the Palk Straits, was ceded to Sri Lanka through agreements, in 1974 and 1976, with the neighbouring nation by the Centre while DMK president M Karunanidhi was the state's chief minister.

"What was he (Karunanidhi) doing then? Did he take any steps to prevent it or did he hold agitations?," Jayalalithaa asked, as she maintained that there was no change in her stance that Katchatheevu should be retrieved.

"Yes I spoke of it (in 1991), conscious of the powers of a state government. I had said that I will take steps through the central government and had not said anything insane. I had not said that I would lead a battalion to retrieve Katchatheevu," Jayalalithaa said.

Stating that she had consistently been making all efforts that could be made by a state government, Jayalalithaa asked why DMK had not taken any steps on the issue though it was part of various regimes at the Centre.

Recalling that when DMK was in power both at the Centre as well as the state and when Karunanidhi had even stated that the previous Manmohan Singh government was "steered" by his advice, she wondered why no action was taken to retrieve Katchatheevu, which is at the centre of the dispute over fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen in the Palk Strait.

Jayalalithaa said why the DMK member was asking her on "what action was taken on Katchatheevu," when it had not done anything over it.

She likened the arch rival party to 'Rip Van Winkle', an easygoing character from a an English short story who goes on a slumber for 20 years, for "sleeping" over the issue and raising it now in the House.

She recalled how as the Leader of Opposition she had petitioned Supreme Court against ceding of Katchatheevu in 2008 and wanted to know why the then DMK government did not implead itself in the case, adding "is this the way to retrieve Katchatheevu?"



When the apex court wanted the state government to file its counter-affidavit in 2008, Karunanidhi, as chief minister, had said it would be considered after "seeing the stand of the Centre in court."



"After my party was voted to power in 2011, I took efforts to get Tamil Nadu government's Revenue Department impleaded in the case," she said.

"For sure, I will succeed in the petition, some day I will succeed in that petition (Katchatheevu), till then you all should do well and see it, it is my prayer to the Almighty," she said.

Jayalalithaa said she took legal action on Katchatheevu



ceding after making all other efforts, including persuading the Centre on the issue.

Her legal action was based on the Berubari case in which the Supreme Court had held that a Constitutional amendment was needed to cede territories.

The debate on Katchatheevu stretched for about an hour and witnessed noisy scenes involving DMK and AIADMK members over the issue.

"You cannot drown the truth by shouting, it is the DMK, and its chief Karunanidhi, who were responsible for ceding Katchatheevu. It is the DMK which is responsible for the travails of the fishermen," she said emphatically amidst noisy scenes and sought to know again why Karunanidhi was silent when the islet was given away.

When Ponmudi said the opposition and the government should work together on Katchatheevu, she asked, "In what respect should we work together? We have already taken action. You witness it without posing obstacles."



Defending DMK, Stalin said Karunanidhi had written to the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi against ceding Katchatheevu.

He referred to an all-party meeting and agitations over the issue in 1974. He said the assembly, too, had then expressed its "deep regret" over the issue and urged the Centre to reconsider its decision.

Jayalalihtaa said 'agitations, letters to PM and all-party meetings' could go (work) only to some extent and she too did that and when there was no result, she moved the Supreme Court.

She said Karunanidhi had claimed in a meeting of Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) in 2013 that before a pact was inked with Sri Lanka to cede Katchatheevu, it was due to his efforts that clauses related to rights for fishermen to fish and dry nets in Katchatheevu were incorporated.

However, in 1974, Karunanidhi had expressed shock and claimed that he came to know of the ceding of the islet only through newspapers. "The Leader of the Opposition should clarify which (of the claims) is right," Jayalalithaa said.

She also accused the DMK chief of remaining "non-committal" over taking legal steps, when it was pointed out to him that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, as the Leader of the then Jan Sangh, had said that he would move court over the issue.
JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik was today arrested by police when he was on his way to meet hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani here.

Malik was arrested from Batmaloo bus stand when he was en route to Hyderpora residence of Geelani to meet him, a JKLF spokesman said.

He said Malik was initially taken to Kothibagh police station and later shifted to Central Jail Srinagar.

Condemning the arrest, JKLF spokesman said Malik was arrested more than six times by police since May 25.

Malik has been making efforts to bring various separatist organisations on one platform. He had met Geelani about a month back, after which leaders of two factions of Hurriyat Conference -- hardline faction led by Geelani and moderate faction led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq -- along with Malik held a trilateral meeting.

During that meeting, they had decided to undertake joint protests against biulding of settlements for Kashmiri Pandits and sainik colonies besides the new industrial policy of the state government.
Hollywood star Johnny Depp was spotted having fun and getting serenaded by belly dancers at a private party in Romania.

The 53-year-old actor, who is in the midst of divorce battle with estranged wife Amber Heard, was seen relaxing with the members of his rock band The Hollywood Vampires, reported Mirror.

The group were having an after-party following a gig on their European tour in Bucharest.

"If Johnny was under any stress, he didn't show it. He was quite relaxed, sipping beers and chatting with his friends.

"He even talked about Amber a little - but he clearly feels that he is the innocent party in all of this. Johnny told the restaurant owner he's always had a weakness for being too trusting, and said that was what had caused his problems," a source said.

The actor looked like he was not worried about the allegations made by Heard, 30.

"Obviously Amber is making some shocking claims about him, but he gave the impression of someone who wasn't worried. He doesn't accept the things that have been said. He also said their relationship was great until they got married," the source added.

A Superior Court hearing into Heard's allegations that the star beat her was postponed less than 24 hours before it was due on last Friday. The decision came after a telephone discussion between the judge and lawyers of the former couple.
A one-man Judicial Inquiry Commission set up by Nagaland government to probe the Wuzu firing incident of July 16 last held its first public hearing at Dobashi Court in Meluri on Saturday, official sources said today.

The public hearing was conducted by Veprasa Nyekha, retired District and Sessions Judge who is heading the Commission, secretary K Naben and assistant Mewelo Kepfoh.

Nyekha invited written statements from witnesses, asking them to give the statements through affidavit to the Commission and not to write hearsay or second hand information.

In the firing incident at Meluri sub-division in Phel district allegedly involving Assam Rifles, two students were killed and a woman was injured.

Nyekha explained that the work of the Inquiry Commission was delayed due to resignations of the Commission's first chairman and secretary and because of vacancies to be filled up in the required posts.

He also informed that the Commission also had to first submit its report of the March 5, 2015 incident at Dimapur, wherein a rape accused was lynched by a mob after breaking into Central Jail.

Nyekha sought the cooperation of the public to hasten the process of inquiry by the commission.

President of Pochury Hoho Penthu Pochury, Ex- Village Council Chairman (VCC) of Phor Kotu Joe, Ex-VCC Wuzu Pitu Thur and others also shared inputs about the firing incident.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today launched an online portal to facilitate loans to financially weak students who wish to pursue higher studies in the national capital after passing their Class XII examination.

He said the launch of the website was the fulfillment of the promise made by his government that no student in Delhi should be denied the opportunity for quality education due to lack of resources.

"We are improving the quality of education in the government schools, with better infrastructure, facilities and training for teachers. In three years' time, parents in Delhi will be proud to say that their children study in government schools," Kejriwal told a gathering here.

He also said, with this initiative, once a loan has been applied, no bank can deny it.

Under the scheme, bank loans taken by the students will be provide a guarantee through Higher Education and Skill Development Credit Guarantee fund created by the Delhi government.

Students will not be required to furnish any collaterals or margin money in the scheme, which will be universal in nature, regardless of the student's background.

"The payment terms are very liberal and I now encourage students to avail of this opportunity at the earliest. We want to inculcate a feeling among aspiring students that they can educate themselves without the burden of lack of financial resources," the Delhi Chief Minister said.

Speaking on occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also holds education portfolio, said though the scheme was launched last year, he felt that it should be made online for the convenience of students and for better transparency.

"With this portal, students can apply online for loans which the participating banks will be obliged to provide. I believe this will transform education, enabling thousands of eligible students to pursue their studies and attain their career goals.

"We wish to encourage learning and are confident that such initiatives will break all the barriers and help students overcome higher learning of their choice," he further said.
Kerala Culture Minister A K Balan today said his government plans to develop Chitranjali studio in Thiruvananthapuram into a film city and sought a financial aid of Rs 20 crore from the Centre.

"The studio has got 80 acres of land in Thiruvananthapuram and we propose to develop it into a film city. Our plan is to help the financially weak filmmakers and facilitate them with cost-effective infrastructure inside the Chitranjali campus," Balan said after meeting Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley here.

Chitranjali studio was established in the 1980s under the Kerala State Film Development Corporation.

The state has also requested the Centre to provide an assistance of Rs 10 crore to set up a Regional Film Archives, under Kerala State Chalachitra Academy, which will include a film museum, library, preview theatre and an administrative block.

"The prints of old movies in Malayalam are not archived properly. It needs to be preserved properly for future references. We have already identified two acres of land at KINFRA park for this purpose," the minister said.

Balan, who was in Delhi to attend the Central Committee meeting of the CPI(M), expressed hope that the proposed North-South Economic Corridor will benefit the state.
Kerala Health and Social Welfare Minister K K Shailaja said, on Tuesday, her government is planning to open to help women in distress in all 14 districts in the state.

"Union government has offered aid to set up the in all districts of the state. We have to identify a place for the centre in all the 14 districts of the state and submit a report for further clearance," she said after meeting Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi.

are a one-stop crisis centre for women in distress and are funded by the Union government.

The proposed Nirbhaya centres would have facility to accommodate victims in case of emergencies and we plan to submit the report soon, the Minister added.

Shailaja also met Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot and said that she has got a very positive response from him for upgrading Institute of Speech & Hearing (NISH) in Thiruvananthapuram to a Central University.

"Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot has proposed to upgrade NISH as a Central University and will be known as University for Rehabilitation Sciences and Disability Studies," she said.

The Minister also said that the state has sought Centre's assistance in providing Disability Cards to the 7 lakh differently-abled in the state.

"The Centre has promised to help the state government in providing the necessary software for the proposed Unique Identity Card for the differently-abled which will be linked with their Aadhar card," the Minister said.

A mega medical camp is also being planned in Kannur in September to distribute assistive devices for the differently-abled with the Union government bearing all the expenses, she said.

The Minister also said that the state is planning to provide an insurance worth Rs 2 lakh for the differently-abled with an assistance from the Centre.

Kerala government has also requested the Centre to provide the special package declared for the Endosulfan victims which was announced by the Union government following a direction from the Human Rights Commission.

Kerala Health Minister also announced the plan to launch a 'She Pad' project in higher secondary schools of the state.

"Kerala State Women's Development Corporation will fund the project to distribute sanitary napkins, almirahs and incinerators to treat the pads in government higher secondary schools across the state," Shailaja said.
Family members of a 39-year-old man, who died in a road accident involving a negligently driven truck, have been awarded Rs 22.12 lakh compensation by a Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) here.

MACT Presiding Officer RPS Teji directed TATA AIG General Insurance Company Ltd, insurer of the offending truck to pay a compensation of Rs 22,12,500 to family members of victim Anant Singh, who suffered fatal injuries in the April 2, 2013 mishap.

The tribunal, which decided the petition in favour of the victim's family, however, accepted insurance company's claim that there was contributory negligence in the accident.

"The driver is liable for causing the accident and causing fatal injuries to the deceased, to the extent of 75 per cent and the deceased himself had contributed to this accident to the extent of 25 per cent," the tribunal said.

While relying on documents submitted on record, it said the victim too was driving at a high speed which is why he could not control his vehicle and rammed into the truck.

"It is pertinent to mention here that the vehicle of the deceased hit the offending vehicle from behind. I have seen the photographs placed on record which reveals that the vehicle of deceased was badly damaged. This shows that the deceased was also driving at a very high speed without maintaining the required distance at the time of accident and had failed to control his vehicle..." the tribunal said.

"He (victim) was also under bounden duty to observe necessary caution and maintain a distance between his vehicle and the vehicle ahead. Had the deceased been cautious, he could have averted the gravity of the accident," it said.

The tribunal, while holding the accused driver guilty, said a driver of a mechanically propelled vehicle is under bounden duty to observe necessary caution to avoid striking other vehicles, persons, the users of the road.

"Having failed to observe such necessary care and caution, being oblivious of said duty, respondent No.1 (driver) was berserk... Since he applied a sudden brakes without taking care and caution and caused the fatal injuries to the deceased in the present case," it said, adding, the driver of the offending vehicle "cannot escape culpable negligence on his part as he was primarily responsible for the accident."



According to the petition filed by family members of the victim, Singh was driving his car on April 2, 2013 when a truck ahead of him applied sudden brakes due to which he rammed into the truck from behind on Sohna-Gurgaon road.

Singh died on the spot and his family filed petition in tribunal seeking Rs 5 crore compensation.

The driver-cum-owner, however, denied the rash and negligent aspect. The insurance company confirmed the truck was insured with it but contended that there was contributory negligence by the accused driver and the victim.
Ex-chairman of Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, the alleged mastermind of the toppers scam in the Bihar intermediate examination, and his former JD(U) MLA wife Usha Sinha were today arrested from Varanasi, a senior police officer said here.

"Lalkeshwar Singh and his wife Usha Sinha have been arrested from Varanasi", Senior Superintendent of Police of Patna, Manu Maharaj told PTI.

Their arrest by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was made following a tip off about their presence in the temple city of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, the SSP, who is heading the SIT on toppers' merit muddle, said.

He said further details would be provided later on.

Lalkeshwar Singh and his wife Usha Sinha, a co-accused in the toppers scandal, had gone underground after police had acquired an arrest warrant from a Patna court in the irregularities in the Bihar +2 examination.

The SIT was armed with a court order to attach Lalkeswar Singh's property which would have taken place today.

Usha Sinha, a former JD(U) MLA from Hilsa and Principal of Ganga Devi college in Patna from which she was removed, is a co-accused in the case where degrees were allegedly awarded to undeserving students in lieu of a hefty sum of money.

Secretary-cum-Principal of Vaishali-based Bishun Rai



Intermediate college, Bachha Rai from where Arts and Science toppers Ruby Rai and Saurabh Shrestha hailed from, is already in police net and has provided information about the modus operandi of Lalkeshwar Singh and his wife in running the degree racket, the police said.

Bachha Rai was arrested from outside the college last week and subsequent police raids at his college and home in Vaishali have unearthed evidences of the dubious racket.

Over 20 kg jewellery was seized by the police from his house recently which was kept hidden beneath a bundle of haystack.

Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi has alleged that Bachha Rai, an active RJD supporter, had worked more than Lalu Prasad to ensure the victory of Tejaswi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav from Raghopur and Mahua seats in Vaishali respectively.

The merit muddle had surfaced following media expose of dubious Arts and science toppers of this year who could not answer even basic questions related to their subjects.

On the orders of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the comnittee set up by BSEB and state education department into the +2 examination irregularities were disbanded and a police case registered for direct action against the people involved in the racket.

Usha Sinha was removed as Principal of the Ganga Devi womens college in Patna and JD(U) decided not to renew her membership of the party which is going on presently.

Patna Commissioner Anand Kishor has been made Chairman of the Bihar School Examination Board to clean up the board.

More than 200 board employees were removed from their post which they were occupying for more than three years.

BSEB has already cancelled the result of Science topper Saurabh Shrestha and third topper in sciece stream Rahul Kumar after finding them not up to mark in a re-test cum interview.

Arts topper Ruby Rai has skipped the past two summons by the board for a similar re-test. Her result has been put on hold and she has been asked to appear before experts on June 25 next.
Security personnel have seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition following the arrest of a People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) activist from naxal-affected Bandgaon of West Singhbhum district.

Superintendent of Police, Michael Raj S said the security personnel, comprising of district armed police and CRPF arrested the PLFI activist on June 18.

Leads provided by the militant during interrogation led the security forces to seize eight rifles of .315 bore, four double barrel guns, two carbines, four carbine magazines and 200 pieces of gelatin, he said.

Based on the information provided by Barjo, he said police has registered case today under sections of the Arms Act, Explosive Act and CLA Act against the ultra and other other militants.
Paving way for iPhone maker Apple to open its own stores India, the government today relaxed FDI norms by giving a three-year exemption from local sourcing to foreign players in single-brand retail and a further five-year relaxation for 'state-of-art' and 'cutting-edge' technology.

Apple has been lobbying hard for the exemption from the mandatory 30 per cent local sourcing on the grounds that its products have such high-end technology and were therefore could not be sourced locally here.

The US-based technology giant, whose global CEO Tim Cook was recently in India and had discussed possibilities of manufacturing and retailing here during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will have to apply afresh for opening single-brand retail stores here as per the new guidelines.

Announcing a slew of FDI reforms, the government today said, "It has now been decided to relax local sourcing norms up to three years and a relaxed sourcing regime for another five years for entities undertaking single brand retail trading of products having 'state-of-art and 'cutting edge' technology."



The relaxation is expected to help Apple, which also makes iPads, Mac computers and iPod music players, as it would be able to get the relaxation for up to 8 years if its products are accepted by the government to have such high-end technology.

Besides Apple, which is said to have been seeking a blanket exemption and not for three or five years, several other foreign retailers may also benefit from the relaxation.

The existing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy has a provision under which the government could relax sourcing norms for entities undertaking single brand retail trading of products having such top-end technology and where local sourcing is not possible.

The decision to relax the norms was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Modi today.

Earlier, Apple had submitted an application seeking exemption to open single-brand retail stores, after which a DIPP Secretary-headed panel recommended that the company could be considered for the relaxation, but the Finance Ministry rejected the suggestion.

When asked whether Apple Inc will have to apply afresh, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitahraman said: "With this policy coming out now, I would presume, obviously (they will have to)".

Replying to a similar question, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Secretary Ramesh Abhishek said the company would be informed about the changes.

"We will inform Apple Inc to indicate whether they would like to avail the new provisions," he told reporters here.

Earlier, Apple had filed its proposal seeking permission for single brand retailing and sell its products online.

At present, 100 per cent FDI is permitted in single-brand retail, but FIPB permission is required beyond 49 per cent.

Apple sells its products through Apple-owned retail stores in several countries, including China, Germany, the US, the UK and France.

But, it has no wholly-owned store in India and sells its products here through distributors such as Redington and Ingram Micro.
The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly borrowed an oil painting from noted artist late M R Achrekar 28 years ago, but did not return it to him or his family, an RTI query has revealed.

The painting is now in custody of the city-based Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan.

As per the information received through an application filed by RTI activist Anil Galgali, the Legislature Secretariat had requested Achrekar to lend a painting for a few days for an exhibition at the Vidhan Bhavan complex during its golden jubilee celebrations in 1987-88.

Achrekar, a Padma Shri awardee, complied with the request and handed over an oil painting drawn by him.

However, this art work was never returned to the artist during his lifetime or later to his family. It is now in custody of the Pratishthan, the RTI query revealed.

The Pratishthan, named after Yashawantrao Chavan, the first Chief Minister and architect of Maharashtra, is a non-party platform whose main objective is to deliberate and discuss the issues that the state faces.

How the painting landed with the Pratishthan is not known as the Secretariat has no record of handing it over to the organisation, the activist said, citing information provided in response to his application.

"I filed multiple RTI pleas with the Legislative Assembly. They admitted to have requested for the said painting from Achrekar, in which he has drawn events related to foundation of Maharashtra state," he said.

But the art work was never returned to its owner or his heirs and is now in "illegal possession" of the Pratishthan, the RTI activist said.

After the revelation, Achrekar's son Nitin said he will take legal recourse soon to get possession of the painting.

When contacted, Prathisthan Secretary Sharad Kale, who is also its Information Officer, said, "I shall not make any comment as of now."



Principal Secretary of the Legislature Secretariat Anant Kalse said, "Since this case is very old, I need to check the records before making any comment.
Police in Pakistan's Sindh province have arrested a shopkeeper who sold shoes with sacred Hindu word 'Om' inscribed on them and seized the offensive footwears following protests by the country's minority community.

"The shopkeeper was arrested and the shoes in question have also been confiscated," said Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) patron-in-chief Ramesh Kumar Vankwani.

Vankwani said police have found that the controversial shoes were purchased from a manufacturer in Lahore and Punjab police were being approached for taking action against them.

It is unethical and highly immoral to insult any religion, either of a minority or majority, he said in a statement.

"The state must play the proactive role for punishing the culprits under the blasphemy laws," Vankwani said while talking to a Hindu delegation vising him over the issue.

The PHC had lodged protests with the Sindh government and authorities in Tando Adam Khan area after it was brought to the notice of the Hindu community that shoes were being sold with the sacred word 'Om' inscribed on them.

The PHC patron-in-chief said the sale of these shoes were an insult to the Hindus in Pakistan as it is blasphemous to use the sacred word 'Om' on shoes.

"It is most unfortunate that some shopkeepers in Tando Adam Khan are selling shoes on the occasion of Eid ul Azha with the Hindu sacred word inscribed on them and the purpose just appears to be to insult the sentiments of the Hindu community," Vankwani has said.

"As 'Om' is the sacred religious symbol of Hinduism which talks about the oneness of God, let's protect this oneness peacefully for the progressive and positive face of Pakistan. Let's appeal the authorities concerned to take notice of the matter immediately to override any expected mistrust within the locals," the Pakistan Hindu Seva has said in a separate statement.

Local newspapers have reported that similar shoes were also being sold in some other places of the southern Sindh province, where a majority of the Pakistani Hindus reside.
Police in Pakistan's Sindh province today arrested a shopkeeper under the blasphemy laws for selling shoes inscribed with the sacred Hindu word 'Om' and seized the offensive footwears after protests by the country's minority community.

Jahanzaib Khaskhili of Tando Adam Khan area was arrested after Hindu community leaders lodged an official complaint, district police chief Farrukh Ali told reporters.

He said the offensive shoes have also been confiscated.

"We are also carrying out raids in the market to see if any other shop is also selling these shoes," he said, adding that initial investigations indicated that the shopkeeper had not deliberately tried to hurt the sentiments of Hindus.

"It appears even he was not aware of the Om symbol until it was reported in the press and he has since cooperated in the investigations," Ali said.

If convicted, the shopkeeper faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, in addition to a possible fine.

Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) patron-in-chief Ramesh Kumar Vankwani told PTI that the swift police action was appreciated by the Hindu community.

Vankwani said police have found that the shoes were purchased from a manufacturer in Lahore and Punjab police were being approached for taking action against them.

It is unethical and immoral to insult any religion, either of a minority or a majority, he said.

"The state must play the proactive role for punishing the culprits under the blasphemy laws," Vankwani said while talking to a Hindu delegation vising him over the issue.

The PHC had lodged protests with the Sindh government and authorities in Tando Adam Khan area after it was brought to the notice of the Hindu community that shoes were being sold with the sacred word 'Om' inscribed on them.

The PHC patron-in-chief said the sale of these shoes were an insult to the Hindus in Pakistan as it is blasphemous to use the sacred word 'Om' on shoes.

"It is most unfortunate that some shopkeepers in Tando Adam Khan are selling shoes on the occasion of Eid ul Azha with the Hindu sacred word inscribed on them and the purpose just appears to be to insult the sentiments of the Hindu community," Vankwani has said.

"As 'Om' is the sacred religious symbol of Hinduism which talks about the oneness of God, let's protect this oneness peacefully for the progressive and positive face of Pakistan. Let's appeal the authorities concerned to take notice of the matter immediately to override any expected mistrust within the locals," the Pakistan Hindu Seva has said in a separate statement.

Local newspapers have reported that similar shoes were also being sold in some other places of the southern Sindh province, where a majority of the Pakistani Hindus reside.

Under Pakistan's blasphemy laws it is a crime to insult any religion and they have specific sections that carry life sentence and mandatory death sentence.
Thousands of teachers protested in southern Mexico on today to denounce a "massacre" a day after at least eight people died during violence authorities blamed on unidentified gunmen.

A teachers union organized the demonstration in the tourist city of Oaxaca to demand justice for the deaths during a protest yesterday, while some 15 masked protesters launched fireworks at police during today's march.

The National Education Workers Coordinator (CNTE) union has been leading demonstrations across the state of Oaxaca against an education reform and the arrest of two of its leaders.

Six people died and more than 100 were injured, including officers and civilians, when police were deployed to break up a week-long road blockade by the CNTE in Asuncion Nochixtlan, near Oaxaca city.

Federal police chief Enrique Galindo said unidentified gunmen opened fire on the population and the police but that teachers were not involved in the shooting.

The National Security Commission had initially denied that police were armed during the clashes, charging that pictures showing officers with firearms were "false."



But Galindo said officers were forced to use weapons after they were "ambushed" by 2,000 "radicals," including some of whom were armed.

Galindo told Radio Formula that "autopsies are being conducted" to determine if any of the dead were hit by police bullets.

Officials said eight police officers had gunshot wounds. At least 55 officers and 53 civilians were injured in the clashes, while more than 20 people were arrested.

A journalist, meanwhile, was shot dead by unknown gunmen after taking pictures of looting in the town of Juchitan. An eighth person was killed in the same town, said Oaxaca state security chief Jorge Alberto Ruiz.

Authorities had previously given a death toll of six but Ruiz told MVS radio that the deaths in Juchitan were "linked" to the unrest.
The Home Ministry will seek legal opinion on the issue of alleged tapping of telephone conversations of some top industrialists and politicians by the Essar Group before ordering a probe into it, a senior official said today.

The Prime Minister's Office has forwarded to the Home Ministry a complaint of lawyer Suren Uppal alleging that the Essar Group had ordered its former security chief Albasit Khan to tap into its business rivals' telephone conversations during Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

There are a few issues which need to be clarified like whether there is anything actionable on illegal telephone tapping, was there any violation of the Indian Telegraph Act and does anyone, whose phone was tapped, have to file a complaint or whether the government has to suo motu order an investigation, the official said.

To get a clarity of all these issues, the Home Ministry will seek legal opinion, the sources said, adding the matter will be discussed with Home Minister Rajnath Singh to chalk out



the course of future action.

The complaint was received today from the PMO in which a complainant incorporated call logs for purported conversations of Mukesh and Anil Ambani with Directors/Promoters of the two companies and other senior officials as well as conversations that show how business rivals reach out to politicians to seek favours.

The complaint also mentioned purported conversations of senior officials of the Vajpayee PMO, former National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra and the then Prime Minister's foster son-in-law Ranjan Bhattacharya.

The name of present Home Secretary Rajiv Mehreshi, who was posted in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs also figures among the officers whose phones were allegedly tapped.

Essar has denied any wrongdoing.
Miffed over the CPI(M) central leadership's call of "rectifying the decision to forge an alliance with Congress", the party today said CPI(M) will suffer in West Bengal if it walks out of the alliance and reminded that it had first come forward with the alliance proposal.

"Although it is an internal matter of their party, but I would like to say it was the CPI(M) which had first come up with the proposal of alliance. 2.15 crore people have blessed this alliance. Maybe we have lost, but we had put up a good fight and people are looking at us to fight against this oppression. If CPI(M) wants to back out, then it is their call," senior Congress leader and party MP Pradip Bhattacharya said.

Bhattacharya, one of the architects of the alliance, said "We can very well understand that this decision of rectifying the alliance with Congress has been driven by blind anti-Congress stance of a section of CPI(M) leaders. I will say, if they back out of the people's alliance and betray the hopes of masses, then it will be a historic blunder on the part of CPI(M)."



State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury, who has been a strong advocate of carrying forward the alliance in Bengal even after the poll debacle, said "I don't want to comment on the matter as I have not gone for an alliance with CPI(M) central leaders or Sitaram Yechury. Lets see what CPI(M) state leaders have to say regarding it. If they don't want to stay in the alliance, what can we say? We will fight alone."



The CPI(M) Central Committee, after its three-day meet, concluded that the electoral tactics of forging an alliance with Congress was not in consonance with the Central Committee decision and should be rectified.

"The Central Committee concluded that the electoral tactics adopted in West Bengal was not in consonance with the Central Committee decision not to have an alliance or understanding with the Congress.

"This should be rectified and the Central Committee stressed the importance of adhering to the political-tactical line adopted at the 21st Congress of the Party. The Central Committee authorised the Politburo to ensure its implementation in consultation with the state leadership of the party," the CPI(M) Central Committee said in a statement.
Independent MLA Sheikh Rasheed, known for creating controversies, today spoke the separatist language in the Assembly, claiming that Jammu and Kashmir is not India's "integral part" and demanding "plebiscite".

His comments drew angry reaction from the ruling BJP, which said he should resign from the Assembly and join separatists or migrate to Pakistan.

"Even if you send me to jail, debar me from contesting elections or hang me, it will not force me to change my stand on Kashmir," Rasheed said in the Assembly.

"J&K is neither India's integral part nor Pakistan's jugular vein. You should understand the historic reality and tell New Delhi that there is no substitute to plebiscite," said the legislator who had triggered a major controversy last year during the beef row by hosting a beef party at the MLAs' Hostel here.

Even as members of BJP and Congress protested against his comments, Rasheed said he was not against India's sovereignty but "I am talking simply about J&K which has become a bone of contention between India and Pakistan and Assembly has no authority to overrule UN Resolutions."



He said, "New Delhi has been claiming all the way that people in this side of Kashmir have cast their votes in huge numbers and people living in PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) are not comfortable with Pakistan. So there is no reason why New Delhi should run away from 'plebiscite'. May be people on both sides of LoC (Line of Control) will vote for India and then whole J&K will become India's integral part," he added.

Reacting sharply to Rasheed's statement, BJP spokesman Khalid Jehangir said, "If Rasheed believes that J&K is not an integral part of India, he should tender his resignation from the Legislative Assembly and join the separatist camp or migrate to Pakistan."



He said it was unfortunate that Rasheed, despite enjoying all the privileges and drawing hefty salary as MLA, is questioning "J&K's merger with India".

In a statement, Jehangir said, "Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India and the people who challenge J&K's accession with India are welcome to migrate to Pakistan.
The southwest monsoon has covered almost half of the country, including the drought-hit Marathwada, even as the overall rainfall deficiency has come down to around 22 per cent, the Met department said today.

"Monsoon has covered half of the country," M Rajeevan, Secretary Ministry of Earth Sciences, said.

The drought hit Marathwada and parts of Vidarbha too have been receiving rains over the past two-three days.

Rajeevan said the monsoon should reach the national capital by last week of the month or early July.

"The southwest monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of central Arabian Sea, Konkan, Marathawada and Vidarbha, most parts of Madhya Maharashtra and some parts of southwest and east Madhya Pradesh," the IMD said.

The Northern Limit of Monsoon (NLM) passes through Dahanu, Malegaon, Pachmarhi, Jabalpur, Sidhi, Patna and Raxaul.

"Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some parts of north Arabian Sea, south Gujarat region, remaining parts of Madhya Maharashtra, some more parts of Madhya Pradesh and East Uttar Pradesh and remaining parts of Bihar during next 48 hours," the IMD said.

The weatherman has forecast an "above normal" monsoon this year. However, its onset over Kerala, which marks the commencement of the rainy season in the country, was on June 8, seven days later than its normal date.

Also, it made a slow progress due to lack of a favourable system that could have given it a boost. The overall rainfall deficiency, which was 25 per cent until Saturday, has now dropped to 22 percent. It is expected to further drop down, it said.
Madhya Pradesh government has raised the pulses sowing target by 26 per cent to 21.5 lakh hectares in the ongoing Kharif season to boost production and meet rising demand.

The acreage target for soyabean crop has been reduced by 5 per cent to 56 lakh hectares for the Kharif season of 2016-17 crop year.

"Farmers interest towards soyabean has come down this year because of losses suffered by them during last three kharif seasons due to drought and unseasonal rains," said Mohan Lal Meena, a senior state agriculture ministry official.

Farmers have started growing more pulses this year in view of high minimum supprt price announce by the Centre, he added.

"Therefore, we have lowered the sowing target of soyabean to 56 lakh hecatres, while we have raised pulses sowing target to 21.5 lakh hecatres. Even the Centre's policy is to promote pulses production," he said.

In 2015-16 Kharif season, soyabean acreage was 59 lakh hecatare while area under coverage for pulses was 17 lakh hecatres, Meena said.

Soyabean Processors' Association of India's Executive Director D N Pathak said the processing industry would not be much impacted because of estimated 5 per cent decline in area under soyabean.

Production could rise despite lower area if the country receives good monsoon as forecast by weather office, he added.

India's pulses production is estimated to have declined to 17.06 million tonnes in the 2015-16 crop year (July-June) as against the annual demand of 23-24 million tonnes. Prices of pulses have reached up to Rs 200 per kg in the retail markets of the country.
Five site engineers of private firms were today arrested in connection with the Rs 350 crore Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) road scam, taking the total number of people in police custody so far to 19.

Until yesterday, police had arrested 14 people, including ten auditors of private firms, four contractors and site engineers, in connection with the case.

Those arrested today are Amar Kamble (32) and Vel Maharajan Nadar (28), both of Relcon Infraprojects ltd, Pravin Panchal (21) of Relcon-R K Madhani Co. (JV), Dilip Rathod (36) of RPS-K R Construction (JV) and Viraj Patil (36) of Mahavir Roads & Infra.

Last year, Mumbai Mayor Snehal Ambekar had written to BMC chief Ajoy Mehta complaining about the poor quality of newly-constructed roads in the city, police had said.

According to police, a case was registered in this regard at Azad Maidan police station on April 27, after the BMC's internal inquiry revealed that more than two dozen roads in the city were of poor quality.

A Special Investigating Team (SIT) was formed under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP,Colaba Division) Rajendra Chavan to probe the case.

The ten auditors, arrested last week, were employees of two private engineering audit firms, who were appointed by the BMC to inspect the road works by contractors.

The investigators had found that these ten accused were hand in glove with the contractors concerned in the roads scam.
Widespread and ongoing violations against Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya minority, including denial of citizenship, forced labour and sexual violence, could amount to crimes against humanity, the United Nations warned on Monday.

In a report on the human rights situation for minorities in Myanmar, the UN human rights office said it had found "a pattern of gross violations against the Rohingya (which) suggest a widespread or systematic attack. In turn giving rise to the possible commission of crimes against humanity if established in a court of law."



The report was published amid hope that Myanmar's new government, steered by Aung San Suu Kyi and her pro-democracy party, will address deep hatreds in western Rakhine State.

Tens of thousands of Rohingya are confined to squalid displacement camps after waves of deadly unrest with Buddhists in 2012.

UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said he was "encouraged" by statements by the new government in recent weeks.

But, he warned, the fledgling government it had "inherited a situation where laws and policies are in place that are designed to deny fundamental rights to minorities, and where impunity for serious violations against such communities has encouraged further violence against them."



"It will not be easy to reverse such entrenched discrimination," he said in a statement.

Even so, "it must be a top priority to halt ongoing violations and prevent further ones taking place against Myanmar's ethnic and religious minorities."



During its year-long probe, his office found "an alarming increase" in incitement to hatred and religious intolerance by ultra-nationalist Buddhist organisations against the Rohingya.

Buddhist nationalists have staged protests across the country against even using the term Rohingya.

They label the group "Bengalis", casting Myanmar's more than one million Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Myanmar's Rohingya population are denied citizenship even though many can trace their roots in the country back generations.

Today's report found that in addition to being denied their nationality, state security forces have committed a wide range of other violations against the Rohingya.

These include summary executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture and ill-treatment, and forced labour, the report found.

"Arbitrary arrest and detention of Rohingya remains widespread," it said, pointing out that "arrests are often carried out without grounds, formal processing or charges, until release is secured by payment of a bribe."



And Rohingya in Rakhine State need official authorisation to move between, and often within, townships, severely restricting their freedom of movement, it said.

The restrictions severely impact all aspects of life, including the possibility to make a living, to access education, healthcare and emergency treatment, it said.
NCP activists today held a demonstration against a BJP MLA from Dombivli in the district over his statement which they said has hurt the feelings of dalits and farmers.

The protest was held in the area near the district collectorate.

The activists said they felt offended by the "derogatory" statement reportedly made by the legislator, Ravindra Chavan last week during Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' visit to Dombivli.

They demanded that a case under Atrocities Act be registered against the MLA and his membership to the Legislative Assembly be cancelled.
Nepalese police have arrested 36 doctors, including six women, for possessing fake credentials taking the total number of arrests to 53 as part of a nationwide crackdown on fake medical professionals.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police detained 36 doctors after weekend raids at reputed hospitals, clinics and medical schools across the country as part of 'Operation Quack' on charges of practicing medicine by using fake certificates.

The CIB yesterday presented the doctors, who used fake academic credentials at the Kathmandu District Court seeking judicial remand for further investigation, police said.

The court remanded them in custody for five days for further investigation.

With its latest action, the CIB has arrested a total of 53 doctors since it launched 'Operation Quack' in February to crackdown on medical professionals who had allegedly obtained medical degrees and Nepal Medical Council (NMC) licenses by using fake academic credentials.

The CIB had arrested 17 doctors in February. Following an investigation, their medical licences have been annulled by the NMC.

The arrested doctors are being charged with forgery and face up to five years in prison if convicted, according to CIB official Dibesh Lohani.

The Nepal Medical Council and the Higher Secondary Education Board have been assisting the police in the operation.

Meanwhile, Nepal Medical Association has deplored the action taken by the police against the doctors.

"Although NMA believes that any one indicted for any activity forbidden by the laws should be liable to punishment accordingly, the arrest of on-duty doctors without warrant from their workplace in an authoritarian style is deplorable," said Mukti Ram Shrestha, General Secretary of the association.

The association claimed that the authorities have violated human rights while taking action against the doctors.

They have also warned that if the government continues to "intimidate" doctors in the manner that it made the arrests, it would be forced to announce protest programmes.
Nepalese police have arrested 36 doctors, including six women, working in reputed hospitals as part of a major crackdown on medical professionals in the country who have obtained medical degrees and licences by using fake academic credentials.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police detained 36 doctors as part of 'Operation Quack' on charges of practicing medicine by using fake certificates.

The CIB yesterday presented the doctors, who used fake academic credentials at the Kathmandu District Court seeking judicial remand for further investigation, police said.

The court remanded them to custody for five days for further investigation.

Earlier, the police had arrested the doctors from 10 districts across the country on Friday. The suspected doctors include six women.

A police official said the CIB would try to complete the investigation procedures within next five days.

The CIB had launched operation 'Operation Quack' a few months agoto crackdown on medical professionals who had allegedly obtained medical degrees and Nepal Medical Council licenses by using fake academic credentials.

The Nepal Medical Council and the Higher Secondary Education Board have been assisting the police in the the operation.

Meanwhile, Nepal Medical Association has deplored the action taken by the police against the doctors.

"Although NMA believes that any one indicted for any activity forbidden by the laws should be liable to punishment accordingly, the arrest of on-duty doctors without warrant from their workplace in an authoritarian style is deplorable," said Mukti Ram Shrestha, General Secretary of the association.

The association claimed that the authorities have violated human rights while taking action against the doctors.

They have also warned that if the government continues to "intimidate" doctors in the manner that it made the arrests, it would be forced to announce protest programmes.
A busload of Nepali security guards were among 25 people killed in a string of bombings across Afghanistan today, days after Washington expanded the US military's authority to strike the Taliban.

A Taliban spokesman on Twitter claimed the first attack, which killed 14 Nepali security guards working for the Canadian Embassy in Kabul in a massive blast that left their yellow minibus spattered with blood.

However Islamic State's affiliate in Afghanistan and Pakistan released a competing claim in which they named and pictured the alleged bomber, according to the SITE monitoring group, in what would be their most significant attack in the country.

An Afghan intelligence source said officials were investigating the IS claim, which was flatly denied by the Taliban.

The Taliban also claimed a second, smaller blast in south Kabul Monday that the interior ministry said killed one person.

The bombings were followed hours later by an attack on a market in the remote northeastern province of Badakhshan that authorities said killed at least 10 people, with the death toll set to rise.

The wave of violence comes 10 days after Washington announced an expansion of the US military's authority to conduct air strikes against the Taliban, a significant boost for Afghan forces who have limited close air-support capacities.

Police said the attack on the Nepali guards was carried out by a suicide bomber on foot early Monday on a main road leading east out of the capital towards the city of Jalalabad.

Fourteen Nepali nationals were killed, the interior ministry said in a statement, with nine wounded -- five Nepali citizens and four Afghans.

The Canadian embassy in Afghanistan confirmed the "cowardly" attack in a tweet, and said that it had employed the guards.

The explosion could be heard across Kabul and a plume of smoke seen above the site of the blast on the Jalalabad road, a main route housing many foreign compounds and military facilities.

More than two dozen ambulances rushed to the scene, an AFP journalist said, with police blocking off the road. The blast also shattered the windows of nearby shops.

Nepal's prime minister K P Sharma Oli said his country "strongly condemns" the killings.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, saying it was "against the forces of aggression" in Afghanistan.

The Islamic State claim, which SITE said was released on Twitter and Telegram, named the bomber as Irfanullah Ahmed and pictured him armed and dressed in combat fatigues in front of an IS flag.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today said that Israel supports a treaty to ban nuclear testing but signalled his country was not yet ready to ratify a UN pact adopted by the UN nearly 20 years ago.

Netanyahu's office issued a statement on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty after he met Lassina Zerbo, the head of the Vienna-based organisation which oversees it.

The CTBT, adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 1996, bans all nuclear explosions.

Israel, believed to be the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear power, signed the treaty in 1996 but has yet to ratify it.

The statement quoted Netanyahu as saying: "The state of Israel supports the treaty and its goals and has, therefore, signed the treaty.

The prime minister added that the "issue of ratification depends on the regional context and the appropriate timing."



Israel strongly opposed last year's nuclear deal between world powers and its arch-foe Iran, with Netanyahu arguing that it would not block the Islamic republic's path to atomic weapons.

Zerbo, executive secretary of the CTBT Organisation, expressed optimism that Israel was on track toward ratification.

Speaking to AFP, he said Netanyahu "told me the issue of ratifying the treaty is a matter of 'when, rather than if.'



"They are working on the conditions for the 'when'. He said he was committed and supportive of the treaty."



The CTBT has been signed by 183 states and ratified by 164 including Russia, France and Britain, three of the nine countries which have, or are believed to possess, nuclear weapons.

But to enter into force, the treaty needs 44 specific "nuclear technology holder" states to ratify it, eight of whom have yet to do so.

The eight include the six in the nuclear club that have yet to ratify the pact - the US, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel - as well as Iran and Egypt.
Chinese handset maker LeEco today said the government's move to relax FDI norms for foreign players in single-brand retail will help accelerate its expansion plans in the country.

Welcoming the government's decision, LeEco said it will look at setting up 5-10 flagship stores in key cities within 3-6 months of getting the approval.

"We plan on setting up 500 stores in the next one year. Most of these will be franchise but 5-10 will be our own flagship stores in key cities. We will look at setting these up in 3-6 months after getting the requisite approvals," LeEco India Smart Electronics Business COO Atul Jain told PTI.

Jain added that LeEco had filed an application with the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) seeking approval for opening single brand retail shops in India.

"This is a positive step. We hope that our application will get cleared at a faster pace," he said.

Jain said the company remains committed to its plans of manufacturing in India and will make an announcement in the matter soon.

The government today relaxed FDI norms by giving a three-year exemption from local sourcing to foreign players in single-brand retail and a further five-year relaxation for 'state-of-art' and 'cutting-edge' technology.

US-based Apple is expected to be the biggest beneficiary of the decision. The company had been lobbying hard for the exemption from the mandatory 30 per cent local sourcing on the grounds that its products have such high-end technology and therefore, cannot be sourced locally here.

The US-based technology giant, whose global CEO Tim Cook was recently in India and had discussed possibilities of manufacturing and retailing here during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will have to apply afresh for opening single-brand retail stores here as per the new guidelines.

Apple did not respond to an emailed query.

LeEco's rival Xiaomi had also submitted its proposal but had later withdrawn its application.
Amid a raging row over registering of a case against two Dalit sisters and sending them to jail for allegedly attacking a CPI(M) activist in Kannur, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today said there was no need to react to the issue.

The one-and-half-year-old daughter of one of the Dalit women was not sent to jail by anybody but the baby was taken to the prison by her mother, he said.

"There is case and counter-case in the issue. What is there to react in such a matter? Is it a child going to jail for the first time (in the state)? There were many Tribal children who went to jail before," Vijayan told reporters at the airport here after arriving from Delhi where he attended CPI(M) Central Committee meeting.

"Here, the child was not sent to jail (by anybody), but the child was taken to the prison by the mother," Vijayan said when reporters sought his reaction over the issue.

He had courted controversy earlier also over the issue when he said that he had nothing to say on the matter when journalists asked for his reaction in New Delhi yesterday.

The recent arrest of two Dalit sisters Akhila (30) and Anjana (25), daughters of a local Congress leader in Thalassery in Kannur, kicked up a row in the state with Congress and BJP attacking the LDF government over the issue.

They were slapped with non-bailable charges on a complaint by CPI(M) that the women had barged into the party office in Thalassery and attacked one of their activists recently.

However, the siblings said they did not attack anybody but only questioned the Left activist who abused them by calling their caste name.

After being released by a court on bail, Anjana had attempted suicide at her home allegedly due to the mental strain over the developments.

She was admitted to a nearby hospital and her condition is stable now.
CBI today informed Delhi High Court that Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh's two children have been called as witnesses for questioning in a disproportionate assets case and there was "no plan" to detain them.

The CBI said this after Justice P S Teji asked the probe agency to clearly state whether they intended to detain Virbhadra's son Vikramaditya Singh and daughter Aprajita Kumari during questioning.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Vikramaditya and Aprajita in which they were seeking protection from arrest, contending that they have been called by CBI for questioning as witnesses today and tommorow.

Senior advocate Ashwani Kumar, who appeared for them, told the court that Virbhadra Singh and his wife have been named as accused in the FIR along with others, but neither Aprajita nor Vikramaditya have been named.

"We will join but we apprehend that they (CBI) can detain us, so the court should protect them from arrest," he said.

To this, the court asked CBI, "are you intending to detain the petitioners. Be clear on it factually."



Responding to the court's query, CBI's counsel Sanjeev Bhandari said "they have been called as witnesses for certain clarifications (on issues) which have emerged during the investigation of the disproportionate assets case lodged against Virbhadra and others. There is no plan to detain them."



The court disposed of the plea in view of the statement made by CBI's counsel.

Virbhadra was recently questioned by CBI in connection with the case of disproportionate assets allegedly amassed during his stint as a Union Minister.

CBI had claimed its inquiry showed that Singh, while serving as Union Minister during 2009-2012, had allegedly accumulated assets worth about Rs 6.03 crore in his name and in the name of his family members which were found to be disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The allegations have been strongly refuted by Virbhadra.
There will be no public holiday and yoga will be voluntary for central government employees on Tuesday, when the country observes second .

"There will be no holiday and all government offices will remain open tomorrow," a senior official in Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said.

He said the Centre has not made it mandatory for the employees to take part in yoga.

"It is voluntary. Necessary arrangements have been put in place to allow employees to attend yoga at various programmes being organised across the country," the official said.

There are about 50 lakh central government employees.

Over one lakh events have been planned in the country on second . Of these, 10 regional-level mega events will be hosted in Varanasi, Imphal, Jammu, Shimla, Vadodara, Lucknow, Bengaluru, Vijayawada, Bhubaneshwar and Hoshiarpur.

The main programme will be held in Chandigarh which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Yoga day programmes will also be organised in 391 universities, 16,000 colleges and 12,000 schools across the country.
Odisha government today announced to bear all expenses towards study and boarding of three poor students who recently cracked All India Entrance Tests.

"I congratulate them for achieving such feat despite financial hurdles. The state government will bear the expenses incurred towards study and boarding during their course period," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said after felicitating the trio.

Patnaik also handed over one laptop each to Narayan Mallik from Bhanjanagar in Ganjam district who cracked the AIIMS entrance and Rajanikant Nayak and Kailash Chandra Bhakta who cleared the IIT-JEE examination this year.

Narayan Mallik secured 13th position in the AIIMS entrance in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, while Rajanikant Nayak from Denua village under Baruan block of Mayurbhanj district secured all-India ST rank of 245 in the IIT-JEE.

Kailash Chandra Bhakta, hailing from Dahibhata village of Nabarangpur district, has secured a rank of 1,114 among the tribal candidates.
A law student has filed a fresh application with the Election Commission seeking cancellation of membership of 27 AAP MLAs over the office of profit issue.

The 27 MLAs include seven legislators against whom the EC is already considering a similar plea. The list also includes Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, his deputy Rakhi Birla, former deputy speaker Bandana Kumari and estranged AAP MLA and Swaraj Abhiyan leader Pankaj Pushkar.

Vibhor Anand, the complainant, has claimed that these MLAs hold posts of Chairpersons of the Rogi Kalyan Samitis (RKSs) of different government hospitals in Delhi without any sanctity of law.

"The Delhi government in 2009 through its executive/ standing orders approved constituting Rogi Kalyan Samitis in all the hospitals with governing body under the chairmanship of local MLA in violating the mandate of scheme.

"The order of appointing MLAs either by the present Government or by the earlier Government, as chairperson of the Rogi Kalyan Samiti is wholly illegal and void ab initio, without any legal sanctity," the complaint said.

Responding to the complaint, a Delhi government spokesperson said Rogi Kalyan Samitis were set up by the Sheila Dikshit Cabinet on October 5, 2009. "These replaced old committees and this complaint appears to be frivolous," the spokesman said.

The EC said the complaint should be made to the President who, in turn, will send it to the Commission.
One person has been arrested in connection with the rape and murder case of a Dalit woman labourer at a paper mill here, police said today.

Sammer, who was arrested yesterday, has confessed to his involvement in the crime, they said.

Three persons, including a relative of a BSP MLA, were booked after the 38-year-old woman was allegedly raped and murdered at the mill owned by a the legislator last week.

Sameer said the woman was strangulated to death after being raped, police said.

Police are searching for other accused who are absconding.
The Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) today welcomed the Centre's decision to allow up to 74 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in pharmaceutical sector under the automatic route.

With the objective of promoting the development of this sector, it has been decided to permit up to 74 per cent FDI under automatic route in brownfield pharmaceuticals and government approval route beyond 74 per cent will continue.

"We welcome (the) government's decision to make changes to the FDI policy. We believe that this will provide an impetus to employment and job creation in the country," OPPI Director General Kanchana TK told PTI here.

"The decision...Will augur well with our members who are constantly exploring ways of ensuring new drugs and medicines are made available to Indian patients," Kanchana added.

Under the existing policy in the sector, 100 per cent FDI is allowed under automatic route in greenfield pharma and up to 100 per cent under government approval in brownfield pharma.

The new norms will enable enhanced investments (in the form of M&A activity) from the MNC companies, which believe in the growth potential of the domestic industry.

"We remain positive on the sector, maintaining our recommendations," Angel Broking VP Research- Pharma Sarabjit Kour Nangra said.
In the midst of his assault on an Orlando nightclub, gunman Omar Mateen claimed credit for the massacre and identified himself as an "Islamic soldier" while warning of more bloodshed to come, according to partial transcripts of his phone calls released by the FBI.

"I am in Orlando, and I did the shootings," Mateen told a 911 dispatcher in Arabic just after 2:30 am on June 12.

"In these calls, the shooter, who identified himself as an Islamic soldier, told the crisis negotiator that he was the person who pledged his allegiance to [omitted], and told the negotiator to tell America to stop bombing Syria and Iraq and that is why he was 'out here right now'," said the transcripts of the call.

The transcripts however redacts the ISIS's name.

Mateen killed 49 people and injured 53 others at a gay club in Orlando, Florida in wee hours of June 12.

"When the crisis negotiator asked the shooter what he had done, the shooter stated, 'No, you already know what I did'."



The shooter continued, stating, "There is some vehicle outside that has some bombs, just to let you know. You people are gonna get it, and I'm gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid," it said.

Later in the call, Mateen that he had a vest, and further described it as the kind they "used in France".

"In the next few days, you're going to see more of this type of action going on," he said.

The shooter hung up and multiple attempts to get in touch with him were unsuccessful, the FBI said.

The Speaker of the US House of Representatives Paul Ryan condemned the FBI for redacting portions of the transcripts.

"Selectively editing this transcript is preposterous. We know the shooter was a radical Islamist extremist inspired by ISIS. We also know he intentionally targeted the LGBT community. The administration should release the full, unredacted transcript so the public is clear-eyed about who did this and why," Ryan said in a statement.

The FBI said out of respect for the victims of this horrific tragedy, law enforcement will not be releasing audio of the shooter's calls at this time, nor will law enforcement be releasing audio or transcripts of the calls made by victims at the Pulse nightclub during the incident.

"Furthermore, the name of the shooter and that of the person/group to whom he pledged allegiance are omitted," FBI said in a statement.

(Reopens FES 121)



The FBI said there were no evidence that the



Afghan-origin shooter was directed by a foreign terrorist group.

"We currently have no evidence that he was directed by a foreign terrorist group but was radicalised domestically," Ron Hopper, FBI Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge told reporters at a conference in Orlando.

"He does not represent the religion of Islam but a perverted view, which, based on what we know today, was inspired by extremist killers," the FBI official said.

The killer stated that he had an explosive device but none was found, he added.

Hopper said their investigation into the motives behind the killer and anyone who may have conspired with him or supported him continues.

"Please also keep in mind that the investigation of the shooting exchanged between police and the killer is ongoing," he said.

Hopper said so far the Joint Terrorism Fast Force has conducted over 500 interviews.

"117 vehicles were released to owners and registrants of family members of the victims who were at the Pulse nightclub and we have approximately 10 left to return," he said.

"More than 600 pieces of evidence were obtained and processed from the crime scene. We've received thousands of tips based on our appeal to the public," Hopper said.
More than 30,000 people will perform yoga tomorrow at Sawai Mansingh stadium here on International Yoga Day.

Union minister Uma Bharti and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje will take part in the event along with public representatives, government officials, members of social organisations, NCC, scout and guide, Nehru Yuva Kendra, students and others, said state Health Minister Rajendra Rathore.

More than 40 lakh people across the state will take part in International Yoga Day programmes, he claimed.

The Chief Minister has appealed to the people of the state to turn to yoga for a "healthy and balanced" life.

Yoga is a "priceless medicine" which leads one towards a healthy life. It is an integral part of Indian culture. Thanks to India's efforts, the UN has recognised June 21 as International Yoga Day and people the world over are embracing yoga, Raje said in a message.
Top Pakistani officials today held discussions with their Afghan counterparts on the recent border clashes over the construction of a security gate by Pakistan.

A six-member delegation led by Afghan deputy foreign minister Hekmat Karzai arrived here this morning. He led his side for talks with the Pakistani delegation led by foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, the Pakistan Foreign Office said.

"The talks were held in cordial atmosphere," it said.

The Afghan delegation also called on the Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, who last week had held talks with Afghan National Security Advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar to defuse border tensions.

The tensions started last weekend when the two sides clashed over the security structures being built by Pakistan to stop illegal border movement.

Pakistan on Friday re-opened its Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan after closing it for about six days due to tension over construction of the gate.

The busy border crossing in the northwest was closed due to clashes between the two sides which killed a Pakistan army Major and an Afghan border guard.

Pakistan has already announced that no one will be allowed to enter through Torkham without valid documents from June 1.

Pakistan has also announced that security gates will be constructed at eight recognised entry points from Afghanistan and patrolling of about 2,400-km long border will be increased to check illegal crossings.
A Parliamentary panel visited the International Border today and was briefed by BSF authorities about the management system along the borderline with Pakistan in Jammu sector.

The departmental-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs consisting of 12 MPs, including D Raja and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary, of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha led by P Bhattacharya is visiting Jammu from 19 to June 21, a BSF spokesman said.

The panel had also visited the IB yesterday.

The aim of the visit is to examine border management, modernisation of police and Central Armed Police Forces and organisations, he said.

The committee was today briefed by BSF IG of Jammu D K Upadhyaya on prevailing security scenario on Jammu International Border (IB) and the border management system and measures undertaken by BSF to ensure fool-proof security of the border, the spokesman said.

Afterwards, the committee visited border areas of R S Pura Sector and took stock of the border security, he added.

Pawan Kotwal, Divisional Commissioner of Jammu andDanish Rana, IG (P), Jammu accompanied the committee during the visit, he said



At Border-out-Post (BoP) Pittal, the committee interacted with farmers and border population.

"Overall, the delegation was satisfied with present efforts of border management in the Jammu region," the spokesman added.
The French Indian Rights Forum of Puducherry today urged the union territory government to set up a separate State Public Service Commission to ensure employment opportunities for the local youth.

After submitting a memorandum to Chief Minister V Narayanasamy in this regard, Chairman of the forum, M Ilango told the media that the delegation had demanded that the administration rescind the UPSC notification issued in March this year for recruitment of 159 Assistant Professors in Arts and Science colleges, run by the territorial government.

He claimed that the recruitment process of UPSC, had been practically depriving the local candidates of the chance for getting placements and postings in the Union Territory.

Candidates who were residents of Puducherry for the last five years should be considered for posting and the Presidential order issued in 1964 for reservation to SC candidates should also be adhered to, the memorandum said.
Pregnant teens in Australia are deliberately taking up smoking to help them reduce the birth weight of their unborn babies and make childbirths less dangerous and painful, a shocking new research has found.

According to a 10-year study into smoking in Australia, girls as young as 16 are taking up smoking as they are more afraid of labour pains linked to having a large child rather than the health complications caused by cigarettes.

"They had read on packets that smoking can reduce the birth weight of your baby, which is obviously not how the public health message is intended to be taken," said Simone Dennis, associate professor at the Australian National University.

"They were scared because they were small. The worst thing that could happen to them was to have an enormous baby," Dennis was quoted as saying by 'The New Zealand Herald'.

"Some had even taken it up for the first time for that very reason, and some smoked harder, hoping the promise on the packet would come true," she said.

The findings are published in the book Smokefree.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tonight arrived here to participate in the second International Yoga Day celebrations tomorrow.

He was received at the airport by Punjab and Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, who is also UT Chandigarh's Administrator, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar, official sources said.

The Prime Minister will stay at Punjab Raj Bhawan here, they said.

Modi will join 30,000 people for the second International Yoga Day celebrations here tomorrow to be held amid tight security. He will lead the celebrations at Capitol Complex, designed by French architect Le Corbusier.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will make a state visit to China this week in a bid to consolidate mutual political and strategic trust and inject new impetus to bilateral ties, senior Chinese diplomat said today.

Putin will visit China from June 25 after attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting in Tashkent where he will be meeting his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

Both Xi and Putin were scheduled to attend the SCO summiton June 23 to 24 where the member countries will review progress for admission of India and Pakistan as regular members.

SCOwhich was founded in 2001 in Shanghai comprise of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as full members.

Afghanistan, Belarus, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan has observer status.

Putin will visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi, Lu said in a statement.

Xi will hold talks with Putin and they will have an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral ties and issues of common concern, another Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

The two leaders will plan the development direction and priority cooperation areas of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, and they will sign important political documents and witness the inking of a series of documents of pragmatic cooperation, she said.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and top legislator Zhang Dejiang will also meet Putin, Hua said.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Russian Good-Neighbourly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation and both sides will hold events to mark the occasion, Hua said.

China hopes that Putin's upcoming visit will consolidate mutual political and strategic trust, promote pragmatic cooperation in various areas, inject new impetus to bilateral ties, and contribute more to international and regional peace, security and stability.
A day after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley attacked him over his family's alleged foreign accounts, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh today hit back at him, accusing him of trying to "avenge his humiliating defeat" in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

He also dared senior BJP leader to "furnish the address with the proof of ownership" of properties which Jaitley had accused him of having abroad while maintaining that he would "produce all the evidence" as how he (Jaitley) was "trying to abuse his position" to target him.

Amarinder was responding to Jaitley's claim that he had located "illegal properties" abroad. He said the minister should not rely on the "documents which someone stole" from a Swiss Bank years ago and sold to the French government, that in turn gave to the government of India.

The Congress' deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, who defeated Jaitley in the 2014 General Elections from Amritsar, lashed out at him for allegedly behaving like the "spokesman of the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax department and not as their boss".

"Time, they say, is a great healer, but unfortunately nothing seems to work or heal for Jaitley", he said, while reacting to Jaitley's charges made during a speech in Bathinda yesterday.

"The way Jaitley spat venom at me, has only vindicated and validated my stand that he is trying to avenge his humiliating defeat by unleashing these departments (the ED and IT) at me and my family"," Amarinder said.

Addressing a 'Vikas Parv' rally in Bathinda, Jaitley yesterday said, "I recall when there was Congress government in Punjab in 2002 led by Capt Amarinder Singh, he used to cook up stories about the Badal family, claiming that they have land in Australia, petrol pump in America, besides levelling other charges, but he failed to prove the allegations. We have found accounts of Capt Sahib's family."



The PCC president said, it was good that the Finance Minister "betrayed" his intentions at Bathinda yesterday, as it will further strengthen his case and establish that the ED was "directly acting" under the minister's instructions.

"Unfortunately Jaitley seems to have chosen and resolved not to let his wounds and the bruised ego to heal over his humiliating defeat in Amritsar, even after the passage of two long years", the PCC president said, adding, "anyway, if he has chosen to use his agencies to avenge that defeat, I am ready for it and will fight it to the finish and expose his ulterior motives and intentions".
English rock band Rolling Stone's Ronnie Wood and his wife Sally have introduced their baby twin girls to the world.

The 69-year-old legendary guitarist and actress-theatre producer Sally welcomed Gracie Jane and Alice Rose into the world on May 30 at St Thomas hospital in London, reported People magazine.

"I am the burper, walker, nappy changer and I'm still trying to work out when I can get to sleep in between all that.

"I have played the guitar to them and when I get round to it I will do some drawings," Wood said.

Posing with the twins for the first time, he revealed Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger was one of the first people to visit them.

"He couldn't wait to see them, I put one in each arm and took a photo," he said.

"At the moment I' m just soaking up every moment we have. I have Sally, I have my beautiful family and I have two little gorgeous dolly girls. All I can think is that someone up there really likes me," he added.

Wood now has six children. A son Jesse, 39, by first wife Krissy Findlay, who died in 2005, Leah, 37, and Tyrone, 32, with second wife Jo. He adopted Jamie, 41, from Jo's earlier marriage.
The first personal items of passengers aboard Malaysia Airlines flight may have been found in the waters off Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, a media report said today as officials from Malaysia, Australia and China met here to chart the future direction of search operations for the missing plane.

Debris hunter Blaine Gibson says he also found two possible pieces of debris on a beach near the same place he discovered other pieces of a plane that Australian authorities have said "almost certainly" belong to the missing Boeing 777 airliner.

The Malaysian Airlines flight went missing with 239 people on board in March 2014, and despite a two-year search investigation, mystery still surrounds its final resting place in the Indian Ocean.

Gibson told CNN that he found 15 to 20 possible personal effects, including a small backpack, purse, computer case, phone cases and cabin-sized carry-on type items, on a Madagascar beach between June 7 and June 16.

He says there was nothing to identify who the items belong to, and has sent the images to families support group to see if anyone recognises them.

Malaysian and Australian authorities had been notified of the find, he said, and planned to collect them for analysis.

The two new pieces of potential debris found include a strip of plastic fiber glass covered in gray paint and a piece of brown plastic fiber glass. Both are about 40 centimeters long.

Gibson says he found them on the island of Nosy Boraha, off the east coast of Madagascar  the same location where he found three possible plane debris pieces on June 6.

Officials from Malaysia, Australia and China are meeting in Kuala Lumpur this week to discuss the search, which has swept vast areas of the ocean floor off the Australian coast.

In a statement issued Monday, the three countries said they've agreed to act together to take decisions relating to the search for .

The statement noted that in April 2015, the countries agreed that  in the absence of credible new information  the search would end if the plane was not found in the designated search zone in southern Indian Ocean.

It is now expected to take until at least August for teams to cover the 120,000 square kilometer search zone, due to recent disruptions from rough weather.

More than 105,000 square kilometers have been searched so far, according to the Australian government's Joint Action Coordination Center, heading the hunt for MH370.
Six top commanders, including former chief of the terror group Hakimullah Mehsud's brother and uncle, along with 30 militants have surrendered to security forces in Pakistan, officials said on Monday.

The rebel leaders laid down arms in Khurram tribal agency on Saturday night after coming back from Afghanistan.

Those surrendered include Ejaz Mehsud and Khair Muhammad Mehsud, brother and uncle of killed leader Hakimullah. These commanders surrendered with 30 other militants.

"The six commanders are with the security forces and being interrogated," an official said on condition of anonymity.

Another official said an initial probe showed that they had fled to Afghanistan after military launched a massive operation in 2014 in North Waziristan which killed over 3,500 militants.

"They were arrested on their return from Afghanistan," he said.

All the surrendered militants have been shifted to the security forces fort in Tull area, another official said.

Pakistan said that militants living in Afghanistan include chief Mullah Fazlullah who succeeded Hakimullah. Hakimullah was killed in a US drone attack in 2013.
The son of a high court judge in was abducted by unidentified armed men from outside a shopping mart here, media reports said today.

Ovais Shah, the son of the Chief Justice of Sindh High Court, was abducted from Clifton by four armed men who came in a white car with a green number plate.

Green number plates are reserved for government vehicles in .

A senior police official said so far no case of kidnapping had been registered but Ovais was missing and untraceable until now.

"His mobile phone is switched off. We have detained five persons from the parking area for questioning," he said.

The abduction came just weeks after the sons of two high-profile politicians returned home after spending years in captivity of militant outfits.

Shahbaz Taseer, the son of former slain Punjab governor Salman Taseer, returned home in March after spending five years in captivity.

In May, Ali Haider, the son of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, was rescued in Afghanistan after spending three years in captivity of militants.
Actor Anton Yelchin, best known for playing Chekov in the new "Star Trek" films, has died. He was 27.

The actor, who also appeared in "Terminator Salvation," died early Sunday morning in a "fatal traffic collision," reported People magazine.

"His family requests you respect their privacy at this time," Yelchin's representative said in a statement.

According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office, Yelchin's body was found pinned between a car and a gate at a home in Studio City, California.

He was on his way to meet his friends for rehearsal and when he didn't respond, his friends went to check on him. The actor was pronounced dead at 1:10 am local time on Sunday.

Yelchin stars in the upcoming "Star Trek Beyond," which is set to release on July 22. The film's studio, Paramount Pictures, released a statement on Yelchin's death.

"All of us at Paramount join the world in mourning the untimely passing of Anton Yelchin. As a member of the 'Star Trek' family, he was beloved by so many and he will missed by all. We share our deepest condolences with his mother, father and family," the statement read.

Born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Yelchin and his family moved to the United States in 1989. His parents were celebrated Russian ice skaters Irina (nee Korina) and Viktor Yelchin.

He started acting as a child, both in films and TV including Steven Spielberg's Emmy-award winning TV series "Taken," which aired in late 2002. Yelchin went on to star in several films released in 2001, including "Along Came a Spider," but garnered the most recognition for "Hearts in Atlantis."



In 2006, Yelchin received widespread acclaim for "Alpha Dog," a crime thriller drawing from the real-life story of kidnap and murder victim Nicholas Markowitz.

He enrolled in the University of Southern California in 2007 to study film and did a number of smaller and independent films, including Jodie Foster's "The Beaver".

Yelchin's final film will be "Thoroughbred," which he wrapped in Boston just two weeks before his death.

The project is a psychological thriller about two suburban teenage girls, who discover that a murder might solve both of their problems. It will release on November 18.
BJP MP on Monday mounted a sharp attack on Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, accusing him of seeking "guidance" of Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Political Secretary Ahmed Patel.

He made the attack on Jung while joining a protest by BJP MP Maheish Girri, who demanded an apology from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for linking him to the murder of an NDMC official.

Separately, Swamy, in a letter to President Pranab Mukherjee, said he has information to suggest that the Jung was playing a "mischievous role" in "abetting" Kejriwal at the behest of Congress to embarrass BJP.

"He (Jung) has no work other than making rounds of Ahmed Patel's place. He (Jung) should have spoken out for MPs like Girri and he should have ordered Kejriwal to provide documents or apologise," Swamy told reporters.

He also said Jung should have categorically told Kejriwal that if he does not substantiate his allegations against Girri or apologise, then he would recommend to the Centre dismissal of the AAP government.

The BJP MP said he would go after Kejriwal like the way he took on RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan. "I was after Rajan in the recent past. He has left now. Girri is a religious person who has dedicated his life to public service. You are the CM, give written complaint. And what this LG is doing."



In his letter to President Pranab Mukherjee, Swamy said, "I request you to intervene, particularly since I have information to suggest that the LG is playing a mischievous role in abetting Kejriwal at the behest of the Congress party to embarrass the BJP and, at the same time, appearing to oppose Kejriwal in public for sake of credibility."



Swamy said Delhi government should be dismissed if Kejriwal refuses to apologise to the party MP over his allegations.

He also accused Kejriwal of breaching constitutional norms in running the Delhi government and sought the President's intervention, saying there appears to be a complete breakdown of governance.

Swamy requested the President to ask the Union Home Ministry to issue a directive as per provision of the Constitution and seek a report asking on what basis Kejriwal and his colleagues have made allegations of murder against Girri.

"There appears to be a complete breakdown of any semblance of governance in National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. The AAP is functioning in a highly arbitrary, unreasonable and malafide manner.

"Since the NCT is where the Union Government is also located, it has become crucial to restore some semblance of governance immediately," said Swamy in the letter.

Girri has been holding a protest outside Kejriwal's residence in Civil Lines demanding proof of his allegations. Swamy had joined Girri briefly in the protest.
Telangana government today said it has inked a deal with China's Hainan province for establishment of sister-province relationship with it.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by the Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce Arvind Kumar and Liu Cigui, Governor of Hainan, an island province in southern part of China, an official release said.

Under the pact, both the parties will make concerted efforts on the basis of equality and mutual benefits to promote people to people friendly contacts. The agreement also aims to boost economic and trade ties between the two sides and actively carry out exchanges and cooperation in the fields of IT industry, manufacturing and others, it said.

"The sister-province relationship is for the purpose of further enhancing and developing friendship and cooperation between the two sides and promoting mutual understanding between the people of India and China through friendly consultations," it said.

Meanwhile, Apollo Hospitals also entered into an agreement to set up a hospital in Hainan province while T-Hub signed an agreement to encourage startups, the release said.

Welcoming the high-level delegation, K T Rama Rao (KTR) Telangana Minister for IT and Industries said the agreement between Hainan and the state would pave the way for increased cooperation between the two states in the fields of IT and life science sector.

As per the release, Cigui invited Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and KTR to visit Hainan province.
Concerned over Rs 2,100 crore cane arrears in Uttar Pradesh, Minister of State for Agriculture on Monday said the state government should take over the defaulting and arrest their owners.

At present, total cane arrears in stands at about Rs 2,118 crore. Out of which, a maximum due of Rs 1,800 crore belongs to just four .

"Cane arrears is a big issue in UP. Four mills  Mawana, Modi, Simbhaoli and Rana Sugars  owe Rs 1,800 crore dues to cane growers. The defaulting mill owners should be arrested. The UP government should takeover such mills. The central government is ready to help them in this regard," Balyan told reporters in New Delhi.

The state government is not taking stringent action against defaulting mills despite law in place, he said, adding that if the government takes over one mill, the rest will start making payment to farmers.

The sugar rates now are at a favourable level for mills and they should have made payments promptly. Bajaj Hindustan had cleared 50% of the dues, while others are yet to make, he added.

Balyan, who is a Bharatiya Janata Party parliamentarian from Muzaffarnagar, said the state government has not taken any action despite writing several letters.

According to the industry players, the four mills have not been able to clear cane arrears because they did not get working capital from banks. They would be able to clear dues after they sell sugar in the market.

The cash crunch of these mills has aggravated with the state government not yet clearing their power dues. These mills were not given soft loan last year.

Sugar production in Uttar Pradesh, the second largest producing state, is estimated to decline to 6.8 million tonnes in 2015-16 marketing year (October-September) from 7.1 million tonnes in the previous year. The crushing for this year has been completed.

The fall in sugar output was due to decline in cane yields in view of unseasonal rains.
Tearful British MPs paid glowing tributes to their slain colleague Jo Cox in the House of Commons today at a special session to honour the "passionate and progressive" Labour politician who was murdered by a far-right activist.

41-year-old Cox had bled to death in hospital after she was brutally shot and stabbed while holding her regular meeting with constituents of Batley and Spen in West Yorkshire last Thursday.

The Speaker of the House of Commons led the tributes to the "caring, eloquent, principled and wise" politician and mother-of-two.

"An attack like this strikes not only at an individual, but at our freedom. That is why we assemble here, both to honour Jo and to redouble our dedication to democracy," Speaker Jon Bercow said soon after sombre and tearful MPs filed into the Commons this afternoon.

Prime Minister David Cameron described Cox as an "extraordinary colleague and friend", who was a humanitarian "to her core" who brought out "the best" in people.

He said, "She was a voice of compassion, whose boundless energy lit up the lives of all who knew her and saved the lives of many she never met. We pay tribute to a loving, determined, passionate and progressive politician, who epitomised the best of humanity and proved so often the power of politics to make the world a better place".

In a unique gesture of cross-party solidarity, Cameron had given up his right to speak first to allow Opposition Labour's Jeremy Corbyn to lead the official motion on the recall of Parliament.

Corbyn said the UK had been "united in grief" over the "horrific act".

"We have lost one of our own and society as a whole has lost one of our very best...The horrific act that took her from us was an attack on democracy and our whole country has been shocked and saddened by it," he said.

Parliament had been in recess to allow MPs to concentrate on campaigning in the final days running up to the European Union (EU) referendum on Thursday.

However, the rare decision to recall MPs was taken to allow colleagues to pay their tributes to Cox, who's seat in the House of Commons today had a single white rose.

All members of the Commons across party lines also wore white roses in their lapels in memory of Cox.

Her husband Brendan and family members watched from the gallery as the packed chamber praised the achievements of Cox who would have celebrated her 42nd birthday on Wednesday. A simultaneous special session was also held in the House of Lords.

REOPENS FGN 30



Afterwards, MPs and peers walked together in a procession to St Margaret's Church, opposite the British Parliament, for a memorial service.

A memorial fund to raise money for charities the former charity worker and feminist activist supported had reached over 800,000 pounds today.

It emerged over the weekend, that the slain MP was working on a report against the rise of far-right groups in her northern England constituency before her killing.

Cox, who was killed outside her constituency office in Birstall village, was going to warn of an increase in anti-Muslim attacks - particularly against women - it emerged.

"She met us to talk about how people could report attacks; particularly women in her constituency," said Fiyaz Mughal, the founder and director of anti-Islamophobia group Tell Mama.

"The majority (of incidents) at street level were (on) women and she was going to raise that (in Parliament)," he said.

The revelation came as the man charged with her murder, Thomas alias Tommy Mair, appeared at Old Bailey court via video link today.

Mair, who has been described as a far-right loner from Birstall, is charged with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.

There was no application for bail and the 52-year-old was remanded in custody to appear before Justice Saunders on Thursday.

Cox is the first sitting British MP to be killed since Conservative Ian Gow was blown up by an Irish Republican Army (IRA) car bomb in 1990.
Tamil Nadu government today announced an enhanced relief of Rs one crore to the family of a police constable who was killed allegedly by a chain snatcher in Krishnagiri district last week and assured bearing his daughter's education expenses.

Making the announcement in the state assembly, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa enhanced the compensation from Rs five lakh, announced last week, to Rs one crore to the family of constable Munusamy, who was killed in Hosur.

"Although I had sanctioned Rs five lakh in line with government rules, it is my firm belief that this amount is not enough for the family of Munusamy, who was killed while trying to nab the chain-snatcher," she said announcing the manifold increase.

Therefore, the amount has been enhanced to Rs one crore, Jayalalithaa said.

The government will bear the higher education expenses of Rakshana, daughter of the slain constable, she said in a suo motu statement.

Jayalalithaa said she had directed the Chief Secretary to issue a revised Government Order to sanction enhanced sums as relief to Police and Fire and Rescue Services personnel who die or sustain grievous injuries in instances of bravery.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today directed the principal secretary, Health, to probe allegations of sexual harassment levelled by a woman doctor against the personal secretary of the department's minister Deepak Sawant.

"The allegations will be probed by Principal Secretary (Public Health) Sujata Saunik," Fadnavis told reporters here.

The 26-year-old doctor from Jalgaon district had recently written to the Chief Minister against the Personal Secretary (PS), identified as Sunil Mali.

In her letter, she claimed that Mali asked her "inappropriate and personal questions for around two hours in the minister's ante-chamber" when she went to Sawant to give him a presentation on replicating her project across 1,800 PHCs across the state.

The doctor had recently claimed to have fully digitised a primary health centre (PHC), in terms of equipment and data, at Patonda village in Jalgaon district of the state.

Mali had dismissed the allegations against him.

Addressing reporters, Sawant today said he was "in favour of a fair probe but no one should be punished unnecessarily".

Sources claimed that Mali has been asked to go on leave till the probe is over.

Meanwhile, the District Health Officers Cadre Association today lodged a complaint with the Chief Minister's office demanding Mali's suspension and appropriate action against him.

(Reopens BES32)



Meanwhile, a senior inspector of Marine Drive police station here said they have received a written complaint from the woman doctor against Mali, but yet to register an FIR.

The woman stated in her complaint that she had been sexually harassed by Mali since March, he said, adding an investigation is underway.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar today met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed various issues concerning the state.

The Chief Minister briefed the Home Minister on the prevailing law-and-order situation in Tripura and issues related to Indo-Bangladesh border.

Official sources said Singh assured central government's assistance in resolving various problems of the state.

Out of the 4,096-km-long Indo-Bangladesh border, 856 km falls in Tripura.
Turkey stepped up its crackdown on the media today, detaining and charging the local representative of international rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and two intellectuals for "terrorist propaganda".

RSF representative Erol Onderoglu, journalist Ahmet Nesin and rights activist and academic Sebnem Korur Fincanci were charged for taking part in a campaign of solidarity with a pro-Kurdish newspaper in May.

"The prosecutor in our case demanded that we be charged and jailed for terrorist propaganda", in support of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an armed Kurdish rebel group that Turkish forces are battling in the country's southeast, Onderoglu told AFP by phone.

RSF swiftly condemned the prosecution and pre-trial detention of the three, who in May had taken symbolic control of the pro-Kurdish newspaper Ozgur Gundem, which has been in the crosshairs of the Turkish authorities for years.

"This is another dark day for media freedom in Turkey," said Johann Bihr, the head of RSF's eastern Europe and central Asia desk, in a statement.

About 100 people rallied in support of the three outside the court in Istanbul where they made a brief appearance today. "We will not bow to pressure", the protesters chanted.

The international community has voiced increasing alarm about the erosion of press freedoms in Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe said it was "appalled" by the detention of the three and called for their release.

"The authorities should drop the charges and stop using imprisonment as a way to fight differing voices," said Dunja Mijatovic, the OSCE media freedom representative, in a statement.

The arrests come despite the European Union pressuring Ankara to stop prosecuting academics and journalists and to change its terrorism laws, one of the conditions of its controversial migrant deal with Turkey that promises visa-free access for Turks, among other incentives.

Turkey is waging a large-scale military offensive against the PKK in the Kurdish-majority southeast, and has clamped down on those it accuses of supporting what it and its Western allies consider a terrorist group.

Onderoglu has represented RSF in Turkey since 1996, while Nesin is a well known writer and journalist, and Fincanci is an academic who heads the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey.
Two persons, including a 12-year-old boy sustained bullet injuries when an unidentified duo allegedly opened fire at a crowd following a failed attempt to kill one of their rivals in outer Delhi's Vijay Vihar area today.

The injured persons, identified as Rakesh (29) and Vimal (12), were rushed to a hospital and they are stated to be out of danger, a senior police official said.

The incident took place around 11:30 am when two persons on a motorbike went to Vijay Vihar locality to allegedly kill a cable operator.

The bullet missed the target and by the time the duo tried to kick-start their motorbike again they were surrounded by a crowd, which had also called up police.

The duo allegedly opened fire to disperse the crowd and fled.

Soon it emerged that Vimal and Rakesh had sustained bullet injuries.

A case of attempt to murder has been registered and efforts are on to nab the accused, the official said.
In a bizarre incident, a 64-year- old gun shop owner in the US was shot and killed when a student accidentally fired a weapon during a firearms safety class at his business.

James Baker, the owner of an Ohio gun shop, was fatally shot when a student in a concealed carry permit class accidentally discharged a weapon, the Clermont County Sheriff's Office said.

Baker was shot in the neck and pronounced dead at his KayJay Gun Shop, the sheriff's office said in a statement. He was struck by a bullet that was fired by a class participant while practicing weapon malfunction drills on Saturday.

The sheriff's office reported about 10 people were taking the class in a room adjacent to where Baker was sitting. The student who discharged the handgun has not been identified, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

The incident comes amid a raging debate in the US over gun control laws in the wake of the Orlando gay club massacre in which Afghan-origin gunman Omar Mateen killed 49 people.

In the hours following the fatal incident at the gun shop, nearly a dozen people gathered in front of the business sharing hugs and tears.

Anita Fritz, a neighbour, was quoted as saying that she had known Baker since 1999. She was holding a yard sale in the front yard of her father's home across the street of the gun shop when police and an ambulance arrived.

Fritz described Baker as the best neighbour you could ever have.

"He was a friend to everybody," she said. "If it snowed, he'd get everybody's driveway."



She recalled that Baker worked in law enforcement in the 1970s and was a friend to local police and deputies.

KayJay Gun Shop's website advertises concealed carry permit classes along with tactical rifle and defensive pistol classes.
There has been an uptick in discriminatory backlash targeting Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and Arabs in the following the recent terrorist attacks, a top Obama Administration official said today and asked people to speak out against such discrimination.

"Following recent heinous acts of terrorism over the past year, we see an uptick in discriminatory backlash targeting Muslim communities. We also see this backlash targeting communities perceived to be Muslim: Arabs, Sikhs and South Asians, including people of the Hindu faith," said Vanita Gupta, principal deputy assistant attorney general for civil rights.

"This discriminatory backlash doesn't just harm one community. It violates the defining values of our country. As a nation  and as a people  we cannot, and we will not, stay silent when individuals choose to attack or discriminate against any faith or any community. Together, we must speak out. And together, we must respond," Indian-American Gupta said in her key note address to the inaugural policy conference of the Hindu American Foundation.

Gupta said President Barack Obama and Attorney General Loretta E Lynch have made this point several times in recent months.

"To anyone who feels afraid, targeted or discriminated against because of which religion you practice or where you worship, I want to say this  we see you. We will protect you. And we will do everything in our power to defend your rights to live free from violence, harassment and discrimination  rights that our Constitution guarantees and rights that form the bedrock of a free, open and inclusive society," she said.

Gupta said to advance this mission, the Justice Department continues to vigorously prosecute religion-based hate crimes.

In 2015, the FBI updated its Hate Crime Data Collection Guidelines and Training Manual, and it now uses separate categories to track hate crimes targeting Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus and Arabs.

"This greatly enhances our ability to understand the problem of hate violence and effectively allocate resources," she observed.

"In addition, with faith communities reporting violence against houses of worship, we want to ensure you get access to the resources, assistance, guidance and support you need to keep your communities safe," she added.

"Last December, the Civil Rights Division participated in a webinar sponsored by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to help prepare houses of worship for emergencies by reviewing available resources. More than 1,900 clergy and religious community leaders watched the webinar," she said.
Amidst increasing political rhetoric against refugees inside the country, President Barack Obama today asserted that the US will continue to welcome them because doing so reflects America's values.

Obama also announced to convene a Leaders Summit on Refugees in September on the sidelines of the annual General Assembly session of the United Nations.

"In September, when world leaders meet for the UN General Assembly, I will convene a Leaders' Summit on Refugees," Obama said.

In advance of that Summit, the US is urging other governments to contribute more funding for humanitarian aid operations, to grant more refugees the chance to work and attend school, and to provide more resettlement opportunities for refugees who cannot safely go home or remain where they are, he said.

"Protecting and assisting refugees is a part of our history as a Nation, and we will continue to alleviate the suffering of refugees abroad, and to welcome them here at home, because doing so reflects our American values and our noblest traditions as a Nation, enriches our society, and strengthens our collective security," Obama said in a statement on the occasion of the World Refugee Day.

Recognising the challenges and hardships that refugees face, honour their courage and resilience in the face of overwhelming obstacles, and celebrate their many valuable contributions to the US, Obama said this year's commemoration comes as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees reports that more people are displaced by rising violence, insecurity, and persecution than at any time on record.

Over 65 million people around the world - more than the population of France, or California and Texas combined - have been driven from their homes. More than half are children. The scale of this human suffering is almost unimaginable; the need for the world to respond is beyond question, he said.

Every day, members of the international community, humanitarian organizations, civil society, and individual citizens work to assist these vulnerable populations.

"For our part, the US provides more humanitarian assistance to refugees than any other nation and maintains the world's largest refugee resettlement program. We support programs that provide food, water, shelter, and medical care to refugees, and fight for their rights to safety, dignity and long-term livelihood opportunities," said the US President.
The CBEC's vigilance wing has been asked to probe the disappearance of gold worth about Rs 9 lakh from Customs vault at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here.

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has sought a report from the IGIA Customs explaining the circumstances in which gold seized from smugglers had disappeared, official sources said today.

An internal inquiry has been ordered and the department's Vigilance wing has also been asked to look into the matter, they said.

An FIR was registered recently by Delhi Police on the complaint of customs officials who said two gold chains and bangles, together weighing 298 gms, valued at about Rs 8.83 lakh, were replaced with yellow-coloured non-precious metal.

The incident came to light when packets containing 1.27 kg gold, including the stolen gold chains and bangles, duly sealed at the instance of a court, were opened by the customs officials before a departmental committee as part of inventorisation proceedings.

"It appears that the contents i.E. Two gold chains of primary gold total weighing 220 gms and four bangles of primary gold total weighing 78 gms were replaced with one rectangular slab (cuboid) of yellow metal (non-precious metal), which was not made of gold," reads the FIR.

These items were kept in a secure vault which contains seized yellow metal and other precious goods worth crores of rupees.

The FIR under Section 409 for criminal breach of trust by public servant and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC was registered against unknown persons on June 15 at the IGIA police station.

Police prima facie suspect it to be an insider's job.

It is not for the first time that gold has gone missing from the Customs vault.

Over 23 kg of gold worth more than Rs six crore had earlier gone missing from the Customs warehouse, officials have said in response to an RTI query filed by PTI.
A day after a rogue elephant was trapped and translocated in neighbouring Coimbatore district, residents of three villages in Bhavanisagar forest area under Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve today urged forest personnel to capture a wild tusker which has been damaging crops in the region.

Kembiah, a villager of Karatchikorai village near Thengumarahata forest area, submitted a petition on behalf of the villagers to the forest department in this regard.

The petition said the single male elephant had been wandering in Pungar, Annanagar, Karatchikorai and a few other areas and also entered fertile lands causing damage to banana and sugarcane crops in the region.

The villagers have failed in their attempt to scare away the elephant by beating drums and waving burning torches, he said adding they were unable to leave their homes after 7 pm due to fear of attack by the jumbo.

They appealed to the forest department to capture the elephant with the help of Kumki elephants as was done in Madukarai in Coimbatore.
Four labourers, including a woman, were today killed and another was injured when an under-constructionwall of a cold storage collapsed in Bheem village here, police said.

The wall collapsed when the labourers resumed their work after a brief break owing to heavy rain, they said.

Following the incident, locals rushed to the spot and started rescue operation but three of the labourers died on the spot, police said.

Basanti Devi (44), Jahangir Nadas (50) and his 25-year-old son Shamsad Nadas, hailing from Purnia in Bihar, died on the spot while Sageer succumbed to the injuries during treatment, they said.

Chand Mohammad, who was injured in the incident, is undergoing treatment, police said.

An FIR has been registered under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of IPC against Banwari Lal, the owner of the cold storage, SDM Vaibhav Sharma said.

According to police, Banwari Lal is absconding.

In a separate incident, 48-year-old Madan Singh today drowned in Yamuna river at Bengali Ghat here while performing rituals, police said.

Efforts to rescue him failed and later divers fished out his body.
A 62-year-old woman, who fell unconscious while praying to Lord Jagannth on the auspicious Snan Purnima Day here today, and died, police said.

The woman, identified as Annapurna Behera of Puri town, fell unconscious while offering prayer at the Grand Road facing Snan Mandap near the famous Lord Jagannath temple.

She was immediately taken to the district headquarter hospital where doctors declared her dead.

The doctors are yet to ascertain cause of her death, police said.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), today arrested a woman government employee for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1,400 from a self-help group member at a village in the district.

The accused, Bharti Ganpat Gavali, working as a supervisor in Child Development Project Office at Chandvad, was arrested from her office while accepting a bribe of Rs 1,400 from a member of Jai Ambika Self Help at Vadner Bhairav village in the district, an ACB release said.

This SHG provides food to an anganwadi (nursery schools run in rural/tribal areas) and the complainant was seeking clearance of Rs 31,500 dues that were pending for the past seven months.

"She had approached the supervisor to clear the dues. However, Gavali demanded a bribe of Rs 1,400 for this work, following which the complainant approached the ACB officials in Nashik. The ACB sleuths laid a trap and nabbed Gavali while accepting money this afternoon," the release said.
Youth Congress activists today took out a march to the state Secretariat here protesting against the controversial arrest of two Dalit sisters for allegedly attacking a CPI(M) activist here and also burnt the effigy of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The activists led by state Youth Congress President Dean Kuriakose raised slogans against the CPI(M)-led LDF government for arresting the two women of Thalassery in Kannur district, one of whom attempted suicide, police said.

They also burnt the effigy of Pinarayi Vijayan. Police chased them away using water cannons.

The sisters--Akhila and Anjana--had been summoned to the police station on June 17 and a case registered against them for allegedly attacking a CPI(M) worker and trespassing into the party office.

The two were released the next day after the National Commission for Scheduled Caste intervened.

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi had expressed concern over the arrest and promised all help from the party to the sisters, who had been released on bail.

The state commission for SC/ST has also registered a case. Akhila's 18-month old daughter had also spent a night in jail with her mother.

Anjana had allegedly attempted suicide after her release and is presently undergoing treatment at the Indira Gandhi Hospital at Thalassery.

Meanwhile, a Kannur report said Kerala Women's Commission Chairperson K Rosakutty and the 'Vanitha' (women) Police took the statement of Anjana at the hospital today.

Anjana, whose condition is stable now, has been shifted to a ward from the ICU, hospital sources said.
A youth, who snatched away a loaded sten gun from a naxalite, was praised by Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das today.

Dumka Police Superintendent Prabhat Kumar said a villager, Premchand Mandal, snatched a loaded sten gun from a naxalite at Amrapara in the district yesterday.

The police officer said a bid to target a contractor by some anti-social persons was foiled after the gun was snatched away.

Kumar said the police have launched anti-Naxal operation by Jharkhand Jaguar in the Ramgarh area.

The Chief Minister praised the youth for his bravery and said the government is with the people in such matters.

Appealing to the misguided youth to come back to the mainstream, the Chief Minister said the police would capture extortionists wherever they are.
By Manoj Kumar and Rajesh Kumar Singh

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India announced on Monday sweeping reforms to rules on foreign direct investment, clearing the way for Apple to open stores in the country and announcing easier terms for investors in sectors ranging from civil aviation to pharmaceuticals.

The move comes two days after central bank governor Raghuram Rajan, a darling of financial markets but under pressure from political opponents at home, announced he would not seek another term, a surprise move that raised concerns about whether reforms he set in motion would stall.

"These changes are fairly significant, particularly if you look at them in the context of what happened over the weekend with Governor Rajan's decision to step down," said Shilan Shah, India economist at Capital Economics in Singapore.

"It might be the government's way to illustrate its commitment to reforms and mitigate any investor fallout."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the changes to foreign direct investment (FDI) rules, tweeting they would make India "the most open economy in the world for FDI" and provide a "major impetus to employment and job creation".

Modi, 65, has pitched to global business to come and "Make in India" since winning power two years ago. His government has touted a 29 percent rise in FDI to $40 billion in the fiscal year to March as proof the policies are gaining traction.

Yet, with India ranking 130th in the World Bank's latest Ease of Doing Business index, multinationals remain cautious amid lingering concerns about bureaucratic red tape and unpredictable tax officials.

The last time Modi loosened FDI rules was after his nationalist party suffered a heavy defeat in a state election last autumn.

Some companies welcomed the news, but others and industry analysts said changes in several industries appeared limited and the headline-grabbing announcement was more about seeking to wrest back control of the economic narrative.

For example, while the new rules allow 100 percent FDI in civil aviation, investment by foreign airlines in domestic carriers remains capped at 49 percent.

Another new rule allows foreign companies to invest up to 74 percent in 'brownfield', or existing, pharmaceuticals projects without government approval. But previous rules allowed 100 percent foreign ownership if government approval was obtained, and analysts doubted the change would have a big impact.

BENEFICIARIES

The new rules, however, do offer relief for single-brand retailers such as Apple and furniture giant IKEA that are finding it tough to meet India's requirement for them to sell at least 30 percent locally sourced goods.

CEO Tim Cook visited India last month on a mission to expand Apple's presence in the world's fastest-growing smartphone market, at a time when sales in the United States and China have slowed.

Under the relaxed norms, Apple would have three years to meet the sourcing rules with an extension of another five years if its products are judged "state-of-art" and "cutting edge".

The new regime also seeks to attract defence contractors hitherto reluctant to transfer technology to India. They would be able to own local operations outright, with government approval, up from a cap of 49 percent previously - although again some industry sources said this did not mark a big change.

Saab, the Swedish defence and aerospace company that recently re-pitched its Gripen fighter jet to the Indian Air Force, welcomed the announcement.

"We think this is a very good move and this decision by the government only encourages us to start our business in India," said Robert Hewson, Saab's Asia-Pacific head of communications.

(Additional reporting by Aditi Shah, Rupam Jain; Writing by Douglas Busvine and Rajesh Kumar Singh; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman and Mark Potter)
Commercial Feature is a Business Standard Digital Marketing Initiative.

The Editorial/Content team at Business Standard has not contributed to writing or editing these articles.

For further information, please write to assist@bsmail.in
In the wake of the Uttar Pradesh polls next year, the BJP government is planning to fast-track work on a bullet train that will run between New Delhi and Varanasi. According to a report in The Times of India, the second bullet train after the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, will cover a distance of 782 kilometres, and will complete the journey between the national capital and Varanasi in about two hours and 40 minutes.

Fast-tracking the project between the national capital and the holy city of Varanasi, which is also PM Modi's Lok Sabha constituency, could be a part of BJP government's plan to depict a pro-development image that can help the Modi regime to garner votes in the 2017 UP polls.

The Delhi-Varanasi stretch is part of the New Delhi-Kolkata corridor and has been given the next top priority after the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor has been accelerated by tying up funds with Japan and setting up of the High Speed Rail Corporation.

The Delhi-Varanasi stretch will pass through Aligarh, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow and Sultanpur, wherein, the travel time between New Delhi and Lucknow (506 km) is likely to be 1 hour 45 minutes.

The report also stated that a Spanish firm, which has already submitted an interim report, is conducting feasibility study of the high-speed rail corridor and the firm is likely to submit its final report in November. The preliminary cost, without rolling stock, is estimated to be about Rs 43,000 crore for the Delhi-Varanasi stretch.

The first bullet train project on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor is expected to be completed by 2023.
The government on Monday radically liberalized the FDI policy with the objective of boosting employment in the country. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Following these changes, the country will become the most open economy in the world for FDI. Most of the sectors would be under automatic approval route, barring a small negative list, a government release said.

According to the official statement, this is the second major reform after the last radical changes announced in November 2015.

In a move to further liberalize FDI regime, the government has decided to increase sectoral caps and brought more activities under automatic route to encourage foreign investment.

According to the government release, these amendments seek to further simplify the regulations governing FDI in the country and make India an attractive destination for foreign investors.

As per new rules, 100 per cent FDI has been allowed under government approval route for trading, including through e-commerce, in respect of food products manufactured or produced in India.

In Defence sector, the government has done away with the condition of access to 'state-of-art' technology. Also, FDI limit for defence sector has also been made applicable to Manufacturing of Small Arms and Ammunitions covered under Arms Act 1959.

In pharma sector, the government has decided to permit up to 74% FDI under automatic route in brownfield pharmaceuticals and government approval route beyond 74% will continue.

In civil aviation sector, the government has decided to permit 100% FDI under automatic route in Brownfield Airport projects.


British Prime Minister David Cameron has invoked increasing trade with India as part of his plea to the public to vote to remain in the EU in Thursday's crucial referendum , saying the UK could do more with the country but cutting off from the main market would be "economic madness".

Cameron was taking questions from the audience last night as part of a special BBC 'Question Time' show when he said, "The rise of countries like India and China...[means we have] big economies that we need to trade with more. But European trade and European economies have grown a great amount since we joined in 1972".

He said Britain could "do more with India" but not at the expense of cutting itself off from the EU.

Responding to a question on why the share of EU world trade had dropped from 20 to 15 per cent, he said, "It has dropped as a share of the total but as an entity it has increased".

Cameron also said that about 80 per cent of Britain's economy is services, things like insurance and banking and architecture and sales and advertising etc.

"We sell more in services today to Luxembourg than we do to the whole of India. Of course, we need to do better with India; we need a trade deal with India. But the idea that we should cut ourselves off from our main market, I think is economic madness. We need to work to succeed in our main market and then open up the other markets," he said.

About 45 per cent of the UK's exports go to EU with its exports to the bloc accounting for 227 billion pounds and imports accounting for 288 billion pounds in 2014.

The debate for Britain's future with the 28-member economic bloc enters its final stages this week with just three days to go before the crucial referendum.

With opinion polls reflecting a very close contest between the side in favour to remain and those in favour of an exit, so-called Brexit, some of the UK's senior-most entrepreneurs and professionals today came out strongly for remain.

Ken Gregor, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Tata Motors owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), said: "Remaining in the EU our largest market will increase Jaguar Land Rover's chances to grow, create jobs and attract investment in future technologies."

"Our European supply chain has been fundamental in helping us to meet customer expectations worldwide and achieve sustainable, profitable growth," Gregor said.

He joined Britain's car industry trade body, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' (SMMT), to warn leaving the EU would increase costs and threaten jobs.

"Remaining will allow the UK to retain the influence on which the unique and successful UK automotive sector depends," said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.

Virgin Group boss Richard Branson, one of the country's most respected business tycoons, also warned that a British exit from the EU would be "devastating" for the UK's long- term prosperity.

"Although I've been living in the British Virgin Islands for some time now, I have never stopped caring passionately about the UK and its great people. I am one of the few business people who can remember how difficult it was before the EU was formed," Richard Branson writes in an open letter.

Drinks giant Diageo's chief executive, Ivan Menezes, also wrote to his company's 4,773 UK employees, telling them that it would be "better for the UK, better for Diageo and better for the Scotch whisky industry that we remain in".

Beyond just the business case, Britain's Premier League chief Richard Scudamore told BBC that leaving would be "incongruous" in the context of the league's commitment to "openness".

"There is an openness about the Premier League which I think it would be completely incongruous if we were to take the opposite position," he said.

Big business and financial firms have generally been in favour of staying in the EU, although surveys suggest that small businesses are more evenly split.

On the other side of the argument, John Longworth, chair of Vote Leave camp's business council, rebutted that the UK would be better off outside the EU.

He said: "The single market isn't a nirvana, it's a mirage. The single market's a protectionist area. [Under Brexit] We'd be able to remove the external barriers, reduce the cost of clothing and footwear. Reduce the cost of food products we can't produce in the UK because at the moment the EU puts tariffs up to the rest of the world which we have to pay for."

The campaign fully resumed on Sunday after a two-day suspension following the brutal murder of Labour MP Jo Cox.

Vote Leave campaigners have accused the remain camp of using the pro-EU views of Cox to its favour.

Andrew Murrison, a Conservative MP and former defence minister, said in a tweet that he later deleted: "Remain side spinning Jo Cox murder for partisan advantage in #EUReferendum shameful."

Meanwhile, pro-EU politicians believe the rhetoric from the Brexit campaign has gone too far in whipping up anti-immigrant feeling.

A poster from the far-right UK Independence Party (UKIP) entitled "Breaking Point: The EU has failed us all" and depicting hoards of immigrants lining up to enter the UK has created a storm on both sides.

Pakistani-origin former Foreign Office minister Baroness Warsi, who had been a Brexit supporter, switched sides saying she had been turned off by "hate and xenophobia" reflected in the poster.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described it as "vile and racist", while UK Chancellor George Osborne said it was "disgusting".UKIP chief Nigel Farage has defended the poster as "the truth of what's going on".
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said the central government would chalk out a plan to make 35 airports operational in smaller cities.

Speaking at a public rally here to mark completion of two years of the National Democratic Alliance government, he said it has constructed 10,000 km of highways in the past two years besides devising a strategy to re-develop 400 railway stations in the country.

Taking a dig at state Congress chief Capt. Amarinder Singh, he said: "Now Captain is behaving like a cry baby when his family's foreign accounts have been unearthed."

Jaitley said that NDA government would always help Punjab in every hour of need and the SAD-BJP would make a hat-trick in next year's assembly polls.

Training guns at the opposition Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), he said it was crucial to save Punjab from falling prey to the hands of these two political outfits.

"The grand old party (Congress) is shrinking whereas the Arvind Kejriwal-led party is busy accusing the centre instead of working for development of Delhi," he added.

Union Food Processing Industries Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who is also the local MP, said the previous UPA government had never paid any heed to the development of Punjab in general and Bathinda in particular, but the NDA government has selected it amongst the 200 cities where the achievements of the two years of the government would be showcased.

She said in the past six months, the foreign direct investment has increased to a great extent in the country whose growth rate has climbed up to 7.9 per cent.

Terming the UPA as a government of scandals, she dared the Congress to list a single achievement during its decade-long rule at the centre.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal said during the previous nine years. the SAD-BJP has carried out record development in the state, and exhorted the people to again vote for it in the 2017 assembly elections in order to ensure that the rapid pace of progress initiated in urban, rural, industrial and social sectors continues unhindered.

He said this was a golden period for Punjab as alliance partner of the SAD, the BJP is ruling at the centre and thus the SAD-BJP government would be able to take Punjab to further heights of glory owing to better coordination with the NDA government.

On distribution of central taxes, Badal said Punjab only gets just 29 per cent of the central taxes, whereas Uttar Pradesh gets 76 per cent, Jharkhand 81 per cent and Bihar 120 per cent.

He said Punjab used to get less share in central funds on area and population basis during the UPA regime but Jaitley has come to the aid of Punjab by liberally opening central coffers.
Ireland's Central Bank expects to make permanent controversial loan-to-value and loan-to-income limits on mortgage lending introduced last year, though the levels may be calibrated, the Deputy Governor said on Sunday.

Politicians from across the political spectrum have criticised the limits, which aim to avoid a repeat of the 2008 property crash, saying the required 20% deposit puts house ownership beyond the means of many.

The crash forced Ireland to seek an international bailout to save its banks.

The Central Bank is due to review the rules in November, but Deputy Governor Sharon Donnery told Ireland's Sunday Independent newspaper it was not considering removing the limits.

"Our expectation at this stage is that the caps will be a permanent feature and what we will analyse will be the calibration," she said, according to a transcript of the interview published by the bank.

"Our intention is that some form of cap around LTV (loan-to-value) and LTI (loan-to-income) would become a permanent feature."

If signs emerge that the property market is overheating, the measures could be tightened further, she said. (Reuters)

Source: www.businessworld.ie

About us
A new report has been published by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) today which looks at the economic impact its lending activity had in the SME marketplace in 2015.



The report finds that SBCI lending supported 17,000 jobs in Irish SMEs and SBCIs loan rates were on average 1.5% lower than market rates. Ninety two per cent of SBCI loans are being used for growth and investment versus 53% of current SME lending market loans.

Furthermore, the top 5 sectors in which lending occurred were: hotels & restaurants, agriculture, health, retail and other business services.



CEO of the SBCI, Nick Ashmore said, "These initial figures show that the more choice and competition generated in the SME lending sector, the more we can help our indigenous businesses grow and support jobs and so we hope to build on this initial impact and further support Irish economic activity with an active pipeline of new lenders and funders in 2016."

Source: www.businessworld.ie

About us
It was announced today that Enterprise Ireland companies saw an increase of 10% in exports in 2015, compared with 2014, amounting to an all-time high of 20.6bn.

The export figure is now almost double what it was 10 years ago (10.73bn in 2005).



The results also show that exports have increased across most territories with exports to the USA and Canada increasing by 27% to almost 3bn, exports to the UK increasing by 12% to 7.5bn and exports to Northern Europe increasing by 8% to 4.2bn.



Enterprise Ireland clients also recorded a spend of 23.7bn in the domestic market, representing an increase of 3.4bn since 2013.



A key aspect of Enterprise Irelands strategy was the co-ordination of trade missions to high growth economies including China, Africa and the Middle East.

This was backed up by a wide range of inward buyer visits, market study visits, international trade fairs, Embassy events and knowledge seminars, all aimed at linking Irish companies with international buyers, leading to increased exports and jobs for Ireland.

CEO of Enterprise Ireland, Julie Sinnamon today commented, "There are a number of risks to the continued growth in exports and the uncertainty associated with the UK referendum has already had an impact on clients exporting to the UK."

She added, "We are hopeful that the UK will remain within Europe, but we will continue to work on our strategy over recent years of supporting our clients to diversify into new markets."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
It was announced today that the people behind the Insuremyhouse.ie, insuremyvan.ie and coverinaclick.ie brands have announced that they currently have 10 new roles to fill immediately in the areas of van and car insurance.

The online insurance broker says that demand has risen by such an extent in recent months that they have had to ramp up their already ongoing recruitment drive.



In the last quarter of 2015 the online broker moved its headquarters to a larger premises in Terenure, as part of a 3 year expansion programme to triple the size of its business. The new office, based in the old location of the Daily Star newspaper in Terenure, is fully refurbished and wired for 120 people  with space for 30 more.



Late last year they announced plans to recruit 50 new staff over the next 12months with more jobs coming on stream in the following years. However, Managing Director Jonathan Hehir has said that the businesses have been even busier than originally envisaged since the start of the year and that the need to add more staff has grown in urgency.



"We needed a bigger base to facilitate the growth we have planned for the next 2/3 years. We will continue to have a presence in Ballsbridge," Jonathan said.

"We have ambitious plans for the business and our 3 year plan would be to add at least 2 more brands to our business. Our workforce is a mix of both highly experienced and recently graduated employees  we have a cohesive team with a great attitude towards work. We are looking forward to growing this great team even further," he added.

Source: www.businessworld.ie
A series of free information seminars for public and private employers of all sizes on how to create effective workplace wellbeing programmes will soon be hosted by the Nutrition & Health Foundation (NHF), organisers of National Workplace Wellbeing Day.



The first seminar, which takes place in Dublin on 29th June, features the winners of the recent NHF National Workplace Wellbeing Awards 2016, which were sponsored by Mercer Ireland.

The winners, personal tax advisers Fenero along with Dublin secondary school, Colaiste Bride, and the Central Statistics Office, will share their experiences of developing award winning initiatives.



Vodafone are among the organisations that will feature in future NHF Best Practice seminars, which are planned for 13th October and 13th December 2016. The events are free to attend. However places are limited and must be reserved in advance



Dr Muireann Cullen of the Nutrition & Health Foundation commented, "Employee wellbeing is crucial to staff retention and productivity levels. Our recent study showed that seven in ten (69%) employees are more likely to stay longer with employers who show an interest in their health and wellbeing while half would consider leaving employers who dont."

She added, "Weve seen from the increasing numbers of employers participating in National Workplace Wellbeing Day that employers are keen to do more in this area."

Source: www.businessworld.ie
A Bulgarian's view on Brexit: Will Britain play ball?

Published on June 20, 2016

Story by Ana Pirinska

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It's 10 years after Bulgaria joined the EU, and not much seems to be changing. Prices keep going up, wages are stagnating, and there's little improvement in quality of life. Yet even the poorest country in the Union is pitching for Britain to stay. Will they step up to the plate? Opinion piece.

Its been almost 10 years since Bulgaria joined the EU. Not much has changed since then though. Prices keep going up (recently municipal legislators in Sofia decided to almost double the price of a single on for public transportation to 80 euro cents), while salaries and pensions remain low. According to the NSI, the average wage in the capital remains around 660 euros, and in the poorest region it barely scrapes 330. Many Bulgarians feel disappointed and betrayed.

Joining the EU was their last hope for change, for a better quality of life and for progress. Instead, asides from some major infrastructural projects, Bulgarian's would tell you that they no longer believe in the EU dream set to transform their country into a prosperous nation. At least not that its going to happen any time soon.

Strike one

When the crisis hit Europe in 2008 things got even worse. More and more Bulgarians decided to live, work, or study abroad. They hoped that in the West of the continent life would be easier. It wasnt ideal, most of them would rather have stayed at home, but at least they were hopeful.

Contrary to the popular conviction that the majority of Eastern Europeans only move west in order to take advantage of the local social security systems, the main drive remains jobs and higher wages. The latest data from the UKs Office for National Statistics shows that 87% of all Bulgarians and Romanians who came to the UK in 2014 came for work-related reasons. Around two-thirds arrived with a definite job to go to.

Most of my friends, and my friends friends, have chosen to start over in the UK along with over 60,000 other Bulgarians. Even though the country hasnt exactly accepted them with open arms and great enthusiasm. Its only been two years since London lifted the discriminative employment restrictions placing limits on the kind of jobs that EU2 (Bulgarian and Romanian) citizens could undertake, but that didnt stop a colleague of mine who a few years ago, after working for a popular political magazine, took on a different career path as a butcher in England. Now, the prospects of a Brexit have put extra pressure on all those who have made compromise after compromise in search for a decent life.

Strike two

Britains decision to leave the EU would affect the rights and conditions of Bulgarians and Romanians who wish to work in the country in the future. Inevitably, that would cause a major blow to the economies of the two Balkan countries.

Sofia faces a greater risk, as in recent years emigrants have become the countrys biggest foreign investor. In 2013, they poured 1.7 billion euros into the Bulgarian economy, compared to the 1.2 billion euros that came from foreign direct investments. Another major obstacle that could occur is that Bulgarian students planning to study in the UK would have to pay full tuition fees, with no access to student loans.

As for those who have already settled there, a friend of mine who has lived in London for almost 10 years now, says that he only recently began to realise the reality of the Brexit threat (or madness as he calls it)  economic uncertainty, job security the list goes on.

Strike three

Its therefore not surprising that Bulgaria is more than interested in keeping the UK a part of the Single Market, with its freedom of movement. Furthermore, a recent Chattam House research paper claims that the UK boasts higher economic growth and lower unemployment than most major developed economies. It attracts the most foreign direct investment of any country in the EU, and is ranked among the most open places to do business in the developed world.

British economic weaknesses, such as a low growth in productivity, are self-inflicted. At the end of the day, the poorest member state, who didnt benefit from the EU as much as it hoped, and whose citizens are more than willing to emigrate, is the same state that is calling on one of the most prosperous economies  thanks to the union itself  not to leave it. A little ironic... dont you think?

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This article is part of our East Side Stories project. Through fighting the most common cliches levelled at Southern and Eastern Europe, it aims to keep the European idea alive by raising awareness, creating dialogue, exchanging ideas and reporting beyond the mainstream media.

Story by Ana Pirinska
By Staff Reports of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times

I returned home from my exercise class one recent morning to find a message from Hilde Kaigler on my answering machine.

She laughed about a red-shouldered hawk that had attacked her long ago, when she approached its nest too closely. And then, in her distinctive German-accented voice, she regaled me with news of Rockport's summer birds.

Kaigler has been birding as long as I have, and has watched birds come and go at Little Bay for more than 40 years. At Rockport Beach Park, she said, I must see the many nesting shorebirds and the young being fed. White ibises, reddish egrets and roseate spoonbills were numerous on the Little Bay north island and around the cove.

Across the bay, between Broadway and Business 35, a longtime rookery is now a sanctuary for the great egrets, great blue herons and other species that have historically roosted there. The city of Rockport purchased the 9 acre tract from longtime private owners last fall.

Zoned for hotel/motel development, the land's large oak motte would almost certainly have been partially or destroyed without the City's intervention. Now the iconic windswept trees will be preserved as part of a public park.

Future generations of residents, visitors, birds and wildlife will be able to enjoy this beautiful habitat in the center of Rockport.

A few days later, I began hearing reports of some uncommon visitors to Rockport Beach Park. Sooty terns are pelagic birds that spend more than half of their lives at sea. They come to land only to breed.

Young terns may not return to land for several years after leaving their breeding grounds. They don't rest on the water, and they rarely land on floating objects. They feed from the water's surface, often following schools of predatory fish and grabbing smaller fish that leap from the water to evade capture.

Nicknamed "wide-awakes" for the constant ruckus made by nesting colonies, they can live more than 30 years and usually don't breed before they are 8-10 years old. They once nested on Galveston Island, but breed rarely in Texas, in isolated spots along the central and lower Gulf Coast.

In the United States, the largest nesting colony is on Florida's Dry Tortugas. As many as 75,000 birds raise their young there each year.

Several reliable sources reported two birds. Not all of the eager birders who have visited the park have seen their quarry, but so far there have been almost daily sightings. These are adult birds, and while nesting seems unlikely, it certainly isn't impossible.

Phyllis Yochem, a Corpus Christi resident, has studied birds in Texas since 1960.
When is hurricane season? Here's what you need to know in South Texas
GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES

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By Jamil Oakford, jamil.oakford@caller.com

Corpus Christi police are looking for three men who shot a key chain salesman in a parking lot.

About 11:25 a.m. Sunday morning, officers responded to a call from a man who was shot the previous day in the 5200 block of Silverberry Drive. The 41-year-old man said he was selling key chains with his 10-year-old daughter in a parking lot when he saw a group of three men. He approached them as the group walked to their car, according to the police news release.

The three men began to threaten him, one pulling out a gun and pointing it at the man's chest. The man said his daughter tried to intervene, pushing the man with the gun away. As a result, the father was shot in the leg. The man didn't call police until a day later.

He was treated by medics but refused transport to the hospital, the news release states.

Anyone with information about this incident can call Crime Stoppers at 361-888-TIPS (8477) or go online at 888TIPS.com.
GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Marshall Burns rides an RTA bus with his guide dog Duncan on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, in Corpus Christi. Burns is teaching people with disabilities how to ride the bus independently.

SHARE GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Marshall Burns walks with his guide dog Duncan on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, in Corpus Christi. Burns works for the RTA, teaching people with disabilities to ride the bus independently. GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Marshall Burns greets Mariano Arredondo at the Six Points transfer station Tuesday, June 7, 2016, in Corpus Christi. GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Marshall Burns prepares to take a bus with Eli Read (left) Tuesday, June 7, 2016, in Corpus Christi. Read, who has Asperger's syndrome, said Burns helped him become independent by teaching him to ride the bus to his two jobs. GABE HERNANDEZ/CALLER-TIMES Marshall Burns boards a bus with his guide dog Duncan on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, in Corpus Christi.

By Dayna Worchel of the Caller-Times

Marshall Burns is busy breaking down barriers one bus ride at a time for people who need help finding their way.

As the mobility coordinator for the Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority, his main job is to work with people with disabilities and older adults to help them use public transportation so they can travel the city independently. Teaching people with autism, high anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, those who are blind or deaf, or those who have intellectual disabilities to navigate and use the city's bus system could be challenging for anyone.

But Burns, who was born blind, is not just anyone. He's used the public transit system in Corpus Christi since he moved here from Seguin in 2005. And he says it's all about independence for those with disabilities.

"When I was growing up, I was raised as a mainstream kid, to be independent and self-reliant," he said. "There was nothing wrong with me except I couldn't see.

"I always wanted people like me to be as independent as possible."

Burns, who sees light and some objects, said he has used a cane to get around to get around since he was three years old. He also graduated from a special training program in San Antonio a year ago with a special friend  his guide dog, a Labrador retriever named Duncan.

The lack of eyesight never slowed Burns down. After he moved to Corpus Christi in 2005, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in 2009 and worked for several nonprofit associations, including the South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind. Burns also served on the RTA Commission for Accessible Transportation and acted as an advocate for riders with disabilities before he took his current position 4  years ago. He may work with a rider six or seven times to make sure he or she can safely use the bus system.

"When someone calls me, I meet with them in a one-on-one interview and I ask them what they want to learn and what's keeping them from riding the bus," he said.

From there, Burns maps out a special route for the rider from home to work, where he teaches them to plan trips, read schedules, and works with them on community and mobility skills, such as having their fare or bus pass ready. He works with the rider until they can handle the trip independently, then drives in a separate vehicle with a co-worker to make sure the rider is successful at navigating the trip. After that shadowing is over, the rider graduates, Burns said.

"I like seeing riders I've worked with going to their job or going to get lunch," he said.

For a rider who has a more severe disability, the RTA has a Paratransit system on which riders can schedule a round trip from their home to wherever they are going. Sometimes, that is the safest option for a rider, Burns said.

Eli Read, who depends on the bus to get to both of his jobs on time, knows very well the value of the services Burns provides in the rider training program. Read, who has Asperger's syndrome, credits Burns with helping him become independent enough to get to his two jobs and live by himself. Read had moved to Corpus Christi with his mother, who was giving him rides to and from work every day.

"I knew I had to get independent fast or I would be dead in the water," he said, adding he felt guilty relying on his mom, since she had her own job.

"Marshall helped me focus on what I needed to do," Read said.

Kelly Coughlin, interim marketing director for the agency, is impressed with Burns' skills navigating the city and helping riders. He has a GPS that tells him the address of each building as he walks or rides by it.

"Marshall guides me just knowing the streets where we need to go," Coughlin said. "When we go somewhere in my car, he says 'Kelly, you can turn off your GPS.' "

"I say 'Marshall, are you really blind, or are you just messing with me?' " she said with a laugh.
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We do not yet know who will be the next president of the United States, but there's nearly a mathematical certainty that the person to hold that office will be called on to console a grieving nation after another mass shooting. It is so expected that you could draft the speech today, predict the response, and anticipate the legislative paralysis that would surely ensue.

It is shocking that a democracy as mature as ours is fundamentally unable to have an adult conversation about guns  as if the Second Amendment has sentenced us all to an unending argument about how many angels fit onto the head of a firing pin.

The Founders had specific, if inarticulately worded, thoughts on the necessary and proper regulation of firearms. In their world, gun ownership for certain groups of white men was sometimes required by law. The most common gun in Colonial America was the Brown Bess musket, a weapon designed for the British Army and used extensively throughout the empire. It could fell a man or a moose, and its ubiquity in the hands of civilians and soldiers alike made it iconic. Capable of firing one shot every 20 seconds, it was the assault weapon of its time.

Times have changed. On Sunday morning, in a nightclub in Orlando, a man wielding a Sig Sauer MCX was able to fire off 24 shots in nine seconds of his four-hour rampage. Of the 300-plus people in the club at 2:02 a.m., nearly one-third were struck by flying lead  49 fatally so.

There is nothing more American today than a mass shooting, the quickest way for the wicked among us to join the ranks of the reviled. Their motives are many, but their opportunity is limited only by their gun and ammunition magazine brand preference.

In this country, the federal government limits duck hunters to weapons that carry only three shells, to protect the duck population.

But you can buy an assault weapon in seven minutes and an unlimited number of bullets to fire with it. For every McDonald's in the United States, there are four federally licensed gun dealers and an untold number of unregulated private dealers who can legally sell an unlimited number of guns out of their homes, backpacks, and car trunks without requiring a criminal-background check or proof of ID.

These weren't the guns, and this wasn't the America, that the Founders foresaw. That is why we need a new assault weapons ban, written for the realities we face in 2016.

From the origins of the country, there has been a broad understanding that all constitutional rights are subject to reasonable exceptions, and that the purpose of the amendments is to ensure that the government doesn't violate rights indiscriminately. The Supreme Court has ruled, and there is no legal problem with a new assault weapon and high-capacity magazine ban.

Of all the exceptions, those involving public safety have been regarded by generations of jurists as the most reasonable and constitutionally acceptable. Simply put, banning weapons of war that fire dozens of rounds per minute is no more of a restriction on the rights of hunters and gun collectors and those seeking self-defense than controlling crowds is a violation of the right to assemble, or allowing slander judgments is a violation of the right to free speech, or banning grotesque forms of genital mutilation is a violation of the right to practice religion.

A sensible, mature society recognizes that extreme, destructive positions in the name of constitutional absolutism is just another form of fundamentalism; it seeks to prevent even the consideration of reasonable, responsive policies to address national problems by declaring them pre-emptively out of line. Would a better ban on semi-automatic assault weapons reduce the nation's overall amount of violent crime? Research suggests not, but it would clearly reduce the violence of some crimes, particularly mass shootings like those in Newtown and Orlando.

Even harder to fathom is the blinkered fanaticism of the National Rifle Association, a group that once supported background checks and other federal regulations, which now professionally conflates the right to bear arms with the unregulated right to bear any arms that the hand of man can devise. Their statements come with ghoulish predictability in the wake of every massacre, with the same message: Of course guns are a tool of mass death, but they also have other uses.

But are those uses worth the carnage inflicted by these weapons?

In the end, of course, the NRA and the zealotry it fans are only symptoms of the country's unhealthy gun fetish. On the one hand, the state of Massachusetts prides itself on its own tough gun laws. On the other, our state also profits from the production and sale of semi-automatic assault weapons by companies based here. Indeed, at its root, our gun culture is driven by demand: Millions of Americans feel that they need to own an assault weapon for either their own protection or their casual enjoyment.

But millions more Americans want assault weapons banned outright  57 percent now support a federal bill to do so. And as a country, we know exactly what needs to be done to protect ourselves, because we've done it before: The National Firearms Act of 1934 rightly regulates the machine gun, and it could rightly regulate the semi-automatic assault rifle as well. We must hold our Congress accountable for arming criminals and terrorists with military-style weapons.

Unless this nation wants to see more mass killing in our schools, churches, theaters, nightspots, and office buildings, we must address the casualty quotient, which vastly increases with the use of semi-automatic assault arms. The idea of restricting unfettered access to assault weapons is only considered radical when it comes out of the mouth of a modern U.S. president. To most Americans, and every other democracy on the planet, it is rightly considered common sense.

The Boston Globe

http://apps.boston-globe.com/graphics/2016/06/make-it-stop/
Members of the Constitutional Laws Committee who started scrutinising the bill on Friday June 17, 2016 extended discussions to the following day before adoption.

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The Minister of State, Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals, Laurent Esso, accompanied by the Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella, left the Mallam Yero Committee Room of the National Assembly at about 3 pm on Saturday, June 18, 2016, looking rather satisfied after members of the Committee on Constitutional Laws, Human Rights and Freedoms, adopted the bill on the new Penal Code.



The MPs started scrutinizing the bill on Friday, June 17, 2016 at 2pm after Minister of State Laurent Esso re-emphasised the need for government to revise the 51-year old Penal Code. According to the Director of Legislation in the Ministry of Justice, Dr. Kenfack Douajni Gaston, the Keeper of the Seals narrowed down the debate to nearly 100 new or modified Sections out of the 372 Sections of the Penal Code. Section by Section, the MPs, led by the Constitutional Laws Committee Chair, Hon. Zondol Herssesse, sought clarifications that were given by Minister of State, Laurent Esso.



The MPs were also debriefed on the rationale behind innovations like community service and reparatory sentence as alternatives to imprisonment for offences punishable by maximum of two-year jail terms. Men having children out of wedlock should be punished because that is evidence of adultery, Hon. Tomaino Ndam Njoya is reported to have suggested when Section 361(2) introducing the punishment of a married mans adultery was discussed.



UPC MP, Hon. Robert Bapooh Lipot even told Cameroon Tribune that the atmosphere which prevailed during the discussions was quite convivial as the government minister offered sound explanations even for other criminalised behaviours such as the illegal sale of medication, rent fraud and the eviction of a spouse from the matrimonial home by any person other than the spouse of the victim, amongst others. The Committee is expected to present its report to the entire Chamber in the days ahead for adoption during plenary.

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| BY Ricki Green |

Following on from its sold out success earlier in the year, Youngbloods QLD has delivered a second networking evening that targeted students and recent graduates, held at Ikon Communications in Brisbane last week. Attendees were invited to come armed with questions and interrogate the committee members in an open speed round format.

The event was designed to engage with industry hopefuls and provide a more intimate Q&A experience without the pressure that can be faced at larger panel events.

Says Harry McKeon, Chairman, Youngbloods QLD: We found that our first event was great to hear from some of Brisbanes biggest industry names but we wanted to ensure students and recent graduates had their time to ask the questions that matter most to them.

We were really happy with the engagement of all those who attended and saw it to be a mutually beneficial night for committee and event goers.

Prizes from Emporium Hotels and Bellime Hair Studio were won via a lucky door prize while the $1,000 AdSchool Workshop was given away to one lucky student who correctly pieced together the secret message on the back of the committees business cards.
There are few desserts that are so simple, yet evoke such controversy among makers and eaters alike.The humble baked fruit desserts, including cobblers, crisps, bettys and pandowdies, among others, have been around as long as people had access to fruit, flour, sugar and butter. Quicker to prepare than pie, and boasting equally delicious results, these baked desserts have the ability to arouse confusion and spark debate from region to region across the country  or even the continent.The names of these desserts, which are all variations on a theme (think pie ), often describe how they look while baking or while serving - "slump" comes to mind. And though the ingredients may be few, these unpretentious desserts make the most of fresh, ripe fruit bursting with flavour.They even stand up to sophisticated flavour profiles such as vanilla, ginger and hazelnut. Enjoyed warm or at room temperature, with ice cream or without, all of these desserts serve up deep satisfaction.However, we often wonder what makes a cobbler a cobbler? And how does a crisp differ from a crumble? With countless variations and subtle similarities and differences between these treats, the line between which is which gets even fuzzier.While the answer may be different depending on who you ask and where you are, weve done our best to clearly define each. No more long-winded debates around the table during dessert.Simply call it what you will, sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labour.A cobbler is a deep-dish baked fruit dessert with a thick dropped-biscuit or pie dough topping. Traditionally the rich fruit stew is the base for the topping, but variations can include the biscuits on the bottom, similar to a deep-dish pie. The common belief is that the name came from the biscuit toppings resemblance to cobblestones.Canadian Living cobbler recipes:A crisp is a baked fruit dessert topped with a crisp and crunchy layer of ingredients. The topping may include a proportion of sugar, butter, oats, nuts, flour and a spice such as cinnamon, tossed together to gain a somewhat granular look. The dessert is baked just until the topping is crisp and golden.Canadian Living crisp recipes:Similar to a crisp, a crumble is a baked fruit dessert with a layer of topping. A crumble topping rarely includes oats or nuts, and is instead usually a streusel-like combination of flour, sugar and butter. However some variations may include oats or nuts. The topping is generally more clumpy than a crisp topping, but not as clumpy as a cobbler topping.Canadian Living crumble recipes:A pandowdy is a deep-dish baked fruit dessert with a flaky pie or biscuit topping. The main difference between a pandowdy and a cobbler is that the topping is rolled out to the shape of the baking dish, placed on top of the fruit mixture and partially baked. The dish is then removed from the oven and the topping broken up with a spoon. It returns to the oven to be baked until golden and tender. Breaking up the topping allows the juices to bubble up through the broken edges for a crisp and crumbly texture.Canadian Living pandowdy recipes:A betty is a baked pudding dessert whose name dates as far back as the 1600s. The dessert consists of fruit layered with buttery breadcrumbs or cubes baked until the top has a crisp and golden layer. The breadcrumbs absorb the juices as the betty bakes, so the texture is more like a pudding rather than fruit stew or pie filling.Canadian Living betty recipes:Unlike all the others, a grunt is cooked on the stovetop in a shallow Dutch oven rather than baked. For a grunt, the fruit is stewed then topped with a biscuit or dumpling type dough The dish is then covered and simmered longer until the topping is cooked through. The name is said to come from the sound the dish makes while simmering.Canadian Living grunt recipes:Similar to a grunt, a slump consists of a fruit stew with a biscuit- or dumpling-like topping. However, a slump is baked uncovered in the oven rather than steamed on the stovetop. The name is thought to come from the way it slumps on the plate when served.
Mr Barr said he would not have allowed the land to be rezoned for urban development, and fears many Canberrans are being left in the dark on the impact of a major project that is moving at lightning-speed.
Similarly, one month after Uber launched in the ACT, The Canberra Times compared taxi and Uber rides from the city to the Canberra Airport and back, stating the $3 charge Uber drivers were required to pay to pick up passengers at Canberra Airport. The Uber spokesman confirmed on Monday that this surcharge now formally applies.
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The deadline for registration for admissions at Delhi University for its undergraduate courses has been extended. The last date for registration at the DU is June 22, 2016. The application process was supposed to conclude on Sunday, June 20, 2016.

The extension of the application dates by the Delhi University has been done due to requests for the same from various quarters.

"The online registration for the candidates applying for undergraduate courses shall continue till 5 pm on June 22. However, those candidates who have confirmed their registration till then shall be permitted to pay the fee till midnight," a senior university official said.

Until June 19, 2016, the university has received around 3.4lakh applications for the 60,000 seats offered at the various undergraduate colleges affiliated to the DU.

"Total number of registrations till 6 pm today were 3,41,700, of which 2,31,586, have already paid the fee," the official said.

"The number of female applicants is 1,12,371 while the number of male applicants is 1,19,204. Eleven candidates from others category and 1,118 from PWD category have also submitted applications," he added.

This year, the application process of the Delhi University has gone completely online unlike the previous years where the registration process used to happen both online and offline. The registration process for the various undergraduate courses offered at the Delhi University began on June 1, 2016.

The admission process at St Stephen's college differs in various ways from the registration process at other colleges affiliated to the Delhi University. Until the last year, the college followed the same schedule for registration and admissions as the other colleges. But this year, we find a few important differences in the admission process at the St Stephen's College. If you are applying to the prestigious Stephen's college, read here to know more about the differences.
New Delhi: The International Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) Delhi today organised its seventh convocation marking the beginning of a new life for 69 students. Dr. MC Mishra, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi was the Chief Guest at the event and conferred Postgraduate diploma degrees to the students of Hospital and Health management programmes.

Dr. A.K. Khokhar, Director, IIHMR, Delhi presented the Director's report. Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Ashok K Agarwal, Dean, IIHMR Delhi said, "IIHMR has constantly added value by incorporating the best practices and philosophies to bridge the gap between education and practical realities of the outside world so that the students are fully equipped to excel in their field. We are confident that our students will continue to contribute to the cause of healthcare services in the country."

The ceremony was inaugurated at International Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR) Delhi premises in Dwarka with an address by Dr. SD Gupta, Honorary Trustee Secretary, IIHMR Society. Addressing the students he said, "We at IIHMR are confident that our students will be able to meet all the challenges faced by them. IIHMR reflects the efforts in creating future professionals who will strive to bring about a positive change around them."

Continuing with the trend of 100 per cent placement record of IIHMR Delhi, all the graduating students have been successfully placed in reputed health organisations, hospitals, State Government health bodies and Information technology companies.

About IIHMR Delhi:

The International Institute of Health Management Research, New Delhi is part of the Society for Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR), which was established in October 1984 under the Societies Registration Act 1958. IIHMR Delhi was setup in 2008 with a focus on national and international health to cater to the growing needs of the country and the Asia-Pacific region.

The Institute offers a two-year full-time Postgraduate Programme with specialization in Hospital Management, Health Management and Health IT Management. It is a flagship educational programme which aims to develop trained professional managers with requisite skills in planning, implementation, operational management, diagnosing and problem solving, consultancy and entrepreneurship.
Mallika Gupta, a final year student pursuing Bachelors in Knitwear Design from the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bangalore, has won the Wallpaper Design Industry Brief based on Indian Cultural Heritage, an initiative undertaken by the UK-based Staffordshire University's wallpaper design enterprise - High House.

The title was shared between Mallika and Joanna Mathias, a Staffordshire graduate, who is now working as a designer-maker in Stoke-On-Trent city. Another NIFT student, Roshni Vyam was the first runner-up of the Brief.

The High House Wallpaper Design Industry Brief based on Indian Cultural Heritage was announced for Indian art and design students in February 2016. This live industry brief drew upon Indian cultural heritage to inspire a High House Indian heritage range of wallpapers for the contemporary market. Mallika's design, which was inspired by India's rich color palette of the cities of Rajasthan, responded to all the key aspects of the Brief.

Her design was a blend of traditional as well as modern elements along with a touch of professionalism and gave an insight on how the historic culture of India has influenced the international designs. It created nostalgia for traditional craftsmanship with potential for contemporary as well as future creativity.

Mallika's design was selected as the best amid several entries received from other Indian institutions like St Stephen's School (Chandigarh), Faculty of Architecture and Ekistics - Jamia Millia Islamia (New Delhi) and the Indian Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology, Shibpur (West Bengal).

"My fashion and design sense has always persuaded me to take inspiration from traditional heritage, art and crafts, not only from the ones originated in India but also from different parts of the world.It was my inclinational towards conventional methods that made me participate in the unique India Collection Brief. I have never aspired for fame, but was always dedicated to make a mark and impact through my work, and winning the High House India Collection gave me that platform which I was in search of from a very long time," said the 22-year-old Mallika.

Unlike traditional surface pattern designers, who sell their designs and often do not know what happens to them, High House indulges its students in the journey of their designs. From origination to potential production and beyond, High House supports their development as designers. Therefore, the two successful wallpaper designs of the High House India Collection will be put up for commercial production through crowd funding.

The winners will not only get an opportunity to showcase their work and themselves as designers, but will also be collaborating with a Masters student at Staffordshire University during the commercialization of the design. Moreover, Should the designs become a commercial success there is potential for students to gain financial benefit.

According to Rowena Beighton-Dykes, Director, High House and Academic Partnerships Manager &Wallpaper Specialist, Faculty of Arts and Creative Technologies, Staffordshire University, "This is the first time High House has offered students in India a brief to work collaboratively with Staffordshire University.

It is really pleasing to have a successful designer for the India Collection from National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangalore and moreover, it is extremely exciting to have a Staffordshire University graduate and a soon-to-be graduate from NIFT going on to the next phase of their design development. The entire process has been so exhilarating that we hope to offer another brief and develop more collaborative approaches to working with universities in India that specialize in developing creative design talent."
Online courses are trending these days, especially in the case of professionals and homemakers, who cannot choose to attend regular classes for studying the courses of their choice. There is no dearth of such courses which are free of cost. The courses on numerous popular streams are available and architecture has been the favourite of many aspirants who dream of designing or building a house, a park, a theme park, an office space and a city. ETH Zurich has come up with a free online course called "Quality of Life: Livability in Future Cities" for aspirants in the field of architecture.

About this course from ETH Zurich



Cities are becoming the predominant living and working environment of humanity, and for this reason, livability or quality of life in the city has become crucial.

This urban planning course will focus on four areas that directly affect livability in a city: Urban energy, urban climate, urban ecology and urban mobility. The course begins by presenting measurable criteria for the assessment of livability, and how to positively influence the design of cities towards greater livability. We will focus on this basic topic of the human habitat in a holistic way, and introduce possibilities of participatory urban design by citizens, leading towards the development of a citizen design science.

You will be able to share your experiences with the other participants in the course and also with the experts from the teaching team. In completing this course, you will better understand how to make a city more livable by going beyond the physical appearance and by focusing on different properties and impact factors of the urban system.

Livability in Future Cities is the second course in a series of MOOCs under the title "Future Cities." This series aims to bring the latest research on planning, managing and transforming cities to places where this knowledge has the highest benefit for its citizens. "Future Cities" provided an overview, and this course will focus on livability in existing and new cities.

What will you learn?

How urban planning, energy, climate, ecology and mobility impact the livability and quality of life of a "future city."

Course Duration:

11 Weeks, 3 hours per week

Course Fee:

Free, however, candidates need to pay $50 for the certificate

Start Date:

The course will resume from June 27, 2016 (self-paced)

For more information, click the following link:

https://www.edx.org/course/quality-life-livability-future-cities-ethx-fc-02x-1#!
Acura has dropped the first official images of the NSX-based EV Concept, which will tackle this years Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.



Developed by Hondas R&D department, its four electric motors with separate Twin Motor Units (TMU) on each axle, described by the manufacturer as the brains of Sport Hybrid SH-AWD, provide independent torque distribution.

The all-electric NSX will go up the 12.42 miles (19.99 km) long course and through its demanding 156 corners with Tetsuya Yamano, the man who drove last years CR-Z-based electric prototype, behind the wheel.

Weve been tuning the car for several weeks at Pikes and have advanced its performance significantly. Were honored to be running at Pikes in this historical, anniversary year  an event respected by racing fans all over the world, said Yamano.

The zero-emission supercar concept will be put through its paces on June 26, and it will be joined at the hillclimb by two specially tweaked NSXs, which still use the twin-turbo V6 internal combustion engine that will howl in the Time Attack 1 and 2 classes.

PHOTO GALLERY
From corrosion issues to faulty hood latches, more than 400,000 vehicles made by Kia and Hyundai have been recalled in four separate safety campaings.



According to AutomotiveNews, prolonged exposure to road salt and no regular cleaning of the underbody, which can cause the front lower control arm to corrode, have forced Kia to recall 97,884 units of the Sedona.

All are from the 2006 to 2012 model years built between June 15, 2005, and August 12, 2012 and sold in one of the 27 salt states: the District of Columbia, Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Corrosion can lead to vibration or noise and, in extreme cases, the lower control arm could break. The automaker, however, is not aware of any injuries or accidents related to this condition. Kias dealers will inspect and replace the front lower control arm, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on July 25. This is the second time the Sedona minivans are called back in for a corrosion issue.

Another 219,800 units of the Kia Sedona, produced from June 15, 2005, to April 4, 2014, are recalled for a possible faulty secondary hood latch, which might have been affected by corrosion, causing it to remain in the open position when the hood is closed. Owners will have to schedule an appointment with their local dealer, which will replace the hood latch at no cost. This safety campaign is also expected to kick off on July 25.

The last recall affects 5,245 units of the Forte put together between September 10, 2012, and October 31, 2012, whose seat belt retractor retaining plate might not have been properly tightened and, in the event of an accident, could break and increase the risk of injury. The automaker became aware of a related issue when a metal piece from the assembly got lodged in a childs leg during a crash, something the owner reported on social media. Kias dealers will inspect and replace both front seat belt assemblies at no charge, and the recall is expected to begin on June 30.

Last but not least, 81,000 Hyundai Tucsons, made between May 19, 2015, and March 14, 2016, are being recalled, as their hoods can open while driving due to possible faulty secondary hood latches that cannot secure the hood if the primary hood latch is inadvertently released. Drivers are supposed to be warned if the hood is not properly latched. The recall should commence on July 15 and the brands dealers will replace the faulty components free of charge.

PHOTO GALLERY
Minivans have, over the years, become the epitome of dull motoring, but Renault believes the new Scenic can put that stereotype to rest.



Blurring the line between crossovers and MPVs, the fourth generation of the compact people carrier celebrated its premiere in Geneva, with its fresh styling inspired by the 2011 R-Space Concept and bits borrowed from the Espace, Megane and Talisman.

Slightly larger than its predecessor, the new Scenic benefits from 572 liters of luggage space, a wide array of storage compartments and, depending on the version, can be equipped with a Bose premium sound system, R-Link 2 infotainment, working together with an 8.7-inch screen, and head-up display. A first in the compact MPV segment, the Active Emergency Braking System with Pedestrian Detection comes as standard.

The engine lineup offers no surprise: customers will have to choose between six dCi diesel units, producing between 95 PS (94 HP) and 160 PS (158 HP) and connected to either a six-speed manual, a six-speed automatic or a seven-speed automatic transmission, and two petrol burners, rated at 115 PS (113 HP) and 130 PS (128 HP), respectively, mated exclusively to a six-speed manual gearbox.

Detailing Renaults new people carrier is a set of seven videos that talk about its design, practicality, technology and another novelty, the Easy Park Assist, which will help it squeeze into a tight parking space easier than ever.

PHOTO GALLERY

VIDEO
Photo: Contributed

Two Penticton area art centres are collaborating on a reconciliation-themed exhibition, set to start next week.

The Crossing the River: Supporting Creative Reconciliations exhibition opens on Aboriginal Day, June 21, at the Shatford Centre. The event is sponsored by both the En'owkin and Shatford centres.

We are delighted to be hosting the exhibit, said executive director Jane Shaak. The symbol of the two hands joining on the poster is the spirit of the endeavour to connect both sides of the community by building personal bridges across the channel.

The art centres have endeavoured to strengthen and connect indigenous and non-indigenous communities in Penticton using art and culture as a way to heal and repair historical divisions.

The exhibition will feature photos and seven indigenous artists who have explored the relationships of reconciliation through their various art forms.

This will be the first of many ventures where the schools will join forces to create a safe environment where connections and understanding of the past can be created and maintained through mutual understanding and respect.

"We are pleased to be announcing this exhibit on the one year anniversary of the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission final report with its 94 calls to action," said Greg Younging, one of the curators.

Celebrations begin in the front yard at 4 p.m.

After the official opening, performances and talks, everyone will be invited to enter the Shatford Centre to view the works.

For more information or to RVSP contact: Tracey Kim Bonneau at [email protected] or call 250-493-7181 ext. 208. More information can be found online.
Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

The Tourism Penticton Visitor and Wine Centre will be moving to their new location in the southwest corner of the South Okanagan Events Centre parking lot on Wednesday, June 22.

The visitor centre will continue to co-locate with the VQA Wine Store during the next year and continue to provide visitors with trip planning while they are visiting the Penticton area.

Due to the reduced footprint of the new space, the ticket outlet service that was provided for SOEC, Many Hats Theatre Company, Okanagan Symphony and Ticketmaster will not be available during the temporary relocation.

Tourism Penticton invites the community to come by to see their new space.

More details on the grand opening will follow.
Photo: Contributed

A gathering will take place at the Pen Henge standing stone array on Munson Mountain in Penticton to mark the summer solstice on June 20.

The public gathering is being organized by the Penticton meeting group of the Okanagan Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, OCRASC.

If the currently predicted clear sky comes about, participants will gather at Munson Mountain at about 8:15 p.m. in anticipation of seeing the shadow cast by the sun over the summer solstice stone extending gradually toward the central heel stone.

Sunset will take place at 8:50 p.m. The actual time of the solstice will be at 3:34 p.m.

The standing stone array is a project spearheaded by Chris Purton and the Okanagan Astronomical Society which later became part of OCRASC. It was supported by the city council and parks department.

The installation, which is located at the top of Munson Mountain above the large Penticton sign on the east side of Okanagan Lake, consists of four stones that delineate the sunset points on the four cardinal dates of the year.

Anchored by the heel stone, the equinox stone points to the sun's sunset point at both the spring and fall equinoxes, while the other two stones mark the winter and summer solstice setting points respectively.

A brass plaque with a brief explanation of the array is permanently attached to the top of the heel stone.

A second large Okanagan summer solstice celebration is slated to take place at 6:30 p.m., June 20 at Marina Way Beach, across from the Prague Cafe on Marina Way Drive, according to Facebook.
Photo: David Ogilvie

Traffic was backed up on Highway 97 following an accident near Horizon Road on the Westside Sunday afternoon.

Witnesses said at around 4:20 p.m. a car and an SUV crashed going southbound on Highway 97.

It is believed no one was injured in the minor accident, but traffic was slowed.

There is no word on any charges stemming from the mishap.
Photo: Flickr

British Columbians are being encouraged to participate in their local National Aboriginal Day celebrations on June 21 as a means of fostering reconciliation through awareness of Aboriginal culture and achievements.

On its 20th anniversary, communities throughout Canada recognize and celebrate the rich traditions and diverse cultures of Aboriginal people. There are more than 100 events being held across British Columbia on and around June 21.

National Aboriginal Day is a great occasion for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to come together, said John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation. They do so in the spirit of reconciliation and in the recognition of Aboriginal peoples contribution to our society in the past, the present and the future. I believe we are moving to a time when we will recognize the importance of reconciliation every day of the year.

National Aboriginal Day was first proclaimed by the Governor General of Canada Romeo LeBlanc on June 13, 1996.

Provincial government celebrations get underway on June 20 with a feast and honouring ceremony for First Nations, Metis and Inuit public servants at Government House.

National Aboriginal Day celebrations are being held throughout British Columbia.

Quick Facts:
Photo: Dragon Boat BC

A large yacht got in the way of a dragon boat race in False Creek Sunday, prompting the Dragon Boat Festival to call for changes.

During the final 2,000-metre race, fourteen teams were travelling through the course when a large charter yacht veered towards the boats.

Anita Webster, communications manager for the dragon boat festival, said the yacht was part of a charter company that crossed the course.

The Dragon Boat Festival are now asking False Creek to be re-designated as a marine park.

The festival has started a petition to re-classify the area to prevent future similar issues.

Webster said all vessels should follow the rules of the waterway including giving self-powered vessels leeway over motorized vessels.

Festival organizers have filed a complaint with the Vancouver Police Department and Transport Canada.

- With files from CTV
Photo: The Canadian Press

Fourteen children died in a storm while boating on a lake in Russia's northwestern region of Karelia, prompting investigators to detain four people who organized the outing despite cyclone warnings, officials said Sunday.

Several boats with children overturned Saturday in a storm in Syamozero, 120 kilometres (75 miles) east of the border with Finland, according to Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for the nation's main state investigative agency.

Of 47 children and four adult instructors in the boats, 14 children died, Markin said.

Markin had originally said that one of the 14 dead was an instructor. Markin said the revised information came after investigators identified the victims.

Markin also said four people have been detained on suspicions of violating safety rules: two instructors as well as the director and deputy director of a hotel where they were staying and which reportedly organized the boating.

The children who went out boating came from Moscow and the capital's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, offered condolences to the victims' families.

Repeated warnings of an advancing Atlantic cyclone had been issued days ahead of the storm, advising everyone against boating on the lake, one of the favourite holiday destinations in the area, regional Karelia lawmaker Alexei Gavrilov said on Rossiya 24 television.

"They didn't have the right to go out boating," he said.

Vladimir Kucherenko, the director of a local tourist company, said that most children had apparently died from long exposure to cold water, as water temperatures in the lake were 8-10 degrees Celsius (46-50 Fahrenheit). He said strong winds might have driven boats across the lake, making it hard for the children to get to the shore.

"I would like to look the person who allowed them to go boating in the eye," Kucherenko said in televised remarks. "It was suicidal."

Local experts said that the shallow lake could be extremely dangerous to navigate in strong winds, and even experienced local fishermen stayed away from the lake over the weekend.
Photo: CTV

Premier Christy Clark says more needs to be done to prepare for extreme weather events across Canada.

Clark toured flood-ravaged parts of northeastern B.C. Sunday, and said Canadians need to adapt to the impact climate change is having.

She said the province is spending $65 million on flood mitigation this year and urged the federal government to do more.

Record levels of rain pounded the Peace Region last Wednesday and Thursday, causing severe flooding that damaged homes and washed away roads and bridges.

Community meetings will be held in Dawson Creek, B.C., on Monday and in Chetwynd, B.C., on Tuesday where people affected by the floods can learn about possible financial compensation.

Flood watches and warnings in most of the region have been downgraded to high stream flow advisories as the waters recced.
Photo: CTV

Two Canadian planes that are on their way to Antarctica on a medical mission are waiting on the southern tip of South America for favourable weather to complete their journey.

The U.S. National Science Foundation says in a Facebook update that was posted Sunday afternoon that the aircraft are on the ground in Punta Arenas, Chile, and will carry on to the British Antarctic Survey station at Rothera when the weather allows.

The two Twin Otter planes from Calgary-based Kenn Borek Air left Calgary on Tuesday.

One will stay at the British station for search and rescue purposes, while the other will travel 2,400 kilometres further to the Amundsen-Scott Research station at the South Pole.

The foundation says a seasonal employee with Lockheed Martin at the Amundsen-Scott station requires hospitalization and must be evacuated.

It's mid-winter in Antarctica and the foundation says flights in and out of the station are usually not planned between February and October due to the extreme cold and darkness.

The foundation says the Twin Otter aircraft that Kenn Borek Air flies are able to operate in extremely low temperatures and are able to land on skis. As there is no tarmac runway at the South Pole, it says the aircraft must land in total darkness on compacted snow.

Kenn Borek provides contractual logistical support to the Antarctic Program, according to the foundation, and conducted similar evacuations in 2001 and 2003.

In January 2013, a Kenn Borek Air Twin Otter crashed on the side of one of Antarctica's highest peaks while delivering fuel for an Italian research team, killing the three Canadians on board.

No cause was pinned down for the crash.

Amundsen-Scott is one of three year-round stations the National Science Foundation says it operates in Antarctica.

It says there are 48 people wintering at Amundsen-Scott, performing a variety of tasks related to station maintenance and science.
Photo: The Canadian Press

A Taliban suicide bomber killed 14 Nepalese security guards in an attack Monday on their minibus in the Afghan capital, Kabul, the Interior Ministry and an Afghan security official said.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, a bomb rigged to a motorbike killed 10 Afghan civilians during morning rush hour in a busy market in a province in the northeast.

And later Monday in Kabul, a second Taliban bombing killed an Afghan civilian and wounded five people, including a provincial council member who was the intended target of that attack, authorities said.

The Nepalese were on their way to the Canadian Embassy where they work as guards when the explosion took place on Monday morning, according to a Nepalese guard who was wounded in the attack. Officials at the Canadian Embassy in Kabul could not be reached for comment.

The attack was the latest to hit Kabul as the Taliban have stepped up their assaults as part of their summer offensive. The insurgents frequently target government employees and Afghan security forces across the country.

In the bombing that killed the Nepalese, the bomber was on foot when he struck the minibus, said Gen. Abdul Rahman Rahimi, the city's police chief. He did not identify the foreign security company the guards work for.

The Interior Ministry confirmed that all 14 killed were Nepalese citizens, describing the attack as the work of a "terrorist suicide bomber." It said the explosion also wounded nine people, five Nepalese employees and four Afghan civilians.

Amrit Rokaya Chhetri, a Nepalese guard wounded in the attack, told The Associated Press they were on their way to the Canadian Embassy when the blast took place.

"Many people died," Chhetri said from his hospital bed, his head covered with bandage. "I say to my family, I am ok and I will come home."

Abdullah Abdullah, the country's chief executive officer, condemned the attack in a posting on Twitter, saying: "This attack is an act of terror and intimidation."

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement to media.

In Nepal, Bharat Raj Paudyal, spokesman for Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the government is aware of Monday's incident in Kabul and is trying to verify the names of the victims and details about the bombing. Nepal does not have an embassy in Afghanistan but the embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, is working to get the details, he said.

In a conflicting statement, Afghanistan's Islamic State affiliate also claimed responsibility for the Kabul attack, identifying the suicide bomber as Erfanullah Ahmed and saying he carried out the attack by detonating his explosives' belt. The conflicting claims could not immediately be reconciled.

Insurgents frequently target buses with government employees  or those perceived to be working for the Kabul government. In late May, a suicide bomber struck a minibus carrying court employees during morning rush hour in Kabul, killing 11 people  judges and court employees. The Taliban claimed responsibility for that attack as well.

In the northeastern Badakhshan province, the parked motorbike-bomb that killed at least 10 Afghan civilians on Monday also wounded 40 others, according to Naved Froutan, spokesman for the provincial governor.

The explosion took place in the main bazaar in Kashim district, he said, adding that "an investigation is underway to determine the target of the attack, but all victims of the attack are civilians." He added that women and children were among those killed and wounded of the attack.

Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, denied any involvement by the insurgents in the blast in Badakhshan, though Taliban are active in the area and regularly target Afghan security forces there.

As for Monday's second blast in Kabul, it went off near the home of Mawlavi Attaullah Faizani, a member of the Kabul provincial council, said Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan interior minister.

Sediqqi said the bomb went off as Faizani was passing by in his vehicle. Mujahid confirmed the Taliban had targeted the provincial council member.

Afghan President Asharf Ghani condemned all three of Monday's attacks, according to a statement from the presidential palace. It quoted Ghani as saying that "terrorists do not hesitate to kill people even during the holy month of Ramadan" and that they are seeking to "create fear among the people."
Photo: Contributed

The Supreme Court has rejected challenges to assault weapons bans in Connecticut and New York, in the aftermath of the shooting attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that left 50 people dead.

The justices on Monday left in place a lower court ruling that upheld laws that were passed in response to another mass shooting involving a semi-automatic weapon, the elementary school attack in Newtown, Connecticut.

The Supreme Court has repeatedly turned away challenges to gun restrictions since two landmark decisions that spelled out the right to a handgun to defend one's own home.
Photo: CTV

Emergency personnel rushed to the scene of a fatal three-vehicle crash and rollover Sunday evening in Coquitlam.

According to RCMP, shortly before 7 p.m. police were called to a three-vehicle collision at the intersection of Como Lake Avenue and Gatensbury Street.

Once on scene, RCMP discovered that one of the vehicles had rolled over and that its passengers required extrication.

The driver and passenger of that vehicle were pulled out with the assistance of Coquitlam Fire Rescue crews.

At this time, the Coquitlam RCMP can confirm that there has been one fatality as a result of this collision and at least one other person was transported by paramedics to hospital with undetermined injuries, believed to be non-life-threatening in nature, writes the RCMP.

The cause of the collision is still under investigation by Coquitlam Traffic Services.

The area was blocked off much of Sunday evening for the RCMP investigation.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Donald Trump's campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, is leaving the Republican presidential contender's team following a tumultuous stretch marked by missteps and infighting.

A hard-charging figure, in some ways as brash and unconventional as the candidate himself, Lewandowski had been by Trump's side since the beginning of his unlikely rise to presumptive GOP nominee, but clashed with longtime operatives brought in to make the seat-of-the-pants campaign more professional.

Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks described Lewandowski's departure as a "parting of ways." A source close to Trump said Lewandowski was forced out of the campaign largely because of his poor relationship with the Republican National Committee and GOP officials. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because the source was not authorized to discuss internal deliberations.

The move came as Trump faces continued deep resistance from many quarters of his party concerned by his contentious statements and his reluctance to glad-hand for money.

Lewandowski has long been a controversial figure in Trump's campaign, but benefited from his proximity to the presumptive Republican nominee. Often mistaken for a member of the candidate's security team, he travelled with Trump on his private plane to nearly every campaign stop, giving him more direct access to the businessman than nearly any other campaign staffer.

He was a chief promoter of the idea that the best campaign strategy was to "Let Trump be Trump." He frequently dismissed the notion that Trump needed to hire more experienced political hands, spend on polling and sophisticated data operations, or moderate his rhetoric as he moved toward the general election. That edict clashed with seasoned operatives hired in recent months.

Minutes after news of Lewandowski's departure was announced, Trump aide Michael Caputo tweeted "Ding dong the witch is dead!" and included a link to the song from the film, "The Wizard of Oz."

Lewandowski was charged with misdemeanour battery in the spring for an altercation involving a female reporter during a rally. The charges were later dropped. Trump defended Lewandowski throughout the incident and repeatedly framed his decision as a sign of loyalty and a demonstration that he will not give in to outside pressure.

"Folks, look, I'm a loyal person," Trump told voters at the time.

"It's so important," he said of loyalty in a subsequent interview. "And it's one of the traits that I most respect in people. You don't see it enough."

Yet Lewandowski's approach within the campaign sparked intense criticism from experienced Republican operatives inside and outside of the campaign.

The statement released by Hicks said in full: "The Donald J. Trump Campaign for President, which has set a historic record in the Republican Primary having received almost 14 million votes, has today announced that Corey Lewandowski will no longer be working with the campaign. The campaign is grateful to Corey for his hard work and dedication and we wish him the best in the future."
Photo: The Canadian Press

Violent clashes between police and members of a radical teachers' union who had blockaded roads in southern Mexico on Sunday left six people dead and more than 100 injured, officials said.

The teachers from the National Coordinator of Education Workers, or CNTE, are opposed to the mandatory testing of teachers as part of Mexico's sweeping education reform and are also protesting the arrest of union leaders on money laundering and other charges.

In Sunday's clashes in the southern state of Oaxaca, protesters threw stones and Molotov cocktails, and burned vehicles, while Associated Press journalists saw riot police firing on protesters. Clashes took place in several municipalities in Oaxaca, but the most violent were in Nochixtlan, north of the state capital also called Oaxaca.

In a late-night press conference, Oaxaca state Gov. Gabino Cue, accompanied by Federal Police chief Enrique Galindo, raised the death toll from the clashes in Nochixtlan to six. They said 53 civilians, 41 federal police agents and 14 state police agents were injured.

Cue said that all the dead were civilians, with two having ties to the CNTE union. A state official had previously said a state police officer was killed but it turned out the person was a civilian.

Earlier Sunday, Mexico's federal government released a statement saying 21 federal police had been wounded, three of them by gunfire, and that its agents who participated in the operation were not carrying guns.

"The attacks with guns came from people outside the blockades who fired on the population and federal police," it said.

But footage filmed by The AP shows at least one police officer firing a gun several times, though it was unclear if he was a federal or state agent.

Late Sunday night, Galindo acknowledged that he had sent in some officers with guns after agents came under fire.

"The police obligation is to protect the population," he said.

Clashes were continuing Sunday night outside of Oaxaca city and in the municipalities of San Pablo Huitzo and Santiaguito, where protesters had burned federal police installations.

Over the past week, unionized teachers have blockaded streets, a shopping mall and even train tracks in the western state of Michoacan. They have also forced some bus lines to cancel trips to Oaxaca, which is a popular tourist destination, and blocked a highway on the isthmus of Tehuantepec. And in Oaxaca city, protesting teachers have set up an encampment in the city's main square.

Federal prosecutors accuse union leaders of setting up an illegal financial network to fund protests and line their own pockets. They allege the scheme operated in 2013-2015, when the union effectively controlled the payroll of Oaxaca's teachers.

Following the arrest of some if its top leaders, the union called for a revolt against Mexico's government.

Ten years ago, the teachers started a six-month takeover of Oaxaca that didn't end until police stormed the barricades.
Photo: National Hurricane Centre

UPDATE: 8:30 p.m.

Tropical Storm Danielle hit Mexico's Gulf coast on Monday and began drenching the region with heavy rains.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Danielle's maximum sustained winds dropped to near 40 mph (65 kph) as it began making landfall about 10 miles (15 kms) north of the port of Tuxpan.

A tropical storm warning was in effect for a stretch of the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, from Laguna Verde to Rio Panuco.

The storm was moving west at 8 mph (13 kph) through a sparsely populated stretch of countryside.

Danielle was expected to produce 6 to 10 inches of rainfall over several Mexican states, with isolated amounts up to 15 inches in higher terrain.

Rapid weakening was expected as the storm moves over land, and Danielle is expected to largely dissipate on Tuesday.

The Veracruz government cancelled classes in most of the state as a precautionary measure. Schools are sometimes used to shelter storm victims in Mexico.

There were no immediate reports of any damage or significant flooding, but the Hurricane Center warned that flash floods and landslides were possible.

Original story:

Tropical Storm Danielle has formed off Mexico's eastern coast, and is spreading heavy rain inland.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says Danielle's maximum sustained winds Monday morning have increased to near 72 km/h with some slight strengthening forecast before the storm makes landfall later in the day.

A tropical storm warning is in effect from Laguna Verde to Rio Panuco.

The storm is centred about 121 kilometres east-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico, and is moving west at 11 km/h.

The storm is expected to produce rainfall totals of 6 to 10 inches with isolated areas possibly getting as much as 15 inches in higher terrain over several Mexican states.
Photo: Contributed

Clubs and organizations in Vernon are getting behind fundraising for the Okanagan Rail Trail.

The interest is phenomenal, said rail ambassador Duane Thomson. Groups want to know how they can help to raise funds to build a safe, scenic trail that will be the pride of our communities."

One of those groups is Silver Star Rotary Club which is holding the 2016 Rotary Ride July 24 in Vernon to raise money for the trail.

The rail trail has so many community benefits. It is a great match for our annual Rotary ride, said Rotarian Rob Irving, ride organizer.

The club will be donating proceeds of this year's Rotary Ride to the construction of the trail.

The supported ride offers 66-km, 98-km and 126-km routes, starting at Kin Beach and heading out on the scenic valley farm roads near Armstrong.

Rotarian Bob Clarke has already signed up for the ride.

There is still space for more cyclists, said Clarke. You can ride at your own pace, have fun, and know you are supporting a great community project.

The Vernon Outdoors club is brainstorming ways to support the campaign, and several members have already donated.

Long-time cyclist Jenny McDonell has made a unique commitment by pledging to donate $40 a month until the trail is funded.

I have cycled on several rail trails in other parts of North America and the world, said McDonell. All of those trails were paid for by other citizens for the benefit of all. It's time for us to come forward to support what will prove to be one of the most beautiful trails yet.

The Rail Trail campaign is aiming to raise $7.86 million to build the 48-km trail with an aggregate surface.
Photo: Contributed - Cindy Fortin

Theres been a high-profile dog attack in the Okanagan involving a pit bull.

A husky belonging to Peachlands mayor is recovering from the attack, in which it had its face ripped by another dogs powerful jaws.

Mayor Cindy Fortin says she was walking her dog, Nanook, when she heard aggressive barking. She felt relief when she saw the animal was behind a fence  however, it pushed the unlocked gate open and charged at Fortin and her pet.

Then it attacked.

In the next instance the pit bull was biting and ripping at my dogs face. My poor dog was screaming in pain, blood everywhere. I pushed myself between them, she says.

I tried slugging the pit bull in the head a couple of times, but it made no difference, so I grabbed its choke chain collar and twisted it tighter and tighter to cut off its oxygen. It didnt work at first, so I twisted even tighter until finally the pit bull let out a gulping gasp and with sheer adrenaline-driven strength I was able to yank it off my dog.

Fortin held the attacking dog on one side and her injured dog on the other, while screaming for help. The owners ran to her and took control of their dog, she says.

I consider myself extremely lucky that I wasnt injured  physically, that is. It will take a long time to erase the images and the sounds of the attack in my mind, she says.

Afterwards, I couldnt stop shaking for hours. Poor Nanook had some serious puncture wounds on his face, one very close to his left eye which would require some surgery and a drainage tube. He also had a wide strip of his flesh torn off his snout and another piece torn off the rubbery tip of his nose.

While the physical injuries will heal, Fortin says she's unsure about the psychological scars.

"He just has friendly, funny, goofy personality," she says. "We don't know yet if it's going to affect him."

Fortin says during the attack, she thought of Charlie the Peachland dog that was torn apart by a (dog) just over a year ago while out for a walk with its owner.

His owners hand was broken as he fought to save him she says. Charlies injuries were so severe he had to be put down. It was a horrific image, but it actually gave me the strength and determination to defend my dog.

She says shes sharing the story not to be breed-discriminate against pit bulls, but to hopefully bring about more awareness about dangerous dogs.

She says all dogs can bite  but lets face it, some are more dangerous than others, especially those that are bred to be strong fighters.

The mayor says the pit bull that attacked Nanook had no history of aggression, and added that it was it was just an accident that the gate was left unlocked.

The dog owners did all the right things afterwards. They didnt try to deflect the blame and took immediately responsibility. They were extremely apologetic and concerned for both me and my dog. They also paid the vet bill promptly, she says.

"People tend to say it's not the dog, it's the owners. But these people are responsible dog owners  so it is the dog."

She has a message to anyone thinking about getting a dog: Consider carefully which breed.

Its important to ask yourself, do I want to risk a family member, a child, or someone else getting seriously injured or killed?

Fortin says Peachland council has no plans to bring in any bylaws, as the Regional District of Central Okanagan is responsible for dog control. But she did say she would like to see an awareness campaign.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Both Canadian workers and their employers will soon be on the hook for higher contributions to the Canada Pension Plan after the federal government reached an agreement with most of the provinces Monday to revamp the program for the first time in nearly two decades.

Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau said the change means future generations of Canadians will be able to retire in dignity, no matter the state of their finances.

"We have come to a conclusion that we are going to improve the retirement security of Canadians," Morneau said. "We're going to improve the Canada Pension Plan that will make a real difference in future Canadians' situations."

By 2023, an extra $34 a month in pension premiums will mean up to $4,300 more in annual payouts come retirement time for the average Canadian wage earner.

The agreement-in-principle, which only Quebec and Manitoba neglected to endorse, will see an increase in monthly premiums phased in starting at $7 a month in 2019 for a typical worker earning about $55,000.

Once the plan is fully implemented, the maximum annual benefits will increase by about one-third to $17,478.

Mandatory matching contributions will also mean a jump in payroll expenses for employers.

A change to the CPP needs the consent of Ottawa and a minimum of seven provinces representing at least two-thirds of the country's population.

Morneau said Quebec  which has its own pension plan  and Manitoba continue to be part of the process, despite not signing on to the agreement.

"Quebec is in a different situation," he said. "The Quebec pension plan is a different vehicle. The costs are different than the Canadian Pension Plan. The idea that more analysis is required is something that we completely understood around the table."

For Manitoba, Morneau said the deal comes too soon for the province's new Tory government.

"Manitoba is a brand new government. They've been in power for four weeks, so they were a productive voice around the table, a voice of continued interest in working together, but of course this comes pretty fast and hard for them."

Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa said young Canadians will reap the benefits from Monday's decision.

"Today, this federal government has shown great leadership and great desire to do something of great benefit for our young people."

Sousa said the plan would replace the one his government had been working on.

British Columbia Finance Minister Mike de Jong, who had reservations about expanding the CPP, said he came on board because the plan is affordable.

"I think we have reached a balanced approach to setting the objectives that were set out."

Provinces will have until July 15 to officially sign on to the agreement before it becomes formalized.

Heading into Monday's federal-provincial meeting, it was still unclear whether Ottawa would piece together the minimum required provincial support for change. Saskatchewan, for example, did not originally support CPP enhancement.

Sources said Ottawa made a major 11th-hour push in hopes of securing enough country-wide support to boost the CPP and suggested Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was involved in the extra effort.

There hasn't been such a level of consensus on CPP reform at a national scale since the 1990s.

However, critics have warned that expanding the CPP would squeeze workers and employers for additional contributions, and hurt the still-fragile Canadian economy.

The federal government intensified its lobbying efforts over the final days and hours of ongoing meetings as it tried to attract support from enough provinces to ensure a CPP upgrade, said sources with knowledge of the talks.

UPDATED: 4:45 p.m.

The federal government and the provinces have reached an agreement in principle to reform the Canada Pension Plan  but the deal does not include Quebec and Manitoba, The Canadian Press has learned.

A source with knowledge of the talks says Quebec and Manitoba have agreed to be part of the discussions moving forward.

The source did not provide details of the agreement in principle.

Sources say Ottawa made a major 11th-hour push in hope of securing enough country-wide support to boost the CPP and suggest Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was involved in the extra effort.

Heading into the federal-provincial meeting, it was still unclear whether Ottawa would piece together the minimum required provincial support for change. Saskatchewan, for example, did not support CPP enhancement.

A change to the CPP needed the consent of Ottawa and a minimum of seven provinces representing at least two-thirds of the country's population.

There hasn't been such a level of consensus on CPP reform at a national scale since the 1990s.

Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau has argued that enhancing the CPP is critical to ensuring future generations will be able to retire in dignity, no matter the state of their finances.

However, critics have warned that expanding the CPP would squeeze workers and employers for additional contributions  and hurt the still-fragile Canadian economy.

The federal government intensified its lobbying efforts over the final days and hours of ongoing meetings in Vancouver as it tried to attract support from enough provinces to ensure a CPP upgrade, said sources with knowledge of the talks.

ORIGINAL

The federal finance minister says revamping the Canada Pension Plan is critical to ensuring that future generations of Canadians can retire in dignity, no matter the state of their finances.

Bill Morneau joined his provincial and territorial counterparts in Vancouver today to discuss reforming the national pension program over concerns that some Canadians will struggle financially come retirement.

The pressure is on to reach a deal as Ontario's plans to develop its own pension program are well on their way, though the province's finance minister says his preference would be for a national plan.

Quebec Finance Minister Carlos Leitao says any change would have to be targeted, modest and gradual to earn his province's support, and so far Ottawa's proposal is only two thirds of the way there.

Leitao is expected to put forward a proposal that will more selectively target those Canadian workers who are the least likely to save.

Reforming the pension system needs the support of at least seven provinces representing two thirds of the country's population, which gives Ontario an unofficial veto over any decision.

The legislation, as currently written, also states that any reforms can only be implemented three years after a federal-provincial agreement is reached.

Coming into the meetings, Saskatchewan and B.C. have suggested economic conditions aren't right for a change that's likely to lead to an increase in the premiums that come off workers' paycheques.

That premium hike is why some critics of the expansion call it a payroll tax, a common refrain from the Opposition Conservatives who oppose an across-the-board expansion of the program.

Federal research has suggested that workers who are the least likely to save for retirement tend to be under the age of 30, earn between $55,000 and $75,000 (although some estimates are higher), and either don't save enough or lack access to a workplace pension plan.

The federal and provincial governments are looking at a possible increase in the $55,000 cap on annual maximum pensionable earnings, which would result in both higher premiums and increased pension benefits.
Photo: CTV

A Lower Mainland man who killed a Port Coquitlam teen in a hit and run will spend four months behind bars.

Irwin Franz was also handed a one-year driving prohibition for the Sept. 10, 2013, crash where he struck and killed 16-year-old Annie Leung before fleeing the scene.

Franz said he panicked after hitting the Riverside Secondary School student and apologized to the family for his actions. He pleaded guilty last year to the crime.

However, the judge said the fact he waited to come forward and initially lied to police about his involvement added to Leungs familys suffering.

Franz initially denied any knowledge of the incident when questioned by police.

 with files from CTV
Photo: The Canadian Press

The SUV that rolled down a driveway and killed "Star Trek" actor Anton Yelchin was being recalled because the gear shifters have confused drivers, causing the vehicles to roll away unexpectedly, government records show.

Yelchin, 27, a rising actor best known for playing Chekov in the rebooted series, died Sunday after his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee pinned him against a mailbox pillar and security fence at his home, Los Angeles police said.

The 2015 model-year Grand Cherokees were part of a global recall of 1.1 million vehicles announced by automaker Fiat Chrysler in April, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration records show.

The agency urged the recall because of complaints from drivers who had trouble telling if they had put the automatic transmissions in park. If they were not in park and a driver left the vehicle, it could roll away.

Fiat Chrysler expected to send recall notification letters to owners on May 16, according to a memo to dealers, but it's not known whether Yelchin received or saw his letter. The company was working on a fix and expected to have a final remedy in October or later, the letter said.

Investigators were looking into the position of Yelchin's gear shift at the time of the accident, Officer Jane Kim said. The actor had gotten out of the vehicle momentarily, but police didn't say why he was behind it when it started rolling.

Fiat Chrysler said in a statement Monday that it was investigating and it was premature to speculate on the cause of the crash. It offered sympathies to Yelchin's friends and family.

As of April, the company had reports of 212 crashes, 41 injuries and 308 property damage claims potentially caused by the shifters, it said in documents filed with the government.

The recalled vehicles, including nearly 812,000 in the U.S., have an electronic shift lever that toggles forward or backward to let the driver select the gear instead of moving along a track like a conventional shifter. A light shows which gear is selected, but to get from drive to park, drivers must push the lever forward three times.

The recalled vehicles sound a chime and issue a dashboard warning if the driver's door is opened while they are not in park. But the push-button ignition won't shut off the engine if not in park, increasing the risk of the vehicles rolling away after drivers have gotten out.

The Grand Cherokee gear shifters were changed in the 2016 model year so that it works like those in older cars.

Coroner's officials ruled Yelchin's death an accident after an autopsy. The results of any toxicology tests would not be known for months, coroner spokesman Ed Winter said.

Yelchin's friends found him dead after he failed to show up for an audition early Sunday.

His death tragically cut short the promising career of an actor whom audiences were still getting to know and who had great artistic ambition. "Star Trek Beyond," the third film in the series, comes out in July.

Director J.J. Abrams, who cast Yelchin in the franchise, wrote in a statement that he was "brilliant ... kind ... funny as hell, and supremely talented."

Jodie Foster, who co-starred with Yelchin in the 2011 film "The Beaver," called the actor "a rare and beautiful soul with his unstoppable passion for life. He was equal parts serious thinker and the most fun little brother you could ever dream of."

Yelchin began acting as a child, taking small roles in independent films and various television shows, such as "ER," ''The Practice," and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" before receiving his breakout big-screen role opposite Anthony Hopkins in 2001's "Hearts in Atlantis."

Yelchin, an only child, was born in Russia. His parents, who were professional figure skaters, moved the family to the United States when Yelchin was a baby. He briefly flirted with skating lessons, too, before discovering that he wasn't very skilled on the ice. That led him to acting class.

"I loved the improvisation part of it the most, because it was a lot like just playing around with stuff," Yelchin told The Associated Press in 2011. "There was something about it that I just felt completely comfortable doing and happy doing."
Photo: Twitter - @NuclearMoose

Residents of two flood-ravaged communities in northeastern British Columbia will gather to learn how to apply for disaster financial assistance.

The Peace River Regional District says a town hall has been set up for Monday night in Dawson Creek, and that residents of Chetwynd will gather on Tuesday.

Centres where people can get help filling out applications and learn about referrals to other resources will also be set up.

Financial assistance is available to home owners, residential tenants, small business owners, farmers, charitable organizations and local government bodies that could not get insurance to cover disaster-related losses.

Premier Christy Clark says the province will spend $65 million on flood mitigation projects this year and that she'd like to see the federal government do more to avert disasters.

Clark is calling on Ottawa to put more money into programs aimed at preventing floods or wildfires, saying that would reduce costs in the long term.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Get a charge out of chocolate? New research suggests candy companies may be able to make lower fat versions of the tasty treat with a little electrical trick.

By running liquid chocolate through an electric field, researchers were able to make it flow more easily. And that means it doesn't need so much fat, they say.

Cutting the fat in chocolate has been a much-studied challenge in the industry. The new approach was described Monday by researchers at Temple University in Philadelphia.

During production, chocolate is handled as a liquid that includes solids like cocoa suspended in melted fat and oil, they noted in a paper released by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

A certain level of fat is needed to let the chocolate flow easily enough to be processed, they said. But they found an electric field can encourage flow too.

Using that strategy, they were able to reduce the amount of fat by about 10 per cent, said researcher Rongjia Tao. In theory, they could reduce it by twice that much, he said.

The electric field makes the tiny balls of cocoa solids clump together into chains, which allows easier flow.

The work was partially financed by the Mars chocolate company, and Temple holds patents on the technique.

Tao said he could taste no difference in chocolate treated with his method, but that some others in his lab said it tasted better.

Mary Ellen Camire, professor of food science and human nutrition at the University of Maine in Orono, who was not involved in the project, said the paper left some important questions unanswered.

There was no scientific evaluation of how the treatment affects taste and texture, she said. Nor did the researchers test whether the treated chocolate would remain appealing after time in storage, she said.
Photo: Contributed

A horse adopted by Jon Stewart and his wife after it was found seemingly abandoned at an auction stable in Pennsylvania died at their New Jersey farm on Sunday.

The white mare named Lily was euthanized after falling and breaking a bone in its neck at their Middletown farm, Tracey Stewart said.

"When we knew there was nothing more we could do for her we covered her in kisses and kind words and said our goodbyes," Stewart said in a statement. "Our hearts are aching we had so many more fun plans for her. She was beyond special and beyond loved."

The Stewarts adopted the horse last month after it was found in March at an auction stable in New Holland, Pennsylvania. Police said she was covered in paint and was extremely sore to the touch. The abused-horse tale soon became a cause celebre, but the animal's previous owner said the story relayed by the Lancaster County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals that it was shot by paintballs was wrong.

Weston, who owns Smoke Hollow Farm in Pittstown, New Jersey, said the horse was about 35 years old and was acquired in the late 1990s. She said the animal was actually used as a canvas at children's finger-painting parties.

Weston said she wanted the horse euthanized because its quality of life was so poor. She said she contacted a horse dealer to take it in February and assumed the dealer would euthanize the horse but didn't tell him to.

The dealer, Phillip Price, of East Providence, Rhode Island, was convicted last month in New Holland of animal cruelty and other charges related to transporting a horse in poor condition. Price is on probation in Rhode Island after pleading no contest to animal cruelty in July, court records show.

Weston said that she was sad to hear that the horse died and thanked the Stewarts for trying to help her.

"She had a lot of issues. Her physical condition was deteriorating rapidly. I did everything I could to try to get her better," Weston said. "She wasn't well, she hadn't been well for a while. ... They tried to make her have more quality of life and I'm sure she did, for a month or so."

Tracey Stewart said that Lily enjoyed her time at the farm munching on grass and got "massages, baths and lots and lots of hugs."

Stewart said the animal slept in her barn listening to soft music and that the horse's favourite Pandora channel was Ray Lamontagne.
If you have just started your journey in an online casino or are looking for a new site to play,...
Iran Mercatile exchange resumes cement export trade

20 June 2016

Cement offerings for export have resumed at Iran Mercantile Exchange, the IME chief said. Isfahan Cement Company initiated the offering with 2000t of cement on Saturday, 1000t of which were traded on cash payment.



We intend to expand our export markets for cement and unify prices by exporting the commodity through IME, Hamed Soltaninejad was also quoted as saying by IRNA.



Government-enforced pricings and the subsequent lack of competition caused cement manufacturers to become disillusioned with the exchange and pull out of IME in 2012. Soltaninejad referred to the glut in the domestic cement market and emphasised that IMEs capability to carry out foreign transactions in dollars and euros.



 Cement producers are currently going through a rough patch. They are grappling with weak demand at home, as a result of a dormant construction sector. They recently lost the Iraqi market, one of the main export destinations of Iranian cement. North African countries like Kenya and Ethiopia are currently being considered as alternative market," he said.

Earlier, Mohammad Atabak with the Cement Industry Employers Association said cement prices were expected to rise about 15 per cent in late June, adding that the hike in prices is meant to compensate the rising production costs.

More than 15Mt of cement and clinker were exported in the last Iranian year (March 2015-16), with Iraq accounting for close to 65 per cent of this figure. Afghanistan, Kuwait and Qatar were other major destinations. Iran aims to increase production and exports to 120Mt and 32Mt respectively by the end of 2020.

Published under
Chattanooga has several interesting links to this national Juneteenth commemoration.

On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger would arrive in Galveston, Texas and issue the following order which proclaimed, The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them became that between employer and free laborer. Remarkably, many of the citizens of Texas and the more than 200,000 slaves that inhabited the state had failed to hear of the Emancipation Proclamation, which had went into effect January 1st, 1863. Texas would make it a state holiday in 1980, and today most states have an official day of observance to recognize this last recorded freeing of the slaves as parades, picnics, prayer services, and proclamation recitations are all standard ways that have come to represent many of the nation's official Juneteenth commemorations that now enter their 151st year.

After the Confederates had swept over half the Union Army off the Chickamauga Battlefield (September 20th, 1863), it was General Gordon Granger who would, without orders, rush to shore up the weakening line which had been constructed by the Rock of Chickamauga George H. Thomas and save the Union Army during that epic battle. After the Civil War concluded, many of the former slaves would turn to the Freeman's Bureau for aide, guidance, and support. It was General Oliver O. Howard who headed this agency, and our very own Howard School is named in his honor. According to a February 2000 Chattanooga Times Free Press article a, Mary Walker was America's last living slave and lived to see an age of 121 (1848-1969). Born a slave in Union Springs, Alabama, Mary Walker arrived in Chattanooga circa... 1917 and remained here until her death. At the age of 116 she enrolled in the Chattanooga Area Literacy Movement class and learned to read, write, and perform basic mathematics, and for this she was declared "oldest" student in the nation by the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. In a life that spanned from Presidents James K. Polk to Richard Nixon, she would be alive during the signing and ratification of both the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment, and would go on to receive multiple Chattanooga Ambassador of Goodwill awards. The late Rev. John L. Edwards Jr. formed the Mary Walker Historical and Education Foundation in part to honor her, and in addition to promoting African-American historical preservation and literacy, the foundation helped to organize the first of Chattanooga's Juneteenth celebrations.

On this the 151st Anniversary of Juneteenth, as a community we should be resolved to reflect and remember the lessons of our past in order to build a more perfect Union and better America. First, we must do as Lincoln urged us to and, "lean to the better angels of our nature" as citizens, students and families. Secondly, 150 years after the signing and ratification of the 13th Amendment, we should make the affirming crust of that document, "neither slavery nor involuntary servitude" very plain and very real. There are currently over 20 million enslaved people in the world, and we should support organizations who oppose this societal scourge like Second Life Chattanooga because human trafficking and slavery is a menace that must be permanently eradicated from our world.

Thirdly, we should prescribe to the notion that calls for universal human rights. Each December 10th the United Nations celebrates world human rights day, and on this December 2015 the world commemorated the 50th anniversary of the United Nations' two International Covenants on Human Rights: the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Along with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, this Triumvirate of Tranquility forms the context and foundation for the world's International Bill of Human Rights by striving to promote, "the inherent dignity of and the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family." In addition to basic human principles, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims that we all are endowed with the ability to enjoy four fundamental human freedoms, which are: (1) Freedom of Speech; (2) Freedom of Religion; (3) Freedom from Want; and (4) Freedom from Fear.

Lastly, we should disavow and divest ourselves of all forms of bigotry, indifference, intolerance and violence. As we take a moment of silence to pray for the 49 souls that fell at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, and reflect on the events which occurred at New Emmanuel AME in Charleston, SC on last year when nine brave souls were shot during prayer service, we should remember that anger gives rise to anger, violence only begets violence, hatred fosters further hatred, and evil enhances habitual evil, but love is the strongest of these and conquers them all, and this we must affirm as we strive to be one nation, many believe under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice not just for the one, but liberty and justice for us all.

For more information on Juneteenth you may visit the Juneteenth National Registry at: http://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm.

Respectfully, Chattanooga Juneteenth Celebration Committee

Eric A. Atkins, M. Ed.

Pastor Charlotte S. Williams
Washington  The American Legion will begin a campaign Monday to stop an effort in Congress to limit the advantage veterans have in federal hiring, starting with a letter to members of the House that accuses the Pentagon of conjuring a "morally-bankrupt tactic" to circumvent veterans' preference.

The influential veterans group, the country's largest service organization, said Defense Department officials have "turned their backs" on veterans who served the Pentagon and the country.

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"The myth surrounding Veterans Preference must be dispelled; veterans preference is not a handout," says the letter signed by American Legion National Commander Dale Barnett. The Washington Post obtained a copy:

"One would think the agency that produces veterans and service-disabled veterans would have the additional moral obligation to uphold the institution of Veterans Preference.

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Instead, Department of Defense (DOD) turned their backs on their former employees, by initiating a provision . . . that dilutes veterans preference. The provision, if passed, would diminish Veterans Preference."

---

A little-noticed provision of the massive defense bill the Senate passed last week would eliminate the preference veterans get once they are in the government and apply for another federal job. Former service members would still go to the head of the hiring queue. Top defense officials pressed Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, for the change, Senate aides said, to ensure that qualified non-veterans are considered equally with veterans for specialized, hard-to-fill positions.

The language, which will now head to conference with the House as part of the larger defense bill, would apply government-wide. It would affect thousands of veterans, many of whom get a foot in the door with an entry-level position and then seek jobs at other agencies.

The Defense Department and other agencies have sought for several years to tweak the veterans' preference law, a cornerstone of President Obama's push to reward retired troops from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Starting in 2009, Obama boosted the "extra credit" veterans get to give them a greater edge in getting federal jobs, setting hiring goals for them at each agency.

But the policy has led to frustration at many agencies that qualified non-veterans are getting shut out of federal jobs in deference to those who served but may not be qualified. Almost one in two hires to full-time, permanent federal jobs was a veteran in fiscal 2014, according to the Office of Personnel Management, which has not yet made more recent data public.

Serving veterans for nearly 75 years, American Legion Post 854 in Evergreen Park looks to survive as it buries one of its own. (Chris Walker/Chicago Tribune) (Chris Walker / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)

The American Legion said Congress would be eroding the contract between the country and its soldiers, who can lose valuable years building civilian job skills while they serve and deserve equal footing with non-veterans once they leave the military.

Barnett noted that veterans get extra points only "when prospective candidate qualifications are in equipoise," meaning when a veteran and non-veteran are equally qualified for the job.

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The American Legion has plans for an emergency appeal this week to its 2.2 million members to write letters to their members of Congress to oppose the change. A high-profile lobbying effort is in the works, before Congress breaks for recess in a few weeks.

"We're taking this very seriously," said Louis J. Celli Jr. the American Legion's acting legislative director. "Right now, our battle is with the House conference committee." Other veterans groups also say they oppose the language.

A spokesman for the House Armed Services Committee, whose chairman, Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, and ranking Democrat, Rep. Adam Smith, Wash., are likely to serve on the conference panel, said the committee has not taken a position on the issue.

A McCain spokesman was not immediately available for comment on the American Legion's letter. McCain said last week that he does not think the Senate provision hurts veterans' preference but instead "balances the goals of rewarding those who are eligible for a federal hiring advantage with the needs of the federal government and notably the Department of Defense to attract and hire the best talent for a variety of important national security jobs."
Kweku Nduom, left, and his brother Chiefy Nduom oversee their family's investment in Illinois Service Federal Savings & Loan Association in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, where they are photographed June 16, 2016. The Nduoms' $9 million stake in ISF Bank marks the family's entry into the U.S. financial services industry. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)

The family that recently invested $9 million into one of the last black-owned banks in Illinois plans to overhaul the Bronzeville lender, trying to put the bank's close call with failure behind it.

Illinois Service Federal Savings & Loan Association, founded in 1934, remains one of two black-owned banks based in Illinois, with the investment by Ghana's Nduom family. As recently as five years ago, there were four black-owned banks in the state. The others have since failed, and Illinois Service's remaining peer  Seaway Bank and Trust  is under pressure from regulators, looking for a new chief executive and trying to raise capital.

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Illinois Service, too, had been ordered by bank regulators to boost its capital levels. Troubled banks unable to turn themselves around risk seizure by the government, which typically then hands the reins off to another bank.

The Nduom family has a 5,000-employee conglomerate, Groupe Nduom, that spans mostly West Africa and the United Kingdom and includes media, hospitality and banking interests. The investment in Illinois Service marks its entry into the U.S. financial services industry.

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The family's patriarch, Papa Kwesi Nduom, was born in Ghana and became a partner at Deloitte & Touche in Milwaukee. He and his family eventually moved to Washington, D.C., and then back to Ghana in the early 1990s.

Now that Illinois Service is better capitalized, it's time to focus on its technology, loan portfolio and products, and to reconnect with the neighborhood, sons Chiefy Nduom, 33, and Kweku Nduom, 37, said while in town last week. Their father is chairman but the pair oversee the family's stake in the Chicago bank, which goes by the name ISF Bank. The Ghanaian-American family's investment deal closed in late April.

"Right now we're focused on delivering existing services in a more efficient manner using technology and also perhaps having a better location spread," Kweku Nduom said. Among the plans: "A new look and feel of the physical premises, a new look and feel of the website, and a faster delivery of products, such as online account openings, and you'll probably see one or two more ATMs in a few areas."

Since desegregation, the number of black-owned banks has been on the decline, as some black consumers decided to take their business to "majority-owned banks," and the recession also hurt, said Michael Grant, president of the National Bankers Association, which represents minority- and women-owned banks.

"The communities they served were hard-hit, and the recovery has been uneven," he said. "Some of these banks were struggling because people in the communities they serve are still struggling."

Grant also noted that it's not just minority-owned banks that have long been under pressure, but also hospitals, grocery stores and funeral homes. "Until the black community starts valuing businesses owned by black Americans, these banks will struggle."

Illinois Service has 31 employees, down from 38 in early 2015. As of the first quarter, the bank had $101 million in assets, of which $42.3 million was loans. Nearly two-thirds of the loans were for one- to four-family homes.

Illinois Service, which for now remains under close regulatory scrutiny, still must confront the challenge of dealing with a portfolio in which 13.4 percent of its loans are seriously delinquent. That's down from the year before, but Illinois banks overall have just 1.1 percent of their loans that are 90 days or more past due or not generating any interest income.

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Chiefy Nduom cited a recent study by real estate website Zillow that placed Chicago homeowners in the worst position in the nation, with a larger portion of homes underwater than in Las Vegas. That means their homes are worth less than what they owe their lender.

"There are a number of complex issues, including unemployment rates, violence, which has a negative impact on housing values, and just general cash flow in the community," Chiefy Nduom said. "What we've found, though, is that our portfolio has seen its worst days."

About 90 percent of Illinois banks are profitable, but Illinois Service lost $615,000 in the first quarter.

"We're confident that our return to profitability could be extremely quick," Chiefy Nduom said. And, "based on the amount of capital that has been injected, the bank is in great shape from a capital standpoint and could weather a storm for a significant period."

The Nduom family had been aiming to get a new U.S. bank charter or to invest in an existing U.S. bank. They said a mutual friend brought Illinois Service's former CEO, Norman Williams, who was seeking to raise money for the bank, to Washington, D.C., to meet with their father.

Williams has retired. The Nduom family brought in Robert Klamp, former International Bank of Chicago president, as Illinois Service's new CEO.

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The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. insures deposits at 6,122 banks and thrifts. The number that were black-owned as of the end of 2015: about 20.

"Our goal is to ensure that ISF Bank remains in this community in perpetuity," Chiefy Nduom said.

byerak@tribpub.com

Twitter @beckyyerak
Federal agents said they have uncovered a massive international identity theft scheme that victimized at least hundreds and maybe thousands of people, including an actress who appeared in the television shows "Smallville" and "Supergirl."

On Thursday, federal authorities arrested two people in Virginia and two in Georgia who allegedly were part of a sophisticated operation that involved stealing identities and producing fake shell companies that could apply for high-balance credit cards.

The sprawling conspiracy involved many millions of dollars, authorities say, although after two years of investigating, they believe they have just scratched the surface. Court documents say the group would bill credit card companies for payments to its own shell companies, then route the money through various entities and sometimes out of the country.

Organized under the umbrella "the Deutche Group," the conspiracy allegedly involved people in India, Thailand and Britain as well as in the United States. Prosecutors are asking anyone who may have been a victim to come forward and help illuminate the scope of the scheme.

The conspirators would advertise jobs for Deutche Group on Craigslist, according to authorities, and then steal the personal information applicants gave them.

They also set up online companies offering airfare and hotel deals, according to court filings, then pocketed the funds and used stolen credit cards to book trips. Some travelers were stranded partway through vacations when their itineraries were canceled by fraud alerts.

When such fraud alerts led credit card companies to challenge charges, the group used digitally created images of credit cards and passports to back up their spending, authorities say.

One such passport used an image of actress Laura Vandervoort taken from a scene in the television show "V" involving visas, authorities said.

An FBI agent who was a fan of "Smallville" immediately recognized Vandervoort's photo, authorities said, and the image helped authorities lock down a time frame for when the fake passport was created and illuminated some of the group's digital maneuvering.

Vandervoort played Supergirl on "Smallville" and also plays a villain on the show "Supergirl."

According to the charging documents, the group even set up its own bank in India and attempted to join the Visa network so they could approve their own fraudulent transactions. One Indian co-conspirator tried to hide the illegal funds by buying diamonds with stolen credit cards, according to prosecutors.

Amit Chaudhry of Ashburn, Va., was arrested Thursday. He is accused of being the mastermind behind the U.S. operations. According to prosecutors, his siblings and other relatives and associates in India helped steal identities and create shell corporations.

To date, prosecutors have identified 353 fake companies associated with the scheme.

Prosecutors say a New York woman, questioning charges to her credit card, first alerted them to the group, which they believe has been operating since at least 2012.

In court Thursday, Chaudhry appeared bewildered and said he did not understand the charges against him.

"I never transferred money," he said. "I don't have any significant ties to India."

An affidavit filed in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, lists five aliases for Chaudhry, including "John King" and "Sachin Sinha."

Jacqueline Green of Woodbridge, Va., was also arrested Thursday and charged with wire fraud.

Green appears to have met Chaudhry through her employment with ActioNet, a government information-technology contractor.

Chaudhry was running his own Northern Virginia-based company, Knowledge Center, which authorities say did both legitimate IT training and supported his illegal activity. According to prosecutors, Green would overbill or fraudulently bill her company for training provided by Chaudhry's firm.

If convicted, Chaudhry and Green face up to two decades in prison as well as significant fines. Court records did not list an attorney for either defendant. Sudhakar Jha and Tanav Jha, the defendants arrested in Georgia, have detention hearings set for next week, and authorities said they will then be brought to Virginia to face trial.

Other perpetrators, authorities said, have fled to India. It was a now-former employee at American Express in India, according to prosecutors, who helped procure some of the stolen identities, as did other overseas sources.

People who believe that they may have been affected by this alleged fraud can submit their complaint online at www.ic3.gov and should include the keyword "CCTRAVELVICTIM" in the "Description of the Incident" field.
The Chicago Film Office is launching a program called the Independent Film Initiative, the centerpiece of which will be a filmmaker-in-residence, a post that includes a $10,000 cash grant toward a project, as well as discounts on equipment rentals, meeting space and other assistance.

Applicants can submit their names starting Tuesday through Aug. 31; the winning filmmaker will be announced in October. To apply go to chicagofilmoffice.us.

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At least one goal of the project is to encourage young film students stick around in Chicago after film school, rather than heading to parts elsewhere for work.

Ideal applicants are established professionals who have played a principal role in a completed production (director, producer, editor, etc). Applicants will be asked to submit a project treatment and production schedule, full budget and budget narrative, a plan for distribution, bios of key creative personnel, and a sample of previous work.

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"Chicago has become a hot destination for filming studio feature films and network television series, with a unprecedented eight series shooting in the city this summer and fall," per the statement from the Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events. "The (Independent Film Initiative) now aims to grow the number of locally produced independent features, documentaries, short films and web series and to make Chicago a place where films and series are not only made but where they are made by Chicagoans."

As part of the yearlong residency, the emerging filmmaker will have access to an advisory team including producer Bob Teitel (of the "Barbershop" films and the upcoming Obama first-date indie "Southside with You," which shot here last summer), writer-director Kris Swanberg ("Unexpected") and producer Peter Gilbert (whose credits include "Hoop Dreams" and the Joe Swanberg films "Drinking Buddies" and "Happy Christmas"). The resident will also have access to digital imaging, audio and lighting specialists at AbelCine.

Indies shot in Chicago so far this year include "Landline" (which is here through the end of the month) and "Hope Springs Eternal," the teen dramedy about a high schooler who finds out she's not dying of cancer. Later this summer, the alt-weekly Newcity will begin filming its own indie called "Signature Move."

nmetz@tribpub.com

Twitter @NinaMetzNews







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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)
Signage on Randolph St. on Sun. June 19, 2016 for the opening of "The SpongeBob Musical" at the Oriental Theatre. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)

"I'm ready! I'm ready! I'm ready!" is a catchphrase of sorts for SpongeBob SquarePants, the nautical, nonsensical, adored yellow sponge now starring in "The SpongeBob Musical," a Broadway tryout in Chicago. That simple phrase echoed throughout a sea of black- and yellow-clad creators gathered outside the Oriental Theatre on Sunday afternoon, on an appropriately renamed "yellow carpet," for "SpongeBob's" opening night.

First to arrive was The Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne, one of many on a starry list of the musical's composers.

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"I've run into people in the hotel that saw it (in previews) and they were like, 'Wait, it's like the greatest thing ever,'" said Coyne, glammed out with shiny stick-on hearts around his eyes. "We had worked with the 'SpongeBob' people on the first movie and loved doing that. I still run into, well, they're not kids now, but there are teenagers who are like, 'The first time I heard you was your SpongeBob Squarepants song!'"

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So much for "The Soft Bulletin" or "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots."

Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob himself, said he was excited to see Coyne (No cartoon voice, but every bit as friendly as his yellow muse.), but he wasn't sure which of the musical's other celeb songwriters were in attendance.

"Is (Cyndi) Lauper here?"

No.

"(Steven) Tyler?"

No.

"OK, well, apparently I care a little more than they do."

Kenny walked the yellow carpet with his wife, Jill Talley, the voice of Plankton's computer, Karen.

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"It's kind of the family business, except it's a little more fun than a hardware store," he said. "But we're still selling horseshoe nails every day -- the cartoon version."

The Bikini Bottom pioneers were looking forward to hearing Kenny's "Best Day Ever." "I'm curious, giddy, got the opening night butterflies," Kenny said.

"I was cool until I saw everyone arrive, and then I was like, 'OK, this is real,'" said gospel star and mega-SpongeBob fan Yolanda Adams, who contributed a song for the storyline in the show involving the deification of Patrick Star.

She has EGOT dreams.

"We have the Grammy. We've got the American Music Award. But my heart is here, so I really want that (Tony)."

Tom Higgenson of the Plain White T's arrived, adorable son in tow (he proclaimed his son "the brains behind this whole operation"). Higgenson's song in the show is a feel-good duet for Patrick and SpongeBob called "BFF." When he first wrote it, he said, he sang it to his son every night before bed. "He loved it," Higgenson said, "so he knows it better than I do."

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The music supervisor (and Pulitzer Prize winner) Tom Kitt arrived with his family, all wearing matching outfits: plaid for the boys and neon flower dresses for the girls. "I am so proud I can share it with them," he said about his kids, who have now seen the show multiple times.

Do they approve?

"The next morning my son was quoting it. I figured that's a good sign because kids don't lie," Kitt said.

"It's been such a joy to put the show together," said choreographer Christopher Gattelli, who's also working on the musical "War Paint," set to open just around the block at the Goodman Theatre. "I love Chicago. It's my favorite city."

Director Tina Landau was last to arrive, in a yellow suit fit for a not-so-simple sponge and sparkly sneakers.

"My favorite moment was the end of rehearsal on Friday at 5:01. My book writer Kyle Jarrow came running up to me hyperventilating and said, 'My wife's in labor. What should I do? Should I write something?' I said, 'Go to the airport! Go to the airport!' He flew to the airport and they had a baby last night. That's my favorite thing so far."

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Hard to top that, but the crowd headed inside Sunday hoping the secret formula would reveal itself for a second SpongeBob miracle.

mgreene@tribpub.com Twitter @MorGreene

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Who sings in Chicago six days a week? SpongeBob SquarePants!

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An exclusive Plain White T's song from 'The SpongeBob Musical'







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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)
Hopeless optimism is as good a strategy as any in our angry, hate-filled world. So by the time "The SpongeBob Musical" turns the Krusty Krab into a Hells Kitchen canteen, SpongeBob SquarePants, designated flipper of the Krabby Patty, might just be the yellow tonic that Broadway, and its fans across America, sorely need.

Why not a Panglossian poriferan at the heart of an ebullient, spectacular underwater pastiche? You got a better idea to save our Bikini Bottom?

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At the opening of its Chicago tryout, the strengths of "The SpongeBob Musical," which features a book by Kyle Jarrow, direction by Tina Landau and a double album's worth of disparate songwriters with lips flaming and otherwise, begin with a knockout central turn from Ethan Slater. Looking like a youthful amalgam of Rod Stewart, Barry Manilow and Bello Nock the clown, the vocally charming Slater nails the most crucial qualities of Nickelodeon's biggest brand name: his irony-free gestalt, his stoic but vulnerable demeanor and his belief that this might as well be the best day ever, since that just might prevent it from being the worst.

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Slater is well supported by Lilli Cooper, who plays Sandy Cheeks, the ex-pat Texan squirrel; the very honest Danny Skinner as the insecure Patrick Star; Carlos Lopez as Eugene Krabs; and Gavin Lee, the terrific hoofer who plays Squidward Tentacles, the Eeyore of this crew, whose big Act 2 dance number, fabulously choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, stops the show.

"The SpongeBob Musical's" biggest gamble  a score made up of singles by different songwriters and unified by orchestrator Tom Kitt  works quite beautifully in the anarchic playpen that Landau has created with her designers, David Zinn and Kevin Adams. Jonathan Coulton has penned "Bikini Bottom Day"  the "Good Morning Baltimore" set-up song  a melodic charmer. The Plain White T's nail the buddy song, "BFF," and Sara Bareilles, really adept now at this form, contributes a droll ditty for Patchy the Pirate: It's the Act 2 opener, and it brings Patchy, who struggles to find his way in Act 1, to some belated life (the dull pre-show could be a lot more fun).

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 7 The company of "The SpongeBob Musical" at the Oriental Theatre. (Joan Marcus / 2016 Joan Marcus)

The show benefits from some specialty numbers, including Yolanda Adams' witty, Gospel-style "Super Sea Star Savior" and Steven Tyler and Joe Perry's self-parodying, "Bikini Bottom Boogie." Cyndi Lauper's "Hero is My Middle Name" works great, as does the most emotional number, "(Just a) Simple Sponge" by Panic! At the Disco. There's even an, ahem, distinctive David Bowie/Brian Eno trunk number, "No Control," a macabre pleasure. Thankfully the best song of the lot is the climactic number: "Best Day Ever." It's by Andy Paley and Tom Kenny and a winner.

The eye-popping, wildly distinctive set to "SpongeBob" spills out across the theater  a wacky world of pool noodles, runaways and silly machinery, all with a recycled air. That's ammunition against any charge of excessive spectacle, although excessive certainly would not be an unfair adjective to describe this show at some moments. At times in Act 1, it feels too much like we are watching the goings-on in a hyper-kinetic Munchkinland.

That's an issue. It might be set underwater, but there is no drier show on television than "SpongeBob SquarePants," and the transition to Broadway now needs to involve a dialing back of excess and more attention to truth  Bikini Bottom truth, sure, but metaphoric human veracity, nonetheless. Jarrow's book, which involves Bikini Bottom fighting off an erupting volcano (with you-know-who climbing the mountain at the last possible moment) is a deliciously quirky piece of writing, with resonance to the panic surrounding Y2K, and the more horrific perils, natural and human, attacking the environment we all share, for better or worse. Sometimes the production slows down enough to emphasize those moments and allow warm-blooded actors like Slater, Cooper and Lee to communicate directly with the audience. Often it does not. SpongeBob is too removed from us.

Plankton (Nick Blaemire), a crucial nemesis, needs to find some gravitas. It's tricky, because the surely capable Blaemire is trapped with a different conceit, a.k.a. holding a very small puppet, than the rest of these characters. It just doesn't yet work. Patchy has similar issues.

There are live Foley effects in the house  which seems have tempted Landau, who otherwise has directed this show with an incredibly exciting ensemble spirit, to want to compete with a Pixar movie or The Avengers or some other ka-pow! affair. That feels like a digression from the Gospel of SpongeBob, which is about people overcoming everyday perils  and they really can erupt all around you, as in Jarrow's book, especially when you are not looking. The musical has a viable overarching narrative, but it doesn't always capture the aphorism-filled spirit of the episodic stories its fans love. It could. It should.

A few numbers, and a few more scenes, are trampled by the sound effects. Another way to think of this main problem is that the show needs to retain the soul, characters and gestalt of the cartoon, and then completely lose the cartoon. Understandably, it has been hard for them.

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But as Landau well knows, theater requires retail conversation. One on One. Or Sponge on 2,253. His name is on the marquee  we want to get to know him, and it sure would be nice if the show had a number where SpongeBob does what SpongeBob does on a normal day: flip burgers. We never really see Bikini Bottomers living their lives before everything goes awry. There's a lesson in "Fiddler on the Roof." SpongeBob is a lot like Tevye.

"The SpongeBob Musical" has the God-like French Narrator, a nod to its oceanographic roots. Jarrow does not seem to know whether he wants to use this narrator, who barely gets a voice in, so to speak. Much of the storytelling comes instead from a TV newscaster, Perch Perkins (Kelvin Moon Loh), a cliche that rarely works in musicals, and this one is no exception, albeit no fault of Loh's.

All that can be fixed. Landau and the diverse, talented team she's hired in a very deftly and freshly cast show have done the tough stuff: The world is there before us, beautifully visualized, all shimmering and glittering, inarguably unique. Kids will feel like they've walked into an anarchic playland. Reluctant adults, a core audience, will be delighted to be out of the office (or Starbucks) and back in such a carefee place, and still feel like they're getting their money's worth. Now Landau's cast can concentrate on playing people. For those are the souls who populate Bikini Bottom. That's why Mr. SquarePants already has reportedly made $8 billion in merch, and has been running on Nickelodeon for 17 years. And, just now, the musical 

Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.

cjones5@tribpub.com Twitter @ChrisJonesTrib

"The SpongeBob Musical"  3 STARS

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When: Through July 10

Where: Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St.

Running time: 2 hours, 25 minutes

Tickets: $33-100 at 800-775-2000 or BroadwayinChicago.com

RELATED STORIES:

How SpongeBob SquarePants got his own musical in Chicago

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Photos from The SpongeBob Musical

Hamilton and the agony of reselling tickets







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)
Tall Ship Celebration in Bay City, Mich., where the ships will be docking in mid-July. (Hadley Media Group)

Here are some of the more interesting events, deals, websites and other travel tidbits that came across our desk recently:

The Tall Ships Challenge will bring a fleet of tall ships to the Great Lakes this summer for racing and the opportunity to get a look at the vessels up close in port. Among the host cities will be Fairport Harbor, Ohio, July 8-10; Bay City, Mich., July 15-17; Chicago, July 27-31; Green Bay, Wis., Aug. 5-7; Duluth, Minn., Aug. 18-21; Erie, Pa., Sept. 8-11; and Brockville, Ontario, Sept. 17-18. http://tinyurl.com/zuolzbr

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RELATED: TRENDING LIFE & STYLE NEWS THIS HOUR

Liberty Travel has Dominican Republic lodging and airfare packages in late August priced as low as $819 per person, double occupancy. Pricing includes round-trip air from Chicago and four nights' lodging at the all-inclusive Riu Palace Punta Cana. http://tinyurl.com/zjjdj65

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Great Value Vacations offers a five-night stay in Cartagena, Colombia, that's priced from $1,620 per person, double occupancy. That includes round-trip air from Chicago, five nights' lodging at the all-inclusive Estelar Grand Playa Manzanillo and a half-day private tour of Cartagena. http://tinyurl.com/jhmkgen

Fans of architect Frank Lloyd Wright's work will want to check out day trips being offered by the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust with their Wright in the Region program. The trips, which start from Chicago, are held once a month and visit Wright structures in Rockford, Kankakee, the Fox River Valley, Decatur and Springfield in Illinois and Racine, Wis. http://tinyurl.com/gu6hfb4

Yoga Fest, sponsored by Radish Magazine, will be held July 15-17 in Rock Island, Ill. There will be classes, lectures and workshops by local yoga instructors and some from the Chicago area. The program will be for all levels, including beginner and advanced students, as well as yoga teachers. Weekend and single-day passes are available. http://tinyurl.com/z4ur7zr

It's all about the horses July 7-17 at the Chagrin Hunter Jumper Classic and Cleveland Grand Prix at the Cleveland Metroparks Polo Fields. The classic features national and Olympic riders. The Grand Prix is celebrating its 51st year and was the first show jumping event in North America. www.chagrinhunterjumperclassic.org

Southwest Michigan visitors looking for some free live music can find it twice a week during the summer in St. Joseph. The John E.N. Howard Bandshell on Port Street is the site for Wednesday concerts held at noon, and the Friday night concert series, which starts at 7:30. The schedule of performers can be found at www.stjoetoday.com.

With summer heating up, it seems like a natural time for "a hunk, a hunk of burning love." If you're in Ypsilanti, Mich., July 8-9 you can get it at Michigan Elvisfest. A flock of Elvis tribute artists will be performing, along with Tom Jones, Blues Brothers and James Brown sound-alikes. www.mielvisfest.org

The Marinette Logging and Heritage Festival celebrates the Wisconsin town's lumbering history. The Lumberjack Show is always a popular highlight, with chain saw carving, log chopping, log rolling and more. There's also live music, children's activities and a car show. http://tinyurl.com/jks4tt2

Fort Wayne, Ind., has a 2016 Visitors Guide that you can view online or can order a print copy at http://tinyurl.com/kt4q9zc.

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Cruise-N-More has information on children's programs available on Royal Caribbean International cruises at http://tinyurl.com/h7b45bc.

FloydFest is held July 27-31 in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. It features nine stages and more than 50 performers, including Gregg Allman and Bruce Hornsby. www.floydfest.com

Prices include taxes and fees unless otherwise noted. Deals and websites listed here have been checked for availability as of press time.

Phil Marty is a freelancer.

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Robert De Niro and Mayor Rahm Emanuel attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Nobu Hotel on West Randolph Street in Chicago on June 20, 2016. De Niro is an investor in the project. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune)

It has made him famous the world over: a cinematic, icy glare laced with thinly veiled rage that might boil over at any moment.

So tell us, Robert De Niro, are you scared of Mayor Rahm Emanuel?

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"No, but I can imagine him being angry," said the actor, famous for portraying chilling psychopaths. "It's not a problem."

De Niro, 72, was speaking Monday to the Tribune after appearing with the mayor at a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of construction of a Nobu Hotel in the West Loop. An investor in celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa's high-end restaurant and hotel chain, De Niro said he loved Chicago and the lake but conceded he hadn't been here in years.

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He seemed at ease with a relaxed Emanuel, who greeted him with a bro hug and shared sotto voce gags with him and Matsuhisa as other speakers took their turn at the mic.

The mayor said that De Niro had called him two years ago to discuss the plan to build a hotel on Randolph Street and that he was glad De Niro would now "have a nice room to stay in the next time you're in Chicago."

De Niro belied his difficult reputation by sticking around at the work site to humor star-struck reporters' questions long after Emanuel had sped off. He volunteered that, among the characters he has played on screen, "Casino" protagonist Sam "Ace" Rothstein would probably do the best job running a hotel, but that "I would never let Travis Bickle (of 'Taxi Driver') into any hotel I owned."

He called getting into business with Matsuhisa, who already has hotels in Las Vegas and Manila, Philippines, a "no-brainer" and even told the media  with whom he has had a rocky relationship  "thank you all for being so nice."

Daywatch Weekdays Start each day with Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox. >

Ald. Walter Burnett Jr., 27th, who helped shepherd City Hall approval of the 100-room hotel and 10,000-square-foot restaurant that is due to open late in 2017, was among those paying homage to the star. He said rumors about De Niro's involvement in the project had helped spur development of the Fulton Market area.

Speaking after the event, though, he said he'd be more scared to be in a room alone with an angry Emanuel than with an angry De Niro.

"He's got the real power  he's connected to the White House and all that stuff," Burnett said after only a brief pause to consider his options.

As a passing De Niro headed for his exit, Burnett, who typically speaks with a West Side accent, then reached out and grasped the actor's hand.

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"Grazie, grazie!" Burnett told a laughing De Niro in a passable Italian accent. "Ciao!"

kjanssen@tribpub.com

Twitter @kimjnews
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to a crowd of supporters during a campaign rally on June 18, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Ralph Freso / Getty Images)

Republican lawmakers, when asked if they support presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, are sounding more and more like a fictional politician from the play "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas."

Confronted with a scandal involving an infamous brothel and its madam, Mona Stangley, the governor of Texas admits he likes to "dance a little sidestep," singing: "Now, Miss Mona, I don't know her, though I've heard the name, oh yes. But, of course, I've no close contact, so what she's doing I can only guess."

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Now consider Sen. Ron Johnson speaking on CNN's "State of the Union" over the weekend, saying he will "support the Republican nominee" but refusing to endorse Trump, and then trying to parse the difference:

"Well, to me, endorsement is a big embrace. It basically shows that I pretty well agree with an individual on almost everything. That's not going to necessarily be the case with our nominee."

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Or to put it another way: "Now, Mr. Trump, I don't know him, though I've heard the name, oh yes."

House Speaker Paul Ryan said on Sunday's "Meet the Press" that he supports Trump because  well, he kind of has to:

"I feel like I have certain responsibilities as not just Congressman Paul Ryan from the 1st District of Wisconsin, but as speaker of the House. And imagine the speaker of the House not supporting the duly elected nominee of our party, therefore creating a chasm in our party to split us in half, which basically helps deny us the White House and strong majorities in Congress."

OK, so you're all aboard the Trump train, right?

Ryan continued: "Now having said that, if something is done and said that I don't agree with, that I think puts a bad label on conservatism then I'm going to speak out on it as I have, as I will continue to do. And I hope I don't have to keep doing it."

Cue the music!

"Oooooh  I love to dance a little sidestep! Now they see me now they don't, I've come and gone."

A recent Bloomberg tally of 400 "Republican elected officials, mega-donors and influential conservatives" found that about 37 percent say specifically that they support Trump, 32 percent say they just "support nominee" and 21 percent "oppose Trump."

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The real estate mogul is being embraced by his party in the same way one might embrace a sweaty co-worker  stiffly and for as short a time as possible.

It's like watching the awkward first kiss in a low-budget coming-of-age movie over and over and over again. Except in this case, the teen being kissed keeps making offensive comments the kisser has to disavow before delivering the smooch.

Politician: "Pucker up, Trump!"

Trump: "We may need to start profiling Muslims!"

Politician: "You better un-pucker while I distance myself from that comment."

Fortunately for GOPers, I'm here to help. The sidestep you must dance to kind of/sort of support Trump will be easier if you follow this simple script:

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"As a lifelong conservative and member of the Republican Party, it goes without saying that he who shall not be named has my full and partial quasi-support in this presidential race.

"While the candidate has a colorful personality and a tendency to say things some might find appalling, unconstitutional, wildly inaccurate, illegal or childishly vindictive, I assure you that he and I share a similar vision for this country, with the exception of the appalling, unconstitutional, wildly inaccurate, illegal or childishly vindictive bits. Or any offensive bits yet to be uttered or tweeted.

"What matters is that we come together to defeat Hillary Clinton in the fall, even if it means following this particular candidate and the trail of slime he leaves in his wake. For the record, I am not casting judgment on that slime, merely noting its existence and my willingness to follow. Let me reiterate, I had nothing to do with generating said slime.

"While the media may try to spin my endorsement-esque statement as something less than a full embrace of the man who I will likely be apologizing for within the next 24 hours, make no mistake: I stand by this candidate  well, 'by' might be a bit strong, let's say 'adjacent to'  until such time as he is president or I wake up and realize this was all an unfortunate dream, or both.

"What we can't afford is another four years of a Democrat in the White House, and I'm reasonably certain that Mr. Person Who I'm Still Not Naming would be capable of not being a Democrat. I think.

"So please join me in supporting this candidate, and know that while I am behind him 100 percent, I also disavow everything he says that doesn't poll well, especially the stuff about 'the Hispanics,' 'the gays' and 'the blacks.' And the Muslim stuff. And the thing about bringing torture back.

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"May God have mercy on my soul."

And that's how you sidestep, my Republican friends.

Better run off and get your dancing shoes on. It's going to be a long summer, and I don't expect the music to stop.

rhuppke@tribpub.com
There might not be a budget, but Illinois could become the first state with a law on the books that gives Muslims a formal voice in government.

The creation of an Illinois Muslim-American Advisory Council is one of more than 400 bills awaiting Gov. Bruce Rauner's signature. It landed on the Republican governor's desk shortly before presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump renewed his call to ban Muslims entering the U.S., after a shooter of the Islamic faith killed 49 people at an Orlando, Fla., nightclub.

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Muslim leaders say Rauner's signing of the bill would send a welcome message to the community that Illinois does not condone Trump's approach. The governor's office said he is reviewing the bill.

"Given all that is going on with the misinterpretation about Islam and the interests and concerns of the Muslim American community, it's almost obligatory on behalf of a governor of this state and all governors to have such a body," said Kareem Irfan, a Chicago lawyer who led an earlier iteration of the council under Gov. Pat Quinn. "So we're not subject to the whims of each governor, it would be good to make this a lasting institutional body."

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Along with a number of other minority advisory councils, the Muslim council that existed under Quinn dissolved when Rauner took office last year, Irfan said. This year's hostile political climate prompted Muslim community leaders to propose a resolution that would restore it, and lawmakers took it one step further by proposing a statute that would establish the council more formally.

Sen. Jacqueline Collins, D-Chicago, a co-sponsor of the bill, said she hopes restoration of the council in the form of a law will be the first of many efforts to ensure the governor considers minority perspectives.

"We need to encourage our Muslim Americans to be civically engaged and participate," Collins said. "If you don't participate, the fringe elements establish the policy."

The 21-member council, whose volunteer members would be appointed by the governor as well as leaders in the House and Senate, would advise the governor and General Assembly on issues affecting Muslim Americans and immigrants, including relations between Illinois and Muslim-majority countries. Through monthly meetings and two public hearings per year, members also would serve as liaisons between state agencies and communities across Illinois.

The act specifies that members would serve two-year terms and should bring expertise in a variety of areas including higher education, business, international trade, law, immigration and health care. Staff from certain state agencies would serve as ex-officio members.

Rep. Barbara Wheeler, R-Crystal Lake, who voted against the bill last month, said state employees shouldn't be wasting their time monitoring advisory councils and lawmakers shouldn't be wasting their time on "feel-good" legislation when there's no state budget. She said moderate Muslims should more clearly denounce "Islamic radicals  whatever the Republicans are willing to say and Hillary Clinton isn't."

"It's not an anti-Muslim thing," she said. "It's the duty and responsibility of the Muslim American community to figure out how to help us understand whom our enemies are. I don't believe it's the state of Illinois' responsibility to do that."

Illinois has long been a leader in policies affecting and protecting Muslims, the third-largest religious group in the state next to Roman Catholics and evangelical Protestants. In May 2001, 29 state senators, including then-state Sen. Barack Obama, sponsored a bill making it a misdemeanor for any business to sell meat and other products falsely labeled halal, foods permitted by the faith. And in 2005, lawmakers urged federal agencies to come up with a list of charitable organizations, including Muslim charities, that Americans could contribute to without fear of prosecution.

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In 2009, busloads of Muslims headed to Springfield for the first annual Muslim Action Day, an organized lobbying effort for issues affecting the community. Quinn issued an executive order setting up an advisory council during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in 2011.

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Rauner recently hosted an interfaith prayer breakfast at the executive mansion, where the executive director of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago gave a reading from the Quran.

Hoda Hawa, director of policy and advocacy for the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Washington, D.C., cautiously applauded the legislation, as long as its stated purpose was authentic. There have been too many instances when law enforcement has enlisted the Muslim community for the purpose of surveillance, not civic engagement, she said.

"If this council is just for security purposes, they should be clear about that," Hawa said. "It would be quite concerning to set up an advisory council that's out there gathering intelligence. That really erodes trust."

Collins said the purpose of the statute is to empower a particularly defenseless population. She believes government should serve those who can least serve themselves.

"I believe as a legislator you deal with the budget, but you also deal with issues that affect us all," she added. "I'm there to be a different voice at the table for those who are the most vulnerable in society."

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mbrachear@tribpub.com

Twitter @TribSeeker
Trevor Bull created and produced music shows on a suburban public-access cable TV station and later hosted and produced shows on two suburban radio stations. His interest in discussing music on the air was an offshoot of his longtime personal interest in playing blues harmonica in clubs in Chicago and around the country.

"Trevor was always very passionate about life and living, even despite health issues," said Greg Bizzaro, who worked with Bull at Wheaton's public-access cable station in the 1990s. "He was the first to be  running up on stage at some club in Wyoming and socializing with the best of us and the least of us. He held no judgments, and he was always a strong and courageous person."

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Bull, 63, died of complications from hepatitis May 23 at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, said his wife, Barb. A longtime resident of Wheaton, Bull had suffered chronic health problems for more than a decade, she said.

Born in Chicago, Bull grew up in Oak Lawn and Berwyn. He moved to Pennsylvania when he was in his early 20s but returned to the Chicago area. During his 20s, Bull worked in a print shop and during his off-hours, played blues harmonica in clubs and at festivals.

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Bull later worked in wine sales and then in sales for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers until he was diagnosed with a genetic, untreatable eye disease, retinitis pigmentosa. Although his vision worsened, Bull never entirely lost his eyesight, his wife said.

Settling in Oakbrook Terrace, Bull worked for a time as a detective for the Pinkerton detective agency. He also took a strong interest in local politics, deciding in 1987 to run for both the Oakbrook Terrace City Council and the Oakbrook Terrace Park District's board. He lost the park board race but won a seat on the City Council.

After a little over a year on the City Council, Bull stepped down to take a job working for the city of Oakbrook Terrace as the town's deputy city clerk. Bull cooperated with FBI agents who were investigating corruption in Oakbrook Terrace in a scandal that ultimately sent the city's former mayor to federal prison, his wife said.

In the early 1990s, Bull and his wife moved to Wheaton, where he began working for the city's public-access cable TV station, Wheaton Community Television. While at WCTV, Bull soon began complaining that a fellow employee was using station equipment for personal projects. Bull was later fired for what Wheaton officials told him was insubordination.

Bull filed suit against the city and two defendants in federal court and in 2001 won a $467,000 judgment.

After leaving Wheaton's cable station, Bull began hosting a blues radio show, "Groove Merchant," on suburban WJJG-AM, and an outdoor-themed show, "Range and Field," on suburban WBIG-AM.

"Trevor's name always reminded me of a Civil War general, and that's kind of what he was like, always ready to charge," said Joe Kreml, former manager of Wheaton's cable station. "He had a passion for whatever he was doing. Whether it was making music, videos, radio shows  whatever it was, he was always totally invested. And that made him really fun to work with. He genuinely liked working and collaborating with people."

Kreml remembered Bull's love and knowledge of music, as well as his deftness at dealing with the eccentric cast of characters at Wheaton's cable station.

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"Some friends and I produced a comedy show at the station, and Trevor helped us out with making original music for it," Kreml said. "His harmonica-playing was terrific, as was his knowledge of music, and his influence turned me on to a lot of music I never would have heard."

In addition to his wife, Bull is survived by two sisters, Judy Oslack and Sue Arnold; and two brothers, Steve and Jeff.

Services were held.

Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.
A crossing guard helps pedestrians walk across South Hermitage Avenue in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood in Chicago on June 20, 2016. Salvador Suarez, 21, was killed by someone wielding an assault rifle in the Back of the Yards neighborhood near the front door of Holy Cross Immaculate Heart of Mary Churchon Sunday. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)

The city recorded its 300th homicide this weekend and went on to record six others over a 60-hour period that saw 59 people shot, 13 fatally, from Friday afternoon through early Monday morning.

So far this year, about 1,800 people have been shot across the city and more than 200 of those wounded have died of their wounds, according to records kept by the Chicago Tribune. A total of 306 people have been killed this year by shooting, stabbing or other means, Tribune records show.

A 3-year-old boy was among the wounded who survived the weekend shootings. Police said he's in critical condition. The boy was shot in the right shoulder near East 61st Street and South Kimbark Avenue in the Woodlawn neighborhood at 6:15 p.m. Sunday, police said. The boy was in a car seat when an unknown attacker fired shots at the car, police said. People in the vehicle managed to get the boy to University of Chicago Medical Center. He was then transferred to Comer Children's Hospital in critical condition.

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Five people were fatally shot and nine others were hurt between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Four of the fatalities occurred in seven hours. The fatalities included a 16-year-old boy who was killed in West Englewood about 9:05 p.m. Friday. He was in the front passenger seat of a car driving through an alley in the 6500 block of South Hamilton Avenue when two males came up and fired shots, according to police.

At least 28 people were wounded, three fatally, in shootings from 8:30 a.m. Saturday to 4:30 a.m. Sunday, the equivalent of somebody shot every 43 minutes. One fatal shooting occurred during a possible murder-suicide in Hyde Park about 9:50 a.m. Saturday, police said. Police responded to the 1400 block of East 54th Street for a well-being check and found a 65-year-old woman with a gunshot wound to the head. A man, 73, also was found shot in the head.

Five more people were killed and seven others, including the 3-year-old boy, were wounded from Sunday afternoon to early Monday. One of the fatalities Sunday was a 21-year-old man shot with possibly an AK-47 assault rifle in the Back of the Yards neighborhood, according to police. Police intially said the victim was 17. The 21-year-old, who the Cook County medical examiner's office said was Salvador Suarez, was walking east in the 1700 block of West 46th Street around 1:30 p.m. when a light-colored, four-door Saturn pulled up and fired shots with a "high-powered semi-automatic weapon," striking the victim as he attempted to run, said Eugene Roy, chief of detectives for the Chicago police.

Suarez lived in the 4500 block of South Hermitage Avenue, according to the medical examiner's office. Police are investigating whether the rifle has been used in any other shootings. The victim was pronounced dead on the scene, and the shooting was believed to be gang related, Roy said.

A Chicago police officer also shot and wounded a male who allegedly pointed gun at him near Humboldt Park on Sunday evening. The male suspect, whose age was not immediately available, was shot in the lower extremities, and he was listed in serious-but-stable condition at Stroger Hospital.

Over the course of the year, the Harrison District on the city's West Side has tallied more homicides than any other district in the city, with 37. The Englewood disrict on the South Side had 36. The Austin District on the West Side, the Gresham District on the South Side and the Deering District on the South and Southwest sides each tallied 24.

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The Englewood District had two homicides this weekend, and the Harrison District had one.
Police officers investigate after a Chicago police officer shot and wounded a person who was allegedly pointing a gun at him in the 1600 block of North Washtenaw Avenue near Humboldt Park Sunday evening on June 19, 2016. (Alexandra Chachkevitch / Chicago Tribune)

A Chicago police officer shot and seriously wounded a person who allegedly pointed a gun at him Sunday evening near the Puerto Rican festival at Humboldt Park.

The incident occurred around 9 p.m. in the 1600 block of North Washtenaw Avenue, near the border of Logan Square and Humboldt Park neighborhoods, according to police.

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Police were patrolling the perimeter of the Puerto Rican festival at Humboldt Park when they saw a large group of people. One of the people in the group "was exhibiting behavior consistent with carrying a weapon," said Chief of Detectives Eugene Roy.

Officers approached the male suspect, whose age was not immediately available, to investigate, but he fled from the officers, Roy said.

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The officers then saw that the suspect was carrying a gun in his hand and ordered him to drop his weapon several times, police said.

"The suspect went around the corner of North and Washtenaw. At that time, (he) turned toward the officers with a gun in his hand," said Roy as he stood outside the crime scene Sunday evening. "An officer discharged his weapon at least once, wounding the offender."

The suspect was hit in the lower extremities and dropped to the ground. An officer then administered emergency first aid and applied a tourniquet on the suspect.

The suspect was taken to Stroger Hospital in serious-but-stable condition. He was taken into custody.

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A second suspect who was trying to get the officers off the first suspect was also taken into custody, according to police.

Charges were pending against both suspects late Sunday evening.

A weapon was recorded at the scene. No police officers were injured.

Late Sunday evening, police cordoned off the intersection of Washtenaw and North with yellow and red tape as they investigated the shooting.

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As Roy stood near the intersection of North and Talman avenues and spoke to the media about the incident, a group of people walking by yelled in Roy's direction, facing the two news cameras that were pointed at him. One of the people in group had a Puerto Rican flag draped around his body.

"They shot him for no reason," someone in the group yelled, interrupting Roy's statement. The group then walked away on North.

The Independent Police Review Authority is investigating the shooting. The agency looks into all shootings involving Chicago police.
A draft rendering of the Lucas Museum on McCormick Place's Lakeside Center site near Chicago's lakefront. (Lucas Museum of Narrative Art)

The president of the Chicago Park District board of commissioners lashed out at Friends of the Parks in a tersely worded letter late Sunday, calling the parks group's list of negotiating points regarding the Lucas Museum "nothing short of extortion."

Friends' executive committee drafted a memorandum last week with six points the group is willing to discuss with the city and the Lucas team but made it clear the negotiation areas relate only to the politically and financially perilous McCormick Place site.

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In an emailed letter to the parks group, Jesse Ruiz, the Park District president, said the "political window" on the McCormick Place plan has closed and "at this juncture, the site on the parking lot between Soldier Field and McCormick Place is the only viable location for the museum."

Friends of the Parks so far has opposed any development plans along the lakefront, though members of the board have indicated a willingness to compromise in recent weeks. "Star Wars" creator George Lucas wants to build a museum to showcase his art collection along Lake Michigan.

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With plans for the Lucas Museum at the parking lot site stalled in federal court because of the Friends of the Parks' lawsuit, Mayor Rahm Emanuel pitched a complex plan to put the project on the demolished shell of the Lakeside East convention hall at McCormick Place.

With some board members expressing a desire to soften the group's position, the parks group crafted a memo last week outlining possible negotiation areas, including the suggestion that 5 percent of museum revenues go toward a neighborhood parks fund to help revitalize parks in need of improvements.

Ruiz said in the letter the group's revenue-related neighborhood parks fund proposal was "completely outrageous."

"Your desire to add a new tax on museum visitors as ransom for your support is completely at odds with your stated goals," Ruiz wrote.

Ruiz declined to comment further Monday. Emanuel, asked about the Lucas saga on his way to a West Loop hotel groundbreaking Monday, said Friends should "stop negotiating among themselves on the board and realize George Lucas is negotiating with other cities on the West Coast."

"And time is running out and they're going to cost the city a tremendous, generous gift that enhances the cultural and educational and economic enrichment," the mayor said.

Emanuel added that the Friends' museum revenues proposal would be "an additional burden" and stressed that the Lucas Museum is not asking for public money.

In the letter, Ruiz stated that the Friends' list "might be the final nail in the coffin."

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One member of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, which has a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, said he expects the Lucas Museum situation to come up for discussion at the board meeting, even though it is not on the official agenda.

"There's a lot of issues up in the air right now," board member Terrance McGann said. "I think the devil's in the details."

McGann said he assumed the Lakeside Center option was dead because of Friends' stated opposition and threats of a reconfigured lawsuit against that lakefront site. If that is changing, maybe there are options still available, he said.

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The Lakeside Center proposal has gone nowhere amid the state budget stalemate. Emanuel's plan comes with a $1.17 billion price tag, extending five taxes beyond their expiration dates. To fund it, the Exposition Authority, known as McPier, would issue bonds. A $743 million contribution from Lucas would pay debt on the borrowing for the first 16 years of the 40-year loan.

In its negotiation memo, Friends of the Parks also seeks a legally enforceable agreement to protect the lakefront from development for the next 100 years, improvements to DuSable Park in Streeterville, changes to the museum ground lease, converting the South Lot to green space and agreement that a significant number of jobs at the museum go to low-income and minority residents.

Ruiz's letter stated those issues already are being addressed by the Park District and within the details of the Lucas proposal.

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Both sides are awaiting a ruling from a federal appeals court after the city filed a motion essentially asking a panel of judges to throw out Friends' lawsuit. An appeals court ruling may occur at any time.

Chicago Tribune's Bill Ruthhart contributed.

poconnell@tribpub.com

Twitter @pmocwriter
A man was found dead in a pool at Franklin Park in the Lawndale neighborhood early Monday on June 20, 2016. (WGN-TV)

A man was found dead in a pool at Franklin Park in Chicago's Lawndale neighborhood on the West Side early Monday, authorities said.

Police responding to the 1400 block of South Kolin Avenue discovered a 27-year-old man unresponsive inside a public pool about 12:50 a.m., said Officer Veejay Zala, a police spokesman.

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First responders performed CPR, but he was pronounced dead at the scene, Zala said.

The man is believed to have died in an accidental drowning, police said. The cause of death is pending an autopsy.

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Police are still investigating, and no other information was immediately available.
An airplane flies over homes along South Avenue in Schiller Park last summer. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

Chicago's Department of Aviation on Monday submitted its new Fly Quiet plan for rotating nighttime flights in and out of O'Hare International Airport to the Federal Aviation Administration for possible implementation in early July, airport officials said.

The O'Hare Noise Compatibility Commission, made up of municipalities and school districts around the airport, approved a version of the plan last month. The six-month test, the first of its kind in the country, is intended to spread jet noise around the northwest suburbs and the North and Northwest sides of the city. The plan will alternate which runways are used for arrivals and departures from week to week.

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The FAA, which worked on developing the plan along with the Aviation Department and community groups, is expected to approve it after a review. The plan would affect about 80 arrivals and departures daily from about 10:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

"This plan is critical to immediately reducing noise exposure for the communities most severely impacted," said Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Ginger Evans, in a statement.

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The plan makes greater use of diagonal runways, shifting noise away from the near western suburbs like Bensenville and Northwest Side city wards, and putting more of the roar over northwest suburbs such as Palatine and Des Plaines. Representatives from the northwest suburbs had objected to the plan but were outvoted by other communities.

Residents of communities around O'Hare have complained for decades about jet noise. But complaints shot up dramatically in recent years after the city began shifting traffic from the older diagonal runways to new parallel east-west runways, which concentrate more traffic over the North Side and the western suburbs.

The city got more than 4 million noise complaints in 2015.

Under the proposal, runways picked for nighttime air travel would change week to week, with adjustments made depending on weather and other factors. For example, in the first week, most flights would use an east-west runway, and then a diagonal northwest-southeast runway the next week.

Some modifications were made to the schedule as originally proposed to take into account runway construction activity, according to Aviation Department spokesman Owen Kilmer.

Those with problems with the new rotation will have six months to make them known, as the plan will be tweaked as it goes along, said city officials. Implementation past the test period will depend on the noise commission's review of test results.

Even if the plan is adopted past the test period, it will have to change once the 14R/32L diagonal runway is decommissioned in late 2018. The airport also will be adding another east-west runway, 9 Center, in 2020.

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In other airport news, a representative for Fair Allocation in Runways, or FaiR, a group that represents suburban residents and civic organizations around O'Hare and Midway airports, wrote to all 50 Chicago aldermen last week to criticize the makeup of the noise commission and propose an ordinance to reform it.

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The letter by Donald Walsh of the FAiR leadership team states that the noise commission has refused to take citizen aircraft noise complaints seriously. Walsh wants the noise commission to include citizen and homeowner organizations and other groups, including FAiR, as voting members.

FAiR also wants to remove school district representatives from the noise commission, noting that most districts have received sound insulation.

In response, Mount Prospect Mayor and noise commission Chairwoman Arlene Juracek said FAiR is already represented by the mayors and ward representatives.

"Why they feel they can't be represented by those people is kind of baffling to me," Juracek said.

mwisniewski@tribpub.com

Twitter @marywizchicago
A man who was shot by Palatine police after allegedly trying to hit officers with a car has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, authorities said.

Michael Douglas, 26, of Chicago, was also charged with aggravated assault and unlawful delivery of marijuana, both felonies. Cook County Associate Judge Joseph Cataldo set his bond at $1.25 million for the alleged attempted murder, and ordered him held on no bond for a prior marijuana arrest, officials said.

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Police were conducting a drug investigation Thursday night at an apartment complex in the 500 block of North Quentin Road, and Douglas was there in his car when they told him that he was under arrest, according to a police news release.

Douglas tried to escape by slamming his car into a parked vehicle behind him, then accelerating forward and trying to strike two officers, according to the police account.

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One of the officers said he feared for his life and fired his gun to protect himself and his partner, and struck Douglas in the leg, police said.

Douglas drove off and was apprehended soon after in the 1400 block of Winslowe Drive in Palatine. He was treated at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights and released to police custody Friday. His next court date was set for July 18.

Police did not name the officer involved, a 10-year veteran, who was placed on paid leave while the incident is investigated by Illinois State Police, the Cook County State's Attorney's office and Palatine police.

rmccoppin@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @RobertMcCoppin
Jack McCullough walks out of Judge William Brady's courtroom at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore, Ill., on April 22, 2016, with Crystal Harrolle, an investigator with the public defender's office. Brady formally dismissed a murder case Friday against McCullough, a retired Washington state police officer, who a prosecutor says was wrongly convicted in the 1957 killing of a 7-year-old Sycamore girl, but he put off a decision on whether to appoint a special prosecutor. (Danielle Guerra / Daily Chronicle)

A legal foundation that successfully argued a special prosecutor was needed in a criminal case involving the nephew of former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley says no such appointment is necessary in the case of the 1957 murder of a Sycamore girl.

In a motion filed Monday in DeKalb County court, Northwestern University's MacArthur Justice Center contends that state law does not support the appointment of a special prosecutor to review decisions that resulted in freedom for Jack McCullough. In April, DeKalb prosecutors dropped charges against McCullough, 76, who had been convicted in 2012 in the decades-old slaying of 7-year-old Maria Ridulph.

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That decision prompted a request from Maria's brother, who believes McCullough is guilty, for a special prosecutor.

But the MacArthur Center says the McCullough case is unlike the Chicago case involving the death of David Koschman. In that case, which involved one of Daley's nephews, the foundation prevailed in having a special prosecutor appointed.

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The judge and attorneys in the McCullough case have discussed in court whether the two cases are analogous. The MacArthur attorneys say they are not.

The center is asking DeKalb County Judge William Brady for permission to argue against the need for a special prosecutor at a hearing Tuesday in Sycamore.

MacArthur representatives say that in the McCullough case there is no conflict of interest, which is required for appointment of a special prosecutor. The case, rather, is a disagreement between Maria's family and State's Attorney Richard Schmack, who believes McCullough is innocent.

"If we go down that road, it would be a constant battle any time a citizen has a beef with the decisions a prosecutor makes," MacArthur Justice Center Executive Director Locke Bowman said Monday.

Maria Ridulph, from left, is shown in 1957 with her childhood friend Kathy Chapman, now 61, center, behind Chapman's childhood home only six months before Maria was kidnapped in Sycamore, Ill. (Keri Wiginton / Chicago Tribune)

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The center represented the mother of David Koschman, who died in 2004 in a physical altercation with the nephew of then-Mayor Daley. MacArthur attorneys succeeded in having a judge appoint a special prosecutor, arguing that the Daley connection created a conflict of interest for Chicago police and Cook County prosecutors. The nephew, Richard Vanecko, later pleaded guilty to a count of involuntary manslaughter.

"Here (in the Sycamore case), no allegation suggests that the state's attorney  could be perceived as reluctant to prosecute Mr. McCullough because of Mr. McCullough's personal or family connections to powerful political leaders," the center said in its brief.

The center also represented a coalition of petitioners who sought a special prosecutor to try Chicago police Officer Jason Van Dyke in the killing of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. A Cook County judge this month agreed to a special prosecutor after Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez dropped her objections to such a move.

McCullough was arrested in 2011, more than 50 years after Maria disappeared from her Sycamore neighborhood on the night of Dec. 3, 1957. Illinois State Police reopened the case and eventually charged McCullough, a Seattle-area retiree, who in 1957 lived in the same neighborhood as the victim.

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He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. However, when Schmack, who did not prosecute McCullough, reviewed the evidence as part of a postconviction petition, he became convinced that McCullough could not have killed Maria. The judge later vacated the conviction, and then Schmack dropped the charges against McCullough. McCullough is not expected to be at Tuesday's hearing.

Charles Ridulph, Maria's brother, says a special prosecutor is needed to review Schmack's decision because the chief prosecutor had "prejudged" McCullough to be innocent of the slaying. A special prosecutor could help maintain public faith in the criminal justice system, Ridulph said.

Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.
Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner said Monday he is "going to run again" in 2018, but acknowledged Democrats could pick up Illinois House seats in November and warned that could turn Speaker Michael Madigan into "the dictator of the state."

During a far-reaching interview with the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, Rauner also suggested Mayor Rahm Emanuel was not strong enough to stand up to the Chicago Teachers Union and said a teachers strike or allowing Chicago Public Schools to file bankruptcy was needed to turn around the financially struggling district.

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Rauner's comments came as he stepped up his media appearances with Illinois approaching one full year without a state budget, a historic stalemate in which he has sought to use his bully pulpit against what he called Democratic "mouthpieces" angled against him.

The first-term governor is pushing a six-month stopgap spending plan for the budget year that begins July 1, as well as a full-year education funding plan Democrats contend does little for what CPS says is a $1 billion deficit. Rauner has spent recent weeks asking the media's "viewers," "listeners" and "readers" to contact lawmakers to back his legislation.

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Rauner, however, stopped short of discussing what specific tax increases he would support in exchange for Democrats backing what he calls his "turnaround agenda."

"I have a loud megaphone. And what I'm not going to do is spend a lot of time screaming about this tax has got to go up," he said.

At the heart of the Capitol impasse is Rauner's economic agenda that would make cost-cutting changes to workers' compensation and local collective bargaining rules. Madigan is leading the opposition, fueled by allies in organized labor and among civil liability attorneys.

During his Monday appearance, Rauner went far beyond his recent statements about the extended Springfield stalemate and also discussed his political future, his standing among voters and his chief political nemesis, Madigan, who has served as speaker for 31 of the past 33 years.

The re-election pledge came as Rauner accused the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31, the state's largest employees' union, of trying to wait out his term before working toward a new contract.

"The union wants nothing. They just want to delay. They want to delay (contract talks) for another two-and-a-half years and hope that I'm gone, but I'm going to run again, so, you know," said Rauner, who is seeking a state labor board ruling stating that contract talks are at an impasse.

IGov. Bruce Rauner meets with the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board on June 20, 2016. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)

The Nov. 8 legislative elections are shaping up as a referendum between Rauner and Madigan, with Democrats holding supermajorities of 71 of 118 seats in the House and 39 of 59 seats in the Senate. All 118 House seats and 40 Senate seats are up for election.

With Illinois traditionally a strong Democratic state in presidential election years and with controversial businessman Donald Trump as the presumptive GOP nominee, Rauner acknowledged Republicans may have difficulties in picking up legislative seats from Democrats.

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"It could certainly happen," Rauner said of Democrats gaining seats this fall. "The speaker's senior staff told me they think that this could be a Democratic tidal wave year in Illinois and that they'll pick up three or four seats" from House Republicans.

"The speaker will move from the most powerful politician in this state to the dictator of the state," the governor said of such a result, adding later, "I feel very bad for the people of Illinois."

If Madigan picks up seats, Rauner said, "Then they'll be in a position where there probably ain't going to be much in the way of reforms and  they'll be able to jam through whatever it is their particular goal is."

Rauner has promised to use his personal wealth along with that of his allies to help fund Republican legislative candidates in an attempt to erode Madigan's power. On Monday, campaign reports showed he personally donated $2.5 million to a Republican-allied PAC that has worked on GOP legislative campaigns.

Asked if the donation was meant to send a message to Madigan, Rauner said he was "just exercising my rights as a citizen."

"If we could pick up a few seats, I think there'd be a little bit more balance and I think there would be a different dynamic in Springfield," he said of Republicans.

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The governor, holding his first public office after years as a private equity investor, said voters are fickle when it comes to the government they want versus the government for which they want to pay.

"Voters want conflicting things. They want a lot of government spending, but they don't want higher taxes," he said. "So what do unprincipled politicians do? Give 'em what they want, stay in office long enough and bail when the crisis hits. Well, that's what's happened."

Rauner acknowledged he could be a negative for some Republican legislative campaigns, and said tongue-in-cheek that he could improve his job "approval ratings" by signing an "unbalanced budget" that defers spending on public pensions in favor of spending elsewhere in the budget.

"If you want popularity, don't pay pensions because it allows you to keep spending what you don't have. It's borrowing in a secret basis. And the tax hike (to pay off the growing pension debt) is way bigger, but it comes after you're gone from office. That's the kind of baloney that's gone on for years," he said.

On the fate of CPS, Rauner repeated his criticism of its management and called it a "patronage" haven that has cried "wolf" about money woes so often that it lacks "credibility." The governor said CPS should take a teachers strike or get legislative authorization to file for bankruptcy, not something likely to materialize.

But Rauner saved his sharpest school-related criticism for Emanuel, a one-time vacation friend and business associate, for having "caved" to the CTU during the last strike and saying the mayor would do so if the union walked out again.

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"It takes someone with a unique background to stand up to the threat of a strike, and win. And win. You've got to have the children and the students be able to go somewhere safe and a learning environment, and he's not willing to do that," Rauner said.

"So the teachers union gets to dictate terms. This is going on all over Illinois and around America. And if you can't take a strike and come out the other side and win, the union is the dictator. They dictate the terms," he said.

Rauner, who described himself as a free-market conservative, went so far as to say that Illinois is being damaged by a "collectivist economy," employing a term generally used to suggest communist or socialist influence.

"We've become a collectivist economy in Illinois. It's crushing us. And no problem is going to get fixed unless we bring more economic freedom into the state. And I believe that very passionately," the governor said.

"That's going to kill us in the long run. I've got to change that. And the other issues, we can debate, but that one I have to stay very strong on," he said.

Rauner had planned to host a Monday event at the DuSable Museum of African American History to celebrate Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the end of slavery. But he canceled the event after learning community activist groups planned to protest.

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"Some special interest groups got wind we were doing it and they made clear they were going to come and disrupt it and shout us down and disrupt the whole thing," Rauner said. "If yelling and threatening, intimidating and chanting solved problems, Illinois wouldn't have any problems. We're good at that stuff."

rpearson@tribpub.com

kgeiger@tribpub.com
A driver displays Lyft and Uber stickers on his front windshield as he drops off a fare in Los Angeles. (Richard Vogel, AP)

Under intense pressure from Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration, an alderman has backed off several tougher proposed regulations of the burgeoning online ride-hailing industry, setting the stage for a potential City Council vote this week on a watered-down version of the rules.

Emerging Monday from a closed-door meeting with administration officials, lobbyists for ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft and other aldermen, Ald. Anthony Beale, 9th, told reporters he's dropping a measure to require ride-sharing drivers get fingerprinted as part of background checks in order to operate in Chicago. That was the biggest sticking point in negotiations over the proposal, with Uber and Lyft officials threatening recently to pull out of the city if it wasn't removed.

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Instead, aldermen would conduct a six-month study of the effectiveness of fingerprinting as part of a background check, Beale said.

He also said he is backing away from a requirement that ride-hailing companies provide a certain level of handicapped-accessible vehicles. The compromise will allow Uber and Lyft to pay to subsidize such pickups by traditional cab companies rather than providing the services themselves, while spending a year to design and put in place their own plan to provide rides for disabled people.

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The package would require all ride-sharing drivers get special chauffeur licenses specific to the industry, which competes with taxis by letting people use online apps to call for rides that the drivers provide in their personal vehicles. But the drivers would be able to fulfill their training requirements online rather than attending expensive classes like cabbies must do.

The administration also has proposed eliminating the requirement that anyone applying for a public chauffeur license get an up-front drug test and physical exam, instead allowing the city's license commissioner to seek those for specific drivers when people complain. It remains to be seen whether Beale agrees to including that in the final version of the ordinance. "The devil is in the details," he said.

Cab industry lobbyist Mara Georges wondered whether the new license will have any teeth.

"Part of the concern is, you can say you're going to have a (ride-hailing) chauffeur license, but if it doesn't have fingerprinting as part of the background check, it doesn't include a drug test or a physical, then what is it?" Georges asked. "Are you going to submit your name and address and assert you took an online course?"

And Gary Arnold, spokesman for the nonprofit Access Living group that advocates for disabled people, said his organization opposed removing the clause that requires 5 percent of ride-sharing fleets be accessible to the disabled.

"We were not consulted" about the change, Arnold said, though the group had input on the ordinance approved last week by a City Council committee that included the 5 percent standard. "We are not OK with it," Arnold said.

Beale continued to insist Monday he had enough votes pass the fingerprinting requirement at Wednesday's City Council meeting, but he was nevertheless giving ride-hailing companies time to back up their claim that it was not necessary.

"They have six months, and if it comes back that fingerprinting is necessary, I promise you as strong as I am sitting here breathing, they are going to be mandated to fingerprint," Beale said.

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The Far South Side alderman got his tougher standards through a committee Friday afternoon at a lightly attended meeting on a voice vote with no opposition from his colleagues. Even then, some aldermen privately wondered whether he could muster a majority at the full City Council meeting to publicly stand against Emanuel on an issue where the mayor has taken a strong position.

The tougher version would have gotten some support in the council, however. Northwest Side Ald. John Arena, 45th, called the idea of studying the need for fingerprinting "ludicrous," suggesting they could order it off the bat and later eliminate the requirement for both taxi and ride-share drivers if a study found them ineffective.

"This is about consumer protection, nothing else," Arena said, contending fingerprinting answers whether "this is the person who they say they are."

But the mayor has joined the ride-hailing companies in pressing for lighter standards. Emanuel has repeatedly asserted in recent months that the roughly 90,000 registered Uber and Lyft drivers in the city give Chicagoans more options, promote competition and make it easier for residents to find rides in predominantly minority neighborhoods where it has been hard to persuade cabdrivers to make pickups.

The mayor would prefer not to adopt any new regulations on the nascent industry. It's a favorite mode of transportation for well-educated, tech-savvy, often carless young people he wants to attract to the city so the companies who hope to hire them will locate here.

On Monday, Emanuel called the new version "an honest compromise."

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"We have an agreement that will ensure a level playing field so people have choices, competitive choices, quality choices," he said while leaving an unrelated event. "Ald. Beale and I worked through some issues today."

Chicago Tribune's Bill Ruthhart contributed.

hdardick@tribpub.com

jebyrne@tribpub.com
Welcome to Clout Street: Morning Spin, our weekday feature to catch you up with what's going on in government and politics from Chicago to Springfield.

Topspin

Now that the Illinois State Board of Elections says a proposed constitutional amendment to change the way legislative districts are drawn has gained enough signatures to be eligible for the fall ballot, the fate of the proposal is with the courts.



Oral arguments in a challenge to the Independent Map Amendment proposal, aimed at removing some of the politics from the redrawing of House and Senate districts, are scheduled for 2 p.m. June 30 before Cook County Circuit Court Judge Diane Larsen.



In preparing for the case, the Independent Map group filed a response to the legal challenge from the People's Map opposition, whose lead attorney is Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan's top legal ally, Mike Kasper.



The People's Map has alleged, among other issues, that the Independent Map proposal does not meet the narrow window for petition-driven initiatives, which is limited to making "structural and procedural" changes in the legislature.



In its response, the Independent Map group contended that since the court allowed the 1980 Pat Quinn-led effort to reduce the size of the Illinois House by one-third and create single-member House districts, its new redistricting amendment proposal also should be constitutional.



"If changes to the number and size of districts are 'structural' changes, then it necessarily follows that changes to the criteria for drawing those very same districts every 10 years would also be structural," the Independent Map group said.



"Similarly, if a proposal to convert from multiple- to single-member districts addresses a procedural subject  then so too does a proposal to fundamentally alter the process by which redistricting is accomplished every 10 years," the group said. (Rick Pearson)

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What's on tap

*Mayor Rahm Emanuel will appear at a groundbreaking for a West Loop hotel with actor Robert DeNiro.

*Gov. Bruce Rauner has no public events.

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*The Chicago City Council's zoning, special events, and pedestrian and traffic safety committees meet at City Hall.

*Chicago Public Schools hosts the first of many one-hour meetings this week on lead in school water. It's at 6 p.m. at Mather High School on the Northwest Side.

*Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, Democratic state's attorney nominee Kim Foxx, the Rev. Michael Pfleger and Cleopatra Pendleton will talk about "Chicago's Homicide Crisis" at the City Club of Chicago. Livestream starts around noon here.

What we're writing

*Illinois women hit "disproportionately hard" by budget impasse.

*Latest batch of CPD lawsuit settlements to cost taxpayers $3.4 million.

*Cost to taxpayers of city police-fire pension bill limbo? $1.4 million.

*Hastert to serve prison sentence in Minnesota, sources say.

*Friends of the Parks offers list of demands for Lucas Museum site that might be DOA.

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*Durbin says gun control measures unlikely to pass despite Orlando, Fla., shootings.

*Clinton to hit Chicago later this month for campaign fundraising.

*City Council committee advances stricter rules for Uber, Lyft, but negotiations remain.

*Woman convicted as illegal front in city contracting case.

What we're reading

*A look at Illinois vanity license plates (and you totally should not judge those who have them).

*In oversight of Chicago police, IPRA gives victims false sense of justice.

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*Chicago craft brewer names beer after certain controversial presidential candidate, and it's not flattering.

From the notebook

*House GOP ads continue: The House Republican Organization is continuing its cable TV ad buy for another week with a $95,389 purchase of time in several areas where the Rauner-funded GOP is going after House Democrats.



Based on the location of the buys, 3,197 spots appear once again to be aiming at such Democrats as Reps. Michelle Mussman of Schaumburg, Sam Yingling of Grayslake, Kate Cloonen of Kankakee and Andy Skoog of LaSalle. Skoog was appointed to fill the spot of Frank Mautino when he became auditor general.



The ads started Saturday and are to run through Friday. The continued ad barrage comes as Rauner's Republicans are locked in a yearlong stalemate with Madigan's Democrats over a state budget and the governor's economic agenda. (Rick Pearson)

*The week ahead: Wednesday is shaping up as the potentially biggest news day of the week. The Chicago City Council will meet, with Airbnb and Uber/Lyft regulations on the agenda. The Illinois House is scheduled to be in, though Speaker Michael Madigan has canceled the previous two Wednesday sessions. And the Chicago Board of Education meets on a day when the Chicago Teachers Union has protests planned.

*The Sunday Spin: On this week's show, the guests of Chicago Tribune political reporter Rick Pearson were Martin Luby, an assistant professor at DePaul University; Brian Bernardoni of the Chicago Association of Realtors; and Don Schaefer, executive vice president of the Mid-West Truckers Association. Listen to the full show here.

Follow the money

*The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform's Sunshine Project takes a look at the week's top campaign contributions.

*Track campaign contribution reports in real time with this Tribune Twitter account: https://twitter.com/ILCampaignCash

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Beyond Chicago

*Speaker Paul Ryan: "Not my job" to stop dump Trump delegates.

*Trump open to profiling Muslims.

*How should Clinton choose running mate? Chemistry is key.

*Venezuelans ransack stores as hunger grips South American nation.
KABUL, Afghanistan  At least 14 people were killed Monday when a Taliban suicide bomber targeted their minibus in the Afghan capital, a government official said.

Interior Minister spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said that eight others were wounded in the attack, and that police were working to identify the nationalities of the victims.

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"The suicide bomber targeted a minibus of security guards of a foreign company, right now we are working to identify the nationalities of the victims," said Sediqqi.

But a police official told The Associated Press that the 14 dead were Nepalese citizens working as security guards for the private company that was attacked.

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The official, who did not want to give his name as he was not authorized to speak to the media, said the wounded included four Afghan civilians.

Dozens of police and many ambulances rushed to the scene to take the victims to hospitals of the capital.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack.

Taliban insurgents have increased their attacks on both government employees and Afghan security forces across the country.

Associated Press
Joanne Barnaby, left, is reunited with Tammy Caudron after 18 hours in the Canadian bush. (Joanne Barnaby photo)

Joanne Barnaby was deep in the deadfall, smeared in mosquitoes and blood, dehydrated and near exhaustion, when she heard the call of a mama bear searching for its cub.

Barnaby couldn't believe her luck.

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Twelve hours earlier, she had been picking mushrooms in the remote Canadian wilderness when she had heard a growl behind her. She turned around and saw Joey, her faithful mutt, locked in a snarling standoff with a skinny black wolf.

For 12 hours, the wolf had pursued Barnaby and her dog through the wildfire-scorched forests of the Northwest Territories.

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And for 12 hours, the starving animal had tried to separate Barnaby and Joey, driving them all deeper into the bush.

Night settled around Barnaby, hiding the swarms of mosquitoes that blanketed her arms, legs and face.

And still the wolf snapped and growled, waiting for the woman or her dog to drop their guard.

Barnaby was near collapse when dawn began to creep across the sky.

That's when she heard the bear grunt.

And that's when she got an idea.

It was an idea so outrageous, some critics would later accuse her of making the whole story up.

Yet, Canadian officials and close friends confirm Barnaby was missing in the woods.

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And she is sticking by her story that an outrageous idea -- of pitting one predator against another -- saved her life.

From hunting morels to being hunted

Joanne Barnaby knew better than to leave her gun at home.

She had grown up in the Northwest Territories, a huge and rugged region of Canada stretching north of Alberta to the Arctic Ocean. Part Dene Indian, or "mixed blood," as she would say, Barnaby spent much of her childhood in a residential school, run by the Catholic Church and designed to assimilate Inuits into mainstream Canadian culture.

"They tried to take the Indian out of us," she told The Washington Post.

When she grew up, Barnaby chose to work with indigenous communities. She often went hunting and hiking through the wildlife-rich forests, always remembering to pack her rifle.

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On the morning of June 10, she and a friend, Tammy Caudron, decided to hunt for morels. They climbed into Barnaby's truck and drove east from Hay River along the highway.

Barnaby didn't want her rifle on her back as she stooped to pick up the pricey mushrooms.

So she left it behind.

"It was a stupid mistake," she said. "I paid a big price."

The incredible story of how that small mistake nearly cost Barnaby her life was first reported by CBC Wednesday. Barnaby spoke to The Post by phone on Wednesday night.

Barnaby parked her truck near the highway at around 11 a.m. The two foragers then walked in different directions in search of morels. Barnaby had with her a basket, a can of beer and Joey, her black and yellow mutt.

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Joey was Barnaby's guard dog. When a bear would approach her log cabin-style house in Hay River, Joey would race outside and chase them off.

So when, after about five hours of mushroom hunting, Barnaby heard a growl behind, she knew there could be trouble.

She turned around and saw Joey muzzle to muzzle with a black wolf.

The wolf was skinny -- probably cast out of its pack, Barnaby thought -- but still twice the size of Joey. And it was between her and the highway.

"He looked old to me, but he was smart," she said. "It took me a while to realize how smart he was, and that he was actually being very, very strategic in trying to separate me from my dog and wear me down. I don't think he was strong enough to take us both on. And I think he knew that."

Joey tried to scare away the wolf, as he did with bears, but it didn't work. The wolf was just watching them, legs spread apart as if ready to pounce, lips curled back to show sharp teeth.

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"It scared the hell out of me," Barnaby said.

The wolf was hunting her. Whenever Barnaby tried to angle back towards the highway and her truck, the animal cut her off. She found herself drifting deeper into the woods.

"He was directing me. There was no question about it. He was pushing me further and further from the highway," she said. "He was stalking me. He was literally stalking me."

That's when it dawned on her.

She might die.

'Jo knows the bush'

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Tammy Caudron didn't worry when she walked back to the truck and found it empty. She and Barnaby had a system. Caudron honked the horn, had something to eat and waited.

When Barnaby didn't emerge from the forest, Caudron decided to go back to picking morels. She returned an hour later with more mushrooms, but there was no Barnaby.

This is not good, she thought.

Caudron walked into the woods, yelling and whistling.

Nothing.

She walked back to the truck and honked the horn.

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Nothing. Now she started to panic.

Caudron flagged down a passing truck. When she told the men inside who was missing, they didn't seem too concerned.

"Jo knows the bush," one said.

It was true. Joanne Barnaby knew these woods better than almost anyone. It was nearly impossible that she had gotten lost.

But Caudron worried that her friend had broken a leg or, worst of all, encountered an animal Joey couldn't scare off.

The men agreed to help. They spread out in the woods, firing their shotguns to alert Barnaby to their location.

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Barnaby knew where she was, however. She even heard a few of the gunshots.

But she was powerless to heed them.

A dangerous gamble

As the wolf drove Barnaby and Joey deeper into the woods, the landscape shifted. The relatively flat, burned forest floor gave way to thicker foliage.

Dusk fell and still the animal pursued them. Barnaby had only her now empty beer can: no food, no water. A cloud of mosquitoes followed her. Even as the wolf watched, Barnaby developed a habit of rubbing her hands over her exposed face, arms and legs.

"My hands were just full of blood and mosquitoes," she said. So many swarmed her face that "at some points it was hard to see."

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She tried rubbing poplar powder on her skin to keep the insects away, but it did little good.

She was exhausted, hungry and dehydrated. The day had been hot. The night was cold. She was nearing her breaking point.

Then the sky began to brighten in the East, and she heard a grunting sound.

She could barely hear it over the whine of the mosquitoes, but it was there, in the distance: a sound she recognized well; the call of a mother bear.

"I actually sat down on a log and really concentrated," she said. "I heard the cub's response. It was coming from another direction, away from the mother, so obviously the mother was calling her cub."

The wolf, meanwhile, was watching.

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"I sat there and I thought about it and I prayed about it," Barnaby said. She struck upon a seemingly insane plan. She would put herself between the mother bear and her cub in the hope that the mama bear would drive off the wolf.

"I decided I would take a chance," she told The Post.

Of course, her plan could backfire. The bear could attack her instead.

As she walked towards the cub, she could hear its calls getting louder. Before she ever saw the animal, however, the forest erupted behind her.

"All of a sudden I could hear this crashing behind me and this yelping and growling and howling," she said. "I just got out of there as fast as I could - from all of them, the cub, the mama bear and wolf."

Not out of the woods yet

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For half an hour, Barnaby and Joey took a beeline away from the bears. For once, the wolf didn't follow.

When she felt they were safe, she paused to rest. But Joey began whimpering, so she let him lead her on through the forest. He took them to a small lake.

The water was muddy and tepid, but it was better than nothing. She filled her empty beer can and drank. Her stomach cramps subsided and she felt some strength return. She then climbed up a small hill. In the distance, less than a mile away, she could see cars stopped on the highway.

A search party.

She descended the hill and headed towards the highway, only to find her path blocked by a vast field of deadfall, or tangled, dead trees.

"I don't know if you know that game Pick-up Sticks," she said. "It was kind of like that but on a massive level."

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Barnaby tried to climb through the deadfall. Ten minutes into it, however, she fell and hit her back.

She turned back, away from the search party and salvation.

"It was devastating," she said. "There were about three points at which I cried. That was definitely one of them."

"I didn't think I was going to make it," she said. "I started talking to both my sons, one of whom died when he was a baby, and my other son, who is a young man now. I was talking to all kinds of people that I love, and I was crying the whole time."

But she was also walking.

Eventually, Barnaby got to a muskeg, or marsh, with a stream running through it. She filled her beer can again and again.

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"That water was amazingly delicious," she said. "It didn't look great, but it sure tasted better [than the lake water]. It was so pure and so delicious and so cold."

It took her an hour to cross the marshland. At the other side, there was a wall of willows "so thick I literally had to untangle them.

"When I broke through those willows, I knew I was close."

A final mistake

After the willows, the forest opened up again. She could tell from the recent burn that she was nearing the highway again.

At 8 a.m., 14 hours after encountering the wolf and four hours after escaping the bears, Barnaby felt pavement beneath her weary feet.

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Less than a mile up the road, she could see Royal Canadian Mounted Police cars. She waved at them but they were busy searching in the other direction.

"I came up behind them," she said with a laugh. "I surprised them."

Mounties gave her food and water, but they didn't have what she was craving most.

"They didn't have any mosquito spray in that damn truck," she said. "That's what I was dying for."

Barnaby said she was so "pumped up on adrenaline" that she made one final mistake. She turned down a ride back to her house, opting to drive herself instead.

"I just about passed out on the highway from exhaustion," she said.

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She made it, however, pulling into her drive to find Caudron and her family waiting for her.

"I thought you were dead," Caudron yelled as she hugged her friend.

"It was the biggest hug, the biggest cry I had ever had," Caudron told The Post later.

Caudron seconded her friend's story. Although she never saw the wolf, she recounted hours of searching for her friend. At one point, she saw a shape coming towards her on the highway, but it turned out to be a pair of buffalo. "I took a couple of photos," she said.

Barnaby posted her remarkable survival story to Facebook on Tuesday, along with a photo showing her covered in dirt, blood and poplar powder.

"In the hopes that by posting this, I can reduce how many times I will have to tell this story," her post began.

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More than 150 friends and family members commented on it, praising the survival skills and smart thinking that kept her alive. Some even offered jokes.

"Morel mushrooms $5/lb," one friend wrote. "Your incredible brave dog Joey priceless."

Her story was also picked up by CBC, which ran an interview with Barnaby on Wednesday.

Some readers questioned her story, however, finding its confluence of wild animals too much to believe.

"The boy who cried wolf is an old parable, but the only morel to this story, is that it comes from the same stuff the mushrooms were growing out of," one reader wrote.

"This story is more fiction than real," wrote another. "You have a greater chance of turning into a werewolf under a full moon than you do of being attacked by a wolf."

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But both Barnaby and Caudron insist it really happened.

"We should have planned it out a little better. A lot of things went wrong. But at the end of the day, she did a lot of things right. And that's why she is here," Caudron said, adding that she didn't pay attention to the "few naysayers here and there."

Barnaby said she had also given her account to the Mounties.

"I saw them on the highway and I basically told them what happened," she said. "They didn't even take an official statement. They didn't ask me many questions."

A RCMP spokesperson confirmed to The Post that Barnaby was, indeed, "missing in Wood Buffalo National Park."

"We can confirm that the RCMP participated in the search," the spokesperson said in an email. "One RCMP member was on scene when she was located."

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Barnaby didn't seem bothered by doubts about her incredible account. She said she went looking for morels, not celebrity. Although she did admit that "the whole situation with the wolf is pretty bizarre. I've never heard anything like that."

Meanwhile, many of the people trying to pick holes in her story don't have a clue what life is like in the Northern Territories.

"I've lived in the north all my life and I've spent a lot of time on the land," she said to a reporter in Washington, new

"We interact with the natural world more often than you do down there."
She died, and I lived.

Like me, Jo Cox was just 41 when she was shot. Like me, she was doing the essential business of government, meeting with the people she represented, when a sick man attacked her.

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But Jo Cox died. My heart broke when I heard. I will think of her for the rest of my life, as I do the people who died in the Safeway parking lot where I was shot in 2011, including Christina-Taylor Green  just 9 years old, just elected to the student council at school, who had come to meet a young congresswoman. If she had lived, perhaps someday she would have followed the same path as Jo and I did and run for office herself. In continuing to campaign for a safer country, I now honor Jo's memory as I honor those lost in Tucson and Orlando and so many other places.

Some will try to use the assassination of Jo Cox to cast doubt on meaningful gun violence prevention laws, or to try to diminish the urgency and hope the American people have  hope that's grown after the historic filibuster on the floor of the Senate last week.

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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 49 Darryl Roman Burt II went out dancing Saturday night to celebrate his graduation. He had just received his degree in Human Resources Management. He was 29. Read more about him here. (Darryl DJ Burt's Facebook Page)

Americans expect their leaders to take action in the Senate on Monday evening. I have said before, and I will say again: We all know there is no single solution to our gun violence problem, just as we know Britain's stronger laws cannot prevent every tragedy. No bill passed will bring back the 49 people who died in Orlando a week ago, or the nine souls taken at their church in Charleston a year ago  or Christina-Taylor, my dear colleague Gabe and the others who died in the parking lot as I lay wounded and bleeding. But we can prevent so many tragedies and save many lives. We must change our gun laws to protect the living as we recommit ourselves to addressing the hatefulness that exists in our country.

The time before I was shot was a time of great political upheaval, just as British politics were in turmoil before Jo Cox's murder. For her, it was "Brexit," and the debate over whether Britain should leave the European Union. Here in the United States, I had campaigned for re-election in Arizona through a long hot summer and fall dominated by debate over health care reform and colored by the emergence of the tea party. The glass door of our office in Tucson was smashed in just a few hours after I cast my vote in favor of the Affordable Care Act, and a man brought a gun to one of my town hall meetings. Politics didn't kill Jo Cox  a deranged man with a gun and a knife did  or injure me, but when some of the great democracies in the world are held hostage to extremist rhetoric and the fear of attacks on individuals, and when sick people have ready access to weaponry, we are all less safe.

Which brings me to Monday's vote in the Senate. The strong, well-funded gun lobby has ensured decades of inaction  even in 2013, after the murder of children at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when 54 senators looked into my eyes and the eyes of the parents of the 20 kids who died there and still did nothing. Finally last week, 40 senators, led by Chris Murphy, D-Conn., finally said, "Enough." Far into the night as Americans like me watched with hope and pride, they brought the Senate to a halt, telling the stories of those taken by gun violence.

Their insistence on action  fueled by the nearly 90 percent of Americans, including large majorities of Republicans and National Rifle Association members, who support responsible solutions to make us safer  means that later Monday, senators will vote on two bills: one, the Feinstein amendment to close the "terror gap" and give the attorney general the right to prevent known or suspected terrorists from obtaining weapons, and two, the Murphy amendment, which would require criminal background checks for all gun sales. With an untold number of gun sales now going unchecked, that legislation would strengthen our existing background check system and help prevent domestic abusers and felons from buying weapons.

The Senate will also consider two bills by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, which attempt to thread the needle, responding to the overwhelming outcry from their constituents to do something while preserving the approval and support of the corporate gun lobby that will stop at nothing to protect its profits. Those two bills aim to provide a fig leaf, misleading Americans into thinking our opponents are addressing gun violence when they're not. The Senate should pass the Murphy and Feinstein proposals and reject the Cornyn and Grassley attempts at deception.

Jo Cox and I learned while serving in office the fundamental truth of legislating in complex democracies: It's hard. It requires patience, tolerance and the will to come together and do what's right, not what pleases the loudest and angriest people and the Washington lobbyists. Now is not a time for lawmakers to retreat to their ideological corners and do nothing. It's a time to stand shoulder to shoulder with the American people to make responsible changes that honor our history and our diversity, and make our country a safer place to live.

Washington Post

Gabrielle Giffords, a Democrat from Arizona, was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to 2012 and is a co-founder of Americans for Responsible Solutions.
Before she won this year's Democratic primary, Hillary Clinton was a loser. Her defeat by Barack Obama in 2008 was painful and public. She had entered the campaign with an aura of inevitability that disintegrated torturously with every primary loss and superdelegate defection. As journalist John Heileman summed it up at the end, "Her legacy has been tarnished, her status degraded, and her reputation diminished."

Eight years later, Clinton is back on top. Analysts have chalked up her rise to grit, political acumen and the backing of the Democratic establishment. But as elemental to her resurgence as any other factor is Clinton's exemplary approach to failure. For many a politician, a high-stakes rout can be career-ending. Clinton's dexterity in defeat holds lessons for anyone faced with coming back from a harsh setback  that is to say, for all of us.

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A Hillary Clinton primer on the art of losing would have several tenets. First, nurse your bruises in private; jettison any public evidence of the emotional detritus of defeat, including frustration, embarrassment and bitterness. En route to her 2008 concession, Clinton's most severe stumble was a shocking third-place finish in the Iowa caucuses. After letting a tear roll down her cheek during a public appearance at a New Hampshire diner, Clinton regained her composure and was focused, substantive and even witty at a debate. She expounded on the hunt for Osama bin Laden and managed a chuckle when Obama called her "likable enough." Anyone who has to address a crowd right after hearing bad news would do well to channel Clinton's poise in that debate.

Her feelings remained firmly in check six months later when nary a smirk, never mind a tear, crossed her face in a soaring concession speech to supporters. Whatever family, friends and staff did to get her past campaign heartbreak was neither seen nor heard. Although leaders are expected to get emotional when reacting to tragedies, they cannot be seen to grieve over blows to their own ambitions. Her equanimity in those early post-concession days convinced Team Obama that she could handle the emotional jujitsu of helping propel his campaign. When the person who is fired, passed over or rejected keeps cool, she avoids overlaying extra guilt and awkwardness on an already fraught dynamic and makes it easier for the winner to pull her back into the fold.

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The second tenet in the Clintonian art of losing is to project towering self-confidence. Her address to the 2008 Democratic National Convention crackled with the electricity of someone whose political future was far from over. She held fast to the self-assurance that had led her to think she could win the White House in the first place, leaving Obama acutely aware of her potency.

A third tenet is rejection of vengefulness and recrimination. The harsh tone of the hard-fought campaign vanished the moment Clinton lost. Her calls for unity went beyond pro forma and she did not let members of her team bite back, even anonymously. Her husband, Bill, once lapsed into a caustic reference to Obama as the "best man for the job," but that only underscored Hillary's self-control. Her discipline earned her the esteem of Obama supporters who at first fretted about whether party unity could be restored and then credited her when it was.

Fourth, understand the value of a consolation prize. After the primaries, Clinton supporters openly touted her as a deserving running mate. The thinking went that nothing less than veep would befit a candidate who got 18 million votes for president. But when the vice presidency went to Joe Biden, Clinton recognized that losers can't be choosers and became secretary of State. With each achievement at Foggy Bottom, Clinton put 2008 further back in the rearview mirror. Ordinary mortals in defeat don't get offered Cabinet posts; they face demotions or lateral moves. They should take a page from Clinton by digging in, doing well and writing their own next chapter.

Clinton's service at State allowed her ample opportunity to demonstrate a fifth axiom: commitment to the larger cause. Whether it is to a profession, a sport or a political platform, showing that your dedication transcends personal setbacks earns respect and, eventually, permission to succeed again. If Clinton had given Team Obama any reason to doubt her motives at State, the hatchet buried at the end of the campaign would have resurfaced.

With a general election victory seemingly within reach, failure might seem to be a thing of Clinton's past. But even the most successful presidents fail. Lost votes in Congress, midterm election reversals, deadlocked negotiations, delayed votes and elusive targets are unavoidable. The ability to regroup, retire grudges and rally wavering supporters are essential to surmounting rough patches.

Moreover, the pivotal moments of a presidency are always haunted by the prospect of failure. President Obama's decision to greenlight the raid that killed Osama bin Laden was courageous precisely because it could well have ended in catastrophe. Although no president aims to fail, all need the confidence that failures can be endured. That mettle allows leaders to press forward on efforts  ambitious policy reforms, peace plans  that are as uncertain as they are consequential. We need a president who can win, but also one who knows how to lose.

Tribune Content Agency

Suzanne Nossel is a columnist for Foreign Policy magazine.
Donald Trump believes American Muslims are hiding something. "They know what's going on. They know that [Omar Mateen] was bad," he said after the Orlando massacre. "They have to cooperate with law enforcement and turn in the people who they know are bad ... But you know what? They didn't turn them in. And you know what? We had death and destruction."

This is a common idea in the United States. It's also a lie. First, Muslims like me can't see into the hearts of other worshipers. (Do you know the hidden depths of everyone in your community?) Second, he's also wrong that we don't speak up when we're able.

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I know this firsthand: I was the one who told the FBI about Omar Mateen.

I met Omar for the first time in 2006 at an iftar meal at my brother-in-law's house. As the women, including his mother and sisters, chatted in the living room, I sat with the men on the patio and got to know him and his father. Omar broke his Ramadan fast with a protein shake. He was quiet  then and always  and let his dad do the talking.

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I'd seen them before at the oldest mosque in the area, the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce (Florida). We have a lot of immigrants in our community. They grew up in other countries, often with different sensibilities. A few don't understand American culture, and they struggle to connect with their American-born or American-raised kids.

I came here from Pakistan in 1979 when I was 6 years old, grew up in Queens (like Omar) and Fort Lauderdale, Fla., went through the American education system, and assimilated well. So I was able to make better inroads with young people in our community, including that introverted teenager I met at the iftar. I tried to stay in touch with the younger generation, acting as a mentor when I could.

I saw Omar from time to time over the next decade, and we developed a relationship because most of the other Muslim kids in his age group went elsewhere for college, and he stayed behind. We mostly spoke over the phone or texted with one another a half-dozen times per year. We talked about the lack of social programs at the mosque, especially for teens and young adults like him. I often played pranks on him. Once, around 2009, I attached LED lights to the tires of his car, so when he drove the wheels glowed neon. He laughed when he figured it out a few days later.

Soon after Omar married and moved to his own home, he began to come to the mosque more often. Then he went on a religious trip to Saudi Arabia. There was nothing to indicate that he had a dark side, even when he and his first wife divorced.

But as news reports this week have made clear, Omar did have a dark outlook on life. Partly, he was upset at what he saw as racism in the United States  against Muslims and others. When he worked as a security guard at the St. Lucie County Courthouse, he told me visitors often made nasty or bigoted remarks to him about Islam. He overheard people saying ugly things about African Americans, too. Since Sept. 11, I've thought the only way to answer Islamophobia was to be polite and kind; the best way to counter all the negativity people were seeing on TV about Islam was by showing them the opposite. I urged Omar to volunteer and help people in need  Muslim or otherwise (charity is a pillar of Islam). He agreed, but was always very worked up about this injustice.

Then, during the summer of 2014, something traumatic happened for our community. A boy from our local mosque, Moner Mohammad Abu-Salha, was 22 when he became the first American-born suicide bomber, driving a truck full of explosives into a government office in Syria. He'd traveled there and joined a group affiliated with al-Qaida, the previous year. We had all known Moner; he was jovial and easygoing, the opposite of Omar. According to a posthumous video released that summer, he had clearly self-radicalized - and had also done so by listening to the lectures of Anwar al-Awlaki, the charismatic Yemen-based imam who helped radicalize several Muslims, including the Fort Hood shooter. Everyone in the area was shocked and upset. We hate violence and were horrified that one of our number could have killed so many. (After an earlier training mission to Syria, he'd tried to recruit a few Florida friends to the cause. They told the FBI about him.)

Immediately after Moner's attack, news reports said that American officials didn't know anything about him; I read that they were looking for people to give them some background. So I called the FBI and offered to tell investigators a bit about the young man. It wasn't much  we hadn't been close  but I'm an American Muslim, and I wanted to do my part. I didn't want another act like that to happen. I didn't want more innocent people to die. Agents asked me if there were any other local kids who might resort to violence in the name of Islam. No names sprang to mind.

After my talk with the FBI, I spoke to people in the Islamic community, including Omar, abut Moner's attack. I wondered how he could have radicalized. Both Omar and I attended the same mosque as Moner, and the imam never taught hate or radicalism. That's when Omar told me he had been watching videos of Awlaki, too, which immediately raised red flags for me. He told me the videos were very powerful.

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After speaking with Omar, I contacted the FBI again to let them know that Omar had been watching Awlaki's tapes. He hadn't committed any acts of violence and wasn't planning any, as far as I knew. And I thought he probably wouldn't, because he didn't fit the profile: He already had a second wife and a son. But it was something agents should keep their eyes on. I never heard from them about Omar again, but apparently they did their job: They looked into him and, finding nothing to go on, they closed the file.

Omar and I continued to have infrequent conversations over the next few years. I last saw him at a dinner at his father's house in January. We talked about the presidential election and debated our views of the candidates that were running  he liked Hillary Clinton and I liked Bernie Sanders. This banter continued through texts and phone calls for several months. My last conversation with Omar was by phone in mid-May. He called me while he was at the beach with his son to tell me about a vacation he'd taken with his father to Orlando the previous weekend. He'd been impressed by the local mosque.

What happened next is well-known. We're still in shock. We're totally against what he did, and we feel the deepest sadness for the victims and their families. If you don't agree with someone, you don't have the right to kill them. We are taught to be kind to all of God's creation. Islam is very strict about killing: Even in war  to say nothing of peace  you cannot harm women, children, the elderly, the sick, clergymen, or even plants. You can't mutilate dead bodies. You can't destroy buildings, especially churches or temples. You can't force anyone to accept Islam. "If anyone slew one person, it would be as if he killed the whole of humanity," says the Koran.

I had told the FBI about Omar because my community, and Muslims generally, have nothing to hide. I love this country, like most Muslims that I know. I don't agree with every government policy (I think there's too much money in politics, for instance), but I'm proud to be an American. I vote. I volunteer. I teach my children to treat all people kindly. Our families came here because it is full of opportunity  a place where getting a job is about what you know, not who you know. It's a better country to raise children than someplace where the electricity is out for 18 hours a day, where politicians are totally corrupt, or where the leader is a dictator.

But there's so much suspicion of Islam here. The local paper published an unsigned editorial called "Leave our peaceful Muslim neighbors alone," and the comments were full of hateful lies  that the Boston bombers had visited the area, that the Sept. 11 bombers came from here, that we were a hotbed of violent ideology. None of this is true. Donald Trump didn't create these attitudes, but he plays on them and amplifies them.

I am not the first American Muslim to report on someone; people who do that simply don't like to announce themselves in to the media. For my part, I'm not looking for personal accolades. I'm just tired of negative rhetoric and ignorant comments about my faith. Trump's assertions about our community  that we have the ability to help our country but have simply declined to do so  are tragic, ugly and wrong.

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Washington Post

Mohammed A. Malik is an entrepreneur in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

[Editor's note: A federal law enforcement official confirmed the author's cooperation to The Washington Post.]
Six-year-old Joshua Wood (and his twin brother, Justin) catch a glimpse of the Stormtroopers at Saturday's FanCon convention at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, June 18, 2016. (Brian O'Mahoney / Pioneer Press)

The Arlington Heights Memorial Library's Saturday FanCon event attracted more than 650 visitors who joined forces in celebration of comics, superheroes and a plethora of pop culture icons.

While hundreds of those who attended FanCon had registered in advance for the event, about half of the inaugural event's visitors were families who happened to drop by the library, "and decided to jump into the day's many activities," the library's programs and exhibits manager Jennifer Czajka said.

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"We couldn't be happier about this organic reach," Czajka said.

Reflecting themes popularized by the iconic "Comic-Con International" in San Diego, the library's FanCon celebration  which offered programs for kids, as well as adults and teens  featured more than a dozen activities, including a morning "Superhero Storytime," and drawing workshops with a live model dressed as a superhero.

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Among the highlights of the free, family-friendly event, which was held at the library at 500 N. Dunton Ave., was a visit from Stormtroopers from the 501st Midwest Garrison.

"(They) were a huge hit, and particularly appreciated by guests wearing 'Star Wars' costumes of their own," Czajka said. "One boy, about 7 years old, and dressed as Kylo Ren, reminded the Stormtroopers he is their boss, and they obliged by calling him 'boss' the rest of the day."

Eleven-year-old Alex Gasey gets some tips from some professional Stormtroopers at Saturday's FanCon comic convention at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, June 18, 2016. (Brian O'Mahoney / Pioneer Press)

In addition to kids having the chance to make their own homemade slime at the event's "Ectoplasm with Ghostbusters" activity, tweens and teens crafted DIY dragon eggs, with some saying they planned to give them to their "Game of Thrones" fan dads for Father's Day, Czajka said.

"We started planning for FanCon last fall, but it's been on our radar for years," Czajka said. "We thought holding it in the summer would be perfect, because all of the kids are out of school, and we didn't want it to interfere with their other activities."

Indeed, with many of the visitors wearing superhero or comic-themed costumes to the event, Czajka said it dovetailed with the library's summer reading program, "Up, Up & Away: Superhero Summer at the Library."

For Alice Son, a teen adviser at the library, the FanCon celebration resonated with the conversations she has each day with young patrons at "The Hub," who she said are wildly passionate about pop culture icons like Star Wars, Harry Potter and Dr. Who.

"Our graphic novel and comic collections are immensely popular," Son said. "When I interact with the teens every day, I hear them talking about all things fandom, so they're really excited that the library is giving them something a little extra this summer."

kcullotta@tribpub.com

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Twitter @kcullotta
When: June 28

Where: Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles

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Tickets: $49-$125

Information: 630-962-7000

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Singer. Songwriter. Actor. Activist.

Multiple Grammy-award winner Michael Bolton has been very busy lately, working on projects that include a movie-themed album made with the help of fans through the online direct-to-fan music platform PledgeMusic, and helping to launch new music therapy programs for children and women at risk.

While known to long-time fans for chart-topping songs including "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You," "When a Man Loves a Woman," and "How Can We Be Lovers," he gained a new generation of admirers with "Jack Sparrow," his 2011 viral hit with The Lonely Island.

Currently on tour, Bolton will perform at 7:30 p.m. June 28 at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles.

He recently spoke with Tribune Media via email about his current tour, new album (title and release date TBA) and more.

Q: Can you tell me about your current tour and what fans can expect when they come see you at the Arcada Theatre? Will you be performing any of the songs you are currently working on for the new album?

A: I'm always conscious that my lifelong fans are coming to hear the greatest hits. I often get messages and letters about certain songs that marked important moments in their lives and so they are coming to celebrate those experiences. I also like to introduce my audience to new genres and musical guests. The repertoire is always evolving. I like to make the concert into a real musical journey and tell stories along the way. The audience likes to chime in, we joke around and we always have a lot of fun together. There are several fan favorites that strike a chord with different experiences or feelings - like with "How Can We Be Lovers" or "Time Love & Tenderness" - those songs really get people revved up, while songs like "Said I Loved You" or "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" get them quiet and more emotional. But I think a big crowd pleaser is still "When a Man Loves A Woman" because the way we position it comes as a special surprise during the show. There are a few songs on the new album that we'll test out on the crowd too!

Q: Why did you decide to record a movie-themed album? How did you select which songs will be included  are they from your favorite films? Can you tell me about some of the songs that will be featured on it?

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A: We had been playing with the concept for some time. I've always been a huge fan of the movies and I'm always watching them on planes as I travel and tour. I've also been spending more time developing and producing film and television projects, and I'm always considering the music soundtrack. We haven't quite finished recording all of the songs for the album yet. I really just wanted to find songs and movies that were beloved around the world so that I could share them with my audiences in every country. I would say with music from the movies there is an added layer of connectivity that you're looking for as an artist because people can relate back to a memory or experience they had around that musical moment in the film.There's also a brand new song I wrote for a recent film starring Russell Crowe and Amanda Seyfried. The movie, "Fathers & Daughters," resonated with me on such a deep level, having three daughters of my own, and I immediately had in mind a theme song concept.

Q: What is it like working with fans on the process of creating an album through PledgeMusic? How many of the fan suggestions will be incorporated into the project? Were there any suggestions that surprised you?

A: My fans have offered up some great suggestions so far about songs to record, like "Stand By Me," "Heard it Through the Grapevine," and "I Will Always Love You." It's been really fun to see their comments and we've also created special packages they can preorder and VIP experiences they can choose.

Q: You have collaborated with many artists over the years in a variety of musical genres  is there someone that you would like to work with that you haven't had a chance to yet? Will the new album feature any duets?

A: One of the songs on the new album, "I Will Always Love You," from "The Bodyguard," features a very special guest duet. I cannot wait to share it with everyone, it's like a dream come true. I also have a few other special guests in mind for the new album. There are so many artists I'd love to collaborate with from Adele to Rihanna to Sam Smith. There is a lot of great new talent out there.

Q: Speaking of collaborations, I have to ask about "Jack Sparrow" with The Lonely Island. How did that come about? Were you surprised by how big of a viral hit it became? Everyone must have had fun working on that  are there any behind-the-scenes stories you can share? And there any plans to work with The Lonely Island again?

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A: The Lonely Island guys approached me with the concept, and I loved the idea of working with them but the first version of the song that they put in front of me was undoable. It was so extreme, and I knew would offend my core fans. So the guys all agreed to go back and rework the lyrics. Cut to about seven months later, we had a version I could sing ... and a big sexy hook. I was on tour but managed to get into a recording studio and the guys produced the vocals with me via Skype in one night. We then shot the video on two 16-hour days in New York - at Brighton Beach and the Buddakan. As we were filming we all felt we were onto something really funny but you never know. The feedback from SNL to the dailies was unanimous and we found out quickly that we were confirmed to air that weekend. The guys pulled an all-nighter to get the video edited and delivered just moments before the show. Of course I hadn't seen a thing yet so it was more than nerve racking to be sitting in the SNL audience that night, but the video played and the whole room was cracking up. At the afterparty I ran into John Mayer who told me, "just wait until tomorrow, this is going to go viral and you are about to have a whole huge fan base you didn't have before." Sure enough, the next morning I walked into my kitchen where my daughter was monitoring the social media and she said, "Dad, you won't believe what's happening online!" It was a million views in the first day and we're now past 150 million. It of course led to my recent cameo in the grand finale of their film "Popstar," and we have a few other projects we're plotting.

Q: You have been recognized for your humanitarian work, especially through The Michael Bolton Charities. Can you talk a little bit about the new music therapy program and how it will help those impacted by domestic violence?

A: The Michael Bolton Charities analyzed extensive research which suggests that music therapy possesses the potential for life-changing impact. That led directly to the launch of two first-of-their-kind initiatives, just under way with encouraging initial results. A pioneering music therapy program for children exposed to serious emotional and physical harm is proving to be a powerful and critical tool in the healing process. It is led by a certified music therapist working in an alternative school setting with a student population that has been tormented by domestic violence and unrelenting mental and physical abuse. Aimed at rebuilding trust from a childhood of multiple traumas, the program navigates a path forward for children with few encouraging experiences. The second initiative is for mothers and their children living in a confidential domestic violence shelter. Innovative music therapy sessions accompany a range of services, offering a comforting and revealing outlet for a range of emotions, apprehension and fear, creating soothing and positive experiences to advance healing and the journey to self-reliance, self-confidence and empowerment. Both of these distinctive programs are unlike any in the country, providing my foundation to serve as potential national models.

Q: Are there any other projects you would like to talk about? Something I didn't ask about that you would like to let fans know?

A: As I said in my book, I feel like I'm just teeing off on the back nine.

Currently, I'm very excited about a scripted comedy that we are developing that I would executive produce and star in. There is a slate of other TV and film projects that I'm in development or production on, including the documentary we just completed on the revitalization of Detroit. I'm continuously writing and recording new music, touring around the world, showing up for charity events and also expanding the initiatives of my own foundation.

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Kathy Cichon is a freelance writer.
Jill Greenberg (left) embraces Enna, Vitaliy Vulykh and their son Bennett during a Gift of Life event in New York. Greenberg donated bone marrow to Bennett in 2014 and helped save him from leukemia. (Gift of Life / Handout)

Buffalo Grove resident Enna Vulykh said she and her husband could only hope for a good outcome in spring 2013, when bruises started showing up on their 5-year-old son, Bennett, for no reason.

On May 30 of that year, they learned why the bruises would appear and why their son was getting sick frequently. Bennett Vulykh suffered from leukemia, Enna Vulykh recalled.

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After five months of treatment, Bennett showed signs of recovery until a return trip to the hospital during Labor Day weekend 2014 confirmed that his spinal fluid again showed signs of cancer. Bennett needed new stem cells, which could only be found in the bone marrow of someone with a similar genetic makeup.

The Buffalo Grove family recently met that person, a donor from New York, for the first time.

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"We've been waiting so long to meet her," Enna Vulykh said. "She was exactly as we pictured her to be."

A native of New York City, Jill Greenberg waited to meet Bennett Vulykh, a survivor of acute myeloid leukemia, for more than a year after donating him bone marrow in December 2014. Greenberg ultimately met the Vulykhs earlier this month during the Gift of Life's annual gala event at the Grand Hyatt in New York.

The Florida-based nonprofit maintains a bone marrow and blood stem cell registry to match donors with patients. The group typically won't let a donor meet their recipient until 12 months after their operations, Greenberg said.

If the bone marrow transplant had failed, and Bennett Vulykh had died, it would be better for both Greenberg and the family not to meet, Greenberg explained.

"They don't want anyone to get too attached," Greenberg said.

The first time the Vulykhs met Greenberg, a 25-year-old student studying medicine at the State University of New York to be a doctor, was on the stage at the Gift of Life's gala event. The long awaited moment came after Gift of Life matched a sample Greenberg gave the organization in 2009, according to Gift of Life.

Greenberg's father's cousin suffered from lymphoma, so she was already familiar with the Gift of Life when the nonprofit came to her high school in 2009. She thought nothing of letting them swab the inside of her cheek to collect a DNA sample.

"I was like, 'Of course, I'll sign up for it,' but I didn't think I'd actually be called for it," she said. "I thought it would be cool if I ever was."

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In October 2014 after doctors discovered Bennett Vulykh needed a transplant, Greenberg's sample matched with Bennett on seven of Gift of Life's eight point system for comparing match possibilities. Greenberg went into the transplant procedure on Dec. 9 of that year.

Doctors draw "a tiny vial of blood" for bone marrow donations, Greenberg said, but the procedure required her to be unconscious, along with a recovery time that includes some pain.

But by the next day, her marrow had been moved to Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago, where doctors injected it into Bennett Vulykh.

"It was just incredible," Enna Vulykh said. "We're just forever grateful to this girl."

Bennett now visits his doctor every other month. He'll be starting kindergarten later this fall, Enna Vulykh said.

After their first meeting at the gala event, Greenberg described the experience as a blur and an encounter where she thought her emotions would prevent her from speaking. She now plans to keep in touch with Bennett.

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"This is definitely the first life that I've helped save," she said. "I hope that it's the first of many."

rwachter@pioneerlocal.com

Twitter @RonnieAtPioneer
Citing Illinois' state budget impasse, Saint Xavier University recently announced it will close its newly opened Gilbert, Ariz. campus at the end of fall semester. (Photo courtesy of Saint Xavier University) (Frank Zampino)

Illinois' anniversary of when it began operating without a comprehensive state budget is next month. With no end in sight, the fallout continues.

The impasse is affecting people across the state and even some as far away as Arizona.

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Recently, officials at Saint Xavier University in Chicago announced that because of the funding uncertainty in Illinois, specifically the state's inability to deliver on promised grant money to low-income students, they would close a newly opened satellite campus in Gilbert, Ariz., at the end of the fall semester.

Twenty-five students are expected to be affected by the decision, according to Deb Rapacz, assistant dean of graduate and continuing education for the university.

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Across the state, college students are among those hardest hit by the budget stalemate.

Last week, Elaine Maimon, president of Governors State University, told the Will County Board's legislative committee that the university is in "trouble." It has tapped into its emergency fund to make payroll, has eliminated 62 positions and shut down programs, she said.

When the state doesn't come through with grant money promised through the Monetary Assistance Program, which helps low-income students, both the students and increasingly the universities or colleges they attend feel the crunch. Some schools, including GSU, have fronted promised grant money to students, in the hope of getting it back once the Legislature approves a budget.

In other cases, students have had to cut back on the number of courses they were taking or temporarily suspend their education.

Whether they front the money to students while legislators duke things out in Springfield or watch their enrollment decrease, the situation puts a financial strain on the universities and colleges, said Rep. Kelly Burke, D-Evergreen Park.

Burke said Illinois is among the few states that offers MAP money to those attending public, community, private and even some for-profit universities and colleges.

"We're one of a few states that have a financial aid program like this that really targets students who really need this, in an amount that is enough to help them get to the next step," she said. "It's a popular program. It's productive. It helps people get through school, get the education they need."

Different schools depend differently on such state grants, she said. For example, Northeastern University on Chicago's northwest side has a fairly high percentage of students who are MAP recipients, she said, whereas the University of Chicago does not.

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Even though the legislature was able to pass a bill this spring appropriating some of the MAP funding for fiscal year 2016, it was still less than half of what had been promised, Burke said. "Fronting the money is putting a strain on cash flow," she added.

In a statement Monday explaining their decision to close the Gilbert campus, which opened in August 2015, SXU officials cited low enrollment at the Arizona campus, "the increased cost of educating a diverse student population" and the budget stalemate in Illinois, which "has resulted in lack of full funding of the Monetary Assistance Program awards for FY16 ... Regrettably, the lack of a state budget at the conclusion of the current legislative session means that MAP funding for FY17 also remains uncertain. The impact of the current fiscal situation in Illinois also now impacts our efforts in Arizona."

Citing Illinois' state budget impasse, Saint Xavier University recently announced it will close its newly opened Gilbert, Ariz. campus at the end of fall semester. (Photo courtesy of Saint Xavier University)

Officials also said the transition to closure would include personal meetings with students enrolled in SXU programs "so as to ensure that their best interests are served through the continuation of classes in the summer and fall of 2016 (online and on-site), and that they receive thorough information regarding options for degree completion and credit transfer opportunities."

In addition, it promised to "work in close collaboration with the Town of Gilbert to ensure that an appropriate university partner succeeds SXU at the site."

Gilbert Mayor John Lewis, who in February cited the campus as evidence of "advancements in commercial development, higher education and recreation" in his "state of the town" address, issued the following statement June 1:

"The Town of Gilbert is of course disappointed with Saint Xavier University's decision with respect to its campus in Downtown Gilbert. After discussions and negotiations beginning in 2011, the town and the university entered into a development agreement and 15-year lease in 2015. Saint Xavier's expressed intentions will be considered by the town and the town will continue to focus its efforts on bringing expanded higher education opportunities to Gilbert."

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Saint Xavier serves a diverse population, Rapacz said, with nearly half claiming minority descent.

Of the university's approximate 4,000 students, 1,602 were MAP recipients for the most recent fall and spring semesters, she added.

Burke said the MAP gap is "having an impact on these students because if you're receiving MAP, you probably have a pretty low family income, although adults who are returning students can also receive MAP."

The grant dollars, she added, "can make or break your decision to continue with school, depending on your award."

Likewise, not receiving it can slow you down, causing a student to cut back on hours or take on more debt.

"All of that could have lots of implications down the road," she said.

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In addition, Burke said, the absence of the money and the fallout from that could affect a school's own measurements when it comes to assessing enrollment and graduation rates. "A lot of dominoes fall," she said.

The MAP issue has been more of a problem for four-year institutions than community colleges because the formula for awarding MAP is partly based on tuition and community college tuition is less, she said.

Though the legislature has been able to push through piecemeal appropriations, and was able to send some money to the state universities and also to community colleges for MAP, Burke said, "It wasn't the full amount they were expecting and not the full amount they need, so we really need to make them whole. For FY17, we have a lot of budget working groups trying to get things going for a full year budget."

Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Gov. Bruce Rauner, she said, has asked the groups to come up with at least a six-month budget, "so that we can get funded what needs to be funded and continue to work on the reforms that he's pushing for."

Burke is a member of the working group for the higher education budget.

"I'm hopeful, but I just don't know," she said.

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"This is not how things should be done. People need stability, reliability, we have an obligation to provide for a lot of components, education being one of them. Not that at some point you might not be tweaking budgets to have your revenues and expenditures match up," she said.

"This is not ideal. It's really been harmful to a lot of institutions."

dvickroy@tribpub.com

Twitter @dvickroy
Dozens of people attended a Sunday night vigil in Elgin to remember the lives lost in Florida. (Megann Horstead / The Courier-News)

Dozens of people came together in Elgin to remember the lives of the 49 victims who died in the June 12 Orlando, Fla., shooting at a gay nightclub.

People gathered in the plaza between the Robert Gilliam Civic Center and the Hemmens Cultural Arts Center in Elgin, donning the colors that represent gay pride to embrace, talk and pay tribute to the lives lost at Pulse. Similar ceremonies were held across the Chicago area in recent days, including an event at Elgin Community College.

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The Sunday night event featured a ceremonial candle lighting, prayers and songs. Many of those in attendance waved candles, flashlights and phones to show support and solidarity with the LBGT community.

Judge John Dalton of the 16th Judicial Court said hatred of homosexuality is, for many, the last acceptable prejudice.

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"Religion has become the weapon of choice in the cultural wars, and there is no possibility that this is pleasing to God," he told the crowd.

Dalton emphasized that Elgin's diversity must be cherished.

"The whole country was impacted," he said. "Beyond Orlando, every LGBTQ person and communitymillions of peoplejustifiably feel shocked, violated and threatened."

He noted that the emergence of safe spaces and emphasized that Pulse wasn't just a bar, it was a family.

Dalton, who said he has identified with the LGBT community the last 25 years, said openness and an increasing number of people coming out to family and friends has led to more widespread acceptance.

The ceremony also featured speeches from other community leaders, including those representing the Elgin Hispanic Network, Congregation Kineseth Israel-Elgin, Coalition of Elgin Religious Leaders, Batavia Islamic Center, and Mayor David Kaptain.

Following this kind of tragedy, Kaptain said he finds comfort reflecting on the words of the country's founding fathers, in which the concept of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are derived.

"I think that can guide us all," he said. "I think that can guide the city of Elgin. If the residents of Elgin and cities of our nation follow those words, I believe, that we will find the wisdom to solve our problems, to work together as a united community, and to plan for a future that will be safe and sound for everyone."

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Elisa Lara, president elect of the Elgin Hispanic Network and Human Relations Commissioner, mirrored the same sentiments when she addressed the crowd. She said she's pleased by the show of support the community has shown.

"Tonight, to see so many people come together is so motivational," she said. "This is really giving us strength and it really helps to see that there's so much support. I hope that (families affected) have the same."

Megann Horstead is a freelance reporter.
Lincoln Elementary School has a new principal following a recent meeting of the Evanston Skokie School District 65 School Board.

Michelle Cooney, who served as the Evanston elementary school's interim principal last year, was appointed to the post by the board at their June 13 meeting. Cooney joined the Lincoln Elementary community in 2013 as the school's assistant principal.

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"I knew from my first year at Lincoln that Lincoln was the place I wanted to be," she said. "Lincoln is a community I've become very connected to -- the students, the parents and the staff."

Teachers, support staff, parents and administrators created a leadership profile as part of the principal selection process at Lincoln Elementary to label the skills and characteristics they wanted in their next principal, according to a statement released by the district.

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District 65 Superintendent Paul Goren "conducted an extensive interview" and subsequently recommended Cooney for the job, the statement reads.

"Ms. Cooney has proven to be an excellent leader during a time of transition for the Lincoln community," Goren said in a statement. "Under Ms. Cooney's leadership, she has worked alongside teachers, staff, and families to create a culture built on trust and collaboration while keeping the best interest of students in mind."

Prior to joining District 65, Cooney served as interim and assistant principal at LEARN Charter School Network and as director of literacy at Suder Magnet Montessori School in Chicago Public Schools. She earned a master of arts degree in administration and supervision from National Louis University, a master of science degree in elementary education and a bachelor of science in secondary education from Northwestern University.

Michelle Cooney (Evanston Skokie School District 65 / Handout)

Cooney, who grew up outside Philadelphia, said her introduction to Evanston came when she attended Northwestern University. She said she quickly grew fond of the city and four years ago moved her family from Chicago to Evanston. Her two children both attend school at Kingsley Elementary School in Evanston.

"I'm thrilled. I'm excited to continue my work here and continue to work with the Lincoln community," Cooney said.

The board also approved at their June 13 meeting the appointment of Stacy Beardsley to full-time executive director of curriculum and instruction for the district. Beardsley previously served in the role as an interim administrator. Her recent work in the district includes the development of its K-3 "literacy framework," according to a statement from the district.

"I couldn't be more pleased with the work that Dr. Beardsley has done since coming to District 65. She has brought a wealth of knowledge and has been a tremendous asset in supporting high quality teaching and learning in our schools," Goren said in a statement. "Dr. Beardsley is collaborative by nature and has worked closely with our teachers and administrators to thoughtfully implement best practices in the area of curriculum and instruction."

Beardsley previously served as chief academic officer for a school management organization in Chicago, Civitas Education Partners, which operates four Chicago International Charter School campuses comprising 2,500 students, according to a statement from the district. Beardsley received a bachelor of arts degree from Boston College in economics, a master of education degree in curriculum and instruction from Loyola University and an EdD in urban educational leadership from University of Illinois Chicago, according to the statement.

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Both Cooney and Beardsley's appointments received unanimous approval from the District 65 board.

Lee V. Gaines is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
A 79-year-old Chicago woman died from her injuries four days after her car crashed into the side of a landscaping truck in Evanston, according to the city's police department.

Zinaida Mincu, of the 4500 block of North Clarendon Avenue in Chicago, was pronounced dead June 13 at 7:05 p.m., according to Evanston Police Cmdr. Joe Dugan. At about 4 p.m. June 9, Mincu, who was headed eastbound on Central Street in a Honda Accord, ran a stop sign and struck the side of a Chevrolet landscaping truck traveling southbound on Orrington Avenue, Dugan said.

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Mincu was subsequently taken to Evanston Hospital where a traffic officer learned she had suffered a subdural hematoma, two broken ribs and a broken sternum during the crash, he said. Her injuries were initially cataloged as serious and then re-classified as non life-threatening, Dugan said. Mincu was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, no valid insurance and disobeying a stop sign following an investigation into the crash, he said.

Due to Mincu's death, Dugan said the department will conduct a follow-up investigation into the incident.

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Lee V. Gaines is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Rabbi Samuel Gordon of Sukkat Shalom speaks at an interfaith panel discussion sponsored by the Muslim Community Center in Morton Grove on June 14. Pastor Elizabeth Jones of St. Luke's Community Church and Professor Inamul Haq of MCC are seated next to him. (Lee V. Gaines / Pioneer Press)

In the wake of the mass shooting in Orlando that claimed the lives of 49 people and injured scores more, several Morton Grove religious leaders present at an interfaith panel Tuesday night cautioned the crowd gathered to resist falling prey to a growing sense of anxiety and fear.

Leaders from the Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Baha'i faiths gathered together for an annual interfaith panel at the Muslim Education Center on Menard Avenue for a discussion dubbed "Social Justice: At the Heart of Religions." The event was a continuation of a tradition that began four years ago and which is held at the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Each year, the panel focuses on a particular faith-based subject and takes turns interpreting the topic from the perspective of their respective religions before an audience of several hundred attendees. Dinner and prayer services followed the event.

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The panel discussion focused primarily on how each faith defines social justice.

But Elizabeth Jones, pastor of St. Lukes Community Church and a guest on the panel, said she's noticed a "free floating anxiety" amongst some of the individuals she has spoken with in recent months, and that anxiety was made more prevalent and profound by the shootings.

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She urged the crowd to resist a sense of fear and helplessness in the wake of the Orlando tragedy.

"I have hopeful news for us today. We are not helpless even though the events of last weekend did occur. We can do something. We can each of us do something in our corner of the world. We can pursue peace. That is what I've been going around and talking to different groups of people about: pursuing peace," Jones said.

The shooting presents an important opportunity to reflect on the uncertainty of life, said Dilnaz Waraich, vice president of the Winnetka Interfaith Council, in an interview during the panel event. She said appreciation for life and for one's neighbors is a good strategy to counter any sense of unhappiness and fear.

In acknowledgment of the tragedy, Donelle Bergeson, moderator for the event, said "on behalf of the Muslim Community Center, we would like to say, as a community, we are horrified and deeply saddened by the violence that lead to the deaths of innocent human beings."

"These could be people we know. It could be a family member or a friend, or a family member or a friend of someone you know, someone that died or was wounded," she said. Bergson led the attendees in a moment of silence to honor of those whose lives were lost.

Rabbi Samuel Gordon, of Sukkat Shalom, who represented the Jewish perspective on the panel, highlighted, however, the significance of interfaith events particularly in light of the shooting.

"What we are doing here this evening is even more vital and important," he said. "The ability for us to come together, particularly in times like these when there are those that would divide us or demonize others, the ability to come together at the local level and fight against that discrimination, particularly after Orlando this Sunday, is of great importance."

The issue of gun control was also touched on by an audience member and by Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin, who attended the event and spoke following the panel discussion. Suffredin noted his involvement in the drafting of an assault weapons ban in the county. Unfortunately, he said, "we get no traction away from Cook County."

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"I'm happy to join with you, and I look forward to meeting with you in these coming days as we try to remind everybody that there is still sanity and the gun violence in Orlando and everyday in the streets around us is insanity, and we will help bring peace," Suffredin said.

When asked by an audience member what their "personal prayer" was following news of the country's most recent mass shooting, Gordon, who spoke on behalf of the panel, continued to note the need for more gatherings of individuals from varied religious groups. He said people have a choice to come together or to perceive one another in terms of racial, religious and cultural differences.

"We need to continue doing these kinds of things. It's a hope we can continue to build together to fight against the demonization of other people," Gordon said. "Whether it's a question of Islam, or gays and lesbians in Orlando -- and it turns out the vast majority of whom were Puerto Rican and Latino -- we can all look at each other in terms of faiths and colors and see somebody not like ourselves or we can see someone like ourselves."

Lee V. Gaines is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Northwestern University engineering students, along with professor NU Richard Freeman, (left) examine a surgical microscope with Dr. Stuart Sondheimer (right) in his Skokie office. The Skokie eye surgeon has teamed up with freshman engineering students who came up with solutions to help make the microscope and cases it is carried in lighter for his trips to third world countries to treat indigent patients. (Levinson Communications International / Handout)

If long lines at airport security checkpoints are a headache for travelers imagine trying to get past TSA agents while carrying a 70-pound operating microscope.

Skokie ophthalmologist, Dr. Stuart Sondheimer, runs into that problem every time he travels to do pro bono cataract surgery on people who would not typically be able to afford it. He said his work as a volunteer eye surgeon with an organization called SEE International has taken him to many developing nations including Vietnam, El Salvador and Honduras.

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According to its website, Santa Barbara-based SEE International "provides sustainable medical, surgical, and educational services through volunteer ophthalmic surgeons with the objectives of restoring sight and preventing blindness to disadvantaged individuals worldwide."

But Sondheimer said volunteering to help give people sight can be heavy work in more ways than one. He said the bulk and weight of some of the medical equipment he needs to do the surgery is a constant problem when traveling.

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In order to tackle that predicament the Skokie eye surgeon teamed up with freshman engineering students at Northwestern University recently and they came up with solutions to help lighten the load of his charity work.

In March three teams of four engineering students were assigned as part of their coursework the task of reducing the weight of the microscope and the bulky cases it is transported in, said Northwestern University professor, Dr. Richard Freeman, adding that the challenge was part of a class called "Design, thinking and communications."

"It's a learning experience but it's also an opportunity for them to stretch their engineering skills," said Freeman.

On June 7 Sondheimer met with the students and was able to see what they had come up with.

"I thought the students came up with some really good ideas," he said.

The operating microscope magnifies and illuminates, allowing eye surgeons to see inside the eye, Sondheimer explained.

"If you can see it then you can fix it," he said. "That allows us to do good work even in very remote areas. We have to lug around a lot of equipment."

The microscope and the cases they are packed in weigh more than 70 pounds, which Sondheimer said can make a routine trip to the airport cumbersome.

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"We often bring in entire operating rooms," he said. "In some airport you can't bring in packages as heavy as the microscope."

The students immediately dove into the project and after more than a month of hard work they were able to reduce the size and weight of the cases, switch out heavier parts of the microscope with lighter materials and also added a three gallon water balloon to counter the weight of the microscope's "swing arm," Freeman said.

"It's always satisfying when the students are able to learn something," he said. "It is great when they can learn a lot and have a success and delight their client."

Sondheimer said that at first he was a bit skeptical because his medical equipment suppliers had told that they had reduced the weight of his equipment by as much as possible.

"They were wrong," he said. "It could be done better and these kids came up with some good solutions."

Freeman said his students findings have been sent to, SEE International, and that he is also sending them the parts from the prototypes his students made.

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"SEE International will go back to their equipment partners and have them look over what the students did and see if it's something they can manufacture," he said. "I can't tell you how pleased I am with the work they did. This was a tough project."

Brian L. Cox is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Visitors to the first Ravinia District Artisan Market June 16 enjoy the festive milieu in Jens Jensen Park. (Ripple Public Relations)

The Ravinia Business District has launched a new artisan market this summer to bring people into the area for food, craft beer, shopping and live music.

The Ravinia District Artisan Market is part of the City of Highland Park's strategy to reinvigorate the area through special events.

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The market will take place from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. each Thursday through Aug. 18 in Jens Jensen Park at St. Johns and Roger Williams avenues.

Business property owners finance the promotions through a special taxing district the city created in 2013.

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"The whole goal of the Special Service Area is to bring people into the district for fun and festive occasions, so they can see all the different and unique businesses that are in our district," said Ilyse Strongin Bombicino of Ripple Public Relations. "We want people to see, Oh, there's a coffee shop, or a great restaurant or a cute little boutique or hair salon."

The new markets don't replace the long standing Ravinia Farmers Market that takes place from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Wednesday. Now in its 38th year, the market features fresh produce.

The district's main marketing event  the Harvest and Harmony Festival  will return Sept. 23 and Sept. 24 for a second year.

The Ravinia Brewing Company, a craft beer brewery set to open at 615 Roger Williams Ave. later this year, has teamed up with other craft breweries to feature a different beer each week at the artisan markets, as its own beer is not yet available.

"While we would have loved to serve our own beer (at the markets), we reached out to a bunch of our fellow Illinois craft breweries and they were more than happy to support the community," said Kris Walker, the proprietor of Ravinia Brewing who also lives in the Ravinia area.

On Friday, Ravinia Brewing Co. created what Walker calls a "collaboration beer" with Finch's Beer Co. in Chicago that will be introduced July 21 at the artisan market and will be available on tap at Finch's the same day.

"Hopefully this will give people a flavor of what is in store once we open later in the year," Walker said.

The Highland Park Community Foundation has provided funding to bring in musical performers for each event.

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"I plucked my favorite musicians from all over Chicago and beyond Illinois," said Noah Plotkin of Life Rhythms, who was hired by the foundation to book the acts and manage the stage and sound.

The kick-off event featured Imperial Boxmen, a jungle jazz performance group. On June 23, Elijah Aaron from Columbus, Ohio is performing percussive folk pop.

"Elijah is an incredible songwriter that I went to school with at Berklee College of Music," Plotkin said. "He is a one-man Simon and Garfunkel. We also will be having blue grass, country, a Latin salsa band, some rock and roll  kind of the whole spectrum of music."

Plotkin, who grew up in the Ravinia area, said the markets have gotten off to a great start.

"(Thursday) night we had close to about 200 people and almost ran out of food," he said. "Every week going forward, there will be more people, more food, more life and more excitement."

kberkowitz@pioneerlocal.com

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@KarenABerkowitz.
A parking lot used partially for boat storage north of the Waukegan Port District property on Pershing Road is set for redevelopment this year as a power-boat sales and service facility. (Dan Moran / Lake County News-Sun)

The Waukegan Port District approved a long-term lease agreement this month for a Wisconsin-based company's plan to build a $5 million Chicago Yachting Center with boat sales and service at Waukegan Harbor and Marina.

The agreement calls for a payment of nearly $3 million for a 25-year lease, and Bay Marine of Sturgeon Bay, Inc. has agreed to build a state-of-the-art facility that will offer inside heated and outdoor storage, a fully certified service department and new, used and brokerage yacht sales, said Gregg Pupecki, general manager for the harbor.

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The improvements will include a new 85-ton lift arm in the harbor's South Recreational Basin, which will be installed in a few weeks and, in work that has already started, take out some harbor boat slips along the shoreline, he said.

The development will create a 40,000-square-foot showroom for "high-end marine retail and boats" and a 7,000-square-foot administrative center on a five-acre plot southeast of Madison Street and Pershing Road, which sits on the northern boundary of the port district headquarters.

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"These are exciting times for the Harbor, our Board and the community as we pave the way for rebuilding the jewel of the North Shore, Waukegan Harbor," stated Grant B. Farrell, chair of the Port District Board, said in a statement.

Designs show a planned $5 million boat sales and storage center planned for Waukegan Harbor by Wisconsin-based Bay Marine. Work has begun and completion could be late fall. - Original Credit: News-Sun (Waukegan Port District)

Farrell added that "the efforts of the entire community as well as the City of Waukegan and its staff to bring this project to fruition is the first of many steps in making the redevelopment of our Lakefront a reality."

Pupecki said the port district is taking a parking lot and turning it into development activity.

"Additional new development and growth, including new restaurants, shops and expansion of the Lakefront 'HarborWauk,' will provide a welcoming environment to those seeking a boating experience or merely a stroll along the lake in pursuit of their love of the water," he said.

With the new lift, "they will be able to take good-sized yachts, power boats and sailboats," he said, adding that he has already received a telephone call from a Florida resident interested in the heated indoor storage.

The Waukegan City Council unanimously approved the Bay Marine project in March, and Mayor Wayne Motley said in a statement the city is "excited to have Bay Marine join other notable businesses in Waukegan."

Motley added that "their addition to the Lakefront following the successful environmental clean-up of both the North Harbor and the former Outboard Marine site is a clear indication that the right steps have been taken to advance Waukegan into a growth mode for our beautiful Lakefront and historic downtown."

Matt Felhofer, co-owner of Bay Marine, said "our new operation in Waukegan will set a new standard for boatyards around the entire Great Lakes."

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"Bay Marine represents the best boat brands in the industry and supports that with the most qualified technicians on Lake Michigan," Felhofer said. "We have been in business for over 50 years and are excited to bring our brands and capabilities closer to the Chicago boating market.

"We are also excited to work with the City of Waukegan and the Waukegan Harbor to be a true cornerstone in the revitalization of the Waukegan waterfront."

According to information supplied by the port district, Bay Marine is a Premier Yacht Dealership in the Great Lakes that represents the industry-leading brands like Hatteras, Riviera, Sabre, Back Cove and Belize. Established in 1969 and headquartered in Sturgeon Bay, Bay Marine is a full-line dealership offering sales, service and storage of yachts up to 100 feet.

Waukegan senior planner Steve Sabourin described the concept as an example of private-sector projects encouraged by the city's 2003 comprehensive plan for lakefront redevelopment. The port district is also planning its own project, which includes a handicapped-accessible canoe and kayak launch site, in the same area next to the existing public boat launches.

"This (complex) would be located in what is identified as the 'Harborfront' in the Downtown/Lakefront Master Plan," Sabourin wrote in a report earlier this year to the council. "The Harborfront would contain a central park, active marina and retail district, public lakefront and clear connection to the downtown.

"This proposed development supports the Harborfront's identity as a marina district. The overall size and character of the proposed development is consistent with the vision defined for the Harborfront District (and) will also enhance the lakefront's character."

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The main showroom would be 36 feet tall at its eaves, fitting under a height limit imposed by the city to avoid shoreline buildings that obstruct views of the lake from the bluff. Recommendations from the city's Planning and Zoning Department also call on the developer to landscape the surrounding area, replace current chain-link fences with ornamental fencing and use more windows on public-facing walls.

Bay Marine President Matthew Felhofer said in a letter of application to the city that "if our business vision is realized, Waukegan could develop into a major marine retail hub for the entire Midwest."

"Bay Marine sells and services high-end power boat and motor yacht clients around the country," Felhofer wrote. "We anticipate that the Waukegan operation will generate in excess of $10 million in gross revenue within three years and employ a minimum of 15 full-time employees within that same time frame."

Construction is scheduled to start this summer, and the building should be complete by late fall. The company is already taking reservations for outside storage, said Pupecki.

"This is hopefully a catalyst for more development along the 'HarborWauk,' (including) stores, gift shops, restaurants, and art galleries," he said.

Kathy Larsen, administrative manager and one of the family owners of Larsen Marine just north of Waukegan Harbor, said Bay Marine will be competition for them and Waukegan Yacht Services, which is also located on port district land next to the Waukegan Harbor.

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"I think it's great for both us," she said, noting Bay Marine's bigger lift will allow the company to move 80-foot powerboats, which Larsen cannot move with its slightly smaller lift.

"We welcome the competition. It's a win-win for everyone," she said, noting anyone going to their family business or the new marina would naturally make the short trip to check out what the other business has to offer.

"Now they have three choices," she said, referring to storage and service.

Waukegan Harbor and Marina is owned by the Waukegan Port District, which also owns the Port of Waukegan, its commercial shipping and port facilities, as well as Waukegan National Airport, which serves general aviation, corporate and private aircraft.

The district is a self-funded, governmental organization organized in 1957 under the authority of the state of Illinois and the city of Waukegan. The Harbor and Marina are professionally managed by SG Marina & SG Aviation.

fabderholden@tribpub.com

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Twitter @abderholden
Everybody wants justice for Melissa Calusinski just as much as they want justice for the little Deerfield boy who died in 2009 while in her care.

Now there will be rehearing of old evidence and examination of what might be new evidence. That will determine if the Carpentersville woman gets a new trial in the daycare death of 16-month-old Benjamin Kingan.

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For almost everyone involved  including the child's grief-traumatized parents  the heartache seems to have no resolution.

But doubt is a good place to start. The only place, really.

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The judge who presided over the Lake County jury that convicted Calusinski of first-degree murder in 2011 was sure enough in 2012 to sentence her to 31 years.

That result was based on guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

But the same judge no longer is sure. How do we know this?

If he were sure justice had been done then, Judge Daniel Shanes would not have needed to take any action now.

Shanes has taken what might be the rarest course of any presiding judge. He wants to hear his case again, and he seems open to changing his mind.

Presiding judges normally cringe even when their decisions are taken through the traditional appeals court process.

Shanes heard all the evidence in 2011. He did not stop the trial and direct Calusinski be declared not guilty.

If he had been as sure now as he was in 2011, he would need not reassess anything.

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By saying the evidentiary hearing should proceed, Shanes has validated palpable, actionable doubt. He could eventually rule for a new trial or simply reverse the original verdict and tell Calusinski to go home with her family.

Convince me, he's telling the lawyers. But, he says implicitly, there's a problem, and we can't ignore it.

It's the sort of basic, reasonable, legally defined doubt that might require a "not guilty" verdict. Not allow it. Require it.

We will see.

There are several signs to indicate how sure Lake County prosecutors are about their task.

They not only fiercely fought a retrial but also this evidentiary hearing, too. They are protesting too loudly, as well they might. Lake prosecutors bear the unfortunate scars of their recent sins, so their moral high ground is constructed on cascading quicksand.

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Lake County jurisprudence soon will be dragged to this required enlightenment.

Prosecutors have fought every glimmer of doubt, every suggestion they botched the case as they have botched others. Now they claim to happily embrace an event they tried to quash from the beginning.

Here's what is absolutely true in a case with contested arguments for almost every fact: There is doubt. Even the prosecutors know this.

Very deep doubt that justice was done in 2009.

Reasonable doubt about evidence the jury did not see, did not understand then.

That doubt should have existed when Calusinski was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. The facts of the case are now confronted with valid alternatives about the X-rays and lengthy, manipulative interrogation she underwent that produced a confession.

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The centerpiece of the dispute is whether the child died of a skull fracture caused when he was deliberately dropped. And whether Calusinski was convinced by interrogators that she must have done it because there was no other good theory.

But Lake County Coroner Dr. Thomas Rudd has supplied multiple ways the child may have died. Had Rudd been the coroner in 2009, the case might never have been tried.

The X-rays used to convict Calusinski are in dispute, including whether the skull fracture was new, old or the result of the child's reported habit of striking his own head on hard objects.

That skull fracture was mentioned 32 times in the trial. Rudd says those X-rays, and as yet unseen X-rays, do not show what prosecutors say, and there is no clear evidence anything Calusinski did caused the child's passing.

Rudd even withdrew the original cause of death and changed it to "undetermined."

Lake County News Sun Twice-weekly News updates from Lake County delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

He has offered up profound and reasonable doubt.

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Assistant State's Attorney Stephen Scheller said deep differences in interpreting the fracture in itself don't prove Calusinski's innocence.

But no one has to prove Calusinski is innocent.

If the judge decides the re-visited evidence means she gets a new trial, then the vocabulary changes.

Calusinski is immediately transformed from a convicted murderer into an innocent-until-proved-guilty defendant.

Scheller will have to prove she is guilty. He probably already knows that task lies ahead.

David.Rutter@live.com
Holocaust survivor Steen Metz, a Lincolnshire resident, holds up a photo of his father, who died of starvation in the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Meetz speaks at the Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie on Saturday. (Laura Pavin / Pioneer Press)

Steen Metz didn't know he was Jewish until he and his parents were herded into cattle cars and sent to the Theresienstadt concentration camp in German-occupied Czechoslovakia.

It was Oct. 2, 1943  the beginning of Rosh Hashanah and the middle of the Holocaust. He was eight-years-old.

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Up until that point, Metz and his family had lived relatively normal lives in Denmark. The Danish government had resisted efforts to discriminate against its Jewish citizens, so they didn't have to wear a yellow star or a badge. And it was the only occupied country to actively defy deportation efforts, Metz recalled.

"It was a tremendous support system from the Danish people," Metz said, sitting in an armchair in his Lincolnshire condominium. "There was very little anti-Semitism in Denmark."

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But the Metz family's situation took an unusual turn in 1943. Of the nearly 8,000 Jews in Denmark, less than 500 were seized and deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp, according to Metz.

When they learned of the Nazis' deportation plans, the Danish resistance had organized a nationwide effort to smuggle the Jews to neutral Sweden from Copenhagen, where most of the Jewish population lived, Metz recalled.

"Unfortunately, we lived outside of the Copenhagen area, and had not been warned," Metz said. "We were among the five percent that were arrested."

What followed was a mixture of unlucky and lucky situations, which Metz will chronicle in his talk at the Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

Among the unlucky and terrible situations he faced, Metz lost his father to starvation, his mother was emotionally abused by the camp's Nazi officers and some of his friends were transported to extermination camps, he said.

The lucky part happened in 1945, when Metz and his mother were liberated. Although they were without a father and husband, they managed to resume life as it had been before they were imprisoned.

That last part is what makes Metz's story so unique, said Shoshana Buchholz-Miller, vice president of education and exhibitions at the museum.

"It's an interesting perspective," she said. "This was not always the case for Jews in other countries post-war."

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For the past four-and-a-half years, Metz has talked to countless students and groups about his Holocaust experience through the museum's "Speakers' Bureau." Most of all, he said, it's important for people to know that the Holocaust happened because deniers still exist.

He pointed to British author David Irving, who sued American historian Deborah Lipstadt and publisher Penguin Books in 1996 for characterizing some of his writings as Holocaust denial in a book she wrote that ended up discrediting him as a historian.

Lipstadt and her publisher eventually won the suit. A movie about it, titled "Denial," is coming out later this year.

The Holocaust can feel more tangible for anyone, especially kids, when they hear stories from a survivor, Buchholz-Miller said.

"It really makes the history come alive," she said.

For Metz, that's the goal.

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"Holocaust survivors are getting older, and in about ten years or so, we won't be able to talk about it anymore," Metz said. "We want to leave a legacy."

Laura Pavin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
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Susann Chung of Mundelein offers candles shortly before the vigil on June 18, 2016 at at Community Protestant Church. (Karie Angell Luc / Pioneer Press)

The victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting were remembered Saturday night during a candlelight vigil at Community Protestant Church UCC, a United Church of Christ congregation in Mundelein.

More than 60 people attended the vigil at 418 N. Prairie Ave. where they listened to a church bell toll 50 times as they held illuminated candles.

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"It's a tragedy what happened," said Dakotah Norton, a village trustee, at the event. "It's an opportunity to come together and support those who lost everything."

For some attendees, attending the vigil had a personal meaning.

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"I have gay nephews and one niece," said Laurel Karolczak of Mundelein. "I feel this is something I can do to honor the victims."

Rev. Alex Molozaiy, pastor of Community Protestant Church UCC, reflected on the 49 victims who were murdered at Pulse nightclub, a space they considered safe.

"It is not blasphemous to say that it was a sacred space," Molozaiy said. "Because in it they were able to see themselves as accepted, whole, and perhaps even desirable, instead of rejected, broken and unlovable."

Holly Kim, a Mundelein village trustee, wanted to have a prayer vigil for Orlando victims but said she couldn't do it on public property in a timely way.

Molozaiy, who attended high school in central Florida and resided in Orlando for one year, also wanted to act.

"This is the only openly gay friendly church in town," said Kim, who attended the vigil with her children.

Mundelein High School students collected donations for The GLBT Community Center of Central Florida to assist with crisis support for victims and their families.

The optional fundraising piece was the idea of Laura Kim, 17, a student at Mundelein High School.

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The Orlando nightclub shooting was a horrible thing, Laura Kim, no relation to Holly Kim, said.

"What I find beautiful is that we can all come together in the midst of tragedy," the 17-year-old said.

Karie Angell Luc is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Niles library employees will soon be enrolled in a state pension fund.

The change comes after staff and elected officials at the Niles Public Library District spent more than a year studying its retirement offerings and possible alternatives. At their last board meeting on June 15, library trustees voted 5-1 to join the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, according to a press release from the library. The pension plan will be offered to all full-time and part-time employees working 1,000 hours or more per year. Niles library director Susan Lempke said in an interview this week that 45 full-time employees and 25 part-time employees will qualify for IMRF. She said Trustee Carolyn Drblik was the sole board member to vote against joining the pension fund.

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Lempke and library business manager Greg Pritz have previously stated the investigation into the library's retirement offerings was undertaken because the library was having difficulty hiring and retaining qualified staff members due to its retirement offerings.

"Not being a library that offers IMRF means when we do hire another person from another library, we know they'll be back out the door in three or four years," Lempke said. She said the library has repeatedly lost staff members who, despite their desire to stay on, felt they needed to have a pension plan for their family's sake.

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The board's decision to join IMRF comes after staff at the library were surveyed about which retirement option they liked best. The library presented employees with two alternatives to IMRF, including a hybrid plan and a 401(a) plan.

When asked which plan presented benefits staff personally, 32 employees chose IMRF, 23 picked the hybrid plan and just two selected the 401(a) option, Lempke said. Employees were also asked which plan they thought most benefited the library, she said, and 34 voted for IMRF, 22 chose the hybrid plan and five selected the 401(a) plan. She said staff also provided written comments that laid out "in real human terms what a pension plan would mean to them."

The library commissioned an actuarial study to determine how much it will cost the district to join the pension fund. The study concluded that the library would be required to contribute 8.12 percent of employees' salaries for the first two years of enrollment in IMRF. The annual cost for the first two years will total $221,000. The amount the library will be required to contribute in its third year in the pension system will likely increase, Pritz previously told Pioneer Press. He said factors including the number of employees retiring from the library and returns on the pension fund's investments will impact the library's contribution to IMRF. The contribution from the district is recalculated on a yearly basis while employees are required to pitch in a flat 4.5 percent of their earnings to the fund. Staff will also be given an opportunity to buy back prior year's work, which could cost the library district between $850,000 and $3.6 million. Pritz said prior service contributions will be paid by the library over a 30-year term.

Currently, staff at the library receive 7.5 percent of their annual salary through a defined contribution plan and are not required to contribute anything to the plan. They may take a portion or all of the amount retirement money offered by the library home as additional salary. Board members told the library's administrators they wanted to phase out the practice of allowing employees to take retirement contributions home as salary.

Lempke said the district will not be able to enroll all of its eligible employees into the pension fund in time for the next fiscal year to begin on July 1. She said staff will be entered into IMRF by August 1 after the pension fund's board votes to approve the library district's entrance into the system next month.

Pritz has previously said that the switch to IMRF may cost taxpayers more money. Lempke, however, said the benefits of IMRF outweigh any additional costs.

She said the library has emerged in the last decade as a major asset to the village of Niles and the entire library district. She said the library offers programs and classes and has helped bridge a digital divide for people who may not have the money to purchase expensive electronics but are still able to receive free training on the devices from qualified library staff. To accomplish its goals within the community, the library needs "to have well trained, very smart people who like working with the public and are willing to work with the public," she said.

Lempke said offering the pension plan to its employees will make it easier for the library to hire and retain those individuals.

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Lee V. Gaines is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
St. Mark's Catholic Church in Gary is expected to close later this month after 95 years. (Carole Carlson / Post-Tribune)

The lovely twin-tower brick fortress guarding the St. Mark Catholic church doorway in Gary's Glen Park neighborhood belies a crumbling underbelly.

Dilapidation was a long-time coming and more than mortar and bricks withered. History died a little every day, too.

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Decades of harsh weather and untended degeneration have won. Entropy, the basic winding down of the physical universe, triumphed.

So the Gary Catholic Diocese will walk away from the 95-year-old church and leave it to the tender mercies of some other tenant or the wrecking ball.

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The last turn of the lock at the church's front door will reverberate with a melancholy clank.

Dioceses across the nation are following that path  balancing income, resources, costs, available souls to tend and the priests needed to make the machinery function. It's a grim calculation.

But the pending death of St. Mark as a cultural center of Glen Park is more profound than most. Sadder in some ways that other logistical decisions forced on the larger church.

The parish's age contributes to that feeling of forlorn finality. But there has always been something uniquely vibrant about St. Mark.

In a city rippling with history, memories and cultural energy, the death of St. Mark marks a final off switch. A history book is closing. Even St. Mark's sturdy walls could not restore grand legacies.

For thousands of Gary immigrants, St. Mark was the portal from Croatia. St. Mark and Glen Park were the physical manifestation of Old Country values and hopes.

St. Joseph The Worker parish served as the co-anchor of that realm. St. Joseph remains on East 45 Street as it has since 1912, but its history will be dimmed, too. When the two parishes merge, no parish in Indiana will offer a regularly scheduled Sunday Mass spoken in Croatian.

The final link to that Old World will disappear.

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Perhaps great-grandchildren in Northwest Indiana still will find reasons to revere Croatian heritage, but Catholic parishes seldom will lift the soul of that celebration.

When Croatians  mostly young men wanting jobs and hope  stormed into Gary as World War I was fermenting, they came to escape the never-ending series of brutal military and economic oppressions.

The empires always struck back at Croatia.

That was Croatia for 1,000 years. Just as emperors, war loads and religious tyrants tried to make Croatia a bauble on their belts, Croatians fought just as hard to be Croatians.

Over the centuries, a half-dozen empires  Serbs, the Austrian-Hungarian monarchs and then Yugoslavia  claimed them as property. But Croatia always fought for its language, villages and folk culture.

Croatia would always be European and never Balkan.

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But the Great Migration to America was not designed to shun the Old World, but to transport customs, Catholic faith and identity into the New World.

St. Mark and Saint Joseph were not organized to hide immigrants, but to keep them connected to home soil and home values.

Wherever they were, Croats would be Croats. Immigrant priests fought to rescue young bachelors far from home in a wild city of easy temptations. Immigrants got their first taste of culture in church schools.

The Catholic Church and its Croatian parishes were umbilicals, and self-aware they were facing a war over many ideas  primarily Communism against the church. Social and political organizations formed in Gary under church banners stood unassailable for 70 years.

How important were Croatians to Gary? The city leaped from 334 citizens in 1906 to 16,802 in 1910, 55,378 in 1920, and 100,426 in 1930.

According to a 1908 "rough" census, Gary had 10,246 residents, and 950 were Croatians.

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Just two years later, according to one report, "the largest group of foreign born (in Gary) was the Croatians, which numbered about four thousand."

They forged steel. Some went home with their earnings and built families.

Others stayed and tested the American promise.

When Croatia finally defeated Yugoslavian-backed Serbs for nationhood in 1992, what they called the "Homeland War" had cost 20,000 lives.

Post Tribune Twice-weekly News updates from Northwest Indiana delivered every Monday and Wednesday >

Now Croatia shares borders with Italy, Slovenia, and Hungary to the north and with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia) and Bosnia-Herzegovina to the east and south.

Those migrated thousands who stayed in the States  maybe a million Americans are their heirs  eventually melted into America.

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Time eventually took the bricks of St. Mark, but not the dreams of immigrants who worshipped there.

Their souls still speak of new hope, if you wish to listen.

Bricks always decompose and flutter away as ash on the breeze. It's entropy.

But the dreams? They live.

David.Rutter@live.com
With China experiencing something of a slowdown, and many previously active China business bloggers now having moved onto other things, the current pool of available, complimentary China updates by people with their feet on the ground has become smaller. However, here are what are probably the best independent blogs for businesses interested, or operating a business, in China.

I have only included blogs that have updated intelligence at a minimum on a weekly basis, as these candidates demonstrate the most commitment to their craft and by proxy have the most relevant content. Aggregators and mainstream media blogs have also been excluded, as we wish to reflect professional expertise, not journalism, in terms of content creation. Please add comments at the end if you feel we missed anyone out.

* China Briefing

Global Alexa Ranking: 276,377

Our own site of course, so were preaching to the converted. We commenced publishing in 1999, making us one of the oldest free sources of business, legal and tax intelligence, and now have an impressive array of magazine and book titles to our credit as well. Were also one of the highest ranking China business blogs in terms of global views.

* China Business Leadership

Global Alexa Ranking: 1,866,778

Dealing with human resources, recruitment, and good man-management in China.

RELATED: Starting a Chinese Web Page for your Company

* China Check Up

Global Alexa Ranking: 414,280

A basic, if useful website, especially for new to China entrants wanting to check Chinese suppliers and domestic company credentials.

* China IP Lawyer

Global Alexa Ranking: 11,249,520

Legal website dealing with the technical aspects of intellectual property and protection in China.

* China Law Blog

Global Alexa Ranking: 1,225,717

Popular with law students, concentrating on China trademarks, IP problems and legal disputes for American SMEs rather than operational issues.

RELATED: Best Practices for Launching a Website in China

* China Private Equity

Global Alexa Ranking: 2,787,955

News and views of how and why China companies are raising capital and listing themselves both in and outside the mainland.

*China Red Luxury

Global Alexa Ranking: 1,907,395

Useful luxury consumer website detailing with trends and fashions with Chinas upmarket consumers.

* China Quality Wars

Global Alexa Ranking: 1,459,048

One of the increasing numbers of QC blogs ideal for the foreign sourcing agent. Maintained every week or so and provides good tips and advice.

* China Quality Inspection

Global Alexa Ranking: 332,881

The longest established China QC blog, with additional comments on alternatives such as Vietnam and elsewhere in Asia. Dependable and pragmatic.

* China Digital Review

Global Alexa Ranking : n/a

This relatively new blog covers China digital marketing trends and is a great example of how new technologies are transforming the amount of market intelligence out there. Recommended for assessing the Chinese online consumer market.

Summary: This past year has been very poor for blog development amongst professional online business resources dedicated to China. Mainstream media often churns out similar stories and opinions, meaning the previously valuable on the ground comments that blogs represented had considerable merit. However, many of these have disappeared, while previously active blogs have either become sporadic or have downgraded from insightful analysis to personal ramblings.

In last years survey, over twenty blogs made the grade according to our specifications. That is now down to just ten. Of those, only three have broken the 500,000 ranking barrier in terms of global readership  all others have seen a serious decline in views. That is indicative of the extent of the slowdown of interest in China FDI, and also perhaps the fact that many blogs just run out of steam. Others previously in China may now have moved onto pastures new  and our own Briefing websites covering ASEAN, India, and Vietnam have all shown a marked increase in readers. Our surveys on the best of these country blogs will appear on their respective websites soon. Maybe well see an increase in blogs dedicated to business opportunities in these countries appearing soon, and perhaps thats where some of the old China hands will pop up.

It is also true that to create and maintain a credible blog is a considerable investment, both in time committed and in expense  the process now needs to be seen as a more corporate investment as apart from just an occasional hobby. The results speak for themselves  the blogs above are committed; others that used to appear on these annual rankings but no longer feature perhaps not so. When it comes to China and its slowdown, there is now a different set of characteristics and commitments to overcome. China blogging, it now appears, is no longer for the amateurs or the occasional opinion. Comments are welcome.

Blogs left off this list still partially active but not on a consistent basis  remember a China downturn is when your readers and followers need your advice the most. In the meantime, well done to everyone above; it takes commitment, knowledge and continual effort to make this happen, and thanks to all for doing so and being there.



Chris Devonshire-Ellis is the Founding Partner of Dezan Shira & Associates  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 emerging Asia. Since its establishment in 1992, the firm has grown into one of Asias most versatile full-service consultancies with operational offices across China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore and Vietnam, in addition to alliances in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand, as well as liaison offices in Italy, Germany and the United States. For further information, please email china@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Chris can be followed on LinkedIn. 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.



China Investment Roadmap: the e-Commerce Industry

In this edition of China Briefing magazine, we present a roadmap for investing in Chinas e-commerce industry. We provide a consumer analysis of the Chinese market, take a look at the main industry players, and examine the various investment models that are available to foreign companies. Finally, we discuss one of the most crucial due diligence issues that underpins e-commerce in China: ensuring brand protection.





How IT is Changing Payroll Processing and HR Admin in China

In this edition of China Briefing magazine, we examine how foreign multinationals can take better advantage of IT in the gathering, storing, and analyzing of HR information in China. We look at how IT can help foreign companies navigate Chinas nuanced payroll processing regulations, explain how software platforms are becoming essential for HR, and finally answer questions on the efficacy of outsourcing payroll and HR in China.





Internet Challenges & Solutions When Doing Business in China

In this special edition of China Briefing magazine, we highlight how and why foreign companies will be negatively affected by Chinas internet, and provide methods to help solve these problems. We discuss ISP selection, internet connection types, CDNs and VPNs, and internal control systems. Finally, we examine the importance of network security in China and how it can help augment a companys internet connection.
With the scope and penalties of Chinas social credit system being further clarified in 2021, legal and regulatory compliance has become more important than...
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China's most advanced marine science ship Xiang Yang Hong 01 went into service in the eastern port city of Qingdao on Saturday.

The file photo shows the marine science ship Xiang Yang Hong 01. [Photo: sina.com.cn]

The 100 meter ship with displacement of 4,980 tonnes and a range of 15,000 nautical miles has plentiful remote sensing equipment to explore as deep as 10,000 meters.

The ship will conduct its first task in the Indian Ocean, said Qiao Fangli, Communist Party Secretary of the First Institute of Oceanography of the State Oceanic Administration, the owner of the ship.

The ship is fully automated and can be piloted by a lone sailor. Satellite broadband enables video conferencing on board, said Yang Zhigang, board chairman of its builder Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group of Hubei province.
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Space travel enthusiasts will get spectacular views of the Long March-7 taking off from eight observation areas at Chinas fourth space launch center.

Components of Chinas new generation of carrier rocket Long March-7 arrived at the center in Wenchang in Hainan Province in May for the planned launch before the end of this month.

The Long March-7, a medium-sized rocket that uses liquid propellant, can carry up to 13.5 tons to low Earth orbit. It will transport cargo for Chinas planned space station and is expected to become the main carrier for space launches.

The Wenchang tourism department said that the city can only provide accommodation for 80,000 tourists and suggested tourists avoid the maiden launch, as there will be more space launches afterwards.

The construction of the Wenchang satellite launch center, which has two launch pads, started in 2009 and was completed in November 2014.

The seaside resort city boasts both mountain and seaside scenery.

Xue Xiangwen, head of the citys tourist board, said the observation areas cover 45 hectares and can accommodate 25,300 people.
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At least 20 people are dead or missing and lives of more than 1.8 million disrupted after a new round of heavy downpour pounded middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

Yongning River suddenly rises in Xuyong County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 19, 2016. China's meteorological authority on Sunday issued a yellow alert for heavy rain across most parts of the country in the coming two days. [Photo: Xinhua]

In central China's Hubei Province, the rainstorm has swept 21 counties since Saturday, leaving four people dead and 12 missing, according to the provincial civil affairs department.

The downpour has affected 880,000 residents, including about 10,000 who were relocated to safety. It toppled or damaged more than 1,100 rooms and affected 58,320 hectares of farmland, inflicting direct economic losses worth 620 million yuan (94 million U.S. dollars).

Disaster relief supplies, including tents, beds, quilts and clothes have been dispatched to the worst-hit Huanggang City.

Similar losses have been reported in the downstream Jiangxi Province, which has also been hit by heavy rain since Saturday.

The downpour killed two people and left two missing in the province. It affected more than 940,000 people, including 58,000 relocated, according to the provincial civil affairs department.

Nearly 400 rooms were destroyed and about 63,000 hectares of farmland was damaged, with the losses worth 750 million yuan.

Jingdezhen City of Jiangxi has seen waterlogging, which led to the evacuation of 12,000 locals.

At 6 p.m. of Sunday, the water level of the local Changjiang River was three meters higher than the alarm level.

Heavy rainstorms have brought chaos to much of east and south China this week, causing many casualties.

China's meteorological authority on Sunday continued a yellow alert for heavy rain across most parts of the country in the coming two days.

Thunderstorms will hit the provinces of Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei and Yunnan from Sunday morning to Monday morning, with precipitation reaching 200 millimeters in some areas.

Vice Premier Wang Yang called for intensified efforts to prevent flood and mitigate loss from possible flood disasters on Saturday.

Affected by super El Nino, China would face very complicated weather conditions and there is a relatively high possibility of basin-wide floods occurring this year in the country, Wang warned.
Twenty-two percent of foreign students are Chinese at Complutense University, the second best university in Spain. As Latin America and China become friendlier, learning Spanish is seen by Chinese students as a valuable skill to get a good job in the future. Further, studying in Spain can actually be cheaper than studying at some prestigious Chinese universities.

In 2007, China and Spain signed the "academic recognition of studies agreement" allowing any university degree from either country to be recognized automatically by both governments. Further, Spain recognizes Chinese university entrance exams.

However, life for Chinese students trying to adapt to a different culture can be tough, especially if their Spanish skills are low when first arriving in Spain.

Complutense University, therefore, set up programs like BUDDY which is a cultural and language exchange involving Spanish students volunteering to help Chinese students.

The program is beneficial not only for the Chinese students, but for the Spanish students to learn about Chinese culture as well.
The Great Wall, bamboo and the concept of harmony were the three most popular items representing Chinese culture as chosen from a list by foreign youth.

The survey, conducted by the Beijing Institute of Culture Innovation and Communication, was released on Saturday. It selected 18 symbols that represent Chinese culture in humanities, philosophy, art, nature, lifestyle and people.

"Foreign youth have the best understanding of Chinese humanities. They know about Chinese kung fu, they know Chinese celebrate the Mooncake Festival. Regarding philosophic concepts, they know about harmony. They may not fully understand the deep meaning of it, but they understand peace and harmony as a united goal for human beings. In foreign cultures, there are similar concepts," said Yu Dan, a professor of Chinese culture at Beijing Normal University and director of the Beijing Institute of Culture Innovation and Communication.

The survey collected 3,134 questionnaires from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Australia, South Korea, Germany, Russia, Turkey, South Africa and Israel.

Respondents, from 18 to 44 years old, were asked to rate their understanding of Chinese culture on a five-point scale from excellent to poor.

"The survey studies foreign youths' recognition of Chinese culture because youth are the most active and tolerant group to accept foreign cultures. Youth is also the most important audience to promote Chinese culture," Yu said.

The first survey was released last year, and five countries were added this year, including Russia, Turkey and South Africa.

"We add developing countries and countries along 'Belt and Road Initiative' to the study this year because we noticed that foreign countries have different needs and willingness to know Chinese culture," she said.

More than 70 percent of respondents are willing to learn Chinese culture through travel and making friends with Chinese. Fifty-one percent believe Chinese philosophy is attractive.

Respondents from Israel, South Africa and Russia rank the highest for travel to China to learn Chinese culture.

Respondents from the United States, France and the UK rank the highest in considering Chinese philosophy attractive.

"Dragon dances and dumplings may not satisfy foreigners desires in some countries to learn Chinese culture," Yu said.

"The willingness to learn, love, be humble, etc, are great virtues from China," said Constantin Lupeanu, chief of the Romanian Cultural Institute in Beijing, adding that communication between eastern and western culture is a great force to drive global civilization.

List of symbols recognized by foreign youth as representing Chinese culture from the most widely recognized to the least recognized:

1. the Great Wall

2. bamboo

3. harmony

4. kindness

5. china

6. the silk road

7. calligraphy

8. mahjong

9. tai chi

10. Chinese river dolphin

11. the Mooncake Festival

12. Mao Zedong

13. Tao

14. Mount Qomolangma (also known as Mount Everest)

15. Laozi

16. Kunqu opera

17. baijiu

18. Li Na
A mother who received many donations for her sick daughter after stealing a fried chicken drumstick and a storybook will donate excess money to people in need in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.

The 36-year-old mother, surnamed Liu, was caught at a local supermarket. She stole the chicken drumstick and the storybook as a gift for her eldest daughter, who is severely ill and was receiving treatment at a hospital on Children's Day.

Both of her twin daughters were diagnosed with a kidney disorder in 2011, when they were 18 months old. Her husband divorced her due to heavy medical expenses.

About 3,000 yuan ($455) is needed every month to treat the disease, while Liu earns only about 1,000 yuan working at a garbage sorting station.

She only had 5 yuan in her pocket when she went into the supermarket, where a chicken drumstick cost 7 yuan.

Liu and her daughter received more than 400,000 yuan in donations after police posted the case on the internet. Residents also went directly to the hospital to give money and food.

"I set a bad example for my girls," said Liu. "There are people who gave me money and people who call me a thief. I don't mind the criticism as long as my girls are getting treatment."

"Media helped me to get enough donations, but they also revealed my private information. There is certain information that I want to keep to myself."

The sick daughter received more than 10 days of treatment at the hospital and, accompanied by her mother, was already back in her hometown in Xuyi county, Jiangsu province, on Thursday.

The donations, managed by a public welfare foundation, will be used to help other sick children after the two girls finish their treatments.

Xia Zhengkun, director of the pediatric department of Nanjing General Hospital, where the twins received treatment, said the possibility of the kidney disorder developing into uremia cannot be ruled out.

"About 30,000 to 50,000 yuan are needed every year to treat one girl," said Xia. "We cannot just rely on donations to help poor families that need to support sick family members."

Zhang Yue, a doctor at the hospital, said there are many families that have heavier economic burdens than Liu.

"Some parents have to abandon their children at the hospital for lack of money," Zhang said. "Many poor people feel hurt when they see strangers donating money to Liu and they are left helpless."

The father of a sick boy named Wang Xinyu, who is in the same ward with the girl, asked if he needed to steal from others to get public attention and help.

"We hope that the government can establish a foundation to support patients with serious kidney disease," Xia said.

"They can get money from the foundation after doctors evaluate their disease."
Huang Hui felt pleased that the illegal collection of corals in the South China Sea has declined as a result of stricter regulations.

A man stands in shallow water near Yongxing Island, which was once home to coral reefs. [Photo provided to China Daily]

But just a few years ago, she has witnessed what appeared to be fishing boats illegally stripping corals by scraping the ocean floor with trawl nets in the waters off an island in the Xisha chain.

Huang, a scientist with the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said she first saw the poachers in 2012.

They were harvesting corals that had been growing for five to eight years.

Poachers are a major problem because they not only harvest corals illegally, but do so in an aggressive and environmentally damaging manner, destroying the entire ecosystem of the seabed around coral reefs.

"So now we are trying to rejuvenate the underwater environment in the South China Sea by planting coral," Huang said.

"Growing coral is like growing a treeit takes time, but has a tremendous effect on conservation."

Disappearing reefs

China's State Oceanic Administration says that since the 1970s climate change and human activity have resulted in the disappearance of 80 percent of coral reefs along China's coastline.

The reefs, considered the marine equivalent of tropical rainforests, have flourished for more than 500 million years, and although they cover just 2 percent of the ocean floor, they are home to 25 percent of all marine species.

Huang's research team has long studied the ecology of coral reefs, but since 2006 the increasing degeneration has led them to seek solutions.

"In the 1970s, we could find coral reefs 8 or 9 meters underwater. Now, the polluted water means sunlight is unable to penetrate more than 4 meters below the surface of the ocean," Huang said, referring to how many types of coral use photosynthesis to live.

She added that in 1988, when she first visited Dadonghai, a tourist spot in Hainan, the water was always clear.

"Then, I could see my toes when I stood in the water," she said. "But now, you can't see anything."

The team grows coral branches to 5 to 10 centimeters before transplanting them to waters with appropriate temperatures and levels of light, where they are attached to steel-framed artificial reefs.

The survival rate is higher than 95 percent, with the branches growing about 10 cm every year, according to Huang.

Scientists also cultivate corals by catching their germ cells (fertilized eggs) in open water.

"We usually dive around 9 pm when the corals release the cells. We wait in the cold, dark water for several hours," Huang said.

Half of her 30-strong team works at sea for at least six months of the year, living on a boat chartered by the institute.

"One year, we rented a fishing boat that had rotten fish everywhere. I slept on the deck for more than a month, and there were maggots wriggling by my pillow," she said.

Since 2009, Huang has conducted experiments to breed corals in islands in the Xisha chain, including Yongxing, Zhaoshu and Yongle.

Last year, her team established a 600-square-meter experimental zone in the Nansha Islands, where they transplanted more than 1,500 coral branches and sank 87 artificial concrete reefs.

"I am pleased to see that public awareness of coral conservation has been growing rapidly since 2009," said Chen Chang, deputy director of a science research station in Xisha run by the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology.

After years of studying coral reefs in the Xisha chain, including those on the Langhuajiao and Beijiao shoals, Chen proposed a plan to protect marine biological resources by establishing a coral reef ecosystem.

He made the proposal during this year's people's congress held in Sansha city, Hainan, which administers a number of islands, including Xisha, Zhongsha and Nansha.

"In general, the environment in the South China Sea is getting better, but the speed of self-repair is slow. Human intervention is needed," Chen said, adding that in addition to the work undertaken by the government, Sansha residents, especially fishermen, should also participate in the conservation work. "We are trying to recover a complete ecosystem; no corals equals no fish, and no fish equals no fishermen," he said.

In recent years, his group has planted more than 10,000 coral branches, and he hopes to see more than 1 million planted during China's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20).

A range of threats

Illegal collection for the jewelry industry poses another threat to coral reefs.

Dark-red "oxblood" corals are the rarest, most coveted and most expensive.

They are mostly found about 100 meters below the surface of the ocean.

Last year, coast guards in Guangdong province caught a group of poachers using a fishing boat to collect jewelry corals on the waters off Shantou city.

The police impounded 1.4 kilograms of oxblood with a street value of as much as 5.4 million yuan ($800,000).

Since 2014, the China Coast Guard has intercepted 140 vessels and detained 80 people suspected of illegally harvesting jewelry corals, tracking down more than 200 kg of oxblood in the process.

The country has also dedicated a huge amount of research, effort and funding to protect the vulnerable ecosystem of the South China Sea, according to Chen.

He said that more than 95 percent of the islands and reefs in the sea are composed of corals that have been damaged by "global warming and excessive fishing".

Protection investment rises

In 2009, as part of China's increased investment in the eco-recovery program, the Ministry of Science and Technology invested 19 million yuan in a research program to examine the reproduction and recovery of biological resources in the ocean.

Meanwhile, in 2014, Sansha provided 10 million yuan in the first batch of investment aimed at helping fishermen start new businesses.

In addition to official organizations, NGOs, including China Biodiversity Conservation and the Green Development Foundation, are also participating in the conservation work.

In April, representatives of the foundation visited Xisha to sign agreements to cooperate with the local branch of the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, and co-founded a coral protection base.

"The natural scenery of the South China Sea is even more beautiful than that in the Maldives and Phuket (in Thailand). We should protect it," said Chen Peng, an island planning and protection expert at the State Oceanic Administration.

Having conducted research on more than 20 islands in the South China Sea, Chen Peng said the area has rich tourism resources, such as stunning tropical views and a rich history and cultural heritage.

"But environmental protection is more important than exploitation," he said. "More financial support and public attention are urgently needed."

Follow China.org.cn on Twitter and Facebook to join the conversation.
A worker adjusts Chinese and Serbian flags for the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Belgrade, Serbia, June 16, 2016. [Photo / China Daily]

President Xi Jinping is on an eight-day visit to Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan from Friday, during which he will also attend the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tashkent on June 23 and 24.

High hopes have been placed on his visits to the three countries, each of which plays a significant role in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and in their respective neighborhoods. Poland and Serbia are gateways to Central and Eastern Europe, and Uzbekistan is at the heart of Central Asia, where a railway connecting China, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan is under construction.

The three countries' geopolitical importance has increased in the face of rising regional tensions. For one, the security risks following Crimea's inclusion into Russia and alleged involvement in the Ukraine crisis remain high and have gradually spilled over into neighboring states, including Poland.

Serbia, a key power in the Balkans, is also at the forefront of an ongoing immigration crisis as refugees from the Middle East, some of whom may be terrorists, keep flooding into Europe from its southern end.

The well-orchestrated terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels have not only taken many innocent lives, but also highlighted the need to safeguard Europe's stability by, among other things, protecting its border areas.

Central Asia, too, is not a stranger to terrorist attacks. With terrorists and extremist ideas from the Middle East continuing to make inroads into Central Asia, the countries in the region, especially Kazakhstan and Afghanistan, face grave security threats. In the light of global governance, therefore, China has every reason to seek closer economic and strategic ties with the three countries to not only safeguard its national interests but also play a more responsible role as a major global power.

As a leader in both economic growth and industrial transformation in Central and Eastern Europe, Poland has close economic and security ties with Germany and the United States while exercising some influence on neighboring Ukraine and Belarus. This should make it a key stabilizing factor in the region against the backdrop of the Ukraine crisis.

Serbia, too, has long played a crucial security role on the Balkan Peninsula. Its importance for the security of the European Union and Turkey has doubled after the refugee crisis intensified last year.

As for Uzbekistan, it has always been a valued member of the Central Asian community as well as the Commonwealth of the Independent States.

Of course, promoting the Belt and Road Initiative is expected to top the agenda of Xi's visits to the three countries, because they have maintained time-tested partnerships with China and responded positively to the initiative.

China and Poland already have a series of agreements, ranging from heavy machinery, and port and road construction to power generation and agriculture. And we can expect many more during Xi's visit to Warsaw. The infrastructure and energy cooperation with Serbia and Uzbekistan, too, will get fresh momentum.

To include these countries in a community with shared destiny and make them pillars of the Belt and Road Initiative, however, requires more than coordination. That explains why Xi's visits to the countries carry a crucial message that China is more than willing to deepen its partnerships with nations along the Belt and Road.

The author is an associate professor at the University of International Relations, and a research fellow at the Center for China and Globalization.
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Chinese foreign ministry on Sunday strongly protested over Indonesia navy warships' harassment of Chinese fishermen in the South China Sea.

Chinese fishing boats were harassed and shot at by several Indonesian navy warships in a disputed fishing ground in the South China Sea on Friday. One crew member was injured. Another fishing boat and seven crew were detained.

"China strongly protests and condemns such excessive use of force," spokesperson Hua Chunying said in a press release.

The incident took place in a traditional Chinese fishing ground where China and Indonesia have overlapping maritime rights claims.

Indonesia's actions violated international laws including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and harmed the lives and property of Chinese fishermen, Hua said.

"China urges Indonesia to stop taking action that escalates tension, complicates issues, or affects peace and stability," Hua said.
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The Syrian army continued its advance into the northern province of Al-Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State (IS), a military source told Xinhua.

On Sunday, government forces captured the Al-Thawra oilfield and stormed into housing units in western Al-Raqqa after battling IS militants, the source said on condition of anonymity.

Military forces are now merely 10 km from the Al-Tabaqa airbase, located in a town of the same name west of Al-Raqqa, the source added.

On June 4, the Syrian army entered Al-Raqqa's administrative borders, days after unleashing a widescale offensive against the route between the town of Athriya in the central province of Hama, and the Al-Tabaqa town in Al-Raqqa countryside.

Pan-Arab Al-Mayadeen TV said the aim of attacking Al-Raqqa is to recapture the town of Al-Tabqa due to its strategic importance.

The route would enable the Syrian army to sever key routes linking Al-Raqqa with the northern province of Aleppo, where IS control some of the border towns near Turkey and from where it smuggles fighters and weapons.

This new achievement comes only one day after Iraqi forces expelled IS from one of their Iraqi strongholds, the city of Fallujah.

The Syrian government hailed the Iraqi victory, adding that it will positively reflect on the war against terrorism in Syria as well.
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At least eight people were killed by Turkish forces while trying to flee toward Turkey near Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, a monitor group reported Sunday.

Four children under 18 and two women were among those killed when they were fired at in the town of Khirbet al-Jous in Idlib countryside by the Turkish forces, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Observatory said the slain people were civilians fleeing the war in Syria.

The UK-based watchdog group said the recent deaths were documented in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall number of people killed by Turkish police while attempting to reach a sanctuary in Turkey to 60 since January this year.

The monitor group, which says it relies on a network of activists on ground, urged the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) to practice pressure on the Turkish government to open safe passages for the Syrian refugees "so that they don't become a prey for the human traffickers."

According to UN estimates, Turkey's Syrian refugee population was more than 1.7 million as of mid-March 2015, and the large unregistered refugee population may mean the true figure is even larger.

Turkey was the main conduit for the Syrian refugees who were fleeing to Europe, and apparently the Turkish authorities have started imposing strict policy toward the Syrian refugees due to the refugee crisis in Europe.
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At least five Al-Shabaab militants were captured in a security operation by National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) in Suka-holaha neighborhood north the capital Mogadishu, officials said Sunday.

Abdikamil Mo'allim Shukri, Ministry of internal security spokesman told reporters that the security forces had targeted the militants during the operation conducted on Saturday night.

"NISA had prior intelligence before the operation against the militants was conducted in Yakshid district mid last night. The security forces arrested five Al-Shabaab militants, it was very successful operation," Shukri said.

He added that the security forces also foiled a terrorist bomb attack in which the militants wanted to use it with three wheel motor bike.

The Somali security forces backed by the Africa Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) troops have increased operations to flush out insurgents from the restive Mogadishu and its environs especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
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Yemen's pro-government forces and Shiite Houthi rebels exchanged 224 prisoners in two days, the largest swap since the beginning of the civil war last year, officials from both sides said on Sunday.

The two sides exchanged 15 pro-government fighters and 15 Houthis in the northeast province of al-Jawf Sunday, according to tribal leader, Yahya al-Hasir, who performed the mediation efforts between the two sides.

Official media outlets of both warring sides confirmed the Sunday swap in al-Jawf.

The move came a day after both sides swap 76 pro-government fighters and 118 Houthis in the embattled city of Taiz, southwest of the country, according to official statements released by both warring sides on their media outlets on Saturday.

Last week, the UN envoy to the Yemeni conflict, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, who is in charge of the ongoing peace talks between Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the Iranian-allied Shiite Houthi group, said that all Yemeni warring parties have agreed to the unconditional release of child soldiers.

Last month, the Yemeni government as well as the Houthis submitted lists of about 7,000 prisoner-release requests, including political detainees, to UN mediators.

Government officials accused the Houthis and former President Ali Abdullah Saleh's party of detaining over 4,000 prisoners, mostly politicians and activists.

The UN accused both the Yemeni warring parties of using child soldiers, and it is reported that 900 children were killed while 1,300 were wounded during the 2015 conflict.

The Iran-allied Shiite Houthi group supported by forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh advanced from their stronghold in the far north of the province of Saada, storming through the capital Sanaa and other cities in September 2014, dissolving the Saudi-backed government along with President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi based on combating "corruption" allegations.

The Saudi-led air force coalition intervened in March 2015, triggering an all-out civil war and vowing to reinstate Hadi to power and reclaim Sanaa.

The civil war has escalated since then, leaving over 6,000 dead so far in ground battles and airstrikes, half of who are civilians.

The ongoing conflict has also forcibly displaced over 2.4 million people from Yemen.

The warring parties have now been in talks in Kuwait since April under the UN's auspices to end the war.

The government demands that Houthis and Saleh's delegates comply with the UN's Security Council Resolution 2216, which orders their withdrawal from Sanaa and their complete disarmament.

The demand has so far been rejected by the Houthis as well as Saleh.
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At least 19 people were confirmed dead on Sunday following a ghastly motor accident on a major highway in Nigeria's southwest province of Ogun, an official said.

State spokesperson of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) Babatunde Akinbiyi told reporters at Ahebo that the accident, which occurred along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, involved a tanker, laded with fuel, an 18-seater passenger bus and an articulated vehicle.

Akinbiyi said the fuel truck travelling toward Ibadan rammed into the articulated vehicle conveying cement, while trying to overtake it at a diversion, and collided with commercial bus heading toward Lagos.

He said all the 19 occupants of the bus lost their lives on the spot.

Nigeria is among countries of the high death rates in traffic accidents, mainly due to careless driving, crumbling roads or invalidity of some vehicles used in public transportation.
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The world's first drone capable of autonomously carrying a person may test-fly in Nevada later this year, the United States, Chinese Aerial technology company EHang Holdings Limited told Xinhua on Sunday.

Chinese company @ehang to develop drones for emergency human organ delivery [Xinhua/file photo]

The Chinese company based in China's southern province of Guangdong and the state of Nevada are trying to make this happen by moving forward with testing the EHang 184 Autonomous Aerial Vehicle, the first drone to offer autonomous human flight over short-to-medium distances.

The state's Institute for Autonomous Systems(NIAS) has already given the China's company permission to test fly the drone. Ehang is now working closely with NIAS over the coming months to work through the UAS flight requirements.

"We will help guide EHang through the FAA regulatory process with the ultimate goal of achieving safe flight," Tom Wilczek, an Aerospace and Defense Industry Specialist of the Governor' s Office of Economic Development (GOED) told Xinhua early this month. He said that the program would take place at Nevada's FAA-approved test site, one of six such drone-testing locations across the the United States.

This partnership "is a big step for EHang 184 to move forward to government regulatory approval of the unprecedented innovation in US and globally, which will lay the foundation for its commercialization and building up the aerial transportation ecosystem in the future" , Huazhi Hu, Founder and CEO of EHang said in a statement.

The electrically powered Ehang 184, released at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this January, can carry a single passenger weighing up to 100 kg for a 23-minute flight at sea level at a speed of 100 km per hour, the company said.

Passengers using the "Ehang-184" enter a destination into the drone's linked smartphone app. There's no need for a runway because the drone takes off and lands vertically.

"We were very excited when we first saw EHang-184 at CES," Wilczek told Xinhua, "and we think there is enormous potential for EHang 184."

Many questions remain over how the human-carrying aircraft would function in the real world, but at least some of these may soon be answered with the company winning governmental approval to test the vehicle in Nevada airspace.

The eagerness of the so called "the birthplace of the UAV industry" makes sense given its tourism-driven economy. The empty desert holds the hope of hyperloops, drone delivery, autonomous trucking, and drone airports.

And EHang won't just be flying in the empty desert. Last month, EHang announced a collaboration with U.S. company Lung Biotechnology to develop and purchase up to 1,000 units of an modified version of EHang 184 to optimize it for organ delivery. The companies have agreed to work together over the next 15 years under a program named the Manufactured Organ Transport Helicopter (MOTH) system.
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Tens of thousands of protestors took to the streets of Okinawa in Japan's southernmost Prefecture on Sunday to express their ongoing anger at the disproportionate presence of U.S. military personnel on the island and the crimes committed by them, in particular the brutal rape and murder of a local women by a base-linked worker recently.

Demonstrators hold placards during a rally against the US military presence in Tokyo, Japan, on June 19, 2016, following the alleged rape, murder and dumping of a 20-year-old local woman by Kenneth Franklin Shinzato, 32, a former U.S. Marine. [Photo/Xinhua]

The rally took place in a park in Naha, the capital city of Okinawa, and saw around 65,000 protestors united in calling for the withdrawal of the U.S. military on the island and the urgent review over an archaic agreement inked between the United States and Japan governing the handling of incidents caused by U.S. military personnel in Japan.

The protesters, the majority of whom were dressed in black in spite of the scorching heat to show their respects for the murdered women, holding placards and shouting slogans like "U.S. Military Out!" and "How many more crimes will we suffer?" as well as "Relocate the (U.S.) bases outside Okinawa," and chanting like "We want our land back!"

The rally, the biggest organized protest in Okinawa since three U.S. servicemen viciously raped an elementary schoolgirl in 1995, follows the alleged rape, murder and dumping of a 20-year-old local woman by Kenneth Franklin Shinzato, 32, a former U.S. Marine.

Shinzato stands accused of raping the deceased in a grassy area beside the road in Uruma in central Okinawa, as the young lady was walking home before stabbing her to death with a knife on April 28.

Initially, Shinzato told investigators he had struck the women multiple times from behind with a metal bar and stabbed her repeatedly. There were also reports that Shinzato also attempted to strangle his victim whom he'd been driving around to search for, for as long as 3 hours prior to the premeditated attack.

The accused has not been cooperating with local investigators and has remained silent regarding pertinent information to the murder, such as the location of the knife and his motive, although the metal bar has been retrieved from a water channel. Investigators have said that Shizato has remained silent during interrogations since May 20.

Anti-U.S. sentiment is reaching a fever pitch on the island where 75 percent of U.S. bases in Japan are located, with the subtropical island itself accounting for just 1 percent of Japan's total land mass, following the latest rape and murder.

This crime comes on the heels of a drink driving incident and another account of rape by a serviceperson in a hotel in Naha, as well as the brutal attack by a high ranking military official on a Japanese female student onboard a commercial flight to Japan, and the father of the murdered girl has been left devastated and an entire prefecture shocked and worried about their safety.

"Why did it have to be my daughter? Why did she have to be killed?" exclaimed the victim's father in an open letter he read aloud at the protest.

"So as not to have another victim, the people in the prefecture can unite and make it possible for all bases in Okinawa to be removed," the father of the murdered girl urged.

As for Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga, a staunch advocate of lessening the base-hosting burdens of the islanders, and in particularly blocking the central government's plans to relocate a controversial U.S. base within the prefecture, he expressed his deepest condemnation of the latest attack during the rally.

Describing the rape and murder of the young lady as "utterly unacceptable," Onaga reiterated his calls for a key agreement between Japan and the United States to be urgently reviewed and for the bases to be kicked out of the island for good.

"I hereby express my unflagging resolve to push for drastic review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement and withdrawal of Marines from Okinawa," Onaga declared.

The Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) was originally inked in Washington between the United States and Japan in 1960, and many politicians such as Onaga along with political watchers believe it does not work to effectively legislate treatment of U.S. servicepeople in Japan who commit crimes and doesn't reflect the growing instances and severity of such.

Under the current agreement, U.S forces' personnel can be granted a great deal of legal autonomy and while the Japanese court system has jurisdiction for most crimes committed by U.S. service members, if the accused was "acting in official duty," or if the victim was another American, the U.S. justice system is used, not Japan's, despite the location.

In some instances, under SOFA, the majority of U.S. military members are exempt from Japan's visa and passport laws and past offenders have dodged the Japanese legal system here by being transferred back to the United States before being charged. Another loophole that exists in the agreement is that unless an offender is arrested outside of a U.S. base by Japanese police or investigators, then the U.S. authorities are allowed to retain custody of that individual.

While calls for SOFA to be urgently revised are becoming more vociferous, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, despite being a proponent of relocating the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from a crowded district in Ginowan to a coastal region on the island that will see vast amounts of land reclaimed from the sea to build the mega-base, also seeking its review, the protesters on Sunday adopted their own resolution demanding that definitive measures to prevent further heinous crimes from occurring in the future are instituted.

"The anger and sadness of the people of Okinawa has reached its limit toward the repeated incidents and accidents involving U.S. military and nonmilitary personnel," the resolution said.

It also demanded an apology from both the Japanese and U.S. government to the people of Okinawa and in particular to the family of the murdered woman. The resolution also called for compensation to be made to the family of the victim.

"To protect the lives and human rights of the people in Okinawa, it is urgent that U.S. bases be significantly reduced and consolidated, and for Marines to withdraw from Okinawa," the resolution said, adding that plans to relocate the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma should also be scrapped.

The resolution also stated that previous measures to curtail acts of crime or enforce discipline had failed miserably and that the only way to effectively prevent crime against locals from U.S. servicepeople going forward is to remove the U.S. bases from Okinawa island entirely.

All prefectural and local assemblies in Okinawa have adopted resolutions against the latest murder and the prefectural assembly is now dominated by politicians opposed to the Futenma base relocation, which, along with growing indignation from the locals, adds gravitas and political momentum to Onaga's moves to block the relocation and make further moves in the future to see U.S. bases removed from Okinawa entirely.
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Police in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania have discovered 12 girls in residence of a man, who was later accused of sexually assaulting one teenager among the girls, according to local media.

Police searched the home of 51-year-old Lee Kaplan on Saturday after a neighbor called the authorities in growing concern about the weirdness of the house.

Kaplan was found living along with 12 girls from six months to 18 years. The 18-year-old told police that she and Kaplan had a 3-year-old and a six-month-old.

The teenager being sexually assaulted was given to Kaplan by her parents when she was 14 after the man helped solve a financial crisis of the family, said the police.

They said officials are working to verify where the other children were from.

Kaplan faces charges including sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor, and aggravated indecent assault.
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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Sunday called for more international efforts to end sexual violence in conflicting areas as "no region is immune to this scourge, which continues to affect women, girls, boys and men."

Women hold signs during a protest against ongoing violence against women, in Gugulethu, on May 21, 2016, about 20 Km from the centre of Cape Town. [Photo/Xinhua]

"The world continues to witness appalling levels of sexual violence in wartime," the secretary-general said in his message to mark the first International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

"Sexual violence is now widely recognized as a deliberate strategy used to shred the fabric of society; to control and intimidate communities and to force people from their homes," he said. "It is rightly seen as a threat to international peace and security, a serious violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, and a major impediment to post-conflict reconciliation and economic development."

Furthermore, the secretary-general said that the era of impunity for sexual violence as a tool of war is over, citing a host of landmark rulings against political and military leaders.

"There have been landmark cases against political and military leaders, demonstrating that the era of impunity for sexual violence as a tool of war is over," Ban said. "I pay tribute today to the many thousands of caregivers, medical practitioners, advocates, and others on the frontline of this battle, who are fighting for change."

In February, a national court in Guatemala convicted two former military officers of committing sexual violence during the country's civil war -- the first time that a national court anywhere in the world considered charges of sexual slavery during armed conflict.

Women's organizations worked for years with indigenous women to develop their case, which was presented in the court by Guatemala's female Attorney General before a female presiding judge.

In March, the International Criminal Court (ICC) handed down its first conviction for sexual and gender-based crimes.

An all-female panel of three judges presided over the case against former Congolese Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba, who was brought to justice by a female prosecutor, thanks to unprecedented levels of participation of women victims and witnesses from the Central African Republic.

In May, the Extraordinary African Chambers in Senegal convicted the former president of Chad, Hissene Habre, for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including rape and sexual slavery.

This was the first universal jurisdiction case to make it to trial in Africa, and the first time a former Head of State was held personally accountable for committing rape as an international crime.

This conviction would not have been possible without the testimonies of women and the inspiring determination of lawyers, victims' advocates, human rights defenders, and local and international civil society organizations.

Despite some clear progress and unprecedented political momentum to address these crimes, Ban said, "However, we still face serious challenges."

"One extremely disturbing aspect is the use of sexual violence as a tactic of terrorism," he said, adding that Da'esh,or the Islamic State which took some areas in Iraq and Syria, Boko Haram, a terrorist group which staged deadly attacks in Nigeria and Niger, and other extremist groups are using sexual violence as a means of attracting and retaining fighters, and to generate revenue.

"Abducted women, men, girls and boys suffer the most terrible trauma through brutal physical and sexual assault, child and forced marriages and sexual slavery on a massive scale," he said.

The abduction of more than 200 girls from Chibok in Nigeria, and the continued tragedy of women and girls subjected to forced marriage or sexual slavery by extremist groups in the Middle East, are two of the most horrific examples of the use of sexual violence as a tactic of terrorism, the secretary-general noted.

"I call for the immediate release of all those taken captive, and for the care and support of those who return, who can suffer from social isolation and depression."

"Women and girls with children may need specialized medical and psycho-social support, and this must extend to the children themselves, who can suffer complete rejection," he said.

"The shame and social stigma faced by these women and children should be redirected towards the brutal perpetrators of violence," he said. "We must continue to speak up for the women, girls, men and boys whose bodies for too long have been considered the spoils of war."

All of these were long overdue and all had one thing in common: the unstoppable force of women's voice and leadership, said UN Women, an agency tasked with promoting gender equality.

"With widespread sexual violence still a devastating reality in too many conflicts in the world, it is heartening to see that steps are being taken towards securing accountability for these acts, and that women are persevering with strength and unity in not letting these crimes go unspoken or unpunished," said a statement released by UN Women.

On June 19, 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to proclaim June 19 of each year the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, in order to raise awareness of the need to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence, to honor the victims and survivors of sexual violence around the world and to pay tribute to all those who have courageously devoted their lives to and lost their lives in standing up for the eradication of these crimes.

The date was chosen to commemorate the adoption on June 19, 2008 of UN Security Council resolution 1820 (2008), in which the 15-nation council condemned sexual violence as a tactic of war and an impediment to peacebuilding.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to China on June 25, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang on Monday.

Putin will visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Lu said in a press release.

Xi will hold talks with Putin and they will have an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral ties and issues of common concern, another Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying, told a daily news briefing.

According to Hua, the two leaders will plan the development direction and priority cooperation areas of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, and they will sign important political documents and witness the signing of a series of documents of pragmatic cooperation.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and top legislator Zhang Dejiang will also meet Putin, Hua said.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation and both sides will hold events to mark the occasion, Hua said.

China hopes that Putin's upcoming visit will consolidate mutual political and strategic trust, promote pragmatic cooperation in various areas, inject new impetus to bilateral ties, and contribute more to international and regional peace, security and stability.
(Fulong, GuangxiJune 14, 2016) A pastor sustained serious injuries when local residents, led by a regional Communist Party official, stormed a church on May 1, destroying property.

After several Christians entered the building to pray, other villagers stormed inside and tore Bibles and hymnals, the churchs website reported on May 3. Wielding electrical cables, they prevented the churchgoers from singing worship songs and shouted insults at them.

Churches in China are often targetted by authorities, such as

this door, covered by an official seal. (Photo: China Aid)

Police responded to an emergency call from church staff, but only looked around and then left without taking action. Afterwards, the villagers re-entered the building, smashed windows and threw stones at a church leader named Lan until he fainted and had to be rushed to a health center, bleeding profusely. Due to the severity of his injuries, the health center transferred him to Yizhou Hospital.

The church also phoned various governmental departments, but received no response.

According to the church, the official head of the village, Lan Qingxin, and a local resident, Lan Jianan, had previously organized groups of villagers on March 18 to repeatedly attack the church. The groups were fueled by the belief that the churchs position in the center of the village disrupted the feng shui, or harmony with an invisible energy, of the area, bringing disease and death to the village. Since that event, the villagers have attacked the church numerous times, damaging the building, insulting the Christians, blocking roads leading to the church and extorting money from one of the attendees. Additionally, the churchs power was repeatedly cut off and the door wired shut.

China Aid exposes abuses, such as those experienced by this church, in order to promote religious freedom and rule of law in China.
The second batch of State-owned enterprises (SOEs) earmarked for pilot reform is likely to be unveiled in the near future, insiders told Beijing Business Today.

It comes two weeks after the restructuring meeting of China Minmetals Corp and China Metallurgical Group Corp was held in Beijing, a key step taken towards one of the largest mergers in China's metals sector.

Xiao Yaqing, the head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), said at the meeting that after the merger, the new company would be included in the SOEs reform pilot.

In February, Zhang Xiwu, deputy head of the country's state assets supervisor, also revealed China Chengtong Holdings Group Ltd and China Reform Holdings Corp Ltd would become pilot enterprises.

Several State-run companies, including China Southern Power Grid, China First Heavy Industries and China Grain reserves Corp, also reshuffled their senior management.

Taking these signs into consideration, some insiders predict the second batch of SOEs for pilot reforms is likely to be rolled out in the near term.

In July of 2014, the country announced the first batch, which included six big State-owned enterprises that would pilot reforms in ownership, management and supervision.

The market has paid attention to the SOEs pilot reform, said Li Jin, chief researcher of Research Institute of Chinese Enterprises.

He says in the future, the country will be more aggressive in SOEs reform, covering more industries and enterprises. State-run companies should create innovative atmospheres which allow mistakes at a manageable level, to speed up the SOEs reform, he added.
Paul Robson, president of the company's Asia-Pacific operations. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Under Paul Robson's leadership, software giant of the US is changing its tack in the country

China represents "an amazing" opportunity for Adobe Systems Inc to grow, said Paul Robson, president of the company's Asia-Pacific operations.

The United States software giant is betting on China's rapidly increasing digital marketing sector, he said.

Cloud computing will see the sharpest growth because Chinese companies are eager to deliver better business and shopping experiences to their customers in a wide range of industries from financial services to retail, he said.

Robson was quick to identify the top reasons why the world's second-largest economy could also be a goldmine for Adobe.

"China is already the biggest spender in online advertising. It is the largest economy in the region. The domestic opportunity remains huge," he said. "We provide technologies to organizations to (accelerate) customer interaction with the brand."

Famous for its graphic design software such as Photoshop, the San Jose, California-based company is moving into the cloud business in China to provide services to advertisement designers and marketing specialists.

Fueled by a strong cloud business, Adobe reported a record $1.38 billion in its first-quarter revenue, up 25 percent year-on-year.

Robson said the "extremely vibrant" innovative technology industry in China, driven by local internet giants such as Baidu Inc, Tencent Holdings Ltd and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, put China in a unique position compared with other Asia-Pacific markets.

"This China tech doesn't exist in other areas in terms of scale," he said, adding the tech-savvy buyers in China made it possible for advertisers to try out most advanced online marketing technologies in the country.

As China's internet adoption rate hits all-time high, advertisers are spending billions of dollars in online marketing campaigns.

Advertisers' spending on internet advertising, a key part of digital marketing, surged by 36 percent year-on-year in 2015 to hit 209.4 billion yuan ($32 billion), according to Beijing-based iResearch Consulting Group. Companies in transport, real estate and food sectors were among the biggest spenders.

The organization further estimated that the sum is expected to surpass 400 billion yuan by 2018.

But penetrating the Chinese market requires deep knowledge of unique customer preferences, according to a report from Forrester Research Inc, an industry consultancy.

WeChat, an instant messaging service operated by Tencent, has replaced Weibo, a Twitter-like blogging service, and dominates both marketers' adoption and satisfaction in a recent Forrester study.

A whopping 92 percent of the Chinese advertisers use WeChat, and two-thirds report being satisfied or very satisfied with the app, which hosts more than 600 million users.

Wang Xiaofeng, a Forrester analyst, said three-quarters of the marketers she surveyed last year planned to increase this year's social marketing budget.

"But they struggle to determine the best social marketing strategies and tactics to engage with their target audience," she said.

Robson said the constant innovation in organizations like Tencent will keep producing great products, which can be served as a marketing platform in future.

He said he also believes as China learns from developed markets in terms of improving its research and development in digital marketing, more local companies will be willing to change the structure of their organization to cope with the digital world.

"The corporate structures are legacy-focused in most part of Asia. We start to see some of the shifts, and Adobe businesses accelerate with the shifts," said Robson.

As the head of the Asia-Pacific operations, Australia-born Robson is overseeing Adobe's business in a number of key markets, including China, South Korea, India and Australia.

Before joining Adobe in 2011, he led Hewlett-Packard Co's networking division across Asia Pacific. He also serves as board member of a not-for-profit organization Tresillian that focuses on improving health and well-being of nearly 80,000 Australian families with babies.

The sales and marketing veteran said Chinese companies could enjoy an edge when competing with multinationals that have deeper pockets for online marketing. "The trick is, they (Chinese companies) need to adopt the best technology, hire marketing professionals and be willing to make changes within the company for the internal process to flow smoothly," he said.

In addition, Robson said multinationals will make global technology decisions, which makes them seek same customer experiences in China and the rest of the world.

"In some cases, it's difficult to execute globally across cultures," he said. "Chinese companies are more nimble and act faster in marketing because they don't have concerns about their global footprint."

In April, a small-time Shanghai cosmetic firm, Lily and Beauty, spent 22 million yuan for an advertising slot in a popular online video series produced by a top Chinese internet celebrity Papi Jiang. It was also the first time for a Chinese web sensation to snap up advertising deals.

The 29-year-old Papi Jiang has roughly 10 million followers on a number of online platforms, including WeChat and Weibo. Each of the video clips posted on her WeChat account has more than 100,000 viewers.

Gao Yuan contributed to this story.

CLOSE-UP

Paul Robson

Adobe's president for Asia Pacific

Believes businesses, governments and individuals have never been better placed to create compelling content, deliver richer and more personalised customer experiences, in a cost-effective way using the latest technologies.

Prior to joining Adobe, Paul served as vice-president and general manager for HP's networking division across Asia-Pacific and Japan. Robson was also the founding director of Wedding Gifts Online, a successful online startup that went on to become Australia's largest registry service with presence in both physical and online channels.
Feiyue shoes. [Photo provided to China Daily]

One brand. Two realities.

While made-in-China Feiyue shoes retail for as low as 39 yuan ($5.95) on Chinese e-commerce platforms such as Taobao, almost carbon copy versions made by French company Feiyue Shoes Holding sell for between 500 yuan and 1,000 yuan. The two businesses are not affiliated in any way.

The disparity highlights how the latter has managed to turn its France-registered brand into a fashion essential for trendy people across the world, and how the tables were once ironically turned on China, which has for decades been known for copying instead of innovating.

The original brand, however, is slowly but surely finding its way back onto the feet of consumers by rebranding itself as more than a cheap, functional shoe for the masses. Last year's collaboration with Disney to launch a Star Wars-inspired series highlighted their ambition to stay relevant to a global audience in these modern times.

The brand is now available in up to 50 sportswear shops in major first- and second-tier cities in China. It has also aimed to cater to the different demographics by introducing a variety of designs that fall under different price ranges.

Furthermore, China's FeiyueShanghai Shenglong Shoes Co Ltd is currently the official manufacturer and distributor of the brandhas tapped into the booming Chinese e-commerce market to boost its reach. Up to half-a-million of its shoes are sold through these platforms.
An investor looks at an electronic board showing stock information at a brokerage house in Nanjing, Jiangsu province.[Photo/IC]

Large shareholders of a number of companies listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen have been reducing their holdings since the beginning of May, according to disclosures to the bourses concerned.

Market observers said this paring of holdings may dent small investors' confidence and hurt prices of the stocks concerned.

In the first seven trading days this month, large shareholders sold 543 million shares worth 14.02 billion yuan ($2.13 billion) in various companies, according to the China Securities Journal.

This almost matched similar selling through all of May, which saw big shareholders' sales of 435 million shares worth 14.43 billion yuan.

Each large shareholder holds more than five percent in a company's stock.

According to the Journal, 45 companies, through 52 filings, disclosed large shareholders' plans to sell 1.216 billion shares worth 29.14 billion yuan or $4.43 billion.

They will sell these shares gradually in three months to a year as per regulations. A big shareholder is required to disclose any substantial paring of its holding and complete such sales within a given timeframe.

Since the beginning of May, big shareholders in nine companies listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen disclosed that they are going to sell all their holdings. Among them, three firms will see big shareholders selling shares worth more than 1 billion yuan within 12 months.

Many of the companies that are seeing selling by large shareholders are small- to medium-cap enterprises in emerging sectors such as biochemicals and high-tech.

For instance, Shanghai Hile Bio-Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, a drugmaker, has seen heavy selling in their counters.

On May 3, the first trading day of the month, shares in Hile Bio-Pharma closed at 42.97 yuan in Shanghai. But by June 1, they fell to 16.37 yuan. They closed at 15.22 yuan on Friday, marking a 65 percent decline since May 3.

Although the meltdown is attributable to the automatic price shrinkage due to the company's 13-for-10 stock split on May 4, the large shareholders' selling is also believed to be a major factor.

A research note from Ping An Securities said quite a number of companies in emerging sectors listed recently, suggesting that large shareholders may be exiting to secure their gains.

Citing filings, analysts attributed the selloff to big shareholders' desire to stay liquid.

A research note from Chang Xin Asset Management said recent paring of holdings had a limited impact on the A-share market so far, given the small size of sales relative to the whole market. But small investors holding shares in these stocks may feel the pinch due to falls in prices.

Zhang Shaofen, 56, a Shanghai-based small investor, said it is understandable if big shareholders like institutional investors reduce their holdings to boost their liquidity. But, if individuals such as company founders or senior executives, or their family members, are behind such sales, it could mean they are cashing out or eager to get rid of the company's shares for some reason.

"Usually, individual large shareholders have close knowledge of a company's profitability, operations and financial situation. If such individuals sell shares in bulk deals, small investors may interpret the move as a sign of erosion of confidence in the company's future."

But brokerages said block deals do not necessarily mean big shareholders are giving up on the company or that they are cashing out or exiting for good.

A research note from Guangfa Securities said some block deals could well be in anticipation of possible mergers and acquisitions. M&A activity usually stands a better chance of success when the equity structure is clear and simple.
An apartment building is reflected on glass at the sales center of a residential property project in Jinan city, east China's Shandong province, February 10, 2016.[Photo/IC]

Uncertainties remain on China Vanke Chairman Wang Shi's bid to retain management control after the property giant's second-largest shareholder China Resources said it was strongly opposed to fending off an unwanted takeover through new-share issuance.

Vanke's 45.6 billion yuan ($6.93 billion) plan to acquire a unit of Shenzhen Metro by issuing new shares didn't pass the board because it failed to obtain approval from two-thirds, or eight of the 11 members, China Resources said in a statement on its official WeChat account on Saturday.

The statement contradicted with one that Vanke released on Friday, where the board endorsed the proposal in a 7-to-3 vote after one director chose to abstain, citing a conflict of interest.

All three directors representing China Resources voted against the deal on Friday, one that would make Shenzhen Metro Vanke's largest shareholder and enable the management to fend off the hostile takeover by Baoneng Group.

"The acquisition and share-sale proposal is not in line with shareholders' interest," China Resources said in the statement, adding that Vanke has a low debt burden and can use either cash or debt to finance the deal, and the proposed price of 15.88 yuan per share implies a discount of 24 percent to Vanke's net asset.

"If Vanke doesn't reconsider the problems in the restructuring proposal and submits it again to the board or shareholder meetings, China Resources would continue to vote against it in order to protect the interests of all shareholders," it said.

The opposition adds more uncertainty to the high-profile control tussle since Shenzhen-based Baoneng Group became Vanke's largest shareholder last year through leveraged buying.

Shenzhen Metro came to the management's "recue", announced Vanke in March, as the subway operator would hold a 20.65 percent stake in the company in exchange for assets injection, surpassing Baoneng's 19.27 percent after dilution.

The proposal is still pending for approval from the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and shareholders' meeting.
Commercial property in Huaibei, East China's Anhui province, on June 20, 2016. [Photo/IC]

BEIJING - China has a long way to go in destocking its real estate inventories given the huge overhang of unsold homes, property experts have said.

"The destocking efforts should pay more attention to sales instead of prices," David D. Li, Center for China in the World Economy director, was quoted Monday by People's Daily.

By the end of May, 721.69 million square meters of property was still unsold, although this is 5.21 million square meters lower than a month earlier, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed.

"The battle to destock is far from finished, given the growing divergence in the property market, with better economically positioned areas reporting price rises, and less developed regions showing muted response," according to Li.

In recent months, the property sector has shown signs of improvement, with home prices rising in big cities including Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai. But markets in smaller cities remain subdued due to a supply glut.

The contrasting picture has prompted local authorities to take different approaches: Shenzhen and Shanghai have tightened policies to curb speculative purchases and contain risks for a bubble, while third- and fourth-tiered cities are exploring new ways to encourage sales.

For instance, in central Shanxi province, migrant workers are entitled to government subsidies and tax deductions on mortgage interest.

In western Qinghai province, property developers have been told they can change land use from property to other industries including tourism and sports.
The ninth Shandong High-end Talent Talks will be held during Oct 11 to 13 in Dezhou, a city in East China's Shandong province.

Talks will be held among high-end talent with overseas experiences, foreign experts, domestic researchers and enterprises.

Experts who have made contributions to Shandong's economic and social development will be awarded at a ceremony.

The Talent Talks, which are held every two years, have become a platform for global talent to promote their high-tech achievements and look for cooperation, said Han Jinfeng, head of Shandong Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security.

Previous talks have attracted 4,000 overseas Chinese who have generated 2,500 projects and created 600 new enterprises, according to the statistics of Shandong Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security.

To provide sound infrastructure, the province has founded around 360 postdoctoral research centers, covering a variety of fields, including new energy, environmental protection, machinery, electronics, petrochemicals, biopharmaceuticals and healthcare.

In addition to the infrastructure, the province also provides financial support, as well as a package of support policies covering children's education, household registration, spouse's work and social security for the high-end talent who work in Shandong.
Chinese homebuyers at a real estate exhibition for overseas projects. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Asian investment, including billions of dollars from China, is changing the skyline of downtown Los Angeles. Investors have begun to diversify away from low-risk properties and into sectors such as retail and development projects, expanding their search outside gateway cities.

Industry insiders discussed the trend in the booming Southern California real estate market at a panel discussion at the SELECT LA Investment Summit, an international trade event on Friday in Los Angeles that drew some 250 participants from 30 countries and regions.

The face of Los Angeles has changed dramatically in recent years, said Hilda Solis, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, in her keynote speech.

Chinese investment in US real estate accounted for 7 percent of the foreign total in 2015, a number that many industry observers, such as Todd Tydlaska, executive vice-president at commercial real estate company CBRE, and Bill Allen, CEO of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp, consider an underestimate.

It's difficult to get a handle on the size of Southern California real estate transactions by private companies and individuals from China, which might cause a misreading of the precise performance of Chinese direct investment and market penetration, said Christine Cooper, senior vice-president of the Institute for Applied Economics, affiliated with LAEDC.

According to a survey by CBRE, 28 percent of global investors choose the multifamily/residential segment as their preferred property sector, followed by office (24 percent), industrials/logistics (23 percent) and retail (17 percent).

Global investors are advised to widen their property searches to new areas, seeking lower-priced properties with higher returns, said Tydlaska, adding that inland US and midwestern states are seeing a growth in foreign investment.

Los Angeles, however, remains a preferred destination for foreign investment, especially for Chinese investors.

Since 2014, Chinese developers such as Shanghai-based Greenland Holding Group Co Ltd, Beijing-based China Oceanwide Holdings Group and Shenzhen Hazens Real Estate Group have made headlines with their multi-tower mega developments in downtown Los Angeles.

Greenland USA is constructing the first and second phases of its $1 billion, 195,090-square-meter Metropolis mega project in the South Park area of LA. The first phase, which includes the 18-story, 350-room Hotel Indigo and a 38-story condo tower, is scheduled to be completed this year.

Oceanwide broke ground on its $1 billion, 69,800-square-meter Oceanwide Plaza in March. The project has one 49-story tower and two 40-story towers, with 504 condominiums and 183 hotel rooms.

In 2014, Hazens spent $105 million to acquire the Luxe City Center Hotel at 1020 South Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard to construct three high-rises. The first phase of the project aims to create a 30-story hotel with 250 rooms and a 30-story condominium tower. The second phase will demolish the old hotel and raise a 42-condominium tower with 650 condos and 7,900 square meters of retail space on two floors.

Sonnet Hui, executive project director of Hazens Group US, said that the $700 million project represents Hazens' first ground-up development in the US. The company broke into the local market with a purchase of the 802-room Sheraton Hotel at Los Angeles International Airport in December 2013.

To improve competence, Chinese investors need faster decision-making and greater transparency around capital availability, said Tydlaska at CBRE.

"We will pool all our resources together," said Hui, adding that Hazens US will function as a traditional real estate developer to translate its success in China to Los Angeles.
Tourists at the Xisha Islands, Hainan province. [Photo/Xinhua] COSCO competes with Hainan Strait Shipping to build cruise business

China COSCO Shipping Corp, which owns the world's largest fleet of specialized carriers and multipurpose vessels, plans to launch cruise lines in the South China Sea next month.

The first route is expected to travel from Sanya to the Yongle Island, part of the Xisha Islands in Hainan province.

"It is practical to stimulate the local economy through development of tourism, logistics and infrastructure facilities," Xu Lirong, chairman of COSCO Shipping, said over the weekend at the Boao Forum for Entrepreneurs in Boao, Hainan province.

China COSCO Shipping signed a contract with China National Travel Service (HK) Group Corp and China Communications Construction Co Ltd in late April, to jointly establish a cruise company to offer tourism services in the South China Sea.

They will share resources and management expertise to provide cruise services to major islands of the Xisha. They will also work together in areas such as operating multimodal transportation, cruise ships, wharves and ports, storage and logistics.

Under the framework, the cruises will be managed by Dalian-based COSCO Shipping Ferry Co Ltd.

The COSCO Shipping subsidiary, however, does have a competitor on this route. Hainan Strait Shipping Co Ltd has been operating cruise services between Sanya and the Xisha Islands for more than two years. The Haikou-based ferry company operated 48 voyages carrying 8,430 people to the Xisha Islands.

Dong Liwan, a professor at Shanghai Maritime University, said that even though shipping, tourism and construction companies are enthusiastic about developing the cruise market in the South China Sea, they must be aware that it still takes time and resources to improve service and logistics facilities in those islands.
Jiangling's Land Wind unveiled its X7 SUV. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Legal effect of revocation not yet known

Two design patents involved in a lawsuit Jaguar Land Rover filed against Chinese automaker Jiangling for allegedly copying the design of its popular SUV have been canceled in China, which has caused many jaws to drop and may discourage actions to protect intellectual property.

Jiangling's Land Wind unveiled its X7 SUV in November 2014 at the annual Guangzhou auto show and has since been the target of criticism for the vehicle's striking resemblance to JLR's Range Rover Evoque, although it only costs less than one-third of the latter's price.

It is difficult for most people to tell one from the other if their logos are concealedboth SUVs have a similar shape, with the roof and windows tapering from front to back, and near identical tail lights and character lines on the side paneling.

The slight differences can be virtually eliminated by adding Range Rover grilles, logos and Land Rover badges, which are widely available. Reports say such kits at shopping website Taobao cost around 128 yuan ($19.43).

Both automakers have been granted patents for their designs in China, with the one to JLR authorized in 2012, a year and a half earlier than the Jiangling patent.

While there is no information about the latest progress of the suit, China's top intellectual property agency has canceled the patents involved in the legal proceedings.

A notice on the website of the State Intellectual Property Office shows that JLR submitted an appeal in July 2014 to revoke the Jiangling patent, and Jiangling asked for JLR's patent to be revoked in February 2015, and both patents were canceled on June 3.

The reasons are that Jiangling's design of the X7 is not significantly different from JLR's Evoque but Evoque's design had been made public before its patent application was made in November 2011.

Yale Zhang, managing director of Shanghai-based Automotive Foresight, said he was surprised to learn of the cancellations.

"If both are invalid, why were the patents given in the beginning?"

Despite a pending ruling from the court, the message from the intellectual property office is now simple and clear: Evoque's design is not patented in China, so Land Wind can go ahead selling its cars without infringing on its rival's rights.

JLR declined to comment on the issue.
Executives from Daimler and BAIC Group and guests attend the ceremony to cerebrate the all-new E-class L rolling off the production line at Beijing Benz Automotive Co Ltd on Thursday. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The long-awaited all-new E-Class L rolled off the production line at Beijing Benz Automotive Co Ltd on Thursday, heralding a new decade of development for the joint venture.

Since the E-Class' localization in 2005, each update has attracted great attention in China and wowed fans with new features.

The new model is no exception, and its features represent a new zenith for the automaker. Designed for Chinese customers, it boasts functions such as autonomous driving and parking assist.

"The all-new E-Class L is the most intelligent model we have to offer," said Peter Schabert, president and CEO of BBAC.

"It is the result of 10 years of experience and expertise at the joint venture and the world's state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques. We believe that it is a car that shows the latest trends of the automotive industry's future."

Schabert said quality is the top concern at the joint venture, which took pains to ensure that employees mastered the latest technological processes.

More than 100 workers were sent overseas to get trained to produce the new model and many engineers from Germany came to China to offer their support as BBAC is an important part of Mercedes-Benz's global manufacturing network.

The joint venture boasts world-leading equipment. For instance, it has introduced an optical detector, the first of its kind in China, which can find tiny flaws on stamping parts to ensure that parts for the new model are in perfect condition.

In addition, the model's body has more than 6,500 connection points and each of them is in strict accordance with Daimler's globally uniform standards.

Several days ago, Daimler and BAIC Group inked a 4 billion-yuan ($607 million) deal to expand the joint venture's engine plant.

Chen Hongliang, senior executive vice-president of BBAC, said the all-new E-Class L has undergone tens of thousands of rounds of testing and debugging.

Chen said the joint venture is working as a bridge that connects the Made in China 2025 strategy and Germany's initiative Industry 4.0, and the all-new E-Class L is an example of its efforts, as the model features the latest technology and high-level automation.

Made in China 2025, unveiled last year by the Chinese government, is an ambitious 10-year plan for manufacturers that will mean greener, more intelligent processes, emphasizing quality over costs.

Germany's Industry 4.0, or the fourth industrial revolution, refers to the trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies.

Chen said the most valuable part of Industry 4.0 is not equipment but a giant network of smart systems that connect and coordinate different pieces of equipment, such as those available at the joint venture but "not available in the market".

He added that the company's workers are the most important part of the operation. "We value our employees by creating opportunities for their development and stimulating their enthusiasm with learning and innovation.

"Based on our experience in the past 10 years, we will continue to improve their capacities. As long as they become more capable and innovative, the joint venture as a whole will become more vigorous and thus bridge the two initiativesMade in China 2025 and Industry 4.0," he said.
Trend shows China is a key market for enterprises to develop innovation

China has become a major market for foreign enterprises to develop intellectual property innovation, according to a senior judge with the Supreme People's Court.

With more frequent economic and trade exchanges, IP disputes nationwide involving foreign litigants rose from 2,840 in 2013 to 5,675 last year.

"Foreign-related cases are a key area for IP tribunals in courts, especially administrative ones," Song Xiaoming, chief judge of a civil tribunal for IP cases, who revealed the figures, said ahead of World IP Day on April 26.

In 2013, courts heard 1,143 foreign IP administrative cases, with the number rising to 4,348 last year, the top court says. In such lawsuits, government agencies such as copyright administrations are usually the defendants accused of improper official rulings.

Of the IP administrative cases involving foreigners, most were related to patents and trademarks, Song says, adding that those involving business secrets have also risen rapidly.

IP House, a third-party institute, analyzed 5,022 verdicts from 5,432 cases heard by the Beijing IP Court recently and found that 1,095 had foreign litigants.

Of those cases, 395 involved enterprises from the United States, 2.7 times more than those from Germany, which was second on the list, the institute says. Among those involving US businesses, 346 were administrative IP cases concerning, for example, trademarks and patents.

"The boom in IP disputes should be attributed to China's strategy to go global and bring in foreign business, as well as to a strong awareness by foreign enterprises, especially those in the US, to protect their rights in China," Song says.

He says many American companies have applied to Chinese IP authorities for protection of their patents and trademarks, which is why a large number of disputes concern them.

Chen Jinchuan, vice-president of the Beijing IP Court, says the US invests heavily in innovation and applies for patent protection in China the most often.

Song says with more Chinese companies expanding overseas, they should pay more attention to protecting their intellectual property, as few now apply for patent or trademark protection overseas.

"As China is calling for the development of high-grade, precise and advanced technology, such innovations should be protected both at home and abroad," he adds.

Mao Mingqiang, an IP judge at Ningbo Intermediate People's Court in Zhejiang province, says the increase in foreign-related IP disputes is not necessarily a bad thing.

"Some Chinese companies have learned a lot from such lawsuits or have later cooperated on business with their foreign litigants," Mao says.

caolei@chinadaily.com.cn
Beijing urged the United States not to interfere in China's domestic affairs on matters related to Tibet, and take practical actions to safeguard overall China-US relations.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks during a phone call on Saturday with US Secretary of State John Kerry, during which Wang reiterated China's position on the issue of Tibet.

In response, Kerry reaffirmed that there was no change in US policy, and the US government maintains that Tibet is an inseparable part of China and does not support the independence of Tibet.

The call followed US President Barack Obama's meeting with the 14th Dalai Lama behind closed doors at the White House Map Room last week, despite the Chinese government's strong opposition.

Before the meeting, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a news briefing that the ministry had already made a representation to the US embassy in China concerning the issue and warned that 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".

Wang and Kerry also hailed the success of the recent China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogues and the China-US High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange, which were held in Beijing earlier this month.

Shi Yinhong, a professor of US studies at Renmin University of China in Beijing, told China Daily at the 2016 China-US Public Diplomacy Summit on Saturday that although the US did publicly express that it does not support the independence of Tibet, there remains a huge difference between China and the US on questions such as "What is the independence of Tibet?" and "Who is the promoter of Tibetan separatism?"

"The US said the Dalai Lama is a religious figure or spiritual leader. This definition is completely opposite from China's," Shi said. "Thus, the Chinese government has always opposed US presidents meeting with the Dalai Lama, as this encourages Tibetan separatists led by him and seriously damages Sino-US relations."

Jerrold Green, president and CEO of the Pacific Council on International Policy, who also attended the public diplomacy summit, said the meeting will not change US policy.

"President Obama thought it was an appropriate thing to do. I think a meeting is just a meeting. I don't see anything changed in the US policy."


The Beijing Intellectual Property Court has accepted an appeal by Apple to review a ruling by the capital's patent office ordering the company to halt the sales of its iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in Beijing after finding the design too closely resembles a Chinese phone.

The Beijing Intellectual Property Office said in a statement on its website that it ordered Apple and a reseller of its products in Beijing, Beijing Zoomflight Communication Equipment Co, to stop selling the two iPhone models after it found they infringed upon the rights of a Shenzhen-based company.

A spokesman for the court said it had accepted Apple's appeal to review the ruling, but it has not set a time for the hearing.

An Apple spokesman told AFP that the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, as well as iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone SE models are "all available for sale today in China".

"We appealed an administrative order from a regional patent tribunal in Beijing last month, and as a result the order has been stayed pending review by the Beijing IP Court," the Apple spokesman said.

The complaint against Apple was filed by Shenzhen Baili Marketing Service Co, a small Chinese brand that designed a cellphone model called the 100C.

Despite a number of differences between the 100C and the iPhone 6, "the differences are too tiny to be noticeable by average consumers, and thus it should be deemed that there is no apparent difference between the two phone models", according to a verdict by the Beijing patent tribunal.

The tribunal made its ruling in May, and it was reported by Chinese media recently.

The IP dispute is the latest faced by Apple over the design of its products in China, its second-largest market after the Americas.

The company lost a four-year fight against a Beijing leather products maker in May after the Beijing Municipal High People's Court ruled in favor of Xintong Tiandi Technology, which sells a number of leather products such as smartphone cases and handbags under the name "iphone".

In 2012, Apple paid $60 million to a Shenzhen-based maker of computer screens and LED lights to settle a dispute over the iPad trademark on the Chinese mainland.

The company, Proview Technology, claimed that the Taipei subsidiary of its Hong Kong-based parent registered the iPad trademark in a number of countries and regions in 2000. Even though the iPad trademark was purchased by Apple from Proview Taipei in 2009, Proview Shenzhen said it reserved the right to use the trademark it registered on the Chinese mainland in 2001.

Cao Yin contributed to this story.


A man stands in shallow water near Yongxing Island, which was once home to coral reefs. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Huang Hui felt pleased that the illegal collection of corals in the South China Sea has declined as a result of stricter regulations.

But just a few years ago, she has witnessed what appeared to be fishing boats illegally stripping corals by scraping the ocean floor with trawl nets in the waters off an island in the Xisha chain.

Huang, a scientist with the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said she first saw the poachers in 2012.

They were harvesting corals that had been growing for five to eight years.

Poachers are a major problem because they not only harvest corals illegally, but do so in an aggressive and environmentally damaging manner, destroying the entire ecosystem of the seabed around coral reefs.

"So now we are trying to rejuvenate the underwater environment in the South China Sea by planting coral," Huang said.

"Growing coral is like growing a treeit takes time, but has a tremendous effect on conservation."

Disappearing reefs

China's State Oceanic Administration says that since the 1970s climate change and human activity have resulted in the disappearance of 80 percent of coral reefs along China's coastline.

The reefs, considered the marine equivalent of tropical rainforests, have flourished for more than 500 million years, and although they cover just 2 percent of the ocean floor, they are home to 25 percent of all marine species.

Huang's research team has long studied the ecology of coral reefs, but since 2006 the increasing degeneration has led them to seek solutions.
Mickey Mouse performs at Shanghai Disney Resort. Gao Erqiang / China Daily

Revenues at park expected to reach 33 billion yuan a year, report says

The Shanghai Disney Resort, which officially opened on Thursday, is expected to surpass the Palace Museum in Beijing as the top spot for visitors in China.

According to a report by online travel agency Ctrip, the resort is expected to receive at least 15 million visitors a year, more than 40,000 a day.

Last year, the Palace Museum saw a total of 15 million tourists.

With each visitor expected to spend an average of 2,219 yuan ($340) on a trip to Shanghai Disney, revenue would reach 33 billion yuan a year, the report said.

It also found that tourists from Shanghai are likely to make up 40 percent of visitors.

Beijing and Tianjin municipalities; Hangzhou, Zhejiang province; Nanjing, Jiangsu province; Wuhan, Hubei province; and Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong province, are expected to round out the top 10 sources of Shanghai Disney visitors.

Tourists from areas near Shanghai, like Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, spend an average of 1,200 yuan per person, as they don't have to pay a lot for transportation.

Those from cities farther away, like Beijing and Guangzhou, or Shenyang, Liaoning province, spend an average of 2,500 to 3,000 yuan each.

But such a trip is still thought economical compared with one to Tokyo Disney in Japan, which usually costs 7,000 to 8,000 yuan per person.

Chi Huiguang, a Beijing resident who went to Shanghai Disney Resort on a high-speed train, said she has been to Disneyland in Los Angeles, but the one in Shanghai was equally good - especially the smiling staff - despite the long lines and high prices for tickets and food.

Hu Dongyuan, a 29-year-old Shanghai resident, went to Shanghai Disney early this month with her parents during the resort's trial operation.

"Each of us spent about 400 yuan, as we didn't have to pay much for transportation, and we brought food ourselves," Hu said.

"We had to stand in line for one or two hours in order to get into each place, but generally speaking it's good and worth the trip."

Ctrip said about four out of 10 current visitors are couples and 30 percent are parents accompanying their kids. But as the summer vacation arrives, more parents are expected to visit the resort with their children, the agency said.

It also forecast that a peak in visitors would appear during the 10 days after the official opening of the resort and in early July. So trying to avoid the peak would be better, the agency suggested.

The resort is expected to receive at least 7.3 million visitors within the year, according to the agency.

Cao Yin contributed to this story.
The public security bureau in Lufeng, Guangdong province, is urging residents of Wukan village to actively cooperate with a government investigation into suspected corruption involving village head Lin Zulian.

Lin, 72, is suspected of taking bribes and misusing power for personal gain, the bureau said in a statement published on Saturday.

Lin was held by police for further investigation. The intermediate people's procuratorate of Lufeng, under the administration of Shanwei, formally launched the investigation on Friday.

Lin has served as Party chief and director of the administrative committee of Wukan.

Dozens of police cars were seen arriving in Wukan, a coastal fishing village in eastern Guangdong province

The police did not provide details about the case, saying only that it had been handed over to the procuratorate for investigation.

"Villagers should stay calm and not be used by a handful of people who want to affect the investigation," the police said in a public letter to residents. "The police will spare no effort to ensure the stability and production of the village. And those who violate laws and relevant regulations will be punished."

Lin was at the center of a previous controversy in 2011 when the village head at the time was accused of financing violations, land grabs and corruption.

Villagers rallied for more than four months in protest. The rallies finally ended with an agreement made in face-to-face talks between villagers and senior Guangdong provincial officials in 2012.

Lin rose to prominence as new leadership was sought. He became village head himself and was re-elected in 2014.
Students study at Huichang Zhulan Demonstration School's primary school. Photos Provided To China Daily

Editor's Note: Huichang Zhulan Demonstration School is a pioneering project among rural-education initiatives. The school in Jiangxi province's underdeveloped Huichang county is a pilot, in that it is the country's only school to combine basic and vocational education. China Daily spent a day not only observing but also actively participating in the learning process.

Liu Qianyi wants to be an engineer. Jiang Ruifang dreams of becoming a writer. Chen Yan hopes to work as a translator.

These 16-year-olds at Huichang Zhulan Demonstration School, which opened in 2007, are better equipped than most rural Chinese students to realize their aspirations.

That's thanks to their school's experimental approach that blends basic education with such vocational skills as agricultural science and food processing - the major industries in Jiangxi province's Huichang county, where roughly one in 10 residents live below the poverty line. "We're a pilot school for rural reform," headmaster He Fasheng said. "It's a new idea for running a school."

Vocational majors include computer science, food processing, biomedicine and crop cultivation.

A total of 33 graduates from Zhulan's vocational school have enrolled in university since 2013, when its first four went on to college. "Some return home," said the vocational school's vice-principal, Zeng Wenliang.

Currently, 174 teachers instruct 2,428 students from preschool through high school. About 100 adults take vocational classes.

The school is the brainchild of elderly philanthropist Li Yonghai, who provides four-fifths - 40 million yuan ($6.16 million) - of its budget. Most of the rest comes from the government. Smaller donations also come from enterprises, as well as local farmers who chip in 50 or 100 yuan a time.

A statue near the campus entrance of two hands reaching toward the sky inscribed with the words "full of love beneath heaven" commemorates all who have donated.

"Farmers welcome and support our school," He said. "We must remember their names and contributions."

Villagers donate because they recognize the importance of agricultural advancements, according to school staffers.

"We're a rural school, so students should learn farming," said the high school's vice-principal, Chen Suzhen. "Our fields are training bases."

Students study the cultivation of local crops such as oranges and passion fruit and produce rice noodles and dried tofu - locally processed foodstuffs.

They grow the produce that is served in the canteen, with the surplus sold by teachers and the profits helping in part to fund the school.

Passion fruit that sells for 30 yuan per kilogram is grown in a half-hectare greenhouse. Biomed majors tend a 2-hectare herb field. Students also pitch in at the 6.7-hectare orange orchard and pig farm that hosts 3,800 trees and 250 animals.

There were more of both last year. Financial woes forced the sale of 550 pigs. Citrus greening disease meant many orange trees had to be chopped down. The surviving trees have fewer blossoms than usual this year.

The orchard serves as a practice base for students, and a demonstration zone to test new varieties and teach local farmers better cultivation.

Tangelos from nearby Fujian province were recently introduced here.

"Previously, only elderly residents stayed in Huichang. Younger people migrated," said Zeng.

"That's partly because local enterprises weren't efficient. But that was, in turn, because of poor human resources."

The school hopes to break this cycle. "Graduates need work, and industry needs workers," Zeng said. "We need to link businesses to vocational schools."

Increased cooperation with local enterprises in the food and service industries is one approach the school is taking. Another is applying to offer e-commerce as a major, as the sector is flourishing in the county.

Most of the school's oranges were sold online last year. It also sells passion fruit on peer-to-peer platforms.

But some students' dreams are even more ambitious. Ninth-grader Liu Qi wants to teach English. "English is useful," she said, speaking the language proficiently.

Her classmate, Xiao Quanzhou, wants to work with math.

"I want to go to university in Nanchang, where my brother studies," he said.

And 18-year-old vocational student Liu Juan hopes to go to work in information technology in Guangdong province's Shenzhen. "It offers more opportunities to develop myself," Liu said. "Then I can return and enjoy a career in Huichang."

In the next issue, we will report on how an official helps keep Huichang on course.


An aerial photo shows students forming a physics formula. Physics graduates from Beihua University in Jilin, Jilin province, lined up in different formations on the ground for graduation pictures on Friday. [Photo by Wang Kaidong/Asianewsphoto]
Chinese and Russian scholars are holding talks for better cooperation between the two countries under the "One Belt, One Road" initiative.

The first China Goes Global Workshop, themed as the China-Russia Economic Interface, was held at the University of International Business and Economics on Saturday.

Professors from China, Russia, Canada and other European countries gathered to discuss the historical relationship between China and Russia and explore more possibilities for further cooperation under the "One Belt, One Road" initiative.

Proposed by Xi Jinping in September 2013, the development strategy and framework of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative aims to bring together countries in Asia, Europe and Africa into an overland and maritime network to boost infrastructure building, financial cooperation and cultural exchanges in the regions.

"Making efforts just on the government level is not enough, people, especially scholars from China and Russia should communicate more in order to promote the final practice of the initiative's proposes," said Hong Junjie, president of the School of International Trade and Economics at UIBE, adding that Russia took an important connecting role in the north line of the Belt and Road initiative.

Phill Hynes, head of Political Risk and Analysis Department of the Intelligent Security Solutions Ltd in Hong Kong, shared his thoughts on the potential of sino-Russia cooperation, pointing out energy and minerals were possibly the area in which to start.

"China has been making efforts to focus on the facilities construction in the Asian-Pacific region, but it should pay attention to Russia, a country that has much potential to cooperate with China in areas such as mineral resources," he said, adding that as China's soft power has been rising in recent years, more trade possibilities are expected.
A man hands out leaflets advertising consultation services to parents of candidates in Taiyuan, capital of North China's Shanxi province, June 7,2016. [Photo/IC]

If you think parents are spending too much on their childrens education, then this should surprise you. Some students are willing to pay as much as 100,000 yuan ($15,190) to consultants just for advice on which college they should select.

Many students in Beijing, along with their parents, are rushing to consultants for help on picking the university based on their gaokao results, which will be out on June 23, two days after which the application process starts, Beijing Youth Daily reported on Monday.

However, the service is not cheap as these institutes are charging anything from several thousands yuan to tens of thousands of yuan.

On the official website of an institute called Yingding Education, the fee is divided into three categories. "Service provided by professional consultants and by a team of experts on college application will be respectively charged 4,980 yuan and 19,800 yuan. Consulting with president Wang Haitao in person will cost 98,000 yuan."

An institute located near Renmin University of China bills consulting services by hours. A one-to-one service is priced at 500 yuan per hour.

Despite the high price, the consultants do not guarantee that colleges will accept the applicants and the fee is non-refundable.

However, the price has not deterred students and their parents from seeking the help of consultants. Thirty percent of them will seek the help of consultants, according to a survey reported by Legal Evening Post on June 14.

A staff member surnamed Pan at an institute called Shengdaxin Education said many parents registered for consultation service as early as the start of their childrens senior year in high school. And even though the institute charges 28,800 yuan per student, the dean is completely booked.

One parent of this year's gaokao candidate said they just follow the trend, adding that seeking consultants help brings them peace of mind.

The main reason students and parents flock to consultants is that the college application is as important as taking the exam itself.

It's even harder for those candidates who score high marks to make the decision. If they apply for a top university but lose out to other candidates then they risk settling for a second-tier university with their excellent result going to waste.

This is why 70 percent of the students who score above the minimum requirement of key universities will choose professional help of consultancies, according to Beijing Youth Daily.

As to the question whether consultancy really helps, a spokesman of a public school told Beijing Youth Daily that it might help those candidates who do have a clear future plan but don't know how to crack the application process.

But for those who do not have a well-defined goal, consultants' suggestions will not be of much help, he said.
Beijing's Zhongguancun Science Park, one of China's top high-tech innovation hubs, has started an initiative that invites young people from overseas to work or intern in the capital.

The initiative, called Inno Pioneer, was launched in mid-June. It aims to attract students and other young professionals from overseas universities and research organizations to start businesses, work for startups or take training at the park, which covers 488 square kilometers and has more than 20,000 companies.

Zeng Xiaodong, director of international business at the Zhongguancun Science Park Administrative Committee, said the move would encourage innovation, which comes from communication, collaboration and brainstorming.

"The initiative will enable young people from all over the world who are interested in innovation to gather in Zhongguancun and accelerate their efforts to make new things and innovate," he told reporters at Inno Pioneer's launch ceremony.

"The success of Silicon Valley lies in its internationalization and global horizons. Young talented people from everywhere with aspiration to innovate are attracted to it and commercialize their ideas."

Zeng added that such projects should be supported and encouraged if China wants to build upon its strengths in innovation and high-tech industries.

Sam Jang from South Korea, CEO of SounDUX, said his company had already benefitted from Zhongguancun's pro-innovation stance, adding that he looked forward to finding more young workers through the Inno Pioneer initiative.

"My company is in the music copyright trade business, which requires talented people from all over the world. The biggest advantage of the Inno Pioneer initiative is that it can gather top professionals from not only China but also foreign nations," he said.

Philippe Bardol, commercial investment counselor at the French Embassy in Beijing, told China Daily that Paris now has 50 large business incubators and about 20,000 startups and the French capital is eager to have more exchanges with Beijing, especially Zhongguancun, and the entrepreneurs in both cities.

The French Embassy in Beijing hopes incubator projects like Inno Pioneer will help young French entrepreneurs understand the importance and potential of the Chinese market, he said, noting that the embassy has invited 15 to 20 French companies to cooperate commercially with firms in Zhongguancun.

Officials from the Beijing government and Zhongguancun management committee have offered a number of favorable measures to overseas business people including long-term visas and fast approval procedures, Bardol said.
On June 18, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Serbia, and attended a grand ceremony held by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic. They held talks amid a friendly atmosphere to reach an extensive common consensus.

They declared jointly to lift bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership level, while both had witnessed the signing of a series bilateral cooperation documents involving industrial capacity, finance and infrastructure construction.

Nikolic decorated Xi with the Order of the Republic of Serbia, the highest honor bestowed by Serbia to extend gratitude to the Chinese president for his outstanding contributions to advancing the bilateral ties. Xi also held meetings with Serbian Parliament Speaker Maja Gojkovic and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.Since the two nations established a strategic partnership in 2009, bilateral relations have accelerated.

Both sides have unanimously agreed to upgrade bilateral relations to comprehensive strategic partnership to revitalize a traditional friendship between China and Serbia.

It comes at the right time, which would be beneficial for docking the two nations development strategy and enhance cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The two sides can enjoy all-around cooperation, which symbolize that the two nations have opened a new chapter of their traditional friendship, setting a good example for cooperation between China and other Central-Eastern European countries.
China's fourth and most southerly space launch center is preparing for its maiden launch at the end of this month, boosting local tourism.

Construction of the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in Hainan province has resulted in the costal city improving facilities to welcome more space enthusiasts and visitors.

Xue Yinggang, who owns the Hangtiancheng Hotel in Longlou township, Wenchang, said he is excited about the business opportunities brought by the center  his new neighbor.

Xue, who used to farm in Longlou's Xidiyuan village, said his farmland was used to build the center in 2010, which led to him moving to Longlou.

Looking to the business opportunities the center will bring, he borrowed 8 million yuan ($1.21 million) from a bank to build and open the hotel that year.

"All rooms from this Thursday to Monday next week have been booked," Xue said, referring to the anticipated period for the maiden launch of China's new-generation Long March 7 carrier rocket.

The city has set up eight free viewing areas for the launch. They cover 0.45 square kilometers and can accommodate nearly 26,000 people.

It has also started to improve its transportation network, has erected new traffic signs, and built more toilets and parking lots to benefit from an increase in visitors.

Tens of thousands are expected to go to Wenchang for the launch. By Sunday, all the city's 19,900 hotel beds had been fully booked.

The Wenchang Hilton, the only international hotel chain in Longlou, is fully booked for Friday and Saturday, manager Robert Tong said.

Chen Hongbo, a photographer from Haikou, the provincial capital, said he is happy to be going to Wenchang to watch the launch.

"I am so excited that I will be witnessing history being made. In addition, the sea and mountains at Wenchang are beautiful, so my family will enjoy this trip."

Xue Xiangwen, head of the Wenchang Tourism Bureau, said local authorities suggest that tourists consider visiting the city after the upcoming launch, as there will be many more launches at the center.
Geely Automobile Holding expands its base in Belarus by setting up a new production facility, which is expected to begin operations in July 2017. Photos Provided to China Daily

State-owned enterprise BAIC is to produce vehicles in Mexico next year to further expand and strengthen its global presence, amid the trend for Chinese carmakers to produce vehicles abroad due to the effect of fluctuating international currency rates on sales, among other factors.

BAIC International Development Co has already opened its first 4S showroom in Mexico City, and announced its globalized industrial innovation plan, which will include the construction of the only Chinese automotive plant in Mexico in 2017.

The subsidiary of BAIC Automotive Group will work with local partners in a long-term strategic plan which aims to integrate international trade, investment cooperation, brand building, and the internet.

BAIC's future industrial base in Mexico will unify the fuel vehicle, new-energy vehicle, parts, aviation and financial service sectors, as the country is deemed as a strategic regional center for the Americas.

Deloitte China has recognized the tendency of Chinese carmakers to relocate investments and build factories overseas in order to lower both cost and risk.

"Chinese carmakers are not so focused on international vehicle trade as a way to expand and strengthen their global presence because of import tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and the drastic currency fluctuation of host countries," said Charles Knight, global managing director of Deloitte M&A Transaction Services.

Chinese carmakers are rapidly building more overseas manufacturing plants, with countries in Latin America, ASEAN and Eastern Europe emerging as their preferred destinations, according to Deloitte's China Automotive Industry Outbound Investment Report, which was released this month.

Deloitte China also found that Chinese carmakers are now in favor of complete knock-down and semi knock-down plants and Europe and America are the preferred destinations for such plants.

Geely Automobile Holding has allocated seven CKD and SKD production plants around the world with a total of 182,500-unit annual production capacity. The plants are located in Belarus, Egypt, Iran, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Iraq and Sudan.

The Zhejiang-based private company is expanding its largest foreign CKD base in Belarus, with a new plant set to begin operations in July 2017, topping up the company's existing 120,000-unit annual productivity.

A spokesperson for Geely Automobile agreed with Deloitte's analysis that Chinese automakers have taken steps to avoid local political risks and economic fluctuations, as well as consolidate their advantages in the global market.

Guangzhou Automobile Group Motor Co, or GAC Motor, has built a sales network covering 15 countries and regions. The Guangzhou-based carmaker was recently hailed in Kuwait as "China's best carmaker" after its sales ranked first among Chinese brands available in the local market.

The passenger car division of the State-owned Guangzhou Automobile Group consolidated its leading position in the Nigerian market by opening a second dealership in Lagos in April. The brand beat off a number of global competitors to win orders from the Lagos police in September 2015.

Wu Song, general manager of GAC Motor, said: "As we go global, we should be at least at the level of Japanese and South Korean brands, and even perhaps better than United States brands.

"As a new Chinese carmaker, we are growing rapidly, both in the domestic and overseas markets, based on the principle of making quality, safe cars."

haoyan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 06/20/2016 page19)
Events and stories coming up in the next few days

Delegation due for cross-Straits exchanges

A Kuomintang Party Youth League delegation will visit the mainland from today through Saturday to discuss cross-Straits exchanges, according to the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, China's Cabinet. During the tour, the delegation is expected to meet with the office's head, Zhang Zhijun.
China and Poland are expected to sign "dozens of agreements" during President Xi Jinping's visit, according to Miroslaw Gajewski, the Polish ambassador to China.

The agreements will facilitate and enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields including investment, finance, energy and infrastructure, he said in an interview with China Daily.

He said Xi will meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Beata Szydlo and the speakers of both houses of parliament.
President Xi Jinping arrived in Belgrade, Serbia, on Friday to kick off his three-nation tour of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Serbia was the first Central and Eastern European country to forge a strategic partnership with China, and the Serbian people have shown sincere and lasting friendship and respect to Chinese people. Serbia also harbors great enthusiasm for China's Belt and Road Initiative.

However, what makes this nation "somewhat unusual" is that it is the only Central and East European country that has not applied to join NATO.
An open square at 798 Art Zone in Beijing. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Beijing's largest art district, 798 Art Zone, will host its first evening community event on Saturday where 11 galleries and museums will keep their doors to the public until late night hours.

Summer Art Night is collaboration between art galleries and museums residing in 798.

"It's a way of giving back to the art district", said M WOODS art director Presca Ahn, who was one of the early proposers of the event.

"I wanted to do a neighborhood 'block party', where the whole neighborhood pitches in to do a fun outdoor event together with food, music, and local culture," she said.

Ahn told China Daily website that the idea was put into motion by the founders of M WOODS, who are chiefly sponsoring Summer Art Night, and they hope the event will become a summer tradition.

"We want more people to learn about 798 and to love it here," she said.

On June 25, visitors can view free exhibitions on display from Galleria Continua, Boers-Li Gallery, Goethe-Institut (China), Hadrien de Montferrand Gallery, Long March Space, Magician Space, MOU Art, Pace Beijing, Platform China Contemporary Art Institute, and Tang Contemporary Art.

Among the many exhibitions, Ahn suggests two special performances: Roman Hagenbrock at Goethe-Institut and Amy Grubb at Galleria Continua.

The exhibition will open from 8 pm till 11 pm on June 25 at the galleries' respective locations.
Ian McKellen in Shanghai. [Photo/Weibo]

Veteran British actor Ian McKellen, 77 - often lauded as one of the best Shakespearean actors in the world - has gathered the attention of China's social media for a small "public stunt" he performed on the streets of Shanghai.

The "Gandalf" actor was in the financial hub to attend a "Shakespeare on Film" section at the 19th Shanghai International Film Festival. During his spare time, he visited one of the most famous places for finding a blind date  the Renmin Park in Shanghai, and took a photo of himself holding a paper that read "Ian, 5'11, 77 years, Cambridge University, House in London, Still active", along with a self portrait. In a second photo, he held a card that read "Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind," a quote from Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Ian McKellen in Shanghai. [Photo/Weibo]

This year marks 400 years since William Shakespeare's death in 1616. The "Shakespeare on Film" collection of movies is shown during SIFF as a tribute to one of humanity's greatest literature minds.

"I'm not a person of religion but if I had to have a God, it would be Shakespeare," said McKellen, who has starred in numerous Shakespeare adaptations, including Richard III in 1995, in which he was also a screenwriter.

Showbiz in China has become a craze with the pursuit of "IP", or Intellectual Property, from its massive productions based on Internet literature. The value of internet literature has soared, with a considerable number of transactions made and a massive volume of audiences flocking to theaters to see it come alive on the big screen. The productions may sell, but many are criticizing them for its low quality and the superficial ideas it is spreading. For China's film market, which is growing at full speed, the relationship between Shakespeare and film may give it a boost.

From King John in 1899 to Macbeth in 2015, Shakespearean adaptations are perhaps the oldest "super IP" in the minds of filmmakers, telling the same stories over and over again to audiences around the globe for 400 years. Why do viewers still want to see them?

To filmmakers, it is the combination between preserving the essence of the story and creating new focal points.

When British actor Oliver Laurence brought Henry V, Hamlet and Richard III to the big screen entirely in its original form, the works seemed rather dull. When Japanese film master Akira Kurosawa fused Macbeth with Japanese culture into Throne of Blood, a beautiful masterpiece was born.

Shi Chuan, Vice-Chairman of the Shanghai Filmmakers Association, believes Shakespearean theater depicts the most sentimental aspects of human emotion and poses the grandest questions on fate. The growing Chinese film industry, sometimes in impetuous directions, can learn a lot from this pursuit of "endurance and eternity" in Shakespearean works.

Just as McKellen said, many lines from Shakespeare still apply, even in this day and age. "After several centuries, the words that Shakespeare's pen left us can still warm people's souls," he said.

"Love looks not with the eye but with the mind." Perhaps this is the best advice Shakespeare would give to China's film industry.

Related:

McKellen regales Shanghai audience with his lines
Poet Yu Xiuhua. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"Chinese Poetry, Chinese Dream", a six-month program promoting poetry-writing among the public, was launched on Saturday, an effort to become a Guinness record for "largest poetry competition".

"Poetry has a long history in China, and we are proud to tell the world that nowadays Chinese people not only live a prosperous life in the material world, but also have a culture that is deep and profound," said Bao Yan, the chief planner of the program.

The official Guinness World Records judge Wu Qiong attended the launch and started the countdown. Through Nov 30, people can submit their poems to participate in setting the world record.

During the launching ceremony, the program also revealed four lists of poets, praising those who are considered influential, with superior impact and writing in vernacular verse.

The prizes were received by 23 poets including 91-year-old poet and educator Liu Zheng, farmer and poet with cerebral palsy Yu Xiuhua, and well-known online poet An Hongbo.

According to the organizing committee, this is a program held biannually. The previous programs held in 2012 and 2014 received around 150,000 submissions, and people participated through online and offline activities totaled more than 50 million.

Related:

The Bard's sonnets find another chance in China
A fine art exhibition now at the National Museum of China in Beijing celebrates the 95th anniversary of the founding of Communist Party of China. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A fine art exhibition now at the National Museum of China in Beijing celebrates the 95th anniversary of the founding of Communist Party of China.

On show are paintings, lithographs, sculptures, caricatures and other mixed-media works of art. Part of the displayed pieces are from the national museum's collection and the rest are produced by artists across the nation especially for the exhibition.

A fine art exhibition now at the National Museum of China in Beijing celebrates the 95th anniversary of the founding of Communist Party of China. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The exhibition reviews the development of the CPC in four periods, with works marking many historic moments in the course of Chinese people's striving for independence and progress.

The exhibition runs through July 1.

A fine art exhibition now at the National Museum of China in Beijing celebrates the 95th anniversary of the founding of Communist Party of China. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A fine art exhibition now at the National Museum of China in Beijing celebrates the 95th anniversary of the founding of Communist Party of China. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Related:

British artist turns wall into canvas in Shanghai
Recently, Premier Li Keqiang issued important instructions aimed at curbing violence in schools, which he said not only harms students' physical and psychological health, but also undermines social morality.

In recent years, campus violence has become a more and more serious social phenomenon that has drawn widespread public attention. A few days ago the Supreme People's Court released a special investigation report on cases of violence in schools.

It shows that the violence is being committed by younger and younger children, and advocates enhancing the legislation on the protection of children's rights, and establishing a comprehensive punishment and correction system targeting crimes committed by juveniles.

The instruction from the State Council initiates a special campaign to clamp down on violence in schools. In the first stage from April to July, local schools should deal with the issue; and in the second stage from September to December, the central authority will launch inspections.

The announcement stressed that serious incidents during this period will be seriously dealt with.
File photo of Wu Jianmin.[Photo/IC]

Prominent former diplomat Wu Jianmin's abrupt departure is a tremendous loss not only to his beloved ones, but also Chinese diplomacy.

He left us when his wisdom and advice are badly needed, but in very short supply.

In different offices as a career diplomat, even in retirement, Wu was a steadfast promoter of peace, dedicated to mutual understanding between China and the rest of the world.

When voices of reason are increasingly being overwhelmed by nationalist populism, when Chinese diplomacy is under increasing pressure to turn "hard", his was the voice of diplomatic rationalism.

Rational, modest, self-confident, and inclusive diplomacy is more conducive to creating a fine international environment for the country's development, he insisted.

He believed in speaking the truth and was not afraid to speak out, even when that meant offending "mainstream public opinion". What is truly worrying for China is not any natural catastrophes but that it loses its head and become beside itself, he once warned.

His advocacy of engagement with the existing international order, even with countries commonly perceived as adversaries, sounded out of tune with the "mainstream". So much so that his critics ridiculed him as an "old-school diplomat", and internet thugs cursed him as a "traitor".

He highlighted patience and tolerance for relations across the Taiwan Straits. His formula for Sino-US relations: Focus on cooperation, control differences, beware nationalism and populism.

Besides his success as a Chinese messenger in various capacities, communicating Chinese realities and concerns to foreign audiences, Wu took great pains to interact with the domestic public. He was on his way to addressing a group of business leaders when he died in an automobile accident.

He found the "weak-nation mentality" at home dangerous and spoke out against it persistently. Long-term weakness had brewed a special Chinese sensitivity to outsider criticism, he cautioned, and that is incompatible with the country's center-stage position today.

Wu repeatedly underlined the message that China must forsake narrow nationalism and stay the course on reform and opening-up if it aspires for further progress.

"Nationalists and populists may be correct about the challenges the country faces. But the prescriptions they give are wrong, and will lead China astray", he pointed out. Populism's threat lies in its opposition to reform, and nationalism's in its opposition to opening-up, he warned, and "populism often holds hostage those in power". It is thus even more dangerous when nationalism and populism join forces.

Despite his long retirement from public office, Wu never retired from fighting for what he believed was in the best interests of his country.
A Long March-3A carrier rocket carrying the 22nd satellite in the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) lifts off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 30, 2016.[Photo/Xinhua]

AT A RECENT NEWS conference, the spokesperson for Beidou Navigation Satellite System said that it has been rendering a service to the Asia-Pacific region since 2012, and it has been performing better for the past three years. However, Beidou needs deeper international cooperation in order to prosper, says Beijing Youth Daily:

The Global Positioning System of the United States has long been dominant in the global navigation market. However, there is no free lunch and no nation can afford to rely on the US for its own navigation.

That's why many countries, the US' allies included, have been trying to escape from their reliance upon GPS. Russia has its Glonass, Europe has its Galileo, and China has Beidou.

Beidou should seek deep cooperation with other navigation systems in order to prosper.

Beidou's market reached 42 billion yuan ($6.4 billion) by the end of 2015. However, that's still too small compared with GPS, which accounts for 90 percent of the global market. Even if its market share reaches 100 billion yuan in 2020, as estimated, that will be still far smaller than that of GPS.

Navigation is already an indispensable tool in daily life and Beidou must work with GPS and other partners. For example, GPS is not so accurate in certain regions, and Beidou can appeal to users by offering high-accuracy navigation services in these regions instead, but that requires it to be compatible with the GPS.

Besides, Beidou serves both the military and civilians uses, and it needs to win the support of more civilians so as to gain a larger share in the market. This year the smartphones that use Beidou will exceed 20 million, and such data best illustrates the importance of the civilian market to Beidou. Both international cooperation and more civilian use are essential to its growth.
A residential complex developed by Evergrande Real Estate Group in Qidong, Jiangsu province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE," said Premier Li Keqiang at a meeting of the State Council, China's Cabinet, when hearing about the various kinds of funds local governments collect from construction companies as gaurantees. The State Council decided to keep only four of them and cancel all the others. Beijing News comments:

How many kinds of margins must an engineering enterprise pay a government? Dozens perhaps: a margin for credit, a margin for negotiations in case of disputes, an assessment margin, the list goes on.

Estimates put the total amount of guarantee money collected from construction companies as about 10 percent of their revenue.

It should be noted that these margins seldom serve the purposes that they claim to be for. Officials collect these margins from enterprises under the pretext that it ensures that the constructions activities abide by the regulations, but they seldom really exercise proper supervision over the true behavior of the enterprises. For example, they collect margins from enterprises supposedly to guarantee they pay their workers on time, but in reality the enterprises that pay these margins still delay paying their temporary workers.

Worse, some officials try to keep these margins by refusing to return them to enterprises when the project is finished. That increases the business costs for the whole of society and is detrimental to the nation's economic prosperity.

It is a good move by the central government to clear up the margins and cancel most of them. It must be firm in implementing the decision, because the reform will likely meet resistance as it hurts local governments' unwanted interests.
A gavel in a court. [Photo/IC]

THE CENTRAL LEADERSHIP RECENTLY ISSUED A DOCUMENT that requires ministries, as well as local Party and governmental agencies, to hire legal consultants and lawyers. This is a good move for better governance, says Southern Metropolis Daily:

It is necessary for Party and governmental departments to have legal consultants, so as to prevent illegal activities in their governance. Actually, President Xi Jinping said in a speech that leading officials need to observe the law in making decisions, and consult legal experts if needed.

That's a clear signal that the government is required to abide by the Constitution and the law, which is the starting point for modern governance.

Some local governments have already been pioneering the use of legal consultants. For example the government in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province, has long hired legal consultants because of its interactions with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Shenzhen's legal consultants have done their jobs well.

However, there are bad examples, too. When some cities copied Shenzhen, they simply hired legal consultants but failed to let them play their due role.

The recent guiding document aims to end this practice. It has two clear requirements: First, legal consultants should be consulted before any major decision is made, and when they do not think any proposal is legal, it should not be submitted for decision-making discussion. Second, the leading officials will be held answerable if they ignore the objection of the legal consultants.

The above two points will ensure that legal consultants will not be ignored.

Local governments nationwide should also learn from the Shenzhen municipal government, which has precious experience of legal consultants participating in the whole decision-making process.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan are greeted by Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic and his wife upon their arrival at the airport of Belgrade, Serbia, June 17, 2016. Xi started a state visit to Serbia Friday. [Photo/Xinhua]

President Xi Jinping arrived in Belgrade, Serbia, on Friday to kick off his three-nation tour of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Serbia was the first Central and Eastern European country to forge a strategic partnership with China, and the Serbian people have shown sincere and lasting friendship and respect to Chinese people. Serbia also harbors great enthusiasm for China's Belt and Road Initiative.

However, what makes this nation "somewhat unusual" is that it is the only Central and East European country that has not applied to join NATO.

Belgrade was an important outpost via which China observed the outside world as early as in the 1970s, and hearing its name Chinese people are reminded of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade by NATO on May 8, 1999.

It is also not a member of the European Union, which means Serbia can decide for itself about developing ties with China.

China and Serbia are different in size and geographically far apart. But mutual benefits are linking up the two countries despite the huge distance. And if China and Serbia achieve a success furthering their bilateral cooperation, it will have remarkable demonstration effects.

Serbia's sound economic and cultural foundations and its enthusiasm for Belt and Road Initiative mean it can play a positive role in China's effort to push for such a strategy with countries over a broader region.

Globalization has given Serbia a chance to get so close to China. At the same time, Serbia has also become a foothold for China to further engage with Europe. All these mean China and Serbia should cherish developing closer ties.

-Global Times Chinese Edition
File photo of Wu Jianmin.[Photo/IC]

I was in Vietnam on Friday, and had a chance to meet a senior Filipino diplomat. Talking about how China and the Philippines should improve their strained ties under incoming President Rodrigo Duterte, he suggested inviting one prominent and open-minded Chinese diplomat to give a lecture in Manila later this year.

"Who do you think would be the right one?" I asked.

"Ambassador Wu Jianmin," the Filipino replied, without any hesitation. "He is a truly respectful diplomat for his exceptional manner, decency, and global view. I'm sure he will be welcomed."

He then asked if I could help. I accepted the request and said I would contact the 77-year-old former Chinese ambassador to France once I was back in the office on Monday.

But a huge shock came on Saturday morning, when Wu tragically passed away in a fatal car accident in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province, that morning. He was on his way to give a lecture at Wuhan University to share his views of the current international situation.

I was devastated for I have been a longtime supporter of Wu's thoughts and views. His sudden death would be a huge loss to China's diplomacy and the academia of international relations.

In China, Wu was known as a hardcore "pigeon", who advocated always using peaceful and diplomatic means, like dialogue, to resolve differences between countries, instead of resorting to hardline ways, like showing muscle.

He famously argued that "anyone who resorts to war will fall in the current era of peace and development".

He was even involved in some recent debates with "hawkish" pundits. Some netizens, even labeled Wu as a "traitor" to the country.

But I would say that Wu's views should be cherished and appreciated in today's world when we see the slowdown, even retreat, of globalization.

It has never been perfect and some even claim the process has brought vicious byproducts to the world, like the spread of international terrorism.

But globalization has been humanity's creative means in global governance after two world wars. It has brought the international community an unprecedented level of interdependence, making it more difficult and expensive for countries, especially great powers, to declare war against each other.

I have recently been reading History of the First World War, by famous British military historian B.H. Liddell Hart, and it elaborated how the rise of nationalism and sometimes ultra-nationalism, led to a military buildup among European powers and the First World War from 1914-18.

But unfortunately, we recently have seen signs of the retreat of globalization and the rise of nationalism. Donald Trump's run for the US presidency and the UK's coming referendum on whether to leave the European Union are both vivid examples.

A veteran diplomat whose career began in 1959, Wu was a man whose lifelong experience made him a solid opponent of nationalism.

He is a proponent of communication and integration, which are both needed for today's China, when the international environment, especially in our surrounding areas, is getting increasingly complicated.

Shocked by his sudden death, I posted on my WeChat account, which I rarely do, my mourning for the respected senior: "Ambassador Wu was one of the few Chinese diplomats with true global vision, at a time of the retreat of globalization and the rise of nationalism. I hope it (his death) was not real."

Moments later, I was very grateful to receive a comment from another "hawkish" Chinese international relations scholar, who used to harshly criticize Wu for his softline stance.

"My tribute to Ambassador Wu. China needs to have different voices," he said.

Indeed. A hardliner or softliner, nationalist or globalist, no matter what your choice, communication should always be encouraged.

Mr Wu, you will be always remembered for your thoughts and bravery.

The author is a staff writer who focuses on China's foreign affairs and international relations. zhanghaizhou@chinadaily.com.cn
Members of the public take part in a kiss chain at a stay in, pro EU Referendum event in Parliament Square, Central London, Britain, 19 June 2016. Britons will vote to stay or leave the European Union on 23 June.[Photo/IC]

On June 23rd, the UKs EU referendum will achieve finality. No matter whether the UK votes to leave or not, the referendum itself has exposed the public mood of Euroscepticism. It has been increasingly hard for a declining EU to keep its member states together. At the same time, difficulties breed opportunities. The EU referendum will further promote Sino-EU cooperation.

First of all, the euro-zone economy has recovered at an unsatisfactorily slow pace since the 2008 financial crisis. According to statistics released by the Eurostat, in the euro-zone, the GDP per capita at market price has only increased 3.7 percent in the past 8 years, while in the past 7 years, it has increased 13 percent in the US and 95Percent in China. In addition, the global market shares of the EUs import and export trade are still blow the pre-crisis level, without a sign of steady growth. The EU used to bank on America to help it get rid of economic dilemmas, but the TTIP impasse disappoints it. In the world economy, the power of the EU is declining.

Second, the severest refugee crisis since World War II has been an unbearable burden for the EU. The latest data from the UNHCR have shown that more than 1.2 million refugees and illegal immigrants have reached Europe. The maximum receptivity of the EU, however, is 72,000. As a result, there must be rounds of negotiations, during which the EU will inevitably make concessions and even sacrifices. After all, the EU is incapable of absorbing so many refugees or dealing with the possibly of triggering problems, such as employment problems, racial conflicts and even social unrest, when the EU itself has been lacking in social vitality.

Third, the international influence of NATO has been reduced in recent years because of the challenges faced by the US-NATO relationship. On the one hand, the US has been unsatisfied with the low levels of European defense spending. Only four members of NATO meet the minimum contribution threshold of 2% of GDP, while Washington provides 75% of NATOs budget. US unease has raised concerns about NATOs viability. On the other hand, US attention is moving away from Europe as emerging powers are shifting the global configuration. For instance, Americas pivot to Asia-Pacific has placed US willingness and capacity to commit to Europes security in doubt. NATOs decline has been unveiled by its embarrassments in handling regional disputes, such as the crises in Ukraine and Libya.

In the face of difficulties, the EU is splitting. Its increasingly hard to reconcile member states different economic and political demands. The UKs EU referendum is exactly the mirror of the fragmentation. EU countries have gradually realized that no single power, neither the EU nor the US, could bring them out of trouble. With this background, the in-depth cooperation with China will provide new impetuses to the development of the EU.

The European economy has remained mired in the aftermath of the financial crisis. The market is starved of investment capital. Individual European counties, in particular, are openly cash hungry. In contrast, China is already the worlds largest trading nation and the second largest economy, and likely to emerge in the next few years as the worlds largest net creditor. Chinas reserve peaked at about $4 trillion at the end of 2014. In recent years, the commercial outflow of capital from China has been maintained at a high level. It is estimated that the net private capital outflow from China is $676 billion in 2015. In a nutshell, the investment capital from China is so attractive for European countries that they must seize the opportunities to cooperate with China.

European countries are competing for Chinese capital. On the list of the top ten destinations for Chinas overseas direct investment, there are the UK, France and Germany. In addition, EU countries, including Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, the UK, Sweden, Finland, Portugal, Poland, and Malta are all founding members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank proposed by China. Also, China is promoting cooperation with Central Europe and Eastern Europe. President Xi Jinping is in Poland now. Three months ago, during his state visit to Czech Republic, Beijing and Prague secured deals worth about 4 billion. China, thus, became Czech Republics largest trading partner outside the EU. Apart from Czech Republic and Poland, many Central European and Eastern European countries, including Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary have declared themselves interested in developing stronger economic ties with China. They are eager to do business with China, especially in the field of building infrastructure networks.

In recent years, Chinas international investment interests have shifted from Africa, Asia and Latin America to Europe and the US. In 2015, Chinese investment in Europe has been unprecedentedly 20 billion, increased by 44 percent compared with that of 2014. Moreover, the figure is expected to continue to grow in the following years.

China has created new partnerships with EU countries by expanding its power through finance, infrastructure and technology. For instance, China has already been successful in Greece. In the financial crisis, when markets had lost faith in the euro, China offered to buy euro bonds and helped the indebted Greece. This move not only paved the way for Chinese investment in the Greek infrastructure sector, especially in the port of Piraeus, but also enabled China to use Athens as a base to connect Central Europe, the Balkans and the Mediterranean Sea.

Although barriers still exist in the way of Sino-EU cooperation, we should realize that the EU is not a monolithic picture. Due to member states different capacities and demands, its almost impossible for the EU to satisfy all of them with unitary criterion. Furthermore, as the EU is declining, those differences are increasingly significant, and it is the differences that enable Chinese investment capital to penetrate the European market.

All in all, the UKs EU referendum has mirrored the current predicaments of the EU. Under this circumstance, in-depth Sino-EU cooperation will be mutually beneficial. More important, it will greatly contribute to maintaining regional peace and stability, and promoting world prosperity and development.

The author is assistant researcher at The Centre for British Studies, Shanghai International Studies University.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (L) and European Council President Donald Tusk (R) welcome Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the European Council headquarters ahead of of an EU-China summit in Brussels June 29, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

As European Union Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, I will visit China for the launch the EU-China Legal Affairs Dialogue on 20th June. This new high-level dialogue was agreed by our leaders at the EU-China Summit in 2015 as one of its core deliverables to further our already strong strategic partnership. The EU and China have a common interest in better understanding their respective legal systems, largely because of their important role for exchanges in many other sectors such as trade and investment, technology, agriculture, health and social issues, urbanisation, environment protection etc. The new exchange mechanism on legal affairs will further enhance the EU-China partnership as it will provide a platform to exchange experiences on the rule of law and increase mutual understanding. This first dialogue will tackle the very topical subject of e-commerce and protection of consumers.

During my visit I will also participate in the 5th biennial EU-US-China Trilateral Product Safety Summit focussing on the safety of products sold online. Product safety and protection of consumers is an important area in overall EU-China relations. It is a topic of great concern in Europe and also one of increasing importance for Chinese consumers. Close cooperation is key: only by working closer together can we make Europe and China safer places for consumers.

As I am also in charge of gender equality, I want to devote part of my visit to gender issues. The EU is interested in exchanging experiences and contributing to the evolving legal framework of which a recent example is the Anti-Domestic Violence Law adopted in December 2015. The EU participated in the public consultations for the new law, and I will be keen to hear about its implementation.

But I am not alone among my EU colleagues in making China a priority. Over the next few weeks, in the run-up to the EU-China Summit in July, another three EU Commissioners will visit China for high-level talks.

Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc will visit at the end of June to co-chair the first meeting of the EU-China Connectivity Platform with NDRC Chairman Xu Shaoshi in Beijing. She will also attend the World Economic Forum in Tianjin. Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete will come at the same time to discuss climate action after the pivotal Paris conference, and to attend the G20 Energy Ministers Meeting in Beijing, as well as the EU-China Low-Carbon Cities conference in Wuhan. Finally, Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom will visit from 9-11 July to attend the G20 Trade Ministers Meeting in Shanghai, as well as the EU-China Trade Joint Committee Meeting in Beijing.

Vera Jourova

All these visits and meetings will feed into the 18th EU-China Summit in July which will be attended by President of the European Council Donald Tusk and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker as well as High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini, Vice-President of the Commission Jyrki Katainen and Trade Commissioner Malmstrom.

The EU-China Strategic Agenda 2020 remains the common framework for our cooperation, covering a range of areas from foreign and security policy, trade and investment, to people-to-people relations. At the last Summit meeting we started to develop new areas for cooperation from connectivity, investment, innovation and ICT to the already mentioned legal affairs dialogue and stronger people to people contacts.

This is the agenda for the next phase in our growing relationship.

As global actors, the EU and China will more closely cooperate on foreign and security policy in Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and on wider issues of global governance from development to climate change. This will also be important when we explore synergies between the OBOR initiative and the EU's own infrastructure plan. A safe and secure environment is a prerequisite for greater connectivity between the EU and China across the Eurasian continent.

Trade and investment remain the core of our relationship. Our economies are going through profound transformations. A Comprehensive Agreement on Investment, which should deliver wide market access as well as state-of-the-art investor protection for both sides, will be an important foundation for what may be called a new era of our economic relations in which we will need to ensure a level playing field and reciprocity.

I trust that my visit as well as the ones by my colleagues in the weeks to come, and especially the EU-China Summit, will pave the way for further developing this new era of mutually beneficial relations.

The author is European Union Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality
Mickey Mouse performs at Shanghai Disney Resort. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

The Shanghai Disney Resort, which officially opened on Thursday, is expected to surpass the Palace Museum in Beijing as the top spot for visitors in China.

According to a report by online travel agency Ctrip, the resort is expected to receive at least 15 million visitors a year, more than 40,000 a day.

Last year, the Palace Museum saw a total of 15 million tourists.

With each visitor expected to spend an average of 2,219 yuan ($340) on a trip to Shanghai Disney, revenue would reach 33 billion yuan a year, the report said.

It also found that tourists from Shanghai are likely to make up 40 percent of visitors.
When journalists rushed to the scene and hospitals on the evening of June 14 to cover a car crash outside of Washington that involved Chinese tourists, they were focused on the dead and injured.

Few had time to notice the heroes at work.

The crash, between a shuttle bus carrying a group of Chinese tourists and a car, resulted in one death and two serious injuries. The injured were rushed to the three nearby Inova Virginia hospitals in Fairfax, Alexandria and Mount Vernon.

The fatality, a retired kindergarten teacher from Jiangsu province, was among the 19 people aboard the shuttle, who were mostly from China and included the victim's husband.

The Washington Post reported on Friday that after the accident occurred at around 5 pm on Tuesday on the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Stratford Lane about a mile north of Mount Vernon, the heroic actions of US military personnel and citizens at the scene probably helped save lives.

The Post described US Army Sgt 1st Class David Cooper joining a US Coast Guard officer and two others in lifting the bus.

After finding the rear door of the bus bolted and seeing the impracticality of crawling into the bus to reach the passengers, Cooper said they decided to lift the bus up back onto its wheels.

The report cited Army Sgt Gracie Vaughan as saying that she arrived at the scene the moment the bus was righted. She heard it land back on its wheels with a thud.

Asked how the four men were able to lift the bus, Cooper was at a loss, the Post reported.

"Adrenaline, grace of God, I don't know," Cooper was quoted as saying.

Vaughan, who also joined the rescue, saw the citizen rescue crew had developed into some 15 people, with some directing traffic around the scene and others using belts as tourniquets to stanch bleeding.

It all it happened in 10 minutes after the accident and before the emergency crews arrived on the scene.

"We'd like to express our heartfelt appreciation to all the American friends who stood with us and offered us help in this tragedy, including the police officers, doctors and nurses in the hospital, local government officials, as well as many ordinary people who offered their sympathy and helped voluntarily," said the Chinese embassy in Washington.

"We are deeply grateful,"

When the Post quoted US Park Police calling the passers-by efforts "heroic," Cooper and Vaughan declined to call themselves heroes.

"I just see it as doing what should be done," Vaughan told the Post.
Democratic US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton departs a discussion on national security during a campaign stop at the Virginia Air and Space Center in Hampton, Virginia, US, June 15, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's rhetoric may resonate with her supporters when she talks tough and claims lots of credit, as she did in her national security speech earlier this month, but for people in China, the words ring a bit hollow.

It's a well known truth that politicians like to take the credit and never the blame, but when Clinton said "I wrestled with the Chinese over a climate deal in Copenhagen," it is a pat on the back she certainly doesn't deserve.

Most experts in the field know well that China's strong resolve to fight pollution and climate change is not a result of outside pressure from people like Clinton, but rather the desire of its 1.4 billion people.

In Washington last week, Nick Stern, known for his Stern Review on climate and economics, praised China for being a global leader in the fight against climate change and for its action and ambitious goals in its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20).

Clinton loves to tout her experience. "I have sat in the Situation Room and advised the president (Barack Obama) on some of the toughest choices he faced," she said.

What she did not say is that as secretary of state, she was directly responsible for some of the worst decisions he ever made, such as the regime change in Libya in 2011. Libya is in total chaos today and has become a haven for Islamic State (IS) terrorists largely because of US intervention. The IS group itself is largely a by-product of the US' invasion of Iraq, which Clinton endorsed as a senator from New York.

Despite being accused of all sorts of things by US politicians like Clinton, China has never done anything even remotely as damaging to peace and stability in a country or region.

To many Chinese, Clinton's rhetoric reflects a Cold War, zero-sum mentality, something many people working on China-US relations have warned against. She claims Moscow and Beijing are "deeply envious of our alliances around the world, because they have nothing to match them".

Yet she conveniently avoids mentioning that China by principle is a non-aligned country and the US' alliances are a legacy of the Cold War, which ended more than 20 years ago.
BEIJING - The South China Sea proves to be a tranquil sea with inherent freedom of navigation, but some countries, with ulterior motives, have launched publicity campaigns to deliberately play up the South China Sea issue in support of their hegemonist military moves.



Let's first take a look at an example. In February, Western media started to hype up China's missile deployment in South China Sea's Xisha area. On Feb. 16, the US Fox News network reported that China deployed HQ-9 anti-aircraft missiles on Xisha's Yongxing Island. On Feb 17, US secretary of state, White House spokesman and commander of the Pacific Command all criticized China for what they called "militarization" in the South China Sea.



On the same day, the Japanese government also expressed "grave concern" over China's action. Afterwards, the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies released a set of satellite photos, claiming China was setting up high frequency radar facilities on the South China Sea, echoing the so-called "China threat" claim.



In Western media's reports on the South China Sea issue, China has often been described as a restless empire "bullying" smaller countries, "militarizing" in the South China Sea, sabotaging "freedom of navigation", challenging international law, and seeking hegemony in the Asia Pacific region.



The farce, led by the U.S. and supported by its allies, was intentioned to make China the scapegoat for the tense situation in the South China Sea region.



Uncle Sam and its friends are good at staging biased media publicity campaigns, confusing different concepts and applying double standards. They often choose to ignore the fact that the Philippines and other countries have illegally occupied Chinese islands in the South China Sea and deployed radar facilities, planes, artillery pieces and missiles there. Yet, they tag "militarization" on China for doing lawful construction work on its own islands.



When asked whether sending large US naval ships and military planes to the region means militarization at a press briefing, US State Department spokesperson Mark Toner gave a funny answer by saying the practice was "basically freedom of navigation."



Western media publicity campaigns' prejudice against China on the South China Sea issue originates from their presumption of guilt on China -- Everything China does in the South China Sea must have been wrong.



This logic reminds people of the so-called "power's original sin". Concluding from their own history of expansion, Western countries take it for granted that once China becomes powerful, it will surely dominate.



According to Zheng Yongnian, director of East Asian Institute of the National University of Singapore, the US has misjudged China's intention and role in the Asia Pacific region on the basis of its own history of expansion and power politics rather than China's diplomatic performance in the region.



The increasingly obvious trend is that the US has been mobilizing political, economic, military and diplomatic resources to "come back to the Asia Pacific", and to contain China. Among the U.S. manoeuvres, staging a biased publicity campaign on the South China Sea issue is a clever trick with low input and substantial returns.



By employing the South China Sea issue, US politicians intended to humiliate and attack China and force China to make some "difficult choices" to concede. However, their wishful thinking of using publicity campaigns to press China to compromise and concede on fundamental issues such as territorial integrity is nothing but a pipe dream.



A straight foot is not afraid of a crooked shoe. Time will reveal China's goodwill and endeavor to promote peaceful development of the Asia Pacific region. Meanwhile, some countries' ulterior motive will also be brought to light in time.
Arbitral tribunal's jurisdiction over China-Philippine maritime disputes (Xinhua) Updated: 2016-06-20 14:28

BEIJING - An arbitral tribunal's jurisdiction over South China Sea disputes between China and the Philippines is abuse of international law and exerts baneful influence worldwide, experts have said.



"For the most part, the tribunal hasn't answered satisfactorily with respect to why there is a dispute under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and also how these claims do not relate to sovereignty, and in my view they do (relate to sovereignty)," Antonios Tzanakopoulos, an associate professor of public international law at the University of Oxford, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.



In 2013, the Philippines unilaterally filed an arbitration case against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, the Netherlands, with respect to the two countries' dispute in the South China Sea.



The Philippines' action went against an agreement it reached with China in the mid-1990s on settling their disputes in the South China Sea through negotiation. The agreement has been reaffirmed in many other bilateral documents since then, including the joint statement the two countries issued in September 2011.



China maintains that the tribunal handling of the arbitration proceedings has no jurisdiction over the case, which is in essence about territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation.



Territorial issues are beyond the scope of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and China has excluded maritime delimitation from compulsory arbitration in a declaration it made in 2006 in accordance with Article 298 of UNCLOS. Therefore, China has made it clear it will not accept or get involved in those proceedings.



Tzanakopoulos noted the tribunal "hasn't to a large extent answered how the claims put forward by the Philippines do not fall within the Chinese exceptions to the jurisdiction, because the convention allows every state to exclude some disputes from the jurisdiction of the relevant tribunals."



"The dispute settlement system in UNCLOS is not the best way to go about it, if this is done unilaterally by states starting disputes against other states on a bilateral level," he said.



In the view of Peter Li, an associate professor of the University of Houston Downtown, it was unfair for the tribunal to accept the case brought forward by the Philippines.



First, China's opposition to the arbitration proceedings was rejected by the PCA. The admission of the Philippine's unilateral arbitration request was indicative of the Court's position biased toward Manila, according to Li.



Second, all of the claims made by the Philippines were admitted by the tribunal while China's arguments have all been rejected by the court, including its calls for the exclusion of delimitation of maritime boundaries from compulsory arbitrary proceedings, and to follow peaceful settlement and consultation principles agreed among Southeast Asian countries, he said.



Third, the tribunal has abused its mandate granted by UNCLOS by involving itself in a territorial dispute that it has no authority to rule over, he added.



Due to the unfairness of the tribunal's actions, China has no legal obligations to participate in or to accept the verdict, Li said.



"China's rejection of and non-participation in the arbitration proceedings are in compliance with UNCLOS," he added.

The expected ruling will stoke tensions in the South China Sea, as it could send a wrong signal to Manila that it has the backing of the international community behind its territorial claims, encouraging it to turn a blind eye to China's bid of peacefully settling the dispute through bilateral talks, Li said.



Greg Austin, a professor at University of New South Wales Canberra, told Xinhua that the South China Sea issue clearly involves two very separate issues, one is the sovereignty dispute around the Nansha Islands and the other one is the maritime rights dispute which is covered by UNCLOS, which China is a signatory to.



The two issues are "very dangerous combination," said the professor.



"There are no easy solutions by the international laws when the combinations of the two disputes exist. While the Philippines is quite within its rights to use UNCLOS, that will not answer any questions of territorial sovereignty and the Permanent Court will make no judgment and can make no judgment on territorial sovereignty," he said.



Yasser Gadallah, director of the Chinese-Egyptian Research Center at Helwan University, said that the Philippines' resort to arbitration requires China's approval.



"Arbitration requires the consent of the two concerned parties that resort together to an international arbitration committee whose decisions are binding for both of them," the expert told Xinhua.



A 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed by China and the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), including the Philippines, states that all parties should resolve their disputes peacefully and avoid any move that would complicate or escalate the situation.



"I believe that the agreed-upon pact between China and the ASEAN countries can represent a suitable framework to resolve the Filipino-Chinese territorial dispute," said Mahmoud Allam, former Egyptian ambassador to China.
Afghan fire-fighters clean the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan June 20, 2016.[Photo/Agencies]

FAIZABAD, Afghanistan -- About eight civilians were killed and 30 others wounded in a bomb attack in Afghanistan's northern province of Badakhshan on Monday, a local official said.

"The blast ripped through the main square of Kishim district, southwest of provincial capital Faizabad city. As a result of the incident, eight civilians were killed and 30 persons were injured," said Nawid Froutan, spokesman of the provincial government.

The blast was caused by explosive attached into a motorcycle at the crowded circle, the spokesman said.

The casualties were shifted to nearby hospitals by ambulances and police vehicles while some of the wounded were transported to Taluqan city, capital of the neighboring Takhar province.

"Majority of the affected people were local vendors while several women and children were among the injured. Many shops around the site were also damaged," the spokesman noted.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

The explosion was the third bomb attack in the country within a day.
The 2016 China-US Public Diplomacy Summit opens on June 19, 2016 in Beijing. [Photo provided to China Daily]

The 2016 China-US Public Diplomacy Summit was held on Sunday at Renmin University of China in Beijing.

Over 30 government officials, scholars and media representatives attended the gathering, with the theme being to "Promote China-US Public Diplomacy and Enhance Asia-Pacific Security Cooperation".

Addressing the opening of the annual event, Liu Wei, president of Renmin University of China, said Beijing and Washington need comprehensive and effective public policies to build a new model of the major power relationship based on mutual trust and win-win cooperation.

Shi Yinhong, a professor of US studies at the RUC, elaborated on his understanding of a new model of major power relationship while addressing the summit.

"The US should accept China's future leading position in GDP, total foreign trade and its influence in Asia's economy, politics and diplomacy, in order to build a new model of major power relationship, Shi said.

"To build such a relationship, US should also accept China's competitive military advantage in its coastal waters and weaken military ties with its alliances in the Asia-Pacific region," he said.

"Meanwhile, Beijing should recognize Washington's overall military advantage in the world," Shi added.

Concerning the development of think-tanks in China, Cheng Li, director of John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institution, said communication between think-tanks of China and the US played a vital role to handle misunderstandings and miscalculations.

"China's think-tanks are in a fast-developing period, it is inevitable that problems like formalism, inefficiency and similarity will occur. However, the overall development is about advancement and is also historic," Li said.

Wang Lili, deputy dean of the National Academy of Development and Strategy at RUC, said that as the two major powers in the world, China and the US have shared interests.

We can only choose to cooperate rather than to confront each other, said Wang, also a moderator of the think tank meeting.

She said that the exchanges and dialogues of the strategic circles in both China and the United States would help reinforce strategic trust and promote the building of a new type of major power relationship between the two countries, as well as to enhance global peace and stability.

Other speakers at Sundays meeting were veteran diplomats like Ma Zhengang, deputy president of the China Public Diplomacy Association and former ambassador to Britain, Li Daoyu, former ambassador to the US, Douglas Paal, vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and leading scholars like Robert Daly, director of the Kissinger Institute on China, and Jerrold Green, president and chief executive officer of the Pacific Council on International Policy.

The summit was jointly hosted by the National Academy of Development and Strategy at RUC and the China Public Diplomacy Association.
A number of key political documents and cooperative documents will be signed by China and Russia during Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit to China, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday.

Putin will pay a state visit to China on Saturday at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, the ministry spokesman Lu Kang announced in a press release earlier.

This will be Putin's fourth visit to China since taking office as president in May 2012.

According to Hua, Putin will hold talks with Xi. The two sides will exchange views on bilateral ties as well as regional and international issues of common concern. They will also make arrangements on the future development and priority cooperation fields of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

During the meeting, the two leaders will sign and announce a number of key political documents and witness the signing of a series of cooperative documents between the two countries' departments and enterprises.

In Beijing, Putin will also meet with Premier Li Keqiang and National People's Congress Standing Committee Chairman Zhang Dejiang.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation, and events will be held by both sides to celebrate this anniversary, the spokeswoman said.

"China expects Putin's visit to further consolidate the political and strategic trust between China and Russia, to promote practical cooperation in various fields, to inject new impetus to the bilateral strategic partnership and making more contribution to global and regional peace, security and stability," Hua said.
BEIJING -- Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a state visit to China on June 25, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang on Monday.

Putin will visit at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Lu said in a press release.

Xi will hold talks with Putin and they will have an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral ties and issues of common concern, another Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying, told a daily news briefing.

According to Hua, the two leaders will plan the development direction and priority cooperation areas of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, and they will sign important political documents and witness the signing of a series of documents of pragmatic cooperation.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and top legislator Zhang Dejiang will also meet Putin, Hua said.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the signing of the Sino-Russian Good-Neighborly Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation and both sides will hold events to mark the occasion, Hua said.

China hopes that Putin's upcoming visit will consolidate mutual political and strategic trust, promote pragmatic cooperation in various areas, inject new impetus to bilateral ties, and contribute more to international and regional peace, security and stability.
Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron walks from Parliament to St Margaret's Church with Jeremy Corbyn (2nd R) the leader of the opposition Labour Party for a service of rememberance for Labour MP Jo Cox who was shot and stabbed to death last week outside her constituency surgery, in Westminster, London, June 20, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

British political leaders and legislators led tributes to murdered member of parliament Jo Cox, who was shot and stabbed to death in the street in her constituency last Thursday, as parliament was recalled in a rare tribute on Monday.

As members of the House of Commons took their seats, Cox's place was marked by a single white rose and a single red one  a white rose is the symbol of her native Yorkshire and the red flower the symbol of the Labour Party, who she represented as representative for Batley and Spen, in Yorkshire.

Parliament is rarely recalled in the UK except in times of crisis, but MPs and members of the House of Lords were determined to pay tribute to Ms Cox, a mother of two who was only elected to parliament in 2015.

It was in recess ahead of Thursday's referendum, when Britons are to vote on whether to remain in the European Union or leave.

Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, said they had gathered in "heartbreaking sadness," and Prime Minister David Cameron said Cox was an "extraordinary colleague and friend."

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition and head of the Labour Party, told MPs We have lost one of our own, and society as a whole has lost one of the very best.

Corbyn described her killing as an attack on democracy, and our whole country has been shocked and saddened by it", adding "we can come together to change our politics to tolerate a little more and condemn a little less."

A book of condolence for Labour Party MP Jo Cox is seen near her houseboat in Wapping in London, Britain June 16, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

Cox was attacked by a man on the main street of Birstall in West Yorkshire Thursday as she prepared to run a regular advice session for constituents. The man allegedly shouted "Britain First," a slogan used by an ultra right-wing nationalist group, as he attacked her. Police are now investigating to see if the suspected killer has any ties to right wing groups.

Her death caused Cameron and other political leaders to call a 48-hour halt to campaigning for Thursday's referendum.

Cox was an ardent supporter of the Remain campaign, and many commentators have linked her murder to the extreme emotions exposed by weeks of often bitter campaigning.

Thomas Mair, 52, was remanded in custody by an Old Bailey Criminal Court judge on Monday, on charges of murder, possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, and grievous bodily harm.

At an earlier hearing on Saturday he had given his name as "death to traitors, freedom for Britain" before his lawyer provided his correct name and address.

He will appear in court again on Thursday.

Contact the reporter at chris@mail.chinadailyuk.com
Left: Cover of The Economist. Right: Cover of The Spectator. [Photo/Agencies]

British newspapers and magazines are divided over the European Union referendum questions, as the heavyweight Sunday papers expressed their views, joining a host of leading daily newspapers and magazines that weighed in with their take on Brexit in editorials published last week.

Much like the opinion polls leading up to Thursday's historic vote, media outlets are split roughly down the middle as to whether Britain should remain in the European Union. Many publications came out with predictable stances given their respective political leanings and well-documented opinions on the EU, though there were some surprises.

Both The Sunday Times and The Mail on Sunday ran contrary to their daily sister papers  The Times and The Daily Mail respectively.

Opposing sibling publication the Daily Mail's pro-Brexit stance, The Mail on Sunday came out in support of the Remain camp.

"Britain would be compelled to stand and fight alone for its existence in a hard, globalised world where those who cannot survive on their wits quickly fall behind," the paper said in an editorial on Sunday. "The single-minded leaders of the Leave campaign contend that the issue is not, in the end, economic, but that they value independence so highly they are ready to pay any price for it."

The Sunday Times meanwhile backed the Leave campaign, expressing concerns over sovereignty, security and the EU's sluggish economic recovery post-recession.

"In the event of Brexit, Brussels may pursue a 'global security strategy,' perhaps including an EU army without a UK veto," the editorial read on Sunday. "We must keep out. It is NATO that guarantees our security."

This view was at odds with associated publication The Times, which urged readers on Friday to vote "In" due to the "unknown and alarming consequences" a Brexit may entail.

The Times and Sunday Times are owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, and the media magnate is reported to support Leave campaign. Times editor John Witherow's decision to run the editorial is alleged to have followed several heated staff meetings.

On Tuesday last week The Sun, the paper with the widest print circulation in the UK that also falls under the News Corp umbrella, wrote that its support of Brexit was consistent with its "relentless" campaign "against the ever-expanding superstate."

The Observer  the Guardian's associated Sunday paper  predictably threw itself behind the Remain vote, saying that the EU was a force for good "despite its many flaws."

The Daily Telegraph, a consistent critic of the EU, is in favour of leaving and counts leading Brexiteer Boris Johnson amongst its regular columnists.

Weekly magazine The Spectator ran a blistering critique of the European Union on Saturday, while The Economist and the The New Statesman both backed Remain, the latter stating that: "Almost all economists forecast that Britain would suffer an immediate shock, and reduced growth and living standards in the long term."

Contact the reporter at angus@mail.chinadailyuk.com
China and Poland are set to upgrade their strategic partnership to a comprehensive level on Monday during President Xi Jinping's visit to this fast-developing country, a senior Chinese diplomat said.

The scaling-up of relations, five years after the Sino-Polish strategic partnership was established, comes after Poland has adjusted its foreign policy to engage with all global players, instead of mainly just the West.

"Our bilateral relations have made tremendous, solid progress on all fronts, and we will recognize such harvests during Xi's visit," Xu Jian, the Chinese ambassador to Poland, said in an exclusive interview on Friday.

Xu, previously the ambassador to Romania, said the burgeoning partnership between China and Central and Eastern Europe is also the reason behind the repositioning of China-Poland relations.

The Chinese president arrived in Poland on Sunday after a three-day state visit to Serbia, which lies at the crossroads between Central and Southeast Europe.

The ambassador said both sides are expected to sign dozens of agreements on Monday to boost cooperation in politics, economy, trade, high-tech and people-to-people exchanges.

"I think our relationship is already at a level of comprehensive strategic partnership," said Xu, adding that the leaders of both nations are expected to endorse such a partnership in a political document to be signed on Monday.

In recent years, especially since the 2008 financial crisis, countries in Central and Eastern Europe have started to readjust their foreign policies after years of closely engaging with the West, while China's economic dynamics and large market have become magnets to bring them closer.

Contact the writers at fujing@chinadaily.com.cn and liwensha@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 06/20/2016 page3)
President visits steel plant that has been revived through Chinese investment

China wants to share its advanced technologies and management experience with Serbia, to create job opportunities and improve people's livelihoods, President Xi Jinping said on Sunday.

Speaking at the Chinese-owned Smederevo Steelworks, he said China-Serbia cooperation will be a model for his country's links with Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

The remarks came a day after Xi and Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic signed a joint declaration to lift bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic level, the first of its kind in the CEE region.

The countries also signed more than 20 cooperation documents covering investment, economy and trade, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural communications.

Serbia, which in 2009 became the first country in the CEE region to establish a strategic partnership with China, is an "all-weather friend", Xi said before calling for both sides to expand ties.

Noting that China has never invaded another country in its history, Nikolic said it is a great nation that loves peace and dislikes conflict.

"The whole world should thank the Chinese government and people for the contributions they have made to world peace," he said.

Xi was accompanied on his visit to Smederevo in Belgrade by Nikolic and Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic.

The company was purchased by China's Hebei Iron and Steel Group for 46 million euros ($51.8 million) in April.

Founded in 1913, the Smederevo plant went bankrupt in 2003 and was sold to US Steel for $23 million. Serbia bought the company back in 2012 and since then has been looking for new investors.

Nikolic said workers at the steel plant would become richer because the company is now being managed by "friendly and just Chinese partners".

Vucic also expressed gratitude for Chinese investment in Serbia, saying that he hoped more Chinese companies and individuals will invest in its major projects.

"Thanks to Xi and the Chinese company for bringing new hope to the 5,000 workers at the steel mill," he said, adding that the Serbian government had been working hard to look for an investor for three years.

Stanuovic Lorica, 50, who has worked at Smederevo for two decades, said the Chinese investment will bring more opportunities for the development of the 100-year-old factory.

"We're glad to see that the links between the two countries are becoming closer, which has benefited common people like me," she said.

Ljubisa Obradovic at the Serbian Chamber of Commerce added that the nation's metal-electro industry has gained a lot from Chinese investment.

"The arrival of Hesteel opens huge potential in the metal-electro industry and mining, in the sense that the level of production will double," he said.

Early landmarks

Serbia, Poland and Uzbekistan are keen supporters of the Belt and Road Initiative, while Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia are key regions.

Connectivity

China Railway Tunnel Group built the Kurama Tunnel for the electrified Angren-Pap Railway in Uzbekistan. The tunnel, completed in February, is a key section of the 169-km railway and is the longest in Central Asia.

The Hungary-Serbia rail project, agreed by China, Hungary and Serbia in November 2013, is China Railway Corp's first project in the European Union. Once complete, the 350-km link will cut the travel time between Budapest and Belgrade from eight to three hours.

A new bridge over the Danube was opened in December 2014, the first European bridge built by a Chinese company. It is also Serbia's first new bridge over the river in nearly 70 years.

Production capacity

China's Hebei Iron and Steel Group acquired Serbian steel plant Zelezara Smederevo for 46 million euros ($51.8 million) in April.

In September 2014, President Xi Jinping witnessed the start of work on Line D of the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline with his Tajik counterpart, Emomali Rahmon.

In 2013, China's Liugong Group completed the acquisition of steel company Huta Stalowa Wola and its distribution subsidiary, Dressta Co. It was the first acquisition by a Chinese company in Poland.

Financial support

Poland is a founding member of the China-initiated Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

The China-CEEC Investment Cooperation Fund was jointly established and invested in by China, Poland and Hungary, and was launched in Poland.

The China-Eurasia Economic Cooperation Fund, which aims to support members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as its observers and dialogue partners, has invested in its first projects.

anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 06/20/2016 page3)
China and Poland are expected to sign "dozens of agreements" during President Xi Jinping's visit, according to Miroslaw Gajewski, the Polish ambassador to China.

The agreements will facilitate and enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields including investment, finance, energy and infrastructure, he said in an interview with China Daily.

He said Xi will meet with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Beata Szydlo and the speakers of both houses of parliament.

"We expect discussions on a wide range of issues," said Gajewski, adding that Poland especially hopes to intensify discussions on security and stability and the Belt and Road Initiative.

"We welcome with great interest China's initiative to strengthen economic links between eastern Asia and Europe, and create new development opportunities for countries along the New Silk Road," he said.

Two direct freight train routes already link China and Poland: one from Chengdu to the city of Lodz, and the other from Suzhou in Jiangsu province to Warsaw.

Gajewski said Poland has "gained a lot of experience with the handling of freight from China" and hopes that the Belt and Road Initiative will be a "two-way street", with goods being shipped in both directions.

He also said Poland expects to create synergies between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Polish government's Plan for Sustainable Development.

"We expect the visit (by President Xi) will bring tangible results, in ... for example the opening of the Chinese market for Polish food and agricultural products," Gajewski said.

He said he is looking forward to more Chinese investment in Poland, adding, "We especially welcome greenfield investment that creates jobs."

wangqingyun@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 06/20/2016 page3)
Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) and his wife Peng Liyuan wave as they arrive at the airport in Warsaw, Poland, June 19, 2016. Xi Jinping arrived in Warsaw Sunday for a state visit to Poland. [Photo/Xinhua]

China and Poland set solid foundations to forge a synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the 2030 development strategy, as this Central European country is actively pushing economic diplomacy, said a senior Chinese official.

Li Wei, minister of Development Research Center of the State Council. Photo provided to China Daily

Li Wei, minister of Development Research Center of the State Council, a top think-tank for central government, made the remarks while his center is staging a two-day Silk Road Forum on the feasibility of mega-project cooperation between China and Poland during President Xi Jinping's state visit.

Xi is scheduled to address the opening of the forum while both China and Poland, which has announced a long-term strategy of economic growth and transport blueprint, have shown great interest in pursuing such synergy.

"China's Belt and Road Initiative has created vital opportunities for both sides to deepen trade and economic relationship and Poland's long-term development strategy has well echoed the initiative," said Li.

The Polish long-term strategy 2030 was aimed at achieving high-level modernity and President Xi came up with Belt and Road Initiative in 2013 to boost connectivity in Asia, Europe and Africa. The Silk Road Forum in Warsaw is the third one after being held in Istanbul and Madrid in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

In terms of Chinese-Polish economic relations, Li said China is an important investment destination and the biggest trade partner of Poland in Asia, while Poland is China's biggest trade partner and the most important investment destination in Central and East Europe.

"Right now, Poland has been greatly increasing its investment in infrastructural construction, which has brought tremendous opportunities for Chinese companies," said Li.

Historically labelled as the eastern gateway of Europe, Poland has already become an active participant of China's Belt and Road Initiative, said Li. And among all the freight railway expresses linking China and European countries, six of them will be entering their destinations via Poland.

President Xi is scheduled to attend a ceremony on Monday, at which which various freight lines between Chinese and European cities will be unified as a same brand "China Express", which has up to 10 days advantage compared with transport at sea.

Li said President Xi will further discuss with his Polish leaders deepening cooperation within Belt and Road framework and draw up a road-map of strengthening the bilateral relationship.

He said the initiative is being given top priority by China.

Li said the central government and all of the provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions have already mapped their own blueprint on how to materialize the Belt and Road Initiative.

Externally, Li said China has already signed agreements with more than 30 countries such as Mongolia and Kazakhstan to seek synergy for each other's major projects. Last year, China and Russia announcedthey would find ways pf linking the Belt and Road Initiative and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union, which consists of five countries so far.

China and the European Union have also signed an agreement to deepen cooperation between the Belt and Road Initiative and European Union's 315-billion-euro Investment Plan, known as the Juncker Plan.

"In implementing the Belt and Road Initiative, we have also made a lot of progress in infrastructural construction and trade and industrial park projects," said Li.

For example, the 770-km high-speed railway linking Moscow and Kazan, the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway and China-Laos railway are under construction and China has gained a big stake in the projects by offering technological solutions, financial sources and engineering experiences.

In Central and Eastern Europe, the construction of Hungary-Serbia railway was started last year and the Serbian section has been carried out by a consortium of Chinese companies led by China Railway.

Li said China has already entered into currency swap agreements with sixteen countries along the routes of Belt and Road Initiative. Apart from the Asia Infrastructural Investment Bank and Silk Road Fund, China has been working to set up joint financial vehicles with nations in Africa, the EU, Russia and other countries and organization.

"We are trying to sort out the problem of financial constraints," said Li.

Li also said China and 46 countries have already signed agreements to waive visa for each other's territories, and another 19 countries have agreed to issue visas on arrival for Chinese citizens.

"The measures have greatly facilitated people-to-people exchanges, traveling, economic cooperation and trade flows," said Li.

To contact the reporter: fujing@chinadaily.com.cn
WARSAW -- China and Poland issued a joint communique here on Monday and agreed to upgrade their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, in a display of their shared commitment to further deepen bilateral cooperation.

China and Poland regard each other as a long-standing and stable strategic partner, and see the other's development as an important opportunity for mutually beneficial and win-win results, according to the document signed during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the country.

China and Poland pledged to promote bilateral ties in an all-dimensional manner to benefit the two peoples by enhancing cooperation in politics, economy, society and culture, and expanding coordination and cooperation on global and regional affairs in a spirit of mutual respect, equal treatment and win-win cooperation, the document said.

To further deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership, China and Poland agreed to strengthen high-level exchanges, and expand bilateral communication and cooperation at all levels between the two countries' central and local governments, legislatures and parties.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment on mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as mutual understanding on each other's interests and major concerns.

Poland said it supports peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait and renewed its adherence to the one-China policy in the document.

The two sides are ready to push forward bilateral cooperation within the framework of Poland's sustainable development strategy and China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, which refers to the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, said the communique.

China and Poland will strengthen the synergy of their development strategies, and conduct and deepen mutual beneficial cooperation to realize peace, sustainable development and common prosperity.

The two countries stand ready to further deepen their all-dimensional economic relations in the light of the principles of equality and mutual benefit. They pledged fair treatment of each other's companies.

China and Poland will make use of existing bilateral mechanisms to deepen cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, finance, transportation and logistics, infrastructure construction, civil aviation, energy, agriculture, e-commerce, science and technology, and environmental protection.

The two sides vowed joint efforts to promote balance of two-way investment and bilateral trade by further facilitating market access.

China and Poland will continue to encourage and support their enterprises to extend cooperation and actively explore new modes of cooperation in the fields such as infrastructure construction and production capacity cooperation.

China welcomes Poland's participation in Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank as a founding member.

China and Poland agreed to expand cooperation in such areas as culture, education and sports, deepen exchanges in areas including tourism, medical care and think-tank, and push forward communication between the two countries' young people.

The two sides are willing to improve visa application procedures to best serve bilateral personnel exchanges.

China and Poland believe that the mechanism of China-Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) cooperation has effectively boosted practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and thus become a significant platform for China and CEE countries to deepen friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation.

The China-CEE cooperation, in alignment with major initiatives by the European Union (EU), prompts the development of China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership.

China and Poland stand ready to beef up communication and coordination in accordance with the principles of openness, inclusiveness, mutual benefit and win-win results, to jointly push for greater development of China-CEE cooperation.

China speaks highly of Poland's role in China-EU relations. Both sides support an early conclusion of negotiations on an ambitious and extensive China-EU investment agreement, which covers market assessment and investment protection.

The two sides stressed commitment to push forward democratization and institutionalization of international relations in accordance with principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations.

They called on world countries to jointly face challenges, seek development and share prosperity on the basis of equality and mutual trust, inclusiveness and mutual learning, and win-win cooperation.

The joint communique also includes items on other global and bilateral issues.

The Chinese president arrived in Poland on Sunday, the second stop of his three-nation Eurasia tour, which also includes Serbia and Uzbekistan.
Key projects agreed as part of the Belt and Road Initiative

President Xi Jinping and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda review an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at the presidential palace in Warsaw on Monday. JANEK SKARZYNSKI / AFP

China and Poland agreed on Monday to launch major projects as soon as possible as part of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative to boost interconnectivity.

Agreements on the joint action were signed during President Xi Jinping's state visit to Poland.

Witnessed by Xi and his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda, the two countries signed 13 documents to boost cooperation in areas including logistics, industrial parks, customs and aviation.

Xi said after the signing ceremony that China welcomes Poland's active participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, which is aimed at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road trading routes.

According to the agreements, the two countries will work together to map out their development plans, jointly establish an online Silk Road, boost information links, facilitate customs procedures and improve cooperation on infrastructure investment in logistics.

Xi said Poland, situated at the heart of Europe, has a unique geographical advantage.

Stating that the country is a founding member of the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, Xi encouraged Poland to use the bank to finance infrastructure construction.

He suggested that both countries should encourage their companies to cooperate, especially on large projects that could benefit their people.

According to a joint declaration signed by the two presidents, China and Poland agreed to upgrade the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Poland is China's largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe, while China is Poland's third-largest supplier of imports. Trade between the two countries reached $17.09 billion last year.
(Photo : Photo by Ralph Freso/Getty Images) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to a crowd of supporters during a campaign rally on June 18, 2016 in Phoenix, Arizona. Trump recently suggested that Muslims should be profiled after the Orlando mass shooting.

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Donald Trump once again delivered a controversial comment after the Orlando mass shooting, saying that profiling Muslims already in the United States is common sense.



Trump appeared on the CBS show Face the Nation and was interviewed by host John Dickerson. The GOP presumptive nominee said that he thinks profiling is something the U.S. is going to have to start thinking about as a country.



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He added, "And other countries do it; you look at Israel and you look at others and they do it and they do it successfully. You know, I hate the concept of profiling. But we have to start using common sense, and we have to use, you know, we have to use our heads ... we really have to look at profiling. We have to look at it seriously."



Trump suggested that ethnic profiling could be useful to keep people safe.



This is not the first time that Trump talked about the matter. He raised the idea of banning Muslims from entering the country after the multiple attacks in Paris that killed dozens. He also expressed limited profiling of Muslims if neighbors and relatives seemed suspicious after the San Bernardino, California mass shooting by a radicalized husband and wife, Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik.



As for the latest mass shooting, Trump blamed American Muslims for protecting terrorists. He then proposed temporary banning of any immigrants from countries that have a history with terrorism.



The latest comments of Trump have further distanced him from the Republican party. Many have been begging the presumptive presidential nominee to tone down on his rhetoric, but he has responded by saying that those who do not agree with him should stay silent.



Aside from suggesting profiling, Trump said the government should also investigate mosques in the U.S. He cited the New York Police Department's Demographics Unit, which assembled databases about Muslims, their addresses, where they shopped, worked, prayed, and much more.



However, the city has had to settle two lawsuits stemming from the spying.



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Tagsdonald trump, profiling, Muslim profiling, Muslims, terror attacs, radicalized, Islamic State, Orlando mass shooting
(Photo : Anthony Kwan/Getty Images) Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee takes part in a prostest on June 18, 2016 in Hong Kong. Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee told reporters on Thursday evening that Chinese authorities had allegedly detained him for eight months and forced him to issue a scripted confession for trading in banned books, deepening the rift with Beijing.

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The Hong Kong bookseller who went missing last year and was released last week said in a statement that he thought about taking his own life many times while in the custody of Chinese officials.



The bookseller, identified as 61-year-old Lam Wing-kee, was the manager of a bookstore called Causeway Bay Bookstore that sold books critical of the Chinese leadership. The bookstore was purchased by Gui Minhai in 2004, who is still in Chinese custody.



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Lam is one of the five booksellers who were imprisoned by Chinese officials for months. He was released just this Tuesday and has since been giving interviews about his experience.



Lam noted that he was accused last October of trying to overthrow the Chinese government by selling books via mail to the mainland.



He said that when he was in custody, the Chinese officials never told him what the punishment was for selling illegal books. They also did not inform him if he would be getting 5 or 10 years in prison or if they would sentence him without consulting "any sort of legal standard."



Lam contemplated suicide many times in January and February but could not do it, as the design of his prison cell was not suitable for the act.



Although there was no physical abuse, Lam said that he had to endure months of solitary confinement, interrogations, and psychological torture.



Lam was arrested while visiting the Chinese city of Shenzen. He claimed that he was blindfolded and taken to the eastern city of Ningbo. He was there until March and was then transferred to Shaoguan, where he was able to enjoy more freedom.



The other booksellers in custody were identified as Lui Bo, Cheung Jiping, and Lee Po.



Lam was released from China and returned to Hong Kong last week, on the condition of retrieving a hard disk that had the names of people from mainland China who purchased the books from the Mighty Current publisher. Lam said that he will not be giving any data to the officials.



The bookseller also said that his interrogators were interested in the books about a Communist Party directive urging officials to curb the ideas regarding freedom of the press, civil rights, civil society, and more. The other book gossiped about the love lives of Chinese leaders, including that of current president Xi Jinping.



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TagsHong Kong, Hong Kong Bookseller, disappearance of booksellers, Suicide, Chinese officials, controversial book titles, President Xi Jinping, Lam Wing-Kee
(Photo : YouTube Screenshot) The units of OPPO's F1 Plus, also known as OPPO R9 in China, reached 7 million units sold - one in every 1.1 seconds - since its launch on March 17, according to the company.





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The units of OPPO's F1 Plus, also known as OPPO R9 in China, reached 7 million units sold - one in every 1.1 seconds - since its launch on March 17, according to the company.



Vice President Alen Wu of OPPO proudly announced this statistic at a conference in Shenzhen on June 17. He emphasized the company's focus on the quality of their phones.



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OPPO F1 Plus has a 2500 mAh battery that lasts for 13 hours and 3 minutes, which is 1.8 times the battery-life of standard smartphones. This battery is boosted by Oppo's VOOC Flash Charge technology that charges it up to 56 percent in just half an hour.



Wu added that the company listens to their users, giving them the top-quality products. He also said that the company has become the fourth biggest smartphone manufacturer worldwide, based on the sales at the first quarter of this year and because of F1 Plus' success.



The executive said OPPO would continue to progress.



One of the contributing factors to the success of OPPO F1 Plus is the company's rigorous quality control tests. F1 Plus underwent up to 390 tests.



This device features a 5.5-inch full high-definition AMOLED display and a MediaTek Helio P10 with 4 GB of RAM and a massive 64 GB of expandable internal storage. It also has with a 13-megapixel PDAF primary shooter with a f/2.2 aperture and a 16-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies with f/2.0 aperture, making it one of the best smartphones for photography.



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(Photo : Getty Images) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is confident of China's support over India's application to become a member of the elite Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

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Days after Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar made a secret two-day visit to China to seek its support for the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) membership, India's Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, said she's hopeful of securing Beijing's backing over its entry into the elite group.



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Swaraj said that China was no longer opposing India's NSG membership and was only concerned about India's "criteria and procedure" to join the group as a member.



"China is not opposing membership of India in NSG, it is only talking of criteria and procedure," said Swaraj. "I am hopeful that we would be able to convince China as well to support our entry to the NSG."



She added that both countries have reached a consensus and was confident that India will become an NSG member before the year ends, which she said was "crucial for India's energy policy."



Swaraj also noted that she has been speaking to 23 nations and only a couple of them have raised concerns but she is hopeful of an agreement.



India's NSG membership will be one of the topics of discussion at a plenary meeting of the 48-member group in Seoul on June 23-24.



When asked about Pakistan's application to the NSG, Swaraj said that she cannot comment on its neighbors entry into the group since India is not an NSG member but stated that there were be no opposition from India's side against any country and that each country's application should be considered on the basis of merit.



Earlier in the day, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Vikas Swarup confirmed that Jaishankar's visit to Beijing took place on June 16-17, where "all major issues, including India's membership to NSG" were discussed.



Earlier this month, China strongly opposed India's entry into the NSG, citing that New Delhi had not yet signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which is a prerequisite to join the elite group, as previously reported.



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TagsIndia, china, India NSG, India NSG membership, NSG membership, NSG, Nuclear Suppliers Group, Pakistan, Sushma Swaraj
(Photo : Getty Images) Japan's foreign ministry has said it will seek the help of the United States to address China's incursion into its territorial waters.

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Japan has lodged a diplomatic protest against China on Friday after a Chinese warship entered Japanese waters and sailed near the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.



Japan's Foreign Ministry said Beijing's incursions into Tokyo's territorial waters heightened tensions in the region and raised serious concerns among Japanese troops stationed in the islands.



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The ministry said a Chinese vessel entered Japan's territorial waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands at around 5:00 am (15:30 GMT) on Wednesday, prompting the officials to lodge the complaint.



In a statement, Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki. said he had summoned Chinese Ambassador Cheng Yonghua and lodged the protest at 2:00 am on Friday.



In the protest, Saiki pointed out that the Chinese Navy vessel's entry into the border zone is an "action that unilaterally heightens tensions."



Russian ships



To make matters worse, Japanese coast guards also spotted three Russian ships sailing near the islands at about the same time that the Chinese warship entered the waters, demonstrating an apparently coordinated show of force by Beijing and Moscow, he pointed out.



Saiki said Chinese coast guards usually sail in the waters surrounding the Senkaku Islands, but the incident was the first time a Chinese ship entered the waters of Japan.



He said Tokyo will seek the advice of Washington and will confer with the global community on the best thing to do to handle China's assertiveness in the region.



"Japan will cooperate closely with the USA and the global community and strongly urge China not to engage in any action that would unilaterally heighten tensions," he said.



International waters



Meanwhile, China's Foreign Ministry has denied Japan's claims, saying that the Chinese Navy vessel was on routine patrol in international waters.



China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said that the Chinese ships did not violate Japanese territorial waters as it is being claimed by Japan according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).



"I would advise that Japanese media and the government better study international laws before making any report or comment," she said.



Japan has expressed concern that China will try to expand its reach in the East China Sea.



U.S. President Barack Obama has noted that according to a mutual security pact, Washington is obligated to come to the aid of Tokyo if Japanese-controlled territories in the East China Sea come under attack.



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TagsSenkaku Islands, Japan, East China Sea, Japanese coast gurads, china warship, china
(Photo : Dante Fenolio/University of Texas) These two Mexican blindcats were discovered in an underwater cave near Del Rio, Texas.

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Scientists have uncovered an extremely rare, blind catfish known as the Mexican blindcat that is indigenous to Mexico, inside a limestone cave in Amistad National Recreation Area in Del Rio, Texas. The Prietella phreatophila species is a pink and white hued fish that is also tiny, not growing more than three inches in length.



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Scientists placed two Mexican blindcats in the care of the San Antonio Zoo, where the Mexican blindcat is considered to be a very rare species of fish since it lost many of its traits that are found typically with other animals like coloring for camouflage, eyesight and even speed in movement, as it already adapted to the perpetually dark caves, according to Dean Hendrickson from the University of Texas.



This unique fish was first seen by Texas by National Park Service's Jack Johnson last April 2015, where scientists believe that this species originally came from the natural springs and wells of Coahuila, Mexico. Now, scientists suggest that the water filled caves in the Rio Grande basin in Texas links together with the Coahuila water system in Mexico.



The Mexican blindcat is also considered to be an endangered species as the government of Mexico placed the fish in its endangered species list . Eventually the Unites States Fish and Wildlife Service also included the species in its foreign endangered species as well.



The Mexican blindcat faces a lot of environmental threats such as habitat loss due to contamination from ground water due to human use. The Mexican and U.S. governments are now concentrating on conservation efforts to save this tiny, endangered, elusive cave fish.



According to San Antonio Zoo's vice president of conservation and research, Dante Fenolio, San Antonio Zoo is fully equipped with laboratories that are designed to keep subterranean wild species safe and healthy. He adds that the zoo is committed to preserve this very special blind catfish, and conserving other species as well that live in groundwater.



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Tagsrare blind catfish, mexican blindcat, endangered species, Mexico, Texas, extremeley rare blind catfish texas mexico, Prietella phreatophila, blindcat
AG orders transcripts of calls between Orlando terrorist and police edited to remove ISIS loyalty pledge 20 June, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , |

WASHINGTON (Christian Examiner)  In keeping with the policy of President Barack Obama's administration to avoid associating terror attacks with radical Islam, Attorney General Loretta Lynch has ordered the FBI to redact transcripts of the calls between police negotiators and the terrorist who attacked the Pulse nightclub  an Orlando gay bar  to remove references the shooter's religious affiliations.

Omar Mateen shot and killed 49 people at the nightclub at 2 a.m. June 12. He wounded at least 50 others before SWAT officers stormed the building and killed him. Mateen declared his allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) before the shooting and, according to later reports, on social media during the attack.

Lynch said on NBC's Meet the Press Sunday that the FBI will be releasing a transcript of Mateen's calls with law enforcement. But it won't be complete.

"What we're announcing tomorrow is that the FBI is releasing a partial transcript of the killer's calls with law enforcement, from inside the club," Lynch said. "These are the calls with the Orlando PD negotiating team, who he was, where he was ... that will be coming out tomorrow and I'll be headed to Orlando on Tuesday."

Lynch, however, was asked by host Chuck Todd why the transcripts wouldn't be complete. She answered that they would be redacted because, "What we're not going to do is further proclaim this man's pledges of allegiance to terrorist groups, and further his propaganda."

"We're not going to hear him talk about those things?" Todd asked.

"We will hear him talk about some of those things, but we are not going to hear him make his assertions of allegiance and that," Lynch said. "It will not be audio; it will be a printed transcript. But it will begin to capture the back and forth between him and the negotiators. We're trying to get as much information about this investigation out as possible."

Lynch said the information could be released since Mateen was dead.

There is, however, no question at this point that Mateen was an ISIS loyalist. ISIS issued a statement of responsibility for the attack shortly after the attack and warned several weeks before that Florida was a potential terrorist target.

The terror group called Mateen a "soldier of the caliphate."

"Over 100 Crusaders killed and injured after an attack on their gathering at a night club in America," and ISIS spokesman said via ISIS's al-Bayan radio Monday.

"We begin from America, where Allah has enabled brother Omar Mateen, one of the soldiers of the caliphate in America, to carry out a raid where he was able to infiltrate a crusaders' gathering at a gay night club in Orlando, Fla. Allah enabled him to inflict heavy casualties amongst the filthy crusaders. He killed and injured over a hundred of them. This is the biggest raid to be carried in America after the raid of Manhattan 16 years ago. All praise to Allah."

President Obama said last week that his administration avoided using the term radical Islam or linking terror attacks to "Islam" because terror groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda want to make the war between Islam and America or Islam and the West. That is why, he said, he believes his administration should limit references to terrorists as Islamic extremists.

"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," President Obama said.
Gay church in Dallas evacuated in bomb scare 20 June, 2016 by Gregory Tomlin , |

DALLAS (Christian Examiner)  The largest predominately gay church in America was evacuated for several hours Sunday over a bomb scare prompted by what the church called "suspicious packages" left in a construction area near the entrance of the church.

According to a statement released by the Cathedral of Hope, the church's early morning service, scheduled for 9 a.m., was moved outside when several pieces of black luggage were discovered unattended.

Church officials called Dallas police and the department deployed its bomb squad as a precaution, but police found only clothes and a cell phone in the luggage.

"The Cathedral of Hope was evacuated at about 8:05 this morning following some suspicious packages found on the premises," the church wrote on its Facebook page. "This will not deter us from worship this morning and we will continue to not walk in fear or allow instances of hate to overcome the promise to love."

Two hours later, the church posted another announcement that the "packages have been deemed harmless, and we are headed back inside just in time for the 11 a.m. service."

Security at the church was already at a heightened state after a series of attacks on gay men in the Oaklawn area of Dallas, but a church spokesman said the church was being cautious after the attack on the Pulse nightclub  a gay bar  in Orlando last Sunday.

The church's pastor, himself a homosexual, said "clicking noises" were heard coming from the bags so they evacuated the building.

"We've been the victims of hate crimes before and we know what to do in these circumstances," Neil Cazares-Thomas told the Dallas Morning News. "We will gather, we will worship, we will continue to preach that message that love wins."

There was, however, no real threat. Police said the noise coming from the bag was the low battery warning on the cell phone in the luggage.

The Cathedral of Hope, which claims 4,500 members, is affiliated with the United Churches of Christ and is the largest nearly exclusively gay church in America. It claims its mission is to "reclaim Christianity as a faith of extravagant grace, radical inclusion and relentless compassion."

In reality, the church is far from scriptural in its approach to human sexuality. It describes itself as a "VIP" (vibrant, inclusive and progressive) church. It also claims allegiance to the teachings of the Progressive Christianity, which disavows biblical teachings on marriage, the family and human sexuality.

Cazares-Thomas was involved in the founding of the Metropolitan Community Churches, an international effort to open churches to gays, lesbians, bi-sexual and transgender members.
A municipal judge in Wyoming may lose her job and be compelled to pay a $40,000 fine for telling a journalist over a phone interview that she, as a judge, will not officiate same-sex marriage but other magistrates may do so, in response to a hypothetical question posed by him.

Reporter Ned Donovan had called judge Ruth Neely for her comments after same-sex marriage was legalized in Wyoming in 2014. He asked her if she would be "excited" about performing same-sex marriages, to which she responded she would not be able to do them.

"We have at least one magistrate who will do same-sex marriages, but I will not be able to," she was quoted as saying in the interview. She added that her view on marriage is that between one man and one woman.

A formal complaint was filed against her after the interview was published, and a misconduct investigation was initiated by Wyoming Commission on Judicial Conduct and Ethics.

According to the Baptist Press, Neely was offered various conditions if she would agree to conduct same-sex marriages, such as not publishing the interview story, or dropping the prosecution. However, Neely declined the offers every time.

The commission then voted unanimously to file a recommendation to the Wyoming Supreme Court to oust Neely from her post.

Neely's attorneys and supporters say that efforts of an unelected commission to remove her from office because of her opinion about gay marriages are based on misinterpretation of law.

Neely's lawyers have asked the state supreme court to dismiss the commission's recommendations that she was in non-compliance with the law and needed to be removed her office.

Neely had served as a Municipal Judge in Pinedale for nearly 21 years.

Her supporters from the state are rallying with her to prevent her removal from the office where she had an impeccable record of service.

"The fundamental principle that no judge should be expelled from office because of her core convictions unites a diverse group of Wyoming's citizens, including members of the LGBT community who have expressed dismay at the commission's actions here," states a brief submitted by her lawyers.
The number of refugees today is the highest it has ever been at over 65 million people, according to a report released by the United Nation's Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Monday.

This marks the first time the number of refugees has ever surpassed 60 million, the UNHCR said. And more than half of the refugees were children.

The report comes from a study that was concluded at the end of 2015. At the end of 2014, 59.5 million individuals were displaced, showing an increase of almost 6 million refugees in just one year.

The UNHCR pointed to three reasons for the unprecedented number of refugees. First, refugees that have been fleeing long-standing conflicts in places such as Somalia and Afghanistan see no sign of being resolved. Second, new conflicts have erupted in other areas, such as in Syria, Central African Republic, Ukraine, and South Sudan, among others. And third, the rate at which countries and organizations have been finding ways to help refugees has been "on a falling trend," the UNHCR said.

"At sea, a frightening number of refugees and migrants are dying each year; on land, people fleeing war are finding their way blocked by closed borders," said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. "Closing borders does not solve the problem."

"The willingness of nations to work together not just for refugees but for the collective human interest is what's being tested today, and it's this spirit of unity that badly needs to prevail," Grandi added.

Turkey was found to be the host country with the most refugees, as almost 2.5 million refugees were numbered to have settled there in 2015. Almost one in five individuals living in Lebanon are refugees, making it a nation that "hosted more refugees compared to its population than any other country," according to the UNHCR.

The evangelical community has shown support in hosting and welcoming refugees over the past year. Most recently, the Southern Baptist Convention approved a resolution to encourage member churches to welcome refugees during its annual meeting that took place from June 14 to 15.

Earlier this year in January, evangelicals gathered at a summit called the 'GC2' Summit -- standing for the Great Commandment and Great Commission -- hosted by the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism, the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College, World Vision, and LifeWay Research, where they discussed how churches could most effectively connect with and serve refugees.

"We acknowledge that there are genuine security concerns and encourage governments to be stewards of safety, but we also observe that choosing to come to North America as refugees would be among the least effective ways for those who intend to do us harm," a joint statement signed by a coalition of evangelicals from the GC2 Summit states. Representatives from LifeWay Research, World Vision, World Relief, The Wesleyan Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, the Assemblies of God, the Humanitarian Disaster Institute, and The Billy Graham Center for Evangelism, were among the signatories.

"We distinguish that the refugees fleeing this violence are not our enemies; they are victims," the statement continues. "We call for Christians to support ministries showing the love of Jesus to the most vulnerable, those in desperate need, and the hurting. This is what Jesus did; He came to the hurting and brought peace to those in despair."
As the Catholic writer Joseph Bottum has observed, we live in an anxious age.

In an increasingly diverse and rapidly changing culture, some people are anxious about shifting cultural norms, civil rights, and religious liberty. The past decade has seen a rapid transformation in public opinion and legal norms around sexuality, same-sex marriage, transgender rights, and religion in the public squarechanges that have caused anxiety for a great number of traditional religious believers, including Christians, Muslims, and Orthodox Jews.

Socioeconomic disparities create other anxieties. Some people have been left jobless or underemployed by the global economy. Others confront inadequacies in housing, education, and health care in impoverished and often segregated neighborhoods and communities. And people wonder why those with greater means are indifferent to the financial burdens of the lower and middle classes.

There is, of course, an even more dire anxiety that emerges when some people prove incapable of living with our differences. In the past few years, violent men have taken innocent lives in places including a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, the apartment of a Muslim family in North Carolina, a black church in Charleston, and just last week, a gay nightclub in Florida. In each of these instances, vulnerable communities became the intentional targets of mass violence, leaving others in those communities wondering about their own safety and sense of belonging in this country.

How should Christians in the United States bear witness in an anxious age? We start by understanding the context in which we live. That begins by understanding the context from which we have come and the ways in which that context has contributed to some ...

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I had the privilege or reading a pre-release version of "God Shines Forth: How the Nature of God Shapes and Drives the Mission of the Church." Here are 20 quotes from the book, which you should pick up.
A Historic Night for Jewish-Christian Relations at the LA Jerusalem Banquet Contact: Stephen Jenks, 716-759-1058



LOS ANGELES, June 20, 2016 /



The high-energy evening included an address from Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles, David Siegel. Prominent leaders of the evening included Rabbi Yehuda Feigen, Dr. Judea Pearl, Rev. Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, Mr. Simon Etehad, Pastor John-Paul Foster, Mr. David Suissa, Mrs. Angela Evans, Rabbi Pini Dunner, and Dr. Jack Hayford.



The four event co-chairs Dina Leeds, Gila Milstein, Aline Shomof and Miri Shepher opened the evening, welcoming the largest-ever Jerusalem Banquet crowd to this evening of solidarity with Israel.



President of the Israel Christian Nexus Rev. Robert Stearns spoke to the crowd, enthusiastically sharing, "Tonight we have an opportunity to continue the legacy of incredible leaders like General Shimon Erem and Pastor Jack Hayford in standing together as Jews and Christians, united in our love and support for Israel and the Jewish people."



The event centered around honoring outstanding leaders in the Jewish and Christian communities, and equipping the next generation to be strong voices in support of Israel and the Jewish people. Dr. Judea Pearl, award winning professor of computer science at UCLA and the father of slain Wall Street Journalist Daniel Pearl, was honored for his life of impact in education, his work for interfaith understanding, and his strong stand for Israel.



Rev. Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the world's largest Hispanic Christian organization serving as a representative voice for the more than 100 million Hispanic Evangelicals around the world, was honored for his leadership and his strong stand on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people.



In addition two emerging young leaders were honored at the gala. Mr. Simon P. Etehad, Esq, is a highly-successful trial lawyer and a leader in the Jewish community. Pastor John-Paul Foster is a pastor at Faithful Central Bible Church, led by Bishop Kenneth Ulmer. Pastor Foster recently returned from a pastors' trip to Israel with Rev. Robert Stearns. Both men received awards for their outstanding example and leadership in the community.



One of the highlights of the evening was hearing from students impacted through the Shimon Erem Israel Experience College Program. The Israel Experience, which has been dubbed the "Christian Birthright," trains the best and brightest Christian college and university students to be informed ambassadors for Israel in the midst of a rising tide of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment on university campuses.



The group of Israel Experience students currently in the land brought a greeting from Israel via video, while several Israel Experience Alumni were present at the gala, including Ryan Mauro, 2009 Israel Experience Alumnus and leading national security analyst. Mauro, who is featured regularly on FOX News and other media outlets, shared, "The knowledge and understanding I gained through the Israel Experience has been integral to all the work I have done since. The best thing you can do to combat BDS and the rise of Anti-Semitism on the university campus is to support the Israel Experience."



Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles, David Siegel, also addressed the gathering, saying, "The work that Robert Stearns and the Israel Christian Nexus is doing is vital for Los Angeles and for Israel."



The evening of honor and celebration included special musical selections of joyous traditional songs which brought the room to their feet, singing and clapping.



Concluding an extraordinary and historic evening in Jewish-Christian relations in Los Angeles, Dr. Jack Hayford, who has been one of the leaders of the Israel Christian Nexus from its earliest days, said, "Tonight we have seen there is more that unites us than that which separates us. We join together with one voice in prayer for the peace of Jerusalem."



Support was raised from the evening to strengthen the work of the Israel Christian Nexus, including the Shimon Erem Israel Experience College Program, a study tour which gives tomorrow's leaders an educated heart for Israel. Each year students are educated first-hand on the realities in Israel. Students have participated from over 113 American Universities. For more information, visit:

Share Tweet Contact: Stephen Jenks, 716-759-1058LOS ANGELES, June 20, 2016 / Christian Newswire / -- The Israel Christian Nexus, in partnership with Eagles' Wings, held the fourth Los Angeles Jerusalem Banquet at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills on June 14, 2016. The iconic International Ballroom, site of the Golden Globes and other Hollywood awards shows, hosted a very different gathering as celebrities, business, political, and religious leaders from both the Jewish and Christian communities gathered to celebrate Jerusalem and their shared values.The high-energy evening included an address from Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles, David Siegel. Prominent leaders of the evening included Rabbi Yehuda Feigen, Dr. Judea Pearl, Rev. Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, Mr. Simon Etehad, Pastor John-Paul Foster, Mr. David Suissa, Mrs. Angela Evans, Rabbi Pini Dunner, and Dr. Jack Hayford.The four event co-chairs Dina Leeds, Gila Milstein, Aline Shomof and Miri Shepher opened the evening, welcoming the largest-ever Jerusalem Banquet crowd to this evening of solidarity with Israel.President of the Israel Christian Nexus Rev. Robert Stearns spoke to the crowd, enthusiastically sharing, "Tonight we have an opportunity to continue the legacy of incredible leaders like General Shimon Erem and Pastor Jack Hayford in standing together as Jews and Christians, united in our love and support for Israel and the Jewish people."The event centered around honoring outstanding leaders in the Jewish and Christian communities, and equipping the next generation to be strong voices in support of Israel and the Jewish people. Dr. Judea Pearl, award winning professor of computer science at UCLA and the father of slain Wall Street Journalist Daniel Pearl, was honored for his life of impact in education, his work for interfaith understanding, and his strong stand for Israel.Rev. Dr. Samuel Rodriguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the world's largest Hispanic Christian organization serving as a representative voice for the more than 100 million Hispanic Evangelicals around the world, was honored for his leadership and his strong stand on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people.In addition two emerging young leaders were honored at the gala. Mr. Simon P. Etehad, Esq, is a highly-successful trial lawyer and a leader in the Jewish community. Pastor John-Paul Foster is a pastor at Faithful Central Bible Church, led by Bishop Kenneth Ulmer. Pastor Foster recently returned from a pastors' trip to Israel with Rev. Robert Stearns. Both men received awards for their outstanding example and leadership in the community.One of the highlights of the evening was hearing from students impacted through the Shimon Erem Israel Experience College Program. The Israel Experience, which has been dubbed the "Christian Birthright," trains the best and brightest Christian college and university students to be informed ambassadors for Israel in the midst of a rising tide of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel sentiment on university campuses.The group of Israel Experience students currently in the land brought a greeting from Israel via video, while several Israel Experience Alumni were present at the gala, including Ryan Mauro, 2009 Israel Experience Alumnus and leading national security analyst. Mauro, who is featured regularly on FOX News and other media outlets, shared, "The knowledge and understanding I gained through the Israel Experience has been integral to all the work I have done since. The best thing you can do to combat BDS and the rise of Anti-Semitism on the university campus is to support the Israel Experience."Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles, David Siegel, also addressed the gathering, saying, "The work that Robert Stearns and the Israel Christian Nexus is doing is vital for Los Angeles and for Israel."The evening of honor and celebration included special musical selections of joyous traditional songs which brought the room to their feet, singing and clapping.Concluding an extraordinary and historic evening in Jewish-Christian relations in Los Angeles, Dr. Jack Hayford, who has been one of the leaders of the Israel Christian Nexus from its earliest days, said, "Tonight we have seen there is more that unites us than that which separates us. We join together with one voice in prayer for the peace of Jerusalem."Support was raised from the evening to strengthen the work of the Israel Christian Nexus, including the Shimon Erem Israel Experience College Program, a study tour which gives tomorrow's leaders an educated heart for Israel. Each year students are educated first-hand on the realities in Israel. Students have participated from over 113 American Universities. For more information, visit: www.jerusalembanquetla.org
Judicial Watch: Clinton IT Witness' Testimony Scheduled for Wednesday, June 22

WASHINGTON, June 20, 2016 / Christian Newswire / -- Judicial Watch today announced that the deposition of Bryan Pagliano, the Clinton State Department IT official who reportedly provided support for the Clinton email system, is scheduled for Wednesday, June 22. U.S District Court Judge Sullivan recently ruled that Pagliano's deposition can be videotaped. The video will be kept under court seal for now, but the transcript will be publicly available.

Three depositions of top Clinton aides and State Department officials inquiring into the email system of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are currently scheduled:

June 22  Bryan Pagliano (State Department Schedule C employee who has been reported to have serviced and maintained the server that hosted the "clintonemail.com" system during Mrs. Clinton's tenure as Secretary of State);

June 28  Huma Abedin (Mrs. Clinton's Deputy Chief of Staff and a senior advisor to Mrs. Clinton throughout her four years as Secretary of State and also had an email account on clintonemail.com);

June 29  Patrick F. Kennedy (Under Secretary for Management since 2007 and the Secretary of State's principal advisor on management issues, including technology and information services);

Judge Sullivan granted " discovery " to Judicial Watch on May 4, 2016, into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's email system. Judicial Watch also will receive new Clinton email scandal records tomorrow, June 21, from the State Department. Judge Sullivan granted Judicial Watch's unopposed motion to obtain State Department records referenced in the recent State Department's Office of the Inspector General report criticizing Clinton's email practices.

The depositions come in connection with a Judicial Watch Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit that seeks records about the controversial employment status of Huma Abedin, deputy chief of staff to former Secretary Clinton ( Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of State (No. 1:13-cv-01363 )).
Britons favour Jewish migrants over Muslims, Roma - study

Jewish migrants are preferred by Britons to Muslims, who are in turn preferred to Romas.

This is according to a new study by the Centre for Social Investigation in Nuffield College, Oxford, which traced different attitudes towards immigration in Europe. The figures also revealed that negative attitudes towards migrants did not correlate to high levels of immigration.

The study found only seven per cent of people would not allow Jewish migrants compared to 17 per cent who would not allow Muslims and 30 per cent who would not allow Roma migrants. Despite the disparity, the figures showed the UK was more favourable towards Muslim migrants than other European states. The data from 20 other European nations found 10 per cent wanted to block Jews and more than a quarter wanted to ban Muslims.

The co-author of the report Lindsay Richards said the favourable attitude towards Jewish people was down to their long-term persecution. She added the UK's relatively relaxed attitude towards Muslims was because many people had grown used to them.

"The more Muslims there are, the more members of the general population will have come into contact with them and therefore are less likely to be hostile to them. I think the negative attitude toward Roma maybe shows that generally people have not had contact with them," she said in the Times.

The figures also revealed that countries with negative attitudes towards migrants often did not have high rates of immigration. In Sweden and Norway, two nations with relatively high net migration, have a favourable attitude towards immigrants. This is compared to Slovenia and Hungary, which have negative attitudes towards migrants yet have net migration close to zero.
Christian leaders row over Poet Laureate's 'God is gay' poem

A prominent Church of England bishop has compared a poem that states "God is gay" to the writings of St Paul.

Bishop of Buckingham Alan Wilson was immediately condemned by a leading conservative evangelical theologian who accused him of failing to understand the New Testament.

Bishop Wilson was talking about the latest poem from Carol Ann Duffy, the Poet Laureate, an honorary position appointed by the Queen. The Laureate often sees it as part of their duties to pen significant verses around important national and international occasions.

Duffy's latest poem marks the Orlando massacre in which 49 people were murdered in a gay nightclub in Florida and is titled: "After Orlando: Gay Love."

The last of the 19 lines reads: "The butcher, the baker, the candlestick-maker; our children, are gay. And God is gay."

Bishop of Buckingham Alan Wilson told Christian Today: "The last line is shocking. It is meant to be shocking. But shock is something we live with in Christian communities."

He said he had recently preached on Galatians 3 where St Paul writes that it is not necessary to be circumcised. The spirit goes beyond the Pharisaic law, he said.

"I am sure there were Pharisees in Galatia who were very upset by what St Paul was saying because it went beyond what they knew of God."

It was a matter of re-interpreting the Old Testament.

"This is what is called 'queer theology'. It is not about being gay. It is about questioning and querying what we thought we could rely on in our religious traditions."

He said queer theology had been studied and taught in academic circles for 20 years.

"One of the sad things about the Church of England is we tend to operate in isolation from our own theologians. This is a shame. There are some great theologians out there and we take absolutely no notice of them. They are showing us how belief works for people today in an intelligent way.

"If people are offended by what this poem says, they ought to Google 'queer theology' and do a bit of reading."

Theologian Ian Paul, a member of the Archbishops' Council, a University of Nottingham honourary professor and author of the Psephizo blog, told Christian Today: "The idea that Carol Ann Duffy's poem is similar to Paul's writings in the New Testament is an extraordinary and implausible claim. I think it shows how little Alan Wilson really understands the New Testament, and how unaware he is of his own assumptions.

"Queer theology is not just another way of interpreting the New Testament. Like a number of current approaches, it is an ideological approach to texts which assumes its own perspective has authority and controls the texts in question, and so displaces the ability of the New Testament to ask any questions of us.

"Alan's approach appears to be: the NT was shocking; this poem is shocking; therefore this poem is like the NT. I suspect most schoolchildren would be able to spot the flaw in this logic. But it again raises the question: is there nothing that a bishop can say before he or she is held accountable? It is tragic that Alan is doing so little to listen to the views of others, and is not afraid to cause offence to many in his own church."

The dispute comes at a sensitive time for the Church of England, which at General Synod in York next month will go behind closed doors to discuss the results of the recent "shared conversations" on sexuality.
Churches offer free funeral services for victims of Orlando mass shooting

Churches in Orlando, Florida are offering to host funeral services for the victims of the Pulse club mass shooting that left 50 people dead and dozens injured.

The Forest Lake Seventh Day Adventist Church in Apopka, Florida, announced that it will host funeral service for free for the victims of the tragedy and live stream the services or memorial.

"People want to come to the assistance and the aid of people who are clearly devastated and there's no barrier to that. There's nothing that will keep us from that. It's a true expression of love. It's just to say 'This is my brother, this is my sister, these are people in need' ... we have to be there," the church's Pastor Bernie Anderson told The Huffington Post.

Pastor Seth Cain of Metro Church located in Winter Springs said in a video message that "we would like to serve Orlando" by offering the families of the victims the use the church's facilities for free.

"If you need anyone to help you through this struggle, through this trying time, I would love to help you," he said. "This was not a part of God's plan. So if there's anything we can do for you to help you through this time, please let us know."

The Florida Hospital Church also announced that it "would also like to offer the availability of free funeral services to any victims of the recent tragedy at #ThePulse. We also offer the ability to live stream for those unable to attend in person."

Senior Pastor Andy McDonald said, "If they need clergy, if they need help to plan the service, print programs  anything they would need to hold a funeral service we'd be happy to do that for them."

"It really is about love. It's about loving people and being present with people. That's the true heart and character of our community and our city," he said.
Donald Trump calls for profiling of Muslims

Donald Trump has called for racial profiling to combat terror in the United States.

The technique uses ethnicity, race or religion as a means to determine whether someone is likely to commit a crime. In an interview on Sunday the presumptive Republican nominee said it was "not the worst thing to do" as he repeated his call to keep mosques under surveillance.

"I think profiling is something that we're going to have to start thinking about as a country," Trump told CBS's Face the Nation. "You look at Israel and you look at others and they do it successfully.

"You know, I hate the concept of profiling. But we have to start using common sense and we have to use, you know, we have to use our heads."

The technique is outlawed in the European Union but there have been a number of reports that suggest people with Arabic or non-Jewish names travelling in Israel are stopped and checked more often than Israeli Jews.

In the aftermath of the Orlando terror attack that killed 49 in a gay nightclub, the New York billionaire repeated his call on a ban on Muslims entering the US.

Earlier on Sunday he also said he supported restrictions on gun control advocated by President Obama and Democrat candidate Hilary Clinton. The proposal, which will be voted on in the Senate on Monday, would ban the sale of guns to people on terror and no-fly lists.

"I'd like to see that," Trump told ABC. "It's just simpler."

He said he understood the concern of many Republicans about civil liberties but sided with most Democrats in supporting the measure.

"It could be that people are on there that shouldn't be," he said, but added: "We have to make sure that people that are terrorists or have even an inclination toward terrorism cannot buy weapons, guns."

His comments came as House Speaker Paul Ryan made it clear he would not stop a rebellion against Trump's nomination for President. The official announcement will be made at the Republican's national convention in July but most of the party's delegates strongly oppose Trump. As the most senior Republican in Congress, Ryan will chair the convention where the delegates will announce their candidate.

"They [the delegates] write the rules, they make the decisions," he told NBC's Meet the Press. "All I want to make sure is to make sure it is done above board, clearly, honestly and by the rules."

He added: "I see my role, now that he's got the plurality [of delegates], he actually won, is pretty much a ceremonial position. But the last thing I am going to do is weigh in and tell delegates what to do."
'Gospel of Jesus' wife' was probably forged, academic who discovered it concedes

An ancient Coptic papyrus fragment which referred to Jesus' "wife" is almost certainly fake, the Harvard professor who discovered it has admitted.

'The Gospel of Jesus' Wife' was publicised in 2012 by Dr Karen King, and she has since defended its authenticity against claims that it was forged.

On June 16, however, King said: "It tips the balance towards forgery".

Her admission followed an investigation published by The Atlantic into the fragment's owner, Walter Fritz.

"It appears now that all the material Fritz gave to me concerning the provenance of the papyrus... were fabrications," King told the Boston Globe.

She said that an "utterly definitive" conclusion that the papyrus was faked could not be made until scientific evidence proved otherwise, but conceded to The Atlantic that current evidence "presses in the direction of forgery".

Fritz has denied that he forged the document.

The business card-sized fragment contains a line that reads: "Jesus said to them, 'My wife...'" and "she will be able to be my disciple".

It also makes reference to "Mary", which has been interpreted as referring to Mary Magdalene.

Carbon-dating tests suggested that the papyrus dates back to around 741 AD, and the ink could also be ancient.

However, numerous scholars have contested its authenticity over the past four years.

Cambridge University's New Testament Studies journal last year devoted an edition to the controversy, with contributions from leading scholars providing damning critiques of the fragment.

One of them, Dr Christian Askeland, found during an intensive study of the text that it was made with the same ink, the same writing implement and showed the same handwriting as a fragment from John's Gospel, written in the Lycopolitan Coptic dialect  which itself was copied almost exactly from a 1924 book on a Lycopolitan John's Gospel found in a jar at Qau el-Kebir the previous year. Askeland argued that since both were written by the same person and that one is definitely a forgery, so is the other.
Jo Cox MP hailed as '21st century Good Samaritan'

Jo Cox MP, who was killed last week, has been remembered as a "21st century Good Samaritan".

A memorial service at her local church of St Peter's, Birstall, in West Yorkshire, offered constituents another opportunity to pay tribute to their former MP, who was shot and stabbed to death on Thursday.

Rev Paul Knight led prayers and a eulogy for Cox for a congregation of about 50 people, She was "someone with whom Jesus would have been so pleased", he said.

"Her humanity was powerful and compelling, and we would do well to recognise her as an amazing example, a 21st-century good samaritan," he said.

"Jo was someone who went out of her way to help others. I regret to say I didn't know what she was like as a girl, but she grew into a fervent advocate for the poor and oppressed.

"And though she must have been angry at times about what she saw here and around the world  those places she visited and worked  she seemed to me, at least, to be one who could fight with a passion and a disarming smile."

Knight also paid tribute to a local man, 77, who had tried to intervene in the attack and was left wounded.

Meanwhile her late husband and two young children spent the weekend on a Father's day camping trip. He tweeted on Sunday morning:

Jo loved camping. Last night the kids & I camped in her memory& remembered the last time we were all woken by the dawn chorus #MoreInCommon  Brendan Cox (@MrBrendanCox) June 19, 2016

A fund has been set up in Jo Cox's name and had raised more than 800,000 by Monday morning. The money will be donated to The Royal Voluntary Service, HOPE not hate and The White Helmets.

Friends and family of Cox have organised a public tribute to her in Trafalgar Square on Wednesday, which would have been her 42nd birthday. The event, More in Common  Celebrating the life of Jo Cox, will be held the day before the referendum.

Thomas Mair, 52, has been charged with her murder as well as grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.

When asked to give his name and date of birth at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday, Mair replied: "My name is death to traitors, freedom for Britain."

MPs from across the political spectrum have continued to praise Cox's life and work as they make their way back to Parliament on Monday morning. The House of Commons has been recalled to allow MPs to express their sorrow at her death. Chris Grayling, leader of the house, said he supported the idea that MPs should not sit in their usual party groups during the session.

"Conventional party politics should be a million miles away," he said.
MPs attend church service in memory of Jo Cox MP

The Houses of Commons and Lords paid moving tributes to Jo Cox MP who was killed in her constituency last week.

The referendum debate resumed on Monday after both sides suspended their campaigns last week. MPs returned to the House of Commons for a one-off session to remember the Labour MP. An emotional Speaker John Bercow led the tributes as he described her "outstanding qualities...she was caring, eloquent, principled and wise".

Politicians on both sides of the House lauded Cox as a friend and a colleague and many quoted from her maiden speech: "What surprises me time and time again as I travel around the constituency is that we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us."

Evangelical Christian Tim Farron said MPs were "united" and they mourned an "enormous figure in this House". All the MPs wore a white rose in memory of Cox, described as a "Yorkshire lass" and Farron joked that he legacy of bridge building he, as a Lancastrian, joined the wearing of the Yorkshire rose.

He added: "The snatching away of a wife and a mother, hugely loving and hugely loved, is what has moved Britain to stand in collective grief this last few days."

Members of both houses then walked over St Margeret's Church, in the grounds of Westminster Abbey, for a memorial service.

Beautiful singing at full voice in St Margarets in honour of #JoCoxMP  Beth Rigby (@BethRigby) June 20, 2016

What a lovely thing that is, to hear singing so loud and uplifting ring out across Parliament square.  Kate McCann (@KateEMcCann) June 20, 2016

Commons chaplain Rose Hudson-Wilkin led the service with Canon Andrew Tremlett. He said in his address: "As people of good faith, of unshakeable determination, and unswerving commitment to serve the people of this United Kingdom, we come here to offer our prayers and petitions, the pain of our hearts, and the cries of our souls, as we remember and pray for Jo Cox, Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen, for Brendan, and for their children.

A far-right anti-immigration party will be the only party to contest the by-election for her seat of Batley and Spen. Jack Buckby, an ex-BNP member will stand for Liberty GB, a fringe party which wants to fight "the Islamisation of Britain".

The leader of the party, Paul Weston, claimed Jo Cox was "more interested in solidarity with Palestinian people than gang rape" of girls in her area.

Labour's shadow home office minister blasted the decision as "obscene, outrageous and comtemptible".

Jack Dromey told the Mirror: "The immorality of the far right knows no bounds. Britain will be shocked and they will be roundly rejected in the by-election".
North Korea warns Christian former detainee Kenneth Bae to stop 'babbling' about prison

North Korea has demanded former detainee and Christian missionary Kenneth Bae stop "babbling" about his time in prison, warning that if he does not do so, it will not negotiate with the US over two American citizens it is still holding.

"As long as Kenneth Bae continues his babbling, we will not proceed with any compromise or negotiations with the United States on the subject of American criminals, and there will certainly not be any such thing as humanitarian action," the KCNA news agency said.

"If Bae continues, US criminals held in our country will be in the pitiful state of never being able to set foot in their homeland once again".

Bae, a Korean-American, was the longest held US citizen in North Korea since the Korean War. He was running a legal tour company in North Korea when he was sentenced to hard labour for 15 years in April 2013 following accusations that he was committing hostile acts against the state and encouraging citizens to work against the government.

He was sent to a camp for foreign detainees where about 30 guards kept watch over him as their sole prisoner but was released in November 2014.

He has released a book, Not Forgotten, about his experiences, and has said he was accused of trying to overthrow the North Korean government through his Christian worship and by spreading Western ideas.

Criticised over its human rights record for years, North Korea has made use of detained Americans in the past to extract high-profile visits from the United States, with which it has no formal diplomatic relations.

Pyongyang is now holding two US citizens, both of whom it has tried and sentenced to hard labour.

In March, Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old student of the University of Virginia, was sentenced to 15 years' hard labour for trying to steal a propaganda banner bearing the name of former leader Kim Jong Il.

In April, a North Korean court convicted Korean-American missionary Kim Dong Chul of crimes against the state and sentenced him to 10 years' hard labour.

Last year, Canadian missionary Hyeon Soo Lim was sentenced to hard labour for life for subversion of the state.

North Korea has consistently been named the worst country in the world to be a Christian. Under dictator Kim Jong-un, the government maintains absolute control through the systematic repression of its citizens. According to Aid to the Church in Need, of the 400,000-500,000 Christian population in North Korea, at least 50,000 are thought to be in hard labour camps, while tens of thousands of citizens, including many Christians, have defected to countries such as neighbouring South Korea, China, Mongolia and Russia.

Addtional reporting by Reuters.
Pan-Orthodox Council: Historic summit goes ahead despite Russian withdrawal

A troubled meeting of Orthodox Christian Churches opened in Crete on Sunday, despite the withdrawal of four key Churches which threatened to undermine the historic summit.

Leaders and representatives from 10 autocephalous or self-governing Orthodox Churches held Mass in Heraklion yesterday to mark the beginning of the meeting. The first such gathering since the 8th century, it will continue until June 27.

However, it was marred by dispute ahead of Sunday's opening as the Russian, Antiochian, Bulgarian and Georgian Churches announced they would not be taking part.

The Russian Orthodox Church, which accounts for around half of the world's 250 million Orthodox Christians, called for the council's postponement. Spokesman Metropolitan Hilarion said it was no longer valid: "One church after another declares that it is not participating, which means it is no longer a Pan-Orthodox Council."

Behind the withdrawal are severe tensions in Orthodoxy between modernisers and ultra-conservatives. Some Churches have been fiercely critical of Russian Patriarch Kirill's meeting with Pope Francis in February, while others have expressed concerns about what issues Orthodoxy will concede on in its push for "Christian unity" with other Churches.

According to the BBC, there is also a power-struggle between Russia and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, who is considered the "first among equals" in the Orthodox Church.

Ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine also added to the disputes.

Ahead of the gathering, more than 1,000 Orthodox scholars urged the primates to hold the meeting despite the withdrawals.

"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," a letter said.

"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 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 donates thousands in cash to new campaign to help refugees

The Pope has given more than 75,000 to a new campaign to help refugees, prisoners, battered women and victims of terror attacks and persecution.

The $110,000 donation made Pope Francis the first to give to Be God's Mercy, launched by the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

His donation will benefit Christian refugees in particular.

The cash is earmarked to go to St Joseph's Clinic in Erbil, Iraq, which gives medical care to nearly 3,000 Christian refugees who have sought refuge from Islamic State. During this Year of Mercy, Francis hopes to inspire dioceses and parishes worldwide to be generous towards the needy.

The four-month Be God's Mercy campaign will end on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi in October.

In his video message launched with the campaign, the Pope urged Catholics worldwide to "carry out works of mercy together with ACN, in every part of the world, in order to meet the many, many needs of today."

The Pope said: "Men and women need the mercy of God, but also our own mercy. We need to hold each other's hands, caress each other, take care of one another, instead of waging so many wars."

Francis invited "every man and woman of good will" to contribute in creating concrete works of mercy and structures that would help meet "the many needs present in the world today." He concluded: "I thank you for everything you do. And don't be afraid of mercy: mercy is God's caress."

Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shaw of Lahore, Pakistan, who was at the launch in Rome, described how local Christian communities reacted to the Easter bomb attack on a park that killed more than 70 people, the majority of them women and children. The church in Lahore is among the groups which will be supported by the funds raised.

Pope Francis has long been a supporter of Aid to the Church in Need.

As Archbishop of Buenos Aires he worked closely with the charity which he saw as a "symbol of communion and fraternity with the suffering Church."
Pope Francis: I often have a 'crisis of faith'

Even Pope Francis has had doubts about the Christian faith, he admitted to a group of young people in Rome on Saturday.

The Pope was responding to a question about whether the suffering of people around the world, including Christians, had ever caused him to have a "crisis of faith".

"Many times I find myself in a crisis of faith," Francis replied during a Q&A at the Villa Nazareth University College. "Sometimes I've questioned Jesus: 'But why do you allow this?'"

He has had these thoughts as "a boy, a seminarian, a religious, a priest, a bishop and even now Pope", he admitted, according to Crux.

A Christian who "hasn't doubts, who hasn't had a crisis of faith, is a Christian who's missing something," he added. "He's a Christian who settles with a bit of worldliness and goes through life like this".

During the same session, the Pope said the systematic killing of Christians in the Middle East is "cruel martyrdom", and to brand it a genocide is "reductionism".

"The tragedy of the Christian community around the world... it's true," he said. "But this is the destiny of a Christian. Giving witness is a difficult situation. I don't like it when [some] speak of a Christian genocide in the Middle East: it's a reductionism.

"The truth is a persecution which leads Christians to have fidelity to the consistency of their faith."

He referred to martyrdom as "a mystery of faith" and a "gift of the Holy Spirit", but added that it is not only through death that Christians are able to testify to their belief in Christ.

"There's the martyrdom of blood for Christians, but also the martyrdom of the every day, the martyrdom of honesty in this world."

It takes courage, he said, "not to be ashamed of being seen as a Christian".

Pope Francis is not the only Christian leader to admit to having questioned their faith in times of crisis.

Following the terror attacks in Paris last November, the Archbishop of Canterbury generated a media storm when it was widely reported that he'd said he had doubted the existence of God.

In an interview with the BBC's Songs of Praise, Archbishop Justin Welby said: "Saturday morning [the day after the attacks], I was out and as I was walking I was praying and saying: 'God, why  why is this happening? Where are you in all this?' And then engaging and talking to God."

"Yes, I doubt," he admitted.

However, he later clarified in a blog post: "I was asked whether events like Paris ever caused me to doubt and question.

"Foolishly, I said exactly what I thought, in a fairly lengthy discussion which particularly referred to Psalm 44.

"The essence of my answer was that everyone has moments when they question things, and one sees that in the Psalms. The psalmist in Psalm 44 asks God if he is asleep, and challenges him in the most direct terms about his failure to deliver Israel. It is a psalm of protest.

"When there are tragedies like Paris, when friends suffer, when evil seems to cover the face of the Earth, then we should be like the psalmist.

"But that is not the same as a settled belief that God does not exist, or even any serious questioning about his reality. It's a moment of protest and arguing."

The Archbishop said that this was "very much part of my normal prayer life, together with praise and wonder, with delight and awe, with petition and lament, with celebration and rejoicing".
Refugee numbers at record levels, more than 63 million worldwide - UN

The number of refugees around the world is at its highest ever level.

This is according to the UN refugees agency, who have estimated 65.3m people were displaced by conflict in 2015, 5m more than the previous year. That means one in every 113 people worldwide is a refugee and marks a 50 per cent rise in the last five years.

As he released the report, the UNHCR chief warned of a worrying "climate of xenophobia" in Europe as the continent grapples to control the massive influx.

"The refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean and arriving on the shores of Europe, the message that they have carried is that if you don't solve problems, problems will come to you," UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told a news briefing.

"It's painful that it has taken so long for people in the rich countries to understand that," he said. "We need action, political action to stop conflicts, that would be the most important prevention of refugee flows."

The figures, released annually, mark World Refugee Day, show that despite the focus on Europe, the overwhelming majority of refugees (86 per cent) were hosted in low or middle income families. Turkey was the biggest host country with 2.5 million refugees followed by Pakistan and Lebanon.

Over half the total number of worldwide refugees come from just three countries: Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia.

The crisis has caused a rise in anti-immigration parties in Europe with a number of states re-establishing border controls. Although a deal has now been reached between the European Union and Turkey, it has been heavily criticised by human rights groups.

Asylum-seekers fleeing conflicts or persecution are increasingly confronted with walls or anti-foreigner sentiment, Grandi said. "The rise of xenophobia is unfortunately becoming a very defining feature of the environment in which we work.

"Barriers are rising everywhere - and I'm not just talking of walls. But I'm talking about legislative barriers that are coming up, including in countries in the industrialized world that have been for a long time bastions of principle in defending the fundamental rights linked to asylum."

Grandi added the deal had not solved the problem.

"The fact that that flow has stopped does not mean the problem of displacement has ended. It may have ended for some countries that don't have to deal with it anymore, for now," he said.
Sony Xperia X Performance release date: India release rumored for June 22 followed by U.S. in July

After Sony finally dropped its latest Xperia line called Sony Xperia X Performance in Taiwan on June 15, the waiting game for the mobile phone's release date continues in different parts of the world.

Sony's newest smartphone device that reportedly spearheaded the big smartphone lineup upgrade of the Japanese electronics manufacturing company is equipped with the current top-of-the-line chipset from Qualcomm.

Aside from its improved internal features, it boasts of a high-quality camera function that could help users capture crisp images even if the target is in constant motion.

According to the product description posted on Sony Mobile's official page, the new "Xperia X Performance boasts our new flagship camera, which is our smartest and fastest yet. With quicker response times, more intelligent focus, and a new highly adaptive shutter speed, you get clearer shots in the toughest situations."

It comes with the company's newest camera technology called the Predictive Hybrid Autofocus that could predict the subject's next movement to achieve the best results.

"You select a focus object, and your camera tracks it automatically as it moves, the product description said. The focus stays clear and your subject stays sharp. So even if you can't predict where the shot is headed, your smartphone can."

While Taiwanese consumers can now enjoy the awesome camera features of the new Sony Xperia X Performance, rumors claim that those in India can start purchasing their own units beginning Wednesday, June 22. But the company is still mum about the alleged release date.

Meanwhile, those in the U.S. can start purchasing the device via some of the country's biggest retailers like Amazon, B&H, and Best Buy on July 17, according to GSM Arena. Those in the U.S. should expect to spend as much as $700 to acquire the said device.
Special church service held for Lane Graves, 2-year-old killed by alligator at Disney resort

A special church service was held on Thursday for two-year-old Lane Graves, the young boy who lost his life after an alligator dragged him underwater while his family was vacationing at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa in Orlando, Florida.

The service was held at St. Patrick's Church in Elkhorn, Nebraska, according to WPSD Local.

Lane's parents Matt and Melissa have requested privacy as they mourn the loss of their son, although they have asked that people keep them in their prayers.

"Words cannot describe the shock and grief our family is experiencing over the loss of our son," the couple said in a statement. "We are devastated and ask for privacy during this extremely difficult time. To all of the local authorities and staff who worked tirelessly these past 24 hours, we express our deepest gratitude."

The horrible incident took place on Tuesday night as Lane waded on the shore of the Disney resort. The alligator surprised the Graves family as it attacked and drowned the young boy. His body was found on Wednesday.

In response to the attack, Disney decided to close all beaches on its resort properties in the area. Authorities have already trapped and euthanised four alligators to check if any of them have been involved in Lane's death.

"There are no words to convey the profound sorrow we feel for the family and their unimaginable loss," Walt Disney World Resort president George Kalogridis offered in a statement.

"We are devastated and heartbroken by this tragic accident and are doing what we can to help them during this difficult time. On behalf of everyone at Disney, we offer them our deepest sympathy."
Suicide bombers kill more than 20 as Taliban onslaught continues in Afghanistan

Two separate suicide bombs killed more than 20 people in Afghanistan on Monday as the Taliban continued its insurgency against the Western-backed Kabul government.

At least 14 Nepalese workers died when a suicide attack hit a bus as they travelled to work in the Afghan capital. A separate explosion hours later in a crowded market in the northern Badakhshan province killed at least eight and wounded another 18. The casualty count could rise.

The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack in Kabul which is the first since the Islamic holy month of Ramadan began.

Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for the interior ministry, said the bomber had waited for the bus to emerge from a housing compound where the Nepalese security contractors lived. They were employed by the Canadian embassy through a private security firm.

The Nepalese government said they were still confirming the attack but Indian Prime Minister Modi tweeted his condolences.

We strongly condemn the horrible tragedy in Kabul. Our deep condolences to people & Govts of Afghanistan & Nepal on loss of innocent lives.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 20, 2016

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack in Badakhshan.

The blasts follow a deadly suicide attack on a bus carrying justice ministry staff near Kabul last month and a separate attack on a court in the central city of Ghazni on June 1.

The Taliban claimed both those attacks in revenge for the execution of six Taliban prisoners.

Last month former Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a US drone strikeand was replaced by Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada. The recent bomb attacks indicate the change in leadership will not provide let-up for Afghanistan's beleaguered government who is struggling to cope as the US gradually withdraws its troops.

Additional reporting by Reuters.
Syria: Three dead in suicide attack that 'targeted Christian leader'

A suicide bomber on Sunday killed three people in an attack thought to have targeted the head of the Syriac Orthodox Church, Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II.

The assailant, who according to some sources was disguised as a priest, was reportedly stopped at a security checkpoint outside a hall in Qamishly where an event to celebrate a new monument dedicated to the 1915 Assyrian genocide was being held.

Patriarch Ignatius presided over the event, which was also attended by His Grace Mar Afram Athneil of the Assyrian Church of the East.

The suicide bomber detonated his bomb when he was questioned by Sutoro security officials, killing himself and three guards, and wounding five others.

The Sutoro Police is an Assyrian Christian militia operating in North-East Syria.

One guard told AFP: "The suicide attacker tried to enter the hall where people were gathered but was stopped by local security forces, and he detonated himself among them".

Another said the attacker "detonated himself near our checkpoint after he couldn't reach his real target, Patriarch Ignatius".

The incident was the fourth terrorist attack in Wusta, a predominantly Assyrian and Armenian neighbourhood in Qamishly. According to campaign group A Demand For Action (ADFA), such attacks are seen "as a way to force the remaining Christians in Qamishly, a city built by them, to flee."

Patriarch Aphrem said following the attack: "I would like to see Christians remaining here in their homeland of their ancestors.

"The blood of our martyrs has been mixed with the soil of this land, Bethnahrin for many centuries."

ADFA executive director Steve Oshana said violent incidents have become "too common and are a reminder of the dangers our people face on a daily basis.

"When a place like Qamishly, which in many ways represents the very soul of our existence in our ancestral homeland, comes under attack it underscores the need for us to support our local security forces.

"We made a pledge from the beginning to support any of our people who pick up weapons and risk their lives in defence of our homeland, and it is a pledge that is renewed with each martyr whose young life we deliver to their final resting place."
Syrian refugees must not be sent back to Turkey, human rights campaigners warn

Syrian refugees in Turkey are failing to access vital support and must not be returned there by EU countries, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday.

The European Union is "morally, and indeed legally, obliged to share some of the refugee burden by not sending Syrian refugees back to Turkey without assessing their asylum claims," said HRW's Stephanie Gee.

The organisation said today that Turkey is "burdened by overwhelming numbers of refugees and [is] unable to provide sufficient protection and security for all."

The country currently hosts more than two million Syrian refugees, making it "hardly surprising that many are not getting the support they desperately need to maintain livelihoods," HRW said.

It added that Turkey should not be considered legally safe for returns as it does not meet the requirements for "safe third country" or "first country of asylum" returns.

In April, Amnesty International warned that thousands of Syrian refugees had been illegally returned to their homeland by Turkey since the beginning of the year, exposing "fatal flaws" in a refugee deal signed in March.

Under the deal, Turkey agreed to take back all migrants and refugees who crossed illegally into Greece in exchange for financial aid, faster visa-free travel for Turks and slightly accelerated EU membership talks. European countries pledged to accept one refugee directly from camps in Turkey in return for every person shipped back.

However, the legality of the deal hinged on Turkey being a "safe third country" of asylum  an understanding that was thrown into doubt by Amnesty's allegations.

HRW said today that Turkish policies and circumstances on the ground affirmed that it was not safe for returns.

Many Syrians are unable to access education, health care and lawful employment, and delays in registration mean some refugees cannot access even more basic services. They "live in fear of being forced to live in a camp or deported," HRW said.

Concerns have also been raised that Syrian refugee families are at risk of poverty and child labour because of these insecurities.

"Truly, it isn't safe for us here  we fled death, but have come to a place where we have no life," one Syrian refugee told researchers.

"I just want to be in any place that respects rights, where I can ask for them and be truly assured that I have them  nothing more," he added. "We just want to live, and for the law to protect us."
What Christians can learn from the example set by Barnabas, apostle Paul's partner

Barnabas is perhaps one of the least-known characters in the Bible, yet we can learn a lot from this man who was described as "a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith" (Acts 11:24). Here are some of the things that we can learn from his example.

1. You should stand up for other believers in the Lord

One of the key roles that Barnabas played in the early Church was that he was the one who encouraged the Church to accept the soon-to-be-apostle Paul, who was then known as the Christian killer named Saul. Acts 9:26-28 describes it this way:

"When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus. So Saul stayed with the apostles and went all around Jerusalem with them, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord."

Understand that it was the Lord Jesus Himself who called Saul to be His servant (see Acts 9:3-6), yet His followers did not believe it because Saul had a reputation for persecuting them (see v.10-14, 26). It took a believer to make others believe that an unbeliever became a true believer. At times, some Christians need a Barnabas to believe in them before they could become accepted and show their true kingdom potential.

2. It's better to serve with a God-given partner

It was God Himself who chose Barnabas to partner with Paul in doing a mighty work (see Acts 13:2). We read that they did mighty exploits, preaching the gospel and refuting those who taught wrong teachings that were meant to deceive and mislead the people (see Acts 13-15), before they finally went their separate ways in Acts 15:39.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 tells us, "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

Ask God for an accountability partner with whom you can serve Him with. If you are married, pray to the Lord that you and your spouse would partner in serving Him. Aside from the Holy Spirit, your spouse is the best partner you'll ever have (see Genesis 2:18).

3. You don't need to be recognised to make an impact

We read that after separating from Paul, Barnabas took with him Mark, who was the very reason for their separation in the first place (see Acts 15:36-40). You won't read of Barnabas' exploits after this incident, but the Bible gives clues about his continued ministry of encouragement to other believers.

This Mark is the same man Paul was referring to in Colossians 4:10 as "Barnabas' cousin," a man who "will be helpful to me in my ministry" (see 2 Timothy 4:11), and who scholars say wrote the book of Mark.

The very same man who abandoned Paul in the ministry became a helpful ministry man years later. Scholars speculate that it's because of the encouragement from his cousin Barnabas, the same man who believed in Paul when he was still Saul.
Informed, intuitive and unerring: Joan Rivers and her passion for Faberge

Jewellery expert Geoffrey Munn recalls the late comediennes intelligent, considered approach to buying objects of fancy and antique jewels, while specialist Helen Culver Smith describes some of the highlights from her collection

In late 1985, Joan Rivers travelled to London to play a series of dates at the Pizza on the Park nightclub. During her stay in the city she visited Wartski, the celebrated art and antique dealers established in 1865. Geoffrey Munn, the British jewellery specialist, Antiques Roadshow expert and author, had joined Wartski as a 19-year-old in 1972. In his book, Wartski  The First One Hundred and Fifty Years, he remarks on the companys pride in the large contribution it has made to scholarship on the work of Carl Faberge. In the book, Munn recalls his first meeting with Joan Rivers, whom he refers to as Mrs Rosenberg, rather than her more famous comedy alter ego. One had the strongest sense, Munn writes,  that the character of Joan Rivers was a sort of comedy genie who could only be enticed to leave the bottle by the lure of the limelights. The lights at Wartski, he adds, were simply not bright enough to bring her out, and try as I might to entice her, Joan Rivers stayed firmly in the bottle. Munn remembers the comedy star being accompanied by her husband Edgar to the store at 138 Regent Street with its royal warrants and geometric, Sir Denys Ladun-designed front of patinated bronze, gold mosaic and stained glass  a design that echoed the work of Piet Mondrian. He also recalls being struck by her beautiful clothes, beautiful nails and beautiful manners to match, and her interest in the antique jewellery, and the Faberge collection in particular.

On 22 June in New York, Christies will offer The Private Collection of Joan Rivers at auction. It includes what Helen Culver Smith, Head of the Russian Works of Art department at Christies, describes as a collection of Faberge with a strong exhibition history that represents the superb craftsmanship that made the firm renowned.

She identified the finest Faberge and jewellery and always reached for the best she could find

In terms of rarity and importance, the collection is led by a jewelled, gold-mounted Faberge lily of the valley leaf (above). It relates to a number of lily of the valley studies by Faberge with imperial provenance, but is apparently one of only two extant examples of a leaf study, the other being in the Geddings Gray Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Fresh bouquets of flowers were of great importance to court culture in late 19th-century St Petersburg, and lilies of the valley were the favourite flowers of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, says Culver Smith. The genius of Faberge can be seen in the use of pearls set with delicate rose-cut diamonds to form the flower heads, and in the elegant carving of the nephrite leaf, which curls over at its edges. The artistry of the piece is enhanced by the fact that its original design, most likely executed by Carl Faberge himself, is known.

Open a larger version of this image A gold, silver, chalcedony and diamond brooch. By Faberge, with the workmaster's mark of Albert Holmstrom, St. Petersburg, 1904-1908, scratched inventory number 77142 or 77442. 2 in. (6.4 cm.) long. Estimate: $40,000-60,000. This work is offered in The Private Collection of Joan Rivers sale on 22 June at Christies New York



Joan Rivers possessed what Geoffrey Munn says was an unerring instinct for selecting the best on its own merits rather than by the false barometer of value. She identified the finest Faberge and jewellery and always reached for the best she could find. This included those categories that raised Faberge above all competitors: the objects of fantasy, the flowers, the animals and the hardstone and enamel boxes. She also chose masterpieces of Faberge's jewellery, including an impressive star sapphire. The size and depth of the cabochon star sapphire and the way in which Faberges workmaster, August Holmstrom, has showcased it in a sympathetic diamond surround are breathtaking, remarks Culver Smith. This incredible jewel (Estimate: $70,000-90,000) was once in the collection of the Grand Duchess Maria of Russia (1847 -1909), whose passion for jewels was legendary. In addition to objets dart and jewels, the collection contains beautiful and diverse examples of Faberge frames. Designed with Russian hardstones such as nephrite and rhodonite, as well as rich guilloche enamels, these frames represent the best of Faberges ability to transform everyday objects into works of art.

Open a larger version of this image A silver-gilt and guilloche enamel double photograph frame marked Faberge, with the workmaster's mark of Henrik Wigstrom, St. Petersburg, 1908-1917. 5 in. (13.3 cm.) wide. Estimate: $50,000-70,000. This work is offered in The Private Collection of Joan Rivers sale on 22 June at Christies New York. The actor Vincent Price, shown left, was a very dear friend of Joans and was godfather to her daughter Melissa

A further example of Faberges famed guilloche enamelling technique can be seen in the whimsical pill box (below), set with a diamond-glazed plaque enamelled with a question mark. As Culver Smith explains, By researching its number, we have found that this curio was purchased by the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna (1847-1928) on 21 December 1898 for 115 roubles. This piece therefore offers us an insight into the opulence of the imperial court and challenges us to demystify its unique iconography.

Open a larger version of this image A jewelled gold, silver-gilt and guilloche enamel pill box marked Faberge, with the workmaster's mark of Michael Perchin, St. Petersburg, circa 1890, scratched inventory number 60333. 1 in. (4.4 cm.) wide. Estimate: $12,000-18,000. This work is offered in The Private Collection of Joan Rivers sale on 22 June at Christies New York
The River Oaks, a 19-story high-rise under construction on Westheimer, has listed a $13 million penthouse, possibly the most expensive and largest penthouse unit ever listed for sale in Houston.

A 1960s-era high-rise apartment building on Westheimer near River Oaks is being renovated into the upscale condo tower to open in 2017. About half of the 79 units have been sold, including one of the three penthouses, according to the developer, New York-based Arel Capital.
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After 21 years, Hans' Bier Haus in the Rice Village area will close its doors next month for good, according to the lively bar's owners.

The announcement was made late last weekend via the bar's official Facebook page.

July 15 is slated to be the bar's last day of business.

Hans' has been known for its extensive craft beer selection (it was on the forefront of the craft beer scene) and has hosted well attended stand-up comedy shows for the past few years.

RELATED: The quirky history of Cecil's Pub in Montrose as told by its owner

Many local comics enjoyed the venue as a place to try out material in front of a devoted crowd.

The bar lets the public know what beers are on tap via its official website and even notes prices and alcohol by volume, or ABV.

The large patio and occasionally boisterous drinking crowds led to some issues in 2009 and 2010 with the neighboring apartment high-rise that dwarfed the small bar next door.

According to real estate blog Swamplot the property was sold to a group called JSS Texas Holdings.

Hans' Bier Haus didn't respond to the Houston Chronicle immediately for comment.

RELATED: Popular Upper Kirby area bar to close at the end of the month (April 2015)

Attorneys for the bar pointed out in court back in early 2010 that the business was there before the condominiums were built. They also said residents of the 16-story building have thrown eggs and water at bands and customers on the patio of the one-story pub.

Homeowners in the upscale 16-story 2520 Robinhood Condominiums wanted to get the one-story pub's state beer and wine license pulled  even though the bar was there first. In the end the bar kept its licensing but was told to keep the noise to a dull roar.

Keen-brained Houstonians will remember that this guy once lived in that high-rise though we're not sure if he ever threw eggs at guys and girls drinking Guinness and playing bocce ball.

A few miles north, exclusive Midtown nightclub Red Door also announced that it would soon be closing its doors, with final festivities this coming weekend. There was no immediate word on what would be next for the location at 2416 Brazos .
The up-and-coming pediatrician kept persisting for her brother. He got sick with pulmonary tuberculosis in college and died in China after the disease progressed to TB meningitis, attacking his brain.

The Chinese-born doctor, who moved to Houston in 1953, also fought in memory of her younger sister, bedridden with tuberculosis for more than a decade before dying in their native country, too.

"Another beautiful life wasted, destroyed by the germ medical science could do nothing about," Dr. Katharine H.K. Hsu recalled in a biography about her journey to Houston, where she built her internationally renowned career battling tuberculosis.

Hsu, an early standout in Houston's now preeminent medical center, died in 2007 at age 93. She was known for starting the city's first tuberculosis clinic for children amid a problem period in the 1950s and for helping pioneer a revolutionary offensive approach to prevent development of the infectious disease. Hsu proved that a medicine used to treat full-blown tuberculosis, a drug called isoniazid, could be given to children to stop the latent TB infection from turning into the potentially fatal disease.

More Information Taming TB Tuberculosis cases in Harris County by year 1994: 704 1999: 451 2004: 470 2009: 393 2014: 320 Source: Texas Department of State Health Services See More Collapse

Hsu also promoted an aggressive strategy to curb the spread of tuberculosis, seeking out children and other close relatives of patients with the disease, testing them and urging them to take the preventative medicine regularly. In 1963, she wrote a landmark article, circulated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, about curtailing TB with the method, known as contact investigation. About a year later, Hsu became the city of Houston's first director of tuberculosis control.

Dr. Jeffrey Starke, a professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, calls Hsu's arrival in Houston six decades ago "a bellwether moment" for public health. Her legacy has continued in doctors like him whom she taught.

"We have saved countless people from developing TB and dying, particularly children, because of the work she did," said Starke, who met Hsu in the mid-1980s when she came out of retirement to mentor him to take over the Children's Tuberculosis Clinic, started at Jefferson Davis Hospital and now at Texas Children's Hospital.

Tuberculosis, spread via air from someone sick with TB coughing, sneezing or speaking, was the leading cause of death through the early 20th century in the Western world. Thousands were housed in sanatoriums until treatment options improved.

In 1953, when the United States starting tracking tuberculosis data, the country had about 84,300 cases of TB, or 52.6 per 100,000 people. The latest U.S. data, from 2014, though not directly comparable, shows a steep decline, counting about 9,420 cases, or 3 per 100,000 people.

The disease remains a top killer in other, poorer countries, with 1.5 million dying worldwide in 2014, according to the World Health Organization.

In 1955, two years after moving to Houston, Hsu told the Texas Tuberculosis Association that about 200 children in the city had the disease, according to Houston Chronicle archives. In 1958, the newspaper reported that none of the child patients at her clinic had died.

Nationwide, the number and rate of tuberculosis cases has declined every year since 1993.

Hsu came to the U.S. in 1948. She had earned a fellowship from the American Society for Pediatric Research and made the tough decision to live apart from her husband in hopes of learning more about tuberculosis. She started working at Cincinnati Children's Hospital but realized there were few TB cases there. She then transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, which had a tuberculosis research institute.

With the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, Hsu was unable to return to China at the end of her fellowship, so she continued her work at a children's hospital in Mont Alto, Penn., near Gettysburg. She soon found the hope she had been seeking.

In 1952, the U.S. government approved the use of isoniazid to treat tuberculosis. Hsu recalled in her biography, written by a church friend, Valerie Waller, that she was at the right place at the right time to be able to test the drug to cure children. She saw them getting well much sooner. Still, she wanted to keep the kids from getting sick in the first place.

"At last there is a drug capable of killing the TB germs," Hsu recalled thinking, according to her biography, Angel of Mercy "Why not use it before the child gets sick?"

Hsu longed to test out her theory, but the children at the Mont Alto hospital already were ill. A devout Christian, she prayed for an opportunity. Several months later, Dr. Russell Blattner, who led the pediatric department at Baylor College of Medicine, invited her to launch a TB control effort in Houston, with the support of Mayor Oscar Holcombe. Parents and pediatricians were panicked about the spread of the disease.

Hsu, shocked to learn Houston did not have a TB clinic for children, started one here at age 39, in a single room with one nurse on the grounds of the city's dilapidated TB hospital for adults. She snapped photos of the poor conditions  cribs held together with bandages, shoddy plumbing, peeling paint  and persuaded Houston oilman and philanthropist R.E. "Bob" Smith to fund improvements.

Over three decades, Hsu tracked roughly 2,500 children to whom she administered isoniazid, following them for years to conclude that taking the preventative tuberculosis treatment was overwhelmingly effective. Her unprecedented long-term study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1984.

Hsu's ability to stay in contact with so many patients for so long demonstrated the persistence and passion that made her a successful doctor, said Starke, who continues to direct the Children's Tuberculosis Clinic.

"I learned about TB from her," Starke said, "but what I really learned from her was how to run a clinic and how to take care of people - her humanistic qualities, just incredible compassion, empathy."

For her part, Hsu said in her biography that the death of two of her siblings from tuberculosis and the tears of countless mothers who feared losing their children the same way drove her decades-long fight against the disease.

Hsu's teachings also continue in her homeland today. In 2004, the Katharine Hsu International Research Center of Human Infectious Diseases was established in her honor in Shandong, China. Dr. Xin Ma, another of Hsu's mentees, travels there two or three times a year.

"Her legend will be carried on globally," said Ma, a scientist at the Houston Methodist Hospital Research Institute and an adjunct assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine.
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The Galveston Restaurant Group's diverse portfolio no longer lacks a Tex-Mex presence.

Earlier this month the hospitality group helmed by Danny Hart and brothers Johnny Smecca and Joey Smecca, opened Taquilo's at 2101 Postoffice St. in the space formerly occupied by longtime Island outpost The Stork Club.

Hart, who also owns Ben & Jerry's on the Seawall, says they weren't looking to open another restaurant, but when this space became available, he instantly knew they'd be debuting a Tex-Mex concept.

RELATED: Houston burger-joint king puts down roots on the Stand in Galveston

"Everybody kept saying there's no good Tex-Mex downtown," Hart explains.

The dishes at Taquilo's were thought up, in part, by the company's new corporate chef, James Lundy. Prior to joining this team, he was the corporate chef at Landry's. Lundy consults with Galveston Restaurant Group principal Joey Smecca  Hart refers to Joey Smecca as the trio's "menu guy"  to decide on food offerings.

Together they've written up a menu of Tex-Mex staples  nachos, quesadillas, fajitas and burritos  including small bites, with ingredients sourced from Galveston seafood purveyor (and Island restaurant favorite) Katie's Seafood Market, along with Houston-based Freedman Meats.

Among the snacks are the "Shrimp Besos," jalapeno and bacon-wrapped shrimp served with roasted peppers and drawn butter; and cilantro cream salsa-topped chicharrones (fried pork skins). Ceviche options vary from a spicy ahi tuna bowl to other iterations  shrimp, fish and crab  marinated in jalapenos or habanero peppers.

Cocktails include fruit-filled concoctions like the signature watermelon margarita and the blueberry lime margarita, served with an oversized straw for the fresh blueberries. Jose Cuervo is the restaurant's house-level tequila.

SEE ALSO: There's a new seafood restaurant by the Galveston Seawall

"I really have my blood, sweat and tears in this one," Lundy says, explaining that the group had only six weeks to debut this restaurant, including completely renovating the space.

Taquilo's loteria-themed, 80-seat space includes an adjoining patio and is a stark departure from Stork Club's low-key interior. Amber Felts, the company's decorator, brought in bold details. Exposed brick peeks through plaster and vibrant hues show through with Mexican artesania-style tiles and artwork.

Opening for lunch

"I just wanted to start slow, but we were full within 30 minutes," Hart laughs, saying that they've already had people lining up outside the door.

Hart acknowledges, though, that he will have to attract Island residents who work downtown when Galveston's summer tourist season ends. To encourage traffic, the restaurant will have daily lunch specials during the week.

ISLAND TOURISM: Galveston tourism industry continues to gain momentum

"The locals at work want to eat out every day," he says. "But if you're too expensive and you don't have fresh product, they're not going to come support you."

The Galveston Restaurant Group's other establishments include downtown eateries Sky Bar Steak & Sushi; Little Daddy's Gumbo Bar; Nonno Tony's Seafood Kitchen and Saltwater Grill. Its Seawall restaurants are Mario's Seawall Italian Restaurant, Papa's Pizza and The Gumbo Diner.

The group's presence stretches to League City, where Little Daddy's Gumbo Bar offers the same menu as its Galveston Island counterpart.

"Come to Galveston," Hart says. "We keep growing."
@Tom Nemar/Fotolia

Houston will pick up 1.7 acres of park land in Independence Heights if City Council goes along at its Wednesday meeting.

As happens periodically, the Department of Public Works and Engineering reviewed land on its books and decided it had no further use for a 72,536-square-foot parcel at 134 Norview St., which allowed the parks department to scoop it up.
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Britain's Thursday vote on withdrawal from the European Union could energize Texas' recurrent push for independence, which has gained a high profile of late.

The Texas Nationalist Movement is just one of a handful of groups that have pushed the notion of a reborn Texas Republic through the years, but it claimed the national spotlight in May when it helped make secession an official discussion topic at the Republican Party of Texas' convention.

TNM president Daniel Miller said previous secession movements abroad, from a Scottish independence vote in 2014 to rising calls for a vote in Spain's Catalonia region that same year, had brought heightened interest in his group at home, and he expects the same will happen with Brexit.

"A Brexit vote would definitely be extraordinarily helpful for us," he said. "Now there are highly visibly, highly public first world examples of people able to go to the polls and have an opportunity to determine if they want to stay in a union or leave one."

Current polls show Britain's vote will come down to the wire. A win for the separatists is expected to send modest shockwaves through the world economy. That scenario could bring a host of other political and economic impacts to Texas, from energizing the state's like-minded Republican leadership to complicating relations between the Lone Star State and its largest foreign direct investor. Read more about the potential impact on HoustonChronicle.com.

Miller said a victory for the "leave" vote would provide Texas with a "concrete road map" for severing the bureaucratic ties of a member state in a powerful union.

RELATED: Ever hopeful and determined, Texas secessionists face long, long odds

But even a loss, he said, would boost his cause, because it would set an example of voters "having an adult conversation on their political future."

Any boost would come amid a year of relative victories for the TNM. Last summer the group launched a petition drive to get secession on the state GOP primary ballot. They came up short on needed signatures, but trained enough volunteer activists to push their resolutions through county conventions across the state, getting Texas independence slated for official debate at the state GOP conference in May.

RELATED: In Texas, some local GOPs call for statewide vote on secession

That earned the TNM headlines in a slew of national publications, which Miller called the group's highest profile yet. And the Brexit promises to bring more attention.

Ahead of the Brexit vote, British newspaper The Guardian featured Miller and the TNM on Sunday, drawing parallels between separatist sentiments in the Lone Star State and the United Kingdom in an article headlined, "Why not Texit?"

"A rising tide raises all ships," Miller said. "People will say, 'if the UK can, then why not us?"
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A report by the Santa Monica Observer was thrilling marijuana proponents over the weekend after it quoted an anonymous lawyer as saying that the federal Drug Enforcement Administration was poised to reclassify marijuana as a schedule two drug.

This would, according to that report, essentially legalize marijuana in the United States on Aug. 1. Drugs classified as schedule one are, according to the Santa Monica Observer Story, drugs that will not be made legal. Drugs in the schedule two camp are available with a prescription. This supposed federal preemption would make marijuana legal across 50 states.

RELATED: There's a booming multibillion-dollar industry that the biggest players on Wall Street won't touch

State and local laws would be overridden, the story quotes lawyers as saying.

It all sounds very promising for marijuana proponents and the story was making the rounds on Twitter and Facebook. The Santa Monica Observer story went as far as to say that edible marijuana would be available at pharmacies

That sounds convenient, no? They wouldnt sell marijuana to be smoked, the unidentified lawyer told the reporter, citing health concerns related to smoking.

RELATED: Some Texas legislators ready for more medical marijuana use

Another piece, this one from the Denver Post, says that on July 1, the DEA could in fact make a decision to partially legalize marijuana. Its actually an opinion piece by a regulatory attorney in Colorado, where marijuana was made legal on Jan. 1, 2014.

Texans, dont break out your Lone Star State-shaped bongs just yet.

According to a DEA statement on the anonymous, single-source Santa Monica Observer article, the reporter doesnt quite have it right and neither does the anonymous lawyer.

The statement from the DEA this afternoon does say that the government entity expects to soon be able to announce the outcome of a review of two petitions its received to reschedule marijuana. The past few times theyve ruled against reclassification when faced with similar petitions.

RELATED: Microsoft to work with cannabis compliance tech firm Kind

The DEA has undertaken the review along with the Department of Health and Human Services according to the process established in the Controlled Substances Act. When the review is complete, DEA will make the full text of the decisions publicly available, the statement said.

Whether or not this foretells a reclassification of marijuana is not known.

On Nov. 8, 2016, California voters will decide at the polls if recreational marijuana will be legalized in that state, where its only available medicinally and with a prescription. If voters approve recreational marijuana in California it could mean billions of dollars for the state.

Colorado, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and the District of Columbia have all made recreational marijuana legal so far. Other states have gone the medicinal route.
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WASHINGTON  Gun control advocates got some of what they wanted Monday when the U.S. Senate agreed to vote on a series of dueling gun measures inspired by the Orlando nightclub shootings, even though all the proposals failed.

They included a narrowly-tailored compromise revived by Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn in response to the massacre of 49 patrons at a gay nightclub a week ago, the biggest mass shooting in U.S. history.

Cornyn's plan, backed by the NRA and the Texas State Rifle Association PAC, would have required law enforcement to be alerted when suspected terrorists try to buy guns, giving federal authorities 72-hour delays to seek judges' orders to block or possibly arrest gun purchasers with terror links.

Cornyn's proposal, which first surfaced last December, made a return appearance amid a flurry of amendments brought to the floor after last week's 15-hour filibuster led by Connecticut Democrat Chris Murphy, whose constituents include the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings in 2013 that killed 20 children and six teachers.

Some Democrats saw the Senate votes as a sign of momentum in the gun debate after years of trying, but little more.

"I deeply believe that these weapons of war don't belong on the streets. And I've tried now three times," California U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Sunday on CBS's Face the Nation. "The question comes, how deeply indebted are members of the Senate and the House to the National Rifle Association?"

The Cornyn plan emerged as the Republican alternative to an unsuccessful Democratic proposal offered by Feinstein, which would have denied gun sales to people on terror watch lists or others whom authorities believe might be likely to engage in terrorism.

The Senate also voted down two other gun-related proposals expanding background checks.

All four gun amendments to a Justice Department spending bill faced procedural obstacles requiring 60 vote super-majorities, assuring that Democrats and Republicans could block each other's initiatives.

The debate followed a familiar script, with Democrats emphasizing unchecked gun violence in America, and Republicans focusing on gun rights and the threat of terrorism.

"This is really surreal to me," said Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate. "Our colleagues want to make this about gun control when what we should be making this about is the fight to eliminate Islamic extremism that is the root cause of what happened in Orlando."

Democrats countered that the GOP measures fail to control the sale of firearms to suspected terrorists. Republicans contended that the Democratic proposals, however well-intentioned, are unconstitutional.

"I don't think any American should sacrifice their constitutional rights without forcing the government to go to an impartial magistrate or judge and be able to show sufficient evidence," Cornyn said in the Senate debate.

Cornyn said his provision allowing arrests of suspected terrorist gun buyers made it tougher than the leading Democratic plan. He added that the Democratic measures would not protect people who have been put on secret terror watch lists by mistake.

The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, had been investigated for terrorist ties and later cleared. During the rampage, he also pledged his loyalty to ISIS, raising questions about whether the attack was an act of terror, a hate crime against gays, or both.

Texas' junior senator, Ted Cruz, left little doubt about how he saw the Orlando shooting. Penning an op-ed in the Conservative Review Monday, Cruz wrote, "These votes have nothing to do with fighting radical Islamic terrorists, and everything to do with political grandstanding."
WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trump is backtracking from his contention that victims of the Orlando massacre should have been allowed to carry arms into the nightclub where they were attacked  a stance even the NRA says is untenable.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee tweeted Monday that he was "obviously talking about additional guards or employees" of the Florida nightclub when he spoke about the value of having more people armed to challenge the gunman.

That flies in the face of his comments after the massacre.

READ MORE: In Texas stop, Trump says armed club goers would have made difference in Orlando

At a rally in Houston on Friday , Trump urged those in the crowd to imagine if some of those at the Orlando nightclub had been armed and returned fire at gunman Omar Mateen.

"If some of those wonderful people had guns strapped right here, right to their waist or right to their ankle (making a gesture of drawing a gun), and this son of a (expletive) comes out and starts shooting, and one of the people in that room happened to have it and goes boom, boom, you know what? That would have been a beautiful, beautiful site folks," Trump said.

A day after the attack, he told radio host Howie Carr: "It's too bad that some of the young people that were killed over the weekend didn't have guns, you know, attached to their hips, frankly, and you know where bullets could have flown in the opposite direction, Howie. It would have been a much different deal. I mean, it sounded like there were no guns. They had a security guard. Other than that there were no guns in the room. Had people been able to fire back, it would have been a much different outcome."

In Atlanta last week he said the carnage would have been lessened if "some of those great people that were in that club that night had guns strapped to their waist or strapped to their ankle."

His statements were a step too far for the National Rifle Association, a powerful lobby for armed self-defense and broad permissions to carry weapons. "No one thinks that people should go into a nightclub drinking and carrying firearms," the NRA's chief lobbyist, Chris Cox, told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. "That defies common sense. It also defies the law."

As Trump revised his position on the matter, the Senate prepared to vote Monday on expanded gun background checks and proposals to keep people on a government terrorism watch list or other suspected terrorists from buying guns. But prospects for any significant change in gun laws were dim.

The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was added to a government watch list of people 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 made the case on the weekend that the U.S. should consider profiling Muslims inside the country as a terrorism-fighting tool, the latest example of his backing positions that could single out a group based on its religion.

"We really have to look at profiling," Trump told CBS's "Face the Nation." ''It's not the worst thing to do."

Trump's proposal runs counter to Justice Department policy, which prohibits profiling on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity and national origin. That profiling ban applies not only to federal agents but also to local law enforcement officers who participate in federal task forces.

Trump's increasing embrace of policies that could isolate Muslims in America is extraordinary for a candidate assured of his party's presidential nomination. The proposals have been roundly criticized by many Republican leaders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan. Civil libertarians, Muslims and others also have strongly disagreed, arguing that profiling is unconstitutional and often constitutes unlawful discrimination based on race, religion and other factors.

Trump's statements are consistent with his long-expressed views on how to stop terrorism in the United States, most notably a freeze on the entry of foreign Muslims in the U.S. But he's intensified his approach since Mateen carried out the worst mass shooting in modern American history on June 12. Forty-nine people were killed in the attack.

On Sunday, Trump also said the government should investigate mosques in the U.S. in much the same way a New York Police Department unit spied on Muslims and mosques around the city with help from the CIA.

___

Associated Press writers Jill Colvin in New York and Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.
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.
The California Republican Partyan institution accustomed to embarrassmentsuffered a novel and stinging indignity in the June 7 Golden State primary. Once the votes were tallied, it was revealed that the GOPs candidate for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Barbara Boxer in the November election would be . . . nobody. Its not that Republicans failed to recruit any contenders. Two former (and relatively obscure) state party chairmen, Tom Del Beccaro and Duf Sundheim, competed in the primary, as did activist businessman and one-time gubernatorial candidate Ron Unz. Rocky Chavez, a state assemblyman from San Diego County who led the GOP field in early polling, had also been in the mix before abruptly withdrawingat the beginning of a debate, no lessin February. So how does a party enter a race with four candidates and still emerge without a nominee?

Like most riddles associated with California politics, the answer is direct democracy. In 2010, voters approved Proposition 14, a ballot measure that abolished conventional party primaries for statewide and congressional races. Instead, the initiative created a system wherein primary voters get to cast their ballot for any candidate, regardless of partybut where only the top two finishers compete in the general election. This year, that process yielded a U.S. Senate contest between two Democrats: Attorney General Kamala Harris and Orange County congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.

Among Californias political and media elite, the result is being discussed mainly as a sign of the GOPs irrelevance in the nations most populous statea reading with plenty of evidence to support it. Higher office has now been out of the partys grasp for a decade, with Arnold Schwarzeneggers 2006 reelection as governor marking the last time that a Republican won any statewide contest.

Yet, while public attention is focused on the GOPs deathbed vigil, another equally consequential trend is unfolding largely under the radar: California Democrats, far from enjoying a frictionless ascendancy, are finding themselves sharply divided along racial lines. The breakneck demographic shifts in the state over the past few decades partly explain the tension. In 1990, California was more than 57 percent white, while Latinos made up just over a quarter of the states population. By 2014, however, Latinos had surpassed whites as the states largest ethnic group. At the same time, the states Asian population (the nations largest) had grown to 14.4 percent, more than double the number of Californias African-Americans. In a minority-majority state dominated by a party that practices identity politics, each group now finds itself in a zero-sum competition for a handful of positions at the commanding heights of Golden State politics.

Those spots dont come open very often, making competition that much fiercer. Boxer and her Senate colleague Dianne Feinstein were both first elected to the upper chamber in 1992, a time when California was, in demographic terms, an entirely different place. Theyre not the only members of Californias governing class who seem like relics of a bygone era. While the states population is ethnically diverse and young (in 2014 the median age was 36, sixth-lowest in the nation), its most visible political figuresBoxer, Feinstein, Governor Jerry Brown, and House minority leader Nancy Pelosiare lily white and have an average age of nearly 78.

When Boxer announced her retirement in early 2015, it unleashed a frenzy of activity among California Democrats aiming to make their leadership more reflective of the partys diversity. The problem was that no one could agree on exactly how to fulfill that mandate. Certainly Harris, born to a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, represented a break from the past. But the swiftness with which she attracted endorsements led to a backlash from Latinos, who felt they were being taken for granted. When the attorney general garnered near-instant backing from influential national Democrats such as Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker, California State Senate president pro tem Kevin de Leon told Politico, National figures should slow their roll a bit. Arturo Vargas, head of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, cautioned, Hispanic leaders are concerned about some kind of coronation, as opposed to a real electoral campaign.

The coronation, however, largely proceeded apace. Harriss substantial war chest and stack of endorsements deterred some of the states most prominent Latinosnamely former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and House Democratic Caucus chairman Xavier Becerrafrom mounting a challenge. Sanchez, previously more of a comic figure than a serious political force (her main contribution to California politics has been a series of increasingly bizarre Christmas cards featuring her cat), exploited the vacuum for a Latino alternative, riding the discontent all the way to a spot on the November ballot.

Most observersthough not allexpect Harris to prevail in November, but the underlying tensions show little sign of abating. In May, Texas Democratic congressman Filemon Vela blasted the California Democratic Party for endorsing Harris, calling the act insulting to Latinos all throughout this country and a disrespectful example of wayward institutional leadership which on the one hand wants our vote but on the other hand wants to spit us out. California Hispanics may share that sentiment. Though Harris won 40.3 percent of the vote to Sanchezs 18.5 percent in the primary, a USC/Los Angeles Times poll released shortly before the contest showed 43 percent of Hispanics supporting Sanchez to just 16 percent for Harris.

Status anxiety is now pervasive among the racial caucuses within Californias Democratic Party. Hispanics worry that their votes will be taken for granted, while their elected officials are passed over for higher office. African-Americans, outnumbered two-to-one by Asians and six-to-one by Hispanics, fret that theyll be relegated to junior-partner status within the party. Asians, meanwhile, chafe at certain liberal orthodoxiesa tension that became public in 2014 when a small band of Asian Democrats in the legislature blocked their black and Hispanic colleagues efforts to revive racial preferences in California college admissions.

Intra-party friction, of course, isnt exclusive to California. However, with the Republican Party in steep decline in the state and the top-two primary system as the law of the land, the situation in California is particularly combustible. California Democrats have long dreamed of the unfettered power that would accompany vanquishing the states rump Republican Party. Few, however, seemed to anticipate the stress fractures that inevitably emerge in a political monoculture. With no worlds left to conquer, theyre now left warily circling each other. And no one seems inclined to slow his roll.

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Its summer, and time to bring out the thongs.

Not the underwear. The shoe. (OK, maybe the underwear, too.)

What, you dont know what thongs are? Maybe you call them flip-flops, though that term has been co-opted by politicians accusing one another of changing positions.

On their excellent Grammarphobia blog, Pat OConner and Stewart Kellerman wrote what may be the definitive piece on thongs or flip-flops. Did you know that some people call them zoris or go-aheads?

Thong comes from words meaning restraint, according to The Oxford English Dictionary, and was originally a narrow strip of leather used to secure something. (In the case of thong underwear, not much restraint is required.) The first usage of thong referring to the shoe was in 1967, the OED says, though thong-sandal predates that by a couple of years and Grammarphobia points to many usages before that, mostly in US literature.

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The term flip-flops is not that much older, first showing up around 1958 in reference to the shoes; the political term dates to the 1800s.

Zori is much older, tracing to Japan in the early 19th century. Its usage seems to be confined to California and points west, except when someone is referring specifically to the Japanese shoes, which usually have soles made out of straw or other plant material, or to a brand of thongs (the shoes, not the underwear).

Go-aheads also seems to be a Californian or Hawaiian term, though, Grammarphobia notes, that it appeared in a Marine publication on the East Coast. One blog speculates that they are called go-aheads because if you Go Backwards, they come offso you gotta make sure you always Go Ahead. 

Of course, some thongs are parts of bikinis. So as long as were talking about skimpy things, where do bikinis come from?

Yes, they come from Bikini, the atoll in the Marshall Islands. But not because thats what people would wear there.

Instead, they are related to the atomic testing conducted by United States in the 1940s and 50s. The first usage of Bikini outside the atolls name, according to the OED, was in 1947 as a reference to a large explosion, similar to what people would see if they saw a Bikini blast.

A French designer, apparently looking to capitalize on the publicity around the tests, introduced a two-piece garment called a Bikini in 1946. Le Monde wrote about it, referring to the explosive nature of the garment:

Bikini, ce mot cinglant comme lexplosion memecorrespondait au niveau du vetement de plage a un aneantissement de la surface vetue; a une minimisation extreme de la pudeur.

Roughly translated, that means the beach garment amounted to an explosion of a lack of modesty for its minimally dressed surface.

Whether the designer was Jacques Heim or Louis Reard is a matter of some dispute. Heim marketed a two-piece bathing suit called the Atome in early 1946, according to the WordOrigins blog, which credits him with naming the bikini some months later. The BBC says Reard came up with the nameand a skimpier suit.

But bikinis as an article of fashion are far older. At the Villa Romana de Casale in Sicily, a fourth-century AD UNESCO World Heritage site, a mosaic shows women in bikinis exercising. Its apparently just their underwear, but the mosaic is now called The Bikini Girls. Other Roman mosaics elsewhere have similar themes.

(Credit: M. Disdero via Wikimedia)

At least they werent wearing thongs, on their feet or elsewhere.

Next week, well continue the exploration of summer fashions. Happy solstice!

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Earth sizzled to its 13th straight month of record heat in May, but it wasnt quite as much of an over-the-top scorcher as previous months, federal scientists say.

Record May heat, from Alaska to India and especially in the oceans, put the global average temperature at 60.17 degrees Fahrenheit (15.65 degrees Celsius), according to NOAA. Thats 1.57 degrees (.87 degrees Celsius) above the 20th-century average, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Theres still a good chance that June will break records even as El Nino, one of two main reasons for record heat, dissipates, scientists say. And in the U.S. Southwest temperatures are forecast to dance near 120 degrees later this week into next week. NOAAs July through September forecast is for hotter-than-average temperatures in the entire United States except a tiny circle of southeastern Texas.

Were in a new neighborhood now as far as global temperature, said Deke Arndt, NOAAs climate monitoring chief. Weve kind of left the previous decade behind.

But its not quite as broiling as it has been. May only broke the record  set in 2015  by .04 degrees. Its the first time since November that a month wasnt a full degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) hotter than the 20th-century average. March and February this year were 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.

It is slightly off from the kind of unprecedented large global temperatures weve seen in the last five to seven months, Arndt says.

Arndt, like nearly every major climate scientist, says the record warm temperatures are due to a strong El Nino placed on top of man-made global warming from heat-trapping gases that come from the burning of fossil fuels.

The El Nino has just dissipated and forecasters expect its cooler flip side, La Nina, to kick in soon, which should keep global temperatures a bit lower than theyve been, but still warmer than 20th-century average, Arndt said

But that may not be quite enough to keep 2016 from being the third straight record hot year, Arndt says. Thats because so far, 2016 is averaging 55.5 degrees (13.06 degrees Celsius), which beats the previous January to May record set last year by 0.43 degrees.

Jonathan Overpeck, a climate scientist at the University of Arizona, just came back from India and its record-breaking heat wave in time for potential record breaking heat in parts of Arizona.

Thirteen months of consecutive record breaking heat is really unprecedented, and its yet another visceral glimpse of what is yet to come as the planet warms up even a lot more, Overpeck said in an email. No doubt about it, the planet is warming fast and were feeling the impacts.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed legislation Thursday that he said would have unfairly and artificially restricted competition in the car parts industry, raising the cost of auto repairs and insurance premiums.

The bill, HB 4344, which won approval on 86-23 and 33-3 votes in the Republican-controlled House and Senate over objections from conservative groups and others, would have amended Michigans motor vehicle service and repair law. Snyder, a Republican, said he supported much of the modernization bill, but he balked at revisions related to when original parts would have to be used in repairs instead of less expensive aftermarket parts.

He specifically took exception to a requirement that body shops, in the first five years of a vehicles warranty, do certain repairs only with new or re-certified parts from the original manufacturer or parts that had been tested and verified as meeting the quality of original parts. There would have been an exception if the vehicle owner authorized aftermarket parts in writing.

Snyder said protecting consumers and ensuring that vehicles are safely repaired is a laudable goal, but some structural parts such as bumpers affect safety while fenders, grilles and other primarily cosmetic parts do not.

This bill doesnt sufficiently delineate between the two types of parts, thereby limiting the use of safe, high quality aftermarket parts designed specifically for particular vehicles, he wrote to lawmakers. Prohibiting mechanics from using safe alternative parts is an inappropriate impediment on the competition that has resulted in both high quality OEM and aftermarket parts for Michigan drivers to enjoy, he said in the veto letter.

He likened the provision to requiring pharmacists to obtain a waiver from customers to sell them generic drugs instead of more expensive name-brand medications.

Republican Rep. Peter Pettalia of Presque Isle, who sponsored the legislation and is the co-owner of an Alpena auto repair business, applauded the veto. He said while he remains very concerned about the use of inferior major component parts, he said the Senate added overly strict requirements to his bill  changes the House agreed to after reinserting a provision to let customers demand cheaper parts in writing.

Im very comfortable with where the governor went with this, Pettalia said in a phone interview.
A Nebraska woman whose 10-year-old son died in a boating accident on Storm Lake in 2010 cannot sue the state of Iowa for damages, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled on Friday.

The Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, ruled that Iowas public-duty doctrine protects government agencies and officers from damage lawsuits when acting in a capacity that benefits the general public.

Developed in the 1850s, the doctrine remains widely accepted as law. But courts in some states have rejected it in recent years, arguing against providing a higher level of protection against lawsuits for government agencies than is afforded individuals.

Courts in Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico and North Dakota have tossed out or limited government protection under the doctrine. Courts in Connecticut, Tennessee and Utah have issued rulings maintaining it.

The Iowa case centers on a May 2010 accident in which Harry Foote was piloting a boat carrying his girlfriend, Jamie Laass, and four children on Storm Lake. He drove the boat between two hazard buoys at about 30 miles per hour and struck a dredge pipe submerged in the lake. The boats motor flipped into the boat striking Laass son, 10-year-old David McFarlin, who died later that day.

Laass of South Sioux City, Nebraska, sued the state of Iowa for negligence for failure to adequately warn boaters of a water hazard. A district court judge dismissed the case in July 2014 and Laass appealed. The Iowa Court of Appeals last year upheld the dismissal, and Laass asked the Supreme Court to review the case.

The Supreme Court opinion written by Justice Thomas Waterman explained that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources had regulatory oversight duties for dredging for the benefit of the public at large. Dredging a lake removes silt that accumulates at the bottom in order to improve water quality.

To the extent its duties included ensuring boaters safety, the DNRs role was similar to that of a police officer or park ranger, Waterman said. Iowa courts have consistently held that law enforcement personnel do not owe a particularized duty to protect individuals; rather, they owe a general duty to the public, he said.

Three justices disagreed. In a dissenting opinion written by Justice Daryl Hecht, they said the Iowa Tort Claims Act passed by the Legislature in 1965 largely repealed former rules of governmental immunity. That change put the state and private individuals on equal footing with respect to tort liability, Hecht said, adding that the public-duty doctrine should be abandoned.

Hecht said the case should have gone to trial. Justices David Wiggins and Brent Appel agreed with him.

Attorneys for Laass did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Its certainly a tragic case, but given the legal facts we think the ruling is appropriate, said Geoff Greenwood, a spokesman for the Iowa Attorney Generals office, which represented the state.

Laass filed two other lawsuits in connection with the accident. In September 2012 she received a $1.2 million settlement in a federal court case naming Foote, the dredge operator, the city of Storm Lake, Buena Vista County and Brunswick Corp., the boat manufacturer. A separate federal lawsuit against a marina at the lake was dismissed on grounds that the marina had no control over the lake.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Connecticut Bookmaker Gets Prison Time in Insurance Fraud Scheme

A bookmaker who pleaded guilty to charges he shot a gambler with a stun gun and tried to burn down a Middletown restaurant in an insurance fraud scheme is headed to prison.

The Hartford Courant reports 52-year-old John Barile of East Hartford was sentenced Tuesday to 71 months in federal prison. He pleaded guilty in February to charges of arson, insurance fraud, gambling and extortion.

Authorities say the East Hartford man ran an illegal sports-related bookmaking operation from 2010 to 2014. Prosecutors say he shot a gambler with a stun gun to punish him for not paying his debts.

Federal prosecutors say Barile and three others plotted to burn down a pizzeria he and a partner owned to collect an insurance payout in January 2010.

Former California Senator Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes in Workers Comp Fraud Scheme

Former California State Senator Ronald S. Calderon has agreed to plead guilty to a federal corruption charge and admits in a plea agreement that he accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for performing official acts as a legislator, according to an announcement by the United States Attorney for the Central District.

Calderon agreed to plead guilty to one count of mail fraud through the deprivation of honest services to resolve a case against him that was filed in 2014. The plea agreement comes several weeks before he was set to go on trial on charges contained in a 24-count federal indictment.

The corruption investigation of former Senator Calderon began when our detectives at the California Department of Insurance discovered evidence that Michael Drobot, then owner and CEO of Pacific Hospital in Long Beach, was bribing Senator Calderon, said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. Detectives from the California Department of Insurance successfully investigated the scheme whereby Drobot was paying kickbacks to physicians, chiropractors and others to send him patients on which his hospital performed back surgeries  resulting in over $500 million of workers compensation fraud.

In the plea agreement, Calderon admits accepting bribe payments from the owner of a Long Beach hospital who wanted to prevent passage of a new law that would stop the hospital CEO from continuing to reap millions of dollars in illicit profits from a separate workers compensation insurance fraud scheme and from undercover FBI agents who were posing as independent filmmakers who wanted changes to Californias Film Tax Credit program.

Michael Drobot, former owner of Pacific Hospital in Long Beach, a major provider of spinal surgeries billed to the workers compensation system, admitted to bribing the former senator to influence lawmaking and ensure he could continue to defraud workers compensation insurers with his lucrative criminal scheme.

Prosecutor: Man caused 12 wrecks, put videos online

A North Carolina man will spend at least a year in prison after prosecutors said he intentionally caused 12 wrecks, filming many of them on a dashboard camera and uploading the footage to the internet.

District Attorney Todd Williams said in a news release that a jury found 27-year-old Byron Fulghum guilty of six felony counts of insurance fraud, four misdemeanor counts of assault with a deadly weapon and other charges.

Fulghum was sentenced Thursday to 12 months to 34 months in prison.

Williams says no one was seriously hurt in the 12 wrecks, which took place over three years around Asheville.

The prosecutor says Fulghums own video from his Ford Focus showed him intentionally turning his car into the bumpers of other vehicles.

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Prosecutors introduced a new theory as a murder trial started for a Baltimore, Md., police van driver charged in the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man whose neck was broken in the back of the wagon.

Not only was Officer Caesar Goodson negligent when he didnt buckle Gray into a seatbelt, prosecutors said, he intentionally wanted to injure Gray by giving him a rough ride  blowing through a stop sign and making a sharp turn at such a high speed that he crossed a double yellow line. With his hands cuffed and his legs shackled, Gray was thrown helplessly against the rear compartment, the prosecutor said.

Goodson, 46, who is black, faces second-degree murder, manslaughter, assault and other charges. Prosecutors had hinted earlier that Gray was subjected to a rough ride. But opening statements Thursday marked the first time they accused the driver of intending to hurt Gray, whose death in April 2015 touched off the worst riots in Baltimore in decades.

A rough ride is police lingo for putting a prisoner in a police wagon without a seatbelt and driving so erratically that he or she is thrown around.

Goodson is the third officer to stand trial. So far the state has not won a conviction. Officer William Porters trial ended in a mistrial in December. The judge acquitted the second officer last month.

Schatzow was unequivocal about the states position during opening statements.

There was no good reason for the defendant not to belt him in, except to bounce him around, he said.

Goodson attorney Andrew Graham flatly disputed the notion that Gray was deliberately bounced around, saying: There was no rough ride. It simply didnt happen.

He said Grays injuries were self-inflicted when he stood up inside a moving vehicle and that officers virtually never belt prisoners in. Goodson is such a slow and cautious driver that he sometimes lulls his prisoners to sleep, he said.

Graham said Goodson  a good officer, a gentle man, a nice guy  didnt belt Gray in because of his violent and erratic behavior that included screaming and kicking with such force that the wagon shook. Gray continued thrashing around in the van for several stops, the attorney said.

Graham said Goodsons supervisors never directed him to seek medical attention for Gray, and that Gray wasnt exhibiting symptoms of distress.

He did his job, and he followed instructions, Graham said. Freddie Grays death was a tragedy, but convicting a good officer just to assign blame would make a tragic situation worse.

Graham told the judge that the assistant medical examiner who performed Grays autopsy and ruled his death a homicide initially told an investigator it was a freakish accident before meeting with prosecutors and changing her mind.

It was the result of a pressurized investigation, Graham said.

On Friday during cross-examination, Dr. Carol Allan contradicted defense attorneys assertion that she initially thought Grays death was accidental.

I had an open mind, and after reading the medical records and performing the autopsy, thats when I said, this is not an accident, she said. The word accident never crossed by lips.

Goodsons wagon stopped six times altogether.

Allan conceded that medical evidence by itself doesnt prove that Gray suffered his spinal injury between the second and fourth stops. But she said when she reviewed witness statements and other investigatory materials, she stood by her conclusion.

Without the recorded statements I can tell you it happened in the van, but not when, she said.

She also said Grays spinal injury could have occurred because the van sped up or slowed down  but because Gray wasnt belted and, in her opinion, was standing up, he could have suffered his injury even if the van hadnt been speeding or moving erratically.

Rough rides, nicknamed nickel rides after rides at an amusement park, have been the subject of lawsuits in Baltimore and other cities.

Dondi Johnson died of a fractured spine in 2005 after Baltimore police arrested him for urinating in public. Police put him in a van without a seatbelt, his hands cuffed behind his back. His family said he was thrown into the opposite wall. The family won a $7.4 million judgment, though a cap reduced that to $200,000.

In Philadelphia, police in 2001 barred transportation of prisoners without padding or belts after The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the city had paid $2.3 million to settle lawsuits over rough rides that paralyzed two people.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Assigning claims upon receipt of the first notice of loss (FNOL) can be a cumbersome process. Evaluating an adjusters file load, availability and appropriate state licensing can be time consuming and may delay initial contact with the claimant or policyholder.

To address the problem, IAS Claims Services, an Austin, Texas-based insurance adjusting company and third party administrator, developed tools in house to streamline FNOL assignments. The company handles a large volume of claims it receives from up to 100 different insurers each year.

By using intelligent claims routing technology, the new tools streamline and automate claims distribution by giving insurers the ability to automatically and quickly dispatch claims to the best-matched claims resource, bypassing traditional bottlenecks in the process.

Weve always been looking for tools that would help us better manage our own business, said Larry Cochran, CEO of IAS Claim Services and Claimatic. We embarked on developing this toolreally about seven years ago because we didnt like what was out in the marketplace. We completely did a ground up product development project.

Cochran recognized the companys management team spent a lot of their time trying to match claims to the right adjuster. Its a difficult process, he said, because the information related to an adjusters location, calendar, skills and licenses changes constantly.

The software for both insurers and vendors was created after several failed attempts, d Cochran said. After the last failure, the company conducted a post mortem to evaluate what could be done differently. Changes were made to the team and claims staff were given the opportunity to lead in the development of the software.

That really was the turning point. Before we had the tech people taking the lead and interviewing claims people about their processes and how they go about their work. Then they would go back, jump into the production mode, crank out a bunch of code and put a system together, Cochran explained.

The initial projects failed, he said, because there were too many steps, key strokes or clicks of a mouse or actions that just didnt make sense. The product had to be easy to use, he explained.

In our business, in the insurance industry in general, we have people coming and going all the time, Cochran said. We dont want to waste a lot oftime training people how to upload files, go through the workflows, send claimsto dispatch, to inspectionwhatever it is we have to do to close the file out or send checks out.

The end product, Claimatic, not only helps the company in-house, it is available to insurers and other vendors. The software frees up a managers time by triaging and dispatching new claims based on information gleaned from the FNOL. Designed to match new claims to the most appropriate claims personnel, it processes multiple data sources in real-time to identify the best adjuster assignment using loss location, adjuster qualifications and availability.

Because it is a Software as a Service (SaaS) product, it integrates easily with most existing systems, Cochran said, and doesnt require updates. It can be integrated with calendar systems, claims systems, internal portals and even human resources systems. The system wont disrupt current claims management systems.

An insurer can implement business rules where an adjuster scheduled for vacation wont be assigned any claims the day before and the day after.

For instance, we can integrate with an HR application that would update the system to let Claimatic know when someone has to schedule the week off, Cochran said.

Cochran explained that most insurers have a workflow already in place as to how they would like claims to be distributed, based on the attributes of a claim: location, insured information, policy coverage, main peril and sub perils involved. Severity, too, is important in claims assignments. Then they look to see the availability of inside and outside adjusters, as well as their current claim load and state licensing. File loads change constantly, he said. Combine all that information together and its a lot to sort through.

What we did was we developed a software to really be a hub to connect to all the different systems a company have that will feed off live dynamic data to make those decisions to keep the balance of workload that is desired within that company, said Cochran. Its a verychallenging issue for most companies. I dont think theres a company out there that weve talked to that doesnt have that as a challenge. They use spreadsheets. They use calendars. They use all kinds of things to try to manage that and put a lot of people on those different systems, trying to make sure that theyre routing claims to the right folks.

This past April, the company launched a mobile app to allow for automated field dispatch. The app tracks adjusters in real time and by location, intelligently matching the best resource in the field to claims almost instantly.

Claimatic Mobile is a dramatic multiplier effect on automation by tracking live claims resources in real time to identify those that are closest to the claim, available and with the proper credentials to handle the claim. Think of it as the Uber for Claims, Cochran said.

Similar to how Uber works, Cochran explained the mobile app tracks in real time by pinging off of a persons mobile phone their current status and where they are. Once logged on, it already knows all of an adjusters attributes like skillsets, current insurance licenses and when they expire.

It also knows and has populated the files that you have open currently, said Cochran. You canuse the app to open a file and generate statuses and updates that will immediately populate the clients claims system to update that information.

The mobile app allows an adjuster already out in the field and near a new claim to respond to it.

It would send you a notice asking you to accept a new claim. All you have to do is click a check box and that claim is yours. It instantly gives you the contact information and the FNOL for that claim, said Cochran. It also allows you to click a hyperlink that allows you toeasily make a phone call.

There are multiple benefits to both the software and mobile app, he said. These include saving time and money by routing claims quickly to the most appropriate adjuster. In addition, there are regulatory/compliance benefits in automatically assigning adjusters with valid state licenses. The mobile app cuts cycle time down considerably, he said, by using geographical data.

A big driver for many companies looking at this technology is the ability to better control the distribution of claims to folks who have the right credentials and also that their licenses have not lapsed or that they have the correct license, Cochran explained. Once a person is populated in Claimatic, whether theyre an employee or a vendor, theres time data element on their information that will trigger alerts to supervisors and to that resource themselves way in advance ofa problem with some certification or a license lapsing. Once that does happen, Claimatic will not make an assignment to an individual or a vendor that is not in compliance. Its maintaining that information in real time.

The company also recently launched Claimatic ICM, which offers a full intelligent claims management system for independent adjusting firms and other vendors.

Ive been in the claims industry as an owner and CEO for 10 years, Cochran said. Ive been in all kinds of other industries and been involved in technology innovations, but Ive never had anything catch fire like this, with the kind of interest that we have, from the largest carriers to small independent adjusting firms.

In the past twelve months, Cochran said the product has assigned tens of thousands of claims and reduced thousands of hours of manual processing time while also reducing claims cycle time. For example, overall time in process of claims has been reduced by 20 percent and drive distance to claims has been reduced by nearly 35 percent.
A case in Connecticut state court could help victims from mass shootings  including the recent massacre in Orlando  sue manufacturers of military style assault rifles used in the attacks, despite state and federal laws granting them immunity.

Today, families of victims of the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, where 20 children and six adults were killed, face off against Bushmaster Firearms International LLC, the maker of an AR-15 assault rifle used in the attack. The case is seen by lawyers and gun-control advocates as the best chance to challenge the legal immunity Congress granted gun manufacturers a decade ago.

Connecticut State Judge Barbara Bellis, in Bridgeport, will hear arguments by Bushmaster that the case should be dismissed because a 2005 federal law protects gunmakers from liability. The case has already proceeded further than other suits like it, giving hope to plaintiffs who want Bushmaster to pay for selling military grade weapons to untrained civilians.

If Bellis allows the suit to proceed, it could open the door for shooting victims elsewhere to file similar cases, Katie Mesner-Hage, a lawyer for the Sandy Hook plaintiffs, said in an interview. Bushmaster didnt respond to calls or e-mails about the suit. The company has said it did nothing illegal by selling the gun used in the attack.

Liability Shield

A lawsuit in Florida over the Orlando shooting would face steep odds. Florida is one of 34 states that gives immunity to gunmakers, offering protection that a judge may deem more comprehensive than federal law. For instance, Florida, unlike Connecticut, requires plaintiffs to cover defense attorney fees if the court sides with the gunmaker. Cultural differences could make a difference too, said Franklin Zimring, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

The community attitudes that affect the general orientations of judges are much more skeptical about firearms in Connecticut than in a Florida setting, he said. If Im a gun manufacturer, Id much rather defend a case in Florida.

Gunmakers say theyre protected in all states by the federal law, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which shields them from liability when crimes are committed with their products. The statute has helped the industry win dismissal of other cases, and U.S. lawmakers have rejected attempts to impose tighter restrictions on gun sales.

The Sandy Hook case hinges on whether the plaintiffs claims fall within an exception to the federal law, that Bushmaster negligently entrusted a military-grade weapon to civilians. The exemption normally is used to target a retailer who sells a weapon to someone who shouldnt have one, or a parent who gives a gun to a child, rather than a manufacturer, said John Culhane, a professor at Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Delaware.

Seemingly Paralyzed

With Congress seemingly paralyzed on this issue, certain state court judges  depending on what state youre in  might approach the case with some kind of urge to do something about it, Culhane said. A creative interpretation of the law like this might be a way to do that.

Regardless how the case turns out, the partisan gridlock over gun control means creative lawyering is the only way to bypass the federal legislation, said Timothy Lytton, a professor at Georgia State Universitys College of Law and the author of the book Suing the Gun Industry.

Judge Bellis may take as long as three months to rule on Bushmasters dismissal request.

The June 12 massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando left 49 people dead, becoming the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Omar Mateen, the gunman, acquired his assault rifle  manufactured by Sig Sauer Inc.  legally under Florida law about a week before his attack, according to newspaper reports.

The case is Soto v. Bushmaster Firearms International LLC, 15-cv-6048103, Connecticut Superior Court (Bridgeport).

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
After the death of a Nebraska toddler killed by an alligator at Floridas Walt Disney World Resort last week, there are questions of who is at fault in the incident.

The parents of Lane Graves said they are overwhelmed by the support they received since his death. Matt and Melissa Graves of Omaha, Neb., issued a statement this weekend in connection with their sons death.

Melissa and I continue to deal with the loss of our beloved boy, Lane, and are overwhelmed with the support and love we have received from family and friends in our community as well as from around the country, the family said. We understand the publics interest, but as we move forward this weekend, we ask for and appreciate the privacy we need to lay our son to rest. Neither Melissa, myself or anyone from our family will be speaking publicly; we simply cannot at this time.

Sara Brady, who serves as a spokeswoman for the family, declined to comment on when the funeral has been scheduled.

An alligator described as being as long as 7 feet snatched the 2-year-old as he waded in shallow water in a lake at a Disney hotel on June 14. The boys remains were found the following day.

An autopsy showed that he died from drowning and traumatic injuries, according to the Orlando medical examiner.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission estimates there are about 1.3 million alligators in Florida. They live in all 67 counties of the state and are a protected species. In the U.S., they can be found in Oklahoma, Texas and from North Carolina to Florida.

The Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP), administered by the FWCs Division of Hunting and Game Management, addresses alligator-related complaints. In 2015, SNAP received 13,962 nuisance alligator complaints which resulted in the removal of 7,513 nuisance alligators.

According to a Fox News report last week, five alligators were killed during the search for the missing boy. SNAPs website states that it is difficult to relocate alligators since they often try to return to their capture site.

Laurie Sherwood, a San Francisco-based partner with Walsworth, said there are a few theories of liability to hash out if this becomes a litigated matter, including negligence and premises liability. She explained that Disneys duty to warn resort guests about the alligators would be an issue and would turn on the specific facts of the case, including Disneys knowledge and the steps it took, the likelihood or foreseeability of such an occurrence and whether there was any other information provided to guests warning that alligators are present on the property and in the lakes.

The beach, located at Disneys Grand Floridian Resort and Spa across a lake from the Magic Kingdom, had no swimming signs posted but no warning about alligators.

Last week, Disney announced it would add alligator warning signs to all of its beach resorts. The resorts beaches remain closed.

According to both Sherwood and Steve Jaffe, a managing partner with the Fort Lauderdale-based firm of Farmer Jaffe, the additional warning signs would not impact a case against Disney if it were go to trial. Thats because in several states, including California and Florida, adding the signs after an incident would be considered a subsequent remedial action or measure that cannot be used to establish liability at trial.

Jaffe, whose firm handles plaintiff personal injury and class action lawsuits, said that resort guests have an expectation that the hotel and its surroundings are reasonably safe.

While a Florida resident likely knows not to go into a lake at night, the same isnt true for out of state visitors like the Graves, he said. Because Disney created the lakes and has knowledge of the alligators being present, he said that is sufficient to prove liability.

They dont have an obligation to make the place 100 percent safe, just reasonably safe, Jaffe explained.

The child, just two years old, cannot be assessed negligence and any claim of negligent supervision against the parents would be shaky at best, given they were just 5-10 feet away from where the child was taken, Jaffe explained.

Disney does have defenses, said Sherwood. First, this is a rare occurrence which impacts any claim of foreseeability, she said, noting the last incident happened 30 years ago. Second, she cited the fact that alligators are indigenous to Florida.

Jaffe said the fact there was a prior attack, even though it occurred a few decades ago, could be enough to establish liability.

Given its high profile, both attorneys suggested that it was unlikely the case would go to trial.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.
AKRON, Ohio -- A 19-year-old Akron man threatened to shoot employees at a Little Caesars Pizza and robbed the restaurant of an undisclosed amount of cash Sunday night, police said.

Izzat R. Hamdan, of Byers Avenue walked into the restaurant in the 2500 block of Leland Avenue shortly before 11 pm. with his hands in his pocket as if he had a gun, according to an Akron police report.

Hamdan demanded money, and said he had a gun and would shoot, the report said. The employees gave him money from the cash register.

Employees recognized Hamdan as a former classmate at Ellet High School, Akron police Lt. Rick Edwards said.

Police saw him walking near Canton and Benton roads around 11:55 p.m. He was arrested without incident.

Hamdan pleaded not guilty to a charge of aggravated robbery Monday in Akron Municipal Court, a court clerk said. He remains in the Summit County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

If you wish to discuss or comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section.

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The Bay Village school district will conduct a survey to determine how residents feel the district is performing.

(Bruce Geiselman, special to cleveland.com)

BAY VILLAGE, Ohio -- The Bay Village school district is conducting a random survey of residents to find out public opinions on the district's academic offerings, finances and other topics.

Residents will be asked to rate the importance of various programs, including science, math and music, and express their opinions about how the district is being managed.

The district is sending invitations by mail to 1,350 city residents whose names were randomly selected. The residents are being directed to an online questionnaire. For residents who either can't take or would prefer not to take an online survey, paper copies will be provided.

There will be about 20 questions and it should take five to 10 minutes to complete the survey, district spokeswoman Karen Derby-Lovell said.

The district plans to use the results to collect public opinions and to dispel any misconceptions the public might have, district officials said.

"If there are perceptions out there that are factually incorrect, we'd like the opportunity to address them," district Superintendent Clint Keener said. "If there are questions about our practices, we'd like the opportunity to explain the rationale behind those decisions."

In addition, the district would like to hear any suggestions from the public about how the district could improve its operations, he said.

By reaching out to a randomly selected group of residents, the district hopes to get a more accurate picture of community attitudes rather than relying on the opinions of only a few people.

"This process gives every participant's opinion an equal level of importance and helps us better understand the big picture in terms of public opinion," Keener said.

Residents will have the opportunity to respond to the survey through June 30. Once the survey closes, the district will consider opening it to the general public if enough residents express an interest. Survey results, once tabulated, will be posted online on the district website.

The district will be conducting the survey at the same time it is considering whether to place a levy on the November ballot. The district's last operating levy was approved in November 2010, and the district has been discussing whether to seek additional money in 2016 or 2017. The board is expected to make a decision sometime in July.

Because this is a presidential election year, voter turnout in November is expected to be high, which could result in more participation from the public if the levy appears this fall, Keener recently said.
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This week's taste: Three Chardonnays from California at different price points: Eden Ridge, Ghost Pines and Hahn SLH.

(Marc Bona, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Does price matter when we're talking about a $10 difference? This week we try three Chardonnays from varying parts of California. All three range quite a bit in price. We tried offerings from Eden Ridge, Ghost Pines and Hahn.

California yields so many micro-climates it's always a good idea to check where the wine is from. These are from three different places in northern California.

It's amazing how many people have anti-Chardonnay sentiments these days. Any of these are worth trying:

Eden Ridge.

Eden Ridge Barrel Select

Origin: Mendocino County, north of San Francisco.

This wine - 100 percent Chardonnay - has some coconut on the nose with a touch of peach, followed by vanilla on a very pleasing finish. It yielded the fruitiest flavors of this week's trio yet still is very dry. (Note: I read a negative review of this wine, where the writer detected very little fruit. I found that surprising. If you taste this I would love to hear your opinions.)

Info: $13, composite cork, N/A, 2013.

Ghost Pines.

Ghost Pines

Origin: 47 percent from Monterey County, 34 percent from Napa County, 19 percent from Sonoma County.

Mango on the nose with butterscotch and tropical fruit, followed by melon flavors that start slow and then burst through. Smells oakier than it tastes, but the oak is definitely there. It's from the venerable Louis M. Martini Winery.

Info: $20, composite cork, ghostpines.com, 2014.

Hahn SLH.

Hahn SLH

Origin: The acronym stands for Santa Lucia Highlands, outside of Monterey and not far from the Pacific Ocean.

There's a bit less oak than the Ghost Pines in this very balanced wine. Buttery flavors are not overwhelming, dancing across the palate rather than invading it. Oak comes out a bit on its subtle finish. The region's cool climate is also great for Pinot Noir and Syrah.

Info: $25, natural cork, hahnwines.com, 2014.

My pick: This was a very good bunch and worthy of a taste test for any wine party. I give a slight nod to Ghost Pines, but that's based on my preference for a bit of oak in Chardonnay.

Marc Bona reviews and writes about wine for cleveland.com. Wines reviewed should be readily available in Northeast Ohio. Email him with news of any upcoming wine-related events.
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Feast to the Beat will visit Cleveland August 13.

(Canalway Partners)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The National Park Service is hitting the road for its 100th birthday - and the party is coming to Cleveland.

Cleveland and the Ohio & Erie Canalway is as one of four designated National Heritage Areas to be featured in the National Park Service's Feast to the Beat Centennial Celebration.

Feast to the Beat is a road trip from the West to the East Coast celebrating the Park's 100th birthday. The tour will roll into Cleveland on Saturday, August 13 at Canal Basin Park in The Flats.

It will feature music, food and beer. Music will be provided by "Jam in the Van," a solar-powered state-of-the recording studio on wheels that will feature 5 local bands - to be determined - who will record a 3-song set, complete with video.

The food will be prepared by local chefs, with a locally-inspired menu. Great Lakes Brewing Co. will provide the beer.

The party is about more than the National Park's birthday, though. It's also a great chance for Clevelanders to get a sneak peek at the future Canal Basin Park, the 20-acre project on a previously underused corner of the Flats. The plan by Akron's Environmental Design Group honors the Ohio & Erie Canal's role in Cleveland history.

Feast to the Beat will be open to the public from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on August 13.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The skills employers value most, some experts contend, are not learned in high school or college and can't be measured by standardized tests.

The ability to problem-solve, plan, stay organized and deal with clients and co-workers -- so-called "soft skills" --are best learned in preschool, when children's brains are sponges and every experience helps form the mental framework that lasts a lifetime.

"If you want to increase the average skills of your workers 20 years from now, one of the most cost-effective ways of doing that is investing in early childhood education," said Tim Bartik an economist at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research.

In the latest installment of Cleveland Connects: The First 2,000 Days, an informational series on the importance of investing in the first five years of children's lives, cleveland.com looks at soft skills and the roles that parents and preschools play in developing the skills.

Cleveland Connects: The First 2,000 Days is sponsored by PNC Bank and presented by cleveland.com, The Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and ideastream, the public broadcasting entity that includes WVIZ/PBS Channel 25, WCPN FM/90.3 and WCLV FM/104.9.

What are soft skills?



Soft skills are the non-academic skills people use to interact with others and handle life's everyday challenges. A person's ability to learn and process information are dependent on soft skills.

They include communication, confidence, common sense, enthusiasm, attitude, networking, planning, professionalism, problem solving, critical thinking, self-control, teamwork and more.

Soft skills "support group-based learning," according to Amanda Moreno, an assistant professor at Chicago's Erikson Institute graduate school in early childhood development, "and are necessary to be productive and absorb information in a setting which is of course very different to what kids experience at home prior to coming to school."

Why are soft skills best learned in preschool?



Preschool is a child's debut in the real world away from the guardianship of family members. It's a time of many firsts -- the first place a child will spend hours surrounded by strangers and the first time children have a caretaker whose attention is divided among a dozen other children.

This means children have more freedom to make their own decisions, and must have the confidence and emotional stability to share the attention of adults.

"We don't live in tribes anymore," Moreno said. "There are certain things you can only get in preschool, and that is this larger group negotiation."

A preschooler's world becomes suddenly social in preschool. Friendships formed there likely won't last a lifetime, but the social skills learned from those early friendships will.

When children begin preschool around the age of 3, their brains are more receptive and develop faster than at any other point in life. The brain builds its framework during the first five years of life, as children learn how process information.

How can parents teach soft skills?

Talking to children is one of the best things parents can do to improve social and language skills. Chatting with your child not only teaches them words, but also how to interact appropriately with others, absorb information and listen -- skills that are crucial to success in the classroom.

Involve children in every-day activities. At the grocery store, ask them to identify items on the shelf and talk to them about their favorite foods.

Let children take the lead on some activities to teach confidence, planning and problem-solving.

"We often think 'what do I have to do as a parent to influence my child,'" Moreno said. "It's the other way around. The best thing a parent can do is allow their child to influence them."

Giving kids the reins also helps them learn self-control, Moreno said, by teaching them that their actions have consequences on other people.

Children learn social skills at home and practice them in the classroom, said Rozlyn Grant, director of curriculum and instruction for early learning at The Centers for Families and Children, a Cleveland nonprofit human services agency.

Let children struggle in areas that are hard for them and compliment them when they master those skills, Grant said. Problem-solving fosters independence in children.

Can home life affect soft skills?



Yes. Research shows children from loving home environments with parents who practice soft skills in their presence don't benefit as much from preschool as children who come from unhealthy situations at home.

Preschool provides disadvantaged children with books, food, toys and positive interactions they might not have access to at home, in addition to the group environment that is new to all children attending preschool for the first time.

"Preschool is one of those things that is not completely necessary, but it is beneficial for kids from lower socioeconomic environments, because it gives that opportunity of a year, possibly two, to learn how to be productive in a school-like environment," Moreno said.

Do all preschools emphasize soft skills?

No. Kids will naturally develop soft skills in all preschools, but some emphasize them more than others.

Moreno warns preschools that focus too much on the ABCs and 123s and can hinder the development of soft skills.

"The point of preschool is to learn in an exploratory, playful kind of manner, because there is plenty of opportunity for school to become less playful later on," she said. "You want an environment that emphasizes learning through play."

Reggio Emilia is one preschool philosophy that balances learning and play well, Moreno said.

In Reggio classrooms, teachers allow children to take charge by listening to their interests and developing lesson plans accordingly. Students are also encouraged to come up with their own activities they can do alone or in small groups.

To learn more about Reggio Emilia and other preschool teaching styles, click here to view our guide on preschool philosophies.

Click here for an index of the 2,000 Days series.
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There was a heavy police presence in downtown Cleveland following the Cavs victory Sunday night.

(Cliff Pinckard, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A police officer was injured after Sunday's Cleveland Cavaliers game after he was struck by a vehicle downtown.

The officer was struck at the corner of East 14th Street and Broadway Avenue by a white Toyota driven by a female, police spokeswoman Jennifer Ciaccia said. The woman drove away after striking the officer.

The officer was treated and released for a leg injury, Ciaccia said.

Thousands of people crowded the streets of downtown Cleveland after Sunday's game, celebrating well into the morning hours Monday. Ciaccia did not have any estimates on the number of people.

A man was wounded in the ankle after shots were fired just before 1 a.m. near West Third Street and Superior Avenue, Ciaccia said. The man was taken to MetroHealth Medical Center. No suspects were arrested.

Ciaccia said there were no reports of overturned vehicles or fires. A report that a fire truck was stolen was false, although fans did crowd on top of a ladder truck downtown.

See, the fire truck was not stolen. This, however, is not okay.  pic.twitter.com/wqoK6idMYD  Cleveland Police (@CLEpolice) June 20, 2016

RTA service into downtown was suspended late Sunday night because of the activity, but routes were still running out of the downtown area. Some exits on Interstate 90, Ohio 2 and Interstate 77, and lanes on the Detroit/Superior Bridge and the Lorain Carnegie Bridge were closed late Sunday and early Monday to control traffic.
Whats new at Progressive Field, Cleveland Indians prepare for 2016 season

A 62-year-old Chardon man was arrested Sunday during the Cleveland Indians' game at Progressive Field after he was accused of taking a photograph up the skirt of a woman in line for ice cream in the stadium's upper deck.

(Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A 62-year-old retired middle school teacher was arrested at Progressive Field during Sunday's Cleveland Indians game after he was accused of taking a photograph up a woman's dress.

The man, who has not been charged, was arrested after a bystander chased him down and another man held him until police came. The man tried to delete the photos after he was caught, according to police records.

He faces voyeurism, tampering with evidence and possessing criminal tools charges, according to Cleveland police records.

The woman was in line to get ice cream at a concession stand in the upper deck when the man got in line behind her, according to a police report.

A 36-year-old man standing in front of the woman watched as the man stuck his cellphone under the woman's skirt and took a picture, the report says.

The witness yelled at the man and chased him down. The man had his phone in his hands and was trying to delete the picture, according to a police report.

"I didn't want to hurt him because of his age, so another gentleman grabbed him until cops got there," the man said in a witness statement.

Officers walked the Chardon man away, but he kept reaching into his pocket and fiddling with his phone, the report says. He ignored police orders to stop, and police took his phone. It was unlocked, "as if being used," the report says.

The man protested, and told police they couldn't take his phone without a warrant.

Officers did not search the phone, but kept it as evidence and asked the department's sex crimes detectives to investigate further.

They handcuffed him and took him to the city jail, where he remained Monday.

The man retired in 2013 from Kenston Middle School in Chagrin Falls, where he taught for 35 years, according to the school district.

To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section.
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Geauga County Sheriff's Deputies investigated after a man was seen offering drugs to children Saturday at a park in Newbury Township.

(File photo)

NEWBURY TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- Witnesses reported a suspicious man offering drugs to children in exchange for money or sexual favors at a park in Geauga County.

The man was seen just before 9 p.m. Saturday at Punderson State Park in Newbury Township, according to a Geauga County Sheriff's report.

The man spoke to the children near the park's playground area. The children's ages were not included in the report.

One boy went home and told his mother. The mother called the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

The ODNR reported the incident to sheriff's deputies. Deputies searched the area near the playground but could not find the man.

The Geauga County Sheriff's Office has not received any reports of similar incidents at the park, Lt. John Hiscox said.

If you wish to discuss or comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments section.
Hillary Clinton makes campaign stop in Cleveland, June 13, 2016

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks to supporters during a campaign stop last week in Cleveland. In the background is Sen. Sherrod Brown, one of Clinton's Democratic allies in Ohio.

(John Kuntz, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - When Hillary Clinton speaks Tuesday in Columbus, she will continue what has been a remarkably traditional beginning to her general election campaign.

The presumptive Democratic nominee for president is sticking with a battleground map that served President Barack Obama well. She and her allies have unleashed a blitz of early television ads aimed at shoring up their base. And Ohio, as always, is right in the thick of things.

Are there risks in playing it so safe in a year in which Donald Trump - the Republican poised to claim his party's nomination next month in Cleveland - thrives on chaos? Of course there are.

But Trump's strategy relies on successfully navigating one of two increasingly improbable paths.

California and his native New York, the two largest and most reliable Democratic states, are fools' errands. Yet Trump seems fixated on them both in ways that defy good political sense. A clean sweep of the Rust Belt, including Ohio, is more realistic. Yet Trump is poorly organized in this region - he's not particularly well organized anywhere - and hasn't visited the Buckeye State since March. Conversely, Clinton's stop Tuesday will be her second in eight days.

Consider some other numbers.

Democrats say they now have 150 full-time employees on the ground in Ohio. It's a mix of Ohio Democratic Party and Democratic National Committee staff. In the weeks since Clinton locked up the nomination, all factions appear to be working harmoniously toward her election and toward the election of Ted Strickland, who is challenging Republican Sen. Rob Portman.

"Ohio Democrats - state party, Clinton and Strickland campaigns - are all singing from the same hymnal," Kirstin Alvanitakis, communications director for the Ohio Democratic Party, said Sunday in an email. "It's unclear if Ohio Republicans are even in the same church."

Ohio Gov. John Kasich was Trump's last-standing GOP rival in the primaries and won't be offering an endorsement anytime soon. One of Kasich's Ohio convention delegates resigned rather than face the unappealing choice of participating in a Trump coronation.

The Republican National Committee has more than 50 paid employees on the ground in the state - less than what was expected by this point. And Trump is still relying on the same in-state personnel that guided him to a loss against Kasich in the state's March primary.

Matt Borges, the Ohio Republican Party chairman, had been among Trump's most vocal critics and these days seems motivated more by a desire to protect Portman's seat in the Senate. Borges nevertheless is helping assemble Trump's Ohio team for the general election, though some of the planning included Corey Lewandowski, who lost his job as campaign manager Monday.

"I don't feel like we need to push the panic button," Borges said. "We need to get the right people in place. It needs to happen relatively soon. It may be taking a week or two longer than I'd hoped, but that's OK. The good news is we have 50-some RNC staffers on the ground here."

A Trump spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment Monday.

By contrast, Clinton's campaign already has its top Ohio operatives in place. Her director here, Chris Wyant, is a veteran of Obama's two winning campaigns in the state.

"We are building a grassroots campaign to make sure supporters are empowered to take our campaign into their own hands and organize Ohioans to elect Hillary Clinton," Wyant, a Cincinnati native, said Monday in a statement emailed by the campaign. "We've hired staff and are working with the coordinated campaign to recruit volunteers, connect with supporters, and build the personal relationships with voters that mark successful campaigns."

There's something to be said for Clinton's predictability. It's a comfort to Democratic activists who have rallied around her and comes as Trump contends with a new crop of stories about how Republicans might dump him at their convention. Yes, there are some Clinton holdouts who support Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. But you'd rather be in her shoes than in Trump's.

Clinton's early advantages in Ohio and other traditional swing states are key, because if she can build a lead over Trump, she may be able to expand the Democratic map. She could, for example, court Arizona, a state with a huge Hispanic population particularly motivated to vote against Trump, who is known for his inflammatory rhetoric about Mexican immigrants. She could try and flip Georgia, where changing demographics might turn in her favor.

If Donald Trump keeps doing Donald Trump things - questioning a judge's fairness because of his ethnicity, gloating in the wake of a national tragedy - the map could expand even more.

If Trump is going to win the Electoral College, he probably needs an aggressive push in the Rust Belt states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and, yes, Ohio. The first three have gone Democratic in each of the last six presidential elections. Ohio has been more competitive.

That makes his recent travel schedule puzzling. Last week was a mix of classic battlegrounds (Nevada and New Hampshire), a tossup that went for Obama in 2008 but not 2012 (North Carolina), two potential problem spots (Arizona and Georgia) and a state Republicans should carry easily (Texas). This week he heads to Scotland to tend to personal business.

Applying conventional wisdom to Trump's candidacy can be a futile, maddening exercise. He has made it as far as he has by amplifying his message in nontraditional ways.

Recent polls have shown a close race between Clinton and Trump in Ohio. There are opportunities for him, particularly in the white-working class communities that ring the eastern and southeastern parts of the state. But to capitalize on them, he needs to show up. Clinton already is here in full force - and she's taking Ohio far more seriously.
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In this 2009 file photo, Ghaddafi Auwalu, center, 10, stands in the courtyard of a food distribution center for street children in Kano, Nigeria. William Lambers writes that 3.2 million people are living in severe hunger in the Lake Chad Basin countries of Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

(Shashank Bengali, MCT, File, 2009)

William Lambers is an author from Cincinnati

On World Refugee Day today, let's remember the starving war victims from Boko Haram's reign of terror.



Think of the farmers in Nigeria who have been forced from their land by Boko Haram's attacks. Think of the malnourished children in Cameroon, internally displaced with their families because Boko Haram crosses the border from Nigeria with its terror.



While many of us know of the wars and humanitarian crises in Syria and Iraq, far fewer are aware of the unfolding tragedy in the Lake Chad Basin of Africa.

This is where Boko Haram, an extremist group allied with ISIS, routinely attacks civilians and burns villages in Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad.



March: Terrorist attacks outside of Europe get less attention

The United Nations says 2.7 million civilians have been displaced by the conflict. These are people, already living in poverty, being forced to abandon their homes and farms.



These refugees flee to other communities for help. But the host communities are suffering with poverty and have little to give.



This area of Africa has been through years of drought, too, which has caused food shortages. Even without the war, some humanitarian aid would be needed.



The refugees experience an enemy even more powerful than Boko Haram: hunger. The United Nations reports 3.2 million people are living in severe hunger among the four affected countries of the Lake Chad Basin.



Severe malnutrition cases have been on the rise. There are famine-like conditions reported in Nigeria, in the areas most affected by Boko Haram.



It's a race against time to get food to those suffering. A recent U.N. report said that, "Without interventions an estimated 67,000 children aged 6-59 months with severe acute malnutrition are likely to die in 2016 in Nigeria's north-eastern Borno and Yobe states. This translates to 184 deaths every day."



The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) rushes special foods to save small children from malnutrition. They give children under five years of age the enriched peanut paste Plumpy'sup or Plumpy'Doz. These foods, which require no preparation or special storage, have the vitamins to stop malnutrition.



The lack of food for a small child can be catastrophic. Malnutrition will cause lasting physical and mental damage in infants, or death. This is the crisis within a crisis in the Lake Chad Basin. It's vital that the plumpy is supplied in timely abundance for children.



The WFP provides emergency rations for displaced families, saving them from starvation.



One of the WFP programs helps displaced children by giving them school meals. This initiative provides children food and education at the same time.



Niger, Chad and Cameroon all have WFP emergency school feeding for children affected by Boko Haram's attacks. In Niger, WFP spokesperson Adel Sarkozi says, "WFP aims to expand its emergency school meals program in view of continued and growing number of people being displaced by the violence."



But funding is low for WFP, and the consequences have become tragic themselves. In May, WFP had to stop the school meal program in northern Cameroon because funds ran out. Thousands of poor children came to school one day and did not have a meal waiting for them.



The WFP depends entirely on voluntary donations from governments and the public at a time of great need.

New figures released by the United Nations says there are 65.3 million people worldwide who have been forcibly displaced from their home. This unprecedented number includes these victims of Boko Haram violence in Africa.

If we provide enough funds, refugees will eat. If not, we see, many times, programs cut or reduced in size.



What does that say when we cannot even provide school meals to children victimized by war? What if WFP runs out of supplies of Plumpy'Sup because of lack of funds? This could prove deadly to children.



There is not enough priority on feeding hungry refugees in conflict zones. Budgets are not geared toward food aid, even though nutrition is an essential element for peace and stability.



Defeating Boko Haram cannot be done with military action alone. A recent regional security summit in Abuja, Nigeria, declared that more humanitarian aid and development are needed to get at the root of the crisis. Until we realize this, extremist groups will continue to thrive in the poor regions of the globe.



2015: Nigerian rescue of woman and children held by Boko Haram is a step forward: editorial

The Boko Haram war has left millions displaced and hungry. Their hope for World Refugee Day is that someone will hear their cries for help. They hope the world will come to their rescue with food and peace.



On World Refugee Day, we should remember these innocent and hungry victims of war. And take action to help them.

William Lambers of Cincinnati writes frequently on hunger issues and partnered with the U.N. World Food Program on the book "Ending World Hunger."
China's property market was running at two speeds, with a real need for housing helping fuel big price gains, a long-time Asia property analyst said.



Government data released at the weekend showed property prices in 70 major cities in China grew 6.9 percent in May from a year ago, accelerating from April's 6.2 percent rise.

Prices in the top-tier cities of Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing clocked on-year growth of 53.2, 27.7 and 19.5 percent respectively, while the coastal city of Xiamen posted price rises of 28 percent. Prices in second-tier cities Nanjing and Hefei also rose more than 20 percent, beating Beijing's on-year growth rate.

"It used to be the case where just about every city went up and down together, but that's not been the case in this particular cycle," Peter Churchouse, author of "The Churchouse Letter," told CNBC's "The Rundown".
Of the top 10 companies in the U.S. that are best at recruiting and retaining top talent, eight are still founder-led. Here's what investors think founders need to take their idea all the way from pitch meeting to initial public offering.

In 2012, Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg made an announcement that to the outside world seemed insane. For $1 billion, the social network's largest acquisition to date, Facebook would acquire photo-sharing service Instagram. At the time Instagram had no revenue, just a $500 million valuation and 30 million users compared with Facebook's 1 billion.

It didn't take long for outsiders to stop questioning Zuckerberg's decision: With more than 400 million users, Instagram is growing at a faster clip than Facebook did in the early days and accounts for 15 percent of the company's total ad sales. What compelled Zuckerberg to make such a seemingly risky decision? Many now say it's because he is Facebook's founder.



If Zuckerberg had given over the reigns to a professional CEO, who knows if he or she would have had the confidence to make such a dramatic bet on the company's future?

"Facebook buying Instagram was one of the smartest investment decisions in the last five to seven years," said Rich Wong, a general partner at Accel, which led Facebook's Series A. "It would have been impossible to do that if the company wasn't led by a founder who was completely behind it."

We know that founder-led companies tend to outperform firms with someone else in the C-Suite on a broad range of metrics, including exit valuations, capital efficiency and return on investment. Most venture capitalists concede that the highest-performing companies in their portfolio are still founder-led. Now, LinkedIn data support the idea that founders also are better at something much more elusive: talent management.



The classic example of superior leadership and management is hiring someone who is better than yourself. Beth Seidenberg general partner, Kleiner Perkins

Of the top 10 U.S. companies on LinkedIn's Top Attractors list, eight are still founder-led. While Zuckerberg's Facebook comes in as the third most sought-after places to work in the U.S., founder-led Salesforce, Amazon, Uber, Tesla, Twitter, Airbnb and Google also made the cut. While these prominent companies still have their founder in the C-Suite, the arrangement is quite uncommon: Harvard Business Review found from a study of 200 American start-ups that fewer than 2 percent of founders led their companies' initial public offering.

Venture capitalists argue that being able to recruit a great team as the company grows is one of the biggest  if not the biggest  factor that contributes to company success. So how do they attempt to identify the few and far between founders who can grow their team and themselves all the way? LinkedIn spoke with investors from several prominent firms to find out.

"It is easier to start a company than ever before. That's why there are so many start-ups," said Kleiner Perkins General Partner Beth Seidenberg. "Then there is the much shorter list of really breakout successful companies. We try and identify the magic that makes that happen."

Intellectually curious

It goes without saying that there is no magic ball that can predict whether a founder will be able to grow as the company grows. A vast majority of start-up founders do not know what they are capable of when it comes to growing a business because they have never been tested. They also typically don't have a track record that investors can point to and see promising results. In lieu of actual data points to indicate performance, a deep-rooted curiosity is key, says David Yuan, a general partner at Technology Crossover Ventures. "Most of success has to do with his and her ability to attract a great team, but most of the time the founding CEO doesn't have things like sales experience or marketing expertise," he said. "A big part of succeeding in recruiting those people is intellectual curiosity."

Accel's Wong pointed to Zuckerberg's ability to bring in Sheryl Sandberg as COO as a prime example of a hyper-aware founder at work. Zuckerberg identified that his expertise was in product, and then built a team around him that excelled at everything else.

"These companies live or die by the team," added Kleiner's Seidenberg. "The classic example of superior leadership and management is hiring someone who is better than yourself."



Answering a calling

There are founders who have an idea because they think that it can make them a ton of money, and then there are the founders who "want to change the world." While it can be easy to cast aside the latter as cliche, all of the founder-led companies on LinkedIn's Top Attractors list were mission-driven from the start and most investors say that it's that mission that makes them more likely to succeed in the long run. Aaref Hilaly, a partner at Sequoia Capital, says that the more a founder feels like she is answering a calling, the more likely she will be able to recruit top talent as the company grows.

"At every single one of the companies on your list, if you likely strip it down, they have a story of a small group of people who have achieved incredible things for a purpose," he said. "It is next to impossible to find those people who have the right ideas at the right time."

Yuan of TCV agrees that a belief in answering a higher calling is deeply linked to a founder's ability to attract top talent. "Ultimately what they are trying to do is attract executives with low-risk jobs and have them take a risk and a pay cut and go do something different," he said. "A founder is a big part of pitching that mission, so he has to feel like he is answering a calling."

Mutual respect

While all the investors I spoke with acknowledged the power of founder-led firms, not all were convinced that it's the be-all and end-all to success. Angel investor Joanne Wilson says while at the early stage a founder-led business is crucial, as the company grows it is very likely that a new leader needs to come in to manage the business.

"Once they get more mature it is important to have the founder there, I believe, but it isn't essential," she said. "I want to invest in someone who can lead a company to a very healthy place with a clear creative vision that is always thinking of ways to evolve." Yuan says it is quite common to meet an entrepreneur who  for one reason or another  does not want to lead the business as it grows. In most cases, the founder is a product guy who would much rather take on the role of CTO. In that case, in order for it not to turn out like a bad episode of "Silicon Valley," Yuan says the only way that arrangement works is if the founder is a part of the process to find her replacement who she ultimately grows to have a lot of mutual respect and admiration for.

"The founder has to be comfortable in his or her own skin in the organization and has to want to [be] working on things that are exciting to them," he said. "Also the last thing that an experienced CEO wants to do is walk into a company and have a contentious relationship with the founder. That can get ugly really quickly."



Rarest of qualities
If you're job hunting Down Under, you'll be up against stiff competition for roles in financial services.

Companies in that sector were the most popular with job seekers in Australia, according to a LinkedIn study released on Monday.

Using data culled from its 400 million-plus membership base, the social network compiled a list of the 25 "Top Attractors" in countries including Australia, Brazil, France, India, the U.K. and the U.S. LinkedIn looked at three key factors: which companies attracted the most interest from job-seekers, the most actual job applications, and the most loyal new-hires.

In Australia, 12 out of the top 25 companies were financial players, with accountancy firm KPMG in the top spot, followed by rival PwC in second place and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), Australia's biggest bank, in third. Rounding up the top five were supermarket chain Coles and another accountancy firm, Deloitte.
There's a scene in "Monty Python" where Reg, a first-century Israeli activist (John Cleese), plots to overthrow the Roman empire. "We've given them everything; what have they given us in return?" In an embarrassing moment of honesty, one of Reg's companions mentions "the aqueduct." Another one brings up "sanitation." The list goes on and on. Eventually, Reg sums it all up in one memorable outburst: "All right... all right... but apart from better sanitation and medicine and education and irrigation and public health and roads and a freshwater system and baths and public order... what have the Romans done for us?" Timidly, one of Reg's companions suggests: "Brought peace!"

Reg snaps back: "What!? Oh... Peace, yes... shut up!"

I can't help going back to Cleese's old skit as I read commentary on "Brexit" and the European Union. The consensus seems to be that the European experiment has failed. I beg to disagree; and would argue that, on the whole, the European Union will go down in history as one of the continent's greatest moments.

Take free trade. My main mission as an economics professor is to remind students that most value in the economy is created not by making things but rather by trading them. I have an apple but I like bananas, whereas you have a banana but you like apples. By trading an apple for a banana both of us become better off, even though, from a physical point of view, our combined assets remain the same. We take free-trade Europe for granted, but it wasn't always like that.

Next, let's talk about the movement of people. Britons on the "leave" camp complain that many non-British Europeans have moved to London; but they conveniently forget that many British citizens live abroad in other EU countries. There are many more Irish in the U.K. than Britons in Ireland; but there are also many more Britons in Spain than Spaniards in the U.K. Freedom of movement is a two-way street; and, like free trade, freedom of movement leads to an overall win-win outcome. Suppose that Florida and New York were to put a stop to the movement of "citizens" across states: no more New Yorkers in Florida and no more Floridians in New York. Would the U.S. be better off?

Finally on my short list of EU goodies: peace. Yes, peace. Harvard Professor Niall Ferguson stated that "European integration has had absolutely nothing to do with peace in Europe since World War II; that has been the achievement of NATO." With due respect for the distinguished Harvard historian, I note that peace is more than military arsenals and treaties. For example, the EU student-exchange program (Erasmus) has contributed to a new generation of Europeans that is incredibly more European than its predecessors, and so much less prone to the violent conflict that has plagued the old continent for centuries.

Make no mistake: The EU is far from perfect. Its system of governance is too bureaucratic and unaccountable. The monetary union was planned too hastily and is full of holes. The past 10 years have been particularly difficult, with their combination of unemployment, public and private debt, terrorism and migration flows. But connecting all evils to the EU is inaccurate and unfair; and makes us run the risk of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Overall, the European Experiment has been a success story.

P.S. - John Cleese has declared he is voting for Britain to leave the EU. But then again, he also suggested that hanging European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker would be the best way of reforming the bloc. Once a comedian, always a comedian.
James Kelly, John E. Wheeler and Joseph K.C. Forrest must surely be spinning in their graves. They co-founded the Chicago Daily Tribune in 1847. It changed its name to the The Tribune Co. in 1861, and is currently housed in the landmark Tribune Tower on Chicago's famous Michigan Avenue. The company then changed its name to Tribune Publishing in 2014.

"What a disastrous way to launch," said Mark DiMassimo, CEO and chief creative officer of agency DiMassimo Goldstein. "This could be one for the record books."

It also isn't helping that mentions of tronc videos explaining the company's new direction released on Monday are currently polling 63 percent negative and 37 percent positive, according to Spredfast.

"What they've done is what you might call the nuclear option," said Josh Feldmeth, CEO of branding agency Interbrand North America. "To rename the company is to suggest that everything has changed. It's interesting that they've taken that approach. A name can only do so much."

Tronc officially launched Monday, but not everyone is happy with the new name. Social media analytics company Spredfast said that since the tronc rebrand was announced on June 2, almost 75 percent of all social media references were negative.

The company formerly known as Tribune Publishing   is already making headlines, but it's not all positive.

The promotional videos for tronc rely on stock images, advertising and media buzzwords, and commonly used filmmaking techniques to explain that the new tronc will be combining media and technology. The clips are being compared to HBO's "Silicon Valley" parody promo clips for the fake company "Pied Piper," while others questioned whether they are an Adult Swim spoof. (A tronc spokesperson confirmed they are real. The company did not provide any further comment.)

"It's just so over the top in all of those dimensions that only the completely irony-free will be able to get through it without a lot of snickering," DiMassimo said. "It doesn't help that their audience is media savvy. We all have seen a million of these. Some of us have even made satirical versions of these kind of films."

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He pointed out several things wrong with the video from the use of the "super-young non-shirt-tucking, buzz-word spouting tech cool-aid drinker" to the over-the-top music, which he called "somewhere between porn and 'Top Gun.'"

"They've created a video attempting to express the message that they are with or ahead of the times, but their style of doing so proves the opposite," DiMassimo added.

Becky Wang, co-founder and CEO of branding agency Crossbeat, added that most new media companies already use data plus technology and content. Simply renaming the brand doesn't make tronc stand out, she added.

""Their HR video was for whom?" Wang said. "Younger, hipper millennial talent? Was it for 'the industry'? The video, unfortunately, is tone-deaf for both."

That being said, negative press doesn't mean a company is destined to fail. Interbrand's Feldmeth said that rebranding a company can get rid of negative connotations, similar to how GMAC changed its name to Ally Financial .

But, getting a new name isn't always necessary, Feldmeth said. Companies like IBM and GE have been able to change their focus to match changing times while keeping the legacy of their name.

"(Tronc) could probably accomplish what they needed to accomplish without changing the name," Feldmeth said. "Media companies are all being interrupted in the same way. These guys are either brilliant or have gone a step too far. Only history will tell. Aside of the criticism of the name itself, I think it does send a compelling message about how the company has changed."

Crossbeat's Wang said that people are willing to look past a company name if the product is good.

"In this case, make a better product first, then worry about a new name. ... The Tribune, believe it or not, has equity and still stands for journalistic integrity. It looks like they were trying to combine journalism with tech, but unfortunately, the video itself made it seem like tech first, not culturally relevant content," she said.

Despite the negative press, it doesn't mean it's all bad news for tronc.

"At the end of the day, a great product can fix a bad name, but a great name can't fix a bad product," Feldmeth said.

Correction: Tronc was previously known as Tribune Publishing. An earlier version misstated its former name.
The saying goes that "truth is the first casualty of war" and the same could be said of the political debate surrounding the forthcoming U.K. referendum on its European Union (EU) membership. Passions and personalities on both sides of the argument over whether to leave the EU or remain in the 28-country political and economic bloc have both divided and confused the nation, with many people unsure of fact and fiction over the benefits and disadvantages of EU membership. Crucially, voters are unsure of who they can trust. The main points of division among the public are the costs of EU membership, the benefits of such membership to the economy, sovereignty and immigration with widely differing data used by campaigners on both sides. The implications of staying or leaving the EU on the health service, employment, security and trade are also major points of contention. Here CNBC looks at some of the key issues  EU membership, immigration and sovereignty  to see where the truth might lie.

Cost of membership

The cost of EU membership is one of the most divisive issues in the Brexit debate with the cost and benefits to U.K. households a battleground between campaigners.

All of the 28 countries within the EU pay into the institution to fund the EU budget which is, in turn, spent on various areas and projects in all EU countries such as creating growth and jobs (the largest share of spending) to security, agriculture and the more prosaic administration of the EU's institutions or more ethereal soft power to promote the EU as a "global player." The size of that payment that each country makes to the EU budget is largely dependent on the size and national income of the country. The bloc's largest economies  the U.K., Germany, France, Italy and Spain, contribute the most money to the EU making them net contributors. Since 1985, the U.K. has received an annual rebate from the EU. In 2015, for instance, the U.K. contributed an estimated 12.9 billion ($18.8 billion) - after an automatic rebate of almost 4.9 billion  to the EU budget, according to government figures, while EU spending on the U.K. was 4.4 billion so the U.K.'s net contribution was 8.5 billion.

Members of the European Parliament take part in a voting session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France, on June 7, 2016. FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP/Getty Images

The Vote Leave campaign say that the gross cost of EU membership works out at 350 million a week and that the money could be spend on other priorities such as the NHS. But the U.K. Treasury has disputed this, stating in a briefing paper on U.K.-EU economic relations on June 13 that "the rebate is applied before the U.K. makes its contribution to the EU so the U.K. doesn't 'send' the gross contribution of 19 billion or 350 million per week. Once the rebate is taken into account the U.K. "makes a gross contribution equivalent to around 275 million a week in 2014," it said. Meanwhile, remain campaigners say that despite the cost of membership, the U.K. gains from its membership in a number of ways that are not easily quantifiable. As the European Commission states on its website, "the U.K. pays more into the EU budget than it receives from it. However, the net balance does not accurately reflect the many benefits of EU membership. Many of them, such as peace, political stability, security and freedom to live, work, study and travel anywhere in the Union cannot be measured."

Immigration

Immigration is perhaps the most sensitive and divisive issues when it comes to EU membership. Freedom of movement is a pillar of the EU and the region's citizens have the right to move and reside freely in other member states. Generally, EU citizens also do not need a work permit to work elsewhere in the EU.

The amount of people coming to the U.K. to take advantage of its buoyant economy and the question mark over benefits that EU migrants can claim in the U.K., which has a long-established welfare state like much of western Europe, is a thorny issue, however. Ahead of the referendum, Prime Minister David Cameron, who leads the remain campaign, met with EU leaders with a series of proposals, one of which was to ban migrants from claiming in-work and child benefits in the U.K. for four years (a so-called "emergency brake" on benefits)  a proposal that EU leaders conceded but still needs to be ratified by the European Parliament.

A Polish delicatessen in London. In Pictures Ltd./Corbis via Getty Images

Sovereignty

Another key area dividing the U.K. over EU membership is the issue of sovereignty  the right and power of a governing body to govern itself without any interference from outside sources.

The idea of the U.K.'s sovereignty being threatened by Brussels has ignited the British imagination and indignation over the years, with media stories (many apocryphal) about EU bans on anything from "bendy bananas" to conker games in the U.K.'s school playgrounds. Claims that the EU is a nanny-state too keen on issuing petty directives are playing no less a role in the Brexit debate now, with "outers" sure that a vote to leave would end the EU's "damaging laws and regulations," particularly those affecting British businesses. Supporters of the EU say that regulations and laws have helped to raise consumer standards, health and safety practices and workers' rights, however. One of the key political pillars of the EU has been for the bloc to work towards "ever closer union" and members are meant to commit to eventually join the single currency area, something that Brits have never been keen on and more so recently given the recent euro zone crisis. When trying to extract EU reforms in order to encourage U.K. voters to remain in the bloc, Cameron managed to secure a commitment from the EU that regional treaties should recognize that "the U.K. is not committed to further political integration into the EU" but euroskeptics generally remain unconvinced. Cynicism towards the EU is nothing new, despite the U.K. being instrumental in the founding of the bloc after World War II when Winston Churchill called for a "United States of Europe" to guarantee peace and stability. Since then, however, and perhaps due in no small part to being an island nation, Britain has always had something of a "one foot in, one foot out" approach to Europe and has always been reluctant to relinquish power to its mainly Brussels-based institutions.

The Imperial State Crown is carried from the Houses of Parliament on May 18, 2016 in London, England. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

As such, the somewhat ethereal idea of "sovereignty" is a hot potato for many voters and even the leave campaign's motto is "vote leave, take back control." In fact, much of the leave campaign's focus and rhetoric is on authority, autonomy and control and "taking it back" when it comes to immigration and borders, money or laws. On the flip-side, remain campaigners say that a vote to stay in the bloc equates to a "better economy, better leadership and better security" and that "the U.K. has more control over its destiny by staying inside organizations like the EU." Leave campaigners say that Britain would be better off alone and could establish its own trade deals and partnerships with other nations, including the EU. Others say that there is no guarantee of that and a number of countries, such as the U.S. have warned the U.K. not to expect any "special treatment" if it goes it alone.

Divided Britain
Life is likely to go on, for Wall Street, regardless of the Brexit vote.

CLSA banking analyst Mike Mayo said he's not sweating the Brexit, and he think Wall Street will fare just fine, even if the recent trend of markets expecting U.K. voters will opt to remain in the European Union comes to fruition later this week.

"As bad as Brexit would be, it's not life-ending," Mayo told CNBC Monday afternoon. However, "it would increase the cost, complexity and friction" for U.S. banks operating overseas, he added.
All the wrong stocks rallied on Monday, according to Jim Cramer.

There is a specific combination of stocks that create a rally that can last, such as the big-cap companies with a strong international presence. That didn't happen on Monday, which Cramer interpreted that as a sign that this move may not have much staying power.

"Not until we get fresh money, not until more investors resurface and the love affair with growth stocks comes back, will we see a really good rally rather than just an OK one that can be taken away," the "Mad Money" host said.

The large financials, technology and health care stocks make up a large percentage of the S&P 500 Index. When those sectors go higher, that adds fuel to the market.

"Today's move was much more of a robbing Peter to pay Paul scenario," Cramer said.
"This is a new dynamic where we recognized that no matter what happens in this country, there are forces overseas that are truly driving the bus," the " Mad Money " host said. Simultaneously, "the shale depletion rate picks up, making the majors more valuable and the independents more vulnerable."

Every time oil goes up, oil stocks go with it. When crude goes down, the corresponding stocks go down less. Then oil goes back up, and new highs are reached in the oil stocks. All that means they are continuing to inch higher and higher.

There's something bizarre happening with oil stocksbut Jim Cramer likes what he is seeing.

The notion that oil is going to head back to the $30s is being taken off the table.

Exxon and Chevron were perfect examples of Cramer's theory. Those stocks are trading around levels when West Texas crude was at $50, yet oil didn't push through that level on Monday.

"That is a sign, to me, that investors recognize the down side of the range has changed. The notion that oil is going to head back to the $30s is being taken off the table," Cramer said.

If oil had really bottomed, than perhaps Pioneer Natural Resources didn't make a mistake when it purchased 28,000 acres from Devon last week. Meanwhile, the stock is still 3 points below where it was when Pioneer offered 5.25 million shares to finance the deal.

Oil service company Schlumberger also tends to trade with Exxon and Chevron, and is now within distance of recent highs.

Cramer also sees natural gas continuing to roll higher, and it's taking stocks like Southwestern along with it.

"I know that like many of these others, you sure haven't caught the bottom, but it might make sense to put on a light position now," Cramer said.

The most impacted group from the rise in oil and gas are the banks. Many have an extensive amount of energy exposure, yet Cramer noted that the banks are trading at levels that suggest the book value is nonsense.

Cramer recommended Wells Fargo as the best option from the banks. It was initially pulled down by oil, and could move back up with it.

"With the downside of oil defined, and the up side meaning less to the stocks, there is a lot to like here," Cramer said.

This is especially important now that a stronger dollar is likely not to hurt as much as it would have if the Federal Reserve raised rates. Thus, given the strength of other currencies around the world, crude will only grow in strength.

Finally, good news for the oil patch.
Europe created fewer unicorns  technology start-ups with valuations of $1 billion or more  in last 12 months compared to the year before, but the companies are much stronger at generating revenues than their U.S. counterparts, a new study shows. In the 12 months, 10 new unicorns have been produced in Europe, down from the 13 created in the previous year, according to a report by British investment bank GP Bullhound. This brings the total number of tech start-ups valued at over $1 billion to 47 in Europe, up from the 40 last year, after 3 start-ups dropped out of the club.



Revenues and profit

A look under the hood of Europe's unicorns shows that they are in a much more financially viable state than U.S. start-ups. While U.S. start-ups are able to raise much more capital, they are not making as much revenue, according to the report.



Karl-Josef Hildenbrand | AFP | Getty Images

The average revenue of European unicorns is almost three times as high as their U.S. counterparts - $315 million compared to $129 million. And U.S. unicorns are valued, on average, 46 times their revenue, compared to 18 times in Europe. In addition, 60 percent of Europe's unicorns are profitable. "It's really hard to sell to investors a very high burn story in Europe. You could say U.S. investors are smarter because they look much further ahead and prepared to take bigger losses. Or you could say U.S. investors are fools, pushing bubble and bust cycles by hype investing," Alessandro Casartelli, vice president at GP Bullhound, told CNBC in a phone interview. "I think if you take each story it's very different but the bottom line is that the bar is higher to get higher valuations in Europe."



Spotify now most valuable

Spotify has now taken the crown as the most valuable start-up in Europe with an $8.5 billion valuation, ahead of Skype. And GP Bullhound suggests that Europe is now on its way to its first "decacorn"  a tech start-up valued at $10 billion. Across the European continent, the U.K. is home to the most unicorns with 18 out of the 47 residing in the country. Sweden is next, followed by Germany and France.



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alex_west | iStock | Getty Images

Much of the debate surrounding Britain's EU referendum has centered on immigration or the economy, but environmental groups have also weighed in on the upcoming vote that is gripping the nation.

On Thursday, U.K. voters will go to the polls to decide whether their country remains in or leaves the European Union (EU). Here, CNBC takes a look at the issues surrounding the environment and speaks to organizations and experts about how a Brexit could impact both clean energy and nature.

Nature knows no borders

Dustin Benton, head of energy and resources at independent U.K. think tank and charity Green Alliance, told CNBC that the environmental case for staying in the EU was clear.

"European legislation has been critical to cleaning up the U.K.'s air and beaches, and preserving our habitats. Pollution and migrating wildlife cross borders, and so must our laws," he said. "Even though Britain is an island, our low carbon future is linked to the rest of the EU's," Benton added. "British diplomats have amplified the U.K.'s voice via the EU in international climate agreements, and our offshore wind sector will grow faster and be cheaper if we're well connected to our European neighbors, both physically and via markets with shared rules," he said. As a member of the European Union, the U.K. is signed up to the Renewable Energy Directive, which requires the EU as a whole to "fulfil at least 20 percent of its total energy needs with renewables by 2020", according to the European Commission. Each nation in the EU has set its own renewable targets. In addition, all EU countries have to make sure that a minimum of 10 percent of transport fuels are derived from renewable sources by 2020.

Unified voice

A host of big green organizations have come together to back Britain remaining in the EU. One of the most high profile environmental organizations in Britain, WWF-U.K. focuses on the protection of rivers, wildlife, climate and oceans.

"Although there is room for improvement, the EU has been good for our wildlife and wild places. Beaches and rivers are cleaner, habitats have been protected and we are fighting climate change together," a spokesperson for WWF-U.K. told CNBC. In its financial year ending on June 30, 2015, WWF-U.K. says it received 907,000 ($1.32 million) in funding from the European Union to, among other things, work on protecting our rivers and fight climate change. Stating that the WWF was not commenting on the wider political and economic debate, and stressing that it was not telling people how they should vote, the spokesperson added that, "we have looked at the evidence on the environment and concluded that on balance, the safer option for our wildlife and environment is for the U.K. to remain within the EU." While Friends of the Earth describes the Common Agriculture Policy as being "an environmental disaster," it adds that being in the EU has given Britain less air pollution, safer products, protected wildlife and cleaner drinking water and beaches. In a paper on membership of the EU released last summer, the organization  which says that for the financial year of 2014-15, less than one percent of its funding came from the EU  stated that, "For the sake of our environment, we should remain part of the EU."

'Nature has been well served'
Although Renzi's party held on to power in other big cities Bologna and Milan, the vote signals increasing voter dissatisfaction with Renzi's leadership and his attempts at reforms designed to increase economic and, somewhat ironically, political stability.

Local elections in the cities of Rome and Turin on Sunday saw Renzi's party defeated by the anti-establishment, euroskeptic 5-Star Movement (M5S) led by Beppe Grillo, and has given the capital its first female mayor, Virginia Raggi, Reuters reported.

Italy has been getting back on its feet economically over the last year but local elections at the weekend have given Italian Prime Minister and the governing Democratic Party (PD) cause for concern.

Renzi has staked his leadership on a referendum on constitutional reform in October which is aimed at reforming the Senate and supposed to make it easier to govern in Italy. Deadlock in the lawmaking process is a persistent bugbear between the lower and upper houses of parliament in Italy which has made reform (of the labor market as well as the constitution) a slow, tortuous process at a time when the recession-hit economy needed it most.

Although Italy emerged from almost two years of economic contraction in May 2015, it could still be vulnerable to a political shock should the referendum fail; Renzi has threatened to resign if the referendum goes against him, leading to more political upheaval when growth has only recently returned.

Gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 0.3 percent in the first quarter of 2016 from the previous quarter, and 1 percent from the same period last year. The European Commission expects growth of 1.1 percent in 2016 and 1.3 percent in 2017.

With the economy seeing a fragile recovery, the constitutional referendum is the next "risk event" to watch, Fabio Fois from Barclays said in a note on Monday.

"Without Senate reform, Italy faces the risk of political upheaval, which would be extremely negative for the implementation of those structural reforms (in addition to those already implemented) that are still needed to boost growth," Fois remarked.

"As PM Renzi has stated on many occasions, should the Senate reform be rejected, he will step down and potentially also leave politics. At that point, with about 18 months to go before the next round of national elections, it would likely be very difficult for a care-taker government to implement either the electoral system or the institutional reforms needed to avoid a hung Parliament at the next general election, as happened in 2013."

"While we are aware that the situation may change as the date of the referendum approaches, the surprisingly negative outcome predicted by the early polls may indicate that the referendum has already become charged by other political motivations. We recommend that polls on the referendum and general elections be followed closely together."

More worrying for Italy is the specter of debt and its fragile banking system. Banking stocks have suffered from investor concerns over the amount of government bonds and non-performing loans (NPLs) held by various Italian lenders. The Bank of Italy has said that the latest data available shows there were just over 340 billion euros ($385.3 billion) worth of NPLs on Italian banks' balance sheets at the end of the third quarter of 2015. In addition, government debt remains stubbornly high. The country's debt pile remains the second highest in Europe after Greece (at 132.7 percent of GDP).

Iain Stealey, Portfolio Manager at JPMorgan Asset Management, told CNBC Europe's "Squawk Box" on Monday that Italy had turned a corner economically and that investors should give the country time to focus on growth and reducing its debt pile.

"I think the concern that they've got is that austerity doesn't work. So a couple of years ago the buzzword was 'austerity' and they thought they could try to fix the debt problem that way and that hasn't worked and now they want to try to grow their way out of it and that's the best way to get your debt levels down  and Italy does appear to have turned the corner."

"If you think that they went through a period of a year and a half without growing at all, which is remarkable for such a large economy and such a big player within Europe and they have started to come through that, we're starting to see growth and it's not just real growth, it's nominal growth too  if you can get that high, that's when you can really start bringing your debt burden down."

Stealey added that Italy needed to be given the benefit of the doubt and time to work off its debt.

"We all know it takes time, it takes years to get through these debt burdens," he said.

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Retirement savers putting money to work today's investing environment should expect as little as a 4 percent return over the long term, said Larry Fink, chairman and CEO of BlackRock , the world's largest asset manager.



"It would be wrong to expect anything more than 4 percent or 5 percent at this time, if you're putting money to work today for long term," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Monday, based on a typical retirement portfolio that includes stocks and bonds.

"If you go into that without that assumption, you'd be wrong," said Fink, adding that the stock market alone should still return the historical average of 6 to 7 percent over time. BlackRock has about $4.5 trillion in assets under management.



The U.S. stock market could see "the beginning of another leg of a rally" if Britain votes this week to stay in the European Union trading block, Fink predicted.

U.S. stocks soared at the open Monday, as global markets rallied on polls showing the stay camp making gains ahead of Thursday's Brexit vote. Last week's pessimism over the referendum knocked Wall Street lower.

BlackRock on Monday upgraded its short-term view on U.S. Treasurys and fixed-income overall to neutral, while remaining cautious on risk assets ahead of the Brexit vote.



"If the U.K. votes to stay, I do believe there has to be policy responses," Fink said. "I'm under the belief now that the government [there] is aware that this anger is real. And if they don't respond to this anger it's going to get worse."

Fink said that if Britain can get its fiscal house in order, that might inspire the U.S. to break the partisan gridlock in Congress, which would be a positive for U.S. stocks.

"The U.K. has to begin a major fiscal policy expansion, especially in infrastructure," Fink said, drawing a parallel between the anger and fear among the British electorate and "what's going on here [in the U.S.] in our election cycle."

Fink said he's "still nervous" ahead of the U.K. vote. "It's always going to be a close vote. And I hope ... [a Brexit] doesn't happen."

Either way the vote goes, the next step for the U.K. is that the government needs to "create opportunity" to ease concerns people have about their economic future, he said.

Concerns last week pushed the yield on the 10-year government bond in Germany into negative territory for the first time ever. The Bund yield has since turned positive.

Negative interest rate policies by central banks in the euro zone and in Japan are doing "more harm than help," Fink said. "The rates are going negative artificially [in the market] by the purchase of all the bonds by all these central banks."

But Fink added that central bankers have had little choice to use extraordinary measures, considering they've been "only game in town." He called them "bold citizens of the world."

Monetary policymakers do need to be more vocal in rallying help from governments who "abdicated in most countries any responsibilities for growth," he added.
Want to attract top employees to your business? Well, you might want to take pointers from the U.K.'s 25 most attractive employers, according to LinkedIn.

With the country's economy heavily geared towards consumer spending, it's no surprise retail forms the backbone of this new list, created using data from the social media site for professionals.

The department store John Lewis - which also owns the food stores Waitrose - tops the list, notable for its employee-owned partnership model, as opposed to private-equity backed businesses or market-listed companies.

"We are a democracy  open, fair and transparent. Our profits are shared, our partners have a voice and there is a true sense of pride in belonging to something so unique and highly regarded," the company states on its website. The partners are essentially the 91,500 people who work for the firm and all receive the same percentage payout which rises or falls in line with its financial fortunes.

Matthew Lloyd | Getty Images

British telecom and cable TV company Virgin Media comes second on the list. The company was formed by NTL's takeover of Virgin Mobile and was initially led by entrepreneur Richard Branson, although it's now a subsidiary of U.S. billionaire John Malone's cable group, Liberty Global.

Several U.S. firms appear on the list of favorite companies for Britons, including Google, Amazon and Facebook as well as prominent luxury London retailers Harrods and Selfridges.

LinkedIn's first-ever Top Attractors list launched Monday and is dubbed as the first rundown of top companies in the where people want to work. It's collated by LinkedIn data that examines the billions of actions of the site's 433 million-plus members. The data looks at user actions on the site like new hire staying power, job applications, engagement and company reach  which it says indicates the most wanted and sought after companies by professionals.

The company has also separately ranked companies on a global basis, as well as reports for the United States, France, Australia, Brazil and India. An online survey of 6,266 workers also ran alongside the research.

'Good to be part of it'

Dan Kitwood | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Michael Ward, the managing director at Harrods, the upmarket department store located in London's Knightsbridge, told CNBC that potential employees were no longer coming through conventional employment agencies. He added that investment in social media, like its LinkedIn page, was "hugely important" for the company. "It's really good to be part of (the list) ... we really need great people," he said in a telephone interview. Harrods has nearly 100,000 followers of its LinkedIn company profile, which it says has largely been accrued organically through interesting content and long-term engagement. The store adds that LinkedIn is primarily used as a resourcing tool, sourcing candidates directly and also advertising available jobs within the company. It also tries to give prospective employees a view of the company culture of Harrods and to keep them updated on developments and stories from the store, according to the firm. Ward noted that the engagement between employer and employees at Harrods may be a key reason behind its inclusion in the list. Regular staff awards, a large restaurant with subsidized food and one-on-one careers sessions were more detailed examples of what the company offers.

Here's the full list for the U.K.'s most attractive employers:
Entrepreneur Garrett Gee decided to ditch the regular lifestyle and travel the world after selling Scan, a mobile scanning app he co-founded, to Snapchat in 2014. The deal for Gee and his co-founders was valued at $54 million at the time  $30 million in cash and the rest in equity in Snapchat. Gee declined to disclose how much he personally made from the deal.

But here's the surprise: the family hasn't touched any of the money from the Snapchat deal yet to pay for their vacation, which they began more than nine months ago.

Instead, Garrett and his wife Jessica "Settie" sold most of their belongings, including their cars, furniture, TV and extra clothes, and are using money they made to fund their adventures.


Donald Trump is the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee, but for the few Republicans left in city halls, he may as well be toxic.

John Labrosse Jr. is the mayor of Hackensack, New Jersey, and he describes himself as a moderate conservative. But he recently made headlines for leaving the Republican Party over rhetoric from Trump.

For Labrosse, the decision to abandon the GOP was difficult but necessary. Incendiary comments made by Trump toward Muslims and Hispanics blasted many of the citizens Labrosse represents in his increasingly diverse city, and politically, Labrosse said he felt remaining affiliated with the party of Trump would hamper his chances for re-election  though that wasn't his only consideration.



"It's not just about getting re-elected, it's about making a statement that this is an unacceptable practice to campaign this way," Labrosse said. "You get labeled by who you're affiliated with."



Republican mayors are becoming a politically endangered species. GOP mayors governed half of the country's 12 largest cities in 2000, according to Politico. Now, of the top 20 largest cities as estimated by the Census in 2015, just three are led by members of the GOP.

This election cycle, Trump's divisive campaign has many Republicans who represent moderate constituencies tiptoeing around his candidacy. GOP mayors, who may represent more diverse and moderate populations, have shown themselves particularly hesitant to embrace their party's standard-bearer.

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, a Republican, told The San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board that he would not endorse the presumptive nominee a month before he was reelected on June 7. A spokesperson for his office confirmed he is still currently not endorsing Trump.

Another prominent Republican mayor, Miami's Tomas Regalado, told the Miami Herald that he will not endorse Trump.



"He mistreats people, speaks derisively of people," Regalado told the Herald. "This guy is capable of creating national and international chaos."



Even mayors of smaller cities are avoiding Trump. Richard Berry, the Republican mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico, refused to reveal who he voted for in the GOP primary, according to The Associated Press. His office declined an interview request. Colorado Springs, Colorado, Mayor John Suthers, also a Republican, previously supported Marco Rubio and then Ted Cruz, according to a local news report. His office confirmed he has not endorsed Trump.



Ashley Swearengin, a Republican and mayor of Fresno, California, said that after first supporting Jeb Bush and then John Kasich in the primary, she has no plans to endorse Trump.



"I cannot imagine a scenario in which I would endorse him," Swearengin said of Trump. "Like a lot of Republicans in California ... I literally don't know what I'm going to do at the ballot box on election day."



Swearengin  who is nearing her term limit  said her decision has less to do with politics than policy. Indeed, Trump received nearly 75 percent of the vote in Fresno County during this month's California presidential primary. She described the job of a mayor as pragmatic, and one that requires occasionally tuning out noise at the national level.



She also said she is not concerned the Trump campaign will affect other local-level Republicans down the ballot.
In an effort to address the skills shortage, three-year-old Udacity (2016 CNBC Disruptor No. 12) has partnered with tech giants such as AT&T, Google, Facebook and Amazon to reinvent job training. The company  founded by Stanford professor and onetime Google VP Sebastian Thrun  has repositioned its focus from massive open online courses (MOOCs) to certification training on very specific skills. Students can earn what's called a nanodegree and learn things like front-end web developing, iOS and Android programming, or machine learning in less than a year  and for less than $1,000.



Sebastian Thrun, co-founder of Udacity Source: Udacity

It's a just-in-time training approach to higher education with huge global market potential. It is predicted that in two years the number of companies that use MOOCs for corporate training will rise to 28 percent, according to the eLearning Industry's statistics.



The company is hitting its stride. Though it still offers MOOCs in the form of online free courses (with 4 million students enrolled), it is quickly expanding its nanodegree program in the United States and in Europe and Asia. It's already tailored programs for students in India and China and last week launched in Germany. As recently as a few years ago, Udacity was struggling to figure out the way forward. Founded in 2011, the company had promised to revolutionize higher education through massive open online courses that would deliver high-quality collegiate coursework to anyone with an internet connection on the cheap. But roughly 90 percent of the 160,000 students that signed up for the company's first course on artificial intelligence never finished the class. By 2013 the MOOC revolution  and the company  had stalled. Thrun himself accused his own company of offering a "lousy product."

Like many agile start-ups, the company quickly changed its strategy the following year after spotting an overlooked opportunity in the global marketplace.

Since retooling its curriculum, Udacity has enrolled more than 11,000 students in its nanodegree programs and graduated 3,000 of those. Thrun said in 2015 that revenue was growing nearly 30 percent month over month and that the company is profitable (a Udacity spokesperson declined to provide updated revenue figures). Its most recent funding round in 2015 pushed the company into unicorn territory, boosting its valuation to about $1.1 billion. "At this point, I feel we have our story together," said Thrun, now Udacity's president and chairman. "We have very clear differentiation, a very clear picture of the customer, and we have enthusiastic customers. And we've built something that I think  unless we have horrible execution going forward  is built to last."

Facebook employees and visitors drink and meet at the end of the day on campus. Kim Kulish | Getty Images

Udacity's nanodegree programs work like this: Instead of choosing a generalized course of study, students select from a buffet of skill sets. For example, offerings include "Full Stack Web Developer," "Ruby Programming," "Beginning Android App Development" and "DevOps Engineer." Students pay $200 per month for the course and can take as little or as much time as they need to finish. Those who finish within 12 months receive half their tuition back, keeping the cost of tuition below $1,000 for most students (the company says students typically finish courses in six months to a year). Upon completion, students receive a nanodegree, a credential that may not mean much to traditional academia but is increasingly recognized by technology companies looking for programmers and other skilled workers  particularly those companies that partner with Udacity to create the coursework. AT&T , for instance, has pledged to reserve 100 paid internships for Udacity nanodegree program graduates, and Google has invited top nanodegree graduates to visit its Silicon Valley campus. While many tech companies in particular have embraced nanodegrees as legitimate certifications, many others either don't know enough about the new credentials or remain skeptical of their net worth. This remains a challenge for Udacity. In an effort to further legitimize its nanodegrees, the company began tacking a job-placement guarantee onto some of its degrees earlier this year. Though somewhat more costly at $299 per month, Udacity's "nanodegree plus" programs come with a commitment from Udacity to place graduates in jobs related to their coursework within six months of graduation or the company will refund 100 percent of the tuition cost.

We can make the evolution of academic content match the evolution of the world. Sebastian Thrun president and chairman of Udacity

Udacity has managed this pivot away from traditional university-style courses and credits and toward low-cost, job-specific nanodegrees by leveraging one of the key lessons learned from its troubled experimentation with MOOCs: that education is about more than access to content. The company has more than 400 project reviewers and graders employed around the world ready to evaluate a students' coursework and provide guidance or mentorship more or less on-demand. The average time between when a student turns in an assignment and when he or she receives it back with grades and feedback is just 1.4 hours, Thrun said  far faster than at traditional universities. By tapping the gig economy for its graders and reviewers, Udacity can produce a quality experience for students while keeping costs low  something that benefits both the students and the company's bottom line. "We've changed our model from content provider to content-plus-services," Thrun said. "And we also changed the student. We moved more toward professional education, to lifetime education." There is now almost zero overlap between the conventional college demographic and the Udacity demographic, he said  a fact underscoring Udacity's divergence with other online higher-education companies that still work within mainstream academia's structure.



Global ambitions
A Miami-Dade County mosquito control inspector uses a fogger to spray pesticide to kill mosquitos as the county continues to fight a possible Zika virus outbreak on May 26, 2016 in Miami.

Zika stands to infect 4 million Americans by the end of the year, and the number of children born with conditions related to the disease may one of the biggest impacts on child health care since HIV and AIDS in the 1990s.

That is the verdict drawn by Peter Hotez, the dean of Baylor College of Medicine's National School of Tropical Medicine, in a special communications article published online by JAMA Pediatrics. Hotez called Zika "the virus from hell," for what it does to the developing brains of unborn babies.

The birth defect known as microcephaly has been widely publicized since public health officials connected it to the virus earlier this year. However, doctors and scientists are just beginning to grasp the range of effects the disease has on fetuses and developing children, and that microcephaly is just the "tip of the iceberg," Hotez said.

Zika causes microcephaly because it attacks the stem cells that become brain cells. In babies affected by the virus, the brain simply does not develop. The developing skull simply "implodes" around the brain, which is only developing minimally.

"So I think people don't often appreciate how devastating Zika virus is," Hotez said. Because the virus appears to attack the neural stem cells, there is a range of potential effects beyond microcephaly that are possible, and that we simply have not seen yet. Children may even be vulnerable to the effects if they are infected after they are born, since the brain continues to develop in infancy.

Hotez said he fears the disease is already gaining a foothold in the Gulf Coast region and is calling for more monitoring of vulnerable areas.

"My concern is that Zika could already be here on the Gulf Coast, it is just that nobody is looking, because none of the country and local health departments have funding to conduct active surveillance," Hotez told CNBC in an interview. "So I am quite worried that Zika is already here, and that we have no programs in place to actively look for it."

There are three things that contribute to a Zika outbreak: the presence of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, crowded human dwellings, and poverty. The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is also capable of spreading the disease, but is far less efficient than its relative.

All three conditions are present in many cities across the Gulf Coast of the United States. The combined population of Houston and Galveston, Texas, along with New Orleans and the entire state of Florida total about 60 million people, the article noted. Out of that, about 1 million pregnancies could be at risk for the virus.

This includes educating the public about getting tests for the disease if symptoms such as fevers arise, as well as more aggressively testing mosquito populations. It is also going to require a cohort of pediatricians and pediatric neurologists to sort out the effects, and new programs will need to be put in place to assist the children who live with the effects of the disease.
Wall Street has an unambiguous message for Hillary Clinton: Don't pick Elizabeth Warren as your vice president if you want to keep getting our money.

That warning came through very clearly in over a dozen interviews I did over the last week with some of the largest Democratic donors on Wall Street who have helped fund Clinton's campaigns over the years as well as funneled cash to Bill Clinton's political career in the 1990s.

"If Clinton picked Warren, her whole base on Wall Street would leave her," one top Democratic donor who has helped raise millions for Clinton told me. "They would literally just say, 'We have no qualms with you moving left, we understand all the things you've had to do because of Bernie Sanders, but if you are going there with Warren, we just can't trust you, you've killed it.'"

The arguments of course are mostly self-serving. The financial services industry loathes Warren, who more than anyone in the last 80 years has channeled the rage against Wall Street that began with the Great Depression and continues to course through the nation following the 2008 financial crisis. Warren wants to break up the nation's largest banks. She created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The mere mention of her name draws groans from bankers.

But there is at least a bit of substance to their arguments. Bankers believe Clinton, should she win, will have an opportunity to make deals with Republicans in Congress to pass major infrastructure spending coupled with international tax reform during her first months in office. And they think Warren in the VP's office would make cutting any such deals harder.

"Clinton is going to face a divided government unless there is a total tsunami," said one moderate Washington Democrat with close ties to the banking industry. "What you want in a vice president is someone who can negotiate for you on the Hill, someone like Joe Biden. And that is not a Warren strength."

The bankers I spoke with also said they thought there was no chance Clinton would tap Warren. The arguments: The two don't really get along; Clinton would never pick a number two who could outshine her; Clinton doesn't want a VP who would create her own power center in both the campaign and the White House.

"First of all, they don't particularly like each other," said one prominent hedge fund manager who has raised millions for Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton before her. But, the manager added, "The absolute predicate for a vice presidential nominee is they have to understand they are No. 2 both during the campaign and once you take office, and I just don't think Elizabeth Warren is that type of person."

The financial considerations for Clinton are significant. Picking Warren could seriously deflate a major source of her campaign cash. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Clinton and outside groups supporting her have raised $289 million so far in the 2016 campaign. The securities and investment industry is easily Clinton's top source of money, donating over $28 million so far.
How did such a state come about? In the past, the Federal Government, as well as state and local governments, spearheaded the creation and renewal of U.S. infrastructure. The Erie Canal, which opened the interior of the United States to commerce with the east coast and ultimately with Europe; the intercontinental railway, which tied the entire country together; the Tennessee Valley Authority, which electrified and modernized a great swath of rural America; the Interstate Highway System, on which all of us have traveled; and a myriad of other undertakings were all funded or enabled by Government. Such efforts not only created productive projects but made us all proud of our country.

But in recent years our governments have backed away from such transformational activity, in particular, the Federal government. Having spent a fortune on the Iraq war, our swollen deficits made Congress reluctant to invest funds in domestic projects, even though such investments would, by any measure, have achieved a marvelous return. Having spent so much on destruction overseas we were loath to spend money on construction at home.



In 2008, we had a perfect opportunity. Millions were out of jobs, and there were thousands of projects worth doing. But instead of undertaking anything constructive, the members of our Congress did nothing but argue with each other, and as a result virtually nothing got done  particularly nothing that would truly strengthen our nation. Our politicians focused on tearing each other down rather than building our country up.



As the 2016 presidential election approaches, and a new administration prepares to take office we again have an opportunity to make the kind of public investments that would revitalize our nation, create jobs at a time when they are badly needed, and modernize our dilapidated foundation. It's time to seize this opportunity and not let it pass us by. Outnumbered as they are, we can only hope the engineers will at last prevail.

Commentary by Dr. James Simons, a prize winning mathematician, founder of Renaissance Technologies, and chair of the Simons Foundation, which is focused on supporting scientific research.



For the latest commentary on the markets in the U.S. and around the world, follow @cnbcopinion on Twitter.
Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center (CHMC) and Upstate University Hospital have announced a partnership to provide stroke services via telemedicine. The technology enables neurologists at Upstate to confer with physicians at CHMC, view X-ray computed tomography (CT) scans, and speak with patients. From left to right, representing CHMC are Julianne Sciorra, registered nurse (RN), director of emergency room nursing services, and Dr. Andre Bonnet, medical director of the emergency room. Representing Upstate are Jennifer Schleier, RN and stroke-program manager; Joshua Onyan, RN, stroke program outreach coordinator; and Catherine Stephens, assistant director of nursing for inpatient services. Photo credit: Upstate University Hospital.

SYRACUSE, N.Y.  Upstate University Hospital has agreed to team up with Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center (CHMC) in Ogdensburg in St. Lawrence County for the treatment of stroke symptoms.

CHMCs emergency department will use a telemedicine program to connect its physicians with neurologists at Upstates comprehensive stroke center.

Upstate University Hospital in early 2015 earned certification as a comprehensive stroke center from Milford, Ohiobased DNV GL Healthcare Inc., a hospital-accreditation organization. The hospital is also recognized as a primary stroke center as designated by the New York State Department of Health.

When a patient arrives at CHMCs emergency department with what the health-care team has determined are symptoms consistent with stroke, Claxton-Hepburn can consult with an Upstate neurologist.

Within minutes, the neurologist will be able to view the X-ray computed tomography (CT) scan, examine the patient, and talk with the patient, his or her family, and physician about possible treatment.

We are excited to begin this partnership with Upstate to provide more advanced stroke care in our emergency department to our patients, Nate Howell, CEO of Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, said in the Upstate release. Now we are able to provide a quicker diagnosis, which decreases a potential delay in treatment. Thanks to this technology in the treatment of stroke patients, our rural location is less of a barrier to care.

The addition of Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center brings to three the number of area hospitals that are partnering with Upstate University Hospital on stroke care.

Through the use of telemedicine, our collaboration on stroke care with Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg, River Hospital in Alexandria Bay and Carthage Area Hospital in Carthage broadens the reach of our formally designated comprehensive stroke center and enables us to partner with physicians across the state to enhance medical care for patients many miles from Upstate, Dr. John McCabe, CEO of Upstate University Hospital, said. We are grateful for these partnerships and for the work of the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization [FDRHPO] in helping to deploy the equipment necessary to make these connections possible.

Upstate has teamed up with FDRHPO, which deployed the telemedicine equipment to several North Country hospitals in an effort to expand the telemedicine network.

Our telemedicine network allows the North Country access to expert stroke care regardless of geography, Jennifer Schleier, registered nurse and program manager of Upstates Stroke Center, said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
June 20, 2016 - Olomouc, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic

Colosseo provided the timekeeping and scoring solution during two important FIVB volleyball events  the Womens 2016 FIVB Grand Prix that took place in Olomouc as well as the Mens World League in Ceske Budejovice, both in the Czech Republic.



A miniTIMER product which is a portable timekeeping, scoring and statistical device was used at both hosting venues and was connected to the LED screen scoreboard specially designed for the events.



Colosseo also had a support technician present to provide full training for the operators at both venues.



Both the operators and representatives of the Czech Volleyball Federation expressed great satisfaction with the reliability of the system, its ease of use, scoreboard design as well as integration with other systems that were used during the event.



Have a look at the gallery below for picture selection from both venues!
The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form
What you need to know ahead of mandatory CWD sampling in Missouri
The fountain on the patio at Felicia Suzanne's.

This Friday is what I hope will be the first in a series of Friday lunches informally hosted by The Commercial Appeal. I know I've been talking about this for years, but now we're ready to modify a New Orleans tradition  the Friday lunch that kicks off the weekend  to a Memphis one.

Unlike the leisurely folk in New Orleans, we understand that most of us have to get back to work and can't spend several hours in the middle of the day eating heavily and boozing it up. So for the first lunch, we're going to Felicia Suzanne's, 80 Monroe, where we'll meet on her patio for the quick and delicious fast-casual lunch. And you can even have a martini for 25 cents and not have to worry about being impaired, as it's a tiny drink.

Here's what to do: Email me and tell me you're coming. Put "Friday lunch" in the subject line, and tell me your name and how many people are coming. I need to know by the end of day Wednesday so I can give Felicia a head count Thursday. We're going to limit it to 25 to 30 people (we're a little flexible), and if it rains, we'll eat together indoors from the regular menu. Everyone in our group will get a complimentary ice cream sandwich for dessert. Lunch is Dutch treat, and I'll email you Thursday to confirm that you're in (it's first-come, first-served, and the exact amount of available seating will depend on the weather).

Come on out and get to know each other, meet some folks from the CA, and talk to Felicia. I promise you'll have a good time, and I look forward to meeting new people. It starts at noon Friday. Hope to see you then.

Another new thing

The response to the story about fathers and their children who run restaurants was so positive that we've decided to launch a regular feature about family restaurants, and this time it's not limited to just fathers. Siblings, mom and pop, mom and kids  whatever, as long as it's family. If you know of a restaurant family you'd like to see featured, send me an email.

Restaurant news

Cafe 1912 has opened its tapas bar, which is next door to the restaurant (247 S. Cooper) but has a separate entrance at the corner of Peabody and Cooper. Right now, they offer 20 small plates at $6 and 15 wines priced at $8 per glass or $30 per bottle; there's also a specialty cocktail list. They open at 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and are open until whenever the customers leave. Reservations are available for parties of six or more; call 901-722-2700.

Loflin Yard, 7 W. Carolina, is now open for lunch 11:30 to 3 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And even better for this great new Downtown spot like no other place in town  a second bar has been added. Loflin Yard is a great space that is centered on a big yard (there's a front yard and a backyard) and thus accommodates a big crowd. Serving them all from one bar resulted in long lines, but the second one should fix that right up. Check out loflinyard.com for more information.

If you've noticed a few new items with a Middle Eastern touch on the menu at Restaurant Iris, it's because chef/owner Kelly English has hired Camron Razavi, who worked with him at his place in St. Louis, as his chef de cuisine and has given him the chance to add a few new and changing items.

Recipe of the week

Ripley tomatoes are trickling in, including some fine-looking cherry varieties. This recipe just screams summer, and it's totally adaptable. Don't like fresh mozzarella? Use feta. Add arugula and spinach with the basil (my favorite summer mix). Do whatever  it's a great recipe begging for experimentation.

Roasted Cherry Tomato Chutney on Squash Makes 4 servings. Ingredients 1 2-pound spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded 1 tablespoon olive oil  Salt and ground black pepper 2 pints cherry and/or grape tomatoes 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons minced garlic 1/4 cup chicken broth 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 8-ounce container bite-size fresh mozzarella balls, cut up 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil 2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint  Freshly grated Parmesan cheese Directions 1 Brush cut sides of squash with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place squash halves, cut sides down, in a large baking dish. Prick the skin all over with a fork. Bake, uncovered, in a 375 degrees oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until tender. 2 Meanwhile, place cherry tomatoes in a large bowl. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the minced garlic and salt to taste; stir well to coat. Place tomato mixture in a 15-by-10-by-1-inch baking pan. Bake in oven with the squash for the last 20 minutes. 3 In a large skillet, bring the chicken broth to boiling; add onion. Cook about 3 minutes or just until tender. Remove skillet from heat. Add roasted tomatoes to the skillet with the onion. Using a fork or potato masher, gently press down on tomatoes to pop their skin and release their juice. Add mozzarella, basil and mint to the tomato mixture; toss well. Using a fork, remove the squash pulp from shell. Top squash with tomato mixture and Parmesan cheese. Source: midwestliving.com
June 20, 2016 - Wrestler Jerry Lawler walks to court with attorney Ted Hansom (right) following a domestic assault arrest last week. Shelby County General Sessions Court division 10 Judge William Turner ordered both Lawler and his fiancee, Lauryn McBride, to stay away from each other. (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal)

SHARE June 20, 2016 - Lauryn McBride confers with her attorney following an appearance in Shelby County General Sessions Court division 10. McBride and wrestler Jerry Lawler were making their first court appearance following domestic assault charges last week. Judge William Turner set bond conditions that they stay away from each other. (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal)

By Katie Fretland of The Commercial Appeal

Wrestler Jerry Lawler and his fiancee were arraigned Monday in Shelby County General Sessions Court where Judge William Turner ordered them to stay away from each other.

Lawler, 66, and Lauryn McBride, 27, were charged with domestic assault after an incident Thursday night at Lawler's home in East Memphis. Each appeared separately before Turner who told them the rules they must follow while the case is ongoing.

(PHOTO GALLERY: Jerry Lawler through the years)

"Those are standard bail conditions in a domestic violence case," said McBride's attorney Mark Mesler. "No contact, no communicating, no texts, no phone calls."

After his brief appearance before the judge, Lawler declined to comment on the case.

In the incident Thursday, McBride and Lawler argued, and Lawler held her against a kitchen counter, McBride said. She said he hit her in the front left side of her head and pushed her against a stove, according to an affidavit. She said he retrieved an unloaded pistol, placed it on the counter and said, "Go ahead and kill yourself."

Lawler said they argued over her lying about where she had been, the affidavit states. She was intoxicated, and he tried to prevent her from leaving in her car, he said. She scratched the right side of his face, threw a candle at him and kicked him the groin, he said according to the affidavit. Lawler contended that she got the gun from the garage and had threatened to kill herself.

Both were arrested when officers could not determine a primary aggressor. They were released on their own recognizance Friday.

Their next court date is July 1.
SHARE Amber Alert poster for missing Tremiyah Rainer Tremiyah Rainer Ladarrius Johnson

By Jody Callahan of The Commercial Appeal

A missing 3-year-old girl was returned home safely Monday afternoon after her father allegedly kidnapped her at gunpoint Monday afternoon.

Tremiyah Rainer ran up to her family just before 3:30 p.m. Monday after police say her father, Ladarrius Johnson, took her around 10 a.m. from a residence in the 5300 block of Steuben in the Raleigh area. The father is in custody, authorities said.

An Amber Alert was issued for the girl, and Memphis police and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation started a search. It was not known how the girl made her way back home.

According to police, Johnson also fired shots at his estranged girlfriend before taking the girl. She ran and called police, but officers then discovered that Johnson had taken the child.

Johnson, 22, was later charged with especially aggravated kidnapping, evading arrest, reckless endangerment and four counts of aggravated assault.
June 6, 2016 - June 6, 2016 - Lt. Cary Hopkins replaces a photograph of Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security Assistant Commissioner David W. Purkey on the wall in the lobby of the Tennessee Highway Patrol's district four headquarters on Summer Avenue after being damaged by gunfire that struck the building. At approximately 8:55 p.m. on Monday someone opened fire on the building while a trooper and two dispatchers were inside. Bartlett police recovered more than a dozen 7.62 mm shell casing believed to be from an assault rifle. No one was injured. (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal) (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal)

SHARE June 6, 2016 - A portrait of Tennessee Highway Patrol Major Hutcherson that hangs in the lobby of the THP's district four headquarters on Summer Avenue was damaged after being damaged by gunfire that struck the building. It has since been replaced. (Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal)

By Yolanda Jones of The Commercial Appeal

In his 38 years with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Col. Tracy Trott has never heard of anyone attacking or causing problems at one of their offices, but that changed on June 5.

Shortly before 8:45 p.m., someone fired more than a dozen shots from an assault rifle into the patrol's district office in Memphis.

Three people  two dispatchers and a trooper  were inside the office when the shooting occurred, but they were not injured.

"Those bullets could have easily gone through the wall and hurt or even killed our people," said Trott, who is in charge of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. "These crimes are not committed in anonymity. People tend to brag about it or talk about it, so somebody knows what happened out there, and we're asking the public to come forth and give us the information we need to prosecute these cases."

Trott made his comments during a press conference Monday where state and local law enforcement officials announced they're offering a reward of up to $7,500 for information leading to the suspects.

"This was an attack on the law enforcement community," said Tennessee Safety and Homeland Security Commissioner Bill Gibbons.

The THP office sits on the Memphis/Bartlett line, so Bartlett police is leading the investigation into the incident.

According to Bartlett police reports, officers received a shots fired call at the station at 6348 Summer Avenue, also known as U.S. 70, around 8:45 p.m. on June 5. Tennessee Highway Patrol Lt. William Futrell told officers that they heard 15 to 20 gunshots.

Authorities said several rounds hit the front of the building. Officers found 14 AK-47 shell casings in the eastbound lanes of the highway in front of the headquarters.

Bartlett Police Chief Gary Rikard said they have received a few tips and reviewed surveillance videos, but need more information.

"Summer Avenue/Highway 70 is busy that time of the evening," Rikard said. "So, we feel someone saw something or heard something. I encourage anybody to come forward, regardless of how little they think that information is. It could help us in solving this case."

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Memphis Crimestoppers at 901-528-2274 or the following law enforcement agencies:

Tennessee Highway Patrol Criminal Investigations Division, District 4: 731-668-9644

Tennessee Highway Patrol Memphis: 901-543-6256

Bartlett Police Department Crime Stoppers: 901-385-5550

Bartlett Crime Stoppers: 901-382-6669
This file photo shows boxes of the measles, mumps and rubella virus vaccine (MMR) and measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccine. Vaccinations can cause minor side effects including redness at the injection site and sometimes mild fever, but medical experts say serious complications are rare and much less dangerous than the diseases that vaccines prevent. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

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By Tom Charlier of The Commercial Appeal

With no new cases reported in the past six weeks, Shelby County's measles outbreak  the largest in the nation so far this year  was officially declared over Monday.

The outbreak began April 5 and sickened seven people, all of whom have recovered. The Health Department never was able to establish how the disease arrived in the county.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can be prevented through a two-step vaccination process typically completed before children enter school. It begins with a fever, runny nose, red eyes and a cough and then causes a rash that spreads from the head down the body.

Most patients suffer a relatively mild illness, but the virus can trigger complications, such as brain inflammation, that can lead to hospitalization and even death.

The Health Department said the outbreak is considered over because it's been 42 days  or two full incubation cycles for the virus  since the last case was confirmed.

"We continue to urge residents in Shelby County to know their immune status and ensure their entire family, especially young children, have received all of the recommended vaccines," department director Alisa Haushalter said in a prepared statement.

The seven local measles cases are among 19 confirmed in nine states nationwide as of May 21, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During 2015, a total of 189 people from 24 states and the District of Columbia were afflicted with the virus.
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By Ron Maxey of The Commercial Appeal

The extent to which state underfunding of Mississippi's public schools is affecting local districts was on full display last week as DeSoto County school leaders unveiled the proposed budget for the coming year.

The spending plan presented to board members and the public calls for roughly $263 million in revenue to operate Mississippi's largest school district in the coming academic year, but about $274 million in expenses. Reserve funds will make up the $11 million shortfall.

The good news for taxpayers is that despite the revenue shortage, there really isn't a tax increase even though it appears at first glance there is. The district is asking to raise its tax rate for debt service back to the full 3 percent allowed by law after dropping it for a year to 1.5 percent. The operations millage, representing the largest share of school taxes, remains at 41.85 mills, and the tax to finance general obligation bonds stays at 10.22 mills.

So, bottom line, taxpayers will pay 1.5 mills more for schools than the past year, but it's the same amount they had been paying before that.

It's all a little confusing, but here's one thing that's crystal clear: Mississippi legislators, in the absence of voter approval last year of a measure mandating full school funding, have to come up with a plan to get more money to its public schools.

The relatively affluent DeSoto district, with an A bond rating that is higher than the state or any of the state's other school districts, is still better off than many Mississippi districts. But they're all feeling the pinch, and it will only get worse without adjustments to state funding.

DeSoto Superintendent Cory Uselton says he'd be happy to be a part of discussions on changing the way funding is calculated, which may be what is needed. But without some sort of action, it's only a matter of time until cuts needed to make ends meet will get down to the classroom level, and that's when the gnashing of teeth really begins.

Faith and heritage

When the Southern Baptist Convention took a big symbolic step last week by passing a resolution urging its members to stop flying the Confederate flag, it predictably ruffled the feathers of some loyal Baptists who also consider themselves loyal Southerners.

It's unlikely anyone connected with the resolution was naive enough to think it would cause all Baptists to lower their stars and bars and pack the banner away in a trunk; it wasn't, after all, a ban since the Convention can't do that to its autonomous member churches. Still, it was a needed and worthwhile gesture nonetheless.

Well, not exactly "banned." I don't think they have that power. Strongly suggested, let's say. https://t.co/XkRgYURAb3  Ron Maxey (@rmaxey1) June 15, 2016

Changing deeply ingrained attitudes is a long, slow process that has to start somewhere, and at least this was a start. In fact, it was more of a next step than a start, given the SBC has already issued a formal apology (1995) for the denomination's earlier support of slavery and segregation, and elected an African-American president, who completed his two-year term two years ago.

The church, to its credit, is little by little reshaping the practices and, hopefully, attitudes of members. And putting away the Confederate flag  a symbol encumbered by too much baggage, whatever noble it may represent  is a big part of that.

In the words of Russell Moore, president of the SBC's Ethics & Religion Liberty Commission:

"We decided that we are defined not be a Lost Cause but by amazing grace. Let's pray for wisdom, work for justice, love our neighbors.

"And let's take down that flag."

"Its not often that I find myself wiping away tears in a denominational meeting, but I just did. The Southern Baptist Convention voted overwhelmingly to repudiate the display of the Confederate Battle Flag. This conservative evangelical denomination gathered together just miles from Ferguson, Missouri, to stand together against one lingering divisive symbol...." "....As Ive said before, the Cross and the Confederate flag cannot co-exist without one setting the other on fire. Today, messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention, including many white Anglo southerners, decided the cross was more important than the flag. They decided our African-American brothers and sisters are more important than family heritage." -- Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention

Big week ahead

The coming week is significant for gay rights activists in Mississippi and nationwide.

In Mississippi, two court hearings this week could make a difference in whether the state's controversial "Religious Freedom" measure goes becomes law as planned on July 1.

Federal Judge Carlton Reeves will hold a hearing in Jackson today and two more days of hearings later in the week on two of four lawsuits seeking to block implementation of the measure, which allows private businesses and government employees to deny services to same-sex couples if it violates their religious views.

All the action comes just days ahead of the anniversary June 26 of the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide.

Reeves has indicated he will make a decision on whether to block the law before July 1, so we should have more to talk about in the near future.

And finally ...

I don't know if anyone else cares, but I like this idea of ending with Mississippi music. This week, we end with Sheryl Crow performing, appropriately enough, "Mississippi" in New York City.

I chose this selection because the annual Mississippi Picnic in Central Park was supposed to have been this month, but the event was canceled because of controversy over the state's "Religious Freedom" act (see above). Instead, here's your taste of Mississippi in New York:
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The year was 1905. The South was in the midst of a backlash against Reconstruction and the political and economic opportunities the post-Civil War period had delivered to African-Americans.

The Clansman: A Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan, the second work in a KKK trilogy by Thomas F. Dixon Jr., was published, inspiring D.W. Griffith's pro-Klan film "The Birth of a Nation."

Seeds were being sewn that eventually produced the rebirth of the Klan, which had been founded by Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Most of the Jim Crow laws would soon be enacted, once again disenfranchising black citizens.

An estimated 30,000 people from across the South came to Memphis that year to witness the dedication of an equestrian statue in honor of the "Wizard of the Saddle" in what became known as Forrest Park.

The statue has stood as a symbol of Southern resistance and a thumb in the eye to the city's black citizenry ever since.

In 2013, some of the damage to the city's racial reconciliation efforts was repaired when the City Council voted to rename the site Health Sciences Park. The council voted in August to remove the statue.

Another positive step was taken March 6 when city officials appealed for a waiver from the Tennessee Historical Commission that would allow the removal of the statue from its prominent Union Avenue location.

The application was filed just in time to avoid the application of a new law that will require a two-thirds majority vote of the 29-member commission for approval.

Whether the argument requires a two-thirds vote or a simple majority, however, the case for removing the statue  as well as the separate matter of moving of graves of Forrest and his wife, Mary Ann Montgomery, back to their original burial plot in Elmwood Cemetery, where Forrest reportedly requested to be buried with his soldiers  is strong.

Forrest was an important historical figure, and he was a creative tactician on the battlefield, but his slave trading, his involvement in the foundation of a domestic terrorist group and the role soldiers under his command played in the Fort Pillow Massacre, where African-American troops were massacred by Forrest's men after surrendering, should disqualify his statute from being displayed in a place and manner that suggests that he played a positive role in the history of Memphis and the Mid-South.

In fairness, it should be noted that Forrest, alarmed by the Klan's violence, eventually tried to dissolve the group.

Still, when it meets on Friday to consider whether to grant the waiver, the commission should take into consideration not only the wishes of the elected city government but how Tennessee should go about educating Tennesseans about history.

What was perceived as honorable in 1905  Southern resistance to African-American political and economic opportunity  is no longer what most people would consider a cause worth celebrating.
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By G.A. Hardaway, Johnnie Turner and Larry Miller, Special to Viewpoint

Children are our city's most precious asset. As future leaders, it is imperative that investments in their education are made  not only to ensure they are positioned to succeed, but to also protect the well-being of our community.

There is no justifiable reason to limit or withhold the amount of money needed to provide quality education to our children. In fact, school funding should be the first priority for all of our government bodies.

As members of the Tennessee General Assembly, we recognize that the state must provide more funding to provide adequate and equitable funding for our schools. We continue that fight in Nashville each year. We have witnessed state government unfairly interfere with our local affairs in Memphis and Shelby County time and again. It seems that we can get all the attention except for what we need  more funding and support for all of our children.

These are our children, our schools and our communities. It's time for Shelby County to truly look out for Shelby County.

Our Shelby County Commission members must put their political differences aside to do what is right for our children. We have heard the collective call of parents and educators to prioritize education, and we echo their sentiments and desires.

In a recent commission budget committee meeting, Commissioner David Reaves remarked: "I don't support giving all of this money to education. I think we have enabled them (Shelby County Schools) to not make decisions they need to make." He later stated that he would move to reduce the funding recommended for the school operations budget, indicating he would not vote for the funds needed by SCS to stop cuts to their successful programs.

Sadly, Commissioner Reaves' statement is very far from the truth and his belief that SCS can make do with less is inaccurate.

SCS has already closed more than 20 schools, slashed central office staff, outsourced services and drawn down its reserves. Despite chronic state underfunding, the elimination of city of Memphis funding and only a 2 percent increase from Shelby County government since 2014, SCS has spent the past four years as a top level school district in the state and improved academic performance of students in 9 of 10 subject areas.

It's time to invest in student success and give the school system the money it needs to continue this unprecedented progress.

To essentially say that some students do not deserve a high-quality education is a slap in the face to the thousands of voters who believe they do. All children matter, no matter what neighborhood or ZIP code they live in.

Commissioner Reaves does not have students in the Shelby County public school system. His children attend Bartlett City Schools. They deserve more too, and fulfilling the request from SCS could mean $2.6 million more for the Bartlett students. Overall, municipal schools would receive almost $10 million in additional funds to support their students with the requested increase.

However, this is not the time to attempt to flex political muscle, especially when it puts the well-being of our children and community at risk. As chair of the Shelby County Commission Education Committee, it is unequivocally irresponsible of him to not recognize the importance of investing in students and schools.

Our children simply cannot afford to wait around as adults continue to focus on the wrong things and engage in political debate that does nothing to address their real needs. In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "The time is always right to do what is right."

Give our children their money. All of their money.

There is no better time than the present for the Shelby County Commission to step up to the plate and fully fund schools. Doing so can greatly help to improve education quality and equity. Despite personal beliefs, our students deserve more. They also need to know that someone believes in their ability to succeed. We certainly believe and hope that commissioners answer their constituents' calls to fund schools first.

State Reps G.A. Hardaway, Johnnie Turner and Larry Miller represent Memphis in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
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By Kathleen Parker

WASHINGTON  The arguments for and against gun control are so familiar by now, we might as well hit replay and skip the debate.

In the wake of the horrific murders of 49 people in an Orlando gay nightclub, America is re-enacting the usual drama: Politicians repeat past arguments, citizens retreat into their routines, killers reload.

Today, Senate Democrats and Republicans are scheduled to roll out four gun-control bills  two from each side  attached as amendments to the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill.

And, of course, given that 60 votes are needed to pass, none is expected to.

The most anyone can agree upon, including the National Rifle Association, is that terrorists shouldn't have guns. Well, it's something. I guess.

The holdup, as always, is how to balance the right to bear arms with the right to avoid being killed by a nut with a semi-automatic weapon. This shouldn't be too terribly hard to figure out, though you'd think we were cave dwellers trying to map the human genome.

But seriously, what's really on the line here? A few hours or days of inconvenience for someone who wants to buy a gun. In a nutshell, that's it.

Democrats want to close loopholes at gun shows by requiring universal background checks. And California Sen. Dianne Feinstein is proposing a previously defeated "no-fly, no-buy" bill that would prevent people on terrorist watch lists from buying a gun.

Not so fast. In a separate version of this idea, Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn is proposing that the attorney general can delay a gun purchase for anyone who has been part of a terrorism investigation in the past five years  but only for three days.

Democrats say this is too limiting.

Seriously, esteemed senators: You can't figure this out? Make it five days, make it a week. But for heaven's sake, make it work.

Republicans argue that people may be erroneously placed on the watch list and therefore be denied due process. Democrats argue that due process will be "baked into it," whatever that means. Another bill, backed by Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, would allow terror suspects to buy a weapon but would ensure that the FBI be notified.

Okaaaaaay. This makes zero sense and has cover-your-rear-guard written all over it. Essentially, it protects the terrorist's Second Amendment rights while pretending to protect Americans. But to work, the FBI would need to conduct 24/7 surveillance lest the possible terrorist become a real one and slaughter his co-workers at his company's annual Christmas party.

Meanwhile, the question remains whether a ban on military-style assault weapons that expired in 2004 should be reinstated. Hillary Clinton has called for renewing the ban. Donald Trump, though he tweeted his support for "no-fly, no-buy" legislation, has promised to preserve Americans' right to keep their assault weapons.

I admit to having no interest in owning, if this constitutes a bias. But as someone raised around guns  and whose lawyer-father tutored me that "an unnecessary law is always a bad law"  I appreciate the tension between my right to survive an act of terror and another's to tend his own business. As always, every debate ultimately centers on: Where on the continuum of constitutional rights does one person's interpretation of the Second Amendment become secondary to another's right to survive said interpretation?

Is it not logical, however, that the right of the greatest number of people to survive supersedes the right of a relatively few who wish to own weapons intended to inflict mass casualties?

Obviously, the vast majority of people who buy assault weapons don't intend to kill anybody. But just as obviously, many of those who have killed massively had access to them. Adam Lanza, who killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School, very likely would have been less successful but for his Bushmaster .223 caliber model XM15 rifle with its 30-round capacity magazine. Lanza fired off 154 shots in five minutes.

As a way of reframing the conversation, is it not possible to create both a good and necessary law? We now live in a world that requires a certain kind of law to address a specific kind of problem. It isn't only terrorists in our midst but loopholes that allow bad actors of all faiths, ethnicities and races (not just radical Islamists) to buy firearms, including assault weapons. Closing those loopholes and ridding society of weapons we know to be mass-killing machines are the least  and the only sane things  we should do.

Kathleen Parker's email address is kathleenparker@washpost.com.
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By Ramesh Ponnuru

Republicans need to start worrying about losing their majority in the House of Representatives.

Republicans accept the conventional wisdom that Hillary Clinton is favored to win the presidency, and they know that her election would probably end their majority in the Senate. But in a year that has upended political expectations, they have clung to one comforting assumption: Their hold on the House is secure.

Their majority is protected by gerrymandering, the geographic distribution of Republican voters, the power of incumbency and its own sheer size. Republicans have 247 seats in the House, the most since 1931. Democrats would have to win 30 to take back the chamber. And that includes many seats in districts that usually go Republican in presidential contests. That sets the House apart from the Senate, where to keep their majority Republicans will have to hold seats in states that usually vote for Democratic presidential candidates.

But Clinton's lead in the polls is widening to the point that Republicans need to set aside their complacency. Split-ticket voting has declined over the last generation. If Clinton wins big  because Republican voters stay home, or swing voters choose her party, or both  House Republicans will struggle to win re-election. Henry Olsen, the co-author of a recent book about the Republican Party, tells me that an 8-point win would put Republicans in the danger zone.

Now it may be that the decline of split-ticket voting is another pattern this year will disrupt. Maybe voters will distinguish between Donald Trump and other Republicans, rejecting him but not them. Maybe Republican voters will come to the polls to vote for a third-party presidential candidate, such as Libertarian Gary Johnson, and then vote for Republican congressmen while they are there.

Public polling on the congressional races is still sparse. The most recent numbers come from Ipsos/Reuters, which found the Democrats with an 11-point lead nationally. That could be a sign that Trump is pulling Republican congressional candidates down with him.

Republicans should also consider that their optimistic take on the House sounds a lot like what they said in 2005 and 2006 as their political fortunes declined during President George W. Bush's second term. Then, too, the district lines and voters' preference for incumbents were supposed to keep Republicans in control of Congress. In late May of 2006, the respected political analyst Stu Rothenberg projected that Democrats were likely to gain eight to 12 seats, leaving Republicans in charge of the House. They ended up winning 31 seats, picking up the House and further surpassing expectations by taking control of the Senate, too.

That history is not repeating line for line. A decade ago the Democrats were very successful in getting qualified candidates who were good fits for their districts. Recruitment does not seem to have gone as well this year.

If the presidential race goes well enough for the Democrats, though, it might not matter. "If worse comes to worst, I think the House is more at risk than people realize," says one prominent Republican strategist who requested anonymity so that he could offer a candid assessment. He says that if Trump looks like a sure loser, congressional Republican candidates should do what they did in 1996, when their presidential nominee Bob Dole seemed doomed to defeat: Present themselves as necessary checks on a Democratic president named Clinton.

House Republicans are more likely to retain their majority than Trump is to win, and for that matter a Trump victory can't be ruled out. But Republicans should not kid themselves about the worsening political environment. A year ago they thought that they could begin 2017 with control of the White House, Senate and House. Now they have a real prospect of being shut out of national power altogether.

Ramesh Ponnuru, a Bloomberg View columnist, is a senior editor for National Review.
On August 2nd, a little over one year after the initial launch of Windows 10, Microsoft will release its first major update: the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. It will be delivered in the usual way -- via Windows Update -- and will install automatically on its own.

However, if you're curious (or apprehensive) about the upcoming update, you don't have to wait until the final release date to check it out. Microsoft has been releasing public preview builds, each one a little bit closer to the final version. Anyone can get and install those builds by first becoming part of Microsoft's Windows Insider Program, then joining what's called the Fast Ring.

Want to keep track of what builds are available when? What follows is a list of every preview build of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, starting with the most recent and going back to the beginning of the year. For each build, we've included the date of its release and a link to Microsoft's announcement about it. Also included are links to Computerworld's reviews of the major builds.

(Note: This covers only previews for the PC version of Windows 10, not the phone version.)

[ Further reading: 5 free apps that add cool Windows 7 features to Windows 10 ]

We'll update this page as new builds are rolled out so you'll always be up to date.

Release date: July 18

This minor build has, in Microsoft's words, a handful of new fixes, including improving the reliability of the Start menu, Cortana and the Action Center. It also lets iPods be mounted as USB mass-storage devices.

Release date: July 15

This minor build introduces the Amazon Assistant for the Edge browser, designed for shopping on Amazon. Other than that, Microsoft fixed only a single small bug: When someone who was using a non-US English-language version turned on Developer Mode using the "For Developers" Settings page, they would see the error code 0x80004005.

Release date: July 12

This extremely minor build focuses on bug fixes -- a mere 44 of them. The main ones have to do with improving reliability and battery life. Several bugs related to the Narrator (which reads text on your screen aloud) have been fixed as well.

Release date: July 9

This minor build focuses on bug fixes, as most builds will likely do from now on. It kills one nagging annoyance: No longer will a notification pop up telling you that your Windows evaluation copy expires on 7/15/2016. In addition, Surface devices should get better battery lives and Spotify should no longer crash when it plays music. Other bugs have been squashed as well -- Microsoft claims a few hundred of them.

Release date: July 7

This minor build focuses on bug fixes, but the detail-oriented will notice a sign that the code for the Windows 10 Anniversary Update is close to being final: the usual desktop watermark identifying the build number is now gone. There will still be updates between Build 14383 and the final shipping version on August 2, but taking away the watermark indicates that major changes are locked in.

Release date: June 30

This exceedingly minor build had only a handful of bug fixes and tweaks, including one that solves a problem with the Action Center potentially crashing after dismissing a large number of notifications.

Release date: June 28

This build focused on minor tweaks and bug fixes -- Microsoft claimed 1,800 in all. Likely you won't notice any, though. Among them are a Store update with better performance and reliability, and many other very small ones.

Release date: June 23

Only a day after the previous release, we got a minor build focusing on bug fixes. The only thing notable about it was a new extension for Microsoft Edge: Evernote Web Clipper. This extension, like existing ones for Chrome and Firefox, lets you clip web pages to Evernote. However, its a bit buggy, and wont work on all web pages.

Release date: June 22

This minor build fixed the Windows 10 activation issues some people encountered when using "genuine" -- in other words, properly licensed -- Windows devices. When some users made hardware changes on their devices, such as replacing a hard drive or motherboard, Windows 10 wouldn't activate, because after the hardware change the device was no longer recognized as the one that Windows was licensed for. If that happened, you'd still be able to run Windows, but you'd get frequent reminders that it's not genuine, your desktop background would be constantly changed to black and you wouldn't be able to get non-security upgrades.

To prevent that situation, this build introduced an Activation Troubleshooter, which is designed to fix those issues. You get to the troubleshooter by going to Settings > Update & security > Activation, and selecting Troubleshoot.

The build also fixed a variety of bugs.

Release date: June 16

This build, which showed up only two days after the last one, focuses primarily on bug fixes. But it also includes a feature that long-time Windows users will welcome: The ability to easily perform a clean install of Windows on your PC.

To use it, go to Settings > Update & security > Recovery, and choose "Learn how to start fresh with a clean installation of Windows." Youll then be directed to a Microsoft Community page that has instructions about how to do a clean install, as well as a link to download the necessary tool.

The bonus here is that the process will delete any applications that don't come standard with Windows. That means it will not only delete apps you've installed, but pre-installed apps that came on the system as well. So if you wish, you can run this as soon as you get a new PC and remove all that irritating bloatware.

Release date: June 14

This minor build focuses primarily on bug fixes. It also adds a new extension to Microsoft Edge that lets people view, edit and create Office files inside Microsoft Edge without having to install Microsoft Office. In addition, it has temporarily halted adding any new features to Windows 10 in previews during Microsoft's Windows 10 Anniversary Update June Bug Bash, during which beta testers help the company find and squash bugs.

Release date: June 8

This minor build included the LastPass password extension for Microsoft Edge, the ability to user Docker natively in Windows 10 using Hyper-V Containers, and improvements to Windows Ink. It also brought small changes to the Settings app and a variety of bug fixes.

Release date: May 26

This minor build included two new Cortana features: One that lets you use Cortana to play music from Microsoft's Groove Music Catalog and another that lets you use Cortana as a timer. Also launched were changes to Microsoft Ink, including an updated Sticky Notes feature, among others.

Release date: May 10

This relatively major build made Microsoft Edge extensions easier to obtain by letting them be installed from the Windows Store rather than via a rather complicated download-and-install process. The build also included four new Edge extensions: two ad blockers; a developer-focused tool for improving a website's compatibility and performance; and Save to Pocket, which saves articles, videos and other web-based media so they can then be viewed either online or in the Pocket app for iOS and Android.

Edge extensions are downloaded and installed from the Windows Store.

The preview also killed the controversial Wi-Fi Sense feature, which was designed to automatically connect guests to Wi-Fi networks without their having to typing in passwords. However, people feared that Sense might invade their privacy by sharing all their Wi-Fi passwords with their Outlook and Skype contacts, and with their Facebook friends -- and all of their friends' friends as well.

Here's the full review.

Release date: April 26

This minor build made improvements to the command line and the Linux Bash on Ubuntu feature. It also gave Cortana the ability to search Office 365, offered improvements in battery life, and fixed a variety of bugs.

Release date: April 22

p>

This build was a major update -- the most significant update in the entire series, and one that clearly laid out Microsoft's vision for the final Windows 10 Anniversary update.

Cortana took center stage with a host of improvements, including understanding natural-language requests such as "Email Bill the Excel spreadsheet I worked on yesterday." Cortana also works better with the calendar, doing things such as automatically adding information to the calendar based on received emails, like adding airline flight info if you receive a flight confirmation via email.

The Windows 10 Anniversary edition will include a black background theme.

Windows Ink was introduced in the upgrade, a feature which lets you use a stylus to write on touch devices and do tasks such as create sticky notes or drawings. The Start menu was revamped so that the All Apps list is permanently visible. Links to Power, File Explorer and Settings were moved to a narrow list on the left side of the Start Menu.

Other changes included having more control over battery settings and the addition of a new dark theme.

Here's the full review.

Release date: April 6

This was the first build released after Microsoft's Build 2016 developers' conference, when Microsoft announced the Windows 10 Anniversary Update. In this build, Windows for the first time got a built-in Linux command line -- a GNU Bash shell. Most users probably don't care about this, but for developers it's a big deal because it's the real thing -- a full-blown Ubuntu command line that is being created in partnership with Canonical.

Cortana was also integrated better across multiple devices, including Android and Windows phones (although not iPhones). Ask for directions on your computer and the directions are sent to your phones as well.

Action Center was tweaked with features such as setting priorities for which apps are more important than others, and the ability to have those apps' notifications show up at the top of your notification lists.

Release date: March 25

This build fixed a variety of minor bugs.

Release date: March 17

This build was the first in which Microsoft Edge finally got support for extensions, something that Microsoft had been promising ever since the release of Windows 10 in the summer of 2015. It was far from perfect -- installation was confusing and flaky, and not all of the extensions worked. Still, it was a start. It also let you pin tabs in Microsoft Edge. Several built-on apps, including Maps and the Alarms & Clock app, were updated.

Release date: March 4

This minor build made Cortana available in more languages in different countries, including Spanish (Mexico), Portuguese (Brazil) and French (Canada). Other minor changes include bug fixes.

Release date: February 24

This build fixed a variety of minor bugs.

Release date: February 18

This minor build made it easier to search for music in Cortana and included a number of minor changes to Microsoft Edge, such as clearing browsing data when you exit.

Release date: February 3

This build fixed a variety of minor bugs.

Release date: January 27

This minor build, which fixed a variety of bugs, was notable primarily because it was a big jump in numbers from the previous build (11102). That jump was more of a housekeeping issue than anything else. Microsoft had united the Windows and Windows Mobile teams, and wanted to sync the build numbers of Windows and Windows Mobile.

Release date: January 21

In this minor build, Microsoft Edge got a new history menu.

Release date: January 13

This minor build focused on making under-the-hood changes to the code shared among all Windows devices.
China on Monday revealed its latest supercomputer, a monolithic system with 10.65 million compute cores built entirely with Chinese microprocessors. This follows a U.S. government decision last year to deny China access to Intel's fastest microprocessors.

There is no U.S.-made system that comes close to the performance of China's new system, the Sunway TaihuLight. Its theoretical peak performance is 124.5 petaflops, according to the latest biannual release today of the world's Top500 supercomputers. It is the first system to exceed 100 petaflops. A petaflop equals one thousand trillion (one quadrillion) sustained floating-point operations per second.

The most important thing about Sunway TaihuLight may be its microprocessors. In the past, China has relied heavily on U.S. microprocessors in building its supercomputing capacity. The world's next fastest system, China's Tianhe-2, which has a peak performance of 54.9 petaflops, uses Intel Xeon processors.

TaihuLight, which is installed at China's National Supercomputing Center in Wuxi, uses ShenWei CPUs developed by Jiangnan Computing Research Lab in Wuxi. The operating system is a Linux-based Chinese system called Sunway Raise.

The TaihuLight is "very impressive," said Jack Dongarra, a professor of computer science at the University of Tennessee and one of the academic leaders of the Top500 supercomputing list, in a report about the new system.

TaihuLight is running "sizeable applications," which include advanced manufacturing, earth systems modeling, life science and big data applications, said Dongarra. This "shows that the system is capable of running real applications and [is] not just a stunt machine," Dongarra said.

It has been long known that China was developing a 100-plus petaflop system, and it was believed that China would turn to U.S. chip technology to reach this performance level. But just over a year ago, in a surprising move, the U.S. banned Intel from supplying Xeon chips to four of China's top supercomputing research centers.

The U.S. initiated this ban because China, it claimed, was using its Tianhe-2 system for nuclear explosive testing activities. The U.S. stopped live nuclear testing in 1992 and now relies on computer simulations. Critics in China suspected the U.S. was acting to slow that nation's supercomputing development efforts.

Four months after the Intel ban, in July 2015, the White House issued an executive order creating a "national strategic computing initiative" with the goal of maintaining an "economic leadership position" in high-performance computing research.

The U.S. order seemed late. China has been steadily building its supercomputing capacity, which included efforts to develop its own microprocessors. It produced a relatively small supercomputer in 2011 that relied on homegrown processors, but its big systems continued to rely on U.S. processors.

There has been nothing secretive about China's intentions. Researchers and analysts have been warning all along that U.S. exascale (an exascale is 1,000 petaflops) development, supercomputing's next big milestone, was lagging.

It's not just China that is racing ahead. Japan and Russia have their own development efforts. Europe is building supercomputers using ARM processors, and, similar to China, wants to decrease its dependency on U.S.-made chips.

China's government last week said it plans to build an exascale system by 2020. The U.S. has targeted 2023.

China now has more supercomputers in the Top500 list than the U.S., said Dongarra. "China has 167 systems on the June 2016 Top500 list compared to 165 systems in the U.S," he said, in an email. Ten years ago, China had 10 systems on the list.

Of all the supercomputers represented on the global list, the sum of the China supercomputers performance (211 petaflops) has exceeded the performance of the supercomputers in the U.S., (173 petaflops) represented on this list. The list doesn't represent the universe of all supercomputers in the U.S. None of the supercomputers used by intelligence agencies, for instance, are represented on this list.

"This is the first time the U.S. has lost the lead," said Dongarra, in the total number of systems on the Top500 list.

China's work is also winning global peer recognition. It's work on TaihuLight has resulted in three submissions selected as finalists for supercomputing's prestigious Gordon Bell Award, named for a pioneer in high-performance computing.

The fastest U.S. supercomputer, number 3 on the Top500 list, is the Titan, a Cray supercomputer at U.S. Dept. of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory with a theoretical peak of about 27 petaflops.

Whether the U.S. chip ban accelerated China's resolve to develop its own microprocessor technology is a question certain to get debate. But what is clear is China's longstanding goal to end reliance on U.S. technology.

"The Chinese were already determined over time to move to an indigenous processor," said Steve Conway, a high performance computing analyst at IDC. "I think the ban accelerates that -- it increases that determination," he said.

HPC has become increasingly important in the economy. Once primarily the domain of big science research, national security and high-end manufacturing such as airplane design, HPC's virtualization and big data analysis capabilities have made it critical in almost every industry. Manufacturers of all sizes, increasingly, are using supercomputers to design products virtually instead of building prototypes. Supercomputer are also used in applications such as fraud detection and big data analysis.

HPC has is now "so strategic that you really don't want to rely on foreign sources for it," said Conway.
Scheduled to ship in Fall, Apples mobile OS, iOS 10, promises a host of flagship features. And just like every release, for every key feature youll find many small improvements that arent discussed much, so heres a bakers dozen of some of the cool new things you might not have come across just yet:

Getting there

While both remain separate views, Apple has done lots of work to make Notifications, Control Center (and the Lock Screen) more useful. Flick across Control Center panes to get to things you want to use, including a dedicated and attractive Media Center view. 3D Touch works on some quick launch shortcuts in Control Center, for example. Well discuss these in more depth over the next few weeks.

Personal iMessages

As widely discussed, digital touch support means you can now send heartbeats and other touching items from an iOS device, not just Apple Watch. You can also send messages in your own handwriting, which recipients will see appear on their display. Read more about iMessages here.

Calendar

Not only will the OS suggest Calendar events like meeting times and places based on iMessage threads, but it can offer time to leave and location suggestions and is much better at handling events found in email.

Intelligence everywhere

To be fair, intelligence across Apples operating systems is evidenced everywhere, from Photos faces and memory identification to the capacity for Maps to suggest meeting places and times to iMessages ability to replace anything you write with Emoji symbols. Well look in more detail at such implemented intelligence later in the week.

In the RAW

iPhoneographers will love that iOS 10 lets them edit photos in RAW image format, an uncompressed format. And, of course, you can also look forward to the Live Photos image stabilization and editing you need third party apps for now.

New Clock is nice

The Clock app has lots of new features, but the revised interface has to be the best, everything is visible on one page, including what time you think you should sleep and wake.

Storage optimization

This new Music setting automatically removes tracks you dont listen to from your iPhone to save storage space. You can set this to a minimum music storage level between 4GB to 32GB of tracks.

Collaboration

Trust me, youll be glad Apple introduced Notes collaboration. It means you can start a Note you can share with others enabling you both to collaborate on projects. Youll also enjoy side-by-side Safari multitasking.

Unsubscribe

Mail in iOS 10 lets you unsubscribe from newsletters in a couple of taps, no need to visit websites and other such nonsense. Oh, and Game Centers gone, too. Cya!

Spam alert

iOS 10 will scan online databases to warn you if you are likely to be receiving a dodgy spam call.

Shine the light

If you use your 3D Touch-capable iPhone as a flashlight then youll be able to set the intensity of the light just by hard pressing the icon in Control Center.

iCloud Drive Desktop, Documents

Yes, youll be able to access the contents of your Sierra Macs Desktop and Documents folders from an iOS device using iCloud Drive. I think this is going to make a profound difference to how we work.

Wheres my car?

Apple Maps will automatically remember where you park. Then, when its time to go back to your car Maps will offer its location up as a recommended destination.

Accessibility

Apple puts a lot of focus on accessibility. Ill be discussing this in much more detail soon, but it is noteworthy that the useful iOS/Apple Watch Activity App is now also optimized for wheelchair users. Developing this took lots of research and the effort itself is a good example of how the company continues to dedicate a lot of resources to making its platforms approachable to anyone.

Want more features? Heres a pretty useful list.

Google+? If you use social media and happen to be a Google+ user, why not join AppleHolic's Kool Aid Corner community and join the conversation as we pursue the spirit of the New Model Apple?

Want Apple TV tips? If you want to learn how to get the very best out of your Apple TV, please visit my Apple TV website.

Got a story? Drop me a line via Twitter or in comments below and let me know. I'd like it if you chose to follow me on Twitter so I can let you know when fresh items are published here first on Computerworld.
When introducing its monster 72-core Xeon Phi chip, Intel couldn't help but take a swipe at graphics processors for being sluggish for some tasks.

Ironically, Xeon Phi is a byproduct of Larrabee, which was supposed to be Intel's first major GPU but was abandoned in 2009 after multiple delays.

The swipe was a shot at Nvidia, whose GPUs are flourishing in the gaming and machine learning areas. But Nvidia's success has also raised questions about whether Intel should've been patient and pursued Larrabee.

Nevertheless, Xeon Phi has been successfully used in supercomputing, and now Intel wants to challenge Nvidia's GPU by bringing the chip to machine learning.

The latest 72-core Xeon Phi 7290 chip is company's fastest chip to date. It will start shipping in September for US$6,294, making it Intel's most expensive processor. The company also announced three other Xeon Phi chips with 64 to 68 cores.

Xeon Phis are already being used in some of the world's fastest computers. Some of the new chips started shipping months ago, but Intel announced the specifications and prices for the first time at the International Supercomputing Conference in Frankfurt, Germany, this week.

The new chips are packaged much like graphics cards and can be primary chips or co-processors. On supercomputers and servers, the chip will likely serve more as a co-processor to Xeon E5 chips as the primary CPU.

These chips could also be installed as a primary processor in workstations. Don't expect to run the latest games because the chips are designed to run scientific applications with their juiced up Atom cores and vector processors.

The Xeon Phi chip package also integrates some of the latest technologies. It has 16GB of integrated stacked memory and supports up to 384GB of DDR4 memory in a system. The Xeon Phi 7290 chip package draws 245 watts of power, and the 72 cores operate at a clock speed of 1.5GHz.

Outside of supercomputers, there's interest in using Xeon Phi in data centers for machine learning and artificial intelligence, said Charles Wuischpard, vice president of the Data Center Group at Intel.

Future Xeon Phis will push the chip further into those areas, Wuischpard said.

The chips are "faster and more scalable than GPUs" for machine learning models in servers, Wuischpard said.

Intel is also testing the new Xeon Phi chips for deep-learning systems. In addition to GPUs, Intel could also face competition in machine learning from Google, which has built its own chip called TPU (Tensor Processing Unit).

As Intel tries to break away from PCs, the chipmaker is also trying to link Xeon Phi chips to its latest technologies like the Optane memory, silicon photonics, FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays), and OmniPath interconnect, Wuischpard said. Intel is placing its bets on the fast-growing data center business.

Some of the top server makers, including Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Dell, and Lenovo, will use the Xeon Phi chips in servers and supercomputers.
Some buyers of e-books will begin to receive payments Tuesday as part of a settlement in a price-fixing case against Apple.

People who purchased e-books between April 1, 2010, and May 21, 2012, will receive credits from e-book sellers, or will get a check if they opted out of receiving credits, according to Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, a consumer-rights class-action law firm involved in the lawsuit against Apple.

As part of the Apple settlement of the case, e-book buyers will receive $6.93 for every purchase that was a New York Times bestseller and $1.57 for every other e-book. The settlement covers e-books purchased from Apple as well as from other retailers, including Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

Apple's settlement for e-book purchasers amounts to $400 million. The book publishers paid $166 million, and that money also went to book buyers.

The law firm called the settlement one of the most successful damage-recovery efforts in U.S. antitrust law.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple and five book publishers in 2012.

The DOJ accused Apple, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan, Penguin Group and Simon & Schuster of conspiring to raise prices in retaliation for Amazon.com pricing most e-books at $9.99 beginning in late 2007.

In early 2010, the publishers agreed to shift to a new pricing model where they, instead of retailers, set the prices for e-books, the DOJ alleged. Apple and the publishers conspired to set e-book prices at $12.99 and $16.99, the agency charged.

In March, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Apple's appeal of a lower court's ruling against the company, and that decision triggered the settlement payment process.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission will move to open up high-frequency spectrum to not-yet-available 5G mobile services in an effort to bring the superfast wireless connections to U.S. consumers.

The FCC, during its July 14 meeting, will vote on a proposal to open up a whopping 14 gigahertz of high-band spectrum to unlicensed wireless use, Chairman Tom Wheeler said Monday. Wheeler didn't offer a lot of details about the proposal during his speech.

"We will be repeating the proven formula that made the United States the world leader in 4G," Wheeler said in a speech. "Its a simple formula: Lead the world in spectrum availability, encourage and protect innovation-driving competition, and stay out of the way of technological development."

If the commission approves the so-called spectrum frontiers proposal, the U.S. will be the first nation to open up high-band spectrum to 5G networks and applications, Wheeler said. "Thats damn important because it means U.S. companies will be first out of the gate," he added.

It's important for the U.S. to lead in 5G deployment, said Meredith Attwell Baker, president and CEO of mobile trade group CTIA.

The new mobile standard "will connect nearly everything with high-speed networks 10 times faster than those today and capable of supporting 100 times the number of devices, including the Internet of Things," she wrote in a blog post. "Our homes and our cities will become even more connected, reducing energy consumption and improving our community services."

The superfast mobile networks will also enable mobile health services, collision avoidance capabilities for cars, and new educational opportunities enabled by virtual and augmented reality, Baker added.

U.S. companies are already gearing up to offer 5G services, with AT&T and Verizon planning trials in 2017, Wheeler said. The first commercial service should be available in about 2020, he added.

"I have seen 5G hardware and firmware; the technology is here," he said. "It is also important, however, to recognize that 5G technology will be in constant evolution. It would be a mistake to think 5G can be frozen in a snapshot; it is more like a video with many new scenes, all building on each other."

Proponents of 5G say it will allow thousands of simultaneous users to get download speeds in the tens of megabits per second, or 1 gigabit per second for smaller groups. The technology may also provide better coverage than current 4G wireless networks.

The new 5G services will be able to use now-fallow high-band spectrum because of technological advances in computing and antennas, Wheeler said.
Do you use Microsoft Edge, the default browser included in Windows 10? Some people have used it once, to go get another browser version and download it. But if you want your laptop to last longer before you need to plug it in, then use Edge for your surfing  or so claims Microsoft.

Microsoft really wants you to use to Edge and this time, before the Anniversary Update rolls out, the company is crowing about how Edge uses less battery than any other browser.

Microsoft backed up Edge power-saving capability claims by three separate tests. The first measured browser power consumption in a controlled lab environment. The second involved super-snooping on users, worded as real-world energy telemetry collected from millions of Windows 10 devices. The third comes along with a time-lapse video of four identical laptops streaming the same video via four different browsers until the battery dies.

The lab environment test used Surface Books browsing with Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Opera. Each device completed the same tasks, opening websites, scrolling through articles, and watching videos, opening new tabs for each task. We used the same websites you spend your time on  Facebook, Google, YouTube, Amazon, Wikipedia and more.

The tests showed Edge as the most energy efficient browser on Windows 10 with up to 36%-53% more battery life to get what you need done.

The second test relied on telemetry. These numbers are from actual Windows 10 use in the wild, not artificial tests or hypotheses, wrote Jason Weber, Microsoft Edge web platform team director. He added, The billions of data points from these devices are consistent with the lab results, demonstrating that Microsoft Edge is more efficient in real-world, day-to-day use than the competition:

At the start of the year, Microsoft claimed Windows 10 users spent 44.5 billion minutes using Edge in just one month. It was the same post with telemetry stats that set off more privacy concerns as the number of questions asked of Cortana, the amount of Bing searches, the number of photos viewed via the Windows 10 photo app and even the billions of the hours spent gaming were included in the data Microsoft collected from Windows 10 users.

Despite those billions of minutes in a mere month, Microsofts Edge browser barely registers a blip on browser stat analytic reports. Net Market Share shows 4.99% of surfers used Edge in May 2016, 2.7% of surfers visiting U.S. government websites over the last 90 days used Edge, and StatCounter Global Stats put Edge usage at 2.54% so far this month.

While Chrome is eating Microsofts lunch when it comes to browser usage, Chrome is also a power-hungry, battery-eating hog eating your lunch if you are unplugged. In the battery life experiment, Chrome crapped out first, draining the battery in about four hours and twenty minutes; doing the exact same task, Microsoft Edge lasted over seven hours. In other words, Edge ran 70% longer than Chrome, 43% longer than Firefox and 17% longer than Opera.

The results speak for themselves: Microsoft Edge outlasts the rest, delivering 17%-70% more battery life than the competition.

A second post on the Microsoft Edge Developer blog goes into more details about how Microsoft measures energy efficiency through customer telemetry. Brandon Heenan, Edge Program Manager, explained:

Some of our most important insights come from aggregated data from millions of Windows devices reporting billions of data points around Microsoft Edges energy efficiency to Microsoft on a monthly basis. We particularly pay attention to telemetry coming from systems with specialized hardware measurement  you just cant beat 98% accuracy.

Additionally, the Windows 10 Anniversary Update will include even more energy efficient improvements such as to background tabs, Windows networking, the Edge user interface, and even Flash  but yikes, havent you kicked that highly exploitable app to the curb yet? Regarding the improvements to background tabs, Microsoft said, Savings vary depending on the websites you have open, but weve seen energy savings of over 90% in some scenarios.

Google has attempted to make Chrome more efficient; Opera recently came out with a new battery-saving mode so users can browse up to 50% longer. It remains to be seen if Edge will fare any better usage stats after the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, but Microsoft seems determined to make it so by launching its better battery life campaign.

And users of the free Windows 10 tool, Refresh Windows  which is supposed to wipe crapware from machines, will need to reinstall applications and drivers, meaning Edge will surely be opened at least once  even if that is to download a different browser. Maybe some of those users will switch to Edge when they are out and about, unplugged, to see if it really does slurp less battery power?
MasterCard on Monday announced plans similar to those made last week by Visa to speed up chip card in-store terminal testing and certification.

The changes could reduce the certification and testing time to a couple of hours, down from a couple of weeks, said Chiro Aikat, senior vice president for product delivery-EMV for MasterCard.

Under MasterCard's approach, banks will have more responsibility and flexibility for testing the new terminals. MasterCard also cut the number of needed tests by 58% and said banks can "use their discretion and expertise in deciding when terminals are ready for deployment."

MasterCard also said it will give more "dedicated resources" to third-party companies that integrate the new terminals, but didn't elaborate. Also, MasterCard will publish guidelines on standard terminal test configurations.

One reason the process can be speeded up so much is that merchants can now choose any payment terminal certification process and wont need to be certified by each different card company, a MasterCard spokeswoman said.

Many retailers have complained about a backlog of several months in testing and certification, even as many have already paid for and installed hardware. Some chip card terminals can cost $500 or more apiece. In most cases, the certifications look at software as well as hardware and the entire payment network involved in transactions.

Retailers are concerned about having to assume liability for fraudulent card payments, a change that became effective Oct. 1.

Elavon, a credit card processing company, said it began working with MasterCard more than three years ago to implement hardware and software upgrades to accommodate the more secure chip cards.

"By accelerating the testing and certification process, MasterCard and Elavon can make more terminals available to more merchants, increasing the safety of entire payments ecosystem," said Guy Harris, president of Elavon North America in a statement.

MasterCard also said it will minimize the costs of "chargebacks" to merchants who still haven't transitioned to chip cards because they might be waiting for certifications. A chargeback is what a bank charges a merchant for a fraudulent payment.

Unlike Visa, MasterCard didn't provide details of its new policies for minimizing chargeback costs. MasterCard simply said it has "policies in place that limit merchant exposure to excessive chargebacks on fraudulent accounts." Visa, however, had said it would block chargebacks under $25 made by banks against merchants and would limit banks to charging back 10 fraudulent transactions per customer.

Merchants have filed a number of lawsuits against banks and card companies over the chip card conversion. One case involves two Florida-based retailers, B & R Supermarket and Grove Liquors, who said they saw a 20-fold increase in the chargebacks from banks over fraudulent transactions after the Oct. 1 deadline.

More recently, Walmart sued Visa on May 10 for not requiring shoppers to type in a more secure PIN when using a chip-ready debit card, while Home Depot sued Visa and MasterCard on June 13, also raising the PIN issue.
This is a transcript of a speech delivered by Andrew Mitchell in the House of Commons this afternoon.

Today we mourn the terrible loss of our friend and colleague Jo, so tragically murdered as she went about her constituency duties last Thursday. The life has been taken of a truly exceptional woman, whose goodness and passionate dedication to humanitarian values has inspired us all. I knew her as a friend, but how unbearable must it be for those who mourn her as a daughter, sister, husband and, above all, as their beloved mum, whom they used to visit for tea each week in Portcullis House.

I first met Jo ten years ago in London, when we marched against injustice in Darfur, and on two visits to al-Fashir in Darfur, where she helped develop a central humanitarian role for Oxfam. The Leader of the Opposition, as he then was, and I stayed there with her and other humanitarian workers and witnessed her crucial role for Oxfam in supporting women and children and securing water for thousands of refugees in the El Salam and Abu Shouk camps. She gave me the green wristbandI wear it stillto ensure that we remembered the desperate people caught up in what President Bush rightly described as a genocide. It is among her many friends and colleagues in the international humanitarian and development family all around the world, of which she was such a respected and experienced member, that she will be mourned and remembered as a staunch friend of the most desperate and deprived in our world and as a campaigner against injustice.

When she entered this House just 13 short months ago, she rapidly used her deep knowledge to champion the dispossessed. She was Labour to her fingertips, but restlessly dismissive of party political manoeuvring, which she saw as a barrier to progress. Making common cause with a crusty old Tory, she and I became co-chairs of the all-party Friends of Syria.

And she was brave: her energy and effectiveness were an inspiration. We invited ourselves to tea with the Russian ambassador in his London residence. With clever charm but steely determination, this five-foot bundle of old-fashioned Yorkshire common sense dressed him down for his countrys cruelty and cynicism in Syria. I do not believe the Russian ambassador will easily forget that visit.

I think there are many things Jo would want us to remember this afternoon. May I mention just two? I do not believe she would want this vile and unspeakable act to change the open and accessible relationship we enjoy with our constituents. [Hon. Members: Hear, hear!] All of us take the advice of our local police in protecting those who work with and support us. Thankfully, the record shows these attacks are as infrequent as they are disgraceful. Secondly, Jo would want us in this House to redouble our efforts to resolve the greatest catastrophe of our age: the crisis in Syria, where the lives of more than 11 million people have been ruined while the international community has shown itself disorganised, ineffective and supine.

I mourn Jo today as a friend and as a colleague, but most of all I mourn for her as a mother, whose two gorgeous children will now have to chart the shoals and eddies of life without the love and support of their wonderful, lovely mum.
Andrew Kennedy is the Group Agent & Campaign Director in West Kent. He blogs at www.votingandboating.blogspot.com.

It was a pleasantly warm autumn day in 2012, and life pootled on at the West Kent Campaign Centre . I was replying to e-mail, and our office manager, Jon Botten, was opening the mornings post. A sudden and loud expletive from Jon indicated that all was not right. I looked up with concern, as a few weeks earlier we had received a letter containing razor-blades, and I was fearful that it had happened again. The reality was worse. Jon was standing, clutching an envelope  out of which was pouring a suspicious white powder.

We laughed, nervously, in that over-confident way that blokes do when they dont wish to show theyre afraid. It must be a hoax. Isnt it? I asked, trying to sound reassuring, but both of us were clearly conscious of the consequences if it was real. Not wishing to cause an unnecessary fuss (in that frightfully British way) I called my contact in Special Branch. All I wanted him to do was to tell me what Ricin looked like, so that I could confidently reassure myself that the powder spread over Jons desk was something else. I got as far as we have received a letter with white powder in it. when I was told to close the windows, stay inside the building, but move to another room. Someone will be with you in ten minutes.

Almost immediately a police car arrived. Within 30 minutes they had sealed off West Malling, and evacuated the shops, businesses and local residents. Emergency response vehicles filled the Georgian High Street with alien flashing lights: police, fire brigade, ambulances, decontamination units, and even the army. Two men in hazmat suits entered the office. Jon and I had to change into disposable paper-suits, before being led outside for medical assessment. Whilst this happened a robot retrieved the package for testing. More teams went in to clean up the powder and the surrounding areas.

By this time, the media had arrived and news of a chemical attack on a Conservative Party office was spreading. A live minute-by-minute account was being posted on the local newspapers website, with the story being picked up by regional media.

Fortunately, two hours after Jon had opened the package, the substance was proved to be harmless: it was actually ground, bleached, sand.

Jon and I were conscious of the press, and their shouted questions from behind the safety barrier. What I didnt know, however, was the sub-plot developing alongside the official story in the Comments section of the newspaper. Using false names, and with pernicious disregard for truth or accuracy, it was all, apparently a set-up. Centurion thought it served [us] right. Jelly-Belly said we deserved it, as [we] were part of the ruling class. And when it was announced that the powder was harmless, then, according to Vanguard, it was clearly a hoax to try to gain publicity. This comment, however, was somewhat kinder than that of RageAgainstTheMachine, who expressed regret that Kent wouldnt be rid of two evil Tories.

As far I as I know. none of these people knew either Jon or me. None of them were there to see what was really happening. And none of them cared about our wellbeing, or that of the local traders who lost an afternoons business, or about the anxiety of local residents as they were evacuated, or about our families who heard of a suspected ricin attack at the Conservative Office in West Malling, but were unable to contact us for two hours to see if we were OK.

What concerned me most is how the anonymous lies started to feed the story. Suddenly journalists, writing up the attack on West Kent Towers, drew on the comments to add colour to their story. There was a reference to an attack which many thought could be a publicity stunt and, in one case, residents are asking if this was done to garner sympathy for the Conservative Party. News spread around the town that we had brought it on ourselves. An accusatory letter was pinned to the front door, and even the kindly lady in the newsagents asked me if it was true.

The writers of such poison clearly have a political agenda of their own and are quite willing to say, and repeat, whatever suits their purpose with scant regard for the facts  just as we saw last week when those sympathetic to Remain tried to exploit the tragic death of Jo Cox in order to further their cause. As they say, a lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its boots.

This begs the question Why are people so willing to think and believe the worst about those of us who work in politics?

No doubt a degree of impropriety over expenses, and one or two bad apples, have not helped. But no-one thinks that every doctor is a murderer because of the actions of Harold Shipman, any more than they believe that every businessman is corrupt because of the history of Robert Maxwell. Yet in the court of public opinion all politicians are now fair game. Councillors are all on the make; MPs are all on the fiddle, those of us who work in political support roles deserve what we get: after all, we are all as bad as each other.

From this irrational hatred comes irrational anger. Fathers for Justice think its acceptable to throw condoms filled with talcum powder at the Prime Minister in Parliament. As a consequence, a screen is erected to keep our politicians safe (and who came blame them?). In West Kent, instead of an open-door, welcoming visitors and passers-by, we now have CCTV and an entry phone (and who can blame us?). After being followed around by a stranger one night in Sainsburys, tweeting the contents of her shopping trolley, one Kent MP now drives outside the constituency to shop (and who can blame her?). And, after the appalling events in West Yorkshire last week, many MPs will be under pressure to change the way they interact with their constituents (and who can blame them?).

Yet, as our politicians understandably retreat to safety  so this will feed the anger of the mob, who will claim that they are becoming increasingly remote. This anger will feed more anger, until we all descend into another self-fulfilling layer of hell. What these haters fail to appreciate, is that their anger, their vitriol, and their loathing is part of the problem, not the solution.

For around a decade we have heard the cry that better people should be entering politics. But this coincides with the same period when our MPs have had their remuneration frozen, their private lives exposed, their personal frailties ridiculed, their honour denigrated and their motives questioned. Is it any wonder that many of the people we need in Parliament decide it simply is not worth the sacrifice?

I never believed, for one moment, that the majority of people thought that Jon and I were responsible for the attack on our office  but, as so often happens (whether through fear or ignorance), the majority stayed silent and allowed the debate to be shaped by the angry mob.

Since the death of Jo Cox, almost every politician I know has received emails and calls of support as people hopefully start to appreciate the good work they do. It is a tragedy that it has taken the death of such a promising politician for us to reach what I hope is a turning point.
There is a pervasive narrative in a large part of the Left that the Conservative Party is racist  one exploited by Labour, its main political opponent, at every opportunity. The truth is the other way round. It is now Labour that is corrupted by institutional racism in the form of anti-semitism  so much so that even its present leadership has had to concede an enquiry into it.

However, this fact doesnt fit the Lefts attempt to delegitimise its enemy, so any claim of racism by Tories must duly be puffed by the Guardian and, Im afraid, the BBC (at least by some of its outlets for much of the time). Depending on who makes the accusation, it can also ensure that nothing gets in the way of a good story  or the projection of one, at any rate.

This brings us to Sayeeda Warsi. First, the facts. Warsi has indeed been a supporter of Brexit, and claims to the contrary are simply wrong. However, she has not been an active one, let alone involved in the official Leave campaign. Baroness Warsideclined to comment on the tone of the referendum campaign, the Yorkshire Post reported recently. However, the peerdid confirm that she was supporting Britains exit from the European Union.

She says that she has changed her mind partly because of UKIPs notorious poster about immigration, and partly because in her view Michael Gove has been peddling complete lies. Thats her opinion and she has every right to hold it, and every right too to change her mind. But it is worth pausing for a moment over her singling-out of the Justice Secretary.

Like the security services, the police, the civil service and other political parties, the Conservatives were divided, first in opposition and then in government, by whether or not policy should seek to target violent extremism alone, or extremist ideology too. At one of the spectrum were Warsi and Dominic Grieve; at the other, Gove and Pauline Neville-Jones. I was part of the debate pre-2010, as a member of the Tory front-bench team (and took the latter view).

The Justice Secretarys means of expressing his view are particularly combative, his support for Israel especially clear-cut, and his internal influence  in this particular debate  has been profound and perhaps decisive. For what its worth, I do not go along with all the Gove Worldview myself, distinguishing between his take on domestic policy, which I think is correct, and his stance on foreign policy, which is highly interventionist (a view of which I am suspicious).

At any rate, none of all this has exactly endeared the Justice Secretary to Warsi, which helps to explain why she singles him out among the other Vote Leave leaders. Some will say that for the Times to splash on her view on her view is disproportionate. Since she was once entitled to attend Cabinet, I think that this is arguable either way. But what does strike me as particularly odd was the original headline.

As tweeted out among the first editions yesterday evening, it was Brexit camp in turmoil as leading Tory defects. But why should Vote Leave be cast into turmoil by the change of mind of someone whose role has been marginal? I see it has now been changed online to Brexit camp divided as senior Tory walks out. Again, I am not sure how one person changing her mind divides the Brexit camp. That she has left it leaves it less divided, surely.

But let us step back from this journalistic arcana, and look at the broader picture. Not so long ago, Warsi was a senior member of the Government, with all its publicity resources at her disposal. Now, she is a backbencher in the Lords. What she says is consequently of less interest to the media unless one circumstances applies  namely, that she is attacking fellow Tories.

To which you may reply that Gove and company are only one part of the Conservative Party  the Leave-backing bit  and that the wasnt assailing the other part. Quite so. But this is beside the point I am making, which is that she will only get a big publicity bang now if she criticises other Tories of one kind or another. This was proven recently when she got another publicity hit for lambasting the Conservative Mayoral campaign in London.

So there you have it. Some will agree with Warsi about the Vote Leave campaign and the Partys London Mayoral campaign. Others will disagree. For myself, I think that some Leave supporters have hyped up the Turkey problem, but that it is none the less a very real one for Britain. But either way, we know, if we didnt before, how the media now casts Warsi in the drama of Westminster politics. If she wants to get on the stage, she knows the role she must play.
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Dreams About Terrorists: Wolves, Wolf Packs And Resources

By Dr. Binoy Kampmark

20 June, 2016

Countercurrents.org

Terrorists provide alibis for hungry security establishments in search of themselves. Their physical effect is always small relative to the psychic disturbances they cause. Know thyself, urges the Delphic maxim, but self-knowledge implies an acceptance of ignorance. Nothing doing when it comes to the issue of finding the elusive lone wolf terrorist, a creature that has become more irritant than reality in security circles.

The efforts on the parts of lone wolves, and more importantly, terrorists in general, are never entirely calculable, reliable or clear. Yet they remain ever useful for policy makers, think tanks and pundits bloated on the largesse of the national security state.

Money may not have smell, claimed Emperor Vespasian, but one can never deny its allure. (In the emperors case, it was reaped from an infamous urine tax.) Bodies and entities receiving it will always operate on that truest of public service mentalities: more is always better, whatever the cause.

With the Orlando killings, another spike in speculative assessment was bound to take place, charging the strategic boardrooms and think tank workshops with the next model, framework and means of assessment. What matters in such workings is that they are sold as scientific, positivist formulae, methods that clarify a murky, sodden world of incalculable variables.

Bruce Riedel from Brookings makes his contribution to the world of counter-terrorism chat by considering the threat of wolf packs. In the scrounging for the exceptional term in a field of re-invented wheels, Riedel is thrilled to have come across terminology that was used for the German U-Boats of the Second World War.

Showing no sign of awareness about its origins, he enthusiastically applies the term to understand the greater threat of having small groups of terrorists operating on home soil. Be wary of ostracising the followers of the Prophet or the wolf pack threat will grow.

Judging from the body count occasioned by guns, the threat to the modern US republic seems far more a case of individuals who believe that mediation is best left out of the dispute resolution process. Grievance is primary; ideology is secondary. The issue of marauding packs of Allah-inspired lone wolves revives a frontier motif that is charmingly anachronistic, but typical of this field.

Nonetheless, Riedel insists that there was an attempt to mount a wolf pack assault on the New York City subway system in 2009 that was foiled because our intelligence services detected the conspiracy.

Amy Zegart, whose interests lie in the areas of intelligence history and theory, sees the response to the killings in Orlando in terms of process and assessment rather than the type of terrorist. Keep it smooth, informed and reliable and all will follow. Ask the right questions, she seems to be suggesting, and you will be set free.

Zegart takes as her point of reference the 2009 attack in Fort Hood, and smugly proclaims how the FBI got it wrong. (Naturally, she is also flogging her findings in a forthcoming book chapter.)

Questions, she asserts, should be raised in four areas, though all of these seem steeped in the structure and resources of countering threats. The big word common to all? Radicalisation and with that gathering and acting upon early intel about its noxious consequences.

In Fort Hood, the Bureau dragged its feat about early signs about Nidal Hasan, a radicalizing Muslim Army officer who was emailing AQAPs Anwar al-Aulaqi nearly a year before the officer went on a shooting rampage at Fort Hood. Much of this dragging on Hasans emerging plumage was largely occasioned by cluelessness, a lack of coordination.

Forward the historical wheel to Orlando, and Zegart asks if the FBI was similarly confused in its 2013-4 investigations into Omar Mateen. Sharing information is all, though Zegart then proceeds to wonder what the FBIs version of an investigation (in the Fort Hood case, four hours was given) is.

Pinching the hat of FBI recruitment, she wonders whether adequate staff were also at hand to assess Mateens case. (Are they ever?) In terms of Fort Hood, the relevant personnel had no serious counter-terrorism experience.

Her greatest scolding is reserved for last. The FBI erred in treating Hassans case through a law enforcement lens, not an intelligence lens. The right question to ask about Hassan was whether he might in future be involved in terrorist activities. What Zegart clumsily sidesteps is the obvious point that intelligence agencies have hardly covered themselves in glory in the soothsaying department. The future is unknowable  even the Bureau can only act in accordance with what has happened.

Staff, resources, making the right decisions; these points characterise the remarks of Garrett M. Graff, whose Politico pitch makes clear that the national security state is suffering from a lack of personnel. Graff does not take the cane to FBI assessments as Zegart does, but suggests a growing surveillance gap.

Such observations seem extraordinary in a country boasting such agencies as the NSA, whose penchant for unwarranted surveillance has been pressed home since Edward Snowden spoiled the party.

For Graff, those wise men and women of the counter-terrorism brother and sisterhood insist that the Bureau isnt big enough to tackle the new era of online radicalization and independent acting lone wolves. Policing No-fly lists and the Terrorist Screening Database consume resources at a voracious rate, a veritable resource crunch.

There you have it; the age old appeal for greater resources and personnel when facing crises new and remarkable. When a justification to feed a security habit is needed, it is sufficient to simply call the emergency exceptional.

Dr. Binoy Kampmark was a Commonwealth Scholar at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He lectures at RMIT University, Melbourne. Email: bkampmark@gmail.com








America Never Says Sorry

By Chandra Muzaffar

20 June, 2016

Countercurrents.org

A hegemonic power never says sorry.

Three recent episodes underscore this truism.

When US President Barack Obama offered a floral wreath at the cenotaph of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on 27 May 2016, some peace advocates in the United States, in Japan and in other parts of the world hoped against hope that he would say sorry for the Atom bomb that the then US President, Harry Truman, had ordered to be dropped over Hiroshima on the 6th of August 1945. The deadly bomb claimed 140,000 lives. Three days later a second Atom bomb destroyed the city of Nagasaki killing another 80,000.

There is a view advanced by a number of scholars and activists that based upon documentary analysis Japan had already indicated to the US Military Command in the Pacific a couple of months before 6th August that it was prepared to surrender if there were some safeguards for the position of the Japanese Emperor. But the US leadership wanted to demonstrate to the world --- and particularly to the Soviet Union --- its military superiority which it was determined to exploit to the hilt in the post- war world that it hoped to shape and lead.

Of course, the vast majority of the US populace fed on State propaganda over decades is convinced to this day that it was the bombing that brought the war to aclose. Since it was a military decision that was justified, in their reckoning, there is no need to apologise for the mass murder. Obamas refusal to say sorry was in that sense a reflection of the public mood and mentality.

But more than an apology, it is Obamas failure to work sincerely towards a nuclear weapons free world that is the most damning indictment on the man and his administration. A few months after he became President, in a stirring speech in Prague in April 2009, he pledged to strive to achieve a world without nuclear weapons. Not only has he been slower than his three predecessors in reducing nuclear weapons but he has initiated a trillion dollar effort to upgrade Americas entire nuclear arsenal and delivery systems. It is this that renders his remarks at Hiroshima where he again spoke about the obligation of leaders to pursue a world without nuclear weapons, hollow and hypocritical.

Just before his trip to Japan, Obama also visited Vietnam a country that the US had attacked brutally in the sixties and seventies allegedly in order to stop the advance of communism. What the US fought against was essentially a nationalist movement which had defeated its French coloniser and was in no mood to yield to another imperial power. As a result of Vietnamese resistance to the US ground and air war, more than 3 million Vietnamese and a million Cambodians and Laotians were killed.

Like Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush Junior who had also visited Vietnam earlier, Obama saw no reason to apologise to the Vietnamese people. How could a hegemonic power that was vanquished by a technologically weaker foe apologise for the incredible atrocities committed in the course of the war? The hubris of a hegemon would not allow for such a humiliation.

Besides, the Vietnamese government itself did not seek an apology partly because it was engrossed in rebuilding the country after two devastating wars. It was its goal of economic reconstruction that compelled Hanoi to turn to the market system especially since China, its ally during its resistance against the US, had also in 1978 chosen to adopt certain capitalist measures in its bid to transform its economy.

There is yet another aspect to Vietnams relationship with China which explains to an extent why an apology from the US is not on its agenda. Vietnam and China have clashed in the past. They fought a brief war in 1979. Chinese dynasties had exercised a degree of control over Vietnam centuries ago. Fear of Chinese dominance is one of the reasons why Hanoi has assiduously cultivated good relations with Washington for more than three decades now.

Initially these ties were largely economic culminating in Vietnams membership of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. Now a military dimension is beginning to emerge. US military vessels have begun to visit Cam Ranh Bay. And, during Obamas recent trip he lifted the ban on US arms sales to Vietnam. It is obvious that the US regards Vietnam as an important player in its bigger agenda of containing China. Given this situation, there is no way that any Vietnamese leader is going to demand that the US apologises for the pain and suffering it caused his people in the past.

Vietnam would be a classic case of how geopolitics and economics have trumped moral principles in bilateral relations.

This brings us to our third episode. On 1st July 2015 Obama announced the restoration of formal diplomatic relations with Cuba, after a break of 54 years. However, the US will continue to maintain its commercial, economic and financial embargo of Cuba which makes it illegal for US corporations to do business with the island of 11 million people off the US coast.

The US had cut off ties with Cuba in 1961 mainly because it chose, after a popular revolution in 1959, to chart its own independent path to the future guided by Marxist Thought. In the decades that followed,US administrations went all out to crush the Cuban Revolution. Apart from a severe embargo, they sponsored a failed invasion, terrorist attacks on hotels in Havana, the downing of a Cuban airplane and countless attempts to assassinate the leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro.

It is perhaps not surprising that when diplomatic relations were re-established, the US leadership was not contrite about the terrible injustices of the past. One has come to expect this sort of behaviour from the military superpower of the day. It is the embodiment of the arrogance of power.

Cuba has not pressed for an apology. Its immediate concern is to get the embargo lifted and to persuade the US to return Gauntanamo Bay where the US has a naval base, to Cuba.

From our three episodes, it appears that various factors are responsible for the unwillingness of the US leadership to say sorry to a nation or a people for past wrongdoings. Hubris arising from its hegemonic power is undoubtedly a significant factor. This is why hegemonic power at the global level has to end if that five letter word is to come out of the lips of the hegemon.

Dr. Chandra Muzaffar is the President of the International Movement for a Just World (JUST).

Malaysia.

20 June 2016.














Prof. Mahesh Chandra Guru Arrested

Press Release

20 June, 2016

Countercurrents.org

The Karnataka police have arrested BP Mahesh Chandra Guru, a professor in the journalism department of Mysore University and a well-known Phule-Ambedkarite writer. Professor Guru had made some sharp comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union HRD minister Smriti Irani at a function organized in the university recently to pay tributes to Rohit Vemula. He had also allegedly insulted Lord Ram.

Professor Guru is a regular contributor to FORWARD Press. Last year, along with Kannada writers, he had observed Mahishasur Day in Mysore. This event was widely talked-about in Kannada media. Since then, he had become an eyesore for the government.

We condemn the repression of writers of different languages battling against cultural domination and appeal to the people to stand by such writers.

Forward Press












Crimeans Recount Their Experiences When The West Took Ukraine

By Eric Zuesse

20 June, 2016

Countercurrents.org

This news-report consists of a compilation of accounts that Crimeans have given to human rights groups or directly posted to the internet, regarding their experiences when the freely elected President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, who had received 75% of the votes of Crimeans, was violently overthrown during January and February of 2014.

On 20 February 2014, eight busloads of people from Crimea, who had come into Ukraine's capital Kiev and were holding signs there demonstrating in opposition to the Maidan movement, which was seeking to oust Yanukovych, were violently attacked by Right Sector people who were leading the Maidan movement; and those terrified Crimeans then scrambled back into their buses, which promptly sped southward, toward home in Crimea.

, and it reports, with testimony and some of the videos from survivors, the attacks against those buses when a gang of Ukraine's Right Sector members caught up with those escaping Crimeans, near the Ukrainian town of Korsun. An organization Ukraine Human Rights created and posted to the internet, on 14 August 2014, a 25-minute video, with English subtitles, telling these people's stories. It's titled The Pogrom of Korsun , and it reports, with testimony and some of the videos from survivors, the attacks against those buses when a gang of Ukraine's Right Sector members caught up with those escaping Crimeans, near the Ukrainian town of Korsun.

, isn't fully available anymore, and it showed the view from the rear seat of a car as it was approaching a blockage, and the blocked buses, some of which were aflame. A few car-drivers were standing watching at a distance, while the Right Sector people beat and killed Crimeans alongside their buses. Private cellphone videos that were taken of these incidents were shown in the compilation by Ukraine Human Rights, but one other striking cellphone video, which was posted to youtube on 15 August 2014 , isn't fully available anymore, and it showed the view from the rear seat of a car as it was approaching a blockage, and the blocked buses, some of which were aflame. A few car-drivers were standing watching at a distance, while the Right Sector people beat and killed Crimeans alongside their buses.

, and she was shortly thereafter appointed by Crimea's new government to be a prosecutor. She was then, on 12 May 2014, banned from travel to U.S-allied countries. In the announcement of this ban, she was listed as Natalia Vladimirovna Poklonskaya: Prosecutor of Crimea. Actively implementing Russia's annexation of Crimea. In other words, she was banned for simply doing her job  if not for her still just being alive (and unwilling to work under ). One Crimean who managed to escape Kiev and survive, happened to be a minor official of the Ukrainian government under Yanukovych, an assistant prosecutor, Natalya Poklonskaya, who got into her car while the Maidan demonstrations were peaking, and escaped back to Crimea; she soon thereafter was unemployed, and was, in early April, interviewed on Crimean TV where she told about her experiences during the overthrow , and she was shortly thereafter appointed by Crimea's new government to be a prosecutor. She was then, on 12 May 2014, banned from travel to U.S-allied countries. In the announcement of this ban, she was listed asIn other words, she was banned for simply doing her job  if not for her still just being alive (and unwilling to work under the people who overthrew Yanukovych ).

If Crimea Didn't Reunite with Russia? A reader there posted his personal account of what he had, in fact, experienced in Crimea during that fateful time, when the news was coming to Crimeans of the horrors occurring (such as shown , and ). His entire comment is worth posting, and thus now follows: On 10 June 2016, The Saker posted a brief video from Russian Television, which realistically portrayed what almost certainly would have happened to CrimeansA reader there posted his personal account of what he had, in fact, experienced in Crimea during that fateful time, when the news was coming to Crimeans of the horrors occurring (such as shown here in January 2014 , and here in February ). His entire comment is worth posting, and thus now follows:

Comments:



Auslander on June 10, 2016  at 5:16 am UTC

The return of Krimu and Sevastopol to Russia was a lot more of a near thing than many people think. I remember very well the day, if memory serves it was the day of the Tatar', read right sector and mejlis, riot at Krim Rada [Crimean legislature] in Simferopol, that the Russian Black Sea Flot [fleet] commander stated when asked by a news type, that his [obligation] was to defend the Flot, not Sevastopol or the citizens.

That statement was like a bucket of ice cold water thrown in our faces and more than a few of the new patriots' of Sevastopol were given pause but most simply understood how serious the situation was, doubled down and got to work.

Right sector operatives had been coming down to Krimu and Sevastopol starting in mid January, one could spot them a kilometer away with ease. However, they were here and did start to subtly intimidate some of the citizens. On the other hand most were quietly noted and their little nests, usually in private lodgings in dachi areas, were located and listed. They were interesting to watch, three or four young men with a few young women, lounging around during the day on street and park benches during the time when everyone else was working. They would also nose around to every back alley and side street and photo everything while trying to pass themselves off as tourists'. In January and February? Nice try but no cigar.

The were two major turning points in the events leading up to the success of the Third Defense of Sevastopol during that fateful week after the coup in Kiev.

One, our Berkut [police] and Militsiya [militia] units that were in Kiev during the Maidan coup d'etat had literally fought their way back to Krimu and Sevastopol after their betrayal [escape] by Yanukovich and his stalwart allies. Their welcome in Naxhimova Square in City Center was a flower strewn tumult and from the hearts of Sevastopol Citizens, so much so that some of our Berkut and Militsiya were reduced to tears. Berkut then moved to their lager in City where a cordon of citizens was set up to protect them from SBU as armed Berkut guarded from inside. As an aside Ukraine SBU [Security Bureau of Ukraine] were faced down more than once as they attempted their usual foolishness. After the first face down the word spread like wildfire through the citizenry that they were nothing but a paper tiger, a semi armed criminal gang that were nothing. That was the end of SBU down here.

The citizens of Sevastopol and Krimea began to set up road block posts at the Krim-Ukraine borders and around Sevastopol, Simferopol and Yalta. They were armed with clubs and one or two ancient hunting weapons. In mid week Berkut, after negotiations with Sevastopol locals, declared for Sevastopol, armed up and headed for the barricades to assist and stiffen them. The thugs in Kiev were, to put it mildly, furious.

The second watershed event was thus. After the riot at Krim Rada in Simferopol where right sector, clearly identifiable in the overhead videos, were defeated, as they withdrew they expressed their extreme displeasure at the turn of events and swore they would be back to burn Rada to the ground and show the locals who was boss down here'.

Not much more than 24 hours later a small convoy of aging civilian vehicles appeared at the Krimea Rada Complex in Simferopol, well before dawn. The vehicles disgorged a fairly large group of well armed men who calmly tossed a flash bang through the door of Rada Building and stormed in, much to the shock of the Militsiya Guard Detail stationed there who were expecting a different group to arrive around dawn, politely but firmly removed the pistols and cell phones from Militsiya and invited them to leave. The cell phones were returned to the Militsiya worthies as they left, the pistols stayed in Rada building with the men.

These two events, Berkut pledging allegiance to Sevastopol and moving to the barricades and the taking of Krim Rada by the citizens, were the two salient events that led to the success of the Russian Spring in this peninsula. Unarmed citizens had already begun to block all major and minor bases of the Ukraine Armed Forces, demonstrations and marches were held all over Krim and Sevastopol and Militsiya, DAI and SBU were relegated to bit players in the events who were made well aware of the consequences to themselves if one citizen was harmed by them.

I have no doubts that Moscow was watching these events keenly and it was these two salient events plus the spontaneous blockading of the peninsula, major cities and the Ukraine Armed Forces that in my opinion was the catalyst for Moscow to move and come to the assistance of Krimea and Sevastopol.



. Russia doesn't like having nuclear weapons and tens of thousands of NATO troops etc., on and hear its borders (no more than America's JFK liked having Soviet missiles 90 miles from the U.S. in Cuba), and therefore a nuclear war could result, from Russia's protecting Crimeans against being seized like the rest of Ukraine was, by the U.S. and its allies. The United States and its allies are now pouring troops and armaments onto and near Russia's borders, and have imposed economic sanctions against Russia, for Russia's having helped the people of Crimea, which Washington and its allies call seizing' Crimea . Russia doesn't like having nuclear weapons and tens of thousands of NATO troops etc., on and hear its borders (no more than America's JFK liked having Soviet missiles 90 miles from the U.S. in Cuba), and therefore a nuclear war could result, from Russia's protecting Crimeans against being seized like the rest of Ukraine was, by the U.S. and its allies.

said on 15 June 2016, as he presented the excuse for doing that, Allies do not, and will not recognise the illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea. And we will continue to call on Russia to stop its destabilisation of Ukraine [which isn't even a member of NATO, and therefore isn't even within NATO's purview]. He wasn't referring to the U.S. government's  the Administration of U.S. President Barack Obama  having illegally taken Ukraine in February 2014, in what one expert called , but instead to Russia's and the Crimean peoples' response to it, which occurred the following month. While building up these forces on and near Russia's borders, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenbergon 15 June 2016, as he presented the excuse for doing that, Allies do not, and will not recognise the illegal and illegitimate annexation of Crimea. And we will continue to call on Russia to stop its destabilisation of Ukraine [which isn't even a member of NATO, and therefore isn't even within NATO's purview]. He wasn't referring to the U.S. government's  the Administration of U.S. President Barack Obama  havingtaken Ukraine in February 2014, in what one expert called the most blatant coup in history , but instead to Russia's and the Crimean peoples' response to it, which occurred the following month.

So, the world is heading toward what would be the biggest war in history, over little Crimea, and on the basis of only false arguments  strained false arguments, whose underlying assumptions cannot even bear to see the light of day.

One might think that this would be the central issue in the U.S. Presidential campaign. However, Americans don't even know about it  and almost all of the few who do know' something about it, misunderstand it. Why is that the case? Why is all of America's political debate focused on gun laws and other issues that even collectively are far less important than this one issue, whose stakes are whether or not a livable planet will end within a few years, or perhaps even within months?

not  or at least not for themselves.) The nuclear winter and mass-starvation following it, will be much slower, but just as final  and far more widespread. Whatever is responsible for this issue's being ignored, could destroy the planet, because it's an essential part of what has been getting us nearer and nearer to where we're now heading  which is heading toward the end. If we're to turn away from the end, then when will that turn happen? Isn't doing that, more and more difficult, the closer we get, to the end? And, if the end is to come, no one will announce it ahead of time: announcing it, would be to nullify effectiveness of the attack that will start the war, which might last from ten minutes to an hour. Basically, every nuclear weapon that's not eliminated within the first ten minutes will be fired, and probably all of the weapons will be gone before the hour is up. It won't be at all like World War II. It will be unprecedentedly brief, and final. (Although some people think or at least not for.) The nuclear winter and mass-starvation following it, will be much slower, but just as final  and far more widespread.

if it's already too late. Thus, this news report is provided, so that at leastsome of the public (and not only the few people, such as Obama and Stoltenberg, and NATO Supreme Commander , who are making the decisions) can understand what's actually happening, and , to graduating West Point cadets, the United States is and remains the one indispensable nation. That has been true for the century passed and it will be true for the century to come. In other words: every other nation is dispensable, only the U.S. is not  and he is determined to dispense with any nation that challenges this. We're heading there, right now. It can be said that we started on this path under U.S. President George Herbert Walker Bush, back in 1990. But now we may be near the end of it. And yet Americans aren't even discussing it. In a Presidential election year, moreover. People don't know about it; so, the government isn't even being challenged on it. At all. This isn't fiction; it is the reality. Practically speaking, a change in direction might already be too late. But at least one can spread the word about the issue that everyone should be (and to have been) talking and thinking and writing about, in precedence above all other public issues  evenit's already too late. Thus, this news report is provided, so that at leastof the public (and notthe few people, such as Obama and Stoltenberg, and NATO Supreme Commander Curtis Scaparrotti , who are making the decisions) can understand what's actually happening, and why . Apparently, for the people at the very top in The West, staying #1 is more important than anything else. Obama said on 28 May 2014 , to graduating West Point cadets, the United States is and remains the one indispensable nation. That has been true for the century passed and it will be true for the century to come. In other words: every other nation is dispensable, only the U.S. is not  and he is determined to dispense with any nation that challenges this. We're heading there, right now. It can be said that weunder U.S. President George Herbert Walker Bush, back in 1990. But now we may be near the end of it. And yet Americans aren't even discussing it. In a Presidential election year, moreover. People don't know about it; so, the government isn't even being challenged on it. At all. This isn't fiction; it is the reality.














As the election is coming up, I thought it would be a a good idea to draw up a Free Press Pledge. No I'm not referring to my paper, rather the concept.

The document, to be given to every politician to sign, would have a number of key points, starting with a promise to talk to a reporter for at least 15 minutes whenever we ring.

This, of course, could be any hour, day or night. If you are not in, then we expect a call back as soon as possible.

There would be an absolute commitment in the pledge to give a straight and honest response to every question. No party political waffle allowed

Failure to sign the pledge or stick to it would lead to names being printed in the paper under the headline "Politicians who do not believe in a free press".

This may be a completely ridiculous scenario but it shows the sort of effect the CRE had when anti-racism campaigners revealed which politicians had not signed up to the pledge to oppose racism at the forthcoming general election.

They must have realised what the consequences would be, that the MPs would be embarrassed at the very least and at the very worst the innuendo would be that they may be racist.

People such as Michael Portillo, who did not sign, are, of course, not racist, but the incident has caused many to look at the Commission for Racial Equality in a more cynical light and in turn the local organisations which are part of it.

You have to ask whether the CRE was simply exploiting the situation as part of a political agenda to increase its profile, regardless of the consequences.

When the three prospective parliamentary candidates for Wycombe met to sign the CRE document at the offices of the Wycombe Racial Equality Council in March, I thought it looked like a good idea.

They put their names to it before the party leaders did it. It wasn't a high profile event and confirmed the principles by which all the candidates stand.

How wrong can you be. The actions of those who revealed the names has seen the spirit of the CRE compact go out the window.

It has led to pathetic mud-slinging rows between the parties in the media and patronising references to Chicken Tikka Masala (Robin Cook will now need more than a voice coach to save his job after the election).

Politicians seem to be happy using the race issue as the political football to kick around at the moment but you can bet all those promises they make in the next few weeks will be forgotten as soon as the election is over.
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NAMI Evansville breakfast support group: Meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Pie Pan. Information: 812-303-7548.

NAMI Connection support group for all mental illness disorders: Meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Mary's Kempf Bipolar Wellness Center, third floor, rehab building. Information: 812-897-1694.

FA (Families Anonymous): a 12-step fellowship for the family and friends of those individuals with drug, alcohol or related behavioral issues. Meetings are at 10 a.m. Saturdays at Methodist Temple, 2109 Lincoln Ave. Use the Kelsey Avenue entrance, second floor. Information: 812-550-5777.

Bereavement support group: Meeting 5:30-7 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month in the large group meeting room, second floor of Central Library, 200 SE MLK Blvd.

Men's bereavement support group: Meeting 9-10:30 a.m. the second Monday of each month in Room 204 at Deaconess VNA Plus, 610 E. Walnut St.

Support group for bipolar/manic-depressive disorder: Meeting 7 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month, Kempf Bipolar Wellness Center, third floor of St. Mary's Rehabilitation Institute, 3700 Washington Ave. Information: 812-485-4934.

Survivors of Suicide support group: Meeting 6:30 p.m. the first and third Monday of each month, Methodist Temple, 2109 Lincoln Ave. Information: Mental Health America at 812-426-2640.

Mending Hearts pregnancy loss support group: Meeting 6:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month, Gift Conference Room, off the lobby of St. Mary's Hospital for Women & Children, 3700 Washington Ave. Information: 812-485-4204.

Men's cancer support group: Meeting 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month, St. Mary's Epworth Crossing Community Conference Room, 100 St. Mary's Epworth Crossing, Newburgh. Information: 812-485-5725.

Stroke support group: Meeting 10 a.m. the fourth Wednesday of each month, St. Mary's Community Education Room at Washington Square Mall, 5011 Washington Ave. Information: 812-485-5607.

ALS support group: Meeting 6:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month, Meeting Room E, Deaconess Gateway Hospital. The support group is for patients, caregivers and survivors who have lost someone to Lou Gehrig's disease.

Women's cancer support group: Meeting 5:30 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of each month, St. Mary's Epworth Crossing Community Conference Room. Information: 812-485-5725.

Pulmonary fibrosis support group: Meeting 4 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month, Room 1420, Deaconess Hospital, 600 Mary St. Information: 812-450-6000 or deaconess.com/calendar.

COPD/asthma support group: Meeting 4 p.m. the fourth Tuesday of each month, Room 1420, Deaconess Hospital, 600 Mary St. Information: 812-450-6000 or deaconess.com/calendar.

Parkinson's support group: Meeting at 5:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month, Room 350, Deaconess Physician Center, 600 Mary St. Information: 812-450-6000 or deaconess.com/calendar.

Tri-State Multiple Sclerosis Association support group meetings: 10 a.m. the second Saturday of each month, Tri-State MS Association Office, 971 S. Kenmore Drive, Evansville (contact Nita Ruxer at 812-479-3544 or Sharon Omer at 270-333-4701); 10 a.m. the fourth Saturday of each month, Gibson General Hospital, fifth floor, first room on the right, 1808 Sherman Drive, Princeton, Indiana (contact Alice Burkhart at 812-782-3735); 11 a.m. the second Tuesday of each month, Twilight Towers, in the cafeteria, 1648 10th St., Tell City (contact Terri Hasty at 812-649-4013 or Gayle Taylor 812-719-2417); 10 a.m. the third Saturday of each month, Daviess Community Hospital, Washington, Indiana (contact Cindy Kalberer at 812-254-6735 or Fran Neal at 812-259-1565); 10 a.m. the first Saturday of each month, Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 2360 Green River Road, Henderson, Kentucky, (contact Meg Burnley at 270-826-9507 or Debbie Whittington at 270-827-8298); 6 p.m. the second Monday of each month, Owensboro Health Healthpark, 1006 Ford Ave., Owensboro, Kentucky; and 11 a.m. the first Saturday of each month, Fairfield Memorial Hospital in the board room of Horizon Clinic, 303 NW 11th St., Fairfield, Illinois (contact Kathie Hill at 618-847-8452).

Compiled by Leah Ward,

leah.ward@courierpress.com.
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By Richard Wolf, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON  Thirteen cases remain to be decided at the Supreme Court this month, but all eyes are on three of them.

With the tumultuous 2015-16 term marked by Justice Antonin Scalia's death winding down, decisions on access to abortion, the use of affirmative action in college admissions, and the fate of millions of undocumented immigrants will determine whether the evenly-divided court tilted liberal or conservative. Other cases still pending before the eight-member court include one that could set a higher bar for public corruption and another that could affect drunk drivers who refuse breath or blood tests.

Last week, the court released six decisions, one of which denied Puerto Rico's effort to restructure more than $20 billion of its $72 billion debt. The justices also ruled that companies doing business with the government can be sued for fraud if they fail to disclose significant legal or regulatory violations.

The court has struggled at times with an even number of justices, prompting several tie votes, some compromise rulings on divisive issues and more caution in granting cases for next term.

Here's a look at the big three cases:

Affirmative action

A former white student's challenge to the University of Texas' use of racial preferences in admissions dates back the longest. The case was heard in early December, after being returned to the Supreme Court for a second go-round. In 2013, the justices demanded tougher judicial scrutiny of the school's use of race, but an appeals court again sided with UT.

Unlike the other cases, this one will be decided by just seven justices, because Justice Elena Kagan has recused herself after working on it as U.S. solicitor general. Without the risk of a tie, advocates and opponents of affirmative action anticipate a ruling for or against the policy  perhaps with repercussions for other universities as well. The betting line tilts slightly against UT.

Abortion

Another case from Texas challenges a state law that imposed major restrictions on abortion clinics, ostensibly to protect women's health. The law requires clinics to meet the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers and forces doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals  rules that threaten to leave only nine fully functioning abortion clinics in a state with 5.4 million women of reproductive age.

Two lower federal courts have upheld the law, but abortion rights proponents say it places too great a burden on women seeking abortions, without a justifiable health benefit. They may have a winning hand if Justice Anthony Kennedy joins the court's four liberals against one or both restrictions. A substantive ruling could represent the most significant abortion decision by the court since 1992.

Immigration

Case number three from Texas is President Obama's effort to overturn lower court rulings that have blocked him from offering more than 4 million undocumented immigrants a chance to remain in the country without fear of deportation. It represents his last chance to help the parents of those brought to the country as children who have already won such a reprieve.

Texas led a group of 26 states against the plan, complaining that it would have to pay for driver's licenses if the parents dodge deportation proceedings. Obama's best chance appears to be the hope that a majority of justices will decide the cost of licenses does not give Texas sufficient standing in court. Otherwise, a 4-4 tie would uphold the verdict of the lower courts, and the program would be dead.
SHARE Craig S. Ray

By Mark Wilson of the Courier and Press

BOONVILLE  An Evansville man will receive an eight-year sentence as part of a plea deal for causing an Oct. 15, 2015, fatal traffic collision in Warrick County.

Craig S. Ray on Monday pleaded guilty to driving while having drugs in his system when his car crossed a median on Indiana 66 and collided with an oncoming van, killing 69-year-old Kenneth Irwin, of Newburgh.

When Warrick Circuit Court Judge Greg Granger asked Ray if he admitted to having methamphetamine and marijuana in his system, Ray replied: "Unfortunately, yes."

Ray, 37, pleaded guilty to causing a death while operating a motor vehicle under the influence of a schedule I or II controlled substance, a level 4 felony.

Several lesser charges were not addressed by the plea agreement, which calls for eight years, with six executed and two on probation.

The plea allows for Ray to apply for Warrick County Drug Court if not accepted into the Indiana Department of Correction's therapeutic community for substance abuse treatment within 18 months of being in prison.

He could have received as much as 12 years in prison. Ray will be sentenced as part of the plea deal at 11 a.m. on Aug. 1.

Toxicology tests on Ray's blood after the wreck showed methamphetamine, opiates and amphetamines in his body, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Ray was driving west on the Lloyd Expressway near Interstate 69 when his 2003 Honda Accord crossed the median and struck Irwin's 2005 Dodge Caravan, according to the crash report.

Irwin, who was extricated from the van by firefighters, suffered internal injuries throughout his body, which caused his death, according to the crash report.

The wreck was reported about 12:30 p.m., about 30 minutes before Ray was to appear in Vanderburgh County court for separate narcotics and forgery cases.

Two witnesses with medical training both said it appeared Ray may have had a seizure, according to police reports.

Ray was unconscious when Warrick deputies arrived, but he later told an investigator that he did not remember what happened, according to the crash report.

A witness who is a registered nurse told investigators that it appeared Ray was having a seizure as his car crossed the median just before striking Irwin's vehicle.

Another witness was driving an ambulance next to Irwin's vehicle at the time of the crash and stopped to help the injured drivers. She also said it appeared Ray may have had seizure before the collision.
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The 48th General Assembly for MedCruise, a group representing Mediterranean ports and stakeholders, is set to take place later this week in Odessa, also marking the 20th anniversary of the organization which was setup in June of 1996 in Rome.

Today, MedCruise has 72 members, representing some 100 ports and 32 associate members and sets the tone for port associations around the world.

The General Assembly will be also a showcase for the hosting port to raise the awareness of the cruise industry in the Ukraine and in Odessa in particular as an economically attractive city with rich historical and cultural heritage and natural-recreational potential," said Mikhail Sokolov, general manager, Odessa Sea Port Authority.

In addition are networking events for ports and cruise line executives; panel discussions with the cruise lines; and a panel bringing together all past MedCruise presidents for a highly anticipated discussion.

"For two decades, hundreds of port professionals responsible for the management, operation and development of cruise ports, as well as business partners and associates, have passionately engaged in the life of the MedCruise family," said Kristijan Pavic, president of MedCruise, and representing the Port of Dubrovnik.

The event is used as a base to bring Mediterranean ports together with cruise lines to talk about everything from shore power to tour offerings, port costs, berth reservation systems and more.

Among the roster of attendees: Marc Berberian, Compagnie du Ponant; Alessandro Carollo, RCCL/ Celebrity/ Azamara; Bruce Krumrine, Holland America Group, Federico Bartoli, Costa Crociere; George Koumpenas, Celestyal Cruises; Luigi Pastena, MSC Cruises; Adam Sharp, Royal Caribbean Cruises; Spyridon Almpertis, Silversea Cruises; and Susanna Illiano, MSC Cruises.
With great power comes great responsibility -- and also a great big target painted on your head. At least, that's the case lately with corporate boards of directors and cybercriminals launching spearphishing attacks.

"Since the beginning of the year we have serviced about 350 different clients that have had spearphishing attacks," said Michael Bruemmer, vice president for data breach resolution at Experian Information Solutions. "About a third were specifically targeted at board members."

Board members get emails asking them for tax information or requesting bank transfers, which they typically forward to the company employee who is responsible and asking them to take care of it.

In addition, they also get phishing emails specifically targeting them as board members.

"We're seeing that the board members are not being prepared for a phishing email or to recognize a social engineering attempt," Bruemmer said.

Clients have reported losses of financial statements, cybersecurity strategy documents and protocols, and intellectual property such as new patents and inventions, and classified documents.

And it's not just spearphishing that's a problem, he added.

"Most board members use personal email accounts to handle board communications so they don't get mixed with the emails from the companies where they work," he said. "These are less secure, and we have seen examples of these accounts having been compromised."

For example, many users have the same login credentials for their email accounts as they do for other websites, he said.

"It's definitely a problem," said Larry Ponemon, chairman and founder at research company Ponemon Institute. "This is a definite area of vulnerability for many organizations. In our research, there were a number of cases where board members shared sensitive or confidential information, usually not maliciously."

Last week, Ponemon released a report about protecting confidential company information.

One company aware of the risks is Orrstown Bank, which has 25 branches in Pennsylvania and Maryland.

"These are all things that we definitely worry about," said Andrew Linn, CISO at the Shippensburg, Pa.,-based Orrstown Bank.

The bank currently provides an Orrstown bank email address to its board members, as well as security training. Over the last few months, the bank has also begun rolling out mobile device management from Good Technology, now owned by Blackberry.

This allows confidential bank data to be isolated from personal data on the directors' devices.

"We have the ability to wipe that container and now have it available to anyone else who might stumble on the device," Linn said.

Board members also get iPads where they can click on an app icon to get access to information, he added.

So far, he said, board members have been understanding about the need for security, but he recommended that the directors be educated about security from a business perspective.

"If you're talking about packets that are dropped at the firewall, their eyes are going to glaze over in seconds," he said. "When you're talking to the board about the importance of protecting information, you need to describe in business terms why it's important, such as the impact on our organization if a document about mergers and acquisitions were to get out."

On the back end, the bank is using IBM Lotus Quickr for sharing content, but is looking for a cloud-based replacement.

"Quickr is not in the cloud, and we don't want to maintain any on-premise solution," Linn said. "And it's essentially an end of life product, and they're not patching it."

But there are other potential benefits to moving to the cloud, as well.

Some vendors, for example, add another level of security to the documents, preventing recipients from forwarding them to unauthorized recipients, such as cybercriminals using clever social engineering tactics.

Diligent, for example, which counts 40 percent of the Fortune 1000 among its clients, allows companies to prevent recipients from forwarding sensitive documents, or even printing them.

"We would not be allowed to bring a tool like Diligent into Barclays unless the security was Fort Knox," said Ross Surace, senior technology partner for head office functions at Barclays Bank, in a statement.

The Diligent platform is primarily used for board member communications, said Diligent CEO Brian Stafford. The company says it has 100,000 users who are directors of corporate boards, half of them based in the U.S.

[ MORE: From start to finish, inside a PayPal Phishing scam ]

In addition to security, ease of use is a top priority, he added.

"The main challenge with implementing board-level security is getting board members to use it," he said.

The system works via a proprietary application that needs to be installed on an iPad, Windows tablet, or a personal computer, which provides secure access to the documents. Android tablets are currently not supported, but that will change by the end of this year.

Recipients who don't have the app installed, or need to access a document from a different device, can also get to it on the web.

The application also highlights the changes in documents that have been revised, said Stafford. Documents can be uploaded in any common format, including Excel and Word, and are converted to a proprietary version of PDF.

If the tablet or laptop is stolen, the documents can be wiped remotely. On a laptop, there is also a time-out period after which the application will request a login and password.

"Board members, who are 65 years old on average, are less tech savvy than some younger folks," he said. "Combine that with sophisticated phishing attacks and other hacks, and you've got a situation where more security is definitely required. Even the most tech savvy people are not immune to hacks, let alone someone using a free email provider from the 1990s."

Stafford said that his company has analyzed the email platforms used by corporate board members, and found that 21 percent of directors in the U.S. use free consumer email service providers, with Google's Gmail the most popular, followed by AOL and then Yahoo.

Those board members who don't use free public email will often use email accounts from the companies where they work, he added.
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Hearst Connecticut Media Group announced its intention to sell buildings in Bridgeport and Danbury, though it plans to maintain a local editorial and advertising presence in both communities.

The buildings, at 410 State St. in Bridgeport and 333 Main St. in Danbury, are home to the Connecticut Post and The News-Times, respectively.
The charter school movement  backstopped by a billionaire club that includes Michael Bloomberg, Paul Tudor Jones and Ray Dalio  wants to put its stamp on the Legislature in Connecticut.

CT Forward, a newly launched nonprofit advocacy group, will survey House and Senate candidates across the state on their support for public charter schools. The litmus test will determine which candidates receive financial and grassroots support from the groups dues-paying members, who will be made up heavily of parents.

Families for Excellent Schools, which has wrangled with Bridgeport administrators over education reform, is behind the election-year initiative.

That struggle has lots of allies and lots of adversaries, and it will continue until every kid in the state has access to the education that they deserve, said Jeremiah Kittredge, the CEO and co-founder of Families for Excellent Schools. I actually think the biggest adversary here is the struggle of time.

Connecticut has 24 charter schools, with five in the states largest city, Bridgeport, enrolling 2,350 students. There are three charter schools in Stamford and one in Norwalk.

New York City, on the other hand, added about 180 charter schools during Bloombergs tenure as mayor. Bloombergs former press secretary , Stu Loeser, runs the public relations and media consulting firm hired by Families for Excellent Schools.

In Bridgeport, FES successfully fought a proposed moratorium on charter schools in 2015. Some skeptics still view the push for public charter schools as a step toward privatization by wealthy outsiders, however.

Claudia Phillips, a parent leader in the Bridgeport chapter of FES, said its high time the charter school movement becomes a player in legislative races.

This is about choice for families, Phillips said. Parents are left with no choice.

Phillips 14-year-old son attends Achievement First Bridgeport Academy Middle School. Because there is no charter high school in the city, he will join his 16-year-old twin sisters taking the bus to Amistad Academy in New Haven.

They have to be up by 5 oclock in the morning, Phillips said. We do what we have to do. Its sad.

State Rep. Patricia Billie Miller, D-Stamford, took a more agnostic approach on charter schools, saying she helped secure funding for the Stamford Charter School of Excellence that opened in 2015. She also visited the Bronx, N.Y., school that it is modeled after, but said she doesnt consider herself a proponent of charter schools.

Im a proponent of what works to educate a child so they may be successful in life, Miller said. So I will not be seeking endorsements from this organization. There are good charter schools and there are bad charter schools. There are good traditional public schools and there are bad schools.

There is no connection between CT Forward and a super PAC that went by the same name and supported Gov. Dannel P. Malloys 2014 re-election.

For a $10 initiation fee, members of the group will have access to a private website with information on lawmakers records and links to contribute to specific candidates.

We view it as a critical new tool, Kittredge said.

Kittredge stopped short of singling out foes in the education debate, which has frequently pitted charter school advocates against teacher unions such as AFT Connecticut, which represents 10,000 teachers, paraeducators and education support personnel in local and regional schools in the state.

The vast majority of Connecticut children attend traditional neighborhood public schools, said Jan Hochadel, the unions president. State lawmakers and the governor must not lose sight of this fact  no matter how much money charter management organizations and their lobbyists spend to push their agenda.

For giants of the hedge fund industry such as Jones and Dalio, both Greenwich residents, charter schools have become a favorite cause. Each has contributed to Families for Excellent Schools, which reported $17.6 million in contributions and grants for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2015, to the IRS. Kittredges compensation was $222,297 for that time period, more than Connecticuts state education commissioner and New York Citys schools chancellor.
Could it be that the most recent gun atrocity, the Orlando nightclub slaughter, has pushed the weight of the gun safety debate to the point that the load is going to tip toward rational reform?

If so, we may someday invoke the date June 20, 2016, as a day that reasonable voices took control of the matter.

The day began on an up note when the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear a challenge to Connecticuts law that bans certain semi-automatic rifles.

The legislature issued the ban in 2013 after the December 2012 slaughter at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The shooter, a deranged 20-year-old, used a Bushmaster XM-15 semi-automatic rifle to kill 20 first-graders and six educators. And the Supreme Courts decision not to take up the case brought by gun advocates, is at least tacit acknowledgment of Connecticuts  and other governmental entities  right to restrict gun ownership.

In Bridgeport, Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis presided over a hearing in a suit brought by families of Sandy Hook Elementary School victims against the manufacturer of the semi-automatic rifle used in the Sandy Hook shootings.

Their claim is that the Bushmaster, a semi-automatic cousin of the M-16 that was the preferred military rifle in the Viet Nam era, has no business in the hands of civilians.

Gunmakers argue they are shielded from lawsuits by a 2005 law, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. First of all, there should be no such blanket immunity from liability for any industry, and Judge Bellis saw it that way in April when she ruled that the suit could move forward.

And the senate was to vote Monday on four common sense measures:

A Democrat-backed ban on gun sales to a person who has been on a terrorist watch list any time in the last five years. It would also expand the authorities ability to black a gun sale based on reasonable belief  a more flexible condition than probable cause  that the purchaser intends to commit terrorism.

A proposal made by our own Chris Murphy, D-Conn., that would eliminate the so-called gun show loophole, and requiring a background check for any prospective gun purchaser.

A GOP-backed proposal that modifies the ban on sales to people on the terrorist watch list. This one would require that law enforcement be notified if a person on the watch list tries to buy a gun, and sale could be delayed for up to three days while a court decides.

A Republican proposal that would clarify the definition of the term mentally deficient and let a person challenge that determination.

The gun violence that has befallen us in the 21st century is the foul sludge from a stew of mental illness, anger, radical Islamic incitement, terrorism and any other number of toxic ingredients. But among the ingredients, for sure, are the weapon that can kill with chilling efficiency. We have to get them under control.
Cuba and Portugal hold exchanges on environmental issues

The governments of Cuba and Portugal agreed in Lisbon on the need to develop joint actions to strengthen exchanges in environmental matters, reported Prensa Latina.

Progress on these issues was the objective of the meeting held between Joao Matos, Portuguese Environment Minister, and Cuban ambassador to Lisbon, Johana Tablada.

Tablada explained to Matos Cubas experience in international cooperation, especially with the Caribbean, with scientific studies on multiple issues and coastal rehabilitation works acknowledged in the world.

The ambassador expressed the willingness of the Cuban nation to strengthen partnerships to address environmental challenges, especially those facing small island states.

Matos stressed that Portugal has an important development in scientific work to address climate changes, including prestigious measurement systems and environmental studies.

source: www.cibercuba.com
STORY LINK Pound Sterling (GBP) Forecast Mixed on Brexit News Today

French Economy Minister Warns that a Brexit would mean the 'Guernseyfication' of the UK'

IMF Warns that a UK Exit from the EU is the Largest Near-Term Risk.



Elsewhere, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has described the potential for an EU / UK split as the, largest near-term risk, to the domestic economy. The IMFs annual report on the state of the British financial system also forecast that UK domestic economic activity could be almost 6% lower than it would otherwise have been should UK voters opt to Leave the EU on Thursday.



The upshot of the weekend commentary has seen the implied percentage chance of a vote for Brexit on leading betting exchange Betfair (PPB.L) tumble from over 45% earlier this month to a relatively lowly 28% chance early yesterday. Analysts forecast that the Pound Sterling (currency : GBP) will record gains during todays session as a result.





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The UK currency has managed a second day of positivity, though this has been marred by close polling data from Survation.Sterling has soared today, thanks to the fact that the 'In' vote has appeared to be a more likely outcome in the polls.As we head into the final week of the UKs long-running EU Membership Referendum race, Frances economy minister Emmanuel Macron has weighed into the debate.The Gallic money man issued a stark warning to his nations press over the weekend, forecasting that a vote for Brexit on Thursday would reduce Britains significance on the world stage to that of Guernsey. The weekend newspaper interview saw the economy minister forecast that a vote for Brexit, would mean the 'Guernseyfication' of the UK, which would then be a little country on the world scale. It would isolate itself and become a trading post and arbitration place at Europe's border.Macron went on to paint a bleak picture of the nations future standing in the event of a Leave decision, stating that, if the UK wants a treaty of commercial access to the European market, the British will have to contribute to the European budget like the Norwegians or the Swiss. If London doesn't want that, then the exit will have to be total.Macron went on to suggest that, even if the UK votes Remain on Thursday, the European project has been fundamentally damaged. The French finmin asserted that, I believe in Europe, but in its reorganisation, before going on to posit that, it's the end of an ultra-liberal Europe that has lost its political direction. The European project cannot only be a system of abolishing rules.

International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements.

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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 roux, according to chef and spice-master Pernell Stewart.
"The government could support the Kola Backbone Zone by approving special prices for surplus electricity," Murmansk Region Governor Marina Kovtun said at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on June 18.

"The Murmansk Region produces over 300 MW of surplus electricity, which could be sold on the wholesale market at reduced prices. Special pricing terms for surplus electricity could reduce the end price for users, thereby bolstering the efficiency policies of existing companies and new high value-added facilities. I suggest approving such pricing terms within the framework of government support for backbone zones," Ms. Kovtun said as quoted on the official website of the Murmansk Region government.

According to the regional authorities, energy-intensive mining companies, which could form the basis of the Kola Backbone Zone, account for 80 percent of electricity consumed by local businesses. Taken together with the electricity transfer fee, sales markups by default providers and other payments, the end price could vary between 2 rubles per kWh (excluding VAT) for large consumers and 4.5 rubles per kWh (excluding VAT) for small and medium enterprises.
After war service as a commando in New Guinea, which included operating behind Japanese lines on the mainland and being attached to the American marines who landed in New Britain, Hal used his Army demobilisation grant to earn a Diploma of Art at East Sydney Technical College.

He was a prodigiously talented artist and sculptor who devoted much of his life - and his art - to Papua New Guinea; his achievements including the design of the national crest and major influence in the design of the PNG flag.

HAL Holman, who was awarded significant honours by the governments of both Australia and Papua New Guinea, has died on the Gold Coast aged 93.

Soon after he travelled to India and spent three years as art director for the Advertising Corporation of India in Calcutta, Madras and Bombay.

Upon returning to Sydney, Hal worked for six years in the film industry: designing sets and working as an animator on 13 short films.

During these years he began portrait painting and created a number of murals including four at the Shoal Bay Country Club Hotel in NSW  which, upon its old building being demolished in 2008, commissioned him to recreate them for the new hotel.

Hal moved to Port Moresby in the early 1960s, initially employed as an illustrator in the Department of Education, where he and I worked together for the first time  Hal designing and drawing, me writing and editing.

He was promoted to the position of Senior Artist for the PNG Administration, in which role he designed the national crest and was influential in the design of the national flag.

He also designed, drew and illustrated innumerable maps, posters, pamphlets and publications while continuing to produce portraits and other works, his paintings of birds of paradise and other PNG creatures were especially striking.

During this time he also designed the uniforms for the Royal PNG Constabulary Band.

After leaving PNG just before independence in 1975, Hal turned his attention to sculpture, but continued to return regularly to PNG to work on a range of artistic assignments.

From the 1980s until the early 2000s, his output included a one-tonne metal national crest for the supreme court building, bronzes of six PNG prime ministers, a bust of Queen Elizabeth II and many examples of public sculpture including a magnificent fountain near parliament house.

He also worked on many commissions in Australia and his public artwork  including sculptures, fountains, fences and other built design  abounds in Sydney and the Gold Coast, including the famous mermaid at Mermaid Beach in Queensland, pictured above.

In 2004, Hal and I were awarded Orders of Australia on the same day at Government House in Sydney.

And in 2009, in the company of his family and mates, Hal was formally invested into one of PNGs highest awards, Officer of the Order of Logohu, by High Commissioner Charles Lepani.

Hal and I began working together in 1966 and we enjoyed a fine friendship over the following 50 years.

Hal is survived by his wife Jo, son David and daughter Lisa.

So very well done, my dear friend, so very well done.

Middle photo: One of the last pictures of Hal taken recently with son David and grand-daughter Carla and his sculpted mermaid at Mermaid Beach. Lower: Ingrid, Hal and me in 2014
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.
You didnt have to know  or even know of Jo Cox this remarkable mother of two little children to be filled with a sense of overwhelming horror at her death

There are some things you feel you ought to read but would much rather not. I am talking about the eyewitness accounts in this and other newspapers of the killing of the 41-year-old Labour MP Jo Cox.

You didnt have to know  or even know of  this remarkable mother of two little children to be filled with a sense of overwhelming horror.

The reports described how her alleged assailant stabbed her repeatedly with a knife, then pulled out a gun, shot her three times at point-blank range and, after that, once again plunged his knife repetitively into the dying MP while shouting Put Britain First.

Was this a political act? The frenzy of a madman? Both? That will be for the courts to decide, when in a few months 52-year-old Tommy Mair appears before a judge and jury.

Yet some have already wrapped up the case to their satisfaction. The Conservative MEP Charles Tannock, within hours of Jo Coxs death, wrote on Twitter that she had been seemingly murdered merely for being pro-EU. Mr Tannock, it may be pertinent to point out, has been campaigning to persuade us to vote to remain a member of the EU  as the immensely popular Jo Cox had been.

I can well understand his anger at such a tragedy, but if I were Mr Tannock I would not wish to run the risk of appearing the sort of man who would use the killing of a colleague for short-term political advantage: the ballot is only days away.

There is not only the appearance of such behaviour, but the fact of it, among some Labour figures in the Remain campaign.

Alastair Campbell, Tony Blairs former spin-doctor-in-chief, picked up immediately on the report that the alleged killer of Jo Cox gave his name to Westminster Magistrates Court as Death to traitors, freedom for Britain. Campbell tweeted: The freedom Britain needs is freedom from a nasty Brexit Lie Machine run by tax dodgers and multimillionaire liars fuelling anger and hate.

To be fair, Campbell did not, unlike some others on his side of the debate, claim that the campaigners for Brexit were in some way personally implicated in Jo Coxs unspeakably cruel death. But, be under no illusion, those in the thick of this campaign, on both sides, will have been discussing this personal tragedy for Jo Coxs family in purely political terms.

A friend of mine told me on Saturday how a Labour pro-Remain figure said to him quite matter-of-factly: This will play well for us.

If there is a genuine issue of public policy on which we might reflect in the wake of Jo Coxs death, it is the lamentable state of the NHSs provision for the mentally ill

I can only imagine what this might involve, in terms of how Labour voters who had hitherto been unreceptive to the party line, are canvassed over the last few days of the campaign.

But I suspect that the overwhelming majority of British people, when it comes to their decision in the ballot box this Thursday, will be trying their hardest to consider what is in the long-term interests of the country as whole, and of their own families in particular.

And they might not take too kindly to any canvasser who tries to use the dreadful death of an exceptional woman for the purpose of winning their vote.

It has been reported that Jo Coxs alleged killer Thomas Mair, went to a clinic to seek help for his long-term mental health problems on the night before the death of the Batley and Spen MP

If there is a genuine issue of public policy on which we might reflect in the wake of Jo Coxs death, it is the lamentable state of the NHSs provision for the mentally ill. Ever since the medical and political establishment became converted to the idea that we should empty the old Victorian asylums and provide care in the community for the severely mentally disturbed, the public has been at increased risk.

I am not criticising the idea behind that policy, which was to try to normalise the mentally ill as much as possible and to give them a chance to lead free lives like the rest of us.

But there have been some tragic consequences from that enlightened approach  pioneered by the late Enoch Powell, when he was minister for health and later dubbed by some as the Father of Community Care.

Paranoid schizophrenics, for example, can cope in the community if they stick rigorously to the drugs they have been prescribed by their doctors. But not all of them do so, and this has proved very hard to invigilate.

The most notorious of these cases was that of Christopher Clunis, who in 1992 murdered a complete stranger, Jonathan Zito, on the platform of Finsbury Park Tube station in North London. Clunis had stopped taking his medication, a fact which was later blamed in an official inquiry on all those involved in his care.

But their job is hardly an easy one, given that they are dealing not with one such person, but very many disturbed individuals in the community.

Some do that difficult job much less well than others. For example, between 2010 and 2012 patients of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust killed no fewer than 13 people.

These figures came out after 16-year-old Christina Edkins was stabbed to death on a bus by Phillip Simelane in March 2013. Simelane had been a patient of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Trust during a period in prison.

He was released without any plan in place for his treatment, or any monitoring, even though more than one psychiatrist had argued that Simelane required very close attention.

Alastair Campbell, pictured, Tony Blairs former spin-doctor-in-chief, picked up immediately on the report that the alleged killer of Jo Cox gave his name to Westminster Magistrates Court as Death to traitors, freedom for Britain

Three months later, he murdered Miss Edkins, apparently at random. She was just one of the average 32 murders a year committed by diagnosed schizophrenics (that figure comes from Manchester University, which has been funded by the NHS to investigate this matter).

Indeed, funding is part of the problem. Mental health is very much the poor relation in the NHSs budget: less than 12 per cent of it is spent on diseases of the mind. Given the growing problems of mental instability  for whatever reason  that proportion is clearly too small.

And the consequences of lack of care include an increase in what we can term self-murder, often by the young: suicides in England are now rising, after years of decline.

It has been reported that Jo Coxs alleged killer went to a clinic to seek help for his long-term mental health problems on the night before the death of the Batley and Spen MP. He was told to come back the next day. He didnt. Something else happened.

Cameron the chameleon

Last week, David Cameron was asked to compare his feelings about the referendum campaign on the UKs future in or out of the EU with those he had in 2013 over whether Scotland should remain part of Great Britain. The Prime Minister replied: I feel equally passionate about this.

Now thats a bit odd. Because in September 2014, Cameron told a different group of journalists that he would not be heartbroken if Britain left the EU and that I feel about a thousand times more strongly about our United Kingdom than I do about the European Union.

But then Cameron is always saying hes passionate about something and then deciding that he isnt  or vice versa. For example, during this campaign, he has pooh-poohed the notion of Turkey being admitted to the EU. But six years ago he told Turkish journalists: I will remain your strongest possible advocate for EU membership. This is something I feel very strongly, very passionately about.

Whatever Cameron says now, he will resign if the referendum goes against him and will take it as a personal rejection

Cameron now feels very passionately that Britain faces economic disaster  and Europe the prospect of war  if the UK should leave the EU. But those who know him tell me these are opinions he had never remotely held until the referendum debate began.

So why does he make such extreme claims now? As one of his confidantes put it to me: Hes extraordinarily competitive. Once hes decided what side hes backing, he just wants to win and will say whatever he thinks will achieve that. Well, he wouldnt be the first politician of whom that could be said.

I think its also a question of ego. Whatever anyone else might think, the PM was very proud of what he gained in his renegotiation in Brussels. You can tell this by the fact that at every opportunity he refers to it as my renegotiation. Last week, he told The Times that, historically, trade deals within the EU have British fingerprints over them and the most recent are mine, following my renegotiation.
The vital issue of mass immigration  which the Prime Minister and the rest of the Remain camp have been so desperate to avoid discussing throughout the referendum campaign  exploded on to centre stage last night during an extraordinary television debate.

And if David Cameron had any previous doubts over how passionately the British people feel about the baleful consequences of our open door policy to migrants from inside the EU, they were thoroughly and vociferously dispelled.

Time and again in the BBC studio, he tried to bring the debate back to his favourite subject of the economy and apocalyptic predictions of how family incomes would plummet, jobs would disappear and our exports would collapse if we were to vote Leave.

If David Cameron had any previous doubts over how passionately the British people feel about the baleful consequences of our open door policy to migrants from inside the EU, they were thoroughly and vociferously dispelled last night

But the audience was having none of it. They made clear that even if the Treasurys dubious forecasts were to be believed (a very big if for most of them) there were other things at stake  little things like democracy, accountability and, of course, border control.

Mr Cameron was subjected to a fusillade of awkward questions.

Why did he make a manifesto pledge to cut migration to the tens of thousands when he knew he couldnt possibly deliver? Why did he call the referendum at all if he felt so vehemently that leaving would be so catastrophic? Why should he believe the EU will honour its commitments over restricting migrant benefits? How will he prevent the NHS and other services being overwhelmed if unfettered free movement continues?

Perhaps the unkindest cut was when one man called him a 21st century Neville Chamberlain, hailing an agreement with a dictatorship that would soon be overruled. The Prime Minister, normally an assured and unflappable public speaker was visibly shaken by this demonstration of democracy in action. But doesnt he have only himself to blame?

The Remain camp has relied on an unremittingly negative message across this campaign, talking down Britains ability to survive outside the EU and talking up the supposedly dire consequences of leaving.

The Remain camp has relied on an unremittingly negative message across this campaign, talking down Britains ability to survive outside the EU

But the British people are not easily intimidated and although a TV debate is hardly definitive, last night suggested that blatant scaremongering simply doesnt wash with them.

They know Britain was a proud, independent trading nation for centuries before the EU was ever thought of. Is it really impossible that we could be one again?

There are just three days left for Mr Cameron to make the positive case for staying in the EU. If he doesnt, many voters may conclude that the case is simply too weak to sell.

A measured debate?

For all their entreaties to Brexit supporters to tone down the rhetoric following the appalling and utterly senseless killing of MP Jo Cox, it was the Remain campaigners who resumed hostilities with a vengeance yesterday.

Within hours of the truce agreed after the murder expiring, Chancellor George Osborne was on the TV sofas stoking up Project Fear with new warnings of economic meltdown if we leave the EU.

Chancellor George Osborne was on the TV sofas stoking up Project Fear with new warnings of economic meltdown if we leave the EU.

Meanwhile his fellow Remainer Alastair Campbell, who just days ago urged both sides to do less shouting and more thinking, ranted on about the nasty Brexit Lie Machine run by tax dodgers and multi-millionaire liars.

This, by the way, from the man who  as Tony Blairs chief spin doctor  did more than anyone in recent times to poison the wells of civilised political debate, with his negative briefings, misinformation and sneering bully-boy tactics.
These dogs are sure to put a smile on your face with their toothy grins and excited expressions.

After a photo of a smiling dog went viral, other dog owners have been inspired to share snaps of their happy looking pooches.

The picture of a jolly looking dog named Logan, believed to be a Golden Retriever, was sent into the Today show weekend edition with the caption 'Here's the happiest dog we've ever seen!' and has since been liked over 5,000 times.

Happy: Dog owners have shared pictures of their happy dogs after this photo of Logan went viral

Adorably silly: A Burmese Mountain Dog named Humphrey lying on his back was photographed by his owner with his tongue out the side

Cheese: This cute little poodle shows off his toothy grin in a photo taken by his owner

This encouraged other dog owners to share images of their canine pals showing off their big smiles.

One owner shared a picture of their adorably goofy Burmese Mountain Dog called Humphrey lying on his back with his tongue sticking out the side.

Another owner shared a picture of their little black poodle lying back and showing off its toothy grin.

Pearly whites: The owner of this dog, Shona Minty, says that he's pretty happy too!'

Smile: This dog owner has photographed the cheerful toothy smile on their dog's face

Happy puppy: Hudson the cute poodle with chocolate coloured fur photographed smiling in his little bow tie

A Facebook user posted a picture of her furry dog's pearly whites along with a comment comparing her dog's smile to Logan's, saying: 'Oh I don't know, my boys smile might be bigger.'

A picture of Labrador Miss Rosie lying on her back with her pointy ears flapped back was posted by her owner who said the she was 'pretty happy too!'

The owner of Hudson, an adorable chocolate-coloured poodle, shared a picture of him smiling in a cute little green bow tie.

Double chin grin: A man has captured the moment his mate's parent's adorable pooch had a very happy expression on his face

Sly smile: The jolly canine pictured by his owner shows off his happy expression

Open wide smile: This Pitbull hanging by the side of the window with a big happy smile

Two different dogs have been photographed lying down with a funny smile and a cute double chin by their respective owners.

While a Pitbull was pictured leaning up on the windowsill with its eyes closed and a wide open-mouth smile.
Ms Deveny has taken to Twitter to share her outrage and frustration

However, on Monday the post was re-instated - it was then banned again

The status was regarding the causes of violence - she said they are 'men'

Australian comedienne, Catherine Deveny, was banned from Facebook over the weekend after she wrote a status update on her public page about the causes of violence.

'Here are the top ten causes of violence,' she wrote.

'1. Men 2. Men 3. Men 4. Men 5. Men 6. Men 7. Men 8. Men 9. Men 10. Men.'

According to Facebook her post breached their 'community standards' and resulted in a 30-day ban from the site.

She appealed to the social media site to be re-instated, but Ms Deveny was then banned again when she re-posted the original status update alongside a comment about her victory.

Controversial statement: Australian comedienne, Catherine Deveny (pictured), faced a ban from Facebook over the weekend because something she wrote breached Facebook's 'community standards'

Banned post: Her post (pictured) was promptly banned by the social media site, and Ms Deveny was banned from Facebook for 30 days

Ms Deveny received a message from Facebook over the weekend that read: 'We removed the post below because it doesn't follow the Facebook community standards'.

The controversial update promptly disappeared from her page as the ban ensued.

Following the incident, the comedienne took to Twitter to complain about the ban.

She tweeted: 'Hey I've been booted off @facebook for 30 days for saying the top ten causes of violence are men. I'm protesting on the grounds of truth.'

Incriminating message: As the post was deleted, Ms Deveny received a Facebook message that said: 'We removed the post below because it doesn't follow the Facebook community standards'

Grounds of truth: Following the incident, the comedienne took to Twitter to complain about Facebook's behaviour - she explained 'I'm protesting on the grounds of truth'

Her Twitter post was then re-tweeted more than 100 times, and liked nearly 200 times, with other people rushing to Ms Deveny's defence on the grounds that jokes about rape and beating women are constantly allowed through Facebook's filters.

Feminist writer, Clementine Ford, shared the story on her Facebook page on Monday highlighting the hypocrisy of the system.

She's back: On Monday, Ms Deveny was allowed back onto Facebook by the site, where she wrote the above post to double check she could update her status again

Banned again: As the post was re-instated by Facebook, Ms Deveny wrote the above message - which then proceeded to be deleted by Facebook AGAIN

When Ms Deveny's post was re-instated by Facebook on Monday, and she re-shared her earlier feelings alongside the Facebook caption: 'You'll be delighted to know the post has reappeared [sic] on my timeline. A bit of a win for all. Thanks comrades', the post was deleted again for breaching Facebook's community standards.

Once again Ms Deveny returned to Twitter where she posted:

'Dear @facebook, you banned me for 30 days on Sunday, lifted the ban, put the post back up and then banned me again for reposting it WTF? [sic].'

Confusion: The comedienne once more took to Twitter, where she made the above update, highlighting how confused she was by the double ban

No win: The ban on the second post is still due to be lifted - meanwhile on Twitter, the debate continues to rage, as hundreds of people have leapt to Ms Deveny's (pictured on left) defence

At present her second ban t is yet to be lifted.

On Twitter the debate continues to rage with hundreds of people coming to the comedienne's defence.

'Meanwhile I reported a video of a woman being beaten by a man with a belt and THAT didn't breach their standards @facebook, [sic]' one user posted on Twitter, which Ms Deveny then re-tweeted.
Her honest, un-filtered posts have won her legions of fans on social media

These snaps encompass everything from spaghetti to burnt sausages

She regularly shares pictures of her dinner fails on Instagram

Everyone has a go-to meal when they can't be bothered to cook.

From baked beans on toast to scrambled eggs and ready meals, most are pure comfort foods designed to be made, eaten and cleared away in a matter of minutes.

These un-artfully-created meals aren't usually posted on Instagram.

That is, unless you're the Australian journalist and TV personality, Jessica Rowe, who regularly and proudly shares honest captions of her so-called 'crap housewife' dinner fails on the social media site.

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Dream mum: Journalist and TV presenter, Jessica Rowe (pictured) is mum to two girls (left) - she has built up a large following on Instagram

Carefully un-curated: People follow Ms Rowe for her realistic, un-filtered dinners like this canned spaghetti - Ms Rowe calls herself a 'crap housewife'

Fan base: People love Ms Rowe for her often burnt or soggy meals, such as these sausages

Most recently, on Sunday night, Ms Rowe posted a picture of canned spaghetti in a pot on the hob, captioning the post:

'And today is Sunday! Sunday is canned spag on toast!! #yummo #craphousewife'.

Hundreds of people liked the post, often commenting: 'You are the funniest', and 'Master Chef'.

Master chef: Ms Rowe's posts represent the antithesis of regular #foodporn snaps shared on Instagram

Un-filtered: Jessica Rowe is hugely successful, but like many busy mothers, she doesn't always have the time to prepare a culinary feast

Regular brand: Every time she posts, Ms Rowe's pictures will be accompanied by a 'cr#p housewife' hashtag

However, this isn't the only soggy, poor culinary effort Ms Rowe has shared with the public on Instagram.

The journalist and mum has made a name for herself for sharing realistic, un-filtered snaps of regular weeknight and weekday dinners she makes for her family.

'Today is Wednesday... Wednesday is baked beans!! #cr*phousewife', she writes on one photo.

'Today is Friday... Friday is pizza!! #hooray! #cr*phousewife,' Ms Rowe accompanies another picture of takeaway pizza and white wine.

Easy dinner: 'Today is Friday... Friday is pizza!! #hooray! #cr*phousewife,' Ms Rowe accompanies one picture

Tasty too: While some of her dinners look tasty, others fall into the 'fail' category

Quick and delicious: Her pictures, like this pasta, often reflect the reality for many parents

Happy life: Ms Rowe is married to the Australian TV journalist Peter Overton

Basic food: Some of her dinners are extremely basic, like this meal of baked beans

Ms Rowe's '#cr*phousewife' posts - from burnt sausages to instant rice - have gained her an entire legion of social media fans, who love her for representing the antithesis of #foodporn on Instagram.

At present, she has 28,000 followers.

Though she is glamorous, professional and evidently a capable mother of two girls - Allegro, 8, and Giselle, 6 - Ms Rowe is evidently much like many home cook mums - time poor, busy and sometimes lazy when it comes to the family's dinner.
Then many Papua New Guineans became unhappy with the Grand Chiefs prolonged absence when he was hospitalised in Singapore.

The people were frustrated with Somares children and some handpicked ministers, called the kitchen cabinet, who were dominating all decisions of the executive.

The father of the nation, Michael Thomas Somare, had his cold days. Between 2002 and 2011 his government was engulfed in rumours of widespread corruption and nepotism.

THE best ever PM the country has ever had since independence, claimed a commentator to PNG Attitude. The majority of us Papua New Guineans thinks otherwise.

His illness facilitated the 2011 political impasse which allowed Peter ONeill to ascend to the top post supported ably by ex-defence force officer and Vanimo Green MP, Belden Nema.

This was interpreted by many people as unconstitutional and a coup. However, due to its prolonged dissatisfaction with the Somare government, the public generally supported the change.

After the 2012 election, ONeill became prime minister of the coalition government. Subsequently, during his current term in parliament, corruption, scandal and deceit reached levels never seen in the history of this country.

The ONeill government has been accused of rendering irrelevant the institutions of parliamentary democracy and, because of this, it seems his government might be immovable.

It has even tampered with the national constitution to bolster its position by making it difficult for the opposition to move a motion of no confidence. The opposition has attempted such a vote four times without success.

ONeill appointed a commander of the defence force from his own district of Ialibu-Pangia and currently there are accusations that 70% of the new recruits into the army are from that relatively small part of PNG.

So far he has appointed three police commissioners (hes big on the hire and fire) and one is in gaol. And he has appointed cohorts to other key agencies including the central bank. He has the backing of and is prayed to by prominent Pentecostal Christian pastors.

He disbanded Investigation Task Force Sweep, an anti-corruption unit he set up to investigate corruption in government agencies. When the team began investigating him, ONeill quickly trashed a unit that had just been too effective.

When Sweep got a court order to remain in business, ONeill countered this by cutting off its funding. Chairman Sam Koim worked for a year without pay but that couldnt go on forever.

Among the issues that form the shadowy picture of Peter ONeill are the National Provident Fund rip-off, the Paul Paraka K71.8 million fee saga, the K3 billion UBS loan, the K144 million LR Group Generators deal, the expropriation of Ok Tedi, and tendering issues around the K2 billion Pacific Games and the K160 million Kumul fly-over.

Not one of these matters satisfactorily answered.

These are far too many issues for any one politician and in any democracy. A prime minister presiding over such controversies in any democratic country have listened to the voices of the people and stepped aside. But not PNGs Peter ONeill.

Many times ONeill has been accused of not telling the truth on important national issues. For example his words on the so-called forward fixed sales contract for PNG LNG sales. He also told the nation that revenue from PNG LNG would not be affected by the oil price slump. Then he said the PNG LNG revenues were kept safe in a trust account in the central bank.

It was revealed later that the money has been directed into an escrow account in Singapore to service the K3 billion UBS loan.

These deceits and intimations of corruption have created a major and continuing public outcry in PNG such as we have never seen before. Many Papua New Guineans are demanding ONeills resignation.

Since 2012, Peter ONeill has come up with two policies - free education and free health care, both now in serious trouble  but there has been a consistent let down in strategic vision and planning. Plans are talked up and unfailingly fall apart in implementation.

Much education and health funding goes missing and is not reaching the intended population. For example, at the end of 2015 and in 2016, schools were complaining that their tuition free fee components were not received. Also budgeted funds for health programs in the provinces were also not fully received in 2015 and 2016.

On 8 June 2016, a highly trained group of the PNG police, the Special Services Unit, fired on a peaceful protest by students of the University of PNG. More than 30 casualties resulted and two are reportedly still fighting for their lives at Port Moresby General Hospital.

The prime minister and his coalition using their numerical strength to suspend parliament in the very same hour students were being shot.

A few minutes prior to the move for adjournment, ONeill accused the students of inciting trouble and played down the issue. Some MPs even yelled, Ol husa!? (a contemptuous Who are they?), referring to the students.

The police commissioner also blamed the students as instigators and said the police had a constitutional duty to protect people and property. So they can shoot live bullets into a crowd of peaceful and nonviolent students?

Condemnations of the shooting poured in from all over the world including the United Nations. O'Neill and commissioner Baki didnt care.

I would hardly call prime minister Peter Charles Paire ONeill the best ever PM the country has ever had since independence.

In reality, most Papua New Guineans regard him as our worst prime minister ever.
You can now express your emotions just like a cat thanks to these quirky new accessories.

Online retailer ThinkGeek, based in Virginia, have launched their new creations: the Twitchy Kitty electronic cat tail and cat ears - and yes, it moves just like a real cat.

With the Twitchy Kitty products cat lovers can now dress up like their cat and emote just like them with their ears and tail.

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Purrr-fect: ThinkGeek have made Twitchy Kitty ears and tail that can express the same body language as a cat

Both the tail and the ears, available on the ThinkGeek website, are based on the way cats use their body to communicate.

The products are aimed at cosplayers, also known as costume players, or for people looking for the perfect outfit for Halloween or a dress up party.

The electronic tail, retailing at $35 (USD), is controlled by an on and off switch.

It can be clipped on to the waistband of your pants and has life like cat movements.

Business cat: In an amusing video, this office worker demonstrates the feline look at the office

Does my tail look big in this: The Twitchy Kitty tail can be fitted on the back part of the waistband of your pants, while the ears are worn as a headband

According to their website, a cat swishing their tail can mean a few things, for example: 'Leave me alone. I'm trying to sleep here', 'OMG! What is that?! I need it! (frequently followed by *pounce*)or 'you. Are about to feel my wrath'.

The animated kitty ears, being sold at $30 (USD), can be worn on the head like a headband.

Controlled by a remote, the ears can move into eight different positions that show a feline's emotional state such as happy, relaxed, silly, surprised and alert.

On social media the items have received a lot of attention from ailurophiles, or cat lovers, asking the company to make the tail and ears in more colours.

Twitch: The cat ears have eight different position that indicate a cat's emotional state including happy, relaxed and surprised

Swish: Some Facebook users have responded saying that the niche online retailer should make more colours, they have responded saying they can only afford to make black coloured ears and tails

One Facebook user commented: 'Definitely needs variety for the colors and maybe length of tail? I do a black/purple/grey cat cosplay and have been waiting for a few years (after the nekomimi crazy) for an anamatronic like tail to add to my cosplay.' [sic]

Another said: 'This would be awesome if there was more variety. Possibly a wolf one, or even different colours of fur'.
A furious father has taken to the Target Australia Facebook page to complain and warn fellow parents about a pair of shoes he purchased for his baby girl.

Chris Stokes, from Penrith, New South Wales, shared a post to the company's page on Saturday alongside a picture of the $12 pink ballet flats for toddlers.

'So, we got these pretty little shoes for our daughter last weekend and today (the first time she has worn them) while out I find she has taken one off and is suckling on the ribbon,' Mr Stokes wrote.

Worried: A furious father has taken to the Target Australia Facebook to complain and warn fellow parents about a pair of shoes he purchased for his baby girl

'Suggest you do the same': Chris Stokes, from Penrith, New South Wales, shared this post to the company's page on Saturday alongside a picture of the $12 pink ballet flats for toddlers

Not happy: 'I have now removed the offending metal adornments and suggest you do the same before someone is less lucky than my daughter,' he wrote

'When I take the shoe off her I find that one of the metal ends off the ribbon was missing. After a frantic search and dash for the car to go to the emergency room at the hospital I get a call from her mum at home saying she had found it. WOW!

Why on earth would you release a baby shoe with such a dangerous addition? I have now removed the offending metal adornments and suggest you do the same before someone is less lucky than my daughter.'

Mr Stokes also shared a picture of him holding the sharp metal pieces from the ends of the ribbons and the damaged one from the living room floor.

Worrying: Mr Stokes also shared a picture of him holding the sharp metal pieces from the ends of the ribbons and the damaged one from the living room floor

The metal pieces, described by Target Australia on their website as being 'metal eyelets', are attached to the ends of the bows but appear to be easy to remove.

Target Australia responded to Mr Stokes within an hour of his complaint and said they would be taking his post seriously.

'Hi Chris, thanks for bringing this to our attention. The safety of our products is so important to us, even moreso when it comes to little ones [sic]!' They wrote.

Onto it: Target Australia responded to Mr Stokes within an hour of his complaint and said they would be taking his post seriously

Careful! But it seems as though these are not the only hazard identified by concerned parents, with one woman posting a warning to the page on Monday about an 'Octonauts' toy she purchased

'We'd definitely like these sent in for assessment, could you please private message us so we can provide you with the details?'

Mr Stokes has been communicating with the company via instant message since the complaint was made.

But it seems as though these are not the only hazard identified by concerned parents, with one woman posting a warning to the page on Monday about an 'Octonauts' toy she purchased from Coles (although they are also available from Target).

'Just a warning to parents about these toys Octonauts Gup speeders if you're planning on buying for young children, the bottom easily comes off and the wheels are like tiny little batteries,' Crystal Winning, from Adelaide, South Australia, wrote.

'Found out just from my boy throwing them around, all came apart like this, more photos in comments, definite choking hazard.'

The concerned mother shared snaps of the little toys surrounded by the small batteries which appeared to have come out quite easily.

'Hi Crystal, we appreciate you reaching out to us with this information. Safety is paramount here at Target, especially when it comes to items parents are purchasing for their kids!' Target Australia responded.
A father's birthday rant in which he claims blowing out candles on a cake is unhygienic had his family in hysterics.

Now the man, believed to be from the US, has hundreds of thousands of people around the world laughing after a video of his dad rant on why not to use breath to blow out candles was posted online.

Following his health and safety speech, posted on YouTube by 'Vindog Unleashed', he then demonstrated his own potentially more risky technique that involves swiping his bare hand across the naked flame.

Health-conscious? A father had his family in hysterics in a video of his dad rant on why blowing out birthday candles is dangerous before extinguishing them with his bare hand, pictured

Alternative method: After sharing his disapproving views on people who blow out their birthday cake candles, he showed his family how he believes it should be done

The video has been watched nearly 400,000 times and attracted dozens of admiring comments. There is also a Reddit thread dedicated to the post called, 'Dad, tell me again why you don't blow our candles?'

Standing in the kitchen in front of the cake, which had three lit candles on it, the man lectured his family on the dangers of traditional birthday candle extinguishing methods.

The tradition is thought to date back to the Ancient Greeks who believed the smoke of the candles transported their prayers to the moon.

But this father believes the tradition should be abolished. He said: 'The tradition of blowing out candles is probably the worst tradition in the history of mankind.

'All the germs from your breath are all over food other people are going to eat. Everybody eats it, they go home, they get sick, they wonder how they got sick, because they went to a birthday party.'

Reducing his family to fits of laughter, he went on to explain his own method.

Approval: The video, pictured, has been watched nearly 400,000 times

Critical: In the video, the man, pictured gesturing at his mouth, claimed blowing out candles is 'probably the worst tradition in the history of mankind'

Risky: The man, pictured, claimed using breath to blow out candles spreads germs

He said: 'This is the proper way to put out the candles on a cake, alright. I look at it, I'm going to make a wish, I'm wishing, between you and I, that there are no germs anymore on birthday cakes.'

Instructing his family to 'watch this', he raised his hand to the side then suddenly swiped it across the candles to make the flames go out.

'Done. One shot, it's all gone. No-one got germs, everything's fine. Happy birthday to me, alright,' he added.

After his demonstration, the video ended with the family singing happy birthday to him.

Some agreed with his stance. YouTube user 'ItsBreezy' wrote: 'I always thought about that too! Why would you blow over cake that people are going to eat! [sic]'

While others focused on the humorous elements of his rant. 'TheVintageRomance' commented: 'Lol. It looked like you b***h slapped the cake [sic]'.
Jay Shetty has been severely disabled since birth and suffers from cerebral palsy, meaning he has never been able to walk, talk or play with his little brother

A five-year-old could soon be able to hug his mother for the first time when he becomes one of the first children in the world to undergo a pioneering stem cell treatment.

Jay Shetty has been severely disabled since birth and suffers from cerebral palsy, meaning he has never been able to walk, talk or play with his little brother Kairav.

But he is set to undergo a stem cell transplant using healthy cells from his little brother which doctors hope will repair his damaged brain tissue.

Jay, from London, is set to be given an intravenous stem cell treatment from Kairav's umbilical cord blood - if he is found to be a match.

His family will fly to North Carolina, where he will become one of the first in the world to undergo the procedure at Dukes University, using blood stem cells from a siblings umbilical cord.

Mother Shilpa Shetty, 39, said: 'We're delighted that Jay has been accepted for this study.

'It could lessen his symptoms of cerebral palsy to the extent that he may even be able to walk and talk which would just be wonderful.'

Jay has cerebral palsy, an umbrella term for a range of different conditions where the brain doesn't work properly.

This causes problems with movement, posture and co-ordination.

He has also been blind for the past three years which was caused by the poor blood flow between his optic nerve and brain.

While Jay currently has 40 weeks of physical therapy treatment in the UK, the family also travel to Poland several times a year for more intensive physiotherapy in an effort to improve his condition.

In 2013, doctors treated a child suffering with cerebral palsy with stem cells for the first time.

Just weeks after being given an intravenous stem cell treatment from umbilical cord blood, the symptoms of a boy who had been left in a vegetative state after a heart attack improved considerably.

Within months he could talk and move - something Jay's parents dream of for him.

Jay Shetty, pictured right on mother Shlipa's knee, is set to undergo a stem cell transplant using cells taken from brother Kairav, pictured left with their father Raj

Kairav's stem cells were taken from his umbilical cord at birth and could help big brother Jay, five, be able to walk, talk and even undo damage which has made him blind

Doctors used stem cells from the unnamed boy's umbilical cord harvested shortly after birth.

However, as this was not done in Jay's case he is reliant on his one-year-old brother Kairav's stem cells, which were taken and stored.

Mrs Shetty, and husband Raj, have been told that there is a high chance he will be a stem cell match for his big brother.

'Like any mother, I will do everything possible to make life better for my son,' she said.

'I am determined to find the money to pay for the cost of these therapies.
Holly Dillon, 26, was returning home Faro to Luton airport last night when the incident occurred

A woman who suffers from psoriasis was outraged after being questioned about her skin before being allowed to board am easyJet flight.

Holly Dillon, 26, from Peckham, was returning home from Faro to Luton airport last night when the incident occurred.

She claims the check-in attendant in Portugal raised 'health and safety concerns' before allowing her to get on the aircraft.

The assistant film director had gone abroad as the sun's rays are known to ease symptoms of psoriasis, such as patches of scaly skin.

Caused by a problem with the immune system, it triggers skin cells to regenerate too quickly.

She told MailOnline today she had booked the holiday after suffering a bad flare-up triggered by tonsillitis.

I know the sun is the best thing for my skin and so booked a mini-break to read and relax.'

Speaking to the Evening Standard last night, she said: 'Ive just been stopped in Portugal checking in to the easyJet flight from Faro back to London before boarding the plane.

'The boarding desk clerk just stopped and indirectly asked my friend, not me, whether I had a problem with my face or skin.

'Wearing no make-up coming back from holiday - the one thing that helps my skin - I felt great, and my psoriasis has completely gone down, and he actually stopped me

'I said: "Excuse me, you should be asking me directly if you think there is something wrong".

'He said its a health and safety procedure. It was completely unacceptable, rude and unprofessional.'

She said today: 'I understand there are some health conditions where you can't travel. It's how he questioned that I'm angry about.

'He should have explained the health and safety issue and also asked me first, not my friend. It really was unpleasant and pathetic.

Psoriasis, which affects around three per cent of the world's population, is also linked to an increased risk for depression, heart disease and diabetes, among other conditions.

Ms Dillon is also the founder of the #GetYourSkinOut campaign, which aims to increase awareness of psoriasis and challenge misconceptions.

Speaking to the Huffington Post after it launched last year, she said: 'Psoriasis is particularly difficult in summer because when youre in shorts or a dress youll get these kind of constipated looks on the Tube where people look at your skin like "What is that?".

'They dont stop and ask and you cant expect them to, so as well as helping people with psoriasis, this project also aims to answer the questions people are too embarrassed to ask.'

She obtained the services of professional photographer Lewis Khan to take pictures of her undergoing PUVA treatment at Chelsea and Westminster hospital.

PUVA, or photochemotherapy, is a type of ultraviolet radiation (phototherapy) used for severe skin diseases

Ms Dillon is also the founder of the #GetYourSkinOut campaign, which aims to increase awareness of psoriasis and challenge misconceptions

She suffered her first bout of psoriasis at 14 and was later diagnosed with guttate psoriasis. More than a decade on, she still suffers regular flare-ups

Psoriasis, which affects around three per cent of the world's population, is also linked to an increased risk for depression, heart disease and diabetes

Ms Dillon suffered her first bout of psoriasis at 14 and was later diagnosed with guttate psoriasis.

This is where the skin erupts with small, salmon-pink papules which usually have a fine scale.

More than a decade on, she still suffers regular flare-ups.

In a statement, the airline said: 'easyJet is sorry to hear of Ms Dillons experience while boarding flight EZY2020 from Faro to Luton on Sunday 19 June 2016.

'As soon as we were made aware this morning, we started an investigation.

'All of our staff are carefully selected and undergo training to maintain our high level of customer care which may not have been upheld in this occasion.

'We will be addressing this with the ground staff member involved as we always have high standards to maintain.

'Our customer team is contacting Ms Dillon to discuss this with her directly.'
Hollywood star Angelina went public in 2013 about her double mastectomy and having both ovaries removed after finding out she had BRCA1 mutation

Breast cancer could be treated using an existing medicine already used to treat brittle bone disease in women, a new study suggests.

Women who have a faulty BRCA1 gene have a hugely increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer of up to 87 per cent.

Many women with the defective gene  such as Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie  have their breasts and ovaries removed as a protective measure.

Miss Jolie had a double mastectomy in 2013, aged 37, after learning she was had an 87 per cent risk of developing breast cancer.

She then had her ovaries removed last year after tests revealed that they might become cancerous.

Her grandmother and mother were both killed by ovarian cancer and her aunt, who carried the same defective gene, died from breast cancer three months after Miss Jolies initial surgery.

The drastic procedure might eventually be rendered unnecessary, as an existing drug prevents tumours forming in breast tissue, researchers claim.

Australian researchers said that the osteoporosis drug denosomab, which is already used to treat the bone-wasting disease, is also effective against breast cancer in laboratory tests.

Researchers said the findings meant medicine was on the path to the Holy Grail  a drug that could prevent breast cancer would mean women did not have to go through painful surgery.

Because the drug has already been tested in humans, it will be a much shorter time before an effective medicine can be produced compared to other drugs that must still undergo lengthy clinical safety trials.

Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall lnstitute in Melbourne said denosumab, in tests using pre-cancerous breast tissue cells, showed promise at stopping tumours forming.

They said that if confirmed in clinical studies, the drug could provide a non-surgical alternative to stop breast cancer in those with a heightened risk of the disease.

The research was published in the journal Nature Medicine.

Researcher Linda Nolan, of The University of Melbourne said they had identified breast cells more likely to become cancerous  which the drug stopped becoming deadly.

She said: These cells proliferated rapidly, and were susceptible to damage to their DNA - both factors that help them transition towards cancer.

'We were excited to discover that these pre-cancerous cells could be identified by a marker protein called RANK.

Professor Geoff Lindeman, who is also a medical oncologist at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, said the discovery of RANK as a marker of cancer precursors was an important breakthrough, because inhibitors of the RANK signalling pathway were already in clinical use.

He said: An inhibitor called denosumab is already used in the clinic to treat osteoporosis and breast cancer that has spread to the bone.

We therefore investigated what effect RANK inhibition had on the cancer precursor cells in BRCA1-mutant breast tissue.

Many women who carry a faulty BRCA1 gene have no option but to choose surgery to remove breast and ovaries to reduce their chance of developing cancer

The research team showed that RANK inhibition switched off cell growth in breast tissue from women with a faulty BRCA1 gene and curtailed breast cancer development in laboratory models.

Professor Lindeman added: We think this strategy could delay or prevent breast cancer in women with an inherited BRCA1 gene mutation. A clinical trial has already begun to investigate this further.

This is potentially a very important discovery for women who carry a faulty BRCA1 gene, who have few other options.

'Current cancer prevention strategies for these women include surgical removal of the breasts and/or ovaries, which can have serious impacts on peoples lives.

To progress this work, denosumab would need to be formally tested in clinical trials in this setting as it is not approved for breast cancer prevention.

Professor Jane Visvader, co-author said the discovery had its basis in more than a decade of investigations of breast stem cell function.

By thoroughly dissecting how normal breast tissue develops, we have been able to pinpoint the precise cells that are the culprits in cancer formation.

It is very exciting to think that we may be on the path to the 'holy grail' of cancer research, devising a way to prevent this type of breast cancer in women at high genetic risk.

The Australian team is not the only group working on denusomab.

In Austria a group led by Josef Penninger found that denusomab stopped mice with BRCA1 from developing breast cancer.

Dr Christopher Lord, reader in cancer genomics and therapeutics at the Institute of Cancer Research in London, said: This research paper is interesting as it might suggest how certain types of breast cancer develop.

He said trials would be needed on possible harmful effects of long-term denosumab use, compared to its potential benefits in cancer treatment, but added: This is the first step in the right direction.




Exercises for the tongue may be a new treatment option for the millions who are affected by snoring.

Early results for a device that helps patients with tongue-muscle training suggest that it reduces sleeping problems by around 50 per cent after just seven days.

Now, a larger trial is under way in Taiwan with 120 patients who have sleep apnoea, where the tissue in the throat collapses repeatedly during the night, blocking the airways.

The new study in Taiwan suggests that tongue exercises can reduce sleeping problems after just seven days



The new device, called a Tongue Muscle Trainer, has a plastic, air-filled bulb at one end which snorers hold in their mouth while they put their tongue into various positions, such as stretching it sideways or upwards.

The patient must hold their tongue against the bulb and push until they reach a target pressure needed to stretch the muscle sufficiently.

Some of the muscles that control the tongue are also connected to the throat tissue and muscles.

The idea is that the tongue exercises help strengthen the eight tongue muscles and so help stop a significant amount of the tissues collapsing.

Tissue in the mouth and airways, including the tongue, naturally relaxes as we fall asleep. For most people, this does not pose a problem.

But for sleep apnoea patients, this tissue collapse can block the airways for up to ten seconds at a time, until the brain realises and sends a signal to contract the muscle and restore normal breathing.

The snoring sound is produced by vibrations of the tissues as air is forced through the obstructed airway. An estimated three million people in the UK are affected.

If left untreated, sleep apnoea can contribute to long-term problems such as high blood pressure, stroke and heart attack.

The standard treatment is with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)  a face mask the patient wears while sleeping, which delivers pressurised air to prevent the soft tissue collapsing.

The problem with CPAP is that many people  up to half in some studies  have difficulty wearing and using the devices as they can be uncomfortable, claustrophobic and noisy.

An estimated three million people in the UK are affected by snoring, and good solutions can seem hard to find

Poor muscle tone in the tongue is thought to play a key role in sleep apnoea. It means the tongue is more prone to relaxing too much and falling backwards into the airway while a patient sleeps.

The new tongue trainer is a handheld device  at one end is the air-filled bulb, which is roughly the size of a medicine capsule. This bit goes inside the mouth.

At the other end is a device that measures the pressure of the tongue against the bulb.

The patient has to reach a certain target pressure and, once reached, they must hold each position for 30 seconds.

Using the device, patients move their tongue into different positions, shifting the bulb so the tongue works against it.

For example, one exercise involves moving the tongue towards the cheek with the bulb pushing the tongue from the opposite side.

A study at the University of Quebec in Canada looked at the effects of the exercises, and found that patients' sleeping problems were reduced by 48 per cent

Some research suggests that exercises can be highly effective.

A study at the University of Quebec in Canada last year looked at the effects of hour-long tongue strengthening exercises over a week in ten people who were using a similar device.

Results showed there was a reduction in sleeping problems by 48 per cent, according to the Canadian Respiratory Journal.

In the new study at the National Cheng Kung University Hospital in Taiwan, patients will use the tongue trainer for 60 minutes, three to five times a week, or CPAP every night for three months.

They will be monitored in a sleep lab at various intervals to check their sleep quality and breathing.

Commenting on the approach, Professor Jaydip Ray, a consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust says: This is a simple, innovative concept with encouraging initial results.
Highly educated people are at greater risk of gliomas, the most common form of brain tumour, seen on an MRI in white (file image)

Highly educated people are more likely to be diagnosed with a brain tumour, research suggests.

Gliomas - the most common type of brain tumour which develops in the main supporting cells in the brain called glial cells - are nearly a quarter more common among people who are university-educated, researchers said.

Experts from University College London examined data from 4.3 million people in Sweden born between 1911 and 1961.

They tracked them between 1993 and 2010 and found that 7,100 women and 5,700 men were diagnosed with brain tumours.

Researchers then examined lifestyle factors including levels of education, amount of disposable income and marital status.

Men with university level education, lasting more than three years, were 19 per cent more likely to develop a glioma than men who only had up to nine years of compulsory education, according to the study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

Among educated women, the risk was 23 per cent higher for glioma, and 16 per cent higher for meningioma - a tumour that starts in the tissues that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord.

But the researchers stressed that they had found no biological reason to explain why educated people are at higher risk.

The link, they said, is probably down to detection bias - which means that people with higher levels of education are probably more likely to go to the doctor and receive a diagnosis.

They also found that men and women in professional and managerial roles were more likely to be diagnosed with brain tumours compared with those in manual roles.

And men with the highest levels of disposable income were 14 per cent more likely to be diagnosed than those with the lowest levels.

The researchers stressed that they had found no biological reason to explain why educated people are at higher risk. The link, they said, is probably down to 'detection bias' - which means people with higher levels of education are probably more likely to go to the doctor

Single men had a lower risk of glioma than married or co-habiting men, but they had a higher risk of meningioma. These associations were not found among women.

This study found consistent associations between indicators of higher socioeconomic position and increased risk of glioma in both sexes, the authors wrote.

Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter of the statistical laboratory at the University of Cambridge, said: In spite of my degrees, I find these results deeply reassuring.

For example, in each group of 3,000 men of the lowest educational level, we would expect five to be diagnosed with a glioma over 18 years.

In 3,000 men with the highest educational level, we expect six gliomas.
Engineer Abdul Rasheed, an Independent legislator from Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, said on Monday that the state is not an integral part of India.

Even if I am hanged I will still say Jammu and Kashmir is neither Indias integral part nor Pakistans jugular vein, Rasheed said in the House.

Rasheed talked about Kashmir's identity after he was stopped by the deputy speaker Nazir Gurazi and directed to speak about the power issue.

Engineer Abdul Rasheed said J&K was neither India's integral part, nor Pakistan's jugular vein

Even if you send me to jail, debar me from contesting elections, or hang me, it will not force me to change my stand on Kashmir. We have sacrificed about one lakh lives and cant compromise on right to self-determination, he said.

I am not against Indias sovereignty and I am talking simply about Jammu and Kashmir which has become a bone of contention between India and Pakistan - and the Assembly has no authority to overrule UN Resolutions, he said.

Over the years, Rasheed has been at the forefront in taking up issues of alleged human rights violations. After the firing by the Army in Handwara on April 12, Rasheed launched a scathing attack on the Army and supported anti-Army and anti-India protests in Handwara. He demanded the tabling of a report on the Handwara killings on Monday.

Rasheed, who is the MLA from Langate Handwara, has launched his own party, Awami Itihad Party (AIP).

Rasheed insists that he has always described the hanging of the Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru as travesty of justice.

In February last year, Rasheed said the Congress endorsed his stand on Guru when five legislators of the state unit to secure his vote in the Rajya Sabha elections issued a statement on Afzal Guru.
Sussanne Khan has denied the allegations that she fraudulently represented herself as an architect

After being accused of cheating to the tune of Rs 1.87 crore, entrepreneur and designer Sussanne Khan, the ex-wife of actor Hrithik Roshan, has finally broken her silence.

An FIR was registered by Panaji Police in Goa on Saturday, on the basis of a complaint filed by Mudhit Gupta, the Managing partner of Emgee Properties. Gupta claims that Khan misrepresented herself as an architect in order to secure a deal with the real estate company.

It is claimed that Khan failed to deliver the project at the companys latest venture, Naira Complex, which is being built at Siridao in Tiswadi, North Goa.

The issue came to light after her work was found to be unprofessional by an architects standards, and on further inspection, she was found not to be an architect at all.

The case was registered by police sub-inspector Rashmi Bhaidkar under Section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code.

In response, Khan - who is in London at the moment - defended herself by stating: The said complaint is motivated and preposterous and has been only filed to intimidate me and pressurize me to withdraw the arbitration proceedings initiated by me in the first instance to recover my dues and damages resulting from breach of contract.

"As a background, I have challenged the termination of the contract and have invoked arbitration under the contract for recovery of my dues.

She further stated: As a counter-blast to the said proceedings Mr Mudhit Gupta only with the intention to harass and pressurize me to give into his frivolous counter-claim initiated the criminal complaint. I have not made any misrepresentations and have maintained the highest standards of ethics in discharge of my work.

Insisting that the allegations are false and defamatory, she said: Such complaints do not scare me rather it encourages me to stand up for the truth. The allegations in complaints are false and defamatory and I will take appropriate proceedings in accordance with law.

Earlier this month, Sussanne, married Hrithik in 2000, told Femina that she wasnt happy in the relationship and it was a wise decision to move on in life.

She was quoted as telling the magazine: We had reached a stage in our lives where I decided that it's better we werent together. It was important to be aware and not be in a false relationship.

However, she maintained that she is still friends with Hrithik and both are very respectful towards each other for the sake of their two sons, Hrehaan and Hridhaan.
CHRIS OVERLAND

CORNEY Korokan Alone makes the mildly astonishing claim that the West has a grudge against Zimbabwe for expelling the white landholders and resuming control of land they had cultivated.

In fact commentators criticism of Mugabe is not so much that he allowed the frequently unlawful seizure of land, not to mention the murder of its occupants, but that he presided over a catastrophic decline in the wealth and living standards of Zitsimbabweans.

Colonial Zimbabwe, for all its faults, was easily able to feed the entire population and produce grain and other foodstuffs for export to other parts of Africa. Not for nothing was it called the breadbasket of Africa.

Now, Zimbabwe is routinely in food crisis and reliant upon international aid agencies to feed a substantial proportion of its population, millions of whom have fled to South Africa.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) wants Muslims to embrace Hindus on Eid and Ramzan.

The Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an RSS-backed minority organisation patronised by Sangh pracharak Indresh Kumar, has appealed to the community to take a collective vow with their Hindu neighbours not to let communal strife start in their locality.

According to Kumar, the Manch has asked the Muslims of India as well as the world to commemorate the holy month of Ramzan and Eid through a communal iftar.

The Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an RSS-backed minority organisation, wants every Muslim household to undertake a three-part commitment - including a promise to avoid communal tensions

The community has been requested to celebrate the festival at a local level, where Hindus too can be invited to iftar parties.

It is here that the two communities should take a collective vow that they will not fight among themselves and will not let their locality become a flashpoint of violence.

Muslims must try to convene iftar at the most local level of galis and mohallas or at the colony level, where people from all religions and castes and parties can participate. At the time of breaking the fast, all must take a vow that irrespective of what is going on in the world or India, they will make their locality riot-free because charity begins at home, Kumar told Mail Today.

The solemn promise is part of the three commitments that the Muslim body wants every Muslim household to make.

Moreover, the RSS wants all Muslims to plant tulsi (Myrtle or sweet basil) in their houses during the holy month of Ramzan.

The MRM claimed that the plant finds an exalted place not just in Hinduism, but also in Islam.

We want all Muslim families to plant a tree outside their house and a tulsi plant inside. We have done this to tackle environmental pollution. Moreover, tulsi plant has been called Reyhan (also Rehaan) or the plant of Jannat (heaven) in the Arabic language, said Kumar.

The third commitment that Muslims are being asked to keep is that the concept of zakat or charity must be widened to include the last person in the line - irrespective of his/her religious or group identity.
The Government has cracked down on food companies that issue advertisements screaming that their products are the best or miracle cures without appropriate disclaimers.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI), under the Union health ministry, recently issued notices to at least four such firms - which finally had to withdraw their commercials or modify them.

Jivo Wellness Pvt Ltd was pulled up for its canola oil, KC Food Products for its digestive biscuits, Phytotech Extracts Pvt Ltd for its supplement Proteqt which helps manage hangovers, and Chemical Resources in Maharashtra for the Furocycst pills meant for ovarian cysts.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority pulled up KC Food Products for its claims about its digestive biscuits (Picture for representation only).

Analysts say false advertising is notoriously common in India and easy to get away with.

According to reports last month, the FSSAI and the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) may soon join forces to clamp down on misleading food and beverage commercials.

Jivo Wellness Pvt Ltd was advertising that canola can prevent diabetes and heart diseases with a private hospital putting its seal. KC Foods from Jammu and Kashmir was advertising that digestive biscuit is the best in the market due to highest content of whole wheat flour, said Pawan Kumar Agarwal, CEO of FSSAI.

After the FSSAI took cognisance, the companies had to withdraw these misleading advertisements. Similarly, Chemical Resources was directed to modify its advertisements for Furocyst as it was making claims that the drug contains US-patented ingredients, has no side-effects, and that around 94 per cent of patients reported positive results after usage.

The apex food regulator of the country took action after receiving complaints from the GAMA (Grievances against Misleading Advertisements) web portal, which was launched by the department of consumer affairs last year.

ASCI processes these complaints and moves them to the authorities if companies fail to comply with its directions.

The council unveiled a WhatsApp connection in March in a bid to reach the public. Sources say consumer contact has nearly doubled since this new medium was opened up to register complaints.

WhatsApp is now contributing to more than 12 per cent of the total advertisements complained against and deliberated upon by the Consumer Complaints Council.

With increased awareness levels, it has also had an incremental effect on the overall number of complaints received directly by other means such as mobile app and website, said ASCI chairman Benoy Roychowdhury.

The councils WhatsApp number has seen complaints come in against advertisements appearing in a wide range of sectors such as FMCG, healthcare, telecoms, e-commerce, travel, durables, automotives, food and beverages, and education.

The ASCI code is recognised by the information and broadcasting ministry.

Complaints came in from across India, including areas such as the West Jaintia Hills, Bareilly, Varanasi, Vadodara, Ludhiana and Chennai.

Criticisms poured in for advertisements across media, including websites, radio, SMS, emailers, promotional materials, product packaging and hoardings.
A new study has revealed that the Yamuna River in Delhi has almost died - and there are no signs of healing as even after treatment, the water remains toxic and unfit for any purpose.

The study, published in International Journal of Engineering Sciences & Research Technology, stated: Even expensive water treatment technologies are incapable of treating the polluted river water. And, the conventional water processes based on chemical filtration and biological treatment are not suitable for removing the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS).

Researchers collected and tested water samples from the Najafgarh drain, a nursing home drain out, the stream of the Yamuna near the Nizamuddin Bridge, Okhala barrage, and near the origin of Agra canal - all of which flow into the Yamuna.

A new study has revealed that the Yamuna River in Delhi has a status close to dead - and there are no signs of healing as the water remains toxic even after treatment

The Yamuna River is a vital natural resource and the study also noted that an alarming amount of polluted water is supplied to the Agra canal for irrigating the agricultural lands of 638 villages.

We investigated the impact of urban runoff on the water quality of the Yamuna River in Delhi, which flows into the Agra canal and is used for irrigation purposes.

"Results showed drastic variations in each of the water samples after treatment, said R S Dubey, Department of Applied Chemistry, Amity University, Noida, the author of the study.

Water pollution levels are higher by multiples than the limit prescribed by the pollution control authorities for irrigation. The water quality of Yamuna is polluted and not suitable for any other purposes, he said.

Yamuna water is unusable for crop irrigation and should not be consumed, the study warned

Water samples were analysed for various physio-chemical parameters such as pH, total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness (TH), total alkalinity (TA), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity (EC), chloride, sulphate, nitrate, toxic metals, and microbial population (MP) levels by following the standard method.

The water quality was good along areas where the river enters Delhi before the Wazirabad barrage.

While the optimum pH for river water is around 7.4, the study found that Mean pH of the Yamuna water varies from 7.5 to 11.8 at different sampling points.

Where BOD levels are high, DO levels decrease because the oxygen in the water is consumed by the bacteria.

An experimental observation shows the DO as zero. The type of water in Delhi falls under dead water quality, thereby making it unfit for irrigation or any other domestic or industrial purpose, said Dubey.

Most of the rivers in the urban regions are the end points of waste water discharged from households and industries, which create major problem for river water quality management. The waste-water discharges contribute to significant river water degradation, reduce agricultural products quality, land fertility and ultimately affect public health, said Dubey.

The study also found major groundwater pollution in the Yamuna riverbed.

The researchers have recommended industrial and untreated sewage waste to be checked immediately.
The government is exploring a strategic route to control the spiralling price of pulses, which has now risen to approximately Rs 180 per kg.

Ahead of PM Narendra Modis visit to a number of African countries in the first week of July, a delegation of senior government officials will visit to look at ways to improve the scope of contract farming, and the importing of pulses.

In a further effort to control price rises, key intelligence agencies - including the intelligence wing of the revenue department - have been told to halt the illegal black market for pulses.

PM Modi is scheduled to visit four African nations - Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya and Mozambique.

A senior government official said Modi is expected to seek further strengthening of Indias economic and maritime ties with these countries.

The official said that ahead of the visit, a delegation may visit Mozambique and other countries to explore the possibility of growing pulses through contract farming.

The government is working on both short-term and long-term strategies to control the rising prices of food grains, including pulses.

Exploring the option of contract farming with countries like Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi is a long-term strategy.

However, the government is looking for a permanent strategy to fill the gap between insufficient supply, and increased demand.

Africa is an option for contract pulse farming and PM Modi is scheduled to visit four African nations, Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya and Mozambique in July

Officials said the government will explore the option to take land for contract farming with the involvement of private players.

Officials say the demand in India is around 230-240 lakh tonnes, whereas the supply is approximately 170 lakh tonnes.

With each passing year, the demand for pulses increases by a million tonnes, which makes imports necessary.

Officials said food security is also a common concern for India and Africa.

India being the biggest producer of food-grain and horticulture crops could help the African continent develop its agri-sector.

Diplomats from both sides have sought greater cooperation in agriculture and agro-processing, which would have a great bearing on the food security situation in Africa and India.

In boosting Africas agriculture production, India too can meet its food needs with imports from Africa, especially pulses, where India faces huge shortfall, added the official.

Urad dal was selling for as much as Rs 196 per kg, while chana was also seen moving closer to Rs 100 per kg level.

Tur dal continued to rule high at Rs 166 per kg, while moong and masur were being sold at Rs 125 and Rs 105 per kg, respectively.

In some high-end markets in cities like Mumbai and Delhi, the price of pulses was even higher.

Concerned over the rising prices, the consumer affairs secretary held a meeting with officials from the Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), income tax department, the Enforcement Directorate, and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) last week.

Moreover, he also interacted with state government officials from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi via video conferencing and asked them to be alert to hoarders.
Foreign Secretary S Jaishankars visit to Beijing last week indicates that New Delhi is undertaking direct diplomacy to obtain Chinas support for Indias membership into the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

This is as it should be. It was foolish and futile to try and somehow shame China into supporting the Indian cause.

Actually, the first round of diplomacy began with President Pranab Mukherjees visit to Beijing last month.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar (right) was in Beijing to undertake direct diplomacy with China, in a bid to get support for Indias membership into the Nuclear Suppliers Group

What is not widely known is that the Foreign Secretary, who was accompanying the President, took the opportunity to engage the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in a one-on-one meeting.

What transpired in either meeting will not be known, but the success or failure of the effort will soon become evident in the forthcoming NSG meeting in Seoul.

Trade

Suffice to say, it will make little difference. India has already sought and obtained a waiver to conduct civil nuclear trade from the body and also pledged to follow its rules, whether or not we are members.

However, it will be a dent in the prestige of the government, which had hyped-up Indias efforts to enter the body to the point where being denied entry will be seen as a major setback.

The first round of diplomacy began with President Pranab Mukherjees visit to Beijing last month

The NSG debate is a good primer of the manner in which world politics functions.

The NSG itself is not a body based in international law, but a cartel of the powerful - in this case, countries with the capacity to conduct nuclear trade. The only language in which it communicates is power; and the only method of negotiation is give and take.

There are other similar bodies, beginning with the G7/G8 - now somewhat chastened - but which once acted as arbiter of the international economic system.

So there is the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), a club of countries which have the know-how of making missiles, space systems or their components.

The Australia Group is a cartel of countries making chemicals and the precursors of chemical weapons - and then there's the Wassenaar Group of countries with advanced conventional weapons technologies.

As part of the India-US nuclear agreement of 2008, the US promised India ease of entry into all these groups.

This was said to be huge for India, as the only country that could achieve this goal was the US, the sole global superpower.

Being cartels and not international agreements, these regimes are not always universal. China, the major missile and arms exporting power, is not a member of the MTCR or the Wassenaar, though it claims to harmonise its rules with both of them.

Position

Given this perspective, Chinas formal position raising the issue of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty was a red-herring.

It was not Indias refusal to join the NPT that led to the NSGs creation, but its first nuclear test.

With the world more or less accepting India as a state with nuclear weapons, and marking this by the 2008 waiver, that issue should no longer have any salience.

The Nuclear Suppliers Group is a cartel of powerful countries with the capacity to conduct nuclear trade

Neither should the Chinese need to assuage Pakistans angst.

Beijing has been a major beneficiary of Islamabads obsession with India. It is in its interest to prolong this situation, rather than bringing in Pakistan from the cold.

It is actually all about that oldest issue in diplomacy - give and take. What is India willing to offer to China, in exchange for its support for the Indian application for NSG membership?

Far from being offered something, Beijing believes it is seeing increased Indian truculence. New Delhi has gone out of its way to connect freedom of navigation issues with the South China Sea, and tried to shame China into placing Jaishe-Muhammad chief Masood Azhar in the ISIS-Al Qaeda sanctions list at the UN. Indian entities with government backing sought to organise a conference of the entire galaxy of Chinese dissidents - and that, too, at the headquarters of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile.

As it is, India has been disdainful towards Beijijngs pet initiative, the One Belt One Road.

Membership

New Delhi, however, believes that it has sought to balance its ties with China by participating in the New Development (BRICS) Bank and the Asia Infrastructure Development Bank.

India has sought membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and sought to put an even spin on its position on maritime issues in the communique issued after the Russia-India-China meeting in April, upholding UNCLOS and addressing disputes through negotiations and agreements between the parties concerned.

In June it dropped references to the South China Sea in relation to freedom of navigation issues.

As part of the India-US nuclear agreement of 2008, the US promised to ease India's entry into nuclear groups

It has also indirectly signaled that, were it to become a member of the NSG, it would consider the Pakistani application on its merits.

But what will clinch the issue is the deal Jaishankar will be seeking to strike with Beijing.

Such deals are not made in public. We can only surmise their existence through the outcomes, or in hindsight.
TalkTalks elfin femme-daffaires Dido Hardings decision to donate her 220,000 cash bonus to an autism charity is praised.

How about she hands a sliver of her additional 2.8m pay packet to her local church? Harding, 48, and hubby, Tory MP and ex-JP Morgan trader John Penrose, 51, infuriated locals in their Somerset village earlier this year by building an outdoor swimming pool  covered by a hideous grey zinc roof  which overshadowed the neighbouring 15th century Church of St James.

Pool row: TalkTalk boss Dido Harding and hubby, Tory MP and ex-JP Morgan trader John Penrose have infuriated locals in their Somerset village earlier this year by building an outdoor swimming pool

A generous donation to the collection box might smooth things over with the padre.

Google engineers began moving into the internet giants vast new London offices yesterday, built at a cost of 1billion.

The 2,000 other workers set to join them in the 11-storey building in Kings Cross will have access to free food, massages and a 90-metre indoor running track.

Cookery classes from a chef that used to work with Jamie Oliver will also be on offer.

Employees might prefer tips from Googles slippery tax lawyers, whove somehow helped the shadowy tech firm pay a pittance in UK taxes.

The Queens once exclusive bankers Coutts & Co, now, alas, popular with D-list celebrities and assorted vulgarians, offers a concierge service for clients.

Its for sourcing things for people that they cant get themselves or dont have the time to get, apparently.

The bank says it recently helped a customer organise a raucous four-day stag do in Barcelona, pinpointing all the top bars and nightclubs.

Bet rascally, ginger-whiskered Coutts customer Prince Harry cant wait to give the service a whirl.

London Stock Exchanges chatterbox chief executive Xavier Rolet, 55, was spotted relaxing at Etons annual Fourth of June parents picnic day on Saturday.

Im told the extreme sports-loving ex-banker sends his son to the 550-year-old college.

British public schools are all the rage with stock exchange chiefs. Monsieur Rolets earnest counterpart  and fellow Anglophile  at Deutsche Boerse, Carsten Kengeter, 49, sends his children to George Osbornes alma mater St Pauls.

Crusty US egghead George Akerlof, 76, is among ten Nobel-prize winning American economists whove signed a letter urging the UK to vote Remain, claiming Britain would be better off economically inside the EU.

Word of warning: Akerlof has something of a dog in this fight. He shares a marital four poster with the US Federal Reserves matronly chair Janet Yellen, 69.
Biotech Circassia Pharmaceuticals took a walloping after its experimental drug trial for people with cat allergies collapsed.

Oxford-based Circassia  in which superstar fund manager Neil Woodford holds a large stake  said final stage trials from an up-until-now promising allergy drug reported that 60 per cent of the drugs response had demonstrated a powerful placebo response.

Meaning, it seemed to be having an effect, when actually it did not.

We are surprised and disappointed by these results. Such a dramatic placebo effect was not a feature of our earlier phase II studies, said Steve Harris, chief executive of Circassia.

Biotech firm Circassia Pharmaceuticals took a walloping after its experimental drug trial for people with cat allergies collapsed

Meanwhile, Neil Woodford wrote: This is undoubtedly a disappointing development. We had high hopes for this trial and are surprised at its failure, particularly when you consider some of the positive aspects of the trial data.

News of the collapse of Circassias cat allergy trial has had a knock on effect on some of the other drugs the business is trying to develop. In its press release, Circassia said it will stop a study of its grass allergy treatment and also halt preparatory work for a study of its ragweed allergy therapy.

Circassia floated two years ago at 310p a share, raising 200million, with aspirations to become the next Shire.

The company also carried out a fundraising for acquisitions last year, raising 275million at 288p a share via a placing and open offer. Yesterday, however, Circassias shares plunged 66 per cent, or 179.3p to 91p.

Woodford, though, attempted to reassure investors in Circassia. He said: It is the nature of the stock market to over-react to negative news, with the immediate reaction typically much greater than long-term fundamentals would justify. That is almost certainly the case here. We remain supportive shareholders.

Overall, the FTSE 100 leapt 3pc or 182.91 points to 6204 while the FTSE 250 soared by 3.3 per cent or 537.07 points to 16,959.11 amid hopes Britain will this week vote to remain in the European Union.

Mislav Matejka, an analyst at JP Morgan, said: If the UK votes to remain in the European Union there will clearly be a short-term market rebound, especially given the weakness seen over the past two weeks. This would potentially take the market back to the levels from the beginning of June.

Once again, banks and housebuilders peppered the leaderboard as dealers looked to pick up shares in companies that had declined on fears Britain would leave the European Union.

Lloyds Banking Group perked up 7.6 per cent, or 4.95p to 70p while Taylor Wimpey gained 6.8 per cent, or 12p to 188p.

Online stockbroker and wealth manager Hargreaves Lansdown topped the FTSE 100 leaderboard, surging 7.8 per cent, or 96p to 1325p.

Elsewhere in the sector, Aberdeen Asset Management moved 6.3 per cent, or 16.7p higher to 283.7p as broker Numis revived takeover speculation with a note arguing any acquirer would have to pay 380p a share, or 5billion, for the business.

In the oil sector, HSBC gave BP another push, pointing out the oil major is this week set to host an investor visit to its operations in Azerbaijan. BP, which HSBC rates as a buy, edged up 1.55 per cent, or 5.8p to 379.95p.

Satellite operator Inmarsat, which has seen its shares plunge 34 per cent over the last six months, improved 2.6 per cent, or 18p to 727p thanks to a Citigroup upgrade to buy. The broker also increased its price target to 900p from 880p.

Rolls-Royce put on 3 per cent, or 19p to 634p even though JP Morgan argued the engineering giant, which has told its employees it would prefer Britain to remain in the European Union, could be a strong beneficiary of a weaker pound if there is a Brexit.

It is very possible that a sharp depreciation in sterling (in a Brexit scenario) could have an immediate positive impact on Rolls-Royces shares, said David H Perry, an analyst at JP Morgan.

Among the smaller companies, Asos fizzed 5.8 per cent, or 202p higher to 3662p as Exane BNP Paribas published a lengthy and bullish note on the online retailer.

The French broker slapped an outperform rating on the company with a 52 price target.

Enquest was one of the best performing mid-cap stocks, leaping 11 per cent, or 3.25p to 32p after it denied a newspaper report claiming it was in talks with the Oil and Gas Authority about a deal to rescue the firm from insolvency.

The Sunday Telegraph had reported that the Oil and Gas Authority is mulling action to tackle the risk of insolvencies among struggling oil groups Enquest and Premier Oil.
Exasperated: Neil Mitchell claims that the authorities have repeatedly ignored his concerns

A businessman who claims his firm was asset-stripped by bankers said his concerns were repeatedly ignored by politicians.

Neil Mitchell was chief executive at software firm Torex Retail when it passed into the control of Royal Bank of Scotland after he blew the whistle on an accounting scandal.

Mitchell claims that RBSs global restructuring group, a turnaround team meant to save struggling firms, let his company collapse with its assets sold to US private equity giant Cerberus for 204million.

He alleges the sale price was too low and has launched a 128million lawsuit. He also claims to have unearthed 388 similar cases involving RBS and has written to the authorities 40 times but nobody is willing to look into the matter.

Recipients include the Prime Ministers office and the Treasury, which owns 73 per cent of RBS. Mitchell claimed it suggested the authorities have something to hide.
An exclusive private school has filed a $2 million lawsuit against a more affordable school with the same name.

The Commonwealth School in Boston says Commonwealth Academy in Springfield deceptively uses the word 'commonwealth,' causing the Boston school 'great harm.'

Founded in 1957, the school charges its 150 students $40,000 a year.

It has just 35 faculty members who provide bespoke tuition, earning it the top spot in Boston Magazine's city school rankings.

The academy, founded in 2011, charges less than $1,200 and fosters a large number of minority and low-income students.

Exclusive private school: Founded in 1957, the Commonwealth School charges $40,000 a year for tuition

More affordable: The academy, founded in 2011, charges less than $1,200 and fosters a large number of minority and low-income students. Directors of the academy accused the school of a 'malicious campaign'

Last year, the school threatened to sue the academy's website, forcing them to change their domain name to MassachusettsAcademy.org.

But now, the case has escalated, with the school's directors demanding the school change its name entirely.

Filing a lawsuit in the US District Court, the school claims to have suffered more than $2 million in 'monetary damage' due to the academy's 'unlawful conduct'.

The academy has hit back, offering to include 'Springfield' in its name but refuses to drop 'commonwealth.'

It also accuses the Boston school of engaging in a 'knowingly false and malicious campaign.'

And media reports claim the $40,000-a-year school falsely told journalists that the $1,200-a-year academy had changed its name to Communitas, leading to a number of reports using that name.

'Commonwealth School engaged in a series [of] threats, harassment and knowingly false misrepresentations in order to coerce Commonwealth Academy to change its name,' Commonwealth Academy's said in a legal response last week.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has taken part in dozens of interviews while on the campaign trail, ahead of the federal election on July 2.

However his most recent one may be the strangest - as he sat down to answer questions from his wife while in a Darwin pub.

During the interview Chloe Shorten probed her husband on topics such as his past in the Army Reserves, and his relationship with his mother - just weeks after Malcolm Turnbull released an ad about his father.

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Bill Shorten has been interviewed by his wife Chloe in a peculiar new Labor party advertisement

'People don't necessarily know this but before you were a union leader and a union representative, you were a lawyer, and before that you were in the Army Reserve' Mrs Shorten begins the interview.

'Yes, I enlisted in the Army Reserve, I should have stayed in it longer', Mr Shorten reveals.

The opposition leader then goes on to discuss how he 'loved being a rifleman', but hints he may not have been the most skilled at it.

'I loved being a rifleman and learning all those skills. But somewhat fortunately Australia is guarded by really elite professional defence forces and reservists and I think to the relief of the Army I stopped being a rifleman.'

The husband and wife duo also talk about home life, their daughter Clementine, and Mr Shorten's love of running.

'Well first of all Clementine as you know, our youngest, has got the genetic DNA of a rooster so she gets up when the sun rises,' Mr Shorten says when asked what his weekends as a father are like.

'So she would normally come and wake us up.. then we've got kids sport.'

Mr Shorten revealed he was a rifleman in the Army Reserve - but wasn't much good at it

The pair also discuss Mr Shorten's time as a lawyer, and his home life as a dad to their daughter Clementine

Throughout the interview the pair exchanged affectionate glances

'I like to sneak in the odd jog... I like running. I'm not like a fast runner', the Opposition leader adds.

'You're a good runner', his wife replies.

Mrs Shorten - the daughter of the outgoing Governor General, Dame Quentin Bryce - is an Australian corporate affairs specialist.

A former newspaper and magazine journalist, she went on to work in corporate relations in the resource industry, which is when she met her husband.

Their interview comes as Labor and the Coalition sit deadlocked at 50-50 in the latest poll as the election enters its final two weeks.

It comes as the latest election poll revealed Labor and the Coalition are now deadlocked

The latest Newspoll published in The Australian shows on a two-party preferred basis surveyed voters were evenly split over their support for the major parties, while giving the two leaders an almost identical low satisfaction rating.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's satisfaction rating fell one point to match a record low of 36 per cent, while his dissatisfaction rating was static at 52 per cent, giving him a net negative satisfaction rating of 15 points.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten sits on a negative net satisfaction rating of 16 points, an improvement from 19, while his satisfaction rating rose to 35 per cent, with 51 per cent of surveyed voters dissatisfied.

The Coalition's primary vote rose to 41 per cent, while Labor was at 36 per cent and the Greens were unchanged at 10 per cent.
Two parents were caught Sunday after kidnapping their own infant son from a social services department, then driving him 2,300 miles to Montana in a stolen minivan, authorities said.

The cross-country search for the boy began after the Randolph County Department of Social Services in North Carolina told deputies on Tuesday that eight-month-old John Aston Lorell Eastlack had been taken by his parents and was missing, the sheriff's office said.

The boy had previously been placed in the custody of social services, but the sheriff's office didn't say why.

Chad Eastlack (left) and Penny Worthy are accused of kidnapping their own baby from social services in North Carolina and driving 2,300 miles to Missoula, Montana

An Amber Alert (above) was issued on Tuesday but cancelled when the child was found safe with his parents

An Amber Alert issued last week said the boy was abducted by his parents, Penny Dianne Worthy, 20, and Chad Douglas Eastlack, 35, of Trinity.

It's unclear how the child was taken from child services.

The sheriff's office said the father was also wanted on charges of stealing the minivan and a firearm.

Early Sunday in Montana, a Missoula police officer found the boy unharmed with his parents inside a hotel after spotting the stolen minivan, a 2008 Silver Chrysler Town and Country van with the license plate EAF-5393, in the parking lot.

'The child is in good health and has been turned over to the local social services agency in Missoula,' the sheriff's office said.

Authorities were coordinating his return to social service workers in North Carolina.

Chad Eastlack was taken into custody without incident on the warrant related to the stolen vehicle and firearm after the Missoula officer called in backup, said Missoula Police Sgt. Jerry Odlin.

He referred questions about what charges Worthy could face to the Randolph County Sheriff's Office.
Charlie Sheen last night claimed that he once slept with the daughter of a British Cabinet Minister.

The Hollywood star, who last year revealed he is HIV positive, made the outrageous boast during a Q&A with TV host Piers Morgan at a packed West End theatre.

Morgan asked Sheen to name the most famous person he had slept with but never publicly identified.

Charlie Sheen with former fiancee Brett Rossi. In an interview with Piers Morgan, the actor claimed to have once slept with the daughter of a British Cabinet Minister

Sheen, 50, replied: 'There was a girl here about 20 years ago. I can't say she was famous, but her father really was.

'And let's just say it was a race to the airport between the Parliament, my security team and Interpol.'

Pressed by Morgan as to whether the woman's father was British, Sheen responded: 'Extremely. I didn't find out until, 'Wait a minute, your dad is who?'

Morgan said: 'You can't take a camel to an oasis and not know how to drink, Charlie, you've now got thousands of people waiting for a little tiny hint.'

Claims: Sheen, pictured last night, was egged on by the sold-out audience at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

Sheen retorted: 'But then that's all they're going to talk about tomorrow and Interpol will be involved.'

The Two and a Half Men actor, known for his struggles with drug abuse, was egged on by the sold-out audience at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

He repeatedly refused to name the woman but implied that she was the daughter of a former home secretary.

He said: 'I can't do this ... Is there a minister of interior still? Or something close to that?' Morgan queried: 'A home secretary?'

Sheen replied: 'OK something like that, yeah.'

The show, An Evening With Charlie Sheen, was part of a UK tour for a brand of condoms the actor is promoting.

Pressed by Morgan as to whether the woman's father was British, Sheen responded: 'Extremely. I didn't find out until, 'Wait a minute, your dad is who?'

In the interview, Sheen also insisted any stories about him infecting previous sexual partners with HIV were false.

The actor admitted he had not always told his partners about his sexually transmitted disease, but said he had not had sex without protection.

He said: 'The only couple of times I didn't tell somebody was because the last 25 times I'd told somebody, they used it against me, and they used my medical condition for their own folly and financial gain.

'And the amount of despicable charlatans that I thought were allies, that then turned against me, they were coming out of the woodwork, it was crazy.'

Since going public with his HIV status, Sheen has been hit by allegations from previous partners, including former fiancee Brett Rossi and ex-girlfriend Bree Olson, that he had unprotected sex without telling them he had the STD.

Asked if he had put anyone else at risk by having unprotected sex, Sheen said: 'I never did. On all five of my children, and my granddaughter, I never did. Because I wouldn't do that to someone. I would not. How could I explain it later?

'And here's the great news: no one has been infected by me. No one.

'They claim the sorrow and the pity or whatever, but that's on them, and again I know the truth.'

The show, An Evening With Charlie Sheen, was part of a UK tour for a brand of condoms the actor is promoting

Sheen also said that if Donald Trump is elected, he will support him as president of the United States.

He told Morgan, when it comes to presidential candidates, 'the people will get what they deserve'.

Trying to explain Trump's success, the actor said: 'I think people just responded to something different, something fresh, something maverick, something innovative on some level.
One teenager has been arrested and police are hunting for others over a prank that could have caused a fatal collision.

A group of six boys were filmed allegedly destroying $900 worth of newspapers by scattering them along New South Head Road in Sydney in a manner that could very easily have caused a tragic accident.

The stacks, weighing up to 15 kilograms each, blocked four lanes of traffic and CCTV footage obtained by 9News shows papers go flying as cars barely clip the papers.

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Sheets of newspaper were scattered up to 80 metres along New South Head Road in Rose Bay on Sunday morning

A group of Sydney teenagers were filmed on CCTV placing the stacks across the road

They boys are filmed first kicking a pile of newspapers on to the road, before the prank escalates and a boy throws a stack of papers at a passing taxi while his friends laugh and cheer.

Eventually, the boys place stacks across the four lanes and walk away. As cars began to hit the stacks, sheets of paper are strewn up to 80 metres along the road.

David Ewens, who owns the Rose Bay Newsagency, told 9News the prank could have been disastrous.

'Those papers weigh 10 or 15 kilos each bundle, and cars started running in to them on both sides of the road.

'It's lucky there wasn't a head on collision or some other accident.'

A 17-year-old boy handed himself in at Waverley police station about 7.45pm on Sunday night.

He was dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.

Police are still searching for the other boys allegedly involved in the incident.

The boys laughed and cheered, holding cigarettes and a bottle in a paper bag, after one boy threw a stack at a passing taxi

The destruction was worth up to $900 according to police, who are still looking to speak to other boys regarding the incident
A strange atmosphere hangs over Brussels. On the one hand, there is Donald Tusk, President of the European Council (representing all 28 EU governments), warning of Armageddon if Britain votes to leave the European Union on Thursday.

As he told a German interviewer last week: 'I fear Brexit could be the beginning of the destruction of not only the EU but also Western political civilisation in its entirety.'

But you won't hear a squeak on the subject from most people in the vast glass-and-steel bureaucratic palaces across this city. As an EU fromage of great magnitude, Mr Tusk can get away with saying this sort of thing. Lesser Eurocrats are under strict orders to say nothing on the subject, for fear of adding any further heat to the issue. There has even been a ban on using the word 'Brexit' in official communications.

Refill, sir? Jean-Claude Juncker at a Brussels working lunch before he became European Commission president in 2014

Given the whopping great perks and privileges bestowed on those who work for the European Union, no one is going to step out of line. In any case, most people here still cannot really believe that we pesky Brits really would have the temerity to abandon the Grand Project. But then, if you live in this hermetically sealed bubble  a world of long lunches, long weekends and retail discounts worth 36 per cent  your grasp of normality is somewhat distorted.

During a week here in the gilded capital of Europe, I have been amazed by the gulf between this place and the real world.

Just take the wage bill of the 47,000 people who work inside the bubble. Since 2010, it has been British policy to disclose the number of government officials earning more than our Prime Minister, who gets paid just shy of 150,000. In Britain, the latest figure stands at 319.

And the equivalent number for the EU? According to documents leaked ahead of the last European elections two years ago, EU tax perks mean that at least 10,000 EU employees are taking home more than David Cameron.

Many are mere middle managers. Among the extra perks are the 240 monthly allowance for stay-at-home spouses and the 100-a-month allowance per child. On top of that, European taxpayers spend an estimated 80 million each year in school fees for Eurocrats' children.

You need not spend long in the palace of pointlessness that is the European Parliament to sense the institutional arrogance of this entire project.

For the perfect illustration of EU waste, just watch this vast institution pack up and move house for four days a month. It's a travelling circus which costs 150 million a year

Take a trip up to the fifth-floor library, as I did the other day, on the morning that The Sun had formally declared for Brexit. I went in search of a copy of the newspaper among those imported from all 28 EU countries every day.

There was no shortage of dense reading material from Hungary, Spain and Slovenia, along with assorted French and Belgian rags  and The Guardian, of course. But The Sun?

'It's not deemed to be a serious newspaper,' explained the librarian, neatly encapsulating the European Union's attitude towards the ordinary European voter.

Perish the thought that the European Parliament might be interested in the second-biggest-selling newspaper in Europe on the day that it formally endorsed leaving the EU.

But the European Parliament had much more important things to consider on that morning.

A huge throng of media had gathered outside the main entrance to cover the big story of the day the arrival of Prince Albert of Monaco for the launch of European Bee Week. This year's catchy slogan: 'Bees Caring for Europeans. Europeans Caring For Bees.'

There is precious little going on in Brussels right now. It may be parliamentary term-time but it feels as if most people are somewhere else. There is a palpable sense of inactivity. And that is hardly surprising.

Travelling circus: There is an in-house travel agency that makes arrangements for MEPs to travel to and from their other parliament building, 300 miles away in the French city of Strasbourg. Pictured, boarding the train

Last week, the European Parliament should have been hosting a review of the 'Multiannual Financial Framework', the long-term budget for the entire EU. But the two-day conference has now been postponed until after the British referendum  with good reason, according to British Euroscpetics.

'They're already 20 billion short, they have multiple crises and they are going to need billions more,' says the pro-Brexit Tory MEP Dan Hannan.

His colleague David Campbell Bannerman, Tory MEP for the East of England and another Brexit supporter, has been tracking another issue that has vanished from the agenda.

The Parliament's foreign affairs committee was about to demand that the EU be given a seat on the Security Council of the United Nations. Such a move would not only have grave implications for Britain's permanent seat on the council. It would also highlight the EU's determination to be treated as a proper country in its own right. Conveniently, all that has been shelved for a fortnight.

In contrast to the 'Project Fear' campaign which the Remain camp has been operating in Britain, it has been a case of 'don't mention the war' here in Brussels.

So much stuff has been locked away until after the British vote that cupboard doors are bursting at the hinges. In private, however, senior officials admit that once Britain has had its referendum, the bureaucrats will be back with a vengeance.

Warning: Ukip MEP Roger Helmer

Ukip MEP Roger Helmer says he has no doubt what is coming, regardless of which way we vote: 'I was in a meeting the other day with Sefcovic [the Slovak European Commissioner for Energy], who said there will be a "tsunami of measures".'

It is the unelected Commission, of course, which is really in charge here. Each of the 28 EU nations dispatches a commissioner  a senior politician or a crony  to supervise a department within this bloated behemoth of 33,000 bureaucrats.

Once here, they answer not to their country but to the Commission and its president, Luxembourg's Jean-Claude Juncker.

And, crucially, it is the Commission which draws up new EU laws behind closed doors.

The elected MEPs in the European Parliament can propose amendments, along with the Council of the European Union (representing the national governments, but not to be confused with the Council of Europe or the European Council  pay attention). If the MEPs and the Council cannot agree, then there is a further negotiation with the Commission  behind closed doors.

Finally, when a deal has been thrashed out, it falls to the Commission to enforce the new law.

I drop in at the Commission's midweek media briefing.

In the windowless bowels of the mighty Soviet-style Berlaymont building, a few dozen hacks have gathered to hear one of the most senior commissioners, Jyrki Katainen, talk about 'endocrine disruptors' (chemical triggers that can harm our hormonal systems). I imagine that Mr Katainen might get a grilling on other issues. As a former prime minister of Finland, he is, after all, a grown-up politician and a Commission vice-president.

But that's not the way things are done here. When I ask if he agrees with Donald Tusk that Brexit would be the end of Western civilisation, there is much tutting and rolling of eyes.

A media minder bats away the question. 'Let's hope there is not a need for an experimental test,' says Mr Katainen. And that is that.

For politicians who have made their names in the rough and tumble of party politics back home, life as a European commissioner is not just rewarding  with a 200,000 basic salary, personal staff, platinum pension and even 8,000 a month in 'transition payments' for three years when you eventually step off the gravy train. It is simply much more congenial.

Empty halls: Jean-Claude Juncker speaks during a debate on Britain's EU referendum in February

Next up is the Commissioner for Migration, Greece's Dimitris Avramopoulos, with an update on the migrant situation in the Aegean. During questions, however, there is an illuminating outburst which goes to the heart of the whole EU debate.

Asked about the slow pace of relocating some of the 160,000 immigrants due for resettlement, he has a swipe at politicians who make 'not helpful' statements and warns: 'Member states have to speed up their efforts. Very soon I will be even more vocal, naming and shaming the countries that do not comply.'

In other words, he'll lean on nations to take more migrants, or else!

Here is a neat illustration of the way things really work around here. The unelected Commission is not, as some still imagine, a civil service which answers to the elected representatives of the people. It's the other way round. And if any lowly MEP wishes to take a commissioner to task, he or she must submit a question in writing and then wait six weeks for a reply.

It is the reason a British MEP such as Andrew Lewer has sided with Vote Leave. A former Tory leader of Derbyshire County Council, he was elected as an MEP in 2014.

'I arrived here with an entirely open mind and I'm only just on the side of Brexit,' he explains.

It was, he says, the intransigence of the EU towards David Cameron's proposals in the run-up to the referendum which tipped him over the edge. He also acknowledges that the British 'just aren't very good at being European'.

The hypocrisy in Brussels doesn't help, either.

Pro-Brexit: MEP Andrew Lewer

Any ordinary office building in Brussels would be subject to a strict smoking ban. But here at the European Parliament, I find a huge smoking room next to the main bar. No huddling outside the back door for the 20-a-day Eurocrat, if you please.

I walk down to the room where MEPs simply have to sign a register to claim an automatic 240 daily allowance (on top of their 80,000 salary). There is a pile of expenses forms by the door. A short stroll down the corridor is the in-house travel agency that makes arrangements for MEPs to travel to and from their other parliament building, 300 miles away in the French city of Strasbourg.

For the perfect illustration of EU waste, just watch this vast institution pack up and move house for four days a month. It's a travelling circus which costs 150 million a year.

Down at the MEPs' restaurant, lunch is under way (it's foie gras and lobster for starters today). Everything is subsidised  by taxpayers, naturally  in this place. Where else could you find a coffee for less than 1?

Lunch operates on traditional continental lines here  from 12.30 to 3pm, whereupon a few committees resume their discussions in vast semicircular chambers, each bigger than some national parliaments.

Half-a-dozen members of the foreign affairs committee have turned up to discuss a new report on Greece.

Like every meeting in this place, it is translated into 23 languages by a vast army of interpreters who can earn up to 800 a day. Unfortunately, the Greek interpreter hasn't made it, to the irritation of a Greek socialist MEP, who has to talk in English.

I drop in on the budgetary control committee, the internal affairs committee, the industry committee and others. They are fascinating and stultifying in equal measure. There is precious little discussion of anything. MEPs take turns to read out their prepared statements while everyone else does emails and other stuff.

With everyone hunched over their papers, there is little eye contact and even less in the way of oratory. Nor are there any screens to say who is talking. It could hardly be less user-friendly to the outsider. Which may explain why there are so many empty seats in the public gallery.

I find a handful of ordinary punters exploring the Parliamentarium, a shameless 17 million EU propaganda exercise which opened five years ago. You enter via a dark tunnel lined with photos of European misery back in the days before this blessed project took shape.

A voice on a loop recites the words of the long-forgotten British politician Lord Lothian, in 1939: 'The only final remedy for this supreme and catastrophic evil of our time is a federal union of the peoples.' There is no mention that he was an arch-appeaser who wanted a deal with Hitler.

Mighty: The Soviet-style Berlaymont building, where the European Commission is based for most of the year

We walk through an audiovisual display of all the landmarks in EU history, and into a room with a map of Europe on the floor. Place a scanner over a particular spot, and a video screen tells you how it fits into the European project. London, it explains, is home to the European Medicines Agency. Scotland, we learn, is home to Europe's North Sea Oil (I had no idea we had the EU to thank for that).

In the next room, sofas and armchairs are clustered around more screens showing video messages from grateful EU citizens. I gently nod off as I listen to Carla from Portugal telling me how the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund gave her the money for a children's petting farm.

Finally, we all leave via a photo gallery of every MEP and emerge in the gift shop, where you can pick up a pair of EU cufflinks for 10.

No British visitor could possibly walk through this place without a fit of the giggles. Yet I follow a small group from France who are nodding earnestly throughout.

As if this were not enough, a new attraction is due to open next door in a few months  a 43 million museum called the House Of European History. Teams of workers are busy adding the finishing touches to this gleaming six-storey temple to the EU dream.

According to Ukip and Eurosceptic Tory MEPs, it is a 'monstrous vanity project'. According to the blurb, it will be 'a centre of excellence in which reflection on the history of European integration and its position in our daily lives will be encouraged, enabled and sustained'.
Three people were being treated for

A fire has destroyed a Melbourne home in the early hours of Monday morning.

Three people are being treated for smoke inhalation, after earlier reports that one resident was missing in the blaze.

Emergency services were called to the weatherboard home on Lobb Street in Brunswick at about 5.30am.

A fire has destroyed a Melbourne home in the early hours of Monday morning

Three people are being treated for smoke inhalation, after earlier reports that one was missing in the blaze

Up to 30 firefighters were dispatched following fears residents were trapped in the house.

It took 30 minutes to bring the fire under control.

Only two of the four people who lived at the home were inside when the blaze broke out, police said.

They escaped without injury and the fire is not being treated as suspicious.

Earlier it was reported that one person may have been missing following the fire but all four people have been accounted for.

Up to 30 firefighters (pictured) were dispatched following fears residents were trapped in the house

Emergency services were called to the weatherboard home on Lobb Street (pictured) in the inner city suburb of Brunswick at about 5.30am
Backpackers in Australia have a new way of earning visa points to extend their stay in the country: become a cane toad killer.

The Western Australian Government is asking backpackers to volunteer to battle the spread of cane toads, an invasive species that has become widespread across Australia's tropical north and poses a threat to native animals.

Kimberley Toad Busters are recruiting backpackers from all over the world to catch large toads, net tadpoles and spray the species young.

Backpackers hold cane toads caught in a scheme offered by the Western Australian Government to tackle the spread of the invasive species

Kimberley Toad Busters are recruiting backpackers from all over the world to tackle the spread of cane toads and earn their working visas

Australian visa rules allow visitors on a 12-month 'working holiday' to extend their stay for a second year if they carry out approved work in certain areas of the country. Usually, this work includes labouring jobs such as fruit and vegetable picking on farms and orchards.

Now, it includes toad hunting in the northwest of Australia.

We offer toad busting volunteer hours to anyone in Australia doing volunteer hours for their second-year visa Kimberley Toad Busters president Lee Scott-Virtue told Daily Mail Australia.

Volunteers work for 7 hours a day and 60-80 hours in total to complete the program, which in turn gives them credits to stay in Australia.

She said there have recently been volunteers from Asia, Europe and South America signing up to join the cause.

People are realising the devastating the impact cane toads are having on the region. They are moving invading the Kimberley region which has already seriously threatened several species.

The work is intended to slow down the spread of the toads rather than stop them in their tracks, which would transcend the current workforce on volunteers on the cause.

We are just thinning out the front line and that takes giving an increased chance of survival for native wildlife.

Backpackers on the program catch large toads, net tadpoles and spray metamorphs, or the species young

State Governments across Australia have scrambled to stop the spread of cane toads since they were introduced to Queensland 80 years ago

Cane toads were introduced to Queensland 80 years ago to control the reduce the spread of the grey-backed cane beetle, which were damaging sugar cane crops.

They immediately wreaked havoc on the environment, driving several species to extinction, depleting native fauna and poisoning pets as well as humans.
He is currently the longest serving MP

Ken Clarke, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, has announced that he is to finally step away from politics after serving in Westminster for 50 years

Ken Clarke, the former Chancellor of the Exchequer, has announced that he is to finally step away from politics after serving in Westminster for 50 years.

The 75-year-old has reportedly told constituency officers that they will need to look for another successor ahead of the next General Election.

Speaking to China Daily, the former contender for leader of the Conservative party, said: I will not stand again. This is my last parliament.

The Remain campaigner added that any Government implementing a Leave vote would actually be a minority government.

The MP for Rushcliffe in Nottingham returned to the back benches after a Cabinet re-shuffle in July 2014, having previously been appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice.

Mr Clarke has been serving his constituency since 1970 and is currently the longest serving MP, alongside Labours Dennis Skinner.

Mr Clarke has served in Cabinet governments spanning three decades - serving as Health Secretary under Margaret Thatcher, Chancellor under John Major and Justice Secretary under David Cameron.

He also became famous for wearing suede Hush Puppies shoes.

Mr Clarke stood for Tory leader three times in his career as an MP but failed on all three occasions in 1997, 2001 and 2005.

He was installed as Justice Secretary in 2010, but was slammed by members of his own party for 'going soft'.

Mr Clarke decided to quit the frontbench two years ago after resigning as Minister without Portfolio.

Opinion polls signalled he was always more popular with the public than with his party, with his pro-EU views and his more liberal, left-wing stance out of sync with the rest of the Conservative party.

Mr Clarke stood for Tory leader three times in his career as an MP but failed on all three occasions in 1997, 2001 and 2005. Pictured with John Major during a Conservative party conference

Mr Clarke has been serving his constituency since 1970 and is currently the longest serving MP, alongside Labours Dennis Skinner

Last month, it was reported that Mr Clarke has been handed a record 430,000 to write his memoir

The book deal is the largest sum offered to a politician who did not serve as Prime Minister.

Mr Clarke confirmed he was writing the book - titled Kind of Blue, named after one of his jazz heroes, Miles Davis.

Draft chapters read by a publisher who failed to sign Mr Clarke compared his writing to American novelist F Scott Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby.
A Queensland mother is openly seeking a doctor to sign forms exempting her daughter from vaccinations despite her being medically fit to receive them, so she will not be cut off from tax benefits.

The woman wrote to more than 4,000 members of the 'Vaccine Choice Australia' Facebook group, saying her doctor reluctantly provided an exemption form for her daughter that expires in a month  and she 'highly doubts' she will receive another.

'How can I get around this?' she wote.

'Are there any locals in Bundaberg who have a doctor who will sign one? Or is there another way I can get around this?

'Surprisingly my day care is wonderfully accepting of my choice not to vax and aren't bothered.'

A Queensland mother reached out for help finding a doctor who would medically exempt her daughter from vaccinations based on her own moral objection

The post comes six months after the government instituted a 'no jab, no pay' policy, which restricts parents from receiving child care assistance and Family Tax Benefit A - worth up to $2100 per child, if their child isn't vaccinated.

It also removes clauses which previously allowed parents to 'conscientiously object' to vaccinating their children and still receive family payments.

There are very few ways to get around the new policy, and according to Dr Tony Bartone, Vice President of the Australian Medical Association, the window for exclusion on medical grounds is 'very narrow'.

'Any time a doctor signs a legal document  we take that responsibility very seriously. I find it perturbing and concerning that people are actively looking for doctors to avoid vaccination,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

He said any doctor who falsified certificates would be harshly disciplined.

'We all have to abide by our code of ethics and our responsibilities. If we falsified certificates, that would be viewed very seriously by the authorities and there would be disciplinary action,' he said.

'[Vaccination] is no longer a question of agreement  now it's either yes you're on the register or no you're not.

'Parents who choose not to have their children vaccinated risk weakening the herd immunity and it puts vulnerable people, such as very young babies or people who are undergoing some forms of chemotherapy, at risk.'

Dr Tony Bartone said he found the practice 'perturbing and concerning' and said the window for medical exemption was very narrow (stock image)

A spokesperson for the Department of Human Services said it was very rare for a child to be medically exempt from vaccination, and both parents and doctors found to be providing false or misleading information associated with medical exemptions can be investigated for fraudulent activities.

Meryl Dorey, Public Officer for the Australian Vaccination-Skeptics Network (AVN) said the legislation did not adequately exempt enough children from vaccination.

'The only side effect listed in the new legislation as a reason for an exemption is anaphylaxis or a life-threatening allergic reaction,' she said.

'There are literally dozens of other side effects - some of them life-threatening - others life-changing - for which parents are being told: 'Too bad. Keep vaccinating anyway or do without government assistance'.'

'The fact that this woman already had an exemption for her child means, to me, that it is valid.

'Doctors are unwilling to fill in exemptions now unless anaphylaxis has occurred so parents are stuck between a rock and a hard place.'

The AVN website says the group are seeking legal advice to overturn the new legislation through High Court action.

The mother has been contacted for comment.
An international Christian charitys headquarters have been smeared with graffiti accusing the organisation of shaming people who disagree with the church.

Large anti-church slogans painted in red covered the entrance to the Salvation Army building on Sydneys Chalmers Street on Monday morning.

A badge imitating the Salvation Army crest was sprayed on the windows with the words The Stigma Army written inside and Stigma Kills was painted over sliding doors at the front.

The Salvation Army building on Syndey's Chalmers Street was vandalised with graffiti carrying anti-church slogans such as 'The Stigma Army'

The same phrase - 'Stigma Army' - was also painted to the left of the building's entrance

It is not known what the graffiti or the repeated references to 'stigma' mean.

A Salvation Army spokesman said the church helped anyone in need without discrimination.

The spokesman said: 'The Salvation Army provides its social services to anyone in need, without discrimination.

'The graffiti from the building has been removed, allowing us to get on with the job with assisting those who need it most  the marginalised and disadvantaged people within our community.'

A badge imitating the Salvation Army crest was painted over the front windows next to the entrance of the building
The daughter of former NSW premier Neville Wran has been seen for the first time since being charged with the murder of a suspected ice dealer nearly two years ago.

Harriet Langley Wran has pleaded not guilty to several charges, including the stabbing murder of Sydney drug dealer Daniel McNulty in a Redfern public housing block in Sydney in August 2014.

Photographs have emerged of the 28-year-old being escorted by police in handcuffs as she stands trial in the New South Wales Supreme Court on Monday.

Wran told her family that supporting her through her trial would be too hard for them, but her mother Jill Hickson-Wran swore to stand by her daughter.

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Harriet Wran is escorted to a prison transport vehicle at the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney on Monday

The 28-year-old pleaded not guilty on Monday to the stabbing murder of Sydney drug dealer Daniel McNulty

Jill Hickson-Wran, the mother of Harriet Wran, arrives the New South Wales Supreme Court as her daughter prepares to face murder charges

Harriet Wran told her family to abandon her as she felt her murder trial would be too hard on them

Harriet Wran has been in prison awaiting her trial in the New South Wales Supreme Court as he bail was refused

Wran, the daughter of deceased former NSW premier Neville Wran, whose estate was estimated at $40m, is also charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and robbery in company.

She has been in jail for the past two years after being refused bail, waiting for her trial in the New South Wales Supreme Court.

It is alleged that on August 10, 2014, Wran, and two others - Lloyd Edward Haines and her then boyfriend Michael Lee - murdered McNulty in a Redfern drug den.

Lee changed a plea of not guilty of murder to guilty less than a week before he was due face trial, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Wran (left) is escorted to a prison transport vehicle at the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney on Monday

Photographs have emerged of the 28-year-old being escorted by police in handcuffs as she stands trial

Wran has been in jail for the past two years after being refused bail, waiting for her trial in the Supreme Court

Ms Hickson-Wran was accompanied by two women as she entered the court on Monday morning

She shared a brief smile with one of her companions as her daughter prepares to face court

She promised to support her daughter despite warnings the trial would be difficult for her

Former State Labor Leader Neville Wran and his wife Jill. Mrs Hickson-Wran has vowed to stand by her daughter

Ms Wran (middle) and her brother Hugo (left) are pictured in 2014 speaking with Tanya Plibersek (right) three months before her arrest

Harriet Wran was allegedly involved in the murder of a known ice dealer, Daniel McNulty (pictured)in 2014

Since being in jail, Ms Wran has written letters to former boyfriend Dennen Chew, revealing she regretted ever using the drug ice

Since being in jail, she's written letters to former boyfriend Dennen Chew describing the conditions, apologising for the way their relationship ended and telling him she wished she had never used the drug methamphetamine, also known as ice.

The letters revealed Ms Wran was told not to write to anyone she had used with, but she decided to ignore those orders, The Sunday Telegraph reported

Jail is pretty much what youd imagine  a dirty, tiny cell with a waifer (sic) thin mattress, creepy writing all over the walls and a metal toilet in arms length from the bed, Ms Wran wrote.

She was concerned with putting on weight in jail because 'theres little else to do in here except eat.

The young woman goes on to explain she is allowed to study via distance from jail.

Ms Wran's family has hired eminent barrister Phillip Boulten SC and solicitor David Giddy to represent her.

Ms Wran's family has hired eminent barrister Phillip Boulten SC and solicitor David Giddy to represent her

Neville Wran poses with his wife Jill, daughter Harriet and a guest at a charity event in 2005
From its humble beginnings, the William Hillcourt Scout Museum and Carson Buck Library has answered the challenge of bringing the rich history of Boy Scouting in upstate and central New York to thousands of annual visitors. Located outside of Constantia at the Longhouse Councils Camp Woodland on 491 Kibbie Lake Road, the museum offers an impressive amount of Scout memorabilia and displays depicting the Boy Scout movement and history in the areas councils.

The museum was born in the early 1990s from a few pieces assembled and displayed in a small room in the headquarters building at the camp. From a few cases and displays, it was not long before items began to multiply as people donated more and more items. A handful of volunteers formed a committee to take responsibility and care of the growing collection. Not long afterward, it became apparent that the collection was outgrowing the space it occupied. The museum moved into an older building on the premises that was formerly a camp director's cabin. Renovations were made, and volunteers worked on setting up and organizing the growing collection.

Over the next few years, the museum began to again outgrow its space. The chairman of the museum committee, the late Bill McGee, was looking for a way to add a wing to the building and completely renovate the facility. His vision was put to paper, and plans were drawn up for what would become the new museum. Through donations, fundraising, a matching grant from an anonymous donor and a personal donation from McGee, the needed money to fund the project was attained. Soon after, the museum staff and contractors were working to expand the building to its present form.

Today, the museum holds many thousands of items. Many of which were once part of an expansive collection assembled by William Hillcourt, for whom the museum is named. William Green Bar Bill Hillcourt is widely considered to be the godfather of the modern American Boy Scouting movement. Hillcourt moved to America at a young age from Denmark, and got involved with the scouting movement. He is credited with writing several editions of the Boy Scout Handbook, as well as dozens of other books on scouting. Eventually, Hillcourt move to Manlius and became involved in scouting locally. Parts of his scouting collection became the foundation of the museums collection when it was formed.

The museum is proud to display many rare scouting related items. There is an original 1910 Boy Scout uniform, a very rare collection set of Borden Condensed Milk can prints from 1910 to 1915, a collection of BSA limited edition Henry rifles, vintage scouting movie posters, Rockwell prints, an original council flag from the first National Jamboree and a restored Adirondack canoe, once used by the camp. There are also extensive collections on display dedicated to the many local camps and councils that once existed in the area. Throughout the more than 100 years of scouting, many items in our culture have been branded with the scouting logo. There are displays of everything: official scout knives, cooking and camping equipment, compasses, first aid kits, cameras and so much more. There are collections of local, regional, national and international events  something from and for every interest.

The museums library holds just about every book published by the Boy Scouts of America and hundreds of volumes of serials and other scout-related works. The library also contains literature focused on local scouting history, with many items donated by another local Scout, Carson Buck, for whom the library is named.

The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, or by appointment. It is a gem that needs to be seen to be truly appreciated. Our local scouting history and heritage is being preserved for present and future Scouts and public to enjoy.

The museum is gathering items to create a historical display specific to Cayuga County Council, Camp Rotary and Tahgajute Lodge, Order of the Arrow, and is looking for scouting memorabilia in all forms: pictures, literature, news articles, patches or what have you. If you find yourself with any items that you would like to donate, please feel free to contact me.
Tory peer Baroness Warsi claimed to have switched to the Remain camp

Maverick Tory peer Baroness Warsi last night claimed to have switched to the Remain camp in protest over a controversial Nigel Farage immigration poster.

However, her high-profile 'defection' was greeted with bafflement among Leave supporters - who could not remember her ever campaigning in their side.

Lady Warsi's claims were made following a day when a Ukip poster claiming migration was pushing the continent to 'breaking point' were condemned by all sides.

Last night she told The Times: 'That breaking point poster really was - for me - the breaking point to say: 'I can't go on supporting this'.

She added: 'We all feel very passionately about these issues, it's when you start to believe that any means are acceptable to achieve an end. It's not an easy decision.

'When I look at the people who are now saying the things they are saying and the people who are supporting that approach, the BNP, Donald Trump, Marine le Pen, Austria's Freedom Party  every day it feels like the far right is coming out to stand by Leave.'

She later told the BBC: 'This kind of nudge-nudge, wink-wink xenophobic racist campaign may be politically savvy or politically useful in the short term, but it causes long-term damage to communities.

'The vision that me and other Brexiters who have been involved right from the outset, who had a positive outward-looking vision of what a Brexit vote might mean, unfortunately those voices have now been stifled.

'What we see is the divisive campaign which has resulted in people like me and others who are deeply Eurosceptic and want to see a reformed relationship feel that they now have to leave Leave.'

But a spokesman for Vote Leave said the campaign was confused by Lady Warsi's announcement.

He said: 'We don't remember Warsi ever joining our campaign so we are puzzled by her claims to have defected.'

Daniel Hannan, the high profile Tory MEP and Leave campaigner, said: 'When I invited Sayeeda Warsi to join the Leave campaign, she declined. Fair enough, obviously. But how is this a 'defection'?'

Tory MP Bernard Jenkin added: 'I helped set up Vote Leave and she has not been at a single meeting I have attended. ''Defects'' just not accurate!.'

Mr Farage insisted the 'defection' was a 'classic put up job' that had been coordinated by Downing Street to mount pressure over his controversial poster.

Lady Warsi, who was dumped from the Cabinet by the PM in 2012, has a record of picking high-profile rows.

She was last seen hammering the Tories and Number Ten over the controversial London mayoralty campaign - in which Labour's Sadiq Khan was linked to Islamist extremists by David Cameron.

In May, she Tweeted: 'Our appalling dog whistle campaign for #LondonMayor2016 lost us the election, our reputation & credibility on issues of race and religion.'

Controversial: Nigel Farage unveils the pro-Brexit poster that shows a crowd of refugees and says that the UK is at 'breaking point'

Chancellor George Osborne led attacks on the poster, which he likened to Nazi propaganda

Yesterday Chancellor George Osborne led attacks on the poster, which he likened to Nazi propaganda.

On ITV's Peston on Sunday, the Chancellor accused Mr Farage of 'whipping up division'.

He said that, in the wake of the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox, 'we need to have a less divisive political debate in our country' with 'less baseless assertion and inflammatory rhetoric'.

Mr Osborne added: 'That disgusting and vile poster that Nigel Farage did which had echoes of literature used in the 1930s.

'That is what we should say no to and this referendum vote is a vote on the kind of Britain we want.'

Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr programme, Michael Gove, who is leading the Vote Leave campaign, distanced himself from Mr Farage, as did key Leave supporters including Leader of the Commons Chris Grayling.

Justice Secretary Mr Gove said: 'When I saw that poster, I shuddered. I thought it was the wrong thing to do.'

But, defending the poster, Mr Farage said that it 'reflects the truth of what's going on'. He said he thought Mrs Cox's death  hours after the poster was unveiled on Thursday  had heightened criticism, telling Sky News: 'I wish an innocent MP had not been gunned down in the street.

'Frankly had that not happened I don't think we would have had the kind of row over it.'

On Question Time last night, Mr Cameron said that the poster was 'wrong in fact' as it showed Syrian refugees who were not headed to Britain.
The former manager for a nightclub that Prince owned in the '90s has been found dead.

Paul Pudlitzke, 48, was found dead in his home in the 5100 block of Woodhill Road about 8:30am in Minnetonka, a suburb of Minnesota, on Saturday, reports the Star Tribune.

Reportedly, the person who called 911 told police that Pudlitzke had been using illegal drugs the night before his death, although it is unclear what kind.

Prince died of an accidental fentanyl overdose on April 21 at his Chanhassen, Minnesota home, which he named Paisley Park.

Paul Pudlitzke (above) was general manager for the Glam Slam nightclub in Minneapolis in the early '90s. He was found dead Saturday morning at his home in Minnetonka

Prince, capitalizing on his '90s popularity, opened three Glam Slam nightclubs, named after one of his songs - his former club manager Paul Pudlitzke said Prince was a perfectionist for whom there was 'no room for error'

In the early 1990s, Pudlitzke booked musical acts for Glam Slam, a Warehouse District club owned by Prince. During the four years he acted as booker, he brought in B.B. King, Miles Davis, Average White Band, Morris Day & The Time, Creed, Soul Asylum, and The Whalers. Prince also played there when he was preparing for a tour or just felt like it.

As general manager, Pudlitzke oversaw all club operations and its 600-person staff. At its peak, the club held 3,000 people.

He told the outlet that the job was non-stop, and he was constantly on a plane, and made $90,000 a year - but it was all worth it to hang around Prince.

'For me, it wasnt really about the money,' he said. 'Sure, it was nice, but I enjoyed the challenge of the job, of making things happen. It was a lifestyle. [Prince] was an incredible perfectionist. There was no room for error.'

Paul Pudlitzke was a real estate agent at the time of his death (left); In the early 90s he worked for Prince, running his nightclub Glam Slam in Minneapolis (right, a picture from about the same time period)

He also helped run Glam Slam offshoots in Los Angeles and Miami. Prince opened the club in 1989 and sold it eight years later to a business partner.

The club was renamed The Quest and was successful until a fire destroyed it in 2006. Three other Grand Slam clubs opened, including one in Japan, but all have since closed.

Pudlitzke told the Belle Plaine Herald shortly after Prince's death that he called him 'the boss' and, at six foot six inches tall, he had to sit down when the notoriously sensitive about his short stature superstar would enter a room.

'He was, to me, the best musician on earth,' he told the outlet. 'It was an honor and a pleasure working for him.'

At the time of his death, Pudlitzke was a real estate agent. He was never married.

His sister, Joy Hopkins, told the Star Tribune, 'He was a very generous person, loved to boat and loved being with his nieces and nephews.
A Brisbane mother accused of killing her 21-month-old daughter will face trial next year, with prosecutors planning to call up to 15 specialist pediatricians to prove their case.

In Brisbane Supreme Court, Justice David Boddice said prosecutors had upgraded one of the charges from manslaughter to murder against Ashleigh Meagan Watterson, 29, the Courier Mail reports.

Watterson now faces nine charges  one count of murder, three counts of attempted murder, four counts of assault, and one count of grievous bodily harm.

Ashleigh Meagan Watterson (pictured), 29, is accused of killing her 21-month-old daughter

Her baby Sarah Jade Watterson died on March 20, 2012, at Rothwell, north of Brisbane. Watterson is currently on bail and did not appear in court.

Watterson's lawyer Eugene O'Sullivan said the team had an 'informal' medical report which stated baby Sarah 'died of natural causes, breathing difficulties'.

But prosecutors indicated they would call up to 15 specialist pediatricians to prove Watterson killed the girl.

Mr O'Sullivan said the case for the defence would also challenge the admissibility of Watterson's 'alleged confession' to police 'well after she was charged with attempted murder'.

'We say she was not mentally fit to do that interview  so we want that kicked out,' Mr O'Sullivan told the court.

October 4 is the date that was set for Watterson's pre-trial hearing.

Justice David Boddice said prosecutors had upgraded one of the charges from manslaughter to murder in Brisbane Supreme Court
Pretended she wanted to meet up for lunch and took them to the CIA headquarters instead

Didn't tell her son and daughter until 1997, when they were 17 and 15

She received secret packages from agent TRIGON, a Soviet diplomat recruited in Latin America - and was eventually arrested by the KGB

Trained for the CIA in 1975 and embarked on a two-year mission in Moscow after learning Russian

Martha Peterson worked behind the Iron Curtain in Moscow in the 1970s

A mother of two who became the first female agent station by the CIA in Soviet Russia has revealed how she told her children about her real occupation - after telling them to meet her for lunch at Roy Rogers.

Martha Peterson trained to join the CIA in 1975 and, after becoming proficient Russian and learning surveillance techniques, embarked on a two-year mission in Moscow.

She remained undercover, placing dead drops in the city and receiving secret packages from agent TRIGON, a Soviet diplomat recruited to work for the CIA in Latin America.

Peterson, who was eventually arrested by the KBG, didn't reveal her real identity to her son Tyler and daughter Lora until 1997, when they were 17 and 15 years old and she was working in McLean, Virginia.

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Martha Peterson (pictured) became one of the first women stationed by the CIA in Soviet Russia in the mid-1970s as she embarked on a two-year mission

Peterson (pictured in an archive shot) didn't reveal her true occupation to her children until 1997, when they were 17 and 15 years old

Telling them earlier would have been too risky, Peterson said in her book Widow Spy, in an excerpt published by CNN, as children do not realize how dangerous it could be to expose a CIA agent.

But colleagues warned her that waiting too long could cause her children to resent her for not trusting them.

Peterson, who is featured in the premiere episode of CNN's 'Declassified' series this Sunday, waited until Good Friday, when her children were off from school and didn't have any other plans for the day.

Her daughter Lora called her around 10am and Peterson asked her to come for lunch with her brother.

'I sensed this aroused her curiosity because I never met them for lunch,' Peterson wrote in Widow Spy.

'She agreed to get Tyler up in time to arrive in McLean by noon. I assured her that Tyler knew where the Roy Rogers was.'

By the time Lora and Tyler arrived, Peterson had been sitting in her parked car for 15 minutes.

They climbed inside and, not knowing how to break the news to them, Peterson simply said: 'I work for CIA.'

Her son Tyler was the first to react, saying: 'She's a spy.'

This made them all laugh, as the word itself sounded absurd, Peterson wrote.

John, Peterson's first husband, was an aspiring journalist and a Green Beret in Vietnam. He joined the CIA and died in a helicopter crash in Laos at 27 years old

She feared her daughter was resentful when she asked what else their mother had been keeping from them, but was relieved when both smiled and didn't look offended.

Peterson offered to take them for lunch at the cafeteria inside CIA Headquarters - and proceeded to tell them her story in detail.

Tyler and Lora were impressed, she wrote, when a guard asked for their photo IDs at the security gate - and checked them thoroughly before letting them through.

'To this day, they recall how awed they were at this official attention,' Peterson said in her book.

She took them inside and told them the real story of her past - which involved telling them she had been married once before meeting their father.

Peterson's first husband, John, was a Green Beret in Vietnam. Peterson, born in in Kansas City, Missouri and raised in Darien, Connecticut, met him the first week of college at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.

John decided to join the forces after both graduated in 1967. He wanted to become a journalist and thought that experiencing combat was a requisite for the profession.

Peterson eventually enrolled at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill to study college teaching with a specialty in sociology.

She and John got married in 1969 and he joined the CIA the following year. The couple moved to Laos in 1971.

Peterson told her son Tyler and her daughter Lora to meet her for lunch - and ended up taking them to the CIA headquarters (file picture) to share her true story with them

There, John conducted paramilitary operations as a CIA officer. He died in 1972 at 27 years old in a helicopter crash.

Peterson told her children about her first marriage for the first time 25 years later as they stood in the CIA lobby, next to a wall carved with stars representing deceased CIA officers.

She showed them John's star and they touched it tenderly, she recounted in her book.

Then, she launched into the next part of her story - how she became a CIA agent herself in the mid-1970s after her first husband's death.

Peterson worked undercover for almost two years in Moscow and became one of the first women assigned to Soviet Russia by the agency.

There, she worked with TRIGON, whom she calls her 'second hero' after John - a Soviet diplomat named Aleksandr Dmitryevich Ogorodnik who was recruited in Latin America to work for the CIA.

She recovered secret packages from him and it was during one of these operations that she was discovered by the KGB and arrested.

A Czech double agent had betrayed Ogorodnik, leading to Peterson's arrest after a drop, the Star-News reported previously.

Peterson, who told the newspaper she could never return to Moscow, came back to the United States and continued to work for the CIA.

She met the man who later became her second husband, and Tyler and Lora's father, while stationed in Russia.

Counter-terrorism became her area of focus during her last year at the agency, according to the Star-News.

But Peterson still won't divulge much about her career at the CIA.

'My work ranged from extremely exciting, at times making a difference in our nation's security posture, to the mundane everyday detailed work which makes the system function,' she wrote on the website dedicated to her book, which came out in 2012.
Jake Bailey, the inspirational teenage cancer survivor who delivered an incredible speech to his school as he battled lymphoma, has wowed audiences again with a moving delivery at a charity dinner.

The former head student at Christchurch Boys' High School in New Zealand left his hospital bed to address his school one last time in 2015, and a video of his profound words went viral.

During that speech, he told his fellow students: 'Here's the thing, none of us get out of life alive, so be gallant, be great, be gracious and be grateful for the opportunities you have.'

On Saturday, he addressed a crowd at the Tour de Cure 2016 Snow Ball in Sydney, and once more delivered wise and moving words, which were recorded by KIIS 1065.

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New Zealand teen cancer survivor Jake Bailey, who impressed the world with a speech as he battled lymphoma in 2015, has spoken about fighting the disease at a charity event in Sydney

At the event, Jake talked about fighting cancer and what it had taught him - and passed on some wisdom for his listeners

He described being placed in hospital after being diagnosed with Burkitt's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and lying in hospital thinking about beating the disease

During his speech to his school in 2015, which went viral, he told his fellow students: 'Here's the thing, none of us get out of life alive, so be gallant, be great, be gracious and be grateful for the opportunities you have.'

He described being placed in hospital after being diagnosed with Burkitt's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and being given weeks to live if he didn't get treatment.

'I was placed in isolation for my own protection and I spent the next 50 days in that room. The first night there I lay in a slumber in this strange place surrounded by strangers,' he said.

'I did not pray to live, instead I asked that if this was going to be the thing that killed me that I faced it with strength.

'If it was going to kill me, it would do it on my terms and I would not die a coward, not wanting to let fear dictate my death any more than it had dictated my life.

'But no, no way, there was not a chance in hell that I was going to die of this.'

Jake described how he decided 'there was not a chance in hell that I was going to die of this' while in hospital

He told the crowd that although people had to move on at some point, he still awoke every day, thankful to be alive

He told the crowd the most valuable things he'd learned as he battled cancer.

'Embrace each day. I was dying to get home from school. I was dying for the weekends. I was dying for the school holidays, and then before I knew it I was dying in Christchurch Hospital.'

Taking chemotherapy day by day made it manageable, he said.

'What you really need to do is be grateful for the people in your life and for your ability to live that normal life.'

Enjoying moments like a family dinner were important, because the next week, you could be fighting for life.

He admitted his comments were dramatic, but said they were true - adding 'it's what happened to me'.

'Believe me, I was never going to be the kid that got cancer, but it turns out that I was.'

Although people had to move on at some point, he still awoke every day, thankful to be alive, he said.

Jake pictured in hospital as he battled cancer during and intensive three months of chemotherapy

Finding his cancer was in remission late in January was a relief, but Jake said he'd never expected a different outcome during the whole ordeal

'Every day starts with me not being dead. And what a fantastic way to start each day.'

To appreciate life, people didn't have to go battle cancer, he said - just listen to someone who had.

'It is no excuse to not appreciate life fully. You owe it to the people that are unable to.

Early in 2016, after three months in hospital, Jake announced he was in remission - but still had a long way to go.

During an interview with Daily Mail Australia, Jake said still had to undergo follow up care and indicated at the time he planned to spend time on the Gold Coast during his recovery.

He also revealed his cancer was only discovered because of a sore tooth, which he thought were his wisdom teeth.

But when the pain continued, he decided to get it checked, and after a range of tests he was told he had stage four Burkitt's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Tour de Cure Snow Ball raised $1.2 million for cancer research, according to the tour website.

Tour de Cure is an annual cancer research fundraising bike ride event.

A video of his final school speech from 2015 has been viewed nearly 1.7 million times on Youtube.

Jake Bailey was the head student at Christchurch Boys' High School in New Zealand in 2015
Social media has wrongly accused a voiceover artist of being the 'fake tradie' in a Liberal party advertisement, while the Coalition has claimed the man wearing high-vis is an actual tradesman.

The Liberal campaign released a 30-second advertisement on Sunday night featuring a tradesman fuming over Bill Shorten who he said 'wants to go to war' on the economy.

'I reckon we should just stick it through, and stick with the current mob for a while,' the tradesman says in the video.

The clip was 'spoken by A. MacRae', leading many social media users to post the profile of Sydney voiceover artist Andrew MacRae.

But Mr MacRae told Daily Mail Australia he had nothing to do with the ad - and he's had a 'very sleepless night' over the confusion.

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A Liberal party advertisement has been accused of using a 'fake tradie' with a voice credit to 'A. MacRae', who many claimed was Sydney voiceover artist Andrew Macrae

Mr MacRae said people have been sharing his social media accounts accusing him of being the 'fake tradie'

'It's a case of mistaken identity,' Mr MacRae said.

'It kind of went a little bit ballistic. It went a bit crazy. My website was posted and my LinkedIn account.

Voiceover actor Andrew MacRae (pictured) has denied he was involved in the advertisement

'I'm actually considering my options to be honest with you.'

Mr MacRae said he was watching the sitcom Modern Family when the advertisement came on, shocking him when his initial and surname popped up on screen.

'Did I do something when I was in a coma?'

Mr MacRae said he thought the agency responsible could have mistakenly used a previous advertisement he had cut unrelated to politics as a template.

He pointed out there were two voices in the advertisement  the actor and the voiceover at the end, and yet there was only one voice credit.

'The voiceover bit at the end is a different voice to the actor. So there's two people in the ad and neither of them are me.

'My Twitter's going ballistic. #FakeTradie's now trending. The Project has called me and wants me to go on camera.

'It's not me in the ad, I had nothing to do with the ad.'

Mr MacRae said he has never done any work for either of the major parties but has voiced public service announcements about wearing life jackets for the New South Wales government.

'A long time ago I did a government commercial for life jacket awareness. At the end of that it was 'authorised by the NSW Government, Sydney, and spoken by A. MacRae'.

'Whatever advertising agency was used for last night's commercial they may have just used a standard template and forgot to change the name.'

He has also done work for alcohol brand Wild Turkey, Sydney Trains, Lifeline and the Sydney Opera House.

A spokesperson for the Coalition told Daily Mail Australia on Monday the man in the advertisement is a tradesman.

'The claims are wrong. The name of the person who appears in the ad is A. MacRae and he is a tradie,' the spokesperson said.

The advertisement was widely mocked on social media, with #FakeTradie trending on Twitter. However, voice artist Andrew MacRae has denied involvement in the advertisement, and the Coalition said the man was a real tradesman

A union for Australian manufacturing workers said they 'think we have found #faketradie'

Around midday on Monday, Andrew MacRae wrote on Twitter to reiterate he was not in the advertisement.

'Dear all, It's not me. I'm not in the ad. I didn't voice the ad. I had nothing to do with the ad.'

John Setka, the Victorian State Secretary of CFMEU Construction & General Division, wrote on Twitter on Monday the man was not a member of the union.

'The CFMEU would like to categorically state that #FakeTradie is NOT a member of our union,' Mr Setka wrote.

An online petition has also called Mr MacRae the 'fake tradie' actor.

'We've all seen the ridiculous farce - obviously an actor (Andrew MacRae) - pretending to give his personal opinion about the LNP,' the Change.org petition reads.

It calls for the voiceover artist to star in a Labor advertisement as himself regarding arts cuts, 'if he does care for his fellow artists'.

The clip was widely mocked on Twitter on Sunday night for apparently being contrived, with satiral Twitter accounts made.

'Poor Andrew Macrae,' another wrote on Twitter. 'Do you think you'll ever work again after #faketradie?'

Mr MacRae wrote on Twitter on Monday: 'Dear all, It's not me. I'm not in the ad. I didn't voice the ad. I had nothing to do with the ad'

Social media pulled apart the short advertisement on Sunday night, questioning why his saw-stool was set up in a lane outside the fencing and why he had a ceramic mug on a building site

The advertisement was widely mocked on Twitter. 'He just wants a fair go dinki di VB shannon noll BBQ crack at negatively gearing his 5th home,' a union wrote

A satirical 'Fake Tradie' Twitter account was created on Sunday night to mock the advertisement

'Labor's declared war on banks, mines and blokes like me, while the Libs have declared war on decent campaign ads,' the satirical account wrote

'Fair dinkum blokes and sheilas, this Malcolm fella cares about jobs - he sold his soul to keep his!' the satirical Twitter account wrote

'Are you blokes and sheilas a few spanners short of a toolkit? Better a #faketradie than our #fakeleader,' the satirical account wrote

'I was just having a smoko when a bloke asked for a quote,' @FakeTradie wrote

'Time for smoko. Popping over to the shopes to pick up a meat pie, a chocolate milk, and a couple of investment properties,' @FakeTradie wrote
A young Australian woman who has been affected by the Orlando shooting massacre and the death of a two-year-old at Disney World said she feels 'unsafe' in America and can't wait to come home.

Melany Brock, 22, moved from the Sunshine Coast, Australia, in August to pursue a career in performing arts after securing a cast member position at Walt Disney World in Orlando.

Ms Brock had been enjoying her time at the 'happiest place on earth' up until June 12 when two of her co-workers were killed inside Pulse nightclub when terrorist Omar Mateen massacred 49 people in America's worst mass shooting on record.

Only days later, Ms Brock was on shift when two-year-old Lane Graves was dragged to his death by an alligator as he waded near the edge of a lagoon at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

'I already felt unsafe living here but with the whole election coming up and these things happening I really want to come home,' she said, according to the Sunshine Coast Daily.

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Melany Brock, from the Sunshine Coast, said she wants to return to Australia after two of her colleagues were killed in the Orlando shooting and a two-year-old boy drowned while she was working at Disney World

Ms Brock said the whole Disney company were still mourning 31-year-old Jerald Arthur Wright, who worked in mechanising at the Magical Kingdom, and another employee who has not been identified.

'It seems that the world need magic more now than ever,' she said.

'I'm shocked and terrified. However, I am blessed to be surrounded by a large community of love,' she said, adding that others are still recovering in hospital after being injured in the attack.

Mr Wright, who went to Pulse for a friend's 21st birthday, has been remembered as 'always having a smile on his face', with current employees sharing a picture showing their love and solidarity by using their hands to make the shape of a heart.

The 22-year-old moved from her home on the Sunshine Coast in August to pursue a career in performing arts after securing a cast member position at Walt Disney World in Orlando

Ms Brock had been enjoying her time at the 'happiest place on earth' (pictured) up until June 12 when two of her co-workers were killed in the Orlando shooting

'It seems that the world need magic more now than ever,' Ms Brock said following the two tragedies

The whole Disney company are still mourning he death of 31-year-old Jerald Arthur Wright who worked in mechanising at Disney World's Magical Kingdom

Mr Wright was celebrating a friend's birthday when he was slaughtered by terrorist Omar Mateen (picutred) whose killing spree is now considered the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in the U.S

The 29-year-old entered Pulse nightclub (pictured) with a Glock 9mm handgun and a SIG Sauer MCX rifle which he used to kill 49 people and injure 53 others

Disney employees shared a picture in support of the shooting victims, showing their love and solidarity by using their hands to make the shape of a heart

Thousands have paid their respects to those killed in the hate-crime which targeted the LGBT community

People all over the world held candle lit vigils to condemn the violence seen in Orlando on June 12

'[Mr Wright] was one of the kindest people you could meet,' said former co-worker Kenneth Berrios told the Orlando Sentinel.

Ms Brock, a former business marketing student, said it was not just staff who were visibly 'shaken' by the shocking events.

She told the Sunshine Coast Daily that tourists and even regulars appear uneasy if a loud noise rings out at the popular amusement park.

'Our guests have been jumping when the fireworks go off in fear of them being gun shots,' she said.

'It's just shocking and totally cements how important our gun laws are, even though many people here do not agree.'

She said when helicopters arrived at the park hoping to find Lane on June 15, patrons instantly thought it was a 'much lager threat because just days before, we lost 49 people in a mass shooting.'

Ms Brock said alligators were common in Florida and that what happened to the young boy could have happened to 'anyone' who ignored the no swimming signs around the lagoon.

Ms Brock said when helicopters arrived at the park hoping to find young Lane (pictured), patrons instantly thought it was a 'much lager threat because just days before, we lost 49 people in a mass shooting.'

Authorities scoured the area after Lane was taken but his body was not found for fifteen hours

She said alligators were common in Florida and that what happened to the young boy could have happened to 'anyone' who ignored the no swimming signs around the lagoon (Pictured: sign erected after Lane's death)

Five alligators at the park were killed in the hours after Lane was taken to see if any of them had pulled the toddler from the shore.

But his body was found completely intact around fifteen hours after he was dragged underwater.

It was initially believed Lane was eaten by one of the alligators but it was later reported he drowned.

Ms Brock condemned killing the 'innocent' reptiles and likened the 'disgusting' response to slaughtering kangaroos who 'react' to tourists who get too close.

'I myself love animals and strive to conserve nature so this is extremely upsetting,' she said.

Ms Brock has one more week to complete of Disney's International College Program before she will return home to her family in Queensland, according to the Sunshine Coast Daily.

The Walt Disney Company have committed $1 million towards the OneOrlando fund set up to help those affected by the massacre.
Mr Marriner said homeless people use cash to feed their addictions

A homeless man has warned people to think twice before giving cash to beggars, instead urging people to donate food or clothes that those without homes can use to survive.

Robert Marriner, a homeless man in West Auckland, is intent on deterring the people from giving cash to beggars because most often used to fuel a drug or alcohol addiction, he told TVNZ's Marae program.

'Please, whoever you are in the community, please stop giving hustlers money,' he told the program.

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Robert Marriner, (pictured) a homeless man in West Auckland, is intent on deterring the people from giving cash to beggars most often used to fuel a drug or alcohol addiction

Mr Marriner (right) warned people to think twice before giving cash to beggars, instead urging people to donate food or items that homeless people can use to survive

'Please, whoever you are in the community, please stop giving hustlers money' - Mr Marriner urged people to not give cash to homeless people he told the program

'The majority of them are using it to buy drugs and alcohol.'

Mr Marriner has been living on the streets since 1984 after escaping an abusive father.

He said the community's charitable intentions were appreciated, but misguided.

'Hey I take my hat off to the community for supporting people that they might think are hungry and might think that they are starving,' Mr Marriner said.

'No one is hungry and starving because we have Salvation Army' - Mr Marriner said the community's charitable intentions were appreciated, but misguided

Mr Marriner has been living on the streets since 1984 after escaping an abusive father

'But no one is hungry and starving because we have Salvation Army help us, we have a church that helps us, we have a lot of people helping us.

'I'd be thankful if someone gave me a blanket...but with money, what can you do with money at this time of the night...all you can do is meet up with the buyer and buy some s**t off them.'

Tom Harris, from Waitemata Community Law in West Auckland, echoed Mr Marriner's advice on the program.

'Buy them something to eat or drink or a bus ticket' - Tom Harris, (pictured) from Waitemata Community Law in West Auckland, echoed Mr Marriner's advice on the program

'it's sad to say but a lot of them are feeding addictions, that money may be supporting' - Mr Harris told the program. Here Mr Marriner is pictured supporting a long time friend and homeless man

'The majority of them are using it to buy drugs and alcohol' - Mr Marriner spoke from his decades of experience living on the streets that giving money was feeding drug and alcohol addiction

'Usually they'll beg outside a food place or place where there is high traffic, so buy (them) a sandwich, buy a pie,' he said.

'Because it's sad to say but a lot of them are feeding addictions, that money may be supporting.

'Yes so buy them something to eat or drink or a bus ticket.'
The shocking death of Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin, 27, has raised questions about whether his Jeep might have suffered a dangerous design flaw that caused his fatal freak accident.

The body of the Russian-born actor was found pinned against the gate of his home by his 5,000 pound (2.5 ton) Jeep Grand Cherokee at around 1am on Sunday in Studio City, California.

Investigators said the car had been left in neutral and rolled down the steep driveway at him - and now some believe that might have happened because of a flawed design in certain models of Jeep.

Thousands of Jeep Grand Cherokees were subject to a voluntary recall in the US and worldwide because a confusing gear stick design made it easy for drivers to forget the car was in neutral, not park, when the driver got out.

The Jeep's electronic gear stick sprang back to the same position after being shifted, meaning drivers could not tell by glancing at it whether the vehicle was in park or neutral.

They had to rely on a warning light on the stick and a chime when the door opened. The flaw was blamed for hundreds of accidents across the US when drivers left their Jeeps without realising they were not in park, according to government regulators.

To fix the problem, Jeep enhanced the warnings when the car was left in neutral and made it impossible for the Grand Cherokee to move under certain circumstances.

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Tragic death: Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin has been found dead at the age of 27; he is seen in April at the premiere of Green Room in Hollywood. Now some are wondering if a design flaw in his Jeep led to his death

Danger? Jeep Grand Cherokees made between July 16, 2012, and Dec 22, 2015 have a possible design flaw that means drivers aren't adequately informed when the car is in park - leading to them getting out while it's still in gear

Tragic scene: The gate at Yelchin's home on Sunday; his body was found in the early hours of the morning pinned between the brick mail box and his Jeep. It's thought he may have left his car in gear without realizing

No supicious circumstances: When Yelchin's body was found his car was in neutral, with the engine running

Confusing: The Jeep Grand Cherokee's electronic gear stick , pictured, returned to the same position after a gear change. This meant drivers often left the car while it was still in neutral, not park. Grand Cherokees made between 2012 and 1015 have been recalled

Discovery: His friend had visited his Los Angeles home after growing concerned when Yelchin failed to attend a planned rehearsal earlier in the evening, where he discovered the actor's body

Fiat Chrysler ran a voluntary recall in April this year on Jeep Grand Cherokees that were manufactured between July 16, 2012, and December 22, 2015.

Exactly what model of Cherokee Yelchin owned, as well as the circumstances leading up to his death, have not yet been established - but the nature of the flaw in the recalled model of Jeep has led to speculation.

According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report, 'The affected vehicles ... may not adequately warn the driver when drivers door is opened and the vehicle is not in PARK, allowing them to exit the vehicle while the vehicle is still in gear.'

It continued: 'Drivers thinking that their vehicles transmission is in the PARK position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged.'

Fiat Chrysler say the problem is that when the driver shifts the gear into park the only indication is a light on the console - so if drivers aren't careful they might leave it in gear when they think it's parked.

In an April press release, Chrysler said that 'unless due care is taken, drivers may draw erroneous conclusions about the status of their vehicles.'

That issue had potentially resulted in at least 212 crashes, 308 property damage claims and 41 injuries, according to an NHTSA summary.

Yelchin was found by a friend who was concerned that he had failed to attend a planned 11pm rehearsal earlier in the evening. His car was in neutral and the engine was running.

Police are still investigating the sudden death, but sources told TMZ that there were not thought to be any suspicious circumstances.

'It appears he momentarily exited his car and it rolled backward, causing trauma that led to his death,' LAPD spokeswoman Jenny Houser told the Hollywood Reporter.

One Jeep owner from Walton Indiana told USA Today that how his car started moving when he believed he had left it in park as he dropped off a DVD. He said: 'My 23-year-old son was in the passenger seat and yelled out, "Dad, the car is moving", I jumped back in and put my foot on the brake and watched the shift indicator as I slowly moved the shifter up so it indicated 'park.'

According to a representative from FCA, drivers of affected vehicles were notified and issued directions to properly operate the shifter. The company could not speak about this specific accident, nor whether Yelchins vehicle was one of the ones affected by the recall.

Yelchin's publicist confirmed the sad news, saying in a statement: 'Anton Yelchin was killed in a fatal traffic collision early this morning. His family requests you respect their privacy at this time.'

Biggest role: The actor will next be seen in Star Trek Beyond, which comes out in July

Most famous role: Yelchin stars in Star Trek Beyond as Chekov, seen here with Chris Pine as Captain Kirk

'Amazing actor': Yelchin, left, is seen alongside co-stars Chris Pine Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, John Cho and Zoe Saldana in the 2009 Star Trek movie

Yelchin was born in Saint Petersburg in Russia, the son of well-known professional figure-skaters Irina and Viktor Yelchin.

After 15 years as the stars of Russias Ice Ballet, the Yelchins fled to the United States as political refugees when their only child was still a baby.

Raised in Los Angeles, Yelchin attended the University of Southern California.

He started acting as a child, taking his first professional role at age nine in A Man Is Mostly Water.

Small roles in indie films and various television shows followed, before he broke out in films like the crime thriller Alpha Dog and the teenage comedy Charlie Bartlett.

His biggest role to date had been a recurring role as Ensign Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek films - the third of which, Star Trek Beyond comes out in July.

He also appeared in Terminator Salvation, Jim Jarmushs Only Lovers Left Alive, and Hearts In Atlantis, based on a novel by Stephen King.

Raised in Los Angeles, Yelchin attended the University of Southern California. He started acting as a child, taking his first professional role at age nine in A Man Is Mostly Water

Only child: Yelchin with his parents Irina and Viktor in 2007; well-known professional figure skaters in their homeland, the couple fled to the US as political refugees when their son was just a baby

Rising star: The Russian-born actor started small with roles in indie films and various television shows, before breaking out in films like the crime thriller Alpha Dog and the teenage comedy Charlie Bartlett

Final post: Yelchin, who was an only child, is seen on Instagram this week

Yelchin's famous friends and colleagues rushed to share their condolences after learning the tragic news.

His Star Trek co-stars were obviously devastated by the loss.

John Cho wrote: 'I loved Anton Yelchin so much. He was a true artist - curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. I'm in ruins.'

Tribute: Yelchin's friend and co-star Zachary Quinto wrote that the actor was 'wise beyond his years'

And Zachary Quntio called Yelchin 'our dear friend'.

Sharing a picture of the young star, he wrote: 'Our comrade. our Anton. One of the most open and intellectually curious people I have ever had the pleasure to know.

'So enormously talented and generous of heart. Wise beyond his years. And gone before his time. All love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief.'

JJ Abrams, the director of the rebooted franchise, shared a hand written tribute to the actor.

'Anton,' he wrote, 'You were brilliant. You were kind. You were funny as hell, and supremely talented.

'And you weren't here nearly long enough. Missing you. JJ.'

JJ Abrams, the director of the rebooted franchise, shared a hand written tribute to the actor.

'This is unreal,' the actor's friend Anna Kendrick tweeted on Sunday. 'Anton Yelchin is such a talent. Such a huge loss.'

Chad Michael Murray tweeted: 'Just heard about Anton Yelchin. What a great talent and good young man. Gone far too soon...Terrible loss. You will be missed.'

Chris Kelly was one of many to complement the growing star's acting skills.

'Very sad to hear Anton Yelchin has died,' he wrote. 'Do yourself a favor and watch "Like Crazy." I love love love that movie. And he is amazing in it.'

'Anton Yelchin was one of my best friends', Kat Dennings wrote.

'Can't say anything that conveys what this feels like.'

British comedian Matt Lucas wrote: 'Dreadful news about Anton Yelchin. I thought he was an amazing actor.'

Pain: Yelchin's famous friends and colleagues rushed to share their condolences after the tragic news

Tragic: A variety of stars expressed their shock at his death

Meanwhile Lindsay Lohan claimed the two were friends, and gave her condolences to Anton;s father.

In a rambling message, she blamed 'Hollywood' for the death.

'This is the result of Hollywood,' she wrote on Instagram. 'A beautiful life has come to an end. A brilliant actor and a loving friend.

'Surround your life with good people and know who your true friends are. My prayers and love goes out to anton's family This breaks my heart. He was my friend I am so sorry to Anton's father.'
Research last year found the vast majority of animals in the festival are stolen from homes

Animal rights groups are campaigning against the annual event which sees up to 10,000 cats and dogs butchered

Up to four dogs - including puppies - are seen squeezed into single cages stacked or tied to the back of motorcycles

Images from a market in southern China show dogs and cats caged to be sold off for Yulin dog meat festival

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Thousands of helpless dogs and cats have been squeezed into rusty cages to be sold off, butchered and boiled in China's infamous Yulin festival.

The heartbreaking images from a market in southern China show up to four dogs crammed into single cages a day ahead of the annual event, where as many as 10,000 cats and dogs are slaughtered and eaten.

Some of the animals pictured are still wearing collars - suggesting they were stolen from loving homes - as they await their fate of being beaten to death then having their throats slit in street markets or slaughterhouses.

Animals Asia is among several animal welfare groups crusading against the event, which has sparked global outrage and demands the Chinese government ban the consumption of dog and cat meat.

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Dogs are seen in crammed into a rusty cage at a market in Yulin city ahead of this year's annual dog and cat meat festival

A vendor chops dog meat for sale at a market ahead of a dog meat festival in Yulin, in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

A vendor counts money as he sells a dog: China's infamous Yulin festival sees as many as 10,000 cats and dogs butchered and eaten

A vendor waits for buyers beside dogs and cats: Animal rights groups are campaigning against the annual event

Dogs with raw flesh wounds sit terrified in rusty cages as they await their grim fate ahead of China's barbaric annual Yulin dog meat festival

Vendors wear aprons as they hack with meat cleavers at slaughtered dogs. Roughly 10 million dogs are eaten in China each year

Animals Asia CEO Jill Robinson told Daily Mail Australia the campaign against the festival is part of a broader battle against dog eating in China, where 10 million canines are eaten annually.

'The festival is horrific, but the issue goes far beyond this event alone. Ending the Yulin Dog Meat Festival is an significant first step to ending dog and cat meat eating across China,' she said.

'Members of our team met with Government Yulin officials ahead of this years event and they agreed to help crackdown on the practice, but there is still a way to go before it is officially outlawed.'

Research from the group found the vast majority of animals used in the festival are stolen - a method that is cheaper and easier than farming.

'Stealing dogs is quicker, easier and more profitable than farming them. Many of the dogs are wearing collars and are visibly confused, which is evidence supported by our research showing the majority are stolen. This makes the festival a social welfare issue as well as one of cruelty.'

Many of the stolen animals die on long journeys from across China while others suffer horrendous injuries that they cannot stand in the filthy pens they are confined to.

Once the festival kicks off the dogs are clubbed over the head or have their throats slit before they are thrown into boiling water. They later have their hair plucked off and organs removed before being grilled and eaten.

Some of the animals pictured are still wearing collars - suggesting they were stolen from loving homes, the main way of procuring animals for the festival

Animals Asia founder and CEO Jill Robinson said the campaign against the festival represents a broader battle against dog eating in China

Research from Animal's Asia last year found the vast majority of animals used in the festival are stolen, which is cheaper and easier than farming the dogs

Many of the stolen animals die on long journeys from across China while others suffer horrendous injuries that they cannot stand in the filthy pens they are taken to

Reports last year found that the brutal trade is an all-year occurrence in Yulin, with some 300 dogs and cats butchered every day

Many of the stolen animals die on long journeys from across China while others suffer horrendous injuries that they cannot stand in the filthy pens they are kept in

Vendors line the street and chat to customers eager to purchase the dogs ahead of the internationally-criticised festival

A cardboard sign cable-tied to a cage holding three captive dogs reads: 'Local dog, big dog for sale'

A vendor waits for buyers next to the dogs in cages for sale at a market

A tawny brown and a black dog sit in a cage cheerfully, tongues out and panting - totally unaware that they will soon be slaughtered

Animals Asia Cat and Dog Welfare Director Irene Feng noted the added danger of poisoning for those who consume the dogs

Most of the dogs are clubbed over the head and have their throats slit before they are thrown into boiling water

The dogs later have their hair plucked off and organs removed before being grilled and eaten

Animals Asia Cat and Dog Welfare Director Irene Feng said in a statement that beyond the cruelty there is an added danger of poisoning for those who consume the dogs.

'Thanks to our awareness raising it is widely understood now that these dogs are stolen. On top of that, repeated reports of dogs being poisoned means that they are not safe to eat.'

Reports last year found that the brutal trade is an all-year occurrence in Yulin, with some 300 dogs and cats butchered every day.

Yulin festival will kick off on Tuesday 21 June, the day of summer solstice.

Animals Asia has launched an open letter to the festival's dog meat traders which can be signed here.

Dogs await their fate of being beaten to death then having their throats slit in street markets or slaughterhouses

A vendor with a load of dogs on his motorbike has a grin on his face as he arrives to a market, wearing gumboots and a jumpsuit over his clothes

A vendor stands on top of a cage to stop a captured dog from escaping - although it is already chained to the cage

A man carrying a child rides an electric bicycle past dogs in cages for sale ahead of the Yulin festival, which will kick off on Tuesday 21 June
OWASCO  Men and cars have gone together since the invention of the vehicle, so what better way to spend time with that special guy on Father's Day than at the annual Prison City Ramblers Father's Day Car Show.

On Sunday fathers and their families gathered at Emerson Park to peruse some of the finest classic vehicles that central New York has to offer during the 25th annual showing.

With rebuilt oldies, newer models with a personal touch, motorcycles and rat rods, there was a vehicle to suit just about anyone's taste.

"These cars and their owners are just so amazing," said John Parshal. "The amount of time, energy and money put into this hobby just blows me away. I love looking at each one and seeing the owners individual style and personality put into it. It's a labor of love that just cannot be outdone."

With trophies given to individuals in categories such as best of show, best engine, best mopar, best street rod and the sheriffs choice, there was a category for just about any vehicle type and style.

In addition to seeing the cars, spectators were able to browse through various vendor and flea market booths, check the car corral, listen local live music, and taste plenty of food and beverages.

The Prison City Ramblers is a local car club that got its start in 1954. Not only do its members share a passion for anything with a motor but also with a love of giving back to the community.

Proceeds from the show will be donated to several local charities.
The National Rifle Association's top lobbyist has said that no one should be drinking and carrying firearms in a nightclub, in response to Donald Trump's insistence that the Orlando massacre could have been avoided if people inside the building had been armed.

Trump told supporters at a rally in Texas on Friday night that the tragedy, in which 49 people died at the hands of gunman Omar Mateen, could have been prevented if the victims had weapons of their own.

But Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action, said those who are drinking at nightclubs should not be armed.

'No one thinks that people should go into a nightclub drinking and carrying firearms,' Cox said on ABC's This Week. 'That defies common sense. It also defies the law.'

NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre echoed the sentiment in a separate interview on Sunday.

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The National Rifle Association's top lobbyist Chris Cox (left) and CEO Wayne LaPierre (right) said club-goers inside the site of Orlando's massacre shouldn't have been armed if they were drinking

On Friday, Trump, the presumptive nominee for president, said: 'If some of those wonderful people had guns strapped right here, right to their waist or right to their ankle and this son of a b**** comes out and starts shooting and one of the people in the room happened to have it and goes 'boom, boom'  you know what, that would have been a beautiful, beautiful sight, folks.

Cox addressed his comment by saying: 'What Donald Trump has said is what the American people know as common sense: if someone had been there to stop this faster, fewer people would have died.'

But when pushed on the matter, he conceded that those drinking in clubs should not be carrying weapons.

LaPierre agreed, saying firearms and alcohol in the same environment is not a good idea.

'I don't think you should have firearms where people are drinking,' he told CBS's Face the Nation.

He later tweeted to clarify his statement, saying: 'If you're going to carry, don't drink. OK to carry in restaurants that serve alcohol.'

Trump told supporters at a rally in Texas (pictured) on Friday night that the tragedy in Orlando could have been prevented if some of the victims had weapons of their own

Both Cox (left) and LaPierre said on Sunday that those who are drinking at nightclubs shouldn't be armed

However, the NRA continue to maintain their position that more gun control won't stop extremists or criminals from carrying out attacks.

Speaking ahead of Senate votes on four measures to control the sale of guns, Cox said the Orlando massacre doesn't change the group's opposition to tighter gun laws.

He said the 'catastrophic situation' facing the country has 'nothing to do with firearms' and is about stopping 'radical Islamic terrorists.'

LaPierre told CBS that the 'politically correct White House' is pushing gun restrictions as a way of diverting attention from its failure in the 'terrorist area.' 'Laws didn't stop them in Boston, laws didn't stop them in San Bernardino  and they didn't stop it in Paris,' he said. 'It's all being politicized.'

Their reaffirmation comes after President Obama's comments on the issue during a visit to Orlando this week.

Omar Mateen (right) killed 49 people with a Sig Sauer MCX rifle and a pistol at Pulse club in Orlando

'The notion that the answer to this tragedy would be to make sure that more people in a nightclub are similarly armed to the killer defies common sense,' he said.

After meeting with victims' families in Orlando on Thursday, Obama said 'our hearts are broken too' and insisted the tone of the country's hyper-partisan debate on firearms needs to change.

Relatives of the victims 'don't care about the politics. And neither do I,' Obama said.

But the slaughter in Florida and an attention-grabbing filibuster in the Senate did little to break the election-year stalemate in Congress over guns, with both sides unwilling to budge and Republicans standing firm against any new legislation opposed by the NRA.

Democrats renewed their call to action after Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., held the floor along with colleagues in a nearly 15-hour filibuster that lasted into the early hours of Thursday.

'We can't just wait, we have to make something happen,' said Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., at an emotional news conference where Democrats joined family members of people killed in recent mass shootings. 'These are people bound by brutality, and their numbers are growing.'

But Republicans were coolly dismissive of Democrats' demands.

Senator Chris Murphy (center) 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

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., derided Murphy's filibuster as a 'campaign talk-a-thon' that did nothing but delay potential votes.

Noting that a few Democrats had skipped a classified briefing on the Florida nightclub shooting to participate in the filibuster, McConnell chided: 'It's hard to think of a clearer contrast for serious work for solutions on the one hand, and endless partisan campaigning on the other.'

Democrats spoke of the need for new gun legislation. Republicans cited the threat posed by the Islamic State group, to which Orlando gunman Omar Mateen swore allegiance while killing 49 people in a gay nightclub in the early hours of June 12.

But the two sides mostly talked past each other, and efforts to forge consensus quickly sputtered out.
Plans to give Britain's most famous black nurse a statue have today been blasted by Florence Nightingale fans, who say it is a 'history hoax' because all she did was 'sell wine and sandwiches' in Crimea.

Mary Seacole is set to have a 500,000 bronze unveiled in her honour at St Thomas' Hospital in London this month - the first public memorial to celebrate the 'black pioneer nurse'.

It will be taller than Florence Nightingale's statue in Pall Mall and Edith Cavell's off Trafalgar Square.

And it will be unveiled this month at St Thomas Hospital where Nightingale founded her nursing school, and Seacole has no connection to whatsoever, critics say.

Row: Mary Seacole, left, is set to have a 500,000 bronze unveiled in her honour at St Thomas' Hospital in London this month - but fans of Florence Nightingale, right, are very unhappy

Plans: A computer generated image showing how the monument will look once installed within the grounds of St Thomas' Hospital this month - critics say her reputation is based on 'false achievements'

Mark Bostridge, Nightingale's biographer, wrote in a letter to The Times today: 'Mrs Seacole's battlefield excursions - three only she missed the major ones - took place post-battle, after selling wine and sandwiches to spectators. Mrs Seacole was a kind and generous businesswoman, but was not a frequenter of the battlefield "under fire" or a pioneer of nursing.

'We would gladly support a Seacole statue, to honour her for her own work and not at Nightingale's hospital.'

He added: 'We regret that such a campaign of misinformation should have succeeded, noting that false achievements were used at all stages of the promotion'.

Former Labour MP Baron Soley has called the anger from Nightingale supporters 'frustrating and sad'.

He added: 'Florence Nightingale will not be undermined by this statue. As we all know, she created modern nursing, her international reputation will not be affected at all. It is not one versus the other. These are two different women, in different roles who made different contributions.'

'Frankly, we don't know exactly which battlefields she went out on and when, but there is strong evidence that she went out after battles and helped patch people up'.

Mary Seacole is regarded as our greatest black Briton, a woman who did more to advance the cause of nursing - and race relations - than almost any other individual.

On the bloody battlefields of the Crimea, she is said to have saved the lives of countless wounded soldiers, and nursed them back to health in a clinic she paid for out of her own pocket.

But some historians have long complained that she has become almost as famous as that other nursing heroine, Florence Nightingale.

For decades after her death in 1881, Seacole's story was largely overlooked, but for the past 15 years, her reputation and exploits have undergone a remarkable rehabilitation.

Every schoolchild is taught about her achievements, she is a statutory part of the National Curriculum, and for many, she is seen as a secular saint.

Numerous schools, hospitals and universities have rooms or buildings named after her, and shortly she will get her greatest tribute yet: an 8ft tall bronze statue is to be erected to her memory in the grounds of St Thomas's Hospital, facing towards the Houses of Parliament.

The 500,000 memorial will show Seacole marching out to the battlefield, a medical bag over her shoulder, a row of medals proudly pinned to her chest.

Care: Seacole established her 'British Hotel' - part boarding house, part medical centre - (pictured) in Crimea from where she sold alcohol, hearty food, and ran a daily clinic

Born in Jamaica in 1805, she was the daughter of a white Scottish officer called Grant, and a Creole woman, from whom Mary learned her 'nursing skills'. In her early 20s, Seacole married a Jamaican merchant called Edwin Seacole and travelled with him around the Caribbean, Central America and England until his death in 1844.

Seacole then set up a 'hotel' in the town of Cruces in Panama, where she is reputed to have treated cholera victims.

History: Critics say her achievements have been hugely oversold for political reasons, and for a commendable desire to create positive black role models

With the outbreak of the Crimean War later that year, Seacole was determined to offer her nursing services to the British, and, when she was turned down by the authorities, she paid her way to the peninsula out of her own pocket.

Once she had arrived in the Crimea, Seacole tried to work for Florence Nightingale, who supposedly turned her away.

Instead, she established her 'British Hotel' - part boarding house, part medical centre - from where she sold alcohol, hearty food, and ran a daily clinic, as well as tending to the sick on the battlefield, even when it was under bombardment. For all this work, she was awarded the Crimea Medal.

After the war ended, Seacole returned to Britain, so impoverished that she had to declare bankruptcy. However, such was her reputation, that a benefit fund was established for her, which even received the blessing of Queen Victoria. By the time she died in 1881, Seacole had retreated into obscurity, and it has not been until recently she has been 'rediscovered' as a heroine of Crimea.

But historians from around the world are growing increasingly uneasy about the statue, amid claims that the adulation of Seacole has gone too far.

They claim that her achievements have been hugely oversold for political reasons, and for a commendable desire to create positive black role models.

William Curtis of the Crimean War Research Society told the Mail previously: 'The hype that has been built up surrounding this otherwise worthy woman is a disgrace to the serious study of history'.

Major Colin Robins, a Fellow of the Historical Society, who has written a paper for an academic journal stating that Seacole is the 'subject of many myths', arguing that numerous 'facts' concerning Mary Seacole are simply untrue.

Indeed Major Curtis singles out the teaching of some of the stories about Seacole as being 'irresponsible' and 'certainly not history'.

Lynn McDonald, a history professor and world expert on Florence Nightingale, feels that Seacole is being unduly promoted at the expense of Nightingale.

She said: 'Nightingale was the pioneer nurse and not Mary Seacole. It's fine if you want to have a statue to whoever you want, but Seacole was not a pioneer nurse, she didn't call herself a nurse, she didn't practise nursing, and she had no association with St Thomas's or any other hospital.'
If the man at the centre of the 'fake tradie' political ad really is a tradesman, his business must be doing very well.

Internet users who doubted the man really is a struggling tradesman as portrayed in the ad on Monday rushed to point out the watch he is wearing appears to be a luxury TAG Heuer timepiece valued at $7,250.

The Coalition campaign released a 30-second advertisement on Sunday night featuring a tradesman fuming about Labor leader Bill Shorten, who he said 'wants to go to war' with the economy and 'even someone like me who just wants to get an investment property'.

'I reckon we should just stick it through, and stick with the current mob for a while,' the tradesman says in the video.

Social media has accused the man of being a 'fake tradie'  though the Liberal party has denied that claim  and is now suggesting he's wearing a TAG Heuer watch which retails for $7,250.

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A Liberal party advertisement has been accused of featuring a 'fake tradie' wearing a $7,250 TAH Heuer watch

An image (pictured) posted by Facebook page ALP Spicy Meme Stash and shared over Twitter accused the man in a high-vis vest of wearing the $7,250 TAG Heuer watch, as well as a $139 Prouds bracelet

Some said it could also be a Tiffany & Co or Rolex watch.

The advertisement is not high-definition enough to decipher its brand.

An image posted by Facebook page ALP Spicy Meme Stash and shared over Twitter accused the man in a high-vis vest of wearing the expensive watch, as well as a $139 Prouds bracelet.

'Perhaps he negatively geared the watch?' one joked on Twitter.

'His watch is pretty much half of my yearly earnings!' another said.

Others said it was against regulation to wear jewellery on site as it could become stuck in machinery and pose a danger to workers.

Unskilled labourers can earn upwards of $150,000, Huffington Post pointed out.

Social media had earlier wrongly accused voiceover artist Andrew MacRae of being the 'fake tradie'.

The TAG Heuer watch people are claiming the 'fake tradie' is wearing is valued at $7,250

The clip was 'spoken by A. MacRae', leading many social media users to post the profile of the Sydney man.

But Mr MacRae told Daily Mail Australia he had nothing to do with the ad - and he's had a 'very sleepless night' over the confusion.

'It's a case of mistaken identity,' Mr MacRae said.

'It kind of went a little bit ballistic. It went a bit crazy. My website was posted and my LinkedIn account.

Mr MacRae said he was watching the sitcom Modern Family when the advertisement came on, shocking him when his initial and surname popped up on screen.

The advertisement has a voice credit to 'A. MacRae', who many claimed was Sydney voiceover artist Andrew Macrae

'Did I do something when I was in a coma?'

Mr MacRae said he thought the agency responsible could have mistakenly used a previous advertisement he had cut unrelated to politics as a template.

He pointed out there were two voices in the advertisement  the actor and the voiceover at the end, and yet there was only one voice credit.

'The voiceover bit at the end is a different voice to the actor. So there's two people in the ad and neither of them are me.

'It's not me in the ad, I had nothing to do with the ad.'

Mr MacRae said he has never done any work for either of the major parties but has voiced public service announcements about wearing life jackets for the New South Wales government.

'A long time ago I did a government commercial for life jacket awareness. At the end of that it was 'authorised by the NSW Government, Sydney, and spoken by A. MacRae'.

'Perhaps he negatively geared the watch?' one joked on social media

'How many real tradies have $7000 Tiffany watches?' one viewer wrote on Twitter

'My grandad, father-in-law, and brother-in-law, are real tradies. They'd never wear a watch on a building site coz OH&S,' another said

Voiceover actor Andrew MacRae (pictured) has denied he was involved in the advertisement

'Whatever advertising agency was used for last night's commercial they may have just used a standard template and forgot to change the name.'

A spokesperson for the Liberal party told Daily Mail Australia on Monday the man in the advertisement is a tradesman.

'The claims are wrong. The name of the person who appears in the ad is A. MacRae and he is a tradie,' the spokesperson said.

Around midday on Monday, Andrew MacRae wrote on Twitter to reiterate he was not in the advertisement.

'Dear all, It's not me. I'm not in the ad. I didn't voice the ad. I had nothing to do with the ad.'

John Setka, the Victorian State Secretary of CFMEU Construction & General Division, wrote on Twitter on Monday the man was not a member of the union.

'The CFMEU would like to categorically state that #FakeTradie is NOT a member of our union,' Mr Setka wrote.

The clip was widely mocked on Twitter on Sunday night for apparently being contrived, with satiral Twitter accounts made.

People had accused Sydney voiceover artist Mr MacRae of being the 'fake tradie'

Mr MacRae wrote on Twitter on Monday: 'Dear all, It's not me. I'm not in the ad. I didn't voice the ad. I had nothing to do with the ad'

The advertisement was widely mocked on Twitter. 'He just wants a fair go dinki di VB shannon noll BBQ crack at negatively gearing his 5th home,' a union wrote
A husband forged his murdered wife's will to cut out her sons and leave him everything, according to a judge.

Lynn Day Arsenault, 55, was shot to death in 2013 while in Belfast, Maine. The convicted killer, Todd Gilday, tried to kill her son, Matthew, who was in the house with her at the time, but when Lynn tried to take the gun away, she was shot in the chest, according to Bangor Daily News.

Gilday was sentenced to 50 years in prison.

A few months later, her sons were shocked when Arsenault's widower, Donald 'Rusty' Arsenault of Garland, revealed a will that left everything to him.

Lynn Day Arsenault, above, was murdered in 2013 - a few months later her husband tried to forge a fake will

Donald 'Rusty' Arsenault was found by a judge to have forged his wife Lynn's will, cutting out her sons

Arsenault had only been married to Rusty for ten years, and had a strained relationship with his stepsons, according to Nick Day.

'When we first saw it, we were very shocked,' Nick Day told the outlet. 'We knew it would never have been my moms wish to have her family left with nothing. She always was very, very generous and caring and helpful. This would have been outside of her character to do something like that.'

After a two day trial, Waldo County Probate Judge Susan Longley agreed that something was fishy, and after hearing testimony from a handwriting expert, agreed that the will was fraudulent and the signature was forged.

Her rightful heirs were judged to be Donald J. Arsenault, Jr., Nicholas Day, Mathew Day, and her late son Christopher's personal representative, Misty Temple Day. It's unclear if Donald J. Arsenault, Jr. is Lynn Day Arsenault's biological son.

'By this will, the Decedent left 100 percent to the surviving spouse. Though by all her other actions, she insisted on protecting and providing for sons, in the purported will, she did not include or mention her beloved sons in any way,' wrote the judge.

Since the will was never successful, it's unclear whether a crime was actually committed, although Nick Day's attorney has advised him to report the matter to the authorities.

Meanwhile, it's unclear what Arsenault's estate is worth - her widower had estimated it to be $150,000, but he had sold a house without permission of the estate. 'It will be very interesting to find what assets Rusty has taken.' said Sarah Gilbert, Nick Day's attorney.

As for Nick Day, he doesn't seem eager to press charges, preferring instead to get on with his life and heal.
The rubbish site has been closed as local police search the landfill

The worker was unable to stop flowing garbage to inspect the sighting

Police were called to Hampton Park rubbish tip at 9.50am after the sighting

Police are digging through garbage at a rubbish tip after a worker reported sighting human remains that were buried before flowing rubbish could be stopped.

Detectives are still searching for body parts at Hampton Park rubbish tip, in Melbourne's southeast, after the worker reported sighting a human hand at 9.50am on Monday, according to The Age.

A police spokesperson said investigators remain at the scene at 4pm on Monday afternoon and no remains had been found.

Detectives are still searching for body parts at Hampton Park rubbish tip, (pictured) in Melbourne's southeast, after the worker reported sighting a human hand at 9.50am on Monday

The landfill, which is run by SUEZ, has been closed as local police continue to investigate the scene (pictured)

A police spokesperson said investigators remain at the scene at 4pm on Monday afternoon and no remains had been found. Pictured is the entrance to the Hampton Park rubbish tip

The spokesperson said the worker who reported the sighting was unable to stop the incoming garbage that was being piled at the tip before the remains were buried. Pictured is the Hampton Park rubbish tip

The spokesperson said the worker who reported the sighting was unable to stop the incoming garbage that was being piled at the tip before the remains were buried.

'Investigators are currently excavating the area in attempt to locate and confirm the report of possible remains,' she said.

The landfill, which is run by SUEZ, has been closed as local police continue to investigate the scene.

'A machinery driver allegedly saw something this morning,' a SUEZ spokesperson said.

'Police were called to the scene and we have been working with them today. Nothing has been confirmed at this stage.

'We have closed the site in order to assist police operations.'

'A machinery driver allegedly saw something this morning' - a SUEZ spokesperson said the grisly sighting was made by an employee (stock image)

Excavators are being used to dig through the rubbish as part of the search (stock image)

Excavators are being used to dig through the rubbish as part of the search, the Herald Sun reported.

The grisly sighting comes after the body of a man was discovered at the same tip in September 2014.

The partially dressed body was first thought to be a mannequin when discovered by a worker but the circumstances of man's death were not thought to be suspicious, The Age reported.
An animal loving father-of-three put his wife's cat in a tumble dryer, almost killing the animal, to punish her for leaving him after 30 years of marriage.

Martyn Birchall, 55, from Chorley in Lancashire, grabbed the pet, called Rosie, and threw her in the machine while his wife Amanda was at work.

Birchall denied a charge of animal cruelty but was found guilty at Preston magistrates' court.

Martyn Birchall grabbed the pet, called Rosie, and threw her in the machine while his wife Amanda was at work

The court heard how he had previously been an outspoken campaigner for animal rights and just three months before the incident, posted a petition on Facebook declaring: 'I hate cruelty to animals.'

Referring to a case of animal cruelty which was in the news at the time, his petition went on: 'Any owners who treat them like this should be locked up and no excuses.'

However, magistrates were told that his behaviour had taken a turn for the worse after he had started to take tranquilisers as a result of stress at work.

Mrs Birchall said: 'Martyn and I had been married for 30 years and have three lovely girls. The Martyn I married was a good man  he would never have been cruel to an animal. We met when we were 17.

'We had had puppies and kittens before and he never did anything like this. He needs help.'

Describing the incident last month, she explained how she bought her pet Rosie as a kitten off listings website Gumtree.

She said: 'Rosie is one year old. She's beautiful, a calico. She really took a shine to me, following me around.

'When it happened it was horrible. I managed to bring her round and save her by giving her water but it took me around 20 minutes.

'He says he doesn't remember anything about it but she was right at the back of the machine.

'I took her straight out. She didn't look good. Her eyes were everywhere and her tongue was sticking out. She was disorientated and panting like a dog. She was quite lethargic.'

One-year-old Rosie had to be resuscitated by her distressed owner after she endured her tumble dryer ordeal

Prosecutor Andrea Fawcett told the court how it was 'agreed between both sides' that Rosie had been found in the tumble dryer  but Birchall denied putting her in.

Ms Fawcett said: 'The Crown say Mr Birchall was responsible for Rosie's predicament.

'Mr Birchall denies that and in interview puts forward various other scenarios, saying she climbed in herself, or the daughter or ex-wife was responsible.

'Mrs Birchall who is extremely fond of the cat, realises it's not with her, starts looking for it, goes downstairs, asks Mr Birchall has he seen the cat, and his response is 'She is probably in the tumble drier'.

'That's exactly where Mrs Birchall found her. He's the one person that had the opportunity to put the cat there.

'He had the motive in that he knows full well that cat means a lot to his partner, whom he doesn't get on with.'

'The cat was found at the back with clothes in front of it. It hasn't got in, put clothes in front of itself, shut the door and switched it on on its own!'

Birchall was handed a restraining order, fined 270 and made to pay 300 costs at Preston Magistrates' Court

The court heard at the time the family lived in the same house but the couple were effectively living separate lives.

The couple's daughter rang the police and Birchall, who now lives in a homeless shelter, was arrested.

Magistrates handed Birchall a restraining order, banning contact with his wife and daughters, and fined him 270, with 300 costs and a 27 surcharge.

The Cats Protection charity, which rescues and re-homes stray and abandoned cats and kittens, said the pet's ordeal would have been 'very distressing'.

A spokesman said: 'We would strongly urge anyone who witnesses an act of animal cruelty to contact the police or the RSPCA.
Live updates on this years vote will be

For some the promise of biting into piping hot sausage sizzle is one of the most pleasurable parts of casting their vote on election day.

However, it can be difficult to gauge which polling booths will have fresh snags on the grill without making your way to the nearest voting station.

Search engine Google have decided to help hungry voters by releasing an interactive map which will soon include details about where you can find a location offering sausage sizzles or cake stalls.

The definitive guide to where sausage sizzles will be located on election day has been released by Google

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull gets a sausage at Sydney Trucks & Machinery Centre - similar scenes are expected when politicians head to the polls on election day

Emulating the success of websites like Democracy Sausage and Snagvotes, the Google election map will source information from its predecessors to point voters in the direction of a booth with sausage sizzles available.

Not only does the website offer information on food, it provides details on who is running, where your nearest polling booth is and the fastest way to get there.

Information on how Australia voted in the 2013 election is also colour coded on the map, which will give live updates on how the nation votes on July 2 as the ballots are counted.

It also offers advice on what official voting stations are accessible by wheelchair.

Google's election map is relying on the help of groups Democracy Sausage and Snagvotes to create the guide

'The sausage data is still being populated by individual organisers. If you are planning an election day sausage sizzle at a polling booth and don't see yours on the map, you can add it,' Google said in a statement

Google said the map is designed to make voting 'quick, easy and even appetising'.

'We want to help Australians get ready for election day and take the hassle out of finding their nearest polling station,' a spokesman said.

'We created an interactive map experience that helps people decide where to vote depending on important information such as whether it has wheelchair accessibility, and of course whether they can get a sausage or cake while they wait.

'The sausage data is still being populated by individual organisers. If you are planning an election day sausage sizzle at a polling booth and don't see yours on the map, you can add it at Democracy Sausage and Snagvotes.'

For some the promise of biting into piping hot sausage sizzle is one of the most pleasurable parts of casting their vote on election day (stock image)
how the arachnid works as a predator in the wild

An Australian spider could be the world's fastest-lunging predator, new research has found.

The Karaops spider, native to central and northern Australia, is now believed to be the world's fastest striking predator.

Californian researcher Sarah Crews has spent two months collecting more than 100 samples of the arachnid to take back to the U.S. to continue the study, reports ABC.

'Sort of accidentally we noticed that they are very fast at striking their prey, and it may be that they are the fastest terrestrial ambush predator on Earth.'

The Karaops spider (stock), native to central and northern Australia, is now believed to be the world's fastest striking predator according to new research conducted by California researcher Sarah Crews

Ms Crews has spent two months collecting more than 100 samples of the arachnid (stock) to take back to the U.S. to continue her study

Dr Crews and a research assistant have traversed through remote regions of northern WA and the Northern Territory to collect the samples.

She will now capture footage of the spiders jumping at their prey and study it in slow motion to determine how they work and how fast they lunge which is not known at this time.

'Most spiders are thought to move with hydraulic pressure, but some studies from Germany have shown some spiders are too big or too fast, they aren't moving with hydraulic pressure, so there has to be a muscular component as well,' Dr Crews said.

She will attempt to determine the mechanism that allows them to move so fast, which could be some sort of trigger that allows them to release the burst of energy but has said she's not sure how it works yet.

Research involved visiting remote rocky location for what she calls 'flipping rocks'.

She said: 'Sometimes we can't find the locality where specimens have been found before, because the information was poor, and a lot of times we can't get to the site due to mining.'

Dr Crews and a research assistant have traversed through remote regions of northern WA and the Northern Territory to collect the samples of the Karaops (stock)

She will now capture footage of the spiders (stock) lunging at their prey and study it in slow motion to determine how they work

In 2009 Dr Crews spent a year based at the Western Australian Museum describing hundreds of unidentified species of spider.

The head of terrestrial zoology at the Western Australian Museum Dr Mark Harvey told Daily Mail Australia: 'The genus Karaops is endemic to Australia, and there are 37 described species.

'These spiders occur under rocks or under the bark of trees.'

There are an estimated 10,000 spider species still to be identified and about 3,000 recorded across Australia.
Twenty four people flee their homes every minute bringing the total number of refugees to an all-time high of 65million due to conflict in the Middle East, new figures reveal.

There are now more refugees than during the Second World War and the number has risen by ten per cent since it broke all-time records the previous year when it topped 60million.

The UN refugee agency said that fighting in places such as Syria and Afghanistan - which prompted the arrival of thousands of migrants on European shores - contributed to the rise.

Twenty four people flee their homes every minute bringing the total number of refugees to an all-time high of 65million. Pictured is the vast Zaatari refugee camp in northern Jordan

There are now more refugees than during the Second World War. Pictured is a child at the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, where 80,000 people now live

The figures refer to 2015 so by now, the number could be even higher as fighting continues to tear apart cities and towns, prompting an increasing number of people to leave their homelands.

Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said: 'I hope that the message carried by those forcibly displaced reaches the leaderships: We need action, political action, to stop conflicts.

'The message that they have carried is, "If you don't solve problems, problems will come to you".'

With stark detail, UNHCR said that on average, 24 people were displaced every minute of every day last year - or 34,000 people a day - up from six per minute in 2005.

Global displacement has roughly doubled since 1997, and risen by 50 per cent since 2011 when the Syria war began.

More than half of refugees came from three countries, Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia.

Turkey was the 'top host' country for the second year running, taking in 2.5 million people - nearly all from neighbouring Syria.

Pakistan, which borders with Afghanistan, had 1.6 million, while Lebanon, next to Syria, hosted 1.1 million.

Since the start of the Syrian war in 2011, 4.8 million people have fled Syria, with 655,000 going to Jordan (pictured)

Salam Ashara, center, reads his poems about pre-war Syria to his two sons Saeb, left, and Ayman in the Zaatari refugee camp

Mr Grandi said politicians and advocacy groups face daunting challenges helping the largest subset of displaced people - 40.8 million internally displaced in countries in conflict.

Another 21.3 million were refugees and 3.2 million were seeking asylum.

More than a million people fled to Europe last year, causing a political crisis in the EU.

Mr Grandi called on countries to fight the xenophobia that has accompanied the rise in refugee populations, and criticised physical barriers - like fences erected by some European countries - as well as legislative ones that limit access to richer, more peaceful EU states.

Such European policies were 'spreading a negative example around the world', he said.
An 88-year-old woman was brutally bashed and almost run over in a cowardly carjacking in Melbourne's west.

Mavis Dillon was putting her walking frame in the boot of her car in St Albans on Saturday when she was set upon.

'He just came up and just whacked me,' Ms Dillon told reporters. 'He said nothing.'

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Mavis Dillon was putting her walking frame in the boot of her car in St Albans in Melbourne's west on Saturday when she was bashed by a man who stole her car. Above, Ms Dillon is comforted by friend Marjory Cassar

'He just came up and just whacked me,' Ms Dillon told reporters. 'He said nothing'

Mavis Dillon is recovering from injuries in the Sunshine Hospital after the cowardly male thief bashed her

'I don't know why he did it - I never hurt anyone. It just came out of the blue.'

The man demanded her car keys before punching her in the face, leaving her with severe bruising and a broken cheek bone. She also has a suspected broken arm.

After Ms Dillon handed her the keys the man nearly ran over the 88-year-old, police said. She reportedly had to roll out of the way to avoid being hit.

'I don't know why he did it - I never hurt anyone. It just came out of the blue,' she said

The man demanded her car keys before punching her in the face, leaving her with sever bruising and a broken her cheek bone. She also has a suspected broken arm

Ms Dillon remains in Sunshine Hospital where she is being treated for her injuries

Investigators are yet to find her car, which is a green 1996 Hyundai excel hatch with registration OYI793.

Ms Dillon, who is a great-grandmother, remains in Sunshine Hospital where she is being treated for her injuries.

Investigators urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.

Mavis Dillon, 87, recovering from injuries with friend Marjory Cassar (L) and granddaughter Karen Dearden (R) in the Sunshine Hospital
From Innovation to Networking and Product Debuts, FoodTech Qld to Host It All

FoodTech Qld is taking place this coming Sunday and will certainly be an exciting time for exhibitors and visitors alike. With so many great products and technology on show, heres a description of some highlights bound to interest food manufacturers.

ASSA ABLOY will be exhibiting their supply of intelligent locks and security solutions; their products account for more than one in ten of all lock and security installations worldwide so their exhibit will certainly be one to look out for.

Flowcrete will be unveiling their next stage in the evolution of food grade flooring  the full gloss, polyurethane, antimicrobial, enhanced Flowfresh Sealer system. This formulation is innovative, and is HACCP Internationally certified  the first of its kind in Australia.

SICK Pty LTD will be introducing the decentralized integration design of Flexi Loop. SICK is meeting the demand for cost-saving cascading of safe switches and sensors within a machine as well as for extensive diagnostic options  while maintaining performance level PL e. Flexi Loop is open to the safety-capable switches and sensors of all manufacturers  a fact that helps maintain the procurement independence of the machine builder and the end customer alike.

On the Monday morning of the event, Queensland MP for Bundaberg, Minister Leanne Donaldson, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries will be visiting FoodTech Qld. The Ministers role includes overseeing food production, her tour of the show floor will provide ample opportunity to come face to face with some of the innovators and companies growing Queenslands economy.

Along with food processing equipment will be incredible displays  such as the KUKA robot from Wiley, the cinematic short film from Gelita on the science of gel, and in an exciting debut: Ungerer Australia will be exhibiting their Native Flavours range  distinctly Australian flavours with unique and unusual profiles meeting the marked rise in interest in Australian flavours.

FoodTech Qld will also be co-locating with the Australian Institute of Food Science & Technology (AIFST)s 49th Annual Convention, seeing up to 300 food scientist & other food professionals during the 2 day conference.

FoodTech Qld is a free event for all industry professionals, register online for free & express entry to the show.

Dates: 26-28 June 2016

Venue: Hall 2, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

More Info: www.foodtechqld.com.au
A gang launched a 'carefully planned' plot to try to free a dangerous criminal from a prison van, a court has been told.

The attempt to break Izzet Eren, who was being held on firearms offences, out of a prison van as he was being moved from Wormwood Scrubs prison to Wood Green Crown Court in December 2015 was foiled as police had bugged the gang's car, a court heard.

Armed police swooped on the gang, who had armed themselves with a replica Uzi gun, when their vehicles were near the north London court.

A body lies on the pavement after police swooped to stop a gang springing a criminal from his prison van

Accomplice Jermaine Baker, 28, of Tottenham, was shot dead by a police officer during the operation.

Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay today described the escape attempt as a 'carefully planned conspiracy with all the hallmarks of a professional crime'.

He said the gang had used 'dirty' or 'burned' mobile phones to keep in contact with each other and that the gun looked 'very realistic'.

A member of the gang later tried to pass off the imitation weapon to police as just a pellet gun and a child's toy, but according to Mr Polnay it would have been 'quite easy to mistake this replica for the real thing'.

The gang, who are appearing at Woolwich Crown Court for sentencing, include Eren Hasyer, 25, of Enfield, who was found guilty of conspiring in the escape plot but cleared of possession of an imitation firearm with criminal intent.

Ozcan Eren , 32, of Wood Green - Izzet Eren's cousin - had denied the same charges but changed his plea part way through the trial.

Death: During the operation an officer shot dead one of the gang, Jermaine Baker, 28, from Tottenham

Izzet Eren, 33, driver Nathan Mason, 31, plus Gokay Sogucakli, 19, who are all from Tottenham, pleaded guilty to the same offences.

The escape plot was launched as Izzet Eren was due to be sentenced for firearms offences. He had been caught in October with another man - Erwin Amoah-Gyamfi - carrying a loaded pistol and a Skorpion machine gun in north London as they drove on a stolen motorbike to allegedly carry out a shooting.

In a bid to avoid a lengthy jail sentence, Izzet Eren masterminded the escape plot from his cell, recruiting Ozcan to assemble a gang to break him out of the prison van while it was transferring him to court for sentencing.

Prosecutors said that Mason and Sogucakli, along with Baker, were parked in a stolen Audi estate near to Wood Green Crown Court.

They did not know the car had been bugged by police who, shortly before 9am, surrounded the vehicle and shot Baker.

Shooting: The plan was foiled when armed police swooped on their vehicles as they were parked near the north London court

Police later found the replica Uzi in the back footwell of the car.

Police said that gang members were in another car about a mile away and were communicating with Eren about the exact location of the van.

Mr Polnay said that Mason had driven the car 'at speed' and in an 'erratic' way to try to ensure it was not being followed.

In trying to explain the car's erratic movements, Nicholas Whitehorn, defending Mason, said in mitigation: 'He had cannabis which he had smoked - those in the car had alcohol and at some stage there is evidence they had been asleep.'

Izzet Eren texted instructions to the gang using a mobile phone from inside the van, telling them the registration number and the cell he was in.

Ozcan Eren acted as the link-man, passing on details of the texts to the rest of the gang.

Proximity: Izzet Eren amd Erwin Amoah Gyamfi were on their way to court when the shootout happened

Graeme Wilson, his defence lawyer, said he had been recruited 'on the day or 24 hours' before the intended escape to act as a lookout and to check the possible routes the prison van might take.

Eren and Amoah-Gyamfi were jailed in December for 14 years for the offences they committed in October.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is still investigating the officer who shot Baker. The officer has been arrested but has not been charged.

How a spiralling Turkish heroin war on the streets of London left bodies strewn across Europe and the SLAP that led to the Wood Green police shooting

A seven-year feud between rival Turkish heroin drugs gangs culminated in the attempted prison van escape - but was caused by a slap in a north London snooker club seven years ago.

A brawl on January 24, 2009 inside the Manor Club in Finsbury Park has led to more than 30 violent incidents across London and southern Turkey, including several murders.

Izzet Eren and Amoah Gyamfi are both senior members of the Tottenham Boys, also known as the Tottenham Turks.

They were on their way to court last year for the attempted gangland assassination of members of the rival Hackney Bombers, and plotted an escape to avoid jail.

Members of the rival gangs are all from southern Turkey and are heavily involved in the importation of heroin.

Hackney Bomber leader Ali Armagan, left, was murdered outside Turnpike Lane tube station in February 2012, Tottenham Boy Zafer Eren, right, was murdered in retaliation as he walked towards his home in April 2013

According to The Times, more than 10 murders in London have been linked to the feud which began after Kemel Armagan, a senior member of the Hackney Bombers was slapped inside the club controlled by the Tottenham Boys.

Armagan vowed revenge for the assault and in March 2009 innocent shopkeeper Ahmet Paytak, 50, was gunned down inside the Euro Food and Wines store in Hornsey Road.

The killer, Ricardo Dwyer had been hired by the Hackney Bombers for the murder, but shot the wrong target. Mr Paytak had no involvement whatsoever with the Tottenham Boys.

Izzet Eren himself was shot and injured in Tottenham on September 28, 2009 as the feud escalated.

Just a few days later, on October 2, 2009, Eren's friend and fellow Tottenham Boy Oktay Erbrasli was murdered as he drove through Tottenham.

He was gunned down near the Great Cambridge Road when a man on a high-powered motorcycle pulled up beside his car and opened fire.

The 23-year-old gangster was in the car with his girlfriend and young stepson.

Three days later, the Tottenham Boys launched a gun attack on a club on the Upper Clapton Road used by members of the rival gang and shot dead Cem Duzgun, 21.

Oktay Erbasli, pictured, was murdered in front of his girlfriend and step son in October 2009

Police said that Mr Duzgun, was not involved in any criminality. The revenge attack was response to the attempt on Eren's life and the murder of his friend.

A post-mortem found that Mr Duzgun was shot 11 times as he played pool at the Clapton FC club in Hackney on October 5, 2009.

He was it in the head, body, arms and legs.

On February 1, 2012, the Tottenham Boys murdered Ali Armagan outside Turnpike Lane tube station.

The 32-year-old gangster had been spotted driving in the area by members of the Tottenham Boys who informed their bosses, who sent out two assassins.

Armagan was shot half a dozen times and managed to stagger from his distinctive car into a nearby barbers shop where he died.

The Metropolitan Police believe that shooting was carried out by Kemal Eren, who was related to Izzet Eren of the Tottenham Boys.

Kemel Eren, who is known by the nickname 'No Fingers' fled the UK to avoid arrest, but was shot and paralysed in Elbistan, Turkey shortly afterwards.

Then on the evening of December 30, 2012 Inan Eren was shot and wounded. He was left with a permanent limp.

When Mr Eren survived the attack, the target shifted to his cousin Zafer Eren, another leading member of the Tottenham Boys.

Tottenham Boy Oktay Erbasli was shot dead in this Range Rover on October 4, 2009, which is shown here with several bullet holes

The Hackney Bombers outsourced the hit to Jamie Marsh-Smith, who was taken to the scene by his getaway driver Samuel Zerei.

Marsh-Smith put on a Guy Fawkes-style mask and shot Zafer in the back as he walked through the security gates to his home at Fontaine Court off Southgate High Street on April 18, 2013.

Marsh-Smith fired seven shots, three of which hit Eren in the back. He then escaped in the back of a burgundy Peugeot 308 driven by Zerei.

Four days after that attack, Marsh-Smith shot Zerei in Markfield Park, Tottenham because he feared he would 'blabber'.

Marsh-Smith, of Manor House, north London, was convicted of murder and two counts of attempted murder. He was jailed for life with a minimum of 38 years.
Iranian intelligence officials have foiled 'the biggest terrorist plot' to ever target Tehran and other provinces across the country, state TV claimed today.

Several suspects have been arrested and are under interrogation over the plot after agents seized ammunition and bombs, the report said.

It's thought they had planned a co-ordinated bombing attack including suicide bombs across the nation, according to TV reports attributed to Iran's Intelligence Ministry.

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Iranian intelligence officials have foiled 'the biggest terrorist plot' to ever target Tehran (picture, file image) and other provinces in the Islamic Republic, the country's state television reported today

The Fars and Isna news agencies quoted Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, as saying the attack was planned in the holy month of Ramadan.

The official IRNA news agency quoted the ministry as saying: 'One of the biggest takfiri-Wahhabi terrorist plots was discovered and foiled,' using terms applied by Iran to Sunni extremist groups

They added: 'A series of bomb attacks prepared in various areas deep inside the country and especially in Tehran and some other provinces... were foiled, the terrorists were arrested and a number of ready-made bombs were recovered.'

The agency also said the attack was supposed to come on the anniversary of the death of the Prophet Muhammad's wife, Khadija, on Thursday.

The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, told the ISNA news agency the plot included plans for 'suicide attacks in Tehran'.

Iranian authorities often refer to followers of the Sunni militant Islamic State group as 'takfiris', though it was not clear if this case involved the extremist group that holds territory in Iraq and Syria.

Shiite power Iran has been helping both the Syrian and the Iraqi government in their battles against the Islamic State group.

It has warned of possible militant attacks targeting the country, which largely has not seen such attacks since the immediate aftermath of its 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Irna, however, called those involved in the plot 'Wahhabi takfiris'. Wahhabism is an ultra-conservative school of Islam practised predominantly in Saudi Arabia.

Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have frayed following the kingdom's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric in January and subsequent attacks by protesters on Saudi diplomatic posts in Iran. The kingdom cut diplomatic relations with Tehran following those attacks.

An anchor on state television read off a statement attributing the information to Iran's Intelligence Ministry. Pictured is Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iran recently announced that it would not be sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the annual hajj pilgrimage, as it said the kingdom did not meet Iran's requests for better security for Iranian pilgrims.

The hajj pilgrimage is required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their lifetime.

In May, Iran's Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi announced that 20 'terrorist groups' which planned to detonate bombs and cause insecurity across the country had been dismantled.

It was unclear whether that included the plot announced on Monday by state television.

Iran faces threats from several militant groups. Last week, Iran's Revolutionary Guard battled armed members of an insurgent Kurdish group in the country's West Azerbaijan province near its border with Iraq and Turkey.

Both sides gave conflicting death tolls from the fighting, as the Guard said its forces killed 12 insurgents while three of its own died.
Nigel Farage today claimed he only withdrew a poster branded 'racist' by critics because of the 'unfortunate timing' of its publication just two hours before the killing of MP Jo Cox.

The Ukip leader repeated his dismissal of cross-party condemnation of the poster, which feature a column of thousands of refugees and migrants trying to walk into Europe through Slovenia.

Mr Farage today insisted he had published a similar poster in May and said the image - headlined 'breaking point' - was a fair comment on the pressures faced by the 'Schengen' borderless zone on the continent.

The Remain campaign issued cross-party condemnation of the poster within minutes of its publication last Thursday morning and senior Leave campaigner Michael Gove led new criticism yesterday as he admitted it had made him 'shudder'.

But Mr Farage today stood by his defence of the poster - hours after insisting he was himself the 'victim' of hatred.

Nigel Farage, pictured today at the BBC, has played down the row over Ukip's 'Breaking Point' immigration poster insisting was a victim of bad timing and not a real row

Mr Farage, pictured unveiling his controversial poster on Thursday, today said it had been 'unfortunate timing' but insisted the poster made valid arguments

The Ukip leader told the BBC today: 'I released a very similar poster in the first week of May ahead of the London elections to no comment at all.

'This poster, which shows what happened in Europe within the Schengen zone last year, after Mrs Merkel made one of the most irresponsible policy decisions of modern times - one that didn't just affect Germany but affected the whole of the Schengen zone, which effectively is leading to Schengen breaking up - fences being erected and panic movements of people, and that's what we saw on that poster, people crossing.

'The EU is failing us all, that's the slogan, and the point is there's been too little debate in this referendum about this union that we're a member of.

Mr Farage said the image was not 'invented' and had been on many front pages last year.

And he added: 'We planned to run six posters in the last week of the campaign. This poster was designed for the day.

'It was unfortunate timing that within a couple of hours of releasing it, this terrible tragic murder took place, and when we saw that, we immediately withdrew the poster, because we understood that it was a day for everybody to go quiet and be silent.

'Even discussing immigration with some people is deeply offensive. I've been doing this for years - I've been laughed at, I've been ridiculed, I've been condemned, I've been demonised, but the point is this.

'We're members of a political union that is failing, and we get the knock on effects of much of it. The central point of this campaign is we want to control our country, and part of that is controlling our borders.'

Michael Gove told the BBC's Andrew Marr that he 'shuddered' when he saw the Ukip poster on immigration when it was unveiled last week

Chancellor George Osborne joined the chorus of condemnation and said the Ukip poster had 'echoes' of 1930s literature

Justice Secretary Mr Gove yesterday revealed he 'shuddered' when Ukip unveiled an anti-immigration poster featuring refugees just a week before the EU referendum.

FARAGE UNDER FIRE FOR IGNORING SCHENGEN RULES IN 'BREAKING POINT' IMMIGRATION POSTER Nigel Farage has come under fire for suggesting Britain is at 'breaking point' with a poster of refugees - despite the fact none of them have the right to come to Britain. The Ukip leader was told today his attack was flawed because Britain was not a member of the Schengen borderless zone in Europe. The Schengen area includes 22 of the 28 EU countries and means there are no border or passport controls - allowing people to travel between countries without stopping. But Britain is one of the countries with a specific opt out meaning legal travel across the UK border needs a passport or other form of ID. Mr Farage has insisted the poster reflects how the EU is failing all countries in Europe, including Schengen members, not just Britain. Advertisement

The Justice Secretary said the poster, branded racist by critics, was the 'wrong thing to do'.

Mr Osborne, who supports the Remain campaign, also condemned the poster today as having 'echoes' of far right literature from the 1930s.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Brexit-backing Labour MP John Mann all slammed the poster in interviews yesterday.

Mr Gove said: 'When I saw that poster, I shuddered. I felt it was the wrong thing to do.

'I must stress, I believe in free speech, I don't want to deny anyone a platform, and when I have had the opportunity to talk about migration during the course of this debate.

'I hope I have been very clear I am pro-migration but the way in which we secure public support for the continued benefits migration brings, the way we secure public support for helping refugees in need is if people feel they can control the numbers overall coming here.'

Chancellor George Osborne, who supports the Remain campaign, also condemned the poster today as having 'echoes' of far right literature from the 1930s.

Mr Farage unveiled the controversial poster on Thursday, exactly a week before the EU referendum but was immediately condemned for the tone

Mr Osborne told ITV's Peston on Sunday: 'I think there is a difference between addressing those concerns [about immigration] in a reasonable way and whipping up concerns, whipping up division, making baseless assertions that millions of people are going to come into the country in the next couple of years from Turkey, or saying that dead bodies are going to wash up on the beaches of Kent  or, indeed, putting up that disgusting and vile poster that Nigel Farage did which had echoes of literature used in the 1930s.

'That is what we should say no to and this referendum vote is a vote on the kind of Britain we want.'

Mr Farage yesterday rejected the charge of stoking up hatred, telling ITV interviewer Robert Peston: 'I think I have been a politician who has been a victim of it, to be honest with you.

'When you challenge the establishment in this country, they come after you, they call you all sorts of things.

'We saw the Chancellor a few minutes ago - despite the fact that overnight he talked about turning down the rhetoric - doing the same thing again.'

Asked if he wished he hadn't unveiled the poster, Mr Farage replied: 'I wish an innocent Member of Parliament hadn't been gunned down on the street.

'That's the point, and frankly had that not happened, I don't think we would have had the kind of row that we've had over it.'

He added: 'There was a big momentum developing right across the country, [then] a tragic death... It's difficult to see where either of the campaigns go.'

Despite his criticism of the Ukip poster, Mr Gove defended the official Vote Leave campaign's claims about immigration and particularly the possibility of Turkey joining the EU

Mr Farage said: 'That poster reflects the truth of what's going on. We have a new poster coming out tomorrow morning and we'll unveil a new poster for every day.'

Mr Gove defended the claims on immigration made by his own campaign about Turkey, insisting it was not wrong to ensure migrant numbers are controlled.

Interviewed by the BBC's Andrew Marr, Mr Gove was challenged on Vote Leave leaflets which claim Turkey's high birth rate would mean a million more people having the right to come to Britain.

Mr Gove said: 'I think it is important to stress that when we are thinking about the enlargement of the European Union - and it is the official policy of the EU to accelerate Turkey's accession.

'I think the fact that both the British government and the EU want Turkey and other countries to join is clear. The rate and speed at which Turkey will join will depend on a variety of political factors.

'But it is the case that during the course of this year the EU want to accelerate that process and I think that when Turkey is becoming less democratic that is not the right thing to do.'

Mr Gove denied discussion of Turkey's birth rate made him 'queasy' and added: 'I think it is very important when we are talking about migration to take into account numbers overall as well.

'One of the things about numbers is that we benefit from migration if the numbers are controlled.'

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn today admitted he did not believe there could be limits placed on free movement in the EU as he claimed the Government was at fault for not giving communities resources to cope

Scottish first minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon yesterday renewed her criticism of the Ukip poster.

She told Sky News: 'In these last few days I hope we can have a debate that doesn't focus on immigration.

'Yes, people's concerns about immigration need to be addressed, but let's also make the positive case for a world and a Europe where we all have the freedom of travel and the positive case for immigration and the benefits that brings to our economy.
He had been attacked by a cookiecutter shark and has injuries to his fin

A baby fur seal that washed up on a beach after being attacked by a shark is fighting for his life at a Queensland marine park.

The severely underweight baby seal, estimated to be 18 months old, was picked up on the Gold Coast's Mermaid Beach on Sunday and had been bitten by a cookiecutter shark on his fin.

'That looks like an old injury, it looks like it happened about a month ago,' Sea World marine sciences director Trevor Long said.

A baby fur seal (pictured) which washed up on a Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast after being attacked by a shark is fighting for his life at Sea World

The severely underweight baby seal is estimated to be 18 months old. He was bitten on his fin by a shark

But vets are most concerned about the pup's weight.

'This animal should be around about 15kg at this point in its life and it's only about 8kg,' Mr Long said.

'He hasn't eaten for a long time and when that happens with an animal, their body starts to shut down.'

The seal is receiving around-the-clock care and is on antibiotics.

Another stranded fur seal arrived at the theme park on Monday in worse condition after it was picked up from North Stradbroke Island.

New Zealand fur seals are not endangered and their numbers are rising, however southern states do not allow animals to be released back into the wild for fear of introducing disease into colonies, Mr Long said.

Queensland laws are more flexible and Sea World staff are working with the Environment Department to determine the animals' future.

'This animal should be around about 15kg at this point in its life and it's only about 8kg,' Sea World marine sciences director Trevor Long said

New Zealand fur seals are not endangered and their numbers are rising, however southern states do not allow animals to be released back into the wild for fear of introducing disease into colonies (stock image)

'The welfare and well-being of the seal is the team's highest priority and the seal is currently under the care of our expert veterinarian and animal care team who have administered antibiotics and have taken blood samples,' Sea World said in a statement.

Mr Long said while seals had been rescued from Queensland coastlines before, there had been a spate in the last week.

'I'd say that this is going to be a heavy season for seals on the coast.'
A 'mentally ill' woman who refused to jump from her burning apartment has been accused of deliberately setting a fire in her bedroom.

Dramatic video shows the terrifying moment neighbours from surrounding buildings desperately pleaded with the 23-year-old woman to jump from the second-storey window.

Around 25 residents were forced to flee from the Campbell Parade block of flats in Bondi Beach, in Sydney's east, after the ferocious blaze broke out just after midnight on Monday.

According to Nine News, the young woman, who is currently in psychiatric care, has been late on paying her rent on several occasions and was recently given an eviction notice.

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A mentally ill woman had refused to jump from her burning apartment as neighbours plead for her to jump

The 23-year-old mentally ill woman was rescued after emergency crews arrived at the scene within minutes

The distressed woman was spotted dangling from the ledge of her windowsill as the fire engulfed the building just moments before emergency crews arrived at the scene.

Forensic police and fire investigators believe the woman may have deliberately lit the fire in a bedroom, according to Nine News.

A NSW Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia they were treating the incident as 'suspicious' but could not comment further on the case.

Horrified residents stood on the ground below as they frantically begged for the woman to jump onto a large mattress below.

A firefighter immediately climbed up a ladder and pulled the woman to safety.

Residents were forced to flee from the Bondi flat after the ferocious blaze broke out after midnight on Monday

A firefighter immediately climbed up a ladder and pulled the distressed woman to safety

Forensic police and fire investigators believe the woman had deliberately lit the fire in a bedroom

Superintendent Wayne Phillips of the NSW Fire & Rescue said the woman had to be carried down a ladder by a fireman because she was too frightened to jump.

'He's got her in his arm and sort of put her under his arm like carrying a footy type style and climbed down the stairs,' he told AAP on Monday.
Thomas Mair, charged with the murder of MP Jo Cox, was remanded in custody today

The Jo Cox murder case is being treated as 'terror-related', a court heard today as her alleged killer was remanded in custody.

Thomas Mair, 52, is accused of carrying out the street attack which killed the Labour MP in Birstall, near Leeds.

Mair, who is from Birstall, appeared at the Old Bailey via a video-link from Belmarsh prison this afternoon.

The case is being treated as 'terror-related', despite Mair not being charged with terrorism offences, the court heard.

When asked to confirm he was Thomas Mair, he replied: 'Yes, I am.'

He is charged with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.

Grey-bearded Mair sat with his arms folded beside a prison officer. He wore beige trousers and a white long-sleeved t-shirt.

There was no application for bail and he was remanded in custody.

His appearance came as MPs returned to Westminster to pay tribute to Mrs Cox, 41, who was killed as she prepared to hold a constituency surgery.

At a previous court hearing, David Cawthorne, prosecuting, told the court how Mrs Cox had visited a school and a care home before travelling to Birstall library for a surgery for residents.

Pensioner Bernard Kenny, 77, tried to help Mrs Cox but was stabbed in the abdomen, forcing him to seek help in a nearby sandwich shop.

Mrs Cox, 41, was pronounced dead at 1.48pm and a post-mortem found the cause of death to be multiple stab and gunshot wounds. Mr Kenny, a former miner, is still in hospital.

Mair (left) is accused of killing Mrs Cox (right), who was shot as she arrived for a constituency surgery

On Saturday, Mrs Cox's sister Kim Leadbeater (left), her mother Jean and father Gordon Leadbeater visited the town where she was killed

On Saturday, Ms Cox's parents, Jean and Gordon Leadbeater, and her sister, Kim, visited the site of a memorial in Birstall where flowers have been laid in tribute to the MP.

Kim Leadbeater told how her family was 'broken' by their loss but vowed that her sister would live on through 'her truly wonderful children'.

The killing of mother-of-two Mrs Cox outside the public library in her West Yorkshire constituency has prompted an outpouring of public grief.

MPs have praised Mrs Cox's passionate commitment to causes such as the plight of Syrian refugees and her ability to work with colleagues on all sides of the House.

Local people have paid tribute to her infectious enthusiasm and tireless efforts on behalf of her constituents.

A memorial fund set up in Ms Cox's name had raised more than 700,000 for three causes close to her heart  the Royal Voluntary Service, anti far-right campaign Hope not hate and Syria rescue group the White Helmets.

The killing has led to a huge outpouring of emotion in the Yorkshire town, where floral tributes have been left
Melbourne mum Terry has beat the odds and given birth to a baby boy, despite the malignant tumours growing on her spine.

Told by doctors that they would not support her during her pregnancy because of the health risks to her and her baby, Terry, 25, is now a proud mum to a healthy boy named Matthew.

'It's a lifelong dream and it's wonderful to have it now,' the young mum told 7News.

Melbourne mum Terry, 25, has beaten the odds and given birth to a healthy baby boy, despite suffering from benign brain tumours and malignant spinal tumours

Soon after Terry married her childhood sweetheart Zachary, the couple wanted to begin a family but they came across many obstacles.

They were distraught to be told by doctors not to have children due to the health risks involved.

Terry had spinal cord cancer as a child, stunting her growth and left her arm paralyzed.

She was just 14 when she was diagnosed with brain cancer.

She was suffering with low lung capacity and had benign brain tumours and malignant spinal tumours when she began her risky pregnancy journey.

It was when Terry found Professor Sue Walker that she got the go ahead to proceed with the pregnancy.

'She taught us as much as we gave her, about the power of courage and determination,' Professor Walker told 7News.

'I think Terry is a wonderful example of what's possible.'

Terry and Zachary are now considering growing their family even more.

Soon after Terry married her childhood sweetheart Zachary, the couple wanted to begin a family but doctors told them not to have children due to the health risks involved
A woman who was 'beaten up along with her boyfriend by bouncers at a Magaluf party hotel' claims they were 'attacked for walking too slowly'

Shocking footage has emerged of a young couple being pummelled by security staff at the four-star BH Mallorca Hotel in Magaluf, Spain, on Friday following a disagreement.

In the short clip the woman, wearing a black bikini, is pinned to the floor by a bouncer after she was allegedly slapped in the face while two security guards appear to punch and kick her boyfriend.

The couple have been named on social media as model Robbie Hofmann and her boyfriend hardcore dance DJ Alex Henderson, who works under the name 'Alex Prospect'.

Now Miss Hofmann has taken to the internet to give her version of events and claimed none of what happened was 'deserved'.

In the short clip filmed in Magaluf a woman wearing a black bikini is pinned to the floor by a bouncer (pictured left) while another two security guards appear to punch and kick her boyfriend (right) as he is on the floor

Model Robbie Hofmann (left) and her boyfriend hardcore dance DJ Alex Henderson, who works under the name 'Alex Prospect' (right), were 'attacked for walking too slowly', she claims

In a Facebook status, Miss Hofmann denied any wrongdoing and claimed the attack was 'undeserved'

Writing on Facebook, she said: 'We were only there to DJ and watch our friends headline a UK hardcore event.

'We at no point behaved like disrespectful yobs which was how we were treated when apparently walking too slowly towards the exit.

'You guys are our friends and know us all so please remember how we are. This is a terrible and ill deserved reflection...none of this was deserved at all.'

She claimed police were now refusing to provide CCTV evidence supporting claims that she and Mr Henderson were allegedly throwing cups or refusing to leave.

Miss Hofmann added: 'They've done a great job of painting us in a bad light saying we were refusing to leave and throwing cups.

'We never refused to leave or were rude or aggressive to them. Alex was trying to reason with them and tell them we were leaving and the guy was shouting at Alex telling him to speak to him in his own language then went for him it was ridiculous.'

She alleged they and a friend were attacked by a man 'bigger than the three of us combined' and that she then threw a cup in a bush 'out of shock' and not at one of the bouncers.

Eyewitnesses has previously claimed one of the bouncers slapped Miss Hofmann after she threw a plastic cup at one of them, prompting Mr Henderson to jump in.

At one point the video shows three bouncers punching, hitting and kicking the man while he is prone on the floor.

Following the incident a shocking picture of Mr Henderson sporting a bloodied and swollen face was posted on the BH Mallorca Facebook page, along with dozens of complaints about his treatment

It is understood Miss Hofmann sustained cuts and bruises while her boyfriend suffered more serious injuries.

Following the incident a shocking picture of Mr Henderson sporting a bloodied and swollen face was posted on the BH Mallorca Facebook page, along with dozens of complaints about his treatment at the hands of the bouncers.

Jakub Matejko, from Manchester, shared the original shocking video on Facebook.

He wrote: 'I'm so disgusted with the staff SAFE 4 u working at the BH Mallorca hotel ... guards picked up on a girl because she threw a plastic cup at one of them, the guy went up to her and slaps her so her boyfriend trying to protect her jump in and end up with broken head and bleeding from eyes.

'They even kicked and punched the girl afterwards as you can see on the video, this is not what should be happening at four star hotel.

'The guy was not moving, and the guards were still kicking his head in.

'Helpless and purple with the force the guards been using, is this what you get when you go on holiday with your 2nd half?'

His post prompted dozens of complaints on the hotel's Facebook page, with many demanding the chain apologise to Mr Henderson.

Dennis Nicholls wrote: 'Terrible video footage showing security guards beating up that couple, If that's the kind of security you hire then you will not be in business much longer. I think an apology is needed for that couple.'

Evelyn Mielcarek said: 'Unbelievable. There is absolutely NO EXCUSE for this type of action against anyone. You hired thugs to beat up patrons - you are as guilty as your employees. You ought to lose your Hotel license.'

David King added: 'Throw those scum bags in jail & throw away the key & close the hotel down, IMMEDIATELY! security are meant to make people feel safe & not make people feel scared in case they turn on the guests!'

At one point the video shows three bouncers punching, hitting and kicking the man (pictured) on the floor

According to an eyewitness one of the bouncers slapped the woman after she threw a plastic cup at one of them, prompting Mr Henderson to jump in

Danielle Roberts said: 'Disgusting hotel - disgusting staff. Just plain evil, just watched the video of the woman getting beaten by your security guards and a guy almost to death. Then to read your statement is f****** ridiculous not even an apology in there. You should hang your heads in shame.'

BH Mallorca Hotel spokesman said: 'The management of BH are as troubled as everyone else by what is shown on the video yesterday.

'The guests were not staying at BH Mallorca, they were visiting for the day and refused to leave at closing time.

'We do not condone the use of violence & we have been working with local authororities since last night to establish exactly what happened before and after what is shown on the film that lead up to this incident.'

BH Mallorca is a popular hotel for British tourists on holiday. The Only Way Is Essex star Ferne McCann regularly stays there.
Court heard she started selling drugs to clients she met as a

while she was studying

She said cash was made from sex work

Sawyer, 19, was found with $3,600, MDMA, cocaine and

A 19-year-old biochemistry student who worked as a sex escort sobbed during a sentencing hearing for drug supply charges on Monday.

Madeline Christine Sawyer was the passenger of a car which police pulled over in Campbelltown in Sydney's west in October.

Police found two MDMA capsules in the car, which was driven by her 20-year-old co-accused Fadhil Al Khafaji.

Biochemistry student Madeline Christine Sawyer, 19, (pictured) who worked as a sex escort, sobbed during a sentencing hearing for drug supply charges on Monday

Police found two MDMA capsules in a car which was driven by her 20-year-old co-accused Fadhil Al Khafaji. Sawyer (pictured) was a passenger

Officers searched the teenager's phone and found messages implicating her in drug-dealing: 'So I just bought 50 pills to sell what is wrong with me?' one text read.

In a later search of her Campelltown home, police found 28 capsules of MDMA, 11 grams of cocaine and 11 bags of 'ice'.

They also found $3660 in cash, which Sawyer claimed was money she had made through sex work while she was studying at the University of Western Sydney.

She pleaded guilty to dealing with suspected proceeds of crime and six counts of supply and possession.

On Monday the 19-year-old broke down in tears and held her head in her hands at Campbelltown District Court, according to Nine News.

Officers searched the teenagers phone and found messages implicating her in drug-dealing: 'So I just bought 50 pills to sell what is wrong with me?' one text read

Madeline Sawyer, 19, was found to be dealing drugs and working as a prostitute while studying biochemistry

The court heard she first started selling drugs to clients she had met by working as a prostitute.

'It's worrying that she may still have some involvement with the industry which caused so many problems to start with,' the Crown told the court, Nine News reported.

Earlier, Sawyer's lawyer told the Sydney Morning Herald she regretted lying to police and had done everything she could to make things right following the 'big mistake'.

Text messages between Sawyer and Khafaji - where he ordered more drugs and she responded with 'no worries' - sparked the investigation.

Police found 28 capsules of MDMA (left), 11 grams of cocaine (right) and 11 bags of methamphetamine inside her home, as well as $3660 in cash, which Sawyer claimed was made through sex work

Sawyer was studying biochemistry at the University of Western Sydney (pictured) when she was arrested

But police found further evidence of her drug dealing and sex work after properly sifting through her messages.

Sawyer had been in communication with her clients and sent a message to someone who had sampled her cocaine 48 hours before her arrest asking how the 'rack' went, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The 19-year-old also divulged that she sold cocaine for around $300 a bag.
US and Russian warplanes were involved in a dramatic showdown over Syria after the Russian fighters bombed US-backed Syrian opposition forces.

The mid-air confrontation occurred between F/A-18 fighters scrambled by the Pentagon and several SU-34s, Moscow's most advanced bombers.

The Russian jets had struck a 200-strong garrison of Syrian rebels fighting the Islamic State in At-Tanf, near the Jordanian border.

Scroll down for videos

A mid-air confrontation occurred between F/A-18 fighters scrambled by the Pentagon and several SU-34s, Moscow's most advanced bombers (pictured)

When the F/A-18s approached the Russians moved out of the area, but when the US fighters paused to refuel they returned and struck the base again, killing paramedics tending to those wounded in the first attack.

The Russians had been ordered to back off by the US pilots directly using a special communications channel set up to prevent air accidents, according to The Daily Beast.

A US official told The Los Angeles Times: 'It's an egregious act that must be explained. The Russian government either doesn't have control of its own forces or it was a deliberate, provocative act. Either way, we're looking for answers.'

However, the Russian military on Sunday rejected accusations that it had deliberately targeted US-backed Syrian opposition forces, arguing the US had failed to warn about their locations.

Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said the area targeted in the strike was more than 300 kilometers (186 miles) away from locations earlier designated by the US as controlled by legitimate opposition forces.

The Pentagon said it held a video conference on Saturday with the Russian military to discuss Russian air strikes.

When the F/A-18s (file image) approached the Russians moved out of the area, but when the US fighters paused to refuel they returned and struck the base again

Clash: The showdown between the US and Russia occurred near the Jordanian border at At-Tanf

'Russia's continued strikes at At-Tanf, even after US attempts to inform Russian forces through proper channels of ongoing coalition air support to the counter-ISIL forces, created safety concerns for US and coalition forces,' it said in a statement.

Konashenkov retorted that the Russian military had warned the US in advance about the planned strike, but the Pentagon had failed to provide coordinates of legitimate opposition forces, 'making it impossible to take measures to adjust the Russian air force action.'

He added that the Russian military had proposed months ago to share information about locations of various forces involved in military action in Syria to create a comprehensive map, but the Pentagon hasn't been forthcoming.

On a conciliatory note, he added that Saturday's video conference with the Pentagon was 'constructive,' reflecting a shared desire 'to improve coordination in fighting terrorist organizations in Syria and avoid incidents while conducting military operations there.'

The video conference was held as part of bilateral communication channels intended to prevent incidents in the crowded skies over Syria.

Russia has conducted an air campaign in Syria since last September, helping Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces win back some ground.
New Montague apple varieties launched

Australian apple producer, Montague, has announced it will be supplying four new apple varieties to Australia supermarkets.

The new varieties include:

Smitten: A blend of Gala, Braeburn, Falstaff and Fiesta apples. Smitten apples ripen in early February making it one of the first to be harvested every year. Montague says it has a frim flesh which makes it more resistant to bruising. It will be available in selected Coles stores from February 2017. eve: A member of the Braeburn family, the apple keeps white after it is sliced. It is grown in Batlow, New South Wales, and in the Huon Valley in Tasmania. It will be stocked by Coles nationally. envy: A cross between Braeburn and a Royal Gala. The variety has already gained popularity in Asia also retains its white flesh after cutting. It is grown mostly in Tasmania, Batlow and Stanthorpe, Queensland. It will be available May  September at selected Woolworths supermarkets. Ambrosia: A sweet and aromatic variety, Ambrosia apples were originally discovered in Canada. It has since gained popularity in other countries across the globe. The first commercial plantings of Ambrosia in Australia will occur in Winter 2016. Stockists are yet to be confirmed.Montague estimates the four varieties will produce a combined total of 12.6 million kilograms of apples by 2020.

Montague is an Australian producer and distributor of apples and pears. It is the exclusive distributor of Jazz apples; a variety it first began planting ten years ago.

The company also recently announced it is opening a new production and tourism development in Narree Warren North, Victoria.

The facility will feature an experimental orchard and plans to demonstrate apple production to consumers. It is expected to generate an additional revenue of AUD$50 million per annum from fruit sales, increased export opportunities and revenue from the centres tourism and hospitality offering.
A 12 year old orphan survived a mass drowning in a Russian sailing tragedy by clinging to her twin brother for four hours in freezing water before being knocked unconscious and swept to shore where she raised the alarm.

Yulia Korol was on board one of the boats that capsized on Lake Syamozero, in northern Russia's Karelia region, and escaped while 14 others died.

Most of the youngsters perished from hypothermia as the decision to ignore storm warnings was blasted by a local tourist boss as 'suicidal'.

Scroll down for video

Yulia prayed as she thrashed around in the water before blacking out and being thrown towards the shore

Rescuers had to deal with rough waves and bad weather as the decision to take the children out on the lake was described as 'suicidal'

Yulia and her twin brother Dmitry were thrown into the water when the stormy weather overturned their sailing boat

Children are rescued after a group of 47 youngsters were left fighting for their lives in freezing cold water when their sailing boats capsized in rough weather

Details of her miraculous escape emerged as a government spokesman told how the children were being taught by unqualified teenagers in the popular tourist spot.

There were only four instructors looking after the 47 children sent out to sail - some were believed to be without lifejackets.

When the storm hit, Yulia's boat flipped over and she found herself in the water, clinging on to her brother Dmitry.

For four hours they held onto each other until they were torn apart by a large wave. Yulia blacked out and the next thing she knew was that she had been washed up on land.

Not knowing if her brother was dead or alive, she discovered the body of another teenager lying on the shore and tried - but failed - to save him.

Yulia staggered along the edge of the lake and discovered yet another injured boy, covered in blood and unable to walk.

It was then she decided to go and seek help and walked for four hours with only socks on her feet before reaching the village of Kudama.

Emergency officers rescued surviving children in a boat on Lake Syamozero in Russia's autonomic republic of Korelia. There were only four instructors looking after the 47 children sent out to sail - some were believed to be without lifejackets

The accident happened overnight on Lake Syamozero, close to the border with Finland. Vladimir Putin's ombudsman for children Pavel Astakhov revealed that the children had been left in the charge of teenage 'instructors'

Most of the youngsters perished from hypothermia as the decision to ignore storm warnings was blasted by a local tourist boss as 'suicidal'

At least 13 children and their adult instructor have drowned after a storm struck while the group were boating on a Russian lake. The boats are said to have overturned Saturday when bad weather hit Syamozero (pictured)

As she walked Yulia, from Moscow, had to cross a fast flowing river, where she fell in and again had to swim to safety.

Local resident Alexander Zyamov found the wet and cold girl shivering on his doorstep on Sunday morning.

'Obviously, she was in a state of shock, she was trembling,' he said.

She told him: 'I am Yulia. Lots of children are dead, we were in boats. One dead boy is at the bank.

'I tried to resuscitate him but he was dead. A second one is alive but he can't walk and is covered in blood.'

Mr Zyamov called the rescue service: 'She told me and my wife that she was holding hands with her brother until the last moment when waves separated them.

'Policemen took Yulia away to the local tourist base.'

There she was reunited with Dmitry who had made it safely to shore.

'Thank God both of them managed to survive,' he said.

Young survivors from the Russian boat drowning where 13 children died comfort each other as they return to their hotel in Karelia

Safe: Schoolchildren return to their hotel in Karelia after sailing trip goes tragically wrong and 13 drown in stormy weather

Dmitry managed to get to shore safely after being separated from his twin sister

Yulia was in the second boat which capsized as the stormy weather overturned both vessels but managed to swim ashore. The group was being instructed by teenagers as young as 17

Galina Goncharova, Yulia's grandmother and guardian, said two of the sailing boats were linked and one dragged the other down when it overturned.

'They were sent to sail when it was already stormy,' she said. 'At first one boat turned upside down, and as it was linked to the second boat, this also capsized.

'Yulia was in that second boat and it was a miracle that she escaped.

'She reached the village, and then called me in her shaky voice.

'In the village she was dressed and fed and they tried to call the camp where the kids were staying but nobody replied.

'The camp was not in touch with those boats. If not for Yulia, nobody would know about the tragedy.

'All the kids would have been lost there.'

A woman called Galina, one of the first to see the brave girl after her four hour trek, said: 'We are calling Yulia a heroine.

'She was walking for 4 hours in her socks only before she got help.

'In the water she was holding the hands of her twin brother but lost him.

'She did not have a life jacket. She said there was a moment when all her strength left her and she sank to the bottom; then she remembered to pray.

'She said she felt as if some unknown forces pulled her up and then to the shore.

'Of course, it sounds like a fairytale but the girl was telling it so sincerely. She said her granny taught her to pray and took her to church.'

Gallina said Yulia had been very calm and composed when she finally found help.

'She did not cry when she reached the home of our friends. On her way to safety she had to cross a small river, she stepped on a narrow log and fell into the water again, so once again she had to swim to safety.'

Galina described how she and her friends from the village ran to the shore when they found a group of children, still linked together.

In the water the youngsters had held hands and were thrown towards the shore at the same time. Some of the children in the group were already dead.

Child survivors recover at their hotel after their terrifying ordeal in which their boats capsized in stormy weather

Going home: The survivors rescued when their boats capsized on Lake Syamozero are flown back to Moscow

Children rescued after their boats capsized in stormy weather on Lake Syamozero are flown home to their families in Moscow

As the bodies of the victims were flown back to Moscow, Vladimir Putin's ombudsman for children Pavel Astakhov revealed that the children had been left in the charge of teenage 'instructors'.

They were students from Petrozavodsk Pedagogical College and were on teaching practice at the camp, he said.

'They used teenagers instead of hiring properly qualified adult trainers in such numbers that they were at least able to rescue the children,' he said.

There were only four instructors for 47 children, he claimed.

'They are 17 to 19 years old themselves. What sort of instructors are they? How can they save others?'

He also claimed that the camp in the popular Karelia tourist area was overcrowded.

Yet 'none of the managers were in the camp' at the time the tragedy was unfolding.

Putin has instructed the Investigative Committee to find out what happened in Karelia, who was responsible and help the victims and their relatives.

'The president gave relevant instructions Investigative Committee to identify the causes of the tragedy and to identify those guilty of it,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Putin expressed deep condolences over the tragedy, he said.

The schoolchildren are comforted as they are flown home to Moscow to be reunited with their families after a sailing adventure went tragically wrong

Several boats are said to have overturned when bad weather hit Syamozero (pictured) in the country's northwestern region of Karelia, 75 miles east of the Finnish border

Vladimir Kucherenko, the director of a local tourist company, said most of the children had died from hypothermia as the water temperature was between 8C and 10C.

He said strong winds might have driven boats across the lake, making it hard for the children to get to the shore.

"I would like to look the person who allowed them to go boating in the eye," Mr Kucherenko said.

"It was suicidal."

Local politician Alexei Gavrilov said people had been warned off the lake due to storm warnings adding: 'They didn't have the right to go out boating.'Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin said: 'A great tragedy has occurred in Karelia. My condolences to their families and friends.'

A criminal case has been opened.

Vladimir Markin, spokesman for Russia's Investigative Committee, equivalent of the FBI, said four people had been detained over the accident.

They were the director of a hotel and children's camp, her deputy and two instructors.
up for Carrie after she was interrupted by Steve

Waleed Aly has come to the defence of his co-host Carrie Bickmore on The Project after she was interrupted by journalist Steve Price over Eddie McGuire's 'drowning' comments.

Hosts of the Channel 10 program 'The Project' were discussing Eddie McGuire's remarks made during a radio program about 'drowning' veteran journalist Caroline Wilson.

Carrie Bickmore quoted an article written by Ms Wilson but before she could finish Steve interjected, and talked over Carrie.

Waleed Aly was quick to jump in: 'How about you let her get to the end of her sentence? How about that?'

The discussion got heated on The Project as the hosts talked about Eddie McGuire's comments about veteran journalist Caroline Wilson 'drowning'

Carrie quotes an The Age where the Caroline Wilson says:

'Disgracefully, McGuire had attempted to compare his comments with a conversation of an entirely different kind held in the 3AW broadcast box involving Tony Shaw.

'I am so sorry that my colleague, who made a brief remark to my face and there it ended, has been compared with the bully boys.'

To Steve, the two coinciding comments were 'exactly the same' to which his fellow hosts disagreed, citing the context of the two situations.

'The context is that there is bad blood between Caroline and Eddie and that's what has escalated this,' Steve said.

Carrie disagrees and refers to the article, but before she can finish her point Steve interjects, talking over Carrie.

At this point Waleed jumps in: 'How about you let her get to the end of her sentence? How about that?'

In a flat tone Steve responds: 'Thank you Waleed for the advice.'

The discussions wrap up on a uncomfortable note as Carrie moves on the the topic of the 'Fake Tradie'.

Carrie Bickmore quoted an article written by Ms Wilson but before she could finish Steve interjected, and talked over Carrie

Steve considered the similar comments made by Tony Shaw and Eddie McGuire to be 'exactly the same' to which his fellow hosts disagreed, citing the context of the two situations

Waleed was quick to jump in when Steve cut off Carrie: 'How about you let her get to the end of her sentence? How about that?'

Eddie McGuire (pictured) and radio station Triple M have come under fire for the comments made about Caroline Wilson

Reactions to the on-air discussions were mixed. Many took to social media to voice there disapproval of Steve.

Though some considered Waleeds response to Steve hypocritical.

'Waleed asking someone to let his co-host finish her sentence is the definition of the pot calling the kettle black.'

Some considered Waleeds response to Steve on The Project hypocritical
Cats are being used as 'arsonists' by the mafia according to a park manager in Sicily

Cats are being used as 'arsonists' by the mafia who set them alight to start huge forest fires, claims a park manager death-marked by the mob.

President Giuseppe Antoci of Nebrodi, Sicily's largest national park, spoke as firefighters extinguished hundreds of fires which broke out simultaneously across the island last week.

Mr Antoci, 48, who survived an assassination attempt by the mafia in May, claimed the crime group 'use the animals as arsonists', and the cats burn all the bushes that they touch, reports Corriere Della Sera.

The park director added that five hundred forest fires do not spontaneously combust all at once.

He said: 'One of the mob's arson techniques is to tie a petrol-soaked rag to the tail of a cat and set fire to it. As its tail burns, the cat flees in terror into the undergrowth in the woods, setting fire to everything it touches.

'That makes it harder for investigators to figure out where the fire was started and since the cat is eventually incinerated, they never find what caused the fire,' reports The Times.

Last week the fires ravaged the island and nearly 6,000 hectares of land went up in smoke.

Schools had to be evacuated after a hot sirocco wind blew in from Africa, before forest fires started simultaneously breaking out across the island.

Giuseppe Antoci of the Nebrodi national park said the hundreds of fires that engulfed the Italian island last week could not all have spontaneously combusted (pictured a fire in Palermo, Sicily on June 16)

Devastation: The mayor of Palermo, where temperatures reached 40C, blamed the island's forestry workers, after 180 of them were found with convictions for mafia crimes or arson attacks, and sacked

Links with the outbreak to the mafia have been alleged because they are keen on using the scorched woodland, according to Alfredo Morvillo, a Sicilian magistrate who claims the mob has invested in reforestation companies.

Park manager Mr Antoci, 48, survived an assassination attempt by the mafia in May

The crime syndicate is reportedly furious with park manager Mr Antoci because he tried to stop their practice of syphoning off millions in EU framing subsides from renting out grazing land.

Around 23,000 forestry staff are employed in Sicily, and due to their large number workers have also been suspected of starting fires to make their work appear more essential.

The mayor of Palermo, Leoluca Orlando, blamed the island's forestry workers, after the fires followed the decision by Governor Rosario Crocetta to sack 180 of them this year after they were found to have convictions for mafia crimes or arson attacks.

Mr Antoci survived an ambush by the Cosa Nostra in May when they blocked his car with boulders before spraying bullets at the vehicle.

The assassination attempt failed thanks to the interventions of bodyguards who defended Mr Antoci from gunfire and two Molotov cocktails, reports news site Famiglia Cristiana.

Mr Antoci said: 'When agents opened my door, I thought it was the assailants, I was convinced it was over and expecting the coup de grace.

'Imagine, then, my sigh of relief and my joy when I realized that it was the policemen and (assistant chief) Manganaro.'
David Cameron has been told by allies not to hand Boris Johnson a Cabinet job if Britain votes to stay in the EU on Thursday, it emerged today.

Pro-EU ministers and MPs want him to scrap plans for a 'unity reshuffle,' insisting Brexit ministers and MPs had been disloyal by campaigning so vociferously the Prime Minister.

Employment minister Priti Patel has been one of the most aggressive Out campaigners who have attacked government policy despite being a Cabinet minister herself, but Justice Secretary Michael Gove - a close friend of Mr Cameron - has not held back from criticising the Government's record.

Who's in the driving seat? Boris is shown how to control a digger at Tippers R Us in Ipswich today as his Brexit campaign continues. David Cameron has been told by allies not to hand the former London Mayor a Cabinet job if Britain votes to stay in the EU

Mr Johnson was tipped to be given a top job in government as a gesture to the Leave camp of the Tory party and an attempt to put the bitter infighting within the party to bed.

A minister campaigning for a Remain vote on Thursday told the Daily Telegraph: 'People who backed the Prime Minister and made the case for the EU would be outraged to see people who attacked the Government getting promoted.'

But failure to promote pro-Brexit Tory MPs risks causing a long-lasting rift in the party over Europe.

Mr Gove is expected to keep his role in Cabinet, but other pro-Brexit Cabinet ministers are expected to be demoted in favour of younger, more loyal MPs.

Chris Grayling, Leader of the House of Commons, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale and Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers could lose their jobs along with Ms Patel.

Vote Leave campaigner Liam Fox, the former defence secretary, could return to Cabinet if Mr Cameron decides in favour of a unity reshuffle.

Which way's the Brexit? Boris looks confused at the helm of a truck during today's referendum campaign. Britain goes to the polls on Thursday

However some within the party believe Mr Cameron will wait until the autumn to reshuffle his top team in order to calm tensions in the party after months of blue-on-blue civil war, which has dominated newspaper headlines and some fear done permanent damage the party's image.

Mr Johnson's focus today was on urging voters to back his cause for leaving the EU, using his weekly newspaper column to warn people they have one chance to 'change the whole course of European history' by backing Brexit on Thursday.

As the long-awaited referendum moves into its final hours and with the polls finely balanced, the Vote Leave champion said voters had a 'fundamental decision' to make.

Mr Johnson said the Remain campaign was offering 'nothing... but the steady and miserable erosion of Parliamentary democracy' in Britain.

Mr Cameron last night made his final pitch to voters in a live BBC Question Time special, insisting a strong economy underpinned everything else - but he was lashed again and again over immigration.

Referendum campaigning will again be muted today as MPs gather in Westminster to pay tribute to Jo Cox at an emergency recall of the House of Commons in the wake of her killing.

Pro-EU ministers and MPs want David Cameron (pictured during the Question Time debate last night) to scrap plans for a 'unity reshuffle,' insisting Brexit ministers and MPs had been disloyal by campaigning so vociferously the Prime Minister

A final push will begin tomorrow night when Mr Johnson takes part in the biggest live TV debate of the campaign at Wembley Arena.

In his final newspaper column before the vote, the ex-Mayor of London wrote in the Daily Telegraph: 'When you pick up your ballot paper this Thursday, you have it in your hands to transform Britain's current democratic arrangements for the better.

'You can change the whole course of European history  and if you vote Leave, I believe that change will be overwhelmingly positive.

'If we vote Remain, we stay locked in the back of the car, driven by someone with an imperfect command of English, and going a direction we don't want to go.'

Employment minister Priti Patel (pictured) has been one of the most aggressive Out campaigners who have attacked government policy despite being a Cabinet minister herself, but Justice Secretary Michael Gove - a close friend of Mr Cameron - has not held back from criticising the Government's record

Mr Johnson said a Remain vote would do nothing to 'rebuke the elites in Brussels' or allow Britain to set up a trade deal with America, China or India.

And in a clear dismissal of Mr Cameron - who just last night insisted Britain was better in the room, at the negotiating table, Mr Johnson said: 'We are not more powerful, or more influential for being around the table in Brussels.

'Look at the pitiful results of the so-called renegotiation earlier this year. We are drowned out.

'And it is an illusion to think that if we vote to Remain, we are somehow opting for the status quo.

'The status quo is not on offer. If we stay in, we will be engaged willy-nilly in the desperate attempt to keep the euro together, by building an economic government of Europe.'

Mr Johnson said he wanted to hand 'power back to the people' because democracy was the 'best way of correcting the errors of our people'.

He said: 'Now is the time to believe in ourselves, and in what Britain can do, and to remember that we always do best when we believe in ourselves.

'Of course we can continue to provide leadership and support for Europe  but inter-governmentally, outside the supranational EU system.

'I hope you will vote Leave, and take back control of this great country's destiny; and if we Vote Leave, then all our votes will count for more in the future.

'This chance will not come again in our lifetimes, and I pray we do not miss it.'

Mr Johnson will again be joined by Labour's Gisela Stuart and Tory Andrea Leadsom when he takes to the Wembley Arena stage tomorrow night.

For the Remain side, Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and TUC chief Frances O'Grady.

Ex-Tory chair Baroness Warsi 'quits' Brexit campaign over claims of 'lies and xenophobia'  but Leave insist she never signed up in the first place

Tory peer Baroness Warsi claimed to have switched to the Remain camp

Maverick Tory peer Baroness Warsi last night claimed to have switched to the Remain camp in protest over a controversial Nigel Farage immigration poster.

However, her high-profile 'defection' was greeted with bafflement among Leave supporters - who could not remember her ever campaigning in their side.

Lady Warsi's claims were made following a day when a Ukip poster claiming migration was pushing the continent to 'breaking point' were condemned by all sides.

Last night she told The Times: 'That breaking point poster really was - for me - the breaking point to say: 'I can't go on supporting this'.

She added: 'We all feel very passionately about these issues, it's when you start to believe that any means are acceptable to achieve an end. It's not an easy decision.

'When I look at the people who are now saying the things they are saying and the people who are supporting that approach, the BNP, Donald Trump, Marine le Pen, Austria's Freedom Party  every day it feels like the far right is coming out to stand by Leave.'

She later told the BBC: 'This kind of nudge-nudge, wink-wink xenophobic racist campaign may be politically savvy or politically useful in the short term, but it causes long-term damage to communities.

'The vision that me and other Brexiters who have been involved right from the outset, who had a positive outward-looking vision of what a Brexit vote might mean, unfortunately those voices have now been stifled.

'What we see is the divisive campaign which has resulted in people like me and others who are deeply Eurosceptic and want to see a reformed relationship feel that they now have to leave Leave.'

But a spokesman for Vote Leave said the campaign was confused by Lady Warsi's announcement.

Controversial: Nigel Farage unveils the pro-Brexit poster that shows a crowd of refugees and says that the UK is at 'breaking point'

Chancellor George Osborne led attacks on the poster, which he likened to Nazi propaganda

He said: 'We don't remember Warsi ever joining our campaign so we are puzzled by her claims to have defected.'

Daniel Hannan, the high profile Tory MEP and Leave campaigner, said: 'When I invited Sayeeda Warsi to join the Leave campaign, she declined. Fair enough, obviously. But how is this a 'defection'?'

Tory MP Bernard Jenkin added: 'I helped set up Vote Leave and she has not been at a single meeting I have attended. ''Defects'' just not accurate!.'

Lady Warsi, who was dumped from the Cabinet by the PM in 2012, has a record of picking high-profile rows.

She was last seen hammering the Tories and Number Ten over the controversial London mayoralty campaign - in which Labour's Sadiq Khan was linked to Islamist extremists by David Cameron.

In May, she Tweeted: 'Our appalling dog whistle campaign for #LondonMayor2016 lost us the election, our reputation & credibility on issues of race and religion.'

Yesterday Chancellor George Osborne led attacks on the poster, which he likened to Nazi propaganda.

On ITV's Peston on Sunday, the Chancellor accused Mr Farage of 'whipping up division'.

He said that, in the wake of the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox, 'we need to have a less divisive political debate in our country' with 'less baseless assertion and inflammatory rhetoric'.

Mr Osborne added: 'That disgusting and vile poster that Nigel Farage did which had echoes of literature used in the 1930s.

'That is what we should say no to and this referendum vote is a vote on the kind of Britain we want.'

Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr programme, Michael Gove, who is leading the Vote Leave campaign, distanced himself from Mr Farage, as did key Leave supporters including Leader of the Commons Chris Grayling.

Justice Secretary Mr Gove said: 'When I saw that poster, I shuddered. I thought it was the wrong thing to do.'

But, defending the poster, Mr Farage said that it 'reflects the truth of what's going on'. He said he thought Mrs Cox's death  hours after the poster was unveiled on Thursday  had heightened criticism, telling Sky News: 'I wish an innocent MP had not been gunned down in the street.

'Frankly had that not happened I don't think we would have had the kind of row over it.'

On Question Time last night, Mr Cameron said that the poster was 'wrong in fact' as it showed Syrian refugees who were not headed to Britain.
Nicholas Ursiny (pictured) was airlifted to hospital Friday evening but died in hospital Sunday afternoon

A 15-year-old boy has died after accidentally shooting himself in the head during a target shooting session with his father in the yard of their western Pennsylvania home.

Nicholas Ursiny, was airlifted to hospital Friday evening but died in hospital Sunday afternoon.

Emergency responders were called to the Allegheny Township residence Friday evening at around 5.20 pm.

The young boy and his father, Patrick Ursiny, were target shooting in their yard when the tragic accident happened.

The 15-year-old boy was attempting to reload the small caliber pistol when it accidentally discharged, hitting him in the head, said Police chief John Fontaine.

A medical emergency helicopter landed at the Melwood Road address near Pounds Turkey Farm and airlifted him to a Pittsburgh hospital.

The medical examiner says the teen died at the hospital Sunday afternoon, according to WTAE-TV.

An autopsy is planned on Monday.

Charges aren't expected to be filed in what Fontaine has called 'a tragic accident.
Ever felt the urge to turn your cat into a Stegosaurus?

Probably not, but those interested should consider booking a ticket to Taiwan, as one salon has mastered the art of trimming furry animals into bizarre shapes including teddy bears, lions, Hello Kittys, and even dinosaurs.

The man behind such wacky pet patterns is salon owner Ou Shih-jou, who said the idea came from people asking for something a bit different to a normal shave.

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Cats are made to look like stegosauruses in a Tainan, Taiwan, salon which specialises in pet hair-cuts

A white dog has the 'Hello Kitty' logo cut into its fur by hairdresser turned pet groomer Lee Mei-chen

On the particularly strange cat-stegosaurus design, Ou said: 'When a cat gets angry, the fur on its back erects, that made us come up with 'stegosaurus design.

'It (makes the cat) look like a small dinosaur. The owners were happy after they came back to see it, thinking it was quite creative.'

For a small pet the cost of a cut can be as little as 14, but much depends on the style and complexity of the task.

One of the most complex patterns is the teddy bear, which is a specialty for 30-year-old Taiwanese hairdresser turned pet groomer Lee Mei-chen.

It takes her almost three hours of hard graft to finish, which can been seen in intriguing video footage of the process.

Lee, who has six-years experience in cutting animal fur, said designs are planned according to the natural assets of the pets

The teddy bear is the most complex pattern to cut and can take three hours of painstaking work to complete

Hard graft: Intriguing video footage captures the unusual hair-cutting process in action in east Asia

Lee, who has six-years experience in cutting animal fur, said designs are planned according to the natural assets of the pets.

She said: 'Because we don't provide the service of dying fur into different colours, we try to find a style that matches the appearance of (the pet) and then come up with a design.

'Of course everyone thinks that Hello Kitty is white and that a lion is dark brown. We try to come up with designs based on that concept.'

For a small pet the cost can be as little as 14, but much depends on the style and complexity of the task

The Tainan salon has been open since September and there has already been lots of interest.

Pet owner Kuo Yu-lan told reporters: 'I think their technique is great. I haven't seen anything like this before, so I think they are really amazing. When walking (the pets) outside, people think it's amazing and magical.

'Everyone wants to take a photograph and see what kind of styles they came up with. First people thought there was something on their bodies so they came closer to see what it was, trying to identify the patterns.'
A convicted paedophile who sexually penetrated two 14-year-old girls is now dating a case worker he met in a sex offender facility and wants to live in the same town as her.

Gregory Sedgman, 40, has a 12-year history of dark sexual offences, including his involvement in a child porn ring and seven counts of rape against two young teenage girls, according to The Age.

The 40-year-old met his current partner while at Corella Place, a village-style complex next to Ararat Prison in south-west Victoria that houses serious sex offenders after they complete their sentences.

The facility - nicknamed the 'Village of the Damned' - acts as a middle point of rehabilitation for convicted rapists and paedophiles who are deemed to be an unacceptable risk of reoffending.

Convicted paedophile Gregory Sedgman, 40, formed a relationship with a case worker he met at the Corella Place compound for sex offenders (pictured)

The 40-year-old wants to move to Horsham in regional Victoria with the case worker after he is released from the facility, which houses serious sex offenders still at risk of reoffending after their criminal sentences

According to The Age, the case worker resigned from Corella Place when her colleagues found out about her inappropriate relationship.

It's believed she continued to work at the facility for several months while dating Mr Sedgman.

Mr Sedgman, who once used the codename 'Dreaco' while trading explicit images in a child pornography ring in 2006, now wants to move to Horsham in regional Victoria with the woman.

The County Court heard last year in June that Sedgman wanted a suppression order to conceal his identity after being bashed in custody.

He said he would be attacked by residents at Corella Park when they found out about his relationship - an argument the judge dismissed as unreasonable.

Corella Place is not surrounded by walls but offenders are monitored with GPS ankle bracelets and cannot leave without permission.

They also must undertake counselling and other treatment, and failure to comply with these conditions can lead to a five-year jail sentence.

Some of Australia's worst and most dangerous sex offenders have lived or currently live in the compound, including Sean Price, who brutally murdered teenage schoolgirl Masa Vukotic.
Twin boys in South Carolina have died after they fell into a backyard swimming pool and drowned.

Anderson County Deputy Coroner Don McCown said three-year-old Ezekiel Marcengill of Westminster died Sunday afternoon at a Greenville hospital.

McCown says his brother, Caleb Marcengill, died Saturday afternoon shortly after he fell into the water.

The deaths have been ruled accidental drownings.

Anderson County Deputy Coroner Don McCown said three-year-old Ezekiel Marcengill of Westminster died Sunday afternoon at a Greenville hospital. McCown says his brother, Caleb Marcengill, died Saturday afternoon shortly after he fell into the water

The coroner says the boys and their family were attending a gathering Saturday and a group of children went outside to play after lunch.

Emergency personnel were called shortly before 2.30pm Saturday.

The coroner says he thinks the boys were in the water for 15 to 20 minutes.

He told WYFF that the pool had a depth of four feet, and that the boys accessed the locked pool by probably crawling underneath a fence.

Emergency personnel were called shortly before 2.30pm Saturday. The coroner says he thinks the boys were in the water for 15 to 20 minutes (stock image)

They were found by a child who had gotten the gate key, McCown told the Independent Mail.

The boys' father Brandon Marcengill told the newspaper: 'Hold them tight.

'You protect your kids as best as you can, they reach an age where they can run around and play.

'How do you defend against everything?'

A GoFundMe page set up to help with the Marcengill family says: 'Dawn & Brandon Marcengill lost their beautiful three year old twin boys Caleb & Ezekiel this weekend, leaving behind their brother, Bryce, and sister, Gabriella, along with so many other family and friends who will miss them terribly.'

It has raised more than $7,300 already.
Donald Trump said Monday that when he suggested the carnage inside Orlando's Pulse nightclub could have been avoided if more people inside were armed, he was talking about employees and security guards  not drunk club-hoppers.

'When I said that if, within the Orlando club, you had some people with guns, I was obviously talking about additional guards or employees,' Trump tweeted in the early morning hours.

The National Rifle Association's top lobbyist said on Sunday that no one should be drinking and carrying firearms in a nightclub.

Trump said Friday during a campaign rally in Houston, Texas that the tragedy, in which 49 people died at the hands of a jihadi gunman, could have been prevented if some of the victims had weapons of their own.

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LET'S CLARIFY: Donald Trump insisted on Monday that he never meant to suggest armed, drunken club-hoppers could have prevented the Orlando gay nightclub murders

'BOOM! BOOM!': Trump told supporters at a rally in Texas on Friday night that the tragedy in Orlando could have been prevented if some of the victims had weapons of their own

'If some of those wonderful people had guns strapped right here, right to their waist or right to their ankle and this son of a b**** comes out and starts shooting, and one of the people in the room happened to have it and goes "Boom! Boom!"' Trump said, 'you know what? That would have been a beautiful, beautiful sight, folks.'

His remarks were widely interpreted as a reference to nightclub customers packing heat  including some who had been drinking.

But Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA's Institute for Legislative Action, said Sunday on ABC's 'This Week' program that 'no one thinks that people should go into a nightclub drinking and carrying firearms.'

'That defies common sense,' he added. 'It also defies the law.'

Cox backed up the Republican nominee, whom the NRA has endorsed, in one respect, saying that 'what Donald Trump has said is what the American people know as common sense: if someone had been there to stop this faster, fewer people would have died.'

But he drew the line at arming club patrons who are drinking any alcohol.

The National Rifle Association's top lobbyist Chris Cox (left) and CEO Wayne LaPierre scrambled to stake out a position that embraces an armed citizenry without mexing booze and bullets

Top NRA honcho Wayne LaPierre agreed, saying firearms and alcohol in the same environment is not a good idea.

'I don't think you should have firearms where people are drinking,' he told CBS' Face the Nation.

He later tweeted to clarify his statement, saying: 'If you're going to carry, don't drink. OK to carry in restaurants that serve alcohol.'

The two gun-rights leaders' comments put Trump on defense, forcing him to clarify what he meant during his free-wheeling campaign speech.

There are estimated to be more firearms than people in America  in excess of 320 million.

The NRA continues to maintain that more gun control won't stop extremists or criminals from carrying out attacks since law-breakers don't obey gun laws and can usually find illicit weapons.

Speaking ahead of Senate votes on four measures to control the sale of guns, Cox said the Orlando massacre doesn't change the group's opposition to tighter gun laws.

He said the 'catastrophic situation' facing the country has 'nothing to do with firearms' and is about stopping 'radical Islamic terrorists.'

LaPierre told CBS that the 'politically correct White House' is pushing gun restrictions as a way of diverting attention from its failure in the 'terrorist area.'

'Laws didn't stop them in Boston, laws didn't stop them in San Bernardino  and they didn't stop it in Paris,' he said. 'It's all being politicized.'

Their reaffirmation comes after President Barack Obama's comments on the issue during a visit to Orlando last week.

EVIL: Omar Mateen (right) killed 49 people with a Sig Sauer MCX rifle and a pistol at the Pulse club in Orlando

'The notion that the answer to this tragedy would be to make sure that more people in a nightclub are similarly armed to the killer defies common sense,' Obama said.

After meeting with victims' families in Orlando on Thursday, Obama said 'our hearts are broken too' and insisted the tone of the country's hyper-partisan debate on firearms needs to change.

Relatives of the victims 'don't care about the politics. And neither do I,' Obama said.

But the slaughter in Florida and an attention-grabbing filibuster in the Senate did little to break the election-year stalemate in Congress over guns, with both sides unwilling to budge and Republicans standing firm against any new legislation opposed by the NRA.

Democrats renewed their call to action after Connecticut Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy held the floor along with colleagues in a nearly 15-hour filibuster that lasted into the early hours of Thursday.

Murphy, however, was confronted on Sunday by an insistent Jonathan Karl of ABC News, who told him that none of his gun control proposals would have stopped the Orlando murders.
A mother-of-four who tied up the family maid after offering her 200 to have sex with her wealthy husband so she could file for divorce has been spared jail.

Dina Matiass, 35, wanted her 36-year-old cleaner and childminder Niressa De-Vincente to sleep with her husband Zekri Gris so she could use it as 'evidence' of adultery in a divorce battle.

But the plot backfired when Gris, 56 - who was unaware of his wife's scheme - accused the Filipina maid of stealing 12,000.

He and his wife - who have four boys under the age of ten - then used blue rope and handcuffs to tie up the childminder and keep her prisoner at their 650,000 home in Bishop Sutton, Somerset.

Dina Matiass (pictured left) has been spared jail after using ropes to help her husband Zekri Gris (right) to tie up the family maid when he thought she had stolen 12,000

Gris then threatened the childminder with a knife to make her 'confess' to the theft as he filmed the 36-hour deal.

But, after three days of torture, the maid wriggled free and used the rope to climb out of a window.

She was then spotted by a neighbour running down the street wearing just a nightie and the police were called.

Matiass has now been given a twelve-month prison sentence, suspended for a year, after pleading guilty to one count of false imprisonment.

Her husband had already pleaded guilty to the same charge and was jailed for three years at an earlier hearing.

Sentencing, his Honour Judge William Hart said Matiass had been 'dragged into' the incident by her husband and was the victim in an 'abuse and controlling' marriage.

He said: 'I have no doubt at all that you were dragged into this event by your husband. I am also satisfied the marriage was one that was abusive and controlling so it was not difficult for him to draw you in.

'He had an abusive history of conduct towards you but you had a choice to make. You made the choice to become involved.

Matiass, 35 (left leaving court today and right), wanted her 36-year-old cleaner and childminder Niressa De-Vincente to sleep with her husband so she could use it as 'evidence' of adultery in a divorce battle

The couple imprisoned the victim in their 650,000 family home in Bishop Sutton, Somerset, pictured

'Your involvement was very much as a minor player in this enterprise but your filming in this instance clearly gave him encouragement to enable him to go on with the enterprise he had undertaken.'

He added that, due to her four young children, it would be 'wrong' to send her to prison.

The court was told how Ms De-Vincente started working for the Egyptian couple after her student visa expired.

She had been happy working for the family but felt uneasy when she was offered the money to have sex with Gris.

Sentenced: Zekri Gris was jailed for three years

Prosecuting Mr Ian Fenny told the court: 'We heard of the bizarre request to engage in a relationship with her husband to file for divorce.

'All was not well in the marriage between the primary defendant and his wife.'

A few months later, Gris accused the maid of stealing 12,000 from him which she strongly denied. He then lured her downstairs before grabbing her and taking her to the kitchen and tying her up.

The court was told how he wanted to intimidate the woman into confessing to the theft. He shouted at her, while a large knife lay next to him on the table.

Video footage, taken by Matiass, shows the woman sat on a chair and trussed up with a blue clothesline while Gris shouts accusations.

Ms De-Vincente was then taken to another room where she was tied up by her legs and ankles with a rope and bound using furry, leopard print handcuffs.

During the 36-hour ordeal, Gris even phoned Miss De-Vincente's sister Mary and demanded she come over.

He showed her the video of her sister's imprisonment to try and convince her to pay back the 'stolen' cash. The couple then refused to let Mary see her sister, claiming she had gone out.

She later managed to free herself and escape outside. The victim, who was wearing only a nightdress and the handcuffs, was found by a retired neighbour who phoned the police.

The neighbour said Miss De-Vincente screamed: 'Help, help, take me to the police station! A man's after me and they're going to kill me!'

Defending, Ms Sarah Regan said: 'It is right to say the idea wasn't hers. She did not once assault Nerissa.

'It is true she offered Nerissa 200 above and beyond her normal salary and she put herself at risk as that was something that she did without her husband's knowledge.
Very hot beverages probably carcinogenic to humans

An investigation by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IRAC) has concluded drinking very hot beverages probably causes cancer of the oesophagus in humans.

The investigation did not find any conclusive evidence to say consuming coffee can cause cancer.

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 Dr Christopher Wild, IARC Director.

The conclusion that very hot beverages can probably cause cancer was based on limited evidence linking oesophagus cancer and drinking very hot drinks. The researchers for example found in countries where tea is drunk very hot (approximately 70 degrees celsius) there was an increased risk of orsophageal cancer as the beverage temperature increased.

Smoking and alcohol drinking are major causes of oesophageal cancer, particularly in many high-income countries, stresses Dr Wild said.

However, the majority of oesophageal cancers occur in parts of Asia, South America, and East Africa, where regularly drinking very hot beverages is common and where the reasons for the high incidence of this cancer are not as well understood.

Australias experts react to investigation findings

Dr Darren Saunders is a cancer biologist and senior lecturer in pathology at the University of New South Wales:

This is another example that highlights the difficulties faced in weighing evidence for cancer risk from food. While lots of studies claim a link between various foods and either increased cancer risk, or a protective effect, in many cases the evidence is unconvincing and often contradictory. This can lead to general confusion among consumers, where every new study seems to contradict the previous one.

The IARC classifies potential carcinogens on a scale of decreasing certainty. In other words, the WHO/IARC categories refer to level of evidence, not level of risk. This is an important distinction but one that many find difficult to interpret, and the distinction is often lost or confused in media reporting. While the IARC now classify hot drinks as a probable (Group 2A) carcinogen in oesophageal cancer, we shouldnt forget that smoking and alcohol consumption are established major risk factors.

Emeritus Professor Mark Wahlqvist is former Professor and Head of Medicine at Prince Henrys Hospital and Monash Medical Centre, Associate Dean (International Health and Development) and Director of the Asia Pacific Health and Nutrition Centre:

As one of a diversity of hot beverages, coffee is increasingly recognised as a safe alternative to tea, water and milk, while minimising the use of sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages. This is about health in general and not just cancer. At the same time, an emphasis on beverage variety is important for biodiversity and environmental protection. Avoidance of piping hot coffee from plastic cups with the lid remains particularly important because of the increased exposure to plastic residues known to be endocrine (hormone) disruptors.

Professor Bruce Armstrong is a Consultant in Environmental Epidemiology, Environmental Health and Health Services, an Adjunct Professor in the School of Population Health at the University of Western Australia and an Emeritus Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney:

IARC reviewed more than 1,000 human epidemiological studies and animal experimental studies that investigated whether or not coffee causes cancer. Notwithstanding the large volume of research, IARC concluded that coffee drinking is unclassifiable as to its carcinogenicity (capacity to cause cancer) to humans. IARCs report, however, found evidence that suggests that coffee drinking protects against human endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus), liver cancer and breast cancer. This evidence was apparently not considered strong enough to suggest that coffee drinking lacks carcinogenicity (a conclusion that IARC sometimes reaches). From a practical public health perspective, however, it would be reasonable to conclude from the IARC review that coffee drinking is unlikely to increase a coffee drinkers risk of cancer.

IARC reviewed a much smaller body of evidence on whether or not drinking very hot beverages can cause cancer of the oesophagus (gullet). It concluded from this evidence that drinking very hot beverages at above 65 degrees Celsius is probably carcinogenic to humans.

So the take-home message is: Enjoy your coffee with peace of mind but dont drink it very hot!

Ian Olver is Professor of Translational Heath Research and Director of the Sansom Institute for Health Research at the University of South Australia:

The International Agency for Research on Cancer scans the world literature to determine how likely it is that an agent causes cancer. In this case after reviewing 1000 animal and human studies they have found no evidence that drinking coffee causes cancers of the breast, pancreas and prostate and found reduced risk of liver and endometrial cancer.

This is a very large number of studies which gives confidence in this result. There is no evidence that any particular type of coffee is worse than any other. Coffee had previously been thought to be possibly associated with bladder cancer. This shows how just having a small number of studies can cause uncertain results which are clarified by considering a very large number of studies. It also shows that if other known causal factors are not controlled for, in this case smoking, the cause of the cancer can be attributed to an agent that is merely associated with the cancer but does not cause it.

The current IARC report makes this point in relation to very hot drinks (over 65.0 C) which have been found to probably cause cancer of the oesophagus, where it is the temperature of the drink, not the type of drink that is the factor causing the cancer.

Dr Christina Pollard is a Research Associate in the School of Public Health at Curtin University in Western Australia:

The cancer causing potential of drinking coffee has been re-evaluated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) after a 25 years and has been down-graded to no conclusive evidence as carcinogenic to humans. The available evidence has grown substantially over the time and enabled a more extensive analysis with a variety of cancers studied. The IARC committee suggest that other factors such as smoking may have accounted for the original classification as possible carcinogenic in 1991. At that time it was common for people to both drink coffee and smoke.

Coffee consumption varies by country in type and amount. Australia has seen an increase in consumption over the last decade and it is important to continue to monitor foods or beverages that are commonly consumed in large amounts. Australians drink more coffee than tea, the 2011-2012 Australian Nutrition Survey shows that coffee was consumed by nearly half of the population with an average intake of 300 mls (equivalent to a large mug, but most were from instant coffee powder.

Professor Sanchia Aranda, CEO, Cancer Council Australia:

Coffee drinkers should be comforted to know they are not increasing their cancer risk  as long as their coffee isnt too hot. The risk applies to beverages at 65 degrees Celsius or hotter. As a guide, a beverage at that temperature is likely to be uncomfortably hot for some people to drink. So let the drink cool a little and enjoy it.

This IARC analysis should help dispel the myth that everything causes cancer  and help get the focus back on things we can all do to reduce Australias cancer burden.

People worry too much about exposure to things that pose no cancer risk. Right now weve got good evidence on how the next Australian government could save tens of thousands of lives by investing more in bowel cancer screening and anti-smoking and skin cancer awareness programs  thats where Cancer Council Australia would like the focus to be.
One of Charlie Sheen's ex-lovers berated him for lying about being HIV-positive before they had unprotected sex, a secret tape will allegedly reveal.

The actor disclosed his HIV status in November but has denied putting anyone at risk by having unprotected sex without telling them, a crime that can carry an eight-year jail sentence in California.

That claim is set to be called in to question on Saturday by a bombshell documentary from the National Enquirer, which is said to hold tapes of an argument between Sheen and an ex-lover.

One of Charlie Sheen's ex-lovers berated him for lying about being HIV-positive before they had unprotected sex, a secret tape will allegedly reveal

The actor disclosed his HIV status in November but in an interview with Piers Morgan on Satuday denied putting anyone at risk by having unprotected sex without telling them, a crime that can carry an eight-year jail sentence in California

According to the Mirror, the unnamed woman will be heard saying: 'Why did you tell me you were not infected?'

Sheen, 50, replies: 'Because its none of your f****** business OK?'

She says: 'But if I wanted to have sex without a condom it's my right to know.'

Sheen responds: 'You shouldn't want to.'

Since going public with his HIV status, Sheen has been hit by allegations from previous partners, including former fiancee Brett Rossi and ex-girlfriend Bree Olson, that he had unprotected sex without telling them he had the STD.

In a recent interview with Piers Morgan in London, Sheen, 50, admitted he had not always told his partners about his sexually transmitted disease, but said he had not had sex with them without protection.

He said: 'The only couple of times I didn't tell somebody was because the last 25 times I'd told somebody, they used it against me, and they used my medical condition for their own folly and financial gain.'

In a recent interview with Piers Morgan in London, Sheen (pictured), 50, admitted he had not always told his partners about his sexually transmitted disease, but said he had not had sex without protection

He claimed last week that he had only ever had sex without a condom twice before his diagnosis four years ago but according to the Mirror six women including former partners Amanda Bruce and Natalie Kenly reject that.

One woman told the paper: 'I am aware of many women he had unprotected sex with during the period he covered up his HIV. Two is not the number. He is dreaming.'

And HIV-negative Amanda Bruce told The Dr. Oz Show last year that she had unprotected sex with Sheen during the eight months they dated even though she knew he had the virus.

A Los Angeles lawyer said he has been contacted by two women who claim Sheen had slept with them knowing he had HIV, the paper also reports.

Since going public with his HIV status, Sheen has been hit by allegations from previous partners, including former fiancee Brett Rossi (right with Sheen) and ex-girlfriend Bree Olson (left), that he had unprotected sex without telling them he had the STD

Asked if he had put anyone else at risk by having unprotected sex, Sheen said in the interview with Piers Morgan: 'I never did'. Left to right: Bree Olson, Brook Mueller, Charlie Sheen, Natalie Kenly on his private jet

Asked if he had put anyone else at risk by having unprotected sex, Sheen said in the interview with Piers Morgan: ' I never did. On all five of my children, and my granddaughter, I never did. Because I wouldn't do that to someone. I would not. How could I explain it later?

'And here's the great news: no one has been infected by me. No one.

'They claim the sorrow and the pity or whatever, but that's on them, and again I know the truth.'

A spokesman for the actor insisted: 'Mr Sheen is telling the truth.'

MailOnline has contacted Sheen's representatives for further comment.

HIV-negative Amanda Bruce told The Dr. Oz Show last year that she had unprotected sex with Sheen during the eight months they dated even though she knew he had the virus
An elephant has survived after being shot in the head by poachers in Zimbabwe.

The male bull was found with a hole in his head just five cm above the post that would have meant a certain 'killshot', vets say.

They suspect poachers are responsible but think the elephant was shot outside the Mana Pools park and made his way inside for treatment.

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An elephant has survived after being shot in the head by poachers at a national park in Zimbabwe

The animal had an obvious hole in his head where the bullet had struck just five cm above would would have been a certain kill shot, vets say

X-rays show how the bullet entered around five cm away from where it eventually became lodged under his skin

Vets had to removed fragments of broken skull from underneath the skin as they gave him treatment

The vets used an X-ray machine and a metal detector (pictured) to try and find the deeply lodged bullet

Pretty Boy was found with a hole in his head in the Mana Pools national park in the north of Zimbabwe

Vets from the Aware Trust said it can sometimes be a race against time to find animals that are injured, but the 'gentle' bull made himself known and showed no signs of aggression.

Dr Lisa Marabini told the BBC: 'It's like it knew we were there with the intention of helping it. We think it was shot outside the park and came inside for refuge.'

A spokesman for the trust added: ''Hurry up and wait' is a common saying in wildlife circles as it usually takes more time to find the animal than it does to treat it.

'Not so on 13 June - when Pretty Boy heard they'd arrived in Mana Pools he made himself available for examination within half an hour, coming right up to their car.

'An extremely gentle and relaxed bull, the vets managed to get a good look at what immediately became apparent was a hole going into his forehead.'

The vets were able to tranquilise him and searched for the bullet but it was impossible to find the exact position because his skull is so big, it is difficult to X-ray from different angles.

Pretty Boy approached the Toyota 4x4 within half an hour of when the search for him began on June 13

After they found him, the park rangers shot a tranquiliser dart at the bull so they could begin treatment

Within a few minutes, Pretty Boy was unconscious and vets began the process of treating him as he lay on the dusty ground

The vet had to crouch down and explore the wound with a metal surgical probe and it bled as he did so

It took an entire crew of park rangers and vets to move the animal and treat him when he was unconscious

The team sort through the mountain of equipment that they bring with them to find what they need to help Pretty Boy

The 25-year-old elephant was unconscious for more than an hour but is now expected to make a full recovery

They nicknamed him Pretty Boy after removing bone fragments from the around the bullet, lodged five cm beneath the surface of the wound. He is likely to make a full recovery.

A spokesman for the Aware Trust said: 'Pretty Boy was given ultra-long acting anti-biotics and parasiticides.

'The vets were worried his weak back might interfere with him getting to his feet after reversal, but he recovered uneventfully and then lay his head against a tree and dozed for half an hour.
A group of women have vandalised a string of Brisbane strip clubs accusing the adult industry of inciting violence against women.

Three women were captured on CCTV plastering posters over the walls of the Grosvenor Topless Bar and Strip Club in Brisbane's CBD.

The club's signage was covered in sheets of paper reading: 'This is violence against women'.

Grosvenor Topless Bar owner, Jasmine Robson, said vandals 'have no idea' about the adult industry

Three women (pictured) were captured on CCTV plastering posters over the walls of the Grosvenor Topless Bar and Strip Club in Brisbane's CBD

The Grosvenor Topless Bar and Strip Club's signage was covered in sheets of paper reading: 'This is violence against women

At least three other Brisbane adult venues were targeted, The Herald Sun reported.

Grosvenor Topless Bar owner, Jasmine Robson, said the vandals 'have no idea' about the adult industry.

'I've been in the industry for a very long time and the women don't feel degraded at all,' she told Fairfax Media.

'They feel empowered by doing it and the one in control in a strip club is the woman.'

Footage shows the women committing the brazen act in broad daylight as curious onlookers walk by.

Women 'feel empowered' by the adult industry 'and the one in control in a strip club is the woman,' according to Ms Robson

Grosvenor Topless Bar owner, Jasmine Robson, said the vandals 'have no idea' about the adult industry

Ms Robson there was about t $3000 worth of damage done and she intended to report the vandals to the police and possibly pursue civil action, Fairfax reported

Ms Robson said that the protesters do not understand the true meaning of feminism.

'Attacking other women is not supporting female rights, nor is it an act of Feminism,' she posted on Facebook.

'Support each other in each individual person's choice, because everyone has the right to choose for themselves their path in life without criticism or judgement.

'ESPECIALLY in the name of 'Feminism'!'
Dramatic footage has emerged of the moment two lifeguards rescued the pilot of a small plane that had ditched in the sea.

The light aircraft crashed into the water off Rhode Island on Saturday with the pilot, Alexander Piekarski, 62, having heroically steered it away from Weekapaug Beach as it came down.

A clip uploaded to Twitter shows the plane rapidly sinking nose first in the water, with one lifeguard in attendance and another approaching the site.

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Dramatic footage has emerged of the moment two lifeguards (pictured) rescued the pilot of a small plane that had ditched in the sea

The light aircraft crashed into the water off Rhode Island on Saturday with the pilot, Alexander Piekarski (pictured climbing out), 62, having heroically steered it away from Weekapaug Beach as it came down

A clip uploaded to Twitter shows the plane rapidly sinking nose first in the water, with one lifeguard in attendance and another approaching the site. The plane was a four-seat Beech Craft Bonanza

The footage was posted by software businessman Larry Schwartz, who wrote: Not something you see every day. Single engine airplane crashed right in front of where we [were] at Weekspaug Beach.

Schwartz also posted a photograph of the plane floating on the water in the immediate aftermath of the crash, with the pilot, dressed in a red top, standing on the wing.

He then added updates that explained that the plane - a four-seat Beech Craft Bonanza - was sinking, but that the pilot was okay. The latter caption was accompanied by a picture of beachgoers looking at Piekarski, from Long Island, after he'd been hauled to safety.

The lifeguards, Curt Dumas and David Darling, brought him ashore on a surfboard.

Witness Larry Schwartz saw the plane crash and provided a running commentary of the event on Twitter. He took this picture of beachgoers watching Mr Piekarski being hauled to safety

Rhode Island State Police said in a statement that Piekarski had lost power during a flight from Long Island to Taunton, Massachusetts, Patch.com reported.

It said: The pilot made an attempt to head toward the Westerly Airport but as a result of a loss in altitude, he elected to make an emergency landing into the water to avoid people on the beach.

The water at the scene is about 20ft deep and boats and a plane were sent there by the US Coast Guard, but Piekarski had been pulled safely to the beach by the time they arrived.

Piekarski was treated at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence for non-life threatening injuries.
Two high-ranking New York Police Department officers were arrested Monday on charges they took over $100,000 worth of free flights, prostitutes, expensive meals and other bribes in exchange for providing a 'private police force' for local businessmen.

Deputy Chief Michael Harrington, Deputy Inspector James Grant and a third defendant, Brooklyn businessman Jeremy Reichberg, were charged with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.

It is the latest development in a series of overlapping public corruption investigations coordinated by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.

David Villanueva, an NYPD sergeant assigned to the gun license bureau, was also charged for accepting bribes to expedite gun license applications for Alex Lichtenstein, a member of a volunteer safety patrol in an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn who was charged in April.

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Arrested: Deputy Inspector James Grant (left) and Deputy Chief Michael Harrington (right) are two of the New York City police officers arrested

New York Police Department Deputy Chief Michael Harrington departs Federal Court in Manhattan

New York Police Department Sergeant David Villanueva (centre) is pictured leaving the court

Officer Richard Ochetal, secretly pleaded guilty on June 14 to his role in that fraud and has assisted prosecutors in the cases against Grant, Harrington and Villanueva, 42, according to prosecutors and court records.

All three were stripped of their badges and their guns.

In exchange for the bribes, Reichberg and others 'got a private police force for themselves and their friends,' Bharara said at a news conference. 'Effectively, they got "cops on call".'

The four arrests follow months of revelations that have embarrassed the nation's largest police department and put Mayor Bill de Blasio on the spot about his campaign financing.

Both Reichberg and another businessman who has already pleaded guilty in the case contributed heavily to de Blasio's campaign.

The mayor, a Democrat, hasn't been implicated in any wrongdoing.

A criminal complaint accompanying the latest charges described how Reichberg exploited his connections within the police department to speed up gun license processing, make tickets disappear, get police escorts for him and his friends, get assistance from uniformed personnel to resolve personal disputes and boost security at religious sites and events.

Reichberg even managed to get his connections to shut down a lane of the Lincoln Tunnel connecting New Jersey and Manhattan and obtain a police escort for a businessman visiting the U.S., the complaint said.

In return, Reichberg and another businessman showered his favored police officials with well over $100,000 in benefits from 2012 to 2015, including prostitutes, home improvements and prime seats to sporting events, prosecutors said.

New York Police Department Deputy Inspector James Grant (centre) departs Federal Court in Manhattan

In exchange for the bribes, Jeremy Reichberg (pictured leaving court) and others 'got a private police force for themselves and their friends,' Bharara said at a news conference

Alex Lichtenstein (centre) departs Federal Court in Manhattan after a corruption hearing

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara announces the charges against the senior officers on Monday

Harrington and an unidentified police official let a businessman buy dinner once or twice a week for 18 months at expensive Manhattan restaurants, where bills ran $400 to $500, they said.

Among the other favors was $59,000 spent on a private jet in February 2013 that took Reichberg, an unidentified detective and Grant, commander of an Upper East Side precinct, to Las Vegas, the court papers said.

The complaint said Reichberg and another businessman arranged for a prostitute to join the flight and spend the weekend with the group, staying in Grant's luxury hotel room.

According to the complaint, the prostitute told law enforcement agents that Grant and others 'took advantage of her services' during the trip.

The court papers also alleged Reichberg and an unidentified real estate businessman who has pleaded guilty and is cooperating with authorities wore elf hats as they drove to Grant's Staten Island home on Christmas 2013 to give Grant a video game system for his children and a $1,000 piece of jewelry for his wife.

Authorities said they captured Grant on a recorded telephone call a year later grumbling that his two 'elves' did not come for Christmas that year.

Andrew Weinstein, Harrington's lawyer, said the charges against his client were politically motivated.

'Chief Harrington is a loyal and devoted family man who has an unblemished record and has spent the last three decades working tirelessly to keep New York City safe,' Weinstein said. 'One would be hard-pressed to find a straighter arrow in their quiver.'

Susan Necheles, Reichberg's lawyer, said in an email: 'Mr. Reichberg did not commit a crime.'

Reichberg's 'only mistake', Necheles said, was befriending a government cooperator 'who is desperately trying to get others in trouble in order to curry favor with prosecutors and save his own skin'.

The head of Grant's union declined to comment. His lawyer, John Meringolo, said his office had not yet evaluated all the evidence.

'We believe Mr. Grant did not commit a federal crime,' he said.

The four arrests follow months of revelations that have embarrassed the nation's largest police department and put Mayor Bill de Blasio (pictured, right, in March) on the spot about his campaign financing

HOW ONE SENIOR OFFICER 'SLEPT WITH PROSTITUTE ON VEGAS TRIP FUNDED BY A DE BLASIO DONOR' The New York Post reports Deputy Inspector James Grant - who was arrested on Monday - was one of two officers who accepted a lavish trip to Las Vegas in 2014. The trip was allegedly funded by Mayor de Blasio donors Jona Rechnitz and Jeremy Reichberg. Rechnitz has already been arrested and pleaded guilty. Reichberg was arrested on Monday. According to the Post, Grant - who is married - was flying on a private jet from New Jersey to Las Vegas when a woman dressed as a flight attendant asked: 'Coffee, tea or me?' Grant allegedly had sex with the woman on the way and on the way back. He is also accused of accepting diamonds from Reichberg. Grant was relieved of his duties in April. He was arrested on Monday. Advertisement

Villanueva's lawyer, Andrew Quinn, declined to comment.

Harrington and Grant were each released on $250,000 bail while Reichberg was freed on $500,000 bail.

Villanueva, who pleaded not guilty to an indictment, was freed on $200,000 bail.

Monday's arrests came two weeks after federal prosecutors charged Norman Seabrook, president of the city's correction officers union, and Murray Huberfeld, a hedge fund financier, as part of the same investigation.

At least nine police officers had already been transferred to different departments and stripped of their badges in connection with the probe.

It began as an investigation into bribes officers received in exchange for offering security and police escorts.

In April, the case expanded to look at campaign funding, honing in on De Blasio's campaign.

Four senior police officers named in the gifts-for-favors investigation - including Grant - have all filed for retirement.

The others are: Deputy Chief Eric Rodriguez, the former executive officer at Patrol Borough Brooklyn South, and Deputy Chief Andrew Capul, the former second in command at Patrol Borough Manhattan North and Deputy Chief David Colon.

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriquez said: 'The abuses of power alleged in this case are not victimless crimes. The victims are the citizens of New York, who rely on officers to fulfill their sworn duty. The victims are the upstanding police officers who do everything in their power to uphold the law and protect the public. The victims are public trust and confidence in law enforcement, both critical to ensuring public safety.
A charity fund in memory of murdered politician Jo Cox has soared past 1million as tens of thousands of well-wishers donated in memory of the tireless campaigner.

The fundraising page for the Batley and Spen MP, who was stabbed and shot to death on the street four days ago in Birstall, West Yorkshire, has become GoFundMe's biggest UK campaign to date.

Standing at more than 1million this evening, the donation page was set up by friends of the mother-of-two just after her tragic death, and the funds will be split between three charities.

Up and up: The fundraising page for the Batley and Spen MP, who was stabbed and shot to death on the street four days ago in Birstall, West Yorkshire, has become GoFundMe's biggest UK campaign to date

Tributes: A sea of flowers placed at a memorial in Birstall, West Yorkshire, where Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death in the street outside her constituency advice surgery last Thursday

Looking on: Flowers were placed around the statue of Joseph Priestley, the theologian who discovered oxygen

Chosen by her family, these are The Royal Voluntary Service, anti-extremism group Hope Not Hate and Syria-based volunteer search and rescue organisation The White Helmets.

The fund was pushed past the seven-figure mark by a 6,000 donation from a 'David Newton'.

Mrs Cox's friend Tim Dixon, one of those who launched the fund, said: 'The scale and speed of the public response to this fund has been overwhelming and deeply gratifying to Jo's family.

'It shows how powerfully Jo's story has moved so many. Jo would be so proud.'

Mrs Cox's husband Brendan tweeted tonight: 'Thank you to everyone for your incredible generosity. This will change lives in Syria, Batley and across the UK.'

A GoFundMe spokesman said: 'We were saddened to hear about the tragic death of Jo Cox.

'It's amazing to see how many people have come together to raise money for the charity's closest to Jo's heart in her memory. Our thoughts are with her family at this incredibly difficult time.'

A statement from Mrs Cox's friends and family, who set up the page, said they were 'overwhelmed by everyone's incredible generosity and so grateful for all your donations'.

Last week, a campaign raising money for the victims of the Pulse shooting in Orlando raised over $5million (3.4million), in five days making it the largest and fastest crowd-funding appeal ever.

It comes amid an outpouring of grief as politicians returned to Parliament to pay tribute to Mrs Cox and the man charged with her murder appeared in a London court for a bail hearing this afternoon.

Memorial: Flowers are laid by members of the Jammu Kashmir National Awami Party in Birstall this morning

Flowers in Birstall: The tributes today come amid an outpouring of grief in Britain and many other countries

The Commons was recalled to allow MPs to honour their colleague as David Cameron spoke of the sadness Britain felt at the killing of the 'loving, determined, passionate and progressive politician'.

The man accused of Mrs Cox's killing, Thomas Mair, 52, appeared at the Old Bailey as he was brought before a senior judge under the 'terrorism protocol'.

He is charged with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.

Labour politician: Married Mrs Cox had two young children and was the MP for Batley and Spen

Also today, Ukip leader Nigel Farage accused David Cameron and the Remain campaign of a 'despicable' attempt to create a link between the EU referendum and the death of Mrs Cox to improve their chances of winning Thursday's referendum.

Mr Farage said Remain were 'scared witless' about the prospect of defeat on June 23 and were trying to 'conflate' the motivations of the Labour MP's alleged killer with those of the millions of voters who want to leave the EU.

Mr Cameron has faced criticism from some quarters for retweeting a link to the last article written by Mrs Cox, in which she argued that Britain could deal with the issue of immigration more effectively by remaining in the EU.

MPs are also set to meet police and parliamentary authorities today to discuss their security in the wake of the death of Mrs Cox.

Home Secretary Theresa May will co-chair the meeting, where representatives of the Metropolitan Police and Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority will answer questions from MPs.

Meanwhile, calls are growing for the pensioner who tried to save MP Jo Cox to be officially honoured for his bravery.

Bernard Kenny, 77, was stabbed in the stomach as he came to the aid of Mrs Cox when she was attacked outside the library on Thursday. He is recovering in hospital.

Mr Kenny is said to be a former miner who was part of the rescue teams which helped at the Lofthouse Colliery disaster in 1973. Seven men died when part of the now-closed pit flooded.

An online petition has been set up calling on the Government to award Mr Kenny the George Cross - the highest bravery honour that can be given to non-military personnel.

Separately, the charity Oxfam said today that Mrs Cox will be honoured with an album of live music from the Glastonbury Festival which will raise money for refugees.
Ukip leader Nigel Farage, seen today at the BBC, has accused David Cameron of linking the death of Jo Cox to the referendum campaign

Nigel Farage today accused David Cameron of linking the killing of Jo Cox to the referendum, insisting the Remain campaign were behaving in a way that was 'quite wrong'.

The Ukip leader has been fighting accusations he published a racist poster on immigration and has insisted it has only became a row because of Mrs Cox's death.

The killing on the streets of Birstall last Thursday lunchtime brought an immediate halt to all referendum campaigning for two days.

Mr Cameron today insisted he was doing no more than paying deserved tributes to the late Batley and Spen MP Mrs Cox.

The Brexit battle will pause again this afternoon as the House of Commons is recalled to mark the death and pay tribute to mother of two Mrs Cox.

Mr Farage risked provoking outrage today by claiming Mr Cameron and the Remain campaign were directly linking the death to how people should vote on Thursday.

Speaking to LBC radio, Mr Farage said: 'What we are seeing here is the prime minister and the Remain campaign trying to conflate the actions of one crazed individual with the motives of half of Britain who think we should get back control of our borders and do it sensibly.

'And I think that's quite wrong the way it's been done.

'I think there are Remain camp supporters out there who are using this tragic death to try to give the impression that this isolated, horrific incident is somehow linked to arguments that have been made by myself, or Michael Gove or anybody else in this campaign.

'And frankly that is wrong.'

He added: 'We have a Prime Minister and a Chancellor and other big political leaders in Britain who are scared witless.

'They thought they would win this referendum by a country mile.

'They know it's neck and neck, they know it's down to who turns out on the day to vote, and there is no level of denigration or false association that they will not stoop to, but I think people are intelligent enough to see through this sort of thing.'

Asked during a campaign visit to Cowley, Oxfordshire, whether he was using the MP's death for political advantage, Mr Cameron said: 'What I have been talking about in respect of Jo is what a wonderful human being and great politician and great campaigner she was.'

He added: 'Last week a brilliant Member of Parliament, a loving mother, a loving wife was tragically murdered on our streets.

'What everyone has been saying, and what I say again, is paying tribute not only to her but the values she lived by and epitomised in public life of tolerance, of service, of community.

'That's what we are saying about her.'

David Cameron visited Birstall on Friday to lay flowers and pay tribute to the MP, who was killed arriving at her advice surgery in the town

Mr Cameron yesterday did evoke the pro-EU views of murdered MP Jo Cox amid a continuing row over whether the tragedy was being politicised.

On Twitter, the Prime Minister highlighted the final article written by the Labour MP, in which she warned voters not to 'fall for the spin' that quitting the EU would solve concerns over immigration.

Mr Cameron praised her 'strong voice' in the referendum campaign and said it would be 'badly missed' in the closing days.

Stronger In campaigners said that by linking to her article, the Prime Minister was simply ensuring her voice would be heard.

But the intervention came amid clashes over whether Mrs Cox's death was being politicised.

At lunchtime, pro-Brexit Labour MP Kate Hoey told a rally: 'Jo was a democrat and she would want this referendum campaign to continue, and she would want no one to link anything around this referendum with that terrible tragedy.'

Mrs Cox's final article was re-published yesterday in several newspapers and by the Stronger In campaign.

Alongside a link to it, the Prime Minister tweeted: 'Jo Cox's strong voice in the campaign to remain in the EU will be badly missed.'

However, the row came after a former defence minister lashed out at pro-EU figures for trying to 'spin' the tragic killing of Jo Cox in a bid to win the referendum.

Tory MP Andrew Murrison tweeted the comment as polls showed the race was neck and neck again after a surge for Remain.

However, soon afterwards he deleted the post and replaced it with one that urged both sides to put their cases 'squarely, honestly and decently'.
Police say knife attacks in the city have soared by 20 per cent this year

He was rushed to hospital and is expected to survive, attacker was arrested

As victim left the train a 21-year-old man slashed him across the neck

Row began as a dispute between two groups on a northbound A train

A Subway passenger has been viciously slashed across the neck inside a New York city subway station early Monday morning.

The dispute between two groups of passengers began aboard a northbound A train at around 1.30am, according to the NYPD. But the row quickly escalated and spilled out onto the 59th Street Columbus Circle platform.

A 21-year-old man had pulled out a knife and slashed his victim, also 21, across the neck as he left the train.

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A Subway passenger has been viciously slashed across the neck (pictured) inside a New York city subway station early Monday morning

The victim was taken by wheelchair and stretcher to the nearby Weill Cornell Hospital

The attack took place inside a New York city subway station early Monday morning (pictured is the cordoned off 59th St.-Columbus Circle station after the attack)

The victim was rushed to the nearby Weill Cornell Hospital and is expected to survive.

Witness Paris Thomas told ABC 7 he saw the attacker 'slice (the victim's) neck'.

'I was scared. Everyone kept looking at me. I was scared,' he said.

Police arrested his attacker nearby while a female suspect was also taken into custody. Officers say she was not directly involved in the attack but she is believed to have been hindering the investigation.

Charges are pending against the male suspect. Police have not released the victim's or the attacker's names.

The platform, which served the A, C, B and D lines, was still blocked off with police tape shortly before 5am this morning as the investigation continues.

There was a large police presence following the attack at the Upper West Side station

Witness Paris Thomas said he saw the attacker 'slice (the victim's) neck' and was left 'scared' by the attack

A 21-year-old man had pulled out a knife and slashed his victim, also 21, across the neck as he left the train following a dispute

However, an NYPD spokesman told DailyMail.com that the platform has since been reopened and there appears to be no impact on the service.

A witness, who did not want to be named, claimed the dispute looked like 'two gangs fighting.'

Meanwhile David Brown, a newspaper vendor, told NBC that he often encounters violent thugs at the Subway station in the early hours.

'Making noise, screaming, a lot of them just come at you start yelling at you for no reason and stuff,' Brown said.

This is the latest is a series of violent attacks on New York's subways as police report that stabbings and slashings across the city have soared by 20 per cent this year.

In April, an Orthodox Jewish man, in his 50s, was found bleeding after being viciously slashed on the 6 train platform at the Bleecker Street station around 3.30am.

According to the New York Post, he told police through a Yiddish interpreter that he was asleep on a bench when he woke up and saw a black man holding a razor, who attacked him.

The attacker, 21, was arrested nearby while the victim was stretchered off from the the platform (pictured in the early hours of Monday morning after the attack)

The platform, which served the A, C, B and D lines, was still blocked off with police tape shortly before 5am this morning as the investigation continues

However, an NYPD spokesman told DailyMail.com that the platform has since been reopened and there appears to be no impact on the service

The victim was taken to hospital where he made a full recovery and police were investigating whether it was a random attack, robbery or targeted crime.

Back in January at the same subway station a 71-year-old woman was sliced in the face on the D train, as that was one of the first attacks of this year.

She suffered a four-inch gash on her cheek and needed 30 stitches.

Damon Knowles, 21, pleaded not guilty to assault, though he told police that he attacked the grandmother because he felt threatened by her, according to court papers.

Police Commissioner William Bratton warned that knife attacks in the first three months of this year were up 20 per cent compared, with 899 through March 31, compared with 746 in 2015.

'Make no mistake about it, stabbings and slashings aren't going away,' he told reporters in April. 'It's one of the few crimes that are going up [to a] level that is of concern to us.'
Homeless men and school boys have been watching porn on Android tablets in Times Square, a report claims.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has backed an eight-year project to turning old telephone booths into hot-spots with 'free, super fast WiFi'.

Times Square, the congested tourist destination, is one of the first places to be wired up to the system in its beta phase.

But according to the New York Post, locals have been using it for things other than way-finding.

Not so family friendly? This is one of New York City's new Android tablets with super fast internet connection - which school boys and homeless men have allegedly been using to watch porn in Times Square

And LinkNYC, the firm running the project, has had to rush to ramp up the security settings, the report says.

'I was watching porn on one of them things on, like, Saturday. Then on, like, Monday or Tuesday, all of a sudden I couldnt,' homeless man Hakeem, 44, told the Post from his spot in Times Square.

'Once word got around, it stopped. It sucks, man. It was great.'

He added that he wasn't the only one.

'There were kids who were skipping school and just coming over here to watch porn,' he said.

'The cops had to come and break them up.'

LinkNYC's eight-year project is designed to offer free phone calls, phone chargers, and free internet to all New Yorkers on the go.

At least 7,500 weather-resistant tablets will be installed across the city's five boroughs by 2024.

According to the website, 'LinkNYC offers an encrypted public Wi-Fi network, adding a critical layer of protection to personal data.'

Its privacy & security section goes on to discuss the privacy settings but does not elaborate on security or firewall protections.

Eric Phillips, the Mayor's press secretary, dismissed the reports as fiction.

'There's no evidence anyone was watching porn,' Phillips said in an email to Daily Mail Online.

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Authorities have spent the last two decades working to shut down the square's once-notorious peep show culture. It remains a hot spot for homeless people and seedy characters who hassle tourists for money

Mayor Bill de Blasio has invested more than $200 million of taxpayers' money in turning old telephone booths into hot-spots with 'free, super fast WiFi'. The project is an eight-year plan to install 7,500 tablets city-wide

'Links have the same content filtering systems in place as schools or libraries. And while the Post is interested in embarrassing homeless people, our goal is to help them.'

Ruth Fasoldt, LinkNYC Community Affairs Manager, did not directly address the allegation of people using the tablets to watch porn.

She said in an email: 'Link tablets use a highly regarded content monitoring system used by thousands of public schools and libraries across the country that is constantly being updated and adjusted as new websites pop up every day.'

Authorities have spent the last two decades working to shut down the square's once-notorious peep show culture.

Last year saw the final few titillating performances.

With the newly-intensified firewall, De Blasio will be hoping to keep the square free of X-rated content.

The square is also known for its eerie collection of characters who hassle tourists for money.
Two young children died over the weekend after being found unresponsive inside a pickup truck.

Twins Oliver and Aria Orr, 3, were discovered by neighbors inside the vehicle, which was parked outside their home in Bossier City, Louisiana.

The mother of the children was inside the house at the time, and had been calling people who lived in the area to ask if they had seen the little boy and his sister.

Their tragic deaths come just three weeks after young Oliver was released from the hospital after suffering a near-fatal injury.

Police are now investigating the incident, and the cause of death has not yet been released pending autopsies.

The father of the children, Travis Orr, is a deputy at the Bossier Sheriff's Office. He has another child as well, son Maddox.

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Tragedy: Twins Oliver and Aria Orr, 3, died on Saturday after being found unresponsive inside a truck parked outside their home (twins above earlier this year)

Horrible scene: The two were discovered by neighbors (truck above) while their mother was inside calling people in the area looking for the two

Recent: Oliver had just been released from the hospital three weeks prior (above) after suffering a sudden and near-fatal injury

The Bossier City Police Department said in a statement that the neighbors found the children around 3pm on Saturday after 'the childrens mother, who was home at the time, had contacted them saying she was looking for the children.'

Emergency personnel arrived on the scene soon after and the two were rushed to a local hospital, where they were both pronounced dead.

'The investigation into this incident remains ongoing,' said the statement.

'Autopsies will be conducted to determine the cause of the death.'

The father of the children posted photos on Facebook last month after son Oliver ended up hospitalized after he suffered a sudden injury.

In one of the photos he is seen 'waking up' according to his father and there is a neck brace on him and breathing tubes coming out of his nose.

There is also a video of Travis telling his son to 'wake up' that he posted on social media.

Man in blue: The children's father, Travis Orr (above in NBC 14 video), is a deputy with the Bossier Sheriff's Office

Answers: Police are now investigating the incident with the cause of death not yet known until autopsies are complete (twins above during their first year)

The boy was in the hospital for over a week, and after his release his father posted a note on Facebook.

'Well we're home. Oliver was discharged today. I want to thank BCFD/EMS & BCPD for their quick response last Sunday night,' wrote Travis.

'The doctors and nurses at University Health for the outstanding treatment and care that Oliver received the last week.'

He closed out the post by writing: 'Oh and by the way other than the scratches and bandages, Oliver is back to full speed chaos.'
Vice President Joe Biden's took his turn going after Donald Trump on foreign policy, though never mentioned the presumptive Republican nominee by name.

The veep delivered a speech this afternoon in Washington, D.C., at the Center for New American Security's annual conference where he referenced Trump's rhetoric and said it 'sounds designed to radicalize all 1.4 billion' Muslims around the world.

Biden took on some of Trump's 'deeply damaging' ideas  from the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, to Trump's threat that he would institute a 'hell of a lot worse' than waterboarding to help combat terror  in a speech that was to take down Trump's 'sound bite solutions in a world defined by complexity.'

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Today marks Vice President Joe Biden's turn to take a whack at presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump. Biden took on Trump's foreign policy, calling it 'deeply damaging'

Vice President Joe Biden (right) followed in the footsteps of President Barack Obama (left) who called out Donald Trump's foreign policy plans last week while giving remarks at the Treasury Department

Parts of Biden's speech were released this morning, but were void of some of the Biden-isms that he deployed while onstage.

First, he used the pronoun 'she' to describe the next president, while also name-dropping Clinton's book title 'Hard Choices,' as a way to talk about the hard choices he and Obama had to make in the foreign policy arena.

He occasionally referred to a 'Joe' in the audience, which was former Sen. Joe Lieberman, who could have been veep had Democrat Al Gore been elected in 2000.

Speaking to Lieberman, Biden said he couldn't believe the acrimony between the political parties in Washington had gotten so bad.

Later on in the speech he noted how the 'American public is sick and tired of the dysfunction' and 'he instinct is to throw all the rascals out,' but he was also hopeful that lawmakers are starting to listen  hinting that he hoped that the discontent wouldn't lead to the election of Trump.

As for his more pointed statements, subtle jabs compared to some of the bombs Obama recently threw, the vice president called attention to Trump's plan to ban non-American Muslims from the United States, which the businessman introduced in the aftermath of the San Bernardino terror attack in December.

'Wielding the politics of fear and intolerance, like proposals to ban Muslims from entering the United States or slandering entire religious communities as complicit in terrorism, calls into question America's status as the greatest democracy in the history of the world,' Biden said.

Instead, Biden suggested that the campaign against extremists be smart and remain consistent with America's values.

'Adopting the tactics of our enemies  using torture, threatening to kill innocent family members, indiscriminately bombing civilian populations  not only violates our values, it's deeply, deeply damaging to our security,' Biden said.

Trump articulated a pro-waterboarding stance at several of the Republican presidential debates, while he gave himself some wiggle room on the idea that he'd go after terrorists' families in March by explaining that he would 'go after' doesn't necessarily mean kill.

Vice President Joe Biden will speak today at the Center for New American Security's annual conference in Washington, D.C.

Last week, both President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden paid tribute to the 49 who died in an ISIS-inspired attack in Orlando - with Obama going after Donald Trump's foreign policy plans too

The presumptive Republican nominee had previously said, 'You have to take out their families.'

Biden talked about the dangers of isolationism generally, though was pointing a finger in the direction of Trump's proposed border wall.

'If we build walls and disrespect our closest neighbors, we will quickly see all this progress disappear  replaced by a return of anti-Americanism and a corrosive rift throughout our hemisphere,' Biden said.

Biden was also critical of Trump's plan to thaw the U.S.'s relationship with Russia, noting that it would happen after a period of heightened aggression from the country.

'Embracing Putin at a time of renewed Russian aggression, I believe, could call into question America's longstanding commitment to a Europe whole, free and at peace,' Biden said.

'But neither is it time to dust off the Cold War playbook,' the vice president added.

Trump gave his first major foreign policy address in late April as the Republican primaries were winding down.

At the time, he said his motto was 'America First,' which was also the name of the group that didn't want the U.S. to enter World War II because members didn't believe Nazis were a threat.

Trump outlined a number of things he'd do as president, starting with a 'simple message' for ISIS.

'Their days are numbered. I won't tell them where and I won't tell them how. We must as a nation be more unpredictable. We are totally predictable,' Trump said in April.

'But they're going to be gone. ISIS will be gone if I'm elected president. And they'll be gone quickly. They will be gone very, very quickly,' Trump continued.

The Republican said he'd rebuild the American military, so to compete with the Russians and the Chinese, but also etched out some common ground the U.S. had with the two countries.

Trump also articulated why it's important to define the enemy.

'Our actions in Iraq, Libya and Syria have helped unleash ISIS, and we're in a war against radical Islam, but President Obama won't even name the enemy, and unless you name the enemy, you will never ever solve the problem,' Trump said, noting how Hillary Clinton, his Democratic opponent this fall, also failed to label terrorists this way.

When Trump repeated the assertion last week in the aftermath of the Orlando terror attack, in which an ISIS-inspired killer took the lives of 49 people at a gay nightclub, Obama went ballistic.

'So there's no magic to the phrase 'radical Islam,'' Obama said at the Treasury Department.

'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,' the president added.

Clinton echoed the assertion from a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she was supposed to talk about the economy, but she rebutted Trump on terrorism instead.

'Is Donald Trump suggesting that there are magic words that once uttered will stop terrorists from coming after us?' Clinton said. 'What I will not do is demonize and declare war on an entire religion.'

Clinton also went after Trump earlier this month at a speech in San Diego, as she campaigned in the California primary, but also prepped for the general election fight.

'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,' Clinton said.

'He is not just unprepared  he is temperamentally unfit to hold an office that requires knowledge, stability and immense responsibility,' she continued.

'This is not someone who should ever have the nuclear codes  because it's not hard to imagine Donald Trump leading us into a war just because somebody got under his very thin skin,' she added.
She brandished meat cleaver dripping in blood and dog flesh while 'heavies' pursued team away from market

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Stained with blood and with a chunk of dog flesh clinging to its blade, this was the moment a woman trader brandished her meat cleaver as she was interrupted while butchering a tiny dog's carcass ready for the dinner plate.

Exploding in anger, the Chinese butcher was caught on camera as she prepared to fillet the dog carcass - one of thousands killed for food at China's Yulin Dog Festival.

MailOnline gained exclusive access to the savage gathering - and the dog meat market nearby - where 'mans' best friend' is killed on an industrial scale to satisfy demand for the dish regarded as a delicacy in China.

Terrified animals, fear etched across their faces, whimper and huddle together before being taken to the slaughterhouse where their fur is burnt off with a blowtorch. They are then taken to the dog meat market where they are chopped up for the dinner table.

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Raging: Still blood-stained and with a chunk of flesh from the dog she is chopping up hanging from it, a woman waves her meat cleaver at investigators as she butchers the carcass ready for the dinner plate

Angry: In extraordinary scenes, the flustered female dog meat trader raised her meat cleaver in our investigators' faces and ordered them to stop filming

Doomed: In extraordinary scenes, the flustered female trader raised her meat cleaver in our investigators' faces and ordered them to stop filming

Slaughtered: .Terrified animals, fear etched across their faces, whimper and huddle together before being yanked on to the chopping board for slaughter one by one

In extraordinary scenes, the flustered female trader raised her meat cleaver in our investigators' faces and ordered them to stop filming.

Her reaction highlights the tension at this year's festival in the besieged rural city where dog meat traders resorted to strong-arm tactics to try to keep away outsiders who they say are hurting their profits and putting the festival in jeopardy.

Millions of animal lovers worldwide have petitioned the Chinese government for a ban on the festival  which falls on June 21  but defiant dog meat traders insist it is a Chinese cultural tradition that they will continue.

As soon as our team stepped into the Dongkou market, the biggest dog meat market in Yulin, on Sunday morning, a seething mob of traders and hired yobs surrounded them, jostling and pushing us and eventually forcing us out of the market.

They were led by the market's manager Pang Guocheng who sneered at us sarcastically: 'You are distinguished foreigners. You are too sensitive to see what goes on in this market.'

He then held up a hand-written sign in Mandarin referring to the fact that dog eating is legal in China. It said: 'You cannot do that which is forbidden by the law. But you are free to do that which is not forbidden by the law.'

Asked why our team was being ejected from the market if the dog festival was legal, Pang said: 'You do not understand us. We don't want you to write negative reports about what goes on here.'

He admitted he had organised teams of young people to tail any foreigners or journalists who entered the market and to attempt to stop them taking any photographs or video ahead of the festival.

Caged: In heartbreaking scenes, the dogs tried desperately to hide and huddled together in terror before being yanked out and killed one by one before having their fur burnt off by blow torch

Anger: Her reaction highlights the tension at this year's festival in the besieged rural city where dog meat traders resorted to strong-arm tactics to try to keep away outsiders who they say are hurting their profits and putting the festival in jeopardy

Dinner: A tawny brown and a black dog sit in a cage cheerfully, tongues out and panting - totally unaware that they will soon be slaughtered

'All these people come from villages where they trade in dog meat,' he said. 'We are worried about the effect this will have on business. I organised this group of young people to stop people visiting the market or taking photographs or videos.'

Uniformed police officers stood by as the chaotic scenes at the market unfolded and when we left we were tailed back to our hotel by a group of six young men in plain clothes on motorcycles who claimed to be undercover police.

Working in shifts, they tailed us for the remainder of the day, attempting to follow us to our hotel rooms and sitting in the lobby ready to follow us as soon as we left the building, constantly using their mobile phones to take footage of us.

Earlier in the day, hundreds of dogs were killed in slaughterhouses in the dead of night ahead of the festival  which falls on Tuesday, although feasting of dog meat begins the night before.

Embarrassed city officials have ordered slaughter houses to do their work at night and out of sight and restaurants not to advertise their dog banquets because of international condemnation of the six-year-old festival.

One slaughter house killed an estimated 60 to 100 dogs ready for the festival. Witnesses from the Humane Society International who briefly got inside said the dogs had their throats cut in front of each other and whimpered and screamed as they died.

Imprisoned: Millions of animal lovers worldwide have petitioned the Chinese government for a ban on the festival  which falls on June 21  but defiant dog meat traders insist it is a Chinese cultural tradition that they will continue

Snatched: Many of the stolen animals die on long journeys from across China while others suffer horrendous injuries that they cannot stand in the filthy pens they are taken to

Pets? Some of the animals pictured are still wearing collars - suggesting they were stolen from loving homes, the main way of procuring animals for the festival

Market: Dogs are being sold by weight at 15 RMB (1.55) per 500 grams while one trader was offering a litter of two month-old kittens at 20 RMB (2.07) each.

So sad: In heartbreaking scenes, the dogs tried desperately to hide and huddled together in terror before being yanked out and killed one by one before having their fur burnt off by blow torch just feet away

Caged: Dogs were being sold by weight at 15 RMB (1.55) per 500 grams while one trader was offering a litter of two month-old kittens at 20 RMB (2.07) each

In heartbreaking scenes, the dogs tried desperately to hide and huddled together in terror before being yanked out and killed one by one before having their fur burnt off by blow torch just feet away.

As well as ordering traders to keep the slaughter out of sight, city officials yesterday set up road blocks to check for any lorry loads of dogs being brought into Yulin for the festival which must by law carry health certificates for each dog.

The crackdown is another sign of official displeasure at the dog meat festival which was launched in 2011 as a way of boosting business and tourism in the backward and notoriously lawless city near China's border with Vietnam.

Up to 10,000 dogs and 4,000 cats a year are slaughtered and eaten for the Yulin festival but growing pressure from animal lovers both inside and outside China has seen its popularity dip sharply. A survey last week found most people even in Yulin oppose it.

At a live dog market known as the Big Market on Sunday, however, individual traders were doing brisk business as they lined up with cages full of dogs and cats for families and restaurants to buy ahead of the festival.

Dogs were being sold by weight at 15 RMB (1.55) per 500 grams while one trader was offering a litter of two month-old kittens at 20 RMB (2.07) each.

One middle-aged farmer unceremoniously dragged a struggling 20 kg mongrel dog along the dirt ground in a sack after buying it at the market. 'I bought him to eat with my family for the festival tomorrow,' he told us cheerfully.

Restaurants along the city's riverside are expected to be packed with families feasting on dog tonight and on the day of the festival on Tuesday although they are now banned from dining outdoors or advertising dogs to eat.

Up to 10,000 dogs and 4,000 cats a year are slaughtered and eaten for the Yulin festival but growing pressure from animal lovers both inside and outside China has seen its popularity dip sharply. A survey last week found most people even in Yulin oppose it

Crackdown: As well as ordering traders to keep the slaughter out of sight, city officials yesterday set up road blocks to check for any lorry loads of dogs being brought into Yulin for the festival which must by law carry health certificates for each dog

Backlash: The crackdown is another sign of official displeasure at the dog meat festival which was launched in 2011 as a way of boosting business and tourism in the backward and notoriously lawless city near China's border with Vietnam

Dog meat: Up to 10,000 dogs and 4,000 cats a year are slaughtered and eaten for the Yulin festival but growing pressure from animal lovers both inside and outside China has seen its popularity dip sharply. A survey last week found most people even in Yulin oppose it

Meat market: Vendors wear aprons as they hack with meat cleavers at slaughtered dogs. Ten million dogs are eaten in China each year

Peter Li, China policy specialist at the Humane Society International who is visiting Yulin for the sixth time, said of the ruckus we experienced at the dog meat market: 'The dog traders are cornered and they are frustrated.

'Every year they have protests and they get hundreds of text messages abusing them. They get dirty looks even in Yulin. That is why they are defensive and can sometimes be aggressive.'

Most people in Yulin do not eat dog but those that do are older men and young men from rural areas. 'They feel urban people are against dog meat and look down on them and they eat dogs partly out of resentment,' said Mr Li.

'China has an urban bias and rural communities have been left behind. A lot of male nationalistic young people in the countryside eat dog meat because they feel it is a way to protect the dignity of rural people.'

The Yulin dog festival peaked in 2012 with an estimated 10,000 dogs slaughtered but Mr Li said he believed less than 2,000 were killed last year after the local government ordered its officials to stay away from dog banquets.

'I would not say this will be the last year of the dog meat festival but it will be a decisive year for the downward spiral of the dog meat industry in Yulin,' he said.

Mr Li - who is based in Houston  rejected the idea that foreigners had brought about the decline of the festival: 'People say this is western cultural imperialism but that isn't the case. There is a growing animal movement in China and it is stronger than anywhere else in Asia.

'The bond between people and dogs isn't something western. It's something human.'

Briton Jill Robinson, founder of Animals Asia and a pioneer in changing attitudes to dog eating in China, said her contacts in Yulin had also told her that the festival appeared to be on the wane.

Barbaric: Before their fur is blown off with a blow torch or they are thrown into boiling water, most of the dogs are clubbed over the head and have their throats slit

Prepared for sale: This dog is waiting to be sold at the Yulin festival in China, crammed into a tiny cage and heading for the dinner table

Dinner: Peter Li, China policy specialist at the Humane Society International who is visiting Yulin for the sixth time, said of the ruckus we experienced at the dog meat market: 'The dog traders are cornered and they are frustrated

'Our people are saying the same  that numbers are down,' she said. 'The markets themselves are looking quite desolate compared to last year. But they are not going to ban it overnight.'

Animals Asia was working behind the scenes with officials to change attitudes and policies and the decline of the festival was testimony to the work of 150 animal welfare groups within China, Ms Robinson said.
Donald Tusk today issued a direct appeal to Britain not to vote for Brexit on Thursday, urging voters to 'stay with us'.

The European Council president made the last ditch plea with just three days until the United Kingdom votes on whether to Leave or Remain a member of the European Union.

Brussels had largely stayed out of the referendum battle until polls suggested Britain could vote for Brexit on Thursday - prompting Mr Tusk to issue a dire warning about the collapse of 'western political civilisation'.

EU Council president Donald Tusk, pictured in Brussels with David Cameron, admitted today the EU needed Britain as he urged voters to back the 28-member club in Thursday's referendum

Mr Cameron, pictured at the Mini factory in Cowley today, will hope Mr Tusk's message hits home with voters before they fill out their ballots on Thursday

Mr Tusk, who is responsible for running the council meetings attended by heads of state and government, today struck a more conciliatory tone.

He said: 'I would like to appeal to the British citizens, on behalf, I know that for a fact, of almost all Europeans and European leaders: Stay with us.

'Without you, not only Europe, but the whole Western community will become weaker. Together, we will be able to cope with increasingly difficult challenges of the future.'

He added: 'In no way are we downplaying the economic costs that would accompany Brexit ... I have no doubt, however, that we are already prepared for the day after the referendum.'

Mr Tusk acknowledged the EU would need to be reformed regardless of the result on Thursday because of growing Euroscepticism across the continent.

He said: 'We would be foolish if we ignored such a warning signal as the UK referendum.

'There are more signals of dissatisfaction with the Union coming from all of Europe, not only from the UK.'

Donald Tusk today also issued a warning on Twitter and called on British voters to 'stay with us' when the country votes on June 23

Last week, in apocalyptic comments in an interview with German newspaper Bild, Mr Tusk said 'no-one could forsee' the consequences of Brexit.

'Why is it so dangerous? Because no one can foresee what the long-term consequences would be,' Mr Tusk said.

'As a historian I fear that Brexit could be the beginning of the destruction of not only the EU but also of western political civilisation in its entirety.'

He argued that everyone in the European Union would lose out economically if Britain left.

'Every family knows that a divorce is traumatic for everyone,' Mr Tusk said.
Her nine sisters and two

Arrested: Lee Kaplan, 51, took the daughter, 14, of Daniel and Savilla Stoltzfus in 2012 in exchange for saving their farm, police said. He is alleged to have impregnated her twice

Twelve young girls were found hiding in the basement and a chicken coop when police searched the home of a Pennsylvania man now charged with statutory rape.

Officials acting on a tip off on Thursday found 51-year-old Lee Kaplan living with the children and their parents Daniel, 43, and Savilla Stoltzfus, 42, at his Bucks County home.

The oldest, an 18-year-old, told authorities that she and Kaplan had two children together, a three-year-old and a six-month-old.

Her parents had 'gifted' her to 51-year-old Kaplan after he helped them to pay off a debt on their farm in 2012 when she was just 14 years old, she told police.

All 12 girls were taken into protective custody and detectives have been interviewing them today to find out if they have any relatives and to see if any others, aside from the 14-year-old, were abused.

Lower Southampton Public Service Director Robert Hoopes told Philly.com that investigators needed to question them 'to make sure they weren't abused - we really don't know.'

The ten sisters, and the two daughters of the oldest girl, have all been brought to homes in nearby Lancaster County, which has a large Amish community.

Hoopes said: 'right now they are fine ... they are back up with Amish people.'

Police are also hoping to identify any other relatives of the children. While Daniel and Savilla Stoltzfus have claimed to be the parents, there are no birth certificates or social security numbers for any of them. No other public records have been found.

'At first, they're just going to try to see general information. Who are their parents? Where are they from?' Hoopes told CBS News.

He said it may be possible that the children's last name was Stoltzfus but that did not necessarily mean they were related to the suspects. Stoltzfus is a very common name among the Amish.

Authorities say that when they arrived at Kaplan's home to rescue the girls, who all wearing traditional Amish dress, the youngsters scattered.

'All the children were running around. Some were hiding. They were well-behaved, but scared,' said Lower Southampton Police Lt. Ted Krimmel.

Lower Southampton Public Service Director Robert Hoopes called it 'kind of bizarre.'

'It's hard to even explain - there were a lot of children in the house, living in the basement, hiding in the chicken coop - but they are Amish and they have a different way of life.'

Parents: Daniel (left), 43, and Savilla Stoltzfus (right), 42, believed the trade was legal because of something they read on the internet, police said. They and their nine other daughters moved in with Kaplan at a later date

Investigators later found evidence the girls has been living in the basement where they discovered air mattresses, a model train setup and a tank of catfish.

Books and musical instruments in the basement lead detectives to believe the girls were being homeschooled.

Police also brought cadaver dogs to the property on Saturday to sweep the area in case any babies' bodied had been buried there.

They had feared that other children may have been born to the girls and destroyed.

However, neither the dogs nor the cops found any evidence of that.

'We didn't know if maybe there were babies born that were destroyed or whatever, but that's not the case, as far as we can tell.'

Daniel Stoltzfus, his wife Savilla and Kaplan were arrested Thursday after child welfare workers and police raided Kaplan's Bucks County home in Pennsylvania.

Kaplan, is accused of statutory rape, corruption of minors, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and unlawful contact with a

Stoltzfus, whose given address is 75 miles away in Quarryville, Lancaster County, is charged with conspiracy of statutory sexual assault and children endangerment. His wife, Savilla Stoltzfus, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

District Attorney David Heckler said the couple told police they were going to lose their farm until Kaplan 'came out of the blue and saved them from financial ruin.'

In return, Daniel Stoltzfus gave his nine daughters to Kaplan, police say.

The father claimed that he thought the transaction was legal after researching online, according to the affadavit.

Kaplan impregnated the couple's 14-year-old almost immediately after she entered his home, on the 400 block of Old Street Road, according to court papers, and again when she was 17 years-old.

The girl is now 18, police said, and her three-year-old and six-month-old children were also living in Kaplan's house.

According to the criminal complaint, Savilla Stoltzfus was aware that Kaplan was having sex with her daughter.

The district attorney said the couple think Kaplan, who married Virginia Albrecht in 1993, 'is a wonderful man.' There is no records of a divorce.

Some of the girls, who Hoopes referred to as 'brainwashed' also gave positive reports about Kaplan.

Several neighbors had reported concerns about the 12 girls living with Kaplan and on one occasion police even visited the property.

But it was only last week when another neighbor contacted a child-welfare hotline last week that officials took any action.

Neighbor, Kevin Rihl said he and another person went to police about a year ago to report unsettling behavior.

But Robert Hoopes, Lower Southampton public safety director, said that without probable cause, officers had been unable to get a warrant to enter the home.

Authorities say that when they arrived at Kaplan's home (pictured) to rescue the girls, who all wearing traditional Amish dress, the youngsters scattered

'If you go to the house - he wouldn't even let people go in - even if the police were coming, he would turn the lights out, stuff like that,' he said.

Rihl, 38, never personally saw any inappropriate contact between Kaplan and the girls, but found the living situation strange enough that he stopped his own children from playing their near his neighbor's yard.

'How long does it take when the evidence is beating you in the face that something's wrong here?' he added.

Rihl said that he only ever saw the girls out in groups of threes, perhaps to avoid suspicion, so he had no idea that a dozen children were living next door.

Others say they spotted small faces at the windows of the home and would see Kaplan holding hands with the eldest girl.

Staff at Lenny's Hot Dog restaurant, which Kaplan would occasionally frequent, said they would often see him with the Amish girls they referred to as his 'wives.'

Jen Bets, the neighbor who made the call to child services, told NBC Philadelphia that there were 'signs' something was wrong in the house.

'They're so sad and fearful every time I see them. That's what made me call,' she said. 'I've been telling my husband for years 'Something isn't right, something isn't right.''

'(She was) too young to be the wife, too old to be holding his hand,' said Bets, who had seen Kaplan walking down the street with girls, sometimes holding hands with one of them.

'I just want them to get help and get back and be happy,' she said.

She added that the girls often seemed 'fearful' and would run back to the house whenever 'the male' who lived there went to the door. Police said they did not go to school.

When police finally entered the home Thursday, 'all the children were running around,' Krimmel said. 'Some were hiding. They were well-behaved, but scared.'

Heckler said the children apparently did not attend school and it was unclear if they had ever been to a doctor, but they didn't appear to be in bad health and showed no visible signs of trauma.

Lower Southampton Police Lt. John Krimmel told CBS: 'Right now we're working on getting an expert on Amish culture to help us conduct interviews on the rest of these children.'

Investigators are still piecing together what exactly happened, Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler said, including how Kaplan and the couple met each other.

Kaplan, 51, of Feasterville, Bucks County, is accused of statutory rape, corruption of minors, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and unlawful contact with a minor.

Stoltzfus, whose given address is 75 miles away in Quarryville, Lancaster County, is charged with conspiracy of statutory sexual assault and children endangerment. His wife, Savilla Stoltzfus, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child.

All three were being held in lieu of $1 million bail. Court documents don't list attorneys who could respond to the charges.

A preliminary hearing for the trio will be held on August 2.
A wealthy accountant from Buckinghamshire has beaten his East Sussex businessman cousin to the claim for a Scottish baronetcy after the Queen asked judges to rule on the case.

Murray Pringle, who is in his 70s, and businessman Simon Pringle, who is in his 50s, had become embroiled in a bizarre row about who was entitled to the baronetcy of Pringle of Stichill, a title which belonged to Simon's late father, Sir Steuart Pringle.

But a family tree project, co-ordinated by Murray, showed the late baronet was not biologically related to the rest of the clan, suggesting there was an illegitimate child in a previous generation.

Murray, from High Wycombe, then applied to have the title - which does not come with any land or property - handed over to his 'legitimate' side of the family.

Wealthy accountant Murray Pringle (left) from Buckinghamshire has beaten his businessman cousin Simon Pringe (right) to the claim for a Scottish baronetcy

Seven judges, who analysed evidence at hearings of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London, have now ruled in favour of Murray after the case was referred to them by the Queen.

The committee decided to accept DNA evidence which suggested Norman Pringle, Steuart's father, had been illegitimate.

The ruling could have huge implications for the whole of the British aristocracy  and possibly even the Royal Family itself  as other 'pretenders' to the throne may emerge with genetic evidence to prove their right of succession.

Speaking after the ruling, a spokeswoman for MA Law - the law firm which represented Murray Pringle - said she was 'very happy.'

Simon, from Hastings, added that it had been a 'horrible ordeal' but congratulated Murray on the win.

He said: 'I want to congratulate Murray for winning the verdict and express the hope that he and his successors will wear the title as honourably as my father.

'This was a horrible ordeal for my parents and the result is the opposite of the one they would have wanted.

'I have no complaints about either the process or the decision.'

Judges heard that Charles II granted the baronetcy of Stichill - a village near Kelso, Roxburghshire - to Robert Pringle of Stichill and the 'male heirs from his body' on January 5 1683.

The 10th baronet, Sir Steuart Pringle - a retired Royal Marines commander who survived an IRA bomb attack - died in 2013 aged 84.

His son, Simon, and Murray - Simon's second cousin - then disagreed over who should claim the title.

Murray then applied to have title handed over to his 'legitimate' side of the family - and the Queen (pictured at Royal Ascot last week) was forced to wade into the debate

Murray said Simon should not become the 11th baronet because there had been a 'break in the line of paternity'. His lawyers said tests had shown that Sir Steuart's DNA 'did not match that of the Pringle lineage'.

That finding suggested there may have been an illegitimate child in a previous generation  namely, Norman Pringle, Steuart's father, the 8th baronet, Sir Norman Pringle.

Judges were told that Sir Norman and his wife Florence had three sons, Norman, Ronald - Murray's father - and James.

In 1920, Florence Pringle made a formal statutory declaration saying Norman was the eldest son of the 8th baronet and was entitled to succeed to the baronetcy.

But Murray argued the 8th baronet was not Norman's father and claimed that, as Ronald's son, he was the rightful successor.

Lawyers for Simon disputed Murray's claim.

Simon had said his father and mother - Lady Jacqueline Pringle, who died in 2012 - had hoped the dispute would be solved in their lifetimes.

He had said he was glad that judges had been asked for a ruling.

Judges said that DNA evidence demonstrated to 'a high degree of probability' that Norman was not the son of the 8th baronet - and they said there was no legal ground for excluding DNA evidence.

On that basis they had concluded that Simon was not the 'heir male' of the 1st baronet.

They said Murray was the grandson of the 8th baronet and the 'heir male' of the 1st baronet and was therefore entitled to succeed.

Judges suggested that their ruling would have implications.

One judge, Lord Hodge, said the case raised 'a question of general importance' about the use of DNA evidence 'to challenge an apparent heir's entitlement to succeed to a title or to property by its exposure of irregular occurrences in previous generations of a family'.

'In the past, the absence of scientific evidence meant that the presumption of legitimacy could rarely be rebutted and claims based on assertions that irregular procreations had occurred in the distant past were particularly difficult to establish,' he said. 'Not so now.'

He added: 'Whether this is a good thing and whether legal measures are needed to protect property transactions in the past, the rights of the perceived beneficiary of a trust of property, and the long established expectations of a family, are questions for others to consider.'

Judges said they felt sympathy for Sir Steuart Pringle and Simon.

Lord Hodge added: '(We) cannot conclude without expressing sympathy for the late Sir Steuart Pringle, a distinguished officer, who faced an unwelcome challenge in his autumnal years, and also Simon Robert Pringle, the heir presumptive, who had grown up in the belief that his father was rightfully the tenth baronet and that he would in time succeed to the baronetcy.'

The jurisdiction of the Privy Council dates back hundreds of years. Its judicial committee heard appeals from countries in the British Empire.

The committee - now normally made up of a panel of Supreme Court justices - still acts as a final court of appeal for Commonwealth countries which have no supreme court.
The number of children arriving at the Jungle migrant park in Calais without adults has risen by a third in a single month.

Of the 142 children to arrive at the camp overall, 132 were unaccompanied and the youngest of those was just 10-years-old, a new census has revealed.

Unaccompanied children now make up nearly 80 per cent of the youngsters at the camp (544 out of 700) according to the data, by L'Auberge des Migrants and Help Refugees.

Alone: The number of children arriving at the Jungle migrant park in Calais without adults has risen by a third in a single month. File image

Of the 142 children to arrive at the camp overall, 132 were unaccompanied and the youngest of those was just 10-years-old, a new census has revealed. File image

The youngest Jungle resident is just four months old, said volunteers, who claimed children were fleeing military conscription, ethnic persecution and extremist groups to reach Europe.

The agencies said that messages from both British and French authorities were doing little to deter people displaced from unstable regions to make perilous journeys.

The overall population at the Jungle camp has risen by nearly 20 per cent to 6,123 - up from 5,178 last month - according to the data, which was collected between June 4 and 7.

Refugees from Afghanistan are the largest national group in the camp, making up 36 per cent of its inhabitants, while those from Sudan make up 32 per cent.

But volunteers said there had been a huge surge in arrivals from the Ethiopian Oromo community following bloody conflict in their homeland.

Lliana Bird, of Help Refugees, said: 'This increase exceeded all expectations of growth and reveals a worrying trend.

Unaccompanied children now make up nearly 80 per cent of the youngsters at the camp (544 out of 700) according to the data, by L'Auberge des Migrants and Help Refugees reveals. File image

'The global refugee crisis is far from over, and border closures seem to be having little effect.'

Unicef recently revealed that children living in refugee camps in northern France, including the Jungle, were being subjected to sexual exploitation, violence and forced labour on a daily basis.

It reported cases of boys and girls being raped, and young women being subjected to sexual demands in exchange for a promise of passage to Britain.

Around 30 unaccompanied children at the Calais camp have so far been brought to the UK, Home Office Minister Richard Harrington told the Commons this month.

And he said he expected the figure to increase 'very significantly' as the Government attempted to speed up the family reunification process.
The man who co-founded Notting Hill Carnival and became Southwark's first black mayor has died aged 90.

Jamaican Sam King MBE, who came to Britain on the SS Windrush in 1948 and founded the legendary Caribbean street festival which became Notting Hill Carnival, died on Friday.

Mr King was born in Portland, Jamaica in 1926 and following the outbreak of the Second World War he applied for and joined the RAF aged 18 after seeing an advert in his local newspaper seeking volunteers.

Jamaican Sam King MBE (pictured), who came to Britain on the SS Windrush in 1948 and founded the legendary Caribbean street festival which went on to become Notting Hill Carnival, died on Friday

He had been told that should Hitler succeed in his efforts slavery would be reintroduced in the West Indies.

Mr King was then posted to the fighter station RAF Hawking near Folkestone where he served as an engineer.

Speaking to the BBC decades later about his experiences in the war, he said: 'It was a close thing, for example during Dunkirk a lot of people don't realise that Britain stood alone for nearly two years against tyranny.

'We as part of the former British Empire volunteered and contributed and I am glad I did that.'

In 1964 Mr King started the Caribbean street festival which grew into Notting Hill Carnival (pictured in 2013)

Following the war he returned to Jamaica, but unhappy with life in the West Indies, he bought a passage on the Empire Windrush and returned to London where he rejoined the RAF and eventually worked for Royal Mail.

He said later: 'I came with my own directive, if someone want to leave, let them leave, but I have been here during the war fighting Nazi Germany and I came back and help build Britain.'

Because of his tireless work in the community Then, in 1998 and as part of the 50th anniversary of the Windrush he received his MBE

West Indies veterans Connie Mark (in wheelchair) with (left to right) Hector Watson, Sam King, and Lilian Bader outside the Imperial War Museum

In 1964 he started a Caribbean street festival which grew into Notting Hill Carnival - Europe's biggest street party and he was elected as Southwark's first black mayor in 1983.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Mr King had 'changed the face of London for the better'.

He said: 'He was man who arrived on the Windrush and started working like many Jamaicans did in the area and then decided something had to be done good for the community in terms of carnival.

'What a legend, what a loss. He educated Londoners with Caribbean food, Caribbean culture, Caribbean music.

'London is a better place, Britain is a better place thanks to him and his family.'

Harriet Harman, Labour MP for Camberwell and Peckham, tweeted: 'RIP Sam King MBE. Wonderful man. Today Southwark mourns - but Southwark is proud.'

Southwark Councillor Michael Situ posted on Twitter that the Second World War veteran was 'principled, inspiring and always willing to serve'.
Rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean may 'trigger' their departure from the coast of Libya, a boss at the EU border agency Frontex has warned.

Thousands of refugees have been killed making the perilous crossing on packed-out and unseaworthy boats heading for Italy.

Klaus Roesler, head of the Operations Division at Frontex, which manages the bloc's borders, says the organisation is now expecting up to 10,000 migrants a week to attempt the journey.

Rescuing migrants in the Mediterranean 'triggers' their departure from the coast of Libya, a boss at EU border agency Frontex has warned

According to the German newspaper Bild, Roesler said a possible reason for the large numbers willing to risk their lives on the crossing is the 'intense' search and rescue work now carried out by the EU.

He said this may unintentionally 'trigger departures' from war-torn Libya.

The United Nations' refugee agency estimates that over 48,000 migrants, most of them sub-Saharan Africans, have arrived in Italy since the start of the year in search of a better life in Europe.

A similar number made the treacherous sea journey over the same period last year.

But unlike previous years, new arrivals are increasingly finding themselves marooned in overcrowded camps in Italy as countries further north have shut their borders, effectively blocking their overland passage into the rest of Europe.

Earlier today, the EU gave its naval force in the Mediterranean the authority to search suspicious vessels at sea in a bid to stop arms getting to ISIS in Libya and to break up gangs smuggling migrants to Europe.

EU foreign ministers acted to boost the effectiveness of the five-frigate 'Sophia' mission after winning a U.N. mandate to reinforce an arms embargo on Libya, where ISIS is strengthening its grip, and limit the near-impunity of the people smugglers.

The United Nations' refugee agency estimates that over 48,000 migrants, most of them sub-Saharan Africans, have arrived in Italy since the start of the year in search of a better life in Europe

'We must act, both against those who exploit the migrants, those traffickers who exploit this misery, and against the arms trafficking that benefits Daesh,' French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said.

European military powers Britain, France and Germany say ending the chaos in Libya that has reigned since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 is a crucial part of the EU's moves to end the migrant crisis.

NATO ships have also been sent to the Aegean to stem uncontrolled flows to Greece from Turkey.

Although EU ships in the central Mediterranean have picked up around 16,000 migrants at sea in the past year, their limited tasks of surveillance and information-sharing have meant they were not able to destroy weapons, catch traffickers or head off migrants trying to reach Europe by sea from Libya.

At least one smuggler vessel loaded with arms was allowed to pass an EU inspection in the Mediterranean in the past few months for lack of U.N. authority to act, one diplomat said.

Thousands of refugees have been killed making the perilous crossing on packed-out and unseaworthy boats heading for Italy

Now, the European Union also hopes NATO ships already patrolling in the central Mediterranean could link up with its 'Sophia' mission, providing intelligence about smuggling routes.

The United States has said it supports such a move.

Gangs, using profits from people smuggling into Europe, control arms networks stretching across Europe into North Africa via the Mediterranean.

Libya U.N. envoy Martin Kobler has told the Security Council that Libya is already awash with arms, with 20 million pieces of weaponry in the North African state of six million people.

By controlling new flows, the West could grant exemptions in the arms embargo to provide weapons to the U.N.-backed unity government in Tripoli and help it assert control in the lawless country.

'Getting control of illegal arms trafficking then gives the international community a lever, because we can consider relaxations in the arms embargo to allow certain groups access to ammunition,' said Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.

Britain is expected to send another ship to the mission, as well as helicopters and other assets from 24 EU governments.
A newlywed Florida man who was expecting a child was gunned down by his neighbor the evening before Father's Day in a double killing that also left the shooter's wife dead in the street, officials said.

Ricardo Vaca, 20, who had been married for three weeks, was killed after trying to mediate in a domestic dispute between his neighbors, officials said.

Placido Moreno-Torres, 47, was arrested and charged with two counts of homicide by Lee County sheriff's deputies, who identified him as 'the person responsible' for the killings in the community of Lehigh Acres.

The gunman's wife was identified as Amparo Moreno, 44.

Neighbors Ricardo Vaca, 20, left, and Amparo Moreno, 44, right, were killed in a shooting Saturday night. Police say the two were shot by Moreno's husband after Vaca attempted to intervene in a domestic dispute

Ricardo Vaca, 20, got married to his wife Alma only three weeks before he was gunned down. They are expecting a baby, a relative said

Placido Moreno-Torres, 47, was arrested and charged with two counts of homicide

Police believe Vaca became concerned after hearing the couple arguing in their driveway on 9th Street West and went over to 'intercede and mediate.'

'His neighborly act appears to be his only involvement in the matter,' the Lee County sheriff's office wrote in a press release.

After allegedly shooting the two victims, Moreno-Torres fled on foot. Officials responded to the scene at around 9:25pm Saturday.

The accused gunman was subsequently arrested, booked into the Lee County Jail, and charged with the two murder counts and a count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, the sheriff's office wrote.

A cousin of Vaca said that he and his wife Alma were expecting a baby.

'She's going to be a girl, they were happily married and he was an amazing person, always happy and trying to make people smile, funny, a good student and an amazing son,' Nestor Martinez Vaca told the News-Press.

'We as a family are devastated,' Martinez Vaca said. 'He was the greatest person and my dearest cousin.'

According to a Facebook post, Vaca got married on May 29.
The company that made the assault rifle used in the Sandy Hook massacre that left 20 children and six adults dead asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit by the victims' families Monday - saying it wasn't up to the court or to a jury to decide who should own weapons of that kind.

The families of nine people who died in the attack sued Bushmaster Firearms LCC in 2014, arguing the AR-15 should never have been sold to the gunman's mother, Nancy Lanza, because it had no civilian purpose.

But a lawyer for the manufacturer told a Connecticut judge Monday that the 2005 federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) prohibited the suit.

Judge Barbara Bellis heard arguments eight days after a gunman armed with another model of assault rifle killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

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The company that made the AR-15 assault rifle used in the December 2012 Sandy Hook massacre in Newton, Connecticut asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit by family members of the victims (pictured outside the Fairfield County Courthouse in Bridgeport, Connecticut on Monday)

Matthew Soto (pictured outside the courtouse Monday), whose sister Victoria was among 26 people gunned down during the Sandy Hook massacre, said the recent Orlando shooting had intensified his desire to fight for accountability by gun makers

Adam Lanza, then 20, shot dead his mother then used an AR-15 rifle to kill 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton, Connecticut, before turning the gun on himself on December 14, 2012 as he heard police sirens.

'It's not the role of this court or perhaps a jury to decide whether civilians as a broad class of people are not appropriate to own these kinds of firearms,' James Vogts, an attorney for Bushmaster's parent company, Remington Arms, said Monday.

But the families' attorney Joshua Koskoff, who denied Vogts' claim that the lawsuit amounted to an attempt to ban assault weapons, said: 'It was Remington's choice to entrust the most notorious American killing machine to the public and to continue doing so in the face of mounting evidence of its association with mass murder of innocent civilians.'

The courtroom was so packed that more than a dozen spectators were watching the hearing standing in a hallway outside the room.

Adam Lanza, then 20, shot dead his mother then used an AR-15 rifle (pictured) to kill 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School before turning the gun on himself

James Vogts (pictured Monday), an attorney for Remington Arms, said Monday it wasn't up to the court or to a jury to decide who should own assault weapons like the AR-15

The families' attorney Joshua Koskoff (pictured Monday) said: 'It was Remington's choice to entrust the most notorious American killing machine to the public'

Judge Barbara Bellis, who rebuffed a similar request by Remington and other defendants in April, did not rule Monday and did not say when she would make a decision on the gunmaker's request to toss the lawsuit.

'It's not our job to ban things. That's a legislative decision,' Koskoff added Monday. 'But just as it's not our job to ban things, it's not the legislature's job to decide when there is a tort claim.'

The wholesaler and retailer involved in the sale of the Sandy Hook gun also said the PLCAA protects them from lawsuits having to do with the gun's sale.

Matthew Soto, whose sister Victoria was killed in the Sandy Hook attack, said the Orlando shooting had intensified his desire to fight for accountability by gun makers.

'When I heard the news from Orlando so many emotions went through me, from horror to sadness, grief and disgust,' Soto told reporters outside the courthouse.

'No other family should have to wait six hours to see if their loved one is alive or dead, but yet so many families have to go through that process in this country because our country cannot come together on the issues of assault rifles.'

On Monday, the US Supreme Court also rejected challenges brought by gun rights advocates to assault weapons bans and other gun control laws passed in Connecticut and New York in response to the Sandy Hook killings.

Meanwhile the US Senate was taking up gun control measures a week after 49 people were killed with a similar rifle in Orlando, Florida.

But the Senate's strongest push in years to tighten gun controls seemed likely to fall short as lawmakers scrambled to forge a compromise that might keep firearms away from people on terrorism watch lists by later this week.

Judge Barbara Bellis, who rebuffed a similar request by Remington and other defendants in April, did not rule Monday and did not say when she would make a decision

Soto (pictured outside the courtroom Monday) said: 'No other family should have to wait six hours to see if their loved one is alive or dead, but yet so many families have to go through that process in this country because our country cannot come together on the issues of assault rifles'

The Orlando killings have reignited debates over AR-15-style rifles, which have been used in several mass killings in recent years.

The Pulse nightclub massacre has also brought back the question of whether to reinstate a federal assault weapons ban that expired in 2004.

There has also been renewed debate, including among presidential candidates, over whether to repeal a 2005 federal law that shields gun manufacturers from most lawsuits over criminal use of their products, with some exceptions.

Besides Remington, other defendants in the Connecticut state court lawsuit include firearms distributor Camfour and Riverview Gun Sales, the now-closed East Windsor store where the Newtown gunman's mother bought the Bushmaster XM15-E2S rifle used in the shooting.

Vogts, representing Madison, North Carolina-based Remington, told Bellis on Monday that the lawsuit should be thrown out on several technical grounds, including the 2005 federal law  the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.

He said the rifle used in Newtown was legally made by Remington, legally distributed by Camfour and legally sold by Riverview Gun Sales to Nancy Lanza.

When asked by Bellis whether the Remington lawsuit was based on similar legal grounds as lawsuits against cigarette manufacturers, Vogts said that lawmakers need to set gun policy and that the gun industry is heavily regulated.

'A personal injury case in front of a jury is not the place for a new policy to emerge on who should own firearms and what type of firearms,' he said.

Koskoff argued the lawsuit is allowed under a 'negligent entrustment' exception to the 2005 law and the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act. The exception was designed for cases such as when a gun store sells to someone who is obviously intoxicated or threatening to kill someone.

He said civilian AR-15-style rifles, which fire one bullet with each trigger pull, are virtually the same as the U.S. military's M-16 rifles, which can be set to fire more than one round with each trigger pull.

Soto, whose sister died in the Newtown shooting, said Monday outside the courthouse that mass shootings would continue to happen because the country cannot come together on issues related to assault rifles.
A chronic schizophrenic who killed both his mother and sister was today jailed for life after admitting manslaughter.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Peter Fox, 27, had been allowed to run riot as a child and began smoking cannabis when he was just nine years old.

He was described as 'profoundly anti-social and disturbed for many years' and as a 'Walter Mitty-type dreamer.'

His mother, Bernadette Fox, was very protective of him but he was 'particularly unpleasant' to her, once breaking her collar bone, even though she gave him somewhere to stay and money.

Peter Fox, pictured, 27, admitted the manslaughter of his mother Bernadette, 57, and sister Sarah, 27

John McDermott, QC, prosecuting, said: 'His mum was remarkably tolerant of him and indulged him despite his regular mistreatment of her. There was no good reason for him to have wanted to kill her.'

But Liverpool Crown Court heard that while his 57-year-old mother went to visit her daughter, Sarah Fox, on April 15 last year the defendant was let into her sheltered accommodation in Bootle, Merseyside.

When she returned at around 3.35pm, he strangled her to death in her bedroom and stabbed her repeatedly.

Afterwards he walked to his sister's home in Worcester Road, Bootle, where neighbours saw him kicking at her door at around 4.30pm.

She rang her mother, not knowing she was already dead, before reluctantly letting Fox in.

While he was stabbing his 27-year-old sister to death neighbours heard chilling shouts of 'will someone help me' and 'phone the police'.

The court heard that Fox fled Merseyside and boarded a train that evening to London where he slept rough for five nights. After a police manhunt he was arrested at Euston Station on April 20.

His sentence includes a minimum term of 12 years and seven months, which he will serve initially at Ashworth secure hospital in Maghull, Merseyside, until he is considered mentally fit enough to to be transferred to prison.

He pleaded guilty to two offences of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Sentencing him Judge David Aubrey, QC, said Fox killed his mother before launching a premeditated, 'brutal and sustained attack' on his sister with up to two knives.

She suffered 13 major stab wounds some penetrating vital organs from the knives he was 'savagely' using.

'You are a chronic schizophrenic and there is no doubt your responsibility for the killing of those perhaps closest to you in life was diminished.

'Your mother was unable to say 'no' to your demands for money and shelter and in the weeks leading up to the fatal events of April 15, 2015 you abused her physically and verbally.

'She was unable to control you and was in fear of you. That fear was well-founded.

'You Peter Fox have caused complete and utter devastation to a family. Your family.'

Judge Aubrey said psychiatrists found he had 'chronic paranoid schizophrenia', which they said drove him to kill during a psychotic episode.

'You told doctors that your mother and sister had sexually and physically abused you. To the contrary, they had shown you kindness and tolerance.

'You believed that prison officers were plotting to kill you; that you had been recruited by MI5 and the RAF to kill people for them. You are an extremely dangerous man.'

Fox strangled and stabbed his mother (left) at the family home before going to his sister's (right) house and stabbing her to death as she screamed for help

He said that he climbed a crane at Royal Liverpool Hospital, after asking to be sectioned, in November 2014 and hurled items at a police car.

While on bail, the next month he accosted a stranger and asked him to set fire to his ex-girlfriend's home, before showing him a gun and asking for bullets.

He was sentenced to 22 weeks in prison on February 27, 2015, but was freed by magistrates because he had already served half of the term on remand.

A breakdown in communication between agencies meant the mental health services were not aware he was in custody and was discharged by them on February 5 after missing appointments.

When sentenced on February 27 he claimed he was a serial killer and an appointment was made with the mental health services but he failed to keep it the next month.

'This court has no doubt that there will be a full review by those responsible as to that which occurred or which did not and what lessons are to be learnt.'

Judge Aubrey said that his failure to take his medication, the deterioration in his mental health and other factors almost inevitably led to what happened on April 15.

A niece of Bernadette Fox, Hannah Williams, told the court: 'Our lives have been ripped apart. We have lost two beautiful people at the hands of someone who should have protected them.
Malcolm Turnbull battled through a bout of 'manflu' to take questions from voters during an extended addition of Q & A.

The Prime Minister took centre stage for almost 90 minutes in Brisbane, despite having an admittedly 'croaky' voice.

However the audience wasn't willing to take it easy on Mr Turnbull on account of his illness, with one telling him to 'do his job' during a passionate exchange.

Mr Turnbull also had some heated exchanges with host Tony Jones, accusing him of acting as a 'spokesman' for the Labor party in a stoush over the government's return to surplus.

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Malcolm Turnbull (pictured) battled through a bout of 'manflu' to take questions from voters during an extended addition of Q & A

A woman in the crowd also told the Prime Minister it was 'insulting' she has to vote for her gay son to be allowed to marry, before taking aim at the Government's $158 million plebiscite on marriage equality.

'You, the Government need to amend your Marriage Act accordingly to allow same-sex marriage without my vote,' the questioner said.

'The $160 million plebiscite money is better spent treating depression, alcoholism, drugs and suicide prevention. Why are you not amending the law within the Marriage Act?

'It is a parliamentary process. We elect representatives into parliament. And so just show me some leadership and by doing your job.'

The Prime Minister (pictured) took centre stage for almost 90 minutes in Brisbane, despite having an admittedly 'croaky' voice

A woman in the crowd told the Prime Minister it is 'insulting' she has to vote for her gay son to be allowed to marry

Mr Turnbull replied by saying the woman had made 'a powerful point very eloquently', before explaining why the Government is persisting with a 'people's vote'.

'Parliament could amend the Marriage Act without the support, without the consultation of a plebiscite,' the Prime Minister said.

'But, as I explained earlier, that was a commitment that was made by the Government when Tony (Abbott) was PM. It was a commitment that was reached, an agreement that was reached in the Coalition party room.'

Mr Turnbull (left) and ABC host Tony Jones verbally sparred on occasion during the extended program

Prior to the show, Mr Turnbull posted this picture on Instagram with the caption: 'Prepping for #qanda on @abctv with a honey and lemon tea to help with a slightly croaky voice #manflu'

Mr Turnbull (pictured) had been sick with the flu in the days leading up to his appearance on Q & A on Monday night

After the audience member interjected, 'you're the PM', Mr Turnbull continued: 'I am the PM but I'm not the dictator'.

The Prime Minister had earlier told the program he personally supports marriage equality, however he reaffirmed the Government 'clearly' decided to have a plebiscite on the issue.

'Every Australian will get a vote. And I will be urging every Australian, encouraging every Australian to vote yes,' he said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull uses a napkin to wipe his forehead at Sydney Trucks & Machinery Centre in the electorate of Macarthur on June 19, 2016

Malcolm Turnbull speaks to his grandson Jack at a campaign stop in Sydney on Sunday, June 19, 2016

'Because I do believe that gay people, people of the same sex should be able to get married just in the same way that Lucy and I have been for over 36 years.'

Prior to the show, the under the weather leader shared a photograph of his preparation for the program, which included drinking a cup of tea to help with his sore throat.
PC Ricky Haruna, who once guarded the Duchess of Cambridge (both pictured), is set for a five figure sum after the Metropolitan Police

A police officer who guarded the Duchess of Cambridge has won a payout from Scotland Yard bosses over claims she was called a 'n*****' by a colleague.

PC Ricky Haruna is likely to receive a five-figure sum after the Metropolitan Police confirmed her tribunal case for racial discrimination had been settled 'by mutual agreement and with no admission of liability'.

She was sacked last June for making claims against fellow officer, after appearing before a misconduct panel.

However, she was later reinstated with full pay after a successful internal appeal. PC Haruna then continued to take action against the Force via an employment tribunal.

Scotland Yard said in a statement today: 'The employment tribunal claim brought by PC Haruna has been settled by mutual agreement and with no admission of liability. We do not discuss the terms of settlement agreements.

'Allegations of misconduct made by PC Haruna in her claim were fully investigated by Directorate of Professional Standards. No misconduct by any officers or staff was identified.'

It is believed that PC Haruna's settlement could rise into the tens of thousands with previous race discrimination cases involving the Met garnering high fees.

In September 2014 firearms officer Carol Howard was awarded 37,000 after a tribunal ruled she was the victim of a 'vindictive' campaign of racial and sexual discrimination.

While DS Gurpal Virdi won 74,000 for victimisation in June 2008 when he successfully claimed he was denied the chance to be promoted after exposing racial discrimination in the Met's ranks.

PC Haruna's saved the lives of two people during her career and was awarded two commendations (pictured)

PC Haruna joined the Met in 2002 after graduating in sociology and criminology from Goldsmiths University of London.

She saved the lives of two people during her career and was awarded two commendations.

Part of her duties included regularly escorting Kate Middleton in public before she married the Duke of Cambridge.

Back in March she told a tribunal the Met only took disciplinary action against her because she pursued the racism complaints.

She said: 'There was no evidence on which any reasonable, unbiased panel would have dismissed me.'

PC Haruna told a tribunal the Met only took action against her because she pursued the racism complaints

The alleged abuse started in 2010 when a suspected shoplifter called her 'midnight' - a racist term used in South London.

She said instead of supporting her other officers present 'appeared to laugh'.

PC Haruna also added she did not receive support from senior officers when she told them a colleague called her 'a n*****'.

She said: 'After that I was harassed and victimised by racist police officers and those that support and cover up for racists in senior management.'
The Orlando gunman bought $9,000 worth of jewelry just days before carrying out the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

Shooter Omar Mateen, 29, made the purchase on June 6 from Kay Jewelers in Jensen Beach, Florida, near the Lotus Gun Shop where he tried to buy body armor.

He opened fire at Pulse night club six days later, killing at least 49 people and injuring 53 others.

Pictured: US citizen Omar Mateen, 29, from Port St. Lucie in Florida, slaughtered at least 50 people inside a gay club in Orlando

It is not clear why he made the purchase or what exactly he bought and investigators are still trying to work out a motive for the attack, reports Abc.

Signet, which owns Kay jewelers, issued a statement saying: 'Signet was shocked and deeply saddened by the violent acts against the LGBT community.

'We join all Americans in mourning and are working closely with the authorities. We will do everything possible to support them.'

The news comes after tens of thousands of people gathered to honor the victims.

An estimated 50,000 gathered in Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando Sunday night (pictured) to pay homage to the victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre last week

People brought candles, white flowers and flags and chanted 'We remember them!' after the names of the 49 deceased were recited during Sunday night's vigil (pictured)

An estimated 50,000 came to a candlelit vigil at Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando Sunday night, bearing white flowers, American flags and candles.

They chanted 'We remember them!' after the names of the 49 deceased were recited.

Tributes began at 2am in the city, when church bells rang to mark the exact time of last week's mass shooting.

A memorial service began on Sunday evening and ended with a candlelit vigil at sunset.

Several people held signs offering free hugs as people lit thousands of candles, forming a ring of fire around the lake.

Organizers of the vigil said as many as 50,000 people came to remember the victims of the shooting.
A Houston-area police officer and an 11-year-old boy are dead after the officer's patrol car collided with an SUV as he chased a suspected drunken driver.

Patton Village police sergeant Stacey Baumgartner died en route to a hospital on Sunday night after the deadly collision, trooper Richard Standifer said.

Baumgartner, father of a two-year-old daughter and a son, had been called to a corner store where a man was believed to be urinating and exposing himself.

Patton Village police sergeant Stacey Baumgartner was killed Sunday night after pursuing an alleged drunk driver

Baumgartner, a father of two and husband, went through a red light while following the suspect where he was T-boned

When Baumgartner approached 29-year-old William Nee, the suspect fled and a car chase ensued.

While pursing the suspect, Baumgartner followed Nee through a red light. The officer was T-boned by a white 1998 Chevy Suburban driving through the intersection.

'The force from the crash forced the officer to the immediate right of the intersection and he hit a traffic light pole.

'The SUV, after the crash occurred, due to the severe damage and the force, it was flipped.

'It came to rest and was upside down on the 1485 side, just off the improved shoulder,' said Texas Department of Public Safety trooper Richard Standifer.

Baumgartner was transported to the hospital with CPR in progress but was declared dead on arrival.

The 11-year-old, who has not been identified, died inside the SUV and multiple other people were taken to the hospital in serious condition.

Baumgartner was transported to the hospital with CPR in progress but was declared dead on arrival

While authorities tended to the scene, Nee returned and allowed officers to take him into custody.

'For whatever reason, he saw fit to come back.

'I'd like to think that's a decent thing for a person to do. The average person who evades from law enforcement rarely comes back.

'He did do that, I guess to check on the people who were involved in the crash, at which time law enforcement did come up to him and take him into custody,' Standifer said.

The suspect is being held Monday on charges of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault with a vehicle.

Standifer says the SUV hit the patrol car at an intersection in Patton Village, 30 miles northeast of Houston.

Baumgartner's family has set up a GoFundMe page.
Some 140 families were evacuated in the Santa Barbara area where about 2,000 firefighters have been battling the so-called Sherpa fire that has already burned nearly 8,000 acres

Twin wildfires in Azusa and Duarte in California burned through at least 3,500 acres in the San Gabriel Mountains

The heatwave has fed wildfires in California, New Mexico and Arizona, forcing evacuations in some areas

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At least four people have died from the blistering heat that has gripped the western United States and fed wildfires across three states, forcing hundreds of homes to be evacuated, authorities said on Monday.

The dead were three hikers and a mountain biker who succumbed to the heatwave in Arizona on Sunday, where record-breaking temperatures were reported in some areas.

The mercury hit 118 in Phoenix on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service, breaking a record of 115 set for the date nearly 50 years ago. Some people in Arizona noticed the thermometers in their cars had spiked, with temperatures reading in the 120s.

Larry Subervi, spokesman for the Phoenix fire department, said temperatures on Sunday had soared to 120 degrees and the crushing heat was expected to get worse on Monday before easing the rest of the week.

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Hundreds of families have been evacuated as record-breaking heatwave gripped the Southwest and fed wildfires across three states. Pictured left and right, residents watch a wildfire along a hillside in Duarte, California

At least four people have died from the blistering heat that has gripped the western United States and sparked wildfire warnings across the region, authorities said on Monday. Above, firefighters from Chino Hills keep watch on a wildfire near Potrero California

Residents are seen packing up their belongings and evacuating their home as a wildfire is burning along a hillside in Duarte, California

A Los Angeles City Fire Department helicopter flies over one of two wildfires in the Angeles National Forest above Azusa, California

Smoke from wildfires burning in Angeles National Forest fills the sky behind the Los Angeles skyline on Monday. The wildfires several miles apart devoured hundreds of acres of brush

He said one of the victims was an experienced 28-year-old female mountain biker who had embarked on a two-and-a-half-hour ride in the Phoenix area with enough water, but got overwhelmed by the heat.

The other victims were a 25-year-old man who died while hiking on the Peralta Trail near Gold Canyon, a 19-year-old woman who died while hiking in the Tuscon area and a man who was found dead near another trail.

'We have a heatwave every year, but we are close to our all-time record in 1990 of 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 Celsius),' he told AFP.

The heatwave has fed wildfires in California, New Mexico and Arizona, forcing evacuations in some areas.

Some 140 families were evacuated in the Santa Barbara area of California where about 2,000 firefighters for several days have been battling the so-called Sherpa fire that has already burned nearly 8,000 acres (3,200 hectares).

Meanwhile, twin wildfires in Azusa and Duarte burned through at least 3,500 acres in the San Gabriel Mountains on Monday, according to the LA Times. The fires have forced around 750 residents to evacuate.

Tawni Atencio was on the way to basketball practice with her mother when her stepfather called and told them they had to evacuate their home northeast of Los Angeles because of a wildfire.

The 17-year-old Atencio says her mom turned the car around Monday and drove straight to their home in Bradbury, in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.

They went back to get family photos, their two dogs, clothes, and their five cars and a boat. Atencio says the flames were just a couple miles from their home and were making the house hot despite air-conditioning.

The teenager says the fire is crazy and scary but also that it was 'kind of cool' watching helicopters drop retardant on the blaze.

Atencio says she's at a friend's house in Long Beach, California, while her family finishes evacuating.

Horses are seen at a ranch before they are evacuated as a wildfire is burning along a hillside in Azusa, California, on Monday

Jimmy Romo, 73, leads a horse and other animals when leaving his ranch as a wildfire is burning in Azusa, California

Police in the city of Azusa and parts of Duarte ordered hundreds of homes evacuated. Others were under voluntary evacuations

Firefighters work a wildfire burning along the foothills in Duarte, California. Hundreds of homes in the region have been evacuated

A helicopter drops water on a wildfire burning along the foothills in Duarte, California, on Monday

Upland Fire Capt. Joe Burna watches as a tanker drops fire retardant to stop a wildfire from jumping over Highway 94 near Potrero

Smoke from a wildfire rises from a hillside behind the Royal Oaks Elementary School in Azusa, California. Two fires have erupted in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles amid withering heat

Two wildfires burn in the San Gabriel Mountains in Azusa and Duarte behind downtown Los Angeles, California

The heatwave has fed wildfires in California, New Mexico and Arizona, forcing evacuations in some areas. Above, wildfires burn in the San Gabriel Mountains in Azusa and Duarte behind downtown Los Angeles, California

Meanwhile, another wildfire in Potrero, California, a small desert town close to the Mexican border forced 75 people to evacuate, Fox News reports.

Authorities say a wildfire in eastern Arizona that doubled in size to nearly 42 square miles is burning in an area with sparse vegetation.

Navajo County spokesman Adam Wolfe said Monday afternoon that 300 residents of the community of Cedar Creek have been warned to prepare to leave. He says the southern edge of the fire is still about 2 miles north of the community.

Multiagency operations chief Todd Abel says the fire isn't moving quickly toward Cedar Creek because of shifting winds.

Some 770 firefighters are fighting the fire along with 37 engines, seven bulldozers, 11 water tenders, seven helicopters and four single-engine air tankers. Fire officials say additional resources have been ordered. The fire began Wednesday and its cause is under investigation.

In New Mexico, the Dog Head fire about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Albuquerque has also damaged two dozen homes and scorched nearly 18,000 acres, forcing evacuations, officials said.

They said that as of Monday morning, only nine per cent of the fire had been contained. Another fire caused by lightning near Cibola National Forest, in New Mexico, has eaten up more than 36,000 acres and was 30 per cent contained.

The fire, which started on May 21, was expected to be contained by late July.

A plane makes a retardant drop on a hill near a wildfire in Azusa, California. New wildfires erupted Monday in Southern California and chased people from their homes as an intensifying heat wave stretching from the West Coast to New Mexico blistered the region

A fire helicopter makes a water drop on hotspots burning in Duarte, California, where a blistering heatwave has fed the wildfires

A firefighter watches as a helicopter making a drop on a wildfire in Azusa, California

Wildfires have devoured hundreds of acres of brush in Southern California as an intensifying heat wave stretching from the West Coast to New Mexico blistered the region with triple-digit temperatures. Above, a firefighter at the scene of a wildfire near Potrero, California

U.S. Forest Service firefighters walk to their truck after battling a wildfire near Potrero, California, on Monday

Temperatures hit record-highs on Sunday and continued to scorch the Southwestern United States on Monday

Meanwhile, a flight from Houston heading to Phoenix had to return to the Texas airport because of complications from the heat. The United Airlines flight got as far as New Mexico before it was forced to turn around.

In Southern California, the National Weather Service reported 17 daily heat records were broken on Sunday, most for readings well over 100 degrees.

The aptly named desert town of Thermal about 25 miles southeast of Palm Springs saw a high of 119 degrees. Burbank was a record 109, breaking the old mark of 104.

More of the same was in the works for Monday due to high pressure over the Four Corners region of the Southwest.

'We're expecting something similar with highs around 115 to 120, with the warmest areas in Southern California,' National Weather Service meteorologist Bianca Hernandez said.

Lakeside firefighters walk next to a home on Highway 94 south of Potrero, San Diego County, as a wildfire burns near the residence

New wildfires erupted Monday in Southern California and chased people from their homes as an intensifying heat wave. Above, a helicopter drops water on a hill near a wildfire in Azusa, California

Smoke from wildfires rises from a hillside near power lines outside Azusa, California, on Monday

Smoke from the Fish Fire in the Angeles National Forest near Duarte, California is seen beyond a church in Pasadena, California

A home builder works at sunrise, Monday, in Gilbert, Arizona in an effort to beat the rising temperatures, which topped out at 118 degrees, according to the National Weather Service, on Sunday

An L.A. Dodger fan braves the heat as he fans his son during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers during Father's Day, at Dodger Stadium

Southwestern residents commiserated on social media about the sweltering heat by posting photos of boiling temperature readings on car thermometers and cellphones.

Some people ventured outside for quick errands. Kim Leeds, 28, had to take her dog Bo outside in the afternoon for a bathroom break.

The Australian shepherd wears special booties with rubber bottoms that help protect his paws from hot pavement. 'He does really well with them. He doesn't mind walking around,' Leeds said.

Preparing to enter her fourth summer in Phoenix, Leeds also decided to experiment with her car.

'I'm totally reveling in this experience because I'm actually baking cookies in my car,' Leeds said. 'I've been here long enough that I've got to do these things.'

Others took advantage of discounts at Phoenix-area resorts, where summer can be the slow season.

Some people even attempted successfully to cook eggs on the city streets of Phoenix, Arizona, in the sweltering temperatures

Hotel guests cool off at the pool at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort and Spa in Paradise Valley, Arizona

Bo, an Australian Shepherd dog belonging to Kim Leeds, walks on cement in Phoenix wearing special booties made for dogs

Hotel guests got an early start Sunday at the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort and Spa as temperatures climbed. Several guests swam in the pool and sat under umbrellas sipping water and other iced drinks to cool off.

State regulators urged residents to cut consumption of electricity Monday, when the heat wave was expected to peak.

Firefighters made some progress against a blaze putting hundreds of homes and popular seaside campgrounds near Santa Barbara at risk when overnight winds pushed flames into previously burned areas.

But officials warned of high heat, low humidity and gusty winds through Tuesday for the rugged coastal slopes.

Southwestern residents commiserated on social media about the sweltering heat by posting photos of boiling temperature readings

The blaze was more than halfway contained after burning more than 12 square miles since Wednesday, but 270 structures are still threatened.

In central New Mexico, a 28-square-mile fire that erupted last week and destroyed 24 homes in the Manzano Mountains south of Albuquerque was largely uncontained.

But higher humidity overnight allowed crews to strengthen lines around the fire and keep a lookout for hot spots where flames could jump the line.

In eastern Arizona, a fire doubled to nearly 42 square miles and led officials to warn a community of 300 residents to prepare to evacuate.

But the blaze on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation southwest of Show Low was not moving quickly toward the community of Cedar Creek because of sparse vegetation and shifting winds.

Upland firefighters, (from left) Nima Homayounieh, Joseph Armendariz, and Capt. Joe Burna, watch as flames burn toward Highway 94 in California

Firefighters use a helicopter to douse a fire near California State Route 2 after a brush fire swept through threatening homes in Los Angeles
Hours later Justice Dept. and the FBI released joint statement including the complete transcript 'to provide the highest level of transparency

Omar Mateen praised God, wished peace upon the prophet and spoke in Arabic during a 50-second call he made to a police dispatcher on June 12 from an Orlando gay club.

The FBI initially released partial transcripts of Mateen's conversations with members of law enforcement during the brutal attack, starting with the 911 call he made at 2:35am, a little over 30 minutes after the first report of shots being fired at the Pulse nightclub.

Much of what Mateen said was redacted, with the FBI making the decision to leave out all references to Islam, 9/11 and any of the groups that the shooter pledged his allegiance to during the attack, which left 49 dead. References to 'Allah' were also replaced with 'God' throughout.

After facing criticism from Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan who called the selective editing 'preposterous', the DoJ and FBI decided to release the complete transcript some hours later.

In a joint statement from DoJ and the FBI, it said the change of heart was down to the redacted transcript 'causing unnecessary distraction'' from the work of law enforcement authorities.

'We also did not want to provide the killer or terrorist organizations with a publicity platform for hateful propaganda,'' the statement added.

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New detail: The FBI has released transcripts of Orlando gunman Omar Mateen's call to 911 shortly after he opened fire inside Pulse nightclub

OMAR MATEEN 911 CALL TO ORLANDO POLICE DISPATCH ON JUNE 12 Advertisement

Mateen claimed responsibility for those killed early on in his call with the dispatcher, saying: 'Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God [in Arabic]. I let you know, Im in Orlando and I did the shootings.'

The dispatcher then asked Mateen where his exact location was in Orlando, which he responded to by hanging up the phone.

Special Agent Ronald Hopper of the FBI said at a press conference Monday morning that Mateen also 'made murderous statements in a chilling, calm and deliberate manner.'

A little over ten minutes after his call with 911, Mateen received his first of many crisis negotiation calls. In those he told the negotiator that America had to stop bombing Syria and Iraq while referring to himself as an Islamic solider.

Mateen said that the United States attacks on those two countries was why he was 'out here right now.'

Mateen also told the negotiator he had a car outside that contained a bomb, and threatened to detonate it during their calls.

'There is some vehicle outside that has some bombs, just to let you know,' said Mateen.

'You people are gonna get it, and Im gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid.'

He also claimed to have vests like the ones 'used in France,' a reference to last year's terror attacks in Paris.

'In the next few days, youre going to see more of this type of action going on,' he said, referencing his own attack.

Those claims of Mateen's proved to be untrue, with no car found to be loaded up with bombs and a store owner coming forward last week to reveal that he refused to sell the mass murderer military-grade body armor.

Mateen spoke to the negotiator three times, and each conversation lasted at least a few minutes.

The first call came at 2:48am and lasted nine minutes. The second call began at 3:03am, six minutes after the first one ended, and lasted 16 minutes, the longest by far.

The final call came at 3:24am and was just three minutes.

Mateen said at the end of that last conversation: 'In the next few days, youre going to see more of this type of action going on.'

There were attempts to reach Mateen again after that call but they proved to be unsuccessful, forcing police to quickly figure out how to get those inside out of the venue.

At 4:21am they were able to remove an air conditioning unit from a dressing room at the club, and began getting people safely out of the building almost three hours after Mateen first opened fire.

Some of the individuals who were being helped by police on the scene shared at that point Mateen's plan to put suicide vests on four of the victims still being held hostage.

They said at 4:29am that Mateen planned to do this in the next 15 minutes.

A search of the premises revealed soon after though that there were no improvised exploding devices or vests in the club or in Mateen's car.

On the scene: Law enforcement at Pulse one day after the attack that left 49 people and Mateen dead

Difficult time: Friends and family members embrace outside the Orlando Police Headquarters hours after the attack

The final push to take Mateen down and get those who were still being kept hostage safely out of the club began at 5:02am with a SWAT team from the Orlando Police Department breaching a wall with a explosive charge and using an armored vehicle to get into the club.

They were also joined by members of the Orange County Sheriff's Office Hazardous Device Team.

A little more than 10 minutes later came a report that shots had been fired, and at 5:15am an individual from the Orlando Police Department stated that they had engaged in gunfire with Mateen and that the gunman was down.

That news came three hours after the first report of shots fired at 2:02am, with police arriving on the scene at Pulse within two minutes.

The initial plan was for members of the Orlando Police Department and other law enforcement agencies to enter the club and go after Mateen - which they did beginning at 2:08am - but as the body count kept growing they were forced to change their approach.

At 2:18am a call-out was issued to all members of the Orlando Special Weapons & Tactics team.

Mateen's ability to kill and injure so many while also keeping police and authorities at bay was largely due to the fact that he was carrying an AR-15-style gun.

The Sig Sauer MCX, an assault-style semi-automatic rifle, was one of the weapons used by Mateen in the attack, and purchased legally just a week before despite the fact that he was previously investigated by the FBI on multiple occasions and once on the terrorist watch list.

It was designed for use by US Special Operations forces and an experienced shooter would be bale to fire as many as 50 rounds in a minute.

Mateen also had a Glock 17 with him during the attack, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol.

The FBI has stated they will not release audio of Mateen's phone conversations with the police dispatcher and crisis negotiator. They are also not releasing both the transcripts and audio from victims of the attack taken on the scene.

Also in contact: Mateen texted with his wife Noor as well during the attack (above with their 3-year-old son)

Mateen texted with his wife as well while shooting dead his helpless victims.

Noor Salman, 30, called her husband a little after 2am when his mother contacted her and said she was concerned about his whereabouts, a law enforcement official working on the investigation told CNN.

Mateen, who was just starting his brutal massacre at that time, did not answer, so at 2.30am Salman texted: 'Where are you?'

At that point Mateen responded, telling his wife: 'Do you see what's happening?'

When she replied back to that by texting 'no' he wrote: 'I love you babe.'

There were no text messages exchanged between the two after that, though Salman did call her husband again a few hours later during his standoff with police. He did not answer his phone.

Investigators on the case are not revealing if Salman called authorities or 911 at any point during the shooting to identify her husband as the gunman, and the answer to that question could go a long way in explaining just how much she knew about the attack.

The FBI and federal prosecutors meanwhile are planning to bring evidence about Salman's role in the shooting in front of a grand jury to get her indicted on at least two criminal charges for her role in the attack - which could possibly include multiple counts of murder and attempted murder for each of her husband's victims.

An FBI source told Fox News that a panel has already been put together to target Salman, who could be facing any possible number of charges.

That source also stated that Salman could ultimately be charged with 49 counts of murder and 53 counts of attempted murder for her role in the shooting, which the FBI has declared was both a terrorist attack and a hate crime.

If investigators find proof that she scouted out Pulse nightclub or went to purchase ammunition or firearms with her husband knowing about his plans, then under federal law she would be just as guilty of her husband's crimes.

Investigators have reportedly obtained surveillance footage showing Salman buying ammunition with Mateen days before the attack.

There are also reports claiming she told law enforcement that she drove her husband to Walt Disney World and Pulse nightclub to scout out locations.

It is unclear though just how much she may have known about her husband's plans, with the FBI and investigators on the case keeping quiet when it comes to that question.
He appealed his sacking but it was upheld by the Fair Work Commission

A Canberra bus driver's sacking has been upheld, after he threatened one of his bosses with the possibility of a mass shooting similar to that of the Columbine massacre in the US in 1999.

Peter Lambos made the comments to ACTION buses health and safety boss Julie Mylchreest during a phone call in December 2014, reported The Canberra Times.

Mr Lambos was reportedly sacked after a psychiatric assessment assessment provided no justification for his behaviour.

Peter Lambos, a driver of Canberra bus company Action, was sacked after threatening his boss with 'another Columbine' referencing a mass shooting in the US in 1999

He appealed his sacking to the FWC, arguing ACTION should have known that he was never intending to open fire on his colleagues.

He said he used the word Columbine to make his point that the health and safety situation was escalating to dangerous levels and said he had a good work record with ACTION that should have been taken into account.

But the Fair Work Commission tribunal found Mr Lambos was not unfairly dismissed, even though the possibility of a mass shooting at the Canberra bus dept was remote.

Mr Lambos was reportedly raising health and safety concerns to Ms Mylchreest when the incident took place.

Ms Mylchreest said she felt shaken and sick to the stomach after what she described as a 'disturbing' conversation.

Mr Lambos reportedly spoke of 'reprisals' for what he called the 'despicable attitude of ACTION management'.

Ms Mylchreest said he refused to take a backwards step and threatened that if ACTION management touched him, it would be 'another Columbine'.

Mr Lambos disputed specifics of the conversation but did not deny referring to the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School.

He told the commission he had used the word Columbine to make his point that the health and safety situation was escalating to dangerous levels.

He also said the outburst to Ms Mylchreest had come against a background where he was the victim of workplace bullying.
A mother who left her 15-mother-old daughter alone on a beach to drown under a rising tide today told a court: 'I put an end to her life because it was easier that way'.

Fabienne Kabou, 39, from France, faces life in prison for the premeditated murder of Adelaide in the northern resort town of Berck-sur-Mer on November 19th 2013.

The little girl's lifeless body was still trapped into her pushchair when she was found by prawn fishermen the next day.

Fabienne Kabou, 39, from France, faces life in prison for the premeditated murder of Adelaide in the northern resort town of Berck-sur-Mer on November 19th 2013

After a ten day search, police used DNA from the pram to trace Kabou to the home she shares with a 63-year-old boyfriend, Michel Lafon (pictured, left, with her father, Etienne Kabou), in Paris

After a ten day search, police used DNA from the pram to trace Kabou to the home she shares with a 63-year-old boyfriend, Michel Lafon, in Paris, where she was arrested.

Kabou, a philosophy student, told police she took the drastic move after deciding motherhood was 'incompatible' with her love life with Mr Lafon, a sculptor.

The case sparked outrage as hundreds took to the streets in a so-called 'White March' demonstration against child cruelty.

Kabou today told St-Omer Assizes: 'I put an end to her life because it was easier that way. Everything went perfectly. It was as if I felt carried along, I just couldn't say stop.'

Her defence barrister, Fabienne Roy-Nansion, meanwhile insisted that Kabou 'sees her act as we all see it, that is to say, something utterly horrible, and she considers herself indefensible'.

Kabou, who is of Senegalese origin, is from a prosperous Catholic family and of 'remarkable intelligence,' said Ms Roy-Nansion.

Kabou, a philosophy student, told police she took the drastic move after deciding motherhood was 'incompatible' with her love life with Mr Lafon (pictured in court today), a sculptor

Advocate general Luc Fremiot looks on in the Saint-Omer assize court's hearing room earlier today

Ms Roy-Nansion read out a psychological report saying: 'Her psychological status is largely influenced by cultural references and an individual history linked to Senegalese witchcraft that radically altered her view of the world.'

Paul Bensussan, a court psychiatrist, said: 'Infanticide committed by the mother is often underpinned by a psychiatric pathology.

'In most cases the mother is deeply depressed' and sees her act as a kind of 'altruistic suicide', saving her child from suffering.

French lawyer Fabienne Roy-Nansion, defender of Fabienne Kabou, said that her client felt 'deeply alone' after falling pregnant, which came as a surprise to her

Adelaide was born in the couple's home and was never registered. No one close to the couple, not even Kabou's mother, knew of her existence.

Ms Roy-Nansion said the pregnancy 'was a happy surprise for her, not necessarily for the father. I think she felt deeply alone.'

Kabou has told investigators she chose the vast, windswept beach at Berck-sur-Mer to kill Adelaide because it sounded like a 'sad place'.

Michel Lafon meanwhile said Fabienne Kabou had been 'a magnificent' mother to her child.
A Taiwanese man says his life has been made a misery after a picture of his young son sitting inside a fridge was shared online as a 'joke'.

The father was accused of child abuse after the social media post included a line saying: 'I can't afford to raise (this child). Auction prices start at 0 yuan.'

The picture of the smiling boy, aged two, was apparently taken by a friend of the man, surnamed Huang, who owns a small shop in the Qingshui District of Taichung, a major city in Western Taiwan.

A Taiwanese man says his life has been made a misery after a picture of his young son sitting inside a fridge was shared online

It shows him sitting behind the transparent fridge door with dozens of drinks for sale behind him.

The child also seemed to be enjoying the experience, leaving social media users baffled.

They immediately began sharing the photo and called for authorities to investigate the alleged case of child abuse, saying that Huang was unfit to be a parent.

But representatives from local media who visited Huang and his boy found that the incident was a misunderstanding, with the father claiming that he did not give permission for the photo to be posted online.

One of my friends thought my son was cute and so he took a photo of him and posted it online

Huang, a single father, said: 'My son likes to play around and climb into the fridge himself. I told him not to but he wouldn't listen.

'One of my friends thought my son was cute and so he took a photo of him and posted it online with those comments as a joke.'

Those close to Huang also confirmed that the dad is very loving towards his boy, who is just as attached to his only parent.

Reports said police were ultimately not involved in the case, which turned out not to be a case of child abuse, despite the viral criticism of the dad.
The mother of the Texas 'affluenza' teenager had her curfew eased, her attorney said on Monday, in her first court appearance since being charged by a grand jury last month with helping her son flee to Mexico.

Tonya Couch, 49, was indicted by a Tarrant County grand jury on charges of hindering apprehension and money laundering for aiding her son Ethan Couch in violating a probation deal that kept him out for jail for killing four people while driving drunk in 2013.

The curfew easing came at a hearing that lasted a few minutes before a district court judge. Her lawyer said after the session that the change will make it easier for her to find a job. He did not provide other details on the curfew.

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Tonya Couch (left) - the mother of Texas teen Ethan Couch (right) who famously used an 'affluenza' defense in a fatal drunken-driving wreck - has had her curfew eased, her lawyer said

Tonya Couch is pictured upon her return to the United States on New Year's Eve. She had her curfew eased Monday so that it will be easier for her to find a job, her lawyer said

Couch, and her son, Ethan, 19, drew international attention last winter after fleeing the United States. He had apparently violated the probation deal that he stay drug- and alcohol-free after the deadly wreck.

Ethan Couch was just 16 when he got behind the wheel of his father's F-150 truck with three times the legal limit for alcohol in his blood.

He smashed into a stationary white Mercedes SUV, killing the driver, Breanna Mitchell, along with mother and daughter Holly and Shelby Boyles and pastor Brian Jennings, who were all trying to help Mitchell get her car going.

Couch left the road while traveling at 70mph and hit the group in the fatal crash, and paralyzed Sergio Molina from the neck down after he was thrown clear of the truck.

Molina is a one-time best friend of Couch who was left needing round the clock care for the rest of his life following the horror smash.

At his trial in juvenile court in 2013, a psychologist testified in Ethan Couch's defense that the then 16-year-old was a victim of 'affluenza' and unable to tell right from wrong as a result of being spoiled by his family's wealth.

Sergio Molina has been confined to a wheelchair since the tragic accident caused by his former friend Couch

Tragic victims Breanna Mitchell (top left), pastor Brian Jennings (right) Hollie Boyles (bottom left) and daughter Shelby Boyles all died in the horrific car crash caused by Ethan Couch in 2013

The probation deal sparked outrage from critics who ridiculed the affluenza defense and said his family's wealth had helped keep him out of jail.

Tonya Couch was initially charged with aiding her son's flight, a felony that is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The grand jury last month reaffirmed the original charge and added a second charge of money laundering of $30,000 to $150,000, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Couch and her son left Texas after a video surfaced on social media in early December showing Ethan at an alcohol-fueled party, in likely violation of his probation deal.

The mother and son then drove 1,200 miles to the Pacific beach resort of Puerto Vallarta where they stayed at the glamorous Los Tules resort.

Ethan Couch was just 16 when he got behind the wheel of his father's F-150 truck with three times the legal limit for alcohol in his blood, causing a crash that left four dead and one permanently disabled

While there, Couch was said to have made repeat visits to a 'sex club' called Harem where he was allegedly spotted snorting cocaine and guzzling Pacifico beers - running up a $2,000 tab, which he was forced to ask his mother to settle.

The two later moved to a run-down apartment four blocks from the beach but were discovered after a signal from one of their cellphones alerted authorities as they dialed out for Domino's pizza.

Both initially contested their extradition from Mexico but Tonya was returned to the US in early January and was released from jail after posting a $75,000 bond.

She was deported to Texas in January and posted bond after being remanded to Texas authorities.
An actor wearing a rubber mask and carrying an unregistered air rifle has been arrested while filming a music video clip outside a warehouse.

Police were called to Faversham Street in Marrickville, in Sydney's inner-west, after witnesses saw a masked man dressed in dark clothing and carrying a rifle walk into a nearby office building about 1.30pm on Friday, according to NSW Police.

Horrified locals said they feared the men could have been carrying out an attack when they spotted them walking on the street with the gun.

An actor wearing a rubber mask and carrying an unregistered air rifle has been arrested while filming a music video clip outside a warehouse in Sydney (pictured)

A 38-year-old actor from Bondi and 41-year-old cameraman from Roseville have both been charged with possessing an unregistered firearm in a public place (stock image)

'My instant thought was, "He's heading somewhere to kill people",' Caitlin McGregor told the Sydney Morning Herald.

'Especially with the Orlando shooting happening, something that I was extremely traumatised by, it was really scary.

'I texted some work friends to find out where they were... They told me to hide in the office, lock all the doors and call the cops.'

Hip-hop artist Urthboy tweeted details about the incident on Friday afternoon.

'Just [received] sms from female work colleague saying there's a guy in our car park [with] a rifle in a ski-mask! After initial panic, and 5 cop cars,' he wrote.

'Turns out it's a f***ing band shooting a video clip and the guy with the fake rifle wondering off set scaring the c*** outta anyone nearby.'

Hip-hop artist Urthboy tweeted details about the incident on Friday afternoon

The two men, aged 38 and 41, were spoken to by officers and riot squad members at the scene before being taken to Newtown Police Station.

The 38-year-old actor from Bondi and the 41-year-old cameraman from Roseville have both been charged with possessing an unregistered firearm in a public place.
A murder investigation has been launched after a man and woman were found stabbed to death at a house in London.

The pair, who have not yet been named but are believed to be in their fifties, were found dead at an address in Fulham Court, Fulham, west London in the early hours of this morning.

Officers from the Metropolitan Police were called at approximately 4.25am to reports of a stabbing.

The pair, who have not yet been named but are believed to be in their fifties, were found dead at an address in Fulham Court, Fulham, west London in the early hours of this morning (file image)

Police and London Ambulance Service attended and found a man and a woman inside the address suffering stab injuries.

They were pronounced dead at the scene. A murder investigation has been launched but Scotland Yard said detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths.

The investigation is being led by Detective Chief Inspector Mark Lawson of the Homicide and Major Crime Command.

A Met Police spokesman said: 'Post-mortem examinations will be scheduled in due course.

'Next of kin are have been informed but formal identification of the man and woman awaits.

'Enquiries continue to establish the full circumstances of the incident, however at this early stage in the investigation detectives are not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident.'
A police investigation is underway after a twin baby boy died during a home birth in South Australia.

Police are preparing a report for the Coroner following the birth which ended in tragedy last week at a property in Fullarton, Adelaide, according to The Advertiser.

The newborn baby boy was rushed to hospital but died the following day. Police are now investigating his death.

Police are preparing a report for the Coroner following the home birth which ended in tragedy in Adelaide (stock image)

The newborn baby boy was rushed to hospital but died the following day. Police are now investigating his death (stock)

South Australian policy restricts home births to 'uncomplicated' single pregnancies.

'The prerequisite for a planned birth at home is that the woman should have an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy,' the policy states.

Janice Fletcher, Australian Medical Association South Australia president, told The Advertiser the case highlighted the dangers of childbirth.

'Although we like to think of childbirth as a natural process that should go well, there are very real dangers involved in pregnancy and childbirth.'

'Risks still exist and these risks are higher for some mothers and babies than others due to a number of factors. Carrying twins is one of those recognised factors.'

'A tragedy such as the death of a child needs to be properly investigated to assist the parents to understand what has happened and recommend and steps that can be taken to prevent further tragedies.'

South Australian policy restricts home births to 'uncomplicated' single pregnancies (stock)
Murdered MP Jo Cox was working with a charity to fight back against Islamophobia, a video has revealed.

The 41-year-old mother-of-two, who was killed ahead of a surgery in Birstall, West Yorkshire, last Thursday, had teamed up with charity Tell Mama to try to protect young women against violence.

It is understood she was going to launch a campaign in Parliament later this month and play the video to her fellow MPs.

In the footage, recorded outside the Houses of Parliament, she said: 'We have just had a really, really exciting conversation about what I can do to help tackle Islamophobia locally, particularly affecting many of our young women who do not feel safe, as they should, when they are out on the streets of Batley and Spen.'

Jo Cox, left and right, right, filmed a video talking about the rise of Islamophobia with charity Tell Mama, and was planning to launch a campaign in Parliament later this month

She appears alongside a Tell Mama representative who refers to her as a 'dynamic' MP who is 'willing to listen and engage' and is a 'port of call' for support for anyone dealing with prejudice.

He added: 'We at Tell Mama work around monitoring Islamophobia but helping victims is our focus across the country.

'If you are in the Batley area and you have suffered any form of Islamophobia, we can help you.

'I think this meeting we have had is going to move forward to help the Muslim community in different ways.'

Mrs Cox was killed on Thursday afternoon after being shot and stabbed in the street.

Her young children came to the House of Commons to hear emotional tributes to their mother as Parliament was recalled to pay its respects four days after her death in a street attack in her West Yorkshire constituency.

Three-year-old daughter Lejla sat on her father Brendan's lap, while son Cuillin, five, snuggled up to his grandmother in the gallery overlooking the chamber of the Commons.

They heard Prime Minister David Cameron praise their mother as 'a voice of compassion whose irrepressible spirit and boundless energy lit up the lives of all who knew her', while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said that, with her death, British society had lost 'one of our very best'.

MPs wore white roses in memory of Yorkshire-born Mrs Cox, and a single white rose was placed on the green leather bench where she usually sat.

Also in the gallery were Mrs Cox's parents Jean and Gordon and her sister Kim, who wiped away a tear and smiled as fellow Yorkshire MP Holly Lynch fondly recalled how her friend had quickly made her name in the Commons as an MP who was not easy to be whipped.

Mrs Cox, a mother-of-two, warned of the threat of violence against young women in her constituency

MPs in the House of Commons pay tribute to Jo Cox with a round of applause for the late politician

With them were Mrs Cox's close friend - and the best woman at her wedding - TV producer Sarah Hamilton, Brendan's best man Will Paxton, and Mr Cox's parents and sister.

Several MPs wept as Speaker John Bercow told them that the House was meeting in 'heartbreaking sadness' and 'heartfelt solidarity' to pay tribute to the Batley and Spen MP, who was elected only last year.

They took the unusual step of rising to give Mrs Cox a standing ovation as the hour-long tribute drew to an end. But a proposal for MPs of different parties to show solidarity by sitting alongside one another appeared to have won over few members, with a large majority remaining in their usual places.

After the House was adjourned, MPs processed across the road to St Margaret's - often referred to as the House of Commons' parish church - for a service of prayer and remembrance in Mrs Cox's memory.
A 55-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly racist threats were made to a Muslim MEP on social media who was called a mussie p**** and a f****** immigrant.

Sajjad Karim, a Conservative MEP for North West England, said he fears for the safety of his wife and 13-year-old daughter after being sent the messages.

And the Lancashire-born MEP of 12 years is so concerned by increasing tensions in the European Union referendum campaign that he will no longer take part in debates.

Concern: Sajjad Karim (pictured left with Prime Minister David Cameron), 45, a Conservative MEP for North West England, said he fears for the safety of his wife and 13-year-old daughter after being sent the messages

The arrest of the man from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, came on Friday, just hours after the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in Birstall, West Yorkshire.

British-Pakistani politician Mr Karim, 45, who is a Remain supporter, has accused senior Leave campaigners of stirring up hatred and called for tighter security for politicians who need it.

The suspect allegedly wrote an abusive message after watching a video of Ukip leader Nigel Farage criticising Mr Karim and saying: I'm sure Mr Cameron will deal with him.

Mr Farage recorded the video after Mr Karim commented on a BBC report which showed a teenage spectator challenging the Ukip leader.

Mr Karim tweeted: He has been brave to face them by himself - thank goodness cameras [were] present otherwise I'm sure he would have been dealt with.

While Ukip supporters took it as a threat to the party's leader, Mr Karim insisted he was in fact expressing concern about the teenager.

'Don't talk out of your a***': The MEP said he has received a barrage of hateful messages and threats online

The MEP said that after the exchange was shared by a website he received a barrage of hateful messages and threats.

One read: Don't talk out of your a***, the only reason you want in is because you'll lose money... and threatening Mr Nigel Farage will get YOU enemies you p****... We know where to come if anything happens to him... I'll be the first to knock on your door you mussie [i.e. Muslim] p****.

British-Pakistani politician: Mr Karim has accused senior Leave campaigners of stirring up hatred and called for tighter security for politicians who need it

Another said: Someone should deal with you ya f****** immigrant.

Mr Karim said: I worried for my safety immediately. We have had a situation in the past where we had quite a number, 30 or so, far-Right extremists turn up outside my home address carrying placards.

They made a video of the whole thing and put my address on the internet, encouraging others to do what they had done.

Our safety at that address was compromised and we no longer live there. So yes, the police are taking this very seriously indeed.'

He added: We get social media posts all the time and there is lots of racism and people targeting me for my religion, but this is particularly bad. I have been in the UK now campaigning for the Remain side in the EU referendum for a number of weeks.

What I have been sensing, mainly around the North-West, is that a real tension has emerged during debates and campaigning events.

Leave campaigners are packing them up and not allowing debate to take place but just shutting people down.

I am hearing things like, These immigrants, these foreigners are coming over here and taking our jobs, which I haven't heard since the early eighties.

He added: This week, I turned to one of my team members and said, I'm not doing any more debates, as tensions are running so high.

I could feel that something bad was going to come out of it. And then of course we got the news about Jo Cox on Thursday.

Fears: The Lancashire-born MEP of 12 years is so concerned by increasing tensions in the European Union referendum campaign that he will no longer take part in debates

Mr Karim said the campaign has been intentionally divisive and added that measures should be put in place to protect politicians who feel they need them.

He said: Our elected politicians have always been accessible. However, there is a need to make sure that people in public office are getting the protection they need.

There needs to be a balance between the safety of the individual concerned and making sure that their relationships are not affected.

Last week, Mr Karim told BBC North West Tonight that he had received threats.

He said: Other than the type of conduct that I have had to face, there has been very direct threats made, which are now currently with the police, are being investigated and I anticipate that there are individuals who will be spoken to as a result of those threats.

North Yorkshire Police said they are investigating the offensive messages.
French people work six weeks less than British people every year and do fewer hours than any country in Europe, new figures have revealed.

Full-time staff worked 1,646 hours on average in 2015, which is 228 hours - the equivalent of six weeks - less than the average British worker.

It is also 199 hours less than German workers and 130 hours less than Italians workers according to the report by pollsters Eurostat and Coe-Rexecode.

French workers work six weeks less than British people every year and do fewer hours than any country in Europe, new figures have revealed. File image

The French are legally entitled to five weeks paid holiday a year, but the study found that the average French worker is out of the office for 10.6 weeks of the year.

This is made up of seven weeks of holiday, 11 days off for sickness or childcare, six days off for public holidays, four days off for maternity or paternity leave, one for training and three for 'other'.

The survey also named Paris and Lyon as the two cities with the shortest work weeks out of 71 major world cities.

It revealed that civil servants are the employees who work the least of all - taking two more weeks off work than the average employee.

The news comes as France faces widespread industrial action over government plans to reform the labour market which could force employees to work for longer.

American tycoon Maurice Taylor even refused to rescue a doomed tyre factory in northern France because he said its workers were 'lazy, overpaid and talk too much'.

He wrote in a blunt open letter to former French industry minister Arnaud Montebourg: 'I visited the factory several times, and found the workforce gets paid high wages but works only three hours.

'They get one hour for breaks and lunch, talk for three hours and work for three. I told the French union workers this to their faces. They told me that's the French way!'

Former French finance minister Christine Lagarde - now head of the International Monetary Fund - also branded French workers as 'lethargic'.

She told French newspapers: 'Instead of thinking about their work, people think about their weekends, organising, planning and engineering time off.

The French are legally entitled to five weeks paid holiday a year, but the study found that the average French worker is out of the office for 10.6 weeks of the year. File image

'If you say to a French person, 'Would you like to be an entrepreneur?' all they do is run scared.'

The government is currently trying to bring in labour reforms that would allow employers to extend the length of the working week - but it is meeting with tough resistance from the unions.

The hard-working Swiss recently rejected plans to give them two more weeks paid holiday a year, because they 'didn't want to appear like the French'.

Employers' Federation boss Cristina Gaggini said after the vote: 'The Swiss are basically hard-wired to believe that holidays are the invention of the idle rich.

'Six weeks off a year would have made us the holiday champions of the world and we'd have been doing even less work than the French.'

In Britain, workers are entitled to 28 working days off a year.

The world's longest holidays are in Panama where employees get 30 consecutive days off plus ten bank holidays.
Sydney Holland is best known as the former live-in girlfriend of 93-year old media magnate Sumner Redstone, but on June 12, she was just doting mom at Disneyland to her adorable daughter Alexandra Red celebrating her third birthday.

In these exclusive pictures obtained by Daily Mail Online, Holland's red-headed tot is seen for the first time since she was born to a surrogate in 2013 while Holland was living with billionaire Sumner Redstone. Sydney has never identified the father of her child.

'It was Alexandra's first trip to Disneyland, and she was on a mission to meet Minnie Mouse. She was literally star-struck when she saw her, it was so cute!' a source tells Daily Mail Online.

The group, (including Holland's mother and stepfather), were given the VIP treatment of bodyguards and an express pass to the front of the lines while at the Anaheim, California amusement park.

'And why not? Alexandra is a princess. She has her mom wrapped around her little finger,' says the source.

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Who's the daddy? A surrogate gave birth to Sydney Holland's adorable red-headed tot, Alexandra Red Holland, while she was with Sumner Redstone. Sydney has never revealed the identity of the three-year-old's father

In these exclusive pictures obtained by Daily Mail Online, Holland's red-headed tot is seen for the first time since she was born to a surrogate in 2013

Sumner and Sydney broke up at the end of summer in 2015, but have stayed on fairly good terms. Holland walked away with an estimated $75 million

This was actually day two of celebrations for the adorable red-haired tot.

The day prior, on Saturday, June 11, Alexandra was feted at Jessica Biel's West Hollywood restaurant Au Fudge with 20 of her little friends, where the tab came close to $15,000. Alexandra had a 4-tier birthday cake that was pink and covered with gingerbread men and lollipops.

A surrogate gave birth to Alexandra Red while Sydney was with Sumner Redstone, but she has never revealed the paternity of her daughter.

Some in have speculated that the 'Red' on Alexandra's name is short for 'Redstone.'

Sydney wears a gold necklace with her daughter's name engraved on it.

In 2009, Redstone, then 85, bragged to talk show host Larry King that he felt better than he did at age 20, thanks to a health regimen loaded with antioxidants, Vodka and exercise.

Bravo's Million Dollar Matchmaker Patti Stanger originally set up her pal, business owner Sydney with billionaire Sumner Redstone in 2010. Just one year later they were living together in his $20 million Beverly Park home.

Sydney had several businesses before meeting her wealthy beau, a jewelry line and eco-conscious yoga wear (LIV GRN) that was favored by celebs like Halle Berry and Jessica Alba.

For five years, Sydney was widely regarded as the gatekeeper to Redstone, whose net worth is estimated at 5.5 billion.

Their almost 50-year age gap raised eyebrows, but according to the source, the two were good together, and encouraged each other.

Hanging with Goofy: This was actually Day two of celebrations for the adorable red-haired tot. The day prior, on Saturday, June 11, Alexandra was feted at Jessica Biel's West Hollywood restaurant Au Fudge with 20 of her little friends, where the tab came close to $15,000. Alexandra had a 4-tier birthday cake that was pink and covered with gingerbread men and lollipops.

Meeting Minnie: Sydney promised Alexandra she would hunt down Minnie Mouse for a hug and a picture and she did! It was mission accomplished'

The mom and daughter - along with Holland's mother and stepfather - were given the VIP treatment of bodyguards and an express pass to the front of the lines while at the Anaheim, California amusement park

Under Redstone's guidance, she started her own TV production company called 'Rich Hippie,' she also began flipping houses. Her most notable flip was a Beverly Hills home she sold to actress Jennifer Lawrence in 2013, profiting $1.8 million after expenses.

Sumner and Sydney broke up at the end of summer in 2015, but have stayed on fairly good terms. The terms were in fact so good that it has been reported that Sydney Holland walked away with an estimated $75 million.

In an e-mail to Vanity Fair, Redstone wrote last June he said, 'I love Sydney and Alexandra.'

Mauela Herzer, another ex of Redstone who is godmother to Alexandra, told Vanity Fair Holland's relationship with Redstone was 'the best thing that's ever happened to him.'

Sydney lives in a $8 million home in an exclusive Beverly Hills gated community, has a full staff, drives a Maserati and has a shoe closet that rivals Lisa Vanderpump's

She added: 'He is so happy with her. Sydney is misunderstood in a sense because she's the one person who really cares about him. He's blessed to have her. And when people say that she's controlling himI said that to my son the other day, and my son started laughing. He said, 'Well, those people must not know him.' No one controls Sumner, not today, not tomorrow, not ever.'

Sydney lives in a $8 million home in an exclusive Beverly Hills gated community, has a full staff, drives a Maserati and has a shoe closet that rivals Lisa Vanderpump's.

'But it's being a mom that makes her the happiest,' says the source.

It's no wonder the producers of Bravo's Real Housewives of Beverly Hills were chomping at the bit to get Sydney to become a cast member for their upcoming Season 7 which begins shooting in July.

'She would have been a good fit, she's smart, funny, and she's not afraid to speak her mind, people are drawn to her.'

And, adds the source, 'Can you imagine a shoe closet show down with Lisa Vanderpump? I think Sydney would win.'

Reports have swirled that Sydney had been approached to star on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills - but Daily Mail Online can report exclusively that Sydney recently turned down their 'generous' offer

While reports have swirled that Sydney had been approached to do the reality show Daily Mail Online can report exclusively that she recently turned down their 'generous' offer.

Says our insider, 'They don't allow filming inside her gated community [Mulholland Estates], it's as simple as that. Charlie Sheen even got in trouble with the HOA for something he shot with Dr Oz earlier this year. And to be honest, Sydney's just too busy these days.'

Holland never signed a confidentiality agreement with Redstone, and has been entertaining several book offers.

The source says maybe some day she will revisit the Real Housewives offer, but right now she's focused on being a good mom.

'Sydney promised Alexandra she would hunt down Minnie Mouse for a hug and a picture and she did! It was mission accomplished.'

Control of Sumner Redstone's empire has fueled numerous legal battles, and at the heart, questions whether he is mentally competent, and is in fact able to make decisions for himself and his empire.

Redstone's National Amusments is a privately held company that owns 80 percent of the voting shares of Viacom, Paramount and CBS.

Mauela Herzer, another ex of Redstone who is godmother to Alexandra, told Vanity Fair Holland's relationship with Redstone was 'the best thing that's ever happened to him'

Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman has found himself in direct opposition to Shari Redstone, 62, Redstone's daughter from first wife Phyllis Gloria Raphael, who currently reigns as President of National Amusements (NAI).

Dauman has alleged that Redstone is in failing health and mentally incompetent and should have his voting shares transferred to the seven-member trust that includes Dauman.

Redstone scored a legal victory in May when a judge in Los Angeles dismissed a case that challenged his mental competence. But that didn't stop the strife and legal battles that wage for ultimate control of his media companies.

Despite a severe speech impediment, and some pain in swallowing, Redstone was able to convey to the judge that his mind was still sharp and functioning.

Dauman wants to sell a minority stake in Paramount studios. Redstone, it is believed, is confused about the sale, and falsely believes the entire studio is at stake.

Redstone paid a visit to the Paramount Pictures lot in Hollywood on June 10, to chat with studio chief Brad Grey. And while he didn't get out of the minivan, his brief meeting with Grey is said to have gone well.

Redstone had not been seen in public for more than a year at that point, but sources say he made the appearance to prove he is still alive and kicking and has his wits about him.

On June 14, Viacom lead independent director Fred Salerno penned an open letter to his boss, questioning why there is a sudden batch of new 'advisors' and law firms working for Redstone, and blasting his recent public outing as 'staged.'

'They tell us you are getting better every day. Last week they staged a drive for you, with Shari, to the Paramount studio, for a brief visit in which you didn't get out of your car.'




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The first images inside Google's new headquarters in King's Cross have finally been revealed.

More than 800 employees moved into the the tech giant's London base, which includes sleep pods, a running track, 17,000 sofas and free food, today before another 1,700 relocate to the building in the future.

The 11-storey building at 6 Pancras Square includes oak and steel staircases which 'encourage chance encounters between colleagues for collaborative chats', while all food and drink in the cafes and canteens is complimentary.

As for those who might put on the infamous 'Google stone' - weight gained from the free food provided by the company - there is a gym surrounded by a 90-metre running track.

The office space also has 5,500 Metronap sleep pods, while interiors are furnished with Swiss furniture by Vitra, which sells sofas for up to 17,000.

Google is one of several multinational corporations that have come under fire in Europe for paying extremely low taxes by shifting revenue across borders in an often complex web of financial arrangements.



In January, Google agreed to pay 130 million in back taxes in Britain after a government inquiry sparked by a public outcry.

More than 800 employees moved into the the tech giant's London base, which includes sleep pods, a running track, 17,000 sofas and free food, today before another 1,700 relocate to the building in the future

As for those who might put on the infamous 'Google stone' - weight gained from the free food provided by the company - there is a gym surrounded by a 90-metre running track

The office space also has 5,500 Metronap sleep pods, while interiors are furnished with Swiss furniture by Vitra, which sells sofas for up to 17,000

The 11-storey building at 6 Pancras Square includes oak and steel staircases which 'encourage chance encounters between colleagues for collaborative chats', while all food and drink in the cafes and canteens is complimentary

Google is one of several multinational corporations that have come under fire in Europe for paying extremely low taxes by shifting revenue across borders in an often complex web of financial arrangements
Mohamed Rasheed Khan, 59, (pictured) was brutally attacked on June 1

A 14-year-old boy has been charged with assault as a hate crime in connection to a horrific attack on a Muslim man earlier this month.

Mohamed Rasheed Khan, 59, was attacked on June 1 after he was leaving the Center for Islamic Studies on Jamaica Avenue in Queens Village.

Khan, an American citizen of Guyanese heritage, was left fighting for his life after he was reportedly attacked by three young men and thrown off his bicycle.

Following the brutality, Khan suffered multiple broken bones in his face, fractured ribs and a concussion and was unable to speak or open his eyes for some time.

The alleged assailants did not steal the victim's wallet, watch or bicycle, and were reportedly seen laughing as they left the scene of the attack, according to statement released by Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY).

Khan was wearing traditional Islamic attire at the time of the attack.

Speaking at the time, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said: 'Because of the location of the attack outside a mosque, the Islamic attire of the victim, and because nothing was stolen by the alleged attackers, we urge law enforcement authorities to investigate a possible bias motive for this troubling incident.'

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A 14-year-old boy has been charged with assault as a hate crime in connection to a horrific attack on a Muslim man earlier this month outside Center for Islamic Studies on Jamaica Avenue in Queens (pictured)

CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher (left) urged law enforcement to treat crime as bias attack. Khan's niece, Asha Deopersaud, (right) said her uncle was very humble and 'never bothered anyone'

She added: 'We urge the NYPD to step up patrols in the area of the mosque, particularly during activities associated with the upcoming fast of Ramadan.'

Nasher added that incidents targeting American Muslims and their religious institutions have spiked in recent months, which she believes is prompted at least in part by anti-Muslim rhetoric employed by public figures like Donald Trump.

NYPD initially did not treat the crime as 'bias' but this has since changed following the arrest of the young man Friday.

Due to his age, the boy's identity will not be released. Two additional teenage suspects are still being sought by police.

Surveillance footage was released by police on June 7 showing two of the three suspects wanted in connection with the crime. It is unclear whether the boy who is in custody is one of the suspects shown in the footage.

Speaking after the attack Khan's neice, Asha Deopersaud, told ABC: 'My uncle is an American citizen, and did not deserve this, and he is very humble and he doesn't bother anybody.

'He believes in Islamic wayshe was coming to pray, and Islam is all about love and caring for others. The criminals that did this, they don't identify with that.'
An effort to dump Donald Trump at the Republican convention in July has begun raising cash to defend delegates who plan to vote for another candidate no matter how their states have voted.

'A state's primary cannot dictate a delegate and his will and how he votes,' Colorado GOP delegate Kendal Unruh told DailyMail.com.

The anti-Trump delegates held a conference call Sunday night to begin the process of raising cash to defend wayward delegates, fearing a rash of lawsuits including possible legal action by Trump himself.

'We're not a democracy, we're a constitutional republic,' she continued. 'When people think that they're voting directly for a candidate, they're not.'

GOP candidate Donald Trump has blasted an effort by convention delegates to back another candidate 'totally illegal'

The anti-Trump delegates are pushing for a vote on rules change that will stipulate that any delegate is free to vote their 'conscience' at the convention, notwithstanding Trump's undisputed romp through the primary process, where he beat back 16 other Republican challengers, most of whom never carried a state.

Voters are not 'voting to send me out as a robot to coronate a king. They're sending me to discern and apply my common sense my wisdom to a given situation with a nominee. It's their judgment they entrusted me with, Unruh continued.

'Theres no persuasion to win the delegates over. Its done with force, threats, coercion,' she said, claiming heavy-handed tactics by state party chairs toward wayward delegates.

She said the conscience statement would state that delegates are able to cite 'your conscience as a reason not to do something and I'm citing my religious conscience. That is why we have our nation. You cant force a doctor to perform abortion. This cuts to the core f you cant make people do things.'

She said part of it would be a religious exemption. The clause cites 1st and 14th amendments to the constitution, allows for delegates to ignore their state voters by citing a 'personal or religious exemption based on the conduct of character of the candidate.'

Colorado delegate Kenal Unruh says state can't require delegates to vote a certain way

Republican National Committee spokesman Sean Spicer ridiculed the effort as a 'media creation' and a 'series of tweets'

The Washington Post reported that the group held a conference call Sunday night to begin fundraising for legal defense and staff help to coordinate the effort.

On the call was Steve Lonegan, a GOP consultant from New Jersey. Lonegan, who served as New Jersey state chair for failed primary candidate Sen. Ted Cruz, earlier this month called on delegates to 'unbind' themselves at the convention.

Trump slammed the effort as 'totally illegal' and a 'rebuke of the millions of people who feel so strongly about what I am saying.'

The freethedelegates web site is currently bare bones. Backers say they are raising funds because they anticipate lawsuits against them if they buck Donald Trump, who won the primaries

Trump said Friday in response to reports about the delegate effort: 'I won almost 14 million votes, which is by far more votes than any candidate in the history of the Republican primaries. I have tremendous support and get the biggest crowds by far and any such move would not only be totally illegal but also a rebuke of the millions of people who feel so strongly about what I am saying.'

House Speaker Paul Ryan, who has endorsed Trump but has exhibited frustration at having to defend the controversial candidate, echoed use of the word 'conscience' on Sunday's 'Meet the Press.'

'The last thing I would do is tell anybody to do something that's contrary to their conscience,' he said.
Floral tributes have started to be placed outside the gates of Anton's home

The jeep manufacturer of the vehicle that fatally crushed Anton Yelchin in a freak accident Sunday has said it's 'too early to speculate' on the cause of the crash.





The body of the Russian-born actor was found pinned against the gate of his home by his 5,000 pound (2.5 ton) Jeep Grand Cherokee at around 1am on Sunday in Studio City, California.

Investigators said the car had been left in neutral and rolled down the steep driveway at him - and now some believe that might have happened because of a flawed design in certain models of Jeep.

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Tragic death: Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin has been found dead at the age of 27; he is seen in April at the premiere of Green Room in Hollywood. Now some are wondering if a design flaw in his Jeep led to his death

Anton's distraught father, Viktor, a former Russian figure skater, was spotted outside his home in Los Angeles on June 19 (left and right) - Father's Day - just hours after Anton was found dead

Danger? Jeep Grand Cherokees made between July 16, 2012, and Dec 22, 2015 have a possible design flaw that means drivers aren't adequately informed when the car is in park - leading to them getting out while it's still in gear

But while thousands of Jeep Grand Cherokees were subject to a voluntary recall in the US and worldwide because a confusing gear stick design, the company has been quick to deflect the blame away from a possible default.

The Detroit-based corporation told TheWrap: 'Fiat Chrysler Automobiles US extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Mr. Yelchin.

'The company will be conducting a thorough investigation of this tragic incident. It is premature to speculate on its cause at this time.'

Their statement comes as photos of Yelchin's father, Viktor, seen hours after the news of his son's death emerged on Monday.

The distraught father, a former Russian figure skater, was spotted outside his home in Los Angeles on June 19, - Father's Day - just hours after Anton was found dead.

The body of the Russian-born actor was found pinned against the gate of his home (pictured) by his 5,000 pound (2.5 ton) Jeep Grand Cherokee at around 1am on Sunday in Studio City, California

Loving tributes: Flowers were laid out at the site of the accident on Monday. One bunch was accompanied with a note that began: 'Rest in paradise Anton!'

Tragic scene: The gate at Yelchin's home on Sunday; his body was found in the early hours of the morning pinned between the brick mail box and his Jeep. It's thought he may have left his car in gear without realizing

Jeep Grand Cherokees were recalled worldwide because a confusing gear stick design made it easy for drivers to forget the car was in neutral, not park, when the driver got out.

The Jeep's electronic gear stick sprang back to the same position after being shifted, meaning drivers could not tell by glancing at it whether the vehicle was in park or neutral.

They had to rely on a warning light on the stick and a chime when the door opened. The flaw was blamed for hundreds of accidents across the US when drivers left their Jeeps without realising they were not in park, according to government regulators.

To fix the problem, Jeep enhanced the warnings when the car was left in neutral and made it impossible for the Grand Cherokee to move under certain circumstances.

Fiat Chrysler ran a voluntary recall in April this year on Jeep Grand Cherokees that were manufactured between July 16, 2012, and December 22, 2015.

Exactly what model of Cherokee Yelchin owned, as well as the circumstances leading up to his death, have not yet been established - but the nature of the flaw in the recalled model of Jeep has led to speculation.

According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report, 'The affected vehicles ... may not adequately warn the driver when driver's door is opened and the vehicle is not in PARK, allowing them to exit the vehicle while the vehicle is still in gear.'

Confusing: The Jeep Grand Cherokee's electronic gear stick , pictured, returned to the same position after a gear change. This meant drivers often left the car while it was still in neutral, not park. Grand Cherokees made between 2012 and 1015 have been recalled

Discovery: His friend had visited his Los Angeles home after growing concerned when Yelchin failed to attend a planned rehearsal earlier in the evening, where he discovered the actor's body

It continued: 'Drivers thinking that their vehicle's transmission is in the PARK position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out of the vehicle while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged.'

Fiat Chrysler say the problem is that when the driver shifts the gear into park the only indication is a light on the console - so if drivers aren't careful they might leave it in gear when they think it's parked.

In an April press release, Chrysler said that 'unless due care is taken, drivers may draw erroneous conclusions about the status of their vehicles.'

That issue had potentially resulted in at least 212 crashes, 308 property damage claims and 41 injuries, according to an NHTSA summary.

Yelchin was found by a friend who was concerned that he had failed to attend a planned 11pm rehearsal earlier in the evening. His car was in neutral and the engine was running.

Police are still investigating the sudden death, but sources told TMZ that there were not thought to be any suspicious circumstances.

'It appears he momentarily exited his car and it rolled backward, causing trauma that led to his death,' LAPD spokeswoman Jenny Houser told the Hollywood Reporter.

One Jeep owner from Walton Indiana told USA Today that how his car started moving when he believed he had left it in park as he dropped off a DVD. He said: 'My 23-year-old son was in the passenger seat and yelled out, 'Dad, the car is moving', I jumped back in and put my foot on the brake and watched the shift indicator as I slowly moved the shifter up so it indicated 'park.'

According to a representative from FCA, drivers of affected vehicles were notified and issued directions to properly operate the shifter. The company could not speak about this specific accident, nor whether Yelchin's vehicle was one of the ones affected by the recall.

Yelchin's publicist confirmed the sad news, saying in a statement: 'Anton Yelchin was killed in a fatal traffic collision early this morning. His family requests you respect their privacy at this time.'

Biggest role: The actor will next be seen in Star Trek Beyond, which comes out in July

Most famous role: Yelchin stars in Star Trek Beyond as Chekov, seen here with Chris Pine as Captain Kirk

'Amazing actor': Yelchin, left, is seen alongside co-stars Chris Pine Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, John Cho and Zoe Saldana in the 2009 Star Trek movie

Yelchin was born in Saint Petersburg in Russia, the son of well-known professional figure-skaters Irina and Viktor Yelchin.

After 15 years as the stars of Russia's Ice Ballet, the Yelchins fled to the United States as political refugees when their only child was still a baby.

Raised in Los Angeles, Yelchin attended the University of Southern California.

He started acting as a child, taking his first professional role at age nine in A Man Is Mostly Water.

Small roles in indie films and various television shows followed, before he broke out in films like the crime thriller Alpha Dog and the teenage comedy Charlie Bartlett.

His biggest role to date had been a recurring role as Ensign Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek films - the third of which, Star Trek Beyond comes out in July.

He also appeared in Terminator Salvation, Jim Jarmush's Only Lovers Left Alive, and Hearts In Atlantis, based on a novel by Stephen King.

Raised in Los Angeles, Yelchin attended the University of Southern California. He started acting as a child, taking his first professional role at age nine in A Man Is Mostly Water

Only child: Yelchin with his parents Irina and Viktor in 2007; well-known professional figure skaters in their homeland, the couple fled to the US as political refugees when their son was just a baby

Rising star: The Russian-born actor started small with roles in indie films and various television shows, before breaking out in films like the crime thriller Alpha Dog and the teenage comedy Charlie Bartlett

Final post: Yelchin, who was an only child, is seen on Instagram this week

Yelchin's famous friends and colleagues rushed to share their condolences after learning the tragic news.

His Star Trek co-stars were obviously devastated by the loss.

John Cho wrote: 'I loved Anton Yelchin so much. He was a true artist - curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. I'm in ruins.'

Tribute: Yelchin's friend and co-star Zachary Quinto wrote that the actor was 'wise beyond his years'

And Zachary Quntio called Yelchin 'our dear friend'.

Sharing a picture of the young star, he wrote: 'Our comrade. our Anton. One of the most open and intellectually curious people I have ever had the pleasure to know.

'So enormously talented and generous of heart. Wise beyond his years. And gone before his time. All love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief.'

JJ Abrams, the director of the rebooted franchise, shared a hand written tribute to the actor.

'Anton,' he wrote, 'You were brilliant. You were kind. You were funny as hell, and supremely talented.

'And you weren't here nearly long enough. Missing you. JJ.'

JJ Abrams, the director of the rebooted franchise, shared a hand written tribute to the actor.

'This is unreal,' the actor's friend Anna Kendrick tweeted on Sunday. 'Anton Yelchin is such a talent. Such a huge loss.'

Chad Michael Murray tweeted: 'Just heard about Anton Yelchin. What a great talent and good young man. Gone far too soon...Terrible loss. You will be missed.'

Chris Kelly was one of many to complement the growing star's acting skills.

'Very sad to hear Anton Yelchin has died,' he wrote. 'Do yourself a favor and watch 'Like Crazy.' I love love love that movie. And he is amazing in it.'

'Anton Yelchin was one of my best friends', Kat Dennings wrote.

'Can't say anything that conveys what this feels like.'

British comedian Matt Lucas wrote: 'Dreadful news about Anton Yelchin. I thought he was an amazing actor.'

Pain: Yelchin's famous friends and colleagues rushed to share their condolences after the tragic news

Tragic: A variety of stars expressed their shock at his death

Meanwhile Lindsay Lohan claimed the two were friends, and gave her condolences to Anton;s father.

In a rambling message, she blamed 'Hollywood' for the death.

'This is the result of Hollywood,' she wrote on Instagram. 'A beautiful life has come to an end. A brilliant actor and a loving friend.

'Surround your life with good people and know who your true friends are. My prayers and love goes out to anton's family This breaks my heart. He was my friend I am so sorry to Anton's father.'
Federal criminal charges will not be filed in the mysterious death of a teenager who was found dead inside a rolled-up gym mat at a Georgia high school, the Department of Justice announced Monday.

Local and state authorities ruled Kendrick Johnson's January 2013 death was caused after the 17-year-old got stuck upside down in the middle of a rolled up mat and was unable to breathe.

Johnson's parents have denied that his death was a freak accident and pushed to reopen the investigation insisting someone must have killed their son.

The DOJ closed the case Monday, announcing there was not enough evidence to file charges.

Kendrick Johnson, 17 (pictured) was found dead inside a rolled-up gym mat at Lowndes High School in 2013

Local and state authorities ruled Kendrick Johnson's January 2013 death a freak accident, caused after the 17-year-old got stuck upside down in the middle of a rolled up mat and was unable to breathe

Johnson's parents have demanded answers, and pushed to reopen the investigation insisting someone must have killed their son. Pictured, surveillance footage of Johnson entering the gym

'After extensive investigation into this tragic event, federal investigators determined that there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone or some group of people willfully violated Kendrick Johnson's civil rights or committed any other prosecutable federal crime,' the Justice Department said in a statement Monday.

'Accordingly, the investigation into this incident has been closed without the filing of federal criminal charges.'

Classmates at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia, found his body on January 11, 2013, inside one of the rolled-up gym mats propped upright against a wall next to the gymnasium bleachers.

Sheriff's investigators for Lowndes County closed the case four months after Johnson turned up dead.

They concluded he died in a freak accident while reaching for a gym shoe inside one of the mats.

A state medical examiner ruled the cause of death was 'positional asphyxia,' meaning the teenager got stuck upside down in a position that left him unable to breathe.

Johnson's parents and their supporters refused to let the case be put to rest.

They got a judge's order to exhume the body last summer so a second autopsy could be performed.

The private pathologist hired by Johnson's family reported finding hemorrhaging beneath the skin of Kendrick's jaw and neck and concluded he suffered a fatal blow near his carotid artery that appeared to be 'non-accidental'.

A state medical examiner ruled the cause of death was 'positional asphyxia', meaning the teenager got stuck upside down in a position that left him unable to breathe (pictured, Johnson's parents, center and right)

But a private pathologist hired by Johnson's family concluded he suffered a fatal blow near his carotid artery (pictured, Jacquelyn and Kenneth Johnson staging a protest over the lack of information about his death)

Sheriff's detectives who investigated the death insisted they found nothing to suggest foul play. But the 522-page case file revealed enough stumbles and loose ends to fuel conspiracy theories.

Though Lowndes High School has dozens of surveillance camera monitoring its doors and hallways, including four cameras in the gym where Johnson was found dead, none of them recorded the events leading to his death.

Investigators suspect the gym mats were too far away to trigger any of the motion-activated cameras, which filmed Johnson strolling into the gym but nothing else.

Attorneys for Johnson's parents suggested footage released to the family and the media may have been altered.

The case file notes that the county coroner wasn't called to the scene until six hours after Johnson's body was found. Under Georgia law he should have been notified immediately.

The coroner criticized sheriff's investigators for the delay, but agreed with their conclusion that Johnson's death was accidental.

The strange circumstances of Johnson's death attracted attention far beyond his hometown of Valdosta. Four surveillance cameras inside the gym did not capture what happened, and the county coroner was not called until six hours after the teen was found

The strange circumstances of Johnson's death attracted attention far beyond his hometown of Valdosta near the Georgia-Florida state line.

Rallies and marches calling for answers drew hundreds, while thousands followed social media sites dedicated to the case.

The Florida lawyer who represented Trayvon Martin's family worked to help ensure Johnson's death wasn't forgotten.

'The Department of Justice, in particular the lawyers and investigators who have worked tirelessly on this investigation, express their most sincere condolences to Kendrick Johnson's parents, family, and friends,' Acting United States Attorney Carole Rendon said in a statement Monday.
A judge has expressed extraordinary sympathy for a solicitor convicted of a two-month stalking campaign against her barrister husbands former lover.

Despite having sent crude letters to three relatives of the woman alleging she enjoyed extreme sexual practices, lawyer Katherine Simpson, 49, walked out of court a free woman with just an overnight curfew from 10pm to 6.30am midweek for one year.

Her barrister husband Jonathan Simpson, 48, who was on Friday convicted alongside her of stalking causing serious alarm or distress is yet to be sentenced for his part in the bizarre campaign.

He has already resigned his chambers, is likely to be struck off, and could be jailed.

Despite having sent crude letters to three relatives of the woman alleging she enjoyed extreme sexual practices, lawyer Katherine Simpson, 49, (pictured with husband Jonathan) walked out of court a free woman

But judge Alistair McCreath suggested to Mrs Simpson that much of what she had done  apparently including phoning her husbands lover and shouting that she was a c*** down the phone, and deriding her as a chav gold-digger who gave herpes to her husband then to her - was what any wife would have done.

Judge McCreath said of her calls to the lover: True you picked up the phone at one point and spoke to the complainant in strong terms, and sent her letters in strong terms. But what wife would not have? It seems understandable.

The judge also did not allow the victim impact statement from the former lover to be read out in full - although it is understood to have included a controversial claim that Mr Simpson had been given undue lenience in his trial because of his legal connections.

After only a summary of the victims statement was read, Judge McCreath retorted in court that he played no part in the prosecution of the Winchester lawyers being switched to Southwark crown court, saying that he was simply a judge who did not personally know the accused barrister.

Prosecutor David Sapiecha refused to allow the press to read the full victim impact statement.

In a two-week trial humiliating for the shamed professionals, who live in a smart Georgian terrace and have two children in private schools and a live-out nanny, the jury were told that their problems began when barrister Mr Simpson bumped into the victim  who cannot be named  in a Southampton Apple computer shop in early 2013.

A steamy affair ensued, with him lavishing gifts on the younger woman, until the affair initially came to Mrs Simpsons attention in Summer 2013 when it supposedly ended.

In a two-week trial humiliating for the shamed professionals, the jury were told that their problems began when barrister Mr Simpson bumped into the victim in a Southampton Apple computer shop in early 2013 (pictured before an earlier hearing)

But it carried on, with the lovers having sex in every room of the womans house, as well as at the Simpsons marital home. He described himself later as like a crack addict addicted to the woman.

When Mrs Simpson found out the affair had not ended, and that the lover was pregnant  although she eventually did not have the baby - the judge said the wronged wife had an understandable resentment, at the very least, of the woman you saw to have sought to steal your husband.

After the lover finally ended the affair in Summer 2014, the unseemly business raged on, with Mr Simpson unwisely taking a bunch of flowers to his lovers daughters school in a bid to get an explanation for why he had been dumped.

Enraged that he was then served with a restraining order barring her husband from contacting the woman, and fearing it would damage her reputation as a partner in a legal property firm, she for two months last year joined him in waging a campaign to have it lifted.

As well as making abusive calls to the woman, she also sent the three letters detailing the lovers sexual preferences to the womans brother, sister-in-law, and the father of her child.

Mrs Simpson described the mistress as a chavvy woman from Southampton with fake boobs living off benefits who makes a habit of pursuing men and labelled her new boyfriend, an ex-policeman, a thug who should be kept in a cage.

The judge did say at Southwark Crown Court that Mrs Simpsons graphic letters about sexual practices sent to the womans relatives were utterly misguided'

In one letter to the father of the womans child she called the woman a liar who had serial affairs, and called for her to stay out of Winchester and withdraw the restraining order if she wanted to find all her problems over.

People in our echelon of society, said Mrs Simpson shouldnt be mixing with people like that.

The victim, a Southampton resident, said in her witness impact statement that she felt embarrassed, violated, degraded, unable to enjoy her pregnancy with a child she has since had to her now-fiance. She has suffered constant worry and was upset throughout the trial where the stalker liars denied their guilt and attacked her, the court heard.

The judge meanwhile said a drunken rant Mrs Simpson made in front of police officers about the lover was worthy of sympathy rather than blame.

The judge did however say at Southwark crown court today that Mrs Simpsons graphic letters about sexual practices sent to the womans relatives were utterly misguided, as she ought to have known they would come to her attention  and which did in fact cause her alarm and distress and have an adverse impact on her life.

Judge McCreath sentenced her to 12 months curfew - 10pm to 6.30am Monday to Friday  allowing her to work long hours  and 7pm to 6am at weekends, during she must stay at home. She is also allowed to go on a three week family holiday in August.

He said: There are cases of this kind  and offenders of a different kind  where a custodial sentence is inevitable.

But these must properly be seen as actions of high imprudence at a time of immense difficulty in your life, no more than that.

Jeremy Dein QC, defending, had even tried to claim Mrs Simpson was perhaps more of a victim than the actual victim, and claimed she should be freed with an absolute discharge and no sanctions at all.
This is the moment a bird managed to recreate the image of Star Wars' most iconic fighter in flight.

As it swooped in to land on a lake in Beaufort Hill Woodlands, in the Brecon Beacons, Wales, this swan's reflection in the water perfectly mirrored the famous X-Wing Starfighter's design.

Welder Leslie Price, 64, happened to be strolling along the pond's edge with his dog at the time and managed to capture the swan's inbound flight.

In a pond far, far away: The majestic bird was captured by Leslie Price in the Brecon Beacons

The swan's reflection in the water perfectly mirrored the famous rebel fighter's X-Wing design (pictured)

He lives 10 minutes away and often walks past the lake.

Mr Price said: 'I often take my camera when I go out, but this is the best thing I've ever photographed.

'It was only when I got home and looked at it on my computer that I realised how beautiful it looked. I showed my wife and she loved it.'

Mr Price admits he is no great Star Wars fan, and that it was a friend who pointed out the swan's resemblance to the jet from the movie franchise.

However, he is very familiar with the swan, which he says is a long term inhabitant of the area.

He said: 'He is my star, but I'm a little worried as I haven't seen him for three weeks.'

Mr Price was walking his dog beside a lake in Beaufort Hill Woodlands, in Wales, when he spotted the swan
The family of Oscar Pistorius have claimed they have been warned he will be beaten up and gang raped in prison unless they pay a bribe.

The 29-year-old is facing more than 15 years in prison for shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria on Valentine's Day in 2013.

The double amputee Paralympian was previously convicted of culpable homicide, which has since been converted into murder.

The family of Oscar Pistorius, pictured, have claimed they have been warned he will be beaten up and gang raped in prison unless they pay a bribe

During the sentencing hearing in Pretoria last week and in a last bid of leniency, the Paralympian murderer teetered on his stumps in the courtroom

The athlete, known as the Blade Runner, looked humiliated when he was asked to remove his prosthetic limbs during the televised hearing

He will receive his new sentence at a hearing in the High Court in Pretoria in two weeks time.

However, according to the Pistorius family spokeswoman Anneliese Brugess, an unknown person has threatened to have the former athlete gang raped in prison, unless his relatives paid for evidence that would undermine the prosecution case against him.

Specifically, the person sent message to a relative of Pistorius seeking payment in exchange for evidence that the prosecutor had paid a witness who testified against the athlete at his sentencing last week.

The text message was sent to a cousin of the runner, Arnoldus Pistorius, on June 16, the day after the pre-sentencing hearing ended.

Pistorius killed his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home in Pretoria on Valentine's Day in 2013

Burgess said the anonymous person began making threats when the cousin did not respond to his demands, including to have Pistorius raped when he goes back to prison.

'These included threats that he would arrange for Oscar to be beaten up and gang raped in prison,' said Burgess in a statement.

Police confirmed that they were looking at the threats made to the family but no arrests had been made.

The former Paralympic champion was sentenced to five years in prison in 2014 after being found guilty of culpable homicide for shooting dead Reeva, saying he mistook her for an intruder.

He 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.

His culpable homicide sentence has since been converted into murder, which carries a minimum of 15 years.

During the sentencing hearing in Pretoria last week and in a last bid of leniency, the Paralympian murderer teetered on his stumps in the courtroom.

The athlete, known as the Blade Runner, looked humiliated when he was asked to remove his prosthetic limbs during the televised hearing.

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.

Earlier in the hearing, Reeva's father Barry Steenkamp broke down repeatedly as he 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.

Earlier in the hearing, Reeva's father Barry Steenkamp broke down repeatedly as he shared the impact of her murder with the hearing

Mr Steenkamp added that his wife June is also in constant grief after the death of their daughter and cries at night all of the time

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.
The wannabe political dynasty posed for a photocall leaving the hospital with the new addition

Chelsea tweeted the news on Saturday, shared the first photo on Sunday, thanked followers on Monday

The little boy is Chelsea's second child with husband Marc, their daughter Charlotte was born in 2014

Bill and Hillary Clinton met their grandson Aidan for the first time on Saturday then visited on Sunday

Hillary took a break from campaigning and went to the hospital on Monday in a coat despite high heat, Chelsea emerged in a mini-dress

Chelsea, her parents, and husband Marc Mezvinsky emerged on Monday afternoon with baby Aidan

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Chelsea Clinton has emerged from hospital for the first time with her newborn son Aidan.

The former First Daughter beamed at cameras on the steps of New York's Lenox Hill Hospital on Monday, flanked by her husband Marc Mezvinsky and parents Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Despite the soaring temperatures, Hillary - who gave a regal wave to the waiting press - wore a button-down coat, while Chelsea opted for a floral mini-dress.

At one point she nuzzled her face into baby Aidan's, before looking up lovingly at Marc.

Aidan, Chelsea's second child with husband Marc Mezvinsky, was born on Saturday in the $1,700-a-night maternity ward.

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First photo! Chelsea Clinton and husband Marc Mezvinsky posed with their newborn son Aidan and her parents Bill and Hillary on Monday

Delighted: Chelsea and Marc, who have a daughter Charlotte, gazed lovingly at one another flanked by her overjoyed politician parents

Going home: As Bill and Marc made moves to leave the hospital, Chelsea couldn't resist kissing the two-day-old little boy

Helping hand: Marc supports Chelsea and his son as they walk down the steps followed by Hillary, Bill and one of the hospital's nurses

Happy: Chelsea couldn't stop grinning as she stood in front of the waiting crowds on Monday, while Hillary got out her presidential wave

Celebration: The staff looked elated as they joined the presidential family on the sunny steps to greet the media on Monday

Chelsea's summery dress showed off her baby bump - while Marc, Hillary and Bill wore unusually warm clothes for such a hot day - the temperature was well into the 80s - including sweaters and jackets

Marc protectively touched his wife's shoulder as he guided her out of the hospital with the new addition

The happy couple appeared touched with the support and well wishes that greeted them outside, which Chelsea tweeted about

Chelsea appeared full of energy and smiles - despite the exhausting weekend she no doubt had in the hospital giving birth

The addition appeared to sleep through his first public appearance - the first of no doubt many if his grandmother is elected President

Royalesque: Chelsea left the hospital in a blue summer dress and nude wedges - a similar summer outfit that Kate wore leaving the hospital with her son

The former First Daughter shared yet another photo of her clutching the little boy on Monday.

She added the caption: 'Can't get enough! Thank you everyone for the warm wishes!'

Just in time for Father's Day, he received a visit from his aspiring president grandmother and former president grandfather on Sunday.

Hillary, who is in the midst of fighting to appear a more likable candidate than Donald Trump, arrived at the hospital with an assistant to carry her bulging designer bags.

Clutching a coffee, she was followed by an aide who was lugging a $3,500 Ralph Lauren calfskin handbag plus two other big bags.

Former president Bill held up the rear, beaming as he bounded into the Manhattan building wearing a pink shirt and carrying a canvas tote bag.

Chelsea Clinton gave birth to her second child with Marc Mezvinsky on Saturday morning, a boy named Aidan. Their daughter and first child Charlotte was born in September of 2014.

On Sunday, Chelsea tweeted the first photo of her and Marc gazing lovingly at Aidan. She added the caption: 'At 7:41 AM Saturday, our family and hearts expanded with Aidans arrival. We are blessed.'

Hillary Clinton then tweeted a photograph of her, Bill and Aidan.

And Bill tweeted a photo with Aidan and Marc in honor of Father's Day.

Hillary and her husband stayed with their daughter on Monday and visited her at home not long after stepping out of the hospital with Chelsea, her husband Mark and newborn Aidan

Huma Abedin, Hillary's aide and a close friend of the family, joined the clan on Monday and was seen carrying multiple bags, including one bearing the name of Lenox Hill Hospital

Stuck to her style: Despite temperatures soaring into the 80s, Hillary Clinton arrived at the hospital on Monday in a button-down coat, trousers and heels - with her $3,500 Ralph Lauren bag - for their first photo as a family

In love! The former First Daughter shared yet another photo of her clutching the little boy on Monday

First photo: Chelsea Clinton posted this photo of her and husband Marc Mezvinsky with their son Aidan on Sunday, writing: 'At 7:41 AM Saturday, our family and hearts expanded with Aidans arrival. We are blessed.'

Hillary Clinton posted this photo with the caption: 'What a joy being with our new grandson, Aidan. So grateful'

Bill tweeted: 'Aidan has made two dads very happy this Father's Day. Hillary and I are thrilled for Marc and Chelsea!'

Hillary's more serious appearance comes a day after she and Bill beamed at reporters following the announcement.

On Saturday, she offered a satisfied smile to the cameras outside the hospital.

Bill waved to well-wishers as they left the exclusive Manhattan hospital where they had met their grandson for the first time.

Surrounded by their Secret Service detail, the Clintons walked out of Lenox Hill Hospital in tandem early on Saturday evening, where daughter Chelsea had given birth to their first grandson, Aidan.

Appearing to be in fine spirits, the Clintons earlier issued a statement saying that they were 'overjoyed' to be grandparents again as Chelsea and her husband Marc declared themselves, 'overwhelmed with gratitude and love'.

The Lenox hospital is famed for its exlusive and elegant maternity suite.

A concierge can accommodate any whim the family has, and a 24-hour food service reportedly will whip up everything from lobster to cheesecake, delivered straight to the suites kitchen.

The cost per night is upwards of $2,000.

Chelsea isnt the only new celebrity mom to have stayed at Lenox Hills maternity ward dedicated solely to the rich and famous.

In January 2012, Beyonce and Jay-Z welcomed their daughter Blue Ivy on the same floor. The couple occupied a double room that has since become known informally as the Beyonce Suite.

And Simon Cowells girlfriend, Lauren Silverman, gave birth to their son, Eric, at the hospital in February

Earlier, the Clintons released a statement, saying they were 'overjoyed to be grandparents again'.

'We are all over the moon as Chelsea and Marc welcome Charlotte's little brother to the world and grateful for our many blessings,' Hillary and Bill said.

'Chelsea and Aidan are both doing well and enjoying this very special time together.'

Sunday visit: Former president Bill held Hillary's hand as the two left the hospital after visiting their grandson

While his wife is wearing dressy jackets, the former President favored collared polo shirts and dressy sneakers for his hospital visits, seen Sunday, left, and Monday at right

Busy: It seems Hillary has plenty planned for her second visit to her grandson, with so many packed bags

Saturday visit: Proud grandparents Hillary and Bill leave the hospital after meeting Aidan for the first time

Chelsea, 36, announced in December 2015 that she was expecting her second child with hedge fund manager Marc.

'Next summer, Charlotte is going to be a big sister! Feeling very blessed & grateful this holiday season,' she tweeted, keeping the baby's gender under wraps.

Hillary Clinton often brings up her 20-month-old granddaughter, who was born in September 2014, on the campaign trail.

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee has said being a grandmother is like 'falling in love all over again'.

'It's transformational and until you did it, it is hard to know,' she continued. 'And it has for me been an absolutely life-changing experience.'

Hillary has said in the past she was curious to see how Charlotte would handle being a big sister.

'We are wondering how this very independent, very assertive little girl, Charlotte, how she's going to adjust to the new baby,' Clinton said during a campaign event earlier this month.

Charlotte's birth: Aidan is the second child for Chelsea, 36, and her husband Marc Mezvinsky (seen in 2014)

Bill and Hillary were doting grandparents the minute Charlotte was born, pictured here leaving Lenox Hill Hospital with Chelsea and Marc after her birth

'That will be our next adventure,' Clinton said.

'We talk to her about it. She seems to be less interested in that than she does in Elmo and other games and toys.'

Chelsea and Mezvinsky, who wed in 2010, both appeared on stage with her mother earlier this month to celebrate her presumptive presidential nomination for the Democratic party.

Clinton said that night she wished her mother Dorothy Howell Rodham, who passed away in 2011, could be there that night to watch her make history.

'I wish she could see what a wonderful mother Chelsea could become and meet her beautiful granddaughter Charlotte,' Clinton added.
A $5billion island could be constructed by Israel to connect Gaza with the rest of the world.

The Israeli government's security cabinet is debating the proposal which is backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The island would be linked to Gaza by a three mile bridge and could provide an airport and sea port.

The island could cost up to $5billion to construct and would connect Gaza with the rest of the world

From left finance minister Yair Lapid, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and transportation minister Yisrael Katz during a press conference in 2013

Yisrael Katz, a top deputy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel had no objection to easing the Gaza blockade as long as its security needs are met. Israel would supervise security checks but the island would otherwise be run by Palestinians and the international community.

'I do not think it is right to lock up two million people without any connection to the world,' he said.

'Israel has no interest to make life harder for the population there. But because of security concerns we can't build an airport or seaport in Gaza.'

Israel destroyed Gaza's original airport during the second Palestinian uprising and its small seaport is not large enough to handle container ships.

The country and Egypt imposed a blockade on Gaza after Hamas seized power in 2007. The blockade is still in place because it prevents arms from reaching the Islamic militant group, which has fought three wars against Israel since the takeover.

Critics say the closure amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's 1.8 million residents.

Israel currently allows about 800 truckloads of goods into Gaza each day through a land crossing, but aid groups and U.N. officials say it's not enough to meet its people's needs.

Katz said the island would be in international waters and could provide economic independence to Palestinians.

Palestinians protect themselves from the sun at the current small port in Gaza City

The U.S, which also considers Hamas to be a terrorist organisation, has been informed of the proposals.

Katz said he is hopeful that Israel's security establishment will back the plan, and that it will soon come up for a vote in the cabinet.

After that, international bodies would have to get involved in the implementation and funding.

Israel, which will not negotiate directly with Hamas, believes the Western-backed Palestinian Authority would welcome such a plan.

Palestinian officials have yet to comment on the plans.

Mokhamir Abu Sa'da, a professor at Al-Zahar University in Gaza, told the Washington Post: 'Opening a seaport and airport would help Gaza to end the siege, people could travel, goods could be exported and easily imported from abroad.'
A British man arrested at a Donald Trump rally in Las Vegas told authorities he tried to grab a police officer's gun and wanted to shoot the billionaire Republican presidential candidate.

Protester Michael Steven Sandford, who appeared in court on Monday, even went to a gun range on Friday so he could learn how to fire a pistol.

The 20-year-old was arrested at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino on Saturday after going for a metro police officer's gun.

Sandford, who is originally from Surrey and was carrying a UK driver's licence, had been living illegally for 18 months in New Jersey after his visa expired and had been sleeping in his car.

A secret service report said Sandford told officers he had been planning the Vegas assassination for around 12 months and believed he would die in the process.

He also had tickets for a rally in Phoenix later that day in case the gun grab failed and told officers if Trump 'were on the street tomorrow, he would try this again'.

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Arrest: Michael Steven Sandford was taken out of the Trump campaign rally at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, pictured, after allegedly trying to disarm a police officer with the intention of killing Trump

Plot: Michael Steven Sandford, 20, even went to a gun range on Friday so he could learn how to shoot. He is pictured being removed from the rally

Held: Sandford was arrested after allegedly grabbing the handle of an officer's gun in an attempt to remove it

Bereft: Police escort Michael Sandford's mother from her flat in Dorking today after her son's arrest

The court heard from a public defender that Sandford is autistic, while his mother Lynne told federal magistrate judge George Foley in a statement that he had been treated for obsessive compulsive disorder and anorexia when younger.

Despite living in Hoboken for 18 months, he did not have permission to be in the US and was unemployed and living out of his car.

Sandford was charged with an act of violence on restricted grounds, according to a complaint filed on Monday in US District Court in Nevada.

It cites a report by Special Agent Swierkowski, whose first name was not included, saying Sandford told officers he drove from California to kill Trump and went to a Las Vegas gun range the day before to learn to shoot.

Sandford later went to a Trump rally at Treasure Island and approached a Las Vegas police officer to say he wanted an autograph from Trump.

The report says Sandford was arrested after grabbing the handle of an officer's gun in an attempt to remove it. He was filmed by local station KLAS being led away.

According to the complaint, Sandford had targeted officer Ameel Jacob's weapon because it was in an unlocked position and would be the easiest way to acquire a gun to shoot Trump.

Court papers read: 'Sandford further stated that if he were on the street tomorrow, he would try this again.

'Sandford claimed he had been planning to attempt to kill Trump for about a year but decided to act on this occasion because he finally felt confident to do it.'

The British national had lived in Hoboken, New Jersey, for around 18 months and had driven to San Bernardino in California before heading to Las Vegas on Thursday.

In daTrump spoke to a crowd at the Treasure Island hotel and casino, seemingly oblivious to the drama that was unfolding in the audience

Speech: Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in a packed 1,600-seat theater at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino where he declared the Orlando massacre demonstrated the need to fight terrorism

His mother, Lynne Sandford, 41, was today taken away from her home in Dorking, Surrey, by police.

A neighbour, who asked not to be named, saw the events unfold. He told MailOnline: 'I am not sure what was going on but the police came here this morning and they took away Lynne and a slightly older lady, but I don't know who she was.'

Evidence: The suspect's mother Lynne told federal officers that her son had been treated for obsessive compulsive disorder and anorexia

Michael Sandford had been living out in the States for nearly two years before he was arrested.

He used to live less than a mile from his mother's flat in Dorking, but moved across the Atlantic to New Jersey.

A woman who lives in his former flat said: 'I never met him but he used to live in our flat. We still get his mail from time to time.'

The three-storey cream coloured building used to be allocated to people who suffered from mental health issues but did not need permanent care. However, a neighbour said that the flats had since been sold on to a private landlord who rents them out to new tenants.

Another neighbour added: 'I recognised his face from the pictures but I don't know him. I have definitely seen him around here before. He must have had really strong political views to try to do that.'

He told police he visited the Battlefield Vegas shooting range on Friday where he fired off 20 rounds from a 9mm Glock pistol to learn how to use it.

Sandford also told investigators he had a ticket for a Trump rally in Phoenix, Arizona, for later on Saturday as a back-up.

Authorities said on Saturday that law enforcement officers were able to take Sanford into custody with little disruption.

The judge declined to grant bail to Sandford, pending a further hearing, saying the accused was a risk to the community and a flight risk.

The Trump campaign directed questions to U.S. Secret Service, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A spokesman for Britain's Foreign Office said: 'We are providing assistance following an arrest of a British national in Las Vegas.'
Apple's CEO is to host a fundraiser with House Speaker Paul Ryan next week, despite the company's refusal to contribute to the Republican National Convention because of a dislike of Donald Trump.

The decision reflects a push by Apple to strengthen its relationships with key Republicans.

According to Politico, the money raised by Tim Cook will help go towards a private breakfast on June 28 in Menlo Park, California as well as contributing to a joint fundraising committee aimed at helping elect other House Republicans.

Apple CEO Tim Cook (left) is to host a fundraiser with House Speaker Paul Ryan (right) next week despite the company's refusal to contribute to the Republican National Convention because of a dislike of Donald Trump.

The move may seem at odds with Apple's announcment that it would not provide any support for the GOP conventionm because of Donald Trump's stances on immigrants, minorities and women

While the move may not reflect the company as a whole - Cook is hosting the fundraiser of his own accord - it still serves as an indication that Apple wishes to court both sides of the political spectrum.

And it may appear at odds with the company's announcement to Republican leaders that it will not be providing support in any way, including financial, for the Republic party's upcoming convention next month in Cleveland, Ohio.

According to Politico, the company's reasoning for this decision is Donald Trump and the comments he has made regarding immigrants, minorities, and women.

Citing two sources 'familiar with the iPhone maker's plans,' Apple will not be donating money or technology to the GOP event like it has done in the past.

Microsoft and Google have both said that they will continue to provide technology or cash to the convention.

Apple has traditionally donated technology and cash to both Republican and Democratic conventions, although no funding was provided to the 2012 Democratic event after the party decided against taking corporate donations.

During the 2008 election, it provided $140,000 worth of MacBooks and other hardware for the events

It's still unclear whether Apple plans to donate to the upcoming Democratic convention in Philadelphia this summer.

Apple has been willing to court Republicans in the past, but Trump is just too extreme for the company's taste

Back in March, Apple CEO Tim Cook attended the American Enterprise Institute's annual World Forum, where conversation among tech leaders and Republican representatives kept returning to the topic of the GOP candidate's emergence on the political scene.

Sources familiar with the event said that the meeting centered more around how and why Trump had attracted support, rather than how to stop him.

Trump has previously singled out Apple for its encryption stance and its refusal to help the FBI unlock the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone, and at one point suggested people should boycott the company's products unless it complied with the federal agency's demands.

It was later revealed that Trump had tweeted the comment using an iPhone.

Earlier this year, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said that he will get Apple to 'build their damn computers and things in this country.'

Trump failed to offer any specifics on how he would do this, however. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has also called on Apple to manufacture its products in the United States and to pay its 'fair share' of taxes.

Apple has declined to comment on the report that it will not be aiding the GOP convention this year.

The company is not the only one which has decided to put its foot down over Trump.

HP, which helped fund the RNC in 2012, announced in May that it would not donate to the convention.

BuzzFeed also recently pulled out of a lucrative ad deal it inked with the RNC specifically because of Trump.
ADOT has removed the I-17 road closure warning from its statewide online traffic map, indicating that both southbound lanes are open at Stoneman Lake south of Flagstaff.

A multiple-vehicle crash with serious injuries occurred Sunday around noon, and both southbound lanes were closed until after 6 p.m., when the left passing lane was reopened.

Look for more details on the crash later today at www.azdailysun.com

8:30 p.m. Sunday: Southbound I-17 partially reopened at Stoneman Lake

One lane on southbound I-17 at Stoneman Lake north of SR 179 has reopened, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The southbound highway was closed around noon because of a serious crash. Drivers will still experience delays through the area because the right lane remains blocked.

To stay up to date with the latest highway conditions around the state, visit the ADOT Traveler Information Center at az511.gov, call 511 of follow us on Twitter (@ArizonaDOT).

4 p.m. Sunday: Southbound I-17 remains closed at Stoneman Lake

Southbound Interstate 17 remained closed four hours after a multi-vehicle crash with serious injuries took place around noon near the Stoneman Lake exit.

The Arizona Department of Transportation said there is no estimate on when the southbound lanes will reopen. Drivers should consider taking Highway 89A through Oak Creek Canyon as a detour, although that route is not recommended for large commercial vehicles.
Woolworths is taking on city-based convenience stores by opening a mini supermarket in Sydney offering a range of ready to eat food to cater for workers.

The new Metro store on York Street in Sydney opens its doors on Tuesday and will offer coffee, sandwiches, sushi and a small range of groceries.

There are now 16 Metros across Australia but the 310 square metre store in Sydney is the smallest.

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The new Woolworths Metro store in Sydney's CBD will open its doors on Tuesday and will offer a range of ready-to-go meals to cater for time-poor shoppers and workers

The new Metro store in Sydney's CBD offers a range of grocery items at the same prices as Woolworths' larger supermarkets

'Today, time-poor customers are shopping more frequently, buying smaller baskets of goods, and looking for a quick in-store experience. Our Woolworths Metro stores offer customers real choice and convenience,' a Woolworths spokesman said.

'Our York Street Metro store opening is an exciting new offering for workers and residents of Sydney CBD.'

The Metro store in Sydney will offer ready-to-go meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including sandwiches, salads, wraps, a bakery and cafe, hot food, sushi, and soup.

The new Metro store will also offer a range of substantial supermarket range at 'affordable prices' and Woolworths catalogue specials

The Metro store in Sydney will offer ready-to-go meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including sandwiches, salads, wraps, a bakery and cafe, hot food, sushi, and soup

Stores will also offer a range of supermarket items at 'affordable prices', including its $2 milk and catalogue specials

Catalogue specials from Woolworths will also be available in the Metro CBD store as the supermarket battles overpriced convenience stores

'These stores offer a $9 meal deal which involves customers selecting a sandwich (or wrap or salad) with a snack and a drink,' a Woolworths spokesman said.

'All stores also offer a substantial supermarket range to support the needs of the community, including our $2 milk offering. Our catalogue specials are also represented at all stores.'

The smaller stores are similar in format to UK retailers Tesco and Sainsbury's, which service highly-populated areas where people do small daily shops.

'This move to greater convenience store offerings is reflective of international trends and seen in other areas of retail given time-poor consumers,' a Woolworths spokesman said.

Woolworths is taking on city-based convenience stores by opening its mini supermarket on Sydney's York Street

The smaller Metro stores (pictured) are similar in format to UK retailers Tesco and Sainsbury's, which service highly-populated areas where people do small daily shops

The new Metro store on York Street in Sydney opened its doors on Tuesday and will offer coffee, sandwiches, sushi and a small range of groceries
David Cameron was told four years ago his immigration target was 'impossible' while Britain is in the EU  but continued to make the promise.

The claim is made today by the Prime Minister's ex-closest aide Steve Hilton, who attended the meetings with senior Whitehall officials in 2012.

He reveals Mr Cameron was warned 'directly and explicitly' by civil servants that his 'tens of thousands' net migration goal was not deliverable given EU freedom of movement rules.

Despite this, the Prime Minister has repeatedly restated his ambition to hit the target  even including it in his 2015 general election manifesto. At no stage has he succeeded in cutting net migration to below 100,000.

Mr Cameron denied the claims today and insisted that when Mr Hilton left government in 2012 immigration was falling and was close to the target.

David Cameron, pictured today with ITV's Lorraine, denied claims from his former close aide Steve Hilton that civil servants said getting immigration to the tens of thousands was impossible

Writing in today's Daily Mail, Mr Hilton recalls the warning to Mr Cameron, saying: 'We were told, directly and explicitly, that it was impossible for the Government to meet its immigration target as long as we remained members of the EU, which of course insists on the free movement of people within it.'

His comments amount to a charge that the Prime Minister has concealed from voters the inevitable failure of his flagship policy since early 2012.

Mr Cameron denied the charge today, telling ITV's Lorraine: 'It's simply not right. Actually when Steve Hilton left Downing Street in 2012, net immigration had actually fallen quite substantially and it got down to 154,000, so not far away from the ambition that I set.

'But look there are good ways of controlling immigration and my welfare break, saying that people who come and work here, have to work here for four years before they get full access to our welfare system, that's a good way, but pulling out of the single market, wrecking our economy, that is a bad way.'

During the referendum campaign, Mr Cameron has insisted it is still achievable, but he faced public anger over his failure to curb immigration on the BBC's Question Time on Sunday night.

Mr Hilton describes Britain's immigration system as 'broken' and says the target is 'simply not possible' while in the EU.

The policy guru, godfather to one of the Cameron children, also attacks Chancellor George Osborne and the 'political elite'  whom he accuses of 'playing with fire' by demonising the public's desire for control over our borders and destiny.

The Prime Minister's ex-closest aide Steve Hilton, pictured, who attended the meetings with senior Whitehall officials in 2012, said Cameron was warned against the target by civil servants

Mr Hilton writes that the immigration system is a 'social disaster because the decency and tolerance of the British people  are mocked when they see their local communities and public services overwhelmed by sudden and unplanned-for arrivals of people in large numbers'.

He adds that these 'dramatic changes  don't affect the neighbourhoods inhabited by our insular ruling elite'. It is also a political disaster, he writes, because 'when politicians make promises they cannot keep this erodes  faith in the democratic process'.

Mr Hilton says it is 'offensive' for Remain campaigners to argue Brexit supporters 'want a meaner, narrower Britain'.

Yesterday, as the clock ticked towards the historic vote:

Mr Osborne said redundancies could start as early as Friday in the event of Brexit;

Union boss Len McCluskey said the enlargement of the EU was a 'gigantic experiment' conducted at the expense of ordinary workers;

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he is 'not a lover' of the EU;

A poll showed the contest is on a 'knife edge' - though financial markets rose amid speculation of a Remain win;

A senior figure in Britain Stronger in Europe was accused of trying to 'cynically' exploit the death of Labour MP Jo Cox.

Fears about illegal immigration via Calais, such as migrants trying to break into lorries pictured yesterday, have dominated the referendum campaign

The failure to cut immigration has been the PM's weak spot in the campaign.

The closest he came to his target was in 2012, when the figure for 12 months to September was 154,000.

But net migration in the 12 months to June 2015 was estimated to be 336,000.

Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, covering 12 months to December 2015, estimate net migration to be 333,000. Just over half of this came from EU countries.

Despite this, Mr Cameron said on Sky TV earlier this month he did not 'accept' he would never meet his target, first set in 2010, adding: 'I think it remains the right ambition for Britain.' In February, he said he was 'convinced' it was still achievable.

Mr Hilton concludes: 'Undeliverable promises, an ungovernable country, an untrusted political establishment  this is what the EU has helped do to our country  time to leave.'

'The PM was told years ago we'd NEVER meet his migration targets while in the EU': Bombshell from friend and close aide who spent years at Cameron's side

By Steve Hilton

You may be surprised to read that I believe the Prime Minister has done everything in his power to control immigration. The problem is that as the leader of an EU member state, he doesn't have enough power to control immigration.

That goes to the heart not just of the migration debate, but of this entire referendum campaign and the decision we need to make as a nation in two days' time.

In all the years I worked as an adviser to David Cameron, he expressed a very clear point of view about immigration, one that I share. We believe that immigration has enriched this country's economy and society. As the son of immigrant parents, I feel this particularly strongly; I will forever be grateful to this country for the incredible opportunities it has given me.

Steve Hilton working with the Prime Minister in the Cabinet room of Number 10 Downing Street, when he was employed as an aide to David Cameron

And now, as an immigrant myself  to another country that prides itself on its open, inclusive character, the United States  I am doubly grateful for the fact that we live in a world where people can move freely and put down roots in places far from where they were born.

On many occasions, in public and private, I heard David Cameron set out his belief that precisely to protect this proud British heritage of welcoming people to our shores, immigration had to be controlled.

He spoke approvingly of the fact that in the Eighties, Margaret Thatcher's governments got the balance right on immigration, and that this contributed to the important and unequivocally positive fact that no party of the extreme Right ever managed to win significant support for a xenophobic anti-immigrant agenda.

He deplored the fact that subsequent Labour governments lost control of immigration, and was determined to get a grip. In office, I saw at first hand how seriously he took this responsibility. He had announced a clear commitment  to reduce the overall level of immigration to the tens of thousands annually  and understood very well that the public would rightly hold him to account for such a clear promise.

Immigration, alongside the threat of Islamic terrorism, was one of the policy areas that, in my observation, most occupied his time and focus. If anything, there were times when I wished he would focus more on other priorities; things that were perhaps closer to my heart.

But as the elected Prime Minister, he rightly got to call the shots.

Mr Hilton says the problem is that as the leader of an EU member state, Mr Cameron doesn't have enough power to control immigration

At the time, one of the main ways we assessed the success of our most important policies was through 'stock take' meetings. These involved ministers and civil servants responsible for a particular policy coming to No 10 for a long session, chaired by the Prime Minister, during which we could really get stuck into the details of how a particular reform was going.

I remember the meetings on immigration towards the end of my time in Downing Street. Everyone around the table, in some way or another, was working hard to try to deliver the government's commitment.

We were presented with analysis of the numbers of people coming to Britain through various routes, the impact of policy changes we had already made, and projections stretching into the future.

The news was not good. We were way off target; indeed, the numbers were going in the wrong direction. We explored various policy options  and I'm sure that process continued after I left the government in May 2012. But I recall very clearly one of the points that was made to us by the expert officials in the room.

We were told, directly and explicitly, that it was impossible for the government to meet its immigration target as long as we remained members of the EU, which, of course, insists on the free movement of people within it.

Mr Hilton says he remembers fighting endless battles with the Home Secretary Theresa May simply to get her agreement to the introduction of an Entrepreneur Visa

Now let me make one thing clear. The Remain campaign and its supporters say that leaving the EU will not on its own solve our immigration problems, and they are right about that. Leaving the EU is not a silver bullet. But, as we were advised in government, it is impossible for the 'tens of thousands' target to be met unless we leave  or negotiate an end to, or exception from, the free movement rules, which is an option Brussels has always refused to countenance.

In my view, the target itself is set at the wrong level. I would actually like to see more entrepreneurs, engineers, computer scientists  as well as those in genuine need of refuge  welcomed to Britain. I think that would help boost our economy and strengthen, not weaken, our society.

Others might take a different view: you could judge the Prime Minister's target to be about right. Or too high. That's what elections are for, to debate things like that.

But the point is, whatever the policy, whatever people vote for, it's not unreasonable to expect that the Prime Minister of the day is able to deliver it. That is simply not possible in the current, unreformed  and in my view unreformable  EU.

You don't need to sit in a 'stock take' meeting at No 10 Downing Street to see the obvious truth: our immigration system is completely broken, and as long as we're in the EU, our elected governments are powerless to fix it. Here are the ways in which this is a disaster.

It's an economic disaster because it means we have to clamp down on immigration that could benefit our economy (skilled labour) in favour of immigration from the EU that often doesn't (unskilled labour).

I remember fighting endless battles with the Home Secretary Theresa May simply to get her agreement to the introduction of an Entrepreneur Visa that would allow people from overseas with real potential to start their businesses here. It happened in the end, but only after massive internal opposition and watering down.

More broadly, almost every day in government we heard complaints about incredible individuals, whom we ought to have welcomed with a red carpet, being harassed and treated like second-class citizens by our immigration authorities.

Such people included Nobel Prize-winning scientists from Russia, some of our biggest investors from India, or even high-spending shoppers from China.

Our broken immigration system is a social disaster because the decency and tolerance of the British people, virtues that our politicians so love to talk about when it suits them, are mocked when they see their local communities and public services overwhelmed by sudden and unplanned-for arrivals of people in large numbers  the kind of dramatic changes which, needless to say, don't affect the neighbourhoods inhabited by our insular ruling elite.

Mr Hilton says that as Michael Gove and Boris Johnson have said, when politicians make promises they can't keep, it undermines not just faith in individual politicians but everybody's faith in the democratic process itself

And, of course, all this is a political disaster because, as Michael Gove and Boris Johnson have said, when politicians make promises they can't keep, it undermines not just faith in individual politicians but everybody's faith in the democratic process itself.

In the 2015 Conservative manifesto, the Prime Minister re-affirmed his commitment to the immigration target he had been told was undeliverable. When I saw that, I assumed this was either because he was certain he could negotiate a solution within the EU, or was assuming we would leave.

For the Government to continue to make the promise today, after no negotiated solution was achieved and while campaigning to stay, is, I think, what Gove and Johnson meant when they described this as corrosive of trust in politics.

There's a broader argument here, too, because the EU debate isn't just about immigration, which is why it is so offensive for the Remain campaign to argue, as George Osborne put it, that those like me who want to leave the EU 'want a meaner, narrower Britain'.

The fact is that with areas such as the economy, the environment, our legal system  which affect people's everyday lives in Britain  membership of the EU makes it impossible for the elected government to govern our country in the true sense of the word.

It seems to me that here in Britain, and especially in this referendum campaign, our insular ruling elite is playing with fire.

By dismissing  or worse, demonising  people's desire for control over the things that matter to them, and their perfectly reasonable expectation that the government they elect should have the power to deliver its promises, the rulers are the ones stoking the anger they decry.
After an hour of speeches remembering Jo Cox (Lab, Batley and Spen), the Speaker put the matter to the House. The motion  that MPs had 'considered' the tributes  was passed with a defiant roar of 'ayes'.

We had a tearful, emotive afternoon down here in Westminster, almost everyone wearing fat, white roses. A busy day for the florists of SW1.

But for all the important names who spoke, all the heft of this palatial stage, the most piercing contribution came from an upstairs gallery. It happened when David Cameron was speaking and there came the squeak of a toddler.

Remembered: MPs packed the benches but Jo Cox's seat was left free with two roses resting on the seat

Tragedy: Roses were today laid on Jo Cox's empty seat in the Commons today during a special session to remember the murdered MP, pictured left. Her husband, parents and two children watched from the gallery

Lejla Cox, aged three, was sitting on her father Brendan's lap while these grown-ups spoke their long words about her missing mummy.

Lejla's brother Cuillin, five, sat beside her and was comforted  or was it the other way round?  by his maternal grandmother.

The little ones behaved beautifully and there was sparse need for the comics the family had brought to occupy them. For that one second, Lejla's voice piped up, a piccolo fluting under this vast, vaulted roof.

In that instant the human cost of this killing was voiced. Jo Cox, a new MP, had not yet made her mark in the Chamber. That did not stop the Commons parading its loss with all the theatre and pomp at its command.

At the end of the session there was clapping and a silent file-out as MPs followed the Serjeant at Arms to divine service at St Margaret's church. Soon the strains of 'Lord of All Hopefulness' to the tune of Slane came floating across Parliament Square; later 'Bread of Heaven', sung con forza. The Chamber was packed as tributes began after 2.30pm.

A few MPs were in tears even before a word was heard. Helen Whately (Con, Faversham and Mid Kent) clutched a damp hanky.

Extraordinary: MPs applauded for more than two minutes as they filed out of the chamber

Sir Nicholas Soames (Con, Mid Sussex), gaunt these days, held a hand to one side of his old face. A seat on the Labour benches  where Mrs Cox used to perch  was left empty save for a couple of long-stemmed roses, one white, one red. After preliminary remarks from the Speaker, Jeremy Corbyn opened the speeches.

Mr Corbyn was grizzled, by his standards smartly-attired in black suit and tie.

He demanded a 'gentler, kinder politics'. Mr Cameron said he had first met Jo Cox in 2006, when she was an aid worker in Darfur.

He had gone there as Leader of the Opposition and not all her friends had been exactly thrilled that she had been happy to interact with a Tory leader. Mr Cameron went on to note her outdoors pursuits. Hearing of a peak called the Inaccessible Pinnacle, Mrs Cox had not just climbed it but had also abseiled down it, 'despite a case of bad morning sickness'.

Sombre: MPs followed the Serjeant at Arms to divine service at St Margaret's church

The Cox family, upstairs, smiled fondly at this story.

Rachel Reeves (Lab, Leeds W) was first backbencher to speak and dissolved as she reached her conclusion.

It might be possible to elect a new MP, she said, but 'no one can replace a mother'.

As Ms Reeves resumed her seat, her shoulders heaving, her neighbour Wes Streeting (Ilford N) slipped an arm round her shoulder.

The DUP's Nigel Dodds quoted the Old Testament (Isaiah, 61:3) as only an Ulsterman can. Stephen Doughty (Lab, Cardiff S) recalled that when working in Brussels, Mrs Cox had given Peter Mandelson a hard time.

'He quickly had to adapt his approach,' said Doughty, creating a moment of welcome comic relief as MPs relished the image of polished Peter having his ankles chased by the diminutive terrier Cox.

And the speech of Stephen Kinnock (Lab, Aberavon), who shared an office with Mrs Cox, throbbed with politics as he attacked Nigel Farage. Suitable? This was the Commons. It is and must be a place for political speeches. 'When insecurity, fear and anger are used to light a fuse, an explosion is inevitable,' claimed Mr Kinnock.
Supplies of salmon from Scotland have been hit by an epidemic of sea lice on fish farms around the west coast

Britain is facing a shortage of fresh salmon, which is driving up prices and could force it off restaurant menus.

Supplies of salmon from Scotland have been hit by an epidemic of sea lice on fish farms around the west coast.

At the same time, supplies from Norway have fallen back because of the over-harvesting of the fish.

Growth rates of salmon have also been affected by unusually cold weather.

Further afield, global supplies from Chile have fallen dramatically because fish farms have been hit by toxic algae blooms. As a result, some 123,000 tonnes of salmon have been lost so far this year.

The food company Beacon, which works in partnership with seafood suppliers to purchase on behalf of more than 2,000 restaurant businesses across the UK, said salmon prices have jumped 16 per cent since February.

It is warning that a shortage could run through the year into Christmas and that restaurants may need to change their menus. One option would be to switch to sea trout.

The problems suggest prices for Scottish smoked salmon through the rest of the year and over the festive period could rise sharply.

Earlier this month, Scotland's salmon farming industry was criticised by conservationists for failing to have effective measures to prevent and control sea lice.

These parasites not only damage the fish reared on the farms but also the wild population that use the same waters.

Senior food buyer at Beacon, Emma Warrington, said: 'The market is volatile at the moment with demand continuing to outstrip supply so our advice would be to start to look at alternative products for your Christmas menu planning, or factor in potential price increases for salmon products.

A salmon farm on Loch Ba on the Benmore Estate of the Isle of Mull

'We are encouraging our chefs to think carefully about planning both their immediate menus and as well as festive season specials to be less reliant on salmon.

'As well as planning their purchasing and menu creation carefully over the next six months, chefs should also be considering the alternatives to salmon.

'Sea trout is a great, lower cost alternative, also known as ocean trout or salmon trout, with a texture midway between salmon and farmed trout.'

However, Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of Scottish salmon producers' organisation, said he doesn't 'recognise any substance in many of these claims'.

He added: 'If Beacon are trying to push their new Christmas menus they should talk to salmon farming companies about supply of Scottish salmon for this year.
A grieving family last night revealed how their war hero fathers last words before he died were post my Leave vote.

Able Seaman Leonard Moore, who was a submariner during the Second World War, marked a cross in the Leave the European Union box just before being taken into hospital.

His family last night said it was his final act before he died because he loved Britain.

They said he fought for this country until the end.

Able Seaman Leonard Moore, who was a submariner during the Second World War, marked a cross in the Leave the European Union box just before being taken into hospital

The 91-year-old blind veteran enlisted into the navy when he was 17, in 1942, and served on a submarine. He served throughout the war and sailed over 35,000 nautical miles.

Last month his health started to deteriorate and he registered for a postal vote application because he knew he would not be able to leave the house to vote.

Last night his daughter, Kim Low, 61, said: He was so patriotic and he saw a European Union in decline. He believed the England he fought for was barely recognisable.

The last thing he did with a pen was to tick the Leave box. My brother, Alan, then posted it for him.

Mr Moore, from London, died of heart and kidney failure on June 1.

Mr Moores vote still counts despite his death.

The 91-year-old blind veteran enlisted into the navy when he was 17, in 1942, and served on a submarine (pictured second from right)

An Electoral Commission spokesman said: Once it has been sent off, it is a valid vote.

His nephew, Graham Moore, 52, said he went to visit him in hospital before his death, adding: His last words to me were post my Leave vote.

He was a submariner during World War Two fighting for this country until the end.

He said whatever you do, my vote Leave postal vote is on the side so dont forget to post it.

He said he was ready to go. Every year he went to the cenotaph service without fail, he absolutely adored the navy.

He added: He believed what he fought for wasnt what we have now. He was so passionate about England.

Mike Hookem, defence spokesman for Ukip, said Mr Moore was a true hero whose last wish was to see his country, a country he loved, free of the European Union.

Priti Patel meets (from left) Corporal Donald Williams, Lieutenant Tony Banks, Lieutenant Francis Goode, Lance Corporal Colin Ashford and Flying Officer Bryan Neely at White Waltham Airfield in Maidenhead

Details of his death came as veterans from all three services gathered together yesterday at White Waltham Airfield in Maidenhead, Berkshire, to campaign for a Brexit, along with Priti Patel MP.

Colin Ashford, 97, who survived the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940, said: Under the EU all the democratic freedom we had in the pre-war days in the 20s and 30s, all that has been eroded away by the EU.

We want to become more of a democratic country again. 

Lieutenant Francis Goode, 92, said: I dont want my grandchildren and their children to be subservient to a different country, we fought for freedom for Britain.

Flying officer Bryan Neely, 92, said: We want our country back again.

We might be old codgers and beyond our sell by dates but weve still got brains and we should be allowed to speak for our country. It is a dictatorship by stealth.

Mr Neely, who served in the RAF and remembered making Molotov cocktails at school in case of a Nazi invasion during the Second World War, added: They thought we were on our backs at Dunkirk and they were wrong then.
The Unabomber wants to make it clear - he is not that creep who is sending letters to journalists agreeing to be interviewed.

'Some creep in Santa Barbara, California, has been sending letters in my name to various journalists, requesting an interview and expressing what he pretends are my opinions,' the Unabomber, also known by his real name Ted Kaczynski, 74, wrote to a reporter at BuzzFeed.

The reporter's name is Andrew Kaczynski, no relation to Ted.

The Unabomber is ticked off because of a letter that was sent to New Yorker staff writer Lawrence Wright in May. The sender claimed to be Kaczynski, and offered an interview to whichever journalist would affirm that he is not mentally ill.

It read: 'I am ready to speak to someone from the media regarding my brother's recent comments and to discuss how they are being used to torment me.'

'I am only granting one interview to one person. In order to determine who will get the interview, I am asking you to write me back affirming that you understand that I am NOT mentally ill, as my brother Dave, would have you believe.'

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Ted Kaczynski supposedly sent a letter to New Yorker writer Lawrence Wright from a super-maximum security prison in Florence, Colorado, claiming he 'NOT mentally ill' and wants to dispute his brother's statements - the real Ted says it was a hoax

Kaczynski killed three and injured 23 people over the course of an 18-year bombing campaign that often targeted universities and airlines. He is serving four life sentences at a supermax facility in Colorado

Wright then tweeted a snapshot of the letter with the snarky reply, 'Thanks, Ted, you're not nuts at all'.

Kaczynski, who was spared the death penalty after it was determined he suffered from schizophrenia, may indeed be mentally ill, however, he wants everyone to know he's not the person who wrote those letters.

At least one other journalist, Bryan Denson, formerly of the Oregonian, also received the same letter.

'I'm not going to give any interviews,' wrote the real Kaczynski from his Colorado prison cell. 'And I do not necessarily share the opinions expressed in that creep's letters.'

He then went on to scold journalists who bought that the letter was from him without doing any fact checking.

'Competent journalists would look at the post marks from the letters they receive. If a letter has been postmarked from California, then obviously I could not have sent it. Moreover, competent journalists would have checked the handwriting on that creep's letters against the samples of my handwriting that are readily available on the Internet.

'But many journalists are too stupid or lazy to take such precautions so they've been duped by the aforesaid creep.'

It's unclear how Kaczynski knew the original letters were postmarked from Santa Barbara. Kaczynski is serving his life sentence at the United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX) in Florence, Colorado.

This time the letter has the hallmarks of being legitimate.

'The letter is post-marked from Colorado, yes. It also has to be him because we mailed the letter to him at prison so it makes sense that he responded,' Andrew Kaczynski of BuzzFeed wrote to the DailyMail.com.

New Yorker journalist Lawrence Wright (above) was one of the journalists that a man wrote to claiming to be the Unabomber offering an interview in exchange for saying he is not mentally ill - a man now claiming to be the real Unabomber has informed the media that it's been hoaxed

Wright apparently took some flack for tweeting the supposed Unabomber's letter with the response 'Thanks, Ted, you're not nuts at all'

The Unabomber killed three and injured 23 people over the course of an 18-year bombing campaign that often targeted universities and airlines.

His brother, David, helped investigators identify Kaczynski, and recently wrote a book detailing stories about his brother as well as his personal struggle turning him in.

Kaczynski was arrested in April 1996 and avoided capital punishment after he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. He pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to four life terms instead.

The fake Kaczynski's handwritten letter, which is dated April 4, 2016, was posted on Wright's twitter feed in May.

It read: 'I am ready to speak to someone from the media regarding my brother's recent comments and to discuss how they are being used to torment me.

'I am only granting one interview to one person. In order to determine who will get the interview, I am asking you to write me back affirming that you understand that I am NOT mentally ill, as my brother Dave, would have you believe.'

It also urged Wright to introduce himself and explain why he should be trusted.

David Kaczynski (pictured) helped investigators identify Ted, and recently wrote a book detailing stories about his brother as well as his personal struggle turning him in

David Kaczynski (right, as a child) said his family had long-suspected that his brother Ted (left) suffered from a mental illness, but they never addressed it openly

The 'creep's letter read: 'I am ready to speak to someone from the media regarding my brother's recent comments and to discuss how they are being used to torment me' but it apparently was a hoax

In an interview with ABC News in February, David's wife Linda Patrik said she was the one who first made the connection the Unabomber might be Kaczynski after the Unabomber's manifesto was printed in the Washington Post and New York Times.

David said: 'When she said, "Well, I think maybe your brother's the Unabomber," I thought, "Well, this is not anything to worry about. Ted's never been violent. I've never seen him violent".

'I couldn't imagine that he would do what the Unabomber had done.'

They went to the library, where the manifesto was projected, and David said: 'I thought I was going to read the first page of this, turn to Linda and say, "See, I told you so."

'But on an emotional level, it just sounded like my brother's voice. You know, it sounded like the way he argued, the way he talked, the way he expressed an idea.'

In particular, he noticed the repeated use of the phrase 'cool-headed logicians', according to the Guardian.

The realization led to Kaczynski's arrest in a primitive cabin 75 miles east of Missoula, Montana, where he had been living without electricity and subsisting on wild rabbits.

Kaczynski (pictured) was known as a math prodigy and neo-Luddite who graduated from Harvard in 1962 and went on to earn a PhD before becoming an assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley at age 26

Kaczynski was in arrested in a primitive cabin 75 miles east of Missoula, Montana, (pictured) where he had been living without electricity and subsisting on wild rabbits

The Unabombers trail of destruction had baffled the FBI from its barbaric outset in 1978, when he sent his first bomb to the University of Illinois at Chicago which exploded and injured a security guard.

The bomber set off another device in the cargo hold of an American Airlines flight in 1979, injuring 12 and forcing it to make an emergency landing.

He killed computer store owner Hugh Scrutton near his shop in Sacramento in 1985 and murdered advertising executive Thomas Mosser with a bomb sent to his home in North Caldwell, New Jersey in 1994.

The bomber also killed California Forestry Association president Gilbert Murray in 1995 with a package bomb sent to his Sacramento office.

In August of that year, Mrs Patrik put the pieces together and decided to ask her husband if his brother could be responsible.
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Amazing images show hundreds of people in China taking part in Yoga on a transparent glass platform suspended 1,300 feet high.

Around 150 yoga enthusiasts took part in the terrifying group performance at the Jingdong Stone Forest Gorge scenic spot in Beijing,China, on June 20, reports the People's Daily Online.

International Yoga day falls on June 21 and is celebrated with yoga classes and group performances across the globe.

Now that's terrifying! Yoga enthusiasts performed on a glass bottomed platform at Jingdong Stone Forest Gorge, Beijing

Don't look down! The participants performed on the glass walkway to celebrate the upcoming International Yoga Day

Vertigo-inducing activity: People practise yoga at a tourist spot ahead of the International Day of Yoga, on the outskirts of Beijing

What a view! Around 150 people took part in the performance which fell ahead of a day celebrating yoga around the world

Amazing images show yoga fans gathering on the glass bottomed bridge for a mass celebration.

The inaugural International Yoga Day was celebrated last year on June 21 with enthusiasts in countries such as Malaysia, Australia and Thailand holding performances and classes.

The breath-taking observation deck opened to the public on May 1 and has quickly drawn attention of daredevil tourists.

Chinese media have claimed that the attraction is the largest glass-bottomed viewing platform in the world.

The platform is 4,470 square feet in size as it protrudes more than 107 feet over the edge of the cliff face it's set against.

In comparison, the glass-bottomed observation deck at the Grand Canyon in the USA is 70 feet long.

What a beautiful spot: Enthusiasts practice yoga at a glass sightseeing platform on the outskirts of Beijing on June 20

Keeping fit up high in the sky: 150 people took part in the activity ahead of International Yoga Day which falls on June 21

1,300 feet high in the air: Amazing images show yoga fans gathering on the glass bottomed bridge for a mass celebration

A mass celebration of yoga: Enthusiasts stretch as part of the mass exercise at the Jingdong Stone Forest Gorge scenic spot

The inaugural International Yoga Day was celebrated last year on June 21 and was celebrated across the globe

The enormous structure is composed of a glass-bottomed walkway leading to a circular viewing platform.

An aerial video released by China Central Television Station, shows how the platform is hung over a rocky cliff with lush mountains ranging as far as eyes can see in the background.

Though some tourists struggled to walk on the platform, others couldn't get enough of the fun as they snoozed on the transparent floor or took selfies against the vertical rock face underneath.

One man, who did push-ups on the platform, told the reporter: 'When I first got up here, it was really quite scary.'

He added: 'I feel nervous and excited at the same time.'

Another female visitor said: 'I hope China will bring in more things like this because young people are really stressed out at work, they can use this to relax.'

Don't look down: The enormous 4,470-square-foot viewing platform in Pinggu District, Beijing, has become a tourist hot spot in China

Mind-calming or nerve-wracking: Visitors flock to the astonishing attraction from around the country to enjoy the vertical-inducing views

Take a stroll at 1,300 feet high: While some tourists struggle to walk on the glass pane, others enjoy having a snooze and doing push-ups

The awe-inspiring structure is a part of the Jingdong Stone Forest Gorge scenic in Pinggu, which is some 43 miles from downtown Beijing

According to reports, the Pinggu glass-bottomed platform is claiming three different world records.

The first is that it's the world's longest platform that protrudes over the edge of a cliff at 107 feet.

It's also claiming to be the world's largest glass platform as its circular surface area measures 4,467 square feet.

Finally, it's reportedly the first time that titanium used in the aviation industry has been used in the construction of a 'building'.

A spokesman for the site told People's Daily: 'Using titanium for this project is our way of making sure that maximum efforts have been put in to ensure the safety of tourists.'

The titanium material used is said to be light, durable and resistant to erosion.

Jingdong Stone Forest Gorge scenic area is a popular tourist area just over 43 miles from downtown Beijing and visitors flock to the site to see its enormous stone formations.

While the thought of standing on a glass bridge over a valley is challenging to most people, Chinese tourists clearly enjoy the idea - a lot.

The Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon in southern China is currently waiting to open a 1,410-foot-long see-through walkway connecting two mountains.

The 48 million project is built over a 980-foot-high valley and will also have a bungee platform and a giant swing.

Billed as the world's longest and highest glass-bottomed bridge, the attraction is expected to open in July.

Would you dare to walk on it? The transparent observation deck protrudes more than 107 feet over the edge of the cliff face it's set against

Forget about the height, we're having great fun: A group of tourists enjoyed taking selfies on the platform at its soft opening on April 30

Mesmerising views from the top: The enormous structure is composed of a glass-bottomed walkway leading to a circular viewing platform
Shocking footage has emerged of a boss in China smacking his employees in front of the whole company for not working hard enough.

The boss of Shanxi Changzhi Zhangze Agricultural and Commercial Bank can be seen hitting eight employees four times each across the buttocks as their colleagues watch on, reports Huanqiu, affiliated with the People's Daily Online.

At one point, a woman can be seen almost falling over in pain as the boss whacks her.

Horrifying: Shocking footage shows the boss whacking his employees for 'not working hard enough'

Wrong: Eight employees were made to stand on stage while the man hit them on the buttocks with a stick

In the footage, eight of the employees can be seen on the stage while their colleagues are sat on tables in what appears to be a banquet hall.

The man speaks with them on stage before he begins the attack with what appears to be a giant stick.

People in the audience are silent while the employees on the stage can be heard making noises as if in pain.

According to Chinese media, the employees were being beaten for not working hard enough.

The boss hits the group on the stage four times before the video comes to an end.

This isn't the first case of management in China forcing their employees to do embarrassing things after supposed poor performance at work.

In October 2015, employees were forced to crawl on their hands and knees around a lake after missing their sales targets.

Representatives of the staff involved told Chinese media at the time that the task was a punishment set by their company.

Employees were told to finish a lap around Ruyi Lake, a 23-acre lagoon in the city's central business district, by crawling.

According to eyewitnesses, nearly everyone's shirts and trousers were torn during the humiliating punishment.

At first the man speaks to the employees on stage before he launches an embarrassing attack
He had allegedly been sold to work in an illegal brick factory for three years

The 59-year-old man was taken home by village officials last December

His family buried the body, believed to be his, after DNA profiling

Ma Jixiang went missing in 2009 and was confirmed dead four years ago

A middle-aged man who was declared dead four years ago has returned to his village home in central China, leaving his family in shock.

The 59-year-old, named Ma Jixiang, had gone missing in 2009 and was confirmed by police in 2012 to have been killed in a traffic accident, reported the People's Daily Online.

His family had cremated the dead body, which was believed to be his, before burying the ash at the village of Tanjialong in Xiangtan county, Hunan Province.

Back from 'death': Ma Jixiang (pictured), from China, has been missing since 2009 and was declared dead

Lavish graveyard: Mr Ma's family buried the body believed to be his under an extravagant tomb (pictured)

Mr Ma suffers from mental illness, according to the article.

His family reported his missing to the local police station in 2009 after he disappeared while being looked after by his cousins.

In 2012, the family were informed by the traffic police squad of nearby Hengshan county that Mr Ma could have been killed in a traffic accident.

The body of the victim was described unrecognisable, so the authority arranged DNA profiling between the victim and Ma Jianjun, Ma Jixiang's sibling.

The analysis concluded that it could not 'exclude the possibility the unnamed body and Ma Jianjun share the same paternal kinship'.

The report led Mr Ma's family, who had been searching for him for three years, to be convinced that he had passed away.

Police report also confirmed him as the victim of the road accident, which took place on February 7 of that year.

Mr Ma's family cremated the body of victim from the traffic accident, believing it to be Ma Jixiang's, and buried the ash under a lavish tomb in February 2012, the report said.

Before the cremation, five of Mr Ma's family members went to the funeral house to identify the body. They thought the body looked 'quite similar' to Ma Jixiang.

The village family had spent thousands of Yuan (hundreds of pounds) building the luxurious graveyard for Mr Ma, complete with handrails, totems of dragons and phoenixes and two golden lions, hoping he could live well in his afterlife.

True identity: Mr Ma, who had been sold to work in an illegal factory before becoming a homeless person, was sent back home after he recited the address on his ID card (pictured)

Death confirmed: The police report (pictured) from 2012 declared Mr Ma had been killed in a traffic accident

On December 22, 2015, Mr Ma's family were stunned when the 59-year-old was taken back to his home by officials of the village of Tanjialong.

The man had been kidnapped and sold to an illegal brick factory to do hard labour, according to China's Democracy and Law Times.

He had been forced to work in the factory for three years before being released due to his weakening health and inability to undertake heavy work, the report said.

Mr Ma had been homeless for 'a few months' on the streets of Hengyang in Hunan Province, according to his own accounts.

He was later taken to a shelter to which Mr Ma recited his registered home address.

The shelter contacted the official of Tanjialong village who arranged him to be taken home.

New life: The 59-year-old, who reportedly suffers from mental illness, now lives in a care home (pictured)

Mr Ma has been arranged by his village to stay in a local care home.

It remains unclear why the local police had decided to declare his death in 2012, especially because the DNA report did not confirm his identify directly.

While Mr Ma's family slowly came to accept the reality, they felt greatly humiliated for having laid to rest a family member who was still alive - a taboo for families in rural China.

Mr Ma's nephew said if it wasn't for the fact that they had been given false information by the authority, they wouldn't have cremated and buried a living cousin.

They were concerned about the identify of the man who they had buried.

'His family must have been searching for him for years. He is poorer because he lives in another world without his real name,' said a member of Mr Ma's family.
Doctors had a massive shock when a scan revealed that a man who was complaining of abdominal pain had four kidneys.

The discovery was made after Wang Kailian, a 28-year-old driver from Guizhou province went to the hospital for a routine check-up, reports Huanqiu, affiliated with the People's Daily Online.

Surgeons have removed one of Wang's four kidneys after it became infected.

Now that's a find! Doctors were shocked to find that 28-year-old Wanf Kailian had four kidneys

28-year-old Wang Kailian went to hospital in Guiyang with abdominal pains in May.

Wang's sister told reporters: 'The pain was so serious, he could barely stand.'

The driver was taken to the local hospital where they thought he had a kidney infection. Because the hospital was too small, he was transported to Guizhou which was more equipped for his needs.

In mid May, Wang's symptoms worsened.

He said: 'Then my condition was very serious and four pills of painkillers did not work every day.'

Finally, it was time for Wang's appointment at the larger hospital in Guizhou.

Once there, he was given a CT scan and it was then that doctors discovered that the man had four kidneys.

One of the kidneys was found to be infected and was removed at the hospital on June 16.

According to doctors, it's very rare for someone to have four kidneys.

Wang's family say that his father has 24 fingers and toes.

In addition, there are also twins in the family.

Doctor Bo Shimei said that he had never encountered a case like this in his 20 years of working as a doctor.
Temperatures across the state are expected to reach record levels today through Wednesday, June 22. The National Weather Service issued a heat warning for several Arizona counties, including portions of northern Arizona.

The Coconino County Public Health Services District is encouraging residents and visitors in Coconino County to take precautions to protect themselves from heat-related illness.

Extremely high or unusually hot temperatures can affect your health. Most vulnerable are adults age 65 and older, those who work or exercise outdoors, infants and children, the homeless or poor, and people with a chronic medical condition or people on certain medications.

Take the necessary precautions to prevent serious health effects such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Recommended precautionary actions include:

Never leave children or pets unattended in cars.

Drink more water than usual and avoid sugary drinks, caffeine and alcohol.

When outdoors, wear sunscreen, light colored clothing and a wide-brimmed hat to keep your head and body cooler.

If you are planning an activity with a great deal of exertion, consider changing to a less strenuous activity or delay the activity until the weather is cooler.

Slow down. Whether you are working, hiking, biking, or playing outdoors, take frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments.

Keep your house cooler by closing curtains and blinds.

If your home is too warm, consider spending some time in a public place with air conditioning such as a library, community center, government building or mall.

If you recognize that you, or someone else, are starting to show symptoms of a heat-related illness, stop activity and find a cool place.

Check on at-risk friends, family and neighbors.

It is important to recognize the signs and symptoms of heat illness. Symptoms of heat exhaustion, a milder form of heat-related illness, include heavy sweating, paleness, muscle cramps, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, and/or fainting.

Untreated heat illness can lead to heat stroke which can be life threatening. Symptoms of heat stroke include extremely high body temperature (above 103 F), dry skin (no sweating), throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and/or unconsciousness. Seek emergency care immediately if experiencing severe symptoms.

Stay cool... stay hydrated... stay informed.
A 11-year-old girl has been tragically killed after a pane of glass fell from a 20th floor flat and hit her in the head in a Chinese city.

The glass was thought to have dropped when a housemaid was cleaning a window in a residential high-rise in Zhuhai, southern China, on June 18, reported the People's Daily Online.

The young victim, who remains unidentified, was walking to an extracurricular class with her two siblings when the accident occurred.

Horrific: A school has been killed in the Chinese city of Zhuhai by a pane of glass fallen from the 20th floor

Unexpected tragedy: The girl was on her way to an extracurricular class when the accident occurred

According to the report, the school girl was walking on Leyuan Road in Xiangshou District, Zhuhai, together with her two siblings.

She was struck by the glass at around 10am.

An eyewitness, surnamed Luo, said he heard a loud bang from a distance.

She said after he rushed over, he saw a girl lying on a pedestrian crossing covered in blood.

Her siblings were crying in shock next to her.

An ambulance was immediately called by Mr Luo, but paramedics were unable to save the girl, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim's younger brother, who witness the tragic accident, told a reporter from toutiao.cn that the trio were crossing the road in front of the residential compound when his sister got struck.

Helpless family: The victim's brother and her mother were seen next to her body after she was killed

The Zhuhai Public Security Bureau confirmed the accident on June 18 through its official account on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter.

A later post from the police authority confirmed the cause of the accident.

It read: 'After initial investigation, the glass had fallen from a house on the 20th floor in building number 2 at Hengfu Court on Leyuan Road.'

Chinese media suggested that a housemaid was cleaning the window for a family living on the 20th floor when the glass dropped.
As the sun sinks below the horizon tonight, eyes will be fixed on the sky  with spectators admiring a rare astrological event.

For the first time since 1967, the longest day of the year  known as the summer solstice  will coincide with a 'strawberry moon.'

Despite the name, the moon will not appear pink or red. It is the name given by Native American tribes to the June full moon which they believed signalled the beginning of the strawberry picking season.

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The Supermoon of 2013 at 5 AM June 24 2013 Lititz, Pennsylvania, was also a strawberry moon. Despite the name, the moon will not appear pink or red. It is the name given by Native American tribes to the June full moon which they believed signalled the beginning of the strawberry picking season

FULL MOON ON A SOLSTICE The start of summer brings the longest day of the year, or the summer solstice. This occurs when the tilt of Earth's semi-axis, in either northern or southern hemispheres, is most inclined toward the sun. A full moon occurs when the moon is in opposition to the sun - which means the Earth and the sun are on opposite sides of the Earth. A full moon in June is called the 'strawberry moon', because it used to be an indicator of the best time to pick the fruit. This month's 'strawberry moon' - another name for a full moon in June - will have an added bonus, it will fall on the same day as the 2016 summer solstice. The June 2016 full moon will hit its peak fullness at 6:02 a.m. CDT Monday, while the moment of the solstice will be later in the day at 5:34 p.m. Advertisement

This year  in a rare occurrence  it will coincide with the summer solstice, already a day steeped in significance for many.

Around 25,000 people are expected to gather at Stonehenge in Wiltshire to celebrate the solstice.

It is a tradition which has its roots in pagan times, when Midsummer Day was considered to have power. Of those who attend, many are druids, but some are tourists looking to soak up the atmosphere.

The start of summer brings the longest day of the year, or the summer solstice.The term 'solstice' derives from the Latin word 'solstitium', meaning 'sun standing still'.

This occurs when the tilt of Earth's semi-axis, in either northern or southern hemispheres, is most inclined toward the sun.

A full moon occurs when the moon is in opposition to the sun - which means the Earth and the sun are on opposite sides of the Earth.

A full moon in June is called the 'strawberry moon', because it used to be an indicator of the best time to pick the fruit.

June's Full Moon (full phase on June 13, 0411 UT) is traditionally known as the Strawberry Moon or Rose Moon This year  in a rare occurrence  it will coincide with the summer solstice, already a day steeped in significance for many

As the sun sinks below the horizon tonight, eyes will be fixed on the sky  with spectators admiring a rare astrological event. For the first time since 1967, the longest day of the year  known as the summer solstice  will coincide with a 'strawberry moon'

The start of summer brings the longest day of the year, or the summer solstice. This occurs when the tilt of Earth's semi-axis, in either northern or southern hemispheres, is most inclined toward the sun

SOLSTICES AND EQUINOXES 2016 Vernal Equinox: 20 March 04:30 GMT Summer Solstice: 20 June 22:34 GMT Autumnal Equinox: 22 September 14:21 GMT Winter Solstice: 21 December 10:44 GMT Advertisement

This month's 'strawberry moon' - another name for a full moon in June - will have an added bonus, it will fall on the same day as the 2016 summer solstice.

The June 2016 full moon will hit its peak fullness at 6:02 a.m. CDT Monday, while the moment of the solstice will be later in the day at 5:34 p.m.

The way that the stones are positioned at Stonehenge is said to be aligned with sunrises on the two annual solstices - summer and winter.

The Sun rising over Stonehenge on the morning of the Summer Solstice (21st June 2005). The way that the stones are positioned at Stonehenge is said to be aligned with sunrises on the two annual solstices - summer and winter

A summer solstice is when the tilt of Earth's axis is most inclined towards the sun, and that is why we get the most daylight of the year.

After tonight the days begin to shorten in the northern hemisphere.

In London, on the summer solstice, the sun will rise at 4.43am and set at 9.21pm. Near Stonehenge in Salisbury, sunrise will be at 4:52am and sunset will occur at 9.26pm.

Last year, tens of thousands of people descended on Stonehenge to mark the Summer Solstice.
Solar Impulse 2 - the aircraft trying to fly around the world using only the power of the sun - has set off from New York's JFK airport as it embarks on the transatlantic leg of its record-breaking flight.

The plane, piloted by Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard, is expected to take about 90 hours to cross the Atlantic Ocean before it lands at Spain's Seville airport.

'It's my first time taking off from JFK,' Mr Piccard said over a live feed from the aircraft as he headed into the night sky just after 02:30 local time (06:30 GMT).

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The Solar Impulse 2 (pictured over Manhattan) aircraft has set off from New York's JFK airport as it embarks on the transatlantic leg of its record breaking flight

The state of the art vessel, carrying one pilot, is attempting to fly around the world using only the power of the sun

'It's my first time taking off from JFK,' Mr Piccard said over a live feed from the aircraft as he headed into the night sky (pictured, the Solar Impulse 2 flying over the Statue of Liberty)

Mr Piccard is piloting the plane on the 15th leg of its east to west journey around the world that began March 9, 2015 in Abu Dhabi.

HOW DOES SOLAR IMPULSE WORK? Solar Impulse 2 is powered by 17,000 solar cells and on-board rechargeable lithium batteries, allowing it to fly through the night. Its wingspan is longer than a jumbo jet but its light construction keeps its weight to about as much as a car. Solar Impulse 2 relies on getting enough solar power during the day to survive the night. It is also extremely light - about the weight of a car - and as wide as a passenger jet. Both of these combined means it is extremely susceptible to the weather. In high winds it can struggle to stay aloft at the altitudes necessary to gather sunlight. Advertisement

Already the aircraft has crossed Asia, the Pacific and the United States using the sun as its only source of power.

The plane had been due to take off from New York early on Sunday but was delayed due to concerns over the weather.

Prince Albert of Monaco, a patron of the project, gave the flight the go-ahead from its mission control center in Monaco, telling Mr Piccard 'you are released to proceed.'

'If you consider a long flight like this over the Atlantic Ocean, you have to keep in mind that the weather needs to be predicted in advance (approximately 5 days),' the Solar Impulse blog says.

'As we all know, weather is difficult to anticipate and therefore we will have to adapt to all challenges as they arise.'

Mr Piccard is piloting the plane on the 15th leg of its east to west journey around the world that began March 9, 2015

Solar Impulse 2 aircraft as it takes off from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. 'It's my first time taking off from JFK,' Mr Piccard said over a live feed from the aircraft as he headed into the night sky just after 02:30 local time, 06:30 GMT (pictured)

The Solar Impulse 2 is built from a range of lightweight materials and high storage batteries (illustrated) to help keep the experimental aircraft in the air for long periods using just the power from sunlight

Bertrand Piccard of Switzerland says an emotional goodbye to wife Michelle before beginning preparations to fly. With a wingspan exceeding that of a Boeing 747 but an ultra-light carbon-fiber skin and overall weight of a car, the Solar Impulse cruises at speeds ranging from only 34 to 62 miles per hour (55 to 100 km/h)

The plane had been due to leave early Sunday but this was put off, apparently because of concerns over the weather. After taking off on Monday morning (pictured), the flight is expected to take about 90 hours, before landing at Spain's Seville airport

Bertrand Piccard of Switzerland talks to the media before beginning preparations to fly his solar powered aircraft

Mr Piccard and his colleague, pilot Andre Borschberg, have been taking turns piloting the plane on each leg of the journey.

Both have trained to stay alert for long stretches of time by practicing meditation and hypnosis.

The Swiss team's ultimate goal is to achieve the first round-the-world solar-powered flight, part of its campaign to bolster support for clean-energy technologies.

The plane can climb to 28,000 feet (8,500 meters), but generally flies at lower altitudes at night to conserve energy.

A technician helps pilot Bertrand Piccard of Switzerland (right) into his flying suit as he prepares to pilot the 15th leg of the record-breaking journey

Spectators watch as Bertrand Piccard of Switzerland pilots the Solar Impulse 2 aircraft as it takes off from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Prince Albert of Monaco, a patron of the project, gave the flight the go-ahead from its mission control center in Monaco, telling Piccard 'you are released to proceed'

With a wingspan exceeding that of a Boeing 747 but an ultra-light carbon-fiber skin and overall weight of a car, the Solar Impulse cruises at speeds ranging from only 34mph to 62mph (55 to 100 km/h).

The four engines of the propeller-driven aircraft are powered exclusively by energy collected from more than 17,000 solar cells built into its wings.

Excess energy is stored in four batteries during daylight hours to keep the plane flying after dark.

The globe-circling voyage began in March 2015 from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and made stops in Oman, Myanmar, China,Japan and the US.

Bertrand Piccard is piloting the plane on the 15th leg of its 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 its only source of power

Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg (right) and Swiss pilot Bertrand Piccard (left) made six stops as they crossed the United States. The pair are pictured celebrating after the successful landing of the Solar Impulse 2 aircraft at JFK International Airport in Queens, New York having finished their journey across the US

The Solar Impulse 2 aircraft flies over the Statue of Liberty before landing at JFK airport June 11 in New York. The sun-powered Solar Impulse 2 aircraft set off from New York's JFK airport is embarking on the transatlantic leg of its record-breaking flight around the world
A Chinese supercomputer has topped a list of the world's fastest computers for the seventh straight year  and for the first time the winner uses only Chinese-designed processors instead of U.S. technology.

The Sunway TaihuLight can run quadrillions of calculations per second, and is the first system to exceed more than 100 petaflops at peak performance.

Monday's announcement marks a new milestone for Chinese supercomputer development and a further erosion of past U.S. dominance of the field.

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A Chinese supercomputer has topped a list of the world's fastest computers for the seventh straight year  and for the first time the winner uses only Chinese-designed processors instead of U.S. technology. The Sunway TaihuLight, pictured, can run quadrillions of calculations per second

THE SUNWAY TAIHULIGHT The Sunway TaihuLight achieves 93 Pflops on the Linpack benchmark, and has a peak performance of 125 Pflops. This means it can run quadrillions of calculations per second. It is now the fastest supercomputer in the world, and marks the first time China has achieved this without the use of US technology. Systems of this kind are used for weather forecasting, designing nuclear weapons, analyzing oilfields and other specialized purposes. The supercomputer may be used to conduct earth system modelling, ocean surface wave modelling, atomistic simulation, and phase-field simulation. Advertisement

The Sunway TaihuLight achieves 93 Pflops on the Linpack benchmark, and has a peak performance of 125 Pflops.

Systems of this kind are used to conduct advanced research, with applications including earth system modelling, ocean surface wave modelling, atomistic simulation, and phase-field simulation.

Last year's Chinese winner in the TOP500 ranking maintained by researchers in the United States and Germany slipped to No. 2, followed by a computer at the U.S. government's Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

Also this year, China displaced the United States for the first time as the country with the most supercomputers in the top 500.

China had 167 systems and the United States had 165.

Japan was a distant No. 3 with 29 systems.

Supercomputers are one of a series of technologies targeted by China's ruling Communist Party for development and have received heavy financial support.

Such systems are used for weather forecasting, designing nuclear weapons, analyzing oilfields and other specialized purposes.

'Considering that just 10 years ago, China claimed a mere 28 systems on the list, with none ranked in the top 30, the nation has come further and faster than any other country in the history of supercomputing,' the TOP500 organizers said in a statement.

This year's champion is the Sunway TaihuLight at the National Supercomputing Center in Wuxi, west of Shanghai, according to TOP500. It was developed by China's National Research Center of Parallel Computer Engineering & Technology using entirely Chinese-designed processors.

It is intended for use in engineering and research including climate, weather, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and data analytics.

Its top speed is about five times that of Oak Ridge's Titan, which uses Cray, NVIDIA and Opteron technology.

Other countries with computers in the Top 10 were Japan, Switzerland, Germany and Saudi Arabia.

The TaihuLight is due to be introduced Tuesday at the International Supercomputing Conference in Frankfurt by the director of the Wuxi center, Guangwen Yang.

The Sunway TaihuLight achieves 93 Pflops on the Linpack benchmark, and has a peak performance of 125 Pflops. This is about five times that of Oak Ridge's Titan, which uses Cray, NVIDIA and Opteron technology, pictured above

'As the first No. 1 system of China that is completely based on homegrown processors, the Sunway TaihuLight system demonstrates the significant progress that China has made in the domain of designing and manufacturing large-scale computation systems,' Yang was quoted as saying in the TOP500 statement.

The TaihuLight uses Chinese-developed ShenWei processors, 'ending any remaining speculation that China would have to rely on Western technology to compete effectively in the upper echelons of supercomputing,' TOP500 said in a statement.

The second-fastest computer, the Tianhe-2 at the National Supercomputer Center in the southern city of Guangzhou, is capable of 33 petaflops. It uses chips made by Intel Corp.

Among countries with the most computers on the top 500 list, Germany was in fourth place with 26 systems, France was next with 18, followed by Britain with 12.
One of the most unusual stars in our galaxy, KIC 8462852, has been the subject of an immense amount of interest in the last few months.

Interest in the star, which is 1,480 light-years away, began last October when Yale scientists found unusual fluctuations in its light.

Since then some theories have suggested the dips in light are caused by an alien megastructure.

But the mystery of what is causing the light flickers might be soon solved, now that a fundraising campaign to investigate the star has reached its target.

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A series of bizarre readings from a star called KIC 8462852 is baffling scientists. Some have speculated it may be an alien 'dyson sphere' megastructure. A study out last month claims that the signals were in fact caused by group of breakup of 30 massive Halley-like comets which blocked the starlight from view

WHAT IS A DYSON SPHERE? A proposed method for harnessing the power of an entire star is known as a Dyson sphere. First proposed by theoretical physicist Freeman Dyson in 1960, this would be a swarm of satellites that surrounds a star. They could be an enclosed shell, or spacecraft spread out to gather its energy - known as a Dyson swarm. If such structures do exist, they would emit huge amounts of noticeable infrared radiation back on Earth. But as of yet, such a structure has not been detected. Source: All About Space magazine Advertisement

The Kickstarter campaign, started on 18 May this year by Yale University researcher Dr Tabetha Boyajian, who first spotted the signals, has now reached its $100,000 (68,352) goal.

The project is hoping to investigate 'the most mysterious star in the galaxy' according to the Kickstarter page.

The Kepler mission monitored the star for four years, looking at two unusual incidents, in 2011 and 2013, when the star's light dimmed in dramatic, never-before-seen ways.

When a planet orbits a star, the star's brightness usually reduces by around one per cent.

But KIC 8462852 - nicknamed Tabbys star - has had a reduction of around to 22 per cent, which suggests something huge may be moving past it, according to a study by Louisiana State University (LSU).

In some cases, the flux dropped down to below the 20 per cent level and lasted anywhere between five and 80 days at a time.

Interest in the star, which is 1,480 light-years away, began last October when Yale scientists found unusual fluctuations in its light. But the mystery of what is causing the light flickers might be soon solved, now that a fundraising campaign to investigate the star has reached its target

Interest in the star, which is 1,480 light-years away, began last October when Yale scientists found unusual fluctuations in its light - with some suggesting the dips in light are caused by an alien megastructure. One theory that has got traction says the dips are caused by an alien megastructure, similar to a Dyson sphere (stock image)

The most remarkable of these fluctuations consisted of dozens of uneven, unnatural-looking dips that appeared over a 100-day period indicating that a large number of irregularly shaped objects had passed across the face of the star and temporarily blocked some of the light coming from it.

'We'd never seen anything like this star,' said Dr Boyajian, who first spotted the signals.

'It was really weird. We thought it might be bad data or movement on the spacecraft, but everything checked out.'

Scientists have been speculating on what could be causing such irregular dips since the paper was published.

'It's our first crowdfunding campaign and we are a small operation, so we just ask for your patience as we work out the logistics on what happens next,' Dr Boyajian said.

The group is using the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope network (LCOGT) - a unique global network of telescopes operated by a network of scientists.

'We are currently monitoring the star with the LCOGT, and we are working with their staff to set up a custom data pipeline to streamline the data reduction and analysis,' Dr Boyajian added.

One theory that has got traction says the dips are caused by an alien megastructure, similar to the Dyson sphere first proposed by theoretical physicist Freeman Dyson in 1960.

'Over the duration of the Kepler mission, KIC 8462852 was observed to undergo irregularly shaped, aperiodic dips in flux down to below the 20% level,'Boyajian and her team at the crowdsourced astronomy site planet hunters found

The Dyson Ring, left, is the simplest form of Dyson structure. Creating a Dyson bubble would be an incredible engineering challenge but it is considered to be far more feasible than surrounding a star in a rigid sphere

Astronomers have been looking for answers about what is causing the bizarre light fluctuations around the star KIC 8462852 (pictured) for weeks. Some have suggested it is an alien megastructure such as a Dyson sphere. The strange structure was spotted by researchers from Yale

RULING OUT AN ALIEN STRUCTURE In order to explore the idea that such a structure could have been built by intelligent alien life, the Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute, Seti, trained its Allen Telescope Array on the star for more than two weeks. Experts looked for two types of radio signal: narrow-band signals generated as a 'hailing signal' for alien societies wanting to announce their presence, and broad-band signals. These signals would be produced by 'beamed propulsion'. Seti said that if large scale alien engineering projects really are underway, the array would pick up signals made by intense microwave beams that could be used to power spacecraft. Scientists analysing the data found no clear evidence for either type of signal. They believe this rules out the presence of omnidirectional transmitters - large antenna - of approximately 100 times today's total terrestrial energy usage in the case of the narrow-band signals, and ten million times that usage for broad band emissions. So the presence of a Dyson sphere is unlikely. Advertisement

This theory suggests that a swarm of satellites or solar panels surrounding a star, known as a Dyson swarm, could harness the power of the star and this swam could be could be an enclosed shell, or spacecraft.

But other possible structures include artificial space habitats, or a planet-sized occulting object intended to provide a long-lasting signal to other galactic inhabitants.

A study using data from Nasa's Spitzer Space Telescope in November suggested the changes in light may be caused by a swarm of comets.

A study out last month claims the signals were in fact caused by the breakup of 30 massive Halley-like comets which blocked the starlight from view. Astronomers studied the star using the Submillimeter Array and the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, on Mauna Kea in Hawaii.

They wanted to track down dust associated with a possible planetary collision, according a report in Discovery, but they found none.

The result is consistent with the break up of huge comets that would block the starlight from sight - although how such a huge amount of comets would disintegrate is unknown.

The latest results follow a study earlier this month by Vanderbilt University which found the observations of KIC 8462852 were tainted by the inconsistent use of telescopes on Earth.

It said the the presence of a Dyson sphere is unlikely.

As a planet passes in front of a star's light it causes the light to dim, and Kepler can capture these fluctuations. Typically this light dims in a relatively symmetrical pattern due to the nature of the orbits (examples pictured)

The oblate spheroidal shape of some stars cause them to be larger and darker at the equator, and lighter at the poles. As planets pass across the different regions during an orbit, the amount of flux dips in differing ways. This graphic shows five examples of different trajectories (top) and their respective flux readings (bottom)

Institute astronomer Seth Shostak said: 'The history of astronomy tells us that every time we thought we had found a phenomenon due to the activities of extraterrestrials, we were wrong.

'But although it's quite likely that this star's strange behaviour is due to nature, not aliens, it's only prudent to check such things out.'

Their observations will continue, but so far no evidence of deliberately produced radio signals has been found in the direction of KIC 8462852.

While the scientists have all but ruled out an intelligent alien society and comets, the truth behind KIC 8462852 continues to elude them.

Now Dr Boyajian and her team hope to unravel the mystery. 'We will keep you all in the loop as things progress, and will soon send out surveys to gather information for reward fulfillment,' she said.
Stalking across the sandy shoreline of a lake around 800,000 years ago, a small hunting party closed in on a herd of antelope that had come to drink from water's edge.

Now the footprints these early human hunters left in the soft sediment as they approached their prey have re-emerged for the first time since they were made.

Anthropologists discovered the tracks of 'multiple' individuals, which they believe were created by the early human species Homo erectus, in the middle of the desert in southern Eritrea.

A series of footprints left by 'multiple' Homo erectus have been uncovered on a slab of sandstone (pictured) in the Danakil desert of southern Eritrea. The footprints are thought to be around 800,000 years old and were made in soft sand along the shoreline of a prehistoric lake

HOMO ERECTUS, THE UPRIGHT MAN First thought to have evolved around 1.9 million years ago in Africa, Homo erectus was the first early human species to become a true global traveller. They are known to have migrated from Africa into Eurasia, spreading as far as Georgia, Sri Lanka, China and Indonesia. They ranged in size from just under five feet tall to over six feet. With a smaller brain and heavier brow than modern humans, they are thought to have been a key evolutionary step in our evolution. They are thought to have disappeared around 70,000 years ago and may have given rise to a number of different extinct human species including Homo heidelbergensis and Homo antecessor. Homo erectus is thought to have lived in hunter gatherer societies and there is some evidence that suggests they used fire and made basic stone tools. Advertisement

Scattered across a 280 square feet (26 square metres) stone slab, the fossilised footprints are the oldest to have been discovered in the area.

They promise to reveal new details about how this prehistoric human ancestor walked.

Homo erectus is thought to be the first early species of Homo to have been recognisably human  walking upright on two legs and similar in size to modern man.

The footprints, which were discovered at a site near Buia in the middle of the Danakil desert in southern Eritrea.

The area is thought to have been home to a community of Homo erectus living there up to one million years ago.

Professor Alfredo Coppa, an anthropologist at La Spaienza University in Rome, has been leading excavations at the site - Aalad-Amo  for several years.

The prints were discovered moving north to south, alongside prints left by an extinct species of antelope that had been preserved when the lake flooded and the sand hardened.

Speaking to MailOnline, Professor Coppa said the footprints were made by 'more than one individual' and could reveal new details about the foot anatomy and movement of these human ancestors.

He said: 'Due to their ephemeral nature in soft sediments, footprints tend to be altered and eroded very quickly.

The preservation of the imprints of footsteps is an exceptional phenomenon representing a glimpse of the lives of Homo erectus individuals in motion in their ecosystem hundreds of thousand years ago.

'Homo erectus a key species in human evolution that evolved into the big-brained ancestors of modern people today.

Anthropologists say the footprint were made by 'more than one' individual and promise to reveal new insights into how humans evolved to walk upright. The prints reveal details of the toes, footshape and arch. A scan of the sandstone slab with the footprints is pictured

The footprints were found at a site called Aalad-Amo in the middle of the Danakil desert in southern Eritrea (shown on map above)

'The print shapes resemble the prints made by modern humans, suggesting an overall modern foot shape and way of walking.

'Fossil sets of footprints are very rare. Those found in Eritrea show details of the toes, and the foot shape includes a prominent arch and big toe in line with the others, features that make human feet distinctive and efficient when walking and running.'

The prints were discovered by Professor Coppa and his team's local Eritrean guide, Hussain.

At first glance the footprints appear to be very similar to those left by modern humans, but closer examination has revealed they belonged to a far older species.

Professor Coppa and his colleagues at the National Museum of Eritrea are now conducting scanning and dating of the rock in the hope of confirming who they belong to.

The prints (pictured) were initially spotted by the research teams local guide. They are the odlest footprints to be found in Eritrea and were discovered at a site where the remains of five to six Homo erectus individuals have been discovered in the past

They are, however, far from being the oldest footprints left by an early human species that have been discovered.

A series of tracks discovered in Laetoli in Tanzania date back 3.7 million years and were probably left by an early human species like Australopithecus afarensis.

Last year anthropologists announced the discovery of dozens of human footprints in Kenya dating back 1.5 million years.

They are thought to have been left by a group of Homo erectus during an antelope hunt.

In 2014 researchers announced they had discovered what are thought to be the oldest human footprints outside Africa, discovered in Happisburgh, Norfolk.

The footprints were found alongside the hoof prints of extinct antelope (pictured), leading researchers to believe they may have been left by a hunting party tracking the antelope

Around 50 prints, of both adults and children, are thought to be at least 850,000 years old and may have been made by an extinct human ancestor known as Homo antecessor.

Professor Coppa said the age of the prints discovered in Danakil have yet to be confirmed but if they relate to the human remains found in the surround area they are likely to be around 800,000 years old.

Speaking to MailOnline, Professor Coppa said: 'At that time, we have evidence that only Homo erectus lived in that area. The level where we find the footprints is well dated geologically.

'It was probably more than one individual who left the footprints, but we need more accurate evidence to be more accurate.

Homo erectus (skull pictured left, reconstruction pictured right) is thought to have been a key early human ancestor in our own evolution. Although it had a smaller brain than modern humans, Homo erectus is thought to have mastered the use of fire and basic stone tools

'We will return in November to try to have a broader and more detailed documentation that can look at body mass, height, weight and sociability of the group.'

His team have discovered several teeth and part of a skull at the two sites in Danakil in the past. They say they have found the remains of five or six individuals.

At the time the area is thought to have been covered in a vast lake surrounded by grassland.

Whether this band of early human hunters managed to snare any prey during their hunt is not clear, but the marks they left in the sand as they closed in have survived the test of time.

Professor Coppa said he believes there may be far more footprint at the site waiting to be uncovered.

He said: 'The probable Homo erectus footprints found at Aalad-Amoare preserved in an indurated silty sand sediment that was uncovered by water erosion, and may represent multiple individuals.
With laptops and hand-held devices slowly replacing pencils and paper, some educators question the importance of teaching handwriting in the classroom.

Although some say it is a nonessential motor skill, researchers have found evidence that in fact it helps children pay attention to and understand the written language.

Brain scans in children who did not yet know how to print revealed they are unable to distinguish letters and respond to them 'the same as to a triangle'.

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Although some say it is a nonessential motor skill, researchers have found evidence this skill helps children pay attention to and understand the written language. Brain scans in children who did not yet know how to print yet revealed they are unable to distinguish letters and respond to them 'the same as to a triangle'

WHY DO EXPERTS BELIEVE HANDWRITING IS STILL IMPORTANT? You have to see letters in 'the mind's eye' in order to create them on a piece of paper she explained. And brain scans have shown that the activation in this region is different in children who have issues with handwriting. Experts say children with good handwriting may earn better grades just for the simple fact their work is easier to read. Indiana University conducted the scans on children who did not know how to print yet and found the brains cannot distinguish letters and see them the same as a triangle. Another set of scans were taken after the children were taught how to print and they suggested that the 'patterns of brain activation in response to letters showed increased activation of that reading network, including the fusiform gyrus, along with the inferior frontal gyrus and posterior parietal regions of the brain, which adults use for processing written language  even though the children were still at a very early level as writers'. Advertisement

'This myth that handwriting is just a motor skill is just plain wrong,' Dr. Virginia Berninger, educational professor at the University of Washington, told The New York Times.

'We use motor parts of our brain, motor planning, motor control, but what's very critical is a region of our brain where the visual and language come together, the fusiform gyrus, where visual stimuli actually become letters and written words.'

You have to see letters in 'the mind's eye' in order to create them on a piece of paper she explained.

And brain scans have shown that the activation in this region is different in children who have issues with handwriting.

Laura Dinehart, an associate professor of early childhood education at Florida International University, highlighted a range of ways handwriting and academic achievement are linked.

She explained that children with good handwriting may earn better grades just for the simple fact their work is easier to read.

Another is, those who have trouble with writing might believe too much of their time is placed on forming letters and they will cut corners when it comes to presenting the content.

When it comes to children in low-income families, Dr. Dinehart believes those who established early fine-motor writing skills by prekindergarten were better students as they progressed through different grade levels.

She explored this notion future in preschool years and other ways to help children develop the skills needed for a complex task that requires coordination of cognitive, motor and neuromuscular processes.

Other works have been done with the focus of the adult brain.

Imagery of an adult brain scan showed a region that is activated when we read and it includes areas linked to motor processes.

You have to see letters in 'the mind's eye' in order to create them on a piece of paper she explained. And brain scans have shown that the activation in this region is different in children who have issues with handwriting. Experts also believe handwriting is essential for academic achievement

This knowledge suggests that the cognitive process of reading could be related to the motor process of forming letters.

WRITING'S ON THE WALL? Four in 10 Brits rely on predictive text and increasingly rely on it for their spelling, with one in four regularly using abbreviations or 'text talk.' LOL (laugh out loud), U (you) and FYI (for your information) are the most regularly used abbreviations. Today, creating a shopping list, taking notes in a meeting or even wishing someone a happy birthday are more often done via electronic means. One third said when they do write something down, they often struggle to read their own writing when coming back to it later on. And nearly half (44 percent) said that their scribing is neither nice nor easy to read. One sixth of Brits don't even think handwriting should still be taught in schools. One in three Brits describe handwriting as 'nice' but not something they would want to do every day. Advertisement

Continuing with brain scans as a tool, Karin James of Indiana University conducted the scans on children who did not know how to print yet.

'Their brains don't distinguish letters; they respond to letters the same as to a triangle.' She explained.

James took another set of scans after the children were taught how to print and found 'patterns of brain activation in response to letters showed increased activation of that reading network, including the fusiform gyrus, along with the inferior frontal gyrus and posterior parietal regions of the brain, which adults use for processing written language  even though the children were still at a very early level as writers'.

'The letters they produce themselves are very messy and variable, and that's actually good for how children learn things,' Dr. James said.

'That seems to be one big benefit of handwriting.'

For typically developing young children, typing the letters doesn't seem to generate the same brain activation.

But one school in Finland eliminated cursive writing from its curriculum, reflects how typing skills are now more relevant than handwriting.

Minna Harmanen from the National Board of Education told Savon Sanomat that 'fluent typing skills are an important national competence'.

It follows changes made to the Common Core Standards Initiative in the US, in September 2013, in which the US similarly removed cursive handwriting as a compulsory skill.

As of last year, 43 states had adopted the standard, Maryland had endorsed it, Indiana had withdrawn, Oklahoma and South Carolina had repealed it, and the rest of the states were non-members or had not adopted it.

North Carolina additionally passed the Back to Basics bill to reintroduce cursive into the classroom, which led to a number of complaints.

A predominant criticism is that, while handwriting is important, cursive handwriting is no longer deemed necessary.

Reports have found that by the age of eight, children can already type faster than they can hand write. But brain scans of those who can write by hand show an increased activation in the area linked to reading and is different from those who have trouble forming letters on paper

'Most [people] would agree that everyone should at least be able to pick up a pen or pencil and craft a message that others can read,' said Misty Adoniou, senior lecturer in language, literacy and TESL at University of Canberra.

'But beyond legibility, does it matter how you form your letters when you hand write?'

Also last year, LeapFrog's learning designer Dr. Jody Sherman LeVos told MailOnline that schools are already ditching pens and paper for tablets.

She said there is an emerging focus on skills that go beyond the core curriculum, including skills such as collaboration, grit and perseverance, music and creativity, and problem solving skills.

'Technology can encourage and support numerous child development and educational objectives, such as physical activity and health,' explained Dr LeVos.

'And there is a body of research supporting the notion that children learn best when they're having fun.'

But as Ms Adoniou concluded: 'With so many things to do in a school day, it is hard to see why dedicated handwriting lessons persist.

'No matter how standardised we attempt to make handwriting, we all end up with our own style.

'So perhaps there are better things to do in the school day than have children complete pages of handwriting exercises.

'Perhaps we'd do just as well to let children play with drawing and writing implements and find their own style.'
Would show in real time where objects are in orbit

would allow military commanders to see

The US military has revealed plans for a hi-tech holographic 'space command'.

It would allow military bosses to see in an instant where everything from enemy satellites to orbiting space stations were.

Darpa says they system will help the monitor enemy threats in space.

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The Hallmark 'space command' would allow military bosses to see in an instant where everything from enemy satellites to orbiting space stations were.

WHY IT IS NEEDED The volume of Earth's operational space domain is hundreds of thousands times larger than the Earth's oceans. It contains thousands of objects hurtling at tens of thousands of miles per hour. The scales and speeds in this extreme environment are difficult enough to grasp conceptually, let alone operationally, as is required for commanders overseeing the nation's increasingly critical space assets. Advertisement

'We envision a system that would fuse information from diverse sources and vastly reduce the overall time required to make and execute decisions and observe results,' said Brad Tousley, director of DARPA's Tactical Technology Office (TTO), which oversees Hallmark, the name of the project.

'For example, an intuitive user interface incorporating 3-D visualization technology would present complex information in novel ways and provide commanders with unprecedented awareness and comprehension.'

Darpa hopes to set up a test version of the system to allow it to simulate space battles and other potential uses.

'An advanced testbed featuring playback and simulation capabilities would significantly facilitate research and development activities, experiments, and exercises to evaluate new technologies for their impact on space command and control capabilities,' it said.

Current space domain awareness tools and technologies were developed when there were many fewer objects in space.

'Only a few nations could even place satellites in orbit, and those orbits were easily predictable without advanced software tools,' said Darpa.

'Military commanders responsible for situational awareness and command and control of assets in space know all too well the challenge that comes from the vast size of the space domain.

The volume of Earth's operational space domain is hundreds of thousands times larger than the Earth's oceans.

It contains thousands of objects hurtling at tens of thousands of miles per hour.

The debris field shown in the image is an artists impression based on actual data. However, the debris objects are shown at an exaggerated size to make them visible at the scale shown. It shows at the end of August 2015, there were 4 077 satellites orbiting the Earth, which equates to 56.63% of all satellites ever launched.

The scales and speeds in this extreme environment are difficult enough to grasp conceptually, let alone operationally, as is required for commanders overseeing the nation's increasingly critical space assets.

The Hallmark project aims to design, develop, and maintain a state-of-the-art enterprise software architecture that would be flexible, scalable, secure, and capable of supporting tools and data from diverse sources, Darpa said.

'The architecture would need to support the ability to model current and future space situational awareness and command and control tools, capabilities, subsystems, and systems, as well as external capabilities and interfaces to support air, cyber, land, and maritime environments.'

After the initial test, the Hallmark Space Evaluation and Analysis Capability will be located in Northern Virginia.
spots like Las Vegas and Corfu come in for heavy criticism

Cities aren't for everyone. And even fans of exciting, bustling metropoles can find some urban sprawls too extreme to enjoy when they visit.

Travellers have been sharing details of the cities they would never go back to, and some of their choices are surprising.

While many feature places such as Beijing, Las Vegas and Dubai high on their bucket lists, those who have trodden the path instead describe polluted, bland or ugly destinations that are best avoided.

Dubai has been criticised by a former visitor to the city for being 'fake'

In a Reddit post, hundreds of disgruntled travellers named and shamed the vacation spots that they regretted wasting valuable holiday time on.

One of the biggest criticisms seemed to centre around newer cities, which were built in the last 100 years as magnets for holidaymakers.

This included the popular tourist hotspot Las Vegas, which was criticised for its ugly architecture.

A user called SuperDude said: 'It was amazing how ugly the place was! So many run-down buildings right next to tacky new structures and none of them match each other. Hideous city.'

A similar criticism was levelled at Dubai by Thokeshwar, who said: 'Looking past its glitz and glamour, it's just feels fake.

'Also the discrimination, if you're an Arab the service you receive will be on a whole new level than compared to a westerner or Asians.'

Las Vegas is a popular tourist spot but one former visitor did not enjoy the architecture

For other cities, the attitudes of the locals was the feature that made the area so unpleasant to visit.

Naples in Italy is famous for its beautiful buildings and inventing pizza, but it has stuck in other visitors' minds for its aggressive drivers.

A user called Usa-is said: 'Italian drivers are already aggressive, which is fine, but Naples takes this to a whole new level.

'Taxis will take two parties to the same hotel [sharing a cab] and charge each party full price [and I came across a] pizzeria with a wood fire oven, using wood from old coffins.'

The same was said of San Francisco in California, except the city's homeless population was criticised instead of the local cabbies.

One user called MyNervesHurt said: 'I hate the fact that homeless people there EXPECT people to just give them a handout, [they will] aggressively get in your face and ask for your money.'

The number of tourists flocking to Florence every week ruined the trip for one traveller

These issues seem to pale in comparison to Nessie7's experience of the living in Cali, Columbia though.

She said of her time in the city: 'Spent two months there, and experienced eight-nine attempted robberies, and an armed robbery of the hostel I was staying at.'

Elsewhere, some cities became victims of their own success.

For example in Florence, Italy, most of the blame was directed at fellow visitors by B00mgoesthedynamit3, who said: 'It's not a bad place by any means [apart from the] hordes of tourists, lines for every attraction, people peddling stuff every two feet/people also trying to rob you..

'Just go to Siena about 30ish miles away and have an immensely better experience with a fraction of the hassle.'

Tourists and smog pollution at the Forbidden City in Tiananmen Square in Beijing

Florence isn't alone - a town or city's popularity can often be its downfall it seems,with Corfu in Greece also criticised for being a tourist trap.

JoeyBulgaria said of the place: 'It was the most generic touristy city I've ever been to.

'It didn't seem like there was anything that city had which you couldn't find a better version of in another Greek city.

'It's just salespeople selling expensive gift type things, and markets and shopping.'

Meanwhile in Beijing, a tourist called BadLondon had their trip ruined by the dense smog that often settles on the city.

They said: 'The smog is terrible! It's like the whole city is set inside a car exhaust.'
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Holidaymakers may one day be able to fly from London to New York in less than three hours if this supersonic aircraft ever graces the skies.

The radical concept from designer Oscar Vinals would reach a top speed of Mach 3 (approximately 2,300mph)  cutting transatlantic journey times in half.

Vinals double-decker plane, called Flash Falcon, resembles a bird or even a spaceship and is intended to be an eco-friendly aircraft that is powered by nuclear fusion energy.

Flash Falcon would have a capacity for 250 passengers, who would enjoy comfortable cabins while travelling at three times the speed of sound, said Barcelona-based Vinals.

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Designer Oscar Vinals radical concept would reach a top speed of Mach 3 (approximately 2,300mph)  cutting transatlantic journey times

Vinals double-decker plane, called Flash Falcon, resembles a spaceship and is intended to be an eco-friendly aircraft

Thanks to a thrust capable of reaching Mach 3 speed, the plane would fly from London to New York in around two hours and 30 minutes

Electric-combustion engines would tilt 10 to 20 degrees and allow the plane to take off or land vertically much like a helicopter does

Business class would be located on the upper deck, while a spacious super tourist class on the main deck would give passengers more personal space than modern aircraft, he added.

Thanks to a powerful thrust capable of reaching Mach 3 speed, the plane would fly from London to New York in around two hours and 30 minutes.

Flash Falcon would run on carbon-free energy, with a supersonic engine based on a portable fusion reactor, and six electric-combustion engines that would tilt 10 to 20 degrees and allow the plane to take off or land vertically much like a helicopter does.

Vinals said the supersonic engine, called a star jet engine, would be made from resistant and lightweight materials, and situated at the back of the aircraft inside an indestructible compartment to protect passengers.

Flash Falcon's shape includes a needle-shaped nose that is intended to eliminate the noise from a sonic boom and improve aerodynamics

Vinals said Flash Falcon would run on carbon-free energy, with a supersonic engine based on a portable fusion reactor

It would have a capacity for 250 passengers, who would enjoy comfortable cabins while travelling at three times the speed of sound

Flash Falcons wings would be able to change angles to improve aerodynamics, while the cockpit would be equipped with smart and holographic windows that display flight data for the pilots.

Its shape includes a needle-shaped nose that is intended to eliminate the noise from a sonic boom and improve aerodynamics.

Vinals said: I believe that in a very near future supersonic flights will return, but with the most significant technology and advances of the 21st century.

This aeroplane would belong to a hypothetical generation that would be equipped with technology based on fusion energy  the future green energy  which today can only be found under development, but in the next 15 years it could become a feasible reality, capable to generate great amounts of electric energy without the use of contaminant materials.

Flash Falcon's wings would be able to change angles - giving it the appearance of a bird - to improve aerodynamics, said Vinals

Vinals Flash Falcon would have a wingspan of 150ft  almost double that of the Concorde, which reached a top speed of Mach 2

Business class would be on the upper deck, while super tourist class on the main deck would have more room than modern aircraft

Aircraft designers and manufactures are anticipating a new era of supersonic travel and have revealed designs for a number of aircraft or engines in recent months.

Its been 13 years since the Concorde  the worlds first and last supersonic passenger aircraft  was retired from service due to increasing costs and a drop in passenger numbers.

Vinals Flash Falcon would have a wingspan of 150ft  almost double that of the Concorde, which reached a top speed of Mach 2.
One record was broken Sunday and the all-time record is in jeopardy today.

Thats the word from the National Weather Service after the mercury hit 93 degrees at Flagstaffs Pulliam Airport yesterday and could reach 97 degrees today.

If it does, that reading would tie the all-time high in Flagstaff set back in 1973. Sunday's previous high was 92 degrees in 1936.

Other communities setting heat records Sunday were Cottonwood at 113 degrees, Sedona 106, Winslow 104, and Prescott 102.

It was 118 degrees in Phoenix, 104 degrees in Page, 99 in Window Rock and 95 in Tusayan.

Todays highs will be the peak of the current heat wave, according to Weather Service, with thunderstorms developing Tuesday afternoon over the White Mountains and moving into Coconino County Wednesday.

That will cool things off slightly, with the high in Flagstaff Tuesday forecast for 91 degrees, followed by 88 on Wednesday and 87 on both Thursday and Friday.

An excessive heat warning remains in effect today for areas of northern Arizona below 4,000 feet, including Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The high in Phoenix today is set for 115 degrees and Tucson 111.
The mysterious world of the cockpit is almost always behind closed doors.

But now Dubai-based Emirates airline has revealed the world's first 360-degree tour of the cockpit of an Airbus A380 - the biggest passenger plane in the world.

Two pilots, Captain Thomas Ziarno from New Zealand and First Officer Abdulrahman Mohamed Al Busaeedi from the United Arab Emirates, are sitting inside the aircraft as they explain the different functions.

Two pilots, Captain Thomas Ziarno from New Zealand and First Officer Abdulrahman Mohamed Al Busaeedi from the United Arab Emirates, are sitting inside the aircraft as they explain the different functions

The pilots explain some of the new features in the cockpit. Above, a view of some of the buttons they can see

As they talk though the features, you can drag around the screen to look at each part more closely.

The pilots explain some of the new features in the cockpit, including computers that connect them directly to Dubai.

Captain Thomas Ziarno also compares some of the video and GPS functions on his screen to Google maps and street view.

The plane featured is the 79th A380 delivered to Emirates, making it one of the world's largest operators of the enormous aircrafts.

But the fleet is about to get bigger as 142 A380s have been ordered so far, with the next one is scheduled to arrive on June 21.

The Airbus A380 is the world's biggest passenger plane and piloting the aircraft can be extremely complicated (file image)

Captain Thomas Ziarno also compares some of the video and GPS functions on his screen to Google maps and street view (bottom right)

First Officer Abdulrahman Mohamed Al Busaeedi from the United Arab Emirates also explains some of the functions in front of him
This is the shocking moment a pilot in discussion with ground control was called a 'tool' and laughed at by fellow pilots of other airlines.

The incident took place at Dublin Airport on Sunday - one of the busiest days of the year at the hub.

It was overheard on the airport radio frequency, recorded and later shared online.

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The exchange took place between a British Airways pilot and ground control in Dublin on Sunday, one of the busiest days of the year at the airport (file image)

A series of exchanges take place where the BA pilot blames the ground controller for not informing him of an issue (left) while the ground controller held her ground and said that she tried to contact him (right)

According to the introduction on the video, the ground controller had been operating at close to maximum capacity at the time with about 15 aircrafts on her frequency.

An emergency landing at the airport meant that several aircrafts were delayed.

In a series of technical exchanges, the ground controller directed different aircrafts to their position.

But things started going wrong when the ground controller directed the pilot of BAW81D, or British Airways flight BA837, to point 'Charlie'.

The pilot of flight BA837 dialled in and told the ground controller: 'Ground crew have stopped the push (from the gate) because of Aer Lingus behind us'.

A series of exchanges followed where the BA pilot blamed the ground controller for not informing him of the issue while the ground controller held her ground and said that she tried to contact him.

After several exchanges, where both sides sound increasingly irritated, the ground controller said: 'I'm just too busy to continue any further conversation about this on frequency.'

After several exchanges, where both sides sounded increasingly irritated, the ground controller said: 'I'm just too busy to continue any further conversation about this on frequency'

Business then continued as usual until just before departure, the BA pilot informed ground control that he would be filing a safety report

An Aer Lingus pilot is quoted saying 'oh my god' while an unknown pilot called the BA pilot a 'tool'

According to the introduction on the video , the ground controller had been operating at close to maximum capacity at the time with about 15 aircrafts on her frequency

Business then continued as usual until just before departure, the BA pilot informed ground control that he would be filing a safety report.

This comment seemed to set off the other pilots.

An Aer Lingus pilot is quoted saying 'oh my god' while an unknown pilot called the BA pilot a 'tool'.

The ground controller ignored this and carried on professionally as the other pilots jumped in with more jibes towards the BA pilot.

Several people could then be heard laughing at the pilot.

Since the exchange appeared on Youtube on Sunday, it has had more than 18,000 views.

A British Airways spokesperson told MailOnline Travel: 'Our flight crew have great respect for the professionalism of air traffic controllers and the work that they do.

'Safety is always our top priority.'
Sydney socialite Bridget Holmes a Court looked blissfully happy as she posed for photos on her wedding day on Saturday.

The 27-year-old married long-term boyfriend Paul Bertelle in front of their family and friends at a luxury ceremony in Sicily over the weekend.

The pretty brunette wore a beautiful beaded dress in a series of social media snaps taken at the sunny European destination.

Just married: Sydney socialite Bridget Holmes a Court married her long-term boyfriend Paul Bertelle in front of their family and friends at a luxury ceremony in Sicily over the weekend

In one photo, Bridget and Paul are shown enjoying their first dance as husband and wife as they stare lovingly into each others' eyes.

In another, the blushing bride is shown walking across a lush green yard while coquettishly looking back at the camera.

Elsewhere, Bridget can be seen laughing with female friend who clutches a small bouquet of flowers.

Newlyweds: Bridget and Paul enjoyed their first dance as husband and wife as they stared lovingly into each others' eyes

Picturesque: Husband and wife posed for pictures taken at the sunny European destination

Stunning: The blushing bride walked across a lush green yard while coquettishly looking back at the camera

With friends: Bridget was seen laughing with her sister Charlotte (R) who clutched a small bouquet of flowers

Dapper: Paul and his groomsmen looked suave in black suits and bow ties

Earlier this year, Bridget complained on Facebook about the status of her wedding dress as the company she hired to make it was placed into liquidation.

It was revealed in April that celebrity designer Johanna Johnsons business owed $1.1million to the tax office and former employees.

Meanwhile, many furious brides-to-be went public after they learned they may not receive the dresses they had paid thousands for.

Bridget, the cousin of Australia's first billionaire Robert Holmes a Court, made headlines back in 2012 after being arrested for possessing cocaine.

Then aged 23, she was caught by a drug sniffer dog at Double Bay bar Pelicano while out partying with friends.

Police documents stated her eyes were bloodshot and her pupils were enlarged, The Daily Telegraph reported.

In August that year, she pleaded guilty to possession at Waverley Local Court and received a six-month good behaviour bond without a conviction being recorded.

Before dating Paul, Bridget was reportedly linked to Gossip Girl actor Chace Crawford when she was living in London.
As news broke of the tragic death of Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin on Sunday, his friends took to social media to express their grief.

Those sharing their distress included the rising star's colleagues from the Star Trek franchise, with Zachary Quinto and J.J. Abrams wasting no time in sharing memories of their friend.

'You weren't here nearly long enough,' the Star Trek director shared in a handwritten note posted to Twitter.

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'You were brilliant': Star Trek director JJ Abrams led the celebrity tributes on Sunday after Anton Yelchin passed away at just 27

Huge loss: Abrams, pictured in May 2012 with Anton, directed the young star in 2009s Star Trek and 2013s Star Trek Into Darkness

Family: Anton's Star Trek co-stars rushed to social media to share their devastation after Anton died in a freak car accident on Sunday morning

He added: 'You were brilliant. You were kind. You were funny as hell, and supremely talented... Missing you...'

Zachary, 39, who plays Spock in the films, also posted a heartfelt message, writing: 'our dear friend. our comrade. our anton. one of the most open and intellectually curious people i have ever had the pleasure to know.'

He continued: 'so enormously talented and generous of heart. wise beyond his years. and gone before his time. all love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief.'

'our dear friend. our comrade. our anton' Zachary Quinto shared a sweet tribute, calling the actor 'one of the most open and intellectually curious people i have ever had the pleasure to know'

Young talent: Zachary, 39, who plays Spock in the films, also added 'gone before his time. all love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief,' The duo are pictured in 2008 together at the premiere of Cloverfield

The Russian-born actor - who played Chekov in the Star Trek films, including Star Trek Beyond, which has already completed production and is set for release in July - died in a freak car accident in his own driveway early Sunday morning.

In addition to the Star Trek films, Anton is known for his work in 2006's Alpha Dog, 2007 film Charlie Bartlett, and 2011's Fright Night, most recently appearing in 2015 thriller Green Room.

John Cho, who plays Sulu in the films, took to Twitter quickly after the news broke to share his grief.

'I loved Anton Yelchin so much. He was a true artist - curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. I'm in ruins,' he wrote.

He followed that by posting: 'Please send your love to Anton's family right now. They need it.'

'Please send your love' Anton's co-star John Cho shared his sadness at the loss, while also asking fans to send their love to the actor's grieving family

Karl Urban was shocked by the news, posting: 'I can't believe it , I m fckn hurting bad !'

The 44-year-old star portrays Bones in the franchise.

When Zoe Saldana - who plays Uhura - heard of Anton's tragic passing, she had just landed in Cuba.

Her rep gave a statement to E! News, sharing: 'She is beyond devastated and first and foremost her heart and prayers are with the Yelchin family during this time.'

'My deepest condolences' Star Trek stars grieved the loss from their 'family'

Star Trek Beyond director Justin Lin shared: 'Still in shock. Rest in peace, Anton. Your passion and enthusiasm will live on with everyone that had the pleasure of knowing you.'

The Official Star Trek website also shared a message for the late star, posting: 'Please join StarTrek.com in offering our condolences to Yelchin's family, friends, colleagues and fans.'

Paramount Pictures - the film's studio - also released a statement, sharing: 'All of us at Paramount join the world in mourning the untimely passing of Antony Yelchin. As a member of the family, he was beloved by so many and he will missed by all. We share our deepest condolences with his mother, father and family.'

And stars of the TV series, Star Trek: The Next Generation shared their condolences and devastation as well.

Shocked: Fans and co-stars shared their disbelief at the tragic accident, while remembering the talented performer

LeVar Burton - who played Geordi La Forge - and Wil Wheaton - who played Wesley Crusher - seemed speechless as the former simply tweeted: 'OMG... Nooooo!' while the latter shared: 'Oh my God.'

George Takei, who played Sulu, wrote: 'Our Star Trek family has lost one of its own. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.'

Michael Dorn, who played Worf wrote: 'I was hoping this wasn't true. Such a talented young actor taken way too soon. Very sad.'

'Utterly heartbroken' Many wrote of Anton's talent, with Aaron Paul calling him a 'gift to this world'

And Chris Doohan, who played a Starfleet officer in the first two new films and stars in fan-created series Star Trek Continues, tweeted, 'I am so saddened by the death of Anton Yelchin. He was an amazing person. He always made me feel at home on the set. :(.'

The father of the late Leonard Nimoy (who played Spock, and passed away in 2015) shared: 'Heartbreaking to hear the news today about Anton. An incredible talent, lost much too soon. He will be missed.'

In addition to his Star Trek co-stars, celebrity friends such as Lindsay Lohan, Kat Dennings, and Anna Kendrick took to Twitter to share their shock and devastation.

'Crestfallen' Ashley Greene lamented the loss of such as 'unique vibrant light' as celebrities continued to share tributes to the late star

'Anton Yelchin was one of my best friends. Can't say anything that conveys what this feels like,' Kat wrote.

Anton's co-star Olivia Wilde - from 2006 film Alpha Dog - wrote: 'Anton Yelchin was a bright, brilliant talent, and a truly kind person. I was so taken by him, and won't ever forget his sweet smile. RIP.'

Aaron Paul shared: 'I am utterly heartbroken about this terrible news. Anton Yelchin was a gift to this world. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.'

Fellow former child star Dakota Fanning reflected on how she would always cross paths with the talented star.

Alongside a photo of the duo at a photoshoot, Dakota, 22, wrote: 'I don't remember when or why this photo was taken, but it was. Anton was someone I knew through others.

'Our paths crossed every so often and it was always a pleasure when it happened. He was as talented as he was kind. My heart breaks for his parents.'
As filming of the sixth season of Offspring is underway, disagreements over storylines and last-minute changes have reportedly heaped pressure on the actors.

And feeling it the most are the leading ladies Asher Keddie, 41, and Kat Stewart, 43, who are reportedly rowing over scripts.

According to New Idea magazine, the award-winning actress are at loggerheads with an insider quoted as saying: 'The thing everyone is noticing is the strain between Kat and Asher.

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TV siblings at war: Offspring stars Asher Keddie (R) and Kat Stewart (L), pictured on set, are reportedly rowing over scripts as pressure mounts between them

'It's gone to the next level., You can cut the tension with a knife.'

The source added: 'It's awkward to say the least... Asher and Kat are always very professional but life on the set is far from perfect.'

Indeed the two stars, who plays sisters Nina and Billie Proudman, have a lot in common.

Respected: Asher is a Gold Logie winner and recognised as the face of Offspring

Asher is a Gold Logie winner and recognised as the face of Offspring, while Kat is well known for her role in Underbelly.

Both are mothers; Asher welcomed one year-old son Valentino and is stepmother to six-year-old son Luca, while Kat has a baby daughter Gigi, three months, and a four-year-old son Archie.

Fans will recall that Asher's character Nina gave birth to Zoe following the death of her onscreen love Dr Patrick Reid at the end of season four.

Leading ladies: Kat (L) is well known for her role in Underbelly and is reportedly hoping to make as big an impact on the set of Offspring opposite Asher

And many have noted that 'grown up' Zoe happens to resemble her later father Patrick, famously played by actor Matt Le Nevez.

'I love that they've picked a child who resembles Patrick,' one fan wrote on Facebook.

Another penned: 'I've got issues.. I just looked at that girl and was so happy she looks like her Dad... Oh that's right, they're not real people (sic)'.

Drama: Ever since a social media campaign got the show back on-air, Offspring fans have been eagerly awaiting the new season

According to the show's official website: 'Season six of Offspring picks up 18 months on, with baby Zoe now two-and-a-half years old.

'With the Proudman family rocked by a heart-breaking event, Ninas story and her unpredictable, messy and often hilarious life continues.'

Main cast members including Asher, Kat, Deborah Mailman and Patrick Brammall who have all returned for the sixth season.

Playtime! Kat plays Billie in the popular drama, sister to Asher's Nina

Meanwhile newcomer TJ Power, famed for his role in Eat Pray Love, has been announced as a new addition to the show alongside Australian actor Dan Wyllie.

TJ is rumoured to be the new love interest for the protagonist but it's not yet known under what circumstances the pair meet.

However, what is known is that Nina's sister Billie, played by Kat, interrupts their little moment on the steps with a 'hello', and later Nina shrugs off the encounter in a new trailer released last week.

New faces: When filming for the show's sixth season commenced last month, the show's official Facebook page also shared a snap of the cast on set with new members and familiar faces

The one minute teaser also introduces an eccentric new doctor, to be played by Dan.

Ever since a social media campaign got the show back on-air, Offspring fans have been eagerly awaiting the new season.

The almost two-minute clip starts with the original promo before adding on what's titled 'the new chapter'.

Screen partners: Asher's character Nina gave birth to Zoe following the death of her onscreen love Dr Patrick Reid at the end of season four

It shows a range of moments among the Proudmand family, including Billie telling her sister Nina and brother Jimmy: 'The important thing is we're together'.

Instead of seeing Nina making her way down the hospital corridors in a green blouse, this time the new chapter part of the promo begins with the heroine of the story taking anxious deep breaths as a large car approaches her.

It then jumps to Nina tucking her growing daughter into bed in a colourfully decorated room, where Zoe is later seen playing with aunty Billie.
Neighbours star Kym Valentine welcomed her second child, a son, in April.

Now the 39-year-old has opened up about the struggles she faced following the birth of her first child, Millana, in 2004.

Speaking to Woman's Day the actress revealed she was left 'heartbroken' following the birth of her daughter - who is now 12 - because she returned to work on the Australian soap when she was 12-weeks-old.

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Hard times: Neighbours star Kym Valentine has revealed she was left 'heartbroken' following the birth of her daughter in 2004 because she returned to work on the Australian soap when she was 12-weeks-old

'I went back to work on Neighbours when Millana [who is now 12] was 12-weeks-old and then I started touring with Dirty Dancing when she was 11-months-old,' she explained.

'I've worked a lot of her life and I used to sometimes drive out to the Neighbours set crying, having left her asleep in her bed with a babysitter...It broke my heart'.

But now Kym has insisted she has learnt from the past and is looking forward to spending quality time with newborn Phoenix as she takes time off to play 'the role of a full-time mum'.

Heartache: The actress explained: 'I've worked a lot of her life and I used to sometimes drive out to the Neighbours set crying, having left her asleep in her bed with a babysitter...It broke my heart'

Staying: But now Kym has insisted she learnt from the past and is looking forward to spending quality time with her newborn son Phoenix as she takes time off to play 'the role of a full-time mum'

'It feels so great to finally sit on the couch for two hours and watch him sleep in my arms and not have to rush back to work,' she told the publication.

The new mother announced she and AFL star Trent Croad welcomed their first child together in April.

In a statement provided to Woman's Day, the couple said: 'We are beyond blessed to announce the birth of our beautiful boy.

'Mum and baby are both healthy and happily resting after labour and Dad is proudly doting on them'

Happy family: The new mother announced she and AFL star Trent Croad welcomed their first child together in April. They revealed they were engaged the year earlier

Kym and her fiance Trent announced their engagement in March last year. The couple have both been married once before.

She separated from Fabio Tolli in 2007 while Trent married Tanya Stewart in 2006.

The mother-of-two, who played Libby Kennedy on Neighbours, was already mother to 12-year-old Millana from a past relationship while Trent has two daughters.
She rose to fame as the antagonistic head cheerleader on hit television series Glee.

But Dianna Agron looked more like a high-fashion style maven than preppy queen bee on Sunday afternoon, as she stepped out for a coffee break in New York City.

The 30-year-old trailed close behind Winston Marshall, her beau of almost a year.

On the move: Dianna Agron looked more like a high-fashion style maven than preppy queen bee on Sunday afternoon, as she stepped out for a coffee break in New York City with fiance Winston Marshall

Agron cut a fashion forward figure in a modest frock in hues of chartreuse, black and white teamed with simple white sneakers.

The breezy knee-length dress was the perfect choice for the Big Apple's warming weather, as its unique sleeves featured a lace hemline that flowed in the wind.

The blonde beauty kept her hair in natural waves, completing the ensemble with a pair of clear plastic sunglasses and a functional tote bag.

Stylish: The 30-year-old's breezy knee-length dress was the perfect choice for the Big Apple's warming weather, as its unique sleeves featured a lace hemline that flowed in the wind

British-born Marshall fit his rocker profile in a pair of slim-line trousers and gold-buckled belt, a button down dress shirt that exposed his unruly chest hair and leather boots.

The Mumford and Sons banjoist let his bushy facial hair go a bit wild while hiding behind dark Wayfarer sunglasses.

Dianna and Winston were first being romantically linked in July 2015 when they were spotted strolling hand-in-hand in Paris and according to US Weekly, Winston popped the question late last year.

Began their romance a year ago: It's unclear when the three-time Grammy nominee and the 27-year-old Mumford & Sons rocker will wed (pictured above in June)

Meanwhile, the Georgia-born beauty has four films scheduled for release this year.

Dianna will next play former CIA operative Tess Chandler in Headlock alongside Andy Garcia, Justin Bartha, and James Frain.

And in the sixties-set nun drama Novitiate, the Glee alum portrays Sister Mary Grace opposite Melissa Leo and Denis O'Hare.
It is a special event that only comes once a year.

So no wonder Scott Disick wanted to celebrate Father's Day weekend with his eldest child Mason in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The dynamic duo looked in the mood for a raucous play date as they were spotted heading home after grabbing some food together in the posh Calabasas area.

Good Lord: Scott Disick looked like the perfect papa as he enjoyed a Father's Day weekend date with son Mason in Los Angeles on Saturday

The self-styled Lord was looking in fine form in a plain grey T-shirt, trainers and a pair of shorts that showcased his skinny legs.

However even the 33-year-old reality television personality would admit he was left in the shade by stylish Master Mason, who looked quite the dapper little chap in a striped vest, Bermuda shorts and designer trainers.

And it seems the adorable six-year-old was taking the concept of Father's Day seriously, as he made a point of carrying his papa's oversized phablet for him as they walked.

No doubt the pair had plenty of other things planned for their weekend, apart from grabbing some sushi at the posh Sugarfish eatery.

A helping hand: The responsible father made sure he held onto Mason as they negotiated a car park

Watchful eye: And he was also keeping his peepers on his boy at all times

In a devastating development for fans of the couple, Scott split from long-term lover Kourtney Kardashian after he was caught canoodling with stylist Chloe Bartoli in Monaco last summer.

It brought to an end a nine-year relationship that has spawned three children - Mason, Penelope, three, and nine-month-old Reign.

However they have remained on good terms, and the prospect of a dream reconciliation has even been teased on the family's show Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

Scott was previously said to have been in talks to star in a Bravo reality show described as a 'real-life Entourage'.

The whole concept for the show was said to revolve around the 32-year-old partying and hanging around with his companions, however the idea seems to have fallen by the wayside.

Good boy Master Mason: The youngster was taking the day seriously as he insisted on carrying Scott's oversized phablet as they walked

Playing happy families: They may no longer be together but Scott and Kourtney, here together earlier this month, spend plenty of quality time together with their brood
She's admitted that they 'get a bit weird' talking about their relationship.

However Sylvia Jeffreys had no choice but to open up about her romance with fellow Channel Nine journalist Peter Stefanovic, in a blunt and lighthearted interview with Katie Monty Dimond for web-series, Show and Tell.

Sylvia appears to blush at Monty's request to hear all the 'graphic' details of her love life during their relaxed chat in the 'On The Couch' segment.

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Blushing: Today host Sylvia Jeffreys revealed the details of how her and boyfriend Peter Stefanovic's relationship began

However, the stunning 30-year-old eventually opened up about how their relationship began in a more 'traditional' way, due to them both being on different sides of the world.

'We started pen-palling,' she said.

'It was old school and traditional.'

Long distance: The couple started out as pen pals and wrote each other letters while Peter was working in Europe as a foreign news correspondent

When grilled about what juicy notes their love letters contained, she simply said: 'It was nice things, about having a nice time together working together and wishing me well.'

The blonde presenter, who works on The Today Show alongside Peter's brother Karl, then gushed about how impressed she was at her man's courting skills.

'At that stage, he would've been a 33-year-old man.

'To sit down and hand write a letter and post it to you - it doesn't matter what's in that letter - but that is a gesture in itself.'

'Smooth move': The blonde beauty said their traditional and old-school beginning was 'pretty special'

'So that was pretty special. It was a smooth move, and it worked didn't it,' she laughed.

The couple met on The Today Show, and their relationship began when Peter returned to Europe as a foreign news correspondent.

And when Peter came back to Sydney, after many more letters had been exchanged, he moved in with Sylvia and her friends in their 'sorority house'.

Happy family: The Queensland-born journalist works alongside Peter's brother Karl on The Today Show, and Sylvia said the Stefanovic siblings are very close

The pretty Queensland-born journalist revealed that although their busy schedules mean they don't often 'go away for a weekend' together, they see a lot of each other because of their similar working weeks.

She said they both go to bed at 7.30pm and joked that their demanding schedules means they are 'so anti-social' during the week, but that they do manage to see a lot of each other.

The blonde added humorously: 'He's probably getting sick of me by now.'
City In The Sky

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Penelope Keith: At Her Majesty's Service

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By the year 2036 it is estimated that up to two million people will be travelling by plane at any one time. The challenges that will present to airlines  not least fuel demand and a worldwide shortage of pilots  will be huge.

But in 2016, challenges don't come any greater than trying to land a jet at Paro airport in Bhutan.

In the final episode of City In The Sky (BBC2, Saturday) we saw precisely why there are currently only 26 pilots in the world qualified  or prepared  to fly into Paro.

Dr Hannah Fry, left, in an earlier episode of City In The Sky on BBC 2

The airport lies in a valley in the Himalayas, but with peaks of up to 18,000ft all around, pilots can't see the runway until they are virtually on top of it.

If that isn't bad enough, the runway is extremely short, meaning a pilot has to then slam on the brakes or crash nose-first into a mountain. No wonder the airport only hosts a handful of flights a week.

Despite hairy landings like this and increasing numbers of passengers, flying is still the safest way to travel.

In this show, presenters Dr Hannah Fry and Dallas Campbell explained why boarding a plane is 50 times safer than getting in your car  and it all boils down to the most amazing advances in aviation technology.

Technology like the handy little gizmo that can detect a crack  not even the width of a hair  in an aircraft's bodywork months before it would become visible to an engineer's naked eye.

Meanwhile, at a huge control centre in Derby, Rolls-Royce workers were able to map, on radar, all of the company's jet engines that were in the air or preparing for flight at any given time. At the merest whiff of a problem, an alarm sounded.

DEBATE OF THE WEEKEND The New Tate Modern: Switched On (BBC2) celebrated the London gallerys 260 million revamp. As new exhibits included a pile of human hair and a supermarket till receipt, its safe to say the Yes, but is it art? argument will rage for some time yet. Advertisement

Everything looked good until a red light flashed somewhere over northern Europe. Were the passengers in trouble? No, it was just some bozo of a baggage handler who had reversed his truck into a plane's engine on the Tarmac.

Needless to say, the search for a more environmentally friendly form of air travel is paramount.

Leading the way was a team in Bedford with a huge Airlander 10 hybrid craft. It used a third of the fuel of an average commercial jet and looked like something Captain James T. Kirk would pilot. There was only one drawback: it had a maximum speed of 90mph.

City In The Sky has been such a fascinating series that it has run the risk of making nerdy plane spotters of us all.

Failing miserably to be fascinating was Penelope Keith At Her Majesty's Service (C4, Sunday). Last night, Dame Penelope was in Northern Ireland retracing the Queen's footsteps from her Coronation tour and visiting her official residence, Hillsborough Castle in County Down.

Considering the castle is by far the lesser known of any of the Queen's residences, you wouldn't have thought it would be too hard to conjure up some intriguing, historical facts.

Dame Penelope Keith is very engaging, competent and likeable on Penelope Keith At Her Majesty's Service

Instead, we learned that the house is thoroughly cleaned before Her Majesty visits and that the Royal Family and their guests like to dine on fine food. You don't say? And there we all were thinking she arrived to a pile of dust and ate out of a tin.

'This must be the throne room,' said Penelope, as she walked into a room with absolutely nothing in it apart from two, large velvet thrones. That was shortly after telling us that 21-gun salutes were 'rather loud'.

The only glimmer of interest came when we were shown old newsreels of a very young Elizabeth visiting on one of her first solo tours as a Princess.

She was accompanied by her aunt Rose (the Countess of Granville, the Queen Mother's sister) and it was touching and sweet to see a nervous Elizabeth face the huge crowds in 1946.

'You must be very proud, I know I would be,' her aunt wrote to her sister.

It's a shame the material Dame Penelope was given to work with was so dull by comparison because, unlike some celebrity presenters, she is actually very engaging, competent and likeable.
She set the Internet ablaze after attending the Tony Awards looking almost unrecognizable.

But Meg Ryan was looking more like her old self on Sunday as she attended the closing ceremony of the Shanghai Film Festival with a glowing smile across her face.

The iconic actress, who appeared to be doing her best to quash rumours surrounding her changing appearance, cut a figure more youthful than her 54 years.

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Divine: Meg Ryan attended the closing ceremony of the Shanghai Film Festival with a glowing smile across her face, after looking almost unrecognizable at the Tony Awards

Meg was sporting an age-appropriate floor length gown with floral embellishments.

The figure-flattering ensemble featured quarter-length sleeves in a black mesh material as well as a tulle skirt that flowed from Ryan's bodice.

A number of ornate appliques in hues of pastel pink, yellow and blue adorned the gown, which she accessorized with a single glimmering charm bracelet.

The Sleepless in Seattle star wore her blonde bob in voluminous waves across her shoulders and opted for a light makeup routine of mascara and cranberry lip gloss.

Red carpet radiant: The figure-flattering ensemble featured quarter-length sleeves in a black mesh material as well as a tulle skirt that flowed from Ryan's bodice

Can't help but smile: The You've Got Mail star wore her blonde bob in voluminous waves across her shoulders and opted for a light makeup routine of mascara and cranberry lip gloss

Ryan's glowing appearance overseas is a far cry from her time on stage at the Tony Awards just a week ago.

On Sunday night, Ryan inadvertently became one of Facebook and Twitter's top-trending topics for her appearance while introducing the cast of She Loves Me - which was inspired by her 1998 rom-com You've Got Mail.

Users criticized her suspiciously smooth face and plump pout, likening the divorced mother-of-two to Batman's Joker and Cry-Baby's Ratchetface.

'Someone erased her delightful, wholesome, girl-next-door look and replaced it with a weird caricature,' plastic surgeon Dr. Lyle M. Back - who has not treated Meg - told Radar Online last year.

Something's different: Last Sunday, Ryan inadvertently became one of Facebook and Twitter's top-trending topics for her appearance while introducing the cast of She Loves Me - which was inspired by her 1998 rom-com You've Got Mail

Woops: Users criticized her suspiciously smooth face and plump pout, likening the divorced mother-of-two to Batman's Joker and Cry-Baby's Ratchetface

'It looks like shes had multiple laser resurfacings, as well as way too much Botox and heavily pumped filler, especially in her overstuffed cheeks.

'Her lips also appear to have been overfilled, leaving her with a "Joker"-like smile. All the laser resurfacing on her face has created a weirdly smooth sheen.'

In a similar style to Oscar winner Renee Zellweger, the former wife of Dennis Quaid has scoffed at plastic surgery rumors.

All in the details: A number of ornate appliques in hues of pastel pink, yellow and blue adorned the gown, which the 54-year-old accessorized with a single glimmering charm bracelet

Not backing down: 'There are more important conversations than how women look and how they are ageing,' she told PORTER's Winter Escape Issue 12

'There are more important conversations than how women look and how they are ageing,' she told PORTER's Winter Escape Issue 12 back in December.

'There's a lot of hatred in the world today - it's so easy to judge. Imagine being a hater. How stupid!'

The NYU grad continued: 'I love my age. I love my life right now. I love what I know about. I love the person I've become, the one I've evolved into.'
She is usually seen looking fierce as she struts down runways for high-end fashion brands.

But on Sunday Victoria's Secret model Shanina Shaik showed a different side of herself to fans.

Taking to social media, the 25-year-old shared a rare flashback image of her younger self as she paid tribute to her dad Hanif for Father's Day.

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What a cutie! Model Shanina Shaik shared a flashback image of her younger self on Sunday as she paid tribute to her dad Hanif for Father's Day

Touching: Alongside the throwback image, the 25-year-old wrote: 'Happy Father's Day. I love you xx'

In the portrait Shanina, who was aged of a toddler, displayed a cheeky smile as she sat on her father's lap.

She was dressed in a white long-sleeves dress and had accessorised with a matching coloured headband.

While holding onto his daughter, Hanif rocked a thick moustache and a black and white tribal patterned shirt.

Family life: In March Shanina opened up about what her father thought about her lingerie modelling career after she was raised in a Muslim household (pictured for Victoria's Secret in 2015)

'Happy Father's Day. I love you xx,' she penned next to the adorable photo.

Back in March Shanina opened up about what her father thought about her lingerie modelling career after she was raised in a Muslim household.

'I was born and raised Muslim and I lived a very normal lifestyle,' the beauty, whose father is of Pakistani and Saudi Arabian descent, told Emirates Woman magazine.

'My father is very open to my job and understanding and he is very grateful for the woman I have become.

'Im a very sophisticated and respectful woman. I had a great upbringing and a great lifestyle with my sibling.'

Proud: She told the publication: 'My father is very open to my job and understanding and he is very grateful for the woman I have become'

The model and her younger brother Shah were raised by mother Kim in suburban Melbourne.

Shanina, who began modelling in her teenage years, finished as runner-up in 2008 on Australian reality television show Make Me A Supermodel.

And sporting an exotic mix of her father's Pakistani and Saudi Arabian roots with her mother's Lithuanian and Australian heritage, she subsequently scored a breakthrough when she walked in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2011.

Strutting the runway for the luxurious lingerie line since, Shanina's career seems to be going from strength-to-strength, with ambassador titles for brands like Just Jeans also under her belt.
She is perhaps best remembered as spirited teen Brenda Walsh in hit Nineties show Beverly Hills 90210.

But Shannen Doherty, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, looked somewhat tired and drawn during a meet and greet for the Supernova event in Sydney on Sunday.

The porcelain skinned 45-year-old, who portrayed as bikini-clad Brenda Walsh on the series that catapulted her to fame, was speaking about her hopes for a reunion with co stars on hit US show Charmed, in which she also starred.

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Rare appearance: Shannen Doherty looked somewhat tired and drawn at a meet and greet for the Supernova event in Sydney on Sunday after revealing her battle with cancer

The nineties: Shannen was catapulted to fame in Beverly Hills 90210 which aired from 1990-2000. Pictured with so star Jason Priestley

The raven-haired actress, of Irish descent, played witch Prue Halliwell in the US hit show from 1998 to 2001.

On Sunday, Shannen took to the stage to address fans in Sydney dressed in a woolly black jumper, jeans and biker boots.

She was seen arriving on stage,enthusiastically greeting her fans with an energetic wave, but it was hard not to notice her drawn appearance.

Rare appearance: On Sunday, Shannen, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in March last year, took to the stage to address fans in Sydney

For the event Shannen wore her long dark tresses loosely over her shoulders before sitting down to address her audience to rapturous applause.

The LA-based star spoke of her many hit TV series and films and acting roles over the years and said her hopes for a reunion with her Charmed cast mates would offered 'closure' for fans.

It was in August last year when Shannen revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

And in February this year she opened up about her health battle to Dr Oz.

Beauty in black: Dressed in a woolly black jumper, jeans a biker boots, Shannen arrived on stage and enthusiastically greeted fans with an energetic wave

The Heathers star explained she could no longer have children because of the treatment she is undergoing. At the time she also said that she would have to undergo surgery soon.

'I'm 44 and my husband and I wanted children,' the Charmed star told Dr Oz.

She also said at the time that the mass was still in her breast and she had not had surgery yet.

Her oncologist wanted Shannen to take a medicine regimen first to see if it would shrink the tumor.

She told Dr Oz she had not decided what type of surgery she will get.

Stop it! The former Charmed star was animated as she chatted to her fans

'Its between two of them and at the end of the day it will be up to my doctor and it could change the last minute,' the actress said at the time.

'Im actually going to a center, just to sort of get their general opinion and then I head back to LA and instantly go in with my doctors.

'You know, Im like, "You guys make the final decision. What would you do if it was your wife? What would you do if it was your daughter?"'

Shannen's cancer was revealed when she filed a misconduct lawsuit against her business managers that she claims had failed to pay her health insurance bill.

The lapse in payment meant Shannen didn't visit her doctor even though she felt a lump in her breast.

The former Dancing With The Stars contestant has since urged women to get their health checked

The serious look: The former Playboy magazine star addressed her fans from the stage at the Supernova event

The way it was: Shannen (C) is pictured with Holly Marie Combs in Charmed

She's back: The Tennessee-born star enthusiastically greeted fans with an energetic wave on stage

Beverly Hills 90210: She is pictured in a bikini with co stars Ian Ziering, Gabrielle Carteris, Luke Perry, Jennie Garth, Jason Priestley, Tori Spelling and Brian Austin Green
Ben Affleck was feeling blue on Sunday as he arrived at Los Angeles International Airport just in time for Father's Day.

The 43-year-old actor donned a blue leather jacket over a blue sweater along with blue jeans.

The Dazed And Confused also star sported tan sneakers and a bit of facial stubble.

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Feeling blue: Ben Affleck donned an all-blue ensemble on Sunday while arriving at Los Angeles International Airport

The fan favourite stopped to sign autographs for fans as he made his way through the airport.

Ben and his 44-year-old estranged wife Jennifer Garner have a 10-year-old daughter Violet, seven-year-old daughter Seraphina and four-year-old son Sam together.

Jennifer and Ben announced nearly a year ago on June 30, 2015 that they were divorcing after 10 years of marriage.

Father of three: The actor and director arrived back just in time to celebrate Father's Day

Their divorce is expected to be finalized this summer, according to a recent report byPeople.

Despite a recent family trip to Europe, sources said they were not getting back together.

'She seems adamant about going through with it. She denies that she is back with Ben. She actually almost laughs when asked,' an insider said.

Busy star: Ben wrote, directed and stars in the gangster drama Live By Night coming out on January 13, 2017

Fan favourite: Ben stopeed to sign autographs for fans at the airport

The divorce hasn't slowed down either Ben or Jennifer on the work front.

Jennifer has starred in Miracles From Heaven and Mother's Day so far in 2016 and has three films slated for release later this year.

Ben meanwhile made his debut as Bruce Wayne and his alter ego Batman in March in Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice and will reprise the role in Suicide Squad due out on August 5.

He also can be seen in the action thriller The Accountant co-starring Anna Kendrick, JK Simmons and Jon Bernthal upon its release on October 14.
She's never been the conventional kind.

And Ellen DeGeneres is proud of the fact that she doesn't fit a specific mold for a woman in her 50s living and working in today's society.

Speaking to TV Week, the popular television show host and comedian said she doesn't let her age define who she is or what she wants to achieve.

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In a good place: Ellen DeGeneres believes her age is just a number and that at 58, she is still finding herself

'I'm 58 years old and still love to play', said the star of Finding Dory, the sequel to the 2003 box-office hit Finding Nemo.

She added that starting her career at the age of 45 and surviving as a businesswoman in the television industry has brought many challenges.

Despite this, or perhaps as a result, she has evolved and grown as a person and professional.

Popular: The TV host said that at 58, she still 'loves to play', which is the reason she believes children warm to her as well as adults

The likable TV personality compared her journey in life so far to the famous wide-eyed character Dory, who she has played in the Pixar and Walt Disney films of the same franchise.

'I think I'm still finding myself,' she said.

'And I'm sure - as I get older - I'll find more parts of myself, as we change constantly. But I've had a very interesting journey, much like Dory's.'

Striving for success: Ellen, who came out as gay in 1997, says we still need 'more diversity' in television and film. Pictured with her wife Portia de Rossi in 2013

Ellen, who came out as gay in 1997, says we still need 'more diversity' in television and film, and she hinted at her interests in foraying into more acting roles.

She has enjoyed huge success with her daytime talk show Ellen, interviewing the biggest names in Hollywood and accumulating fans spanning from young children to 90-year-old men and women.

The talented comedian told TV Week she thinks her success and popularity are all about her being herself.

Finding fame: Ellen has enjoyed huge success with her talk show Ellen, where she interviews big-name celebrities and dances with the audience. Pictured interviewing Ed O'Neill in 2016

Happy days: The couple started dating in 2004 and were married in 2008 after the overturn of the same-sex marriage ban in California

And her ethos clearly resonates with people, as viewers and fans across the world tune in to watch her daily show, where she often dances with the audience and speaks with celebrities as if they're old friends.

She has also become famous for her kindhearted nature and generous giveaways, often supporting under-represented groups and communities, as well as struggling individuals.

Ellen and Australian-American actress and model Portia de Rossi started dating in 2004 and were married in 2008 in a joyful ceremony after the overturn of the same-sex marriage ban in California.
Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux were colour coordinated on Sunday for a dinner date in New York City.

The 47-year-old actress put pregnancy claims behind her as she rocked a loose black camisole top along with matching capri pants.

The Friends star added a pop of colour with open-toed red heels as she headed to Nobu for dinner with her husband.

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Dinner date: Jennifer Aniston and husband Justin Theroux enjoyed a dinner date on Sunday in New York City

Justin, 44, complemented his wife nicely in a short-sleeved black and white striped top, black jeans and black boots.

It was ladies first for the newlyweds as Jennifer led the way into the Japanese restaurant.

The couple have been spending time in New York City after returning recently from a romantic vacation in The Bahamas, and they recently denied claims that Jen is expecting their first child.

They were married on August 5, 2015 in Los Angeles after a nearly three-year engagement.

Double date: Justin and Jennifer are shown after dining with Howard Stern and Beth Ostrovksy at Nobu

Color coordinated: The newlyweds both wore black outfits for dinner at Nobu

Hollywood stars: Jen had her blonde hair down for dinner

Ladies first: The Friends star led the way as they stepped out of a black SUV for dinner

Jennifer revealed last year that she would like to start a family with Justin, and denied that she had deliberately put her acting career first.

The Cake star told The Hollywood Reporter in January 2015: 'It's been a want. We're doing our best. There's something bigger I'm interested in doing It can look like a baby something greater is calling out to me.'

'The accusation that I've put my career before the want, the desire to be a mother. This continually is said about me: that I was so career-driven and focused on myself; that I don't want to be a mother, and how selfish that is.'

Cute couple: Jennifer and Justin were married in August 2015 in Los Angeles

Pregnancy rumour: A pregnancy rumor based on a vacation photograph was recently shot down by Jennifer

Busy stars: Justin stars in HBO's Leftovers and Jennifer has three movies out in 2016

Jennifer has loaned her voice to the upcoming computer-animated comedy Storks due out on September 23.

She also can be seen in the Christmas comedy Office Christmas Party scheduled for release on December 9.

Justin stars in HBO's The Leftovers that was renewed in December for a third and final season.

Japanese cuisine: The couple met up for Japanese food at Nobu
The Kardashian-Wests began Father's Day on a high note, celebrating Kanye West with a posh lunch at Nobu in Malibu, California.

But as it turns out, the Can't Tell Me Nothing hit maker was actually craving a homemade dinner whipped up by none other than Kim Kardashian.

Quick to answer her loving husband's request, the reality star documented her culinary adventure on Snapchat, telling the camera: 'All my husband wanted for Father's Day was a home cooked meal so in the kitchen cooking!'

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'I couldn't ask for a better husband': Kim Kardashian shared a sweet photo to Instagram on Sunday to wish Kanye West a happy Father's Day

And by the looks of it, the 35-year-old mother-of-two surely delivered with a massive spread that included fried chicken, green beans, macaroni and cheese and corn bread.

Kim's kitchen was filled to the brim with nutritious ingredients she used to make Kanye's favorite recipes.

As for dessert, the Keeping Up diva couldn't help but voice concern for her ever-shrinking waistline with the expletive, 'I'm f*****' across a picture of baked marshmallows topped with indulgent cookies and banana slices.

Kim also shared a sweet message to Kanye thanking him for being a great time, as she posted a rare photo showing all four members of her family.

Chef Kim: Quick to answer her loving husband's request, the reality star documented her culinary adventure on Snapchat, telling the camera: 'All my husband wanted for Father's Day was a home cooked meal so in the kitchen cooking!'

Back to the gym: The Keeping Up diva couldn't help but voice concern for her ever-shrinking waistline with the expletive, 'I'm f*****' across a picture of baked marshmallows topped with indulgent cookies and banana slices

The mother of three-year-old daughter North and six-month-old son Saint wrote: 'Happy Fathers Day babe! Thank you for always putting our family first and being the best dad to our babies!'

She added: 'I couldn't ask for a better husband and more perfect family. I love you so much!'

Earlier on, Kim had paid tribute to family patriarch Robert Kardashian - who died of cancer in 2003 - with a touching post that revealed their final moments together.

Kim's kitchen was filled to the brim with nutritious ingredients she used to make Kanye's favorite recipes

Come and get it! A piping hot pot of fried chicken was also on the stove

'Happy Father's Day dad! You were the best dad in the world!' she wrote.

'The last conversation I had with you I told you that I was so lucky to have had the best example of what a dad should be and one day I will have kids and pass on everything you taught me.

'I'm so lucky to have had you as my dad. I love you'

Memories: Meanwhile, Kim also paid tribute to family patriarch Robert Kardashian - who died of cancer in 2003 - with a touching post that revealed their last conversation together

Family outing! The Kardashian-Wests put their best foot forward on Sunday as they were spotted in Malibu hitting Nobu for brunch to celebrate Kanye West for Father's Day

Before treating Kanye to dinner, the powerhouse couple arrived to Nobu looking fly as usual.

Kim showed off her hard-earned figure in a skintight tank and mini skirt as she carried a sleepy North into brunch at Nobu while playing her sartorial sass to the camera.

Kanye looked sharp for his special day in a loose-fitting, white button down, worn with a pair of fitted, white jeans.

She's got some front! The mother-of-two sported a figure-hugging tan tank top with a low-cut front that put her ample assets on display

Happy to be here: Kanye looked to be in good spirits for his Father's Day brunch, flashing a peace sign to fans

The couple were seen pulling a stroller out of their white SUV, and assembling the piece so it could hold a baby carrier.

The proud mama was seen carrying her sleepy, little girl, who had just turned three earlier this week.

The little girl's big day was marked with a mermaid-themed party, which was shared with her cousin Penelope (Kourtney Kardashian's daughter), who turns four on July 8.
Rebecca Judd has proved that's she a pro at maternity style.

The 33-year-old television presenter, who is expecting twins with retired AFL star husband Chris, was spotted out and about in Melbourne on Sunday, looking very dressed to impress.

Sporting a light pink faux fur jacket and fitted leather trousers, she joined her beau and children Oscar and Billie for a lovely family day out.

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Stylish: Rebecca Judd, who is expecting twins with retired AFL star husband Chris, was spotted out and about in Melbourne on Sunday, looking very dressed to impress

Rebecca's long-sleeved statement jacket still managed to reveal a hint of her growing baby bump, the stylish number contrasting her sleek black leggings.

Proving her penchant for colour coordinating, she slipped her feet into a pair of running shoes that matched her bold jacket.

With her luscious caramel locks worn in loose waves, the media personality completed her look with some chic accessories.

Bumping along nicely: She has proved that's she a pro at maternity style

Dressed to impress: Rebecca sported a light pink faux fur jacket and fitted leather trousers on the day

Family time: The brunette beauty joined her beau and children Oscar and Billie for a lovely family day out

A pair of sassy reflective sunglasses shielded her eyes, while a stylish Louis Vuitton handbag was slung over her right arm.

Meanwhile her husband Chris, 32, wore a cool and casual outfit for the family day out.

He was seen wearing a long-sleeved sweater featuring panels of grey, blue and a tan brown, the top teamed with a pair of dark trousers.

Well prepared: A stylish Louis Vuitton handbag was slung over her right arm, no doubt carrying her on-the-go essentials

Shady lady: Weather presenter Rebecca had a pair of reflective sunglasses shielding her eyes

Mix and match: Proving her penchant for colour coordinating, she slipped her feet into a pair of running shoes that matched her bold jacket

He was seen holding onto a plastic shopping bag, suggesting the family were picking up some everyday essentials from the shops.

In April, Rebecca and her beau, retired Carlton captain Chris, made the announcement they were expecting identical boys.

The married couple confirmed the happy news in a statement, telling Herald Sun: We are giddy with excitement but at the same time we are really shocked.

'We can't quite believe it. We were weighing up whether to go for a third. We thought we would give it a try, and the first go we ended up having twins, which was so unexpected.'

Chris and Rebecca were married in December 2010.

Looking good: Retired AFl star Chris opted for a cool and casual outfit

Happy times: All members of the family appeared to be in high spirits during the day out

Doting dad: Chris was very attentive to the little ones
She has been in her hometown of Perth for the past week shooting a secret project.

And on Sunday night Victoria's Secret model Bridget Malcolm put on a stylish display as she touched down in Sydney ahead of her latest photoshoot.

While strutting through the domestic airport, the 23-year-old put on a leggy display as she dressed in a tanned mini-shirt and a leather biker jacket.

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Model behaviour: Victoria's Secret model Bridget Malcolm put on a stylish display on Sunday as she touched down in Sydney ahead of her latest photoshoot

The Australian beauty teamed her trendy garments with a cotton blue sweater which she tucked tightly into her high-waisted bottoms and a pair of ankle boots.

For the transit Bridget wore her golden hair out and parted to the right while styled with a natural loose wave.

To match her effortless hair-do, she kept her make-up to a minimal, opting for a simple blended foundation.

Following her arrival in Sydney, she took to Snapchat to hint at her latest achievement, writing: 'What a week! Ticked three big career goals...can't wait for you all to see!'

Trendy: While strutting through the domestic airport, the 23-year-old put on a leggy display as she dressed in a tanned mini-shirt and a leather biker jacket

Fashionable: The Australian beauty teamed her trendy garment with a cotton blue sweater which she tucked tightly into her high-waisted bottoms and a pair of ankle boots

Bridget's short visit to Australia comes a month before she is set to walk down the aisle and say her 'I Dos' to fiance Nathanial Hoho.

Last month the model spoke openly about the wedding to Daily Mail Australia, even revealing she will wear a white lace dress from Australian label Lover.

'I am wearing a Lover dress and I am going to have my fitting for it in two days which I am so excited for,' she gushed.

Before teasing: 'It's going to be white lace and beautiful!'

She went on to add that planning for the big day 'is all sorted' and that she is 'just really looking forward to the day.'

She's a true beauty: To match her effortless hair-do, she kept her make-up to a minimal, opting for a simple blended foundation

So close: Bridget's short visit to Australia comes a month before she is set to walk down the aisle and say her 'I Dos' to fiance Nathanial Hoho

Bridget will walk down the aisle in on July 23, in central Pennsylvania, which she described as 'Amish country.'

Due to the wedding being in the US, the newly-weds will also have a party on Rottnest Island, off the coast of Perth, in November.

Bridget previously opened up about her upcoming nuptials to Daily Mail Australia, revealing that she's actually planning to have two ceremonies.

'We are having two weddings,' the stunning blonde said. 'Hes [fiance Nathaniel] a Pennsylvania boy so we are going to have one July 23rd next year, and one in Perth so two summer weddings.'

Bridget became engaged to her musician beau Nathanial last year after dating for a year.

Beauty queen: Bridget will walk down the aisle in on July 23, in central Pennsylvania, which she described as 'Amish country' and later have another ceremony in Perth in November
PHOENIX  Sierra Club and Native American tribal leaders are asking the public to urge Arizona elected leaders to designate 1.7 million acres around the Grand Canyon as a national monument to protect it from mining and logging interests.

A national monument can be designated by Congress or the president, and the Obama administration and the Department of Interior have already shown their support. But the move is controversial, with Arizona senators John McCain and Jeff Flake saying Grand Canyon lands are already protected. They say a monument would rob business interests such as the hunting and logging industry.

This proposal  extends far afield from the intent of the Antiquities Act by seeking to lock away 1.7 million acres of land in Arizona  an area larger than the State of Delaware  from hunting, livestock, wildfire prevention, mining, and certain forms of outdoor recreation and tourism, McCain and Flake wrote in a letter to Obama.

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry calls the proposal a monumental mistake.

Between lands owned and managed by the federal government and those it holds in trust for the Indian tribes, almost 70 percent of all land in Arizona is under the control of the federal government. Privately-owned land is the foundation of our states economic engine, yet less than 20 percent of land in Arizona is privately owned, the chamber says in a January position paper.

However, a recent poll conducted by the Grand Canyon Trust, which supports the monument, says a majority of Arizona residents who were polled favor the monument.

I dont think its a political risk, Laura Varon-Burkhart, a ranger at Montezuma Castle, said at a meeting in May hosted by tribal and environmental leaders. Eighty percent of people in Arizona support this and these are federal public lands.

According to the Sierra Club, the proposal is also supported by 21 Arizona indigenous tribes, including the Navajo, Hualapai, Havasupai, Hopi, more than 30 state legislators, and Congressmen Raul Grijalva and Ruben Gallego.

Supporters of a proposed monument met with Arizona residents in May, asking about 30 people to leverage their power as a constituent by talking to Arizona congressional representatives.

No matter what you think of this proposal, youre not powerless, said Sandy Bahr, the Arizona chapter director for the Sierra Club.

Nearly five million people visit the Grand Canyon every year, according to the canyon website, to hike, fish, take photos or meander down the Colorado River.

Heres what at stake in the proposed Grand Canyon National Heritage Monument, from people and organizations on both sides of the issue:

THE LAND

Supporters who spoke in favor of the monument stressed that it contains the Southwests largest unprotected old-growth Ponderosa pine forest, the Grand Canyon watershed, and the historic Kanab Creek and Red Butte, which are areas of significant religious and cultural importance to Native American nations.

We want to protect the remaining old growth, wildlife, cultural values and diverse habitat, Bahr said. We also want to see fewer signs about not being able to drink the water.

Republican Congressman Paul Gosar, expresses a different view in a statement about an amendment he proposed in 2015 to block the monument.

A unilateral declaration of the nearly two million acres in the Grand Canyon Watershed as a National Monument would stifle development, kill jobs and erode the extensive cooperation and success that federal and state agencies in Arizona have achieved to date, Gosar wrote.

WILDLIFE

The region offers unique wildlife viewing opportunities, such as potentially spotting rare animals like the Kaibab squirrel, a sub-breed of the animal that has a dark coat and feathery white tail. It lives exclusively in the Kaibab Plateau area.

The area is also home to species such as the migratory Kaibab-Paunsagunt mule deer herd, the northern goshawk and the endangered California condor.

However, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission opposed the monument in a 2015 release which states, the commission expressed concern that the proposed monument was to preserve and in some cases lock away these lands rather than conserve them.

NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES

Leaders of the Navajo, Hopi, Havasupai and Hualapai tribes supported a bill sponsored by Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, to protect the area. Carletta Tilousi, a Havasupai tribal member, said her people are spiritually rooted to an area estimated to have more than 3,000 ancient, Native American archaeological sites many tribes deem sacred.

Some of the regions natural features, such as the Red Butte, Yellowstone Spring and Antelope Spring are linked to indigenous stories centered around the creation of earth.

This nature to us is like a church and sharing it with all different cultures is the most important thing, Tilousi said, adding people need to know about Native American tribes connection to the Grand Canyon.

What is my purpose? Where do I go? Where do I pray to heal? All this is a part of our creation stories, Tilousi said, urging Arizona residents to support a monument. We are taught to care for the earth, the land, the animals. And thats how we are initiated into our lifes responsibilities.

We all have that responsibility to the land and, now, you do too.

THE DEBATE OVER MINING, LOGGING AND FARMING

Both sides of the monument issue battle over the impact on industry.

The state chamber, in the January paper, said commercial logging doesnt threaten forests, wildfires do. And the chamber disputes the impact of uranium mining

While proponents of the national monument designation argue that it is necessary to prevent uranium mining in the area around the Grand Canyon, scientists within the National Park Service have called the potential environmental impacts of uranium mining in the Grand Canyon region very minor to negligible,  the report says.

Gosar hosted representatives from the mining, ranching and farming industries at an April meeting to discuss the negative impact of a new monument, according to the Phoenix New Times.

But the Sierra Club and other environment groups said uranium mining has the potential to affect water that sustains millions of people. The canyon is home to more than 125 creeks and springs that feed into the Colorado River, the primary water source for the Southwest.

We believe that it is such a contamination, Tilousi said. We just had a 100-year flood 12 years ago that ravaged our canyon home (Supai village.) Whatevers on the top will flow down to our village and contaminate our water. That is our biggest fear.

A uranium mine in the Grand Canyon National Park, the Orphan Mine, has contaminated surface waters and is now fenced off from visitors.

Back in 1986, the Forest Service conducted an environmental impact statement, Bahr said. They said, the mine in the park really just had a visual impact. Well, we know now it has contaminated the soil, the water and it has already cost the American taxpayers $15 million in cleanup costs.

According to Bahr, the monument would not not affect private or state lands, or private property rights and it would not impact existing mining efforts.

It halts all that and keeps the land as it is, Bahr said.
Two of the Kardashian sisters were incensed when they learned that their brother Rob had secretly got engaged to Blac Chyna.

They were left to discover the news via social media and that caused a firestorm that aired on Sunday's episode Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

The bombshell news was learned during a family ski trip to Vail, Colorado - a trip that Rob was supposed to attend.

Eldest child: Kourtney Kardashian sided with her brother Rob on Sunday's episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians after the family learned about his wedding proposal on social media

The Kardashian women woke to discover, via the internet, that Rob had secretly got engaged to Blac.

'Rob is such a p***y,' huffed Khloe, 31, as she read out reports saying that Rob proposed in front of Blac's whole family.

'So he's engaged to Blac Chynaand you don't even tell your sisters?' she said indignantly.

'I'm just like ''is this real?'' How do we tell my mom?' said Kim, 35.

Felt slighted: Kim Kardashian couldn't believe it when she found out on social media about the engagement

Social media: The reality star was on her phone learning about her brother's engagement

'How does our own brother not tell us? It makes no sense, it's just so hurtful,' she added.

'That's so f***ed up that he did that,' moaned Khloe.

'I'm not covering for him any moreI'm not lying and saying we're one big happy family,' she complained while having makeup applied.

Not covering: Khloe insisted that she was done covering for Rob

Kourtney was more supportive of her younger brother's decision.

'My brother is the happiest I have seen him in a long timeI just hope it's all genuine and sincere,' she said.

'Finding out on social media left a really bad taste in my mouth,' said Khloe, who seemed the most hurt.

Happy couple: Rob and Blac Chyna announced their engagement on social media

Voice of reason: Kourtney said Rob was the happiest she's seen him in a long time

'It's almost like there's someone in his ear, telling him that he should stay away from us. I can't handle it, that's f**ed up,' she continued bitterly.

'Maybe he feels that you guys are judgmental because clearly you are,' Kourtney pointed out.

She then told Kim that she was acting like a 'f***ing bitch' over the matter after she called Rob a 'lunatic'.

That's her brother: Kourtney listened as Kim and Khloe moaned on and on about being slighted by Rob

The show had opened with the sisters taking Kourtney's kids for a parkour lesson.

They then sat around comparing grey hairs and discussing their absent brother Rob, 29, who is now expecting a baby with Blac Chyna.

'I think Rob has his life with Chyna, I'm happy that he is at least getting out of the house,' said Kourtney.

No fear: Mason boldly stated that he wasn't afraid of heights at a parkour academy and then proved it

'I just hope it will get to the place where he wants to hang out with his family again,' she added wistfully.

Meanwhile, Kris Jenner met with her friend Sheila Kolker to discuss the surprise family vacation to Vail in Colorado.

It's where they used to holiday when Kris' first husband Robert Kardashian was alive.

Family trip: Kris Jenner planned a surprise family vacation to Vail, Colorado

'Many happy memories were made there,' recalled the 60-year-old 'momager'.

Rob did not want Tyga to go, because of his history with Blac Chyna.

'That would put me in an an awkward situation,' he told his mother.

Party planning: Kris spoke over the phone about the family trip while her boyfriend Corey Gamble drove and her mom rode in the backseat

Kourtney had an issue with Scott Disick coming.

'Am I going to have to worry about him? Is he drinking too much?' she fretted.

She relented and decided to invite him.

Healthy meal: Kourtney ate a salad while talking to Kris about inviting Scott to the family trip

'You just need to keep it together,' she warned him over the phone.

The family took two private jets to the famous mountain town.

Rob failed to show up.

'I feel bad for my brotherit's like ''too bad for you'',' complained Kim.

Too bad: Kim said she felt bad for Rob missing the trip and said he was missing out

'I am so disappointed,' sighed Kris sadly.

As soon as Kylie learned that Rob wasn't coming she invited Tyga.

Kris had decorated their swanky cabin with photos of their childhood trips to Vail.

Fond memories: The family matriarch posted throwback photos of the sisters with their late father Robert Kardashian

She also invited their old family friends to join the festivities.

'It's such a cool thing that we're carrying on this traditionI can't believe that Rob isn't here,' said Kim.

Kanye West laid in the snow and made snow angels with his daughter North.

Snow angels: Kanye West made a snow angel for daughter North

Ski time: North rode between her parents Kanye and Kim on a ski lift

'Kanye's a really good dad, he has great family morals, how he always wants us together,' Khloe commented on the ski lift.

For dinner Kris dug up an old outfit 'from 1985'.

'You look like Elton John or something,' giggled Kendall Jenner, 20.

Good times: Kendall Jenner documented the family trip with photos

The crew video chatted with Rob and told him they missed him, but he failed to mention his engagement.

'Rob has some things he needs to work out. We are such a close family, it's just a different dynamic when he's not around, it's just kind of sad,' said Kim.

Initially Kourtney was displeased about Tyga's presence  because he might be a bad influence on Scott.

Bad influence: Kourtney worried that Tyga would be a bad influence on Scott on the trip

'It's not Tyga's fault if Scott wants to rage, Scott needs to know how to control himself and be an adult,' commented Khloe .

Tyga then pulled Kourtney aside to clear the air.

'I feel like you think I'm the bad guy all the time,' he told her.

Candid conversation: Kourtney and Tyga sat down and talked about Scott

Adding: 'But I feel like it's better with me around because I'm actually a friend that he values and listens to, but like, he still has to make a decision as a man'.

'There was a point when it was really bad, but I feel like I helped him realise what was more important,' he explained.

'He came a long way, he's doing a lot better,' he assured her.

Doing better: Tyga said that Scott was doing a lot better

The family then gathered for a game of Cards Against Humanity.

'This trip has been one of the bestbut I can't stop thinking about my brotherI wish he had come because he would love this trip,' lamented Khloe .

Keeping Up With The Kardashians continues next week on the E! network.

Game time: Khloe and Scott teamed up while the family played board games

Fun trip: Kris invited old family friends who used to vacation with the Kardashians in Vail
Since her father's passing earlier this month, she has expressed both her love and grief on social media.

And as Nicole Trunfio celebrates Father's Day with her husband, Gary Clark Jnr, and their son Zion, in the US, she clearly can't help but miss her own father, who lot his battle with cancer on June 1.

The model uploaded an old photo of her father, Joe, to Instagram, on Sunday along with the simple caption: 'I miss you'.

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Her idol: Nicole has previously opened up about how close she was with her father, Joe, who died earlier this month

In the photo, her father looks much younger and is rocking the same moustache as in his later years, albeit a slightly more youthful looking version, and looks effortlessly cool sporting a very retro-looking blue velvet jacket.

Nicole, 30, took to Instagram two days after her father's death, to pay tribute to him in a loving post.

She wrote: '#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, honestly (sic) and loyalty'.

Tribute post: She uploaded this photo of her father, pictured in his earlier years, to her Instagram account on Sunday, which was Father's Day in the US

'I love you dad. #mysoulmate #mybestfriend #thisangelismyfather Giuseppe Antonio Trunfio #RIP 01.06.2016 #letuspray.'

Last month Nicole jetted to Australia to visit her ill father, who was too sick to make it to her nuptials in Palm Springs in April.

Joe was diagnosed with appendix cancer five years ago and was told he only had 11 months to live.

Tribute: Taking to Instagram two days after her father's death, Nicole shared a black and white photo of Joe as a child, along with a heartfelt message dedicated to him

Happy family: Nicole wed Gary Clarke Jnr in April in a star-studded ceremony in Palm Springs. Pictured with their one-year-old son Zion

In 2014, the beauty opened up to The Sunday Times about the important role her father played in her life.

'My dad is my idol. He is a hardworking family man who built such a solid foundation for all his children,' she said.

Nicole and musician Gary Clark Jnr announced their engagement in November 2014, and welcomed their son Zion in January last year.

Down Under: Nicole and Zion jetted to Australia in May to see Joe after he couldn't make it to her nuptials in Palm Springs
She might not have followed her sister Jessica down the Victoria's Secret runway, but model Ashley Hart has proved herself a fashion force to be reckoned with.

The 27-year-old took to the streets of Sydney on Monday, in an outfit that not many would be able to pull off.

The blonde beauty teamed a metallic jacket and midriff-baring t-shirt with a pair of racy black leggings that featured a cut-out design, as she enjoyed a visit to the nail salon.

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Fashion force: Ashley Hart, 27, took to the streets of Sydney on Monday, in an outfit that not many would be able to pull off

Known for perfecting the off-duty look, the media personality accessorised with a pair of black and white Converse trainers, stylish wide-brimmed hat and black leather Hermes handbag.

Layering two shirts together in contrasting hues, Ashley revealed a hint of her toned torso as she tied the ends in a knot.

She let her signature blonde tresses fall naturally over her shoulders, and appeared to sport very minimal makeup.

Off-duty look: The blonde beauty teamed a metallic jacket and midriff-baring t-shirt with a pair of racy black leggings that featured a cut-out design, as she enjoyed a visit to the nail salon

Fresh faced: Ashley let her signature blonde tresses fall naturally over her shoulders, and appeared to sport very minimal makeup

In knots: Layering two t-shirts together in contrasting hues, Ashley revealed a hint of her toned torso as she tied the ends

In her element: Clearly pleased to be back home on home soil, the blonde supermodel couldn't wipe the huge grin off her face

Clearly pleased to be back home on home soil, the supermodel couldn't wipe the huge grin off her face.

Only hours earlier, the bronzed beauty was seen sporting another fashionable ensemble.

The slender model - who has appeared on the cover of fitness magazines Women's Health and Women's Fitness - teamed a leopard print blouse with an embellished Aztec-print jacket as she touched down at Sydney Airport.

Known for her bohemian sartorial choices, she accessorised with a pair of black leather pants and fringed boots.

Easy tiger: Ashley had all eyes on her as she touched down at Sydney Airport on Monday, donning clashing prints

The Aussie export was keen to share her excitement over coming to Australia, taking to Instagram before boarding a flight to Sydney.

'See you soon OzzieLand,' she captioned the shot.

Ashley's arrival in Sydney comes just after a girl's trip with close friend Renee Bargh to escape and spend time away from work and worries.

With plenty of sun, sand and idyllic backdrops, the pair appeared content as they travelled through the US and Mexico.

Ashley was thankful for a bit of respite as she took to Instagram last week, sharing a sweet snap of her and Renee enjoying a Mexican meal.

'See you soon OzzieLand': Earlier, the bronzed beauty took to Instagram in a fetching blouse and jacket to share her excitement over coming to Australia

She captioned the shot:

'All good things must come to an end? Well in Truth, life, love and joy are infinite.

'Yet I am particularly Thankful for the time and space given, to step out, breath, reflect, connect and of course some awesome girl time!!! @reneebargh

'Thank you for your unconditional love, support and laughter..May the #Treasures #Insights and #MagicalMoments stay with us, as we sign off on one of the Best #GirlsTrip (sic).'
Golnesa 'GG' Gharachedaghi went nuclear on Sunday's episode of Shahs Of Sunset and called Shervin Roohparvar a 'b****' while accusing the others of bullying and hypocrisy.

Nima Nejat over dinner during a group holiday in Belize confessed to 'enabling' his cousin GG with her drinking and partying.

'Hang out with your new BBF b****,' she shot back, gesturing towards Mercedes 'MJ' Javid.

Defending herself: Golnesa 'GG' Gharachedaghi accused her friends of bullying and hypocrisy on Sunday's episode of Shahs Of Sunset during a group trip to Belize

'Look in the f***in' mirror, all you motherf***ers have problems,' exclaimed the feisty 33-year-old as she felt ganged up on.

Shervin and GG then got into a screaming match.

'Did I not apoloogise?' she yelled, referring to a previous row that had occurred at a recent fashion show.

'Oh my god, I won the f***ing lottery, I can pay my mortgage because Golnesa apologised,' he shouted bitterly.

Heated argument: Shervin Roohparvar engaged in a shouting match with GG

On the defensive: GG was ganged up on during dinner and lashed out at her attackers

'She's not really owning it,' he decided later.

GG remained defiant.

'You know what they say, if a man shaves his arms and chest he probably shaves his vagina too,' she retorted.

Too much: The brunette beauty threw her arms up in the air after being challenged about her rheumatoid arthritis

Face to face: GG did not back down and yelled at Shervin to his face

Started it: Nima got the fighting started when he apologised to his cousin GG for being an enabler and turned the focus to her

'If you're going to stand up and get in my face like a b**** then you must be a p****,' she spat.

'The intervention clearly didn't work and she's back to her old ways,' sighed Reza Farahan.

Reza and his pals earlier had been speculating that GG might be faking or exaggerating her rheumatoid arthritis illness.

Old ways: Reza Farahan noted that their intervention didn't work and GG was up to her old ways

'I am doubting GG's RA more than ever,' announced the flamboyant 42-year-old.

'They can talk shit about me, so be it, I'm going to have a good time,' said GG, before she was verbally attacked at dinner.

GG later pulled Reza aside to confront him.

Feelings hurt: GG took Reza aside to say she was hurt that he was doubting her illness

Night walk: The night ended with GG walking back alone along a dark path

'It really hurtsmy teeth were going to break out because I was cringing so hard,' she told him.

'My results are in and I do have to start this chemo,' she told him, inviting him to come with her to prove it.

The show had opened at Shervin's house.

Great idea: Reza decided that a group trip might heal the rift between Mike Shouhed and his wife Jessica Parido

Reza was griping about the rift between Mike Shouhed, a 37-year-old real estate agent, and Jessica Parido a 27-year-old nurse.

The trip to Belize was planned to 'get them back together' - but Jessica did not attend.

'Let's go somewherenot some god forsaken camping trip or something though,' suggested Reza.

Trip endorsed: Mike endorsed the trip and hoped Jessica would go

Planning it: Reza called Mike to tell him he was about to meet with Jessica and planned to invite her to Belize

Reza then met with Jessica to invite her on the holiday.

'I don't think I'm going to go back to himhe cheated on me,' she said tearfully.

'He's a little bit of a dog, but I know he loves you,' assured Reza, advising that she 'crack the whip on him'.

Not going: Jessica informed Reza that Mike cheated on her and she wasn't planning on reconciling with him

After a booze-fueled journey the group settled into a swanky jungle resort near San Ignacio.

MJ wondered if she might have sabotaged her relationship with Tommy Feight by 'nitpicking' him.

'He bolted, he's worried I'm going to turn into my mother,' she mused.

He bolted: MJ revealed that her boyfriend Tommy bolted likely due to her 'nitpicking'

'I might have driven him all the way away,' she fretted as she left a string of desperate voicemails on his phone.

'Maybe I'll just call you back in five minutes after I poop,' she told him, after reaching his answerphone for the umpteenth time.

'This isn't a good sign, I'm just getting sent to voicemail over and over again,' she brooded.

'Maybe I need to read between the lines, maybe I'm supposed to live alone forever,' she frowned.

Shahs Of Sunset continues next week on Bravo.

Leave a message: Repeated phone calls to Tommy went unanswered so MJ left voicemails
The past few days have been an emotional rollercoaster for former Miss Great Britain Zara Holland, and she's not shying away from admitting that to her fans.

On Sunday, as news broke that the fallen beauty queen had quit ITV2's Love Island to be by her ill mother Cheryl Hakeney's side, she took to her Instagram and Twitter accounts to share her feelings.

Uploading a shot of herself wearing a yellow bikini while sobbing into her hands, she wrote: 'This sums up how I'm feeling, but knowing I've got incredible support makes me feel very humble. Thank u so much.'

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Emotional: Zara Holland shared a shot of herself weeping into her hands on Sunday, hours after it was revealed that she was quitting ITV2 reality show Love Island

Hours earlier, it had been announced that the 20-year-old, who was stripped of her Miss Great Britain 2016 title on Thursday, left the Majorca-set dating show to jet back to the UK.

A statement from the show read: 'Owing to an illness in the family, Zara Holland has left the Love Island villa to return to the UK. Our thoughts are with her and her family and we send all of our best wishes.'

Zara lamented: 'I'm so sad to leave the villa but it's important for me to get home and spend time with my mum while she gets better.'

Grateful: The fallen beauty queen thanked fans for their support in the midst of her sadness and controversy

She's gone: Zara announced she was quitting the dating show after her mother, Cheryl Hakeney, was taken ill

'I've had the time of my life on Love Island and would like to thank all of my fellow Islanders and the production team for all their support.'

Zara learned of her mother's illness on Saturday and made the decision to quit the show and fly home to England.

However, producers said they would keep the door open should Zara decide to return to the programme.

Close: Zara has rushed back to England to be with her mother, Cheryl Hakeney

Turmoil: Zara is seen breaking down in tears in Sunday's episode when she finds out she's been stripped of her Miss Great Britain title

The shamed beauty queen had been on the show since the first episode of the current series kicked off on 30 May.

After appearing to be unlucky in love on the series so far, Zara ended up having sex with newcomer Alex Bowen on Wednesday's episode.

Following the broadcast, pageant executives announced they had made the decision to strip Zara of her title, making runner-up Deone Robertson the new Miss GB.

They said they had strictly forbidden her from having sex on the show when they gave her permission to join the cast.

Shamed: Zara has been stripped of her Miss Great Britain title following her sex shame

Miss GB bosses told MailOnline last week: 'We feel it important to explain that we have no problem at all with sex and our contestants/winners being sexually active and exploring their sexuality with another consensual adult.

'This has never, and will never be a problem. However, we simply cannot condone a reigning title holder doing so on TV.

'To put it into context... if a school teacher took part in the show, that person would have a level of responsibility they would be expected to uphold because of their role, and are certain they would face similar consequences if they took part in similar actions on national television.

'For those saying going into Love Island, its inevitable that she would have sex, that is not true. It is not a prerequisite of the show that you have sex.

'We gave our permission for Zara to enter, as our current winner, under the stipulation that she did not have sex on TV. Zara fully agreed to this and knowingly went against our wishes.'
She's managed to raise two children while juggling a high-profile career as a cook and author.

And Nigella Lawson certainly looked ready for business as she arrived at the NSPCC dinner at River Cafe in London on Sunday.

The 56-year-old foodie looked fabulous as she put her celebrated curves to work in a chic black trouser suit.

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Signature glamour: Nigella Lawson, 56, oozed her sex appeal as she arrived at the NSPCC Dinner at River Cafe in London on Sunday

A satin collared blazer was fitted to perfection and cinched her in at the waist, which she teamed with a simple black T-shirt underneath, which covered up her famous cleavage.

Boasting structured shoulders, it went on to fall in to cape style sleeves - making a dramatic statement as she posed with her hands on her hips.

A pair of straight-leg trousers skimmed her legs, as she completed her ensemble with a pair of black boots.

Making a statement: She put her celebrated curves to work in a chic black trouser suit, which boasted slit cape style sleeves

Beauty icon: The London born beauty's chestnut brown tresses proved to break up the dark colour scheme and were curled upon her shoulders. Pictured with fellow celebrated chef Giorgio Locatelli

The London-born beauty's chestnut brown tresses were curled to perfection, while her make-up featured smoldering mascara and eyeliner and a glossy nude pout.

The University of Oxford graduate - who is known for her body-hugging outfits which show off her shapely hourglass figure to the max - didn't disappoint as she put on a confident display.

Despite being a pin-up for men across the globe, she revealed recently to the Australian Sunday Telegraph that she still slips into 'stretchy dresses' for her appearances on Masterchef Australia because it allowed her to 'eat a lot'.

High profile pals: She also schmoozed with talk show pal Graham Norton who added a quirky edge to his outfit with a polka dot shirt

After starting a career in journalism at the age of 23, Nigella understands the art of mingling with the crowd and she has made some tight pals, which was evident.

The stunner posed with fellow chef Giorgio Locatelli who looked slick in a cream suit and specs as he schmoozed with a drink in his hand.

She also spotted her talk show pal Graham Norton who added a quirky edge to his outfit with a polka dot shirt.

Radiant: Supermodel Eva Herzigova looked sensational in a black lace number

Fashion pack: David Furnish also turned up and put on a cool display in a patterned bomber jacket

What's so funny? Nigella Lawson and Richard Rogers shared a giggle as they prepared themselves for dinner

Meanwhile, supermodel Eva Herzigova showed off her svelte physique in a midi-length, fitted black dress.

Other attendees at the charity dinner included Sir Elton John's husband David Furnish and businessman Simon Reuben.

NSPCC is a charity that fights for children's rights in terms of preventing abuse, keeping them safe online and receiving an education.
He's the 17-year-old who's taking the culinary world by storm.

And ahead of his MasterChef Australia debut, Flynn McGarry admitted in an interview with News.com.au, published on Monday: 'People call me the Justin Bieber of food'.

'I've stopped focusing on my age but its obviously going to be something people talk about,' he added.

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'People call me the Justin Bieber of food': Flynn McGarry is the 17-year-old taking the culinary world by storm and makes his MasterChef Australia debut on Monday night's episode, setting a challenge for the contestants

The culinary wonder stepped into the kitchen at the age of 10 and hasn't once looked back.

As a result, in 2014 he was named amongst Time Magazines 25 Most Influential Teens and again in 2015.

He has worked alongside some of the world's best chefs and will guest judge on MasterChef Australia following in the footsteps of Marco Pierre White, Heston Blumenthal and Shannon Bennett.

Flynn is bringing his Beet Wellington to the cooking contest on Monday night's episode, in a Pressure Test, putting contestants through their paces with the 62-step dish.

In an interview on the MasterChef website, published on Sunday, the teenager explained the dish and said: 'Its pretty much the same way youd make a Beef Wellington but instead of beef its a smoked and grilled beet with a few little garnishes.'

Young talent: The 17-year-old culinary wonder stepped into the kitchen at the age of 10 and hasn't once looked back, making the Time Magazine 25 Most Influential Teens list in both 2014 and 2015

Get ready: Flynn is bringing his Beet Wellington to MasterChef on Monday night's episode for 62-step Pressure Test, set to put contestants through their paces

Flynn wasn't letting the contestants off easy with the dish he has put forward, adding: 'There needs to be pressure in the Pressure Test, so I had to figure out a dish that would bring that.'

Pursing his culinary career has always been his passion and he started home schooling at age 13 so he could focus on his skills.

At age 12 he began hosting dinners at his family home for their friends, which developed into a supper club called Eureka serving 20 guests 14 courses out of his kitchen and bedroom.

The star of the show: Flynn wasn't letting the contestants off easy with the dish he has put forward, adding 'There needs to be pressure in the Pressure Test, so I had to figure out a dish that would bring that'

Driven: Pursing his culinary career has always been his passion and he started home schooling at age 13 so he could focus on his skills

When asked by MasterChef if he had future goals he explained it's more long term and said: 'In five to 10 years I want at least one restaurant, hopefully.'

Now based in New York, the teenager is living on his own and in the process of setting up his own mortar and bricks restaurant.

And while cooking has been his greatest success so far he admitted that when he does have time off he likes to enjoy someone else's cooking.
She recently enjoyed a whirlwind holiday in Mexico and the USA before returning to her home city of Sydney this week.

And lingerie model Ashley Hart couldn't wait to strip off her clothes for a bikini-clad trip to Bondi Beach on Monday afternoon.

The 27-year-old displayed her flawless figure and shapely derriere as she enjoyed a dip in the ocean with a mystery brunette pal.

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Beach body ready! Ashley Hart (pictured) stripped down to her bikini at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Monday

Ashley - the younger sister of fashion model Jessica, 30 - looked happier than ever to be back on home turf after several weeks abroad.

She flashed her pert posterior in a strappy black bikini which clung tightly to her slender curves.

With her blonde hair styled in a messy bun, she was a picture of beauty while dancing about in the waves.

She also accidentally exposed her left nipple, which was partially visible poking through her bikini top.

Lovely view, Ashley! She gave onlookers a cheeky glimpse of her bottom by throwing out her arms and sticking out her rear

Flawless curves: The younger sister of fashion model Jessica Hart recently holidayed in Mexico and the US

Perfect day: The lingerie model flaunted her shapely behind and hourglass figure as the waves gently rolled by

Wardrobe malfunction? She also accidentally exposed her left nipple, which was partially visible poking through her bikini top

Ashley showed off her gym-honed frame in the designer two-piece, which featured a gold clasp at the back.

With her hourglass body on full display, she smiled confidently as she frolicked in the chilly waters and cuddled up to her friend.

Meanwhile, Ashley gave onlookers a cheeky glimpse of her bottom by throwing out her arms and sticking out her rear.

And she was also spotted readjusting her swimwear as the waves gently rolled by.

Playful: Ashley showed off her gym-honed frame in the bikini, which featured a gold strap at the back

A quick tweak: She was also spotted readjusting her swimwear during the beach trip

Runway ready: With her svelte frame on full display, Ashley looked remarkably confident

A bit nippy? Despite the falling temperatures, Ashley couldn't wait to hit the beach upon her return to Sydney

Hooray! At one point, she happily threw her arms in the air after being hit by a large wave

Getting wet: The Sydney girl looked picture perfect despite colliding with a big breaker

Looking good! As she walked back to the beach, Ashley's washboard abs and cleavage were on display

A skip in her step! The strappy bikini bottoms clung tightly to Ashley's curvy derriere

This month, Ashley enjoyed a girls holiday in North America with Los Angeles-based TV presenter Renee Bargh.

The best friends soaked up the sun in Mexico before flying to New York for a stylish city break.

Ashley announced her return Down Under by sharing a selfie from LA Airport on Sunday with the caption: 'See you soon, OzzieLand'.

Get ready! Ashley braved the chilly waters as she cuddled up to her mystery brunette pal

Breast of friends! After the wave hit, the girls put on an affectionate display by hugging each other

Good times: Ashley and her friend were all smiles at they took a leisurely stroll down the beach
Ashley Hart celebrated her return Down Under this week by visiting her favourite Sydney beach.

The 27-year-old model stripped down to her bikini and danced through Bondi with a mystery brunette on Monday.

Ashley displayed her flawless curves in a strappy black two-piece as she was spotted holding hands with her busty pal.

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Glad to be home! Ashley Hart (left) celebrated her return to Sydney this week by stripping down to her bikini and dancing through Bondi Beach with a mystery brunette pal (right) on Monday

The Australian beauty couldn't stop smiling as she skipped happily through the sunny beachside suburb.

She was seen laughing and jumping for joy while flaunting her hourglass figure in the racy swimwear.

Ashley - the younger sister of model Jessica Hart - appeared in remarkably giddy spirits for the mid-day stroll.

Home girl: The Aussie babe couldn't stop smiling as she skipped happily through the sunny beachside suburb

Smile! At one point, Ashley was spotted posing for a photograph while displaying the peace sign

Bliss: Ashley, the sister of model Jessica Hart, appeared in remarkably giddy spirits for the mid-day stroll

With her blonde hair flicking in the breeze, she looked cheerful and care-free during her girls' day out.

At one point, Ashley was spotted posing for a photograph while displaying the peace sign.

Earlier, the pair were seen hitting the waves at Bondi Beach and gave onlookers a glimpse of their ample curves.

You're having a laugh! Ashley only recently returned Down Under after a holiday with Extra host Renee Bargh

Bubbly: With her blonde hair flicking in the breeze, she looked cheerful and care-free during her girls' day out

Ashley only recently returned to Sydney after a luxury holiday in North America with Extra host Renee Bargh.

The best friends soaked up the sun in Mexico before flying to New York for a stylish city break.

Ashley announced her return Down Under at Los Angeles Airport on Sunday, sharing an Instagram snap with the caption: 'See you soon, OzzieLand'.

Flawless figure: Earlier that day, Ashley was spotted enjoying at dip in the ocean at Bondi Beach
She earned global fame playing the title character in 2010 fantasy blockbuster Alice In Wonderland.

And Mia Wasikowska was certainly a wonder to behold as she stepped out in Japan to promote sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass this week.

The Canberra-born actress, 26, dazzled in a stylish red dress as she arrived at The Ritz-Carlton hotel in Tokyo for a press conference on Monday.

Lady in red: Australian actress Mia Wasikowska (pictured) stunned in a stylish red dress as she attended a press conference for Alice Through the Looking Glass at The Ritz-Carlton hotel in Tokyo, Japan on Monday

Mia was a picture of elegance in the designer frock as she waved to the audience before joining producer Suzanne Todd and director James Bobin.

She styled her sleek blonde hair in a classic bob and accessorised simply with sparkly silver earrings.

The All Saints star opted for a slick of subtle red lipstick which matched her outfit and a pair of ankle strap heels.

Meanwhile, it was no ordinary press conference as the Wonderland-inspired stage was decorated like a Mad Hatter's Tea Party.

Press duties: Mia was a picture of elegance in the designer frock as she promoted the fantasy sequel

Style: She wore her sleek blonde hair in a classic bob and accessorised simply with sparkly silver earrings

Dressed to impress: The All Saints star opted for a slick of subtle red lipstick which matched her outfit and a pair of ankle strap heels

The fantasy sequel - based on the novels by Lewis Carroll - picks up with Alice Kingsleigh (Wasikowska) three years after the first film.

Having returned from sailing the high seas, she re-encounters Absolem, finds a magical looking-glass, and returns to the nonsensical realm of Underland.

In a recent interview with Vogue Australia, Mia confessed she is a total 'homebody' who prefers the privacy of Sydney's eastern suburbs to Hollywood.

Chin-chin! Meanwhile, it was no ordinary press conference as the Wonderland-inspired stage was decorated like a Mad Hatter's Tea Party

Private: In a recent interview with Vogue Australia , Mia confessed she is a total 'homebody' who prefers the privacy of Sydney's eastern suburbs to Hollywood

'I only feel that kind of public persona for very specific moments in the year, when Im on a press tour or a red carpet, because otherwise I have a completely anonymous life,' she said.

'Im super happy and grounded here [in Sydney], and a massive part of keeping grounded is feeling like I have created a life outside of films.'

Alice Through the Looking Glass is in cinemas now.
They suffered an explosive break-up last month after seven years of on/off dating.

And Lydia Bright has now revealed she has cut off all contact with her ex-boyfriend James Argent following their shocking split after many years as a couple.

The 25-year-old TOWIE beauty spoke exclusively to MailOnline about her relationship status as she admitted she will be 'civil' to her ex-beau, 28, when the ITVBe show kicks off later this summer.

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Sexy and single: Lydia Bright has now revealed she has cut off all contact with her ex-boyfriend James Argent following their shocking split after many years as a couple

Lydia's love story with her co-star spins a convoluted tale in which they were driven apart by infidelity and eventually James' reported drug relapse was the alleged final straw for his girlfriend.

It appears the Essex-born beauty has finally had enough as she revealed to MailOnline she has severed all ties with her crooning ex-boyfriend.

She said: 'We don't communicate and I think that's the best way for us. When you first break-up with someone I personally don't think it's a good to keep in contact.

'It wasn't a very good break-up but obviously we have to work with each other so we will become amicable and civil for the sake of that. It is for good this time.'

Onwards and upwards: The 25-year-old TOWIE beauty spoke exclusively to MailOnline about her relationship status as she admitted she will be 'civil' to her ex-beau, 28, when the ITVBe show kicks off later this summer

Cutting off contact: She said: 'We don't communicate and I think that's the best way for us. When you first break-up with someone I personally don't think it's a good to keep in contact'

Weighing in on the situation: While many people surrounding Lydia would be quick to weigh in on her romantic life, the boutique owner was stunned when former co-star Joey Essex proffered his opinion

While many people surrounding Lydia would be quick to weigh in on her romantic life, the boutique owner was stunned when former co-star Joey Essex proffered his opinion.

In an interview with Reveal magazine, he said: 'I don't think Lydia should take him back why should she? He's a nuisance! He's my mate, but if a girl made that many mistakes with me, she'd get dumped  fast!'

An astounded Lydia said: 'I'm very shocked that Joey said that. I appreciate it at the same time. Everybody has seen our relationship unfold for years and they've had to go through the ups and downs.

'They've seen James' behaviour so a lot of people have that opinion as well. It's freedom of speech and everyone has a right to an opinion.'

Moving on: It appears the Essex-born beauty has finally had enough as she revealed to MailOnline she has severed all ties with her crooning ex-boyfriend

Single and loving it! After seven years with James, Lydia insists she is embracing the single life - having been with the singing reality star since her late teens

Despite her recent break-up, Lydia is determined not to wallow in self-pity as she has been enjoying a host of holidays as well as immersing herself in work in her Loughton boutique, Bella Sorella, which she co-owns with sister Georgia.

After seven years with James, Lydia insists she is embracing the single life - having been with the singing reality star since her late teens.

She said: 'Single life is really good. I went away to Indonesia and Vegas. I just feel like it is what it is. You have to see it as the end of a chapter and the start of a new one and I'm just really enjoying my new chapter.

Living it up: Despite her recent break-up, Lydia is determined not to wallow in self-pity as she has been enjoying a host of holidays as well as immersing herself in work in her Loughton boutique, Bella Sorella, which she co-owns with sister Georgia

Loving life: Lydia was embracing her life as a singleton as she enjoyed a day at the luxurious Polo at the Manor event at Celtic Manor, Newport, Wales on Saturday

'I'm not looking for love, I'm just having fun being with my friends, being with my family and just enjoying myself. I'm not in any rush to move forward and if you sign up for a dating app you're really looking for love and your soulmate but I'm just taking a bit of time out.

'I was with James on and off for seven years I've only been three months single so I just wanna enjoy myself.'

Lydia was embracing her life as a singleton as she enjoyed a day at the luxurious Polo at the Manor event at Celtic Manor, Newport, Wales on Saturday.

Joined by her entire family, the blonde beauty enjoyed a fantastic day ahead of the fifth anniversary of her and Georgia's store which the girls revealed they are yet to plan celebrations for.
The contestants on MasterChef Australia faced a very difficult Pressure Test on Monday night's episode.

Heather, Anastasia, Chloe and Teresa were set a task by 17-year-old chef Flynn McGarry, to complete a 62-step recipe for Beet Wellington in two-and-a-half hours.

However, towards the end of the cook Anasatsia fell apart, walking away from her bench in tears, saying: 'I can't hold on anymore, I can't see an end to this and I think that I'm not going to get through today'.

Her worst fears were later realised when the emotional contestant was ultimately sent home.

Emotional: Anasatsia's worst fears were realised on Monday night's episode of MasterChef after the emotional contestant predicted her exit from the show during the tough 62-step Pressure Test

As Matt Preston delivered the verdict on who would be going home, he singled out Anastasia and Chloe who had both struggled with the finer details of the cook.

He said: 'Anastasia, to overcome that panicked plating, everything needed to be perfect. Your Beet Wellington tasted great, you were generous with the duxelles and the pastry was excellent and flaky.

'But the filling of your beet-leaf ball was too salty. And that's why, I'm sorry, Anastasia, you're going home,' he told her.

The final two: As Matt Preston delivered the verdict on who would be going home, he singled out Anastasia and Chloe who had both struggled with the finer details of the cook

Going home: Anastasia was again brought to tears as she was eliminated from the competition

Joining her in the bottom two of the cook was Chloe, with Matt telling her: 'Your dish looked great, but there were problems.

'Your sauce was watery and thin and there was a distinct lack of creaminess inside that beet ball,' and unlike Anastasia's dish mistakes, they were able to overlook those mistakes.

At the start of the cook Flynn unveiled the dish, his Beet Wellington - a beetroot cooked in smoked beet juice with a mushroom duxelles around it and some beet grains, finished with puff pastry.

Culinary wonder: At the start of the cook Flynn, 17, unveiled the 62-step Beet Wellington dish for the challenge

Pressure: Inside the pastry casing is a beetroot cooked in smoked beet juice with a mushroom duxelles around it and some beet grains and then puff pastry

Each of the women took the time to go through every detail of the recipe but quickly the cracks began to show as the cook went on.

Anastasia was so focused on reading and getting every single detail in the recipe that she fell behind very early on and struggled to catch up in the remaining time.

Also feeling the pressure, Chloe spilled some of the liquid over her bench which had judge Gary Mehigan nervously asking if she had enough to use.

Trying to save herself she refreshed her charred beetroot and onions under water and used the remaining liquid to add to her sauce.

Quick thinking: Also feeling the pressure, Chloe spilled some of the liquid over her bench which had judge Gary Mehigan nervously asking if she had enough to use

Can't handle it: With half an hour to go Anastasia was overcome by emotions and the overwhelming number of things that she had left to finish

With half an hour to go Anastasia was overcome by emotions and the overwhelming number of things that she had left to finish.

Seeing how upset she was George Calombaris comforted her with a pep talk and said: 'Look at me Get it together. Do you hear me? Right? You're not going to let this go, are you?'

'No, I don't want to,' she replied while wiping away tears leaving George to respond: 'So, stop crying. You don't need a recipe. Just use a bit of intuition now.'

He encouraged her to use her freestyle nature of cooking that has got her so far in the competition and while she managed to get everything on the plate it wasn't enough and she was sent home.
She is rumoured to be dating Kylie Jenner's ex-beau Tyga.

And British model Demi Rose proved once again just why she captured the rapper's eye as she shared a host of sizzling snaps with her 2.5million Instagram followers on Sunday.

The 21-year-old Birmingham born beauty showed off her phenomenal figure in a host of snaps which were centred around he perky bust and ample derriere.

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Busty babe: British model Demi Rose proved once again just why she has captured the rapper's eye as she shared a host of sizzling snaps with her 2.5million Instagram followers on Sunday

Demi has hit headlines of late after growing close to Tyga with the pair seen living it up in Cannes and LA since his break-up with Kylie earlier this year.

Making sure she stays in the public eye, the brunette beauty uses her Instagram account as a means to flaunt her phenomenal figure in all its glory.

One of her latest saucy snaps saw Demi pose with a knowing smile while stripped down to just a dainty white lace bra which made the most of her ample assets.

She paired the look with high-waisted jeans, which emphasised her minuscule waist and shapely hips - proving herself to have an hourglass frame to match her love rival's.

Shapely: The 21-year-old Birmingham born beauty showed off her phenomenal figure in a host of snaps which were centred around he perky bust and ample derriere

Sizzling: Demi is quick to flaunt her assets in various states of undress on social media

In another snap, Demi enlisted the help of a pal as she headed to the beach in a barely there swimsuit with a near-thong rear.

Showing off the full extent of derriere, the Brummie beauty smouldered into the camera while allowing her brunette tresses to cascade over her shoulder.

Demi's social media presence comprises strongly of flaunting her assets, as another of her latest snaps showed her braless chest in a perilously plunging white top.

Loved up? Demi has hit headlines of late after growing close to Tyga with the pair seen living it up in Cannes and LA since his break-up with Kylie earlier this year

Last month, MailOnline revealed the British model grew up in a middle class home in Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham.

Parents Barrie, 78, a former bank manager, and Christine, 61, said she is a very different person at home and insisted they were proud of her.

Her mother said: 'We're right behind her. She's such a beautiful girl, why shouldn't she? If you've got it, flaunt it. She's very kind and a really down-to-earth girl  nothing like what we are seeing in the press.'

Risque: Demi's social media presence comprises strongly of flaunting her assets, as another of her latest snaps showed her braless chest in a perilously plunging white top

The Instagram favourite attracted a flurry of headlines after being pictured with 26-year-old Tyga in recent weeks, including a trip to the Cannes Film Festival.

Despite seeming inseparable from Demi, Tyga took to Twitter earlier this month to insist that he is not dating anyone new, telling his followers: 'Single. Focused. Blessed. Living Life (sic).'

Tyga split from ex Kylie, 18, before this year's Met Gala and the reality TV star is said to have moved on too - she's been linked to musician PartyNextDoor - real name Jahron Brathwaite.

Demi dressed: The Instagram favourite attracted a flurry of headlines after being pictured with 26-year-old Tyga in recent weeks, including a trip to the Cannes Film Festival

Tyga recently said he 'still loves' Kylie - although that was before he started seeing Demi Rose.

When asked if the difference in age played a factor in their break up, he said: 'Um, uh, I think, you know, we're both just focusing on our lives, our individual lives right now, you know? Sometimes things don't work out. But, you know, I love her.'
Australian comedian Joel Creasey has talked about his and Chrissie Swan's upcoming variety night to be held in honour of the Orlando massacre victims.

The 25-year-old comedian, Joel, was joined by the 42-year-old breakfast radio host, Chrissie, on Monday night's episode of The Project, revealing the reasons behind the show taking place next month.

He said with a laugh: 'The gays are really good at, you know, overcoming hardships and putting on damn good shows!'

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A good cause: Australian comedian Joel Creasey and Chrissie Swan appeared on The Project on Monday night and revealed the reasons behind their variety show next month to honour the Orlando massacre victims

On a more serious note, he said how the event is being held to make a statement, saying: 'Although this is heartbreaking, we are going to keep, you know, going forward.'

The openly gay personality added how he was in 'shock' when hearing of the massacre, before thinking it could have been him.

'I was hung-over on the couch after having come from a night out at a gay bar in Melbourne. That could have been me.'

Chrissie, 42, said the pair felt like they had to do 'something.'

Being honest: The openly gay personality added how he was in 'shock' when hearing of the massacre, before thinking it could have been him if the attack had taken place closer to home

'We just felt really powerless and far away, and the LGBTI community is one that's brought me much joy and good times, and a real feeling of acceptance, and so when Joel said, "Let's do something. Let's raise some money. Let's actually make a difference," you know... We got cracking.'

The pair also got The Project's Carrie Bickmore involved and said they wanted to have her act as an auctioneer at the event, and joked Steve Price could get ejected out of a glitter cannon.

The night will take place on July nine in Melbourne and features Peter Helliar, Magda Szubanski and The Real Housewives of Melbourne in the line-up.

Details: The event is being held next month in Melbourne and will raise funds for victims and their families

All in! The pair also got The Project's Carrie Bickmore (second R) involved and said they wanted to have her act as an auctioneer at the event, and joked Steve Price (R) could get launched out of a glitter cannon

Star-studded: The night will take place on July 9 in Melbourne and features Peter Helliar, Magda Szubanski and The Real Housewives of Melbourne in the line-up

The pair announced the line-up on the TV show.

Last week, on June 12, 49 people were killed and 53 injured after 29-year-old gunman Omar Mateen opened fire at Pulse gay club in Orlando.

The attack took place over three hours and since then, both the local and international community have held vigils in tribute to the victims.

Previously, Joel and Chrissie became good friends when they were both in the inaugural season of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! Australia.

Since then, Joel has gone on to co-host spin-off series I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here Now! alongside The Bachelor's Heather Maltman.

Colleague: Joel has recently returned from the South African jungle when he co-hosted I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here Now! alongside The Bachelor's Heather Maltman

In April, he dismissed claims the pair aren't friends, telling The Daily Telegraph they're on good terms.

However he confessed: 'I havent seen her since we've been back'.

Explaining further, he revealed it's been their schedules, not a feud, keeping them apart, saying: 'shes been super busy filming and Ive been in Melbourne for the Comedy Festival.'
She spent a romantic three weeks travelling the U.S. west coast with her boy.

And now, Bindi Irwins boyfriend Chandler Powell will return the favour by heading to Queensland for his belles 18th birthday next month.

The pro-wakeboarder, 19, will be among family, friends and members of the public at the conservationists bush bash at Australia Zoo on July 24.

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Celebration: Bindi is gearing up to celebrate her 18th birthday at Australia Zoo next month with boyfriend Chandler Powell making his way over from America for it

Ill celebrate here and its a camping with the stars theme day and Chandlers going to be here from the States which is great, Bindi told Nine News.

My birthday involves everybody.

The zoo said it was super excited for the big day but was still working out the details.

We'll be inviting global ambassadors for the Wildlife Warriors charity, and can't wait to put on lots of outdoors-y activities for the 'camping with the stars' theme, it said.

'I miss your puns and hugs': Bindi shared a photo as she snuggled up to Chandler before she returned to Australia after three weeks in the U.S. with him and shared a loving tribute on social media

The venue plans come after Bindi, her brother Robert, 12, and mum Terri, 51, attended the naming of the zoo's newest tiger cub, Reggie, on Monday.

Celebrations will continue back at Bindis family wildlife conservation property near St George with Chandler and close friends.

We will head back out there afterwards and relax with the kangaroos and emus, so we are all planning to go out there together, she said.

Family photo: Bindi shared a photo of herself with brother Robert, mother Terri, and boyfriend Chandler Powell alongside a quote from children's author Trenton Lee Stewart over the weekend

But dont expect the Dancing With The Stars winner to take her first legal sip of alcohol at the intimate after party, as she said in March that she has never considered drinking.

I might even have two cups of tea if Im feeling really wild, she told the Courier Mail when the plans were first discussed.

Ive never even had Coca Cola because I try to avoid things like caffeine.

Of course, Ill have a piece of chocolate when I feel like it but I want to put the best things possible into my body.

Instead, the low key evening will include Chinese takeaway and a movie.

Tiger name: The venue plans come after Bindi, her brother Robert, 12, and mum Terri, 51, attended the naming of the zoo's newest tiger cub, Reggie, on Monday by five-year-old Audrey Joyce (left)
It's surprising she has time to get away for some fun, given that she's one of the world's most successful supermodels and also a mother-of-two.

But Alessandra Ambrosio proved she manages to combine working hard and playing hard as she blew off some steam during her wild weekend trip to Las Vegas.

Leaving her inhibitions at the door, the 35-year-old model donned her best cowboy stance as she placed herself on the only boy allowed on her girly trip, TV presenter Matheus Mazzafera.

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Sinning: Alessandra Ambrosio, 35, donned her best cowboy stance as she placed herself on the only boy allowed on her pal Matheus Mazzafera's back during wild Vegas weekend

Wearing a monochrome ensemble consisting of a black vest top and skinny white jeans, the Brazilian stunner sat on Matheus as he crawled forth.

With her mouth wide open, the short clip saw her enthusiastically raise her hand to smack his bottom, before the action repeated in reverse.

Captioning the image: 'Me and my bestie @matmazzafera When in Vegas' she seemed in high spirits, while her pal didn't seem to mind as he looked ahead in the Vegas casino and concentrated as he carried Alessandra's svelte frame.

And this isn't the first dose of fun she's had since arriving in the party-heavy state as she turned up to the Intrigue nightclub in the Wynn Las Vegas the night before.

Riding in style: Wearing a monochrome ensemble consisting of a black best top and skinny white jeans, the Brazilian stunner sat on Matheus as he crawled forth

'Me and my bestie': The short clip saw her enthusiastically raise her hand to smack his bottom with her mouth wide open, before it repeated the clip in reverse

Like a true modelling sensation, she showed off her amazing body in a daring low-cut asymmetrical black dress as she partied at the Intrigue nightclub in the Wynn Las Vegas.

The unusual number featured a short hemline on the left and floor-length on the right.

She completed her look with her brunette locks tied back in a bun and gave her 5ft 9in height a boost with a pair of black strappy sandals.

Woah momma! Alessandra shows off her amazing figure in a sexy black dress as she arrives at the Intrigue nightclub in Las Vegas

The model was joined by a host of gal pals in Sin City, including fellow Brazilian models Fernanda Motta, Renata Maciel, Gabi Lopes and Michelli Buback.

Las Vegas was a short trip from Los Angeles, where Alessandra has lived for years with her fiance Jamie Mazur and their two children Anja, six, and Noah, four.

The Victoria's Secret model admitted in a recent interview she had actually lost her engagement ring from the businessman, who runs denim brand RE/Done.

Leggy: The mother-of-two showed off the figure that won her a Victoria's Secret contract in the unusual number, which featured a short hemline on the left and floor-length on the right

Taking the plunge: The Brazilian was enjoyed a weekend off parenting as she escaped to Sin City with her girlfriends

What a beauty: The Brazilian supermodel completed her look with her brunette locks tied back in a bun

Here come the girls: Alessandra was joined by a large group of pals, including Brazilian models Fernanda Motta, Renata Maciel, Gabi Lopes and Michelli Buback

She told Vogue in an interview last month: 'I actually lost my engagement ring a few years ago, so I do want to replace it. I don't know if he's going to make me replace it myself since I lost it.'

Despite being engaged for eight years, Alessandra said she and Jamie aren't even close to setting a wedding date because they're both so busy with their respective careers.

She told Extra! in December: 'When I do the wedding, it's gonna be very special, so I want to take time for that.'

Party time! Alessandra and her friends swilled vodka and Red Bull as they hit the club
Matilda the Musical leads the nominations at this year's Helpmann Awards with a total of 13 nods.

The musical, written by Australian comedian Tim Minchin, is up for several big gongs including Best Musical and Best Original Score.

The awards, in their 16th year, celebrate Australia's live performance industry which brought in approximately $1.5 billion in ticket revenue in the past year.

Success story: Matilda The Musical, written by Australian comedian Tim Minchin (pictured), is nominated for 13 gongs at the 2016 Helpmann Awards, it was announced on Monday

There are also some famous faces among the nominees, including four-time Helpmann Award-winner Cate Blanchett.

The 47-year-old is nominated for Best Female Actor in a Play for her role in Sydney Theatre Company's The Present, directed by her husband Andrew Upton.

Her co-star, Richard Roxburgh, has also been nominated for Best Actor in a Play in the popular Chekhov adaptation.

Cate and Richard, 54, will reprise their roles in the play with an all-Australian cast for its debut on Broadway later this year.

Leading the way: The Helpmann Awards, in their 16th year, celebrate Australia's live performance industry which brought in approximately $1.5 billion in ticket revenue in the past year

Elsewhere, Julia Morris has been nominated for Best Comedy Performer for her stand up show, I Dont Want Your Honest Feedback.

Julia, 48, tweeted on Monday night: 'I'm absolutely beside myself with gratitude to be nominated'.

And ex-Home and Away star Erika Heynatz is also up for Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Singin' In The Rain.

Funny gir: Julia Morris - pictured at the 2016 Logie Awards in May - has been nominated for Best Comedy Performer for her stand up show, I Dont Want Your Honest Feedback

'I'm absolutely beside myself with gratitude to be nominated': The comedian expressed her joy on Twitter

Nominees: Cate Blanchett (left) is nominated for Best Female Actor in a Play for Chekhov's The Present, and Erika Heynatz (right) is up for Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Singin' In The Rain

'Can't blame the lack of sleep on my baby boy tonight!' she wrote excitedly on Instagram. 'Absolutely exploding with excitement over the incredible news of a @helpmann_awards nomination.'

Meanwhile, Bangarra Dance Theatre's composer David Page, who died in April, has been posthumously nominated for his work with the company in several categories.

The late Prince was also nominated in the Best International Contemporary Concert category for his solo tour Piano & A Microphone, which toured Down Under in February.

Posthumous recognition: The late Prince (pictured) was nominated in the Best International Contemporary Concert category for his solo tour Piano & A Microphone, which toured Down Under in February

Chief executive of Live Performance Australia Evelyn Richardson praised the quality of this year's nominees in a statement.

'This year has been a remarkable year for live performances in Australia, reflecting a vibrant industry with more than 18 million people attending shows across the country,' she said.

The winners of the 2016 Helpmann Awards will be announced at a ceremony on July 25 at the Sydney Lyric Theatre.
Saira Khan has revealed she kept her husband a secret from her family for four years.

The Loose Women panellist, 46 - who has been married to internet company boss Steven Hyde for 11 years - explained she was terrified of being forced into an arranged marriage when she wanted to 'marry for love'.

Speaking during Monday's episode of the ITV1 daytime show, the former The Apprentice star said being forced to tie the knot with a man she didn't know was her 'biggest fear' when she was growing up.

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Moving moment: Saira Khan revealed that she was nearly forced to have an arranged marriage and had to keep her husband a secret for four years

She said: 'Since I was 11, my biggest fear was would I get married to someone I didn't like?'

But after falling in love with her husband, she no longer considered the arranged marriage as an option.

Saira - who now raises two daughters with Steve - admitted that she felt like she had to keep their relationship a secret for four years as she wasn't allowed to have a boyfriend before getting married.

In a heartwarming revelation, the TV star then read out part of a speech she would have written for her wedding, which was addressed to her husband.

Heartbreaking: The TV presenter revealed that her biggest fear was having to marry somebody that she didn't know or love

She said: 'I was supposed to have an arranged marriage to a man I didn't know from a country I didn't grow up in.

'I kept you secret from my parents for four years because my culture would have torn us apart. I chose to marry for love because it's my human right.

'I chose to be looked down on because I married a white non-religious man.'

However, she admitted that although she risked being disowned by her family she was 'determined to marry for love' and didn't care what anyone else thought.

Saira also talked about her joy about being able to wear a white wedding dress and how grateful she was that he husband took her religious traditions in his stride.

Candid: The star said that her culture would have torn her and her husband apart

Bringing back memories: Saira got emotional as she spoke to the panel about arranged marriages

The subject of an arranged marriage came up after special guest Nadiya Hussain was proposed to live on air.

Nadiya was also made to have an arranged marriage and had never met her husband before they wed but it worked out extremely well and the couple are still together.

An emotional Saira, said: 'I lay my hat down to you. I was in that position and I couldn't go through with it.'

Last month, Saira revealed she has lost her sex drive and does everything in her power to avoid sleeping with her husband.

The 46-year-old presenter then made the startling revelation that she had given her partner permission to sleep with another woman as she can no longer satisfy him in the bedroom.

'I'm 46, I have a busy life and have two kids. I am so lucky', she said. 'We used to have a fantastic sex life. I still love my husband, we cuddle up and it's lovely. We've been together for 11 years, but I'm not interested [in sex]. I don't want to.

Happy ending: The Loose Women were joined by GBBO winner, Nadiya Hussain, who had a successful arranged marriage

'I've lost the desire and I find myself making excuses from around 6pm. As soon as he comes home, I panic and start saying, "I'm so tired!". I'm embarrassed to say this but I said to him you can go with someone esle if you want.

'I want to make him happy. He'll kill me for saying this... Am I the only one?'

Saira then later broke down on the show as her husband denied they were in an 'open relationship' and insisted he would never sleep with another woman.

Her husband said he was 'devastated' and 'heartbroken' at the very suggestion - and said his wife should know that he would stand by her during this time.

From the heart: Last month, Saira revealed she has lost her sex drive and does everything in her power to avoid sleeping with her husband

It has since been revealed that the pair have rekindled their sexual relationship.

Earlier this month, Saira said: 'We have taken some time out, that's all I will say. I've given him enough of a ride, well not in that sense, I don't mean that.

'It's been so empowering to talk about. So many thousands of women have been through the same thing. I would like to say thanks to the show.

'Thanks to all the fans who picked up a lady who was feeling really quite down. It's like a huge burden had been lifted from me. It was a scary moment which has become something we embraced.'

When the panel asked how things now stand between her and her husband, she replied: 'We're really happy, that's all I'll say.'
James Caan has been acting for five decades.

But the 76-year-old The Godfather vet still manages to look spry.

On Sunday the icon looked youthful in a plaid shirt as he exited the Beverly Hills restaurant Madeo where he celebrated Father's Day with his son Scott as well as Scott's longtime girlfriend Kacy Byxbee

God-Father's Day! James Caan, 76, looked youthful as he celebrated Father's Day with his son at Madeo restaurant in Beverly Hills on Sunday night

Doting son! Scott Caan, 39, and his long-time girlfriend Kacy Byxbee took James out for dinner to celebrate Father's Day with the Godfather actor

The Misery star was dressed casually for the evening out with his hunky 39-year-old son.

He wore a checkered pale blue and white buttoned-down dress shirt with light wash jeans and brown leather slip-ons.

The Oscar nominee - who was rushed to the hospital last September after suffering from a chest infection - looked to be in great health as he waited for his car by the valet.

Great genes! Scott was born to James' second wife, Sheila Marie Ryan (a former girlfriend of Elvis Presley) in 1976 (pictured in March 2011)

Scott looked effortlessly cool in a plain white T-shirt and army green relaxed-fitting trousers.

The Hawaii Five-0 actor was devilishly handsome as ever with his hair slicked back and a bit of facial scruff.

He upgraded his look a bit with polished black dress shoes and added a pop of colour with mauve socks.

His biggest film: Caan with Marlon Brando, Al Pacino and John Cazale in the 1972's The Godfather

His model girlfriend wore a chic fringed mini-dress garb that showcased her long legs.

The olive-coloured v-neck frock was teamed with brown leather lace-up sandals and she carried a matching shoulder bag.

Kacy - who shares one-year-old daughter Josie with Scott - skipped the cosmetics and allowed her natural beauty to shine through.

She swept her chestnut tresses back and opted for minimal accessories, with a simple dainty silver necklace and wristwatch.

Former flames: James and his fourth wife, Linda Stokes recently went through a bitter divorce and custody battle over their children (pictured in April 2014)

Scott is the second child of father-of-five James - who has been married four times.

The legendary actor's first marriage to Dee Jay Mathis in 1961 ended five years later and they had a daughter, Tara, who was born in 1964.

Scott was born to James' second wife, Sheila Marie Ryan (a former girlfriend of Elvis Presley) in 1976.

Their marriage was short-lived before he married his third wife, Ingrid Hajek from 1990 until they split in 1994. They had a son born in 1991, Alexander.

James married his fourth wife, Linda Stokes in 1995 and they had two sons - James and Jacob.

Caan and Stokes recently went through a bitter divorce and custody battle over their children.
He's been caught flashing a fake 'Rolex' watch and using easily-traceable stock photos to create the impression of a lavish lifestyle on Instagram.

But former Bachelorette star Michael Turnbull has taken his bizarre social media antics to the next level this week by announcing on Facebook he's made a SEX TAPE.

On Monday, the 35-year-old duped his 'fans' into thinking an ex-girlfriend had leaked their explicit home video - before revealing it was simply a prank.

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Prank: Former Bachelorette star Michael Turnbull (pictured) took his bizarre social media antics to the next level on Monday by joking on Facebook that an ex-girlfriend had 'leaked' their sex tape

'I made a sex tape with an ex and its (sic) going to be sent to the media by her,' he wrote online. 'I thought I could trust her no matter what, guess I was wrong.'

The Brisbane real estate agent claimed he wanted to save himself 'further embarrassment' by posting the video himself in the Facebook comments section.

However, Michael did not share any X-rated video but instead made a visual gag by posting a photo of a roll of sticky tape with 'sex' written on it.

Bizarre: 'I made a sex tape with an ex and its (sic) going to be sent to the media by her,' wrote Michael

The reveal: However, Michael did not share any X-rated video but instead made a visual gag by posting a photo of a roll of sellotape with 'sex' written on it

Since rising to fame on The Bachelorette, Michael has suffered a number of embarrassments and gaffes relating to his social media profiles.

Last year, he boasted of owning a Rolex watch on Instagram - but an established watchmaker from Sydney confirmed to Daily Mail Australia the item was '100 per cent fake'.

He explained to A Current Affair afterwards: 'Regardless whether it's fake or real, it was given to me by someone very special'.

Gaffe-prone: Since rising to fame on The Bachelorette last year, Michael has suffered a number of embarrassments and gaffes relating to his social media profiles

The real deal? Last year, he boasted of owning a Rolex watch on Instagram - but an established watchmaker from Sydney confirmed to Daily Mail Australia the item was '100 per cent fake'

He later shared an Instagram snap of a bucket of Cristal champagne worth at least $1,000 - but it emerged the photo was actually taken from Getty Images.

Despite suggesting in the caption he was enjoying the drinks at a 'party', the stock photo was originally taken in California five years ago.

He was also criticised for sharing an Instagram photo which strongly suggested he attended the 2016 TV Week Logie Awards in May, before swiftly deleting it.

Meanwhile, Sam Frost - who rejected Michael on The Bachelorette - confirmed on Twitter that he was not, in fact, at the awards ceremony.

Life of the party? Michael previously shared an Instagram snap of a bucket of Cristal champagne worth at least $1,000 - but it emerged the photo was actually taken from Getty Images

Was he at the Logies? Michael was also criticised for sharing an Instagram photo which strongly suggested he attended the 2016 TV Week Logie Awards in May, before swiftly deleting it

This follows the announcement on Monday that Tasmanian TV journalist Georgia Love will be Australia's next Bachelorette.

The 27-year-old was chosen to star in Network Ten's popular dating show after a 'rigorous casting process', reported New Idea magazine.

She told The Daily Telegraph that she had quit her job as a broadcaster for WIN News to focus on finding The One.

Ready for love: This follows the announcement on Monday that Tasmanian journalist Georgia Love (pictured) will be Australia's next Bachelorette
Her getaways this year have included the likes of Miami, Canada and Britain.

And Vanessa Hudgens proved she wasn't done with spending her down-time away from California as she joined her handsome beau Austin Butler on a luxury yacht in Portofino, Italy.

The 27-year-old actress looked the epitome of European chic as she wore printed cold-shoulder top and a large pair of statement sunnies.

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Lounging in style: Vanessa Hudgens joined her handsome beau Austin Butler on a luxury yacht in Portofino, Italy where they mingled with model Luciana Gimenez Morad (far L)

The former Disney star's luscious brunette tresses were teased to perfection and cascaded down her frame, while a delicate gold chain enhanced her tanned decolletage as she leaned forward to soak in her surroundings.

Austin, 24, looked just as fashion forward in a cool denim shirt and sunnies which boded well with his spiked blonde locks.

The duo made sure to take in the scenic Riviera port town surroundings while also rubbing shoulders with their glam pals, which included Luciana Gimenez Morad and son Lucas Jagger.

Lucas, 17, is the seventh child of Mick Jagger and is the result of an extramarital affair with Luciana.

Effortlessly stylish: The former Disney star's luscious brunette tresses were teased to perfection as she leaned forward to soak in her surroundings while her beau of five years looked cool in a denim top

High profile pals: They mingled with Luciana and her son Lucas Jagger, 17,- who is the result of Lucian's extramarital affair with Mick Jagger

Smitten: Vanessa seemed to be having a great time as she flirtatiously touched her beau

Vanessa struck up a few words with the teen, yet still stayed cosied up to Austin and on one occasion even flirtatiously touched her beau on the arm as he looked on.

While many like to keep it casual on their off days, Vanessa and Austin ensure they utilise their stylish flair- which was also evident as they jetted out of LAX for the trip on Thursday.

The genetically gifted young couple have been dating since 2001 and their love for each other even saw them get in to trouble after Vanessa carved her and Austin's names on rocks in Arizona on a Valentine's Day trip.

She was ordered to pay a fine of $1000 after she shared the image from Coconino National Forest on her social media page.

Mile high club: They looked like the ultimate stylish couple as they jetted out of LAX for the trip on Thursday

They have also been keeping themselves busy in a variety of high profile roles.

Hudgens stunned earlier this year in her strong performance as Betty Rizzo. An impressive 12.2M viewers tuned in to the three-hour live reimagining of the 1971 fifties musical, which was surprisingly well executed despite rain and technical glitches.

Austin had been filming the MTV series The Shannara Chronicles, where he has signed on to play ten episodes as half-human/half-elf Wil Ohmsford.

He also completed Yoga Housers starring alongside Johnny Depp and Justin Long, where two teen yoga enthusiasts team up with a legendary man-hunter to battle an ancient evil presence.
She's become famed for her incredible body, as much as her work on TV and radio.

And Ashley James certainly wasn't shy about showing off her ample assets and washboard abs in a series of sizzling swimsuit snaps, which she uploaded to social media on Monday.

The former Made In Chelsea star, 29, shared a series of sunny photos with her 64,400 followers, which saw the blonde beauty flaunting her fantastic figure in a variety of sexy swimwear.

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Sun-seeking siren: Ashley James certainly wasn't shy about showing off her ample assets and washboard abs in a series of sizzling swimsuit snaps, which she uploaded to social media on Monday

Ashley - who shot to fame on E4's MIC by dating the likes of Francis Boulles and Ollie Lock - shared a series of snaps where she modelled a series of racy pool and beachwear.

In one snap from her sunny break in the Balearic Islands, she can be seen posing on the beach in a tiny, plunging black bikini, which left little to the imagination.

Featuring pink accents, the tiny two-piece allowed the blonde beauty to show off both washboard abs as well as her ample assets - thanks to her low-cut bottoms and teeny black halterneck top.

Wearing her blonde locks in french plaits, Ashley added a further quirky edge to her beach attire with a pair of hipster oval shades and a slim black choker.

Sizzling swimwear: The former Made In Chelsea star, 29, shared a series of sunny photos with her 64,400 followers, which saw the blonde beauty flaunting her fantastic figure in a variety of sexy swimwear

She captioned the beach-bound snap: 'Not bad for a Monday.'

In an earlier post, Ashley was picture in a form-fitting pink one-piece with corseted detailing accenting an extremely plunging neckline.

Featuring a high-cut leg, the Hoxton Radio DJ ensured plenty of flesh was on display, as she headed out into the sun.

Kicking back: Ashley - who shot to fame on E4's MIC by dating the likes of Francis Boulles and Ollie Lock - shared a series of snaps where she modelled a series of racy pool and beachwear

Out on the town? It seems Ashley's been enjoying the island's famously raucous night-life as much as she has its sunny days

Poking fun at her own choice of pose, the bubbly star wrote: 'That classic teapot pose! I'm in love with Gecko beach resort and my @lipsylondon swimsuit #formentera #ibiza #shortandstout.'

And in another snapshot from her time on the famous Spanish isle, Ashley could be seen enjoying a relaxing cool drink pool-side in yet another eye-popping swimsuit.

Summing up her feelings about her getaway to Ibiza, she simply cpationed the idyllic poolside snap: 'Happy place  #Ibiza.'

And it seems Ashley's been enjoying the island's famously raucous night-life as much as she has its sunny days.

Sharing another snap, this time clad in a saucy sheer lace nightie and a black halterneck top, she posed for a snapchat picture which she promptly shared on Instagram.

While Ashley is the picture of body confidence, the model and author has previously admitted to battling with body dysmorphia.

In March, the reality star revealed her former struggle with the disorder in in a heartfelt Twitter post.

Ashley shared a selfie as she explained: Just found this pic I took it to send to @Josiestweet cause I thought I looked too fat. Body dysmorphia is real.
She spent a relaxing afternoon at the spa earlier in the day.

And by nightfall Lea Michele dined with a group of gal pals at the trendy sushi bar Sugarfish in Hollywood.

The 29-year-old star stepped out in a pair of cut off Daisy Dukes that showed off her long bronzed stems on Sunday.

Girls' night out! Lea Michele, 35, dined with a group of gal pals at the trendy sushi bar Sugarfish in Hollywood on Sunday night

The Scream Queens actress paired the tiny distressed shorts with a white scoop neck tank top that revealed a tattoo on her rib cage.

She accessorised her laid-back look with simple white sandals and a black leather Yves Saint Laurent shoulder bag.

Her silky chestnut tresses were slicked back into a low chic bun, allowing her stunning facial features to take centre stage.

Sun-kissed stems! The Scream Queens star showcased her long bronzed legs in a pair of Daisy Duke cut offs

The Glee star skipped the cosmetics which highlighted her natural beauty and flawless complexion.

Lea clearly appeared in great spirits as it recently came to light she's been enjoying a whirlwind romance with iZombie actor Robert Buckley, 35.

During the Fox Upfronts earlier this month, ET questioned the star about her rumoured new beau.

'You know, I'm just feeling really great right now and super happy. I feel very, very, very lucky and grateful in my life right now and that's all that matters,' she responded, coyly.

Revealing: The Glee star paired the tiny distressed shorts with a white scoop neck tank top that exposed a tattoo on her rib cage

Inspection: Lea and her friends closely scrutinized a picture of a female on her friends cell phone

The rumours were confirmed earlier this week when the pair were pictured holding hands.

The pair are also co-starring in upcoming Hulu mini-series Dimension 404 and Buckley recently shared an Instagram snapshot with Michele and other cast members.

He captioned the image: 'So much love for this amazing group of women, their patience with me has been unbelievable. Big thanks to all of the #Dimension404 cast and crew.'
Blythe Danner took advantage of sunny weather on Sunday, hitting the sidewalks of Venice Beach, California for a shopping trip.

And the 73-year-old I'll See You In My Dreams actress added a chic accessory that screamed she was ready for summer.

On her left arm the mother of Gwyneth Paltrow modeled a bright yellow structured purse.

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Outshine the sun: Blythe Danner, 73, took advantage of the lovely west coast weather on Sunday, hitting the sidewalks of Venice Beach

Nice bag: The I'll See You In My Dreams actress carried a bright yellow purse

The star of television show Will & Grace was hitting the bricks around town in comfy sandals and a long flowing skirt.

On top she paired a sand colored long-sleeve sweater with a beige blouse, the collar peeking out fetchingly.

Atop her lovely grey locks she sported a taupe straw hat, shielding her remarkably young-looking face from the sun's brightness.

Dynamic duo: Danner and 43-year-old daughter Gwyneth Paltrow glow at an event last October in Burbank

Rounding out her look were fashionably large dark brown sunglasses.

Earlier this week the star of Meet The Parents attended the Women In Film 2016 Crystal + Lucy Awards Presented by Max Mara and BMW in Beverly Hills.

Although she was dressed considerably fancier at the event, she still carried a similar square handbag.

She has a look: Earlier this week the star of Meet The Parents attended the Women In Film 2016 Crystal + Lucy Awards Presented by Max Mara and BMW in Beverly Hills and carried a similar looking purse

The mother of 43-year-old star and media maven Gwyneth Paltrow is also heavily involved in the Oral Cancer Foundation, after losing husband Bruce Paltrow to the disease.

Her good deeds don't stop there, she has also been involved in environmental awareness causes for more than 30 years.

To this day, the star remains unmarried.

Like mother, like daughter: Paltrow also fancies brown, seen poolside in April celebrating the opening of the Beverly Hills Bally store

Daughter Gwyneth is no stranger to the spotlight either, running the mega successful lifestyle website Goop, and starring in movies like Seven and Shakespeare in Love.

Paltrow is also into doing good deeds as an ambassador to the Save the Children organization and she also raises awareness for World Pneumonia Day.
Last week she stripped down to her jeans for her rocker husband Adam Levine to take a revealing snap of her growing baby bump.

On Sunday, model Behati Prinsloo was more modestly dressed when she and the Maroon 5 frontman turned up at the Little Beach House Malibu, the new ocean-side outcrop of the Soho House club that opened June 1.

With the temperatures in the high 80sF, the 27-year-old Victoria's Secret Angel chilled out in a diaphanous pale pink maxi-dress with spaghetti strings and a low back.

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New celeb haunt: On Sunday Behati Prinsloo and her rocker husband Adam Levine checked out the Little Beach House Malibu, the new ocean-side outcrop of the Soho House club that opened June 1

The sheer dress draped around Behati's changing body, showing her burgeoning belly off to perfection.

The Namibian beauty, who is six months into her term, slipped her feet into low slides, making it easy to walk.

Behati smoothed her honey blonde tresses into a chic updo to keep her neck cool and covered her eyes with shades.

Pretty in pink: The 27-year-old showed off her growing baby bump in a sheer, pale pink sundress

Showing off more than she thought: With the sun behind her, the Namibian beauty's long legs were clearly visible under the diaphanous dress

She rested her hand lovingly on her baby bump as she waited for Adam in the car park before they walked into the members only club together.

Adam kept up his rocker creds in grungy ripped jeans and a white T-shirt, torn around the neck, emblazoned with the words, 'Here comes trouble.'

She and The Voice judge are expecting their first child on September 20.

Great rear view: Adam's eyes appeared to be on his lovely wife's tummy as he reached back to take her hand

Adam confirmed their happy news on April 2 on the social media site.

Later that month he revealed that they are 'having a girl' during an appearance on Live! With Kelly And Michael.

Since then, the couple have been posting cute pix keeping their fans and followers up to date on Behati's growing baby bump.
Her father Michael Jackson passed away nearly seven years ago.

And on Monday his daughter Paris Jackson took to Twitter to let her followers know that she wont be forced into posting a loving message to her late dad to commemorate Father's Day.

The 18-year-old vented her anger in a tweet that said: 'If you try to harass someone into posting online about a holiday (fathers day), ask yourself if it's any of your business (sic). '

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Not interested! Paris Jackson took to Twitter on Monday to let her followers know that she wont be forced into posting a loving message to her late dad to commemorate Father's Day. She is pictured here outside her tattoo parlor in Los Angeles last Sunday

The aspiring actress, whose mother is Debbie Rowe, was 11-years-old when Michael passed away in 2009 due to acute Propofol intoxication.

Paris believes her recent tattoo is a better way to honor her parent rather than a 'stupid' singular post on social media.

The tattoo is a replica of her father's Dangerous album cover and features an intricately designed crest featuring several animals including elephants and monkeys with Michael's eyes, eyebrows and a strand of his curly locks hanging down.

The Dangerous tattoo: The tattoo in question is a replica of her father's Dangerous album cover and features an intricately designed crest featuring several animals including elephants and monkey's with Michael's eyes, eyebrows and a strand of his curly locks hanging down

I do it my way: The 18-year-old daughter of Michael Jackson vented her anger in a tweet that said; 'If you try to harass someone into posting online about a holiday (fathers day), ask yourself if it's any of your business (sic)

The new body art was taken directly from the Remember The Time hitmaker's cover for 1989 multii-platinum album Dangerous.

In her Monday tweet Paris continued to slam her critics: 'Having 8 tattoos dedicated to someone overrules a single post about them on a stupid social media because of a holiday. #justmyopinion (sic).'

Back at the end of March she took to Instagram showcasing her permanent tributes to Michael Jackson alongside a quote from her father's 1992 book of poems and reflections, entitled 'Dancing the Dream'.

Tattoo tributes: The aspiring actress, who is the daughter of Debbie Rowe, was 11-years-old when Michael passed away in 2009 due to acute Propofol intoxication. Paris believes her recent tattoo is a better way to honor her parent rather than a 'stupid' singular post on social media

She penned: 'The meaning of life is contained in every single expression of life. It is present in the infinity of forms and phenomena that exist in all of creation. Never forget your roots, and always be proud of where you came from.(sic).'

The daughter of the Thriller hitmaker, who has totted up an impressive 23 inkings on her body, had long spoken of her desire to have a tattoo tribute to her father, who was born on August 29, 1958.

Back in 2011, she tweeted: 'I kinda want to get August XXIX tatted on my back (sic).'
He split from his wife Danielle Spencer in 2012 after nine years of marriage.

But it seems Russell Crowe certainly has a type as he was spotted partying with with two glamorous female companions on Sunday - one of whom bore a striking resemblance to his ex.

The 52-year-old actor had been attending the Coldplay aftershow party, following the band's earlier concert at Wembley Stadium in London.

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High spirits: Russell Crowe has moved on from his estranged wife after he was spotted on Sunday with two female companions - one of whom bore a striking resemblance to his former partner

A bleary-eyed Russell was snapped in the back of a vehicle as he left the bash, wearing an all-black ensemble and cosying up to his fellow travellers.

The trio appeared to know each other well and were seen laughing and joking as the car pulled away.

The unknown blonde companion rocked a stylish, but casual, outfit comprising a simple sky blue top and dark bottoms.

She accessorised her pared back look with a simple matching necklace and a pair of unusual topaz earrings.

Close resemblance: The mystery blonde (left) looked very similar to the star's estranged wife Danielle Spencer (right)

Weary: The companion in the vehicle seemed quite tired as she left the raucous party

Having fun: The trio appeared to know each other well and were seen laughing and joking as the car pulled away

Her tousled blonde tresses were worn in a relaxed style giving her a striking resemblance to Russell's former wife Danielle.

Last year the star revealed he takes the sanctity of his marriage vows very seriously and is hoping that he may still be able to have a full reconciliation with wife.

Talking about the couple's separation, he said he still feels 'connected' to the mother of their two children Charles, 11, and Tennyson, eight.

Tired: A bleary-eyed Russell was snapped in the back of a vehicle as he left the bash, wearing an all-black ensemble and cosying up to his fellow travellers

Feeling worse for wear? The actor seemed to try and shield himself from the photographers' flashbulbs

Stylish: The unknown blonde companion rocked a casual outfit comprising a simple sky blue top and dark bottoms

Caught in the headlights: Russell appeared a little startled as he looked directly into the camera lens

Unique style: She accessorised her pared back look with a simple matching necklace and a pair of unusual topaz earrings

Enjoying themselves: The group had clearly had a lot of fun at the exclusive after party in the capital

Speaking from the heart, the actor said: 'To this day everything I do is still connected to that.

'We haven't done the deal yet. I'm a very persistent person, you never know. I didn't get married to get divorced.'

Russell has said his career, which involves a lot of overseas travel, may have been partially to blame for the breakdown of his marriage.

Composed: Her tousled blonde tresses were worn in a relaxed style giving her a striking resemblance to Russell's ex-wife Danielle

Moving on? Last year the star revealed he takes the sanctity of his marriage vows very seriously and is hoping that he may still be able to have a full reconciliation with wife
She had just shared a series of teasing Instagram posts, questioning: 'Which hair color is next? Hmmm...what should I do?'

And on Saturday, Bella Thorne finally revealed the big change, as she shared a snap showing off newly dyed pink tresses.

'Red AND pink b***hes!!!' the 18-year-old gushed, alongside a photo of her holding up a section of hair to really showcase the changes.

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Shaking things up: Bella Thorne debuted a new red to pink ombre on social media

Bella showed off the changes in a series of social media snaps in which her long, red tresses were styled in soft curls.

The ends of her hair, which falls down past the middle of her back, were dyed an ombre pink along with her red.

The Amityville: The Awakening actress gave a shout out on Instagram as she shared the new look, gushing: 'Thank you to my babies for bringing this to life !!'

Enthusiastic: 'Red AND pink b***hes!!!' Bella gushed, as she shared a series of photos, showing off the transformation

Risque: The former Disney Channel star even posed for a topless mirror snap as she documented her new, pink hair

Bella is clearly delighted by her new look, plastering all of her social media accounts with different snaps of the new, pink strands.

She even shared a topless, mirror pic on Snapchat, capturing the newly completed red to pink ombre.

On Monday, Bella took to Snapchat as she traveled to London, sharing a series of close-ups of her newly dyed tresses while on the plane.

A closer look: As Bella shared her flight to London on Snapchat on Monday, she also posted a close-up look at her pink tresses

Feeling bored? Bella pulled a pouty face as she posed flaunting different angles of her new 'do

The former Disney Channel star also gave fans a glimpse at her cozy set up, as she could be seen posing with a pillow and what looked to be a script while relaxing in her socks.

Recently Bella has been working on her upcoming new Freeform series, which was created by the showrunner for smash hit Pretty Little Liars, I. Marlene King.

The series will follow an ordinary college student who gets her big break in a Hollywood blockbuster and must navigate through an undeniable chemistry with her two co-leads, while uncovering the truth about a missing popstar.

Peek-a-boo! Someone could be seen looking over Bella's shoulder as she continued to show off her pink hair
Many people don't realize that Shahs of Sunset's Asa Soltan Rahmati has known her boyfriend Jermaine Jackson Jr. since she was 15 years old.

'Jermaine and I met in high school when I first moved to America and we totally, like, used to look at each other,' the 39-year-old Iranian refugee revealed during an interview on DailyMail.com's Facebook Live on Monday.

'And I knew I was going to be with him forever, when I saw his face. He was one of the first faces I saw in America. It was mystical.'

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It began in Beverly Hills: Many people don't realize that Shahs of Sunset's Asa Soltan Rahmati has known her boyfriend Jermaine Jackson Jr. since she was 15 years old (pictured in 2014)

After graduation, the reality star didn't see Jermaine - whose father was a member of The Jackson 5 - again for 20 years, but they've been inseparable for the last six years.

The couple are not technically engaged, but Rahmati calls Jackson her 'soul mate' and she hopes they'll start a family.

'I mean, you know, I think soon, maybe,' Asa - sometimes spelled 'A$A' - gushed.

'There seems to be never a perfect time. But we're super in love and it would be the biggest, happiest thing in my life when it happens!'

The 39-year-old Iranian refugee revealed to MailOnline on Monday: 'Jermaine and I met in high school when I first moved to America and we totally, like, used to look at each other. And I knew I was going to be with him forever, when I saw his face. He was one of the first faces I saw in America. It was mystical'

'My soul mate': After graduation, the reality star didn't see Jermaine - whose father was a member of The Jackson 5 - again for 20 years, but they've been inseparable for the last six years (pictured in 2013)

'It would be the biggest, happiest thing in my life when it happens!' The couple are not technically engaged, but Rahmati calls Jackson her 'soul mate' and she hopes they'll start a family

The selfie enthusiast already calls five-time Grammy-winning pop diva Janet Jackson, 'Auntie Janet.'

'I'm so excited that she's pregnant!' said Rahmati, who recently caught up with 18-year-old Paris Jackson.

'The Jacksons are legends. They're such a beautifully talented family. It's been a real honor to get to know them better.'

Back in 2014, the Diamond Water creator launched her family-run business Asa Kaftans in Venice, and her latest line offers 40 different varieties.

Almost related: The selfie enthusiast - who boasts 594K followers - already calls five-time Grammy-winning pop diva Janet Jackson, 'Auntie Janet' (pictured March 26)

'The Jacksons are legends!' Rahmati recently caught up with 18-year-old Paris Jackson (L)

She continued: 'They're such a beautifully talented family. It's been a real honor to get to know them better'

Happy Birthday Auntie La Toya @officiallatoyajackson !!! You are a beautiful human being and I love you very much. I hope this is an amazing year for you.   #AsaSoltan #latoyajackson #shahs #beautifulLadies A photo posted by Asa Soltan Rahmati (@asasoltan) on May 29, 2016 at 9:50am PDT

'It's not like a muumuu, where it's like, "Oh let me hide my body." You put on some heels, you can can belt it, you can tie it up, put on some jewelry and then you're as glam as you want to be,' Asa explained.

'They're just comfortable. I love feeling feminine and sensual. [Kaftans are] kind of like see-through and you see the silhouette a little bit. It's like art. There's nothing better.'

Rahmati - who boasts 594K followers - continued: 'The best thing about a kaftan is you can go from nothing to full glam putting on a kaftan.'

Catch more of Asa and her 'Persian posse' on the fifth season of Shahs of Sunset, which airs Sundays on Bravo.

'It's not like a muumuu, where it's like, "Oh let me hide my body"': Back in 2014, the Diamond Water creator launched her family-run business Asa Kaftans in Venice, and her latest line offers 40 different varieties

Asa explained: 'They're just comfortable. I love feeling feminine and sensual. [Kaftans are] kind of like see-through and you see the silhouette a little bit. It's like art. There's nothing better'

Rahmati continued: 'The best thing about a kaftan is you can go from nothing to full glam putting on a kaftan'
She's about to begin her journey to find love as Australia's newest Bachelorette, and while Georgia Love says she's not ready for children, it's something she wants down the track.

Speaking with The Daily Telegraph in an article published on Tuesday, the former news reporter said she's been waiting for the right man.

The RMIT graduate is following in the footsteps of Australia's first Bachelorette, Sam Frost, with Georgia having started filming on Monday and moving to Sydney for the gig.

Scroll down for video

'When I meet the right person': Australia's newest Bachelorette Georgia Love says she's 'not ready' for children but it's something she can see in her future

'When I meet the right person, [having children is] something I will be able to envisage even more,' she said.

Based in Tasmania, the WIN News personality and former trapeze artist has revealed she quit her job so she can find love.

She also told the publication she has never shacked up with a boyfriend and has a hard time dating being in the 'public eye' with her TV career, because people think they know her.

Finding love: The RMIT graduate is following in the footsteps of Australia's first Bachelorette, Sam Frost, with Georgia having started filming on Monday and moving to Sydney for the gig

'The clear choice': Channel Ten said Georgia her warm personality and career achievements made her an obvious choice for The Bachelorette

In a statement obtained by The Sydney Morning Herald, Channel Ten said Georgia was a 'clear choice' to be the new Bachelorette.

'Georgia's impressive accomplishments and warm personality made her the clear choice to lead the upcoming season of The Bachelorette Australia,' it read.

It further said that the brunette 'describes herself as your girl next door but far from average,' and ready for love.

'The girl next door': Georgia is based in Tasmania and previously worked as a WIN News personality

Georgia told Channel Ten: 'I want to find that one special person to share my life and all its ups and downs with.

'Going into this experience knowing I could walk away with the man of my dreams excites me so much, I can't wait for this incredible new chapter.'

New Idea magazine first reported Georgia was chosen to star in the Channel Ten reality show after a 'rigorous casting process'.
Australia PM vows gay marriage vote despite homophobia fears

Australia's prime minister insisted Monday a referendum on legalising same-sex marriage will be held this year if his government is re-elected despite the Labor opposition calling it "a taxpayer-funded platform for homophobia".

The country holds elections on July 2 with the latest opinion poll showing the ruling Liberal-led coalition and Labor neck-and-neck.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who is well-known for his support of gay marriage, is in favour of a referendum on the issue instead of a parliamentary vote.

Australia is seen as lagging behind a growing number of countries on marriage reform and popular support for change is high Peter Parks (AFP/File)

But Labor has hardened its language against a public vote, in what commentators said was a strategic move to set up the issue as a clear choice on polling day.

"We have a very clear policy which is that every Australian will get a vote on the subject," Turnbull, the first sitting Australian leader to attend the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, told reporters.

"Of course, if we are successful on July 2, then I have every expectation that the parliament will swiftly legislate for a plebiscite and a plebiscite will be held shortly after parliament resumes, which I would assume to be in August.

"So I would hope that the plebiscite could be held before the end of the year."

Labor has pledged to hold a parliamentary vote to change the Marriage Act within 100 days if it wins office, and warned that allowing the public to decide risked exposing underlying homophobia.

It has suggested a plebiscite could unleash hateful advertising and expose children of gay parents to negative messages.

"In modern Australia, no one should have to justify their sexuality or their love, to anyone else," Labor leader Bill Shorten said at Labor's official election campaign launch on Sunday.

"And instead of sitting in judgement, instead of providing a taxpayer-funded platform for homophobia, we will gift every Australian an equal right in respect of love. Nothing less."

Australia is seen as lagging behind a growing number of countries on marriage reform and popular support for change is high.

Same-sex couples can have civil unions or register their relationships in most states across Australia, but the government does not consider them married under national law.

The issue is shaping up as a key election issue, along with economic management, immigration, and climate change, in polls too close to call.

A Newspoll in The Australian broadsheet on Monday showed the outcome was on a knife edge with the Liberals and Labor both locked at 50-50 on a two-party basis.

The poll of 1,805 people from June 16-19 has Turnbull favoured as the better prime minister on 46 percent to Shorten's 31 percent, but neither of them polled well on performance satisfaction.
Tens of thousands attend Orlando vigil

Tens of thousands of people took part in a candlelight vigil in downtown Orlando to remember victims of the massacre at a gay nightclub one week ago.

On stage, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer thanked first responders to the attack and told survivors and victims' families that the city's community would support the.

"We will not be defined by the hate-filled act of a deranged killer," local television station News 13 reported him as saying.

People attend a memorial service on June 19, 2016 in Orlando, Florida Spencer Platt (Getty/AFP)

Orlando's tourism agency estimated that some 50,000 people turned out for the vigil on the shore of Lake Eola to honor the victims of the attack at Pulse nightclub last Sunday, the deadliest mass shooting in US history.

The crowd observed a moment of silence after organizers and officials read aloud the names of the attack's 49 victims.

Another 53 people were wounded when 29-year-old Omar Mateen -- born in the United States to Afghan parents -- ran amok armed with a legally bought assault rifle.

Mateen, who pledged allegiance to the leader of the Islamic State group during the attack, was killed during a police raid.

Florida Governor Rick Scott and other officials attended Sunday's vigil, which began around 7:30 pm (2330 GMT).

People carried rainbow flags, American flags and white flowers and frequently cheered the event's speakers.

Rod Lynn, who attended the vigil, said he hoped the massacre would help force change.

"Many times it takes a catalyst like this to initiate a more progressive type movement," he told the Orlando Sentinel newspaper.

"No one deserves what happened. This kind of thing needs to stop."

Earlier, a memorial service was organized at the nearby Cathedral Church of St. Luke, and funerals have been taking place over the weekend.

The authorities on Monday are set to release "limited transcripts" of telephone negotiations between Mateen and police during the attack, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said.
Africa summit tackles violence against albinos

A "Miss and Mister Albino" contest, heavy sentences for ritual murder and concrete graves to ward off tomb raiders were all discussed at a UN summit on albinism concluding in Tanzania on Monday.

During the four-day meeting people with albinism and advocates for their rights discussed ways to safeguard and improve the lives of those who suffer discrimination, health problems and even murder as a result of the condition that leaves their skin without pigment.

It is a particular problem in Africa in general and in Tanzania in particular, which is why the East African nation was chosen to host the summit.

Albino girls wait at a clinic run by the Standing Voice NGO, on Ukerewe Island on Lake Victoria during International Albinism Awareness Day on June 13, 2016 Carl De Souza (AFP)

"Of all the regions in the world, Africa is the most hostile for people with albinism," said Ikponwosa Ero, an independent expert on albinism.

Some 150 civil society and government representatives from 29 African countries, many of them albino themselves, gathered in Dar Es Salaam to swap experiences and ideas on improving security and integration.

In Africa, the scorching sun makes people with albinism particularly susceptible to skin cancer while discrimination and prejudice sees them attacked or shunned in several countries.

Albino graves have been looted and people killed to supply a grisly black market trade in albino body parts thought by some to bring good luck or wealth.

Under The Same Sun, a Canadian charity, has documented 457 attacks on albinos -- including 178 murders -- in 26 African countries mostly over the last decade, although the precise extent of the phenomenon is hard to define because of the secrecy surrounding the illegal trade in albino body parts.

- 'Unprecedented' onslaught -

"The idea is to build a roadmap of simple, effective and cheap measures", said Ero, including basic protections such as ensuring people with albinism are surrounded by trusted neighbours and have a lockable door to their homes.

It was also suggested that albino graves should be protected from body-snatchers by using cement to cover the graves so that the bodies can't be exhumed.

Alex Michila, vice president of the Albino Association of Malawi, where Amnesty International recently described an "unprecedented" wave of attacks, said it was important that albino children be encouraged to "interact with people who do not have albinism" to foster integration.

Possi Abdallah, Tanzania's deputy minister for disability and himself an albino, argued for the importance of "exemplary and dissuasive" sentences for those convicted of killing people with albinism.

- Kenya a good student -

Ero said the roadmap should be drafted by late 2017 and will then be submitted to the African Union.

"Having a pan-African voice is crucially important, because we need to put pressure on governments in Africa," said Jon Beale, director of the non-government organisation Standing Voice. "Together we have more weight."

Kenya is seen as setting a good example in the region, by providing government-funded cancer treatment, sunscreen distribution programmes and setting up an emergency hotline for reporting attacks on people with albinism.

The presence of albinos in Kenya's public sphere -- such as the MP Isaac Mwaura and high court judge Grace Ngugi -- was also hailed as a positive sign, as was the plan to hold a Miss and Mr Albino contest in Nairobi on September 9.

"When you have Miss and Mr Albinism, we redefine ourselves as beautiful and handsome people, we are not ghosts," said Mwaura.

Two young Albino sisters sit on a motorbike during International Albinism Awareness day on Ukerewe Island, on Lake Victoria, on June 13, 2016 Carl De Souza (AFP)

Ukerewe island on Lake Victoria is seen as a safer place for Albinos to live and integrate, as supersperstition has caused the practice of mutilation and killing of albinos by some witchdoctors for many years in Tanzania and other African countries Carl De Souza (AFP)
Cambodia to deport 13 Taiwanese fraud suspects to China

Cambodia said Monday it would deport 13 Taiwanese nationals arrested on fraud charges to mainland China, as Taipei said its emissaries had been prevented from meeting with the suspects.

The imminent deportations come at a time of increased tensions between Taiwan and mainland China, with Taipei accusing Beijing of "abducting" citizens from countries that do not recognise the island's government.

A group of 13 Taiwanese and 14 mainland Chinese were arrested by Cambodian police last week for Internet fraud, immigration officials said.

Cambodia is historically one of Beijing's closest allies in southeast Asia Fred Dufour (POOL/AFP)

"We have decided to deport them to China because they all are Chinese. The Chinese side has asked us to wait while they work out whether to send a plane or buy tickets for them," Major General Uk Heisela, director of inspection and procedure at the General Department of Immigration, told AFP Monday.

He said Cambodia refused to draw a distinction between Chinese and Taiwanese as the country adheres to a "One China Policy".

Cambodia is historically one of Beijing's closest allies in southeast Asia.

In April both Malaysia and Kenya deported Taiwanese nationals to mainland China sparking uproar in Taipei.

Observers see the cases as China putting pressure on Taiwan's new government -- which took office in May -- as Beijing does not trust the traditionally pro-independence ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Taiwan's foreign ministry confirmed the Cambodia arrests and accused Beijing of pressuring Phnom Penh.

"China requested Cambodia to send all the suspects to the mainland as most of the victims in this case are in China, and they obstructed our personnel from visiting the Taiwanese suspects," the ministry said.

The island has sent its representative in Vietnam to negotiate with Phnom Penh, seeking to have the group repatriated to Taiwan instead.

The foreign ministry added that another four Taiwanese had been arrested at the Phnom Penh airport Saturday, but it is unclear whether it is related to the same fraud case.

Taiwan is self-ruling after splitting with China in 1949, following a civil war, but Beijing still sees it as a part of its territory waiting to be reunified.

The island has never formally declared independence.
Death toll from Indonesia floods, landslides rises to 47

The death toll from landslides and flooding in Indonesia rose to 47 on Monday, an official said, after hundreds of homes were engulfed by surging torrents of mud and rock.

Rescuers used excavators and their bare hands to search through wrecked houses and earth for 15 villagers still missing after days of rain triggered the landslips and flash floods on mountainous Java island at the weekend.

The natural disasters happened across densely populated Central Java province, with fast-moving walls of mud, rock and water engulfing buildings as they raced down hillsides and drivers were swept off roads.

Flash floods and landslides in central Indonesia have killed at least 35 people and destroyed dozens of homes as searchers scoured devastated villages for survivors. Rohmat Syarif (AFP)

Villagers were trapped on their rooftops and watched helplessly as the rising floodwaters submerged their homes and cars.

Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said 47 people were confirmed dead and 15 were missing. Hundreds of homes were badly damaged, with some completely flattened.

"People should be prepared as there is still a high potential for flooding and landslides," he warned.

He said that a La Nina weather phenomenon, that typically causes unseasonably heavy rains, could have contributed to the weekend disasters. Java, which should be entering the dry season, has been hit by torrential downpours in recent weeks.

Indonesia and other parts of Asia had been affected by a strong El Nino, which brings drought and sizzling temperatures and is often followed by a La Nina.

He also blamed inadequate preparations, saying that his agency had warned local authorities that heavy rains were coming but it was not clear if they had taken action.

The area worst affected by floods and landslides was Purworejo district, Nugroho said. Deaths were also reported in Banjarnegara and Kebumen districts.

More than 400 rescuers were involved in search efforts. Evacuation centres, equipped with temporary shelters and kitchens, had been set up near the disaster zones.

Landslides and flooding are common in Indonesia, a vast tropical archipelago prone to natural disasters and torrential downpours.
An island refuge for Tanzania's albino people

It's an hour after dawn on Ukerewe island in Lake Victoria and Alphonce Yakobo, face and hands withered by the scorching sun that has tortured his pigment-free skin for all of his 57 years, is vigorously sweeping the leaves outside his house.

"This is the best time of the day: the day has begun but the sun is not yet up," he says. In a few minutes time Yakobo will put on a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and slather sunscreen over every bit of his exposed skin.

Yakobo suffers from a genetic condition called albinism, meaning his body does not produce melanin leaving his skin, hair and eyes devoid of pigmentation and protection from the sun.

Two young albino sisters sit on a motorbike during International Albinism Awareness day on Ukerewe Island on Lake Victoria, June 13, 2016 Carl De Souza (AFP)

Like all people with albinism, Yakobo has very poor eyesight and is extremely vulnerable to skin cancer.

But the sun overhead is not the only threat to albinos.

Here in Tanzania, as well as in Malawi and some other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, albino body parts are sought after for potions and charms thought to bring luck and wealth, and many fall victim to murderers who dismember their bodies to supply this grisly black market trade.

Canadian charity Under The Same Sun (UTSS) has documented 161 attacks on people with albinism in Tanzania in recent years, including 76 murders, more than anywhere else in Africa.

Yet Ukerewe island is relatively untouched by this phenomenon. "There were times when I was afraid in the past, but now I thank God because we can sleep at night without a gun," says Yakobo, who works as a fishmonger in Ukerewe market.

"Here, we are safe, we are surrounded by water, no one can commit a crime and escape easily," said Yakobo, who has three wives but regrets that not one of his 11 children is albino. "We could talk, and I would feel like I had passed on a part of myself."

- Murder-free zone -

Over the years, Ukerewe has become known as a haven for people with albinism.

People say that it started long ago when families would abandon their albino relatives on the island, believing their unusual, ghostly appearance was the sign of a curse. They survived and thrived and others, ostracised by society, made their way there too.

"In many respects, Ukerewe is at the forefront of integration of albinos in society. And I think the fact that it's an island plays a big part in the minds of people, but reality is a bit more nuanced," says Harry Freeland, founder of the non-governmental organisation Standing Voice and the maker of a documentary about Ukerewe.

According to the Ukerewe Albino Society (UAS) there are 75 people with albinism living on the island of 200,000, a proportion roughly in keeping with the national average.

As elsewhere in Tanzania, body-snatchers have come to the island to dig albino corpses from their graves and in 2007 one person was attacked and had his white hair cut for use in witchcraft, says Vicky Ntetema, director of the Tanzanian branch of UTSS.

"But we have never had an albino murder," points out Ramadhan Khalifa, president of Ukerewe's albino community.

- Abandoned -

"Ukerewe is unique in that sense," says Freeland. "It was in Ukerewe that the first census was done. The initiative came from the former president of UAS, and it was in 2006."

"I'm not afraid of being attacked," says Kajanja Neema, 36, dissecting tiny fish for the evening meal, along a busy street from the main town of the island.

His brother Zacharia accompanies his songs with an air guitar. "Yes, Ukerewe is safer than mainland, but it's not perfect," he said, "Sometimes, people say they will kill us, and we never know if they mean it or not."

Even if physical violence is rare, discrimination is not.

Hadija Namtondo is a 30-year old mother with black skin and a four-year-old albino son called Riziki. "When his father saw the colour of the child, he was not happy, and he has abandoned us," she says.
Solar Impulse 2 begins Atlantic crossing

The Solar Impulse 2 aircraft was soaring Monday over the western Atlantic, one of the most difficult legs of its record-breaking bid to fly across the globe using only solar energy.

The plane, which took off from New York's JFK airport at around 2:30 am (0630 GMT), is piloted by Swiss adventurer Bertrand Piccard, who is expected to spend approximately 90 hours -- during which he will take only short naps -- crossing the Atlantic.

"It's my first time taking off from JFK," Piccard said over a live feed from the aircraft as he headed off into the night sky en route to Spain's Seville Airport.

The Solar Impulse 2 takes off from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on June 20, 2016 Trevor Collens (AFP)

Several hours later, he posted on Twitter that despite a previous full moon there is "now a pink sky in front of me, the day is waking up."

The voyage marks the first solo transatlantic crossing in a solar-powered airplane and is expected to last four consecutive days and nights, depending on weather.

The plane, which is no heavier than a car but has the wingspan of a Boeing 747, is being flown on its 22,000-mile (35,000-kilometer) trip in stages with two pilots Piccard and Swiss entrepreneur Andre Borschberg taking turns at the controls.

The pair have flown alternating legs of the journey, with Borschberg piloting the flight's final Pacific stage, a 4,000-mile (6,437-kilometer) flight between Japan and Hawaii.

The 118-hour leg smashed the previous record for the longest uninterrupted journey in aviation history.

The plane, now on the 15th leg of its east-west trip, set out on March 9, 2015 in Abu Dhabi, and has flown across Asia and the Pacific to the United States with the sun as its only source of power.

- 'Smooth takeoff' -

"Smooth takeoff and all #Si2 systems have been checked here at the Mission Control Center for the #Atlantic Crossing," Borschberg posted on Twitter soon after Solar Impulse 2 was off the ground.

A few hours into the flight, which could be tracked via internet on the solarimpulse.com website, the flight team wrote that the flight was blessed with "a beautiful day without a single cloud."

In another post about seven hours into the flight, Piccard described spotting a cluster of whales in the ocean waters.

"What a beautiful sight of jumping whales. Just like the whales below me, #Si2 depends only on nature," he wrote, as a live video feed on the website captured his every movement at the controls of the aircraft.

Prince Albert of Monaco, a patron of the project, gave the flight the go-ahead from its mission control center in Monaco, telling Piccard "you are released to proceed."

Approximately a third of the journey still remains for the plane, which will fly through Europe and on to Abu Dhabi after crossing the Atlantic.

The single-seat aircraft is clad in 17,000 solar cells. During nighttime flights it runs on battery-stored power.

"Solar Impulse is like a flying smart grid, and if we can make it work in an airplane, where we can't cheat, we can make it work on the ground, in our cities, for our homes and for all applications," Borschberg said in a statement.

The plane typically travels at a mere 30 miles (48 kilometers) per hour, although its flight speed can double when exposed to full sunlight.

"Best of luck on this wonderful adventure @bertrandpiccard & all the team," British billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson, owner of space tourism company Virgin Galactic, posted on Twitter.

Piccard and Borschberg are no strangers to adventure.

Piccard, a psychiatrist, made the first non-stop balloon flight around the world in 1999. Meanwhile, Borschberg only narrowly escaped an avalanche 15 years ago and in 2013 survived a helicopter crash with minor injuries.

Solar Impulse 2 AFP (AFP)
Philippine Church alarmed by police killings after election

Catholic Church leaders in the Philippines expressed alarm Monday at a sharp rise in police killings of suspected criminals since the election of a firebrand president who has vowed a bloody war on crime.

The influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines also denounced signs of vigilantism and the offering of bounties for criminals, following the election on May 9 of Rodrigo Duterte who ran on an anti-crime campaign.

"We are disturbed by an increasing number of reports that suspected drug-peddlers, pushers and others... have been shot, supposedly because they resist arrest," said a statement by Archbishop Socrates Villegas, the head of the conference.

Archbishop Socrates Villegas is alarmed at a sharp rise in police killings of suspected criminals Jay Directo (AFP)

He was responding to national police figures showing that 29 drug suspects were shot dead between May 9 and June 15 -- compared to 39 killed in the previous four months of this year.

The most recent figure does not include eight drug suspects shot dead by police over the past weekend in different parts of the country.

"It is equally disturbing that vigilantism seems to be on the rise," the statement said, citing cases where bodies have been found with signs labelling them as criminals.

The bishops also condemned the practice of at least one city mayor of offering large payments to policemen who kill drug suspects.

"It is never morally permissible to receive reward money to kill another," the statement added.

Their condemnation flies in the face of Duterte's call to police and even civilians to kill drug criminals.

Duterte has previously been linked to vigilante death squads who killed about 1,000 people when he was longtime mayor of the southern city of Davao.

He has vowed to kill tens of thousands of criminals after he takes office on June 30.

The president-elect has often attacked the Catholic Church, which counts over 80 percent of Filipinos as followers and was instrumental in the toppling of dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1986.

Duterte has previously labelled Pope Francis as "a son of a whore" and branded the church as a hypocritical institution.

Although he has not yet taken office, a police spokesman previously said that Duterte's remarks were a possible "motivation" for law-enforcers to crack down on illegal drugs.
Iran thwarts major 'terror plot': state media

Iran's intelligence ministry said Monday it had thwarted a major jihadist plot to carry out bomb attacks in the capital Tehran and other parts of the country, state media reported.

"One of the biggest takfiri-Wahhabi terrorist plots was discovered and foiled," the official IRNA news agency quoted the ministry as saying, using terms applied by Iran to Sunni extremist groups.

"A series of bomb attacks prepared in various areas deep inside the country and especially in Tehran and some other provinces... were foiled, the terrorists were arrested and a number of ready-made bombs were recovered," it said.

The Azadi Tower in Tehran Atta Kenare (AFP)

No more details were provided. The ministry said they were interrogating the suspects and more information would come following investigations "both inside and outside the country."

The secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, told the ISNA news agency the plot included plans for "suicide attacks in Tehran".

Iran, the predominant Shiite power, has been helping both the governments of Iraq and President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria to battle the Sunni extremist Islamic State group.

Iranian cities have not however faced any serious threat of jihadist attack, with the country's powerful security forces prioritising the protection of the country's borders.

In November, Iran's army conducted exercises close to its border with Afghanistan designed to simulate how it would respond if "terrorist groups" such as IS mounted an attack.

Before the drills in the northeastern province of Khorasan, General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan, the army's head of ground forces, announced a 40 kilometre (25 mile) limit on the borders with Iraq and Afghanistan, which if breached would trigger action.

"Before the enemy reaches borders, its actions will be neutralised," he said.

An increased police presence in Tehran in November and December -- with armed security forces guarding subway stations and other public areas in Tehran -- raised concerns that an attack was possible.

But the capital's police chief, Hossein Sajedinia, said the presence was only part of "counter-terrorism drills".

Iranian forces clashed with militants last week on the country's northwestern and southeastern borders, leaving several dead.

The elite Revolutionary Guards killed 12 Kurdish rebels in fighting near the Iraqi border on Wednesday that also left three members of the Guards dead.

Police said the rebels were members of the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK), an Iranian Kurdish group with close links to Turkey's outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

The same day, state television reported that a police officer and five members of Sunni militant group Jaish-ul Adl had been killed in clashes in the southeastern Sistan-Baluchistan province.
Myanmar's Rohingya may be victims of 'crimes against humanity': UN

Widespread and ongoing violations against Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya minority, including denial of citizenship, forced labour and sexual violence, could amount to crimes against humanity, the United Nations warned Monday.

In a report on the human rights situation for minorities in Myanmar, the UN human rights office said it had found "a pattern of gross violations against the Rohingya... (which) suggest a widespread or systematic attack... in turn giving rise to the possible commission of crimes against humanity if established in a court of law."

The report was published amid hope that Myanmar's new government, steered by Aung San Suu Kyi and her pro-democracy party, will address deep hatreds in western Rakhine State.

Muslim Rohingya children pictured near charred shelters following a fire that gutted Bawdupa camp near Sittwe, Myanmar, on May 3, 2016

Tens of thousands of Rohingya are confined to squalid displacement camps after waves of deadly unrest with Buddhists in 2012.

UN human rights chief Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said he was "encouraged" by statements by the new government in recent weeks.

But, he warned, the fledgling government it had "inherited a situation where laws and policies are in place that are designed to deny fundamental rights to minorities, and where impunity for serious violations against such communities has encouraged further violence against them."

- 'Entrenched discrimination' -

"It will not be easy to reverse such entrenched discrimination," he said in a statement.

Even so, "it must be a top priority to halt ongoing violations and prevent further ones taking place against Myanmar's ethnic and religious minorities."

During its year-long probe, his office found "an alarming increase" in incitement to hatred and religious intolerance by ultra-nationalist Buddhist organisations against the Rohingya.

Buddhist nationalists have staged protests across the country against even using the term Rohingya.

They label the group "Bengalis", casting Myanmar's more than one million Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Myanmar's Rohingya population are denied citizenship even though many can trace their roots in the country back generations.

Monday's report found that in addition to being denied their nationality, state security forces have committed a wide range of other violations against the Rohingya.

These include summary executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture and ill-treatment, and forced labour, the report found.

"Arbitrary arrest and detention of Rohingya remains widespread," it said, pointing out that "arrests are often carried out without grounds, formal processing or charges, until release is secured by payment of a bribe."

And Rohingya in Rakhine State need official authorisation to move between, and often within, townships, severely restricting their freedom of movement, it said.

The restrictions severely impact all aspects of life, including the possibility to make a living, to access education, healthcare and emergency treatment, it said.

The report also outlined abuses against other minorities, especially in Kachin and northern Shan States, where armed conflict has intensified.

The deliberate targeting of civilians, using child soldiers, forced labour and sexual and gender-based violence figure among the long list of abuses, with the report warning they might amount to "war crimes".

The report called on Myanmar to order an independent investigation into all the alleged violations, and a comprehensive inquiry into the situation of minorities in the country.

"We stand ready to support the government of Myanmar in ensuring a successful transition to a society based firmly on the rule of law and the protection of human rights for all," Zeid said.
Indonesia defends opening fire on Chinese boat

Indonesia on Monday defended opening fire on Chinese sailors as an action aimed at stopping illegal fishing, as China said it had overlapping maritime claims with Jakarta.

Beijing protested strongly over Friday's clash near Indonesia's Natuna Islands in the South China Sea, saying one Chinese fisherman was injured.

The Indonesian navy insisted no one was hurt when it detained seven sailors on a Chinese-flagged vessel after firing warning shots.

An illegal fishing boat is blown up in Kuala Langsa, in Indonesia's Aceh province on April 5, 2016 Januar (AFP)

It was the third such skirmish in recent months between Indonesia and China near the Natunas, which are west of Borneo, as tensions rise between Beijing and several nations over its growing assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea.

Unlike some of its Southeast Asian neighbours, Indonesia does not dispute ownership of reefs or islets in the sea with China.

But Beijing's claims to fishing rights near the Natunas and some 3,000 kilometers from its mainland appear to overlap with Indonesia's exclusive economic zone around the islands.

Indonesian Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, who is leading a campaign to crack down on illegal fishing, defended the navy's actions.

"The Indonesian navy made the right move by maintaining the sovereignty of our seas," she tweeted. "The shooting was definitely according to procedure."

She added that "stealing fish is a crime. It is impossible that there is an agreement between countries that allows for stealing fish".

President Joko Widodo met with Security Minister Luhut Panjaitan on Monday following the clash and ordered him to defend Indonesia's sovereignty, presidential spokesman Johan Budi said.

"The president ordered him to defend Indonesia's territorial sovereignty that we have struggled to build up since our independence," he said.

But he added the president wanted this to be done without "affecting good relations". Indonesia's aggressive crackdown on illegal fishing, which began in 2014, has riled several of its neighbours.

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the latest clash took place in "traditional Chinese fishing ground".

"China and Indonesia have overlapping claims for maritime rights and interests," in the area, she told a regular briefing on Monday.

She did not provide a direct answer when asked whether those fishing grounds overlapped with Indonesia's exclusive economic zone.

Indonesia's navy said it intercepted 12 foreign vessels illegally fishing which fled as their warships approached.

Navy vessels pursued and fired several warning shots, until eventually a Chinese-flagged ship was stopped and boarded, it said.

In March Chinese coastguards rammed a boat detained near the Natunas and helped it escape as the Indonesians towed the vessel to shore.

Last month, the Indonesian navy opened fire on a Chinese trawler near the islands and seized the vessel. Beijing said it protested the move.
Scores of environmental activists murdered in 2015: report

At least 185 activists and indigenous people fighting environmental pillaging were murdered in 2015, the watchdog group Global Witness said on Monday.

The grisly toll is the largest recorded -- nearly 60 percent more than in 2014 -- since the NGO began tracking such violence worldwide in 2002, and is probably higher because many killings go unreported, it said in its annual report.

Brazil and the Philippines together accounted for nearly a third of the total, followed by Colombia, Peru, Nicaragua and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Lumad people protest against the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit on November 19, 2015 Joseph Agcaoili (AFP)

More than 40 murders were related to mining operations, according to the report.

Disputes over agribusiness, logging and dam projects also led to numerous killings.

"Communities that take a stand are increasingly finding themselves in the firing line of companies' private security, state forces and a thriving market for contract killers," Global Witness campaign leader Billy Kyte said in a statement.

"Governments must urgently intervene to stop this spiralling violence."

Indigenous people -- nearly 40 percent of the victims -- are frequent targets of land and resource grabs, often in collusion with corrupt local officials, he said.

The area on Mindanao in the Philippines inhabited by the Lumad people, for example, saw 25 killings last year alone, the highest death rate of any region monitored.

The Lumad homeland is rich in coal, nickel and gold.

In a particularly brazen attack, the father and grandfather of Filipino activist Michelle Campos were murdered in public for their stand against mining operations, Global Witness reported.

"We know the murderers -- they are still walking free in our community," Campos, who escaped harm, said in a statement.

In Brazil, the NGO said, the fight to save the Amazon is "increasingly a fight against criminal gangs who terrorise local populations at the behest of timber companies and the officials they have corrupted."

Thousands of unauthorised logging camps are scattered across Brazil's Amazon basin, where precious hardwoods -- mahogany, ebony, teak -- are cut and prepared for export.

A 2014 report from Chatham House estimates that 80 percent of timber coming from Brazil is illicit, accounting for a quarter of illegal wood on the global market.

"The murders that are going unpunished in remote mining villages or deep within rainforests are fuelled by the choices consumers are making on the other side of the world," Kyte said.

The top markets for precious woods are the United States, China and the European Union.

In early March this year, two masked men gunned down indigenous activist Berta Caceres, recipient of a prestigious international environmental prize for fighting a dam project in Honduras.

Last week, some 500 indigenous Lenca people held a protest in Honduran capital Tegucigalpa to demand an international probe into the murder.

One of five people arrested for Caceres' murder is a high-ranking employee of Desarrollos Energeticos (DESA), an electricity company involved in the construction of the hydro-electric dam against which she campaigned.
Bahrain strips citizenship of top Shiite cleric

Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of the Sunni-ruled kingdom's top Shiite cleric, accusing him of sowing sectarian divisions, in a move that sparked protests among the majority community.

Sheikh Isa Qassim, considered the community's spiritual leader, abused his position to "serve foreign interests and promote... sectarianism and violence", the interior ministry said, quoted by the BNA state news agency.

Qassim had been a strong proponent of "absolute allegiance to the clergy," while maintaining continuous contact with "organisations and parties that are enemies of the kingdom," it charged.

Sheikh Isa Qassim is considered the spiritual leader of Bahrain's Shiite majority Mohammed al-Shaikh (AFP/File)

There was no immediate indication of Qassim's fate but, in theory, he would be left stateless and could face deportation through a legal process.

In 2015, authorities stripped 208 Bahrainis of their citizenship, according to the New York-based Human Rights Watch. It says at least five people whose nationality had been revoked were deported in February-March alone.

The decision against Qassim follows the suspension of Bahrain's main Shiite opposition group, Al-Wefaq, whose political chief Sheikh Ali Salman is serving a nine-year jail term on charge of inciting violence.

The latest move in an escalating crackdown on opposition triggered fresh tensions and street protests in the cleric's home village of Diraz, west of the capital Manama, witnesses said.

They said police deployed in force and sealed off the village, where thousands of demonstrators waved portraits of their religious leader and chanted slogans against King Hamad.

Home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, Bahrain has been shaken by unrest since security forces crushed 2011 protests demanding a constitutional monarchy and an elected prime minister.

Protesters still frequently clash with police in Shiite villages outside the capital, with rights groups repeatedly raising concern over the response of the authorities.

Qassim allegedly worked on "controlling elections" by issuing fatwas, or religious edicts, either calling for or against voter participation, the interior ministry said.

It said his interventions "stretched to aspects of public life".

The ministry suggested Qassim was not of Bahraini origin, without specifying when he acquired citizenship, while online sources say he was born in Diraz in the 1940s.

He delivers the sermon at weekly Friday prayers in the mosque of Diraz, regularly criticising the government's crackdown on the opposition.

Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, addressing the council of ministers, warned "there will be no place for those who incite violations of the law and who threaten the security of the country."

Authorities have revoked by court order the citizenships of scores of Shiites convicted of violence.

But unlike in earlier cases, the decision against Qassim was issued by the Gulf state's council of ministers and rather than by a court.

- UN chief 'dismayed' -

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern last week over Bahrain's opposition crackdown.

Ban was also "dismayed" by reports rights activists had been intimidated and stripped of their citizenship.

"The current actions against the opposition may undermine the reforms undertaken" and "lessen the prospect of an inclusive national dialogue in the interest of all people of the kingdom," he said.

Police on June 13 re-arrested a prominent rights defender, Nabeel Rajab.

On Thursday, a court sentenced eight Shiites to 15-year jail terms and stripped them of their citizenship for forming a "terror" group.

In another trial, 13 people were each jailed for 15 years for the attempted murder of policemen. Twenty-two others were imprisoned for three years each in the same case.

The verdicts are the latest in the series of rulings meted out against Bahrain's Shiites.

They followed a decision to close all of Wefaq's offices and freeze its funds for its alleged role as a haven of "terrorism, radicalisation, and violence" and for serving as a channel for "foreign interference" in the kingdom.

Bahrain, which is connected to Saudi Arabia by a causeway and lies across the Gulf from Shiite Iran, has accused Tehran of stoking unrest among the majority community.
Families of EgyptAir crash victims to get compensation

EgyptAir said Monday advance compensation payments of $25,000 will be offered to families of the 66 people killed when one of its planes crashed into the Mediterranean last month.

The payments are separate to those expected from insurance companies on behalf of various parties depending on the investigation into the disaster.

The Airbus A320 operating Flight MS804 from Paris to Cairo disappeared from radar screens between the Greek island of Crete and the north coast of Egypt on May 19.

EgyptAir says advance compensation payments of $25,000 will be offered to families of the 66 people killed when one of its planes crashed into the Mediterranean last month Khaled Desouki (AFP/File)

Among the passengers were 30 from Egypt, 15 from France, two Iraqis, two Canadians and one each from Algeria, Belgium, Britain, Chad, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.

Seven crew and three security personnel were also on board.

"An insurance company will pay an advance of $25,000 after each family prepares its certificate of inheritance," said EgyptAir chairman Safwat Musallam.

"Death certificates will be ready before Thursday for Egyptians and foreigners," he told AFP.

Investigators have said it is too early to determine what caused the plane to crash, although a terror attack has not been ruled out.
Israeli minister justifies profiling after Trump remarks

A senior Israeli official on Monday justified profiling Muslims for security reasons, after Donald Trump said he was open to adopting the controversial practice in the United States and cited Israel.

Intelligence agencies "must characterise, see where the dangers are coming from, and locate them," Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz said.

"It's not the entire population, but sometimes there is a certain type of terror such as Islamic terror. You can only look for it among Muslims," he said in a briefing to reporters.

A senior Israeli official has justified profiling Muslims for security reasons Arif Ali (AFP/File)

Trump, the free-talking presumptive Republican presidential nominee, came close to endorsing profiling outright in an interview aired Sunday on CBS.

His comments came in a discussion on the Orlando nightclub massacre by shooter Omar Mateen, who was Muslim, and past comments by Trump to the effect that if elected president in November he "respectfully" would place mosques under surveillance.

Trump was asked point-blank if he was talking about increasing profiling of Muslims in America.

"Well, I think profiling is something that we're going to have to start thinking about as a country," Trump told the programme "Face the Nation".

He added: "So we really have to look at profiling. We have to look at it seriously. And other countries do it, and it's not the worst thing to do. I hate the concept of profiling, but we have to use common sense."

Trump asserted that Israel practices racial profiling, and that France also places mosques under surveillance.

Katz, who refused to address Trump's remarks directly or weigh in on the US elections, argued that the United States did in fact employ racial profiling in practice.

"The United States does it, they know how to act. At the end of the day, there's a war here... with a murderous ideology with very clear goals, that wants to topple Western civilisation," he said.

Speaking of Israel's internal security agency, Katz said "the Shin Bet acts based on assessments and evaluations pertaining to specific communities."

"Anyone who thinks you can ignore the need to locate and prevent (threats) for the benefit of the entire population, including the Arab population, is simply wrong."

Israeli Arabs and Palestinians say they face abusive security measures, including in airports and at border crossings.

Katz, who is also transportation minister, said the world was seeking to learn from Israel's experience on airport security.

"It's a very sensitive topic, the threats are great, at the planes, at the airports. We collaborate on the issue and people come here to learn the Israeli practices."
Congo declares yellow fever epidemic

DR Congo on Monday declared a yellow fever outbreak in the capital Kinshasa, home to more than ten million people, and in two other western provinces.

Health Minister Kabange Numbi said 67 cases -- including five fatalities -- had been confirmed in the provinces of Kinshasa, Kongo central and Kwango after an inquiry into more than 1,000 suspect cases.

"The epidemic has hit 67 people. To date, five fatal cases have been registered," Numbi said.

Nuns at work at a hospital in DR Congo Federico Scoppa (AFP)

He said the overwhelming majority of cases were linked to an Angolan outbreak that has killed more than 300 people since December.

Citing some 2,500 suspected cases in Angola, the World Health Organization said last month that cases of the deadly disease had spread to neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and even China.

Aid groups earlier this year voiced concern about poor health facilities and vaccine shortages limiting Angola's ability to cope with their first significant outbreak since 1986.

There is no specific treatment for yellow fever, a viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes and found in tropical regions of Africa and Latin America's Amazon region.

The disease is transmitted by the same mosquitoes which spread Zika and dengue.

Samples from suspected cases have been sent for analysis to laboratories of both the Congolese Institute for Biomedical Research and the Pasteur Institute in Dakar, Senegal.

Numbi appealed for fundraising efforts to bolster a campaign already under way against a disease whose spread the government has been monitoring on a weekly basis.
Boko Haram kills two in Nigeria village raid: residents

At least two people were killed in a Boko Haram raid on a village in northeast Nigeria on the border with Cameroon, residents told AFP on Monday.

The attack happened early on Saturday in Wumbi in the Kalabalge district of northern Borno state and forced hundreds of residents to cross into Cameroon, they said.

"Boko Haram gunmen attacked our village around 4:00 am (0300 GMT) and killed two people while everybody crossed the river into Cameroon," resident Konto Yamani told AFP by telephone.

Nigerien servicemen patrol through empty streets and deserted houses in Bosso, in southeastern Niger, on June 17, 2016, after the population fled following attacks by Boko Haram Issouf Sanogo (AFP/File)

"They came on 10 motorcycles and fired indiscriminately, which jolted people out of their sleep, before they began to set our houses on fire after looting our food stocks."

His account was supported by a second resident Haruna Wumbi, who said it was the second attack on the village in a week.

Details of the attack were slow to emerge because of poor to non-existent telephone networks in the remote region and the difficulties in contacting local residents who fled to Cameroon.

The attackers were believed to have come from Ndufu village in nearby Ngala district from where the Islamists were pushed out in February 2015.

Boko Haram has been largely routed out of Nigerian territory it controlled in 2014 by a military counter-insurgency since the turn of 2015.

But the Islamist militants still maintain control of some remote villages from where they launch raids on liberated areas, mostly in search of food.
DR Congo's Bemba to appeal conviction, call for mistrial

On the eve of his landmark sentencing, lawyers for former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba Monday gave notice that they will appeal his war crimes conviction and press for a mistrial.

Just hours before the once feared militia leader was due back in the dock at the International Criminal Court on Tuesday to learn his sentence, his defence team alleged a slew of mistakes and failings by the trial judges in a written filing.

"The appellant hereby files a list of the legal, factual and procedural errors which he intends to challenge on appeal," Bemba's top defence lawyer Peter Haynes wrote to the tribunal in The Hague.

Former Congolese vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba, pictured on March 21, 2016, will on June 21 be sentenced by judges at the International Criminal Court, with prosecutors calling for a minimum 25-year sentence Jerry Lampen (ANP/AFP/File)

Bemba, 53, was found guilty in March on five charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by his private army called the Congolese Liberation Movement (MLC), after he sent them into the neighbouring Central African Republic from October 2002 to March 2003 to put down a coup.

The prosecution has called for a minimum 25-year jail term.

On Tuesday, Bemba will become the highest level official to be handed down a sentence at the ICC, and only the third ever since it began work in 2002 to prosecute the world's worst crimes.

In their March 21 ruling after a lengthy trial which opened in November 2010, the three trial judges found that Bemba was responsible as the military commander of the MLC for a reign of terror by some 1,500 of his troops, including wide-scale rapes and murders, as they sought to quash a coup against then CAR president Ange-Felix Patasse.

They said that he could at any point have ended the MLC's five-month rampage, but instead did nothing.

But the defence argued Monday "that no reasonable trial chamber could have convicted him of the charges he faced."

The trial judges erred because they had "misinterpreted and/or misapplied the law and took an unjustifiable approach to the evidence."

In his filing, Haynes maintained the court had "failed to safeguard the fairness of the trial" because it knew that some of the "defence witnesses were imposters."

And then he challenged the guilty verdict saying Bemba was "convicted of a case in which in material respects he was ignorant" arguing the former leader of the Democratic Republic of Congo was "not liable as a superior for the actions of the MLC" in CAR.

"The case as ultimately framed by the trial chamber does not comport with any recognisable legal standard of command responsibility, or military practice," the defence wrote.

Bemba had been convicted "on the basis of speculation" in a case which was internally inconsistent, factually implausible, and based on a selective - and often flawed - assessment of evidence."

Haynes further argued that the court had "erred in finding that the MLC committed war crimes and crimes against humanity."
IS seizes Syria villages from US-backed fighters: monitor

The Islamic State group launched a surprise assault Monday near its besieged stronghold in northern Syria, killing residents of two villages it recaptured from US-backed fighters, a monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said IS had dispatched a small group of jihadists -- including one driving an explosives-laden car -- into villages southeast of their bastion of Manbij.

The villages had been seized in recent weeks by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in their push for Manbij.

Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces use binoculars from a view point overlooking the northern Syrian town of Manbij held by the Islamic State (IS) group as they encircle the town cutting off the jihadists main supply route on June 10, 2016 Delil Souleiman (AFP/File)

"IS is trying to defend Manbij by sending fighters from outside the town to attack the SDF in these villages," said Rami Abdel Rahman, the director of the Britain-based Observatory.

"Daesh executed residents," he added, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

The Manbij clashes killed five SDF fighters and coalition air strikes left 42 jihadists dead on Monday, said the Observatory, which relies on a vast network of sources on the ground for its information.

The US-led coalition backing the SDF carried out a barrage of air strikes on Monday to defend the villages, said Abdel Rahman.

At least four SDF fighters were killed in the clashes and many more were wounded.

The SDF -- a Kurdish-Arab alliance with air support from the US-led coalition -- encircled Manbij nearly 10 days ago.

But since then, they have been slowed by almost daily suicide bombings as IS puts up a fight for the town.

Held by the jihadists since 2014, Manbij was a key stop along IS's supply route from the Turkish border southeast through the town of Tabqa and on to its de facto Syrian capital of Raqa.

IS is also mounting a fierce defence of Tabqa, which has been under attack by Russian-backed regime forces since early June.

On Monday, the Observatory said, a failed IS counterattack against regime fighters southwest of Tabqa killed at least 14 jihadists and six government loyalists.

"IS dispatched 300 fighters from Raqa to Tabqa to help defend the town," Abdel Rahman said.

The jihadists launched a second counterattack in the afternoon, seizing many positions southwest of the town and pushing pro-regime fighters some 20 kilometres (12 miles) back from Tabqa airport.

IS has lost 21 jihadists since it began its assault on the region on Sunday, while 32 government loyalists have also been killed, according to the Observatory.
Walmart, JD.com announce alliance in China

Wal-Mart will transfer its online Yihaodian operations in China to JD.com in exchange for a stake in the Chinese e-commerce giant in an alliance announced Monday.

Under the deal, JD.com will take ownership from Wal-Mart Stores of the Yihaodian brand, website and app. Wal-Mart will continue to run the Yihaodian direct sales business.

In exchange, Wal-Mart will receive nearly 145 million new JD.com shares, equivalent to about five percent of the Chinese company, China's second-largest online retailer after Alibaba.

JD.com will take ownership from Wal-Mart Stores of the Yihaodian brand, website and app Wang Zhao (AFP/File)

Yihaodian has a strong presence in eastern and southern China and offers food and beverages, home goods and electronics. It had more than 100 million registered customers in July 2015, according to a Wal-Mart factsheet.

The deal is expected to benefit Wal-Mart by offering it exposure to other parts of China where Yihaodian is less known. JD.com will be able to offer more imported goods to the world's second biggest economy from Wal-Mart global distribution chain.

Wal-Mart's Sam's Club China also plans to open a flagship store on JD.com.

"We are very happy to announce this landmark agreement between two leading retailers, which we are confident will help bring e-commerce in China to the next level and benefit millions of consumers," said JD.com chief executive Richard Liu.

"Yihaodian will continue offering the outstanding user experience its customers have come to expect, which we will further augment by leveraging our unparallelled logistics capabilities and breadth of product categories."

"We're excited about teaming up with such a strong leader in JD.com, and the potential that this new relationship creates for customers in China, as well as for our businesses," said Wal-Mart chief executive Doug McMillon.
Bok Vermeulen to miss Ireland series decider

Injured South Africa No.8 Duane Vermeulen has been ruled out of the series-deciding third Test against Ireland in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

The Toulon forward was forced off the field last Saturday during the opening half of a Test in Johannesburg with an elbow tear.

"He will be out for between two to six weeks, depending on how the injury responds to treatment," said Springboks doctor Konrad von Hagen.

Duane Vermeulen, pictured on March 12, 2016, is out due to an elbow tear Bertrand Langlois (AFP/File)

Obvious replacement Warren Whiteley is receiving treatment for a shoulder injury and while he trained on Monday, the No.8 avoided contact situations.
Verdict due Thursday over Baltimore black man's custody death

Closing arguments were presented in the case of a Baltimore police officer connected to the custody death of Freddie Gray, with the judge announcing he will deliver his verdict early Thursday.

Caesar Goodson is the third of six police officers to be tried in the high-profile case of the African American whose death last year triggered riots in Maryland's largest city and led to a national debate about police brutality.

Goodson drove the police van that transported Gray, whom prosecutors argued suffered a fatal spinal injury in the vehicle.

People protest outside a Baltimore, Maryland court house on June 20, 2016 at the trial of police officer Caesar Goodson, Jr. for his role in events that led to the death of Freddie Gray Michael Mathes (AFP)

Goodson faces some of the stiffest charges of the six, including second-degree depraved heart murder and manslaughter by motor vehicle.

The trial of Officer William Porter ended in a hung jury in December, while Officer Edward Nero was found not guilty last month.

The 25-year-old Gray was arrested April 12, 2015 after fleeing police, and suffered a broken spine while being transported in the back of a Baltimore police van, unsecured and with his hands and feet bound. He died a week later.

Maryland prosecutors have argued that Gray was given a "rough ride" in the van, which caused a series of injuries. They also argued that Goodson, 46, in addition to not seatbelting Gray, failed to order that the arrestee be given medical attention.

"He had breached his duty four times, and as a result of this breach, the life of Freddie Gray was shortened," deputy state's attorney Janice Bledsoe said in closing arguments at Baltimore circuit court.

Prosecutors focused on how the van apparently ran a stop sign and took a wide right turn, with Gray being jostled about inside.

Defense attorney Matthew Fraling countered that "the evidence established there was no rough ride," and that Goodson behaved reasonably during the events in question.

The state fell "woefully short" of proving the officer committed murder or manslaughter, he added.

- 'Someone has to pay' -

Fraling also indicated that Gray himself was at fault, for trying to move around in the van after being laid on the floor during one of the van's stops.

"Not to speak ill of the deceased, Mr Gray moved himself from his prone position, putting himself at risk," Fraling said.

Judge Barry Williams engaged testily with prosecutors Monday about the rough ride argument, repeatedly asking chief deputy state attorney Michael Schatzow whether Goodson showed "intent" to kill Gray by not strapping him in and then driving recklessly.

"The intent," Schatzow responded, was "to bang him around. Pinball him."

Bledsoe and Schatzow noted that Gray had asked for help during multiple stops between his arrest and arrival at a police station, and that a fellow officer even urged Goodson to take Gray directly to hospital, but that Goodson refused.

Goodson determined there was "no need to provide medical treatment" based on his observation of Gray during the initial stages of the ride, defense attorney Fraling said.

Only when Gray suffered a "catastrophic instantaneous injury" near the end of the trip was it clear Gray needed medical help, he added.

Baltimore is expected to be on edge when the verdict is handed down. The city erupted in riots after Gray died, with residents demanding accountability in the police force.

Tessa Hill-Aston, president of the Baltimore City NAACP, pleaded for calm ahead of the verdict. But she also expressed outrage that the defense sought to blame Gray for moving around in the van.

"That's totally ludicrous," she told reporters.
Car that crushed actor Yelchin under recall over gear issue

The car that fatally crushed "Star Trek" actor Anton Yelchin had been under recall over fears that it could roll off without warning, it emerged on Monday.

Friends discovered the Russian-born actor pinned against a brick mailbox pillar and security fence at his California home by his Jeep Grand Cherokee in the early hours of Sunday.

Investigators said the actor, who was just 27, had momentarily got out of the vehicle when it rolled backward down the steep driveway toward him.

Actor Anton Yelchi, pictured on September 3, 2011, was killed at his home when his car rolled backward down a steep driveway and pinned him against a brick mailbox pillar and security fence Kenzo Tribouillard (AFP/File)

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in February that 2015 models of the SUV like Yelchin's could continue to move after drivers thought they had locked them in "park," and linked the issue to more than 100 crashes.

Manufacturer Fiat Chrysler's US unit issued a recall for hundreds of thousands of Jeep Grand Cherokees and other models in April to address the problem.

However, FCA US said it had not found a permanent remedy and mainly advised owners to double-check that their car was in "park" as intended.

"Drivers thinking that their vehicle's transmission is in the PARK position may be struck by the vehicle and injured if they attempt to get out... while the engine is running and the parking brake is not engaged," the NHTSA said.

No deaths had been linked to the problem but injuries reported included fractured bones and other problems that required hospitalization.

Rollaway vehicles killed 370 people between 2008 and 2011, according to the NHTSA, an average of around 93 people a year, while some 2,000 people were injured annually during the same period.

"It is premature to speculate on the cause of this tragedy," FCA said in a statement, adding that it was investigating.

- 'Incredible talent' -

Yelchin moved to the United States when he was six months old with his parents, who were star figure skaters with the Leningrad Ice Ballet, and made his film debut at age nine in "A Man Is Mostly Water."

His breakout performance came in the 2006 crime thriller "Alpha Dog," and his movie credits include J.J Abrams's three "Star Trek" films and last year's critically acclaimed "Green Room."

Abrams described Yelchin as "funny as hell and supremely talented," while "Star Trek" co-star Zachary Quinto said the actor was "one of the most open and intellectually curious people" he knew.

"So enormously talented and generous of heart. Wise beyond his years, and gone before his time," Quinto posted on photo sharing platform Instagram.

Justin Lin, who directed "Star Trek Beyond," the third in the reboot trilogy due out next month, paid tribute to Yelchin's "passion and enthusiasm."

Susan Sarandon, who starred alongside Yelchin in the 2008 coming-of-age comedy "Middle of Nowhere," described the actor as "an original."

"One of the most curious, funny, sweet people I've ever known," she wrote on her Facebook page.

"He was a searcher, an incredible talent and a loyal and loving son. Any time would be too soon for his departure from this plane, but this is an unforgivable and unbearable loss."

Horror novelist Stephen King and actors William Shatner, Tom Hiddleston and Anna Kendrick noted Yelchin's immense talent and passion.

Bryce Dallas Howard, his co-star in 2009's "Terminator Salvation," described him as "an angel on earth whose light will never be extinguished."

Milla Jovovich, who acted opposite Yelchin in 2014 Shakespeare big-screen adaptation "Cymbeline," described him as her "brother" and said she and her family were "destroyed" by his death.

Actor Anton Yelchin arrives at the premiere of "Star Trek" on April 30, 2009 Frazer Harrison (Getty/AFP/File)
'New' oil rebels spring from old in Nigeria's delta south

The Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group that has been attacking Nigeria's oil infrastructure since early this year, is anything but new, according to those familiar with the region.

Despite their fresh name, it was only a matter of time before the militants returned to the swamps and creeks of the delta region, the sources said.

The "boys" behind years of violence a decade ago surrendered their guns in 2009 when the government introduced an amnesty programme for militants, once described as a "bribe for peace".

This picture taken on June 8, 2016 shows a water way in the Niger Delta Stefan Heunis (AFP/File)

Thousands stopped bombing oil pipelines to go overseas for skills training as divers, welders and boat builders using monthly stipends of 65,000 naira, which at the time was worth $400.

Then last year President Muhammadu Buhari announced he was planning to wind down the programme as well as lucrative pipeline security contracts to save money for the cash-strapped government.

"That infuriated everybody," said Silva Ofugara, chairman of the Ekpan-Uvwie community in the oil town of Warri in Delta state.

The militants had been getting something from the government, a monetary acknowledgement that they too should benefit from Nigeria's vast oil wealth.

People thought they could leave their lives as guerilla fighters behind and focus on a new future.

"A year ago nobody wanted to go back to the creeks," Ofugara told AFP alongside local leader Ufuoma "White Don" Ikaka, wearing a black leather jacket and shirt the colour of the US Stars and Stripes.

But Buhari's announcement changed their minds. For many, the amnesty money was their only income.

"This brought boys to the roundtable to prepare for the next phase."

- 'Kegs of gunpowder' -

Leading the charge are the Niger Delta Avengers, a previously unheard of group, which has claimed a series of attacks on pipelines and facilities mostly in Delta and Bayelsa states.

They have targeted facilities operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, as well as local subsidiaries of Shell, Chevron and Eni.

In the impoverished region, the Avengers are anything but unknown.

"The only way they know how to survive is pulling a trigger," said Uche Ifukor, project manager at the Warri-based non-profit organisation AA PeaceWorks.

The militants never found jobs in Warri despite it being home to the biggest oil fields in Africa, he added.

Each militant kingpin -- or "civilian general" -- still commands legions of men from the days before the amnesty deal, Ifukor said.

The generals are effectively the "godfathers" of the oil mafias that run the creeks. Ifukor called them "kegs of gunpowder... just waiting for the wrong move".

- Anarchy returns -

The attacks have cut oil production to some 1.6 million barrels per day, well down from a budgeted 2.2 million bpd, as global prices remain low, sending Nigeria's economy into a tailspin.

In response, the army has started invading river land villages, hunting for the Avengers and the influential militant kingpin-turned-businessman Government "Tompolo" Ekpemupolo, who has been on the run since he was charged last year with corruption.

The result: a return to anarchy in the delta, shootouts between militants and soldiers -- and Ijaw civilians, the dominant ethnic group in the region, caught in the crossfire.

The villages of Okerenkoko and Kuritie in the Gbaramatu Kingdom, the region of snaking waterways stretching from Chevron's Escravos terminal on the Atlantic Ocean coast to Warri, have been abandoned.

People fear a repeat of air raids in 2009 that levelled communities in the final weeks before the government and Tompolo hammered out the amnesty deal.

"The average life in Gbaramatu Kingdom is brutish, short. I just buried my sister yesterday," said Chief Godspower Gbenekama, of the Gbaramatu Kingdom.

Floral Joel was selling wares in a houseboat on June 1. Soldiers chasing militants opened fire on the boat, shooting the 42-year-old mother of five in the heart, he added.

"My sister paid a supreme price," he said. "As it is, every Ijaw man is an Avenger. We are an endangered species."

- Muzzled hyenas? -

Not everyone in Nigeria is sympathetic to the Avengers, whose demands include self-determination for the delta region and the withdrawal of foreign oil majors.

One recent newspaper editorial depicted the militants as unleashed hyenas who had been muzzled by the amnesty and security contract cash doled out by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Yet without peace in the Niger delta, which produces the bulk of Nigeria's oil, Buhari will struggle to source funds needed to kick-start the economy during its worst slowdown in a decade.

"The best case scenario is the Avengers agree to hold talks with the government, and some form of compromise is made whereby the government gives payments in order to stop further attacks," said Rhidoy Rashid, an analyst at London-based Energy Aspects.

"Worst case is the attacks continue, and even worse turn violent. They are more than just aggrieved locals and have access to sophisticated weaponry and funding."

An advertising board concerning the oil pipeline vandalization in the City of Warri in Delta State on June 10, 2016 Stefan Heunis (AFP/File)

An aerial view shows oil storage tanks at Chevron Texaco's Escravos export terminal in southern Nigeria's Niger Delta, 30 March 2003 Pius Utomi Ekpei (AFP/File)
Kerry: Cable urging US Syria strikes 'very good'

US Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday he had read a memo from a group of frustrated diplomats urging strikes against the Syrian regime and found it "very good."

The "dissent cable" became public last week after 51 serving US officials signed a call for direct US military action to force Bashar al-Assad's regime to negotiate for peace.

The memo was seen as a criticism of President Barack Obama's cautious approach, but the "dissent channel" is an approved mechanism for diplomats opposed to official policy.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, pictured on June 16, 2016, has been pushing an improbable joint US-Russian plan to lure Syria's Bashar al-Assad and the rebels to the negotiating table Evan Vucci (Pool/AFP/File)

The State Department has already said the dissident mid-level staff will not face retribution for speaking out, and on Monday their boss Kerry appeared to signal support for their views.

Asked at a public event for college students whether he had read the dissenting memo, which was leaked to the press last week, Kerry said: "Yes. It's very good. I'm going to meet with them."

Afterwards, Kerry's spokesman John Kirby said the secretary was not publicly endorsing the policy change suggested by the memo but had found it "a well-written argument."

Asked whether Kerry might take the suggestion of US strikes to Obama, Kirby said "obviously, whatever views, advice or counsel he presents to the president needs to remain private."

"But then also... he has made no bones about the fact that he is not content with the status quo in Syria. We are not content with the status quo in Syria," he added.

Kerry has remained publicly loyal to Obama as the five-year-old carnage in Syria continues, pushing an improbable joint US-Russian plan to lure Assad and the rebels to the negotiating table.

But Kerry's equanimity in the wake of the dissent cable -- an unusual if not an unprecedented rebuke from frontline staff -- supports the Washington conventional wisdom that he is frustrated.
UN chief to meet Saudi prince amid Yemen row

UN chief Ban Ki-moon will meet with Saudi Arabia's deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman Wednesday as the world body and Riyadh lock horns over the conflict in Yemen.

The two are to meet at midday at UN headquarters in New York, said Ban's deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq, who gave no details of their agenda.

Tensions flared recently when the UN briefly blacklisted the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, after an expert report found it responsible for 60 percent of the 785 children killed in the country last year.

Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman smiling during a press conference in Riyadh on April 25, 2016 Bandar al Galoud (Media Office of Mohammed Bin Salman/AFP/File)

The blacklisting infuriated Saudis, and the UN removed the coalition from the list pending a fact review.

Ban went on to publicly accuse Riyadh -- a major UN donor -- and its allies of financial blackmail, saying they threatened to cut off funds to certain UN agencies, including a Palestinian aid program.

Saudi Arabia has rejected both those charges and the report's findings.

The Riyadh-led military intervention is supporting the Yemeni government in its fight against Iran-allied Huthi Shiite rebels, primarily through air strikes that began in March 2015.

The Saudi government has requested that the UN send a team of experts to the coalition headquarters in Riyadh to jointly review the report and for the UN to provide details on its sources and methods.

The UN has not yet responded to the invitation and has indicated that any such meetings should take place in New York.

Prince Mohammed holds great sway in the Saudi hierarchy, and also serves as the country's defense minister.

He met Friday with US President Barack Obama, as well as Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and CIA Director John Brennan.
Dozens dead as IS expels Syria regime from Raqa province

Jihadists of the Islamic State group drove Syrian regime troops out of Raqa province on Monday, killing dozens of fighters in a lightning counter-attack, a monitoring group said.

The attack was mounted late on Sunday in response to a regime offensive in the IS stronghold of Raqa launched on June 3 that advanced about 20 kilometres (12 miles) toward the town of Tabqa, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

It came as US Secretary of State John Kerry said he had read a memo from a group of frustrated diplomats urging strikes against the Syrian regime and found it "very good".

Syrian army soldiers take positions on the outskirts of Syria's Raqa region on February 19, 2016 STRINGER (AFP/File)

The "dissent cable" became public last week after 51 serving US officials signed a call for direct US military action to force President Bashar al-Assad's regime to negotiate for peace.

The memo was seen as a criticism of President Barack Obama's cautious approach, but the "dissent channel" is an approved mechanism for diplomats opposed to official policy.

Syria's civil war began with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations in 2011 and has now killed more than 280,000 people and displaced millions.

Government troops, backed by Russian air strikes, in early June pushed into Raqa for the first time since 2014, aiming for the country's largest dam at Tabqa on the Euphrates River.

"Daesh (IS) has managed to drive out regime troops from the administrative borders of Raqa province after a fierce counter-offensive," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

It said the jihadists had sent hundreds of reinforcements from their de facto capital of Raqa city to defend Tabqa, which also has an air base, located 50 kilometres to the west.

"More than 40 members of the pro-regime forces were killed," said the Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a vast network of sources on the ground for its information.

Jihadist losses were unavailable.

- IS kills villagers -

An initial IS offensive on Sunday failed but a second attack seized many positions southwest of Tabqa.

On a separate front, IS also launched a surprise assault from another stronghold in Raqa province, killing residents of two villages it recaptured from US-backed fighters.

IS had dispatched a small group of jihadists -- including one driving an explosives-laden car -- into villages southeast of Manbij.

The villages had been seized in recent weeks by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

The US-led coalition backing the SDF carried out a barrage of air strikes Monday to defend the villages, said Syrian Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman.

At least four SDF fighters were killed in the clashes and many more were wounded.

The SDF -- a Kurdish-Arab alliance with air support from the coalition -- encircled Manbij nearly 10 days ago.

But since then, they had been slowed by almost daily suicide bombings as IS puts up a fight for the town.

Held by the jihadists since 2014, Manbij was a key stop along IS's supply route from the Turkish border southeast through the town of Tabqa and on to the city of Raqa.
Hollywood mourns 'Star Trek' actor Anton Yelchin

Co-stars, friends and fans added their voices on Monday to a chorus of tributes from Hollywood for "Star Trek" actor Anton Yelchin, after he was killed in a freak accident.

The rising star, best known for playing Chekov in the new "Star Trek" films, was killed by his own car as it rolled backwards in his driveway in the early hours of Sunday, police and his publicist said.

Susan Sarandon, who starred alongside Yelchin in the 2008 coming-of-age comedy "Middle of Nowhere," described the Russian-born American actor, who was just 27, as "an original."

L-R: Actors Anton Yelchin, Zachary Quinto and Chris Pine pose on January 16, 2008 in Los Angeles, California Kevin Winter (Getty/Getty Images/AFP/File)

"One of the most curious, funny, sweet people I've ever known," she wrote on her Facebook page.

"He was a searcher, an incredible talent and a loyal and loving son. Any time would be too soon for his departure from this plane, but this is an unforgivable and unbearable loss."

Yelchin was preparing to meet friends for a rehearsal and momentarily got out of his car at his San Fernando Valley home, according to police.

It rolled backwards down his steep driveway, pinning him against a brick mailbox pillar and security fence. Friends found him dead by the car.

It emerged on Monday that the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Yelchin was driving had been under recall for the possibility that it could roll off without warning.

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated hundreds of reports that the model would continue to move freely when drivers thought they had locked it in "park."

- 'Supremely talented' -

Yelchin moved to the United States when he was six months old with his parents, star figure skaters with the Leningrad Ice Ballet, and made his film debut at age nine in "A Man Is Mostly Water."

His breakout performance came in the 2006 crime thriller "Alpha Dog," and his movie credits include J.J Abrams's "Star Trek," "Star Trek into Darkness" and "Star Trek Beyond," which is set for release next month.

"You were funny as hell and supremely talented. And you weren't here nearly long enough," Abrams tweeted.

"Star Trek" co-star Zachary Quinto described him in a tribute on photo-sharing platform Instagram as "one of the most open and intellectually curious people I have ever had the pleasure to know.

"So enormously talented and generous of heart. Wise beyond his years, and gone before his time. All love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief," he said.

Justin Lin, who directed "Star Trek Beyond," paid tribute to Yelchin's "passion and enthusiasm" while Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker in the "Star Wars" films, lamented that Yelchin had "his whole career ahead of him."

Horror novelist Stephen King and actors William Shatner, Tom Hiddleston and Anna Kendrick noted Yelchin's immense talent and passion, while Bryce Dallas Howard, his co-star in 2009's "Terminator Salvation," described him as "an angel on earth whose light will never be extinguished."

Milla Jovovich, who acted opposite Yelchin in 2014 Shakespeare big-screen adaptation "Cymbeline," described him as her "brother" and said she and her family were "destroyed" by his death.

Actress Bryce Dallas Howard (L), pictured with actor Anton Yelchin promoting "Terminator Salvation" in 2009 described him as "an angel on earth whose light will never be extinguished" Alberto E. Rodriguez (Getty/AFP/File)

Actor Anton Yelchin poses with his mother Irina and father Victor at the premiere of the Universal Pictures' film "Alpha Dog" on January 3, 2007 in Hollywood, California Vince Bucci (Getty/Getty Images/AFP/File)
In Chicago, Muslim and gay rights leaders take on Trump

The leaders of Muslim and gay rights groups in Chicago, one of America's biggest cities, on Monday joined forces to slam Donald Trump in the wake of the Orlando massacre, saying now was not a time for divisions.

On June 12, 49 people were killed and 53 others wounded in the shooting at a gay nightclub in the central Florida city. The shooter Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old Muslim American of Afghan descent, was killed in a shootout with police.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has since renewed calls for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States and controversially suggested on Sunday that profiling of Muslims was not off the table.

L-R: Ahmed Regab of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, James Bennett of Lambda Legal, and Kelly Saulsberry representing the City of Chicago, speak at a joint conference in Chicago, on June 20, 2016 Nova Safo (AFP)

In Chicago, which has both a large Muslim population and a vibrant lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, leaders said Trump's comment were divisive and unproductive.

"We're scared, because it starts rhetorically, and then more people accept it if you don't nip it in the bud," Ahmed Rehab, the leader of the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, told AFP.

"If common sense doesn't step in right now, people are capable of mass hysteria, and he is fanning those flames," he said, speaking of Trump.

Rehab said there was fear in Chicago's Muslim community, one of the largest in the United States, that they could potentially become targets of hate crimes.

In the past week, there have been two threats emailed and phoned into area mosques, he said.

"There is never a time to divide Americans, and of course that is especially true at a time of deep national pain," James Bennett of Lambda Legal, an LGBT group, told a press conference.

Rehab told reporters that his group and Lambda Legal planned to meet every two weeks with the goal of making "clear statements on a mutual agenda of equal civil rights of all people regardless of their background."

Bennett chimed in: "I would encourage people to watch Chicago's example."

- Sending a message -

Illinois is home to an estimated 400,000 Muslims and 370,000 LGBT people, most of them located in the greater Chicago area, which has a population of about 5.2 million people.

"We're trying to send a message that this is not the time to try to pit communities against each other," said Brian Johnson, CEO of Equality Illinois, a gay rights group.

"Any public official or media personality who says such things that would not only suggest divides, but suggest putting in place actual divides, is deeply concerning," Johnson told AFP.

On Sunday, Trump said profiling of Muslims, and racial profiling more generally, was "not the worst thing to do."

"I hate the concept of profiling. But we have to use common sense. We're not using common sense," Trump said.

African-Americans, Latinos, Muslims and other minorities in the United States have complained bitterly for decades about the practice in which police use a person's race, religion, national origin or ethnicity as grounds for suspecting them of committing a crime.

"He questions Muslims' assimilation into America. I question his assimilation into our American values," Rehab said.
US seeks to clear the air for 5G wireless

US airwaves should get ready soon for 5G wireless, the promising next generation of mobile networks that will help connect a myriad of devices, a top telecom regulator said Monday.

Federal Communications Commission chairman Tom Wheeler announced he would propose a vote next month to free up large chunks of spectrum for 5G, which is expected to enable autonomous vehicles, smart cities, remote medicine and other innovations.

"If the United States is going to continue to be a world leader in wireless, we need to speed the deployment of 5G, here, on our shores," Wheeler said in a National Press Club speech.

Federal Communications Commission chairman Thomas Wheeler, pictured on May 11, 2016, announced he would propose a vote next month to free up large chunks of spectrum for a 5G wireless network Nicholas Kamm (AFP/File)

Wheeler said the FCC will vote July 14 on his proposal that aims to allocate spectrum for the ultrafast wireless technology.

Even though most commercial deployments of 5G equipment are not expected until 2020, Wheeler said now is the time to act.

"We won't wait for the standards to be first developed in the sometimes arduous standards-setting process or in a government-led activity," he said.

"The interconnected world of the future will be the result of decisions we must make today. That is why 5G is a national priority, and why, this Thursday, I am circulating to my colleagues proposed new rules that will identify and open up vast amounts of spectrum for 5G applications."

The new 5G networks could open up a range of services by delivering data at up to 100 times the speed of current technology, enabling services such as remote surgery or driverless cars and allowing customers to experience video and virtual reality with ease.

"Yes, 5G will connect the Internet of Everything," Wheeler said. "If something can be connected, it will be connected in a 5G world."

Meredith Atwell Baker, president and chief executive of the industry group called CTIA the Wireless Association, welcomed the news, saying it is important for the US to lead this technology.

"America's current wireless success has stemmed, in large part, from the FCCs effort to be the first to auction 4G spectrum," Baker said in a blog post.

"That first-mover advantage enabled US mobile operators and innovators to invest billions in the world's first 4G LTE networks and smartphones we all love and benefit from today."
British man charged after bid to 'kill Trump'

A 19-year-old British man has been charged for trying to grab a police officer's gun at a Donald Trump rally in Las Vegas in an apparent bid to kill the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

According to a complaint filed in federal court in Nevada, Michael Sandford tried to disarm the officer at Saturday's rally at the Mystere Theatre in the Treasure Island Casino before being overpowered.

It said the young man told a Secret Service agent after his arrest that he had driven from California to Las Vegas "to kill Trump," and had been to a range a day earlier to learn to shoot as he had never fired a gun before.

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the Treasure Island Hotel in Las Vegas John Gurzinski (AFP/File)

"Sandford acknowledged that he would likely only be able to fire one to two rounds and stated he was convinced he would be killed by law enforcement during his attempt on Trump's life," the complaint said.

It added that Sandford told investigators he had purchased tickets for a rally in Phoenix, where he "would try again to kill Trump" in the event his plan in Las Vegas failed.

Video of his arrest carried by US media show a skinny man with short brown hair and a grey T-shirt being quickly escorted out of the rally by police officers with his hands behind his back.

The prosecutor's office said Sandford was ordered held without bond, as he was considered dangerous and represented a flight risk.

Britain's Foreign Office is "providing assistance" in the case, a spokesman said.

- 'Would try this again' -

The complaint said Sandford had told investigators he had been in the United States for about 18 months, and had lived in Hoboken, New Jersey, before traveling to California.

Sandford told investigators that he had targeted officer Ameel Jacob's gun because it was in an unlocked position and would be the easiest way to gain access to a weapon at the rally where those attending had to go through metal detectors.

He struck up a conversation with Jacob, telling him he wanted an autograph from Trump before lunging at his gun and grabbing the firearm with both hands, prosecutors said.

Sandford allegedly told the Secret Service that he had been plotting to kill Trump for about a year and finally decided to act on Saturday, as "he finally felt confident to do it."

"Sandford further stated that if he were on the street tomorrow, he would try this again," according to the complaint.

His arrest comes amid one of the nastiest US presidential campaigns in recent history, dominated by violent rhetoric, with Trump lashing out at Mexicans, Muslims and other groups.

The real estate billionaire enjoys Secret Service protection but also has his own private security detail, which has been accused of using unnecessary force to remove people from events.

A number of protesters have been arrested at his rallies where riot police are deployed in force, and there have been mounting demonstrations during his campaign appearances in recent months.

According to an investigation by the Politico news website, the security team that patrols Trump's rallies has "at times inflamed the already high tensions around his divisive campaign, rather than defusing them."

Trump's critics have also accused his campaign of racial profiling and removing people from events based on their appearance.

Sandford is due to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on July 5. He faces more than 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if found guilty on the charge of "act of violence on restricted grounds."

A Trump campaign official declined to comment on Sandford's arrest.

Supporters cheer for US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a rally at the Treasure Island Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June, 18, 2016 John Gurzinski (AFP)
Syria: UN aid reaches 5 Damascus communities under siege

The United Nations said Monday it delivered food and medical aid to besieged Syrians on the rural outskirts of Damascus over the weekend.

The relief shipments went to Ein Terma and Hamouria -- areas surrounded by regime forces -- as well as the difficult to reach Hazeh, Beit Sawa and Eftreis areas.

The communities are in the Kafr Batna region, which hasn't received aid since mid-April.

Vehicles of a UN and SARC aid convoy, with food, nutrition, health and other emergency items, enter the rebel-held town of Douma, east of the Syrian capital Damascus, on June 10, 2016 Abd Doumany (AFP/File)

UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq welcomed the news, but said "much more progress is required."

"The UN continues to call for unconditional, unimpeded and sustained access to the millions of people in besieged and hard to reach locations across Syria," he added.

Since the beginning of the year, 86 land convoys have entered areas that are under siege or difficult to reach, delivering crucial supplies to 850,000 civilians.

Last year, the UN sent only 34 aid deliveries, down from 50 in 2014.

Erbin and Zamalka, two of 18 besieged areas identified by the UN, have gone without potentially life-saving assistance since November 2012.

The rural Damascus suburbs in East Ghouta are controlled by rebel forces and encircled by Syrian regime troops.

The UN plans on sending humanitarian assistance via airdrops, using planes in rural areas and helicopters in densely populated regions.

Some 592,700 Syrian residents are currently living under siege, according to the United Nations.
'Mississippi Burning' murder case closes after 52 years

The investigation into the infamous murder of three young activists which became known as the "Mississippi Burning" civil rights case has finally closed after 52 years, the US state's attorney general said Monday.

The three young men -- two Jewish and one black -- were executed in June 1964 in the midst of the "Freedom Summer" voter registration project. They had ventured south from New York to register African American voters.

The brutal killings of James Chaney, 21, Andrew Goodman, 20, and Michael Schwerner, 24, rocked the nation and went on to inspire the Alan Parker film "Mississippi Burning" in 1988.

The burned out station wagon that slain civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Mickey Schwerner were driving in is seen June, 1964 in the Bogue Chitto swamp some 20 kilometers (13 miles) northeast of Philadelphia, Mississippi

"I am convinced that during the last 52 years, investigators have done everything possible under the law to find those responsible and hold them accountable," said Attorney General Jim Hood.

"There is no likelihood of any additional convictions."

At the time of the killings, the US Justice Department -- aware it had no chance of securing murder convictions faced with segregationist state authorities and all-white juries -- chose to prosecute the case under civil rights law.

In 1967, eight suspects received prison sentences -- serving less than six years in prison -- for federal civil rights violations connected to the murders.

Four decades on, in 2005, Hood and the county prosecutor won a manslaughter conviction against white supremacist Edgar Ray Killen, a former Ku Klux Klan (KKK) member who is currently serving a 60-year-prison sentence.

The night the activists disappeared, on June 21, 1964, local police -- allegedly infiltrated by the KKK -- arrested them on false pretenses, releasing them late that evening.

Shortly after the men left city limits, KKK members ambushed and shot them dead at point blank range. An FBI investigation uncovered their bodies 44 days later in an earthen dam on the secluded property of a Klansman.

The active federal and state investigation closed after the Justice Department found that no viable prosecutions remained, closing a significant chapter in Mississippi's history, said Attorney General Hood.

"Our state and our entire nation are a much better place because of the work of those three young men and others in 1964," he said.
Toyota's US robotics boss promises results within 5 years

TOKYO (AP)  The U.S. robotics expert tapped to head Toyota's Silicon Valley research company says the $1 billion investment by the giant Japanese automaker will start showing results within five years.

Gill Pratt told reporters that the Toyota Research Institute is also looking ahead into the distant future when there will be cars that anyone, including children and the elderly, can ride in on their own, as well as robots that help out in homes.

Pratt, a former program manager at the U.S. military's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, joined Toyota Motor Corp. first as a technical adviser when it set up its artificial intelligence research effort at Stanford University and MIT.

In this Friday, June 17, 2016 photo, Gill Pratt, chief executive of Toyota Research Institute, speaks to reporters at Toyota Motor Corp.s Tokyo office. The U.S. robotics expert tapped to head Toyota's Silicon Valley research company says the $1 billion investment by the giant Japanese automaker will start showing results within five years. (AP Photo/Yuri Kageyama)

He said safety features will be the first types of AI applications to appear in Toyota vehicles. Such features are already offered on some models now being sold, such as sensors that help cars brake or warn drivers before a possible crash, and cars that drive themselves automatically into parking spaces or on certain roads.

"I expect something to come out during those five years," Pratt told reporters recently at Toyota's Tokyo office of the timeframe seen for the investment.

"It is very important to understand that what we are doing has high risk and that some of our efforts will not be entirely successful but we expect some of them to be very successful," he said.

Most automakers, such as General Motors, Tesla and Nissan, are competing on autonomous driving and connecting cars to the internet, while several big companies outside the auto industry, including Google, Apple and Uber, are also eyeing the business.

He said that only in the future will there be what he called "hyper-exponential growth" in capability, when all robots are connected together in a network, sharing information on the cloud and helping each other improve.

No one knows when that might happen, although Pratt said that was likely within two decades.

"Someday, these cars will be safe enough that children could go from one place to the other without having a soccer mom having to drive or a soccer dad," he said.

Toyota has already shown an R2-D2-like robot designed to help the elderly, the sick and people in wheelchairs by picking up and carrying objects. The automaker has also shown human-shaped entertainment robots that can converse and play musical instruments.

Toyota, which makes the Prius hybrid, Camry sedan and the luxury Lexus models, already uses sophisticated robotic arms and computers in auto production.

While Pratt's institute, which started operating this year, will have exchanges with Toyota's other divisions, such as the robotics one, including having employees going back and forth, company strategy is not part of his work.

"Our job is to explore what is possible, what might work. We don't actually know what's going to work," he said.

___

Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama

Her work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/yuri-kageyama

FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2015 file photo, Toyota Motor Corp.'s Executive Technical Advisor Gill Pratt, left, and President Akio Toyoda, right, shake hands during a press conference on artificial intelligence in Tokyo. The U.S. robotics expert tapped to head Toyota's Silicon Valley research company says the $1 billion investment by the giant Japanese automaker will start showing results within five years. Pratt told reporters that the Toyota Research Institute is also looking ahead into the distant future when there will be cars that anyone, including children and the elderly, can ride in, as well as robots that help out in homes. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, FIle)
Taliban suicide bombing kills 14 Nepalese guards in Kabul

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  A Taliban suicide bomber killed 14 Nepalese security guards in an attack Monday on their minibus in the Afghan capital, Kabul, the Interior Ministry and an Afghan security official said.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, a bomb rigged to a motorbike killed 10 Afghan civilians during morning rush hour in a busy market in a province in the northeast.

And later Monday in Kabul, a second Taliban bombing killed an Afghan civilian and wounded five people, including a provincial council member who was the intended target of that attack, authorities said.

Afghan police soldiers inspect the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, June 20, 2016. About a dozen people were killed Monday when a Taliban suicide bomber targeted their minibus in the Afghan capital, a government official said. (AP Photos/Massoud Hossaini)

The Nepalese were on their way to the Canadian Embassy where they work as guards when the explosion took place on Monday morning, according to a Nepalese guard who was wounded in the attack. Officials at the Canadian Embassy in Kabul could not be reached for comment.

The attack was the latest to hit Kabul as the Taliban have stepped up their assaults as part of their summer offensive. The insurgents frequently target government employees and Afghan security forces across the country.

In the bombing that killed the Nepalese, the bomber was on foot when he struck the minibus, said Gen. Abdul Rahman Rahimi, the city's police chief. He did not identify the foreign security company the guards work for.

The Interior Ministry confirmed that all 14 killed were Nepalese citizens, describing the attack as the work of a "terrorist suicide bomber." It said the explosion also wounded nine people, five Nepalese employees and four Afghan civilians.

Amrit Rokaya Chhetri, a Nepalese guard wounded in the attack, told The Associated Press they were on their way to the Canadian Embassy when the blast took place.

"Many people died," Chhetri said from his hospital bed, his head covered with bandage. "I say to my family, I am ok and I will come home."

Abdullah Abdullah, the country's chief executive officer, condemned the attack in a posting on Twitter, saying: "This attack is an act of terror and intimidation."

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement to media.

In Nepal, Bharat Raj Paudyal, spokesman for Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the government is aware of Monday's incident in Kabul and is trying to verify the names of the victims and details about the bombing. Nepal does not have an embassy in Afghanistan but the embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, is working to get the details, he said.

In a conflicting statement, Afghanistan's Islamic State affiliate also claimed responsibility for the Kabul attack, identifying the suicide bomber as Erfanullah Ahmed and saying he carried out the attack by detonating his explosives' belt. The conflicting claims could not immediately be reconciled.

Insurgents frequently target buses with government employees  or those perceived to be working for the Kabul government. In late May, a suicide bomber struck a minibus carrying court employees during morning rush hour in Kabul, killing 11 people  judges and court employees. The Taliban claimed responsibility for that attack as well.

In the northeastern Badakhshan province, the parked motorbike-bomb that killed at least 10 Afghan civilians on Monday also wounded 40 others, according to Naved Froutan, spokesman for the provincial governor.

The explosion took place in the main bazaar in Kashim district, he said, adding that "an investigation is underway to determine the target of the attack, but all victims of the attack are civilians." He added that women and children were among those killed and wounded of the attack.

Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, denied any involvement by the insurgents in the blast in Badakhshan, though Taliban are active in the area and regularly target Afghan security forces there.

As for Monday's second blast in Kabul, it went off near the home of Mawlavi Attaullah Faizani, a member of the Kabul provincial council, said Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan interior minister.

Sediqqi said the bomb went off as Faizani was passing by in his vehicle. Mujahid confirmed the Taliban had targeted the provincial council member.

Afghan President Asharf Ghani condemned all three of Monday's attacks, according to a statement from the presidential palace. It quoted Ghani as saying that "terrorists do not hesitate to kill people even during the holy month of Ramadan" and that they are seeking to "create fear among the people."

___

Associated Press writers Amir Shah in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Binaj Gurubacharya in Kathmandu, Nepal, contributed to this report.

Afghan fire department clean a street as people watch at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, June 20, 2016. About a dozen people were killed Monday when a Taliban suicide bomber targeted their minibus in the Afghan capital, a government official said. (AP Photos/Massoud Hossaini)
Juvenile lifers await chance for parole after US ruling

PHILADELPHIA (AP)  It's been six months since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that some 2,500 "juvenile lifers" could seek a chance at parole for their childhood crimes, but only a few aging inmates have walked out of prison.

Public defenders fear many will need the blessing of a judge, a parole board and perhaps the victim's family, even after Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that only the "rarest of children" are so "incorrigible" they should never go free.

At least one judge in rural Pennsylvania decided this month that 46 years was punishment enough for a foster child sent away at age 15 for killing a girlfriend while rabbit hunting in 1969. Jackie Lee Thompson, 61, appears to be the first of the state's 500 or so juvenile lifers released since the Supreme Court ruling.

Jackie Lee Thompson poses for a portrait Tuesday June 7, 2016 near Wellsboro, Pa. Thompson, 61, appears to be the first of Pennsylvania's approximately 500 juvenile lifers released since the Supreme Court ruling in January. Thompson was released in June after serving 46 years for killing a girlfriend while out rabbit hunting at age 15 in 1969. (Jason Przybycien, The Wellsboro Gazette via AP)

"At 15, you really can't know the impact," said Thompson, who is living with a niece in Wellsboro, in north-central Pennsylvania, near where the crime occurred.

"In the later part of the '70s, it really slapped me in the face and made me really starting thinking about what I did," he told The Associated Press in a phone interview Wednesday. "It's not just the victim that got affected here. It's the whole community. It's your family."

The Supreme Court in 2012 outlawed mandatory life without parole sentences for juvenile defendants and this year said the ruling should be retroactive. That has left some states to devise a review process, and new sentencing grid, for people given the sentence as minors in adult court.

States with the highest caseloads include Pennsylvania, with more than 500; Michigan, Louisiana and California, with more than 300 apiece; and Florida, with more than 200.

For victims' families, the new court hearings can mean another round of grief.

"How do you go back 26 years and have a fair proceeding?" said Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins, of Northfield, Illinois, whose pregnant sister and brother-in-law were fatally shot by a 16-year-old in 1990. She leads the National Organization of Victims of Juvenile Murderers.

"Nobody in our group thinks that all juveniles should have the books thrown at them for the most minor of offenses ... but there are some that can be very, very dangerous even as teenagers," she said.

In Thompson's case, the victim's sister and elderly father joined about 30 people in court for his June 6 re-sentencing hearing and attended the welcome-home picnic held the next day. He had done everything he could to better himself in prison, earning an associate's degree and mastering several trades, supporters said.

"This is precisely the type of case that the Supreme Court of the United States is talking about," said Thomas Walrath, the juvenile defender who represented him. "(He) is a completely different person than the juvenile who committed this act."

Neither of the inmates named in the two Supreme Court cases  Evan Miller, of Alabama, and Herbert Montgomery, of Louisiana  have been re-sentenced, despite the court finding their no-parole sentences unconstitutional.

"It's really remarkable, just how difficult it is, even with the clear guidance from the Supreme Court," said Joshua Rovner, who has researched the issue for The Sentencing Project.

In Philadelphia, with 300 of the state's juvenile-lifer caseload, the review process could take several years. Authorities are trying to prioritize the oldest cases, like that of 79-year-old Joe Ligon, who has served 63 years for killing two people when he was 15.

"They want him to go before a parole board. I mean, seriously?" asked Marsha Levick, co-founder of the Juvenile Law Center. "It's pointless to keep him in prison."

District Attorney Seth Williams believes the law requires the parole board to make the final decision. He said he can't wave "a magic wand" and let people out of prison.

One of the two Philadelphia men re-sentenced so far, Tyrone Jones, is eligible for parole after receiving a new sentence of 35 years to life. Jones, 59, has also pursued innocence claims over the years, saying his confession in a 1973 gang-related shooting was coerced. That could be a Catch-22 if the parole board wants to hear remorse.

"You can't apologize for something you didn't do," said lawyer Hayes Hunt, who has worked the case pro bono for years. "We are confident and hopeful the parole board will understand."

About 100 of the juvenile lifers from Philadelphia have been locked up for more than a quarter-century, sentenced when judges had only two choices for first- or second-degree murder: the death penalty or life without parole. That meant a life sentence for teens like 17-year-old Earl Rice Jr., sentenced after a woman whose purse he snatched in West Chester in 1973 died from the resulting fall. Rice is now 60. The victim's family opposes his release.

In Michigan, about 360 juvenile lifers await re-sentencing, but the courts still routinely hand out life without parole sentences in new juvenile cases, something Williams, in Philadelphia, said he will no longer pursue.

Thompson and his victim, Charlotte Goodwin, were foster children in the same home. He shot her after she taunted him that she was pregnant by him, although she was not. She actually died of drowning after he and a friend dragged her body to a nearby creek. Thompson was the only person convicted.
Jordan sentences Iraqi man to 15 years for role in bomb plot

AMMAN, Jordan (AP)  Jordan's state security court has sentenced an Iraqi man to 15 years in prison for his role in a plot to carry out bombing attacks in the kingdom.

The court ruling says Khaled Rabiee had hidden 45 kilograms (100 pounds) of explosives in a forest in northern Jordan, but was arrested last year before he could use them.

The Jordan Times on Monday quoted court papers as saying that the defendant was sentenced to 15 years for transporting an illicit substance with intent to "carry out a terrorist attack."

The newspaper says Rabiee was acquitted of membership in a hostile organization. Previous reports said Rabiee had links to an Iranian brigade known as Bayt al-Maqdis.
Indonesia vows more decisive action after Chinese ship spat

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP)  Indonesia said it will continue to take "decisive" action against foreign ships operating illegally in waters under its jurisdiction after Beijing criticized its navy for shooting at Chinese fishing vessels.

Indonesian navy spokesman First Admiral Edi Sucipto on Monday confirmed an Indonesian warship fired warning shots at Chinese fishing vessels in waters off Indonesia's Natuna islands and detained one of the vessels and its seven crew members.

He said the incident occurred on Friday. "We will not hesitate to take decisive action against foreign ships, whatever their flag and nationality, when they commit violations in Indonesian territory," Sucipto said.

China's Foreign Ministry released a statement of protest on Sunday and said the Indonesian navy had "abused its military force." It said one fisherman was injured during the incident.

China's expansive claims to the South China Sea do not include the Natuna islands, which are nearly 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) from the Chinese mainland in waters between Malaysia and Borneo.

But China's nine dash line, which it uses to roughly demarcate its ambitions for maritime boundaries, overlaps with the section of Indonesia's internationally-recognized exclusive economic zone extending from the Natuna islands. The Chinese foreign ministry's statement characterized the faraway waters as China's traditional fishing ground.

The incident Friday was the third such clash since March, when Indonesia intercepted a Chinese fishing vessel off the Natuna islands. In May, an Indonesian frigate fired shots at a Chinese trawler when it refused to stop fishing, and then seized the vessel and its eight crew members.

Maritime and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, who has overseen the destruction of dozens of foreign boats caught illegally fishing in Indonesian waters, said the navy followed correct procedures for dealing with poachers.
Pakistan Afghanistan discuss border tensions after clashes

ISLAMABAD (AP)  Pakistan and Afghanistan held talks Monday in Islamabad on last week's deadly border clashes that killed two Afghan border guards and a Pakistani officer. A statement after the meeting said both nations emphasized the need to create a mechanism for consulting one another on border issues.

The two neighbors last week traded several bouts of deadly gunfire and artillery at the Torkham border after Pakistan started building a fence on its side, each side accusing the other of starting the violence.

Afghanistan does not recognize the present boundary, the so-called Durand Line, as an international border. After the clashes had stopped, Pakistan reopened the crossing on Saturday, allowing thousands of stranded travelers to cross.

The six-member Afghan delegation, led by Afghanistan's deputy foreign minister, Hekmat Khalil Karzai, was welcomed in Islamabad by Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry. A Pakistani ministry statement after the meeting said that effective border management remains vital for promoting peace, countering terrorism and strengthening relations between the two countries.

Pakistan shares a nearly 2,600 kilometer (1,625 mile) -long border with Afghanistan and Islamic militants operate on both sides of the border. The Pakistani military had earlier said that there had been incursions by militants from across the Torkham border lately, which prompted authorities to implement more effective border control.
As Zika looms, US health officials worry about the neighbors

HOUSTON (AP)  Saron Wyatt pointed to the secluded end of her small street in Houston's impoverished Fifth Ward, where a mound of old tires keeps popping up.

Always a trashy nuisance, it's now a growing danger. Tires collect water and become prime breeding grounds for mosquitoes  especially the ones that spread Zika virus disease and other tropical mosquito-borne illnesses.

Wyatt, a mother of five, doesn't know where the tires are coming from. But she's worried about it, and so are health officials.

In this Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 file photo, Darryl Nevins, owner of a Mosquito Joe franchise, sprays a backyard to control mosquitoes in Houston. Zika has been sweeping through Latin America and the Caribbean in recent months, and the fear is that it will get worse there and arrive in the U.S. with the onset of mosquito season this summer. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

Spraying for the type of mosquito that carries Zika is not always effective, and they can breed in pools of standing water as small as a Styrofoam cup. That means vacant lots or messy yards may need to be cleaned up, whether the owner of the mess wants it cleaned or not.

Dr. Umair Shah, the head of Houston's county health department, called getting the cooperation of local residents his department's biggest issue. "It's really about a neighbor who might have sources of breeding on their property that can impact a neighbor two or three houses down," he said.

Experts believe the vast majority of neighbors will comply. But not all. For months now, the federal government has been urging local health officials to review local nuisance ordinances and plot how to handle property owners who are combative or can't be found.

During a recent outbreak of dengue fever in Hawaii that involved the same mosquito that can spread Zika, health officials went to more than 500 properties to survey or spray. In 23 cases, residents refused requests to enter.

It happened again in March, when health officials went to see a Kauai resident who was infected with Zika after traveling to an outbreak area in Latin America. Initially, the person would not allow health officials onto the rental property. But when a team returned for a follow-up visit, a family member let them in to look for mosquito breeding areas.

"For the most part, we do get good cooperation," said Keith Kawaoka, deputy director for environmental health at Hawaii's state health department. But sometimes cooperation comes only after a couple of conversations.

Zika has been sweeping through Latin America and the Caribbean in recent months, and the fear is that it will get worse there and arrive in the U.S. with the onset of mosquito season this summer. Zika causes only a mild and brief illness, at worst, in most people. But it can cause fetal deaths and severe birth defects in the children of women infected during pregnancy.

After West Nile Virus, another mosquito-borne disease, hit the United States in 1999, the response was often to spray wide areas using trucks and aircraft.

But the kinds of mosquitoes that primarily spread West Nile are different from the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads Zika and dengue. That tropical pest likes to live very close to people, and immediately around their homes.

If someone is diagnosed with Zika and health officials determine that they were infected by a local mosquito, officials will draw a circle around their house with a radius of about 150 yards. That's roughly half a block in many cities. An Aedes aegypti mosquito doesn't travel farther than that during its typical three-week lifespan.

Next, health officials or mosquito control workers will visit the properties within that circle and look for standing water where mosquitoes may be breeding, including Styrofoam cups, flower pots, and old tires. They will work with the property owner to remove them, or treat them with chemicals that kill mosquito larvae.

Some people may not want such an intrusion.

In Hawaii during its dengue outbreak, much of the resistance came from organic farmers and beekeepers wary of chemical sprays, Kawaoka said.

But there may be other cases in which a property occupant is hiding an illegal activity and doesn't want health officials snooping around. Or, there may be people who simply don't want anyone from the government on their land, some experts said.

"In modern America, there's been a lot of focus on individual autonomy," said Lawrence Gostin, a public health law expert at Georgetown University.

Health officials think they would be able to beat back a legal challenge to government intervention because courts have long allowed the government to intrude onto private property to deal with situations that may be harmful to the public, Gostin said.

Since the beginning of the year, Florida residents have sent dozens of emails to Gov. Rick Scott alerting him to overgrown backyards with standing water and expressing concern over Zika, mosquitoes, and the efforts to control mosquitoes.

A pregnant woman in Hillsborough County wrote that she looked forward to what else the state and her county could to do protect her, but she also questioned the effect of insecticides on her and her baby. "I am doing my best to be healthy for the baby, but the Zika virus has me worried," she wrote in an email obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request. "It is impossible to say that I can never leave the house."

Wyatt doesn't know where the tires on her street in Houston come from, but she doesn't think it's her neighbors. She considers the people on her block to be quiet people who don't come out of their houses much but don't appear to cause any trouble.

"They all look out for one another," she said.

But health officials in Harris County have had mixed results trying to clear up dumping grounds and standing water.

And mosquito control staff are fielding complaints from people tired of seeing staffers walk on their property to monitor mosquito traps that officials have set up to try to detect Zika before human infection, said Martin Reyna Nava, technical operations manager for the county's mosquito control division.

He stressed that the vast majority of people cooperate. But Shah and others are concerned that some trouble spots will keep popping up, at least until a local Zika case occurs in the community and makes people realize that the danger is real.

"There may be folks who say, 'Nah, I'm not really interested in helping,'" Shah said. "That's where the challenge comes in."

___

Associated Press writer Jennifer Kay in Miami contributed to this report. Stobbe reported from Atlanta and New York.

This June 2, 2016 photo shows a container of collected Culex breed of mosquitoes to be tested for various infectious diseases, at the Harris County Mosquito Control lab in Houston. Zika has been sweeping through Latin America and the Caribbean in recent months, and the fear is that it will get worse there and arrive in the U.S. with the onset of mosquito season this summer. (AP Photo/John Mone)
Road to 270: GOP's California dream has long proven elusive

WESTMINSTER, Calif. (AP)  Bob Dole thought he could win California with a "fishhook" strategy. George W. Bush came armed with $15 million. John McCain was bullish, too. They all lost.

Donald Trump's prediction that he can capture the biggest prize in the November presidential election, the state's 55 electoral votes, rubs up against a dismal history for Republicans over a generation. The names on the ballot have changed, but the outcome has been the same  double-digit wins for Democrats since 1992.

Here's Trump's challenge: unite Republicans while finding millions of new supporters in a state where Democrats hold every statewide office and both chambers of the Legislature. They also have a 3.1 million edge in voters, a number equal to the population of Iowa.

FILE - In this Oct. 27, 1996 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole takes the stage during his rally in Elk Grove, Calif. Dole thought he could he could win California with a fishhook strategy. Trump's prediction that he can win California in the November presidential election challenges the dismal history for Republican nominees in one of the nation's Democratic strongholds. (AP Photo/Eric Draper)

In 1996, Dole was brimming with confidence about his chances against then-President Bill Clinton. Dole's campaign aimed to drive up vote margins in Republican-friendly communities down the state's interior spine, then up through coastal counties in the south, roughly in the shape of a fishhook. Money and staff poured in. Dole's running mate, Jack Kemp, had special credentials: He grew up in Los Angeles.

It wasn't even close. Clinton ran up a 51-to-38 percent win.

"Since 1996, the California electorate has swung even more to the left," said Ken Khachigian, a former chief speechwriter in the Reagan White House who ran Dole's campaign in the state.

"Five months out, it's political malpractice to rule out any possibility," Khachigian added. But a Republican win in California "comes as close as anything to an exception."

The home turf of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, California was once Republican in presidential elections. But pronounced demographic shifts, particularly a boom in the Hispanic population, have transformed the state.

The number of Hispanics, blacks and Asian-Americans combined has outnumbered whites in California since 1998, and Latinos alone now outnumber the white population. Most of the new voters are Democrats or independents who tend to vote like them.

Trump is looking to expand his support at a time when he already faces challenges with Hispanics and women. That stems in part from his promise to build a wall along the border with Mexico and his verbal attacks on U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who is hearing a lawsuit against Trump University. Trump also has criticized New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, who heads the Republican Governors Association.

Richard Hoyt, a registered independent from Westminster, in Orange County, is the kind of voter Trump needs to pull his way. But the 64-year-old retired engineer says he's leaning toward Clinton, in part because of Trump's statements about Curiel and the judge's family's Mexican roots.

Hoyt said he would give Trump a "zero for his mannerisms" and added: "I can't imagine how all of the sudden he's going to change."

Part of Trump's challenge is simple arithmetic.

In California's June 7 primary, the billionaire businessman ran essentially unopposed, pulling in about 1.5 million votes, or about 75 percent of the total. Ted Cruz and John Kasich were still on the ballot, though they earlier dropped out of the race.

Analysists predict 14 million people are likely to vote in November.

To win, Trump would need a heroic turnout from the state's 4.9 million Republicans, while finding 2 million or more swing voters to get near a majority. Indeed, some of those swing voters could be lurking in counties where Republican candidates have outperformed the party's registration numbers.

But there are more than 8 million Democrats, and the state's 4.2 million independents  about 1 in 4 voters  tilt Democratic.

Trump's state director, Tim Clark, emphasized that Trump's supporters are strongly motivated in a year when many voters are looking for candidates from beyond Washington. As an outsider, Trump could appeal to a vast pool of dormant voters soured on status quo politics, Clark said.

"Elections are won by those who show up, and those who show up are those motivated by their candidate," Clark added.

The last significant push by a Republican to win California was in 2000, when Bush was backed by $15 million, then lost to Democrat Al Gore by 12 points. In 2004, Bush's campaign vowed to compete in California, but the campaign effectively shut down in early autumn.

McCain, the 2008 GOP nominee against Barack Obama, boasted about competing in California, but he lost by 24 points. Mitt Romney suffered a 23-point loss to Obama in 2012.

Aside from her registration advantage, Clinton also has a formidable get-out-the-vote operation. The campaign made 2 million phone calls in the final days before the state primary. Trump has no comparable organization. An energized Hispanic turnout is likely, favoring Clinton, who also carried the state in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary.

Republicans remain healthy in pockets of California, including parts of the vast farm belt and the so-called Inland Empire running east and north of Los Angeles. But party registration overall has withered to 27 percent of the state total, compared with 45 percent for Democrats.

Independents now outnumber Republicans in nearly two dozen of the state's 53 congressional districts.

Former Gov. Pete Wilson, a Ted Cruz supporter who now backs Trump, is the last Republican to win a U.S. Senate race in the state, in 1988.

He acknowledges the steep climb Trump faces, but said in an unpredictable political year Trump could make inroads with independents and voters wary of Clinton. At the minimum, he said Trump could win a tactical victory if he forces Democrats to compete on their own ground.

Democrats "will have to respond and they will have to spend time and money here," he said.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a rally Saturday, June 18, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
AP FACT CHECK: Facts undercut Trump post-Orlando arguments

WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trump says the United States admits Syrian refugees without checking their backgrounds and that Hillary Clinton wants to allow "radical Islamic terrorists to pour into our country."

Neither is so, part of a pattern of exaggeration that strains the credibility of his argument since the Orlando nightclub shooting that the U.S. faces apocalyptic danger from Muslim immigrants.

Trump's rhetoric has been slashing, polarizing, passionate and at times illogical. He confuses immigrants with refugees and overlooks the fact some extremists are U.S. citizens. He speaks as if the U.S. border is a gate wide open. And his numbers are off.

FILE - In this June 3, 2016 file photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures to a his camouflaged "Make America Great" hat at a campaign rally at the Redding Municipal Airport in Redding, Calif. Trump's prediction that he can win California in the November presidential election challenges the dismal history for Republican nominees in one of the nation's Democratic strongholds. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

It's a given that hyperbole comes with Trump territory. He's acknowledged that exaggeration for dramatic effect is part of how he rolls. It's how he connects at a gut level with supporters who look past mangled facts to what they see as a larger truth, while opponents stand back aghast.

Altogether, the Orlando massacre by a U.S. citizen with Islamist beliefs, radical sympathies and an apparently tortured psyche has reignited a tangle of debates on domestic terrorism, threats from abroad, the nation's refugee traditions, hate crimes and guns in the early days of the Trump-Clinton general election campaign.

A look at some of Trump's recent statements on those issues and how they compare with the facts:

___

TRUMP: "We are taking in thousands of people into our country. We have no idea where they come from, we have no idea who the hell they are. We know they believe in certain things that we don't want to believe in."

THE FACTS: It's not true that the government knows nothing about refugees who come to the United States.

The State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration keeps detailed records about how many refugees arrive monthly, and from where. The information is available to the public online through the agency's Refugee Processing Center (www.wrapsnet.org). The arrival information is broken down by country and region.

In May, for example, 6,511 refugees were resettled in the United States. The Democratic Republic of the Congo had the largest number of refugees who arrived last month, 1,274.

Annual data about immigrants is also available from the government through the Homeland Security Department's Yearbook of Immigration Statistics.

Would-be immigrants and refugees are screened to ensure they haven't been identified by intelligence agencies or law enforcement as having ties to terrorist organizations or criminal records. But people's belief systems are not generally considered as part of their applications to move to the United States.

___

TRUMP: "And yet you see this great migration, which is a horrible thing to watch."

THE FACTS: Trump is right that there is a mass migration taking place from Syria and other countries in the Middle East.

Millions of people are thought to have fled. But he's wrong to imply that the huge influx has come into the United States.

Since 2011, about 5,760 Syrian refugees have been brought to the U.S.

As of the end of May, 41,424 refugees from around the world have come to the United States since the start of the budget year in October. According to the State Department, 14,898 of those people are from the "Near East/South Asia" region, which includes Syria. But only 2,805 Syrians were among them.

As a whole, African nations have accounted for more refugees and Myanmar (also known as Burma) leads all countries, with 8,112 refugees, in the first eight months of the current budget year.

According to the U.N. High Commission on Refugees, more than 1 million Syrians have sought refuge in Europe since 2011. That's the "great migration."

___

TRUMP: "Now she (Clinton) wants to allow them to come into our country pretty much unvetted because every law enforcement person that I've spoken to and that you watched and that you read is saying it's very hard, if not impossible, to check out people. There are just no papers. There are no papers. And yet you see this great migration."

"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.

"Clinton wants to allow radical Islamic terrorists to pour into our country  they enslave women and murder gays."

THE FACTS: That's not what Clinton has said.

The presumptive Democratic nominee says she wants to "begin immediately to put into place the mechanisms for vetting the people that we would take in, looking to really emphasize some of those who are most vulnerable, a lot of the persecuted religious minorities, including Christians, and some who have been brutalized, like the Yazidi women."

Clinton proposes that the United States accept as many as 65,000 people from Syria, compared with President Barack Obama's plans to resettle 10,000 people from that country this year. She has never suggested that she would scale back the refugee processing system as it exists today.

Late last year, the Obama administration for the first time disclosed details about how refugees are investigated. Officials described a drawn-out process that includes in-person interviews overseas and involves multiple agencies, led by Homeland Security.

Refugees must submit to interviews before they can come, and provide biographical details about themselves  their families, friendships, social or political activities, employment, telephone numbers, email accounts and more. They also provide biometric information, including fingerprints. Syrians are subject to additional, classified controls that officials have declined to describe specifically.

Refugee processing generally takes 18 months to 24 months. It can be longer for Syrians.

While Trump is wrong to say Syrian refugees undergo no screening or practically none, that's not to say the system is foolproof.

Contrary to Trump's assertion that "there are no papers," refugee applicants must provide documentation. But the administration has acknowledged it can be difficult to verify the accuracy or authenticity of documents provided by refugee applicants against foreign government records from countries that don't cooperate with the U.S. government, such as Syria.

It can be tough for the U.S. to check foreign government records for local arrests or lesser bureaucratic interactions, such as bank records, business licenses or civil filings.

Refugees from Syria in particular tend to provide extensive documents involving their day-to-day lives. They often have family histories, military records and other information that can be useful for American authorities investigating them.

___

TRUMP: "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."

THE FACTS: Trump may be right on his overall description of the U.S. immigration system as "dysfunctional." It's demonstrably false to say the U.S. doesn't know who is being allowed into the country.

Illegal immigration along the Mexican border remains a problem. Tens of thousands of unaccompanied children and people traveling as families, mostly from Central America, have arrived at the U.S. border this year.

The U.S. still lacks a comprehensive exit system to determine more effectively who has stayed in the country after their visas have expired.

But the U.S. government obviously knows who receives the government's permission to legally immigrate into the country. Would-be immigrants, refugees and foreign tourists are all subjected to background checks and various forms of screening.

In the case of tourists, people from 38 countries approved for the Visa Waiver Program must submit biographic and other data about themselves before they can legally travel to the United States using the online Electronic System for Travel.
6 detained in Belgium in connection with foiled train attack

BRUSSELS (AP)  Six people were detained in connection with an attack last year on a Thalys express train to France that was foiled by three Americans, Belgian authorities said Monday.

The Federal Prosecutor's Office said six houses in the greater Brussels area were searched in the operation and an investigating judge was to decide later whether the people taken in for questioning should remain in custody.

No arms or explosives were found and the prosecutor's office said no further information would be made public about the people detained or the items seized in the police searches.

FILE - In this Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015 file photo, a police investigator walks next to a Thalys train on the platform at Arras train station, northern France. The Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office on Monday, June 20, 2016 announced that six houses have been searched and six persons have been taken in for questioning in connection with the incident on the train on Aug. 21, 2015 in which a gunman prepared to open fire with an automatic weapon before being subdued by passengers. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)

In August 2015, a man on a Thalys train that had just crossed into France from Belgium tried to open fire with an assault rifle but was overpowered by three Americans, two of them off-duty members of the U.S. armed forces. French police termed it an Islamic extremist attack, but the alleged gunman, Ayoub El Khazzani, maintained he wanted to commit a robbery.

French authorities have linked El Khazzani to Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the ringleader of the Islamic State cell that attacked Paris in November and Brussels in March.

Brussels was on high alert Monday with increased security after another police sweep over the weekend that left three in jail facing terrorism charges, including relatives of two of the suicide bombers involved in the March attacks. Those bombings, at the Brussels airport and in the subway, killed 32 people. The November attacks at a nightclub, cafes and a stadium in Paris killed 130.

The MIVB metro system in Brussels said a half-dozen subway stations had reduced entry by request from authorities, but all subway lines in the Belgian capital were running during the morning rush hour.

On Saturday, authorities charged three men with terror-related crimes after raids and the detention of 40 people in a major investigation. Authorities said the probe required "immediate intervention" because they feared a new attack was close.

Among those arrested were relatives of the El-Bakraoui brothers, who were among the suicide bombers in March.

"We know that radicalism, violent extremism, is in a small minority of the Muslim community and it targets families," Interior Minister Jan Jambon said in an interview with RTBF radio, responding to a question about the family ties among those arrested. He declined to elaborate beyond saying that "it makes it easier to follow them, because we know where the links are."

Prime Minister Charles Michel said the nation would remain "extremely vigilant, hour by hour," and that the terror level across the country would remain at the second-highest level, meaning a threat of an attack "is possible and likely."

FILE - In this Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015 file photo, People wait for a train in the foreground as members of a police forensics team take part in an investigation next to a Thalys train on the platform at Arras train station, northern France. The Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office on Monday, June 20, 2016 announced that six houses have been searched and six persons have been taken in for questioning in connection with the incident on the train on Aug. 21, 2015 in which a gunman prepared to open fire with an automatic weapon before being subdued by passengers. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)

FILE - In this Saturday, Aug. 22, 2015 file photo, a local train passes by a Thalys train on the tracks at the Arras train station, northern France. The Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office on Monday, June 20, 2016 announced that six houses have been searched and six persons have been taken in for questioning in connection with the incident on the train on Aug. 21, 2015 in which a gunman prepared to open fire with an automatic weapon before being subdued by passengers. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)

Two Belgian soldiers patrol at Brussels Central train station in Brussels on Sunday, June 19, 2016. The Belgian security level stays at level 3 after the Belgian federal prosecutor's office said early Saturday that homes and car ports were searched in 16 municipalities, mostly in and around Brussels in an anti-terror sweep. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Two Belgian soldiers walk by a couple in a cafe as they patrol at Brussels Central train station in Brussels on Sunday, June 19, 2016. The Belgian security level stays at level 3 after the Belgian federal prosecutor's office said early Saturday that homes and car ports were searched in 16 municipalities, mostly in and around Brussels in an anti-terror sweep. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Belgian police help a group of tourists as they patrol in the historic Grand Place in Brussels on Sunday, June 19, 2016. The Belgian security level stays at level 3 after the Belgian federal prosecutor's office said early Saturday that homes and car ports were searched in 16 municipalities, mostly in and around Brussels in an anti-terror sweep. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Two small dogs wearing dog coats with Police written on them, are held on a leash by a visitor to the historic Grand Place in Brussels on Sunday, June 19, 2016. The Belgian security level stays at level 3 after the Belgian federal prosecutor's office said early Saturday that homes and car ports were searched in 16 municipalities, mostly in and around Brussels in an anti-terror sweep. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Two small dogs wearing dog coats with Police written on them, are held on a leash by a visitor to the historic Grand Place in Brussels on Sunday, June 19, 2016. The Belgian security level stays at level 3 after the Belgian federal prosecutor's office said early Saturday that homes and car ports were searched in 16 municipalities, mostly in and around Brussels in an anti-terror sweep. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Hong Kong leader to raise bookseller's detention with China

HONG KONG (AP)  Hong Kong's leader said Monday he'll raise concerns with the Chinese government over the case of a bookseller secretly detained for months in the mainland and whose revelations about his ordeal have sparked fear and anger over Beijing's tightening grip.

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying also said officials would review a notification system for when residents are detained by authorities in mainland China, after Beijing failed to alert the semiautonomous Chinese city's government about Lam Wing-kee until months after he went missing.

In Leung's first public comments on the matter, he told reporters he "attaches great importance" to Lam's case. He's one of five booksellers whose disappearance raised international concern over fears Beijing is eroding Hong Kong's wide autonomy.

Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee listens to a reporter's question during an interview in Hong Kong, Sunday, June 19, 2016. The Hong Kong bookseller whose disappearance sparked international concern says he was so despondent during his detention by authorities in mainland China that he considered suicide. In an interview Sunday, Lam told The Associated Press that he thought about using his clothes to hang himself but couldn't find a way to do it in the small room where he was kept under constant watch for five months. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

The five were linked to a Hong Kong publishing company and bookshop that churned out breathless tomes about political intrigue among China's communist top leadership that are banned in the mainland. Lam, who was the bookshop's manager, was allowed to return to Hong Kong last week on the condition he bring back a hard drive containing a list of the shop's clients, including many mail-order customers in mainland China.

But he changed his mind at the last minute and instead spoke publicly about his ordeal.

Leung said he would write to Beijing to express Hong Kong residents' "concern and misgivings" over Lam's case.

Lam said he was detained Oct. 24 after he crossed into the neighboring mainland city of Shenzhen, blindfolded and taken by train to another city, where he was confined to a small room for months and interrogated about the publishing company's authors and customers.

Beijing did not notify the Hong Kong government about Lam and three of his colleagues until Feb. 4.

"We believe that there's room for review and possibly improvement in the notification system," Leung said.
Iran says it disrupts major Sunni 'terrorist' plot amid wars

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  Iran said Monday it broke up one of the "biggest terrorist plots" ever on its soil by Sunni extremists planning bombings in Tehran and elsewhere, emphasizing that the Shiite power could be facing threats at home for its military actions in Iraq and Syria.

Iran faces several low-level insurgencies, but a major militant attack hasn't struck Tehran since the years immediately following its 1979 Islamic Revolution.

That fact, coupled with authorities' suggestions the Sunni militants of the Islamic State group may be behind the plot, significantly raises the danger that Iran could face the same sectarian violence drowning Iraq and Syria, where its actions have earned the hatred of Sunni hard-liners.

This picture taken on Monday, June 6, 2016 shows a general view of Tehran, Iran. Iranian intelligence officials have broken up one of the "biggest terrorist" plots ever planned to target Tehran and other provinces in the Islamic Republic, the country's state media reported on Monday. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

"I don't think anyone should be surprised if anything like this were to happen in Iran," said Ellie Geranmayeh, a policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. "Iran has made itself a number of enemies. But so far, what has been surprising in Iran is that they've managed to contain the threat."

An Intelligence Ministry statement read on state TV and carried by local news agencies offered few details of the plot. It said authorities made arrests, seized bombs and ammunition and that investigations continued "inside and outside of the country."

The semi-official Fars and ISNA news agencies quoted Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, as saying the attack was timed to hit during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, citing the Intelligence Ministry, said the attack was supposed to come on the anniversary of the death of the Prophet Muhammad's wife, Khadija, which was marked Thursday in small ceremonies across Iran.

The reports didn't identify those arrested and interrogated, though it called them "takfiris," a derogatory term in both Arabic and Farsi referring to Sunnis who accuse other Muslims of being infidels. Iranian authorities and others throughout the Middle East often refer to Islamic State fighters as "takfiris."

Calls to the Intelligence Ministry rang unanswered Monday.

In Syria, Iranian troops backing embattled President Bashar Assad in his country's bloody civil war have fought Islamic State extremists and other rebel groups. Iranian casualties in the war have mounted in recent months, and the Islamic State group often mentions Iran in its propaganda messages. Iranian militias and advisers also are backing Iraq's government against IS fighters.

IRNA, however, called those involved in the plot "Wahhabi takfiris" in its Farsi report on the arrests. Wahhabism is an ultraconservative Sunni ideology practiced predominantly in Saudi Arabia that the Islamic State group has incorporated into its apocalyptic beliefs.

Mentioning Wahhabism, however, also may be an Iranian dig at Saudi Arabia. Relations between the two have frayed following the kingdom's January execution of a prominent Shiite cleric and subsequent attacks by protesters on Saudi diplomatic posts in Iran. The kingdom cut diplomatic relations with Tehran following those attacks, and now it appears that Iranians won't take part in this year's hajj, a pilgrimage required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their life.

Iran has warned of possible militant assaults targeting the country, which hasn't seen large-scale attacks since the 1980s. The worst was on June 28, 1981, when a blast at the ruling Islamic Republican Party's headquarters in Tehran killed at least 72 people, including the party's leader, four government ministers, eight deputy ministers and 23 parliament members.

Following that attack, security agencies and the Revolutionary Guard tightened their grip on security in Iran. While authorities have announced breaking up other plots, they have not described those with the same terms used Monday.

"This is coming much closer to home," Geranmayeh said. "It's in a way doubling-down on their justification for what's going on in Syria and in Iraq."

Geranmayeh said the statement's credibility also may be bolstered because it came from the Intelligence Ministry, as opposed to the Guard, a hard-line paramilitary organization that has deep suspicions of the West and exists to perpetuate Iran's Islamic form of governance and politics.

Iranian state TV previously reported the arrest of 44 people in a November sweep targeting militants, including some who wanted to join militants in Iraq and Syria. In May, Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi said 20 "terrorist groups" that planned to detonate bombs and cause insecurity across Iran had been dismantled. Officials in those cases did not specifically name the Islamic State group, though it was widely believed to be involved.

Iran also faces threats from several other militant groups in the country, ranging from Sunni Arabs in its southern, oil-rich region, Kurds in its northwest and Baluch separatists on its eastern border with Pakistan.

These attacks rarely become public knowledge in Iran, though fighting last week between Kurds and Revolutionary Guard forces in West Azerbaijan province saw fatalities. A Sunni Arab group also claimed an attack on an oil pipeline in southern Iran last week, while Iranian forces battled the Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl in its southeast, according to Stratfor, a private intelligence firm based in Austin, Texas.

"Iran still has a good handle on this spread of separatist activity, but regional competition is intensifying, and Iran has plenty of adversaries that may want to give it a taste of its own medicine," Stratfor said in an analysis published Thursday.

___

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellap. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/jon-gambrell .

___

Follow Amir Vahdat on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AmirhVahdat. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/journalist/amir-vahdat .
Seasonal farmworkers face uphill battle for health insurance

DUNN, N.C. (AP)  Seasonal agricultural workers were just finishing a meal after a long day of planting sweet potato seeds when Julie Pittman pulled up to their camp.

Pittman, a paralegal with the Farmworker Unit of Legal Aid of North Carolina, worked to get their attention.

The health care law that passed in 2010 requires you to have health insurance, she said, speaking in Spanish. If you don't get it, she said, you could be fined.

In this photo provided by Alejandra Cancino, taken May 25, 2016, Mackenzie Mann, a health educator with North Carolina Farmworkers Project, helps a farmworker resolve an issue with his health insurance in Angier, N.C. Even season farmworkers in the United States get health insurance, but reaching them can be an uphill battle. (Alejandra Cancino via AP)

"Cuanto cuesta?" asked a worker, wanting to know the cost.

In the United States legally through the H-2A visa program, these farmworkers, like most American citizens and legal residents, must be insured. But reaching them is an uphill battle.

The majority come from Mexico to work in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. The deadline for getting insurance starts when they enter the country. They have 60 days to learn about coinsurance and copayments, and decide whether to purchase a high- or low-deductible plan.

Alexis Guild, a migrant health policy analyst at Farmworker Justice, an advocacy group in Washington, D.C., said a yearslong partnership among various nonprofits and health centers in North Carolina has been working to enroll the workers.

In the camp near Dunn, Pittman told the workers that the cost of health insurance depends on the type purchased, income and family size. Some people don't have monthly payments, others could pay $40 per month. Consider, she added, that this year's fine is $695 or 2 percent of wages, whichever is greater.

"Would I need to pay the fine?" said Antonio Flores, 29, who like other farmworkers based in North Carolina, makes $10.72 per hour.

It's a difficult question because some workers qualify for an exemption or are offered insurance through their employer.

Mackenzie Mann, a health educator with North Carolina Farmworkers Project, said the only way to be sure is to fill out a form.

The group has signed up about 150 workers since February.

In a camp in Angier, Apolinar Castillo, of Zacatecas, Mexico, said he didn't think twice about paying $10.55 per month for health insurance. "I feel confident that, if there is an emergency, I can dial 911 and use my (insurance) card," said Castillo, 44.

Workers under the H-2A visa program are a small minority of the nation's more than 2.4 million farmworkers, many of whom are in the country illegally and don't have access to health insurance.

Their jobs are among the most dangerous, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Farmworkers face exposure to pesticides, and risk heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

Outside of emergencies, farmworkers can use community health centers, which receive federal funding to care for the poor and uninsured.

Dr. Eugene H. Maynard, of the Benson Area Medical Center, said many procedures can be done at his office, where fees are based on a sliding scale. But some require specialists, whose steep prices are out of the reach to most workers.

Often, Maynard said, he places workers on waiting lists for charity care, but these lists are so long that workers return to Mexico before seeing a specialist.

"Insurance makes that process a lot easier," Maynard said.

Some are skeptical that access to health insurance would translate into better health care.

Thomas Arcury, director of the Center for Worker Health at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, said farmworkers work long hours, don't have access to transportation or accumulate paid sick days, which is why many ignore their illnesses.

"There are a lot of roadblocks," Arcury said.

Large farm operators are required to offer health insurance to their workers. They have raised the issue of cost, arguing that they already provide workers' compensation, which covers work-related injuries.

U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers, a Republican from North Carolina, has twice introduced a bill to exclude farmworkers under the H-2A visa program from the employer mandate. In a statement, she said the cost would put many farmers out of business.

Steve Davis of Greene County Health Care, a community health center that enrolled nearly 800 workers last year, said most farmworkers know of workers who were injured or became ill and landed in the emergency room.

Last October, for example, Feliciano Gonzalez went to the ER with an unbearable pain in his arm and chest. He said doctors kept him overnight and told him to take a couple days off.

The hospital billed $14,900. It wasn't a work injury covered by worker's compensation, so his health insurance paid most of the bill and he owed $750.

"We need to be protected," Gonzalez said.

___

EDITOR'S NOTE  Alejandra Cancino is studying health care and long-term care issues as part of a fellowship at the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, which joins NORC's independent research and AP journalism. The fellowship is funded by The SCAN Foundation, an independent nonprofit that supports research and other initiatives on aging and health care.

In this photo provided by Alejandra Cancino , taken May 24, 2016, Julie Pittman, center, explains to farmworkers in Newton Grove, N.C., the Affordable Care Acts individual mandate and how health insurance works in the U.S. Even season farmworkers in the United States legally get health insurance, but reaching them can be an uphill battle. (Alejandra Cancino via AP)

In this photo provided by Alejandra Cancino , taken May 24, 2016, Julie Pittman, right, a paralegal in the Farmworker Unit of Legal Aid of North Carolina, coordinates with interns and a volunteer outside of a farmworker camp in Newton Grove, N.C. Even season farmworkers in the United States legally get health insurance, but reaching them can be an uphill battle. (Alejandra Cancino via AP)

In this photo provided by Alejandra Cancino, taken May 25 shows Mackenzie Mann, a health educator with North Carolina Farmworkers Project, and coworker Ana Beltran, educate workers about health insurance and help them troubleshoot issues with their insurance, in Angier, N.C. Even season farmworkers in the United States legally get health insurance, but reaching them can be an uphill battle. ( Alejandra Cancino via AP)

In this photo provided by Alejandra Cancino, taken May 24, 2016, Mackenzie Mann, a health educator with North Carolina Farmworkers Project, and coworker Ana Beltran head to a farmworker camp in Angier, N.C., to educate workers about health insurance and help them troubleshoot issues with their insurance. Even season farmworkers in the United States legally get health insurance, but reaching them can be an uphill battle. (Alejandra Cancino via AP)

In this photo provided by Alejandro Cancino, taken May 26, 2016, Feliciano Gonzalez is seen in Kinston, N.C. Even season farmworkers in the United States legally get health insurance, but reaching them can be an uphill battle. (Alejandro Cancino via AP)
911 transcript: Orlando gunman said he was Islamic soldier

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  Orlando gunman Omar Mateen identified himself as an Islamic soldier in calls with authorities during his rampage and warned a crisis negotiator that in coming days "you're going to see more of this type of action going on," according to transcripts released by the FBI on Monday.

The partial transcripts were of a 911 call made by Mateen and three conversations he had with the police crisis negotiators during the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, in which 49 people died and dozens were wounded.

Those communications, along with Facebook posts and searches Mateen made around the time of the shootings, add to the public understanding of the final hours of Mateen's life and to the possible motivations behind the rampage.

Ronald Hopper, FBI assistant special agent in charge, right, speaks during a news conference with updates about the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub, Monday, June 20, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. Orlando gunman Omar Mateen identified himself as an Islamic soldier in calls with authorities during his rampage and demanded to a crisis negotiator that the U.S. "stop bombing Syria and Iraq," according to transcripts released by the FBI on Monday. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

The first call came more than a half-hour after shots rang out, when Mateen told a 911 operator, "Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God," he told the dispatcher, referring to God in Arabic.

"I let you know, I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings."

During the 50-second call with a dispatcher, Mateen "made murderous statements in a "chilling, calm and deliberate manner," Ronald Hopper, FBI assistant special agent in charge in Orlando, said during a news conference.

However, there is no evidence Mateen was directed by a foreign terrorist group, and he was radicalized domestically and on his own, Hopper said.

Mateen's name and the groups and people to whom he pledged allegiance were initially omitted from the excerpt. But the Justice Department reversed course later Monday, providing a more complete transcript confirming Mateen pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State. The extremist group encourages its followers who seek to commit violence in its name to make public pledges of support.

The Justice Department said in a statement it initially withheld the names so as not to give extremists "a publicity platform for hateful propaganda," but the omissions became an unnecessary distraction.

Shortly after the call with a 911 operator, Mateen had three conversations with crisis negotiators in which he identified himself as an Islamic soldier and told a negotiator to tell America to stop bombing Syria and Iraq. He said that was why he was "out here right now," according to the excerpt.

City officials have refused to provide hundreds of 911 calls to The Associated Press and a coalition of news organizations, citing confidentiality under Florida law, and arguing that an ongoing investigation kept the tapes secret. Hopper also said Monday that the tapes would not be released out of respect for the victims.

"Yes, the audio was compelling, but to expose that now would be excruciatingly painful to exploit them in this way," Hopper said.

Hopper also said: "Part of redacting is to not give credence to individuals who have done terrorist acts in the past. They are not going to propagate their violent rhetoric."

The AP and others requested the 911 tapes and related data, a common practice after such major events. The recordings could offer insight into how law enforcement responded.

Also at Monday's news conference, Orlando police Chief John Mina said that if any fire from responding officers hit victims at the club, gunman Mateen bears the responsibility. He wouldn't give further details but said: "Here's what I will tell you. Those killings are on the suspect, on the suspect alone in my mind." He stressed that the officers "acted heroically."

Mina acknowledged that questions have been raised by media outlets and the public about whether Orlando police waited too long after the start of the rampage at 2 a.m. to send in a SWAT team about 5 a.m.

He said an exchange of fire between police and Mateen shortly after 2 a.m. prompted the attacker to retreat into a bathroom and take hostages, shifting the incident from a shooting to a hostage-taking. Mina said there was no additional gunfire for about three hours until the SWAT team entered the building, although survivors have describing at least some firing taking place inside one of the bathrooms.

Surviving hostage Patience Carter, in a live televised interview two days after the attacks, described the attacker firing when he entered the bathroom and more firing when the SWAT team burst into the building.

"I think there's this misconception that we didn't do anything for three hours," Mina said. "I'm trying to clarify: That's absolutely not true. Our officers were within the club within minutes, exchanging gunfire with the suspect, forced him to stop shooting and retreat into the bathroom."

"From there, we let our negotiator take over and try to negotiate this to a peaceful resolution in an effort to save lives while our SWAT team set up," Mina said.

Meanwhile, hospital officials said four people remained in critical condition Monday morning, more than a week after they were wounded in the attack.

Orlando Regional Medical Center said 18 victims from the shooting were still at the hospital and three more surgeries were scheduled for Monday. The other 14 patients are listed in stable condition.

Armed with a semi-automatic weapon, Mateen went on a bloody rampage at the Pulse nightclub June 12. He died in a hail of gunfire after police stormed the venue.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch will travel to Orlando on Tuesday to meet with investigators. She said that a key goal of the investigation was to determine why Mateen targeted the gay community. The victims were predominantly gay and Hispanic since it was "Latin night" at Pulse.

Around Orlando, people left balloons, flowers, pictures and posters at a makeshift memorial in front of the city's new performing arts center and at Orlando Regional Medical Center where 49 white crosses were emblazoned with red hearts and the names of the victims.

The crosses were built by a Chicago carpenter with a history of constructing crosses for victims of mass shootings. Greg Zanis drove from Illinois to Orlando last week and installed the crosses at the medical center, where many of the 53 shooting victims who survived were taken for treatment.

Dr. Khurshid Ahmed was part of a group of Muslim-Americans at a Sunday vigil attended by tens of thousands who held signs reading, "Muslims Condemn Extremism." A letter from the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Republican Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, said Mateen wrote on Facebook that "real Muslims will never accept the filthy ways of the West."

___

Tucker reported from Washington. Alex Sanz in Orlando and Jack Gillum and Sadie Gurman in Washington contributed to this report.

Orlando Police Chief John Mina, left, answers question during a news conference with Ronald Hopper, FBI assistant special agent in charge, center, and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, right, as he gives updates about the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub, Monday, June 20, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings speaks during a news conference with updates about the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub, Monday, June 20, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

U.S. Attorney Lee Bentley makes comments during a news conference with updates about the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub, Monday, June 20, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. Orlando gunman Omar Mateen identified himself as an Islamic soldier in calls with authorities during his rampage and demanded to a crisis negotiator that the U.S. "stop bombing Syria and Iraq," according to transcripts released by the FBI on Monday. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Multiple law enforcement agencies gather early Monday, June 20, 2016, in front of Pulse Nightclub at the mass shooting scene in Orlando. Federal investigators promised to provide more insight as to what was happening inside the Pulse nightclub after a gunman started a deadly assault that was the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

The FBI gather early Monday, June 20, 2016, in front of Pulse Nightclub at the mass shooting scene in Orlando. Federal investigators promised to provide more insight as to what was happening inside the Pulse nightclub after a gunman started a deadly assault that was the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

FBI lab personnel walk on the roof of the Pulse Nightclub Monday, June 20, 2016, investigating the mass shooting scene in Orlando. Federal investigators promised to provide more insight as to what was happening inside the Pulse nightclub after a gunman started a deadly assault that was the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel via AP)
Trump backtracks on guns-in-clubs statement

WASHINGTON (AP)  Donald Trump is backtracking from his contention that victims of the Orlando massacre should have been allowed to carry arms into the nightclub where they were attacked  a stance even the NRA says is untenable.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee tweeted Monday that he was "obviously talking about additional guards or employees" of the Orlando, Florida, nightclub where Omar Mateen murdered 49 people when he spoke about the value of having more people armed to challenge the gunman.

That's not what Trump said previously.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a rally Saturday, June 18, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

A day after the attack, he told radio host Howie Carr: "It's too bad that some of the young people that were killed over the weekend didn't have guns, you know, attached to their hips, frankly, and you know where bullets could have flown in the opposite direction, Howie. It would have been a much different deal. I mean, it sounded like there were no guns. They had a security guard. Other than that there were no guns in the room. Had people been able to fire back, it would have been a much different outcome."

Trump had repeated his suggestion at rallies across the country last week. In Atlanta he said the carnage would have been lessened if "some of those great people that were in that club that night had guns strapped to their waist or strapped to their ankle."

His statements were a step too far for the National Rifle Association, a powerful lobby for armed self-defense and broad permissions to carry weapons. "No one thinks that people should go into a nightclub drinking and carrying firearms," the NRA's chief lobbyist, Chris Cox, told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. "That defies common sense. It also defies the law."

It was the latest scuffle during a tumultuous time for the campaign. Trump, the party's presumptive presidential nominee, had achieved a fragile peace with Republicans and their allies in which they support him in exchange for Trump uniting the Republican party and fighting his likely general election opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton. Instead, his proposals for fighting terrorism  such as by targeting Muslims and restricting assault-style weapons have inflamed his supporters. On another front, Trump on Monday let go his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski.

The NRA dustup came at an especially sensitive time.

The Senate prepared to vote Monday on expanded gun background checks and proposals to keep people on a government terrorism watch list or other suspected terrorists from buying guns. But prospects for any significant change in gun laws were dim.

The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was added to a government watch list of people 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 made the case on the weekend that the U.S. should consider profiling Muslims inside the country as a terrorism-fighting tool, the latest example of his backing positions that could single out a group based on its religion.

"We really have to look at profiling," Trump told CBS's "Face the Nation." ''It's not the worst thing to do."

Trump's proposal runs counter to Justice Department policy, which prohibits profiling on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity and national origin. That profiling ban applies not only to federal agents but also to local law enforcement officers who participate in federal task forces.

Trump's increasing embrace of policies that could isolate Muslims in America is extraordinary for a candidate assured of his party's presidential nomination. The proposals have been roundly criticized by many Republican leaders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan. Civil libertarians, Muslims and others also have strongly disagreed, arguing that profiling is unconstitutional and often constitutes unlawful discrimination based on race, religion and other factors.

___

Associated Press writers Jill Colvin in New York and Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.

___

This story has been corrected to reflect number of people killed to to 49.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, shouts to Secret Service agents that supporter Diana Brest, right, had been waiting in line since 2 a.m. to see the candidate speak at a rally Saturday, June 18, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Romania: Retired general who organized Ceausescu trial dies

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  A retired Romanian general who organized the summary trial of communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife has died. Victor Stanculescu was 88.

His lawyer, Catalin Dancu, said Stanculescu died in a nursing home Sunday after recently suffering a stroke.

Stanculescu held a senior position in Ceausescu's regime and the Communist leader dispatched him to crack down on demonstrators protesting against Ceausescu's rule in the city of Timisoara in December 1989.

He then returned to Bucharest and asked doctors to put his healthy leg in a cast to ostensibly avoid taking part in any further measures suppressing the revolt.

Ceausescu's Defense Minister Vasile Milea fatally shot himself, and Stanculescu was promoted to defense minister. On Dec. 22, he advised the Ceausescus to flee angry protests in a helicopter after the revolt spread to Bucharest.

Stanculescu then turned against the Ceausescus, and was a key organizer of their trial. They were executed by firing squad after the summary trial on Dec. 25, 1989.

Some 72 protesters died in Timisoara and 253 were wounded, marking the start of the uprising against Ceausescu's regime. In 2008, Stanculescu was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in killing demonstrators. He was freed in 2014.

He never expressed remorse for the deaths and declined to shed light on what happened during the revolt where more than 1,300 people died.

Former President Ion Iliescu said Monday that Stanculescu had "in a decisive moment of recent history, contributed to (Romania) coming out of totalitarianism and returning to democracy."

Iliescu, who had fallen out with Ceausescu, took power during the 1989 revolt. Since then, he has been elected president of Romania several times, most recently in 2000.

Stanculescu's wife died after jumping out a window of the family home in 2003. She left a letter saying she could not bear the pressure her husband was under.
Lawmakers remember Jo Cox as markets sense rising EU support

LONDON (AP)  Britain's normally raucous House of Commons was given over to tears, roses and warm tributes Monday as legislators urged an end to angry and divisive politics in honor of their slain colleague Jo Cox, who was killed last week.

The British pound and global stock markets surged as shock at the death of the pro-Europe Cox seemed to sap momentum from campaigners fighting for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.

The market surge suggested growing investor confidence that the uncertainty associated with a "leave" vote in Thursday's referendum would be avoided. Betting houses also shortened the odds that Britain would remain in the 28-nation bloc.

A white and red rose are placed on Member of Parliament Jo Cox's empty seat, in London, Monday June 20, 2016. British lawmakers returned to Parliament Monday to pay tribute to lawmaker Jo Cox, as the man charged with her slaying made a brief court appearance by video link from prison. (PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT

Referendum campaigning has resumed with a more somber tone after being suspended for three days following the death Cox, who was shot and stabbed to death outside a library in her northern England constituency last Thursday.

Police have charged a suspect, Thomas Mair, who gave his name during a weekend court appearance as "death to traitors, freedom for Britain." He appeared in court for a brief hearing by video link Monday from prison, and his lawyer did not seek bail.

Mair's motivation is unknown, but the slaying raised concerns about the often vitriolic tone of the referendum campaign, which has exposed bitter divisions about immigration and national identity in Britain.

Lawmakers called back from recess for a special session in Cox's memory urged what Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called "a kinder, gentler politics" in the wake of her death.

"We all have a responsibility, in this House and beyond, not to whip up hatred and sow division," Corbyn said.

Cox's friends and colleagues spoke of her warmth, energy and principles, as her husband Brendan and children aged 5 and 3 watched from the public gallery.

A red and a white rose were placed in Cox's spot on the green Commons benches, and each lawmaker wore a white rose, symbol of her home county of Yorkshire.

Several legislators choked back tears as they spoke, and many recalled Cox's words in her first Commons speech: "We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us."

"An attack like this strikes not only at an individual but at our freedom," said Speaker John Bercow. "That is why we assemble here, both to honor Jo and to redouble our dedication to democracy."

While "remain" campaigners have focused on the economic uncertainty surrounding a British exit from the bloc  popularly known as "Brexit"  the "leave" side has stressed the emotive issue of immigration. Campaigners argue that Britain cannot control migration while it remains in the EU, which is built on the principle of free movement between member states.

The increasingly strident tone of that message cost the "leave" campaign the support of one of the country's best-known Muslim politicians Monday.

Former Conservative Party chair Sayeeda Warsi expressed disgust at a U.K. Independence Party poster depicting a crowd of migrants  mostly young men who appeared to be from the Middle East or Afghanistan  walking through Europe. Alongside the image were the words, "Breaking Point."

Warsi said moderate voices in the "leave" campaign had been drowned out by xenophobia and hatred.

"This kind of nudge-nudge, wink-wink xenophobic racist campaign may be politically savvy or politically useful in the short term, but it causes long-term damage to communities," Warsi said.

Some "leave" campaigners expressed bemusement at her announcement, saying they hadn't been aware she was a supporter of a U.K. exit in the first place.

U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, a leading figure in the "leave" camp, defended the poster, released just hours before Cox's death, saying it was intended "to point out that the EU is a failed project in every sense."

Farage also accused the "remain" side of trying to capitalize on Cox's death. He said "the actions of one crazed individual" should not be used to tar everyone who wanted to leave the EU.

"I think there are 'remain' camp supporters out there who are using this to try to give the impression that this isolated horrific incident is somehow linked to arguments that have been made ... in this campaign, and, frankly, that is wrong," Farage told LBC radio.

But Cox's friend and fellow Labour legislator Stephen Kinnock told lawmakers that Cox would have been "outraged" by the poster, because "Jo understood that rhetoric has consequences."

"It is the politics of division and fear, the harking back to incendiary slogans and the rhetoric of 'Britain first' that twists patriotism from love of country into an ugly loathing of others," Kinnock said.

Public opinion polls published since Cox's death suggested a slight shift toward remaining in the EU, but the two sides remained essentially even and it was unclear what was behind any movement, said respected pollster Ben Page of Ipsos MORI.

"It could be anxiety about the economy," he said. "It could be revulsion about her murder."

Clearer were the betting markets, which have consistently favored the "remain" side. Betting house Betfair said the probability of Britain remaining in the EU rose from 65 percent on Friday to 75 percent on Monday, amid heavy trading.

The pound rose 1.5 percent to $1.4680, rebounding from last week, when it hit its lowest levels since April.

In stock markets, the FTSE 100 was up 3 percent and other indexes around the world were just as buoyant, with Germany's DAX 3.4 percent higher. U.S. stocks also closed higher: the Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.7 percent, Standard & Poor's 500 index rose 0.6 percent and the Nasdaq composite was up 0.8 percent.

Kathleen Brooks, research director at online trading company Gain Capital, said "the pause in the campaign seems to have lent crucial support to team 'remain.'"

"The markets have always been more comfortable with the U.K. remaining in the European Union," she said.

A photograph of Jo Cox, the 41-year-old Member of Parliament fatally shot last week in northern England, stands amongst tributes laid in her memory in Parliament Square, London, after a service of prayer and remembrance to commemorate her, Monday, June 20, 2016. The mother of two was shot on Thursday afternoon in her constituency near Leeds. The man charged with her slaying made a brief appearance in court by video link from prison Monday. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Glenys Kinnock speaks at a service of prayer and remembrance in St Margaret's Church, London, Monday, June 20, 2016, to commemorate Jo Cox, the 41-year-old Member of Parliament fatally shot last week in northern England. The mother of two was shot Thursday afternoon in her constituency near Leeds. The man charged with her slaying made a brief appearance in court by video link from prison Monday. (Yui Mok/Pool via AP)

FILE - In this June 16, 2016 file photo, Leader of the UK Independence Party Nigel Farage poses for the media in front of an EU referendum campaign poster in London. British Prime Minister David Cameron warned Sunday June 19, 2016 of the dangers of embracing "leave" campaigner Nigel Farage's vision of Britain ahead of the country's referendum on its European Union membership. (Philip Toscano/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT

British Members of Parliament arrive at St Margaret's Church in London for a service of prayer and remembrance to commemorate Jo Cox, the 41-year-old Member of Parliament fatally shot last week in northern England, Monday, June 20, 2016. The mother of two was shot on Thursday afternoon in her constituency near Leeds. The man charged with her slaying made a brief appearance in court by video link from prison Monday. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

MPs gather in the House of Commons, to pay tribute to Labour MP Jo Cox, in London, Monday June 20, 2016. British lawmakers returned to Parliament Monday to pay tribute to lawmaker Jo Cox, as the man charged with her slaying made a brief court appearance by video link from prison. (PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron, centre, and Labour Party, Member of Parliament Harriet Harman during their tour of the BMW Mini plant in Oxford England, while on a "Remain" EU referendum campaign visit Monday June 20, 2016. Britain goes to the polls in a referendum on Thursday on whether to leave or remain in the EU. (Leon Neal/PA via AP) UNITED KINGDOM OUT

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron, left, and opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, second right, arrive at St Margaret's Church in London, Monday, June 20, 2016, for a service of prayer and remembrance to commemorate Jo Cox, the 41-year-old Member of Parliament shot to death last week in northern England. The mother of two was shot to death Thursday afternoon in her constituency near Leeds. The man charged with her slaying made a brief appearance in court by video link from prison Monday. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron, third right, and opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, second right, arrive at St Margaret's Church in London, Monday, June 20, 2016, for a service of prayer and remembrance to commemorate Jo Cox, the 41-year-old Member of Parliament shot to death last week in northern England. The mother of two was shot to death Thursday afternoon in her constituency near Leeds. The man charged with her slaying made a brief appearance in court by video link from prison Monday. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Leading rights groups slam EU-Turkey refugee deal

ISTANBUL (AP)  Leading rights groups used World Refugee Day Monday to criticize the recent EU-Turkey refugee agreement and the conditions in which refugees live in Turkey.

At a press conference in central Istanbul, Amnesty International's Turkey branch called on all countries to take greater responsibility in protecting refugees.

Instead of increasing the means by which refugees could safely and legally enter Europe, "the EU made unlawful agreements with Turkey in order to stem the tide of migration," Amnesty said in a statement. Thousands of migrants have lost their lives on the perilous sea journey to Europe.

An EU-Turkey agreement reached in March allows Greece to return Syrian asylum seekers to Turkey without evaluation of their protection claims on the basis it is a "safe third country."

In order to limit refugees crossing into Greece by sea in keeping with the agreement, Amnesty claimed Turkey had not only increased unlawful detentions but was also forcibly returning them to Syria or pressuring them to return "voluntarily."

It called on Ankara to provide refugees with a means to a basic livelihood  jobs, health services and education  and urged the EU to immediately halt sending refugees back to Turkey on the grounds that it was a "safe third country."

Human Rights Watch also urged the EU to evaluate Syrian refugees' protection claims before returning them to Turkey, citing a lack of refugee rights and saying they lacked necessities to create a decent life.

"It is hardly surprising that many are not getting the support they desperately need to maintain livelihoods," considering Turkey is host to over 2 million Syrian refugees, said Stephanie Gee, a fellow with the refugee rights program at HRW.

Gee urged international donors to support Ankara's efforts to improve basic rights for refugees. In the meantime, she added, the European Asylum Support Office and Greece should consider on their merits all asylum applications of Syrians who have come through Turkey, rather than viewing them as inadmissible on the grounds that Turkey is a "safe third country."

HRW said "safe" should mean not just protection from war or prosecution, but should also include the right to work, health care and education.

The EU-Turkey deal is part of efforts to stem the tide of migrants to Europe. In exchange for at least 3 billion euros ($3.4 billion) and fast-track EU accession talks, Turkey has agreed to take back migrants who reach the shores of Greece after March 20. The bloc, in turn, will take in a Syrian refugee based in Turkey for every Syrian sent back from Greece.
The Latest: Rowling sees monsters conjured in EU debate

LONDON (AP)  The Latest ahead of Britain's referendum on continued membership in the European Union (all times local):

5:30 p.m.

Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling says she knows something about creating fictional monsters and villains  and sees both sides in the British campaign on European Union membership conjuring "monsters calculated to stir up our deepest fears."

Young people kiss each other at Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, Sunday June 19, 2016 to support the ' Remain' voters in Britain's referendum. The campaign in the referendum over Britain's future in the European Union is about to resume full throttle after being on hold due to the killing of a popular lawmaker. British voters head to the polls on Thursday to decide if the country should stay in the European Union or leave it. (Joerg Carstensen/dpa via AP)

In a blog post published Monday, Rowling says "the tales we have been told during this referendum have been uglier than any I can remember in my lifetime."

But the writer clearly comes down in the end on the side of remaining in the 28-member union, accusing the "leave" campaigners of fanning a racist brand of nationalism and distorting the truth  exaggerating the downsides of membership and failing to recognize the benefits it brings.

She writes: "The union that was born out of a collective desire never to see another war in Europe is depicted as an Orwellian monolith, Big Brotheresque in its desire for control."

"In a few days' time, we'll have to decide which monsters we believe are real and which illusory," Rowling writes. "Everything is going to come down to whose story we like best, but at the moment we vote, we stop being readers and become authors. The ending of this story, whether happy or not, will be written by us."

___

2:35 p.m.

European Union President Donald Tusk says whatever the result in Thursday's referendum vote, the member nations must fundamentally reassess the future since dissatisfaction is growing all over the continent.

Tusk said in Lisbon on Monday that "whatever its result is going to be, we must take a long, hard look on the future."

Even if Britain votes on Thursday to stay in the union, "we would be foolish if we ignored such a warning signal as the UK referendum."

Even in founder nations like the Netherlands and France, anti-EU groups are gaining in strength from year to year and in new eastern members like Poland and Hungary, the anti-EU streak has also been increasing.

"There are more signals of dissatisfaction with the Union coming from all of Europe, not only from the UK," said Tusk.

___

12:10 p.m.

European Union heavyweights Germany and France hope that U.K. citizens will vote this week to stay in the EU, saying the bloc would be poorer without Britain.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Monday that Europe would "lose more than just a country. We would be losing the history and traditions of Great Britain in the European Union."

He said that "Europe would be much poorer if Britain leaves."

His French counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault, said that "the choice the British people make will be important for them, but also for Europe."

He told reporters at an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Luxembourg that "all Europeans are looking to the British people, because we have - history reminds us - a long life in common."

___

10:55 a.m.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven says Europe will wake up to "a new political reality" if British voters decide to leave the European Union.

But the Social Democratic leader says there's no reason to panic.

"We don't know exactly which effects and which forces could be triggered in Europe," Lofven told Swedish news agency TT on Monday. "But it doesn't mean any collapse, panic or chaos in Sweden. We will manage."

He said his government is working on a plan for how to respond, whether the "leave" side or the "remain" side wins the June 23 referendum.

___

10:45 a.m.

The pound and global stock markets are surging as both opinion polls and betting markets suggest an increase in support for Britain to remain in the European Union.

The pound rose 1.8 percent to $1.4619 Monday, rebounding from last week, when it hit its lowest levels since April.

The first opinion polls since the slaying of pro-Europe lawmaker Jo Cox suggest that the "remain" camp has benefited from a two-day suspension in campaigning following her death.

Kathleen Brooks, research director at Gain Capital, says the pause seems to have lent crucial support to "remain."

In stock markets, the FTSE 100 was up 2.6 percent and other indexes around the world were just a buoyant, with Germany's DAX 3.1 percent higher.

Opinion polls are now back to even, though the shifts are very small from earlier polls last week leaning to exit.

Betting market Betfair says the probability of "remain" has risen to 72 percent, from Friday's 65 percent.

___

10:20 a.m.

With an ABBA-esque appeal, Sweden's biggest financial daily has joined the chorus of European newspapers urging Britons to remain in the European Union.

Monday's front page of newspaper Dagens Industri was covered by a Union Jack and the bold headline "Take a Chance on EU," a reference to one of the Swedish pop group's greatest hits.

In the online edition, politics editor P.M. Nilsson lists things he believes Sweden and Britain have in common, from similar tastes in music to a belief in free trade and that "meetings should start on time."

Nilsson wrote in English that "we are all like you  proud and headstrong with special relationships to each other. And we have a club. Don't leave it."

___

9:50 a.m.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says "there will be no going back" if Britain decides to leave the European Union.

He said in Luxembourg on Monday that even if it would be possible to reapply for EU membership, the outcome of Thursday's referendum will be an "irreversible decision."

Hammond said ahead of an EU foreign ministers meeting that "Britain could never rejoin the European Union at a later date except on terms that would be unacceptable to it," including membership of the euro currency and membership of the Schengen passport-free travel zone.

___

9:30 a.m.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond will be pressing his European Union counterparts to swiftly implement negotiated concessions in case Britain votes to remain in the bloc on Thursday.

Prime Minister David Cameron won a series of goodwill concessions in February on immigration, the euro and staying out of ever-closer union, moves he hopes will persuade Brits to remain in the EU.

Speaking before the start of an EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg Monday, Hammond said Britons "will expect a speedy and complete implementation of the package that was agreed in February" if they vote to stay in the 28-nation bloc.

He added Brussels needs "to make sure that the EU works for all its people going forward and addresses the concerns of ordinary people."

EU President Donald Tusk has promised that the concessions would be implemented in "less than one year."

___

9:05 a.m.

A former Conservative Party chair has switched sides in Britain's upcoming European Union referendum, accusing campaigners promoting an exit from the 28-nation bloc of peddling hate and xenophobia.

Sayeeda Warsi said Monday that moderate voices in the "leave" campaign have been drowned out.

Warsi is one of the most prominent Muslim politicians in Britain. She said her decision was sparked by a poster depicting a crowd of migrants walking through Europe with a warning in capital letters that said: BREAKING POINT.

Warsi told the BBC that "this kind of nudge-nudge, wink-wink xenophobic racist campaign may be politically savvy or politically useful in the short term, but it causes long-term damage to communities."

Campaigners for "leave" were bemused by her decision, saying they weren't even aware she had been a supporter.

A copy of the front page of the Swedish newspaper "Dagens Industri" is photographed, in Stockholm, Monday, June 20, 2016. With an ABBA-esque appeal, Swedens biggest financial daily has joined the chorus of European newspapers urging Britons to remain in the European Union. Mondays front page of newspaper Dagens Industri is covered by a Union Jack and the bold headline Take a Chance on EU, a reference to one of the Swedish pop groups greatest hits. (Izabelle Nordfjell / TT News Agency via AP)

Campaigners kiss and hug during a gathering, in front of Rome's ancient Colosseum, Sunday, June 19, 2016. With the Anglo-European kiss-in Britons and Europeans attempted to show love between Britain and Europe by kissing. British voters head to the polls on Thursday to decide if the country should stay in the European Union or leave it. (AP Photo/Fabio Frustaci)

Campaigners kiss and hug during a gathering, in front of Rome's ancient Colosseum, Sunday, June 19, 2016. With the Anglo-European kiss-in Britons and Europeans attempted to show love between Britain and Europe by kissing. British voters head to the polls on Thursday to decide if the country should stay in the European Union or leave it. (AP Photo/Fabio Frustaci)
Authorities: Off-duty deputy fatally shoots man

PALM BAY, Fla. (AP)  Authorities in Florida say an off-duty Brevard County deputy has shot and killed a man in Palm Bay.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey tells news outlets that deputy Yousef Hafza has been placed on administrative leave after fatally shooting 22-year-old Clarence Mahogany X Howard Sunday morning. Howard was taken to a local hospital where he later died.

Ivey says the shooting stemmed from a road rage incident.

The details of the shooting haven't been released, but Ivey says the shooting appears to have been done in self-defense.

Hafza has been working for the department less than a year. He has 11 years of law enforcement experience.
Solar plane begins trans-Atlantic stretch of global journey

NEW YORK (AP)  A solar-powered airplane has begun its trans-Atlantic flight on the latest leg of its globe-circling voyage.

The Swiss-made Solar Impulse 2 took off from New York City early Sunday morning.

Bertrand Piccard, who is piloting the aircraft, left at 2:30 a.m. from John F. Kennedy International Airport and will be landing in Seville Airport in Spain over three days later.

The Solar Impulse 2's wings, which stretch wider than those of a Boeing 747, are equipped with 17,000 solar cells that power propellers and charge batteries. The plane runs on stored energy at night.
N. Korea warns freed US missionary to stop criticizing it

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korea said Monday it won't negotiate to release arrested American citizens if a former detainee doesn't stop using what it called slanderous language about the North.

American missionary Kenneth Bae, who was freed by North Korea in 2014 along with another imprisoned American, has written a book about his detention and given media interviews in which he described the treatment he received. Bae had been serving a 15-year sentence with hard labor for alleged anti-state activities.

North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency described Bae as a "filthy object" and a "Judas" who betrayed the North's humanitarian gesture. It also accused the U.S. government of supporting critics of North Korea like Bae to arouse hostility toward the North.

North Korea is extremely sensitive about any criticism of its leadership and political system. It is known to hold two other Americans for alleged espionage, subversion and other activities.

KCNA said North Korea will not hold negotiations for the release of other American detainees if Bae continues speaking ill of the North. "Then American criminals now in custody in (North Korea) will never be able to go back to the U.S.," it said.

Analysts say North Korea often attempts to use foreign detainees to wrest concessions from other countries. In the past it has released some U.S. prisoners after high-profile Americans visited the country on their behalf. Bae was freed during a visit by the U.S. spy chief.
Rebuking Trump, Biden warns against backsliding on democracy

WASHINGTON (AP)  Warning of a potential surge in anti-Americanism, Vice President Joe Biden tore into Donald Trump's views on foreign policy on Monday, urging the country not to follow the presumptive Republican nominee down a path of isolationism and bigotry.

Though Biden framed his speech to the Center for New American Security speech as advice for the next president, his remarks amounted to a point-by-point rebuttal of Trump on immigration, terrorism and relations with Russia. Biden cautioned against policies, embraced by Trump, that the vice president said would make the U.S. and its neighborhood poorer, less democratic and less secure.

"Wielding the politics of fear and intolerance, like proposals to ban Muslims from entering the United States or slandering entire religious communities as complicit in terrorism, calls into question America's status as the greatest democracy in the history of the world," Biden said.

File- This June 14, 2016, file photo shows Vice President Joe Biden addressing the White House Summit on the United State of Women in Washington. Warning of a potential surge in anti-Americanism, Biden is tearing into Donald Trumps views on foreign policy and urging the country not to follow the presumptive Republican nominee down a path of isolationism and bigotry. Biden plans to deliver a point-by-point rebuttal of Trumps ideas on immigration, terrorism and relations with Russia during a speech Monday, June 20, 2016, to the Center for New American Security. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

Biden's speech to the Washington think tank marked his most concerted and lengthy rebuke to date of Trump, and comes as Biden and President Barack Obama are increasingly inserting themselves into the election in an attempt to stop Trump. Earlier this month both Biden and Obama endorsed Hillary Clinton, and both Democrats are expected to start campaigning aggressively for her in the coming days.

Although Biden didn't mention Trump by name, his intended target was clear. On Sunday, Trump went beyond his previous calls for temporarily banning Muslim immigration by suggesting the U.S. should consider profiling Muslims already in the U.S. The Republican has also called for reinstating waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods to try to prevent terrorist attacks.

Biden said that "some of the rhetoric I'm hearing sounds designed to radicalize all 1.4 billion" Muslims around the world.

"Adopting the tactics of our enemies  using torture, threatening to kill innocent family members, indiscriminately bombing civilian populations  not only violates our values, it's deeply, deeply damaging to our security," Biden said. He echoed Obama's argument that demonizing the world's Muslims would actually help the Islamic State group by playing "into the very narrative of extremists."

"Why in God's name are we giving them what they want?" Biden added.

Biden, who considered running for president before bowing out last year, said the country was at an "inflection point" in which hard-fought gains of the past several years risk being squandered. He dismissed those who "seek sound bite solutions in a world defined by complexity," in another clear swipe at Trump.

"If we build walls and disrespect our closest neighbors, we will quickly see all this progress disappear, replaced by a return of anti-Americanism and a corrosive rift throughout our hemisphere," Biden said.

Biden continued the line of attack in an interview on "CBS Evening News," saying, "If we make religion the enemy, where the hell do you think we're going to get the cooperation?"

The vice president also sought to undercut Trump's argument that if elected, the U.S. would enjoy a more constructive and friendly relationship with Russia, following a dysfunctional relationship under Obama. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has praised Trump's intelligence in the past, more recently dodged questions about whether he prefers Trump or Clinton and pledged to work with whoever wins.

"Embracing Putin at a time of renewed Russian aggression, I believe, could call into question America's longstanding commitment to a Europe whole, free and at peace," Biden said. "But neither is it time to dust off the Cold War playbook."

Though the U.S. cut off formal military ties with Russia in 2014 to protest its actions in Ukraine, the two militaries have sought to maintain lines of communication to avoid an inadvertent confrontation in Syria, where both militaries are fighting the Islamic State group but backing opposing sides in Syria's civil war. Biden said that as new military technologies raise the risk of a mistake or escalation, the U.S. needs to find "new channels with Moscow to clearly communicate our intentions."

___
Comic's party wins Italy mayoral races, eyes national power

ROME (AP)  An anti-establishment party founded by a comic has triumphed in Italian mayoral runoff elections, trouncing Premier Matteo Renzi's candidates in Rome and another key city and turning its sights Monday toward its next goal  national power.

The 5-Star Movement candidate in Rome, Virginia Raggi, a lawyer with a three-year stint as a city councilwoman, took 67.2 percent of the vote in a two-person runoff Sunday, becoming the corruption-stained capital city's first female mayor and, at 37, also its youngest.

Raggi promised to work to bring "legality and transparency" to Rome's City Hall, where prosecutors probing widespread corruption have found many municipal contracts were awarded without taking bids to political cronies and even a Mafia-like clique.

Virginia Raggi swept into Rome's city hall on Sunday and has vowed to tackle corruption during her time as mayor

Another 5-Star candidate, Chiara Appendino, also a woman and even younger at 32, scored in Turin what could be the bigger embarrassment for Renzi, who also serves as Democratic Party leader. With 54.6 percent of the vote, Appendino defeated Mayor Piero Fassino, a veteran Democrat.

The Democratic Party has been weakened by defections and the Rome scandals, which tainted local Democrats as well as conservative politicians. Many Democrats chafe at what they see as Renzi's brash management style bordering on arrogance.

As he did during campaigning, Renzi insisted the election results reflected local realities, and weren't a judgment on his two years at the helm of a center-left coalition sometimes marked by infighting.

Still, he said, "there's a national element" to the mayoral vote, "a clear-cut and unquestionable victory in towns of the 5-Stars against us."

On Friday, Renzi will lead a meeting of Democratic Party brass. That will be the occasion for "a frank discussion, face-to-face, on all the questions," the premier said.

National elections are due in early 2018, although Renzi has promised to resign if a referendum this fall fails to confirm reforms aimed at streamlining Parliament and the lawmaking progress.

The premier's only big consolation prize came in Milan, where his candidate Giuseppe Sala, who successfully managed that city's recent Expo, took 51.7 percent of the vote to defeat another respected manager, Stefano Parisi, who was backed by center-right forces. In much smaller Bologna, a center-left incumbent mayor backed by the Democrats defeated a center-right rival.

The defeat of Raggi's opponent in Rome, Democrat Roberto Giachetti, was widely expected, given deep anger over years of City Hall corruption. Investigations have led to arrests of dozens of politicians and their cronies, including Democrats as well as right-wing proponents, whose candidate failed to make into the runoff. Deteriorating public services like mass transit and garbage collection also fueled voter determination to toss out the old guard.

The 5-Star Movement's leap in popularity is remarkable, considering its short life. Comic Beppe Grillo, using as a springboard his widely popular sarcastic blog chastising traditional politicians, converted the momentum into a party less than a decade ago. The first significant mayoral victory came in 2012, in the affluent northern town of Parma.

Mobbed by reporters Monday, Grillo recalled how detractors doubted the movement would take off in politics. "The 'mission impossible' airplane has taken off and we'll gain altitude," Grillo said.

While the 5-Stars boast they run for office without making political alliances, it was unclear how much their victories Sunday received unsolicited help from other parties. In some cities, right-wing parties shut out of the runoffs urged their followers to vote for 5-Star candidates to ensure the defeat of Renzi's forces.

Grillo himself cannot hold public office due to a manslaughter conviction stemming from a 1981 car accident.

Luigi Di Maio, a 5-Star lawmaker who is vice-president of the lower Chamber of Deputies, contended the runoff victories showed his party is "the only credible force" that can defeat Renzi's Democrats nationally.

How the 5-Star Movement can convert its reputation as an anti-establishment, protest force into significant power-holding will be closely observed.

The new 5-Star mayors "will have to find alliances at the local level and finally leave the ambiguity that has characterized their proposed policies at a national level," economist Lorenzo Codogno, an analyst and visiting professor at the European Institute at the London School of Economics and Political Science, wrote in an emailed comment.

Raggi's commanding victory in Rome also reverberated in the sports world. Citing the capital's infestation by corruption, she has cast doubt on the wisdom of Rome's bid to host the 2024 Olympics, an opportunity Renzi has touted as good for Italy's economy. If the new mayor nixes the candidacy, that would effectively doom the bid's shot at success.

"Without City Hall, Rome 2024 would become a car without gas," wrote La Gazzetta dello Sport, a popular Italian sports daily.

___

Frances D'Emilio is on twitter at www.twitter.com/fdemilio

Anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) candidate as Rome's mayor Virginia Raggi poses for photographers as she casts her ballot in polling station in Rome, Sunday, June 19, 2016. Mayoral runoffs are held in Rome, Milan and other big Italian cities Sunday. If Raggi wins, she'll be the first woman to serve as Rome mayor. (AP Photo/Fabio Frustaci)

Chiara Appendino (centre), 32, was named the new mayor of Turin - also under the banner of the populist 'Five Star' movement
AP NewsBreak: UN: Israel for ratifying nuke test ban treaty

VIENNA (AP)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared Monday that his country backs ratification of a treaty banning nuclear tests but did not commit to a time frame, a senior U.N. official said after meeting with the Israeli leader.

Lassina Zerbo, who heads the U.N. organization created to implement the treaty, told The Associated Press that Netanyahu considers the issue of ratifying the treaty a matter of "when, rather than if."

While Israel does not comment on its nuclear capabilities it is commonly considered to be the only nation in the Middle East to have atomic arms. Ratification by the Jewish state would move the treaty closer to taking effect, leaving only seven holdouts among the 44 countries that must approve the pact for it to go live.

FILE - In this Monday, May 23, 2016 file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, looks on during a faction meeting at the Knesset, Israel's parliament in Jerusalem. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spent more than $600,000 of public funds on a six-day trip to New York, including $1,600 on a personal hairdresser, according to a newly released expense report. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

Zerbo, who heads the Vienna-based Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization, spoke to the AP by telephone after meeting in Israel with Netanyahu.

Zerbo said Netanyahu did not specify when Israel could ratify, something the U.N. official said "is normal in diplomacy."

A statement from Netanyahu's office citied the prime minister as saying that "Israel supports the treaty and its goals" but ratification "depends on the regional context and the appropriate timing."

Zerbo considers ratification by Israel a key step toward a nuclear test-free zone in the Middle East and described the results of Monday's meeting with Netanyahu as a significant advance on what up to now have been discussions mostly on a technical level between the CTBTO and Israeli experts.

The development follows recent statements by Netanyahu that he is quietly forging closer ties with moderate Sunni Arab states as part of an alliance against Islamic extremists. But he has given few details.

Last month, he publicly praised the Arab Peace Initiative, a 2002 Saudi-led plan that offered Israel peace with the Arab world in exchange for a full withdrawal from all territories captured in the 1967 Mideast war. Netanyahu said there were "positive aspects" to the plan, though he stopped short of endorsing it. He later said he could not accept the plan in its current form and would never return to Israel's pre-1967 lines.

Netanyahu is interested in a closer alliance with the moderate Sunnis, both as a counterweight to the rising influence of Iran and the Islamic State group and other extremist groups, and in hopes of putting pressure on the Palestinians in any future peace talks.

His offer Monday may have been a gesture toward moderate states like Egypt and Gulf countries, which have long opposed Israel's nuclear program.

That opposition has resulted in Arab states pushing for a resolution critical of that program in recent years at annual conferences of the International Atomic Energy Agency. But a summary of an Arab League meeting in Cairo earlier this year obtained by the AP says Arab countries will "refrain from submitting" the resolution at this year's meeting in September.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, known as the CTBT, has 196 member states  183 that have signed the treaty and 164 that have ratified it. But the treaty has not entered into force because it still needs ratification by eight countries that had nuclear power reactors or research reactors when the U.N. General Assembly adopted the treaty in 1996: the United States, China, Iran, Israel, Egypt, India, Pakistan and North Korea.

___
In 1989, before he prosecuted Joseph White for a brutal rape and murder later linked to another man, Dick Smith, then Gage County Attorney, looked into DNA testing that would have cleared White.

But he chose not to have the testing done, later saying it was "extremely expensive."

That year, White and five others went to prison, convicted of killing Beatrice widow Helen Wilson in 1985.

Three of the six still were locked up in 2008 when DNA came back pointing to Bruce Allen Smith, who had no known connection to them, as the man responsible.

On the stand Friday, at a civil rights trial brought against Gage County and the investigators by White and the rest of the Beatrice 6, Smith seemed far from apologetic when attorney Jeff Patterson asked him if he thought the $350 rate per sample then for complete DNA testing was extremely expensive.

"If it's not admissible it is," Smith answered.

Back then, he said with his arms crossed, Nebraska judges hadn't yet determined if DNA tests, then still new, passed muster to be admitted at a trial.

What is clear now is it would have shown the semen and blood found at the scene of Helen Wilson's brutal killing in her Beatrice apartment on Feb. 6, 1985, wasn't a match for White, Thomas Winslow, Ada JoAnn Taylor, Debbie Shelden, James Dean or Kathy Gonzalez, the six Smith prosecuted for the crime.

Together, they spent 77 years in prison before the Nebraska Supreme Court ordered the DNA testing that would lead to pardons for the five and White's conviction being overturned.

Afterward, they sued the county, Gage County Sheriff Jerry DeWitt, Deputy Burdette Searcey, Dr. Wayne Price, a psychologist and part-time deputy, and Dick Smith.

The judge later dismissed Smith, finding he had absolute immunity as a prosecutor.

But on Thursday and Friday, the man who served as county attorney for 27 years found his actions and inactions under the microscope at the trial that started June 6.

The first trial ended with a mistrial.

In the afternoon Friday, Smith testified how Shelden was the first to accept a plea offer and was to "start the domino effect." Then, the next one and next one and next one, he said of the co-defendants.

"And it worked beautifully," Beatrice 6 attorney Maren Chaloupka said.

All but White entered pleas to reduced charges. Three agreed to testify against him as part of the deal.

Smith hadn't waited for forensic reports to come back on testing of blood and semen before extending the plea offer to Shelden. He testified previously that he knew he was taking a risk and if it turned out what she said wasn't accurate, "I would have a problem."

"But a prosecutor's job is not just to secure convictions, is it? It's also to search for justice, isn't it?" Chaloupka asked him.

"Correct," Smith answered.

After getting the reports in 1989, he said, it was his understanding there still was a possibility White could be the perpetrator of the rape, because his blood type and genetic markers were an identical match to the victim's. Though, he knew there was blood and semen at the scene that didn't match White's.

Smith agreed he knew that DNA testing could have distinguished between the victim's body fluids and White's, even if a judge wouldn't allow the results to be entered as evidence at trial.

Cost was a factor, he said. For one thing, there were lots of samples that could have been tested. The person who did the testing also would have to be brought to Nebraska for a trial at the county's expense, he said.

Before the end of direct examination, Chaloupka asked him one more question: whether by his standard he considered this a "successful prosecution."

"In 1989, yes, I did," he said.

"And by your standard now?" she asked him.

The judge said to answer, if he had an opinion.

"I don't want to say I don't have an opinion, your honor. I don't have all the facts," Smith said.
Firefighter dies while battling huge Cyprus forest fire

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP)  A firefighter died Monday after being crushed when his truck overturned as he tackled a large forest fire that continues to rage out of control on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, so far scorching 15 square kilometers (5.8 square miles) of trees and countryside.

President Nicos Anastasiades said in a written statement that he was devastated at the news that Andreas Sophocleous succumbed to injuries and two other firefighters who were in the vehicle were seriously hurt. Another firefighter remains in critical but stable condition after suffering head injuries when his vehicle overturned in a gully in an earlier accident, while his colleague sustained a broken arm.

Police say a 12-year-old boy is suspected of starting the fire with a lighter near his family's holiday home.

Anastasiades praised the 49-year-old Sophocleous as well as hundreds of his colleagues on the front lines making "superhuman efforts" in fighting the blaze and "ready to sacrifice even their lives in the line of duty."

A total of 16 aircraft, including four planes and helicopters from Greece and three fixed-wing aircraft from Israel, are helping fight the blaze the most ever employed on a fire in Cyprus, according to Interior Minister Socrates Hasikos. The aircraft have been grounded for Monday night and are expected to resume flights at dawn.

Anastasiades said the damage done to a large swath of forest in the mountainous regions southwest of the capital is "irreparable," but nonetheless promised a speedy reforestation program.

He said 66 firefighting vehicles and more than 300 people from the island's fire service and forestry department, as well as dozens of volunteers, have been mobilized to fight the blaze that has covered the area with thick plumes of smoke.

"It's truly a tragic situation. ... We're doing all we can to bring the fire under control," said Anastasiades after chairing a meeting of top Fire Service, Police and Interior Ministry officials.

Anastasiades said he has thanked Mustafa Akinci, leader of the ethnically split island's breakaway Turkish Cypriot north, for offering help in firefighting efforts, but assistance from Greece, Israel and two British military bases on Cyprus are enough at the moment.

Officials said optimism the fire can soon be brought under control is tempered by the difficult terrain, high temperatures and shifting winds that are making firefighting efforts difficult.
Pistorius family reports threats ahead of murder sentence

JOHANNESBURG (AP)  Oscar Pistorius and other relatives have been threatened in an extortion attempt ahead of the former track star's sentencing on July 6 for the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, Pistorius' family said Monday.

South African police said they are investigating alleged threats of violence made in WhatsApp messages to Arnoldus Pistorius, a cousin of the double-amputee Olympian.

"We are aware of the allegations," said Brig. Hangwani Mulaudzi, spokesman for the Hawks, a police investigative unit.

FILE - In this Tuesday June 14, 2016 file photo, Oscar Pistorius leaves the High Court in Pretoria, South Africa. Oscar Pistorius and other relatives have been threatened in an extortion attempt ahead of the former track star's sentencing on July 6 for the murder of girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, Pistorius' family said Monday, June 20, 2016. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)

The man who sent the messages initially told Pistorius' cousin that he had evidence that would undermine testimony for the prosecution at Pistorius' sentencing hearing last week, said Anneliese Burgess, a spokeswoman for the Pistorius family.

The man wanted payment for the alleged evidence and became "very abusive" when it became clear that he wouldn't get it, Burgess wrote in an email to The Associated Press. The man threatened to arrange for Pistorius to be assaulted in jail if he is sent back there, according to a transcript of a text message reported by City Press, a South African newspaper.

Pistorius, who fatally shot Steenkamp in his home early on Valentine's Day in 2013, is currently under house arrest after an appeals court overturned an initial manslaughter conviction against him and changed that to murder.

He served one year in prison for manslaughter. The minimum sentence for murder is 15 years in prison, though a judge can reduce that sentence in some circumstances.
Spain's Socialists battle new group for control of the left

MADRID (AP)  An unprecedented political battle is raging in Spain for control of voters on the left.

After heading six governments and dominating the left for nearly four decades, the Socialist party faces the risk of being overtaken by an upstart alliance led by the far left Podemos party in the country's June 26 repeat election.

The scenario is reminiscent of what happened in Greece in 2012 when the Syriza party overtook Greece's long dominant Socialist Pasok party. The far left party last year became Greece's governing party, although the turnaround in Spain is not expected to be that dramatic with the Unidos Podemos alliance polling far behind acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's conservative Popular Party.

In this Sunday, June 19, 2016 photo, Pedro Sanchez, leader of the Spanish Socialist Party, center, applauds his followers during a campaign election rally in Zaragoza, northern Spain. After heading six governments and dominating the left for nearly four decades, Spains Socialist party faces an unprecedented risk of being overtaken by an upstart far left alliance during the countrys June 26 repeat election. Its a development that would upend the nations political landscape for the second time in just six months.(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

Voters enraged with high unemployment, unpopular austerity measures and corruption scandals already shattered the nation's two-party system last December by abandoning the Socialists and the Popular Party and giving strong support to Podemos and the new, business-friendly Ciudadanos.

That fractured result led to six months of unsuccessful negotiations to form a government, an outcome that polls indicate is likely to happen again. Surveys also suggest the Socialists could be beaten by Unidos Podemos headed by Pablo Iglesias, a pony-tailed political science professor who burst onto the political scene just two years ago. He co-founded Podemos, which formed an alliance last month with the much smaller United Left party.

Podemos' base is made up of young voters and longtime Socialists who felt betrayed when former Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in 2010 and 2011 made a political U-turn, slashing social spending and making it easier for businesses to fire workers to try to prevent Spain's economy from imploding amid the financial crisis.

The fragmentation of the left is illustrated among left-leaning Spanish families with parents sticking to the Socialists while their grown children break away with Podemos.

Carlota Aguirre, a 26-year-old university course coordinator, says she grew up surrounded by socialist relatives but now supports Unidos Podemos. She says the Socialists seem to have lost their way and rely too much on their storied history instead of providing solutions for modern-day problems.

When a wave of evictions forced some Spanish homeowners to give up their apartments while still owing money to banks, she thought the far left alternatives to the Socialists were working harder to try to prevent the foreclosures.

"They haven't been out front in this new era of political and economic changes that Spain's been going through," Aguirre says. "I think the Socialists are living in the past and they're not as socialist as their name suggests."

Her 57-year-old father, Jorge Aguirre, said he was a die-hard leftist when he first voted for the Socialists at age 19 but that the party has become more moderate over the decades, just as he has after raising a family and advancing through the ranks of an energy company to become a natural gas logistics manager.

Now he worries that he could fall among the ranks of middle to upper middle class Spaniards that Unidos Podemos would target with tax increases it has promised to implement to pay for restoring social programs cuts enacted under Zapatero and Rajoy in the name of austerity.

"I'm worried that they're confused about who the rich actually are," he said. "Higher taxes scare me and those of us with a decent salary after working for many years."

A second place finish for Unidos Podemos ahead of the Socialists would be a massive blow for a party whose former prime ministers Felipe Gonzalez and Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero were crucial for shaping modern, democratic Spain following the country's return democracy in 1978, three years after the death of dictator Gen. Francisco Franco.

Such a scenario would be "a political earthquake because the hegemonic force of the left would be stripped of its leadership by an emerging party, a coalition of leftist forces," said Antonio Barroso, a London-based analyst with the Teneo Intelligence political risk consulting group.

The Popular Party won the Dec. 20 election with 123 seats in the 350-seat Parliament but failed to find enough support from the other parties to form a government. The Socialists came a distant second with 90 seats  their worst result ever and made a desperate but ultimately fruitless bid to get the support of Podemos to cobble together a government, and that failure is what led to the fresh election.

Polls over the last month and experts predict this month's election will yield another inconclusive result. While the Popular Party is still expected to get the most votes, which party ends up in second place is a crucial question because Rajoy could again fail to convince others to join him in a governing coalition or minority government. That would give the second biggest party the chance once again to form a government and avert yet another election in the fall.

In many ways, Spain's leftist split is being self-perpetuated. Both the Socialists and Podemos agree so much unites them they ought to strike a deal to ensure Rajoy's Popular Party doesn't extend its rule over Spain, but can't seem to agree at the negotiating table.

After December's vote, the Socialists' new leader Pedro Sanchez managed to get Cuidadanos to agree to a governing alliance but Iglesias refused  so it's hard for analysts to see how Iglesias could convince the Socialists to join Unidos Podemos as a junior partner after refusing to do the same.

The current situation "is not a good place for the Socialists to be in," said Federico Santi, Spain analyst for the Eurasia Group political risk firm.

"It's hard to be optimistic not just about their short-term prospects in terms of what happens at the end of June and at the end of the elections and in a government formation process, but also in the medium term," he said.

However, some analysts say the likely inability of the two to craft a left-leaning alliance leaves only one governing possibility for Spain: A so-called "grand coalition" of the Popular Party and the Socialists. That has never happened before in Spain and was rejected earlier this year by Sanchez but has happened elsewhere in Europe.

"It's still too soon to call for the death of the Socialist Party," Barroso said.

___

Associated Press writer Harold Heckle in Madrid contributed to this report.

In this Friday, June 17, 2016 photo, followers of Pedro Sanchez, leader of Spanish Socialist Party, hold banners reading, ''Vote Yes'', during an electoral meeting in Logrono, northern Spain. After heading six governments and dominating the left for nearly four decades, Spains Socialist party faces an unprecedented risk of being overtaken by an upstart far left alliance during the countrys June 26 repeat election. Its a development that would upend the nations political landscape for the second time in just six months. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

In this Wednesday, June 15, 2016 photo, volunteers of the Spain's Unidos Podemos coalition party pull a trolley with a poster of the party after being handing out flyers in Madrid, Spain. After heading six governments and dominating the left for nearly four decades, Spains Socialist party faces an unprecedented risk of being overtaken by an upstart far left alliance during the countrys June 26 repeat election. Its a development that would upend the nations political landscape for the second time in just six months. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

In this Friday, June 10, 2016 photo, Podemos party leader Pablo Iglesias leaves after a campaign event during the officially opening the General Election campaign in Madrid, Spain. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

In this Saturday, June 11, 2016 photo, electoral banners of Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE), pile up inside of a van during an electoral meeting of Pedro Sanchez, leader of the Spanish socialist, in the Basque village of Durango. After heading six governments and dominating the left for nearly four decades, Spains Socialist party faces an unprecedented risk of being overtaken by an upstart far left alliance during the countrys June 26 repeat election. Its a development that would upend the nations political landscape for the second time in just six months. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

In this Wednesday, June 15, 2016 photo, a woman walks past beside a shop of foods, in Zaragoza, northern Spain. After heading six governments and dominating the left for nearly four decades, Spains Socialist party faces an unprecedented risk of being overtaken by an upstart far left alliance during the countrys June 26 repeat election. Its a development that would upend the nations political landscape for the second time in just six months.(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

In this Friday, June 17, 2016 photo, a follower of Pedro Sanchez, leader of Spanish Socialist Party, goes up the stairs with some flags of the party after an electoral meeting in Logrono, northern Spain. After heading six governments and dominating the left for nearly four decades, Spains Socialist party faces an unprecedented risk of being overtaken by an upstart far left alliance during the countrys June 26 repeat election. Its a development that would upend the nations political landscape for the second time in just six months.(AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

In this Friday, June 17, 2016 photo, supporters listen while Spain's acting Prime Minister and Popular Party candidate Mariano Rajoy, right, address the audience during a party meeting before the national elections in Guadalajara, Spain. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

In this Friday, June 17, 2016 photo, Spain's acting Prime Minister and Popular Party candidate Mariano Rajoy address the audience during a party meeting before the national elections in Guadalajara, Spain. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

In this Wednesday, June 15, 2016 photo, people hold crucifixes as they pray on the street, in Zaragoza, northern Spain. After heading six governments and dominating the left for nearly four decades, Spains Socialist party faces an unprecedented risk of being overtaken by an upstart far left alliance during the countrys June 26 repeat election. Its a development that would upend the nations political landscape for the second time in just six months. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

In this Wednesday, June 15, 2016 photo, a hairdresser waits customers, in Zaragoza, northern Spain. After heading six governments and dominating the left for nearly four decades, Spains Socialist party faces an unprecedented risk of being overtaken by an upstart far left alliance during the countrys June 26 repeat election. Its a development that would upend the nations political landscape for the second time in just six months. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

In this Thursday June 16, 2016 photo, a homeless person sleeps inside a hall of a bank, in Pamplona, northern Spain. After heading six governments and dominating the left for nearly four decades, Spains Socialist party faces an unprecedented risk of being overtaken by an upstart far left alliance during the countrys June 26 repeat election. Its a development that would upend the nations political landscape for the second time in just six months. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

In this Wednesday, June 15, 2016 photo, Spain's acting Primer Minister and candidate of Popular Party, Mariano Rajoy, holds a paper with notes as he delivers his speech while he visits a field of artichokes during a campaign election rally in Tudela, northern Spain. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)

In this Saturday, May 28, 2016 photo, a man wearing a banner with the face of the Spanish acting Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy takes part in a protest by left wing groups, ecological organisations, human rights associations and local unions, in Madrid. (AP Photo/francisco Seco)

In this Friday, June 17, 2016 photo, Spain's acting Prime Minister and Popular Party candidate Mariano Rajoy, right, waits the green light to cross the street while a truck depicting the portrait of the leader of Socialist Party Pedro Sanchez and asking to vote PSOE party pass by in Guadalajara, Spain. After heading six governments and dominating the left for nearly four decades, Spain's Socialist party faces an unprecedented risk of being overtaken by an upstart far left alliance during the country's June 26 repeat election. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
Kenya: 5 police killed in attack near Somalia border

MANDERA, Kenya (AP)  Suspected Islamic extremists ambushed a police vehicle in northern Kenya and killed five officers Monday, a police official said.

The officers were escorting a passenger bus early Monday when they came under attack, Mandera County Police Commander Job Boronjo said.

The bus driver sped away, but the police vehicle was set on fire and two of the victims were burned beyond recognition, Boronjo said.

"This was a well-arranged ambush by the militants," he said.

Four officers survived, and the attackers are believed to have fled toward the Somalia border, Boronjo said.

Kenya has been attacked several times by members of the Somalia-based Islamic extremist group al-Shabab, which opposes Kenya's military involvement in the Horn of Africa country.
The Latest: EU boosts naval mission in Mediterranean

ISTANBUL (AP)  The Latest on Europe's migrant crisis (all times local):

15:55 p.m.

The European Union is boosting the role of its naval operation in the Mediterranean as increasing numbers of desperate migrants set off from Libya in unseaworthy boats.

Members of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) stand on the deck of the "Aquarius" during a storm on Sunday June 19, 2016. The humanitarian organisation has joined forces with SOS Mediterranee on the vessel to rescue migrants on their way from North Africa to Europe. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)

EU foreign ministers agreed Monday at talks in Luxembourg to extend Operation Sophia by a year to July 2017 and tasked it with building up Libya's coastguard and navy.

The EU wants to move the operation into Libyan waters, and longer-term on land, to thwart migrant smugglers. But divisions in Libya have delayed the broad recognition of a national unity government that would approve the move.

The West hopes Libya's new government will unify the country and help combat the Islamic State affiliate there.

___

15:10 p.m.

Serbian police say they have found 53 migrants hidden in a van in southern Serbia.

Police said Monday they have arrested one person suspected of smuggling the migrants who were hoping to reach the European Union.

Dozens of migrants have been caught in Serbia recently.

EU nations have sought to control the arrivals after more than 1 million refugees and other migrants entered last year. Most are fleeing violence and poverty in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

___

14:45 p.m.

The regional head of the U.N.'s refugee agency says Hungary's plan to close its refugee reception centers will make it much more difficult for people granted asylum to integrate, forcing them to leave the country.

Montserrat Feixas Vihe, the UNHCR representative in Central Europe, said Monday it is a "major problem" that conditions in the countries refugees are fleeing from have not improved and that it is now much harder for them to seek protection in Europe.

Feixas Vihe spoke at the opening of a photo exhibit about refugees at Budapest's Keleti railway terminal. Last year, thousands of migrants passed through the terminal each day on their way to Germany and other western destinations before Hungary built fences on its borders with Serbia and Croatia.

Feixas Vihe said that the closing of the centers "means Hungary will not be a place where they can be. They will be forced to go."

___

11:45 a.m.

Human Rights Watch is urging the EU to stop returning Syrian refugees to Turkey citing a lack of refugee rights.

It said in a statement Monday that refugees in Turkey lack access to jobs, education and health care.

The group's Stephanie Gee said "it is hardly surprising that many are not getting the support they desperately need to maintain livelihoods," considering Turkey is host to over 2 million Syrian refugees.

An EU-Turkey agreement allows Greece to return Syrian asylum seekers to Turkey on the basis it is a "safe third country."

HRW said "safe" should mean not just protection from war or prosecution, but should also include the right to work, health care and education.

The deal is part of efforts to stem the tide of migrants to Europe.

Waves hit the bow of the "Aquarius" on Sunday June 19, 2016 during a storm on the Mediterranean Sea. Medecins Sans Frontieres and SOS Meditarrenee have joined forces on the vessel to rescue migrants on their way from North Africa to Europe. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)

A woman watches a photo of refugees at the opening of a photo exhibit by the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR at the Keleti railway terminal in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2016. Last year thousands of migrants a day were passing through the railway station. on their way to Germany and other western destinations before Hungary built fences on its borders with Serbia and Croatia. (AP Photo/Pablo Gorondi)
Celtic, Red Star headline Champions League qualifying draw

NYON, Switzerland (AP)  The path to the group stage of the Champions League for former European champions Celtic and Red Star Belgrade started Monday in the qualifying draw.

Celtic will first play away in the second qualifying round against Estonian champion Flora Tallinn or Gibraltar champion Lincoln.

Red Star also travels in the first leg, to face Malta champion Valletta or Faeroe Islands champion B36 Torshavn.

In other second qualifying round matches, it was: Vardar vs. Dinamo Zagreb; BATE Borisov vs. SJK Seinajoki; and Rosenborg vs. Norrkoping.

Albanian club Skenderbeu, which UEFA disqualified for fixing matches, must win a Court of Arbitration for Sport appeal to play Hungarian club Ferencvaros.
Former Portugal leader denies meddling in state-owned bank

LISBON, Portugal (AP)  Portugal's former Socialist prime minister, Jose Socrates, has rejected what he says are "insinuations" that he used his influence to ensure a troubled state-owned bank provided loans for a Portuguese vacation resort development.

Socrates, who was center-left prime minister from 2005 to 2011, was arrested two years ago on suspicion of corruption, money-laundering and tax fraud and is still under investigation.

He wrote in an opinion article published Monday in daily Jornal de Noticias that a center-right party's proposal for a parliamentary inquiry into what caused the financial difficulties of Caixa Geral de Depositos is "a childish tactical maneuver" by his political opponents to discredit him.
Services set for boy, 2, killed in Florida alligator attack

OMAHA, Neb. (AP)  Private family services have been scheduled for a 2-year-old Nebraska boy killed by an alligator at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

A vigil service for Lane Graves is set for 3 p.m. Monday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Omaha, Nebraska. The funeral is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday, also at St. Patrick's.

Authorities say an alligator pulled Lane into the water last Tuesday, despite the frantic efforts of his father. Lane's body was recovered Wednesday.

An autopsy showed the boy died from drowning and traumatic injuries.
1776 portrait drawn by British spy John Andre is up for sale

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP)  Two portraits drawn during the Revolutionary War by a British officer-turned-spy linked to Benedict Arnold are being auctioned in New York City.

Swann Auction Galleries in Manhattan on Tuesday is selling John Andre's circa-1776 portraits of Albany Mayor Abraham Cuyler and his wife. The pencil-on-paper sketches are mounted together and being sold as one unit. The estimated sale price is $50,000 to $75,000.

Andre was captured by Americans in Canada in 1775 and was headed to captivity in Pennsylvania when he spent several weeks with the Cuylers and drew their portraits in Albany.

This handout photo provided by Swann Auction Galleries shows two portraits drawn in Albany during the Revolutionary War by a British officer-turned-spy linked to Benedict Arnold that are being auctioned in New York City. Swann on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, is selling John Andre's circa-1776 portraits of Albany Mayor Abraham Cuyler and his wife. The pencil-on-paper sketches are mounted together and being sold as one unit. The estimated sale price is $50,000 to $75,000. (Courtesy of Swann Auction Galleries via AP)
British farmers crave independence but fear cost of EU exit

CAPEL-LE-FERNE, England (AP)  Rob Warnock is a proud British farmer and the son of a proud British farmer, and he hopes his son will follow in his footsteps one day.

He's also a European Union farmer, but that is not a legacy Warnock wants to pass on to his 6-year-old son. Warnock plans to vote this week for Britain to leave the EU, even though it could cost his struggling dairy business dear.

"As soon as I heard there would be a referendum, I knew I'd be 'out' without even thinking about it," he said, as sheep and calves grazed in a field on his family farm. "It's just what my heart says."

In this photo taken Thursday, June 16, 2016, dairy farmer Robert Warnock, who plans to vote this week for Britain to leave the EU, poses for a photograph during an interview with The Associated Press on Capel Church Farm, in the village of Capel-le-Ferne, near Folkestone, south east England. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

Many British farmers feel the same emotional tug. But while their hearts tell them to leave, their heads urge caution. The EU is helping farmers stay afloat at a time when many are struggling.

The benefits of membership in the 28-nation EU may seem intangible to many Britons, who view it as a distant body of byzantine bureaucracy and obscure regulations. But farmers know exactly how much they get from the bloc. In Warnock's case it's 40,000 pounds ($60,000) a year  his share of the subsidy millions of farmers across the continent receive under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy.

"People say, 'You're mad to vote out when you could lose 40,000 pounds,'" Warnock said. "(But) I think what we could have in the end would be better."

He desperately needs things to improve. The price of milk has been plunging for more than two years, hit by what Warnock calls a "perfect storm" of factors, including Russia's ban on EU imports, Chinese stockpiling of powdered milk and production increases in other EU countries.

That's disastrous for 44-year-old Warnock, who tends 450 dairy cows and grows barley and wheat on 650 acres (263 hectares) perched above the English Channel on Britain's south coast.

"We're being paid 18 pence a liter for our milk at the moment, and it costs us 28 pence a liter to produce," he said. "Every time that (milk) tanker drives out the yard, it's another 600 quid (pounds) that we've lost."

Sian Davies, dairy adviser for the National Farmers' Union, says dire market conditions may be nudging British farmers toward the EU exit door.

"A lot of farmers will be looking at their referendum vote as a vote for change," she said. "It could be looked at as 'Anything's better than what we have at the moment.'"

That is firmly Warnock's view. He thinks that losing the safety net of EU subsidies would force the British government to think seriously about the importance of agriculture to the country.

"They think: 'The farmers are all right, they're getting the subsidy, we don't worry that they're having to produce food at way, way below the cost of production,'" he said. "I think that if we come out of the EU it might make the government sit up and realize actually how important food production is to this country."

Warnock's father Jim is not so sure. He intends to vote "remain," worried the subsidies will disappear.

"I know they are saying at the moment if there is a change then we will still get it," he said. "But knowing politicians and knowing the pressure they are going to be under..."

"Leave" campaigners have vowed that the British government will step in to support farmers if the country leaves the EU. The "remain" camp says the pledge is unrealistic: the "leave" side has also promised to boost funding for the health service, maintain defense spending and much more, at a time when the government is committed to cutting public-sector spending.

Farmers have a long list of gripes about the EU, from its complex paperwork to its environmental regulations, which limit which fertilizers and pesticides they can use.

But Davies says the EU has done more than the British government to help dairy farmers weather the current crisis.

"Everything we've seen ... that has helped or tried to help farmers, has come from Brussels," she said, citing EU support for storing stocks of butter and milk powder until prices rise.

British governments in recent decades have taken a comparatively laissez-faire attitude to agriculture, reluctant to shield domestic producers from international competition.

It's a different story across the Channel in France, where agriculture accounts for a bigger slice of the economy and looms larger in the national consciousness. Militant French farmers regularly stage protests  blocking roads, dumping manure and even herding sheep in the Louvre museum to demand more support from the government.

Wyn Grant, a political scientist and agriculture expert at the University of Warwick, says countries like France "where there are particular cultural attachments to farming," have helped shape EU agricultural policies in ways that have benefited British farmers.

"In a sense, British farmers get a certain amount of political cover from farmers elsewhere in the EU," he said.

Warnock believes the years of ups and downs have made British farmers resilient. He describes himself as a "passionate dairy farmer"  but worries that if something doesn't change soon, passion may not be enough.

Two decades ago there were more than 35,000 dairy farmers in Britain. Today there are only about 10,000, and the NFU has estimated that 10 to 20 percent could go out of business by the end of 2016.

"You always hope to hand the farm down to the next generation that's coming on," Warnock said. "But I seriously have to question whether I'm going to have the chance to do that.

"Farming's been in our family for five or six generations. But whether it goes on to a seventh, who knows?"

___

Follow Jill Lawless on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/JillLawless

In this photo taken Thursday, June 16, 2016, dairy farmer Robert Warnock, left, who plans to vote this week for Britain to leave the EU, and his father Jim who favours remaining in the EU, stand together as they are interviewed by The Associated Press on Capel Church Farm, in the village of Capel-le-Ferne, near Folkestone, south east England. Many British farmers feel the same emotional tug. But while their hearts tell them to leave, their heads urge caution. The EU is helping farmers stay afloat at a time when many are struggling. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

In this photo taken Thursday, June 16, 2016, dairy farmer Robert Warnock, who plans to vote this week for Britain to leave the EU, stands with his Holstein Friesian cattle as they are milked in a milking parlour on Capel Church Farm, in the village of Capel-le-Ferne, near Folkestone, south east England. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

In this photo taken Thursday, June 16, 2016, dairy farmer Robert Warnock, who plans to vote this week for Britain to leave the EU, stands with his Holstein Friesian cattle during an interview with The Associated Press on Capel Church Farm, in the village of Capel-le-Ferne, near Folkestone, south east England. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

In this photo taken Thursday, June 16, 2016, dairy farmer Robert Warnock, left, who plans to vote this week for Britain to leave the EU, and his father Jim who favours remaining in the EU, stand together as they are interviewed by The Associated Press on Capel Church Farm, in the village of Capel-le-Ferne, near Folkestone, south east England. Many British farmers feel the same emotional tug. But while their hearts tell them to leave, their heads urge caution. The EU is helping farmers stay afloat at a time when many are struggling. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

In this photo taken Thursday, June 16, 2016, dairy farmer Robert Warnock, who plans to vote this week for Britain to leave the EU, stands with his Holstein Friesian cattle during an interview with The Associated Press on Capel Church Farm, in the village of Capel-le-Ferne, near Folkestone, south east England. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

In this photo taken Thursday, June 16, 2016, dairy farmer Robert Warnock, who plans to vote this week for Britain to leave the EU, walks with his Holstein Friesian cattle on Capel Church Farm, in the village of Capel-le-Ferne, near Folkestone, south east England. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

In this photo taken Thursday, June 16, 2016, dairy farmer Robert Warnock, who plans to vote this week for Britain to leave the EU, speaks to The Associated Press before his Holstein Friesian cattle were milked in a milking parlour on Capel Church Farm, in the village of Capel-le-Ferne, near Folkestone, south east England. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
UN official critical of Hungary plan to shut refugee centers

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP)  Hungary's plan to close its refugee reception centers will make it much more difficult for people granted asylum to integrate, forcing them to leave the country, the regional head of the U.N.'s refugee agency said Monday.

Montserrat Feixas Vihe, the UNHCR representative in Central Europe, said conditions in the countries refugees are fleeing from have not improved but it is now much harder for them to seek protection in Europe.

"The need for them to flee is just as bad as last year," Feixas Vihe told The Associated Press. "They need to seek protection and they are not able to get it here. That is a major problem."

A woman watches a photo of refugees at the opening of a photo exhibit by the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR at the Keleti railway terminal in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2016. Last year thousands of migrants a day were passing through the railway station. on their way to Germany and other western destinations before Hungary built fences on its borders with Serbia and Croatia. (AP Photo/Pablo Gorondi)

Feixas Vihe spoke after the opening of a photo exhibit about refugees at Budapest's Keleti railway terminal. Last year, thousands of migrants passed through the terminal each day on their way to Germany and other western destinations. The station was closed for days in September because of the large crowds, so migrants began walking toward Vienna on a major highway, leading the government to supply buses to take them to the Austrian border.

But Hungary has since built razor-wire fences on its borders with Serbia and Croatia that have significantly stemmed the flow of migrants and refugees, from as many as 3,000 a day last year to around 120 a day now.

The closing of the centers is part of Prime Minister Viktor Orban's anti-migrant policies, which also include a government-sponsored referendum planned to be held around October seeking support to oppose plans by the European Union to resettle refugees among the members of the bloc.

Hungary last year closed its largest refugee center, in the eastern city of Debrecen, which had place for 1,200 people and opened during the 1990s wars in the former Yugoslavia. A center for nearly 500 people in the town of Bicske, near Budapest, is slated to be shut this year.

Gyorgy Bakondi, the prime minister's homeland security adviser, told the AP that while Bicske, the largest of the three remaining open reception centers, would be closed, there were plans to expand a detention facility for migrants and asylum-seekers in the town of Kiskunhalas.

"With the closing of the centers, for the refugees it means Hungary will not be a place where they can be," Feixas Vihe said, noting that the centers were essential in helping integrate those granted asylum. "They will be forced to go."

Photos of refugees are set up at the opening of a photo exhibit by the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR at the Keleti railway terminal in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2016. Last year thousands of migrants a day were passing through the railway station. on their way to Germany and other western destinations before Hungary built fences on its borders with Serbia and Croatia. (AP Photo/Pablo Gorondi)

Visitors attend the photo exhibition entitled 'From War To Hope', organized by the Central European Office of UNHCR at the Keleti railway terminal in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2016. Last year thousands of migrants a day were passing through the railway station on their way to Germany and other western destinations before Hungary built fences on its borders with Serbia and Croatia. (Janos Marjai/MTI via AP)

UNHCR's Regional Representative for Central Europe Montserrat Feixas Vihe delivers her speech during the opening of the photo exhibition entitled 'From War To Hope', organized by the Central European Office of UNHCR at the Keleti railway terminal in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 20, 2016. Feixas Vihe said it was major problem that while conditions in the countries refugees are fleeing from had not improved, it was now much harder for them to seek protection in Europe.(Janos Marjai/MTI via AP)
The Latest: FBI gives full transcript of gunman's 911 call

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  The Latest on the nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida. (all times local):

3:30 p.m.

The names of groups and people to whom the Orlando gunman Omar Mateen pledged allegiance are no longer being omitted by the FBI from transcripts of his conversations with authorities during the shooting.

FBI lab personnel walk on the roof of the Pulse Nightclub Monday, June 20, 2016, investigating the mass shooting scene in Orlando. Federal investigators promised to provide more insight as to what was happening inside the Pulse nightclub after a gunman started a deadly assault that was the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel via AP)

Authorities released a more complete transcript Monday afternoon, saying their earlier decision to withhold the names caused an unnecessary distraction.

The transcript now includes Mateen's name and confirms he pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State, during phone conversations with crisis negotiators.

A statement from the Justice Department says the names were initially omitted so as not to give extremists a publicity platform for hateful propaganda. But the FBI had previously said Mateen pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and other organizations.

___

2:05 p.m.

Orlando's police chief won't answer questions about whether fire from any officers hit club-goers in the Orlando massacre, but he says that if that happened, gunman Omar Mateen is still responsible for those deaths.

Chief John Mina wouldn't give specifics when asked about the issue during a Monday news conference. But he said: "Here's what I will tell you. Those killings are on the suspect, on the suspect alone in my mind."

He says the matter is part of the ongoing investigation. He has stressed that the police department responded as it was trained to do and that officers "acted heroically" in responding to the June 12 shooting that left 49 victims and the shooter dead.

___

12:30 p.m.

The county medical examiner has released the body of the gunman in the Orlando nightclub massacre.

County officials said Monday that the medical examiner was no longer in possession of 29-year-old Omar Mateen's body.

They refused to give further details, including the identity of the person who claimed the body or when it body was released. Officials also refused to make public his autopsy report.

The medical examiner previously had said his office kept Mateen's body separate from the 49 victims who died at the gay nightclub.

___

12:20 p.m.

City officials have refused to provide hundreds of 911 calls from the Orlando nightclub massacre to The Associated Press and a coalition of news organizations, citing confidentiality under Florida law and arguing that an ongoing investigation kept the tapes secret.

The AP and others requested the 911 tapes and related data, a common practice after such major events. The recordings could offer insight into how law enforcement responded to the worst shooting in modern U.S. history.

Gunman Omar Mateen opened fire at the nightclub early June 12. Forty-nine victims were killed; Mateen also died. The FBI on Monday released a partial, redacted transcript of three 911 calls.

Ron Hopper of the FBI said officials won't "propagate violent rhetoric" by giving full transcripts.

He also said: "We will not be releasing the 911 calls made by the victims. We are doing this out of respect. Yes, the audio was compelling, but to expose that now would be excruciatingly painful to exploit them in this way."

___

12:05 p.m.

House Speaker Paul Ryan is criticizing the FBI for releasing a partial transcript of Orlando gunman Omar Mateen's conversation with a 911 dispatcher, calling it "preposterous."

The Wisconsin Republican called on the Obama administration to release the full, transcript with no redactions "so the public is clear-eyed about who did this, and why."

Ryan said in a statement Monday: "We know the shooter was a radical Islamist extremist inspired by ISIS. We also know he intentionally targeted the LGBT community."

___

11:50 a.m.

Police say that during a three-hour period after officers arrived on the scene of the Orlando nightclub shooting, no shots were fired.

Officials spoke Monday morning at a news conference about the June 12 massacre that left 49 victims dead. Orlando police Chief John Mina said that officers saved many lives when they arrived within minutes, shortly after gunman Omar Mateen began shooting about 2 a.m.

Mina says Mateen exchanged shots with police who first arrived at the scene, then retreated inside and barricaded himself in a bathroom, where witnesses have described club-goers being shot.

Mina says no other shots were fired until SWAT burst in to rescue hostages around 5:15 a.m.

The standoff ended with Mateen also dead.

Mina says, "There was no shooting for that three-hour period."

___

11:25 a.m.

Orlando's police chief says officers were on the scene of the massacre at a gay nightclub within minutes and saved many lives.

Chief John Mina said at a Monday news conference that the timeline clearly shows officers' arrival. He says officers' initial entry caused gunman Omar Mateen to stop shooting. Mina also emphasized that the incident started as an active shooter situation.

Mina said of Mateen: "There was never a concern that he was going to get away. We were going to take him into custody."

Mina also stressed that the investigation is continuing.

He says officials have conducted over 500 interviews and have more than 600 pieces of evidence from the crime scene at club Pulse. He says they're nearly done processing the scene.

Mina also noted that the department is now also concentrating on providing security at vigils and other events.

___

11:10 a.m.

The FBI says that the Orlando nightclub shooter was not directed by a foreign terror group, but was radicalized domestically.

At a news conference Monday morning, Ron Hopper of the FBI also said that in 911 calls, shooter Omar Mateen described his actions to an operator in a "chilling, calm and deliberate manner."

Hopper says that the investigation is continuing. Transcripts released Monday show that Mateen told a crisis negotiator that the U.S. needed to stop bombing Iraq and Syria.

Hopper say Mateen identified himself as an Islamic solider who pledged allegiance to a group bent on killing Americans.

Officials said at the news conference that the investigation into the June 12 shooting that left 49 victims dead is continuing.

___

10:50 a.m.

Newly released transcripts show Orlando gunman Omar Mateen spoke in Arabic to a 911 dispatcher and told a crisis negotiator that the U.S. needed to stop bombing Iraq and Syria.

The FBI released partial transcripts Monday of three 911 calls as it prepared to give additional details about its investigation into the massacre at the Pulse nightclub, which left 49 victims dead. Mateen also died.

Mateen spoke three times with an emergency dispatcher once the massacre was underway.

The FBI says Mateen identified himself as an Islamic soldier. He also claimed to be equipped with bombs in a vehicle outside, though authorities say they've found no evidence of explosives.

He said to a 911 operator, "I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings."

The communications, along with Facebook posts and searches made before and during the shooting, add to the public understanding of the final hours of Mateen's life.

___

10 a.m.

Orlando officials say an assistance center set up to help the survivors and families of victims from the Pulse nightclub shooting has served more than 600 individuals.

City officials say that starting Monday an agency will be at the assistance center to help survivors and victims' family members apply for unemployment benefits from the state.

That's in addition to almost three dozen agencies set up at the Camping World Stadium to help survivors and families with short- and long-term needs.

A gunman fatally shot 49 patrons and injured another 53 individuals more than a week ago at the Orlando gay nightclub.

The assistance center is open this week through Wednesday.

___

8:55 a.m.

The FBI is holding a late morning news briefing to provide an update on the massacre at the gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando.

An FBI spokesman says agents on Monday will offer further details about the massacre that killed 49 people and wounded another 53 people, making it the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

The details include the release of a partial transcript of communications between gunman Omar Mateen and Orlando police negotiators in the early morning hours of June 12.

The briefing is taking place just a few blocks from the nightclub.

___

8:55 a.m.

Hospital officials say four people remain in critical condition more than a week after they were wounded in the attack at an Orlando nightclub.

Orlando Regional Medical Center says 18 victims from the Pulse nightclub shooting are still at the hospital and three more surgeries are scheduled for Monday. The other 14 patients are listed in stable condition.

Since the shooting, surgeons have performed 54 surgeries on the victims. The hospital treated 44 people after the June 12 shooting at the gay nightclub in Orlando. Nine patients died and 17 have been released.

The attack left 50 people dead, including the shooter, and is the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

___

3:25 a.m.

Federal investigators promised to provide more insight as to what was happening inside the Pulse nightclub after a gunman started a deadly assault that was the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch says the FBI is releasing Monday a printed, partial transcript of the conversations between the gunman within the Pulse gay nightclub and Orlando police negotiators.

The release is coming a day after tens of thousands of people held a candlelight vigil in the heart of downtown Orlando for the 49 victims who died in the massacre. The victims also were remembered at church services and at makeshift memorials throughout Orlando.

Armed with a semi-automatic weapon, Omar Mateen went on a bloody rampage at the club June 12 that left 49 people dead and 53 others hurt. Mateen died in a hail of police gunfire.

Orlando Police Chief John Mina, left, answers question during a news conference with Ronald Hopper, FBI assistant special agent in charge, center, and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, right, as he gives updates about the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub, Monday, June 20, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Ronald Hopper, FBI assistant special agent in charge, right, speaks during a news conference with updates about the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub, Monday, June 20, 2016, in Orlando, Fla. Orlando gunman Omar Mateen identified himself as an Islamic soldier in calls with authorities during his rampage and demanded to a crisis negotiator that the U.S. "stop bombing Syria and Iraq," according to transcripts released by the FBI on Monday. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

People hold candles at a candlelight vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, as they gather at Lake Eola Park in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 19, 2016. (Craig Rubadoux/Florida Today via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

People attend a Pulse nightclub shooting vigil by Lake Eola in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 19, 2016. Tens of thousands of people in central Florida held up candles around the lake in the heart of downtown Orlando as the names were recited of each of the victims who died from the Pulse massacre just a week ago. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

People hold candles at a candlelight vigil for the victims of the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, as they gather at Lake Eola Park in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 19, 2016. (Craig Rubadoux/Florida Today via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub line the shore of Lake Eola Park during a vigil, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub attend a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub attend a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub attend a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub attend a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

A supporter of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub holds up a candle at a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub attend a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

People attend a Pulse nightclub shooting vigil by Lake Eola in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 19, 2016. Tens of thousands of people in central Florida held up candles around the lake in the heart of downtown Orlando as the names were recited of each of the victims who died from the Pulse massacre just a week ago. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

People attend a Pulse nightclub shooting vigil by Lake Eola in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 19, 2016. Tens of thousands of people in central Florida held up candles around the lake in the heart of downtown Orlando as the names were recited of each of the victims who died from the Pulse massacre just a week ago. (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Samantha Sharrah and her sister Shauna Noumi,16, comfort each other at the Orlando Vigil, in honor of the of the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting on June 12, 2016, held at the Freedom Fountain in downtown Jacksonville, N.C., on Sunday, June 19, 2016. (Elizabeth Horn/The Jacksonville Daily News via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Samantha Sharrah and her sister Shauna Noumi,16, and Sadie Kochick along with other members of the community come out to the Orlando Vigil, in honor of the of the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting on June 12, 2016, held at the Freedom Fountain on Sunday, June 19, 2016. Jacksonville, N.C. (Elizabeth Horn/The Jacksonville Daily News via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub attend a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. Tens of thousands of people attended the vigil. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
PICTURED: Editor selections from the past week in Asia

Bangladesh detained thousands in a crackdown on extremists, but the action drew widespread criticism because most detainees were accused only of petty crimes.

In other photos from around Asia last week, an 11-year-old Bangladeshi boy worked at a metal factory on World Day Against Child Labor. Indian Muslim students, meanwhile, practiced yoga ahead of International Yoga Day.

A motorist pushed his car through a flooded area as days of torrential rain in southern China killed dozens of people and displaced tens of thousands of residents.

FILE- In this June 13, 2016, file photo, Bangladeshi men detained as part of a crackdown on extremists look out from a prison van outside a court building in Dhaka, Bangladesh. A crackdown on Islamist militants and crime in Bangladesh has drawn international criticism after thousands accused of petty crimes were jailed. Rights groups and analysts say the government may be trying to prove too much, too fast, in its fight against violent Islamists, while the opposition accuses it of staging the law enforcement raids to stomp out political dissent. (AP Photo, File)

Some Filipinos got a taste of the war against crime that President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to wage when police rounded up children and drunk, shirtless men roaming metro Manila.

Holding up glow sticks in Singapore, people paid tribute to the victims of the mass shooting last week at a gay club in Orlando, Florida.

And in Beijing, a police officer directed traffic in the rain as dignitary's motorcade sped past.

___

This gallery was curated by Associated Press photo editor Karly Domb Sadoff in Bangkok.

FILE - In this Sunday, June 12, 2016, file photo, Imran, 11, works at a factory that makes metal utensils in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The World Day Against Child Labor, which was initiated in 2002 by the International Labor Organization to highlight the plight of child laborers, is observed across the world on June 12. (AP Photo/A.M. Ahad, File)

FILE - In this Tuesday, June 16, 2016, file photo, Mohammed Rana embroiders a dress to be sold ahead of Eid al-Fitr, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Muslims all over the world buy new clothes or try to wear the best that they have to celebrate Eid al-Fitr. (AP Photo/A.M. Ahad. File)

FILE - In this Wednesday, June 15, 2016, file photo, Indian Muslim students practice yoga ahead of International Yoga Day celebrations, at a school in Ahmadabad, India. The second International Yoga Day will be celebrated on June 21, 2016, when thousands of people across the country will join Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading a yoga session in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki, File)

FILE - In this , Friday, June 17, 2016, file photo, muslims pray on the second Friday of the holy month of Ramadan in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Observant Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk for the entire month of Ramadan. (AP Photo/ A.M. Ahad, File)

FILE - In this June 15, 2016 file photo, a motorist pushes his car through a flooded section of roadway in Jiujiang in southern China's Jiangxi province. A week of torrential rain in southern China has killed dozens of people and displaced tens of thousands of residents, including many in China's poor, remote regions. (Chinatopix via AP) CHINA OUT

FILE - In this Wednesday June 8, 2016 file photo, a Filipino man is apprehended by police for being shirtless during an operation in Manila, Philippines. In a crackdown, dubbed Oplan Rody," bearing Dutertes name, police rounded up hundreds of children or their parents to enforce a night curfew for minors, and take away drunk and shirtless men roaming metropolitan Manila's slums. The poor, who were among Dutertes strongest supporters, are getting a foretaste of the war against crime he has vowed to wage. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

FILE - People raise glow sticks, since open flames are banned in Singapore parks, as they gather for a vigil in remembrance of the Orlando shooting victims on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, in Singapore. The mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando, Florida, has galvanized LGBT people in Singapore, where a vigil was held Tuesday to express solidarity with the victims. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

FILE - The facade of the Uptown Mall is lit with rainbow colors to pay tribute to the victims of the Orlando, Fla. mass shooting Thursday, June 16, 2016 at the upscale Bonifacio Global City in Taguig east of Manila, Philippines Thursday, June 16, 2016. A gunman, later identified as Omar Mateen, opened fire inside a crowded gay nightclub early Sunday in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

FILE - Camels are led along Bondi Beach as part of Bondi Winter Magic Festival in Sydney, Australia, Sunday, June 19, 2016. The festival runs from June 19 until July 31. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Supreme Court rejects apartheid victims' appeal

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from victims of apartheid in South Africa who wanted to sue IBM Corp. and Ford Motor Co. in American courts.

The justices did not comment on their order Monday that left in place lower court rulings dismissing lawsuits filed 14 years ago against Armonk, New York-based IBM and Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford.

The high court had earlier limited circumstances in which foreigners could seek to hold companies accountable in U.S. courts for their participation in or complicity with human rights abuses abroad.

The federal appeals court in New York said IBM and Ford could not be held liable for the actions of their South African subsidiaries during the apartheid regime.
The Latest: Belgium: 6 detained over foiled train attack

BRUSSELS (AP)  The Latest on the security situation in Belgium and arrests made (all times local):

3:30 p.m.

Belgian authorities have detained six people in connection with last year's foiled attack on a Thalys express train to France.

Two Belgian soldiers patrol at Brussels Central train station in Brussels on Sunday, June 19, 2016. The Belgian security level stays at level 3 after the Belgian federal prosecutor's office said early Saturday that homes and car ports were searched in 16 municipalities, mostly in and around Brussels in an anti-terror sweep. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

The Federal Prosecutor's Office says six houses in the greater Brussels area were also searched in the Monday operation.

It says six people have been taken in for questioning and that an investigating judge would decide later Monday whether they should be kept in detention.

No arms or explosives were found.

The prosecutor's office says no further information will be made public about those detained or items seized in the searches.

___

9:30 a.m.

Brussels remains on high alert with increased security after a weekend sweep which left three in jail facing terrorism charges.

The MIVB metro system says a half dozen subway stations have reduced entry on request from authorities but all subway lines were running during the morning rush hour Monday.

On Saturday, authorities charged three men with terror-related crimes after weekend raids and the detention of 40 people in a major investigation. Authorities said the probe required "immediate intervention" because they feared a new attack was close.

Prime Minister Charles Michel said the nation would remain "extremely vigilant, hour by hour," and that the terror level across the country would remain at the second-highest level, meaning a threat of an attack "is possible and likely."

Two Belgian soldiers walk by a couple in a cafe as they patrol at Brussels Central train station in Brussels on Sunday, June 19, 2016. The Belgian security level stays at level 3 after the Belgian federal prosecutor's office said early Saturday that homes and car ports were searched in 16 municipalities, mostly in and around Brussels in an anti-terror sweep. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Belgian police help a group of tourists as they patrol in the historic Grand Place in Brussels on Sunday, June 19, 2016. The Belgian security level stays at level 3 after the Belgian federal prosecutor's office said early Saturday that homes and car ports were searched in 16 municipalities, mostly in and around Brussels in an anti-terror sweep. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Two small dogs wearing dog coats with Police written on them, are held on a leash by a visitor to the historic Grand Place in Brussels on Sunday, June 19, 2016. The Belgian security level stays at level 3 after the Belgian federal prosecutor's office said early Saturday that homes and car ports were searched in 16 municipalities, mostly in and around Brussels in an anti-terror sweep. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

Two small dogs wearing dog coats with Police written on them, are held on a leash by a visitor to the historic Grand Place in Brussels on Sunday, June 19, 2016. The Belgian security level stays at level 3 after the Belgian federal prosecutor's office said early Saturday that homes and car ports were searched in 16 municipalities, mostly in and around Brussels in an anti-terror sweep. (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)
Former Volkswagen CEO investigated over emissions scandal

BERLIN (AP)  German prosecutors are investigating former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn and another unnamed executive over allegations they didn't inform investors soon enough about the company's scandal over cars rigged to cheat on U.S. diesel emissions tests.

The Braunschweig prosecutor's spokesman, Matthias Diekman, said in a statement Monday that the probe was opened at the behest of Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, the country's financial watchdog.

German stock market law requires publicly traded companies to alert investors as soon as they have unforeseen developments that could affect a decision to buy or sell the stock. Prosecutors said that Volkswagen only made that notification on Sept. 22, and that there was evidence that the disclosure obligation should have been fulfilled earlier.

FILE In this May 13, 2014 file picture then Volkswagen CEO , Martin Winterkorn, stands next to a VW car at the annual shareholder meeting in Hannover, Germany. German prosecutors said Monday June 20, 2016 they have opened an investigation of former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn on allegations of market manipulation in connection with the company's scandal over cars rigged to cheat on U.S. diesel emissions tests. ( Julian Stratenschulte/dpa via AP,file)

Volkswagen said it had the issue reviewed by outside lawyers who found "no clear or serious violations of duty" and that the prosecutor's statement contained "no new facts or findings over possible violations" by the two executives. The company had already said in response to an investor lawsuit that it met its disclosure obligation.

The company said the review showed no reason not to recommend that shareholders vote to approve management's work for 2015 at the annual meeting on Wednesday.

Volkswagen has said Winterkorn was sent a memo on May 23, 2014, about emissions irregularities uncovered by an environmental group, but the company was not sure he saw it, and said that top officials discussed the matter on July 27, 2015.

The company said earlier that the issue was believed to be something that could be resolved through a settlement that would not impose heavy costs, and it still believed that to be the case in early September 2015.

On September 18, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a violation notice, leading Volkswagen to assess the risks as more serious and issue its investor advisory four days later.

The prosecutors' news release said that the second employee is not the current board of directors' chairman, Hans Dieter Poetsch. Poetsch was chief financial officer under Winterkorn but has since left that post.

Winterkorn stepped down as the scandal came to light, saying he was doing so "in the interests of the company even though I am not aware of any wrongdoing on my part."

Volkswagen has admitted equipping cars with software that sensed when the car was on a test stand and turned off emission controls during everyday driving. The company has apologized and commissioned a law firm to investigate. It is negotiating a settlement with U.S. authorities in federal court in San Francisco on how it would fix or buy back some 500,000 diesels sold in the United States. Some 11 million such cars were sold worldwide.

Volkswagen has set aside 16.2 billion euros ($18.3 billion) from last year's earnings to deal with the costs of recalls and fixes.

FILE - In this June 24, 2015 file picture then Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn arrives for a state dinner at Germany's President Joachim Gauck's residence, Bellevue Palace, in Berlin. German prosecutors said Monday June 20, 2016 they have opened an investigation of former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn on allegations of market manipulation in connection with the company's scandal over cars rigged to cheat on U.S. diesel emissions tests. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber.File)
Iraqi forces battle IS in Fallujah days after city's fall

BAGHDAD (AP)  Iraqi forces battled Islamic State militants in pockets of Fallujah on Monday, days after the government declared the city's liberation.

Iraqi special forces say they are closing in on the remaining IS strongholds but that their progress has been slowed by snipers hiding in residential buildings. Brig. Gen. Haider al-Obeidi, of the special forces, told The Associated Press he hopes to clear IS out of Fallujah completely "in the coming few days."

IS militants still control the northern Golan neighborhood as well as other scattered pockets, where they are largely surrounded. Al-Obeidi says Iraqi fighters who know the terrain and can blend in with local residents have largely melted away, leaving behind foreign fighters who have little choice but to fight to the death.

In this image taken by an Iraqi Counterterrorism Service photographer on Sunday, June 19, 2016, medics treat a boy who escaped Islamic State militants in Fallujah, Iraq. Thousands of civilians are fleeing Fallujah after the city was declared liberated from the Islamic State group, the United Nations said, while an Iraqi commander reported fierce clashes as elite counterterrorism forces pushed to clear out the remaining militants.(Iraq Counterterrorism Service via AP)

"The Iraqis, they know how to escape, but for the foreigners, they can only surrender or die," al-Obeidi said.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory in Fallujah on Friday after special forces entered the city center, capturing government buildings and the central hospital following weeks of fighting. Iraqi commanders said 80 percent of the city was under their control, though clashes were still underway.

Fallujah, which is less than an hour's drive from Baghdad, was the first Iraqi city to fall to IS, in January 2014. At the height of the group's power it controlled a third of Iraq, but now the government says it only holds 14 percent of the country's territory. That includes Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, which fell to IS in the summer of 2014.

Iraqi forces in Fallujah were aided by the U.S.-led coalition, which launched 17 airstrikes in and around the city over the past week. The Pentagon says those strikes destroyed dozens of IS fighting positions, weapons and vehicles.

The operation inside the city was carried out by the Iraqi army, regional and federal police, and special anti-terrorism units. Shiite militias, known as the Popular Mobilization Force, remained outside Fallujah and have not taken part in the recent battles.

More than 14,000 families have fled Fallujah and surrounding areas since the operation to retake the city began in late May, including nearly 10,000 families in just the last four days, according to the United Nations.

The exodus has overwhelmed camps for the displaced run by the government and aid groups. The U.N. has released $15 million in emergency aid to provide life-saving assistance to those who have fled the recent fighting in Fallujah.

U.N. humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien said "people escaping Fallujah are in desperate need of assistance" and need urgent help "before this situation becomes a humanitarian catastrophe."

The conflict with IS, which also controls large parts of neighboring Syria, has forced more than 3.4 million Iraqis to flee their homes. More than 40 percent of the displaced are from Anbar province, according to the U.N.

___

Associated Press writer Sinan Salaheddin in Baghdad contributed to this report.

In this image taken by an Iraqi Counterterrorism Service photographer on Sunday, June 19, 2016, the national flag flies over a minaret in Fallujah, Iraq after forces re-took the city center after two years of Islamic State control. Thousands of civilians are fleeing Fallujah after the city was declared liberated from the Islamic State group, the United Nations said, while an Iraqi commander reported fierce clashes as elite counterterrorism forces pushed to clear out the remaining militants. (Iraq Counterterrorism Service via AP)

In this image taken by an Iraqi Counterterrorism Service photographer on Sunday, June 19, 2016 shows a mosque in Fallujah, Iraq after Iraqi troops regained control of the city after two years of Islamic State militant control. Thousands of civilians are fleeing Fallujah after the city was declared liberated from the Islamic State group, the United Nations said, while an Iraqi commander reported fierce clashes as elite counterterrorism forces pushed to clear out the remaining militants.(Iraq Counterterrorism Service via AP)

In this image taken by an Iraqi Counterterrorism Service photographer on Sunday, June 19, 2016, the national flag flies Fallujah, Iraq after forces re-took the city center after two years of Islamic State control.

In this image taken by an Iraqi Counterterrorism Service photographer on Sunday, June 19, 2016, soldiers pose with an Islamic State militant flag in Fallujah, Iraq after forces re-took the city center after two years of IS control. Thousands of civilians are fleeing Fallujah after the city was declared liberated from the Islamic State group, the United Nations said, while an Iraqi commander reported fierce clashes as elite counterterrorism forces pushed to clear out the remaining militants. (Iraq Counterterrorism Service via AP)

In this image taken by an Iraqi Counterterrorism Service photographer on Sunday, June 19, 2016, an officer stands inside an Islamic State militant weapons facility in Fallujah, Iraq after forces re-took the city center after two years of IS control. Thousands of civilians are fleeing Fallujah after the city was declared liberated from the Islamic State group, the United Nations said, while an Iraqi commander reported fierce clashes as elite counterterrorism forces pushed to clear out the remaining militants. (Iraq Counterterrorism Service via AP)
EU boosts naval mission to aid Libya with migrants, arms

LUXEMBOURG (AP)  The European Union boosted the role of its naval operation in the Mediterranean Monday as increasing numbers of desperate migrants flee Libya in unseaworthy boats.

EU foreign ministers agreed at talks in Luxembourg to extend Operation Sophia by a year to July 2017 and tasked it with building up Libya's coast guard and navy. The operation will also help to police a U.N. arms embargo off the Libya coast.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault welcomed the move.

From left, Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders, British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond, European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini and Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders wait for the start of a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the EU Council building in Luxembourg, on Monday, June 20, 2016. EU foreign ministers meet Monday to discuss, among other issues, the situation in Libya. (AP Photo/Charles Caratini)

"We have to act against all those who exploit the migrants  the smugglers that earn plenty of money with their boats and who exploit misery. There are so many sinkings and tragedies. And then there is the fight against the arms trafficking that benefits Daesh," he told reporters, using an alternative name for the Islamic State group.

The EU wants to move the operation into Libyan waters, and longer-term on land, to thwart migrant smugglers. But divisions in Libya have delayed the broad recognition of a national unity government that would approve the move.

The West hopes Libya's new government will be able to unify the country and help combat the Islamic State affiliate there.

Libya descended into chaos after the 2011 death of leader Moammar Gadhafi, with IS-linked militants gaining strength as two rival governments grappled for control. One, based in Tripoli, was backed by Islamist militias, while another in eastern Libya was internationally recognized.

The coast guard move comes at a time when the Balkan Route for migrants into Europe's heartland has been largely closed and crossings from Libya to Italy, along with the inevitable sinking of unseaworthy boats, are gathering pace again with the warmer weather.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault speaks with the media as he arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the EU Council building in Luxembourg, on Monday, June 20, 2016. EU foreign ministers meet Monday to discuss, among other issues, the situation in Libya. (AP Photo/Charles Caratini)
High court says gov't can prosecute drug robbery

WASHINGTON (AP)  The Supreme Court says the government can prosecute a robbery of drug dealers under federal law without having to show that the drugs were intended for interstate commerce.

The justices on Monday ruled 7-1 to uphold the conviction of David Taylor, a Virginia gang member who robbed two houses in an effort to steal marijuana from dealers.

He was prosecuted under the federal Hobbs Act, which prohibits attempted robbery that affects interstate commerce. Taylor said that the law did not apply because the marijuana was grown only in Virginia.

The Obama administration argued that Congress has authority over all domestic trade in marijuana, including production and distribution that takes places solely in one state.
Deputies say Florida woman shot man who broke into her home

OCALA, Fla. (AP)  Authorities say a Florida woman shot a man after he broke into her home near Ocala.

Marion County Sheriff's Capt. Brian Spivey tells The Ocala Star-Banner (http://bit.ly/28IjJyH ) the woman was alone at her home Sunday night when a man came to the door and tried to persuade her to let him inside.

The woman told investigators she didn't know the man. Spivey says the woman told police she hid when the man forced his way into the home. The man continued to look for her. Spivey says the woman shot him in the stomach.

Spivey says charges are pending against the man, who was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center. He did not know the man's condition or his name. The woman's name was not released.

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Kosovo PM accepts resignation of minister facing probe

PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP)  Kosovo's Prime Minister Isa Mustafa has accepted the resignation of his environment minister, who offered to step down last week after his name appeared on a list of officials being investigated on suspicions of abusing public money.

Ferid Agani was among 64 people, 44 of them doctors, who allegedly used their positions to channel patients to private hospitals in exchange for money. The public officials involved allegedly got kickbacks from the hospitals.

Those involved allegedly gained a total of 4.5 million euros (about $5 million) in the scheme.

Agani denied his guilt as he tendered his resignation.
Gibraltar: a historic port with more to offer than monkeys

GIBRALTAR (AP)  Barbary macaque monkeys are the star attractions in Gibraltar. Still, this historic port town is steeped in military history around the landmark Rock of Gibraltar. The town wears its scars well with plenty to offer visitors who make the trip.

The British territory next to Spain has a striking and unique landscape with sweeping views of Europe and Africa. Its long military history stems from being a strategic point between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The ancient Greeks referred to the Rock as one of the two "Pillars of Hercules."

Britain acquired Gibraltar from Spain in 1704 during the War of Spanish Succession. Spain has persistently sought its return ever since. The territory has lately been in the news: On June 16, British Prime Minister David Cameron made a brief visit, the first serving British prime minister to step foot in Gibraltar since 1968.

In this May 12, 2016 photo, a Barbary macaque calmly watches tourists from a distance on the Rock of Gibraltar. Barbary macaque monkeys are the star attractions in Gibraltar. Still, this historic port town is steeped in military history around the landmark Rock of Gibraltar. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)

Here are some highlights to take in during a visit.

___

BARBARY MACAQUES

Europe's only free-ranging monkeys are sure to enliven an afternoon enjoying the views from its famous Rock. While some regard tourists calmly, others can be astute opportunists  eager to pounce and snatch items out of hands and bags. They were known as Barbary apes, but they are actually tailless monkeys. They are now found on Gibraltar and in Morocco and parts of Algeria, a region once known as the Barbary Coast. Visitors can reach them by a cable car up to the Rock, which includes a stop at the Apes' Den. They have lived in Gibraltar since the British first captured the Rock in 1704 and have remained through many sieges. Folklore says the British will leave the Rock only when the monkeys do. During World War II, Winston Churchill ordered that their numbers not drop below 24. Warning: They have long canine teeth and can bite if disturbed.

___

THE TUNNELS

Gibraltar features a labyrinth of tunnels more than 32 miles long that were built for military purposes. Some were dug by hand and gunpowder blasts during The Great Siege between 1779 and 1783, when France and Spain tried to recapture the Rock from the British during the American Revolutionary War. They were built to get guns to cover a vulnerable spot off the northern face of the Rock of Gibraltar. Visitors can walk in the tunnels, which have cannons pointing out of openings in the rock. During World War II, the British added on to the Great Siege Tunnels out of concern Gibraltar would be attacked. These tunnels were built between 1939 and 1944 by the Royal Engineers. Tours are available.

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THE MOORS

The Moors occupied Gibraltar between 711 and 1309 and between 1350 and 1462. The Tower of Homage remains from an original castle complex that once stretched to the sea. The structure's outside walls bear the scars of conflicts during the many sieges on the peninsula. The Gibraltar Museum, which provides a historical overview of the town, includes well-preserved Moorish baths in the museum basement. The baths were built in the 14th century.

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ST. MICHAEL'S CAVE

Gibraltar is home to a network of limestone caves in the town's Upper Rock Nature Reserve. It's used for concerts and plays.

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ROCK HISTORY

Beatle John Lennon married Yoko Ono at The Rock Hotel in Gibraltar in 1969. The line from "The Ballad of John and Yoko" goes, "You can get married in Gibraltar near Spain."

___

GETTING THERE AND GETTING AROUND

Gibraltar gets a number of visitors on port calls from cruise ships. You can also fly directly to Gibraltar from various British airports, or walk or drive across the border from Spain. Malaga, Spain, is about 140 kilometers (about 85 miles) away.

Most visitors get their sightseeing done on foot but there are taxis.

In this May 12, 2106 photo, the Union Jack flies over The Tower of Homage in Gibraltar. The tower is a leftover from when the Moors occupied Gibraltar between 711 and 1309 and again between 1350 and 1462. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)

This May 12, 2016 photo shows a Barbary macaque as it pauses, lower right, with the Rock of Gibraltar looming in the background on in Gibraltar. Barbary macaque monkeys are the star attractions in Gibraltar. Still, this historic port town is steeped in military history around the landmark Rock of Gibraltar. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)

In this May 12, 2016 photo, a Barbary macaque swoops in on an unsuspecting visitor to have a look through her bag in the Rock of Gibraltar cable car station on in Gibraltar. Barbary macaque monkeys are the star attractions in Gibraltar. Still, this historic port town is steeped in military history around the landmark Rock of Gibraltar. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)

In this May 12, 2016 photo, a cable car brings tourists down from the Rock of Gibraltar in Gibraltar. The British territory next to Spain has a striking and unique landscape with sweeping views of Europe and Africa. (AP Photo/Brian Witte)
Indian tribe vacates statehouse seat it has held since 1800s

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP)  The Penobscot Nation is formally vacating a seat it has held in Maine's Legislature for more than 150 years amid tensions between the state and American Indian tribe.

The tribe will instead select an ambassador to work with state and federal governments. The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/28JlaAH ) reports that the change is a symbolic, historic shift rooted in chilled relations between state officials and Maine's federal recognized tribes.

Tribal leaders say state officials have failed to respect the tribes' sovereignty. They also feel the state has violated the tribes' right to self-government on issues such as fishing and domestic violence prosecutions.
The Latest: Record-setting high temps around California

PHOENIX (AP)  The Latest on the extreme heat baking the Southwest (all times local):

8:00 p.m.

A severe heat wave has set new record highs for several cities in Southern California.

Kara O'Brien and Jeff Mayhew, with the Southern Arizona Rescue Association, return from walking along the Ventana Canyon Trail after searching for a lost hiker in the Santa Catalina Mountains outside Tucson, Ariz., Monday, June 20, 2016. On Sunday three European men went hiking in the Ventana Canyon area of the Santa Catalina Mountains. One died, one is missing and the other is hospitalized, authorities said. (A.E. Araiza/Arizona Daily Star via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

The National Weather Service says the thermometer hit 112 degrees in Lancaster, breaking the old record of 110 degrees set for the same day in 1961.

The service says a record high temperature was set at the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank with 111 degrees. That breaks the old record of 106 degrees set for this date in 2008.

Forecasters expect Monday to be the peak of the heat wave.

Officials say about 20,000 customers were without electricity when outages were at their worst Monday.

___

6:45 p.m.

Arizona cities saw more record-setting high temperatures, including the hottest day on record in Prescott.

The National Weather Service says Monday's mark of 105 degrees in Prescott was the highest recorded in the city's history.

Weather records go back as far as 1898.

Phoenix hit 116 degrees Monday, topping the previous record for June 20 of 115, set in 1968.

It was 112 degrees in Tucson, two degrees hotter than the mark set in 2005 for that date.

Portions of Arizona and southeast California are getting scorched by a high pressure ridge lifting out of Mexico.

___

5:50 p.m.

Authorities say a man who died and another who is missing after going for a hike in Arizona were from Germany and were in the state for a conference at a resort.

The men were in a group of three who went hiking Sunday on a trail outside the Tucson resort. One of the men is recovering, while 57-year-old Stefan Guenster was found dead.

The third man, 33-year-old Marcus Turowski, was still missing Monday.

Authorities didn't release their hometowns.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department says it likely would end its search at sundown Monday and resume Tuesday.

Tucson hit a record high of 115 degrees Sunday as a heatwave took over parts of the Southwest.

___

5:05 p.m.

Las Vegas has sizzled to 115 degrees and topped a record high temperature of 113 for the date set just a year ago.

National Weather Service meteorologist Nathan Foster said Monday it's possible Sin City could reach another record Tuesday, when the predicted high of 113 would eclipse the record 111 in 1954.

Summer arrived Monday amid an excessive heat warning through Wednesday in southern Nevada, northwest Arizona and much of Southern California.

Foster says Las Vegas temperatures will ease through the week to a predicted 107 on Saturday.

Clark County officials have opened several recreation centers and other public buildings as air-conditioned cooling stations for people to beat the heat.

___

4:30 p.m.

Authorities say another woman has died as a result of the heatwave in the Southwest.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department said Monday a 54-year-old woman died on Sunday night in Tucson walking along a loop trail. It brought the death toll to five in Arizona, where temperatures have exceeded 114 degrees.

The Pima County Sheriff's Department reported three heat deaths on Sunday.

In addition, a Phoenix man hiking in the Superstition Mountains died from exposure to extreme heat. Pinal County Sheriff's officials say 25-year-old Anthony Quatela III and a male friend ran out of water.

A 28-year-old woman who was mountain biking with two friends also died after running out of water and struggling to breath. Fire officials say the personal trainer was taken to a hospital, where she later died.

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2 p.m.

Southern California is in the grip of a severe heat wave that has sent temperatures surging.

Numerous places across Los Angeles and neighboring counties passed 100 degrees well before noon Monday. The National Weather Service says the thermometer hit 121 degrees in Palm Springs by 1 p.m.

Forecasters expect Monday to be the peak of the heat wave.

The state's power grid operator has called on residents to conserve electricity to avoid outages.

___

9:40 a.m.

Southern California is in for another day of dangerously high temperatures resulting from high pressure over the Four Corners region of the Southwest.

Forecasters say Monday will be the peak of the heat wave, with highs in the lower deserts to be near 120 degrees.

The National Weather Service reported 17 daily heat records broken on Sunday, most of them for readings well over 100 degrees.

The aptly named desert town of Thermal about 25 miles southeast of Palm Springs topped the list with a high of 119 degrees.

The Woodland Hills area of Los Angeles was 109, tying the record set in 2008. Burbank was a record 109, breaking the old mark of 104.

The temperature reached 96 in downtown Los Angeles.

___

9:20 a.m.

Two deaths related to extreme heat are being reported by search and rescue crews in southern Arizona.

Pima County sheriff's Deputy Ryan Inglett on Monday confirmed the deaths of hikers in two separate incidents the previous day.

A 18-year-old woman suffering from heat-related illness died northeast of Tucson. The sheriff's department says she and a companion had run out of drinking water.

On Sunday afternoon, search crews responded to a report of dehydrated hikers and found one man dead on another trail in the same area. Another hiker from that party is missing.

This item has been corrected to show the victim's age was 18, not 19. The original information was provided by the sheriff's department.

___

8:40 a.m.

Extreme heat forced a Phoenix-bound flight to return to Houston.

United Airlines says the hot weather led the plane to return to Texas on Sunday evening and that passengers will be accommodated with an added flight Monday morning.

The National Weather Service says the mercury hit 118 on Sunday, breaking a record of 115 set nearly 50 years ago.

Forecasters expect the same excessively high temperatures Monday in portions of Arizona and southeast California.

___

7:55 a.m.

The National Weather Service is expecting another day of triple-digit temperatures in Phoenix and across much of the Southwest.

National Weather Service meteorologist Biana Hernandez said Monday that temperatures in Phoenix are expected to peak at between 115 and 120 degrees, with the highest regional temperatures anticipated in Southern California.

The agency issued excessive heat warnings for Tucson and Yuma as well as recreation spots such as the Grand Canyon and Lake Havasu.

On Sunday, the mercury ascended to 118, breaking a record of 115 set nearly 50 years ago. Portions of Arizona and southeast California are getting scorched by a high pressure ridge lifting out of Mexico. The heat played a role in the deaths of mountain biker in Phoenix and a hiker in Pinal County over the weekend.

Jeff Mayhew, right, with the Southern Arizona Rescue Association, gets his vitals checked by members of Rural/ Metro Fire Dept., north of Tucson, Ariz., Monday, June 20, 2016. Mayhew returned from the search for a missing hiker in the Ventana Canyon area. Several hikers have died over the weekend from heat-related problems. On Sunday three Germany men went hiking in the Ventana Canyon area of the Santa Catalina Mountains. One died, one is missing and the other is hospitalized, authorities said. (A.E. Araiza/Arizona Daily Star via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Michael Martinez drinks a bottle of water at a Salvation Army hydration station in an effort to beat rising temperatures, expected to reach 115-degrees Monday, June 20, 2016, in Phoenix. The mercury hit 118 in Phoenix on Sunday, breaking a record of 115 set for the date nearly 50 years ago, and forecasters expect more of the same Monday, the National Weather Service said. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Salvation Army volunteer Dyane Welt, left, pulls several bottles of water from an ice cooler to give to Michael Martinez, right, at a hydration station in an effort to beat the rising temperatures expected to hit 115-degrees, Monday, June 20, 2016, in Phoenix. The National Weather Service is expecting another day of triple-digit temperatures in Phoenix and across much of the Southwest, where several spots in Arizona are expected to reach 122-degrees. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Jeff Mayhew, right, with the Southern Arizona Rescue Association, gets his vitals checked by members of Rural/ Metro Fire Dept., north of Tucson, Ariz., Monday, June 20, 2016. Mayhew returned from the search for a missing hiker in the Ventana Canyon area. Several hikers have died over the weekend from heat-related problems. On Sunday three Germany men went hiking in the Ventana Canyon area of the Santa Catalina Mountains. One died, one is missing and the other is hospitalized, authorities said. (A.E. Araiza/Arizona Daily Star via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

With the Phoenix skyline in the background, a passenger plane comes in for a landing through the heat waves as rising temperatures climb to 115-degrees, Monday, June 20, 2016. The National Weather Service is expecting another day of triple-digit temperatures in Phoenix and across much of the Southwest, including temperatures up to 122-degrees in some parts of Arizona. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Alfredo Chavez, 38, hand dries an SUV at his job near downtown Los Angeles, Monday, June 20, 2016. Chavez said the job is much harder when the temperatures reach passed 100 degrees as they did on Monday. (AP Photo/Amanda Lee Myers)
Experimental Zika vaccine to begin human testing

WASHINGTON (AP)  An experimental vaccine for the Zika virus is due to begin human testing in coming weeks, after getting the green light from U.S. health officials.

Inovio Pharmaceuticals said Monday it received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to begin early-stage safety tests of its DNA-based vaccine against the mosquito-borne virus. That puts the company ahead of researchers at the National Institutes of Health, who have said they expect to begin testing their own DNA-based Zika vaccine by early fall.

Inovio's vaccine is intended to prime the immune system to fight Zika by introducing genetically-engineered material that mimics the virus. Inovio reports that animals tested with the vaccine developed antibodies and immune-system cells that attack Zika.

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2016 file photo of aedes aegypti mosquitoes are seen in a mosquito cage at a laboratory in Cucuta, Colombia. An experimental vaccine for the Zika virus is due to begin human testing in coming weeks, after getting the green light from U.S. health officials. Inovio Pharmaceuticals said Monday, June 20, 2016, that it received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to begin early-stage safety tests of its DNA-based vaccine against the mosquito-borne virus.(AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File)

The NIH is working to develop a Zika vaccine by swapping out the genetic material from its experimental West Nile virus vaccine.

Inovio and its partner, GeneOne Life Science, plan to begin a 40-person study to determine the safest dose of the vaccine in coming weeks. Company officials said they expect results from the vaccine study by the end of 2016.

There are currently no licensed drugs or vaccines for Zika.

Ultimately, confirming the safety and effectiveness of any Zika virus will require large studies, and how fast those could be done depends in part on whether Zika still is spreading widely in 2017.

Zika is spread mainly through the bite of a tropical mosquito, Aedes aegypti. It causes only a mild and brief illness, at worst, in most people. But it can cause fetal deaths and severe birth defects in the children of women infected during pregnancy.

Zika has become epidemic in Latin America and the Caribbean since last fall. Officials aren't expecting big outbreaks in the continental U.S., but some cases are likely as temperatures rise and mosquitoes spread.
The Latest: Some New Mexico wildfire evacuees going home

LOS ANGELES (AP)  The Latest on wildfires burning in the West (all times local):

7:30 p.m.

Some residents in central New Mexico who have been forced to evacuate their homes due to a wildfire will be allowed to go back home Tuesday.

Smoke from wildfires rises from a hillside near power lines outside Azusa, Calif., Monday, June 20, 2016. New wildfires erupted Monday in Southern California and chased people from their homes as an intensifying heat wave stretching from the West Coast to New Mexico blistered the region. AP Photo/Nick Ut)

The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department made the announcement Monday evening at a community meeting in Moriarty.

Evacuees living in Torrance County south of La Para also will be able to return home starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday.

County sheriff's deputies, National Guard and state police officers will be stationed along main roads to check people's identification as they return home.

The wildfire that has destroyed two dozen homes as it raced across 28 square miles of tinder-dry forest in the Manzano Mountains south of Albuquerque showed signs of slowing down thanks to more favorable weather Monday.

Gov. Susana Martinez directed the New Mexico National Guard over the weekend to take extra measures to secure the communities against any threats of looting and to prepare for post-fire flooding once summer rains develop.

___

7 p.m.

Authorities plan to slowly lift evacuation orders for a blaze that has been burning for nearly a week in coastal mountains west of Santa Barbara, California.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office says people will be allowed to return to the majority of mandatory evacuation areas, which include mountain homes, ranches and farms, starting at 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Most of the rest, including the popular campground at Refugio State Beach, are tentatively scheduled to be lifted Saturday.

Another popular campground, El Capitan State Beach, will remain closed until mid-July.

The announcements came Monday night after firefighters were able to maintain containment lines around the 12-square-mile blaze despite a day of strong winds and high heat. It is 54 percent contained.

The fire had threatened some 270 homes and other buildings after breaking out on Thursday.

___

6:05 p.m.

Authorities say two new and surging wildfires in the Southern California suburbs are burning away from hundreds of evacuated homes, but a change in winds could bring serious danger.

The first of the fires in the Azusa area was sparked by a fatal car crash. Within a few hours Monday, it had grown to over 2 square miles.

The second fire began burning just a few miles away in the Duarte area, but it's closer to homes than the first. The cause of the second fire is not yet known.

Los Angeles County Deputy Chief John B. Tripp says hundreds of houses were quickly evacuated.

But the blaze started burning away from the foothill houses and into the Angeles National Forest.

Tripp says despite that stroke of luck, nighttime winds pushing the blaze back toward the homes are a strong possibility.

___

4:30 p.m.

Tawni Atencio was on the way to basketball practice with her mother when her stepfather called and told them they had to evacuate their home northeast of Los Angeles because of a wildfire.

The 17-year-old Atencio says her mom turned the car around Monday and drove straight to their home in Bradbury, in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains.

They went back to get family photos, their two dogs, clothes, and their five cars and a boat.

Atencio says the flames were just a couple miles from their home and were making the house hot despite air conditioning.

The teenager says the fire is crazy and scary but also that it was "kind of cool" watching helicopters drop retardant on the blaze.

Atencio says she's at a friend's house in Long Beach, California, while her family finishes evacuating.

She says the family is praying their home stays safe.

___

3 p.m.

Authorities say a wildfire in eastern Arizona that doubled in size to nearly 42 square miles is burning in an area with sparse vegetation.

Navajo County spokesman Adam Wolfe said Monday afternoon that 300 residents of the community of Cedar Creek have been warned to prepare to leave. He says the southern edge of the fire is still about 2 miles north of the community.

Multiagency operations chief Todd Abel says the fire isn't moving quickly toward Cedar Creek because of shifting winds.

Some 770 firefighters are fighting the fire along with 37 engines, seven bulldozers, 11 water tenders, seven helicopters and four single-engine air tankers. Fire officials say additional resources have been ordered.

The fire began Wednesday and its cause is under investigation.

___

2:45 p.m.

A few dozen firefighters are battling a blaze that ignited in the heart of a popular recreation area in northern New Mexico.

The fire has charred just a few acres, but officials with the Santa Fe National Forest are considering some youth camps and campgrounds threatened. They are the Battleship Rock campground and picnic area, Jemez Falls campground, Hummingbird Music Camp and YMCA Camp Shaver.

Both camps posted social media updates saying the facilities were fine and there was no immediate threat.

The fire was human-caused, and there was no containment as of Monday afternoon.

It was first spotted Sunday, and officials said the potential for it to grow was high given heavy fuels in the area. Officials say the fire is burning in steep terrain that's difficult to access.

___

1:15 p.m.

Two fires have erupted in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles amid withering heat.

The first fire reported Monday was near Morris Reservoir north of suburban Azusa. Angeles National Forest spokesman Nathan Judy says it has spread over 200 acres.

Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Gustavo Medina says the other fire was reported near the city of Duarte.

That fire has quickly spread over 100 acres, but no structures are threatened and there are no evacuations.

Officials say the second blaze was not caused by the first fire because the distance is too great.

Air tankers and helicopters are battling both fires, which are sending towering columns of smoke into the sky.

Temperatures at many locations across the region soared above 100 degrees by midmorning.

___

12:20 p.m.

A forest fire has erupted in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles amid withering heat.

The fire was reported about 11 a.m. Monday near Morris Reservoir north of suburban Azusa.

Angeles National Forest spokesman Nathan Judy says helicopters are on the scene and air tankers have been ordered.

The helicopters are sucking water from the reservoir to battle flames climbing steep mountainsides.

Temperatures at many locations across Los Angeles County have topped 100 degrees.

Significant wildfires are also burning elsewhere in Southern California, Arizona and New Mexico.

___

10:30 a.m.

A blaze that destroyed two dozen homes and numerous other structures while racing across 28 square miles of tinder-dry forest in central New Mexico is finally showing signs of slowing down thanks to more favorable weather.

Hundreds of firefighters took advantage Monday of double-digit humidity levels, relatively cooler temperatures and clouds to build on progress made over the weekend.

Crews have established at least some kind of line all the way around the fire burning in the Manzano Mountains southeast of Albuquerque.

Still, fire information officer James Stone says the blaze is considered only 9 percent contained. Crews are working to bolster those lines to ensure there's no chance of the flames running beyond the perimeter.

___

7:50 a.m.

Southern California firefighters are in for another day of brutal conditions as they battle wildfires.

The National Weather Service says Monday will be the peak of the heat wave that has already brought record-breaking, triple-digit heat to the region.

Despite the conditions, firefighters report a slight increase in containment of the fire burning in rugged terrain west of Santa Barbara since last week.

The blaze is now 54 percent surrounded and remains at just over 12 square miles.

Southeast of San Diego, however, a wildfire near the town of Potrero grew by several hundred acres overnight and is now estimated at nearly 3 square miles, with just 5 percent containment.

Significant fires are also burning in New Mexico and Arizona.

Smoke from a wildfire rises from a hillside behind the Royal Oaks Elementary School in Azusa, Calif., Monday, June 20, 2016. Two fires have erupted in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles amid withering heat. The first fire reported Monday was near Morris Reservoir north of suburban Azusa. AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Dodger Stadium employees are transported to the stadium as a large plume of smoke generated by two wildfires on the San Gabriel Mountains is visible Monday, June 20, 2016, in Los Angeles. New wildfires erupted in Southern California as an intensifying heat wave stretching from the West Coast to New Mexico blistered the region with triple-digit temperatures. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

The California state flag flies next to a home on Highway 94 south Potrero, Calif., on Monday, June 20, 2016, as huge flames roar behind it. An intensifying heat wave stretching from the West Coast to New Mexico threatened to make the fight against Southern California wildfires more difficult Monday. (Hayne Palmour IV/San Diego Union-Tribune via AP)

Lakeside firefighters Joe Vasquez, left, and David Csik walk around a house as Lakeside Fire Capt. Jon Jordan watches large flames burn toward the home on Highway 94 south of Potrero Calif., on Monday, June 20, 2016. An intensifying heat wave stretching from the West Coast to New Mexico threatened to make the fight against Southern California wildfires more difficult Monday. (Hayne Palmour IV/San Diego Union-Tribune via AP)
Turkey arrests journalists, academic for 'terror' propaganda

ISTANBUL (AP)  A Turkish court placed two Turkish journalists  including a local representative of Reporters Without Borders  and an academic in pretrial arrest Monday over charges of disseminating "terrorist propaganda," according to the press freedom rights group and Turkish media reports.

Reporters Without Borders' Erol Onderoglu, along with journalist Ahmet Nesin and academic Sebnem Korur Fincanci, had participated in a solidarity campaign in support of Ozgur Gundem, a pro-Kurdish publication subject to multiple investigations and lawsuits. The private Dogan news agency said the campaign involved participants acting as chief editor for a day.

The three were ordered arrested after they testified before the public prosecutor with the state judiciary's Terrorism and Organized Crimes Bureau.

Fincanci, chair of Turkey's Human Rights Foundation, said during her testimony to the prosecutor that all of the articles on the day she acted as editor "should be covered by the principles of freedom of thought and expression," the agency reported.

Reporters Without Borders condemned the arrests as "an unbelievable low for press freedom in Turkey."

Later Monday the United Nations Correspondents Association said one of its members Razi Canikligil, who writes for the Turkish Hurriyet daily, was also arrested for articles and tweets on Turkish authorities. The UNCA said it "considers this a grave violation of freedom of the press."

Press freedom advocates warn that freedom of expression has dramatically declined in Turkey, where lawsuits against journalists, academics and other public figures are common.

Since the rise to power in 2002 of the ruling AKP, several news outlets seized by the government have been handed over to businesses close to the party. Tax inspections and tax fines have served to intimidate many media outlets, which fear falling foul of the government. Journalists who are critical of the government have been fired. More than a dozen journalists are in prison, although the government insists they have been jailed for criminal activity, not journalistic work.

Last year, a group of party supporters raided the headquarters of Hurriyet newspaper, following criticism by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Soon after, Hurriyet columnist Ahmet Hakan was chased and beaten.
Baby in stroller struck by a car and killed; mother hurt

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP)  Police say a baby in a stroller has been struck by a car and killed in western New York.

Officers say the vehicle struck the 7-month-old girl, her mother and another person on a street at around 9:45 p.m. Sunday in Buffalo.

The baby was taken to Erie County Medical Center, where she died.

Police say the mother and the other person suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The Latest: Judge to announce van driver verdict Thursday

BALTIMORE (AP)  The Latest on the murder trial for a Baltimore officer facing charges stemming from the death of a 25-year-old black man who died after suffering a critical injury in police custody (all times local):

12:30 p.m.

A judge said he'll decide by Thursday morning the fate of the officer facing the most serious charges in the death of Freddie Gray, the 25-year-old black man whose broken neck inside a police transport wagon set Baltimore on fire.

Officer Caesar Goodson opted against a jury trial on charges including second-degree murder and manslaughter. Baltimore Circuit Judge Barry Williams will deliver his verdict on Thursday.

Prosecutors say Goodson was criminally negligent for failing to buckle Gray into a seat belt or call a medic. They initially accused Goodson of giving Gray a "rough ride" by driving erratically with the intention of injuring the man, who was wearing handcuffs and leg shackles.

During closing arguments, prosecutors abandoned the theory, but the judge peppered them with questions to determine whether the state still believes Goodson drove wildly in order to slam Gray's body against the wagon's metal walls.

Chief Deputy State's Attorney Michael Schatzow ultimately said that simply driving with an unbuckled but shackled and handcuffed prisoner demonstrates intent to create risk of harm.

___

11:55 a.m.

Prosecutors tried one last time to persuade a Baltimore judge to convict a wagon driver of murder in the death of a 25-year-old black detainee whose neck was broken while being taken to the police station.

Officer Caesar Goodson is being tried on charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the death of Freddie Gray.

Both sides delivered closing arguments after more than five days of testimony. This is a bench trial, so the judge alone will decide Goodson's fate.

Prosecutors say Goodson "breached his duty" when he failed to buckle Gray into a seat belt or call for a medic, and when he ran a stop sign and made a wide turn during the van's 45-minute ride. It was after that turn that the state alleges Gray suffered his injury.

Initially the state alleged that Goodson gave Gray a "rough ride" with the intention of bouncing the man around and injuring him. But prosecutors during closings made no mention of a rough ride, and Goodson's attorneys accused them of abandoning theories and changing their story.

Defense attorney Matthew Fraling said the state "failed to cobble together any type of case with reasonable inferences, let alone evidence." Goodson's attorneys say that each time officers checked on the prisoner before he arrived at the station, he wasn't showing any sign of medical distress.

---

5 a.m.

Closing arguments are scheduled in the trial of a Baltimore police officer charged with murder in the death of a black prisoner whose neck was broken in a transport van.

Attorneys will make their arguments Monday morning in the case against Officer Caesar Goodson, who was the driver of the van.

Prosecutors contend Goodson gave a rough ride to 25-year-old Freddie Gray when he was handcuffed and shackled in the back of the van. Defense attorneys say Goodson did nothing wrong.

Goodson declined to testify on his behalf Friday, when testimony ended on the seventh day of the trial.
In light of continued developments, primarily since 2008, there exists in these United States a Legal System which operates on a proved Two Tiered approach to justice rendered, which primarily benefits Democratic Elites and Woke Ideological Virtue Signalers, representing their co-dependent wards, to the expressed exclusion of normal hardworking American citizens: What is your suggestion in remedying this widespread injustice and, if not corrected, its existential outcome for our Constitutional Republic?

Complete overhaul the Department of Justice and their enforcers - the FBI - to reflect a far more honest justice system to keep patriots remaining calm.

Disband the FBI, and request that congress investigate all unethical and non patriotic practices to partially right the wrongs of a distrusted and politically weaponized "Department of Justice."
1 killed, 3 hurt in oil well explosion in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  One worker was killed and two others were seriously injured in an explosion and fire at an oil well in western North Dakota, authorities said.

The McKenzie County Sheriff's Department said 52-year-old Johnny Stassinos of Rock Springs, Wyoming, died Saturday afternoon from injuries suffered that morning at a well site operated by XTO Energy Inc. near Watford City.

The department's statement issued Monday said Daniel Montes, 28, of Fruita, Colorado, and Richard Maheu, 27, of Rock Springs, Wyoming, were airlifted to the Regions Burn Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, where they were listed in critical condition.

The men suffered third-degree burns to 70 percent of their bodies, said Eric Brooks, director of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's office in Bismarck.

Authorities said 40-year-old Justin Pyle of Grand Junction, Colorado, was treated for minor burns to his face at a Watford City hospital and later released.

The fire was out when emergency workers arrived on the scene Saturday morning, authorities said.

Houston-based XTO Energy is a subsidiary of ExxonMobil. XTO Energy spokeswoman Suann Guthrie said the men were contractors working for companies that do maintenance on oil wells.

Guthrie said XTO Energy has been working with regulators to determine the cause of the explosion.

The men were on a workover rig that's used to perform maintenance at an oil well. An initial investigation found there was a breech in a gas pipe that ignited, state and federal investigators said.

"There was a split in a pipe, and there was an explosion," Brooks said. Investigators were on the scene Monday attempting to find the cause of the breech and the source of the ignition, he said.

Bill Suess, an environmental scientist with the state Health Department, said no oil or gas escaped from the well.

Brooks said it was the first oilfield-related death in North Dakota in the fiscal year that began last August, compared with seven in the same period during fiscal 2015.

Since late 2010, there have been 108 workplace fatalities in North Dakota, including 48 that were oilfield-related, Brooks said.

Crews on workover rigs have among the most dangerous jobs in the oilpatch, he said.

"There has to be eternal vigilance on ignition sources," he said.

OSHA has stepped up inspections on workover rigs in the past few years and has issued 30 citations of violations since 2012 to companies that did not take appropriate safety measures, Brooks said.

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Timeline of Orlando gunman's conversations in club shooting

WASHINGTON (AP)  The FBI on Monday released partial transcripts that give the fullest glimpse yet of Orlando gunman Omar Mateen's conversations with 911 and crisis negotiators during the June 12 massacre at the Pulse nightclub that left 49 people and Mateen dead. A timeline:

2:02 a.m.: Orlando police receive reports of shots fired at Pulse.

2:08 a.m.: Police enter and exchange gunfire with Mateen.

2:18 a.m.: A SWAT team is called to the scene.

2:35 a.m.: Mateen makes a 50-second call to 911 in which he says, "I let you know, I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings." The transcript says he says words in Arabic to the dispatcher and says, "Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God."

2:48 a.m.: Mateen begins the first of three conversations with crisis negotiators. The first call lasts nine minutes.

3:03 a.m.: A second conversation between Mateen and a negotiator lasts 16 minutes.

3:24 a.m.: A third conversation with a negotiator lasts three minutes. Over the three calls, Mateen refers to himself as an Islamic solider and pledges allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State. Mateen tells a negotiator to tell the U.S. to stop bombing Syria and Iraq, and claims to have explosives and vests. He then hangs up.

4:21 a.m.: Orlando police pull an air conditioning unit from a dressing-room window, allowing some people to escape.

4:29 a.m.: Victims tell Orlando officers that Mateen told them he planned to put four explosive vests on victims within 15 minutes. An immediate search of his vehicle found no bombs or vests.

5:02 a.m.: Tactical officers and a hazardous materials team break through a wall of the nightclub and enter using an armored vehicle.

5:14 a.m.: Orlando police radio that shots are fired.
The Latest: Feds now involved in Yelchin death investigation

LOS ANGELES (AP)  The Latest on the death of "Star Trek" film actor Anton Yelchin (all times local):

6:10 p.m.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that it is in contact with Los Angeles authorities and Fiat Chrysler regarding the death of "Star Trek" actor Anton Yelchin.

The driveway to the home of Anton Yelchin, a rising actor, best known for playing Chekov in the new "Star Trek" films, is seen in the Studio City area of Los Angeles, on Sunday, June 19, 2016. Yelchin was killed by his own car as it rolled down his driveway early Sunday, police and his publicist said. The car pinned Yelchin, 27, against a brick mailbox pillar and a security fence at his home in Los Angeles, Officer Jenny Hosier said. He had gotten out of the vehicle momentarily, but police did not say why he was behind it when it started rolling. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

The federal agency is also urging owners of Jeep Grand Cherokee and other vehicles subject to a recall to make sure their car is in park and completely turned off before they get out.

The statement Monday came a day after the 27-year-old actor was found dead in the driveway of his Studio City home after his 2015 Grand Cherokee pinned him against a mailbox pillar and security fence.

Fiat Chrysler, which issued a recall in April at the urging of the NHTSA because of problems with gear shifters in 1.1 million vehicles, says it is also conducting an investigation into the accident.

The automaker reported 41 injuries potentially linked to the gear shifters.

Owners can check to see if their car is being recalled at www.safercar.gov.

___

3:45 p.m.

Anton Yelchin's death on Sunday has left behind a number of upcoming projects big and small. The actor was in the midst of a growing career that was increasingly attracting attention for his scrappy talent, seriousness of purpose and deep passion for film.

In just a month, Yelchin will co-star in Paramount's "Star Trek Beyond," again playing his most famous character, Enterprise officer Pavel Chekov. The film is scheduled to have its world premiere in San Diego at the annual fan convention Comic-Con on July 20, before it hits theaters on July 22.

Premiering on Netflix in December is "Trollhunters," a family friendly animated series from Guillermo del Toro. Yelchin voices the show's main character, Jim, who discovers warring trolls living beneath his hometown.

___

9:45 a.m.

The SUV that killed "Star Trek" actor Anton Yelchin was being recalled because the gear shifters have confused drivers, causing the vehicles to roll away unexpectedly.

Los Angeles police say Yelchin died when his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled down his driveway early Sunday. The SUV pinned the 27-year-old against a brick mailbox pillar and a security fence.

Fiat Chrysler, which makes Jeeps, said in a statement Monday that it's investigating and it's premature to speculate on the cause of the crash. It offered sympathies to Yelchin's friends and family.

Most 2015 model year Grand Cherokees were part of a global recall of 1.1 million vehicles announced by Fiat Chrysler in April.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urged the recall amid complaints that drivers had trouble telling if they had put the automatic transmissions in park. If they weren't in park and a driver left the vehicle, it could roll away.

___

9:30 a.m.

A Los Angeles coroner's official says the death of "Star Trek" actor Anton Yelchin has been ruled an accident.

Coroner's spokesman Ed Winter says an autopsy performed Sunday determined the 27-year-old actor died of blunt force asphyxia after his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee pinned him against a brick mailbox pillar and a security fence in his driveway early Sunday.

Winter says any toxicology results will take months to analyze.

Los Angeles police are investigating Yelchin's death. Officer Jane Kim says the investigation will look into whether the actor's vehicle was in gear or in park at the time of the accident.

___

This item has been corrected to show Yelchin was pinned against a brick mailbox pillar and a security fence.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014, file photo, Actor Anton Yelchin poses for portraits during the 71st edition of the Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy. Yelchin, a charismatic and rising actor best known for playing Chekov in the new "Star Trek" films, has died at the age of 27. He was killed in a fatal traffic collision early Sunday morning, June 19, 2016, his publicist confirmed. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis, File)

FILE - In this June 11, 2015, file photo, Anton Yelchin arrives at a special screening of "Burying the Ex" held at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles. Yelchin, a charismatic and rising actor best known for playing Chekov in the new "Star Trek" films, has died at the age of 27. He was killed in a fatal traffic collision early Sunday morning, June 19, 2016, his publicist confirmed. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

Television reporters record the driveway to the home of Anton Yelchin, a rising actor, best known for playing Chekov in the new "Star Trek" films, is seen in the Studio City area of Los Angeles, on Sunday, June 19, 2016. Yelchin was killed by his own car as it rolled down his driveway early Sunday, police and his publicist said. The car pinned Yelchin, 27, against a brick mailbox pillar and a security fence at his home in Los Angeles, Officer Jenny Hosier said. He had gotten out of the vehicle momentarily, but police did not say why he was behind it when it started rolling. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
The investigation into the infamous slayings of three civil rights workers in Mississippi is finally closed, the state's attorney general said on Monday.

The news comes 52 years almost to the day after the young men disappeared during Freedom Summer.

It marks the closing of a chapter in the state's divisive civil rights history, Attorney General Jim Hood said.

The 1964 killings in Neshoba County sparked national outrage and helped spur passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

They later became the subject of the movie Mississippi Burning.

Scroll down for video

Tragic: Michael Schwerner, 24; James Cheney, 21; and Andrew Goodman, 20, who disappeared in Mississippi on June 21, 1964. The investigation into the infamous slayings of the three civil rights workers is now closed

'I think that everything has been done that could possibly be done,' Hood said at a news conference. Hood said he talked to relatives of the three slain men  James Earl Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner  and told them that new prosecutions are unlikely, barring any more developments.

The three men disappeared June 21, 1964, while working to register African-American voters. Their bodies were found weeks later in an earthen dam.

Hood says the U.S. Department of Justice recently released findings to his office that led to the decision to close the case. He presented to reporters a 48-page report by the FBI .

In 1967, eight people were convicted of federal civil rights violations related to the killings of the three workers.

In 2005, Hood and the Neshoba county prosecutor won a manslaughter conviction against white supremacist Edgar Ray Killen.

Hood said officials had considered possible cases against James 'Pete' Harris and Jimmy Lee Townsend.

Harris allegedly recruited members of the Ku Klux Klan in Meridian to kill the three men and Townsend allegedly remained with a disabled car on the night that other Klansman went to kill the three men.

Movie: Willem Defoe in the Oscar-nominated movie Mississippi Burning in 1988, telling the story of the case

Harris was acquitted in the original prosecution of the case, according to the FBI report. Townsend was charged in preliminary charging documents but was never indicted, the report says.

'For these participants the good Lord will have to deal with that,' Hood said.

In recent years, Hood said, authorities had tried to develop a case against one person for lying to an FBI agent. But he said the witness in that case declined to sign a statement at the last moment. He did not identify the individual or the witness.

The biggest obstacle to continuing the investigation is that the remaining witnesses are aging and officials are unsure of the accuracy of what they remember in some cases, Hood said.
Police: Robbery suspect takes hostage, is killed by officers

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  A man who took a store clerk hostage during a robbery in South Carolina was shot to death by officers, authorities said.

Jasper County Deputy Dan Morgan was wounded in the foot during the shootout about 8 a.m. Monday in Hardeeville, and the hostage may have twisted her ankle running from the Dollar General, Hardeeville spokesman Juan Singleton said.

Officers arrived at the store just as the robbery took place because guests at a motel across U.S. Highway 17 called 911 when they saw a masked man in the parking lot walking toward the store, Singleton said.

"The officers were there very quickly," Singleton said.

He later identified the man as 23-year-old Raphael Bostick of Savannah, Georgia.

Investigators are still trying to figure out how many shots were fired, how Morgan was hurt and which officers fired their weapons, Singleton said. The State Law Enforcement Division has been called in to investigate the suspect's death.

Bostick died a short time after the shooting at the hospital, Jasper County Coroner Martin Sauls said.

The races of the suspect and officer haven't been released.

Hardeeville has about 4,300 people and is about 120 miles south of Columbia. Singleton said Jasper County deputies also responded to the store because of the danger as the suspect took a hostage.

It was the second officer-involved shooting in nine hours in South Carolina. A North Myrtle Beach officer was shot in the foot late Sunday night by a man who came from a home as police spoke to a mother and daughter during a domestic disturbance. The man's name and the races of the people involved in that shooting have not been released.

The Hardeeville shooting was the 21st shooting involving a police officer in South Carolina this year. There were 48 in 2015, SLED said.

___

Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at http://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/jeffrey-collins

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Police interviewing some of the 12 girls found in man's home

When police showed up at Lee Kaplan's home in the Philadelphia suburbs last week, they found a dozen girls living there, the eldest of whom was an 18-year-old who authorities say had been "gifted" to him by her parents as repayment for a debt.

With Kaplan and the teen's parents now jailed on $1 million bail, authorities on Monday began interviewing some of the other girls, seeking evidence of crimes against them and trying to piece together their lives at the home in Feasterville.

The interviews "will be taking place over the next couple of days to try to see just what these kids' lives were about, who they are and obviously if there was any criminal conduct toward any of them," said David Heckler, Bucks County district attorney.

In this Saturday, June 19, 2016 photo, two women walk past the home of Lee Kaplan in Feasterville, Pa. Kaplan is accused of sexually assaulting a teenager whose parents gave her to him, according to police. Officials acting on a tip Thursday found Kaplan at his home along with numerous girls, ranging in age from 6 months to 18 years. (Tom Gralish/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) PHIX OUT; TV OUT; MAGS OUT; NEWARK OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT

Acting on a tip Thursday, police found Kaplan, 51, and a dozen girls ranging in age from 6 months to 18 years. The eldest told authorities she and Kaplan have two children together, a 6-month-old and a 3-year-old.

The teenager's parents are Daniel and Savilla Stoltzfus, a formerly Amish couple from Lancaster County. Daniel Stoltzfus told police he and his wife "gifted" their daughter to Kaplan when she was 14 to thank Kaplan "for helping his family out of financial ruin," according to a police affidavit.

Kaplan admitted he fathered two children with the teen, court records say. He faces charges that include statutory sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault. Daniel Stoltzfus, 43, was charged with conspiracy and child endangerment. Savilla Stoltzfus, 42, faces a child endangerment charge.

Online court records do not list attorneys for any of the defendants.

The couple told police the other nine children in Kaplan's home belong to them. The children have been placed in foster care in Lancaster County.

Elizabethtown College professor Donald Krabill, an expert on the Amish, said the couple was ex-communicated by the church in 2003.

"This whole thing is bizarre. It doesn't reflect any of the traditional, typical Amish beliefs or practices," he said Monday. "It's basically not an Amish story."

Records show the couple filed a federal lawsuit against an Amish sect, among others, in 2009 after they lost their property in Kirkwood, Lancaster County, to foreclosure. The suit was dismissed.
Rx pizza: 1 free meal can sway doctor prescribing

CHICAGO (AP)  As little as one free meal from a drug company can influence which medicines doctors prescribe for Medicare patients, according to a study using Medicare records and recently released data from the health care law's Open Payments program.

The study highlights the subtle ways doctors may feel inclined to prescribe a drug after receiving just a small gift, even if the drug is more costly for patients and their insurance plans, the study authors said.

In a typical scenario, drug companies sometimes sponsor meals served during medical conferences and their sales reps may offer drug information and free samples to doctors waiting in line for food.

Dr. Adams Dudley, the study's lead author, said that happened to him as a young physician  and it led him to prescribe brand-name drugs.

"Having just accepted even just a slice of pizza, you're going to feel like, 'Hey, I should let them talk to me,'" he said. "Doctors are human, and humans respond to gifts."

The researchers calculated that an estimated $73 billion yearly could be saved if equivalent generics were prescribed instead of brand-name drugs, and patients pay for one-third of that excess cost.

"It's not that it's medically bad" for patients, Dudley said. "But it is definitely costing them more."

The bottom line for patients? "Always ask if there's a generic that's just as good," said Dudley, director of the Center for Healthcare Value at the University of California, San Francisco.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, an industry group, says it has a voluntary code that sets a $100 limit on "educational items" for doctors and says "modest occasional meals are permitted."

Holly Campbell, a spokeswoman for the group, said the study "cherry-picks physician prescribing data for a subset of medicines to advance a false narrative" and doesn't prove free meals influenced prescribing patterns.

The study involved prescribing information for nearly 280,000 doctors in Medicare's prescription drug program. The researchers examined data on more than 63,000 drug company payments to these doctors from August through December 2013, made available under President Barack Obama's health care law. Most payments were free meals worth less than about $20.

The researchers included four classes of drugs  statins, antidepressants and two that treat blood pressure. They chose top-selling brand-name drugs from each class for which they said evidence shows there are equally effective but cheaper generic versions: Crestor for cholesterol problems, Benicar and Bystolic for high blood pressure, and Pristiq for depression.

Doctors who received a free meal sponsored by makers of these drugs were more likely to prescribe that drug than doctors who received no free meals. The strongest link was for Pfizer's Pristiq: doctors who received one Pfizer-sponsored meal were two times more likely to prescribe that drug than doctors who received no freebies.

Doctors' prescribing rates for these drugs increased as the number of sponsored meals they accepted increased. Patients in Medicare part D (prescription) plans typically pay $4 or less for generics, versus around $40 for brand-name drugs, Dudley said.

American Medical Association voluntary ethics guidelines say doctors should decline any gifts including meals "for which reciprocity is expected or implied."

Representatives for the companies involved said doctors are not paid to prescribe their products. Sales' reps interactions with physicians over sponsored meals are an important part of educating them about drugs' risks and benefits, the companies said in emailed statements.

Dr. Nitin Damle, an internist and president of the American College of Physicians, said modest gifts or meals can be ethical if they enhance patients' care, but that doctors should ask "'what would the public or my patients think about this particular gift or meal and what is the purpose of industry offering it to me?'"

The results were published Monday in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine.

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Online:
4-year-old boy killed in rolling Kansas City gun battle

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)  Authorities say a stray bullet from a rolling gun battle struck and killed a 4-year-old as he rode in the backseat of a car in Kansas City.

Police said in a news release that Mahsaan Kelley-Wilson, of Kansas City, died at a hospital after the car's driver rushed him there. Police say his parents unknowingly drove into the gunfight early Monday involving people in two vehicles east of downtown. No one else was wounded.

The shooting happened after another 4-year-old boy suffered a critical head wound Saturday across the state in St. Louis while riding in a car with his father and another man. Police say another vehicle pulled alongside and someone opened fire.
New leadership for Politico's influential Playbook

NEW YORK (AP)  The website Politico appointed two reporters on Monday to replace Mike Allen at Playbook, which rapidly grew from a morning email to his bosses into a must-read newsletter for Washington power players and those who want to eavesdrop on their conversations.

Politico's Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman will take over the newsletter on July 11, Politico said. Daniel Lippman, who helps compile material for Allen, will continue.

Allen will remain at Politico to report on the election, then join one of the website's founders, Jim VandeHei, in launching a new media venture, details of which have not been disclosed.

This undated image released by Politico shows Politico reporters Jake Sherman, left, and Anna Palmer in Washington. Sherman and Palmer will replace Mike Allen as authors of Playbook, Politico's briefing on what's driving the day in Washinton. (M. Scott Mahaskey/Politico via AP)

The chatty newsletter is a combination of breaking news, story links, political gossip and birthday shout-outs to Washington insiders. It is delivered via email to more than 100,000 people each day in time for them to read after they wake up or are headed into work.

"It's the best real estate in political journalism," Palmer said.

Shortly after Politico's launch in 2007, tireless reporter Allen began sending a daily email to his bosses, VandeHei and John Harris, with story tips, links and things to watch out for that day. A third person, Howard Wolfson of then-Sen. Hillary Clinton's communication staff, saw it and asked if he could get it each day, and word spread quickly to others in politics, media and business.

Story lengths were dictated by what could fit on the screen of a Blackberry, the hot technical tool of the day.

"It's the very definition of a viral product," Allen said. Playbook is delivered at no charge; people simply have to ask to be added to the mailing list.

Politico now has some 30 separate newsletters on different subject matters and on state news in New York, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey and California. It sells advertising and sponsorships, and the Playbook name is used for a thriving series of conferences and special events.

Playbook has retained its Washington insider tone, but now more than 80 percent of its subscribers live outside the Beltway.

Monday's Playbook is typical. It begins with countdowns on how many days until the Republican and Democratic conventions, and Election Day. Links are included to stories about Clinton's strategy to attract young voters, and Wall Street opposition to Elizabeth Warren as a potential vice presidential choice. There's speculation about whether Clarence Thomas may look to leave the Supreme Court after the election, and news about the engagement of a congressional staffer and federal budget official.

"What I love about Playbook is that it brings Washington together at a time almost nothing else does," Allen said. "Republicans, Democrats, the press, the professional part of Washington  the only place that we used to meet up before were at book parties."

Through Allen, Playbook has sought to retain a sense of community among its readers.

Allen gave Playbook a distinctive voice, which Palmer and Sherman hope to retain as they develop their own voices. Palmer, a North Dakota native, has worked at Politico since 2011 and covers lobbying. Sherman, from Connecticut, has been at the site since 2009 and covers the U.S. House.

They said they would like to make Playbook more active during the day on social media, and break more news as it happens instead of waiting until the next morning's newsletter.

Allen said his new venture wouldn't compete against Playbook, which he said he hoped continues to thrive.

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Referendum capping income tax rate at 5.5 percent rescheduled for June 25 and may not receive vote before session ends

RALEIGH An effort to cap the state income tax rate was removed quietly from the Senate's calendar on Wednesday, one day after that body's Finance Committee gave the proposed change to the N.C. Constitution a thumbs up.Sen. Tom Apodaca, R-Henderson, made a motion to withdraw Senate Bill 817 from consideration and rescheduled it for a Saturday, June 25 vote. Without objection, the motion passed. The Senate typically does not meet on weekends, though it may schedule weekend sessions to allow the General Assembly to adjourn by the end of June, as some members have suggested is a priority.The measure would have capped the state's income tax rate at 5.5 percent. If approved by the General Assembly, voters would have had the chance to approve or reject the amendment in the Nov. 8 general election.During the committee meeting, Sen. Bill Rabon, R-Brunswick, one of the bill's sponsors, said that the changes in tax policy in recent years have succeeded.Rabon said. Lawmakers also have expanded the sales tax base in recent years, he said.Rabon said.Some Democrats on the committee, including Sen. Floyd McKissick of Durham County, questioned whether the proposed change would put lawmakers in a bind the next time there is a recession or the state is strapped for cash.McKissick asked.Rabon said he disagreed with the assertion that the move would handicap the state. He also said that the sales tax provides for a more reliable source of income.Rabon said.Rabon also said that lawmakers have shored up the state's rainy day fund, leaving the state with a cushion in the event of another recession.Sen. Joel Ford, D-Mecklenburg, questioned whether the state sales tax could be expanded much further.he said.Lawmakers have expanded the sales tax to include some services, such as repair work, but have yet to to expand the tax to more professional services.Rabon responded.Sen. Bob Rucho, R-Mecklenburg, said he agreed that white-collar services and blue-collar services should be treated the same.Rucho also said that the constitutional cap would apply to both individual and corporate income tax rates.The General Assembly has cut the income tax rate regularly since 2013. That year, the state had three income tax brackets ranging from 6 percent to 7.75 percent. Beginning in 2014, the tax reform package brought in a flat rate of 5.8 percent.The current individual income tax rate in North Carolina is 5.75 percent. That rate is scheduled to fall to 5.499 percent in 2017.The 2013 tax reform package incrementally cut the corporate income tax rate from 6.9 percent to 5 percent. Last year, lawmakers lowered the corporate rate to 4 percent for 2016.The Department of State Treasurer opposes the bill, and provided a two-page document to committee members explaining its position.The treasurer's statement said the proposal potentially could have a negative effect on the state's AAA bond rating, which could result in higher interest payments on bonds. It said the bill would increase the volatility and lessen the reliability of the state's revenue stream. It also said that in five states - Florida, Maine, Nebraska, Oregon, and Washington - voters have rejected constitutional limits on taxing powers. Only one, Colorado, approved such a proposal. Voters there also approved a measure suspending the restriction for five years, the treasurer's document said.Rucho, who chaired Tuesday's meeting, called the treasurer's document "flawed." Rabon said the treasurer's office "cherry-picked" states, adding that Georgia has an income tax cap of 6 percent and is doing just fine.To make it on the November ballot, the proposed constitutional amendment must pass both chambers of the General Assembly by a three-fifths majority of all members - a possibility reduced somewhat by Wednesday's postponement of the Senate vote.
US Park police ID Chinese woman killed in Virginia bus crash

MOUNT VERNON, Va. (AP)  U.S. Park Police have identified a 62-year-old Chinese woman who was killed in a June 14 head-on crash between a passenger car and a tour bus in which the bus overturned outside the nation's capital in Virginia.

Authorities said in a written statement Monday that she was Youfen Zhou (Yo-Fun Jo). The name of her hometown was not available. Police say two other passengers from the bus remain in critical condition.
Attorney: Treat same-sex couples same as others for licenses

JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  Same-sex couples in Mississippi should not be left guessing whether any particular clerk will refuse to issue them marriage licenses, a gay rights attorney argued Monday in federal court.

Roberta Kaplan sued in 2014 to overturn the state's ban on gay marriage. She argued Monday against House Bill 1523 , which was signed by Republican Gov. Phil Bryant in April and is set to become law July 1. It would let circuit clerks cite their own religious beliefs to recuse themselves from giving marriage licenses to gay or lesbian couples.

Mississippi was one of several states where legislators debated or passed bills in response to last summer's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that effectively legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

Kaplan said gay or lesbian couples could face public humiliation if they prepare for a wedding only to be told that a clerk won't issue a license, or that a license is only available from a certain employee at a certain time or place.

"There can't be separate-but-equal marriage. There can't be Jim Crow kind of marriage," said New York-based Kaplan, who represents Campaign for Southern Equality and two lesbian couples.

Justin Matheny, an assistant state attorney general, said the bill specifies that clerks who recuse themselves must make sure someone else in the office will issue the license.

"It's on them," Matheny said.

Four lawsuits are seeking to block the bill from becoming law. The suits say the measure is unconstitutional. They contend it denies equal protection to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. They also say it favors some religious beliefs over others.

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves heard arguments Monday and will hear more Thursday and Friday.

The law would provide protection for people with three religious beliefs: that marriage is only between a man and a woman, that sexual relations should only take place inside such a marriage and that a person's "immutable biological sex" is determined by anatomy and genetics at birth.

It would allow clerks to cite religious objections to recuse themselves from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Although it specifies that a clerk must make other arrangements for such a license to be issued, lawmakers didn't say during debates what would happen if every employee in a clerk's office in a particular county declined to issue licenses.

In addition to marriage licenses, the law could affect adoptions, business practices and school bathroom policies.

The bill says clerks or their employees who intend to recuse themselves from issuing same-sex marriage licenses must file notice with the state registrar of vital records. Matheny also said that as of Monday, no employee of any circuit clerk's office had filed a recusal notice with the registrar, Judy Moulder.

"She's not trying to hide any public records from anyone," Matheny said of Moulder.

Kaplan said people should not have to repeatedly file public records requests with the registrar to see if any recusals have been filed.

____
Prosecutor: St. Louis cop acted in self-defense in shooting

ST. LOUIS (AP)  A St. Louis police officer who fatally shot a robbery suspect in January acted in self-defense, a prosecutor ruled Monday.

St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce released two surveillance videos as she announced her decision not to charge Sgt. Michael Pratt in the shooting of 52-year-old Crayton West on Jan. 17 following the robbery of a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.

One video appears to show West pointing a gun at the clerk before reaching into the cash register and grabbing money. The other shows him coming face-to-face with an arriving officer. He appears to reach into his waistband, pull out a gun and raise it before being fatally shot.

"A family lost someone very important to them, and I'm so sorry for their loss," Joyce said in a statement. "I am also thankful that more people were not injured during the course of this incident."

Joyce pointed to the video and statements from several people who were inside and near the restaurant who told investigators they saw West with a gun. His fingerprints were found on the counter of the restaurant, she said.

"We have the unusual advantage with this case in that the incident was captured on surveillance video," said Joyce. "In addition to brave witnesses willing to cooperate and the forensic and physical evidence, it's clear that the officer in this case was acting to protect himself and those in the restaurant."

Police-involved shootings have faced increasing scrutiny in the St. Louis region since 18-year-old Michael Brown, who was black and unarmed, was fatally shot during a street confrontation with white officer Darren Wilson in nearby Ferguson, Missouri, on Aug. 9, 2014. A grand jury and the U.S. Department of Justice declined to prosecute Wilson, who resigned in November 2014.

West was black; Pratt is white.

Police Chief Sam Dotson said Pratt is a 13-year veteran of the department.
Family: Colorado boy improving after mountain lion attack

DENVER (AP)  A Colorado boy attacked by a mountain lion near Aspen was improving in a Denver hospital after his mother snatched him from the jaws of the wild cat, his family said Monday.

"Thank you for your concern," the unnamed family said in a brief statement released on its behalf by Children's Hospital Colorado. "Our son is doing better. Thank you for respecting our privacy at this time."

A Pitkin County sheriff's officer had praised the mother as a hero for charging the animal during Friday's attack on her 5-year-old, yanking away one of its paws and prying open its jaws. The boy was flown to Denver with deep but not life-threatening cuts to his head, face and neck. His mother had scratches and bites.

Mountain lions rarely attack humans.

The attack was the most serious of several human-wildlife encounters in recent days in Colorado that have wildlife authorities pointing out that man, who is increasingly treading into untamed habitats, can take steps to ensure the safety of all species.

Wildlife officials killed two mountain lions in the area after Aspen attack, saying both were young animals that may have suffered the early loss of an adult cat that could have taught them to avoid humans.

On Monday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said results from a necropsy and DNA tests confirmed that one of the mountain lions that was killed was involved in the attack.

"These two cats were traveling together and learning to hunt and survive together, and one of them attacked a child," said Ron Velarde, a regional manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. "We are not going to take chances in a situation like this. It is the right decision."

Neither of the mountain lions tested positive for rabies or the plague.

In the Denver area the same day of the attack, a bear spotted near a high school was tranquilized and then euthanized. A day earlier, another bear that wandered through a residential neighborhood and climbed a tree also was killed. Both bears had been moved on earlier occasions from residential neighborhoods, said Jennifer Churchill, a spokeswoman for the Colorado wildlife department. She said it has been the department's practice for several years to kill bears that have been moved once before because they are believed to have become dangerously acclimated to humans.

It's not just an for Colorado alone. In a recent study on urbanization, the think tank Conservation Science Partners found that at any moment across the Western U.S., a bear is about 3.5 miles from significant human development.

In Wyoming this weekend, a cub believed born to a grizzly known for spending time near roads was killed by car Grand Teton National Park.

Churchill said it isn't easy to move bears to places where they don't encroach on the territory of humans or others bears. Colorado, a state of about 5 million that prides itself on offering residents proximity to outdoor activities, got another 100,000 residents last year, according to state demographers. The population boom has meant concern over housing prices and road congestion  in addition to questions about what it means for the state's wild residents.

Veteran human residents know they should not leave garbage or pet food in places where it could attract animals, and certainly not to deliberately feed them, wildlife officials say.

"Unfortunately everyone loves the videos of bears in the kiddie pools," said Churchill, adding people should be blowing horns and shouting to make bears uncomfortable.

"If they do become comfortable, then they'll want to live where you live," she said.
A divided Senate blocked rival election-year plans to curb guns on Monday, eight days after the horror of Orlando's mass shooting intensified pressure on lawmakers to act but knotted them in gridlock anyway  even over restricting firearms for terrorists.

In largely party-line votes, rejected were one proposal from each side to keep extremists from acquiring guns and another shoring up the government's existing system of required background checks for many firearms purchases.

With the chamber's visitors' galleries unusually crowded for a Monday evening  including people wearing orange T-shirts saying #ENOUGH gun violence  each measure fell short of the 60 votes needed to progress. Democrats called the GOP proposals unacceptably weak while Republicans said the Democratic plans were overly restrictive.

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Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., left, and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, arrive for a vote on Capitol Hill, Monday, June 20, 2016, in Washington

California Senator Dianne Feinstein offered a proposal to block gun sales to those on the federal terror watch list

The gun control effort was prompted by suspect Omar Mateen's rampage inside an Orlando nightclub

The stalemate underscored the pressure on each party to give little ground on the emotional gun issue going into November's presidential and congressional elections. It also highlighted the potency of the National Rifle Association, which urged its huge and fiercely loyal membership to lobby senators to oppose the Democratic bills.

'Republicans say, 'Hey look, we tried,'' said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. 'And all the time, their cheerleaders, the bosses at the NRA, are cheering them.'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the Orlando shootings  in which the FBI says the American-born gunman swore allegiance to a leader of the Islamic State group  show the best way to prevent attacks by extremists is to defeat such groups overseas.

Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins is trying to work out a last-minute compromise

'Look, no one wants terrorists to be able to buy guns or explosives,' McConnell said. He suggested that Democrats were using the day's votes 'as an opportunity to push a partisan agenda or craft the next 30-second campaign ad,' while Republicans wanted 'real solutions.'

That Monday's four roll-call votes occurred at all was testament to the political currents buffeting lawmakers after gunman Omar Mateen's June 12 attack on a gay nightclub. The 49 victims who died made it the largest mass shooting in recent U.S. history, topping the string of such incidents that have punctuated recent years.

The FBI said Matteen  a focus of two terror investigations that were dropped  described himself as an Islamic soldier in a 911 call during the shootings. That let gun control advocates add national security and the specter of terrorism to their arguments for firearms curbs, while relatives of victims of past mass shootings and others visiting lawmakers and watching debate from the visitors' galleries.

GOP senators facing re-election this fall from swing states were under extraordinary pressure.

Republican senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire voted with Democrats on a bill to deny gun purchases for people on a terror watch list

Former representative Gabby Giffords, who was gravely wounded in a 2011 mass shooting, called for Congress to act in advance of the votes Monday

Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut led a filibuster last week to force consideration of gun control

One, Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., voted Monday for the Democratic measure to block gun sales to terrorists, a switch from when she joined most Republicans in killing a similar plan last December. She said that vote  plus her support for a rival GOP measure  would help move lawmakers toward approving a narrower bipartisan plan, like one being crafted by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Monday's votes came after Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., led a near 15-hour filibuster last week demanding a Senate response to the Orlando killings. Murphy entered the Senate shortly after the December 2012 massacre of 20 first-graders and six educators in Newtown, Connecticut, but that slaughter and others have failed to spur Congress to tighten gun curbs. The last were enacted in 2007, when the background check system was strengthened after that year's mass shooting at Virginia Tech.

With Mateen's self-professed loyalty to extremist groups and his 10-month inclusion on a federal terrorism watch list, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., proposed letting the government block many gun sales to known or suspected terrorists. People buying firearms from federally licensed gun dealers can currently be denied for several reasons, chiefly for serious crimes or mental problems, but there is no specific prohibition for those on the terrorist watch list.

Senator John Cornyn of Texas has a proposal to let the feds deny a gun sale to a known or suspected terrorist  but only if prosecutors could convince a judge within three days that the buyer was involved in terrorism

AR-15 semiautomatic guns on display for sale in Springville, Utah

That list currently contains around 1 million people  including fewer than 5,000 Americans or legal permanent residents, according to the latest government figures.

No background checks are required for anyone buying guns privately online or at gun shows.

The GOP response to Feinstein was an NRA-backed plan by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. It would let the government deny a sale to a known or suspected terrorist  but only if prosecutors could convince a judge within three days that the would-be buyer was involved in terrorism.

The Feinstein and Cornyn amendments would require notification of law enforcement officials if people, like Mateen, who'd been under a terrorism investigation within the past five years were seeking to buy firearms.

Republicans said Feinstein's proposal gave the government too much unfettered power to deny people's constitutional right to own a gun. They also noted that the terrorist watch list has historically mistakenly included people. Democrats said the three-day window that Cornyn's measure gave prosecutors to prove their case made his plan ineffective.

The Senate rejected similar plans Feinstein and Cornyn proposed last December, a day after an attack in San Bernardino, California, killed 14 people.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa., right, walks towards the Senate on Capitol Hill, Monday, June 20, 2016 in Washington

Murphy's rejected proposal would widely expand the requirement for background checks, even to many private gun transactions, leaving few loopholes.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, defeated plan increased money for the background check system. Like Murphy's measure, it prodded states to send more records to the FBI, which operates the background check system, of felons and others barred from buying guns.

Grassley's proposal also revamped language prohibiting some people with mental health issues from buying a gun. Democrats claimed that language would roll back current protections.

Monday's votes were 53-47 for Grassley's plan, 44-56 for Murphy's, 53-47 for Cornyn's and 47-53 for Feinstein's  all short of the 60 needed.
Cosby, due in court in July, again hopes to question accuser

PHILADELPHIA (AP)  Bill Cosby will return to a Pennsylvania courtroom next month as he tries again to question his accuser in a sexual assault case before it is sent to trial.

The entertainer is slated to be in a suburban Philadelphia court on July 7 over the decade-old complaint involving former Temple University employee Andrea Constand.

Cosby is accused of drugging and molesting Constand in 2004. He insisted their encounter was consensual.

A lower-court judge upheld criminal sex-assault charges last month after prosecutors offered Constand's 2005 police statement as evidence at the preliminary hearing. Pennsylvania law currently allows the use of such hearsay testimony early on. However, the state Supreme Court is reviewing the issue.

Defense lawyers want the right to cross-examine Constand at the pretrial stage. Common Pleas Judge Steven T. O'Neill has agreed to weigh the request, scheduling the hearing to determine if Cosby was properly held for trial.

Prosecutors in a filing Monday said the defense has no right to "prematurely attack" Constand at a preliminary hearing. They noted that an accuser's credibility is not an issue at that stage.

Cosby, 78, remains free on $1 million bail. O'Neill has not yet set a trial date.

Also Monday, the state Supreme Court again turned down Cosby's appeal over the legality of the charges. Cosby argued that he had a deal with a former prosecutor that he would never be charged over Constand's complaint.
Jimmy Carter: World at "turning point," must commit to peace

ATLANTA (AP)  Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter said Monday that the world is at a "turning point in history" and governments must choose policies of peace and human rights over war and human suffering.

Carter's remarks opened a forum of human rights workers hosted by The Carter Center in Atlanta, attended by more than 60 global activists.

Carter, 91, said military actions, human rights violations and restrictions on freedom have inspired the spread of violent extremist groups. He said even the peace-focused mission of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Humans Rights adopted by the UN in 1948 "have been abandoned by the world."

FILE - In a Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016 file photo, former US President Jimmy Carter listens during a video interview with the Associated Press via a laptop at a hotel in London. Carter said Monday, June 20, 2016, that the world is at a turning point in history and must choose policies of peace and human rights over war and suffering. Carters remarks on Monday opened a forum of human rights workers hosted by The Carter Center in Atlanta.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

"What is needed now, more than ever, is leadership that steers us away from fear and fosters greater confidence in the inherent goodness and ingenuity of humanity," Carter said.

Global leaders must decrease the use of what Carter called "state-sanctioned violence," he said, from drone attacks to the development or upgrading of nuclear weapons. The death penalty allows government to use violence as a punishment for crime, he said. Carter also specifically criticized the use of religion and culture to justify violence against women and girls or exclusion of women from leadership of government or religions. The issue is a frequent concern for Carter, whose 2014 book "A Call to Action" focused on the subject.

Carter later referenced a Martin Luther King Jr. speech on the civil rights leader's opposition to the Vietnam War. King argued that he must speak against all violence to continue urging nonviolence in the civil rights movement, Carter said.

"He called on us to reject violence and its cycle of destruction," Carter said. "The world needs to heed his call today."

The group meeting at The Carter Center plans to develop a document calling for governments worldwide to recommit to human rights. Carter said he will deliver copies to President Barack Obama, congressional leaders and U.S. presidential candidates. He urged others to do the same in their home countries.

He said the Obama administration's landmark nuclear deal with Iran and normalized relations with Cuba are "hopeful examples" to celebrate. But he called the U.S. "complicit" in government oppression by providing financial support in Egypt, Honduras and other places.
The Latest: Coral bleaching likely to last through 2016

HONOLULU (AP)  The Latest on consecutive years of global coral bleaching, which has led to widespread mortality of reefs (all times local):

11 a.m.

Federal officials say global coral bleaching that began in 2014 with a super-charged El Nino is ongoing, and now the longest-lasting and largest such event ever recorded.

This May 2016 photo provided by NOAA shows bleaching and some dead coral around Jarvis Island, which is part of the U.S. Pacific Remote Marine National Monument. Scientists found 95 percent of the coral is dead in what had been one of the worlds most lush and isolated tropical marine reserve. More than 2,000 international reef scientists, policymakers and stakeholders are gathering in Hawaii starting Monday, June 20, 2016, to discuss the latest coral science and what can be done to stop widespread death of the world's reefs. (Bernardo Vargas-Angel/NOAA via AP)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials announced Monday the bleaching is expected to continue through 2016, its third year. Bleaching is a sign of stress after dramatic environmental change.

While forecasters predict a change from a warm El Nino to cooling La Nina conditions this year, the impacts of the warmer waters over the past two years is taking its toll.

NOAA officials say Palau and other Pacific islands in Micronesia face the biggest threats. Those islands are dependent on reefs for sustenance and tourism.

The International Coral Reef Symposium began Monday in Honolulu, where officials made the announcement.

Oahus Hanauma Bay on Wednesday, May 6, 2016 near Honolulu. Much of the inner reef at Hanauma Bay is dead after decades of tourist interaction, but the outter reef is still relatively healthy. More than 2,000 international reef scientists, policymakers and stakeholders are gathering in Hawaii starting Monday, June 20, 2016, to discuss the latest coral science and what can be done to stop widespread death of the world's reefs. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)

A man rests his hand on a dead reef as he snorkels in Oahus Hanauma Bay on Wednesday, May 6, 2016 near Honolulu. Much of the inner reef at Hanauma Bay is dead after decades of tourist interaction, but the outer reef is still relatively healthy. The International Coral Reef Symposium convenes Monday, June 20, 2016, to try to create a more unified conservation plan for coral reefs. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)

This May 2016 photo provided by NOAA shows bleaching and some dead coral around Jarvis Island, which is part of the U.S. Pacific Remote Marine National Monument. Scientists found 95 percent of the coral is dead in what had been one of the worlds most lush and isolated tropical marine reserve. Researchers finishing an emergency U.S. government undersea expedition described what they called a graveyard of coral around Jarvis Island in the Pacific Remote Island Marine National Monument. Normally, a unique ocean current brings cold water up from the deep to make that underwater region vibrant with coral, nutrients, fish and sharks. (Bernardo Vargas-Angel/NOAA via AP)

Oahus Hanauma Bay on Wednesday, May 6, 2016 near Honolulu. Much of the inner reef at Hanauma Bay is dead after decades of tourist interaction, but the outter reef is still relatively healthy. More than 2,000 international reef scientists, policymakers and stakeholders are gathering in Hawaii starting Monday, June 20, 2016, to discuss the latest coral science and what can be done to stop widespread death of the world's reefs.(AP Photo/Caleb Jones)
Global coral bleaching event expected to last through 2016

HONOLULU (AP)  After the most powerful El Nino on record heated the world's oceans to never-before-seen levels, huge swaths of once vibrant coral reefs that were teeming with life are now stark white ghost towns disintegrating into the sea.

And the world's top marine scientists are still struggling in the face of global warming and decades of devastating reef destruction to find the political and financial wherewithal to tackle the loss of these globally important ecosystems.

The International Coral Reef Symposium convened Monday to try to create a more unified conservation plan for coral reefs.

In a Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016 photo, rare species of Hawaiian coral being used to create a seed bank grows in a tank at the Anuenue Fisheries Research Centers coral nursery in Honolulu. Most of Hawaiis species of coral is unlike other coral around the world in that it grows very slowly, making restoration projects for endangered reefs in the state difficult. But state officials have come with a plan to grow large chunks of coral in a fraction of the time it would normally take. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)

Federal officials said Monday the global coral bleaching event that began in 2014 with a super-charged El Nino is ongoing and is now the longest-lasting and largest such event ever recorded.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials said that the event is expected to continue for its third year, lasting at least until the end of 2016.

While forecasters predict a change from El Nino to La Nina conditions, much of the warm water will remain in place or shift to other regions throughout the rest of the year.

All of the reef areas in the northern hemisphere  which includes almost all of the reefs in the United States  will experience another season of bleaching, said Mark Eakin, coordinator for NOAA's Coral Reef Watch program. Eakin noted that places like Hawaii and Florida have already had two consecutive years of severe bleaching, and a third is reason for concern.

"It's not likely to be as severe as last year according to the models, but time will tell," said Eakin. "It's very important for the managers to be ready for the fact that this may be a third year of bleaching."

Consecutive years of coral bleaching have led to some of the most widespread mortality of reefs on record, leaving scientists in a race to save them. While bleached coral often recovers, multiple years weakens the organisms and increases the risk of death.

Eakin said Palau and other Pacific islands in Micronesia face the biggest threats as warm waters push westward. Those islands are dependent on their reefs for both sustenance and the economic value of tourism.

"Local conservation buys us time, but it isn't enough," said Jennifer Koss, NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program director. "Globally, we need to better understand what actions we all can take to combat the effects of climate change."

"What we have to do is to really translate the urgency," said Ruth Gates, president of the International Society for Reef Studies and director of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology.

Gates, who helped organize the conference in Honolulu for more than 2,000 international reef scientists, policymakers and others, said the scientific community needs to make it clear how "intimately reef health is intertwined with human health."

She said researchers have to find a way to implement large scale solutions with the help of governments.

Researchers have achieved some success with projects such as creating coral nurseries and growing forms of "super coral" that can withstand harsher conditions. But much of that science is being done on a very small scale with limited funding.

Bob Richmond, director of the University of Hawaii's Kewalo Marine Laboratory, said the problems are very clear: "overfishing of reef herbivores and top predators, land-based sources of pollution and sedimentation, and the continued and growing impacts of climate change."

While reefs are major contributors to many coastal tourist economies, saving the world's coral isn't just about having pretty places for vacationers to explore. Reefs are integral to the overall ecosystem and are an essential component of everyday human existence.

Reefs not only provide habitat for most ocean fish consumed by humans, but they also shelter land from storm surges and rising sea levels. Coral has even been found to have medicinal properties.

In one project to help save reefs, researchers at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology have been taking samples from corals that have shown tolerance for harsher conditions in Oahu's Kaneohe Bay and breeding them with other strong strains in slightly warmer than normal conditions to create a super coral.

The idea is to make the corals more resilient by training them to adapt to tougher conditions before transplanting them into the ocean.

Another program run by the state of Hawaii has created seed banks and a fast-growing coral nursery for expediting coral restoration projects.

Most of Hawaii's species of coral are unlike other corals around the world in that they grow very slowly, which makes reef rebuilding in the state difficult. So officials came up with a plan to grow large chunks of coral in a fraction of the time it would normally take.

Coral reefs have almost always been studied up close, by scientists in the water looking at small portions of reefs.

But NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is taking a wider view, from about 23,000 feet above. NASA and other scientists recently launched a three-year campaign to gather new data on coral reefs worldwide. They are using specially designed imaging instruments attached to aircraft.

"The idea is to get a new perspective on coral reefs from above, to study them at a larger scale than we have been able to before, and then relate reef condition to the environment," said Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences' Eric Hochberg, principal investigator for the project.

If the scientific community and the world's governments can't come together to address coral's decline, one of earth's most critical habitats could soon be gone, leaving humans to deal with the unforeseen consequences.

"What happens if we don't take care of our reefs?" asked Gates. "It's dire."

___

Follow Caleb Jones on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CalebAP Find more of his work at http://bigstory.ap.org/journalist/caleb-jones

This May 2016 photo provided by NOAA shows bleaching and some dead coral around Jarvis Island, which is part of the U.S. Pacific Remote Marine National Monument. Scientists found 95 percent of the coral is dead in what had been one of the worlds most lush and isolated tropical marine reserve. More than 2,000 international reef scientists, policymakers and stakeholders are gathering in Hawaii starting Monday, June 20, 2016, to discuss the latest coral science and what can be done to stop widespread death of the world's reefs. (Bernardo Vargas-Angel/NOAA via AP)

Oahus Hanauma Bay on Wednesday, May 6, 2016 near Honolulu. Much of the inner reef at Hanauma Bay is dead after decades of tourist interaction, but the outter reef is still relatively healthy. More than 2,000 international reef scientists, policymakers and stakeholders are gathering in Hawaii starting Monday, June 20, 2016, to discuss the latest coral science and what can be done to stop widespread death of the world's reefs. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)

A man rests his hand on a dead reef as he snorkels in Oahus Hanauma Bay on Wednesday, May 6, 2016 near Honolulu. Much of the inner reef at Hanauma Bay is dead after decades of tourist interaction, but the outer reef is still relatively healthy. The International Coral Reef Symposium convenes Monday, June 20, 2016, to try to create a more unified conservation plan for coral reefs. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)

This May 2016 photo provided by NOAA shows bleaching and some dead coral around Jarvis Island, which is part of the U.S. Pacific Remote Marine National Monument. Scientists found 95 percent of the coral is dead in what had been one of the worlds most lush and isolated tropical marine reserve. Researchers finishing an emergency U.S. government undersea expedition described what they called a graveyard of coral around Jarvis Island in the Pacific Remote Island Marine National Monument. Normally, a unique ocean current brings cold water up from the deep to make that underwater region vibrant with coral, nutrients, fish and sharks. (Bernardo Vargas-Angel/NOAA via AP)
S.B. 536, on Monday's Senate calendar, is part of trend in providing more information about benefits and costs of college degrees

Recent conflict

RALEIGH A bill that would increase access to information about the costs, benefits, and consequences of college degrees available in North Carolina passed the state House on Wednesday by a vote of 101-16 and has been placed on Monday's Senate calendar. Senate Bill 536 , "Students Know Before You Go and Central Residency," instructs the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority to build a website providing college applicants information about the potential costs and benefits of receiving a degree from any community college, public university, or private institution in the state. The data to be outlined for each institution will include graduation and transfer rates, percentage of students receiving financial aid, average and median amount of loan debt upon graduation, and percentage of graduates employed within six-months of graduation - to name a few.The site also will include data about the state's employment needs and salary ranges. All information will be obtained from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.In addition to college transparency rules, the bill also includes provisions that would, starting in the coming academic year, streamline the state's process for confirming a student's in-state public tuition and scholarship qualifications. Under current law, individual University of North Carolina institutions are responsible for determining if an applicant qualifies as a state resident, and is eligible for special financial assistance.The version of S.B. 536 the Senate is set to consider Monday differs from the one that passed that body earlier this year, so the Senate has been asked to concur with the current version. If it does, the bill will go to Gov. Pat McCrory for his signature. If not, the differing versions will have to be reconciled by a conference committee and pass both legislative bodies before the end of the short session, which is expected to adjourn before the end of June.If S.B. 536 becomes law, the transparency measure would take effect in April 2017, and would see North Carolina join a handful of other states that over the last few years successfully have passed legislation intended to provide college applicants more information of costs, risks, and potential returns on investment.Those states include California, Connecticut, Maryland, and Michigan. While Maryland and Michigan lawmakers focused their regulations on for-profit schools only, California and Connecticut have passed transparency laws that - like S.B. 536 - apply to public and private institutions.Similarly, Minnesota's state legislature in 2015 introduced legislation that would require private, for-profit institutions to provide potential students with graduation and job placement rates, as well as information about credit transferability. That bill is in a state Senate committee.While S.B. 536 passed the House without much debate, Rep. William Richardson, D-Cumberland, raised objections based on what he said was a precedent for legislative interference in a process that should be handled by the the state's public and private university systems.Richardson said.Richardson added that he thought the legislature should stay out of it and "let the people who know what they're doing do it."Richardson's statement reflects a record of somewhat tense relations between the General Assembly and the UNC Board of Governors due to a complicated power dynamic that placed both entities at odds over various issues last year.The controversy began in October 2015, when former BOG chair John Fennebresque attempted to sidestep a law passed by the General Assembly requiring more transparency during UNC's presidential search process. Board members called for Fennebresque's resignation, and he stepped down shortly thereafter. More conflict ensued later in the year when the board - under the leadership of current chairman Lou Bissette - held a closed session vote to give 12 campus chancellors pay hikes. Board members told lawmakers that the votes were sensitive personnel issues, but that claim was challenged by Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, and House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, who issued a legal request to review minutes, agendas, and audio recordings from the Oct. 30 meeting. Berger and Moore also called Bissette before the Governmental Operations Commission to provide further explanation of the board's actions.The board since has made efforts to increase transparency, and UNC President Margaret Spellings has stated publicly that improving relations with the legislature is one of her top priorities.Interested in reading about other higher education issues? Learn about the debate over a plan to increase UNC's graduation rates and improve educational achievement via the state's community college system, here
Illinois measure would create advisory council for Muslims

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP)  Illinois could become the first state in the U.S. with a law giving Muslim-Americans a formal voice in state government.

The Chicago Tribune (http://trib.in/28JwKq2 ) reports that a bill approved by the Legislature would create a 21-member Illinois Muslim-American Advisory Council. It's awaiting Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's signature. The governor's office said he's reviewing it.

Muslim leaders said it would send a welcoming message to Muslims. The governor and legislative leaders would appoint council members.

Kareem Irfan, a Chicago lawyer who led an earlier version of the council under Gov. Pat Quinn, said it would be good to have a lasting institutional body so the community is not subject to the whims of each governor.

"Given all that is going on with the misinterpretation about Islam and the interests and concerns of the Muslim-American community, it's almost obligatory on behalf of a governor of this state and all governors to have such a body," Irfan said.

Democratic Sen. Jacqueline Collins, a co-sponsor of the bill, said she hopes the council will be the first of many efforts to ensure that the governor considers minority perspectives.

Republican Rep. Barbara Wheeler voted against the bill last month. She said lawmakers shouldn't be wasting their time on "feel-good" legislation when Illinois is approaching one year without a state budget.
Things to know about coral reefs and their importance

HONOLULU (AP)  More than 2,000 international reef scientists, policymakers and stakeholders are gathering in Hawaii this week to discuss what to do about the global decline of coral reefs. The International Coral Reef Symposium convened Monday in Honolulu, where attendees will try to create a more unified conservation plan for coral reefs.

Here's a look at what coral is, what role it plays in human life and what might happen if more of these important ecosystems are lost:

WHAT ARE CORAL REEFS

Oahus Hanauma Bay on Wednesday, May 6, 2016 near Honolulu. Much of the inner reef at Hanauma Bay is dead after decades of tourist interaction, but the outter reef is still relatively healthy. More than 2,000 international reef scientists, policymakers and stakeholders are gathering in Hawaii starting Monday, June 20, 2016, to discuss the latest coral science and what can be done to stop widespread death of the world's reefs. (AP Photo/Caleb Jones)

Corals are animals related to jellyfish and anemones. The organisms grow and form reefs in oceans around the world. Coral reefs support the most species of any marine environment, hosting countless kinds of fish, invertebrates and even mammals. Coral reefs are comparable to rainforests in their biodiversity and importance to our overall ecosystem. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there are over 800 species of coral that build reefs and hundreds of other soft and deep-sea coral species in the world.

BLEACHING AND MORTALITY

When dramatic environmental changes occur, corals go through a process known as bleaching. Essentially, the corals become stressed, often from warmer water temperatures but also from things like pollution and acidification, and then release the symbiotic algae that they use for nutrition. The loss of these symbionts leaves the coral white or paler in color, a sure sign the organism is stressed. If the bleaching is severe or recurs over consecutive years, the coral will likely die. Some coral has shown resilience in warmer and more stressful conditions, and scientists are working to figure out why some do better than others.

HUMAN USES

Coral reefs are huge drivers for many coastal tourist economies, bringing in billions of dollars of revenue annually. Many vacationers come to the tropics just to snorkel and dive on pristine reefs. But what many people don't know are the myriad of other ways humans benefit from coral reefs. Reefs shelter land from storm surges and rising sea levels. Coral has even been found to have medicinal properties, including painkillers that are non-habit forming. Beyond that, coral reefs are home to the vast majority of fish that humans consume, and some island nations rely almost entirely on the reef for their daily sustenance.

SAVING REEFS

Researchers at the University of Hawaii's Institute of Marine Biology have been taking samples from corals that have shown tolerance for harsher conditions in Oahu's Kaneohe Bay and breeding them with other strong strains in slightly warmer than normal conditions to create a super coral. The idea is to make the corals more resilient by training them to adapt to tougher conditions before transplanting them into the ocean. Another program run by the state of Hawaii has created seed banks and a fast-growing coral nursery for expediting coral restoration projects. Officials came up with a plan to grow large chunks of coral in a fraction of the time it would normally take. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is taking a wider view, recently launching a three-year campaign to gather new data on coral reefs from aircraft flying at about 23,000 feet above the ocean.

Oahus Hanauma Bay on Wednesday, May 6, 2016 near Honolulu. Much of the inner reef at Hanauma Bay is dead after decades of tourist interaction, but the outter reef is still relatively healthy. More than 2,000 international reef scientists, policymakers and stakeholders are gathering in Hawaii starting Monday, June 20, 2016, to discuss the latest coral science and what can be done to stop widespread death of the world's reefs.(AP Photo/Caleb Jones)
Trump's campaign fundraising falling far short of Clinton's

WASHINGTON (AP)  By any measure, Donald Trump's fundraising is falling far short of his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

Together, Trump and the Republican National Committee brought in about $18.6 million in May, including another loan from the candidate. Clinton and the Democratic National Committee raised more than double that. His campaign started June with $1.3 million in the bank; hers, with $42 million.

Wealthy Clinton donors also chipped in another $12 million for a super PAC supporting her, while one backing Trump pulled in just over $1 million.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, shouts to Secret Service agents that supporter Diana Brest, right, had been waiting in line since 2 a.m. to see the candidate speak at a rally Saturday, June 18, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Here are the highlights of the most recent fundraising reports in the 2016 federal elections:

___

TRUMP AND GOP CASH SLOW

Neither Trump nor his party saw an immediate fundraising boost last month, even though he emerged victorious on May 4 after a primary contest once crowded with 16 opponents.

Donors gave just over $3 million to Trump's campaign. The billionaire businessman lent his effort another $2.2 million, bringing his total outlay over the past year to about $46 million.

The RNC  which Trump says he is counting on to provide much of his general election operations  took in about $13 million last month. That's about what it raised in April, without a presidential candidate to generate fundraising enthusiasm.

The party began June with about $20 million in the bank and $7 million in debt. By comparison, four years ago, the RNC began June with about $60 million in the bank. In May 2012, presumptive nominee Mitt Romney and the RNC raised more than $76 million, about quadruple this May's haul.

The figures appear to undercut Trump's comments that money is "pouring in" to the party.

___

TRUMP PACS

Great America PAC, one of several groups that say they want to help Trump win the White House, took in $1.4 million last month, the most it has raised so far.

One of its top donors was Stanley Hubbard, a Minnesota-based broadcasting executive who decided to back Trump after putting money behind many of his GOP rivals in the primary contest. He gave $25,000. Douglas Kimmelman, an investment manager at Energy Capital Partners, gave $50,000.

The super PAC also benefited from about $83,000 in donated television production by Rapid Response Television, which lists an address in Stafford, Texas.

Most of the other pro-Trump groups were not due to file Monday, having either just formed recently or being subject to a different reporting schedule.

___

CLINTON MONEY

Clinton's campaign raised more than $26 million in May, her fundraising report shows.

Throughout May, Clinton was embroiled in a primary contest with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, and she spent about $14 million, the May report shows.

For his part, Sanders raised $16.4 million and spent $12.9 million last month. He started June with $9.2 million in cash, which was better than he did in April, when he ended the month with only $5.7 million on hand.

Clinton also had a hand in bringing in money for the DNC in May.

The committee reported raising $12.3 million, but continued to report millions in debt. At the start of this month, the committee reported about $9 million cash on hand, but it also reported $7.9 million in debt.

Additionally, a super PAC helping Clinton's general election effort raised $12 million in May.

Some of that group's biggest contributors include billionaire financier Donald Sussman of New York, who gave $2 million, and Chicago media billionaire Fred Eychaner, who gave $3 million. New York financier Bernard Schwartz contributed $1 million.

___

SENATE CASH

Donors are beginning to give big to efforts beyond the presidential race.

On the Republican side, the Freedom Partners Action Fund, a political group led by conservative billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch, collected $8 million, mostly in large donations, last month. Among the key donors: Charles Koch, who gave $3 million; Wisconsin roofing company executive Diane Hendricks, who gave $2 million; and Virginia developer Richard Gillam, who gave $1 million. Arkansas-based poultry company Mountaire Corporation contributed $2 million.

Freedom Partners is focusing on retaining the Republican Senate majority. The group has already produced ads against Democratic candidates Ted Strickland in Ohio and Russ Feingold in Wisconsin, among others, and began June with almost $14 million in available cash.

Democratic super PACs active in the House and Senate races include House Majority PAC and Senate Majority PAC. Eychaner gave $2 million to each group. Hollywood billionaire Haim Saban gave $1 million to the Senate Majority PAC, which raised a total of $4.7 over the month and had about $11.4 million as of June 1. House Majority PAC raised almost $3 million in May and began this month with just under $12 million in the bank.

___
Strike, marches in Bolivia against Morales' government

LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP)  Large crowds have taken to the streets of Bolivia's capital to protest against the government of President Evo Morales in a strike observed by sectors including public schoolteachers and health workers.

Thousands of people marched in central La Paz on Monday, setting off small dynamite charges that are used for mining and easily obtained in the country.

The protesters are demanding the revocation of a decree by Morales to close a bankrupt state factory, leaving 800 people jobless. They're also calling for an alliance between the Bolivian Workers' Union and the president to be broken.

A miner shouts slogans while he holds sticks of dynamite during a protest in downtown La Paz, Bolivia, Monday, June 20, 2016. The Central Workers Union has called a strike against the government of President Evo Morales in the first break between the powerful worker's union and the president. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Monday's marches were the first union protest against the government in seven years.

The government called on the strikers to negotiate with officials, but discarded revoking the decree to close the factory.

A miner lights a stick of dynamite during a protest in downtown La Paz, Bolivia, Monday, June 20, 2016. The Central Workers Union has called a strike against the government of President Evo Morales in the first break between the powerful worker's union and the president. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Bolivian miners cover their ears before the explosion of a stick of dynamite detonation during a protest in downtown La Paz, Bolivia, Monday, June 20, 2016. The Central Workers Union has called a strike against the government of President Evo Morales in the first break between the powerful worker's union and the president. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Miners cover their ears as a stick dynamite detonates on the street during a protest in downtown La Paz, Bolivia, Monday, June 20, 2016. The Central Workers Union has called a strike against the government of President Evo Morales in the first break between the powerful worker's union and the president. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Wearing Bolivian flags on their helmets, miners shouts slogans while one of them holds a couple of sticks of dynamite, during a protest in downtown La Paz, Bolivia, Monday, June 20, 2016. The Central Workers Union has called a strike against the government of President Evo Morales in the first break between the powerful worker's union and the president. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

Workers march during a protest in downtown La Paz, Bolivia, Monday, June 20, 2016. The Central Workers Union has called a strike against the government of President Evo Morales in the first break between the powerful worker's union and the president. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Star Trek's Anton Yelchin killed by his own car in drive

Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin was killed when he was struck by his own car, police have said.

The American actor, 27, was hit by the vehicle as it rolled backwards down his drive in Studio City, California, according to Los Angeles police officer Jenny Hosier.

The car pinned Yelchin against a brick letterbox pillar and a security fence.

Anton Yelchin is best known for playing Pavel Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek films (AP)

He had got out of the car, but police did not say why he was behind it when it started rolling.

Yelchin was on his way to meet friends for a rehearsal, Ms Hosier said. When he did not arrive, the group went to his house and found him dead.

Yelchin started his acting career with parts in indie films and television shows such as Judging Amy and The Practice before getting his big break in 2006 crime thriller Alpha Dog.

He is best known for playing Pavel Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek films.

The actor is in the third film in the franchise, Star Trek Beyond, which is due to be released in the UK next month.

Several celebrities have paid tribute to Yelchin on Twitter following the accident on Sunday morning.

His Star Trek co-star Zachary Quinto wrote: "Our dear friend. our comrade. our anton. one of the most open and intellectually curious people i have ever had the pleasure to know. so enormously talented and generous of heart. wise beyond his years. and gone before his time. all love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief."

Actor John Cho, who also appears in the films, said: "I loved Anton Yelchin so much. He was a true artist - curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. I'm in ruins."

Justin Lin, director of Star Trek Beyond, said: "Still in shock. Rest in peace, Anton. Your passion and enthusiasm will live on with everyone that had the pleasure of knowing you."

Actress Anna Kendrick wrote: "This is unreal. Anton Yelchin is such a talent. Such a huge loss."

Night Manager actor Tom Hiddleston tweeted: "Absolutely devastated to hear about Anton Yelchin. He was such a gifted, natural actor & a deeply kind man. My thoughts are with his family."

Little Britain star Matt Lucas said Yelchin was "an amazing actor".

Glee actor Kevin McHale said: "Anton Yelchin has always been one of my favorite actors. I've seen every movie. This is awful. Im so sorry for his family & friends."

Yelchin, an only child, was born in Russia. His parents were professional figure skaters who moved the family to the United States when Yelchin was a baby.
Accountant wins legal case against cousin over Scottish baronetcy

An accountant has won a legal fight over a Scottish baronetcy in one of the most unusual disputes seen in a UK court.

Accountant Murray Pringle, who is in his 70s and comes from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and businessman Simon Pringle, who is in his 50s and lives near Hastings, East Sussex, had both laid claim to the baronetcy of Pringle of Stichill.

Seven judges have analysed evidence at hearings of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London - and on Monday ruled in favour of Murray Pringle.

Murray Pringle outside the Supreme Court in London, where he and Simon Pringle were involved in a legal dispute claiming rights to the baronetcy of Pringle of Stichill

The Queen had asked judges for a ruling under a piece of legislation dating back more than 150 years.

Judges had heard that Charles II granted the baronetcy of Stichill - a village near Kelso, Roxburghshire - to Robert Pringle of Stichill and the ''male heirs from his body'' on January 5 1683.

The 10th baronet, Sir Steuart Pringle - a retired Royal Marines commander who survived an IRA bomb attack - died in 2013 aged 84.

His son, Simon Pringle, and Murray Pringle - Simon Pringle's second cousin - disagreed over who should claim the title.

Murray Pringle said Simon Pringle should not become the 11th baronet because there had been a ''break in the line of paternity''.

His lawyers said tests had shown that Sir Steuart's DNA ''did not match that of the Pringle lineage''.

They had suggested that the problem arose following the death of the 8th baronet, Sir Norman Pringle, in 1919.

Judges were told that Sir Norman and his wife Florence had three sons, Norman, Ronald - Murray's father - and James.

In 1920 Florence Pringle made a formal statutory declaration saying Norman was the eldest son of the 8th baronet and was entitled to succeed to the baronetcy.

But Murray Pringle argues the 8th baronet was not Norman's father and claimed that, as Ronald's son, he was the rightful successor.

Lawyers for Simon Pringle disputed Murray Pringle's claim.

Simon Pringle had said his father and mother - Lady Jacqueline Pringle, who died in 2012 - had hoped the dispute would be solved in their lifetimes.

He had said he was glad that judges had been asked for a ruling.

The jurisdiction of the Privy Council dates back hundreds of years. Its judicial committee heard appeals from countries in the British Empire.

The committee - now normally made up of a panel of Supreme Court justices - still acts as a final court of appeal for Commonwealth countries which have no supreme court.

The committee can also analyse other kinds of dispute, and the Queen can refer ''any matter'' to the committee for ''consideration and report'' under section 4 of the 1833 Judicial Committee Act.

Judges had analysed evidence in the baronetcy case at a hearing of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London in November.

All the judges involved in the case are Supreme Court justices and hearings were staged in the Supreme Court building.

Judges said, in a ruling, that DNA evidence demonstrated to "a high degree of probability" that Norman was not the son of the 8th baronet - and they said there was no legal ground for excluding DNA evidence.

On that basis they had concluded that Simon Pringle was not the "heir male" of the 1st baronet.

They said Murray Pringle was the grandson of the 8th baronet and the "heir male" of the 1st baronet and was therefore entitled to succeed.

Judges suggested that their ruling would have implications.

One judge, Lord Hodge, said the case raised "a question of general importance" about the use of DNA evidence "to challenge an apparent heir's entitlement to succeed to a title or to property by its exposure of irregular occurrences in previous generations of a family".

"In the past, the absence of scientific evidence meant that the presumption of legitimacy could rarely be rebutted and claims based on assertions that irregular procreations had occurred in the distant past were particularly difficult to establish," he said.

"Not so now."

He added: "It is not for (us) to express any view on what social policy should be. (We note) the ability of DNA evidence to reopen a family succession many generations into the past. Whether this is a good thing and whether legal measures are needed to protect property transactions in the past, the rights of the perceived beneficiary of a trust of property, and the long established expectations of a family, are questions for others to consider."

Judges said they felt sympathy for Sir Steuart Pringle and his son Simon Pringle.

Lord Hodge added: "(We) cannot conclude without expressing sympathy for the late Sir Steuart Pringle, a distinguished officer, who faced an unwelcome challenge in his autumnal years, and also Simon Robert Pringle, the heir presumptive, who had grown up in the belief that his father was rightfully the tenth baronet and that he would in time succeed to the baronetcy."

Simon Pringle said, in a statement released through his solicitor Nick Stotesbury - who works for Bachelors Solicitors, that he had no complaints about the decision.

"I want to congratulate Murray for winning the verdict and express the hope that he and his successors will wear the title as honourably as my father," said Simon Pringle.

"This was a horrible ordeal for my parents and the result is the opposite of the one they would have wanted."

He added: "I have no complaints about either the process or the decision."
Lack of hospital beds harming patients, doctors warn

Patients are being harmed because there are not enough hospital beds, leading doctors have said.

UK hospitals are "bulging at the seams", the British Medical Association's (BMA) annual representative meeting in Belfast heard.

The UK is lagging behind Romania, Austria, France , Germany and Belgium in terms of bed numbers, doctors said.

The UK is lagging behind Romania, Austria, France, Germany and Belgium in terms of bed numbers, doctors said

Representatives at the meeting said that the dwindling number of beds needs to be "urgently re-evaluated".

Dr Michael Hardingham, an ear, nose and throat surgeon, from Cheltenham, said: " Patients are being harmed because they are being sent home as there are no beds available."

Presenting a motion, which claimed " trends in reducing hospital beds have gone too far and need to be urgently re-evaluated", Dr Hardingham said: "For those of us who work in surgical wards, we know only too well what it's like to come in in the morning and find orthopaedic outliers, which means one can't get one's own patients into beds and have to send them home.

"I have been working long enough to remember that working in the 1960s, I would say that probably then, I did at least twice as many cases in a day's work, possibly three times, and this is largely due to difficulties with beds.

"The recovery wards get blocked up because they can't move people out into the hospital beds, and so patients who have been booked just have to be sent home.

"Paediatrics patients and their families often have to travel long distances to a bed, particular when there are epidemics.

"I move for more beds. Let's stop having these black alerts, which must constantly plague general practitioners in trying to get hospital patients into their local hospitals."

Dr Mary McCarthy, a GP from Shropshire, added: " Hospital beds in the UK have been steadily eroded without the corresponding increase in social care that is needed to support this move.

"The UK has less than 300 beds per 100,000 population and in Shropshire, where I am, it's less than 200.

"In the Irish Republic a few miles south of here it's about 500, in Belgium it's over 650, in France it's over 700, in Germany it's over 800, in Austria it's over 700, in Romania it's over 600.

"Do we really need to keep cutting beds? Are we not finding that our hospitals are bulging at the seams with people who should be there but are discharged home too early and unsafely?"

An overwhelming majority of delegates at the meeting voted in favour of the motion.

Dr Mark Porter, chairman of council at the BMA, said: "In theory, reducing the number of acute beds may appear beneficial as the NHS can supposedly exploit the reductions in length of stay to help treat more patients.

"However, this can be taken too far. If average bed occupancy goes up above about 85% there can be a rise in the risk of cross infection between patients, and it is less likely that an appropriate bed will be available for acute patients as they come in.

"This latter will lead to increased waits for an appropriate bed or being admitted to an inappropriate ward, for example with knock-on effects whereby another patient might have elective surgery postponed.

"While this policy might make sense if you are looking for short-term cuts, it can have serious implications for quality and cost of care in the longer term.

"We need to carefully monitor the number of beds available and ensure that we are putting patients first when it comes to deciding how many beds are available in the NHS."

A spokesman for NHS England said: "It is important that patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

"The hospital is not a home and we know that, when given the choice, patients often prefer to receive care as close to their home as possible.

"It is for local NHS leaders to determine the best mix of care for the populations they serve - they will rightly consider community and home care as well as hospital beds."

Commenting on the BMA motion, Mike Adamson, chief executive at the British Red Cross, said: "Increasing more beds alone will not help solve this problem. This country is facing a social care crisis.

"Without the proper care systems in place to return people home, thousands of patients will continue to be stuck in limbo.

"No one chooses to be stuck on a hospital bed when they could be in their own homes, rebuilding their lives.

The Government has already set aside funds to be invested in health and social care. However, the bulk of this money won't be available for another two years.

"These funds are needed now - to support people who are currently stranded in hospital due to the gap in care provision and to help prevent thousands from being admitted to hospital in the first place."

Katherine Murphy, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: "At the very heart of the NHS is the ability to treat patients in a professional, caring and dignified manner. We can't do this if we are unable to provide patients with hospital beds. It is therefore of great concern to us to learn that there are fewer beds in English hospitals compared to other countries.

"Adequate funding is hugely important to the survival of the NHS. A lack of finances has inevitably resulted in withdrawal of services and bed shortages. This impacts on the NHS's ability to provide good-quality dignified patient care. Having a reduced number of available hospital beds results in long waiting lists, which in turn puts pressure on community services, as well as already overstretched A&E departments.
Drugs being designed to appeal to children, mother says after girls fall ill

A mother whose 16-year-old son died after taking ecstasy said that drugs are being designed to appeal to children after three 12-year-old girls were rushed to hospital after taking "Teddy Tablets".

Fiona Spargo-Mabbs, whose son Daniel died after taking MDMA at an illegal rave in London in 2014, said that children need more awareness on drugs.

On Saturday evening, the three girls were rushed to hospital in a serious condition after taking the tablets in Salford, Greater Manchester.

A mother said drugs are being designed to appeal to children

Mrs Spargo-Mabbs, from Croydon, south London, said conversations about drugs needed to be "open and frank".

Her son Daniel died of multiple organ failure three days after taking MDMA, or ecstasy, when he went to a rave in Hayes, west London. He was among five friends who had clubbed together 80 to buy the class A drug before the party.

She said: "It's just so awful, they are just so young. I know what it's like being in the hospital, the awfulness of not knowing. I'm so relieved that hopefully they are going to be OK."

Following Daniel's death, Mrs Spargo-Mabbs and her husband Tim set up the Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation to make youngsters aware of the dangers of drug abuse and take their drug awareness programmes into schools.

She added: "For most young people, even if they know it is ecstasy, they are not going to understand what that means. They look like sweets and are designed to appeal to kids - there has been ones shaped like Lego bricks, ones called Rockstar. They are designed to appeal to young people."

One of the girls was due to be discharged from hospital on Monday, while the other two remain in a stable condition.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a 22-year-old man and 21-year-old woman who were arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a controlled substance have been bailed until July 15.

They warned people to stay away from the party drug - which has already led to the death of a 22-year-old woman in recent weeks and a 17-year-old girl a few months ago.

Detective Chief Inspector Chris Walker, of GMP's Salford Borough, said: "The girls took a type of ecstasy described as 'Teddy Tablets'.

"It is imperative young people understand the implications and avoid taking drugs, to stop any more young people ending up in hospital."

Mrs Spargo-Mabbs added that she believed that young people were using ecstasy more because of its availability and cost, but stressed that the drugs were "much stronger".

She added that parents needed to keep conversations about drugs "open and frank" and said youngsters needed to be armed with life skills to be able to navigate peer pressure.

"It's just ecstasy in a different form but it has all the same risks. They have no kind of awareness how strong it is. A 12-year-old's body is really small and not able to cope."

Anyone in possession of illegal substances is urged to hand them in to police, chemists or medical practitioners.
House of Commons meets in 'heartbreaking sadness' to pay tribute to Jo Cox

The House of Commons has met in "heartbreaking sadness" and "heartfelt solidarity" to pay tribute to Jo Cox, Speaker John Bercow said as several MPs broke down in tears.

Mr Bercow said the killing of the Labour MP - "in this manner, of this person, our democratically elected colleague" - was " particularly shocking and repugnant" .

A single white rose was placed in Mrs Cox's usual place on the Labour benches while MPs of all sides wore the flower as a mark of respect.

A white and red rose lie on Jo Cox's empty seat in the House of Commons

Several of her Labour colleagues, including Heidi Alexander, Stephen Kinnock and Carolyn Harris, were in tears before Mr Bercow began the tributes.

Opening the recalled Commons session, Mr Bercow said: "Colleagues, we meet today in heartbreaking sadness but also in heartfelt solidarity.

"Any death in such awful circumstances is an outrage and a tragedy.

"Yet this death, in this manner, of this person, our democratically elected colleague Jo Cox, is particularly shocking and repugnant.

"All of us who came to know Jo during her all too short service in this House became swiftly aware of her outstanding qualities.

"She was caring, eloquent, principled and wise.

"Above all she was filled with and fuelled by love for humanity - devoted to her family and a relentless campaigner for equality, human rights and social justice.

"Jo was proud to be the member of Parliament for Batley and Spen, where she had her roots, and she was determined to live life to the full.

"She succeeded superbly.

"Jo was murdered in the course of her duty serving constituents in need.

"She fought for them, just as she fought for others at home and abroad who were victims of poverty, discrimination or injustice.

"An attack like this strikes not only at an individual but at our freedom.

"That is why we assemble here - both to honour Jo and to redouble our dedication to democracy."

In total silence, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was called to speak.

He said: "Last Thursday, Jo Cox was doing what all of us do - representing and serving the people who elected her.

"We have lost one of our own and our society has lost one of our very best.

"She spent her life serving and campaigning for other people - whether as a worker for Oxfam or for the anti-slavery charity the Freedom Fund, as a political activist and as a feminist.

"The horrific act that took her from us was an attack on democracy, and our whole country has been shocked and saddened by it.

"But in the days since, the country has also learnt something of the extraordinary humanity and compassion which drove her political activism and beliefs."

Mr Corbyn told the House Mrs Cox "believed in loving her neighbour's neighbour" and thought that "every life counted equally".

He said: "Her community and the whole country has been united in grief and united in rejecting the well of hatred that killed her in what increasingly appears to have been an act of extreme political violence.

"We are filled with sorrow for her husband Brendan and young children.

"They will never see her again but they can be so proud of everything she was, all she achieved and all she stood for as we are, as are her parents, as is her sister and her whole wider family."

The Labour leader also paid tribute to the "heroes" who tried to save Mrs Cox before urging MPs to change the way politics is conducted in the UK.

He said: "We need a kinder and gentler politics. This is not a factional party political point.

"We all have a responsibility in this House and beyond not to whip up hatred or sow division."

He added: "Today we remember Jo's compassion and a passion to create a better world and in her honour we recommit ourselves to that task."

Mrs Cox's husband, two young children and family were sat in the public gallery watching as the Prime Minister joined those paying tribute to Mrs Cox.

As MPs, who all wore the white rose of Mrs Cox's native Yorkshire, wiped away tears, David Cameron spoke of the sadness the country felt at the killing of the "loving, determined, passionate and progressive politician".

He said: "We are here today to remember an extraordinary colleague and friend. Jo Cox was a voice of compassion whose irrepressible spirit and boundless energy lit up the lives of all who knew her, and saved the lives of many she never, ever met.

"Today we grieve her loss, and we hold in our hearts and prayers her husband Brendan, her parents and sister, and her two children who are just three and five years-old.

"We express our anger at the sickening and despicable attack that killed her as she did her job serving her constituents on the streets of Birstall.

"Let me join the leader of the Opposition in his moving words in praising Bernard Kenny and all those who tried to save her.

"But above all in this House we pay tribute to a loving, determined, passionate and progressive politician, who epitomised the best of humanity and who proved so often the power of politics to make our world a better place."

Mr Cameron recalled first meeting Mrs Cox in 2006 in Darfur where she was an aid worker and "doing what she was so brilliant at - bravely working in one of the most dangerous parts of the world fighting for the lives of refugees".

He raised some laughter from the otherwise sombre chamber when he noted that her decision to meet him - he was then leader of the Conservative opposition - had not been welcomed by all her colleagues and friends.

He added: "But it was typical of her determination to reach across party lines on issues that she felt were so much more important than party politics.

"Jo was a humanitarian to her core - a passionate and brilliant campaigner whose grit and determination to fight for justice saw her time and time again driving issues up the agenda and making people listen and above all act."

Mr Cameron noted: "Quite simply, there are people on our planet today who are only here and alive because of Jo.

"Jo was a committed democrat and a passionate feminist. She spent years encouraging and supporting women around the world to stand for office long before she did so herself.

"When she herself was elected as an MP just over a year ago she said to one of her colleagues that she did not just want to be known for flying around the world tackling international issues but that she had a profound duty to stand up for the people of Batley and Spen.

"And she was absolutely as good as her word.

"As she said in her maiden speech, Jo was proud to be made in Yorkshire and to serve the area in which she had grown up.

"She belonged there and in a constituency of truly multi-ethnic, multi-faith communities, she made people feel they belonged too.

"Jo's politics were inspired by love and the outpouring and unity of tributes we've seen in the past few days show the extraordinary reach and impact of her message."

Mr Cameron quoted Mrs Cox in saying "we are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us".

He said Wednesday, which would have marked Mrs Cox's 42nd birthday, would see a global celebration of her life and values.

Mr Cameron went on: "Jo brought people together. She saw the best in people and brought out the best in them.

"A brave adventurer and a keen climber, she was never daunted.

"When most people hear of a place called the inaccessible pinnacle they leave it well alone - not Jo. She didn't just climb it, she abseiled down it and did so despite a bad case of morning sickness.

"And it was her irrepressible spirit which helped to give her such determination and focus in her politics too."

Tory MPs could also be seen in tears as the tributes were made to Mrs Cox.

Mr Cameron added: "May we and the generations of members that follow us in this House honour Jo's memory by proving that the democracy and freedoms Jo stood for are indeed unbreakable, by continuing to stand up for our constituents and by uniting against the hatred that killed her today and for evermore."

MPs, the press and the public united in a standing ovation as the highly-emotional tributes ended and parliamentarians filed out of the chamber in pairs to attend a prayer and remembrance service in St Margaret's Church - often referred to as the "parish church of the Commons".

Mr Corbyn and others waved to Mrs Cox's husband Brendan and their son in the public gallery.

Earlier Holly Lynch, Labour MP for Halifax, said Mrs Cox "was the very best of us" as she got up to speak of her fond memories of the late-MP, her hands trembling as she clutched her printed speech.

She said: "This will be the hardest speech I will ever give, however it wasn't difficult to write as there is just so much I wanted to say."

She added: "She may well have been small, but in politics, as in life, she packed a punch which was simply beyond measure.

"She came into this place with such passion and energy, from the very start she had a clarity about what she was here to achieve, about what needed to change, and she wasn't going to waste any time in getting on with it."

Ms Lynch said that when Mrs Cox spoke "people listened" because there was weight to what she said.

And as the MP's family watched from the public gallery above, she told how Mrs Cox spoke "candidly about the challenges of balancing a young family with the pressures of being a diligent and effective member of Parliament".

Ms Lynch raised a laugh from the chamber as she recalled that Mrs Cox was not "the easiest person to whip...certain late night votes were not as important as being there to put her children to bed".

The MP added: "She was a daughter of Yorkshire and she fought tirelessly for those who had put their faith in her."

She said Mrs Cox was often seen around Parliament in her cycling kit and trainers, and had recently been confiding in her about the "trials and tribulations" of her children having chicken pox.

She added: "The honourable member for Redcar told me that she will remember Jo as a comet - burning brightly, lighting up the dark, awe inspiring and giving off sparks of heat, light and positive energy wherever it goes. I cannot think of a better way of describing her.

"She was the heart and soul of these benches and we are heartbroken. We loved her every day and we will miss her every day. She inspired us all, and I swear that we will do everything in our power to make her and her family incredibly proud."

Former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said she got to know Mrs Cox after the 2010 general election when Mrs Cox was elected as chairwoman of the Labour Women's Network.

She said Mrs Cox would be a "great loss" to British politics.

"Her feminism, her solidarity with other women, was a thread that ran through her and all her work in her community and for humanitarian causes," she said.

"She always said to me emphatically that her children were her priority above everything.

"But there was no dividing line between Jo's maternal heart and her great political heart.

"Her children will grow up to know what an amazing woman their mother was.

"She is such a great loss to our politics, an irreplaceable loss to her family to whom we send our heartfelt sympathy."

Stuart Andrew, the Tory MP for Pudsey, recounted the first time he met Mrs Cox when they both appeared on the local region's Sunday Politics show.

He said that when he arrived at the make-up room, Mrs Cox was already there.

"Needless to say I had to spend a lot longer in that chair than she did," he joked, prompting smiles across the House.

Mr Andrew said that "when Jo spoke, people listened" and that the "proud Yorkshire woman" was "never afraid to stand up for those she felt had no voice".

He also touched on the tributes paid to the "brilliant Yorkshire rose".

"Many described her as a rising star," he said. "Personally I think she was a star, full stop."

Alison McGovern (Wirral South), who was visibly emotional as she paid tribute, said: "Jo didn't just believe that women's voices should be heard, she made it so.

"She was a feminist whose activism saved women's lives and whose political skill got women elected to this House."

Ms McGovern added: "As Jo's friend and mine, Kirsty McNeill, has written 'half holding you upright, half shoving you forward' - that was what it meant to have Jo's arm around your shoulder and how we all long for those arms around our shoulder today.

"For one more hug, and definitely for one more smile - but it cannot be."

Labour's Mary Creagh (Wakefield) said: "In 13 short months ago Jo achieved more than some MPs in 13 years.

"She had an open mind and an open heart, and the world really needed somebody like Jo - somebody who never gave up, somebody who knew by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we can alone."

Barry Sheerman, Labour MP for Huddersfield, said the Commons has a duty to support Mrs Cox's family in the days, months and years to come.

He recalled how he first met Mrs Cox when his daughter Madeleine worked for Glenys Kinnock.

Mr Sheerman, referring to remarks from his daughter, told MPs: "She said 'I'm not worried about leaving Glenys because I've found this brilliant replacement called Jo Cox', so we go back a long way."

The Labour MP also drew laughs from MPs as he joked: " There was a little bit of friendly rivalry as my daughter went on to work for David Miliband and Jo for Gordon and Sarah Brown."

Mr Sheerman added: "Someone said to me the other day 'Don't be mistaken about Jo, she's as tough as old boots when she's campaigning for anything'.

"I upset her on one or two times about things but she always got her own way.

"If you've got a daughter like Jo, you must have a darn good family behind you.

"I'm a grandparent, my 10th granddaughter born only a few days ago, and to have a girl like Jo you need a wonderful supportive family and, I tell you, we have a duty in this House to watch over that family in the days and months and years to come because we have a duty to support that family and those children."
Radiohead in battle with Red Hot Chili Peppers for top spot

Radiohead and Red Hot Chili Peppers are battling it out for the number one spot on the Official Albums Chart.

Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool was released physically last Friday and sold more than 32,000 copies.

After factoring in digital purchases, 34,000 combined chart sales have been logged, according to the Official Albums Chart Update.

Radiohead are battling for the top spot in the album chart

This comes after Radiohead fans were attacked during a listening party for the album in Istanbul on Friday.

The event was streamed on Periscope, and so was caught on camera - with footage uploaded to YouTube.

Radiohead said their "hearts go out" to the fans who were in Turkey.

The Oxfordshire band's ninth studio album hit number one back in May.

Red Hot Chili Peppers' The Getaway, their 11th studio album, is 4,000 behind Radiohead at the halfway mark.

If the American rock band take over, The Getaway will be their fifth number one collection.

Jake Bugg is another high new entry on the album chart, with On My One at number three.

Rick Astley's 50, last week's number one, slips to number four.

Mumford & Sons' sixth EP Johannesburg could be their first to chart as it is currently sitting at number five.

In the singles chart, the fight for the top is between Drake's One Dance and this Girl by Kungs Vs Cookin' On 3 Burners.

The French producer's remix of the Australian funk trio's 2009 track is at number one on this week's Official Chart Update.

But One Dance is just 1,800 combined chart sales behind Kungs Vs Cookin' On 3 Burners.

Elsewhere, Justin Timberlake's Can't Stop The Feeling is at number three.

Give Me Your Love by Sigala featuring John Newman and Nile Rodgers climbs 87 places to number four.
Gang jailed over plot to spring inmate from prison van

A gang who launched a failed bid to free a criminal from a prison van during which one of their members was killed have been sentenced to a total of 27 years and two months in prison.

The attempt to break Izzet Eren, who was being held on firearms offences, out of a prison van as he was being moved from Wormwood Scrubs prison to Wood Green Crown Court on December 11 2015 was thwarted as police had bugged the gang's car.

Armed police swooped on the gang, who had armed themselves with a replica Uzi gun, as their vehicles were near the north London court.

Eren Hasyer was found guilty of conspiring in the escape plot

Accomplice Jermaine Baker, 28, of Tottenham, was shot dead by a police officer during the operation.

Judge Christopher Kinch QC, sitting at Woolwich Crown Court, south east London, told the gang who sat quietly in the dock that an attempted break out from custody was an " attack" on the criminal justice system which was also likely to threaten the general public and put security staff at risk.

The gang includes Eren Hasyer, 25, of Enfield, who was found guilty of conspiring in the escape plot but cleared of possession of an imitation firearm with criminal intent. He is to be sentenced on Thursday.

The judge sentenced Eren, 33, who is currently serving 14 years for the firearms offences, to a total of seven-and-a half years for the escape attempt. This includes five-and-half years for conspiracy to escape and two years for conspiracy to carry imitation firearms with criminal intent.

This sentence is to be served consecutively to the current 14 year jail sentence which was imposed in December.

Eren knew that he would face a long prison sentence when he appeared in court in December for firearms offences and tried to avoid it by masterminding the escape plan.

He had been caught in October with another man - Erwin Amoah-Gyamfi - carrying a loaded pistol and a Skorpion machine gun in north London as they drove on a stolen motorbike to allegedly carry out a shooting.

The judge told him Eren that he was "the motive behind the whole sequence of events", that he had "orchestrated" the escape plan and that he was "plainly a man of considerable influence", control and loyalty from the other gang members.

Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay told the court that Eren had previously been sentenced to eight years in prison in July 2011 for conspiracy to supply drugs. A condition of his sentence was that he was deported.

Mr Polnay said: "He should not have been in the UK at all".

In a bid to avoid a lengthy jail sentence Eren had masterminded the escape plot from his cell.

His cousin Ozcan Eren, 32, of Wood Green, had denied the same charges relating to the escape plot but changed his plea part way through the trial.

Driver Nathan Mason, 31, plus Gokay Sogucakli, 19, who are all from Tottenham, pleaded guilty to the same offences.

In sentencing the judge described the gang's offences as "very serious and create fear in the surrounding community as well as interefering with the prison system and the sentencing of the courts."

Ozcan Eren was described by the judge as a "trusted and intimate lieutenant" of Eren's whose key role was to act as a look-out and check the possible routes the prison van might take.

He was sentenced to a total of eight years, including five-and-a-half years for the conspiracy to escape and two-and-a-half years for the weapons offence. The sentence is consecutive.

Eren texted instructions to the gang using a mobile phone from inside the van, telling them the registration number and the cell he was in.

Ozcan Eren acted as the link-man, passing on details of the texts to the rest of the gang.

Mason, 31, was sentenced to six years and two months in prison. This included 50 months for the escape conspiracy charge and 24 months for the weapons offence which are to be served consecutively.

The judge said there was "no doubt" that Sogucakli, the youngest member of the gang, had "wholeheartedly" involved himself in the conspiracy.

Sogucakli, who was sitting behind Baker when he was shot, was sentenced to a total of five-and-a-half years in a young offenders institution. His consecutive sentence includes four years for escape conspiracy and 18 months for the weapons offence.

The court was told that Izzet Eren had masterminded the plan to try because he was facing a long prison sentence.

Prosecutors said Mason and Sogucakli, along with Baker, were in a stolen black Audi estate, complete with false number plates, near to Wood Green Crown Court.

This was to be the escape car.

Another Audi, driven by Ozcan Eren, was a further distance away communicating with the gang about the exact location of the van.

The judge said that "consideration was very closely given" by the gang to possibly using a real weapon but this was rejected.

Instead they opted for an replica Uzi which was later found in the back footwell of the escape car along with ski masks and balaclavas.

The gunmakers had boasted of the weapon's impressive and realistic fit and finish.

The judge pointed out the gang's intention that anyone who was confronted by that weapon "would believe they were facing a submachine gun".

The gang did not know the escape car had been bugged by police.

Shortly before 9am, officers surrounded the vehicle and Baker was shot during the operation.

Police said that gang members were in another car was about a mile away and were communicating with Eren about the exact location of the van.

They were stopped by police but not before a message was sent to Izzet Eren telling him to get rid of the tiny phone.

Parts of it were found shoved in to the grille of the prison van.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is still investigating the officer who shot Baker.
Jo Cox memorial fund tops 1 million

A memorial fund set up for Labour MP Jo Cox has raised 1 million in three days.

Friends of Mrs Cox and her husband Brendan set up the Go Fund Me page in "celebration and memory" of the popular MP, who died after being shot and stabbed in her Batley and Spen constituency on Thursday.

It passed the 1 million mark shortly before 8.30pm on Monday after more than 30,500 people made donations that will be divided between three charities.

Latest politics news

The fund was pushed past the seven-figure mark by a 6,000 donation from a "David Newton" which joined offerings small and large that have poured in over the last three days.

Mrs Cox's friend Tim Dixon, one of those who launched the fund, said: "The scale and speed of the public response to this fund has been overwhelming and deeply gratifying to Jo's family.

"It shows how powerfully Jo's story has moved so many. Jo would be so proud."

The three charities that will benefit from the money are:

:: The White Helmets - unarmed and neutral volunteer search and rescue workers in Syria who have saved more than 51,000 lives from under the rubble of the conflict;

:: HOPE not hate - which seeks to challenge and defeat the politics of hate and extremism in communities across Britain;

:: The Royal Voluntary Service - to support volunteers helping to combat loneliness in Mrs Cox's constituency.

Mr Cox tweeted: "Thank you to everyone for your incredible generosity. This will change lives in Syria, Batley and across the UK."

The fundraising page was set up by Mr Dixon, the managing director of Purpose, Mabel van Oranje, chairwoman of Girls Not Brides, Nick Grono, chief executive of The Freedom Fund and Gemma Mortensen, chief global officer of change.org.

David McCullough, chief executive of the RVS, said: "Jo was passionate about raising awareness of loneliness and the importance of supporting vulnerable older people in the community and we are pleased that her legacy will continue via this Fund. It will be an honour to help create that better world that was her vision."

More than 17,000 people had donated to the page by Saturday evening, surpassing the half million pound target set when the fund was launched the previous day.

Raed al Saleh, head of The White Helmets, said: "We want to send deep gratitude to all who donated, we are very humbled by your generosity and care. With every donation you made you ensured that the world hasn't forgotten about the Syrian civilians Jo fought for and that her message carries on. This solidarity and generosity proves that those who attacked Jo's values will not win."
Eurosceptic Hungary PM to launch ads urging Britons to stay in EU

BUDAPEST, June 19 (Reuters) - One of Europe's most eurosceptic leaders, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, will launch a campaign in the British press urging Britons to vote to remain in the bloc at Thursday's referendum, his spokesman said.

Orban will address the British people directly in newspaper adverts, his office added, joining a line of European leaders and institutions saying Britain should stay.

"Although we have earned accusations of being anti-EU from many sides on numerous occasions, this is a testament to the fact that Hungary is committed to the European Union," government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said.

The Hungarian leader has clashed with European authorities several times over his unorthodox fiscal and political reforms since sweeping to power in 2010.

But his country has benefitted from its membership of the bloc - under the EU's current financing cycle, which ends in 2020, Hungary gets some 25 billion euros over seven years.

Kovacs said about 250,000 to 300,000 Hungarians were working in the UK.

Immigration has become a heated topic in the referendum debate, with many 'Leave' campaigners pointing to the numbers of incomers from EU countries as a reason to quit the bloc.

The campaign to decide Britain's membership of the European Union restarted on Sunday after a three-day hiatus following the killing of lawmaker Jo Cox, with Prime Minister David Cameron warning that Britons faced an "existential choice" on Thursday.
PM Renzi faces heavy defeat in Italy mayoral elections - exit polls

ROME, June 19 (Reuters) - Italy's anti-establishment 5-Star Movement looked set to easily win the election for mayor in Rome and was also on course to take Turin, exit polls said on Sunday, dealing a severe blow to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

The polls suggested Renzi's centre-left Democratic Party (PD) might retain the financial capital Milan, providing some consolation for the prime minister as he prepares for a crucial referendum on constitutional reform in October that he has staked his political career on.

In the run-off ballot in Rome, the 5-Star candidate, Virginia Raggi was likely to win a commanding 62-66 percent of the vote, according to the EMG pollster, against 34-38 percent for the centre-left's Roberto Giachetti.

The race looked far closer in Milan, where EMG had centre-left candidate Giuseppe Sala ahead with 49.5-53.5 percent, followed by the centre-right's Stefano Parisi with 46.5-50.5 percent.

Some 8.6 million people, or around a fifth of the total electorate, were eligible to vote for mayors of 126 towns and cities where no candidate won more than 50 percent of the vote in a first round of voting on June 5.

However, political attention is focused on a handful of key election battlegrounds, including the Italian capital.

In perhaps the biggest potential blow to Renzi, the PD risks a shock defeat in one of its traditional heartlands, Turin, the home of carmaker Fiat, where its incumbent Piero Fassino was trailing the 5-Star's candidate Chiara Appendino.

Appendino was set to win 49.5-53.5 percent of the vote, compared with 46.5-50.5 percent for Fassino, pollsters said.

Naples, Italy's third largest city, was already a lost cause for the PD, whose candidate was knocked out in the June 5 first round vote.
Austrian foreign minister calls for improving relationship with Moscow

VIENNA, June 19 (Reuters) - Austria's foreign minister said on Sunday it was time for the European Union to make an effort to identify common ground with Russia.

"I believe that we should gradually come to a modus in which for every implementation of the Minsk Protocol, for every single step, sanctions will gradually be lifted in return," Sebastian Kurz said in a discussion at ORF TV.

It would be a very strong signal of accommodation towards Russia, if such a modus could be agreed on in the medium term.

"I hope that this would be received appropriately."
WIDER IMAGE-Less is more as Japanese minimalist movement grows

By Megumi Lim

TOKYO, June 20 (Reuters) - Fumio Sasaki's one-room Tokyo apartment is so stark friends liken it to an interrogation room. He owns three shirts, four pairs of trousers, four pairs of socks and a meagre scattering of various other items.

Money isn't the issue. The 36-year-old editor has made a conscious lifestyle choice, joining a growing number of Japanese deciding that less is more.

Influenced by the spare aesthetic of Japan's traditional Zen Buddhism, these minimalists buck the norm in a fervently consumerist society by dramatically paring back their possessions.

Sasaki, once a passionate collector of books, CDs and DVDs, became tired of keeping up with trends two years ago.

"I kept thinking about what I did not own, what was missing," he said.

He spent the next year selling possessions or giving them to friends.

"Spending less time on cleaning or shopping means I have more time to spend with friends, go out, or travel on my days off. I have become a lot more active," he said.

Others welcome the chance to own only things they truly like - a philosophy also applied by Mari Kondo, a consultant whose "KonMari" organizational methods have swept the United States.

"It's not that I had more things than the average person, but that didn't mean that I valued or liked everything I owned," said Katsuya Toyoda, an online publication editor who has only one table and one futon in his 22-square-metre apartment.

"I became a minimalist so I could let things I truly liked surface in my life."

Inspiration for Japan's minimalists came from the United States, where early adherents included Steve Jobs.

Definitions vary, because the goal is not just decluttering but re-evaluating what posessions mean, to gain something else - in Sasaki's case, time to travel.

Just how many there are is unclear, but Sasaki and others believe there are thousands of hard-core minimalists, with possibly thousands more interested.

Some say minimalism is actually not foreign but a natural outgrowth of Zen Buddhism and its stripped-down world view.

"In the west, making a space complete means placing something there," said Naoki Numahata, 41, a freelance writer.

"But with tea ceremonies, or Zen, things are left incomplete on purpose to let the person's imagination make that space complete."

Minimalists also argue that having fewer possessions is eminently practical in Japan, which is regularly shaken by earthquakes.

In 2011, a 9.0 magnitude quake and tsunami killed nearly 20,000 people and led to many re-evaluating possessions, Sasaki said.

"Thirty to 50 percent of earthquake injuries occur through falling objects," he said, gesturing around his apartment.
Uber's upstart rival in Pakistan uses rickshaws, low-tech phones

By Asad Hashim

LAHORE, Pakistan, June 20 (Reuters) - As taxi hailing giant Uber enters Pakistan, a little-known local competitor is counting on a mix of new ideas and old technology to tap what could be a big chunk of the market: low-income residents who travel in rickshaws, not cabs.

Known as Rixi, the Lahore-based service hails rickshaws instead of cars. Its platform is not smartphones, but older SMS phone messaging that allows nearby drivers to bid for any user's business.

Pakistan has more than 130 million cellphone subscriptions, but only 21 percent subscribe to data packages, and, while the proportion is rising, there are opportunities across emerging economies in Asia to tap a relatively low-tech customer base.

In Thailand, Taxi Radio uses calls and text messages to put cabs and people in touch and is popular with those without smartphone apps, and HeyKuya!, an SMS-based service provider in the Philippines, was recently acquired by Indonesia's YesBoss.

Rixi founder Adnan Khawaja says his company works with more than 1,000 rickshaw drivers in Lahore, where many people rely on small, noisy three-wheelers that are well suited to beating traffic in the eastern city's crowded streets.

Rixi works by bypassing poor smartphone penetration in the low-income rickshaw market by polling drivers' locations using cellphone towers and matching passengers' messaged locations to points on Google Maps.

"If you look at ... Uber's operational model, they will be depending on the smartphones," said Khawaja. "In countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, that population is growing, but it's still smaller compared to the vast market."

Uber declined to comment on Rixi's business model, and said that while it had tested SMS-based services, there were no immediate plans to deploy such a service in Pakistan.

"We continue to explore products that would stimulate demand ... and better service the city, whether that is a motorbike, whether that is a rickshaw, whether that is a chopper," said Zohair Yousafi, Uber's head of expansion in Pakistan.

To entrepreneurs like Shehmir Shaikh, who recently launched errand start-up Scooty Bhejo in Lahore, Uber is missing a trick over Pakistan's digital divide and its large, low-income transport market.

"Abroad, Uber has made waves because of the readily available technology that people are using, like iPhones in their hands," he said. "We don't have that here. (And) the major form of transport is not cars."

ROADBLOCKS TO SUCCESS

Adam Ghaznavi, a technology entrepreneur who has studied the rickshaw market, thinks Pakistan will not necessarily be a large market for taxi ride hailing apps like Uber, but it could be very lucrative for an equivalent app for rickshaws.

"If somebody can figure that out, the potential is huge," he said.

So far, Rixi says it has registered about 100,000 rides since it launched in late 2013, and is averaging about 100 rides a day. That's just a fraction of the roughly 200,000 trips that rickshaws in Lahore take every day, according to the Awami Rickshaw Union.

"Rickshaw drivers do not know anything about these (online apps)," said Majeed Ghauri, head of the union, which represents the drivers of 60,000 of Lahore's roughly 80,000 registered rickshaws. "They simply want their daily wages."

Ghauri said market dynamics and consumer behaviour in the low-income market were markedly different from those in the taxi ride sharing arena.

Moreover, Rixi's location-tracking, reliant as it is on imprecise cellphone tower triangulation and Google Maps, has thrown up some major kinks.

Several customers complained that Rixi's service was unable to deliver on its promised 15-minute service delivery time.

"Even in the most densely populated cities in the country, the accuracy is no more than a few hundred metres, which is not good enough for a driver looking for a passenger," said Danielle Sharaf, a technology entrepreneur whose company provides value-added services for cellphones.

Rixi says it has an error rate of only three percent, and says mismatches are because of its reliance on external services such as Google Maps.

Ghaznavi said a major hurdle to adoption in the Pakistani market is the lack of literacy, both traditional and digital, among rickshaw drivers and passengers, compared to those using taxi ride hailing apps.
Keyboard warriors: S.Korea trains new frontline in decades-old war with North

By Ju-min Park

SEOUL, June 20 (Reuters) - In one college major at Seoul's elite Korea University, the courses are known only by number, and students keep their identities a secret from outsiders.

The Cyber Defense curriculum, funded by the defence ministry, trains young keyboard warriors who get a free education in exchange for a seven-year commitment as officers in the army's cyber warfare unit - and its ongoing conflict with North Korea.

North and South Korea remain in a technical state of war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armed truce. Besides Pyongyang's nuclear and rocket programmes, South Korea says the North has a strong cyber army which it has blamed for a series of attacks in the past three years.

The cyber defence programme at the university in Seoul was founded in 2011, with the first students enrolled the following year.

One 21-year-old student, who allowed himself to be identified only by his surname Noh, said he had long been interested in computing and cyber security and was urged by his father to join the programme. All South Korean males are required to serve in the military, usually for up to two years.

"It's not a time burden but part of a process to build my career," Noh said.

"Becoming a cyber warrior means devoting myself to serve my country," he said in a war room packed with computers and wall-mounted flat screens at the school's science library.

South Korea, a key U.S. ally, is one of the world's most technologically advanced countries.

That makes its networks that control everything from electrical power grids to the banking system vulnerable against an enemy that has relatively primitive infrastructure and thus few targets against which the South can retaliate.

"In relative terms, it looks unfavourable because our country has more places to defend, while North Korea barely uses or provides internet," said Noh.

Last year, South Korea estimated that the North's "cyber army" had doubled in size over two years to 6,000 troops, and the South has been scrambling to ramp up its capability to meet what it considers to be a rising threat.

The United States and South Korea announced efforts to strengthen cooperation on cyber security, including "deepening military-to-military cyber cooperation," the White House said during President Park Geun-hye's visit to Washington in October.

In addition to the course at Korea University, the national police has been expanding its cyber defence capabilities, while the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning started a one-year programme in 2012 to train so-called "white hat" - or ethical - computer hackers.

NORTH'S CYBER OFFENSIVES

Still, the North appears to have notched up successes in the cyber war against both the South and the United States.

Last week, South Korean police said the North hacked into more than 140,000 computers at 160 South Korean companies and government agencies, planting malicious code under a long-term plan laying groundwork for a massive cyber attack against its rival.

In 2013, Seoul blamed the North for a cyber attack on banks and broadcasters that froze computer systems for over a week.

North Korea denied responsibility.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation has blamed Pyongyang for a 2014 cyber attack on Sony Pictures' network as the company prepared to release "The Interview," a comedy about a fictional plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The attack was followed by online leaks of unreleased movies and emails that caused embarrassment to executives and Hollywood personalities.

North Korea described the accusation as "groundless slander."

South Korea's university cyber defence programme selects a maximum of 30 students each year, almost all of them men. On top of free tuition, the school provides 500,000 won ($427) per month support for each student for living expenses, according to Korea University Professor Jeong Ik-rae.

The course trains pupils in disciplines including hacking, mathematics, law and cryptography, with students staging mock hacking attacks or playing defence, using simulation programs donated by security firms, he said.

The admission to the selective programme entails three days of interviews including physical examinations, attended by military officials along with the school's professors, he said.

While North Korea's cyber army outnumbers the South's roughly 500-strong force, Jeong said a small group of talented and well-trained cadets can be groomed to beat the enemy.

Jeong, an information security expert who has taught in the cyber defence curriculum since 2012, said the school benchmarks itself on Israel's elite Talpiot programme, which trains gifted students in areas like technology and applied sciences as well as combat. After graduating, they focus on areas like cybersecurity and missile defence.

"It's very important to have skills to respond when attacks happen - not only to defend," Jeong said.
Violent 2015 sees three environmental activists killed each week

By Anastasia Moloney

BOGOTA, June 20 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Three environmental activists were killed per week last year, murdered defending land rights and the environment from mining, dam projects and logging, a campaign group said on Monday.

In 16 countries surveyed in a report by Global Witness, 185 activists were killed, making 2015 the deadliest year for environment and land campaigners since 2002.

"The environment is emerging as a new battleground for human rights," the report said.

The reported killings rose nearly 60 percent from 2014. Brazil fared worst with 50 activists murdered, followed by the Philippines with 33 deaths, and 26 in Colombia, the report said.

"A major reason behind the big jump in killings is impunity, people know they can get away with these crimes," Billy Kyte, campaigner at Global Witness, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

"Increasingly, communities that take a stand are finding themselves in the firing line of companies' private security, state forces and a thriving market for contract killers," Kyte said.

"For every killing we document, many others go unreported."

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has also raised the alarm about growing violence and intimidation against land and environmental activists in rural Brazil.

In April, the IACHR, the body that monitors human rights across the Americas said at least six land activists were killed in Brazil during the first two months of this year.

Brazil's environment ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the rise of killings against environmentalists.

According to Global Witness, conflicts over mining projects led to more deaths of activists than any other sector.

Large-scale agricultural plantations, cattle ranching, hydroelectric dams, and logging were also to blame for the growing violence against campaigners, the report said.

Worst hit by violence were indigenous people, accounting for 40 percent of the activists killed in 2015, the report found.

Indigenous groups campaigning to protect their lands and livelihoods in Brazil's Amazon rainforest from illegal loggers were particularly hard hit, as were the Lumad indigenous tribe in the Philippines in the Mindanao region, rich in coal, nickel and gold, protesting against mining projects, the report said.

The failure by governments and companies to recognise the rights of indigenous people to decide about happens on their lands is a key driver of violence, the report said.

"Indigenous people come into conflict with companies, often with state backing, looking to develop their ancestral land without their consent," the report said.
Japan May exports fall 11.3 pct year/year - MOF

TOKYO, June 20 (Reuters) - Japan's exports fell 11.3 percent in May from a year earlier, Ministry of Finance data showed on Monday, as a strong yen and lacklustre growth in emerging markets curb demand for Japanese goods. The fall was more than a 10.4 percent decrease expected by economists in a Reuters poll. It followed a 10.1 percent year-on-year decline in April. Imports fell 13.8 percent, matching the median estimate. The trade balance came to a deficit of 40.7 billion yen ($389.10 million), versus the median estimate for a 40.0 billion yen surplus. To view full tables, go to the website of the Ministry of Finance at: http://www.customs.go.jp/toukei/info/index_e.htm ($1 = 104.6000 yen) (Reporting by Stanley White; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim)
Bomb attacks kill at least 22 in Afghanistan

By Mirwais Harooni

KABUL, June 20 (Reuters) - More than 20 people were killed in separate bomb attacks in Afghanistan on Monday, including at least 14 who died when a suicide bomber struck a minibus carrying Nepali security guards working at the Canadian embassy in Kabul, officials said.

A Reuters witness saw several apparently dead victims and at least two wounded being carried out of the remains of a yellow bus after the suicide bomber struck the vehicle in the capital.

Hours later, a bomb planted in a motorbike killed at least eight civilians and wounded another 18 in a crowded market in the northern province of Badakhshan, said provincial government spokesman Naveed Frotan. The casualty count could rise, he said.

The attacks are the latest in a surge of violence that highlights the challenges faced by the government and its Western backers, as Washington considers whether to delay plans to reduce the number of its troops in Afghanistan.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter that 14 people had been killed and eight wounded in the attack in Kabul. Police were working to identify the victims, he said.

Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion issued a statement condemning the attack and confirming that the guards worked at the embassy. "Many of the victims have been part of our embassy family for years," he said.

Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the suicide bomber had waited near a compound housing the security contractors and struck as the vehicle moved through early morning traffic. Several people in an adjacent market were also wounded in the attack during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The Taliban claimed responsibility in a statement from the Islamist group's main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, on Twitter. It denied responsibility for the attack in Badakhshan, however.

Islamic State, which is bitterly opposed by the Taliban, said it carried out the Kabul attack. But Zabihullah Mujahid dismissed the claim as "rubbish".

"By organising this attack, we wanted to show Americans and NATO military officials that we can conduct attacks wherever, and whenever, we want," the Taliban spokesman said.

The Nepal government was still working through its embassy in Pakistan, which also oversees Afghanistan, to verify reports that its citizens were involved in the attack, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bharat Paudel said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his condolences to his two South Asian neighbours after the attack.

"We strongly condemn the horrible tragedy in Kabul. Our deep condolences to people and governments of Afghanistan and Nepal on loss of innocent lives," Modi said on Twitter.

Another explosion in Kabul later on Monday morning wounded a provincial council member and at least three of his bodyguards, Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid said. It was thought a bomb had been attached to the lawmaker's car, he said.

The attacks underlined how serious the security threat facing Afghanistan remains since former Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a U.S. drone strike last month and was replaced by Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.

The blasts follow a deadly suicide attack on a bus carrying justice ministry staff near Kabul last month and a separate attack on a court in the central city of Ghazni on June 1.
Cemex unit to launch Philippines' biggest IPO this year -IFR

HONG KONG/MANILA, June 20 (Reuters) - Cemex Holdings Philippines, a subsidiary of Mexican cement giant Cemex , will on Tuesday launch an initial public offering to raise up to $526 million, IFR reported on Monday.

The offering would mark the Southeast Asian nation's second and biggest IPO so far this year.

The company is offering 2.03 billion shares in an indicative range of 10.50 pesos to 12.00 pesos each, said IFR, citing a person close to the deal. IFR is a Thomson Reuters publication.

Cemex Holdings Philippines has secured $125 million from seven cornerstone investors for the IPO, IFR said.

The Philippine Stock Exchange said separately that it had approved the IPO, with the offer period running from July 4 to July 11. Price setting will be on June 29 and listing on July 18.

Cemex has hired BDO Capital & Investment Corp as lead underwriter, while Citigroup Global Markets Ltd, Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp Ltd and J.P. Morgan Securities Plc are joint global coordinators and bookrunners, the bourse said.

The cement firm did not immediately reply to an emailed request for comment on the deal.

It previously said it would use the IPO proceeds to pay debts incurred during the acquisition of its operating subsidiaries.
Six killed in Mexico during teachers' protest against police

MEXICO CITY, June 19 (Reuters) - Six people were killed and 53 injured in Mexico on Sunday when clashes broke out between members of a teachers' trade union and police at a protest that police say had been infiltrated by armed individuals who shot at officers and threw petrol bombs.

The violence erupted as anti-riot police moved in to dislodge protesters blocking a highway in the southern state of Oaxaca. Television footage showed chaotic scenes of men running from police as gun fire rang out.

It was the worst incident in a spate of protests over the past several months against education reforms that the government pushed through three years ago.

Enrique Galindo, the head of Mexico's federal police, said masked individuals who were not affiliated to the union were behind much of the violence, lobbing Molotov cocktails and shooting at police and civilians.

"These kinds of radicalized protests generate violence," he told a news conference in the state capital of Oaxaca City.

State Governor Gabino Cue gave the casualty figures, and said most of those who died were young people and only two had "links to the union."

The protest on Sunday near the town of Nochixtlan, about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Oaxaca City was the latest of several in recent days that saw protesters blocking other highways with burning tires.

Earlier in the day, police escorted 120 tanker trucks carrying chemical waste from the nearby Salina Cruz refinery, owned and operated by state-run oil company Pemex.

On Friday, Pemex warned it could be forced to shut operations at the refinery in "a few days" if the highway blockade persisted.

The unrest escalated after police arrested the leader of the local teachers' union during the previous weekend. Ruben Nunez, head of one of the most combative factions of Mexico's CNTE union, was detained on suspicion of corruption.

Nunez is secretary general of the CNTE's Section 22 in Oaxaca, a hotbed of resistance to government efforts to reform the education system.
-Record 65.3 million people displaced, often face barriers - UNHCR

By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA, June 20 (Reuters) - A record 65.3 million people were uprooted worldwide last year, many of them fleeing wars only to face walls, tougher laws and xenophobia as they reach borders, the United Nations refugee agency said on Monday.

The figure, which jumped from 59.5 million in 2014 and by 50 percent in five years, means that 1 in every 113 people on the planet is now a refugee, asylum-seeker or internally displaced in a home country.

Fighting in Syria, Afghanistan, Burundi and South Sudan has driven the latest exodus, bringing the total number of refugees to 21.3 million, half of them children, the UNHCR said in its "Global Trends" report marking World Refugee Day.

"The refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean and arriving on the shores of Europe, the message that they have carried is that if you don't solve problems, problems will come to you," U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told a news briefing.

"It's painful that it has taken so long for people in the rich countries to understand that," he said. "We need action, political action to stop conflicts, that would be the most important prevention of refugee flows."

A record 2 million new asylum claims were lodged in industrialised countries in 2015, the report said. Nearly 100,000 were children unaccompanied or separated from their families, a three-fold rise on 2014 and a historic high.

Germany, where one in three applicants was Syrian, led with 441,900 claims, followed by the United States with 172,700, many of them fleeing gang and drug-related violence in Mexico and Central America.

Developing regions still host 86 percent of the world's refugees, led by Turkey with 2.5 million Syrians, followed by Pakistan and Lebanon, the report said.

"RISE OF XENOPHOBIA"

Asylum-seekers fleeing conflicts or persecution are increasingly confronted with walls or anti-foreigner sentiment, Grandi said. "The rise of xenophobia is unfortunately becoming a very defining feature of the environment in which we work.

"Barriers are rising everywhere - and I'm not just talking of walls. But I'm talking about legislative barriers that are coming up, including in countries in the industrialised world that have been for a long time bastions of principle in defending the fundamental rights linked to asylum."

After Balkan countries closed borders, Turkey and the European Union (EU) struck a deal in March to stem an influx that brought a million refugees and migrants to Europe in 2015.

"The fact that that flow has stopped does not mean the problem of displacement has ended. It may have ended for some countries that don't have to deal with it anymore, for now," Grandi said.

Progress has lagged on a scheme to redistribute 160,000 asylum seekers from Greece and Italy to other EU states to alleviate pressure on the two frontline countries. Only 2,406 people have been relocated, EU figures show.

Grandi, asked about stalled relocation, said: "There is no Plan B for Europe. Europe will continue to receive people seeking asylum."

"Everybody has to share responsibility now," he said.
New Zealand extends deployment of troops training Iraqi army

WELLINGTON, June 20 (Reuters) - New Zealand said on Monday it will extend the deployment of troops training Iraqi defence forces in their fight against Islamic State militants.

The troops, which currently number around 105, would remain in Iraq until November 2018, 18 months longer than previously planned, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee said in a statement.

"This is having a tangible effect on the Iraqi army's ability to take and hold ground from Daesh," said Brownlee, referring to Islamic State.

"It makes sense to continue doing something that adds value to the likelihood of Iraqi peace and security in the future, and to amend our mission to meet the changing environment in Iraq."

The New Zealand Defence Force works with around 300 Australian troops providing training on basic weapons skills as well as medical support and logistics. The mission has trained around 7,000 members of the Iraqi security force since it began in 2015, according to the New Zealand government.
Poland - Factors to Watch June 20

Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Monday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 2 hours):

BREXIT

Poland does not plan to intervene on the foreign exchange market to defend its zloty currency should Britain vote to leave the European Union, state-run state agency PAP quoted Finance Minister Pawel Szalamacha as saying.

GE

General Electric wants to design and manufacture technologically advanced plane engines in Poland, Italy and the Czech Republic, GE's chief executive told daily Rzeczpospolita.

CHINA

China has prepared a credit line worth 10 billion dollars to back joint investments in central and eastern Europe, a Chinese official told daily Puls Biznesu. ****Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.****
Czech Republic - Factors To Watch on June 20

PRAGUE, June 20 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial markets on Monday. ALL TIMES GMT (Czech Republic: GMT + 2 hours) =========================ECONOMIC DATA========================== Real-time economic data releases.................... Summary of economic data and forecasts........... Recently released economic data.................. Previous stories on Czech data............. **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: http://emea1.apps.cp.thomsonreuters.com/Apps/CountryWeb/#/2E/events-overview ==========================NEWS================================== POLITICS: A Czech court cleared the wife of former prime minister Petr Necas of abuse of power for a second time on Friday for her part in a spying scandal that toppled his government in 2013. Story: Related stories: TAX: European Union states reached preliminary agreement on Friday on new rules to counter corporations' tax avoidance, but it watered down some proposals after lobbying by smaller countries, such as Belgium and Austria. Story: Related stories: FAR-RIGHT PARTIES: Emboldened by a surge in voter support and the looming Brexit referendum, Europe's leading far-right parties pledged on Friday to work towards a "Patriotic Spring" that would roll back EU powers and halt an influx of Middle East refugees. Story: Related stories: CEE MARKETS: Central European assets rebounded on Friday after campaigning was suspended ahead of Britain's June 23 EU membership referendum after a member of parliament was killed. Story: Related stories: ---------------------- MARKET SNAPSHOT ------------------------ Index/Crown Currency Latest Prev Pct change Pct change close on day in 2016 vs Euro 27.074 27.048 -0.1 -0.28 vs Dollar 23.995 24.113 0.49 3.48 Czech Equities 817.58 817.58 1.16 -14.51 U.S. Equities 17,640.17 17,674.82 -0.2 1.23 Pvs close or current levels vs prior domestic close at 1500 GMT =======================PRESS DIGEST============================ COALITION: Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and Finance Minister Andrej Babis, both leaders of their respective coalition parties, agreed the government would not need to ask for a confidence vote if they amend the coalition agreement. Hospodarske Noviny, page 3 CD CARGO: Rail company CD Cargo issued 500 million crowns in 5-year bonds with interest of 1.28 percent. Hospodarske Noviny, page 14 AVIATION: Czech firm Direct signed a memorandum with Wangfeng of China for an investment of $100 million into the Czech aviation sector. Pravo, page 10 Reuters has not verified the stories, nor does it vouch for their accuracy. For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX For updates on CEE currencies TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets Prague Newsroom: +420 224 190 477 E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com (Reporting by Prague Newsroom)
Hungary, Factors to watch, June 20

BUDAPEST, June 20 (Reuters) - Following is a list of events in Hungary and the region, as well as news stories and press reports which may influence financial markets.

(For any queries: Budapest editorial +36 1 327 4745)

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN HUNGARY (ALL TIMES GMT)

BUDAPEST - Erste Group, EBRD and Hungarian government news conference about stake purchases in Erste Bank Hungary (1130)

IN THE REGION

POLAND - Unemployment, May (0800)

SLOVAKIA - EUR 400 mln worth of T-bond auctions (0900)

SLOVAKIA - Unemployment, May (0900)

CZECHIA - July debt calendar (1200)

IN THE NEWS REUTERS

Eurosceptic Hungary PM to launch ads urging Britons to stay in EU

One of Europe's most eurosceptic leaders, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, will launch a campaign in the British press urging Britons to vote to remain in the bloc at Thursday's referendum, his spokesman said.

Austria says agrees to help Hungary secure Schengen border

Austria agreed on Friday to provide equipment and personnel to help Hungary secure its Schengen border and prevent illegal immigration, an Austrian Defence Ministry spokesman said.

Hungary's FHB Bank buys back euro bond after cbank fine

Hungary's FHB Bank said on Friday it had bought back a euro bond issued in 2012 worth 112 million euros ($126.3 million) after the central bank fined it for misleading investors about the issue, sharply lowering its capital adequacy ratio.

Hungary's MOL reports oil discovery in Pakistan

Hungary's MOL group has made a new oil and gas discovery in Pakistan, its eighth discovery in the TAL block there, it said in a statement on Friday.

Hungary expects 5 mln T wheat crop in 2016
North Korea diplomat expected to attend forum with U.S. envoy in China

SEOUL, June 20 (Reuters) - A North Korean diplomat who was part of "six-party talks" aimed at ending the country's nuclear programme arrived in China on Monday where she is expected to attend a forum in which the U.S. nuclear envoy will take part, Japan's Kyodo news agency said.

If the diplomat does take part, it would be a rare gathering of experts from the six countries weeks after Chinese President Xi Jinping said he would like to see the six-party talks resume.

Isolated North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch the following month in defiance of U.N. resolutions, prompting the U.N. Security Council to impose tough new sanctions.

China is reclusive North Korea's only major ally but has been angered by its nuclear and missile programmes. Xi said in April China wanted to see a resumption of the six-party talks, which have been stalled since 2008.

The North Korean diplomat, Choe Son Hui, is deputy director-general of the North Korean Foreign Ministry's U.S. affairs bureau, according to South Korea. She was a delegate to the stop-start six-party nuclear talks, hosted by China.

Choe was expected to attend the closed-door Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Beijing hosted by the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation at the University of California, San Diego, Kyodo said.

The annual dialogue is an informal multilateral conference attended by government officials and scholars from the United States, South Korea, Japan, Russia and China, the five countries that were involved in the six-party talks along with North Korea.

The U.S. State Department said last week that nuclear envoy Sung Kim would attend the forum in Beijing. Kyodo said Japan may also send its top nuclear negotiator.

It was unclear if Choe would hold separate meetings with Kim or officials from other countries.

Choe attended the security conference in 2012 in China, but no representatives from North Korea have taken part since, according to the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation.
Indonesia vows to stand firm after skirmishes with Chinese ships

By Kanupriya Kapoor and John Chalmers

JAKARTA, June 20 (Reuters) - Indonesia is determined to assert its exclusive right to a corner of the South China Sea where there has been a run of skirmishes between Indonesian navy ships and Chinese vessels, the vice-president said on Monday.

Jusuf Kalla told Reuters that Indonesia would send a message to Beijing demanding that it respect the Southeast Asian nation's sovereignty over waters around the Natuna Islands.

China's foreign ministry said over the weekend that an Indonesian naval vessel fired on a Chinese fishing boat near the chain of islands on Friday, injuring one person.

Indonesia's navy responded that it had fired warning shots at several boats with Chinese flags it accused of fishing illegally but there were no injuries.

It was the third reported confrontation near the Natuna Islands this year and comes amid rising regional tensions over China's assertiveness in the South China Sea.

"This is not a clash, but we are protecting the area," Kalla said in an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace.

Asked if the Indonesian government had made a decision to be more assertive, he said: "Yes, we will continue."

Indonesia is not part of a broader regional dispute over China's reclamation activities in the South China Sea and Beijing's claims on swathes of key waterways.

But Jakarta has objected to China's inclusion of parts of the Indonesian-ruled Natuna Islands within a "nine-dash line" Beijing marks on maps to show its claim on the body of water.

China has said it does not dispute Indonesia's sovereignty over the Natuna Islands, but Kalla said its ships sometimes claim that they have the right to operate in waters around the islands because they are "traditional Chinese fishing grounds".

"But we are focused on the legal basis," Kalla said, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). "We will send a message to the other side to honour the area in accordance with the law."

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.
PRESS DIGEST - RUSSIA - JUNE 20

MOSCOW, June 20 (Reuters) - The following are some stories in Russia's newspapers on Monday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

VEDOMOSTI

www.vedomosti.ru

- President Vladimir Putin has promised to take measures to protect business against abuse by police and courts.

- Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky has threatened French food giant Danone that it could face problems if it does not sign a property rights agreement to legally use scenes from Russian Soyzmultfilm animated cartoons in its adverts.

- The government has chosen the National Immunobiological Company, a subsidiary of state holding Rostec, to be the only provider of blood plasma to state companies in 2016-2017.

KOMMERSANT

www.kommersant.ru

- Kremlin officials and Roskomnadzor media watchdog consider it necessary to create a "big data" supervisor.

- At least 14 children died in Russia's northwestern Karelia region when a boat carrying them capsized in a lake storm this weekend.

- Many Muscovites suffering from cancer have complained of a lack of necessary medicines in the past two months. The city's healthcare department has not commented on the issue, the daily writes.

IZVESTIA

www.izvestia.ru

- Russian senator Tatyana Lebedeva, a former Olympic champion, says in an interview that she sees only political motives behind moves to disqualify Russian athletes from the Rio Games over doping use allegations.

- Russia is considering signing free trade deals with Egypt, Israel, India, Iran, China, Indonesia, Cambodia, South Korea, Venezuela, Peru and Chile.

ROSSIISKAYA GAZETA

www.rg.ru

- Russian law makers are considering introducing a two-hour lunch break and may vote to cut the working week to 35 hours nationwide to help fellow Russians survive the summer heat.
Solar plane takes on Atlantic as part of round-the-world bid

By Chris Michaud

NEW YORK, June 20 (Reuters) - An airplane powered solely by energy from the sun headed across the Atlantic early on Monday, on one of the longest legs of the first-ever flight around the globe without using a drop of fuel.

The spindly, single-seat Solar Impulse 2 left John F. Kennedy International Airport at about 2:30 a.m. EDT on a trip expected to take up to 90 hours, the 15th leg of its round-the-world journey.

Swiss aviators Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg have been taking turns piloting the plane, which has more than 17,000 solar cells built into wings whose span exceeds that of a Boeing 747, with Piccard at the controls for the transatlantic flight.

The airplane's slow cruising speed, similar to that of a car, has required both men to take up meditation and hypnosis as part of training to stay alert for long periods.

Solar Impulse 2 is due to land sometime on Thursday in Spain or France, with the precise location to be determined later depending on weather conditions, said Elizabeth Banta, a spokeswoman for the project team.

The carbon-fiber, propeller-driven plane has four solar-powered engines and four batteries to store surplus energy. It weighs the same as a family car and can climb to 28,000 feet (8,500 m).

The team behind Solar Impulse - part of a campaign to build support for clean energy technologies - hopes to complete the circumnavigation in Abu Dhabi, where the journey began in March 2015.

Piccard and Borschberg completed a multi-flight crossing of the United States with an earlier version of the plane in 2013.
Turkish army, coalition air strikes kill 23 Islamic State fighters in Syria -TV

ANKARA, June 20 (Reuters) - Artillery fire from Turkey and coalition air strikes killed 23 Islamic State militants in northern Syria, broadcaster Haberturk reported on Monday.

Haberturk said a total of 33 strikes targeted militants thought to be preparing an attack on Turkey.

It did not say when the operation was carried out.

The U.S.-led coalition has stepped up air strikes against Islamic State positions in the area in recent weeks, in response to rocket attacks by the militants on the border town of Kilis.

Kilis, just across the frontier from an Islamic State-controlled region of Syria, has been hit by rockets more than 70 times this year. More than 20 people have been killed and parts of the town reduced to rubble.

Turkey has also increased retaliatory fire but security sources say soldiers with heavy artillery stationed on the border find it difficult to hit the militants, who sometimes fire from the back of vehicles.
Somali militants kill five police in north Kenya

NAIROBI, June 20 (Reuters) - Somalia's al Shabaab militants killed five police officers in a border region in northeastern Kenya on Monday, the latest deadly incursion aimed at punishing Kenya for sending troops to Somalia.

Al Shabaab said it was behind the attack. The group's military operations spokesman Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab told Reuters four officers were also wounded and a vehicle in their convoy was burned in the ambush by its fighters.

The group has previously said it would continue attacks until Kenya withdraws troops from an African Union force fighting the militants in Somalia.

"We condemn the attack by al Shabaab at Dimu this morning, five police officers killed," Mandera County Governor Ali Roba said on his Twitter account.

Diplomats say Kenya's northeastern border with Somalia is a security weak spot, given the challenge of policing a long frontier, poor coordination between security services and a culture of corruption that allows those prepared to pay a bribe to pass unchallenged.
Nearly 50 die in Indonesia landslides, authorities warn of more rain

JAKARTA, June 20 (Reuters) - Indonesian authorities raced on Monday to rescue victims of landslides and flash floods caused by torrential rain at the weekend that killed nearly 50 people and left many missing in the main island of Java.

Search and rescue teams used earth movers and bulldozers to clear debris in several locations in Central Java province after heavy rainfall damaged thousands of homes and forced residents to evacuate.

"Around 200 people...in joint teams from the military, police, NGOs, and volunteers are continuing to search for victims" said Sutopo Nugroho, spokesman for the national disaster mitigation agency.

He added 47 people had died and 15 remained missing.

Authorities warned the area in Java, which is the most densely populated islands in the country, is particularly prone to landslides.
Iran thwarts attacks in Tehran, other cities -intelligence ministry

DUBAI, June 20 (Reuters) - Iran has thwarted several planned bombings in Tehran and other cities, state news agency quoted the intelligence ministry as saying on Monday, in what it called a major plot by Sunni Muslim militants against the Shi'ite Islamic Republic.

Iranian authorities say Islamic State militants have been hatching "plots and conspiracies" against it from their de facto capital Raqqa in Syria.

"In a criminal plot of the anti-Islamic terrorist takfiri groups, a series of bombings had been planned in several places of the country for the coming days ... the terrorists were arrested and some bombs and a huge amount of explosives were seized," the ministry said, referring to hardline Sunnis who see other Muslims as infidels, often to justify fighting them.

National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani was quoted by the semi-official ISNA news agency on Sunday as saying that Iranian security forces had arrested members of a network that was planning suicide bombings in Tehran during Ramadan.

He called Islamic State Iran's number one enemy.

Iran, which borders Iraq to its west, has sent regular and volunteer members of its armed forces to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's fight against rebels and Islamic State militants trying oust him.
How gas could warm relations between Israel and Turkey

By Luke Baker

JERUSALEM, June 20 (Reuters) - On the sidelines of a nuclear security summit in Washington in March, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a private meeting with Israel's energy minister, Yuval Steinitz. It was the highest level contact between Israel and Turkey since diplomatic relations broke down six years ago after Israeli forces raided a Turkish ship bound for Gaza, killing 10 Turkish activists.

The meeting, which lasted 20 to 30 minutes and whose details have not been previously disclosed, discussed the war in Syria, Iran's presence there, terrorism - and natural gas. That last item is a key driver of efforts to forge a rapprochement between Israel and Turkey: At stake are reserves of natural gas worth hundreds of billions of dollars under the waters of Israel and Cyprus. To exploit them Israel will likely require the cooperation of Turkey.

In an interview at his office in Jerusalem, Steinitz confirmed the Washington meeting. "It was in a very good atmosphere," he said. "I don't want to say more than that ... I'm a great proponent of this effort to resume diplomatic relations with Turkey."

Since the Washington meeting, high-level envoys from Turkey and Israel have talked privately in Geneva and London to hammer out a deal on restoring relations between the former allies. Discussions have at times become bogged down: Israel wants Turkey to cut ties with Hamas representatives based in Turkey; Ankara wants reassurances on providing aid to Palestinians in Gaza, among other things.

A senior Turkish official said he was not aware of the meeting and said it would have been outside normal protocol for a president to meet a minister.

Overall, though, Israeli officials believe an agreement can be reached in the coming weeks.

"We have resolved 80 to 90 percent of the difficulties, or gaps, and now with a little bit of goodwill and flexibility on both sides we can reach the remaining items," Steinitz said. "I think we are pretty close (to normalising relations)."

There have also been positive noises from Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on June 7 that Ankara was "one or two meetings away" from normalising ties with Israel. However, he did not put a timeframe on the process.

VAST RESERVES

Israel and Cyprus, which have increasingly close ties, sit on an estimated 3,450 billion cubic metres of gas buried in the Levant Basin, according to a U.S. Geological Survey carried out late last decade. Those reserves are worth around $700 billion and equate to enough gas to supply the entire world for a year. And that's only proven reserves. A recent seismological survey conducted by a French consultancy suggested Israel alone may be sitting on nearly three times as much gas as first thought, according to Steinitz.

The problem is not just the huge costs of drilling for the gas, but finding a route to deliver it to customers. While a portion of the gas would go for domestic consumption, the vast majority is earmarked for export. Unless Israel and Cyprus can lock in long-term export contracts, the costs of developing the deepwater fields will not be covered and the vast assets may never be fully exploited.

Jordan, which has a peace treaty with Israel, may be a long-run buyer of Israeli gas, but is a modest market. Neighbouring Lebanon and Syria - both sworn enemies of Israel - are out of the question. Instead, Turkey and Egypt, with 80 million and 93 million people respectively, would be a far better fit as potential long-term consumers.

An initial plan was to send some of the gas to Egypt, which already has small contracts to buy gas from Israel. But in the past year Egypt has discovered natural gas off its coastline and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has said he will push ahead rapidly with developing its own energy resources.

Steinitz says a deal with Egypt remains an option. But Israel is also turning towards exploring a pipeline to Turkey, both for consumers there and as a connection to Europe. A third option is a Cyprus-Greece-Europe route.

As a result, restoring relations with Ankara is now a linchpin in Israel's strategy to unlock its natural gas wealth.

"Turkey would very much like to diversify its energy imports and resources," said Steinitz, when pressed about the restoration of ties between the countries. "They don't want to be dependent on one source, or two sources of energy."

RUSSIA CONNECTION

Turkey imports the bulk of its gas from Russia. But Ankara's ties with Moscow are strained, particularly over the Syrian conflict after a Turkish fighter plane shot down a Russian jet last November. In 2015, Turkey trimmed its imports of Russian gas by 300 million cubic metres to around 27 billion cubic metres (bcm) a year, to the annoyance of Moscow.

Yet Turkey's rapidly growing economy still consumes 50 bcm of gas a year and demand is set to double over the next seven or eight years, analysts say. Diversifying supply will be important.

"They need other sources, reliable sources, of gas," said Steinitz. "We have an interest to export Israeli gas and to have export options - not to be totally dependent on one country for our exports. So it's a very good opportunity here."

Turkish energy companies share that view. Both Zorlu Enerji and a consortium of Turcas and Enerjisa have been in talks with Israel over gas prices and potential pipeline routes, a Turkish industry source told Reuters late last year.

"There's a potential of around 30 bcm of gas (a year) there, of which Turkey could buy 8 bcm to 10 bcm (a year)," the source said.

Building a pipeline to Turkey or Egypt is about the same distance, around 540 km (340 miles), and about the same cost, around $3 billion. Turkey is more attractive because of its position as a gateway to Europe.

THE CYPRUS PROBLEM

Though Steinitz is hopeful of mending fences with Turkey, regional analysts remain sceptical of a gas bonanza in the East Mediterranean any time soon.

"A lot of the talk is pie in the sky," said Michael Leigh, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund in the United States and an expert on gas discoveries in the East Mediterranean. He believes there are too many political and commercial obstacles to getting the gas out of the seabed and transporting it to markets.

Perhaps the trickiest issue is Cyprus. Since 1974 the island has been split between the Republic of Cyprus in the south and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, after the Turks invaded following a military coup on the island backed by Greece. There are no diplomatic ties between the south, which is a member of the European Union, and Turkey.

Large amounts of gas are located in the territorial waters of the Republic of Cyprus. If it and Israel are intent on coordinating their export strategy - and if Turkey is to be one of the routes - the divisions in Cyprus must be addressed first, analysts say. That's because at least part of the pipeline would have to pass through Cypriot territorial waters into Turkish territorial waters.

British and Cypriot diplomats have talked hopefully about a breakthrough on reunifying Cyprus, but it remains far from certain. "We can see that there is an alignment of the stars and momentum from both sides," said a senior official directly involved in talks. "The prospects are certainly better than they have been in a very long time. But we cannot say there is a deal until everything is in place."

Even if a deal can be reached, it still may not mean all hurdles are cleared. Leigh, of the German Marshall Fund, pointed out that Erdogan, whose imprimatur is critical to a resolution, has blown hot and cold on the issue.

In relation to exploiting the gas reserves, Leigh added: "A resolution of the Cyprus problem is necessary but not sufficient - you need commercial viability, too." He is not convinced the Levant Basin is a reliable investment, given the decline in gas prices and the cost of extracting the gas and piping it to markets.

Steinitz remains optimistic, convinced that Israel's economic stability and energy security depend on developing the country's gas resources in whatever way possible.
Indonesia vows to stand firm after skirmishes with Chinese ships

By Kanupriya Kapoor and John Chalmers

JAKARTA, June 20 (Reuters) - Indonesia is determined to assert its exclusive right to a corner of the South China Sea where there has been a run of skirmishes between Indonesian navy ships and Chinese vessels, the vice-president said on Monday.

Jusuf Kalla told Reuters that Indonesia would send a message to Beijing demanding that it respect the Southeast Asian nation's sovereignty over waters around the Natuna Islands.

China's foreign ministry said over the weekend that an Indonesian naval vessel fired on a Chinese fishing boat near the chain of islands on Friday, injuring one person.

Indonesia's navy responded that it had fired warning shots at several boats with Chinese flags it accused of fishing illegally but there were no injuries.

It was the third reported confrontation near the Natuna Islands this year and comes amid rising regional tensions over China's assertiveness in the South China Sea.

"This is not a clash, but we are protecting the area," Kalla said in an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace.

Asked if the Indonesian government had made a decision to be more assertive, he said: "Yes, we will continue."

Separately, Indonesia's chief security minister, Luhut Pandjaitan, told reporters the government would seek the advice of legal experts on the matter.

"On the South China Sea we want to talk to experts in international maritime laws on what is the most appropriate way to resolve it," Pandjaitan said, without elaborating.

Indonesia is not part of a broader regional dispute over China's reclamation activities in the South China Sea and Beijing's claims on swathes of key waterways.

But Jakarta has objected to China's inclusion of parts of the Indonesian-ruled Natuna Islands within a "nine-dash line" Beijing marks on maps to show its claim on the body of water.

China has said it does not dispute Indonesia's sovereignty over the Natuna Islands, but Kalla said its ships sometimes claim that they have the right to operate in waters around the islands because they are "traditional Chinese fishing grounds".

"But we are focused on the legal basis," Kalla said, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). "We will send a message to the other side to honour the area in accordance with the law."
Thai junta leader, opposition call on U.N. as tension rises

BANGKOK, June 20 (Reuters) - Thai junta chief Prayuth Chan-ocha and opposition supporters of ousted populist premier Thaksin Shinawatra both reached out to the United Nations on Monday as tension rises ahead of an August referendum on a new constitution.

Prayuth said he telephoned U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to express concern about an upsurge in political pressure, just a day after police shut down an electoral monitoring centre at the Bangkok headquarters of the "red shirt" anti-government movement, formally known as the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship.

"This morning I telephoned (Ban) to let him know about a movement of people who wish ill on Thailand," Prayuth told reporters.

"The junta will deal with people who are acting illegally."

Twenty-nine other electoral monitoring centres have been shut in recent weeks as Thailand prepares to vote on the constitution that critics fear will entrench the military's influence.

The red shirts say the centres are needed to prevent fraud. Red shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan said his group went to the regional U.N. headquarters in Bangkok on Monday.

"We would like the United Nations to come in and monitor," Jatuporn told reporters.

Thailand came under fire last month at a U.N. review of its rights record with some member states expressing concern over the deteriorating rights situation since the military took power.

Under the proposed charter, a junta-appointed Senate with seats reserved for military commanders would check the powers of elected lawmakers for a five-year transitional period.

The referendum will be the first real rest of the junta's popularity since it took power in a May 2014 coup.
Azerbaijan's foreign direct investment falls 11 pct in Q1 yr/yr

BAKU, June 20 (Reuters) - Azerbaijan saw a 11 percent drop year-on-year in foreign direct investment to $1.6 billion in the first quarter of this year, the central bank said on Monday.

The extended slide in prices of oil, which together with gas account for about 75 percent of state revenues and 45 percent of the gross domestic product, hit growth, the budget, the balance of payments, the manat currency and foreign exchange reserves.

The ex-Soviet republic's central bank said 85.5 percent of total FDI in January-March went into the oil and gas sector.

Azerbaijan's net financial assets declined twice year-on-year to $3.4 billion, while obligations fell by 42.1 percent to $1.1 billion.
Spain Socialist head rules out pacts with PP, Iglesias' Podemos before vote

MADRID, June 20 (Reuters) - The head of Spain's Socialist party, which has slipped to third place in polls ahead of parliamentary elections on Sunday, ruled out a coalition pact with either the centre-right People's Party (PP) or the current leader of anti-austerity Podemos.

Some polls have indicated that a coalition between the Socialists and Podemos could win enough seats to take a majority and end a six-month political deadlock.

But Pedro Sanchez said in a radio interview on Monday: "We won't back or bet on any government led by the PP or (acting Prime Minister Mariano) Rajoy ... and (Podemos leader Pablo) Iglesias will not be prime minister."

Sunday's ballot follows an election in December that left no single party able to form a government and led to a succession of inter-party talks that failed to produce a viable coalition.

As it did six months ago, the PP is expected to win, but again falling well short of an overall majority.

Polls have shown that a joint ticket between Podemos and United Left (Unidos Podemos or 'Together We Can') would likely overtake the Socialists this time around as the main contender for Rajoy's PP.

Podemos finished third in the December ballot.

Sanchez has previously baulked at joining with Podemos, mostly due to the far-left group's support for an independence referendum in Catalonia.

He did not say whether he would be ready to back a coalition with Unidos Podemos not led by Iglesias, or if the Socialists would permit the PP to govern by abstaining in parliament.
The Hong Kong bookseller who stood up to China

By James Pomfret

HONG KONG, June 20 (Reuters) - Chain smoking outside a train station in Hong Kong last Thursday, a thin, bespectacled man called Lam Wing-kee was in a bind.

He could return across the mainland China border to meet up with the Chinese agents who had just kept him captive for eight months and hand them a disk holding the names of hundreds of customers who had ordered politically sensitive books.

The alternative was to hold a news conference in Hong Kong and tell the world how he had been arrested, blindfolded and handcuffed in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen on Oct. 22, and then taken to the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo where he was forced into solitary confinement and faced repeated interrogations.

Lam chose the latter.

By doing so, he reignited a controversy that first rocked Hong Kong, the former British colony that returned to China in 1997, late last year. That was when Lam and four other booksellers, who published gossipy and often scandalous books on the personal lives and power struggles of China's senior Communist Party leaders, had mysteriously disappeared.

Just a year earlier Lam had led an ordinary life, managing a small bookshop, but he now found himself thrust into the centre of an extraordinary political storm that had called into question Hong Kong's relationship with its Chinese rulers.

In an interview with Reuters, Lam said he was released last Tuesday and sent back to Hong Kong with an express purpose - to bring back that hard disk containing the customer database.

But as he prepared to board a train to the Chinese border, Lam vacillated. He paused at a 7-11 convenience store where he bought a bottle of water and a packet of cigarettes that he smoked, one after another.

"I could have changed trains and gone directly to Lowu to give them the hard disk," he told Reuters, referring to the Chinese district bordering Hong Kong. "Once I crossed the border I'd have no chance. But I could still decide whether to go public."

He chose to board a train back to the city and called the pro-democracy lawmaker Albert Ho, who helped arrange a press conference that same evening.

"At the most intense moment of indecision, the pressure was great, but in the end I figured this wasn't an issue only for myself or for the five of us ... so I decided to come out," Lam said.

STILL DETAINED

Four of the booksellers have now returned to Hong Kong, including Lam and Chinese-born British national Lee Bo, who went missing from Hong Kong in late December. But Swedish passport holder Gui Minhai, who disappeared from the Thai resort of Pattaya last October, remains in detention in China.

Chinese authorities have repeatedly said they would never do anything illegal and that Hong Kong's autonomy was fully respected.

Beijing's representative office in Hong Kong declined to comment on Lam's account of his detention.

Lam's recounting of repeated interrogations by Chinese agents, detention for months alone in a small room without contact with family or lawyers, does not mesh with statements by some of the other booksellers who said they had been well treated by authorities.

Also Lam said that Lee had been abducted by Chinese agents in Hong Kong, but Lee has disputed this account, saying he went to China voluntarily with unspecified friends.

A number of Western governments, including Britain, voiced concerns this year that Lee had been abducted, undermining the city's "one country, two systems" formula of governance granting Hong Kong a high degree of autonomy under Chinese rule.

Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying, speaking on Monday after he returned from holiday, said he would write a letter to Beijing to express concern over the bookseller case.

"Any law-enforcement entity, including mainland and foreign, does not have the right to exercise power in Hong Kong," said Leung. "It is illegal for any overseas entities to enforce law in Hong Kong and we shall not accept it."

NO UNIFORMS

Lam told Reuters he believed his bookstore, where he worked as the shop manager had come into the crosshairs of unspecified senior Chinese leaders given some of the controversial publications that they put out through the years.

"Some books were affecting the leaders," Lam said. "They discovered some information channels were real and they tried investigating these channels, to find out the source. I think they blew the whole thing up for this reason alone."

Lam worked for years as the face of the Causeway Bay Bookshop, a hole in the wall independent bookshop tucked upstairs in an old building behind the well-known SOGO Japanese department store in the teeming Hong Kong shopping hotspot.
Indonesia vows to stand firm after skirmishes with Chinese ships

By Kanupriya Kapoor and John Chalmers

JAKARTA, June 20 (Reuters) - Indonesia is determined to assert its exclusive right to a corner of the South China Sea where there has been a run of skirmishes between Indonesian navy ships and Chinese vessels, the vice-president said on Monday.

Jusuf Kalla told Reuters that Indonesia would send a message to Beijing demanding that it respect the Southeast Asian nation's sovereignty over waters around the Natuna Islands.

China's Foreign Ministry said over the weekend that an Indonesian naval vessel fired on a Chinese fishing boat near the chain of islands on Friday, injuring one person.

Indonesia's navy responded that it had fired warning shots at several boats with Chinese flags it accused of fishing illegally but there were no injuries.

It was the third reported confrontation near the Natuna Islands this year and comes amid rising regional tensions over China's assertiveness in the South China Sea.

"This is not a clash, but we are protecting the area," Kalla said in an interview with Reuters at the presidential palace.

Asked if the Indonesian government had made a decision to be more assertive, he said: "Yes, we will continue."

Asked about Kalla's remarks on Monday, Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for China's Foreign Ministry, said China had expressed condemnation of the "indiscriminate use of force".

"We urge the Indonesian side to refrain from any action that complicates or magnifies the dispute, or impacts the peace and stability of the region," Hua said.

Indonesia is not part of a broader regional dispute over China's reclamation activities in the South China Sea and Beijing's claims on swathes of key waterways.

But Jakarta has objected to China's inclusion of parts of the Indonesian-ruled Natuna Islands within a "nine-dash line" Beijing marks on maps to show its claim on the body of water.

China has said it does not dispute Indonesia's sovereignty over the Natuna Islands, but Kalla said its ships sometimes claim that they have the right to operate in waters around the islands because they are "traditional Chinese fishing grounds".

"But we are focused on the legal basis," Kalla said, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. "We will send a message to the other side to honour the area in accordance with the law."

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.
Former Pakistani Taliban chief's brother among six to surrender to army

By Jibran Ahmed

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, June 20 (Reuters) - Pakistani authorities on Monday interrogated six Pakistani militant commanders, including the uncle and brother of former Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, after they surrendered to the military over the weekend, officials said.

The surrender of Hakimullah's family may weaken the Pakistani Taliban's insurgency which has raged since 2007.

The main force of the Pakistani Taliban has been led by Mullah Fazlullah since 2013, when Hakimullah was killed in a U.S. drone strike.

Hakimullah's brother Ijaz and uncle Khair Mohammad had pledged allegiance to a splinter faction led by Khan Said, who was also reportedly killed by a drone attack in November.

The two men, and four other militants, were taken into custody after pledging to renounce violence, officials said.

"These six militant commanders of the Mehsud tribe of South Waziristan have surrendered to the military in the Kurram tribal region on Saturday night," a senior security official in Kurram, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, told Reuters.

The men were taken to Dera Ismail Khan, a garrison town about 235 km (146 miles) south of Kurram, to be interrogated, a Peshawar-based military official said, also speaking on condition of anonymity.

An administrative official in Kurram also confirmed the surrender took place in Kurram, where hundreds of militants fled after a Pakistani military operation forced them out of their stronghold in North Waziristan in 2014.

"These militants from South Waziristan, North Waziristan and Afghanistan had been living in Kurram Agency for the past two years," said Nazar Hussain, a Kurram resident.
South China floods kill 22, with more rain forecast

BEIJING, June 20 (Reuters) - Severe floods in southern China have killed at least 22 people and left 20 missing since Saturday, the government said, with the rains expected to continue for the next three days.

About 200,000 people from eight southern provinces and regions, including Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, Jiangxi, Yunnan, Zhejiang and Anhui, had been forced to evacuate, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said on its website.

Storms had pushed water levels in rivers to dangerous levels, leading to crop damage and the collapse of 10,500 houses, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Estimated economic losses were 7.34 billion yuan ($1.1 billion), it said.

Three days of heavy rain last week had already killed 14 people, Xinhua said on Friday.

China has frequently been devastated by natural disasters, particularly by floods and earthquakes. Flooding, an annual problem, has been exacerbated by urban sprawl and poor drainage infrastructure in many cities.

Chinese officials had warned of the potential for record floods this year due to a strong El Nino weather pattern, which warms sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific and has been linked to serious crop damage, forest fires and flash flood and drought around the world.
Cambodia to deport Taiwan telecoms fraud suspects to China

By Prak Chan Thul

PHNOM PENH, June 20 (Reuters) - Cambodia will deport 21 Taiwan nationals to China, a senior Cambodian official said on Monday, ignoring attempts by Taiwanese officials to have them returned instead to Taiwan.

Cambodia does not have official relations with self-ruled Taiwan and considers the island part of "one China", in line with Beijing which considers the island a breakaway province.

Cambodia detained the 21 Taiwanese along with 14 Chinese nationals in coordination with Chinese authorities who are attempting to halt the proliferation of internet and phone extortion scams that have cost billions of dollars and driven some victims to suicide.

Cambodia has deported more than 200 people suspected of involvement in the rings to China since November.

"We will deport them to China under the one-China policy," Uk Heisela, investigation chief at Cambodia's immigration department, told Reuters. "They have all confessed to committing the crime."

Taipei has accused Beijing of kidnapping when other countries such as Kenya and Malaysia have deported Taiwanese people to China.

Taiwan's attempts to have the suspects deported to Taiwan had failed, Taipei's foreign ministry said in a statement. Pressure from Beijing would likely lead to Cambodia deporting them all to China, the ministry said.

Taiwan officials based in Vietnam travelled to Cambodia but were not allowed to visit the Taiwanese suspects, the ministry added.

Heisela and Kem Sarin, spokesman for Cambodia's immigration department, said they were unaware of a visit by Taiwanese officials.

China is Cambodia's largest foreign investor, and Cambodia is one of Beijing's staunchest regional allies.

Cambodia had yet to set a date for the deportation, Heisela said. Cambodian authorities arrested 13 of the Taiwanese along with 14 Chinese nationals on June 13. Another 8 Taiwanese suspects were detained on Saturday, said Heisela.

Cambodian police said the suspects contacted people in China asking for money to free relatives held captive. The suspects had admitted to posing as police and court officials to extort money, Heisela said.

Human Rights Watch said Cambodia's close relationship with China had led it to ride roughshod over human rights.

"This group should be allowed to appeal their deportation in a full and fair hearing in a court of law rather than be hustled on to a plane and sent to an uncertain fate back in China," said Phil Robertson, the group's deputy director in Asia.
Israel, Greece send help to contain major Cyprus forest fire

NICOSIA, June 20 (Reuters) - A forest fire fanned by high winds and scorching temperatures spread rapidly in Cyprus's scenic Troodos mountains region on Monday, prompting the dispatch of aerial assistance from Israel and Greece.

The blaze, possibly triggered by an attempt to burn dry stubble, broke out on Sunday in the foothills of the eastern Mediterranean island's Troodos region. The Soleas area hardest hit by the blaze is covered by pine forest and fruit orchards.
NATO commander sees no imminent Russian threat to Baltics

PRAGUE, June 20 (Reuters) - NATO is not contemplating a troop build-up in East Europe and the Baltics beyond exisiting plans as there is no immiment threat from Russia, despite fears amongst Baltic states, the alliance's military chief said on Monday.

Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia see themselves in the frontline of any potential conflict with Russia and are putting their armies on a war footing.

NATO is planning a new NATO force in Poland and the three Baltic nations.

The four battalions, of up to 1,000 troops each, are part of a wider deterrent to be approved at a summit in Warsaw on July 8 that NATO hopes will discourage Russia from orchestrating the kind of campaign it used to annex Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in February 2014.

General Petr Pavel, chairman of the NATO Military Committee, said the battalions would act as a political deterrent rather than a military one. No bigger force was needed at this point, he said.

"Deployment of substantial military force is not being considered," he told a news conference.

"It is not the aim of NATO to create a military barrier against broad-scale Russian aggression, because such aggression is not on the agenda and no intelligence assessment suggests such a thing."

Nonetheless, the Russian threat could not be ruled out, he said.

The Baltic states and their southern neighbour Poland fear NATO plans are too small and symbolic to deter an attack by Russia and want a sophisticated anti-missile shield to protect the region.

Pavel said any attempted aggression by Russia using methods like it did in Crimea would not be allowed to go as far as it did there and there would be a collective NATO response.
South Africa's MTN names Vodafone Europe head as new CEO

By Tiisetso Motsoeneng

JOHANNESBURG, June 20 (Reuters) - South African mobile phone operator MTN Group named the head of Vodafone Europe as its new CEO on Monday, bringing in an outsider with a risk-management background 10 days after it agreed to pay a $1.7 billion fine in Nigeria.

Rob Shuter, who also has a background in banking, replaces Sifiso Dabengwa who resigned last November after Nigeria imposed the penalty, the latest in a series of disputes exposing governance issues at Africa's biggest mobile phone operator.

The fine, originally set at $5.2 billion but reduced in a settlement, was imposed after MTN failed to deactivate more than 5 million unregistered SIM cards. Nigerian authorities have been cracking down on unregistered cards, concerned they are being used for criminal activity in a country battling an insurgency by Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

"MTN has weathered a rather difficult storm and will continue to review its governance and management operating structure," said MTN Executive Chairman Phuthuma Nhleko, backing the appointment of Shuter who will start by July 2017.

As well as leading MTN's efforts to overhaul its governance standards, Shuter will also oversee the formulation of a new strategic growth plan. The firm is looking for new revenue streams as competition and regulation hits its profit margins.

Shuter, former head of investment banking at Standard Bank and managing director at Nedbank retail banking unit division, has been CEO of Vodafone Netherlands since 2012. In 2015, his role was expanded to include other European countries excluding the UK, Italy, Spain and Germany.

Analysts and investors welcomed the appointment of the South African national, saying his track record meant he could help MTN shake off the shackles of being regarded as a stock with limited growth outlook.

"It's a strategically sound appointment because mobile phones are moving from being just a communication tool to distributing content and provide banking services," said Momentum SP Reid analyst Sibonginkosi Nyanga.

Abax Investments, a Cape Town-based asset management firm that holds shares in MTN, also welcomed Shuter. Founding member and director Anthony Sedgwick said Shuter's background and track record would be an important asset.

M&A BOSS

MTN also said it had appointed a new head of mergers, acquisitions and strategy to help look for new growth areas that include encouraging its more than 300 million users to use mobile phones for everything from storing money to paying bills.

The company did not name the executive but said he had a wealth of banking experience.

Founded with the government's help after the end of apartheid in 1994, MTN was touted as one of South Africa's biggest corporate success stories with operations in more than 20 countries in the Middle East and Africa.

But the company has been caught in the middle of disputes over its businesses in Iran, Syria and, most recently, Nigeria. It has also faced run-ins with authorities in other countries where it operates, including Uganda and Cameroon.

Nhleko, who was appointed interim executive chairman following Dabengwa's resignation with an eye to renegotiating the fine in Nigeria, will revert to his role as non-executive chairman as soon as Shuter starts his new role.

Separately, Moody's affirmed MTN's Baa3 rating, saying the reduced Nigerian fine and payment terms were within the company's west African country's unit to pay off.

However, the rating agency maintained its negative outlook on the stock because MTN had been unable to repatriate dividends from Nigeria over the last six months.
UN presses for access to migrants after Indonesia boat standoff

By Beh Lih Yi

JAKARTA, June 20 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The United Nations refugee agency on Monday called for access to a group of migrants believed to be from Sri Lanka, following a week-long standoff that saw their boat stranded off the coast of Indonesia.

The boat carrying the 44 migrants, including women and children, was reportedly en route to Australia and had drifted into Indonesian waters near northern Aceh province on June 11 after encountering engine trouble.

Local officials had initially stopped the migrants from disembarking and said it must sail on, but then allowed them ashore over the weekend amid criticism from refugee advocacy groups.

However, UNHCR in Indonesia said that since the incident, it had not been granted access to the group to determine their status.

"We haven't been given access, and I am hoping that we will. We have indicated to the government that we are standing by and we are ready to assist," said UNHCR's Indonesia representative Thomas Vargas.

"When there are people that have been on a boat like this and have now landed on the shores of a country, we very much hope that the country will allow us access," he told reporters after an event held to commemorate World Refugee Day.

Vargas said UNHCR has been given no reason for the lack of access, but he declined to comment when asked if it signalled Indonesia might start pushing back asylum-seekers' boats, like neighbouring Australia.

Indonesia is not a signatory to the U.N.'s refugee convention, but it has in the past allowed migrants ashore on humanitarian grounds.

"It has been the practice of the government to allow these people on such boats to disembark and for UNHCR to have access. My sincere hope that this tradition, which so far has been very strong, will continue," Vargas added.

Indonesia and Malaysia took in thousands of migrants who were found adrift in the Andaman Sea in the Asian migrant crisis last year, following a Thai crackdown on human trafficking.

More than 1,000 migrants from Myanmar - mostly persecuted Rohingya minorities - and Bangladesh landed in Aceh at the time.

Thailand had been the first stop on the most common trafficking route used by criminals preying on Rohingya as well as Bangladeshis seeking to escape poverty.

Indonesia, meanwhile, is a popular transit point for asylum-seekers and migrants from the Middle East and South Asia hoping to reach Australia, often traveling in rickety boats.
Croatian parliament votes for snap election

By Igor Ilic

ZAGREB, June 20 (Reuters) - Croatian lawmakers voted on Monday to dissolve parliament, paving the way for a snap election after bringing down the fragile five-month old government last week.

The election is likely to happen in early September as it must be held no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days after the date when parliament is dissolved, set for July 15.

President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, who will chose the election date, said she would take account of the fact that most parties favoured holding the vote after the summer holidays.

Analysts say a snap election may not solve the political impasse that has prevented Croatia getting a stable government capable of carrying out reforms needed to fix fragile public finances and improve the investment climate.

Neither the main conservative HDZ party - which called last week's no-confidence vote - nor the biggest opposition party, the Social Democrats, are likely to win an absolute majority.

"Another hung parliament is a distinct possibility ... potentially spelling prolonged political instability in Croatia," the IHS analysis company said.

"Croatia emerged from a six-year recession in 2015 and the latest political impasse will likely undermine the country's recovery."

One of the weakest European Union economies, Croatia is struggling to boost growth and reduce public debt.
Britain, Greece, Israel help fight forest fire in Cyprus

NICOSIA, June 20 (Reuters) - Greece, Britain and Israel sent planes and helicopters to Cyprus on Monday to fight one of the largest forest fires to hit the island in years, and a firefighter was killed when a water carrier overturned, authorities said.

It was the first fatality among firefighters reported in years in Cyprus, which has frequent brush fires during its hot summer months but on a considerably smaller scale.

The blaze, possibly triggered by an attempt to burn dry stubble, broke out on Sunday in the foothills of the Troodos mountain region of the eastern Mediterranean island and has been fanned by high winds and scorching temperatures.

The Soleas area hardest hit by the blaze is covered by pine forest and fruit orchards. The blaze coincided with the first major heatwave of the year, creating tinderbox conditions.

"The situation is really tragic," Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades told reporters from the area. "The damage is irreparable."

The blaze was mostly brought under control late on Monday, although three fronts were still burning. Water bombers from Greece and Israel and helicopters from the British military bases in Cyprus were assisting in the firefighting effort. Anastasiades said additional air assistance had been requested from Greece.

Mustafa Akinci, head of the breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in northern Cyprus, also offered assistance. Anastasiades said he had thanked Akinci but that authorities had enough assets at their disposal.
Pakistan, Afghanistan fail to reach border deal after deadly clashes

By Mehreen Zahra-Malik

ISLAMABAD, June 20 (Reuters) - Pakistan and Afghanistan failed to reach an agreement on border management in talks on Monday, officials said, after days of clashes at the border last week left four dead and thousands stranded.

Fighting broke out when Pakistan started building a barrier at the crossing to stop Islamist militants crossing over from Afghanistan.

That plan angered Afghanistan, which rejects the colonial-era Durand Line border drawn up in 1893 and objects to Pakistan building checkpoints along the disputed boundary.

The two countries agreed on a ceasefire on Thursday, and it was decided that an Afghan delegation led by deputy foreign minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai would visit Pakistan for talks on Monday.

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry on Monday informed the Afghan delegation that Pakistan planned to build four gates at different points on the crossing, a Pakistani foreign office official said.

"There was no final agreement but we have informed them (Afghanistan) of our position," the official said, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media.

"These gates are important for the safety and security of both Pakistan and Afghanistan."

A second Pakistani official said the foreign policy chiefs would hold further discussions at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tashkent later this week.

A statement from the Afghan foreign ministry said the talks were held in an "amicable and friendly atmosphere" but said Karzai had raised what it called "various violations" by Pakistan, including setting up checkpoints in Afghan territory.

"Moreover, he strongly protested against Pakistan's ongoing unprovoked artillery shelling of Afghan villages," it said.

Thousands of vehicles normally pass through the crossing every week, making it a vital trade link between the countries.

On Monday, dozens of Pakistani traders protested outside the provincial parliament in Peshawar, demanding that Afghan refugees be deported.

Pakistan hosts some 2.5 million Afghans who have fled fighting in their home country.

A protest leader said the free movement of Afghans into Pakistan had destroyed peace in the country and needed to be checked.

Relations between the neighbours have been strained in recent months. Kabul accuses Pakistan of harbouring militants seeking to topple the Afghan government and not doing enough to bring Afghan Taliban leaders, over which Pakistan holds some sway, to the negotiating table.
Myanmar's Suu Kyi reiterates stance on not using term 'Rohingya'-official

YANGON, June 20 (Reuters) - Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi has told the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Human Rights that the government will avoid using the term "Rohingya" to describe a persecuted Muslim minority in the country's northwest, an official told Reuters on Monday.

Members of the 1.1 million group, who identify themselves by the term "Rohingya" and live in apartheid-like conditions, are seen by many Myanmar Buddhists as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The term is a divisive issue.

The U.N. human rights investigator, Yanghee Lee, met Suu Kyi in the capital Naypyitaw on her first trip to Myanmar since the Nobel Peace Prize winner took power in April.

Feted in the West for her role as champion of Myanmar's democratic opposition during long years of military rule and house arrest, Suu Kyi has been criticized overseas, and by some in Myanmar, for saying little about the abuses faced by the Rohingya.

"At their meeting here this morning, our Foreign Minister Daw Aung San Suu Kyi explained our stance on this issue that the controversial terms should be avoided," said Aung Lin, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Suu Kyi is banned from presidency by the military-drafted constitution because her children have British citizenship. She holds offices of the State Counsellor and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, but is the de-facto leader of the administration.

She said during a visit by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry last month that the country needed "space" to deal with the Rohingya issue and cautioned against the use of "emotive terms", that she said were making the situation more difficult.

The previous military-linked government of former junta general Thein Sein referred to the group as "Bengalis", implying they were illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, though many have lived in Myanmar for generations.

On Friday, Myanmar representative to the United Nations Human Rights Council Thet Thinzar Tun criticized use of "certain nomenclature" by a U.N. representative as "adding fuel to fire" and "only making things worse".

"For the sake of harmony and mutual trust between two communities, it is advisable for everyone to use the term 'the Muslim community in Rakhine State'," said Thet Thinzar Tun, according to a video on the U.N. website.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Monday called on Myanmar to end discrimination and human rights violations against minorities in a report that outlined those violations and focused particularly on the plight of the Rohingya.

Lee is reviled by radical nationalist Buddhists in Myanmar, whose leader, Wirathu, called her a "whore" after she urged the previous government to end the abuses of the Rohingya and criticized laws seen as discriminating non-Buddhists and women.

Some 125,000 Rohingya remain displaced and face severe travel restrictions in squalid camps since fighting erupted in Rakhine State between Buddhists and Muslims in 2012. Thousands have fled persecution and poverty.

Suu Kyi has formed a committee to "bring peace and development" to the state, but its plans are not clear.

Lee will meet several cabinet members and travel to areas where ethnic armed groups fight the military and sometimes between themselves, including Shan, Kachin and Rakhine states.
Inovio Pharma gets green signal to test Zika vaccine in human trial

June 20 (Reuters) - Drug developer Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc and its partner GeneOne Life Sciences Inc said they had received approval from U.S. regulators to start an early stage human trial testing their Zika vaccine.

The early-stage study will enroll 40 healthy subjects and evaluate safety, tolerability and immune response generated by the vaccine GLS-5700.

"We plan to dose our first subjects in the next weeks and expect to report phase I interim results later this year," Inovio CEO J Joseph Kim said.

In February, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika a global public health emergency. The virus has been associated with microcephaly, a birth defect characterized by an unusually small head and potential developmental problems.

Last week, U.S. health officials reported three babies born with birth defects likely linked to Zika infection in the mother during pregnancy.

French drugmaker Sanofi SA is likely to begin testing its own vaccine in humans next year.
Pakistani man charged with blasphemy over shoes with Hindu symbol

By Asad Hashim

ISLAMABAD, June 20 (Reuters) - Pakistani police arrested a man under the majority-Muslim country's strict blasphemy laws on Monday for selling shoes with a sacred Hindu symbol, police and Hindu leaders said.

The shopkeeper, Jahanzaib Khaskhili, was arrested in the southern town of Tando Adam and the shoes, which carried the "Om" symbol, were confiscated, said Farrukh Ali, the district police chief.

Hindu community leaders called for the shopkeeper to be punished.

"The state must play a proactive role in punishing the culprits under the blasphemy laws," Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, the patron of the Pakistani Hindu Council, said in a statement.

Tando Adam, about 200 km (120 miles) northeast of Karachi, is in Sindh province, where the vast majority of Pakistan's approximately three million Hindus live.

The blasphemy laws make it a crime to insult any religion and have specific sections for defiling the Koran or insulting the Prophet Muhammad that carry a life sentence and mandatory death sentence, respectively.

If convicted, the shopkeeper faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, in addition to a possible fine. Ali, the police chief, said Khaskhili had cooperated with authorities and appeared not to have intended to inflame religious sentiment.

"We will do this according to law, but prima facie it seems that he did not have any intention," said Ali, adding that police were now investigating the supplier of the shoes, who is based in Punjab province.

"The responsibility in this case will be with the people who actually manufactured the shoes ... they would probably have done it intentionally," he said.
Israeli minister unapologetic for security "profiling" hailed by Trump

By Dan Williams

JERUSALEM, June 20 (Reuters) - A senior Israeli official justified the "profiling" of Muslims as potential security threats on Monday after U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump said Americans should adopt Israel's disputed practice.

Arabs, who make up a fifth of Israel's population, and Palestinians living under Israeli occupation have long complained of being singled out for scrutiny and searches at security checkpoints when going about their routine activities.

Trump, the Republican front-runner who has been buoyed by Americans' worries about Islamic militancy, said on Sunday he believed that "profiling is something that we're going to have to start thinking about as a country".

"You look at Israel and you look at others, and they do it and they do it successfully," he told CBS' "Face the Nation".

Asked about the remarks, Israeli Transportation and Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz declined to discuss the U.S. election campaign but was unapologetic about Israel's methods.

"Ultimately these (security) apparatuses ... must build a profile of characteristics as to where the danger comes from and locate it," he said in a briefing to foreign journalists arranged by the Israel Project advocacy group.

"It is not the whole population, but sometimes when there is a specific form of terrorism, you can seek out Islamic terrorism only among Muslims."

Trump has called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States, a suspension of immigration from countries with "a proven history of terrorism" and for greater scrutiny of American mosques.

Some U.S. security officials, including FBI director James Comey, have chafed at Trump's suggestion that American Muslims do not do enough to report potential militants in their midst.

"I personally have been called by (Muslim) community members about several things, very significant things," Michael Downing, deputy chief of the Los Angeles Police Department and head of its Counterterrorism and Special Operations Bureau, told Reuters last week. "What we say to communities is that we don't want you to profile humans, we want you to profile behaviour."

But Katz, who confers with foreign counterparts, said "profiling" on the basis of ethnicity was a de facto U.S. practice.

"The United States does do this, by the way, beyond the debate over whether they refer to terrorism as 'Islamic' or do not refer to terrorism as 'Islamic'," he said.
Cuban coffee returning to U.S., but only for Nespresso brewers

By Lisa Baertlein and Marcy Nicholson

LOS ANGELES/NEW YORK, June 20 (Reuters) - Nestle SA's Nespresso says it will become the first company to import coffee from Cuba to the United States in more than 50 years amid smoothing trade relations between the Cold War adversaries.

The U.S. State Department in April added coffee and other products to its list of eligible imports produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs.

That regulatory change cleared the way for Nespresso to begin U.S. sales of Cafecito de Cuba, a premium espresso roast for its home brewers, this autumn, the company said on Monday.

Initially available in limited quantities, Cafecito de Cuba aims to deliver on Nespresso's mission to deliver "exclusive, unique coffee experiences," Guillaume Le Cunff, Nespresso USA president, said.

Nespresso also is partnering with nonprofit TechnoServe, to support independent coffee farmers on the Caribbean island.

"We want consumers in the U.S. to experience this incredible coffee and to enjoy it now and for years to come," said Le Cunff, who aims to forge long-term relationships with Cuban producers.

Cuba harvests about 100,000 60-kg bags of arabica coffee annually, according to International Coffee Organization (ICO) data. While that is about five times the annual production of Jamaica, it is just a fraction of this year's expected 13.5 million bag harvest from Colombia, the world's biggest grower of high-quality washed arabica coffee.

Nespresso sells brewing machines and single-use coffee capsules. Its flagship espresso maker dominates the market in Europe, where such drinks are preferred, but trails Green Mountain Coffee Roasters' Keurig system in the United States.

Nespresso competes with a bevy of other global brands for sought-after beans. Those rivals include Starbucks Corp , which told Reuters it has "no plans to import coffee from Cuba at this time."

The United States imposed trade restrictions on Cuba in 1960, after the government of revolutionary leader Fidel Castro seized private land, nationalized scores of private companies and imposed heavy taxes on U.S. imports. President John F. Kennedy issued a permanent embargo in 1962.
Most days lost in c/s Brazil cane crush can be recovered-Unica head

By David Brough

LONDON, June 20 (Reuters) - Most of the days lost so far to rain in the sugarcane crush in centre-south Brazil can be recovered, Elizabeth Farina, president of Brazil's cane industry association Unica, said on Monday.

A number of days of cane harvesting in centre-south Brazil were lost due to rainfall in the second half of May and the first half of June, after an early start to crushing in dry weather in April.

Brazil is the world's top sugar producer and exporter.

"Unica understands that we will have a lot of difficulties to forecast the harvest this year, just because of the weather. In some places it is raining very much. We have some frost as well in the south (of Brazil)," Farina told Reuters on the sidelines of a seminar about Brazil's sugar and ethanol industry organised by analyst Datagro.

"Most of them (can be recovered)," she added, referring to the days lost so far.

Farina said the days lost could be recovered either by stepping up productivity in coming months or by extending the end of the crush.

"It can be a combination of both," she said.

The cane crush in centre-south Brazil typically runs until late in the calendar year.

Farina gave no view on how many days were forecast to be lost to rain in the second half of June. Unica will give figures next month on the cane crush in the last fortnight of June.

She said that tight global supplies, rather than just factors relating to Brazilian supply, had contributed to the latest rally in sugar futures prices.

Benchmark raw sugar on ICE touched a 2-1/2-year peak of 20.15 cents a lb on June 16.

Dry weather in Asian producers, including India, has contributed to the shift in the global sugar balance into deficit after several years of surpluses, analysts and traders say.
Bahrain strips top Shi'ite Muslim cleric of citizenship

By Sami Aboudi

DUBAI, June 20 (Reuters) - Bahrain has revoked the citizenship of the spiritual leader of the kingdom's Shi'ite Muslim majority, the state news agency reported on Monday, prompting protests outside his home and a sharp rebuke from an Iranian paramilitary chief.

The move against Ayatollah Isa Qassim comes less than a week after a court ordered Bahrain's main opposition al-Wefaq group closed, accusing it of fomenting sectarian unrest and of having links to a foreign power, in an apparent reference to regional Shi'ite power Iran.

The move against Qassim was the latest one taken by Bahrain - where a Shi'ite majority is ruled by a Sunni monarchy - against Shi'ite figures in the country, in what appears to be an escalating campaign against dissent in the Western-allied Gulf kingdom.

Bahrain has defended its actions against Shi'ite Muslim figures in the context of national security.

Qassim could potentially face expulsion from the country.

A crowd of up to 4,000 people gathered outside Qassim's house in the Shi'ite village of Diraz, west of the capital, Manama, to show their support for him, witnesses said.

In a bluntly worded reaction, the top commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Qassem Soleimani, warned the Bahraini government it would pay a price for its decision and suggested Bahrainis may respond with armed action.

"The Al Khalifa (rulers of Bahrain) surely know their aggression against Sheikh Isa Qassim is a red line and that crossing it would set Bahrain and the whole region on fire, and it would leave no choice for people but to resort to armed resistance," Soleimani said in a statement published by Fars news agency.

Soleimani heads the Qods Force, the elite special forces arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Iran's Foreign Ministry also criticised the move.

In a statement published on the Tasnim news agency, the ministry urged the Bahraini government "not to burn all the bridges that connect the government to the people" and "to hold serious national talks to end the current crisis."

Washington, which regards Bahrain as a top Gulf ally and is where the U.S. Fifth Fleet is based as a bulwark against Iran, said it was "alarmed" by the decision.

"We are unaware of any credible evidence to support this action," State Department spokesman John Kirby said.

The United States and Britain have expressed concern about Bahrain's human rights record.

Bahrain in 2011 crushed an uprising by Shi'ites demanding reforms that would give them a bigger voice in governing the Sunni Muslim-ruled country. Bahrain denies any discrimination.

DISCONTENT

But discontent still smoulders on the streets of Bahrain, where a financial crisis caused by lower oil prices has caused a slowdown in the economy.

BNA, quoting an Interior Ministry statement, said Qassim had been trying to divide Bahraini society, encourage youths to violate the constitution and promote a sectarian environment in the country.

"Based on that, the Bahraini citizenship had been dropped from Isa Ahmed Qassim, who since he acquired Bahraini citizenship had sought to form organisations that follow foreign religious and political reference," BNA said.

Qassim's official website says he was born in a Shi'ite village in the kingdom in the 1940s, when the island state was still under British rule.

The crowds gathered outside Qassim's house chanted Shi'ite slogans, witnesses said.

"With our soul, with our blood we sacrifice ourselves for you, Hussein!" they chanted, invoking the name of the Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussein, who is revered by Shi'ite Muslims.

Social media footage showed Qassim standing outside what looked like his home saluting the crowds.

Dozens of police vehicles were seen surrounding Diraz, the witnesses said, but there were no reports of clashes.

HEZBOLLAH SAYS DECISION 'DANGEROUS'

The powerful Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah called Bahrain's decision "extremely dangerous" and warned it would bring severe consequences to the ruling system.

"The authorities, with their stupidity and recklessness, are pushing the Bahraini people to difficult choices, which will have severe consequences for this corrupt dictatorial regime," Hezbollah said in a statement.

Bahrain earlier accused the Iran-backed Hezbollah of supporting militants behind a spate of bombings in the country and has designated the group a terrorist organisation.

The Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy said the withdrawal of Qassim's citizenship would stoke unrest.

"We are deeply concerned that these actions will escalate tensions on the streets and may even lead to violence, as targeting the country's leading Shi'ite cleric is considered to be a red line for many Bahrainis," Sayed Ahmed al-Wadaei, the institute's director of advocacy, said in a statement.

Bahraini media reported last week that authorities had been investigating a bank account of some $10 million in Qassim's name.

The move spurred a strongly worded statement from top clerics, including Qassim, against any attempt to meddle with the collection of a Muslim tax called Khums, which is a pillar of Shi'ite Islam.
Austrian officials worked around election law, court hears

VIENNA, June 20 (Reuters) - Electoral officials broke one of Austria's vote-counting rules in last month's presidential poll because it was almost impossible to implement, witnesses told the Constitutional Court on Monday as it examined a challenge to the result by the far-right Freedom Party (FPO).

FPO candidate Norbert Hofer, aspiring to be the first far-right head of state to be elected in a European Union country, lost narrowly to a former leader of the Greens Party. In announcing its challenge, the party cited irregularities on a "more than frightening" scale.

A lawyer for winning candidate Alexander Van der Bellen described the court testimony so far as not giving rise to any suspicions of manipulation.

"No manipulation is in any way apparent and it (the count) was largely carried out correctly," lawyer Maria Windhager told reporters outside the courtroom.

No other officials, when questioned, said they believed there had been any manipulation of the vote.

The FPO challenge focuses on most of the more than 700,000 postal ballots cast, which swung the election in favour of independent Van der Bellen. His margin of victory was roughly 31,000 votes, or less than one percentage point.

The Constitutional Court must decide whether the law was broken in such a way that the result might have been affected. If so, it can order remedies including a re-run. It aims to rule before Van der Bellen's inauguration scheduled for July 8.

The most widespread irregularity according to the FPO was that postal ballots were processed or counted before 9 a.m. the day after the Sunday election. The Interior Ministry agrees officials in several districts failed to wait until then.

"Because ... of the enormous amount of postal voting ballots it would barely have been possible to provide a result in time starting on the Monday at 9 a.m.," Innsbruck-Land voting district head Wolfgang Nairz told the court.

At the start of four days of public proceedings in which the court plans to hear around 90 witnesses, Nairz said his voting district had authorised him years ago to process ballots early. The candidates' lawyers dispute whether that is allowed.

An official from another of Austria's 117 voting districts, Southeastern Styria, told the court postal ballots were processed early there, too, because there would not have been enough people to handle them on the day after the election.

Other irregularities alleged by the FPO include that unauthorised people counted ballots. The Interior Ministry has countered that and other arguments by saying FPO observers signed documents stating the count was carried out correctly.

Election observers from various parties said they signed those documents without reading them.
Lebanon's Hezbollah warns Bahrain of consequences over cleric move

BEIRUT, June 20 (Reuters) - Lebanese Shi'ite group Hezbollah on Monday called on the people of Bahrain to express anger at the government's decision to strip a leading Shi'ite cleric of his citizenship and said it would bring severe consequences to the country's leadership.

Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, said the move against Ayatollah Isa Qassim, "pushes the Bahraini people to difficult choices which will have severe consequences for this corrupt dictatorial regime". It added that it showed the Bahraini government had reached "the end of the road" in dealing with what it called a peaceful, popular movement.
Belgian police release six questioned over 2015 train attack

BRUSSELS, June 20 (Reuters) - Belgian police released without charges six people who had been held for questioning on Monday over an attack on a high-speed train as it travelled between Amsterdam and Paris in August 2015, prosecutors said.

In that attack, a man with a machine gun wounded two people on the train before being overpowered by passengers .

The new detentions follow a series of police raids on homes over the weekend, after which three men were charged with plotting an attack.

Prosecutors said that a judge had ordered six home searches and detained six people in the greater Brussels area. No weapons or explosives were found.

"They were released as planned after some checks," a spokesman for the Belgian federal prosecutor said. "There were no charges, either."

Belgium remains on heightened alert three months after three suicide bombers killed 32 victims in attacks on Brussels airport and a metro car.
EU to extend Russia sanctions, divided over next steps

By Robin Emmott

LUXEMBOURG, June 20 (Reuters) - The European Union was divided on Monday over how to end a stand-off with Moscow over the crisis in Ukraine, as Britain called for governments to maintain their tough stance and Slovakia said the current sanctions policy was untenable.

France reiterated the West's position that there could be no change to the punitive sanctions on Russia's defence, energy and financial sectors until Moscow dropped its support for separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine, although Paris wants EU leaders to also seek a rapprochement with the Kremlin.

Incoming EU presidency chair Slovakia said EU governments could not ignore the political pressure in some EU countries for a shift in sanctions policy with Russia, the bloc's biggest energy supplier.

Slovakia's Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak, whose country will help shape European policy from July to December, said it was necessary to hold talks because there was "a growing demand for a political discussion" about sanctions levied on Russia.

Diplomats said such talk was code for potentially softening the measures implemented by the West in July 2014 after Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea in February of that year. Italy, Bulgaria and Greece are keen to see some sanctions lifted.

"I am not calling for abolishing the sanctions. But what I don't want to see is that we formally maintain the sanctions and behind the sanctions, everyone is signing big deals with Russia, visiting, meeting people who are blacklisted," Lajcak said.

"This is the reality today, so I think it is fair to discuss," he told reporters in the margins of the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Luxembourg.

EU envoys in Brussels are set to extend the sanctions on Russia on Tuesday until the end of the year. The United States and other Western nations have imposed similar sanctions.

The West accuses Russia of directly supporting the rebels, which Moscow denies. Western governments say any relaxation of the sanctions are linked to progress on a peace deal signed in Minsk last year to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The war has killed more than 9,000 people since April 2014 and NATO warned last week the internationally-monitored ceasefire in eastern Ukraine was barely holding..

That view was restated in Berlin on Monday by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who helped negotiate the Minsk accord, following comments by her foreign minister saying he was in favour of lifting sanctions gradually if the Russian government took some steps linked to Minsk.

Britain's foreign minister said there could be no middle ground and that the Minsk peace deal, which includes a complete ceasefire in eastern Ukraine, needed to be implemented in full.
U.S. union takes aim at potential McDonald's deals in Asia

LOS ANGELES, June 20 (Reuters) - The union backing a high-profile campaign to raise pay and improve working conditions for low-wage U.S. workers on Monday warned potential buyers of roughly 3,000 McDonald's Corp restaurants in Asia that such deals could saddle them with operational risks, including significant costs and liabilities.

While it is not uncommon for U.S. unions to weigh in on corporate mergers or other agreements that could affect the workers they represent, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) is acting on behalf of fast-food workers who are not unionized.

McDonald's, the world's biggest restaurant chain by revenue, is seeking local partners to expand its Asia business. It aims to sell restaurants in China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan, as well as a portion of its stake in McDonald's Japan.

"We believe McDonald's past practices pose risks for its future licensees, those firms' investors, McDonald's franchisees in Asia, and the workers employed at McDonald's stores," SEIU Executive Vice President Scott Courtney said in a letter sent via email and regular mail to firms including KKR China, Baring Private Equity Asia and New Hope Group.

McDonald's and the firms targeted by SEIU did not immediately provide comment.

The SEIU has spent tens of millions of dollars on a multiyear campaign, including frequent public marches and protests, to improve the plight of low-wage retail and fast-food workers. Last year the union pressed the Federal Trade Commission to investigate alleged abusive practices by major franchisors, including McDonald's Corp and 7-Eleven Inc .

Among other things, SEIU warned the royalties paid to McDonald's by some international licensees have been set to rise over time. The royalties are based on a percentage of sales and insulate McDonald's from the uncertainty of changing labor, food and other operating costs that are borne by franchisees.

The union noted that Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc, McDonald's largest global franchisee, has had a rocky run since its initial public offering in 2011.

Arcos Dorados has struggled with currency woes and economic turbulence in the Latin American region where it operates. Its shares trade below $5, far below their IPO price of $17.
Italy's Renzi faces fight for political life after vote setback

By Crispian Balmer

ROME, June 20 (Reuters) - "Italy should be proud of having a leader like him," Russian President Vladimir Putin said as he sat alongside Prime Minister Matteo Renzi last week. Mayoral elections on Sunday suggested Italians think otherwise.

Renzi's opposition to the European Union automatically renewing sanctions on Russia went down well when he visited St. Petersburg on Friday.

But back home, voters more worried about corruption and unemployment swept his Democratic Party (PD) from power in Rome and the northern industrial city of Turin two days later, handing control to the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement.

While the party held onto the financial capital Milan, it was toppled in a dozen major towns and cities in a result that augured ill for a referendum in October that Renzi has pinned his career on, promising to resign if he loses.

The referendum concerns constitutional reform, which Renzi says will bring political stability to Italy. Opposition parties see it as a vote on the prime minister himself, sensing a chance to oust him two years before his term expires.

"This is the end for Renzi," Renato Brunetta, parliamentary head of the centre-right Forza Italia party, told Reuters.

When Renzi took office in 2014, he was a youthful, new force nicknamed "Demolition Man", promising to revitalise a country mired in recession, bureaucracy and corruption.

Now his assertive personality appears more of a hindrance than a help, with many voters yet to feel the benefits of his reform programme and discontent rising within his divided party.

"We need to make clear that imposing things from on high does not bring the desired results," said Virginio Merola, a PD politician who held on as mayor of the northern city of Bologna in a rare success for the party.

"A do-it-yourself party does not work," he told reporters, taking aim at Renzi's management style, which critics say is overbearing, arrogant and self-centred.

BIG BUSINESS

Renzi did not take part in campaigning for Sunday's second-round run-off vote, a sign that PD candidates did not regard him as an asset. He preferred to go instead to Russia to drum up contracts for Italian companies.

Business leaders have praised his can-do style of government and his efforts to help boost trade. "He is very different from past prime ministers. They used to call up asking for favours. He calls up asking what he can do to help," said a senior executive in energy company Eni, who declined to be named.

His ties with big business have angered some stalwarts of the PD, the centre-left successor of Italy's defunct Communist Party. Traditionalists say he should spend more energy on tackling the problems of the party's working class electoral base.

Although the economy is now growing after the worst downturn since World War Two, it still lags EU peers, and unemployment remains stuck above 11 percent despite a shake up of the labour market which Renzi touts as his main economic achievement.

"Talking to industrialists and the middle class has not brought Renzi the votes he had hoped for," said Piero Ignazi, a professor of comparative politics at Bologna University.

"He has made strategic errors, but he is also the best Italian politician of the last 30 years and is perfectly capable of changing his spots overnight," Ignazi told Reuters.

After disappointing results in the first round on June 5, Renzi pinned the blame on party divisions, threatening to take a "flamethrower" to the PD to impose his authority.

Since he seized control of the party in 2013, he has faced resistance from influential veterans such as former prime minister Massimo D'Alema.

"I would vote for the devil if that meant I could get rid of Renzi," D'Alema was quoted as saying by la Repubblica newspaper last week. He denied making the comment, but also refused to back publicly the PD's beleaguered candidate in Rome.

"There is a plot to oust Renzi which is being played out in broad daylight," said life-long PD voter Francesco Poggi, a retired bus driver who attended a low-key rally on Friday to wrap up the PD's disastrous mayoral campaign in Rome.

"The party has been too gentle with these people," he said, referring to the party's old guard. "It needs to put its house in order."

BACKROOM DEALS

Such a crackdown now could prove fatal, with Renzi needing to keep the peace before the October referendum, analysts said.

An opinion poll on Sunday put backing for the proposed constitutional reform - which would abolish the Senate as an elected chamber and sharply restrict its ability to veto legislation - at 28.6 percent. Opposition was at 27.2 percent and undecideds on 44.2 percent.

Should he win, Renzi would have carte blanche to reshape the party and eliminate dissidents but even then his problems would be far from over.

Sunday's election showed that Renzi is vulnerable to the anti-establishment sentiment that has emerged across Europe in since the debt crisis.

The PD held its own against traditional centre-right rivals, including in Milan. But the 5-Star Movement won 19 of the 20 battles it took part in, appealing to voters of all political colours with its promises to beat back corruption and renounce old-style backroom deals that have defined politics.

Under a new electoral law that will be used in the next national vote, it looks highly likely that the PD and 5-Star Movement will face each other in a national run-off. Sunday's results suggest Renzi would lose.
Man arrested in Britain after fight over EU referendum

LONDON, June 20 (Reuters) - British police said on Monday a man had been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a pensioner in a row over this week's referendum on whether Britain should remain in the European Union.

Police said the incident had occurred outside a department store in Carlisle, northern England, on Sunday morning.

"A 78-year-old man was struck in the face causing minor injuries by a 52-year-old man following an altercation about the EU referendum," Cumbria Police said in a statement.

The 52-year-old man was arrested shortly afterwards.

The debate between those wanting to leave the EU and those wanting to remain has become increasingly heated and febrile as the vote nears. Polls suggest the referendum, which will have huge implications for Britain, is on a knife edge.
Oi files for Brazil's biggest ever bankruptcy protection

By Guillermo Parra-Bernal and Ana Mano

SAO PAULO, June 20 (Reuters) - Oi SA filed for Brazil's largest ever bankruptcy protection on Monday after the country's No. 1 fixed-line phone carrier ran out of time to reorganize operations and restructure 65.4 billion reais ($19.3 billion) of debt amid a harsh recession.

The petition for bankruptcy protection from Oi, Brazil's fourth-biggest mobile provider, and six subsidiaries came after talks with creditors ground to a halt earlier this month ahead of a July debt payment.

Oi's bankruptcy filing - the equivalent of Chapter 11 in the United States - comes after a record number of Brazilian companies filed for court protection from creditors in 2015 as Latin America's largest economy plunged into a recession not seen in eight decades.

Brazil's economic woes exacerbated Oi's struggle with mounting competition in mobile and data, spiraling debt and its burden of mandatory fixed-line expansion goals after its state-sponsored merger eight years ago.

Brazil's political crisis may have also harmed Oi, delaying an overhaul of industry rules that could have helped the company and encouraged the company's almost 200 bondholders to give it more time to renegotiate debt, analysts said.

The decision to file for bankruptcy came two months after Oi and several creditors began talks to restructure about 50 billion reais in debt owed to banks and bondholders. Talks collapsed after key shareholders balked at the prospect that an accord with creditors would dramatically cut their stakes, sources told Reuters at the time.

In a securities filing, Oi said the petition to seek protection from creditors in a Rio de Janeiro court stemmed from "obstacles confronted by management to finding a viable alternative with creditors."

Concern over a looming bankruptcy plan increased on June 10 when Chief Executive Officer Bayard Gontijo quit after a majority of the company's board opposed the direction of restructuring talks. One of those shareholders, Pharol SGPS SA, criticized Gontijo's support for a creditor proposal that would give them a 95 percent stake in Oi.

"As anticipated, negotiations did not lead to any agreement between the parties, and investors were waiting for Oi's next move," said Paolo Gorgo, an Italy-based investor specializing in distressed debt cases.

Last week, Oi warned that, without a debt restructuring, 92 percent of existing cash would be depleted by year-end, making operations "unsustainable."

A source with direct knowledge of the decision told Reuters on Monday that the company is confident industry watchdog Anatel will keep Oi's operating license throughout the process. Oi plans to maintain the highest service quality standards during the process, the same source added.

Oi, Brazil's only carrier controlled by domestic capital, declined to comment beyond the petition. In a separate statement, Brazil's Communications, Science and Technology Ministry said that Oi's bankruptcy filing will accelerate discussions to revisit industry rules, without mentioning the license issue.

Another source told Reuters that bondholders already negotiating with Oi were not warned about the company's decision to seek court protection. Earlier this year, those creditors had formed a group that was being advised by Moelis & Co.

JULY MATURITY

Nonvoting shares of Oi slumped 10 percent on Monday as the approaching deadlines for debt repayments added to fears that the company could default or seek bankruptcy protection in the middle of the debt restructuring.

The Oi subsidiaries that also filed for bankruptcy protection were Oi Movel SA, Telemar Norte Leste SA, Copart 4 Participacoes SA, Copart 5 Participacoes SA, Portugal Telecom International Finance BV and Oi Brasil Holdings Cooperatief UA.

Analysts said that Oi's debt was unsustainable in the short term, with almost half of it maturing by the end of 2017. Debt-servicing also posed a challenge for Oi, whose debt is 75 percent denominated in currencies other than the Brazilian real - which fell 16 percent against the U.S. dollar in the past two years.

Especially challenging was the maturity of 230 million euros ($260 million) in bonds of Portugal Telecom International, scheduled for July.

According to the first source, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, the request for creditor protection stemmed from what the company perceived as an inability to implement the necessary steps to exchange existing bonds for new ones and issue equity for creditors.

At the same time, creditors whose positions in credit default swaps tied to the Portugal telecom International notes surpassed their bondholdings by a large margin had an incentive to disrupt talks or trigger a default, the source said.

Oi has almost 200 different bondholders spanning from Brazil and the United States to Switzerland and Chile

Newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo reported on Monday that Oi had hired law firm Galdino, Coelho, Mendes Advogados to help draft a possible bankruptcy protection filing.

A Oi spokeswoman declined to comment on the reported hiring of Galdino as adviser. The law firm did not immediately comment.

($1 = 3.3770 Brazilian reais)
Turkey detains 3 prominent Turkish press freedom campaigners

By Dasha Afanasieva

ISTANBUL, June 20 (Reuters) - Turkish authorities on Monday detained three prominent campaigners for press freedom, including the local representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), on charges of spreading terrorist propaganda, human rights groups said.

The arrests will further stoke fears for media freedoms in Turkey under President Tayyip Erdogan following a series of high-profile cases against opposition newspapers and broadcasters.

The three detainees are RSF representative Erol Onderoglu, author Ahmet Nesin and Sebnem Korur Fincanci, the president of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey. They were sent to pre-trial detention after they guest-edited a magazine on Kurdish issues and campaigned against efforts to censor it, said RSF and another group, EuroMed Rights.

Onderoglu was arrested for his work on three articles about security operations in Turkey's largely Kurdish southeast and infighting among security forces which appeared in the May 18 edition of the Ozgur Gundem magazine, said Johann Bihr, from RSF.

Bihr described Onderoglu, who had worked for RSF for two decades, as a "victim of the abuses he always denounced".

An official at Erdogan's office declined to comment on the cases. It was unclear how long the three would be detained or when they would face trial.

Last month Turkey came under fire for sentencing two prominent journalists at the opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper to at least five years in jail for revealing state secrets in a case in which Erdogan was named as a complainant.

Turkish authorities have also seized or shut down several newspapers and taken broadcasters off the air in the last year, usually citing security concerns. They deny trying to muzzle free expression.

Turkey's record on press freedoms and broader human rights has increased reservations among some European politicians about whether Turkey, a NATO member, is a suitable candidate for membership of the EU.

But their criticism has been relatively muted in recent months because the EU needs Turkey's close cooperation in curbing the flow of illegal migrants into Europe.
Pakistan on track to end power shortages within two years - ADB

ISLAMABAD, June 20 (Reuters) - Pakistan could end energy rationing within two years, the Asia Development Bank (ADB) country director for Pakistan said on Monday, adding weight to government claims that they will end frequent outages in time for the 2018 elections.

Analysts say if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government manages to eradicate "load-shedding", the electricity rationing system which leads to several hours of scheduled outages every day, it would significantly boost his chances of securing another term in office.

Pakistan's economy has been hobbled by energy shortages over the past decade, with businesses saying they deter foreign investment and hurt productivity. Electricity shortages were among the main election issues in the 2013 poll won by Sharif.

ADB is lending Pakistan more than $1 billion over five years as part of efforts to end Pakistan's chronic energy crisis and implement reforms such as privatising parts of the sector and improving transparency.

Werner Liepach, ADB's country director for Pakistan, said the bank was "broadly satisfied about progress being made" in Pakistan with energy sector reforms.

When asked at a news conference if load shedding could be eradicated in two years, Liepach was categorical: "Yes". He added it was possible to be done even sooner but it would depend on other factors, such as global oil prices.

Sharif's government has made reducing energy shortages a top priority, embarking on construction of new dams, coal-fire power plants and renewable energy projects.

Energy Minister Khawaja Asif said the South Asian nation week had last week hit record production generation of 17,350 megawatts (MW), though production shortfalls varied between 1,500MW and 4,700MW through the week.
Rival Kremlin camps prepare for battle over economy

By Christian Lowe and Alexander Winning

ST PETERSBURG, Russia, June 20 (Reuters) - Rival camps inside President Vladimir Putin's entourage are preparing to do battle with each other over whether the Russian state should keep its role as custodian of the economy.

While to the outside world the Kremlin presents a united front, especially in its stand-off with the West, in reality it is divided with Putin often having to act as umpire in contests between different factions.

On one side of the economic argument is a loose coalition of pro-market liberals who say if robust growth is to return, the Kremlin must slash government spending, break up monopolies, and dilute state control over giant corporations.

In the other camp are the people who control those corporations, many of them with state security backgrounds, who have been close to Putin for decades, who say relinquishing the state's control is the path to chaos.

The debate has now acquired new urgency because, according to the reform camp, the economic slump in Russia of the past two years has left the state running out of money, and demonstrated that Russia cannot keep relying on oil exports in a volatile world market.

Putin last week promised to reduce bureaucratic interference in business, and announced he would head a new presidential council on strategic development. But there was no word on the kind of bold changes the pro-market camp says are needed.

According to several people who know him, Putin recognises the need for changes but is caught in the middle, unable to make a decisive move one way or another because that would risk a backlash from the losing camp.

"There is no consensus on what to do," said a senior figure in business circles who was in St Petersburg last week to hear Putin address investors at an annual forum.

Putin's apparent inability to choose decisively between the camps occasionally produces mixed signals or sudden policy reversals. In one example earlier this year, the government announced that all state-owned companies would be required to contribute more to state coffers by paying at least 50 percent of their profits in dividends.

Officials insisted there would be no exceptions. But the state's two main oil and gas companies, Rosneft and Gazprom, both flouted the requirement, announcing far smaller dividends. Putin did not publicly take sides.

LIBERAL CIRCLES

The camps fighting it out over the direction of the economy are loosely formed and constantly shifting, but they coalesce around certain personalities.

The centre of gravity in the pro-market camp is Alexei Kudrin, who was finance minister for 11 years before he quit five years ago when Putin declined to make him the paramount economy policymaker.

Yet he stayed in Putin's orbit. In the past few months he was in talks about taking an official post in the presidential administration. That foundered because he believed he would have to share influence with officials from the statist camp, according to people familiar with the negotiations.

Kudrin, a bespectacled 55-year-old economist with a bookish manner, instead took on a part-time advisory role as deputy head of the presidential economic council, with the job of drawing up proposals for economic reform.

Moving in Kudrin's circle are figures such as German Gref, chief executive of state-owned Sberbank, Russia's biggest lender, central bank governor Elvira Nabiullia, and prominent business people from sectors outside the state-dominated mining and energy sectors.

Among the sort of reforms sought by members of that camp are cuts in state budget spending, a raising of the retirement age to re-balance the pension system, and the sale of the state's controlling interests in major companies.

"I think we need to stop uttering these mantras and actually do these reforms," said Alexander Shokhin, a former deputy prime minister who is now head of the Russian Union of Entrepreneurs and Industrialists, a business lobby.

Ziyavudin Magomedov, owner of Summa group, with interests in transportation, construction and agriculture, said Russia should privatise everything but the most essential monopolies.

"Then everything will flourish in glorious colours," he said. "The time is ripe for reforms."

INDUSTRY BOSSES

But some of those close to Putin, including many who derive their power from leadership positions in state-owned conglomerates, see those reforms as a threat.

"I believe we don't need more reforms," said Sergei Chemezov, chief executive of Rostec, a state-owned conglomerate that makes aircraft, weapons, and high-tech equipment and is part-owner with Renault-Nissan of automaker Avtovaz, which produces Russia's Lada saloon cars.

Like other figures in the statist camp, Chemezov has longstanding personal ties to Putin: they lived in the same east German apartment block in the 1980s, when the future Russian leader was working as a Soviet spy.

"Any reforms unsettle business. Unpredictability appears, and people don't know which direction things will go in," Chemezov told Reuters. "Any reform gives rise to a certain amount of anxiety among business."

The group's other major figures include Igor Sechin, the Putin lieutenant who runs state-owned oil giant Rosneft , and Sergei Ivanov, a former spy who is now Kremlin chief of staff.

Several members of this camp are subject to Western sanctions that were imposed over the conflict in Ukraine, since those sanctions sought to target Putin's closest associates.

In the view of this camp, sectors of the economy such as oil and defence manufacturing are of strategic importance to the state, and if the Kremlin relinquished control that could be a threat to Russia's national security.

For now, Putin is sitting on the fence. But staying in that position will grow more uncomfortable as the contest between the rival groups intensifies.
In push for equal NATO status, Poland asks for flashpoint troops

By Wiktor Szary

WARSAW, June 20 (Reuters) - At the height of the Cold War, NATO generals lost sleep over the "Fulda Gap", a flat lowland area they identified as the easiest way for Warsaw Pact tanks to roll into Western Germany.

As NATO's borders have shifted east, they now worry about a new flashpoint of potential conflict with Russia: a 40-mile sliver of land dubbed the Suwalki Gap, whose seizure by Moscow's troops could leave the three Baltic states, former Soviet republics, isolated and helpless.

Weeks before a key summit in Warsaw, Poland is pushing its allies to use some of NATO's planned new multinational forces to secure the gap, a move experts say is aimed at rebalancing what Warsaw sees as a 'second class' status within the alliance.

NATO insists it is taking necessary measures to deter any Russian aggressive thinking, but without turning Suwalki itself into a source of tension near Russian borders.

"NATO has already changed its military posture to be able to respond militarily in that area," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. "What we have done is increase the readiness of our forces...We are not doing this to create a conflict, but to avoid one."

Moscow denies territorial ambitions in the north but has expressed concern at any NATO build-up near its borders.

Poland says a direct presence of NATO troops in the gap area, the only overland route linking Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia with their allies, could change the political calculus and deter a potential aggressor.

Analysts say Poland's push to secure the area with NATO units is part of its wider strategy, driven partly by its suspicion of Western allies and aimed at ensuring NATO does not hesitate to defend its easternmost members.

Deployment of alliance troops directly in this potential flashpoint area could mean Poland's allies immediately find themselves facing hostile forces, even in a surprise attack, Deputy Defence Minister Tomasz Szatkowski told Reuters.

Michal Baranowski, Director of the German Marshall Fund of the United States in Warsaw said: "In reality, this is Poland's strategy aimed at automatically involving key NATO countries in a potential conflict."

SUSPICIOUS MINDS

Warsaw has never openly questioned the cast-iron character of Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which states that an attack on one member is an attack against all. NATO, in turn, has repeatedly said that its security guarantees are sacrosanct.

But Poland's bitter historical experiences, notably during World War Two, when Western allies failed to save it from a Nazi German, and later Soviet Russian invasion, mean that Warsaw would rather not have to test NATO's resolve, analysts say.

"Poland has been let down by its allies in the past," said Tim Ripley, defence analyst at IHS Jane's. "The suspicion still lingers in the minds of Poles."

A former Soviet satellite, Poland joined the U.S.-led alliance in 1999. Two years prior, NATO, looking to ease Moscow's anxiety about alliance expansion, declared it would not permanently station significant forces close to Russian borders.

But after Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea in 2014, Poland pushed for a permanent NATO base, with one official telling Reuters at the time the limits on the alliance's presence in the region were "no longer valid".

PERSISTENT, RELUCTANT

Calls for a permanent NATO presence intensified after the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party came to power in October.

But Poland's dream of hosting a permanent NATO base did not come true - partly, analysts say, because of NATO unwillingness to break the 1997 declaration.

At an upcoming summit in Warsaw, allies will instead approve a range of deterrence measures for eastern Europe, which involves troops on rotation and warehoused equipment.

Poland will likely host a U.S.-led battalion of around 1,000 soldiers, with troops rotating in and out of the country. The Baltic states will each host a similar, ally-led battalion.

But even here some European allies proved reluctant to help, highlighting internal doubts over whether the alliance should not be focusing on its southern flank.

Some NATO allies are also anxious not to appear provocative towards Russia, which has already responded to NATO's announced build up with readiness drills of its military.

Exactly where Poland's NATO battalion will be stationed will not emerge until months after the summit, Polish defence officials say, but NATO reluctance to provoke Russia makes the Suwalki gap an unlikely location.

Speaking to reporters in Prague, chairman of the NATO Military Committee General Petr Pavel acknowledged the Suwalki gap was NATO's weak spot; but the four battalions "should be rather a political deterrence than a military one".

"Poland's allies want to  avoid a confrontational approach to Moscow," said Baranowski of the GMF in Warsaw. "We're talking about the largest-ever NATO units persistently based in Poland, and putting them right next to Russia's border would certainly have to draw a response from Russia."
Fighting breaks out in Central African Republic's capital

BANGUI, June 20 (Reuters) - Fighting broke out in the capital of Central African Republic on Monday and the sound of machineguns and heavier weapons resounded across Bangui, witnesses said.
Rebel-backed charcoal traffickers destroy swathes of forest in Congo - rights group

By Kieran Guilbert

DAKAR, June 20 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Huge swathes of forest land in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Virunga National Park are being destroyed for valuable charcoal by criminals backing one of the region's most notorious rebel groups, a rights group said on Monday.

Congo's illegal charcoal trade - worth an estimated $35 million a year - is fuelling the widespread deforestation of Africa's oldest national park, and a range of crimes including murder, forced labour and sex slavery, the Enough Project said.

Charcoal traffickers are helping to finance the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), a rebel group linked to Rwanda's 1994 genocide, according to a report by the Enough Project, a policy group fighting to prevent genocide and atrocities.

The rebel group, which consists of former soldiers and Hutu militiamen behind the genocide, has waged wars against other armed groups and the government and is believed to be at the heart of instability in the region, observers say.

Ethnic rivalries, foreign invasions and competition for land have stoked conflict among eastern Congo's dozens of rebel groups over the last two decades, costing millions of lives.

"Peacebuilding in Congo will be a losing game without addressing the complex business networks operating in the east," said the Enough Project's senior policy analyst Holly Dranginis.

Covering some 3,000 square miles (7,770 square kilometres), Virunga is Africa's most bio-diverse national park, a UNESCO world heritage site, and home to endangered mountain gorillas.

The charcoal from Virunga, called ndobo, is made by cutting down and burning trees in the park, and its trade is one of the FDLR's most lucrative businesses, the Enough Project said.

The rebel group coerces local people to produce ndobo, killing or enslaving those who resist, the group's report said.

Demand for the charcoal is concentrated in Congo, yet smugglers also transport it to Uganda and Rwanda, where old growth forests have nearly disappeared, according to the report.

While the state is responding to the FDLR's other illicit activities, such as mineral smuggling and elephant poaching, little has been done to tackle the charcoal trade, the report found.

Given that households across the region depend on charcoal as their main fuel source, law enforcement and military efforts to end its trade must be backed by alternative fuel initiatives to prevent a fuel shortage among millions of people, it said.
Iran's Soleimani says Bahrain will "pay price" for insulting Shi'ite cleric-Fars

DUBAI, June 20 (Reuters) - The commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned Bahrain's government of armed struggle, after the Gulf kingdom stripped the spiritual leader of its Shi'ite Muslim majority of his citizenship.

"The Al Khalifa (rulers of Bahrain) surely know their aggression against Sheikh Isa Qassim is a red line that crossing it would set Bahrain and the whole region on fire, and it would leave no choice for people but to resort to armed resistance," said Qasem Soleimani, head of the Quds Force, the elite special forces arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, in a statement published by Fars news agency.

"Al Khalifa will definitely pay the price for that and their bloodthirsty regime will be toppled," he said.
Venezuela opposition lines up to seek Maduro recall

By Sarah Dagher

CARACAS, June 20 (Reuters) - Venezuelan opposition sympathizers lined up on Monday around the country to validate signatures as part of a painstaking process to request a recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduro, who is deeply unpopular due to the country's economic crisis.

The elections council has required that those who signed for a recall vote against the 53-year-old former bus driver return to polling stations to verify their signatures through fingerprint detection.

Adversaries of the ruling Socialist Party say the requirement is part of a broader effort by the election council to stall the referendum at the behest of Maduro.

"This is necessary because the political situation of the country is unsustainable, what we're living is horrible," said Jose Gomez, 45, a merchant, in a line of hundreds at one signature point in Caracas.

"I feel terrible seeing neighbors selling television sets or belongings to be able to give food to their children."

The recent slump in oil prices devastated the OPEC nation's socialist economic model, leading to snaking grocery lines, empty supermarket shelves and growing anger among the roughly 30 million residents.

Maduro, elected in 2013 after the death of socialist leader Hugo Chavez, insists he is the victim of an "economic war" led by businesses with the backing of Washington.

The elections council this month rejected more than 600,000 signatures of nearly 2 million collected by the opposition, including those of high-profile politicians such as two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles.

The council also said the opposition handed over some 11,000 signatures corresponding to dead Venezuelans, which Socialist Party leaders cited as evidence the campaign is fraudulent.

During the current phase of the process, the opposition must validate close to 200,000 signatures, equivalent to 1 percent of the number of registered voters. Doing so would give them a chance to conduct a second officially sanctioned signature drive, in which they would have to garner close to 4 million signatures in order to trigger the recall.

Maduro and allies insist the referendum cannot take place this year because the opposition waited too long before beginning the referendum campaign.
After Brexit: Roadmap for a leap in the dark

By Alastair Macdonald

BRUSSELS, June 20 (Reuters) - Dawn, this Friday. The votes are in. The British have spoken in their EU membership referendum and they want out. It is a scenario European leaders are planning for in earnest while praying it never happens.

Secret meetings in Brussels and across Europe reveal huge uncertainty, officials and diplomats familiar with the proceedings say, over what would follow a vote that British Prime Minister David Cameron calls a "leap in the dark" - and also no little concern about what happens if Britain stays on.

This is a rough roadmap to Europe after June 23, based on conversations with many diplomats and officials, few of whom speak of it in public for fear of inflaming debate in Britain:

DAY 1 - FRIDAY, JUNE 24 - THE THREE R'S - OR MORE

Polls close at 10 p.m. (2100 GMT). No mainstream exit polls are planned but overnight counts should give a result by around the time the midsummer sun comes up over Brussels.

Aside from the result itself, there are already several big imponderables. Cameron says he will notify the European Union "immediately" if Britain is leaving. But he may take some time. If he has lost he will be under huge pressure from his divided Conservative party to resign. He might also be, even if he wins.

Money markets will be volatile. The Bank of England and European Central Bank have contingency plans to deal with a "Brexit shock" to sterling and the euro.

Leaders of the main parties in the European Parliament plan to meet at 7 a.m. (0500 GMT) in Brussels followed by a broader meeting of all party chiefs with the speaker at 8 a.m.

EU affairs ministers and ambassadors from member states gather in Luxembourg by 10 a.m. (0800 GMT) for routine talks that will provide the first chance for many to react. Expect joint statements from Germany and France and EU institutions.

However Britons vote, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, the EU chief executive, will host European Council President Donald Tusk, who chairs EU summits, and European Parliament President Martin Schulz at his Berlaymont headquarters in Brussels at 10:30 a.m. (0830 GMT). Also present will be Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, whose government holds the rotating EU presidency, to take stock and deliver a message.

If Britain votes to leave, look for a mantra of Three Rs: Regret - at losing nearly a fifth of the EU economy and more of its military and global clout; Respect - for the will of the British people; and Resolve - to forge ahead with European integration.

"The show must go on," one senior EU official said.

There may be a fourth message. Call it Reprisal, perhaps, though Britons should not take it personally; warnings of woe for those leaving will aim to discourage others from following suit. "Don't try this at home," as a senior EU diplomat put it.

DAY 2 - SATURDAY, JUNE 25 - NO, MINISTER?

Foreign ministers from the six founders of the bloc - Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg - may meet in Berlin, officials say.

Some euro zone finance ministers have suggested their Eurogroup might hold an emergency meeting but senior officials call that unlikely; managing banking and market turbulence will be up to the ECB and other regulators.

DAY 3 - SUNDAY, JUNE 26 - RALLYING ROUND THE EU FLAG

After a Brexit vote, Commission President Juncker will chair an emergency meeting of the executive's "college" of 28 commissioners, including Britain's Jonathan Hill, officials say. The Commission will be responsible for negotiating the divorce.

EU officials insist there is no "Plan B" for Brexit. But, recalling the same denials during last summer's near departure of debt-laden Greece, one speaks of a "Room B", where a fire-fighting team of EU lawyers and experts will be ready. "The idea is to have everything ready for Monday," the EU official said.

Member states' ambassadors and leaders' "sherpa" advisers are expected to meet in Brussels in the event of a Brexit vote.

DAY 4 - MONDAY, JUNE 27 - KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

The start of a new week on global financial markets will see investors and voters demanding answers on where Britain and the EU are heading. Expect both to offer assurances of orderly talks, while nothing changes immediately, for firms or citizens.

DAY 5 - TUESDAY, JUNE 28 - "DAVID, ARE YOU LEAVING NOW?"

A 24-hour EU summit is scheduled. After a Brexit vote, his political career may be over but Cameron would likely stay on until his deeply divided party elects a successor. He would be expected to appear for dinner in Brussels. Big question - would he notify summit chair Donald Tusk that he is triggering Article 50 of the EU treaty, the legal basis for Britain to leave? In London, pro-Brexit would-be successors may try to play for time.

EU officials and diplomats say they would want Britain to launch the process right away and rule out any new negotiations, though for now they see no legal way to force London's hand. The EU treaty does not allow for expulsion but there would be fierce political pressure, urging London to respect voters' wish to leave, and the other 27 could start discussions without Britain.

If Cameron secures a referendum win, the summit will discuss quickly enacting the reform package he won from fellow leaders in March to give Britain a special deal to stem EU immigration.

DAY 6 - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29 - "PLEASE WAIT OUTSIDE, DAVID."

Day Two of the summit and, if it is to be Brexit, leaders of the 27 other states will confer without Cameron in the room - a pattern Britons will have to get used to. Article 50 sets a two-year limit on divorce talks. The EU must fill a Britain-sized hole in its budget and reassure millions of EU citizens living in Britain and Britons on the continent of their future rights.

EU leaders may push for a quick show of unity on more integration. Divisions between Berlin and Paris on managing the euro zone probably rule out a big move on that front before both hold elections in 2017. Closer EU defence cooperation, without sceptical Britain, may be revived. A major EU security policy review is already on the summit agenda.

Other initiatives, aimed at blunting Marine Le Pen's far-right, eurosceptic bid for the French presidency in 2017, could include a push to create more jobs, especially for the young.

However, others, including summit chairman Tusk from Poland, caution against alienating voters by moving ahead too fast.

EU leaders must give the executive Commission a negotiating mandate. Some in Britain see exit discussions lasting longer than two years to include talks on new trade terms. But an extension requires an EU unanimity that few in Brussels expect.

Some suggest talks with Britain on its future trade terms can run in parallel. Juncker has said the EU's priority would be a two-year divorce, then talks starting "with a blank slate".

FROM DAY 7 - NOTHING (AND EVERYTHING) CHANGES; HELLO ESTONIA

After a Brexit vote, all EU laws apply in Britain until two years after London starts the process to leave. Then none would apply. Meanwhile, British lawmakers sit in the EU parliament, Hill in the Commission, thousands of Britons would go on working as EU civil servants and British ministers sit in EU councils. But they will have no real voice and Britain would be expected to renounce its EU presidency in the second half of 2017; Estonia might come forward to start its first stint in the chair six months early. Other solutions include new member Croatia being slotted in.

Some see heavy pressure to exclude British MEPs from a say on EU laws and to deprive Hill, a Cameron appointee, of his sensitive portfolio overseeing financial services regulation.

Whatever the referendum's outcome, a host of other EU plans, shelved for fear of alienating British voters, will come out of cold storage, including energy-saving rules to limit the power of toasters and kettles. Dealing with the fallout from a Swiss referendum on EU migration and a Dutch rejection of the EU trade deal with Ukraine will get back on track, as will a review of the EU's seven-year budget, which covers a period out to 2020.

If Britain votes to stay in, some, notably in France, fear a new British-led push to free up EU markets and rein in regulation. Some British officials see a mandate to do just that after a referendum win, though others doubt that Cameron, if he survives at all, would have much appetite for deeper EU engagement amid post-campaign Conservative blood-letting.

A post-Brexit relationship between Britain and the EU is the great unknown. Many EU leaders, wary of eurosceptic voters at home, are determined Britain cannot have access to EU trade and financial markets if it wants to keep out EU workers and refuse to contribute to the EU budget. "Out means out," they say.

New trade barriers would hurt both sides' economies. But the EU fears a political "domino effect" would cost more long-term.

END OF THE ROAD?

Leaders have much else on their plates to distract them from negotiating with Britain, including Russia, the euro, jobs and refugees. London may have other priorities, too, not least the likelihood europhile Scotland would bid again to break away.

There is a "Brussels consensus" that Britain would face a chilly future, cast out to perhaps talk its way back later into some kind of trade access in return for concessions such as free migration from inside the bloc and contributions to the EU budget - things which Brexit voters want to end. But cautious diplomats do not rule out surprise turns.
Islamic State launches counterattacks on U.S.-backed forces and Syrian army

By Suleiman Al-Khalidi

AMMAN, June 20 (Reuters) - The Islamic State group launched a counter attack against fighters trying to capture the Syrian city of Manbij on Monday, inflicting heavy casualties on the U.S.-backed forces, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the militants said.

The monitor said the ultra-hard line militants won back three villages south of the besieged city in a surprise assault against fighters from the U.S.-backed Syria Democratic Forces, in which at least 28 SDF fighters were killed.

Two years after IS proclaimed its caliphate to rule over all Muslims from swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria, its many foes are advancing on a number of fronts in both countries, with the aim of closing in on its two capitals, Raqqa in Syria and Mosul in Iraq.

The SDF were poised to enter Manbij nearly three weeks after the launch of a major assault to regain the city backed by U.S. air power and American special forces, to seal off the last stretch of the Syrian-Turkish frontier

The alliance, formed last year by recruiting Arabs to join forces with a powerful Kurdish militia, fought their way to nearly 2 km from the city centre from the western side on Saturday before retreating.

U.S-led coalition jets hit militants taking cover near the large wheat silo complex on the southern edge of the city that has been encircled by SDF forces.

An SDF spokesman said they succeeded in repulsing the militant attack and remained positioned on the outskirts of the city, most of whose residents remain trapped inside and where the militants have planted mines and dug in to defend it.

"The situation is under control. They have many bodies on the ground," Sharfan Darwish, spokesman for the Syria Democratic Forces-allied Manbij Military Council, told Reuters.

"We are at the four gates to the city. The whole city is booby-trapped. After 20 days of the campaign, we have yet to storm the city," he added, adding that some 2,000 people had succeeded in fleeing the city.

Separately further south, Islamic State militants were also able to roll back the Syrian army which had got as close as 10 km south of the strategic town of Tabqa, an Islamic State-held city on the Euphrates River, in Raqqa province.

The town, some 50 km (30 miles) west of Raqqa city, the militant's defacto capital, appears to be the first target of a major Syrian army assault in Raqqa province backed by Russian air power that began earlier this month..

Tabqa dam and a major air base have been in militant hands since 2014.

Amaq news agency, which is affiliated to the militants, said suicide bombers had attacked Thawra oil field, south of Tabqa, which the Syrian army had captured earlier this week and regained it.

Eyad al Hosain, a Syrian journalist embedded with Syrian troops, confirmed to Reuters the militants had succeeded in gaining back areas they lost near the oil field. He did not give figures on army casualties.

"A very intense attack has targeted army and allied positions in Thwara field that led to the withrdrawal of troops from areas they liberated... and their retreat," al Hosain said.

Amaq also said militants seized a Syrian army checkpoint near a strategic junction which leads to Raqqa city that the Syrian government forces and their allies had taken control in the early phase of its Raqqa campaign.
French prosecutors investigate soldiers for violence in central Africa

PARIS, June 20 (Reuters) - French prosecutors have opened an investigation into two alleged incidents of violence committed by French soldiers in the Central African Republic, the prosecutor's office said on Monday.

France, which has about 900 troops in the central African country, has been embroiled in allegations of child sex abuse leveled against foreign troops, including French soldiers.

The investigation, opened last week, concerns two separate incidents in the first quarter of 2014. Five soldiers suspected of committing violent acts or witnessing violence without intervening were suspended earlier this month, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office said.

"The investigation is just beginning," the spokeswoman told Reuters. "It will first have to locate and identify the two victims."

The soldiers involved all come from the 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment based in Auvors, according to the Ministry of Defense.

France's military deployed to Central African Republic after widespread violence involving Muslim-led rebels and Christian militias erupted in 2013. France expects to scale back the force by the end of this year.
NATO's Stoltenberg: EU sanctions on Russia should remain

TRONDHEIM, Norway, June 20 (Reuters) - The European Union should keep in place the sanctions imposed on Russia over the Ukraine crisis, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told Reuters on Monday, a day after the German foreign minister said they should gradually be phased out.

"My assessment is that one should not remove the economic sanctions before Russia has changed its behaviour. I believe there is a broad agreement about this in the EU," Stoltenberg said in an interview.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was quoted on Sunday as saying the EU should gradually phase out the sanctions if there is substantial progress in the peace process and if Russia showed it was doing its part in implementing the Minsk peace plan for Ukraine.

Steinmeier was quoted in a separate article as saying that NATO exercises in eastern Europe could worsen tensions with Russia, warning against what he called "sabre-rattling and shrill war cries."

Stoltenberg told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper in Germany that NATO was actively seeking to avoid an escalation with Russia, while standing firm against its aggressive behaviour.

"The Cold War is over and we want it to stay that way," Stoltenberg was quoted as saying. "But we must react to a Russia that has tripled military spending since 2000, that is behaving far more aggressively, and that has used military force to change borders in Europe."

Stoltenberg said plans to deploy a new NATO force in Poland and the three Baltic nations were aimed at preventing conflict, not provoking it. "What we are doing is moderate, responsible and transparent," the paper quoted him as saying.

The four battalions, of up to 1,000 troops each, are part of a wider deterrent to be approved at a summit in Warsaw on July 8 that NATO hopes will discourage Russia from a repeat of its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014.

Russia sees NATO's deterrence plans as hostile and has sharply criticized planned and already executed exercises. Last week President Vladimir Putin warned there would be consequences if NATO continued what he called a one-sided position against Russia.

Former U.S. and NATO officials also took issue with Steinmeier's remarks at an event hosted by the German Marshall Fund in Brussels.

Nicholas Burns, a former U.S. undersecretary of state, said Steinmeier's remarks were "extremely unwise and indefensible."

"It weakens NATO and the European Union," agreed Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, a Dutch former NATO secretary-general, who spoke at the same event. He said the remarks appeared designed for domestic consumption.

Top U.S. Navy officials also said increased exercises in eastern Europe did not amount to "sabre-rattling," but were steps to train with allies and deter aggressive Russian maritime expansion.
Brazil agrees to $15 bln in state debt relief through 2018

By Marcela Ayres and Lisandra Paraguassu

BRASILIA, June 20 (Reuters) - Brazil on Monday offered its state governments 50 billion reais ($15 billion) of emergency debt relief over the next three years in an effort to shore up public services and extended an emergency loan to Rio de Janeiro before the Olympics amid the worst recession since the 1930s.

Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles announced after a meeting among state governors and interim President Michel Temer that states would receive a six-month grace period on debt to the federal government, followed by a year and a half of reduced payments.

The federal government also agreed to extend a 3 billion-real ($850 million) loan to the state of Rio de Janeiro, a source with knowledge of the situation said, confirming a Reuters report on Saturday.

The funds will be paid next week, the source said, adding that details on making the transaction were still being decided. Rio originally asked for a loan of 6 billion reais, the source said.

Rio declared a state of financial emergency on Friday and requested funds to pay for public services during the Games and the completion of a subway line needed to carry fans to Olympic venues.

Meirelles said governors agreed at the meeting with Temer on the need for separate treatment for Rio because of the Olympics and they would not follow suit in declaring a financial emergency.

DEBT RELIEF

The debt relief should give some breathing room to heavily indebted states that have struggled to pay public servants and maintain social programs.

Meirelles said the deal would cost the federal government about 20 billion reais this year and 15 billion reais in both 2017 and 2018. The accord marked a compromise between the two-year grace period requested by many states and the partial relief proposed by the federal government.

The finance minister also said governors expressed their support for limiting growth in states' public spending to the inflation rate of the prior year under a proposed constitutional amendment, the same rule proposed for federal spending.

Temer took office last month when suspended President Dilma Rousseff stepped aside to face a Senate trial on charges of breaking budget rules. She denies any wrongdoing.
Brazil's Santo Antonio power plant partners looking to sell stakes

SAO PAULO, June 20 (Reuters) - Brazil's Santo Antonio Energia SA, one of the five largest hydroelectric projects in the country, said on Monday it has been informed by some of its shareholders of plans to sell their stakes in the dam, according to a securities filing.

Santo Antonio is among the power plants being built in the Amazon region, along with Jirau and Belo Monte, in a drive by Brazil to secure future energy supply.

It will have a total generation capacity of 3,568 megawatts (MW) when fully operational next year. Total investment is projected at 17.5 billion reais ($5.14 billion).

"The management was informed by some shareholders of their intention to sell their stakes," said Luiz Pereira de Araujo Filho, Santo Antonio's investor relations director.

"This issue is being handled directly by shareholders and not by the company's management," he said.

The announcement comes after a report last week by local paper Valor Economico that stakeholders such as engineering groups Odebrecht SA and Andrade Gutierrez were in talks to sell their stakes.

The paper cited Chinese energy companies State Grid Corp and Three Gorges as possible buyers and said the deal could fetch as much as 9 billion reais for a controlling stake.

Santo Antonio said in the securities filing that it has no knowledge of the possible sale price if a deal is reached.

Odebrecht, Andrade Gutierrez and Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais, or Cemig, have 51 percent of Madeira Energia SA (MESA), the controlling group.

Furnas Centrais Eletricas SA, a subsidiary of state-controlled power holding Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA , and an investment fund from state bank Caixa Economica Federal are also stakeholders.

Odebrecht's energy arm confirmed the talks.

"Odebrecht Energia do Brasil confirms the existence of negotiations with some companies in the competitive tender to sell a 28.6 percent stake in Santo Antonio Energia," the company said after a request for comment.

"We are currently in the process of signing non-disclosure agreements with interested companies," Odebrecht said.

Andrade Gutierrez declined to comment. Cemig denied it is willing to sell its stake.

Furnas said it will wait for any result of the talks and then evaluate the convenience of exercising a 'tag along' right.

According to the shareholders agreement, the company would have the right to sell its stake at the same conditions reached by the controlling group.

State Grid did not immediate respond to a request for comment.
American Muslims see Trump rhetoric fueling prejudice, hate incidents

By Yara Bayoumy

WASHINGTON, June 20 (Reuters) - About three months ago, Sarah Ibrahim's son came home from his fourth-grade class at a Maryland school with a disturbing question.

"Will I have time to say goodbye to you before you're deported?" he said, according to Ibrahim, a Muslim Arab American who works at a federal government agency in Maryland.

"The kids in his classroom were saying: 'Who's going to leave when Trump becomes president?'" said the 35-year-old mother.

The incident happened a few months after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump -- now the presumptive nominee -- first called for a ban on Muslim immigrants and for more scrutiny at mosques after 14 people were killed in San Bernardino by a Muslim couple whom the FBI said had been radicalized.

Trump intensified his anti-Muslim rhetoric after last week's mass shooting in Orlando, in which a U.S.-born Muslim man killed 49 people at a gay nightclub, calling for a suspension of immigration from countries with "a proven history of terrorism".

He reiterated his call for more surveillance of mosques and warned that radical Muslims were "trying to take over our children."

While Democratic and several Republican leaders have distanced themselves from Trump's comments, many American Muslims say his stance has fueled an atmosphere in which some may feel they can voice prejudices or attack Muslims without fear of retribution.

"What Trump did was make these hidden thoughts public. He gave people permission to speak out loud, he removed the shame associated with being prejudiced. People know that they won't be punished," Ibrahim told Reuters at a community iftar, the sundown meal during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Trump's campaign did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. Trump has rejected the criticism that his rhetoric is racist, and has said he is often misunderstood by the media and his opponents.

A report by the Council on American-Islamic Relations and University of California, Berkeley released on Monday said the number of recorded incidents in which mosques were targeted jumped to 78 in 2015, the most since the body began tracking them in 2009. There were 20 and 22 such incidents in the previous two years, respectively. The incidents include verbal threats and physical attacks.

Corey Saylor, CAIR's director of the department to monitor and combat Islamophobia, said there had been a spike in Islamophobic incidents in the wake of Orlando, including those targeting mosques.

"Trump's rhetoric is a direct threat to American principles. He has mainstreamed anti-Constitutional ideas like banning or surveilling people based on faith," Saylor told Reuters.

"Such divisive rhetoric contributes to a toxic environment in which some people take the law into their own hands and attack people of institutions they perceive as Muslim."

"DIVIDING THE COUNTRY"

CAIR says the last big spike in incidents targeting mosques was seen in 2010 following the controversy over locating an Islamic center near the site of the Sept. 11 attacks in New York.

It said that lent "additional weight to the argument that levels of anti-Muslim sentiment follow trends in domestic U.S. politics, not international terrorism".

American rabbis and preachers have also denounced Trump's rhetoric. Anti-Semitic incidents in the United States still outstrip those against Muslims. The Anti-Defamation League said last year there were 912 anti-Semitic incidents across the United States during the 2014 calendar year, up 21 percent from 2013.

"If Muslims are not free and safe in America, then Christians and Jews are not free and safe in America," said Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president emeritus of the Union for Reform Judaism.

Trump has also drawn criticism for his rhetoric against Latino immigrants, saying early in his campaign that Mexican "rapists" and other criminals were coming across the border and calling for all undocumented immigrants to be deported.

Manal Omar, a Muslim-American author based in Washington, said she has stopped taking the metro and walking alone late at night.

"I can't dismiss the tweets and angry messages I've received from right wing militants," said Omar, who says she has grown especially vigilant after last week's murder of British lawmaker Jo Cox, whom she knew.

A few days after the San Bernardino attack, Ilhaam Hassan's family restaurant was burned down in an arson attack in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Matthew Gust pleaded guilty in May to federal hate-crime and arson charges. He admitted to setting the fire because of the national origin of the employees and customers at the restaurant -- a focal point of the local Somali-American community.
Foreign secretary S Jaishankar's visit to Beijing last week indicates that New Delhi is undertaking direct diplomacy to obtain China's support for India's membership into the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

This is as it should be. It was foolish and futile to try and somehow shame China into supporting the Indian case.

Actually the first round of diplomacy began earlier, with President Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Beijing last month.

What is not widely known is that the foreign secretary, who was accompanying the president, took the opportunity to engage the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi in a one-on-one meeting.

What transpired in either meeting will not be known, but the success or failure of the effort will soon become evident in the forthcoming NSG meeting in Seoul.

Trade

Suffice to say, it will make little difference. India has already sought and obtained a waiver to conduct civil nuclear trade from the body and also pledged to follow its rules, whether or not we are members.

However, it will be a dent in the prestige of the government which had hyped up India's efforts to enter the body to the point where being denied entry will be seen as a major setback for Indian diplomacy.

The NSG debate is a good primer of the manner in which world politics functions. To start with the NSG is itself a body that is not based in international law, but a cartel of the powerful, in this case, countries with the capacity to conduct nuclear trade, with whom the only language that talks is power and the only method of negotiation is give and take.

Pranab Mukherjee on China. (PTI)

There are other similar bodies, beginning with the G7/G8 - now somewhat chastened - but which once played the role of the arbiter of the rules of international economic system.

So there is the MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime), a club of countries which have the knowhow of making missiles, space systems or their components, the Australia group which is a cartel of countries making chemicals and precursors of chemical weapons and the Wassenaar Arrangement with advanced conventional weapons technologies.

As part of the India-US nuclear agreement of 2008, America promised to ease our entry into all these groups and that was a big thing, because the only country that could achieve this goal was the US, the sole global superpower.

Being cartels and not international agreements, these regimes are not always universal, the major missile and arms exporting power China is not a member of the MTCR or the Wassenaar, though it claims to harmonise its rules with them.

Position

Given this perspective, China's formal position raising the issue of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty was a red herring.

It was not India's refusal to join the NPT that led to the NSG's creation, but its first nuclear test. With the world more or less accepting India as "a state with nuclear weapons," and marking this by the 2008 waiver, that issue should no longer have any salience.

Neither should the Chinese need to assuage Pakistan's angst. Beijing has been a major beneficiary of Islamabad's obsession with India.

It is in its interest to prolong this situation, rather than bringing in Pakistan from the cold.

It is actually all about that oldest issue in diplomacy - give and take. What is India willing to offer to China, in exchange for its support for the Indian application for NSG membership?

Far from offering something, Beijing believes it is seeing increased Indian truculence. New Delhi has gone out of its way to connect freedom of navigation issues with the South China Sea; tried to shame China into placing Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar in the ISIS-al Qaeda sanctions list at the UN; Indian entities with government backing sought to organise a conference of the entire galaxy of Chinese dissidents, and that, too, at the headquarters of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile. As it is India has been disdainful towards Beijing's pet initiative, the One Belt One Road.

Membership

New Delhi, however, believes that it has sought to balance its ties with China by participating in the New Development (BRICS) Bank and the Asia Infrastructure Development Bank. India has sought membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and sought to put an even spin on its position on maritime issues in the communique issued after the Russia-India-China meet in April upholding UNCLOS and addressing disputes through "negotiations and agreements" between the parties concerned.

In June, it dropped references to South China Sea in relation to freedom of navigation issues. It has also indirectly signalled that were it to become a member of the NSG, it would consider the Pakistani application on its merits.

But what will clinch the issue is the deal Jaishankar will be seeking to strike with Beijing. Such deals are not made in public. We can only surmise their existence through the outcomes or in hindsight.
The first wave of the reorganisation of states - in the 1950s and 1960s-that created Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana was predominantly based on language considerations, although the rising aspirations of castes like the Reddys and Kammas in Andhra Pradesh, the Lingayats and Vokkaligas in Karnataka and the Marathas in Maharashtra also played a role.

The second wave - in the 1970s and 1980s - focused on the northeastern region where new states came into being on either an ethnic basis to fulfil the aspirations of hill tribes in some places like Meghalaya; or to deal with secessionist movements like in Mizoram; or on strategic considerations as in Arunachal Pradesh.

The third wave, in 2000, was driven by the larger social agenda of the RSS and the political strategy of the BJP, anchored in expanding their support base among tribal and other backward caste (OBC) communities.

NDA's state divisions

To be sure, there were long-standing movements, especially in Jharkhand, but the dominant stimulus for reorganising Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh - with the BJP in power in New Delhi - came from the Hindutva ideology.

However, while the push for reorganisation may well have come from the BJP, there was support from other quarters as well. Digvijaya Singh of the Congress was chief minister of Madhya Pradesh in 2000 when that state was bifurcated by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. However, earlier, in 1994, he himself had got a resolution passed by the state assembly in favour of a separate Chhattisgarh state.

Other senior Congress leaders of the state like Arjun Singh, Shyama Charan Shukla and Motilal Vora were also supporters of a separate Chhattisgarh.

In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP was in power when it was bifurcated in 2000 and that made the process relatively easy. In any case, by the mid-1990s, Mulayam Singh Yadav, the UP strongman, had softened his opposition to the creation of a hill state and went to the extent of "provoking regional mobilisation in Uttarakhand as part of an attempt to hold together a political coalition in the plains of his state".

While there was opposition to the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar districts in Uttarakhand during the actual bifurcation process, this opposition was soon overcome.

The case of Bihar is more complex. Lalu Prasad was chief minister when it was bifurcated to create Jharkhand. Why did he agree to it especially since Jharkhand contributed something like 70 per cent of undivided Bihar's revenues? To be sure, he did declare that Jharkhand would be formed over his dead body but that proved to be an empty threat.

It is possible that, embroiled in the fodder scam and at the mercy of the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), Lalu Prasad wanted to keep on the right side of the Vajpayee government. It is also possible that Lalu was influenced by his mentor Jayaprakash Narayan who had advocated the formation of Jharkhand way back in the mid-1970s to fulfil the aspirations of tribal communities.

Lalu Prasad may also have realised that the populous north Bihar region would have little scope for industrialisation if Jharkhand remained part of Bihar. The Bihar assembly finally agreed to the bifurcation of the state, subject to a Rs 1,79,900 crore financial package by the central government. That this package subsequently did not materialise is a separate point.

What is beyond doubt is that the disputes in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar over bifurcation were nothing like what was to be experienced in Andhra Pradesh. Perhaps the stakes in Andhra Pradesh were much higher. While the reasons for this certainly need to be analysed and understood, it is not for me to do so since I was, at once, too far from the scene when the decision was taken and too near the scene after the decision was taken.

Administrative compulsions behind bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh cannot be overlooked.

Shadow of Hyderabad

However, I am firmly convinced about one thing: the presence of Hyderabad and its indubitable attractions just did not allow other places in the undivided state to develop and flourish. Whatever the larger merits and demerits of the bifurcation may be, I strongly believe that other cities in the new state of Andhra Pradesh - like Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur and Tirupati - now have a bright chance for a take-off.

All political parties concerned, barring the CPI(M), supported the creation of Telangana. In the face of such overwhelming backing, the question was not "whether Telangana" but "when Telangana".

The long history of the demand for Telangana discussed in the very first chapter should also not be forgotten. However, the creation of Telangana was certainly not based on language. It also had little to do with administrative efficiency.

There was definitely a Telangana movement launched by influential political leaders to give themselves relevance - like Chenna Reddy in the late 1960s and KCR in the first decade of this century. But a movement has to have some foundation. And that foundation in the case of Telangana, according to its protagonists, was its continued backwardness and neglect.

Rayalaseema, of course, is more backward than Telangana but there has been no strong separatist movement in that region like in Telangana. Ironically, Rayalaseema produced powerful chief ministers like N Sanjiva Reddy, D Sanjeevaiah, Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy, Chandrababu Naidu and YSR himself. Kiran Kumar Reddy, too, hails from Rayalaseema.

Economics as politics

Economic neglect, political marginalisation and domination by powerful and resourceful castes from the coastal areas were routinely given as reasons by Telangana leaders to justify their agitation for a separate state. However, there was something deeper at work as I discovered when I spent time with the charismatic balladeer, Gummadi Vittal Rao, popularly known as Gaddar.

Some scholars have pointed out that "cultural production in the form of song-performance and fiction" gave strength to historical memory and provided an impetus to the Telangana movement. It is indeed ironical that the Telangana movement of the late 1990s and the first decade of this century followed NTR's regime, which was based on the assertion of Telugu pride and self-respect.

Telangana agitation had seen a long period of asserting linguistic self-respect.

Clearly that assertion came to be seen as "hegemonic" by large sections of Telugus living in Telangana who saw their distinctive identity as a being under assault.

The bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh proved hugely contentious and controversial. The dominant political party at that time in the state - the Congress - was itself deeply divided, with the chief minister aggressively opposing what his own national leadership had decided after a long period of consultations.

The issue of Hyderabad dominated the discourse with both sides laying claim to it. Once it became abundantly clear that it was not being shared but was being "given" to one of the two claimants, all hell broke loose. In this acrimonious atmosphere, political communication, outreach and trouble-shooting by Congress leaders from Delhi entrusted with that job did not seem to have had much impact.

With the benefit of hindsight, it could be argued that the stridently obstructionist chief minister should have been sacked but, truth be told, at that time there appeared no other option but to persist with him.

Consequences for Congress

What went into the decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh and also what determined its timing was, honestly, unknown to me. But one thing did become clear when the election results were announced in May 2014. The results proved catastrophic for the Congress in the new state of Telangana and cataclysmic in the new state of Andhra Pradesh, something that the champions of bifurcation in the party had not expected.

The results certainly traumatised me. It was especially painful as I had myself campaigned extensively across both Telangana and Seemandhra, touching each of the 23 districts and 42 Lok Sabha seats in both regions. For a while, I began to wonder whether I had erred grievously in taking the GoM assignment as seriously as I did and whether I should not have just allowed matters to be dragged along.

But such angst was momentary since I knew very well that the merits and demerits of bifurcation could not be judged by the Congress' electoral fortunes but had to be measured by more fundamental socio-economic concerns and political factors. The manner in which the bifurcation legislation was passed in Parliament in February 2014 did not portray our democracy in good light.

K Chandrashekhar Rao, Telangana's first chief minister.

Sure, Parliament has supreme powers under Articles 3 and 4 of the Constitution to reorganise states but the Constitution makers envisaged full-fledged debate and discussion on the floor of both Houses in the exercise of such powers. It would be unfortunate, however, if Parliament loses its appetite for further reorganisation of states as a result of the Andhra Pradesh experience - as Arun Jaitley observed might happen when we spoke after the 20 February 2014 vote.

Reorganisation in future

The fact is that the reorganisation of India's most populous state is long overdue.

Uttar Pradesh, with a current population of around 200 million, that is expected to more than double in the next three decades, is simply ungovernable in its present form. Personally, I think a strong case can also be made for Vidarbha, too.

I am not surprised that the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 has been bitterly criticised in both Telangana and Seemandhra. In fact, I would have been more than surprised if it hadn't been. But it seems to me that very often criticism is an alibi for the failure of the political process.

In fact, in the GoM report - perhaps anticipating the attacks on the legislation that were to come later - I had written: "The GoM would like to stress that, while the terms of reference are wide-ranging, there may well be issues arising out of the bifurcation that have not been dealt with as part of the recommendations.

Such issues must necessarily be dealt with as part of the political dialogue process between the two successor states for which it is absolutely essential to maintain a climate of amity and mutual understanding."

Chroniclers of contemporary events, especially if they are participants themselves, are not in the best position to foretell or judge the consequences of their actions. Maybe after five or ten years, a more objective and dispassionate assessment will be made of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and what was accomplished by it. When such a balance sheet does get drawn up, I may or may not be around but I will have had the psychological satisfaction of having left behind my side of the story.

It is a story of trying to be fair to both sides under the most trying of circumstances, and with the knowledge that if both sides ended up being unhappy the objective of being fair had indeed been fulfilled.
Your MTNL landline is dead and the broadband speed is down. There has been no water supply in your area for three consecutive days this summer. Power supply has been erratic with frequent load-shedding - almost each evening - in your locality.

You are in the midst of an emergency and haven't been able to book your train ticket through the IRCTC website. MCD hasn't come to collect garbage for a week. What do you do?

Ideally, you should pick up your phone and either dial the "Customer Helpline" number mentioned on the respective departments website, or register a complaint online.

Mr Twitter Tarzan Minister: Blue tick is no certificate of governance.

What do you actually do? Tweet to the minister.

Yes, there are more chances of your issue being addressed if you indulge in the latter rather than spend the same amount of time registering a complaint through the institutional mechanism.

Storytelling is key to this option. What are the contents of your "tweet", can it be resolved through the discretionary whim of the minister, and most importantly, will a reply to your tweet by the minister make him a "Twitter Tarzan"? You read it right.

Twitter ministers can project themselves as superheroes with a few punches on their keyboards, more often than not aided by their cronies. This direct "hands-on" governance approach may appear new-age and cool, and there is "nothing official about it".

An RTI query seeking details of complaints and their redressal through Twitter will get you the standard "information is not part of government records" response.

I am an advocate of new media, almost addicted to it, so much so that my friends suggest I visit a rehab. I still believe that, as an idea, it is good to have new media play a role in governance, for transparency, better outreach and communication, and connecting the youth with governance.

It is a good and "empowering" feeling to stick a note on the minister's Twitter notice board and get noticed.

But its counterproductive.

The majority of India's population is not on Twitter, and this comprises the poorest, the disenfranchised and the marginalised. For instance, take the case of a one-and-half-year-old child, who fell ill onboard Sabarmati Express. Desperate parents couldnt find any help on the train and therefore thought of tweeting to Suresh Prabhu, the railway minister. Within minutes, the parents get a reply and, shortly, the ailing child receives medical attention and even a visit by the region's DRM.

The child is saved, the minister gets several congratulatory tweets and retweets.

It was a prompt solution, but did it address the larger problem - that the railways faces a lack of medical attention? Was she the only unwell passenger on board - in need of aid - in the entire railways network that day? No.

Isnt governance about the minister solving a systemic problem rather than an individual case?

In another instance, on November 26, 2015, a woman passenger was reportedly harassed by a fellow passenger. In distress, she tweeted to the ministry of railways and asked for help. Within minutes, she had someone from the ministry respond and send assistance.

Indeed, Namrata found help and it's good the ministry was prompt. But was she the only one facing harassment aboard an Indian Railways train. Shouldnt the solution be better policing rather than the tweet recourse?

On further introspection, the Twitter ministers will realise their approach only caters to a handful of people and is "exclusive" to a select club of web-savvy citizens.

It is elitist and non-inclusive. Moreover, one may wonder if the minister needs to be spending time on larger issues of governance such as policy formulation and implementation and strengthening institutions that deliver.

This populist type of "micro-governance" projects them in poor light. Moreover, it weakens the institutions and its public redressal mechanism. In a country of more than a billion people, "Twitter Happy" can't be a sustainable solution.

Responding to 10 or a 100 complaints a day on Twitter and posturing oneself as a new-age, progressive, responsible and responsive minister is a farce.

One does need to acknowledge that citizen action and civic mobilisation has reached another level due to social media. A change.org petition does create an impact, and Facebook campaign does have cognisance value.

But the question is whether it comes at the cost of traditional and public systems of democracy and governance.

Perhaps, more often than not, it does. Mr Twitter Tarzan Minister  you would be well advised to look at the "official" complaints register. For governance to be "inclusive" and "widely available", institutions need to be the focus.
LONDON - England - David Cameron is Neville Chamberlain, the parallels are uncanny. Both appeasers to entities that did not have Britain's interests at heart, both failures to Britain.

David Cameron much like Neville Chamberlain wants to work with an entity that does not have Britains interests at heart.

In 1938 Chamberlain came back with a piece of paper and declared he had secured Peace in our time after signing the Munich Agreement in 1938, conceding the German-speaking Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia to Germany, just as Hitler had fooled him, and was building up a vast army.

In 2016 David Cameron came back from Brussels and waved a piece of paper in his hand claiming he had secured negotiations from the EU, when the evidence was to the contrary and he had not achieved anything, but in fact lost Britains last remaining veto.

Neville Chamberlain denied there was any threat from Hitler with his army in 1938. In 1939, Hitler invaded Poland, and Britain declared war on Germany.

David Cameron denied that the EU is building an EU army when in fact it is building one as the evidence reveals to the contrary.

The parallels are uncanny. Neville Chamberlain was an appeaser, and so is David Cameron. He wishes to sell off Britain to the EU at the lowest price, to have Britain watered down, amalgamated within the New German Empire, and no one can deny this fact  the EU is the New German Reich reborn, rebranded, and it is set to take Britain without a single shot being fired.

We have been abandoned by our American so-called friends once again, urging us to join the EU monstrosity and turn over our sovereignty. Just as the Americans nearly abandoned Britain in the first years of World War II, we are once again fighting not only an enemy without but within by ourselves,

Chamberlain sought to conciliate Germany and make the Nazi state a partner in a stable Europe.

Cameron seeks to conciliate Germany and make the EU state a partner in a stable Europe.

My good friends, this is the second time there has come back from Germany to Downing Street peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Now I recommend you go home, and sleep quietly in your beds.

And so history repeats itself, in different ways, yet the same ways. The Daily Squib itself warned of this way before any other newspaper was even talking about it.

To appease an entity that will no doubt take away the pound sterling and replace it with the euro, to appease an entity that is actively building an EU Army threatening Russia and NATO, to appease an entity that is undemocratic with laws conjured up by a European Commission manned solely by unelected eurocrats unaccountable to any voter, to appease an entity that will eviscerate Britain of its democracy is a criminal act that must be stopped.

David Cameron is Neville Chamberlain through and through.

Dear voters, remember history, remember the past, because if we forget the past, we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past, over and over again.

Vote Leave on June 23 or we surrender a thousand years of history and Britain will be gone forever.
The island was purchased by Quango bosses who earn approximately 750,000 tax free per annum and also receive taxpayer funded perks amounting to 145,000 each.

Quango employees usually only work three day weeks, therefore, the purchase of the tropical island will afford them plenty of time to think about new Quango stratagems and policies.

This is a perfect opportunity to formulate further useless bureaucratic nonsense and shitty policy that no one will ever need, but this time well be on a tropical island with a martini in one hand and being fellated by some beautiful Polynesian native at the same time. Of course, you can think of us while youre huddled up in some dingy cold room with a stale loaf of bread and a twenty pence piece. Pay up your taxes suckers, we need you to work until you fuckers drop, a laughing Quango boss told Sky news from his chauffeur driven Bentley.

The British Coalition government fully supports the island purchase and have said that Quangos need to operate in an efficient and viable manner to facilitate easier working practices and reduce stress amongst Quango staff.


The popularity of this segment has given buyers the boon and bane of having several options and chances are, if you're out on a hunt for your first set of wheels, you've considered the two cars.

Your first car is everything from a teacher to your best friend. In India, it's usually something peppy, practical and pocket-sized. Small cars make a lot of sense, especially when you're still a new driver because of how easy they are to maneuver and how light they are on your wallet. The popularity of this segment has given buyers the boon and bane of having several options and chances are, if you're out on a hunt for your first set of wheels, you've considered the two cars we have with us today.

The Kwid is Renault's first crack at making a small petrol powered hatchback for the masses. Going straight for the Alto 800's jugular is a bold move, but, the Kwid had its battle plan chalked out well in advance. Over the past year, it has carved out a nice little niche for itself, by being thoda hatke compared to the run-of-the-mill hatchback.

On the other hand, the Tiago fills in the (rather large) shoes of the Indica. What helps is the fact that it looks nothing like the car it replaces and has a bag full of features to woo the buyer. In my books, the best thing on the Tiago's brochure is the asking price. The little Tata is priced so aggressively, that it not only undercuts its rivals but a few variants land squarely in the Renault's category.

Exteriors

It's easy to see why the Kwid is so popular. Our market loves SUVs so much, that a cute little hatch masquerading as one gets lapped up by the dozen. In terms of design, it's all there. The beefy wheel arches, a generous dose of matte-black cladding, aggressive lines on the bonnet  are from Page 1 of the 'How to design an SUV' handbook. The only element that tends to look lost in the overall scheme of things are the skinny tyres. The squared-off wheel arches give rise to a humongous wheel well that the skinny 13-inch wheels just cannot fill up. For the record, alloy wheels are an option on the Kwid. I recommend you tick that; it looks a whole lot better!

The Tiago is the diametric opposite when it comes to design. The Kwid knows how to stand out amongst the crowd, and the Tiago knows how to blend in. The 'Impact' design philosophy that Tata has adopted is giving birth to possibly the cleanest design we've seen roll off an Indian manufacturer's assembly line. The attention to detail is what's commendable. The hexagonal detailing on the gloss black grille, the way the chrome flows through the headlamps into the bumpers, the cute spoiler spats and the blacked-out lower half of the rear bumper; stitch together a neat, cohesive design. Also, the sheet metal is thick, the paint is lustrous and the panel gaps are mostly even throughout. The Tiago scores the first point over the Renault in terms of sheer build quality.

Interiors

The interiors have a similar story to tell. Once inside the Tiago, the first question that pops to mind is  Is this really a Tata?". Compared to the Indica, the Tiago feels eons ahead in terms of design, and, more importantly, quality. Our test car had the colour-coordinated side AC vents, which I think looks really nice. Tata does give you the option of customising more panels to match the exteriors, but we think the gloss black centre console and the beige-black combo on the dash look sober and contemporary.

The Renault, on the other hand, has an all-black cabin. The design is funky  something that appeals to the young. And it is immensely practical too  you get twin gloveboxes, a parcel shelf, loads of storage space in the centre and then some more in the door pads. It also gets a fancy touchscreen infotainment system with navigation (but only in the top trim). However, it is paired with just a couple of speakers, placed at the end of the dashboard. Audio quality and touchscreen response, both, are average at best.

The Renault is surprisingly spacious for its size. In spite of the compact footprint, the cabin is accommodating enough for four suitably large adults. Moreover, the boot is rated at a mammoth 300 litres. That's 123 litres more than the Alto 800, and, get this, a full 96 litres extra than the Swift! Tata, on the other hand, has compromised on the boot space ever so slightly to carve out that extra bit of legroom for rear seat occupants. Compared to the Kwid, the Tiago has better legroom and knee room. Headroom is more or less on par, and seating three abreast in either is a task in itself. Both are four seaters at best, but, the Tata is better at keeping the occupants comfortable. The cushioning and bolstering is slightly better and the backrest on the rear bench is set at a relaxed angle. The driver gets a height adjustable seat, a tilt-adjustable steering and an adjustable headrest  all of which the Kwid misses out on.

On the equipment front, the Tiago has the Kwid beat. For the extra money you pay, you get a comprehensive multi-information display, steering-mounted audio controls, all four power windows, a chilled glovebox and, lest I forget, a stellar 8-speaker audio system by Harman. I cannot stress on this enough; this particular system is possibly the best you'll find in a car under Rs 10 lakh. You can safely rule out the thought of an audio upgrade.

Before I get on to how both cars run and drive, the six-footer that I am has to point out that the foot wells are cramped in both the cars. As a result, the left knee usually ends up leaning against the centre console, while the right knee brushes against the door pad. Moreover, the pedals are closely stacked in the Tiago, which takes some time getting used to.

Engine and Performance

Let's take a quick look at the specs of the petrol engines:

Renault Kwid: 799cc | 54PS@5678rpm | 72Nm@4386rpm | ARAI Certified Mileage: 25.17kmpl

Tata Tiago: 1199cc | 85PS@6000rpm | 114Nm@3500rpm | ARAI Certified Mileage: 23.84kmpl

I'm often asked if a particular car is 'easy to drive'. While my answer has always been 'depends on how well you can', these two cars can pretty much cover up for one's lack of driving talent. Being tiny petrol hatchbacks, there's minimal effort required to putter around the city. You can use a single finger to dial in steering inputs on both  the steering is that light! Coupled to the compact proportions, both make life inside the city much easier where you'll have to wiggle through traffic, make a quick U-turn or park in a tight spot.

Both cars have a problem keeping their voices down. If they ever ran into my school teacher, I'm sure they'd get an earful. I lost track of the number of times people asked me if the Renault was powered by a diesel engine. The Tata is relatively quieter inside out, but some more silence would've been nice.

Now, the Tiago has the larger engine and is evidently peppier compared to the Kwid. There's a whole 31PS of power differentiating the two, and it is more than evident when you mash the throttle on either. It isn't all that happy when you do, though. In fact, both cars howl and protest if driven hard. Trot about lazily and the engines are more than happy to oblige.

On a flat surface, there's just enough torque in the lower rungs of the rev range to let you set off without going heavy on the accelerator. But, the Kwid struggles on inclines, and matters get worse when it is packed to the brim. In comparison, the Tiago feels much better in this regard. Of course, you will have to work the throttle to get it up the hill, just not as much as you'd have to in the Kwid.

Ride, Handling and Braking

On a traffic-packed commute back home, the Renault made me adore the power steering. It's extremely light and lets you exploit that tiny gap in the jam very easily. But, when put through its paces, it barely lets you know what the front wheels are up to. It feels dead and vague, and more often than not, you have to trust your gut more than anything while cornering. The Tiago's steering is equally light at low speeds, but, weighs up much better as the speeds climb. It isn't too great at feedback either but is notably better than the Kwid.

Renault has got the ride quality almost spot on. The Duster is a benchmark in its segment for its ride, and the Kwid is well on its way to set an example in its own class. For a small hatch with skinny tyres, the ride is supple. The setup is soft, which absorbs most of the little potholes at low speeds. At high speeds, the ride is slightly floaty which makes one feel disconnected from the road. While it can clock more with some huffing and puffing, I'd ideally stick to double-digit speeds when driving the Kwid. The Tiago has similar ride traits as well. Cushiony when slow, and slightly bouncy when fast. However, it does feel surer-footed than the Renault at high speeds. We wouldn't pick either if we had to munch highway miles, but if we absolutely had to; we'd pick the Tata. It is more at ease and composed while doing highway speeds. Of course, with both, you will have to plan your overtake, downshift and gun it if you ever want to get anywhere in a hurry.

Stopping power is more than adequate on the Tiago, and is a no-drama affair on most occasions. We could've done with a little more feedback from the brake pedal itself, but other than that, it's all good. However, with the Kwid, the tyres tend to lock up far too easily. A wider set of tyres is heavily recommended, not only for the added grip but for added stopping capability as well. Notably, the Tiago gets anti-lock brakes, which the Kwid skips. The Renault also skips out on a passenger airbag, whereas the one for the driver is optional. It is good to see that Tata offers dual airbags as an option on every variant, barring the base.

Verdict

If you are on an absolute budget, the Kwid makes for a sensible purchase. It is spacious, reasonably comfortable and easy to drive. That said, we wholeheartedly recommend picking the top-spec RXT (O) variant, for the safety net of the airbag alone. Now, let's boil it down to one single question: Is the Tiago worth the extra money? On an EMI basis, the top-spec Tata will cost about Rs 3000 extra, compared to the top-spec Kwid. If you can shell that out, please do. The Tiago is a better package in every sense. It has the better engine, has more space, more creature comforts and most importantly, more safety tech. I'll repeat what I said at the outset, the best thing on the Tiago's brochure is the asking price. It is definitely more value for money compared to the Kwid. Consider the fact that the 1.0-litre Kwid is on the horizon and will be substantially more expensive compared to its 800cc counterpart, the Tiago makes an even stronger case for itself.

Renault Kwid

What we like

Space. A roomy cabin and a 300-litre boot is unheard of in this segment

Feel-good features: touchscreen infotainment with navigation, digital instrument cluster

Ride quality. Among the most comfortable entry level cars you can buy

What we don't

Build quality. Quality of sheet metal and paint work is average at best

Brakes lack necessary bite. Tend to lock up way too easily.

Skinny tyres do not offer much grip

Lack of passenger airbag and ABS, even in the top-spec version.

Tata Tiago

What we like

Design. Clean, un-cluttered and contemporary

Feature list is expansive: height-adjustable seats, tilt-adjustable steering, chilled glovebox, etc

8-speaker Harman audio system is the best we've heard in a car under Rs 10 lakh

Dual airbags and ABS available across variants barring the base

What we don't

Cramped footwell. Closely spaced pedals takes some getting used to

Noise, vibration and harshness levels could have been better

Source: CarDekho.com
New Delhi: Manufacturing and job generation will get a boost by the latest round of liberalisation in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms that include doing away with dual clearances, Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das said on June 20.

"With this (FDI) liberalisation, we expect manufacturing activity to come in...more activity in defence products. The driving force behind the whole thing is that all this investment should facilitate creation of jobs," he told reporters here.

Launching the second set of liberalisation of the foreign investment, the government relaxed the norms in host of sectors including defence, civil aviation, pharmaceuticals, single brand retail trade (SBTR), e-commerce in food products, broadcasting carriage services, private security agencies and animal husbandry. The last set of major FDI reforms were announced by this government in November 2015.

"The decision on FDI liberalisation on June 20 is a followup to the decisions which were taken last November when a whole lot of reforms were announced. In the budget (the relaxation) was announced in stock exchanges and NBFCs," Das said.

He further said that under the amendment norms, wherever approval is given by the regulator, the companies would not need to the approach the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) for clearance. Basically, Das said, "the idea is to go for process simplification and make everything process driven. Now today's decisions are also a continuation of the same approach that wherever there are regulators, there is no need for dual clearance by FIPB".

The whole approach is to make the process of FDI approval "as far as possible automatic," he said, adding faster clearances would encourage investment flows and generate additional jobs in the economy.

Moreover, he said, the policy changes also indicate that the government would continue the process of reforms. On changes in the FDI norms in the civil aviation, Das said the amended policy will improve flow of investment in the sector.

"This will be a very big (policy) changer," he said, adding civil aviation companies can access larger FDI flows. Larger investments, he added, would "definitely assist the domestic aviation companies to strengthen themselves, to expand their network and also in the process create jobs for our youth".

Moreover, he added, there would be "no pressure on anybody to bring FDI. It is not compulsory on domestic aviation companies to bring FDI. If they need, they will get it and they will be able to increase there capability".

As regards the defence sector, Das said, the government has further liberalised the policy as the existing norms did not attract investment proposals.
Akshay Kumar wrote, "One of those moments when u sit back,relax & take it all in.Isn't that what vacations are for #vacaymode #timeout"

Mumbai: Akshay Kumar recently took off for a holiday with his wife Twinkle Khanna and kids- Aarav and Nitara. The family is currently in Switzerland and will visit a few other cities in Europe and will also travel to New York, Honolulu and Dubai.

Usually Akshays staff accompanies him and takes care of all his requirements, but this time, the actor is personally overlooking the entire arrangements. The actor recently admitted that he misses his staff on such trips but also gets a kick from being a complete family man.

Twinkle posted a series of pictures from her vacation.

When you pop over from Italy to Switzerland for lunch in less time than it takes you to get to bandra from Juhu ! #rbordeorder A photo posted by Twinkle Khanna (@twinklerkhanna) on Jun 20, 2016 at 9:18am PDT

Street style como @gayatrioberoi #pictureperfect A photo posted by Twinkle Khanna (@twinklerkhanna) on Jun 20, 2016 at 12:24pm PDT

Akshay was recently spotted with his family at the Mumbai airport.

On work front, the actor who was last seen in Housefull 3, will be making his debut in Tamil cinema with Rajinikanth's sci-fi action-thriller 2.0. He will be seen playing an eccentric scientist in the film, which is currently being shot in Delhi. The actor is also gearing up for Rustom opposite Ileana DCruz.
Mumbai: While Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone are all set to make their Hollywood debut with 'Baywatch' and 'xXx', Anushka Sharma says that she is not working towards making a mark on foreign shores.

Anushka, who is busy promoting her upcoming film 'Sultan' with Salman Khan, said, "Everything that I am going to do as an actress doesn't matter where it's coming from. It just has to be interesting. I don't want to go and play a cliched Indian girl. The cliches are there, so if I do something, it has to be interesting. What Priyanka and Deepika are doing is amazing. More power to them."

She further added, "They are representing our country in a way and they are making more opportunities for other people. It's awesome, but I am not working towards it."

Talking about sharing screen space with Salman, the actress said that it was intimidating. Anushka expresses, "He is not the kind of a person who will go out of the way to make you feel comfortable. I get intimated to work with Salman and there is no doubt about it. He is the same way with everyone and I really like this quality about him. He is very honest."

Anushka also spoke about the recent Censor Board- Udta Punjab controversy and said that there should not be restrictions on creativity.

Talking about the same, Anushka said, "I think there should be certification and not censorship and this is how the situation can get resolved. People are intelligent enough when they are called adults as they know what is right and wrong. Let's not think that they (adults) are foolish... They are not children."

She further added, "Creativity is all about thoughts. If you tell someone don't think this way or that way, then you will not be able to create something great, you have to give liberty. Everyone is working within means no one is abusing just like that."

The 28-year-old actress too had a tough time in clearing her debut home production film "NH 10" with the CBFC. "In case of 'NH 10' in Haryana every third word is a 'gaali' (abusive word or expletive) and we showed reality that is how they talk. And what was shown was within reasonable restriction. But 87 cuts on a film and it just passes with one cut..it shows it (CBFC) should change," Anushka said referring to the Udta Punjab row.

The CBFC granted an adult certificate to "NH-10" after effecting nine cuts in all. "Ours was not such a bad case. My brother saw "Udta Punjab" he said then for us (referring to NH-10) everything should have got passed," Anushka said.

"It was silly with the cuts that we were asked to do like reduce the hair pulling by 20 percent. We couldn't understand how can we do this. We had to push the release by a week and it was not cool, we did not let the film get diluted," she added.

(With inputs from PTI)
Do you find yourself falling asleep involuntarily? Dont brush it off, you just might have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, a condition in which breathing pauses as a person sleeps. OSA is the cause of a number of vehicle accidents and is also linked to diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiac trouble. With very little information available about the condition, Obstructive Sleep Apnea is now being called the silent epidemic, with its possibly fatal consequences.

I used to feel sleepy all through the day and once even dozed off while driving to work. It was an alarm call for my family and I. Realising that something was very wrong, I decided to register for a sleep test at one of the labs in the city," says Mr Dhruv Mukherjee, who works in an MNC in the city.

He is only one of the 60 odd people, who have opted for their sleep patterns to be studied at a sleep lab in city. "We have had cases of a driver dozing off while driving, people dozing off while watching television and so on. Sadly, light sleep or obstructive sleep has never been given the importance it deserves," says Dr HB Chandrashekar, head of the department of pulmonary medicine at the Mahavir Jain Hospital.

Read: Guest column  Ignoring symptoms detrimental to overall health

But now sleep study, a relatively new concept, seems to be catching on in the IT city, where many in high stress jobs appear to be finding sleep a luxury. The sleep labs at Mahavir Jain Hospital alone do some 50 to 60 studies a month. "We have diagnosed some 8000 patients over the past 10 years and see around 400 cases annually," reveals Dr Chandrashekhar , who also heads two other sleep labs at the Columbia Asia Hospital. "The number of people opting for sleep studies today is huge and hence the waiting list of two weeks," he explains.

Surprisingly many of our patients have woken up as many as 100 times in an hour during a sleep study. Basically their quality of sleep is disruptive , often due to the repetitive choking of the upper airway, the doctor reveals. The interruptions in sleep, called apneas, are caused by the collapse of the soft tissue in the airway, which prevents oxygen from reaching the lungs, explain experts. The reasons could range from weak muscles in the airway, to a large tongue and even obesity.

Going by various medical studies the problem is by no means so small as around 30 to 40 per cent of the working population in the country, particularly corporate executives, medical professionals and cops apparently don't sleep well. Disturbingly, Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), characterised by respiratory difficulties during sleep, affects 9 to 21 per cent of women and 24 to 31 per cent of men.

The problem cannot be dismissed as there are various risks associated with poor quality sleep. In fact, experts warn that by 2020, around 3.5 lakh of the anticipated 23 lakh fatalities in vehicle accidents will result from sleepiness or fatigue. Sleep Apnea has also been linked to heart disease, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia (abnormal levels of cholesterol fat in blood) and insulin resistance.

Sleep disorder is a silent epidemic. But few people suffering from it even know about the condition and even fewer seek treatment for it, experts regret. Says Dr Ravindra Mehta of the Apollo Hospital, Jaynagar, "If anything has been taken for granted this millennium, it is human sleep. Sleep, we have to understand is one-third of human existence, and the fuel which keeps you going. Both inadequate and poor quality sleep can affect quality of life and cause disease, which in turn affects sleep quality. This sleep-disease interaction sets the stage for chronic ill-health."

What is a sleep study?

As a first step a comprehensive evaluation of the patients snoring history, blood pressure, obesity, and throat condition is done. Later the patient fills up a Sleep Apnea questionnaire and is subjected to a clinical examination. An eight hour long study follows, monitoring the patient's sleep activity and brain movement by connecting electrodes to the brain, muscles, heart.

OSA often linked to cardiac problems

A 2015-16 study by Philips Healthcare India has revealed that more than 53 per cent of Sleep Apnea suspects in the country are already suffering from either diabetes or high blood pressure, which is significantly higher than the 21 per cent suffering from these conditions in the non-suspect population.

The survey also found that 14 per cent of those suffering from the disorder had cardiac problem as against only 6 per cent of those who didnt. Its findings have only re-emphasised the correlation between Sleep Apnea and the risk of high blood pressure, obesity and irregular heartbeats, among other health problems. "Sleep Apnea should not be neglected as it is linked to many diseases like high blood pressure, seizures, heart attacks and obesity," stresses Dr H B Chandrashekar, head of the department of pulmonary medicine at the Mahavir Jain Hospital.

The number of people in India suffering from OSA is highly underestimated, regrets Dr KS Satish, consultant pulmonologist with Vikram Hospital, and Fortis Hospital on Cunningham Road. Studies suggest that prevalence of OSA in the Indian population is about 13 per cent with the incidence being three times more in men than in women. But of the 13 per cent only 4 per cent go to a doctor with symptoms, leaving a majority of the population undiagnosed and untreated," he adds with concern. Calling Obstructive Sleep Apnea a potentially serious disorder, he strongly advises people to immediately consult a doctor if they spot any of the warning signs in their sleep patterns.

Philips Heathcare has established 300 Sleep Labs across India
The chicks are being fed by vets wearing gloves that are made to look like adult condors, part of a programme at Mexico City's Chapultepec Zoo to save the species.

Two Californian condor chicks have hatched at a Mexican zoo, the first of the highly endangered birds ever bred in captivity in the Latin American country.

The chicks are being fed by vets wearing gloves that are made to look like adult condors, part of a programme at Mexico City's Chapultepec Zoo to save the species.

"They are very important," Juan Arturo Rivera, General Director of Zoos and Wildlife for Mexico City, said.

"Soon they will be moved for a rehabilitation process so as to be able to introduce them to their natural environment in the Pedro Martir Sierra in Baja California."

Breeding condors in captivity is a lengthy process. Rivera said Chapultepec zoo's two adult condors hit it off from the beginning making the breeding programme a quick success.

"Once they are partnered then the first stage could take two or three years," he said of adult condors.

"The success of Chapultepec Zoo is that when they were put together they bonded very well from the start and the following year we had these two eggs."
Studies have shown that just watching cat videos on the Internet can boost a persons energy and create positive emotions so its no surprise that actual cat ownership has a number of benefits. Here are a few

Owning a cat is better for the environment

If youre worried about your carbon footprint, its better to own a cat than a dog. A 2009 study found that the resources needed to feed a dog over the course of its life create the same eco-footprint as that of a Land Cruiser. Meanwhile, cats which eat less in general and are more likely to eat fish than corn  or beef-flavored products  only have the approximate carbon footprint of a small hatchback.

And find a significant other

If youre a single guy and you cant seem to get a date, get a cat! A British poll found that 82 per cent of women agreed they are more attracted to men who like animals. And while having a dog will do wonders for your dating life, a whopping 90 per cent of single women said that men who own a cat are nicer than other guys. Listing that you own a cat on your dating profile could do wonders for the number of responses you get but remember, a cat is for life, not just until you find a partner.

Cat owners are smart

A 2010 survey of British pet owners by the University of Bristol found that people who owned cats were more likely to have college degrees than their dog loving counterparts. In 2014, a researcher in Wisconsin surveyed 600 college students and found that cat owners were actually more intelligent as well. (But its probably not the cat itself making the owner smarter: The researchers conducting the Bristol survey said that smarter people tend to work longer hours, and since cats require less attention than dogs, they are a better choice for the busy intellectual.)

Youll have a healthier heart

Owning any pet is good for your heart. Cats in particular lower your stress level  possibly since they dont require as much effort as dogs  and lower the amount of anxiety in your life. Petting a cat has a positive calming effect. One study found that over a 10-year period cat owners were 30 per cent less likely to die of a heart attack or stroke than non-cat owners (although this might just be because cat owners are more relaxed and have lower stress in general).

They fulfill your need for companionship

The stereotype that dogs are more affectionate than cats is just that: a stereotype. In fact, it turns out that cats can be just as good companions as dogs, especially for women. An Austrian study conducted in 2003 found that having a cat in the house is the emotional equivalent of having a romantic partner. As well as initiating contact much of the time, studies have shown cats will remember kindness shown to them and return the favor later. But cats really do have the upper hand in these relationships. After thousands of years of domestication, cats have learned how to make a half purr/half howl noise that sounds remarkably like a human babys cry. And since our brains are programmed to respond to our childrens distress, it is almost impossible to ignore what a cat wants when it demands it like that.

They can tell you (and others!) a lot about your personality

Your choice of pet reveals something about your personality. While dog lovers tend to be the life of the party, cat owners are quieter and more introverted. However, they score very highly when it comes to how trustworthy they are and how much they trust other people. Cat owners are also less manipulative and more modest.

You'll sleep better

Several studies and polls in the UK have found that people (especially women) prefer to sleep with their cats than with their partners, and they even report sleeping better with a cat than with a human. A recent study from the Mayo Clinic Center for Sleep Medicine indicates that they might be on to something: 41 percent of the people in that study indicated that they slept better because of their pet, while only 20 per cent said that it led to disturbances.

Cat ownership means fewer allergies

Sadly, its too late for you, but if you have a child on the way, it might be time to get a cat. In 2002, the National Institutes of Health released a study that found children under a year old who were exposed to a cat were less likely to develop allergies and not just pet allergies. According to Marshall Plaut, M.D., chief of the allergic mechanisms section at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, high pet exposure early in life appears to protect against not only pet allergy but also other types of common allergies, such as allergy to dust mites, ragweed, and grass. And while the cat parasite Toxoplasma gondii is a threat to young children, experts say that by changing your cats litter box every day and keeping the animal indoors, you should be safe and allergy free!

They can quite literally save your life

Cats have a reputation of being aloof and not caring about their humans, but they have saved countless lives over the years. One cat in the United Kingdom warns her human when hes about to have an epileptic seizure, while a cat in Montana woke up its two humans when a gas pipe started leaking. Firefighters told the couple that the house could easily have exploded if not for cats intervention.

One cat has even received the highest medal available to military animals. Simon the cat was onboard the HMS Amethyst, which was sailing up the Yangtze in 1949 when a shell hit the ship, killing several marines and severely injuring Simon. (The event marked the beginning of the 101 day siege of the ship, which would become known as the Yangtze Incident.) Simon was fixed up, and despite being injured, performed his ship duty and started catching the rats that were threatening the ships food supply, as well as providing moral support for the surviving sailors. Simon died not long after the ship returned to the UK, but he was posthumously awarded the UKs Dickin Medal, recognized as the animal Victoria Cross, for behaviour [of] the highest order, although the blast was capable of making a hole over a foot in diameter in a steel plate.

Source: www.mentalfloss.com
Alleging that Pooja was abusive, Ashok narrated that things would get messy between them often, and that on Sunday, things went out of hand when following an argument, he attacked her with a knife in front of their two-year-old daughter. (Representational image: file)

Aurangabad: In a shocking incidence, a 35-year-old man from Jalna, Maharashtra, killed his wife in cold-blood in front of his 2-year-old daughter and went on to confess the crime and surrender to the police.

According to a report, Ashok Lakhanlal Sura, in his statement to the police, said that he was married to 25-year-old Pooja for the past six years. The couple have two daughters, aged two and six and lived with the rest of Ashoks family in a joint household.

Ashok, who helped around the family business, was an alcoholic and was undergoing treatment and counselling for de-addiction.

Alleging that Pooja was abusive, Ashok narrated that things would get messy between them often, and that on Sunday, things went out of hand when following an argument, he attacked her with a knife in front of their two-year-old daughter. The accused even smothered her and stuffed her mouth with some cloth and increased the volume of the television set so that her screams went unheeded.

After committing the crime, Ashok left for the police station to confess his crime leaving his daughter behind, who went and informed her grandmother that Pooja was injured and bleeding.

Finding Pooja lying in a pool of blood, her mother-in-law raised an alarm, following which the other family members and later the police rushed in to the scene.

The police accompanied by Ashok, drove to his house located in Paraipura barely 300 metres from the police station, and found the deceased.

Her body was shifted to the Jalna Civil Hospital where her post mortem was performed.
Indrani Mukerjea's former driver Shyamvar Rai and her ex-husband being taken out of the Bandra court. (Photo: File)

Mumbai: The special CBI court investigating the Sheena Bora murder case on Monday made prime accused Indrani Mukerjeas former driver Shyamvar Rai an approver, and granted pardon to him.

According to a report, Rai told the Mumbai court that he would reveal everything about his and others role in the case.

On Monday, Judge HS Mahajan told Rai he will have to speak the truth. "You will have to speak the truth about what you know, what happened, what you did and what others did. Is it OK", Judge asked Rai.

When Rai replied in the affirmative the judge said that he will have to explain the role that he and others played in the Sheena Bora murder case to which he agreed.

CBI sources said that since pardon has been granted to Rai, he is now a witness in the case and not an accused.

Read: Indrani Mukerjea's former driver says Sheena Bora was strangled

Last month, Rai had told the court that he wished to turn approver. I am aware about the acts connected with commission of the offence; I was a participant in the murder, Sheena Bora was killed by strangulation, Rai told the court. He also told the court that he was under "no pressure, threat or coercion" to reveal the facts in the case and was "repentant" for his act.

The CBI had in turn sought more time to file its reply on Rai's request. The court had adjourned the case until June 6. On that day, the CBI had said that it had no objected to Rai turning approver.

Read: Sheena Bora murder case: Peter Mukerjea puts the blame on Indrani

As an approver, the court would record Rais statement under section 164 of CrPC and it could be used against other accused as evidence during trial.

Twenty-four-year old Sheena was Indrani Mukerjeas daughter from an earlier relationship. She was allegedly strangled in a car in April 2012 and her body burnt and dumped in a forest adjoining Raigad district. Her body was found in late August 2015.

The CBI took over the probe from Mumbai police late last year. Indrani Mukerjea who is currently lodged in the Byculla Ladies Prison, is the prime accused in the 2012 murder of her daughter, along with her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna and Shyamvar Rai.

Khanna and Indranis present husband Peter Mukerjea are also currently languishing in jail. Peter Mukerjea was arrested in November. According to CBI, Peter was part of the murder conspiracy.
Many students boycotted the ongoing semester-ending exams of the university on Monday. (Representational Image)

Hyderabad: The police took 42 students from the Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University into preventive custody on Monday. The students were protesting against the university for not releasing M.Phil and PhD notifications for three years.

The university had not released the post-graduation admission notification for this year even though other state universities had begun conducting admissions, the students alleged. Many students boycotted the ongoing semester-ending exams of the university on Monday.

K. Siddharth, one of the protesters, alleged, We went to the vice-chancellor and tried to discuss the issues but we were met with rude responses and no solution was provided. So we decided to stage a protest.

He alleged that the university administartion called in the police, who manhandled some protesting students.

We will continue to boycott the exams and we are planning a relay hunger strike, Mr Siddharth said. The students gave a written complaint to the police under Prevention of SC ST Atrocity Act against inc-charge vice-chancellor Prof. E. Siva Reddy. Police said the complaint was baseless and no case was registered.
Patna: After being on the run for almost two weeks the main accused in fake toppers scandal Lalkeshwar Singh and his former MLA wife Usha Sinha were arrested on Monday by Special Investigation team.

Mr. Singh had gone into hiding after his resignation on June 8 while his wife and former JD (U) MLA Usha Sinha was untraceable after her role in toppers scam was established during an investigation. Mrs. Sinha was the principal of Ganga Devi College and was removed from the post on Tuesday by the authorities.

Lalkeshwar Singh was arrested from an undisclosed location in Varanasi. Speaking on the issue Patna SSP Manu Maharaj said, They have been arrested and we will begin interrogation immediately after they are brought back to Patna.

After his arrest the police hopes to tie several loose ends which may help them solve the toppers scam case which rocked Bihar last month. Patna SSP Manu Maharaj who also heads the SIT further said, A separate interrogation team will be constituted to question all those who have been arrested.

Earlier, the police had taken Bacha Rai, the director of Vishun Rai College into custody after he had surrendered last week in Vaishali. Police sources said, All three are likely to be questioned jointly after Singh and his wife are brought back to Patna. On Wednesday Patna Civil Court had issued a warrant of arrest against former BSEB chairman Lalkeshwar Singh and his wife Usha Sinha.

Lid was put off on the existence of education mafia in Bihar when video of two toppers Ruby Rai and Saurabh Shrestha showed them struggling to find answers to some very basic questions putting the entire education system of the state in dock. The incident had created a nationwide uproar forcing the Nitish Kumar-led government to act against people who were sitting at the top.
As many as 201 outlets in the Madurai region lead the shutdown process, followed by 133 in the Tiruchy region, 60 in Coimbatore, 58 in Chennai and 48 in Salem region.

Chennai: In the first step towards bringing in prohibition, the Tamil Nadu Government on Sunday closed 500 Tasmac shops across the state in line with an announcement made by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa immediately after she assumed office on May 23.

The 500 shops spread across the state  58 in Chennai region  were shut since Sunday morning after the Tamil Nadu Government, in a late announcement on Saturday night, said these shops would cease functioning.

As many as 201 outlets in the Madurai region lead the shutdown process, followed by 133 in the Tiruchy region, 60 in Coimbatore, 58 in Chennai and 48 in Salem region.

The AIADMK had promised staggered prohibition in its election manifesto and the government reduced the working hours of the state-run liquor shops by two hours from May 24, 2016. Shutting down 500 shops would result in a revenue loss of nearly Rs 5 crore every day. Already, the state is losing Rs 1 crore every day due to reduction in time of opening of Tasmac shops across the state.

Closing of these shops is part of the Tamil Nadu Governments liquor policy, government sources said, adding that those employed in the shops that have been shut down would be rehabilitated in other Tasmac shops in the same district.
Among the applicants, 984 are graduates,605 HSC (Class 12), 282 SSC (Class 10) pass candidates, and 177 below SSC. (Photo: File)

Mumbai: As many as 984 graduates and five MPhil degree holders have applied for the five 'hamal' (porter) posts in Maharashtra, a senior official today said. .

The minimum educational qualification for the post is just fourth standard pass.

Read: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation sweeper secures MPhil degree

"We have received applications from 2,424 candidates for the five 'hamal' posts. They include 5 MPhil holder, 9 PG diploma holders, 109 diploma holders and 253 with PG degree," Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) Secretary Rajendra Mangrulkar told PTI in Mumbai on Monday.

The exam for the class D post is likely to be conducted in August, he said.

Among the applicants, 984 are graduates, 605 HSC (Class 12), 282 SSC (Class 10) pass candidates, and 177 below SSC.

MPSC had advertised for these posts in December 2015. The age limit for the posts is 18-33 years.

In the written test, candidates will be examined for their linguistic ability and basic maths skills.
Chandigarh: A day after Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley attacked him over his family's alleged foreign accounts, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh on Monday hit back at him, accusing him of trying to "avenge his humiliating defeat" in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

He also asked the senior BJP leader to "furnish the address with the proof of ownership" of properties abroad and said he would "produce all the evidence" as how he was "trying to abuse his position" to target him.

The Congress' deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, who defeated Jaitley in the 2014 General Elections from Amritsar, lashed out at him for allegedly behaving like the "spokesman of the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax department and not as their boss".

"Time, they say, is a great healer, but unfortunately nothing seems to work or heal for Jaitley", he said, while reacting to Jaitley's charges made during a speech in Bathinda on Sunday.

"The way Jaitley spat venom at me, has only vindicated and validated my stand that he is trying to avenge his humiliating defeat by unleashing these departments (the ED and IT) at me and my family"," Amarinder said.

Addressing a 'Vikas Parv' rally in Bathinda, Jaitley Sunday said, "I recall when there was Congress government in Punjab in 2002 led by Capt Amarinder Singh, he used to cook up stories about the Badal family, claiming that they have land in Australia, petrol pump in America, besides levelling other charges, but he failed to prove the allegations. We have found accounts of Capt Sahib's family."

The PCC president said, it was good that the Finance Minister "betrayed" his intentions at Bathinda on Sunday, as it will further strengthen his case and establish that the ED was "directly acting" under the minister's instructions.

"Unfortunately Jaitley seems to have chosen and resolved not to let his wounds and the bruised ego to heal over his humiliating defeat in Amritsar, even after the passage of two long years", the PCC president said, adding, "anyway, if he has chosen to use his agencies to avenge that defeat, I am ready for it and will fight it to the finish and expose his ulterior motives and intentions".
New Delhi: BJP chief Amit Shah will be on a three-day visit to Uttarakhand during which he will attend the state unit's executive meeting on June 26 and address a rally in Haridwar a day before, in what is being seen as the launch of the party's campaign for the assembly polls next year.

He will also pay obeisance at Badrinath and Kedarnath shrines.

After the party's attempt to dislodge the Harish Rawat-led Congress government came a cropper, Shah is set to spearhead a determined electoral campaign in the state which will go to the polls along with Uttar Pradesh and Punjab early next year, party sources said.

The electoral significance of the small state has increased after the saffron party's embarrassment in its bid to oust Rawat.

Shah's visit to the state and the decision to attend the executive meeting to fine tune the party's strategy comes amid speculation that Rawat, who believes his political prospects have improved after he outsmarted BJP in the power game, could opt for an early election.

He will visit the holy places on June 25 and hold a rally in Haridwar in the evening.

Shah had recently told reporters that there is a "strong anti-incumbency" mood in the state and his party will storm back to power whenever polls are held.

The party will also have to take a call on whether it will project a chief ministerial candidate.

It has four former chief ministers, including B C Khanduri, B S Koshyari, Ramesh Pokhriyal and Vijay Bahuguna, who recently quit the Congress to join it, in its ranks.
Patna: Ex-chairman of Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, the alleged mastermind of the toppers scam in the Bihar intermediate examination, and his former JD(U) MLA wife Usha Sinha were arrested from Varanasi by the Special Investigation Team on Monday, a senior police officer said here.

"Lalkeshwar Singh and his wife Usha Sinha have been arrested from Varanasi and police will begin interrogation immediately after they are brought to Patna", Senior Superintendent of Police of Patna, Manu Maharaj said.

Their arrest by SIT was made following a tip off about their presence in the temple city of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, the SSP, who is heading the SIT on toppers' merit muddle, said.

A separate interrogation team will be constituted to question all those who have been arrested," said the SSP.

Read: Bihar toppers scam: Pistol, cartridges seized from Bachha Rai's college office

Singh had gone underground after his resignation on June 8, while his wife and former JD(U) MLA Usha Sinha was untraceable after her role in toppers scam was established during investigation. Police had acquired an arrest warrant against them from a Patna court in the irregularities in Bihar +2 examination.

The SIT was armed with a court order to attach Lalkeswar Singh's property which would have taken place today.

Usha Sinha was the Principal of Ganga Devi college in Patna from which she was removed. She is a co-accused in the case where degrees were allegedly awarded to undeserving students in lieu of a hefty sum of money.

Secretary-cum-Principal of Vaishali-based Bishun Rai Intermediate college, Bachha Rai from where Arts and Science toppers Ruby Rai and Saurabh Shrestha hailed from, is already in police net and has provided information about the modus operandi of Lalkeshwar Singh and his wife in running the degree racket, the police said.

Bachha Rai was arrested from outside the college last week and subsequent police raids at his college and home in Vaishali have unearthed evidences of the dubious racket.

Over 20 kg jewellery was seized by the police from his house recently which was kept hidden beneath a bundle of haystack.

Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi has alleged that Bachha Rai, an active RJD supporter, had worked more than Lalu Prasad to ensure the victory of Tejaswi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav from Raghopur and Mahua seats in Vaishali respectively.

The merit muddle had surfaced following media expose of dubious Arts and science toppers of this year who could not answer even basic questions related to their subjects.

On the orders of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the committee set up by BSEB and state education department into the +2 examination irregularities were disbanded and a police case registered for direct action against the people involved in the racket.

Patna Commissioner Anand Kishor has been made Chairman of the Bihar School Examination Board to clean up the board.

More than 200 board employees were removed from their post which they were occupying for more than three years. BSEB has already cancelled the result of Science topper Saurabh Shrestha and third topper in science stream Rahul Kumar after finding them not up to mark in a re-test cum interview.

Arts topper Ruby Rai has skipped the past two summons by the board for a similar re-test. Her result has been put on hold and she has been asked to appear before experts on June 25 next.
The state has a huge population of yoga practitioners  from little school kids to the aged, such as the nonagenarian DMK president M. Karunanidhi.

Chennai: Tamil Nadu has been ignored as the Union HRD Ministry has decided to set up yoga departments in six Central Universities  Hemwati Nandan Bahugana Garhwal University, Uttarakhand, Viswa Bharti, West Bengal, Central University of Rajasthan, Central University of Kerala, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, Madya Pradesh, and Manipur University. The state has a huge population of yoga practitioners  from little school kids to the aged, such as the nonagenarian DMK president M. Karunanidhi.

We are terribly disappointed. Such a move would have helped Tamil Nadu get world-class facilities in the teaching, practising and propagation of this ancient Indian system of healing and wellbeing. Our government should push for the inclusion of Tamil Nadu, says Dr Asana Andiappan, a highly accomplished yogi of international repute.

The institution could also help in standardisation of yoga methods as there have been innumerable schools and masters propounding yoga in different styles and methods.

This would help in regularisation of the degrees or diplomas awarded to the students. It is very difficult to run a yoga institute here, unlike in the US where the students voluntarily come forward to learn yoga and in the process pay hefty sums. Teaching yoga there is a lucrative profession. The Narendra Modi government is doing so much for yoga the efforts should percolate to Tamil Nadu, as well, this noted yoga guru at Chennai told Deccan Chronicle.

Considering that the DMK has been crying foul over the NDAs keenness on spreading the learning of Sanskrit, there are also some who feel the HRD Ministry might have chosen to skip Tamil Nadu so as to avoid similar controversies.

If (HRD minister) Smriti Irani had planned a yoga institution for Tamil Nadu, Karunanidhi would have clung on to it for months as a potential political issue, writing statements and editorials, even organising agitations. He would call it yet another attempt by the BJP to saffronise his Dravidian land, said BJP senior M. Chakravarthy. I hope the Central Institute is set up in our state. Young people like me will benefit very much, said Mohan S. Chennai yoga student.
Chennai: An ex-convict, who tried to extort money from a preacher at Chengalpet in neighbouring Kancheepuram district, was stoned to death by the church head and his relatives in broad daylight on Sunday.

The deceased was identified as Ashirvadam of Thirumani in Chengalpet. According to the police Ashirvadam, in a drunken condition, went on Sunday morning to the house of preacher Immanuel Prakash , who manages a small prayer hall by the side of his residence.

Ashirvadam allegedly went inside the prayer hall with a knife and started threatening the preacher, demanding money. He demanded mamool daily at knifepoint in front of devotees, who suggested that he get out of the prayer hall. Paying no heed, he continued to threaten the preacher. He said that if Immanuel Prakash failed to give him money daily he would be forced to use the knife.

When Ashirvadam refused to listen to the request of the devotees to get out, some of them tried to overpower him. He then pointed knife at them. Swinging knife at them in a threatening manner, he came out of the prayer hall.

While devotees were shocked over the incident, Immanuel Prakash, his son, brother and two others surrounded Ashirvadam and attacked him by pelting big stones at him as he continued his stabbing actions with knife. He collapsed after he was hit on his head and chest.

A big stone crushed Ashirvadams head amd and he had died on the spot. Chengalpet police team rushed to the spot and shifted the body to GH for autopsy.

Police registered a case of murder and interrogated the preacher. We have booked five persons including the preacher, his son and brother for murder, said Chengalpet police on Sunday evening. Police said Ashirvadam has at least 10 cases, including murder, pending against him.
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy meets party MP Mahesh Giri who is staging hunger strike outside the residence of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi on Monday in protest against his allegations regarding the murder of NDMC official MM Khan. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: BJP MP Subramanian Swamy on Monday targeted Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and accused him of being hand in glove with Arvind Kejriwal.

Swamy claimed he has information to suggest that the LG was playing a "mischievous role" of "abetting" Kejriwal at the behest of Congress to embarrass the BJP while appearing to oppose the AAP leader in public.

Swamy attacked Jung for "failing" to protect MPs from attack by "his government" and accused the Delhi LG of seeking guidance from Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel.

The BJP MP, who led a campaign for denying extension to RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, briefly joined a protest by BJP's East Delhi MP Maheish Girri outside Kejriwal's residence.

Girri is sitting on a protest outside Delhi chief minister's residence after Kejriwal made allegations against the BJP MP in the murder case of a New Delhi Municipal Corporation official MM Khan.

Kejriwal, in a letter to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, had accused him of trying to "save" Girri and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) vice-chairman Karan Singh Tanwar in Khan's murder. Girri had asked Kejriwal for a public debate over his allegations.

Swamy also targeted Arvind Kejriwal and accused the Delhi Chief Minister of breaching constitutional norms in running the Delhi government and sought the President's intervention.

On Kejriwal's allegations against Maheish Girri, Swamy said the Delhi Chief Minister, like the style of functioning of 14th century Sultan of Delhi Mohammed Bin Tughlak, has turned "upside down" all known principles of democratic jurisprudence, as a person is presumed innocent till proven guilty.

In a letter to President Pranab Mukherjee, Swamy specifically referred to Kejriwal's allegations that BJP's East Delhi MP Maheish Girri is linked to murder of an NDMC official, terming the charges as "scurrilous and undocumented".

He requested the President to ask the Union Home Ministry to issue a directive as per provision of the Constitution and seek a report asking on what basis Kejriwal and his colleagues have made allegations of murder against Girri.

"There appears to be a complete breakdown of any semblance of governance in National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi. The AAP is functioning in a highly arbitrary, unreasonable and mala fide manner.

"Since the NCT is where the Union Government is also located, it has become crucial to restore some semblance of governance immediately," said Swamy in the letter.
At a media briefing, Sitharaman was asked why the government chose to make the announcements today when there was a 'hangover' of Rajan's decision to leave RBI. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: As questions cropped up over whether the announcements on major FDI reforms had anything to do with the Raghuram Rajan's exit from RBI, government said they were in the works and only an announcement was made on Monday.

"We were working on these (FDI reforms) for couple of months. We have made the announcements after the work has been finished. Can it be done in one day?," Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asked.

Read: RBI chief Raghuram Rajan defends record, inflation fight

At a media briefing, she was asked why the government chose to make the announcements today when there was a 'hangover' of Rajan's decision to leave RBI.

Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh described the decisions as a "panic reaction" which would not have come had Rajan not made the announcement. He also said the Congress does not believe that FDI is a magic wand.

Commenting on Rajan's decision, Sitharaman earlier in the day said: "the government's line is very nicely explained by the Finance Minister on this. We appreciate the work that the RBI governor has done and he has taken a call to end his tenure and he is going back to academia and we respect that".

Read: No search panel for Rajan successor, govt to announce new RBI chief soon

When pressed further on the issue, she said: "I am not adding to speculation at all. The government's position is explained. He has taken a call, we respect his tenure and we respect his contribution".

When asked why Rajan has been given "the shortest tenure", the minister said during Rajiv Gandhi's time, a "Governor was appointed and removed within 20 days".

A Ghosh remained RBI Governor for a very short period - from January 15, 1985 to February 4, 1985.
New Delhi: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Sunday joined his colleague Mahesh Giris hunger strike outside Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's home over the M M Khan murder case and said he would now focus on exposing him.

Swamy, who had been advocating for the ouster of RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, said since Rajan has decided to step down, he can now focus his attention on Arvind Kejriwal.

"All his life he (Kejriwal) has done fraud. He says he was a meritorious student in IIT but I have records of how he got admission... which I will reveal in a press conference. Till now, I was Rajan ke peechhe (was going after Raghuram Rajan) and he is now gone," Swamy said.

Read: MM Khan murder: BJP MP on hunger strike outside Arvind Kejriwal's residence

Meanwhile, Arvind Kejriwal demanded that Mahesh Giri be arrested in connection with the murder of NDMC official M M Khan even as he accused the Prime Minister of "shielding" him.

The BJP MP had asked Kejriwal to either prove his charge against him or 'resign' from the post of chief minister.

In a tweet, Kejriwal demanded that Giri should be arrested. "He shud be arrested n interrogated by Modi police in MM Khan murder case. Modi police shielding him," he said.

He shud be arrested n interrogated by Modi police in MM Khan murder case. Modi police shielding him https://t.co/CteaT9cWJO  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 20, 2016

Kejriwal, in a letter to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, had accused him of trying to "save" Giri and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) vice-chairman Karan Singh Tanwar in Khan's murder.

Giri had asked Kejriwal for a public debate over his allegations.

In a letter to Kejriwal on June 16, Giri had invited him to the Constitution Club to produce "evidence" he had against him in the M M Khan murder case on Sunday 4 PM.

Kejriwal did not accept the challenge following which Giri, accompanied by his party supporters, reached the Chief Minister's flagstaff Road residence and sat on hunger strike.

Khan, an estate officer of NDMC, was shot dead in Jamia Nagar on May 16, a day before he was scheduled to pass the final order on the lease terms of a hotel which was functioning on a property leased out by the civic body.

Subramanian Swamy demanded the Delhi government should be dismissed if Arvind Kejriwal refuses to apologise to the party MP over his allegations in the recent murder of an NDMC official.

Swamy also attacked Lt Governor Najeeb Jung for "failing" to protect MPs from attack by "his government" and accused him of seeking guidance from Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel.

"Delhi government will survive if Kejriwal apologises... government should be dismissed in national interest," he said.
New Delhi: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Monday said he is going abroad for a "few days", but did not specify the country he is heading for.



"Traveling out of the country for a few days on a short visit. Thanks again to all who met & wished me y'day, truly grateful for your affection!" he said on Twitter.

Traveling out of the country for a few days on a short visit.Thanks again to all who met &wished me y'day,truly grateful for your affection!  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) June 20, 2016

Gandhi had celebrated his 46th birthday on Sunday amid speculation that he could be elevated as the party chief on that day.



Gandhi's 56-day mysterious sabbatical last year had created much controversy in political circles with the ruling BJP making his absence in the midst of Budget session of Parliament an issue.



Party leaders have time and again said that Gandhi, who was made the party Vice President in January 2013 at the Jaipur 'Chintan Shivir,' will be elevated soon.



Congress is passing through a difficult phase since its debacle in the May 2014 Lok Sabha polls and has faced a string of defeats in Assembly elections, including in Assam and Kerala.
Earlier on April 29, CIC directed Delhi University and Gujarat University to provide information on degrees earned by Modi to Kejriwal. (Photo: PTI)

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Monday issued notices to Central Information Commission (CIC) and Arvind Kejriwal on a petition filed by the Gujarat University against the CIC's earlier order asking the varsity to provide information on degrees of by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Delhi Chief Minister.

After admitting the application of Gujarat University (GU), seeking to quash the CIC order on technical grounds, judge SH Vora issued noticed to Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu and Kejriwal to furnish their responses and kept further hearing next month.

In its application before the court, the GU stated that "the Gujarat University is not a party to any of the proceeding before the Information Commission. Hence, the order is adverse to the interest of the Gujarat University."

The University further argued that the jurisdiction of CIC extends to the public authority under that central government while GU falls beyond its jurisdiction.

"Therefore, the said order of CIC is patently erroneous and requires to be quashed and set aside," stated the application.

GU further argued that Kejriwal's status as the Chief Minister has been kept in mind by the CIC while issuing the order, a move which is against the law, said the application.

"CIC has passed a direction on the basis of the status of Kejriwal. The CIC has considered the CM on a different pedestal which is against the principle of rule of law."

The GU authorities claimed that "no notice of hearing has been served upon the GU, and the order is passed by CIC without hearing the GU. There is no application given by Kejriwal before the information officer of GU, nor is there any complaint made against the GU before the Information Commission, Gujarat.

Citing the Right to Information (RTI) Act provisions, GU argued that Kejriwal has not sought any information directly from the university.

"Kejriwal has not sought any information from the GU at any time till date and no application has been preferred under section 6(1) of the RTI Act".

Further, it is argued that the "CIC is not the authority constituted under the RTI Act for the purpose of any information to be supplied by the GU."

Earlier on April 29, CIC directed Delhi University and Gujarat University to provide information on degrees earned by Modi to Kejriwal, who had criticised the functioning of the transparency panel.

The CIC's order came a day after Kejriwal wrote a letter to Acharyulu saying he does not object to government records about him being made public and wondered why the Commission wants to "hide" information on Modi's educational degree.

The Information Commissioner had treated Kejriwal's letter as an RTI application and passed the order.
New Delhi: The Home Ministry will seek legal opinion on the issue of alleged tapping of telephone conversations of some top industrialists and politicians by the Essar Group before ordering a probe into it, a senior official said on Monday.

The Prime Minister's Office has forwarded to the Home Ministry a complaint of lawyer Suren Uppal alleging that the Essar Group had ordered its former security chief Albasit Khan to tap into its business rivals' telephone conversations during Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.

There are a few issues which need to be clarified like whether there is anything actionable on illegal telephone tapping, was there any violation of the Indian Telegraph Act and does anyone, whose phone was tapped, have to file a complaint or whether the government has to suo motu order an investigation, the official said.

To get a clarity of all these issues, the Home Ministry will seek legal opinion, the sources said, adding the matter will be discussed with Home Minister Rajnath Singh to chalk out the course of future action.

The complaint was received today from the PMO in which a complainant incorporated call logs for purported conversations of Mukesh and Anil Ambani with Directors/Promoters of the two companies and other senior officials as well as conversations that show how business rivals reach out to politicians to seek favours.

The complaint also mentioned purported conversations of senior officials of the Vajpayee PMO, former National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra and the then Prime Minister's foster son-in-law Ranjan Bhattacharya.

The name of present Home Secretary Rajiv Mehreshi, who was posted in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs also figures among the officers whose phones were allegedly tapped. Essar has denied any wrongdoing.
NSG agenda has never covered any issue concerning the non-NPT countries joining the NSG, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said (Representational photo: file)

Beijing: China on Monday said differences remain among NSG members over the inclusion of new countries and the issue was not even on the agenda of the grouping's meeting in Seoul this week, a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj asserted that Beijing was not opposing India's entry.

"We have stressed that the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) is still divided about non-NPT countries entry into the NSG and under the current circumstances we hope that NSG will make through discussions to make a decision based on consultation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing.

Answering questions about Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar's visit here on June 16-17 and Swaraj's remarks, Hua said India's admission into NSG is not on the agenda of the Seoul meeting of the 48-member elite club to be held on June 24.

"As we understand the annual conference in Seoul this year also has no such topic. We understand that non-NPT countries are concerned about their entry into the NSG. But since NSG is still divided about the issue, so it is still not mature to talk about the entry issue in the annual conference in Seoul," she said.

"I want point out that the NSG agenda has never covered any issue concerning the non-NPT countries joining the NSG," Hua asserted.

Her remarks came even as Swaraj yesterday said India was confident of getting NSG membership this year.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying (Photo: video grab)

"China is not opposing membership of India in NSG, it is only talking of criteria and procedure. I am hopeful that we would be able to convince China as well to support our entry to the NSG," she told a press conference.

"I think that there is a consensus which is being made and I am sure that India will become the member of the NSG this year," she had said.

Hua said, "China maintains that NSG should have through discussion on the joining of the non-NPT countries in a way agreed by all parties, so as to make a decision based on agreement. This position is not directed against any country and applies to all non-NPT states," she said.

Asked for further clarification on whether the issue has not been listed for the meeting, Hua said, "non-NPT countries entry has never been a topic of the agenda of NSG meetings. So in Seoul meeting there is no such topic."

On Jaishankar's visit, Hua said Chinese foreign ministry officials met with him and discussed the bilateral relations and issues of common interest.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi also met with him, she said.

"During Indian foreign secretary's visit, he expressed India's hope about joining the NSG because India is in need of the large amount of nuclear energy to deal with climate change," Hua said.

"China said we understand India's requirement for developing nuclear energy and also reaffirmed that the NPT as the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. We stressed that the NSG is still divided about the non-NPT countries into the NPT," she said.

Responding to another question on China's stand, Hua said, "As you just said during foreign secretary's visit India has expressed its hope of joining the NSG. We have also exchanged views with the Indian side about that."

"As per the NSG meeting, whether or not it is proper platform to discuss the entry issue...as I just said the international community has different opinions concerning the non-NPT countries joining the NSG.

"Therefore we maintain that we should have a thorough discussion so as to make a decision based on consultation so the NSG should first discuss the entry issue of non-NPT states as a whole instead of any specific non-NPT countries joining," Hua said.

India's case for NSG membership is being strongly pushed by the US, which has written to other members to support India's bid at the plenary meeting of the group in Seoul.

While majority of the elite group backed India's membership, it is understood that apart from China, countries like Turkey, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand were not in favour of India's entry into the NSG.

China maintains opposition to India's entry, arguing that it has not signed Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

China wants NSG membership for its close ally Pakistan if NSG extends any exemption for India.

India has asserted that being a signatory to the NPT was not essential for joining the NSG as there has been a precedent in this regard, citing the case of France.

The NSG looks after critical issues relating to nuclear sector and its members are allowed to trade in and export nuclear technology. Membership of the grouping will help India significantly expand its atomic energy sector.

India has been reaching out to NSG member countries seeking support for its entry. The NSG works under the principle of consensus and even one country's vote against India will scuttle its bid.
Unable to bear the constant sexual harassment she complained to her mother after which the accused went absconding, only to surface recently. (Representational photo: file)

Thane: A 45-year-old labourer from power-loom town of Bhiwandi in the district has been arrested for allegedly repeatedly raping his minor daughter for nearly six months, police said on Monday.

The 11-year-old girl was raped by her father since Navaratri last year to April 2016, they said.

Unable to bear the constant sexual harassment she complained to her mother after which the accused went absconding, only to surface recently.

On his return, the mother lodged a complaint with the Shanti Nagar Police Station of Bhiwandi which arrested him on Friday night.

Police also said that the alleged accused frequently threatened his daughter asking her not to reveal anything to anyone.

According to preliminary probe, the accused allegedly has three wives of which one is in Bhiwandi (mother of the girl) and the other two were living in Aurangabad and Nashik.

Police have registered offences under section 376 and 506 of the IPC.
New Delhi: BJP MP from East Delhi Mahesh Girri on Sunday sat on a hunger strike outside the residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, demanding that he prove his allegations regarding the murder of NDMC official M M Khan.

Kejriwal, in a letter to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, had accused him of trying to "save" Girri and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) vice-chairman Karan Singh Tanwar in Khan's murder. Girri had asked Kejriwal for a public debate over his allegations.

In a letter to Kejriwal on June 16, Girri had invited him to Constitution Club to produce "evidence" he had against him in the M M Khan murder case on Sunday 4 pm. Kejriwal did not accept the challenge following which Girri, accompanied by his party supporters, reached the Chief Minister's flagstaff Road residence and sat on hunger strike.

The BJP MP has asked Kejriwal to either prove his charge against him or "resign" from the post of Chief Minister.

"If he manages to prove, then I will quit politics, otherwise he should do so," Girri said.

Khan, an estate officer of NDMC, was shot dead in Jamia Nagar on May 16, a day before he was scheduled to pass the final order on the lease terms of a hotel which was functioning on a property leased out by the civic body.
Impressively made statues of Tamil savant Thiruvalluvar, designed by the VGP Ulaga Tamil Sangam, have been kept at Sathya Studio in the city on Sunday. They will be dispatched to Sri Lanka to be installed at 16 places. (Photo: DC)

Chennai: There is a memorable gift for the fellow Tamils of Sri Lanka from a city Tamil sangam. Sixteen impressive statues of the Tamil savant Thiruvalluvar, made in Chennai, will be shipped to Colombo to be installed in 13 schools and 3 colleges in the island nation, soon.

The nearly 6.5 foot high statues made of fiberglass depict the sage sitting on an adhara peedam (pedestal) 1.75 foot high.

They would be shipped to Colombo on Tuesday to be installed at 16 locations.

Our gift to Sri Lanka will help to further strengthen relations between Indian and Lanka. This will also highlight the importance of Tamil (language) and Thiruvalluvars Thirukkural in short and sweet lines, says V.G.P. Santhosam, chairman of VGP group of companies and founder of VGP Ulaga Tamil Sangam here on Sunday. The VGP Ulaga Tamil Sangam is the donor of the statues.

These statues would be installed in the Tamil dominated areas like Savagachery, Kilinochi, Mullai Island, Mannar, Puliyangulam, Thirukonamalai, Puttalam, Mattakkalapu, Mattalai, Kalmunai, Kambaga, Navalpitti, Theraniyakal, Attan, Pandaravalai and Erakuvalai.

The VGP Ulaga Tamil Sangam, which has a tradition of providing Valluvar statues to various countries, immediately accepted a proposal and got the statues done, Mr Santhosam said and lauded the efforts of Sri Lankas education minister V.S. Radhakrishnan and Sri Lankas coordinator K. Sachidanandam for their efforts in this direction. Speaking to DC, Janikaraman, sculptor said the statues could withstand the vagaries of nature. It took nearly two months to make the statues. We decided to make the conventionally accepted sitting posture of the sage, he added.

All the statues were displayed before the secretary of Sri Lanka education department Tissa Hewavitharana and Sri Lanka Deputy High Commissioner V. Krishnamoorthy at Sathya Studios in the city on Sunday. Acknowledging Mr Santhosams gesture, Mr Tissa said the gift of 16 statues of sage Thiruvalluvar to Sri Lanka was a matter of pride and privilege to the people of Lanka.

The Thirukkural has been translated into 62 languages of the world including your neighbouring language Sinhalese. The people of Tamil Nadu should be proud to hear that there are three translations of Thirukkural in Sinhalese, Mr Tissa said. This effort would go a long way in further strengthening the cultural cooperation between the two countries, said Mr. Krishnamoorthy.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to put a stay on the killing of Nilgai, wild boars in Bihar and a monkey species in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand as of now.

The apex court asked the animal rights organisations to make representations before the Centre regarding three notifications declaring Nilgais, monkeys and wild boars as vermins, with the Animal Welfare Board of India terming it as an "arbitrary" decision.

The board, which is an statutory advisory body on animal welfare laws and promotes animal welfare in India, questioned the notifications issued by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change declaring these animals as vermins for one year in the states of Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

"The arbitrariness is there. We have seen the video. There has to be a basis. How can the Ministry do this? There has to be compassion towards animals," the lawyer appearing for the board told a vacation bench of Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and A M Khanwilkar.

However, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar said the board has not challenged these notifications.

The bench said it would hear the contentions of the board when the main matter is heard.

The bench, which refused to issue notice on the petitions, asked the Centre to consider the representations within two weeks and take appropriate steps as required.

During the hearing, the bench posed several queries to the petitioners on whether these notifications specifically talk about forest areas. "Prohibition (on hunting) will apply to forest area or animal habitat and not outside that. Absolute prohibition applies to animal habitat only. You cannot hunt them in their home. Suppose they are found outside their habitat, then how to deal with it," the bench asked.

Responding to the query, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, who appeared for one of the petitioners, referred to killing of Nilgais in Bihar and said "there are scientific ways to deal with such situations. Wild animals cannot be killed like this."

The first notification issued by the Ministry dated December 1, 2015, declared Nilgai and wild boar as vermin in some districts of Bihar for one year.

The second notification dated February 3 this year declared wild boar as vermin in some districts of Uttarakhand for a period of one year, while the third notification, issued on May 24 declared rhesus macaque (monkey) to be vermin in some districts of Himachal Pradesh.
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar follows only those provisions of the Constitution which fit in agendas of his vote bank politics and ignores others, senior BJP leader Suhsil Kumar Modi alleged on Sunday.

"Nitish Kumar refers to the Directive Principles while implementing prohibition. But he does not want to go through the provisions in the Constitution about implementing Uniform Civil Code and ban on cow slaughter. His faith in the Constitution is partial and in vote bank politics total," Modi alleged in a tweet.

The Bihar chief minister has stated at several public functions, in and outside of the state that the Directive Principles talk about implementing prohibition which his government is following.

JD(U) chief spokesman Sanjay Singh reacted sharply to Modi's statement and claimed the "volume of beef export has increased" after the BJP came to power at the Centre.

"Sushil Modi may be talking about protection of cow but the fact is the volume of beef export has increased after the BJP came to power at the Centre...the Narendra Modi government had also given a subsidy of Rs. 15 crore in its first budget for opening new slaughter houses and modernisation of the old ones," Mr Singh said in a release.

Claiming that the meat export went up to 22,000 tonnes in 2010-11 from 10,600 tonnes in 2001-02, Mr Singh said India exported 24 lakh tonnes of meat in 2014-15 which accounts for 58.7 per cent of the total meat exports of the world.

The NDA government earned more money from the export of beef than the export of Basmati rice, he said while asserting that there is already a law in Bihar for protection of cow and it is very much in the operation in the state.
Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray and Yuva Sena leader Aditya Thackeray during the Golden jubilee ceremony of Shiv Sena in Mumbai. (Photo: PTI)

Mumbai: Stating that he has no desire to snap alliance for ensuing elections to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and 9 other civic bodies, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday issued a veiled threat to his estranged ally BJP saying that he will not tolerate any "twisted" alliance deal.

Thackeray was addressing 'Shivsainiks' on the occasion of Shiv Sena's 50th foundation day in Mumbai. As he broached the topic of MCGM elections, it evoked a strong chorus from the crowd "no alliance, let us contest alone".

The Sena chief said that he would leave it to the judgement of the 'Sainiks'.

"I will not tolerate any 'twisted' alliance deal," he said.

Referring to the debate over holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, he took a dig at frequent foreign visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by saying, "It would be better if simultaneous polls are held or else it might create constant hurdles in someone's foreign visits."

On 50 years of the party's journey, Thackeray said, "25 years of it went in stitching alliance with the BJP."

A lion always moves with a pride, but a tiger always moves alone and hunts head-on, he said.

Lambasting NCP chief Sharad Pawar for advising Sena to leave (both state and Centre) government, he said that it was the NCP, which in order to avert split, had stayed in power for the last 15 years.

Clarifying that he was not criticising for the sake of it, Mr Thackeray said he had praised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his leadership.

However, referring to the rising prices of pulses, the Sena chief asked the chief minister to do something to at least bring some relief to common man if not 'achche din' (better days).

Speaking on the recent reports of alleged exodus of Hindus from Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, he reminded the BJP that it was in power at the Centre.

"In Kashmir too it (BJP) is now in alliance and what has it done to gives homes to those Kashmiri Pandits in that state," he said.

Referring to the BJP wave in 2014, he said, "Even logs of wood float in water and flags waive in the wind, but it's the saffron flag that keeps on fluttering even when there is no wind."

Taking a swipe at the rivals, he said Sena has welcomed people from other parties, but it has always been "the party of originals".

On critics terming Sena as regional, communal and narrow minded, Mr Thackeray said even (TMC chief) Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal is talking about regionalism when she says 'Ma, Matti and Manoosh'.

He said like his father late Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray, he too "was not desperate for power and would not compromise (for it)".

Thackeray said that he joined power at the Centre and (in the) state as he did not want people to again fall prey to false promises.
Directorate sources said that under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, freezing orders were issued against shares worth Rs 86.07 crore owned by companies in Dubai, Mauritius and Singapore. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: Enforcement Directorate officials on Monday conducted multiple raids in Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai regarding an alleged money laundering route from Mauritius via Dubai to Indian companies in connection with the multi-crore AgustaWestland scam.

Searches were conducted at 10 places in the three metros including at Sagar Society in Banjara Hills in Hyderabad, and on the premises of Metkore Alloys and Industries limited.

ED has been probing the allegation that Rs 360-crore graft money was allegedly routed in the guise of genuine business transactions by Finmeccanica, the parent company of AgustaWestland, through Mauritius and Dubai.

Directorate sources said that under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, freezing orders were issued against shares worth Rs 86.07 crore owned by companies in Dubai, Mauritius and Singapore.

An ED source said, We have conducted searches at Metkore Alloys and Industries Limited, earlier known as Cronimet Alloys India Limited, formerly known as GMR Ferro Alloys and Industries Limited. The Dubai-based company Cronimet Mercon Invest Limited, which started acquisition of GMR Ferro Alloys Limited in 2008, acquired it totally in 2010. There was no one in the office when we searched the premises. We have recorded the statements of workers and other caretaking staff. MD of Metkore Alloys and Industries Ltd Booru U. Prashanth is the son-in-law of Mr Grandhi Eswar Rao, promoter of Vasavi Industries.

Metkore Alloys and Industries Ltd has a ferro alloy plant in Srikakulam. When the phone number mentioned on the Metkore letterhead was dialled, it was found to be out of service.

No response from Metkore

Meanwhile, the number provided by Metkore on their website connected to the GMR office at Begumpet where they said they had nothing to do with the company. Repeated efforts made by DC over phone and email to GMR officials and the companys communications department failed to get a response.

The Enforcement Directorate had filed a case regarding the AgustaWestland scam in July 2014 against former Indian Air Force chief S.P. Tyagi, businessman Gautam Khaitan, his wife Ritu, three Italian middlemen  Mr Christian Michel James, Mr Guido Ralph Haschke and Mr Carlo Gerosa  and 13 others.
Putta Naresh, who was studying in California, went missing after he went on a boat ride in the California Del Valley River Park. (Representational image)

Vijayawada: An AP native, Putta Naresh, who was studying in California, went missing after he went on a boat ride in the California Del Valley River Park. It is suspected that he had fallen into the river. Naresh hailed from Bandipalem of Jaggaiahpet mandal in Krishna district, and was doing his MS (IT).

According to his parents, Naresh and his friends were returning to the dock after the boat ride when the mishap occurred. They said local police was continuing their search.

Naresh was the only son of Mr Purnachandra Rao, a farmer who had sold his land for his sons higher education. Nareshs brother Sekhar said the government was not responding to the familys appeal for help.
Rajahmundry: AP lawyers abstained from court duty across the state on Monday in protest against a series of activities being carried out by lawyers and judges in TS, jeopardising the interests of their counterparts in AP. AP lawyers alleged that subordinate judicial officers, who are working in TS and who opted to work in Telangana were being subjected to threats by T-advocates and court staff. They alleged that T-advocates were even entering courts and threatening AP-origin judicial officers to return to AP, and daubing black paint on the nameplates of these judicial officers.

AP lawyers have condemned the announcement by T-advocates that they will take out a symbolic funeral procession of AP lawyers on June 22 in Hyderabad and urged them to give up such a proposal. AP lawyers also urged the TS government to intervene and restrain its legal fraternity not to create hatred against them and also appealed to the Governor to intervene if the TS government fails to act upon this issue.

According to AP lawyers, T-advocates demand that posting of subordinate judicial officers should be based on nativity and that judges hailing from AP and opting to work in TS should go back to AP, does not have legal standing. They quoted Articles 233 and 234 of the Constitution, which says that subordinate judicial officers ranging from junior civil judge to district judge are all-India cadre posts and there will be no issue of local or non-local.

Based on these rules, judges from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Bihar and Maharashtra are working in AP and TS at present. They said Sections 77 and 78 of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 do not restrict the recruitment of officials to the subordinate judiciary. It should be done on all-India basis and any Indian citizen having requisite eligibility can apply for the tests. As many as 172 posts of senior civil judges exist in both AP and TS at present and they are to be allocated on a 58:42 ratio.

AP is to be allocated 100 judges but it has been allocated 113 judges. TS is to get 72 judges but it got only 59 senior civil judges. AP lawyers said that more number of people hailing from AP got selected in All India test and they were appointed in Telangana. They have asked their counterparts in Ts not to vitiate the sanctity of judiciary. We have abstained from court duty today to protest in a democratic manner and if the legal fraternity in TS fails to understand us and mend their ways, we will intensify our stir further, said Muppala Subba Rao, AP Bar Council member.
Students visit bathrooms to relieve themselves and in view of water problem the school administration zeroed in on this strange strategy, a parent said requesting anonymity. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: Don't drink water while in school. During lunch time also have a few sips but not more than that. You can have as much water once school finishes or you go home.

These oral instructions, parents say, are being given to children at St.Andrews School, Old Bowenpally. It is not confined to a few age groups but span students from primary to high school sections.

The reason, they point out, is ground water problem in the school. Students visit bathrooms to relieve themselves and in view of water problem the school administration zeroed in on this strange strategy, a parent said requesting anonymity.

A parent remarked that this practice will have an impact on the health of students eventually and the school administration will be held responsible.

"We understand there is water problem everywhere. Hence most students carry water bottles. The school strength is 4,000. When they are collecting annual fees as high as Rs 70,000 for some sections, they should explore alternative options to tide over the crisis instead of barring students from drinking water," the parent felt.

Hyde-rabad School Parents Association member Venkat Sainath felt barring students from drinking water is inhuman.

"Many parents complained to us about this issue. Some students said the toilets are locked half an hour before the school closes at 3 pm. Male students rush outside to relieve themselves but imagine the plight of girl students." he said.

When contacted, St.Andrews Principal Shomita Bhattacharya said that the allegations are baseless.

We are procuring water from outside through water tankers and it is proving sufficient. A few parents are slinging mud at the school, but truth will prevail ultimately, she said. The Ranga Reddy district administration meanwhile has convened a meeting with the school administration and parents on Tuesday over the issue of school timings.
The Ayush ministry which is the nodal agency for the mega event has been making arrangements to make the second innings of the yoga day a success countrywide.

NEW DELHI: The celebrations for the International Yoga day is expected to cost the exchequer around Rs 15 crore. The cost has been slashed to half since last time, this time around the main event which is taking place in Chandigarh, has been advertised less in comparison to last year when it was celebrated for the first time.

The Ayush ministry which is the nodal agency for the mega event has been making arrangements to make the second innings of the yoga day a success countrywide.

The ministry secretary, Ajit M Sharan, told this newspaper that, The cost for the whole event is Rs 15 crore, this includes the cost of mats, LED screens, PR for the event and all the other sundry expenses for the International Yoga day.

The Ayush Ministry which had faced flak for the exorbitant cost of the mats used in the 2015 international Yoga Day event, has capped its budget to Rs 15 crore for the celebration this year. For the main event in Chandigarh, the ministry has shelled out Rs 7 crore.

As per reports, the mats used for the event at Rajpath cost around Rs 96,000 this year Chandigarh will require a similar amount as 35,000 people are expected to do yoga with the PM.

As per sources in the NDMC and the Ayush Ministry, the main costs for the event have been for advertising and PR of the event. The mats, t-shirts and other paraphernalia, doesnt cost much. The main cost is for the advertisement on all platforms, said a senior official.

The event which has been in news since a while for the controversial reasons, has been keeping the New Delhi Municipal Council and Ayush Ministry officials on their toes to get the arrangements in place. The NDMC has made arrangements in the Central Park and other radial roads connecting CP.

AIMPLB objects to making yoga mandatory in schools

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has strongly objected to making the participation of schools compulsory in the International Yoga Day celebrations and has asked Muslims to stay away from the event.

The Board had firmly opposed the involvement of Muslim children in the Yoga Day last year too but now the Board members feel that they may have to seek legal redressal since the Modi government has failed to take cognisance of their objections.

This is an attack on the constitutional framework and against the spirit of democracy. Muslim children should not be forced to attend the Yoga programmes and those who do participateunka Allah hi malik hai, said Mr Zafaryab Jilan, senior member of the AIMPLB.

The AIMPLB has been strongly opposed to the inclusion of Surya Namaskar in schools and said such programmes amount to interference in religious freedom.
Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who plans to bring at least one crore acres in the state under irrigation in phases, is facing protests from the very people the irrigation projects are proposed to benefit. In the latest of a series, Komurvelli Mallanasagar project oustees and their supporters are protesting, demanding market value or land for their land. They have rejected the government offer of Rs 5.8 lakh per acre.

From social networking websites like Facebook to the streets, protests are mounting from friend-turned-foe TJAC chairman M. Kodandaram to the newly-constituted Mallanasagar Joint Action Committee, to Opposition parties like the Congress, BJP and the Telugu Desam. An equally angry Mr Rao has launched a counter campaign.

People are not against the project, but want adequate compensation. Rs 5.80 lakh per acre offer is meagre. Provide land for land or better amount. The project design too is questionable. Either the government must give right compensation or construct project on their bodies, Justice Chandrakumar said, while speaking at the Mallannasagar JAC convention here. TD working president A. Revanth Reddy announced a 48-hour deeksha in support of the project oustees. If KCR agrees, I will arrange a compensation of Rs 25 crore for his 250 acre farmhouse at the rate of Rs 10 lakh per acre through DD in 48 hours. If needed, I will leave 5 acres for KCR, Mr Revanth Reddy said.

Congress senior leader V. Hanumantha Rao accused the CM of pitting farmers in Telangana against each other. Opposition and vested interests are trying to stall projects. We offered a fair compensation. Farmers should not get misled by false propaganda, said T. Harish Rao, irrigation minister. For the Congress and TD, the parties which have been the target of TRS poaching, the farmers protest has come at the most opportune time.

The Rs 9,800 crore project to be located in Etigadda Kistapur of Siddipet division, Medak district, requires about 12,700 acres. So far 8,400 acres have been acquired. The project will submerge 10 villages in Thoguta and Kondapaka mandals and about 3,000 houses. It will provide irrigation and drinking water to Medak, Nizamabad, Warangal, Nalgonda and Ranga Reddy districts.
Kolkata: Former West Bengal minister Madan Mitra, accused in the multi-crore Saradha chit fund scam, was discharged from hospital on Sunday and sent back to Alipore Jail after the doctors declared him "fine".

Mitra, lodged in the jail in connection with the Saradha scam, was shifted to the SSKM Hospital on the night of April 26, a few days before his constituency Kamarhati went to polls, as he had complained of chest pain and breathlessness.

While coming out of the hospital Mitra said, "I will again appeal to the court to have a look in my case. There are several people questioned by the CBI in this case but all have been released. I am the only person who is jailed for so long. I have cooperated with them (CBI) every time they wanted to question me."

The Trinamool Congress leader was arrested by the CBI in December 2014.

He lost his seat to Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate Manas Mukherjee by over 4,000 votes in the West Bengal Assembly polls.

Mitra was purportedly seen accepting money for consideration in the Narada sting operation.

Asked if Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's decision to initiate a probe into the Narada sting operation was right or not, Mr Mitra said, "I am nobody to judge nor I have the audacity to say whether the chief minister is right or wrong. She has always taken right decisions."

"And everybody wanted an investigation in Narada case and now that she has ordered it. Let's wait for the truth to come out," he said.
Hyderabad: The day he returned from his official trip to the United States, minister K.T. Rama Rao on Monday took up an unscheduled road inspection in the city.

Mr Rao, who arrived at around 3 am on Monday, was driving through Hitec City and Kukatpally to attend a personal event later in the day when he was troubled by the bad roads and went in for an immediate inspection.

He started his inspection at Sri Nagar Colony where Transco had dug up roads for underground cabling over six months back and left them unattended. The minister rang up the contractor and asked him to complete the works within 15 days. He also walked to the Yousufguda check-post inspecting Hyderabad Metro works.

Potholes, encroached footpaths and dug-up roads were identified and Mr Rao asked GHMC authorities to note down the exact number of potholes that were to be repaired.

He later had lunch at a Rs 5-a-meal centre at Shapur where he was served dal, sambar, rice, chutney, potato curry and curd. He paid Rs 500 for the meals of 100 people at the centre.
Supporters of Vijayanagar MLA M. Krishnappa, who were protesting against the denial of Cabinet berth to their leader, being taken away by policemen in Bengaluru on Monday  DC

Kalaburagi: Despite the uproar the Cabinet reshuffle has created with supporters of dropped ministers taking to the streets to express their anger, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seems to have pulled off quite a feat, going by party insiders.

They believe that not only has he managed to refurbish the sagging image of his thee -year- old Cabinet, but has also strengthened his position as Chief Minister, may be for the remaining term of the state Assembly, deftly checkmating senior Congress leader, Mallikarjun Kharge, who is believed to have been eyeing the post.

The high command has made it clear by giving its consent for the reshuffle that Mr Siddaramaiah will continue to remain in the saddle and has left Mr Kharge with no option but to focus his attention on matters in Delhi, say these senior party leaders.

Till this Cabinet reshuffle, Mr Kharges chances of becoming Chief Minister seemed bright owing to accusations that Mr Siddaramaiah had failed to provide an efficient administration in the state. But now the boundaries have been clearly drawn, indicating each man's role. Mr Siddaramaiah, who till yesterday invited derisive remarks both from his partymen and the Opposition suggesting he lacked the necessary political acumen to run the state, has now definitely gained an upper hand in the party as well as government, said one local leader.

The induction of Mt Kharges son, Priyank, a first-term MLA, into the Cabinet, is being hailed as a master stroke by the Chief Minister as it has not only bought the silence of Mr Kharge, but has also cleverly deflected the anger of senior leaders from the region like dropped ministers, Qamarul Islam and Baburao Chavan, and disappointed hopefuls, Dr A.B. Malakraddi and Malikayya Guttedar, towards Mr Kharge.

Although Mr Kharge has issued a statement saying he had advised the Chief Minister against dropping the two ministers, the damage has already been done, noted a close observer of the recent shake-up in the party.

Miffed Qamarul takes on Kharge, says Congress will pay

Minister for Municipal Administration and Minority Welfare Qamarul Islam launched a tirade against senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday for divesting him of his ministerial berth while his supporters have given a call for Kalaburagi bandh on June 26 to protest against the decision.

The supporters of Mr Islam, who attacked the office of the DCC here on Sunday, held a meeting to express solidarity for their leader. At a well-attended meeting, Mayor Syed Ahmed, Kalaburagi Development Authority Chairman Ashghar Ali Chulbul and 20 corporators tendered their resignation from their posts as well primary membership of the party. They handed over their letters to Mr Islam in this regard.

Mr Islam said he would meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday at New Delhi to know the reasons for his removal. Targeting Mr Kharge, he said, Earlier Mr Kharge had great love and regard for the party. But now his love for his son has overtaken everything, the party will have to pay a heavy price for this in coming elections.

Even though he held five leaders - Digvijay Singh, Siddaramaiah, Dr G Parameshwar, Oscar Fernandes and Mallikarjun Kharge- responsible for hatching a conspiracy to divest him of the ministerial berth, his anger was directed against Mr Kharge.

How I can believe media reports which say Kharge tried hard to convince the high command to retain me in the Cabinet, when his son who is a first time legislator has been accommodated in the ministry. After all that I have done for Mr Kharge, is this the reward I get?, he wondered. He contended that his removal was an act of great injustice to Muslim community.
Mysuru: Upset at being dropped from the state Cabinet, former minister V Srinivasprasad on Monday lashed out at Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, claiming he was jealous of his performance in handling the drought and organising the Mysuru Dasara, and even calling him mentally sick at one point.

Lambasting Mr Siddaramaiah for forgetting he owed him for his backing in the Chamundeshwari byelection and taking on senior leader, Mallikarjun Kharge for failing to remind him, the veteran leader, however refused to divulge what his future plans were. While he did not comment when asked about the likelihood of the BJP making him Governor, he did reveal that Janata Dal (Secular) supremo, H D Devegowda had called him to sympathise.

I will come out with my future decision in a couple of days. Ambareesh has resigned thinking if the CM is ineffective, why should we remain in the party. Others too may think on similar lines, he warned, adding it was a big mystery why he had been removed from the Cabinet.

If my ill health was the reason, Siddaramaiah should have told me. Being human it is inevitable to fall sick. Minister Mahadeveppa could not stand for half- an- hour during his sons wedding, and has a stent in his heart. While I have never been accused of corruption, Mahadevappas son is facing corruption charges and he too has been accused of illegal quarrying. Does Siddaramaiah not know this? he demanded, adding that he had even clarified that he was no threat to his position as he was not in the race to be a Dalit Chief Minister.

Being so close to me, he should have told me once what he intended to do, but did not. This is what has hurt me, he said, warning that the Congress party would feel the impact of his removal the next elections.

Mr Srinivasprasad did not spare the KPCC president either, saying he was frustrated at not becoming either deputy Chief Minister or Chief Minister.
The stirring response worldwide to the first International Yoga Day in 2015 has gathered further momentum in a year. The second annual event is likely only to reaffirm the popularity of a set of ancient physical exercises. The government is throwing its weight behind the mass movement, with 57 of its ministers to be in attendance at various events Tuesday to celebrate Yoga Day. The Prime Ministers delight at the movement reviving in the modern age is understandable.

His averring that yoga is much more than a physical exercise has its votaries and its critics. The movement has 30 million practitioners in the US where the PM joked that India had not yet applied for intellectual property rights. Yoga goes far beyond the asanas (exercises poses). In its holistic form, particularly when combined with meditation, yogas benefits extend beyond a flexible body and weight control. As with any ancient regimen, like those taught in many Chinese practices combing physical and breathing exercises, there are clear advantages to be derived towards tackling the stress and strain on the body and spirit that modern life imposes.

Its value as an equilibrium finder is inestimable in these times when stress is the professionals worst enemy. It is the universal form of yoga, promising a sense of body and mind balance, that draws people. There can be no complaint if the government promotion of yoga leads to healthier people, but lets keep religion out of this temporal matter even if India is very spiritual.
Holding an office of profit under any government is not a sin for a member of a legislature; its not even a minor offence. Its just one of the grounds of disqualification specified in the Constitution for being so chosen and for being a member of any House. The phrase office of profit is not defined by any statute, but over six decades and more of the working of our Constitution, the Supreme Court had occasion to interpret it several times. The meaning that emerges from these decided cases is that it is an official position under any government with profit to the holder. The obvious meaning of profit is pecuniary gain, but thats not all. That term has tremendous potential  and the final definition is yet to be given.

The philosophy behind the constitutional prohibition against holding an office of profit is that a legislators freedom to take objective and impartial decisions may be compromised if he/she can be lured by offer of offices. The expression profit must be understood in this context. Complaints against any legislator holding an office of profit is to be lodged with the governor in case of states and the President in case of Parliament or the Assembly of a Union territory like Delhi; the matter shall be referred to the Election Commission, whose decision shall be binding on the governor or President, and the appropriate orders will follow.

If no one complains against a particular case, it will pass unnoticed. So Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwals defence that many others had parliamentary secretaries is senseless. In such cases, no one might have complained to the governor or President. Further, the constitutional provision permits the appropriate legislature to pass laws giving a holder immunity from disqualification. Parliament passed such a law in 1959, and the states didnt lag behind. At present, the exempted category comprises almost all categories of offices of profit except government jobs. The instances quoted by Mr Kejriwal could be in that class. In any case, one wrong cannot justify another. And many appointments in states are being challenged before the courts  in some cases these challenges were successful.

Delhis rookie government made the appointments first, and tried to save its legislators with a law made applicable retrospectively. Emoluments and perks would surely have followed; and every one lived happily thereafter for the remainder of the term. Unfortunately, the required assent by the President for the bill was not forthcoming. Why appoint Delhi MLAs as parliamentary secretaries? (Or as interns  as someone pointed out?) Why not as ministers, whose offices are surprisingly not of profit, under the constitutional provision itself. The reason is that the size of the Delhi council of ministers can only be 10 per cent of the strength of the House (70) as prescribed by Article 239AA(4)  that means seven, including the CM, while the council of ministers in states (where the size of the legislature is also much larger) is set at 15 per cent. Mr Kejriwal had too many MLAs in his party eager to serve in public offices.

They were named parliamentary secretaries, for want of a better term, to convey adequate importance of the honourable MLAs, but without any salary or perks. Keeping the restless and impatient MLAs together was the need of the hour. The EC will soon decide if the no salary, no perks fig leaf is large enough. The much-hyped claim that the EC had determined that there is no office called parliamentary secretary in the rulebook is of little relevance. The commission can only decide if the position in question is an office of profit. Way back in 1989, the late Ramakrishna Hegde, a Rajya Sabha member, was appointed deputy chairman of the Planning Commission.

T.N. Seshan, then Cabinet Secretary, reportedly took special care in vetting Mr Hegdes letter of appointment by listing every conceivable pecuniary benefit that he was not entitled to  in order to ensure that the wrath of office of profit was not attracted. The omnipresent Subramanian Swamy, a pronounced bete noire of

Mr Hegde, petitioned the President to disqualify Mr Hegde on the grounds that he held an office of profit. The President referred the matter to the EC as required by law. By then Mr Seshan, who vetted Mr Hegdes letter of appointment, was chief election commissioner, and he promptly recommended Mr Hegdes disqualification. Its a different matter that the Karnataka high court stayed that order and eventually set it aside. So the AAPs team of 21 MLAs have a long way to go. In any case, with such illustrious names like Ramakrishna Hegde, Shibu Soren, Jaya Bachchan and Sonia Gandhi among office of profit victims in the past, Mr Kejriwals men can breathe easy for now  they are in good company. And they have not committed any crime!

But why has there been so much criticism in the media over something that was at the worst an incorrect step  a sort of cart before the horse situation? The provocation really was Mr Kejriwals claim that his AAP would do politics with a difference. He rode to power on the shoulders of a good man, Anna Hazare; enlisted the support of many credible names like Shanti Bhushan and won the votes of an entire metropolis despite a disastrous first innings. The high pedestal from which he used to preach soon started crumbling, with his chief lieutenants and others in the party getting exposed with discomforting regularity.

Day in and day out he held out alibis over his failures and showed ignorance about the legal status of a territory of which he is CM. The number of those feeling let down seems to be swelling, and some of the outrage may be a consequence of this. The AAP has clearly demonstrated that it is just another political party, and Mr Kejriwal just another leader hungry for power, willing to make all the compromises needed to remain in office.
The good news is that yoga has acquired a prestigious position as one of the international days observed by the United Nations, with International Yoga Day being celebrated annually on June 21. And the bad news is that what is promoted as yoga is not even an iota of what actual yoga really is. Yoga enjoys international popularity as it is the most secular and scientific of the self-development methods. As scientific as the proverbial apple falling from the tree. Just as the law of gravity cannot be owned by any religion or nationality, yoga cannot be confined within borders of any kind.

But what is preached in the name of yoga  a system of various acrobatics and breathing techniques  may be good for physical fitness, but it misrepresents the work of Patanjali  the greatest exponent of yoga. Patanjali defines yoga as Cessation of the mind. The real yoga is a blueprint for the possible growth and splendor of human consciousness, an exotic journey which has a beginning but no end.

Nobody knows how and when yoga slid from its exalted heights. The science of yoga aims at developing higher states of consciousness, which is the supreme potential of all human beings. But it was forgotten and was shrouded by Hatha yoga. In modern times only Osho has gone into Patanjalis Yoga Sutras, and revived the forgotten grandeur of yoga calling it the science of the soul.

And what he says about popular asanas is worth pondering: All the yoga postures are not really concerned with the body; they are concerned with the capacity to be. Patanjali says if you can sit silently without moving your body for a few hours, you are growing in the capacity to be. And the more the body follows you; you will have a greater being within you, a stronger being within you. And, remember, if the body is not moving your mind cannot move, because mind and body are not two things. If the body is non-moving, the mind is non-moving, you are centered. This non-moving posture is not a physiological training only. It is just to create a situation in which centering can happen. When you are, when you have become centered, when you know what it means to be, then you can learn.

Learn what? Learn to drop the mind; learn to grow vertically in consciousness. There are skies behind the skies to be explore, and this is our destiny and destination. It is high time we free yoga from the clutches of the little men and restore its glory. Remember, the root meaning of the word yoga is union  union with oneself, uniting all the fragments of our being i.e., body, emotions, intellect, heart, and soul. There is a long way to go and we have to actualise our potential. Why waste time playing with stones when we have already found the real diamond?
Tunisia was the pioneer in the Arab Spring which was a moment of hope for the regions people, leading to the overthrow of Egypts long-time ruler Hosni Mubarak, followed by the one-year rule of the Muslim Brotherhood government of Mohamed Morsi. That moment of hope passed quickly, with the Brotherhood dethroned by the military with popular backing and Egypt and the rest of the Arab world reverted to the familiar dictatorial pattern. That Mr Morsi committed many mistakes was understandable. It was the first time the Brotherhood was miraculously granted an opportunity to rule a major nation such as Egypt and it had no precedent to fall back upon. To compound the problem, Mr Morsi was the reserve candidate thrust into power. The people who brought down the Mubarak regime had sky-high expectations that couldnt be fulfilled, with the Army impatiently waiting in the wings to return to power.

After the counter-revolutions in Arab space, Tunisia was still the only ray of hope and survived political turmoil and assassinations, thanks to the wisdom of the main Islamic Ennahda party and its leader Rachid Ghannouchi to accommodate other political elements in the power structure. But the impulse for compromise and accommodation was shared by wider segments of civil society. When tensions in Tunisia mounted, four organisations formed the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet in 2013 to try and bring stability to the country.

The Quartet was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2015 for its unique role in stabilising the situation. Tunisians have not rested on their laurels recently, pulling off the most spectacular change of all to show the world that modernity and Islam can be made compatible. At a special session in May, it changed the basis of its Islamic-oriented party to equate it, in the words of the party leader and his activist colleague Said Farjani, with Muslim Democrats, equating it with Western parties such as Christian Democrats. Yet this momentous development, apart from an analytical piece in the International New York Times, has gone largely unnoticed.

While Mr Ghannouchi adopts a more cautious attitude, Mr Farzani is quoted as saying that while Islamism was a useful tool to fight the dictatorship of Ben Ali, Ennahda was now a free actor under the new democratic Constitution it helped write and Islamism had become a burden in the new circumstances. The fall of Mr Morsis Brotherhood government in Cairo was noted in Tunis as in the rest of the Arab world and made Ennahda more willing to compromise with other parties. At its party congress last month, most delegates approved the spectacular change in its platform by dropping dawa, proselytising Islamic values. In other words, it is now a normal political party and has cut its Islamic

Brotherhood roots it has been growing out of. Not all Ennahda members are reconciled to these changes, which have caused some acerbic merriment in Tunisian political circles. But the fact that the party could make such historic changes in an Islamic world troubled by extremism, rather than moderation, is a new benchmark in Islamic theology. Whats more, Mr Ferjani told Arab scholar Hussein Ibish (who works for a Washington think tank) that he believes in the principles of freedom and gender equality and regards sexuality, sexual orientation as private and personal matters, not for the state or legal authorities to prescribe.

The fact that an Arab Sunni leader can articulate such views is remarkable in itself. During my visit to Tunisia many years ago, when Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat held court there, I found sections of society, particularly women, living and enjoying a liberated lifestyle. But that was before the advent of Islamic State and its ability to rule over parts of Iraq and Syria and enforce its puritanical rules on men and women.

For Tunisians, its likely to be a long journey to persuade the larger Muslim world to modernise its ideology. Even in countries like Pakistan, India and Indonesia, the once divergent moderate and folk strands of Islam in the Sufi and other encompassing traditions, have been largely extinguished by the Wahhabi version, with Saudi money and men sent to regions with large Muslim populations. Now that the world is more aware of the dangers represented by the spread of extreme forms of Islam, its surprising that the Tunisian lead hasnt provoked greater discussion and comment. True, the Muslim Brotherhood credo, initiated nearly 90 years ago, formed the basis of Muslim participation and interactions in politics. But the Tunisian initiative deserves notice in exploring a way to live harmoniously in a changing world.

Its a tragedy for the Arab and larger Muslim world that they have been enmeshed in wars, two led by outside powers in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Shia-Sunni schism has given a new cruel twist to the fighting, particularly in the civil war in Syria, accentuating the bitterness. Iraq is, in fact, divided into three parts and in Syria, the Alawites belonging to a Shia sect are pitted against the majority Sunnis in the opposition, divided in turn into pro-West and pro-Communist factions and of course the extremist Islamic State. Turkey, a major regional actor, is in turn locked in a conflict with its large Kurdish population.

It is ironic that such movements as the Kurds, spread across many countries, are rare practitioners of a form of democracy in the region. But they are divided by national borders, with Iraqi Kurds enjoying the greatest measure of autonomy, thanks to a weak government in Baghdad. Although Tunisians have made a small beginning, intellectuals of the Muslim world, tormented as it is, need to return to basics in configuring a way out of their dilemmas. Egypt, as the major Arab country and renowned seat of Muslim learning, is too preoccupied with its own political problems to give the lead in modernising Islam.
A similar experiment with a single re-ignition of the PSLV on December 16 last year proved to be a grand success.

The Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO begins its 48-hour countdown for the launch of a record 20 satellites from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikotta at 9.26 am today.

The Mission Readiness Review Committee and the Launch Authorization Board of the national space agency met last night and gave their approval for the countdown.

The payloads will be taken aboard the proven workhorse PSLV C34 that will be ignited at 9.26 am on Wednesday and put them on a 505 km sun synchronous orbit one after the other.

The satellites include Cartosat-2 Series remote sensing payload of India for earth observation purposes, two Indian students satellites and 17 other micro and nano satellites of foreign customers from the US, Canada, Germany and Indonesia.

This is the highest number of satellites to be carried by an Indian launch vehicle and hurled into space.

The second launch pad of the national spaceport at Sriharikotta in Andhra Pradesh, some 90 kilometers off Chennai, is now buzzing with activities, as the countdown is set to start for a historic launch on Wednesday.

The high profile mission has importance not only for the record number of payloads. Once the PSLV C34 puts the satellites into their circular low earth orbits, it will not wind up its operation immediately, as it used to be in the past.

A similar experiment with a single re-ignition of the PSLV on December 16 last year proved to be a grand success.More such experiments will enable ISRO to put many satellites at different heights in a single mission in future.

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employees of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, work to scrub jellyfish polyps from a bulkhead in a lagoon in Brick, N.J. The state is enlisting homeowners in an effort to kill jellyfish when they are young and tiny, before they can explode into millions of adult jellyfish in the state's inland waterways. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

Brick: Environmental officials and waterfront homeowners in New Jersey are conducting a reverse sting operation against jellyfish in inland waterways, going after the gelatinous pests before they have a chance to grow and multiply.

The state's Department of Environmental Protection recently carried out a program to show people living on bay and riverfronts how to launch a pre-emptive strike on sea nettles, a species of stinging jellyfish that have turned some parts of Barnegat Bay and associated rivers into no-go zones for swimming.

Soon after the effort began, a dime-sized species called the clinging jellyfish began appearing in the bay and in the Shrewsbury River about 45 minutes to the north. The invasive species that's native to the Pacific Ocean packs an intensely painful sting, and recently sent a New Jersey swimmer to the hospital where he needed to be treated with morphine for three days.

The idea is to scrub or power wash bulkheads and underneath floating docks where speck-sized jellyfish polyps attach themselves and grow until the time is right in late spring for them to burst forth into millions of new jellyfish that are sting-ready by summer.

And scientists are researching potential natural predators of infant sea nettles. Nudibranchs, a type of marine gastropod mollusk, are being collected from Barnegat Bay and studied to see which species chow down the most on jellyfish polyps.

The effort won't make much of a dent in the numbers of ocean-borne jellyfish that visitors to the Jersey shore may encounter. But it could at least help slow down the advance of sea nettles along the hundreds of miles of lagoons, river and bay fronts that are an integral part of the Jersey shore's tourism economy.

"If you go swimming and you get stung, it's not pleasant," said Paul Bologna, director of marine biology and coastal sciences at Montclair State University, whose research has earned him the nickname "Dr. Jellyfish."

Several species of jellyfish can cause problems like painful stings, and a few can even kill, in rare cases. In 2013, jellyfish briefly shut down a nuclear power plant in Sweden by clogging the intake pipes it uses for water to cool the reactor. A year earlier, a similar mishap idled a California nuclear plant.

People do swim in portions of Barnegat Bay, but jellyfish stings have plagued some areas; the Metedeconk River in Brick has to close its beach to swimming several times a year when jellyfish get too numerous.

Some species in Asian coastal waters that can grow to 400 or 500 pounds have ripped fishermen's nets, and ruined their fish catches by stinging them with toxins.

That led to the development by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology of a jellyfish-shredding robot. It looks like a self-propelled fan that seeks out large swarms of jellyfish and uses rotating blades to shred them into strands of goo.

Jellyfish have some benefits: They are food for sea turtles and some species of fish. But in inland waterways like New Jersey's Barnegat Bay or Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, they can do more harm than good.

Ed O'Malley, of Cranford, New Jersey, sails his boat on Barnegat Bay near where state crews were scrubbing jellyfish off docks one recent day. He welcomes the attack on the infant jellies, recalling how dense the sea nettle population can become in the area.

"You could almost walk across the bay on jellyfish," he said of one particularly bad summer a few years back. "It was wall-to-wall sea nettles. I'm thrilled to see this kind of effort. It should have a big impact."

While sea slugs can eat the sea nettle polyps, the jellyfish are thriving in the low-oxygen waters of lagoons, which don't get flushed all that much by tides.

Residents and researchers agree that sea nettles receded somewhat after Superstorm Sandy pounded the Jersey shore in 2012, lashing jellyfish polyps off bulkheads and docks. The storm also destroyed many bulkheads and floating docks, depriving the jellyfish of habitat on which to grow.

But most of the damage from the storm has been repaired, and the idea is to prevent the population from exploding again.

"If you can get a handle on this population now, you can make a dent in the adult population in the summer," Bologna said, watching as crews used brushes to scrub the underside of a small floating dock for a personal watercraft. "Something like this can hold 50,000 to 100,000 polyps."That was just one of hundreds, if not thousands of such docks along the miles and miles of bulkhead along the shore.

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Algeria temporarily blocked all forms of social media access including Facebook and Twitter to curb online cheating in exams.

Algeria temporarily blocked all forms of social media access including Facebook and Twitter in the country to curb cheats from posting online exam paper leaks, according to a report by Reuters.

Almost half the students were forced to retake the baccalaureat (Secondary school final assessment) exam on Sunday after the initial exam was tarnished by social media paper leaks.

An official source confirmed to a state news agency that the temporary ban on social media was directly related to curb online cheating ahead of Sundays exam.

The source also explained that this measure was taken to protect students from the publication of false papers for these exams.

Other than that, the report also pointed out that access through the internet was also disrupted on Sunday.

Algeria has had a horrid past when it comes to dealing with online cheating and discrepancies related to the baccalaureat exam in recent years.

Earlier this month authorities had also arrested numerous people, including a few officials from national education offices, as part of an investigation related to how parts of the 2016 high school exams were leaded online.

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Google confirmed the use of its Knowledge Graph System to enhance search about Bollywood-related query.

Google has finally realised Indians love for Bollywood.

After finding that one in 10 Google searches on smartphone in India are about Bollywood cinema, the search giant has announced a few updates in its algorithmto favour its Indian users. Instead of showing a list of links, the search engine will now offer direct answers to Bollywood-related searchesactors, movies and etc.

In a press release, Google confirmed the use of its Knowledge Graph System to enhance search about Bollywood-related query. Launched in 2012, the Knowledge Graph System provides actual answers to the searches, instead of listing the links based on the search, and navigating users to other websites.

In the year 2015, eight out of 10 most searched people in India were related to Bollywood with Sunny Loene as the top most searched actor followed by Salman Khan, APJ Abdul Kalam, Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Shah Rukh Khan, Yo Yo Honey Singh, Kajal Aggarwal, Alia Bhatt and Narendra Modi.

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Started in 2013 by an IIT-Delhi alumnus Vishal Sharma, Wand Labs has built messaging technology for apps.(Photo: Wand Labs)

The Tech-giant Microsoft has acquired a California-based app maker, Wand Labs, founded by an Indian, marking that the acquisition will strengthen its position in the emerging era of conversational intelligence.

Started in 2013 by an IIT-Delhi alumnus Vishal Sharma, Wand Labs has built messaging technology for apps. Under their acquisition, Microsoft is looking forward to build on and extend the power of Bing, Microsoft Azure, Office 365 and Windows platform to empower developers everywhere.

In a blogpost, David Ku, corporate vice president of Information Platform Group of Microsoft said, This acquisition accelerates our vision and strategy for Conversation as a Platform, which Satya Nadella introduced at our Build 2016 conference in March.

He added, The Wand team's expertise around semantic ontologies, services mapping, third-party developer integration and conventional interfaces make them a great fit to join the Bing engineering and platform team, especially when the work we are doing in the area of intelligent and chat bots.

The CEO of Wand Labs, Vishal Sharma confirmed the acquisition on its website, and said, Our deep experience with semantics, messaging and authority are a natural fit for the work already underway at Microsoft, especially in the area of intelligent agents and cognitive services.

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It is a quite nice robot and the reactions are positive for the moment, said Zora Bots' co-chief executive, Fabrice Goffin.

A Belgian hospital has just welcomed its newest staff member: Pepper, a humanoid robot that speaks 19 languages.

Developed to improve social and health care by the Belgian company Zora Bots, Pepper joined the medical team as a receptionist at Ostend hospital AZ Damiaan.

Pepper will introduce visitors to the hospital; provide information and guide visitors and patients to the correct floor and room.

With a speed of just 3 km/h (1.8 mph), Pepper is also able to guide slower patients. Fully charged, it can work for up to 20 hours on its own.

The robot itself is a meter 20 high, so it is not like Arnold Schwarzenegger with a leather jacket and an 'I will be back' robot, said Zora Bots' co-chief executive, Fabrice Goffin. It is a quite nice robot and the reactions are positive for the moment.

During the first week, Pepper was mainly used on the hospitals maternity department.

Bieke Vandeputte, the mother of a newborn baby, was amazed.

It is another way of making contact and maybe it is reassuring that it is a robot for some people, she said. The baby was really sure. He did not mind putting his hands on it. It did not frighten him so I think it will be important. Especially for children.

Pepper is not the first robot used at the AZ Damiaan hospital, but it is the first to communicate with patients and to have the ability to guide them.

Before the arrival of Pepper, the staff had already worked with a predecessor, Zora, for about a year. Zora is smaller and slower than Pepper and used mainly in physical therapy classes.

At a price of 30,000 euros, Pepper is expensive. So far, only Japanese customers have bought one to use at home.

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Chinese smartphone manufacturers Xiaomi have no waterproof devices under its arsenal and CEO Lei Jun recently explained why the company refrains from additional water-proofing of devices.

At a recent event in China, Jun said that the companydespite of getting numerous request from customers to add water-proofingwere reluctant as the price of the devices would have gone up by almost 20 to 30 per cent.

Jun pointed out that fact that even water-proofing the phone does not essentially guarantee long-term safety and even a tiniest of cracks can render the water-proofing function useless.

Other than that, he pointed out that the manufacturing costs will also rise by 20 to 30 per cent with integration of water-proofing technology. This is something Xiaomi is definitely looking to avoid as its main markets such as India and China are price sensitive.

However, Jun indicated that if customers are fine with the costs going up, the company might consider making a smartphone along with water-proofing.

Apart from what Jun said, Water-proofing a smartphone is a tricky affair and involves sealing all the internals of a handset or using a gasket. Companies have also started covering the devices with hydrophobic or oleophobic liquid, which does not let the water accumulate on a spot.

While it brilliantly protects your smartphone, you are bound to incur extra charges in case there is a need to change an internal component, which involves a strenuous procedure and burns an even bigger hole in your pocket.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Ukerewe, Tanzania: It's an hour after dawn on Ukerewe island in Lake Victoria and Alphonce Yakobo, face and hands withered by the scorching sun that has tortured his pigment-free skin for all of his 57 years, is vigorously sweeping the leaves outside his house.

"This is the best time of the day: the day has begun but the sun is not yet up," he says. In a few minutes time Yakobo will put on a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses and slather sunscreen over every bit of his exposed skin.

Yakobo suffers from a genetic condition called albinism, meaning his body does not produce melanin leaving his skin, hair and eyes devoid of pigmentation and protection from the sun.

Like all people with albinism, Yakobo has very poor eyesight and is extremely vulnerable to skin cancer.

But the sun overhead is not the only threat to albinos.

Here in Tanzania, as well as in Malawi and some other parts of sub-Saharan Africa, albino body parts are sought after for potions and charms thought to bring luck and wealth, and many fall victim to murderers who dismember their bodies to supply this grisly black market trade.

Canadian charity Under The Same Sun (UTSS) has documented 161 attacks on people with albinism in Tanzania in recent years, including 76 murders, more than anywhere else in Africa.

Yet Ukerewe island is relatively untouched by this phenomenon. "There were times when I was afraid in the past, but now I thank God because we can sleep at night without a gun," says Yakobo, who works as a fishmonger in Ukerewe market.

"Here, we are safe, we are surrounded by water, no one can commit a crime and escape easily," said Yakobo, who has three wives but regrets that not one of his 11 children is albino. "We could talk, and I would feel like I had passed on a part of myself."

Murder-free zone

Over the years, Ukerewe has become known as a haven for people with albinism.

People say that it started long ago when families would abandon their albino relatives on the island, believing their unusual, ghostly appearance was the sign of a curse. They survived and thrived and others, ostracised by society, made their way there too.

"In many respects, Ukerewe is at the forefront of integration of albinos in society. And I think the fact that it's an island plays a big part in the minds of people, but reality is a bit more nuanced," says Harry Freeland, founder of the non-governmental organisation Standing Voice and the maker of a documentary about Ukerewe.

According to the Ukerewe Albino Society (UAS) there are 75 people with albinism living on the island of 200,000, a proportion roughly in keeping with the national average.

As elsewhere in Tanzania, body-snatchers have come to the island to dig albino corpses from their graves and in 2007 one person was attacked and had his white hair cut for use in witchcraft, says Vicky Ntetema, director of the Tanzanian branch of UTSS.

"But we have never had an albino murder," points out Ramadhan Khalifa, president of Ukerewe's albino community.

Abandoned

"Ukerewe is unique in that sense," says Freeland. "It was in Ukerewe that the first census was done. The initiative came from the former president of UAS, and it was in 2006."

"I'm not afraid of being attacked," says Kajanja Neema, 36, dissecting tiny fish for the evening meal, along a busy street from the main town of the island.

His brother Zacharia accompanies his songs with an air guitar. "Yes, Ukerewe is safer than mainland, but it's not perfect," he said, "Sometimes, people say they will kill us, and we never know if they mean it or not."

Even if physical violence is rare, discrimination is not.

Hadija Namtondo is a 30-year old mother with black skin and a four-year-old albino son called Riziki. "When his father saw the colour of the child, he was not happy, and he has abandoned us," she says.
Washington: In a new video released by ISIS terror group, a man purporting to be an American fighter is shown praising the Orlando gay nightclub shooter and calling for more attacks on the US. The video, released by the dreaded terror group on sunday, came exactly one week after Afghan-origin gunman

Omar Mateen slaughtered 49 people inside a gay Florida nightclub, Fox News reported. During Mateen's massacre, which also wounded 53 people, he called a 911 operator to pledge allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS).

The terror group quickly claimed credit for the attack. However, officials have said there was no direct guidance from the jihadist organisation. Rather, it is believed Mateen was only inspired by ISIS to carry out his assault. But in the new video, identified by the non-governmental counter-terrorism organisation SITE, the American fighter urges other Muslims to be inspired by Mateen's actions.

"Omar Mateen, one of the soldiers of the (caliphate) was one of the few that was truthful to his lord," Abu Isma'il Al-Amriki is quoted as saying.

Al-Amriki, which translates to 'The American', speaks in English and appears in a desert setting dressed in military- style fatigues and holding a rifle. The video was released by ISIS' branch in western Iraq, according to SITE. ISIS terrorists of French, Indonesian, Russian and Uzbek backgrounds also appear in the video.

One of the Islamists reference a "surprise" operation during the Euro 2016 tournament in France, NBC reported. The slogan 'You are not held responsible except for yourself' is also featured in the video, with an image of US President Barack Obama on one side, Mateen on the other and images of the Orlando slaughter in-between.

"Do you think you're at war with a small group of Mujahedeen in Iraq, Syria, Libya and other places? You are sadly mistaken. And do you think you can defeat us by bombarding our homes with the help of your drones and F-16s (and government groups)? Then again, you have sadly made a great mistake," Al-Amriki says.

"Oh America, indeed you are at war with all the true and sincere Muslims around the world," he says.
Riot police gather and regroup as they battle all day with protesting teachers who were blocking a federal highway in the state of Oaxaca, near the town of Nochixtlan, Mexico. (Photo: AP)

Oaxaca: At least six people were killed, including a journalist, and more than 100 injured in southern Mexico when unknown gunmen opened fire during clashes between police and teachers, authorities said.

The violence erupted Sunday as police fired tear gas at protesters to end a week-long barricade of a road in Asuncion Nochixtlan, a town in Oaxaca state, where some vehicles were set on fire.

The National Education Workers Coordinator (CNTE) union has been leading protests in Oaxaca for days against an education reform and the arrest of two of its leaders.

The National Security Commission initially denied that officers were armed, charging that news pictures showing them with guns were "false." But federal police chief Enrique Galindo later said that an armed unit was deployed after unidentified people "fired weapons on police and the population."

"The teachers were not even involved in these things," Galindo said at a news conference.

"There are reports of the presence of various violent groups that have headed the blockades of roads and strategic installations for days," the federal and state governments said in a joint statement, urging the CNTE to distance itself from these unidentified groups.

Bullet wounds

The six fatalities were all civilians, said Oaxaca state public security secretary Jorge Alberto Ruiz Martinez.

Paramedics said that three of the dead had bullet wounds. One was a minor and the other two were 23 and 28. The paramedics spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. It was not immediately clear how the other three were killed.

However the mayor of the Oaxaca town of Juchitan de Zaragoz, where similar clashes occurred, reported that a journalist covering the violence plus one other person had been shot dead. Authorities did not specify whether the death toll of six included these two individuals.

Another 55 federal and state officers were injured, including eight by gunshots, Ruiz Martinez said. At least 53 civilians were injured. At least 21 people were arrested.

The CNTE, considered a radical wing of a national union, denounced in a statement the "repressive action of the federal and state governments."

Many of the injured were taken to the Asuncion Nochixtlan's church before being transferred to hospitals. Several are in "critical" condition, the government said.

A municipal police officer, who requested anonymity, said a firebomb was thrown on the town's municipal building. Governor Gabino Cue said the police intervention was needed to restore food and fuel supplies on state roads.

State capital tense

Protesters, some wearing masks, also gathered in the tourist city of Oaxaca, the state capital, where they prepared Molotov cocktails and burned material on the street to form barricades near the central plaza in anticipation of the arrival of police. Shops closed and the streets were deserted.

"The resistance is peaceful but we are preparing barricades for the evacuation and excessive repression by the government of President Enrique Pena Nieto," said a spokesman for the CNTE's Section 22 who declined to give his name for fear of reprisals.

"They didn't want to have dialogue. They said there was no going back" on the education reform, he said.

The CNTE has staunchly opposed Pena Nieto's education reform, which requires teachers to undergo performance evaluations.

The union has also been protesting last weekend's arrest of the leader of its Section 22 in Oaxaca, Ruben Nunez, and his deputy, Francisco Villalobos. Nunez faces money laundering charges, while Villalobos has been accused of stealing textbooks.
An anti-Trump protester chants at an intersection a block away from the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Ariz., where Donald Trump spoke on Saturday, June 18, 2016. (Photo: AP)

Washington: In another controversial remark, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Sunday said that the US should start thinking about racial profiling to prevent incidents like the mass shooting in Orlando.

Citing the example of Israel and other countries in this regard, 70-year-old Trump argued this is not the worst thing to do.

Well I think profiling is something that were going to have to start thinking about as a country, Trump told the CBSs Face the Nation in an interview.

Other countries do it, you look at Israel and you look at others, they do it and they do it successfully. And I hate the concept of profiling but we have to start using common sense and we have to use our heads, he argued.

Trumps comments come one week after 49 people were shot and killed in a gay nightclub in Orlando, the deadliest mass shooting in US history. Following the massacre, Trump renewed his calls for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the US.

During the interview, Trump, said horrific incidents like Orlando shooting could be prevented if the Muslim community would report suspicious things.

When you look at people within the Muslim community and where people are living and they dont report, and a good example of that would be San Bernardino, he said.

I mean, they had bombs all over their apartment floor and people saw it and nobody reported them, and 14 people were killed, many injured, he added.

Trump said Omar Mateen, the Orlando shooter, had red flags before the attack.

You look at his past, I mean? Ive never seen a past quite like that. You look at his record in school, you look at a lot of other things. There were a lot of red flags, this was not a very good young man, he said.

Trump said he is working with the National Rifles Association (NRA) to develop a policy that people on no fly list would not be allowed to buy a gun.

We understand there are problems with that because some people are on the terror watch list that shouldnt be on. So Im working with the NRA, were discussing it and again the NRA has the best interests of our country, it just has the absolute best interests of our country, he said.
More than a million people fled to Europe last year, causing a political crisis in the EU. (Photo: AP)

Geneva: The UN refugee agency says persecution and conflict in places like Syria and Afghanistan raised the total number of refugees and internally displaced people worldwide to a record 65.3 million at the end of last year.

The previous year, 2014, had already seen the highest number of refugees worldwide since World War II, with 60 million displaced people. But last year - when Europe staggered under the arrival of large numbers of migrants - topped that record by nearly 10 percent, the UNHCR said Monday in unveiling its annual Global Trends Report.

The Geneva-based agency urged leaders from Europe and elsewhere to do more to end the wars that are fanning the exodus of people from their homelands.

"I hope that the message carried by those forcibly displaced reaches the leaderships: We need action, political action, to stop conflicts," said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. "The message that they have carried is: 'If you don't solve problems, problems will come to you.'"

With stark detail, UNHCR said that on average, 24 people had been displaced every minute of every day last year - or 34,000 people a day - up from 6 every minute in 2005. Global displacement has roughly doubled since 1997, and risen by 50 percent since 2011 alone - when the Syria war began.

More than half of all refugees came from three countries: Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia.

Turkey was the "top host" country for the second year running, taking in 2.5 million people - nearly all from neighboring Syria. Afghan neighbor Pakistan had 1.6 million, while Lebanon, next to Syria, hosted 1.1 million.

Grandi said policymakers and advocacy groups admittedly face daunting challenges helping the largest subset of displaced people: Some 40.8 million internally displaced in countries in conflict. Another 21.3 million were refugees and some 3.2 million more were seeking asylum.

More than a million people fled to Europe last year, causing a political crisis in the EU.

Grandi called on countries to work to fight the xenophobia that has accompanied the rise in refugee populations, and decried both physical barriers - like fences erected by some European countries - as well as legislative ones that limit access to richer, more peaceful EU states.

Such European policies were "spreading a negative example around the world," he said.

"There is no plan B for Europe in the long run," Grandi said. "Europe will continue to receive people seeking asylum. Their numbers may vary ... but it is inevitable.
London: British Prime Minister David Cameron has invoked increasing trade with India as part of his plea to the public to vote to remain in the EU in Thursday's crucial referendum, saying the UK could do more with the country but cutting off from the main market would be "economic madness".

Cameron was taking questions from the audience last night as part of a special BBC 'Question Time' show when he said, "The rise of countries like India and China...[means we have] big economies that we need to trade with more. But European trade and European economies have grown a great amount since we joined in 1972".

He said Britain could "do more with India" but not at the expense of cutting itself off from the EU.

Responding to a question on why the share of EU world trade had dropped from 20 to 15 per cent, he said, "It has dropped as a share of the total but as an entity it has increased".

Cameron also said that about 80 per cent of Britain's economy is services, things like insurance and banking and architecture and sales and advertising etc.

"We sell more in services today to Luxembourg than we do to the whole of India. Of course, we need to do better with India; we need a trade deal with India. But the idea that we should cut ourselves off from our main market, I think is economic madness. We need to work to succeed in our main market and then open up the other markets," he said.

About 45 per cent of the UK's exports go to EU with its exports to the bloc accounting for 227 billion pounds and imports accounting for 288 billion pounds in 2014.

The debate for Britain's future with the 28-member economic bloc enters its final stages this week with just three days to go before the crucial referendum.

With opinion polls reflecting a very close contest between the side in favour to remain and those in favour of an exit, so-called Brexit, some of the UK's senior-most entrepreneurs and professionals today came out strongly for remain.

Ken Gregor, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Tata Motors owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), said: "Remaining in the EU our largest market will increase Jaguar Land Rover's chances to grow, create jobs and attract investment in future technologies."

"Our European supply chain has been fundamental in helping us to meet customer expectations worldwide and achieve sustainable, profitable growth," Gregor said.

He joined Britain's car industry trade body, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' (SMMT), to warn leaving the EU would increase costs and threaten jobs.

"Remaining will allow the UK to retain the influence on which the unique and successful UK automotive sector depends," said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.

Virgin Group boss Richard Branson, one of the country's most respected business tycoons, also warned that a British exit from the EU would be "devastating" for the UK's long- term prosperity.

"Although I've been living in the British Virgin Islands for some time now, I have never stopped caring passionately about the UK and its great people. I am one of the few business people who can remember how difficult it was before the EU was formed," Richard Branson writes in an open letter.

Drinks giant Diageo's chief executive, Ivan Menezes, also wrote to his company's 4,773 UK employees, telling them that it would be "better for the UK, better for Diageo and better for the Scotch whisky industry that we remain in".

Beyond just the business case, Britain's Premier League chief Richard Scudamore told BBC that leaving would be "incongruous" in the context of the league's commitment to "openness".

"There is an openness about the Premier League which I think it would be completely incongruous if we were to take the opposite position," he said.

Big business and financial firms have generally been in favour of staying in the EU, although surveys suggest that small businesses are more evenly split.

On the other side of the argument, John Longworth, chair of Vote Leave camp's business council, rebutted that the UK would be better off outside the EU.

He said: "The single market isn't a nirvana, it's a mirage. The single market's a protectionist area. [Under Brexit] We'd be able to remove the external barriers, reduce the cost of clothing and footwear. Reduce the cost of food products we can't produce in the UK because at the moment the EU puts tariffs up to the rest of the world which we have to pay for."

The campaign fully resumed on Sunday after a two-day suspension following the brutal murder of Labour MP Jo Cox.

Vote Leave campaigners have accused the remain camp of using the pro-EU views of Cox to its favour.

Andrew Murrison, a Conservative MP and former defence minister, said in a tweet that he later deleted: "Remain side spinning Jo Cox murder for partisan advantage in #EUReferendum shameful."

Meanwhile, pro-EU politicians believe the rhetoric from the Brexit campaign has gone too far in whipping up anti-immigrant feeling.

A poster from the far-right UK Independence Party (UKIP) entitled "Breaking Point: The EU has failed us all" and depicting hoards of immigrants lining up to enter the UK has created a storm on both sides.

Pakistani-origin former Foreign Office minister Baroness Warsi, who had been a Brexit supporter, switched sides saying she had been turned off by "hate and xenophobia" reflected in the poster.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described it as "vile and racist", while UK Chancellor George Osborne said it was "disgusting". UKIP chief Nigel Farage has defended the poster as "the truth of what's going on".
The advice, which also recommends creating unisex lavatories, has been issued by the Girls' Schools Association, which represents head teachers at independent schools. (Representational Image)

London: Leading single-sex private schools in the UK have been told not to use the words 'girls', 'young women' and 'young ladies' because they might offend pupils who are questioning their gender identity.

The advice, which also recommends creating unisex lavatories, has been issued by the Girls' Schools Association, which represents head teachers at independent schools.

Teachers have been told that they should instead use gender-neutral words such as pupils or students, The Sunday Times reported.

"In assemblies instead of saying 'Girls, go to lessons', staff should consider saying 'Pupils, go to lessons'," Caroline Jordan, association president and headmistress of Headington School in Oxford, was quoted as saying.

"I feel that every year there are more young people posing questions around their gender identity. I do not want anyone to think that girls' or boys' schools are invested in one way of being a girl or one way of being a boy," she said.

Jay Stewart, chairman of the gender diversity group Gendered Intelligence, which advised the association, said that about 1 per cent of the population were transgender and could start to feel they were the wrong sex from as young as four.

"Young people want to feel they belong and they are not made to feel weirdos or freaks," he said.
Demonstrators take part in a candlelight march in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on November 6, 2015, to demand justice for publishers and bloggers who were victims of attacks. (Photo: AP)

Dhaka: A Bangladeshi lawyer has clarified that contrary to reports, he has not sought Prime Minister Narendra Modis help to take up the issue of safety and security of Hindus in Bangladesh with the government in Dhaka.

The report published in different media quoting me as saying I sought Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis intervention to ensure Bangladeshs minority communities security is not true, Advocate Rana Dashgupta said.

At no stage I made any comment pointing out the name of the Indian Premier and seeking his intervention to overcome the existing situation, Dashgupta, also the General Secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, said in a statement.

We strongly believe it is the responsibility of the State and Government of Bangladesh to ensure the security of Bangladeshs people, Dashgupta said.

Bangladesh has recently witnessed a series of brutal attacks on minority Hindus, secular rights activists and bloggers by suspected Islamists.
Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan said RSS, Shiv Sena and Abhinav Bharat were the biggest hurdle in the way of normalisation of ties. (Photo: AFP)

Islamabad: Pakistan's Interior Minister on Monday alleged that Hindu "extremist groups" like RSS and Shiv Sena are the "biggest hurdle" to normalisation of Indo-Pak ties as he asked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to name the "forces" which she said are against good bilateral relations.

"If the Indian foreign minister is serious and determined for (good) ties with Pakistan, then she should not talk through riddles or try for political point scoring. In fact, she should clarify and point out which forces in her opinion were against good ties between Pakistan and India," Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan said.

Read: Pak has not declined NIA team's visit to probe Pathankot attack: Sushma

Khan was reacting to Swaraj's remarks that there are forces which do not want good relations between the Prime Ministers of the two countries and better ties between the two neighbours.

The Pakistani minister said in his opinion "extremist groups like RSS, Shiv Sena and Abhinav Bharat were the biggest hurdle in the way of normalisation of ties as such groups have influence over the Indian government."

"If Indian government was serious in normalisation of ties, then why it has closed doors for talks," Khan said.

He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in the US Congress, sarcastically saying that "each word used by him showed his friendship policy" for Pakistan.

Khan said Sharif's relations with any world leader were above his personal relations and Indian foreign minister should not try to portray Sharif-Modi relations as personal.

Swaraj on Sunday said Pakistan has not refused to allow an NIA team to visit that country to probe the Pathankot airbase attack case and just sought "more time".

She had said the "warmth and ease" in relationship between Modi and Sharif can help resolve complex issues between the two neighbours.
The Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) had lodged protests with the Sindh government and authorities in Tando Adam Khan area

Karachi: Police in Pakistan's Sindh province have arrested a shopkeeper who sold shoes with sacred Hindu word 'Om' inscribed on them and seized the offensive footwear following protests by the country's minority community.

"The shopkeeper was arrested and the shoes in question have also been confiscated," said Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC) patron-in-chief Ramesh Kumar Vankwani.

Read: Sale of 'OM' inscribed shoes angers Hindu community in Pakistan

Vankwani said police have found that the controversial shoes were purchased from a manufacturer in Lahore and Punjab police were being approached for taking action against them.

It is unethical and highly immoral to insult any religion, either of a minority or majority, he said in a statement.

"The state must play the proactive role for punishing the culprits under the blasphemy laws," Vankwani said while talking to a Hindu delegation vising him over the issue.

The PHC had lodged protests with the Sindh government and authorities in Tando Adam Khan area after it was brought to the notice of the Hindu community that shoes were being sold with the sacred word 'Om' inscribed on them.

The PHC patron-in-chief said the sale of these shoes were an insult to the Hindus in Pakistan as it is blasphemous to use the sacred word 'Om' on shoes.

"It is most unfortunate that some shopkeepers in Tando Adam Khan are selling shoes on the occasion of Eid ul Azha with the Hindu sacred word inscribed on them and the purpose just appears to be to insult the sentiments of the Hindu community," Vankwani has said.

"As 'Om' is the sacred religious symbol of Hinduism which talks about the oneness of God, let's protect this oneness peacefully for the progressive and positive face of Pakistan.

Let's appeal the authorities concerned to take notice of the matter immediately to override any expected mistrust within the locals," the Pakistan Hindu Seva has said in a separate statement.

Local newspapers have reported that similar shoes were also being sold in some other places of the southern Sindh province, where a majority of the Pakistani Hindus reside.
The local Sindhi newspapers have also reported that similar shoes were also being sold in some other places of Sindh. (Photo: Pakistan Hindu Council)

Karachi: Some shopkeepers in Pakistan's Sindh province allegedly sold shoes with sacred Hindu word 'Om' inscribed on it, angering the minority community in the country which described it unfortunate and blasphemous.

The patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC), Ramesh Kumar told PTI they had already lodged protests with the Sindh government and local authorities in Tando Adam Khan after it was brought to the notice of the Hindu community that shoes were being sold with the sacred word 'Om' inscribed on them.

"It is most unfortunate that some shopkeepers in Tando Adam Khan are selling shoes on the occasion of Eid ul Azha with the Hindu sacred word inscribed on them and the purpose just appears to be to insult the sentiments of the Hindu community," Mr Kumar said.

"The pictures of the these shoes have been circulated on the social media by concerned members of the Hindu community and we demand they be removed from the shops immediately," he said.

Mr Kumar added the sale of such shoes was an insult to the Hindus in Pakistan as it is blasphemous to use the sacred word 'Om' on shoes.

"As 'Om' is the sacred religious symbol of Hinduism which talks about the oneness of God, let's protect this oneness peacefully for the progressive and positive face of Pakistan. Let's appeal the authorities concerned to take notice of the matter immediately to override any expected mistrust within the locals," said another statement released by the Pakistan Hindu Seva.

The local Sindhi newspapers have also reported that similar shoes were also being sold in some other places of Sindh.
All the surrendered militants have been shifted to the security forces fort in Tull area, another official said. (Photo: AFP)

Islamabad: Six top Taliban commanders, including former chief of the terror group Hakimullah Mehsud's brother and uncle, along with 30 militants have surrendered to security forces in Pakistan, officials said today.

The rebel leaders laid down arms in Khurram tribal agency on Saturday night after coming back from Afghanistan.

Those surrendered include Ejaz Mehsud and Khair Muhammad Mehsud, brother and uncle of killed Taliban leader Hakimullah. These commanders surrendered with 30 other militants.

"The six commanders are with the security forces and being interrogated," an official said on condition of anonymity. Another official said an initial probe showed that they had fled to Afghanistan after military launched a massive operation in 2014 in North Waziristan which killed over 3,500 militants.

"They were arrested on their return from Afghanistan," he said.

All the surrendered militants have been shifted to the security forces fort in Tull area, another official said.

Pakistan said that militants living in Afghanistan include Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah who succeeded Hakimullah. Hakimullah was killed in a US drone attack in 2013.
One police official at the scene said the yellow bus had been carrying government employees to their offices in the city. (Photo: AP)

Kabul, Jun 20 (AP) At least 14 Nepalese security guards were killed on Monday when a Taliban suicide bomber targeted their minibus in the Afghan capital, a government official said.

Interior Minister spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said that eight others were wounded in the attack, and that police were working to identify the nationalities of the victims.

"The suicide bomber targeted a minibus of security guards of a foreign company, right now we are working to identify the nationalities of the victims," said Sediqqi.

But a police official said that the 14 dead were Nepalese citizens working as security guards for the private company that was attacked.

The official, who did not want to give his name as he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the wounded included four Afghan civilians.

Dozens of police and many ambulances rushed to the scene to take the victims to hospitals of the capital.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack.

Taliban insurgents have increased their attacks on both government employees and Afghan security forces across the country.
All of us have many goals in life  marriage, owning a house and car, education of children, their marriage, and retirement planning, among others. Goals differ from individual to individual depending on factors like age and income level.





We need money for the realisation of these goals. Therefore, saving and investment become important. It is important that we start saving early and invest the savings in asset classes that yield the best return. An important lesson from financial history is that stocks beat all other asset classes in the long run.



Annual average return



The Indian stock market, as measured by the index, has given an annual average return of around 16% during the last 36 years. (The BSE index; Sensex, which was 100 in 1979, is now around 26,000). Most people do not have either the expertise or the time for making direct investment in stocks.



For them, it would be sensible to entrust their funds with experts who invest their money in good securities. This is the essence of mutual fund investment.



Mutual funds are institutions that mobilise the savings of investors and invest them in a portfolio of securities like shares, bonds and money market instruments, among others.

The securities are selected to suit the investment goals of investors. Investment goals of investors differ due to differences in age, income and family commitments.



There are different types of funds to suit the different investment goals of investors.

Based on investment objectives, mutual fund schemes can be broadly classified into five: Growth schemes, Income schemes, Balanced schemes, Liquid schemes and Tax saving schemes.



Growth schemes invest major part of the funds in equity shares. Such schemes mainly seek to give long-term capital appreciation to investors. This would be an ideal investment option for young investors. Income schemes aim at giving regular income to investors. Therefore, bulk of the funds are invested in fixed income securities like bonds and debentures.



Income schemes are ideal for retired people. Balanced schemes balance the growth and income objectives. Therefore, they invest both in shares and fixed income securities.



This scheme is suitable for investors who look for moderate growth and income. Liquid schemes invest in short term instruments like treasury bills, call money and commercial paper. ELSS (equity linked savings scheme) offers tax savings to investors. Investors can invest up to Rs 1.5 lakh in ELSS and claim tax saving under section 80C.



Small investors



Mutual funds are eminently suitable to small investors. Investors can start with small amounts, say Rs 1,000. The ideal form of mutual fund investment is the Systematic Investment Plan  SIP. Under SIP, the investor invest a particular amount of money periodically, say every month.



This enables them to benefit from market volatility. Investors get the advantage of expert fund management. Investment in equity-mutual funds and balanced funds are eligible for attractive tax treatment.



The dividends from these funds are tax-free. Also, the long-term capital gains (profit from the sale of the funds after holding for a minimum period of one year) are tax-free.

These are highly attractive tax benefits. Mutual funds are liquid, since they can be sold and easily converted into cash.



The Indian mutual fund industry has delivered excellent returns to investors, beating fixed income return by a wide margin.



(The author is the Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit BNP Paribas)


BSEB has already cancelled the result of Science topper Saurabh Shrestha and third topper in sciece stream Rahul Kumar after finding them not up to mark in a re-test cum interview.



Arts topper Ruby Rai has skipped the past two summons by the board for a similar re-test. Her result has been put on hold and she has been asked to appear before experts on June 25 next.



Ex-chairman of Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, the alleged mastermind of the toppers scam in the Bihar intermediate examination, and his former JD(U) MLA wife Usha Sinha were today arrested from Varanasi, a senior police officer said here."Lalkeshwar Singh and his wife Usha Sinha have been arrested from Varanasi", Senior Superintendent of Police of Patna, Manu Maharaj told PTI.Their arrest by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was made following a tip off about their presence in the temple city of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, the SSP, who is heading the SIT on toppers' merit muddle, said.He said further details would be provided later on. Lalkeshwar Singh and his wife Usha Sinha, a co-accused in the toppers scandal, had gone underground after police had acquired an arrest warrant from a Patna court in the irregularities in the Bihar +2 examination.The SIT was armed with a court order to attach Lalkeswar Singh's property which would have taken place today.Usha Sinha, a former JD(U) MLA from Hilsa and Principal of Ganga Devi college in Patna from which she was removed, is a co-accused in the case where degrees were allegedly awarded to undeserving students in lieu of a hefty sum of money.Secretary-cum-Principal of Vaishali-based Bishun Rai Intermediate college, Bachha Rai from where Arts and Science toppers Ruby Rai and Saurabh Shrestha hailed from, is already in police net and has provided information about the modus operandi of Lalkeshwar Singh and his wife in running the degree racket, the police said.Bachha Rai was arrested from outside the college last week and subsequent police raids at his college and home in Vaishali have unearthed evidences of the dubious racket.Over 20 kg jewellery was seized by the police from his house recently which was kept hidden beneath a bundle of haystack.Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi has alleged that Bachha Rai, an active RJD supporter, had worked more than Lalu Prasad to ensure the victory of Tejaswi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav from Raghopur and Mahua seats in Vaishali respectively.The merit muddle had surfaced following media expose of dubious Arts and science toppers of this year who could not answer even basic questions related to their subjects.On the orders of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the comnittee set up by BSEB and state education department into the +2 examination irregularities were disbanded and a police case registered for direct action against the people involved in the racket.Usha Sinha was removed as Principal of the Ganga Devi womens college in Patna and JD(U) decided not to renew her membership of the party which is going on presently.Patna Commissioner Anand Kishor has been made Chairman of the Bihar School Examination Board to clean up the board.More than 200 board employees were removed from their post which they were occupying for more than three years.
Unknown gunmen opened fired as police and teachers clashed in southern Mexico during a protest that left six people dead and more than 100 injured, authorities said.



The violence erupted yesterday as police threw tear gas at the protesters to end a week-long barricade that was blocking a road in Asuncion Nochixtlan, a town in Oaxaca state, where some vehicles were set on fire.



The National Education Workers Coordinator (CNTE) union has been leading protests in Oaxaca for days against an education reform and the arrest of two of its leaders.



The National Security Commission initially denied that officers were armed, charging that news pictures showing them with guns were "false."



But federal police chief Enrique Galindo later said that an armed unit was deployed after unidentified people "fired weapons on police and the population."



"The teachers were not even involved in these things," Galindo said at a news conference. "There are reports of the presence of various violent groups that have headed the blockades of roads and strategic installations for days," the federal and state governments said in a joint statement, urging the CNTE to distance itself from these unidentified groups.



The six fatalities were civilians, said Oaxaca state public security secretary Jorge Alberto Ruiz Martinez.



Another 55 federal and state officers were injured, including eight by gunshots, Ruiz Martinez said. At least 53 civilians were injured.



Paramedics said that three of the dead had bullet wounds. One was a minor and the other two were 23 and 28. The paramedics spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.



It was not immediately clear how the other three were killed. At least 21 people were arrested. The CNTE, considered a radical wing of a national union, denounced in a statement the "repressive action of the federal and state governments."



Many of the injured people were taken to the town's church before being transferred to hospitals. Several are in "critical" condition, the government said.



A municipal police officer, who requested anonymity, said a firebomb was thrown on the town's municipal building.



Governor Gabino Cue said the police intervention was needed to restore food and fuel supplies on state roads.



Protesters, some wearing masks, also gathered in the tourist city of Oaxaca, the state capital, where they prepared Molotov cocktails and burned material on the street to form barricades near the central plaza in anticipation of the arrival of police. Shops closed and the streets were deserted.
Tata Motors-owned JLR has admitted that the changing business environment in India, owing to the limited ban on diesel vehicles, has affected its business as it now looks to introduce more petrol variants of its cars.





Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) India, which today launched the 2 litre petrol derivative of Land Rover Discovery Sport at a starting price of Rs 56.50 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), said the ban on select diesel vehicles has affected its business plans but it will adapt to meet the legal requirements.



"The Discovery Sport petrol variant was not planned as early as this to be introduced in India. It was planned for later. So definitely, it does affect our plans," JLR India president Rohit Suri told PTI.



He was replying to a query if the Supreme Court ban on diesel cars and SUVs of engine capacity of over 2,000 cc and above in Delhi-NCR has affected the company's business plans.



Suri, however, insisted that the company had started planning for petrol variants as the Indian market was beginning to drift towards it from diesel as the price difference between the two fuels began to narrow.



When asked if the company would re-look at its investment in India, like Mercedes-Benz deciding to put on hold its investments citing uncertainty over diesel engines, he replied in the negative.



"If we are to remain relevant in any market, we have to adapt to the legislative requirements of the country," Suri said.



When asked if JLR planned to accelerate the launch of petrol variants of its different models, including the popular Range Rover Evoque, he said: "We are adapting our portfolio, not just because of the ban (on big diesel cars and SUVs) but also due to the increasing preference for petrol vehicles. We will do our best to address the demand."



The new variant of the Discovery Sport, he said, will help the company broaden the appeal of the premium SUV for customers who are more inclined towards driving a vehicle with a powerful petrol engine.



The Land Rover SUV range in India includes the flagship Range Rover with a price tag starting at Rs 2.12 crore, Range Rover Sport Rs 1.18 crore, Discovery Sport at Rs 47.6 lakh and new Range Rover Evoque at Rs 48.60 lakh (all prices ex-showroom Delhi).



On the sales expectations of the company this fiscal, Suri said: "In the first quarter, we sold over 1,000 units registering a growth of 45 per cent over the same period last year. This year, we are looking at double digit growth."



Stating that petrol variants will play a key role, he said: "We already had the Jaguar XJ in petrol, then we launched Jaguar XE in petrol too which saw strong response from the market in the first quarter. Now, we have Discovery Sport petrol too."



Suri said the first quarter growth would have been much higher had there been no ban on big diesel cars and SUVs in the Delhi-NCR region.



Asked about the company's plans to expand portfolio of locally assembled models, he said that at present, the company produces five models locally.



JLR India will add three more showrooms this fiscal to take its total to 26 by the end of the year.
Ambareesh sent a one line resignation letter addressed to the Assembly Speaker through his personal assistant, the move coming a day after Siddaramaiah dropped 14 ministers and inducted 13 others in the major revamp.





Deputy Speaker Shivashankara Reddy, who is officiating as the Speaker's post is lying vacant with Kagodu Thimmappa being appointed as the cabinet Minister, has not accepted the letter as the Member himself did not submit it.





"Ambareesh has sent a letter of resignation through some other person; any such letter will be considered valid if the member himself submits it. I have sent it back," Shivashankar Reddy told PTI.





The resignation letter states he is resigning as MLA of Mandya constituency, without assigning any reason.





Ambareesh was the Housing Minister before he was dropped.





He had earlier also served as Member of Parliament and was Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, but had resigned from the Lok Sabha membership, expressing dissatisfaction with the Cauvery Dispute Tribunal award.





Ambareesh's supporters in Mandya continued their protest for the second consecutive day today.





They had blocked the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway yesterday.





Resentment is brewing within Congress after the reshuffle, with several dropped Ministers and those who were aspiring to join the cabinet openly expressing their unhappiness against the party leadership.





The ministers who faced the axe are: Qamarul Islam, Shamanoor Shivashankarappa, V Srinivasa Prasad, M H Ambareesh, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Satish Jarkiholi, Baburao Chinchansoor, Shivaraj Sangappa Tangadagi, S R Patil, Manohar Tahasildhar, K Abayachandra Jain, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Kimmane Ratnakar and P T Parameshwar Naik.





Srinivasa Prasad and Islam are among others who have made no secret of their displeasure over being dropped.





Supporters of Srinivas Prasad had called for a bandh in Chamarajanagar and Nanjangud today.





Similar protests by supporters of various aspirants Congress MLA's and dropped Ministers have been reported from different parts of the state.





As discontent simmered over the reshuffle of his ministry by Chief Minister Sidddaramaiah, cine-actor turned politician Ambareesh today resigned as Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.
The killing of 14 Nepalese security guards in Afghanistan in Taliban terror attack today shocked the country with its top leadership condemning the incident as a "heinous crime against innocent people".





Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli condemned the attack on Nepali people and expressed grief over the loss of lives.



"I am shocked to hear that 14 Nepalis were killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan. I express my heartfelt condolences to their kin," Oli said in a tweet.



Fourteen Nepali security guards working for the Canadian Embassy in Kabul were killed after a suicide bomber attacked their mini bus.



Nine other people were wounded, including five Nepalese and four Afghans.



Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa condemned the incident as a "heinous crime against innocent people".



Main opposition leader at the Parliament and Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba also expressed condolence to the bereaved families and said he was shocked by the incident.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has invoked increasing trade with India as part of his plea to the public to vote to remain in the EU in Thursday's crucial referendum, saying the UK could do more with the country but cutting off from the main market would be "economic madness".





Cameron was taking questions from the audience last night as part of a special BBC 'Question Time' show when he said, "The rise of countries like India and China...[means we have] big economies that we need to trade with more. But European trade and European economies have grown a great amount since we joined in 1972".



He said Britain could "do more with India" but not at the expense of cutting itself off from the EU.



Responding to a question on why the share of EU world trade had dropped from 20 to 15 per cent, he said, "It has dropped as a share of the total but as an entity it has increased".



Cameron also said that about 80 per cent of Britain's economy is services, things like insurance and banking and architecture and sales and advertising etc.



"We sell more in services today to Luxembourg than we do to the whole of India.



Of course, we need to do better with India; we need a trade deal with India. But the idea that we should cut ourselves off from our main market, I think is economic madness. We need to work to succeed in our main market and then open up the other markets," he said.



About 45 per cent of the UK's exports go to EU with its exports to the bloc accounting for 227 billion pounds and imports accounting for 288 billion pounds in 2014.



The debate for Britain's future with the 28-member economic bloc enters its final stages this week with just three days to go before the crucial referendum.



With opinion polls reflecting a very close contest between the side in favour to remain and those in favour of an exit, so-called Brexit, some of the UK's senior-most entrepreneurs and professionals today came out strongly for remain.



Ken Gregor, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Tata Motors owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), said: "Remaining in the EU  our largest market will increase Jaguar Land Rover's chances to grow, create jobs and attract investment in future technologies."



"Our European supply chain has been fundamental in helping us to meet customer expectations worldwide and achieve sustainable, profitable growth," Gregor said.



He joined Britain's car industry trade body, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' (SMMT), to warn leaving the EU would increase costs and threaten jobs."Remaining will allow the UK to retain the influence on which the unique and successful UK automotive sector depends," said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.



Virgin Group boss Richard Branson, one of the country's most respected business tycoons, also warned that a British exit from the EU would be "devastating" for the UK's long- term prosperity.



"Although I've been living in the British Virgin Islands for some time now, I have never stopped caring passionately about the UK and its great people. I am one of the few business people who can remember how difficult it was before the EU was formed," Richard Branson writes in an open letter.



Drinks giant Diageo's chief executive, Ivan Menezes, also wrote to his company's 4,773 UK employees, telling them that it would be "better for the UK, better for Diageo and better for the Scotch whisky industry that we remain in".



Beyond just the business case, Britain's Premier League chief Richard Scudamore told BBC that leaving would be "incongruous" in the context of the league's commitment to "openness".



"There is an openness about the Premier League which I think it would be completely incongruous if we were to take the opposite position," he said.



Big business and financial firms have generally been in favour of staying in the EU, although surveys suggest that small businesses are more evenly split.



On the other side of the argument, John Longworth, chair of Vote Leave camp's business council, rebutted that the UK would be better off outside the EU.



He said: "The single market isn't a nirvana, it's a mirage. The single market's a protectionist area. [Under Brexit] We'd be able to remove the external barriers, reduce the cost of clothing and footwear. Reduce the cost of food products we can't produce in the UK because at the moment the EU puts tariffs up to the rest of the world which we have to pay for."



The campaign fully resumed on Sunday after a two-day suspension following the brutal murder of Labour MP Jo Cox.



Vote Leave campaigners have accused the remain camp of using the pro-EU views of Cox to its favour.



Andrew Murrison, a Conservative MP and former defence minister, said in a tweet that he later deleted: "Remain side spinning Jo Cox murder for partisan advantage in #EUReferendum shameful."



Meanwhile, pro-EU politicians believe the rhetoric from the Brexit campaign has gone too far in whipping up anti-immigrant feeling.



A poster from the far-right UK Independence Party (UKIP) entitled "Breaking Point: The EU has failed us all" and depicting hoards of immigrants lining up to enter the UK has created a storm on both sides.



Pakistani-origin former Foreign Office minister Baroness Warsi, who had been a Brexit supporter, switched sides saying she had been turned off by "hate and xenophobia" reflected in the poster.



Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described it as "vile and racist", while UK Chancellor George Osborne said it was "disgusting".UKIP chief Nigel Farage has defended the poster as "the truth of what's going on".




The FDI reforms announced by the government today were slammed by an RSS affiliate as "betrayal" of people's trust while opposition parties said "sweeping" changes in the policy in Defence posed "big threat" to national security with Congress demanding its withdrawal.





The Congress also went on to say that the Foreign Direct Investment(FDI) reforms were a "panic reaction" with its spokesman Jairam Ramesh asserting it would not have come about had Raghuram Rajan not announced his decision on Saturday to exit RBI as Governor. The government, however, maintained the reforms initiative had nothing to do with Rajan's decision.



CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said the "dangerous part" is FDI in defence, noting there are very few countries where it is allowed in this sensitive sector.



Opposing the major reforms, the Trinamool Congress said that in the name of 'Make in India' the Modi government is "breaking India".



The Swadeshi Jagran Manch, the RSS affiliate which has been criticising some economic policies of the Modi government, said the FDI reforms is not aimed at job creation. "It is aimed at snatching away jobs from Indian people. It will spell a death knell for local businessmen."



"Opening sectors like retail, defence and pharma to FDI and by relaxing norms is 'betrayal' of people of the country. In doing so, this government has not done good to the country in general and local businessmen in particular," SJM's national co-convener Ashwani Mahajan told PTI.



In a strongly worded statement, senior Congress leader and former Defence Minister A K Antony said allowing 100 per cent FDI in defence sector means it is thrown mostly into the hands of Nato-American defence manufacturers.



Antony said "sweeping" changes in the FDI policy posed a "big threat" to national security and Indias independent foreign policy.



"Naturally it will affect Indias independent foreign policy too. It will also threaten the national security. Moreover, it will have an adverse impact on the ongoing indigenous defense research activities in the country," he said.



It is "very important" to note that all such changes happen immediately after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to the US, he added.



"I strongly condemn this move. It is against the interest of the country and its people. I also urge Modi government to withdraw the decisions affecting national interest," Antony said.



In a statement, TMC chief national spokesperson Derek O'Brien said, "Trinamool has consistently opposed this policy and often outlined our reasons for it at different forums including our election manifestos and Parliament."



"This will have a negative effect on employment, the economy and the Indian market as a whole. In the name of 'Make in India', they are breaking India", the statement added.



Yechury said the Modi government is giving an opportunity for foreign investors to make profits from India.



"The country is not going to benefit out of this. The dangerous part is FDI in defence...there are very few countries where FDI is allowed in this sector. It is a matter of country's security. Permission is not given for FDI in defence because of the security aspects," he said.






Pakistan's Interior Minister today alleged that Hindu "extremist groups" like RSS and Shiv Sena are the "biggest hurdle" to normalisation of Indo-Pak ties as he asked External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to name the "forces" which she said are against good bilateral relations.





"If the Indian foreign minister is serious and determined for (good) ties with Pakistan, then she should not talk through riddles or try for political point scoring. In fact, she should clarify and point out which forces in her opinion were against good ties between Pakistan and India," Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan said.



Khan was reacting to Swaraj's remarks that there are forces which do not want good relations between the Prime Ministers of the two countries and better ties between the two neighbours.



The Pakistani minister said in his opinion "extremist groups like RSS, Shiv Sena and Abhinav Bharat were the biggest hurdle in the way of normalisation of ties as such groups have influence over the Indian government."



"If Indian government was serious in normalisation of ties, then why it has closed doors for talks," Khan said.



He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech in the US Congress, sarcastically saying that "each word used by him showed his friendship policy" for Pakistan.



Khan said Sharif's relations with any world leader were above his personal relations and Indian foreign minister should not try to portray Sharif-Modi relations as personal.



Swaraj yesterday said Pakistan has not refused to allow an NIA team to visit that country to probe the Pathankot airbase attack case and just sought "more time".

She had said the "warmth and ease" in relationship between Modi and Sharif can help resolve complex issues between the two neighbours.


Millions of years ago, all the land on this earth was part of a single huge supercontinent. When the supercontinent broke up  again, millions of years ago  different continents went to different parts of the world, finally reaching where they are today. This process of slow drift of continents had several interesting effects, particularly on India.





An idea thats been knocking about for a while is that India (along with Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Australia and Antarctica together called eastern Gondwana) broke off from Africa and South America (western Gondwana). After the continents in eastern Gondwana separated and drifted to different parts, the Indian landmass rifted from Madagascar about 90 million years ago and floated across the Indian Ocean to join the Asian landmass (Eurasia continent).



A critical concept for understanding supercontinent geography is suture zones. The term is borrowed from medicine where sutures are used to join two parts of skin, bone etc, leaving a line of stitches. These stitches seen throughout the earths crust in various locations represent areas of juxtaposition of landmasses. However, unlike the body, the landmasses that come together need not be, and are usually not, of the same age, structure and characteristics.



Thus, suture zones serve as a means of pinpointing the origins of various lands; in fact they are the reason that it was first thought that India stemmed from Africa; specifically sharing history with the island Madagascar. Even though the concept was first put forward in 1979, it is still a matter of debate owing to variations in the experimental findings. One such inconsistency is that they were formed in different eras. This complicates understanding the geographical evolution.



And in Karnataka...

The Mercara suture zone in the western peninsular India joins the Dharwad and Coorg blocks of lands. In a recent paper, more evidence for the India-Madagascar correlation has been put forward by linking the Mercara suture zone in southern India with the Betsimisaraka suture zone in Madagascar. The primary clue for this correlation is given by the structural lineaments extracted from various satellite images and digital elevation models of India and Madagascar. Images were digitally processed and different image enhancement techniques have been carried out to extract the structural information.



The research was carried out by subjecting samples of rocks from the lands joined by the suture zone to various analyses. One such technique is to study mineral composition for the presence of compounds like metal oxides (such as aluminium oxide and iron oxide). These samples were also tested for the presence of elements like calcium and manganese.



The result was that the samples taken from either side of the suture had different elemental compositions. Another concept used in the study was to study the pressure and temperature (P-T) conditions under which the rocks (ergo the suture) were formed.



This is done by studying the mineral reactions in thin sections using special microscopes and analysing the mineral compositions. These results stimulate the P-T conditions needed for rock formation and study the mineral compositions. The timing of suturing can be determined by various radiometric dating methods. This is done by radioactive dating of minerals like zircon, monazite within the suture. The time of suturing is an indication of the amalgamation of the landmasses and it falls in line with the proposed hypothesis of the Dharwad block joining with the Coorg block.



Furthermore, the P-T conditions also indicate that the areas around the sutures were subjected to tectonic movements akin to 2 landmasses coming together and then being sutured together. This final clue helps piece together the puzzle in better understanding our countrys geographical history.



This study involved people from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru; University of Adelaide and Curtin University, Australia; University of Tsukuba and Okayama University of Science, Japan; China University of Geosciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa; and the University of Leicester, UK. The paper, Mesoproterozoic suturing of Archean crustal blocks in western peninsular India: Implications for IndiaMadagascar correlations', appeared in Lithos.




Barely 3 years old, the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) is facing major conservation challenges. A part of the Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary in Tamil Nadu bordering Karnataka, it was declared a protected tiger reserve in 2013. The sanctuary is located at the confluence of the Eastern and Western Ghats and stretches across 1,408.04 sq km, of which 793.4 sq km is core zone and 614.9 sq km is buffer zone, according to the information obtained from the Tamil Nadu Forest Department (TNFD).



The Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary serves as a catchment area for numerous streams that sprout from rivers in the Western Ghats such as the Bhavani and Moyar. It is surrounded by Mudumalai, Bandipur and BRT Tiger Reserves and serves as a link between them for tiger movement. Sathyamangalam is also part of an elephant corridor across both the Eastern and Western Ghats.



The Forest Department and independent estimates put the number of tigers in Sathyamangalam at 55 and elephants at 600, besides a good sprinkling of bears, wild boars and leopards. Actual carnivore numbers could be much higher, given the frequency with which they show up in the camera traps put up by the Forest Department and recurring incidents of cattle kills by big cats.



The boundaries of STR criss-cross that of surrounding villages, some of which have found themselves within the core area after the reserve was divided into core and buffer zones. What was once their traditional grazing land is now off limits with forest officials shooing away villagers from grazing cattle. However, that does not prevent some cattle from straying into the forest or tigers and leopards from scouring the villages in search of an easy meal. Reports of cattle being killed by carnivores are more than two a day, according to Vijay Kumar, a local estate owner and conservationist.



He says that some villagers spray deadly chemicals on the carcasses of cattle to kill the carnivore as revenge and to prevent it from repeat kills. So, Vijay and fellow conservationists, mainly estate owners in the vicinity, pay compensation to farmers from their own voluntary contribution. Once a cattle kill is identified, Vijay deputes a team of volunteers accompanied by forest guards to the spot to confirm the kill and pay compensation amounting to 50% of the price of the cattle head.



The forest department too has a big-cat-kill compensation scheme but few villagers ever apply for it owing to a long bureaucratic process, says Vijay. Every time we pay compensation, we not only save a tiger or a leopard, but we also save hyenas and vultures. Sure enough, an increasing number of vultures are being sighted in the Sathyamangalam jungles including the critically endangered red-necked vulture, of which an estimated 10,000 are surviving worldwide according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).



Roadkills of wild animals

Roadkills of wild animals on National Highway (NH) 209,which passes through the sanctuary for about 28 km, also pose threat to the Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary. The road connects Mysuru to Dindigul and experiences heavy traffic throughout the day. Cases of tigers, leopards and bears knocked down by speeding vehicles are reported ever so frequently.



The stretch of the road from the outskirts of Hasanur village in Tamil Nadu to the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border in Pununjuru is where most of the roadkills of wildlife occur as it is mostly straight, well-asphalted and therefore prone to over-speeding by vehicles, particularly trucks and buses at night. This stretch cuts across the Arakadavu stream, a major water source that draws wildlife from the mostly dry interiors of the forest. Temporary road barriers put up by the forest department has done little to reduce roadkills.



Following the declaration of STR as a protected tiger reserve, mining activity in the many

laterite mines dotting the forest has come to a stop. Forest officials maintain that a halt to mining has become a major contributory factor to conservation. On a visit to the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, I saw roads being built inside the sanctuary to prepare the area for visitors. Several privately-owned resorts have come up near the sanctuary which take visitors up and down NH-209 and several interior roads nearby in the hope of spotting wildlife.



Extended dry spells over the last couple years has led to a fall in the sightings of herbivores such as deer, bison and wild boar which form the prey base for big cats. While forest officials opine that they may have gone deep into the jungle in search of water and that reduced sightings cannot be equated with a fall in numbers, conservationists have a different take on this. This forest does not have a perennial source of water for wildlife to converge on during the hot months. The fact that big cats are picking up easy prey such as domestic cattle means their traditional prey base could be dwindling, says Vijay.
Harambe, the 17-year-old Western lowland gorilla shot dead at the Cincinnati Zoo, USA, recently after a 3-year-old boy fell into his enclosure, may be physically gone, but his tissues harvested for research and his sperm extracted to help diversify the captive breeding gene pool. Yet the 440-pound silverback leaves another metaphorical gorilla in the room, raising questions that extend far beyond the particulars of the case, including whether the zoo or the boys mother were more to be blamed for Harambes death.



For primatologists and conservationists who devote their lives to studying the great apes and to doing what they can to help protect the rapidly vanishing populations of the primates in the wild, a linked set of ethical and practical dilemmas looms almost unbearably large. As research continues to reveal the breadth of our genetic, emotional and cognitive kinship with the worlds 4 great apes  gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos and orangutans  many primatologists admit to feeling frankly uncomfortable at the sight of a captive ape on display, no matter how luxe or natural the zoo exhibit may be.



Natures masterpieces...

When I visit zoos, I have to turn off my feelings and just tell myself that I am at a museum admiring natures masterpieces, said the primatologist Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, professor emerita at the University of California, Davis. Otherwise, I cant really justify keeping great apes in cages. At the same time, researchers acknowledge that apes in todays zoos, at least in the industrialised world, were all born and raised in captivity, and could no more survive being set free into the forests of Africa or Indonesia than could the average tourist on safari.



Yet while primatologists concur that people have a moral obligation to care for the thousands of apes who are now in captivity and may live 60 years or longer, they differ on what that care should look like. Researchers also disagree on whether we should continue breeding apes in captivity, and if so, to what end. Some experts believe that well-designed zoos play an essential educational role, and that exposure to a flesh-and-blood ape can be a transformative experience, especially for children.



I remember going to the Milwaukee Zoo when I was a kid and seeing the gorilla, said Peter Walsh, a biological anthropologist at Cambridge University, who works on gorilla conservation in Africa. I was rapt. Its like a drug. You dont get that emotional bond from an IMAX movie. Others deride most zoos as little more than amusement parks with educational placards that few people bother to read. No matter their feelings about zoos, primatologists despair at the shocking statistics on wild apes.



According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, all species and subspecies of wild apes rank as endangered or critically endangered, and in all cases, the trends point implacably downward. Apes are being lost to poaching, the bushmeat trade, habitat destruction and disease. In Sumatra and Borneo, forests have been pulped to make way for palm oil plantations, with devastating consequences for orangutans. Since the 1990s, 80% of Eastern lowland gorillas in Central Africa have died of Ebola.



According to meta-analyses of intelligence studies, the average ape has the cognitive, quantitative and spatial skills of a 2.5- to 4-year-old human child. Yet Tetsuro Matsuzakawas laboratory in Japan showed that an exceptionally sharp-witted chimpanzee named Ayuma was twice as good as any university student at recalling numbers flashed on a screen.



The great apes also exhibit basic temperamental differences. David Watts, a primatologist at Yale University who has studied chimpanzees and gorillas in the wild, found that while chimpanzees generally didnt like people or show much interest in their affairs, gorillas were deeply curious. I quickly realised that the gorillas not only wanted to touch me, but to climb all over me, he said. In one famous incident, a female gorilla stuck her hand down the shirt of a female primatologist and started feeling around.



That innate curiosity, researchers suggest, may explain some of Harambes behaviour seen on the video of his fatal encounter with the boy who fell into his enclosure  fiddling with the boys clothing, taking a quick peek as he pulled the boys pants upward.



He tried pulling the boy into a grotto, perhaps to protect him or to claim the fascinating new playmate for himself. But with the mounting commotion and screams from the onlookers above, researchers said, Harambe grew agitated and soon assumed the stance of a male silverback in dominance display mode.



Its what we used to call strutting, and male gorillas do it all the time, David said. A silverback will stand or walk around with arms and legs stiffly extended, his hair piloerect, to make himself look bigger and more impressive. Harambe was definitely doing that when he was standing over the boy.



Changing views

The look and logic of zoos have changed drastically over time. When the first apes were exhibited in the West, in the late 18th century, they were seen as trophies, evidence of imperial victory over savagery. The unfortunate souvenirs usually died within months of their arrival from disease or malnutrition. As zoos sought to improve the health of their resident apes, the enclosures often assumed a blandly sterile configuration, devoid of risky foliage or toys. That approach led to problems of its own, like boredom, repetitive behaviours and depression.



More recently, most zoos have worked hard to give apes the mental and emotional stimulation they need, with tires for swinging, rocks for climbing, social groups for mutual grooming or bouts of contagious laughing or yawning. Frans de Waal of Yerkes National Primate Research Center at the Emory University said he was a big fan of quality zoos, although perhaps not for large, gregarious animals like killer whales and elephants. But for great apes, the record now is excellent, he said.



But what the public must accept, he said, is that the pleasant notion of zoos as nurseries for restocking wild populations of endangered animals has proved a fantasy in all but a handful of cases, most notably the successful reintroduction of zoo-bred golden lion tamarins into the rain forests of South America. By contrast, when the British aristocrat Damian Aspinall released 11 of his captive-bred lowland gorillas into the wilds of Gabon last year, 5 were soon violently dispatched, probably by a resident gorilla, while the rest disappeared.




The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is famously obsessed with the cow, which is venerated in Hindu cosmology. Most Indian states have now banned cow slaughter. The Punjab government wants to tax alcohol to pay for shelters for stray cattle.



Last year, after a Muslim man in Uttar Pradesh was lynched by a mob for eating beef, a cabinet minister from the BJP demanded to know who else was involved in the crime  meaning the beef eating, not the mans killing.



It should probably come as no surprise, then, that the BJP is also touting the medicinal virtues of consuming cow urine. The therapy is mentioned in the Ayurveda.



In the early 2000s, when the BJP led the governing coalition of the day, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), a state-funded network of research laboratories, started promoting cow-urine technology as a treatment for diabetes, infections, cancer and even DNA damage.



Today, the government holds more than a dozen patents related to cow urine and has filed applications for them in nearly 150 countries. Many nations, including the United States, France and South Korea, have recognised these, but not India, which has much stricter standards for patents. For now.



The BJP government released Indias first National Intellectual Property Rights Policy last month, and it is dangerously misguided. Although the paper reaffirms the basic tenets of Indias admirably farsighted patent laws, it also calls for protecting traditional remedies like cow urine. Taken to its logical conclusion, this policy could open the door to many more exceptions, playing into the hands of patent-happy international pharmaceutical companies.



Big Pharma justifies aggressive patenting by claiming that profit-making drives invention by giving labs and companies an incentive to invest in research. Indian law takes the opposite view: Higher standards for legal protection leave more room for innovation. Unlike many other countries, India does not allow patents for natural substances, traditional remedies, frivolous inventions or marginal innovations.



This is a good thing  a great thing, in fact. Having fewer patents means more competition for more generic drugs, which means more affordable medicine for more people. Imatinib, a drug used to treat a form of leukemia, is available in India at about one-tenth the price it costs in much of the world.



In 2000, when the only anti-retroviral drugs for HIV/AIDS available were produced by Western companies, the annual cost of treatment was about $10,000. The price has dropped to about $350, at least in the developing world, thanks to generic equivalents that were developed in India.



Naturally, all this drives Big Pharma mad. Its business model relies largely on patenting small tweaks to existing technologies, which multiplies financial returns with only minimal investment in research.



This, being precisely what Indian law prohibits, has made India a fixture of the Priority Watch List of the US Trade Representatives Special 301 Report, a kind of most-wanted roster of the worlds intellectual-property deviants.



Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the United States two weeks ago, 17 US industry associations, including the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, wrote to President Obama to complain about Indias business environment, in particular its patent laws.



Back in 1970, India withdrew drug patents in order to support its generic-drugs industry. They were reintroduced, with caveats, in 2005 when the countrys entire intellectual property regime was updated to comply with World Trade Organisation rules.



Acting on the advice of public-health activists, a group of Communist parties that formed an indispensable minority of the governing coalition forced the Congress to go along with innovation-friendly restrictions that remain today.



Last month, when the BJP announced its new intellectual property policy, it in effect repeated Indias longstanding response to its critics: Tough luck; our patent laws comply with WTO standards, and thats that.



Or, as Modi himself put it when he addressed the US Congress last week: Indias ancient heritage of yoga has over 30 million practitioners in the US It is estimated that more Americans bend for yoga than to throw a curve ball. And no, Speaker, we have not yet claimed intellectual property rights on yoga.



Traditional knowledge

But theres yoga and then theres cow urine. Even as the Modi governments new policy paper reiterates the need to limit patents in the name of public health, it repeatedly argues for plucking traditional knowledge out of a multimillennial cultural commons and patenting it.



With this move, the BJP is picking up unfinished business from its previous excursion in power, when it led the NDA government between 1998 and 2004. That was the time when the CSIR and the Centre for Research in Cow Science, an outgrowth of Hindu nationalist groups, first tried to patent cow-urine technology in India.



According to the Hindustan Times, over the last decade the CSIR has spent around $50 million on patent applications, including for using cow urine in health tonics, energy drinks and chocolate. The health ministrys special department for traditional knowledge, AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy), was elevated to a full ministry after the BJP won in 2014.



Patenting cow urine is a natural extension of the Hindu rights obsession with the cow. It makes ideological sense for a nationalist party that rides on a wounded Hindu psyche to claim that Indian science was well ahead of Western science. But this is bad history. A large part of what India claims as its indigenous heritage isnt exclusively ours: Unani medicine comes from Persia; the origins of homeopathy are German.



The BJPs nativist, Hindu-pride approach to patents is also bad economics. It unwittingly serves the interests of Big Pharma, and in time this will undercut Indias own pharmaceutical industry, which generates some $15 billion in annual revenues even while producing affordable drugs that benefit the public.



Indias patent laws, currently under consideration as a model in South Africa and Brazil, are a world-class innovation; our cow-urine technology, which has yet to garner much interest abroad, is not. To patent cow urine isnt just silly. It also endangers a remarkably innovative patent system that has served Indias people and many others around the world so well.


The FDI relaxation regime announced by the Modi government received positively from different sections of the industry.





Commenting on the announcements by the government on Monday, A Didar Singh, Secretary General, FICCI said, Simplification in the policy framework governing investments in a whole host of sectors including strategic sectors like defence and aviation is a huge positive for the economy. The Modi administration through these moves has once again highlighted that reforms is a continuous process in order to capitalise the potential India offers.



After the first wave of big ticket FDI policy reforms announced on the eve of Diwali last year, the government has now announced the second wave of reforms again encompassing a broad range of sectors. These reforms (formal notification of which is awaited through the issuance of requisite press notes by the DIPP) will undoubtedly promote inflow of FDI into the country in manufacturing, services as well as trading, Adhika Jain, Director, Grant Thornton Advisory said.



Devraj Singh, Executive Director  Tax & Regulatory Services, EY sharing his thoughts on FDI in aviation space said, The increase in sectoral cap in the civil aviation will boost the airline connectivity to other regional upcoming hubs and will definitely promote the foreign airlines to set up their own shop without any joint venture partner in India.



On single brand retail trading, Devraj Singh, pointed out that this policy change as to exemption of sourcing norms will definitely give confidence to the bigger players to set up shops into India as compliance of the sourcing condition at initial phase was difficult to comply.



Cross border mergers

FDI Policy change will definitely reduce the time line for the cross border mergers and acquisitions in pharmaceuticals sector which will lead to more funds coming into India in this sector, Singh observed.



Sarabjit Kour Nangra, VP Research- Pharma, Angel Broking, on new FDI norms for pharmaceuticals said, The new norms will enable enhanced investments (in the form of M&A Activity) from the MNC companies, which believe in the growth potential of the Domestic Industry. We remain positive on the sector, maintaining our recommendations.

DH News Service
The unauthorised homestays functioning in Kodagu district have become a headache for the district administration.



In spite of calling upon the people who provide homestay facilities without valid permission to comply with registration procedure, there has been no positive response from the owners.



With the increase in number of tourists visiting the district, the number of homestays operating in the district too increased. The Tourism Department issues permission for the functioning of the homestay. A total of 404 homestays have been registered in the district. The process of registering 29 homestays is in progress. There are thousands of homestays functioning illegally amidst coffee estates in the district.



Homestays without valid permits do not display any board. They provide accommodation to the guests through middlemen but do not maintain any register or collect ID card proof from the visitors.



Coorg Homestay Association members had urged the Superintendent of Police to initiate action against homestays functioning without valid permissions. Tracking unauthorised homestays in the district, however, has become a

challenging task for the authorities.



Jagannath, Tourism Department officer in-charge said, Four rating agencies have been started in the state, to help the homestays to avail of permission. The applications have to be submitted to the agencies, which, in turn, are to submit them to the Tourism Department. After availing of the approved receipt, the homestay owners have to obtain licence from the local administration bodies or authorities. After availing of the permits, the owners have to pay Rs 17,500 to the agency for a period of three years. For the renewal of permits, the owners have to approach the agency. The new rules regarding homestays have come into existence from April 1. As many as 29 homestays have submitted applications for registration as per the new guidelines.



Superintendent of Police

P Rajendra Prasad, who spoke to Deccan Herald, said, The homestays should install CCTV camera and maintain a register. The homestay owners should collect a proof of ID card and address from the visitors. A visit of a foreign national should be informed to the nearest police station.



The authorities have initiated measures to check illegal homestays in the district. Police personnel will visit the homestays and verify matters before issuing NoC. We will initiate measures to close down all the unauthorised homestays operating in the district, Prasad added.
Faced with shortage of veterinary doctors, the Modi government is all set to amend laws governing the sector to allow private players set up colleges for study in animal sciences.





A government study of 1975 had suggested having one veterinary doctor for every 5,000 cattle in the country. But at present, there is one veterinary doctor for 13,440 cattle.



Minister of State for Agriculture Sanjeev Balyan said the Centre was considering amendments to the Veterinary Council Act 1984 to allow private players to set up veterinary colleges across the country. According to government estimates, there are 63,225 veterinary doctors across the country  too few to cater to the needs of farmers. Veterinary studies are gaining popularity among students. It is evident from the fact that more than 84,000 students had enrolled for the pre-veterinary examination conducted for 452 seats for veterinary sciences and animal husbandry degree courses, Umesh Chandra Sharma, president, Veterinary Council of India, told DH.



Balyan said there are 52 colleges offering degree courses in veterinary sciences and animal husbandry and private investments would help increase this number manifold.

There are only two private veterinary colleges in India, while the rest are run by state governments, he said.


After the Udta Punjab controversy, the industry has now come in support of a Malayalam movie which has been denied certification for its depiction of nudity and abusive language.





On Monday, filmmakers and technicians came together in support of the makers of Kathakali, in a protest near the regional office of the Central Board of Film Certification here.



Directed by young filmmaker Saijo Kannanaikkal, the film ran into trouble after regional censor officer, A Prathibha, raised objection to a scene in the films final segment in which the protagonist  a Kathakali artist played by Binoy Nambala  removes his Kathakali attire and walks nude, away from the camera. Two other scenes were also termed objectionable for nudity and language. Saijo has already moved the high court against the CBFC decision. On Monday, members of the Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) staged a protest against the decision.



A panel of officials had already watched the film and even recommended it for a U certificate subject to some cuts. But the censor officer who did not watch it with the other members, later raised these objections. We were told that no certification was possible and well have to submit it to a review committee. We were facing a financial crunch to go ahead; thats when the film industry came forward to support us, Saijo told DH on Monday.


Former chairman of the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) and his politician wife were arrested from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on Monday.

A Special Investigation Team nabbed Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and Usha Sinha, a former JD(U) legislator, for their role in the toppers scam in Bihar. The duo had gone untraceable after a Patna court had issued an arrest warrant last week. Finally, they were traced to a friends house at Varanasi. Prabhat Jaiswal, a liquor trader, has been detained for sheltering the accused.



Senior SP of Patna Manu Maharaj, who is heading the SIT, said, Lalkeshwar and Usha have been arrested by the SIT with the help of the Varanasi police. After producing them in court, we will seek transit remand. They will later be brought to the state capital.



Lalkeshwar was asked to quit as BSEB chief after irregularities in the Bihar +2 examination were reported. The incident, which brought a bad name to the state, did not go down well with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Usha, who served as an MLA from Hilsa in Nitishs home town Nalanda between 2010 and 2015, was named co-accused after those arrested told the police she was hand-in-glove in the scam.



It was Usha who, on behalf of Lalkeshwar, used to collect money from the toppers. The answer sheets of these toppers were evaluated at Patnas Ganga Devi College, where Usha served as principal , said a junior BSEB official, now in police custody. Last week, Usha was expelled from the JD(U) and removed from the principals post.



Trouble started when Arts stream topper Ruby Rai of Vishun Roy College, Vaishali, could not spell her subject political science before the media. Doubts arose when she said cooking was taught in prodigal science.



Following the re-test, the results of the other two toppers were cancelled.
Dissidence in the ruling Congress party continued with former minister M H Ambareesh on Monday offering to quit as MLA of Mandya in protest against chief minister Siddaramaiah dropping him from the cabinet on Sunday.





The Rebel Star sent his resignation letter to protem Speaker of the Legislative Assembly N H Shivashankara Reddy through his personal assistant. But Reddy refused to accept it, saying that the MLA has to come in person to submit his resignation letter. Ambareesh has kept the party guessing by convening a press conference at his J P Nagar residence in Bengaluru on Tuesday.



The actor-politicians move appeared to have given the much-needed strength to a section of disgruntled Congress MLAs, especially from the dominant Vokkaliga community, to form a group. Yeshwanthapur MLA S T Somashekar met Ambareesh on Monday and declared that he and other like-minded MLAs are also ready to resign along with the former minister. Somashekar is a ministerial aspirant from the Vokkaliga community.



Sources in the Congress said the disgruntled MLAs are trying to use Ambareesh to their advantage. In the 34-member council of ministers, one slot has been kept vacant to accommodate a Vokkaliga legislator. Siddaramaiah is unlikely to re-induct Ambareesh as it would set a bad example.Thus, Somashekar is trying to sympathise with Ambareesh so that he can emerge as a compromise candidate to bag the vacant slot, the sources added.



Siddaramaiah and KPCC president G Parameshwara went on a damage-control mode as protests against the Sundays ministry reshuffle continued in many parts of the state.



Siddaramaiah spoke to Ambareesh over phone and tried to convince him not to resign. But the leader from Mandya was not ready to relent. Parameshwara, who is away in Germany on an official visit, urged the Congress leaders to maintain restraint in the interest of the party. Former Revenue minister V Srinivas Prasad too was planning to resign as MLA of Nanjangud.

DH News Service
Expressing reservations over dropping some senior ministers by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, senior Congress leader B K Hariprasad on Monday said the CM should act swiftly to defuse the discontent among leaders.





Hariprasad, who met Congress president Sonia Gandhi here, told reporters that before dropping senior ministers, the CM should have consulted all sections of leaders and taken them into confidence.



However, Hariprasad, who is also AICC General Secretary, did not disclose what transpired between him and Sonia.



Leaders like Baburao Chinchansur, Srinivas Prasad, Qumarul Islam and Ambareesh, have strong support base in the state. The CM should have taken a cautious approach before dropping these ministers, he said.



He also criticised the CM for dropping Vijayanagar MLA M Krishnappa's name from the list of legislators to be inducted.



Deshpande meets Sonia

Heavy Industries Minister R V Deshpande met Sonia Gandhi here on Monday. Though Deshpande refused to disclose what transpired between them, sources said the minister was learnt to have expressed his keenness to continue in the existing portfolio.



Vijayanagar MLA M Krishnappa, his son Priya Krishna and former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake were also camping in Delhi and met party top brass to apprise them about the fallout of reshuffle.
Protests continued in various places on Monday, by supporters of some of the ministers dropped from the Siddaramaiah government and a few hopefuls.



In Yadgir, supporters of Baburao Chinchansur said that the vacant slot in the ministry should be given to their leader, failing which the Congress would lose the votes of the Kabbaliga community to which he belongs, they warned. They held a protest by tying black bands to their shoulders and burning tyres, at Subhash Circle in the town. Protests were held by members of the Valmiki community at Surapur in Yadgir district, against the non-inclusion of Raja Venkatappa Naik in the ministry.



The supporters of former minister Qamarul Islam have called for a Kalaburagi bandh on June 25, in protest against dropping Islam from the ministry and to urge the party high command and the chief minister to reinstate him.



Twenty-eight corporators and party office-bearers handed over their resignations to the former minister and pledged their support to him. Those who tendered their resignations include Mayor Syed Ahmed and Deputy Mayor Sharanamma.



Supporters of former minister Satish Jarkiholi staged a rally in Belagavi, protesting against the decision to drop him from the ministry.



M D Kanaka, the former president of a Gram Panchayat, tried to immolate herself, during a demonstration in Mandya against former minister M H Ambareesh being dropped from the ministry. This happened as news spread that Ambareesh had resigned as MLA. The police and fellow party workers thwarted the attempt. Puttaswamy of Karadakere village, K M Doddi, Maddur taluk, tried to end his life by consuming poison. He has been admitted to the government hospital in Mandya for treatment.



Aggrieved Congress workers have blamed actor-turned-politician and former MP Ramya for Ambareesh being dropped from the ministry.



The bandh called by the supporters of legislator K N Rajanna was total in Madhugiri of Tumakuru district. The supporters took out a protest march in the town.



The bandh call given by the fans and followers of V Srinivas Prasad protesting their leader being dropped from the ministry was successful in Chamarajanagar and the temple town Nanjangud in Mysuru district.



While cinema theatres, petrol bunks and shops were closed, KSRTC and private bus operators suspended their services.



The supporters were seen requesting the school and college managements, shopkeepers and hoteliers to down their shutters in the morning. They took out a protest march demanding that Prasad be reinducted.



In Nanjangud, supporters of Prasad forced shopkeepers to down the shutters and took out a protest march. This brought the busy traffic on national highway 212 (that passes through the Hullahalli Circle and connects Mysuru and Ooty) to a halt.

DH News Service



CM hits back at Prasad, officially

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has chosen to hit back at Srinivas Prasad, who has launched a vituperative attack on him. Siddaramaiah issued an order cancelling the recent transfer of 83 sub-registrars. The transfer decision was taken by Srinivas Prasad as the Revenue Minister.



The order termed the transfers illegal as it was against the transfer guidelines. Besides, the Revenue department principal secretary has been directed to take action against Inspector General of Registration and Commissioner of Stamps N V Prasad. As against the cadre strength of 280, only 15 transfers are permitted (5%). If more than 5% transfers are made, then chief ministers approval is needed, the order stated. An upset Srinivas Prasad had charged Siddaramaiah with being lethargic and directly blamed him for the poor image of the government. He had also said the high command should have changed the leadership in the state and that the reshuffle exercise will not serve any purpose.



When contacted, N V Prasad said that the transfers were effected at Srinivas Prasads behest. I have only followed the directions given by the minister. The minister ordered transfer of 23 sub-registrars on June 9 and 60 sub-registrars on June 16, he said.


Monsoon has gained momentum in Uttara Kannada district with rains pounding the district for the past two days.





Rains began early in the day in Karwar and continued to lash the town for around three hours. Children had a tough time in reaching their schools. There were reports of intermittent rains in Bhatkal, Honnavar, Kumta, Ankola and Siddapur. The district recorded a rainfall of 166 mm in the last 24 hours.



Mangaluru and surrounding areas experienced rainfall towards evening. The sky remained overcast throughout the day.



In the last 24 hours, Dakshina Kannada district has experienced 33.7 mm rainfall. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned fishermen from entering into sea in the next 24 hours.



There were reports of rains in Udupi district too. Kodagu experienced drizzling throughout the day. The water level in River Cauvery has increased following copious rains in Talacauvery and Bhagamandala.



Moderate rains continued to lash several parts of Shimogga district. Shivamogga, Bhadravathi, Thirthahalli, Hosanagar, Sagar, Shikaripur received moderate rains intermittently throughout the day.



Rains receded in Chadchan of Vijayapura district. Several houses in the villages have been damaged as it rained heavily for the past two days.



A five-year-old girl was killed while another sustained injuries after a house collapsed in Idapanur village of Raichur taluk.

DH News Service





Alert rly staffer averts accident

An alert gangman averted a tragedy after he noticed that that the soil under the rail track had been washed away due to heavy rains. Rahul, a gangman noticed a crater beneath the railway track near Shampurahalli in Chittapur taluk of Kalaburagi district. He managed to put up a red banner on the track and burst crackers to stop Coimbatore-Rajkot train, which was about to pass through the stretch in a shortwhile. An earthmover was used to fill the crater later.




Seeking to blunt the Opposition attack, Union Minister Sanjeev Balyan on Monday said the Kairana incident should be seen as a law and order issue as even Muslims had migrated to safer places.





Balyan, who is a Jat leader from western Uttar Pradesh, also said the BJP has distanced itself from the aggressive campaign launched by MLA Sangeet Som and had given a 15-day ultimatum to the state government to ensure the return of all Hindu families who have fled from Kairana.



Muslim families have also fled from Kairana, it is not only Hindus, he said when asked to comment on the Kairana migrations. Balyan said a team of BJP leaders who had visited the region too had corroborated this fact.



It is a law and order issue and not a communal one, he said adding that the region has a history of lawlessness and the state government had failed to address the issue.

Hukum Singh, BJP MP from Kairana, had triggered a controversy by claiming that a large number of Hindu families had fled Kairana under duress.



Last week, Uttar Pradesh BJP President Keshav Prasad Maurya had met Governor Ram Naik with the demand for a CBI probe into the exodus.


At the first World Yoga Day on June 21, 2015, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had made the grand announcement of introducing yoga as an optional subject in schools and colleges in Karnataka. A year on, there is no sign of this plan taking off.





The chief minister had even mooted a committee under the Karnataka State Higher Education Council to look into this plan.



The committee was indeed formed, comprising Prof Padma Shekhar, vice-chancellor, Karnataka Samskrit University; Dr G Ramachandra Bhat, vice-chancellor, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, Jigani; Dr Devappa Dominic, a visiting professor of yoga at Bangalore University; Dr Nagesh Bettakote, professor of yoga at BU, yoga expert Ravishanker Krishnamurthy, and Dr K Krishna Sharma, chairman of Human Consciousness and Yogic Sciences department at Mangalore University.



The committee, however, has met only twice since its formation and there is no sight of its report. S A Kori, executive director, KSHEC, told Deccan Herald, The committee was formed soon after the announcement, but it has not met very often. We sent it a few reminders. The committee is yet to submit its report as of now. I hope it will do so soon.



Padma Shekhar, who is chairperson of the committee, said he assumed charge recently. A meeting of the committee was called around three months ago where the syllabus, relevance of yoga in schools and various other issues were discussed, he said and added that he would call another meeting soon.



Report by this week

According to him, the composition of the committee remains unchanged. Padma Shekhar said the report on introducing yoga in schools and colleges was ready and would be submitted to the KSHEC by the end of the week.



As many as 10,000 people had taken part in the World Yoga Day event at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru last year. Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty was roped in for the event.

DH News Service
The Congress high command has begun the exercise of revamping the state Congress unit as part of its preparations for the 2018 Assembly polls.





The move comes in the wake of the party allowing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to effect a major reshuffle of his ministry.



The All India Congress Committee on Monday took the state party leaders by surprise by appointing young turk Dinesh Gundu Rao as the working president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee. He lost his ministership in the Sunday reshuffle. The 46-year-old Rao, son of the late chief minister R Gundu Rao, is a Brahmin. He is an MLA from the Gandhinagar constituency in Bengaluru and one of the AICC spokespersons.



The Congress decision to make him the face and voice of the party is said to be aimed at countering the BJP, which has been upbeat ever since B S Yeddyurappa took over as state party chief.



Sources said the party also intends to create a parallel power centre by appointing Rao as the working president even as Energy Minister D K Shivakumar is trying for the state Congress chiefs post.



Rao, an engineer, has Siddaramaiahs blessings. He is also close to many senior leaders in Delhi. Though the chief minister has not openly opposed Shivakumar, it is said he wants a less assertive and aggressive person for the post so that he can function smoothly for the remaining two years.





It is said former minister S R Patil, a Lingayat, is the choice of Siddaramaiah for the party presidents post.



Interestingly, Shivakumar was the working president of the party when R V Deshpande was the president. At that time, he had strongly opposed the creation of the working presidents post on the grounds that there should be no parallel power centre to the president.



The party, it is said, is for appointing either a Vokkaliga or a Lingayat as the KPCC chief. The incumbent, G Parameshwara, completed his term last year. He is also the home minister. Going by the one man one post principle of the party, Parameshwara will have to step down. Shivakumar is keen on continuing not just as a minister but as the energy minister even when he becomes the party president.



This may not go down well with the party. Sources said Parameshwara may be continued as the KPCC chief for some more time.



In an interaction with DH, Rao said he had been tasked with strengthening the party and preparing it for the 2018 polls. We have to strengthen the party by identifying hardworking and loyal workers. It is also our responsibility to counter the communal BJP in the state, he said.


We identify him with the peppy rendition that he sings while adding salt to food, namak shamak. With Punjabi tunes of tabla playing as the background score in his show Turban Tadka, chef Harpal Singh Sokhi is known for the simple yet innovative dishes he cooks in the show.





Recently, the celebrity chef furthered his support to Yellow Tie Hospitalitys tie up with Genuine Broaster Chicken (GBC), the US-based food chain.



It is set to enter in the Indian market in Mumbai by the end of this month.

Sokhi has created an exclusive menu for the chain which includes dishes like Jong Lee Paneer Burger with Thai Spice Paneer Sticks and Noodles, Mutton Rogan Josh Burger, Gulkand Muffin and Palak Paneer Burger.



In a candid conversation with Metrolife, he tells how he created these dishes. He also points out some significant changes that Indian household kitchens have experienced over the years.

Excerpts:



Tell us about your support to GBC.

As a chef with focus on doing any kind of food for Indian palate, I wanted to provide an international platform and format to Indian food. The chain is famous in America for broaster fried chicken and I wanted to impart an Indian soul to the menu here.



How did you curate the various dishes in the menu?

With experience in my own restaurant chain Bibi Jaan, my television shows and my road shows, I get the opportunity



to meet people and know their tastes. I was once in the streets of Jalandhar, where I saw a man selling burgers with a spicy patty with schezwan sauce and noodles on top.

I tweaked it a bit and created Jong Lee burger. The Palak Paneer Burger was created out of the constant complain of mothers about their children not liking home-cooked food. Such thoughts that were created and put together in my test kitchen will now become a reality.



What do you think works the best with Indian audience?

When I started Turban Tadka, I observed that people were getting away from kitchens and the love for cooking.



I was scared that if this format continues, cooking food at home would die some day.

So I brought in fun and love for food in the kitchen. People started loving namak shamak. This love from the people inspired me to cook food that every household in India could replicate.



Tell us about the dishes that you cook on the show.

Simplicity is the key to cooking Indian food. I concentrate on creating recipes that people could easily cook in their kitchens. I want people to eat Roti Pizzas at home, which they can make on a tawa.



I want them to cook Garlic rotis instead of plain rotis; an Apple Parantha instead of an apple pie and Jaggery Nuts Bar instead of energy bars.



How has cooking changed in Indian households today?

This is something which is very interesting. Home kitchens are now looking at new gadgets and even new knives. Baking at home has become a part of regular cooking. Pasta is something which has entered the monthly ration. Chinese sauces and noodles are definitely being stacked up in the cupboards of all households. Breakfast has changed to cornflakes, muesli and oats.



Do you think there is a need to shift to healthy food in India?

I honestly believe that when an Indians eat food at home, they eat the best healthy food that is available in the world.



It comprises a complete meal with proteins, carbohydrates and fibres. However, consumption of mithais and fried food needs to be looked at for their oil content.

A samosa can also be cooked as a baked samosa with multi grain covering.



Are Indian cuisines at par with world cuisines?

Indian restaurants are shining across the world. Major restaurants across the world today look at using Indian ingredients. Gaggan restaurant in Bangkok, by chef Gaggan Anand is a great example.



The restaurant serves modern Indian food and is known to be the best Indian restaurant in Asia. Many such restaurants have bought laurels for Indian cuisine.



Whats next?

Next is probably Indian food in Mars or Moon. To me, it is reaching out with namak shamak to every household in the world and stay there.

Lets spread happiness with food.




As part of a competitive campaign between leading B-schools in the country, Ankush Mittal, a management student realised how several myths are associated with banking and financial services, especially in the rural areas. Team Abhiyaan  a team of 10 students from International Management Institute (IMI) New Delhi, won Axis Banks Financial Literacy Campaign Pragatishala.





Situated in the vicinity of their campus, team Abhiyaan visited Dhatir village in Palwal district of Haryana. The team organised communication camps and staged street plays as part of the month-long campaign to create awareness on banking and financial

services.



The main aim behind the campaign was to inform villagers about financial policies and government schemes. We had to start with identifying the need of the villagers. A stark reality was a lot of apprehensions and misconceptions. For instance, a woman was apprehensive of operating her bank account as she was illiterate, he tells Metrolife.



Under the guidance of nominated professors from the institute, the training team formed smaller teams and performed three skits that centered on the importance of savings, investments and new central government schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for crop insurance. When we brainstormed, we realised that we need to target them by including their issues. Farmers suffer losses because of debt trap and we showed how one can get out of the debt trap through investing smartly.



We also focused on women entrepreneurs from the village, and shared financial diaries from the Reserve Bank of India to help them keep a record of their daily spends, besides answering several queries on banking, recalls Mittal.



Out of the 40 teams that participated in the competition, the winning team

Abhiyaan will be sitting for pre-placement interviews conducted by the bank.



Team members will appear directly in the final interview while skipping rest of the rounds. This gives us an able opportunity to learn more, he says.



Prod him about leading the team as the youngest in the team comprising Neha

Nahata, Priyanka Jain, Ankur Kalra, Pulkit Ghai, Kaustav Sen, Abhilash Patil, Rachi Agrawal, Vishnu Prasad, Stuti Ritolia, the 21-year-old says, Age wasnt a factor at all.



After the 10 of us were selected, it was the teams decision to have me as the team leader because I have been active in various activities on campus. But it (the win) would not have been possible if it wasnt for the perfect coordination in the team.


A two-day familiarisation drill by the police for the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd staff began on Monday at the BMRCL training institute in Baiyappanahalli.





The drill, having both theory and practical aspects, will brief the Metro staff on crime prevention, disaster management and the action to be taken in emergency situations.



Visit to police stations

The police were in turn briefed on the functioning of the Metro trains and stations. The BMRCL staff will be taken on a visit to police stations in northeastern division on the first day and the southeastern division on the second day.



Additional Commissioner of Police (East) P Harishekaran and General Manager of BMRCL Pradeep Singh Kharola were present at the briefing. A similar exercise will be conducted in northeastern division, Harishekaran said.


The combination drug IDegLira outperformed Lantus in reducing HbA1c levels in adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, a new study finds.

IDegLira is a fixed-ratio combination of Tresiba (insulin degludec) and Victoza (liraglutide). It is approved in the UK as Xultophy, and was recommended for approval in the US last month.

In this new study, called DUAL V, IDegLira was tested on patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes who were treated with Lantus and metformin.

These patients were then randomly assigned to IDegLira plus metformin or to continue taking Lantus plus metformin.

Across all three baselines HbA1c groups (7.5%, or less; between 7.5% and 8.5%, and 8.5% or greater), patients taking IDegLira were more likely to reach the target HbA1c goal of 7% (53 mmol/mol).

Additionally, more patients in all baselines HbA1c groups achieved this target without experiencing hypoglycemia or weight gain.

Study author Ildiko Lingvay, MD, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Centre, told Endocrine Today: For [type 2 diabetes] patients uncontrolled on 20 to 50 units of glargine insulin, switching to IDegLira versus up-titration of glargine insulin has meaningful clinical advantages.

They are more likely to achieve glycemic goals (whether HbA1c or blood glucose levels) without hypoglycemia or weight gain. Furthermore, these advantages stand true regardless of the patients starting HbA1c, even if the starting HbA1c is over 8.5%.

Patients who switched to IDegLira also had a faster drop in blood sugar levels, despite decreasing the Lantus dose at the beginning of the study, the researchers added.

The findings were presented at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions.
LG launched the K3 in USA at $80 with LTE support, 5MP camera and 1GB of RAM.

LG has announced the launch of the LG K3 smartphone, an entry-level budget smartphone running Android 6.0 Marshmallow out-of-the-box. The phone has been launched only in the USA for now and is available through two vendors, Sprint and Boost Mobile.

The phone has a Snapdragon 210 1.1GHz Quad Core chip at its heart, along with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of Internal storage (and external storage upto 32GB supported). It also has a 4.5 inch FWVGA IPS display running at a measly 854 x 480. Coming to its camera, the phone has a 5MP rear camera and a VGA front shooter. Powering the phone is a 1940 mAh Battery.

However, it is priced at only $80(approx Rs.5000) the phone is aimed at those with low budgets, and it supports 4G/LTE. Although, there has been no word about an India launch yet, we can probably expect it to launch here in the months to come. This is because the sub-$100 smartphones usually do better in India, than overseas.

Earlier this year, LG unveiled the K7 and K10 in the K-Series phones. These are the company's first made-in-India smartphones. Recently, LG also announced, the X-series phones with four new phones. The LG G5, the world's first modular smartphone was also launched in India recently.
The fastest Supercomputer only uses parts designed and made in China

Chinese supercomputer, the Sunway TaihuLight, has captured the number one spot in the list of Top 500 Supercomputers compiled at International Supercomputing Conference (ISC) being held at Frankfurt. It takes the top spot from the Tianhe-2, which also is a Chinese machine. The Sunway TaihuLight has a computing score (Linpack Mark) of 93 Petaflops and outperforms the previous number one by three times. Its almost five times faster than the fastest system from USA, which is ranked third overall. The TaihuLight uses the SW26010 CPU on each of its 40,960 nodes and is a 260-core chip that has a throughput of just over 3 teraflops, adding up to more than 125 Petaflops across the whole machine. With 93 Petaflops as the measured output, a 73% yield of total output is deemed to be respectable.

The most significant factor here is that the previous fastest supercomputer used Intel Chips, is this machine only uses home-grown Chinese chips and no technology or chips from the USA. Dr. Guangwen Yang, the Center Director, National Supercomputing Center at Wuxi, stated As the first number one system of China that is completely based on homegrown processors, the Sunway TaihuLight system demonstrates the significant progress that China has made in the domain of designing and manufacturing large-scale computation systems,

Each node has 32GB of RAM, adding up to be 1.3PB for the entire machine. Although it may seem significant, it is not when considering the number of cores in the machine. The TaihuLight also uses older DDR3 RAM instead of the new, more power-efficient, DDR4. Also, theres no concept of L1, L2 or L3 cache in this machine. Each core is allocated 12KB of instruction cache and 64 KB of local scratchpad memory.

Interestingly, the machine is more power-efficient as compared to its predecessor, and draws 15.3 Megawatts(MW) of power while running Linpack, whereas its predecessor drew 17.8 MW. This can be attributed to its lesser memory as having more for a better memory:core ratio would definitely worsen its power efficiency.

China has been making great progress over the years when it comes to supercomputing. There were no Chinese machines in the Top 500 in 2001 whereas, now there are 167, which is more than the number of machines from the USA, that has 165 entries.
A few days before Britain votes in the European Union (EU) referendum on Thursday, pub chain JD Wetherspoon printed half a million beer mats addressing Chancellor George Osborne and urging people to vote for Brexit.

The 500,000 beer mats, which will be stocked in 920 pubs across the UK, said that the EU was undemocratic and that the country's European friends are being dragged down by Brussels bureaucracy.

It criticised Osbornes supposed reliance on institutional bodies to support the Remain campaign, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), HM Treasury and the Bank of England (BoE).

The message on the mats criticised the heads of the IMF and the OECD Christine Largarde and Jose Angel Gurria respectively, as Osbornes friends, and that he employed governor of the BoE Mark Carney and is the boss of HM Treasury.

Lastly it asked the poser: Does the nation not deserve more independent advice?

In May, the pub chain printed 200,000 mats urging people to vote to leave the EU and questioned trusting the IMF and Largarde.

The IMF in April said Brexit could cause severe regional and global damage, the OECD in June said the Britains GDP could be 5% lower by 2030, the Treasury said Britains GDP could contract by 7.5%, and in May of BoEs governor said the country could risk dipping into a recession.

JD Wetherspoon chairman and founder Tim Martin said: Mr Cameron and Mr Osborne have tried to fool the public using scare stories from cronies or subordinates. Their main economic case relies on these people and their views are not independent or believable."

Prime Minister David Cameron criticised the likes of Martin and Michael Gove in a speech days later: "They say people have had enough of hearing from experts, had enough of experts. Would you say that if you were building a bridge or if you were buying a house? I don't want an expert opinion on the mortgage, on the building survey? Of course not.

"Why would you say it about one of the most important and complex decisions that this country will have to take in our lifetime?"

Recent polls have the Remain campaign in a slight lead, the Survation/Mail on Sunday poll had Remain at 45% and Leave at 43%, YouGov/Sunday Times poll had Remain at 44% and Leave at 43%, but an Observer/Opinium poll had both Leave and Remain at 44% each. Last week Leave had a six point advantage.
Rolls Royce might be the UK's aerospace&defence stock which stood the most to gain in the case of Brexit and the weakness in the pound which would ensue, according to analysts at JP Morgan.

Unlike the rest of UK A&D stocks, the manufacturer had a large foreign exchange transaction exposure, the broker explained.

For the other seven companies in the sector followed by JP Morgan, the FX impact was translation only (defence companies) or almost wholly translation (Meggitt and Senior), meaning that cable only had a relatively modest, albeit not irrelevant, impact on their earnings per share.

Rolls Royce's estimated net dollar exposure, in terms of gross US dollar revenues less dollar costs, in 2017, was forecast at approximately $5bn.

Hence, every one US cent move in cable had an FX transaction impact on Rolls Royce's earnings before interest, taxes and amortisation of roughly 20m, the broker said.

Analysts David H Perry and Malini Chauhan noted how Rolls Royce's hedge book covered nearly five years of net dollar exposure, so cable was unlikley to affect its profit&loss "for many years".

Despite that, "it was very possible that a sharp depreciation in sterling (in a Brexit scenario) could have an immediate positive impact on RRs shares", as the stock rallied to reflect the long-term earnings upside from a weaker euro.

Perry and Chauhan pointed to historical precedent to back their case up. For example, shares in Rolls Royce rallied in 2009 as the pound weakened versus the greenback following the collapse of US investment bank Lehman Brothers.

The sharp depreciation in the euro-dollar exchange rate at the beginning of 2015 was a major reason behind the large share price gains in Airbus and Safran that year, the analysts said.

On the other side of the ledger, the positive impact from a fall in cable's value might be offset by the incerased equity risk premium in the UK in the case of Brexit, with the negative impact on economic growth in the UK and many other countries perhaps also weighing on the shares.

In the recent past Rolls Royce had also pointed out that Brexit "would limit its ability to plan and budget for the future" and give its US rivals a competitive advantage.
Retail tycoon Philip Green took delivery of a new 46m jet two months before the BHS chain collapsed putting 11,000 jobs at risk, media reports claimed over the weekend.

The Gulfstream G650ER was believed to have been delivered to the UK in early April, the Sun on Sunday tabloid newspaper reported citing an unnamed source.

BHS was placed into administration in April with a 571m black hole in its pension fund. Up to 11,000 people face losing their jobs and 20,000 people could have their benefits cut by 10%.

Its the most luxurious private jet on the planet, the fastest of its kind. Most employees at BHS will struggle to even pay for a budget flight to Spain this summer, the source was quoted as saying.

So the idea hes splashing out on this will be hard to stomach.

Green's wife Tina, who is the legal owner of the family's empire, is to spend 300,000 re-designing the interior, the report added.

Asked for comment on his new acquisition, Green said: I dont want to talk to you, is that clear? Goodbye. Digital Look requested a comment from Green and was still awaiting a response at the time of publication.

The G650ER boasts speeds of 680mph, just short of the speed of sound. To date only 181 have been made.

A Gulfstream spokesman said: It is like an office in the sky. You can use your phone, it has four living areas and 100 per cent fresh air which is refreshed every two minutes, so you land feeling rejuvenated.

Green faces increasing pressure to contribute to the shortfall after a six hour grilling by MPs last week over his decision to sell BHS for 1 to three time bankrupt Dominic Chappell.

There were also further allegations over how much cash Chappell's Retail Acquisition took out of BHS with former financial adviser Michael Hitchcock telling a parliamentary inquiry that almost 17m was removed in wages, fees, charges and inter-company loans.

In a written submission to the Work & pensions and Business select committee joint inquiry, Hitchcock said among the payouts, 2.6m was paid in salaries to members of the RAL consortium and a further 1.4m went to RAL through a management service charge.

He added that 1.4m was paid in fees for property transactions and a further 2.4m for financing transactions while fees taken by RAL or Dominic Chappell companies from the initial 7m inter-company loan came to 2.8m.

RAL invested 10m in BHS through a share subscription, 5m via a RAL loan with Allied Commercial Enterprises and 5m via a RAL receipt from Arcadia. Dominic Chappell did not invest any personal money into BHS, Hitchcock said in his letter to the committee.
Voters in Rome have elected the city's first woman mayor after the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) won a resounding victory.

Virginia Raggi (pictured) won 67% of the vote a run-off ballot with the Democratic partys Roberto Giachetti.

There was also a shock in the traditionally centre-left city of Turin, where another woman, Chiara Appendino, was voted mayor ousting the Democratic incumbent.

Appendino, a 31-year old business graduate, won the mayoral race with 54.6% of the vote, defeating Piero Fassino with 45.4%.

I will be a mayor for all Romans. I will restore legality and transparency to the citys institutions after 20 years of poor governance. With us a new era is opening, the 37 year old Raggi said after her win.

M5S was founded by comedian Beppe Grillo after the 2008 economic crisis and had been perceived broadly as a party of protest. However it now poses a threat to the administration of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his ruling centre-left Democratic Party.

Raggi, a lawyer, will take over a city that has not had a leader for eight months after an expenses scandal forced the resignation of Democratic mayor, Ignazio Marino. Rome has been run by a special commissioner in the interim.
European stocks rallied in early trade, with banks pacing the advance as the latest EU referendum polls revealed a shift in support.

At 0840 BST, the benchmark Stoxx Europe 600 index was up 2.8%, Germanys DAX was 3% higher and Frances CAC 40 was up 2.9%. Banks racked up the most impressive gains, with the Stoxx 600 sub-index for the sector up 4.1%.

At the same time, oil prices advanced, with West Texas Intermediate up 1.5% at $48.70 a barrel and Brent crude up 1.7% at $49.98.

Rebecca OKeeffe, head of investment at Interactive Investor, said: A significant shift in sentiment has seen global equity markets rally strongly as investors position their portfolios for a Remain vote. Investors who had been bracing themselves for the possibility of a vote to leave the EU had moved a substantial amount of money out of equities over the past two weeks, with many investors sitting on more cash than usual. With new polls suggesting a marked shift towards Remain, a wave of money is now entering the market, as investors view current index levels as oversold.



However, the UK is not over the line yet, so although the odds of an exit vote have diminished dramatically, the possibility of further volatility and a shift back towards a more uncertain outcome over the coming days could see markets adversely react. For this morning though, investors are seeing financial and property companies lead the way higher as the market shrugs off its fears.

A Survation poll in the Daily Mail revealed that support for the Remain campaign was in the lead, while two Yougov polls  one for ITV's Good Morning Britain and one for the Sunday Times  both showed Remain in front.

In addition, a ComRes poll for the Sunday Mirror revealed the percentage of people saying theyd be relieved if the UK stayed in the EU rose to 45% after the murder of MP Jox Cox, from 35% before.

Meanwhile, an opinion survey conducted for the Observer between Tuesday and Friday showed an even split but of the 10% undecided, 36% said they were leaning towards Remain.

The polls lifted the pound, which surged against the US dollar and the euro.

In corporate news, UniCredit pushed higher after Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano reported that the bank was likely to appoint former government minister Corrado Passera as its next chief executive officer.

Spains Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria gained on reports it instigated a new strategic plan in March that was not announced to the market.

Shares in beleaguered German car maker Volkswagen jumped following a report it will submit its $10bn plan to fix emissions-cheating cars or get them off US roads this month.

Bayer was also a high riser after a report it is in talks with investment banks about strategic alternatives for its radiology supplies business.

GlaxoSmithKline was on the front foot after late-stage drug trials on its treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease proved successful.

Hammerson was also in the black after saying it has exchanged contracts and completed the sale of Thurrock Shopping Park to TH Real Estate for 93m.

Data released earlier by Destatis showed German producer prices rose a little more than expected in May.

Prices were up 0.4% from April versus expectations of a 0.3% increase. On the year, however, producer prices were 2.7% weaker. Still, this was better than the 2.9% drop expected by economists.

Excluding energy, prices were up 0.2% on the month and down 0.8% on the year.
Stocks in London surged at the start of trading, alongside the largest gain the pound in three months, with investors taking their cue from strong gains in Asia as Brexit polls showed the Remain campaign was in the lead.

As of 08:43 BST the FTSE 100 was 145.82 points or 2.42% higher at 6,166.

Against the US dollar the pound was gaining 1.61% to 1.4593.

Were still getting some rather ludicrous predictions of what the pound might do in the event of a leave vote, which to some extent has caused some rather extreme positioning, and will likely contribute to a lot more choppiness in the coming days, as this mornings Asia surge catches an awful lot of people the wrong way round, Michael Hewson, Chief Market Analyst at CMC Markets UK, said.

Over the weekend, a Survation poll in the Daily Mail revealed that support for the Remain campaign was in the lead at 45.0% versus 42.0% for Leave, while two YouGov polls  one for ITV's Good Morning Britain and one for the Sunday Times  both showed Remain in front.

In addition, a ComRes poll for the Sunday Mirror revealed the percentage of people saying theyd be relieved if the UK stayed in the EU rose to 45% after the murder of MP Jox Cox, from 35% before.

Meanwhile, an opinion survey conducted for the Observer between Tuesday and Friday showed an even split but of the 10% undecided, 36% said they were leaning towards Remain.

According to Oddschecker's tally of the odds being offered by bookmakers, the chances of 'Remain' coming out on top were being put at 31%, down from a record 44.0% just before the killing of lawmaker Jo Cox.

Naeem Aslam, chief market analyst at Think Forex, said: The general mood among investors over in Europe is positive after an upbeat handover over from Asia. Investors are feeling a lot calmer after recent polls show that the Remain group has gained more popularity in the Brexit referendum campaign.

This week the focus will be completely on Brexit.

Circassia sinks after drug trial results

Shares in biopharmaceutical development company Circassia Pharmaceuticals plummeted on Monday morning, after it announced disappointing top-line results from its investigational cat allergy immunotherapy phase III study.

Hammerson said it has exchanged contracts and completed the sale of Thurrock Shopping Park, Essex, to TH Real Estate for 93m.

The sale price represents a net initial yield of 5.3% and is moderately below the book value as at 31 December 2015, Hammerson said.



Late-stage drug trials by GlaxoSmithKline on its treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have proved successful. The Phase III clinical testing by GSK and project partner Innoviva delivered data that is likely to support European regulatory submission by the end of 2016.

FTSE 250 precision instruments maker Spectris has completed the acquisition of the software and associated assets of privately-held software solutions company Capstone Technology Corp for $22.5m.

Capstone comprises two key software platforms: the MACS software suite providing engineering services and software for advanced process control optimisation and dataPARC, which is a data historian, visualisation and analytics software suite for operational decision support.

It will be integrated into Spectris' In-line Instrumentation segment.
Stocks in London were expected to open sharply higher on Monday, taking their cue from strong gains in Asia as Brexit polls showed the Remain campaign was in the lead.

Londons FTSE 100 was expected to open 159 points higher than Fridays close at 6,180.

Over the weekend, a Survation poll in the Daily Mail revealed that support for the Remain campaign was in the lead, while two Yougov polls  one for ITV's Good Morning Britain and one for the Sunday Times  both showed Remain in front.

In addition, a ComRes poll for the Sunday Mirror revealed the percentage of people saying theyd be relieved if the UK stayed in the EU rose to 45% after the murder of MP Jox Cox, from 35% before.

Meanwhile, an opinion survey conducted for the Observer between Tuesday and Friday showed an even split but of the 10% undecided, 36% said they were leaning towards Remain.

Naeem Aslam, chief market analyst at Think Forex, said: The general mood among investors over in Europe is positive after an upbeat handover over from Asia. Investors are feeling a lot calmer after recent polls show that the Remain group has gained more popularity in the Brexit referendum campaign.

This week the focus will be completely on Brexit.

Hammerson said it has exchanged contracts and completed the sale of Thurrock Shopping Park, Essex, to TH Real Estate for 93m.

The sale price represents a net initial yield of 5.3% and is moderately below the book value as at 31 December 2015, Hammerson said.

Late-stage drug trials by GlaxoSmithKline on its treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have proved successful. The Phase III clinical testing by GSK and project partner Innoviva delivered data that is likely to support European regulatory submission by the end of 2016.

FTSE 250 precision instruments maker Spectris has completed the acquisition of the software and associated assets of privately-held software solutions company Capstone Technology Corp for $22.5m.

Capstone comprises two key software platforms: the MACS software suite providing engineering services and software for advanced process control optimisation and dataPARC, which is a data historian, visualisation and analytics software suite for operational decision support. It will be integrated into Spectris' In-line Instrumentation segment.
Heavily indebted North Sea oil producer EnQuest has denied media reports that it is in talks with the UK Oil and Gas Authority (OAG) about contingency plans.

The government body fears insolvencies at Enquest and mid-cap peer Premier Oil, the Sunday Telegraph reported, and is mulling plans "to guard against a North Sea bankruptcy crisis" as the pair are "wracked with debt following the oil market rout and now stand at the mercy of their lenders".

But on Monday EnQuest, which had $1.55bn of net debt at the end of last year, said it "routinely engages with the OGA and with the UK and Scottish Governments on industry matters, but is not involved in any company-specific discussions such as were implied by the article".

Last year, EnQuest renegotiated the covenants on its debts until mid-2017 and said it was well within them last year.

The OGA's hand-wringing is due to Enquest being the majority owner and lead developer of one of the North Seas largest new projects, the Kraken oil field, which is expected to provide around 20,000 jobs during the construction phase, as well as 1,000 jobs during its 25 year production lifetime.

Enquest, which is partnered with FTSE 250-listed Cairn Energy, took on a larger stake in the project this year after the collapse of the projects former owner, and first revenue-generating oil is expected next year.

A recent operational update from EnQuest revealed production from its other projects averaged 42,752 barrels of oil equivalent per day for the four months to the end of April 2016, while Kraken's development was said to remain "on schedule".

Shares in EnQuest were 13% higher at at 32.5p by 1000 BST on Monday.
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GOP candidate for Franklin County auditor says porn 'likes' by hacker

Jarrod Golden, GOP candidate for Franklin County auditor deleted his Twitter account linked to his campaign, saying it had been hacked.
Feds reject proposed dam on Bear River

BOISE (AP)  Federal authorities have rejected a request by an irrigation company in southeastern Idaho to build a dam on the Bear River.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday voted to deny Twin Lakes Canal Co.' license application for a 109-foot-high dam with a 10-megawatt powerhouse.

While we recognize the potential benefits of the Bear River Narrows Project, we conclude, consistent with staff's findings, that the project's unmitigable adverse impacts outweigh its benefits such that we must deny the application, the commission wrote in a 19-page decision.

The commission cited the popularity of the area among hikers, campers, wildlife watchers, river-based anglers, whitewater kayakers and tubing enthusiasts in its decision. The report cites the canal company's estimate that the area draws more than 55,000 recreation day visits a year, about 47 percent of those for angling and 38 percent for whitewater boating and tubing.

The canal company, which began the attempt to get a license for the project more than a decade ago, said the proposed reservoir would have provided irrigation water to about 230 farmers and ranchers.

We don't' know whether we will appeal or not, said Twin Lakes Canal Co. President Clair Bosen. We will look at our options and make a decision.




Subscriber content preview

A company called ICMediaDirect advertises reputation control for $6,300. The service will try to push down undesirable search results by populating Google with friendly links instead.



By BARBARA ORTUTAY

AP Technology Writer

NEW YORK  Messy party photos, offensive tweets, pepper spraying student protesters ... sometimes, you just want a do-over when it comes to your online presence. And for a hefty price tag, you can.

The University of California, Davis came under fire recently for contracting consultants for at least $175,000 to clean up its online reputation after a November 2011 incident in which campus police pepper-sprayed peaceful protesters. If that PR campaign worked at all, it's now backfired.





. . .
SC refuses to stay culling of boar, nilgai, monkeys

The Supreme Court today refused to put on hold the union government's notifications that declared blue bulls, monkeys and wild boars vermin, allowing them to be culled in three states.

A vacation bench of Justices A K Goel and A M Khanwilkar asked the petitioners - animal welfare boards and rights activists - to raise their concerns with the Centre.

''You make the representations. They will consider and take a decision. The authority is with the central government,'' the bench said, setting a 15 July deadline - the next date of hearing for the government to respond.

The petitioners had on 15 June asked the court to quash the three notices that declared nilgai (blue bull), monkeys and wild boars as vermin in Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand respectively.

The Centre's decisions to classify the three animals as vermin, on the state governments' request, put the spotlight back on conservation challenges in India, where incidents of man-animal conflict are rising as wildlife habitat shrinks.

Starting 1 December 2015, the environment ministry has issued three notifications. The most recent was on 24 May for some districts of Himachal Pradesh.

The bench asked if the notifications applied to animals in their habitat. ''Absolute prohibition applies to habitat. You cannot hunt them down in their homes,'' it said.

The order applied only to animals outside the forest area, the government's second senior-most legal officer solicitor general Ranjit Kumar told the court.

The three states had complained they were struggling to pay farmers for crop losses and the growing animal population also posed a risk to human lives.

Every year, crops standing in hundreds of acres are destroyed by animals looking for food. Efforts by people to protect their farmland often lead to fatalities on both sides.

Senior advocate Anand Grover, appearing for animal rights activist Gauri Maulekhi, argued that the notifications - applicable for a year -were issued without any scientific survey. The vermin tag, he said, deprived the animals of the shield provided under the wildlife protection act.

The animal welfare board told the court that moving the animals from protected to 'vermin' category has to be backed by scientific evidence.

Around 500 wild boars and 200 blue bulls have been killed since the ministry started giving permissions.

Recently, women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi, too, spoke 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 defended the move, saying the culling was for ''scientific management'' of rising animal population (See: Maneka hisses at Nilgai culling, Javedkar says it's fine).

''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.

The Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre and Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisation are the other petitioners in the case.


US news coverage of Hillary Clinton often emphasises gender, emotions over competence: study

Though much progress has been made toward gender equality, news coverage of female politicians typically follows gendered lines that often disregards women's competence in political affairs, a University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) assistant communication professor has found.

Dustin Harp, assistant professor of communication, examined media coverage of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, as well as coverage of former state Senator Wendy Davis.

Dustin Harp, an expert in gender and media studies, examines the issue in ''Hillary Clinton's Benghazi Hearing Coverage: Political Competence, Authenticity, and the Persistence of the Double Bind,'' which appears online in the June issue of Women's Studies in Communication.

News coverage of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is well studied concerning women in US politics. In her paper, Harp investigated the ways in which gender played a role in the more recent discourse.

The findings suggest that though this news media coverage shows some improvement in how Clinton was covered compared with previous research regarding representations of female politicians, the conversations still employ stereotypical feminine frames, including questioning Clinton's proficiency as a leader.

''Because of gender stereotypes, women are expected to act in particular ways that often place them in a double bind,'' Harp said. ''The double bind is an either/or situation where a person has one or the other option but where both options penalize the person.

''One of these binds, femininity / competency is particularly tough for women politicians because to be feminine is seen as less powerful, which is clearly not good for a leader. At the same time to be a competent woman is problematic for many people who see that as unfeminine. So in this case the woman is criticized either way.''

On 23 January 2013, Clinton executed one of her last significant duties as secretary of state when she testified at the congressional committee hearings regarding the 2012 attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Four Americans died in the attack.

Both of the committees before which Clinton testified were made up primarily of men. News coverage hinted at a new double bind pitting competence against authenticity, whereas Clinton's emotional displays during the hearing were regarded as either a lack of control that undermined her capability or an insincere show of emotion to escape blame for the situation.

''Media coverage of the hearings is a particularly interesting site for analysis,'' said Harp. ''Not only was this an event in which a female politician participated in a heavily male-dominated setting, but also Clinton's performance was at the core of the political event. The juxtaposition of gender and politics, televised for all to see, is especially noteworthy.''

Harp undertook the new study with Ingrid Bachmann, assistant professor of communications at Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, and Jaime Loke, assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oklahoma. The three researchers also co-authored Where are the Women? The Presence of Female Columnists in U.S. Opinion Pages, in the June 2014 issue of Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly.

For their new study, the team examined 93 articles and commentary from the eight most heavily visited US news websites from 22 January to 4 February, 2013. The news sites included CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, the Huffington Post, Fox News, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today.

News aggregators, such as Google News, and non-US outlets, such as BBC News were excluded. News websites were examined as there has been a significant readership decline in traditional daily newspapers and the overall news market has grown as a result of the availability of online coverage.

Harp's study found that Clinton often is presented as a competent political figure, but also that her emotions are referenced in gendered ways. A Los Angeles Times story, for example, explained that at one point ''Clinton's voice broke.'' USA Today highlighted both that she ''was near tears as she talked'' and that ''she erupted in anger.'' A Washington Post commentary described Clinton as ''blowing her lid.''

These descriptions are in line with past research findings that show how women's emotions are the focus of much attention, whereas men's emotional displays are scrutinised or mocked only when the reaction is deemed exaggerated or in violation of traditional masculinity, the paper found.

The study found that when Clinton showed her humanity with an emotional display, it was considered part of a calculated ploy. For men, such as former Speaker of the House John Boehner, showing emotion was considered a peculiarity and not a part of being male.

One example of a man showing emotion that was later documented by the media includes former Speaker of the House John Boehner's tearful episodes during important interviews and political events.

However, for women, the study found that being emotional was described as a part of who they are. For men, it is a trait that is demonstrated only sporadically, a peculiarity that is not a part of being male. The two emotions most prominent in news websites' coverage of Clinton during the Benghazi hearing were anger and sadness.

The findings are in line with analysis of previous studies that have shown news coverage of female politicians is often sex stereotypical to the extent that the media function to undermine or even dismiss women politicians.

''We found that when Clinton did show her humanity with an emotional display, either her capability was compromised by a show of weakness or her display was considered part of a calculated ploy,'' Harp said.

One of the senators at the Benghazi hearings complained to CNN that Clinton ''used an emotional trump card'' to avoid his questions, and a column on Fox News argued that the display had been strategically timed. Because she has often been considered hard and lacking warmth, in ways hindering her likeability, had Clinton not choked up when talking about the victims of the Benghazi attacks she would have arguably been criticised for being too cold and unsympathetic. This scenario perfectly illustrates the double bind's no-win situation, Harp noted in the study.

Elisabeth Cawthon, interim dean of the UTA College of Liberal Arts, said Harp's study is an example of excellence in research into the human condition, a core theme of the University's Strategic Plan 2020: Bold Solutions | Global Impact.

''Dr. Harp's work adds greatly to the ongoing, greater discussion about women in leadership, language used to define them, how these women are perceived in society, and the media's role in perpetuating or dispelling stereotypes about them,'' Cawthon said. ''As more women enter higher-profile arenas, including the political sphere, studies such as this one can serve as a guide for those who have an impact on deciding what it means to be feminine or masculine, and regarding issues of gender equality.''

Cawthon added that the research is especially timely considering Clinton's historic bid to become the first woman president of the United States.

Harp joined UTA in 2011 and has focused her research on issues of power and voice in the public sphere. She has published work on women and marginalized groups, journalism, and digital and social media.

Harp also recently examined media coverage of the 2013 filibuster by former state Senator Wendy Davis to block an abortion-restricting bill in the Texas Legislature. The move became a political exhibition and symbolized dominant gender values and norms. The Spectacle of Politics: Wendy Davis, Abortion, and Pink Shoes in the Texas 'Fillybuster, was published online in the April 2016 issue of Journal of Gender Studies.
Book Excerpt from The Sialkot Saga

Bombay lay inundated with refugees in 1950. Over a million people displaced from Sindh and the Punjab were now sleeping on the city's streets. Shivaji Park, the nucleus of Marathi-speaking, middle-class Bombay, was densely packed. More than half a million souls had gathered to hear Jawaharlal Nehru speak.

Hours before his plane arrived at Santa Cruz airport, shops had downed their shutters and people had started lining the streets hoping to catch a glimpse of their living deity. The police had a difficult time keeping the throngs in control as Panditji's open maroon car drove by.

The government had set up five refugee camps in Bombay but they were hellish places. Each family had to live within thirty-six square feet of space. There was no electricity. Twelve water taps were allocated to serve 10,000 people.

A young Muslim couple, Ayub and Shabana Sheikh, with their son in tow, had begun their trek from the Dongri area of the city. It had taken them several hours to reach Shivaji Park. They had jostled their way into the venue to hear the man who was no less than a god to them. Ayub, a dockworker, had hoisted his son, Arbaaz, on his shoulders so that he would have a better view.

Panditji began speaking. 'Since I first unfurled the national flag on the red fort, three years have been added to India's long history, which began thousands of years ago. During these years, we have seen achievements and failures, we have experienced joy and sorrow. The good work we have done will remain even though we pass away. So will India, though generations come and go.' The tumultuous crowds were enthusiastic in their response.

'We must constantly remind ourselves that whatever our religion or creed, we are all one people,' said Panditji. To the young Muslim couple, Ayub and Shabana Sheikh, Panditji's words gave them hope for Indian Muslims.

Published by Westland

It was probably a sign of things to come.

Kurukshetra

For most people, the name conjured up visions of the epic battle between the Kauravas and Pandavas. For the moment, though, the ill-fated plains of Kurukshetra had been converted into a huge refugee camp, the largest among the 200 that had been established to accommodate the flood of humanity from Pakistan.

The Bagadias were not refugees. Brijmohanlal Bagadia was from Calcutta, where he ran a small jute trading operation. The family had been attending a wedding in Delhi winter of 1950 and had heard that Mahashiva Baba was visiting the nearby Kurukshetra camp.

Mahashiva Baba was a sadhu from Varanasi whose devotees believed that he had been alive for over 300 years. Brijmohanlal's mother had received darshan of the holy man many years ago and she had always kept his photograph in her prayer corner.

'If only we could meet him once and seek his blessings for Arvind,' said Brijmohanlal to his wife, Shakuntala. The poor woman was valiantly trying to keep up with Brijmohanlal while firmly dragging Arvind by his hand.

While claims of the baba's immortality could be doubted, his ability to organize relief work could not. Mahashiva Baba had created an organization of thousands of devoted followers who came to be known as 'Jeevan Prakash'. Besides operating universities, schools and hospitals, Jeevan Prakash also took up relief work wherever it was needed. The camp at Kurukshetra consumed hundreds of tons of flour, lentils', rice and cooking oil. The refugees had to be fed, clothed, housed and provided medical facilities. People like the baba were saviours. The armed forces were working overtime at the camps but they needed all the help that they could get. Mahashiva Baba and his devotees had been welcomed with open arms.

The Bagadias wandered through the camp at Kurukshetra and were stunned by its size. Over 300,000 souls inhabited the camp, many of them having travelled in long caravans on foot or bullock cart from Pakistan. More than ten million people had fled their homes, a migration that reduced the exodus of the Jews from Egypt to a minority.

After an hour of wandering in the hot sun, the Bagadias finally reached the tent occupied by the Baba. The Baba wore only a loin cloth and sported thick matted hair on his ash-smeared forehead. He sat on a square piece of cloth that was little bigger than his kerchief. No one knew his age but he looked like a man of forty. There was a glow on his face and the muscles of his chest and arms rippled as though he had worked out for every day of his life. His face was accentuated by a prominent jaw. Next to him was a smoking chillum made of clay and a copper pot filled with bhasma-holy ash. A musky-sweet smell permeated the air. The baba rarely ate. His energy came from meditation and weed.

His eyes picked out the Bagadia family instantly. He asked one of his followers to guide them to him. 'How is your mother? Does she still keep my photograph in her prayer corner?' he asked Brijmohanlal. Brijmohanlal stared at the baba with his mouth agape. The baba had never seen him before and yet seemed to know everything about him. Both husband and wife prostrated themselves before him.

'Place the boy in front of me,' instructed the baba softly as they got up. Shakuntala placed the eight-year-old in front of the sadhu. Arvind sat cross-legged before the baba, playing with a toy soldier. He was oblivious to the holy man.

The baba smiled at the boy. Arvind did not return the favour. The baba then took some ash from his copper pot and smeared it lightly on the boy's forehead as he chanted:

'Om tryambakam yajaamahe

sugandhim pushti-vardhanam,

Urvaarukam-iva bandhanaan

mrityormuksheeya maamrataat!'

Looking up at the parents, he said 'Take care of this boy. He is destined for many big things in life.' The parents stepped forward and touched the baba's feet, grateful for his blessing.

As the Bagadias walked out of the baba's tent, they noticed a pervasive air of gloom. 'Whats the matter?' , asked Brijmohanlal of one of the baba's disciples. The man had tears in his eyes.

'Sardar has passed away,' he said softly. The iron man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, had died following a heart attack. Patel had gifted 565 princely states to the Indian union.

Earlier that year Babasaheb Ambedkar had gifted 395 Articles to make up the Constitution of India. Probably the longest in the world.

Key moments in Indian history were being created. The moment passed was history, the unborn moment a mystery.

Dusk had descended on the congested streets of Dongri. On the pavements, steaming hot kebabs freshly grilled or pulled out of bubbling oil were the main attraction for those who were breaking their fast for Ramadan.

The house that Ayub and Shabana occupied with little Arbaaz was certainly not a house. It was more of a room on the second floor of a decrepit building that overlooked Hazrat Abbas Dargah on Palla Gully.

From dozens of matchbox windows, families peered out to catch the spectacle of the mohalla below. One of the faces peering out was that of the ravenous nine-year-old Arbaaz.

It was his very first Ramadan fast.

On the street below, the situation was chaotic. The country's first general elections had been announced for October 1951 and Chief Election Commissioner Sukumar Sen had the envieable task of getting 175 million adult Indians to cast their votes in the biggest experiment in democracy. Politicians of all hues were busy holding iftar parties to woo the Muslim electorate of the area that sweltering June.

Inside the ten-by-ten room, Shabana tried her best to make their home look presentable. Ayub would be home soon.

She felt terrible for him - having to labour in the docks while fasting.

She placed the earthen water pot on the corner stool and carefully arranged a few dates that would be needed for iftar. She had not cooked. Ayub would be taking them out to the streets to sample the delectable fare on offer.

She looked inside the matka and checked the copper wristlet at the bottom. Little Arbaaz would often ask her what it was there for. She would simply tell him that copper was good for the health.

'Come on, Arbaaz, wipe your hands and face,' she said, handing a small damp towel to him. 'You got into so much trouble at school for being dirty.'

Arbaaz obediently started scrubbing away the sweat and soot from his face, neck, arms and hands. It had been an exceptionally hot and muggy day. Arbaaz looked at the grimy towel as he handed it back to his mother. 'It's not worth the effort,' he said to her.

'What's not worth the effort?' asked Shabana?

'Cleaning up,' replied Arbaaz.

'Why?' asked Shabana, indulging him.

'Now I'm clean but the towel's dirty. There's simply no way to get something cleaned without getting something else dirty.'

Calcutta wasn't a city. It was a story. In 1960, Job Charnock, an agent of the East India Company, had carefully chosen the place for a British trade settlement. It was a good choice. It was protected by the Hooghly River on the west, a creek to the north, and by salt lakes about two-and-half miles to the east. On 24 August, 1690, Charnock had made a generous offering at an old Kali temple and had then pitched his tent on the site of the charred ruins of an old factory. At that time there had been three substantial villages along the east bank of the River Ganges-Sutanuti, Gobindapur and Kalikata. These three villages were bought by the British from the local landlords. Then the Mughal emperor granted East India Company freedom of trade in return for a yearly pavement of 3000, rupees. Calcutta was born.

Brijmohanlal, Shakuntala and the now nine-year-old Arvind were seated at a table in the Waldorf restaurant n Calcutta's Park Street. It was a Sunday ritual for the Bagadia family. The parents would take their son to the Waldorf for a Chinese meal followed by cassata ice cream. Being vegetarians, the lunch order remained fixed: sweet corn soup, vegetable spring rolls, fried rice and chop suey.

Brijmohanlal was short, plump and dark. His black hair was pasted together in place with a generous topping of Brylcreem. Shakuntala was petite and fair. Her long hair was neatly braided and she was always dressed elegantly in Banarasi sarees. On her slim hands were bangles that were perfectly colour-coordinated with her saree. Arvind seemed to have taken after his mother more than his father.

In this little haven called Waldorf, there was no sign that the American Congress was debating a food request from India; nor do any sign that the Soviet Union was in the process of sending 50,000 tons of wheat to meet the country's food shortage. There was no shortage at the Waldorf in 1951.

Father, mother and son sat at their usual table surrounded by the rich red interiors of the restaurant. Their favoured waiter, Liang, was on holiday that day. He had been a permanent fixture with the restaurant from the time it had moved from Tangra, Calcutta's Chinatown to Park Street.

The new waiter took their order without the usual flair or familiarity of Liang, and disappeared. Thirty minutes later, their food had still not arrived.

'Where's that bumbling waiter?' fretted Brijmohanlal tapping his fingers impatiently on the linen-covered table.

'Papa, I don't understand something,' perked up Arvind suddenly.

'What is that, beta?' asked Brijmohanlal

'Why are these people called waiters, when we are the ones who wait?'

(See interview: A fast-paced game of Monopoly )
A man accused of murder of a Polish national in Donegal three years ago got on his knees and swore that he wasn't involved in the killing when questioned by a friend of the deceased, a witness at the Central Criminal Court said at the murder trial.

Adam Kycwaik said he met the accused man Dariusz Weckowicz in the street a few days after his friend Bogdan Michalkiewicz (41), had been found beaten to death at his home in Westside Apartments, Letterkenny, Co Donegal on May 13, 2013.

Mr Weckowicz (51), and Krzystof Grzegorski (22), who lived in Letterkenny at the time, are both accused of Bogdan's murder.

Mr Grzegorski has pleaded not (NOT) guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The plea was not accepted by the State. Mr Weckowicz has pleaded not (NOT) guilty to murder.

Speaking at their trial today (FRI) Adam told prosecuting counsel Alex Owens SC that he lived with Bogdan in 2013 but was in Poland at the time of his friend's death. He came back a few days later and met Mr Weckowicz in the street and invited him to his new home. He wanted to find out what had happened. He said: "I asked him whether he was there and he said he was there. I asked if someone else was with him and he said "yes"."

He said he wanted to find out why Mr Weckowicz did not intervene.

"I was telling him that we are friends. Why had it happened when he is such a good friend?"

He added: "He knew Bogdan could hardly walk and we had helped him so much in his life."

He said Mr Weckowicz told him that he was so drunk he wasn't able to help Bogdan.

Speaking to defence counsel for Mr Weckowicz Brendan Grehan SC he said Mr Weckowicz was reluctant to say who the other person was but eventually indicated that it was his co-accused Krzystof Grzegorski.

He added: "He said he was there and he was drunk and he did not touch Bogdan. He was swearing that he did not touch Bogdan. He was swearing on his knees."

He also agreed with Mr Grehan that in a statement he made to gardai in May 2013 he said Mr Weckowicz would not have been able to kill Bogdan because he was too weak. He said this was "obvious" and described Mr Weckowicz as an alcoholic and a "shadow", adding: "He looked terrible."

He said that after the conversation he chased Mr Weckowicz from his home because he didn't want to talk to him any more.

He added: "I wanted to be sure who was there and who dared to do such a thing in my house." He was satisfied with the answers he got from Mr Weckowicz.

A witness told the murder trial on Thursday that one of the accused was drunk and being aggressive on the day of the alleged killing.

Przemyslaw Lyczek, from Letterkenny, Co Donegal, told prosecution counsel Alex Owens SC that Grzegorski (22), "appeared in a weird manner. He seemed to be strange."

He said he had known Mr Grzegorski from school and this was the first time he saw him act in this way.

Speaking through an interpreter he said: "He was aggressive in such a manner that I had not seen him before. I don't remember what he was saying but he seemed more firm and rigid in front of me." He said he could smell alcohol from him and agreed with defence counsel for Mr Grzegorski, Michael Bowman SC, that he told gardai at the time that he "smelled like he had been drinking for a couple of days."

The court heard from various witnesses who knew the deceased and the two accused. Petr Adamovicz told Mr Owens that he knew Mr Grzegorski only to see but that he had lived with Mr Weckowicz in Letterkenny for about two years.

He said that he bumped into Mr Weckowicz on the street shortly after Bogdan's body was found and he noticed a red stain on his jeans.

He told Mr Owens that he pointed out the stain and Mr Weckowicz responded: "I don't know why this stain is on my trousers."

He added:"To me it resembled blood but I am not able to verify that."

The trial will continue today in front of Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury of eight men and four women.
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.
Intellectual property, such as patents and copyrights can represent a significant portion of a companys assets  particularly for highly innovative start-ups.

Currently, intangible assets are subject to a legislative effective life period which is used to calculate their rate of depreciation.

However, these existing provisions which mandate their life span are inflexible and often do not represent the true time period over which the asset may provide an economic benefit.

On 7 December 2015, the government announced, as part of its National Innovation and Science agenda, changes to the depreciation of intangible assets. The measure was to apply to assets acquired from 1 July 2016 however on 9 May 2016 the Australian Government assumed a caretaker role. While the continuation of this measure will be a matter for the incoming government to decide, it highly likely that it will be retained.

The draft legislation proposes to introduce a choice between the existing statutory life or, alternatively, to self assess the tax effective life of an intangible asset. This will enable companies to better represent the period of time over which they anticipate their intangible assets to produce an economic benefit.

This method of calculation brings the treatment of depreciating intangible assets into line with tangible assets.

The legislation will apply to a range of intellectual property including patents, registered designs, copyrights, some licenses and access software as well as in-house software.

The Company can assess the effective life of the asset, and then use that period of time to calculate its depreciation. When calculating the life of the asset will a company can consider the rate at which the asset is likely to become obsolete, changes in circumstance, developments in the technology or market or changed nature of the asset. The provisions are being welcomed by companies who invest heavily in the development and registration of their patents only to have them superseded before they have realised their depreciated value.

About Sarah Bartholomeusz:

Sarah Bartholomeusz is the founder and CEO of You Legal, a new category of law firm providing top-tier corporate and commercial legal services and corporate governance support to ASX-listed companies as well as growing businesses at all stages of their life cycle. In 2015 You Legal was the winner of the Telstra Business Womens Award in the Start-Up category for South Australia. As Australias leading online legal counsel, Sarah has taken over a decade of experience and committed to ensuring businesses have access to legal advice that minimises their risks and maximises their potential.
Its not the employer who pays the wages. Employers only handle money. Its the customer who pays the wages.  Henry Ford

You might have established a business under your name, but even if youre the person with the most authority, you still have another boss to please: the client.

The purpose of your sales and business presentations must be to provide something useful for your clients, including prospects. If you fail to address their concerns, then you put your business in danger. The same goes with exposing clients to text-heavy, bullet-point slides. This not only distracts them from listening to your message, but also hurts your brands reputation.

To entice clients, make a great first impression and provide customer satisfaction, you need to deliver a well-crafted presentation. Here are three tips to wow clients without boasting about everything you can do.

Know their expectations

Treating your clients as your boss requires you to create a customer- or client-focused culture within your business. This will involve prioritising meetings with clients, exceeding their expectations to gain their loyalty, and having a competitive advantage above others.

If clients feel like you dont deliver a service as expected, or your offering isnt fit for them, theres a chance that a sales opportunity or new business partnership will be at stake.

Take the restaurant industry as an example. Customers typically expect their food to be on their table in about 10-15 minutes. Any longer than that magnifies the stress of waiting, making them want to complain.

Knowing your clients expectations is valuable in keeping a healthy business. After all, they provide your paycheck, but only if you satisfy their needs. Without revenue, your business could be in financial trouble sooner than you think.

Putting yourself in their shoes is the golden mantra to understand their needs. Think about their problems the way you think of yours to develop ways on how to enhance their experience.

Consider the tiniest gaps in their desires like age, and personal preferences, then figure out how to work them out and deliver them.

Highlight the benefits of your offering to show clients that you care about them and that you can fulfill their needs. Anticipate their needs by observing and researching on their buying patterns.

Doing all the necessary homework ahead of a presentation will help you weather any setbacks during it. Its like being an amusement ride operator, checking a persons seatbelt before the ride finally starts in motion.

Keep your points concise

Its true that you need to sell yourself to grasp a new business opportunity. But the problem lies in digressing from your objective, to the point of losing the deal.

According to Google, people are exposed to 300 exabytes of human-made information nowadays. Anything beyond that can cause them to lose focus and make poorer judgements.

Thats why using less elements matters more in presentations. Keep your slides simple to make your message more digestible, especially now that peoples attention spans have dropped to 8 seconds.

To keep your points concise, ensure their relevance to your topic. Ask yourself: Does my audience need to know what I did before I came in in this presentation room? Its alright to share stories, just make sure to connect them to your ideas.

Avoid using long-winded expressions while presenting. Use precise words as much as possible. For example, instead of saying At this point in time, cut it short to At present or Today. This makes you sound more straightforward and welcoming.

Be conversational to stay on point. Use easy-to-understand words to quickly establish a personal connection between you and your audience. For example, say basic instead of rudimentary. Replacing difficult jargons with simple ones wont actually hurt your speech.

Leverage your brands story

Storytelling works for everyone. It stirs up emotions, making your pitch more interesting than simply sharing information. This allows you to connect with your audience, and make your material more memorable.

A recent study conducted by Jennifer Edson Escales, Marketing Researcher at Vanderbilt University, USA, attested to its validity. It was found that research participants have more positive reactions to advertisements that were told as narratives than those who used facts and arguments.

If you want to tickle your clients curiosity, share a compelling story that mirrors your business values. You can either tell a story on how you helped someone solve his problem on a personal or professional note.

To leverage your brands story and establish a sense of trust, begin with hinting at a problem. State the main consumer issue that causes their dissatisfaction towards a situation or product. As your story unfolds, those pain points can help you communicate what solution you have to the clients central need.

Product features alone wont entice clients to take your side. Translate these into benefits and briefly explain how they are different from the competitors. Lets say your business gears toward the automotive industry. Cite features like seat heaters and how theyre practically life-saving devices during winter seasons.

Lastly, encourage your clients to tell their story and speak their minds while youre presenting. Opening the floor for discussion can give them a sense of belonging, letting you impress them.

State some testimonials from your happy clients. However, choose only feedback from the best, reliable, empathetic clients. This not only proves your products effectivity but also your growing positive relationship.

One Last Thing: Place Your Best Foot Forward

Treating your customer as your boss can set the bar high for your business. It takes three ways to impress them with your pitch. Lets review them:

First, know their expectations by putting yourself in their shoes and anticipating their needs.

Second, keep your points relevant and concise.

Lastly, leverage your brands identity through storytelling.

The next time you get the opportunity to present at a client meeting, always put your best foot forward. Your presentation skills can say a lot about you and your company. So, deliver your pitch well to protect and maintain your brand image.

Master these public speaking tips to impress your audience and grow your relationship with them over time!

About the author

Rick Enrico is the CEO and Founder of SlideGenius, Inc. He regularly publishes expert presentation tips on the SlideGenius blog. You can connect with him on LinkedIn or Twitter.

References
How to avoid being a victim of card fraud

Card fraud is big business for crooks. According to Financial Fraud Action UK (FFA UK), fraud losses on payment cards (credit, debit, charge and ATM-only cards) totalled 567.5 million in 2015, an increase of 18% on the previous year. It accounted for three-quarters of financial fraud losses.

In addition to pickpocketing and distraction thefts, criminals use technology to steal personal data in order to conduct impersonation and deception scams. Unlocked smartphones and tablets provide a treasure trove of data for crooks, giving them access to personal contact details, mobile banking details and other financial transactions.

Matt Sanders, from Gocompare.com Money commented, Were all potential targets for fraudsters and, as FFA UKs figures clearly show, an increasing number of people are taken in by criminals increasingly sophisticated scams. But, its far easier to guard against fraud if youre aware of the different types of scams criminals operate and know the warning signs to look out for.

Fraudsters continually seek new ways to scam unsuspecting people. Our increasing use of technology to do everything from holding our address book and diary to online shopping and banking means that criminals are also logging-on to find new ways to steal our personal information and raid bank accounts. To thieves, the personal data held on a smartphone or tablet can be more valuable than the device itself. So, always PIN protect your mobile device.

Social media sites can also provide a rich seam of personal information which can be used for identity theft and financial fraud. Social media platforms encourage users to provide as much personal information as possible, including users full names, birth dates, relationship status  even pet names. Crooks can use this information to build up a personal profile and guess the answer to bank and payment card provider security questions. So, we would recommend users of these sites to use privacy settings to protect their personal information.

Types of payment card fraud:

Card-not-present fraud: Also known as remote purchase fraud, this type of fraud occurs when card details are fraudulently used to make purchases that dont require you to physically present a card. These include purchases made online, through the post or over the telephone. Criminals fraudulently obtain card details using a range of tactics such as recording card details during a legitimate transaction or downloading malware on to the victims computer.

Lost and stolen cards: Fraudsters use a lost or stolen card to make a purchase or to withdraw cash from an ATM.

Card ID theft: Criminals use fraudulently obtained cards or card details along with stolen personal information to either open or take over a card account held in someone elses name. Card ID theft takes two forms:

Application fraud: a criminal uses stolen, discarded or fake documents to open an account in someone elses name.

Account take over: a criminal takes over another persons genuine card. Fraudulently obtained personal information is used to deceive the card company and the fraudster can carry out transactions from the account, request changes to the account or ask for a new card to be issued.

Card not received fraud: Cards may be stolen in transit between the card issuer and the genuine card holder. The risk of this type of fraud increases if you live somewhere with communal letterboxes which provide shared access to mail.

Cash machine fraud: Criminals target ATMs to steal cards and card data. Tactics range from peering over someones shoulder to see their PIN, then stealing their card - to the use of devices attached an ATM which can copy or skim card details and PIN number and trap the card in the machine.

Counterfeit card fraud: This type of card fraud involves criminals creating a fake card using details from the magnetic strip of a genuine card. Counterfeit cards are typically for used overseas in countries which havent upgraded to Chip & PIN.

Gocompare.com Moneys tips on reducing the risk of becoming a victim of card payment fraud:

1. Protect your cards and your personal information:

Never provide debit or credit card numbers or PINs or other personal information in response to an unsolicited email, online or telephone request. Genuine banks and card providers never request information in this way;

When you receive a new payment card  remember to sign the back;

Never let your card or card details out of sight when making a transaction;

Protect your personal information on social media, use privacy settings and dont accept friend requests from people you dont know;

Dont use the same passwords for social media sites and online banking;

Access your online financial accounts by typing the web address into your browser;

Buy a shredder to dispose of card statements and other documents containing personal or financial information you no longer need;

Always PIN protect smartphones and other mobile devices.

2. Protect your PIN and keep it secret:

Choose a strong PIN. Dont use obvious numbers, for example, the year you were born, your wedding anniversary, telephone or house number. Fraudsters can easily pick-up this kind of personal information from social media profiles and online directories.

Memorise your PIN  dont write it down or disclose it to anyone else;

Dont use the same PIN for all your payment cards;

When using an ATM or other card reader always shield your PIN with your hand.

3. Online safety measures:

Regularly update your computers firewall or antivirus software;

When shopping online, always look carefully at the site for secure transaction symbols. The web address should start https and the page should display the secure payment lock logo;

If possible, always shop or bank online from your personal computer;

Always log-off from a site once youve completed a transaction.

4. Regularly review card and bank statements:

Check statements on a regular basis and look out for unusual or unauthorised transactions;

Contact your card provider immediately if you suspect fraud.

5. Diary dates:

Note when you should be receiving a new payment card. If it doesnt arrive when you expect it, contact the card provider as soon as possible.
Oh, ha, ha, ha.

Michigan opponents of the federal health care overhaul said Tuesday they will keep fighting the plan, even though their grass-roots bid to allow voters to weigh in on the issue has failed. The campaign to ask Michigan voters if they wanted the option to not participate in the health care reform passed by Congress in March was one of several that failed to turn in enough signatures to make the statewide November ballot. The group sponsoring the effort collected roughly 150,000 signatures, well short of the more than 380,000 needed by a late Monday deadline to make the ballot.

As Maxwell Smart would say: Missed it by THAT much! Over 60% that much in fact.

Petition organizer Wendy Day had this to say:

We didnt fail. We just didnt succeed enough.

More comical quotes after the jump.



The goal of the petition drive, organized by Michigan Citizens for Healthcare Freedom, was to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in 2010 that would allow citizens the opportunity to vote on an amendment that says you cannot be forced to join a government-run healthcare system, according to Day. She also said:

Its not the battles you can win, but its those you cant afford to lose.

I guess shes hoping this is one of those they CAN afford to lose.

More awesome quotage:

From Jack McHugh, the Mackinac Center For Public Policys senior legislative analyst:

The initiative was a scream of pain from a general public that had just witnessed the political class trample 200 years of limited government principles, using a whatever it takes process that violated all our democratic traditions of deliberative policy making, McHugh wrote in an e-mail. The people sought redress to a national outrage by explicitly placing one of the violated principles into our state constitution. However, the potential effectiveness of that approach is speculative and abstract, which turned out to be an insuperable obstacle to raising even enough money to sustain even a purely volunteer petitioning process. Politicians who read this as public acceptance of the new law do so at their peril.

Screams of PAIN, I tellzya!!!

Heres more from Day from the MCHCR website:

So while we did not succeed in this battle, the war is not over. The next battle is just beginning and we are in it for the long haul. There are no guarantees, but the alternative is to sit back and accept the healthcare takeover. We know that isnt an option for any of us. For all you have done these past 11 weeks- thank you. Not to be too corny, but you are the wind beneath our wings.

Okay, yeah. Thats corny. Also, too: too corny.

Heres one from one of Days volunteers. Kenneth David, 63, of Grand Haven:

After March 21 (when Congress passed the healthcare legislation), I felt as though the hammer came down on us because the president and the Congress did not listen to the people, David said. It was like a hammer coming down and squashing a bug.

Hey, we didnt call you bugs. Thats on you, Kenneth.

But theyre not done yet, nosireeBob.

Sen. Wayne Kuipers, R-Holland, and Rep. Tom McMillin, R-Rochester Hills, said they havent given up on proposals that would allow Michigan residents to opt out of the federal health care plan. They said they will introduce legislation that mirrors the language of the failed petition drive. Those bills might be able to pass the Republican-led Senate, but theyd face long odds of passing the Democratic-run House or getting the approval of Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

But David Holtz, director of Progress Michigan, explains this drive more succinctly than anyone:

The real goal of this exercise is to defeat Democrats.

Ya think??? Yeah, I think. Make sure government fails so you can blame it on the Dems. Its whats for (GOPosaur) dinner.

By the way, Day says you can stay in touch by going to www.makelansinglisten.com.

I went there. The page says Site Temporarily Unavailable. Whoops.

But, man, I just have to put this quote up again because its the icing on an otherwise delicious cake:

We didnt fail. We just didnt succeed enough.

BWAAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!

UPDATE: As I mentioned in the comments, last week it was reported that the petition drive was short of signatures but that they were hoping for a big push over the Independence Day holiday:

Day wouldnt say how many of the required 380,126 valid signatures have been obtained. Regardless, petitions must be submitted early next week to get the issue on the November ballot. Were not sure if were going to make it yet or not. Were kind of waiting to see what happens this weekend, Day said Thursday. We feel comfortable going forward no matter what happens, she added.

Day said the July 4 holiday weekend will provide the perfect backdrop for rounding out needed signatures because Michiganders will be celebrating their freedoms. Theres a lot going on, and they have their minds on our freedom and our liberty. Its a prefect time really to go out and talk to people about maintaining their health-care freedom, Day said.

Now I know why she wouldnt say. She didnt even have HALF of the signatures she needed. Too funny.

Im just sayin
The Detroit News recently published an article highlighting two Michigan tea party activists who are working on a Dump Trump campaign to deny Donald J. Trump the Republican nomination for president by changing the rules of the Republican convention.

One of them is Wendy Day, a Howell-based tea partier who is best known, at least to me, as the woman claimed, after failing to derail the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) in Michigan with a ballot initiative petition drve, that We didnt fail. We just didnt succeed enough.

Day has a long history of failures. She was elected to the Howell Board of Education while she was homeschooling her own kids. She was busted for blogging about the school board during meetings, supported efforts to have others on the Board recalled, and was widely reviled for her efforts to throw sand in the gears of a school system. In 2014, Day ran for State Representative with the support of the Koch brothers front group Americans For Prosperity but never made it past the GOP primary. Last June, the campaign of Texas tea party Senator Ted Cruz picked her to head up his campaign in Michigan, a campaign that fizzled out by late spring of this year.

The Republican Party is in a deep hole right now and its largely because its been taken over by tea party types like Wendy Day. Major party leaders are actively not supporting their presidential nominee, something few of us have EVER seen before. Reasonable Republicans, to the extent that they even exist any longer, have no chance of rising to upper levels of the party. So Republicans are left with extremist aberrations like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.

This, then, is the ultimate outcome from the tea party takeover of the Republican Party by people like Wendy Day. She contributed to Trumps ascent by blowing up the party and is now upset that its not her own candidate Ted Cruz who was the victor.

Cry me a river, Ms. Day.

And welcome to your worst nightmare: President Hillary Clinton.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos recently announced an expansion of the companys investment in India to the tune of US$3 billion  that was in addition to the $2 billion in investments it announced in 2014.

Bezos announced the new investment during the 41st annual U.S.-India Business Council Leadership Summit, which was attended by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several top business leaders.

We have already created some 45,000 jobs and continue to see huge potential in the Indian economy, Bezos said at the summit.

The Amazon.in team is surpassing even our most ambitious planned milestones, he added.

Amazon runs 21 fulfillment centers in India and has 85,000 sellers on its e-commerce platform, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The companys plans include opening a new region for the Amazon Web Services cloud computing business and building its largest software engineering and development center outside the U.S., the Chamber reported.

When I peer into the future of India, what I see is unlimited India, Bezos said.

Foreign Investment Regs

Bezos announcement followed a recent change in Indias restrictions on foreign direct investment, which requires companies like Amazon to act as intermediaries in the local marketplace. Amazon sells much of its inventory through Cloudtail, a joint venture with Catamaran Ventures, the private investment arm of billionaire N.R. Narayana Murthy, who cofounded Infosys.

Amazon earlier this year announced a new10-acre campus in Gachibowli, an IT-focused suburb of Hyderabad, Telangana. The campus will be the largest in India and the companys biggest outside the U.S.

Amazon last year announced the launch of one of its largest fulfillment centers in Hyderabad. The new campus, which will be ready in 2019, will manage back-end operations for various business and technology teams around the world.

Telangana has been home to Amazons IT operations since 2005.

All In

It appears that Amazon is seeking to build an infrastructure just for the India market, which is good strategy given the regulatory challenges of being a foreign entity and the different e-commerce environment, said Jim McGregor, principal analyst at Tirias Research.

The investment is part competitive, part political, he said, as it no doubt will curry favor with government officials in India.

With deep pockets, Amazon can outposition smaller local competitors, while buying goodwill with the powers that be, McGregor observed.

One of the worlds fastest-growing e-commerce markets, India currently is dominated by firms like Flipkart, Snapdeal and Alibaba.

India represents a rapidly expanding market with a growing middle class, Stratecast/Frost & Sullivan Program Manager Mike Jude told the E-Commerce Times.

Overall, the online retail market in India is only 2 percent of total retail sales in that country, according to Forrester Research. However, growth in e-tailing is exploding, with the market expected to rise at a compound annual growth rate of 44 percent, starting last year, to reach $75 billion by 2020.
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(Photo: Brendan Cox)Slain British lawmaker Jo Cox photographed next to the barge on which she had lived in London.

A pastor leading a memorial service commemorating the life of slain British lawmaker Jo Cox has described her as a "21st Century Good Samaritan."

The Rev. Paul Knight told the congregation at St. Peter's Church in Birstall, near Leeds in northern England that the 41-year-old Member of Parliament was "someone with whom Jesus would have been so pleased."

The Church of England priest said, ""Her humanity was powerful and compelling and we would do well to recognise her as an amazing example, a 21st Century Good Samaritan."

"Jo was someone who went out of her way to help others. She grew into a fervent advocate for the poor and oppressed.

"And though she must have been angry at times about what she saw here and around the world - those places she visited and worked - she seemed to me, at least, to be one who could fight with a passion and a disarming smile."

Knight read the story of the Good Samaritan from the Bible and praised the bravery of Bernard Kenny, a 77-year-old, who tried to help the Cox after she was attacked outside the Birstall library and who is recovering in hospital, The Guardian reported.

"There is much wickedness in our world. But thank God there is so much goodness, goodness that does not recognise colour nor nationality. Kenny showed the same passion for the stranger as Jo Cox did," he said.

Cox was a Member of Parliament representing the opposition Labour Party in the constituency in which she grew up when she was attacked, first shot, then stabbed, as she left a meeting in which she had met local residents on June 16.

She had been campaigning for a "remain" vote in the scheduled June 23 referendum, known also as the 'Brexit vote" when Britain will go to the polls to decide whether to remain in the European Union. This debate has stirred up some bitter political fights.

The 41-year-old former aid worker, who leaves a husband and two children, had been conducting an open meeting known in British parlance as a "constituency surgery" listening to local constituents looking for help or airing grievances.

Thomas Mair, a 52-year-old local appeared in a London court on June 18 charged with Cox's murder.

'FREEDOM FOR BRITAIN'

When asked his name, he replied, "Death to traitors, freedom for Britain."

Lawmakers from all parties in the British Parliament paid tribute to Cox in a specially called meeting on June 20.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said Cox, had "lit up the lives of all who knew her, and saved the lives of many she never ever met."

"We express our anger at the sickening and despicable act that killed her as she did her job serving her constituents on the streets of Birstall," he said.

"But above all in this house, we pay tribute to a loving, determined, passionate and progressive politician who epitomized the best of humanity and who proved so often the power of politics to make our world a better place."

He called for lawmakers to continue her legacy "by uniting against the hatred that killed her."

The leader of the opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, described fellow MP Cox, who was elected at the 2015 general election, as an "inspiring" new Membrer of Parliament.

"She was brutally murdered on the streets of this village, doing the job she was elected to do, representing the people she was elected to serve, doing her duty to the public and our democracy," he said.

"Ours is a country where tolerance and respect for other people and different viewpoints have always been highly valued. We must not allow those who peddle hatred, terror and division to poison and degrade our national and political life," he asserted.
Great Britain experiences bureaucratization without representation By Michael R. Shannon

Call it the FortyYear Itch, there's something about being in a larger combination of former opposites that causes husbands and nations to get restive. Fortyfour years after the Constitution was ratified in the United States the nation experienced the Nullification Crisis. That's when South Carolina declared tariffs passed by Congress in 1828 and 1832 were null and void and would not be enforced. Now 43 years after joining the European Union, the United Kingdom is having second thoughts about being a member of a ramshackle confederation run by pointyheaded cappuccinodrinkers in Brussels. This means there are two consequential elections this year that pit the forces of tradition and history against the promise of a trendy utopia just around the corner, if you'll shut up and follow orders today. We won't find out if nationalist Donald Trump will defeat national nanny Hillary Clinton until November, but the citizens of the UK will find out June 23rd. The EU vote is called Brexit and the American Conservative Union held a panel on the controversy this week that featured Nile Gardiner, a former advisor to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, current PM David Cameron's former Senior Advisor Steve Hilton and FOX News national security analyst KT McFarland. The panel's consensus was a Brexit exit would be good for the UK. Gardiner characterizes the vote as one between the elite and the maninthestreet. The UK "is no longer a free country." The nation's courts are "subservient to EU courts" and Hilton points out that over half of current government activity goes toward enforcing EU rules and regulations with which the UK government actively disagrees. This Brussels' usurpation by executive order effectively disenfranchises the majority of UK voters that elected Cameron and his Tory government. Ironically, the "Remain Campaign" is led by Cameron, who evidently doesn't mind being neutered as long as he gets to keep the Downing Street address and the perks. The Brexit vote and the fault line it exposes between leaders and led is much like the illegal alien controversy we have here. Financial interests, cosmopolitans and cheap labor exploiters like illegal immigration because it puts money in their pocket and the people hurt are invisible in their social circles. The UK equivalents support remaining in the EU for many of the same reasons. Unfortunately for party leadership in conservative circles both here and in the UK, the base here wants illegal immigration stopped and the base in the UK wants out of the EU. Cameron promised a referendum as a bit of throwaway red meat during the election campaign. He assumed he would be forming a coalition in Parliament and the partner would block the vote. He vastly underestimated the power of the issues and was astonished when the Tories won outright and didn't need a partner. Now Cameron's forced to have the vote and the process hasn't done anything to rekindle an affinity with his base and it's made him something of a pariah on the continent. His own party is split with an insurgent camp urging "Leave" while he clings to "Remain." The situation didn't improve for him when the largest newspaper in Britain, The Sun, urged a "Leave" vote because "at the ballot box, we can correct this huge and historic mistake. It is our last chance. Because, be in no doubt, our future looks far bleaker if we stay in." Hilton says much of the campaign by "Remain" forces pits the sovereignty argument for leaving against an economy argument for remaining. But he contends that's a false dichotomy. "The vote about sovereignty is a vote about economics". Gardiner predicts a rosy future for the UK outside the EU. "The economy will be more vibrant, stronger and more prosperous." As support for "Remain" has declined the campaign has become more frenzied. The warnings of Project Fear, as it's commonly termed, are now described by Gardiner as a "combination of the Walking Dead and Godzilla. One indication of Cameron's alienation and desperation was his decision to bring that master of diplomacy Barack Obama to London to lecture the public on why they should vote to "Remain." In Gardiner's words the visit was "an astonishing slap in the face and an absolute disgrace." Obama's special magic resulted in a decline in Remain support that has continued until today. The latest polling shows "Leave" to be ahead by up to 10 points, reversing what had been a substantial "Remain" advantage. Hilton sums up the EU as "an organization with three presidents, none of whom are elected." Which may explain Obama's eagerness to get involved. Maybe he's hoping for a third, fourth and fifth term overseas once he wears out his welcome here. Michael R. Shannon is a public relations and advertising consultant with corporate, government and political experience around the globe. He is a dynamic and entertaining keynote speaker. He can be reached at mandate.mmpr (at) gmail.com. He is also the author of Conservative Christian's Guidebook for Living in Secular Times (Now with added humor!). Home
Escape from The New World Order By Michael Moriarty

Here, this report on The New World Order begins with the voice of John F. Kennedy leading the American people to increased alertness about the dangers of conspiracy yes, a "secret society", a plot to create The New World Order. Yes, there are massively creepy secrets about Bohemian Grove, The Illuminati, the Skull and Bones Fraternity of Yale and, yes, the conglomerate obsession for the men of these organizations: The New World Order. The above mentioned documentary, relatively old by now, was dated for publication in 2011. Nothing of any major importance about The New World Order has changed. Just the more shamelessly criminal second term of President Barack Hussein Obama. The heart of this endlessly long and repetitive, New World Order conspiracy? Hitler tried his own version of A New World Order with Nazi Germany. Stalin mostly dreamed of owning all of Europe as Hitler did. Meanwhile, the American banking system? And the American business ethic? American economic giants like Standard Oil funded both sides of World War II. The same thing occurred with the war in Vietnam. The so-called "Gulf of Tonkin Incident" was a fraud, perpetrated by the American propaganda machine to justify President Johnson's full entry into the Vietnam War. While, at the same time, President Johnson lifted trade restrictions upon the Soviet Bloc, knowing full well that Communist Russia was providing 80 % of North Vietnam's war supplies. Who profits from both sides of the Vietnam War? The Rockefellers financed factories in the Soviet Union which the Soviets used to manufacture military equipment sent to Vietnam. Utterly insane and increasingly self-defeating rules of engagement were sent down from the highest level in order to postpone any decisive victories or defeats in The Vietnam War. As is said in this documentary: "The Vietnam War was never meant to be won! Just sustained!!" A war for profit killed 58 thousand Americans and three million Vietnamese. According to this documentary's point of view, the destruction of the Twin Towers on September 11th, 2001, was a pretext to establish a world-wide conflict which is still being sustained for the purposes of profit. Wealth for what JFK warned us about: The Military-Industrial Complex; and that giant lobby's monetary dependence upon the "Free World's" banking system. In short: the American Treasury Department. Still to this day, a privately run business, owned by privately run banks. All three major wars of the 20th Century: World War I, World War II and Vietnam? Instigated deliberately by the war profiteers which obviously included the delusional Adolf Hitler. Now we have the increasingly suspicious fallout from the 9/11 attacks upon the Twin Towers. The slow but steadily creeping hands of governmental power being wrapped around America because of 9/11?! The Patriot Act!!!!! Because of such laws, the American public no longer has any legal protection from governmental invasions of almost any kind. To wit: one more, profoundly ironic addition to The Patriot Act: The North American Union! To what then are we to be "Patriotic"? America? Or The North American Union? And, ultimately, The New World Order? All being created by what is now known of as "The Investment Class". Who are they? The wealthiest of the human race and their increasing faith in a New World Order." Why? Control. New World Order control

over the entire earth

and the entire human race. The North American Union is, in truth, a total removal of sovereignty from America, Canada and Mexico; and the creation of a new North American currency: The Amero. The Rockefellers knew of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center 11 months before it actually happened. According to the Rockefellers at that time, "The Event" would allow America to invade the Middle East to control its oil. It will be entitled a "War on Terror". A "Terror" that will never end. The "Terrorists" like ISIS will, as witness Obama's deliberately lame and ineffectual efforts with ISIS, never be destroyed. A new version of the hoped-for and "Endless Vietnam War". Now it is "The Endless War On Terror"! The Media will convince the American People and the World that this war is based upon real conflict when "The Conflict" has been deliberately manufactured. This New World Order is at least 40 years old, but the inspirational idea for it can be seen upon the American dollar. Some say the New World Order is the creation of "The Masons"! Some say "The Illuminati"! Whatever it is?! It is Godless and utterly unconstitutional and therefore, as far as I am concerned, utterly illegal. What will combat and destroy this New World Order in the end? The indomitability of the Judeo-Christian Civilization. And The Eternal Truths of its guidebook, The Holy Bible. The New World Order has been successfully making fools out of everyone, including their own major operatives. Either the stupidest or most cunning of which is President Barack Hussein Obama. He has either been sold a bill of goods, most likely by The United Nations, that Islamic Law will be instituted as the guiding principles for The New World Order, or he has been ordered to play at being Muslim when he is most actually more Communist than anything else. A New World Order

has always fulfilled

the dreams of both Islam

and the International Communist Party. Obviously Communism and Islam have joined forces to complete the job of destroying Judeo-Christianity and what is left of the Free World. For his entire second term, President Obama has been openly, shamelessly and criminally defying and breaking almost every rule, every American right and regulation contained in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and its Bill of Rights. Secretly, behind closed doors, both the Clintons and the entire Bush Family  in short, The New World Order Establishment  are cheering Obama on, applauding the "fundamental transformation of the United States of America". It is Obama's job

to shamelessly break

American law! The New World Order Congress of America, both Republicans and Democrats, will not impeach President Barack Hussein Obama. Why? Obama is doing the dirty work required to ultimately fulfill the demands of The New World Order and, if necessary, deliberately drive traditional Americans into an inevitable Second American Civil War, during which The New World Order Board of American Directors hope and obviously trust that its American opposition will be destroyed. If the American opposition

to this New World Order

is not destroyed?

And if they defeat

The New World Order?

It is entirely possible

that the Bushes,

the Clinton's,

the Obamas

and men such as George Soros

will be hung as traitors. Soros already has one arrest warrant

from Vladimir Putin's Russia

for the equivalent of treason. Meanwhile, all of Islam and its major spokesperson, the President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama, are being sold a bill of goods that, indeed, Islam will not only have at least a 50 percent say in the decisions of the United Nations and the New World Order, it will be running what used to be all of the world's democracies. Of course, once this New World Order is fully constructed, there will be neither any democracies nor theocracies left on the Earth. Why? The New World Order will destroy any semblance of either democracy or theocracy around the world, including Islam. Christianity and Judaism, Israel particularly, must be destroyed by The New World Order. That is why a Muslim, Barack Hussein Obama, was deliberately made the President of the United States: to empower the likes of Iran and Iran's main objective to destroy Israel. Once all of Judeo-Christianity is weakened if not totally destroyed, then the victors are The Illuminati and their symbols: The All-Seeing Eye (CBS uses it), The Owl, Fire (torch of The Statue of Liberty, The Olympic Torch and Standard Oil's Logo), The Pentagon, No. 666, The Skull (Yale's Skull and Bones as eternal home for The Bush Family) Snakes ("Don't Tread On Me), The Obelisk (The Washington Monument) and, finally, The Monarch Butterfly. The depth of infiltration by these miraculous operatives for an ultimately Godless New World Order?! Who'd have guessed it but Pope Francis of the Catholic Church is now selling The New World Order. The true anti-Christ would just have to appear as a Pope of the Catholic Church. The Anti-Christ is empowered by people think that he actually is The Christ's Second Coming. The Vatican, like all of Islam, has either been sold a "piece of the New World Order" or the salesmen, like Barack Obama and Pope Francis, are decreasingly veiled Communists. Certainly Obama and Pope Francis are neither Islamic nor Christian in any way. Opposition to the New World Order? Presently individual freedom's only possible hope? Most ironically: the increasingly Christian but still dictatorial Vladimir Putin of the neo-Soviet Union and the mildly Presbyterian bully, Donald Trump, plus their growing friendship and alliance. They both most obviously see the New World Order potential for death to what Donald Trump lives for, The Free Market! Trump would die without anyone to compete with. A President Donald Trump is America's best and, at this point, only hope of escaping The Illuminati's diabolical campaign to force the freest and most powerful nation in the world, The United States of America, into an obedient membership in the United Nations' New World Order. God, Trump and Putin willing, that hell on earth will never happen. Michael Moriarty is a Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor who starred in the landmark television series Law and Order from 1990 to 1994. His recent film and TV credits include The Yellow Wallpaper, 12 Hours to Live, Santa Baby and Deadly Skies. Contact Michael at rainbowfamily2008@yahoo.com. He can be found on Twitter at https://twitter.com/@MGMoriarty. Home
Images of elves  examining the extent of the Tolkienian transformation, and subsequent 'postmodern' visions (Part Three) By Mark Wegierski

This essay is based on a draft of a presentation co-written with Wojciech Szymanski, M.A., read at the 2014 Fantastic Literature Conference (Supernatural Creatures: from Elf-Shot to Shrek) (Lodz, Poland: University of Lodz), September 22-24, 2014. Similarly to Tolkien's realm, the world of Warhammer Fantasy presents more than one type of Elves. Closest to the Tolkienian archetype are the High Elves, or the Asur as they call themselves in Eltharin, their mother tongue. The Asur were one of the first races to arrive and, as the lore suggests they have lived and prospered for thousands of years before even hearing their first stories of human presence. Initially, they were also the only Elven race of that world until the fight for power and the resulting conflict provoked the Sundering, a schism during which some of their more bloodthirsty brethren were driven out of Ulthuan, the island the Asur had inhabited for millennia. Thus Dark Elves or Druchii were born. Under the leadership of Malekith, the failed usurper, they fled to the dark land of Naggaroth, to plan their future revenge.



The third race of Elves inhabiting the world of Warhammer Fantasy, are the Wood Elves (the Asrai). Those are the descendants of those High Elves who moved to the mainland to inhabit lands later taken by men. The High Elves who decided to stay there during one of the wars with the Druchii when all the other colonists decided to come back to Ulthuan, took the magical Athel Loren forest and from then on grew ever more distant from the remaining two groups.



Although initially one race of tall, fair and slender folk with a lifespan of thousands of years, with the passing of time the three groups began to differentiate. After the traumatic turmoil of the Sundering, the High Elves changed their outlooks and now seem to praise mainly traits such as purity, nobility, and self-control, which often cause them to be accused of arrogance and aloofness. The High Elves are a class society ruled by the so-called Phoenix King, responsible for military and foreign affairs of Ulthuan, and chosen by the Council of Princes, and the Everqueen who governs the internal matters of the kingdom and is a spiritual leader to all the High Elves. Their marriage symbolizes two sides of the High Elven mind. The exiled Dark Elves of Warhammer Fantasy, unlike the drows from the Dungeons and Dragons gaming system, are not so different in appearance from their High brethren, the only distinguishing feature being their dark hair and perhaps a shade paler skin. Their culture, however, could not be more dissimilar. Contrary to the Elves of Ulthuan, they inhabit a harsh, cold, and dark land full of pine trees and violence. They are lead by Malekith, who was once a great general and a skilled sorcerer of the High Elves, now driven into madness by his failed attempt to legitimize himself as their king, in the ritual of passing the flames of Asuryan, the High Elves' most important deity. Now a zealot of the Elven war god Khaine, Malekith and his Dark Elves wreak havoc, burn, pillage, and enslave every living being that is unfortunate enough to cross their path and they do all that with the ultimate goal of reinstating Malekith as the rightful Phoenix King of the Elves. For all intents and purposes, Druchii can be treated as the exact opposite of the High Elves, except for the hierarchical structure of their society. The last to appear chronologically in the world of Warhammer Fantasy were the Wood Elves of Athel Loren. Initially just a small number of fugitives trying to escape dwarven armies during the War of the Beard (or War of Vengeance as the Elves prefer to name it), they have also grown distant from their High Elven descendants. First of all they have become more chaotic, just like the nature they have been living so close to. The fact that they are ruled by two opposite in nature leaders only strengthens the impression of unpredictability. Both of those elves have been possessed by spirits of antithetical characteristics, with Ariel representing the regenerative, calm and peaceful, and Orion the warring and chaotic side of nature itself. It is worth noting that in their millennia-long struggle against the forces of Chaos and other races, the High Elves have realized that their numbers are decreasing. There have been many theories to explain the phenomenon with the leading ones blaming their obsessive self-control and unwillingness to mix with other races. No matter what the true reason is, that fact coupled with the knowledge that the population of Wood Elves has never been large and the Dark Elves every now and then get decimated, may lead to the conclusion that, similarly to the Tolkienian Elves, those of Warhammer Fantasy could disappear in the following few thousand years. The presence of Eldar in the sci-fi Warhammer 40,000 A.D. (or 40K) series might or might not prove that claim wrong. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home
Donald Trump's consuming passion: America First versus deadly ignorance! By John W. Lillpop

Donald J. Trump, misunderestimated (sic) by elitist, progressive intellectuals to be a light-weight buffoon worthy of nothing but scorn, has single-handedly ignited a wildfire in American politics that will surely be pivotal in determining election results for 2016, and should be just as crucial in determining the long-term future of the most accomplished society in human history. To wit, The Donald, and his relentless war against political correctness, is leading the way by fearlessly giving public voice and standing to contrarian views held privately by tens of millions, the overwhelming majority of who simply lack the courage and fortitude needed to publicly oppose the combined forces of the mainstream media and weasels known derisively as establishment politicians. His commitment to truth has caused Trump to speak out against the illegal invasion of our pristine nation by tens of millions of uneducated, impoverished illegal aliens dumped or US soil at the behest of Mexican government officials for US taxpayers to deal with. His common sense has caused him to demand that the flow of refugees from known sources of terror be halted, at least temporarily, until the well-being and safety of American citizens can be assured through appropriate vetting procedures. His genuine concern for our nation and people has caused Donald Trump to take a personal vow to end the Deadly Ignorance which has led Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and the Democrat Party to abandon common sense in favor of PC stupidity with regard to the barbaric violence promoted by Islamic extremists. For all of his brilliance, Trump has been castigated as a racist, woman-hating bully not worthy of respect. He is mercilessly ridiculed as an intellectually lacking outcast who brings only shame to America and the Republican Party. Notwithstanding the bitter opposition and angst of the Republican establishment, Trump has defied conventional wisdom for nigh unto a year and has parlayed his brilliant understanding of communications and media into an improbable position as the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party! Given his astounding success to date, why would anyone doubt Trump's ability to convert the America First versus Deadly Ignorance battle into a rousing victory in November? What better way to jump start the effort to Make America Great Again? John W. Lillpop is a California-based writer.  2016 John W. Lillpop Home
Veteran journalist, political commentator and author Inder Malhotra who passed away on 11 June refused to present himself as a crusader. In a long and distinguished career, however, his commitment to journalistic ethics was exemplary. As a quintessential reporter, he had a vast network of contacts but his work remained fearless and unbiased

Inder Malhotra was a no-nonsense journalist with a rare lack of self-importance that so many media stalwarts assume. I got to know him in 1978 when I took over as India correspondent for the Guardian which he had to give up after becoming editor of the Times of India, Delhi. He was my senior by more than 20 years and one of the best known journalists in the country but insisted on a matey back slapping relationship with a young maverick like me. I think he quite liked and supported the surprise decision by the then Guardian South Asia bureau chief Simon Winchester to offer the much sought after India string to a 25-year-old over the claims of far more senior contenders.

He himself leapfrogged in his twenties to covering national politics at a time when veteran journalists ruled the roost. Inders phenomenal people skills helped him cultivate important political figures and key bureaucrats as prize sources who provided both information and insights about the corridors of power. Many of them regarded him as a personal friend. The most notable of these was Feroze Gandhi, son-in-law of the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

The close companionship that developed between the budding young journalist and the charismatic Congress leader from the mid-1950s gave the former an exceptional insiders view of the behind-the- scenes drama of the formative years of government and Parliament in Indias first decade of independence. As Feroze got more and more estranged from his politically ambitious wife Indira he turned increasingly confrontationist with his father-in-law prime minister. He was both lonely and in an insurgent mood. Inder became his sounding board. They drew closer and closer  their relationship cemented by late night drinking bouts, forays to Moti Mahal in Daryaganj, Old Delhi to eat tandoori chicken and makhni dal accompanied by endless political discussions. Indeed the day he died (7 September 1960) Feroze, a heart patient, after developing a sudden pain in his chest chose to visit his journalist friend rather than the doctor. It was on Inders insistence that he went to Willingdon Hospital where he collapsed and was declared dead.

To Inders credit he did not use his personal access to the first family of India to push his career prospects or peddle gossip about them after Feroze fell out with his wife and father-in-law. . Although he must have been privy to a lot of salacious details of the breakup between Feroze and Indira the young journalist was far too much of a professional as well as a gentleman to reveal too much even in his later biography of Indira Gandhi regardless of the sensational publicity the book would have received had he done so. On the other hand, Inder was far too good a newsman not to use his friendship with Feroze to both expand his network of contacts in the Congress and get insights into the working of the Nehru administration.

Astute Political Commentator

Yet Inder Malhotras uncanny skill at networking political and bureaucratic contacts was not his only journalistic quality. He also developed into an astute commentator as early as his mid-30s and was known for his piercing leaders (editorials). After Lal Bahadur Shastri took over the reins of power Inders prescription for the task before the new leader who had large shoes to fill was memorable:

the country's first post-Nehru prime minister needed steady hands, not brilliant minds, reliable men and women to serve as self-effacing, industrious ministers who would diligently study files and briefs, ably answer questions in Parliament, be of comfort to the state even if a bit of a bore, perhaps, to the Opposition.

A few years later when the Congress was dealt a series of shock defeats across the country from Punjab to West Bengal, the political commentator summed it up in one brilliant line There was not a single Congressman in power all the way from Waga Border to the Hoogly River.

While Inders heart lay in writing political reports and commentary and not in editorial administration or institution building he displayed fine professional mettle when it came to taking a stance on office politics and issues. In the late 1960s he resigned from the Delhi resident editors job in the Statesman in protest against the arbitrary manner in which the then editor Pran Chopra was sacked by the management ostensibly for not being more critical of the Marxist led Left Front government in West Bengal. Although Inder was not even remotely leftwing he felt that this was an unacceptable breach of editorial freedom. Many years later he would react the same way and leave the Times of India Delhi resident editors job after the advent of Samir Jain, the proprietors son and the new Vice-Chairman of Bennet Coleman, who sought to diminish the status of journalists in the newspaper.

Inder Malhotra was not inclined towards any particular ideology, political party or even social cause. Nor did he project himself as a media crusader or a votary of the freedom of expression. Yet despite this very down to earth approach to journalism his 65 year long career was almost entirely guided by a fierce but quiet commitment to journalistic ethics far more perhaps than others of his tribe who made a bigger noise about it. He remained a quintessential reporter doggedly pursuing his basic professional task of writing on events around him without fear or favour and Indian journalism will be very much poorer without his presence.
Elizabethtown College does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, possession of a general education development certificate as compared to a high school diploma, or any other legally protected status. This commitment applies but is not limited to decisions made with respect to hiring and promotion, the administration educational programs and policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other College administered programs. Discrimination or harassment of any kind is strictly forbidden.
Younited Italia, Nicola Manzari e il nuovo Coo, Luca Faccini e Head of Growth e Domenico Petraroli e General Counsel
Death is only one possible outcome from coral bleaching caused by rising sea temperatures due to global warming. Australian scientists report that many surviving corals affected by mass bleaching from high sea temperatures on the northern Great Barrier Reef are the sickest they have ever seen.

"We measured the condition of surviving corals as part of our extensive underwater surveys of Australia's worst ever bleaching event. We found that coral bleaching has affected 93% of the Great Barrier Reef. While the central and southern regions have escaped with minor damage, nearly half of the corals have been killed by mass bleaching in the northern region," says Professor Terry Hughes from the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University (JCU) in Townsville, Queensland.

"Normally when bleaching kills corals it is a slow death, that progresses steadily when temperatures remain high," says Associate Professor Bill Leggat, also from the ARC Centre at JCU.

"The corals usually rely on mechanisms that help them fight and counteract the damage but this time, on some reefs, it looks like they have died very quickly.

Corals depend upon algae that live within their tissues. These algae, called zooxanthellae, utilise light to generate sugar and nutrients, which are transported to the coral host. It is this energy that allows corals to grow and produce reefs. The partnership between corals and the microscopic algae (zooxanthellae) that lives in their tissues breaks down when temperatures are too high, causing coral bleaching. For corals to recover they need the tissues to remain intact while the remaining zooxanthellae slowly repopulate the tissues.

"Healthy corals have between one and two million zooxanthellae per square centimetre," says Leggat. "During past bleaching events, these numbers have dropped to about 200,000 cells per square centimetre. Now we are finding in this very severe bleaching event that some corals have no zooxanthallae remaining in their tissues at all."

The scientists found that severely bleached corals had an average of only 4,000 algae per square centimetre. This amount is 500 times less than in a healthy coral and 50 times less than reported for corals that survived previous bleaching events. This profound loss of algae means that many of the corals that have bleached, have little chance of recovering, because they have no zooxanthellae left to repopulate the coral tissue.

"These corals are amongst the most damaged I have seen," says Dr. Leggat.

"For some surviving corals in the Northern Great Barrier Reef, over 50% of the coral cells are dead. In some regions the corals were so badly damaged that we were unable to study their tissue because it was rotting away."

Tragically, the ongoing damage from bleaching has been highest in the northern 700km of the Great Barrier Reef all the way up to Papua New Guinea, the most remote and - until now - the most pristine section of the Great Barrier Reef," says Professor John Pandolfi from the ARC Centre at the University of Queensland.

Given the extent of morality and the damage observed to individual corals it is vital to understand the recovery processes of bleached coral. Even if they recover their color, scientists predict that the surviving corals will show other longer-term symptoms, including reduced growth rates and lower reproduction.

###

Note: Bill Leggat, Terry Hughes and John Pandolfi are presenting at the 13th International Coral Reef Symposium in Hawaii. The scientists will be available for media interviews on Monday 20 June at 10:30am in the ICRS2016 media room

Dropbox Images: http://bit.ly/28IlISr For interviews contact:

Bill Leggat

Associate Professor

ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies

Phone: +1 (808) 722 4013

Email: bill.leggat@jcu.edu.au

Professor Terry Hughes

ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies

Phone: +61-400720164

Email: terry.hughes@jcu.edu.au

Professor John Pandolfi

ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies

Phone: ?+1 (808) 729-6951???

Email: j.pandolfi@uq.edu.au

Kylie Simmonds

Communications Manager

ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies

James Cook University, Townsville

Phone: +61 (0) 428 785 895

Email: kylie.simmonds1@jcu.edu.au
WASHINGTON, DC -- Venus has an "electric wind" strong enough to remove the components of water from its upper atmosphere, which may have played a significant role in stripping Earth's twin planet of its oceans, according to new results from the European Space Agency's Venus Express mission by NASA-funded researchers.

"It's amazing, shocking," said Glyn Collinson, a scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland. "We never dreamt an electric wind could be so powerful that it can suck oxygen right out of an atmosphere into space. This is something that has to be on the checklist when we go looking for habitable planets around other stars." Collinson is lead author of a paper about this research published today in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union.

Venus is in many ways the most like Earth in terms of its size and gravity, and there's evidence that it once had oceans worth of water in its distant past. However, with surface temperatures around 860 degrees Fahrenheit (460 Centigrade), any oceans would have long since boiled away to steam and Venus is uninhabitable today. Yet Venus' thick atmosphere, about 100 times the pressure of Earth's, has 10,000 to 100,000 times less water than Earth's atmosphere. Something had to remove all that steam, and the current thinking is that much of the early steam dissociated to hydrogen and oxygen: the light hydrogen escaped, while the oxygen oxidized rocks over billions of years. Also the solar wind - a million-mile-per-hour stream of electrically conducting gas blowing from the sun - could have slowly but surely eroded the remainder of an ocean's worth of oxygen and water from Venus' upper atmosphere.

"We found that the electric wind, which people thought was just one small cog in a big machine, is in fact this big monster that's capable of sucking the water from Venus by itself," Collinson said.

Just as every planet has a gravity field, it is believed that every planet with an atmosphere is also surrounded by a weak electric field. While the force of gravity is trying to hold the atmosphere on the planet, the electric force (the same force that sticks your laundry together in a dryer and pushes electricity through wires) can help to push the upper layers of the atmosphere off into space. At Venus, the much faster hydrogen escapes easily, but this electric field is so strong that it can accelerate even the heavier electrically charged component of water - oxygen ions - to speeds fast enough to escape the planet's gravity. When water molecules rise into the upper atmosphere, sunlight breaks the water into hydrogen and oxygen ions, which are then carried away by the electric field.

"If you were unfortunate enough to be an oxygen ion in the upper atmosphere of Venus then you have won a terrible, terrible lottery," Collinson said. "You and all your ion friends will be dragged off kicking and screaming into space by an invisible hand, and nothing can save you."

The team discovered Venus' electric field using the electron spectrometer, a component of the ASPERA-4 instrument, aboard the ESA Venus Express. They were monitoring electrons flowing out of the upper atmosphere when it was noticed that these electrons were not escaping at their expected speeds. The team realized that these electrons had been tugged on by Venus' potent electric field. By measuring the change in speed, the team was able to measure the strength of the field, finding it to be much stronger than anyone had expected, and at least five times more powerful than at Earth.

"We don't really know why it is so much stronger at Venus than Earth," Collinson said, "but, we think it might have something to do with Venus being closer to the sun, and the ultraviolet sunlight being twice as bright. It's a challenging thing to measure and even at Earth to date all we have are upper limits on how strong it might be."

Such information also helps us understand other worlds around the solar system.

"We've been studying the electrons flowing away from Titan and Mars as well as from Venus, and the ions they drag away to space," said Andrew Coates, leader of the electron spectrometer team at University College London in the UK and a co-author of the paper. "The new result here shows that the electric field powering this escape is surprisingly strong at Venus compared to the other objects. This will help us understand how this universal process works."

Another planet where the electric wind may play an important role is Mars. NASA's MAVEN mission is currently orbiting Mars to determine what caused the Red Planet to lose much of its atmosphere and water. "We are actively hunting for Mars' electric wind with MAVEN's full arsenal of scientific instruments," Collinson said. "MAVEN is a robotic detective on this four-billion-year-old mystery of where the atmosphere and oceans went, and the electric wind has long been a prime suspect."

Taking the electric wind into account will also help astronomers improve estimates of the size and location of habitable zones around other stars. These are areas where the temperature could allow liquid water to exist on the surface of alien worlds, making them places where life might be found. Some stars emit more ultraviolet light than the sun, so if this creates stronger electric winds in any planets orbiting them, the habitable zone around such stars may be farther away and narrower than thought. "Even a weak electric wind could still play a role in water and atmospheric loss at any planet," said Alex Glocer of NASA Goddard, a co-author on the paper. "It could act like a conveyor belt, moving ions higher in the ionosphere where other effects from the solar wind could carry them away."

###

The American Geophysical Union is dedicated to advancing the Earth and space sciences for the benefit of humanity through its scholarly publications, conferences, and outreach programs. AGU is a not-for-profit, professional, scientific organization representing more than 60,000 members in 139 countries. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and our other social media channels.

Notes for Journalists

This research article will be freely available for 30 days from the date of publication. A PDF copy of the article can be downloaded at the following link: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2016GL068327/pdf.

After 30 days, journalists and public information officers (PIOs) of educational and scientific institutions who have registered with AGU can download a PDF copy of the article from the same link.

Journalists and PIOs may order a copy of the final paper by emailing a request to Lauren Lipuma at llipuma@agu.org.

Please provide your name, the name of your publication, and your phone number.

Neither the paper nor this press release is under embargo.

Title

"The Electric Wind of Venus: A global and persistent "polar wind" like ambipolar electric field sufficient for the direct escape of heavy ionospheric ions"

Authors:

Glyn A. Collinson: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S.A.; Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Surrey, U.K.; and Institute for Astrophysics and Computational Sciences, The Catholic University of America, Washington, District of Columbia, U.S.A.;

Rudy A. Frahm, John D. Winningham: Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A.;

Alex Glocer, Joseph M. Grebowsky, Shawn D. Domagal-Goldman, George Khazanov, Thomas E. Moore: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, U.S.A.;

Andrew J. Coates, Lin K. Gilbert: Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Surrey, U.K.;

Stas Barabash, Yoshifumi Futaana: Swedish Institute of Space Physics, Kiruna, Sweden;

Andrei Fedorov: CNRS, L'Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planetologie, and University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France;

Thomas A. Nordheim: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, U.S.A., and Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London, Surrey, U.K.;

David Mitchell: Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, U.S.A.;

William K. Peterson: Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.;

Tielong L. Zhang: Space Research Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Graz, Austria.

Contact Information for the Authors:

Glyn A. Collinson: +1 (301) 286-2511, glyn.a.collinson@nasa.gov AGU Contact:

Lauren Lipuma

+1 (202) 777-7396

llipuma@agu.org

NASA Contact:

Karen Fox+1 (301) 286-6284
Boston, MA - 12:30 pm, Monday, June 20, 2016 - A phase II clinical trial demonstrated that a new type of treatment for genital herpes, an immunotherapy called GEN-003, may reduce the activity of the virus and the number of days with recurrent herpes. This effect of treatment, given by a series of three injections, appears to last for up to at least one year. The research is presented at the ASM Microbe research meeting in Boston.

"GEN-003 is believed to work through a different pathway from most vaccines by recruiting T cells, which are critical to controlling chronic infections such as herpes," said Dr. Fife, MD, PhD, an investigator and Professor of Medicine at Indiana University. In addition, GEN-003 is also designed to stimulate antibodies to help neutralize the virus.

310 participants with a history of chronic, recurrent genital herpes received three shots of one of six different vaccine doses, 21 days apart. Over 1 year, participants were tested for stimulation of the immune system against the herpes virus, the frequency that the herpes virus was detectable on the skin around the genital area ("viral shedding"), and the number of days that herpes outbreaks ("lesions") were visible. GEN-003 treatment drove significant reductions in the rate of viral shedding and lesion frequency compared to rates before treatment. Immune response data are being analyzed and will be the topic of a future presentation.

"The importance of these clinical findings is that it represents a new approach to treatment, and may provide a new option for patients suffering from chronic, recurrent genital herpes," said Dr. Fife. Current treatments consist of antiviral medications, which may be taken episodically to treat acute lesion outbreaks, or daily to reduce the number of outbreaks and the risk of transmitting the herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2) virus to sexual contacts.

GEN-003 may provide relief similar to that available with daily antiviral medications, but with improved convenience. "GEN-003 is expected to be tested in combination with antiviral medications to potentially provide a level of relief not currently achievable.

"While several previous preventative vaccines have failed in the past, the new approach taken with GEN-003, arming the T cell immune system, may one day lead to an effective prophylactic herpes vaccine," said Dr. Fife.

###

The study results will be reported by Dr. Kenneth H. Fife and colleagues at ASM Microbe, in Boston, Massachusetts, Monday, June 20, in a poster session beginning at 12:30 PM. The study was sponsored by Genocea Biosciences, Cambridge, MA.
KIGALI, RWANDA--Carnegie Mellon University's commitment to educating Africa's next generation of technology leaders and entrepreneurs received a boost today with a $10.8 million commitment from The MasterCard Foundation. This new partnership, which will be established at Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering program in Kigali, Rwanda, will benefit 125 academically talented but economically disadvantaged students from Sub-Saharan Africa as part of The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program. Carnegie Mellon University will join a global network of 23 Scholars Program partners, comprising educational institutions that are committed to developing Africa's young leaders. These Scholars will go on to use their knowledge and skills to lead change in their communities and contribute to meaningful transformation across the continent.

Since 2011, Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda has contributed to enhancing the quality of the engineering workforce in Africa. This effort has addressed the critical shortage of information and communication technology (ICT) skills required for Africa to compete in the Fourth Industrial Revolution where physical, cyber and biological systems converge through information, computing and communication technologies to transform the lives and livelihoods of citizens around the world in unprecedented ways. The talented graduates of Carnegie Mellon in Rwanda play a strategic role in Africa's trajectory, leveraging ICT to digitally leapfrog socio-economic development across the continent. With transformative support from The MasterCard Foundation, Carnegie Mellon will be able to multiply its impact on higher education and the ICT sector in Africa, as part of the Rwandan government's vision to create a Regional Center of Excellence in ICT and to serve as a technological hub for the region.

"We are excited to partner with Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda, an exceptional institution committed to training the next generation of African engineers, innovators and entrepreneurs to meet pressing global challenges," said Reeta Roy, President and CEO of The MasterCard Foundation. "Investment in STEM education is pivotal to Africa's future and will ensure that African nations have the opportunity to identify, develop and deploy their wealth of talent."

By offering globally recognized degree programs in ICT to 125 students from lower-income families in Africa, Carnegie Mellon will have impact in three ways: first, this Program will dramatically expand future career options for each of the Scholars; second, it will be an essential educational and research resource underpinning growth and development of the technology sector in Africa; and third, alumni and faculty will benefit from Carnegie Mellon's resources for supporting entrepreneurship and innovation. The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda will attract a diverse mix of Scholars from Rwanda and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa, with a priority on increasing the enrollment of women.

"With this generous support from The MasterCard Foundation, we can multiply the impact of our program in Rwanda and educate a new cohort of exceptional engineers who will become catalysts for Africa's digital transformation," said CMU President Subra Suresh. "CMU shares the Foundation's commitment to elevating intellectual and economic vitality around the globe, especially in developing regions. Students attending Carnegie Mellon in Rwanda receive a world-class education that enables them to become leaders in Africa's growing innovation ecosystem."

The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program will provide holistic student support, including comprehensive scholarships, leadership development, volunteerism and industry-driven career services - developing highly skilled, transformative leaders to catalyze Africa's digital transformation. The Program will start in fall 2016 and conclude in 2023, underscoring the importance of establishing long-term education programs in Africa. Research underway at Carnegie Mellon in Rwanda also takes a long-term approach. The faculty understand that to address Africa's technology needs, students require time to analyze and solve problems in the context in which they occur. Research at Carnegie Mellon explores critical topics relevant to Africa: wireless networking, mobile applications, energy systems, cybersecurity, agriculture, financial services and telecommunications.

The partnership announcement was made on June 20th during Carnegie Mellon University's graduation ceremony, when 24 students received master's degrees in Information Technology and Electrical and Computer Engineering. CMU President Suresh, and Dr. Jendayi Frazer, a member of the Board of Directors of The MasterCard Foundation, attended the graduation ceremony. To date, the program has graduated 70 students hailing from Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and the United States. The vast majority of these graduates are working in their home countries, making an impact in the private sector, government and academia, and the rest are pursuing the creation of startup companies as well as doctoral programs.

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About Carnegie Mellon University: Carnegie Mellon is a private, internationally ranked university with programs in areas ranging from science, technology and business to public policy, the humanities and the arts. More than 12,000 students in the university's seven schools and colleges benefit from a small faculty-to-student ratio and an education characterized by its focus on creating and implementing solutions for real world problems, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. A global university, Carnegie Mellon's campus in the United States is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It has campuses in California's Silicon Valley, Qatar, and programs in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and Mexico. For more information about Carnegie Mellon, visit http://www.cmu.edu. Follow us on Twitter @CarnegieMellon

About the College of Engineering: The College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University is a top-ranked engineering college that is known for our intentional focus on cross-disciplinary collaboration in research. The College is well-known for working on problems of both scientific and practical importance. Our "maker" culture is ingrained in all that we do, leading to novel approaches and transformative results. Our acclaimed faculty have a focus on innovation management and engineering to yield transformative results that will drive the intellectual and economic vitality of our community, nation and world. For more information on the Engineering program in Rwanda, please visit: http://www.cmu.edu/rwanda.

Follow us on Twitter @CMUEngineering @CMU_Rwanda (#CMUMCFScholars)

About The MasterCard Foundation

The MasterCard Foundation works with visionary organizations to provide greater access to education, skills training and financial services for people living in poverty, primarily in Africa. As one of the largest, private foundations, its work is guided by its mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. Based in Toronto, Canada, its independence was established by MasterCard Worldwide when the Foundation was created in 2006. For more information on the Foundation, please visit: http://www.mastercardfdn.org. Follow us on Twitter @MCFoundation (#MCFScholars).
Early mammals evolved in a burst during the Jurassic period, adapting a nocturnal lifestyle when dinosaurs were the dominant daytime predator. How these early mammals evolved night vision to find food and survive has been a mystery, but a new study publishing June 20 in Developmental Cell suggests that rods in the mammalian eye, extremely sensitive to light, developed from color-detecting cone cells during this time to give mammals an edge in low-light conditions.

Cone cells are specialized for certain wavelengths of light to help animals detect color, while rods can detect even a single photon and are specialized for low-light vision. "The majority of mammals have rod-dominant retinas, but if you look at fish, frogs, or birds, the vast majority are cone-dominated--so the evolutionary question has always been, 'What happened?'" says Anand Swaroop, a retina biologist at the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. "We've been working for a long time to understand the fundamental mechanisms behind rod and cone development."

Previous work done by Swaroop and his colleagues showed that a transcription factor called NRL pushes cells in the retina toward maturing into rods by suppressing genes involved in cone development. "We began to wonder if, somehow, the short-wavelength cones were converted into rods during evolution," says Swaroop.

To investigate the origin of rods in mammals, Swaroop and his team examined rod and cone cells taken from mice at different stages of development. Details of an organism's embryonic development often reveal traits carried by its evolutionary ancestors; consider, for instance, how human embryos initially develop gill-like slits and a tail.

The researchers saw that in early stages, two days after the mice were born, developing rod cells expressed genes normally seen in mature short-wavelength cones (which are used in other animals to detect ultraviolet light). When the researchers examined the epigenetics of purified rod cells from mice, they saw that these aspects became repressed by histone and DNA methylations later in development, ten days after the mice were born.

In zebrafish, which are diurnal and cone-dominated, another set of experiments showed that the rod cells didn't resemble cones at all. To investigate when the mammalian elements that turn cones to rods might have originated, the researchers reviewed genomic sequences from a variety of vertebrate animals. The team discovered that the genes responsible for the regulation of NRL became more refined in the placental mammals as the modern retina evolved and were lost in several non-mammalian groups. The origin of this regulatory system appeared to coincide with the evolution of nocturnality in early mammals.

The team concluded that in mammals, the transcription factor NRL became restricted to the photoreceptors in the eye, forcing the cells to change from cones to rods and giving early mammals the edge they needed to take up an active nighttime lifestyle. (Counter-intuitively, humans depend more on cones for our vision, but that's because our ancestors later evolved to take advantage of the daylight hours again.)

"These rod photoreceptors retain the molecular footprint of short-wavelength cones," says Swaroop. "We've provided evidence that by acquiring the regulatory elements for NRL to shift short-wavelength cones into rods, early mammals changed one type of cell from capturing UV light--which isn't necessary at night--to something that is just extremely sensitive to light."

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This study was supported by the intramural research program of the National Eye Institute, a Discovery Accelerator Grant from Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the National Research Foundation of Korea.

Developmental Cell, Kim, Yang, and Oel et al.: "Recruitment of Rod Photoreceptors from Short Wavelength Sensitive Cones during the Evolution of Nocturnal Vision in Mammals" http://www.cell.com/developmental-cell/fulltext/S1534-5807(16)30336-7

Developmental Cell (@Dev_Cell), published by Cell Press, is a bimonthly, cross-disciplinary journal that brings together the fields of cell biology and developmental biology. Articles provide new biological insight of cell proliferation, intracellular targeting, cell polarity, membrane traffic, cell migration, stem cell biology, chromatin regulation and function, differentiation, morphogenesis and biomechanics, and regeneration and cellular homeostasis. Visit: http://www.cell.com/developmental-cell. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact press@cell.com.
For the past year, staff at the Department of Energy's National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) have been preparing users of 20 leading science applications for the arrival of the second phase of its newest supercomputer, Cori, which consists of more than 9,300 nodes containing Intel's Xeon Phi Knights Landing processor - which was officially unveiled June 20 at the International Supercomputer Conference in Germany. The first compute cabinets are scheduled to arrive in July.

When fully installed, Cori will be the largest system for open science based on Knights Landing processors. The Knights Landing nodes will comprise phase two of the Cori system.

To ensure that a significant number of its 6,000 users could make the most effective use of this new manycore architecture, NERSC staff selected 20 leading applications for the NERSC Exascale Scientific Applications Program (NESAP), a collaborative effort that partners NERSC, Intel and Cray experts with code teams across the U.S. Lessons learned from working with the 20 NESAP codes are being used to develop an optimization strategy that the rest of the user base can quickly adopt.

"Application readiness efforts are critical for enabling ground-breaking science on our HPC systems as we move toward exascale. For the past year we've been working with these 20 teams to optimize their codes for Cori, so that when the machine arrives, they are ready to take advantage of the many capabilities the new hardware offers," said Jack Deslippe, acting head of NERSC's Application Performance Group. "As the primary computing center for DOE's Office of Science, we have an understanding of a broad user base utilizing over 600 apps at NERSC, as well as strong working relationships with Cray and Intel. This puts us in a unique position to provide a venue for computational scientists to engage industry experts around application optimization and to come up with optimization strategies that scale to the wider HPC community."

Under NESAP, a member of NERSC's Application Readiness team assists the application teams with code profiling and optimization. Team members have also held a series of "dungeon sessions" with Intel and Cray engineers to optimize the codes. The resulting optimizations have been tested using nine Xeon Phi processor nodes installed at NERSC.

"Optimization is not always a straightforward process, so we've set up a system to help keep users from getting lost in the weeds," Deslippe said. "A number of the applications are ready now and we're making progress on the others. This process we've set up can be used by nearly all of the 600 projects running at NERSC."

NERSC frames the optimization process around the roofline performance model developed at Berkeley Lab. This sets expectations for what performance a developer can expect from their algorithm and which features of the Xeon Phi processor they should target:

Thread/process scaling across the 68 cores and 272 hardware threads available on each KNL processor

Vector parallelism which enables 32 flops per every cycle across two VPUs (vector processing units) on each core

16GB of on chip MCDRAM (volatile memory) that can be used to accelerate memory bandwidth sensitive applications

Over the last year, NERSC has been gaining experience exploiting the Xeon Phi hardware. NERSC is a central point for collating this experience and sharing it with the community. NERSC staff's expertise, other resources available to the community include:

Training sessions that include multi-day hands-on sessions as well as shorter online presentations

A series of case studies for the codes being optimized and ported

A library of tools to support optimization and porting

Different applications tend to require different optimization approaches. Though NERSC staff only recently gained access to Knight's Landing processors, a number of optimized applications are already projected to perform well on the Cori system (the QCD code Chroma for example is expected to have perform twice as well on the Cori Phase 2 compared to the Haswell-based Phase 1 system). NERSC's repository of case-studies for application optimization on KNL is available at: http://www.nersc.gov/users/computational-systems/cori/application-porting-and-performance/application-case-studies/). Among the applications that have been optimized for the Knights Landing architecture are:

WARP: One example where NESAP efforts have paid off is in the accelerator modeling application, WARP, which uses a Particle In Cell (PIC) approach utilizing the PICsar mini-app/library. WARP developers at Berkeley Lab worked closely with NERSC staff as well as engineers at Cray and Intel for over a year to optimize the application targeting the Cori Phase 2 system. Improvements included algorithmic changes to increase data-reuse in cache and MCDRAM on Knights Landing (KNL). Activity peaked in a "dungeon session" aimed at improving the effective use of the large KNL vector units within PICsar and has been accelerated due to efforts by NESAP post-doc Mathieu Lobet. Without optimization, PICsar performance on Cori Phase 2 nodes was expected to lag behind the Intel Haswell-based Phase 1 nodes by a factor of 3. With optimization, parity between these node types was achieved, with more optimization in the works.

MFDn: The MFDn (Many Fermion Dynamics) application, led by James Vary of Iowa State University, is used for computing the nuclear structure for a number isotopes of interest and predicting nuclear reaction rates and cross sections. The targeted use case for MFDN requires using all available memory on the utilized nodes (expected to be a significant fraction of the Cori system). This requires either the use of the KNL MCDRAM as a cache or the explicit management of data on the MCDRAM via "FASTMEM" directives. With the help of NERSC staff member Brandon Cook and Cray and Intel staff, MFDN developers were able to beat the performance of KNL cache and achieve a 60 percent performance advantage on Cori Phase 2 compared to Haswell based Cori Phase 1 for critical sparse matrix math steps in their algorithm.

For complete details and a number of other Cori Phase 2 optimization examples, read more optimization case studies.

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NERSC is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science User Facility. The Office of Science is the largest funder of basic physical science research in the U.S.

About NERSC and Berkeley Lab

The National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) is the primary high-performance computing facility for scientific research sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. Located at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the NERSC Center serves more than 6,000 scientists at national laboratories and universities researching a wide range of problems in combustion, climate modeling, fusion energy, materials science, physics, chemistry, computational biology, and other disciplines. Berkeley Lab is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory located in Berkeley, California. It conducts unclassified scientific research and is managed by the University of California for the U.S. DOE Office of Science. Learn more about Computing Sciences at Berkeley Lab.
DURHAM, N.C. -- DNA molecules don't just code our genetic instructions. They can also conduct electricity and self-assemble into well-defined shapes, making them potential candidates for building low-cost nanoelectronic devices.

A team of researchers from Duke University and Arizona State University has shown how specific DNA sequences can turn these spiral-shaped molecules into electron "highways," allowing electricity to more easily flow through the strand.

The results may provide a framework for engineering more stable, efficient and tunable DNA nanoscale devices, and for understanding how DNA conductivity might be used to identify gene damage. The study appears online June 20 in Nature Chemistry.

Scientists have long disagreed over exactly how electrons travel along strands of DNA, says David N. Beratan, professor of chemistry at Duke University and leader of the Duke team. Over longer distances, they believe electrons travel along DNA strands like particles, "hopping" from one molecular base or "unit" to the next. Over shorter distances, the electrons use their wave character, being shared or "smeared out" over multiple bases at once.

But recent experiments lead by Nongjian Tao, professor of electrical engineering at Arizona State University and co-author on the study, provided hints that this wave-like behavior could be extended to longer distances.

This result was intriguing, says Duke graduate student and study lead author Chaoren Liu, because electrons that travel in waves are essentially entering the "fast lane," moving with more efficiency than those that hop.

"In our studies, we first wanted to confirm that this wave-like behavior actually existed over these lengths," Liu said. "And second, we wanted to understand the mechanism so that we could make this wave-like behavior stronger or extend it to even longer distances."

DNA strands are built like chains, with each link comprising one of four molecular bases whose sequence codes the genetic instructions for our cells. Using computer simulations, Beratan's team found that manipulating these same sequences could tune the degree of electron sharing between bases, leading to wave-like behavior over longer or shorter distances. In particular, they found that alternating blocks of five guanine (G) bases on opposite DNA strands created the best construct for long-range wave-like electronic motions.

The team theorizes that creating these blocks of G bases causes them to all "lock" together so the wave-like behavior of the electrons is less likely to be disrupted by random wiggling in the DNA strand.

"We can think of the bases being effectively linked together so they all move as one," Liu said. "This helps the electron be shared within the blocks."

The Tao group confirmed these theoretical predictions using break junction experiments, tethering short DNA strands built from alternating blocks of three to eight guanine bases between two gold electrodes and measuring the amount of electrical charge flowing through the molecules.

The results shed light on a long-standing controversy over the exact nature of the electron transport in DNA, Beratan says. They might also provide insight into the design of tunable DNA nanoelectronics, and into the role of DNA electron transport in biological systems.

"This theoretical framework shows us that the exact sequence of the DNA helps dictate whether electrons might travel like particles, and when they might travel like waves," Beratan said. "You could say we are engineering the wave-like personality of the electron."

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Other authors include Yuqi Zhang and Peng Zhang of Duke University and Limin Xiang and Yueqi Li of Arizona State University.

This research was supported by grants from the Office of Naval Research (N00014-11-1-0729) and the National Science Foundation (DMR-1413257).

CITATION: "Engineering nanometer-scale coherence in soft matter," Chaoren Liu, Yuqi Zhang, Peng Zhang, David N. Beratan, Limin Xiang, Yueqi Li, Nongjian Tao. Nature Chemistry, June 20, 2016. DOI: 10.1038/nchem.2545
A clinical trial conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators has found that the use of patient navigators - individuals who assist patients in receiving health care services - may improve comprehensive cancer screening rates among patient populations not likely to receive recommended screenings. The study, which received Online First publication earlier this month in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that such patients - mostly low-income and ethnic minorities - were more likely to adhere to cancer-screening guidelines when assisted by patient navigators.

"These findings demonstrate how effective patient navigators can be for patients who, for a variety of reasons, encounter obstacles to receiving cancer screening," says Sanja Percac-Lima, MD, PhD, physician leader for cancer outreach at the MGH Center for Community Health Improvement and the study's lead author. "Health disparities pose a major challenge to low-income and ethnic minority patients, and our study suggests a proactive approach may help increase their chances of receiving the care they need."

Using a computer system, researchers identified patients across 18 MGH primary care practices, including four community health centers, who were at-risk of not completing recommended cancer screenings - based on a previous missed appointment and their primary language not being English - and who were also overdue for breast, cervical, and/or colorectal cancer screening. Among 1,626 identified at-risk patients, 792 were randomly assigned a patient navigator who would provide intense outreach and guidance to assist in obtaining screenings. Navigators contacted patients in their own language, educated and encouraged them, arranged transportation and accompanied them to visits, and helped overcome any other barriers to obtaining screening. The study results showed that 32 percent of patients who were successfully connected with patient navigators completed at least one overdue cancer screening, compared with 18 percent of patients in the control group.

"Patient navigators provide a critical bridge between patients and caregivers that enhances and improves care," says Percac-Lima, who is an assistant professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. "By employing these types of tactics, we can address critical health disparities for at-risk communities."

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The co-authors of the JAMA Internal Medicine paper are Jeffrey M. Ashburner PhD, MPH, Yuchiao Chang, PhD, and senior author Steven J. Atlas, MD, MPH, of the MGH Division of General Internal Medicine; Sarah A. Oo, MSW, and Erica Guimaraes, of the MGH Chelsea Healthcare Center; and Adrian H. Zai, MD, MPH, PhD, of the MGH Laboratory of Computer Science.

The study was funded by American Cancer Society Cancer Control Career Development Award for Primary Care Physicians CCCDAA-14-012-01-CCCDA, the Lazarex Cancer Foundation, and the Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care Innovation Fellowship.

Massachusetts General Hospital, founded in 1811, is the original and largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School. The MGH Research Institute conducts the largest hospital-based research program in the nation, with an annual research budget of more than $800 million and major research centers in HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular research, cancer, computational and integrative biology, cutaneous biology, human genetics, medical imaging, neurodegenerative disorders, regenerative medicine, reproductive biology, systems biology, photomedicine and transplantation biology. The MGH topped the 2015 Nature Index list of health care organizations publishing in leading scientific journals, earned the prestigious 2015 Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service and returned to the number one spot on the 2015-16 U.S. News & World Report list of "America's Best Hospitals."
Researchers have identified a new signaling pathway that helps cancer cells cope with the lack of oxygen found inside tumors. These are the results of a study published in Nature Cell Biology on June 20, and led by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center and its Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, Princess Margaret Cancer Center, the University of Toronto, Harvard Medical School and Oxford University.

Oxygen is important for the proper function of all human cells, but cancer cells thrive even when deprived of it. Rapid, abnormal cell growth seen in many solid tumors causes them to outgrow their blood supply and leave some cells with less oxygen. In the face of this "hypoxia," cancer cells change their gene expression to turn off all but the most vital oxygen-using processes.

"Our results, by yielding a new understanding of cancer cell response to hypoxia, hopefully will enable the design of future treatments that drive such cells into low-oxygen environments and then take away their ability to survive these conditions," says Benjamin Neel, MD, PhD, director of the Perlmutter Cancer Center.

In the new research, led by Robert Banh, a graduate student in Neel's lab, the investigators found that signals sent by the enzyme protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) work in a previously unknown way to shut down oxygen-using processes in breast cancer cells deprived of oxygen, thereby enhancing their survival.

Diabetes to Cancer to Moyamoya Disease

Neel and colleagues first identified the gene for protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) as part of search for molecules that suppress tumor growth in the early 1990s. PTP1B is the hallmark member of a group of enzymes that take a phosphate group away from biomolecules to turn processes like cell growth on or off.

Neel and colleagues, as well as the group of Michel Tremblay at McGill University, found in earlier studies of mice that PTP1B function was required for the growth in certain cancers. These included breast cancers caused by the Her2 oncogene (HER2+ breast cancer cells), which is implicated in 20 percent of human breast cancers. In more recent work, Banh, Neel and colleagues found that human HER2+ breast cancer cells lacking PTP1B grew normally under standard culture conditions, but died much more rapidly in low oxygen.

Furthermore, researchers found that the three signaling pathways by which cancer cells were known to adapt to hypoxia worked fine in PTP1B-deficient HER2+ breast cancer cells. These included the well-known hypoxia-inducible factor pathway, which shifts the way cells use oxygen from oxidative phosphorylation in cellular "machines" called mitochondria to glycolysis, which does not require oxygen. Instead they found that other non-mitochondrial sources of oxygen consumption were not dialed down appropriately in PTP1B-deficient breast cancer cells.

The team further found that PTP1B controls the response of tumors in hypoxia by regulating the protein RNF213, which in in turn suppresses oxygen consumption by enzymes called -ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases (-KGDDs). These enzymes use oxygen, vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and iron to catalyze myriad reactions.

As the team began to fill in details concerning PTP1B pathway, they realized from the literature that RNF213 was also important in a rare condition called Moyamoya Disease, where patients experience abnormal blood vessel growth in the brain that can lead to blocked arteries and seizures. Conceivably, says Neel, Moyamoya disease symptoms could reflect an abnormal response to hypoxia in vascular cells, and his lab is working to understand the condition's molecular basis.

"We have seen many times in the cancer field that studies of rare syndromes can be being important in explaining mechanisms by which cells respond to stresses," says Neel. "We hope our new study will provide insights into Moyamoya disease that then feed back into our work in cancer biology."

###

Along with Neel and Banh, study co-authors were Yang Xu, Dan Cojocari, Ankit Sinha, Ronald Wu, Thomas Kislinger and Bradly Wouters at the University of Toronto and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; Caterina Iorio, Richard Marcotte and Carl Virtanen at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; Wei Zhang and Sachdev S. Sidhu at the University of Toronto; Anas Abdel Rahman at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh; Judy Pawling and James Dennis at Mount Sinai Hospital; Christopher Rose, Marta Isasa and Steven Gygi at Harvard Medical School; Shuang Zhang at NYU Langone; Toshiaki Hitomi, Toshiyuki Habu and Akio Koizumi at Kyoto University; and Sarah Wilkins and Christopher Schofield at Oxford University.

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants R37 CA49152 and GM96745. This research was also supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Terry Fox New Frontiers Research Program, Cancer Research?UK and the Wellcome Trust, Kiban Kenkyu, the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing (NYU Meyers) Senior Research Scientist Marya Gwadz, PhD, along with Distinguished Professor Linda M. Collins, PhD, Penn State's College of Health and Human Development, have received a five-year, $5.8M grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The NIDA funding will support a study which utilizes a pioneering engineering-inspired framework - the Multiphase Optimization STrategy (MOST) - developed by Dr. Collins, to design an intervention to increase engagement along the HIV care continuum for African American/Black and Hispanic People Living with HIV (PLWH) who are neither taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) nor well engaged in HIV primary care.

"At least half of PLWH in the U.S. are neither sufficiently engaged in HIV primary care nor taking antiretroviral therapy (ART)," said Dr. Gwadz. "In particular, African American/Black and Hispanic PLWH are less likely to be well engaged along the HIV care continuum than their White peers, and as a result, have lower rates of HIV viral suppression, greater morbidity, and earlier mortality from HIV."

"Traditional ART adherence interventions are not appropriate for these individuals," notes Dr. Gwadz, "because they experience serious emotional, attitudinal, social, and structural barriers to initiating ART, and as a result, can be described as 'not ready' for ART. Further, those who have delayed, declined, or discontinued ART also avoid HIV care, and therefore are rarely seen in HIV clinics. These multi-level barriers must be addressed to increase their emotional and practical readiness to both initiate ART and engage in HIV care. Yet there are almost no behavioral interventions focusing on patients who have delayed, declined, or discontinued ART."

The study also includes co-investigators Charles M. Cleland, PhD and Noelle R. Leonard, PhD at NYU Meyers, Leo Wilton, PhD at Binghamton University, and Scott Braithwaite, MD at the NYU Langone School of Medicine.

The MOST framework is a means of assessing the performance of individual intervention components and their interactions, in contrast to the "classical" approach of testing a packaged multi-component intervention against a control.

This is the first study to apply the MOST framework in the field of adult HIV treatment and prevention, and also the first study to include a cost-effectiveness analyses as one aspect of the optimization process.

To this end, the goals of the proposed intervention are threefold:

1. Identify which of five intervention components contribute meaningfully to improvement in the primary outcome, viral suppression, and secondary outcomes, absolute viral load, ART adherence, and engagement in HIV primary care, all assessed via objective biomarkers or through the medical record. 2. Identify mediators and moderators of the efficacy of each intervention component (e.g., substance use history, sexual minority status), and also of interaction effects between components. 3. Using a mathematical modeling approach led by Dr. Braithwaite, build the most cost-effective and efficient intervention package from the components found to be efficacious in the first goal.

The necessity of potent interventions for this cohort has become increasingly apparent to public health researchers and other stakeholders over the last several decades, particularly for PLWH of color who suffer a unique set of barriers to engagement in the current HIV care continuum.

"The reasons that PLWH of color are less likely to be well engaged along the HIV care continuum stem from a variety of factors--alcohol or drug use problems, distrust of medical settings and medications, fear of side effects, stigma associated with HIV, and others--both historical and cultural," said Dr. Gwadz. "Further, these barriers are grounded in and complicated by low socio-economic status."

"These gaps in the HIV care continuum signal the need for culturally targeted interventions to reduce racial/ethnic health disparities, eliminate forward transmission of HIV, and decrease healthcare costs, consistent with the high-priority research areas recently designated by the NIH Office of AIDS Research," said Dr. Collins. "But we need new methodological approaches to these serious problems."

"The intervention components we will test are grounded in our past research with this population and the larger research literature on care continuum interventions. Importantly, they are culturally appropriate for African American/Black and Hispanic PLWH, including those with substance use problems, and sexual minorities," said Dr. Cleland. "The components include Motivational Interviewing intervention sessions with individual PLWH, peer mentorship, focused support groups, pre-adherence skill building, and patient navigation to ancillary services."

"These groups desire and deserve good health as much as any other, but the impediments to their achieving that goal are multi-faceted and complex," said Dr. Leonard. "For the past ten years our research team at NYU has focused on understanding these barriers from the perspectives of African American/Black and Hispanic PLWH, as well as how to reduce or circumvent them."

"We are appreciative that interventions to improve engagement along the HIV care continuum for our nation's most vulnerable populations ranks among NIDA's highest research priorities," said Dr. Wilton.

National Institute On Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01DA040480

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Drs. Gwadz, Cleland, and Leonard are affiliated with NYU Meyers' NIDA-funded Center for Drug Use and HIV Research (CDUHR; P30DA011041). Dr. Gwadz serves as director for CDUHR's Transdisciplinary Research Methods Core, and Drs. Cleland and Leonard are associate directors in the core.

Dr. Collins is Distinguished Professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies and director of The Methodology Center, an externally funded research center at the Pennsylvania State University supported by NIDA, NIAAA, NCI, and NIDDK.

Dr. Wilton is Professor in the Department of Human Development, Binghamton University.

Dr. Braithwaite, MD, MSc is Tenured Professor of Population Health and Medicine, Director of the Division of Comparative Effectiveness and Decision Science at New York University School of Medicine and President of the Society of Medical Decision Making.

About the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing

NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing is a global leader in nursing education, research, and practice. It offers a Bachelor of Science with a major in Nursing, a Master of Science and Post-Master's Certificate Programs, a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree and a Doctor of Philosophy in nursing research and theory development. http://nursing.nyu.edu/

About CDUHR

The mission of the Center for Drug Use and HIV Research (CDUHR) is to end the HIV and HCV epidemics in drug using populations and their communities by conducting transdisciplinary research and disseminating its findings to inform programmatic, policy, and grass roots initiatives at the local, state, national and global levels. CDUHR is a Core Center of Excellence funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (Grant #P30 DA011041). It is the first center for the socio-behavioral study of substance use and HIV in the United States and is located at the New York University College of Nursing. For more information, visit http://www.cduhr.org.

About Penn State College of Health and Human Development.

The mission of the College of Health and Human Development is to improve human well-being across the life span through interdisciplinary research, teaching, and service. We truly are "committed to improving the quality of your life." Our faculty represent some of the most respected leaders in their disciplines. The college enjoys enrollment of some of the most intelligent, motivated, and passionate students. Our research and outreach efforts touch people everywhere. Our work is relevant to people everywhere, which is why we lead the way in offering high-quality education to our students and in producing research that will positively affect the ways we live today and in the future. http://hhd.psu.edu/
Improved publication strategy for authors who use hydrological modeling software will make model data easier for readers to understand and reuse, according to an international team of researchers.

A growing number of computational models, such as the Penn State Integrated Hydrologic Model (PIHM), show coupled surface and subsurface water flow and its role in the diversity of Earth system processes. These models conceptualize representations of the physical processes governing the movement of water on, above and below the Earth's surface.

The problem with these models is that they are technically complex and involve many complicated coupled processes and so are not easily understandable by a potentially larger group of users in the geosciences and engineering fields.

To fix this, researchers from Penn State, the University of Delaware and the National Institute of Scientific Research in Quebec developed a publication strategy that allows authors to completely document data workflow so that the simulations can be easily reproduced. This allows a broader audience the ability to access the data and gain a better understanding of the research. The researchers published their results in Earth and Space Science.

"Clearly, there is a great deal of literature on reusable software," said Xuan Yu, recent Penn State Ph.D. recipient and postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Delaware. "Our work's value lies in the practical steps and best practices for preserving and reusing data as a potential routine in future geoscience publication."

The PIHM is a physics-based hydrologic model that simulates a natural water cycle. It was originally developed to support the concept of "community models" for environmental predictions. However, researchers quickly realized that there were several common problems with the PIHM learning process. In many of the data sets that were fed into PIHM, the authors left out critical publication details. Without these details, the adaptation could not be reused in later studies. Data preparation also meant users had to learn the source code due to complex data sets and parameters. If there was a tiny mistake, it threw the whole system off.

To solve this problem, the team developed better techniques for PIHM-related publication so that even novice readers can reproduce PIHM simulation results from scratch.

The researchers guided new users through data processing and model application using permanently accessible data sets and linked data sets, software and figures. This publication strategy enabled a more intuitive understanding of coupled surface-subsurface flow processes and how they translate into reproducible output strategies for an extensive range of consumers. Providing complete data sets and sources also helped users test the ability to reproduce each step of the computation and improve the model, developing new methods as they progressed. Users agreed that reproducibility of the model led to a deeper understanding of the model physics and the supporting data.

The team hopes that by adopting these practices when informing readers, they can increase the reliability of simulation results, reduce the learning curve and enhance the model utility.

The publication strategy could also be adapted for future geoscience research and integrated with community engagement to appeal to a larger audience of geoscientists and engineers.

"We intend to continue what we have started through workshops and lectures," Yu said. "Best practices for publication require effort by researchers and support by agencies and professional societies to be successful. Therefore, we have been giving lectures at many universities and research institutes to inspire wide discussion and involvement of open science practices."

###

Collaborators on this project included Christopher J. Duffy, professor of civil engineering at Penn State, Gopal Bhatt, research associate at Penn State; Alain N. Rousseau, hydrology professor at the National Institute of Scientific Research (INRS) in Quebec, Alvaro Pardo Alvarez, graduate student at INRS and junior consultant at Amphos 21 Consulting S.L., Spain; and Dominique Charron, former undergraduate intern at INRS and current undergraduate intern in electrical engineering at Laval University, Quebec.

The National Science Foundation supported this work.
Rice University researchers have just the thing for the age of information overload: an app that sees all and remembers only what it should.

RedEye, new technology from Rice's Efficient Computing Group that was unveiled today at the International Symposium on Computer Architecture (ISCA 2016) conference in Seoul, South Korea, could provide computers with continuous vision -- a first step toward allowing the devices to see what their owners see and keep track of what they need to remember.

"The concept is to allow our computers to assist us by showing them what we see throughout the day," said group leader Lin Zhong, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Rice and the co-author of a new study about RedEye. "It would be like having a personal assistant who can remember someone you met, where you met them, what they told you and other specific information like prices, dates and times."

Zhong said RedEye is an example of the kind of technology the computing industry is developing for use with wearable, hands-free, always-on devices that are designed to support people in their daily lives. The trend, which is sometimes referred to as "pervasive computing" or "ambient intelligence," centers on technology that can recognize and even anticipate what someone needs and provide it right away.

"The pervasive-computing movement foresees devices that are personal assistants, which help us in big and small ways at almost every moment of our lives," Zhong said. "But a key enabler of this technology is equipping our devices to see what we see and hear what we hear. Smell, taste and touch may come later, but vision and sound will be the initial sensory inputs."

Zhong said the bottleneck for continuous vision is energy consumption because today's best smartphone cameras, though relatively inexpensive, are battery killers, especially when they are processing real-time video.

Zhong and former Rice graduate student Robert LiKamWa began studying the problem in the summer of 2012 when they worked at Microsoft Research's Mobility and Networking Research Group in Redmond, Wash., in collaboration with group director and Microsoft Distinguished Scientist Victor Bahl. LiKamWa said the team measured the energy profiles of commercially available, off-the-shelf image sensors and determined that existing technology would need to be about 100 times more energy-efficient for continuous vision to become commercially viable. This was the motivation behind LiKamWa's doctoral thesis, which pursues software and hardware support for efficient computer vision.

In an award-winning paper a year later, LiKamWa, Zhong, Bahl and colleagues showed they could improve the power consumption of off-the-shelf image sensors tenfold simply through software optimization.

"RedEye grew from that because we still needed another tenfold improvement in energy efficiency, and we knew we would need to redesign both the hardware and software to achieve that," LiKamWa said.

He said the energy bottleneck was the conversion of images from analog to digital format.

"Real-world signals are analog, and converting them to digital signals is expensive in terms of energy," he said. "There's a physical limit to how much energy savings you can achieve for that conversion. We decided a better option might be to analyze the signals while they were still analog."

The main drawback of processing analog signals -- and the reason digital conversion is the standard first step for most image-processing systems today -- is that analog signals are inherently noisy, LiKamWa said. To make RedEye attractive to device makers, the team needed to demonstrate that it could reliably interpret analog signals.

"We needed to show that we could tell a cat from a dog, for instance, or a table from a chair," he said.

Rice graduate student Yunhui Hou and undergraduates Mia Polansky and Yuan Gao were also members of the team, which decided to attack the problem using a combination of the latest techniques from machine learning, system architecture and circuit design. In the case of machine learning, RedEye uses a technique called a "convolutional neural network," an algorithmic structure inspired by the organization of the animal visual cortex.

LiKamWa said Hou brought new ideas related to system architecture circuit design based on previous experience working with specialized processors called analog-to-digital converters at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

"We bounced ideas off one another regarding architecture and circuit design, and we began to understand the possibilities for doing early processing in order to gather key information in the analog domain," LiKamWa said.

"Conventional systems extract an entire image through the analog-to-digital converter and conduct image processing on the digital file," he said. "If you can shift that processing into the analog domain, then you will have a much smaller data bandwidth that you need to ship through that ADC bottleneck."

LiKamWa said convolutional neural networks are the state-of-the-art way to perform object recognition, and the combination of these techniques with analog-domain processing presents some unique privacy advantages for RedEye.

"The upshot is that we can recognize objects -- like cats, dogs, keys, phones, computers, faces, etc. -- without actually looking at the image itself," he said. "We're just looking at the analog output from the vision sensor. We have an understanding of what's there without having an actual image. This increases energy efficiency because we can choose to digitize only the images that are worth expending energy to create. It also may help with privacy implications because we can define a set of rules where the system will automatically discard the raw image after it has finished processing. That image would never be recoverable. So, if there are times, places or specific objects a user doesn't want to record -- and doesn't want the system to remember -- we should design mechanisms to ensure that photos of those things are never created in the first place."

Zhong said research on RedEye is ongoing. He said the team is working on a circuit layout for the RedEye architecture that can be used to test for layout issues, component mismatch, signal crosstalk and other hardware issues. Work is also ongoing to improve performance in low-light environments and other settings with low signal-to-noise ratios, he said.

###

The research was supported by the National Science Foundation and a Texas Instruments Graduate Research Fellowship to LiKamWa.

A copy of the paper is available at: http://roblkw.com/papers/likamwa2016redeye-isca.pdf

This release can be found online at news.rice.edu.

Follow Rice News and Media Relations on Twitter @RiceUNews.

Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,910 undergraduates and 2,809 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for best quality of life and for lots of race/class interaction by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. To read "What they're saying about Rice," go to http://tinyurl.com/RiceUniversityoverview.
The Sunway TaihuLight supercomputer is the first system in the world that has a peak performance of over 100 PFlops. It is a complete homegrown supercomputer, and is operated by the National Supercomputing Center in Wuxi (NSCC-Wuxi). As the world's fastest supercomputer, it contributes largely to research fields such as earth system modeling, ocean surface wave modeling, atomistic simulation, and phase-field simulation. Three of the applications have managed to scale to the full system, and have been nominated as the finalists for the Gordon Bell award of 2016, which is the highest honor in the domain of high performance computing applications.

An overall introduction to the TaihuLight system, "The Sunway TaihuLight Supercomputer: System and Applications", written by Dr. Haohuan Fu, the deputy director of NSCC-Wuxi, and the other authors, is published on SCIENCE CHINA Information Sciences. It provides a detailed illustration of the Sunway TaihuLight supercomputer, and its subsystems, including: the software system, the hardware system, the power system, the architecture of the new SW260101 many-core processor, and it also provides introductions to how research fields, such as earth system modeling, ocean surface wave modeling, atomistic simulation, and phase-field simulation, benefit from the supercomputer.

Since the development of supercomputers in the 1970s, scientific computing has become a major scientific paradigm that is as important as the theoretical and experimental branches of the discipline. The computational paradigm has been applied to various scientific domains, such as climate modeling, earth subsurface modeling and inversion, sky simulation, and phase-field simulation, with significant contributions to the advancement of those fields. With scientific advancements, the models that scientists simulate are becoming increasingly complex, and the temporal and spatial resolutions they require are also increasing rapidly. All these factors contribute to the demand for progressively greater computing power.

With the support of the National High Technology Research and Development Program (863 Program) of China, we have seen the swift development of Chinese supercomputer systems. As a successor of the Sunway BlueLight system, the Sunway TaihuLight system marks that supercomputers have entered the era of 100 PFlops.

The peak performance of the Sunway TaihuLight is 125 Pflops, the Linpack performance is 93 PFlops, and the performance per Watt is 6.05 GFlops/W.

One major technology innovation of the Sunway TaihuLight supercomputer is the homegrown SW26010 many-core processor, which includes 4 management processing elements (MPEs) and 256 computing processing elements (CPEs), and provides a peak performance over 3.06 TFlops.

The Sunway TaihuLight has already provided computational support to research universities and institutes in China, such as Tsinghua University, Beijing Normal University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the First Institute of Oceanography, and achieved significant performance results in key research domains.

###

Fu H H, Liao J F, Yang J Z, et al. The Sunway TaihuLight supercomputer: system and applications. Sci China Inf Sci, 2016, 59(7): 072001, doi: 10.1007/s11432-016-5588-7

For more information about the paper, please contact the editor of SCIENCE CHINA Information Sciences. (Song Fei, song@scichina.org)
Cholesterol-lowering statins were associated with lower risk for major cardiac events in some patients with preexisting ischemic heart disease but not in others, according to an article published online by JAMA Internal Medicine.

Long-term treatment with statins is recommended for patients with stable ischemic heart disease (IHD) because they are at increased risk for recurrent cardiovascular events. But there are differences among guidelines regarding the definition of appropriate targets for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. The American Heart Association's guidelines do not establish target LDL-C levels. However, the European Society of Cardiology recommends treatment be titrated to achieve LDL-C levels below 70 mg/dL.

Morton Leibowitz, M.D., of Clalit Research Institute, Tel Aviv, Israel, and coauthors compared the risk for major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) among patients with IHD according to LDL-C levels after at least one year of statin therapy.

The study considered low LDL-C levels to be less than or equal to 70 mg/dL; moderate levels to be 70.1 to 100 mg/dL; and high levels to be 100.1 to 130 mg/dL. MACEs included heart attack, unstable angina, stroke, angioplasty, bypass or death.

The study included 31,619 patients with IHD who were at least 80 percent adherent to their statin treatment: 9,086 (29 percent) had low LDL-C levels, 16,782 (53 percent) had moderate LDL-C levels and 5,751 (18 percent) had high LDL-C levels. There were 9,035 patients who had a MACE or who died during an average 1.6 years of follow-up.

The authors report a low LDL-C level was not significantly associated with the risk of MACE compared with patients who had moderate LDL-C levels. However, moderate LDL-C levels were associated with a lower risk of MACE for patients compared with patients who had high LDL-C levels.

The authors note a number of study limitations, including restricting the study to patients with preexisting IHD and limited generalizability.

"Our results do not provide support for a blanket principle that lower LDL-C is better for all patients in secondary prevention," the study concludes.

Editor's Note: LDL-C Levels and Statin Treatment - A Moving Target?

In a related editor's note, JAMA Internal Medicine Editor Rita F. Redberg, M.D., M.Sc., of the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues write: "The study by Leibowitz et al adds important information to the ongoing discussion of the best statin strategy and LDL-C targets to improve outcomes with minimal harms."

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(JAMA Intern Med. Published online June 20, 2016. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.2751. Available pre-embargo to the media at http://media.jamanetwork.com.)

Editor's Note: The article contains funding/support disclosures. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

Media Advisory: To contact corresponding study author Morton Leibowitz, M.D., email leibowm@clalit.org.il. To contact editor's note author Rita F. Redberg, M.D., email mediarelations@jamanetwork.org.

To place an electronic embedded link in your story: Links will be live at the embargo time: http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?doi=10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.2751
Over 90 per cent of mammal species were wiped out by the same asteroid that killed the dinosaurs in the Cretaceous period 66 million years ago, significantly more than previously thought.

A study by researchers at the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath and published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology, reviewed all mammal species known from the end of the Cretaceous period in North America. Their results showed that over 93 per cent became extinct across the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary, but that they also recovered far more quickly than previously thought.

The scientists analysed the published fossil record from western North America from two million years before the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, until 300,000 years after the asteroid hit. They compared species diversity before and after this extinction event to estimate the severity of the event and how quickly the mammals recovered. The extinction rates were much higher than previous estimates based on more limited data sets.

Dr Nick Longrich from the Milner Centre for Evolution, in the University of Bath's Department for Biology & Biochemistry, explained: "The species that are most vulnerable to extinction are the rare ones, and because they are rare, their fossils are less likely to be found. The species that tend to survive are more common, so we tend to find them.

"The fossil record is biased in favour of the species that survived. As bad as things looked before, including more data shows the extinction was more severe than previously believed."

The researchers say this explains why the severity of the extinction event was previously underestimated. With more fossils included, the data includes more rare species that died out.

Following the asteroid hit, most of the plants and animals would have died, so the survivors probably fed on insects eating dead plants and animals. With so little food, only small species survived. The biggest animals to survive on land would have been no larger than a cat. The fact that that most mammals were small helps explain why they were able to survive.

Yet the researchers found that mammals also recovered more rapidly than previously thought, not only gaining back the lost diversity in species quickly but soon doubling the number of species found before the extinction. The recovery took just 300,000 years, a short time in evolutionary terms.

Dr Longrich added: "Because mammals did so well after the extinction, we have tended to assume that it didn't hit them as hard. However our analysis shows that the mammals were hit harder than most groups of animals, such as lizards, turtles, crocodilians, but they proved to be far more adaptable in the aftermath.

"It wasn't low extinction rates, but the ability to recover and adapt in the aftermath that led the mammals to take over."

Surprisingly, the recovery from the extinction took place differently in different parts of the continent. The species found in Montana were distinct from those in nearby Wyoming, for example.

"You might expect to see the same few survivors all across the continent. But that's not what we found," said Longrich. "After this extinction event, there was an explosion of diversity, and it was driven by having different evolutionary experiments going on simultaneously in different locations.

"This may have helped drive the recovery. With so many different species evolving in different directions in different parts of the world, evolution was more likely to stumble across new evolutionary paths."

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Researchers find wasp that could be an important natural enemy of a beetle that destroys black locust trees

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- A species of wasp that is a natural enemy of a wood-boring beetle that kills black locust trees has been rediscovered, more than 100 years after the last wasp of this species was found.

The discovery is significant because the wood-boring beetle, known as the locust borer, is considered a serious pest that has discouraged planting of black locusts, which played an important role in American history. The trees, whose wood is strong, hard and extremely durable, helped build the Jamestown settlement and were featured prominently at George Washington's Mount Vernon.

The only previous known specimens of the wasp (Oobius depressus) date back to 1914 and were found in Morristown, Illinois. The problem with those specimens is that they were missing their heads and antennae, making them difficult to identify even by specialists of that wasp family, Encyrtidae.

That led Serguei V. Triapitsyn, director of the UC Riverside Entomology Research Museum, and Toby R. Petrice, an entolomogist with the U.S.D.A. Forest Service Northern Research Station in Lansing, Mich., to search for new specimens.

This was not an easy task because eggs of locust borer, particularly ones parasitized by this wasp, are extremely difficult to find. Adults of the locust borer itself, on the other hand, are common in the Midwest in early fall because they feed on the pollen of goldenrod.

Because females visit black locust trees to lay eggs, the scientists placed an insect trap designed to collect beetles and other arboreal insects in the canopy of a black locust tree at Rose Lake State Wildlife Area in Bath Charter Township, Mich., from August to October 2015.

Petrice installed and maintained the trap and collected samples in ethanol, which were then sent in early 2016 to the UC Riverside Entomology Research Museum for sorting in Triapitsyn's lab by Vladimir V. Berezovskiy, a volunteer who is a retired museum preparator.

The scientists found one female wasp that perfectly matched both the original description and the remains of the type specimens of Oobius depressus. It had been collected on Oct. 6, 2015.

Triapitsyn made a positive taxonomic identification, photographed it, and then re-described the species based on the new specimen. This adult female wasp is about 1.2 mm long, shining black, with a flattened body that allows it to look for locust borer eggs beneath the bark scales of black locust trees.

A manuscript with this redescription has been accepted for publication in the scientific journal of the Michigan Entomological Society, The Great Lakes Entomologist.

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Scientists have long since cracked the codebook - the DNA molecule - that holds comprehensive genetic information about living organisms. They have also shown how specific information-rich regions within the DNA code, called genes, are copied into messenger molecules known as RNA.

Much less is known, though, about how cells control those messages - in precise cellular space and time - to produce the proteins that carry out a myriad of biological functions. And even less is known about how defects in these specialized gene control mechanisms cause eye diseases such as cataracts.

Salil Lachke, assistant professor of biological sciences at the University of Delaware, is investigating that in a project that has just won $1.95 million in support from the National Institutes of Health.

Specifically, he is studying the cellular and molecular processes that keep the lens of an eye transparent, an expansion of his extended research on cataract, the primary cause of blindness in the world. Using the bioinformatics tool he helped to develop - known as iSyTE (integrated Systems Tool for Eye gene discovery) - he has identified several new cataract-linked genes and is exploring how those that specifically produce proteins that bind to RNA are involved in lens development.

"Out of the estimated 22,000 genes in our cells, a large chunk - about 10 percent - code for proteins that are specialized to bind RNA molecules and control their fate, such as 'translating' their information to make other proteins," Lachke said. "However, very few such proteins have been studied so far, and even fewer have been directly linked to human disease. We think that mechanisms involving these RNA-binding proteins are important for the formation of lenses in embryonic development, and, in later stages, to keep them transparent."

In this five-year project, Lachke and researchers in his lab continue to explore lens development with a focus on how specific RNA-binding proteins control this process. They also plan to build a detailed biological gene regulatory circuit, similar to an electrical circuit, to better understand cellular operations and interactions.

One protein that binds with RNA - Celf1 - has been a focus of special interest. Lachke and his lab have demonstrated that mice always develop cataracts at birth whenever a Celf1 deficiency occurs during the lens development process.

Lachke said two collaborators - Luc Paillard at the Institute of Genetics and Development of Rennes University in France and Jeffrey Gross at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine - have found that Celf1 is also important in frogs and zebrafish, respectively, which would suggest a potentially powerful role in cataract disorders in all vertebrates, including humans.

"It's an opportunity to learn fundamental new lessons about the molecular basis of how these proteins are involved in controlling RNA information during organogenesis," he said. "Now we can ask sophisticated questions about which precise letters in an RNA sequence do these proteins bind, and what happens to these RNA messages after the proteins bind them - for example, is the RNA silenced, destroyed, or kept stable for making more protein? We are going to address these questions."

Cells "read" information in their DNA, copy it as RNA - in a process analagous to photocopying a specific page in a precious book - and use this RNA copy to make proteins. Much study has focused on the proteins that initiate the copying of DNA into RNA. Less is known about the proteins that control the reading of RNA.

Lachke recently published an article, to be featured on the cover of the journal Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: RNA, highlighting the limited knowledge of RNA-binding proteins and the challenges their study poses in eye development and disease.

All of that coding and regulation and processing hold important clues to developmental defects - the times and places where things go wrong - that Lachke and others are investigating in a quest to advance public health.

"Presently, the only cure to cataracts is surgery," he said. "Through this study, we hope to understand the molecules that help to make and keep a lens transparent."

Lachke hopes insights gained from these experiments will not only uncover fundamental principles in gene expression control, but also influence future non-invasive therapies to prevent cataracts.

The award is a competitive renewal of Lachke's previous NIH grant on post-transcriptional control in lens development.

Lachke earned bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Pune, India, and earned his doctorate at the University of Iowa. He did postdoctoral work at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, and worked as an instructor in medicine at Harvard before joining the faculty at the University of Delaware in 2011.

His innovative research has been recognized with awards from many groups and foundations, including the Pew Charitable Trusts, which named Lachke a Pew Scholar in Biomedical Sciences in 2012.

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Many of these risk variants localize inside or close to genes that regulate the vascular system

The results of the largest genetic study on migraine thus far were published online in the journal Nature Genetics today, June 20. The study was based on DNA samples of 375,000 European, American and Australian participants. Almost 60,000 of them suffer from migraine.

The researchers combined data from 22 genome-wide association studies including new data from around 35,000 migraine sufferers. From the millions of genetic variants analyzed, 38 independent genomic regions were shown to be associated with migraine. Only ten of these regions have been implicated in migraine susceptibility before.

The study was conducted by members of the International Headache Genetics Consortium including migraine research groups from Australia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the UK and USA.

- Our consortium is devoted to uncovering the genetic causes of migraine and during the past few years we have been able to identify many risk variants. Yet, in this latest, large-scale study, tens of new genetic risk factors were discovered. Because all of these variants modify the disease risk only slightly, the effect could only be seen when this large amount of samples became available, said Professor Aarno Palotie, leader of the International Headache Genetics Consortium.

- We simply can't overstate the importance of international collaboration when studying genetics of complex, common diseases, continues Palotie who works as a Research Director at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, and is an associate member at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

Migraine is a debilitating disorder affecting around 1 in 7 people worldwide, but its molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood which makes developing new treatments challenging.

When the researchers took a closer look on the genomic areas pinpointed in the study, they noticed that most of them overlap with known genes. Interestingly, as many as nine of the genes have been previously associated with some vascular disease and four more are known to be involved in the regulation of vascular tone, supporting the importance of blood vessels in migraine attacks.

- These genetic findings are the first concrete step towards developing personalized, evidence-based treatments for this very complex disease. We doctors have known for a long time that migraine patients differ from each other and the drugs that work for some patients are completely inefficient for others, said Professor John-Anker Zwart from the Oslo University Hospital.

- In the future, we hope that this information can be utilized in dividing the patients into different genetic susceptibility groups for clinical drug trials, thus increasing the chances of identifying the best possible treatment for each subgroup, he continues.

- These interesting findings linking migraine with vascular dysfunction were generated using novel computational approaches that utilize and combine data from various international biological databases. Such datasets are invaluable in situations like this when tissue samples from patients are not readily available, underscoring the importance of data sharing, commented Dr. Benjamin Neale from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.

###

Original publication: Meta-analysis of 375,000 individuals identifies 38 susceptibility loci for migraine (2016). Padhraig Gormley, Verneri Anttila, Bendik S Winsvold et al. Nature Genetics. doi: 10.1038/ng.3598 http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ng.3598

More information:

Professor Aarno Palotie

Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki

Tel. +358 40 567 0826 (Sari Kivikko)

E-mail: aarno.palotie@helsinki.fi
USC scientists have mapped an uncharted portion of the mouse brain to explain which circuit disruptions might occur in disorders such as Huntington's disease and autism.

Hong-Wei Dong, an associate professor of neurology at the USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, and his colleagues have been sketching a road map of the mouse brain for the past decade. Their most recent study, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience on June 20, looked at the connections of a part of the brain that is responsible for motor learning, the dorsal striatum, which is stationed near the front of the brain.

Scientists injected fluorescent molecules into about 150 mouse brain structures and used a high-resolution microscope to document the molecules as they moved through the brain's "cellular highways," which need to be in tip-top shape for different parts of the brain to communicate and coordinate behaviors. In the previously unsurveyed dorsal striatum, USC researchers were able to identify 29 distinct areas responsible for things such as eye movement, mouth and facial movements and pain information processing. They also located hubs that coordinate complex limb movements.

Parkinson's disease, obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and many other movement disorders involve connections of this brain region, said Dong, senior author of the study. Researchers in the Dong Lab followed circuitry paths from beginning to end in the same way someone might pick up a ball of yarn and slowly unravel it.

"This study moves researchers to the next level to help them understand how the brain circuit is disrupted," Dong said. "Previously the dorsal striatum was one huge thing. It's almost like telling someone they should come visit you in California. Where should they go? We have really narrowed it down - I live in North Hollywood in this apartment building. That will help people in the future to really understand the pathways for diseases with specific symptoms."

Early symptoms of Huntington's disease, for example, include slow or abnormal eye movement and stuttering. Most patients experience depression and have psychiatric issues such as social withdrawal and insomnia, Dong said. His lab has subdivided the dorsal striatum so scientists can better predict problem areas in this brain structure and focus their research there.

"Of course, humans and mice are different, but they are both mammals," Dong said. "The biggest differences reside in high-level cognition. So we can use the organization of the mouse brain to understand how human brains are organized."

After all, most scientific research begins at the mouse level. Understanding the mouse brain is of critical importance and will potentially lead to the development of new drugs and medical therapies.

Adding massive detail to a historically basic brain atlas

The cerebral cortex is the brain's CEO; it regulates higher-order functions such as motor learning and attention through its connections to brain structures such as the dorsal striatum, which is historically divided into just four regions. Today, USC researchers said they are the first to create the most comprehensive map of connections between the dorsal striatum and the cerebral cortex that is available for any mammal.

"If you have one big structure, it's very difficult to know which part is the problem area," said Houri Hintiryan, lead author and assistant professor of research at the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. "This study shows 29 different parts of this brain region receiving information from the cerebral cortex. We're providing a structural basis for studies seeking to understand which part of the brain does what."

The big data project is publicly available at the Mouse Connectome Project and will aid in the leap toward precision medicine, Dong said. Next on his team's mapping list is the hippocampus, which is the center of emotion, memory and the autonomic nervous system. A detailed atlas of this area could further Alzheimer's disease research.

"With our brain map, researchers could look for circuitry-specific drug discovery," Dong said. "Now we provide a very clear map to help people do stem cell research. They know exactly where to put stem cells."

Dong chose to map the mouse brain so his lab could examine individual neurons and axons, gateways to neighboring neurons. In contrast, the human brain would look pixelated if the scientists zoom in for the detail needed to develop their meticulous maps.

Many USC scientists use big data to find answers to intractable problems such as Alzheimers disease and PTSD. USC houses the Global Alzheimers Association Interactive Network (GAAIN), which is the first usable online platform that provides scientists with Alzheimers disease research data and tools. GAAIN contains data on over 366,000 subjects and is home to the largest brain-mapping project in the world.

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The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Institutes of Mental Health (MH094360-01A1), NIH Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K) Initiative grant (U01CA198932-0), a subcontract from one NIH BRAIN Initiative grant (U01MH106008-01), the CHDI Foundation and the Laboratory of Neuro Imaging Resource (EB015922).
The same 20-sided solid that was morphed into geodesic domes in the past century may be the shape of things to come in synthetic biology.

For University of Washington Institute of Protein Design scientists working to invent molecular tools, vehicles, and devices for medicine and other fields, the icosahedron's geometry is inspiring. Its bird cage-like symmetry and spacious interior suggest cargo-containing possibilities.

The protein designers took their cue from the many viruses that, en route to living cells, transport their genomes inside protective icosahedral protein shells.

These delivery packages, termed viral capsids, are formed to be tough enough to withstand the trip, efficiently use storage room, and break apart to release their contents when conditions are right.

The researchers' paper in the scientific journal Nature reports on their computational design and experimental testing of a highly stable icosahedral protein nano-cage.

Engineered at the atomic level, this nano-cage can construct itself from biochemical building blocks and information encoded in strands of DNA.

After selecting the design for this icosahedral nano-cage through computer modeling, the researchers produced it in bacteria. Electron microscopy of the resulting icosahedral particles confirmed that they were nearly identical to the design model.

The leads on the project were Yang Hsia, a University of Washington graduate student in biological physics, structure and design, and Jacob B. Bale, a recent graduate from the UW molecular and cellular biology Ph.D. program, and now a research scientist at Arzeda Corporation in Seattle.

The senior authors were Neil P. King, translational investigator at the UW Institute for Protein Design, and David Baker, director of the Institute and UW professor of biochemistry. Baker is also an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

"The ability to design proteins that self-assemble into precisely specified, robust, and highly order icosahedral structures," the researchers wrote, "would open the door to a new generation of protein containers with properties custom-made for applications of interest."

Among these applications might be fabricating nanoscale icosahedral vehicles. Such research might create tiny, spacecraft-like devices that could encapsulate and deliver therapies directly to specific types of cells, such as cancer cells.

The designed icosahedron, while sturdy, proved to disassemble and reassemble itself under certain environmental conditions. This reversible property is essential if it eventually becomes part of packaging, carrying and delivering a biochemical payload.

In addition, the flexibility to modify these miniature cages, the researchers said, "should have considerable utility for targeted drug delivery, vaccine design and synthetic biology."

The newly designed icosahedron has considerably larger internal volume than previously designed nano-cages of other shapes, and so could hold more cargo as molecular shipping containers.

Working towards that end, the researchers were able to design barriers for the center of each of the twenty faces of the icosahedron. These could block molecules from entering and leaving the cage. In future iterations, gated cages might be filled to carry a medication into particular kinds of cell and then discharge it.

Moreover, the protein building blocks making up the cage retain their natural enzymatic activity, which is the ability to speed up chemical reactions. This suggests the possibility of nano-reactors custom-designed to catalyze specific biochemical processes.

The nano-cages were, in addition, amenable to genetic fusions to enhance their properties. For example, the researchers created standard candles for light microscopy by adding a fluorescent protein to each of the 60 subunits that frame the icosahedron. The fluorescent intensity was proportional to the number of these proteins attached to each subunit. The distinctive shape of the icosahedron makes it a readily spotted marker.

###

This project was supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the JRC Visitor Program, the National Science Foundation, a University of Washington/Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute Pilot Award from the National Cancer Institute, the Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and a Public Health Services National Research Services Award.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (June 20, 2016) - Whitehead Institute scientists have determined how to use alpaca-derived, single-domain antibody fragments (also called VHHs or nanobodies) to perturb cellular processes in mammalian cells, including the infection of human cells by influenza A virus (IAV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). With improved knowledge of protein activity, scientists can tease apart the roles individual proteins play in cellular pathways, understand how disease corrupts cellular function, and begin to design interventions to rectify such aberrations.

Until now, researchers have relied largely on genetic approaches or small molecules to inhibit protein function. However, these methods' usefulness has limits--genetic alterations may cause unintended phenotypes. Only about 15% of proteins are "druggable" using small molecules.

"Our method is an interesting and, in my opinion, an important addition to the toolbox of the molecular biologist," says Whitehead Member Hidde Ploegh, who is also a Professor of biology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an affiliate member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT. "The approach allows you to work in a wild-type protein environment--you don't tinker with the host's protein structure or the genetic makeup of the cell you wish to study, but rather you add a highly specific perturbant."

Ploegh's lab has devised a screening strategy that employs VHHs or nanobodies. These molecules are small, highly specific in what they recognize, and sturdy enough to function in the environment of the cytosol. In earlier work, the Ploegh lab used nanobodies to image the immune system's function in real-time. Working with Whitehead Fellow Sebastian Lourido's lab, VHHs made by the Ploegh lab helped decipher the mode of action of a key enzyme used by the Toxoplasma gondii parasite to invade cells.

In the current line of research, described online in the journal Nature Microbiology, scientists led by postdoctoral researcher Florian Schmidt have developed a rational screening approach that led to the identification of nanobodies that interfere with the ability of IAV and VSV to infect cells.

First, the scientists created nanobodies against IAV or VSV by injecting alpacas with inactivated viruses. Millions of DNA sequences, amplified from the immunized alpacas, were inserted into lentiviruses to enable expression of VHHs in the cytosol of human cells. The transduced human cells were then challenged with IAV or VSV. Any surviving cells must have produced a VHH that interferes with virus replication. Indeed, of the millions of cells transduced, about 260 contained nanobodies that protected the cells against either virus and reduced viral infection by more than 80%. When Schmidt analyzed these hits, he found that the nanobodies jammed the viruses' infection machinery using tactics specific to each virus--anti-IAV VHHs targeted the viral nucleoprotein NP, while the anti-VSVs recognized the viral nucleocaspid N.

Using a similar, nanobody-based method, Schmidt determined the role of the adaptor protein ASC in inflammasome assembly in myeloid cells, but he envisions even broader applications for such screens.

"This technique is a very rapid way of identifying inhibitors of essentially any biological process," he says. "And it allows us to look at all the surfaces of a collection of proteins that we're interested in and find the sites that are important for protein function."

By stabilizing their target molecules, nanobodies act as crystallization chaperones, which allow scientists to more easily solve the proteins' structure. The sites where VHHs bind to proteins are also potential drug targets, as these locations impair the proteins' activity.

###

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health, Fujifilm/MediVector, and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).

Hidde Ploegh's primary affiliation is with Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, where his laboratory is located and all his research is conducted. He is also a Professor of biology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an affiliate member of the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT.

Full Citation:

"Phenotypic lentivirus screens to identify functional single domain antibodies"

Nature Microbiology, online June 20, 2016.

Florian I. Schmidt (1), Leo Hanke (1), Benjamin Morin (2), Rebeccah Brewer (1), Vesna Brusic (2), Sean P.J. Whelan (2) and Hidde L. Ploegh (1,3).

1. Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA. 2. Department of Microbiology and Immunobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115 USA. 3. Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.

 Present address: Agenus Inc., Lexington, Massachusetts 02421, USA.
Written by ACM







*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- PanEuropean CoE's Development Bank's Governor, Rolf Wenzel, Speaking to "Eurofora", found that there is "No Scarcity of Funds", on behalf of European Institutions, for Both Refugees/Migrants' Crisis and Poverty in Europe Today, even if one has to See the Concrete Situation in Each Country, and what are the Real Needs, Now that a CEB's Priority is the Integration or Final Destination of recently arrived Mass Immigrants.



----------------------------



- "Eurofora" pointed to the Fact that CoE's Bank, despite its Experience and Efficiency, notoriousy Didn't have as much Money as the EU, and asked Governor Wenzel whether this didn't Hinder him to play as an Important role as he apparently Wished, including at Topical Issues as the current Refugees/Migrants Crisis, etc.



- "The EU has also to Deal with Economic and Big Infrastructural Projects, while We (COE's Development Bank) are Focusing only on Social issues", he clearly Distinguished from the outset.



- "So far", CEB's Funds have proved to be Sufficient for our purpose, and "We didn't see Any Difficulties" from that point of view, "But we have, First, to Find and See what is really Needed", he added positively, but carefuly.



- In practice, "We had a First Situation Last Year (on 2015), particularly "since Last September". But, "Now, (i.e. on Mid-2016) We are Focusing on Integration", as well as on the Final "Destination" of recent Immigrants, (f.ex. Stay in Europe or Resettlement in their Countries of Origin, etc)., COE Bank's Governor Replied to "Eurofora"s Question.



- Already, back "on 1956, the (COE's) Bank was Active in Germany, Italy, and elsewhere, to deal with Refugees and Internaly Displaced Persons, as a Result of the 2nd World War", he reminded, pointing at CEB's "60 Years" of Experience, mainly on such issues, according to ihe Agreement on which it is based. A move which was notoriously Followed, since the Mid-Seventees, until recently, by Help to Greek Cypriot Refugees/IDPs who had to Flee Turkey's Foreign Military Invasion and Occupation of the Northern Part of the Island,since 1974.



- "Then, we had, during the 1990ies, the Former - Yugoslavia's Crisis, with that Country Falling apart, and New Countries Emerging", etc., he added, concerning another, Different Tragic Refugees' issue.



+ Meanwhile, concerning anOther Topical Social Issue : Poverty in Europe, Wenzel, (who is involved at CoE's Bank "since 2008"), observed that, "when you look Today in Europe, we have some kind of Economc Growth, but it's Not yet Fast, nor Strong Enough in order to Reduce UnEmployment".



- But, here too, "I don't see a Scarcity of (European Institutions') Funds" in this regard. In Addition to EU Commission, we have also the European Investment Bank (EIB), even the European ReConstruction Bank (EBRD), etc., together with CoE's PanEuropean Development Bank (CEB). "So, there are Many Institutions" ready to Deal with that kind of issues, he pointed out, rather optimisticaly, at least from this point of view.



- And, as far as the recent developments on "Poverty" Issues are concerned, "one has to See what the situation is from Country to Country", CEB's Experienced Governor advised. "Because not only UnEmployment, but also Social Welfare Systems are Different. So that one has Really to Look at one Country after the Other", he observed.



In this regard, CoE's Bank mainly Funds, (with Low Cost Loans, thanks also to its Aa1 or AA+ Ratings in International Capital Markets, and its Social Mandate), in addition to "Access to Social and Affordable Housing", particularly the "Improvement of Living Conditions and Social Welfare", as its Latest Annual Report for 2015, to which he referred, points out in more details.



------------------------------------



CoE's PanEuropean Bank includes among its Legal Statute's "Primary Purposes", to "Help Solving Social Problems" "faced" by "European Countries", "as a Result of ... Refugees or Other Forced Movements of Populations, and ... Victims of Natural ro Ecological Disasters".



But, after a First Wave of Refugees during the 2 Conflicts at the Former Yogoslavia's area, at the 1990ies, (i.e. under Bill Clinton's US Presidency), curiously, during GWBush's US Presidency, (2001-2008), there wasn't any perceivable augmentation of Refugees' Displacement, (despite the Invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, then),, while, on the Contrary, it Started to Gradually Grow, since Obama's 1st Term in Office, but "Exploded" , after 2012, i.e. on Obama's 2nd Part of US Presidency, when another Socialist President was elected in France (Hollande), reaching an Unprecedented Peak in their Last Year, on 2015-2016.



CEB observed on 2016 that "the Current situation is ... Complicated by the Blurred Disctinction bnetween Humanitarian and Economic Migrants". In fact, "Despite a Public Focus on .. Syria", it's only a Minority of just "29%" of "Asylum Seekers" which originated from Syria, while 28% come from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, another 10% from Albania and Kosovo, etc. There is also a Strange, Unprecedented "Gender InEquality", with Men representing "Two Thirds, for the Age Group of 35 - 64%, and even More for the 14 - 34 Years Old : "About "80%"

However, "the Current Refugees are ... Not the Poorest .. in their Countries of Origin", particularly since "the High Cost of illegal Border Crossing implies hat Only Wealthier individuals Can Afford the Journey from Countries like Syira to Europe", (i.e. through Turkey and its notorious Smugglers). CEB pointed out. (While even a French Couple of frequent Tourists from Strasbourg in the Greek Island of Kos, facing the Turkish Coasts, told earlier to "Eurofora" that the Local People had been astonished by the influx of Many Individuals with a Lot of Money, their pockets Full of Banknotes, who had filled up most Hotels and resting areas, just Before the Big "Tsunami" emerges from Turkey and



CEB has recently (2016) Warned about "Worrying Data on Poverty" in Europe. Moreover, "People feel Threatened ... when and where UnEmployment is High, and social Conditions are particularly Tough", it observed, pointing also to "the Recent Growing Support for .. Anti-Immigration Political Parties and Movements accross the EU, (which) denotes a Serious Trend that canNot be taken Lightly".



(../..)





--------------------------------

***

("DraftNews", as already send to "Eurofora"s Subscribers/Donors, earlier. A more accurate, full Final Version might be Published asap).

***
Written by ACM





*Strasbourg/CoE/Angelo Marcopolo/- CoE's Secretary General, Thornbjorn Jagland, an Experienced former Prime Minister of Norway and President of the NOBEL Peace Prize Committee, Speaking to "Eurofora", stressed his Belief that Balancing Data Protection and Topical Security issues should be Possible, even if Difficult, while CoE is currently Finalizing a "Modern" Review of its 1981 landmark Convention, the only such Binding intsrument in the World.



Jagland spoke to "Eurofora" just after his Keynote Speech to an International Conference organized in Strasbourg on the PanEUropean Organisation's Historic Convention on Data Protection, Advancing "from European Reality to a Global Treaty", according to its Official Heading, which points at Fast-Evolving and Important Real Stakes Today, as several Other Particpants also described to "Eurofora", (See Infra).



-------------------------



- "Do you think that you might Succeed to Strike the Balance between a Strong Protection of Personal Data and Efficiency in the Anti-Terrorism Fight ?", "Eurofora" asked Jagland.



- "I think that it is Possible", CoE's Secretary General Optimistically Replied to "Euroora"s Question from the outset



- "But, Not very Easy...", he Realistically Warned, however.



- "Notably for the Convention", Jagland made it clear, as far as it concerns the forthcoming Review in 2016 of CoE's 1981 landmark Convention.



-- In fact, we Need to find out How to Deal with the "Deep Technological Revolutionary Changes" currently unfolding "at a Global level".



- Because, "we (EU/CoE) don't yet sufficiently Understand what is really going on", while, nevertheless, we understand that "the Winds of Changes are Blowing" Today, he Earlier pointed out.

- Jagland, speaking previously at Today's CoE International Conference on the Data Protection Conference (See Infra), said that he Hopes "that a Revised Text will be Adopted", by the PanEuropean Organisation's Committee of Ministers, "by the End of the Year" 2016.



A "Modernisation" of CoE's Historic 1981 Convention o Data Protection was decided mainly after 2010 - 2011, focusing, in particular, on New Digital Technologies and on Monitoring the Implementation of its Principles, (See Infra)



- Governments now have an unprecedented capacity for Surveillance. And sometimes they need to use it to keep us Safe", while also Big "Companies now have the unprecedented ability to use and share our personal information. And sometimes this means better products and services". Recently, " growth in Terrorism and cyberCrime has Forced us to re-evaluate the level of State intrusion we are willing to accept in our own lives, for the sake of our shared Security", he observed.



- But "I find very Worrying the idea that we are somehow entering a Post-Privacy Age", because"Privacy is fundamental to individual Liberty  protected under Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights", and "It is Vital for keeping the Powerful in Check".



=> Therefore, "it is Essential that we work Together to develop and implement these, at International level", since "the Internet crosses national Borders". Thus, it's "extremely important that (CoE's) Convention  the Worlds Only international, legally-binding data protection treaty  is going Global", Jagland concluded,



Welcoming the Accession of 6 Non-European Countries at this "Open" CoE's Treaty, after Uruguay, some Years ago, that of Mauritius Today, while Morocco and Tunisia, as well as Senegal have already been Invited by CoE's Committee of Ministers to join asap, and Cape Verde has just presented a Request. But Jagland also expressed the "Hope" that "Many Other" Non European Countries are soon Added to the List.



-----------------------------------------------



Meanwhile, Belgium signed, Today in Strasbourg, a Cooperation Agreement with Tunisia as also with Morroco, which includes Training on how Get Ready to Apply CoE's Convention asap.



+ Experienced Professor in Law and Information Systems at the Australian University of New South Wales (NSW), Graham Greenleaf, observed that, Today, about 110 Countries all over the World, have Some kind of Data Protection Laws, from which Only 56 are Out of Europe, where the 46 Member States' strong COE is recently Extending its scope to anOther 6 Non-European Countries, (Comp. Supra).



Professor Greenleaf, speaking later-on to "Eurofora", noted also that EU's relevant New Directive for 25 Member States, (initialy proposed by EU Commission already Since 2012), which Adds, inter alia, also Automatic Procession of Data issues, isn't yet due to Enter into Force before 2 Years' Time from now, while CoE's 46 Member States' relevant Convention is already Applicable, and has a much Wider scope.



Both EU's Data Protection Supervisor Giovanni Buttarelli, and UNO's Special Rapporteur on the Right to Privacy, Joseph Cannataci, observed, in substance, that, at any case, CoE's Convention would always have a Useful "Complementary" role to play.



- The President of CoE's Data Protection Committee, Jean-Philippe Walter from Switzerland, speaking, meanwhile, to "Eurofora", reminded that it was, Initialy, a PanEuropean Meeting at Montreux (Facing Geneva, from the Other side of the Lake), already as Early as since Back on 2004, which had Launched the Idea of that CoE's Convention Going Global, and this was Endorsed, between 2010-2011, by its Committee of Ministers, and a Specialized Meeting of its Ministers of Justice.



As far as the Main CoE's Convention on Data Protectio, Opened for Signature as Early as already since 1981, France and Germany, together with Spain, Sweden and Norway, soon Joined by the UK, Austria and Luxembourg, were among the First to Ratify, Followed, later-on, by All the Other CoE's Members.



- "Last came Turkey, just a Month ago", (i.e. on May 2016 !), told "Eurofora" the Experienced President of COE's Committee on Data Protection, Philippe Walter from Switzerland. (Probably, Ankara's exceptionaly Delayed Decision was motivated by its current Attempt to obtain a Controversial and UnPopular "Free Visa" status for 90 Millions of Turks inside the EU, since it concerns one out of the 5 still PendingConditions)...



But a 2001 "Additional Protocol" which mainly concerns "TransBorder" Data Flows, and entered into force on 2004, hasn't yet been Ratified neither by Russia, nor by the UK, Italy, Turkey and Other Countries, (such as Greece, Belgium, Norway, Slovenia, Malta, San Marino, and Azerbaijan). On the Contrary, Germany and Sweden, as well as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania and Cyprus, were among the First to Ratify it, closely followed by Poland, the Netherlands, Hungary, Albania, etc, and, later-on, by the Rest of PanEuropean CoE's Member States. But the Controversial Issue of TransBorder Data Flows possible Use mainly by the USA, notoriously still Keeps Russia and several Other Countries away from endorsing also COE's "CyberCrime" Convention, (Opened for Signature also since 2001, i.e. practicaly at the Aftermath of 9/11).



- Today, Russia is some Other CoE Member Countries are also Disagreing with the current Draft for the "Modernisation" of the Historic 1981 Convention on Data Protection, particularly because they Want to Exclude from its scope the Data used for "State Security" issues. But, as any New Protocol Amending the Convention needs the Acceptance of All its Member States, then, Unless a Compromise is found with Moscow, COE might be Obliged to present all its Draft as a kind of a ..."New Treaty", due to be Signed and Ratified by those COE's Members who are Willing to do so, President Walter speculated, Smiling to "Eurofora"...



-----------------------------------------------



+ CoE Committee of Ministers' Coordinator on Information Society, Ambassador of Belgium, Dirk Van Eeckhout, (who served recently as President in office of the CoE), speaking to "Eurofora", explained that, by calling earlier the "CyberCrime" Convention as "1 Arm of the COE", and its "Data Protection" Convention, "the 2nd Arm of the COE", he is pointing, in particular, on People's "Trust" that their elementary Rights could be Safeguarded even when Public Authorities have to take Measures to Fight against Terrorism and other serious Crimes. The one doesn't go without the other, he resumed in substance.

++ Finally, COE's Director on Information Society, Patrick Penninckx, who Concluded Today's International Conference, by Stressing that the PanEuropean Conventio was, in fact, "a Unique Global Compass" on Data Protection, since, currently, "there is No realistic Alternative" to that, Worldwide, while also Promissing that, by "Modernizing" it, CoE "will Never become Complacent on Privacy", since "Data are becoming <<the New Oil>> Today", and "we Need an Investment in Trust", Speaking later to "Eurofora", observed that the Next Step of the International Community on "Global Governance" at the Internet, was the Forthcoming UNO's "Internet Governance Forum", scheduled this year "in Mexico", on December 2016.







- California based "ICANN" might evolve towards a Global Internet Governance body, particularly if it becomes more Independent, but the USA don't seem ready yet to give up all ICANN's links to the American IANA, etc., he observed. In this Context, some have thought that the 47 Member Countries-Strong, PanEuropean COE, which currently still remains as the Only Organisation in the World with Legaly Binding Tools, as well as several Legal Standard-setting Instruments, on the Internet, might, eventualy, Play also a Global Role on Web Goevrnance. But it's Not Sure at all that the Americans would Accept such a role for a Body based in France, even if, however, we (CoE) have some Strong Supporters "at Washington DC", he optimisticaly pointed out.

(../..)





--------------------------------

***

("DraftNews", as already send to "Eurofora"s Subscribers/Donors, earlier. A more accurate, full Final Version might be Published asap).

***
Written by ACM





*Strasbourg/Angelo Marcopolo/- While most of the unprecedented Horrible Massive and Brutal Mob Sexual Attacks against defenseless Women at Cologne and Other Cities in Germany and several EU Countries astonishingly still remain almost entirely Unpunished, added to more and more Children, mainly Girls aged only 14yo (i.e. Minors), facing similar Brutal Mob Attacks for Sexual Abuse in Germany, the UK and more EU Countries, apparently by some Recent Mass Immigrants who came to Europe through Turkey on 2015-2016, an ECHR Judgement issued a few Days ago in Strasbourg on the case of a 14 Years Old Girl in Romania, who had vainly Denounced a Rape Attack by a Group of 6 Men aged 16-30 yo, all of whom were finaly let free or given only "Suspended" minor sentences by National Courts, which claimed that they didn't find any "Proof of Rape", appears now Highly Relevant :



Indeed, most of the above mentioned Victims' Complaints for Violent Mob Sex Abuses at Cologne and elsewhere in Germany risk to be systematically Rejected for alleged Lack of sufficient Evidence of Rape, as several mainstream Media (and even some Local Policemen) Denounced, while, on the Contrary, this "Unanimously" issued ECHR Judgement provides Timely a set of clear Principles which can Help National Authorities, throughout all CoE's 47 Member Countries, to Better Address such kind of particularly Delicate Cases, often involving even Fragile Children, in a much more Efficient way.



ECHR's 7 EuroJudges, All Together, stressed that, as a matter of General Principle, all CoE's Member "States" have an "Obligation to apply Effectively a Criminal-Law System, Punishing All Forms of Rape and Sexual Abuse".



But, in this case, "the Investigation ... Fell Short of the Requirements inherent" to that. Therefore, ECHR Concluded for the existence of "a Violation of ... Article 3 of the (PanEuropean) Convention" on Human Rights, (which Prohibits any "Inhuman or Degrading Treatment".



Because, as the Judgement makes it Clear, any "Failure to Properly Investigate ... Complaints of Sexual Abuse against Children, or Other Vulnerable Persons ... creates a background of Impunity".



The main Reason was that, Despite the Fact that the "Heightened State of Vulnerability" of that Girl aged Only 14 "Required .. to Show Increased Diligence", nevertheless, National Authorities had Not "Considered" "None of the Personal Circumstances" of the Victim, "such as her Age and ... Development, or the Circumstances in which the Incident took place : At Night, in Cold Weather, as well as the Number of Men who took part in it", etc.



>>> I.e. ECHR refers Now almost Precisely to the strikingly Similar Circumstances in which took place the Infamous Cologne and other Massive Sexual Abuse Brutal Attacks at New Years Eve : Also "at Night", also "in Cold Weather", added to "the Number" of the Aggressors, which notoriously were Many Dozens of Mobsters Attacking each time One by One the Defenseless Women or Young Girls, and reportedly ill-Treating them "as Cattle", (according to EyeWitnesses)... Even Worse when, in Addition, the Victims were Minors, as Girls "Aged" only 14 or 15 Years Old, in this, as also in several other relevant cases of Recent Mob Attacks in Germany, (See also Infra).



Instead of "a Context-sensitive Assessment, ... for Verification of All the Surrounding Circumstances", that "Similar Cases ... Obviously Called for", and Despite States' Obligation "to Take Measures designed to Ensure" that People "are Not Subjected to ill-Treatment", including by the "Effective Prosecution of Any Non-Consensual Sexual Act, even in the Absence of Physical Resistance by the Victim", (f.ex. "by Questioning ... Friends, Neighbours,.. and Others who could Shed Light, ... or by Seeking an Opinion from a ...Psychologist", etc), on the Contrary, National Authorities had placed "Undue Emphasis on the Absence of Proof of Resistance" from the Victim, as well as the alleged absence of Physical Signs on her Body, (as they had repeatedly argued, while the Aggressors had simply Claimed that their Victim would have "Consented to have Sex")...



But the Young Girl aged Only 14 yo, had Denounced that such an Approach "Intensified her Feelings of Humiliation, Anguish and Frustration, withOut renering an Effective Conviction" of the Aggressors, also by "Failing to take into Consideration her Young Age, and her Physical and Psychological Condition, or the Fact that 6 Men had Participated in her Abuse", by Mob Violence.



Indeed, the UnderAge Victim had also pointed at the Fact that she had been initialy "Grabbed" and "Forced to go with" 3 Men, one of whom had "Twisted her Arm to her Back" and "Seized her Head", Ordering her to Follow him, while another 3 Men Aged More than 20, "Threatened to Beat her" if she Refused to Obey, while they ill-Treated her at a "Deserted" area. Her GirlFriends Witnessed that the Victim had been vainly "Shouting" at the First 3 Aggressors to Let her Free and was "Scared" when she Returned, while her Father had brought her Immediately to the Police to Lodge a Formal Complaint, when she Told him what had really Happened, and a Series of subsequent Medical Examinations had Found a serious "Psychological Disorder, Caused by a Physical and Psychological Trauma", "requiring 14 Days of Medical Care", and "Diagnosed" a "Stress-related Anxiety, Irritability, Sleep Disorder, slight Intellectual Disability... and Lice Infestation", followed by "Symptoms including Frontal Headaches, Depression, Tearfulness and Feelings of Social Isolation", added to "Emotional Disorder .. and Anaemia", etc., needing a "Treatment with Neurotropic Drugs" and "Anxiolytics", etc.



---------------------



Mob Attacks with Sexual Abuse against even "Minors", as f.ex. Girls Aged only 14 Years Old, reportedly by many recent Immigrants comming through Turkey via EU (+Shenghen) Member Greece, were Denounced on May and June 2016 both in Germany and at the UK, after a First Series of even Worse Massive Aggressions at New Year's Eve at Cologne and other German, Swedish, Danish or Austrian, etc. EU Cities, -



At Nearby Darmstadt City (between Frankfurt and Strasbourg), now committed at Broad Daylight during a Popular Open-Air Rock Music Festival on May 2016, (by some "South Asian" migrants according to Victims who lodged 26 Complaints, as Local Police Reported, while "3 Pakistani" were detained but afterwards released), followed by a Similar Violent "Harassement" of Girls aged just 15+, by "a Gang of Ten Men", aged 18-35, described as "Africans" by the Victims, who suffered also "various Physical Injuries", at Ahrensburg (Schleswig-Holstein), on June 11. In Parallel, a Hessen Newspaper (HNA) published Denonciations of Victims, Girls aged 16yo, for being "Regularly Harassed" on their "Way to School" by several Men who Touched her intimate Body parts and Grobbed them, also grossly Insulting, and afterwards even Followed some of them "until Home", one of those Girls having been Harassed "by 7 Men at once" near Kassel, (where a Woman was reportedly saved by chance from a Mob "Rape" Attack by 3 "Brown Skined" Individuals "talking an Unknown Language"). Meanwhile the Head of German Police's Union (DPolG), Rainer Wendt, reportedly Warned that such Brutal Mob "Sex Attacks" are due "to Increase even More", as he said after citting also Dusseldorf, Berlin, and BergKirchWeih (Franconia : "14 Attacks" noted).



But also in the UK, where "4 Syrian Immigrants", some of whom had been "selected by UNHCR staff" to benefit from a Brittish Government's Aid Program for "Resettlement" in the UK, were brought to Justice after being Charged for Mob Aggressions and "Sexual Assault" against 2 Underage Girls 14yo at a "Newcastle" Public Park.



The Fact that Victims started to be now "even Minors", i.e. Children, obviously creates an even more Serious "Problem", as German Media denounced.



CoE's PanEuropean Parliamentary Assembly has recently asked, in a Resolution adopted in Strasbourg with a Strong Majority, to thorougly Investigate unprecedented Massive Mob Attacks with Brutal Sexual Abuse against Women mainly in Germany, but also in Sweden, Denmark, Austria and other EU Countries particularly at the New Years' Eve, after Midnight from December 31, 2015 to January 1st, 2016, in order to Find and Punish all those Responsible for such Crimes, as well as for alleged Attempts by Local/Regional Police Authorities to Hide and/or Muzzle such Odious Crimes from the Public, keeping a quasi-Total Silence for too Many Days after the Incidents, until initialy Dissident Medias, soon Followed by mainstream Press, started to Reveal what became a Gros Scandal particularly in Germany, (but also, partly, in Sweden and elsewhere), which has recently received the by far Largest Number of Mass Asylum Seekers/Irregular Immigrants through Turkey, via EU (and Shenghen) Member Greece during the "Migrants Crisis" of 2015/2016, (See, f.ex. : .....)



Cologne Policemen reportedly argued that Violent Sexual Abuses would be more "Difficult to Prove" than Banal "Theft", in an obvious attempt to excuse themselves for not having yet managed to lead to the Condemnation of not even 1 (one !) Suspect, after all this Time since the First January 2016, despite more than 1.300 Individual Complaints already lodged by many Girls and Women Victims of such Brutal Mob Attacks in the City which had notoriously become known previously as "the Turkish Capital" of Germany.



But other Koeln (Cologne) Policemen have already Denounced, according to mainstream German Media, the Astonishing Fact that, even when some of them had initialy send Clear Messages announcing precisely unprecedented Brutal Mob Sexual Attacks and Rape attempts against Girls aged just 18 - 19, (f.ex. by "penetrating" their internal parts, as they said), nevertheless, Superiors from the Northern Rhine Westphalian (NRW) Region (Lander), currently held by the Socialist Party, had reportedly Reacted Negatively by Trying to Erase the Word "Rape" and to Minimize those Incidents.



Added to the Notorious Scandal of NRW Police Attempts to Hide and Muzzle any Mediatic Revelation of those unprecedented Massive Brutal Mob Attacks with Sexual Abuse against Thousands of Girls and Women, "ill-treated as Cattle" according to German Media citting EyeWitnesses, until a Local Website and a Marginal Berlin Newspaper Started to Break down that "Wall" of Silence, rapidly Followed by many Mainstream Media afterwards, such Repeated Incidents have Fueled, inter alia, a NRW Lander Assembly Committee's still on-going Enquiry on eventual Biais that might have been Imposed by Politicaly Responsible Actors. (I.e. Similar to various Other Hierarchy attempts to Muzzle even German Policemen's Reports on frequent Violent Incidents involving 2015-2016 Mass Immigrants from Turkey, as several mainstream Media often Denounced, added even to a relevant Best-Seller Book recently Published by a Lady Police Officer in Germany).



Most Victims of Mob Attacks in German Cities were Poor Young Girls, living in far away Suburbs or even surrounding Villages, and Obliged to Depend on Buses or even Trains in order to Reach their School and/or the City. At Cologne, they had reportedly been Trapped by an Unwarned Blockade of the Main Central Station by Local (NRW-depending) Police, and afterwards many Victims had even been Obliged to Walk, overNight, during several Hours, in order to Return Back Home exhausted.

Brutal Mob Sexual Attacks against defenseless Women have been earlier reported in some North African Countries as Egypt and others, according to mainstream German and American Medias, while similar Crimes, as Mass Rape attemps, etc., were also denounced in some areas of India, mainly near Pakistan, etc.



------------------------------



+Previously, a Criminal Network of Thugs in the UK, mainly of Pakistani origin, abusing many Poor Children by Rapes and Forced Prositution in several mainly Socialist (Labour) held Municipalities around the Country for Years, without any Serious Enquiry by the competent Public Authorities before 2011, had provoked a Big Scandal, as an exceptional, landmark Article published at mainstream Newspaper "the Guardian" reminded, precisely, on the occasion of the Koeln (Cologne) Mob Attacks.

2016 Conservative Candidate for London Mayor, Zak Goldsmith, had reportedly Tried on 2015 to push for more Investigations in a Similar Scandal about Sexual Exploitation of Minors at the British capital itself, allegedly involving even former Establishment figures, some of whom were suspected to be from his own Party.

A wing of which notoriously did Not Back him wholeheartedly, but often Criticized Z.G. in the latest Municipal Elections, finaly snaped, for the 1st Time in History, by Pakistani-origin, Sadiq Khan, accused both by Goldsmith and Prime Minister Cameron to have had various Personal contacts with Extremist Islamists in the Past, amidst a Huge Abstention in a City which has recently gathered about 14% Muslims among its Residents : A fact that "Labour"s Socialists and others, on the Contrary, hailed as a Chance for much needed Immigrants' Integration. Something that only the Future will tell, in the Next 3 Years.



In the meantime, however, even the Famous "Glastonbury" Annual Rock Msic Festival in the UK, has just reportedly anounced that, for the 1st Time in History, it will have a .. "Separate" Space only for Women, something that some Muslim Groups have been notoriously Asking for various Public Areas, including Swimming Pools, etc., but that several Commentators interpreted also as a Precaution vis a vis more Mob Attacks for Sexual Abuse against Women during Public Events, recently throughout Europe : - "Oppression against Women continues in Various Manifestations around the World Today, in Different Cultural Contexts", soberly declared the Organisers...

(../..)





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***

("DraftNews", as already send to "Eurofora"s Subscribers/Donors, earlier. A more accurate, full Final Version might be Published asap).

***
Next time someone calls you a birdbrain, smile and say thank you. Our feathered friends come well equipped with hardware and software for complex behaviors. A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences puts birds on par with macaques and other mammals, and even suggests they can think.

Heres what the news from Vanderbilt University says about the results of a detailed study by researchers primarily from the University of Prague, with additional team members from Austria, Brazil, and the United States:

The macaw has a brain the size of an unshelled walnut, while the macaque monkey has a brain about the size of a lemon. Nevertheless, the macaw has more neurons in its forebrain  the portion of the brain associated with intelligent behavior  than the macaque. That is one of the surprising results of the first study to systematically measure the number of neurons in the brains of more than two dozen species of birds ranging in size from the tiny zebra finch to the six-foot-tall emu, which found that they consistently have more neurons packed into their small brains than are stuffed into mammalian or even primate brains of the same mass. [Emphasis added.]

How is this possible? The answer includes miniaturization and efficient packaging:

That is possible because the neurons in avian brains are much smaller and more densely packed than those in mammalian brains, the study found. Parrot and songbird brains, for example, contain about twice as many neurons as primate brains of the same mass and two to four times as many neurons as equivalent rodent brains. Not only are neurons packed into the brains of parrots and crows at a much higher density than in primate brains, but the proportion of neurons in the forebrain is also significantly higher, the study found.

The scientists note that even despised birds like pigeons show much the same brain power. Powered flight, obviously, takes a lot of hardware and software to operate in any bird; how much so in the supreme flyers Illustra Media showed in Flight: The Genius of Birds: starlings, Arctic terns, and especially the tiny hummingbirds? Dr. Suzana Herculano-Houzl, lead author of the study, shows her delightful surprise in video clips in the news item. The small heads of birds belie the observations of complex behaviors they perform.

But its not just routine tasks the brains must perform. Some birds can remember where they stored hundreds of seeds. Birds have been observed to hide a seed while another bird is watching, then move it when the neighbor is gone  indicative of a possible theory of mind that shows planning and recognizing what the other bird is thinking.

The study provides a straightforward answer to a puzzle that comparative neuroanatomists have been wrestling with for more than a decade: how can birds with their small brains perform complicated cognitive behaviors? The conundrum was created by a series of studies beginning in the previous decade that directly compared the cognitive abilities of parrots and crows with those of primates. The studies found that the birds could manufacture and use tools, use insight to solve problems, make inferences about cause-effect relationships, recognize themselves in a mirror and plan for future needs, among other cognitive skills previously considered the exclusive domain of primates.

Indeed, crows have shown the ability to solve a puzzle made famous in an Aesops fable (Reuters): dropping stones in a pitcher to raise the water level in order to get a drink. New Caledonian crows have shown the ability to use three tools in succession to reach a food source (BBC News). Owners of parrots know the cleverness of their pets; their ability to mimic human speech and singing is astonishing. Some cockatiels can even do the Riverdance.

Finding such detail and complexity in the brains of birds poses a serious evolutionary problem. The old progressive gradualism of Darwin saw humans at the pinnacle of evolution, with everything that came before less advanced. To find that birds, so completely distant from mammals on the Tree of Life, having comparable brains to primates is unexpected from a Darwinian view.

In the second video clip from Vanderbilt, Herculano-Houzl struggles to give an evolutionary account. She intimates that birds evolved intelligence first and then kept it at that level while mammals, evolving separately, arrived at comparable intelligence later. That only compounds the problem. The paper further compounds the problem by postulating that songbirds and parrots independently evolved vocal learning pathways by duplication of preexisting, surrounding motor circuits. But duplication does not add information; its an accident. The statement amounts to saying bird intelligence happened by chance.

As Denyse OLeary has explored here at Evolution News, intelligence does not require a specific type of brain. What better way to dismiss evolutionary pathways than to show independent brain types with similar capabilities for cognition and intelligence? Its similar to Tim Standishs comment in Living Waters about a mind being able to know a solution to a problem (in that case, magnetic navigation) and applying it over and over again in different contexts. Isnt that a better explanation than admitting ignorance and tossing out suggestions?

What ultimate mechanisms drive the evolution of the enlarged, neuron-rich telencephalon, which sets parrots and songbirds apart from the more basal birds we examined, remains poorly understood. We suggest that this expansion has been due to simultaneous selective pressures on cognitive enhancement and an evolutionary constraint on brain size, which may stem from the constraints on body size imposed by active flight.

One cause we know that can optimize multiple, competing constraints is intelligence. When a cause is known to be necessary and sufficient to explain a phenomenon, that cause should be preferred as the vera causa (true cause). It would seem that intelligent causes are best equipped to take up the challenge the researchers leave at the end of their paper:

Our finding of greater than primate-like numbers of neurons in the pallium of parrots and songbirds suggests that the large absolute numbers of telencephalic neurons in these two clades provide a means of increasing computational capacity, supporting their advanced behavioral and cognitive complexity, despite their physically smaller brains. Moreover, a short interneuronal distance, the corollary of the extremely high packing densities of their telencephalic neurons, likely results in a high speed of information processing, which may further enhance cognitive abilities of these birds. Thus, the nuclear architecture of the avian brain appears to exhibit more efficient packing of neurons and their interconnections than the layered architecture of the mammalian neocortex. Further comparative studies on additional species are required to determine whether the high neuronal densities and preferential allocation of neurons to the telencephalon represent unique features of songbirds, parrots, and perhaps some other clades like owls, or have evolved multiple times independently in large-brained birds. More detailed quantitative studies should assess the distribution of neurons among various telencephalic regions involved in specific circuits subserving specific functions. The results, combined with behavioral studies, will enable us to determine the causal relationships between neuronal numbers and densities and perceptual, cognitive, and executive/motor abilities, and greatly advance our understanding of potential mechanisms linking neuronal density with information-processing capacity.

Go ahead. With all this in mind, you can judge the credibility of the evolutionary explanation for yourself.

Photo via Pixabay.
Recent polls suggested that the Leave referendum campaign was losing its lead, sending Pound Sterling exchange rates soaring as Brexit fears eased.

Although uncertainty remains over the result of this weeks UK referendum the pound to rupee exchange rate has continued to make gains.

As the Bank of Englands (BoE) second additional liquidity auction resulted in the lowest take-up since January markets were encouraged by the apparent confidence of the countrys financial institutions

Several recent referendum polls showed that support for an In vote began to recover, causing huge appreciation in Pound Sterling exchange rates.

Just a few days before, the polls had shown that the Leave campaign held a sizeable lead on Remain, but the latest updates have placed the sides neck-and-neck.

According to Accendo Markets analyst, Mike van Dulken:

A higher chance of the UK voting to stay is a relief for markets (equities and the Pound Sterling) that had been preparing themselves for a Leave vote and the uncertainty it could inflict from both a financial, economic and political standpoint.

Many believe that that the UKs undecided voters will largely end up supporting Remain, causing a late surge in support when the country goes to the polls.

Here are the latest GBP FX rates before we continue with the news:

On Wednesday the Pound to British Pound exchange rate (GBP/GBP) converts at 1

At time of writing the pound to pound exchange rate is quoted at 1.

Today finds the pound to euro spot exchange rate priced at 1.152.

The GBP to USD exchange rate converts at 1.16 today.

Please note: the FX rates above, updated 26th Oct 2022, will have a commission applied by your typical high street bank. Currency brokers specialise in these type of foreign currency transactions and can save you up to 5% on international payments compared to the banks.

EUref Polls Skewed by UKIP Poster and Death of Jo Cox

The latest polls overwhelmingly showed just how close the debate has become again, with issues such as UKIPs latest anti-immigration poster and the tragic murder of MP Jo Cox seen as having softened support for the Leave camp.

Baroness Warsi became a focal point in the Brexit debate on Monday after announcing she would no longer back the Leave campaign and would instead be voting to Remain.

Speaking on Radio 4s Today programme, Warsi explained that she has switched support to the Remain camp because:

To wake up on Sunday morning  to hear both Michael Gove continue to repeat the lies on Turkish accession to the EU  and Nigel Farage defend his indefensible poster  [it was] impossible to continue supporting Leave.

Many Brexit supporters claimed they werent even aware Warsi was on their side to begin with, criticising the medias description of the move as a defection, while Nigel Farage called it a stunt organised by Downing Street.

The preliminary results from the UKs EU referendum vote are expected at around 1am on Friday morning, with the final result following at around 7am.

The Indian Rupee was weakened recently by the surprise news that RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan intended to step down from his role at the end of his term.

A skyrocketing Pound Sterling was just one of the headwinds facing the Indian Rupee as the week opened.

Raghuram Rajan, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor, shocked markets when he announced he would step down at the end of his term in office.

Rajan - one of few economists to accurately predict the 2008 financial crisis - is widely respected for the way he looked after the Indian economy, with many assuming he would continue his tenure with the RBI.

As well as the loss of a trusted custodian of monetary policy, INR has been weakened by speculation over whether Rajan left of his own accord or was pushed out by political pressure.

Market Sentiment Forecast to Control GBP/INR Exchange Rate in Referendum Weak

While there is data from the UK and India this week, it is highly likely it will be ignored in the run-up to the referendum results.

UK public borrowing figures are due on Tuesday, while Friday sees the release of Indian deposit growth, bank loan growth and foreign reserves data.

INR will also be affected by Brexit developments, however speculation over Rajans exit from the RBI could provide headwinds as well.

The Rupee could weaken significantly if rumours were to emerge that Rajan left due to political pressure - foreign investment is a significant driver of growth in India, so knocks to its reputation and fears of a politically unstable infrastructure could deter investors and weaken GDP.

The Pounds movement against the Rupee today has been negative, owing to detrimental circumstances

On the one hand, the price of crude oil has slumped, thereby boosting the strength of the Indian economy. In addition, recent opinion polls have painted a closer picture among the EU Referendum campaigns, leaving the ultimate result hanging in the balance.
GBP on the Up after Latest #EURef Polls put In Vote Out in Front

Ahead of this afternoons Canadian Retail Sales the pound to Canadian dollar exchange rate has been trending higher, with forecasts pointing towards a positive rebound.

As investors expect to see another decline in US crude oil stockpiles in the latest inventories figure the price of oil is likely to strengthen further, a result which would push the GBP/CAD exchange rate lower.

Tuesday's worsening in the GBP/CAD spot rate is likely due to two reasons, the first being a recent poll that has put the In and Out votes on a close footing.

The other has been that with recent Fed comments making a near-term interest rate hike seem unlikely, the CAD has been granted at least a short period of breathing room.

Weaker-than-forecast Canadian Wholesale Sales weakened demand for the Canadian dollar exchange rates, particularly as oil prices returned to a downtrend.

Brexit uncertainty has remained limited, meanwhile, with the Pound strengthening on the back of the Bank of Englands (BoE) second additional liquidity auction, which saw a smaller take-up than anticipated.

The British pound has managed to achieve a sustained rally against the Canadian dollar and all of its other usual rivals today, owing to the resuming of the EU Referendum campaign opening with highly supportive results from the polls.

Although in previous weeks the Leave group has commanded a lions share of the potential vote, after fresh data was released early on Monday, it was shown that Remain was in the top position, or at least on the same level as the Out vote.

While earlier UK house price data was released with mixed outcomes, this domestic contribution has done little to harm the currently high appeal of the Pound.

Latest Canadian Dollar Exchange Rates

On Wednesday the Pound to British Pound exchange rate (GBP/GBP) converts at 1

Today finds the pound to pound spot exchange rate priced at 1.

Today finds the pound to us dollar spot exchange rate priced at 1.16.

The live inter-bank GBP-AUD spot rate is quoted as 1.791 today.

Please note: the FX rates above, updated 26th Oct 2022, will have a commission applied by your typical high street bank. Currency brokers specialise in these type of foreign currency transactions and can save you up to 5% on international payments compared to the banks.

GBP/CAD Exchange Rate Forecast: UK Borrowing Data due This Week along with CBI Stats and Mortgage Approvals

The next UK economic data to watch out for will come tomorrow morning, in the form of the national borrowing stats for May. Following on from this will be Confederation of British Industry (CBI) trends for prices and orders in June.

Closing the weeks UK data contributions will be Fridays BBA mortgage approvals stats, although regardless of the outcome, the aftermath of Thursdays voting is likely to negate any possible influence had by the mortgaging result.

Canadian Dollar (CAD) Exchange Rates Generally Stable Today despite Warnings of Brexit Impacts

The appeal of the Loonie has been positive against most pairings of late, although significant losses have nonetheless been recorded against the Pound and the New Zealand Dollar.

This recent positive movement for the CAD has been brought about by the rising price of crude oil, among other things.

In particular, despite concerns from Canadian High Commissioner Gordon Campbell that an Out vote could harm Canadas economy, the fact that the US Dollar has been taking greater damage from such fears has pushed the Loonie higher in response.

Sales Stats and Finance Minister Activity due from Canada This Week

The first pieces of Canadian economic data to watch out for this week will come in the form of wholesale sales figures for April, which are due this afternoon. Current forecasts have been for a rise from -1% to 0.5%.

Other Canadian economic events to watch out for will be a two-day meeting between Canadian Finance Minister Bill Morneau and representatives from the nations provinces, on the subject of the Canadian Pension Plan.

The week will end early for Canada, with Wednesday bringing the nations retail sales figures for April, which are forecast to rise out of negative ranges in both fields.

Canadian Diplomat Warns of Brexit Risks, Recommends Change of Tone after MPs Murder

Gordon Campbells comments on the EU Referendum campaign, which come in the wake of last Thursdays appalling murder of MP Jo Cox, have been a plea for voters and campaigners alike to consider the repercussions of their actions ahead of Thursdays historic vote.

Speaking earlier, Campbell stated:

This is [a] generational impact on the United Kingdom, Europe and the worlds economies. I will say that I do hope that this true tragedy has led a lot of public figures here in the UK to think long and hard about the tone of the debate around the EU referendum.


Moving to another country to live and work is an upheaval no matter your circumstances and refugees perhaps face the hardest time of all with language often being a barrier.Leaving your family, home and friends is always heart breaking but Canada is trying to make the transition for those fleeing war and has been accepting a large number from Syria.Some have been speaking about what it means. Safwan, his wife and three children lived in fear and panic for a year as bombs exploded around their home in Homs, Syria. Every day they had to risk their lives to get food from the few grocery markets still open in Homs.And, Safwan barely escaped being shot while fleeing Syria to the relative safety of Lebanon. Fortunately, the Government of Canada accepted Safwan and his family in January 2016 as government assisted refugees.I didnt know anything about Canada when I first arrived in Toronto. COSTI Immigrant Services, funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, gave me an overview of my new country, helped me find housing, get furniture and housing insurance, and took me and my family to the doctor, he explained.I am thankful to the Government of Canada for getting me on my feet. And, the services COSTI provided were in Arabic. I was so happy that someone was speaking to me in my native language, Safwan added.Learning a new language is one issue that everyone who moves to a new country where their native language is not spoken can sympathise with. But language can also be a help.One day, Safwan was shopping with a friend at Adonis Supermarket in Scarborough. The store manager, Hani Tawil, heard him speaking the Syrian Arabic dialect at the cash register and offered him a job on the spot.Adonis Supermarket has an in-store bakery that produces fresh pita bread, as well as offering such Middle Eastern specialties as manakeesh, lahmajin, safiha and kibeh. It was a perfect fit because Safwan had worked as a baker in Syria.Hani is a Syrian immigrant who wants to help refugees get their first job to build their lives in Canada. To date, he has hired almost 60 Syrian refugees.Safwan started working at Adonis Supermarket in May 2016, and now makes fresh pitas daily. eI feel more at ease now that I am working at Adonis with others who speak Arabic,i he explained.Safwan came to Canada speaking no English. Working at Adonis Supermarket allows him to interact with co-workers and customers in his native language. Now that he has a job to support his family, Safwans next goal is to improve his English so that one day he can open his own business.
Hello!I posted on here, a couple of years ago in regards to the awful spouse viza rules for USA to UK... found here :Which unfortunately were never resolved for me and my partner...Well after three years of long distance, we got married during my last visit to her in NYC. A spur of the moment City Hall affair.We didn't apply for fiance visa's or anything... I was over on an ESTA.... like I said, spur of the moment, they did all the relevant checks at NYC City hall, and hey presto man and wife!!We are of course very happy about this, but now are wondering if this helps our situation... we're pretty sure UK Visa will NOT be an option, as, I am still a musician earning much under the required amount to qualify... However SHE earns quite a modest salary in New York, actually well above the amount for me to qualify for Green Card......We are now looking at ME making the move over to USA as our strongest option (especially seeing as it's looking more and more as though UK will leave European Union.....How do I get the ball rolling on this??Whats the procedure to begin applying for USA residence as her husband... Will we find difficulties because we didn't apply for Fiance Visa before marriage??Any help or Direction would be appreciated!!In love, but overwhelmed and confused!Ax
You can apply for a Visit Visa or Tourist Visa while you are still in country, but the immigration system will automatically put the application on hold (provided that it links to your correct UID number). The application hold will automatically lift when you exit the country and the visa will then be processed and issued if no further issues.



However, if your residence visa is in an old passport and your UID is not yet updated to link to that passport, you may get away with being issued a Visit Visa or Tourist Visa while you are still in country - but with a new UID number. This may seem to be a solution, but will actually cause you more grief when trying to exit the country if the multiple UIDs are detected.
Nannetteph said: I've been living here for 1-1/2 months and found a beautiful 4 bedroom house outside of Manila for $400/month which includes a dirty kitchen with a maids quarters and chauffeur's bedroom. The place is furnished with 2 refrigerators. However, none of them are working properly. I want to buy my own. Where can I find one that works and would last long? I noticed electronics here don't seem to be built to last.



<Snip> Click to expand...

Whatever you do, I'd steer clear of buying a used refrigerator, like I did. We were running low on money as our house was being completed, so we were trying to be extra careful about spending money on appliances. My wife and I found a guy who had an outdoor lot where he had used refrigerators, fans, and televisions for sell. I asked him if he had a refrigerator with a three prong plug, because I wanted mine to grounded. To make a long story short, I go back a few days later and pick up refrigerator for around 4,000 Php, and it also had the type of plug that I wanted on it.I was kinda distracted with other stuff, so I didn't really pay too much attention to it at first, but after a few weeks my wife kept complaining that it was giving her electrical shocks.I took a closer look at the refrigerator and found that the cord had been spliced in using electrical tape, and that the ground wire from the compressor motor wasn't even connected to the three prong cord. The ground wire from the motor was just laying inside the tray, and the underside of my refrigerator was heavily corroded, as if the previous owner never emptied the tray.To make a long story short our used refrigerator failed after about year, and then after that we went to Asian Home Appliances and picked up a new LG Refrigerator for around 15,000. It's now about a year and half old, and has been working fine.Sometimes I drive past the place where I purchased my old used refrigerator, and I see his employees out there with a spray gun painting the old refrigerators to make them look new again. Oh well, lessoned learned.
As state after state has legalized marijuana in one way or another, big names in corporate America have stayed away entirely. Marijuana, after all, is still illegal, according to the federal government.

But Microsoft is breaking the corporate taboo on pot this week by announcing a partnership to begin offering software that tracks marijuana plants from seed to sale, as the pot industry puts it.

The software  a new product in Microsofts cloud computing business  is meant to help states that have legalized the medical or recreational use of marijuana keep tabs on sales and commerce, ensuring that they remain in the daylight of legality.

But until now, even that boring part of the pot world was too controversial for mainstream companies. It is apparent now, though, that the legalization train is not slowing down: This fall, at least five states, including the biggest of them all  California  will vote on whether to legalize marijuana for recreational use.

So far, only a handful of smaller banks are willing to offer accounts to companies that grow or sell marijuana, and Microsoft will not be touching that part of the business. But the companys entry into the government compliance side of the business suggests the beginning of a legitimate infrastructure for an industry that has been growing fast and attracting lots of attention, both good and bad.

We do think there will be significant growth, said Kimberly Nelson, the executive director of state and local government solutions at Microsoft. As the industry is regulated, there will be more transactions, and we believe there will be more sophisticated requirements and tools down the road.

Microsofts baby step into the business came through an announcement on Thursday that it was teaming up with a Los Angeles startup, Kind, that built the software the tech giant will begin marketing. Kind  one of many small companies trying to take the marijuana business mainstream  offers a range of products, including ATM-style kiosks that facilitate marijuana sales, working through some of the state-chartered banks that are comfortable with such customers.

Microsoft will not be getting anywhere near these kiosks or the actual plants. Rather, it will be working with Kinds government solutions division, offering software only to state and local governments that are trying to build compliance systems.

But for the young and eager legalized weed industry, Microsofts willingness to attach its name to any part of the business is a big step forward.

Nobody has really come out of the closet, if you will, said Matthew A. Karnes, the founder of Green Wave Advisors, which provides data and analysis of the marijuana business. Its very telling that a company of this caliber is taking the risk of coming out and engaging with a company that is focused on the cannabis business.

David Dinenberg, founder and chief executive of Kind, said it had taken a long time  and a lot of courting of big-name companies  to persuade the first one to get on board.

Every business that works in the cannabis space, we all clamor for legitimacy, said Dinenberg, a former real estate developer in Philadelphia who moved to California to start Kind. I would like to think that this is the first of many dominoes to fall.

Its hard to know if other corporate giants have provided their services in more quiet ways to cannabis purveyors. New York state, for instance, has said it is working with Oracle to track medicinal marijuana patients. But there appears to be little precedent for a big company advertising its work in the space. It is still possible  though considered unlikely  that the federal government could decide to crack down on the legalization movement in the states.

The partnership with Kind is yet another bold step for Microsoft as its looks to replace the revenue from its fading desktop software business. On Monday, it announced that it was buying LinkedIn.

Microsoft has put a lot of emphasis on its cloud business, Azure. The Kind software will be one of eight pieces of preferred software that Microsoft will offer to users of Azure Government  and the only one related to marijuana.

The conflict between state and federal laws on marijuana has given a somewhat improvisational nature to the cannabis industry.

Stores that sell pot have been particularly hobbled by the unwillingness of banks to deal with the money flowing through the industry. Many dispensaries have been forced to rely on cash for all transactions, or looked to startups like Kind, with its kiosks that take payments inside dispensaries.

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.

Governments, too, have generally been relying on smaller startups to help develop technology that can track marijuana plants and sales. A Florida software company, BioTrackTHC, is helping Washington state, New Mexico and Illinois monitor the marijuana trade inside their states.

Kind has no state contracts. But it has already applied, with Microsoft, to provide its software to Puerto Rico, which legalized marijuana for medical purposes earlier this year.

Twenty-five states have now legalized marijuana in some form or another, with Pennsylvania and Ohio the most recent. The biggest business opportunity, though, will come from states that allow recreational use of the drug, as Colorado, Oregon and Washington already do.

This fall, five states  including, most significantly, California  will vote on whether to join that club.

Karnes, the analyst, said he expected legal marijuana sales to jump to $6.5 billion this year, from $4.8 billion last year. He says that number could climb to $25 billion by the year 2020 if California voters approve the recreational measure this year, as is widely expected.

The opening up of the market in California is already leading to a scramble for the big money that is likely to follow, and Microsoft will now be well placed to get in on the action.

Nelson of Microsoft said that initially her company would be marketing the Kind software at conferences for government employees, but it could eventually also be attending the cannabis events where Kind is already a regular presence.

This is an entirely new field for us, she said. We would have to figure out which conference might be the premier conference in this space. Thats not outside the realm of possibility.
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It seems like everyone and their dog is being driven crazy by allergies this time of the year.

Heavy rainfall over the past two months has created the perfect conditions for common allergens like molds to spread over San Antonio. Humans try to cope with the usual allergy symptoms, but they may not realize their four-legged companions are suffering right alongside them.

We have seen quite a lot of animals that I suspect do have environmental allergies, said Hunter Schrank, an associate veterinarian at the Eagle Veterinary Hospital in Olmos Park. Is that pertaining directly to the weather? Theres a very good chance of that.

While allergies cause us to sniffle and sneeze and cough, Schrank said pets tend to deal with skin irritation and scratching.

Schrank uses a scale that ranges from 1 to 10 to measure how much animals are scratching when their owners bring them in for allergies. He said he usually doesnt see owners come in unless their pet is over a 5.

Currently, he has one of these cases on an almost daily basis.

The allergies usually start the problem, he said. The animal traumatizes themselves, they have open wounds, those get infected. You have hair loss, and its a lot more to deal with.

Schrank said problems with allergens have gotten worse over the past several months. One in particular has flourished under the abnormally rainy conditions: mold.

We had a lot of humidity and a lot of rain, and those are perfect conditions for mold growth, said Paul Ratner, medical director at Sylvana Research, a local medication investigation facility. He said high temperatures, moisture and humidity are optimal conditions for mold to grow under.

Once the fungus has started to grow, its spores are picked up by the wind and start to spread to other areas.

The past two years, the mold count in the early summer months has increased significantly, with an average mold count of 70,865 parts per cubic meter of air for the month of May in 2015 and 2016 compared to an average count of just 49,310 parts per cubic meter of air for the three years before that.

Lynda Melendez, a veterinarian specializing in internal medicine at Mission Veterinary Specialists, said that its difficult to pin down a pet allergy to a single cause like mold. But, she acknowledges that there has been an uptick in cases of dogs having negative reactions when there is more rain.

It does appear that dogs that already have an established history of allergic-type responses, as well as new dogs, do start having more trouble, and (its) harder to control their signs, she said.

I just know that at this time of year when I see somebody on my schedule that says, Weve got an itchy dog, I say, Yeah, of course we do, because thats just kind of whats going on out there right now.

While irritation and infections from cuts are the most typical problems associated with pet allergies, Melendez said severe and prolonged infections can lead to systemic problems like bronchitis in dogs and asthma-like symptoms in cats.

Keeping pets indoors and away from the source of their allergies is not an option for most pet owners, but there are still ways to keep your furry friend as comfortable as possible.

Melendez said its important for pet owners to rinse off their animals at least once a day to get rid of any allergens that may be stuck to their coats.

She also said its good to have an air filter to keep allergens out of the house.

If the itching starts to get bad, there are medications such as antihistamines and topical ointments that can be used, but you should always check with your vet first to get the right dosage and medicine.

Schrank pointed out that with summer just beginning, allergy problems for pets will probably increase.

I anticipate, as we come into the summer months and we start to see more growing of pollens and molds due to this increase of rain, I expect its going to get much worse.

ebustillos@express-news.net
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George Parnham still talks to Andrea Yates at least once a week over the phone. He considers her like a daughter and tries to visit her at the state mental hospital in Kerrville every couple months.

The Houston attorney represented Yates following her arrest for drowning her five children in a bathtub in her Clear Lake home on June 20, 2001.

When I call my kids on the weekends, I will call Andrea, Parnham said recently. Its impacted our lives personally and professionally.

Fifteen years after the childrens killings spurred a national conversation about postpartum depression and psychosis, Houston mental health advocates still feel there needs to be more awareness.

The Yates case was kind of good and bad, said Sherry Duson, a licensed marriage/family therapist and counselor who runs a support group at a local hospital. It was good in that it really highlighted the need. It was bad in that it was so horrendous, that people worried, If I have postpartum depression, am I going to end up like her? Thats so far from the truth. Thats not the way these illnesses work.

Yates drowned her five children  ranging in ages from 7-year-old Noah to 6-month-old Mary  after her then-husband, Rusty Yates, left for work.

Houstonians were transfixed by the 2002 trial. Yates pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but was convicted nonetheless of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison.

In 2005, the conviction was reversed due to false testimony given by a California psychiatrist.

In 2006, she again went to trial, and again pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Jurors this time believed her plea; she was found not guilty and sent to a mental hospital in North Texas, and then to Kerrville, where shes been since 2007.

I had no earthly idea before I got this case what was meant by postpartum, said Parnham, whos been practicing law for more than 45 years.

One to two out of 10 women suffer from postpartum depression symptoms after giving birth each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On average, about 600,000 women are diagnosed with postpartum depression every year.

Rusty Yates eventually divorced Andrea and has now remarried. He has one son and two stepsons, he told Oprah Winfrey in 2015 on an episode of Oprah: Where Are They Now? Rusty Yates said divorcing Yates was the hardest decision of his life.

In 2002, George Parnham and his wife, Mary, created the Yates Children Memorial Fund to help raise awareness in the Houston community about postpartum depression.

Since its inception, the fund has handed out more than 600,000 brochures on postpartum illnesses in the community.

The fund also holds training for medical professionals, community health workers and others interested in learning more about postpartum illnesses. The fund has trained more than 3,000 professionals working in the Houston community.

Mary Parnham said Yates keeps up with the activities of the fund named for her children.

Shes very enthralled with what YCMF does. Shes thrilled to know that good things are being done for the legacy of her children, and that makes her very happy, Mary Parnham said.

Suffering in silence

Its still a difficult problem, however, and some women still are hesitant to come forward with their symptoms.

It becomes apparent every day that theres so much more that needs to be done. You will still pick up the newspaper and read about a tragedy. We know there are women still out there suffering in silence, Mary Parnham said.

One of those mothers was Fay Peterson, a lawyer and Houston mom.

In the summer of 2005, after the birth of her first child, she remembers not feeling like herself. She couldnt sleep and felt anxious. Shed had a C-section, and during a follow-up visit with her doctor about two weeks later, her husband told the doctor that he thought his wife was acting a little bit differently. She didnt feel comfortable bringing it up herself.

When its your first baby, you have no idea if what youre feeling is in the range of normal or not, said Peterson, now 44.

Peterson is grateful that her doctor recognized symptoms of postpartum depression. She was prescribed anti-anxiety medication and antidepressants. She also started attending the support group run by Duson. Peterson started feeling like herself again by the end of the year.

When the news broke about the Yates children, Duson said she knew awareness needed to be raised about postpartum illnesses. She began doing advocacy work for postpartum depression, serving on the board of the Yates Children Memorial Fund. She also continued to hold support group classes for new mothers.

And she realized there were no resources for mothers in the Houston area if they wanted to learn more about the mental illness. Duson had her own private practice, but in 2014 she opened the Center for Postpartum Family Health, the only such center in Houston.

The center is small, but Duson has seen at least a few hundred female patients. The center offers a free support group on Wednesdays at noon. Women can also pay $30 to $125 per session to receive individual therapy with Duson or other licensed therapists.

Its the most common complication of pregnancy, Duson said. Theres a huge amount of women in Houston that we know are struggling with depression or anxiety.

I couldnt function

Kathy Goodwin, a mom and social worker, did not think she would suffer from postpartum depression. She describes herself as a sociable, talkative and relatively happy person. Shortly after giving birth to her daughter, Goodwin said, that changed.

It really felt like it was a hormonal kind of crying, she recalled. I talked to a lot of other people, and they were like, Its normal, you get the baby blues.

Eight days after giving birth to her daughter in 2010, friends brought over homemade soup. She didnt want to eat. She went to her bedroom and didnt come out.

I couldnt function  It was very severe. I didnt want to be alive. I didnt want to be a mom, Goodwin said.

She immediately sought help. She saw a psychiatrist who evaluated her and then diagnosed her with postpartum depression. She was given anti-anxiety and antidepressant medication and began attending individual counseling with Duson. Goodwin slowly began feeling like herself again after two months of treatment.

The Parnhams recognize how far the community has come in recognizing postpartum depression as a mental illness, but they still feel change needs to continue. Duson hopes that a law will be put into place requiring doctors to screen women for postpartum depression.

Tragedy begets change, said Mary Parnham, who now considers Andrea Yates a friend. Thats always been unfortunately the case. I hope that it is also true here  that these five children did not live their lives in vain and that the community has come so far since then, that in their names we can bring about change.

brooke.lewis@chron.com
One March morning, retiree Helen Zanatta, 77, checked her bank account, saw a deposit for her income tax return and all was well.

That was until she listened to a voicemail on her home phone. It was reportedly from an IRS agent who said miscalculations had been noted on four years of tax returns. If she didnt call a certain phone number, he said, she would be arrested that day.

She called and was forwarded to a man who said attempts to contact her by mail and at her home last August were not successful. Another man had Zanatta recite her cellphone number to him, calling back on her cellphone.

He stayed on the line as she drove to her bank and withdrew $2,000 from her account. She was told to wire two separate money grams, one for $1,100, and another for $900, from a local Walmart to another store in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and to an individual woman.

When Zanatta returned home, she called a friend in Austin shed planned to visit that day, and her friend told her shed been scammed. She hung up the cellphone, reeling from the bogus transactions.

Anybody urging you to do something immediately, be suspicious, she said. If theyre trying to rush you, theres something up, dont let anybody pressure you.

Several scams like the one pulled on Zanatta will be covered at the Alamo Area Council of Governments Elder Fraud Summit on Tuesday at the Northeast Senior Center, 4135 Thousand Oaks.

The summit will take place from noon to 3:30 p.m., with a representative from the district attorneys office as the guest speaker. The event will include resources and tips on how to detect and report scams.

The summits message to seniors is that its fine to ask for help, said Terry Banda, benefits counseling coordinator for AACOGs Bexar Area Agency on Aging. Banda said older residents were born and raised in a different era, when it wasnt polite to hang up on people and it was a kind gesture to answer the door.

But, she said, we dont live in a time where you can do that anymore.

Banda said they hope senior citizens will leave empowered, knowing where they can go for help and knowing its fine to ignore a call or phone number they dont recognize.

Zanatta contacted the police departments in San Antonio and Chattanooga that same day, but her money was gone. And she reported the case to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.

She learned that the IRS will not call to collect taxes owed without mailing a bill first, nor call for an immediate payment or threaten to arrest someone for not making a payment.

According to the IRS, about 5,000 victims have had more than $26.5 million stolen through the phone scams. To report suspicious phone calls or emails, call 800-366-4484 or go online to https://www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml.

A 65-gallon container will be available at the summit, where participants can dispose of mail or private information that needs to be shredded.

For more information or questions, call the Alamo Service Connection at 210-477-3275.

vtdavis@express-news.net
KERRVILLE  A bitter legal fight has erupted over the estate of Lloyd D. Brinkman, a prominent local businessman who died last summer at age 86.

The litigation pits Brinks seventh wife, Kathleen Sparrow Brinkman, against his two children from other marriages, the L.D. Brinkman Investment Corp. (LDBIC) and a longtime employee.

At stake is control of the local company that managed Brinkmans assets, which are apparently worth tens of millions of dollars.

Both sides claim the mantle of plaintiff, with Sparrow Brinkman filing suit in Dallas County in February and the children and the company returning fire in district court here in April. Those district court cases are being consolidated here.

Meanwhile, in local probate court, on July 9, a long-awaited inventory is due of estate assets.

A philanthropist, entrepreneur and avid collector of western art, Brinkman grew his namesake flooring company to be the nations largest wholesale flooring distributor in the 1980s, according to his obituary.

He also marketed a line of cattle, Brinks Angus, and jumped into the pizza business by buying Mr. Gattis in 1981. The chain had 350 spots when he sold it in 2004 for a reported $24 million.

Only after a stroke claimed his life on a July 4 trip to Minnesota did animosities arise between Sparrow Brinkman  his bride of 11 years  and his kids, L.D. Don Brinkman Jr. of Austin and Pamela Brinkman Stone of Rhode Island, attorneys say.

The kids accuse the widow of exploiting her legal skills as a lawyer and their dads trusting nature to scuttle an estate plan hed devised decades ago that would have benefited them.

In 2012, she finally was able to influence Brink to change his will in her favor, so that she would end up with a treasure trove of assets far in excess of the millions she was already set to receive under her marital agreements with Brink, states a pleading by Tom Thomas, attorney for the children, the company and Charles Thomas, the firms executive vice president and secretary.

The company no longer has active businesses, but instead manages Brinkmans holdings, he said, noting, It has a couple of homes. It has a jet.

A counterclaim by Sparrow Brinkman states the siblings conspired with Charles Thomas to steal assets and exclude her from estate matters despite her role as its executor.

Instead of being grateful for the millions of dollars in gifts and distributions given to Don, Pamela and their children prior to Mr. Brinkmans death, they are attacking their father for his failure to give them what they see as their birthright, state pleadings by lawyer Jay Madrid, Sparrow Brinkmans lawyer.

A major flash point is what Brinkman wanted to happen with 1,000 shares of preferred company stock  carrying voting rights sufficient to control the company  that hed personally held.

The siblings contend Brinkman wanted the shares redeemed upon his death, which would effectively leave the company to the kids who, between them, have for decades held all the common stock in it.

Brinkman had briefed the executor who preceded Sparrow Brinkman about the plan, said Tom Thomas, but tax considerations precluded codifying such gift plans in advance of his death.

Madrid says Brinkman shared no such plan with his client since making her executor three years before he died, nor has any solid proof of such a plan been produced. He wants the court to recognize a 2012 estate plan she helped prepare for Brinkman.

Things turned nasty in February when Sparrow Brinkman was told the company had redeemed the preferred company stock, for $1 each, and that she had been cut from the companys payroll and benefits.

The shares have been canceled on the books and records of the corporation, said a Feb. 3 letter from Charles Thomas, executive vice president and secretary of LDBIC, that included a $1,000 check.

Sparrow Brinkman returned the check and promptly filed suit in Dallas County, asking the court to invalidate the alleged stock redemption and to affirm her ownership of them, as executor.

Shes also asking the court to invalidate the recent selection of Don Brinkman and Pamela Brinkman Stone as company directors, a post exclusively held in the past by their dad.

Their attempt to destroy their own fathers reputation in their quest to seize control of his company clearly demonstrates that Mr. Brinkman acted prudently when he chose to place control of his legacy in the hands of his widow, the executor, said Madrid in a counter claim.

But Thomas states in pleadings, A close look at the facts surrounding the change in executors, Kathleens actions after Brinks death, and her reaction to the stock redemption paints a damning picture of her improper motives and machinations.

zeke@express-news.net
Under pressure from Democrats, U.S. Senate Republicans have agreed to allow a series of votes on restricting gun sales in the aftermath of the shooting rampage in Orlando, Florida.

Rival measures from Republicans and Democrats to be taken up today seek to address the terror gap allowing people on terrorist watch lists to buy firearms and to expand background checks for purchases at gun shows and online.

The National Rifle Association used the Sunday morning political shows to criticize, and even mock, Democratic efforts to pass new gun control laws, while presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump sought to downplay any differences between his positions on gun control and those of the NRA.

NRA chief lobbyist Chris Cox said the massacre, the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, doesnt change the groups opposition to tighter gun laws. He spoke a day ahead of the Senate votes, none if which is expected to approve new laws.

Cox said on This Week that the catastrophic situation facing the country has nothing to do with firearms. He says its about stopping radical Islamic terrorists.

Wayne LaPierre, the NRAs executive vice president, told Face the Nation that the politically correct White House is pushing gun restrictions as a way of diverting attention from its failure in the terrorist area.

These bad guys were facing, they dont say, Oh gosh, they passed a law. Oh gosh, I dont think I could do it, he said.

Last week, Trump wrote on Twitter that people on the governments terrorist watch list should be barred from buying firearms, a stance that contradicts that of the NRA.

But Trump now seems to be backtracking, saying on This Week that he understands exactly the NRAs objections to restricting access to people on the watch list.

A lot of people are on the list that really maybe shouldnt be on the list, and their rights are being taken away, he said.

The NRA also responded to Trumps comments that the massacre would have been prevented if some of the victims had been armed.

If some of those wonderful people had guns strapped right here  right to their waist or right to their ankle  and one of the people in that room happened to have it and goes boom, boom, you know, that would have been a beautiful sight folks, Trump said at a rally Friday.

On Face the Nation, LaPierre said he doesnt think armed club-goers is a good idea.

No one thinks that people should go into a nightclub drinking and carrying firearms, he said. That defies common sense. It also defies the law.

The Senate, divided over how to respond to the nations latest mass shooting, will vote today on four measures that supporters say would keep guns out of the hands of terrorists.

All of them have failed in political show votes after previous massacres. All need 60 votes to pass, which is an enormous hurdle, especially in an overheated election season on a topic on which compromise is hard to find.

Democrats are lining up behind a measure by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., that would give the government broad authority to block gun sales to people who have been subject to terrorism investigations in the past five years.

Such people would be flagged during the gun background check. The government could then veto the sale if the Justice Department decides that there is a reasonable suspicion that the buyer has become involved in terrorism or is preparing to do so. Anyone who gets denied could appeal.

Such a law might have prevented Orlando gunman Omar Mateen from buying the two weapons he used in the attack. Mateen was investigated in 2013 and 2014 for possible terrorism links but had been cleared by the FBI and was not on any lists when he purchased a Sig Sauer MCX semi-automatic assault rifle and a Glock handgun.

Feinsteins proposal was defeated in December after the terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California.

A GOP alternative is a proposal by Sen. John Cornyn of Texas. He wants a 72-hour delay when anyone who has been on a federal terrorism watch list in the past five years tries to buy a gun. To block the purchase, prosecutors would have to go to court within the 72-hour window and convince a judge that there is probable cause that the person would use the weapon in connection with terrorism.

Cornyns proposal also was defeated after the San Bernardino shooting.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch, speaking in support of Feinsteins proposal, said Sunday on Fox News that the 72-hour limit in Cornyns plan is too short.

We may be able to look at a person and make a determination even faster than that or we may not, Lynch said.

The NRA likes Cornyns proposal and says Feinsteins plan goes too far.

This notion that more gun control is going to prevent some jihadist who thinks that hes going to obtain martyrdom by murdering innocent people really gets away from the serious nature of the problem that were facing, the NRAs Cox said on This Week.

Republicans led by Sens. Charles Grassley of Iowa and Ted Cruz of Texas will get a vote on a plan to bolster federal databases to make it easier to notify law enforcement agencies if someone under investigation as a terrorist in recent years tries to buy a firearm.

They would also make it easier for mental health records to be added to the database. Previous similar efforts have failed.

Also, Democrats will get a vote today on a broader proposal. It would require, with only a few exceptions, that background checks be undertaken for any transfer or sale of a gun, including at gun shows and online. Similar legislation has failed, notably in April 2013, four months after 20 children and six adults were shot to death in Newtown, Connecticut.

President Barack Obama wants to ban the sale of semi-automatic assault weapons similar to those used in recent attacks, but that issue is not on the Senates agenda.

Also Sunday, Trump renewed his call for the United States to consider profiling as a preventive tactic against terrorism in the aftermath of the Orlando shooting.

I hate the concept of profiling, but we have to start using common sense, Trump said on Face the Nation.

The Associated Press and Tribune News Service contributed to this report.
The age of autarky is again upon us.

Britain, in two weeks, will vote on whether to leave the European Union, that great postwar project to promote both peace and prosperity.

No matter that economists have almost uniformly warned that a possible Brexit would devastate the British economy, with an estimated cost of approximately $6,000 per British household. Disregard news that markets are already freaking out about the consequences for the pound and the overall financial sector; that high-skilled talent has become skittish about moving to the British isles, whose relationship to the E.U. in a post-Brexit world is as yet unknown; and that foreign clients have begun suspending or delaying contracts with British companies.

Who cares that these small islands, so dependent on the continent for both what they consume and where they send their exports, are putting so much economic activity at risk?

Many Brits want to withdraw, to show theyre separate and politically self-determined and not really into all this expensive pan-ethnic, pan-European unity rubbish. So withdraw they might.

Financially self-defeating as it may seem, the British are hardly alone in their flirtation with economic, political and cultural separatism.

Other EU exit portmanteaus  Grexit, Itexit, Spexit  speckle the headlines. Within Spain, Catalonians have once again been agitating for independence. Secessionists in the Flanders region of Belgium have reawakened.

Farther east, Russia has engaged in its own jingoistic displays of economic separatism, bulldozing tons of foreign foods and shutting off access to additional imports.

Likewise China, once seen as moving toward greater economic and cultural openness, has lately taken a more nationalist, xenophobic and protectionist approach.

And of course here at home in the United States, all three of our remaining major-party presidential candidates  Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton  have embraced anti-trade talk.

Of the three, Trump has offered the most isolationist, nationalistic vision, themed America First. To Trump, trade and diplomacy are never Pareto-improving  that is, making everyone better off without making anyone worse off  but always zero-sum. He not only laughs off the dire consequences of a trade war, he also actively stokes xenophobia at home and advocates large-scale disengagement from our allies abroad.

In a way, these international developments  or at least their near-simultaneity  are a bit surprising.

We live in an age of unprecedented globalization. First mass media and then social media exposed us to the ideas, products and languages of our most far-flung counterparts around the world. Advances in finance, technology and logistics have facilitated more trade, and trade in a richer variety of goods and services, than at any time in human history.

And yet  either despite these advances in globalization or perhaps because of them  countries, regions and peoples worldwide are suddenly, synchronously retreating from one another and turning inward. Around the world, citizens are ignoring the improvements in living standards that have resulted from centuries of exchanges of ideas, products and customs, and are instead clamoring for more seclusion.

Weve seen similar embraces of economic and intellectual autarky in the past. Theyve generally ended badly.

North Korea for decades has practiced Juche, typically translated as self-reliance. In practice it means sealing oneself off from the rest of the world economically and culturally, and it has led to starvation and poverty.

Earlier precedents for deliberate pursuit of autarky include Burma under its military junta, as well as a host of mid-20th-century dictatorial leaders (Spain under Franco, Italy under Mussolini, Germany under Hitler, China and its Cultural Revolution under Mao).

Each time, autarky has been presented as an antidote for some combination of economic malaise and ethnic unrest. Each time, countries have conflated isolationism with independence, and splintering with self-determination.

Economic self-sufficiency is just so easy to buy in to  until you realize how much it costs.

crampell@washpost.com
All three men who went to the top of the University of Texas Tower to stop serial killer/sniper Charles Whitman nearly 50 years ago acted courageously. All were heroes, as were others that day.

Lets get that said first about the three. It really doesnt matter who fired the killing shot.

But Ramiro Ray Martinez, an Austin police officer at the time and eventually a Texas Ranger and then a justice of the peace, is worth special note.

Now 79, he is the last surviving hero of what transpired at the observation deck of that tower, at the time the deadliest mass murder on a U.S. campus.

There have been attempts through the years, he says, to change the history, to diminish him and his role. But no credible reading of the story  then and now  could possibly diminish what he accomplished that day. With others, he saved lives.

About an hour after Whitman began his deadly shooting spree, it was Martinez who went first  Alan Crum, a deputized citizen, following  up those final stairs to the observation deck.

First. First, also to fire the shots that stopped Whitman. Theres much good to be said about being brave. Theres even more to say about being the first to be brave enough to risk your life to save others.

These attempts at revision discernibly pain Martinez, as do the entire circumstances surrounding his role in stopping Whitman. After his brother and niece  Gilbert and Annette Martinez  contacted me with concerns that the upcoming anniversary would spark yet another revisionist retelling, we talked recently.

I asked him to recount the event, and he had some initial difficulty, welling emotions obviously causing pauses and deep breaths. But he took off his Ranger hat and told the story.

It has been told many times, including in this newspaper. Sixteen dead and 31 injured  Whitmans wife and mother the first to die in their homes. Then, armed with his own arsenal, the former Eagle Scout and Marine spewed death from the tower on Aug. 1, 1966.

Martinez was off duty when the shooting began. A bit after noon, he was making lunch and preparing to go to work at 3 p.m. As was his custom, he was watching the television news, and reports of the sniper attacks started filtering in.

He called the department and was instructed to go near the scene to direct traffic. When he got there, however, he saw that other patrolmen already had this covered.

He looked around.

It sounded like a war, he said. There were sirens and there was shooting  Whitman shooting down and officers (and civilians) shooting up. Blood was on the ground. There were wounded. There were dead people. The sirens were from ambulances mostly. Martinez said it was a peculiarity of the time that Austin patrol cars didnt have flashing lights or sirens.

Seeing that all intersections were covered by officers directing traffic away from the scene, Martinez said he went with his Plan B. He figured he would assist the assault team he assumed was there already.

It wasnt. As Martinez made his way up the tower, this assault team was likely being shown the way to the tower through tunnels.

Knowing that if he could see the top of the tower, Whitman could see him, Martinez zigzagged his way to the tower and, once inside, tried to use a telephone to call for an armored unit to protect the wounded below. The lines were jammed.

He went to the 26th floor  saying an act of contrition because he had been taught this would help ensure salvation if he was killed. The observation deck was on the floor above.

On the 26th, he found a single Austin officer, Jerry Day, Crum and another man whom he knew to be a Texas Department of Public Safety intelligence officer. That was Dub Cowan. There was also a civilian whose name Martinez didnt catch.

Where was the assault team he thought he would be assisting? Its a good question, then and now. Shouldnt the priority have been confronting the gunman as soon as possible to avoid further loss of life?

Its a question that Martinez still asks.

In the tower on the 26th floor, Martinez found more dead and wounded people. He also found a barricaded room, where about a dozen people, he said, had taken shelter. When he identified himself, they opened the door and piled out  among them two nuns. A man, highly agitated, also exited and demanded a gun because Whitman had killed family members. Officer Day escorted him down to get him out of the way. When Martinez started going up those final flight of stairs, Crum asked where he was going.

Youre not going alone, he said, following Martinez. There they found Whitman had jammed the door with a metal hand dolly. He forced the door, the dolly clanging to the floor.

Martinez would have to navigate corners to get Whitman. He stationed Crum with his rifle pointed west should Whitman come around that way.

Are we playing for keeps? Crum asked. Martinez said he replied with a colorful affirmative.

Bullets fired from below were whizzing by and hitting the tower interior. Austin Officer Houston McCoy, armed with a shotgun, joined the two in a matter of minutes after they were through the door. Martinez saw him enter and motioned him to get lower to avoid the fire from below.

McCoy followed Martinez, both crouching to avoid the bullets fired from below.

In a narrative written later, Martinez said if McCoy had been first, he would have gladly followed the guy with the shotgun and given him cover. But McCoy came a bit later.

Martinez turned a corner, but there was a protrusion, apparently from a column supporting the clock atop the tower, Martinez said. He peeked around and saw Whitman pointing an M1 carbine toward the southwest, after Crum accidentally fired a round into the wall from his corner. Martinez opened fire, aiming for body mass, and said it was clear that he hit the sniper on the left side, but Whitman didnt go down. He sprung up to face Martinez, trying to aim the carbine.

Martinez, McCoy behind, kept advancing, emptying his handgun. He shouted for McCoy to shoot. McCoy shot Whitman, apparently in the face. Martinez dropped his empty gun, took the shotgun from McCoy and shot Whitman again in the torso as the sniper was slumping to the ground.

About 10 years later, Robert Miles, who was the police chief at the time, told the United Press International that McCoy fired the killing shot. McCoy also said police officials asked him to keep quiet and let Martinez, one of the few Mexican-Americans on the force, take the credit. The department denied this.

Heres whats clear. When others couldnt or wouldnt, Martinez was the first to take the initiative to go to the 27th floor observation deck to take out Whitman.

And the autopsy, disclosing shotgun pellet wounds to the sniper in the head and body, also clearly reports this: The left arm bone (humerus) is severely destroyed by several large caliber penetrations.

These werent made by shotgun pellets.

Also, the report noted a wound under the arm of larger diameter, close to 1 cm. This, Martinez said, was also his shot. Moreover, one of Whitmans retrieved rifles shows a shattered stock, possibly from Martinezs bullet, too.

There were reports, Martinez said, that all his shots missed. The autopsy I saw clearly says otherwise.

Who fired the killing shot? Again, it doesnt matter. But it is worth noting who fired the first shots that stopped Whitman from killing more people and made him direct his attention to the men who  with the exception of Crum  were paid to risk their lives to protect the public.

Martinez recounts attempts to revise this history in a narrative he provided. Some of the assertions are publicly stated in newspapers. Others came from individuals, recounted by Martinez.

Martinez is stung by all of them.

I know what I did, Martinez, wearing a white Former Texas Rangers Association shirt, said. I dont want them to take my place in history away from me.

The shirt is important. Heres what else Miles, who passed away in 1979, said in that 1976 UPI interview. Asked if Martinez would have become a Texas Ranger without the publicity from the Whitman shooting, Miles said, Finally, they had an opportunity to appoint him as a Ranger so they could have a Mexican-American in the job.

Any successful Latino is familiar with the implication  promotion and success unearned, all a matter of affirmative action. Martinez made sergeant at the department but left it after a bit. He later joined the Department of Public Safety. He was accepted in September 1969 and sworn in that October. Four years later, he joined the Rangers, a division of DPS.

For the record, when the Rangers first invited him to apply and compete, he said, he declined precisely because this would elicit allegations of being given the position because the organization wanted a Mexican-American. Two years later, he got there, applying on his own. He was accepted on his own merit. And, according to a letter of commendation Martinez shared, he did a superb job afterward.

More from Chief Miles.

It was not possible to make an organized effort to bring down the sniper at the height of the shooting, Miles told the Austin newspaper two days after the incident. In a situation like this, it all depended on independent action by the officers.

Yes, it did. But that might be because there was a lack of leadership during the sniper attack. Martinez has listened to the police radio transmissions. They reveal, he said, chaos  and very little central command or coordination. He quotes the radio transmissions in his narrative.

Ask Ramiro, or Gilbert or Annette Martinez whether it matters who fired the killing shot, and they also will tell you that it doesnt. They agree that all the men on that tower were brave and deserve credit  and none deserves to be denigrated. And this is what Ramiro Martinez says in his book  They Call Me Ranger Ray  about his colleague: I thanked the Lord for Houston McCoy, because together we got the job done.

And both Ramiro and Annette cite the heroism of Crum in particular. Sworn officers had to be there. Crum didnt.

You might disagree with a civilian being deputized, but Martinez was initially unaware that Crum, an Air Force retiree, wasnt a police officer. And, remember, down below, civilians were helping police, shooting at the sniper and aiding the wounded. So theyre right in highlighting Crums bravery. He passed away in 2001.

They are all heroes. When that 50th anniversary comes around in August, lets remember that.

But heres what else Ill remember. Martinez led the charge to end the killing. No amount of revision can change that.

o.ricardo.pimentel@express-news.net

Twitter: @oricardopimente
As the shearing season gets underway, the NFU is showing its support for the work of the British Wool Marketing Board (BWMB).

The non-profit organisation has been collecting, grading, promoting and selling great British fleece wool since the 1950s and represents 45,000 wool producers, returning the market price for their wool, less its own costs.

The BWMB is essentially a farmers co-operative involved in all aspects of the industry from farm to product  shearing, grading, auction and marketing/promotion, supporting the future of the UK sheep sector.

It has its own training division for shearers and trains approximately 1,000 shearers per year, investing in the future.

NFU livestock board chairman Charles Sercombe said: "Clearly, working together and collaboration are key to growing the market returns for wool which unfortunately remain relatively poor.

"Weve seen over the past 12 months price volatility in the market place and challenging times across the livestock sector.

"Although price volatility is something as an industry we have to accept and adapt to, the wool sector has seen little change in value.

"How we grow its value to the producer is an ongoing challenge.

"So with a producer organisation such as the BWMB, we continue to rely on them to achieve the best possible returns for producers.

"This collective strength also ensures wool producers can maximise the value of their wool  wool is a global commodity and British wool amounts to only two per cent of the worlds wool production.

"Therefore, having a strong producer organisation to compete in this global market is essential.

"I want to see a real commitment from the BWMB, working with our sheep farmers to promote wool on a global scale in order to achieve the best possible price."

The wool market has been struggling globally as a result of the strong sterling for most of the selling season. This resulted in a lower return for producers this year compared to 2015.

'Wool prices under pressure'

BWMB chairman Ian Buchanan explained: "It is no secret that wool prices are under pressure this year, resulting in producer returns being lower than in 2015, as is the case for wool producers across the globe.

"This is a result of the strong sterling for most of the selling season coupled with a weak New Zealand dollar."

Looking at the UK in particular Mr Buchanan said prices for some breeds may be harder hit than others due to a downturn in the demand for carpet style wools.

"In the last six months there has been a continued demand for the fine and medium wools as a result of Chinese interest.

"It would be easy to look at the overall average price for all wools, however, of greater interest and importance are the individual breed prices."

Fine and medium wools such as Texel and Lleyn wool are expected to average 1.02/kg, with Cheviot wool at 1.20/kg and Romney wool around 1.12/kg.

"The carpet wool market has been tougher, due to tight price boundaries being pushed by retailers and the increasing use of polypropylene.

"On the lowest end of the scale we expect Swaledale wool to make in the region of 40p/kg, Blackface an average of 61p/kg and Welsh wool about 45p/kg based on current market trends in recent months.

"Of course no one wants to see wool prices slipping and that is why BWMB is investing in new marketing initiatives to drive demand."
European Union health ministers have called on all member countries to have national action plans in place by the middle of next year.

The world is faced with 700,000 deaths a year globally from antimicrobial resistance.

Each national plan must include measurable goals to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance and strengthen the prudent use of antimicrobials in human and veterinary medicine, insisted ministers in Luxembourg on Friday.

The National Pig Association, one of the leading organisations in the UK pushing for more action on antimicrobial resistance, has stated the ministers 'agreed the importance of avoiding routine preventive use of veterinary antimicrobials' and 'called for action to restrict the use in animals of antimicrobials that are of critical importance to human health.'

They also called for greater use of alternative measures to prevent infections in animals, such as greater use of vaccines and improved biosecurity.

European action plan

Ministers also want to see a new European Union Action Plan which should include:

 Measures to combat illegal practices related to the trade and use of antimicrobials, in human and veterinary medicine.

 Surveillance on antimicrobial resistance in humans, food, animals and the environment at a European Union level.

 A decrease, over the period of the new action plan, in antimicrobial resistance in humans, animals and the environment, in the European Union.

 A decrease in the same period, of the differences between member countries, in the use of antimicrobials in both human and animal health.

 Ambitious legislative measures that address the public health risk of antimicrobial resistance in the areas where there is competence to do it, for example in the area of veterinary medicinal products and medicated feed.

 European Union guidelines on prudent use of antimicrobials in human medicine to support national guidelines and recommendations.

 Initiatives and proposals to implement a new business model to bring new antibiotics to the market, including models in which investment costs or revenues are de-linked from sales volumes
It's EU referendum week, with voting to begin on Thursday the 23rd of June.

It can be hard to keep up with the main agricultural arguments for and against a Brexit scenario.

With opinion split down the middle, many farmers are vocal about this debate - with organised debates happening throughout the country at country shows, union meetings and public events.

To help ease your minds and make a clear choice on the voting day, below is a helpful round-up summary of who wants to leave the EU, who wants to remain in it and their main arguments and reasoning behind their choice.

The case for: Remain

Prime Minister David Cameron: Mr Cameron warns farmers that leaving the EU would be a leap in the dark.

The prime minister warned that a UK exit from the EU would call into serious question jobs and investment in the rural economy.

He said: "The International Monetary Fund warned that Britain leaving the EU would pose major risks for our economy.

"Respected organisations like the London School of Economics have in recent weeks shown that being outside the EU would reduce the size of the UK economy and seriously hit economic growth.

"This would inevitably mean less public money spend and any future government would have to make its own decisions on what level of farm support it could afford."

Mr Cameron said staying in the EU would guarantee farmers could continue to sell their products without quotas and tariffs to a market of 500 million people.

National Farmers Union: Farmers interests are best served by the UK remaining in the European Union, their union has concluded.

The National Farmers Union, which represents farmers across England and Wales, said it would not be actively campaigning in the EU referendum and would not tell its 55,000 members how to vote.

But a resolution passed by the NFU council said: On the balance of existing evidence available to us at present, the interests of farmers are best served by our continuing membership of the European Union.

The decision comes after the NFU commissioned a report on the impacts of Brexit on farming.

National Farmers Union Scotland: Andrew McCornick, NFU Scotland Vice President commented: "Put simply, the interests of agriculture in Europe are clear  farmers would prefer to farm without the financial support they receive from the EU, but the reality is that most farms dont make enough from the market for this to be possible.

"A further issue is access to the European single market, which allows tariff-free trade amongst all member states.

"The EUs negotiating position has also allowed trade agreements to be opened with some 50 international partners in recent years.

"This is of great importance to Scotlands food and drink industry, which continues to exceed targets and had an export value of 5.1 billion in 2014."

National Farmers Union Cymru: NFU Cymrus governing body has concluded on the basis of the current available evidence, that the interests of Welsh agriculture are best served by the UK remaining within the European Union.

This policy decision was taken by NFU Cymru Council at a meeting held in conjunction with the Unions commodity boards and Next Generation Policy Group.

NFU Cymru stated: "Access to European markets is absolutely vital to the Welsh food and drink industry and the risk of this access being denied, or granted on less favourable terms as a result of leaving the EU is too great"

Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss: "Farmers benefit from having the worlds largest single market of half a billion customers on their doorstep, buying 93 per cent of our beef exports.

"This European market is vital not just for farmers, but for the countys huge food manufacturing sector, which creates even more local jobs.

"Leaving the EU is a leap in the dark which would put these jobs at risk and threaten the livelihoods of the regions 60,000-plus agricultural workers.

"Farmers across the UK, are safer, stronger and better off as part of a reformed EU."

Farmers' Union of Wales: FUW says it will "continue to work with the campaign Board in Wales to ensure that Britain remains a member of the European Union."

"The Union sees this as the optimal way to protect our rural economies, especially when it comes to support from the Common Agricultural Policy, which flows to farms and then inevitably to many local businesses," said Union Managing Director Alan Davies.

British exit from the European Union must bring a reversal of policies from the main parties to prevent a decimation of Welsh agriculture, Farmers' Union of Wales President Glyn Roberts said.

Roberts said Brexit could leave rural areas in Wales facing levels of poverty not seen since the 1930s.

"I make no apology for having repeatedly highlighted the Unions policy that we should remain within the EU," said the FUW President.

Ladies in Beef: "There have been claims from some Brexit MPs that UK food prices could fall by up to 17% if the Common Agricultural Policy was scrapped.

"Spending on food as a share of total income has already fallen substantially through aggressive discounting between supermarkets.

"An unsupported farming industry would be a disaster for consumers, producers, food processors and manufacturers alike, with already squeezed farm gate prices plummeting in the struggle to compete with increased volumes of cheap imported food, produced to lower standards of product safety and animal welfare.

"This will have a huge long term impact on our glorious landscape, tourism and hospitality sectors as the farming industry becomes utterly unsustainable."

The case for: Brexit

Boris Johnson: On the other side of the debate, Boris Johnson has complained about the burden of EU regulations that protect consumers from sheep disease similar to BSE entering the human food chain.

The former mayor of London told farmers he questioned the need for rules that mean spinal tissue has to be removed from sheep with more than two big teeth, as he promised Brexit would bring about deregulation of the farming industry.

Speaking at a cattle market in Clitheroe, Lancashire, he said farmers would get the same amount of money from subsidies after leaving the EU while being relieved of red tape.

"We want to lift the burden from UK farming. Ive just been talking to people about the rule that says if your sheep has two teeth or more than two big teeth youve got to slaughter it in a certain way to remove the spinal tissue. What is the point of that? Its way out of date.

"You dont need it. But because it comes from Brussels, we cannot change it and we cannot reform it.

Farming minister George Eustice: Defra minister George Eustice has been a vocal supporter of a Brexit scenario.

He said the UK government will give more to farmers than they do now in the event of Britain leaving the EU.

Eustice has drawn attention to non-EU nations like Switzerland and Norway and how their governments give more to farmers than the UK does.

"Where power has been ceded to the EU, we see inertia, inconsistency and indecision," the Farm minister said.

"The achievements we cherish most of all are those where we have secured opt-outs from EU initiatives."

Eustice said the UK gives money to the EU, which they convert into foreign currency creating unnecessary exchange rate risks.

Former Defra minister Owen Paterson: Farmers in the UK would benefit leaving the European Union, according to former Defra minister Owen Paterson, as they would be free from EU directives and subsidy policies.

Paterson said money could be better used in a targeted and efficient manner.

"I believe that the United Kingdom has a great future beyond the political arrangements of the European Union," Paterson said at the Oxford Farming Conference.

"Agriculture and food production is hampered by our membership of the Common Agricultural Policy.

"CAP negotiations between 28 countries inevitably mean that we have to accept compromises, these are at best deeply unsatisfactory and at worst actively damaging to UK farmers."

JCB Chairman Lord Bamford: Chairman of JCB Lord Bamford has written to his company's 6,500 UK employees to explain why he favours a Brexit scenario.

In the letter he said he was "very confident that we can stand on our own two feet".

He also said that more than 53% of all UK exports go to non-EU nations, warning that the EU has a shrinking share of world trade.

The businessman says he supported joining the Common Market but did not back it turning into a political union.

Lord Bamford told his employees that the referendum's outcome "will determine the future of our country" with a "lasting impact on the lives of our children and grandchildren".

"CAP negotiations between 28 countries inevitably mean that we have to accept compromises, these are at best deeply unsatisfactory and at worst actively damaging to UK farmers."

Welsh Conservatives leader Andrew Davies: Mr Davies has claimed a Leave vote would be 'transformational' for Welsh agriculture.

Support packages for farmers would be tailor-made for the industry in Wales, which would benefit from new, fresh thinking, he said.

He added: "The established unions may have taken a position against leaving, but they were very strong advocates of Euro.

"As much as they dont like to be reminded of it, they were wrong then and theyre wrong now."

On the fence

CLA: The landowners organisation said: "It will be for CLA members to decide how they choose to vote in the referendum.

"The CLA will be helping them to make their decision by talking to leaders in the Leave and Remain campaigns throughout the referendum period and pressing them to be as clear on what they see as the implications of their position for landowners, farmers and other rural businesses.

"On the core issues of trade, the CAP, regulation and labour market, rural businesses have big questions for both sides and the CLA will be asking them so that members are fully informed before they enter the polling station."

Crop Protection Association: The CPA has said that whether the UK decides to stay in or out of the EU, consumers would benefit from a regulatory system that better supports farmers to grow an adequate supply of safe and affordable food.

The referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union cuts to the very heart of a wider debate over Government support for British farming and a science-led regulatory system, agreed an expert panel at the CPA annual convention on 12 May 2016.

"Those asking us to leave the European Union must set out how in practice they would build a regulatory system that incentivises farming innovation whilst maintaining close ties with one of our most important export markets.

"Similarly those campaigning to remain must set out how a vote to stay will translate into an appetite for reform."
Post-Referendum priorities will be in focus at the 12th Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) Meat Export Conference.

The event, which is free for AHDB Beef & Lamb and AHDB Pork stakeholders, will take place in Warwick, and will examine developments in international markets and innovation for growth.

During his closing address at the conference on June 29, AHDB chairman Peter Kendall will outline key industry opportunities and challenges following the referendum, the result of which could have major implications for the UK meat trade.

The conference will also include an update on developments in China by Karen Morgan, Agriculture Councillor at the British Embassy in Beijing, and a presentation on managing the complexity of market access by Dr Phil Hadley, AHDB Beef & Lamb head of global supply chain development.

Marek Schejbal, from the British-Polish Chamber of Commerce, will outline export opportunities in Poland, while Kevin Mimura will present on Nippon Ham in Europe and the market in Japan.

Delegates will hear an update on the French market and will also have the opportunity to network and participate in a question and answer session.

Jean-Pierre Garnier, AHDB Beef & Lamb export manager, said: "Our annual meat export conference will bring together key industry players to discuss the opportunities and challenges as we move forwards in the post-referendum climate."
The EU agri-food trade balance stood at the record value of 1.5 billion in April 2016, compared to 1 billion in April 2015, according to the latest monthly statistical report.

In the same month, exports were worth almost 11 billion.

For the past 12 months, EU agri-food exports reached a value of almost 129 billion, representing an increase of 2,8% compared to the same period one year ago.

The increase of EU agri-food exports to China was particularly significant with +29% over the last 12 months.

This month's report focuses on pig meat, one of the EU agri-food flagship products accounting for around 5% of the total agri-food value.

Since the Russian sanitary ban was implemented in 2014, pork formerly exported to Russia has been mainly reoriented towards certain Asian countries such as China and the Philippines, which were already growing destinations before 2014.

For April 2016, pork was the agri-food product that witnessed the highest increase in monthly export values.

Highest increases in monthly export values (April 2016 compared to April2015) were recorded for the USA(119 million) and China (86 million).

Also, agri-food exports to Morocco, Australia, Malaysia, Ukraine and Switzerland increased by 20 million or more.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has urged North Pennine farmers to provide habitat for the Eurasian Curlew, which faces being wiped out in Britain.

The nature conservation organisation is calling on farmers in the North Pennines region  which is shared between Co Durham, Northumberland, Cumbria and North Yorkshire  to give a home to nesting Eurasian Curlews.

The wading bird is in serious trouble and could become extinct within a generation unless urgent action is taken.

Britain is one of the most important countries in the world for Eurasian Curlews, hosting up to a quarter of the global breeding population, but since the 1990s their numbers here have almost halved.

The good news is that, in the North Pennines, farmers can take just a few simple steps to help reverse this serious decline.

An EU-funded project to jointly protect Eurasian Curlew and 15 other threatened European species is already underway.

Giving curlews enough time to nest and raise

Janet Fairclough, RSPB Conservation Advisor, provides specialist advice to farmers in the North Pennines about how they can help wildlife thrive alongside their agricultural businesses, and said: "Traditional hay meadows provide excellent habitat for nesting curlews.

"By shutting meadows up in the spring and putting off mowing them until July, farmers can give curlews enough time to nest and raise their chicks.

"If you need to cut meadows before July, keep an eye open for curlews flying up in front of the tractor, as they may have come off a nest.

"Mowing from the centre of the field outwards can help push any flightless chicks out of the way of machinery and into the safety of neighbouring fields.

"Farmers can also maintain rush pasture and allotments to provide a mixture of short and long vegetation across the farm. Grazing with both cattle and sheep provides the vegetation structure that curlews prefer.

"Rush management by cutting or weed-wiping may also be necessary to keep them from becoming too dense."

'Nostalgic to see the majestic birds'

Nick Howard, a sheep and beef farmer from Sinderhope, near Allendale, Northumberland, said: "The call of the curlews on their return to my farm reminds me that spring is around the corner.

"Its nostalgic to see these majestic birds with their wide wing span and long curved beaks nesting on the same areas of my farm each year.

"My land is managed under a Natural England Higher Level Stewardship scheme. As part of this management agreement, the pastures and hay meadows are not harrowed or rolled during the nesting season.

"This helps to protect and preserve the habitat that the curlews and their chicks need to survive.

"While shepherding the stock, I am always mindful of the nesting sites and I get great pleasure in seeing the eggs hatch."

The dramatic decline of Eurasian Curlew in the last few decades has been caused by the low number of chicks fledging.

This in turn, is the result of a loss of suitable breeding habitats due to agricultural intensification and increased predation from Foxes and crows.

As well as giving curlew-friendly advice to farmers in the North Pennines, the RSPB has launched a five-year recovery programme which includes research on a series of trial sites across the country, to test whether a combination of habitat management and predator control can be effective in halting the curlew decline across the wider landscape.
An option for sheep farmers wanting access to cost-effective veterinary advice is to encourage their vet to get involved in a new Flock Health Clubs initiative.

This initiative has been launched across the UK, supported by the Sheep Veterinary Society and National Sheep

Fiona Lovatt is Director of Flock Health Ltd, the sheep veterinary consultancy business that has created the Flock Health Clubs model.

She says: "Sheep farmers really value quality advice given by keen sheep vets, but there is often a belief that it is too costly to get their vet involved.

"Historically there has been quite a mismatch between the service that vets provide and what their sheep farmer clients are prepared to pay for so, 15 months ago, we set up some pilot Flock Health Clubs at practices in the north east and west of England."

A Flock Health Club is a vet-facilitated sheep farmer discussion group that allows farmers with smaller numbers of sheep to share the cost of veterinary advice while maintaining regular, good quality contact with sheep-interested vets within a practice.

The pilot programme shows this is an effective model, with vets involved so far reporting improved relationships with their sheep farmers through more regular contact, an increase in the veterinary involvement on these sheep farms, and a steady sheep income to the practice via monthly club subscriptions from the farmer members.

Will Barker of Castle Veterinary Surgeons runs one of the pilot Flock Health Clubs for sheep farmers in the Barnard Castle area in County Durham.

He says: "The best thing from our Flock Health Club has been to see sheep farmers working together, comparing their basic flock data and highlighting areas for improvement."

Dan Stevenson from LLM Farm Vets, Whitchurch, comments: "The enthusiasm of our sheep clients for a Flock Health Club was really inspiring to see. At the end of the year the members were unanimous in their wish to keep the group going."

Vets wanting to start a club within their practice can gain the skills and inspiration to do so by attending a CPD event this summer at venues around the UK.

Fiona says: "Farmers should encourage their vet to attending one of these interactive workshop-style events, which will include training in how to start up and run a Flock Health Club.

"They will be given opportunities to try out various resources for collecting flock performance and farm economic data for group benchmarking. The main emphasis will be on sharing practical examples and top tips."
An international team of experts in soil, plant and environmental sciences have joined forces to help to reduce the use of synthetic Nitrogen fertilisers in Brazil and the UK.

The aim is to improve the management of Nitrogen to increase yields across a range of soils and climatic landscapes.

The new interdisciplinary virtual centre brings together experts in Brazilian crops and climates, soil nitrogen sensors and X-ray imaging for plant roots and soil at the Hounsfield Facility at The University of Nottingham.

The NUCLEUS research team  ('Nitrogen Use effiCiency via an integrated SoiL-Plant systEms approach for the Uk & BraSil')  is led by Sacha Mooney, Professor of Soil Physics in the School of Biosciences at The University of Nottingham.

The research has received funding of 2.2m from the Newton Fund via the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) in the UK, and from research funding agencies from Sao Paulo State (FAPESP), Maranhao State (FAPEMA) and Goias State (FAPEG).

Nitrogen is a key nutrient for crop production but most agricultural systems require routine, and in some areas, the significant addition of synthetic nitrogen fertilisers to generate high yields.

Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is the term used to explain the difference between the amount of nitrogen used and the amount that goes to waste  escaping into atmosphere or finding its way into surface and ground-water courses.

Brazil is one of the bread baskets of the world and a country where the use of synthetic Nitrogen fertilisers is widespread despite plentiful land, water and sunlight.

Similar to the UK, average nitrogen recovery (how much the plant actually uses) in Brazilian agriculture has been estimated to be around 70 per cent, however, enormous regional variation exists.

For example, NUE is higher in intensively farmed and industrialised parts of the country but remains very low in former Amazonian areas where severe N-depletion occurs due to inappropriate shifting cultivation practices (e.g. fires, erosion).

Increasing production to meet demands of expanding world population

Professor Mooney, said: "Through an enhanced understanding of the plant and soil systems, NUCLEUS will contribute to understanding, developing and deploying new interventions, technologies and approaches for agronomic nitrogen use efficiency.

"These will be supported through exchanges and workshops making significant contributions to the economic development of both countries involved to meet the diverse needs of the farming communities."

Professor Ciro Rosolem, an agronomist from Sao Paulo State University, said: "Nitrogen fertilizer application is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions.

"The less nitrogen that is lost to the environment, the better for the farmer and for the general population."
Cost of living crisis could trigger 'winter crime epidemic' on farms
What was it like to be an Oath Keeper? John Zimmerman can tell you
A New York Police Department deputy chief, a deputy inspector, a sergeant, and a businessman were arrested Monday in a sweep on the biggest municipal police force in the United States.

Arrested on federal bribery charges were Deputy Chief Michael Harrington, Deputy Inspector James Grant, and Sergeant David Villanueva.

Also arrested was Brooklyn-based businessman Jeremy Reichberg.

Harrington, Grant, and Reichberg were charged in Manhattan federal court with conspiring to commit honest services wire fraud.

They were allegedly part of a bribery scheme involving tens of thousands of dollars in meals, trips, home renovations, and other benefits in exchange for official NYPD actions, including private police escorts, ticket fixing, and assistance in settling private disputes, the DOJ said.

Villanueva was a supervisor in the NYPD gun licensing division. He was charged in Manhattan federal court with bribery offenses for allegedly taking cash bribes to expedite and approve gun licenses.

Another defendant, Police Officer Richard Ochetal, who formerly worked in the gun licensing division, has already pleaded guilty, according to court documents unsealed Monday.

Ochetal admitted taking bribes in exchange for the approval of gun license applications. Hes cooperating with the DOJ.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: The alleged conduct violates the basic principle that public servants are to serve the public, not help themselves to cash and benefits just for doing their jobs.

Jeremy Reichberg allegedly showered senior police officials, Commanding Officers Michael Harrington and James Grant, with bribes, and in exchange, got cops on call, a private police force for themselves and their friends, Bharara said.

NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton said the arrests came after a joint investigation by the NYPDs Internal Affairs Bureau along with the FBI and Bhaharas office.

The NYPD has about 34,000 uniformed officers.

Grant allegedly took a private jet trip to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl, worth about $57,000, and a two-night stay in a hotel in Rome, worth more than $1,000. He also allegedly accepted home renovations worth about $12,000, and jewelry.

Harrington allegedly accepted private security work worth tens of thousands of dollars for a company he unofficially helped manage. He and his family took a trip to Chicago worth about $6,000.

Grant and Harrington allegedly diverted police resources to investigate private, civil matters, the DOJ said. Both assisted with VIP access to parades and other New York City events.

Grant also allegedly gave Reichberg cards that allowed him to avoid tickets when pulled over by police and he helped Reichberg get a gun license from the NYPD

Harrington also allegedly sent police resources to religious sites upon request.

Villanueva, the former supervisor in the NYPDs gun licensing division, and Officer Ochetal allegedly omitted some criminal history checks for gun license applicants, or only ran checks after they approved licenses.

They also approved applications despite red flags that, had they not been bribed, may have led those applications to be rejected, the DOJ said.

They approved applications of individuals with prior arrests and previous allegations of domestic violence, the DOJ said.

Some applicants got gun licenses in weeks, whereas the process normally takes months to, in some instances, over a year, the DOJ said.

Grant, 43, Harrington, 50, and Reichbert, 42, were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud. it carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison.

Villanueva, 42, was charged with one count of bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery. If convicted on both counts, he faces up to 15 years in prison.

Ochetal, 37, faces up to 10 years in prison after his guilty plea to one count of bribery, and up to five years in prison for his guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery.

____

Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog. Hell be the keynote speaker at the FCPA Blog NYC Conference 2016.
Emails are a great window into what people are thinking and doing. They tell us a lot about attitudes toward life, business, and compliance. I had my own encounter with emails before testifying as a government witness in the Africa Sting cases.

It was during pre-trial preparation. The government had the emails my former employer turned over. Defense counsel had them too. Review them all, the prosecutors told me. Spend as much time as you need. Find the worst of the worst and be prepared to testify about them if asked during cross examination.

It was a dreaded task. In 2011, I was already three years sober. I was renewing my faith and repairing my damaged family life. So this look into my old emails was going to be a difficult journey back to a dark time.

I started by searching bribe. I dont remember anything coming up. What I did find was a mix of code words where pajamas were prostitutes and the Z was a brothel in Europe where you could find a mix of multinational employees, intermediaries, and end-users.

Skip bribes during data searches. Its the one word I didnt use or hear in my decade in the field. As Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney in New York, recently said, Its very rare that you have a written agreement, where someone says, Ill pay you this bribe, and you do this favor for me.

Our communication bears witness to ourselves. How people joke, how they behave, outside the set of FCPA and other white-collar criminal issues, tells us about deep-seated values. I left an email trail when I violated the FCPA, including the exchange of corruptly obtained information on specifications for United Nations and Dutch Police contracts.

Those emails about the mechanics of my business were evidence of illegal conduct. But they werent the obvious fingerprints into my beliefs at that time. The emails that revealed what I was really thinking and doing back then were often about pajamas, the Z, and other exploits.

If thats how someone in your organization is behaving now, even if not to my extreme, what might that tell you about their attitude toward compliance? Is a joke about a late night out, a visit to a strip club, or too much partying a measure of greater compliance peril?

My worst of the worst emails, and the decisions they showed me making, seem like a lifetime ago for me now, and are gratefully in the rear-view mirror. But those emails really did pull the curtain back on a lifestyle I will always regret. Reliving them in front of a jury and my sentencing judge was something I never could have imagined while typing away.

So yes, during cross examination at the Africa Sting trials, those emails did come up. Later, during my sentencing hearing before Judge Richard Leon, the DOJ described my cross examination as a grueling process and experience. Judge Leon also referred to the emails when he described my outrageously egregious conduct by my own admission.

Todays compliance professionals live and work in an era of data analytics and algorithms. Those have value. But are we under-valuing the behavioral component, which is so often and authentically reflected in how we email one another?

While we might look for obvious signs and trails of wrong-doing, perhaps the more obvious behavioral fingerprints are inappropriate jokes or distasteful nights out with customers. But how people share and communicate when they think no one else is listening can tell us so much about attitudes toward compliance and a whole lot more.

_____

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.


Zachary Quinto has paid tribute to his "dear friend" Anton Yelchin following his shock death.

Zachary Quinto

The 39-year-old actor has penned a touching tribute to his 'Star Trek' co-star after he passed away in a car accident on Sunday (19.06.16) aged 27, describing him as "enormously talented and generous of heart".

He wrote on Instagram: "our dear friend. our comrade. our anton. one of the most open and intellectually curious people i have ever had the pleasure to know. so enormously talented and generous of heart. wise beyond his years. and gone before his time. all love and strength to his family at this impossible time of grief (sic)"

Karl Urban, who appears alongside Anton in the upcoming 'Star Trek Beyond' is devastated by the news.

He wrote: "I can't believe it , I m f*kn hurting bad !(sic)"

'Star Trek' director J.J. Abrams hailed the "supremely talented" star and lamented his untimely death.

He shared on Twitter: "You were brilliant, you were kind, you were funny as hell, and supremely talented.

"And you weren't here nearly long enough. Missing you."

Justin Lin, who has taken over at the helm of 'Star Trek Beyond' was in "shock" at the news.

He posted: "Rest in peace, Anton. Your passion and enthusiasm will live on with everyone that had the pleasure of knowing you."

Director Guillermo del Toro, who was set to work with the Russian-born actor on the upcoming 'Trollhunters' series, was also stunned by the tragedy.

He wrote on Twitter: "The sweetest, most humble, delightful, talented guy you'd ever meet. Worked together for about a year. Shocked.

"Anton was a sweetheart. Absolutely a great creative partner and artist. As far as I am concerned, 2016 cannot end fast enough."

Anton's 'Charlie Bartlett' co-stars Kat Dennings and Tyler Hilton have been left distraught by their friend's passing.

Kat tweeted: "Anton Yelchin was one of my best friends. Can't say anything that conveys what this feels like."

Tyler added: "I just heard about my sweet, sweet talented friend #AntonYelchin and his horrible accident. I'm in complete shock. He had far more to say...(sic)"

It is believed Anton was killed after being pinned between his car and a mailbox, which was attached to a security gate."

Police are currently investigating his death but don't suspect foul play.
CUT is part installation, part theatre poem, part noir thriller. The audience will be sealed in an atmospheric Vault under the Waterloo railway arches and will be transported deep into the heart of 21st century fears - the psychological equivalent of extreme turbulence. The show is set against a black backdrop with unsettling moments of complete darkness, prepare to be sealed into this intimateand unforgettable experience. We caught up with actress Hannah Norris to talk about the new project and the attraction of a one woman show.

Hannah Norris by Dominic Marley

What can audiences expect from CUT?

A sensory, theatrical experience where you are close to the action and close to the ideas. You watch the play from inside the world. It is immersive but not in the large-scale way of other shows at The Vaults like Goosebumps or Alice's Adventures Underground - it's quite an empty and imaginary space that gets filled with sound, light, thoughts and action. Escalating tension and darkness and a poetic text that may provoke more questions than it answers.

What was it about this project that appealed to you so much?

I wanted to inhabit this piece and bring together the artists who have created our production. I wanted to bring the work of all of them to London. The moment I expressed interest in CUT about 4 or 5 years ago, Duncan gave me his permission to perform it. I then saved up money on a national Australian tour of a mainstream traditional theatre comedy and brought the team together for our first season at the 2015 Adelaide Fringe Festival. And it was a huge hit.

This is written by award winning playwright Duncan Graham, so what was it about the script you loved so much?

Duncan and I have been friends for about 15 years - I met him when I was at acting school with his younger brother and Duncan was studying medicine at the time (he dropped out to become a playwright). When I found out he had written a play for one woman, I immediately wanted to read it - and on first read, I cried. The theatre of it was so vivid to me - the rhythm and the pauses, the leaps between scenes, the stage directions of blackouts and gasps, the inherent violence - and that it all comes from one woman. It resembles the work of playwrights I love like Sarah Kane and Simon Stephens, and is inspired by the women of Greek theatre and mythology - Clytemnestra, Medea, Atropos - women vengeful and passionate.

How did you prepare for your role as both victim and predator?

In a few ways. Firstly, I'm a woman. Whenever I walk alone at night, I prepare. When I hold my keys between my fingers, ready to punch someone in the eye if I have to. When walking at night I pretend to talk on the phone, or hold my thumb over a number ready to dial if I have to. When I think about what I'd do to someone who might try to hurt me. When I read about women who are raped or murdered or experience domestic violence or abuse and I refuse to be stopped from living my life freely, when I reject victim blaming, I prepare. Must we live in a society governed by fear?

Also, the text switches tense quite a lot between "I", "She" and "you". Intellectually, I tried to work out what the changes meant and how to approach them, but it wasn't until we were in rehearsals that I felt those changes physiologically through speaking the text in the action of the play that it started to make sense to me.

And then, a good friend of mine is a psychologist and he suggested I start noticing all the tiny moments throughout my days that I might have unpleasant or violent thoughts - things I would never act on, but to notice them. And I did. For example, when people are standing on the wrong side of the tube escalators...

Why does this production make audiences so uncomfortable?

They are in close proximity to the performer (me) who does experience and explore moments of panic, threat, danger, violence. The technical aspects of the show are also very atmospheric and effective in eliciting feelings from the audience. While having a clear through line, there is a disjointedness to the storytelling which makes it unpredictable moment to moment. And the fact that they cannot leave without assistance. Before we started rehearsals, I talked about wanting to create the feeling when you get on an aeroplane and the doors close and you know you are in for the ride, hopefully to land safe on the other side - that is sort of what it's like when we start this show.

What has the atmosphere been like during rehearsals?

We are about to start re-rehearsal in London, but in Australia, Duncan and I would spend at least an hour talking about politics, eating ginger nut biscuits. I'd then pick up one of the props we had in the room and start playing with it while we talked and would unintentionally do something that made Dunc stop and say, "That was interesting, what was that?" - I'd do and/or say it again, and suddenly we'd be up on our feet and into a moment of the play. We spend an intensive amount of time just the two of us, getting imaginative and playful with the text, and really exploring moments and possibilities. We were worried the first time we had others from the creative team in the room with us that we had created a very bizarre piece of performance art, but it turned out we were on track, and once all the tech starts building in, it's really exciting.

This isn't your first one-woman show, so what appeals to you so much about this genre of theatre?

Essentially and un-inspiringly because it's the most affordable to produce. However, with CUT particularly I was interested in my relationship to the technical aspects of the show. In the previous one-woman show I'd done, I was hyper aware of the lights, set and sound - as they are my only onstage partners, so if something was a bit late or off, it disrupted the rhythm of the piece. This is what led Sam Hopkins to invent a wireless device and bespoke lighting system that I operate in performance. It's a truly innovative control and takes rehearsal to make second nature, but its brilliant. I absolutely adore working with other actors, and I'm looking forward to my next play with other people in it. But I also love the responsibility, focus and commitment CUT demands. It's a challenge and a thrill.

What is next for you?

I've just moved to London, so looking forward to meeting more of the UK industry and audiences here through our London season of CUT, and straight after we finish at The Vaults, we pack up and head off to Edinburgh for a return season at the fringe. Duncan and I have a few other ideas for projects we are keen to create together, and there may also be international opportunities for CUT in Australia and elsewhere.

by Lucy Moore for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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Charlie Cox failed his Han Solo spin-off audition because he forgot to use his eyes.

Charlie Cox

Cox has got so used to playing the blind titular superhero in the Netflix series that he failed to remember the 'Star Wars' character isn't visually impaired and as a result he didn't look at the casting director during his try-out for the spin-off film.

He told The Hollywood Reporter: "I had gone to an audition - one of those things that are super secretive and they don't tell you, but I'm pretty sure it was for the Han Solo reboot - and halfway through it, the casting director stopped me and said, 'Why aren't you looking at me?'

"I realised I had gotten into a habit of not making eye contact, because the only thing I had done for two years is play someone who is blind.

"I never got invited back, probably because they couldn't figure out why I was acting like a complete idiot."

Charlie's eye issue was good news for 'Hail Caesar!' actor Alden Ehrenreich, who has landed the role of young Han Solo - who was originally played by Harrison Ford in the 'Star Wars' movies - in the forthcoming film following an extensive search by studios Disney and Lucasfilm.

Alden, 22, is said to have beaten off competition from 'Whiplash' star Miles Teller, 'The Fault In Our Stars' actor Ansel Elgort, Dave Franco, Jack Reynor, Scott Eastwood and Eddie The Eagle's Taron Egerton.

The film is currently thought to be titled 'Han Solo: A Star Wars Story' and is set to be released on May 25, 2018.
The Glastonbury Festival is to honour David Bowie with an orchestral tribute on The Park Stage this Saturday (25.06.16).

David Bowie on stage at Glastonbury

The world renowned music extravaganza held at Worthy Farm in Somerset, South West England, will celebrate the music of the legendary musician - who in passed away in January at the age of 69, after a secret battle with cancer - with a headline performance featuring musical conductor Charles Hazelwood, who will control Army of Generals and members of the British Paraorchestra performing Philip Glass's 'Heroes Symphony'.

American Composer Philip Glass said of the plans: "When Charles Hazlewood told me of his plan to take my Heroes Symphony to Glastonbury, I was delighted.

"It's very exciting to think of it playing - at the midnight hour - out across the parkland, a true celebration of Bowie. I am so very pleased members of the British Paraorchestra and Chris Levine's epic iy_project light performance will be part of it - what a spectacular collaboration. This is sound and vision Bowie-style!!"

Philip created 'Heroes Symphony' in 1995 paying homage to Bowie's 1977 album 'Heroes', the second LP in his acclaimed Berlin series.

And the admiration was mutual as the 'Starman' hitmaker also cited Glass as a huge influence.

Charles said of the project: "Bowie was a huge fan of Glass, citing him as a primary influence. If Bowie had any interest in what might be played by all of us after he'd gone, then I reckon a world class orchestra breathing fire into Glass's Heroes Symphony would make him very happy indeed. And with the added genius of laser virtuoso Chris Levine creating a visual counterpoint to Glass's luminescent textures, this will be the most extraordinary sound and vision ever witnessed at Glastonbury."

The spectacle will be complimented by a sensory light performance by Chris Levine.

On what to expect, Chris said: "The cyclic music of Philip Glass is utterly trance inducing and combined with my iy_project laser waveforms takes us into a meditative space - a spiritual dimension where the star man now resides."

Bowie last played the festival with a seminal performance in 2000.

Festival co-organiser Emily Eavis said: "We are delighted that David Bowie's life will be celebrated by Glastonbury's first ever classical music headliner. Bowie's performance of 'Heroes' in his 2000 Pyramid set was one of the all-time moments in our history and it just feels so right that we will relive it again on Saturday night through the brilliance of Philip Glass' symphony."
Prince William feels "fortunate" to have a young family.

Prince William with family

The 33-year-old British royal has admitted he's incredibly lucky to be the father of Prince George, two, and Princess Charlotte, 13 months, whom he has with his wife Duchess Catherine, and feels it's important he discusses mental health issues with them.

In a penned editorial for Heads Together - a mental health campaign - on Father's Day (19.06.16), William said: "Today I celebrate my third Father's Day as a father. For me it is a day not just to celebrate how fortunate I am for my young family, but to reflect on just how much I've learned about fatherhood and the issues facing fathers in all walks of life.

"In particular, it is a time to reflect on my responsibility to look after not just the physical health of my two children, but to treat their mental needs as just as important a priority."

The Duke of Cambridge went on to ask fathers across the country to speak with their children and understand where they are mentally in order to protect them from falling off the wagon later on in life because they didn't receive the help early on.

He said: "Recent surveys have found that over half of parents have never broached the topic of mental well-being with their children, and a third would feel failures if their child needed help.

"That's so sad -- no parents whose child needs help is a failure. Taking the next step and actually getting help is what matters.

"Take the opportunity to discuss how you are coping with life and fatherhood with your wife, partner or with your friends. And know that if your son or daughter needs help, they need their father's guidance and support just as much as they need their mother's."
NOTE: Spoilers for season 6, episode 9, The Battle of the Bastards

Game of Thrones delivered an epic episode last night (June 19) with the Battle of the Bastards proving to be one of the most exciting and well-executed battles in television history.

Iwan Rheon as Ramsay Bolton / Credit: HBO

In it we saw Ramsay Bolton's huge army go up against Jon Snow's considerably smaller one, and it's a scene actor Iwan Rheon [who plays Ramsay] has been hoping to be a part of for some time.

Rheon explained to EW: "Anyone who has asked me, 'Who would you like Ramsay to meet?', my answer has always been 'Jon Snow.' He's the antithesis of Ramsay. They're almost a yin and a yang. They both come from such a similar place yet they're so different. And even though they're enemies, they've both risen so far as bastards, which is almost incomprehensible, and now they're both here facing each other. They couldn't be any more different, yet more similar."

Of course, with any battle comes a big price. That came in the form of deaths for both sides, with Rickon Stark being the first to fall, and Ramsay being the last, mauled to death and eaten by his own dogs.

Rheon continued: "Afterward, Ramsay still thinks he's won. He's so arrogant and self-assured he thinks he'll still be fine - until the last minute. He always thinks he's going to be okay... It's a gruesome death. It's so ironic. He's been banging on about those hounds all the time... I think it was great. It's a good scene.

"It leaves Sansa in an interesting place as a character, because he's saying, 'I'm inside you now.' It's horrible, and I think he probably has done some damage. He's gotten in her head."

Game of Thrones season 6 concludes next Sunday (June 26) with 'The Winds of Winter' at 9pm on HBO in the US and on Monday (June 27) at 2am and 9pm on Sky Atlantic in the UK.

by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk

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A decision by Britain to leave the European Union would have profound consequences for the future of both the UK and the EU, The Economist Intelligence Unit has said in a report titled 'Out and down: Mapping the impact of Brexit'. Britain votes on June 23 whether to remain in the EU or leave it.We expect real GDP in the UK to be 6 per cent below our baseline forecast by 2020 if voters elect to leave. This economic pain would be coupled with political instability, as significant doubts emerge about government cohesion. The impact will be serious, and prolonged, it said.

A decision by Britain to leave the European Union would have profound consequences for the future of both the UK and the EU, The Economist Intelligence Unit has said in a report titled 'Out and down: Mapping the impact of Brexit'. Britain votes on June 23 whether to remain in the EU or leave it. We expect real GDP in the UK to be 6 per cent #

As the Brexit debate has accelerated, some big names in retail have come out against a vote to leave. Last month, Sir Terry Leahy, Justin King, Marc Bolland and Sir Ian Cheshire jointly issued a statement outlining reasons to stay and the former chiefs of Tesco, Sainsbury's, M&S and Kingfisher respectively are among the closest thing to royalty that retail has.Tesco's expansion under Sir Terry was so rapid that five years and two successors later the company is still struggling to find a way to manage the empire he built. Similarly Justin King oversaw 36 consecutive quarters of sales growth at Sainsbury's, a feat made even more impressive given that much of it was achieved during the global financial and subsequent Eurozone crisis. Ironically King's final trading statement marked the first of six consecutive quarters of decline for the retailer which continues to face a tough operating environment. Sir Ian himself oversaw a share price improvement of 120 per cent during his spell at Kingfisher. Marc Bolland's M&S performance was slightly more chequered but history may credit him as the CEO who helped cement the retailer's transition from clothing towards value added food.Either way when these four statesmen of retail say that Brexit could be catastrophic for the consumer recovery on which so much of our economic stability depends, businesses sit up and take notice. Further weight comes from Andy Clarke, Asda's chief executive who used the findings of another Treasury study to add that a Brexit would create an uncertainty in pricing that cements a Remain position for the WalMart owned retailer.The Remain campaign has successfully rolled out an array of respected figures in the business community to support its view that a Brexit would be economically damaging. For its part the 'Leave' campaign draws on the support and combined experience of a host of politicians including former chancellors of the exchequer. But when you consider that one of these, Norman Lamont, oversaw Black Wednesday when a run on sterling forced a withdrawal from the ERM at a reported cost of 3.4bn to the UK economy, then the economic claims of the Leave campaign appear to hold a little less credibility. Not only do Leahy et al force the world of retail to sit up and take notice but they are also difficult to fundamentally disagree with, the report said.
UK based luxury brands manufacturer Mulberry Group posted profit after tax of 2.7 million in the year ended March 31, 2016 as compared to loss after tax of 1.4 million in 2015 because of the operational strategies adopted by the company in the year.

The company made large scale investments in omni-channel, product design and creative talent. Johnny Coca, the company's new creative director presented his first collection at London Fashion Week in February. A license agreement was signed to manufacture and co-distribute the company's ready-to-wear and shoes from its Autumn Winter collection.

Profit before tax posted by the company for the year was 6.2 million as compared to 1.9 million in 2015. Earnings per share stood at 4.5p as compared to loss of 2.3p the previous year.

Mulberry Group posted profit after tax of 2.7 million in the year ended March 31, 2016 as compared to loss after tax of 1.4 million in 2015 because of the operational strategies adopted by the company in the year. Profit before tax posted by the company for the year was 6.2 million as compared to 1.9 million in 2015.#

Mulberry has made significant progress during the last financial year with solid growth achieved in revenues and profit. The first collection introduced by our new creative director, Johnny Coca, has been well received by both the UK and international press and partners, Thierry Andretta, CEO of Mulberry said commenting on the results.

Our UK manufacturing base, which produces c. 50 per cent of our bags, has remained a core strength and point of distinction. We have built a strong foundation for future growth as a result of the investment made in product design and development as well as our omni-channel infrastructure, he stated.

Looking forward, we will invest further in developing exciting new product, whilst continuing to engage with our core UK and growing international customer base, Andretta added.

Following the arrival of Johnny Coca, there has been significant investment in building the creative team and in refreshing the collections with new designs. This process will continue and will contribute to an increase in overheads for the year.

At the same time, the elevated number of new product introductions during the year is likely to affect factory efficiency. (MCJ)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk - India
Rich cities located in southern and eastern China are the roaring engines of growth in e-commerce, representing a high degree of online consumption and large number of online businesses, according to a report by e-commerce giant Alibaba Group's research arm AliResearch.The AliResearch report on China's 2013 e-commerce development analyzed e-commerce data gathered by Alibaba Group from 294 prefecture-level cities in mainland China. Researchers gave each city a score based on factors such as the total number of online shoppers compared to the total city population, or the number of online stores to the total city population. The cities were then ranked, with a higher score indicating a more developed e-commerce industry.

Rich cities located in southern and eastern China are the roaring engines of growth in e-commerce, representing a high degree of online consumption and large number of online businesses, according to a report by e-commerce giant Alibaba Group's research arm AliResearch. The AliResearch report on China's 2013 e-commerce development analyzed #

In terms of e-commerce consumption, Shenzhen, a city in Guangdong province, came first with a score of 50.24. Guangzhou and Zhuhai, also located in Guangdong province were ranked second and seventh, respectively. The developed eastern cities of Hangzhou, Shanghai, Suzhou and Nanjing also made the top 10 list for e-commerce consumption. The nation's capital, Beijing, came in fourth with a score of 42.93.The overall e-commerce scores, which also took into account the number of online stores in a city, didn't see much divergence from the e-commerce consumption scores. Shenzhen came in first with Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai occupying the second to fifth place respectively.Shenzhen, a bustling city that borders Hong Kong, has over the years become a vital city for the China's e-commerce industry. According to local government statistics, the number of e-commerce transactions in Shenzhen has risen 50 per cent annually since 2009. Last year, 71 per cent of Shenzhen's population shopped online, spending RMB 88.9 billion ($14 billion) in the process. This amount is equivalent to about 20 per cent of the city's total consumer retail sales.Although e-commerce is maturing in the southern and eastern Chinese cities, there are still plenty of growth opportunities in the country 's vast interior. According to the AliResearch report, of the top 25 Chinese cities for e-commerce consumption by population density, six of those cities such as Wuhan, Taiyuan and Chengdu, are in the interior or west of China.The online shopping growth rate in middle and western China is much higher than cities in the east, said Xie Zhoupei, a senior researcher at AliResearch.In January, Alipay released a report that mirrored this emerging trend . It showed online payment growing fastest in China's less-developed interior regions. We can observe that e-commerce is now quite penetrated into areas where offline retail is still very underdeveloped, said Xie. (SH)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
In a major liberalisation drive today, the Union Government has radically opened up the FDI regime to provide a huge impetus to employment and job creation in the country . The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to an official statement from the PMO.This is the second major reform after the last radical changes announced in November 2015. Now most of the sectors would be under automatic approval route, except a small negative list. With these changes, India is now the most open economy in the world for FDI, the statement said.

In a major liberalisation drive today, the Union Government has radically opened up the FDI regime to provide a huge impetus to employment and job creation in the country. The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to an official statement from the PMO. This is the second major reform #

It also tweaked rules to allow companies such as Apple to open their own stores in the country by exempting them from local sourcing requirements for three years under the single brand retail segment for entities with cutting edge technology.It has now been decided to relax local sourcing norms up to three years and a relaxed sourcing regime for another five years for entities undertaking Single Brand Retail Trading of products having 'state-of-art' and 'cutting edge' technology.Amendments to the FDI Policy are meant to liberalise and simplify the FDI policy so as to provide ease of doing business in the country leading to larger FDI inflows contributing to growth of investment, incomes and employment, the statement said.The fresh liberalisation of FDI rules opens food retail, airlines and private security firms to higher overseas investment.Other sectors in which FDI norms have been relaxed include e-commerce in food products, broadcasting carriage services, private security agencies and animal husbandry.This is the second major reform in the FDI space. The Centre in last November had significantly relaxed the foreign investment regime.Foreign investment is considered crucial for India, which needs around $1 trillion for overhauling its infrastructure sector such as ports, airports and highways to boost growth. A strong inflow of foreign investments will help improve the country's balance of payments situation and strengthen the rupee value against other global currencies, especially the US dollar. (SH)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Polartec, a manufacturer of innovative textile solutions, recently announced that performancewear brands Westcomb, Outdoor Research, Kitsbow and Velocio will be the first to introduce garments using Polartec Delta, the company's first cooling solution.

The company's Delta utilises a permanent mechanical wicking construction using hydrophobic and hydrophilic yarns to prolong the skin's natural evaporative cooling response. The sophisticated construction provides permanently integrated cooling for a highly breathable garment which does not stick to the wearer's body during high-output activities.

Polartec's Delta is a blend between cotton and polyester carrying sweat and holding it next to skin, where it most closely replicates the human body's natural cooling processes, while still allowing the fabric to dry quickly. Garments made with Delta provide comfort, reduce skin cling and help control odour.

Polartec, a manufacturer of innovative textile solutions, recently announced that performancewear brands Westcomb, Outdoor Research, Kitsbow and Velocio will be the first to introduce garments using Polartec Delta, the company's first cooling solution.The company's Delta utilises a permanent mechanical wicking construction using hydrophobic and hydrophilic#

Brand partners instantly saw the value in Delta's permanent cooling capabilities within their garment. The science of the fabric was the initial hook, and the comfort experienced in field testing sealed the deal. We are excited to see major brands garments hit the market all over the world so consumers can get to experience Delta first-hand, said Karen Beattie, product marketing manager, base layers, Polartec.

Polartec will be demonstrating Delta at Summer Outdoor Retailer from August 3-6, 2016, in Utah, Texas. (HO)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Despite falling acreage, the government in Pakistan's Punjab province has fixed a cotton production target at 9.5 million bales for 2016/17.Addressing the media after the second meeting of the Cotton Crop Management Group (CCMG) at the Central Cotton Research Institute in Multan on Thursday, Additional Secretary Agriculture Hussain Sardar said that all resources would be used to achieve the target. He said that the cotton seed reform project had been initiated to curb the cotton crisis and that the Punjab government had approved to set up the Punjab Agriculture Commission.

Despite falling acreage, the government in Pakistan's Punjab province has fixed a cotton production target at 9.5 million bales for 2016/17. Addressing the media after the second meeting of the Cotton Crop Management Group (CCMG) at the Central Cotton Research Institute in Multan on Thursday, Additional Secretary Agriculture Hussain Sardar said#

Punjab contributes 75 per cent of Pakistan's cotton production which fell about 30 per cent in 2015-16 due to a host of factors including rain, floods and pest attacks.Hussain Sardar said that the government had allocated Rs 1.8 billion in the budget to provide the most modern machinery to the farmers to increase per acre yield. A chain of service centres would be established across the province to provide agriculture equipment, including tractors, harvesters and bulldozers, he added.The Punjab Agriculture Department had expected sowing on 5.7 million acres with the production target of 9.5 million bales for the 2016-17 but till the first week of this month, it was sown on mere 3.5 million acres and the favourable cultivation time is virtually over.Punjab Director General Agriculture (Extension) Dr Anjum Ali said that at least 822,799 cotton farmers had been imparted modern cultivation training. He said that statistics showed that 84 per cent cotton area had been cultivated, which was 14 per cent less than the last year.But the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) has said that official figures of 84 per cent cotton sowing are exaggerated and fictitious.At a press conference in Multan, PCGA chairman Shahzad Ali Khan, vice-chairman Sarfraz Nazim Awan and former chairmen Haji Muhammad Akram and Suhail Mehmood Harral said that the federal and provincial governments had failed to convince the farmers to increase cotton acreage. They claimed that cotton was cultivated on 50 per cent less area this season as compared to last year. (SH)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
Two more civil marriage celebrants have been appointed to meet the growing demand from international visitors wanting to get married in Fiji and from Fijian couples wanting to get married outside traditional settings.



Alipate Bolavatonaki and Kalesi Senikavika join seven other celebrants who have already been appointed after they received their certificates today from the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. The certificates allow them to conduct civil marriages anywhere in Fiji at any time.



The AG said that Fiji has become a top wedding destination for international visitors and it is critical to have an adequate number of celebrants available at resorts and hotels around the country to meet the growing demand.



More and more foreigners are wanting to get married in Fiji because of the romantic setting, the friendliness of our people and the increasing number of specialist services being provided for the wedding market. It is becoming an increasingly important sector of our tourism industry and we need to do everything we can to cater for it. More Fijians are also choosing to marry at home or in other settings and we want to provide them with alternative options as well," he said.



Both the new appointments today thanked the AG for the opportunity to become celebrants. Alipate Bolavatonaki described it as an honour and a privilege to be able to marry couples visiting the Mamanucas. I am based at Plantation island so this will allow me to conduct marriages on the island for the increasing number of people wanting to get married there, he said.



For her part, Kalesi Senikavika said becoming a civil marriage celebrant was enabling her to continue to be of service to others after her retirement from the Civil Service. Marriage is a very important and happy event in peoples lives and I am very much looking forward to my new role, she said.



Civil marriage celebrants pay a $3000 application fee and are subject to background and criminal checks before they can be issued with a license to serve for a term of three years.


The Prime Ministers National Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Fund has been boosted by another $35,000 with a donation from the insurance company, Marsh Limited.



A cheque for the amount was handed over to the Attorney-General and Minster for Finance, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, by the Leader of the Marsh Fijian Practice and company vice president, Ilyaz Koya.



Mr Koya said the amount had been collected by Marsh staff from Fiji and in the wider Marsh and McClennan Group in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. All had wanted to be part of the rebuilding process in Fiji in the wake of Cyclone Winston.



The AG warmly thanked Mr Koya for the donation. On behalf of the Fijian people, I want to thank Marsh and its staff for their generosity and assure you that the funds you have raised will be put to good use in the rebuilding effort, he said.


In the wake of the 'Udta Punjab' censorship controversy, now superstar Salman Khan opens up and puts forward his opinion loud and clear about the entire CBFC controversy. He feels more categories should be created for clearing films in the 'adult' segment.

"There are certain cuts given for U/A and U certificate and some cuts in A certificate films. Put XX, XXX (to 'A' certificate films) for people, who come to see that kind of films as they are aware about what is there in it," Salman told in an interview.

Karan Johar's Party Pics! SRK, Aishwarya, Kareena & Others Were In Attendance

Recently, the makers of Udta Punjab were embroiled in a battle with CBFC over the number of cuts in the Shahid Kapoor-Alia Bhatt starrer. The makers got a lot of support from the industry and even the court ruled in their favour.

Salman's Bajrangi Bhaijaan had also run into trouble with the censor board and some religious organisations, who objected to the title.

"In 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' case, we were asked to change the title. We were like if the film was (based) in Maharashtra then it would be 'Bajrangi Bhau', in UP 'Bajrangi Bhaiya' and in Punjab 'Bajrangi Paaji'. But the character is going to Pakistan so it is called 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan'," the 50-year-old star said.

The CBFC gave U/A certificate to the Kabir Khan-directed film, where Salman played the role of an ardent devotee of Hanuman, who embarks on a journey to reunite a mute six-year old girl (Harshali Malhotra) with her parents in Pakistan.
Mammootty, the big M of our industry is a real prankster. The actor recently revealed that side of him, to his lucky co-star Nayantara during the recently held 63rd Filmfare Awards South event.

The actress went on to wish Mammootty and the other Mollywood celebrities, immediately after she entered the venue. But, the actor refused to shake hands and reluctantly wished her with a 'namaste'.

Here we present Mammootty and Nayantara's special clicks from the event... Have a look...

Nayantara was shocked to see megastar's unexpected behaviour. Meanwhile, young actor Nivin Pauly and Rasool Pookkutty, who were sitting next to Mammootty were trying hard to control the laughter.

The actress stood near the senior actor for a few seconds, expecting him to acknowledge her presence. Mammootty immediately shook hands with her and revealed to Nayantara that it was just a prank.

However, the incident was immediately covered by the media, to the much excitement of Mammootty-Nayantara fans. The pictures clicked during the incident, have already taken the social media by storm.

Nayantara, who maintains a close bond with Mammootty, has shared the screen with him in the recent movies Bhaskar The Rascal and Puthiya Niyamam. Well, we are waiting for them to share the screen once again.
Shanghai-headquartered Forchn Holdings Group started testing investor demand on Monday for a new real estate investment trust, potentially raising around $337 million and becoming Singapore's third initial public offering in less than two months.

After a dismal year for IPOs in 2015, Singapore witnessed the rumblings of a revival in the Reit sector with the $470 million listing in May of Manulife US Reit. Poised to follow is Frasers Logistics & Industrial Trust, a vehicle that holds some of the Australian assets of local property developer Frasers Centrepoint, which is set to make its market debut on Tuesday.

Encouraged by the strong investor response to the Frasers Logistics & Industrial Trust IPO, which was more than six times oversubscribed, Forchn now hopes to go public with its own e-commercial logistics properties, heading a number of Chinese firms mulling an S-Reit listing.

EC World Reit, the official name of the listing entity, will hold privately owned Forchn's e-commerce and logistics properties in Hangzhou, eastern China.

The listing of EC World Reit could raise about S$455 million ($337 million) based on an estimated market size of S$700 million and a 65% free float, according to a source familiar with the situation. Forchn plans to retain a 35% interest in the Reit after the IPO.

Portfolio, valuation

The initial portfolio of the trust will consist of six e-commerce and logistics properties with a total gross leasable area of 577,072 square metres, according to a corporate presentation.

The largest property is Chongxian Port Investment, the operator of Chongxian Port, an inland port located in Hanzhou. Chongxian Port is one of nine designated locations for steel trading, as stipulated by the Shanghai Futures Exchange, according to Forchns website.

Another selling point is the relatively young age of the assets, which averages out at 4.1 years, and the high occupancy rate, which was 92.3% as of the end of last year and is expected to rise to 99.1% as of the end of 2017, according to the corporate presentation.

The leases were highly concentrated with the top-10 tenants contributing to 96.6% of the gross rental income last year. The included state-owned China Tobacco Zhejiang Industrial and China Post Express Logistics.

The total appraised value of the EC World Reit portfolio was Rmb6.4 billion ($963 million) as of the end of last year.

DBS is the sponsor of EC World Reit.

According to DBS analysts, EC World Reits fair value should be between S$544 million to S$592 million, which implies a 7% to 14% discount to the portfolios net asset value. The valuation range equates to an implied dividend yield of 7.35% to 7.95% for the 2016 financial year.

That was based on a 100% dividend payout ratio, which the Reit manager will assume in the next two years. After 2017 EC World Reit will pay at least 90% of its net profit as dividends.

Forchn, which is little known among international investors, describes itself as a conglomerate that engages in finance, industrial, property as well as e-commerce and logistics. The group is a co-founder and existing shareholder of Cainiao Network, the logistics division of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba. It also runs its own e-commerce logistics and supply chain management services through a local subsidiary named Ruyicang.

Guobiao Zhang, chairman of Forchn Holdings, is a representative of the Shanghai Municipal Peoples Congress and has close ties with the local government.

More Chinese S-Reits

BHG Retail Reit. If successfully listed, EC World Reit will be the third S-Reit with pure-play Chinese assets after CapitaLand Retail China Trust and

It could also be the first of a few new Chinese S-Reits, with Greenland Group hoping to list its hotel assets in Singapore, according to a company statement in March.

Based on local media reports, Shanghai-based private equity firm Kailong also plans to take its business parks public through an S-Reit.
Aloke Gupte, head of Asia-Pacific equity-linked origination at JP Morgan, is relocating to London and will be replaced by Gaurav Maria, according to an internal memo seen by FinanceAsia on Monday.

Gupte, who has been at the bank for 11 years, will be taking up a similar role that covers Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), to be succeeded in Asia by Maria, an executive director in JP Morgans equity-linked team in Hong Kong, the memo said.

Maria will report to David Suen, JP Morgans head of equity capital markets for Emerging Asia.

The appointment of Gupte as head of EMEA equity-linked origination means he will be in charge of a much bigger market, where convertible and exchangeable bond issuance generally is triple or quadruple the volume seen in Asia over the past few years.

Year-to-date equity-linked issue in EMEA is even higher than North America, the worlds largest market for the asset class in recent years.

EMEA is also home to a large pool of long-term investors, commonly known as outrights in the equity-linked space.

During his tenure Gupte has transformed JP Morgan into a powerhouse in the equity-linked space. For the last decade in the Asia ex-Japan equity-linked league tables, the US bank has consistently been among the top-three banks.

According to Dealogic, JP Morgan ranks top in Asia ex-Japan equity-linked issue with five transactions totaling $952 million.

The bank was the lead-left bookrunner in both CRRCs $600 million H-share convertible bond and another $500 million offering by China Railway Construction Corp earlier this year.

JP Morgan has also consistently initiated new structures for bond issuers in response to the ever-changing market conditions.

Earlier this year, JP Morgan solely advised on a $170 million convertible note offering by Indian drug research and manufacturing firm Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, which adopted a forward price setting structure not been seen for over a decade.

Gaurav Maria

Maria, Guptes successor, is an experienced banker in the asset class and has been involved in the origination and execution of convertible and exchangeable bonds since joining JP Morgans equity-linked team in Hong Kong in 2010.

Before that he spent four years with the banks investment banking division in Singapore.

He holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India and an Electrical Engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.
Isobel Diamond PR Officer isobeld@lionsfestivals.com +44 20 30334156

CANNES, FRANCE, June 19, 2016 - (ACN Newswire) - Winners of the 2016 Pharma and Health & Wellness Lions were announced at the Lions Health Awards Ceremony, where a total of 99 Lions were presented. In the third year of the competition, a record-breaking 2,605 award entries were received across the Pharma and Health & Wellness categories.Pharma LionsFrom 582 entries submitted in the Pharma section, 52 Lions were awarded and Ogilvy & Mather London's "Breathless Choir" for Philips claimed the Grand Prix.Jury President, Alexandra von Plato, Group President of Publicis Healthcare Communications Group, described the campaign as one that challenges the traditional 'product as hero' approach to focus on 'patient as hero'. "It's a stunning example of cinematic storytelling in the medical devices industry and clearly breaks the mould," she said.Health & Wellness Lions47 Lions were awarded in Health and Wellness, from a total of 2023 entries and the Grand Prix went to London agency FCB Inferno's "Project Literacy" for Pearson.Commenting on the winner, Jury President, Joshua Prince, Chief Marketing Officer of Omnicom Health Group, said, "The campaign is devastatingly good at showing the real costs of illiteracy and shows that before we even get to health, we have to start with people's fundamental ability to understand."Young Lions Health AwardThe winner of the Young Lions Health Award, in partnership with UNICEF, was announced at the ceremony. The jury, including UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Shakira, chose Eleanor Howe and Lina Benmansour of DigitasLBi, France's "UNICEF Brain Food". Their idea answered the brief innovatively, by using everyday objects to stimulate play, and providing creative ways for caregivers to interact with children and will be used as part of UNICEF's overall communication outreach on Early Childhood Development.Special AwardsAnd finally, Special Awards were also announced, including the Grand Prix for Good - open to Gold Lion winning entries ineligible for a Grand Prix in their section and judged by members of the Pharma and Health & Wellness Juries - which went to "Manboobs" by Argentinian agency DAVID Buenos Aires for MACMA, focussed on breast cancer awareness.The Healthcare Agency of the Year was awarded to Medulla Communications, Mumbai, second to Langland, Windsor and third to McCann Health, Hong Kong. And Healthcare Network of the Year went to McCann Health, second to Publicis Healthcare Communications Group and third to Ogilvy Commonhealth Worldwide.Commenting on the results, Lions Health Festival Director, Louise Benson, said, "We're delighted to reward and celebrate the ground-breaking work providing a benchmark of excellence in the healthcare communications industry. Now in its third year, Lions Health is an arena to recognise achievements and we would like to thank the jury for collectively selecting our 2016 winners."Lion Health also encompasses a two-day Festival of content, learning and debate and this year, celebrates the life-changing innovations, trends, and game-changing technology transforming the current healthcare industry, taking place from 18-19 June.About Lions HealthLions Health is a global annual awards for creative excellence in pharma and healthcare & wellness communications, judged by international industry professionals. The awards form part of a two-day Festival of content, learning and debate that will explore the essential and unique issues relating to the world of healthcare communications, present exhibitions and screenings of the work being judged, and offer unrivalled networking opportunities. Lions Health is organised by Lions festivals. www.canneslions.com/lions_health/.About Lions FestivalsLions Festivals is the organiser of Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Lions Health, Lions Innovation and Eurobest, as well as co-organisers, with its joint venture partners, of Dubai Lynx International Festival of Creativity, Spikes Asia Festival of Creativity, and the Asian Marketing Effectiveness & Strategy Awards. www.lionsfestivals.com. Lions Festivals is powered by Top Right Group.Source: Lions HealthContact:Copyright 2016 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
NEW YORK, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

eLearningPro, an established Ed-Tech provider in the Hong Kong region, will expand their offering with Time To Know's array of smart Ed-Tech solutions

Time To Know, a leader in the Ed-Tech market, is joining forces with eLearningPro, a prominent Ed-Tech provider and distributor based in Hong Kong. The two companies signed a five year partnership deal in order to leverage the wide market reach of eLearningPro in the Hong Kong region and expand eLearningPro's set of offerings to the corporate training market.

eLearningProis a full-scale e-learning provider and consultant solution based in Hong Kong, operating since 1999. The company has extensive expertise and knowledge of the local market, operating primarily in the fields of Corporate Training and Further Education. The company teamed up with Time To Know to address the needs of the local market, where learning providers are seeking tools that enable greater effectiveness along the entire training and certification process, as well as personalized learner experiences and measurement tools.

eLearningPro will introduce several offerings from Time To Know, including an advanced professional authoring tool which enables users to create engaging and interactive materials, whether new or from pre-existing content. Add digital layers of enrichment from a robust library-games, videos, quizzes, e-widgets, and more. An additional offering will be Time To Know's comprehensive Learning Management System (LMS), which enables organizations to benefit from more effective and efficient learning programs. The offerings provide powerful data analytics and knowledge management, and seamlessly integrate with existing systems.

The CEO of eLearningPro,Jackie Chan, stated, "eLearningPro is striving to bring actual and measurable value to our clients. Partnering with Time To Know, we are able to offer organizations valuable ways to make their training and learning processes more effective. Time To Know is a natural partner for our market approach, and we look forward to expanding our market reach through this partnership."

"Time To Know is committed to boosting corporate education processes and increasing the ROI of our customers. We view the full training and learning process and offer organizations added value for their specific needs, being comprehensive yet agile," statedYair Brosh, CEO of Time To Know. "We are teaming up with innovative and leading partners and we are confident that partnering with eLearningPro will bring success to the corporate customers we will serve in the Hong Kong market."

Time To Know, founded in 2005, is a global Ed-Tech company and a pioneer in the education technology industry, providing cutting-edge solutions for classroom management, learning management systems, authoring tools, and more. The company offers comprehensive solutions for more effective learning programs across various learning sectors-Primary & Secondary, Higher-Ed, Vocational, Publishing, and Corporate. Time To Know has successfully implemented their solutions across the globe, including North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Contact:

Shira Doron

+1-917-979-6632

Shira.Doron@TimeToKnow.com


Safe and anonymous customer-to-customer matching

Easily offset risk positions with natural, opposite interest at the Integral FX Benchmark midrate

Seamlessly integrated to Integral's FX Yield Manager and InvestorFX

OCX now delivers the most comprehensive suite of risk transfer models

Integral Development Corp. (www.integral.com), the only provider of end-to-end electronic FX trading platforms, today announced OCX RiskNet, a mid-point matching engine by which Integral's customers can offset their risk safely and anonymously with other customers. OCX RiskNet has been in use with select customers for several months and is now made available to the broad FX community for all major currency pairs. It is seamlessly integrated with FX Cloud, Integral's market-leading trading platform.

OCX RiskNet is available to a broad and diverse customer base including banks, retail brokers and investment managers. "For the first time, a truly diverse set of market participants can offset risk with natural interest from their peers, at the lowest possible transaction cost, safely and without adverse market impact," said Harpal Sandhu, CEO, Integral Development Corp. "OCX RiskNet helps make mid-point matching a feasible reality for market participants because it is integrated with their day-to-day execution and risk management workflows."

"Risk managers who run a B-book or warehouse risk face twin challenges: Fast moving FX prices and the costs of offsetting risk externally," states Javier Paz, Senior Analyst at Aite Group. "OCX RiskNet breaks ground as a trusted platform, which helps expand the set of internalized liquidity that is available to banks and brokers who want to offset their FX positions quickly, anonymously, and cost effectively."

"As TCA continues to be a focus for market participants, the ability to match at mid-point with other natural interest brings a measurable benefit to our users," Sandhu added.

Participants of OCX RiskNet match at the Integral FX Benchmark, a continuous mid-point benchmark, generated based on research collaboration between Integral and Stanford University. OCX RiskNet is a part of OCX, the Open Currency Exchange, an execution venue that delivers a comprehensive suite of risk transfer models including OCX Streams, liquidity from market makers and OCX Match, a central limit order book.

About Integral

Integral services banks, brokers, investment managers and market makers enabling them to design, deliver and grow their FX businesses. Integral's FXCloud is the industry's most flexible and reliable trading platform combining features for liquidity management, pricing, distribution and risk management. Trusted by over 200 top-tier financial institutions, Integral delivers access to FXCloud as pre-packaged solutions BankFX, MarginFX, AgencyFX, InvestorFX, and OCX to enable our customers to tailor their system for specific client needs and grow their businesses.

Founded in 1993, Integral maintains development, support, and sales offices in Palo Alto, New York, London, Tokyo, and Bangalore. For more information, visit www.integral.com. 2016 Integral Development Corp. All rights reserved. Integral technology is protected under U.S. Patent Nos. 6,347,307 B1; 7,882,011 B2 and 8,417,622 B2, patent pending applications and related intellectual property.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160620005043/en/

Contacts:

Integral Development Corp.

Matthias Beckmann, 650-424-4548

matthias.beckmann@integral.com
SHANGHAI, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) made a strong debut in the Financial Times' annual ranking of the best Master in Finance (MF) programs in the world, ranking 2nd in Asia and 28th in the world.Forvalue for money, SAIF ranked 1st in Asia and 2nd globally.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160620/381020

Further, SAIF also outshined its peers in Asia in the areas of international mobility, international course experience, and faculty with doctorates.

SAIF was established in 2009 as part of the renowned Shanghai Jiao Tong University with the goal of supporting the development of Shanghai into a global financial center. It is benchmarked against the leading finance departments and business schools in the world. SAIF boasts a faculty composed of about 60 professors - all with Ph.D. degrees from overseas universities and over 40 of them with tenured positions from top business schools in North America and Europe.

With an aim to become a world-class institution of research and advanced learning in finance and management, SAIF is committed to training top financial talent, building an open platform for research, and becoming a leading think tank, especially on issues related to China's financial system.

Over the last seven years, SAIF has successfully launched a comprehensive portfolio of programs specialized in finance, including the Master of Finance (MF), MBA, EMBA, DBA (Doctor of Business Administration), Ph.D., and EDP (Executive Development Program) programs.

The MF program is a flagship of SAIF with an average acceptance rate of lower than 5% since it first matriculated students in the fall of 2009.

The mission of the SAIF MF program is to provide the best and brightest young individuals with the academic knowledge and professional skills needed to succeed in the global finance industry. To that end, the program provides students with a curriculum rooted in modern financial theory, that delivers sophisticated quantitative and analytical tools and imparts state-of-the-art practical knowledge and skills to meet the rigors of today's finance profession. The program is committed to fostering exceptional leadership and communication skills, the highest levels of professionalism, and an exemplary sense of social responsibility.

The FT rankings for MF (pre-experience) programs, started in 2011, are calculated according to information provided by business schools and their alumni based on a total of 16 criteria, including salary, value for money, and diversity of faculty and students. The 2016 edition saw 55 schools included in the ranking. SAIF is a new entrant following its accreditation in February by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), the oldest and one of the most prestigious global accrediting bodies for business schools.

"The FT ranking affirms our efforts to offer the best education in finance to the young talent of tomorrow and recognizes the achievements we have made on the journey to becoming the best in the world," said Chun Chang, Executive Dean of SAIF.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/20/16 -- Industry Ventures LLC, a leading investment firm for venture capital, today announced the closing of Industry Ventures Secondary VIII, a $500 million secondary fund focused on providing exit alternatives for venture capital investments. Additionally, the firm closed a $200 million Special Opportunities Fund that enables the firm to invest in larger transactions in parallel to the main fund.

As the largest dedicated liquidity provider for private shares in leading companies and limited partnership interests in venture funds, the firm now has a total of $2.7 billion of capital under management and solidifies the firm as the leader in the secondary market for providing comprehensive exit alternatives to employees, founders, angel investors, corporate venture capital programs, hedge funds, mutual funds and other non-traditional venture investors.

"We are blessed with an amazing investor base that is highly supportive of our team and investment strategy. The venture capital market continues to thrive through varying economic cycles because of a robust secondary market," said Hans Swildens, CEO and Founder of Industry Ventures. "Leading VC-backed companies face a myriad of liquidity challenges as the IPO market is unpredictable. Company shareholders -- founders, employees, angel investors, and corporate venture funds -- have turned to our firm over the last fifteen years to provide broad and flexible investment options tailored to each situation."

Secondary VIII is Industry Ventures' largest fund raised to date, and along with the Special Opportunities Fund, it will enable the firm to continue to provide a broad range of investment options to address liquidity needs for venture capital investments. As a pioneer in the VC secondary market, the firm's 15-year track record contains investments in over 175 private venture backed companies and over 215 venture capital partnerships. The firm as acquired over thirty corporate venture capital, hedge fund and mutual fund portfolios. Secondary VIII's investor base includes leading institutions representing government and corporate pension funds, insurance companies, endowments, foundations, the firm's Managing Directors and high net worth family offices.

About Industry Ventures LLC

Industry Ventures is a leading investment firm that focuses on venture capital. The firm invests directly in venture-backed companies through secondaries and co-investments as well as indirectly through LP interest secondaries and primary commitments to early stage venture funds. Founded in 2000, the firm manages over $2.7 billion of institutional capital and is headquartered in San Francisco with an office in Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit www.industryventures.com.

Media Contact:

Kim Hughes

The Blueshirt Group

Email Contact

415-516-6187




LAVAL, Quebec, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. ("Couche-Tard") (TSX: ATD.A ATD.B) announces today that it has signed, through its wholly-owned indirect subsidiary Circle K Eesti AS, an agreement to purchase majority of the assets operated under the Premium7 brand from Sevenoil Est OU and its affiliates. The assets are comprised of 23 sites, including 11 full service fuel stations with convenience stores and 12 automated fuel stations. The transaction is anticipated to close in the second quarter of Couche-Tard's fiscal year 2017 and is subject to the standard regulatory approvals and closing conditions. The acquisition will be financed from Couche-Tard's available cash and existing credit facilities. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price for this acquisition.

Couche-Tard would buy the land and buildings for 23 locations. Following the acquisition, all the sites would be operated under the Statoil brand and within a year rebranded and operated under the Circle K brand by Couche-Tard's Estonian business unit.

"This acquisition would be a great addition to Couche-Tard's expansion and growth plans in Europe. Having just added Ireland to our European network and expanded our footprint in Scandinavia with Shell's retail network in Denmark, Couche-Tard's declaration in 2012 is becoming a reality: Circle K Europe (formerly Statoil Fuel & Retail AS) is our platform for growth in Europe," says Jacob Schram, Group President Europe, Couche-Tard.

"Subsequent to this transaction, Couche-Tard's network in Estonia would grow by 40% and would total 77 company operated-stores and fuel stations. These sites occupy strategic locations within their respective trade areas. This acquisition would be a great complement to our existing network in the Estonian fuel market," commented Joern Madsen, EVP Central & Eastern Europe & Ireland, Circle K Europe.

About Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.

Couche-Tard is the leader in the Canadian convenience store industry. In the United States, it is the largest independent convenience store operator in terms of number of company-operated stores. In Europe, Couche-Tard is a leader in convenience store and road transportation fuel retail in the Scandinavian and Baltic countries with a significant presence in Poland.

As of January 31, 2016, Couche-Tard's network comprised 7,979convenience stores throughout North America, including 6,560stores offering road transportation fuel. Its North-American network consists of 15business units, including 11 in the United States covering 41states and four in Canada covering all ten provinces. About 80,000people are employed throughout its network and at its service offices in NorthAmerica.

In Europe, Couche-Tard operates a broad retail network across Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden and Denmark), Poland, the Baltics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) and Russia. As of January 31, 2016, it comprised 2,218 stores, the majority of which offer road transportation fuel and convenience products while the others are unmanned automated fuel stations. Couche-Tard also offers other products, including stationary energy, marine fuel and chemicals. Couche-Tard operates key fuel terminals and fuel depots in sixEuropean countries. Including employees at franchise stations carrying its brands, about 19,000people work in its retail network, terminals and service offices across Europe. Since its acquisition of Topaz Energy Group Limited on February 1st, 2016, Couche-Tard also operates a convenience and fuel retailing network comprised of 444 service stations in Ireland as well as a significant commercial fuels operation, with over 30depots and two terminals.

In addition, around 1,500stores are operated by independent operators under the Circle K banner in13 other countries or regions worldwide (China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Guam, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam).

For more information on Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., please visit: http://corpo.couche-tard.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements set forth in this press release, which describe Couche-Tard's objectives, projections, estimates, expectations or forecasts, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation. Positive or negative verbs such as "will", "plan", "evaluate", "estimate", "believe", "expect" and other related expressions are used to identify such statements. Couche-Tard would like to point out that, by their very nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties such that its results, or the measures it adopts, could differ materially from those indicated or underlying these statements, or could have an impact on the degree of realization of a particular projection. Major factors that may lead to a material difference between Couche-Tard's actual results and the projections or expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements include the effects of the integration of acquired businesses and the ability to achieve projected synergies, fluctuations in margins on motor fuel sales, competition in the convenience store and retail motor fuel industries, exchange rate variations, and such other risks as described in detail from time to time in documents filed by Couche-Tard with securities regulatory authorities in Canada. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Couche-Tard disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information in this press release is based on information available as of the date of the release.

Investor Relations: Claude Tessier, Chief Financial Officer, Tel: (450) 662-6632, ext. 4607, claude.tessier@couche-tard.com; Media Relations: Karen Romer, Director, Global Communications, Tel: (514) 603- 4505, karen.romer@couche-tard.com
MONTREAL, QUEBEC -- (Marketwired) -- 06/20/16 -- Matamec Explorations Inc. ("Matamec" or the "Company ") (TSX VENTURE: MAT)(OTCQX: MHREF) is very pleased to announce that its 2015-2017 objectives are being achieved as planned for the Kipawa rare earths joint venture project ("the JV"), of which 72% is owned by Matamec. At the formation of the JV in January 2015, the joint venture held funds of $ 4M CAD. As of March 31st 2016, the JV has invested $1,970,000 CAD in reaching the objectives. The joint venture plans to invest the remaining $2,030,000 CAD over the next year in pursuit of its 2015-2017 objectives.

In the context of sustainable development, the success of the Kipawa rare earth project is contingent upon the completion of the following four undertakings: developing a technically robust metallurgical process flowsheet; achieving economic viability for the project; reaching environmental objectives; and obtaining social acceptability. The 2015-2017 objectives were established accordingly as follows:

1. Optimize metallurgical flowsheet; 2. Demonstrate the recovery of rare earths from silicate minerals on an industrial scale; 3. Evaluate opportunities to reduce the environmental footprint of the project; 4. Update Feasibility Study, previously published in October 2013; 5. Continue the social acceptance process with indigenous communities and local populations involved in the project; 6. Continue discussions with strategic financial and industrial partners.

For further information, we invite you to consult the various management reports that Matamec has filed with SEDAR for the Kipawa rare earth Joint Venture project, as well as the information that has been and will continue to be posted on Matamec's website.

About Matamec

Matamec Explorations Inc. is a junior mining exploration company whose main focus is in developing the Kipawa HREE JV deposit owned at 72% by the Company and 28% by Ressources Quebec (acting as agent of the Government of Quebec); Toyota Tsusho Corp. (Nagoya, Japan) holds a 10% royalty on net profit in the deposit. Furthermore, the Company is exploring more than 35 km of strike length in the Kipawa Alkalic Complex for rare earths-yttrium-zirconium-niobium-tantalum mineralization on its Zeus property.

The Company is also exploring for gold, base metals and platinum group metals. Its gold portfolio includes the Hoyle-Matheson Royalties, Matheson JV and Pelangio properties located along strike and in close proximity to the Hoyle Pond Mine in the prolific gold mining camp of Timmins, Ontario. The Company holds a 50% undivided interest in the Matheson JV, with International Explorers and Prospectors inc. holding the remaining 50% undivided interest. The Company is the operator of the MJV. MJV property consists of 60 mining titles. In addition, the Company holds a 1% NSR royalty in the Montclerg Property located 48 km northeast of Timmins along the Pipestone Fault.

In Quebec, the Company is exploring for strategic metals such as lithium, tantalum and beryllium on its Tansim property and for precious and base metals on its Sakami, Valmont and Vulcain properties.

In August 2013, Matamec signed an option agreement where Canada Strategic Metals ("CSM") can acquire an interest of up to 50% in the Sakami gold project, located in the James Bay region of northern Quebec, by committing CAD$2.25 million in exploration work within 3 years. Today, CSM has spent around CAD$1,600,000, with $695,000 remaining to be spent before August 16, 2016. One of the four areas explored for gold on the Sakami property, the La Pointe zone, shows evidence of significant gold potential, as reported in the last press release dated April 4, 2016.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "scheduled", "anticipates", "expects" or "does not expect", "pursue", "targeted", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases that state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable at the time such statements are made. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although Matamec has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from expected results described in forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those risk factors set out in the Company's year-end Management Discussion and Analysis dated December 31, 2014 and other disclosure documents available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this press release and Matamec 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 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.

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MatamecInc

Visit us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MatamecInc

Contacts:

Andre Gauthier, President

(514) 844-5252

info@matamec.com






VIENNA (dpa-AFX) - European stocks rallied on Monday as the first opinion polls on the EU referendum since the killing of lawmaker Jo Cox showed support for Britain staying in the European Union.



A retreat in safe-haven assets and currencies like gold, government bonds and the yen, and gains in commodity prices on the back of a weaker dollar following dovish comments from a Federal Reserve Official, also buoyed investor sentiment.



The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index was up 3.4 percent in midday trading, marking its biggest single-day percentage gain since mid-February. The benchmark index rose 1.4 percent on Friday.



The German DAX was rallying 3.4 percent, France's CAC 40 index was gaining 3.3 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was up 2.8 percent.



Financials led gainers, with Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, Credit Agricole, BNP Paribas, Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, The Royal Bank of Scotland and Standard Chartered climbing 3-8 percent.



Credit Suisse Group and UBS AG jumped around 4 percent each on a Bloomberg report that they are advising on the potential merger of Abu Dhabi's two largest banks.



Italian bank UniCredit rallied 4.5 percent on a report that it may appoint former Industry Minister Corrado Passera as its new chief executive.



Homebuilders Berkeley Group and Taylor Wimpey soared 4-6 percent in London while British Airways owner International Consolidated Airlines Group advanced 5 percent.



Among commodity-related stocks, Anglo American, Antofagasta, BHP Billiton, Glencore and Royal Dutch Shell rose 1-2 percent.



GlaxoSmithKline gained 2 percent after reporting positive top-line results from the phase III FULFIL study of a lung drug.



HeidelbergCement soared 4 percent in Frankfurt. The cement producer said it has received approval from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for closing its merger deal with Italcementi S.p.A.



In economic releases, figures from Destatis showed that German produce prices dropped 2.7 percent in May from last year, slower than the 3.1 percent decrease in April and a 2.8 percent drop forecast by economists.



Another report from Eurostat revealed that Eurozone construction output decreased for the third straight month in April. Construction output dropped 0.2 percent in April from the previous month after falling 1 percent in March and 0.7 percent in February.



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OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 06/20/16 -- The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard announces Canada's actions at home and on the world stage to help bring back wild Atlantic salmon on Canada's east coast.

On the domestic front, the Minister released today the Forward Plan for Atlantic Salmon to advance the 61 recommendations contained within the Special Report on Wild Atlantic Salmon in Eastern Canada submitted by the Minister's Advisory Committee on Atlantic Salmon in July 2015.

Key highlights of the plan include reviewing the Wild Atlantic Salmon Conservation Policy and improving the coordination of science and research related to wild Atlantic salmon through an Atlantic Salmon Research Joint Venture.

With new science funding announced in Budget 2016, the Department will also engage with partners to better understand Atlantic salmon survival at sea and increase in-river monitoring of salmon returns in selected rivers.

The $197.1 million investment in ocean and freshwater science announced in Budget 2016 will allow for the hiring of scientists and other initiatives and partnerships that will promote the long term recovery of the Atlantic salmon stock.

On the international front, Canada recently participated in the 2016 North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO) annual meeting in Germany on June 7 - 10, 2016.

Canada's key positions included:

-- Encouraging Greenland to implement its new management measures to improve control and reporting of harvest levels of Atlantic salmon; -- Encouraging Saint Pierre and Miquelon to join NASCO and reduce its harvest levels of Atlantic salmon; and -- Engaging with other NASCO members on best practices for managing aquaculture issues such as containment and sea lice controls.

The Canadian delegation was pleased that Greenland confirmed its intention to reduce its harvest levels for 2016 from 45 tonnes to 32 tonnes. Following a direct request from Canada, Greenland also signaled the possibility of not authorizing a commercial fishery for 2016. Greenland authorizes both a subsistence and a commercial fishery. Canada continues to call on Greenland to reduce its removal of Wild Atlantic salmon to levels that support salmon conservation.

Quotes:

"I understand the vital importance of restoring Atlantic salmon stocks to Canadians and Indigenous peoples. Our Forward Plan for Atlantic Salmon builds on the work of the Ministerial Advisory Committee and will help us to tackle low returns in Atlantic Canada. We can't do it alone. Bringing back wild Atlantic salmon is a shared responsibility, and a long-term process that requires the concerted efforts of everyone both at home and on the world stage. We will continue to work with our domestic and NASCO partners to ensure our Atlantic salmon thrive again."

- Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

"I am very pleased to see that Minister LeBlanc is moving forward with the recommendations of the Ministerial Advisory Committee. We were amazed at the passion and commitment shown by representatives of NGOs, river organizations, community groups, First Nations and Aboriginal groups who put forward many insightful presentations that were incorporated into the recommendations in our report. I have no doubt that the partners, stakeholders and volunteers who spoke to our committee will be there to help in any way possible."

- Greg Roach, Chair, Ministerial Advisory Committee for Atlantic Salmon

Associated Links

- Forward Plan for Atlantic Salmon: Departmental strategy to advance the recommendations of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Atlantic Salmon

- Establishing an Atlantic Salmon Joint Research Venture

- Special Report on Wild Atlantic Salmon in Eastern Canada

- North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization

- Our Atlantic Salmon Story

Internet: www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Follow us on Twitter! www.Twitter.com/DFO_MPO

Contacts:

Media Relations

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

613-990-7537

Media.xncr@dfo-mpo.gc.ca



Patricia Bell

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

613-992-3474

www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca






WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Hasbro Inc. (HAS) has immortalized 'Chewbacca Mom' by unveiling an action figure of her.



The toy maker's Chief Executive Officer Brian Goldner presented Candace Payne, a.k.a. Chewbacca Mom, with her figurine when she visited the company's headquarters on Friday with her family.



The toy has got the body of Chewbacca, but the head of Candace Payne, and includes a removable Chewbacca mask. Chewbacca is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise.



The action figure features 13 pre-recorded catch phrases including 'That's not me making that noise, it's the mask' and 'I am such a happy Chewbacca,' in addition to Payne's signature laughter.



Payne, who is from Texas and a mother of two, became an online sensation after an Internet video featuring her heartily laughing while wearing a Chewbacca Electronic Mask went viral. Payne posted the video to Facebook with the description 'It's the simple joys in life...' in mid-May.



The video broke Facebook viewing records and is the most viewed Facebook Live video of all time. It has already gathered more than 140 million views on Facebook.



In response to the video, Kohl's, the retailer where Payne purchased the mask, rewarded the Texas mother with about $2,500 in gift cards, Star Wars toys and 10,000 reward points.



Payne has also toured Lucas-film headquarters and featured on the 'The Star Wars Show' on the Star Wars official YouTube channel on May 25, 2016. She also featured on 'The Late Late Show' with James Corden with J.J. Abrams.



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GOOGLE, AMAZON AND SAMSUNG TOP LIST OF THE WORLD'S MOST DYNAMIC BRANDS

Existing brand equity measures are outdated for the new world

IPG Mediabrands, in partnership with The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, has created a new brand measure called a "dynamic score"

Brands with a higher dynamic score enjoy better revenue growth as compared to brands with a lower dynamic score

The dynamic score is made up of 4 dimensions Agility, Responsiveness, Innovation and Sociability

The D100 is determined by ranking the top 100 dynamic scores of brands from across the globe

IPG Mediabrands, the media holding arm of Interpublic Group (NYSE:IPG), in partnership with Jonah Berger, Associate Professor, The Wharton School at The University of Pennsylvania and New York Times best-selling author of Contagious: Why Things Catch On, has launched the inaugural D100, ranking the 100 most dynamic companies in the world using new world metrics.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160620005848/en/

To construct the D100, over 10,000 consumers were surveyed across four global regions in five major markets including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, China, and India. Consumers were asked questions on both global brands and market specific brands; in total over 1,200 brands were examined. Global brands were defined by large, multinationals that had at least some presence in multiple key markets (e.g., Coca-Cola, Nike and BMW). Market-specific brands were smaller brands that may only be present in a single market (e.g., Royal Mail UK or Hajmola India).

The Top 10 Most Dynamic Brands In The World Are:

Google Amazon Samsung Nike Intel NASA BMW Mercedes-Benz Audi Lenovo

"The D100, along with the data that we've collected to identify the world's most dynamic brands is incredible. The dynamic score and new world brand metrics that we've defined enables IPG Mediabrands to help brands to become truly dynamic and evolve at the pace of consumers," says Henry Tajer, Global CEO at IPG Mediabrands.

The dynamic score is comprised of four key dimensions to calculate and determine brand dynamism, as opposed to traditional "old world" measures, such as brand awareness and brand value.

The D100 marks the first time that brand success is measured with new world metrics, specifically:

AGILITY: the degree to which brands adapt to changing market conditions.

the degree to which brands adapt to changing market conditions. RESPONSIVENESS: the degree to which a brand listens and responds to customer needs and feedback.

the degree to which a brand listens and responds to customer needs and feedback. INNOVATION: the degree to which brands leverage new technology and creates innovative products and services

the degree to which brands leverage new technology and creates innovative products and services SOCIABILITY: How large and engaged a brand's audience is on social media.

Data on the first three dimensions (Agility, Responsiveness, and Innovation) were collected through consumer perceptions and the fourth, Sociability, was collected through social media data across Facebook, Twitter and Weibo. Each dimension was z-scored and then averaged together to form a brand's overall dynamic score.

Jonah Berger, Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Pennsylvania said, "In partnership with IPG Mediabrands, we applied a rigorous and comprehensive methodology that showcases which brands are driving the future. Ultimately, it is not just about being relevant today; it's about being transformative tomorrow."

At its core, the research shows that the world has fundamentally changed. Being the largest and oldest brand used to guarantee continued success. Yet, in today's fast-paced, socially connected marketplace, it is not just a brand new world, it is a new brand world, with these four metrics serving as the underpinnings for brand vitality and perpetual growth.

Throughout the D100, there is a clear and positive relationship between the dynamic score and company's performance. Dynamic brands, defined as brands that scored one standard deviation above the mean in dynamism, had 2.7% higher percentage Q4 revenue growth from 2014 to 2015. While this percentage may not seem significant on its own, the average revenue growth across brands, generally, is only 4.4%. The relationship between dynamism and revenue growth persists even when controlling for more traditional brand metrics such as brand awareness and size. This suggests that brand dynamism drives future performance above and beyond more traditional brand measures. The relationship between dynamism and revenue growth is particularly driven by the Agility dimension and somewhat by the Sociability dimension. Agile companies also have a higher market cap.

Mat Baxter, Global Chief Strategy and Creative Officer said, "This is a hugely important study because it clearly demonstrates the urgent need for brands to move away from outdated brand measures and embrace the dynamic score something that we've proven is tightly correlated with the future revenue growth and momentum of companies."

The inaugural D100 Award was awarded to Google, the world's most dynamic company and presented to Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman, Alphabet Inc. (Google's newly formed parent company) at the63rd Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Cannes France.

For additional information on how a particular brands performed or to access the complete list of the rankings, please visit www.thed100.com.

About IPG Medibrands

IPG Mediabrands was founded by Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) in 2007 to manage all of its global media related assets. Today, we manage over $37 billion in marketing investment on behalf of our clients, employing over 8,500 marketing communication specialists in more than 130 countries.

IPG Mediabrands is a new world agency group designed with dynamic marketing at its core. Our speed, agility and data smarts ensure we continue to create growth for many of the world's biggest brands. IPG Mediabrands' network of agencies includes UM, Initiative, BPN and Orion Holdings as well specialty business units including Magna Global, Cadreon, Ansible, Society, Reprise, Rapport and the IPG Media Lab.

IPG Mediabrands. Dynamic by Design.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160620005848/en/

Contacts:

IPG Mediabrands

Dan Friedman, +1-212-883-4780

Dan.Friedman@mbww.com


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Treasuries showed a notable move to the downside during trading on Monday, pulling back further off their recent highs.



Bond prices came under pressure in early trading and remained firmly negative throughout the session. As a result, the yield on the benchmark ten-year note, which moves opposite of its price, climbed 5.2 basis points to 1.670 percent.



With the increase, the ten-year yield continued to rebound after ending last Thursday's trading at its lowest closing level in almost four years.



The continued weakness among treasuries reflected easing concerns about Thursday's referendum on whether Britain will remain in the European Union.



Polls released over the weekend suggested that British voters narrowly support keeping the U.K. as a member of the EU.



The results of the latest polls reflected a turnaround from other surveys showing voters in favor of the so-called Brexit.



Treasuries remained stuck in the red following the release of the results of the Treasury Department's auction of $26 billion worth of two-year notes, which attracted below average demand.



The two-year note auction drew a high yield of 0.745 percent and a bid-to-cover ratio of 2.72, while the ten previous two-year note auctions had an average bid-to-cover ratio of 2.94.



The bid-to-cover ratio is a measure of demand that indicates the amount of bids for each dollar worth of securities being sold.



Trading on Tuesday may be impacted by reaction to Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's semi-annual testimony before the Senate Banking Committee.



The Treasury Department is also due to continue this week's series of long-term securities auctions with the sale of $34 billion worth of five-year notes.



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The global next-generation building energy management systems (BEMS) marketis expected grow at a CAGR of more than 11% during the forecast period, according to Technavio's latest report.

In this report, Technavio covers the market outlook and growth prospects of the globalnext-generation BEMSmarketfor 2016-2020. Based on end-user, the market is segmented into the following: commercial buildings, manufacturing facilities, educational institutions and hospitals, government establishments, and others.

Technavio's research study segments the global next-generation BEMS market into the following regions:

Americas

EMEA

APAC

Americas: largest next-generation BEMS market

The next-generation BEMS market is expected to be led by the demand from the Americas, which is expected to increase at a CAGR of 7.71% during the forecast period. The Americas is the largest regional player in the market, mainly because of the higher adoption rate of BEMS among end-users in this region than those in other regions. In addition, most big players in this industry such as Honeywell International and Siemens are concentrated in the Americas.

According to Anju Anajykumar, a lead analyst at Technavio for engineering tools, "The market in the Americas is poised for solid growth in the coming years. In terms of technology and investment, the US was the major revenue contributor in the region in 2014. The market in this country will continue to generate substantial revenue in the future, driven by maturity in the greater incorporation of BEMS to comply with government standards and the need for energy conservation."

Ask for a sample of this report: http://goo.gl/WI6b3i

Increased awareness and rising concerns about energy usage by end-users contributing to EMEA's growth

Increased awareness and rising concerns about energy usage by end-users have contributed to market growth in the region. According to the European Commission, buildings account for 40% of the energy use. Therefore, the sector has huge savings potential and will aid in achieving the goal of reduced CO2 emissions by 20% and achieving 20% renewable generation by 2020. The PPP on energy-efficient buildings under the European economic recovery plan attracted high participation.

According to the new EU framework program, Horizon 2020, a contractual PPP on energy-efficient buildings, will aim to innovative affordable building technologies and solutions, facilitating the road toward development of smart cities and application of BEMS. The European energy management standard EN16001 plays a crucial role in the implementation of BEMS across various sectors. It ensures the integration of these management systems into organizational business structures to save energy and costs, and improve business performance. Technological benefits combined with government support will provide the necessary impetus for market growth. "The growth in the BEMS market in EMEA is contributed mainly from developed European countries such as France, the UK, Russia, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and also Gulf countries such as the UAE and Dubai," says Anju.

New construction projects in the commercial and industrial sectors leading to APAC's growth

The market in APAC is growing significantly because of new construction projects in the commercial and industrial sectors. China, Japan, and India are the main contributors to market growth in this region. These countries are increasingly building and expanding their commercial and industrial landscapes to serve the needs of their growing populations. Higher energy consumption and rising energy prices also contribute to the demand for BEMS in these countries, and present strong opportunities for venture capitalists and investors to enter the market.

APAC contributed a share of 28.5% to the global next-generation BEMS market in 2015. The market share of APAC is largely contributed by countries such as China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and Australia. The governments in these countries are also taking steps to improve energy efficiency in buildings. For instance, in order to curb the growing energy demand from buildings, the Chinese government has framed policies to encourage building energy efficiency, making it mandatory for new commercial buildings to comply with the energy building codes.

The top vendors in the global next-generation BEMS market highlighted in the report are:

Honeywell

Johnson Controls

Schneider Electric

Siemens

Browse Related Reports:

Global Energy Management Market in Railways 2016-2020

Pre-engineered Buildings Market in India 2016-2020

Global Building Automation and Control Systems Market 2015-2019

Do you need a report on a market in a specific geographical cluster or country but can't find what you're looking for? Don't worry, Technavio also takes client requests. Please contact enquiry@technavio.com with your requirements and our analysts will be happy to create a customized report just for you.

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies.

Technavio analysts employ primary as well as secondary research techniques to ascertain the size and vendor landscape in a range of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, besides using in-house market modeling tools and proprietary databases. They corroborate this data with the data obtained from various market participants and stakeholders across the value chain, including vendors, service providers, distributors, re-sellers, and end-users.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160620005464/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 630 333 9501

UK: +44 208 123 1770

www.technavio.com
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/20/16 -- Glacier Media Inc. ("Glacier" or the "Company") (TSX: GVC) reports the voting results of the Annual General Meeting of its shareholders held on June 17, 2016 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The following seven nominees were re-elected as directors of the Company by the following votes:

Nominee Votes Votes For Percent Withheld Percent ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sam Grippo 61,706,083 94.94% 3,286,101 5.06% Jonathon J.L. Kennedy 61,706,083 94.94% 3,286,101 5.06% Bruce W. Aunger 61,706,083 94.94% 3,286,101 5.06% Geoffrey L. Scott 62,858,130 96.72% 2,134,054 3.28% John S. Burns 61,844,561 95.16% 3,147,623 4.84% S. Christopher Heming 62,665,952 96.42% 2,326,232 3.58% Timothy A. McElvaine 62,858,152 96.72% 2,134,032 3.28%

At the meeting, shareholders also approved the advisory resolution of the Company's approach to executive compensation. In addition, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, Chartered Accounts was re-appointed as the auditor for the Company.

Shares in Glacier are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol GVC.

About the Company: Glacier Media Inc. is an information communications company focused on the provision of primary and essential information and related services through print, electronic and online media. Glacier is pursuing this strategy through its core businesses: the community media and business information markets.

Contacts:

Glacier Media Inc.

Mr. Orest Smysnuik

Chief Financial Officer

604-708-3264




VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 04/08/16 -- Caspian Energy Inc. (NEX: CKZ.H) ("Caspian") is pleased to announce the appointment of Zhaik Zhexembayev as the new General Director of Caspian's wholly-owned subsidiary, Aral Petroleum Capital LLP ("Aral" or "the Company"), effective immediately.

The appointment of Mr. Zhexembayev, which remains subject to approval by the NEX, follows the resignation of Erbolat Kulumbetov, who will continue on as an advisor on technical matters to Aral. Mr. Zhexembayev has been Aral's Financial Analyst since 2012 and has worked for the Company since 2010. Mr. Zhexembayev holds a degree in Economics from the Beijing Jiaotong University School of Economics and Management, and speaks English, Chinese, Kazakh and Russian.

"We are delighted that Mr. Zhexembayev has agreed to accept the position of General Director of Aral," said Michael Nobbs, the Chairman of the Board. "Mr. Zhexembayev is a long-standing employee of Aral and has strong knowledge of the financial industry. He is well positioned to take on the responsibility for managing Aral's operations on the ground as General Director from Mr. Kulumbetov. We also wish to thank Mr. Kulumbetov for his service to Aral during his tenure as General Director, and look forward to continuing to work with him in the future"

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation which we refer to herein, collectively, as "forward-looking information". Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate", or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will be taken", "occur", or "be achieved" and include statements relating to Caspian's actual performance, developments and/or results may differ materially from any or all of the forward-looking statements. Further information which may cause results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements is contained in Caspian's filings with Canadian securities regulatory authorities. All material assumptions used in making forward-looking information are based on management's knowledge of current business conditions and expectations of future business conditions and trends. Although Caspian believes the assumptions used to make such statements are reasonable at this time and has attempted to identify in its continuous disclosure documents 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Caspian does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the NEX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Contacts:

Michael Nobbs

Chairman of the Board of Directors

310-923-5032




Unomaly, a Stockholm, Sweden-based IT operations monitoring platform, raised 4.6m in Series A funding.

The round was led by EQT Ventures. In conjunction with the funding, Andreas Thorstensson of EQT Ventures will join Unomalys board of directors.

The company, which had raised 1.9m in seed funding in 2013, intends to use the capital to further strengthen global customer operations and product development.

Founded in 2012 by CEO Johan Gustafsson and CTO Goran Sandahl, Unomaly provides a solution that automatically analyzes all the data that IT systems, applications and infrastructures produce. It leverages smart algorithms that continuously learns the normal behavior of every IT system to detect and explain virtually any IT incident  from crashes, to problems and breaches.

The companys technology is packaged as software that customers download and install where they are running systems and applications, either in their own data centers or in the cloud. Customers configure their systems to forward data to the installation and the technology automatically and continuously learns normal behavior. All parts of an IT organization  including operations, developers and security engineers  can access to root-cause anomalies and instant notifications.

Current customers span 11 countries and include 2/4 Scandinavian banks, nuclear power plants and a broad set of Internet companies.

FinSMEs

20/06/2016
Pneusmart, a Milan, Italy and Amsterdam, the Netherlands-based online tire retailer, raised 765k in funding.

Backers included Shark Bites, Digital Magics (AIM Italia: DM), Rancilio Cube, the family office and business accelerator founded by Rancilio, and several Italian and international business angels. In conjunction with the funding, Fabio Cannavale, shareholders of Shark Bites and Founder and CEO of lastminute.com and Andre Schuurman, joined Pneusmarts board of directors.

The company intends to use the funds to consolidate its market position in Italy, expand into Germany and Netherlands, launch in Southern Europe,

by launching in French and Spanish, as well as to continue to develop its tech platform.

Founded in 2013 and led by Euan Lonmon, CEO, Pneusmart currently offers over 20k products and 10 millions tires for cars, motorcycles, and vans from 40 brands and over 2,000 resellers and assembly partners. The platform features tools to allow users to select the best product from every part of Europe, to manage the logistics process and enjoy one-day delivery options.

Currently active in Italy, the Netherlands and Italy with over 10k users, the company has a team of 15.

FinSMEs

20/06/2016
The author is a journalist in Delhi. His novel The Hour Before Dawn, has as its backdrop the demolition of the Babri Masjid, and is available in bookstores

The departure of Raghuram Rajan from the Reserve Bank of India, and eventually from the country as well, is arguably the most telling irony of our times.

This is so because for now nearly 30 years, Indian leaders have been feting Non-Resident Indians, particularly those in the US, for their brainpower and stellar achievements, and holding out an open invitation to them to contribute to the Great Indian Story. But when one who belongs to the breed of brainy Indians, such as Raghuram Rajan, decides to return home to assist in its rise, he discovers the system deeply frustrating. It allows little autonomy for creativity, places premium on machinations, and is stuck in the rut made by the political bosses.

Rajans exit from the RBI, and India, is voluntary only in form. He has been hounded into returning to academia in the US. To NRIs, his experience sends an ominous message  you can return to India only at your own peril.

Obviously, many of us will say who wants these NRIs to return, overbearing as they are, having a sense of entitlement, lacking in empathy for and patience with the Indian way of managing affairs.

We will say the professional American ambience has spoilt and made them querulous. That having earned their dollars, they have descended on us in a show of condescending charity.

To these familiar cribs, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy has added his own  that Rajan, not having the Indian mindset, was unsuitable for the post of RBI governor!

These arguments are hypocritical given Indias history of wooing NRIs.

For nearly three decades, as some in India began to speak alarmingly about the phenomenon of brain drain, our leaders took to pointing to its benefits. In 1985, on his first official visit to the US, then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi said the migration of professional talent from India wasnt a brain drain but ought to be looked upon as a brain bank. The implication of his statement was that no matter where the Indian professional was located, or whichever countrys citizen he might be, he or she could be relied upon to contribute to Indias progress.

Rajan fitted Rajivs definition to a T: A top-notch economist, he was willing to shoulder the responsibility of ensuring the Indian economy didnt go off the rails.

Rajivs redefinition of the brain-drain theory has been built upon over the years, not the least by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On his tours abroad, Modi often delineates to NRI crowds the steps has taken to usher in a style of governance which they could take pride in. It is Modis way of telling NRIs that he is addressing issues that push Indians to settle abroad.

Rajans departure shows we are still far away from reaching that goal.

It can always be argued that the RBI governor ought not to flout the wishes of a democratically-elected government, which is answerable to the people. Rajan was deemed to have gone on a course in defiance of the governments preferences.

Regardless of the tenability of this argument, what is unbecoming of the government  and, therefore, by extension, India  were the underhand tactics employed to pressure Rajan into throwing up his hands in frustration. You had Swamy and other BJP ministers firing tweet-missiles against Rajan almost daily, calling him R3, and suggesting the RBIs decisions were motivated because it was headed by one who has a non-Indian mindset. As far as Swamy goes, the defining feature of the Indian mindset is to show fervour for demolishing mosques.

The Modi government neither wished to grant Rajan an extension nor did it want to become the first-ever dispensation to deny a sitting RBI governor a five-year run. This is perhaps why the prime minister never unequivocally expressed his disapproval of these attacks on Rajan, hoping he would lose his nerve and leave.

For NRIs, though, the governments tactics of getting rid of Rajan will only reinforce their fears of Indias political class. It is a dominant tendency among NRIs to blame it for the ills plaguing India. In their eyes, the Indian neta lacks vision, nurtures corruption, promotes cronyism, serves his or her interests than the societys, and expects officials to toe his or her line.

Those who dont are summarily shown the door or, as has been the case with Rajan, left with no option but to leave.

Rajans refusal to adhere to the governments line on the economy was just one problem. The other was that it wasnt imagined that he would air his views on the rising social conflict in India, or bat for free speech and importance of tolerance, or invoke Adolf Hitler to warn against the disastrous consequences of authoritarian tendencies.

In India, over the years, there is consensus on who can express dissent without incurring the systems wrath. The mainstream Opposition parties certainly can. As can also activists, the media, and intellectuals to a degree, beyond which they are dubbed 'Left radicals' or incorrigible naysayers or, as has become the norm over the last two years, anti-national.

Certainly a person drawing salary from the Consolidate Fund of India is presumed not to have temerity to express differences with his or her political masters. On this count, Rajan cut a swathe uniquely his, perhaps certain  unlike, say, bureaucrats  that he had another calling to which he could return in case of a severe blowback.

Nevertheless, the blowback against his propensity to speak out wont make the academicians and professional leaders among NRIs feel confident about India. Regardless of whether they subscribe to the Left-liberal or Right ideologies, a good many of them believe frank debates help a nation strike a right stance on myriad issues.

More than anything else, Rajan will become an argument that the educated middle class will remember at the time of taking a decision to settle in the US or return to India. Perhaps every third middle class family in the four metros has a relative in the US, or is planning to go there, explaining much of Indias romance for the US.

Partly, their migration is on account of push factors  for instance, the competition to get into quality educational institutions has become increasingly tough. Partly, it is because of pull factors  higher remunerations, better working conditions, a more comfortable lifestyle, and a climate conducive for research.

Rajan is typically the Indian middle class boy who has come good. His father was an Indian Police Service officer who was subsequently drafted into Indias external intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Rajan completed his school from Delhi Public School, RK Puram Branch, got into IIT, and did management from IIM-Ahmedabad before winging it to the US, where he became professor of finance at the prestigious University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

He is credited to have predicted the financial meltdown much before it hit the world in 2007. He also became the youngest ever chief economist of the International Monetary Fund. For all his achievements abroad, Rajan continues to hold the Indian passport.

To middle class parents, Rajan will become the latest example which will inspire them to encourage their children to try for an education abroad and settle down there. As NRIs, they may be considered a deposit in our brain bank, but one which we might find hard to draw upon and use for India.
NEW DELHI India eased rules for foreign investment in the country's aviation sector on Monday in a bid to boost air travel and develop new airports in Asia's third-largest economy.

The new measures allow 100 percent foreign ownership of India-based airlines, raising the limit from 49 percent, but only with prior approval from the government, according to a statement issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office.

They also allow more than 74 percent foreign investment in brownfield airports, on condition of government approval.

Domestic airline stocks gained with SpiceJet Ltd up 7.4 percent, Jet Airways rose 6.6 percent and InterGlobe Aviation's IndiGo Airlines ended the day 5.8 percent higher.

"The opening of FDI (foreign direct investment) will help bring in much-needed cash, aircraft fleet and best practices," said Amber Dubey, partner and India head of aerospace and defence at consultant KPMG.

"We may see its positive impact over the next 6-12 months," Dubey said.

The liberalisation comes days after India announced a new civil aviation policy that eased flying rules for domestic carriers, which no longer need to wait five years to fly overseas as long as they deploy 20 aircraft in the domestic market.

This is a fillip for start-up airlines such as Vistara, 49 percent owned by Singapore Airlines and controlled by India's $100 billion Tata Group, and AirAsia India, an AirAsia Bhd and Tata venture.

However, there is still some ambiguity on the impact of the new foreign investment rules and analyst opinions are divided.

India has limited the equity holding of foreign airlines to 49 percent, but these airlines can bring in investors such as private equity firms or sovereign wealth funds to establish a 100 percent owned airline in India.

There is, however, still no clarity on whether such an airline would be allowed to fly overseas once it deploys 20 aircraft in India, the world's fastest-growing aviation market.

"I don't think this would be applicable or impact present carriers," said Kapil Kaul, CEO at the Centre for Aviation, a consultancy, adding that for a carrier to fly overseas it needs to have substantial Indian ownership.

He said companies could have two separate entities - one to service the domestic market and the other for international operations but that may not be practical.

"This is a good headline statement but when you get deeper into it, there are fault lines," Kaul said.

A Singapore Airlines spokesman said the company is happy with the partnership it has with Tata.

"At this point there are no plans for changes to our 49 percent ownership of Vistara," the spokesman said.

(Additional reporting by Siva Govindasamy in Singapore; Editing by Douglas Busvine and Susan Fenton)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Medininagar: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to impose prohibition across the country as those addicted to alcohol cannot perform yoga which requires concentration.

Addressing a meeting here on Sunday, Kumar said Yoga was a natural treatment process but liquor addicts cannot perform it. Yoga would be meaningless unless a ban was imposed on sale of liquor across the country, he said.

Kumar said he was doing yoga for several years but never publicised it. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had continued with the ban on liquor in Gujarat after becoming Chief Minister.

Maintaining that in a democratic system, welfare of the society should be accorded priority over trade and business, Kumar said his government decided to forego Rs 5,000 crore revenue from sale of liquor by imposing prohibition. Kumar said additional revenue can be generated by creating a conducing atmosphere for promoting trade, business and industry.

He said there should not be any liquor shop within 3.2 km radius of the borders of a state where prohibition is in force.
Patna: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Monday arrested Bihar School Examination Board's former chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife Usha Sinha from Varanasi, in connection with Class 12 toppers' scam, police said.

Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj, who is heading the SIT, confirmed the arrests.

"Both will be brought to Patna on Monday itself and police will interrogate them," Maharaj said.

Last week, the 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.

According to police, Singh was on the run since after his name figured in the Class 12 toppers' scam.

Singh's wife Usha Sinha, former Janata Dal-United (JDU) legislator of Bihar, was also missing since her name also surfaced in the scam.

So far 10 persons have been arrested in the case, police said.

Amit Kumar alias Bachcha Rai, the mastermind behind the Class 12 Board merit list scam in Bihar, was arrested ten days ago after he surrendered to police.

Both Singh and Rai were 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.
New Delhi: Amid opposition from certain religious communities over chanting of 'Om' and performance of 'surya namaskar' during yoga events, Ramdev on Sunday said these practices do not change anyone's religion and are "secular, universal and spiritual" in nature.

He said at a yoga camp in Dubai on Saturday, which was attended by Hindus and Muslims, besides members of the royal family, he had given the gathering an option to chant 'Om' or 'Amin' and that they had preferred chanting 'Om' over 'Amin'.

They "experienced a divine" feeling, he said at a yoga event at Rajpath, organsied by the Ministry of Ayush and attended by a large number of people, including Union ministers M Venkaiah Naidu, Arun Jaitley and Babul Supriyo and BJP MPs Meenakshi Lekhi, Manoj Tiwari and Vijay Goel.

Ramdev, who runs an FMCG empire, said that in next three years, Patanjali will conduct animal to human trials of ayurvedic medicines and clinical trials in yoga.

For this his organisation will invest Rs 500 crore. Additional Rs 500 crore will be invested on research pertaining to cow, he added.

"I went to Dubai and I made people there to chant 'Om' and perform 'surya namaskar'. While performing 'surya namaskar', I also kept some Muslims along with me and told them that if their religion changes (for doing it), then don't do 'surya namaskar'. No one's religion changed. Yoga is not a religious practice, but a secular and universal practice.

"I said while performing yoga you can also say 'Amin' and 'Om', but many people and majority of Muslims said 'Om' instead of 'Amin'... They said they got mental peace by chanting 'Om'," Ramdev said.

Ramdev claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi too conveyed his wishes for the mega event at Rajpath.

He said if people perform yoga and encourage others to do so, India will again become a country of "rishis" and become a country "dreamt by Ram and Krishna" and by Swami Vivekanand and Dayanand Saraswati.

"We don't want to make India any religious country. India is not a religious country. It is a spiritual country. We want to make India a spiritual country and world a spiritual place. This is our dream," he said.

Ramdev said people who practise yoga cannot harm the world.

"Can such people harm the nation? The world is in danger at the hands of those fanatics who say we will spread only their religion in the world. We are not spreading any religion, but spreading radiance through yoga. Yoga is not a religion. We don't say we are the greatest. Those who say their religion is the best religion, then this is the most dangerous thought for the world," he said, adding that the world can find peace at India's feet.

Ramdev said yoga makes human a "superhuman", from 'dev' to 'Mahadev' and from a 'man' to a 'superman'.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said yoga is India's gift to the world.

Muslim cleric Rehmat Qazi also attended the event.
A major promise of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) during the campaign for the 16 May Assembly elections was protection of women, especially Dalits.

The arrest of two Dalit sisters in Kannur district on the complaint of a CPM worker, within a month of LDF assuming power, raises doubts about the promise they made in the context of the brutal rape and murder of Dalit law student, Jisha, at Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district on 28 April.

Opposition parties and several NGOs have pointed out the serious injustice behind the arrest of Akhila (30) and Anjana (25), under non-bailable offence on the part of the ruling party and the police. The siblings, who are daughters of Congress leader N Rajan, were called to Thalaserry police station for questioning on 17 June, and then arrested and sent to jail.

The arrest came after a complaint was lodged by M Shijin, a leader of CPMs youth wing, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) that the two had entered the office at Kuttimakool on 11 June and attacked him with sharp weapons.

The accused have denied the charge. Akhila, who went to the jail with her 18-month-old child, said they had gone to the office to question the verbal abuse by CPM workers. She said Shijin had lodged the false complaint in retaliation to the case they filed against CPM workers for insulting them by calling them by their caste name.

She said that a group of party workers had also attacked them and damaged their house, following the incident. The party workers also launched a campaign against the sisters on social media. Unable to bear the false propaganda, Anjana tried to commit suicide by consuming an overdose of medicines after she came out of jail on Saturday. She is now battling for her life at the Indira Gandhi Cooperative Hospital at Thalaserry.

The trouble for the family started after N Rajan quit the CPM and joined the Congress. It assumed serious dimension after Rajan contested the November 2015 local body elections on the Congress ticket. Akhila said that the CPM leaders started harassing them after they refused to yield to their pressure.

K Sudhakaran, a senior Congress leader at Kannur, said that the harassment was part of the strategy adopted by the CPM to deter the cadres from leaving the organisation. The party also resorts to physical violence in several parts of Kannur, the cradle of the communist movement in Kerala, to counter their political opponents.

More than 250 people have lost their lives due to political violence in the district in the last three decades. Sudhakaran views the arrest of the two Dalit women as an indication of the rise in political violence following the return of the LDF to power.

Our government had succeeded in checking the violence to a great extent. The CPM men are now trying to resume violence as they think that the government will protect them. The arrest of Akhila and Anjana by the Thalaserry police embolden them, says Sudhakaran.

He alleged that the police had resorted to unusual action to please the CPM. The police arrested them without verifying the veracity of the complaint and the issues behind it, he said adding that it was beyond common sense that the two women could assault the CPM worker in their office.

The development has come as a big embarrassment to the LDF government, which is basking under the credit of having masterminded the arrest of the suspect in the Jisha rape and murder case, with Congress and the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Tribes taking up the case.

While the state Congress has been staging protests, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi is trying to take it up at the national level. He has already talked to Akhila over phone and gathered the details.

The CPM has alleged the hands of vested interests behind the development. KK Shailaja, Minister for Health and Social Welfare, said there were strong grounds to suspect backing of forces, which are trying to malign the image of the LDF government to women. She feels that the women would not have gone to the party office without support from powerful quarters.

However, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who also holds the home portfolio, has refused to comment on the issue. When newsmen sought his reaction, he asked them to contact the police, who incidentally have justified the arrest.

Kannur district superintendent of police Sanjay Kumar Gurudin, said there was no lapse on the part of the police. He said that the police had arrested the sisters after ensuring that the complaint was genuine.

However, Bharatiya Janata Party leader PS Sreedharan Pillai, a practicing lawyer, said that the non-bailable offence slapped on them by the police was not in consonance with the law and the Supreme Court rulings. He said that the magistrate who remanded the women to judicial custody had also failed to comply with the guidelines of the apex court with regard to the arrest of women.

He said that the police decision to slap charges under Section 458 (lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night after preparation for hurt, assault, or wrongful restraint) of IPC against the women was unwarranted. He said that his inquiry had revealed that the women had no such intention. They went to the CPM office under sudden provocation.

The BJP leader said that the police may have slapped the harsh charges under pressure from CPM. In fact, Akhila said a police official at the Thalaserry station had told her that there was pressure on them from the CPM to arrest them.

Dalit activists have viewed the incident seriously as this is in the series of several similar cases. They point out the persistent hounding of Dalit woman autorickshaw driver Chitralekha at Payyannur for the last 15 years as a glaring example of the intolerance CPM men shows towards Dalits.

The party men have damaged her auto rickshaw thrice and attacked her and her family members several times ever since she took up the profession for a living. The latest attack on her vehicle was on 3 March, 2016.

A solidarity mission commissioned by Feminists Kerala Network to find out the facts behind an incident of violence involving Chithralekha in 2010 found that the attack on her was part of untouchability prevailing in the region even now.

Their investigation revealed that it was the result of a fascist atmosphere created by the CPM in the area, where many villages are controlled by the party.

Once the party takes over a village, it enforces an extra judicial power over all the people who live in that village. The CPM exists and thrives in the region through the use of such power over entire villages. Anyone who questions the party or goes against its wishes are harassed, alienated, ostracised and sometimes even killed, the missions report says.

The odyssey of Chithralekha is not an isolated one. Several other Dalit women auto drivers in the region have also faced such intimidation, sexual harassment, caste-related abuses, accusations of promiscuity and immorality, and damage to their autos.
The author is a senior economist and commentator on economic policy and a pioneer of economic liberalisation in India. Desai was also Chief Economic Advisor to the government. He tweets @ASHOKVDESAI

It cannot be said that the resignation of Raghuram Rajan was separation by mutual consent. He had implicitly indicated his willingness to serve another term; his change of mind indicates either that he was given the boot, that he got fed up with the governments indecision. The procrastination itself was odd; the Prime Minister had said that the decision was an administrative one, and seemed to suggest that his reappointment was only a matter of time. If Rajan had been told, for instance, that he would get a letter of continuation by the first of July, he would not have resigned.

If he had been told nothing, he would still have waited, for one does not normally throw a resignation to the Prime Minsiter's face.

Something happened that was contrary to the prime ministers assurance. It could have been intimation of the finance ministers unwillingness to give an extension; or some indication of his unfriendliness. The hostility cannot be related to policy, for the finance minister has no pronounced views on monetary policy or any related matter. There has been some difference of opinion on the monetary policy committee.

Urjit Patel, deputy governor of Reserve Bank, had originally proposed it two years ago; he meant it to be a committee of Reserve Bank with a couple of outside members of its own choice. The Srikrishna committee wanted government-appointed members to be in majority. The committee, as announced in the last budget, would have three members from Reserve Bank and three from outside, but it conceded the casting vote to the governor. It may have been a bone of contention between the finance minister and the governor, but was not important enough to account for the early resignation. In any case, the governor seemed to have won that battle. But he lost the war; just how the finance minister managed to defeat him, and over what, is a mystery.

There has been no celebration of the victory; by and large, public opinion has been with Rajan, and regretful over his decision to leave. There may be a tendency to take the news as a tragedy; but it is no great loss. Rajan was never at a loss for ideas of reform; but with a finance minister who is generous with high-sounding, optimistic and generally meaningless statements, Rajan never had a chance of doing anything significant. Whatever went wrong, this is the important consequence: that Rajan was King Log, and the frogs had lost all fear of him. His going returns us to the routine regime: Delhi will send a docile civil servant as governor, he will make deadly dull statements every quarter, and he will do nothing. We may even see the first female governor of Reserve Bank; she will pick up many bouquets, but whether she will say or do anything memorable remains doubtful.

Thus, Rajans walkout is non-news that returns Reserve Bank into soporific obscurity. But it is not bad news. For it also returns Rajan to academia; and one great thing about academia is that its members can say anything, however radical and outrageous, and get away with it. Before Rajan was lured by Manmohan Singh into the Indian policy machine, he wrote some thought-provoking books. He often went to academic conferences and, surprisingly, made headlines; he can return to being an academic rockstar. And that is better for the world than his being a central bank governor.

Rajan could also apply the lessons of his governorship to other countries. International Monetary Fund would be very happy to fly him to economies in distress; rescuing them would try his skills a lot more than India, which has no chance of having a crisis in the near future. He would make much bigger news  and learn more  out of repairing the economies of China, Brazil or even South Africa than he would ever have in India. So his career is likely to brighten up.

But I do hope he will not get too busy, for there is one thing he should take time out for, namely, write a book about India. It would be great if he told us in his own words about what went wrong between him and India; the more frankly he does it, the better. But even if he does not indulge in luminous candour, even if he keeps the J-word out of it, his very style will make it riveting reading; in fact, the more he shrouds the shocking real events in civility, the better it will read. And who knows, he may throw out some good ideas about how to reform our economy. There may not be much chance of doing so under the present regime. But regimes come and go; ideas live on  until proved wrong.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to put on hold three notifications allowing the culling of Nilgai, wild boar and Rhesus Macaque (monkeys) in Bihar, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and asked the petitioners  an animal rights activist and two organisations  to approach the central government about the flaws in its notifications.

An apex court vacation bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice AM Khanwilkar asked the government to consider and respond to the representations in two weeks time and directed the listing of three petitions on 15 July.

While asking the petitioners to make representation to the Ministry of Environment and Forest, the bench in its order said that none of the three animals would be culled in forest areas.

The court refused to issue notice to the Centre and others on the three petitions. "We are not inclined to issue notice," Justice Goel said as senior counsel Vijay Hansaria urged the vacation bench to issue notice.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests by three notifications issued on 1 December, 2015, 3 February, 2016, and 24 May, 2016, had declared Nilgai or blue bulls and wild boar as "vermin" in some districts of Bihar, wild boar as vermin in Uttarakhand, and Rhesus Macaque (monkeys) as vermin in Himachal Pradesh for one year.

Hansaria's plea that the Centre should be restrained from issuing two other notifications which were in the pipeline too did not find favour with the bench.

"If they have the powers, they can issue notifications, the correctness of the exercise of that power would be tested by us," Justice Khanwilkar observed.

Animal rights activist Gauri Maulekhi, WildLife Rescue and Research Organisation and Federation of Indian Animals Protection Organisations have challenged three notifications issued by the government by which nilgais and wild boars can be culled in some districts of Bihar and Uttarakhand and thesus monkeys in Himachal Pradesh.

The Animal Welfare Board of India also told the court that the notifications were flawed.

At the outset of the hearing, senior counsel Sidharth Luthra referred to Section 11(1)(b) of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, pointing out that the Chief Wildlife Warden or the authorised officer could order the hunting of a wild animal that had become dangerous to human life or property, including standing crop on any land.

The bench observed that the law prohibited the hunting of wild animals in their habitat only, and not when they are found outside their habitat.

As the bench observed that vermin was a different category, Luthra said that wild animals could not be categorised as vermin for hunting and killing them. He said that for culling wild animals, there has to be a scientific study and a rationale.

The bench was told that Uttarakhand has admitted that they have not undertaken any study prior to asking the Centre to issue the notification. "Uttarakhand has categorically said that they have not studied the matter," Luthra told the bench.

He said there was no basis for the issuance of the three notifications and their "arbitrariness is there for all to see".

Another senior counsel, Anand Grover told the bench that "they already have hired people from Bombay. They are sharpshooters. They are shooting them randomly".

Justice Khanwilkar singled out the word "sharpshooter" as it has different connotation in another context.

Opposing the plea of the three petitioners, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar told the court that the Bihar notification was issued in December 2015 and it was already seven months down the line and its total duration was only for one year.

Apparently piqued over advocate Anjali Sharma, appearing for Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), pointing out flaws in the notification, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar said, "They can challenge the notification. You are a statutory authority."

By the three notifications issued since December 2015, the three wild animals were declared as vermin and permitted to be culled for one year.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced recently that almost all states except Tamil Nadu are on board on the draft GST bill that aims, among other things, to take away most autonomous taxation powers from the state governments. From being opposed by then-Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, to now being furiously pursued by the Union Government of India, led by its Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Goods and Services Tax bill has come a long way indeed. And although its has come a long way, and it has picked up converts to its cause along the way like the incumbent Prime Minister, the GST idea has not changed fundamentally. The GST still represents, as originally conceived, as the greatest assault of the Union government on state rights and autonomy in general and revenue collection rights of states in particular.

While most other parties, including some erstwhile opposers of the GST, are now on board due to reasons best known to them, none have been able to explain why they have come around to support such a grave attack on state rights and hence on the federal structure of the Indian Union. One party that does not need to do such explaining happens to be the 3rd largest party in the present Lok Sabha  AIADMK. The ruling party of Tamil Nadu has remained steadfast in its opposition to the GST at a time when negotiations have pretty much ensured the passage of the GST and its implementation, sooner or not too later. The unfortunate pro-centre nature of constitutional amendments is that even on matters that directly affect rights of the state, laws to be can be imposed on Tamil Nadu. Thus, Tamil Nadu's taxation rights can be taken away even when Tamil Nadu might oppose such infringement. The opposition by the AIADMK has more symbolic value than an actual threat to GST. But, in terms of optics, it looks bad if the consent of one of the most advanced large-scale industrial manufacturing states is not gained as part of the GST bill passage rites  in the form of a constitutional amendment.

In the committee report on the 122nd constitutional amendment bill that will snatch most taxation rights of the state, the AIADMK presented a dissent note. What does that say? Firstly, it points out that an unelected GST council impinges on the legislative sovereignty of both Parliament and the State Legislatures. AIADMK opposes such an unelected GST council's sweeping powers on such a fundamental matter such as taxation. Secondly, it calls out the conspiracy against federalism embedded in the GST council by stating clearly that the council completely jeopardises the autonomy of the States in fiscal matters. In terms of decision making rule and voting weightage in proposed council, they give the Government of India an effective veto in the GST Council and no distinction is sought to be made amongst the States in weightage. It exposes the Union government's design of controlling GST council by giving it one-third of total vote in the council.

Basically, then an Union government and a small minority of ruling party led state governments can force any decision or the majority of states. Thus, AIADMK demands, if at all a Council is formed, the weightage of the vote of the Central Government should be reduced to one- fourth of the total votes cast and that of the States should be increased to three-fourths of the total votes cast. Further, the weightage of each State's vote should be in proportion to the representation of each State in the Council of the States. This is important as the changeover to GST has different implications for different States based on their size and reliance on own tax revenues. The existing arrangement for deciding on VAT related issues is an Empowered Committee of State Ministers. GST council proposal brings in the Centre with huge voting powers. AIADMK has argued that the existing Empowered Committee of State Ministers is adequate for GST also. Why is it inadequate and why does the Centre needs to hog so much power if it actually cares for federalism and not bull-doze the voices of the states, is a question that Arun Jaitley has never answered or has chosen to ignore. That should be a good indicator of the sharpness of AIADMK's intervention and its readings into the real intent of the Centre.

Most importantly, the AIADMK dissent note marks out the most important aspects of the GST bill, which might explain why big corporates and corporate funded Delhi think-tanks and media are clamouring in its support. AIADMK states, Some provisions of the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty Second Amendment) Bill i.e. Goods and Services Tax Bill are likely to adversely impact the federal structure of the country. There is a need for decentralisation of powers and devolution of the taxes in favour of the States and further to the Local bodies. Fiscal Federalism and protection of the powers of the states is important. And finally nails it by saying, The clauses are designed in a way that the Centre will have absolute powers in deciding tax proposals. This is likely to harm the concept of Union and States. It will be turning into a structure of Union alone...GST should not be in the interest of big corporate houses, who want a free flow of goods and services with the technology promoted and owned by them. With the Centre having an absolute say over the decision making process on the GST, the States will lose its financial independence in the long run and corporate will dictate the policies of even the local Govemments. GST bill is aimed at corporate control of one of the most important democratic mechanisms of people's control over revenue and resources.

Select committee dissent notes are typically along partisan lines. This one is an exception that sees the Congress and BJP together. AIADMK traditionally has had good parliamentary co-ordination with the BJP. Hence, AIADMK's dissent matters - since it has broken with the government and the opposition, its its steadfast and principled opposition to GST. Hence, even if its eventual defeat, the dissent by Tamil Nadu is important to take stock of the other narrative, about why many people, in Tamil Nadu and outside Tamil Nadu, not belonging to big business, business media and think-tank business, oppose the GST. Thus, the AIADMK viewpoint is not a Tamil viewpoint but the viewpoint of a federalist party that other parties often opportunistically shouting for federalism have ignored, probably due to illiteracy of its MPs as well as rank and file on the implications of GST. Its important that we listen to what the AIADMK is trying to say. It is probably one of the most important decisions that will be taken in the lifetime of the Indian Union. And at present, there is no consensus.
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's big Cabinet reshuffle met with protests and sporadic incidents of violence on Sunday. According to the latest CNN-News 18 report, Cine-actor turned politician MH Ambareesh resigned after the Cabinet rejig.

The chief minister, after getting the Congress high command's approval, sacked 14 ministers and inducted 13 members into his Council of Ministers in a bid to give a facelift to his three-year-old government.

The 14 ministers were sacked on grounds of non-performance or getting involved in controversies. The axed ministers, along with their supporters, voiced their discontent and took to the streets.

The ministers who were sacked: Qamarul Islam, Shamanoor Shivashankarappa, V Srinivasa Prasad, MH Ambareesh, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Satish Jarkiholi, Baburao Chinchansur, Shivaraj Sangappa Tangadagi, S R Patil, Manohar Tahasildhar, K Abayachandra Jain, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Kimmane Ratnakar and P T Parameshwar Naik.

Naik had landed in trouble recently after Deputy Superintendent of Police of Kudligi in Ballari district Anupama Shenoy had resigned from her post upset over his alleged interference in her work, embarrassing the government.

Cine-actor turned politician Ambareesh's supporters blocked the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway in Mandya district, while Islam's followers went on a rampage at Kalaburgi, pelting stones and blocking road.

A bus was also set on fire near Saradagi in Kalaburgi district during a protest allegedly by supporters of Mallikayya Guttedar, after he was denied a ministerial berth.

According to The Hindu, supporters of Vijayanagar (Bengaluru) MLA, M Krishnappa, who was expecting a berth, took to pelting stones and blocked roads causing traffic disruption. The report added that MLA Rajashekar Patil's loyalists called for a bandh in Humnabad in Bidar district. Vehicles and government vehicles were damaged in Gauribidanur by Deputy Speaker Shivashankara Reddy's supporters, who was expecting a place in the ministry.

With the reshuffle, the ministry has a strength of 33, one less than the upper constitutional limit. The swearing-in ceremony took place, a day after Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her deputy Rahul Gandhi gave their nod to Siddaramaiah who was under pressure to rejuvenate the administration with Assembly polls two years away. Karnataka is presently the only large state where the Congress party is in power.

Nine cabinet rank ministers and four ministers of state were sworn in. Tanveer Sait, Kagodu Thimmappa, Ramesh Kumar, Basavaraj Raya Reddy, HY Meti, SS Mallikarjun, MR Seetharam, Santosh Lad and Ramesh Jarkiholi were inducted as Cabinet rank ministers by the Governor at a ceremony at Raj Bhavan.

Priyank Kharge, Rudrappa Lamani, Eshwar Khandre and Pramod Madhwaraj were sworn in as Ministers of State. Thimmappa and Ramesh Kumar are former Assembly Speakers, while Kharge is the son of Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge.

In the reshuffle, Siddaramaiah has tried to balance caste and region factors and blend experience and young blood. For example: Satish Jharkhiholi, who was the Excise and Small-Scale Industries Minister, was dropped and his brother Ramesh Jharkhiholi was inducted, reported The Indian Express.

The report added that the leader of the Scheduled Tribe Lamani community Chinchansur's exit was balanced by inclusion of Rudrappa Lamani, a youth leader. Islam was replaced by young Tanveer Sait, son of former Congress leader Aziz Sait.

Several Congress MLAs from Bengaluru were also unhappy for being excluded from the ministry. ST Somashekar claimed that eight legislators were contemplating resigning their Assembly membership in protest.

"We will resign 100 percent," he said, questioning a "first timer like Kharge" being made a minister while neglecting their claims. Despite widespread discontent, Siddaramaiah maintained that there was no dissent among party members.

"No dissidence in the party. Totally, there is no dissidence in the party," he told reporters after the swearing-in ceremony.

Facing an aggressive BJP, the exercise is coming in order to put the party on a sound footing two years before the Assembly elections in Karnataka, the only major state where the Congress is ruling after being ejected out of power in Kerala and Assam in the recent polls.

With inputs from PTI
Islamabad: Top Pakistani officials on Monday held discussions with their Afghan counterparts on the recent border clashes over the construction of a security gate by Pakistan.

A six-member delegation led by Afghan deputy foreign minister Hekmat Karzai arrived here this morning. He led his side for talks with the Pakistani delegation led by foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, the Pakistan Foreign Office said.

"The talks were held in cordial atmosphere," it said.

The Afghan delegation also called on the Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, who last week had held talks with Afghan National Security Advisor Mohammad Hanif Atmar to defuse border tensions.

The tensions started last weekend when the two sides clashed over the security structures being built by Pakistan to stop illegal border movement.

Pakistan on Friday re-opened its Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan after closing it for about six days due to tension over construction of the gate.

The busy border crossing in the northwest was closed due to clashes between the two sides which killed a Pakistan army Major and an Afghan border guard.

Pakistan has already announced that no one will be allowed to enter through Torkham without valid documents from 1 June.

Pakistan has also announced that security gates will be constructed at eight recognised entry points from Afghanistan and patrolling of about 2,400-km long border will be increased to check illegal crossings.
KABUL More than 20 people were killed in separate bomb attacks in Afghanistan on Monday, including at least 14 who died when a suicide bomber struck a minibus carrying Nepali security guards working at the Canadian embassy in Kabul, officials said.

A Reuters witness saw several apparently dead victims and at least two wounded being carried out of the remains of a yellow bus after the suicide bomber struck the vehicle in the capital.

Hours later, a bomb planted in a motorbike killed at least eight civilians and wounded another 18 in a crowded market in the northern province of Badakhshan, said provincial government spokesman Naveed Frotan. The casualty count could rise, he said.

The attacks are the latest in a surge of violence that highlights the challenges faced by the government and its Western backers, as Washington considers whether to delay plans to reduce the number of its troops in Afghanistan.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter that 14 people had been killed and eight wounded in the attack in Kabul. Police were working to identify the victims, he said.

Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion issued a statement condemning the attack and confirming that the guards worked at the embassy. "Many of the victims have been part of our embassy family for years," he said.

Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the suicide bomber had waited near a compound housing the security contractors and struck as the vehicle moved through early morning traffic. Several people in an adjacent market were also wounded in the attack during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The Taliban claimed responsibility in a statement from the Islamist group's main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, on Twitter. It denied responsibility for the attack in Badakhshan, however.

Islamic State, which is bitterly opposed by the Taliban, said it carried out the Kabul attack. But Zabihullah Mujahid dismissed the claim as "rubbish".

"By organising this attack, we wanted to show Americans and NATO military officials that we can conduct attacks wherever, and whenever, we want," the Taliban spokesman said.

The Nepal government was still working through its embassy in Pakistan, which also oversees Afghanistan, to verify reports that its citizens were involved in the attack, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bharat Paudel said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his condolences to his two South Asian neighbours after the attack.

"We strongly condemn the horrible tragedy in Kabul. Our deep condolences to people and governments of Afghanistan and Nepal on loss of innocent lives," Modi said on Twitter.

Another explosion in Kabul later on Monday morning wounded a provincial council member and at least three of his bodyguards, Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid said. It was thought a bomb had been attached to the lawmaker's car, he said.

The attacks underlined how serious the security threat facing Afghanistan remains since former Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a U.S. drone strike last month and was replaced by Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.

The blasts follow a deadly suicide attack on a bus carrying justice ministry staff near Kabul last month and a separate attack on a court in the central city of Ghazni on June 1.

The Taliban claimed both those attacks in revenge for the execution of six Taliban prisoners.

(Reporting by Mirwais Harooni, Hamid Shalizi and Josh Smith; Additional reporting by Gopal Sharma in KATHMANDU and Jibran Ahmad in PESHAWAR; Writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Paul Tait, Clarence Fernandez and Hugh Lawson)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
REDFIELD, S.D.  Steve Masat has operated a confinement animal feeding operation in Spink County, S.D., for 10 years. Now he wants his family and community to have updated county zoning rules that could allow future opportunities.

Masat, 54, and his sons, Tim and Garrett, farm separately, but together operate Masat Cattle Co. in Redfield, S.D. At the heart of their operation is a feedlot that currently holds up to 2,400 animals.

Steve Masat has been on the South Dakota Corn Growers Association board of directors since 2014.

About a year ago, the Association's board heard a presentation from Steve Dick, executive director of Ag United for South Dakota. After hearing Dick talk about the opportunity for more CAFOs in the state, based on the amount of feed grains grown, Steve asked the Spink County Commission to invite Dick to present at a meeting in early March, as part of a review for updating CAFO zoning in the county.

Steve Masat sees CAFOs as progress, in a world where farmers deal with corporations and struggle with change.

Trial by the 80s

Steve Masat started his farming career early, renting 880 acres in his senior year of high school.

In 1983, he married Carline Clayes and they bought a farm the same year. A lot of land was moving; interest was extremely high, he says.

His father let him use his machinery and he raised hogs and custom fed up to 1,200 head of sheep. You did what you did to survive, he says. After working through the drought of 1988, things improved with the advent of better corn hybrids and soybeans.

Through 2005, the Masats fed only 300 head of cattle. Dirt work for the feedlot expansion came in 2005 and the animals were in place by 2006.

In 2014, the Masat family expanded its permit to 4,999 head, which their production numbers have yet to meet. Their farming operation has grown to support all of this, and with no complaints from neighbors.

The family sells mostly finished cattle, but also markets some cow-calf pairs, and Garrett has helped them develop higher-quality heifers in the feedlot through artificial-insemination and dry lot breeding until they go to fall grazing.

The family buys some hay, but otherwise produces the feedstuffs for their cattle-feeding operation. They purchase distillers grain from regional ethanol operations, as well as protein supplements.

The Masat family buys country cattle  varying in weight from 550- to 800-pound calves, including some yearlings. They bring cattle from producers in Montana, Wyoming and the western Dakotas.

Shifting the operation to a CAFO has made record-keeping about manure content and soil conditions an important part of the business. The extra paperwork can seem like an imposition, but it has helped better monitor and manage fertility. Steve says thats better than having people report perceived infractions.

To Steve Masat more CAFOs could bring opportunity.

Its called jobs, its called trucking, feed business, veterinary business, he says. Were taking a product and adding value rather than shipping it on a rail for someone else to do it. Adding more livestock to his county could add 15 cents per bushel of corn.

20-year update

Tim Reinbold, zoning administrator for Spink County, which is in northeast South Dakota, said the countys zoning ordinances have been in place since 1997.

The zoning commission recently heard from an agricultural and biosystems engineering associate professor at South Dakota State University, offering research on how new technologies are improving odor issues.

The laws require setbacks from residences, municipalities and bodies of water, based on the numbers of different categories of animals. There are about 20 confinement animal feeding operations in the county, most associated with Hutterite colonies or cattle feeding operations like the Masats have.

Some of the countys ordinances are redundant to what the state already has in place. In some cases, some of these large-scale CAFOs would come up with a setback of 20 to 30 miles to build something of a certain size, Reinbold said. Some people have advocated making the laws less restrictive, but the commission could decide to make them more restrictive, he said. It appears our ordinance is going to be much shorter, simpler and user-friendly, Reinbold said.

For the CAFO zoning, the council gets input from farmers and cooperates with the Northeast Council of Governments in Aberdeen, S.D., and the Grow Spink local economic group, as well as BASEC, with its theme, Opening Doors to Dreams and Healthy Community.

Dave Albrecht of Redfield is the chairman of the Spink County commission, and says its too soon to predict how the zoning review will turn out. Farmers are not entirely in favor of it, he said, of adding large confinement animal feeding operations. Some counties have looked at it and have become more restrictive. He isnt convinced any change is needed.

Masat is intrigued with opportunities relating to dairy expansions coming to South Dakota on the I-29 Corridor. He sees opportunity as the poultry industry is interested in cage-free production of eggs for states such as California. Its probably cheaper to ship eggs to California than corn, he says.

Embracing change

Tim, 27, holds a two-year degree in diesel technology from Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, S.D., and returned to the farm in the spring of 2009. He and his wife, Vianne, have two young daughters, and hope to build a future for them on the farm.

Garrett, 21, also graduated from Lake Area, with degrees in ag production and business. He started a heifer project in the past couple of years and is interested in the financials of the farm.

The brothers have become skilled at reading the cattle and the feed bunks, and making adjustments for weather, feed moisture and other conditions.

Tim says there are unlimited opportunities. He says his family has the beef enterprise, but that doesnt mean there couldnt be a poultry enterprise, or a pork enterprise with CAFOs. Theres so many different directions it could go. He isnt worried about corporations coming in with a CAFO. They need employees; they need feed, they need trucking, he says.

Garrett thinks it will become harder to make zoning friendlier to CAFOs in the future. Its up to us, he says. Its for my generation, and for my kids generation to make it easier for them to feed livestock and be back into production agriculture.

Steve says he knows of no corporations or others seeking to establish new CAFOs today, but it could be important for the county to be prepared. He is certain developing a CAFO was the key to keeping his family in farming.

If we were strictly a cash grain operation, Id be the only one here, he says.
Xiaomi has launched its Mi Community in India, as it had announced earlier this month. It started taking registrations from June 8th to gather beta testers and 500 people started beta testing the community site starting from June 14th.

Th new Mi Community will allow Mi customers share their feedback, participate in contests, take part in launch events in India and more easily.

Along with the launch of the the Mi Community, Xiaomi is offering a chance to win invites for the Mi Max smartphone launch at the Jawaharlal Nehru Weight Lifting Stadium in New Delhi on June 30th. Xiaomi said that a limited number of attendees will get a free goodie bag and a surprise gift.

You can register on the Mi India website or MIUI forum with your personal details to stand a chance to win tickets for the launch event.

Xiaomi will also announce the MIUI 8 Global ROM at the launch event and also show off the new features in the latest MIUI 8.
Toyota has revealed its plans about developing an artificial-intelligence based driving systems. The Japanese car maker is aiming to build this system in order to improve vehicle safety, according to a latest report from Reuters.

Toyota further said that it will invest $1 billion in next five years. The move comes from the car maker when there is a rise in competition with respect to self driving cars.

Toyota aims to to improve car safety by enabling vehicles to anticipate and avoid potential accident situations. The companys plans regarding the same were detailed by Gill Pratt, CEO of recently set up Toyota Research Institute (TRI) which is its research and development company that focuses on AI.

At present driver assistance systems largely use image sensors to avoid obstacles including vehicles and pedestrians within the cars lane. However, according to Pratt TRI is looking at AI solutions to enable the car to be evasive beyond the one lane.

Earlier this month, Honda Motor Co said it was setting up a new research body which would focus on artificial intelligence.

source
The Government of India has made key changes to the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy by allowing 100% investment for retail trade and eight other sectors. This key change in the FDI policy will benefit Apple who has been striving to open its own retail stores in the country for a long time.

The decision regarding the FDI policy was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today. Last month, the iPhone and iPad maker who had applied for a single brand license for retail stores did not get exemption from 30% local sourcing condition. It had filed a proposal with DIPP at the beginning of this year following which the company resubmitted the proposal with necessary changes and additions in March.

Until now, Apple been relying on distributors such as Redington and Ingram Micro to sell its products in the country. Along with Apple, the latest change in the FDI policy will also help Chinese smartphone makers Xiaomi and LeEco who are also trying to open retail stores in the country.

Existing rules allowed FDI up to 49% on a case-to-case basis, wherever it is likely to result in access to modern and state-of-the-art technology in the country.

The new FDI Policy for Single Brand Retail Trading reads,

It has now been decided to relax local sourcing norms up to three years and a relaxed sourcing regime for another five years for entities undertaking Single Brand Retail Trading of products having state-of-art and cutting edge technology.

The latest amendments to the FDI Policy are meant to liberalise and simplify the FDI policy so as to provide ease of doing business in the country leading to larger FDI inflows contributing to growth of investment, incomes and employment.

Besides retail trade, sectors like defense, food products, civil aviation, pharmaceuticals and broadcasting have also benefited from the refreshed FDI policy.

source
Indian Railways, RailTel and Google have launched free WiFi in four of Indias largest stations  Sealdah, Lucknow Jn, Lucknow and Gorakhpur Jn. With these stations RailWire is now available across 19 stations in India.

It was launched at the Mumbai Central station earlier this year and was expanded to 9 more train stations in April. It was launched in Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh), Kachiguda (Telangana) & Raipur (Chhattisgarh) last month.



Google said that 1.5 million Indians are accessing RailWire Wi-Fi in these stations. It also said that the average consumption per user on the network is 15 times the data they would consume on a 3G pack in a day.

Google already said that 100 stations will get free WiFi by the end of 2016, connecting more than 10 million people who pass through every day. The project will be eventually rolled out to cover 400 train stations across India.

Regarding the expansion of RailWire project, Google India said:

With this project, our objective is to create abundant broadband access to millions of Indians whore currently not online or are using it in limited capacity to significantly enhance the benefits and productivity of the Internet. While were only at approximately 20% of the roll out schedule for this year, the response has been phenomenal.
Constellation Brands (STZ -0.33%) is well-known among investors and followers of the alcohol industry as the company that rocketed up over 600% in the last five years.

In this segment from the Industry Focus: Consumer Goods podcast, Motley Fool analysts Vincent Shen and Asit Sharma talk about why and how the company is moving away from the multi-category strategy that earned them that growth, and how a stronger focus on beer is going to reward them in the years ahead.

A transcript follows the video.

This podcast was recorded on June 14, 2016.

Vincent Shen: We're going to work through quite a few shelves at the bar, so let's get started, Asit. The first company is Constellation Brands, ticker STZ. They're a major player in the industry with about $30 billion market cap. They are the third-largest beer producer in the U.S. -- similarly, the biggest multi-category company in the United States, meaning they offer the trifecta of beer, wine, and spirits -- though that might not be the case after we talk about this segment. Then, rather, unlike its bigger competitors where they might hone in on a specific beer or spirits specifically, Constellation's management team, though, it seems like they might be trying to move away from the multi-category. What do you think?

Asit Sharma: Yeah, it's a great point. A lot of our listeners are familiar with Constellation Brands because they watched the stock price shoot up over 630% these last five years. They've done that by building a foundation first as this multi-category manufacturer/marketer in spirits, wine, and beer. But in 2013, Constellation Brands bought the Mexican beer portfolio from Anheuser-Busch InBev. As part of that agreement, Constellation Brands got the distribution rights for this beer portfolio in the United States. That enabled the company to take off. Beer has become the predominant business. It's still a very well-diversified business, but the beer sales are through the roof, and Constellation Brands has invested in new manufacturing capacity -- several billion dollars to build new bottling plants, new distribution just south of the border in Mexico. They are starting to lean toward becoming more of a beer-centric company.

Shen: I think something that really kind of drives that home, too, is the company has spent, when I calculated, almost $5 billion, I think, on M&A in the past three-to-four years. The bulk of that has been dedicated to beer properties. One of the more-recent ones was the Ballast Point deal, worth $1 billion. I think it's one of the largest -- if not the largest --craft-beer acquisition to date. A pretty clear indicator of how focused they are now on that particular category.

Sharma: That's true. What we see in that particular acquisition is the potential in craft beer is phenomenal, because that market is growing very quickly. If you think back 10 to 20 years ago, you had a very-limited selection. You walked into a grocery store of beers to buy -- they were dominated by the big brands. But this all changed, and the way people consume beers has meant that those companies which can grab the market share are going to win, and Constellation Brands' management is very aware of this. They don't mind putting up big dollars to buy small, sometimes obscure, companies, so that they can scale those companies out. Of course, Ballast Point is not really an obscure company; in the West Coast, it's known very well, and among craft breweries, it's one of the larger ones.

But this idea to go in, scoop up a small company, and then scale the distribution through a wide system, like Constellation Brands, is an attacking strategy; but it's one in the long run which should increase their earnings, and help grow their revenues consistently above where the beer market is growing.
BUTTE  After Dan Cornell mastered the straight line, he wanted to look at how curves are made.

It is Cornell's fascination with a curving line that has kept him making boats as a hobby since his retirement as the art teacher at Butte High School in 2013. He builds cedar strip canoes for family members or friends.

Cornell's workshop is a simple garage in the home he built in a neighborhood off West Park Street in Butte. He keeps two canoes he made for two of his daughters. He has a cedar strip kayak in his workshop that is under construction for his son. He has also traded his boats for works of art. Cornell estimates that if he sold his handmade creations, they would cost thousands of dollars because of the costs of materials and labor.

Cornell, 69, started his 19-year career at Butte High School as the carpentry teacher. He got his students to build boats because it was a way of explaining the concept of two-dimensional drafts vs. three-dimensional objects to teenagers.

He also realized it was a way to build his students' confidence in themselves.

"They thought it was beyond their ability, but I knew it was well within their ability," Cornell said.

The students built their first boat, a cedar strip canoe, in the 1990s. After that, there were no more confidence issues for his students.

One of Cornell's former students, Luke Davis, said he remembers building a boat in Cornell's carpentry workshop.

"It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever done," Davis said.

Cornell believes building a boat is not just creating something beautiful, it's a way of defying consumerist culture.

"I think it's important for people to make things," Cornell said. "'The man' wants us to be a plain old consumer. Or we can build widgets (ordinary things built on straight lines). But that's not something that appeals to the heart and soul. A boat is a work of art."

Born in Brooklyn, Cornell found his way to Montana by attending Montana State University-Bozeman, where he started studying architecture but wound up getting his degree, instead, in education. Despite his urban upbringing, Cornell's father was a miner. Cornell's father worked in an iron ore mine in New Jersey when Cornell was growing up.

Cornell relocated to Butte after serving in the Army during the Vietnam War. He worked in construction before joining Butte High School as the carpentry teacher.

Cornell shifted to teaching art at Butte High after a female student received a small cut on her hand in his carpentry workshop. He feared another, larger injury might happen someday, so he decided to teach art instead. But he took up boat building again after he retired.

One reason Cornell is drawn to boat building is because a boat contains a complex curve  meaning it bends both up and down and in and out simultaneously.

"Most people don't take the time to look at a straight line, but they'll look at a curve. Why not take the time to make a curve?" he said.
We're now officially less than five months away from Election Day, and voters are turning their attention to where the candidates stand on specific issues. Among the issues expected to garner a lot of attention this election season is what should be done with healthcare in America.

Outgoing President Barack Obama could wind up being most remembered for his implementation of The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare as it's best known. Obamacare wound up turning the prior healthcare system on its head by making health insurance plans as transparent as possible within an online marketplace. It also disallowed insurers from turning away consumers with pre-existing conditions and required that plans on Obamacare exchanges meet new, beefed-up minimum benefit requirements.

In turn, consumers saw their obligations increase via the individual mandate. This essentially means consumers need to purchase insurance or face a penalty come tax time. In 2016, this penalty had grown to the greater of $695 or 2.5% of modified adjusted gross income. Overall, about 12.7 million people were enrolled in Obamacare by the end of the most recent enrollment period for 2016, and a near-equal amount found coverage via Medicaid under the Medicaid expansion in 31 states.

Is Obamacare really the best healthcare option?

But is Obamacare right for America? That was the roundabout question posed by national pollster Gallup to more than 1,500 Americans last month.

Gallup's poll sought Americans' opinions on the three remaining presidential candidates' healthcare plans, giving respondents the choice of answering whether they "favored," "opposed," or had "no opinion" on each candidate's plan. Here's a quick refresher on what each candidate has pledged to do:

Hillary Clinton: Clinton, the presumptive presidential nominee of the Democratic Party, has essentially pledged to keep the Affordable Care Act in place. Clinton has praised the work of Obama in implementing the plan and anticipates building on its success.

Clinton, the presumptive presidential nominee of the Democratic Party, has essentially pledged to keep the Affordable Care Act in place. Clinton has praised the work of Obama in implementing the plan and anticipates building on its success. Bernie Sanders: Sanders, on the other hand, wants to repeal Obamacare and institute Medicare-for-All, meaning federally funded single-payer insurance for all Americans. This single-payer system would be funded by a 2.2% health benefits tax on all Americans, as well as a 6.2% employer tax. Additional tax reforms on ordinary income tax brackets, capital gains, and dividends would also boost revenue for the program.

Sanders, on the other hand, wants to repeal Obamacare and institute Medicare-for-All, meaning federally funded single-payer insurance for all Americans. This single-payer system would be funded by a 2.2% health benefits tax on all Americans, as well as a 6.2% employer tax. Additional tax reforms on ordinary income tax brackets, capital gains, and dividends would also boost revenue for the program. Donald Trump: Trump's seven-point healthcare plan hinges on repealing Obamacare and replacing it with something entirely different. Trump wants to allow consumers to buy pharmaceutical products from overseas markets and shop for health insurance across state lines, and he expects Health Savings Accounts to be of greater emphasis.

Surprisingly, this is America's favorite healthcare plan proposal

With these proposals in mind, Gallup asked consumer to rate the following three proposals:

"Keeping the Affordable Care Act in place" -- Clinton's plan.

"Replacing the ACA with a federally funded healthcare program providing insurance for all Americans" -- Sanders' plan.

"Repealing the Affordable Care Act" -- Trump's plan.

The results?

According to Gallup, 48% favored keeping the Affordable Care Act, while 49% opposed it. This probably comes as no big surprise, given Obamacare's low favorability numbers since it was first signed into law in March 2010.

Some 51% of respondents favored repealing Obamacare, while 45% opposed the idea. In other words, Trump's healthcare proposal would appear to have a little more steam than Clinton's.

However, the overwhelming favorite was the single-payer plan offered by Bernie Sanders. Overall, 58% of respondents favored the idea, with just 37% opposing it and another 5% having no opinion.

In a separate question, Gallup asked respondents to choose between putting a single-payer system in place versus keeping Obamacare in place, and single-payer won by an even broader margin -- 64% to 32%.

Is Medicare-for-All really the best option?

Are Americans right to believe that a single-payer system is their best option? On one hand, Sanders' proposal certainly has its benefits.

To begin with, providing insurance to everyone with a federally funded program means cutting the connection between insurance and employment. In other words, Americans would not have to fear losing their insurance when they lose their jobs. The single-payer system would essentially make health insurance a right, rather than a privilege.

Medicare-for-All, as proposed by Sanders, would also allow the federal government to negotiate prescription drug prices. Drugmakers in the U.S. have incredible pricing power, as they get little pushback from insurers and enjoy long patent protection periods. With the federal government in the consumer's corner, drug developers could find their pricing power and margins stymied.

Sanders' progressive ordinary income tax bracket reforms would also accomplish something a majority of Americans would like to see: the rich paying more. Sanders' progressive income tax reforms tend to focus on a mid-single-digit percentage of the population that's considered well-to-do, which means little change for the working-class American.

Not so fast

But there are concerns, too. For starters, the healthcare system is already under an unbelievable amount of strain, given the addition of enrollees thanks to Obamacare and the expansion of Medicaid, and this doesn't even take into account the tens of millions who are still uninsured. Suddenly passing a single-payer program could crush existing healthcare infrastructure and slow treatment options to a crawl as tens of millions of new patients are accepted into the system.

Another concern with Sanders' Medicare-for-All proposal would be higher costs passed along from business. The employer tax of 6.2% could be a tough pill for businesses to swallow. My guess is we'd see businesses pass along higher costs to the consumer to cover this healthcare obligation -- or worse, we'd see employees having their hours cut or getting laid off.

Single-payer could also be a concern for investors in the healthcare sector. The biggest factor here would be the federal government exerting its power to drive down or cap pricing for drug developers and device makers. Pricing power is what makes the U.S. market such an attractive place to do business for drugmakers, and without it we could witness substantial margin contraction. It's also possible we could see job cuts and investments in overseas countries if a single-payer, federally funded healthcare system were put in place.

Regardless of who winds up in the Oval Office following the November election, they'll have to work with Congress if they expect to effect any change on our current healthcare laws -- and frankly, that's no guarantee. Nonetheless, since we're talking about your healthcare premiums and healthcare investments here, you'll want to pay attention to how public opinion is shifting, as well as how the candidates' opinions on healthcare reform are evolving. Whichever candidate takes office could very well have a direct impact on your wallet!
If you live and work in the U.S., you're probably aware that taxes are simply a part of life. But the amount you ultimately pay isn't just based on how much you earn; it's also based on where you reside.

While California tends to get a bad rap when it comes to local taxes, it's actually not even close to being this year's greatest offender on the tax front. According to 2016 data out of WalletHub, the state with the highest taxes is actually none other than New York. California, meanwhile, didn't even make the top 10, though some of the states that did may surprise you.

Who pays the most?

For the purpose of our discussion, we're ranking the 50 states in terms of overall tax burden, which is the percentage of total income that's paid toward state and local taxes. In collecting its data, WalletHub aggregated three distinct types of taxes -- real estate taxes, individual income taxes, and sales and gross receipts taxes -- and then measured them as a percentage of total personal income within each state.

Among the 50 states, New York's overall tax burden came in highest, at 13.12%. In fact, several Northeast states made the top 10. Maine and Vermont tied for third place with an 11.13% tax burden, while Connecticut and New Jersey came in at 10.91%, and 10.38%, respectively. Not surprisingly, Hawaii also topped the list, at 11.86%, while California came in eleventh, at 9.91%.

Alaska, meanwhile, came in all the way at the bottom, with a total tax burden of just 5.18%. Other runners-up for lowest tax burden included Delaware, at 5.91%, and Tennessee, at 6.56%.

Check out the following table to see how your state ranked:

Overall Rank State Total Tax Burden Overall Rank State Total Tax Burden 1 New York 13.12% 26 Kentucky 8.70% 2 Hawaii 11.86% 27 Arizona 8.67% 3 Maine 11.13% 27 New Mexico 8.67% 3 Vermont 11.13% 29 North Carolina 8.66% 5 Connecticut 10.91% 30 Colorado 8.49% 6 Minnesota 10.46% 31 Oregon 8.45% 7 New Jersey 10.38% 31 Washington 8.45% 8 Rhode Island 10.36% 33 Louisiana 8.43% 9 Wisconsin 10.32% 34 Nevada 8.37% 10 Illinois 10.19% 35 Georgia 8.31% 11 California 9.91% 36 South Carolina 8.03% 12 Ohio 9.48% 37 Missouri 7.90% 13 Maryland 9.38% 38 Idaho 7.87% 14 Kansas 9.32% 39 Virginia 7.80% 15 West Virginia 9.19% 40 Montana 7.71% 16 Indiana 9.18% 41 Texas 7.67% 17 Iowa 9.15% 42 Wyoming 7.62% 18 Massachusetts 9.10% 43 Alabama 7.41% 19 Arkansas 9.09% 44 Florida 7.22% 20 Mississippi 9.06% 45 Oklahoma 6.95% 21 Nebraska 9.04% 46 South Dakota 6.94% 22 Michigan 8.82% 47 New Hampshire 6.88% 23 Utah 8.80% 48 Tennessee 6.56% 24 North Dakota 8.78% 49 Delaware 5.91% 25 Pennsylvania 8.73% 50 Alaska 5.18%

Lowering your tax burden

While you may have a hard time escaping certain local taxes, if you feel that your overall tax burden is too high, there are steps you can take to lower it. One of the best ways to start is by contributing a portion of your earnings to a tax-advantaged retirement account, like a 401(k) plan or a traditional IRA.

Any money you allocate to one of these accounts goes in on a pre-tax basis, so if your salary is $50,000 a year, but you decide to put $5,000 into a 401(k), you'll only pay taxes on the remaining $45,000. Just as importantly, whatever amount you choose to save will serve the very essential purpose of helping you build a retirement nest egg.

Another easy way to lower your tax burden is to sign up for commuter benefits or a flexible spending account (FSA) through your employer. These programs allow you to allocate a certain amount of pre-tax dollars for eligible commuting and healthcare expenses.

For 2016, the tax-free allowable limits for commuter benefits are $255 per month for transit, and $255 for parking (for a combined total of $510), while the FSA limit is $2,550 for healthcare expenses. If your effective tax rate is 25% and you put $1,000 into an FSA, you'll save $250 on your taxes. The one caveat is that these programs operate on a use-it-or-lose-it basis, so make sure to set aside only as much money as you'll actually use.

Finally, if you're looking to fork over less of your income to taxes, it pays to read up on the various credits and deductions you might be eligible for. There are certain tax benefits available to homeowners and parents, so do your homework before filing your upcoming return.

Of course, if your state is among those with notoriously high taxes, you might consider relocating somewhere more wallet friendly. You might even consider Alaska, which not only boasts the country's lowest tax burden, but will actually pay you to live there. Though moving is certainly a significant expense, it's something to consider if you can command a similar salary in a state where the taxes aren't nearly as high.
Over the next five months, our nation's political candidates will debate how to improve the economy, strengthen our standing in the world, and tackle difficult social issues. Although it has yet to garner the type of attention it deserves, Social Security will have its time in the limelight as well.

The system's faults are well known by now. As the ratio of working Americans to retiring baby boomers shrinks, payroll tax revenue will no longer be able to fund Social Security benefits at their current levels. If nothing is done to fix the system -- for example, cutting benefits or raising taxes -- then benefits will have to be reduced by as much as 25% in the mid-2030s.

Given this outlook, it's worth asking: What would happen if Social Security were dismantled? Of course, the chances that this will happen are so low as to be negligible. But by investigating the potential consequences, we can get an idea for how important and impactful the program really is.

What would be the direct effects of ending Social Security?

We human beings are notoriously terrible at making accurate predictions of the future. Even when we can predict the immediate effects of a given event, we are often helpless to foresee the second-order effects, i.e., the consequences of the consequences. So for the sake of simplicity, let's start by considering how different groups of Americans would be immediately, directly affected if Social Security were completely dissolved overnight (an inconceivable scenario).

Americans aged 65 and older

Social Security provides the majority of income for those over age 65. The effects on this group would be far-reaching.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in 2013 said 9.1% of all Americans 65 and older lived in poverty. If the money from Social Security were backed out, the poverty rate would almost quintuple to 44.4%. Missouri, Oregon, and New Hampshire would see the number of impoverished senior citizens increase sevenfold. The number of retirees living below the poverty line in Wisconsin and Iowa would jump eightfold.

That said, the most impoverished areas would remain in the Deep South. To see how your state would fare, hover over it.

Workers

Because FICA taxes take an automatic 6.2% cut of the average American's monthly paycheck, those who are working would see an immediate boost to their income. For instance, a family earning $52,000 -- roughly the national median -- would get an extra $3,224 to spend annually.

Businesses

The other half of the FICA tax is paid by employers. This, too, represents 6.2% of wages. Companies would immediately see their tax rate fall, which means that the leftover money would immediately fall to their bottom lines.

The federal government

Currently, the two trust funds that help provide Social Security benefits have $2.8 trillion. If that money were immediately freed up, it could serve a number of purposes. To put it in context, the U.S. national debt is roughly $19.5 trillion. Ostensibly, about 15% of it could be wiped out immediately.

More importantly: What are the second-order effects of ending Social Security?

Here things get trickier, because it's difficult to predict how people and markets will respond to different events. But here are some examples of the potential knock-on effects of a Social Security dissolution.

Americans aged 65 and older

Presumably, many seniors would be forced to liquidate their retirement savings. This alone could create a serious drag on stocks and bonds, as billions would move out of the market.

Industries that rely on discretionary spending by senior citizens -- RVs would be a good example -- could see their business shrivel up.

Workers

Spend or save? That's the big question. If today's workers decided to spend the bulk of their 6.2% windfall, it could have immediate positive effects on the economy. At the same time, it would set them up for disaster in the future, as their primary financial safety net would no longer be there.

If they decided primarily to save their money, it could be a boon for the stock market -- at least helping to offset the withdrawal of money by boomers. Americans' abysmal saving and investing habits would suggest that the likelihood of this is low.

Businesses

Companies, meanwhile, would suddenly face an interesting question: how to spend the extra cash that just appeared. Should it be passed along to employees? Should it be reinvested in the business? Maybe it should simply be paid out to shareholders.

As you might expect, each of these decisions would have profound ripple effects through the rest of the economy.

The federal government

There's a tricky thing about sudden influxes of money into the government's coffers: An all-out war usually ensues when we have to decide how to use it. Offer a tax rebate? Pay down debt? The options are endless, and so are the headaches. This might be the toughest second-order effect to fathom.

What's the point of even considering the end of Social Security?

At its core, this is simply a thought experiment. Social Security is not -- I repeat, not -- going away any time in the foreseeable future. But there are two key takeaways: Social Security is a massively influential program, and any major changes to it could create serious short-term chaos for everyday Americans.

That's why any changes we see are likely to be spread out over years -- or even decades. It's important to stay abreast of what changes might come. But at the end of the day, you need to take as much control over your retirement funding as possible. After all, no one cares about it more than you!
The platform war and the culture war are now one.

Over the weekend, Apple leaked that it's backing out of supporting the GOP convention this year because of Donald Trump. Trump has so many anti-Apple stances that it's hard to figure out which one was the last straw. He hammers the company for making products in China and for evading taxes; he once called for his followers to boycott Apple (while tweeting from an iPhone); his general anti-immigration stance tends to irritate Silicon Valley; and although he's taken a more socially liberal stance than some other Republican candidates, his vocal white-nationalist followers tend to make social liberals nervous.

Until now, tech companies have done their best to pretend to be neutral actors in our deeply riven polity, trying to make sure they're baked into both parties' strategies. Sometimes tech leaders take a stance: Apple's Tim Cook celebrated marriage equality, investor Peter Thiel is a Trump delegate, and former HP CEO Carly Fiorina even ran for president herself. But generally they try to keep their own soapboxes away from their commercial interests. Thiel is on the Facebook board, which is run by Mark Zuckerberg, who spoke out about Trump's proposed Muslim ban but whose site hosts pro-Trump and anti-Trump groups. Various companies stepped up against North Carolina's HB2 law, seemingly at little cost to their businesses.

Beyond their leaders' positions, you are taking a political stance through the products you buy. You can't avoid it. It's baked into the companies' strategies. Go with Google, Apple tells you, and you're making a vote for corporate surveillance. It's not wrong. Choose Walmart, and you've made a statement that consumer convenience outweighs the civic value of having small, locally owned stores. That's a choice you make. Pick T-Mobile, and you deal a blow to the Communications Workers Union. Maybe your decisions end up being an incoherent mishmash. That's okay; people are complicated and selfish and sometimes don't make clear sense. But you've voted those positions with your wallet nonetheless.

We've been able to ignore the implications of some of these positions through a conspiracy of willful blindness and a society-wide agreement not to look into some things too closely. T-Mobile doesn't like people talking about the union thing. Walmart pretends, vigorously, that it's good for the communities it hollows out. Google tries to soothe fears about privacy. They all have their opponents playing on their weaknesses, but they've rarely fallen into exact, amplifying alignment with our other toxic political divides, so most people look away. They like their gadgets too much.

Now, just as Donald Trump has ripped so many Band-Aids of politeness off our fractured, hate-ridden country, he's torn this one to shreds, too. Trump and Apple, together, have now essentially said that if you buy an iPhone, that's an anti-Trump statement. There's no way around it. I've never really seen anything happen like this before in the consumer tech industry, and I'm intensely curious to see what happens next: will the Apple/Android and Apple/Microsoft platform wars start dividing by political party? Will Trump supporters instead double down on the truncheons, saying that they're going to keep using iPhones, win the election, and then beat Apple into submission? Or will this just blow over, like Trump's call for an anti-Apple boycott in February did?

One thing has become clear: we are no longer one nation, under Donald Trump. We can't even pretend to be.

This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.
Sarah Lisovich and her sister Sam, who was 3 months pregnant, had hoped to spend some quality time together before the baby arrived.

They scheduled a trip to Florida 3 months ago, but news of Zika virus cases there caused them to rethink their getaway.

"Though we consider ourselves to be adventurous and knew the likelihood of contracting Zika was fairly low, we did not want to put my sister's baby at risk," says Lisovich, a senior editor and content strategist at CIA Medical, a medical products provider in Skokie, Illinois.

So, they canceled.

"The hotel was refunded fully, but the (airline) only allowed me to use the money toward another trip with them," Lisovich says.

The Zika virus is the latest tormentor of travelers, forcing pregnant women and their families to weigh carefully the dangers before deciding on a summer vacation to a destination on the Centers for Disease Control watch list.

The CDC has issued travel warnings for Mexico, for most islands in the Caribbean and many in the Pacific, for 6 countries in Central America and for 10 nations in South America, including Brazil.

The one exception is travel to any destination about 6,500 feet above sea level, where mosquitoes, which spread the virus, don't live. For example, the temperatures in Chile's mountain ranges make it difficult for mosquitoes to survive.

At the same time, the National Institutes of Health is working on a potential vaccine for the virus, while the Obama administration is seeking $1.9 billion to counter the disease.

What is Zika?

While the Zika virus is primarily spread by mosquitoes, a man can spread it to his sexual partners as well. Symptoms are mild, lasting about a week. They include red eyes, joint pain, fever and a rash, according to the CDC.

Most people don't get sick enough to even go to the hospital.

Even so, for a pregnant woman, the disease can have terrible consequences. Zika can cause a birth defect whereby a baby is born with an abnormally small head. Children often have smaller brains, linking them to other problems such as seizures, developmental delay, decreased learning ability, difficulty swallowing, hearing loss and vision problems, the CDC says.

"Travelers are strongly urged to protect themselves by preventing mosquito bites," the CDC says.

If you're vacationing in any of the countries on the CDC's Zika list, here's what to know.

Pack to Protect Yourself

The American Society of Travel Agents says it sees travel bargains to areas where Zika is prevalent, but there's no comprehensive data to show that discounts are widespread, according to ASTA Senior Vice President Eben Peck.

ASTA still isn't seeing massive cancellations but is seeing some refunds "to certain travelers concerned about the Zika outbreak."

A survey released in May by the Travel Leaders Group showed that 87% of travelers surveyed had heard about the Zika virus, but 96% said it had not affected their travel plans.

Carrie Nelson, a travel agent with Flathead Travel Service in Kalispell, Montana, says one couple that had booked a hotel/airfare package to Cancun, Mexico, through her agency wasn't able to get their money back after the woman learned she was pregnant.

"They had gotten it (booked) through a package, so they got a voucher for another trip later on," Nelson says. She advises travelers to research the destination country and airline travel policies before booking a trip to a country on the CDC's Zika list.

Airline Policies on Zika Refunds

Airline policies on refunds or postponing travel vary from airline to airline.

According to the airlines' websites, customers traveling to countries with Zika outbreaks can contact representatives of Delta and United Airlines to find out their options. However, they provide restrictions on possible travel changes or refunds based on a cutoff date for when the ticket was purchased: Feb. 29 for United, March 1 for Delta.

American Airlines says pregnant women and their travel parties can request refunds for tickets bought on or before March 31, as long as a doctor's note confirming pregnancy is provided.

While vacation travel might be delayed on a family-by-family basis, there's a lot more at stake for the biggest event of the summer travel season.

CARD SEARCH: Looking for a good rewards card to use for travel this summer? Find one today at Bankrate.

Olympics are Unaffected -- So Far

Brazil is hosting the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro from Aug. 5 to Aug. 21. Olympic organizers continue to play down Zika fears. They point out that cooler temperatures in August in the Southern Hemisphere will lead to a decrease in the mosquito population.

So far, no countries have refused to take part in the Summer Games, and one athlete, American cyclist Tejay van Garderen, says he won't compete.

A Swedish scientist used a mathematical model and data from another outbreak in Rio to calculate the chances of catching Zika there. His model predicts 16 cases of Zika, at most, at the Olympics, according to NPR.

Still, if you are planning a trip to a Zika country, you can protect yourself from losing what you spent on reservations. David Capaldi, president of tour operator Discover Latin America, is requiring his clients to obtain travel insurance for trips to Zika countries.

What to Take on a Trip

If you are traveling to a country for which the CDC has issued a travel advisory, the center advises travelers to pack the following items:

Insect repellent. Check on the label for these ingredients: DEET, picaridin, IR3535, OLE or PMD.

Long-sleeve shirts and long pants.

Clothing and gear with permethrin, a chemical widely used as an insect repellent.

A mosquito net for baby carriages, carriers or cribs.

A net for your bed if mosquitoes can get into the room where you'll sleep.

Condoms, if you might have sex.

Precautions for Your Stay

The CDC advises travelers to apply insect repellent, and reapply as directed. If you use sunscreen, apply it first, then the repellent.

You should cover exposed skin, stay and sleep in screened-in or air-conditioned rooms and drape a net over your bed if you're sleeping outside.

To avoid the spread of Zika through sexual conduct, use latex condoms.

When You Return Home

Prevention of the spread of Zika doesn't stop when your vacation does.

The CDC advises travelers to look for symptoms after arriving home, and to call a doctor immediately if they suspect that they have contracted the disease.

Continue to use insect repellent for 3 weeks after travel and condoms when you have sex.

Capaldi, of Discover Latin America, says that after travelers have been less likely to call off their trips after they understand the dangers of Zika.

"Once travelers learn about the reality of Zika -- not the over-exaggerated media reports -- we find they are still open to traveling," he says.

Copyright 2016, Bankrate Inc.
Americans have been feeling pessimistic toward the U.S. economy thanks in part to a decrease in median household income since President Obama took office. In the first quarter of this year, the economy grew at just 0.5% annualized pace.

U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce President Javier Palomarez said on the FOX Business Networks Cavuto: Coast-to-Coast despite the economic challenges that continue in a slow-growth environment, Hispanic businesses have found a way to be successful.

The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, as we stand right now, represents 4.1 million Hispanic-owned firms in this country that collectively contribute over $661 billion to the American economy, Palomarez said.

According to Palomarez, Hispanics are creating new companies at a rate of three to one compared to the general market.

The tip of the proverbial spear in terms of economic growth is the Hispanic entrepreneurial community, Palomarez told host Charles Payne.

Small businesses accounts for nearly two-thirds of all net new jobs and 55% of all jobs in America, to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Palomarez said the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will support any presidential candidate that values the importance of those businesses.

We need to stay focus on ensuring that our economy is vibrant, is healthy and continues to grow, Palomarez said.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates recently called artificial intelligence "the holy grail that anyone in computer science has been thinking about" during Vox Media's Code Conference. Gates discussed the rapid progress of speech recognition and computer vision technologies over the past five years, and noted that "the dream is finally arriving."

If that dream arrives, tech investors should recognize the major trends and players in this market. To get started, let's examine 10 fascinating facts about the AI industry.

Image source: Getty Images.

1. $5.05 billion market by 2020

Research firm Markets and Markets estimates that the AI market will grow from $420 million in 2014 to $5.05 billion by2020, thanks to the rising adoption of machine learning and natural language processing technologies in the media, advertising, retail, finance, and healthcare industries.

Key players in machine learning include big cloud players like Amazon , Microsoft , and IBM. Nuance Communications is the top "pure play" in natural language processing.

2. 6 billion devices will request AI support

Gartnerestimatesthat 6 billion connected "things" will be actively requesting support from AI platforms by 2018. These devices will likely include many connected appliances, cars, wearables, and other gadgets included in the broader Internet of Things market.

3. $5.4 billion invested in AI start-ups

There are currently 1,031 AI start-ups listed onAngelList, with an average valuation of $5.2 million -- which equals nearly $5.4 billion in venture capital investments. The three most-followed companies on that list are robotics company Autonomous, team productivity software maker Crux, and AI social news aggregator Zero Slant.

4. 80% of executives believe AI boosts productivity

A recent study by AI language company Narrative Science found that 80% ofexecutives believed that AI solutions boosted worker performance and created new jobs. Thirty-two percent said voice recognition technologies were the most widely used AI technology in their businesses -- which is good news for companies like Nuance.

5. Most mobile users use voice assistants

Nuance developed the technology that powers Apple's Siri, which preceded other voice assistants like Alphabet's Google Now, Microsoft's Cortana, and Amazon's Alexa.

Apple's Siri. Image source: Apple.

The idea of speaking to your phone initially seemed awkward, but a recent study byCreative Strategies' Carolina Milanesi found that just 2% of iPhone users had never used Siri, while 4% had never used Google Now.

6. Virtual assistants will make decisions for you

Gartner believes that the data gathered from users in cloud-based neural networks will power 40% of mobile interactions between virtual personal assistants and people by 2020. This means that all the data you voluntarily feed to Facebook , Google, and Amazon will be used to create a complex cloud-based profile that cloud-based "smart agents" can use to predict your needs and desires.

7. Most enterprise relationships with customers won't require humans by 2020

Gartner also claims that 85% of allcustomer interactions won't require human customer service reps by the end of this decade. The firm believes that automated analysis of social media channels, CRM software, andpersonalized chatbots that recognize faces and voices will greatly reduce the need for traditional call centers. That bodes well for Facebook's recent integration of chatbots into Messenger for automated customer service.

8. AI will replace 16% of jobs over next decade

Research firm Forrester believes that AI workers will replace up to 16% of all U.S. jobs over the next decade. However, new jobs to maintain those AI platforms and machines will also be created, meaning that "just" 7% of all jobs will be lost.

It's not just customer service reps who should be worried. Medical assistant AIs could reduce the need forlower-level medical staff in hospitals, driverless vehicles could replace professional drivers, and robo-writers could pump out articles much faster and more accurately than humans.

9. Robots will probably outnumber humans at work

Gartner estimates that 45% of the fastest-growing companies in the world will "employ" more smart machines and virtual assistants than people by 2018. That's because hiring fewer humans and installing more virtual assistants could reduce costs while boosting productivity.

10. AI is powered by GPUs, not CPUs

Major machine learning players like Facebook and IBM are notably using more high-end GPUs like Nvidia's Tesla chips for AI applications instead of traditional CPUs. Nvidia claims that its Tesla K80 GPU is "two to five times" faster than Intel's Xeon Phi 7120 at "key science applications."

That complements Nvidia's push in connected and driverless cars, but it could be bad news for Intel, which has struggled with sluggish sales of PC chips and slowing growth in data centers.

The key takeaway

AI programs probably won't claim your job or make life-altering decisions for you anytime soon, but they're definitely tethering themselves to our everyday lives through mobile apps, social media, and virtual assistants. Tech investors should keep these facts in mind as top companies continue pursuing this "holy grail" of computer science.

The article 10 Stats About Artificial Intelligence That Will Blow You Away 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, Facebook, Gartner, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool owns shares of Microsoft and has the following options: long January 2018 $90 calls on Apple and short January 2018 $95 calls on Apple. The Motley Fool recommends Intel and Nuance Communications. 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.
HUNGRY HORSE  A 31-year-old Hungry Horse man has been identified as the victim of a weekend crash.

Denver Ray Heffington was killed when his vehicle struck another from the rear at a high rate of speed, according to Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry.

Curry said Heffington was wearing a seat belt, and it is believe alcohol was involved.

The crash occurred early Saturday morning, shortly after midnight. Heffington was taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead from blunt force trauma, according to the sheriff.

The Montana Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash.
Image source:Flickr user Roger H. Goun.

As you ponder who to vote for in the upcoming presidential election, give some thought to what each candidate might do with Social Security. It's vitally important to many Americans, and there's a good chance it's important to you -- or will be one day. Accordingto the Social Security Administration, the majority of elderly beneficiaries get 50% or more of their income from Social Security, while 22% of married elderly beneficiaries and 47% of unmarried ones get fully 90% or more of their income from it.

So let's take a look at how Hillary Clinton would change Social Security.

First, a little background

First off, know that according to several government estimates, Social Security's trust funds are likely to run dry between 2033 and 2037 if no changes are made. If that happens, payment checks won't disappear, but they'll likely shrink by about 25%. So if you were worried that checks would be discontinued altogether, take a deep breath. Still, none of us wants to receive only 75% of what we were expecting.

In order to address this upcoming shortfall, Social Security will need be changed in some ways in the years ahead. Republicans generally favor measures like raising the retirement age or cutting benefits. Donald Trump's positionhas been hard to pin down, but he has surrounded himself with advisors who may push to privatize Social Security.

Democrats, on the other hand, have suggested increasing Social Security's revenue by taking steps such as raising or eliminating the cap on earnings that are subject to Social Security tax and raising the tax rate. Indeed, President Obama recently calledfor expanding the program, saying, "It's time we finally made Social Security more generous ... and increased its benefits so that today's retirees and future generations get the dignified retirement that they've earned."

Now let's look at how Hillary Clinton would change Social Security.

Image source: Getty Images.

How would Hillary Clinton change Social Security?

So how would the presumptive Democratic nominee for president change Social Security? Well, she hasn't called for as many benefit increases as Bernie Sanders has, but she is on recordas supporting lifting the payroll tax cap and broadening the tax base.

Her website states that Hillary will:

Fight any effort to privatize or weaken Medicare and Social Security.

Expand Social Security for today's beneficiaries and generations to come by asking the wealthiest to contribute more.

Expand Social Security benefits for widows and those who took time out of the paid workforce to care for a child or sick family member.

She's also quoted as saying, "I won't cut Social Security. ... I'll defend it, and I'll expand it."

In 2015, Clinton said: "We're going to have to make sure that we shore [Social Security] up so that it is there not just for those who are currently recipients but for generations to come."

Image source: Getty Images.

Proposed Social Security changes up close

Let's take a closer look at some of the measures Clinton has suggested. It has been projected that fully 77% of the trust funds' shortfall could be eliminated by increasingthe Social Security tax rate for employers and employees from its current 6.2% to 7.2% in 2022 and 8.2% in 2052.

It's also been estimated that 71% could be wiped out by eliminating the earnings cap over a 10-year period. If both changes were enacted, then the program's funding shortfalls would, in theory, evaporate.

Clinton has also voiced support for implementing a "caregiver" tax credit of 20%of the costs tied to caregiving -- the credit would max out at $6,000 -- and expanding Social Security benefits for caregivers, too. That's evidence of her support for women, because women collect smaller average benefit checks than men, and it's often because they worked part-time or not at all while they cared for children, elderly parents, or ailing loved ones. Clinton has also noted that the poverty rate for widowed women is much higher than for married seniors, as widow households see their income drop sharply when one spouse dies. Clinton would like to see adjustments made so that surviving spouses are not hit as hard when their other half dies.

Clinton's plan for Social Security -- as we understand it, based on her public statements -- would slightly increase the tax burden on today's workers and employers. At the same time, it could make Social Security cash-flow positive without reducing benefits for current or future recipients. No matter your stance on Social Security, stay abreast of our presidential candidates' plans for this all-important program.

The article How Would Hillary Clinton Change Social Security? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Longtime Fool specialistSelena Maranjian, whom you can follow on Twitter, owns no shares of any company mentioned in this article.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.
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Emojis have become a popular form of communication. Image source: Getty Images.

While most emojis veer from silly (pirate ghost) to literal (plane taking off), the group responsible for deciding which ones become standard has to get involved in some surprisingly contentious debates.

Even though the icons used to communicate are generally not meant to be political (though the poop emoji says a lot about the current presidential election) the Unicode Consortium, which approves emojis, has to decide on symbols that may have unintended meanings or uses. The 12 full-voting members of the consortium include Apple , Microsoft , and Alphabet's Google.

The group is not meant to be political, but decisions like including a middle finger emoji or debates over skin color for the icons puts the voting companies into tricky positions sometimes. That happened again as two emojis -- one showing a rifle and the other depicting a man firing a pistol -- were debated during a May meeting.

Both were part of a set depicting Olympic sports, but recognizing the potential for them to be misused,Apple and Microsoft led the charge to have the two gun-related emojis left out of the final set for Unicode 9, BuzzFeed News reported.

What happened at the Unicode meeting?

Apple and Microsoft reportedly both spoke out against the gun-based emojis after they had already moved into being encoded. That's not typical procedure as generally once an emoji gets to the coding stage it ends up being included in the final release.

Unicode President Mark Davis confirmed to BuzzFeed News that the two gun-related icons would not be included as emojis. "The committee decided not to mark them as Emoji, but to add them as characters (that is, normal black & white symbols)," he wrote in an email to to the website.

That's a confusing dodge, but basically it means the two gun symbols will exist in theofficial Unicode Character Database, but will not appear on any standard emoji keyboard. The decision to not include the two gun-related Olympic emojis was unanimous, but the Apple and Microsoft reps were the ones to raise the issue, according to sources at the meeting, BuzzFeed News reported. The website reported on a British gun control group that had previously objected to the rifle emoji, saying it would be "offensive to many people who have been injured or affected by gun incidents" and that it would be "familiarizing and popularizing the image of a weapon, which is not a good idea."

What does this mean for Apple and Microsoft?

Currently this decision has been largely under the radar, but going against the gun lobby and the National Rifle Association (NRA) can put a company in a position for backlash. At various points the NRA has called for boycotts of everyone from Boyz II Men to theAmerican Academy of Pediatrics.It's hard to see how a big boycott list has much impact (and the NRA no longer publishes an official list) but pro-gun politicians can use issues like this to cast unwanted attention on companies.

Presumptive Republican nominee for president Donald Trump, for example, received national media attention when he called for a boycott of Apple during its dispute with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over helping the agency access a locked iPhone belonging to one of the shooters involved in the San Bernardino, California, terrorist attack.

"Boycott Apple until such time as they give that information," Trump said during a campaign event, CNN reported. "Apple ought to give the security for that phone, OK. What I think you ought to do is boycott Apple until such a time as they give that security number. How do you like that? I just thought of it. Boycott Apple."

That's typical Trump bravado, but his ability to do harm to a company through a boycott should not be ignored given the devotion level of some of his fans.

Microsoft and Apple are being put in an awkward position here. Allowing the emojis to go through could lead to future fallout while blocking them may lead to negative business consequences now. This was a bold decision both companies made to do what each perceives to be the right thing. That may lose them some sales over being too liberal, but in the long run hopefully even opportunists like Trump will realize that emojis, or the lack of them, are not an assault on gun rights.

Of course, it's also worth noting that the current emoji set offered on iPhones contains a pistol, a knife, and multiple swords, so this effort was merely about limiting the number of gun-related emojis not an effort to fully sanitize the symbol set.

The article Apple, Microsoft Shoot Down Rifle Emoji originally appeared on Fool.com.

Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Daniel Kline owns shares of Apple and Microsoft. He has never used the gun emoji and knows that the space alien character does not make him pro conquest of Earth. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (A shares), Alphabet (C shares), and Apple. The Motley Fool owns shares of Microsoft and 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.
Image source: Getty Images.

What: Shareholders of Cerus Corporation , a biomedical products company focused on making blood transfusions safer,are having a good day. The company's stock popped by as much as 11% in early morning trading after news broke that it had signed an agreement with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)worth up to $180 million.

So what: The deal calls for BARDA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to provide financial support to Cerus so it can continue to develop its Intercept Blood System. This funding will be used primarily to support continued clinical development of its blood system and even accelerate commercial activities to help drive adoption at blood centers across the U.S.

BARDA has signed this deal as it believes that Cerus'Intercept Blood System could be useful in reducing the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections, which might help to control the spread of viruses like Zika and dengue.

Cerus is slated to receive an initial round of funding worth just over $30 million. These funds will be used to advance clinical-trial activities in Puerto Rico, which has been hit hard by the Zika virus epidemic. In addition, this initial funding will be used to facilitate late-stage clinical trials in the continental U.S.

The contract will last for five years and could be worth up to $180 million if BARDA exercises all of its options. As part of the deal, Cerus and its partners have committed to invest $14.5 million to scale up their manufacturing capabilities.

Now what:I think that investors were right to cheer this deal, since it provides the company with a non-dilutive way to access additional financing. As a reminder,Cerus is only expecting revenue for the year to come in at $37 million to $40 million. That's not that much higher than it produced in all of 2015, and last year the company had a net loss of more than $55 million. Since Cerus has announced plans to spend aggressively to expand the market for its blood system, it's likely that the losses will come in even higher this year, which will take a huge bite out of the $96 million in cash that it held at quarter-end. This $30 million of initial funding could go a long way toward stemming the losses.

Cerus has been very active recently in signing exciting new deals, which bodes well for its continued growth. However, these deals will only benefit Cerus' investors if revenue starts to move meaningfully higher, which isn't a sure thing just yet. In addition, with the Zika virus making headlines nearly every day, it's possible that investor enthusiasm for this company is running a bit high right now. Those reasons make me believe that the smart move is to continue to watch this story unfold from the sidelines.

The article Cerus Corporation is Surging Today. Here's Why. originally appeared on Fool.com.

Brian Feroldi has no position in any stocks mentioned.Like this article? Follow him onTwitter where he goes by the handle@Longtermmindsetor connect with him on LinkedIn to see more articles like this.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.
As decision day in the United Kingdom nears over whether to remain in the European Union, former U.K. Parliament Member John Browne is weighing in on reports that the countrys leanings are too close to call right now.

It shows you how desperately split Britain is, both within the political parties and on the street. And the reason is because the government will not ever tell the truth about the European Union. They didnt even when I was a member of Parliament, they tried to disguise it all the time, Browne told the FOX Business Networks Sandra Smith.

Browne predicted the economic fallout of a British exit from the EU would be minimal.

Very little, because the European Union needs Great Britain far more than vice versa. And therefore, there will be a large effort by the European Union and the World Trade Organization to heal any damage.

Browne sees a potential exit from the EU as benefiting British trade.

The European Union doesnt even have a trade treaty with China or Japan and it restricts Britain. So Britain will be free to trade worldwide and it will be greatly beneficial economically and of course politically.

If the U.K. does leave the EU, Browne sees the transition and negotiation of new trade deals as taking place over a matter of weeks or days, not the two to three years often cited by politicians.

They cant afford Britain to leave without any new treaties. Well still be trading with Germany. Were the second largest export market for Germany, so Germany will be anxious to trade with Britain. This will be done in a few weeks, if not in certain cases, days. For example, landing rights for airplanes will happen within days. This is just a scare tactic.

Browne reacted to President Obamas response to Britains potential exit from the EU.

Well he [President Obama] is a part of the globalist elite, hes socialist, and therefore hes in favor of the socialist European Union and the first great experiment in the global government.

Browne then raised concerns that remaining in the EU could potentially damage the U.K.s relationship with the U.S.

Were the most fervent ally of the United States and that special relationship will be broken if we stay in the European Union as will our giving up of our nuclear deterrent and our permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.

Correction:

An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified John Browne as Lord John Browne.
Image source: Getty Images.

What: Shares of PDL BioPharma , a small-cap biotech company that invests in patents and royalty-based biotechnology and pharmaceutical assets, has lost 10% of its value so far this year, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. The reason for the plunge can be traced to one important decision in early February.

So what: This decision relates to PDL BioPharma's press release on Feb. 1, which stated that its management team was shifting its strategy on dividends to a quarter-by-quarter basis in an effort to preserve capital and open up long-term growth opportunities. In plainer English, PDL BioPharma slashed its dividend from $0.15 to just $0.05 per quarter. Additionally, the language of its press release suggests that its dividend will be reviewed quarterly, and is henceforth no longer a guarantee. This was clearly unwelcome news for a company that had, up to this point, been yielding well in excess of 10%.

Why the dividend cut, you ask? PDL BioPharma's patents and royalty assets suffer the same fate as branded drugs do for drugmakers: They have a finite shelf life. More than 80% of PDL BioPharma's revenue in recent years was derived from its Queen et al. patents, which allowed it to reap royalties from blockbuster drugs like Avastin, Herceptin, Lucentis, and Tysabri, to name a few. However, PDL's Queen patents expired in Dec. 2014. The good news is that PDL BioPharma still had about a little over a year's worth of shelf life to generate strong revenue and cash flow beyond Dec. 2014 thanks to warehousing of these drugs. However, that revenue train has now vanished.

After recording $590.5 million in revenue last year, PDL's top line is expected to dip to $173 million in 2016 and just $68 million in 2017. Furthermore, profit per share is expected to plummet from the $2.04 it reported in 2015 to an estimated $0.06 per share in 2017.

Image source: PDL BioPharma.

Now what: On one hand, PDL BioPharma's minimal overhead is a positive for the company. Since it doesn't deal with the usually high expenses of research and development, it only employs a relatively small staff. This means it doesn't need an exceptionally high amount of sales to turn a profit. Unfortunately, there simply isn't an immediate fix for losing its Queen et al. patent revenue.

In May, PDL BioPharma announced an equity investment totaling 88% in Noden Pharma DAC, a privately held company that recently executed a purchasing agreement with Novartis for worldwide rights to Tektuma and Tektuma HCT (which is known as Rasilez and Rasilez HCT outside the U.S.). Per the press release, this drug targets hypertension, and 2015 sales totaled north of $150 million. Although this is a start, it's still a far cry from the Queen patent revenue shareholders have been used to.

My guess is that PDL's quarterly dividend will completely disappear or perhaps shrink to around $0.01 per share beginning in the upcoming quarter and thereafter. As a royalty company, shareholders expect a handsome income reward. But with PDL's bread-and-butter patents off the table, they're no longer going to receive an above-market dividend yield. My suggestion would be to keep your distance form PDL BioPharma until we see a marked resurgence in its top line and profits.

The article PDL BioPharma, Inc. Is Off 10% in 2016, and This Is a Big Reason Why originally appeared on Fool.com.

Sean Williamshas no material interest in any companies mentioned in this article. You can follow him on CAPS under the screen nameTMFUltraLong, and check him out on Twitter, where he goes by the handle@TMFUltraLong.The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter servicesfree for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe thatconsidering a diverse range of insightsmakes us better investors. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.

Copyright 1995 - 2016 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Actor Anton Yelchin, best known for playing Chekov in the recent "Star Trek" movies, was found dead early Sunday morning after apparently being pinned between his car and a brick mailbox on his property. He was 27.

Fellow "Star Trek" actors and others in Hollywood reacted to his tragic death.
Real Housewives of Dallas star Stephanie Hollman said it wasnt easy filming with co-star LeeAnne Locken, who revealed during Sundays reunion special on Bravo that she is in anger management therapy.

I think she needs anger management counseling, so I am actually proud of her for that because if you know better, you do better, Hollman told FOX411 on Monday. Maybe this season was a way to look at herself and say I need help. Im hoping she can change and seek help in therapy. It was honestly a really hard year. It was a scary year dealing with her at times.

Hollman, who is closest to Brandi Redmond on the show, revealed what she really thinks of Locken .

I think she is only comfortable if she has power and I felt like that the entire season, she said. If she is in control and has power and then everyone is agreeing with her, she is easy. But the moment she feels so doesn't have control, its like shes trying to get you in line. And I feel like that is what she was trying to do to me. She wanted to make sure she was the alpha at all times.

The one thing from the reunion special that Hollman didnt like was the amount of time it took Locken to apologize to fellow co-star Cary Deuber for their past conflicts.

The only thing I did not like was I felt it took her a long time to apologize. I felt she was making excuses of her behavior instead of just owning it and saying you are right I shouldnt have done that.

Hollman charged that Locken is manipulative.

I think she has been through a lot when she was younger, and I think the only way she feels safe is if she is in control. I do think she bullies and manipulates to get her way a lot.

Though filming the series, which just completed its first season, proved challenging at times, Hollman told us she was glad to have had the experience.

I think it strengthened my marriage too because I had to really lean on my husband; especially once the show came out there was so much work, but there was also a lot of criticism, she said. He is proud of me, he is very supportive. He kind of does his own thing. He is not one of those guys that is really into it. I know some of the other husbands were upset they were not in the reunion, but my husband was really glad.
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A Canadian womans heartbreaking photos of her newborn in the hospital have reignited an online conversation about the effects of not vaccinating children.

News.com.au reported that Annie Mae Braidens 10-week-old daughter, Isabelle, is in an intensive care unit recovering from whooping cough after an unvaccinated child reportedly infected her. Braiden expressed her outrage and updated on her daughters condition in a Facebook post Friday.

So I wasn't going to do this, but I think people need to see what not vaccinating their kids do to the OTHER kids, like my 6 week old daughter, she wrote in the post. Isabelle has been in the PEDS ICU since she was 6 weeks old (now 10 weeks) with whooping cough. She was on a ventilator for 3 weeks and CPAP for 3 days (she was the lucky baby, the other ones have been ventilated for months) and we're still facing another 2 months in the hospital.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the childhood vaccine DTaP is the best prevention method for whooping cough, or pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. The CDC recommends children get five dosese of DTaP, which also protects against tetanus and diphtheria: one each at ages 2, 4, 6, one more between 15 to 18 months old, and another 4 through 6 years old.

In her Facebook post, Braiden, who lives in Victoria, British Columbia, explains that another parents decision not to vaccinate their child resulted in her daughter needing to learn how to eat again. Isabelle is also suffering from morphine and sedative withdrawals, as she needed to take the medication while she was ventilated.

Braiden wrote in the post that she decided to share photos of baby Isabelle online to encourage other parents to get their kids vaccinated not only to protect their own children, but also others.

What you do with your kids is your choice but do not tell me that not vaccinating your kids isn't hurting anyone but your own kids, she wrote. Isabelle is proof that it harms the other little babes who aren't old enough to get their vaccines yet.

As of Monday afternoon, Braiden's post had been shared more than 16,000 times.
A Colorado family says a local pharmacys mix-up on their sons hyperactivity medication contributed to his June 8 death. Jake Steinbrecher, 8, had taken Clonidine for three years and was hospitalized once before after a pharmacist prescribed 1,000 times the dosage he needed, The Denver Channel reported.

He immediately started having reactions to it, Caroline Steinbrecher, Jakes mom, told the news station.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), clonidine can be used alone or in combination to treat high blood pressure, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)in children. The medication caused Jakes brain to swell after he ingested 30 mg rather than the prescribed .03 mg.

It wasnt a mistake, Caroline told The Denver Channel. It was sentinel error.

After doctors determined he was symptom free, they released him from the hospital. But he began having a reaction again in early June. An autopsy is ongoing, but the familys lawyer said Good Day Pharmacy in Loveland, which was responsible for his medication, has admitted to making another mistake in the dosage.

How could somebody do that? Caroline said. How there was no other way to make sure the medicine was mixed correctly before it was out the door other than the say-so of the pharmacist who made it.

The family wants Jakes story to serve as a cautionary tale about medication for other parents and their children.

People need to be aware of what is being given to their children. They trust doctors, and they trust pharmacists to do the right thing for them and to keep their children safe, but these are all just people and people make mistakes and errors and thats where more protection needs to be in place, she told The Denver Channel.

The family wants their son to be remembered for his spirit, not a pharmaceutical error.


WATFORD CITY, N.D.  One worker died and three were injured in a fire at a McKenzie County oil well site over the weekend, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Monday.

Crews were working on a workover rig on a well about 8 miles east of Watford City when the well ignited about 8:30 a.m. Saturday, said Eric Brooks, director of the Bismarck area OSHA office.

The owner of the well, XTO Energy, described the incident as a flash fire.

Johnny Stassinos, 52, Rock Springs, Wyo., died from his injuries Saturday afternoon at Trinity Hospital in Minot, the McKenzie County Sheriffs Office said.

Daniel Montes, 28, Fruita, Colo., and Richard Maheu, 27, Rock Springs, Wyo., suffered serious burns and were in critical condition at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, the sheriffs office said.

Justin Pyle, 40, Grand Junction, Colo., was treated and released for minor injuries from McKenzie County Healthcare Systems Hospital in Watford City, officials said.

Two of the injured workers suffered third-degree burns on more than 70 percent of their bodies and one suffered burns to his face, Brooks said.

The workers were employees of Most Wanted Well Service and SEI Well Service, said Emily Snooks, a spokeswoman for XTO, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corp.

OSHA has launched an investigation and an inspector were being sent to the site Monday, Brooks said.

The gas and oil industry remains one of the most dangerous for workers in the nation, Brooks said. OSHA will be conducting a thorough investigation to see if any violations of safety procedures contributed to this tragic incident.

Alison Ritter, spokeswoman for the Department of Mineral Resources, said crews were working on a well that had been fracked when the well experienced a kick of gas on Saturday morning.

When deputies arrived on scene, the fire was out, authorities said. First-responders provided basic first aid on scene. One victim was airlifted from the scene and two were transported from the Watford City Airport, the sheriffs office said.

XTO also has formed an investigation team to determine the cause of the incident, Snooks said.

We are greatly saddened by this tragic incident, and we express our deepest sympathy to the workers and the families of those affected, Snooks said.

A workover rig is smaller than a drilling rig and is used for well completions and maintenance.

The incident did not cause any oil or other contamination to leave the well location, according to the North Dakota Department of Health.

This is the first oil and gas fatality OSHA has investigated in North Dakota in 2016, Brooks said.

Family of Maheu set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for his medical expenses at www.gofundme.com/2a9vrgc.
One in 10 men and one in 20 women who travel internationally from Great Britain find new sexual partners abroad, according to two new studies.

Sexually transmitted infection and HIV prevalence is higher in certain parts of the world, so some overseas partnerships may be riskier than others, said the lead author of one paper.

"When people travel from home they have the opportunity to meet new people and, depending on why they are traveling, may feel less constrained by social taboos controlling sexual expression," said Dr. Clare Tanton of the Research Department of Infection and Population Health at University College London.

Tanton and colleagues analyzed responses to the British National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles between 2010 and 2012. Of more than 15,000 adults living in Britain who responded, over 12,000 said they had at least one sexual partner within the previous five years. About 1,000 said they had sex with a new partner while traveling overseas.

This was slightly more common for men and women under age 35, but even for those over age 35, one in 20 men and one in 40 women said they had "hooked up" abroad.

"We found that a similar proportion of people reported having had sex for the first time while overseas in our latest survey (carried out 2010-2012) as we found in the previous survey (carried out 1999-2001)," Tanton said by email.

In the more recent survey, those who had sex overseas tended to have more sexual partners total, and were less likely to use condoms in general and more likely to use drugs or alcohol than others. They were also more likely to have been to a sexual health clinic or have been tested for HIV in the past five years, according to the results in Sexually Transmitted Infections.

"Unfortunately we don't know what proportion of this sex while overseas was protected but other studies of travelers and STI clinic attendees suggest that a sizable proportion of it probably wasn't," Tanton said. "I'd like to see people think about buying and packing condoms in the same way they do for suntan lotion as part of their travel preparation."

Only one third of men and 40 percent of women who reported a partner while overseas had been to a sexual health clinic in the past five years, so improvements can still be made, she said.

One in four men who reported having a new non-UK-resident sex partner said they had paid for sex within the past five years.

Another study in the same issue of the journal surveyed international backpackers visiting the islands of Thailand in 2013, more than half of whom were traveling without a sexual partner, and 40 percent of whom said they had sex with a new partner during the trip - often another backpacker.

Many of the travelers reported never or inconsistently using condoms, most often those from Britain or Sweden.

"The results demonstrate a mechanism by which disease may be spread from one population to another," said Christopher Lewis of the Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, at the University of Birmingham, who coauthored the second study.

"This is a particular concern as we see the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of gonorrhea in some parts of the world, and our worry is that gonorrhea may become an untreatable infection," he told Reuters Health by email.

Unprotected sex can lead to unplanned pregnancy, HIV infection and infertility, he said.

"Consistent condom use is the most effective means of preventing the spread of disease during intercourse," Lewis said. "We encourage all backpackers, irrespective of age and gender, to pack (and use!) condoms on their travels."

Sex may be the main purpose of travel for some people who choose to travel to Thailand, said Dr. Alberto Matteelli, of the Infectious and Tropical Diseases Clinic at the University of Brescia in Italy, who coauthored an editorial in the journal.

"There is nothing wrong with Thailand," Matteelli told Reuters Health by email. "What is wrong is the business of sex that is built at the expenses of the dignity and life of many people including a significant proportion of adolescents."
Global health officials are racing to better understand the Zika virus behind a major outbreak that began in Brazil last year and has spread to many countries in the Americas.

The following are some questions and answers about the virus and current outbreak:

How do people become infected?

Zika is transmitted to people through the bite of infected female mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes aegypti mosquito, the same type that spreads dengue, chikungunya and yellow fever. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) said Aedes mosquitoes are found in all countries in the Americas except Canada and continental Chile, and the virus will likely reach all countries and territories of the region where Aedes mosquitoes are found.

How do you treat Zika?

There is no treatment or vaccine for Zika infection. Companies and scientists are racing to develop a safe and effective vaccine for Zika, but the World Health Organization (WHO) had said it would take at least 18 months to start large-scale clinical trials of potential preventative shots.

How dangerous is it?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that infection with the Zika virus in pregnant women is a cause of the birth defect microcephaly and other severe brain abnormalities in babies. The CDC said now that the causal relationship has been established, several important questions must still be answered with studies that could take years.

According to the World Health Organization, there is strong scientific consensus that Zika can cause the birth defect microcephaly in babies, a condition defined by unusually small heads that can result in developmental problems. In addition, the agency said it could cause Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can result in paralysis. Conclusive proof of the damage caused by Zika may take months or years.

Brazil reports the number of confirmed cases of microcephaly at more than 1,700 as doctors and Brazilian health officials find that some suspected cases of microcephaly are not the disorder. Suspected ones under investigation declined to 3,257.

Brazil registered 91,387 likely cases of the Zika virus from February until April 2.

Current research in Brazil indicates the greatest microcephaly risk is associated with infection during the first trimester of pregnancy, but health officials have warned an impact could be seen in later weeks. Recent studies have shown evidence of Zika in amniotic fluid, placenta and fetal brain tissue.

What are the symptoms of Zika infection?

People infected with Zika may have a mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain and fatigue that can last for two to seven days. But as many as 80 percent of people infected never develop symptoms. The symptoms are similar to those of dengue or chikungunya, which are transmitted by the same type of mosquito.

How can Zika be contained?

Efforts to control the spread of the virus focus on eliminating mosquito breeding sites and taking precautions against mosquito bites such as using insect repellent and mosquito nets. U.S. and international health officials have advised pregnant women to avoid travel to Latin American and Caribbean countries where they may be exposed to Zika.

How widespread is the outbreak?

Active Zika outbreaks have been reported in at least 51 countries or territories, most of them in the Americas, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Brazil has been the country most affected. (http://1.usa.gov/1ovAJyh)

Africa (1): Cape Verde

Americas (42): Anguilla, Argentina, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Bonaire, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saba, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelmy, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Eustatius, St. Maarten, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, U.S. Virgin Islands and Venezuela.

Oceania/Pacific Islands (8): American Samoa, Fiji, Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tonga.

What is the history of the Zika virus?

The Zika virus is found in tropical locales with large mosquito populations. Outbreaks of Zika have been recorded in Africa, the Americas, Southern Asia and the Western Pacific. The virus was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in rhesus monkeys and was first identified in people in 1952 in Uganda and Tanzania, according to the WHO.

Can Zika be transmitted through sexual contact?

The World Health Organization (WHO) said sexual transmission is "relatively common" and has advised pregnant women not to travel to areas with ongoing outbreaks of Zika virus. It also advised women living in areas where the virus is being transmitted to delay getting pregnant.

The U.S. CDC is investigating about a dozen cases of possible sexual transmission. Those cases involved possible transmission of the virus from men to their sex partners.

But the CDC issued updated recommendations for preventing and testing for Zika infection on July 25, warning that the virus can be transmitted through unprotected sex with an infected female partner.

A reported case of female-to-male sexual transmission in New York City, and limited human and non-human primate data indicating that Zika virus RNA can be detected in vaginal secretions, led to the new warning, the agency said.

CDC's expanded warnings on sexual exposure to Zika now caution against sex without a condom or other barrier method of protection with any person, male or female, who has traveled to or lives in an area with Zika, including female to female transmission with a pregnant partner.

British health officials reported Zika was found in a man's semen two months after he was infected, suggesting the virus may linger in semen long after infection symptoms fade.

The PAHO said Zika can be transmitted through blood, but this is an infrequent transmission mechanism. There is no evidence Zika can be transmitted to babies through breast milk.

The WHO has identified Zika cases in Argentina, Chile, France, Italy and New Zealand as likely caused by sexual transmission.

What other complications are associated with Zika?

Zika has also been associated with other neurological disorders, including serious brain and spinal cord infections. The long-term health consequences of Zika infection are unclear. Other uncertainties surround the incubation period of the virus and how Zika interacts with other viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes, such as dengue.
The following timeline charts the origin and spread of the Zika virus from its discovery nearly 70 years ago:

1947: Scientists researching yellow fever in Uganda's Zika Forest identify the virus in a rhesus monkey

1948: Virus recovered from Aedes africanus mosquito in Zika Forest

1952: First human cases detected in Uganda and Tanzania

1954: Virus found in Nigeria

1960s-80s: Zika detected in mosquitoes and monkeys across equatorial Africa

1969-83: Zika found in equatorial Asia, including India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan

2007: Zika spreads from Africa and Asia, first large outbreak on Pacific island of Yap

2012: Researchers identify two distinct lineages of the virus, African and Asian

2013-14: Zika outbreaks in French Polynesia, Easter Island, the Cook Islands and New Caledonia. Retrospective analysis shows possible link to birth defects and severe neurological complications in babies in French Polynesia

March 2, 2015: Brazil reports illness characterized by skin rash in northeastern states

July 17: Brazil reports detection of neurological disorders in newborns associated with history of infection

Oct. 5: Cape Verde has cases of illness with skin rash

Oct. 22: Colombia confirms cases of Zika

Oct. 30: Brazil reports increase in microcephaly, abnormally small heads, among newborns

Nov. 11: Brazil declares public health emergency

November 2015-January 2016: Cases reported in Suriname, Panama, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Paraguay, Venezuela, French Guiana, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Guyana, Ecuador, Barbados, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Curacao, Jamaica

Feb. 1: World Health Organization (WHO) declares public health emergency of international concern

Feb. 2: First case of Zika transmission in United States; local health officials say likely contracted through sex, not mosquito bite

Feb. 5: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says virus being actively transmitted in 30 countries, mostly in the Americas

Feb. 8: U.S. President Barack Obama requests $1.8 billion to fight Zika

Feb. 12: Brazil investigating potential link between Zika infections and 4,314 suspected cases of microcephaly. Of those, 462 confirmed as microcephaly and 41 determined to be linked to virus

Feb. 17: Brazil investigating potential link between Zika and 4,443 suspected cases of microcephaly. Of those, 508 confirmed as microcephaly and most of those cases are linked to the virus. WHO seeks $56 million to fight Zika.

Feb. 18: CDC adds Aruba and Bonaire to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 32.

Feb. 23: CDC investigating 14 cases of possible sexual transmission of Zika. CDC also adds Trinidad and Tobago and Marshall Islands to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 34.

Feb. 25: Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases number more than 580 and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. Brazil is investigating an additional 4,100 suspected cases of microcephaly.

Feb. 27: France detects first sexually transmitted case of Zika.

Feb. 29: CDC adds St. Maarten, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 36.

March 1: Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 641 and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. Brazil is investigating an additional 4,222 suspected cases of microcephaly.

March 8: WHO advises pregnant women to avoid areas with Zika outbreak and said sexual transmission of the virus is "relatively common."

March 9: CDC adds New Caledonia to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 37.

March 15: Cuba reports first case of Zika contracted in the country.

March 16: Cape Verde identifies first case of microcephaly.

March 18: CDC says during Jan. 1, 2015 to Feb. 26, 2016, 116 residents of the United States had evidence of recent Zika virus infection based on laboratory testing.

Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 863 and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. Brazil is investigating an additional 4,268 suspected cases of microcephaly.

March 19: CDC adds Cuba to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 38.

March 21: South Korea confirms first case of Zika.

March 22: CDC adds Dominica to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 39. Bangladesh confirms first case of Zika virus.

Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 907 and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. Brazil is investigating an additional 4,293 suspected cases of microcephaly.

March 29: Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 944 and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. Brazil said the number of suspected cases of microcephaly dropped slightly to 4,291.

March 31: According to the World Health Organization, there is a strong scientific consensus that Zika can cause the birth defect microcephaly as well as Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that can result in paralysis, though conclusive proof may take months or years.

April 1: CDC adds Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 40.

April 4: CDC adds Fiji to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 41.

April 5: Vietnam reports first Zika infections.

April 6: Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 1,046 and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. The number of suspected cases of microcephaly dropped to 4,046.

April 7: St. Lucia confirms first two cases of Zika, contracted locally.

April 12: Brazil says confirmed microcephaly cases rose to 1,113 and considers most of them to be related to Zika infections in the mothers. The number of suspected cases of microcephaly dropped to 3,836. It was the second week in a row that the overall total figure fell.

April 13: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that infection with the Zika virus in pregnant women is a cause of the birth defect microcephaly and other severe brain abnormalities in babies. The CDC said now that the causal relationship has been established, several important questions must still be answered with studies that could take years.

CDC adds St. Lucia to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 42.

April 14: Colombia confirms two microcephaly cases linked to Zinka.

April 18: Peru reports first case of sexually transmitted Zika virus.

CDC adds Belize to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 43.

April 19: Chilean authorities find Zika mosquito for first time in decades.

April 25: Canada confirms first sexually transmitted Zika case.

April 26: Brazil says the number of confirmed cases of microcephaly climbed to 1,198 from 1,168 in the week through April 23, but suspected ones under investigation continued to decline to 3,710 from 3,741 a week ago.

Brazil registered 91,387 likely cases of the Zika virus from February until April 2, the health ministry said, in its first national report on the epidemic.

April 29: Puerto Rico reports first death related to Zika, according to the CDC. The country also confirmed 683 Zika cases, including 65 pregnant women, and five suspected cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome from Zika, the CDC reported.

May 4: Panama confirms four microcephaly cases tied to Zika.

May 6: Spain gets first case of Zika-related brain defect in a fetus.

May 9: CDC adds Papua New Guinea, Saint Barthelemy and Peru to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 46.

Honduras suspects first case of microcephaly in Zika patient.

May 11: Brazil says the number of confirmed cases of microcephaly dropped to 1,326 in the week through May 7 as doctors and Brazilian health officials find that some suspected cases of microcephaly are not the disorder. Suspected ones under investigation continued to decline to 3,433.

May 12: CDC adds Grenada to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 47.

May 13: Puerto Rico reports first case of Zika-related microcephaly.

May 20: WHO says an outbreak of Zika virus on the African island chain of Cape Verde is of the same strain as the one blamed for birth abnormalities in Brazil.

May 24: Brazil reports the number of confirmed cases of microcephaly at 1,434 for the latest week to May 21. Suspected ones under investigation declined to 3,257.

May 26: CDC adds Argentina to countries and territories with active outbreaks, bringing total to 48.

June 9: WHO issues updated guidelines on prevention of sexual transmission of the Zika virus, including advising women living in areas where the virus is being transmitted to delay getting pregnant.

June 14: El Salvador confirms first case of microcephaly linked to Zika.

SOURCES: World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Reuters
In Orlando on Thursday, President Obama again called on Congress to do something about these mass public shootings. But the dirty secret about the four different bills that the Senate will vote on Monday is that everyone knows that none of them would have stopped the Orlando massacre. Indeed, none of the bills would have stopped any of the mass public shootings since at least 2000.

Everyone wants to do something to stop these attacks, but the one thing that we know does matter -- ending gun-free zones  are being completely ignored in the legislation. Since at least as far back as 1950, all but three U.S. mass public shootings (with three or more fatalities) have occurred in places where citizens are not allowed to carry their own firearms. Time after time these killers explicitly pick targets where victims cant defend themselves.

Democrats use recent attacks to justify passing new gun control, but their proposals have nothing to do with these attacks. Senator Dianne Feinsteins (D-Calif.) bill would ban people on the No Fly list from buying guns. But neither Omar Mateen, the Orlando nightclub shooter, nor any of the other Islamic terrorists from Fort Hood to San Bernardino were on the terror watch or No Fly lists. While Senator Chris Murphys (D-Conn.) bill would require background checks on transfer of guns between private parties, this is also completely unrelated to past mass public shootings.

The American background check system prevents people from purchasing guns if they have been convicted of felonies or certain kinds of misdemeanors. Though being on the FBIs terror watch or No Fly lists sure sounds bad, it doesnt mean that the person has been convicted of anything. You can be on the list simply because the FBI wants to interview you about someone you might know. About 40 percent of people on the watch list are under reasonable suspicion even though they have absolutely no affiliation with known terrorist groups.

It is pretty easy to get on the terrorist watch list even if you havent done anything wrong. About 700,000 people were on the watch list two years ago, and this number has grown dramatically during the Obama administration. In 2014, about 50,000 people were on the No Fly List. This is a 10-fold increase since Obama took office.

Between February 2004 and December 2014, over 2,000 people on the watch list bought one or more guns. The government has not identified a single one of these people as using a gun in a crime.

Should the government be able to deny you the right to protect yourself simply because it wants to ask about someone you might know? Should it be able to do that without having to seek a court decision?

Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) is offering an alternative to Feinsteins bill that solves this problem. Instead of banning purchases, the FBI will be alerted to any gun purchases by those on these lists. It also helps overcome FBI Director James Comeys warning: denying sales could blow his agents investigations into potential terrorists.

While some people on the No Fly List are there because they are suspected of terrorist activity, others get added because they are suspects in criminal cases, made controversial statements or tweets unrelated to terrorism, are victims of clerical error, or refused to be an informant.

But not only do the terror watch list and No Fly List target many people who arent really threats, they stop a lot of people who weren't meant to be targeted. The late Sen. Ted Kennedy was stopped from flying five times because someone with a similar name was on the No Fly List. Other prominent individuals such as the Weekly Standards Stephen Hayes have also run into this problem.

The error rate for identifying potential terror threats is probably similar to the error rate for background checks on gun purchases. Over 94 percent of initial denials for gun purchases are dropped after just a preliminary review. Another 2 percent were dropped after the second stage of review. The total error rate comes to about 99 percent. It is one thing to stop a felon, it is another thing to stop someone who as a similar name to a felon.

This problem could be fixed if the federal government did background checks the same way that private companies do background checks. Private companies that had a tiny fraction of the error rate that the government has would be sued out of existence.

Even if we are putting real terrorists on a list and legally prohibiting them from purchasing guns doesnt really stop them from getting weapons. Just because illegal drugs are illegal doesnt mean that people cant get them. Its the same with guns. And, incidentally, drug gangs supply both drugs and guns.

Frances strict weapon bans didnt stop terrorists in any of the four terrorist attacks from getting all the AK-47s and explosive belts that they needed for their devastating attacks on Paris.

A large academic literature has failed to find any crime-reducing benefit from criminal background checks on gun purchases.

If you really believe that someone is a danger to others, you might want to seriously consider locking them up.

The system is costly. While President Obama has assured people in town halls carried on CNN and PBS this year that he doesnt want to make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to get guns, the background checks on private gun transfers that he keeps pushing cost $125 in DC and about $60 in Washington State. The very people that who get priced out of owning a gun  poor individuals living in high crime urban areas  are also the ones who most benefit from using a gun for self-defense.

After every major mass public shooting, President Obama has argued for background checks on private transfers of guns. Someone should ask Obama if any of the attacks during his administration would have been stopped by such a law. The answer, unfortunately, is no.

The current background check system is a mess. Just adding more names to the mix is neither useful nor fair.
The immediate consequences from the Orlando terror attack are obvious: dozens dead and maimed  families changed forever.

The next layer of consequences, arriving soon, are not as obvious, but they are coming. Here they are:

We are getting a divorce. First, a poll shows that Americans are pretty much divided on their opinions about the attack. Most of the Democrats see it as a gun control issue. Most Republicans see it as a terror attack. And there seems to be no sign of compromise (why cant it be mostly terror and a little guns? asks the therapist, Dr. Gutfeld)

This poll hints at an ongoing, disturbing change in this country  one that brings forth a series of even more problems  those of which I see as almost unsolvable. We quarrel about the quarrel. We cannot agree on the fight. And therefore we cannot begin to fight. Instead, we are like that proverbial snake that devours its own tail. Except, we think its sushi. But its blowfish. You get the idea. Were dead.

How can America defeat ISIS if we have vocal factions believing that we are worse? How can we fight the enemy if a large portion of our population thinks an inanimate object  a gun  caused Orlando?

We assume different identities lead to different values. Does a black person, or a gay person or a fat white male, see a terror attack differently? I wouldnt think so, but activists, talking heads and assorted thought-processors disagree. Now we no longer look at a tragedy as an American one, but through the divisive eyes of balkanized camps of competing identities.

An activist at the University of Missouri, during a vigil for the victims of Orlando, actually expressed disappointment that she had to speak in front of grievers, who happened by birth, to be white. My only relief comes from the fact that a few people heckled her (a brave gay couple). That relief left when others drowned them out.

The beat-down is dead. We need to train our populace on the basics of group self-defense  meaning how to cooperate and risk their skins to take down the lone aggressor.

If ten people attack a man with a gun, one or two may die  but the alternative is worse. Be Like 93 should be the motto  in honor of the heroic actions of the passengers of Flight 93, who saved uncountable lives on September 11, 2001 by attacking the hijackers and bringing the jet down in a Pennsylvania field.

But thats not what Im really talking about. I mean justifiable aggression: explicitly meting out justice to those who deserve it. How can we do that, when we cannot agree who deserves it?

The New York Times blamed Republicans for Orlando. The Huffington Post blamed Christians. Every liberal blames guns, as well as the complicit wife of the murderous, terrorist dirtbag. And the dirtbags dad blames social networks. Hes even suing them.

The more we spread the condemnations around, the less we have for the truly guilty party. Hence our incremental approach to ISIS. President Obama treats the war on terror (a polite phrase for Islamism), like were playing Jenga. Slowly, and on rainy days.

We lose respect for evidence. Our inability to call a spade a spade is the result of divorcing cause from effect. If we cant call Islamism out for this horribleness, then whats left? Blame Guns. Christians. White Zinfindal. Its as though you blame a massive wild fire not on dry tinder and a lit cigarette, but on poor self-esteem among carbon products.

Heres science: Islamism preaches the murder of gays; then an Islamist murders a club full of gays. Causeeffect.

Why does the left deny science?

The way the media and our White House deny the effects of Islamism seems eerily similar to a certain industry we grew to loathe over time. Remember how the tobacco companies denied the role of their product in lung cancer? To deny that link, now, would have you laughed off the planet. My prediction: 20 years from now we will feel the same way about Islamism.

Remember when we had a president who refused to admit the link between atrocity and Islamism will be the same as Remember when people used to say cigarettes didnt cause cancer.

Refusing to link Islamism to evil is denying the evidence before your objective eyes.

You dont even need to bring up Orlando. Try honor killings. Read up on the Taliban and what they do to girls who want to go to school. Google Taliban and acid.

President Obama isnt just on the wrong side of history, hes on the wrong side of the future. For a guy who claims to be all about science, he lives in a fairy tale.

We have murdered sympathy. A product of modern leftisms regressive identity politics: we see victimhood as a zero-sum game. If you grieve for the victims of terror, is there any left for Black Lives Matter? If you light a candle for Orlando, why not for Ferguson?

If you arent gay, how are you able to sympathize with gay victims of terror?

What if youre against gay marriage? Are you as evil as terrorists? Perhaps, some might say (or have said).

One anchor at another network actually chided a sympathizing politician, in the state where the terror took place because she did not support gay rights enough to his satisfaction. I was bummed hed play bouncer to the Who gets to grieve night club. Thats beneath him. Obama was against gay marriage just a handful of years ago, my friend.

Now sympathy is saddled with considerations for approval of other groups and classes. Maybe just keep quiet instead of expressing sympathy, one might conclude.

We have killed debate. To better enhance well-being, one must be able to argue and even allow oneself to be proven wrong. Science is all about that: prove me wrong, please. Now, no one wants to be wrong, even when its an abstract debate.

Look, I think the gun control debate is a deflection from the core concern, which is terror. But Im willing to listen to some common sense, or at least informed opinions on how to prevent terrorists from getting guns. Sadly, the gun control argument is a misleading one: used not to ban guns (we know it aint happening), but to drive the debate away from the more volatile issue, which Islamisms universal plans.

And!  wouldnt it be nice to talk about gun control with people who actually knew something about guns? Or control? If Orlando had been done not by gun, but by bomb -- where would the lefts argument be? Where it was, after Boston. Nowhere.

We have disabled our impulse control. My motto has always been: your first public thought is often your worst public thought. Meaning: think before unloading.

We now know that this is an impossible wish in this current climate of Twitter, Facebook and Piers Morgan. What happened to reserve? Contemplation? Thoughtfulness? What about waiting a few days before you spout an opinion?

Now every celebrity and their less famous sibling is on Twitter lecturing us on assault weapons and tolerance as if the world right now really needs a hot take from a sitcom star on his third bout of chlamydia.

The strong and silent type has been replaced with the weak and loud. Id include myself in this, except that I only speak when spoken to. Otherwise, I sit quietly in a corner and drink copious amounts of wine.

We no longer cooperate. This sad and sober consequence is the result of combining all the results mentioned above together. Without cooperation, society is doomed. Cooperation contributes to better lives, over all. If whats good for you, is good for them you help them get what you have.

Thats not the case in this era of moral relativism.

The problem is: we no longer believe that what we have is good. How can America defeat ISIS if we have vocal factions believing that we are worse? How can we fight the enemy if a large portion of our population thinks an inanimate object  a gun  caused Orlando? And not this pernicious ideology you cant even call a death cult, because radical Islam is worse than that? Its a death movement. A death phenomenon. Its a force that sees our conscious lives as inferior to what happens after you die. Which is why, for them, killing gays is an act of love. Theyre doing those sinners a favor  in their twisted skulls, killing innocents in a night club just gave the murdered a Fast Pass to Nirvana.

Boy, this is a depressing article. And I wrote it.

Read it and weep.

For the victims. For the country. For your family. For you and me.
Every Monday, Fox News contributor Karl Rove wraps up the last week in politics and offers an inside look at the week ahead.

Late Breaking News: After this report had been filed, news broke that Trumps campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, has been fired. Political insiders and journalists alike have reported that Lewandowski and campaign chairman Paul Manafort have been in open warfare over the campaigns strategy. Lewandowski won most of the battles because he traveled constantly with the candidate and was often the last person The Donald talked to on most every issue.

Lewandowskis instinct was to let Trump be Trump. But while that might have helped the New York businessman grab 44 percent of the GOP primary vote and become the partys presumptive nominee, it is not clear this approach would work in the general election. News reports indicate Trumps family played a major role in convincing the candidate to dump his manager.

But this change may mean less than expected if the candidate persists in his unorthodox approach. Winning presidential campaigns are guided by a plan to effectively use the candidates time in covering battleground states, targeting persuadable groups of voters with a consistent message that is backed up by solid information and research and delivered in a compelling, deliberate manner.

This requires planning and, having never run for office, Mr. Trump may well believe he doesnt need a plan or to change his tone or to engage in the basic blocking-and-tackling of persuading and turning out-the-vote. Instead, he may believe big rallies and frequent TV interviews devoted to the issues of the moment can overcome all.

While it is clear Manafort and the others who make up the winning faction inside Team Trump understand what traditional campaigns need to do, they will not be able to make other needed changes unless the candidate is willing.

The candidates spent last week showcasing divergent strategies to unify their parties. Hillary Clinton continued trying to conciliate Bernie Sanders by reminding he and his supporters of the need to defeat Donald Trump, but the Vermont senator is not willing to suspend his campaign now.

Instead, Sanders seems intent on some sort of confrontation at next months Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. On Tuesday he called for the Democratic Partys fundamental transformation, and on Thursday he rallied supporters for a platform fight and encouraged them to run for state and local office.

Donald Trump spent his week refusing to conciliate the GOP. On Wednesday he told Republicans upset with his comments about Mexican Judge Gonzalo Curiel and opposed to his proposed ban on Muslims entering the country to Just please be quiet. Don't talk.

And on Meet The Press Sunday, Trump said that while It would be nice if the Republicans stuck together  I can win one way or the other. At rallies last week, he also savaged Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush.

Some Republican leaders believe The Donald would be better off ignoring his critics, projecting confidence that the GOP will be united and focusing his energy on Clinton and President Obama. They wonder why he continues to punch down.

Every day Trump spends trashing fellow Republicans is a day the press covers that story, not his attacks on Clinton. Bad advance work can also keep the story alive: Trump held a fundraiser in Arizona at a home built by Senator Barry Goldwater. No one bothered to check what Goldwaters widow thought of The Donald. She scorched him in interviews.

The two camps have deeply divergent TV strategies, too: NBC News reported Sunday that Clinton and her super PAC allies ARE spending $23.3 million this month in eight battleground states, while Trump and his allies have spent zero (at least one pro-Trump super PAC is running spots on Fox News Channel nationally).

The Clinton campaign ads are running in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio and Virginia. Among them are https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ891SoIsdQ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiS-WGv8Dps.

The president was heard from, as well: On Tuesday, Obama used the State Floor of the White House for a speech to attack Trump. Its unusual for any president to use the White House for political speeches, but Obama has demonstrated he doesnt believe tradition, rules or even the law applies to him.

Democrats counting on Obama to help make the case against Trump believe the presidents 50.4/45.6 percent approval/disapproval rating in the RealClearPolitics average of recent polls makes him a big plus for Clintons campaign.

Besides counting on those who disapprove of the president to be stronger in their views than those who approve, Republicans believe Obamas numbers have risen as both partys primary fights partially obscured him, and that his efforts now to gain the limelight will remind people of what they didnt like about him and his policies, further fueling voters desire for change.

Convention preparations moved forward: Political insiders consider the appointments Friday of Enid Michelson of Utah as Rules Committee chairman for the GOP National Convention and Ron Kaufman of Massachusetts as Rules co-chairman as moves by RNC Chairman Reince Priebus to install leaders loyal to him, rather than to any specific candidate, though the ramifications of this are not yet clear.

Democratic leaders were given the joyful news that veterans of Occupy Wall Street plan to use three campgrounds in southern New Jersey as staging sites for Sanders supporters who will participate in protests in the park across the street from the partys convention at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia. The campgrounds are half an hour away and can house thousands.

Looking forward: Clinton promises to step up her attacks on Trump this week with a speech on his business failures, while Trumps handlers suggest he will lay out more of his economic vision.

Republicans wonder whether Trump will pivot, ignore his Republican critics and focus on Clinton. After all, he has repeatedly criticized Mitt Romney for failing to effectively attack Obama in 2012. Trumps continued failure to go on the offense himself will raise further concerns and more doubts about his chances in the general election.

Watch also to see if controversy continues bubbling up about Trumps call on Sunday for profiling Muslims and his suggestion last week that Obama is secretly sympathetic to radical Islam. Even the NRA disavowed Trumps view that nightclub patrons should be able to carry guns into any club. Lets see if these Trump comments become bigger items.

But guns are likely to dominate this weeks political coverage: In the aftermath of the Orlando massacre, the Senate takes up four competing measures designed to keep potential terrorists from being able to purchase guns. The most likely to win the largest amount of Senate support is Texas Republican John Cornyns bill, but its not clear that even he can win the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster by Senate Democrats, some of whom would rather have a political issue than pass legislation.
When it comes to radical Islam, President Obama has his [redacted] up his [omitted].

He simply refuses to acknowledge that jihadists are slaughtering Americans across the fruited plain.

Facts do not matter to this administration. The truth is irrelevant.

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We learned that in the aftermath of the jihadist attacks on Fort Hood and Boston and San Bernardino and Chattanooga.

And now the Obama administration is trying to convince the nation that Islam had nothing to do with the Orlando nightclub massacre.

The Justice Department was complicit in this effort by redacting anything to do with radical Islam from 911 transcripts that were released Monday.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch told ABC News that she did want to re-victimize those who went through that horror.

Click here to get a signed copy of Todds latest book - primer on how to restore traditional American values!

She directed the FBI to redact any references to jihad or the Islamic State or Allah.

What were not going to do is further proclaim this mans pledges of allegiance to terrorist groups, and further his propaganda, she told NBC News.

So heres the partial transcript between the Islamic jihadist and the 911 operator:

911: Emergency 911, this is being recorded.

Jihadist: In the name of God the Merciful, the beneficial [in Arabic].

911: What?

Jihadist: Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God [in Arabic] I let you know, Im in Orlando and I did the shootings.

911: Whats your name?

Jihadist: My name is I pledge of allegiance to [omitted]

911: Okay. Whats your name?

Jihadist: I pledge allegiance to [omitted] may God protect him [in Arabic] on behalf of [omitted]

So the jihadist goes on to describe himself as an Islamic soldier and he pledged allegiance to a redacted group.

Meanwhile, the White House and the mainstream media are advancing this narrative that we still dont understand why the gunman slaughtered all those folks in Orlando.

Unless you have the intelligence level of a single-cell organism or a New York Times editorial writer, its pretty clear this guy was a radical Islamist hell-bent on killing as many Americans as he could.

But instead of accepting reality, the mainstream media and radical, leftwing radicals are blaming Republicans and Christians for the attack.

The most offensive comments came from Chris Anderson, a city councilman from Chattanooga.

Mr. Anderson accused the Tea Party and Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam of inciting the violence.

He fired off a series of inflammatory tweets  asking conservatives if you regret your hateful attacks on the LGBT community and your incitement of this?

Its always best to ignore online trolls  especially if they hold elected office.

House Speaker Paul Ryan blasted the administrations decision to censor references to ISIS from the 911 transcript.

Selectively editing this transcript is preposterous, he wrote in a statement. We now the shooter was a radical Islamist extremist inspired by ISIS. We also know he intentionally targeted the LGBT community. The administration should release the full, unredacted transcript so the public is clear-eyed about who did this, and why.

I doubt the White House will comply with Ryans demands  because it conflicts with their carefully crafted narrative.

You see, the Obama administration appears to be more concerned with protecting the name of Islam -- than protecting the American people.

And that is [redacted] and nothing but the [redacted] so help me [omitted].
Donald Trumps controversial decision to strip press credentials for The Washington Post last week sparked a firestorm when it was announced  but it's hardly the first time a presidential candidate battled with reporters over access.

In the last days of the 2008 campaign, the Barack Obama campaign found itself in a similar spat with three newspapers after kicking their reporters off the Democratic nominee's press charter plane.

The newspapers getting the boot -- the Dallas Morning News, Washington Times and New York Post -- had all carried critical coverage of the Obama campaign. As the Los Angeles Times reported at the time, while the Obama camp claimed the decision was due to a lack of space on the plane, all three newspapers had recently published editorials endorsing Obamas rival, Arizona Sen. John McCain.

Several outlets and websites, including Mediaite and the Independent Journal Review, have noted the ongoing Trump-Post feud has echoes of this 2008 dust-up.

Still, Trump's battle with The Washington Post and other outlets is more intense. While Obamas decision was made under the pretense of a seating difficulty, Trump openly said he was stripping the Post's credentials because of their coverage.

Trump previously has barred reporters from Politico and Buzzfeed, among others, from attending his events. He also frequently refers to the media as dishonest and once called an ABC News reporter a sleaze.

As for The Washington Post, the Trump campaign specifically cited an online headline -- which claimed Trump had suggested President Obama was "involved" with the Orlando terror attack, before being revised -- as the last straw.

We no longer feel compelled to work with a publication which has put its need for 'clicks' above journalistic integrity, the campaign said in a statement last week.

Washington Post Executive Editor Marty Baron, in a statement, called the decision a repudiation of the role of a free and independent press.
A series of dueling gun control measures in the Senate were defeated Monday evening in the first proposed legislation in the wake of the Orlando terror attack.

The four amendments all failed on procedural votes.

The first vote was on the amendment by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, to enhance funding for an existing gun background check system which needed 60 votes to pass. The final vote tally was 53 to 47.

The second vote was on a measure by Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., to expand gun background checks and close the so-called gun show loophole where firearm purchases are not tracked. The final vote tally was 44 to 56.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas pushed a measure that would allow the government to delay a gun sale to a suspected terrorrist for 72 hours, but require prosecutors to go to court to show probable cause to block the sale permanently. The National Rifle Associated backed the legislation, but it failed in a final vote of 53 to 47.

The fourth and final vote involved a measure by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to keep people on a government terrorism watch list or other suspected terrorists from buying guns. The Justice Department endorsed her legislation, but it also failed with a final vote count of 47 to 53.

The votes came after Murphy filibustered for almost 15 hours last week seeking action in response to the killing of 49 people in the gay nightclub Pulse by Omar Mateen, a Florida man who pledged his loyalty to ISIS in the midst of the rampage.

Its hard to believe, but still true, that our Republican colleagues voted to allow suspected terrorists to buy guns," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, in a statement after the votes. "We will keep pushing until they see the light.

Since lawmakers were unable to come together on a piece of compromise legislation, the individual bills faced long odds. Democrats helped block two Republican amendments, arguing that they fall short in controlling the sales of firearms. In turn, Republicans were able to block two Democratic amendments, contending they threaten the constitutional rights of gun owners.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the Orlando attack shows the best way to prevent attacks by extremists is to defeat such groups overseas.

"Look, no one wants terrorists to be able to buy guns or explosives," McConnell said. He suggested that Democrats were using the day's votes "as an opportunity to push a partisan agenda or craft the next 30-second campaign ad," while Republicans wanted "real solutions."

Cornyn said after the votes that he thinks there may be other votes on terrorism or guns later this week.

Murphy said Sunday on ABCs The Week that the passage of the measures was unlikely and focused on the response to the filibuster.

"It wasn't just that 40 senators came to the floor and supported my effort to get these votes but there were millions of people all across the country who rose up and who joined our effort," he said.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch told Fox News Sunday that she also supported Cornyns proposal. Lynch said such an amendment would give the federal government the ability to stop a sale to somebody on the terror watch list.

However, she argued the federal government needs flexibility and the authority to protect the classified information used in denying a sale, if potential buyers exercise the constitutional rights to file an appeal.

The American people deserve for us to take the greatest amount of time, Lynch said.

The Pulse Orlando nightclub 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.

Both the Feinstein and Cornyn amendments would have tried to ensure that individuals like Mateen who had been a subject of a terrorism investigation within the last five years are flagged. Grassley's would have required that law enforcement be notified if a person had been investigated in the last five years and attempted to purchase a gun.

Last week, presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump tweeted that he would meet with the NRA about "not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns." Exactly what he would support was unclear.

Separately, moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is working with other Republicans, as well as talking to Democrats, on a bill that would prevent people on the no-fly list  a smaller universe than targeted by Democrats  from getting guns. But her bill had not been blessed by GOP leaders and it was unclear if it would get a vote.

In the GOP-controlled House, Republicans had no plans to act on guns and Democrats were unable to force any action, given House rules less favorable to the minority party than in the Senate.

Fox News' Chad Pergram, Mike Emanuel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Attorney General Loretta Lynch declined Sunday to say whether the FBI will charge anybody in connection with the Florida nightclub massacre and expressed support for a proposal from a Republican senator to tighten gun control.

Lynch, the countrys top law enforcement official, told Fox News Sunday that federal investigators are in the middle of a very aggressive investigation that includes talking to family members.

However, she declined to comment why the wife of shooter Omar Mateen has not been arrested, amid purported evidence that she helped her husband plot the June 12 murders.

Lynch said the FBI on Monday willl release a partial transcript of Orlando police department hostage negotiators talking to Mateen inside the nightclub. However, much of his talk about allegience to radical Islamic groups has been removed, she said.



Mateen, a Muslim, killed 49 people and wounded dozens of others inside the Orlando, Fla., nightclub before dying in a shootout with police.

The 29-year-old Mateen pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State terror group, even during his shooting rampage inside the gay nightclub.

We are trying to re-create the days, the weeks, the months of this killers life before this attack, said Lynch, who spoke on all of the major Sunday talk shows. And we are also asking those people who had contact with him to come forward and give us that information as well.

Mateen was the focus of two FBI investigations into suspected terrorism. However, the probes were concluded without further action, and Mateen was allowed to legally buy firearms.

Lynch said the Justice Department is going to go back and see what changes could have been made, regarding how the investigations were handled.

She also expressed support from an amendment scheduled for a vote Monday in the Senate by Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn that would allow the federal government to delay a gun sale to a suspected terrorist for as long as 72 hours. Afterward, prosecutors would have to persuade a judge to block the sale permanently.

Lynch said such an amendment would give the federal government the ability to stop a sale to somebody on the terror watch list.

However, she argued the federal government needs flexibility and the authority to protect the classified information used in denying a sale, if potential buyers exercise the constitutional rights to file an appeal.

The American people deserve for us to take the greatest amount of time, Lynch said.

The amendment is one of four gun-control measures scheduled for a vote Monday, each with long odds of passing the GOP-controlled Senate.

Lynch also said neither she nor anybody in the department face a conflict of interest in investigating Hillary Clintons use of a private email server while secretary of state, despite President Obama endorsing her for president.

The investigation into the State Department email matter is going to be handled like any other matter, said Lynch, essentially repeating earlier responses to such questions. We've got career agents and lawyers looking at that. They will follow the facts and follow the evidence wherever it leads and come to a conclusion. This is not a conflict for me or for the department or for anyone.
HELENA  Allyson Watson aspired to follow in her mother's footsteps and become an emergency room nurse. That was until her fingers were burned off in a wildfire in 2003.

Although more than 86 percent of her body, including her face, was severely burned, Watson considers herself blessed. Her sister, Ashleigh Roach, died in the wildfire north of San Diego.

The fire, started by arson, began as a "little brush fire" on a nearby reservation, she said. It was about five miles away, and the wind was blowing the flames in the opposite direction of her family's home in Valley Center. Throughout the night in October 2003, her loved ones took turns keeping watch. The fire was not visible, but in the morning, the smell of smoke became overwhelming, Watson recalled.

"Then dad came in and said, 'It's coming,'" she said.

Watson, who was 20 years old at the time, began grabbing items from her jewelry box when she peered out the window. The porch outside was engulfed in flames.

"Then all hell broke loose," she said.

The family had an evacuation plan in place that everyone would get in the family's car, which was outside facing the road. Smoke from the wildfire had become so thick they could barely see in front of them.

"We couldn't even see the car," she said.

Abandoning the initial escape plan, they jumped into several cars and attempted to flee.

Watson ended up in car with a friend who was not familiar with the area and couldn't see the road. They ended up careening down a hillside. Watson crawled up the hill, getting burned by the wildfire as she did.

Watson's brother found her, and she got into his car. Due to the heavy smoke, her brother didn't see an oncoming vehicle, which they crashed into. Their car ended up sliding into a burning pepper tree. Watson was burned a second time.

"I looked like my skin was melted candle wax, and I had no hair," she said was the description her brother told her.

Her sister, Ashleigh Roach, paralyzed by shock, was in the backseat. Roach told Watson she was stuck, but she wasn't. She was later found dead in the car. Roach was 16.

On Saturday, Watson shared her story with participants in an education re-enactment of her family's story put on by local fire officials.

"People think, 'It's not going to happen to me.' That's the worst and most dangerous thing you can do," Watson said.

This was Watson's second time in the Helena area sharing her story with the hope of inspiring others to better prepare themselves for wildfires. In 2011, authorities coordinated a similar re-creation in Wolf Creek. The event, which has been held four times in the state, was prompted by a Montana fire official after he heard Watson's parents speak at a conference.

"Education  our family has been very interested in that from the beginning," Watson said. "It's paramount to saving lives."

"I promise to come up every time I'm invited," she added.

One of the dangers is people becoming too comfortable whether they live in the city or in the wilderness.

"Fire will follow you no matter where you go," Watson said.

Watson's parents have rebuilt their home on the same land. She, along with her husband and two young sons, live nearby.

Watson said she finds talking about the fire, her injuries and her sister's death cathartic.

"Not only is it helping others, but it was also helping me," she said. "I do it because I want to make sure people are aware. It's about helping people and making sure this doesn't happen again."

"I feel like this honors my sister's memory as well," Watson added.
The Obama administration is stalling a congressional inquiry into its ongoing refusal to uphold a U.S. law that would sanction Russia for selling advanced missile systems to Iran, according to recent communications between the State Department and Congress exclusively obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

President Obama has the authority under U.S. law to designate as illegal Russias recent sale to Iran of the advanced S-300 missile system, a long-range weapon that would boost the Islamic Republics military capabilities.

The administration has so far declined to exercise its sanction authority under law and has been stalling attempts by Congress to discern the rationale behind this decision, prompting accusationst hat the administration is ignoring U.S. law and acquiescing to the sale in order to preserve last summers comprehensive nuclear deal.

Rep. Steve Chabot (R., Ohio), who first launched an inquiry challenging the administrations reluctance to sanction the sale in early April, told the Free Beacon that the White House is continuing to punt questions from lawmakers, jeopardizing efforts by Western nations to block the arms sale.

The administration informed Chabot on June 8more than two months after his initial requestthat it has not reached a determination as to whether it will move forward with sanctions as specified under the law.

Obama administration officials reiterated this stance when contacted by the Free Beacon late last week.

Click for more from The Washington Free Beacon.
A week after the Orlando terror massacre, U.S. lawmakers will bring a set of dueling gun control measures to the Senate floor Monday  and all are expected to fail.

The scheduled votes on four separate bills address changes to the background check system as well as restrictions on gun sales for those on terror watch lists, among other areas.

The votes come after Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., filibustered for almost 15 hours last week seeking action in response to the killing of 49 people in the gay nightclub Pulse by Omar Mateen, a Florida man who pledged his loyalty to ISIS in the midst of the rampage.

But since lawmakers were unable to come together on a piece of compromise legislation, the individual bills face long odds. Democrats are expected to block two Republican amendments, arguing that they fall short in controlling the sales of firearms. In turn, Republicans are certain to block two Democratic amendments, contending they threaten the constitutional rights of gun owners.

Murphy said on ABCs The Week that the passage of the measures was unlikely and focused on the response to the filibuster.

"It wasn't just that 40 senators came to the floor and supported my effort to get these votes but there were millions of people all across the country who rose up and who joined our effort," he said.

The Senate will vote on a measure by Murphy to expand gun background checks and one by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to keep people on a government terrorism watch list or other suspected terrorists from buying guns. The Justice Department has endorsed her legislation.

Countering that proposal, Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas is pushing a measure that would allow the government to delay a gun sale to a suspected terrorist for 72 hours, but require prosecutors to go to court to show probable cause to block the sale permanently. The National Rifle Association backs the legislation, but gun control advocates and Democrats say the bar is too high.

A separate measure from Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley would boost funds for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and ensure the correct records are uploaded into the system in a timely manner. It would also clarify language surrounding mental health issues to disqualify someone from buying a gun. Democrats say language in the bill would actually roll back some current protections.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch told Fox News Sunday that she also supported Cornyns proposal. Lynch said such an amendment would give the federal government the ability to stop a sale to somebody on the terror watch list.

However, she argued the federal government needs flexibility and the authority to protect the classified information used in denying a sale, if potential buyers exercise the constitutional rights to file an appeal.

The American people deserve for us to take the greatest amount of time, Lynch said.

The Pulse Orlando nightclub 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.

Both the Feinstein and Cornyn amendments would try to ensure that individuals like Mateen who had been a subject of a terrorism investigation within the last five years are flagged. Grassley's would require that law enforcement be notified if a person had been investigated in the last five years and attempted to purchase a gun.

Last week, presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump tweeted that he would meet with the NRA about "not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no fly list, to buy guns." Exactly what he would support was unclear.

Separately, moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is working with other Republicans, as well as talking to Democrats, on a bill that would prevent people on the no-fly list  a smaller universe than targeted by Democrats  from getting guns. But her bill had not been blessed by GOP leaders and it was unclear if it would get a vote.

In the GOP-controlled House, Republicans had no plans to act on guns and Democrats were unable to force any action, given House rules less favorable to the minority party than in the Senate.

On another front in the gun debate  concerning another mass shooting tragedy  a judge in Connecticut will hear arguments Monday on whether to dismiss a lawsuit against the maker of the semiautomatic rifle used to kill 20 children and six adults in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre.

The families of nine children and adults killed at the Newtown school and a teacher who survived are suing Remington Arms, the Madison, North Carolina-based parent company of Bushmaster Firearms, which made the XM15-E2S rifle used in the shooting. They say the company knew its AR-15-style rifle was meant for the military and was too dangerous to sell to civilians.

Lawyers for Remington continue to argue the lawsuit is barred by a 2005 federal law, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which shields gun manufacturers from most lawsuits over criminal use of their products.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
George W. Bush just pulled off something rather remarkable.

He got himself on the front page of the New York Times as helping to save the Republican Party from Donald Trump without uttering a word.

Nice work if you can get it.

The story has political impact because the former president has largely stayed out of the political wars since leaving the White House, except for a few appearances for his brother Jeb.

But in keeping with Bushs above-the-fray stance, there are no quotes from him criticizing Trump. The piece is about him headlining fundraisers for potentially vulnerable Republican senators, such as Kelly Ayotte and his old foe John McCainwho are described as being in jeopardy because of the man at the top of the ticket.

The only view indirectly attributed to Bush 43 is this: Friends say that the former president is deeply bothered by Mr. Trumps campaign message, especially his derogatory remarks about Muslims and immigrants.

At the McCain event, Bush stressed the importance of preserving the Republican-held Senate as a check and balance on the White House, suggesting that such a check was needed, whether the next president is Mr. Trump or Hillary Clinton.

Bushs spokesman is quoted only as saying that his boss wants to help senators who share timeless conservative values.

All very surgical. No one can accuse Bushwho we already knew wasnt a Trump fan because hes skipping the convention, along with his father and brotherof knifing the Republican who wants his old job.

But while the story implicitly casts Bush as a savior, it only briefly deals with another way of looking at the hostility.

Trump ran against Bush and won the GOP nomination. I dont just mean Jeb, whose $100-million campaign was deemed the early favorite to banish the billionaire and seize the prize. I mean George W. Bush, and what might be called Bushism.

Trump completely broke with Bushs more tolerant approach to illegal immigration. He completely broke with Bushs idea of privatizing Social Security by declaring it untouchable. He constantly criticized Bushs decision to invade Iraq, blaming the move for destabilizing the Middle East. And he pointed out more than once that 9/11 happened on Bushs watch.

And while doing this, Trump got more than 13 million Republican votes. Not only did these voters reject Jeb, they rejected John Kasich, Marco Rubio and others who might be said to be more in the Bush mold. And Trumps bombastic style was a repudiation of the Bush brand of politics, which won the party the White House in 2000 and 2004.

In that vein, Bushs estrangement is understandable. This is no longer his party, or the party of the gentlemanly 41st president. And that would have been true if Ted Cruz, who finished second, had won the nomination. The political pendulum has swung away from the Bush clan. In fact, Bushs deputy secretary of State, Richard Armitage, just announced hes voting for Hillary.

You have to admire the way Bush has resisted the temptation to criticize his successor for almost eight years, sticking to his vow to retreat from public life. Now the only way for this tough-talking Texan to skewer his potential successor is through coded messages.
Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowskis abrupt firing Monday came down to a battle of ultimatums.

And ultimately, Lewandowski lost.

Paul Manafort, the veteran operative who since March has been amassing influence inside Trump HQ, recently telegraphed through third parties he would be gone in 48 hours if Trump didnt oust Lewandowski, who'd run his campaign from the outset. Manafort was fed up with battling Lewandowski and let the campaign know the two of them "just couldn't get along."

From there, it became a family affair. Trumps daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner didnt want to lose Manafort, believing him to be the more experienced hand to guide the campaign into the general election.

They convinced Trump to keep him  and the only way to do that, given Manaforts terms, was to dump Lewandowski.

Faced with a choice, Trump chose Manafort.

This account was relayed to Fox News by a campaign source. The details shed light on arguably the biggest staff shake-up of the 2016 cycle.

Despite the shock of Trump parting ways with Lewandowski, one of his closest and most loyal advisers, just weeks before the convention, in some corners the decision was not so surprising.

The former conservative activist played a central role in daily operations, fundraising, and Trump's search for a running mate, but Lewandowski's aggressive approach also fueled near-constant campaign infighting that complicated Trump's shift toward the general election.

Another Trump campaign official, Michael Caputo, resigned Monday afternoon over a tweet he sent out earlier in the day about Lewandowski's firing, a campaign source told Fox News.

Caputo tweeted "Ding, dong, the witch is dead" shortly after news about Lewandowski broke. Accompanying the tweet was a photo from the "Wizard of Oz," showing the feet of the Wicked Witch of the East protruding from under a house.

Campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks confirmed Caputo is no longer with the campaign.

Reached on Monday by The Associated Press, Lewandowski deflected any criticism of his approach, pointing instead to Manafort.

"Paul Manafort has been in operational control of the campaign since April 7. That's a fact," Lewandowski said, declining to elaborate on his dismissal.

In a subsequent interview with CNN, Lewandowski repeatedly said he didnt know why he was fired. But he said working for the campaign was an honor and a privilege and he wouldnt change one second. He also claimed there was no animosity in the relationship with Manafort.

A person close to Trump told the AP that Lewandowski was forced out largely because of his poor relationship with the Republican National Committee and GOP officials.

On Capitol Hill, a Republican congressional aide close to pro-Trump lawmakers told Fox News the campaign did not inform members of Congress of the Lewandowski departure. Still, some sources said they were not surprised by the move and had been given the impression there would be a pivot soon to the general election, involving a potential staffing change.

Fox News is told that Trumps children ultimately convinced the presumptive Republican presidential nominee to lose Lewandowski  an effort preceded by the tensions between Manafort and Lewandowski.

Manafort was originally brought on in March to help the Trump campaigns delegate operation. He was later promoted to the role of campaign chairman  and will now take over as campaign manager, Fox News is told.

Hes the campaign chairman, so yeah  hes the person in charge, Trump senior adviser Barry Bennett told Fox News.

Whether the ouster is simply an effort to smooth over rifts inside the Trump campaign or signals a major shift in strategy remains to be seen.

Bennett downplayed the notion that there would be any dramatic changes, but suggested Trump would be talking more about the issues in the weeks ahead.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Preibus told Fox News' Greta Van Susteren in an "On The Record" interview he thought the staff change was a "new direction" for the Trump campaign.

"I see a pivot and seriousness to the general election," he said.

Lewandowski has long been a controversial figure in Trump's campaign, but benefited from his proximity to the presumptive Republican nominee. He traveled with Trump on his private plane to nearly every campaign stop, giving him more direct access to the businessman than nearly any other campaign staffer.

He was a chief promoter of the idea that the best campaign strategy was to "Let Trump be Trump." He frequently dismissed the notion that Trump needed to hire more experienced political hands, spend on polling and sophisticated data operations, or moderate his rhetoric as he moved toward the general election.

Spokeswoman Hope Hicks said in a statement: "The Donald J. Trump Campaign for President, which has set a historic record in the Republican Primary having received almost 14 million votes, has today announced that Corey Lewandowski will no longer be working with the campaign. The campaign is grateful to Corey for his hard work and dedication and we wish him the best in the future."

The decision to part ways followed a rough patch for Trump at a time when he had an opening to crank up his general election operation as presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton was still fighting to fend off Bernie Sanders. Instead, Trumps poll numbers against Clinton slipped, as Trump has found himself caught up in several controversies over his own comments  in turn stoking tensions with other top Republicans.

Aside from the controversies that have hung over the Trump campaign in recent weeks  including his comments claiming a judge is biased against him in the Trump University case because of his Mexican heritage; his renewed calls for a Muslim immigration ban; and his decision to revoke credentials for The Washington Post  the campaign is also entering a new and arguably tougher phase as Democratic groups start spending big against him.

Clinton and her Democratic allies have invested at least $41 million in commercials in crucial states such as Ohio, Florida and Nevada over the next six weeks. Those messages will be echoed by hundreds of Clinton workers in those same states and amplified by President Obama and other top Democrats.

Vice President Biden was also delivering an anti-Trump speech Monday.

Fox News John Roberts and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Democratic Partys superdelegate system  which helped power Hillary Clinton and became a target of Bernie Sanders call for political revolution  might not be long for the political world.

As the presidential primary season wraps, at least a couple state Democratic parties are looking to overhaul the system and weaken the superdelegates' role.

Clinton had the inside track with these free-agent delegates -- party insiders free to support any candidate they want at the convention -- from the outset of the 2016 race. But, echoing Sanders' concerns with the system, the California Democratic Party approved a resolution Sunday calling for major changes including the elimination of caucuses and most superdelegates, The Los Angeles Times reported.

The resolution from the largest Democratic state party in the country called for Democratic governors and members of Congress to have their status as superdelegates removed, instead attending the convention as guests without the right to vote. Members of the Democratic National Committee would retain their status, but would be bound to vote for whichever candidate won their constituency.

The California resolution is a symbolic measure and not binding, but increases pressure on the national Democratic Party to consider changes.

The proposed rules aim for changes ahead of the 2020 election. The Times reported that while the changes were pushed by Sanders backers, they were endorsed by many supporters of presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton.

On a similar track, the Nebraska Democratic Party on Sunday also passed a resolution urging their five superdelegates to base their votes on the results of the states presidential caucuses.

According to the Lincoln Journal-Star, the non-binding measure also bars the party from sending superdelegates to future conventions without substantial change to the primary process.

Just one of Nebraska's five superdelegates has committed to support Sanders, despite his victory in the state caucuses.

Sanders has also received unlikely support in his criticism of the process from presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, who has criticized the rigged system of superdelegates within the Democratic Party.

Democratic Party officials, meanwhile, point out that superdelegates have never been the deciding factor in any nomination since being created before the 1984 presidential election.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Some Texas residents are keeping a close eye on Britains upcoming vote on whether to leave the European Union later this month and are hoping they could use the referendum as inspiration to break away from the U.S.

Daniel Miller, 42, the president of the Texas Nationalist Movement, told The Guardian Sunday that hes tracking every step of the so-called Brexit movement and is hoping Texas can conjure a similar Leave vote to secede.

There are a lot of people asking, if Brexit why not Texit? he told the paper. I do talk with some folks over there on a pretty regular basis that are involved in Ukip and the Conservative party.

Miller said Britains situation is nearly identical to Texas. He told The Guardian to replace the EU with the US and Brussels with Washington. He told a local Tea Party group that the relationship between Britain and the EU was fractured over irreconcilable differences.

He said the reasons lawmakers have for wanting Britain to leave the European Union are nearly identical to why Texas nationalists want to secede from the U.S. Miller claims Texas could reach a higher potential if it wasnt shackled to the federal government.

Texas won independence from Mexico in 1836 and joined the U.S. in 1845. March 2 is an annual state holiday, and in 2003 a state law was enacted forcing students to pledge allegiance daily to the U.S. flag and the Texas flag.

The Republic of Texas, another Texas nationalist group, claims that Texas never ceded its sovereignty when it joined the U.S. On the groups website, it claims a great deception can be undone  stay tuned.

The Texas Nationalist Movement wants to secede from the U.S., using the political system rather than force or setting up some kind of parallel government. Miller said his group has more than 250,0000 supporters, including Russians who have taken great interest in seeing the break-up of the U.S.

Jeff Sadighi, a Texas secession backer, told The Guardian that he wants the possibility of a Texit to be debated just as fiercely as gun rights, illegal immigration and marriage equality.

The bottom line is, the federal government due to their legal structures can only offer one size fits all solutions, he said. People in Massachusetts arent going to approach challenges the same way we are.

As nationalists continue to try to get a vote on the floor of the State Legislature, Miller is waiting eagerly for the upcoming Brexit vote.

At a cultural and spiritual level there are a lot of similarities. A fiercely independent spirit. Keep calm and carry on, Miller explains. The stoicism. Theres a sense that when youre pushed, you dont just crumple like yesterdays newspaper, you stand up for what you believe in. We are easygoing, we are friendly, but when our core values and principles are threatened, we dont take kindly to it.

There have been two Texas petitions on the possibility of secession in the last few years and both of them were rejected.

When President Barack Obama was re-elected in 2012, a Texit petition garnered more than 125,000 votes but was shot down by the White House.

A petition to put the issue to a non-binding vote didnt get enough signatures, but secession was debated at the party convention last month.

Click for more from The Guardian.
House Speaker Rep. Paul Ryan is trying to keep fellow Republicans in control of Congress but said Sunday he wouldnt ask them to endorse Donald Trump for the sake of party unity, to save their Capitol Hill majority or keep Democrat Hillary Clinton out of the White House.

Imagine the speaker of the House not supporting the duly elected nominee of our party, therefore creating a chasm in our party, the Wisconsin Republican said on NBCs Meet the Press. I don't want to see Hillary Clinton as president. I want to see a strong majority in the House and the Senate.

Ryan has endorsed Trump but waited about a month after he won enough primaries, caucuses and accompanying delegates in early May to become the GOPs presumptive presidential nominee. After some direct conversations with Trump and assurances that he would support a conservative agenda, Ryan officially backed Trump earlier this month.

However, Ryan has since criticized some of Trumps subsequent comments, including the suggestion that an American-born judge presiding over a civil suit against Trump University real estate school could be bias because of his Mexican heritage.

I disavow these comments, Ryan told reporters earlier this month. Claiming a person can't do their job because of race is sort of like a textbook definition of a racist comment.

After the June 12 massacre at an Orlando, Fla., nightclub committed by Omar Mateen, a Muslim who was apparently self-radicalized, Trump renewed his call to temporarily keep Muslims out of the country.

Ryan later repeated his disapproval for such a ban, saying it was not in our country's interests.

Still, Ryan suggested Sunday that he wouldnt tell a Capitol Hill Republican seeking reelection on any party member to back Trump for the benefit the party in 2016.

The last thing I would do is tell anybody to do something that's contrary to their conscience, Ryan said.

Ryan, chairman of the GOP nomination convention in July, also said he disagrees with a purported effort by convention delegates to switch their assigned allegiance from Trump to another candidate to deny him the nomination. However, Ryan said he has no authority over such rules and related decisions

The voters picked (Trump.) He beat Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush and everybody else, Ryan said. He won the delegates. My place  is to call balls and strikes and just play it by the rules. So it is not my job to tell delegates what to do or what not to do or to weigh in on things like that.
Donald Trump split Monday with campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, in arguably the highest-profile staff shake-up of the 2016 season  a move that comes after a tumultuous period for the billionaire businessman, and just weeks before he is set to claim the Republican presidential nomination at the GOP convention.

Senior Trump campaign aides confirmed to Fox News on Monday morning that Lewandowski is no longer with the campaign.

A campaign source told Fox News it was Trump's children who convinced the candidate to dump Lewandowski, amid an apparent power struggle between him and campaign chairman Paul Manafort. In that dispute, Trump sided with Manafort, who will now take over as campaign manager.

The departure of one of Trump's most senior and loyal advisers follows what was widely seen as a rough patch for the campaign.

Trump's polling numbers against presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton have slipped in recent weeks, and Trump has found himself caught up in several controversies over his own comments  in turn stoking tensions with other top Republicans.

Trump senior adviser Barry Bennett on Monday downplayed the shift in the polls, but suggested Trump would be talking more about the issues in the weeks ahead. Speaking with Fox News just minutes after the Lewandowski decision was reported, Bennett confirmed that Manafort is now running the operation.

Hes the campaign chairman, so yeah  hes the person in charge, he said.

On Capitol Hill, a Republican congressional aide close to pro-Trump lawmakers said the campaign did not inform members of Congress of the Lewandowski departure. Still, some sources said they are not surprised by the move and had been given the impression there would be a pivot soon to the general election, involving a potential staffing change.

A hard-charging figure, and in some ways as unconventional as the candidate himself, Lewandowski had been by Trump's side since the beginning of his unlikely rise to presumptive GOP nominee. His main campaign experience before this cycle was managing the 2002 re-election campaign for then-New Hampshire Sen. Bob Smith; he subsequently worked for Americans for Prosperity.

Lewandowski has long been a controversial figure in Trump's campaign, but benefited from his proximity to the presumptive Republican nominee. He traveled with Trump on his private plane to nearly every campaign stop, giving him more direct access to the businessman than nearly any other campaign staffer.

He was a chief promoter of the idea that the best campaign strategy was to "Let Trump be Trump." He frequently dismissed the notion that Trump needed to hire more experienced political hands, spend on polling and sophisticated data operations, or moderate his rhetoric as he moved toward the general election.

Spokeswoman Hope Hicks said in a statement: "The Donald J. Trump Campaign for President, which has set a historic record in the Republican Primary having received almost 14 million votes, has today announced that Corey Lewandowski will no longer be working with the campaign. The campaign is grateful to Corey for his hard work and dedication and we wish him the best in the future."

The New York Times first reported on the Lewandowski development.

The move came as Trump faces continued deep resistance from many quarters of his party concerned by his contentious statements.

Aside from the controversies that have hung over the Trump campaign in recent weeks  including his comments claiming a judge is biased against him in the Trump University case because of his Mexican heritage; his renewed calls for a Muslim immigration ban; and his decision to revoke credentials for The Washington Post  the campaign is also entering a new and arguably tougher phase as Democratic groups start spending big against him.

Clinton and her Democratic allies have invested at least $41 million in commercials in crucial states such as Ohio, Florida and Nevada over the next six weeks. Those messages will be echoed by hundreds of Clinton workers in those same states and amplified by President Obama and other top Democrats.

Vice President Biden was also delivering an anti-Trump speech Monday.

FoxNews.com's Christopher Snyder and Fox News' John Roberts and Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The seabed holds some fascinating historical secrets, but unlike monuments on land, theyre largely hidden from view. Now, archaeologists in the United Kingdom are using 3D printing to bring two historical shipwrecks to life for history enthusiasts and experts alike.

Using data from photogrammetry (measuring the distance between objects from photographs) and sonar imaging, the researchers have produced scale models of a 17th-century shipwreck near Drumbeg, in Scotland, and the remains of the HMHS Anglia, a steamship that was used as a floating hospital during World War I. The steamship was sunk by a mine off the south coast of England.

"It was a proof of concept for us, trying to establish what could be done using sound and light, but there are so many different applications you could use this for," said maritime archaeologist John McCarthy, a project manager at Wessex Archaeology who carried out dives at the Scottish site and was in charge of producing the 3D models.

Related: Photos: Shipwrecks of the Deep Sea

"People can engage much more easily with a physical object in front of them. You can bring it to schools and conferences, and we are hoping to donate both models to local museums, once we've finished with them," McCarthy told Live Science.

It was not particularly difficult to create 3D-printed representations of the shipwrecks, McCarthy said. The magic, he said, was in creating the virtual models that were fed into the 3D printer.

McCarthy carried out initial experimental surveys of the Drumbeg wreck in 2012 with his colleague Jonathan Benjamin, who is now a lecturer at Flinders University in Australia. McCarthy recently joined him there to begin Ph.D. studies under Benjamin's supervision.

At the Drumbeg wreck site, the pair found three heavily encrusted cannons with evidence of a preserved wooden hull underneath. The ship's identity is still unknown, but one theory holds that it is a Dutch trading vessel called the Crowned Raven, which is known to have been lost in the bay in the late 1600s.

After realizing the techniques they were using could provide enough data for a 3D model, the archaeologists went back to do a more detailed survey in 2014 and used the lessons they had learned from their first attempt.

The archaeologists used a technique called photogrammetry, which involves taking hundreds of overlapping photographs of a site and then feeding them into a computer program that can stitch them together. The application is able to establish the spatial relationships between photos, which allows it to create a so-called 3D point cloud that maps each image in 3D space.

"Once you have a point cloud, you can turn it into a solid surface," McCarthy said. "Then you have a 3D model of the site that's not subjective or an artist's impression, but entirely objective."

The benefits of photogrammetry are that it produces very high-resolution images and it can capture the true color of the site, McCarthy said. The method is easily thwarted, however, by excess marine growth or poor visibility, and it is not well-suited to covering large areas.

Sonar, on the other hand, can see through the murk and can cover much larger areas, McCarthy said. For the 329-foot-long (100 meters) HMHS Anglia, another team from Wessex Archaeology used multibeam sonar  which operates in a similar way to a laser scanner  to do a much larger survey of the shipwreck site.

While multibeam sonar can't match the subcentimeter resolution of photogrammetry, using higher-end equipment and doing many passes can boost accuracy, McCarthy said. The Anglia survey was a particularly high-resolution one, he added, which was part of the reason it was selected for the 3D printing project.

McCarthy pointed out that the Wessex Archaeology team is not the first to create 3D-printed models from underwater imaging data. He said that the field has been booming in recent years, with big advances in both sonar and photographic techniques, and even some novel laser-scanning approaches are beginning to come through.

"All maritime archaeologists are engaging heavily with these techniques now," McCarthy said. "Advances in hardware and software in the last five years has allowed us to do very rapid and cheap surveys, and it has added to the tools we use underwater."

Copyright 2016 LiveScience, a Purch company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Solar Impulse 2 took off from New York early on Monday, attempting a historic solar-powered flight across the Atlantic.

The four-day flight is the 15th leg of Solar Impulse 2s epic attempt to circumnavigate the globe. Piloted by Solar Impulse Chairman Bertrand Piccard, the single-seater is expected to land in Seville, Spain on June 23.

Solar Impulse 2, which arrived in New York on June 11, took off from John F. Kennedy International Airport around 2:30 a.m. ET Monday.

It was fantastic to take off from one of the busiest airports and one of the most famous airports in the world, Piccard told FoxNews.com, via satellite link from the planes cockpit, about 8 hours into the flight. It was a beautiful way to leave America.

Related: Solar Impulse 2 makes Statue of Liberty flyby, arrives in New York

The plane has travelled more than 18,540 miles since setting off on the first leg of the trip from Abu Dhabi to Oman in March 2015, and has racked up over 390 hours of flight time.

Piccard told FoxNews.com that Solar Impulse 2 is continuing the tradition of aviation pioneers such as Charles Lindbergh, who made the first solo transatlantic flight in 1927. This is exactly our goal with Solar Impulse, he said. We try to show that we can cross this iconic ocean with a solar airplane without a single drop of fuel.

A larger version of a single-seat prototype that first flew six years ago, Solar Impulse 2 is made of carbon fiber and has 17,248 solar cells built into the wing that supply the plane with renewable energy, via four motors. The solar cells recharge four lithium polymer batteries, which provide power for night flying.

To accommodate the solar cells the plane has a 236-foot wingspan, similar to that of a Boeing 747. The aircraft weighs just 2.3 tons, similar to a family car and typically flies between 30 mph and 40 mph.

Related: Solar Impulse 2 pilot eyes renewable energy future

The plane is the brainchild of explorer and Solar Impulse Piccard, who is taking it in turns with his fellow Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg to fly the aircraft on its journey across the globe.

Piccard says he is undaunted by the dangerous journey across a vast expanse of ocean. You need to get out of your comfort zone, he said. This is really the world I live, the world of exploration  its something that we should teach much more to our children in school.

The explorer, with Brian Jones, made the first non-stop round-the-world balloon flight in 1999.

However, flying four days and four nights across the Atlantic in a cockpit too small to stand in will be a major test of Piccards physical and mental endurance. The pilot told FoxNews.com that he will use self-hypnosis to relax and will snatch sleep in short increments. When I am not wearing the oxygen mask I can recline my seat and sleep 20 minutes at a time, he said. I can sleep maybe 10 times a night like that.

Related: Solar Impulse 2s epic journey in pictures

Designed to prove the potential of renewable energy, Solar Impulse 2 has already earned a place in the history books. Borschberg broke a number of records on the eighth leg of Solar Impulses 2 journey, landing in Hawaii on July 3 2015 after an incredible 4,480-mile, 118-hour flight from Japan. The journey shattered the record for longest solar-powered flight in terms of distance and duration. Borschberg also broke the record for longest non-stop solo flight without refueling, which previously stood at 76 hours and 45 minutes.

Prior to its arrival in New York, Solar Impulse 2 made stops in India, Myanmar, China, Japan, Hawaii, California, Phoenix, Tulsa, Dayton and Lehigh Valley. After flying across the Atlantic, the final leg of the odyssey is from Europe to Abu Dhabi.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
KALISPELL  The name of the person who died in an apartment fire Friday night has been released.

Susan Denise Lake, 62, was the victim, according to Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry. The fire on Liberty Street displaced 34 other residents of the apartment building.

Authorities said the fire was contained to two residences in the Glacier State Apartments, which provides housing to low-income people over the age of 62 who are disabled. However, several other apartments incurred water, smoke and structural damage.

Residents reported hearing a large explosion Friday evening. Firefighters quickly evacuated the building.

The Red Cross made sure all 34 residents had places to stay, and those with nowhere else to go were placed in hotels.

Lake was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body was taken to the Montana State Crime Lab in Missoula, and the cause and manner of her death remain under investigation.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation as well.
Apple is reportedly withholding support for next months Republican presidential convention over comments made by Donald Trump about women, immigrants and minorities.

The iPhone maker has told Republican leaders that it will not provide funding or other support for GOP event, as it has done in the past, according to Politico. Citing two sources familiar with the tech giants plans, Politico reports that Apple decided against donating technology or cash to the Cleveland event.

Apple would be the second tech heavyweight to refuse aid to the convention  HP, which was a major donor to the 2012 GOP convention, recently confirmed that it will not be contributing to the event.

Related: Trump jumps into iPhone security row, calls for boycott of Apple products

While Trumps comments on issues such as undocumented migrants have proved highly controversial, he has also been outspoken on the topic of technology. Earlier this year he jumped into the iPhone security row between Apple and the FBI, calling for a boycott of the companys products over its encryption stance. Social media giants Facebook and Twitter backed Apple in its dispute with the FBI over unlocking the San Bernardino shooters phone, as did Google CEO Sundar Pichai.

Last year Trump also surprised his rivals during a debate when he suggested clamping down on Internet connectivity as a way to limit ISIS ability to recruit and raise funds online.

Apple declined to provide comment for this story when contacted by FoxNews.com. The Trump campaign has not yet responded to a request for comment on this story.

Related: Apple makes big software push at WWDC, opens up Siri to developers

We are working with a variety of major tech partners who are focused on being part of the American political process, said a spokeswoman for the Republican National Convention, in a statement emailed to FoxNews.com.

While there have been many reports of who may not be supporting this years Convention, what has been overlooked is the fact that we have more than 100 donors who are supporting the Host Committee, added a spokeswoman for the Cleveland 2016 Host Committee, in an email to FoxNews.com

The Committee has already raised $57.5 million of the conventions $64 million budget. Thats 90% of the funding, said the spokeswoman. The pace at which weve raised the funds exceeds the pace of both Tampa in 2012 and St. Paul in 2008.

Related: Apple is going to start selling electricity?

Politico reports that Apple previously has backed both the Republican and Democratic conventions. Citing campaign finance records, Politico reports that the iPhone maker provided about $140,000 each in MacBooks and other technology to both parties 2008 events. The Cupertino, Calif.-based firm did not write checks for either party in 2012, but did lend products for both conventions, according to Politico.

Facebook, Google and Microsoft have all said they will provide some support to the GOP convention, according to Politico.

The 2016 Republican National Convention takes place in the Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland from July 18 to 21.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers
The Mongolian post office is replacing traditional addresses with easy-to-remember three-word phrases courtesy of a British startup, Quartz reports. More than 75% of the world's population has no address capable of receiving mail, notes Forbes.

What3Words solved this problem by dividing the globe into 57 trillion 3-meter-by-3-meter squares, replacing the complicated GPS coordinates of each with a three-word phrase. For example, using What3Words' system, the address for the White House is sulk.held.raves.

Anyone can download the free What3Words app to make themselves easier to find, Post & Parcel reports. But Mongol Post is the first to start using it for government mail.

More From Newser:

1970 Quarter Selling for Thousands on eBay

It's Been 10 Years Since Lonelygirl15 Lied to us All

Reporter Told to Hit Glass Bridge With Sledgehammer

Every citizen now has an address, What3Words' Giles Rhys Jones says in a statement. Lack of addresses is an acute problem in Mongolia, where a quarter or so of the population is nomadic and not even all the streets in the capital have names.

Mongolians often have to give landmark-based directions to delivery drivers over the phone or travel miles to the nearest post office to get their mail. Failed deliveries are commonplace, inconveniencing citizens, holding back the operations of both businesses and government, and raising the cost of deliveries, Rhys Jones says.

Starting in July, Mongolians will be able to write a three-word phrase as an address and GPS will guide Mongol Post workers right to their door.

So if you want to send a letter to the US Embassy in Mongolia, just remember: constants.stuffy.activism. (In other Mongolia tech news, read about its toxic lake of horror.)

This article originally appeared on Newser: 'constants.stuffy.activism' Is Now an Address Here
A brush fire that broke out Sunday near downtown Los Angeles threatened a densely populated, hilly neighborhood along a freeway as sizzling temperatures elevated fire danger across the West.

Crews knocked down the blaze in the Silver Lake neighborhood after it damaged two homes, destroyed three shed-like structures, scorched yards and sent trees up in flames.

Neighbors scrambled with garden hoses and buckets, while water-dropping helicopters and scores of firefighters chased embers and doused steep hillsides to keep the flames from spreading.

The blaze only charred 8 acres, but it put urban residents on alert to the hot, dry conditions that have helped wildfires spread rapidly across more remote places from the California coast to New Mexico.

A fire that has burned 12 square miles west of Santa Barbara stayed in check, but firefighters braced for the return of afternoon and evening gusts that fanned the flames earlier in the week, threatening hundreds of homes and leading to evacuations of popular coastal campgrounds. The fire was just over halfway contained.

A new wildfire that broke out Sunday forced the evacuation of hundreds of a small town of about 600 people in the California desert near the Mexico border.

It had surged to nearly 1.5 square miles amid triple-digit temperatures near the town of Potrero, which is just a few miles north of Tecate, Mexico, and about 40 miles southeast of San Diego.

In New Mexico, a 28-square-mile fire that erupted last week and destroyed 24 homes in the Manzano Mountains south of Albuquerque was largely uncontained. But higher humidity overnight allowed crews to strengthen lines around the fire and keep a lookout for hot spots where flames could jump the line.

In eastern Arizona, a fire that has burned 19 square miles southwest of Show Low advanced south, but containment increased to 40 percent.

The Los Angeles fire erupted near a freeway, with flames soaring up tall trees and sending heavy smoke across the road.

Paul Gaffner had been swimming at a pool a few minutes from his home and was planning to run errands when he saw heavy smoke near his house.

"Man, that fire is at my house," he said he thought.

When he arrived, his neighbor was hosing down flames in his backyard. In his flip-flops and shorts, he joined the fight as neighbors chipped in help protect their houses.

"It was a lot going on," Gaffner said as he handed out bottles of Gatorade to firefighters. "You've got it in front of you, you don't have time to panic."
If you administered truth serum to every company employee (aside from salespeople) and then asked them to describe the sales department, youd likely hear words like pushy, high maintenance, lazy and a bunch of prima donnas. Theres often a clear disconnect between other departments and sales teams. This is primarily the result of a lack of understanding and its very damaging to a company culture -- leading to contagious toxicity, resentment and even animosity.

Related: 10 Examples of Companies With Fantastic Cultures

Below are three ways to close the gap between the sales department and everyone else:

1. Change your mind.

Culture starts at the top. Leaders who view their sales team as a necessary evil arent setting their companies up to succeed. The leader of a business must take ownership for all facets of the business and that means leading the way in ensuring that sales and all other departments are really working together to accomplish the companys goals.

2. Change your language.

Words matter. They have power over your culture. Every time you hear yourself or anyone else use the language above, push back. Make it unacceptable to refer to salespeople as high maintenance or pushy. If the company culture accepts disrespectful language and attitudes toward any department, the whole company suffers. Instead, set the example by celebrating the attributes that make salespeople successful (there passion and enthusiasm, for example). Remind yourself and every department that the whole business rides on sales. You have to sell product or services in order to exist. Make sure every department understands this.

Related: Why Company Culture Is More Important Than Ever

3. Promote personal ownership.

Growing up, my dad never let me blame anyone or anything. He said, When you point a finger at someone else, there are three fingers pointing back at you! Adopting a mindset of total ownership is crucial to succeeding, no matter the market conditions. Adopt this mindset as a leader and then require it from your employees. Peoples reactions to falling short demonstrate whether they blame others or take personal responsibility. Looking first at our own behaviors and mindsets demonstrates personal accountability, while blaming circumstances demonstrates a victim mindset. A finger-pointing culture will see each department as its enemy rather than another member on the same team.

Related: How These Franchises Established a Company Culture That Works

If you take the simple actions above, you will change your culture, which in turn changes your business. Social influence is a powerful thing -- whether for good or for evil. As a big believer in positivity, I'd like to see it used for good -- promoting a team-oriented culture of positive attitudes.
Ive always said that the companies that scale to become large, sustainable and independent franchises are the ones that offer a platform to the market. The constant evolution aspiration for a startup is to go from feature, to product, to platform -- to create a company where other companies are born and scaled on your technology offerings. A larger vision and the ability to execute on it is truly what separate the good from the great.

Things have changed a lot for Dyn over the 15 years since its inception -- and many of the biggest shifts have come since I joined the company almost eight years ago. Since 2008 weve seen a dramatic shift in the way SaaS tools and services are sold, and how growing SaaS companies are positioning themselves in the market. Like many SaaS companies, Dyn started as a small niche player in an important corner of the Internet -- Managed DNS -- and slowly carved out a space, honing our product and beating competitors on service, pricing, relationships and added-value until we grew to be the market leader. Along the way we selectively added complementary products -- traffic management, Internet intelligence and email delivery -- and continued to grow, ensuring our products worked so well in tandem and delivered such value that the only clear path forward was to deliver a platform sale to our customers.

Related: 7 Key Steps to a Growth Strategy That Works Immediately

Were in the midst of a go-to-market and product transformation to reflect this evolution of our business and the move upstream were making with the platform is the natural one for businesses that want to drive growth and continue innovating as an independent entity. Our recent announcement that the business has been infused with $50 million in Series B capital only bolsters our push to drive the platform play. For Dyn, its no longer about selling feeds and speeds, but all about selling business value to enterprises.

Were certainly not alone in our platform-first approach. A recent Accenture Trend Report noted that 81 percent of executives say platform-based business models will be core to their growth strategy within three years. Creating integrated approaches to solving business challenges is not only good for customers, its a differentiator for your business that can position you far ahead of the competition. Here are some keys to enabling -- and nailing -- the move to the platform.

1. Enable a vision and the rest will follow.

Shifting your business to a platform approach requires patience and isnt for everyone. But if your company has several complementary products that combine to create huge value for your customers and prospects, integrating the products and developing additional tools that continue to differentiate your business could propel your growth story. In 2015 we started a cross-company pivot away from product selling and towards a platform sell -- delivering the value of all of our core DNS, data, analytics and traffic steering products into addressing the Internet Performance Management space, where we see huge potential for the company through the next five years and beyond. But before we saw a platform approach, we had to see the vision for how our existing products could deliver on a larger promise for our customers.

Having the vision for a platform sale is also necessary for any business to continue to be an independent player, especially in an ecosystem where companies with unique tools or services are targets for companies that already have a platform play. Building out a platform and successfully rolling it out to customers -- and ensuring they embrace it -- is a big challenge; but with big challenges come big opportunities.

2. Build what customers want -- and validate.

It may seem obvious to build products well-tailored to customers wants and needs but too many SaaS product development teams fall into the trap of iterating based on their own visions for the product rather that keeping to the goal of solving very specific customer problems, and solving them well. At Dyn, weve kept our focus on this and it has helped us grow over the long-run, with 29 consecutive quarters of growth and counting.

Related: 6 Strategies for Managing a Fast Growing Company

Keeping a keen eye on the customer has meant each of our products and each of our acquisitions has been based on fulfilling a need. As customer needs have been filled weve constantly challenged ourselves and this has lead to a natural progression in thinking from feature to product to suite to platform. The platform has always been the goal, but it has become the emphasis based on clear customer need. This market-in rather than product out mindset is imperative to understanding what customers truly want and enabling your business to deliver through the out years. It was critical for us to match our own maturation with the macro trends happening across the Internet infrastructure landscape and affecting CIO and CTOs of companies big and small. Timing is everything.

3. Empower leadership for a full throttle change.

Building the vision and strategy and green-lighting the move to a platform approach was one of the most significant decisions our leadership has made over the history of the business. Not only did it signal a serious shift in our marketing and sales approach, it required a mammoth undertaking by our product and engineering teams to build the software that would enable our massive business shift. Many times products are utilized by customers with siloed interaction points. This user experience needs to be elegant with clean workflows and interfaces or via robust APIs.

While it was a true team effort to develop the strategy and action plan for the platform play, it was crucial for the plan to be communicated to leaders across our near 500-person business, to our regional offices in the U.K., Australia and Singapore, and understood and internalized by all of our staff. Enabling this change was a huge decision and weve had to turn the company and ensure the message is resonating and being communicated across all departments and through all disciplines. We also based one of our biggest hires to date, our global head of sales, on his ability to grow our sales apparatus to meet this platform approach. If you want to have a big vision for your companys future, you truly have to go all in.

4. Reorg and resize.

You cant make a platform play without shaking up your organization significantly. We have shifted focus in many areas of our business and have had to reorganize teams and assets to meet the challenges weve placed on ourselves. This is never an easy proposition for a business, but if leadership articulates the vision, charts the course and firmly plants the flag, showing how your business can meet the opportunity before it, your business will be set to optimize for the exciting opportunities ahead.

Related: 3 Strategies to Explode Your Business Growth

At Dyn, our platform play has meant that were now prepared to hunt down opportunities in business categories that are emerging as the big prospects of the future: automation, predictive analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), full cloud adoption, mobile and ever more globalization and global growth. Our internal reorganization has meant shifting focus for many of our best thinkers and the creation of new strategic groups that are helping the whole organization to shift to meet opportunity. Weve developed a specific research group, integration group, partnerships and alliances group and a solution architecture team to set us on a footing for success.

Change is never easy, especially in already successful organizations, but if you want to be sustainable and impactful you need to see the future and set a foundation to get you there. Employees, long-time customers and other stakeholders might question a shift in focus after so many successful years of business. But moving to a platform play requires opportunism, guts, and vision with a commitment to taking on the challenges of tomorrow.
A retired Air Force sergeant who in April was dragged from a military retirement ceremony as he recited a traditional passage honoring the flag is demanding an apology and threatening a lawsuit.

Senior Master Sgt. Oscar Rodriguez was invited to speak at the April 3 ceremony by an outgoing fellow master sergeant from the 749th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. In a story first reported by FoxNews.com days later, video showed Rodriguez being forcibly removed by service members at Travis Air Force Base.

"This was one of the most humiliating experiences of my life, Rodriguez told FoxNews.com. All I wanted to do was honor Master Sgt. [Charles] Roberson, his guests, and the flag, with my speech."

Rodriguez believes his recitation of an old version of "Flag Folding Ceremony Air Force Script," which was later scrubbed because of religious references, prompted his ouster. The version read by Rodriguez contained religious references.

Let us pray that God will reflect with admiration the willingness of one nation in her attempts to rid the world of tyranny, oppression, and misery," it read in part. "It is this one nation under God that we call, with honor, the United States of America, reads the flag-folding speech which closes with the words, God bless our flag. God bless our troops. God bless America.

Even though the Air Force revised the script in 2006, Rodriguez believes it was his right - and the right of Roberson - to invoke the older version.

"To have the Air Force throw me off the base, simply because my speech included the word God,' was devastating, he said.

The 50-second video clip showing Rodriguez being hauled away was first posted by JQPublicBlog.com, which called the footage a disgraceful spectacle during what is usually a calm send off. A source who was present at the event told the military blog that Rodriguez was there at the request of the retiree, but had been banned from the base by the squadron commander.

A spokesman from the reserve said that the confrontation stemmed from an unplanned participation at the event.

"Rodriguez ignored numerous requests to respect the Air Force prescribed ceremony and unfortunately was forcibly removed," a Travis official said in a statement to FoxNews.com.

According to an official with the United States Air Force, flag folding scripts that are religious in nature can be used for retirement ceremonies.

"I can't speak to the specific incident," Ann Stefanek, a Air Force Spokeswoman tells Fox News. "[But] Air Force personnel may use a flag folding ceremony script that is religious for retirement ceremonies."

"Since retirement ceremonies are personal in nature, the script preference for a flag folding ceremony is at the discretion of the individual being honored and represents the member's views, not those of the Air Force."

Stephan Sila, who identified himself as the officiating officer at the ceremony and a 28-year Air Force veteran, wrote in a Facebook post published on the military blog at the time that Rodriguez simply planned to read a statement honoring the flag and that his appearance had been cleared through the proper chain of command.

Legal watchdog First Liberty Institute is representing Rodriguez in his quest for a formal apology for what it claims was a violation of his First Amendment rights.

We took this case because the government has no right to throw a citizen, much less a 33-year military veteran, off a military base because they dont want him to mention God,'" Mike Berry, director of military affairs for First Liberty, told Foxnews.com in a statement. The military broke the law and abused its power.

FoxNews.coms Edmund DeMarche and Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this story.
A mom and dad in New Mexico say they're so fed up with their teenage son's thieving ways that they kick him out of the house every day and force him to stay in a backyard tent, local media reported Friday.

New Mexico parents force teen to live in backyard tent@NewsChannel10: https://t.co/9yGigi3KtY pic.twitter.com/adAXrE5kwT  KFDA NewsChannel10 (@NewsChannel10) June 20, 2016

"Were not doing anything wrong here. Were simply trying to teach our child a lesson," the teen's mother, Angela Boggus, told KRQE. "If he doesnt learn that now, its gonna be the whole worlds problem, not just ours, in a couple of years," his father, Jacob, added.

The parents say they still feed their 16-year-old son and let him sleep and use the bathroom inside the house in Belen. They reportedly started banishing the teen to his tent roughly two weeks ago, and promised to lift the punishment in one month.

Or, they said, he could write five book reports teaching him about becoming respectable. If he did, his parents said they'd let him stay inside for good.

Some upset neighbors called law enforcement, but investigators said the family wasn't breaking any laws. "Its not like hes been banished out to the mesa a hundred miles away from civilization," Valencia County Sheriffs Office Chief Deputy Gary Hall told KRQE.

The parents said they simply ran out of ways to stop their son from stealing from them. "Anybody who wants to talk some sense into him is more than welcome. Were not trying to hide from this," the teen's father said.

Belen is about 30 miles south of Albuquerque.
June is Employee Well-being Month, and that means employers are taking a hard look at the health and happiness of their employees -- and what they can do to improve it. That makes sense: Much of the conversation on employee health these days focuses on wellness programs and how to make them work for employees.

Related: This Unicorn Wants to Streamline Health Benefits for Small Businesses

But, instead of sinking more time and money into several wellness programs that may not catch fire, perhaps employers should consider the simple, proven solution sitting right in front of them: employee benefits.

Consider an interesting finding from a survey conducted by #HRWins and my company, Namely: Specifically, 54.3 percent of employees and HR professionals working for companies with fewer than 5,000 employees said they chose core benefits like health insurance as the perk or benefit they felt contributed most to their feelings of engagement.

In short, while walking challenges or office fitness groups certainly help employees improve their health, employees wont be at their healthiest without adequate core benefits. Advancing healthier employee lifestyle, then, starts with offering the best health plans and related benefits.

Heres how better benefits improve employee wellness:

Health insurance keeps employees in tip-top shape.

When employees are stressed, they tend to fall into an unhealthy pattern -- they neglect their own well-being, which only makes stress worse. In fact, a survey done by the American Psychological Association (APA) in 2015 found that some stressed-out respondents acknowledging that they actually skipped doctor visits to save money.

But with solid health insurance plans, employees get the appropriate care they need, even when theyre sick, stressed and short on cash. Health starts with effective insurance, before you even get to additional perks like free healthy snacks and group exercise classes. In the recent #HRWins and Namely survey, when asked about the most engaging benefit or perk, employees picked health benefits ahead of rewards for good work, office environment (including games, food and furniture) and public recognition of good work. Employees want health benefits, and they want to stay healthy.

Offering consumer-directed health plans that include health savings accounts (HSAs) can help employees take care of problems proactively instead of ignore them. These accounts allow employees to save money tax-free for medical expenses. Assuming they remain healthy, employees' use of HSAs can lead to considerable pre-tax savings -- especially when their employers contribute to the accounts. That way, employees are encouraged to be more mindful about their health and more involved in making decisions for the best-value care.

Although perks help alleviate stress, the security of a health plan stops the vicious stress cycle before it starts and helps employees tackle health issues head on.

Related: 5 Ways to Make Shopping for Health Insurance Easier

Voluntary benefits meet employee needs.

A one-size-fits-all health plan wont help keep the entire workforce healthy; employees have different needs, after all. Some employees may want the best dental and vision insurance available, while others may prioritize the peace of mind they'll get from having life and disability insurance.

In a survey of 1,203 employees conducted by MetLife in 2014, 60 percent said they were willing to bear more of the cost of their benefits to have more choices, to better meet their needs.

Give employees more control, then, over their own well-being by offering elective or voluntary benefits. Voluntary benefits are insurance products employees can add to their plans to fill gaps in health insurance. They are typically offered by employers and paid completely or mostly by employees through payroll deferrals.

Traditional voluntary benefits include life insurance, vision, dental, disability, cancer and critical illness insurance and accident insurance. While these benefits certainly improve employee well-being, new and non-traditional benefits can also help tackle specific health and wellness concerns.

Here are a few that can make a huge difference for the health of employees:

Telemedicine can help stressed-out employees who feel they dont have time to visit the doctor. Your people can call or open an app to connect with a physician who can handle simple diagnoses and fill prescriptions. Some platforms like HealthiestYou can also save employees money by analyzing prescription costs and revealing which pharmacy will give them the best price.

can help stressed-out employees who feel they dont have time to visit the doctor. Your people can call or open an app to connect with a physician who can handle simple diagnoses and fill prescriptions. Some platforms like HealthiestYou can also save employees money by analyzing prescription costs and revealing which pharmacy will give them the best price. Commuter benefits can help make the daily stress of the commute easier for employees. One plus is that payroll taxes dont apply to tax-free transportation fringe benefits because they are not considered wage or salary compensation. Employees save money with a maximum monthly tax exclusion of $255 per month for commuter vehicles, public transit passes and qualified parking benefits.

Financial benefits ease stress.

Money stresses out employees more than employers realize -- so much so that 72 percent of adults surveyed by the American Psychological Association said they felt stressed about money at least some of the time, while 22 percent said they experienced extreme financial stress. And that's a problem because when stress is extreme, it impacts employee health and productivity on the job.

Offering financial benefits helps employees better manage their money and feel less stressed. Consider offering student loan repayment assistance to help reduce financial stress, as well. After all, 55 percent of student loan holders surveyed by Iontuition in July 2015 said they would rather see health benefit contributions from their employer go toward paying off their debt.

Whats more, 49 percent said they would rather have student loan payment contributions than a 401k plan!

Related: 4 Alternatives to Offering Paid Healthcare Benefits

Also, think about offering financial-planning and money-management workshops and seminars. Employee benefits can ease the huge burden that financial stress places on employees. And that "benefit" will improve their health and help them perform their best.
House Speaker Paul Ryan called on the Obama administration Monday to "release the full, unredacted transcript" of the Orlando massacre gunmans 911 calls, slamming the Justice Departments censoring of all references to Islam as "preposterous."

The redacted transcripts of Omar Mateens calls to Orlando Police  made during his assault on the Pulse gay nightclub  included Mateens claim of responsibility, as well as identifying himself to police as an Islamic soldier. All other references to ISIS or Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi were scrubbed clean by the Justice Department.



"Selectively editing this transcript is preposterous," said Ryan, R-Wis., in a statement. "We know the shooter was a radical Islamist extremist inspired by ISIS. We also know he intentionally targeted the LGBT community. The administration should release the full, unredacted transcript so the public is clear-eyed about who did this, and why."

Mateen is known from prior FBI statements to have pledged allegiance to the ISIS chief and expressed solidarity with other terrorists. But Monday's release deleted all of those references.



Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God [in Arabic]. I let you know, Im in Orlando and I did the shootings, Mateen told a 911 dispatcher during a 50-second phone call at 2:35 a.m. on June 12.

"I pledge allegiance to [omitted] may God protect him [in Arabic], on behalf of [omitted]," Mateen told the dispatcher.

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ron Hopper defended the deletions.

"[Mateen] does not represent the religion of Islam, but a perverted view," Hopper said, later adding: "Part of the redacting is meant to not give credence to individuals who have done terrorist attacks in the past. We're not gonna propagate their violent rhetoric."

United States Attorney Lee Bentley was asked if the omissions conflicted with Florida law. He said they did not.

"This is a federal investigation," Bentley said. "The Attorney General decided upon this limited release."



According to the Justice Department report, Mateen said twice during the 911 call and at least once during later negotiations that he pledged "allegiance to [omitted]." Investigators said he spoke to negotiators in three different calls at 2:48 a.m., 3:03 a.m. and 3:24 a.m. The longest call was the second at 16 minutes. The third call, at three minutes, was the shortest. The first call lasted nine minutes.

"As the killer made these statements, he did so in a chilling, calm and deliberate manner," Hopper said.

During one call, Mateen told negotiators that the U.S. should stop bombing Syria and Iraq -- the countries with regions that comprise ISIS' so-called caliphate. He said the bombings were why he was "out here right now."

Mateen killed 49 people and wounded 53 more inside the gay nightclub Pulse. He was later killed in a shootout with police.

The calls with crisis negotiators may explain why officials waited three hours -- until 5:14 a.m. -- before ramming a hole in the side of the club to free hostages and engage Mateen in a final, deadly fight. During those three hours, Mateen was holed up in a bathroom with several hostages, though authorities have said no gun shots were fired during this period.

The summary shows that Mateen told negotiators he had a "vehicle outside that has some bombs. Just to let you know. You people are gonna get it, and I'm gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid."

Mateen claimed he had an explosive vest similar to the kind used by terrorists "in France," referencing the November terror attack in Paris.

"In the next few days, you're going to see more of this type of action going on," Mateen said.

He also reportedly told hostages that he would put suicide vests on them.

No explosives were ever found on Mateen inside the club or in any vehicles outside. Mateen was armed with two guns during the rampage.
The Department of Justice is scrubbing references of radical Islamic beliefs from the transcripts of calls Orlando terrorist Omar Mateen made to police during his massacre, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Sunday.

A partial transcript of the conversations between authorities and Mateen, who killed 49 and wounded 53 in the June 12 attack at a Florida gay nightclub, is set to be released on Monday. But Lynch, who appeared on numerous Sunday talk shows, said the transcripts will not include Mateen's oath of loyalty to ISIS or any other religious justification for the attack.



What were not going to do is further proclaim this mans pledges of allegiance to terrorist groups, and further his propaganda, Lynch told NBC. We are not going to hear him make his assertions of allegiance [to the Islamic State].

The calls could confirm Mateen's motives in the wake of Facebook postings from the killer that already reveal Islamist leanings.

I pledge my alliance to (ISIS leader) abu bakr al Baghdadi..may Allah accept me, Mateen wrote in one post during the attack. The real muslims will never accept the filthy ways of the west You kill innocent women and children by doing us airstrikes..now taste the Islamic state vengeance.

Other posts include warnings to the U.S. and Russia to stop bombing the Islamic State and a prediction that more ISIS attacks would follow Mateen's assault.

But that "radical Islam" angle is likely to be missing from Monday's release.

Critics blasted the move by the administration, which has rejected branding terrorist acts as motivated by radical Islam and has sought to paint the Orlando attack as a gun control issue.

"This is not just a simple wording issue," Ric Grenell, a Fox News contributor and former aide to UN Ambassador John Bolton told Fox and Friends Monday morning. "The fact that Loretta Lynch is somehow redacting the specific enemy that is being called out here is a PR move."

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giluiani, also on Fox and Friends Monday, said it does not help law enforcement to try to bury the motivations or allegiences of criminals and terrorists.

"Why didn't they do this with the Mafia, to spare Italian-Americans?" Giuliani asked. "Why? Because if you did, you would never make the connection [which ultimately] brought them down."

Mateen died in a hail of gunfire after police blew a hole in the side of the venue following a three-hour hostage standoff. But before his final moments came, Mateen declared allegiance to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi -- right in the midst of the slaughter.

The move to edit the transcripts of Mateen's calls harkens back to April, when French President Francois Hollande's reference to "Islamist terrorism" was left out of an official White House video during an international summit in Washington D.C. The White House later told several news outlets the dropped phrase was a "technical issue."

President Obama famously has tried not to use the phrase "radical Islamic terrorism" in his remarks, a position many Republicans have lambasted him for. Obama has said he believes that phrase gives a measure of legitimacy to terror groups.

And as investigators look past Mateen's religious convictions, Lynch said a top goal is to build a complete profile of the gunman in order to help prevent another massacre like Orlando.

We are trying to re-create the days, the weeks, the months of this killers life before this attack, Lynch said. And we are also asking those people who had contact with him to come forward and give us that information as well.

Mateen was the focus of two FBI investigations into suspected terrorism. However, the probes were concluded without further action, and Mateen was allowed to legally buy firearms.

Lynch said the Justice Department is going to go back and see what changes could have been made, regarding how the investigations were handled.

Lynch said shes traveling to Orlando Tuesday to meet with federal investigators.

While speaking to CBS Face The Nation, Lynch said that a key goal of the probe was to determine why Mateen targeted the gay community. The victims were predominantly gay and Hispanic since it was "Latin Night" at Pulse.

Lynch, speaking to Fox News Sunday, declined to say whether federal authorities will charge anybody in connection with the mass murder. She also declined to comment on why the wife of the shooter has not been arrested, amid purported evidence that she either helped her husband plot the murders or suspected his intentions and did not alert authorities.

Lynch also expressed support for Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn's amendment, which is scheduled for a vote Monday in the Senate and would allow the federal government to delay a gun sale to a suspected terrorist for as long as 72 hours. Afterward, prosecutors would have to persuade a judge to block the sale permanently.

Lynch said such an amendment would give the federal government the ability to stop a sale to somebody on the terror watch list.

Meanwhile, thousands of people packed Lake Eola Park in Florida Sunday evening for a vigil to honor the victims of the shooting. The park was filled with people holding white flowers, American flags and candles.

At the end of the gathering, people held up their candles as the name of each victim was read, creating a ring of fire around Lake Eola. They chanted "One Orlando," ''Orlando United" and "Somos Orlando," Spanish for "We are Orlando."

"That event has gotten the attention of the world," said Evania Nichols, an Orlando resident. "And, for Orlando  a city that's always been incredibly inclusive no matter your skin color, no matter your background  it's brought about a movement that I think is starting here and I really hope continues."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation has received a national honor for preservation and interpretation of state and local history.

The Leadership in History award, from the American Association for State and Local History, was given for a project called Saving WWII History: Preserving an Original Structure from an American Concentration Camp.

According to a news release, the work involved moving an original Heart Mountain barrack 80 miles back to the site of the former internment camp between Cody and Powell. The barrack, which was built in 1942 and housed confined Japanese Americans, was one of more than 700 buildings within the camp.

The merit award is one of 63 given this year across the country. Heart Mountain is the only Wyoming organization to be recognized. It will be presented on Sept. 16 at the national organizations annual meeting in Detroit.

The Heart Mountain site recently received another honor when the National Park Service announced its interpretive center would receive $116,000 toward creating a central repository for information and research on the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee and Resister Movement Project, which focuses on prisoners who resisted the draft because of their incarceration.
Great companies have a knack for keeping their employees so satisfied they rarely want to leave. As a result, they have little turnover. However, all companies, even the best, will experience a departing team member at some point. When faced with a personnel change, any team will be challenged, but when its a key executive the change can be devastating. With improper handling, this can set your organization back significantly.

Here are four ways to ensure that when a key leader moves on, your team will be able to deal with the transition:

1. Embrace a healthy level of transparency.

Anytime an employee leaves a company, the rumor mill kicks into overdrive, even in healthy cultures. Its human nature to wonder and to ask, why? This curiosity is proportionate to the departing employees position and tenure with the company.

Related: What to Do When an Employee Leaves

Know that when a key executive leaves, it needs careful management  perhaps the most damaging thing an executive team can do is to gloss over the change. The optics of silence are infinitely worse than healthy discussion.

Its natural for your team to be inquisitive and often necessary for them to understand how this change fits into the big picture. While it may be inappropriate to discuss the particulars of why an executive is leaving, it is crucial to discuss what the plan moving forward is. How a change in the organization will impact the individuals on the team is what will be on top of everyones mind. This is where the team needs reassurance from its leadership branch that there is a plan and that things will be ok.

2. Talk to the most impacted parties one on one.

Of course, those who reported directly to the exiting leader will feel strongest about the change. Some may have an emotional or personal response, particularly if their former boss was well liked. Its of critical importance to speak personally to anyone who worked closely with the departing executive. Its so crucial, that if in doubt, widen the circle and speak to a bigger number of team members one on one.

Many team members simply will want an opportunity to voice their opinions or to ask questions. Even if they dont feel strongly either way, they will appreciate that you took the time to keep them informed. They will feel like insiders, rather than out of the loop. Other team members also will want to know how the change will impact them. The honest answer in the moment may be, I dont know, but it is nonetheless important to reassure them that things will be alright -- and that they will be included in the process to figure out the next steps. A brief proactive conversation with key individuals early on will help avoid more difficult ones in the future.

Related: 4 Steps to Take When a Key Employee Quits

3. Ask, what can be learned?

When an executive departs, its important for the top executives to understand why. And if it was a leader they wanted to stay, what, if anything, could they have done to prevent the departure? Executive turnover can be a tremendously taxing experience for a company to go through. While some change is probably both inevitable and healthy, too much can cause turmoil. Learning from the experience of the moment can be most beneficial as new talent joins the leadership suite.

Was the executive given enough freedom, the proper resources or opportunities for more responsibility? Honestly assessing these questions can help you position their replacement for success.

4. Rally your executive team together.

Even if a replacement officer is immediately in the wings, its likely they will need some assistance as they transition into their new responsibilities. This provides a great opportunity for your entire executive suite to come together to share in the work and to welcome the newest leader. While this temporary shift in duties is necessary in the short term, you may also discover that long term, it can make sense to shuffle some responsibilities around based on the new team dynamic and individual skill sets.

Related: 7 Ways to Keep Your Best Employees

At first glance, the restructuring of your leadership team may feel like a burden or obstacle. While undoubtedly it will present additional challenges, it can also be an opportunity to evaluate your past and explore ways to make the organization stronger in the future.
I am working on a fascinating documentary about remarkable entrepreneurs who have built successful companies doing what they love. You will hear their amazing stories and learn how you, too, can create the company of your dreams. As technology continues to replace jobs at an accelerated rate in nearly every industry, the skills of entrepreneurship are important for all of us. Here is how this exciting project evolved.

Related: Start Your Own Company Before Technology Takes Your Job

I was sitting in my office one day and received a call from the CEO of a publicly traded company in Toronto, Canada.

Mike, I want to talk with you about buying your company.

I am flattered, but its not for sale, I replied.

Every company is for sale for the right terms and conditions, he retorted, and I think you are going to like what were doing in the industry

A week later he showed up with his executive team at our corporate office. They spent two days poring over our financial statements and company documents. At the end of the second day, the CEO came into my office and placed a formal offer on my desk. I glanced at the number and told him it was too low. He said, Well, write a number that you would accept at the bottom of the page. I increased his number by 30 percent and handed the paper back to him. I watched as his eyes widened in surprise.

Let me think about this tonight, and Ill get back to you tomorrow.

The next morning he came into my office and said, We will pay the full price you are asking on two conditions. First, we will move the office to Dallas where we have our own executive team. No problem. I had thought about what I would do if I ever sold the company, and had already decided I didnt want to run something I no longer owned.

Second, he uttered in a very serious tone, you have to take cash. I couldnt believe it! I had discussed this potential sale with my board members the day before. Everyone was open to an offer at the price I suggested, but no one wanted to take stock in this guys company. So I held a serious look of consternation as long as I could, and then said, OK, I think we have a deal.

A few months later the transaction was final, and I was free for my next adventure. After contemplating my passions, skills, and experience, I made a strong commitment to spend the rest of my career helping people create their own jobs, build their own companies, and live their own dreamsjust like I had done.

So I have spent the past 20 years conducting in-depth interviews with successful entrepreneurs, and sharing the lessons I have learned in articles, books, speeches, workshops, university courses, and in my consulting work with hundreds of startup companies. I have to tell you, nothing is more rewarding to me than meeting inspiring role models, summarizing their stories, sharing their keys to success, and helping aspiring business builders achieve their dreams.

Related: Are You an Innovator or Executor? Take This Quiz to Find Out

Now its time to take my game to a new level. I have partnered with my son Jay, an extraordinary film maker, to create a full-length documentary about amazing entrepreneurs across the country. We will share stories from our recent coast-to-coast bicycle ride where we interviewed 100 entrepreneurs who have successfully merged livelihood and lifestyle in places they want to live. These role models, and others we will interview, will comprise the remarkable cast of characters in the documentary. You will learn who they are, how they have built their companies, and how you can do it too!

There is no better time for this production than right now, and we need your help to bring it to the finish line. We are funding the final phase of the documentary through Kickstarter and are offering some amazing rewards. Please check out our project at: The Main Street Entrepreneur  Documentary.

We hope you will jump on board and join us in this historic production. Become part of our Main Street Movement to help people create their own companies, obtain financial security, and achieve their dreams. Its going to be an awesome ride!
There's not enough evidence to support federal criminal charges in the case of a teenager found dead inside a rolled-up gym mat at a Georgia high school, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Monday.

The decision comes after a lengthy review of circumstances surrounding the death of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson of Valdosta.

Local and state authorities had ruled the teenager's death Jan. 10, 2013, was a freak accident. They concluded that Johnson got stuck upside down in the middle of a rolled up mat and was unable to breathe.

Johnson's parents insisted someone must have killed their son and have pushed to reopen the investigation.

"After extensive investigation into this tragic event, federal investigators determined that there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone or some group of people willfully violated Kendrick Johnson's civil rights or committed any other prosecutable federal crime," the Justice Department said in a statement Monday. "Accordingly, the investigation into this incident has been closed without the filing of federal criminal charges.

Classmates at Lowndes High School found his body on Jan. 11, 2013, inside one of the rolled-up gym mats propped upright against a wall next to the gymnasium bleachers.

The strange circumstances of Johnson's death attracted attention far beyond his hometown of Valdosta near the Georgia-Florida state line. Rallies and marches calling for answers drew up to 200 people, while thousands followed social media sites dedicated to the case. The Florida lawyer who represented Trayvon Martin's family worked to help ensure Johnson's death wasn't forgotten.

Sheriff's investigators for Lowndes County closed the case four months after Johnson turned up dead. They concluded he died in a freak accident while reaching for a gym shoe inside one of the mats. A state medical examiner ruled the cause of death was "positional asphyxia," meaning the teenager got stuck upside down in a position that left him unable to breathe.

Johnson's parents and their supporters refused to let the case be put to rest. They got a judge's order to exhume the body last summer so a second autopsy could be performed. The private pathologist hired by Johnson's family reported finding hemorrhaging beneath the skin of Kendrick's jaw and neck and concluded he suffered a fatal blow near his carotid artery that appeared to be "non-accidental."

Sheriff's detectives who investigated the death insisted they found nothing to suggest foul play. But the 522-page case file revealed enough stumbles and loose ends to fuel conspiracy theories.

Though Lowndes High School has dozens of surveillance camera monitoring its doors and hallways, including four cameras in the gym where Johnson was found dead, none of them recorded the events leading to his death. Investigators suspect the gym mats were too far away to trigger any of the motion-activated cameras, which filmed Johnson strolling into the gym but nothing else. Attorneys for Johnson's parents suggested footage released to the family and the media may have been altered.

The case file notes that the county coroner wasn't called to the scene until six hours after Johnson's body was found. Under Georgia law he should have been notified immediately. The coroner criticized sheriff's investigators for the delay, but agreed with their conclusion that Johnson's death was accidental.


Authorities said Sunday two North Carolina parents were caught after kidnapping their own infant son from a social services department, then apparently driving him 2,000 miles to Montana in a stolen minivan.

The cross-country search for the boy began after the Randolph County Department of Social Services in North Carolina deputies on Tuesday that 8-month-old John Eastlack had been taken by his parents and was missing, the sheriffs office said.

The boy had previously been placed in social services custody, but authorities didnt reveal why.

An Amber Alert issued last week said the boy was abducted by his parents, Penny Dianne Worthy and Chad Douglas Eastlack. The sheriff's office said the 35-year-old father was also wanted on charges of stealing the minivan and a firearm.

A Missoula, Mont. police officer found the boy unharmed with his parents inside a hotel after spotting the stolen minivan in the parking lot, according to the Randolph County Sheriffs Office.

Authorities were coordinating his return to social service workers in North Carolina.

Missoula Police Sgt. Jerry Odlin said Chad Eastlack was taken into custody without incident on the warrant related to the stolen vehicle and firearm after the Missoula officer called in the backup.

Missoula County jail records show that Chad Eastlack was being held without bond on a fugitive charge Sunday. He was scheduled to appear in court Monday.

The jail records didn't list Worthy, who is 20 years old. Its unclear if shell be charged.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Oklahoma state police have suspended a program that uses scanner technology to detect counterfeit credit cards amid growing concerns that it could allow cops to empty the bank accounts of law-abiding citizens.

The decision was ordered by Gov. Mary Fallin hours after FoxNews.com published a report Friday about concerns that the scanners could make civil forfeiture too easy.

"The Department of Public Safety needs to formulate a clear policy for using this new technology," said Fallin. "It can be a viable tool for law enforcement only if authorities are able to ensure Oklahoma motorists and others driving through our state that it will be used appropriately.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol was given the devices to freeze and seize money loaded onto prepaid debit cards by alleged drug traffickers, with the potential to net up to $8,000 per portable scanner.

Supporters of the program, which had only been in the field for about six weeks, say it's an important tool for law enforcement agencies to interrupt the flow of illegal drugs into Oklahoma.

Critics were alarmed that the company supplying the machines would have gotten a percentage of seized assets, saying the arangement created an incentive for abuse of civil forfeiture laws by police and prosecutors. Opponents say such devices are an infringement on Fourth Amendment prohibitions of unreasonable search and seizure -- and that police departments are in turn stuffing their wallets with the cash from innocent civilians.

"Suspending OHP's card scanner program is the appropriate response until we know exactly what the full capabilities of these devices are," said Oklahoma State Sen. Kyle Loveless, who is strongly opposed to the machines.

"When we are faced with balancing Constitutional liberty and public safety, we should always err on the side of the Constitution until we have all the facts," Loveless, a Republican, told FoxNews.com.

"If we really want to assure Oklahomans the right of due process we need complete reform of our un-American Civil Asset Forfeiture laws," he said.

The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety signed a contract with Texas-based ERAD Group to use the devices, which work on "open loop" prepaid debit cards, like those provided by American Express and Visa. But "debit cards attached to a valid checking account or valid credit cards cannot be processed" by ERAD, which stands for Electronic Recovery and Access to Data.

The company that manufactures the devices is also promised 7.7 percent of all money forfeited using the machines, according to one contract obtained by Oklahoma Watch.

"It's just absolutely appalling that a private company can profit from this forfeited property," said Nick Sibillia, of the Institute for Justice.

The card readers, which are said to be used in at least 25 other states, have reignited debate over civil asset forfeiture -- a legal tool used by police and prosecutors across the country to take millions of dollars in cash, cars, homes and more every year. Their use has been upheld by courts.

Under civil forfeiture, law enforcement can seize property without charging an individual with a crime. Unlike criminal forfeiture, no conviction is necessary to seize assets -- a law opponents say threatens basic rights to property and due process.

Further, state and federal statute allows for cash and assets associated with the drug trade to become the property of a policing agency through civil litigation. In many places, cash and property seized boosts the budgets of the very police agencies and prosecutors offices that took it. In 2012, 70 percent of all forfeiture expenditures in Oklahoma funded salaries for law enforcement, according to data obtained by The Institute for Justice.

In the case of the ERAD system, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the machines are important in fighting identity theft and credit card fraud.

In an interview last week with FoxNews.com, Capt. Paul Timmons sought to clarify "misinformation" he said has made people panic."

This is a tool for our troopers to use when they suspect theres criminal activity," he said. "We dont have access to anyones personal banking activity -- thats all protected information."

Loveless and others say many legitimate business use the cards targeted by ERAD machines. He also noted that prepaid cards are the only source of banking for many lower-income and young people and that unemployment, disability and other government assistance programs give money using prepaid cards.

Loveless called civil forfeiture a "growing problem" in the state, claiming most forfeitures there average $1,200 and that Oklahoma counties are "taking in millions of dollars a year."
Authorities say a small crashed on a mountain in southeastern Tennessee, injuring the pilot.

Jeff Knight, a spokesman for the Rhea County Sheriff's Department, says the pilot was conscious when he was taken to Erlanger Medical Center in Chattanooga. However, Knight says he did not know the extent of the man's injuries.

The pilot is not being identified. Knight says he was traveling from Illinois and on his way to Atlanta when the plane crashed on Dayton Mountain in Rhea County at about 12:43 p.m. Monday. Knight says the pilot was the only one aboard the plane.

The crash took place near Dayton, Tennessee, which is about 50 miles north of Chattanooga.

Knight said investigators with the Federal Aviation Administration were on the way to the scene.
A Texas police officer and an 11-year-old boy were killed Sunday night when the cops cruiser was t-boned by an SUV while the officer was chasing another vehicle, officials said.

Patton Village Sgt. Stacey Baumgartner was pronounced dead upon arrival to Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands, KHOU reported. The child, who was riding in the SUV, was ejected as the vehicle flipped and landed upside down. At least four others were seriously injured in the collision, KHOU reported.

Baumgartner initially was called to a Valero gas station after a man was seen urinating on the sidewalk and exposing himself, KTRK reported. The suspect, Garrett William Nee, 29, allegedly tried to run Baumgartner over when he arrived and then took off in a dark gray Scion. During the pursuit, Nee allegedly ran a red light, and when Baumgartner followed, his car was hit.

Nee returned to the scene after the crash. He was arrested and charged with murder and intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle.

For whatever reason, he saw fit to come back, Trooper Richard Standifer told KTRK. Id like to think thats a decent thing for a person to do. The average person who evades from law enforcement rarely comes back. He did do that, I guess to check on the people who were involved in the crash, at which time law enforcement did come up to him and take him into custody.

Baumgartner was married and had a 2-year-old daughter. The identities of others involved in the wreck were not immediately released.
Its summertime and kids are officially being let out of school and released to freedom for the next two months.

But for some, that summer break could mean just the opposite. With the little ones zooming around the house, theres only so many days you can spend at the zoo, the pool, the movies or even the library.

1. Adventure Kids Playcare

Adventure Kids Playcare | Facebook

Franchise Adventures Kids Playcare wont make you feel guilty taking a bit of time for yourself, away from the kids.

Founded in 2004, the child care centers mission is to offer a safe environment to ease mom and dads mind and a fun place to play for the kids.

The centers nine U.S. locations have staff that are CPR and first-aid certified. They also clean and sanitize the center on a daily basis, which is why is a socks-only zone for kiddos. The franchise provides care on the go for special occasions including office parties or receptions to make sure you and your kids have the fun everyone deserves.

2. All About Kids

All About Kids

If you child may need special care and consideration, All About Kids may be the place to go.

With four kids of their own, James and Tracy Kaiser certainly understand how important early development can be in a childs life. Realizing a need for a center with the same values, the duo opened their first center in Cincinnati in 2005.

But rather than just care, the center also provides opportunities for kids to learn and grow with a variety of activities. To expand on its services, the company began franchising in 2008 and has 11 locations.

3. Building Kidz School

Building Kidz School

Some kids need a little more care than others.

Such was the case for Vineeta Bhandari, whose daughter was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. In need of constant care and stimulation, Bhandari couldnt provide the care her little girl needed while working 60 hours a week in corporate America. So, she decided to do something about it.

She worked to make a program that intertwined high-level academics with the arts and other activities to help parents like her have peace of mind and give kids a jump start. Her efforts came to a reality in 2003, when the doors for the first Building Kidz School opened. After her daughter finished the program, Bhandari began working to expand the company. It started franchising in 2015 and now has nine locations.

4. Childrens Lighthouse

Childrens Lighthouse

In business for almost 15 years, Childrens Lighthouse provides tradition in its educational child care.

Founded in 1996, in Fort Worth, Texas, the company offers curriculum based on research and looks to provide care for all learning types and goals. It also offers online support and information for families with kids from six weeks to 12 years.

The company began franchising in 1999 and now has 37 locations.

5. Discovery Point

Discovery Point

If youre looking for people to take care of your child as if it were their own, Discovery Point might be the place to go.

The centers first location opened in 1988 by Cliff and Diane Clark. Cliff, formerly a business owner and real-estate developer and Diane, a teacher, joined forces to foster a child care and learning center that would provide a place for kids to grow in every aspect of the word.

The company opened a second location in 1990, started to franchise in 1992 and now has 49 U.S. locations.

6. Genius Kids

Genius Kids

Genius Kids got it start in 2001 with just two students led by founder Rennu Dhillon.

Having spent years training adults as a pharmacist with a Ph.D in natural sciences, the professional was always surprised by the number of U.S. adults without proper confidence and communication skills. Having grown up in the U.K., a country that emphasizes early education, she saw a void in Americas education system and was inspired to provide a solution.

With her own program, Genius Kids offers curriculum for kids as young as two. In 2011, it became a franchise and now has 22 locations.

7. Goddard Systems

The Goddard School

In need of care not just during the summer but year round? The Goddard School might be your solution.

The program offers care -- with a focus on stimulating curriculum and activities -- all year for kids 6 weeks to 6 years of age.The company started franchising in 1988 after it was founded in 1986 and is now headquartered in King of Prussia, Pa. Today, the franchise has 448 U.S. locations.

8. Kiddie Academy

Kiddie Academy

For Kiddie Academy, its not just about a quality education; its also about community.

Founded in 1981 by George and Pauline Miller, the program has developed a Life Essentials curriculum to help kids learn, grow, develop and be inspired with the help of quality educators.

Since it began franchising in 1992, the company provides each of its partners with a guide for its curriculum as well as any licenses or permits needed to get off to the right foot.

9. KidsPark

KidsPark

For kids with tons of energy and a need to play, KidsParks got em covered.

The center has an open floor plan offering a range of activity and play areas for kids to explore and discover new things. As an added benefit, it makes it easier for teachers to keep an eye on the young ones, as well.

The areas include a creation station, an activity area, the Mountain of Energy, a theater and a sport court. It also has a spot for the Blue Crew, or older kids, that has more age appropriate games and a space for homework, too.

10. KLA Schools

KLA Schools

Why settle for one element when you could have all of them: quality curriculum, nurturing and education. That was the goal for Candy and Roberto Ortega when they founded KLA Schools in 2008 in Miami.

Their passion was long instilled having grown up overseas, Robertos grandfather having opened two schools on his own and Candy having studied child development in college.

The duo have been incredibly active in the industry, attending conferences such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children Conference.

The pair started franchising the company in 2009 and now has nine locations in the U.S.
Major tech companies wield immense influence in our lives, shaping how we find information, correspond with others and complete errands and daily tasks. But the magnitude of the services that these companies provide isnt the only way to measure their success. They also share certain internal characteristics that make them desirable to job seekers.

LinkedIn has announced its first Top Attractors list, outlining which U.S. companies are the most coveted workplaces in 2016 among the networks 433 million members. The top 10 most attractive companies on the list are all tech companies, with Google at number one, followed by Salesforce, Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Uber, Microsoft, Tesla, Twitter and Airbnb. When it comes to the top-ranked companies globally, Apple switches places with Google, earning the top spot while Google sits at number four.

Related: These CEOs -- Including Some of Your Favorites -- Are the Most Highly Reviewed by Their Employees

To determine the rankings, LinkedIn looked at how its members behave, counting job posting views and submitted applications, non-employees attempts to view and connect with a companys employees, a companys LinkedIn page views, the performance of a companys LinkedIn content and how long new employees stay with a company.

In analyzing the data, LinkedIn went beyond staging a popularity contest. After figuring out which companies get the most attention, the team dug deeper to find out why.

For one, the trendiness of the tech field is only part of why certain companies charted well. LinkedIn found that eight of the top 10 companies are still run by their original CEO. Prospective employees value name recognition, and long-term commitment leads to notability.

Other attributes that made LinkedIn members latch onto companies involve how they treat their employees. Workers want to enter a new job and earn rewarding responsibilities quickly. Theyre also wooed by perks -- everything from free food to generous vacation packages, or more surprising offerings such as paying for workers gender-affirmation surgeries.

Along with such benefits, employees want flexibility. Many top employers allow telecommuting, while others accommodate long-term parental leave. Last month, LinkedIn surveyed 6,266 members and found that nearly half of them would accept a lesser title and salary at a new company in exchange for flexibility in their schedules.

As the academic year comes to an end and graduates line up their first jobs, many will gravitate toward the Top Attractors for all of the reasons described above, as well as for elite brand recognition. But those who work with less established companies, especially in the tech world, warn against jumping on the Google bandwagon.

Y Combinator co-founder Paul Graham has been disappointed to find out that a large percentage of graduates flock to a small group of companies, despite likely impending industry shifts. They should be going to whatever company is the present-day equivalent of Google in 2001, Graham told Quartz.

Related: The Top 10 Companies to Work for in 2016

Most companies will never be Google, or even the next Google. But to attract and retain talent, they can take a few pointers from the Silicon Valley giants.

Here is the full U.S. list of LinkedIns Top Attractors.
As a workplace leader, you have the responsibility to strive for the trust of your employees; that task comes with the territory.

Related: This Essential Leadership Trait Can Push Employees to Do Their Best

After all, trust in senior leaders directly impacts employee attitudes toward the company and work, according to a study of 828 employees conducted by Globoforce, in May. In fact, workers with high levels of trust for their senior leaders are the most likely to love their jobs.

But the Globoforce survey also found a problem in this regard: While 80 percent of the workers surveyed said they trusted their peers, only 72 percent expressed trust in their bosses, and only 65 percent in their senior leaders.

So, given the importance of senior leaders building better trust with their employees, where do leaders even begin?

1. Increase transparency.

To start building that trust, you, as a leader, must increase transparency. It is important to share timely information when possible with employees. Leaders also should make themselves available to their teams, admit mistakes when they happen and share efforts to improve employees work lives.

It can be challenging to determine how much transparency is enough, but simply surveying employees for feedback can provide great insight. Here, a platform like Comparably can be a great tool; it allows employees to anonymously provide data on their companys compensation and insights into work culture. Employers can find out how employees feel about workplace transparency, and use the information to improve the company culture.

2. Increase recognition.

Equally important to transparency is increased employee recognition. According to the Globoforce study, employees who had received the most recent recognition expressed significantly more trust in their leadership. Employees recognized within a month before the survey reported trust for senior leaders at a rate of 82 percent, compared to a 48 percent trust rate for those receiving no recognition.

So, to build trust, recognize both individual accomplishments and team successes. Even better, cite specific examples of employees valuable work. Be sure to acknowledge accomplishments regularly and often. After that, the trust will come naturally.

Related: 3 Ways to Avoid the Leadership Mistakes That Undermine Your Team

3. Place less emphasis on seniority.

Treat employees at all levels with the same respect. Data released in February 2015 by Virgin Pulse revealed that nearly 60 percent of employees surveyed said their relationship with their employer positively impacted their focus or productivity at work, and 44 percent said it positively impacted their stress levels.

Make work environments inclusive. Give all employees an equal voice, rather than saying, These are your leaders, and they have all the power.

When you establish a workplace that values all employees equally, employees will feel more inclined to trust senior leadership. That trust will lead to all of these additional benefits, like increased focus and productivity.

4. Spend one-on-one time.

Spending time with employees individually is another way to strengthen the relationship. Only 15 percent of employees said they believed their feedback was highly valued by managers, according to a March 2015 survey by 15Five. On top of that, 58 percent of employees said managers valued their feedback only moderately, slightly or not at all.

Give employees the opportunity to provide leaders feedback, and vice versa. This two-way communication is important to building relationships. Spend some time learning about employee wins and struggles firsthand.

Its also essential to implement any changes you make from what you learn during one-on-one time with your employees.

5. Participate in workplace events.

In addition to one-on-one time, time spent with your team all together is also important. According to 90 percent of workers surveyed in March by Unify, the ideal setting for leaders' participation is an informal work environment.

Organizing and participating in workplace events with employees is what will make your environment fun and build a strong company culture. When you make an effort to be part of the team, you contribute to their trust in leadership.

Related: Trust, Fairness, Respect: Qualities of a Good Boss and a Great Leader (Infographic)

Overall, building trust takes time, but by taking steps to improve relationships, leaders can create an ideal work environment for everyone, at all levels of the company.
Four U.S. special operations troops were hurt when an Islamic State rocket landed near their position in northern Syria earlier this month, bringing renewed questions about the role of U.S. troops in the region, specifically special operations forces serving alongside indigenous troops fighting ISIS.

A senior defense official told Fox News the U.S. troops were "lightly" wounded and quickly returned to duty.

To date, the Pentagon reports 16 U.S. troops have been wounded and three killed in hostile action against ISIS since President Obama authorized the first deployment of U.S. military forces back to Iraq in June 2014.

Pentagon statistics show 15 U.S. troops have been killed in non-combat incidents in the Middle East as part of the anti-ISIS coalition.

The Pentagon has long said U.S. troops are performing an "advisory" role in Iraq and Syria and do not have a combat role. But the deaths of three servicemen killed in action against ISIS since October have led officials to acknowledge that U.S. troops can find themselves in combat situations at times.

Militant groups including the Al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front captured two villages from Syrian government forces and their allies in the northern province of Aleppo after days of heavy fighting that left scores of fighters dead, Syrian activists said Saturday. The dead included 86 troops and pro-government gunmen, including 25 members of Lebanon's Hezbollah group.

CNN first to report.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Many Islamic State fighters have tried to elude investigators by posing as refugees, but a bumbling team of terrorists in Iraq reportedly tried a different angle -- dressing as women to blend in.

It didn't work. Police caught the six men wearing dresses and makeup, a security source told Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency on Monday.

The terrorists wore women's clothing specifically because they were trying to escape Fallujah as Iraqi soldiers closed in, the source added. Iraq declared it won back control of the city from ISIS on Friday.

Fars described the cross-dressing terrorists as "beautiful." It's unclear when the arrest took place.

ISIS fighters "have completely lost their morale and they have disguised in order not to be identified by the Iraqi security forces," Jabar al-Mamouri a commander of volunteer forces, told local media.

More than 80,000 non-terrorist civilians have escaped Fallujah amid the intense fighting over the past month, the United Nations reported.

Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, represents the only remaining urban stronghold for ISIS fighters in that country.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
by Steve Terril

Dear President Kagame,

Im writing on this Fathers Day to ask for your help visiting my daughter in Rwanda.

Diane Ineza-Terrill was born in Kigali on December 28, 2014. My family and I are grateful she has come into a peaceful and safe Rwanda. Her world could not be in greater contrast to the one her mother experienced as a survivor of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi. We credit you for that.

Sadly, when baby Diane and I first met, we had to do so in Uganda. You see, for reasons that have never been made clear, I have not been allowed to enter Rwanda for some time now. In the airport at Entebbe, I stood holding this tiny baby and I couldnt help but think of you and countless other Rwandans who were forced to leave their country just so their families could be together.

Perhaps you would agree that after all the hard work and sacrifice, its a shame a Rwandan child must still travel to Uganda or elsewhere just to visit with their father.

I know you have more important things to think about than this small matter but I am desperate. I am begging for your assistance. I have exhausted every available administrative remedy. My repeated applications for visas have gone unanswered.

Your Excellency, I appeal to your sense of decency and ask that you please allow me to visit my daughter in Rwanda.

Perhaps there have been some misunderstandings between your office and myself in the past. I am far from perfect and Im certain Ive made mistakes while covering Rwanda. I apologize if Ive done anything to offend or embarrass the Office of the President.

Just to be clear, Im not asking to come to Rwanda to work as a journalist. I will not do any reporting of any kind in Rwanda. Baby Diane deserves to be held by her father and to be in her country at the same time. No one should be forced to choose between the two.

I believe this is what you and countless others have fought so hard and sacrificed so much to achieve.

Sincerely,

Steve Terrill
All County Complete Property Management Prepares to Celebrate Its Grand Opening in Jacksonville

Professionals at All County Complete offer management solutions for hands-off property owners interested in gaining a professional advantage to growing and safeguarding their Jacksonville, Florida rental property investments.

JACKSONVILLE, FLA. (PRWEB) June 20, 2016 - All County Complete Property Management, a real estate business specializing in rental property management for residential property owners and their tenants, will commemorate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 30 at 5 pm. The event will take place at the new All County Complete business location at 2120 Corporate Square Blvd Suite 18 in Jacksonville and will be performed by the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce.

The event is open to all area residents, businesses, organizations and community members. Paula Givler, a previous member of the leadership team at All County CFL in Orlando, Florida, has taken on the broker position at All County Complete. She said that, "We are delighted to have a chance to celebrate with the community and we appreciate the kind welcome from our friends at the chamber of commerce and other nearby business people." Attendees can expect light fare and refreshments, networking opportunities and music by Wes Benwick.

"We're happy to make JAX our home and we're excited by the plenitude of real estate investment opportunities available to those that wish to take advantage of the area's fast growing jobs market and population growth," Givler said. Jacksonville was recently credited as among the top markets to watch considering its "generally good" real estate prospects in investment, development and homebuilding, according to the most recently published Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2016 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Urban Land Institute.

Scott McPherson, the president of All County Property Management Franchise Corp. said that, "As experienced property management professionals with a tenured history with the All County franchise system, I'm confident that Givler and her team will continue to provide the competent and professional property management services that clients and their tenants have come to expect from the All County brand."

About All County Complete Property Management

All County Complete Property Management is an independently owned and operated company and one of 45 All County franchise locations in the United States. All County Complete Property Management offers unparalleled rental property management services in Jacksonville, Florida and Orange Park, Florida and includes the following neighborhoods: San Jose, San Marco, Riverside, Oceanway, Julington Creek, St. Nicholas, Mandarin, Arlington, Middleburg, Westside and all area beaches!. For more information about All County Complete Property Management, visit http://allcountycpm.com

About All County Property Management Franchise Corp.

Established in 1990, All County Property Management Franchise Corp. is a full service property management franchise company headquartered in St. Petersburg Florida. All County serves clients and tenants at 45 locations throughout the United States. Each location is independently owned and operated. All County provides annual management, marketing, tenant screening, lease execution, maintenance coordination and inspection services. Renters can view available properties online, submit applications, and make maintenance requests 24-hours a day. For more information about All County Franchise Corp., visit http://allcountyfranchise.com.

SOURCE All County Complete Property Management

Contacts:

Tabatha Davis

All County Property Management Franchise Corp.

+1 7278003700

Paula Givler

All County Complete Property Management

904-694-9400 100

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If Dakota Carrier Network CEO Seth Arndorfer could hire for a single job opening today, it would be a data center and cloud service engineer.

He is seeing more of his company's applications move to the cloud.

Weve experienced a significant amount of growth the last several years, he said, and he needs more staff to support it.

In an effort to help employers such as DCN, the Bismarck-Mandan Development Association hosted the Educators Summer Workshop last week. The program was meant to provide insights into the skills that are in demand, and how middle school and high school classes can help fill those jobs.

As an employer, its nice to expose teachers to real-world careers, Arndorfer said.

Judy Sauter, BMDA's marketing and research director, said 17 teachers, counselors and career advisers from Bismarck-Mandan, as well as surrounding communities such as Napoleon, Linton, Underwood and White Shield, participated in the event. They received graduate credit, paid for by BMDA.

The program is part of the BMDAs workforce development initiative. Sauter said BMDA opted to focus on educators because of the impact they can have on kids career decisions.

Theyre with students almost as much as parents, said Sauter, adding she hopes the participants will use that information in their classrooms and counseling offices.

Sauter said educators went to the Bank of North Dakota to learn about business careers; Edgewood Vista to learn about health care careers; Juniper LLC archaeological firm to learn about science and agriculture careers; Northern Improvement to learn about the trades; KLJ to hear about engineering; DCN for IT and computer science jobs; Bobcat Acceleration Center to see a 21st century workplace; and Missouri Valley Family YMCA.

Even though weve done a lot, theres 10 times more, Sauter said.

Brian Beehler, assistant principal of Bismarck Public Schools Career Academy, attended to gain knowledge of the job opportunities available in the community.

This place has been mind-blowing, he said after a tour of the DCN facility.

Sauter said the hope is educators will learn more by seeing the workspaces and talking to employees, rather than just sitting in a conference room. BMDA tried to take the educators to businesses where they might have had no reason to go in the past.

Beehler said it surprised him how important some companies in the community are to the state and region. For example, DCN is owned by rural telephone cooperatives and provides internet connectivity to their customers. Large companies, such as Netflix, rent server space at the facility to reach their customers in North Dakota.

At each business, the educators received an overview of the company, the types of jobs each had available, the training needed for those jobs, the pay offered, and the pros and cons of each position. They talked about what they can do to inform their students about career opportunities, including those that might not even be on their radar, and when to start talking to kids about these careers.

How do I help teach kids about careers if I dont know all thats out there? Sarah Berreth, a medical-related career instructor at the Career Academy, asked herself.

For example, Beehler said he never would have thought to direct a student toward becoming a land surveyor, and thats a career that makes $60,000 to $80,000 annually. He said so many parents think their children have to have four-year degrees to succeed, but theres a lot of money to be made in this state with a two-year degree."

Some companies dont require any post-secondary education; theyll train workers. A person with a new high school diploma could be making $50,000 at age 18 in some instances.

Jill Volmers, a counselor at St. Marys Central High School, said she joined the workshop because several of her students had good experiences participating in job shadowing opportunities hosted by the BMDA earlier this year. One of her students changed his mind about engineering after a job shadow at KLJ, opting instead to consider law enforcement after a ride along with the Bismarck Police Department. She said she hopes to expand upon that success.

We want (students) to be passionate about their career choice so they can be successful and enjoy what they do, she said.

Berreth said the businesses they visited did a good job showing a diverse spread of career opportunities: Theyve kinda shown us the whole gamut.

Berreth said she could see herself as an extension to these companies, teaching kids how to fill out job applications, participate in job interviews, problem-solving skills, conflict resolution, oral and written communication all skills that companies told the educators were just as important as job-related training.

You dont have to be a rocket scientist; you just have to be trainable, Arndorfer said of working at DCN.

The numbers of students interested in technology are not great, and companies in the field know they have work to do; so when DCN gets an opportunity to tell students about high-tech jobs in North Dakota, they jump on it, according to Arndorfer.

Were trying to be more proactive, he said.
The Former Governors' Mansion State Historic Site had its grand opening of the attic play room Sunday. In conjunction with the attic play room grand opening, an hour-long walking tour of downtown Bismarck, named "Capital in Farm Country," started at Camp Hancock State Historic Site and ended at the Former Governors' Mansion.

Jonathan Campbell, manager of the former governors' mansion, expected about 200 citizens to attend the event.

"The attic play room has never been open to the public before," Campbell said. "It was unfinished for nearly 50 years."

Campbell said the attic play room was restored to the design the room had when William Langer was governor in the 1930s. The play room will now permanently stay open for viewing. The room offers a wall to draw on with chalk, old toys used by governors' children on display and numerous board games that can be played by visitors.

Bismarck resident Jessica Glovich is one of the many visitors who went to the grand opening Sunday.

"My niece told us about it," Glovich said. "It's neat. I've never been here before."

The event attracted many children. Hula hoops, balls and various outdoor games were scattered across the lawn. The Century High School Centahnas ran a face painting booth, and story time was offered at 2 and 3 p.m., with books such as "The Old House" by Pamela Duncan Edwards being read to the children.

Some visitors of the grand opening started off at the Camp Hancock State Historic Site to participate in the walking tour of Bismarck, led by Robert Hanna, coordinator for the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan. The walking tour went along Main St. and up 4th St., ending at the mansion.

Judith Hammer, resident of Bismarck, has attended this particular walking tour numerous times. "Robert Hanna is an excellent researcher and tour guide," Hammer said. "He does everything right. I love walking tours because you can always learn more."

The tour touched on many historic sites in downtown Bismarck and pointed out locations that used to house prominent buildings which were key to Bismarck's history. Diane Chepulis said Bismarck is her hometown, but she is unfamiliar with many historic locations. The walking tour caught her interest because she wanted to learn more about the place she lives.

"I've been here all these years," Chepulis said. "I've never been to so many places."

The tour guide for the walking tour, Hanna, has been leading the downtown Bismarck tour for four years and has been doing interpretive tours since 2005.

"My favorite part of this tour is giving people an emotional connection to stuff they see every day," he said.

The main focus of Hanna's tour was how Bismarck is an urban area in the middle of farm country, and how challenging it is to succeed at farming. He highlighted the journey that Bismarck residents had to take to figure out how to farm in North Dakota.

"When it came to farming in North Dakota, there was no one problem and there was no one solution," Hannah said. "Diversity was a key part. They branched off into more than just farming."

The most prominent aspects that Hanna shared in Bismarck's history was the importance of the railroad, the wheat business and important political figures of Bismarck such as Ed Patterson and Alexander McKenzie. He also noted the impact that Oscar Will and his son George made on Bismarck when he brought in crops other than wheat.

Hanna's walking tour was interlaced with unique stories such as doll figurines built into the walls at the Bismarck Depot and enhanced with photographs of old buildings and packets of beans and seeds that changed North Dakota history.

For more information on the Former Governors' Mansion State Historic Site, visit www.history.nd.gov/historicsites/fgm.
New Website Released For The Review Of ITproTV

Adrian Cave, a renowned author has released another website review of ENGAGING COURSES ITProTV, humor and cutting edge technology with IT education and presents it all during a live broadcast. The shows are then organized by exam and exam objective or by technical skill.

--

ITProTV review website was released by Adrian Cave in a small press meet here today. ITProTV is a home learning training portal to Keep Your Skills, Certifications, and Knowledge Relevant Access ITProTV through a web browser whenever to view the latest IT education. New course content is live streamed daily and made available on demand within 48 hours.

Speaking to media, Adrian stated, "This is a brilliant course that anybody can take and become successful at. Anything technical, computer based or just want to learn the basics, then this is the right course for just about all, Anybody can enjoy IT Training Courses Online Anywhere, Anytime" Adrian further added, "Watch live or on-demand via Apple TV (coming soon!), Roku, or Amazon Fire TV. Access all course content at convenience. Try it FREE today. Be amazed at the amount of content inside the portal"

Adrian also stated "the program used in the learning process is actually quite entertaining and fun to follow and use, the lessons are streamed live every day, so pupils can learn at the pace that suits their work and lifestyle" Adrian commented "This course can be taken by people who have a vast knowledge about IT, and also people who have virtually none, it is that diverse.

Adrian has written a series of books in the horror and romance genre in the past. These include Dances with Demons and Dreams of Nightmares. Adrians book 'Ashes' is already published this week. These are a series of books about Strigoi or Romanian Vampires. Adrian is also working on third book of the series called Whumptiques in New York. Mr Cave is going to launch a number of these types of books all about a little scotty dog, who by accident gets stuck on a cruise ship, and ends up sailing the world, visiting all different cities and countries.

If interested in the concept of learning IT from home, then ITProTV is probably the best home/computer based learning device there is, so why not go have a look, who know's look how Mr Bill Gates started out.

For more information, please visit http://internetjobwork.com

Contact Info:

Name: Paul Thompson

Organization: The Thompson Twins

Address: 88 Hareside

Phone: 01670732733

Release ID: 120095

For more information visit r



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TrueHoster Launches Unlimited Web Hosting Service At 0.99 EURO Per Month

BelCloud Hosting Corporation launches TrueHoster unlimited web hosting service for 0.99 EUROs per month.

--

BelCloud Hosting Corporation, which operates multiple Internet services, announced today that its TrueHoster unit is launching an unlimited web hosting service for 0.99 EUROs per month. The service features unlimited disk space and transfer bandwidth.

"Today, everyone needs an online presence, regardless of their level of technical expertise or specific line of business," said a spokesperson for the company. "This is the problem we solve. We offer a powerful but simple-to use-hosting solution. We can cover pretty much anyone's needs and requirements."

The Unlimited Hosting Package can be initiated in just two clicks. The user simply has to enter an email address and domain name. Then, they can complete the transaction through a wide array of payment methods. Once payment is received, the user is taken to an intuitive, browser-based configuration interface. Customers report that they can have a working website live within an hour of registering.

Additional features of the Unlimited Hosting Package include unlimited e-mail addresses and unlimited MySQL databases. Each account can add up to 5 additional domain names. Advanced users can take advantage of a free cPanel and free migration from other hosting services. Distributed Denial of Service (DDos) attack protection is included. TrueHoster offers a price match guarantee as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee. Customer support is offered on a 24/7 basis through email and online service tickets.

Belcloud is a global service provider. TrueHoster is just one of its online brands. The company also manages the services Host.ag, Vps.ag and Dedidam.net. They operate web hosting facilities in multiple geographies. Each facility has multiple, redundant network connections. For more information, visit https://www.truehoster.com.

For more information, please visit https://www.truehoster.com/

Contact Info:

Name: Dan Schwarz

Organization: BelCloud Hosting Corporation

Phone: +44.330.001.1139

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/truehoster-launches-unlimited-web-hosting-service-at-0-99-euro-per-month/120175

Release ID: 120175

For more information visit r



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NGScholars Acquires ScholarsAfrik, Opens Admission News Portal -- 2016/2017

2016/17 Post-UTME cut-off marks for Universities, Polytechnic, and Colleges admission used by all schools in Nigeria and list of schools that have released their admission lists.

--

NGScholars Acquires ScholarsAfrik -- The management of NGScholars.com, the online Nigerian University, Polytechnic and Colleges news portal has announced the acquisition of the rapidly growing and highly promising education portal, ScholArsfrik.com. This is contained in a press released issued to media outlets. The financial details of the acquisition were however not released.

The Chief Executive Officer of www.ngscholars.net, Mr. Ogundimu Ahmed revealed that the fate of ScholarsAfrik was decided as soon as the terms of the acquisition was agreed. ScholarsAfrik will be merged with NGScholars, bringing all the new and existing features on ScholarsAfrik to NGScholars. He also revealed that ScholarsAfrik will henceforth redirect to NGScholars, with all the resources on the former still available on the Latter

All visitors and users of ScholarsAfrik can put their mind at rest as all features they enjoy will be made available on NGScholars.

NGScholars.net Opens Admission News 2016/2017 Portal

All candidates who took part in the Joint Admissions And Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) should be informed. The Federal Government has scrapped Post-UTME Screening, starting from the 2016/2017 admission. NGScholars has now opened an admission update portal that provides you with all the information you need to know about the 2016/2017 admission exercise of all schools in Nigeria.

The portal has started sharing information on how to prepare for Post-UTME screening exercise (for schools that have started) while also providing a lot of resources that can help you secure that dream admission this year. Also available are information on 2016/17 Post-UTME cut-off marks for Universities, Polytechnic and Colleges admission used by all schools in Nigeria and list of schools that have released their admission lists. Some of the other resources you will find useful include;

o The list of Universities accepting 180 JAMB Score for Admission

o Schools that accept 150 and up without choosing them in JAMB

These and many more are now available on the NGScholars Admission List page. JAMB Cut-off mark for 2016/2017 admission has been announced. The management of the portal promises to continue to update the page in a timely manner as soon as more updates from school come out.

The management further assures their users of improved services as the year progresses and admission seekers prepare to start processing admission into their chosen University, Polytechnic or College in Nigeria.

For more information, please visit http://www.ngscholars.net/

Contact Info:

Name: Ogundimu Ahmed

Organization: NGScholars.net

Address: Plot A12, Gbagada-Oshodi Expressway Gbagada (Charlyboy Bus Stop) Lagos State Nigeria

Phone: 07069570565

Source: http://marketersmedia.com/ngscholars-acquires-scholarsafrik-opens-admission-news-portal-20162017/120246

Release ID: 120246

For more information visit r



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Bismarck Police asks for help locating 57-year-old Debora Lynn Williams.

She may be traveling between North Dakota and Arizona with Patrick Mcintyre in a four-door, 2016 sapphire blue Cadillac SRL with Arizona plates BLE0353, police said.

Williams left a Bismarck treatment center on June 13, police said.

Police describe her as a white female with blond hair and blue eyes. She is 5 foot, 1 inch and 112 pounds.

Anyone with information should contact the Bismarck Police Department at 701-223-1212.
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The director general of the advice industrys newest trade body has said the Financial Services Compensation Scheme levy will lead to a spiral of decline unless it is scrapped.

Garry Heath, director general of Libertatem, said the industry should return to a regime that pre-dated the FSCS, with clients paying an additional fee for protection.

He questioned calls for financial services firms identified as higher risk to pay a greater proportion of the FSCS levy.

Mr Heath said: Firms deemed risky may be a short term phenomemon as they are likely to shut down. For those of you who think this is a good idea - think again.

When a firm shuts down the administrator does not keep the paperwork for six years or in perpetuity as the FCA now demands. It is dumped in six months.

So every ambulance chaser leaving the payment protection insurance (PPI) arena will vector in on those ex-firms as they do not exist and cannot defend themselves. Similarly, abandoned clients are far more likely to crystalize into claims than those being serviced.

So the surviving firms will see not only FSCS increases created by the macro pressures but also additional pressures created by risk rated firms leaving the market and by so doing creating extra claims. That will inevitably lead to a spiral of decline.

The Financial Conduct Authority is currently reviewing the FSCS levy in a process which will probably last until early next year.

But the FCA has ruled out a product levy - which advisers support - on the basis that the introduction of such a regime would require legislation, putting it outside the scope of the current study.

Mark Neale, chief executive of the FSCS, has previously said he is opposed to the introduction of a product levy.

Mr Heath launched Libertatem last May as a trade association for both independent and restricted advisers as well as wealth managers across the UK.

He said: We have been collecting significant numbers of new members, which is great. Last month we had more members join than in the previous three months combined.

We have got a few hundred members but it is less about how many we have than how many are needed to put up a proper job of representing the sector.
Thomas Moore, the manager of Standard Life Investments 1.2bn UK Equity Income fund, said fund managers should focus on achieving investment sector requirements, rather than complain about them.

His comments come as various funds  including Rathbone Income, Montanaro UK Income and Webb Capital Smaller Companies Income & Growth  were kicked out of the UK Equity Income sector for not meeting the criteria set out by the Investment Association.

The move to cull funds from the sector was met with criticism by Evenlode fund manager Hugh Yarrow who called the rules arbitrary after his 524m Income fund was thrown out of the group.

In April, the Investment Association launched a consultation, which is currently underway, that could pave the way for an overhaul of the requirements for funds in the UK Equity Income sector.

However, speaking to FTAdviser, Mr Moore  who also runs Standard Lifes 174m Equity Income trust  said he is perfectly happy with the status quo.

He said: We dont understand the urgent need for a change in the sector on the income requirements.

I think the rules were set and well understood by every company that has funds in the UK equity income sector.

For me, it is about getting on the front foot and making sure we achieve sector requirements, not complaining about them.

Mr Moore pointed to the three-year average in income generation, which means fund managers dont have to hit 110 per cent of the UK market dividend yield every year.

He said any rule is arbitrary, adding: Those fund managers who are implying the requirements are unfair signed up to the rules when they entered the sector.

The other implication is: If you think the rules need to be changed then perhaps youre not willing to produce what your clients expect you to produce?

Mr Moore said his focus is on companies with growing dividend streams and solid fundamentals.

This means Im not lying in bed worrying about whether these companies will end up paying their dividends.

He added: Clients are in urgent need of income in this environment and I dont think its our place to say clients are wrong to demand a premium yield; products should be able to meet that need.

Gordon Bowden, director and financial Planner at Quainton Hills Financial Planning, agreed that fund managers should focus on achieving sector requirements rather than moaning.

He said: It is what investors would expect and part of the criteria that advisers use to evaluate a fund. I also believe it is fair for funds to be pushed out of the sector if they do not meet requirements.

However there is no problem with managers lobbying the IA to amend sector requirements and possibly lobbying the IA to introduce different sector that are more relevant to todays investors.

katherine.denham@ft.com
Artemis Income co-manager Adrian Gosden is to leave the firm this month after 13 years at the company, Investment Adviser can reveal.

Mr Gosden, who joined the firm from Societe Generale Investment Management in 2003, has run the 6bn Income fund alongside Adrian Frost since that year.

It is understood he will now take some time out from the fund management industry.

Artemis said its Income team, headed by Mr Frost, will continue to oversee the portfolios on which Mr Gosden worked - which also include the fund houses 1.1bn mixed-asset High Income fund - following the departure.

The income team includes Alex Ralph, manager of High Income, and Nick Shenton, who was named as a third co-manager on the Income fund in 2014.

The asset managers senior partner Mark Murray said: In his time with us, Adrian has made a considerable contribution to Artemis. He will leave with our thanks and very best wishes.

Mr Gosdens efforts have helped Artemis Income post a 92.8 per cent return over the past 10 years, according to FE Analytics, compared with a 66 per cent return for the IA UK Equity Income sector and a 65 per cent rise in the FTSE All-Share.

His departure follows in the footsteps of a number of other senior Artemis personnel: UK equity manager Tim Steer, founding partner Mark Tyndall and chief investment officer Ruth Keattch have all departed over the past 18 months.

At the same time, the fund house has made a number of high profile hires in a bid to ensure it maintain the strong growth trajectory seen in recent years.

The company hired US equity manager Cormac Weldon and team from Threadneedle in 2014, and last year secured the signature of Standard Life Investments Ed Legget to replace Mr Steer.
An initiative involving the likes of Newton Investment Managements Helena Morrissey and other senior industry figures will look to tackle a lack of diversity in the pensions and investments space.

The Diversity Project will be led by a steering group chaired by Ms Morrissey, who also serves as chair of the Investment Association.

The steering group includes figures such as Carmignac Gestion managing director Maxime Carmignac and Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association chair Lesley Williams.

The project will aim to tackle a lack of diversity across the industry in areas such as gender, ethnicity, socio-economic background, degree discipline, sexual orientation, age and disability.

Those involved will launch schemes aimed at ensuring diverse recruitment as well as seeking to help individuals from minority groups rise to top roles and share best practice.

The launch follows the publication of research last week by Tilney Bestinvest which estimated that just 8.5 per cent of fund managers on UK retail funds were women.

Tilney Bestinvest managing director Jason Hollands said: Despite a handful of high-profile women in senior management positions within the industry, front-line fund management positions are usually held by men.

On the initiative launch, Ms Morrissey said: Its time for the investment and savings industries to seek diversity in its broadest sense to ensure the industry has the cognitive and experiential diversity needed to be modern, to represent society and to make effective decisions.
A modest May increase of 0.4 per cent (+1,118) in the price of property coming to market masked a nasty spring surprise for first-time buyers, according to Rightmove.

An 80 per cent uplift in March transaction numbers reduced the number of properties available and sent prices up 6.2 per cent (+11,298) for typical first-time buyer properties.

Miles Shipside, Rightmoves director and housing market analyst, stated: If you were expecting a long period of price doldrums at the lower end of the market following the mass exit of the buy-to-let brigade, this months 6.2 per cent price rise will come as a big surprise.

Properties at the lower end of the market were the most common target for the investor community, and the immediate aftermath of the tax deadline saw new sellers asking prices drop in this sector for just one month.

The 1.4 per cent fall reported in Aprils index appears to have been a very short-lived knee-jerk, he continued, with the average property price reaching a new record of 308,151.

Buy-to-let investors have had a bricks and mortar feast between the chancellors announcement in November and the tax deadline at the end of March, and the result is a famine of suitable property and higher prices, stated Mr Shipside, adding that first-time buyers are still eager to secure some of the very limited suitable supply in many parts of the country.

The biggest increase in the price of property coming to market compared to a year ago in the typical first-time buyer sector is in Croydon in greater London, up by 18.6 per cent.

In regions outside London, but still in commuter-belt territory, Dartford in the south east has recorded an 18.5 per cent jump, with Luton in the east of England up by 18.4 per cent.

Righmove noted that its agents report that all of these areas were the focus of considerable buy-to-let investor activity. Conversely, six out of 10 regions contained some towns which have seen falls in average asking prices, with the largest drops in Llandudno at 7.5 per cent and Darlington down 3 per cent.

Jeremy Duncombe, director of the Legal & General Mortgage Club, said that while some may view these figures as good news, its important to remember that these rises mean that the prospect of homeownership is becoming more and more distant for most aspiring homeowners.

Weve had promise after promise and policy after policy when it comes to tackling the housing crisis, but the simple fact is that these words have not been met by action on the ground.

He added that if the government and developers continue to procrastinate, this will only exacerbate the current problems that plague our housing market and threaten to price a generation out of homeownership altogether.

peter.walker@ft.com
Brokers, lenders and industry bodies have warned of the consequences a Brexit vote could have on the UKs housing market.

By Friday (24 June) the decision to leave or remain in the EU will have been made, and while many companies and organisations are staying impartial, others have strong views.

Matthew Fleming-Duffy, director at Dorset-based mortgage adviser Cherry Finance, said seven weeks ago he was on the fence, but has now swung towards remain.

A vote for leave would cause massive problems for the housing market, denting confidence among borrowers and lenders, as well as causing overseas investment to dry up. High loan-to-value lending would be hit, making it harder for first-time-buyers, while the cost of borrowing would undoubtedly rise.

Islay Robinson, chief executive at London-based broker Enness Private Clients, stated that despite falls in enquiry levels and some stagnation in the property market in the lead up to the EU referendum, things are likely to pick up into July.

The month immediately following the 2014 Scottish referendum saw a 60 per cent increase in enquiries and in the months leading up to the 2015 general election enquiries declined gradually, only to increase by 40 per cent, as soon as the threat of mansion tax had vanished, he pointed out.

Stephen Matthews, director at London estate agent Greene & Co. confirmed both buyers and sellers holding off, causing a slowdown in recent weeks. However, he agreed this is merely a temporary delay, noting the market is driven by necessity as much as anything else.

In the case of a Brexit, it may take a little longer for the uncertainty to die away as we wait for the renegotiations with Brussels to take place, but in the long term the UK property will return to its position and a bastion of strength.

Just last week, Your Moves latest index revealed property values dipping 0.4 per cent in May, the steepest fall since November 2011, as the housing market holds its breath ahead of the referendum.

Richard Sexton, director of e.surv chartered surveyors, stated: With the chancellor predicting that a Brexit from the EU would reduce property values by at least 10 per cent, many buyers are holding off until after the uncertainly surrounding the referendum has been resolved.

Peter Hill, Leeds Building Society chief executive and chairman at the Council of Mortgage Lenders, told FTAdviser that while his business has no house view on the vote, they have been contingency planning.

The Bank of England have sensibly set up a sterling monetary framework to avoid any potential funding crisis like we saw in 2008. We have a huge amount of collateral sitting with the Bank of England and have considered the scenario of a run on sterling as one of many stress tests carried out, he stated, adding: Im pleased to say we look reasonably comfortable.

Volatility in currency markets has been one impact already felt across the EU ahead of the vote, with sterling declining 6 per cent against the euro for the year to date to the middle of May, while the currency has slipped almost 2 per cent against the dollar in the same period, data from FE Analytics showed.
Recent figures from the BlackRock ETP Landscape report for May 2016 shows there are more than 6,000 exchange traded products (ETPs) available with more than $3.1trn (2.2trn) in assets.

Meanwhile, statistics from the Investment Association show that at the end of April 2016 tracker products had amassed 109.2bn in funds under management, accounting for 10.7 per cent of total industry funds under management, up from 9.6 per cent in April 2015.

So what is driving this popularity? Uncertainty in stockmarkets, caused by a number of global macroeconomic and geopolitical issues, could be one factor, while cost continues to be key for many investors and their advisers.

But the evolution of the industry towards enhanced index funds, smart beta and fundamentally weighted indices that can be tracked by passive products are all making a passive approach more attractive.

Strategic beta is a hot topic, especially in the fixed income space Simon Klein, Deutsche Asset Management

Howie Li, executive director, and co-head of ETF Securities Canvas platform, says: With respect to inflows, passive investing continues to gather pace as the scrutiny on performance versus costs remains a focal point.

Passive investing is, therefore, proving popular because it is reducing the portfolio costs for the end client where the fees on certain active funds were not justified.

He adds that with index-hugging funds under the spotlight, the due diligence that advisers and fund managers carry out has highlighted how passive investment can make up the core of their portfolio.

This not only reduces the cost of the portfolio but it also means that more time can be freed up to identify opportunities. These opportunities may include high-conviction concentrated active funds, thematic investments and other tactical allocations.

Simon Klein, head of ETP sales for Europe and Asia at Deutsche Asset Management, agrees there is demand for low-cost core investments on major equity benchmarks.

In addition, he points out: Were seeing more investors starting to use fixed income ETFs  this is also a big focus for product development. Fixed income ETFs provide a standardised way to invest in bonds with the tradability and transparency benefits of an exchange-traded instrument. Also, the hunt for yield is still key.

In future, he believes the passive industry will see more strategic beta developments. Strategic beta is a hot topic, especially in the fixed income space. It lets investors not have to weight towards the biggest  and, therefore, the most indebted  issuers.

Developments in this area have seen Stoxx, the operator of Deutsche Boerse Groups index business, extend its Select and Diversification Select index families to combine themes such as environmental, social and governance with low-volatility, high-dividend and low-correlation screens, creating hybrid index concepts that can be tracked by structured products and ETFs.

This month, Invesco PowerShares launched two high-dividend and low-volatility ETFs, while Wisdom Tree is the latest to launch two quality dividend growth ETFs.

Looking ahead, Mr Li says: The landscape in five years time will be an efficient set of core-tracking ETFs and precision investing tools that are higher in conviction and/or target specific themes or trends.

With more index providers creating specialised indices for investors to track, the future of the passive investing industry looks anything but boring.

Nyree Stewart is features editor at Investment Adviser
"This is an exciting night for the future of North Dakota, and it's a tremendous honor to have your support and your trust."

 Doug Burgum, after winning the Republican nomination for governor on Tuesday.

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"We worked tirelessly and presented that vision we have for North Dakota that is one of optimism, and I continue to believe that. We can hold our heads high."

 Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, after his loss to Doug Burgum in Tuesdays primary.

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"It's like a big, rowdy Thanksgiving dinner. People get bumps and bruises. We'll start working on mending whatever fences that need to be mended."

 North Dakota Republican Party Chairman Kelly Armstrong, after Doug Burgum defeated Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. Stenehjem had been endorsed by the Republican convention.

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"We want to get out of town. You can't even have a dog over there without a leash."

 Mahmood Alduleimi, on why his family is remodeling an old Morton County schoolhouse into a home.

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"This can be a long and confusing process, but North Dakotans need to understand that nothing will change in the interim and we believe our moose population will continue to do well."

 Jeb Williams, wildlife division chief for North Dakota Game and Fish, in a statement on an effort to provide more protection for moose in North Dakota.

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"He's the son everybody would want their son to be."

 Rocky Brown, agriculture teacher and FFA adviser in Wishek and the assistant chief of the Wishek Fire Department, discussing Colbie Fandrich, who was killed in a Wishek plane crash.

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"We left no stone unturned to defeat Measure 1, because it was that important to us and to our state. 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."

 North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne, on efforts to defeat Measure 1 that would have eased the ban on corporate farming.

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"All I saw was opportunity, and the opposition  all they see is fear. If I felt it had threatened (family farms), I never would have supported it."

 Sen. Terry Wanzek, R-Jamestown, who introduced the legislation that became Measure 1.

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"I always wanted a job where I can just help people. It's so nice to see it really making someone's day easier when I get something done .... I never thought I would own my own business; I just saw an opportunity and I ran with it."

 Medora Sletten, on her business, Odds and Errands, where she does the tasks her customers dont have the time to do.

q q q

"It's unconscionable that anybody would put a well pad right above a boat ramp. On some occasions, that ramp gets used more than state park ramps. They're going to stand up a drilling rig 1,000 feet from the boat ramp parking lot? Where is our conscience and sense of social responsibility?"

 Terry Fleck, chairman of Friends of Lake Sakakawea and a Van Hook cabin owner, on a proposal to put an oil pad near the Van Hook Resort boat ramp.
CSULB alum wins gold at the 38th Long Beach Marathon  which was his first
Christina Larson opened up Varitone Architecture in December in downtown Albany, and you might not realize it, but youre probably already familiar with some of her designs.

The Albany businesswoman, while working for another firm, did drawings and management for the Boys & Girls Club of Albanys Teen Center and the Mid-Willamette Family YMCA.

With Varitone Architecture, she also designed the building for Baldwin General Contracting, which is on the former Salvation Army site in Albany.

Among Larsons upcoming projects is the interior design of the Albany Historic Carousel & Museum.

Larson said there are few architects, especially young professionals, in Linn and Benton counties, and she wants to offer a fresh perspective with her new office.

Im hoping to come in and fill the void, and fill the void for years to come, she said.

Larson said she brings a unique approach to projects because she has both architecture and interior design licenses, which allows her to consider both aspects during planning, resulting in more cohesive buildings.

If separate firms handle architecture and interior design there can be communication breakdowns and other disconnects. Interior design can often feel like an afterthought and not incorporate style elements from the exterior, Larson said.

She decided to open an office in Albany because she grew up in the mid-Willamette Valley in Philomath. Im very dedicated to the Albany-Corvallis community, Larson said.

After graduating high school in 2000, she went to the University of Oregon. She initially pursued becoming a music teacher, but was partially inspired by her parents Philomath business, Furniture Restoration Center of Oregon, to switch to studying interior architecture.

I realized Ive always had an interest in creativity, always doing arts and crafts, Larson added.

While she was doing interior design work for DJ Architecture in Albany, she ended up doing more architecture-based tasks, and realized she wanted to go back and get her masters in architecture at Oregon.

For the time being, Larson is the sole employee at Varitone Architecture. She hopes to hire a few employees within the next year.

The business name comes from the term for variations in color tones or musical tones. I wanted a name that was going to capture the music part of my life. I play in a symphony in Salem, Larson said.

Varitone also is the name of amplification equipment for woodwinds, and Larson plays the bassoon.

Because of that connection, Varitone Architectures slogan is architecture amplified.

Varitone Architecture, 403 W. First Ave. Suite 7, is generally open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Prospective clients should call 541-497-2954 to make an appointment.

For more information, go to www.varitonearchitecture.com.
News & Notes

A Noyce Teaching Fellows project recently received a six-year grant from the National Science Foundation to provide support for 16 teaching fellows to complete a masters degree program in secondary mathematics or science education at Oregon State University.

The project also will provide teaching fellows with professional development and support during their first four years of teaching in high-needs schools.

The Ambitious Math and Science Teaching Fellows project provides research-based teacher preparation courses and clinical experiences, professional development and support for teacher retention. The project seeks to promote teacher learning instructional practices that support every student, across racial, ethnic, gender and linguistic boundaries.

Mathematics professor Thomas Dick in the College of Science is the principal investigator, and mathematics education associate professor Rebekah Elliott and science education assistant professor SueAnn Bottom, both in the College of Education are co-PIs. OSUs Graduate School also is providing the teaching fellows with significant tuition support.

People on the Move

Keller Williams Realty has announced the addition of a new agent, Natasha Anderson.

Anderson is working out of the Keller Williams Albany office. She has lived in the Willamette Valley nearly 10 years, originally hailing from Huntington Beach, California.

Anderson can be reached at 541-220-3544 and natashaanderson@kw.com. The Albany Business Center is at 200 S.W. Ferry St. Visit kwcorvallis.com for more information.

Kara Brausen, certified public accountant, recently opened her own practice in downtown Corvallis.

Brausens practice focuses on providing personalized and attentive service for tax, accounting and consulting needs of local businesses and individuals. She is accepting new clients.

Brausen is an Oregon State University graduate and is licensed by the Oregon Board of Accountancy. Prior to starting her own practice, she worked for eight years at a large local firm.

Brausen has served on the Corvallis Environmental Center Board and the United Way Community Investment Council. She holds a position on the Housing and Community Development Advisory Board for the City of Corvallis.

Take a Bow

Philomath resident Gary Springer recently received the Tough Tree Award from the Oregon Society of American Foresters.

The award is presented whenever appropriate to members of SAF who have demonstrated sustained, excellent professional performance in an adverse work climate.

Springer graduated from Eddyville High School, and from Oregon State University with a bachelors degree in general humanities. For three decades he worked alongside his father in their contract logging business. In 2003, he began work at Starker Forests, with a focus on forest policy and regulation.

Over the years, Springer has served on a number of forestry-related boards and committees, including the Forest Practices Advisory Committee, the Committee for Family Forestlands, the Oregon Small Woodlands Association and the OSU College of Forestry Research Advisory Committee.

Springer was in his second term as a director of the Oregon Forest Resources Institute when he was appointed to the Oregon Board of Forestry in 2010, where he is serving his second and final term.

Training & Development

Samaritan Health Services employees Kevin Ewanchyna, JoAnn Miller and Miao Zhao have been selected to participate in Developing Equity Leadership Through Training and Action, a nine-month training program offered by the Oregon Office of Equity and Inclusion.

DELTA focuses on advancing health equity, inclusion and diversity throughout Oregon. The program aims to strengthen the ability of health leaders to eliminate health disparities, cultivate collaborative approaches to promote health equity and inspire leaders to address barriers to achieving the best health outcomes.

Ewanchyna, Miller and Zhao are spending one day per month attending trainings delivered by national leaders in health equity and inclusion. Topics include diversity in recruitment, hiring and retention, effective community engagement, health literacy and more.

Information about DELTA is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/oei/Pages/delta.aspx.
The states most recent economic and revenue forecast, issued earlier this month, was remarkably sunny: Oregon continues to see full-throttle rates of growth," the forecast noted. "The states economy is quickly approaching full employment, or a healthy labor market. Such a milestone has not been seen since 2000.

That is good news, and so is this nugget, also drawn from the forecast: General fund revenues for the state continue to track close to expectations to date, and the outlook for revenue for the 2017-19 budget cycle has improved somewhat.

Its worth noting, however, that the state economists who prepared this report caution that Oregons economic expansion is not sustainable indefinitely. In fact, long-term, the report says, demographic changes (most notably, baby boomers working less) will put the brakes on revenue growth.

There is another nugget from the report thats worth considering, and this one isnt as sunny: The economists concluded that the states new minimum-wage law, passed during the Legislatures 2016 short session, will cost the state some 40,000 jobs over the next decade.

Now, a couple of caveats are worth noting: The economists arent predicting outright job losses. Its just that they figure the increase in the states minimum wage, which rolls out beginning in July and continues through 2022, will result in 40,000 fewer jobs by 2025 than would have been the case without the legislation.

It is true that those 40,000 jobs represent just a fraction of the Oregon economy.

But the report offers a strong suggestion that the lost jobs will come from positions that used to go to lower-wage workers. Heres the language from the report itself: Low-wage workers receiving raises in the near term boost incomes. Over time, however, employers will adjust by increasing worker productivity, possibly via capital for labor substitutions.

In other words: The increase in the minimum wage likely will eliminate some of the jobs that might have been available to the very same low-wage workers this measure was intended to help.

Still to be determined is how the minimum-wage increase will play out in Oregons rural areas, where economic recovery has not been as robust as it has been in urban areas. It's possible that the loss of jobs might have an outsized effect on rural areas. (And none of this takes into account the possible cutbacks in work-study jobs at public schools such as Oregon State University.)

Legislative leaders already have suggested that they want to work in next years session to fine-tune the wage increase. Among their goals is revisiting the idea of creating a lower wage for younger workers. That sort of attention would be welcome, although the fact that these issues didn't get more attention earlier underscores the haste with which this legislation was passed in this year's session.

As they continue to tinker with the measure, however, legislators and other state officials also should keep this in mind: Its taken the state more than a decade to bounce back from recession. Their actions in the future could help sustain the recovery  or could work to short-circuit it.
Demonstrations for tolerance : Hand in hand against racism

Bonn/Bad Godesberg Many people participated in demonstrations for tolerance and diversity in Bonn and Bad Godesberg on the weekend. It was part of a nationwide effort against racism and hatred of foreigners.

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A flash mob, a human chain and a demonstration were all part of nationwide efforts to make people aware of racism and hatred of foreigners in Germany. Several events took place in Bonn and Bad Godesberg on Saturday.

Around 150 people gathered in the Hofgarten Saturday morning, brought together by Hermann Klassen, Chair of the Social Welfare Association in Bonn. Nationwide, five cities were slated to take part in the event called, Hand in hand against racism - for human rights and diversity! Klassen commented, We also wanted most definitely to create awareness in Bonn. His group marched with banners, signs and balloons towards Bonn city center to form a human chain. They organized themselves around the building complex on Remigiusstrae, Munsterplatz and Acherstrae. Many passers by joined in the action and at the end, organizers counted 400 people. Police estimated the human chain at around 250 persons.

Bonn stellt sich quer, the activist group for tolerance and against racism also joined in the action. Right wing extremist Melanie Dittmer had cancelled a demonstration planned for Saturday in Bad Godesberg and announced it would happen in September instead. The cancellation meant the activist group did not need to hold a counter demonstration as planned and instead some members joined the human chain in Bonn and some demonstrated in Bad Godesberg at Theaterplatz. They chanted, Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here.

Speakers from Bonn stellt sich quer and a youth movement addressed those gathered at Theaterplatz. One of them, Martin Behrsing, criticized Dittmer and accused her of trying to turn the population against refugees and immigrants. A couple of pedestrians warned that lumping all critics of immigration together in one boat is also not helpful. A citizen should not be considered a Nazi just because they might fear, for example, a loss of living space. The event ended at around 2 p.m. Organizers estimated 200 participants but police said there were around 80.
Fatal beating of Niklas P. : Second suspect under investigation - Walid S. remains jailed

Kerzen im Kurpark: Rund 350 Menschen nahmen vor anderthalb Wochen am stillen Gedenken fur Niklas P. in Bad Godesberg teil. Foto: Benjamin Westhoff

Bonn Chief suspect Walid S. remains under arrest on homicide charges in the death of Niklas P. A second suspect is also being investigated.

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In the case of the fatal beating death of Niklas P. on May 7 in Bad Godesberg, General Anzeiger has information which has not been officially confirmed that a second suspect is being investigated. Chief prosecutor Robin Fabender did not want to comment. Apparently, the man is known to police. GA has also learned that the scheduled review of the detention of chief suspect Walid S. has been postponed. This was confirmed by his defense attorney, Martin Kretschmer.

The defense attorney asked for a postponement of the review to give him more time to proof investigative documents. He is not convinced that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict his client.

As reported, Niklas P. was fatally injured with a blow and a kick to his head. He died in hospital a week after the brutal attack. Shortly after that, police took Walid S. into custody as chief suspect in the beating. He is being investigated on charges of homicide. Although Walid S. denies any involvement in the crime, his questioning revealed contradictions in his story and an alibi that didnt stand. As well, he was positively confirmed in a photo by a witness. Two other suspects were detained and then released after questioning.
Refugee shelter : Seven injured in kitchen fire

Seven injured in kitchen fire at Erzbergerufer in Bonn. Foto: Jens Kleinert

Bonn A fire broke out in the kitchen of a refugee shelter on Monday morning. Seven persons suffered minor injuries due to smoke inhalation.

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The Bonn Fire Department was called to a refugee center at Erzbergufer on Monday morning to put out a fire in the kitchen. Seven persons suffered smoke inhalation. Initial investigations show that it was probably negligence that caused the fire in the basement of the building. Because the area where the fire occurred was rendered uninhabitable, about 30 of the 135 residents had to be relocated.

On Monday afternoon, police could not say what caused a sofa to catch fire at 10:20 a.m. in the kitchen area. Written information from the police indicates that carelessness could have contributed to the cause of the fire. The area was being examined by officials.

Fire Department spokesperson, Jorg Schneider said firefighters determined there was smoke at basement level when they arrived. Several residents and security staff were trying to put out the flames on the sofa. Because the smoke poured into other parts of the building, the entire structure was evacuated. All residents were tended to by emergency service personnel, and seven needed medical treatment. According to Schneider, two of the seven persons were taken to hospital.

Monika Horig, spokesperson for the City of Bonn said the 30 residents were taken to Maarstrae to be housed. The clean-up and renovations needed as a result of the fire are likely to take several weeks.
An opportunity for foodies and beer lovers to get lost in a world of food and drink from a hand-selected range of food trucks and breweries from around New Zealand.
US Navy replacing speed with firepower in new strategy

Iran Press TV

Sun Jun 19, 2016 5:17PM

The US Navy has reached the conclusion that spending billions of dollars to make faster warships is not a viable strategy and it needs to sacrifice speed in favor of firepower.

According to Rear Admiral Peter Fanta, the Navy's director of surface warfare, increasing the offensive punch of American warships has become the Navy's top priority.

"Each ship that I now have  I have to make more lethal because I cannot build ships fast enough, or enough of them," he told The Associated Press.

The commander added that the US Navy's littoral ships were slated to receive over-the-horizon missiles this summer.

To address the need for an affordable and fast fleet of small warships to operate in shallow coastal waters in the post-Cold War era, the US Navy started a $15 billion program in early 2000s to produce two versions of littoral combat ships (LCSs).

The Navy's first littoral ship, USS Freedom, was commissioned in 2008. The second ship, USS Independence, was commissioned two years later.

However, in 2015, the US Navy was ordered by Defense Secretary Ashton Carter to cut its required number of LCSs from 55 to 40 and dump one of the two classes in order to channel more funds to the more combat-capable frigate class of ships.

LCSs could reach speeds of nearly 50 mph (80 km) by using steerable waterjets instead of propellers, but their light set of weaponry and armor has prompted criticism from the General Accounting Office, especially considering that the latest versions cost $482 million to $563 million apiece.

The reliability of LCSs was further questioned after two major breakdowns in December and January, when the SS Milwaukee had to be towed 40 miles to a naval base in Virginia, while the USS Fort Worth was sidelined in Singapore.

Fanta said the frigate class is designed to address the shortcomings of the LCSs by employing heavier armor plates and additional weapons.

The US Navy's extravagant strategies were taken to a whole new level in May, when it unveiled USS Zumwalt, its largest and most technologically advanced destroyer with an approximate cost of $4.4 billion.

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China says Indonesia navy fired on its fishing boats

Iran Press TV

Sun Jun 19, 2016 5:16PM

China's Foreign Ministry said Sunday an Indonesian naval vessel fired on Chinese fishing boats and injured at least one person.

The ministry slammed the move as the Indonesian navy's harassment of Chinese fishermen.

Beijing said the incident took place on June 17 as several Indonesian naval ships opened fire on the fishing boats in disputed fishing waters.

One boat and its seven crew were detained, the ministry stated.

"China strongly protests and condemns such excessive use of force," the official Xinhua news agency quoted Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, as saying.

The news agency said the shooting occurred in a "traditional Chinese fishing ground" where Beijing and Jakarta have maritime disputes.

Hua said Indonesia's actions amount to a clear violation of international law.

"China urges Indonesia to stop taking action that escalates tension, complicates issues or affects peace and stability."

Indonesia said in a statement that its navy had detained a Chinese vessel but that nobody was hurt in the incident.

It said the navy intercepted 12 foreign vessels illegally fishing which fled as the navy warships approached. The navy vessels followed them and fired a number of warning shots. Only one Chinese ship was finally stopped and boarded.

"All the crew are safe. The six men and one woman are now in Ranai," the Indonesia navy spokesman, Edi Sucipto, said in another statement.

"Whatever the flag, when they commit violations inside Indonesia's jurisdiction, we, in this case the navy, will not hesitate to act decisively."

It was the third such incident this year. Last month, China protested after Indonesia seized a Chinese vessel near Natuna island over allegations of illegal fishing.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which is also claimed in part by several Southeast Asian countries, including Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. The contested waters are believed to be rich in oil and gas.

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Russian Return To 'Soviet Riviera' Brings Hope, Concern To Breakaway Abkhazia

June 19, 2016

by Tom Balmforth

SUKHUMI -- On the evening of April 16, a lawmaker who was battling to prevent Russians from buying property in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region stepped out of his car by the decaying Soviet-era port and set off down the palm-lined Black Sea waterfront.

Moments later, the sedan was engulfed in an explosion powerful enough to be heard in the foothills above Sukhumi, the sleepy capital of the Moscow-backed region. Two nearby vehicles were also mangled in the blast and belched black smoke into the sky:

But Almas Djapua was unhurt -- and his cause has won out, at least for now: A bill that would have allowed the sale of property to foreigners, including Russians, was withdrawn, soothing those who feared the Abkhaz themselves would be crowded out amid a Russian buying spree in the small coastal territory.

The dispute over foreign ownership in a lush region once known as the Soviet Riviera has highlighted Abkhazia's predicament. Shunned by most of the world, it is so heavily reliant on Russia that gratitude for Moscow's support is tempered by concern Russia's embrace could tighten into a choke hold.

Abkhazia broke from Georgian government control in a fiercely fought war in 1992-93, shortly after the Soviet collapse unleashed ethnic tensions and ignited territorial disputes. Russia recognized Abkhazia as an independent country after Moscow's five-day war with Georgia in 2008, angering Tbilisi and the West, but only a handful of states followed suit on recognition.

From Abkhazia's de facto borders to its beaches, Russia's strong sway is evident.

Entering from Georgian-controlled territory, a visitor treads through a no-man's-land featuring a potholed bridge crossed by locals in a horse and cart. Chatty, laid-back Abkhaz guards are the first encountered, but it is the uniformed officers of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) who run the show, seated in metal booths behind intimidating one-way glass.

Russia pumps billions of rubles into Abkhazia in subsidies every year.

Still more vital is a boom in tourism, the lifeblood of a subtropical region to which sun-starved vacationers flocked from all corners of the Soviet Union for a few precious days or weeks at the shore. That reliable flow dried up as Abkhazia was first separated from Russia by the Soviet breakup and then plunged into war.

But times have changed again and Abkhazia is benefiting from a combination of factors. Cheaper than costly Sochi, just across the border, it is also getting Russians barred from the beaches of Turkey and Egypt due to tensions with Ankara and security fears after the downing of a passenger jet over the Sinai Peninsula in 2015.

It is also more accessible than Crimea, which Russia forcibly seized from Ukraine in 2014. A bridge from Russia to the peninsula, bypassing mainland Ukraine, is not due to be finished until December 2018, and the number of Russian visitors to Crimea is down this year after a patriotic spike in 2015.

In Abkhazia, those numbers are up -- again.

In late May, with heavy spring showers signaling that tourist season wasn't quite under way, Russians were already being carted by the busload on excursions to Novy Afon, an Orthodox Christian monastery whose gold cupolas gleam in the green mountains overlooking the sea.

Russian tourists posed for cameras in the mist rolling off a 6-meter waterfall; others ventured into nearby caves that are among the largest in the world. A short walk along the coast, a tour guide -- a self-professed devotee of Josef Stalin -- was showing young couples around the Soviet dictator's dacha overlooking the Black Sea.

"Every year, it's a record," Avtandil Gartskiya, the de facto tourism minister who led a battalion during the war against Georgian government forces, tells RFE/RL, loudly, from just across a table in his office in Sukhumi.

Gartskiya calls tourism the "locomotive" of Abkhazia's economy and said the number of visitors to the region is expected to grow by 15 to 20 percent over the 1.5 million people who came last year -- already more than six times the population of the region, which is about 240,000.

From June to the "velvet season" in early autumn, Russian vacationers sun themselves on the pebbly beaches and bed down at grand, Soviet-era hotels featuring statues of Lenin, creating an echo of the region's heyday.

Djapua, the lawmaker whose car was blown up, was fighting a move that would take Russia's return to the next level. He was pushing back against a proposal to lift the ban on foreign property ownership, which would have opened up prize coastal real estate for purchase by Russian citizens and investors.

Supporters of lifting the ban argue that Russian money pouring in would rejuvenate Abkhazia and help transform a scarred land strewn with derelict buildings sprouting vegetation -- constant reminders of the 1992-93 war that ended with de facto independence and the isolation that has come with it.

Russia's recognition and support is a giant exception to that isolation, and the gratitude is palpable. But resistance to the proposal to let foreigners buy property reflects apprehension about giving Russia so much traction as to effectively turn Abkhazia into a province of Russia. While most outsiders see Abkhazia as a Russian protectorate, its people prize their proclaimed independence.

"We have an understanding ofcertain red lines that exist and which, if crossed, have the danger of dealing a big blow to the national interests of the state," says Inal Khashig, the founder and editor of Chegemskaya Pravda, an independent weekly. "The state is small, our society is also small. There are very many dangers that exist and we are trying to ensure ourselves against them, perhaps over-ensure ourselves. It's better sometimes to be safe than to allow things which you won't then be able to get back."

Russian subsidies to Abkhazia will reportedly total 7.7 billion rubles ($117 million) this year.

In February 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin tightened Moscow's grip with a "strategic partnership" treaty that aimed to formally bring the de facto government's foreign and defense policies in line with Moscow's. Adding to thousands of Russian troops already based in the territory, it also envisages a common "defense and security space" and a joint military force.

On paper, at least, the pact may have made Abkhazia toe the line on Turkey, the breakaway region's second-largest trading partner, joining Moscow in imposing sanctions after the Turkish Air Force shot down a Russian warplane that it says crossed over the border from Syria in November. But in an indication that Russia's influence has limits -- or that Moscow is more interested in geopolitical optics than in enforcing the rules it set -- several people said that little has changed in reality.

There has also been tension over potential drilling in Abkhazia by Russian state energy giant Rosneft.

And while it is Georgia that often voices alarm at what it calls Russia's "creeping annexation" of Abkhazia, the region has displayed more of an independent streak than South Ossetia -- another breakaway Georgian region that Russia recognized as an independent country after the 2008 war.

South Ossetia may hold a referendum next year on becoming part of Russia -- something that Abkhazia's de facto prime minister, Artur Mikabia, said on June 10 would never happen under his watch. Abkhazia wants to be an "independent state" and "loyal ally of great Russia," he said.

Stanislav Lakoba, a historian and former chief of the separatist government's National Security Council, echoes this sentiment.

"In the grand scheme of things, we are under Russian patronage," he tells RFE/RL. "We know that we are not an entirely independent state. But there should be a level of understanding in relations for Abkhazia and for Russia."

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/abkhazia-soviet-riviera- russians-returning-hopes-concerns/27807503.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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On World Day, Ban declares era of impunity 'over' for sexual violence in war

19 June 2016  Marking the first International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said that the era of impunity for sexual violence as a tool of war is over, citing a host of landmark rulings against political and military leaders.

In February, a national court in Guatemala convicted two former military officers of committing sexual violence during the country's civil war  the first time that a national court anywhere in the world considered charges of sexual slavery during armed conflict.

Women's organizations worked for years with indigenous women to develop their case, which was presented in the court by Guatemala's female Attorney General before a female presiding judge.

In March, the International Criminal Court (ICC) handed down its first conviction for sexual and gender-based crimes.

An all-female panel of three judges presided over the case against former Congolese Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba, who was brought to justice by a female prosecutor, thanks to unprecedented levels of participation of women victims and witnesses from the Central African Republic.

In May, the Extraordinary African Chambers in Senegal convicted the former president of Chad, Hissene Habre, for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including rape and sexual slavery. This was the first universal jurisdiction case to make it to trial in Africa, and the first time a former Head of State was held personally accountable for committing rape as an international crime.

This conviction would not have been possible without the testimonies of women and the inspiring determination of lawyers, victims' advocates, human rights defenders, and local and international civil society organizations.

All of these were long overdue and all had one thing in common: the unstoppable force of women's voice and leadership, said UN Women, an agency tasked with promoting gender equality.

"With widespread sexual violence still a devastating reality in too many conflicts in the world, it is heartening to see that steps are being taken towards securing accountability for these acts, and that women are persevering with strength and unity in not letting these crimes go unspoken or unpunished," said a statement released by UN Women.

Mr. Ban said that the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh), Boko Haram and other extremist groups are using sexual violence as a means of attracting and retaining fighters, and to generate revenue.

The abduction of more than 200 girls from Chibok in Nigeria, and the continued tragedy of women and girls subjected to forced marriage or sexual slavery by extremist groups in the Middle East, are two of the most horrific examples of the use of sexual violence as a tactic of terrorism, Mr. Ban said, calling for the immediate release of all those taken captive, and for the care and support of those who return.

On a positive note, there has also been clear progress and unprecedented political momentum to address these crimes, he stressed.

Sexual violence is now widely recognized as a deliberate strategy used to shred the fabric of society; to control and intimidate communities and to force people from their homes. It is rightly seen as a threat to international peace and security, a serious violation of international humanitarian and human rights law, and a major impediment to post-conflict reconciliation and economic development, he said.

On 19 June 2015, the UN General Assembly (A/RES/69/293) proclaimed 19 June of each year the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, in order to raise awareness of the need to put an end to conflict-related sexual violence, to honour the victims and survivors of sexual violence around the world and to pay tribute to all those who have courageously devoted their lives to and lost their lives in standing up for the eradication of these crimes.

The date was chosen to commemorate the adoption on 19 June 2008 of Security Council resolution 1820 (2008), in which the Council condemned sexual violence as a tactic of war and an impediment to peacebuilding.

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NATO launches anti-submarine warfare exercise in Norwegian Sea

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

20 Jun. 2016

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg marked the launch of NATO's anti-submarine warfare exercise "Dynamic Mongoose" in a visit to Trondheim, Norway on Monday (20 June 2016). The exercise, focused on detecting and defending against submarines, runs for ten days. Joined by Norwegian Defence Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Sreide, Mr. Stoltenberg addressed sailors aboard the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen. Calling naval capabilities "as important as ever", he noted that 70% of the earth is covered by water, and that 90% of world trade travels by sea. He stressed that NATO must be able to operate "on the sea, over the sea, and also under the sea."

Three thousand sailors and aircrew from eight Allies (Canada, France, Germany, Norway, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States) are participating in the exercise. Four submarines from Canada, Germany, Norway and the United States are taking part, along with nine surface ships and four maritime patrol aircraft. The exercise takes places in the Norwegian Sea, in an area measuring 14,000 square nautical miles.

During the exercise, submarines will have to transit from one point to another, while surface vessels try to track them down and simulate an attack. Surface units will also have to transit between two points while under submarine threat. This is the fourth time Exercise Dynamic Mongoose has been conducted; it previously took place in 2012, 2014 and 2015.

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Pakistan, Afghanistan fail to reach border deal

Iran Press TV

Mon Jun 20, 2016 2:56PM

Officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan have reportedly failed to reach an agreement on how to manage the porous border between the two countries.

A Monday statement from the Afghan Foreign Ministry said that Kabul is still opposed to Pakistan's construction of checkpoints along the disputed boundary, adding that the move violates Afghanistan's territorial rights.

Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai, who led the Afghan delegation to the talks in Pakistan, raised in the negotiations what he called "various violations" by Islamabad, including setting up checkpoints in Afghan territory.

The statement said Karzai also "strongly protested against Pakistan's ongoing unprovoked artillery shelling of Afghan villages."

Clashes erupted earlier in the week along the border after Pakistan started building a barrier at the crossing in a bid to stop the movement of Afghan militants into Pakistani territory.

The fighting, which killed four and left thousands stranded, ended after a ceasefire was reached on Thursday with Kabul agreeing to dispatch a delegation to Pakistan to discuss the issue.

Pakistani officials confirmed the talks could not end in a deal and said they would insist on building the checkpoints. A Pakistani foreign office official said Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry informed the Afghan delegation that Pakistan planned to build four gates at different points on the border.

"There was no final agreement but we have informed them (Afghanistan) of our position," the anonymous official said, adding, "These gates are important for the safety and security of both Pakistan and Afghanistan."

People protested outside the provincial parliament in Peshawar on Monday over the unchecked movement of Afghans into Pakistan. The demonstrators, who were mostly traders, demanded the expulsion of Afghan refugees, saying they have destroyed peace in the country. Pakistan hosts some 2.5 million Afghan refugees.

Pakistani officials said top diplomats from the two countries would hold further discussions on border management at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Tashkent later this week.

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Mercenaries, commanders fight over cash from Saudi Arabia

Iran Press TV

Mon Jun 20, 2016 9:17AM

The Saudi-backed militants in Yemen have engaged in infighting with their commanders over the distribution of cash from Riyadh.

Yemen's Khabar News Agency reported on Monday that tensions and clashes have erupted between Saudi-backed militants in the areas under their control in the province of Ma'rib following an alleged move by their commanders to take most of the Saudi money for themselves.

The Saudi mercenaries, who demand to receive higher amounts, accused the commanders of slashing the "salaries" of some of the militants and removing the names of others from the wage list as well as practicing "nepotism" and "cronyism."

The report also said some three militants were injured in the area of Khashina in Ma'rib's Harib district as clashes erupted while they were receiving the "salaries" paid by Saudi Arabia.

Yemeni activists also said one of the militants committed suicide after he did not receive his payment.

Meanwhile, some of the Saudi mercenaries, from the so-called al-Soqour Brigade, have set up checkpoints in the border area between the provinces of Ma'rib and Jawf and are preventing Saudi military equipment from crossing because they have not received their payments for months.

Many of the mercenaries in Ma'rib also left the Saudi-funded military bases after they received only 600 Saudi riyals instead of the promised 1,400 riyals.

Over the past days, the mercenaries fighting on behalf of Saudi Arabia in Yemen said the commanders took over 50 percent of the Saudi funds for themselves.

Saudi Arabia launched its military aggression against Yemen on March 26, 2015, in a bid to bring former President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi  who is a staunch ally of Riyadh  back to power and defeat the Ansarullah movement.

More than 9,400 people have been killed and at least 16,000 others injured since the onset of the aggression.

The Saudi strikes have also taken a heavy toll on the country's facilities and infrastructure, destroying many hospitals, schools, and factories.

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Afghan Parliament Confirms New Defense Minister, Intelligence Chief

June 20, 2016

Afghanistan's parliament has approved President Ashraf Ghani's nominees for defense minister and intelligence director -- two crucial posts that have been vacant for months while the country tries to battle rising militancy.

Lawmakers voted for Abdullah Habibi, a former senior official in Afghanistan's Defense Ministry, to be the new minister.

The new head of Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security is Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai.

Ghani initially in 2015 had nominated Stanekzai to head the Defense Ministry.

But parliament rejected him, leaving the post empty until the June 20 confirmation of Habibi.

The approval comes on after Afghanistan's Interior Ministry said 14 Nepalese security guards were killed by a Taliban suicide bomber who targeted their minibus in the Afghan capital Kabul.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Seddiqi said eight others were wounded in the early morning attack on June 20.

One wounded survivor of the attack told The Associated Press that his group provided security at the Canadian Embassy in Kabul.

The group was leaving their residential compound on the main highway leading from Kabul to Jalalabad when the suicide attacker approached their vehicle on foot and detonated his explosives.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/afghan-parliament-confirms- new-defense-minister-intelligence-/27809391.html

Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Bomb Blasts Kill 24 in Afghanistan

by Ayaz Gul June 20, 2016

Separate bomb explosions in Afghanistan Monday morning killed at least 24 people and wounded around 40 others.

The deadliest attack occurred in Kabul when a suicide bomber approached a minibus on foot and set off explosives.

The Afghan Interior Ministry says the explosion left 14 people dead and eight wounded. The Taliban swiftly claimed responsibility.

Those killed were Nepalese security guards who were part of a company looking after the security of the Canadian Embassy in Kabul. Five Nepalese nationals on board the bus were also wounded along with four Afghans.

Hours later, a roadside bomb planted by insurgents went off in another part of the city in which a provincial council member was wounded along with his two bodyguards.

Afghanistan's Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah has condemned the violence as an "act of terror and intimidation."

'Horrific attacks'

NATO's Resolute Support Mission in Kabul, in similar comments, said, "Horrific attacks like these show that, despite the Taliban's promises, they have a complete disregard for the lives of innocent civilians."

Elsewhere, in northeastern Badakhshan province, officials said at least 10 people were killed and more than 30 others wounded when an improvised explosive device planted in a busy market was detonated.

The blast killed mostly vendors and shopkeepers in the Keshm district during the morning rush hours, district chief Abdul Salam Payman told VOA. He said children were among the victims.



There has been no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, and a Taliban spokesman said in a statement it had nothing to do with the incident.

New defense minister

The deadly bombings came on a day when the Afghan parliament gave its approval to President Ashraf Ghani's nominees for the posts of defense minister and head of intelligence.

General Abdullah Khan Habibi was confirmed by lawmakers as the new defense minister while Masoom Stanekzai was confirmed as the head of the National Directorate of Security, or NDS.

The Afghan government until now had been under severe criticism for allowing caretakers to run the key security institutions despite deteriorating national security and a resilient Taliban insurgency.

In an assessment submitted to Congress this month, the U.S. Defense Department noted the security situation in Afghanistan continues to be dominated by a resilient insurgency.

"The Afghan government retains control of Kabul, major transit routes, provincial capitals, and a vast majority of district centers, while the Taliban continue to contest district centers in the southern province of Helmand and in various provinces in the east and southwest," it said.

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KCNA Commentary Refutes Korean American Bae Jun Ho's False Propaganda

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

Pyongyang, June 20 (KCNA) -- Korean American Bae Jun Ho (Kenneth Bae) is now cursed and censured by public for renewing his false propaganda about the DPRK.

As already reported, Bae was arrested in the DPRK for spreading subversive religion and working hard to build "a religious state" hostile to the DPRK. For his hostile activities he was sentenced to hard labor. But thanks to the humanitarian measure taken by the DPRK out of magnanimity and good faith he was deported to the U.S. after spending nearly two years in jail.

People say that habit is a second nature. Bae is accustomed to hostile acts against the DPRK.

Recently Bae released an anti-DPRK book peppered with "stories" about what happened during his hard labor.

At a book releasing ceremony sponsored by the south Korean puppet forces, Bae talked rubbish that "he is planning to set up a non-governmental organization for the fellow countrymen in the north and carry out projects helpful to the poor people in the north and defectors from the north." It is ridiculous, indeed, for Bae to be busy with the moves for establishing a non-governmental organization for some people as if he were a big philanthropist. In other words, he revealed his intention to persist in his hostile acts against the DPRK.

At a meet-the press with U.S. congressmen he unhesitatingly spouted sheer sophism that he witnessed how could a country be a huge prison and that north Korea is a "huge prison."

It is less than two years since he begged for sparing his dirty life in tears. He is now in such poor position as to appear as a member of a shock brigade in slandering the DPRK, clinging to the coattails of the U.S. and south Korean puppet forces.

It is worth recalling what he wrote in the letter of apology and letter of thanks done in hot tears before being deported to the U.S.

The following is what he wrote in his letter of apology and letter of thanks: "I sincerely thank the DPRK government for all humanitarian measures and treatment for me. I will always remain thankful to the Korean people and the DPRK and take the lead in the work for national reunification and prosperity, never forgetting benevolence bestowed upon me. I will make efforts to play the role of a bridge of friendship linking the Western world with the DPRK."

In fact, the DPRK provided everything to Bae during his prison life from humanitarian point of view. Whenever he did not feel well, we took him to a hospital to be treated several times. We arranged his meeting with his mother and let him exchange hundreds of correspondences.

There is a saying one's kindness should be repaid. However, Bae returns evil for good. He has not built a bridge of friendship but erected a bridge of distrust and confrontation. Is it morally right?

Bae is the felon who betrayed not only human conscience but also religious devotion.

Before flying to the U.S., he told officials concerned of the DPRK that he is the churchman saying truth and religionist's devotion to God is sacred and he can never betray it.

But upon returning to the U.S., he made a U turn, going busy hatching plots with the group of Satan falsifying facts. He is none other than Judas.

Bae Jun Ho has no option but to commit suicide.

We have nothing to say more of Bae waiting for the day of death after being branded as a despicable bete noire.

What matters is the double-dealing nature of the U.S. government as it promised to prevent the recurrence of such behavior while conducting "rescuing operation" of American criminals under the signboard of "humanitarianism" but it gives a shot in the arm of those guys as soon as its representatives went back.

It is the American society where different anti-DPRK organizations are strutting about, prodding such human scum and half wits as Bae Jun Ho into taking the lead in the false propaganda to mislead public opinion.

It is a hard fact that the U.S. government is behind these organizations.

It is the true picture of the American society where there is profound confusing of right and wrong, injustice beats justice and human rights are wantonly abused.

The U.S. government should bear in mind that if it resorts to the anti-DPRK propaganda under the signboard of "human rights", the fate of the U.S. citizens now serving jail terms in the DPRK will become more miserable.

The DPRK will neither make any compromise nor conduct negotiations with the U.S. over the issue of American criminals nor take any humanitarian measure as long as Bae Jun Ho keeps spouting invectives against the DPRK.

Then American criminals now in custody in the DPRK will never be able to go back to the U.S.

The DPRK's clarification of this stand is not just a warning. -0-

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N. Korea Won't Discuss Releasing US Citizens if Bae Continues Criticism

by Wayne Lee June 20, 2016

North Korea will not negotiate the release of two American citizens under arrest unless former detainee and American missionary Kenneth Bae stops using what Pyongyang considers to be slanderous language about the country.

"If Bae continues, U.S. criminals held in our country will be in the pitiful state of never being able to set foot in their homeland once again," North Korea's KCNA state media said Monday.

Bae was freed by North Korea in 2014 after two years of imprisonment. The U.S. missionary was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor after being convicted of planning to overthrow the North Korean government.

Since Bae's release, he has written a book about his detention and has been promoting it with public speaking engagements. Bae says he became a "negotiating tool" for the North Koreans, some of whom he said had been "brainwashed."

US citizens sentenced

North Korea is holding two U.S. citizens, both sentenced to hard labor.

In March, University of Virginia student Otto Warmbier was given a 15 year sentence for trying to steal a propaganda banner.

Korean-American missionary Kim Dong Chul was given a 10 year sentence in April after convictions of espionage and subversion.

North Korea has been known to be very sensitive about any criticism of its leadership and political system.

Formal diplomatic relations do not exist between North Korea and the United States because the two countries are still technically at war due to the fact the Korean War ended in 1953 with a ceasefire, not a peace treaty.

In May, the U.S. government strongly advised citizens not to travel to North Korea due to the risk of receiving "unduly harsh sentences."

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China Doesn't Consider India a Candidate for Nuclear Supplier's Club

Sputnik News

17:36 20.06.2016(updated 17:37 20.06.2016)

China has said that the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) members are still divided on whether India should be permitted to join, and that Indian membership is not on the agenda for the Seoul meeting.

New Delhi (Sputnik)  China's indifference towards India's NSG membership has surfaced again, just before the crucial meeting in Seoul on June 24.

China has said that differences still persists among NSG members over the inclusion of new countries and the issue was not even on the agenda of the group's meeting in Seoul this week.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying, "We have stressed that the NSG is still divided about non-NPT countries' entry into the NSG and under the current circumstances, we hope that NSG will make it through discussions to make a decision based on consultation."

China's reaction is in stark contrast to what Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday during a press conference. She said that India is hopeful about getting NSG membership next year.

"China is not opposing the membership of India in NSG, it is only talking of criteria and procedure. I am hopeful that we would be able to convince China as well to support our entry to the NSG," Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said.

She further added that, "I think that there is a consensus which is being made and I am sure that India will become a member of the NSG this year."

In fact, Indian Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar also visited China on June 16-17 and apart from other issues, he discussed India's NSG membership with the Chinese government.

 Sputnik

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Iran, China to resume talks on Arak reactor modernization

Iran Press TV

Mon Jun 20, 2016 5:3PM

A senior Iranian official says Iran and China will resume negotiations on ways to modernize the Arak heavy water reactor.

Spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Behrouz Kamalvandi said on Monday that technical and legal experts of the body would hold talks with Chinese nuclear officials in Vienna later in the day, ISNA reported.

He added that the new round of the negotiations would be held as a follow-up to talks previously held between Iranian and Chinese delegations.

In August 2015, head of the AEOI, Ali Akbar Salehi, paid a visit to the Chinese capital of Beijing and discussed the setting up of a working group to redesign the Arak heavy water reactor.

The talks are in line with the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reached between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council  the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China  plus Germany on July 14, 2015.

After the JCPOA went into effect on January 16, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the UN Security Council and the US were lifted. Iran, in return, has put some limitations on its nuclear activities.

During Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Tehran in January, a nuclear agreement reached between Iran and China which included the modernization of the Arak heavy water reactor and the construction of 100-megawatt power plants.

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Iraqi Forces Take Control Over Railroad North of Fallujah

Sputnik News

15:35 20.06.2016(updated 17:20 20.06.2016)

Iraqi forces have taken control over a railway line in the northern part of the Fallujah city, most part of which was earlier liberated from Daesh, a commander of the Baghdad Operations Command said Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  On June 17, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Abadi announced that the Iraqi security forces had regained control over most part of the city of Fallujah from IS militants, who continued to maintain resistance in the north of the city.

"The military have managed to liberate a railway line in the norther part of Fallujah. They continue liberating the rest city's districts from IS militants," Abdul Amir Shammari, the commander of Baghdad Operations Command, told the Al Sumaria television broadcaster.

Fallujah, located some 42 miles west of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, is one of the largest cities in the Anbar province. The IS, outlawed in many countries including Russia, has been in control of the city since 2014.

 Sputnik

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New Zealand Extends Iraqi Army Training Mission Till 2018

Sputnik News

15:26 20.06.2016(updated 15:40 20.06.2016)

Wellington agreed to extend the troops deployment term to Iraq within the anti-Daesh military operation, the press service of the country's Defense Ministry said Monday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  Wellington agreed to extend the deployment of its troops to Iraq within the framework of the joint New Zealand-Australia mission to train the Iraqi army to combat Daesh militants, the press service of the country's Defense Ministry said Monday.

The decision sees the deployment of troops extended until November 2018. The number of troops deployed in Iraq will not change. Approximately 105 New Zealand personnel are currently deployed at Iraq's Camp Taji, which is located around 17 miles north of Baghdad.

New Zealand Defense Minister Gerry Brownlee said that the mission had been a success, adding that it had helped to rid Iraq of Daesh militants.

"So it makes sense to continue doing something that adds value to the likelihood of Iraqi peace and security in the future, and to amend our mission to meet the changing environment in Iraq," he was quoted as saying on the official ministerial website.

The New Zealand-Australia mission has been contributing to the military intervention against Daesh (outlawed in Russia and numerous countries) in Iraq since 2015. According to the country's government, the mission has trained some 7,000 soldiers from the Iraqi security forces since then.

An international coalition of 65 countries has been conducting airstrikes against IS militants in Iraq since 2014.

 Sputnik

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Russia's Ivan Gren Landing Ship Arrives in Baltic Sea Port for Testing

Sputnik News

20:32 20.06.2016(updated 21:03 20.06.2016)

The Ivan Gren landing ship has arrived in the Russian port of Baltiysk for testing before it goes into service with the Russian navy later this year, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported.

The Ivan Gren landing ship has arrived in the port of Baltiysk in Russia's Kaliningrad region for testing before it joins the Russian fleet later this year, Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported on Monday.

The vessel was the first Project 11711 ship to be launched to water in 2012 after construction at Kaliningrad's Yantar shipyard. Construction of a second landing ship of the same class, Petr Morgunov, began in 2014.

Ivan Gren has a water displacement of 6,000 tons, its length is 120 meters and its beam is 16.5 meters. It can carry up to 300 marines, 36 armored transport vehicles or 13 tanks. It is fitted with two Ka-29 naval combat and transport helicopters, and a 30mm automatic cannon.

The Russian navy originally planned to commission six of the ships, but last year announced their number will be reduced to two in favor of a new, larger generation of landing ship, which will be able to carry several helicopters.

"In the next five years construction will be underway of a new generation of large amphibious warships, larger than Ivan Gren or Petr Morgunov and will be able to carry even more infantry and several helicopters," head of the Russian navy's shipbuilding directorate, 1 rank Captain Vladimir Tryapichnikov told RIA Novosti last year.

A source in the Defense Ministry told Lenta.ru that the large landing ships will be similar in design to the Dutch Rotterdam or Johan de Witt amphibious warfare ships.

They will have a displacement of 14-16,000 tons, be able to carry 500-600 marines or six helicopters, and landing craft.

The source said that the Kaliningrad shipyard will use experience gained from constructing some of the parts for the Mistral-class amphibious assault ships that Russia had ordered from France, before the French government scuppered the deal.

"The staff at the Baltic factory learnt everything, they did their part of the work to a really high standard," he said.

"The French specialists strictly controlled the production process, and they were very pleased."

 Sputnik

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Syrian forces kill nearly 170 terrorists in Aleppo province

Iran Press TV

Sun Jun 19, 2016 6:5PM

Syrian forces have killed nearly 170 Takfiri terrorists during battle in the northern province of Aleppo in recent days, a report says.

The terrorists were killed in fierce clashes with the government forces backed by volunteer fighters in the southern Aleppo countryside, Lebanese al-Manar television channel reported on Sunday.

Sources close to Jaish al-Fatah, an ally of the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front, have admitted that two dozen ringleaders and top militant commanders of the terrorist group were among the 167 terrorists killed across the troubled region.

They also added that five tanks and 34 military vehicles belonging to the terrorists have been destroyed.

According to a report from the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Sides in Syria, the Syrian army has thwarted an offensive launched by al-Nusra in Aleppo province.

"In the northern part of the Aleppo province, near the Syrian-Turkish border, the units of the Syrian Armed Forces have stopped a large-scale offensive of military formations of Jabhat al-Nusra," the report said.

Syrian forces are currently fighting terrorists on several fronts, including in Aleppo province, which borders Turkey.

Syrian forces recapture two major oil fields

Syrian forces have also liberated the Thawra and Miakin oil fields which are located on the outskirts of Raqqah city, which has been de facto capital of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

The Syrian forces are closing in on the Tabqa military airport in Raqqah province and have also made fresh gains against terrorists in the city of Rasafa.

The Syrian army entered Raqqah province in early June for the first time since 2014, when Daesh unleashed its campaign of terror inside Syria.

The potential recapture of Raqqah in Syria and the Iraqi city of Mosul, which likewise awaits liberation operations, would mark the ultimate blow to Daesh.

Raqqah, on the northern bank of the Euphrates River, was overrun by the Takfiri terrorists in March 2013, and was proclaimed the center for most of the terrorists' administrative and control tasks the next year.

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Turkey, US-led coalition kill 23 Daesh militants in Syria: Report

Iran Press TV

Mon Jun 20, 2016 8:38AM

At least 23 Daesh militants have been killed by Turkish artillery fire and US airstrikes in northern Syria, a Turkish broadcaster claims.

As many as 33 targets were hit in the joint operation, which was carried out against militants preparing for an attack on Turkey, Haberturk reported on Monday.

Cross-border artillery fire by Turkish troops destroyed at least six weapon caches and one armed vehicle, it said.

The Turkish military has repeatedly targeted northern Syria with artillery shells, guided missiles and mortars to hit militants who, Ankara says, have fired rockets at southern Turkish border towns. There have also been reports of operations by Turkey's special forces inside the Syrian territory.

Turkey has also hinted at establishing a safe zone in the 98-kilometer (60-mile) stretch between Manbij in Aleppo Province and the Turkish border, prompting objections from Iran and Russia.

The US has supported the plan, describing it as part of a deepening campaign by the Turkish army to push Daesh away from a vital 60-mile stretch of the Turkey-Syria border that serves as the group's main lifeline.

Turkey and the US, however, do not see eye to eye on Washington's support for Kurdish militants in northern Syria.

Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said last week Turkey would not allow cooperation with terrorist organizations in Syria, referring to Kurdish groups which the US supports.

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 last Tuesday, Yildirim said Turkey won't allow formation of new states in Syria, echoing suspicion that the Kurdish campaign was aimed at establishing a separate state.

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Erdogan says Turkey is ready to build aircraft carriers

Iran Press TV

Sun Jun 19, 2016 8:7PM

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country's defense ministry is now capable of building full-fledged aircraft carriers.

Erdogan made the announcement at the opening ceremony of a naval shipyard in Istanbul, RT reported on Sunday.

"There isn't any obstacle to producing our own aircraft carrier. It is possible with this determined government and state. Turkey cannot fall into laziness in the defense and military issues," he said.

He noted that the Turkish navy can begin to make aircraft carriers as soon as 2021, by which its amphibious assault ship, the TCG Anadolu, is expected to have been built.

The TCG Anadolu is set to become Ankara's biggest and most expensive warship. Her specifics are yet to be released, but warships of similar class are capable of carrying 10 f-35 Lockheed martin jets, several helicopters, and some 900 troops.

Turkey, a NATO member, currently maintains a heavy naval presence in the Black Sea, which Erdogan claims has become a "Russian lake."

In the past, Turkey has called on NATO to bolster its presence in the Black Sea, while Russia maintains the Western military alliance's buildup in the region is a danger to cooperation among Black Sea countries.

Who needs a Black Sea war?

On Friday, Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boiko Borisov ruled out his country's participation in NATO plans to form a joint naval taskforce in the Black Sea aimed at countering Russia's presence in the region.

"I always say that I want the Black Sea to see sailboats, yachts, large boats with tourists and not become an arena of military action ... I do not need a war in the Black Sea," he said at a press conference.

The creation of the new taskforce will be discussed at a July summit in Warsaw. It is planned to be comprised of a joint fleet made of the navies of NATO Black Sea states, namely Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.

"To send warships as a fleet against Russian ships exceeds the limit of what I can allowTo deploy destroyers, aircraft carriers near [the resort cities of] Bourgas or Varna during the tourist season is unacceptable," he added.

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.

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.

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Three Ukrainian soldiers killed in clashes in troubled east

Iran Press TV

Sun Jun 19, 2016 2:34PM

The Ukrainian military has announced the death of three of its soldiers in new clashes between government troops and pro-Russia forces in the country's troubled east.

"As a result of fighting, three Ukrainian soldiers have unfortunately been killed over the past 24 hours," Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, a Ukrainian military spokesman, said on Sunday, adding that another soldier had sustained serious injuries.

According to Motuzyanyk, one of the soldiers came under fire in the village of Talakivka, some 80 kilometers south of Donetsk, and the other two servicemen lost their lives in a mine explosion in the village of Lugansk, located about 50 kilometers northeast of Donetsk.

The Ukrainian military spokesman accused pro-Russia forces of using banned weapons under Minsk truce agreements.

Meanwhile, an anonymous source with pro-Russians on Sunday also accused Ukrainian government troops of firing 130 mortars and shells overnight.

Conflict erupted in eastern Ukraine after people in the country's Black Sea peninsula of Crimea voted for unification with Russia in March 2014. The West brands the development as Moscow's annexation of the territory. The US and its allies in Europe also accuse Moscow of having a major hand in the crisis in eastern Ukraine; a charge that Moscow denies.

Ukraine's eastern regions of Donetsk and Lugansk have witnessed deadly clashes between pro-Russia forces and the Ukrainian army since Kiev launched military operations later in April 2014 to crush pro-Moscow protests there.

The crisis has left nearly 9,400 people dead and over 21,000 others injured, according to the United Nations.

In September 2014, the government in Kiev and the pro-Russians signed a ceasefire agreement in the Belarusian capital city of Minsk in a bid to halt the clashes in Ukraine's eastern regions. They agreed on 12 points, including pulling back heavy weapons, exchanging prisoners, setting up a buffer zone on the Russia-Ukraine border, and allowing access to international observers.

The warring sides also inked another truce deal, dubbed Minsk II, in February 2015 under the supervision of Russia, Germany and France.

Since then, however, both parties have on numerous occasions accused each other of breaking the ceasefire.

Earlier last month, France and Germany held a round of talks with Ukraine and Russia in the German capital of Berlin as part of mediation efforts to hammer out a lasting peace deal, but no consensus was reached over the issue.

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Fraudsters steal up to $40 billion from the industry a year, says Judit Albers of A1 Telekom Austria. She tells Alan Burkitt-Gray about A1s work with the GLF to reduce the cost of crime
TULSA, Okla., June 20, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SemGroup Corporation (NYSE:SEMG) announced today it has expanded its Tulsa headquarters at Two Warren Place to a total of 175 employees. The company recently transferred 51 positions from Oklahoma City to Tulsa. SemGroup specializes in transportation, storage, distribution, marketing and other midstream services in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the United Kingdom.



This relocation is important to the continued expansion of our business and our goal of promoting the One Sem culture, said Carlin Conner, president and CEO of SemGroup.

Over the last year it became clear to the SemGroup senior management team that the current limited geographical separation between two separate headquarters, the Tulsa and OKC offices, impeded our ability to fully capitalize on our business opportunities, leverage synergies and deliver more efficient growth, he added.

The Tulsa Regional Chamber provided relocation assistance to SemGroup, ensuring potential transfers received in depth information on the attributes of working and living in the Tulsa region.

SemGroups consolidation of employees into the Tulsa headquarters proves that the Tulsa region, while enduring some losses in the energy sector over the past year, continues to be well-suited for headquartered companies and talented employees in the energy sector, said Mike Neal, president and CEO of the Tulsa Regional Chamber.

The Chamber regularly assists companies with relocation assistance and guidance for employees during these types of transitions, and were pleased the SemGroup transition went so seamlessly, Neal added.

SemGroup maintains that many strategic, operational and financial considerations went into making the decision to transfer their employees to Tulsa.

We are confident that this move will help us drive success into the future as we continue to focus on our values and commitments with an eye on increasing shareholder value, said Conner.

We are excited about our outlook for the future and the opportunity to continue building a very special workplace in Tulsa, he continued.

About SemGroup Corporation

Based in Tulsa, OK, SemGroup Corporation (NYSE:SEMG) is a publicly traded midstream service company providing the energy industry the means to move products from the wellhead to the wholesale marketplace. SemGroup provides diversified services for end-users and consumers of crude oil, natural gas, natural gas liquids, refined products and asphalt. Services include purchasing, selling, processing, transporting, terminalling and storing energy.

About the Tulsa Regional Chamber

Established in 1903, the Tulsa Regional Chambers mission is to serve as the principal business-driven leadership organization improving the quality of community life through the development of regional economic prosperity. The Chamber represents more than 2,700 member organizations and approximately 160,000 area employees and utilizes more than 4,300 volunteers to accomplish its programs and services.

The Tulsa Regional Chamber was named the nations best chamber in 2005, 2008 and 2010 by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, and in 2015, the Chamber received the Oklahoma Quality Foundation's Quality Award for Excellence. Additionally, the Chamber holds three prestigious accreditations: five-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; accredited economic development organization through the International Economic Development Council; and accredited destination marketing organization through the Destination Marketing Association International.
More than 100 people gathered at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany on Sunday to remember the lives lost in the June 12 shooting that left 49 dead at a gay Orlando nightclub  and to remember the lives lost June 17, 2015, at a historic black church in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Rev. Becky Crites said their goal was to have an ecumenical service, welcoming people of all faiths to come and share in the Vigil for Light.

Prayers offered included a poem, Holy City, by South Carolina Poet Laureate Marjorie Wentworth for the victims in Charleston and To a Place of Celebration, written by Carolyn Gillette for the victims in Orlando.

The names of all of the victims were read in groups of 10, followed by matching peals of the church bell.

The song, Beautiful City from the musical Godspell, was also read, and the Rev. K. Drew Baker said a prayer for Danville that included the phrase, May this city of churches become a city of rightousness.

Candles were raised by those in attendance as they listened to the service, which ended with Prayer for Peace, written by Christian, Jewish and Muslim clergy at the time of the Gulf War in 1991, asking God to Forgive our violation of Your creation. Forgive our violence toward each other and to give political leaders mutual respect and the will for peace with justice, for all.

The service ended with Baker noting that life is short and recommending everyone make peace with each other.

May the blessing of God be with you and all those you love and all those you remember tonight, Baker said for the closing blessing.

After the service, Crites said she hoped the service was meaningful and as ecumenically broad as God is.
Advances Teranga toward becoming a multi-jurisdiction, mid-tier gold producer



Increases Teranga's proven and probable reserve base by 35% to 3.7 million ounces



Potential to grow annual gold production by 50% to 275,000 to 325,000 ounces 1 by mid-2019, while all-in sustaining cash costs are estimated to remain low in the $900 per ounce range

by mid-2019, while all-in sustaining cash costs are estimated to remain low in the $900 per ounce range

Accretive on a per share basis to Teranga's net asset value per share and reserves and resources



On a pro forma basis Teranga shareholders will own 85% and Gryphon shareholders will own 15% of the combined entity



Provides valuation upside as Teranga accelerates exploration of the Banfora mining area, Golden Hill and Gourma exploration properties in Burkina Faso



Inclusive of Gryphon's cash balance and the anti-dilution offering, Teranga's pro forma March 31, 2016 cash balance increases to approximately $80 million 2



Improves Teranga's trading liquidity and increases its pro forma market cap to C$0.5 billion 3



The strength and complementary nature of Gryphon's assets, management team, regional operating experience, exploration expertise and social license gives Teranga a stronger platform to execute on its West African growth initiatives

1 This production target is based on existing proven and probable reserves only of Teranga as disclosed in its recent NI 43-101 technical report dated March 22, 2016 and Gryphon proven and probable reserves reported in its report on its Bankable Feasibility Study dated January 2013 which were reported in compliance with the 2012 Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Please refer to the Competent Persons Statements for both Teranga and Gryphon at the end of this release. 2 Includes VAT and VAT certificates, $9 million relating to Tablo Corporation's anti-dilution investment (based on the current Teranga Share price), Gryphon cash balance less transaction costs. 3 Based on Teranga's closing price on the TSX as of June 17, 2016.

Event Target Date 1st Australian Court hearing to approve Scheme Booklet Friday, August 12, 2016 Scheme Booklet sent to Gryphon shareholders Wednesday, August 24, 2016 Gryphon Scheme meeting Monday, September 26, 2016 2nd Australian Court hearing to approve Arrangement Monday, October 3, 2016 Arrangement becomes effective Tuesday, October 4, 2016

TORONTO, June 19, 2016 - Teranga Gold Corp. ("Teranga" or the "Company") (TSX:TGZ) (ASX:TGZ) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Scheme Implementation Agreement (the "Implementation Agreement") pursuant to which Teranga will acquire Gryphon Minerals Ltd. ("Gryphon") (ASX:GRY).The acquisition (the "Acquisition") will be effected by way of a scheme of arrangement under the Australian Corporations Act 2001 (the "Arrangement") pursuant to which Teranga will acquire the entire issued share capital of Gryphon. Under the Arrangement, each share of Gryphon (a "Gryphon Share") will be exchanged for 0.169 (the "Exchange Ratio") of: (i) a CHESS Depositary Interest of Teranga (a "Teranga CDI"), which trades on the Australian Securities Exchange (the "ASX") or, if elected, (ii) a common share of Teranga (a "Teranga Share"), which trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX"). The total consideration offered for all of the outstanding shares of Gryphon is valued at approximately $63 million, based on the closing price of a Teranga Share on the TSX on June 17, 2016. In conjunction with the Acquisition, Teranga is also pleased to announce that Tablo Corporation, its largest shareholder with an approximate 13% ownership (calculated on a non-dilutive basis), intends to exercise its anti-dilution right that will result in an equity placement in Teranga of approximately $9 million, based on the current trading price of a Teranga Share.Gryphon's key asset is the 90%-owned Banfora gold project ("Banfora"), a fully permitted, high grade, open pit gold project located in Burkina Faso, West Africa, a mining-friendly jurisdiction. Banfora currently has a measured and indicated gold mineral resource of 2.98 million ounces (67.1Mt at 1.39g/t) and an inferred gold mineral resource of 0.66 million ounces (15.9Mt at 1.30g/t) (0.5 g/t lower cut off)In January 2013 Gryphon announced a proven and probable reserve of 1.05 million ounces (16.7 Mt at 1.95g/t) contained within four open pit deposits as part of a Bankable Feasibility Study on a 2Mtpa CIL operation. The reserve estimate is inclusive of the January 2013 resource of 39.7 Mt @ 2.1 g/t (0.9 g/t lower cut off). There is potential to add reserves at depth and along strike in each of these deposits, and through a number of exploration targets located on Gryphon's highly prospective land package, each of which is within trucking distance of the proposed mill."This is an outstanding opportunity to add another high quality gold asset to Teranga's portfolio and to create a multi-jurisdiction gold producer with diversified production and cash flows," said Richard Young, President and Chief Executive Officer of Teranga. "Out of the gate, Gryphon's Banfora project will give us an additional one million ounces in gold reserves, with considerable exploration potential to further increase the reserve base, which is expected to enhance our production, cost and cash flow profiles commencing as early as 2019."Steve Parsons, Managing Director of Gryphon stated: "We are very pleased to be joining forces with Teranga Gold Corp. as we look to create a pre-eminent West African mid-tier gold producer. This transaction gives an immediate uplift for Gryphon shareholders and provides significant exposure to Teranga's Sabodala gold mine in Senegal. The combined company can leverage off its strong balance sheet and mining cash flows to help bring the 3.6Moz Banfora Gold Project into development and production in the near term. The combination of the companies provides a great opportunity to leverage of the skill sets of both groups with Teranga's mining and development team and Gryphon's expertise and social licence to operate in Burkina Faso as well as its excellent track record on exploration and discovery."Added Mr. Young, "While Gryphon had originally considered a traditional carbon-in-leach ("CIL") flowsheet, Banfora was redesigned into a heap leach operation in 2013/2014 to lower the project capital cost as the price of gold declined. We share Gryphon's belief that in the absence of financing constraints there is greater value today in a fully optimized CIL flowsheet, particularly when combined with an active exploration program aimed at converting high grade resources to reserves. Our solid balance sheet and strong cash flows, together with the combined Teranga/Gryphon exploration, construction and operating teams, creates a company that is well-poised to maximize value for all shareholders post transaction."Pursuant to the Implementation Agreement, each Gryphon Share will be exchanged for 0.169 of a Teranga CDI, or if elected, a Teranga Share.Based on the closing price of a Teranga CDI on the ASX on June 17, 2016, the transaction values each Gryphon share at A$0.206. The Teranga CDI consideration received by Gryphon shareholders represents a 45% premium over the 20-day volume-weighted average share price of Gryphon for the period ending June 17, 2016 and a premium of 53% over Gryphon's closing share price on the ASX on June 17, 2016. The number of Teranga Shares (or Teranga CDIs) to be issued under the Arrangement will be approximately 68 million.Gryphon also has a number of performance rights that will automatically vest into Teranga Shares upon court approval of the Arrangement in accordance with the terms of the performance rights, and form part of the Arrangement. Further, the Share Appreciation Rights issued by Gryphon will be adopted by Teranga and become Share Appreciation Rights in respect of the Teranga Shares, as adjusted for the Exchange Ratio and currency.The Arrangement is conditional upon approval by 75% of the number of votes cast, and 50% of the number of Gryphon shareholders present and voting, at the meeting of Gryphon shareholders and is also subject to Australian and Burkina Faso regulatory approvals/consents, Australian Court, and third party approvals, together with certain other conditions customary for a transaction of this nature.The Acquisition is not subject to any further due diligence or financing conditions.A meeting of Gryphon shareholders to consider the Arrangement is expected to be held later in the year and the Arrangement is expected to be implemented shortly thereafter.The Implementation Agreement also contains customary deal protection mechanisms, including no shop and no talk provisions, matching and notification rights in the event of a competing proposal and a mutual reimbursement fee payable by Gryphon or Teranga in specified circumstances.A copy of the Implementation Agreement is annexed to this release and has also been filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the Australian Securities Exchange at www.asx.com.au.The Directors of Gryphon unanimously recommend that Gryphon shareholders vote in favour of the proposed Arrangement, in the absence of a superior proposal for Gryphon and subject to an independent expert opining that the Arrangement is in the best interests of Gryphon shareholders. On the same basis, each director of Gryphon intends to vote all Gryphon shares, which they control, at the time of the Gryphon shareholder meeting to approve the Arrangement, in favour of the Arrangement.The indicative timetable for implementation of the Acquisition is anticipated to be as follows:

Advisors

Teranga's financial advisor is Cormark Securities Inc. and its legal advisor is Stikeman Elliott LLP and DLA Piper (Australia).

Gryphon's financial advisor is Maxit Capital; its legal advisor is King & Wood Mallesons and Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP.

Conference Call & Webcast Details

Teranga will host a conference call and audio webcast today, Monday, June 20, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. (ET) to discuss the highlights of the Acquisition.

Those wishing to listen can access the live conference call and audio webcast as follows:

Date & Time: Monday, June 20, 2016 at 8:30 a.m. ET Telephone: Toronto 647-788-4919 Toll-free 1-877-291-4570 International +1-647-788-4919 Please allow 10 minutes to be connected to the conference call. Webcast: The webcast can be accessed directly at www.gowebcasting.com/7688 and on Teranga's website at http://www.terangagold.com/. Replay: The conference call replay will be available for two weeks after the call by dialing 416-621-4642 or toll-free at 1-800-585-8367 and entering the conference ID 37353931 Note: The slide presentation will be available for download at http://www.terangagold.com/ for simultaneous viewing during the call.

The technical information contained in this document relating to the open pit mineral reserve estimates is based on, and fairly represents, information compiled by Mr. William Paul Chawrun, P. Eng who is a member of the Professional Engineers Ontario, which is currently included as a "Recognized Overseas Professional Organization" in a list promulgated by the ASX from time to time. Mr. Chawrun is a full time employee of Teranga and is not "independent" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. However, he is a "Qualified Person" as defined in NI 43-101. Mr. Chawrun has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr. Chawrun is a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Chawrun has consented to the inclusion in this Report of the matters based on his compiled information in the form and context in which it appears in this Report.The technical information contained in this document relating to Gryphon mineral resource estimates is based on, and fairly represents, information compiled by Ms. Patti Nakai-Lajoie. Ms. Nakai-Lajoie, P. Geo., is a Member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario, which is currently included as a "Recognized Overseas Professional Organization" in a list promulgated by the ASX from time to time. Ms. Nakai-Lajoie is a full time employee of Teranga and is not "independent" within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. Ms. Nakai-Lajoie has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralization and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which she is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Ms. Nakai-Lajoie is a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Ms. Nakai-Lajoie has consented to the inclusion in this Report of the matters based on her compiled information in the form and context in which it appears in this Report.Teranga's disclosure of mineral reserve and mineral resource information is governed by NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (the "CIM") Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as may be amended from time to time by the CIM ("CIM Standards"). CIM definitions of the terms "mineral reserve", "proven mineral reserve", "probable mineral reserve", "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource", are substantially similar to the 2012 JORC Code corresponding definitions of the terms "ore reserve", "proved ore reserve", "probable ore reserve", "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource", respectively. Estimates of mineral resources and mineral reserves prepared in accordance with the 2012 JORC Code would not be materially different if prepared in accordance with the CIM definitions applicable under NI 43-101. There can be no assurance that those portions of mineral resources that are not mineral reserves will ultimately be converted into mineral reserves.(a) As per August 4, 2014 Gryphon Minerals press release for 2Mtpa Heap Leach Feasibility Study.

The current Banfora Gold Project resource updated with the Heap Leach feasibility study and reported at the 0.5 g/t lower cutoff was released on August 4th 2014. The Nogbele and Fourkoura Deposits, are based on information compiled by Mr Sam Brooks who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Brooks has sufficient experience relevant to the styles of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which they are undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person, as defined in the 2012 Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr Brooks is a full time employee of Gryphon Minerals and has consented to the inclusion of the matters in this document based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. This information was prepared under the JORC 2012 code of reporting. The information in this document that relates to the Mineral Resources at the Stinger and Samavogo Deposits, is based on information compiled by Mr Dmitry Pertel who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Pertel has sufficient experience relevant to the styles of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which they are undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person, as defined in the 2012 Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr Pertel is a full time employee of CSA Global Pty Ltd and has consented to the inclusion of the matters in this document based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. This information was prepared and first disclosed under JORC Code 2004. It has not been updated since to comply with the JORC Code 2012.



(b) As per January 2013 2 Mt CIL Bankable Feasibility Study. The information in this document that relates to the Mineral Resources forming the basis of the reserve estimate for the CIL study January 2013 is based on information compiled by Mr Dmitry Pertel who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Mr Pertel has sufficient experience relevant to the styles of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which they are undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person, as defined in the 2012 Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr Pertel is a full time employee of CSA Global Pty Ltd and has consented to the inclusion of the matters in this document based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. This information was prepared and first disclosed under JORC Code 2004. It has not been updated since to comply with the JORC Code 2012.





Reserve Estimates



(as per January 31, 2013 Gryphon Minerals press release for 2Mtpa CIL Bankable Feasibility Study ("BFS"))



The maiden Ore Reserves for the Banfora Gold Project have been derived by Cube Consulting under the direction of Quinton de Klerk to a standard reportable in accordance with the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources (JORC Code 2004 & NI43-101) and Ore Reserves" (JORC Code 2004) and are based on the Mineral Resource Models estimated by CSA Global in this announcement. The Ore Reserve estimate is based on the Mineral Resources classified as "Measured" and "Indicated" after consideration of all mining, metallurgical, social, environmental and financial aspects of the operation. The Proved Ore Reserve has been derived from the Measured Mineral Resource, and the Probable Ore Reserve has been derived from the Indicated Mineral Resource. The cut-off grades used in the estimation of the Banfora Ore Reserves are the non-mining, break-even gold grade taking into account mining recovery and dilution, metallurgical recovery, site operating costs, royalties and revenues. For reporting of Ore Reserves the calculated cut-off grades were rounded to the first decimal gram per tonne of gold. The cut-off grades vary depending on the material type and the pit location. The grades and metal stated in the Ore Reserves Estimate include mining recovery and dilution estimates. The Ore Reserve Estimate is reported within the open pit designs prepared as part of the BFS.





Cautionary Forward-Looking Statement



This press release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"), which reflects management's expectations regarding Teranga Gold Corp.'s ("Teranga" or the "Company") future growth, results of operations (including, without limitation, future production and capital expenditures), performance (both operational and financial) and business prospects (including the timing and development of new deposits and the success of exploration activities) and opportunities. Wherever possible, words such as "plans", "expects", "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "trends", "indications", "potential", "estimates", "predicts", "forecasts", "anticipate" or "does not anticipate", "believe", "intend", "ability to" and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", or are "likely" to be taken, occur or be achieved, have been used to identify such forward looking information. Specific forward-looking statements in this presentation include 2019 production estimates of gold of 275,000 to 325,000 ounces, the estimated base case production profile to 2026, a future AISC of under US$900/oz of gold, the completion of construction of the Banfora project, the completion of the Arrangement and the Acquisition, and the estimated combined market capitalization of Teranga and Gryphon. Although the forward-looking information contained in this presentation reflect management's current beliefs based upon information currently available to management and based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, Teranga cannot be certain that actual results will be consistent with such forward looking information. Such forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions, opinions and analysis made by management in light of its experience, current conditions and its expectations of future developments that management believe to be reasonable and relevant but that may prove to be incorrect. These assumptions include, among other things, the ability to obtain any requisite Senegalese governmental approvals, the accuracy of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, gold price, exchange rates, fuel and energy costs, future economic conditions, anticipated future estimates of free cash flow, and courses of action. Teranga cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements



The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others: the inherent risks involved in exploration and development of mineral properties, including government approvals and permitting, changes in economic conditions, changes in the worldwide price of gold and other key inputs, changes in mine plans and other factors, such as project execution delays, many of which are beyond the control of Teranga, as well as other risks and uncertainties which are more fully described in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 30, 2016, and in other filings of Teranga with securities and regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedar.com. Teranga does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change. Nothing in this report should be construed as either an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy or sell Teranga securities.



This press release is dated as of the date on the first page. All references to the Company include its subsidiaries unless the context requires otherwise.



This press release contains references to Teranga using the words "we", "us", "our" and similar words and the reader is referred to using the words "you", "your" and similar words.





About Teranga Gold



Teranga is a Canadian-based gold company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:TGZ) and Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:TGZ). Teranga is principally engaged in the production and sale of gold, as well as related activities such as exploration and mine development in Senegal, West Africa.



Teranga's mission is to create value for all of its stakeholders through responsible mining. Its vision is to explore, discover and develop gold mines in Senegal and greater West Africa, in accordance with the highest international standards, and to be a catalyst for sustainable economic, environmental and community development. All of its actions from exploration, through development, operations and closure will be based on the best available techniques. For more information, please refer to www.terangagold.com





NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO A U.S. PERSON<



(All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise stated)







Contact



Teranga Gold Corp.

Richard Young, President & CEO

+1 416-594-000

ryoung@terangagold.com



Teranga Gold Corp.

Trish Moran, Head of Investor Relations

+1 416-607-4507

tmoran@terangagold.com


VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Jun 20, 2016) - Scorpio Gold Corp. ("Scorpio Gold" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:SGN) reports final results from exploration drilling in the Missouri and Brodie deposit areas, at its70% owned Mineral Ridge project, located in Nevada.

The Missouri is a shallowly northeast dipping deposit located west and northwest of the Brodie deposit. It outcrops at surface and has some historical underground workings. The mineralization has been outlined by drilling over a ~200 meter strike length and ~100 meters down dip with true widths ranging from 1.5 to 7.62 meters. Geologically, the Missouri mineralization lies just above the granite contact hosted within Wyman metasediments and Alaskite intrusives. Scorpio Gold commenced mining of the Missouri deposit in Q2 2016.

Highlights from the final phase of the RC drilling in the Missouri deposit area include:

MR151786: 1.46 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold over 4.57 meters

MR151811: 4.83 g/t gold over 3.05 meters

MR151812: 2.24 g/t gold over 18.29 meters

MR151813: 1.90 g/t gold over 9.14 meters

MR151814: 4.64 g/t gold over 9.14 meters

A drill hole location map is available at: DH Plan

Table 1. Missouri Deposit and North Brodie Area - Significant Drill Results

Hole Azm Dip From To Width From To Width Gold Gold No. (deg) (deg) (ft) (ft) (ft) (m) (m) (m) (OPT) (g/t) MR151763,781 0 -90 No Significant Results MR151764 0 -90 150 155 5 45.72 47.24 1.52 0.032 1.10 175 185 10 53.34 56.39 3.05 0.017 0.57 MR151765 0 -90 165 170 5 50.29 51.82 1.52 0.036 1.23 MR151766 0 -90 110 115 5 33.53 35.05 1.52 0.010 0.34 MR151767 0 -90 95 100 5 28.96 30.48 1.52 0.034 1.17 180 185 5 54.86 56.39 1.52 0.019 0.65 MR151768 0 -90 200 225 25 60.96 68.58 7.62 0.038 1.30 MR151769 0 -90 185 190 5 56.39 57.91 1.52 0.187 6.41 MR151770 0 -90 115 125 10 35.05 38.10 3.05 0.041 1.41 225 230 5 68.58 70.104 1.52 0.035 1.20 MR151782 0 -90 130 135 5 39.62 41.15 1.52 0.021 0.72 MR151783-785 0 -90 No Significant Results MR151786 0 -90 0 15 15 0.00 4.57 4.57 0.043 1.46 MR151787 0 -90 No Significant Results MR151788 0 -90 0 5 5 0.00 1.52 1.52 0.017 0.58 MR151789 0 -90 0 10 10 0.00 3.05 3.05 0.016 0.53 MR151790,792 0 -90 No Significant Results MR151791 0 -90 0 5 5 0.00 1.52 1.52 0.014 0.48 MR151793 0 -90 50 55 5 15.24 16.76 1.52 0.016 0.55 MR151794-796 0 -90 No Significant Results MR151811 0 -90 20 30 10 6.10 9.14 3.05 0.141 4.83 MR151812 0 -90 25 85 60 7.62 25.91 18.29 0.065 2.24 MR151813 0 -90 35 65 30 10.67 19.81 9.14 0.055 1.90 125 130 5 38.10 39.62 1.52 0.017 0.58 MR151814 0 -90 40 70 30 12.19 21.34 9.14 0.135 4.64 incl 55 60 5 16.76 18.29 1.52 0.590 20.23 MR151815 0 -90 40 45 5 12.19 13.72 1.52 0.038 1.30 MR151816 0 -90 55 60 5 16.76 18.29 1.52 0.113 3.87 MR151817 0 -90 55 60 5 16.76 18.29 1.52 0.019 0.65 130 135 5 39.62 41.15 1.52 0.042 1.44 MR151818 0 -90 0 5 5 0.00 1.52 1.52 0.010 0.34 MR151819 0 -90 No Significant Results MR151820 0 -90 115 120 5 35.05 36.58 1.52 0.022 0.75 MR151823 0 -90 100 105 5 30.48 32.00 1.52 0.011 0.38 MR151824 0 -90 115 120 5 35.05 36.58 1.52 0.015 0.51 MR151825 0 -90 110 115 5 33.53 35.05 1.52 0.027 0.93 120 125 5 36.58 38.10 1.52 0.193 6.62 140 145 5 42.67 44.20 1.52 0.037 1.27 MR151826 0 -90 120 130 10 36.58 39.62 3.05 0.025 0.86 145 150 5 44.20 45.72 1.52 0.016 0.55 175 185 10 53.34 56.39 3.05 0.020 0.67 230 240 10 70.10 73.15 3.05 0.036 1.23 MR151830 0 -90 105 110 5 32.00 33.53 1.52 0.026 0.89 MR151834 0 -90 185 190 5 56.39 57.91 1.52 0.020 0.69 220 225 5 67.06 68.58 1.52 0.029 0.99 235 240 5 71.63 73.15 1.52 0.065 2.23 MR151840 70 -70 130 140 10 39.62 42.67 3.05 0.023 0.77 MR151841,855 67 -70 No Significant Results MR151847 247 -70 180 185 5 54.86 56.39 1.52 0.019 0.65 MR151853 71 -60 20 25 5 6.10 7.62 1.52 0.030 1.03 MR151866 325 -50 145 155 10 44.20 47.24 3.05 0.024 0.82 165 170 5 50.29 51.82 1.52 0.015 0.51 205 210 5 62.48 64.01 1.52 0.016 0.55 240 245 5 73.15 74.68 1.52 0.030 1.03 MR151868 20 -65 135 140 5 41.15 42.67 1.52 0.023 0.79

All holes presented in Table 1 were completed by reverse circulation (RC) drilling. True width is estimated at 80-100% of downhole width. Scorpio Gold utilizes the analytical services of ALS Minerals (Reno, Nevada), an ISO/IEC 17025:2005 (CAN-P-4E, CAN-P-1579) accredited testing laboratory, and Bureau Veritas (Reno, Nevada), an ISO 9001 certified testing laboratory. External check assays to verify lab accuracy are routinely completed. Further details are presented in the Company's quality assurance and quality control program for the Mineral Ridge project, available at: MR QAQC.

About Scorpio Gold

Scorpio Gold holds a 70% interest in the producing Mineral Ridge gold mining operation located in Esmeralda County, Nevada with joint venture partner Elevon, LLC (30%). Mineral Ridge is a conventional open pit mining and heap leach operation. The Mineral Ridge property is host to multiple gold-bearing structures, veins and lenses at exploration, development and production stages. Scorpio Gold also holds a 100% interest in the advanced exploration-stage Goldwedge property in Manhattan, Nevada, with a fully permitted underground mine and 400 ton per day mill facility. The Goldwedge mill facility has been placed on a care and maintenance basis and can be restarted immediately when needed.

Scorpio Gold's President & CEO, Peter J. Hawley, PGeo,, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the content of this release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

SCORPIO GOLD CORPORATION

Peter J. Hawley, President & 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.
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Jun 20, 2016) - Geologix Explorations Inc. (TSX VENTURE:GIX)(FRANKFURT:GF6)(BERLIN:GF6)(STUT:GF6)(MUN:GF6) ("Geologix" or "the Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Kiran Patankar as President and CEO of the Company. Mr. Patankar will succeed Dunham Craig, who has been appointed Chairman of the Board. Past Chairman, George Brack, has been appointed Lead Independent Director.

Mr. Patankar is a mining executive with over 12 years of diverse experience as a public company CEO and director, investment banker, operations manager, and geological engineer. He was previously President, CEO and Director of Timberline Resources Corp., where he spearheaded the acquisition of the 1.2 million ounce Talapoosa gold project, oversaw a positive independent Preliminary Economic Assessment, and directed a competitive sales process that led to an announced offer by a private equity fund and US$500,000 equity financing amid a difficult market for junior gold companies. From 2007 to 2014, Mr. Patankar was an investment banker with Canadian and global financial institutions, where he advised clients ranging from junior growth companies to senior mining companies on capital raising and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to that, he worked in the mining industry for 4 years as a geologist and engineer and in the construction materials industry for 2 years in operational and business development roles. Mr. Patankar holds a B.Sc. in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines and an MBA from the Yale School of Management.

In connection with Mr. Patankar's appointment, the Company's Board of Directors has approved an inducement grant to Mr. Patankar of 550,000 common shares of the Company (the "Inducement Shares") and a common share purchase option (the "Inducement Option") to purchase 600,000 common shares of the Company for five years at $0.08 per share. The Inducement Option will vest, as to 25%, on each of granting, September 16, 2016, December 16, 2016, and June 16, 2017. The issuance of the Inducement Shares is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Dunham Craig, Geologix's Chairman of the Board, stated: "We foresee that the resource sector is on the cusp of a turnaround and realise there are strategic opportunities that have potential to be beneficial to our shareholders. We believe now is the time to bring in a new leadership skill set to leverage these opportunities while maintaining continuity with the team that brought our primary asset, the Tepal Gold/Copper Project, to its current advanced state. Kiran's strong finance, capital markets and technical background will provide an essential foundation for the Company's future growth and complements the combined skills of our highly experienced Board of Directors. We are very excited to welcome Kiran to the management team at Geologix and to working together to create value for all our stakeholders."

The Company is also pleased to announce its intention to carry out a non-brokered private placement of up to 17,000,000 units at $0.065 per unit for gross proceeds of up to $1,105,000 (the "Offering"). Each Unit will consist of one common share and one-half of one non-transferable share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share for three years at a price of $0.10. The Company has received a subscription agreement from a European institutional investor, representing 9,700,000 units, or 57% of the Offering. The Company intends to use the net proceeds for the continued advancement of the Tepal Project and for general corporate purposes. The Offering is subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

In connection with the Offering, four Company directors have agreed to the early conversion of their convertible, unsecured, 10%, three-year promissory notes totalling $300,000 into 8,333,333 common shares pursuant to the conversion price at the time the notes were issued of $0.036 per share.

Dunham Craig, Chairman

About Geologix

Geologix Explorations Inc. is a mineral exploration and development company focused on acquiring, exploring, and developing mineral resource opportunities with the potential to host profitable mining operations. The Company's primary focus is the Tepal Gold/Copper Project in Michoacan state, Mexico. On March 19, 2013, the Company announced a Prefeasibility Study for the Project that indicated an 11.5 year mine life with payable production of 1.12 M oz. gold and 503 M lbs. copper, resulting in a post-tax NPV of $421 million at a 5% discount rate. The positive results of this study have led the Company to continue to work towards both completing a Feasibility Study for the Project and arranging the necessary financing to advance the Project to production.

This Press Release may contain statements which constitute 'forward-looking, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities and operating performance of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities or performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Such risks, uncertainties and factors are described in the periodic filings with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities, including the Company's Annual Information Form and quarterly and annual Management's Discussion & Analysis, which may be viewed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
America has a serious love affair with food. Huge, delicious, steaming portions of almost everything imaginable that seem to ooze a certain tastiness that's seldom found anywhere else in the world.

It doesn't even have to be your stock-standard 'American' fare, either. From Korean to Mexican, German to Japanese - the US of A has mastered the culinary scene with such aplomb that it makes any trip to the 'land of the free' a constant war on weight.

But banish the scales for now because you're going to want to savour every last bit of the delectable buffet on offer. Your only problem should be that with so many options available, how can you be sure to choose the right one? Or the best one? Or the newest one? Or the quirkiest one?

Los Angeles is a veritable smorgasbord of digestible delights. Photo: iStock

That's where local knowledge comes into play. We stayed in an Airbnb smack in the middle of Hollywood and looked to our host, Michael, to guide us through the veritable smorgasbord that is Los Angeles. Here are some of his top local tips.

Junk right in

Nowhere on the planet does junk food like the US. On almost every street corner in the City of Angels you can find some form of quick, calorific goodness - be it McDonald's or Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, Carl's Jr or Chick-fil-A. But none invoke the kind of fast-food fervour quite like In-N-Out Burger.

A firm favourite of our Angeleno host, In-N-Out dishes up the kind of burgers you're likely to dream about. Plump, fluffy buns hold together delicious, handmade meat patties that are so tender and moist you'll be eyeing the counter for round two before you've finished your first sitting.

Downtown's Wurstkuche serves up wacky delights like Rattlesnake and Rabbit sausages. Photo: Supplied

Add to the mix their 'Not So Secret' menu and suddenly you can transform an 'ordinary' cheeseburger into a 'four by four' 'animal style' beast (which roughly translates to: four mustard cooked beef patties, hand-leafed lettuce, tomato, In-N-Out's secret spread, four slices of American cheese, onions, all stacked high on a freshly baked bun).

Rattle and snake

Truth be told, if you've just demolished the monster above you're not going to be hungry for a week. But this is LA - so loosen the belt buckle and head Downtown to seek out Wurstkuche (800 E 3rd St). This place is an exotic bar and grill that specialises in serving wacky sausage sandwiches with Belgian fries. Grab hold of a Rattlesnake and Rabbit sausage topped with jalapeno peppers - and wash the fiery (but delicious) creation down with one of their 24 imported tap beers.

Speaking of sausage, Pink's Hot Dogs in Hollywood (709 N La Brea Ave) is a Los Angeles institution that shouldn't be missed. Serving the city for 76 years, lines of hungry locals lead the way to what's been rated as one of the best hot dog purveyors in America. Don't be surprised to see stars like Brad Pitt or Bruce Willis waiting patiently in line until it's their turn to order a famous chili dog (rumour has it Orson Welles once ate 18 in one sitting).

Advertisement

Mr C is in the house

LA isn't just about fast-food and takeaway. In a city flush with money, fine dining certainly stakes an important place at the table. And while it would be criminal to eschew the incredible meat and martini offerings from STK or BOA, Mr C's Restaurant in Beverly Hills (1224 Beverwil Dr) is one place well worth a splurge.

As the only Cipriani restaurant on the west coast, Mr C has all the signature dishes of its more famous New York (and Italian) cousins. To start, sample a signature bellini beside a plate of decadent beef carpaccio. Then move onto the drool-inducing baked white tagliolini with ham, and add a baby artichoke avocado salad as the accompaniment. If there's any room for dessert, have a quick glance up to the bar to see what might take your fancy or just dive right in and order the Vanilla Meringue Cake. Exquisite.

Au Fudge

In a town full of celebrities, it's only fitting that a celebrity run establishment is making some serious foodie waves - and West Hollywood's Au Fudge (9010 Melrose Ave) is doing just that. Actress Jessica Biel is a part-owner of this hot, new family-centric spot that churns out fun and satisfying dishes and cocktails.

Au Fudge in Hollywood serves up fun and tasty treats for the whole family. Photo: Supplied

The 'deviled egg-lets' are sensational, the vegan caesar salad (of quinoa, avocado, golden raisins and pepitas) is a luscious homage to healthy living and the house burger drips with deliciousness. Pair it with a Jessica Rabbit's Rabbit cocktail (which involves tequila, mezcal, agave, jalapeno and black volcanic salt) and you won't be leaving anytime soon.

The best bit? Not the stairs to the secret children's cubbyhouse hidden behind a bookcase but the fact that they stock Australia's Vittoria coffee, a big tick for serious coffee aficionados.

G'day LA

For other little slices of home in LA - Aussie Amanda Archer runs the newly renovated Cannon Club in Beverly Hills (340 N Canon Dr), Downtown gives you the superb Bronzed Aussie pie shop (714a S Los Angeles St) and Goldie's in West Hollywood dishes up antipodean goodness (8422 W 3rd St).

El Matador, one of LA's legendary taco trucks. Photo: Michael (Airbnb host)

A couple of other notable additions from our local in the know are Tatsu Ramen in West Hollywood, the tomato soup from the Bourgeois Pig, and the El Matador Taco Truck on Western Blvd. Or for the biggest burrito you're likely to ever lay your eyes upon - head out east to El Tepeyac.

Happy eating!

The writer stayed in Los Angeles as a guest of Airbnb
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United Family gives to local food bank

The United Family, which operates Albertsons Market in San Angelo, donated 14,518 pounds (seven pallets) of food to the Concho Valley Regional Food Bank in San Angelo.

The company delivered a total of 116,146 pounds of food to eight food banks in its service areas, according to a news release. The contribution will provide more than 96,000 meals to approximately 32,000 families throughout West Texas, Dallas-Fort Worth and Eastern New Mexico. The donation is part of The United Family's yearlong celebration of the 100th anniversary of United Supermarkets, the company's flagship banner.

Donations took place June 13 in Dallas, Wichita Falls, Amarillo and Abilene.

Sweetwater picks new city manager

SWEETWATER  The Sweetwater mayor and City Commission have selected David A. Vela as the new city manager for the organization. Vela will succeed Eddie Brown, who retired earlier this year.

The city said in a news release that it received 19 applications from candidates in six states.

"We selected David from a strong pool of highly qualified candidates," Mayor Jim McKenzie said. "David is committed to the long-term success of the city and will be a valuable asset."

Vela comes to Sweetwater with nearly 20 years of state and local government experience. He has served as both the city manager and assistant city manager in Alice, Texas, and as the interim city manager and deputy city manager in Abilene, Texas.

Vela holds a Master of Public Administration from Texas State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from The University of Texas at Austin. He is a member of the Texas City Management Association and the International City/County Management Association. Additionally, Vela is an ICMA credentialed manager and currently serves as a petty officer second class in the maritime regiment of the Texas State Guard.

Vela is expected to begin his new role today.

Lawyer recognized by Texas bar

AUSTIN  A San Angelo lawyer is among those being honored by the State Bar of Texas for exceptional service to the public and the legal profession during its annual meeting on June 16-17 at the Fort Worth Convention Center and Omni Hotel, the association said June 13 in a news release.

Sara Anne Giddings is to receive the Presidential Citation, presented by the State Bar of Texas, and Outstanding First Year Director, presented by the Texas Young Lawyers Association

Sara Anne Giddings is an associate with Smith Rose Finley in San Angelo, where she practices tax, estate planning and business law. She is the Texas Young Lawyers Association District 15 director and president of the Tom Green County Young Lawyers Association.

As a TYLA director, Giddings serves on the public service and member outreach committees.

"It is an honor to serve as a director of the Texas Young Lawyers Association and to be recognized for my work on the Breaking the Silence project," Giddings said, "This project is one that is very close to my heart and a message about depression and substance abuse that is pertinent to everyone."

Giddings has been instrumental in organizing and presenting on the Breaking the Silence panels. As a director, Giddings has contributed to numerous TYLA initiatives, including Permanent Kinship Placement, Cyclists Be Careful, How to Get Involved in Nonprofit Boards, and the Local Affiliate Toolkit.
Feeding Texas can help food-insecure households be creative, feel full

Eating is a basic human need. No matter who you are, where you happen to live, you need to eat. That is a common thread than links us all.

Hunger is something we have all felt, perhaps in different measures.

Food insecurity is a reality. The United States Department of Agriculture defines "food insecurity" as limited or uncertain access to nutritionally adequate foods because of a household's lack of money or other resources. The Feeding Texas website suggests the following shorthand terms to help people understand food insecurity: "struggling to avoid hunger" ... "hungry, or at risk of hunger" ... and "hungry, or faced by the threat of hunger."

Food-insecure households come in many shapes and sizes: A family with young children, an elderly couple living on a fixed income, a widowed grandmother living on her own.

According to the most recent USDA data, 17.2 percent of Texas households (one in six) experienced food insecurity in the years 2012-2014. The Feeding Texas website explains that's about 1.7 million Texas households that were food insecure during that period.

Fortunately, I know there are many people and organizations in San Angelo working hard to fight hunger. Some of these heroes are: The Daily Bread Soup Lunch Program, Kids Eat FREE summer program, the Salvation Army, San Angelo Independent School District, the local H-E-B grocery store, and numerous church food pantries in the area.

I was recently contacted by a reader who was fortunate enough to have received canned carrots, green beans and corn, but had run out of ideas on how to prepare them in different ways to keep his family excited about meal times.

Creativity is also a universal gift. No matter who you are, where you are in life you can always be creative with what you have, and that's a good thing. So I turned to readers and friends on Facebook to come up with some solutions and here are the many varied results:

Ida Rios: You can add ground beef and brown gravy to all, top with mashed potatoes for shepherd's pie.

April Coble: Rice goes a long way with vegetables. It only takes 2 or 3 eggs and a little spice to make something that includes protein. I always got rice from food programs when I didn't have much. I got so good with adding it to meals that now it is a regular staple. It doesn't have to be fancy and can be boiled or steamed  very simple to cook and easy to present.

Nikki Markle: My clan loves easy comfort food so a chicken potpie with frozen pie shells, canned chicken, cream of chicken or celery soup, and some canned or frozen veggies is easy to throw together. (Note: Another reader suggests biscuits can be substituted for the pie shell).

Candace Cooksey Fulton: Drain off all the liquid and mix. Add in fresh chopped celery, scallions, maybe an apple if you have one, maybe some fresh broccoli if you have that  douse with ranch, Green Goddess or mild Italian salad dressing; mix and refrigerate for several hours. I really do not like canned vegetables, but turned into a salad, it can be quite tasty. Served with tuna sandwiches  tuna is also cheap  it's pretty good, and kid friendly.

Sarah Negovetich: You can cook canned veggies with a little soy and then pan fry with some rice for a veggie fried rice. If you have some shredded chicken, that would be good as well.

Donna Brosh: I would do some ground meat with chili powder, beans if you have any, cook it up in a skillet. If you have biscuits, dip in butter and cornmeal and bake on top  (I call it) "Cowan casserole."

Angela Sanders: A family favorite my mom made involved 2 cups cooked rice in a 9-inch by 13-inch pan. Meanwhile saute  cup onion and brown cup slices of Spam. Cube spam. Spread this plus diced carrots and a can of corn to over rice. In another pot, heat up cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup add a teaspoon each of celery salt and onion powder. Pour over rice mixture. Bake in oven at 350F for an hour. Right before serving, crumble crushed potato chips over top.

Girlyne White: All three drained, tomato paste, ground meat, macaroni pasta.

Tara Haidinger: When we were at my grandparents' house last week my grandmother made a delicious vegetable casserole. She told me you can use whatever veggies you have on hand. You precook them so they are soft, then mix in mayo and Miracle Whip until wet. Spread it in a baking dish and top with buttered cracker crumbs and shredded cheese. She said she bakes it until heated through and the cheese is melted. I could definitely eat it for a whole meal, and it was great reheated too.

Additions to soups and stews were other great suggestions.

Wow, I was amazed by the outpouring of ideas and recipes and the creativity. I have some awesome, awesome people in my life.

Rashda Khan is a San Angelo-based food enthusiast, writer and culinary instructor. She moderates the Facebook group San Angelo Eat Local. Originally from Bangladesh, she is now a proud West Texan. She can be reached at rashda.khan@gosanangelo.com or 325-659-8381.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention In this photo provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ), a feeding female Anopheles stephensi mosquito crouching forward and downward on her forelegs on a human skin surface, in the process of obtaining its blood meal through its sharp, needle-like labrum, which it had inserted into its human host. A powerful new technology holds the promise of rapidly altering genes to make malaria-proof mosquitoes, eliminate their Zika-carrying cousins or wipe out an invasive species, but advisers to the government say these so-called "gene drives" aren't ready to let loose in the wild just yet. (James Gathany/CDC via AP)

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By Lauran Neergaard, Associated Press

WASHINGTON  A powerful new technology holds the promise of rapidly altering genes to make malaria-proof mosquitoes, eliminate their Zika-carrying cousins or wipe out an invasive species, but a report Wednesday says these "gene drives" aren't ready to let loose in the wild just yet.

Advisers to the government say lots more research is needed to learn to safely use gene drives and understand the ecological and social consequences of essentially hijacking evolution, spreading genetic changes through populations of insects, animals or certain plants faster than nature.

And the public, around the world, needs a say in whether and how gene drives eventually are used, especially because some may be intended for low-income countries, stressed the National Academies of Sciences, Engineer and Medicine.

"Public engagement cannot be an afterthought," said Vanderbilt University medical ethicist Elizabeth Heitman, who co-chaired the National Academies' committee.

Gene drives are on the horizon. Already, a California lab has hatched mosquitoes that spread a malaria-blocking gene every time they reproduce. Researchers say it should be possible to eliminate populations of another mosquito  the kind that spreads the Zika virus and dengue fever  by making them sterile.

Similarly, gene drives one day might be used to wipe out invasive species such as invasive rodents that devastate native plants and animals on many of the world's islands, without toxic chemicals. Or they might help reverse pesticide resistance in a crop-suffocating weed.

"The gene drive approach could offer a safer, less expensive and more lasting solution" to many problems, said National Academies' committee member Jason Delborne, an associate professor of science, policy and society at North Carolina State University.

But the report called for cautious, phased-in research given questions about the technology's impact. It said gene drives should be studied first in laboratories before moving to tightly controlled field trials  in greenhouses, screened cages or even on remote islands, to lower any risk of escape  to help determine if organisms modified in this unique way ever should be released into the environment.

The National Institutes of Health, which requested the report, welcomed the findings.

"This approach to potential irreversible modification of the genome of an entire species is breathtaking," said NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins. But the call for cautious research "seems to strike the right balance, given both the exciting potential of this technology and uncertainty about its ecological impact," he added.

Don't confuse gene drives with the many other genetic technologies that scientists have long used, the panel cautioned. For example, a biotech firm wants to test in the Florida Keys mosquitoes altered to produce offspring that can't survive outside of a lab. That alteration used traditional genetic engineering, meaning any population decline would be slower and more controllable than if gene drives had been used.

What's the difference?

Normally, genes have a 50-50 chance of being inherited. Gene drives bias that inheritance, allowing scientists to genetically modify an organism to carry a particular trait and then ensure it spreads to virtually all its offspring. It only works in certain kinds of fast-reproducing species, but it means entire populations could be affected in only a few generations.

Scientists have known this occasionally happens in nature as some species inherit certain genes at higher-than-expected rates. For half a century, they've tried to harness that biological power. But recently, that research has surged thanks to a gene-editing technique named CRISPR that allows precise editing of DNA in living cells.

No one knows how rapidly altering entire populations could affect habitats. What if wiping out invasive species lets something worse fill that empty niche? What happens if an alteration spreads to an unintended species?

Moreover, gene drives would spread with no regard for national borders, the panel warned. It called for international scientific and regulatory collaboration, and noted that even in the United States, it's not clear who's in charge.

Consider those island rodents: Would a gene drive in a mouse be governed as an animal drug by the Food and Drug Administration, or a rodent poison by the Environmental Protection Agency, or a plant pest by the Agriculture Department?

Some leading researchers already are tackling these concerns. At the University of California-Irvine, molecular biologist Anthony James hopes to begin field trials of his malaria-proof mosquitoes in a few years and is working on the science, regulatory and ethical steps needed so that "people agree we've done it right way."

Massachusetts Institute of Technology gene-drive pioneer Kevin Esvelt praised the recommendations, but also urges researchers to publicly disclose all their experiments.

"Gene drive systems are intrinsically about altering the shared environment. We should at the very least have the courtesy to inform people what is being planned, and let them voice their opinions, before we begin," he said.
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By Perry Flippin

Kees Verheul builds Aermotor Windmills that produce water ? not juice.

Like electricity-generating turbines, they convert kinetic energy in the wind into useful power, although Aermotor mills use that power to lift underground water to the surface.

A 71-year-old engineer who has owned the 119-year-old company since 1998, Verheul said he isn't worried about new technology making his windmills obsolete.

"It's so simple, it's brilliant," he said, noting that the mechanism's design has not changed since 1933. "It will last 100 years with proper maintenance. Cowboys can fix them."

The same can't be said for solar panels that are prone to wearing out prematurely and malfunctioning.

Aermotor sold more than 1,000 windmills in 2006, its best year in more than a decade. That represented a 69-percent increase from the previous year.

Aermotor parts and mills, with "San Angelo, TX" stenciled on every vane, shipped to all 48 contiguous states last year, plus 13 foreign countries.

The most popular model ? with an 8-foot diameter fan ? sells for less than $5,000.

Even his tallest tower ? at 47 feet ? is tiny compared to the 400-foot-tall wind turbines that are sprouting across West Texas.

"Wind generators are magnificent," Verheul said. "They are great for landowners, and they are great for Texas. That money stays right here in Texas. It's better than an oilfield because it just goes and goes and goes."

One of his rancher customers in Nolan County expects to earn $40 million from wind turbines in the next 30 years.

Verheul, who owns ranches on the High Plains and the Texas Coast, made his pile after earning an engineering degree at Texas Tech University in Lubbock and taking over his family's oilfield tool-making business in Houston. He retired at age 48 when he sold the company for $70 million.

"It forgot to rain in the '90s," he recalled, adding that he bought a 19,000-acre ranch in Dickens County in Northwest Texas. "I'd never been up against anything like that" drought.

A 1998 advertisement in the Livestock Weekly sent him on an inspection trip of the Aermotor plant in San Angelo. Within four days, he plunked down $1 million and took ownership of Aermotor.

Within a 100-mile radius of San Angelo, he estimated, 10,000 windmills are operating.

One of his best customers is the Navajo Nation of Arizona. A growing number of his windmills are being shipped to Africa. An Israeli buyer ordered an Aermotor windmill after seeing the company's Web site.

Verheul, who was born in Borneo when his father was an engineer for Royal Dutch Shell, credits his company's success to his insistence on using the best metallurgy available and top-quality bearings for his mills. He also provides a seven-year warranty to guarantee customer satisfaction.

He and his wife, Jane, are actively involved in the company's day-to-day operations. Her father, M.D. Bryant, prospered as an oilfield wildcatter, civic leader, San Angelo mayor and confidant of President Lyndon Johnson.

Aermotor added seven employees last year, bringing the payroll to 25 workers.

The San Angelo Chamber of Commerce honored Verheul's company recently for posting outstanding growth last year in production and sales.

"Over 99 percent of our stuff is made in the U.S. with U.S. labor," he said, pointing to wooden shipping crates stenciled with, "Made in U.S." "We make a better mill."
Getty Images Above: U.K. Independence Party supporters await the arrival of leader Nigel Farage Monday as he goes on the campaign trail for Brexit in Ramsgate. Britain's opposition Labour Party today scrambled to make the case for Europe to its members as world stock markets slipped amid concern over a British exit from the E.U. in a knife-edge referendum next week. Right: Pro-Brexit flags fly from a fishing boat moored in Ramsgate.

SHARE Getty Images Pro-Brexit flags fly from a fishing boat moored in Ramsgate on June 13, 2016. Britain's opposition Labour Party today scrambled to make the case for Europe to its members as world stock markets slipped amid concern over a British exit from the E.U. in a knife-edge referendum next week. A boat carrying supporters for the Remain in the E.U. campaign shout and wave at Brexit fishing boats Wednesday as they sail up the river Thames in central London. A Brexit flotilla of fishing boats sailed up the River Thames into London with foghorns sounding, in a protest of E.U. fishing quotas by the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union.

By Roger Yu, USA TODAY NETWORK

J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon visited the banking giant's British corporate office in the seaside city of Bournemouth this month to deliver a chilling message to employees: "As many as 4,000" J.P. Morgan jobs in the United Kingdom  about a quarter of the U.K. workforce  could be cut if Britons vote next week to leave the European Union.

The June 23 referendum on a "Brexit," or British exit from the 28-member union, will determine if the country severs its close economic and political ties with continental Europe and chart its own course in national security, economic policies and immigration laws.

For American business executives like Dimon, a Brexit would be bad news for U.S. companies that have outsized global business interests, which is why they are lobbying for the U.K. to remain a member. "Today, we can service E.U. companies here freely, with systems, technology, research, investment banking, sales and trading. We can do it here," Dimon said. "After a Brexit, we cannot do it all here and we are going to have to start planning for that."

Brexit proponents argue that the U.K. would fare better in the long run by setting its own economic and political agenda, free from the EU's regulation-heavy interference and able to pursue its own, more stringent immigration policies.

Analysts in the United States, however, don't see it that way. They say Britain's departure from the E.U. could trigger lasting economic and political problems for U.S. companies. That's particularly true for banking, since London is currently the financial center for Europe.

For decades, the U.S. has championed a common economic and political bloc in Europe, and any signs of its disintegration with the United State's largest trading partner is contrary to U.S. interests, said Joao Gomes, a finance professor at Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. "We're talking about a shock," Gomes said.

"On trade, they (Britons) hurt themselves. On investment, they hurt themselves. On migration, they hurt themselves," said Joel Trachtman, professor of international law at Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.

Economists also are unnerved by the timing of a Brexit vote, which comes amid economic sluggishness and high unemployment in E.U. nations. As a result, a vote for a Brexit could be a drag on consumer demand throughout Europe.

A Brexit also could put a damper on U.S.-Europe trade and investment. Last year, American companies exported about $492 billion worth of goods and services to Europe, according to data from the European Commission. Total U.S. investment in the E.U. is three times higher than in all of Asia.

The U.S. and the E.U. are members of the World Trade Organization, and the framework for their trade is set by the international organization. But after a Brexit, the U.K. would be required to adopt new tariff schedules and trade regulations for Europe and the U.S.

Another complication from an exit: ongoing negotiation for the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP), a treaty seeking to broaden economic cooperation between the U.S. and Europe.

President Obama, a fervent opponent of a Brexit, warned that the U.S. may not be as eager to negotiate a separate trade agreement with the U.K. During a visit to Britain in April, he said Britain would have to go to the "back of the queue" for a trade deal if it votes for a Brexit. "It's an administrative mess," Trachtman said.

Some are convinced that "the special relationship" between the U.S. and the U.K. could override a Brexit's aftermath. The U.S. could affirm that it would include an independent Britain in any future Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement with Europe, said Peter Harrell, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. "My position is not that it's a good thing for Britain. But I think fears that this is bad for the U.S. is overblown," he said.

Still, having to deal with multiple trade treaties in Europe could prove cumbersome for U.S. companies, said James Moore, managing director of the Business, Society, and Public Policy Initiative at Georgetown's McDonough School of Business. "Companies have put together business models that (rely on) Great Britain as the front door," he said.
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By Rashda Khan, Rashda.Khan@gosanangelo.com

The proposed site of a three-story, 72-unit apartment complex for senior independent living is on the San Angelo City Council agenda for Tuesday.

The council will consider approving a request to rezone the site of the complex  5.12 acres about 90 southwest of the intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and West 29th Street  from general commercial to planned development zoning district. The remaining 10.588 acres surrounding the site will remain general commercial.

The rezoning is required because the existing zoning doesn't allow for residential living.

According to the plans submitted to the city's Planning & Development Services Department, the complex will have 24 units per floor, with a clubhouse and management office and an elevator in the center.

The council will also tackle several water issues:

An update and discussion of the activities of the West Texas Water Partnership

Discussion and possible action on withdrawing the Texas Water Development Board SWIFT funding application for the direct potable reuse project from consideration of 2016 funding

Discussion and possible action on the calculation and utilization of available water sources to meet current and future demands.

In other business, council will also consider:

A recommendation from the Civic Events Advisory Board amending the Facility Discounts Policy for McNease Convention Center and Foster Communications Coliseum

Citizen input on requested projects to be considered for funding with Grant Year 2016 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and discussion and deliberation on funding allocations.

IF YOU GO

What: San Angelo City Council meeting

When: 8:30 a.m. Tuesday

Where: McNease Convention Center, 501 Rio Concho Drive

More Information: Check the city's website www.cosatx.us/government/city-council
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Over 40 local employers are set to attend

By Michelle Gaitan

The Texas Workforce Commission is again looking to relieve the burden of unemployment among veterans by making their job hunt less complicated.

The TWC has joined with 28 Workforce Solutions partners throughout Texas to create a tailor-made job fair for veterans and their spouses  the Hiring Red, White and You! Statewide job fair.

The military is one of the nations most important sources of well-educated and highly trained individuals who have a variety of technical and professional skills, TWC Chairman Andres Alcantar said in an October news release. The Hiring Red, White & You! Statewide Hiring Fair is a wonderful opportunity for Texas employers to hire these highly skilled veterans.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday more than 40 businesses in the Concho Valley will reach out to potential employees at Fort Concho Stables, 210 Henry O. Flipper, across from Workforce Solutions. This is the third annual fair hosted by the TWC.

Last years fair was held at the McNease Convention Center and attracted 40 employers from different business fields including the oil and gas industry, hospitality and fast food.

Saturdays fair is expected to have a range of employers looking to fill jobs from retail to government and state jobs. The oil and gas industry is again added to the list of available jobs in Texas with companies such as National Oilwell Varco and Nabors Completion and Production Co. signed up to attract potential employees.

Esperanza Health and Dental Centers, 1st Community Federal Credit Union, city of San Angelo and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice are also on the list to attend.

This is a great way to network with employers looking to hire a skilled workforce, said Ronny Congleton, TWC Commissioner Representing Labor in the news release. I would also urge our veterans to take advantage of the services available at Workforce Solutions offices around the state.

In the first two years of the fairs creation it connected more than 21,000 veterans with over 3,000 employers resulting in about 3,500 jobs created, according to the TWC.

Statewide fairs combined attracted more than 11,000 job seekers and 1,562 employers and resulted in about 67 on-site hires last year. Many more veterans made employer connections that led to interviews and post-event job offers, the news release stated.

The national unemployment rate for all veterans is 6.6 percent. For veterans who served in the military since September 2001, the unemployment rate is higher at 9percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and based on 2013 data.

Many highly-qualified service members are transferring back to civilian life every day, Congleton said in the news release. I encourage all veterans looking for employment to seek out the Hiring Red, White & You! hiring fair taking place in their area.

For a list of statewide employers go online to http://www.twc.state.tx.us/svcs/vetsvcs/hiring-red-white-you-participating-employers.html. For a full list of employers in the Concho Valley go to http://www.cvworkforce.org/.

If you go

What: Texas Workforce Commission and Workforce Solutions of the Concho Valley Hiring Red, White and You! statewide job fair

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday

Where: Fort Concho Stables, 210 Henry O. Flipper

Who: Open to all veterans and spouses
Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, right, stands with state legislators, from left, Rep. J.J. Johnson, Rep. Sean Lynn, Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, Sen. Brian Bushweller and Rep. Stephanie Bolden, on Feb 10 after signing a House joint resolution that apologizes for the state's role in slavery, at the Delaware Public Archives in Dover, Del. Markell also presented a proclamation recognizing African American History Month.

SHARE Photos by The Associated Press Tony Vargas (left), a candidate for the Nebraska Legislature, talks to potential voters on June 12 in Omaha, Neb. While campaigning in the heavily Latino neighborhoods of south Omaha, Vargas, whose parents came from Peru, has found that some people felt shunned or confused when they once attempted to vote, while others have misconceptions about the legal requirements to do so. Some simply believe their vote doesn't matter.

By David A. Lieb, Associated Press

They have nicknames like "the dead lizard," ''the praying mantis" and "the upside-down elephant."

The odd-shaped legislative districts that dot many states are no coincidence. The jagged lines often have been carefully drawn by state lawmakers to benefit particular incumbents or political parties. The tactic, known as gerrymandering, is nearly as old as the country itself.

It's also a maneuver that can result in an underrepresentation of minorities in some legislatures. Across the U.S., minorities now comprise nearly two-fifths of the population, yet hold less than one-fifth of all legislative seats, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Congress and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Federal guidelines require that legislative districts are similar in population and not drawn to deny minorities a chance to elect the candidate of their choice.

But racial gerrymandering can occur in a couple of ways: when minority communities are divided among multiple districts, thus diluting their voting strength; or when minorities are heavily packed into a single district, thus diminishing their likelihood of winning multiple seats.

Federal judges ruled recently that lawmakers illegally packed large numbers of black voters into congressional districts in North Carolina and Virginia. But the U.S. Supreme Court upheld an Arizona map that increased Hispanic percentages in some districts by loading more white voters in others. Lawsuits challenging the redistricting done after the 2010 census still are pending in several states.

Meanwhile, momentum appears to be building to pare back the role of partisan politics in redistricting.

The politically powerful states of California, Florida, New York and Ohio all have overhauled their redistricting processes in recent years. Nebraska lawmakers passed a measure this year to create an independent redistricting panel, though it was vetoed by a governor who cited constitutional concerns. Indiana is studying redistricting changes, and a redistricting initiative will appear on the ballot this fall in South Dakota.

Voters in Illinois also could decide this November on a proposed constitutional amendment that would strip the redistricting responsibility from the Legislature and hand it to a new 11-member citizen panel that would be barred from favoring any political party as it draws the boundaries.

"If you remove the partisan intent, then you make it much easier to draw maps that are fair for everyone, including minority groups," said Dave Mellet, campaign manager for Independent Maps, the organization sponsoring the Illinois initiative.

President Barack Obama also called for redistricting reforms earlier this year, suggesting that bipartisan groups handle the task.

In most places, state lawmakers currently divvy up districts every 10 years, after each census. But commissions are primarily responsible for U.S. congressional redistricting in six states and for state legislative redistricting in 13 states, with varying degrees of political independence.

Some minority lawmakers want to expand the use of special redistricting panels.

An appointed commission "creates the appearance of more fairness, and you'd have more of an opportunity for there to be more diversity if you do it that way," said Delaware state Sen. Margaret Rose Henry, the only black senator in a state where African-Americans comprise more than one-fifth of the population.

An independent commission began handling redistricting in California following the 2010 census as the result of a voter-approved initiative.

The nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found that the maps produced by the independent commission included six additional Assembly districts where Latinos comprised a majority of residents and one more in the Senate. The maps also created the state's first district where Asian-Americans were a majority.

Despite that, the number of Latinos in the California Legislature declined from 28 in 2007 to 23 in 2015, according to figures from the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Assemblyman Luis Alejo, chairman of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, cites lower voter turnout and the departure of some Latino incumbents for the decline. He remains a supporter of the independent redistricting commission as "a less political process" and believes Latinos ultimately will benefit from it.
Ohio could see a record number of charter schools close this year.In the wake of a new state law designed to shut down failing schools, several charter-school sponsors are severing ties with schools they agreed to oversee. Charter schools -- privately run with public dollars -- can't operate without a sponsor.In an 11th-hour plea last week to keep its doors open, Cleveland's OAK Leadership Institute asked the State Board of Education to intervene. The board refused, citing poor student test scores.Out of options, OAK will be forced to close; it's among the first affected by the tougher accountability measures."There will be more," said Ron Adler, president of the Ohio Coalition for Quality Education, which advocates for charter schools. "Sponsors are feeling pressure. This is accelerating the closure process."Ohio Department of Education officials say they know of 19 schools that are closing this year: Eleven were dropped by their sponsors for poor performance; the eight others closed voluntarily.Last year, 14 charter schools shut their doors. Three closed because of failing grades and six for financial reasons, according to state records. The reasons for the five other closings were unclear.Supporters of a charter-school reform bill passed last year, House Bill 2, and of new evaluations for school sponsors say they aim to bring more accountability and transparency to a charter system that spends about $1 billion annually to educate more than 120,000 Ohio students attending 374 charter schools. For example, the new law bans conflict-of-interest business relations and requires charter operators to provide more details about how they spend taxpayers' dollars.The law created an evaluation system that grades sponsors in part by how well students at their schools are performing. A sponsor rated "ineffective" cannot sponsor a new school, and all sponsorship authority is revoked if the sponsor is rated ineffective for three consecutive years. The lowest rating -- "poor" -- triggers an immediate loss of sponsorship authority. The law also bans schools from "sponsor-hopping" if they get dropped for poor academic performance."The law is having a pretty immediate impact," said Chad Aldis, vice president for Ohio policy and advocacy for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, which sponsors 11 charter schools in Ohio and supports the law.Sponsors are taking a closer look at the academic achievement of the schools in their portfolios because low ratings will prevent them from opening new schools, Aldis said. Most charter schools operate under multiyear contracts, so Aldis expects that closures will continue for the next few years.Richland Academy of the Arts in Mansfield dropped seven of the 10 schools it sponsored, including OAK."We started these schools and believed in their philosophies and focus and wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt, but it's come to the point we can't anymore," said Marianne Cooper, Richland's executive director.Richland had sponsored OAK since the school's inception five years ago. But given the school's consistently low grades on state report cards, students will be better served elsewhere, Cooper said.OAK was among eight charter schools that asked the Ohio Department of Education to sponsor them after being dropped by their previous backers for poor academic performance. All were turned down.Rep. Andrew Brenner, a Powell Republican who leads the House Education Committee and is a nonvoting member of the state board, told OAK officials last week, "Sorry. You were given an opportunity. You should be shut down."
Charleston Mayor Danny Jones, who has been a Republican for 45 years and has been elected mayor four times as a Republican, has left the party.Jones announced Friday that he has switched his party registration to "unaffiliated."He pointed to multiple factors, specifically the social conservative bent of the West Virginia House of Delegates and the rise of Donald Trump as the party's presidential nominee."For the first time in my life, I cannot support the Republican nominee for president," Jones said, although he described himself as "not a Trump hater."He also cited "the obsession of the West Virginia House of Delegates' leadership with the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act."Republicans said that bill, which failed in the state Senate, was necessary to protect religious liberties, but opponents derided it as a thinly veiled rationale to discriminate against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people."The fact that the House speaker came down to the floor to talk, not about the budget which is in crisis, he came down to talk about RFRA," Jones said. "I'm basically a city guy, and I believe [in] live and let live and stay out of each other's bedroom."Jones said he had decided before his party switch to vote for Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party candidate, for president."A whole lot of things make me uncomfortable about partisan politics, and I do not want to be identified with the political partisanship that is shaping so much of the debates nationally and in West Virginia," Jones said. "I plan to complete my current term, and have no plans to run for any office ever again. I am not trying to pick a fight with anyone and, in fact, I am proud about how we've made so much progress in Charleston, where partisan politics has been non-existent in the 13-plus years I've been mayor."Jones has never been a favorite of more conservative Republicans, who point to his position on social issues and the city's "user fee," a $2-per-week tax on people employed in the city, as evidence that he is too liberal.He fended off a conservative Republican challenger in last year's mayoral primary.Jones has been an active supporter and donor to Republican state Senate President Bill Cole's gubernatorial campaign.That support is illustrative of the deep divides that Trump has opened in the Republican Party.Cole has wholeheartedly embraced Trump's campaign, appearing with him on stage in Charleston and declaring "I stand with Donald Trump" on the night of West Virginia's May primary election.Jones said he first registered as a Republican in 1971 and has won 12 primary and general elections, all as a Republican, since 1984.He changed his registration at the Kanawha County Clerk's Office on Thursday, he said.
Too Many Clinics?

More Enforcement

A Treatment Shortage

Zac Talbott sees the irony of running an opioid treatment program from a former doctors office.The funny thing is, a lot of patients are like, This is where I first started getting prescribed pain pills,  Talbott said.Now, the Tennessee native says those same patients are coming to his clinic in Chatsworth, Georgia, a small city about a half hour south of the Tennessee border, to fight their addiction to those very pills.Outpatient clinics like the one Talbott co-owns dispense drugs like methadone and buprenorphine, which are legal synthetic opioids that block cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Federal health officials say this medication-assisted treatment, coupled with counseling, is the best way to treat an addiction to prescription painkillers or heroin. Patients are required to show up a set number of times a week  the number of visits determined by how long theyve been receiving treatment  to take their medicine in front of a nurse.Talbotts clinic, Counseling Solutions, started treating patients in February, but he says it is already treating 150 people in a space thats fit for about 200. Theres such a need in this part of the state, Talbott says, he is already making expansion plans.More than 1,200 people died of an overdose in Georgia in 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with opioid drugs frequently implicated in those deaths. Thats a 10 percent increase over the previous year. So Talbott is outraged that Georgia has put a one-year moratorium on issuing licenses to clinics that use medicine to treat people addicted to heroin or painkillers.Were in the middle of an opioid addiction and overdose epidemic, Talbott said. You just think about that for a minute.The reason for the moratorium, according to state Sen. Jeff Mullis, a Republican, is the state needs to figure out why so many opioid treatment programs have opened in Georgia. Mullis sponsored the legislation  which has since been signed into law  that created the freeze on new clinics. The law also required that a committee be established to look into Mullis question.If you go to the parking lot of any of these clinics in northwest Georgia, Mullis said, youll see as many Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina, Kentucky tags as you do Georgia tags. People are driving in from all over the South, he says, to get treatment there.Georgia has 67 opioid treatment programs, more than any other Southeastern state. Tennessee has only 12, in contrast; Alabama has 24, and Mississippi has one. Only Florida comes close numbers-wise, with 65 clinics. But its population is nearly double that of Georgias.While individuals who want to open a clinic in Georgia still have to fulfill multiple licensing requirements and approvals from both the state and federal governments, Mullis says its too easy; unlike other surrounding states, Georgia doesnt have a certificate of need program for narcotic treatment centers. Those programs limit entry or expansion of some health care facilities by requiring operators to show theres a need for it. For opioid treatment programs in Georgia, open competition has been the only real constraint on the number of clinics.I dont want to take these facilities away from people who need it, but we need to manage, and govern, and regulate the ones that are here, and the ones that are coming here, Mullis said.Theres also stigma around the addiction drugs used at opioid treatment centers because the drugs dispensed are opioids themselves. Critics say drugs like methadone are replacing one addiction with another.Tapering off these treatment drugs is optional, and some patients can stay on them all their lives.Jonathan Connell, who heads the Opioid Treatment Providers of Georgia, an advocacy group for state providers, says pushing people off medication-assisted treatment shouldnt be the focus of lawmakers efforts.If someone stays on a medication, thats not really the issue, he said. People can still be dependent on something, but not live an active addiction.Connell, who operates three opioid treatment programs in southwest Georgia, rejects Mullis claim that Georgia clinics lack regulations. However, he does support the moratorium.He says the problem is that regulations are not enforced properly by the Georgia Department of Community Health, which oversees the clinics.We have had some clinics open up  some people with limited knowledge of the field, Connell said. They have not received surveys. How do we know theyre functioning correctly?The Department of Community Health has only a small staff to keep track of the 67 clinics  three workers, with another person now in training. An agency spokesman says its rules and regulations also do not specify how frequently treatment centers should be inspected but that re-licensure surveys are conducted every two years.Zac Talbott, who runs an opioid treatment program in Chatsworth, Ga., says drugs like methadone and buprenorphine can help people kick addictions to prescription painkillers and heroin.A shortage of clinics in other states means Georgias are filling a need other Southern states arent meeting, Talbott argues.He has some personal experience to bring to bear on this issue  he is in long-term recovery for an opiate addiction.While getting his masters degree in social work eight years ago, Talbott was prescribed painkillers for some lower back pain. He says things spiraled from there.I still recall to this day, learning how to help people with behavioral conditions in class, and then going to the bathroom to shoot pills and/or heroin, Talbott said.He says there were long wait-lists at the three Tennessee clinics closest to him that were authorized to treat his opioid dependency. Rather than wait, he drove four hours back and forth between Knoxville and a clinic in Rossville, Georgia, nearly every day for six months to get treatment.He says hes grateful for that Georgia clinic.The old Zac  that Zac that was in that graduate program for clinical social work  quickly came back, he said, once he was able to stop the opioid use.Georgias moratorium went into effect June 1. It will last a year, to give the state Legislature time to look at new ways to regulate the clinics.
Texas on Thursday lost its fight against the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the state, ending a monthslong battle during which refugees from the war-torn country continued to arrive.Dealing the final blow to Gov. Greg Abbotts effort to keep Syrian refugees out of the state, a federal judge dismissed Texas lawsuit against the federal government and a refugee resettlement agency over the resettlement of the refugees.In an order dated Wednesday and released Thursday, Dallas-based U.S. District Judge David Godbey said the state did not have grounds to sue the federal government over in the case and failed to provide a plausible claim that a refugee resettlement nonprofit breached its contract.The judges dismissal comes after several failed attempts by state Attorney General Ken Paxton to block the arrival of Syrian refugees to the state. Texas first filed suit in December against the federal government and the International Rescue Committee  one of about 20 private nonprofits that have a state contract to resettle refugees in Texas  saying they were violating federal law by moving forward with the planned resettlement of Syrian refugees.In the aftermath of terrorist attacks in Paris that left 130 dead, Texas Republican leaders raised concerns about the refugee vetting process. Abbott in November directed resettlement nonprofits in Texas to halt the resettlement of any Syrian refugees last month.But the federal government warned Texas it did not have the power to reject Syrian refugees, and the International Rescue Committee's Dallas branch informed the state it would continue aiding Syrian refugees placed in Texas.(Refugee resettlement in the United States is completely funded by the federal government, but the state is in charge of contracting with local nonprofit organizations and distributing federal dollars to those agencies.)Since the state went to court, 229 Syrian refugees have been resettled in Texas  21 arrived in December 2015 and the rest arrived this year, according to the federal government's Refugee Processing Center.In a short statement, Paxton said on Thursday his office was "considering our options moving forward."I am disappointed with the courts determination that Texas cannot hold the federal government accountable to consult with us before resettling refugees here, Paxton said.Godbey's dismissal follows a previous ruling in which he said Texas was unlikely to succeed in the lawsuit because it had "no viable cause of action" against the federal government.Paxtons office in December dropped its first request for an order to block the resettlement of two Syrian families that arrived in Houston and Dallas that month. Godbey then knocked down a second request to bar nine other Syrian refugees from arriving in Texas. But the state moved forward with its lawsuit, saying the federal government was required to consult with the state in advance of any additional refugee placements.Godbey on Thursday reiterated in his ruling that the state "lacks a cause of action" to enforce that consultation requirement.Meanwhile, the International Rescue Committee celebrated the win. The judges dismissal upholds and affirms the United States history of providing refuge for those fleeing violence, Jennifer Sime, a senior vice president with the International Rescue Committee, said in a statement.The court is unequivocal in validating the lawfulness of the refugee resettlement program and reaffirms Texas legacy in welcoming refugees, Sime said.
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GIS - 20 June, 2016: Mauritius signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with Finland on 17 June 2016 at the Prime Ministers Office in Port Louis. The signatories for the Mauritian side was the Secretary to Cabinet and Head of Civil Service, Mr Sateeaved Seebaluck, and for the Finish side the Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to Mauritius, Mr Petri Salo. The latter resides in Pretoria, South Africa. Mauritius signed a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with Finland on 17 June 2016 at the Prime Ministers Office in Port Louis. The signatories for the Mauritian side was the Secretary to Cabinet and Head of Civil Service, Mr Sateeaved Seebaluck, and for the Finish side the Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to Mauritius, Mr Petri Salo. The latter resides in Pretoria, South Africa.

The Agreement provides for multiple designation by each contracting party, for up to 14 weekly frequencies with any aircraft type for passenger services and cargo operations for the designated airlines of each contracting party, and code sharing arrangements between the airlines of either contracting party and with airlines of third countries.

The Agreement is a follow-up of the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding and the initialing of a BASA in October 2015 during the Air Services Negotiations Event 2015 held in Turkey.

In his speech, the Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to Mauritius, Mr Petri Salo, said that the agreement will help to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations between Mauritius and Finland by boosting economic activities including trade and tourism, and will contribute significantly to increase people to people contact between the two countries. Mr Salo highlighted the need for more collaboration between Mauritius and Finland in the fields of ICT, education, and innovation.

For his part, Mr Seebaluck pointed out that the signature of the BASA comes at an opportune time since both governments are developing new air transport strategies to transform the aviation industry into a key driver of economic growth. While the government of Finland is implementing an Air Transport Strategy 2015-2030 to strengthen the Helsinki airport as an international transit hub, the Mauritian government is fully committed to implement a more open and robust air access policy and develop the country as an aviation hub, he said.

The Secretary to Cabinet and Head of Civil Service lauded Finlands modern technology industry based on strong industry traditions, innovative design product development operations, skilled workforce and state-of-the-art technology. He called for increased cooperation between Mauritius and Finland as regards the development of the ocean economy, technical and vocational training, and scholarships at tertiary level.

Furthermore, Mr Seebaluck solicited the support of the Finish Ambassador to explore the possibility of Mauritians to work in Finland under a Circular Migration Programme. This programme would enable Mauritians to take up jobs in Finland for a fixed duration and acquire the Finnish experience before coming back to Mauritius to start their own business or invest in some other activities, he added. He also invited the Finnish authorities to use Mauritius as a platform to penetrate the SADC which constitutes a huge market.

It is to be noted that in 2015, some 3 900 tourists from Finland have visited Mauritius and tourist arrival from Finland for the first five months this year has reached 2 661.
Description

GIS - 20 June, 2016: Mauritius and Finland will reinforce bilateral ties to further strengthen the relations between the two countries. Mauritius and Finland will reinforce bilateral ties to further strengthen the relations between the two countries.

This was at the fore of discussions during a farewell call by the Ambassador of Finland, Mr Petri Olavi Salo, on the Prime Minister, Sir Anerood Jugnauth, on 17 June 2016, at the New Treasury Building in Port Louis.

In a statement Mr Petri Olavi Salo underscored the need to encourage further collaboration between the two countries in areas pertaining to the Hospitality industry, Education; Training, ICT and Innovation; and the Blue Economy amongst others.

This, according to him, will give a boost trade and investment for both Finland and Mauritius as well as encourage people to people exchanges so as to reap mutual benefits.
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GIS  20 June 2016: Climate action should be everyones concern. For years, we have been too complacent about climate change issues. We need to reverse the trend, and NOW, because tomorrow will be too late, if its not already too late: the urgent call for action was made by the President of the Republic, Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, this morning at the Sugar Beach Resort and Spa, Wolmar, Flic en Flac. The President was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Womens Forum global meeting 2016 being hosted by Mauritius and organised under the aegis of the Office of the President. The Minister of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms, Minister of Environment, Sustainable Development, and Disaster and Beach Management, Mr Alain Wong Yen Cheong, and the Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare, Mrs Marie-Aurore Marie-Joyce Perraud, as well as other personalities were present.

Some 350 local and foreign participants including scientists, policymakers and business leaders coming from Africa, Europe and Asia are attending the two-day event. The theme is Meeting the Climate Challenge for SIDS and Africa.

In her opening remarks, President Gurib-Fakim observed that women are those who are and will be more affected by the impacts of climate change since they are more dependent for their livelihood on natural resources that are now presently under threat. It is critical to increase the involvement of one and all, especially, women at all levels to tackle the adverse effects of a changing climate, she stressed.

According to the President, mitigation and adaption measures have to be translated into appropriate policies and strategies which, if crafted, in a timely manner will increase our resilience to deal with climate issues, the more so as climate change will continue to threaten the backbone of our socio-economic development and severely hinder our pathway to achieve sustainable development.

Protecting and safeguarding our countrys and the regions precious biodiversity will ensure sustainable development through innovative practices and at the same time, ensure access to clean water, energy and food, added Dr Gurib-Fakim.

For her part, Mrs Jacqueline Franjou, CEO, Womens Forum for the Economy and Society, paid tribute to the contribution of the President of the Republic to bringing the Forum to Mauritius. The CEO observed that every time the Mauritian President participated in a Womens Forum meeting, whether in Dubai or in Deauville, she captivated the audience through her devotion to her country and dedication to science. After bringing Mauritius to the Womens Forum she has now brought the Womens Forum to Mauritius, she stated.

Referring to gender development, Mrs Franjou, said that it should not rest on women as sole stakeholders. It is a process that requires the full commitment of men as well.

Womens Forum Mauritius 2016

The event is being held for the first time in the African region, more particularly, in a Small Island Developing State (SIDS). Its main objective is to underscore the preparedness of Mauritius, the SIDS and the African Countries in addressing the challenges and implications of climate change.

Womens Forum Mauritius 2016 is taking up the Innovation challenge for Island States and Africa. It is also showcasing Mauritiuss remarkably rich natural flora and fauna, while underlying why it is a global biodiversity hotspot.

Womens Forum Mauritius is featuring women who are at the forefront of the climate and biodiversity movements, bringing them together with men counterparts in a unique meeting that will build capacity and empower those attending.

Drawing on international speakers and experiences, participants will debate climate and health solutions; climate, agriculture and biodiversity best practices; sustainable energy and water and sanitation for Africa and SIDS; how to advance innovation in agriculture, health and land use; improving the participation of women and youth in scientific and technological training; and processes for frugal green innovations with value-added for SIDS and African economies.
(TNS) -- Lt. John Chambers waves an arm at the white-walled room in the police department's headquarters on Amnicola Highway and describes what could be.He hopes to turn the room  now filled with dusty old equipment, a few tables and not much else  into the police department's new brain, a central control of sorts, where monitors will display live images and video streams from hundreds of cameras across the city.Chambers pictures a system that would allow a handful of police officers in the room to track critical details as incidents unfold  if a 911 caller tells the operator that a red SUV was involved in a drive-by shooting, the officers in the center would be able to set the system to alert any time a red SUV passes a camera near the site of the crime.The officers at those monitors could hop on the radio to tell officers in the field where that red SUV is as it passes various cameras, or even send the information straight to those officers' patrol cars, Chambers imagines. The officers could relay statistics about other recent shootings in the area to officers in the field as they pull up to the scene.That vision is still a long way from becoming reality, but the police department has asked the city for just under $1 million to create such a room, dubbed the "Real Time Intelligence Center," in next year's budget. City Council members are currently in the process of reviewing the budget and will vote on it in a couple of weeks.If funded, the police department will need to streamline, update and consolidate several backroom processes  how records are kept, managed and tracked  before such a room would be truly useful, Chambers said.The police department's data collection process is currently nowhere near real time, he said."Right now, we're at least 15 days behind," he said. "It will take 15 days from the day to accurately tell you how many assaults occurred that day."But once the systems are updated, the police department should be able to have close to real-time information, he added. Then, Chambers hopes to combine the police department's crime analysis and crime intelligence units and house both groups  about 10 people  in the Real Time Intelligence Center."You combine [the analysts'] expertise with the tacit knowledge of our intelligence investigators, and give them real-time data  or as close to real-time data as we can get  and they can actually help us deploy resources on a proactive basis rather than a reactive basis," Chambers said.If funded, the project is expected to take 18 months to fully implement, according to police.A major part of the system will be the video and still feeds from cameras across the city, which officers will likely monitor 20 hours a day, in two 10-hour shifts, Chambers said.In 2007, the city installed more than 100 cameras across the city, and those feeds could be sent to the Real Time Intelligence Center, as well as feeds from cameras installed by the Chattanooga Housing Authority. The police department may also be able to use feeds from cameras owned and maintained by private citizens, Mayor Andy Berke said."We have a church on every corner in our city," he said. "If they're in a neighborhood that has seen violence, they'll be able to put up a camera in their parking lot or on their door, at a relatively low cost, and feed it into our center."He's recently pushed the use of cameras as an anti-crime measure and announced the Real Time Intelligence Center in his state of the city address in April.Residents in neighborhoods where cameras are likely to go up have mixed feelings about the technology, with some raising concerns about privacy and questioning whether the cameras will be effective."Why use the money for cameras? What you need is to put people to work," said Vannice Hughley, president of the Lincoln Park Neighborhood Association. "I think it's a waste of money. It's just another Band-Aid on an out-of-control situation."Others see the cameras as a way to bypass witnesses and victims of crimes who are too afraid of retaliation to work with police. Lisa Davis, president of the East Lake Neighborhood Association, pointed to the recent killing of Bianca Horton , a 26-year-old mother who was a witness in a quadruple shooting last year, as proof that witnesses' fears are justified."Witnesses are afraid now," Davis said. "We just had a young lady murdered  we don't have to worry about people coming forward if you have things on film."James Moreland, president of the Avondale Neighborhood Association, said he's heard some concerns about privacy, but the majority of people he's talked to prioritize safety."You can have all the privacy you want, but if you're shot in the head, what good is it?" he asked.Police emphasized the cameras will be set up in public areas, where citizens have no expectation of privacy. If funded, some cameras will be semi-permanent, while others will be mobile and moved to particular events."The intent is when we have these drive-by shootings and these kids are getting killed, I want to be able to go back and look and see where that son of a gun is, what he's driving and go put his butt in jail for the rest of his life," Chambers said. "It has nothing to do with wanting to spy on your backyard pool. That's ridiculous."
The big topic after Sunday's inaugural F1 race in Baku was the controversial limitations on radio traffic between driver and pitwall.

As his points comeback faltered on the streets of Azerbaijan, world champion Lewis Hamilton let his frustration show as he grappled with an engine setting problem that Mercedes engineers could not help him fix.

"In the end it was only a switch that was in the wrong position," boss Toto Wolff told German media. "And at 350kph, it is not so easy to realise what the problem is."

While Mercedes officials said winner Nico Rosberg's similar problem was easier to resolve, the team confirmed that the German also grappled with the issue but quickly fixed it.

"I felt the power loss and looked at my steering wheel. I thought about it briefly and then realised what it must be," Rosberg confirmed.

The situation raised suggestions that Hamilton's party lifestyle was finally catching up with him versus the apparently far more studious Rosberg.

But Hamilton insisted: "There was no way for me to know what was wrong, no matter how much I had studied it. I was looking at the steering wheel most of the time, which is dangerous.

"The rule needs to be looked at again," he insisted.

The Briton is referring to F1's clampdown on radio communications, after a perception had emerged that engineers were doing as much driving in the complex 'power unit' era as the actual drivers.

On this issue, Hamilton has plenty of allies, including Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda.

But Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel also agrees, calling the clampdown "a joke", and Fernando Alonso was similarly scathing.

"Stupid," agreed Kimi Raikkonen, who also struggled to fix a problem without the help of the pitwall on Sunday.

(GMM)
Naidu Dampens Farmers' Spirits!

The Chandrababu Naidu government in Andhra Pradesh made a grandiose announcement that it would allot plots to farmers who had handed over their fertile agricultural lands to the new capital of Amaravati on Monday.

As expected, the pro-TDP media described it as a milestone in the history of the state and projected as if Naidu was doing a great favour to the farmers.

However, the entire exercise turned out to be a damp squib on Monday. First, the Capital Regional Development Authority (CRDA) officials said the distribution of certificates allotting plot would be done at Nelapadu gram panchayat office. When farmers were getting ready to assemble there, they got the message that the venue of allotment was shifted to CRDA office at Tullur because there were heavy rains at Nelapadu and that all arrangements were made at Tullur.

However, on Monday afternoon, they got the message once again that the allotment of plots was postponed indefinitely, due to rains.

We deferred the programme as we did not want to cause inconvenience to farmers due to rains, Municipal Administration Minister P Narayana said.

This is the rainy season and there will be rains almost every day at any place. So, how long the government postpone the plots distribution? Apparently, there are certain problems in allotment of plots.

Sources said influential farmers supporting the TDP are trying to corner prime plots, leaving the remaining plots to others. Hence, the delay.
It appears that Georgia Sen. David Perdue (Republican, of course), who publicly offered a prayer for the death of President Obama, may be bucking for the job of vice president for The Donald.
As every entrepreneur in Silicon Valley knows, finding a decently priced place to live is almost as difficult as running a company. The median home price in Silicon Valley hovers above $1 million -- twice as much as Seattle's and three times as much as Denver's and Austin's. After being bludgeoned by these high prices over the past few years, residents have finally had enough. For the first time since 2011, tech rock stars are moving out at a faster rate than theyre moving in.

Related: This Tech Startup Isnt Based in Silicon Valley. Heres Why Thats an Advantage.

Many entrepreneurs, however, seem stuck on the idea that tech startups cant find the talent and resources needed for success anywhere outside this area. And this simply isnt true. Talent is available all over the nation, not just one section of California. Entrepreneurs who learn how to attract that talent to other destinations will not only save big on operational costs, theyll also save their employees from diving into a world of startup uncertainty where monthly rent costs as much as the price of a car.

How to lure talent to your city

If you want to bring in the best tech talent, youll have to convince young graduates that your company and city justify turning down the allure of Silicon Valley. To do that, youll need to communicate a few things:

1. Warn them about the bubble.

No tech boom lasts forever; the combination of inflated housing prices and inflated salaries has created a bubble in California that will burst sooner rather than later. When the dot-com bubble collapsed, many of those riding the wave found themselves suddenly unemployed and trapped in rental contracts they couldnt afford.

That's why, when we speak with potential candidates, we make stability one of our selling points, reflecting the fact that 70 percent of respondents in a recent survey named stability in a job a higher priority than "passion."

2. Appeal to local pride

We operate in Tampa, Florida, where theres a very homegrown feel to many of the local companies. Building a presence at local universities has also allowed us to get our name in front of upcoming talent early and appeal to their love for our city's local flavor.

Market your own openings at those job fairs in your state which attract the hottest and brightest stars. If you can, do some research on the counselors working with students on job prospects and placements, and consider reaching out to them regarding your company.

Engage with smaller local universities and community colleges, as well. For many young adults, the ability to stay near their parents is a big factor when choosing a job. You would be amazed at the talent that can come from homegrown roots.

Related: 4 Reasons Why You Shouldnt Recruit Exclusively Online

3. Break down the cost of living.

Pay attention to where the jobs are and what their salaries are; then find the similarities with your market so your discussions can be numerically enticing.

Showing prospective employees the localized value of their salary can be persuasive -- especially if you live in a state like Florida that has no state taxes. A single person in California, in contrast, has to pay a state tax bill of nearly 10 percent of income between $51,531 and $263,222, not to mention federal taxes on top of that. Someone at the top of that range would take home almost $25,000 more per year in Florida than in California.

When comparing salaries, dont forget the purchasing power that money has. The average two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco costs about $55,000 per year, while here in Tampa, the same-size apartment goes for just over $15,000 per year. Combining rent costs and state taxes, someone making $263,000 in Florida could actually take home $65,000 more annually than someone in California.

4. Let them see for themselves.

Pay for prospects to have a two- or three-day visit with your business if they are from out of state and havent been to the area. Try to schedule these trips around events that frame the local culture. For example, we try to bring in recruits when Tampa is hosting major sporting events or a cultural event such as the Gasparilla Pirate Festival.

You want recruits to feel like they could see themselves living, working and playing in your city. In our case, it doesnt hurt to have a beautiful beach just a short drive away!

Overall, you want the best candidates, and the best candidates want to work in the best places. Show them that thats with you, by highlighting the savings advantage when your conversation moves toward finances. Many very intelligent people are shocked at learning how much of their promised Silicon Valley paychecks theyll never get to see.

Related: These Are the Top 10 Best Cities to Launch a Small Business

Combine that with an appealing local culture and a strong presence in the community, and your company will be snagging top recruits in no time.

Related:

Finding the Best Untapped Talent Might Be Easier Than Many Entrepreneurs Think

Businesses Shouldn't Underestimate the Real Benefits of Parental Leave

This Is How You Make Working With Recruiters Easier



Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Adam Platt named Blue Hill at Stone Barns the Absolute Best Restaurant in New York. Photo: Melissa Hom

New York is bursting at the seams with great restaurants. There are, likely, enough excellent tasting-table spots, ambitious neighborhood spots, and glorious cheap eats to stock a handful of cities on the northeastern seaboard and still have enough left over for a solid dining scene. But can you declare that one of them, hands down, stands above all the rest as the single best must-experience restaurant? Grub Street asked New York restaurant critic Adam Platt to answer that question for our Absolute Best series  so he went and chose a restaurant 20 miles north of the city: Blue Hill at Stone Barns.

Platt sat down with Grub Street food editor Alan Sytsma to discuss his penultimate list of New York restaurants. Namely, why he picked Blue Hill, whether its really possible to name a restaurant No. 1 these days, the problems with lists like the Worlds 50 Best Restaurants, the methods and madness behind his five selections, and what the food critic really tells people when they ask where to go some random night. Hear it all, and much more, on this weeks edition of the Grub Street Podcast.

[iTunes, Soundcloud]
Nix. Photo: Tirzah Brott/New York Magazine

Vegetables have been at the apex of the food-fashion pyramid for several years now, so its only fitting that James Truman  who made a name for himself as top curator and tastemaker for the Conde Nast empire and now does more or less the same thing for the hotelier Andre Balazs  would develop a restaurant devoted to, well, hyperfashionable vegetables. Theres a pleasing veil of potted vines hanging over the kitchen window at Nix, which is located, conveniently, just below the Greenmarket in Union Square, and the little lamps scattered here and there around the narrow, white-painted room are constructed with what our brightly smiling server described as salvaged driftwood trees. (Theyre fashioned from juniper roots, for the record.) Spiced pumpkin seeds are the snack of choice at the festive little bar up front, and the house martini (they make it with vodka, but please specify gin) is garnished not with an olive or a twist but with a sprig of fresh thyme.

Truman also had a hand in the fine Balazs restaurant Narcissa in the Standard hotel on the Bowery, and his partner here, as there, is the talented John Fraser, who has been at the forefront of the citys haute-vegetable movement for years. Frasers produce-rich menu at Narcissa is intermingled with all sorts of more standard, meaty dishes, but at Nix there is no escape from the gentle procession of avocado (seared on a griddle and plated in a soothing puddle of tomato water), carefully articulated kale salads (scattered with sunflower seeds and sweetened hijiki), and boutique Champagne mangoes from Mexico flavored with Espelette pepper and lime. Mercifully, theres plenty of bread available, too, in particular the exceptional house tandoor (offered with a medley of hummus, eggplant, and avocado dips), which heavy eaters can fortify themselves with before all the healthy roughage arrives.

Not that every carefully contrived vegetable combination at Nix seems all that healthy, at least not in the usual edifying, spa-friendly, hypervegetarian way. The recipes change all the time, but on my visits, the aforementioned avocado and tomato water was plated with a wad of milky-fresh mozzarella, and the egg salad I ordered one evening off the Lighter column of the menu was folded in a creamy mayonnaise spiked with habanero and a light dusting of crushed potato crisps. The Bolder column of the menu contains a hunk of deep-fried potato bread the size of a small limpet mine, and an ingenious David Chang-meets-General Tso vegan-chicken mash-up made with tempura-fried pieces of cauliflower shellacked in a sticky Tsos-like sauce flavored with paprika, served with a little sidecar of house-cured pickles and a bamboo steamer filled with a stack of moon-shaped steamed buns.

It is possible to dine like a healthy vegetarian at this bright, buzzy, almost excessively trendy little restaurant (the certified vegan options include a brown-rice stir-fry and shreds of artichoke and broccoli rabe sauteed with tomatoes), but the sinful dishes are much more fun. Im thinking of the shiitake cacio e pepe, which Fraser and his cooks poach in butter and toss with polenta, and the pile of morels plated with barley and little asparagus spears, which coheres nicely with a large poached farm egg. Theres not quite as much bravado on the short dessert list, although the house sorbets are spiked with various enticing things (apples, chopped cucumbers, slivers of candied olives), and if you want to go hog wild, call for an order of the modest, beignetlike nuns puffs, which you can dip in a pot of warm caramel lightened with a few spoonfuls of goats milk.

Ignacio Mattoss latest Soho venture, Cafe Altro Paradiso, is another new, crowded, excessively trendy downtown restaurant, although if youre not a fan of the chefs excellent dining bar, Estela (or even if you are), you might wonder what all the fuss is about. Unlike the intimate walk-up space on East Houston Street, this larger, pleasantly boxy room feels like the kind of amiable, high-volume place that youd wind up in for brunch after aimlessly wandering the leafy streets of Kansas City or Seattle on a Saturday afternoon. Compared with the vividly focused Mediterranean-esque cooking at Estela (honey-drizzled lamb ribs, mussels escabeche, burrata dripped with salsa verde), the modest, almost achingly familiar Italian menu (yes, there is crudo, and grilled octopus, and housemade gnocchi, and ribbons of carefully procured charcuterie) feels a little run-of-the-mill too.

Not that I didnt enjoy my visits to Cafe Altro Paradiso. The seared octopus was chopped into plastic-hard chunks on the evening I tried it, but the burrata was very pleasant (its touched here with lemons instead of salsa verde). The charcuterie-style offerings were very nice, too (the spicy disks of coppa; the fatty, dissolving strips of testa headcheese), and you can complement them, if youre in a hearty mood, with popping little pork sausages of the Tuscan school and a decorous slice of calfs liver, dressed in the Venetian style with onions and vinegar. Except for the ricotta-stuffed ravioli, however, the pastas tend to blend into a kind of rustic sameness, as do the four minimalist entree options (non-liver eaters, try the swordfish), and the desserts, which include those ye-olde-trattoria stocking stuffers, panna cotta (doused with a little too much balsamic) and a pre-potted little brick of tiramisu.

Rating: 2 stars

Nix

72 University Pl., nr. 11th St.; 212-498-9393; nixny.com

Open: Dinner nightly.

Prices: Appetizers, $10 to $15; entrees, $15 to $25.

Ideal Meal: Tandoor bread with dips, avocado a la plancha, cauliflower tempura, sorbet.

Note: Yes, vegans, you can get your own special menu upon request.

Scratchpad: Two hearty stars for the elegant (and hearty) vegetarian cooking.

Rating: 1 stars

Cafe Altro Paradiso

234 Spring St., at Sixth Ave.; 646-952-0828; altroparadiso.com

Open: Dinner nightly, weekend lunch.

Prices: Appetizers, $6 to $23; pastas and entrees, $19 to $38.

Ideal Meal: Testa, ravioli di ricotta, swordfish or liver, chocolate-and-walnut tart.

Note: The 11-page wine list is ambitious for a cafe this size (there are several thousand-dollar bottles) and deserves a slightly more ambitious menu.

Scratchpad: One half-star for the decent trattoria cooking and another half-star for the drinks, service, and decent if unremarkable space.

*This article appears in the June 27, 2016 issue of New York Magazine.
The kitchens open till the wee hours at The Spotted Pig. Photo: Melissa Hom

Everyone knows food tastes better after midnight, so it stands to reason that a host of excellent restaurants cater to night owls. These are the best places to grab a late-night feast. The ground rules: The kitchen must be open until at least 1 a.m., and the restaurant must serve the kind of pleasure-inducing food that tastes best in the wee hours.

The Absolute Best 1. The Spotted Pig

314 W. 11th St., at Greenwich St.; 212-620-0393 New York, its citizens like to boast, is a late-night kind of town, but it can be tough to find a restaurant where the kitchen still hums long after most people have gone to bed. No restaurant succeeds at this better than Ken Friedman and April Bloomfields famed Spotted Pig, where food is served nightly until 2 a.m. and the bar is open until 4 a.m. As is common wisdom by this point, Bloomfields gastropub cooking is just the kind of thing you want to eat after a evening of merriment: the famous, Roquefort-topped burger and its salty shoestring fries; the ethereal sheeps milk gnudi for something a little lighter; the crispy pigs salad; and so on. Eat up, and order another round of drinks while youre at it.

2. Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong

1 E. 32nd St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-966-9839

The admired South Korean chains K-town outpost is open until 1 a.m. Sundays through Wednesdays, 2 a.m. on Thursdays, and until 6-freaking-a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. (Meanwhile, a Flushing location, run by a different team, is open until 5 a.m. daily.) This affords ample time to work in a visit to the energetic restaurant, whether you need a pre-party meal or a post-festivities means of sopping up all of that booze so you dont wake up with a hangover that will torpedo your day. Plus, chef Deuki Hongs staff remains committed, even deep into the night, and since barbecue duties are handled by servers who know exactly how long to cook the meat, even bleary-eyed diners who might not be as sharp as they were a few hours earlier can take comfort in knowing their meal will be perfect anyway.

3. Hide-Chan

248 E. 52nd St., nr. Second Ave.; 212-813-1800

Certain nights demand a bowl of fat-slicked, brothy noodles. Meat mecca Takashi does a fine job with its late-night-only beef ramen, but its a little too rigid (two seatings on Friday and Saturday nights, with reservations highly recommended) for an impromptu drop-in. Midtown hideaway Hide-chan, another of New Yorks best ramen-yas, remains open until 1 a.m. on Thursdays and 4 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, making it easier to get your noodle fix when you want it. The thing to get is the spicy garlic ramen: rich, velvety tonkatsu enlivened with a hit of heady, aromatic oil made from blackened garlic and chili flakes. Service is speedy and the prices have stayed relatively low, so if youve got other places to be you can get in and out, once youre seated, without a ton of hassle.

4. Veselka

144 Second Ave., at E. 9th St.; 212-228-9682

When talking about extremely late-night food in New York, the iconic Ukrainian diner is the final word and perhaps the citys most enduring institution for a 5 a.m. burger. It shouldnt be ignored or taken for granted. The downtown location is convenient for barhoppers and the affordable, accessible menu hops from borscht to burgers and back, giving it broad appeal. Where else but New York can you pair pierogies and bigos, the hearty and sauerkraut inflected stew of pork and keilbasa, with three-bean chili? Because its open around the clock, you can even drop at, like, 6 a.m after a few boilermakers at dive-bar extraordinaire Josies. It starts to push the boundaries of late-night food into early-morning dining, but as long as you havent gone to bed, it still counts.

5. El Cortez

17 Ingraham St, nr. Bogart St., Bushwick; 212-599-2976

The Commodore has been a reliable weekend source of late-night fried chicken and nachos in Williamsburg for years now, yes. And its good, but Stephen Tanners other bar, basically a Mexican-ish version of the Commodore, gets the nod here because something about the phrase taco salad at 12:30 a.m. is just so appealing. That salad arrives in a perfectly crisp taco shell, and theres a menu item called All American Taco Night, which is exactly as satisfying as it sounds. Or, for a change of pace, go for the chimichanga, a deep-fried behemoth of a burrito that will definitely soak up whatever you were drinking before you got here.
Camellia Red HTC 10 - which was Japan-exclusive until now - lands in Taiwan

The Camellia Red color variant of the HTC 10 is no longer Japan-exclusive, as the company has now launched the device in its home country of Taiwan - it is now listed on HTC's online store in the country.

As for price, the 32GB variant carries a tag of NT 22,900 (around $710), while the 64GB variant costs NT 24,900 (around $775). HTC says that local carriers will start selling the new color variant later, although no specific date or month was mentioned.

There's currently no official confirmation if and when the Camellia Red HTC 10 will make it to other markets worldwide.

Source | HTC Taiwan store
Xiaomi has been gathering momentum on the Indian market lately, which culminated in the official launch of the India Mi Community today. The platform has been undergoing a 500-person beta test since June 14 and today it is live. The website is a place for customers to share feedback, participate in discussions, contests and also organize for launch events.

Considering the traditionally high level of user involvement in the existing Xiaomi community, this new chapter should have no shortage of enthusiasts either. Still, as an extra incentive, Xiaomi is offering early Mi Community subscribers a chance to win invites for the the Mi Max launch, which will be held on June 30 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Weight Lifting Stadium in New Delhi.

The event will also offer the official announcement of the MIUI 8 Global ROM and a few lucky attendants will be receiving a special free goodies bag and a surprise gift, as well. Perhaps the Mi Max itself? So, be sure to sign up at the source link below.

Source 1 | Source 2
78fcb97c37ec4c30802f96dde09390b9.jpg

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has closed the case into the 1964 murders of civil rights workers Michael Schwerner, James Chaney and Andrew Goodman -- one day shy of the 53rd anniversary of their murders in Philadelphia, Miss.

(AP photos)

JACKSON, Mississippi -- One day before the 53rd anniversary of the slayings, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood announced he is closing the investigation into the killings of three civil rights workers in 1964 -- a case which served as the basis for the movie "Mississippi Burning."

Mississippi native James Chaney, a 21-year-old African American, along with two white New Yorkers -- Andrew Goodman, 20, and Michael Schwerner, 24, were beaten to death near Philadelphia, Miss., on June 21, 1964. Their bodies were found weeks later buried in an earthen dam.

The three young men had been registering black voters in Mississippi when they were arrested by Neshoba County law enforcement, imprisoned for several hours and then released into the hands of members of the Ku Klux Klan. Subsequent court cases outlined a conspiracy between the Klan and Neshoba County officials.

In 1967, seven men were convicted on federal conspiracy charges and given sentences of 3-10 years, but none were tried for murder and none served more than six years.

The presiding judge, William Cox, was quoted as saying "They killed one n----r, one Jew and a white man. I gave them all what I thought they deserved."

Eight other men were aquitted by all-white juries, while three others ended in mistrials -- including the trial of presumed ringleader Edgar Ray Killen.

But in 2005, Killen was retried after new evidence was uncovered. He was charged with three counts of murder and on June 21, 2005 -- the 41st anniversary of the murders, he was convicted on three counts of manslaughter and sentenced to 60 years in prison -- the maximum sentence.

The Neshoba County judge who presided over Killen's conviction, Marcus Gordon, died last month at age 84.

A grand jury failed to indict seven other living members of the original group of suspects.

Hood said Monday the U.S. Department of Justice released its findings in a 48-page report which prompted his decision to close the case.

"I think that everything has been done that could possibly be done," Hood said during a news conference, adding that the decision "closes a chapter" in Mississippi's shameful civil rights history.

Charges against James "Pete" Harris and Jimmy Lee Townsend, two of the original suspects, had been considered, Hood said. Harris allegedly recruited members of the KKK in Meridian to participate in the murders, while Townsend served as a lookout of sorts while other KKK members went to kill the three civil rights workers.

"For those participants, the good Lord will have to deal with that," Hood said.

Deputy Assistant U.S. Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, acknowledged Hood's decision.

"Mississippi Attorney General Hood has determined that despite one of the most intensely investigated and documented underlying investigations of any racially-motivated murder during the 1960s, followed by the exhaustive efforts of more recent reinvestigations, the passage of time has simply rendered additional prosecutions impossible," Gupta said in a statement.

"While legal and factual impediments sometimes prevent us from bringing cases we wish that we could," Gupta continued, "the Civil Rights Division remains dedicated to pursuing racially-motivated crimes wherever the facts allow.

"Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner gave their lives while struggling to advance the cause of civil rights for all. Though the reinvestigation into their heinous deaths has formally closed, we must all honor their legacy by forging ahead and continuing the fight to ensure that the founding promise of America is true for all of its inhabitants."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.




Haiti - Security : Spain does not recommend to travel to Haiti





The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Spain, does not recommend to travel to Haiti, except for reasons of extreme necessity and recommend reading its travel advisories carefully "[...] the end of the mandate of the Interim President of Haiti June 14, 2016 and the serious political situation of uncertainty in the country, increasing the possibility that in the coming days and weeks will produce potentially violent demonstrations or protests in the streets of Port-au-Prince and other Haitian cities. Therefore, any displacement in Haiti is not recommended except for reasons of extreme necessity.



[...] The political, economic and social instability that Haiti has in recent months moved to the streets in the form of demonstrations of violent nature. The itineraries of the latter are unpredictable so it is recommended to exercise caution when traveling and pay special attention to the media, especially radio.



[...] If possible, in your displacement out always accompanied. By car, keep a minimum safe distance from other vehicles to be able to maneuver in case of attack"



HL/ HaitiLibre


















GULFPORT, Mississippi -- A man drowned Sunday after diving into the Mississippi Sound Sunday evening in front of the Island View Casino in Gulfport.

According to multiple media reports, 49-year-old James Lewis dove into the waters near the casino and never resurfaced.

Divers from the Gulfport Fire Department recovered Lewis' body around 6:30 p.m. after an hour-long search. The Department of Marine Resources and U.S. Coast Guard assisted in the search.

Harrison County Coroner Gary Hargrove ruled the death an accidental drowning.

This marked the second tragedy surrounding Island View in the last week. Last Wednesday night, a man committed suicide jumping off the top floor of the casino parking garage.




Haiti - Education : A new francophone university meta-Portal





Friday in Bamako (Mali), the Francophone University Agency (AUF) presented at the closing of the 2nd Summit of Francophone Ministers of Higher Education on the Digital Development of the Francophone University space the meta-portal "iDNEUF" designed to facilitate the capitalization and mutualisation of French university teaching resources while fostering greater access to all students, teachers, researchers and public in training.



This meta-portal, realized thanks to the expertise of the University of Valencia (France) and Teluq (Canada) offers free access resources, obtained from voluntary contributions from members of the francophone university community, which share resources of all types: courses, examination exercise, scientific paper, lesson plan, etc...



The user of the meta-portal can find a resource for : to train, teaching, access to user guides, identify a training, or consult an events calendar on digital.



After a first collection campaign the meta-portal provides access to date to nearly 40,000 digital resources.



To access the meta-portal : www.idneuf.org/



Note that Jean Beauvois Dorsonne, the Minister of National Education, accompanied by Ralphson Pierre, specialist in Digital Technology participated in the summit of two days, which brought together more than 30 Ministers of Education and Higher Education. A summit which allowed exchanges and reflections on digital technology, now considered as indispensable tool for the continuous improvement of the learning process.



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - Elections : The CIEVE recommends disabling all CIN of Haiti





In its report the Independent Commission for Electoral Evaluation and Verification (CIEVE) (page 31 et 31)

having found that the budget for the National Identification Office has not allowed it to keep updated the lists of citizenship, including by the withdrawal of cards of the deceased, find it unacceptable that the CIN of dead people never having be disabled, could be used fraudulently by "dishonest citizens who pay the luxury to vote more than once" without owever, quantify its assertion...



Following this, the CIEVE recommends that a radical solution whose multiple aspects are difficult to apply :



Establish and verify a reactivation system of CIN across the country ;



Once this system in place and verified, disable all CIN ;



; Make the use of CIN compulsory for any banking transaction or collection of funds to transfer houses ;



Invites citizens to visit the reactivation posts before they can use again their CIN ;



; Articulate the connection between the Civil Status and ONI ;



Reintegrate the ONI to CEP.



Download the full report of the CIEVE : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/rapport_CIEVE.pdf



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17705-haiti-flash-a-study-of-the-eu-eom-reveals-of-manipulations-of-the-cieve.html



SL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Electoral Zapping...





2 days of Lavalas demonstration

The organization "Fos Delmas' base of Fanmi Lavalas, announced 2 days of demonstration on Monday 20 and Tuesday, June 21, 2016, to warn the badly elected of the 50th Legislature against any attempt to move in the logic of the attempted coup of PHTK and allies. Recall that "Fos Delmas" support the maintenance of the President Jocelerme Privert in power for the outcome of the 2015 electoral process.



The Presidency is not de Facto according Senator Bien-aime

For Senator Jean Baptiste Bien-Aime it is to the National Assembly that it is up to decide the fate of Privert, as provided in Article 7 of the agreement of 6 February. He contests the character de facto (in fact) of the Presidency of the country from June 14, specifying that issued from the National Assembly who owns part of national sovereignty, the temporary President is always investezd with the mission to organize elections.



CIEVE responds to the EU EOM

In a reply of technical arm of the CIEVE to the analysis of the report by the EU EOM https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17705-haiti-flash-a-study-of-the-eu-eom-reveals-of-manipulations-of-the-cieve.html which highlights some coarse manipulation and breach... says "[...] It is obvious that the behavior of the EU EOM has not prioritized the principles of electoral integrity [!] The EU EOM preferably has sought to defend the economic interests of donors who never hid their impatience to get it over with the Haitian electoral process [...]" it is unfortunate that the CIEVE does not contradict point by point the arguments of the EU EOM (if they are false), a silence that reinforces the claims of European experts...



Pitit Dessalin denounces the arrogance of Evans Paul

Volcy Assad, Deputy Secretary of the radical opposition platform "Pitit Dessalin" denounces the arrogance of the former Prime Minister Evans Paul and his allies https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-17772-haiti-politic-extension-of-mandate-for-privert-unconstitutional-according-to-evans-paul.html he describes as the main instigators of the current unrest...



The OCAPH calls for calm

In a note, Karl Jean-Louis, the Executive Director of the "Action Observatory's Citizen of the Public Authorities in Haiti" "(OCAPH), asked the representatives of the three powers and political parties that have elected representatives in Parliament, to launch a constructive dialogue immediately to find a solution to the crisis. Recalling that the crisis has negative effects on the socio-economic development of the country, the Observatory

asks the population to remain calm and asks it to avoid giving in violence.



Egoism and malice at the origin of the of the crisis

According to Pastor Clement Joseph, Secretary General of "Religions for Peace" and of the "Social Mission of Haitian Churches" (MisSEH) "The egoism and malice of protagonists" are the basis of the blocking of the current political situation in country.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Published on 2016/06/19 | Source

The best drama so far this year has to be "Descendants of the Sun". Not only did it cause a syndrome in Korea, but in China as well, and dramas that were released after "Descendants of the Sun" have also been on the upturn.

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KBS wasn't doing so well before "Descendants of the Sun" came along. Ku Hye-sun and Ahn Jae-hyun's "Blood", "Who Are You - School 2015", "Hello Monster", "The Eccentric Daughter-in-Law", "Cheeky Go Go", "Oh My Venus" and "Moorim School" stayed on one-digit records. They didn't do too well.

Even "Babysitter" couldn't help but lay low until Park Shin-yang's "Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul-ho", which set a record of 17.3%. It was even rumored to have been expanded but Park Shin-yang's schedule and other matters put that to a stop.

"Baek-hee is Back" came along next. It may seem like "Baek-hee is Back" is filling in for "Beautiful Mind" but it stirred some attention for itself with its comedy and inspiration. The four-episode drama ended with a two-digit record.

Dramas on Wednesdays and Thursdays weren't doing too well eighter. "Unkind Women" starring Chae Shi-ra and Kim Hye-ja and "The Merchant: Gaekju 2015" starring Jang Hyuk, Han Chae-ah and Kim Min-jung gained popularity for a bit but not enough. Then came along "Descendants of the Sun", a 100% pre-produced drama.

No one knew it was going to be such a hit. The collaboration of Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo was the hot topic for a while but no one expected Jin Goo and Kim Ji-won to become the next 'it' couple. The first episode started off with 14.3% and the sixteenth episode went up to 38.8%. Even the weekend specials rated in the mid 10s.

"Master - God of Noodles" seems like a recession but compared to other dramas, it's doing a good job. After "Master - God of Noodles", the line-up is one to look forward to. The line-up is as follows: Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy's "Uncontrollably Fond", Lee Sang-yoon and Kim Ha-neul's "Road to the Airport" and "Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth".

Jang Hyuk and Park So-dam's "Beautiful Mind" is coming up next and Park Bo-gum and Kim Yoo-jung's "Moonlight Drawn by Clouds" is also coming up next. "Moonlight Drawn by Clouds" is based on a famous web-novel.
Published on 2016/06/19 | Source

Korean society seems to be suffering from anger management problems amid a spate of assaults simply for looking at someone the wrong way or bumping into others in the street.

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According to the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office, the number of spontaneous assaults surged fivefold from 10,810 cases in 2004 to 71,036 in 2014.

Some 347 cases of involuntary manslaughter were registered in 2014.

The victims are often women, children and senior citizens. In one high-profile case, a 30-year-old woman in Suwon assaulted an elderly in his 70s without good reason. The woman said she kicked and struck the man with her handbag because he looked at her in a funny way. She later explained that she had grown angry after her clothing shop went belly up.

Ki Kwang-do at Daegu University said, "Spontaneous assaults are despicable since they target the weak, but most offenders face simple assault charges and end up getting off with light penalties".

Experts point to intensifying competition in society that leads to frustration and anger.

"Koreans have been inclined to bottle up their feelings, and this lack of experience in controlling emotions or urges is manifesting itself in spontaneous assault", says Yee Jae-yeol at Seoul National University.

And Lee Woong-hyuk at Konkuk University said, "People who are obsessed with the twisted notion that they must defeat others to succeed are expressing even minor grievances through physical force against the weak".
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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
BROOKHAVEN, Mississippi -- A Lincoln County jury has acquitted a school bus driver who was accused of pulling down a 10-year-old girl's pants.

The Daily Leader reports that jurors found Charles Davis not guilty Thursday on a charge of "touching or handling a child for lustful purposes."

He was arrested in September and indicted in November.

The girl testified that Davis pulled her pants and panties down and touched her legs.

Davis testified that they were "just playing around."

Defense attorney Robert Lenoir said the investigator led his client during a police interview, and that Davis' behavior was not consistent with lustful intent.

Davis had backed the bus into the girl's driveway with the windshield was clearly visible from the road, and called her parents when he realized nobody was home.
dont worry Ill take care of it

dont you f***ing understand

embezzled the account

found numerous/several errors/mistakes

give you a piece of the/my commission

Ill/I will work it out

I/Goldman Sachs/the firm/we will make up the losses

paying fees through the nose/a**/butt

split the difference

supposed to be the top/best financial company

you must/have to buy this stock

ails of Goldman Sachs automated email surveillance program have been revealed, providing an insight into how the financial giant keeps tabs on employee communications.CNBC obtained a full list of phrases that the compliance department flags for specific scrutiny. While this is an automated process, human staff later review the flagged emails and determine whether they signify a problem.The document itself was supplied by an anonymous source and contains 180 phrases flagged as potentially dangerous. While it was written in 2008  and Goldman Sachs has updated its terminology since then  it still offers a glimpse of how the big financial corporations track staff to ensure compliance.We deploy cutting-edge technology and exercise the utmost care to protect confidential information, secure data and provide high-end client service, a spokeswoman for Goldman Sachs told CNBC. The firms monitoring efforts reflect our commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.Attorneys for Goldman Sachs described the document as a lexicon of terms and phrases used by the firms compliance department for surveillance of the electronic mail of certain employees.One banking industry expert told CNBC that email monitoring was common in the financial sector.Its not just email, its about using key words to monitor social media as well. What the institution is trying to do is to flag activities that may be illegal or may represent insider trading.Employees from Goldman Sachs told the news outlet they were told beforehand that their emails were being watched. The system also warned staff if an email contained a swear word with the individual having to click a box showing they are aware of the expletive before the email can be sent.Examples of flagged phrases on the list include:The number of obscenity-linked phrases within the list was quite large with eight phrases using the f-word alone. This could mean the system flags a large number of emails, the banking expert said.Youre probably going to get a variety of false f-bomb positives that you don't want to explore any further.Given the list though, it is clear that employees were being watched for specific types of concerning behaviour  argumentative conversations, disputes over finances or certain general communications containing expletives.
Weekly Events at Lost Province Brewing Co.

Monday June 20

Family Night-Buy any regularly priced pizza and receive one free kids meal.

Wednesday June 22

 Off Beer and Wine Specials.

7pm-9pm Trivia Night: Beginning at 7pm, Lost Province will be hosting Trivia Night. Compete on your own or on a team! The competition gets started at 7pm so come a little early for a pizza and a pint and get your seat!

Thursday June 23

College Night and $3.00 Thursday-$3.00 pints on all Lost Province brewed beers (except high gravity).

7:30pm-10:30pm Live Music: Earleine. Born in Clarksville Tennessee, just 40 miles outside of Nashville, Earleine grew up immersed in musical culture. At 18 Earleine picked up the guitar, and soon began writing her own songs. Shortly after high school she moved to the piedmont of North Carolina and began playing shows with the musical duo Whiskey Pines, touring relentlessly around the region. In the past year, Earleine has moved to the mountains of Boone and struck out on her own, releasing her debut album Small Town Sober, and playing in venues across North Carolina. With many miles, and hard luck experiences already under her belt, Small Town Sober is a stunning autobiographical lament to living in a rural area, with nothing better to do than dink. In a struggle of self realization, Earlienes voice lingers with deep lustrous melodies over each track. Genuine and shockingly honest, Earleines account is mixed with poetic lyricism, and dreamy harmonies that seem to lift these hard time memories in to ephemeral realms. Inspired by indie Americana bands such as First Aid Kit, and Shovels and Rope her music displays influences from many musical genres, combining Country, Folk, Bluegrass, Pop, and Rock into an alluring dynamic sound.

Friday June 24

7:30pm-Closing Live Music: Analog Poets. Dedicated to providing Flow and Harmony thru Music, the Analog Poets are comprised of Keith McCutchen- Guitar, Jonathan Priest- Drums, and Ben McPherron- Bass.

Saturday June 25

7:30pm-Closing Live Music: Danny Whittington and A Killa Band. Jonathan Priest, Mike Runyon and Douglas James join Danny for some tasty R&B, and seriously groovin funk.

Sunday June 26

Lost Province Sunday: Residents of The Lost Province (Watauga, Ashe, Avery and Alleghany) receive 10% off food with verification of residency.

6pm-8pm Live Music: Carol Rinn. Carol Marie Rinn sings and plays melodies from the 30s and 40s. She trained in London, England at Rose Bruford College of Speech and Drama, studying both theatre and music and graduated with a BA(hons) degree.

Ranger Programs on the Parkway June 22-26

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Cone Manor  Milepost 294

10:30 am  Informal Upstairs Tour at Cone Manor

From 10:30-12:00, the second floor of Cone Manor will be open for a do-it-yourself tour. Rangers will be on hand to answer questions.

Thursday June 23, 2016

Cone Manor  Milepost 294

10:30 Childrens Hour

Activities may include storytelling, traditional games, and/or hands on simple crafts. An adult or older responsible attendee must stay with children in order for them to participate (best suited for ages 4  12)

Friday, June 24, 2015

Cone Manor  Milepost 294

10:30 am  Informal Upstairs Tour at Cone Manor

From 10:30-12:00, the second floor of Cone Manor will be open for a do-it-yourself tour. Rangers will be on hand to answer questions.

Saturday June 25, 2016

Cone Manor  Milepost 294

10:00, 11:00, 2:00, 3:00 -Upstairs Tours at Cone Manor

Ranger led tours of the second floor of the former home of Moses and Bertha Cone. Tour is approximately 45 minutes long and reservations are required. To reserve a tour: call 828-295-3782 or sign up at the NPS information desk at the Manor House. Reservations are accepted beginning at 10:00am Friday for the upcoming weekend only. No advance reservations, please.

Julian Price Campground Amphitheater  Milepost 296

7:00 p.m.  Wanted: Dead or Alive! Lets Decide

Insects are the most abundant lifeform on Earth, and whether you love them or hate them, you cant live without them, so come learn about what they do for the planet.

Approximately 45 minutes in length

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Cone Manor  Milepost 294

10:00, 11:00, 2:00, 3:00 -Upstairs Tours at Cone Manor

Ranger led tours of the second floor of the former home of Moses and Bertha Cone. See Saturday (above) for details.

Local Officers Boost Crisis Situation Skills

June 17, 2016  Twelve law enforcement officers from Caldwell, Watauga, Catawba and Wilkes counties are now better equipped to respond to people in crisis due to mental illness, alcohol or drug use or a developmental disability.

The officers completed 40 hours of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training from June 6 to 10 in Lenoir. Participating officers were: Thai Lee, Marshall Ruppard and Chief Scott Brown with the Lenoir Police Department; Justin English and Caleb Farrar with the Boone Police Department; Adam Whitley and Freddy Portillo with the North Wilkesboro Police Department; Josh Brewster, Grant Medlock and Jeff Drum with the Hudson Police Department; Anthony Horton with the Hickory Police Department; and Alexander Gaillard with the Granite Falls Police Department.

The training was provided at no cost by Smoky Mountain MCO (Smoky), a public managed healthcare organization. Partners included the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Lenoir Police Department, which sponsored the training. Chris Bumgarner, a Lenoir school resource officer, was law enforcement co-facilitator.

Chief Brown called CIT trainings life-changing experiences for all of us. Our goal is for 100 percent of our officers to be trained, so I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to personally participate in the most recent class. So many people are suffering through no fault of their own, and we are obligated to learn everything we can about how to help them  its our sworn duty. The law enforcement profession has embraced CIT as a better way to do our job, and I agree with that now more than ever. I only wish I could have had this training 30 years ago!

Smoky has trained more than 725 western North Carolina officers and first responders in CIT. The training helps participants better communicate with people with issues related to mental illness, alcohol or drug use or developmental disabilities and can increase both citizen and officer safety, help people get treatment and reduce arrests. Between 25 and 40 percent of Americans with mental illness will pass through the criminal justice system at some point, according to NAMI. The first CIT program  a collaborative effort among law enforcement, advocates and mental health communities  was established in 1988 in Memphis, Tenn.

About Smoky Mountain MCO

Smoky Mountain MCO manages public funds for mental health, substance use disorder and intellectual/ developmental disability services in Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties in North Carolina. Access to services is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-849-6127. Visit us at www.smokymountaincenter.com.

Shop Bare Essentials (Now Be Natural Market) to Support Womens Fund

Bare Essentials is now Be Natural Market , but is still a friend of High Country non-profits!

Shop any day in June and round up your purchase to support the Womens Fund.

Shop local, support local!

Be Natural Market

273 Boone Heights Drive

Boone, NC 28607

(828) 262-5592

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By Bob Garver

Pixar has an excellent track record when it comes to sequels, but for a minute there it looked like Finding Dory wasnt going to work. The aquatic adventure Finding Nemo came out all the way back in 2003; kids who grew up with it arent kids anymore. Maybe they had  forgotten about it? Aside from that, blue tang Dory (Ellen DeGeneres) made a good sidekick in the original, but was she really up for carrying a whole film by herself? No need for worrying, it doesnt take long to see that the film is a success on every level. You just have to look at the $9.2 million it made on Thursday night (on its way to a record $136 million weekend) to know that the film is a commercial success, and you just have to watch Dory in the first few minutes to know that its a creative one.

We first see Dory as a child in this movie, and whatever defenses you have against cuteness, she swims right past them. Her eyes take up half of her body, and her words and actions are fittingly precious. She and her parents (Diane Keaton and Eugene Levy) struggle together with her short-term memory loss, and theyre as admirable as can be. But Dory soon gets separated and cant find her way back. She grows up among strangers, fish with varying degrees of tolerance about her disability. Eventually she aligns herself with clownfish Marlin (Albert Brooks), and together they go looking for his son Nemo, with Dory forgetting that shes supposed to be looking for her own family.

Now its a year later and Dory is a member is Marlins family. Nemo (Hayden Rolence) is still in school and Dory helps out as a teachers assistant. A lesson in migration teaches the class that animals have instincts that lead them back to their families. Dory realizes that she must have a family, and slowly she starts regaining childhood memories. She sets off to find them, and Marlin and Nemo tag along, forever indebted to their forgetful friend, but sure enough they soon find themselves separated, trapped, and in danger.

The adventure leads them to a marine theme park, which at times resembles The Seas with Nemo and Friends at Disneys Epcot park. There they meet a colorful cast of supporting characters, including Hank the Octopus (Ed ONeil), whose secret shame is that hes a septopus, and who wants nothing more than to be shipped to a facility in Cleveland. Then there are whales Destiny (Kaitlin Olson) and Bailey (Ty Burrell). She has vision problems and he allegedly has hearing problems. They have to work together and push each other. A pair of sea lions (Idris Elba and Dominic West) are also scene-stealers, especially when theyre fighting off a third sea lion whos trying to usurp their favorite rock.

Pixar movies are known for working some serious subject matter into their zaniness. This entry doesnt contain as much loss as some other Pixar films (including Finding Nemo), but it deals a lot with frustration. Characters often feel frustrated when dealing with Dory, and Dory of course has to deal with the brunt of her memory loss. The frustration is captured in a sympathetic way, but the characters determination to overcome their unique obstacles teaches kids a good lesson about having patience with people who have disabilities, whether it be friends, family, strangers, or themselves.

The action and humor are exactly what youd expect from a Pixar movie. Compared to most kids movies, theyre excellent. Compared to other Pixar movies, theyre fine. I have a few nitpicks like how the gilled characters always find a container of water handy and some gags that I think are inferior versions of gags from the first movie (the teacher couldnt come up with a more elaborate migration song?), but theres a healthy amount of fun and creativity on display. More than anything, Finding Dory is a heartfelt movie with some heartpumping moments and some hearty laughs.

Three Stars out of Five

Finding Dory is rated PG for mild thematic elements. Its running time is 97 minutes.

Contact Bob Garver at [email protected].

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Today, His Holiness Pope Francis visited the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). This was the first papal visit to the WFP, and Pope Francis spoke of his support for the goal of eradicating hunger.

Zero Hunger is the second of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, adopted in September 2015, to guide global development efforts for the next 15 years. When one in nine people on the planet goes hungry, it is important to see leaders such as Pope Francis pushing for progress.

Pope Francis spoke to WFP staff at their headquarters in Rome, as well as via webcast to as many as 14,000 WFP staff members. In his address, he spoke of an information overload, brought to us by the various technologies at our disposal.

We are bombarded by so many images that we see the pain, but we dont touch it; we hear the weeping, but we dont comfort it; we see the thirst but we do not quench it. And in this way, many human lives turn into yet one more news story. One that will soon be replaced by another. While the headlines may change pain, hunger and thirst do not change. They remain.

He urges us to stop seeing hunger and poverty as statisticswe must denaturalize poverty.

Let us be very clear on this. A shortage of food is not something natural, it is not a given, its not something that is to be taken for granted, a self-evident fact. The fact that today, well into the twenty-first century, so many people are suffering hunger is due to a selfish and wrong distribution of resources, to the commodization of food.

He spoke on the connection between conflict and hunger, and the need to de-bureaucratize hunger.

We need true heroes, heroes to blaze the trails, to build the bridges, to open up channels and reach towards the faces of those who are suffering. The initiatives of the international community must be directed to this end.

And he offered words of encouragement to WFP staff.

Do not grow weary though at times the path may be tiring. Do not let the difficulties discourage you. Believe in what you are doing and pursue your goals enthusiastically. This is how the seeds of generosity grow and bear fruit and bear it abundantly. Grant yourselves the luxury of dreaming, we need people capable of dreaming to move these projects forward.

WFP is the worlds largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. WFP and Heifer International are both members of InterAction, an alliance organization of 180-plus NGOs around the world. We are proud to stand with them in the quest to eradicate global hunger.

Read more about Pope Franciss visit here.
Film asks whether we learned lessons from flood of 1916

South Depot Street near the Highland Hotel in Asheville is shown in the flood of 1916. PHOTO BY WILLIAM H. BARNHILL, Pack Memorial Library, Special Collections

Jennie Jones Giles recalls family stories about her forebears fleeing for high ground as the flood 1916 threatened their cabin on Brights Creek in Polk County. Drew Brannon remembers his grandfathers tales about chickens and livestock floating down the French Broad River near the family farm.

Related Stories

In Bat Cave, catastrophic landslides removed everything clear and clean in their paths, W.S. Fallis, of the State Highway Commission, said a month after making an extensive survey of flood damage. Everything moveable in their path was swept to the river below. Trees were absolutely denuded of every vestige of bark. Rocks were ground smooth. Buildings were carried away in an irresistible rush.

The imperative of the double-zero is bringing a flood of memories. The N.C. Division of Archives and History has produced So Great the Devastation, the name of both an exhibit and a 45-page book on the flood of 1916.

David Weintraub, an award-winning documentary maker, next week debuts his own hour-long film on the flood.

Ive done about 80 oral histories and one of the recurring themes is this flood that left an indelible mark on these families and cut branches off some family trees in some cases, Weintraub says. The documentary looks back and looks forward  and warns that weve learned no lessons from the 1916 flood and other big storms.



Boulders tumble down the mountain

Western North Carolina had already endured a rainy summer by early July, notes Giles, a former award-winning reporter and Heritage Museum director who teaches a course on Henderson County history at Blue Ridge Community College.

Then a tail end of hurricane hit and that caused all the rivers and creeks to flood, which is very normal for here, she said. Then we had another period of a lot of rain and then we got hit by the tail end of a hurricane that had come in from Charleston. So we had 10 solid days of rain by that time. There was nowhere for that rain to go since the rivers and creeks were already at flood stage.

Rainfall totals ranged from 14-16 inches in parts of Hendersonville to 22 inches of rain in 24 hours at Altapass, in McDowell County.

In Transylvania County, huge boulders that weighed tons were sliding down the mountain and landing in the Toxaway River and those huge boulders are still sitting in the river today, Giles says in the film. All those rocks and boulders you see down in the Rocky Broad are a result of the flooding in 1916.

In Bat Cave, Brown E. Huntley, who woke up to the terrible sounds of the flood at 1 or 2 a.m. Opening the door, he was confronted by a wall of rock, mud and wood that pushed the house right into the clutches of the flood, French Broad Hustler reported. Huntley lost his wife, Belle, and their adopted children, Bonnie, 7, and Fred Hill, 11, the newspaper reported. (The state Archives and History office reports a third victim in the family, Stacy, 14.)



They could no longer farm

Giless grandfather lived on Brights Creek in Polk County. She grew up hearing family stories about how the flood affected the people there.

They were so close to the creek that the water was rising so fast that they feared for their lives, she said. They walked all the way to Silver Creek Baptist Church for shelter and ended up staying there. The log cabin could be rebuilt. What they discovered the next spring when they went to plant was that all their topsoil had washed away. They could no longer farm.

Further up the mountain, in Asheville, the French Broad crested at 21 feet  17 feet above flood stage. The average width of the French Broad River was 381 feet. At the height of the flood the river was 1,300 feet across. Government reports at the time pegged property damage at $22 million, Giles said. That would translate, according a 2007 report, to $430 million.

Relief did come, from churches and neigbors. Congress appropriated $540,000, including $80,000 for seed. A state relief committee had raised $75,000 in donations three weeks after the flood. As state officials fanned out into the flood-ravaged mountains, they found widespread devastation.

C.E. Brooks, the chair of the state relief committee, informed Gov. Locke Craig via telegram that conditions were more serious than first reported in Hendersonville, adding that he had found 25 families in destitute circumstances.

While contemporary newspaper accounts reported a death toll as high as 80, the N.C. Archives and History research has confirmed 50. In Henderson County the victims of the 1916 flood were Bonnie Hill, 8, Fred Hill, 11, Stacy Hill, 14, and Belle Huntley, 28, of Bat Cave; and Isaac W. Connor, 77, and Catherine Freeman, 11 months, of Fruitland.



Osceola, Kanuga dams burst

Though not as hard hit as Bat Cave and parts of Edneyville, Hendersonville became an island surrounded by a lake in the flood of 1916 and no one could get in or out of town.

A report in August 1958 by Tennessee Valley Authoritys Division of Water Control Planning documented the biggest floods on Mud Creek, Bat Fork, Devils Fork and King Creek in Hendersonville.

The report cited contemporary accounts from the French Broad Hustler and Western Carolina Democrat on July 17.

Osceola Lake was the first to go, the dam breaking at 2 oclock Sunday morning, the newspaper report said. Nothing is left of the lake now but a small stream flowing through the center of where the big body of water used to be. The Kanuga Dam went down about 10:15 Sunday morning  and when the water got to Hendersonville the creek rose with amazing rapidity and soon Mud Creek was a veritable Mississippi, carrying bridges, lumber and everything that stood in its way on the crest of the water. the bridge on Kanuga Road at the foot of South Washington Street withstood the force of the water but many other bridges were washed away. 

Hicks Garren and Vernon Rogers had a narrow escape Saturday night, the newspaper reported. They had gone out after some pigs at the end of Depot Street and the rising water forced them to make to the trees where they clung from one oclock at night until 6 in the morning when they were rescued by parties in a boat.

Police stayed busy Saturday night going from house to house along Mud Creek warning residents to get out. At one place the people were still asleep when Chief Powers came into the house and at that time the water was about two feet deep on the floor in the bedroom.

Sixteen-year-old Carl Blythe remembered his mothers anxiety as floodwaters began to creep up near the towns sidewalks and roads, Jessica A. Bandel wrote in So Great the Devastation, the state-issued account. With her home only six blocks from Mud Creek, she had plenty of cause for concern for both her home and her family, sternly warning Carl to steer clear of the water. Against his mothers wishes, Carl snuck off to a nearby railroad trestle and watched the remains of drowned cattle, sheep, pigs and dogs speed down the creek and lodge against the trestle.



Family stories survive

Weintraubs film, Come Hell Or High Water, Remembering The Flood Of 1916, took shape over the past year as the calendar turned toward the 100th anniversary.

Eyewitness interviews were impossible.

Thats always difficult when youre trying to interview people that are all dead, Weintraub said. But there are all these family stories that people recall and we were fortunate to get an interview that had actually been done in the 70s of a survivor who was then in her 70s.

That would be Edna Huntley Pryor, who was 24 when the flood washed away the family home on the Middle Fork section of Bat Cave. A family taped her recollection of the event.

There were floods before 1916 and floods after, Weintraub points out. One hundred years ago, as the rainy summer slogged on, people recalled the flood of 1896.

When they were cleaning up from the flood of 1916, there was the flood of 1928, he said. After that there were major floods in 1940, 1977 and 1996. The remnants of hurricanes Frances and Ivan, on Sept. 1 and Sept. 9, 2004, one from the Gulf of Mexico, the other from the Atlantic Ocean, brought high wind, flooding and landslides. As recently as 2013, Henderson County farm agent Marvin Owings observed that no one alive has seen a summer so rainy.

In other words, theres no reason we couldnt again see a similar merger of weather systems or back-to-back tropical storms. And if we do, the result could be much worse.

Unfortunately, where one landslide has occurred in the past its likely to happen again, James Fox, the director of the National Environmental Modeling Center at UNC Asheville, says in the film. But we tend to be building on these scars. There is the larger danger for loss of life and property related to where the landslides are than where the floodplains are.

The potential for disaster is easy to find. Just look up.

Local people never built on top of the mountain, I guarantee you that, Giles says. Every local person I know drives around and says (of mountaintop homes) I wonder when that house is coming down?

Nature is always going to win, she adds. We can build roads and highways above the bogs and rivers and creeks. We can build bridges higher and higher and higher above our waterways and bogs. We can dredge our streams and creeks but some time theres going to come another summer of another heavy rain and were going to end up with two tail ends of hurricanes again and all the things that men did is going to be worthless.

* * * * *



Come Hell Or High Water: Remembering The Flood Of 1916 premieres at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 23, at Thomas Auditorium at BRCC. That show is sold out. Other showings are: BUNCOMBE COUNTY July 16- 1:30 PM - AB Tech, Asheville- So Great The Devastation: The Flood Of 1916 In WNC Symposium, music and our film (15 minute film only); POLK COUNTY July 23- 10:30 AM- Pacolet Area Conservancy at Anne Elizabeth Suratt Nature Center at Walnut Creek Preserve; MCDOWELL COUNTY August 6- 7:00 PM- Old Fort- Mountain Gateway Museum; TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY August 9- 12:00 PM- Brevard- Transylvania County Library, Rogow Room. For more information visit www.saveculture.org or by calling (828) 692-8062. The program is co-sponsored by the N.C. Humanities Council, the Henderson County History and Genealogy Center, Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy and Mountain True.
A teenager who broke her ex's new girlfriend's nose with a headbutt has been told she can avoid a criminal record if she carries out voluntary work in the community.

Rebecca Rafferty (19) had "underestimated her own strength" when she hit the girl in a row outside a nightclub.

Judge David McHugh said he would strike out an assault charge if the accused takes part in a restorative justice programme, carried out 20 hours of voluntary work and pays 300 to charity.

She must also write a letter of apology to the victim.

Rafferty, of Greenfort Lawns, Clondalkin, had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the victim.

Blanchardstown District Court heard the incident happened at Arc Bar, Liffey Valley on April 5, 2015, when the accused was 18.

Rafferty had been socialising when there was a confrontation between her and her ex-boyfriend outside.

The victim became involved and Rafferty headbutted her to the face.

Claim

Judge McHugh initially said he needed more information on what happened, as the victim's version of events contradicted Rafferty's claim that she had been felt intimidated and was in "defensive mode".

However, when the case came back before him, he was told the victim was sitting her Leaving Certificate and the prosecution did not want to cause her any more stress by interrupting her.

"It might make her more stressed at an already stressful time," defence barrister Jennifer Jackson agreed.

Judge McHugh said he had been the one who had asked the "hard questions" and made an issue of the disputed evidence "for the sake of justice".

Having reflected on it, however, he said he was satisfied "the defendant acted in the heat of the moment".

He noted that although the injured party was not present in court, there was a victim impact report.

Rafferty was somebody who had a "bright future", Ms Jackson said.

She was working for a fashion outlet where she was being trained to be a merchandiser.
Bob Geldof is planning a memorial event for his friend Jo Cox, who was shot dead on the street while campaigning in the Brexit referendum.

The Boomtown Rats frontman revealed that Jo's family was with him on the Thames River during his confrontation with Ukip's Nigel Farage before she was tragically killed.

Speaking at the Dalkey Book Festival, Mr Geldof said he planned to host a pro-remain event at Glastonbury this week, but had cancelled it out of respect for Jo and her family.

"We called off [the event] because of Jo Cox, my friend, so it was inappropriate," he said.

"We're going to do something in Trafalgar Square for Jo on Tuesday."

Mr Geldof has been vocal in his support for the pro-remain campaign in the UK, but said he had struggled to find bands or comedians for his referendum event at Glastonbury.

"I couldn't get a single band," he said. "They would not come out and say it because, weirdly, they don't want to be involved in politics."

One of the organisers, David McWilliams, said that he believed the Brexit referendum should go ahead this Thursday, despite calls for it to be cancelled.

Nasty

The economist was responding to a new petition to postpone the crucial vote in the aftermath of MP Jo Cox's death.

The petition on the UK's parliament website has garnered almost 50,000 signatures to cancel the Brexit Referendum this week - with the British government now obliged to issue a response to the petition, because it has reached more than 10,000 signatures.

It is on course to garner more than 100,000 signatures by Thursday's polling day - a quota which would ordinarily mean it should be debated in parliament.

Mr McWilliams said the referendum had brought about a "civil war" in the UK.

"It's been nasty," he said. "It's like a civil war. It's almost as if they're eating themselves up.

"It's been dragging on. If I were them, rather than postpone the referendum, I'd bring it forward to tomorrow.

"It shows you that Cameron, probably in a moment of weakness, suggested a referendum and has just unleashed incredible forces over there."

Mr McWilliams was speaking at the Dalkey Book Festival, where he was hosting a discussion on the prospect of Britain leaving the EU.

The festival attracted speakers like former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis and Harry Potter actor Michael Gambon.

Other attendees included RTE's Miriam O'Callaghan and Fair City actor Nick Dunning.

Meanwhile, more than 750,000 has been raised in support of the family of Jo Cox in just over two days. The money will be split between her favourite causes, as chosen by her family.
How the new hotel will look

A new 40m, 257-bed hotel in Dublin city centre has been given the green light.

The hotel, part of the Hodson Bay hotel group, will be built on a site on Dean Street, close to St Patrick's Cathedral in the Coombe.

John O'Sullivan, owner of the hotel group, said he hoped to have the new venture up and running within a year of final approval.

The four-star hotel is expected to employ up to 200 full-time staff.

The group - one of the last remaining hotel groups owned by an Irish family - previously stated that the new hotel would be operated under a franchise license with a major brand.

Due to their relationship with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, the new hotel is likely to be opened as a Sheraton.

The development - which will adjoin Fallon's pub, a protected structure - will range in height from three to six storeys. It will have 257 bedrooms, reduced from 263 as a condition of planning.

It will include a cafe bar/restaurant and meeting and conference facilities.

For years the group, set up by Mr O'Sullivan and his wife Mary in 1990, avoided the Dublin market due to the excessive costs of real estate in the city.

However, after earmarking the perfect site for a hotel near St Patrick's Cathedral, the group spent the past three years working on securing 10 properties in the area.

"It was a domino effect. When you had one secured you were never sure you were going to get the next one. It took a long time to secure them all," said Mr O'Sullivan.

Regeneration

The hotel boss believes the area is ripe for regeneration, with the planned DIT move from various premises in the area to Grangegorman, freeing up a lot of properties for redevelopment.

"The location is optimal. We're seven minutes' walk from Stephen's Green and less than that to Temple Bar. It has huge potential," he added.

The hotel group runs three hotels around the country - the Hodson Bay hotel, the Sheraton Athlone and the Galway Bay hotel, employing over 550 staff.

The group survived the recession with some forward thinking from its boss. In 2007, Mr O'Sullivan - concerned about a looming recession - prepared plans for a 30pc drop in business, increasing this to a predicted 40pc as the recession took hold. His predictions proved accurate.

"It was some wallop. I had 500 mouths to feed and it was 2013 before we saw the first break in the clouds.

"We focused on quality when everybody else was giving away product. We were basically one of the few family hotel groups that survived the recession," he said.

Mr O'Sullivan is eager to get moving on his latest project and is hopeful that any appeals can be dealt with quickly and successfully.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny was today due to meet with politicians from the north inner city about his plans to revitalise the area.

The meeting comes as pressure mounts on Mr Kenny over the specifics of the much talked-about task force.

Local representatives will meet the Fine Gael leader in Government Buildings as part of a series of meetings to tease out what can be done to tackle crime and inequality there.

However, Social Democrats councillor Gary Gannon said that people in the area wanted to hear about what the task force would entail.

"What I want to find out is what tangible actions will be taken, to either hear a plan or give an input into what the plan is for the north inner city," he said.

"It can't just be more press releases or meetings. Everyone knows what the issues are, they are long established."

The inner city task force was announced with much fanfare as a response to a wave of gangland killings that have plagued the area.

Former Lord Mayor Christy Burke said this meeting should be the last "fact-finding" exercise for the Government.

Action

"It's now a matter for the Taoiseach to prove himself, and the plan of action has to be put in place," Mr Burke said.

"I've spoken to several people who want to know what we are going to do now."

Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald said that she expected more detail on the plans for the inner city to be unveiled before the summer recess.

"Now it's about getting on with implementing a programme of support for that community," she said.

"We've identified a number of areas where support can be given and the Taoiseach has given his own full commitment to ensuring that this will be ongoing - both in the short and the longer term," she said.

"You can expect to see a whole range of initiatives in terms of that area in the coming weeks and months."

Today's meeting comes after the Taoiseach and six ministers met with local community groups and activists last week.

Joe Dowling, who works in Hope, a local drugs project, and also with the elderly in the area said he felt the meeting was "very positive".

"I thought he [the Taoiseach] was very genuine and sincere. He listened for over an hour and he summed it up well at the end.

"He said that he is going to oversee everything himself, and that gave me hope.

"Hopefully, it'll make a difference - that's all I hope for my community."
Watching the Uber/Lyft fight against the Hillsborough County PTC has been a front row seat to the old guard refusing to change.

The music industry died in 5 years. Blame it on Napster, but it was more about the Kingpins not wanted to change. Movies and TV are facing this, but seem to be adjusting better than the music industry did.

Newspapers blame Google and so much else on the fact that they just didn't want to figure out a service model. What they need is a newspaper subscription service like Rhapsody for Music or Amazon Prime for News. Micro-payments that get you into a dozen or so news outlets. Not enough people are going to subscribe to one newspaper, especially when the news is free on another site. If a bunch of newspapers got together, they could make it work. The Tribune Co or the Garnett company or Ziff-Davis or Time-Warner just haven't gotten out of the old product line thinking. It isn't about Time magazine. It is about the entire catalog. Just a thought.

CB Insights has this article about the 62 start-ups picking apart the hotel industry. AirBnB is Number 1. But once the hotels loose conventions, then it is over for hotels. Sites like eVenues and more events taking place at non-hotel locations will have an impact. [And when you pay $38 topark for a night in Atlanta, you start re-thinking that whole downtown hotel thing.]

Much of it is arbitrage. Uber and AirBnb are effective because (a) people need to earn more money and (b) people want to save money, even in the face of the uncertainty. That is arbitrage. It killed the long distance business.

Craigslist's free ads killed the classified business. Arbitrage.

When I mention innovation, I don't mean buy LinkedIn. I mean, adjust to the new sharing economy.

When Slack comes along and hits 2 million users daily in 24 months, any responsible executive in the UCaaS space HAS to investigate that. Use it. Try it. Incorporate some of that into your next version. Or lose.

The big problem that most software faces is that it is not as easy or as good as the iOS. That was what prompted Consumerization of IT and BYOD. This created havoc in the business world. All because most software deployments suck, fail, and are not adopted by users.

In this autopsy of the failure of Coin, Product Risk is big, which is why you need a Product Manager, someone who owns the product and is driving it to be competitive, relevant to its users, easy to use and more. Most products lack a Product Manager.

Newspapers lack more than a Product Manager. They lack a business model. They lack utilizing technology. Why is there a single front page? When I login why isn't it more like Amazon or Google News - and by that I mean relevant to me? Why aren't they curating stories along with social media like Storify? The St. Pete Times does an epic job when chasing a Pulitzer - like here, just a beautiful Medium-like layout for the story.

It seems we are all in a race for revenue, but forgot that to make and keep a customer, you have to offer a product that they want, trust and use.
WISE, Va.  Graduation is always a special event and marks the culmination of years of diligence and hard work. Ryan and Katie Clevingers graduation this spring was especially significant because the couple overcame seemingly insurmountable challenges and graduated together.

Going to college is no picnic. Late nights studying, early classes and the stress can be exhausting. Couple that with having to work full time and support a family, and the stress level multiplies.

Katie planned to go directly into college after graduating Clintwood High School in 2012. Ryan who graduated from Haysi High School in 2008, had no solid plans for the future.

I didnt have any direction, he said. I was immature and I didnt know what I wanted, so I didnt put any effort in, and that led me to believe that I wasnt very smart.

So Ryan secured a job as a corrections officer at the Keen Mountain Correctional Facility in Oakwood, Virginia, in February 2012.

I knew a week into the job that I had made a mistake as far as career choices, Ryan recalled.

He realized that he needed to go back to school, but the couple had just bought a trailer in Haysi. Ryan continued working at the jail for another six months before he was able to start classes at Southwest Virginia Community College in Richlands. He worked at the prison at nights and went to school during the day, often only catching a couple hours of sleep in his car in the parking lot.

Katie knew from the beginning that she wanted to teach, and enrolled in the preK-6 education program at UVa-Wise.

I was so happy when Katie came into my office for advising with that same eager, capable smile that I always remembered so well, said Jewell Askins, associate professor of education and then director of the teacher education program at UVa-Wise.

Askins had previously worked in public schools and taught Katie as a child.

Advising Katie was a joy, Askins said. She already had academic goals  she knew that she wanted to teach.

The couple continued to save money from financial aid refunds and tax returns so that Ryan could transfer to UVaWise. The couple could then move closer to the college and reduce their commute.

We sold everything we had, said Ryan. A Trans Am, a motorcycle, our Xbox and games, everything we could think of  and then we spent every dime of it to move the trailer up there.

In May 2013, Ryan quit the prison job and they packed up and moved to Wise. Both he and Katie got jobs at McDonalds and worked full time until fall semester, when they resumed classes.

As if their schedules werent hectic enough, in 2015, Katie got pregnant. She delivered their baby girl, Addison, in January 2016, at the beginning of the couples final semester at college.

I never really thought I wasnt going to get my degree until I found out I was pregnant and things kind of went up in the air, Katie said. So being able to have a baby a week into classes and still be able to graduate is pretty awesome  I was a little nervous there at the end.

With no family nearby and already operating on a shoestring budget, Katie and Ryan had to do all the babysitting themselves while each maintained a job and continued their classes. The couple juggled work and school schedules while taking shifts babysitting the newborn.

They struggled big-time, said family friend Misty Ramey. They didnt want anybody to do it for them  they wanted to do it themselves. They are a good inspiration to a lot of people and proved that you can reach your dreams.

Ryan recalls many times throughout college when he wanted to give up.

It was really hard to push through, he said. People said I was crazy to go back to school and I believed it. But I just wasnt going to be happy until I did it. I didnt know if I had what it took to graduate. I know I do now.

The couple graduated in May and even carried Addison across the stage with them at the commencement ceremony.

Katie is continuing work study with the education department at the college this summer. Starting in August, she will serve an internship at a local elementary school, which she hopes will lead to a full-time position.

Ryan currently does tech support for Crutchfields, which sells high-end audio equipment. With a degree in communications, he hopes to go into advertising or marketing, but hes leaving his options open and says his future plans depend on what opportunities become available.

Im really glad I stuck it out, he said. College opened up doors for me, just proving to myself that I could do it. I dont know what I will do next, but I know that I can do whatever I want because Ive already proved to myself that I can set a goal and achieve it.
PRESIDIO, Texas  A roadside memorial south of Balmorhea includes a metal sculpture of a horse in jaunty pose, a rusty cutout of a dozen steeds in full gallop and an old ranch saddle astride a cottonwood log.

Visitors have left more than 100 cards on the fence, each with the same poignant message: "Dedicated to all the slaughter-bound horses, burros and mules that have been hauled down this highway on their last ride."

Their ride down Texas 17 in crowded stock trailers includes a stop at the stockyards in Presidio, where they are weighed and inspected before continuing south into Mexico.

"Their nightmare journey begins when they enter the slaughter pipeline at the auction house. My ultimate goal would be to keep them all out of those 'kill-buyer' trailers," said Neta Rhyne, 65, of nearby Toyahvale, who erected the memorial last year.

Nearly a decade after the last three horse slaughterhouses closed in the United States  including two in Texas  the trafficking of American horses for slaughter continues and the controversy burns as fiercely as ever.

In 2014, it flared anew when a legislative loophole prompted efforts to open slaughter operations in Oklahoma, New Mexico and elsewhere. That opening since has closed, leaving foreign slaughter the only option.

Since 2007, almost a million American horses have been sent to Mexico and Canada to be killed, butchered and exported to Europe and Asia, where local palettes find the meat a delicacy. A small amount of meat is returned to the U.S. to feed zoo animals.

Last year, the U.S. exported almost 75,000 slaughter horses to Mexico, through Presidio, Eagle Pass, El Paso and New Mexico, and another 40,000 to Canada, the San Antonio Express-News (http://bit.ly/1UwpHoZ) reported.

But in the land of Trigger, Black Beauty and My Little Pony, there is a deep aversion to killing and eating what many consider a national cultural icon.

"Public opinion is on the side of the horses," said Holly Gann of the Humane Society of the United States. "National polling in 2012 showed that 80 percent of Americans oppose horse slaughter for human consumption."

Opponents, some of whom see the horse as a noble, companion animal, claim the practice of shipping them long distances, with little state or federal oversight, often involves abuse and neglect.

Others, however, say that the roughly 130,000 or more horses exported each year represent an unwanted domestic surplus, and that slaughter, even in Mexico where it can be less than humane, is better than neglect and abandonment at home.

Many of the horses acquired at auctions and shipped by "kill buyers" are young and in good health. And with horse rescue groups already overloaded, there is no obvious way to absorb more unwanted animals.

Repeated legislative attempts to halt the practice have failed since 2006, when the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act was first introduced.

A bill pending in Washington takes a different approach. HR 1942 would declare horse meat unsafe for human consumption because of drugs given to the animals, and also prohibit transportation of horses for human consumption.

If passed, the bill, now lingering in committee, would end horse slaughter.

But for some animal welfare groups already struggling with too many unwanted horses, the prospect of 100,000 or more new animals materializing, year after year, is alarming.

"It's a terrifying question from a horse rescue person's perspective. I don't know what would happen. We would be flooded and we're already flooded," said Jennifer Williams, president of Blue Bonnet Equine Humane Society in Austin.

"I think over the course of 10 to 15 years, maybe fewer, it would stabilize. People would realize they don't have a low-end option to dump all the foals they breed that have no purpose, but that would take time. Horses can live 25 to 30 years," she said.

For tens of thousands of horses a year, the dusty stockyards east of Presidio, an isolated border city south of Marfa, are the last stop on the way to slaughterhouses in Ciudad Chihuahua and Zacatecas, Mexico.

For most horses, the layover in Presidio is brief: After being inspected by Mexican veterinarians and weighed, they're reloaded on trailers and sent south on the final leg of the ride.

On a recent morning, about 170 newly arrived horses waited in the pens at the Baeza Cattle and J&R Horse lots, nibbling hay and oat straw.

To the untrained eye, almost all appeared in good health, with only a handful showing signs of aging, neglect or minor injury.

In the subsequent inspections by veterinarians, only one horse was rejected, lot operators said.

"The most common reason for rejection is wounds. The second is ticks. If they can't walk or are sick, they are rejected," said Dr. Fernando Trujillo, one of three veterinarians who inspected horses that day at the two lots.

Other horses, Trujillo said, can be turned back because of irregularities in the paperwork and their microchip information.

"Overall, the quality of the horses has improved over the last five years," he noted.

Horses rejected by Mexican inspectors must stay behind in Texas, and, having suddenly lost most of their commercial value, can be returned to their owners or face a still more uncertain fate.

Five years ago, 46 carcasses were found in a creek bed behind C4 Cattle Co., which went defunct. The illegal dumping prompted an investigation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, although no citations were issued.

Earlier that year, an animal welfare group complained about hundreds of starving horses and cattle in the Alvarado pens.

The county sheriff concluded the animal cruelty claims were unfounded but sequestered 300 hungry horses until their owners could claim them.

This spring, as first reported in the Big Bend Sentinel, Presidio was forced to confront an extraordinary surge of large animal carcasses being brought to its municipal landfill.

In 2012, city officials say, 12.5 tons of dead horses and donkeys were disposed of there. Over the next three years, 330 tons of carcasses  representing about 1,000 dead animals  were dumped, almost all by the exporters.

City officials said the longstanding charge of $22.50 a carcass is much too low and that the life expectancy of the small landfill is being shortened by the flood of large dead animals.

"Very few other places have this problem. It was really created by the USDA stopping the butchering of horses in the United States. So that forced them down here on the border," said Brad Newton, Presidio's economic development director.

Each dead horse, he said, requires a large hole and 3 feet of dirt cover, while normal trash needs only 6 inches. The space taken up by each dead horse could hold $200 worth of compacted trash.

"I guess the people who were trying to protect the horses actually made things worse for them. These are not Presidio horses, we're just the end of the trail," he said.

After much haggling with the horse pen operators, the City Council last month approved an increase in the dumping charge to $60 for the first eight horses delivered each month, and $70 each for all beyond that.

The reason for the dramatic 10-fold increase in dead animals in Presidio remains unclear.

Ruben Brito, who runs the J&R Horse pens east of town, which in November alone dumped 75 animals, attributed the sharp rise to normal attrition during a period of very high volume.

In November, J&R shipped 110 loads of horses  representing about 3,300 animals  to Mexico. All told, J&R disposed of more than 400 dead horses and donkeys in 2015, according to city figures.

"I have been accused of being a horse-killer," said Brito, who has had confrontations with animal protection people on his lot. "The thing that bugs me is they accuse me of all kinds of things, but it's all just a game to get people to send more money."

He said the horses end up in Presidio because they're apparently unwanted elsewhere.

"What are you going to do with these horses here?" he asked.

Pointing to a large black and white paint leaning curiously over the pen fence, he noted: "This mare has never been ridden. Look at its shoes. It's gentle but it's not broken, and its never been bred. Who is gonna buy this horse?"

Motioning to another, a stout gelding with numbers branded into its hip, he said, "That's a rodeo horse, but if you don't buck, what then? It's like everything else."

And because the nearest veterinarian is an hour and a half away, if an injured horse must be euthanized, it gets a bullet in the head, a practice some others have found shocking, he noted.

"We've got too much regulation, too many goody-goodies. You can't be a rancher without having a lawyer by your side," he complained.

The other currently active operation, Baeza Cattle, is far smaller and disposed of only about 50 animals last year, the city's figures show.

"If a horse is broke down, if it can't make it into the truck, you have to put it out of its misery," said Salvador Baeza, most of whose business is importing cattle from Mexico.

"I'm not in the horse business. I never buy horses. I never own horses," he said, adding he merely provides a temporary way-station at a charge of $6.50 a horse.

"Our suppliers send us good horses. Do you see horses that have been mistreated?" Baeza asked. "Anytime you put horses in a trailer they can get hurt."

Brito said that lately, the horse traffic to Mexico has slumped significantly.

"We were doing 15 to 20 loads a week, but now were down to seven or eight. It's the devaluation of the peso," he said.

Last year, the number of horses exported to Mexico dropped by about 20,000 to just under 75,000. This year, the pace of exports is even slower, with only about 25,500 horses exported through May.

One reason for the slowdown was a move last year by the European Union to stop accepting horse meat from Mexico. It acted over fears of drug contamination and claims by activists of cruelty and neglect.

The decision came after a welfare group called Animals' Angels, which regularly does on-the-scene investigations of the trade, from the auction to the slaughterhouse in Mexico, shared its findings with the Europeans.

Its reports, which sometimes include graphic photos of badly injured, starving or abused animals, include accounts of visits made to the border stock pens.

"The Presidio slaughter horse export pens in Texas have a long, sordid history of violating environmental laws, illegal carcass dumping and animal cruelty," Animals' Angels wrote in one recent assessment.

In late 2014, Animals Angels' submitted a thick report to the European Union detailing abuses and possible contamination by pharmaceuticals of horse meat processed in Mexico.

"We flew to Brussels and I met with the European Commission myself," said Sonja Meadows, founder of the Maryland-based group.

"We showed a video of our findings for the past seven years. We gave them a 100-page report highlighting the transport issue and the food-safety issue," she said. "I could see they were truly appalled and surprised at the amount of cruelty they saw. I think it kind of caught them by surprise."

In early 2015, the EU, which had also sent its own inspectors to Mexico and the U.S., including to the stock pens in Presidio, imposed a ban on horse meat from Mexico.

Noting that 87 percent of the Mexican horse meat came from U.S. horses, the final report cited "animal welfare problems" and a lack of confidence in the system designed to ensure the animals have a clean drug history.

"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not take responsibility for the reliability of affidavits issued for horses originating in the US, and the FVO audit team found very many affidavits which were invalid or of questionable validity," read the report.

Where Europe had regularly imported most of the horse meat produced in Mexico, that market has vanished. Now, Mexican horse meat is believed to be going elsewhere, and consumed domestically.

"We have found they have shifted to the Russian market, and some to Vietnam," Meadows said.

Despite its nearly 200 co-sponsors, and fervent support from the Humane Society, ASPCA and other animal welfare groups, HR 1942, the so-called Safeguard American Food Exports Act, appears mired in the political mud of Washington.

Nevertheless, ASPCA vice president Nancy Perry said, the bill has brought progress in the public and political realms on the underlying issue.

"The administration has been overtly supportive of a ban on horse slaughter. (Hillary) Clinton has an animal welfare platform that includes a prohibition on horse slaughter. It just hasn't been part of the dialogue at that level before," she said.

And, she said, the ASPCA is convinced that millions of Americans would adopt horses if they were no longer being exported for the benefit of the horse industry.

"Yes there would be disarray and chaos, but the horses would be better off. If we quit incentivizing overbreeding and discarding horses, the market would adjust to the circumstances," she added.

But some groups that oppose the bill believe it would create bigger problems.

"It's strictly an animal welfare issue for us," said Ward Stutz of the American Quarter Horse Association, which, along with the Farm Bureau of America and others opposes HR 1942.

"What do you do with all those horses if that act should pass? I just think the potential for abandonment and neglect is much greater," Stutz said.

Things probably were better for horses before the closures of the domestic slaughter plants effectively ended oversight by USDA inspectors of the industry, he said.

"For both sides, the humane treatment of horses is paramount. It's just that some don't agree that a horse should be euthanized and processed for food," he added.

Even the American Veterinary Medical Association opposes a legislative ban on horse slaughter without adding protections for the surplus, unwanted horses.

An operator of a North Texas horse auction, who has been involved in the business for 30 years and has sold thousands of horses to the "kill buyers," says the current impasse will likely continue.

"I think nothing is going to change about this situation. There are people who want horse plants back in the States. That is not going to happen," he said. "There are people who want to stop the horses from going to Mexico and Canada. That is not going to happen."

The auctioneer, who asked that his name not be used or business be identified, said the issue has become an untouchable third rail for politicians.

"It's too controversial. No one will vote for it. No one will vote against it. It doesn't matter which way they go, people are going to be upset. So, these bills will continue to lay there," he said of pending legislation.

The closing of the U.S. slaughterhouses in 2007, the economic crash of 2008, and the multiyear drought that followed all have conspired to force the price of horses to record lows, he said.

"They went from about 60 cents a pound to about 20 cents a pound. Now we are running into a shortage of horses. We are lower than anytime in 15 years," he added of market bottom horses.

Mostly, he said, he just wishes the whole thorny issue, which is bad for business, would just go away.

"We need this deal to quiet down as much as possible. There's a lot of rescue people who come and buy horses, and we're OK with that. Anyone is welcome. We sell to the highest bidder and we want the highest prices possible," he added.
The best Penn State personality? Check out what the punter did now ...
You may be looking at the presidential nominees of the two major parties, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, and saying to yourself: No thanks. But if

thats the case and you start looking at candidates from other parties, what will you find when it comes to their positions and records on education?

Here are some answers for several notable presidential hopefuls from other corners of the political landscape:

Gary Johnson

The Libertarian Partys nominee makes it clear on his official campaign website: He believes there is no role for the Federal Government in education. He would eliminate the federal Department of Education, and return control to the state and local levels. That position puts him on the same page as a lot of the GOP presidential candidates who took their shot this year. However, the Washington Post recently said Johnsons claim that the strings attached to federal K-12 money are more than the moneys worth is off the mark.

Johnson also notes his opposition to the Common Core State Standards because he doesnt want to impose national standards and requirements on local schools. (The common core was adopted by states, although Washington has offered incentives in the past for its adoption.)

And he wants more flexibility at the state and local level, a position that might make him friendly to the Every Student Succeeds Act (a law he doesnt mention on his website).

Forbes magazine had a nice run-down of some of Johnsons public statements about education . For example, heres Johnson in 2000 talking about his ultimately unsuccessful pitch while New Mexicos GOP governor (from 1995 to 2003) to replace the states traditional public school system and funding methods with vouchers:

The momentum is clearly in the direction of people saying, You know what? Weve got to give vouchers a chance. There is something to this. This makes sense. It has become a campaign issue because people recognize its a no-lose proposition: The voucher is redeemable at public schools, so what is there to lose? Other than some really bad schools that wont be in existence any longer.

Brandon Wright at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute also has a round-up of Johnsons public comments on K-12 .

Meanwhile, the Libertarian Partys vice presidential nominee, William Weld, might be familiar to readers from his time as governor of Massachusetts. In terms of education policy, Weld might be most famous for signing the Massachusetts Education Reform Act in 1993 . The law had a significant impact on the states approach to standards, testing, accountability, K-12 finance, and more.

Jill Stein

The Green Partys choice for the presidency in 2012, Stein, a physician, is the partys presumptive nominee this year, but hasnt officially sewn up the nomination.

On Steins website, her K-12 platform is straightforward: End high-stakes testing and public school privatization. Her opposition to such testing was also part of her 2012 platform . Four years ago, Stein also opposed using merit pay to punish teachers.

In an excerpt of a July 2015 interview with ontheissues.org and quoted by Ballotpedia, Stein elaborated a bit more on her position on testing:

In general, high-stakes testing is more than counterproductiveit is destructive. It is used as a political tool against teacherstargeting low-income and people of color. Our educational system should target lifetime learningwith full and equitable funding; and eliminating disparities by race. Testing for diagnostic purposes as part of standards [is OK, but we should have] curriculum written by teachersnot by corporate contractors.

And like in 2012, Stein wants to get rid of student debt and make college tuition-free.

Tom Hoefling

Hoefling is the American Independent Partys nomineethe party has caused some confusion among some voters who believe they are registering as independent, non-affiliated voters.

The issues section of Hoeflings website doesnt have anything devoted specifically to education. However, elsewhere on his website, Hoefling, who ran unsuccessfully for Iowa governor in 2014, noted his opposition to the Common Core State Standards. Hes also a supporter of what he calls T.L.C. or True Local Control of schools. In a 2014 blog post, he wrote: It makes no practical sense to keep sending our education dollars to Des Moines, and to Washington, D.C., so that they can run those dollars through a huge bureaucracy, before they send a fraction of our money back to us with strings attached.

When we looked at Hoefling in his 2012 presidential run, the candidate also said the federal government has no role in education except when it comes to educating the children of those in the military.

Emidio Mimi Soltysik

The Socialist Party USAs nominee for president, Soltysik lists the partys education platform on his website . Some of the platforms general themes jibe with Steins when it comes to K-12. Soltysiks platform includes the following points:



We oppose merit pay for teachers, standardized testing, competition between schools within the same district, the sale of on-campus advertising in order to raise funds, and the increasing dependence of post-secondary institutions on corporate funding.



We call for an egalitarian educational system with teaching methods that accommodate the wide range of teaching and learning styles, and that provides all students with the means to obtain the post-secondary education they desire. We call [for] a maximum of 15 students per teacher for grades K-12, and a maximum of 50 students per teacher at the post-secondary level.



We support student, parent, and teacher control of curriculum formation, and in the hiring and dismissal procedures of school personnel, through the formation of local school/community committees.

Darrell Castle

Castle, an attorney, is the nominee of the Constitution Party, which strongly opposes the common core. Heres a section from the partys website about the standards , and its general dislike for Washingtons involvement in K-12:

The Constitution Party Supports the PARENTAL RIGHT to provide for the education of their children, and affirms the free-market principles of improving education through non-traditonal options such as internet-based schools, charter schools, religious, and private schools, as well as home-based schooling.

The Constitution Party Opposes any federal control over the education of children.

The Constitution Party calls for the elimination of the federal Department of Education, as well as a repeal of any federally-supported programs such as Common Core, No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, etc. There is NO CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION that empowers the government to provide for, or regulate, the education of our children.

The partys website also links to a video criticizing the government-mandated common core . (The standards have been backed, but not required by President Barack Obamas administration.)

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .
What Is Prosecutorial Misconduct?

Few people have the privilege of seeking truth for a living, but prosecutors do. They are, in theory and often in practice, the guardians of justice. If there is evidence that a person committed a crime, a prosecutor can pursue a case. If not, it is their job to drop it.

Once a case is filed, prosecutors must share relevant evidence with the defense. That's the law, not just a nice thing to do. But sometimes prosecutors want to win convictions rather than pursue justice, and a case at the US Supreme Court this month, Brown v. Louisiana, illustrates this callous approach to truth. Let's take a look at prosecutorial misconduct.

Blind Justice

According to many legal scholars, Louisiana prosecutors consistently fail to meet their obligations to defendants to turn over all relevant evidence. In Brown, evidence that an inmate was not responsible for killing a guard during an escape was never given to the defense and Brown's attorneys only learned of the report after trial, when it arose as evidence in another defendant's hearing.

Under the rules of criminal procedure, defendants are expected to have access to relevant evidence -- a prosecutor cannot decide to hide exonerating proof just because that complicates the case and makes a conviction harder to obtain. Brown, the defendant in question here, was known to be involved in an escape but denied killing the guard or planning to hurt anyone, yet a report that corroborated his claims was never turned over and he was sentenced to death. So why didn't State Attorneys hand over the evidence supporting his defense?

Mission Confusion

It's not the first time Louisiana State Attorneys have been accused of an overzealous approach to conviction. They appear to be less interested in justice than wins. The problem with this prosecution style is that it undermines the whole criminal justice system. What's the point of punishing a bunch of people without proving the case?

It provides good data maybe, a record of wins, but it calls into question the validity of all convictions. Even if you don't care too much about Brown, who was already in custody and trying to escape, his case signals bigger problems.

For a justice system to provide at least the appearance of fairness, its guardians must seem just, and we the people must be able to trust them.

Accused?

If you have been accused of a crime, don't delay. Speak to a defense attorney. Many criminal defense lawyers consult for free or a minimal fee and will be happy to assess your case.

Related Resources:
Shannon Kirkley of New Jersey was arrested in Wesley Chapel, Florida, after hiding a number of LEGO sets in a toy treasure box, and paying only for the box. Kirkley admitted to having pulled variants of this caper across the country.

Via a FOX affiliate:

A man suspected of stealing thousands of dollars worth of Star Wars Lego items from Toys R' Us stores across the country was arrested Tuesday in Florida.





"(Kirkley) put up a fight, but was eventually taken into custody," Melanie Snow, a sheriff's spokeswoman, said in a release.

Kirkley admitted to similar thefts across the country, investigators said.
Science book author extraordinaire Mary Roach has a new book out called Grunt: The Curious Science of Humans at War.

Recently, she took to the streets of New York ask people the meaning of five bits of military slang: grunt, chest candy, snot locker, galloping dandruff, rectal cranial inversion. I guessed all five correctly!
This domain has expired. If you owned this domain, contact your domain registration service provider for further assistance. If you need help identifying your provider, visit https://www.tucowsdomains.com/
Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin's specialty are avant-garde films that use the techniques of silent cinema to disorient the viewer. He's good at it. I was first introduced to his work in Tales of the Gimli Hospital, fine viewing for a dark night in an isolated location. His work is never "easy," and requires patience and interest. Maddin's latest project is something unique in the history of cinema, and only made possible by access to it on the Internet. Maddin introduces Seances:

"Almost every director working in the first halfcentury of film history has lost at least one film to the quirks of fate. These lost works remind me of ghosts. It's easy to equate these films long gone missing, which exist forensically only in the form of a few production stills and some old Variety reviews, as restless spirits that haunt us. The landscape of cinema history is thronged with their likes, tormenting us with their promise of a return, of their warm refulgent brilliance restored to us, as in a miracle. There will never be the kind of closure the discovery of a dead body can bring to a family. These films will never be declared dead with any certainty, they will continue to haunt us with the possibility of their return. These lost film titles are the 'hauntings' we hope to invoke with Seances."

Seances, co-created with Evan Johnson and Galen Johnson, is experimental cinema for those who like drifting into a madhouse reverie, a strange almost hellishly-inscrutable dream from which there is no waking. It's an endless hall of mirrors. No escape because there's no exit.

Technically, Seances is web-based avant-garde cinema art consisting of a large number of short silent films set to music, which are intermixed at random in bits and pieces by computer algorithms. Maddin shot the films, sometimes one each day, at the Phi Centre in Montreal and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, with the participation of actors such as Charlotte Rampling, Geraldine Chaplin, and genre favorite Udo Keir, among many others.

What's most fascinating to me about the project is that when you visit the SEANCES website, it opens and fills your computer monitor. An odd title appears center screen, undulating, and then suddenly it changes to a different title. Sometimes the new title is completely different, other times only a few words change. When you click and hold down your cursor it's as if a roulette wheel is spinningwhatever film is generated is usually a different length, with a title selected apparently at random, with scenes plucked willy-nilly and shown in an order that changes with every viewing.

The movie you watch will never be seen by anyone else, nor will it exist after you are finished viewing it. I've sneakily captured two of these below.

When you're ready for the full experience (whatever it may be) click here.

You can also watch seven of the separate films which comprise Seances on Vimeo.

Parts of Seances were eventually formed into a new somewhat less hallucinatory feature film, The Forbidden Room, which can be viewed here.

A behind-the-scenes video about the making of The Forbidden Room is fun.

The real focus of the project doesn't lie in a conventional feature like The Forbidden Room, but in the unexpected and unrelenting weirdness unleashed by the computer algorithms that create movies which exist for only the few minutes you watch them on the Seances website.

Read more about Seances and Guy Maddin's Work in The Guardian

Guy Maddin's Website

Via: Shock Till You Drop.
Print Intro: A collapse of the so-called Caliphate will trigger an exodus of trained mercenaries towards the lands they came from. Are we prepared to handle them?

At the annual director generals of police (DGPs) conference in the Rann of Kutch last December, Telengana police chief Anurag Sharma made a presentation before Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Lone Wolf attacks and the need to counter religious radicalisation on the Internet. While Modi tasked his counter-terrorism envoy Asif Ibrahim to sensitise the state police on religious radicalisation and its consequences, mowing down innocents by a self-radicalised jihadist like Orlandos Omar Mateen has been an old nightmare of all countries, including India, as anyone can turn into a walking time-bomb or a trigger-happy mass murderer at any given moment. It is evident that Mateens sense of victimhood drove him to identify the enemy, in this case the LGBT community, and then butcher them with a Ramzan call for violence against infidels by Islamic State (IS), giving legitimacy to his bloody purpose. It now comes to light that despite the US FBI interviewing the killer twice in the past, there were no red flags or alarms when Mateen crossed the threshold, notwithstanding Americas proven capabilities of monitoring the social media, Internet and technology to interdict or pre-empt any attack. Mateen succeeded because lone wolves do not communicate and, as a result, all the intrusive technology in the world is rendered ineffective. This is different from the Paris attacks in November 2015 and Brussels terror strikes in March, where there was structured target planning and the Islamic attackers were trained in Syria and Iraq.

With the so-called Caliphate of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi shrinking by the day due to coalition military efforts, it is not difficult to presume that lone-wolf attacks will increase in the near future. While Mateens macabre success was partly due to easy availability of semi-automatic weapons over the counter, the fact is that there is no dearth of assault rifles in India either, from Kashmir to Kerala. So what should India do to pre-empt lone-wolf strikes? The answer lies both within the internal security establishment and society at large. In India, intelligence collection is also part of the charter of the local police station, which is short-staffed and over-stretched in enforcing law and order and providing security to courts and VVIPs. The result is that 6,000-odd police officers and men of the anti-terror squad (ATS) in each state are tasked to monitor and pre-empt any strike in a country with population of 1.25 billion. Given that India technological capabilities are less than one-tenth of the US and British counter-terror apparatus, there is an urgent need to have more feet on the ground for collecting human intelligence. The fact is that with the US virtually controlling all the Internet servers, Indian counter-terror operatives sought American help to crack the IP address of a self-radicalised IS module planning to target the Ardh Kumbh festival in Haridwar in January this year. Without even the capability to intercept voice-over-internet-protocol calls, the Indian security establishment relies on 10-15 persons of the Special Operations Group (SOG) in each Intelligence Bureau unit in all the states to prevent any terror carnage.

Read: Youths missing in Iraq: Kin threaten to protest against Modi during Yoga Day event

The problem gets multiplied as there is hardly any functioning counter-radicalisation programme with central and state jails turning into hot-beds of religious fundamentalism. Arthur Road, Kot Bhalwal, Sabarmati, Yerwada, Lucknow, Jaipur, Tihar and Bhopal jails are full of radicals belonging to Pakistani terrorist groups, Indian Mujahideen (IM) and banned hardliners of Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). If the IMs explosive courier Babu Bhai is spreading jihad in Lucknow, SIMIs Safdar Nagori is spreading radical Islam in Sabarmati jail with impunity without any jail programme to counter this. As a section of the IM, particularly those belonging to Azamgarh and Bhatkal, pledged allegiance to IS, there are legitimate fears that religious radicalisation is going at a much faster pace than expected without Indian society unable to provide a counter-narrative. With IS fast spreading its tentacles in neighbouring Bangladesh, the Maldives and the Af-Pak region, India needs to be pro-active not only in the neighborhood but also in West Asia, the origin of the threat. As it is, no fewer than 35 persons of Indian origin are fighting on the side of IS in Syria and Iraq and the number of those radicalised over the Net is growing by the day and now in hundreds. The onus of taking on the IS ideology does not lie only on the Indian police or intelligence agencies but also on the clerics, community and, most importantly, the family.

Read: After breakthrough in Fallujah, Iraqi forces begin push towards Mosul

While the State needs to ensure that the majority in a minority community are not insecure, the clerics and community need to provide viable alternatives to this death cult by engaging the youth. The civilisational strength of Indian Islam and its rich heritage need to be propagated with the all-inclusive Sufi strain to counter the us versus them theory of IS. Both the community and the State need to cut the roots of so-called victimhood by ensuring through scientific investigations, not media trials, that innocents are not punished and the culprits do not go scot-free. In this context, it is incumbent on both to not let go of the half-baked religious debates on social media and other platforms unchallenged as this uninformed and motivated discourse is the crux of radicalisation.

Read: Stop preaching or youll be hacked to death: Dhaka priest gets death threat

Its time Muslim clerics in India engaged the youth to give them valid answers on why the IS ideology is not true Islam and why Indian Islam of mutual accommodation or the so-called grey zone is the only way out in democratic societies. In 2014, no fewer than 30,000 Muslims were attracted from some 100 countries to the so-called IS Caliphate as Hijrat with the lure of Dar-ul-Islam and civic order based on the Holy Book. Today, the IS empire is crumbling rapidly with coalition forces knocking on the doors of Raqqa, Mosul and Fallujah. A collapse of the so-called Caliphate will trigger an exodus of trained mercenaries towards the lands they came from. Are we prepared to handle these future time-bombs and lone wolves?

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Delhi Universitys St. Stephens College released the first cut-off list at 99% for admission to Bachelors of English (Honours) and once again, this has created a furore among DU aspirants. As the pressure on aspiring students mounts, celebs say that it is important to not lose hope and focus on the bigger goals of life.

Actor Vir Das feels that marks should not be the only criteria to get admission to a college.

Actor and standup comedian, Vir Das, says, I hope we dont get to a point where cut-offs surpass the normal body temperature. Colleges should not just make it about the marksheet, but also include other criteria such as extra-curricular activities as well while taking students. For TV host Manish Paul, attitude matters more than marks. Honestly, its not only about marks. Its about your education and how you decide to take things forward that matters, he says.

Manish Paul advises students to not get discouraged. (Shivam Saxena/HT Photos)

TV personality Raghu Ram, who himself is a college dropout, feels that marks dont matter at all. Dropping out was the best thing for me because I found myself. The days are gone when marks decided your career, he says. Always vouching for students who have scored fewer marks, Ram says he likes to call them unicorns. I am looking at kids who have passed with the bare minimum requirement to create the next Apple, he adds.

Raghu Ram tells students to have fun and travel.

Reiterating the fact that marks dont matter in deciding the direction of your life, director Kunal Kohli, had told us earlier, I was never academically inclined. I got only 42% because I was more into dramatics.

Director Kunal Kohli was never academically inclined. (Hindustan Times)

Actor Gulshan Grover adds, To students who are looking for admission now, I would like to tell them to not lose hope even if they dont make it to a college of their choice. Just be good at your craft and your future is in your hands.

Gulshan Grover tells students to be good at their craft. (Shivam Saxena/HT Photo)

The war just does not end at the cut-offs and getting into a good college. Many students are stuck in a tussle between college and course. Paul, says, Whatever you are doing, if you are doing it 200 percent, then the college doesnt matter. But if you are in the top college and not doing well in the subject, then the colleges name alone wont help. Das adds, Course is more important than the college. Students should stick with the subject they want to study and do well in that.

With this, we wish all the best to students.

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Days after the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) sent a notice to makers of Dhishoom for using a kirpan inappropriately in a song, the film finds itself in legal trouble.

A Chandigarh resident, Ravinder Singh Bassi, has lodged a complaint against the films director Rohit Dhawan, producer Sajid Nadiadwala and actor Jacqueline Fernandez for insulting religious sentiments, according to an India Today report. He has also named Sector 34 SHO and SSP Chandigarh as co-accused.

Read: Now Dishoom song is offensive

Dhishooms song, Sau Tarah, shows Jacqueline wearing a kirpan  Sikh ceremonial dagger  on her waist. The court has asked the complainant to produce primary witnesses and has set the hearing date for July 1, the report further said .

On June 15, DSGMC had objected to the use of kirpan through the letter. Sirsa, an office-bearer of DSGMC, said through the legal notice, the director has been asked to remove the video or re-shoot it sans the kirpan. The Sikh body has also demanded a public apology from Dhishoom makers within seven days.

Scheduled to release on July 29, the action-comedy is helmed by Rohit Dhawan and also features John Abraham in the lead role.

Watch the song here

Reacting to the complaint, Varun Dhawan said on June 16, Its not a kirpan. Its an Arabic sword which has been used and we must actually be having it, so we can show it. I am a Punjabi myself, and so is my brother (director Rohit Dhawan). So we would never do something like that. Its a misunderstanding.

Hindustan Times could not independently verify the report.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchans granddaughter, Navya Naveli Nanda, has been all over the internet ever since she graduated from the prestigious Sevenoaks School in London last month, along with Shah Rukh Khans son Aryan.

As the youngsters made the most of graduation day and then went vacationing, first in Thailand and then in India, we followed their life via their Instagram accounts.

We saw her in her uniform, in party mode and in beach wear.

Navya Naveli celebrates with the ladies as they all graduate.

Read: Watch Navya Nanda. On a vacation. With Aryan Khan. Dancing. In a bikini

Navya Naveli vacationed in Phuket before returning to India.

But once back in India, Navya went all traditional with her girl gang and we cannot take our eyes off her. Apparently, the girls attended a lavish dinner at Big Bs house, where they were decked up in Indian attire.

#tradition A photo posted by Navya Naveli Nanda (@navya__nanda) on Jun 17, 2016 at 6:05am PDT

Both Aryan Khan and Navya Naveli Nanda have been in the spotlight since their birth, and if rumours are to be believed, theyre both eyeing a career in the film industry.

Read: Navya Naveli and many more celeb kids attend Aryan Khans graduation bash

Navya Naveli made her public debut at last years prestigious Bal des Debutantes or Le Bal in Paris.


The government on Monday allowed 100% FDI in airlines and relaxed norms for overseas investments in brownfield airports.

The move comes less than a week after unveiling the national civil aviation policy.

Now, 100% foreign investment will be allowed in scheduled air transport service/domestic scheduled passenger airline and regional air transport service, an official release said.

Only non-airline players will be allowed to bring in 100% FDI in local carriers.

Under the new setup, 49% will be through the automatic route and for anything beyond, government nod will be required. At present, up to 49% FDI is permitted in scheduled airlines.

For NRIs, 100% FDI will continue to be allowed under the automatic route, the release said.

However, foreign airlines would continue to be allowed to invest in capital of Indian companies operating scheduled and non-scheduled air-transport services up to the limit of 49% of their paid-up capital and subject to the laid-down conditions in the existing policy.

However, maintaining the status quo, foreign airlines will be allowed to invest only up to 49% in Indian carriers.

The decision to relax FDI norms was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday.

With regard to airports, the government has permitted 100% FDI in brownfield projects through the automatic route.

Demolishing/ remodelling an existing airport to build a new one is called Brownfield airport project.

Currently, 100% FDI is allowed through the automatic route in greenfield airport projects while it is 74% in brownfield ones.

With a view to aiding in modernisation of the existing airports to establish a high standard and help ease the pressure on the existing airports, it has been decided to permit 100 per cent FDI under automatic route in brownfield airport projects, the release said.

Back in 2012, then UPA government had permitted 49 per cent FDI in domestic airlines by foreign carriers. The move paved the way for setting up of two new airlines -- Vistara and AirAsia India -- and investment by Etihad Airways in Jet Airways.

Vistara is 49% owned by Singapore Airlines while Malaysias AirAsia Berhad has 49% stake in AirAsia India. In both carriers, the Tatas have a substantial stake.
In this time of smart cities, Delhi is also aspiring to stride into the future. Modes of transport are becoming faster, neighbourhoods getting free Wi-Fi and public services going online. Already one of the worlds biggest urban sprawls, the boundaries of the national capital region are becoming limitless.

All these are great news for the young and the mobile. But where do the elderly fit in?

Old age is the most unexpected thing that happens to a person, said Leon Trotsky. Even the best retirement plans fall short when physical infirmity slows one down. The less unfortunate find failing health, economic insecurity, social isolation and, at times, even abuse in store. Ageing in place  the ability to live in ones own home and community regardless of agility and income  is probably the least one can ask for.

Its not a big ask. All that the elderly need is a neighbourhood where it is safe to cross the street and walk to the bank or a post-office; from where one can safely take a bus or the Metro to travel longer distances when one cant drive anymore. A neighbourhood with a local dispensary, a hospital close by and a grocery store that delivers supplies home; a community hall and parks for daily social interactions; a citizens council that listens to their concerns; and volunteers or social workers for counselling and handling emergencies.

Unfortunately, not many cities provide these basics. Busy planning for the future, urban centres often forget the elderly. But bad city infrastructure affects the aged way more than the young who have the agility and the resourcefulness to find their way around.

A 33-city survey by the World Health Organisation (WHO) had found mobility and accessibility to be the biggest issues among the senior citizens in Delhi. The city provided for concessional travel but the application process was considered cumbersome. Older people had difficulties when bus drivers would not stop close enough to the kerb for them to get on and off the bus safely. Autorickshaws overcharged and signages for Metro stations were inadequate.

Safe walking space has been another big concern. The Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi found that footpaths were available in only 55% of the total road length that it surveyed. Only 10-15% of the total road stretch had footpaths built according to the norms on height and width. None of the stretches had a continuous footpath.

In the WHO survey, the elderly in Delhi asked for age-friendly features incorporated in building bylaws. They said common areas in the buildings were often neglected. Staircases were dirty and dark. Public toilets were few. Most of them did not have arrangements for the disabled. A caregiver was quoted saying recreation for most of the elderly would be talking to their friends or relatives on the phone.

All it takes is a little sensitivity. For example, New York City is slowing down for its senior citizens. The city has added four seconds to the time pedestrians are given to cross some busy intersections. It has also constructed pedestrian safety islands, widened kerbs and medians, narrowed roadways, and installed new stop controls and signals to accommodate the pace of the elderly. The local shops and restaurants give access to their toilets to older people, as well as providing chairs to rest.

In Manchester, the first city in the UK to be recognised as age-friendly by the WHO, senior citizens were asked to research what makes an age-friendly city. They found that for most people, it was human contact, rather than high-tech gizmos, that were important  such as door-to-door community visits for people unable to use public transport, The Guardian reported this April.

Read more: Delhis senior citizens crave for family, feel neglected

Youth is all about future and that promising path invariably leads to old age. As compared to our national average of 8%, Delhis percentage of aged  above 60 years  population is just 5.9%. For a youth-dominated city, Delhi has no excuse for not doing all it can to make its social and physical infrastructure more age-friendly. With our eyes set on everything futuristic, how much far sight will it take us to secure our own future?

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Every communal massacre in India is marked by the stain of impunity. Imp unity means the assurance that those who plan and execute the slaughter and rape of innocents, and the loot and arson of their homes will ultimately escape all punishment.

As a result of these persisting failures of legal justice, there is little closure possible for survivors of mass hate crimes. The large majority of victims are people from religious minorities  Sikhs who survived the 1984 massacre, Christians who were battered in Kandhamal in 2006, and Muslims slaughtered in a multitude of communal massacres beginning with Jabalpur in 1961. Their wounds cannot heal because those who organised their suffering walk free.

This dishonourable reality of our secular democracy is not a chance outcome. It is built into the communal and anti-minority institutional bias of the criminal justice system that plays out through the police, prosecution and courts.

The impunity for communal crimes in India was broken, only partly, in the Gujarat massacre of 2002. After the slaughter and gang-rape of more than a thousand people the criminal justice system acted the same as in the past. More than half the cases registered after the carnage were closed without trial within a year.

But an extraordinary alliance arose for defending secular democracy, not just of tireless human rights defenders, but also the National Human Rights Commission with the moral leadership of Justice JS Verma, judges of conscience like Ruma Paul and Arijit Pasayat, courageous police officers like Rahul Sharma, and scores of survivors who fought for justice at all odds like Zakia Jafri and Bilkis Bano.

As a result of this alliance, the closure without trial of 2,000 cases was annulled; a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted; and some cases were moved to courts outside Gujarat.

Yet the recent ruling of the special SIT court in the massacre of 64 people in the Gulberg Society in the heart of Ahemdabad on February 28, 2002, illustrates the limits of the possibilities of full justice in the context of persisting institutional bias. If the version the court accepts is correct, then this was a spontaneous massacre by 11 men who were part of a crowd that was incensed by the burning of Hindus in a train in Godhra a day earlier. They were provoked by the firing on them by former MP Ehsan Jafri, who was later burned alive by members of the crowd. There was no conspiracy at any level in planning or enabling the massacre, and the mobs were not led or provoked either by BJP leaders or by the police. There were 20 police persons at the spot, but they lacked the means to control or disperse the mob provoked by Jafris shooting at them. The convicts displayed good conduct during the 14 years of trial, and deserved a second chance to reform and rehabilitate.

The version of the survivors, and many citizen investigations is different from Judge PB Desais conclusions. The massacres of the scale that transpired in Gulberg Society and elsewhere required mobilisation and arming of a scale that was impossible without alarger conspiracy. The crowds everywhere were led by leaders of the BJP, VHP and Bajrang Dal. The crowds were angered by the way the burning of Hindus on the train was reported, and their bodies were paraded. The small numbers of poorly-equipped policepersons on the spot was not a matter of chance. Ehsan Jafri called senior police officials and, reportedly even the CM, but no reinforcements were sent.

These two versions conform closely to two competing under standings of why communal violence recurs in India. One version is that although religious minorities constitute the large majority of persons killed or raped in hate violence, it is they who provoke the violence by acts such as the burning of Hindus on the train, killing of PM Indira Gandhi, desecrating temples, sexual designs on Hindu girls, killing cows, religious conversions, etc. This leads to spontaneous violence, and the police does all it can to control the riots, but is unable to do so because of the scale of righteous anger of the provoked Hindu mobs.

Another version is that there are no communal riots, only systematically planned communal massacres. And that the State can control communal violence of any scale in not more than 24 hours.

Foot soldiers are not blameless, but their share of guilt is far less than that of communal groups that organise these massacres, and politicians, police and civil officers who abet it by inaction. The men convicted are foot soldiers, who deserve another chance. However, the real criminals  who organised the massacre  must be punished severely, but the court absolves them completely. No wonder Ehsan Jafris widow, Zakia Jafri, is dismayed by the ruling and says, My husband was a good and kind man. I will never give up my fight for justice, for him and thousands like him.

Harsh Mander is convenor, Aman Biradari. The views expressed are personal.

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NEW DELHI: The government may seek a CBI investigation in the VVIP phone-tapping case involving Essar group, which is accused of illegally monitoring phone conversations of top ministers, industrialists and bureaucrats.

The prime ministers office (PMO) has asked the Union home ministry (MHA) to take necessary action in the case.

There are conversations to probe. Characters involved may have to be summoned for questioning. The CBI may be asked to conduct a preliminary inquiry to see if there is violation of the telegraph Act (illegal tapping) or official secrets Act (recording of conversations of government officials). The CBI may proceed further in accordance with its preliminary probe conclusions, said a government official familiar with initial deliberations on the matter.

The other option, sources said, is to ask Delhi Police, which reports to the MHA, to conduct a probe.

The MHA is likely to take a call on Monday, said a ministry official.

The moves comes after Delhi lawyer Suren Uppal recently submitted a 29-page report to the PMO alleging Essar had tapped the phones of cabinet ministers, top industrialists and senior bureaucrats between 2001 and 2006.

The file has been sent to the appropriate ministry, in this case the home ministry, for necessary action, PMO sources told HT on Sunday.

Tapping of phones by private entities is illegal and the ministry will first try to find out who was involved in carrying out the illegal surveillance, the sources said.

Denying it conducted or authorised any person to conduct phone surveillance, Essar said in a statement, Mr Uppal has concocted a false and baseless story involving us to make extortionist demands from us in the name of an ex-employee. When made to realise we have no interest in acceding to such illegal demands, he is now looking to defame us by using the media. We intend to proceed against him to the full extent of the law unless he tenders a public apology and unconditionally withdraws these baseless allegations.

A spokesperson for Reliance group, whose top leadership was reportedly under the illegal surveillance, said Sunday, Conversations attributed to us are false and appear doctored by someone who seeks to defame us We expect the authorities to take a serious view of these alleged violations of our right to privacy, if indeed there has been illegal wire tapping. We also expect the authorities to verify the truth of these allegations and take action against these malicious falsehoods.

The Congress had been demanding to know if the government has ordered an inquiry. Is it a fact that a complaint was submitted to your office? Has the PM ordered an inquiry? If an inquiry has been ordered, when was it ordered? And if it was not, why was it not ordered, as serious allegations have been made, asked spokesperson Manish Tewari on Saturday.

The opposition party alleged the first NDA gover nment could have been completely and absolutely compromised as the phones of many of its bureaucrats and ministers were allegedly tapped by the corporate.
NEW DELHI: A government committee drafting Indias new education policy has proposed a raft of amendments to the UPA-era Right to Education Act, calling for flexible area-specific guidelines to replace a nationwide framework.

The proposed changes include a dilution of norms for recognising private schools as the TSR Subramanian committee feels the present guidelines threaten the closure of institutions doing stellar work in poor neighbourhoods.

The RTE stipulates benchmarks such as a play ground, a minimum teacher-pupil ratio and number of classrooms for according recognition  and thereby government funds  to any private school.

But the committee disagreed with the uniform national guidelines and said norms should be evolved for alternate schools in line with local conditions.

Lauding the initiative of an NGO running schools in the slums of Ahmedabad, the committee observed, After the RTE Act, such centres become illegal as they cannot satisfy the norms, their funding under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has been stopped and they can be closed any time by authorities.

The committee said instead of parameters such as infrastructure, the government should look at learning outcomes and amend the RTE Act.

Infrastructure norms for recognition of private schools should also be applied to government schools. There should be no discrimination, the report said.

The RTE Act was passed in 2009 and implemented from April 2010.

The committee called for reviewing exemptions to minority institutions from admitting 25% poor students for free under the economically weaker sections (EWS) category.

The committee feels larger national obligations to meet the rights of economic weaker sections should extend to all institutions, including minority (religious and linguistic) institutions, the report said.

It rued the fact that the RTE Act was only partially implemented in most states, six years after it was passed, calling for greater flexibility to evolve norms that factor in local conditions.

India is a vast and divergent country and one set of norms cannot be applied rigidly and uniformly, the report said, in apparent criticism of the Act that was in the making for nearly a decade.

In other proposed amendments, the committee suggested dilution of the no-detention policy that prevents schools from detaining students in a class till the age of 14. It said it had heard a number of views for and against the policy before drawing up its recommendations. Promoting laggards drags down the standard of the whole class and handicaps the teachers ability to teach the curriculum at the expected pace , the report said.

The committee recommended that from Class 5 to 8, for children between the ages of 11 and 14, the system of detention of children who are below the requisite minimum standard should be reinstated. This will require a suitable amendment to section 30 (1) of the RTE Act.

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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.
NEW DELHI: China is not opposing Indias entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday, underscoring the governments efforts to convince Beijing to give up its defiant stand.

Her statement came after an unannounced visit by foreign secretary S Jaishankar to Beijing on June 16 and 17 to drum up Chinese support for Indias push to join the 48-nation club controlling access to sensitive nuclear technology.

China is talking only about criteria and procedures and is not opposed to India becoming an NSG member, Swaraj said, addressing her annual press conference.

The group, set up in response to Indias first nuclear test in 1974, aims to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. But India enjoys most of the benefits of membership under a 2008 exemption to NSG rules granted to support its nuclear cooperation deal with Washington, though the country has never signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the arms control pact. China has been maintaining that the NPT is central to the NSG.

Swaraj was hopeful that India would be able to convince China.

I think there is consensus which is being made and I am sure India will become an NSG member this year, she said. Im in contact with 23 nations one or two raised concern but I think there is consensus.

The NSG works on the principle of consensus and a single hold-out country can spoil Indias chance to be part of the grouping.

New Delhi is making all efforts before the NSG plenary session in Seoul on June 24, where Indias membership is expected to be discussed. Jaishankars visit to Beijing came a week ahead of the plenary.

Yes, I can confirm the foreign secretary visited Beijing on June 16-17 for bilateral consultations with his Chinese counterpart. All major issues, including Indias NSG membership, were discussed, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

Chinese official media had commented that Indias NSG membership would jeopardise Chinas national interests besides touching a raw nerve in Pakistan. The Chinese foreign ministry too called for full discussions on non-NPT countries intending to join the NSG.

But Swaraj pointed out that Indias credentials should be discussed, instead of talking about criteria.

She refused comments on Pakistans push to join the NSG, saying India cannot say anything since its not a member of the elite club.

We will not oppose entry of any nation to the NSG. We think the application of each country should be considered on the basis of their merit.

Pakistan joining the group would be unacceptable to many, given its track record. The father of its nuclear weapons programme ran an illicit network for years that sold nuclear secrets to countries, including North Korea and Iran.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit to Washington, President Barack Obama came out in support of Indias membership to the nuclear group. Russian President Vladimir Putin too backed Indias bid and hoped that issues raised by China could be ironed out.

(With agency inputs)
NEW DELHI: The Delhi University has refused to furnish information under RTI about details of the degree of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The RTI, filed by Delhi lawyer Mohammad Irshad, was rejected by the Delhi University in a reply dated June 13. Denying the information, the university s reply stated, DU, as a matter of policy, seeks to maintain the privacy of every student as it holds the data pertaining to a student in a fiduciary relationship with the student concerned .

The Aam Aadmi Party had first raised the matter, questioning the authenticity of the Prime Ministers degree following which senior BJP leaders showed copies of the degree to the media. On Sunday, the AAP targeted DU again over the issue, with Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal asking why the DU was withholding the information.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted about the rejection, What? But why? Didnt Amit shah n Jaitley ji say that degree was genuine and anyone cud take it from DU? (sic).

If DU feels that it is private info, then under RTI Act, DU shud write to PM n seek his permission. DU cant reject, (sic) he tweeted.

AAP Delhi convener Dilip Pandey also targeted DU, asking if the degree existed, why wouldnt officials make it public.

If it is about a former student s personal record, you should write to him and ask if he is okay with making the information public. When an RTI was filed for Arvind Kejriwals degree, he immediately said the information should be made public and IIT Kharagpur too made the information public. Why is DU creating unnecessary suspense around the issue? Pandey said.

The appellate authority for RTI in the university, HC Pokhriyal, said he would comment only if the matter is referred to him.

The degree controversy first emerged in April when the Gujarat University and Delhi University refused to share information about Modis qualifications.

The Aam Aadmi Party then took it up and alleged that the PMs claims that he had a Masters degree in Political Science were false. The Chief Election Commissioner had asked the universities to disclose the information. A few days later, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley and BJP president Amit Shah held a press conference where they showed the PMs degrees and said anyone could go to DU and see them. The degree from Delhi University was a duplicate copy.

DUs registrar had also told some media outlets that the degree was genuine. In the RTI, Irshad had asked if Mo di had ever applied for a duplicate copy of his mark sheet or degree. He had also asked for the degree entry register of the School of Open Learning, which contains entry of the student with the enrolment number.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will implement the proposed metro line from Dwarka Sector 21 to IFFCO Chowk in Gurgaon.

Haryana Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the state government had given final nod to the project.

The proposed metro link has been delayed time and again as the detailed project reports were rejected thrice by the Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation citing non-viability of the project.

Khattar said there were three proposals for the extension of metro rail in the Millennium City and the departments concerned were in the process of finalising which proposal to accept.

He said it was to be decided whether the metro extension work would be implemented through DMRC or through private metro company, as private metro is also operating in Gurgaon.

But it has been finalised that DMRC will take up the Dwarka sector 21 to IFFCO Chowk route project Khattar said while highlighting infrastructural development of Gurgaon at a public function in Gurgaon on Sunday night.

The proposed metro route will cover several areas including Dwarka sector 21, Palam Vihar, Kapashera, Udyog Vihar, IFFCO Chowk.

Earlier, the Haryana government had scrapped three proposals  metro line via Kapashera and two other routes  citing lack of financial viability.

After a survey, the government proposed a route covering Palam Vihar, which is densely populated. The total cost of the project, via Kapashera, was estimated to be over Rs 2,000 crore.

A senior government functionary said the cost was likely to increase when the line was rerouted via Palam Vihar but the government was ready for it.

Official sources said the state planned to fund the entire project and as such the government was hesitant about giving green signal.

Khattar stressed on the need for several alternative routes to connect Gurgaon with Delhi to mitigate traffic pressure on Delhi-Gurgaon expressway and Mehrauli-Gurgaon road.

Gurgaon Member of Parliament and minister of state for planning Rao Inderjit Singh, Haryana PWD minister Rao Narbir Singh, and Gurgaon MLA Umesh Agarwal have been demanding for extension of metro service in the city, including old Gurgaon.

Pod taxi project in Gurgaon area mulled Showing enthusiasm over pod taxi project, Khattar said there were some issues in land acquisition in Delhi.

We have proposed to start pod taxi at least from Sirhaul (where toll plaza was located) and take it to Manesar. We do not have any problem in this regard. If this happens, at least the project would start in Gurgaon area and later it could be extended towards Delhi.
Delhi Police on Sunday arrested a 20-year-old domestic help for allegedly stealing diamond and gold jewellery worth R90 lakh and R20,000 cash from his employers house in Vasant Vihar when she was abroad.

The police recovered 11 gold and diamond necklaces, eight gold and diamond bangles, gold and diamond earrings, 20 gold and diamond rings and R8,500 cash from domestic help, Brijesh.

In her complaint to the police on June 16, Namrata Kumari said she had gone to Europe with her daughter when the crime happened. After she returned, she found her almirah and drawers open with jewellery and cash missing.

Her husband and son were in Delhi but not at home.

Kumari told us she had employed a domestic help Brijesh but she fired him due to his conduct and unsatisfactory services. She said the man visited her house between June 7 and 9 while she was away. We registered a case and started investigation, DCP, South, Ishwar Singh said.

The servant was not verified by the police before he was hired.

Kumari gave police some documents and details of the help. The police deployed informers to track his movement. The police team conducted raids in Manakpur, Badayun district, of UP. But Brijesh fled from his village.

We received an input that Brijesh was hiding at his maternal aunts house. A decoy was sent the house of Brijeshs aunt, posing as an executive of a service provider company to verify a phone ID. Brijesh, who was hiding there, was identified and apprehended, Singh said.

Brijesh admitted to the crime. Stolen gold and diamond jewelry and R8,500 were recovered. He said that in 2015, he came to Delhi and started working as domestic help at Kumaris house. In May 2016, she fired him. At that time his mother was ill but he did not have money to pay for her treatment.

It is then when he came back to Delhi and after he found out that his employer was abroad, he planned the theft . After stealing the valuables, he fled to his village, Singh said.
Passengers at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) will have the option of stretching it out before flying out from Delhi. The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), operator of the Delhi airport, has planned yoga sessions throughout the day on Tuesday  International f Yoga Day.

According to airport sources, various stakeholders such as CISF, customs and airline employees will be asked to join.

Various yoga sessions along with yoga research, demonstration and doctor consultation for yoga therapy inside the airport will be organised. Passengers will be encouraged to join, said an airport official.

The event is being organised in association with Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana University and would be staged near the Surya Namaskar statue inside Terminal 3 of the airport between 6am and 5.30pm.

There will be 30-minute yoga sessions from 6-6.30am, 7.30-8am, 11-11.30am, 12-12.30pm, 4-4.30pm and 5-5.30pm. The airport authority has also organised doctor consultation for yoga therapy and books on yoga research will also be available. Sources said this will not cause any inconvenience to passengers.

Apart from the airport, CISF personnel will demonstrate yoga in Connaught Place too. A team of 250 CISF personnel of various ranks along with personnel from other paramilitary forces will participate in International Day of Yoga at E-Block enclosure, inner circle of Connaught Place.

Read more: Modi lands in Chandigarh to lead Yoga Day, but rain casts shadow on event

In all CISF units, formations and reserve battalions, CISF personnel will participate in yoga sessions. A CISF women commando team will conduct a demonstration on Pekiti Tirsia Kali, a Filipino martial art from 5.40am to 5.50am to generate awareness among masses, especially women in self-defence at the main dais.
A new AAP-BJP war erupted Monday morning with Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal demanding the arrest of BJP parliamentarian Maheish Girri, who is sitting on a hunger strike outside his house, in the murder of an NDMC legal adviser.

He (Girii) should be arrested n interrogated by Modi police in MM Khan murder case. Modi police shielding him, Kejriwal tweeted early morning.

The spat  baharAaoKejriwal -- was trending on social media as the BJPs east Delhi MP continued his overnight sit-in, asking the Delhi CM to step out of his home and submit proof to back the charges or apologise.

Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, in the news recently for targeting RBI governor Raghuram Rajan, joined Girri outside 6 Flagstaff Road in central Delhis Civil Lines. Kejriwal was a Naxalite and in habit of leveling baseless charges, said Swamy, demanding an apology from the CM.

News agency ANI tweeted that Swamy also demanded the dismissal of Delhi lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung.

Lt Governor Najeeb Jung must be dismissed: BJP leader Subramanian Swamy outside CM Kejriwal's residence. pic.twitter.com/IG4ibWS4P8  ANI (@ANI_news) June 20, 2016

Earlier, another BJP leader and North East Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari joined Girris protest. The growing number of protesters prompted another rounds of tweets, to which Kejriwal said, Lets decide once and for all, who is dharna party of India?

Rivals often accuse the AAP of being disruptive and resorting to protest demonstrations at the slightest pretext.

NDMC legal adviser MM Khan was shot dead in Jamia Nagar on May 16, a day before he was to pass the final order on the lease terms of a hotel operation from a property leased out by the civic body.

Girri also wrote to Delhi Police chief Alok Kumar Verma, asking him to continue the investigation without any fear of political pressure and arrest him if needed. I should be questioned if required in the case. I will fully cooperate, he said.

The Delhi Police have cleared Girri and NDMCs vice-chairman Karan Singh Tanwar, saying they did not find any evidence against the two BJP leaders.

The Aam Aadmi Party has alleged that Girri was lobbying for Ramesh Kakkar, the owner of the four-star Connaught Hotel and the prime accused in the murder case. The two leaders, the Delhis ruling party said, wrote to Jung favouring Kakkar.

The issue was also raised in the assembly. Girri and Tanwar should be arrested and interrogated to unearth the truth, Kejriwal and his party colleagues said.

Girri has denied the allegations as baseless and even challenged Kejriwal to a public debate. Kejriwal should produce evidences to prove that the allegations made by him against me are true. If he proves the allegations, I will resign else he should resign. The people of Delhi should know the truth. I am sitting next to his house, why is he hiding, Girri told reporters.
As the world celebrated Fathers Day on Sunday, the three daughters of New Delhi Municipal Councils (NDMC) deputy legal advisor, MM Khan, who was murdered last month, spent the day trying to get justice for their father.

Twenty-four-year-old Iqra, Khans eldest daughter, wrote to the Prime Minister, demanding a speedy and unbiased probe into her fathers murder.

We want our fathers murderers to be put behind bars and a speedy investigation. We belong to a middle-class family and the loss of my father has brought our lives to a standstill, Iqra said.

In a letter to the PMO and attached to the Twitter handle, Iqra requested PM, Narendra Modi, to take all the necessary action that you can take as a countrys leader to give us justice.

I request you to give me an appointment to discuss my fathers case. Please meet me, sir. I am also this countrys daughter, your daughter. I plead to you to respond to my letter, her letter reads.

Read: Delhi hotelier, five others detained for NDMC lawyers murder

Khan was shot dead outside his house in Jamia Nagar by a group of men on May 17. The family and Khans colleagues alleged he was threatened in a hotel licence fee case. The matter is under investigation.

Iqra wrote, I do not want to get involved in any politics. Ours is a simple, middle-class family that lives in a small house. I invite you to come to our house or I can come to your office. My father should get justice. We have a lot of hope from you.

With BJPs Maheish Girri protesting outside chief minister Arvind Kejriwals office for allegedly levelling baseless allegations against him in Khans murder, Iqra said her family did not want the case to get politicised.

He should end his hunger strike. This is not a political matter. We only want an unbiased probe, she said.

The case is also being widely discussed in social media. Iqra is managing a Facebook page titled, Justice for honest martyr MM Khan. The page is followed by over 850 people.

My father had been my hero all my life, but now he is my superhero, who went away giving lifes biggest teaching of self righteousness (sic), she had posted on the page.

Read: NDMC officers murder: Kejriwal, BJP MP Maheish Girri fight it out on Twitter

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A 26-year-old visually impaired student of Delhi University (DU) caught a bike-borne snatcher near GTB Metro station in north Delhi on Friday night even after he was repeatedly punched in the face.

The snatcher, along with his two accomplices, snatched the students Moto G Plus mobile phone as he was going to an ATM booth from DUs Mansarowar Hostel.

The DU student, Shakir Hussain, overpowered the snatcher and wrestled with him for a good two minutes. After the snatcher got away, he chased him for around 200m before getting hold of him again with the help of locals. However, he could not stop the other two snatchers fleeing with his mobile phone, purchased only a month ago.

Nonetheless, Hussains valiant efforts helped the Delhi Police bust a gang of bike-borne snatchers that was involved in similar crimes in the locality. They arrested one of the gang members, identified as Vijay Gupta, 22.

Hussains courage has impressed senior police officers. They have planned to honour and reward him at a public meeting.

Recalling the incident, Hussain said the crime took place around 11.15pm as he was walking towards the ATM booth.

Three men on a bike approached me. They said they were acquaintances. Suddenly, they snatched my phone. Since my earphones were attached to it, I could stop them from fleeing with my phone, said Hussain, who is enrolled in M.Phil (History).

When the three attempted to speed off, the DU student grabbed the pillion rider by his shoulder and threw the bike off balance. While Hussain overpowered the accused, his accomplices fled with his mobile phone on the bike.

When they tried to snatch my phone, it took me a while to understand what was happening. The snatcher I overpowered hit me repeatedly on my nose, shoulder and head. But I did not lose my grip, said Hussain.

Some bystanders saw Hussain being attacked and screaming for help but nobody came forward. When the snatcher failed to release himself, he started to scream and accuse Hussain of robbing him of his phone.

In the meantime, a youth reached there and told Hussains attention by asking him to calm down and call the police to settle the issue. As Hussain lost his grip, the suspect began running away. Hussain chased him and caught him with the help of locals, who thrashed him.

I asked a local youth to call the police control room. A police team arrived and took me and the snatcher to the police station where he identified himself as Vijay Gupta.

The police wouldnt have believed me if I hadnt caught the snatcher, said Hussain, who was treated at a nearby hospital before he returned to the hostel.

Vijay Singh, DCP (northwest), said, We registered a case and arrested Gupta. Efforts are on to nab his absconding accomplices, Manoj and Ravi. I am recommending a suitable reward for Hussain for his heroism.
The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE 2017) online examinations will be held on February 4, 5, 11 and 12 next year (2017). Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee is the organising institute for the exam. The final schedule of the examination will be displayed on the official website.

Other important details given on the official website:

1) GATE online application processing system (GOAPS) website will open for enrollment, application filling, application submission on September 1, 2016.

2) The last date for submission of online application is October 4, 2016.

3) The last date for request for change in the choice of examination city is November 16, 2016.

4) The date for availability of admit card for printing is January 5, 2017.

5) The results will be announced on March 27, 2017.

The GATE, is an all-India entrance test to screen candidates for their comprehensive understanding of various undergraduate subjects in engineering, technology, architecture and postgraduate level subjects in science.

It is a test for admissions to the MTech, ME courses and direct PhD at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), National Institutes of Technology (NITs), other government-funded technical institutions and many private universities and institutes across the country.

Read more | GATE 2016 results declared, check it here

Admission to postgraduate courses (masters and doctoral) in the country, with MHRD and other government scholarships/assistantships in engineering, technology, architecture and science is open to those who qualify GATE. The GATE score is also used by some PSUs for their recruitment.

The GATE score is valid for three years. There is no restriction in the number of attempts for taking the test.

What is new in GATE 2017

The XE paper will now have a new section on Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences (Section H). So the number of Sections in the XE paper will go up to eight (A-H).

Note: For details visit official website of GATE 2017.

(With inputs from Gauri Kohli)

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According to the official website of Delhi University (DU) , only 14 out of the 64 colleges provide residential facilities for students. The university also has two off-campus hostels for students --- International Students House for Women (for International students only) and Under Graduate Hostel for Girls.

The limited hostel accommodation means that most of the outstation students have to depend on paying guest (PG) accommodation. Dont fret, HT City gets you some helpful information about PGs.

North Campus

Dominated by a student population, it isnt difficult to find an ideal accommodation around Delhi Universitys (DU) North Campus , where every third house has been converted into a PG . Majority of these are for girls. While some people have renovated their houses into a hostel, others have just organized basic facilities with a bathroom and bed within the existing structure.

Hudson line, Jawahar Nagar and Kamla Nagar are the most preferred locations in North Campus. While the rate list of Jawahar Nagar PGs heads from Rs. 10,000 and goes up to Rs. 15,000 including food (breakfast and dinner), electricity, Wifi, CCTV Cameras and monthly rent, Hudson line is bit cheaper. The range goes between Rs.8500 to inclusive basic facilities there.

I have been living here for the past two years. This area is safe due to a student population and is accessible to the metro station , bus stops and market . From multiple food cuisines to stationary to affordable parlours that run special offers for students, one can easily get all stuff here, says Neha Mangla, DU student who stays in Hudson lane.

With admission process in full swing at Delhi University, banners of PG and flats have mushroomed all around North and South Campus. (AMAL KS/HINDUSTAN TIMES)

While Kamla Nagar is the most happening location in the area, but residency comes at a cost. Prices for PG starts from Rs. 12,000 here and go to Rs. 20,000 and above. The market complex has both, flee market and brands for students.

We provide both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food and timing is not an issue for us. We have a security guard here and rooms are available in single, double and triple occupancy, says Ginni PG owner at Kamla Nagar.

The rate chart changes as per occupancy in Kamla Nagar. Rs. 15,000 is the ideal price here. However, some PG have restricted timings.

R K Sharma,another PG owner in Kamla Nagar says, We charge less than others, but there are few rules we would like students to follow. For instance, girls have to be back by no later than 10pm. Being new in the city, these students dont turn up on time and in case of any problem, we have to rush to Police Stations.

South campus

Unlike abroad, girls and boys cant stay together in a PG as owners dont allow it. Even flat owners dont permit unmarried couples to stay together. This rule exist in both campuses (Imagesbazaar)

Students who secure admissions in South Campus colleges have a relatively harder time. The seats in most PG accommodations at Satya Niketan are usually already full by July first week. Owners say they started getting request for accommodation right from the declaration of the first cut-off.

As soon as the first cut-off comes, students start calling us to book the PG. By July all the PG get filled here, says, Radhe Khanna, a PG owner.

However, with the increase in demand each year, the rent has also gone up. The rate list of PG starts from Rs. 5500 and goes till 10,000 at Satya Niketan. I pay Rs. 5500 monthly rent and for food they charge Rs. 40 per plate. Safety is one issue here, I lost my phone and nobody helped. Students are responsible for their belongings, says Mani Maheshwari, a graduate from DU.

Satya Niketan is also known for its famous food joints and hang-out zones. What Kamla Nagar is to North campus students, Satya Niketan is to South.

Male students have limited options in South Campus, leaving rental flats as an alternative. They share flats in areas like Munirka, Safdarjung Enclave and Vasant Vihar apartments where the rents start with Rs 20,000 per month.

I have been living here from past two years. As the rent is bit high, we share the flat among four students and contribute for food. This place is safer than PG and there is no interference from owner side, says Himanshu Sharma who stays with his friends at Vasant Vihar apartments.

Unlike abroad, girls and boys cant stay together in a PG as owners dont allow it. Even flat owners dont permit unmarried couples to stay together. This rule exist in both campuses.

Read: Exotic sports like kayaking, fencing may help you bag a DU seat

Rules and regulations

-Boys are not allowed in girls PG and vice versa

-Most of the PGs are open till 10.00 pm in the night

-Students have to sign in and sign out their timings on a register maintained by the security guard

-Parents cant stay in PG during nights

-Drinking and smoking is not permissible

North Campus accommodation facilities

Attached washrooms (Shared or individual depending on the rent)

CCTV cameras

Wi-fi connectivity

Guard and security systems

Four times meal a day

South Campus accommodation facilities

Attached washrooms

Wi-fi connectivity

Rs.40 per meal

Flats on rent at NC

Unfurnished flats (2BHK) - Rs. 18,000 to Rs. 21,000

Semi-furnished flats (2BHK) - Rs. 23,000 to Rs. 25,000

Full-furnished flats (2BHK) - Rs.26,000 to Rs, 30,000

Flats on rent at SC

Unfurnished flats (2BHK) - Rs. 12,000 to Rs. 15,000

Semi-furnished flats (2BHK) - Rs. 16,000 to Rs. 20,000

Full-furnished flats (2BHK) - Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 25,000

Rent Break-up

2 months security deposit+ 1 month rent+ broker commission

Social media help groups

Flat and flatmates North Campus chapter

Flat and flatmates North campus and South campus

Flat and flatmates North Delhi (north campus)

Flat and flatmates South Delhi

Survival tips on staying away from parents for first timers:

1) Carry a sauce pan from home when you shift to Delhi that can cook anything- from rice to instant noodles. Cooking at home is much cheaper than taking dabbas or eating out. You still have time, learn to cook basic stuff before you leave home.

2) You will be sharing your room with someone and chances are, that something expensive might get flicked or that jar of laddoo given by mom will be finished in your absence. Dont forget to lock up everything of value.

3) Lets accept it that Delhi isnt the safest city in the country. Keep somebody always informed about your movements. Might sound intrusive, but hey, we care for your safety.

4) If you go out to eat, always ensure that the cost is divided between everybody equally or you will remain broke through the month.

Read: Celebs say life goals and not cut-offs matter. So cheer up DU aspirants

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When youre feeling low, what if the doctor recommended a daily dose of books by authors such as Haruki Murakami, Franz Kafka and Charles Dickens? A workshop conducted in the city last month, titled Restorative Power Of Reading, demonstrated that the concept, known as bibliotherapy, isnt as outrageous as it sounds. A form of cognitive therapy, bibliotherapy is not only used to lift ones mood and cure depression, but also aids in the treatment of various mental-health disorders.

Novel cure

Practised around the world by psychologists, social workers, and counsellors, bibliotherapy is largely considered as reading for therapeutic effect. According to psychotherapist and counsellor Kunjal Shah, Bibliotherapy simply means the usage of selected books to guide a person in the area that he or she seeks help in. Its like having a dialogue with a book  using its concepts as food for thought, trying to slowly apply it in life and checking if it really helps. From a clinical aspect, a psychotherapist or a bibliotherapist prescribes books to deal with ailments such as anxiety, autism, depression, eating disorders, OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), phobias, addiction and other health-related issues. Talking about the healing power of words, literary agent Sherna Khambatta says, Studies have shown that if you read some text, it remains with you for four days. As you can picture the book, it changes the way your brain is structured and how chemicals are released.

Image used for representational purposes only (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

How it works

While one can look up various curative books on the Internet, those who are ailing are given a prescription specific to their illness in a literary counselling session. Ive found books such as The Road Less Travelled by Scott Peck or Mans Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl work for specific cases. The ideas in these books are discussed either by noting ones thoughts in a diary, through support groups and group therapy, or with a practitioner during individual sessions. Things are taken ahead from there, explains Shah.

Read: The women were reading this summer

Shelf Help

The popularity of self-help books has spiralled through the years. But bibliotherapy is not the same as reading self-help books, points out psychiatrist and cognitive therapist Dr Shefali Batra. The idea of using fiction to solve health problems is not well-known in India. In such books, patients identify with the characters. Ive found novels and short stories to be particularly helpful when clients are at a critical juncture in their lives. Perhaps theyre facing retirement or have been laid off from their jobs or are single parents. It is a form of expressive therapy, in which I advise people to read books with the intent to heal, says Dr Batra.

The efficacy of the therapy, however, varies according to the health problem one is facing. It is in no way meant to replace medication. Some clients require psychiatric consultations and medicines to help them, while others dont. I use it in conjunction with individual psychotherapy, says Shah. Dr Batra, however, feels that bibliotherapy enhances the effects of medication.

Willing reader

While the treatment may be effective on the bookish, does it work on those who are averse to reading? Theres a book for everyone  be it fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels or audiobooks. For example, graphic novels are often used for those suffering from drug addiction and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), says Khambatta.

But Dr Batra says it works best on those who have a literary orientation. Besides the fact that a large part of our population is uneducated, most adults are also defensive. So it is especially effective with children, who are used to learning new concepts through books. The natural curiosity that a young mind possesses makes bibliotherapy easier, adds Dr Batra.

Read: Is art the new meditation?

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Hollywood actor Anton Yelchin, a rising star best known for playing Chekov in the new Star Trek films, was killed by his own car as it rolled down his driveway early Sunday, police and his publicist said. He was 27.

The car pinned Yelchin against a brick mailbox pillar and a security fence at his home in Los Angeles, officer Jenny Hosier said. He had gotten out of the vehicle momentarily, but police did not say why he was behind it when it started rolling.

The driveway to the home of Anton Yelchin is seen in the Studio City area of Los Angeles, on Sunday. Yelchin was killed by his own car as it rolled down his driveway early Sunday, police and his publicist said. The car pinned Yelchin, 27, against a brick mailbox pillar and a security fence at his home in Los Angeles. (AP)

Yelchin was on his way to meet friends for a rehearsal, Hosier said. When he didnt show up, the group came to his home and found him dead.

The freak accident tragically cuts short the promising career of an actor whom audiences were still getting to know and who had great artistic ambition. Star Trek Beyond, the third film in the rebooted series, comes out in July.

Director JJ Abrams, who cast Yelchin in the franchise, wrote in a statement that he was brilliant ... kind ... funny as hell, and supremely talented.

Yelchin is perhaps best known for playing Pavel Chekhov in the latest reboot of the Star Trek series.

His death was felt throughout the industry.

I loved Anton Yelchin so much. He was a true artist - curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. I'm in ruins.  John Cho (@JohnTheCho) June 19, 2016

What a rare and beautiful soul with his unstoppable passion for life, Jodie Foster said. He was equal parts serious thinker and the most fun little brother you could ever dream of.

Yelchin co-starred in Fosters 2011 film, The Beaver.

Anton was a sweetheart. Absolutely a great creative partner and artist.  Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) June 19, 2016

He was a ferocious movie buff who put us all to shame, said Gabe Klinger, who directed Yelchin in the upcoming film Porto, likely to be released this fall. He was watching four or five movies every night.

Klinger said Yelchin had a particular affinity for silent films.

Sad news for such a talented young man. Condolences to the family of Anton Yelchin.  William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) June 20, 2016

Devastated to hear about the brilliant Anton Yelchin. He was thoughtful, kind, and gifted. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.  Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) June 19, 2016

Anton Yelchin was one of my best friends. Can't say anything that conveys what this feels like  Kat Dennings (@OfficialKat) June 19, 2016

This is unreal. Anton Yelchin is such a talent. Such a huge loss.  Anna Kendrick (@AnnaKendrick47) June 19, 2016

Yelchin began acting as a child, taking small roles in independent films and various television shows, such as ER, The Practice, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. His breakout big-screen role came opposite Anthony Hopkins in 2001s Hearts in Atlantis.

He transitioned into teen roles in films such as the crime thriller Alpha Dog and the comedy Charlie Bartlett. He also played a young Kyle Reese in 2009s Terminator Salvation.

Yelchin, an only child, was born in Russia. His parents were professional figure skaters who moved the family to the United States when Yelchin was a baby. He briefly flirted with skating lessons, too, before discovering that he wasnt very skilled on the ice. That led him to acting class.

I loved the improvisation part of it the most, because it was a lot like just playing around with stuff. There was something about it that I just felt completely comfortable doing and happy doing, Yelchin told The Associated Press in 2011 while promoting the romantic drama, Like Crazy. He starred opposite Felicity Jones.

(My father) still wanted me to apply to college and stuff, and I did, Yelchin said. But this is what I wanted.

The discipline that Yelchin learned from his athlete parents translated into his work as an actor, which he treated with seriousness and professionalism, said Klinger, the director.

He drew on his Russian roots for his role as the heavily accented navigator Chekov in the Star Trek films, his most high-profile to date.

Whats great about him is he can do anything. Hes a chameleon. He can do bigger movies or smaller, more intimate ones, Like Crazy director Drake Doremus told the AP in 2011. There are a lot of people who cant, who can only do one or the other. ... Thats what blows my mind.

Anton yelchin with Felicity Jones in Like Crazy.

Yelchin seemed to fit in anywhere in Hollywood. He could do big sci-fi franchises and vocal work in The Smurfs, while also appearing in more eccentric and artier fare, like Jim Jarmuschs vampire film, Only Lovers Left Alive and Jeremy Saulniers horror thriller Green Room, a cult favorite that came out earlier this year.

Klinger recalled a conversation with Jarmusch about Yelchin before Klinger cast him in Porto.

Jim was like, Watch out. Anton read Dostoyevsky when he was like 11 years old! Klinger said.

Yelchin in Jeremy Saulniers horror thriller Green Room.

The director said that for Yelchin, every film was an opportunity to learn and study more. He admired Nicolas Cages laser-focus on the Paul Schrader film Dying of the Light and also got to work with one of his acting heroes, Willem Dafoe, on the film Odd Thomas.

He used to refer to Willem as an artist, not an actor, Klinger said. Thats the kind of actor he aspired to be, where people didnt regard him as an actor, they regarded him as an artist.

Yelchins publicist, Jennifer Allen, confirmed his death and said his family requests privacy.

Read: Star Trek at 50: Boldly going on into the Beyond
Las Vegas lies in ruins. Burj Khalifa has been uprooted and rudely thrown back at earth. London and Singapore have been reduced to rubble. Petronas Towers have been destroyed.

Only India and its landmarks continue to stand straight in the face of an unprecedented alien attack. You know what is our superpower? Our ability to take offence.

According to a Mumbai Mirror report, 20th Century Fox  the makers of Independence Day Resurgence  decided not to show any part of India or its historical monuments being destroyed in the film. Their reason, and we quote, being Well, Indians are too touchy. Keeping the sensitivities of all the religious groups and other activists in mind, the makers were asked to not shoot in India or portray any prominent monuments being damaged.

Read: Why Will Smith will weep while watching Independence Day Resurgence

The report quotes a source from the production house saying, There was also a request to only represent India on one of the films posters, by showing an attack on the Taj Mahal. But this too was rejected. The film arrives June 24.

Maybe, the studio backing the Roland Emmerich film -- starring Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman and Vivica Fox -- decided not to mess with the wrong country keeping Pixels in mind. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had reportedly asked the production house backing the Adam Sandler movie to exclude the clip that shows the Taj Mahal being destroyed from the promo. An insider said at that time, Originally, the film had scenes that showed many monuments like the Eiffel Tower, Houses of London, and so on, being destroyed. However, the final cut of the film featured the Taj Mahal scene.

Read| Independence Day Resurgence trailer: Oh my God, were all going to die

The scenes were later taken off. Earlier, Pixels director Chris Columbus had said about destroying the Taj: It is the first real iconic thing to get destroyed in the film. There is a destruction scene prior to that but with Taj Mahal, you see that it is actually a game breakout. I had this visual image while designing these effects. It had nothing to do whether it was India or anywhere else. I just thought it will look really cool and awesome, he had said. That is, till India took offence.


Gujarat anti-terrorism squad (ATS) arrested an alleged SIMI operative, wanted in the 2008 serial bomb blasts in Ahmedabad, from Belgam in Karnataka.

Officers nabbed Nasir Rangrez (38), an auto-rickshaw driver, from his residence at Khade Bazar road in Belgam on Sunday and took him to Ahmedabad on Monday morning, ATS said in a statement.

According to officers, Rangrez was part of larger conspiracy, hatched by terror outfits Indian Mujahideen (IM) and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), to spread terror in Gujarat to avenge the killings of Muslims during post-Godhra riots.

Before carrying out the blasts in the city, Rangrez along with many other accused associated with SIMI and IM recruited Muslim men to take revenge of riots and provided them training at Pavagadh in Gujarat, Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh and Waghamon in Kerala, the statement said.

Rangrez, a member of SIMI, was actively involved in providing training to youths in the terror camp of Waghamon. During these training sessions, these accused hatched the conspiracy to carry out blasts in Ahmedabad. These accused were led by IM founders Safdar Nagori and Yasin Bhatkal, it said.

According to ATS sub inspector C R Jadav, Rangrez never came to Ahmedabad to plant the bombs.

Rangrez is a native of Belgam and part of the larger conspiracy of inciting Muslim youths by showing them videos of post-Godhra riots. He along with Nagori, Bhatkal and many other IM and SIMI men hatched the conspiracy during their camp in Waghamon ahead of 2008 serial blasts, said Jadav, who was part of the team which nabbed Rangrez.

Within a span of 70 minutes, as many as 20 bombs rocked different parts of Ahmedabad on July 26, 2008, killing 56 persons and injuring more than 200. Terror outfit Indian Mujahideen took responsibility for the blasts at that time.
Four suspected cattle smugglers were killed when their SUV crashed into a roadside temple near Uttarakhands industrial town of Rudrapur early on Monday.

Police said five people were carrying the carcass of a cow and an ox in a Scorpio to Rampur in Uttar Pradesh when the driver lost control of the vehicle in Dineshpur near Rudrapur, 250km from New Delhi. Four of them, all natives of Rampur, were killed on the spot.

The accident triggered communal tension in the area after rumours that they were killed by cow vigilantes. People from nearby areas poured into Rudrapur, where the bodies were brought for autopsy.

Police suspect the gang used to visit Rudrapur and target stray cattle at night in isolated areas.

The district administration sent additional forces to pre-empt any flare-up in the communally sensitive area. A company of the provincial armed constabulary was immediately rushed to the spot. The situation is under control, additional superintendent of police Pankaj Bhatt said.

We have taken the statement of one of the survivors. He said it was a road accident and there is nothing communal about it.

The district bordering Uttar Pradesh recorded a similar incident a couple of months ago when suspected cattle smugglers hit a policeman who was trying to stop their vehicle.

Police stepped up vigil on Monday to stop the spread of rumours, fuelled by cow vigilantes stepping up attacks across the country on cattle traders to enforce a ban on beef.

Eating beef is not illegal in Uttar Pradesh, although the slaughter of cows is banned. But Uttarakhand has a beef ban in place since 2007.

There is no central law on slaughter of cows, considered sacred in Hinduism, but it has historically been banned in most states although rarely enforced. However, the BJP-led government at the Centre provided a renewed thrust to protect cows as it moved to fulfill a poll promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
82-year-old Rajasthan man Shiv Charan, who vowed to marry only if he passed Class 10 examinations, failed for 47th time.

The results of the Rajasthan boards Class 10 examinations, which were announced on Sunday, shattered his hopes of getting married.

Shiv Charan,also known as Sheojiram or Pappu, is a resident of Kohari village in Behror town around 140 km from Jaipur.

Till the time I am alive I will go on taking the exam, Shiv Charan told IANS on Monday.

Shiv Charan, who lives in a temple, depends on the state govts old age pension to meet his daily needs.

It is not just passing the exam. It will also give me an opportunity to get married, he said.

Despite failing eyesight, problems in hearing and joint pains, his passion to clear the exam remains intact.

In 1995 I passed in all subjects except mathematics, he said.

However, this time, he failed in all subjects, securing zero in some of them. Charan took his first board exams in 1969.
Nasir Rangrej, accused in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case that claimed 56 lives and left 200 others injured, was arrested by a joint team of the Gujarat Crime Branch and the Anti-Terrorism Squad from Belgaum in Karnataka.

Gujarat ATS Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) B.S. Chavda said on Monday it was found during investigations that the blasts were carried out by the Indian Mujahideen and the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), following which accused from both the groups were arrested.

The arrested accused disclosed the name of Nasir Rangrej as one of their members who was not arrested at that time, he added.

The crime branch and the ATS detained Nasir after Sub-Inspector (ATS) R.K. Solanki got the information that he was an auto rickshaw driver in Belgaum, Chavda said.

After questioning, it came to the fore that Nasir joined Safdar Nagori, a SIMI leader, and took physical and bomb device making trainings at various places in Baba Garh (Rajasthan), Khandwa and other places, said Chavda, adding that they were also arrested twice in Karnataka when the state police seized a laptop from their possession in which the police found suspicious details.

Nasir was a member of the group that carried out the 2008 serial blasts. His name was disclosed by other accused arrested in this connection. His abject role will be known after the investigation, he said.

When asked about Nasirs possible allegiance with the Islamic State, the ATS officer said, We could gather this information only during interrogation in the past 24 hours. Further investigations will reveal if he had allegiance with the IS.
Days after two teenagers were found murdered in their house, Birbhum Police arrested their maternal uncle late on Sunday.

Sushmita and Pushpita Sadhu were found with their throats slit on May 16 at their home in Mohammad Bazar police station area.

Police suspected that the girls were murdered over a family dispute regarding a lucrative piece of land bordering the highway in the same area.

In the first major breakthrough in the case that shocked the state, police arrested Ramprasad Saha on Sunday night. He was initially called in for interrogation on Saturday, during which, police found several inconsistencies in his statement.

In the course of the investigation, police recovered the murder weapon  a chopping tool used in most Bengali kitchen  from near 15-year-old Sushmitas body. They also found a pair of shoes that belonged to Saha.

Upon further questioning, Saha spoke of the land dispute he had with his sister Aparna Sadhu, the mother of the girls, for a while now.

The maternal uncle of victims, Ramprasad Saha, has been arrested in this case. He will be produced before the court today, said Birbhum police superintendent, Mukesh Kumar.

During the investigation we have got hints that a dispute over the property led Ramprasad to brutally finish off the two sisters, police sources said.

Police earlier detained four others in connection with the case, including Aparna, her spiritual guru Sabita Mahara, and her two friends, Chandicharan Laha and Subal Mondal. They have not been released yet as police intend to interrogate them further for more information.

At the time of the murder, Aparna was at a local temple. When she returned at around 7:30 pm, she discovered 12-year-old Pushpitas body on the bed and Sushmita on the staircase leading to the first floor.

The girls father, Debasish Sadhu, who works outside of the state, lodged a complaint two days later at Mohammad Bazar police station. Though he didnt name any suspect, he hoped for a proper investigation and extraordinary punishment for the guilty.

Given the circumstances, police strongly suspected that the killer was known to the family and was familiar with the house as nothing was missing.

Police are now trying to determine whether Saha was acting alone or had accomplices.
Indias entry into an elite club controlling nuclear technology is not on the agenda of the groups meeting this week, China said on Monday, but diplomats from the blocs other member-states insisted New Delhis candidature will be taken up.

China has stonewalled Indias membership of the 48-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) on the grounds that it is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The group, set up in response to Indias first nuclear test in 1974, aims to prevent the proliferation of atomic weapons.

Ahead of the NSGs annual plenary meet in Seoul on June 23-24, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Indias application to join the group was not on the agenda.

I want to point out the NSG agenda has never covered any issue concerning non-NPT countries joining the NSG. As we understand the annual conference in Seoul this year also has no such kind of issue or topic, Hua told a regular news briefing.

The opinion of member countries is divided not only about Indias inclusion but also on the entry of all non-NPT members, she said.

Differences in the bloc

But diplomats from other NSG member countries differed with the Chinese perspective, saying their understanding was the issue of new members will be taken up on the final day of the two-day meet.

The NSG, being an informal body, has no fixed agenda and issues taken up at meetings depend on the views of members. New Delhi hopes several countries will raise the question of its membership and force China to take a stand, the diplomats said.

The US on Monday said it continues to call member nations to back Indias membership, further indicating that New Delhis application is, contrary to the Chinese assertion, on the agenda.

We continue to call on the participating governments of the NSG to support Indias application at the plenary session this week in Seoul, US state department spokesman John Kirby said.

South Korea, which currently holds the NSG chairmanship, is expected back India.

China adopted a similar position when India secured a US-backed exemption from NSG sanctions in 2008 as part of the landmark nuclear deal between the two countries. Even then, Beijing had declared the Indian exemption was not on the agenda, but the US had raised the issue and Germany, the then chairman, had accepted it for discussion.

India has ramped up efforts to win backing for its NSG bid, reaching out to key world capitals such as Washington and London and sending foreign secretary S Jaishankar on a low-key visit to Beijing last week to lobby for its inclusion.

Chinas categorical statement came just a day after external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said Beijing was not against New Delhis inclusion but was talking only about the criteria and procedures.

Read | China not protesting our NSG bid, only talking of procedure: Swaraj

Need for consensus

Hua told the news briefing Indias bid is not in a matured stage, and needs consensus and detailed discussions among NSG members because New Delhi still has not signed the NPT, the cornerstone pact against the spread of nuclear weapons.

The NSG works on the principle of consensus and a single hold-out country can spoil Indias chance to be part of the grouping.

Beijings stance might make a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tashkent on June 23 awkward.

After Mondays statement, it is also unlikely Modi and Xi will be able to work out a last minute deal before the NSG plenary ends on June 24.

India has argued that joining the NSG will give it access to technology needed for clean energy. China has spearheaded the campaign to prevent Indias inclusion while saying that its all weather ally Pakistan should be treated at par with India.

Pakistan and Namibia too have applied to join the NSG.

(With inputs from HTC, Washington, DC)
Indias entry into an elite club controlling access to sensitive nuclear technology is not on the agenda at a meeting of the 48-member bloc this week, China announced on Monday, a day after foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said Beijing is not opposed to New Delhis bid.

China has stonewalled Indias membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group on the grounds that it is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The group, set up in response to Indias first nuclear test in 1974, aims to prevent the proliferation of atomic weapons.

Ahead of the NSGs annual plenary meeting in Seoul on June 24, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said Indias application to join the group was not on the agenda.

I want to point out the NSG agenda has never covered any issue concerning non-NPT countries joining the NSG. As we understand the annual conference in Seoul this year also has no such kind of issue or topic, Hua told a regular news briefing.

The opinion of member countries is divided not only about Indias inclusion but also on the inclusion of all non-NPT members, she said.

New Delhi has ramped up efforts to win backing for its NSG bid, reaching out to key world capitals such as Washington and London and sending foreign secretary S Jaishankar on a low-key visit to Beijing last week to lobby for Indias inclusion.

Chinas categorical statement came as a surprise as Swaraj had said on Sunday that Beijing was not against New Delhis inclusion but was talking only about the criteria and procedures.

Hua said Indias bid is not in a matured stage, and needs consensus and detailed discussions among NSG members because New Delhi still has not signed the NPT, the cornerstone pact against the spread of nuclear weapons.

Read:Why NSG membership matters to India: All you need to know

China alone isnt against Indias inclusion and the NSG is still divided about non-NPT countries entry into NSG, she said, adding the NSG will need to have thorough discussion to make a decision based on consultation.

Beijings stance could make the upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tashkent on June 23 awkward.

And, after todays statement, it is unlikely Modi and Xi will be able to work out a last minute deal before the NSG plenary meet the following day.

India has argued that joining the NSG will give it access to technology needed for clean energy. China has spearheaded the campaign to prevent Indias inclusion while saying that its all weather ally Pakistan should be treated at par with India.

Pakistan and Namibia too have applied to join the NSG.

Speaking about Jaishankars visit, Hua said he had met foreign minister Wang Yi to seek Chinas support.

He (Jaishankar) expressed Indias hope about joining the NSG because India is in need of large amount of nuclear energy to deal with climate change, Hua said.

According to Hua, Wang told Jaishankar China understands Indias need for nuclear energy but also sees the NPT as the cornerstone for non-proliferation.

China said we understand Indias requirement for developing nuclear energy and we affirmed importance of NPT as the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime, Hua quoted Wang as saying.

Referring to the applications by India, Pakistan and Namibia, Hua said, We understand that non-NPT countries are very concerned about their entry into the NSG but since NSG is still divided on this issue it is still not mature to talk about the entry issue at the annual conference in Seoul.

The NSG works on the principle of consensus and a single hold-out country can spoil Indias chance to be part of the grouping. India has got the backing of most countries, including the US, Britain, Italy, Mexico, Switzerland and Russia.

Opponents argue that granting India membership will hurt efforts to prevent proliferation. It will also irk Indias rival Pakistan.
The rift within the CPI(M) over its alliance with the Congress in West Bengal took its first toll on Monday. Jagmati Sangwan, a central committee member from Haryana, resigned from the panel in protest of the alliance.

The veteran communist was almost in tears when she said the alliance with the Congress was not in sync with the partys political tactical line adopted in the party congress last year.

Sangwan also skipped the ongoing meeting of the central committee in protest.

The Bengal units decision to go with the Congress has already sparked a debate. The Kerala leadership, which is fighting the Congress, tried to corner their Bengal counterpart. Pressure is also on party general secretary Sitaram Yechury as he sided with the Bengal unit.


Former Bihar education board chairperson Lalkeswar Prasad Singh and wife Usha Sinha have been arrested for an examination scandal that shook the state, police said on Monday.

A controversy broke out last month when a television channel showed Rubi Ray - Bihars topper in political science - was unable to answer the most basic questions as allegations of large-scale irregularities in the exam system surfaced.

Singh, alleged to be the kingpin of the intermediate results scandal, and his wife had been on the run since June 9. Authorities issued a lookout notice for the couple after the court issued an arrest warrant. They were changing their locations frequently even as police kept up pressure, officials said.

They will be produced at a court in Varanasi before being taken to Patna on transit remand.

Pressure on Singh and Usha, a former legislator of the ruling Janata Dal (United), mounted after the arrest of Bachcha Rai, the director-cum-principal of a college in Vaishali district that came under the scanner.

The college allegedly produced toppers in different streams by using unfair means in connivance of Bihar School Examination Board officials. Singh, who quit after the allegations, is accused of giving undue favours to the institute.

After the arrest, police said they had specific information about Singh and Ushas whereabouts in Varanasi.

The police had information and it acted on it swiftly. The police team was camping in Benaras for the last few days to track them, PK Thakur, Bihar director general of police said.

An official, who is part of the investigation, said the interrogation of the two could unravel the entire nexus and modus operandi of the exam scam racket.

Read| In Bihar board toppers re-exam, experts test knowledge, not ability to top

Read| Results of two Bihar board toppers cancelled after poor performance in re-test
A small town in western Uttar Pradesh is under the scanner of security agencies after police traced six suspected members of the al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) to a Muslim-majority locality.

Police say AQIS chief Maulana Asim Umar alias Sanaul Haque  who is currently in Pakistan  hails from Sambhal, which has emerged as a possible new terror hub. Haque reportedly lived near the Roze Wali Masjid, a mere 200 metres from the houses of Mohammad Asif and Zafar Masood, who were arrested in 2015 for being alleged key AQIS operatives in India.

Three others  Syed Akhtar, 41, Sharjeel, 22 and Usman, 37  are said to be in Pakistan. Investigators say Sambhals sizeable Muslim population and religious atmosphere may have played a part in fanning extremism  two factors in common with other suspected hubs such as Azamgarh and Bhatkal. Indian Mujahideen operative Yasin Bhatkal also chose towns with traits similar to Sambhal for recruitment and fund-raising, officials said.

You could say Sambhal was the first perfect model the likes of Bhatkals looked for and cultivated, says Shri Dhar Pathak, former inspector general of UP police.

The town  just 200 kilometres from Delhi  has a substantial number of expats in the West Asia, particularly Saudi Arabia, remitting huge amounts of cash. Ideologically driven, they make generous donations to seminaries. Haque, a student of the Deoband seminary, was among the five men from Sambhal and adjoining areas to have moved as a Harkat-ul-Mujahideen fighter to Pakistan in 1994, said an official of the UP-Anti Terror Squad. Haque studied at the Billaria Madarsa -- which produced the Taliban leadership -- before fighting in Afghanistan.

Sambhals tryst with notoriety began in 2000 when some local young men were picked up by police for their alleged role in an attack on the Red Fort in Delhi.

Two more men were arrested for alleged links with another terror module in 2001 but were cleared. Security sources said Sambhal and nearby Amroha were found connected with the Sankat Mochan temple blasts in Varanasi (2006). The UP-ATS says a Sambhal-Amroha-Bijnor-Saharanpur link was evident in 99% of the terror modules busted or pursued since 2007.

I am not surprised at this discovery, says Prakash Singh, former DG BSF. Sambhal has always been notoriously communal. That is the understanding of the place I developed as DIG of Bareilly. Police have to think out of the box to prevent youngsters from falling under the influence of terror groups, he said.

The town has seen prosperity in the last two decades.

It used to be a backward place with a high rate of illiteracy but found wealth in exporting artwork on animal horns. These had a big market in West Asia, said Dilip Trivedi, a former BSF director general who led the operation to bust the first terror module of the state in Aligarh in 1993.

That was around the time when a large number of people began flocking to west Asian countries for a better life.

Sambhal now has 40 seminaries. Ten of them are in Deepa Sarai where the alleged AQIS members come from.

The ideological network in the region is strong. In this case, one can see many similarities with the IM modules cracked previously, said a home ministry official.

But the people of Sambhal disprove the terror hub tag, calling the arrest of Asif and Zafar as part of a conspiracy to label the town as another Azamgarh. My brother was a religious man. His children were his life, said Asifs brother Sadiq.

Allah jaane how agencies linked him to al Qaeda. He didnt even have the money to pay school fee of his kids. And where is the evidence of his travelling to Afghanistan and Pakistan for training?

Shafiqur Rehman Barq, who represented Sambhal in the state assembly and Lok Sabha four times each, blamed the BJP for tarnishing the image of Sambhal and Muslims. It was their (BJP) policy to weaken the unity of Muslims by implicating them in false cases and derive political benefits from the communitys state of confusion, he said.

State minister and local MLA Nawab Iqbal Mehmood called it a conspiracy. But BJPs district president Rajesh Singhal said instead of criticising the police, the minister should have demanded action against those involved in terrorist activities. Singhal said he would not allow Sambhal to become Kairana.
A news agency linked with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) looks set for a major expansion, with some help from the NDA government.

A new policy on print media advertisements has included Hindusthan Samachar as one of the three news agencies to which newspapers could subscribe, to score points to qualify for government ads.

The other two agencies are the Press Trust of India (PTI) and the United News of India (UNI).

Hindusthan Samachar was started in 1948 as a multilingual agency by senior RSS pracharak Shivram Shankar Apte, who along with Sangh ideologue MS Golwalkar co-founded the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) too.

But the agency ran into trouble with the Indira Gandhi government during Emergency in the 1970s and never stood up on its feet again. It was eventually shut down in 1986.

The RSS started working on its revival in 2000 when the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government was in power at the Centre. With the return of a BJP government at the Centre, Hindusthan Samachar  with its office above a temple in New Delhis Paharganj  hopes to expand its reach. It will soon move to a swanky office in Noida.

The inclusion is expected to raise subscription revenue for the Sanghs news agency and make the task of reaching millions of people with its nationalist perspective financially sustainable. Over 8,000 publications  most of them small and medium  are empanelled with the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity to get government advertisements. Last year, the government spent more than Rs 400 crore on advertisements in print media.

Under the new policy announced this June to reduce discretion and promote transparency, the government introduced a marking scheme to identify medium and large newspapers that could get its advertisements for the maximum impact. Newspapers have to score at least 45 out of 100.

So there are marks for newspapers to get their circulation certified  such as subscribe to the employees provident fund, pay subscription dues to regulator Press Council of India, number of pages and so on. Newspapers that subscribe to any of the three news agencies, PTI, UNI or HS will get 15 points.

Junior information and broadcasting minister Rajyavardhan Rathore could not be contacted for his comments. But a senior government official defended the entry of RSS-backed Hindusthan Samachar into the list, saying it was done on merit, not ideology.

There really is no way that the government could have kept Hindusthan Samachar out of this list ... Unlike PTI and UNI, they (Hindusthan Samachar) deliver news in regional languages, the official said.

It would have been unfair to the vernacular media to nudge them to subscribe to a news agency that only delivers news in English, Hindi or Urdu, the official explained.

A senior Hindusthan Samachar official denied the RSS, the BJPs ideological mentor, had anything to do with its inclusion in the new advertising policy.

Satish Raghuvanshi, who heads the agencys business development, said it applied after hearing that the government was firming up the new policy, and got in.

The agency survived attempts by former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi to close it. But we grew stronger and are Indias only multi-lingual agency providing news to our subscribers in 10 Indian languages ... Our inclusion is just, he said.

BJP parliamentarian RK Sinha is the patron of the agencys board of directors.

For now, the agency appears to target newspapers in regional languages rather than English.

The English news page of its website  that claims to have a subscriber base of 500 newspapers  was last updated in March 2015 but the pages in regional languages are regularly updated.

Incidentally, the news agency does not have a single correspondent accredited to the central governments Press Information Bureau.

Asked if the agency reflected the Sanghs ideology, Raghuvanshi said its reportage only reflected its own nationalist views, fulfilled the expectation of diversity in news and fought the misinformation campaign of Marxists who too had tried to strangle the institution.
Pakistans interior minister on Monday alleged that Hindu extremist groups like RSS and Shiv Sena are the biggest hurdle to normalisation of Indo-Pak ties and asked external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to name the forces which she said are against good bilateral relations.

If the Indian foreign minister is serious and determined for (good) ties with Pakistan, then she should not talk through riddles or try for political point scoring. In fact, she should clarify and point out which forces in her opinion were against good ties between Pakistan and India, interior minister Nisar Ali Khan said.

Khan was reacting to Swarajs remarks that there are forces which do not want good relations between the Prime Ministers of the two countries and better ties between the two neighbours.

The Pakistani minister said in his opinion extremist groups like RSS, Shiv Sena and Abhinav Bharat were the biggest hurdle in the way of normalisation of ties as such groups have influence over the Indian government.

If Indian government was serious in normalisation of ties, then why it has closed doors for talks, Khan asked.

He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech in the US Congress, sarcastically saying that each word used by him showed his friendship policy for Pakistan.

Khan said Sharifs relations with any world leader were above his personal relations and Indian foreign minister should not try to portray Sharif-Modi relations as personal.

On Saturday, Sushma Swaraj said Pakistan has not refused to allow an NIA team to visit that country to probe the Pathankot airbase attack case and just sought more time. She had said the warmth and ease in relationship between Modi and Sharif can help resolve complex issues between the two neighbours.

In his address to the US Congress earlier this month, Modi had said that though the shadow of terrorism is spreading across the world, it is incubated in Indias neighbourhood.

Without naming Pakistan, he had commended members of the US Congress for sending a clear message to those who preach and practice terrorism for political gains.

Refusing to reward them is the first step towards holding them accountable for their actions, he added.
Hindus in Pakistans Sindh province are protesting the sale of shoes inscribed with sacred religious symbol Om and described the actions of shopkeepers selling them as unfortunate and blasphemous.

The patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC), Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, said that they have lodged protests with the Sindh government and local authorities in Tando Adam Khan after the sale of such shoes was brought to the notice of his community.

Since the last three years on the occasion of Muslim Eid festival, some shopkeepers in Tando Adam are offering shoes on which Hindu religious holy name Om is displayed. Its purpose is just to insult the sentiments of local Hindus, Vankwani said on Sunday.

He added the sale of such shoes was an insult to the Hindus in Pakistan as it is blasphemous to use the sacred word Om on shoes.

The pictures of these shoes have been circulated on the social media by concerned members of the Hindu community and we demand they be removed from the shops immediately, Vankwani said.

Pakistan Hindu Seva, a group working for religious harmony in Pakistan, alleged that Zeb Shoes, owned by Farman Ahmed in Tando Jam, is selling the sandals and must be barred from doing so as it is hurting the sentiments of the community and spreading hatred.

It also urged the locals of Tando Adam to address the issue by remaining within the jurisdiction of law to avoid any violence.

As Om is the sacred religious symbol of Hinduism which talks about the oneness of God, lets protect this oneness peacefully for the progressive and positive face of Pakistan. Lets appeal the authorities concerned to take notice of the matter immediately to override any expected mistrust within the locals, a statement released by the group said.

Local Sindhi newspapers have also reported that similar shoes are being sold in some other places of Sindh.

Earlier this month, a Hindu man over 80 years was brutally assaulted by a police constable for selling food before iftar, the evening meal with which Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast at sunset in the remote village of Hayat Pitafi in Sindhs Ghotki district.

Reports say there are around eight million Hindus in the country with a population of 180 million people. Most of the Pakistani Hindus reside in the southern province of Sindh.
That the trucks are from Pakistan is evident from the elaborate decoration and calligraphy on their frames. Loaded with potatoes, apples and dry fruits, they have crossed the Line of Control  the de-facto border between India and Pakistan  and are headed towards the quiet border town of Salamabad.

Simultaneously, an equally large convoy of trucks  carrying bananas and spices  sets off from Salamabad and snakes its way towards Pakistan occupied Kashmir. This goods exchange takes place four days a week (Tuesday to Friday) through two routes  from Chakan-da-Bagh in Jammu and Salamabad in Kashmir.

A trader exports an item worth a certain amount across the LoC and his counterpart there sends back goods worth an equal amount. The goods that are exchanged have to be from the list of 21 items mutually accepted by both sides.

Started in 2008, this barter trade was meant as a key Confidence Building Measure (CBM) between India and Pakistan. The focus was back on it last Monday when chief minister Mehbooba Mufti told the assembly that the Centre had agreed to set up banking and communication facilities for the cross-LoC trade. She was also pushing for opening a few more trade routes, Mehbooba told the house.

According to the ministry of industries and commerce, goods worth over Rs 2,800 crore  Rs 1,496.96 crore worth exports and Rs 1,307.62 crore worth imports  were traded through the LoC between April 2013 and March 2016.

What sets the cross-LoC trade apart is that no currency changes hand and most of the business deal is done between relatives on either side of the border

It works entirely on a barter system based on trust, says Hilal Turkie, president of the Salamabad cross-LoC traders union. He adds that many traders do business with a cousin or an uncle who probably crossed the LoC when militancy erupted in the 1990s.

Shailendra Kumar, commissioner secretary of the industry and commerce department of the state, told HT, The barter system is not a confirmed trading practice. Unless it is monetised, it is neither transparent nor profit-making.

Every week, 140 trucks are sent across LoC from the Trade Facilitation Centre (TFC) at Salamabad and the 347 traders registered at this TFC get their turn based on an alphabetic roster.

The existing TFCs do not have an officially sanctioned means of communication. Traders talk to each other via internet-based caller apps like WhatsApp and Viber. But it is no match for face-to-face negotiations, which the traders have been demanding.

One major worry for any trader is the insecurity. Once he has sent his items across, he remains worried until he gets the goods he ordered in return. Moreover, there is no check on the quality of the items shipped, nor is there a mechanism to ascertain its exact value, says Peer GN Suhail, a Srinagar-based policy analyst.

Most traders agree that a formal banking system will mean more freedom.

Bilal Ahmad Butt, a trader from Baramulla, says, If there is a banking facility, then I will have the freedom to do better business and have bargaining power. In the present system, we are tied to the one or two people we trust to do our business with.

Another section of traders also want an increase in the number of items and the number of trading days.

THE ROAD TO BILATERAL PEACE? ITEMS EXPORTED Carpets, rugs, wall hangings, shawls and stoles, embroidered rugs, embroidered items (including crewel), furniture (including walnut furniture), wooden handicrafts, fresh fruits and vegetables, dry fruits, saffron, aromatic plants, fruit-bearing plants, dhania, moong, imli and black mushrooms, Kashmiri spices, rajmah, honey, paper mache products, mattresses, cushions, pillows and quilts, and medicinal herbs

ITEMS IMPORTED: Rice, jahnamaz and tusbies, precious stones, gabbas, namdas, Peshawari leather chappals, medicinal herbs, maize and maize products, fresh fruits and vegetables, dry fruits, honey, moong, imli, black mushroom, furniture (including walnut furniture), wooden handicrafts, carpets and rugs, wall hangings, embroidered items, mattresses, cushions, pillows, shawls and stoles

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A gunfight between militants and security forces broke out late on Monday evening in Jammu and Kashmirs Kupwara district after a top commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) outfit was arrested there, police said.

The gunfight started some distance away from the Sogam market in Kupwara, after police arrested a top LeT commander, Abu Ukasha, alias Hanzullah.

Reports said the LeT commander was arrested in Sogam town market while he was making some purchases there around 7 p.m.

Firing is going on, the police officer said.
A day after saying saffronisation of education and the country would take place if it was good for India, junior human resource development (HRD) minister, Ramshanker Katheria, clarified his statements saying whatever is good for the country would be accepted, immaterial of the colour.

Katherias statements on Sunday stoked a new controversy when he stated education will get a saffronisation while addressing a function in Lucknow University. The BJP MP for Agra, and also Union minister of state for the HRD ministry, was invited to celebrate Hindvi Swaraj Diwas Samaroh to mark the 342nd coronation year of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji.

Read | Saffronisation of education will happen if it helps India: Smriti Iranis deputy

However, by Monday, Katheria was quick to clarify that the countrys best interests would be upheld.

I just said whatever is good for the nation, well accept that; whether its Bhagwakaran (saffron) or green or red colour, he said while speaking to ANI.

He further alleged that there was a conspiracy afoot to malign Bhagwa (saffronisation).

Bhagwa ko badnaam karne ki koshish jaanboojh kar kii jaa rahi hai, ye theek nahin hai (there are attempts to bring a bad name to saffron, this isnt right), he said.

The opposition has relentlessly attacked the ruling NDA over what it perceives as a saffron agenda, including the centres emphasis on Sanskrit in education.

However, in his Sunday speech, Katheria was fairly direct in his meaning.

It is for the benefit of the country and whatever is good for the country... Call it bhagwakaran (saffronisation) or sanghwad if you will, but it will be done, he said.

Given the recent controversies over nationalism including the lynching of man suspected of eating beef in Bisada, the BJP leadership cautioned its members from making such statements. The party hopes to curry electoral favour in the next round of state assembly elections scheduled in 2017 by focusing on the development agenda of Modis government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants his government to speak in one voice, at least before the court.

The Centre has pulled out a long-forgotten circular issued in 1994 to insist that Union ministries consult each other before taking a stand before courts rather than create avoidable confusion by contradicting each other.

Last week, cabinet secretary PK Sinha reminded central ministries that this ground rule be applied to all court cases.

It has, however, been observed that at times different departments take up divergent positions/individual interpretations in court cases thereby causing avoidable confusion in the submissions finally deliberated upon before the courts, Sinha said in his letter to all departments and ministries.

For the future, Sinha pointed that it was the responsibility of the administrative ministry concerned with a particular issue to file affidavits in court after consulting related ministries for a coordinated approach. But if the courts also require other ministries to file an affidavit, the cabinet secretary  who reports directly to the Prime Minister  said a short affidavit endorsing the views of the administrative ministry could be filed.

The circular is in line with Modis stress on ministries taking a coordinated approach rather than working in silos.

I would therefore request you to ensure that differences, if any,...in any particular court matter are resolved through mutual consultation... It may also be ensured that the counter affidavits are filed only after appropriate vetting by the Department of Legal Affairs, the cabinet secretary said.

Recently, there were red faces in the government when Union ministers Maneka Gandhi and Prakash Javadekar had a public spat over the culling of animals.

Gandhi, in her capacity as an animal rights activist, had criticised the governments clearances to kill wild animals in conflict with humans.

The most controversial case where two ministries took contradictory stand in the court, however, is the clash between the ministries of home and health over their stand on decriminalisation of homosexuality in 2008.

The health ministry had supported decriminalising homosexuality while the home ministry had taken a more conservative approach.

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India eased on Monday foreign direct investment rules for several sectors, including defence, aviation and retail, clearing the way for businesses such as Apple to open its stores, in sweeping changes aimed at conveying the governments commitment to reforms.

The latest move comes two days after Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan, a darling of financial markets, unexpectedly announced he would return to academia when his term ends on September 4. Mondays decisions are also seen designed to contain any fallout on investor confidence from Rajans exit and this weeks vote on Britains future in the European Union.

Indias equity and currency markets, which fell sharply in early morning trade on Rajans announcement, rebounded cheering the new FDI norms. The 30-share BSE Sensex, which fell 178 points shortly after markets opened, bounced back to close at 26,866.92 up 241 points.

The rupee also recovered from a 61 paise plunge in the morning to close 23 paise down at Rs 67.31 to a dollar.

The government lifted overseas investment ceilings for civil aviation, defence, pharmaceuticals, multi-brand food retail and eased so-called restrictive conditions for single brand retail. The decision to relax the norms was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.

Read: India now most open economy in the world for FDI, says Modi

Key reform decisions were taken at a high level meeting, which makes India the most open economy in the world for FDI, Modi said in a tweet.

In a second tweet, he said the changes would provide a major impetus to employment and job creation in India.

But a policy body linked to the BJPs ideological fount, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, decried Mondays decisions, terming them a betrayal of peoples trust that would spell the death knell for local businessmen.

In doing so, this government has not done any good to the country in general and local businessmen in particular, said Ashwani Mahajan, the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch national co-convener.

Commerce and industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the decisions would help in attracting more investments, creating jobs and making India the global manufacturing hub.

The government relaxed local sourcing norms up to three years for entities undertaking single brand retail rrading of products having state-of-art and cutting edge technology.

Read: Govt allows 100% foreign direct investment in airlines, brownfield projects

This will likely benefit Apples plans to open its signature stores in India as the government relaxed the condition that stipulates companies to source atleast 30% of their components or merchandise for being eligible to set up company run retail stores in India.

The California-based company, whose CEO Tim Cook was in India recently, had sought easing of this norm to enable it to open stores that sell iPhone, iPads and its other proprietary products. Apple sells in India through distributors, such as, Redington, Ingram Micro and Bettel.

The government also allowed up to 100% FDI in domestic airlines and new airports, a move that will allow foreign companies to fully-own Indian domestic carriers and `greenfield airports and upto 74% in existing airports.

Overseas carriers, however, still cant run domestic airlines in India through fully-owned subsidiaries as the ceiling of 49% FDI by foreign airlines stays

In defence, upto 100% FDI has now been allowed without the mandatory condition of bringing in state-of-the-art technology by the foreign partners.

FDI limit for defence sector has also been made applicable to Manufacturing of Small Arms and Ammunitions covered under Arms Act 1959.

Sitharaman rejected the view that the new FDI rules were announced to counter the possible negative impact on markets of Rajans announcement.

This work was going on for a couple of months. Can all this work be done in a day? It is proper to make the announcement when the work is complete.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the central government of shielding BJP MP Maheish Girri for the murder of MM Khan, a legal officer with the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), on Monday.

He shud be arrested n interrogated by Modi police in MM Khan murder case. Modi police shielding him https://t.co/CteaT9cWJO  Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) June 20, 2016

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has demanded that BJP MP Mahesh Girri and NDMC vice-chairman Karan Singh Tanwar be investigated for the murder since they wrote to lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung, seeking Khans removal from the department.

Delhi chief minister and AAP chief, Arvind Kejriwal, further accused Jung of trying to shield Girri and Tanwar.

Girri, however, challenged Kejriwal to prove the allegations in a public debate at Constitution Club, staging a protest outside his house on Sunday. Threatening to take legal action against Kejriwal for the baseless accusations, he further said he would quit politics in case AAP did prove him guilty.

... I want to go to the peoples court. Either he should prove the allegations or he should resign. He should accept that he has made a mistake, the BJP MP from East Delhi said.

Continuing his attack on Kejriwal on Monday, the MP lashed at him for dragging in the Prime Ministers name in to the controversy.

Your obsession with PMOIndia, Narendra Modi is such that you begin your day with Modi japaa yet again... Arvind Kejriwal is brining up Modi Jis name again and again just to deflect from this issue and to cover up his own shortcomings, Girri posted on Twitter.

But Why doesn't @arvindkejriwal share the evidences that he has?

Why only wish to get me arrested? Why he is not proving my involvement?  Maheish Girri (@MaheishGirri) June 20, 2016

MM Khan was an estate officer-cum-legal adviser for the NDMC. He was shot dead near his home in southeast Delhis Jamia Nagar on May 16.

Police arrested hotelier Ramesh Kakkar, believed to be the main accused who hired contract killers for the job.

Khan was set to pass an order regarding the lease terms of a disputed property of Kakkars on May 17.
Contact between the National Security Advisers of India and Pakistan, which had emerged as a key channel of communication against the backdrop of frayed ties, has snapped for almost three months now, government sources said on Monday.

The two top security officials have not spoken since Pakistans NSA Nasser Khan Janjua called his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval late in March to inform him of the arrest of alleged Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, three sources familiar with the issue told Hindustan Times. Two of the sources are in Pakistan and the third in India.

There has been no contact between the two NSAs since then, either on phone or through other channels, one of the Pakistani sources said.

The Indian source said New Delhi had taken a dim view of the Pakistani militarys decision to name the Indian NSA as one of the handlers controlling Jadhav at a news conference on March 29.

The contact between the NSAs had assumed importance because the dialogue between the two countries had stalled shortly after the Modi government came to power over the Pakistani envoys meetings with Kashmiri separatists.

Their interactions had also resulted in the sharing of information on possible terror attacks. Just days before the last conversation between Janjua and Doval, the Pakistani NSA had provided an unprecedented alert to his Indian counterpart on March 5 about possible fidayeen attacks in Gujarat during Maha Shivratri.

On April 7, Pakistan high commissioner Abdul Basit had said the dialogue with India was suspended as there were no plans for the foreign secretaries to meet.

Read | Terror and talks cant go together: Sushma on India-Pak ties

Janjua and Doval first met secretly in Bangkok on December 6, taking the media in India and Pakistan by surprise. That four-and-a-half hour meeting paved the way for external affairs minister Sushma Swarajs visit to Islamabad to attend the Heart of Asia summit a few days later.

The contacts between the NSAs was an initiative whereby both sides felt they could chart a new route, said Commodore (retired) C Uday Bhaskar, director of the Society for Policy Studies.

The Pakistani military has reasserted its position of primacy and is not going to allow any form of independent contact or line of communication with India, he said.

Referring to a recent meeting of cabinet ministers chaired by Pakistan Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters, Bhaskar said, We know whos calling the shots. Its a reiteration of the familiar pattern of the Pakistani military demonstrating the subalternity to which the civilian establishment has been reduced.

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When the world bends its back and twists to celebrate the healing powers of yoga on Tuesday, Bihar will be singing a completely different tune.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar has decided not to observe International Day of Yoga, apparently taking offence at the BJP-led central government cold shouldering his call for countrywide prohibition, an issue close to his heart.

Instead, the state will observe the World Music Day which coincides with the day the world celebrates the ancient Indian art.

The Centre is spending huge money on promotion of yoga. It has converted yoga into a political akhara (wrestling ground), whereas the fact is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is using it for self-branding, said JD(U) spokesperson Sanjay Singh.

Read: PM Modi, 57 ministers to lead Yoga Day celebrations across India

Bihar imposed prohibition in April and since then Kumar has been pushing the Centre and other states to follow suit.

Kumar has had a longstanding political rivalry with Modi. He broke off the JD-Us years-old alliance with the BJP ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls after Modi was named the NDAs prime ministerial candidate.

While Modi went on to become the Prime Minister, Kumar returned as chief minister after trouncing the BJP in last years assembly polls. His promise of imposing total prohibition paid rich dividends with women voters backing the alliance of the JD (U), RJD and Congress.

Modi, on the other hand, takes pride in giving a global push to the ancient Indian practice of yoga. Last year, the United Nations dedicated June 21 to yoga.

The Bihar unit of BJP said Kumars decision to skip yoga day was narrow minded.

We (the NDA government) got yoga international recognition, but Nitish Kumar is indulging in petty politics by not organising any event. It only shows his bankruptcy, said senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav.

Though BJP will not organise any yoga programme, Union ministers Ravishankar Prasad, Giriraj Singh, Ram Kripal Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan are expected to attend separate functions of different organizations including Ramdevs Patanjali Yogpeeth at Gandhi Maidan in Patna.

Kumar, however, has his reasons for linking yoga to prohibition.

During a public rally at Palamu in Jharkhand on Sunday, he said yoga was irrelevant without a country-wide ban on liquor.

Yoga is a natural treatment process, which liquor addicts cannot perform.

However, the official music day celebrations will have nothing new, according to officials  like every year, classical artistes will perform at a programme in Patna.

We are not holding any function on yoga but are celebrating the World Music Day, which also falls the same day, said a senior officer of the art, culture and youth affairs department.

The minister of the department Shiv Chandra Ram could not be reached for comments.

World Music Day, which originated in France in 1982, celebrates accessibility to good music and the special bond it creates between people across geographical barriers.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Chandigarh on Monday evening to participate in the second International Yoga Day celebrations.

He was received at the airport by Punjab and Haryana governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar, official sources said.

Prime minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to perform 45 minutes of yoga asanas along with 30,500 participants at the Capitol Complex between 7am and 7.45 am on Tuesday, a day the Met department has predicted possible rains and thunderstorm in the Union territory.

Capitol Complex, one of the structures in India that is vying for heritage status under the transnational serial dossier, includes buildings such as the Punjab and Haryana high court, Vidhan Sabha, Geometric hill and the Open Hand.

Thousands of security personnel, workers and officials in the government worked round-the-clock in the run-up to the high-profile programme .

At least 7,000 security personnel, including 4,000 paramilitary jawans and 3,000 officers of Chandigarh Police, will guard the venue in the city where prohibitory orders have been issued at several places.

Around 200 close circuit television cameras have been installed around the complex and outside the Punjab Raj Bhawan where the PM is staying. LED screens have also been put up for a live screening of the main event.

Punjab and Haryana governor and UT administrator Kaptan Singh Solanki, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, state health minister Anil Vij and Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher besides ministers from Punjab and Haryana are expected to participate in the event.

Haryana is co-host of the mega event being held in Chandigarh.

Participants perform yoga during full dress rehearsal ahead of World Yoga Day in Chandigarh. (REUTERS)

Apart from the main venue, yoga will also be conducted at 180 camps across the city. These centres will be connected to the main venue through LEDs.

The Union territory administration, along with Ayush ministry, has spent over Rs 14 crore on the event and the four-day yoga festival held in different areas of Chandigarh.

Here is a look at what is expected in other states:

Haryana

Haryana health minister Anil Vij said lakhs of people across the state would perform yoga during district, sub-divisional, tehsil and village-level programmes.

He said that 10,000 practitioners from Haryana would participate in the national-level event at Chandigarh. More than one lakh participants would perform yoga at the programme in Faridabad, he said.

Vij said that apart from this Yog Mahotsav was organised at all district headquarters on June 19 and 20.

Uttar Pradesh

Like last year, Union home minister Rajnath Singh would perform asanas in Lucknow at KD Singh Babu Stadium. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), central zone, which comes under the home ministry, has invited the Union home minister to be the chief guest at the yoga day function.

More than 15,000 people are expected to turn up for the function that will start at 6am.

Preparations on at the KD Singh Babu stadium, where home minister Rajnath Singh will take part in the Yoga Day celebrations. (Deepak Gupta/HT Photo)

Various organisations like Nehru Yuva Kendra, Patanjali Yogpeeth, Art of Living, Prajapati Brahmakumari are partners in this event, Arvind Upadhyay, CRPF deputy commandant, said.

Around 10 other ministers, including Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Nirmala Sitharaman and Maneka Gandhi, will be in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh to lead programmes that include mass yoga events, workshops and seminars.

Read: PM Modi, 57 ministers to lead Yoga Day celebrations across India

Madhya Pradesh

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Union human resource development minister Smriti Irani besides several other ministers and officials of the state are likely to participate in the event at Bhopals Lal Prade Ground.

As many as 6,000 school children, 1,000 college students, 1,500 members of NCC and others, 500 participants each from Patanjali Yogpeeth and the Art of Living and 1,000 participants of paramilitary forces including CRPF (police), CISF, ITBP and SSB in Bhopal will participate in the event.

Uttarakhand

Some 5,000 people will attend an event to mark the second edition of International Yoga Day in state capital Dehraduns Pavilion Ground.

Chief minister Harish Rawat will attend the session besides a large number of state bureaucrats. The Congress-led state government has also declared that Panwalia village in Rudraprayag district will be developed as the Yoga Gram.

In Haridwar, employees of yoga guru Ramdevs Patanjali Yogpeeth, as well as his followers, will attend the session.

However, Ramdev will participate in a similar session in Faridabad in Haryana, where he plans to set a world record.

Ramdev and BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi perform yoga during the rehearsals for the upcoming International Yoga Day at Rajpath in New Delhi. (Virendra Singh Gosain/HT Photo)

Rajasthan

Chief minister Vasundhara Raje along with Union water resources minister Uma Bharti will attend the state-level function at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium in Jaipur.

More than 40,000 people are expected to take part in this event.

Chhattisgarh

Over 2,500 people are likely to participate in a programme to mark the event at the Kendriya Vidyalaya in WRS Colony in state capital Raipur from 6.30am onwards.

Chief minister Raman Singh, Union minister Piyush Goyal, local MP and MLAs are expected to attend the programme.

Bihar

No official ceremony has been planned in Bihar and the state government has instead decided to celebrate the day as world music day.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar, who has emerged as an anti-liquor crusader, said that yoga was irrelevant without a country-wide ban on liquor during a public rally at Palamu in Jharkhand on Sunday.

Yoga is a natural treatment process, which liquor addicts cannot perform. Yoga will be irrelevant unless liquor is banned across the country, he said.

This is for the second consecutive year that Bihar will not hold any official function on Yoga Day.

Read: On Modis yoga day, Nitish decides to sing a different tune in Bihar

Telangana

There is no major event planned in Hyderabad on Yoga Day.

However, Isha Foundation of spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev will be hosting a series of programmes in different parts of the city for students on June 21.

Read: Modern science agrees: Yoga can help with back pain, anxiety and more

Yoga posture lights up UN headquarters in NYC ahead of Yoga Day
Rahul Gandhi will travel out of the country on a short trip, the official Twitter handle of the Congress vice-president posted on Monday, a day after he turned 46.

The Congress leader also thanked all who met and wished him on the occasion.

Traveling out of the country for a few days on a short visit.Thanks again to all who met &wished me y'day,truly grateful for your affection!  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) June 20, 2016

Late on Monday morning, sources said the Congress leader had already left the country.

Last year, Gandhis sabbatical for a few weeks following a string of electoral losses fuelled speculation about his plans.

After his return from the nearly two-month leave on April 16 in 2015, Gandhi has been unsparing in his attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government over issues concerning farmers, landless labourers, netizens, middle-class home buyers, fishermen and ex-servicemen Dalits.

But, the ground realities are more or less similar this time. The Congress faced heavy losses in the recently held assembly elections. It now wields power in just six states, with Karnataka being the only large one.

And recently, a renewed clamour to appoint Gandhi as the party president has gripped the Congress, with leaders anticipating an imminent organisational reshuffle.
The tussle between judicial and Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officials over parking row in Sonepat has escalated.

Haryana IAS officer Sangeeta Tetarwal, who was earlier Ganaur sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), had filed a police complaint in the first week of June against two judicial officers accusing them of obstructing her official vehicle. But now, it has emerged that the then Sonepat sessions judge DS Sheoran had inquired into the matter and had recommended for initiating contempt proceedings against Tetarwal and then Sonepat DC Rajiv Rattan for making false complaint.

On the one hand, replying to sessions judge report, Rattan, who is posted as National Health Mission (NHM) director, said, I do not want to comment on it. When the report comes, I will reply to it in writing.

On the other hand, Tetarwal, who is now Dabwali SDM, said, I was the complainant, but I was never heard. I did not have any information about this inquiry. She was praised for her role during the February Jat agitation in Prakash Singh Committee Report.

Rattan had forwarded Tetarwals complaint to the inspecting judge concerned of the Punjab and Haryana high court on January 22. In the complaint, she had mentioned that on December 14, 2015, vehicles of judicial officers  subdivisional judicial magistrate and judicial magistrate first class  obstructed the way of her parked official vehicle and didnt pay heed to verbal requests.

Rattan had also complained about the attachment of Tetarwals car in an execution case.

On February 27, high court asked Sonepat sessions judge DS Sheoran to look into the matter. On March 9, Sheoran submitted his report before registrar general of the high court, where he said, Tetarwal and Rattan have stuffed the frog to imitate buffalo.

Sheoran said false evidences were presented in the form of photographs of an unused vehicle permanently parked in the porch by claiming it to be the SDMs official vehicle.

But, rubbishing the claims, Tetarwal said, It was not an unused vehicle. It was constantly being used. It was time for panchayati raj institutions elections and I was allotted two vehicles.

Then, sessions judge also accused Tetarwal of obstructing the way of judges by installing chains on both sides of the porch. He commented that both Tetarwal and Rattan being IAS officers were nourishing superiority complex that they are in capacity to compel the judicial officers to bow them at their knees.

He added that the IAS officers were still living in colonial past with egotistic attitude and cited the judgment of All India Judges Association case to say that there was no parity between the two at whatever level.

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It was a muggy morning in mid-May when a group of us gathered at Attapatti village, situated on a small hill near Valparai in the hilly Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu.

This is home to the Tamil Nadu forest departments training centre, and a three-hour-long session was scheduled for the day  the department would train us on how to take a census of tigers inside the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park.

Over the next few hours, Arumugam, a forest department biologist, taught us how to operate the Global Positioning System (GPS) device, how to collect scat (a dignified term for scooping up the poop) and identify scratches and pug marks of the big cats.

The entire exercise, as it turned out, proved to be a grand farce. Not a single tiger was spotted during our census-taking exercise. And yet, I witnessed records being fudged to show their presence.

Heres why we went looking for tigers in the first place: the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is the largest sanctuary in Tamil Nadu and lies in the Western Ghats, south of the famed Palghat Gap in the Anaimalais (Mountain of Elephants). Spanning an area of 958 square kilometres, this protected area is the most important watershed for the state.

Over 2,000 species of flora have been identified in this area. A wide variety of herbivores inhabit the sanctuary, including the elephant, gaur, sambar, spotted deer, barking deer, mouse deer, Nilgiri tahr and wild boar. This is equally matched by its carnivore diversity of tigers, leopards, wild dog (dhole), Indian fox, leopard and the jungle cat. Over 300 species of birds have also been sighted in these jungles.

In the forest food chain, the tiger is situated at the top. If the tigers are healthy and safe, it usually means the rest of the wildlife in the food chain below are in good health and numbers too. Apart from concern for the big cats, this is also why a tiger census is conducted every year across the country.

Since the tiger reserve was declared in 2008, laypersons are not allowed inside the Core Zone, where the tiger census is carried out. The exercise with volunteers was a great opportunity for a journalist keen on environmental issues to stay inside and see what actually goes on here.

There were other volunteers with me on this week-long tiger census exercise  activists and wildlife conservationists, along with the forest departments anti-poaching watchers (APW), forest guards, forest watchers and rangers. On the first day, our final and essential set of instructions was on how to fill up the data sheets provided by the department to document the presence of tigers. Once the training was complete, all of us clambered into jeeps to head to the base camp in the Valparai Range.

Once it crossed the abundant tea estates in the area, our jeep entered dense forests. This was the Buffer Zone, an area between the reserved forests and human habitation designated for environmental protection. There was a sudden change in the weather. Pregnant rain clouds gathered quickly and it suddenly got very dark.

At 4pm, the jeep stopped at the beginning of the Core Zone, the main protected forest area. Each of us was lugging 15 kg of material on our shoulders  food for eight days, clothes, a sleeping bag and a tent. We split up into four teams of two each and began to climb up the mountain to the base camp 12 km away. As the darkness began wrapping itself around us, our steps quickened.

Since the tiger reserve was declared in 2008, laypersons are not allowed inside the Core Zone, where the tiger census is carried out. (Photo Credit: Anand Kumar)

Each team was led by an APW. In this area, there is a lot of elephant activity, my team leader said casually. In fact, we are travelling right in their path! It took us three hours of trekking against gravity, hearts in our mouths, to reach base camp. We didnt encounter any elephant. Just dozens and dozens of leeches.

Darkness enveloped us and the temperature was 15 degrees celsius, freezing for the average Tamilian used to hot, muggy climes. The camp, situated at 2,000 feet above sea level, was a comfortable place designed for senior officers of the forest department. Two bedrooms, a kitchen and a toilet were available to us. We lit a cooking fire and sat around it to warm ourselves. Since we had to wake up early in the morning, we slept early.

An insistent musical note woke us the next morning. This was the whistling thrush. A cup of very hot, very black tea rejuvenated us and we set off in teams of two.

No method to the madness

The area allotted to my team was a spectacular shola forest and grassland covering 1,800 hectares. Our APW leader knew the area like the back of his hand.

The tiger census in Tamil Nadu is mainly reliant on these APWs. They are the eyes and ears of the forest department inside these dense jungles but as evident from our conversations during the exercise, these experts often feel shortchanged by their jobs.

About 1,000 APWs work in the forests surrounding the districts of Coimbatore, Nilgiris and Erode. Apart from taking the annual tiger census, they put out forest fires, stop poaching, prevent cutting and smuggling of timber, ensure that forest land is not encroached upon or opium is grown. They also chase away elephants where required and protect the wild bison. During all this work, no accommodation is provided for them  APWs continue to live all their working lives in tents or base camps when out in the field.

Work is constant and exhausting, they say, with not a days rest. In 2014, APWs moved the Madras high court with a plea to make their jobs permanent, and in April that year, the court asked the state government to regularise their jobs. This has still not happened to date.

These watchers are not regular employees but daily wage workers. They earn between Rs 4,000 to Rs 7,000 per month, which is often paid only once in two or three months. There is no guarantee for our lives in such a job, and we get just Rs 6,000 a month, lamented one APW who did not wish to be identified. We find it very difficult to run our families with this kind of money.

Their wages were earlier paid from forest development funds, but since it is not a fund dedicated for their salaries (officers use it for monthly office expenses), there are often inordinate delays in payment. When the APWs protest, the department uses Forest Relief Funds, which are normally used for other expenses like running officers camps and quarters, which take precedence over APW salaries. Now Forest Relief Funds too have dried up. The watchers say they have not been paid for the last two months.

There ought to be no dearth of funds to count and save the tiger in India. In 2016-17, the Centre allocated a huge Rs 295 crore for Project Tiger in the Union Budget, almost double the Rs 161 crore allotted in the previous year. This near doubling of funds for the tigers was made possible by doubling taxes on coal, lignite and peat. This additional income is from the Clean Energy Cess, which goes towards funding the environment ministry, the Modi governments pet Namami Ganga project as well as Project Tiger. In the second Budget of the Narendra Modi government, in 2015-16 allocations for the tiger had been slashed by 14.91% from Rs 185.02 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 161 crore in 2015-16.

However, this recent doubling of tiger funds came with a twist. The Centres share of the non-recurring expenditure on Project Tiger would be only 60%. States that received funds for the tiger would have to shell out 40% of the costs. Non-recurring expenses include compensation for villagers relocated from tiger habitats, equipment for the special tiger protection force, etc. Recurring costs would be shared equally by the Union government and the state in which the tiger reserve is located.

The APWs, the most important people involved in the tiger census, have seen none of this money.

We wanted to strike work before the census this year but the officers promised us that we would get paid in two days time, one APW said. Now it is six days and we have still not been paid. We are the ones who walk throughout the forest. The officers do not even get down from the jeep. We used to work enthusiastically and enjoy the job earlier, but now when our children go hungry, how does one work with interest?

Another complaint is the lack of protection from the government. There is no guarantee for our lives. We do not even have life insurance or health insurance.

In contrast, APWs in neighbouring Kerala told me that they are happy with their working conditions. The Kerala forest department understands the importance of the anti-poaching watchers, said A Aathan, an APW in Kerala. We get a monthly salary of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000, and we are provided with GPS, torchlights, raincoats as well as a modern field kit. We enjoy the work that we are doing since we are traditionally tribals who have lived in the forests.

Not a single tiger was spotted during the census-taking exercise. (Photo credit: Anand Kumar)

Kovai Sadasivam, an environmental activist based in Coimbatore, agrees that the condition of Tamil Nadus APWs is indeed poor. The APWs are the watchmen of the forests, he said. The forest department is only now beginning to use technology for the tiger census. But unless you have personnel on the ground to use these, there is no use of technology. And these APWs are working in the forests without even basic equipment.

Hari, one of the volunteers on the census with me, said, From the outside, surveying the tigers seemed to be awesome, but when we went into it we found that there was no proper equipment or method to it. In fact, even the GPS devices had been borrowed from a university teaching department. The APW go around the whole forest without proper footwear, no raincoats, guarding it and surveying it. How is it possible to expect correct data from all this?

Fabricated sightings

As my team walked looking for direct sightings, pug marks or tiger scat, we found a treasure trove of information about the jungles other inhabitants. We could spot tracks of elephants, Indian gaurs and Nigiri tahrs despite the thick fog. But after traipsing 20 km up hills and down valleys, we did not find any sign of a tiger. In the evening, we returned to base camp and found that the other teams had not had much luck either.

Two more days went by, with no sign of a single tiger.

On day four, we reached the Transact Line  a 2,000-metre path with a lot of animal movement. We were supposed to walk this 2 km stretch twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, looking not just for tigers but for their prey as well.

It was difficult terrain. We went around the area only once. We did not see even one telltale sign of a tiger, but the data sheet was filled with phantom sightings of signs.

We did not see any signs, so how come youve filled these sheets like this with false data? I asked our APW.

He replied casually, If we write that we have not seen anything, the officers will shout at us. They will accuse us of taking provisions and sleeping on the job. So even if we dont see a tiger, we write that we have seen pug marks and scat.

The consequence is large-scale fudging of data. Our team filled the census sheets by copying the data recorded in the previous year. When I cross-checked with the other teams, I found that they did the same.

K Ramesh, a volunteer who was part of another team, confirmed that they too brought back fudged data. We were not interested in searching for tigers or numbering them, he said. We just went through the forest in order to show GPS points. We didnt even go into thick forests. All seven days went like this. We went only for namesake, although we did register some pug marks and scat, Ramesh said.

In all, the four teams recorded total sightings of two sets of pug marks and two sets of scat. The pug marks and scat that Ramesh saw was the closest we came to the big cat.

A fudged tiger census should be sending alarm bells across government departments. I discussed this with district forest officer Subbaiah of Pollachi Division, and he gave me a wary response. Steps are being taken to pay their wages, and they will be paid soon. Regarding the other issues, I am unable to comment, he said.

Shekhar Dattatri, reputed environmentalist and former member of the National Wildlife Board, told me that the practice of fudging tiger census data was rampant across the country. I was not personally aware that tiger data was routinely fudged in Tamil Nadu. However, in the past, forest departments of several states have been guilty of fudging tiger numbers in order to paint a rosy picture for the state or to please higher officials, he said.

This is an extremely damaging practice, and is highly condemnable, continued Dattatri. In Sariska, Rajasthan, forest department claimed that there were 16-18 tigers in 2004 when, in fact, all the tigers in the reserve had been killed by poachers. Such officials, who provide false data, must be taken to task and the practice of falsely inflating tiger numbers must stop forthwith if we are to make real gains in tiger conservation. The only way to prevent this fudging of data is to outsource tiger estimation to a credible independent agency. As long as forest department personnel are involved in auditing their own wildlife numbers, the public will never get a true picture.

The APWs reported that their wages had still not been paid even by the end of the census-taking week.

All this data will be sent to Dehraduns National Tiger Conservation Authority laboratory, explained Arumugam once we returned to base. With this data, the The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) will release the tiger population figures. This fudged and incomplete data will also be used to place camera traps inside the forests.

There are 49 tiger reserves functioning across the country. Are they all, too, recording data in this manner?

Conservationists in Tamil Nadu like Kovai Sadasivam, Osai Kalidasan and Shekhar Dattatri are livid at the lacklustre and careless manner of the tiger census. Where have all the tiger funds gone, they ask.

If this situation continues, conservationists might well be asking another, more terrifying question  where have all the tigers gone?

(This story has been published in arrangement with GRIST Media)
As the world readied to celebrate the International Yoga Day on Tuesday, images of various yoga postures were projected onto the United Nations headquarters building in New York.

Yoga set to light up UN. Sneak peek of Yoga posture projections on iconic UN Headquarters building in New York on IDY 2016, Indias ambassador to the UN Syed Akbaruddin tweeted.

Akbaruddin said that with the participation of more than 135 nations, the International Yoga Day will set a record of sorts. The first celebration of the event in 2015 attracted representatives from 86 countries.

Indian peacekeepers deployed in 13 countries will also participate in the event for the first time. India has more than 7,500 peacekeepers in various missions.

The effort is to indicate the ability of yoga to synergise with a lot of UN efforts, Akbaruddin told Hindustan Times.

Akbaruddin said UN diplomats will interact with yoga masters Sadhguru Jaggi vasudev and Tao Porchon-Lynch  the worlds oldest yoga teacher at 97  before the celebration.

More than 30,000 participants will take part in the main event to be held in Chandigarh where Prime Minister Modi will be present.

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On June 21, when the world marks the International Yoga Day for a second year in running, yoga enthusiasts around the world must remember Paramhansa Yogananda, who did more than anyone else to take the ancient science beyond Indias shores.

If the UN decided to honour June 21 every year as the yoga day, the primary credit for this must go to Yogananda, who went to the US in 1920 and taught yoga and meditation for over three decades to many thousands of Americans at a time when yoga was a strange word.

Yogananda returned to India on a short visit just once - when he taught Kriya Yoga to Mahatma Gandhi at Wardha. He went back to the US at the urging of his guru, passing away there in 1952 under unique circumstances.

It was in 1946 that Yogananda published his path-breaking Autobiography of a Yogi. In no time, it was recognised as one of the 10 best spiritual classics of the 20th century. No other book perhaps has done more to propagate yoga and spirituality. It has been translated into 21 languages and sold millions of copies.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of Autobiography of a Yogi - which continues to be a best seller in the spiritual category and has pushed millions on the spiritual path around the world.

Born as Mukunda Lal Ghosh in UP. (paramhansayogananda.com)

Yogananda was born into a spiritually inclined family on January 5, 1893 in Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh) as Mukunda Lal Ghosh. He was the fourth of eight children and showed an early inclination for the self-realisation path.



His guru, Yukteswar Giri, goaded him to graduate and later ordained him as Yogananda. Some day you will go the West. Its people will lend ears more receptive to Indias ancient wisdom if the strange Hindu teacher has a university degree, was the gurus counsel.

Three years after founding the Yogada Satsanga Society of India (YSS) in Ranchi in 1917, the young Yogananda sailed to Boston to take part in the International Congress of Religions.





Young Yogananda with his father . (paramhansayogananda.com)

His mission was to unite the East and West by spiritual understanding, to show the underlying unity of all religions.



He travelled extensively in the US and captivated millions with his talks on yoga and meditation -- thus laying the foundations of yoga in the West that has today catapulted into the International Yoga Day.

Yogananda was not ritualistic. He spoke secular language and never imposed his ideas on others. In the US, he underlined the spiritual and cultural heritage of India and held classes on balanced living -- using yoga as a medium.

Finally, however, it was the Autobiography of a Yogi that put Yogananda on a spiritual pedestal where he remains even today.

Paramhansa Yogananda in his sunset years. (paramhansayogananda.com)

On March 7, 1952, at an event at Biltmore Hotel at Los Angeles attended by Indias ambassador to the US, Yogananda gave what turned out to be his last talk - and hugely memorable. I am proud that I was born in India, said the ochre-robed swami with flowing hair. I am proud that we have a great ambassador representing my spiritual India. I am very proud today.

And after reading out a few lines from his poem My India, Yogananda slid to the floor, a beatific smile on his face. He had passed away. The stunned Indian ambassador, Binay R Sen, who saw Yoganandas final moments, paid rich tributes: He was born in India, he lived for India, and he died with the name of India on his lips.

The Indian government issued a postage stamp in his honour way back in March 1977. Unfortunately, unlike Swami Vivekananda, Yogananda doesnt figure in schoolbooks the way he deserves to. Prime Minister Modi must pay his homage to this great yoga guru on June 21.
The office of Madhya Pradesh official liquidator (OL) has told high court that Zoom Developers Pvt, which defrauded banks and other financial institutions to the tune of Rs 2,900 crore, has no assets which can be auctioned to recover bank dues.

The OL office filed this reply before Indore bench of MP High Court in response to the latters directive issued on April 27, 2016, in which it had asked OL to form an asset sales committee to auction the companys properties for recovery of dues.

While the court had passed companys winding up order in November 2014 and appointed official liquidator, the asset sales committee was not formed. Meanwhile, the high court deferred the hearing in this case on Monday.

Zoom Developers is among the top 10 bank defaulters in the country whose business transactions are being investigated by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate. Owned by accused Vijay Choudhary of Indore who is reportedly absconding, Zoom Developers was set up in 1991 to launch real estate projects in India and abroad, most of which remained on paper.

Besides filing the reply to court, the OL office which functions under union ministry of corporate affairs has directed banks which gave loans to Zoom Developers to inform it about the companys immovable properties.

Zoom Developers took loans from banks, invested in other companies which have created assets. Banks should explain as to how they lent handsome amounts to a company which had no assets, a ministry official said seeking anonymity.

Records submitted before the high court reveal that the company took loan worth Rs 2,900 crore from 26 banks though it had assets worth Rs 74 crore. The companys balance sheet, which is unavailable after 2007, shows liabilities of Rs179 crore. Of all the banks, Zoom Developers obtained the highest loan of Rs 450 crore from Punjab National Bank. State Bank of India granted the company a loan of Rs 28 crore.

Creditors including banks filed petitions to wind-up company two years back to recover their dues by selling its assets. In addition, Jonathen Allen, the companys former asset manager in Singapore, also moved court in 2010 for recovery of his dues including his salary worth Singapore $ 879,211.67 (Rs 3.69 crore) in September that year.
NEW DELHI: China is not opposing Indias entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday, underscoring the governments efforts to convince Beijing to give up its defiant stand.

Her statement came after an unannounced visit by foreign secretary S Jaishankar to Beijing on June 16 and 17 to drum up Chinese support for Indias push to join the 48-nation club controlling access to sensitive nuclear technology.

China is talking only about criteria and procedures and is not opposed to India becoming an NSG member, Swaraj said, addressing her annual press conference.

The group, set up in response to Indias first nuclear test in 1974, aims to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. But India enjoys most of the benefits of membership under a 2008 exemption to NSG rules granted to support its nuclear cooperation deal with Washington, though the country has never signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the arms control pact. China has been maintaining that the NPT is central to the NSG.

Foreign minister Swaraj was hopeful that India would be able to convince China.

I think there is a consensus which is being made and I am sure that India will become an NSG member this year, she said. Im in contact with 23 nations  one or two raised concern but I think there is a consensus.

The NSG works on the principle of consensus and a single hold-out country can spoil Indias chance to be part of the grouping. New Delhi is making all efforts before the NSG plenary session in Seoul on June 24, where Indias membership is expected to be discussed. Jaishankars visit to Beijing came a week ahead of the plenary.

Yes, I can confirm the foreign secretary visited Beijing on June 16-17 for bilateral consultations with his Chinese counterpart. All major issues, including Indias NSG membership, were discussed, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

Chinese official media had commented that Indias NSG membership would jeopardise Chinas national interests besides touching a raw nerve in Pakistan. The Chinese foreign ministry too called for full discussions on non-NPT countries intending to join the NSG.

But Swaraj pointed out that Indias credentials should be discussed, instead of talking about criteria.

The minister refused comments on Pakistans push to j oin the NSG, saying India cannot say anything since its not a member of the elite club.

We will not oppose entry of any nation to the NSG. We think that the application of each country should be considered on the basis of their merit, she said.

Pakistan joining the group would be unacceptable to many, given its track record. The father of its nuclear weapons programme ran an illicit network for years that sold nuclear secrets to countries, including North Korea and Iran.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent visit t o Washington, President Barack Obama came out in support of Indias membership in the nuclear group. Russian President Vladimir Putin too backed Indias bid and hoped that issues raised by China could be ironed out.

(With agency inputs)
The shooters involved in the murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar were trained for a week each in Ponda, Goa and in Jat, Sangli by a trainer, said sources in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), after questioning the arrested accused, Dr Virendra Tawade, and witnesses.

The training involved target practice, said the sources. Incidentally, the Sanatan Sanstha, a right-wing organisation which is linked to the case, has its headquarters in Ponda. CBI sources said it is likely that the two key suspects, Rudra Patil and Sarang Akolkar of the Sanatan Sanstha, were part of the training. Patil is a resident of Sangli and Akolkar is from Pune. Both are suspects in the 2009 Madgaon blast and have been on the run since their names cropped up in connection with the blast. Sanatan Sanstha has denied any role in the cases.

The CBI is trying to get more information from Tawade, also of the Sanatan Sanstha, who sources say is not cooperating with them. The CBI has also learnt that eight to 10 people are likely to have been part of the murder from planning to execution.

The CBI is also investigating possible links between Tawade and Sameer Gaikwad, a member of Sanatan Sanstha, who was arrested by the special investigating team investigating the murder of communist leader Govind Pansare. The CBI is likely to question Gaikwad again, apart from others who are connected to the 2009 Goa blast and Pansare case.

Investigators suspect that the murders are linked as a forensic laboratory in the state has already confirmed that the bullets fired at Dabholkar and Pansare were from a 7.65 mm revolver.

The CBI has decided to seek the help of Scotland Yard, to ascertain whether the firearm used in the murders of Dabholkar, Pansare and also in the murder of Kannada writer MM Kalburgi, is the same.

While the ballistic reports from Pune and Kolhapur are ready, the report from Karnataka police is awaited and the CBI would be sending it to Scotland Yard next week.
PATNA: Police on Sunday claimed to be reaching closer to arresting former chairman of Bihar School Examination board (BSEB), Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife Usha Sinha.

We have got some vital clues about them. Raids are being conducted. We are positive of nabbing the two in a couple of days, said Patna SSP Manu Maharaj, who is monitoring the probe in the intermediate toppers scandal by the special investigation team (SIT).

Soon after procuring the arrest warrant from the court, the CID had issued a lookout notice for the couple, apprehending they might try to escape abroad. But with the police claiming to be close to nabbing them, it remains to be seen if they will choose to surrender first.

The police, according to sources, have gathered a lot of information through interrogation of arrested persons, including VR Rai College principal Baccha Rai and board officials, the call data record (CDR), and the CCTV footage of the college. The economic offence unit has also been asked to join the investigation into the money trail and big assets of Baccha Rai, his kin and associates.

Another factor is the growing ambit of investigation, which is spreading to BRA Bihar University, which g ranted affiliation to sham institutions of Rai and a few others. More arrests could be carried out in this connection. We have already arrested Veena Singh, Hindi teacher of VR College, and she has revealed a lot during interrogation, said the SSP.

The board, now under a revamped team, has also withheld the mark sheets of all 1,013 students of the college following suspicion of mass rigging. The SIT has taken all the copies in its custody and is examining them. The affiliation of VR College has already been cancelled permanently.

Maharaj confirmed that most of the answer books reflected manipulation, which might have been done at various stages in connivance with the board staff. All the evidences are pointing to the complicity of the board and its former chairman, he added.

The Bihar board has also issued notices to four other Vaishali Colleges  Sant Kabir Mahant Ram Dayal Das College, Sanjay Singh Plus Two Higher Secondary School, Ram Videshi Singh Mahavidyalaya and Vasudeo Singh College  and sought their reply by June 22. A four-member inquiry committee, headed by board secretary Anup Kumar Sinha, will investigate the allegations against them.

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NEW DELHI: External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday said the warmth and ease in the relationship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif can help solve complex issues between the two countries.

She asserted that terror and talks cannot go together, but stressed the window of dialogue is still open, with her statements such as Pakistan has not refused to allow Indian investigators to visit that country to probe attack on Pathankot air base in January.

The minister, addressing her annual press conference, said India wants to resolve all vexed issues with Pakistan through talks. Swaraj said the government was pursuing a three-point formula to deal with Islamabad, the focus of which is that talks cannot go on if Pakistan does not take action to contain terror.

First, we want to solve every issue through talks. Second, talks will be between India and Pakistan and no third country or party will take part. Third, terror and talks will not go hand-in-hand, she said.

Swaraj admitted that there have been complex issues between the two countries and it would not be practical to expect their resolution soon.

After the Pathankot attack, there were expectations from government and people that there should be some concrete steps from their side. This expectation is not unreasonable. So we are waiting for concrete steps from their side, she said. The minister said Pakistan has not refused to allow a team of NIA to visit that country to carry forward the probe into the Pathankot attack and that it is just seeking more time to examine the evidence.

A five-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) from Pakistan had visited India between March 27 and 31 to collect evidence with regard to the attack. India has been maintaining that since JITs visit was on a reciprocal basis, the NIA team investigating the case would like to visit Pakistan.

Swaraj said the Indian high commissioner in Islamabad had met the authorities on the issue twice. They said they are analysing (the evidence). They have not refused (to allow NIA to visit). They just said they want more time.

On the issue of refugees, the external affairs minister said our policy is to give refuge for persecuted minorities, not just Hindus, but from other religions too.

When asked about the extradition of Vijay Mallya and Lalit Modi, she said a request will be forwarded to UK once it is received from the Enforcement Directorate. Answering a separate question, she said Indias high commissioner to Britain, Navtej Sarna, was not at fault for the presence of Mallya at a book release function in London.

She said, It is true that we have enhanced engagement with the US now. But that does not impact our relations with Russia or China. Nor the growing Indo-US relations will put at stake our national interest.

39 INDIANS IN IRAQ

The minister said she has no proof to suggest that the 39 Indians who were held hostage in Mosul in Iraq have died. She said many sources have confirmed that they are alive.
As Punjab goes through crisis in the agrarian sector and chief minister Parkash Singh Badal looks up to the Centre for a solution, finance minister Arun Jaitley advised the border state to shift its focus towards industrialisation and education as farming was no more a profitable sector.

Jaitley, who was addressing the gathering here after laying the foundation stone of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), said, As Badal Saab has stated that these days farming is going through a rough patch, I would say that today in India around 55% people are involved in the business of agriculture, but their contribution to the national income is just 15%. In the entire world, many countries have faced such a situation.

The finance minister, while citing examples of countries like Taiwan, China, Korea and Japan, said, Around 60-70 years ago as agriculture struggled in these countries, the governments there helped agriculture, but at the same time focussed more on education and made industry their big asset. Many developed countries have done that.

Recently, I was in a school with the chief minister in Amritsar and when we asked who all want to go into the agriculture sector, very less students raised their hands, he added.

He lauded the efforts of the state government in buildings highways and promoting infrastructural growth.

While appreciating the meritorious schools in the state, Jaitley said the concept could be replicated at the national level.

CMS DEMANDS IGNORED

Though CM Badal read out a long list of demands before the finance ministers address, Jaitley did not touch upon any of these in his speech.

The chief ministers demands included a bail-out package for Punjabs agricultural crisis, special industrial package for the state, package for the Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) and compensation for farmers having land across the border fence.

During his address, Badal said there was utter disappointment among the peasantry due to unviable agriculture policies of the successive Congress governments at the Centre, which forced them to give away the profession. He said it was extremely deplorable situation that the farmers who heralded the Green Revolution in 1960s and made the country self-reliant in food production were now committing suicides.

SUKHBIR SLAMS CONG

Appealing to people of Punjab to support the development-oriented mission of the SAD-BJP alliance, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal again targeted the Gandhi family and blamed the Congress for adopting a biased approach towards Punjab when they were in power.

While asking people to reject the parties like Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Badal said the Congress had always opted anti-Punjab and anti-Sikh policies. He said even AAP had followed the footsteps of the Congress by demolishing Piau Sahib at the historic Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi.

SMRITI IRANI ON SCHOOL FEE ROW

Concerned over the fee hike effected by private schools in Punjab, Union human resource development minister Smriti Irani said the Centre was serious on the issue and private schools would not be allowed to hike fee without consulting the parent teacher association. She also asked Sukhbir to take steps in this regard, while adding that private schools would not be allowed to make a mid-term hike.

Other present on the occasion were BJP national general secretary and Punjab affairs in-charge Prabhat Jha, state BJP chief Vijay Sampla, Rajya Sabha MP Shwet Malik, Union food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and state ministers Bikram Singh Majithia, Tota Singh, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Gulzar Singh Ranike and Anil Joshi.

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Poor condition of road connecting the holy city with Amritsar-Sri Ganaganagar National Highway (NH-15) is giving a tough time to commuters as driving on this 3-km stretch is not considered an easy job and is causing harassment to commuters.

It is notable that after NH-1, the Amritsar-Sri Ganaganagar National Highway is the second most important road in the city and connects Amritsar to southern part of the country. The vehicles from entire Malwa region and Rajasthan take this road making is one of the busiest routes.

As commuters cross the Gharwali PCPCL station, they have to make way through a narrow road. The roadsides are not maintained and have big potholes. As the road is not fully tarred, dust adds to the incontinence of the people.

The commuters problems increase once they reach the railway crossing, where vehicles are stuck in traffic jams.

The state government, so far, has not made any plans to fix the problem being faced by people. Widening the road or building over bridge is not on agenda of the administration. The railway department can make a plan of building an over bridge once the state government decides to take some steps, said a railway employee deployed at the railway crossing.

Despite unprecedented traffic jams, there were only two cops deployed to control the traffic. Nearby shopkeepers said only two cops are deployed there to control the traffic. They also said the buses that are mostly owned by the ruling government and passes through this road have further worsened the situation as its drivers and conductors do not follow any traffic rules.

They added that government was implementing project of widening the national highway, but it was ignoring this portion of the road which needed to be reconstructed.

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Dera Sacha Sauda follower Gurdev Singh, who on Friday succumbed to the bullet injury sustained in an attack on Monday, was cremated at his village, Burj Jawahar Singh Wala, on Sunday.

The stalemate between the district administration and the deceaseds kin and dera followers broke after Faridkot deputy commissioner MS Jaggi met them in Kotkapura on Sunday afternoon. He assured them the culprits will be nabbed soon and Gurdevs wife, Sarabjeet Kaur, will be appointed as a constable in the Punjab Police.

Later, Gurdevs body was taken to his village and cremated at 3.15pm in presence of thousands of dera followers and villagers. Dera followers had been camping at Kotkapura ever since he was admitted to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, after being shot at outside his shop early on Monday morning. Police vigil was increased in the town and nearby villages after he was declared dead in the wee hours of Friday, and his family refused to perform the last rites till the culprits were arrested.

Despite several rounds of talks between the dera representatives and the administration, little headway could be made over the week. Dera followers alleged the police were not conducting a thorough investigation. They, however, softened their stand by Saturday evening after a meeting with administrative officials. The dera state committee, however, warned to launch an agitation if the culprits are not arrested.
At least 17 people, including five cops, were injured after a protest turned violent at Rampura Phul town near here on Monday. A dozen protesters have been booked on attempt to murder charge after the incident.

The protesters had blocked the Bathinda-Barnala road, seeking justice for Amandeep Kaur, who was five months pregnant when she committed suicide by consuming poison in Sidhana village last week. Accusing the police of deliberate inaction, her kin demanded the arrest of her husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law, who have been booked for abetment to suicide.

The protesters, who had come from the victims native village -- Dhanaula Khurd in Barnala district -- also staged a dharna outside the Phul police station before blocking the road.

When the cops tried to disperse the protesters, they allegedly resorted to stone-pelting. The police retaliated with lathicharge and also fired shots in the air. Those injured in the incident were taken to the Rampura Phul civil hospital. A police vehicle was also damaged.

Bathinda senior superintendent of police (SSP) Swapan Sharma said the protesters were the first to turn violent and also tried to block the railway line. He said most of them had come from Sardulgarh area of Mansa district in tractor-trailers and were carrying bricks.

Claiming the police are already looking for the suicide victims husband and in-laws, Sharma said 12 people have been arrested for violence during the protest. They have booked under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public duty) of the Indian Penal Code.
Mounting a scathing attack on former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh over his family members alleged foreign bank accounts, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said the NDA government at the Centre had exposed the Punjab Congress chief by tracing his family members Swiss accounts.

Jaitley, who was in Bathinda as a part of celebrations to mark two years of the NDA government, said, Amarinder often accused Badals of having investments and properties offshore, but what about the foreign accounts in the names of his family members.

Though Captain couldnt find Badals offshore property, we have found bank accounts of Amarinders family members in Switzerland, he said.

Read: Coffee with Capt: Akalis brought my hard work to naught, says Amarinder

He added that India was informed about these accounts in 2011, but the UPA government shelved the file. We pursued and reopened the case officially and brought the truth before the public on the basis of official documents, he added.

Notably, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned Amarinders son Raninder Singh for alleged violation of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) on June 16, but Raninder failed to appear before ED citing health issues. Amarinder has accused Jaitley, whom he defeated in the Lok Sabha election from Amritsar in 2014, of orchestrating the whole issue.

ON PUNJAB POLITICS

With assembly elections due in Punjab early next year, Jaitley said the coming six months were going to be challenging for the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) alliance.

He kept the focus on Punjab politics in his 15-minute speech during the programme attended by BJP workers from Bathinda parliamentary segment.

Targeting the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), he said Punjab and its people must be saved from the politics and propaganda of these two parties against the SAD-BJP alliance.

AAP is well-known for its tricks to get publicity by issuing wrong statements and they are doing the same here. The people of Delhi are repenting their decision to vote AAP to power, he added.

The AAP leaders, he alleged, had a habit of raising unnecessary issues by propagating false propaganda among the public.

However, showering praise on the SAD-BJP government for ensuring development in the state, Jaitley said it was difficult to run a state like Punjab due to its geographical location near the international border, but the alliance government had transformed the state completely during its tenure. The state government must distribute pamphlets highlighting development works carried out by it so as to counter the false propaganda of the Congress and AAP, the Union minister suggested.

SUKHBIR HIJACKS EVENT

Though the function was aimed at publicising the NDA governments achievements and initiatives, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal virtually hijacked the event by presenting 30-minute power-point presentation on the states development during the past nine years of the SAD-BJP government.

He alleged that the opposition parties were defaming Punjab by propagating unauthenticated figures with regard to development in the state. Meanwhile, Union minister for food processing Harsimrat Kaur Badal urged Jaitley to come up with a policy for waiving loans of small farmers, besides tax concessions on industry in border areas so that narco-terrorism could be curbed.

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To make people aware about the threats of climate change and the deterioration of the environment, EcoSikh, a US-based organisation, along with the Gurdwara Chevin Patshahi Management Committee, held a religious procession and marked the birth anniversary of sixth Sikh Guru Har Gobind on Sunday.

The volunteers cleaned road and collected litter from all the areas where the procession passed.

The procession started from Gurdwara Chevin Patshahi and crossed through Khud Mohalla, Rarri Mohalla, Division Number 3, Baba Than Singh Chowk and Ram Nagar. To spread a message on keeping surrounding clean and green, a team of over 25 youngsters wearing green ribbons, gloves, and carrying biodegradable bags were seen cleaning the road.

A langar (community kitchen) was also arranged for devotees at different stalls on the way, and the EcoSikh volunteers kept cleaning the entire area by picking up all disposables and leftovers. Harminder Singh Sethi, Chevin Patshahi gurdwara chief, said emphasis was given on using reusable glasses and containers. The event clearly sent a message to discard non-biodegradable disposable items during such religious events, said a local resident.

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The participation of the district team in the mega event of second International Yoga Day on June 21, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi would perform Yoga at the Capitol Complex, Chandigarh, has been put in doubt with heavy rush of participants for the event.

The district administration has set up a reserve team of 50 participants, including 24 ayurvedic medical officers (AMOs) of the district. If the team gets the green signal, it would move to Chandigarh, otherwise, they would not be able to become a part of the mega event.

Apart from 24 AMOs, four trained health workers, two Class-4 employees and 20 other residents have been asked to wait for the go-ahead orders.

The names were finalised from a total of 557 residents of the district, who had registered themselves to take part in this programme, by the district administration in collaboration with the Ayush department, which is instrumental in holding the programme.

Meanwhile, the city-level functions will be held at police lines, PAP campus, Shivani Park Model Town and Dayanand Ayurvedic College. However, separate functions would be organised in Punjab Police Academy in Phillaur and all health dispensaries in the district.

A team of five members including four AMOs would manage the function. Two AMOs would perform various yoga aasans, one AMO would be a commentator, another one would move amid the participants. One Class-4 employee has also been attached to each team.

Earlier, training sessions were being held at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium, PAP campus and Phillaur Academy. A total of 18 ayurvedic medical officers and four private yoga experts were deputed to supervise the practice by the volunteers.

One participant said that she had joined the yoga camp at Guru Gobind Singh Stadium and wanted to go to Chandigarh for which she was doing hard work to learn more and more asanas but now still it is not final they would go or not.

I enrolled myself after the registrations were opened by the Chandigarh administration on May 17, she said, by adding that she was practising asanas, but no avail. District Ayurvedic and Unani Officer Dr Pradaman Singh said that only 10,000 persons were allowed from Punjab to take part in the PMs function and there is already heavy participation due to which the city team has been put in reserve.

Appealing to the people to give thumbing response to the city- level functions, he said that if team members would not get a call from Chandigarh, they would be accommodated in the city functions.

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A man arrested by the Delhi Police earlier this month for his involvement in a kidney racket busted at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in the national capital was also an accused in a similar racket unearthed at the citys National Kidney Hospital last year.

Accused Satya Prakash, alias Ashu, had donated his kidney to one Tariq Ahmed of Kanpur by posing as his brother Sadiq at the local hospital. The city police have procured his production warrants and will be leaving for Delhi on Tuesday to bring him for interrogation.

The accused, who also goes by the name of Vicky, was an active part of the Jalandhar kidney racket being run by Junaid Ahmed Khan. Khan along with three others were the first to be arrested on July 31 last year.

Dr Puneet Grover, who was associated with the hospital, has also joined the probe last week. He revealed his role and responsibilities during the seven transplants under the scanner, said police.

Khan and his aides used to forge documents in connivance with the hospital staff to show several donors and recipients as close relatives. Harwinder Singh, a helper at a local laboratory owned by one of the owners of the hospital was arrested soon after the racket was unearthed. He used to change blood samples to match the DNA sample reports of donors and recipients. On March 25 this year, the city police had submitted an 855-page supplementary chargesheet against 17 persons.

A special investigation team (SIT) headed by Amritsar deputy commissioner of police (DCP) J Elachezhian and comprising Jalandhar DCP Harjit Singh, ADCP (investigation) Vivek Sheel Soni and police station-7 station house officer Navdeep Singh is carrying out the probe.

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Annoyed over the governments failure to provide credible evidence about the whereabouts and well being of 39 Indian youths who were reportedly abducted by Islamic State (IS) terrorists in Iraq two years ago, their family members have threatened to protest against Prime minister Narendra Modi during the Yoga Day event on June 21 at Chandigarh, in case they are not heard.

Talking to medipersons in Amritsar, kin of several missing youths said they had last heard the voice of their beloved ones on June 15 in 2015. Since then, they said, they were waiting for some good news about them, but in vain. They alleged the governments attitude over the issue was insensitive and disappointing, so they have decided to demonstrate against the PM during the event.

Gurpinder Kaur, a school teacher and sister of Manjinder Singh (25) who is one of those abducted, said they had met external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj ten times, chief minister Parkash Singh Badal thrice and Union finance minister Arun Jaitley once, but they did nothing except paying lip service to them and making assurances to bring them back safely.

Talking to HT, she said, During the meetings, the external affairs minister kept on saying that she had been informed by the intelligence sources that all the youths are safe and we dont need to worry. But cant her sources find out about their whereabouts?

She added, Despite a number of requests made by us, the PM never give us appointment. I have been trying to contact him through emails and Twitter too, but did not get any response. On the Yoga Day event, we will try once more to ask him if he took any action to trace the youths. If we are ignored again, we will hold a demonstration at the event carrying banners.

If Modi can take up the issue of abduction of Ch Balram Kishore and T Gopikrishna of Hyderabad in Libya with his counterpart in that country and conduct meetings with their families, why he cannot do so in case of 39 missing youths in Iraq, said Sardara Singh, father of another missing youth Gurcharan Singh (Amritsar district). Malkit Ram, brother of abducted youth Nand Lal (Jalandhar), said, We want clarification from the government, but it is not responding. We are ready to wait more, but at least the government should make some efforts.

Relatives of other missing youths Parwinder Kumar (SBS Nagar), Jasbir Singh (SBS Nagar), Pritpal Sharma (Sangrur), Nand Lal (Jalandhar) and Sandeep Kumar (Jalandhar) were also present on the occasion. Out of the 39 missing youths, as many as 32 belong to Punjab while five are from Himachal Pardesh and two from Bihar. They were all planning to go to the UAE, but the travel agentsRajbir Singh and Harjit Masih of Fatehgarh Churian deceived them and dropped them at Mosul town of Iraq from where they were reportedly abducted by the IS terrorists.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in the city on Monday night at 9.50pm, by air from Delhi, to participate in the International Yoga day celebrations at the Capitol Complex on Tuesday morning. He was received by Punjab and Haryana governor, and UT administrator Kaptan Singh Solanki, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, and Chandigarh MP Kirron Kher. His night stay was at the Punjab Raj Bhawan at night.

As it rained on Monday evening for about an hour, the UT administration was on its toes to clear the water and take stock of damage at Capitol Complex. UT home secretary Anurag Agarwal said, We were all ready with arrangements to tackle any kind of situation. Immediately after the rain the workers were pressed into service to clean the entire place.

Also read I Youths missing in Iraq: Kin threaten to protest against Modi during Yoga Day event
Anandpur Sahib member of Parliament (MP) and senior Akali leader Prem Singh Chandumajra on Monday claimed that there was no dynastic politics in the party, even as he held a show of strength in areas falling under the Sanaur assembly segment to boost the poll prospectus of his son Harinder Pal Chandumajra, who was recently appointed the halqa (constituency) in-charge.

His move to address workers meeting in Bahadurgarh and Davigarh along with his son and loyalists is also seen as an attempt to curb possible dissidence in the constituency ahead of the assembly elections after the party shunted out Tejinder Singh Sandhu to accommodate Chandumajras 34-year-old son.

Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra and Kuldeep Kaur Tohra. (HT Photos)

Also read I Sukhbir removes Tohras daughter as halqa in-charge of Patiala rural; Chandumajra Jr is new in-charge of Sanuar

Sandhu (55), son of old party guard in the Patiala region late Jasdev Singh Sandhu, has yet not reacted to latest political development as he is said to be out of the country. He had unsuccessfully contested the 2012 assembly elections from Sanaur and was the partys halqa in-charge since then.

I won my first assembly election from this area (earlier Dakala) in 1985 and people here will again repose their faith on us, he added.

All senior party leaders from the region, including cabinet minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, were present when the father-son duo paid obeisance at Patialas Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib before addressing the media.

He said there was no opposition within the party as the decision was taken on merit. The party held a thorough survey on the ground before appointing his son. It was also proved in several meetings on Monday when people in large number gave us rousing welcome, added Chandumajra.

In a candid manner, he also did not leave the opportunity to share his proximity with the constituency saying that he remained connected with area residents throughout his political life, even as he moved out from here years ago.

He also ruled out the impact of the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab politics saying that its convener Arvind Kejirwal has exposed himself in Delhi where people were crying for water and power shortage.

Endorsing the party decision, Rakhra said SAD would field more young faces in time to come. Both the appointments, including that of Satbir Singh Khatra as the in-charge of the Patiala rural assembly segment, was a step in this direction, he added

Asked for comments on the growing discontentment in the Tohra family after removal of Kuldeep Kaur, daughter of former Akali stalwart late Gurcharan Singh Tohra to accommodate Khatra, Chandumajra, who is also partys general secretary, said there was no disrespect to Tohras legacy. Gurcharan Singh Tohra did not belong to a single family. He was Panth Rattan and entire Sikh community was his family, he added.

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Health services in Rajindra Hospital were again hit on Sunday after the protesting paramedics locked the OPD building and operation theatres (OTs) for the second time during the past three weeks over their regularisation demand.

The protesters also blocked the main Patiala-Sangrur road for over one hour, creating huge inconvenience to the commuters. They raised slogans against the state government and alleged that the government was backing out from its promises to harass them.

Nurses and Ancillary Staff Union president Karamjit Kaur said that in a meeting with medical education secretary Vikas Partap last week, they were assured that the government would finalise the policy of their regularisation within 10 days. As nothing happened during that period, we are again forced to take extreme step for the sake of our families, Kaur said.

She further said, Now we have decided to block the OPD and OTs indefinitely till the notification of our regularisation was issued.

We are being paid mere Rs 10,000-Rs 11,000 per month, which is not enough to feed our family. Initially, both departments have been locked, but if they did not heed us, we will intensify the struggle and all gates of the hospital will be locked after Monday, said, Sandeep Kaur, another agitator.

Tehsildar, Harsimaran Singh, met the protesters and tried to convince them not to block the OPD and OT services, but the protesters refused to open both services. He said, We are aware of their demand and efforts are on at the department-level. I will discuss the matter with the deputy commissioner and try to open both services on Monday.

Medical superintendent BS Brar said, The district administration would look into the matter, but we are also trying that OPD and OT services remain open on Monday.
India Post has commemorated the tricentenary of the martyrdom of Banda Singh Bahadur by releasing a postal cover depicting the Sikh general. It was released today by LN Sharma, chief postmaster general, Delhi circle, in New Delhi, according to a spokesman.

The postal cover release was organised by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC). Banda Singh Bahadur with the blessings of Guru Gobind Singh Ji was the founder of the Sikh Empire in 1710, the press release said. The postal release is one of the series of activities initiated by the DSGMC to commemorate the tricentenary. DSGMC president Manjit SIngh GK was the chief guest.

About Baba Banda Singh Bahadur

Banda Singh Bahadur was born on October 16, 1670, as Lachman Dev at Rajouri in present-day Jammu & Kashmir. At the age of 20 he gave up worldly life and became a bairagi. In 1708 he came in contact with Guru Gobind Singh who encouraged him to give up his life as a bairagi and resume the duties of a real Rajput. It was in the month of September 1708 that Guru Gobind Singh conferred upon him the title of Banda Singh Bahadur. He was appointed by Guru Gobind Singh as his deputy and military lieutenant.

After the death of Guru Gobind Singh ji in 1708, he fought the Mughals and in February 1710 established the first sovereign Sikh state with its headquarters at Mukhlispur, later renamed Lohgarh. In May 1710 he invaded Sirhind and defeated Wazir Khan thus fulfilling the task given to him by his guru. Many more battles were fought by him against the Mughals and his sovereign rule came to an end with his arrest in December 1715. He was then brought to Delhi along with his 740 Sikhs and executed on June 24, 1716.

Also read II 300th martyrdom day of Banda Singh Bahadur: Road leading to Chappar Chiri memorial in state of disrepair
Channis astro connect

How do you explain the mercurial rise of Congress Legislature Party leader Charanjit Singh Channi? One of course is his diligence in adding more educational qualifications to his political profile. After he completes his MA in political science, he will be MA-MBA-LLB Channi. But few know the leader also heeds astrological advice and one of his soothsayers has predicted his further rise in the Congress as stars of some senior leaders are not shining bright. But that was before removal of All India Congress Commitee (AICC) general secretary Shakeel Ahmad as Punjab in-charge who was seen as Channis mentor. Now both would need a fresh set of astrologers to tide over bad tidings.

How they hate to love the media

Political parties love to hate the media or hate to love it. Both are equally true. No wonder Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal, who infamously accused the media of doing the bidding of the Narendra Modi government, now has many former journalists in his team. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal, too, often takes a dig at the media and believes allotting houses before elections could do the trick. The Congress, which at least avoids open barbs at the fraternity, was unnerved by Sukhbirs largesse. So the Punjab Da Captain team, comprising young enthusiasts from Prashant Kishors IPAC, circulated a creative showing Sukhbir trying to lure the media hounds with money. Only, it rubbed the bruised egos of many scribes and the team had to withdraw it with an apology. Though many in Congress are themselves critical of media, they were the first ones to point out the faux pas of Kishors team!

Keeping all at bay

Wielding bamboo sticks, self-styled patriots from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had assembled at Gurdaspur for their annual shivir recently. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat spent three days with his swayamsevaks inside the sprawling campus of a private engineering institute, away from public gaze. A three-tier security cover was thrown around the camp venue. Inside the camp, Punjab police cops were kept at safe distance. The swayamsevaks, especially those managing programmes of Bhagwat, turned out to be self-centred. They sought every help from the district administration. When senior cops, including a DIG-rank officer, and civil officers sought appointment to call on Bhagwat, the sanghis refused. A leading scientist and known RSS activist, who otherwise has direct access to Bhagwat, was also refused access to RSS boss. And, the media was also kept at a safe distance.

Dramatic Haryana RS polls

There cannot be a more bizarre whodunit story than the recent Rajya Sabha election in Haryana in which BJP candidate and Union rural development minister Birender Singh and Independent candidate, media baron Subhash Chandra, who was also backed by the ruling party, were elected on June 11. Another Independent candidate, advocate RK Anand, whose win was otherwise certain with the backing of the Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), lost the race. It is not the pen or the ink or who voted whom, but who is saying what that has left almost all across the parties and observers appalled. Right from day one, all parties have been blaming each other for the conspiracy, Anand, who first blamed a powerful group in the Congress for his defeat, gave a clean chit to Congress legislators. They, he said in his complaint to Chandigarh police, acted in most bona fide manner without having knowledge that the pen had been replaced. However, political circles are still buzzing with talk of a Congress MLA who left his ballot unmarked and also Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, known for his knowledge of rules and procedures, showing his ballot to an unauthorised person.

Royals bday and a noble gesture

Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh kept his wife, former MP Pratibha Singhs birthday celebrations a simple affair. The chief ministers supporters thronged the couples private residence, Holy Lodge, with cakes to wish the former MP. A small cake-cutting ceremony was also organised at the entrance of Holy Lodge where the couple offered cake to each other. In the evening, Virbhadra and his wife distributed langar (community food) at a canteen, run by non-government organisation Almighty Blessings, at the Indira Gandhi Medical Colleges cancer hospital. An elated CM later announced that he, too, would celebrate his birthday with cancer patients.

Balis emotional message

Transport minister GS Bali has become very active on the social media to connect with the public. The minister regularly apprises people of steps taken by his department, but it was a different message he conveyed the other day. When the Himachal Pradesh high court asked the department to act against state transport corporation employees who went on strike despite the courts order, Bali was quick to vent his feelings on Facebook. In an emotional post on his FB page, Bali wrote: HRTC is like my family. I am pained to take action against my family members, but am feeling helpless. The minister added that had some employees not resorted to blackmailing tactic, this day would never have come.

Sukhus meeting with Sonia

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made a three-day private trip to Shimla last week to inspect the latters under-construction cottage at Chharabra. While the visit was strictly under wraps owing to security reasons, Himachal Congress president Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, considered close to AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi, did get a chance to meet the Congress president to discuss party affairs in the state. An unscheduled meeting between Sonia Gandhi and irrigation and public health minister Vidya Stokes, an old loyalist of Gandhi family, was also a talking point in political circles.

Uproar over Priyankas cottage

BJP legislator from Shimla Suresh Bhardwaj caused ripples in the state politics when he shot off a letter to Union home minister Rajnath Singh, urging him that permission granted to Congress president Sonia Gandhis daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for construction of a house near the Presidential Retreat in Shimla should be revoked. The Presidents summer retreat was a high security zone and the cottage should not have been allowed, according to him. The Shimla MLAs sudden salvo against Priyanka has bewildered most politicians, including some of those in his own party, as permission for purchasing the land was granted during the BJP regime in 2007.

(Contributed by Sukhdeep Kaur, Pawan Sharma, Rajesh Moudgil, Gaurav Bisht and Naresh K Thakur)
The police on Monday arrested Akali leader Rajbir Singh Bhullar and his aide Lakhdeep Singh for opening fire at a city-based doctor Gurbilas Singh a few days ago.

Six people were booked for attempt to murder in the road rage incident that took place on June 11. BJP leader Kabir Sharma was arrested on June 15 and had been sent to judicial remand.

Also read I Tarn Taran cops fail to arrest Akali leader accused of rape

Station house officer (SHO,) civil lines police station, Sukhwinder Singh said the accused were arrested from the SP Park following a tip-off. The other accused  Amarbir Singh, Padam and Prabhdeep Singh  are at large and raids are on to nab them, he added.

What happened?

This incident took place when Dr Gurbilas was driving towards Basant Avenue and was obstructed by a white Toyota Fortuner (PN-02-0047) whose driver would not allow him to overtake. He honked twice and the SUV suddenly came to a halt, resulting in a collision.

As the doctor was parking his car along the road, a youth came out of the SUV and opened fire. Terrified, the doctor sped away. He was chased by the SUV occupants and his car was hit twice. The doctor then drove towards the DCs residence and honked frantically to attract the attention of the police personnel there. But the accused reached there and pointed a revolver at him. They pulled him out of the vehicle and thrashed him mercilessly.

A policeman came to his rescue and took him inside the DCs residence.
Launching his campaign Halke Vich Captain on the deputy chief ministers home turf, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday said Sukhbir Singh Badal is trying to run away from Jalalabad.

Amarinder said the deputy chief minister, who has twice won the assembly elections from Jalalabad since 2009, is exploring options of fighting the next assembly election from Maur assembly segment in Bathinda, as he has completely lost touch with people here. But no matter how much he tries to run away, we will chase and defeat him, wherever he goes, said the former chief minister.

Talking to reporters after interacting with party workers during the first event under the campaign, Captain said he was told by people in Jalalabad that Sukhbir hardly visited them. So much so that in one of the villages in his constituency, 37 farmers have committed suicide, but he (Sukhbir) did not care to visit the village, he said, adding, these were indications that the deputy CM had given up on Jalalabad.

The Punjab Congress chief said once the elections are announced in a few months, Akalis will not dare to venture out. Sukhbir understands that people do not like him, and he has already started avoiding meeting them, and is focusing mostly on his private business, like building his five-star hotels and transport company, said Captain.

Justifying his move to launch the outreach programme from Jalalabad, Amarinder said: I wanted to make a point that if the plight of people who have sent the deputy CM to the Vidhan Sabha can be so pitiable, what will be the condition of people in rest of the state.

TASK FORCE TO RESOLVE GRIEVANCES

During the Lokan Da Darbar, which is a part of the threepronged campaign aimed at meeting public, party workers and local influencers, Captain received 2,882 petitions. He said a task force will be set up within 100 days to resolve issues raised in the petitions, if the Congress is voted to power in the next assembly polls.

Meanwhile, claiming indiscipline will not be tolerated in the party, Captain said a block president, who was involved in a clash during a protest rally in Lambi on Saturday, had been suspended. Punjab Congress vice-president Sunil Jakhar was accompanying Amarinder.

WHAT HALKE VICH CAPTAIN ENTAILS

LOKAN DA DARBAR: Aimed to counter chief minister Parkash Singh Badals sangat darshan, the campaign will see Captain Amarinder Singh directly engaging with local people. People will be given receipts against their grievance forms along with a unique identification number to track their complaints.

PARTY WORKERS MEET: Captain will meet local party workers, supporters, officebearers and members of frontal organisations of the Congress.

MEETING LOCAL INFLUENCERS: The former chief minister will engage with local renowned individuals, including professors, doctors, businessmen, farmers, advocates and sarpanches, to understand specific issues of the assembly segment.
The Tarn Taran police on Monday booked a farmer and his son for the murder of a 50-year-old farm labourer at Pakhoke village. Victim Harjit Singh was allegedly thrashed to death by the father-son duo after he got late to reach for work on Sunday evening.

The case was registered after hundreds of labourers on Monday blocked the road outside the Tarn Taran civil hospital, where the victims body had been kept for the post-mortem examination. Led by Communist Party of India-Marxist (Pasla) leader Baldev Singh Pandori, the protesters refused to lift the blockade till the authorities provided them with the autopsy report and registered a case against the accused.

The agitators said Harjit had been working as a labourer on Balkar Singhs fields for months. On Sunday, he got late to return to work in the evening, which allegedly angered his employer, who along with his son Sukhchain Singh thrashed him mercilessly.

Also read I Labourer dies of heart attack during ongoing indefinite protest of farmers

Tried cover-up

After Harjit died of his injuries, the two allegedly tried to cover up the incident by informing the victims family that he had fallen unconscious after being electrocuted. Later, they dumped his body outside his house, alleged the victims son, Shamsher Singh.

On seeing injuries on his body, the family called the local police, but got no response. On calling the helpline number 181, some cops reached the house to take the body for autopsy and record statements of family members. Police, however, took no action against the alleged killers.

Even during the protest, deputy superintendent of police (city) Harpal Singh tried to pacify the agitators by assuring action against the culprits, but they did not call off the stir.

Pandori alleged the police were sheltering the accused as the two are close to Shiromani Akali Dal leader Alwinderpal Singh Pakhoke.

Finally, the father-son duo was booked under Section 302/34 (murder by more than one persons) of the Indian Penal Code. It was only after the protesters were given a copy of the FIR that they lifted the dharna.
Its a reality check like none other. The whole of July will see a whopping 6-lakh Punjab youths willingly undergo a five-drug dope test, a sample size large enough to hopefully settle the raging controversy over the fact and fiction about the drug problem in the state.

The exercise is, in fact, a part of a recruitment drive to appoint over 7,000 constables in the Punjab Police for which over 6-lakh aspirants have applied. For the first time the police have asked every candidate to undergo a drug addiction test before they undergo any kind of physical test to assess their suitability for the job. The health department in collaboration with Baba Farid University of Medical Sciences, Faridkot, will assist the district police chiefs to undertake the tests, using kits specially being procured for the recruitment.

TEST RESULTS WILL BE KEENLY WATCHED

The police recruitment dope test, the first-of-its-kind in India, comes at a time when the Akali government in the state is facing acute criticism over the issue of rampant drug addiction, escalated by the recent release of Udta Punjab, a Bollywood film based on the subject.

Politically, the results of these tests could end up either providing additional ammunition to the opposition or support the Akali claim that the drug issue has been blown out of proportion.

The fact that information about the dope test is part of the advertisement issued by the police has, however, not come in the way of the overwhelming response for these jobs. While over 4.7-lakh men have applied for over 6,000 posts, another 1.2-lakh women are contending for around 1,000 posts. Almost 40,000 aspirants have applied for these posts from other states as well. All the applicants are below the age of 28 years.

DEPT READIES FOR HERCULEAN TASK

With recruitment of constables taking place after a gap of four years, and given the unexpected response, the police department is now gearing up for the herculean exercise. It was initially being considered that only the finally selected candidates be subjected to the dope test. But then it was decided by the government that every candidate who comes for the recruitment would first have to take the dope test, and then go for physical tests, said Punjab director general of police (DGP) Suresh Arora.

Other than army of doctors and health staff teams that will be deployed for over a month for the recruitment process, the dope test kits are costing the state government Rs 12 crore. A single kit can be used to test the presence of five drugs. Urine samples of the applicants will be taken on the spot and the results announced instantly. In case the applicant is found to have taken any drug, the application will be rejected.

The modalities of the whole process are being worked out. The last date for receiving applications is June 21, and once we have all the applications, we will know how much manpower will be needed to start the process. Earlier, we had planned the recruitment will be carried out at seven police ranges.

Given the large number of applications, the recruitment will now take place at 27 police districts, including the three commissionerates, said Arora.

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Malayalam film directors and technicians on Monday staged a dharna in front of the office of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in Thiruvananthapuram, protesting denial of certification to the movie, Kathakali. CBFC had denied certificate claiming nudity and vulgarity in the film and demanded three cuts.

The protest was held under the aegis of Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), which had already moved the high court against the censor boards demand for three cuts, including the climax scene, in the movie, directed by upcoming filmmaker, Saijo Kannanaikkal.

The members of FEFKA, led by its general secretary B Unnikrishnan, took part in the protest held in front of the CBFC office, functioning at Chitranjali Studio in the city.

Read: Censor board trouble for Gujarati films on Patel stir

Kannanaikkal, 27, had claimed that the CBFC officer had demanded removal of the portions, which, according to him, were the soul of the movie. He alleged that it was an infringement on the creative freedom of a filmmaker.

He also claimed that a panel of CBFC, which saw the film, had suggested giving the movie a U certificate, but the officer was reluctant to any certification without removing the objectionable scenes.

The two hour-long feature film revolves around the life of an orphan, who tries to create a space and identity of his own in the society. CBFC recently courted controversy after it demanded several cuts in the Bollywood movie, Udta Punjab.

Read| Udta Punjab: Nothing reforms society as entertainment

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More than 20 people were killed in separate bomb attacks in Afghanistan on Monday when a suicide bomber struck a minibus carrying Nepali security contractors in the capital Kabul, officials said.

A Reuters witness saw several apparently dead victims and at least two wounded being carried out of the remains of a yellow bus after the suicide bomber struck the vehicle in the capital.

Hours later, a bomb planted in a motorbike killed at least eight civilians and wounded another 18 in a crowded market in the northern province of Badakhshan, said provincial government spokesman Naveed Frotan. The casualty count could rise, he said.

The attacks are the latest in a surge of violence that highlights the challenges faced by the government in Kabul and its Western backers as Washington considers whether to delay plans to cut the number of its troops in Afghanistan.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter that 14 people had been killed and eight wounded in the attack in Kabul. Police were working to identify the victims, he said.

The casualties appeared to include Afghan civilians and Nepali security contractors, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said, after police and emergency vehicles surrounded the scene in the Banae district in the east of the city.

He said the suicide bomber had waited near a compound housing the security contractors and struck as the vehicle moved through early morning traffic. Besides the bus passengers, several people in an adjacent market were also wounded in the attack during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the Kabul attack in a statement from the Islamist groups main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, on Twitter. However it denied responsibility for the attack in Badakhshan.

Islamic State, which is bitterly opposed by the Taliban, said it carried out the Kabul attack but Zabihullah Mujahid dismissed the claim as rubbish.

By organising this attack, we wanted to show Americans and NATO military officials that we can conduct attacks wherever, and whenever, we want, the Taliban spokesman said.

The Nepal government was still working through its embassy in Pakistan, which also oversees Afghanistan, to verify reports that its citizens were involved in the attack, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bharat Paudel said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his condolences to his two South Asian neighbours after the attack.

We strongly condemn the horrible tragedy in Kabul. Our deep condolences to people and governments of Afghanistan and Nepal on loss of innocent lives, Modi said on Twitter.

Another explosion in Kabul later on Monday morning wounded a provincial council member and at least three of his bodyguards, Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid said. It was thought a bomb had been attached to the lawmakers car, he said.

The attacks underlined how serious the security threat facing Afghanistan remains since former Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a U.S. drone strike last month and was replaced by Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.

The blasts follow a deadly suicide attack on a bus carrying justice ministry staff near Kabul last month and a separate attack on a court in the central city of Ghazni on June 1.

The Taliban claimed both those attacks in revenge for the execution of six Taliban prisoners.
Intense campaigning on the June 23 referendum on Britains future in the EU resumed in full swing on Monday as Prime Minister David Cameron was accused by the Brexit camp of exploiting last weeks murder of Labour MP Jo Cox to help the Remain camp.

There was an urgency in the air, with the referendum two days away. Cox, a pro-European Union supporter, was murdered in Yorkshire on Thursday, prompting analysts to believe the incident may lead to a sympathy vote in favour of remaining in the bloc.

Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party, said: What we are seeing here is the prime minister and the Remain campaign trying to conflate the actions of one crazed individual with the motives of half of Britain who think we should get back control of our borders and do it sensibly.

I think there are Remain camp supporters out there who are using this tragic death to try to give the impression that this isolated, horrific incident is somehow linked to arguments that have been made by myself, or Michael Gove or anybody else in this campaign. And frankly that is wrong.

Downing Street was also accused of orchestrating the defection of former minister Sayeeda Warsi from the Brexit camp to Remain. Critics said they were not aware she was part of the Brexit camp.

Announcing her move to the Remain camp, Warsi said she will no longer support the campaign to leave the EU, accusing it of hate and xenophobia. Leave campaigners said she was never an active participant in the campaign.

Why is it people like me, instinctively Eurosceptic who feel the EU needs reform...feel they now have to leave Leave? Because day after day what are we hearing? The refugees are coming, the rapists are coming, the Turks are coming, she told BBC.

Warsi specifically cited a controversial poster released by Farage last week showing migrants and refugees queueing on the border of Slovenia with the caption Breaking point as her key reason for leaving the campaign.

She said the image was perpetuating a set of lies about who those people are, where they were going, suggesting they were coming to the United KingdomThis kind of nudge-nudge, wink-wink xenophobic racist campaign may be politically savvy or useful in the short term but it causes long-term damage to communities.

Warsi, who resigned as a junior foreign office minister under Cameron in 2014 to protest against the governments policy on the Israel-Gaza conflict in 2014, said Conservative mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmiths campaign in London against Sadiq Khan had been another example of divisive toxic politics that must no longer be allowed to be successful and although I would have wanted to see a mayor who was a Conservative candidate, it was a relief that campaign did not succeed.

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Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched a drive on Monday to woo Chinese companies to invest in Madhya Pradesh, saying they will be given exclusive access to four new industrial townships and zones to set up factories and manufacturing units.

He said his government is ready to give out of way incentives to Chinese firms willing to invest in specific sectors such as infrastructure, food processing and mining.

The four identified locations are Pithampura, Vikram Udyogpuri, Damot and Sitapur. The four sites include one on the Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor.

With ambitious infrastructure building goals for the next four years, Chouhan said he will also approach the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for assistance in related projects.

If there are specific industries (Chinese companies are interested in), we can discuss and even decide on out-of-the-way incentives. Incentives like tax relief are already there but we can give customised packages for specific industries, Chouhan told Beijing-based Indian journalists after delivering the keynote address at a business forum.

Chouhan is here with a delegation of ministers, officials and business leaders from his state to scouting for investments. He is visiting at the invitation of the Communist Party of China.

During his meeting with AIIB president Jin Liqun, Chouhan is expected to pitch for assistance for a project to provide drinking water to 13,000 villages in his state.

Chouhan said more than Rs 75,000 crore has been earmarked for building infrastructure in the state, adding companies from China are welcome to be part of this drive. Chinese companies could also invest in food processing, textiles and mining.

We will introduce metro rail projects in our towns soon. Though it will be done through the process of tenders, Chinese companies could take part in it, he said.

Chouhan assured representatives of more than 150 Chinese companies who attended the business forum that acquiring land in Madhya Pradesh will not be problem. Companies have apprehensions (about land acquisition). In Madhya Pradesh, we can even allot land online. We have a land bank that belongs to the government, he said.

He last visited China in 2011. The main difference (between then and) now is that Chinese companies seem to be eager to invest in India. The atmosphere has changed, he said.
Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump fired his campaign manager Corey Lewandowski on Monday as he pivots to the general election dogged by a series of recent missteps.

Lewandowski, who headed Trumps campaign since its launch last June, was a contentious figure embroiled in a power struggle with Paul Manafort, the campaign chairman.

He courted controversy for physically assaulting a female reporter during a campaign event in Florida earlier in the year, for which he was charged with simple battery.

Trump had supported Lewandowski then but had begun considering personnel changes ahead of the partys presidential convention in Cleveland, Ohio in July.

Political commentator Larry Sabato called the firing a disaster. He told CNN: That campaign is deeply troubled. It goes well beyond Corey Lewandowski.

Trump has come under withering scrutiny in recent weeks for his racist comments about a federal judge overseeing fraud cases against his Trump University and for his continuing discriminatory remarks about Muslims. On Sunday he said in view of the Orlando shootings, profiling Muslims is not the worst thing to do.

He had earlier called for temporarily banning Muslims from entering the US, specially those for areas of the world with a proven history of terrorist strikes against the US.

Trump also came under scathing criticism for his initial response to the Orlando shootings  Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism.

Both his donors  he is now accepting donations after self-funding the primaries  and allies worry if can ever extend his appeal to independent voters, whose support he needs to win.

Some Republicans, who were never comfortable with Trumps candidacy, have launched a plan, called the most organised yet, to block him at the convention.

The Washington Post, which first reported this move by delegates who will attend the convention, has reported they are now raising funds to staff up for the battle.

Lewandowski couldnt be blamed for Trumps woes, most of which were caused by the candidates own missteps and refusal to listen to advisers.

But multiple media outlets reported the campaign manager had strained to hostile relations with many Republicans and reporters covering Trump.

Trump, on his own, has a running feud with the press too, often calling it dishonest, and he recently cancelled the press credentials of Washington Post reporters covering his campaign.

The decision to fire Lewandowski came after Trump met his inner circle, including his daughter Ivanka Trump, on Monday morning, according to media reports.
EgyptAir said on Monday an advance compensation payments of $25,000 will be offered to families of the 66 people killed when one of its planes crashed into the Mediterranean last month.

The payments are separate to those expected from insurance companies on behalf of various parties depending on the investigation into the disaster.

The Airbus A320 operating Flight MS804 from Paris to Cairo disappeared from radar screens between the Greek island of Crete and the north coast of Egypt on May 19.

Among the passengers were 30 from Egypt, 15 from France, two Iraqis, two Canadians and one each from Algeria, Belgium, Britain, Chad, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.

Seven crew and three security personnel were also on board.

An insurance company will pay an advance of $25,000 after each family prepares its certificate of inheritance, said EgyptAir chairperson Safwat Musallam.

Death certificates will be ready before Thursday for Egyptians and foreigners, he told AFP.

Investigators have said it is too early to determine what caused the plane to crash, although a terror attack has not been ruled out.

Authorities in Cairo began examining the two black boxes at the weekend, accompanied by representatives from France and the United States, where the engines were made.
ORLANDO, Fla. (Reuters) - The gunman who slaughtered 49 people at a gay nightclub in Florida said he had a car rigged with bombs outside and threatened to strap hostages into explosive vests, according to partial transcripts of 911 calls he made released on Monday.

Omar Mateen, 29, paused during a three-hour siege to telephone emergency dispatchers three times and to post internet messages from inside the Pulse nightclub professing his support for Islamist militant groups.

You people are gonna get it, and Im gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid, Mateen said during one of the 911 calls, according to a redacted transcript published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Mateen told the emergency dispatcher he was wearing an explosive vest like the kind they used in France, apparently referring to the deadly assault in Paris last November by Islamic militants, according to the transcript.

As victims were fleeing the club, they told police outside that the shooter said he was going to put four vests with bombs on victims within 15 minutes, the FBI said in its statement.

No such vests or improvised explosive devices were found in the nightclub or the suspects car, however, the FBI said.

The gunman identified himself as an Islamic soldier, according to the said, and he told a negotiator to tell America to stop bombing Syria and Iraq.

When the crisis negotiator asked the shooter what he had done, the shooter stated, No, you already know what I did, the FBI transcript said.

The transcripts did not include a pledge of loyalty that authorities say he made to the Islamic State militant group. Authorities have said preliminary evidence indicates Mateen, who worked as a security guard, was a mentally disturbed individual who acted alone and without direction from outside networks.

Mateen, a New York-born U.S. citizen and Florida resident of Afghan descent, who has been described by U.S. officials as self-radicalized in his extremist sympathies.
In a surprise assault launched on Monday, the Islamic State group killed residents of two villages near its besieged stronghold in northern Syria to recapture them from US-backed fighters, a monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said IS had dispatched a small group of jihadists -- including one driving an explosives-laden car -- into villages southeast of their bastion of Manbij.

The villages had been seized in recent weeks by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces in their push for Manbij.

IS is trying to defend Manbij by sending fighters from outside the town to attack the SDF in these villages, said Rami Abdel Rahman, the director of the Britain-based observatory.

Daesh executed residents, he added, using an Arabic acronym for IS.

Civilians, who fled the violence in Manbij city, arrive to the southeastern rural area of Manbij in Aleppo Governorate of Syria. (REUTERS)

The head of the observatory, which relies on a vast network of sources on the ground for its information, did not have an immediate toll from the villages.

The US-led coalition backing the SDF carried out a barrage of air strikes on Monday to defend the villages, said Abdel Rahman.

At least four SDF fighters were killed in the clashes and many more were wounded.

The SDF -- a Kurdish-Arab alliance with air support from the US-led coalition -- encircled Manbij nearly 10 days ago.

But since then, they have been slowed by almost daily suicide bombings as IS puts up a fight for the town.

A fighter of the Syria Democratic Forces stands near pick-up trucks carrying civilians, who fled the violence in Manbij city, upon their arrival to the southeastern rural area of Manbij, in Aleppo Governorate, Syria on Sunday. (Reuters)

Held by the jihadists since 2014, Manbij was a key stop along ISs supply route from the Turkish border southeast through the town of Tabqa and on to its de facto Syrian capital of Raqa.

IS is also mounting a fierce defence of Tabqa, which has been under attack by Russia-backed regime forces since early June.

On Monday, the Observatory said, a failed IS counterattack against regime fighters southwest of Tabqa killed at least 14 jihadists and six government loyalists.

IS dispatched 300 fighters from Raqa to Tabqa to help defend the town, Abdel Rahman said.

Syrias civil war began with the brutal repression of anti-government demonstrations in 2011 and has now killed more than 280,000 people and displaced millions.
Popular writer JK Rowling on Monday flayed the acrimony in the EU referendum campaign, calling it uglier than any I can remember in my lifetime.

The creator of Harry Potter urged voters to reject the depiction of the 28-nation European Union as a faceless monster.

The author of the popular series wrote on her personal website that Im not an expert on much, but I do know how to create a monster. She described the campaign for the June 23 vote on Britains future in the EU as one of the most divisive and bitter political campaigns ever waged.

Rowling, who wanted Scotland to remain in the United Kingdom in the 2014 referendum, wrote: For some on the leave side, the EU is not merely imperfect, or in need of improvement: it is villainous. The union that was born out of a collective desire never to see another war in Europe is depicted as an Orwellian monolith, Big Brotheresque in its desire for control.

She cited a poster released last week by UKIP leader Nigel Farage, which depicted a queue of refugees on the border of Slovenia under the caption Breaking Point, and said it was an almost exact duplicate of propaganda used by the Nazis.

The EU, she wrote, was a human union that was imperfect. From friendships, marriages, families and workplaces, all the way up to political parties, governments and cultural economic unions, there will be flaws and disagreements.

Because were human. Because were imperfect. So why bother building these ambitious alliances and communities? Because they protect and empower us, because they enable bigger and better achievements than we can manage alone. We should be proud of our enduring desire to join together, seeking better, safer, fairer lives, for ourselves and for millions of others.

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In one college major at Seouls elite Korea University, the courses are known only by number, and students keep their identities a secret from outsiders.

The Cyber Defense curriculum, funded by the defence ministry, trains young keyboard warriors who get a free education in exchange for a seven-year commitment as officers in the armys cyber warfare unit - and its ongoing conflict with North Korea.

North and South Korea remain in a technical state of war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armed truce. Besides Pyongyangs nuclear and rocket programmes, South Korea says the North has a strong cyber army which it has blamed for a series of attacks in the past three years.

The cyber defence programme at the university in Seoul was founded in 2011, with the first students enrolled the following year.

One 21-year-old student, who allowed himself to be identified only by his surname Noh, said he had long been interested in computing and cyber security and was urged by his father to join the programme. All South Korean males are required to serve in the military, usually for up to two years.

Its not a time burden but part of a process to build my career, Noh said.

Becoming a cyber warrior means devoting myself to serve my country, he said in a war room packed with computers and wall-mounted flat screens at the schools science library.

South Korea, a key US ally, is one of the worlds most technologically advanced countries.

That makes its networks that control everything from electrical power grids to the banking system vulnerable against an enemy that has relatively primitive infrastructure and thus few targets against which the South can retaliate.

In relative terms, it looks unfavourable because our country has more places to defend, while North Korea barely uses or provides internet, said Noh.

Students majoring in cyber operations take part in an exam at The Korea University in Seoul, South Korea. (Reuters Photo)

Last year, South Korea estimated that the Norths cyber army had doubled in size over two years to 6,000 troops, and the South has been scrambling to ramp up its capability to meet what it considers to be a rising threat.

The United States and South Korea announced efforts to strengthen cooperation on cyber security, including deepening military-to-military cyber cooperation, the White House said during President Park Geun-hyes visit to Washington in October.

In addition to the course at Korea University, the national police has been expanding its cyber defence capabilities, while the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning started a one-year programme in 2012 to train so-called white hat - or ethical - computer hackers.

Norths cyber offensives

Still, the North appears to have notched up successes in the cyber war against both the South and the United States.

Last week, South Korean police said the North hacked into more than 140,000 computers at 160 South Korean companies and government agencies, planting malicious code under a long-term plan laying groundwork for a massive cyber attack against its rival.

In 2013, Seoul blamed the North for a cyber attack on banks and broadcasters that froze computer systems for over a week.

North Korea denied responsibility.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has blamed Pyongyang for a 2014 cyber attack on Sony Pictures network as the company prepared to release The Interview, a comedy about a fictional plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The attack was followed by online leaks of unreleased movies and emails that caused embarrassment to executives and Hollywood personalities.

North Korea described the accusation as groundless slander.

South Koreas university cyber defence programme selects a maximum of 30 students each year, almost all of them men. On top of free tuition, the school provides 500,000 won ($427) per month support for each student for living expenses, according to Korea University Professor Jeong Ik-rae.

The course trains pupils in disciplines including hacking, mathematics, law and cryptography, with students staging mock hacking attacks or playing defence, using simulation programs donated by security firms, he said.

The admission to the selective programme entails three days of interviews including physical examinations, attended by military officials along with the schools professors, he said.

While North Koreas cyber army outnumbers the Souths roughly 500-strong force, Jeong said a small group of talented and well-trained cadets can be groomed to beat the enemy.

Jeong, an information security expert who has taught in the cyber defence curriculum since 2012, said the school benchmarks itself on Israels elite Talpiot programme, which trains gifted students in areas like technology and applied sciences as well as combat. After graduating, they focus on areas like cybersecurity and missile defence.

Its very important to have skills to respond when attacks happen - not only to defend, Jeong said.
Singapores national para-athlete Adam Kamis, who represented the country at the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, on Monday pleaded guilty of recruiting women for prostitution through social networking web sites for his social escort agency and sexually exploiting a minor girl.

Adam, 37, took to Facebook to recruit women, using the moniker Angel Tan to pass himself off as an escort girl working for SG Freelancers - the escort agency he started in early 2013 to get out of debt.

He pleaded guilty to 11 charges of recruiting women for prostitution and one charge under the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act for exploiting a 16-year-old girl.

For child trafficking, Adam could be jailed for up to 10 years, fined up to SGD100,000. He could also be given up to six strokes of the cane. Adam will be sentenced on June 27.

Deputy public prosecutor Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz told the court that Adam wanted to pique their interest and gain their trust.

Adam, who lost his right arm in a motorcycle accident and had left arm paralysed, represented Singapore at the Delhi Commonwealth Games and the Asean Para Games.

Between early 2013 and October 2015, when he was arrested, Adam had recruited 15 women, Channel News Asia reported.

His victims were students, a dental assistant, childcare teacher and an accountant, and were aged between 16 and 38.

The court heard that the 16-year-old girl had come across Adams advertisement for a freelance job paying SGD500 a day. She contacted Angel Tan, the moniker used by Adam.

Adam, who introduced himself as a staff of the escort company, met the girl at his apartment in Yishun. He sexually exploited her by persuading her to let him inspect her body, assuring that all girls who attended the interview had to do the same.

Despite telling Adam she was only 16, he persisted, telling her that no one would find out. He had sex with her.

For other victims, Adam would get the victims to disclose their personal details in a sexually explicit questionnaire.

Adam would try out the women by having sex with them, Sripathy-Shanaz told the court.

Sripathy-Shanaz is seeking a sentence of 38 months against Adam. The DPP argued that this was not a spur of the moment decision but the culmination of detailed planning which spawned a well laid-out, sophisticated recruitment process.

He was both the mastermind and operator of the entire enterprise, she said.

For procuring or attempting to procure a woman for the purpose of prostitution, Adam faces up to five years jail and a fine of up to SGD10,000.
A Taliban suicide bomber killed 14 Nepalese security guards in an attack on Monday on their minibus in the Afghan capital, Kabul, the interior ministry and an Afghan security official said.

The Nepalese were on their way to the Canadian Embassy where they work as guards, according to another Nepalese guard who was wounded in the attack.

It was the latest attack by the Taliban, who have stepped up assaults, including in the Afghan capital, as part of their summer offensive. The insurgents frequently target government employees and Afghan security forces across the country.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan on Monday, a bomb rigged to a motorbike killed eight Afghan civilians during morning rush hour in a province in the northeast.

In the Kabul attack, the bomber was on foot when he struck the minibus, said Gen. Abdul Rahman Rahimi, the citys police chief. The minibus belonged to the employees of an unnamed foreign security company, he said.

Read: Honey trap: Taliban sending beautiful boys to kill Afghan policemen

An interior ministry statement confirmed that all 14 killed were Nepalese citizens, describing the attack as the work of a terrorist suicide bomber. It said the explosion also wounded nine people, five Nepalese employees and four Afghan civilians.

Amrit Rokaya Chhetri, a Nepalese guard wounded in the attack, told The Associated Press they were on their way to the Canadian Embassy when the blast took place.

Many people died, Chhetri said from his hospital bed, his head covered with bandage. I say to my family, I am ok and I will come home.

Abdullah Abdullah, the countrys chief executive officer, condemned the attack in a posting on Twitter, saying: This attack is an act of terror and intimidation.

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement to media.

Read: New Taliban leader Akhundzada a religious scholar, not a soldier

In late May, a suicide bomber targeted a minibus carrying court employees during morning rush hour in Kabul, killing 11 people  judges and court employees. The Taliban claimed responsibility for that attack as well. The bomber, who was on foot, detonated his explosives vest as he walked by the vehicle in the western part of the city.

In Nepal, Bharat Raj Paudyal, spokesperson for Nepals ministry of foreign affairs, said the government is aware of Mondays incident in Kabul and is trying to verify the names of the victims and details about the bombing.

Nepal does not have an embassy in Afghanistan but the embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, is working to get the details, he said.

In the northeastern Badakhshan province, the parked motorbike-bomb that killed at least eight Afghan civilians also wounded 14 others, according to Naved Froutan, spokesman for the provincial governor.

The explosion took place in the main bazaar in Kashim district, he said, adding that an investigation is underway to determine the target of the attack, but all victims of the attack are civilians.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the Badakhshan attack, though Taliban are active in the area and regularly target Afghan security forces there.
Two Indian nationals were among 25 people killed in a string of bombings across Afghanistan on Monday, days after Washington expanded the US militarys authority to strike the Taliban.

The Taliban and the Islamic State both claimed the first attack, which killed 14 security guards, including the Indians, working for the Canadian embassy in Kabul in a massive blast that left their yellow minibus spattered with blood.

We have learnt that 2 Indian nationals, Ganesh Thapa & Govind Singh from Dehradun, died tragically in the blast in Kabul today morning, external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted late on Monday night.

The Indian government is working with its Afghan counterpart to repatriate their bodies at the earliest, Swarup said without giving other details.

The Indians were working for Sabre International, a private security company.

Earlier reports had said all the security guards killed by the blast triggered by a suicide bomber were Nepalese nationals.

Soon after a Taliban spokesman on Twitter claimed the attack, the Islamic States affiliate in Afghanistan and Pakistan released a competing claim in which it named and pictured the alleged bomber, according to the SITE monitoring group.

An Afghan intelligence source said officials were investigating the IS claim, which was denied by the Taliban.

The Taliban also claimed a second, smaller blast in south Kabul that the interior ministry said killed one person.

The bombings were followed hours later by an attack on a market in the remote northeastern Badakhshan province that authorities said killed 10 people, with the death toll set to rise.

The wave of violence came 10 days after Washington announced an expansion of the US militarys authority to conduct air strikes against the Taliban, a significant boost for Afghan forces who have limited close air-support capacities.

Competing claims

Police said the attack on the security guards was carried out by a suicide bomber on foot on a key road leading east out of Kabul towards Jalalabad. The interior ministry said in a statement that five Nepali citizens and four Afghans were wounded.

The Canadian embassy confirmed the cowardly attack in a tweet and said it had employed the guards.

The explosion could be heard across Kabul and a plume of smoke was seen above the site of the blast on Jalalabad road, a main route housing many foreign compounds and military facilities. The blast shattered the windows of nearby shops.

Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said his country strongly condemns the killings.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, saying it was against the forces of aggression in Afghanistan. The IS claim, which SITE said was released on Twitter and Telegram, named the bomber as Irfanullah Ahmed and pictured him armed and dressed in combat fatigues in front of an IS flag.

The Taliban poured scorn on the IS claim. They neither have the capability to carry out attacks in Kabul, and nor are they supported by people. Todays attack was carried out by one of our mujahideen, and Daesh claiming they did it is baseless and hollow, Mujahid told AFP by phone.

Motorcycle bomb

The Kabul blasts were followed hours later by a motorcycle bomb in a crowded market in Keshim district of Badakhshan that officials said killed 10 people and wounded 40.

The UN mission in Afghanistan said five children were among the dead as it condemned the attack, for which no one claimed responsibility.

Mountainous Badakhshan had been relatively peaceful until the Taliban briefly captured Kunduz city last year, with insecurity spreading into other northeastern provinces.

The resurgent Taliban have been fighting against the Western-backed Kabul government since they were ousted from power by a US-led invasion in late 2001.

They have been gaining ground all around the country but IS too is making inroads into Afghanistan, particularly in the east, where they are challenging the Taliban on their own turf.

The US and NATO combat mission in Afghanistan ended in December 2014. US forces have been in an advisory role since then, while carrying out counterterrorism missions against the IS and remnants of Al Qaeda.

US forces had only been authorised to hit Taliban targets for defensive reasons, or to protect Afghan soldiers. But the recent changes mean US troops can now work more closely with local fighters in striking the Taliban, who have demanded the departure of all foreign forces.
A British politician announced she would no longer support the campaign to leave the European Union, accusing it of hate and xenophobia on Monday, days before the referendum.

Sayeeda Warsi, former chair of the Conservative Party and a prominent Muslim, told The Times newspaper she had decided to leave Leave because of a poster launched ahead of Thursdays vote.

The poster, an image of migrants and refugees queueing on the border of Slovenia with the caption Breaking point, was unveiled by the anti-EU leader Nigel Farage last week.

That breaking point poster really was -- for me -- the breaking point to say, I cant go on supporting this, Warsi told The Times.

Are we prepared to tell lies, to spread hate and xenophobia just to win a campaign? For me thats a step too far.

Accusations of divisive tactics by the Leave campaign intensified after the shock murder last week of lawmaker Jo Cox, a pro-EU campaigner who had advocated for refugees rights.

Her alleged killer, Thomas Mair, replied Death to traitors, freedom for Britain when asked to give his name at a court appearance.

Farage was forced to fend off criticism of the poster over the weekend as polls indicated the two sides were neck-and-neck ahead of the June 23 vote.

Finance minister George Osborne called it disgusting and vile and said it had echoes of literature used in the 1930s.

But Farage denied stirring hatred.

When you challenge the establishment in this country, they come after you, they call you all sorts of things, he said.

Warsi, a member of the House of Lords, was a junior foreign office minister under Cameron until she resigned in protest at the governments policy on the Israel-Gaza conflict in 2014.

Following her announcement, Vote Leave questioned whether Warsi had ever supported their campaign.

When I invited Sayeeda Warsi to join the Leave campaign, she declined, Daniel Hannan, a member of the Vote Leave campaign committee wrote on Twitter.
DHAKA: More than 100,000 Islamic scholars in Bangladesh have issued a fatwa, declaring militancy and terrorism in the name of Islam as haram while voicing their concern over a wave of brutal slayings of Hindus and secular writers by Islamists in the Muslim-majority country.

Maulana Farid Uddin Masud, the chairman of Islamic scholars organisation Bangladesh Jamiyatul Ulama, pronounced the fatwa or ruling on a point of Islamic law at a press conference in Dhaka.

Masud, the imam of Bangladeshs Sholakia Eidgah, the largest Eid prayer congregation, said some of the militants and terrorists were wrong to identify themselves as jihadists. Islam is the religion of peace...Islam doesnt support terrorism, he said on Saturday.

Referring to the Quran and Hadith, he said the suicide attackers will be cast in hell. Even taking part in funeral prayers of terrorists, militants, covert killers is haram. And those killed for their stance against militancy will be martyrs, he added.

According to Masud, 101,524 muftis, alims and ulamas have signed the fatwa.

The fatwa was issued amidst a spate of killings of writers, bloggers, online activists, and people of different religious and social views by suspected Islamic radicals.

The fatwa titled the edict of peace for well-being of humanity denounces the clandestine attacks on minorities and secular activists.

Even if the fatwas fail to stop terrorism completely, it will definitely help in curbing violence, Masud said.

Claiming that a section of criminals was spreading panic in several parts of the country with its mis interpretation of the Quran and Hadith, Masoud said law enforcers will not be able to prevent it if the criminals misperception is not eradicated.The process to launch the fatwa began in January after attacks on liberal and secular activists and minorities.
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has pulled off the airwaves two religious programmes that it feels would cause backlash during the ongoing holy month of Ramzan.

One of the programmes to be pulled off air by the broadcast regulator had caused an uproar as it deals with the treatment of the Ahmadi community in the country.

An immediate ban has been imposed on TV Ones programme Isq-e-Ramazan (hosted by Shabbir Abu Talib) and Aaj News programme Ramazan Hamara Iman (hosted by Hamza Ali Abbasi), the regulator said in a statement.

The programme by Shabbir Abu Talib attacks the mainstream Sunni community while the show hosted by Hamza Abbasi questions what it alleges is second-class treatment meted out to the Ahmadi community.

The Ahmadi community was declared non-Muslim by parliament in the 1970s despite the fact that the community itself claims it is part of Islam.

In his show, Abbasi talks about how the community has been victimised over the years.

Hundreds of community members have been attacked and murdered by members of religious outfits, said Abbasi.

His programme has triggered a harsh response from religious circles. One religious cleric threatened Hamza with dire consequences in another show.
ISLAMABAD: The kin of a pregnant woman in Pakistan slit her throat to punish her for marrying against their wishes, police said on Sunday, one of the several horrific cases of honour killing that have surfaced over the past week in the country.

Muqaddas Bibi, who was seven months pregnant with her second child, was murdered in Gujranwala earlier this week.

Bibi had eloped with her neighbour Shafiq two years ago, and married him in court, in defiance of her family s wishes. Last week, her family convinced her to return home while she was visiting a health centre near their house. She was told all had been forgiven but when she reached home, her father Bashir, mother Amna, and brothers Adeel and Naseer slashed her throat with a sharp-edged weapon.

When police reached the house, they found Bibis body but her family had fled. The body was shifted to a morgue for autopsy while forensic evidence was collected from the scene.

Another pregnant woman and her husband were abducted and shot dead by relatives near Thikriwala village in Punjab province last Wednesday, police officials said. Aqsa Bibi, 22, and Shakeel Ahmed, 26, had married in a court ceremony four years back. Their bodies were discovered after they washed up in a canal. Police said one of Aqsas brothers assembled his relatives, who abducted the two, shot them in the head and dumped their bodies in the canal.

On Saturday, the parents of a Christian woman, Nasreen Shahzadi, 25, allegedly stabbed her to death for converting to Islam after marrying a Muslim man, Irfan Rehmani, in Punjab provinces Layyah district. Shahzadi had eloped with Rehmani three months ago and married him in court, a police official said, adding that Shahzadis parents invited the couple to their house, where they stabbed her to death.

In another incident, a 23-year-old woman was paraded in her villages streets after her face was blackened and her head was shaved, allegedly by her parents, for eloping with a man.

(With agency inputs)
ROME: Voters in the Italian capital went to the polls Sunday with all signs indicating that they will elect Virginia Raggi as the first female mayor of the Eternal City.

Raggi, a 37-year-old lawyer and local councillor, has leapt from anonymity to become one of the best-known faces in Italian politics in the space of only a few months on the campaign trail.

The telegenic brunette, whose victory would be a blow for Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, is the rising star of the populist Five Star movement (M5S), the anti-establishment party founded by comedian Beppe Grillo. More than nine million voters are eligible to take part in Sundays second round election in 126 communes, including Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin and Bologna.

Its a very special day for us, we finally have the chance to have somebody new who can change things, Aldo, a 72-year-old pensioner, told AFP shortly after casting his ballot for the Five Star movement at a primary school in the Trastevere district of Rome. All the others have failed, we hope that they will succeed, he added.

All eyes are on Five Star which has emerged as the best-supported opposition to the centre left, Democratic Party (PD)-led coalition of Renzi, and the stakes are extremely high for a movement that was only founded in 2009.

With the ebullient Renzis star waning slightly, success in Rome could provide a platform for a tilt at national power in general elections due in 2018. The PD also faces defeat in Italys financial capital Milan and a tough challenge in Turin. We are witnessing a historic moment, Raggi said after the June 5 first round of voting, from which she emerged with 35 percent of the vote, well ahead of her run-off second-placed rival, Roberto Giachetti (24 percent).

It was a particularly remarkable achievement for a party with a very limited organisational apparatus.

That was a move, she recently told AFP, triggered by the birth of her son Matteo and her determination that he should not grow up in a city beset by the intertwined problems of failing public services and endemic corruption.
LONDON: A toned-down-campaign on Brexit resumed in Britain on Sunday, two days after it was suspended over Labour MP Jo Cox s murder, with Prime Minister David Cameron advising Britons that the country faced an existential choice in Thursdays EU referendum.

On television and other fora, leading figures of the Remain and Leave campaigns were strikingly sober as they paid tribute to Cox on Sunday before continuing to make their case on why Britain should vote to stay in or leave the EU in the referendum, whose outcome will be irreversible.

Mass circulation newspapers and tabloids declared their stands, with media magnate Rupert Murdoch s stable reflecting different stands.

The Times came out in support of the Remain campaign, while The Sunday Times and The Sun exhorted readers to vote to leave the 28-nation bloc.

Writing in the pro-Brexit The Sunday Telegraph, Cameron wrote, We face an existential choice on Thursday. This country has a big decision to make  and t here is so much at stake There is no turning back if we leave.

If we choose to go out of the EU, we will go out with all of the consequences that will have for everyone in Britain. And if we were to leave and it quickly turned out to be a big mistake, there wouldn t be away of changing our mind sand having another go. This is it.

The International Monetary Fund was the latest economic organisation to advise Britain against leaving the European Union.

Brexit would be the largest near-term risk, it said in its annual outlook for Britain released over the weekend.

US presidential candidate Donald Trump, who is due to travel on Wednesday to Scotland, where he has investments, repeated his stand to The Sunday Times: I would personally be more inclined to leave, for a lot of reasons like having a lot less bureaucracy. 

Parliament has been recalled on Monday to honour Cox, whose murder on Thursday prompted a rethink about the rhetoric in the referendum campaign. Commentators saw the murder as the outcome of dark forces unleashed by the toxicity in the campaign.

Days before her murder, Cox made an impassioned defence of immigration and called for staying in the EU in an article on a politics website, asking them not to fall for the spin that a Leave vote was the only way to deal with concerns about immigration.

She wrote ,Most voters recognise that our country has reaped many benefits from immigration, from the brilliant doctors in our NHS to the skilled workers helping our economy to grow. Yet across the country people face everyday worries about job security, school places and GP appointments.

We can not allow voters to fall for the spin that a vote to leave is the only way to deal with concerns about immigration. We can do far more to address both the level and impact of immigration while remaining in the EU. I very rarely agree with the prime minister but on this he s right: we are stronger, safer and better off in, she added.

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WASHINGTON: Breaking a tradition of contributing towards presidential conventions of both parties, Apple will not support Republicans this time because of its unease with Donald Trump.

The company has not officially announced its decision, but unidentified officials confirmed it to US media outlets.

Trump has attacked Apple for its production facilities in China, vowing to bring them back to the US, but the company is more troubled by his racist and bigoted remarks.

It joins Hewlett-Packard, the other IT giant whose CEO Meg Whitman has compared Trump to Hitler and Mussolini. Apples help, as that of Microsoft and Google, which are all backing both conventions, may not amount to much in itselfApple products worth $140,000 in 2008.

But the optics of it will be troubling for the Republican party, which is struggling to come to grips with their nominee and his bitterly divisive remarks on race, religion and all in between. Other companies that have decided to not sponsor the Republican convention include JP Morgan Chase and Ford Motors, Bloomberg reported.

Its a standard practice for many US companies to contribute towards both conventions through resources and products, without seeming to be taking sides. But 2016 will be different.

Trump has been struggling lately with his own partys continuing misgivings about him.
Late in the afternoon on March, 10, 1966, Colonel Charles A. Chuck House led 16 UH-34C Choctaw helicopters into the A Shau Valley to evacuate U.S. and allied soldiers from the besieged Special Forces camp there. Landing in a hailstorm of fire and chaos, they successfully pulled out 69 soldiers. But two UH-34s were shot down and seven other fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft were damaged. In the two days following, Colonel Houses squadron brought out 161 of the camps 186 survivors, including 10 of its 12 Special Forces advisers. More than 400 allied troops were lost. Houses squadron also suffered heavily. Twenty-one of his squadrons 24 UH-34 helicopters had to be replaced. The mission exhibited the versatility and durability of the Choctaw.

The Choctaw first flew on March 8, 1954, as the XHSS-1, essentially an upgrade of Sikorskis successful H-19 used in the Korean War. Production versions came with a 1,525 shp engine, giving it an impressive lift capacity for its time. Initially ordered for the Navy, it was adopted by the Army in 1955 as the H-34 Choctaw, and in 1957 the Marines ordered it as the HUS-1 Seahorse. The Air Force and Coast Guard also acquired the type. Sold extensively overseas, it saw its first operational employment in the French-Algerian War where it was used primarily as a troop transport.

Designated UH-34C (Marines) and CH-34C (Army) after 1962, the Choctaw served in Vietnam with USMC and South Vietnamese forces. The U.S. Army did not deploy Choctaws to Vietnam, but did supply more than 100 to South Vietnam. The Marines used them extensively through 1968. Their simplicity made them more reliable and popular than early UH-1s. The Marines armed some UH-34s on a trial basis with two M-60C machine guns and two 19-cell 2.75-inch rocket pods. Called Stingers, they were Americas first attack helicopters. The trial wasnt successful, but the kits were modified and became the model for kits used to arm UH-1E helicopters late in the war.

The Marines withdrew the last UH-34 from Vietnam in August 1969, but the 34 soldiered on in Reserve and National Guard units until 1974. Although more powerful gas-turbine-powered helicopters rendered piston-engine types such as the Choctaw obsolete, the UH-34s simple, robust design made it one of the most popular commercial and military helicopters of its day. Some 1,800 were produced, serving in the military and security forces of 27 nations. Britain built a gas-turbine-powered version called the Westland Wessex that remained in service well into the 1980s.
The Mexican War was over. The Santa Fe Trail, that 909-mile road of commerce which had become the pathway for military invasion, was once again bustling with trade caravans. The necessity of supplying the new American military outposts in New Mexico added to this traffic. The 1848 discovery of gold in California also led to a brief flurry of emigrants attaching themselves to the caravans, even though the Gila and Old Spanish trails never became popular with the gold seekers. Still, by the summer of 1848, an army officer at Fort Mann on the Arkansas River counted 3,000 wagons, 12,000 people and 50,000 head of stock passing his little outpost during that season alone. In 1849 overland mail service began on the trail, still headquartered at Independence, Missouri, even though Kansas City was fast becoming the outfitting center for caravans heading westward.

Opportunity beckoned. The White brothers, of Warsaw, Mo., were among those who sought their fortune in postwar New Mexico. James and Charles White had arrived in Santa Fe in mid-July 1848 to open a mercantile business similar to the general store they had operated in Missouri. Their business plan was simple but effective: Cheap Merchantscheaper than the cheapest ran their advertisement in the July 24, 1848, issue of the Santa Fe Republican. After a successful summer of trade, Charles headed south to explore business prospects between Santa Fe and Chihuahua, while James returned to St. Louis to bank $58,000 in gold and silver coins. He promptly made plans to return to Santa Fe with his wife, Ann, and their young daughter. New Mexico Territory would be their new home.

Postwar New Mexico held the promise of prosperity and a return to family life for another, far more famous individual, who had left Missouri back in 1826: Christopher Kit Carson. He was, by 1849, one of the most celebrated Americans in the world, and the inheritor of the buckskin mantle of Boone and Crockett as the nations preeminent frontiersman. Taciturn and unassuming, slight of frame and well below the average in height, Carson hardly met the blood-and-thunder image of a frontier demigod to match the wild tales that celebrated his very real adventures.

Born on Christmas Eve 1809 in Madison County, Ky., Carson was raised near Boons Lick, Mo., where his family resettled in 1811. Apprenticed to a saddler in Old Franklin in 1824, the boy soon ran away to join a caravan bound for Santa Fe. He fell in with the trappers at Taos and by 1831 was a mountain man of the first rank, friend to Jim Bridger, Thomas Fitzpatrick and Joe Meek. Those youthful years in the Rocky Mountains were always remembered by Carson as the happiest of his life, but the death of his Arapaho wife, Waanibe, ended his life as a trapper. For a while he worked as a contract hunter at Bents Fort on the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado. A chance encounter with young Lieutenant John Charles Fremont led to a second career for Carson as a guide for that Army officers two expeditions of Western exploration. Fremonts reportsghostwritten by his beautiful and talented wife, Jessie, and printed at government expense thanks to her powerful father, Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton made the Pathfinder and his intrepid scout Kit Carson into national celebrities. It was with little exaggeration that a later writer would say of Carson and Fremont that upon the ashes of their campfires the great cities of the American West would rise.

In August 1845, Carson joined Fremont at Bents Fort for a third exploring expedition westward. With 60 heavily armed men, Fremont entered California, supposedly to explore mountain passes over the Sierras, but actually to seize that most valuable of territorial prizes once an expected war erupted between Mexico and the United States. In that war, Kit Carson emerged as the hero of the Battle of San Pascual, near San Diego, in December 1846.

Everyone now sought him out, but they were invariably surprised to meet the great man himself. His fame was then at its height, from the publication of Fremonts book, noted Lieutenant William Tecumseh Sherman upon being introduced to Carson at military headquarters in Monterey, Calif., in the fall of 1847, and I was very anxious to see a man who had achieved such feats of daring among the wild animals of the Rocky Mountains, and still wilder Indians of the Plains. I cannot express my surprise at beholding a small stoop-shouldered man, with reddish hair, freckled face, soft blue eyes, and nothing to indicate extraordinary courage or daring.

Shermans response was typical. Carson had once driven a mule herd from Taos to Fort Laramie to sell the animals to emigrants bound for California and Oregon. When folks heard that Kit Carson was at the post, they all wanted to meet him. His old trapper pals were always delighted to point out their shy compadre to the flatlanders. In one celebrated incident an emigrant approached Carson and asked, I say, stranger, are you Kit Carson? When Kit nodded in the affirmative, the emigrant studied him a moment and then replied: Looke here, stranger, you cant come that over me. You aint the kind of Kit Carson Im alookin for.

By 1849 Carson did not much care about whatever kind of hero folks expected him to be. In February 1843 he had married Josefa Jaramillo in Taos. Her style of beauty was of the naughty, heart-breaking kind, noted a visitor to their home, such as would lead a man with the glance of the eye, to risk his life for a smile. Her family, while not wealthy, was well-connected in New Mexican social circles, with her sister married to New Mexicos first territorial governor, Charles Bent. Carson, devoted to his young wife, was disturbed when his government service kept him away from Taos in April 1847 and his brother-in-law Governor Bent was murdered while protecting Josefa and her sister from a rebellious mob. That tragedy made Carson all the more anxious to stay home. We had been leading a roving life long enough and now was the time, if ever, to make a home for ourselves and children, Carson later recalled. We were getting old and could not expect to remain any length of time able to gain a livelihood as we had.

Determined to settle down, Carson invested much of the $2,000 he had earned over the years as a government scout, soldier and transcontinental courier (he carried the news to Washington, D.C., of the gold strike in California) in a ranching and farming enterprise with his old friend Lucien Maxwell. Through marriage, Maxwell had inherited an enormous Mexican land grant along the Cimarron River and was determined to develop it. They purchased stock and seeds and hired workers to erect buildings on Rayado Creek, some 50 miles southeast of Taos. Although south of the Sangre de Cristos and thus exposed to Plains Indian raiders, this new settlement was favorably located along the mountain branch of the Santa Fe Trail. Rayado quickly attracted settlers to build along the tributaries of the Canadian River. Maxwell moved his family there in the spring of 1849 and was soon joined by another old frontiersman, Robert Fisher. Carson hesitated to bring his family over the mountains since Josefa had just given birth to their first child that May. The boy, named Charles in memory of the slain Charles Bent, was premature and sickly, dying before reaching his first birthday. Carson was particularly worried about Indian raids on Rayado, for by the spring of 1849 no part of the Santa Fe Trail was safe.

Indian affairs in New Mexico had deteriorated rapidly following the American conquest. The Llaneros (Plains) band of the Jicarilla Apaches had reached a balance of power with the New Mexicans over the last generation, but it had quickly broken down once the American troops arrived. Roving east of the upper Rio Grande southeast to the Canadian River, the Jicarillas now made life miserable for settler and traveler alike. They are not considered a numerous band, declared John Calhoun from his Indian agency in Santa Fe, but they are bold, daring and adventurous spirits; and they say, they have never encountered the face of a white foe, who did not quail, and attempt to fly from them. Their hostility was fueled by their northern friends the Utes, who provided a ready market for their plunder, and by the rivalry between old Chacon and young Lobo Blanco for tribal supremacy.

Regular troops and New Mexico Volunteers repeatedly clashed with Lobos band, driving him southeast of Rayado toward favorite haunts along the canyon of the Canadian River. Captain Henry Judd, commanding a detachment posted at Las Vegas, reported in late summer 1849 that the Jicarillas had been well-supplied by whiskey traders from Mora and that after leaving their families in a secure place, the Apaches will return to this frontier for plunder.

To the east it was no better along the Santa Fe Trail. Throughout the summer of 1849 it was rare for a wagon train to reach Santa Fe without being attacked or having stock driven off. Indian agent Calhoun requested more troops on August 15, noting that the Indians, generally, are in bad temperthe number of troops are not sufficient here to keep upon them a proper check. By October matters had deteriorated even more, Calhoun noting that Mr. [Ceran] St. Vrain, long a citizen here, every way reliable, and intelligent, says a worse state of things has not existed in this country since he has been an inhabitant of it.

The Army, even if more troops could have been sent, offered little hope to the New Mexico settlers or protection to travelers on the trail, one Army officer complaining of the ignorance, the laziness and the vicious character of the officers in the frontier depots. The St. Louis Daily Union, under the bold headline Indian MurdersApathy of Our Government, called for action to punish the Indian raiders. It is almost useless to send regular forces against Indians, the newspaper said. The Indians will elude them, and disperse to their secret haunts. Not so, however with the Texan rangers, or the hunters of our own frontier. Acquainted with Indian life, they will follow the savage to the fastnesses of his own ravines or mountains, hunt him out, and, arm to arm, exact from him the penalty of his depredations.

Despite the dangers, the great trade caravans still gathered. The most experienced of all the wagon train captains, the intrepid Francois X. Aubry, organized a large caravan at Kansas City in mid-September. No wagon train captain was more respected than this young French Canadian who had repeatedly set travel records with his caravans and as a mail carrier. Friend to both Carson and Fremont, Aubry had battled both hostile Indians and severe weather to take three trains to Santa Fe in 1848 alone. In February 1849 he accompanied Charles White to Chihuahua, which was becoming the real center of a trade network stretching from St. Louis to Santa Fe and then along the old Camino Real to Mexico City. Aubrys return to Missouri was marked by attacks from both Apaches and Pawnees, but his little band reached Independence on August 23 with no losses. Undaunted, he immediately proceeded to purchase goods for a return to Santa Fe.

Attached to Aubrys caravan were 10 wagons owned by Ceran St. Vrain and 13 wagons owned by James M. White. White planned to headquarter his new mercantile business in Santa Fe with yet another branch in El Paso established by his brother and Aubry the previous winter. All of his personal goods were with the wagon train, for he now planned to settle in Santa Fe. His wife, Ann Dunn, and daughter Virginiaalong with a mulatto employee, Ben Bushman, and a black female servantmade up the White household. They departed Kansas City on September 15.

Despite all the dire warnings of Indian unrest, the journey proved uneventful, although the weather turned cold and blustery. Just east of Council Grove, Aubry decided to send his wagon master, William Calloway, ahead to Santa Fe for fresh mules. White decided to accompany Calloway in order to get his family to Santa Fe more quickly. Aubry argued against this action, but could not dissuade the merchant. Leaving his wagons with Aubry, White pushed ahead with his family in two carriages on October 18. White, his wife, daughter, black nursemaid and Bushman were accompanied by Calloway, a German traveler named Lawberger and two New Mexican employees of Aubry.

By October 24 the little party had hurried down the Santa Fe Trails Cimarron cutoff and across Palo Blanco Creek some 10 miles east of the Point of Rocks landmark. They were less than 100 miles from the relative safety of Las Vegas when Lobo Blancos Jicarillas sprang their ambush. The Indians later claimed that they had attempted to parley with White and were fired on, but the elaborate stone breastworks they had constructed beside the trail told a different story. It must have been over quickly. Calloway was shot through the chest and Lawberger through the neck. The two Mexicans fell nearby. White fought desperately in defense of his family, falling with several bullet and lance wounds. His loyal servant, Bushman, died not far from him.

The gun smoke had hardly cleared when a party of New Mexican buffalo hunters happened on the scene. They proceeded to ransack the carriages for plunder when Lobo Blanco struck again. One hunter was killed and his young son terribly wounded as the others beat a hasty retreat.

The wounded boy played possum until the Jicarillas left, and then crawled to Point of Rocks, where he encountered the party of Hugh Smith, the New Mexico territorial delegate to Congress, on his way to Washington, D.C. The boys tale horrified the men, who promptly returned to Las Vegas to alert the troops at Santa Fe and Taos.

Englishman Alexander Barclay, whose adobe fort was an important way station along Mora Creek, reached the murder scene on the evening of October 25. He and his companions did not linger, especially after finding Whites body with its lower half completely devoured by wolves, pushing on quickly to camp at Point of Rocks before reaching Barclays Fort the morning of the 27th. Smith was there with the wounded boy. The boy claimed that the Jicarillas had headed to the northwest after killing his father. Barclay, long the factor at Bents Fort, knew the Apaches well, and surmised that they must have headed southeast toward the broken country along the Canadian River. Barclays party had also encountered several Pueblo Indians who had seen Ann White and her daughter Virginia in the Apache camp. It was assumed that the Whites black nurse was with them as well, but the Pueblos had not seen her.

Indian agent Calhoun, receiving word in Santa Fe on October 29, immediately hired Indian trader Encarnacion Garcia to ransom Mrs. White and her daughter from the Apaches. Calhoun gave Garcia $1,000 for the ransom, at the same time confessing to his superiors, I am left to lament the impotency of my arm, and if the two captives are not to be liberated, it is to be hoped they are dead.

Aubry, upon reaching Santa Fe the next morning, was devastated by the news and promptly hired both Pueblo Indians and New Mexican friends to rescue the captives. He also offered $1,000 as reward or ransom.

At Las Vegas the wary Captain Judd ordered an escort of 20 men eastward under Sergeant Philip Swartwout to guard the mail wagon bound for the states. Judd also sent an Indian hostage taken prisoner by Lieutenant Ambrose Burnside the previous August along with the sergeant in case they should encounter the Apaches. The hostage, Lobo Blancos daughter, was to be traded for Mrs. White. The party camped a few miles east of Point of Rocks the first night out, not far from the White murder site. The Jicarilla woman was allowed to climb a nearby knoll, where she awakened the entire camp with her mournful wail. She cried all night. By dawn she appeared calm, sitting quietly next to the campfire when ordered into a wagon by one of the teamsters. In response she stabbed the man several times with a butcher knife before being knocked down by one of his companions. She then chased her assailant around the camp before, in frustration, stabbing several of the mules, killing one. Swartwout ordered her shot, which was promptly done, thus ending all hope of a hostage exchange.

Troops were also in motion from Taos, where Captain William Grier organized a joint force consisting of his own company of the 1st Dragoons, 42 men, as well as 40 mounted New Mexican Volunteers under Captain Jose M. Valdez and a battery of 6-pounders. Grier, an 1835 West Point graduate who had been brevetted major for gallantry during the Mexican War, had not been in New Mexico long. He wisely hired Antoine Leroux as his chief-of-scouts for the expedition. Leroux rivaled even Kit Carson as a mountain man and scout, and while the two men were lifelong friends, others constantly sought to build a rivalry between them. Leroux, born of French-Canadian parents in St. Louis in 1803, had gone west with William H. Ashley in 1822. An experienced trapper and mountain man, he had settled in New Mexico in 1833 and married into the prominent Vigil clan. During the Mexican War he had won further fame as a scout for Colonel Philip St. George Cookes Mormon Battalion, helping to blaze a wagon road to California.

Also attached to the command was 22-year-old German emigrant William Kronig, freshly minted orderly sergeant of Valdezs company. Kronig had migrated to the United States from Westphalia in 1847. Lured westward by gold fever, he had made it only as far as Santa Fe before running out of cash. In hopes of making enough money to continue on to the gold fields, he enlisted for two months service in the New Mexico Volunteers and, since he was the only man in his company who could read or write English, was promptly promoted to sergeant. When the detachment was ordered out, he requested that Captain Grier provide him with a gun, but was dismissed with the statement that a saber was enough of a weapon for him. It was a telling comment on Grier.

On the third night out, Griers detachment reached Rayado. The captain wanted well-known Kit Carson to join his party, even though Leroux was to be chief scout and he already had noted mountain men Robert Fisher, Dick Wootton, Jesus Silva and Tom Tobin in his company. Carson listened to Griers plea. This was a familiar tale as old as the frontier. The rescue of his daughter from the Shawnees was one of the most famous stories from the life of Daniel Boone, and it in turn had provided the plotline for James Fenimore Coopers 1826 novel The Last of the Mohicans. These written manifestations of the tale were lost on Carson, who could not read or write, but the plight of the young mother certainly stirred him to action. Settling down with his own family would have to wait a while longer.

Carson was the first to reach the slaughter site on November 9, quickly finding the abandoned Apache camp as well. The letters, papers etc. found strewed about this camp, noted Grier, were conclusive evidence that here had been the hiding place of those Indians who, two weeks previously, had murdered Mr. J.M. White and his party. Even the rough mountain men were moved by the discovery of Virginia Whites little rocking chair.

It was the most difficult trail that I ever followed, Carson later declared. The Apaches would break into small parties every morning, rejoining at a designated campsite in the late afternoon. The trail, already cold, led Carson and the other scouts to many a dead end. Ann White was their great ally. In nearly every camp we would find some of Mrs. Whites clothing, Carson noted, which was the cause of renewed energy on our part to continue the pursuit.

From Point of Rocks Carson trailed the Jicarillas to the southeast, toward their favored haunts along the Canadian River and its tributaries. After 200 miles they crossed the river only to realize that their quarry had circled back some 15 miles below the point of their crossing.

It was the flight of the ravens, which led me to believe that we were nearing the hostiles of whom we were in pursuit, recalled frontiersman Dick Wootton. The direction of their flight indicated the location of a camp, where they could find the carcasses of dead animals to feed on, and the time of their flight in the afternoon, indicated the distance of the camp from us.

As the trail became fresh, Captain Grier ordered the men to supply themselves with bread for eight days for the final pursuit. They would make only cold camps at night after pushing hard every day. About two hours before sundown on November 16, the scouts found the abandoned Apache camp with cottonwood still smoldering in the ashes of the fires. Scouts were sent out, but it was too late in the day to find the Jicarillas. Having traveled a punishing 40 miles that day, Grier decided to encamp in a grove of nearby cottonwoods to rest his horses and men for the final push forward.

At dawn on November 17, Grier moved his command out at the gallop, the scouts in advance. He gambled that even though they had to travel across the exposed prairie to make speed, the Indians might not spy them until too late. All former precautions had been eliminated, recounted Sergeant Kronig. The company started on a trot and kept up this pace until we were in sight of some Indian horses, grazing on the hills above their camp. The Jicarillas, encamped on the Canadian River some 15 miles south of the landmark called Tucumcari Butte, were taken by surprise.

Carson, far in advance, could see that the Apaches had been alerted to the troops and were breaking camp. As he galloped forward, he called back to the men to follow him. Wootton and others rushed forward to join Carson in charging the camp when Grier suddenly ordered the men to halt. Wootton was stunned, calling Griers action one of the strangest ideas that ever entered the head of a commanding officer, who was about to engage an Indian or any other enemy.

Carson galloped back, cursing Grier and demanding an immediate charge, but Leroux had suggested a parley and the captain was adamant. One enraged volunteer sergeant rode up to Grier and threw down his gun and saber in disgust. By this time Indian warriors were rushing toward the troops, screening the escape of their families. Grier suddenly reeled in his saddle, shot in the chest by one of the Apaches. His gauntlets, stuffed into his coat pocket, saved him by stopping the spent ball. Gasping for breath, he ordered the charge. It was too late.

As the soldiers rushed the village, the last of the warriors melted away before them with their families now safely across the river. Fisher shot one warrior as he swam the river. He was the only Apache killed. The Indians, with their fresh horses, easily outdistanced the pursuing soldiers and quickly scattered.

In the camp Carson found the body of Ann White, perfectly warm, had not been killed more than five minutesshot through the heart with an arrow. Carson was uncharacteristically bitter. I am certain that if the Indians had been charged immediately on our arrival, she would have been saved, he noted. Sergeant Kronig also came on the tragic scene: She was running toward us when shot and the arrow that took her life, struck at her back, seemed to have passed through her heart. It was a pitiful sight to see an American woman so ruthlessly killed by these heartless savages. They still had her baby and the Negro nurse.

With pursuit fruitless, the soldiers gathered up camp equipment, buffalo robes, saddles and food and tore down some 30 lodges. These were all gathered over Mrs. Whites grave and burned, so that the Apaches would not find the burial site. Seventy ponies were taken, which Grier gave to the volunteers. Two Apache children were found, and Grier turned them over to Jesus Silva to take back to Rayado (the taking of Indian children as slaves was still commonplace among New Mexicans).

While all the Indian property was gathered for destruction, Mrs. Whites baggage was also found, and there a remarkable discovery was made. Carson never forgot the moment: In camp was found a book, the first of the kind I have ever seen, in which I was made a great hero, slaying Indians by the hundred, and I have often thought that as Mrs. White would read the same, and knowing that I lived near, she would pray for my appearance and that she would be saved. I did come, but had not the power to convince those that were in command over me to pursue my plan for her rescue.

The book was most likely Charles Averills Kit Carson: Prince of the Gold Hunters, published earlier that year and the first of many novels to wildly exaggerate Carsons heroics. Disgusted, Carson urged his companions to toss the book into the fire over Ann Whites grave.

On the return the column was struck by a sudden blizzard. In the ensuing whiteout most of the captured ponies were lost as the command drifted before the storm. Griers black servant was lost in the storm, and the men suffered terribly. It was even worse for Lobo Blancos people, caught on the open prairie to the east without any lodges or buffalo robes. A great many of them perished. Carson, Leroux and Grier, with some of the dragoons, staggered into Captain Judds camp at Las Vegas on November 24. From there Carson left the command for Rayado.

In 1850 Congress authorized $1,500 to be paid by Indian agent Calhoun for the return of the White girl, but neither she nor her nurse was ever found. The Apaches declared that they were dead. In response to the White murders, Calhoun got his request for more troops, and in 1851 Fort Union was built near where the Cimarron and mountain branches of the Santa Fe Trail came together just to the west of Point of Rocks. The army relentlessly pursued the Jicarrillas, and in 1854 dragoons under Lieutenant David Bell killed Lobo Blanco. Ironically, this was after a failed parley in which the chief attempted to kill the young officer.

Back in Taos, Sergeant Kronig was ordered to copy the official military report of Griers expedition. I copied it and to my surprise I read of the wonders that we had performed, he grumbled. As he worked, Major Benjamin Beall of the 1st Dragoons stepped into the office to inquire how Kronig was doing. When the young German remarked on his surprise on reading of such a brilliant campaign that he had not witnessed, the old soldier simply smiled and remarked that it was paper talk.

Kit Carson also now knew the strange power of paper talk. On the far reaches of the Canadian he had come face to face with his own legend in one of the most remarkable moments in all of frontier history. The discovery of Averills book made it seem as if life was imitating art, but with tragic consequences. The failure of his ride to save Ann White would haunt him all the rest of his days.

Paul Andrew Hutton is a University of New Mexico Distinguished Professor, executive director of Western Writers of America and author of Phil Sheridan and His Army. Suggested reading: Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West, by Hampton Sides; and Kit Carson & the Indians, by Tom Dunlay.

This article was written by Paul Andrew Hutton and originally published in the April 2007 issue of Wild West Magazine. For more great articles, subscribe to Wild West magazine today!
Tesla Motors would noW need to brace for competition from start ups that are going to be a direct competitor, in addition to stalwarts like BMW and Mercedes-Benz, in the luxury electric vehicle (EV) segment in the years to come. Something that would be even more concerning for Tesla Motors is the fact that all those start ups are backed by Chinese investors and over the years it has been noticed that investors from China usually end up giving tough competition to established operators in any field.

In order to make sure that these start ups are able to compete with the leaders in the industry, the investors have provided them with the sort of money that has allowed them to poach employees from Tesla involved in the engineering and management side of the business. Needless to say, they are serious avout their venture.

According to a report on USA Today, "Atieva, one of those startups, recently unveiled plans to release a luxury EV sedan dubbed Edna within two years. The company, whose Chief Technology Officer is Peter Rawlinson, who led the engineering of Tesla's Model S, is funded by a variety of investors, among them Beijing Auto and LeEco-a software company owned by entrepreneur Jia Yueting.Another Tesla competitor hopeful, Faraday Future, also based in California, like Tesla and Atieva, is funded by Jia as well. The company, which has announced plans to start production of its EV in the U.S., recently snapped up top Ferrari manager Marco Mattiacci to oversee everything from branding to sales and customer experience. Faraday Future, like Atieva, doesn't yet have a car ready for mass production, but it's in the process of building a plant in Nevada where it will make its FFZero1. Two other young companies that have significant involvement from Jia Yueting and other Chinese sources of funding are NextEV and LeSEE." The future is surely exciting for luxury electric vehicle customers in the future.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
According to a recent study, conducted by a group of researchers from Radboud University in the Netherlands, published in Current Biology, the study results indicate with intense physical activity the group of neurotransmitters responsible for a memory boost get triggered. For the purpose of their study, the researchers used aerobic exercises on their participants.

However, a recent report highlighted an interesting twist to this study. Researchers found out that if you exercise immediately after studying, it will not enhance your memory retention. The researchers are yet to find the reason why this happens. For now, they only recommend that the exercise is best conducted after a couple of hours of doing your homework.

"Experts from the Donders Institute in the Netherlands' Radboud University Medical Center discovered that people who exercise four hours after finishing a learning task had better memory recall 48 hours later," according to a recent news report.

According to another news article, "Newly-learned information turns into long-term knowledge through a process of stabilization and integration of memories, the study team writes in Current Biology. This requires certain brain chemicals that are also released during physical exercise, including dopamine, noradrenaline (norepinephrine) and a growth factor called BDNF, they explain."

"The brain processes new memories for a while after learning. Physical exercise is able to improve these post-learning processes," senior author Guillen Fernandez, director of the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, told Reuters Health by email.

People who want to improve their learning should perform intense exercising activities to ensure that the responsible brain chemicals are released. However, the researchers also warn, "Very intensive exercise might also have negative effects."

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Global Warming has truly caught up with Earth. Antarctica's recording of carbon dioxide exceeded 400 ppm for the first time in 4 million years, marking a point of no return for the planet.

CO 2 spike since industrial revolution is attributed to human activities mainly fossil fuel burning. The release of carbon dioxide into atmosphere has also been blamed for increase in global mean temperatures, rise in acidity of oceans and increase in ocean levels. Extreme weather events are also blamed for global warming-induced climate change.

Global mean concentrations of CO 2 passed the 400 ppm mark last year, which sent alarm bells ringing; earth had gone beyond a point of no return, warranting drastic changes to circumvent disastrous consequences. Humanity was being nudged into action at Paris.

"The far southern hemisphere was the last place on earth where CO2 had not yet reached this mark," said Pieter Tans, the lead scientist of NOAA's Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network. "Global CO2 levels will not return to values below 400 ppm in our lifetimes, and almost certainly for much longer."

Though far removed from human activity, Antarctica records CO 2 released into atmosphere from other parts of the globe. The gas makes its way from the Northern Hemisphere to the south. Plants help absorb some of what is produced predominantly during summers but diminishing green sink source on Earth is inadequate; slashing emissions is the only way forward.

"We know from abundant and solid evidence that the CO2 increase is caused entirely by human activities," Tans said. "Since emissions from fossil fuel burning have been at a record high during the last several years, the rate of CO2 increase has also been at a record high. And we know some of it will remain in the atmosphere for thousands of years."

Every year since measurements began, CO 2 concentrations have been higher than previous years. In 2016, scientists apprehend the average for the planet every month of the year may be higher than 400 ppm.

@ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
J.W. Marriott, Jr., Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board of Marriott International, has been chosen by EY, one of the largest international accounting firms, to receive the 2016 EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the Family Business category in the Mid-Atlantic region. The EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award program celebrated its 30th anniversary. EY selected J.W. Marriott, Jr. for pursuing business excellence and his achievement in innovation, fiscal growth and serving his company and community. A panel of judges identified the Executive Chairman as an exemplary model of these characteristics and presented him the award at their gala held at Ritz Carlton, Tysons Corner on June 15, 2016.

"I am proud to be chosen for this great honor from EY," said J.W. Marriott, Jr. "At Marriott, we lead by example and encourage innovation, which fuels our growth in a competitive industry. This award represents the passion and pride I have in our company. That is why this is award is so meaningful to me."

As a Mid-Atlantic award winner, EY will consider J.W. Marriott, Jr. for recognition for the Entrepreneur of the Year 2016 national program. National award winners will be announced at the Entrepreneur of the Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 19, 2016. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth ForumTM, the nation's most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. The US Entrepreneur of the Year Overall Award winner then moves on to compete for the World Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Monaco in June 2017.

Since 1986, EY has honored entrepreneurs whose ingenuity, spirit of innovation and discipline have propelled their companies' success, invigorated their industries, and benefited their communities. Now in its 30th year, the program has honored the inspirational leadership of such entrepreneurs as Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company, Robert Unanue of Goya Foods, and Mindy Grossman of HSN. Recent US national winners include Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn; Hamdi Ulukaya, founder of Chobani; and 2015 winners Andreas Bechtolsheim and Jayshree Ullal of Arista Networks.

About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 8,100 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 139 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy, its highly awarded travel program. Connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.

Colleen Antonio

Corporate Affairs - Marriott International

301-380-9044

Marriott

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As hes settled into superstardom, Big Sean has made a constant effort to give back to his hometown of Detroit. Last year, he founded his Detroit-based nonprofit, the Sean Anderson Foundation, designed to help the disadvantaged youth of his city with initiatives in the realms of education, healthcare, and the arts. Through his foundation, he was recently able to donate a sum of $25,000 to Wayne State University, located in the Midtown district, for its Helping Individuals Go Higher (HIGH) program, which is devoted to eliminating college student homelessness.

According to his foundations website, Seans donation will provide short-term support to Wayne State students experiencing homelessness or precarious housing situations. With this gift, we will be able to help Wayne State students who are experiencing homelessness work toward a better future, said HIGH founder Jacqueline Wilson.

Seans contribution to Wayne State is not the only recent charitable work that has earned him attention. He donated $82,000 during the height of the crisis in Flint in order to help children who had been poisoned by the citys water supply, and last year, he teamed with adidas Originals to build a recording studio at Cass Technical High School, his alma mater.

Big Sean
All in all, this years Red Bull Culture Clash looked like a good time for everyone involved. On Friday night, four different crews, each with its own soundsystem, took turns on the stage in Londons O2 Arena to see who could put on the hottest show and come through with the most exclusives.

Wiz Khalifas Taylor Gang was the only hip-hop crew in the contest, and they faced off against the NYC-based dancehall label Mixpak, the Eskimo Dance grime collective, and the UK Garage Allstars. In his first Culture Clash, his team was an automatic underdog, but Wiz was more than ready to engage in the combative spirit of the event and talk plenty of shit to his competitors. As is protocol, he also came armed with an array of unheard dubs  basically remixes of hot records that have been recorded exclusively for the event.

Mixpak prevailed as the Culture Clash champs, and it was Popcaans deploying of an exclusive dub of Drakes One Dance that helped his crew seal the deal. He shouted out Drizzy Drake and yelled out Fuck Wiz Khalifa! before playing the song, which included lyrics that were repurposed to include his name.

Though Mixpak was victorious, Wiz was not impressed with the new One Dance, and he joked about the exchange that mightve taken place for Drake to update his lyrics. Hey Pop Tart, he addressed Popcaan, I know you gave Drake a handjob for that drop.

In Wiz Khalifas opinion, the slightly amended One Dance doesnt constitute a dub. That was a drop, that wasnt a dub, Wiz told Popcaan after retaking the stage. I could play his [Drakes] album too, motherfucker. He gave me a drop too, motherfucker. We playin dubs tonight, he said, not to the amusement of Mixpak boss Dre Skull. Im supposed to be American, Im not supposed to know what real dubs is, right? continued Wiz. But why the fuck Taylor Gang got all the illest dubs?

Taylor Gang did come through with an impressive list of dubs  as they were able to get exclusive new mixes from the likes of Big Sean, Fat Joe, Rae Sremmurd, and Travis Scott. Joey Badass even made a surprise appearance on behalf of the gang, and Ty Dolla $ign performed a remix of Shut Up by grime emcee Stormzy, a competing member of the Eskimo team. Luckily, Wiz has already implied that he plans to release some of those dubs for his Taylor Gang faithful.

His team didnt come out on top, but Wiz was certainly proud of the Gangs effort, convinced that they won respect in their first attempt at a real sound clash.

Wiz Khalifa
The album is being made to raise money for the charity, Oxfam.

The legendary Glastonbury festival in the UK is set to release its first ever live album. The songs for the album will be taken from performances at this year's event.

Artists who have agreed to feature on the album include headliners Muse and Coldplay, along with Foals, The 1975, The Last Shadow Puppets, Chvrhces, Two Door Cinema Club, Editors, Laura Mvula and Years & Years. The artist's who have agreed to appear on the album will dedicate one song during their sets to Glastonbury Live. The dedicated song will subsequently appear on the album.

All profits from the record will go towards Oxfam's Refugee Crisis Appeal which is aimed at increasing pressure on world leaders to deal with the ongoing refugee crisis in the Mediterranean region. Glastonbury Live is also being made in memory of UK Labour MP Jo Cox who was murdered while at an advice surgery in her constituency office in Batley, West Yorkshire last week. Before becoming an MP Cox was a well known advocate and campaigner for refugees.

Oxfam said in a statement about the record, "ere pushing for political change. People forced to flee their homes need to be kept safe, supported and together. All Parlophone's profits from the album will go to Oxfams Refugee Crisis Appeal, providing life-saving essentials like food, water and sanitation".

The album will be released by Parlophone Records on July 11.
Ex-Bad Seed hits Irish shores this weekend

Two years after a roof-raising Grand Social performance, Kid Congo arrives back in Ireland this weekend.

The former member of The Cramps, The Gun Club and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (were sure he has a few hair-raising stories!) hits Voodoo Belfast this Friday, June 24, before returning to The Grand Social, Dublin the following evening in the company of his Pink Monkey Birds.

The dates are in support of his excellent latest long-player La Arana Es La Vida, his fourth for In The Red Records. In addition to new material you can expect fare from his earlier solo albums  and a few tunes from past guises mightn't be out of the question either...
The Italian pianist and composer performed on a floating platform.

Ludovico Einaudi has performed an original composition on a floating barge in the Arctic Ocean. He did so to help raise awareness for Greenpeace's Save The Arctic campaign.

Einaudi played his piece 'Elegy For The Arctic' on a grand piano as he slowly floated around on the waters of Wahlenbergbreen glacier in Svalbard, Norway. He was brought to the location on Greenpeace's ship, Arctic Sunrise.

At one point during the video enormous pieces of ice crash down from the glacier as a descending progression is played on the piano. Greenpeace made the video in protest to a proposed protection of 10% of the Arctic Ocean for fishing and oil drilling. Countries including Norway, Iceland and Denmark oppose the measure which will be decided upon at a meeting of world leaders in Tenerife this week.

Einaudi is a highly acclaimed composer and pianist, best known for his minimalistic solo material. His most recent solo album, Elements was released in 2015. See the footage of his unique performance below.

El pianista Ludovico Einaudi lleva tu voz al Artico #SaveTheArctic https://t.co/eMAWNDNWEF pic.twitter.com/KmDDOcPrc5  Captain Mike (@MikeFincken) June 20, 2016
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Businessman Jude Shao spent a decade in a Chinese prison, uncertain when he'd be let go, and then was barred from leaving Shanghai for five more years.

"We were a high-profile American company selling the Chinese products, and we attracted government attention," he says by way of explanation.

Shao, Shanghai-born but a U.S. citizen at the time of his arrest, was not allowed to return to this country until 2013. Today, the Stanford Graduate School of Business alumnus is in Houston, where he founded Sky Blue Butane, the only American company to manufacture butane fuel canisters.

Success in the Texas venture would bring both personal and professional satisfaction for Shao.

"If I prove myself successful in business, prove myself ethical in business, I prove they were wrong," he said recently at the company headquarters in an industrial area near Hobby Airport.

Shao, 54, came to the United States in 1986 to study educational technology at Rhode Island College. He later earned a master's degree at Stanford and began splitting his time between San Francisco and Shanghai, where he ran a company exporting U.S. medical imaging equipment to China. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1997.

He was among the first class of expatriates to try their hand at business in China, as the country's economy began to take off after years of strict central control. His business grew quickly until Shanghai officials came knocking at his door. Shao told tax auditors they could see the books, but after that he locked the door and refused to cooperate or pay a $50,000 bribe, he says.

His refusal, he says, landed him in more trouble with the authorities. They accused him of tax evasion and detained him at the Shanghai airport when he arrived on a flight from the United States.

Shao's staff called the U.S. Consulate when he didn't show up to work.

"Because I'm not white, I'm Chinese just like them, they didn't know they were holding an American citizen," Shao said. "By that time it was too late. They were playing hardball."

'A political chip'

For more than two years, Shao was held incommunicado. Eventually, he was convicted during a trial for which he couldn't prepare any defense and moved to a prison Shanghai uses for foreigners, which is separate from and nicer than the prisons for native-born Chinese inmates. There, he was able to communicate with the U.S. Consulate once a month and with his family still living in Shanghai.

His 1993 Stanford classmates began to advocate for him from the United States, completing a full Chinese audit of his company to prove the charges were meritless. Shao's case grabbed the attention of the Wall Street Journal. The State Department would occasionally tell reporters they were getting close to freeing Shao.

But every time the two countries seemed close to a deal, a setback in U.S.-China relations would stall the process. In 2001, a U.S. spy plane collided with a Chinese fighter jet, sparking an international dispute. In 2006, President George W. Bush refused to hold a state dinner for Chinese President Hu Jintao.

"I became a political chip," Shao said.

Shao was finally released weeks before the 2008 Olympics began, on the condition that he would stay in Shanghai for another five years and not talk to reporters about his case. Officially, he was charged with tax evasion and sentenced to 16 years in prison.

"His was one of the first really high-profile cases of a naturalized U.S. citizen of Chinese descent going back to the mainland, doing business and being detained and prosecuted," said Sophie Richardson, China director for Human Rights Watch. "It was a surprise to the U.S. business community.

"The general expectation at that time was that expatriate businesspeople would be immune from the same kinds of questionable prosecutions and investigations that were rampant across the mainland. His was one of the first cases to show it didn't matter what passport you had, you could still be quite vulnerable."

Shao's decade behind bars left him more determined than ever to succeed in business. After spending some time readjusting to American life, he began working as security analyst in Washington, D.C., where he researched Chinese manufacturing companies and monitored trends in the U.S. oil market.

Korea competitors

Around that time, Shao's friends held a dinner to welcome him back to the U.S. The meal was a traditional Chinese hot pot, whose preparation requires the use of a canister. In the midst of his work researching Chinese manufacturing, Shao noticed that the canister was made in Korea.

"That clicked," Shao said. "Why are we importing Korean butane gas canisters when American oil prices are going to go down?"

As soon as oil prices slipped, Shao took action. He ran a feasibility study and set up a 14,000-square-foot factory in southeast Houston in April 2014. His Stanford classmates invested in the business.

Today, the factory employs seven workers on the butane canister line. Many of their products are made for Coleman, the camping company. They are sold across the U.S. and as close by as the local Target and Wal-Mart. Some are exported to Canada.

The pitch to buyers is simply that it costs less to produce the fuel canisters in the U.S., especially in Houston. Domestic regulations surrounding production of butane fuel canisters are more stringent than in other countries, leading to a higher quality product, Shao says. The company sources its butane gas from domestic suppliers.

Sky Blue Butane isn't aiming to take over the global butane canister market, which is dominated by three Korean companies, but to supply the relatively modest North American market. Of 500 million cans of butane gas consumed annually worldwide, the U.S. accounts for 20 million.

Right now, the plant is producing 3.6 million cans of butane gas a year, or nearly 20 percent of the U.S. market. Sky Blue Butane is planning to open a second factory in Houston within the next year.

Shao's eagerness to dive back into business after so much hardship motivates other Houston entrepreneurs.

"For the Asian community, it's inspiring," said Linda Toyota, president of Houston's Asian Chamber of Commerce.

Shao runs the business with help from Blake Turner, a recent Rice University graduate who serves as his chief operating officer. Turner appreciates the opportunity to help build a unique U.S. company.

"It's very rare to get the chance to help build an American manufacturing business in this day and age," he said.

For Shao, Sky Blue Butane is a way to succeed in a niche American market, and to show that his years behind bars didn't dull his business sense.

"I want to prove my business acumen is still there," Shao said. "We're on track. If I prove the concept is right, that's my goal."
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It wasn't that long ago when oil prices were riding high and Houston's law firms were expanding their practices in energy-related transactions, corporate law and mergers and acquisitions to keep up with boom.

These days, demand is still there for energy expertise, but Houston's law firms are shifting some of their focus toward picking up the pieces of the energy bust by adding specialists in bankruptcy, finance and tax. Firms are keeping their eyes open on ways to diversify, including by industry and geography, to help them survive prolonged periods of low energy prices.

"We take a long-term view," said Mark Kelly, chairman of Vinson & Elkins, who has been through several boom and bust cycles.

With 291 lawyers in Houston, Vinson & Elkins is Houston's biggest law firm. Over the past year, the firm added 19 experienced lawyers in several areas, including two in the Houston office who specialize in energy transactions and finance. The other newcomers are working in London, New York, San Francisco and Washington and specialize in regulation, energy projects, tax, restructuring, mergers and acquisitions.

As part of that expansion, Vinson & Elkins has a new office in Richmond, Va. It didn't start out that way, but the lawyers the firm wanted to hire did not want to move from Richmond.

Kelly said he's looking to add a partner and two associates in New York to focus on restructuring businesses, which usually happens after firms file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. "Obviously, it's huge in the energy sector," he said. He added that he is also eager to expand the firm's private equity practice in New York and its white collar defense practice.

While the firm remains focused on energy, it is adding new practice areas, including a real estate investment trust practice that focuses on real estate-related initial public offerings and other property-related investments. Five lawyers, including one for tax and four for capital markets, have joined that practice.

"We've tried to maintain strong balance," Kelly said.

Norton Rose Fulbright, which has 218 lawyers in Houston, including 83 partners, added three energy transaction partners in Houston during the past year, said Linda Addison, U.S. managing partner. The firm was created four years ago when Fulbright & Jaworski merged with London-based Norton Rose.

Oil prices per barrel are hovering between $40 and $50, and a number of companies can make money in that range, she said. They're still buying and selling assets, although not as much as they used to.

The firm's global focus and its 41 international offices are providing an advantage, Addison said. The latest to open was in Brazil, she said, which focuses on the energy industry. "Energy clients may be based in Houston," she said,"but they may have needs in Africa and Asia and Europe."

The firm is also providing employment, litigation and other services to its energy clients, she said. The deals may not be as robust but when the economy turns down, companies often face more lawsuits over soured deals and improper pay practices.

In November, lawyers in the Haynes and Boone bankruptcy and energy practices launched a data series that they say has become a must-read for the energy industry. The firm has 91 lawyers and is the eighth largest in Houston.

The "Oil Patch Bankruptcy Monitor" tracks bankruptcy filings among exploration and production companies in North America. It breaks down the data by the amount of secured and unsecured debt as well as filing location.

Buddy Clark, head of the Haynes and Boone energy practice group, noted during the launch in November that the firm has one of the largest restructuring practices in the nation, with more than 30 bankruptcy lawyers overall, including 12 in Houston. He said at the launch that the firm was expecting to boost the number of lawyers by drawing from other sections affected by the downturn, especially energy and finance practice groups.

The publication, which is updated periodically, reported on May 16 that 77 North American oil and gas producers have filed for bankruptcy since the start of 2015. The bankruptcies involve nearly $52 billion in debt.

One of the newest players on the Houston legal landscape is Kirkland & Ellis.

The Chicago firm, known for its representation of big company bankruptcies, opened its Houston office with four lawyers in April 2014. It has since grown to 64, said Andrew Calder, managing partner, which puts it No. 17 on the list of top Houston law firms. In September, 15 newly minted attorneys will be joining the firm after graduating from law school.

Houston is one of the major legal centers in the U.S., Calder said. To serve its energy clients, as well as add new ones, the firm wanted to establish a foothold. Since then, Calder said, the firm has added several practice areas to its Houston office including litigation, restructuring and private equity fund formation.
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For many employers, having even one position to fill is a major time suck. Well, imagine having 2,500.

That's the situation facing Jim Garman, head of human resources at Memorial Hermann Health System, which increased its payroll 20 percent in 2015 to more than 24,000 people. That was the biggest hiring spree of any of the 100 largest participants in the Chronicle's survey of local employers  but it also reflects continued growth in health care as the oil and gas industry struggles.

In fact, sometimes the two are directly related. Of its openings in 2015, about 45 percent were non-clinical positions like finance and administration that could be filled by people laid off from energy companies.

"I know people in oil and gas are hurting, but if they have that mission orientation and the interest, (health care is) a great career," Garman said.

Memorial Hermann, the city's second-biggest employer, wasn't the only hospital expanding. Nearly all of the area's health care institutions posted robust growth, driven by federal research funding, an increase in people with health insurance due to the Affordable Care Act, and patients who come in from across the country and around the world for treatment.

Employment at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center grew 4 percent, to more than 21,000. Houston Methodist boosted its workforce by 18 percent, to 20,000. Texas Children's added about 1,200 employees, a 12 percent increase. Harris Health System also grew by about 1,200 workers, or 15 percent.

That's created a competitive hiring environment, Garman said, and he has to do everything he can to avoid getting into expensive salary bidding wars.

"If you try to play that 'I'll give you another 50 cents an hour,' you're not going to win that game, because people can literally go across the street," Garman says. "People stay at Memorial Hermann because we're focused on patient safety and quality. It's more than money, that's the message."

The education and health services sector, which includes colleges and universities along with health care employers, grew by 5 percent, or 18,000, during 2015, according to the U.S. Labor Department, further cementing the health care industry's leading role in a town better known for energy companies that do business here such as Chevron Corp. and Schlumberger.

Chevron, headquartered in California, cut 11 percent of its payroll in Houston in the last year. Schlumberger, with headquarters in Houston, The Hague, Paris and London, shed 1 percent of its Houston jobs. Energy services companies Baker Hughes and National Oilwell Varco, both based in Houston, shed 16 percent and 23 percent respectively. Exxon Mobil, which has a major campus near The Woodlands, declined to disclose whether it had decreased its local head count.

Overall, the mining and logging sector, which includes oil and natural gas production, cut 16 percent, or 18,100 jobs, last year, and manufacturing lost 8.7 percent, or 22,500 jobs. Despite those losses, the city still managed modest overall employment growth in 2015.

Chronicle 100: Read more about Houston's leading companies and explore our interactive databases.

In addition to health care, retailers also helped to offset those losses as big-box stores popped up in Houston's burgeoning suburbs. The city's largest employer is still Wal-Mart Stores, based in Bentonville, Ark., which grew 16 percent to 37,000 workers, after adding four Neighborhood Market grocery stores and one Supercenter.

"Since we didn't grow as much along with the rate of population growth in the early 2000s, we've done a lot of growth lately to catch up a little bit," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Anne Hatfield said, referring to the Houston area.

The company has already added another five area stores in 2016, with two more in the works, ensuring it will stay at the top of next year's list. San Antonio-based H-E-B grew 11 percent to 23,732 workers. Kroger added 5 percent to reach 16,000.

Houston employment had a big assist from leisure and hospitality and construction jobs that are usually created by smaller businesses like restaurants and contractors. Many of those jobs, however, are part time or don't pay as well as the oil and gas positions that have been disappearing.

Health care offers better wages than retail, so jobs in health care pack a bigger economic punch. That's why local educational institutions have geared up to make sure they have candidates ready to fill Garman's list of job openings, which he expects will grow to 4,000 by year-end.

Take Houston Community College, which has health care certification programs within the Texas Medical Center campus. They pump out people tailor-made for employer requirements, limited only by the availability of qualified instructors and space on hospital floors to carry out hands-on training. And the demand is only going to increase, said Phil Nicotera, who heads HCC's health care college.

"The baby boomers who are working in health care right now are starting to retire, and they're going to leave major holes in that workforce," Nicotera said. "Now they're becoming consumers of that workforce."
The federal safety net for troubled multi-employer pension funds could run out of money by 2025, according to a report by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.

The PBGC, a federal agency that insures the private pension plans of 44 million Americans, said this past week that to prevent the multi-employer pension insurance fund from running out of money, the insurance premiums for that safety net would need to increase by at least 360 percent. That would give the insurance fund $15 billion to avoid a near-absolute chance of insolvency by 2035.

"Insolvency of PBGC's multi-employer insurance program would devastate the retirement benefits of 1 million to 1.5 million participants and their families," said Labor Secretary Thomas Perez, who is the chairman of PBGC's board, in a statement Friday. "We must address the funding and other challenges of the multi-employer insurance plan before it is too late."

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. needs congressional approval to increase premiums for multi-employer pension plans, which are used by those who maintained a single pension fund while at different workplaces, but the burden would ultimately fall on workers to pay.

Premiums for multi-employer plans have not risen at the same rate as premiums for single-employer plans in the past several decades. Both assess flat per-participant premiums, but single employment started to charge variable rates in 1989. That variable rate accounted for 60 percent of single-employment premiums in the 2014 and 2015 fiscal years.

Last year, single-employment plan premiums were 5.6 times higher than multi-employer plan premiums.

The independent agency released two reports last week that illustrated its financial condition and the need for increased funds. One, called the MPRA Report, centered on the state of the PBGC's insurance for multi-employer plans. It was a one-time report required by the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014 to indicate whether those pensions need additional support.

The other report is issued every year to project the PBGC's status through 2035. It details multiple economic scenarios and shows how the pension agency would run out of money for multi-employer plans in each one should Congress not act. The report projects a 50 percent chance of that outcome by 2025, and greater than a 90 percent chance by 2028.

The release of the reports comes as one of the nation's largest multi-employer pension funds, the Central States Pension Fund, seeks a solution for its impending insolvency. Last month, the Treasury Department rejected a Central States proposal that would have tried to keep the pension plan afloat by reducing its retirement benefits by an average of 23 percent. Thousands of former and current truck drivers and their families would have been affected. This proposal was enabled by a 2014 law that allows multi-employer plans to cut benefits even if they have not run out of money. A default of the pension plan would overwhelm the PBGC insurance fund for such plans.

Most multi-employer pensions are financially healthy. That's good news for the 10 million Americans who are in them. But for the 1.5 million Americans who are in failing pension funds, not so much.
One of Prince's old bandmates told a story about how the band members would labor over musical parts until they were just right. Prince would give his approval and then inform them they had to play those parts while executing the dance moves he'd created.

Such was the process of animating "Finding Dory," the newest animated film from Pixar. Because it's a Pixar project, the film required the most intricate animation tools available used by skilled artists. Then they had to recreate the experience of being underwater.

"Finding Dory" took more than four years, from its conception by writer and director Andrew Stanton to the film that just opened in theaters this weekend. As with any movie, "Dory" - a companion piece to the 2003 film "Finding Nemo" - started with a script and storyboards. Then it required research, and trial and error with models to get just the right movement. Then, finally, the animation process began. At its peak, nearly 70 animators worked for about nine months to create oceanic worlds populated by oceanic creatures.

Michael Stocker served as supervising animator on the film. After getting his start in animation with Disney, he has spent the past 14 years working on Pixar films including "The Incredibles," "Ratatouille," "Up" and "Toy Story 3." Stocker was in Houston this week to talk about the process of giving life to a film about a blue tang fish trying to get home to her family.

Q: Making an animated film seems complex enough as is. Was doing an underwater project markedly more complex?

A: Yes. Every movie has its complications, and obviously moving underwater has its own unique complications. That was a big thing on the first movie. We needed to honor "Finding Nemo" for sure, with that feeling of going underwater that people love. But we had to rebuild everything, because nothing was left from the first movie. The technology had changed so much. So we had to teach everybody how that works: How do fish carve through water? How do they swim? How does the seaweed move? We went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium and we put GoPro (action cameras) in the water. You have to get a sense of that motion, the current, in the water to convince everybody there's water there when there isn't.

Q: It sounds like building an elaborate set.

A: That's exactly what is. Every time we cut, that's another set we have to build.

Q: So most people have taken an art class that teaches the rudiments of drawing the human body. With the different fish, it seems there are a lot more variables to pick up.

A: Yes, we have all these fish, some are the same characters, but all these new species. And we had only a handful of people who worked on the first movie who had any knowledge of how that was. So we had to have experts teach the animators how the fish carve through water. The difference between flappers, which is what Dory is, but Marlin is a rower. They swim differently.

Q: Was Hank the octopus a particular challenge?

A: That's one we worked on at Monterey Bay Aquarium. They didn't have a beluga or a whale shark, but we had every animator hold an octopus. We held it, and it wrapped around us. They're super intelligent animals. But we had to deconstruct how these things move. The first part of your master research is how things move around. For "Cars" you drive a car. But you have to figure out how the octopus moves. And it's really hard to deconstruct that happening. They're a mess. A beautiful mess, but a mess. So we had to organize that mess into something beautiful. That was one of the hardest things I've done.

Q: The glacier cliche seems to apply. You see this small frame and not the time and effort that leads to it.

A: Everything else is just in service of what's happening right in front of you. If people see it multiple times, maybe they're like, "Hey, look at that kelp back there!" But it's about the performance and acting, everything is in the service of the story that was written.

Q: We think of technology as making our work easier. But with animation, it has created so many more variables it almost seems like it has complicated the process.

A: Yeah, it can do that. But the animation rules we use, they used on "Pinocchio." We just use different tools. Some things they make easier, other times they make the film feel more organic or allow you to get a softness when you're drawing. Hank is a good example. It took a long time to build this tentacle rig to get this squishy character just right. But a lot of the process is exactly the same. You storyboard the same. Pinning up the boards. Drawing, it's digital, but it's the same.
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British voters' decision on Thursday to withdraw from the European Union puts Texas' largest foreign direct investor stands on unstable ground.

In the run-up to the vote, international observers anticipated that the so-called "Brexit" could "send shockwaves across the global economy," as the Washington Post wrote Saturday.

So could those shockwaves hit Texas, which has seen its own recurrent secession movement crop up significantly of late? Experts say they could, both in politics and economy.

Brexit may energize the anti-federal agenda of Texas' Republican leadership.

Brandon Rottinghaus, a political scientist at the University of Houston, noted similarities between the conservative-led Brexit campaign and the Texas Republican agenda in key areas such as immigration, central government and market regulation.

Brexit advocates decried the bureaucracy in the EU's capital of Brussels with nearly identical rhetoric to Texas Republicans' recurring denouncement of Washington DC, and both camps allege that immigration policies are forced on them from above.

"A British move away from what they deem stodgy regulations might egg on conservatives in Texas to make the case that this is the global struggle that the people want," Rottinghaus said.

Even advocates for Texas' withdrawal from the United States, who achieved a high profile at the Texas GOP convention this year, say a Brexit vote would empower their cause. Daniel Miller, president of the Texas Nationalist Movement, a secessionist organization, said that a past vote for independence in Scotland drew public attention to his group, and he expected the Brexit vote would do the same.

"A Brexit vote would definitely be extraordinarily helpful for us," Miller said. "Now there are highly visible, highly public first world examples of people able to go to the polls and have an opportunity to determine if they want to stay in a union or leave one."

Miller has also coined the term "Texit," which British newspaper The Guardian featured on Sunday, drawing parallels between Britain the Lone Star State.

But while Brexit may help the cause of some Texas Republicans, experts say it would dampen the prosperity of the state, though only lightly at worst. Globally, a Brexit victory is widely expected to increase worry and uncertainty on the global markets, prompting investors to hold onto their cash and slowing global growth.

"It would be felt especially here in Texas, given that lower global economic growth would mean less demand for oil and natural gas and in turn lower prices for the Texas energy industry, which is already suffering," said Mark Jones, a political scientist at Rice University's Baker Institute.

He also said it could raise complications for Texas-based companies with European operations headquartered in the UK, which currently rely on EU rules for market access across much of the continent.

Even for Texas companies without offices in Britain, the breakaway vote could cause some complications, said Rachel Wellhausen, an assistant professor of international political economy at the University of Texas at Austin.

Texas is already the U.S.' top exporting state to the EU In 2015, Texas made $4.4 billion in sales to Britain, the 11th largest market for Texas exports.

Those exports currently run on EU rules. If that changes, it would require new paperwork and new channels of communication.

"The transaction costs of switching over to a new system could affect exporters' bottom lines," Wellhausen said.

She also noted that a victory for Brexit would hurt the value of the British pound, which plummeted to a 30-year low in the hours after the vote to leave.

While beneficial to any Texans on holiday spending dollars in the U.K., a weaker pound will draw down the value of British investment in Texas, which funds tens of thousands of local jobs according to reports on the state comptroller website.
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Fifteen years ago, we didn't often talk about postpartum depression  even though, according to the American Psychological Association, the condition affects up to one in seven mothers.

Then Andrea Yates drowned her five children in the bathtub. Noah was 7; John, 5; Paul, 3; Luke, 2; and Mary, 6 months.

The nation was riveted by the tragedy  and by the question of whether Andrea was evil or out of her mind. As the Houston Chronicle's criminal courts reporter at the time, I followed her case.

Her story bears much repeating.

On June 20, 2001, Yates, a Clear Lake mother of five, called 911, asking that Houston police come to her house. She didn't tell the dispatcher why.

The officer who responded found the bodies of the four youngest children, in pajamas, on a mattress made up as a bed in the back bedroom. Noah, the oldest, still lay in the bathtub.

As news of the horrible scene broke, images flashed around the world of the 36-year-old former nurse, gaunt and still seemingly in the grip of psychosis. (Before the incident, she had been diagnosed and medicated for both postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.)

Public reaction was swift and harsh. Many immediately called for the death penalty.

In late 2001, a jury ruled that Yates was mentally fit to stand trial on capital-murder charges. That set in motion a long chain of legal proceedings, including another three weeks of jury selection and a four-week trial.

The trial was a spectacle, with several dozen reporters from around the U.S. filling assigned seats in the dark, cavernous courtroom at 301 San Jacinto. Members of the public stood in line for hours each morning in hopes of snagging the remaining seats.

In the scramble to get into the courtroom each morning and afternoon, I met Suzy Spencer, an Austin woman with a book about the case. "Breaking Point" had already been published in January, before the trial's start in February. But hoping to publish an addendum, Spencer covered the trial each day.

The testimony painted a picture of a delusional woman obsessed with Satan. The director of psychiatric services at Harris County Jail, for instance, relayed what Yates had told her the day after the arrest: "My children were not righteous. I let them stumble. They were doomed to perish in the fires of hell."

Nonetheless, in March, the jury rejected Yates' insanity defense. She was sentenced to life in prison.

In 2006, Yates received a retrial, due to a major misstatement of fact by the prosecution's only mental-health witness. The second jury found Yates not guilty by reason of insanity. This time, she was sentenced to life in prison at a mental hospital.

Last year, Spencer got the opportunity to bring out her update with Diversion Books. She included new interviews with key figures in the trial.

Defense attorney Wendell Odom, who represented Yates with co-counsel George Parnham, told Spencer that he thought the outcome of the second trial reflected progress in understanding of postpartum depression. Much of that understanding, he thought, grew out of Yates' own case.

Among other things, Yates' defense team and other supporters established the Yates Children Memorial Fund, which pays for training and public education about postpartum depression.

Now in 2016, the public is a bit more familiar with postpartum depression. (It even figured prominently on a recent storyline in Nashville.)

But much remains to be done. On June 10, Politifact Texas reported on Gov. Greg Abbott's campaign promise to expand coverage of treatment for postpartum depression. The report rated the promise as "stalled."

Our system's failures still need to be addressed. Those five children today would be 22, 20, 18, 17 and 15. For their sake  and for the sake of the mother so unhinged that she killed them  let us try now to do better.
Hanny Omar had already waited for more than 10 years to immigrate to the U.S. from Kenya. When the 25-year-old finally found out in December 2014 that her family was approved to immigrate to Houston, she was ecstatic. There was just one snag - her name.

Her birth name, "Honey," was misspelled as "Hanny" but Omar feared if she told immigration officials she wanted it changed, she would risk triggering the immigration process all over againSo the young woman remained quiet.

Omar already knew what it felt like to get her hopes up about leaving Kenya. Every time her stepmom and dad had a baby, it would require a new background check, once more starting the procedure. Her parents had three babies while living in a refugee camp in Kakuma, a north-western region in Kenya. They had gone through medical screenings three separate occasions. Every time she felt like her family was getting one step closer to moving to the U.S. Every time her hopes were dashed.

"We gave up. We thought we're never going to leave," Omar said.

Omar's journey to Houston reflects the challenges faced by the 10.5 million people worldwide living in refugee camps and waiting to be resettled, according to data from YMCA International Services. Now, for the first time in years her life is no longer in limbo.

The YMCA in Houston helped Omar's family resettle in the U.S. through their International Services program, but only about 1 percent of refugees worldwide are even selected by the United Nations to resettle in a new country. About 30 percent of refugees assigned to Texas end up living in Harris County, according to Department of State Health Services. YMCA International Services in Houston resettles 700 refugees each year in Houston.

At Houston Community College's central campus, people gathered Saturday to hear stories from those like Omar who had survived their time as a refugee. The gathering was to celebrate World Refugee Day, a holiday started in 2001 by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and officially marked worldwide on Monday.

"We want to remove the politics from the discussion and let people hear directly from refugees," said Sara Kauffman, area director of Refugee Services of Texas.

Seated in HCC's cafeteria, Omar was a long way from the refugee camp in Kakuma, but she said the memories don't fade.

Fleeing civil war

Omar was only 6 years old when her dad, brother and sister decided to flee from Somalia to Kenya, wanting to escape from the civil war there. She remembers hearing gunshots. She remembers seeing people screaming and running. She also can't forget the dead bodies lying on the streets.

"Most of the time you only remember the rough times that you had and the bad things that you've seen. It's something that you'll never forget," Omar said.

They resettled in Nairobi. It was a different life from the one they lived in Somalia. Omar's dad was a prominent dentist and many people knew him in the area. They lived in a big house with plenty of food.

In Nairobi, the family of four lived in one room without a mattress, just a mat on the floor. It sometimes got cold. Her dad could not practice dentistry in Kenya because he wasn't a resident.

"Life was really rough and we didn't know where to seek help," Omar said "We didn't know anyone. We didn't know anybody who helps immigrants."

But life wasn't all bad. Omar said her dad remarried while in Nairobi. She and her sister also went to school there. The family only spent a brief time in Nairobi before resettling in the refugee camp in Kakuma. They lived in a mud hut, a common practice in Kenya. The house had two rooms, instead of just the one in Nairobi, but still Omar describes living in Kakuma as a "harsh life."

The World Food program provided food to the camp, and every 15 days groups of people would stand in long lines to receive supplies like rice, oil and salt. Omar said the food choices were very limited.

She tried to keep busy while living in the camp through volunteer work with different organizations in the area. She worked for FilmAid International, a program that educates refugees living in camps like Omar's. The program sets up mobile cinema presentations sometimes showing cartoons, uplifting movies or public service announcements on social issues. Omar would educate those in her community on HIV and AIDS, which agitated many community members.

"I really loved it, but the community was not happy with me for doing that. They were kicking me out of houses, (saying) 'Go away! You're teaching our kids bad things," Omar said.

Finally, the day came, when Omar and her seven family members found out they could leave. A wall in the camp updates refugees with news, including those who have been granted permission to resettle. Her brother saw her family's names listed in December 2014. They were in disbelief.

"My mother was like 'No, we're not on there,' so she sends someone else, my other sibling," Omar said laughing. "They went to check it and they said 'We're on there!' "

Helping other refugees

Omar and her family have lived in Texas since January 2015. She now works as a case manager for the YMCA, helping other refugees as they adjust to the U.S. Her younger siblings and brother live in Nacogdoches with her stepmom and dad, and another sister lives in Houston. She hopes to attend the University of Houston or Rice University to study political science.

She said her new favorite food is sushi. Calling herself a foodie, she likes to try the array of new restaurants near her job at the YMCA.

Jeff Watkins, vice president for global initiatives for YMCA International Services, said it's common for refugees to become case managers at the YMCA.

"To have case managers who've actually gone through and been successful through the process, there's a lot of legitimacy there," Watkins said. "They've been where our clients have been. They are where we want our clients to be and beyond."

Omar hopes that she can set an example for other refugees coming to the United States.

"We don't bite. We are like any other person. There are a lot of us who are educated and who really want to make a change. We open up to everybody. We know what we've been through, and we don't want anybody else to go through the same thing," Omar said.
The Houston Pilots Association contends that a Ship Channel crash and chemical spill in March 2015 was most likely caused by a switch to ultra low-sulphur fuel oil that led one of two vessels that collided, the Conti Peridot, to unexpectedly lose power only seconds before the accident.

The pilots' conclusion stands in contrast to a summary released earlier this month of an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, which described pilot decision-making as the "probable cause" of the accident.

In a rebuttal to the NTSB, the pilots note that the March 9 collision and leak came only six days after the U.S. Coast Guard issued a "Marine Safety Alert" that warned that a new North American and Caribbean environmental requirement to use ultra low-sulphur fuel oil had been associated with other pollution events and unexpected "losses of propulsion" in ships nationwide, according to a government document. George C. "Chris" Reeser, the Conti Peridot's pilot, and the Houston Pilots' current and past presiding officers all say they believe that the root cause of the crash was likely the combination of that fuel and the ship's poor handling characteristics, according to an interview with pilot leaders and Reeser's attorney, Jim Brown. Together, those factors caused the bulk carrier to swerve and slow just when it needed speed to pass the other vessel, the Carla Maersk, a tanker, they argue. And unpredicted fog on the channel made it more difficult for the pilot to maneuver, they said.

Brown and pilot leaders spoke in an interview a week after the NTSB released the summary of its report, which cited Reeser's "inability" to control the ship and his "lack of communication with other vessels" as the probable cause of the collision. In a news conference, the NTSB chairman stated the pilot should have done more to alert others about his ship's poor handling and coordinated better with the vessel's master and crew. The NTSB's report is preliminary but marks the fifth time that the agency has described actions by Houston-based pilots as contributing to accidents it investigated in the Ship Channel and the Port of Houston since 2011, records show.

Pilots have contested other NTSB recommendations in the past.

NTSB's conclusions

In this case, the NTSB considered the pilots' arguments about effects of ultra low-sulphur fuel on the Conti Peridot, said Terry Williams, a spokesman for the agency. But fuel was not mentioned in the preliminary summary. Instead, the report urges pilots to address communication and bridge management issues.

The NTSB's report also recommended that the local harbor safety committee study ways to help avoid accidents during the rapid onset of fog and other foul weather, including considering requirements to increase spacing between ships and require one-way traffic or anchoring.

The pilots association, an elite private group, provides mandatory guide services to all large commercial vessels that enter the Port of Houston. Its mission is to prevent accidents in the winding, largely man-made channel, considered one of the most treacherous U.S. port pathways.

In the group interview, pilots defended their safety record. They said they disagree with the NTSB's conclusions of the cause of the Conti Peridot accident and emphasized that serious accidents represent a tiny fraction of an average of 20,500 annual trips they made in recent years. Simultaneously, pilots also are defending themselves in a wave of litigation filed in the aftermath of the Conti Peridot-Carla Maersk crash, federal court records show.

More than 3,000 people have claimed their properties or their health were harmed by the release of 88,000 gallons of methyl tert-butyl ether, or MTBE, a volatile and highly flammable substance used as an additive in gasoline. It leaked though a gaping hole in the tanker's punctured hull after the collision, according to litigation pending in both Houston federal and state courts.

The crash produced an 8-foot wave that spewed soiled water into the lawns of coastal homes. Toxic fumes quickly reached crowded nearby port terminals that smelled like turpentine and sickened stevedores and truck drivers alike, related federal court records say. The Ship Channel remained closed for three days.

Sudden loss of speed

Maersk, the tanker's owner, denies responsibility and claims the accident cost the company $20 million in losses. Many litigants have blamed the pilots aboard both ships for their injuries and losses as well as Maersk, federal court records show.

Under Texas law, Port of Houston Commissioners also act as the Board of Pilot Commissioners, reviewing ship channel accidents and deciding whether to discipline pilots or require retraining. A port investigative committee holds hearings on some accidents; disciplinary action is rare.

Both the Houston Pilots - and the port's investigative committee - found that both pilots acted properly and were unable to avoid the accident, port records show.

In a port hearing held about the accident in December, Reeser described the problems he had with the Conti Peridot, including an unexplained loss of speed he experienced in the seconds before the collision.

According to a transcript, Reeser read a warning about the ship's poor handing characteristics only minutes after boarding the Conti Peridot on the morning of the accident. The 4-year-old merchant ship had already been red-flagged in a computerized log of 200 problematic ships that his fellow pilots had created.

Still, Reeser didn't hesitate. It was raining, but visibility was good. No fog was forecast.

"I just said to myself: 'It's going to be a long day,' " Reeser said in the hearing. He successfully steered the "sluggish" ship for the three hours before fog gathered and visibility "went to zero" just as he neared a long line of vessels on March 9, 2015. On the last pass, the bulk carrier fishtailed "all over the channel."

Reeser gave an order to increase power, but his speed dropped instead, a copy of the ship's records provided by the pilots shows.

He radioed a warning only about a minute before colliding with Carla Maersk, an outbound tanker loaded with MTBE.

After hearing Reeser's testimony, the port's investigative committee recommended training, but no disciplinary action, though the review remains pending. (Lisa Ashley, a spokeswoman for the port, said officials will review the final NTSB report before deciding whether to approve the committee's recommendation.)

For years, the National Transportation Safety Board has led teams to investigate accidents in the air, on rails and at sea. The agency has recently stepped up its efforts to probe maritime accidents - releasing 32 reports on maritime accidents in 2015, compared with just four in 2012. Its most recent Houston investigative reports repeatedly have flagged communications issues as causes of concern. Fog was a factor in two recent collisions - and the latest report urged the local harbor safety committee to consider ways to reduce risks.

Data analysis

The Lone Star Harbor Safety Committee, a diverse group of maritime industry representatives and government officials, will meet in August to consider the NTSB's latest report, said James Prazak, the current committee chair.

Steve Nerheim, director of the Coast Guard's Houston/Galveston Vessel Traffic Service, said that his agency already "is moving forward to engage with the harbor safety committee to take whatever actions are warranted."

Nerheim said local safety subcommittees already have been analyzing channel accident data and persistent reports of loss of propulsion among ships here, the issue the Houston pilots blame for the costly March 2015 collision.

Various harbor safety committee members already identified fluctuations in local populations of menhaden as one root cause and have worked on ways to warn mariners. Low-sulphur fuel is another possibility, he said. For each of the last three years, 60 ships reported losses in propulsion in the area's waterways. Collisions are much less common - though 14 occurred in 2015, double the previous year, according to the vessel traffic service's most recent statistics.

Some of the region's worst collisions and major spills occurred in heavy fog. But Nerheim said he's not sure if developing common protocols for moving ships during fog could work in Houston. Though a coordinated response for fog already is used by authorities in San Francisco, Houston's fog is more seasonal and sporadic, making it difficult to predict, he said.

The NTSB has completed five reports in the Houston channel and port and one in the Texas City Channel since 2011. In two of those cases, the captains of towing vessels were identified as the probable causes of collisions. Pilots' actions were identified as the probable causes in four cases and criticized in a fifth crash.

The port has taken action - issuing a letter of caution - against only one pilot whose actions were flagged in recent NTSB reports, port records show.

The Board of Pilot Commissioners issued that "letter of caution" to another pilot involved in a collision that also occurred in March 2015, records show.

In that case, a tanker called the Chembulk Houston collided with a container ship called the Monte Alegre only four days before the collision involving the Conti Peridot. The NTSB said the probable cause of the collision was that an experienced pilot increased the speed of his vessel while a rookie pilot aboard a tanker was attempting to overtake and pass him. The senior pilot failed to alert his counterpart in radio communications before the crash that he was accelerating, the NTSB concluded.
A tropical depression in the Bay of Campeche was expected to strengthen overnight and strike Veracruz, Mexico, by midday Monday.

The storm was expected to gather wind speeds of 40 mph, making it just strong enough to be named Tropical Storm Danielle, the National Weather Service reported.
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PHOENIX - In a desert city used to triple-digit temperatures, some hunker down inside and some head to the pool, while others still want to hit Phoenix's many hiking trails. But with temperatures creeping above 115 degrees during a heat wave boiling parts of the Southwest, that decision can have deadly consequences.

The mercury made a quick ascent Sunday to hit 118, breaking a record of 115 set nearly 50 years ago, according to the National Weather Service.

Portions of Arizona and southeast California were expected to keep getting scorched Monday with a high pressure ridge lifting out of Mexico.

Going out early in the morning didn't save a 28-year-old woman who became unresponsive while mountain biking with friends in north Phoenix. She had set out with two friends around 6 a.m., carrying water, but became exhausted about three hours later, then could not breathe.

Firefighters rescued the unidentified woman, who was an avid hiker and a personal trainer, and she later died at a hospital, fire Capt. Larry Subervi said. She had no known medical issues, and her condition appeared to be heat-related, authorities said.

Her death comes a day after a 25-year-old Phoenix man died of heat exposure while hiking in neighboring Pinal County.

Forecasters have said Phoenix could see a high of up to 120.

On social media, residents commiserated by posting photos of boiling temperature readings on car thermometers and cell phones.

Southern Californians also posted competing photos on Facebook and Instagram of their soaring thermometers as the last day of spring brought summerlike temperatures to the region.

Burbank and Glendale, just north of downtown Los Angeles, soared past 100 degrees by midday, the National Weather Service said. Burbank saw a record 105 degrees.

That heat was no help to firefighters who had to work to put out a wildfire in a Los Angeles neighborhood, where densely packed homes were briefly in danger.

Further northwest in the San Fernando Valley, some thermometers were reading close to 110 degrees, and Palm Springs in the inland desert hit 115.

The heat spurred state regulators to urge residents to voluntarily cut their consumption of electricity Monday.
A path to change

After reading Thursday's letters to the editor and columns (Pages A18 and A19,) I thought about how familiar they sounded. The common themes are feelings of disgust, frustration and helplessness - about horrific mass shootings, messages of hate and prejudice from our leaders, about the power wielded by the NRA and other large entities.

Over and over, I've read "What's it going to take for people to insist on a change?", as if people aren't yet ready. I believe many are ready, but don't know how to help facilitate a change.

We are told to contact our politicians to make our voice heard. That's always a good idea, but it feels tiny and ineffectual against the ocean of money and influence of the big lobby groups. The patronizing form letter received in return does little to dispel that feeling.

We are told to vote. Again, always a good idea and a vital aspect of working toward change. But many of us feel stuck wishing for a ballot that included a "none of the above" option.

We are told to "get involved." That's a concept easily understood when advocating for change in our school district or our city, but it becomes a bit more obscure when applied to issues such as terrorism, religious zealots spewing hatred and prejudice, or corporations denying the existence of global warming.

Beyond those steps, most of us are left stewing in our frustration, not knowing what else to do. I would love to see some articles and letters from people who have ideas about other ways we can help create a change for the better.

Susan Ellis Brittain, Houston

Sheriff's views

Regarding "Hickman focused on conversations with Muslim community" ("Gray Matters" in HoustonChronicle.com, Friday), I'd like to read an editorial examining the appropriateness of the good sheriff's views, given that our country was founded on the principle of pluralism. This is not about political correctness; it is about one man's ignorance of a large and influential segment of Houston's population.

Maybe he should ask the FBI for help in fighting homegrown terrorists. He seems to be out of his depth.

Chris Shively, via HoustonChronicle.com

Dome memories

Regarding "New Astrodome concept would turn the landmark into an outdoor, usable space" (chron.com, Wednesday), when will we show the "Eighth Wonder of the World" the respect it deserves, and bring it to the ground?

I stood in that building with my grandfather and watched him tip his hat to Nolan Ryan. The fact we are trying to think of crazy things to do with that wonderful building brings tears to my eyes. Have a special day, let us walk through it one more time, then bring it down.

John Harrist, via Facebook

Heat deaths

Regarding "Boy searching for toy dies inside hot car" (PageA3, Friday), another child is dead. We now have driverless vehicles; surely we have the technology to design a car that can detect movement, crying, barking inside the car and sound an alarm when the temperature is rising.

Donna Luther, Houston
It's time for Congress to end 50 years of failed policy - policy that has failed Texas and failed Cuba. The U.S. travel and trade embargo on Cuba infringes on the rights of Texans and continues to stifle economic mobility for Cubans. But Congress can and must act to change that.

With world-class ports and proximity to Cuba, Texas is uniquely positioned to be an international leader in exports to our island neighbor. Despite the fact that Cuba is located just across the Gulf, Texas farmers are losing out on Cuba's growing markets. Every year the embargo is in place, foreign competitors will continue to gain market share in Cuba as Texans are stuck on the sidelines. The U.S. used to be the top supplier of agricultural goods to Cuba, but we have fallen to fifth behind the EU, Brazil, Argentina, and Vietnam.

Lifting the embargo would provide Texas farmers efficient and economical opportunities to export goods that would help support Cuba's private entrepreneurs.

Tourism is driving private sector growth and economic development in Cuba. Eliminating the travel and trade ban would be a boon for Cuban entrepreneurs, or cuentapropistas, who depend on tourism to expand and grow.

Cuba is the only country in the world to which the U.S. government prohibits tourist travel. Texans are prohibited from enjoying what is quickly becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world due to our archaic policies. Congress should not be in the business of telling Texans where they can or cannot visit.

Vacation isn't the only thing Texans are missing out on as a result of the travel ban. As millions of Americans have expressed interest in traveling to Cuba, lifting the ban would cause Cuba to increase agriculture imports to feed the millions of new visitors, providing tremendous opportunities for Texas farmers to fill that gap.

The Lone Star State leads the nation in the number of farms and ranches. Texas' nearly 250,000 farms, the majority of which are family farms, stand to benefit from increased trade with Cuba.

Cuba imports up to 80 percent of its food. According to Texas A&M University's Center for North American Studies, Texas could export more than $18 million a year to Cuba in products such as beef, wheat, and rice. The implications of this would be great for farmers and small businesses.

Seven of the ports in Texas rank in the top 50 of all U.S. ports. Increasing exports to Cuba would support Texas ports, which have a significant economic impact on the entire state. The Port of Houston alone, one of the busiest ports in the world, generated more than $264 billion in statewide economic impact.

In prolonging the embargo, the U.S. prevents Texans from capitalizing on Cuba's growing markets, to the benefit of foreign competitors who can trade more freely with Cuba. Congress should pass the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act and the Agricultural Export Expansion Act. Doing so is good for Texas, and for the United States.

Williams is president of Engage Cuba, a national coalition of businesses, trade organizations and civil society groups encouraging Congress to lift the embargo with Cuba.
The following are excerpts of reports generated by the Texas County Sheriffs Department:

A deputy responded June 18 to a report that a 52-year-old Licking man who is a registered sex offender was in violation by being at the Raymondville Picnic.

The officer made contact with the man and advised him he wasnt supposed to be within 500 feet of the park. The man left.

A probable cause statement was sent to the county prosecutor seeking charges against him.

A 67-year-old Licking man reported on June 16 that a turkey had been killed at his Cadel Road property. The man told an investigating officer he suspected his neighbors, who he was in the process of evicting from a house he owns.

A 66-year-old Houston woman reported on June 10 that someone had broken into her Brushy Creek Road residence and stolen numerous items with a total value of $419.30. An investigating officer observed that a window screen had been cut at the likely point of entry.

There are no suspects.

Texas County Jail admissions

June 13

Robert J. Brazell  MDOC hold

Donna M. Hunter  property damage

June 14

James J. Woolsey  writ (to appear before judge)

Vernon D. Carman  writ

David J. Starr  writ

June 15

James E. Coats  burglary

Tyler G. Sims  48-hour shock

Edward L. Bleckler  writ

Angela D. Briggs  30-days contempt

June 16

Lindsay Hodson  3-day commitment

Blake Busby  House for Dent County

Shannon N. Ruhl  theft, property damage, trespassing

Berry C. Byrd  possession of controlled substance

June 17

Brandi K. Masters  driving while revoked

Adam K. Haywood  drug charge

Joshua T. Rodgers  stealing motor vehicle

Jalen M. Rucker  stealing motor vehicle

June 18

Andrew W. Booker  assault

Tony E. Lane  Hancock County, Miss., hold

Dustin R. Frasier  Wright County hold

Kenton R. Yarnall  statutory rape

June 19

Jodie M. Hardwick  DWI
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In the 1960s classic, The Graduate, a veteran of corporate America offers his mentee career advice in one word: plastics. Perhaps if this movie were to be remade today the advice would be two words: data science. Named the sexiest job of the 21st century by the Harvard Business Review in 2012, Mashables hottest profession of 2015, and Glassdoors most popular job 2016, data scientists are just broaching the frontier of whats possible. While still in its infancy, this young profession has exploded in popularity and need. Entire disciplines and areas of business have been born of the need to glean insights from vast amounts of, otherwise, indecipherable information. Data scientists emerged to meet this growing need  to bring structure to large quantities of formless data and to glean actionable insights. Data scientists are utilizing ever more sophisticated programs and harnessing the increasing power of computers to structure data that was previously unstructured and apply methodological rigor on data sets that are increasing in size. The rate of data growth in the digital universe is expanding exponentially. One study estimates that by 2020 the amount of data globally will grow ten-fold from today. However, all this data isnt worth anything unless it can be compiled, sorted, analyzed, and manipulated. Data in its raw form is nothing but numbers in a spreadsheet; untapped potential. So, what exactly does a da...
According to a report by SDL, a staggering 45% of customers cant even remember the last time they had a positive customer service experience. This is a staggering number that explains why so many businesses are forced to go under fire each year  when most of the communications with customers are negative ones, its difficult to expect success in the long term. In order to rise above the competition and maintain its customers, a company has to give careful consideration to the people it hires to handle customer support  they are the ones that will be entrusted with nurturing the relationship between the company and its customer base. However, this is not an easy process, as is proven by the awful customer service that is present in so many otherwise well-run companies. So here are some tips on how to find the best customer service employees, as well as how to retain them long term and build an appealing working environment. Look for the Right Personality Its hard to understand why so many companies insist on hiring their customer service reps based on unsubstantiated merits. Looking for specific diplomas or qualifications in a customer support representative is simply narrowing your pool of candidates without improving the selection in any way. After all, the customer support people are the face of your company  they are the ones that the customers turn to when they face day-to-day problems related to your product...
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may have the most high-profile job in the country, but according to him, "the best thing in [his] life is being a dad."

Trudeau shared two different Father's Day posts to his public Facebook page on Sunday. Both contained a short message as well as happy photos of him with his three children.

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Trudeau published four undated photographs of him with different combinations of his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and their kids Xavier, nine, Ella-Grace, seven, and Hadrien, two, in an album accompanied by the caption "they put a smile on my face every single day." The snapshot set features a selfie with Trudeau and Ella-Grace and Xavier on the couch in front of a political bookcase, a stroll with the boys in the woods  including a sunglasses-clad Hadrien, the happy couple with their two eldest kids horsing around in a cave and a sweet photo of the three kids together on an outdoor sofa.

Time Magazine included a link to Trudeau's small family album in their social media roundup of how "Celebrities Celebrated Their Dads On Father's Day."

Trudeau's other post included a bilingual "Happy Father's Day" greeting and a photo of a younger Hadrien on his father's shoulders.

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The 23rd prime minister of Canada shared a Father's Day message last year too, months before his party, the Liberals, won a majority government. In a pre-packaged video, Trudeau made reference to his political lineage and ties to his father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, saying he "grew up with an extraordinary dad as a role model."

Later, he added, "It's amazing how much I am like my father was, but I'm also my own person in the way I engage."

As the video continues, Trudeau makes particular references to the personality traits of his young children and notes he "focuses so much" on "being with them" and encouraging them to follow their dreams.

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Trudeau also made family time a top priority over the weekend. The prime minister hopped into a canoe in Scarborough, Ont. with Sophie and Ella-Grace on Saturday to commemorate Rouge Park, and the Rouge River's transformation into an urban national park, the first of its kind in Canada.

Also on HuffPost:
Not only does Bono have a famous daughter we never knew about, but shes the spitting image of her mom, Irish activist Ali Hewson.

The couples second child, Eve Hewson, is an actress and is best known for starring as Lucy on The Knick, alongside Clive Owen. Recognize her?

Lock up your doctors. Lucy is back October 16th on @Cinemax@AtTheKnickpic.twitter.com/BJMNk4QLNL  Eve Hewson (@EveHewson) September 15, 2015

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After being blown away by this realization, we couldnt help but notice how much Eve looks like her mother. Just take a look at this photo evidence.

Heres a photo of mom Hewson in September 2015 compared to a snap of Eve from February 2016. The mother-daughter duo has the same dark hair, big eyes and sweet smile.

But their similarities are even more striking in the photos below. First is an image of Bono and his wife from 2011, and second is a photo from Eves 2015 GQ photo shoot. In these images, the resemblance between Eve and her mother is undeniable!

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The 24-year-old appeared in her first film, The 27 Club, in 2008 at the age of 17. She then went on to study acting at New York University and landed roles in other big films like This Must Be The Place and Steven Spielbergs Bridge of Spies.

In a 2012 interview with Belfast Telegraph, Eve revealed that her parents originally didnt want her to pursue acting. It's because they know that world and it's really hard, she said. For a young female, especially, it's excruciating.

Nonetheless, Eve pursued acting and is now making a name for herself. In the same interview with Belfast Telegraph, she explained how her famous parents encourage her to have a good work ethic.

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My parents have been great about keeping us disciplined and making us work for what we want.

I don't talk about money with my parents and I'm not the child who gets everything I want, the 24-year-old said. My parents have been great about keeping us disciplined and making us work for what we want. We're lucky that we get to travel places and we enjoy going out and having fun  but I don't get handed money and I never will. I have to work.

Eve is just one of Bono and Hewsons kids. The couple also has three others: Jordan, 27, Elijah, 16, and John, 15.

The couples eldest, Jordan, has also built a successful career and is following in her fathers footsteps when it comes to his philanthropic work. Jordan is the online editor of Global Citizen, an organization that helps fight extreme poverty. Unlike her sister Eve, Jordan has opted to stay out of the limelight. Nonetheless, she has been spotted at high profile events with her family.

Here she is with her parents in 2013 at the French Ministry Of Culture. From the photo, it's clear she takes after her father.

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While Bono and Hewson's youngest kids have also kept out of the public eye, we bet they inherited their famous parents' good looks as well.

ALSO ON HUFFPOST:
As the countrys finance ministers met Monday to work out an agreement to expand the Canada Pension Plan, a new poll found Canadians overwhelmingly support the idea.

Seventy-five per cent of respondents in a new Angus Reid poll say they support growing the CPP either significantly or moderately, while 22 per cent said it should be left as is. Three per cent said it should be eliminated altogether.

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The decline in employer-issued retirement plans may be helping to drive this opinion, as Canadians look for a way to replenish their diminished savings, said the Angus Reid Institute.

The survey found that its a virtual consensus opinion in Canada that people arent saving enough for retirement, with 86 per cent agreeing with that sentiment.

Even when confronted with the fact that expanding the CPP would mean smaller paycheques and higher payroll taxes for businesses, the same number  75 per cent  supported expansion.

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But a significant minority  42 per cent  said the economy is too weak right now to handle an increase in CPP premiums to employers and employees. Fifty-eight per cent disagreed.

Support for reform was highest among Quebecers  which the Angus Reid Institute noted puts residents of the province on the opposite side of the issue from its provincial Liberal government, which has opposed CPP expansion.

Support was lowest in Alberta and Saskatchewan, but even in these provinces a majority supported CPP expansion.

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One major issue that federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau needs to work out with his provincial counterparts is whether the CPP expansion should apply to all earners, or only those at risk of not saving enough for retirement.

There is also a question of whether an agreement can be reached with all provinces. Both British Columbia and Quebec  which runs its own separate Quebec Pension Plan  have expressed concerns about CPP reform, but their opposition appears to be waning.

Ontario has been the strongest backer of CPP expansion, with Premier Kathleen Wynne planning to bring in a separate provincial retirement plan if no reforms happen on the national level.

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Saskatchewan, under the government of Premier Brad Wall, is the only province opposing any sort of CPP expansion.

With a file from The Canadian Press
OTTAWA  Gay men will be able to donate blood after abstaining from sex with other men for one year.

The Canadian Blood Services (CBS) and Hema-Quebec have confirmed that, as first reported by The Huffington Post Canada, Health Canada has accepted their proposal to drop the blood donation deferral period from five years to one year. The change will take effect across the country on Aug. 15.

"This is an exciting, incremental step forward in updating our blood donation criteria based on the latest scientific evidence," Dr. Graham Sher, chief executive officer, Canadian Blood Services said in a press release.

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The CBS said it is exploring the possibility of moving toward behaviour-based screening and working with researchers, the LGBTQ community, patient groups and other stakeholders to determine how to gather the scientific evidence required to determine future changes to the eligibility criteria.

"Our first priority continues to be safety, as patients bear 100 per cent of the risk associated with changes to our eligibility criteria," the agency said.

The decision doesn't go as far as the Liberals' campaign commitment to end the ban, but the federal government says it will fund research to see if the deferral period can be further reduced or dropped completely.

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'Step in the right direction'

"This is a step in the right direction, [but] we're not there yet," said a government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak on the matter.

After the Orlando massacre, in which 49 people were killed in a gay night club, activists raised concerns that gay men, the community hardest hit, weren't eligible to donate blood to the victims.

Michael Bach, founder and CEO of the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, has been leading a campaign to have the deferral period lifted completely. He says it's discriminatory and not based on current science.

"I as a gay man who is married and have been in a monogamous relationship for seven years, I cannot donate blood today," he told The Canadian Press.

Kristopher Wells, director of the Institute for Sexual Minority Studies at the University of Alberta, told Vancouver's News 1130 the current ban on gay men donating blood only continues to "perpetuate harmful and hurtful stereotypes and the kind of stereotypes that can lead to prejudice, discrimination, and violence in our society."

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Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub attend a vigil at Lake Eola Park, Sunday, June 19, 2016, Orlando, Fla. (Photo: John Raoux/AP)

As the regulator, Health Canada cannot reduce the independent blood agencies' recommendation, from one year to six months for example. Health Minister Jane Philpott can only approve or reject their application.

"We respect their independence, but, we are saying, if they are making decisions based on the science, and perhaps a gap in the science is the reason for things moving at a slower pace, maybe we can, as a research funder, help with that," the government official said.

Health Canada has discussed with the CBS and Hema-Quebec making all of its policies behaviour-based and gender-neutral  something the agencies are already committed to doing.

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Health Canada is interested in funding a conference of international blood agencies to share best practices. The government is also offering to fund research on:

experiences in other jurisdictions;

how questionnaires and screening practices can be re-designed;

new technological advances around screening for blood borne pathogens;

"It's fairly open-ended at this point, to be determined in terms of what can be most helpful," the official said.

"We are hopeful that things will continue to move in the right direction, as the science indicates that it should happen, but also not any slower than that," he added. "This isn't something that we want to see on the backburner."

Liberals said ban 'ignores scientific evidence'

During the 2015 election, the Liberals' promised to end the gay blood donation ban.

"It's a ban that ignores scientific evidence, and it needs to end," the party said, noting that the five-year ban on sexually active gay men ignores safe and monogamous relationships.

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In March, CBS and Hema-Quebec filed a proposal to reduce the deferral period from five years to one year, bringing Canada into line with the standard in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and the Netherlands.

"We thought that moving to a one-year deferral period would be a reasonable next step," said Dr. Mindy Goldman, medical director of donor and clinical services at CBS, noting the agency's testing had improved tremendously in detecting evidence of HIV and other potentially deadly transmissible pathogens in blood donations.

Health Minister Jane Philpott donates blood at the Canadian Blood Services in Ottawa on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015. (Photo: Justin Tang/CP)

Health Canada media relations advisor Rebecca Gilman told HuffPost last week that the one-year deferral period would be accepted only if the data could demonstrate that the change would not compromise the safety of the blood system.

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"Canada has one of the safest blood systems in the world due to its strict licensing, inspection and surveillance requirements," she wrote in an email.

On its website, the CBS notes that it is hoping to bring "incremental changes" so it can be as minimally restrictive as possible, while also maintaining the safety of the blood supply.

It notes, that in 2014, Australia's health regulator denied a proposal to move to drop its one-year deferral period for gay men to six months.

"Our aim is to identify a long-term solution that prioritizes patient safety while minimizing the societal impact on certain groups of people," the CBS states.

Grim legacy of tainted blood scandal

Men who have sex with other men still account for the largest proportion of new HIV infections reported in Canada, the agency says in explaining its deferral period.

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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.

As a result, the Canadian Red Cross Society banned men who had sexual contact with another man even once since 1977 from giving blood, considering them "high risk" to spread HIV. That changed in 2013 when CBS and Hema-Quebec proposed a five-year deferral period.

Full statement from Health Minister Jane Philpott:

Today, Canada took a step forward in reducing barriers that prevent men who have sex with men from donating blood. Health Canada approved a proposal from Canadian Blood Services and Hema-Quebec, submitted earlier this year, requesting the ability to revise current policies with regard to blood donation by men who have sex with men (MSM). Since 2013, Canada has had a 5-year deferral period for MSM donors  meaning they were unable to donate blood if they have had sexual relationships with men during the past five years. The two blood agencies have requested, and Health Canada has approved, a request to reduce this period to one year. This change brings Canada in line with many other countries  including the United States, Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland and France. The evidence that we have seen allows us to move in this direction with the utmost confidence that the safety of Canada's blood system will be maintained. I recognize that this 4-year reduction in the deferral period is not a radical change, and will not change the circumstances for many MSM donors who are currently prevented from donating blood. That being said, I would rather see Canada take a step in the right direction than stand still. To that end, I am pleased that Canadian Blood Services and Hema-Quebec are reviewing, and will actively consider, changes that ensure blood donation policies are gender-neutral and behaviour-based. I am also pleased that they will continue to review the available research and data to ensure their policies remain evidence-based. With these objectives in mind, Health Canada will provide a $3M contribution to Canadian Blood Services and Hema-Quebec to fund behavioural research to ensure non-discriminatory practices; organize an international seminar with health leaders from around the world to discuss blood donor policy; and encourage further development of technologies (such as pathogen reduction technologies) by working with industry and academia. In addition, I am hopeful that the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health will decide to undertake an immediate study of the restrictions on MSM blood donation, as proposed by MP Len Webber, to determine how restrictions can be reduced while maintaining a safe blood supply. I am confident that any remaining barriers to MSM blood donation will be removed  it is only a question of when.

With files from The Canadian Press and previous files
A lawyer for a 13-year-old girl who was allegedly groped by a fellow passenger on a flight says she is traumatized.

Chad Cameron Camp, 26, touched the teen inappropriately while seated next to her on an American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth to Portland last Wednesday, according to the FBI.

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The teen was flying unaccompanied when Camp allegedly took the middle seat next to her, even though there were empty spots around them, according to court documents KOIN obtained.

The victim's lawyer, Brent Goodfellow, told KOIN that Camp's seat choice was a "red flag."

Chad Cameron Camp, 26, has been charged with abusive sexual contact.

Anybody whos been on an airplane ever is going to move out of the middle seat the second they can," he said.

The victim told investigators she tried to move away from Camp to avoid touching him, but he nudged her with his elbow, put his hand on her knee and moved it upwards.

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According to a criminal complaint acquired by The Washington Post, flight staff had offered to move Camp, but he said he was fine. A flight attendant returned to the row half an hour later to hand out drinks when she noticed his hand on the victim's crotch.

This was 30 minutes of hell for this young lady."

She also saw a tear go down the girl's cheek. The two were separated and the victim rushed away once the aircraft landed in Portland.

Camp, of Gresham, Ore., was detained by Port of Portland officers at the airport, according to the FBI. He faces one charge of abusive sexual contact.

He pleaded not guilty during a court appearance Thursday, according to The Oregonian. He was also set to appear in court again Monday afternoon.

Goodfellow told KOIN the 13-year-old is terrified.

She is already saying she doesnt want to be on an airplane ever again, he said.

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American Airlines said in a statement obtained by CNN that it takes matters like this "very seriously" and is cooperating with law enforcement.

"American cares deeply about our young passengers and is committed to providing a safe and pleasant travel experience for them."

But the lawyer told the Post it's unacceptable that staff on the plane took so long to notice the abuse.

This was 30 minutes of hell for this young lady, he said.

He also said the girl's father paid US$300 extra for her to visit him  American Airlines charges $150 for each flight for unaccompanied minors up to age 14.

The family paid $300 extra and this is what they get? Goodfellow said, adding that the family plans to sue the airline.

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Also on HuffPost
In 2014 the UN declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga after a call from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to adopt the day as a global celebration of the practice.

Often seen as a holistic approach to health and well-being, many recent studies have shown that yoga can have significant health benefits on both body and mind. Here we have rounded up some of these health benefits and the reasons to get on the mat on Yoga Day, to celebrate the event and try this ancient Indian tradition for yourself.

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Yoga can improve brain health

The benefits of yoga and exercise in general for good cognitive health have already been shown in many recent studies, helping to reduce the risk of developing diseases such as Alzheimer's. And in a study published just last month, and the first to compare yoga and meditation against memory training, researchers from UCLA and Australia's University of Adelaide found that a combination of the two could also help improve cognitive function.

Yoga can improve posture

Cameron Shayne the founder of Budokon Yoga, a style particularly popular with men, says that "Out of shape men especially benefit from postural yoga practice almost immediately because it lengthens and strengthens soft tissue, improves blood circulation, and relieves emotional tension," with recent studies also showing that yoga and meditation, included in yoga styles such as Kundalini, can help with back pain.

Yoga can alleviate arthritis

A study published last year in The Journal of Rheumatology and thought to be the largest randomized trial ever to explore yoga's effect on arthritis patients found that just eight weeks of yoga classes improved arthritis symptoms of patients with one of two common forms of the disease.

Those who took part in the yoga classes demonstrated a 20 per cent improvement in pain, energy levels, walking pace, physical function, and reported being better able to perform physical tasks at work and at home, with the effects still apparent nine months after the study ended.

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Yoga can boost your mood

The same study that looked at the health benefits of yoga for sufferers of arthritis also found that after eight weeks of classes patients also reported an improved mood as well as an improvement in their symptoms, whilst the study that looked at the effects of yoga and meditation on memory training also found patients showed bigger improvements in levels of depression, anxiety, coping skills and resilience to stress.

Yoga can help you sleep

A 2015 large-scale U.S. study of over 400,000 adults taking part in various different physical activities found that yoga was one of the most effective in helping you sleep better and achieving a minimum of seven hours a night, while a small clinical trial published in the Journal of the American Medical Association's Internal Medicine found that meditation, a part of many yoga classes, can help those with disturbed sleep achieve a deeper sleep and more restorative night of rest.

Yoga can help cancer sufferers

The results of a clinical trial published in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship published late 2015 found that cancer patients who took in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program, practicing activities such as yoga and meditation, improved the symptoms of cognitive impairment that occur as a result of cancer treatment. And in a different study also published at the end of last year by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, the team found that men who underwent radiation treatment for prostate cancer could stabilize and even decrease the side effects of the treatment, including erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, and cancer-related fatigue, with yoga.

You can find out more about the practice of yoga and also search for events in your area on the International Day of Yoga website.

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Also on HuffPost
If you're familiar with Canadian hip-hop artist John River, you know he's one who isn't afraid to make powerful statements  and his appearance at Sunday night's MMVAs was no exception.

Rocking a white, long-sleeved sweater with the phrase, "Stop Blaming Muslims" printed on the front, the Mississauga, Ont. native sent a profound message not only to everyone on the red carpet, but also to viewers watching around the world.

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John River arrives at the 2016 iHeartRADIO MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto.

"It's important at times like these that we really focus on equality as much as possible and progressing our societies into positive, loving spaces," the Best Hip-Hop Video nominee told HuffPost Canada Style on the red carpet.

"We have a lot of beautiful diverse people here, a lot of diverse nominees and a lot of diverse fans, you know? And we're all here together and music brought us all together. I think it's important we all have open minds when we look at unity rather than segregation."

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But this isn't the first time River has made a political statement on the MMVAs red carpet. Last year, the musician wore a similar outfit, with a long-sleeved sweater reading, "Black Lives Matter."

John River arrives at the 2015 MuchMusic Video Awards at MuchMusic HQ on June 21, 2015 in Toronto.

The 21-year-old has been a supporter of the #BlackLivesMatter movement since it's inception in 2012,and rallied with many activists during Toronto's "Black City" protest, which took place earlier this year to bring attention to the controversial carding policy and police brutality against black people in the area.

I used to care so much. Got caught up in all my new attention, hard to deal with. I started here, good to be back. pic.twitter.com/MQ8WhGNsZi  John River (@JohnRiverRow) March 30, 2016

For everybody asking me why it's #BlacklivesMatter and not #AlllivesMatter hopefully this helps you understand. pic.twitter.com/Tj8Y0HdpZK  John River (@JohnRiverRow) March 28, 2016

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While the rapper may still be in his early 20s, he has a brave ability to unapologetically speak his mind and stand up for his beliefs. There's no doubt River is well on his way to becoming a major influencer not only in Canada, but worldwide.

What did you think of River's outfit at the MMVAs? Let us know in the comments below.

Follow Huffington Post Canada Style on Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter!

Also on HuffPost
In the wake of the Orlando mass shooting that left 49 killed in a gay nightclub, many across Canada have paid tribute by raising pride rainbow flags high, draping them around their shoulders, or flying them at half-mast.

But the LGBTQ residents in the southern Ontario town of Owen Sound have been asking their city for support and recognition, with little success.

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For the past 11 years, Owen Sound City Council has banned rainbow flags from being raised at city hall.

However, that didnt stop Owen Sounds official Facebook page from welcoming Pride Month with a photo of a waving rainbow flag.

The irony was not lost on some Owen Sound residents, including retiree Joan Beecroft. As a former chair of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontarios Human Rights Committee, she had succeeded in getting approval to fly a rainbow flag over city hall in 2005. A group of anti-gay protesters tried to shut down the flag-raising ceremony, heckling one councillors son as a child who shouldnt have been born.

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After that, city policy was changed to ban all flags from flying over city properties, with the exception of flags representing government and certain holiday-specific flags, such as one for Remembrance Day.

Update: Owen Sound City Council's communications advisor Peter Aylan-Parker told The Huffington Post Canada in an email:

"The City of Owen Sound has had a policy for many years respecting the use of our municipal flagpole, city proclamations, and public awareness campaigns. This policy states that the City will only fly specific flags (e.g. Canadian Flag, City Flag, Provincial Flag, etc.). All flags are flown in accordance with the etiquette established by Heritage Canada."

[Its a] cowardly policy, 10 years out of date, Beecroft told The Huffington Post Canada. Things have changed in the country and everywhere else."

In response to city councils decision, residents have taken to decking their homes and businesses with pride flags.

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Fortunately, the Owen Sound Police Department didn't follow city hall's footsteps, conducting its own official flag-raising ceremony on Monday, June 20, at police headquarters.

Police chief Bill Sornberger announced that "the safety of every [community] member is paramount," Owen Sound Hub reports.

Their pride flag will fly for the rest of the month.

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A light breeze but lots of Pride in the air @OwenSoundPolice flag raising ceremony today @ChiefSornberger#Pridepic.twitter.com/d7VA9OOP8W  S/Sergeant Daze OSPS (@MDazeOSPS) June 20, 2016

Thanks to the community of Owen Sound for your support in the Pride flag raising this morning @OwenSoundPolicepic.twitter.com/dO6Ed7n9db  S/Sergeant Daze OSPS (@MDazeOSPS) June 20, 2016

Former mayor Deb Haswell was part of the council that voted 5-4 to ban community flags.

At the time, Haswell says it was a way to prevent distressful disapproval, like what occurred with protesters who shouted at a councilor's son in 2005.

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"At the time, that was the admin[istration]'s sort of way to... get away with not dealing with it," Haswell said.

Now, Haswell, who is openly gay, told The Huffington Post Canada that the decision to uphold the ban on all flags is a cop-out.

I think the message it sends broadly is that this means Owen Sound doesnt support anything, anywhere, anytime, Haswell said. I cant think of an easier or open time in [the] history of this country, to hoist that flag. If ever there was an easier way to do it, it would be now.

Haswell said she was unhappy to hear that no city representatives attended a recent vigil for the Orlando shooting victims held in Owen Sound, especially since the mayor or other city officials are expected to appear at most public events. Sources confirm that they did not witness anyone at the vigil who went on behalf of Owen Sound City Council.

Its disappointing that the mayor or council doesnt have conviction to show leadership, she said.

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Owen Sound City Council has previously ignored its own flag-flying policies. Council flew a flag for its "sister city" Miamisburg, Ohio, for six months. The flags existence was largely ignored, Owen Sound Hub publisher Anne Finlay-Stewart told HuffPost Canada.

If you polled people here, most would not know. It has no impact on people here, Finlay-Stewart said. Whereas, a pride flag says we actually support [LGBT] people here, who raise children and pay taxes.

Grey Bruce Pride chair MaryAnn Thomas pointed this out to council as precedent for a policy overhaul last year, however the council chose to uphold their stance.

I cant think of an easier or open time in [the] history of this country, to hoist that flag. If ever there was an easier way to do it, it would be now.

Stevie Forbes-Roberts, an ARCH HIV/AIDS resources coordinator, told The Huffington Post Canada that the decision will have repercussions for Owen Sounds queer and trans residents.

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Theres a concern that because of what happened in Orlando, more youth will not be coming out and living with more self-internalized shame, Stevie said. Then theres people who have been out their whole lives and live in Owen Sound. [They] deserve for city hall to recognize their identities.

While city hall won't see rainbow banners flapping overhead anytime soon, Owen Sound political representatives have spoken out about Pride Month.

Mayor Ian Boddy acknowledged the Orlando shootings as he opened a city council meeting on June 13, and urged residents to attend Pride festivities.

People should not be persecuted for who they are, or who they love, what they do, what they come home to, what colour their skin is, where they live, Boddy said. Today I want to be clear that we stand with Orlando and with the worldwide LGBT community.

In an open letter to Owen Sound Hub, Owen Sound MP Larry Miller condemned the Orlando attacks as an act of radical Islam.

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Miller, an outspoken Conservative MP, had asked niqab-wearing Muslims to stay the hell where you came from, on a radio show debate during the last federal election.

He had previously argued that the Liberal long gun registry was akin to policies approved by Adolf Hitler. Miller has since apologized for both statements.

People should not be persecuted for who they are, or who they love, what they do, what they come home to, what colour their skin is, where they live.

Owen Sound is not the only Canadian town to squabble with the pride flag. Since 2007, Truro, N.S. has officially banned flying the pride flag. However, the Orlando mass shooting led the town to fly the pride flag for the first time, and at half-mast.

For Beecroft and others, the pride flag represents how, in a small way, their home respects them.

Flags are a real small thing. When you see your flag flying it means youre part of the city. You belong there, Beecroft said. And when there arent any at all, I think thats a statement too.

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A pig's head wrapped in cellophane and ribbons was found outside a mosque in Quebec early Sunday.

The Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City posted on its Facebook page two photos of the pig's head, which was accompanied by a card reading "bon appetit."

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The Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City shared photos of the pig's head on Facebook. (Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec/Facebook)

"It is a waste of time, money and energy. We have high-definition cameras. We will certainly find the person who did this," Mohamed Yangui, the centre's president, told CBC News.

Eating pork is prohibited in Islam. The gift arrived as Muslims around the world are currently observing the holy month of Ramadan.

"We love everyone. We have no problem with anyone and we respect people. We hope it's mutual. And we are always here to give the image of the good Muslim to all Quebecers," Yangui said.

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Quebec City police are investigating the incident, according to CTV News.

Mosques previously targeted

This isn't the first time mosques in Quebec have been targets of vandalism.

In 2012, someone unsuccessfully tried to set two cars on fire in the parking lot of the Outaouais Islamic Centre in Gatineau.

The following year, police launched an investigation after a mosque in the Saguenay region was splashed with what may have been pig's blood.

In 2014, vandals put stickers saying "Islam out of my country" on the front doors of three mosques in Quebec City.

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Canada's largest gay rodeo has been cancelled and organizers are placing the blame on Alberta's poor economy.

The Alberta Rockies Gay Rodeo Association (ARGRA) announced in May it would be cancelling the Strathmore event that's been a fixture in the small, southern Alberta town for 23 years.

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No reason was given, leaving rodeo fans wondering if they would be refunded for the $99 weekend passes.

Economic downturn

This week the organization posted a statement on its website declaring financial insolvency, citing the province's "severe" economic downturn.

The not-for-profit organization said sponsors were "negatively impacted" and a lack of financial resources forced the ARGRA to shut down.

"It was evident to them they needed to pull the plug earlier rather than see it play out again in another deficit year," said Bruce Gros, president of the International Gay Rodeo Association, to CBC News on Monday.

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Gros expanded on his comments in a statement posted to Facebook.

"The loss of any association is always deeply felt. That is especially true in this case because of the unique flavour our Canadian members bring to our international rodeo circuit, and because the stain of insolvency threatens to blot out the long record of good compiled during ARGRAs 23-year history, a record which includes more than $250,000 donated to charity."

The Canadian Rockies International Rodeo featured events such as goat dressing and drag racing, as well a traditional barrel racing and calf roping.

Kind gesture from Colorado

Last year's rodeo saw low attendance numbers, despite celebrity performers including The Village People and George Canyon, the Strathmore Standard reported.

The Strathmore and District Agricultural Society says the rodeo would have brought $20,000 to $30,000 in revenue to the community.

"The timing of the announcement ... compromises us as well in that we're trying to scramble to replace what would've been otherwise a very busy weekend here,'' society general manager Herb McLane told CTV Calgary.

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The Strathmore rodeo was recently featured in the award-winning documentary "Queens and Cowboys," which followed gay rodeo stars from around North America.

On Monday, the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association announced on Facebook it would be offering free honourary memberships to any members of the ARGRA looking for an organization to compete under.

With files from The Canadian Press

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You might want to spend some time outside tonight  not only is it the longest day of the year, but you could also spot a very rare sight.

Monday, June 20, will be the first time in decades the summer solstice happens on the same day as a full moon, according to Science Alert.

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Some indigenous peoples called the June full moon the "strawberry moon" because it indicated the start of strawberry season.

But don't expect to see a reddish moon. Instead, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac's Bob Berman, it will likely be a amber colour, as the moon is hanging lower in the sky and its light will come through thicker, more humid air.

If you can't spot it due to clouds or light pollution, Slooh  a community that connects people to space  will be live-streaming the moon on YouTube and on their website.

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Having a full moon land smack on the solstice is a truly rare event, said Berman.

We probably wont push people off pyramids like the Mayans did, but Slooh will very much celebrate this extraordinary day of light with fascinating factoids and amazing live telescope feeds.

The last time this event happened depends on where you live.

Those in Western and Central Canada last saw a full moon on the solstice on June 21, 1986, but people living in Atlantic Canada haven't seen it since 1948.

Those in Atlantic Canada will experience it again on June 20, 2054, but the rest of the country won't see it until the 22nd century, according to The Weather Network.

The summer solstice doesn't perfectly line up with the time the moon is at its fullest, according to CBC News.

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The earth's northern axis is angled most directly to the sun at about 6:34 p.m. E.T., and the moon was at its biggest at 7:02 a.m. E.T., when it had already set.

However, Paul Mortfield, the chair of the David Dunlap Observatory in Richmond Hill, Ont., told CBC News that most people won't notice.

"For most people who will go out and look with their eyes, they'll see a full moon," he said.

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They came to Canada with precious little and now exemplify what's possible in this place.

On Monday  World Refugee Day  the Liberal party released a short video online showcasing four MPs who understand better than most what it's like to start over in a strange place.

Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef found safe haven after escaping Afghanistan, while Toronto MPs Garyanada Sangaree, Arif Virani, and Ahmed Hussen came to Canada from Sri Lanka, Uganda, and Somalia, respectively.

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Ahmed Hussen and Maryam Monsef.

In the clip, Monsef notes that Peterborough, Ont. "seemed like heaven" when she arrived in 1996. Both Sangaree and Hussen remember the cold and the snow that marked their arrival.

All suggest that what makes Canada special is the way it embraces diversity.

"Everything was orderly, everyone got along," says Hussen, who arrived in 1993. "There were people of many faiths and ethnicities and yet there was harmony and cohesion."

"You can come from any part of the world, you can love anyone, you could be whatever you are and still be the same," Sangaree says.

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Virani says it's all part of what makes Canada "par excellence."

"A country that allows you to be whatever you want to be."

Watch the full video below:

Monsef touched on many of the same themes in an interview with The Huffington Post last November, shortly after she was named to cabinet.

Monsef said the warm embrace of neighbours in her Ontario city made her family feel like they weren't alone when she arrived at the age of 11, homesick and unable to understand English.

Those who helped her widowed mother get by also showed Monsef and her sisters "that we had a community  that it was going to be OK, [and] that we belonged there."

"Twenty years later ... that kindness stays with me, and I hope that as a member of Parliament, I can repay some of that through my service," she said.

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'Somber milestone'

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also released a statement Monday, calling World Refugee Day a "somber milestone" because of the estimated 60 million people  more than half of them children  who are refugees, internally-displaced persons, or asylum-seekers.

New figures from the United Nations' refugee agency put that number at more than 65 million.

"In a time of economic uncertainty and tightening security, it is easy for countries to shy away from the plight of those seeking shelter from conflict and persecution," Trudeau said in the release. "We must do better than that, and lead with open minds and warm hearts, not closed borders and cold indifference."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gives winter clothes to Syrian refugees, 16 month-old Madeleine Jamkossian and her father Kevork on December 11, 2015 in Toronto. (Photo: Nathan Denette/CP)

Canada was built by those who fled war and oppression, he said, and remains a nation of immigrants.

Trudeau lauded the fact that 25,000 Syrian refugees have been welcomed in Canada since December, with another 15,000 privately-sponsored refugees still to come.

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But Trudeau also used the occasion to note "regrettable moments" when Canada has turned away those in need, from the Chinese Exclusion Act to the Komagata Maru incident, for which he formally apologized in the House of Commons last month.

"Today, tomorrow, and all the days to come, let us show the world that Canada truly is the compassionate, generous country that we know it to be," he said.

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Great Things Canadians Have Done So Far For Syrian Refugees See Gallery
Today, we mark World Refugee Day, amidst the most challenging and troubling time for global refugee protection since World War II. It is time to turn the global focus away from the cruel and illegal means now used to keep refugees away; and instead embrace our shared international responsibility to ensure they are safe. Canada can and must play a leading role in making sure that change happens.

Sadly, on the very eve of a day that should provide an opportunity for governments and the general public to redouble their commitment and strengthen efforts to protect refugees, there were harrowing reports that around 11 Syrian refugees, including perhaps three children, may have been killed by Turkish border guards while they were trying to flee Syria and cross into Turkey. It is a grim reminder that we face a global refugee crisis; a crisis for many reasons.

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The numbers are undeniably of crisis proportion. The UNHCR has noted that the combined total of all people who have been forced from their homes as refugees or who remain internally displaced within their countries is approximately 60 million and would amount to the 24th most populous nation on earth. During 2014 that amounted to an average of 42,500 women, men and children fleeing every single day, the equivalent of the city of Charlottetown emptying out 365 times over the course of one year.

There are upcoming opportunities to turn this harrowing reality around.

Turkey stands as a staggering example, now home to 2.75 million Syrian refugees. On a straight comparison of our populations, that would be the equivalent of Canada hosting around 1.3 million Syrians; far and above the commendable -- but in the global scheme of things, very limited -- resettlement effort that has engaged so many communities and captivated the nation in recent months.

The crisis is not only about numbers. It is a crisis because the measures pursued by governments in response only serve to deepen the suffering and inequity rather than ease the strain and open up solutions. Politicians eager for votes pander to and fuel xenophobia and fear about refugees. Barbed wire is rolled across borders and soldiers are deployed to patrol frontiers. Coast Guard vessels are sent out to intercept boats and send refugees back. Insidious agreements, such as the notorious EU-Turkey refugee deal, treat refugees as commodities and bargaining chips, stripping them of their dignity, rights and shared humanity.

Above all else, though, it is a crisis in the extent to which it has provoked such desperation and hopelessness that refugees head off on terrifyingly dangerous journeys -- fleeing Syria and Eritrea for Europe, Central America for the United States, or Myanmar for Australia -- gambling with their lives day in and day out. They know the perils that await them in the Mediterranean, Mexican rainforests, or the Bay of Bengal; but feel there are simply no other options left.

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There are upcoming opportunities to turn this harrowing reality around. In two back-to-back major international meetings in September world leaders will gather to grapple with the refugee crisis. First, there will be a high-level meeting at the annual session of the UN General Assembly, an opportunity for focused UN action that governments reserve for truly pressing global concerns. Next, President Obama has convened a Summit immediately after the UN meeting, at which there will be considerable pressure on governments to identify solutions and make commitments. Canada has stepped up and agreed to be one of a handful of co-hosts for that Summit.

We need progress on at least five fronts.

First, while it may sound naive, we absolutely need leaders to make personal pledges to be refugee champions. That means that they will not, themselves, fuel the suspicions, distorted myths and outright hatred that lead to border closings. Instead, they will stand up for the generosity and compassion that is promised and owed refugees under international law.

Second, governments have to reinvigorate prevention agendas that will more effectively tackle the mass human rights violations, deep poverty and armed conflict that provoke displacement in the first place. It is a wide-ranging agenda that includes women's equality, civilian protection, arms control, corporate accountability and international justice.

Third, it is time to respect the refugee rights framework that governments have properly committed themselves to in the 1951 Refugee Convention and international human rights treaties. Refugees are routinely treated as if they are somehow excluded from the human rights that apply equally and universally to us all: locked up in camps, denied health care and education and kept out of employment. It is not only unjust, it is bad public policy and serves only to prolong refugee situations and deepen both the associated suffering and insecurity.

Fourth, a focus on empowering refugees would go far in finding solutions. I recall the fiery words of young woman from Sudan's conflict-ravaged South Kordofan state who I interviewed in an isolated refugee camp in neighbouring South Sudan. Her legitimate complaint was that for the rest of the world, refugees were nothing but statistics for lists and charts, and X's on a map. Gone was any appreciation for their humanity and the fact that they might be the ones best placed to make the smartest decisions about their fate.

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Canada's nation-wide commitment to Syrian refugees has garnered attention around the world.

Fifth and perhaps most pressing, it is vital that states move to establish a binding framework for international responsibility sharing when it comes to refugee protection. Back in 1951, in drafting the Refugee Convention, states recognized that protecting refugees could not "be achieved without international cooperation." But no binding obligations were included in the Convention to ensure that promised international cooperation would be forthcoming; be it cooperating financially or through equitable resettlement processes.

Over 80 per cent of the world's refugees remain in the Global South. The UNHCR, the agency responsible for their protection, says about one million of those women, men and young people (less than five per cent of the overall total) are in need of resettlement but states have only offered up space for about 100,000. And on the financial front, the UNHCR is only assured three per cent of its budget every year, through the core UN budget. The remaining 97 per cent has to be raised by going cap in hand to governments, pleading for voluntary contributions. This has to change; not by ditching the Refugee Convention but by building on it.

It is an ambitious agenda for the September meetings. But we cannot afford to wait.

Canada's nation-wide commitment to Syrian refugees has garnered attention around the world. It reminds us that 30 years ago Canada was awarded the refugee world's equivalent of the Nobel Peace Prize, the Nansen Medal. It is the only time that honour has gone to an entire country. Three decades later the time is right for Canada to step back into that role on the world stage.

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Since the last World Refugee Day, we've seen an immense shift in the way we talk and think about refugees. While the crisis in Syria had been escalating for many years, a photograph of little Alan Kurdi on a beach in Turkey brought the immeasurable tragedy of the situation into clear focus.

While Canada has happily welcomed over 25,000 Syrian refugees in recent months, we have also witnessed extreme polarization on the refugee issue among our neighbours to the south and occasionally here in Canada, too. The enormity of the problem continues to grow to the point that we risk becoming numb to the seemingly endless images of overfilled -- or worse, over-turned -- ships in the Mediterranean.

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Fleeing northern Syria, five year-old Darin waits on the Serbian border to cross into Croatia. (Photo: Plan International/Jodi Hiltonl)

Worse yet is the fact that the crisis in Syria is only the tip of the iceberg. Countries like Nigeria, Burundi and South Sudan are all experiencing separate yet dire situations that do not have the benefit of Syria's name recognition. Each refugee-producing situation is different and could be caused by a range of catalysts, including war, political unrest, terrorism or even climate change. However, within each situation, there is one constant: that the needs of girls consistently go unheard and unmet.

The conflicts and crises that cause refugee situations also impede the eradication of global poverty, making it even more difficult for people to improve their circumstances. This is clearly illustrated by the fact that 80 per cent of the countries that did not achieve the UN's Millennium Development Goals -- the world's quantified targets for addressing extreme poverty -- endured a recent conflict, a natural disaster or both. It's also important to underscore the fact that those most impacted by conflicts and crises are women, adolescents and children, especially girls. Not yet adults, adolescent girls still require support to enable them to continue to learn and grow. However, girls in crisis situations are often forced to grow up overnight as a result of sexual assault, rape, early marriage and pregnancy.

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Burundian teenage girls in refugee reception centres and camps in Rwanda encounter many difficulties, but having little knowledge about their reproductive health makes their lives even harder. (Photo: Plan International)

Plan International is working to ensure that the needs of adolescent refugee girls are met and their voices are heard. In Tanzania, this means supporting Burundian refugees like 15-year-old Ndiyokubwayo, who fled her home in the middle of the night to escape brutal violence. She now lives in a refugee camp where she shares a family shelter with over 150 people -- which equates to more than two people per square metre.

Ndiyokubwayo faces a lack of privacy and poor sanitary conditions in the camp latrines, both of which can be challenging when managing menstruation. Plan International Tanzania distributes dignity kits, including soap, toilet paper, underwear, pads, and more to help girls overcome these issues. Plan also provides training on personal hygiene, which is especially important for girls reaching puberty in the camp. While daily struggles like queuing for food and hygiene supplies take up much of Ndiyokubwayo's time, she is hopeful that she'll be able to resume her studies soon so that she can start her own business when she gets older.

In addition to our work in Tanzania, the needs of adolescent girls are also a priority in Rwanda, where Burundian women and girls are provided support geared to their unique experiences, including a protected space for survivors of gender-based violence, as well as recently installed solar lights leading to the camp's toilets and shower rooms to reduce the number of violent incidents against girls and women. In Sudan, we're constructing gender-sensitive latrines so girls can attend school without worrying about managing their period or sexual assault.

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Projects like these are just the beginning. We're working to ensure that the needs of adolescent girls are not only addressed, but also tracked, as part of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

In Pibor, South Sudan, fighters ransacked the Plan-built and supported school, but the children still congregate at the site. (Photo: Plan International)

In the months since I joined Plan International Canada, my awareness of the enormity of the refugee crises around the world has expanded drastically. More than ever, I'm conscious of the fact that each crisis is made up of unique people like Ndiyokubwayo, with their own thoughts, dreams and aspirations. They are united beneath the label "refugee," but that is only one small component of their identity, signaling the instability that characterizes their daily lives and little else.

This World Refugee Day, I challenge all Canadians to recognize our shared humanity and contribute to creating a better world for people facing unthinkable circumstances, be it by donating to support this cause, sharing a message of support, or simply raising awareness of this issue with friends and family.

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Together, we can start to turn the dial on this issue. We can help children and their families to find stability, security and safety. We can help them to dream again.

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Radius Images via Getty Images Couple at Marina

Today, Canada's finance ministers meet in Vancouver.

The item that will mean the most to working people will be the debate over whether to increase your income in retirement by strengthening the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). Ontario will arrive at the meeting to advocate for the largest boost in half a century to the benefits that retiring Canadians will receive. Here's why.

The CPP was created in the 1960s to help retiring Canadians maintain their standard of living. It worked. And with supports such as Old Age Security, the Guaranteed Income Supplement and provincial supports such as Ontario's GAINS program, the percentage of seniors living in poverty after the CPP's creation has dropped significantly. Workplace pensions in both the private and public sectors also grew stronger in the generation that followed. This not only allowed people to retire with dignity, it actually boosted our economy by providing seniors with a higher level of income and making Canada a more attractive and predictable destination for both employers and employees.

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Today, however, the CPP's age is showing. It was designed for yesterday's economy. Although benefits are indexed, and so have increased gradually over the years, financial support from the CPP simply will not be enough to help most people. With the average CPP payment amounting to about $6,600 a year, too many working Canadians will find that their reward for a lifetime of hard work will be to face a lower standard of living as they retire.

This is happening for a number of reasons. First and foremost, as families feel stretched financially, they're simply not able to save enough. Perhaps most important is the fact that workplace pensions are disappearing. For two-thirds of Ontario workers in the private sector, their employer offers no pension plan. It's even more discouraging for young workers in Ontario -- 75 per cent do not have a workplace pension plan.

For most families today, the CPP is the only predictable source of income for their retirement.

And many workplaces that do offer pension plans have taken steps to remove the guaranteed annual retirement benefit, meaning that the income that would have been there for you each year upon retirement will be less -- and much less predictable. For most families today, the CPP is the only predictable source of income for their retirement.

Fifty years ago we fixed the problem through vision and leadership by creating the CPP. Today we need to fortify the CPP to give future generations of Canadians confidence that they can live with dignity when their working life comes to an end. It's a proven and sensible approach.

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For all these reasons, Ontario has long advocated for action at the national level. In 2013 we called on the federal government to lead a national effort to enhance the CPP. The government of the day refused to act. That's why our government campaigned on a commitment to introduce the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP) -- an alternative way to ensure that all Ontario workers would be covered by a meaningful pension and see their pension benefits increase.

Work on the ORPP continues. It remains a key part of Ontario's plan to grow the economy and create jobs.

However, last fall Canadians elected a new federal government that shares Ontario's commitment to enhancing retirement income security. The prospect of a national solution, with an expansion of the CPP, has re-emerged. We feel optimistic that an agreement is possible and we hope it would include a substantial-enough increase to pension benefits -- the amount that each retired worker would receive -- so that we could proceed with the national solution.

Critics argued that the time was wrong to create the CPP, that it would harm economic growth and slow business. That was shown to be wrong then. It is just as wrong now.

But, if a national solution is not possible, we won't let the people of Ontario down. That's why we are preserving our ability to implement the ORPP. One way or the other, we will see to it that workers in our province can retire with greater security, improved benefits and a better income.

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We take two clear priorities into this meeting. First, pension benefits must increase demonstrably -- roughly two-thirds of what we would achieve under the ORPP would be acceptable. We are also open to exploring a range of CPP enhancement options -- as long as the agreed-upon solution provides substantial earnings replacement benefits in retirement that are in line with the level of adequacy of the ORPP.

Second, we must act now. We need to take action today and see implementation of a CPP enhancement begin to be phased in starting in 2018. This aligns with our plans for the ORPP. In the 1960s, critics argued that the time was wrong to create the CPP, that it would harm economic growth and slow business. That was shown to be wrong then. It is just as wrong now.

Ontario is willing to be flexible and work co-operatively. We will do everything in our power to secure a national deal to expand the CPP and help improve retirement income for future retirees. That outcome is what we prefer. But if it proves impossible to achieve real progress that makes a real difference, we will proceed with the ORPP to protect future generations.

In the end, there is only one goal: to help people who have worked hard their entire working lives have the means to enjoy a liveable retirement. In the past, our country has taken action to make it possible to realize this goal. Today, we must take action to make it possible for the future.

The Hon. Charles Sousa, MPP

Minister of Finance, Province of Ontario

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Heath Korvola via Getty Images The small business proceedings of a local marijuana dispensary in Portland, Oregon.

Last year, Vision Vancouver passed bylaws to govern medical cannabis dispensaries in the city. The bylaws have four main aspects.

(1) Keep dispensaries twice the distance from schools as liquor stores.

(2) Prohibit dispensaries from allowing cannabis use on the premises.

(3) Prohibit dispensaries from selling edible cannabis products.

(4) Charge dispensaries a $30,000 business license fee.

A new poll from Nanos, commissioned by Sensible BC, shows that Vancouver voters strongly oppose all four of these restrictive provisions. No aspect of Vision's dispensary bylaws received more than 25 per cent support from the people of Vancouver.

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POLL RESULTS SUMMARY

Only 23 per cent supported the bylaw keeping dispensaries twice as far from schools as liquor stores, while 60 per cent think they should be kept to the same distance, or allowed closer. Another 14 per cent wanted a total ban on dispensaries.

An overwhelming 71 per cent think dispensaries should be allowed to let patients smoke or vaporize cannabis on the premises, with only 22 per cent supporting Vision's ban.

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A massive majority of 85 per cent also opposes Vision's ban on edible cannabis products. Only 10 per cent supported the ban on edibles, with 70 per cent supporting child-proof packaging and warning labels, and 15 per cent supporting no special rules at all.

Only 14 per cent supported Vision's stance that the dispensary license fee should be substantially higher than a liquor store, while five per cent thought it should be slightly higher. Fifty per cent thought it should be the same, and 15 per cent thought it should be lower.

VISION MUST RETHINK THEIR BYLAWS

These results clearly show that the people of Vancouver do not support Vision Vancouver's expensive dispensary crackdown. Less than a quarter of the city supports Vision's plan, so why are they so ready to spend so much taxpayer money to enforce these unpopular bylaws?

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These bylaws are so restrictive because they were written under the shadow of the Harper government. Now that we have the Liberals in power, and with such clear opposition to the current bylaws from the people of Vancouver, it is time for Mayor Gregor Robertson and Vision Vancouver to rethink their plan.

Vision Vancouver should also keep in mind the many court decisions backing dispensaries and medical cannabis access. Indeed, earlier this year, B.C. Federal Court Justice Michael Phelan said that "dispensaries are at the heart of cannabis access." Does Vision Vancouver really want an expensive court battle just so they can cut out that beating heart?

Besides, in July 2015, Kerry Jang said that city council would revisit these bylaws in about one year. So even on their own timeline, they should be opening up these bylaws and taking another look.

A good place to start would be to follow Victoria's example. Victoria is allowing dispensaries to provide edible cannabis products, and allowing dispensaries just as close to schools as liquor stores. Indeed, among the cities that are licensing dispensaries, Vancouver's rules are by far the most restrictive.

If you want Vision Vancouver to rethink their dispensary bylaws, then let them know! Call Vision Councillor Kerry Jang and tell him to stop the dispensary crackdown.

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Dominic Lipinski/PA Archive PICTURE POSED BY MODEL A woman drinking alcohol.

Gravity pulls things up.

The sky is striped.

Alcohol addictions can be treated without going cold turkey.

One of these things is actually possible, according to a Canadian startup based in British Columbia. Alavida is challenging the accepted orthodoxy that if you want to stop drinking, you have to stop drinking -- period. And the startup is claiming some startling early results.

The accepted truism that abstinence is required to "manage" alcoholism comes from the success of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), founded in 1935. As Gabrielle Glaser writes in The Atlantic:

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"The 12 steps are so deeply ingrained in the United States that many people, including doctors and therapists, believe attending meetings, earning one's sobriety chips, and never taking another sip of alcohol is the only way to get better."

However, upon closer inspection, this "success" has been a very slick PR job. Everybody knows about AA. Everybody accepts that they are the best bet to beat alcoholism.

Except that AA's success rate has been greatly exaggerated. One book puts that success rate at between 5 and 10 per cent. The author, Dr. Lance Dodes, describes how destructive that low success rate can be:

"I'm just saying it should be prescribed to that tiny group who can make use of it. It's terribly harmful when you send 90 per cent of the people for the wrong treatment advice."

If AA doesn't work for 90 per cent of alcoholics, what does work? Alavida says that a Finnish "gradual detox" program works better. Without getting technical, here is how it works.

You keep drinking.

But before each drink you take a pleasure-suppressing pill that contains naltrexone. Why? Because people drink to get pleasure or to escape from displeasure. When you are addicted to something, you are desperate for that "hit" of pleasure. The alcohol hijacks the brain's natural rewards system over many repetitions, often over many years.

By taking the pill, you ensure that the alcohol will not bring pleasure. Quite the opposite, every time you drink, you'll experience less pleasure, or "unpleasure." You will train your brain to not want to drink as much. The process of decoupling the stimulus from the reward is called "extinction."

The catch is that you have to keep drinking. If you take the natrexone without taking alcohol an hour later, it will not help at all.

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This notion caught the attention of Dr. Diane Rothon, the former Chief Coroner of British Columbia and the co-founder of Alavida. With over 30 years experience in addiction medicine and a deep understanding of the shortcomings of the current system, Dr. Rothon sees Alavida as an opportunity to use private enterprise to give Canadians what AA can't.

During a six year period, over 6,000 patients were treated in ContrAl Clinics in Finland. A controlled scientific study found that the program has a 78 percent success rate. The thing about this is that "success" is not measured as abstinence. It is measured as normal social drinking levels, although 25 per cent of patients were abstainers by the final month of treatment. But this method is not designed to stop people from drinking. It is designed to stop people from being addicted to drinking.

The FDA approved naltrexone as an alcohol abuse treatment in 1994. And now Canadians have access.

But Dr. Rothon rejects the notion of a "magic pill". She says that most addicts are not psychologically prepared to make the needed life changes without behavioural therapy. Which is why each clinic in Finland serve only a very local market. But the Canadian startup is innovating, harnessing the power of the Internet to serve people across British Columbia:

"We took a program that is science based, with a 4 out of 5 success rate, and we've brought it to the comfort of people's homes. No meetings. No breech of privacy. No unnecessary add-ons that drive up cost."

Nevertheless, there is a cost. In this case, that cost is $5,000. Getting rid of an alcohol problem is surely worth that money. The cost is less than a detox facility would charge for a few weeks of treatment, but it is high enough that it could still deter people who need it.

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One question that is still unanswered is how to tell which program is the best one for a particular person. If AA works for some people, and if pills and therapy work for others, how does one identify the right program for the right people?

It seems to me that if we could identify the people who would respond best to a 12-step approach and who would respond best to medication, we could reduce the problems of alcohol. Maybe the real secret is to match the person to the treatment. In the meantime, Canadians have one more option, and the success rate seems promising.

With that, let's queue the music for the song my daughter's been playing in the car the past couple weeks, in anticipation of Bluesfest...

I can make anybody pretty I can make you believe any lie I can make you pick a fight With somebody twice your size - Brad Paisley, Alcohol
Matt Cardy via Getty Images BIRSTALL, ENGLAND - JUNE 18: Floral tributes are left for Labour MP Jo Cox, on June 18, 2016 in Birstall, United Kingdom. The Labour MP for Batley and Spen was about to hold her weekly constituency surgery in Birstall Library last Thursday (June 16, 2016) when she was shot and stabbed in the street. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Like millions of others, I watched in deep sadness the tragedy that befell British MP Jo Cox -- murdered brutally outside her constituency office by a lone assailant. I read the accounts in the news, followed its implications on Britain's Brexit movement, and just overall felt a deep sadness for her family.

But one image remained with me: Cox's shoe, lying on its side, even after her body was removed. A powerful woman once filled that shoe. She was no regular political aspirant, but a true believer in the nobility of humanity and its capacity for hope and change. She had spent a decade as a relief worker for Oxfam in both the U.S. and Britain, later transitioning over to fight slavery for Freedom Fund, and landing a position with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation just prior to her entry into politics. Her all-too-brief record in Parliament was one of tackling leaders, including David Cameron and Barack Obama, and a relentless desire to defend the defenseless.

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Jo Cox wasn't only a bright light in the political firmament, but a testament to those human rights and development workers who come to realize that it's only through the power of effective legislation that true change can come... and stick.

She wasn't merely fearless, but vocal about it.

Her world was literally the world, and no Parliament could have been large enough to contain a spirit like hers. In so many ways she had become the antithesis of so many in politics, or as C. G. Jung would put it: "You are what you do, not what you say you'll do."

Yet Cox had one problem, a big one, and it was to lead to her death. She wasn't merely fearless, but vocal about it. And in a world increasingly encroached upon by hatred, she became an inevitable target. She instinctively understood that she was entering dangerous waters and requested extra security measures when attackers online viciously herded after her. Eventually, following three months of requests, the help was granted, but, sadly, her sudden end would preempt the extra detail.

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Forensics police officers collect a woman's shoes on the ground behind a police cordon. Jo Cox, a lawmaker for Britain's opposition Labour Party, has died after she was attacked, police said. (Photo: Reuters/Phil Noble)

Our modern world takes a certain delight in trashing politicians -- their egos, ambitions, constant compromises, even what we think are their cushy jobs. My personal experience following five years in Parliament is that most politicians are struggling to be relevant and true to their ideals in face of relentless pressures.

One of those challenges is dealing with citizens and groups through social media. It has become an essential step in the relevance of any political representative and the good ones do it well. But as assaulted figures they become the preferred target of the haters, those trolls and anonymous digital attackers that take a particular delight in fulfilling their dream by destroying the noble dreams of others.

And so, to serve is also to suffer the thousands of arrows heading in a politician's direction every week. However, the longer social media venues tolerate it and the law turns a neglectful eye, the more dangerous has the political world become. The moment hateful words remain uncensored, the quicker evil does its diabolical work, for, as author Jerry Spinelli put it, "If you learn to hate one or two persons... you'll soon hate millions of people." This was the world Jo Cox's very courage caused her to enter, and the result is not a national but an international tragedy.

Perhaps that is why the photo of her empty shoe on the street had such a devastating effect on me -- no one would ever fill her shoes again. She was a bright voice in a world of dark voices, silenced by idiocy. Her children and her husband must now navigate a future without her sun on the horizon, and politics must attempt to move on despite the loss of one of its guiding stars. No one can fill her shoes and no one can wipe away our tears.

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Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel clearly put the choice before us: "The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference... And the opposite of life is not death, it is indifference." The only way Cox's senseless death can be redeemed is when we, as citizens, purge the hatred from among us by living for the same ideals of this one, too early gone.

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When a popular TV talk show host in Pakistan, Hamza Ali Abbasi, questioned the right of the state to brand a minority Muslim group as non-Muslim, social media went ablaze with calls for Abbasi's death. While Abbasi would get support from scholars like Abdullahi Naim, who argues that the Islamic state cannot adjudicate on a person's beliefs, large segments of the Pakistani population are too indoctrinated to discern such wisdom.

Many Pakistani Muslims are taught that Ahmadis are kafirs (disbelievers) for they do not believe in the finality of Prophethood. Ahmadis argue that their promised Messiah and Reformer confirmed the seal of Muhammad (upon whom be peace). It is this doctrinal difference that has stoked immense persecution of the Ahmadis of Pakistan.

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In the 50s while the average Muslims were living in mutual co-existence, clerics instigated riots demanding the expulsion of Ahmadis from key positions of power. Some were involved for political purposes, others, including prominent Sunni Muslim scholars, acted out of the fear of dilution of their strongly held values. Instead of reasoning with dialogue, they resorted to riots.

They sought to marginalize the very community whose members were instrumental in the creation of Pakistan. Indeed, in the first half of the 20th century, when clerics were embroiled in divisive politics, attacking Pakistan, the Ahmadiyyah movement supported Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, to the hilt.

The love of the Ahmadis for Pakistan is noted through the contribution of several Ahmadi generals in the Pakistani army, the first foreign minister Sir Zafrullah Khan and the Nobel Laureate Dr. Abdus Salam. However, the achievements of such Ahmadis, who served their country with pride, were eventually sidelined, obscured and diminished.

In the 70s, clerics once again instigated commotion for people who act out of fear can never rest unless they obliterate every semblance of the object of their fears. Eventually, the 2nd amendment in the Pakistan constitution expelled Ahmadis from Islam. This however, did not allay the concerns of the clergy and so under a tyrannical dictator in the 80s, discrimination was institutionalized. The following decades brought forth immense persecution of the Ahmadi community.

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Year after year, religious groups hold conferences in Pakistan on the protection of the finality of Prophethood. Instead of solving real problems like poverty, illiteracy, shortages of electricity, they focus on spreading more hatred. The sole purpose of such groups is to inflict more persecution on an already persecuted community.

In a country with abysmally low literacy rates clerics easily indoctrinate hatred of Ahmadis in the guise of "protecting" Islam. As a consequence, Ahmadis are refused service by shopkeepers, their mosques are attacked, their graves are defaced, Ahmadi students are harassed and above all, their identity is denied when they are forbidden to use any Islamic symbol or greeting of peace.

Ordinary Muslims are told not to have Ahmadis as friends or to have any relations with them. But what are people to do who have experienced unconditional love from Ahmadi teachers, students, co-workers and neighbours? Are we supposed to hurt human beings in the name of protecting an abstract doctrinal difference? Any person with an iota of humanity would not succumb to such callous raw hatred.

There are still Muslims who bypass hateful clerics to follow the verdict of the Qur'an, which forbids believers from charging others, who offer a greeting of peace, with disbelief. The Prophet cemented this value by stopping Muslims from imputing disbelief to those who recite the Muslim testimonial -- there is no god but God and Muhammad is His Messenger. Indeed, the six articles of the Muslim faith are inclusive enough to not harp on doctrinal differences.

Ahmadis are our brothers and sisters. The same blood runs in their veins as it does in ours. They too love their neighbours as they love themselves. They too stand in prayer and spend helping others. They might be nearer to God than many of the so-called righteous we see around us. What right have we to malign and abuse them when Allah Himself bestowed them with dignity? How dare we try to usurp their identity when it is not our place to do so?

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To undo decades of persecution will require sustained and concerted long-term efforts to undo the effect of hate that generations of Pakistanis have been indoctrinated with. While such efforts may be risky in Pakistan, as noted through the death threats experienced by even popular celebrities, it behooves upon Pakistanis in countries with religious freedom to express solidarity with their Ahmadi brothers and sisters. This is not an option or any favour to Ahmadis but a collective responsibility and obligation to our fellow Muslims.

Any change starts with a single step, the least of which is to let our Ahmadi friends, co-workers and neighbours know that no matter what the clerics say, we choose to stand by them with a simple hug, smile and kiss for that is the message of the Qur'an and the Prophet, which is nothing but the eternal message of love -- unconditional, relentless, radical, everlasting love.

This call for change is supported by:

Dr. Mohammad Fadel, University of Toronto

Dr. Laury Silvers, University of Toronto

Dr. Emran El-Badawi, University of Houston

Dr. Mahdi Tourage, King's University College at Western University

Dr. Adis Duderija, University of Melbourne

Dr. Junaid Jahangir, MacEwan University

Farhat Rehman, Canadian Council of Muslim Women, Ottawa Chapter

Shahla Khan Salter, Director, Universalist Muslims

Ani Zonneveld, President, Muslims for Progressive Values

Frank Parmir, Director, Muslims for Progressive Values, Columbus, Ohio

Jamila Tharp, Coordinating Imam for Redwoods Unity Mosque Initiative

Owais Siddiqui, Edmonton

Aqsa Tariq, Edmonton

Evelyn Hamdon, Edmonton

Nazli Rehman, Mississauga

Rameez Ahmed, Toronto

Hadi Hussain, Pakistan

Ayman Fadel, Georgia

Omar Sarwar, PhD Candidate, Columbia University

Shayma Johnson, Strathmore

Griffin Downing, San Francisco

Nakia Jackson, U.S.

Sohail Ahmed, U.K.
Mark Lewis via Getty Images Colorado, Great Sand Dunes National Park and the visual effects of global warming and climate change.

About three years ago I decided to devote a lot of time to writing about the threat of climate change. I felt then -- and feel now -- that the planet is going to be in one hell of a worse mess in a few years unless we take action on a scale never seen before concerning any other threat in history.

After I had published two or three items on various news sites, I was surprised -- actually shocked -- to learn that, compared to other topics I have written about (such as international financial mismanagement and the evils of neo-liberalism) very few people read the climate change articles.

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To try to find out why this is the case, I spoke with a few friends. Most said the thought of dramatic changes occurring on earth were too overwhelming to deal with. Worse still, they felt they couldn't have any influence on what will happen.

As it turned out, hardly any of my friends wanted to learn more about the threat or find out how they might help fight climate change.

I don't know the psychological state of my friends, but an Australian psychologist believes she knows why millions of people are reacting emotionally to climate change.

Dr. Susie Burke of the Australian Psychological Society says that, as life on earth becomes more abnormal over time, it can bring on all kinds of feelings in people.

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Knowing this, I'd say some of my friends are in what is perhaps an early anxiety stage concerning the threat of climate change. As conditions worsen, their symptoms can be expected to worsen.

"Many people may feel seriously concerned, frightened, angry, pessimistic, distressed, or guilty in response to climate change," she says. "Qualitative research finds evidence of some people being deeply affected by feelings of loss, helplessness, and frustration due to their inability to feel they are making a difference in stopping climate change.

"New terms such as 'eco-anxiety' or 'climate change anxiety' are sometimes used to describe this."

Dr. Burke says that if people experience something like an extreme weather disaster, the impact on them can get worse.

Mental health in danger

Disasters occurring because of climate change, in addition to destroying our environment, will also affect us psychologically and mentally.

"Depression, PTSD and complicated grief reactions are the most common mental health problems," she says, "and many, many more people who do not end up with a diagnosis of depression or PTSD, nonetheless end up with heightened distress, grief, stress and strain."

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The most disastrous impacts are occurring in some developing countries. Recently a city in western India suffered through the country's highest ever recorded temperature - a scorching 51 degrees Celsius (123.8 F). As a result of crops being wiped out by excessive heat, hundreds of depressed farmers across 13 states have killed themselves.

In Karachi, Pakistan, in anticipation of another heat wave this year, officials hired a digger to excavate three elongated trenches big enough for 300 bodies. In Canada, while climate change is not nearly as damaging - at least so far- as in many other countries, it already is having an impact on the mental health of many people.

Worst affected are the northern First Nations and Inuit, peoples who have a close relationship with nature. Melting permafrost is damaging vital ice roads, making them unstable and unsafe.

In the past, roads in Ontario used to import vital goods, were safe about 70 days a year. Now they're passable only about 35 days. The changes have made hunting more unpredictable. Changes in ice flow patterns have made hunting walrus more difficult.

First Nations people despondent

Isadore Day, Ontario's regional chief for the Assembly of First Nations, says that despair over climate change is contributing to mental health and social problems, possibly even record-breaking suicide rates.

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Cunsolo Willox, an assistant professor of indigenous studies at Cape Breton University, says the impact of climate change on northern peoples was evident back in 2009, when she did her PhD dissertation in Labrador. She says family stress was elevated. Anxiety and depression seemed to be amplified. More people were turning to drugs and alcohol and having suicide thoughts.

Interestingly, Willox said the people she interviewed weren't talking to each other about their fears - which, I think, is similar to the way some of my friends are responding to the emerging crisis.

Some farmers on the Canadian prairies are also experiencing severe anxiety. Farmers have always been at the mercy of the weather at the best of times.

But Kim Keller, who worked on her family's grain farm about 200 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon, told The Toronto Star that climate change is hitting some farmers hard. The dramatic changes are amplifying mental distress as farmers struggle with floods, unseasonable frosts, and windstorms scientists say are becoming more frequent and severe.

Extreme weather battering farms

Planting crops year to year is becoming a "roll of the dice," said Keller, a third-generation farmer. "The weather we tend to experience lately seems to be at one extreme or the other -- drought or flooding, -40 C or 35 C. These unpredictable and extreme weather patterns add to all the other stressors farmers experience and deal with."

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In Alberta, the lives of thousands of people have been upended by the massive Fort McMurray wildfires, caused largely by climate change. It's not hard to predict that many people who will continue to live in the area will suffer anxiety. Meanwhile, the CBC reports that children who experienced the fires are suffering from stress.

On a worldwide scale, it appears that the impact of climate change on human health will be receiving much more attention in the future. A report by the United Nations Human Rights Council released in May says that massive action is needed to protect the human rights - particularly the mental health - of people.

The report warns: "The negative health impacts of climate change will increase exponentially with every incremental increase in warming. Limiting warming to the greatest extent possible and achieving the target of 1.5 C above pre-industrial levels should therefore be the objective of all climate action."

The problems in developing countries the report addresses also apply to native groups living in the Canadian North and prairie farmers: "States should establish, inter alia, early warning systems; utilize community-based monitoring, including traditional knowledge; enhance emergency response capabilities; and improve coordination in addressing climate migration . . . ."

No health-related action in Canada

While many Canadian mental health and some government officials are aware of the impact of climate change on human health, it does not appear that the actions recommended by the UN are being carried out in Canada.

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Finally, thinking back to all those people who don't want to deal with climate change: this is a serious problem. If the planet is to be a livable place, the masses of people have to become involved in the fight. Environmental groups must do a lot more on climate change than they're doing - they're failing to educate the public.

Governments must be both criticized and encouraged over what they're doing. If fossil fuel corporations don't embrace technologies favouring carbon reduction, they must be attacked and eliminated.

Nick's blog is entitled -- A Different Point of View. He welcomes your thoughts.
SANJAY KANOJIA via Getty Images Indians yoga practitioners take part in a workshop at a temple on the banks of the River Ganges in Allahabad on June 20, 2016, ahead of International Yoga Day.International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21 each year. / AFP / SANJAY KANOJIA (Photo credit should read SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP/Getty Images)

By naming June 21st as International Yoga Day, India is spreading a healthy practice and promoting the country's brand value, but it's also reclaiming an age-old tradition.

The concept of yoga was first mentioned in the ancient Hindu scriptures of the 6th century BCE, the Rig Vedas. It was later discussed in other seminal texts -- the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. In the 4th century CE, Maharishi (great sage) Patanjali is believed to have organized the diffuse practice into a set of structured principles. The word yoga in Sanskrit means union.

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The official website of the International Day of Yoga defines yoga as the process whereby the individual is united with the Cosmic Consciousness. Modern guru Deepak Chopra explains it more simply as the union of mind, body, and soul.

With such a broad mission, it's natural that yoga includes a wide range of activities, such as prayers, rituals and service, meditation and mantras. And there are several types of yoga, of which Hatha yoga -- with breathing exercises (pranayama) and poses (asanas) -- is just one.

In India today, yoga is still not very commercialized. There are no chains of yoga schools. Yoga is usually a solitary activity, done first thing in the morning in the comfort of one's own home or at most congregating at the neighbourhood park with a local teacher and a few neighbours wiping the sleep out of their eyes. There are no chains of yoga stores; in fact, there is no yoga clothing per se.

People wear whatever comfortable stuff they may have on hand -- often a loose kurta and pyjamas (in the true Indian sense of the word). They don't even have mats. If they're doing it at home, they lie on whatever carpet happens to be on the floor or they may carry an old towel to the neighbourhood park.

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However, since the 1970s, the West -- and in particular America -- has taken Hatha yoga and run with it. And undoubtedly Indian immigrant teachers of the art have aided the process. Bikram Choudhury began a chain of centers now worldwide that bear his name and offer 90 minute classes consisting of 26 poses. Iyengar Yoga, developed by BKS Iyengar, is more complex and graduated, consisting of some 200 asanas and 14 pranayamas. And there are now many other schools and teachers plugging their own variations, including nomenclature. Patanjali may be flummoxed as to why his majestic and mysterious sounding 'Adho Mukha Svanasana' is now referred to as the rather practical "downward-facing dog."

The western brand of yoga also comes with exciting must-have accessories. The maharishi of yoga apparel is Lululemon. What began in Vancouver, Canada is now an international chain of stores. They sell "technical, sweat-wicking pants" for $98 and the "yogi everyday tank" for $48. You can also purchase their "reversible mat 5mm" ($68) and their "essential mat carrier" ($32). And there are other chains making inroads into the market, like Zobha, Gaiam, and Zella of Nordstrom.

But what western yoga really offers is a sense of community. Yoga is a group activity, with often the yoga stores themselves offering classes to their clients where they can exercise together while surreptitiously comparing outfits. But in India, with 1.2 billion fellow Indians, one doesn't need to go to yoga class to find community.

You can find community in the overcrowded buses, in the queues in the vegetable shops, and even in your own home made up of a large extended family. In fact, in India, the hard part is to escape from all that community.

There has been discussion whether the West's adoption of yoga is cultural appropriation. Wikipedia defines cultural appropriation as the "use of elements of one culture by members of another" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_appropriation ). But the reason it is often controversial is that it typically involves members of a dominant group exploiting the culture of a less privileged group without context or deeper understanding.

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One could argue that this is a case in point because Americans have taken yoga without its religious meaning. However, it was Indians like Choudhury and Iyengar, who went to America with an almost missionary zeal to convert the natives to their art form...and they were successful. Furthermore, doing yoga is not a case of a young woman wearing a bindi for a night of clubbing or a model in a native headdress for a photo shoot; these are people adopting a healthy lifestyle and making a long-term investment in terms of both time and money.

Besides, American dominance is no longer as obvious. And it seems even India itself is stripping yoga of some of its religious significance to broaden its appeal. In light of protests from Muslim groups, at least for International Yoga Day in India, the sessions will not include the very popular Surya Namaskar asanas nor the chanting of Om.

Whether faced with cultural appropriation or cultural appreciation, a bit of re-appropriation -- done in an inclusive manner -- never hurts. At the request of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution establishing International Yoga Day. The first celebration in 2015 saw yoga sessions happening all over the world.

There was a mass gathering of some 35,000 at Rajpath in Delhi matched by an almost equal number at Times Square in New York City. Similar events are being planned for the second International Yoga Day this Tuesday. New York may have cooler dressed participants, but New Delhi will definitely have the hotter yoga, with summer temperatures reaching 42 degrees Celsius.

And to placate any debate, Merriam-Webster seems to wisely offer two definitions of yoga: a capitalized Yoga ("a Hindu theistic philosophy teaching the suppression of all activity of body, mind, and will in order that the self may realize its distinction from them and attain liberation") and a lower-case yoga ("a system of exercises for mental and physical health"). India can have the ancient, authentic, and comprehensive Yoga while the West can have the stylish and selective yoga -- with the twain hopefully meeting all over the place.

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As Patanjali would no doubt have calmly but firmly urged, just do it.
C/O Universalist Muslims

Ramadan dinners are held everywhere this month, including in my Muslim community in Ottawa , where all are welcome -- gay or straight. At last night's dinner, I was asked to say a few words. Here they are.

Salaamualaikum.

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Ramadan is a time when we are reminded of what others experience when they have less -- by our hunger, our thirst and occasionally, the rawness of emotions that accompanies these during the fast.

We are reminded that for some, the fast is not temporary, but permanent. There are people who are hungry all the time. And being hungry is a way of life.

Everyone remembers that going without food is part of the fast.

This Ramadan I remind you that going without intimacy and sexual love from sunrise to sunset is also part of the fast. This Ramadan we must be reminded that there are those who fast from intimacy and physical love all the time because they are gay and their circumstances or their mindset make it impossible for them to find and fall in love with a partner of the same gender.

We must be grateful and giving in our provisions and our charity, but also in our knowledge, our compassion, our acceptance.

Muslim family -- we know this is not how life is supposed to be lived.

As always, especially during Ramadan, we must be grateful and giving in our provisions and our charity, but also in our knowledge, our compassion, our acceptance.

Muhammad said, "When you see another who has been given more, look to those who have been given less -- and be grateful."

Ramadan is a holy month, because it's the month in which the Qur'an was revealed, over many years, to Muhammad.

Whether we are fasting or not, we are reminded during Ramadan how fortunate we are to have our holy scripture, the Qur'an, and the enlightenment it can contain. These are the words of Allah, who is described in it as The Compassionate, The Merciful and that Compassion and Mercy is the lens from which we must read the Qur'an.

We know in our era there are many ways of reading the Qur'an -- some of them in reference to our gay Muslim family are not merciful nor compassionate.

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But we can find enlightenment if we search for it, as in Surah 30, here:

30:20 And among Allah's signs is this: Allah creates you out of dust and then, lo! you become human beings ranging far and wide!

We are all over the world -- we are everywhere and that includes our diversity.

30:21 Among Allah's signs is this: that Allah created for you spouses from among yourselves, in order to have tranquility and contentment with each other, and Allah placed in your hearts love and care towards your spouses. In this, there are sufficient proofs for people who think.

Does it say "wives"? Does it say "mates of the opposite gender"? No!

Muslims at Edmonton Pride.

30:22 And among Allah's signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your tongues and colours: for in this, behold, there are messages indeed for all who are possessed of [innate] knowledge!

"Colours," according to inclusive Muslim scholars like Dr. Scott Siraj Al Haqq Kugle, is from the Arabic word "alwan." From a translation of the Arabic, alwan includes the shade, the type, the texture, the flavour and the kind -- as in taste.

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It means, according to Dr. Kugle, variation among people is not just about outward appearance, but inward disposition. The conclusion is that human nature has been created diverse not just in language, ethnicity and appearance, but also in inward disposition and personality, differences that include our orientation, our sexualities.

49:13 We created you into different tribes and nations so that you may come to know one another (with affection).

So diversity is celebrated.

(More on the story of Lut is here and how his goal was not to make same-sex love a sin.)

We also know that according to historical evidence the early Muslims were accepting of sexual diversity. No one was persecuted for being gay by Muhammad.

Queer brothers and sisters of all faiths and no faith -- you are perfect as you are.

This Ramadan can we, in Muslim communities, who love and accept our LGBTQI Muslim family, take time to educate our fellow brothers and sisters in other parts of the community of our understanding?

This Ramadan can we remind everyone of why the Qur'an was revealed not to be a source of hardship but a source of ease as it states in Surah 2?

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Because 49 innocent people did not perish for nothing in the tragedy that unfolded a week ago in Orlando.

Taywakkul ala Allah -- trust in God -- everything happens for a reason -- including our grief, our pain, our sorrow.

We Muslims know the homophobia in our communities, which exists in other communities, too -- how must we confront it?

No matter how hard it is to publicize our inclusive Muslim spaces, no matter how few funds we may have -- what must we do to nurture the well-being of all our children, including those from other parts of the Muslim community, gay or straight?

How do we help those who may be lost off the direct path, as a result of their own anger and left alone to wander aimlessly and create chaos?

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Sirata allatheena anAAamta AAalayhim ghayri almaghdoobi AAalayhim wala alddalleena

This Ramadan, may Allah accept our prayers for the people not only who died in Orlando, but who have been killed for being gay -- anywhere -- or persecuted or punished or made to feel "less than."

And we are not praying the gay away.

We are praying that everyone is accepted as they are, because Allah The Greatest made us ALL the way we are, in our beautiful diversity.

And Allah makes no mistakes.

Queer brothers and sisters of all faiths and no faith -- you are perfect as you are. May God protect us all and watch over us ALL -- always.

Ameen.

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Studies have shown our taste for foods is created by cultural and learned experiences as Petrini (2001), Duruz (2003), Bell and Valentine (1997) and the well-known food writer Montanari (2006) describe. Further, academics like Korsmeyer (2002) demonstrate how much of the importance of food is cognitive.

Mountains bring this to the fore. Mountain food represents a cultural value, an emotion, and if you are lucky a shared experience too.

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Milk and cheese producer, Roberto Di Mulo, based in the Monti Sibillini National Park, Central Italy, explains what this means:

"Being located in the mountains is a real advantage in that the image of mountains, the feeling of mountains, makes people think purity, health, and traditions. In mountains like ours, you have food that is connected to belief."

When I ask him to elaborate he has a lot to say:

"Everyone has to work together to see our reality through the lens of tourism. I don't only have a high quality product but I offer an emotion. An experience. But here the government sets up a battle of bureaucracy against this, with endless laws and costs. It is illegal for me to milk the cows by hand. But that is what visitors want to see. That is what families want their children to experience when they come to mountains."

Nor is that all. By law only registered trained people in the business (family) are allowed in the cheese and yogurt production rooms. Tourists would enjoy this learning experience but they can only look through a window. All the containers, surfaces and utensils must be metal.

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"Don't get me wrong. Hygiene is top importance. But making cheese the traditional way, inside the park, I would like to be able to use a wooden spoon when I'm doing a demonstration. People come here to see traditions. Why don't they teach us how to clean and care for wooden utensils? After all, people used these things for centuries without becoming ill. If you want visitors, you have to offer a real experience, not something staged. That's what I mean about food connected to belief."

When I mention the classic images of dairy cows in the Alps...

"In the Trentino!" Roberto interjects. "They have their own laws. There the government understands what is needed. They are paid one hundred euro for every cow they take to mountain pastures! They can milk by hand. They can use wooden utensils. They can make products in traditional buildings. Why do you think they have so much tourism. All I want is to offer what visitors want -- but bureaucracy stops me. Food should not be about politics."

Roberto's products are highly sought after and he sells in Rome and all over Italy. In fact he has orders for 20 per cent more ricotta per week than he can produce. Apparently some mountain producers will buy and use cheap milk from the lowlands when their own production falls short, but Roberto won't compromise quality. His milk costs approximately 50 cents a litre, compared to the Padana lowlands where industrially farmed bulk feeds are cheap and milk costs 30 cents a litre.

His commitment is to food and belief, and he embraces modernity as much as old traditions.

Only lactating cows are kept inside his barn where they move freely. They are not locked in stalls like industrial dairy cows, nor are they given milk production stimulants.

The cows decide when they 'feel' the need to be milked and they walk of their own accord into a robotic station where they are washed and milked by a machine. They also have a hanging backscratcher, a bristly object the size of a bale of hay, which they can rub against to reduce stress. They are only fed hay from the mountains and you taste the quality.

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Unlike the lowlands, many mountain producers fulfill the post-productivist vision of rural multifunctionality whereby the 'farmer' is also a custodian of the land and an educator.

As much as making food, Roberto works to retain our cognitive taste experience. The food represents our idea of mountains because he personally controls every stage in terms of quality and awareness of animal welfare, biodiversity, human health and lifelong learning.

Can we call this creation of food, thought and feeling, 'dairy farming'?

References

Bell, D.,Valentine, G. (1997) Consuming Geographies: We Are Where We Eat. New York: Routledge

Duruz, J. (2003) 'Eating at the Boarders; culinary journeys' in Environment and Planning Development; Society and Space. 23, 51- 69

Korsmeyer, C. (2002) Making Sense of Taste, Food and Philosophy. Ithaca: Cornell University Press

Montanari, M. (2006) Food is Culture. New York: Columbia University Press.

Petrini, C. (2001) Slow Food, The Case for Taste. New York: Columbia University Press
By Amanda Cupido, Social Media and Content Editor, World Vision Canada

You've seen countless pictures of life in refugee settlements. But what's it like to be there? Photo/World Vision

It was a tsunami of thoughts and emotions, made possible by technology.

Hundreds of Canadians came to World Canada's Vision's Facebook page last Thursday, to experience a live event in a tented refugee settlement in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.

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The online tour we provided was nothing fancy. My colleague Brett simply walked around the settlement with an iPad, guided by a staff member from World Vision Lebanon.

Spontaneously, Syrian children popped into the frame, lured by the excitement of a visitor with a tablet. There was waving, and loads of smiling.

View the video of last week's live Facebook event.

A new way of feeling

At our World Vision office in Mississauga, Ontario, my colleagues dropped everything to crowd around my desk.

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I was fielding comments from Canadians across the country, watching the posts popping up on my screen and responding back.

In Lebanon, Brett knelt down on the ground amongst the children to be at their level. They squished in, to get as close to him as possible. At that moment, the abstract concept of 'Syrian refugees' came into focus.

From screens across Canada, the brown eyes of the children looked straight into the viewer's eyes. Dark hair shone in the sunshine, just inches from the camera. On one little girl's wrist, hundreds of Canadians could see the scrape that was just starting to heal.

Many viewers seemed so excited, they didn't stop to compose full sentences.

"Hello!" wrote many, wanting to communicate with the children who seemed to be looking right at them before they disappeared.

"My heart," wrote one Facebook viewer. Just two words, but I knew exactly what she meant. My heart was bursting too.

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Making it real

Today is World Refugee Day, a date to remember the plight of refugees everywhere. It's an occasion we've marked five times since the conflict in Syria began.

We wanted to find a way to give Canadians a new perspective on the situation. So World Vision arranged the Facebook live stream last week, to help draw Canadians toward World Refugee Day.

The global refugee crisis is largely out of sight for most Canadians. Humanitarian agencies can try to explain that 60 million people are currently displaced from their homes. That's double Canada's own population, yet a number like that is impossible to imagine.

In South Sudan, Veronica and her son, Joseph, are two of the 60 million people displaced from their homes around the world. Photo/World Vision

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We have never touched 60 million of anything. So how can the number touch our hearts? Perhaps spending a few minutes with refugee children, in real time, can deepen our understanding.

360 of a refugee camp

Imagine walking a mile in the shoes of a refugee child. It's something else World Vision is offering, through the virtual reality technology already found in thousands of homes across Canada.

With VR technology, a headset looking a bit like over-sized ski goggles transports you into the scene itself. When you turn your head, the device's video screen responds to the motion.

For World Refugee Day, World Vision is using this technology to put users 'on site' at a tented refugee settlement overseas, to tell the story of a 13-year-old Syrian child named Ali.

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As Ali, this is the view of your tented settlement. Will you walk down the hill?

Ali and his family were forced to flee their homeland by the violence and bombings near their home. Now, Ali lives in a settlement in Lebanon. To help make ends meet, he has to go out and sell things on the street.

Try this at home

World Vision's video can be used with an iPhone slotted into a set of VR goggles. In a moment, you're standing atop a hill on the other side of the world. Below you is the camp. Look up at the sky, or down at your hands. What's behind you? Where will you walk first? You decide.

Don't have VR goggles? No problem. We've uploaded a 360 video to our Facebook page to give people a glimpse at a child friendly space for Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

If you're on a mobile device, it will shift your perspective of the video based on how you hold your phone. If you're on a desktop, use your mouse to click around the video to determine your perspective.

Many ways to connect

If live events and virtual reality aren't for you, you can still connect with refugees the world over this World Refugee Day. Here are some suggestions:

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See the VR video without the goggles

Watch a 'Welcome Refugees' video made by Canadian children

Learn about ways to help refugees
Through Escape the City, I often met high-flying professionals who wanted to ditch their day-to-day routines in order to 'find more meaning' and 'change the world'. I must have talked to at least a thousand millennials who stated the same dream of owning a business that also improved society.

For a process that I thought would have increased my optimism, it had the opposite effect. I saw that it had become almost fashionable to start a 'do-gooder' business - all very well in theory, but when things actually got really tough, as they often do in startups - most of these high achievers demonstrated their allergy to failure and ended up folding away their ideas.

This prompted me to really question whether business could actually 'change the world' or improve economic and environmental systems for the better, or whether it was a utopian millennial dream.

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This is why I was intrigued to meet Jeremy Moon, the founder of Icebreaker, an outdoor clothing company in New Zealand. There is a spiritual element in the way Moon does business, which I discerned from reading a chapter he authored in Deepak Chopra's The Soul of Leadership.

"For me, a dream starts as a possibility. Slowly, the possibility grows and turns into a wave of energy: a feeling of being aligned with the purpose of my life. This takes practice and trust," he wrote.

Even the founding of Icebreaker seemed cosmic. While backpacking around New Zealand with his American girlfriend, she introduced her boyfriend to the farmer couple she was staying with, who were merino wool farmers. This was 1994 and her boyfriend was 24-year-old Jeremy Moon.

That fateful introduction led to Moon locking himself away, quitting his research job and mortgaging his house to follow his passion for creating a beautiful, natural product from New Zealand.

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Moon convinced his friend Michelle Mitchell to throw in her law career to join him, and they drove around New Zealand in a couple of beat-up Datsuns trying to persuade stores to buy the first ever Icebreaker range.

Over two decades later, Icebreaker sells in more than 50 countries in over 4,700 stores around the world, sticking to its principles of sustainability, natural fibres, environmental and social ethics, and animal welfare.

Upon studying the Icebreaker story, it is hard to discern which fact is more impressive: that company sales this year were over $200 million, that Icebreaker has pioneered the new retail category of merino outdoor clothing, or that it was conceived and designed around the philosophy of "profitable sustainability".

Early on, Moon stated his vision of building a company that doesn't deliver at the expense of the environment. He talked about his shift in awareness occurring when he saw Icebreaker as its own business model, balancing ecology, economy, and resources.

"Our objective is profitable sustainability," he says. "When you are truly aware, you see that the future has to be based on sustainable enterprises, which is what Icebreaker has been from the beginning."

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"This idea of profitable sustainability is a healthy tension. The business has to be profitable. Money is like blood in a body," Moon explains. "If you have uncontrolled bleeding in the body, you die, right? You have to have a nutritious level of profitability to enable the organism to grow."

"We believe nature is a powerful force that is within us and around us," he continues. "When you live in the city, it's easy to feel distanced from nature. Icebreaker is a bridge that reconnects us with nature, and protects us in all climates and environments."

This seems to be the driving philosophy behind Icebreaker's company ethos, that nature is "an astonishing designer" creating what is "simple, efficient and beautiful". This was evident right from the beginning, when the company started out by specialising in the production of merino base layer long underwear.

While Moon didn't know much, he did know how to listen. He talked to experts, learned how to use a warehouse and how to deliver on time, and from the start, he focused on developing narrow and deep relationships with a small number of merino growers, manufacturers, retailer and staff.

"I wasn't an expert on anything so they taught me to rely on experts on everything. I found an expert in branding who helped us sharpen our brand's story. An expert designer, an expert at manufacturing and an expert in finance, because I was the ultimate generalist."

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When I asked him about this magical element underpinning his business, I called it conscious capitalism.

"Conscious is very safe because it relates to the mind," he said. "Spirituality really isn't just the mind or the body. It's the heart. I constantly had this fear of looking for pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. It just felt like this burning force in my gut, oh my god, this is what I have to do... how am I going to do that?"

I told him about the Escape members I often met, who often felt silly for not 'knowing' what it is they should begin as a business. He responded that his approach had come from a holistic intention.

"It was never like, 'Oh, that's a good idea, I might go do that,'" he says. "It was never actually a mind thing. It was always a heart and body thing. There was an urgency and relentlessness and emotion that came with that."

When I asked him if he had any advice for those at career crossroads, he said:

"A little thought experiment that I sometimes do just to freak myself out is imagine yourself at 70, reflecting back on your life, how happy are you with your choices? By the time you're 70, you're not really creating new paths. You're more harvesting the culmination of your decisions. You don't want to live a life of regrets. What does this current choice mean for the end game?"
The Brexit campaign is largely lying about immigration.

Boris and co. seem to be confusing EU and Non-EU immigration and treating them as the same. They aren't. The biggest deceit here is the idea that being in the EU stops us from reducing immigration from non-EU states coming to the UK. That is wrong. Being a member of the EU does not have any impact on our ability to restrict immigration from non-EU countries and leaving the EU will not enhance our ability to restrict immigration into the UK from non-EU countries.

Importantly immigration from outside the EU is greater than that from inside the EU. In 2015 190,000 immigrants came to the UK from outside the EU. Leaving the EU would have no impact on our ability to restrict those immigrants.

In 2015 the UK did receive 185,000 immigrants from other EU member states. If we left the EU we could, in theory, restricts access to the UK for those people. Although, it is important to remember that 1.2 million British people live in other EU member states, mainly Spain, France and Ireland. If the UK were to restrict access to EU nationals coming it seems reasonable that the EU would restrict the access of UK citizens looking to live and work in other EU member states.

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Further, if we wanted to maintain our access to the single market, which most Brexit supporters want to do, then we will almost certainly have to keep the free movement of people condition as part of a post-Brexit agreement. Norway and Switzerland are often held up as examples of the sort of relationship the UK could have with EU if we left. Norway and Switzerland both have free movement as part of their agreements with the EU. And both Norway and Switzerland have proportionally higher levels of EU immigration than the UK does.

Leaving the EU will have little impact on immigration. For non-EU immigration it makes no difference if we are in or out. And if we stay part of the single market we most likely won't be able to restrict EU immigration either. The idea put out there by Boris and Gove that we could suddenly reduce immigration to the tens of thousands by leaving the EU is totally misleading.

Another deceit of the Brexit campaign is that immigrants are a strain and a drain on the UKs economy and public services. Again not true. Immigrants are a benefit to the UK, not a cost. Immigrants from the EU contribute 1.36 in revenue for every 1 they cost. For immigrants from Eastern EU countries that figure improves still further to 1.64 in tax for every 1 in costs.

Nor do EU immigrants put a strain on public services, quite the opposite they help pay for them. Indeed, if we were to leave the EU we would severely damage the British economy. The decision to leave and the resulting economic decline will put far greater pressure on public service provision than immigrants do.

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To link EU immigration and the pressure on public services is misleading. The strain on public services is largely down to budget cuts, not immigrants.

More important than all of this is the type of UK we want to live in. The free movement of people within the EU represents something great about the EU, for me it represents freedom; it represents choice; it represents tolerance and mutual respect; it represents opportunity and trust. Those are great things. Things we shouldn't turn our back on. Things that I want my children to enjoy.
I set myself up a challenge this year, which is to try and visit more places in the UK. So far, I've only managed to visit Bath (although I've had a couple of trips to the big capital, there was little sightseeing). England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland are very beautiful, but the weather is unpredictable so I am hesitant to book a break in another city in the UK in case it rains cats and dogs. Also my plan was scarpered due to a trip to Marakesh and Milan, so just eventually getting to visit somewhere in the UK. Why Bath? Well Bath, located in the South West of England in the county of Somerset is known throughout the world due to it being a World Heritage Site, primarily due to the numerous roman ruins that are located throughout the city. Bath's also known for many other things such as stunning Georgian houses, Sally Lunns and Jane Austen. Taking a train ride for a little 2 hours, I spent one cloudy but not rainy Saturday in this picturesque city. It was very busy from tourists from around the world, but with a little planning you can make the most to of the day.

Roman Baths

World renowned and one of the most beautiful historical sites in Europe and rightly so. Open 09:30 - 17:00 (21:00 July/August) and costing 15.00 this is a site you can not miss. This place is heaving with tourists, but navigate your way though the crowd and marvel at the spectacular grounds. Make sure you also get a headset to fully immerse yourself in the history around the Roman Baths. Locating below street level there are four main features, the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House and finds from Roman Bath. I was fascinated with the history of how the Baths were made and the running of the baths. My suggestion is to visit her first, I was here for almost two hours as I wanted to be fully informed of the history, oh and take lots of photos.

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Bath Abbey

The church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Bath, otherwise known as Bath Abbey is another architectural stunner. It's a beautiful gothic style grade 1 listed building. I'd recommend making a quick visit, to admire the beautiful windows, the high ceilings and magnificent pews. Entry is free although donations ware welcome. If you have enough time, sit in on one of their worship services.

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Royal Crescent

Identified as one of the finest example of Georgian architecture in the UK, the royal crescent is simply beautiful. Made up of 30 or so houses, make sure you take a visit and take several photos by some of the most beautiful views in Bath. Number 1 Royal Crescent is home to a historical museum which showcases what a typical Georgian house was like for the wealthy. I really wanted to do this tour, but unfortunately I was 10 minutes late, which I was gutted. I did however see a glimpse of people in period costumes outside the house so was incredibly fascinated about what was indoors.

Take a boat trip around Bath

I love a boat trip and this with the hop on and hop off buses is one my favourite excursions to complete whilst away. I took a boat trip with Pulteney Princess which cost 9 for an hour boat trip. Unfortunately the skies were a little grey but I can imagine on a clear day, the views would be breathtaking. Also, I really enjoyed taking in the Bath countryside, watching many people using canoes on the River Avon. There are also some notable sites to see, including a medieval cattle market, the oldest building in Bath, Cleveland Bridge and Bathampton Down.

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Sally Lunn

No city break for me would be complete without sampling a local delicacy. In Bath, it's a Sally Lunn. Located in a historical building (it's a theme in Bath). A baker fleeing in France developed the iconic generous brioche bun, now known as "Sally Lunn". There's a range of sweet and savoury bun dishes at the restaurant all with scrumptious toppings. As it was lunch time, my cousin and I ordered the Double Bacon and the Salt Beef. Why not try the traditional Sally Lunn Blend Tea, made up with Indian, Ceylon and African Teas.
A third of our days on this planet are working days and all too often work becomes transactional. We do things that don't necessarily fill our hearts with joy because we need the money. We pretend to be someone we aren't so we get on and fit in. As Professor Paul Dolan has proven in his extensive research at the London School of Economics on happiness ""trying to force yourself to be different never really works." We become great at function but not at form.

Our reliance on big data is sharply increasing. In fact, according to a new survey commissioned by Dell, 41% of mid-market businesses have one or more big data projects already in place, with another 55% planning to start one in the near future.

However, in our drive to maximize our efficiency and subsequently profit, using the powerful data tool, we can very often forget that the drivers of the data are people. As author Jarod Kintz explains in This Book Is Not For Sale "Nothing carries meaning. People carry meaning. We are the porters of importance."

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Humans, by their very nature are pack animals and thrive when their life is full of meaningful relationships; dozens of studies prove that positive social connections not only give us pleasure, they influence our long term health and are as powerful as getting enough sleep, eating well and not smoking.

Work can be so much more than just a focus on data. It can help us live our dreams, it can help our hearts soar. When we feel we are valued as an individual, appreciated and cared for we feel happier; when we feel happier we are more innovative, creative and efficient. We are feeding big data's prophecy. It's a win win.

This is why work should be full of meaning; but how can we introduce this resource and still keep our eye on the valuable big data drive?

Be Kind To Yourself. From the Buddhist point of view, you have to care about yourself before you can really care about others. Slow down and note a few things every day that you have done that you think are fantastic. Seeing positive aspects of yourself written down will remind you to be kinder to yourself. This will, in time, change the way you behave and the reactions of others around you. Eleanor Roosevelt once said 'To handle yourself, use your head, to handle others, use your heart'.

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Appreciate. Expressing gratitude and thankfulness has a huge impact on our health, well-being and productivity. Every time you have an interaction share one thing that you value about that person, soon this will become second nature and before you know it they'll be appreciating you too.

Best selling author and NYU professor Jonathan Haidt proved in his extensive research that even witnessing someone appreciate another person creates a heightened state of well-being that he calls 'elevation.' When Haidt and his team applied his research to the world of business, they found that when leaders exhibited compassion, their employees would experience elevation. As a consequence, they felt more loyal and committed towards the company and were much more likely to act in a helpful and friendly way with other employees for no particular reason.

Meaningful Stuctures. Build some loving structures into your business to show you care. John Lewis, a cooperative PLC retail giant in the UK, goes to great lengths to draw out and support people's personal interests to create an environment where people feel they can be themselves and that the company value them as individuals.

There is a thriving club culture and if, for example, you want to learn piano, John Lewis will pay half the cost of the lessons.

Patagonia is renowned for it's company ethic of celebrating every part of their employee's individuality as well as maintaining steady economic growth. They work and play together; consequently people stay longer because they feel supported and understood. Billy Smith, a Patagonia product tester said "Landing this job was probably the best thing that ever happened to me," says Smith "I feel like I represent the brand as much as it represents me."

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Lead by Example. So often we make ourselves believe that we are 'too busy' to take time out for others. Some of the C Level executives of the biggest brands manage to find this time as they recognize it as a vital tool in the success of their company.

Leadership IQ found in a recent survey that 6 hours a week was the optimum time for a manager to spend with with individuals from their team. As people rose from one to six hours spent with their direct leaders, they became 29% more inspired about their work, 30% more engaged, 16% more creative, and 15% more motivated. Even a coffee or a walk and a one to one focused chat is a great starting point: Or get creative with surprising ways to engage the team as a whole and reap the 'elevation' rewards.

Albert Einstein gave us the most succinct advice: 'Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value.'

Chris Barez-Brown, founder of Upping Your Elvis, specialists in Creative Leadership. @uppingyourelvis www.uppingyourelvis.com
During the past decade, digital technology has dramatically changed the way we consume - and create - news and information. This pace - as discussed last week at the annual Global Editors Network conference (GEN Summit 2016) - shows no sign of abating.

Over the course of 2.5 days, the theme of digital disruption was firmly front and centre; as successive panels and presentations highlighted the impact tech innovation will have on our evolving news habits.

From that perspective, here are seven emerging tech trends which caught my eye.

1.Social media is increasingly our portal to news

According to research from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford, social media is used each week by more than half (51%) of online news consumers to find, discuss and share, news content.

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Their fifth Digital News Report, using data from over 50,000 online news users in 26 countries, also revealed that among audiences aged 18-24 social media is now their preferred news source; beating TV (28% vs 24%) for the first time.

Globally, the study found, 12% said social media is their main news source.

2.New morning routines

The idea of starting your day by reading a newspaper, is an increasingly antiquated concept. Just 8% of news audiences in the UK do this, dropping to 6% in the US.

In both countries, online services - social media, apps and news websites - are the first port of call for most news consumers, ahead of both TV and Radio, as well as newspapers.

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3.Chat apps are the next evolution in social media

Globally, services like WhatsApp and WeChat already have huge user bases, whilst Snapchat has overtaken Twitter in terms of daily users. Snapchatters watch 10 billion (yes, billion) videos a day.

News organisations are alert to this shift in behaviour. As a result, companies like the BBC, Wall Street Journal and BuzzFeed are experimenting with platforms such as Snapchat, Viber, Line and Facebook Messenger.

We're going to get (and share) a lot more of our news and information from these types of services in the future.

4.Chat Bots are creating new conversation tools

A number of US publishers are using quizzes, chat bots and more informal ways of delivering news and current affairs to audiences.

This includes interactive services, such as Quartz's chat-like news app, the Washington Post's Kik bot and TrumpChat, a bot from Mic which delivers interactive news snippets whilst mimicking Donald Trump's Twitter voice.

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These services are fun, conversational and offer a means to potentially engage audiences in new and innovative ways.

Image: via the Medium page of the product team at Mic.com

5.Robots are becoming reporters

The Associated Press (AP) announced in January 2015 that it "is now automatically generating more than 3,000 stories about U.S. corporate earnings each quarter." This represents "a tenfold increase over what AP reporters and editors created previously."

Automated, or robo-journalism, won't work for everything, but it's currently being used on relatively formulaic journalistic output like business/earnings reporting and sport. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times has used its Quakebot tool to report on earthquakes in the region.

Evidence suggests that unless they're told material has been produced by a robot, most audiences cannot spot the difference.

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6.360 content is giving us the full picture

Facebook users may have noticed that you can now view 360 images on the social network. They - and YouTube - both introduced 360 video last year.

These more immersive visual forms offer new perspectives on news stories and other media content; and are only going to become more prevalent.

Image: via Facebook

7.Virtual Reality is the next visual frontier

Although still early days for this technology, this is another platform that content creators are experimenting with. In the past year we've seen VR efforts from the New York Times, the BBC and others.

At the GEN Summit I had the opportunity to view a video - produced by the SMART News Agency - which showed the devastating impact of Syria's civil war on Aleppo in a way that 2D photographs and video arguably cannot.

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The Future

Any discussion on where technology might take us tends to quote William Gibson, who famously wrote: "the future is already here, it's just not very evenly distributed yet."

That sentiment was certainly in evidence last week.

These seven tech trends - along with others such as faster mobile networks and more powerful mobile devices - are already beginning to reshape journalism and news media.
I've lived in the UK for 15 years - nearly all my adult life. I came here as an 18 year-old student because it was easier to study in my field of choice. I did not plan to stay. But I got used to multiculturalism, queuing, and apologising for everything. I got used to pubs, parks, self-deprecating jokes and endless varieties of tea. I fell in love with London, the only city I can now call home. So I stayed.

Although I've paid taxes here for the past 15 years, and although I'm expecting a half-English little girl who will never have my funny accent, I'm not allowed to vote in this Thursday's referendum. Because of my distinctly Greek last name, if ever I express my views on Brexit in public, I get sarcastic comments about my country's financial state. Never mind that Greece's current predicament is due to its history of corrupt politicians and its membership to the monetary union. The majority of the electorate mistakenly blame Greece's fate on its EU membership.

There's another reason I've been less vocal about my stance on this referendum than I have been on any other major political issue: this time, it's about me. It's people like me who are the subject of the most aggressive debate in recent British history. It's people like me who are seen as a threat to British culture and sovereignty. I'm the problem. It's much harder to speak up to defend myself than it is to defend others.

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This is why I'm going to leave immigration out of this. It's true that since 2009, the inflow of EU nationals to the UK has been greater than the outflow of UK nationals to Europe. Although the balance is still much smaller than UKIP and co would have you think, if this is reason enough for you to vote "out" on Thursday, there's nothing I can say about it.

But for me, the EU is much greater than immigration. Politicians will only present that version of the truth that serves their own agenda, leaving out whatever undermines their position. For example, David Cameron gains nothing from telling the public that workers' rights are protected through our EU membership, or that, were it not for EU influence, our climate policy would be non-existent. That's why he waffles incoherently instead of telling the public what's really at stake if we leave Europe.

To me, these are the five most important things we stand to lose:

1.Our fight against climate change: This conservative government has proven to be less than willing to make any real commitments to reducing green house gasses, even going as far as to try to sabotage existing efforts. At the same time, climate and energy specialists agree that our EU membership has greatly benefited the development of green climate and energy policies. Make no mistake: if we do not commit to addressing climate change it will be impossible to control immigration in the face of an ever-increasing influx of environmental refugees.

2.Our scientific research: A 2016 report by the Science and Technology Select Committee found that our EU membership has greatly benefited the UK scientific community. "The ease with which talented researchers can move between EU Member States and the UK, the EU's fertile environment for research collaboration, harmonised regulations and access to EU research facilities (...) make EU membership a highly prized feature of the research ecosystem in the UK." And that's before taking into account the immense financial support that UK research has had from the EU.

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3.Our employment rights: UK workers have benefited tremendously from our EU membership. Amongst the employment rights we owe the EU are guaranteed paid annual leave, parental leave, equal pay and set limits on the working week. Who's to say that our rights will be protected if we leave? To those claiming that our Government would protect those rights post Brexit, I ask, why didn't it do so before the EU dictated it?

4.Our economy: Economists overwhelmingly agree that the short-term impact of Brexit on the UK economy will be negative. However, it is the long-term consequences of that outcome that are more worrying. OECD predicts that by 2020, our GDP would be 3% smaller than otherwise and that by 2030, it could further shrink to 5%. Economists also agree that the financial cost of Brexit would greatly outweigh the benefit of cutting our annual contributions to the EU budget.

5.Our joint vision: The EU was created after the end of two catastrophic World Wars in an effort to guarantee future peace. Brexit threatens to become the nail in the coffin of that vision, triggering a rise in nationalist powers across the continent. There has never been a greater need to stay together in the face of a decade-long decline in peace and stability.

It is a lie that our EU membership undermines our democracy. Our MEPs are elected and our country can veto any decision on sensitive topics such as foreign policy and taxation (for example, if the UK doesn't want Turkey to join the EU, it has the power to stop it). By being part of the EU, we guarantee that our rights, our freedoms and our environment are not at the mercy of business lobbies and party politics. There is no doubt that EU institutions need to become a lot more transparent so we can hold our elected representatives into account. We have the power to fight for democratic reform if we remain part of the EU.
World Vision

When Ali and his family fled their home in Syria shortly after the war broke out, they had nothing but the clothes on their backs and hope for a better future.

Five years on, that hope has turned to despair.

Now in Lebanon, none of the family's six children attend formal schooling, and 15-year-old Ali and his younger brother must work to support their family, digging potatoes for just US$4 a day.

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With wars and persecution driving more than 20million people worldwide - half of them children - to seek protection in other countries, many are struggling to access basic services. This includes healthcare and education, and the important day-to-day needs of food and shelter.

While education is the single most important tool we can equip children with, it is often one of the first casualties of conflicts and emergencies. Less than two per cent of global humanitarian funding is currently provided to pay for learning during crises - thereby wasting the potential of millions of children, worldwide.

Formal learning provides children with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed, while giving them hope for the future. It also gives children who have experienced the trauma and horrors of war and disaster the stability and sense of familiarity they need to be children, while protecting them from the risks of exploitation.

Despite the generosity of many countries hosting large refugee populations - the vast majority of which are developing countries - most are struggling to provide refugees with the most basic services, including education. The situation is especially bleak in countries where a third generation of children has now been born into displacement.

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Enrolment in primary school among these vulnerable children is well below the national average in places like Lebanon, Uganda, Kenya and Malaysia - a gap which is even more startling among secondary school-aged refugees. In fact, refugee children globally are five times less likely to attend school than other children, with 50 per cent of primary school-aged refugee children and 75% of secondary school-aged children completely left out of the education system.

A poll commissioned by Save the Children in April found that 77% of respondents in 18 countries think children fleeing conflict have as much right to an education as any other child. Yet, for 3.2million refugee children around the world like Ali and his siblings - who want nothing more than to learn and go to school - education is often an unattainable dream.

We simply cannot allow this to continue.

Nearly one month ago at the World Humanitarian Summit, several organisations, including the Global Partnership for Education and Save the Children, joined forces with governments and donors to stop education from falling through the cracks during emergencies. Save the Children also committed to campaigning to get all refugee children back in school within a month of being displaced. Being a refugee cannot be synonymous with missing out on a quality education or being denied a better future - especially when vulnerable children have been forced to flee their homes and countries through no fault of their own. In short, refugee children deserve the right to a quality education as much as any other child.

We know that host countries need support from the international community and understand that no single country can solve this challenge on its own. But we also know that political will is key to solving this challenge.

Our goal is simple - to get millions of refugee children affected by crises back in school, where they belong.

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The Education Cannot Wait fund has the potential to be a game changer, but only if governments, donors and aid organisations come together to prioritise, support, coordinate and properly fund this mechanism.

While US$90 million have been generously pledged to date, billions more will be needed over the next few years if we are to reach our goal of getting 75million children affected by crises back to school by 2030. Only then can we meet the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the UN, and ensure that no child in the world is 'left behind.'

Accountability and transparency will be key to the success of Education Cannot Wait - so too will be ensuring that any money pledged for education in emergencies is new, and not simply taken from aid already earmarked for life-saving services, like healthcare and nutrition.

In September, world leaders and donors will come together at two key global meetings on the issue of refugees and migrants - this most pressing challenge of our time. We urge those in attendance at the UN high-level meeting and the leader's summit to prioritise education for children in emergencies and protracted crisis, including those who have been displaced.

With the right opportunities and the chance to learn, children like Ali will no longer be pressured to work - giving him and his family the hope they need to rebuild their lives, and potentially their country, if or when it is safe for them to return.

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Helle Thorning-Schmidt is CEO of Save the Children International and former Prime Minister of Denmark
This week the bosses of some of the world's largest companies descend on New York to discuss the future of Planet Earth. The United Nations welcomes them to explore how business can help us achieve 17 Global Goals for sustainable development.

Given the sheer breadth of the Goals, from poverty to climate change, it is clear that meaningful and enduring engagement by business and investors is a prerequisite for success. By default, this means taking us way beyond the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Corporate Sustainability agendas of the past 20-years. That is why the host, the UN Global Compact, is arguing that the goals can help provide a critical element for modern business success - meaningful purpose.

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Could this be a new wave of kind words and thin deeds? Or could the connection of corporate purpose to Global Goals unleash a new wave of collaboration to transform business and finance for good? Some of the new initiatives from the UK on corporate purpose could provide early answers.

Back in the mid-1990s, I was a bright-eyed CSR consultant helping major corporations design strategies to incorporate contemporary trends such as the triple bottom line or stakeholder engagement. It certainly wasn't in vein. Two decades on there are vast numbers of sustainability certified companies and the widespread disclosure of social and environmental policies. A clutch of companies also emerged that genuinely revolutionised their processes and products and lobby for more progressive national and international policies.

But we also know that most serious proposals to transform companies never made it beyond boardroom proposal. A lack of executive buy-in and a depressing reflex to assign CSR to the vagaries of marketing and reputation management had a calcifying effect upon the growth of sustainable business. And in the absence of tough regulation, this lack of desire to transform companies is why the macro impact of the corporate responsibility movement on poverty or sustainability has been so limited.

This comes as a massive opportunity cost to the Global Goals because problem solving and scaling up innovation are what successful businesses are good at. They are at the core of value creation and commercial survival. And while Global Goals do reference targets for making industry more sustainable and socially just, without applying a heavy dollop of "business DNA" to overall implementation, it is doubtful in the extreme that we will match the ambition of the Global Goals with the necessary endeavour.

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Until now that is. In the UK, the emergence of a "Purpose Movement" in business offers some optimism. A burgeoning number of reports and commentary are coalescing around the concept that successful companies are defined by their ability to deliver and pursue clearly defined and visionary corporate purposes. Crucially, such proclamations aren't dreamed up by the corporate identity function. Rather, purpose is a binding commitment on the whole of the business, from the CEO to the front desk. It's why Jo Appleby, from the management consultants Impact International is attending the UN's Leaders Summit this week. "Most of our clients welcome how we embed the Global Goals into our leadership programmmes," she tells me. "They can see the connection between personal and organisational purpose." The latest approaches to leadership development place purpose firmly at the centre of both organisational change and entrepreneurship.

Tesla Motors is a case in point: just under 10-years ago an entrepreneur set out with a desire to transform the car sector. It is now a multibillion-dollar firm leading the shift to electric cars. But it's not just start-ups that can benefit from a clear purpose. As oft-cited exponents such as IKEA, John Lewis and Kingfisher suggest, there is clear business case for being a purpose-led business. In fact, The Big Innovation Centre - a London-based hub of global companies, national public agencies and leading universities - believes a being non-purposed business is costing the British economy up to 130bn a year of lost value generation.

One might say this is eerily reminiscent of 20-year old clarion for calls for CSR and investing in sustainability. But there's an important difference this time around which could save Purpose from well err... Purpose-wash. And that is the likes of The Big Innovation Centre recognise that mainstreaming Purpose cannot be left to the whims of the boardroom. In their recent report entitled The Purposeful Company, the authors put forward five options to embed purpose in business. Only one of the five addresses business directly, the rest speak to institutional shareholders and regulatory authorities.

This is evidence of lessons learned: namely that the quarterly wrath of insatiable stock analysts effectively bind boardrooms to short-termism and that only institutional investors - i.e. the owners - can compel the required shift in purpose and strategy.

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Proposals floated by the Big Innovation Centre include privileging the voting rights of long-term investors and encouraging the amalgamation of pension fund management to facilitate larger blockholdings so that purpose-driven owners can exert influence on boardrooms and crowd out short-term investor interests. Effectively, the "Purpose Movement" is making a business case for redesigning the rules of the economic game. That is what some CSR and corporate sustainability advocates have promoted for years from below. At last, the case for transforming capitalism can come from above, with a clear investment rationale. This can be welcomed by the CSR and corporate sustainability professionals who, through organisations like the UK's Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, have called for Rewiring the Economy towards sustainability.

For the Global Goals, this shift can't come soon enough. A trail blazing group of institutional investors demanding their investees align Purpose with meeting the most relevant Goals to their core business would see shareholder activism truly come of age. Just imagine if purpose-driven investors in global car manufacturers - in line with Goal 12 on sustainable production and consumption - started demanding a more rapid shift towards sustainable mobility.

Now, I'd be the first to admit that changes to corporate governance, blockholding and the consolidation of pension funds are neither the lexicon of sustainability nor international development. But it is by reforming the enabling environment among institutional investors that Purpose can wrap itself around the Global Goals in a way our past efforts merely flattered to deceive. If the UN can make that part of the agenda for its delegates in Manhattan this week, perhaps business collaboration for sustainability will begin to deliver at the scale and speed that our challenges demand.
miluxian via Getty Images

During the EU referendum campaign I've spoken with a number of politicians and campaigners on both sides, particularly on the question of disability rights; as the chairman of the youth council at a national autism charity and an advocate for disability inclusion in the workplace, this is something I naturally care about.

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It's an issue which, sadly, has rarely been discussed in the campaign, but that's just made me even more determined to quiz politicians on it - otherwise, there's a risk that the futures of disabled people will simply be ignored.

I've noticed there seems to be an assumption that voting to remain will benefit disabled people, but I've yet to find any substance to this. It appears to be based on the belief that the EU protects disability rights because, well, it's the EU.

Yet whenever I've asked remain campaigners or MPs a simple question - "What does the EU do to help disabled people?" - they've been unable to answer. Often they'll speak about how much the EU has done for worker's rights; occasionally they'll mention the Human Rights Act (ignoring that it was passed by our national parliament and codifies the rules of the European Convention of Human Rights, a completely separate body to the EU) as evidence the EU wants to protect humans. Disabled people are both workers and humans, so they must be protected, mustn't they?

Even accounting for the flaws mentioned above, I suppose that makes technical sense. But if you asked me "What have you done for feminism?" and I explained how I've volunteered for Meals-on-Wheels, on the proviso that some of the OAPs I helped were women, you'd be right to point out I hadn't answered your question.

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So why don't they simply list the EU's past achievements in spearheading disability legislation and protecting rights? Well, largely because the EU hasn't got any of note.

The United Kingdom isn't perfect on disability rights, but has often led the way among other European countries in this regard. The Disabled Persons (Employment) Act provided a quota system imposed on large businesses, mandating them to hire disabled people, as long ago as 1944. The UK instituted the Blue Badge scheme in 1970, years before we joined the EEC (European Economic Community, which became the EU).

And modern protections for disabled people, including reasonable adjustments at work, stem from the Equality Act 2010, the provisions of which essentially update the Disability Discrimination Act 1995's protections. Interestingly, this act was passed by one of the most Eurosceptic parliaments in history, which almost prevented the formation of the EU by voting down the Maastricht Treaty.

But more to the point, it needed to be enacted by our parliament because there was no comparable EU legislation. Disability does come under general EU anti-discrimination legislation; but much of this would have been passed by domestic governments regardless, and it's debatable how much it helps in practice. A recent House of Lords report is one of many which found that including disability within wider diversity legislation/policy - often at the end of a very long list - has diluted awareness of disability rights in practice.

The same is true of disability-specific UK legislation like the Autism Act 2009, instigated by Eurosceptic backbencher Cheryl Gillian; there has been almost no action by the EU to safeguard the rights of autistic people. Six years after the Autism Act the best they could manage was a 'Written Declaration on Autism' which essentially calls on member states to implement laws on this when they feel like it.

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Moreover, the EU has done nothing to stop harmful treatment of autistic children in member states like France, driven by outdated psychoanalytic practices. And while there are undoubtedly aspects of domestic disability policy which are widely unpopular, the UN has done far more to help, launching an investigation, while the EU's looked the other way.

Of course, this isn't about history. But when the EU has such a tepid history of disability rights, why should we presume its future will be any different? The fact is that any legislation with a practical impact on the lives of disabled people has come from our own parliament, not the EU, and would remain in place should we leave.

That doesn't mean there'll suddenly be a raft of new protections if we leave. But it means attempts by Remain to claim disabled people will be worse off if we Brexit, or that we somehow owe our rights to an undemocratic body which has done vanishingly little to help us over the years, simply don't stand up.

By all means discuss the consequences for disabled people - I wish both campaigns would do this more often. But don't pretend remaining is the natural choice for disabled people, or those who care about them - because it isn't.
"Why does this baby get on a plane, but that baby has to live in a forest?"

These are the words that Josie Naughton, my fellow co-founder of Help Refugees uttered to me as we sat in a Greek airport, waiting to board a plane back to the UK where our warm cosy beds lay waiting for us. I had pointed out that a very cute two year old baby sitting nearby looked almost exactly like another two year old we had met on our trip - a baby named Fareed with huge eyes, wild curly hair and enormous unknowing smile. Except Josie and I had met Fareed living in a forest, in a makeshift refugee camp behind an abandoned BP petrol station in Idomeni (known simple as "the BP camp").

This particular trip had been the hardest for us since our journey with Help Refugees began eight months earlier, when we unknowingly embarked on a venture which would change our lives (and those of so many of so many others) forever. We had only ever set out to raise 1,000 and collect a van load of goods to drop in the Calais camp, and yet here we were, less than a year later, two previously unexperienced young women from London, heading up an ever growing and emerging humanitarian organization which had made (and almost immediately spent) nearly 2million of publicly donated funds, and now supported 26 projects spanning across Europe.

It happened because our friends stood up and said "how can we help" and joined a team which organically developed its own systems of care/ infrastructure and aid delivery in Calais alongside the hundreds of volunteers who stood up to be counted. It happened because thousands of British people were sick of seeing people suffering and not having a direct route to help and we somehow found a way to offer them one - with such a small core team and almost non-existent overheads we gave people a much craved for way to truly donate time, goods and funds directly to those in need. It happened because the amazing long-term volunteers who travelled to Lesvos, Idomeni, Athens and Calais were prepared to do the hard graft with just a little support from us and wanted to join together with us, to stand side by side.

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But in all this time nothing had effected me quite as much as this last trip - travelling to Idomeni to meet the teams on the ground there, to check in on how our funding was being spent, and to find how what more we could be doing.

The trip was fruitful. We met the hot food kitchens we fund, with chefs and volunteers slaving daily over giant bubbling pans to prepare more than 5,000 hot meals every day. We met the mothers and babies being cared for by Lighthouse, a group we partnered with to provide pastoral care for them. We saw the tiny bottles of pre mixed baby milk we were distributing in their thousands. We visited around 8 different camps.

But then we went to the BP camp, and nothing could have prepared us for what we were greeted with there. Not the months spent visiting the camp in Calais, not the heartbreaking stories of the thousands of unaccompanied minors, not the knowledge that so many children fleeing war sleep cold and hungry every single night.

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The "camp" itself was in an overgrown forest, and as we arrived we were met by the sight of around 20 very small children, toddlers, all running about bare foot. It was reminiscent of a scene from Lord of the Flies. A little girl aged around six years old was standing nearby and throwing up in a bush. There was no aid agency there. No running water. No showers. No support. No NGOS. Only a twice a day distribution from a small volunteer group (who we helped provide goods and food to). Nothing more. 1,500 people, living in small flimsy tents in the mud amongst the trees. How could this be 21st Century Europe? How could human beings be left to live like this?

We went to the little girl, and she showed us where her mother lived (in a tent) and we took her over to her. There were no doctors on site to be able to call to help. No pharmacy to buy her medicine.

Another woman called us over to join her. She was from Syria and had three small children with her, all sat around a fire with a few small pots on it. She invited us to join them for tea and home made flat breads. We tried to refuse their food, seeing how little they had, but they insisted. We sat and chatted and she told us their story - how her husband had gone ahead of them and made it to Germany. How she and her children were stuck in Idomeni, unable to cross the closed border with Macedonia to head nearer towards him. She had been there for months with no access to legal or asylum advice (the kind of story we heard many times that day). An older man, the woman's father, peeked his head outside his tent to say hello. I asked him what he did back home and he told me he was a professor. My mind reeled. I could see the pain in his face of seeing how his child and grand children were being forced to live as rain water poured down through the holes in the tarpaulin above where we sat.

After a while we walked on through the forest. We came to a damp and rat-infested abandoned old stone structure. Inside five people lived, a Syrian family with two small children (aged six and two) and a 20-year-old Syrian boy whose parents had both died in his house when it was bombed.... he had gone out to the shops and returned to the devastation. He dreamed of making it to Canada to start a new life whilst the family he stayed with dreamed of making it to Germany where their 13-year-old son had gone ahead... fearing for his life (and forced Isis recruitment) they had sent him ahead with the little money they had.

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We sat and played games with the little girl and she joyfully practiced counting to ten in English, laughing in delight each time she made it all the way. Meanwhile the 2 year old, baby Fareed giggled and gurgled on our laps. Curls falling all around his beautiful little face. When we got up to leave and the family asked us not to forget them. We never will.

The next day we had to leave, to return to the UK to try to continue to generate the funds that make helping those like the people we met survive. We were both very quiet now. I've dreamt of that forest many nights since that trip.

As we waited to board our easy jet flight home that was when I turned to Josie and pointed to a baby nearby. "Look Josie, I said, that baby looks just like baby Fareed!"

"Yes", she replied..."but why does one baby get to go on a plane to England, and the other baby have to live in a forest?"

The sentence sounded so absurd yet that is the reality we face today.

Today is World Refugee Day, yet for the 65.3million people across the world currently displaced today is no different from any other day. Fareed means "alone" in Arabic, but together we can stand in solidarity with refugees across the world, not only today, but every day.

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To find out how you can help please visit helprefugees.org.uk
The campaign around the EU referendum has become increasingly divisive and fraught. It is clear that there is a deep alienation from mainstream politics among large sections of the population and some of this is reflected in the debate over immigration.

While immigration has become a key issue, it is important to look behind the headlines at what is driving the concerns of many ordinary people. The current debate hasn't emerged in a bubble; all the other pressures and problems which people face have fed into a debate which has increasingly focused on one issue - the numbers of people coming to the UK.

I have no trust or confidence in either side of the official campaigns and this is the approach that the Fire Brigades Union adopted at our recent conference. It is also why Jeremy Corbyn has been absolutely correct not to share platforms with Cameron or other Tories. The main debate has been a row between leading Tories. We shouldn't believe any of them. David Cameron and Boris Johnson both now claim to be deeply concerned about the living standards of working people and about future of public services, but the truth is that both have played a key part in an unprecedented attack on our public services and on those who work within them.

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Among many ordinary people, there are very real concerns which are being almost completely ignored in this debate. While this is reflected in the debate on immigration and the scale of concern on that issue we also need to look at the economic background. How did we get into this mess? It is surely a bit rich for Johnson and Gove to express concern that public services are stretched when they have, without hesitation, supported the policies that have created precisely those conditions. For example, as mayor of London Boris Johnson forced through the biggest cuts in the history of the London Fire Brigade.

The banking crisis of 2007/08 led to a dramatic squeeze on wages. Living standards fell and have still not recovered. So workers are paying the price for the failings of the banks and resources are being shifted from the majority to the minority at the top. The attack on living standards in the immediate aftermath of 2007/08 has been exacerbated by the Tory-led drive for austerity. In the public services, millions of working people saw a further attack on their pensions under the coalition. George Osborne plans to impose pay restraint in the public sector until the next general election. If he gets away with it, he will leave five million public servants and their families continuing to pay the price for the failure of the banks. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of jobs have been axed, and our libraries and other local services are squeezed, outsourced and shut down. My own service, fire and rescue, has seen the worst cuts in modern history over the past six years, with station closures and unprecedented job losses.

Private sector workers face similar pressures as the crisis in the steel industry has highlighted. The British political elite rushed to save the banks in 2008 - with large quantities of taxpayers' money -- but cannot do the same for steel workers. Meanwhile, for young people, the growth in zero hours contracts, student debt and a growing housing crisis make for bleak prospects. There is a concern - a fear - among many people that our children and grandchildren will be left in a worse position than our generation.

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Cameron and Osborne claim that their austerity attacks have been necessary to save the economy. Johnson and Gove have agreed with them and have endorsed every single one of these attacks on services, rights and living standards. Yet they now claim that resources could be diverted back to UK public services if only we vote to leave on Thursday. There are also some in the trade unions whose claims are a strange echo of this. They blame the EU for austerity as they blame the EU for privatisation and other policies which have weakened the position of workers in Britain. The reality is very different.

It was, of course, the Thatcher government after 1979, which launched a determined onslaught against our trade unions, against public services and against the welfare state. Out of this, Thatcher was successful in creating a new political consensus to the degree that the Blair/Brown governments did not do anything seriously to address the demands of trade unions over workers' rights. The result is that the balance of power in the workplace and in society has shifted in favour of the bosses. That is a key factor in why the government has so far been able to get away with austerity in the way it has. It is also significant that successive UK governments have been the most determined to push in the EU for similar policies to those adopted at home - for privatisation and deregulation.

It is also true that there is no simple national solution to the challenges facing working people - although this is certainly a difficult issue to address. The economic crisis was, and is, international. As a result, austerity has been imposed across much of the world, in both the EU and Britain. There has been resistance - but not nearly enough. The trade unions, here and in Europe, have not done anywhere near enough and should wake up to the scale of the challenges we face. We need to be properly organised here and we may find that we have many friends and allies among ordinary people across Europe, while we are opposed by those in power here at home.

The housing crisis here is a failure of the housing market and a failure of Westminster government policy. Privatisation in the UK has been driven by Westminster, not by the EU. Austerity in the UK is made in Westminster, not in Brussels. Blaming the politicians or bureaucrats of the EU simply lets the Tories the hook. And it is the Tories (in both camps) who are leading the charge against British workers. On wages, austerity and workers rights - our main enemy is at home.

That's why I've been advocating a vote to remain in the EU in the referendum vote on Thursday. It's why I'll be voting to remain and want workers across the UK, both organised and unorganised, to vote to remain. Vote to remain - and prepare to fight.

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"After we arrived on the island we went to Athens, where the police were waiting for us. When they put us in the bus, they told us that they were taking us to Idomeni, but in the

morning we found ourselves here. They told us that we would stay here for only a few hours, but now it's been two months."

Mohamd, 28, Syrian male, Filippiada Camp, Epirus
First News gives the children of Britain a voice about the issues that matter most to them.

It's not a new idea. Indeed, children have a right to be heard. The United Nation's convention on the Rights of the Child states: "When adults are making decisions that affect children, children have the right to say what they think should happen and have their opinions taken into account."

And Article 17 states that Governments should encourage the media to provide information to children that they can understand.

So First News has been actively engaging children in the EU debate. As Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow said to some of our readers, the EU decision "is going to affect children more than anyone. Not just as much as, or a bit, but more than anyone."

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Mr Bercow was speaking at a children's EU debate that First News organised at Parliament for 100 of our two million readers. Since then, many thousands more have been taking part in the First News EU Children's referendum online. Next week, when our polls close a few days ahead of the main event, we will announce the result. Do children want to stay or go?

Here, they have their say:

Wales has a proud farming heritage. Our first minister, Carwyn Jones, warned that farming would "effectively come to an end" if the UK quit the EU because "our farmers depend on over 200m a year of European subsidies and access to the European single market".

Lilly, 11 - REMAIN

Rougemont School, Newport, Wales

We've lost the right to rule ourselves, five more countries that need support will soon be joining the EU, and the amount of money we contribute will have to increase. This is our one chance to make our voices heard.

Let's build an independent UK stronger, bigger and better.

Hannah, 10 - LEAVE

St Paul's RC Primary School, Plymouth

I love all things British. I love the fish and chips, I love the green hills and I do like a good cream tea, but here's the thing: I don't feel British, I feel European. I feel like I'm part of a world, not just part of one country.

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I am an international citizen and my responsibility and my enjoyment stretches beyond Britain.

Linus, 9 - REMAIN

Great Malvern Primary School, Worcestershire

if we didn't give so much money to the EU (8.5 billion) we would have more money to spend helping vulnerable people here. We could spend money on building affordable houses so that everyone can be housed in comfort. This would make British life better for everyone.

Brooke, 11 - LEAVE

Crestwood Park Primary School, West Midlands

Remaining in the EU would benefit us as a nation and leaving would only put a burden on us. Do you not agree that seeking guidance and help has always been a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness? And do you also not agree that arrogantly assuming that 'we know best' leads to narrow and reductive politics?

Amaan, 14 - REMAIN

Watford Grammar School

Let's look at how the EU impacts our laws. Based on a 2010 House of Commons Study by Damian Chalmers, professor of European Union Law at the London School of Economics, around half of UK legislation originates from EU legislation and a further 14-17% is derived from our EU membership. These laws are decided by the European Parliament in Brussels, which has 751 members, only 73 of whom are British.

Nabeha, 14 - LEAVE

Tonbridge Grammar School

Despite EU regulations the UK still has control over its borders and we have the right to check everyone who enters. Being part of the EU also means that UK police have data from 27 different countries. Voting out would lose our access to fingerprints, DNA and names of criminals, including terrorists. A move to leave the EU would be a step into the unknown. We have the power to maintain control within EU regulations. Please do not gamble with our future.

Sam, 10 - REMAIN

North Petherton Primary School, Somerset

There are more EU migrants than ever before in the UK and added to the migrants from countries that are at war, we are overwhelmed. Our schools and health service are already in crisis! Not being allowed to restrict immigration (either short term or long term) is only making the problem worse.

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Rafi, 11 - LEAVE

Noam Primary School, London
The headline in the TES read, "Wilshaw calls for more mavericks to shake up an 'ordinary education system'" (26 May 2016). Well it's a shame the outgoing head of Ofsted didn't make the national Alternative Educational Futures conference at Birmingham City University on Friday of last week. Had he done so he might have woken up to the fact that, despite the deadening hand of his own organisation and that of the DfE, the spirit of far from ordinary education is alive and well across the land.

The conference brought together an impressive and suitably heterodox array of theorists and practitioners, including peace educators, specialists in global learning , democratic education, libertarian education, and proponents of digital, self-determined learning (heutagogy). But what made the conference really buzz was that so many of the delegates and practitioners were active home educators, a group which according to figures on Home Education UK, provides education to 0.6% of compulsory education aged children - that's around 80,000 young people. Although "provides" is not a term home edders would use in this context, since, as they are keen to stress, to enter the realm of home education is to embark on a process of deliberate and highly effective co-learning.

The conference was dedicated to two stalwarts of "maverick" education, Roland Meighan and Philip Toogood, each of whom devoted their lives to promoting learning that understands the child in the round. Neither had truck with the kind of schooling that privileges the head at the expense of the heart, the sort that, in the view of last year's NUT report Exam Factories? is producing children with, "increasingly high levels of school-related anxiety and stress, disaffection and mental health problems."

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While suspicious of formal education in general, both Meighan and Toogood believed in the power of a flexi-schooling, an approach which blends home education with part-time attendance at school, enabling young people to benefit from the best of both settings. And it's not just the children who can benefit from this arrangement. Six years ago Hollinsclough Church of England Primary School, situated in a surprisingly remote north Staffordshire moorland hamlet, was the country's smallest school, having only 5 children on roll. With no pub or other civic focus, the school's closure might well have been the final nail in the coffin of a community drifting towards becoming little more than a collection of holiday lets. Today the school has 48 pupils, 26 of them partly home educated. And the school's principal Janette Mountford-Lees pins this remarkable turnaround in recruitment firmly to the decision to begin flexi-schooling in 2009. It's an outcome which prompts Peter Humphreys of the Centre for Personalised Education and an academic with a longstanding interest in flexi-schooling, to observe, "it seems remarkable the Government isn't pushing the flexi-schooling model as a way to stem falling pupil numbers in rural schools."

But Hollinsclough's resurgence is not simply because its numbers are swelled by children who are partly home educated. Integrating full-time and part-time attenders called for some thoughtful and creative timetabling, and this freed up time for all pupils, whatever their mode of attendance, to learn through personalised and highly engaging thematic projects founded on real and pressing world issues. Because of this pupils don't experience school as a place merely to accumulate knowledge, but as a vibrant site of opinion and doubt, of concern and hope, of question and counter-question and, crucially, of exploration and fun. And while doing so, they develop skills and attitudes suited to the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world which is prominent on the leadership development agenda of, it seems, pretty much every profession other than mainstream British education. The positive impacts of learning in this way have obvious appeal to parents growing ever more alarmed by the damaging impacts of an impersonal, data-driven, results preoccupied education system. It's hardly a mystery then that Hollinsclough should be full to capacity.

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It's June 24th. Terrorists are celebrating across the world, Germany has just invaded Belgium (again), and British families suddenly find themselves 4,300 out of pocket... Britain has voted to leave the European Union.

Okay so maybe the response wouldn't be that extreme, but the stakes of the upcoming EU referendum are high.

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The referendum campaign has been raging for what seems like an eternity and now, finally, we are drawing in on polling day. And yet, it's still very unclear what would happen if we vote to leave the EU. The truth is that there is no universally agreed 'exit plan', so what are the options?

In reality, nothing would change on June 24th. We would still be members of the European Union. Although it is unthinkable that the government would go against the results of a referendum, nowhere in our (unwritten) constitution does it stipulate that a referendum is binding on parliament. In the UK, unlike most countries, legal sovereignty lies solely with parliament. This means that no matter which way we vote, it would take an Act of Parliament before our membership of the EU comes into question.

This Act would invoke Article 50 of the Treaty on the European Union, the mechanism for notifying the European Council that we are leaving. This is Britain's glorious independence day, when we free ourselves from the shackles of Brussels. Either that or it is when we are cast off into the Atlantic, shoved to the back of the queue in global negotiations, becoming an irrelevant little island obsessed with it's former imperial glory...

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But hang about, we still haven't left the EU yet. The EU treaties would still apply to the UK until 2 years after giving notice. At this point we set our relationship status to 'it's complicated' and try to divide up the record collection. This is the part people are worked up about. How will we negotiate our exit? What happens to our relationship with the EU when the 2 year waiting period is over?

The decisions to be made once we vote to leave are still pretty big. For a start, we'd have to spend the two year waiting period negotiating a deal similar to that of Switzerland or Norway. This is actually a far more important choice than faces us at the ballot box on 23rd June. MPs have already said that they are considering using their majority to keep us in the Single Market, meaning we would still pay into the EU budget and have open borders, much like Norway does now.

One MP said "We would accept the mandate of the people to leave the EU."

"But everything after that is negotiable and parliament would have its say. The terms on which we leave are entirely within my remit as a parliamentarian and that is something for me to take a view on."

All of the big decisions will be made long after the referendum. Decisions about trade, economics, immigration and sovereignty.

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Of course, the 2015 general election manifestos did not include plans for a Britain out of Europe, nobody knows how MPs or the government would tackle this almighty task. Not to mention the fact that David Cameron would be 'toast within days' in the event of a Leave vote. The most likely scenario is Boris Johnson or Michael Gove negotiating our Brexit. An uncomfortable prospect.

David Cameron could be 'toast' within days of EU vote, warns Tory MP https://t.co/C81l0nKgc5pic.twitter.com/xLYeY8d0FK  i newspaper (@theipaper) May 29, 2016

The only way to grant a mandate for the government to pursue an 'exit plan' would be an election. In the event of a Leave vote, this issue will dominate our politics for many years to come. An election would provide the opportunity for parties to set out their vision for Britain out of Europe and allow the public to choose.

This election must also use Proportional Representation (PR). In the aftermath of the referendum, Britain will be divided. Split roughly down the middle, according to polls, half of the population will be p****d off if we vote to leave. The only way to reconcile our differences is an electoral system where every voter has a stake in the result.

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The 2015 General Election was the most disproportionate in UK history. First Past the Post (FPTP) meant that 74% of votes were 'wasted' and had no effect on the election result. One party needed only 23,000 votes to win a seat, while another needed almost 4 million. FPTP also meant that more than half of MPs were elected by a minority of the voters in their constituencies. Only 24% of the electorate voted for the party that now has complete executive control in government. If this were to happen again in a post referendum election, it would further divide the country and leave millions feeling shut out of the democratic process.

Our voting system is broken. Up to 74% of the public support electoral reform and politicians, organisations and public figures from across the political spectrum have joined the Alliance to Make Votes Matter, backing a voting system that ensures:

That those who are entitled to vote have a vote that counts, and counts equally - no matter who they vote for, or where they live;

That the share of seats a party gets should closely reflect the share of votes the people give them.

As David Cameron has said, every vote in a referendum "counts the same". Surely it is time to apply this to general elections too?

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In the event of a 'Leave' vote, Britain would be divided, with a new Prime Minister, a surge in political awareness, and big questions to be answered about our future out of the EU. The only way for the country to move on from this divisive referendum, and grant democratic legitimacy to those negotiating Brexit, would be to hold a proportional general election as soon as possible after the result.

If they fail to do this, the unrepresented majority will be left dissatisfied. A change to PR is inevitable, it's only a matter of time.
We're almost there. A few days from now Britain will wake up to the result of the EU Referendum. This blog is not about how you should vote. It's about life after 23 June.

The Referendum debate has been divisive, and dominated by immigration. Some have used it to spread fear and confusion. But whatever the result, we can and must re-assert the desire of the compassionate majority who want Britain to welcome refugees fleeing war and persecution.

Immigration was described by many commentators during the 2015 General Election as 'the dog that didn't bark'. There's plenty of barking now. The primary focus of debate is of course immigration to the UK from within the EU. The Vote Leave campaign has of course focused strongly on this. It is right to debate immigration, and relevant since free movement is a key issue in our EU membership.

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There's been less discussion and very little dispute between the official campaigns over the UK's approach to refugees. The Prime Minister's commitment to voluntarily resettle 20,000 Syrians to the UK has not been challenged by any mainstream politician.

The Leave campaign have not disputed the principle that Britain should continue to welcome refugees. It includes long-standing advocates of the UK doing more to welcome refugees like Conservative MP David Burrowes and Times columnist Tim Montgomerie. The Leave camp also includes UKIP of course, whose hostility to refugees has attracted much attention. ('that' poster) But whatever happens on 23 June Ukip will not have any formal role.

The approach we need to take to persuade the British public and government that Britain should play a full part in responding to the global refugee crisis are similar whether we vote to Leave or Remain. Britain has long been exempt from most collective EU action on refugees. For instance the UK has an opt-out of quotas for refugee resettlement. We do have the option to participate in collective EU action elsewhere in the world, for better or worse. But UK refugee policy is shaped in London, not Brussels.

Whether the vote is to Remain or Leave, the Conservative government will seek to come together again. So, whoever wins, they are likely to reach out to engage those on the other side of the Referendum debate. In the event of a Leave victory Michael Gove and Boris Johnson would surely want to disprove accusations that a Leave vote is a vote to pull back on commitments to resettle refugees.

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So the threats and opportunities for refugees seeking sanctuary in the UK will be similar in either case. We're likely to see more attempts to persuade the public that resettled refugees are somehow more deserving than those who have fled war and persecution and come to the UK as asylum seekers. We're likely to see more cuts in financial support to asylum seekers. Increased pledges to resettle refugees in the UK will require the same very high levels of public support that led to the commitments to welcome 20,000 Syrians and up to 3,000 unaccompanied children.

Given all this, there are three things we can and should do after Thursday irrespective of the result.

First, we need to take even more people with us, to continue to widen the coalition of support for the rights of refugees. The Referendum has temporarily divided Britain. But we must never forget the breadth of support for refugees. The voices that persuaded David Cameron to commit to supporting up to 3,000 unaccompanied children from Europe included the Daily Mail and the Archbishop of Canterbury. Local campaigns in every part of Britain have persuaded local authorities and MPs of every political persuasion to voluntarily resettle and make welcome Syrian refugees. The breadth of our movement has never been more crucial to our success.

Second, we need to ensure that senior figures in both Remain and Leave MPs speak out in support of asylum seekers and refugees, particularly if the decision is to Leave. This is of course particularly important amongst Conservative MPs. We need strong calls from across the political spectrum for Britain to play a full part in the global response to the refugee crisis.

Thirdly we need to persuade Ministers in the Home Office and across government to put in place the measures needed to enable refugees to integrate and contribute to our society and economy. The current 'system' for managing asylum seekers makes this far harder than it should be. It is a lost opportunity for refugees and for Britain.

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The first step in this is to enable refugees to learn English. It's absolutely scandalous that a shortage of English classes in very many parts of the UK prevents them from doing so. Refugee Action's Let Refugees Learn campaign aims to end this absurd situation, in the interests of refugees and of us all.

September is a vital opportunity. The Prime Minister will attend two global summits on the refugee crisis, one called by the UN and one by President Obama. It's a fantastic moment in which Britain can come together, and commit to do more to welcome refugees and enable them to rebuild their lives.

Thursday really matters. I'm a trustee of Friends of the Earth, which has made a strong environmental case to Remain. But Refugee Action has not taken a view. There are champions of the rights of refugees on both sides. UK refugee policy is shaped in Britain.
BEN STANSALL via Getty Images

Today is World Refugee Day, and this year it is more important than ever.

It matters not just because in the last year Europe has seen an unprecedented number of refugees from Syria and the region making their way in boats and on foot to what they hope is a better future, many thousands of whom have lost their lives in the process. It also matters because this referendum campaign has exposed how far the right are willing to conflate migration with the refugee crisis in order to forward their own aims.

Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson and the Leave campaign should be ashamed of themselves for the way they have sullied Britain's strong reputation as a country which offers sanctuary to those in need. Just last Thursday Ukip were proudly sponsoring vans with images from last summer of refugees making their way on foot across central Europe. "Breaking point", the vans claimed.

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I would agree with them, if they were talking about the countries surrounding Syria which are now hosting four million refugees between them, in some cases nearly doubling their populations. Those countries are, indeed, at breaking point. And it is our international development funding, also criticised by Ukip and right wing Tories alike, which is helping to keep things together.

But Nigel and Boris aren't concerned about the livelihood of Syrians or Iraqis fleeing Assad and Daesh. The aim of these vile posters is to make people equate EU membership with "floods of migrants". To fan the flames of islamophobia, a fear and hatred of others that some politicians and their press buddies have been stoking unrelentingly for a decade.

Regardless of your views on migration, whether you think there should be less or more or it's just about right, refugees have a special status under British and International law precisely because they are recognised as being vulnerable and in need of special protection. Their rights transcend race, religion, and nationality. They seek our help because they cannot stay in their homes. They are fleeing for their lives and they deserve to be shown sanctuary, not used for political campaigning which closely mirrors that which was used by the Nazis.

The legal framework underpinning that protection was, in fact, developed after the Second World War, but even before that the UK stood up for refugees and offered them sanctuary. The kindertransport, a campaign which rescued ten thousand Jewish children from Nazi persecution, is the most tangible. It is also depressingly relevant following reports this year of tens of thousands of unaccompanied refugee children subject to abuse and trafficking.

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Whether we vote to stay or leave on Thursday, and I sincerely hope that we choose to stay and stand in solidarity and strength with our European partners, the refugee crisis will still be there. When we wake up on Friday 24 June hundreds of thousands of families and vulnerable refugee children will still be languishing in Europe. To meet the challenges that face us and address the refugee crisis in the Middle East and in Europe we will have to work internationally. But before we talk strategy, global deals, new models, before any of that, we must first go back to basics, stop the othering. Stop the hatred, the blame. We must first accept, once and for all, that refugees are the product of war, of oppression, of famine, of authoritarianism. And for that reason, they deserve our help, our protection, our love.
Britain does not have the right to leave the European Union merely on the grounds that their migration policy is opening the country for too many refugees. Legally, yes, they have the right to exit the EU. Morally, there is no doubt about what they should do. But this is not simply about having sympathy for refugees. This is bigger than that. Britain does not have the right to leave because they have a historical responsibility to stay and take care of the mess they were a part of creating.

Not too long ago, when my parents still were young, a big part of the global south was controlled by European powers. When we speak of the concept of colonialism we often imagine events that happened centuries ago. People can even get annoyed when you bring it up - as if it is a thing of the past, long ago archived in the history books. But in reality, it was not that long ago. Britain has the same queen now as they had for the last 45 of years of their empire. People still own clothing from that time. And when Britain handed over its last colony, I was one year old. I am nineteen.

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Britain was considered the most successful colonizer. They were the empire on which the sun never set.

Even though all of this is in the past, the consequences are not. The people of Asia, Africa and Latin America are still suffering from colonialism, and the people of Europe are still benefiting from it. That is a non-negotiable, indisputable fact. I am not pointing this out to simply put blame, but in order for you to recognize your political responsibilities.

Our present was not created in a vacuum, the past carefully carved it out. Our present is defined by every past military action, war, invasion, economical agreement, news article, decision, regulation, law, and election. The list could go on and on. Our entire world order was shaped by colonialism; the neo colonial policies that were born out of it, world structures, distribution of wealth, beauty standards, wars...you get the point. It might have happened in the past but the consequences live with us to this day.

Let me give you my country Eritrea as an example.

During the Berlin Conference, when European leaders sat down with a map and decided to divide up Africa using a ruler, Italy seized what is today Eritrea as a colony. Eritrea had never been its own country, instead it had always been a part of Ethiopia. During the Second World War, Italy lost Eritrea to Britain. During these years, Britain seriously damaged the country's infrastructure and economy.

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At the end of the war Britain was left to decide what to do with Eritrea. Those long years of Italian colonization and British rule had created a unity amongst the Eritreans, an identity. They did not want to go back to becoming a part of Ethiopia, they were now Eritreans, they wanted to be independent. Although Britain and the United States recognized this desire, they wanted to reward Ethiopia for their support to the allies. In 1952, a UN mandate, pushed hard by Britain, made Eritrea a part of Ethiopia. 10 years later, the Eritrean war of independence began. Isaias Afewerki, the guerilla leader that lead Eritrea to victory, is now the country's first and only president. His policies and actions since he gained power in 1991 have lead to Eritrea being described as one of the most closed yet brutal dictatorships in the world.

Today, the third biggest refugee group coming to Europe are Eritreans.

It is impossible for me or anyone to know what the alternatives would have looked like, I can only talk about the present and what factors lead to forming it. Therefore, it is very important to be reminded that it is an indisputable fact that Britain's past actions have had a hand in creating the current situation in Eritrea. Once again, this is not about putting blame, it is about recognizing responsibility and forming the dialogue around that instead.
Women are the majority of voters in the EU referendum. We need to listen to them - they will think long and hard before putting progress on violence against women at risk.

The European Referendum is only a week away but for half the adult population it still seems like they are being left out of the debate. In the coverage so far, broadcasters seem stuck in the past, with panels and discussions dominated by men, not one of them listening to what women want from the EU nor, presumably, taking note of the fact that they make up the majority of voters.

But even if Boris, Nigel, Gove and the rest are too busy shouting over each other to listen to the concerns of over 50 per cent of the electorate, women can and will decide the result. And there are many reasons for them to think twice about a Brexit vote, in particular the benefits that EU membership has on their safety and security.

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Under this Tory Government, 32 domestic violence refuges have closed due to funding cuts forced onto local authorities. Many services are still under huge financial pressure, drawing upon reserve funding just to survive.

Thankfully, EU funding for charities, community groups, and other bodies has been quietly championing women's equality and tackling violence against women across the country. In total, since 2007 British charities, universities, and other bodies have received 38million (48million) to improve the rights of children and victims, and to fight domestic violence under the EU's Daphne programme.

Take the Women's Health group in South Tyneside that has supported over 300 women, many recovering from domestic or sexual abuse in accessing 34 different courses which looked not only at developing employability and volunteering skills but critically also at improving mental health, assertiveness and confidence.

The Home Office itself secured 250,000 of Daphne funding to raise awareness of FGM within the UK. This included a targeted communications campaign signposting the free 24-hour NSPCC FGM helpline. Callers to the helpline will remain anonymous, but information that could protect a child from abuse will be passed to police or social services.

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The EU's determination to tackle international violence against women and girls has led to measures such as the anti-trafficking directive. Without the obligation to implement that, as EU members, the UK would not be so advanced in our fight against modern slavery and sexual exploitation.

The European Protection Order means that court restraining and protection measures issued in one EU country are recognised across the EU, so that victims of domestic abuse are protected from the perpetrators if they visit or move to anywhere else in the EU.

Member States must also ensure easily accessible rape crisis or sexual violence referral centres, to provide immediate medical counselling, care and forensic services. And just this March, the European Commission announced that it plans to ratify the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, something our own Government has delayed doing for four years.

Prior to the European Arrest Warrant, a number of EU nations would not extradite their citizens to face trial in another country. That meant that a victim of a sexual assault might never see their attacker face justice. The EAW has changed that fundamentally. In the past five years 675 suspects from those formerly reluctant countries have been returned to the UK to face justice for crimes like rape, trafficking and other forms of violence and equally importantly we have used the Warrant to remove over 5000 criminal suspects, capable of threatening the UK public to other EU countries.

These progressive, effective measures are not the work of a remote and faceless bureaucracy as the EU is sometimes characterised by its detractors. They represent the collective efforts of our elected MEPs drawing on pan-European experience of violence against women and girls and how to tackle it. Seeking to combat such a widespread wrong in an individual state would be folly, when pooling resources has proved so helpful in the past.

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Let's not forget the issues that are at stake on 23 June. We need to work together, across borders and cultures to tackle a problem that affects us all.

Progress on violence against women and girls could be lost if the referendum too is lost.

Women are the majority of voters in the EU referendum. We need to listen to them - they will think long and hard before putting progress on violence against women at risk.

The free 24-hour NSPCC FGM helpline offers advice, information and support to anyone concerned that a child's welfare is at risk because of female genital mutilation - 0800 028 3550

Vera Baird QC was elected Northumbria's Police & Crime Commissioner in 2012 and was returned with one of the highest vote shares in the country. She was a Member of Parliament from 2001 to 2010. During this time she was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales and was also the Minister with responsibility for taking the Equalities Act 2010 through Parliament
The Natural History Museum, London owns an exhibition called Wildlife Photographer of the Year. This prestigious international wildlife exhibition started in 1964, and is held annually. 42,000 photographs from 96 countries were submitted to the 2016 international competition; only 100 of them were selected for the exhibition. The imagoes exhibited in the 2016 touring exhibition are the winning 2015 images.

The competition includes a wide range of categories, such as "birds," "amphibians," "fish," "in the sky," "plants" and "urban." Millions of people from various countries come to visit this touring exhibition every year. After exhibiting the photographs throughout the UK, the exhibition hits the road. The 2015-2016 exhibition is scheduled to be displayed in no less than 35 other locations around the world.

The 2015 photograph of the year, "A Tale of Two Foxes", relates to global warming, depicting a common fox devouring a snow fox.

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"A picture is worth a thousand words" - here are some of the pictures displayed in the 2016 Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition. I thank the Natural History Museum, London for providing me with the photographs and their descriptions, and giving me their permission to publish them here and I thank Mrs. Zoe Stanton, Interim Communications Officer, Wildlife Photographer of the Year, for her help.

Great egret awakening by Zsolt Kudich, Hungary. Finalist 2015, Birds

When the River Danube flooded, this temporary lake attracted more than 1,000 great egrets. Over five nights, Zsolt photographed them in a soft dawn light. Using a slow shutter speed and large depth of field, he captured the moment some white-tailed eagles disrupted the egrets' peaceful feast. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, great egrets were significantly threatened by hunting, their spectacular breeding plumes desired for hat decorations. Following legal protection, populations have recovered - in Hungary, from 31 mating pairs in 1921 to now more than 3,000 pairs.

A tale of two foxes by Don Gutoski, Canada. Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2015 Grand title winner

From a distance, Don could see that the red fox was chasing something across the snow. As he got closer, he realized the prey, now dead, was an Arctic fox. For three hours in temperatures of -30 degrees Centigrade Don stayed at the scene, until the red fox, finally sated, picked up the eviscerated carcass and dragged it away to store for later. In the Canadian tundra, global warming is extending the range of red foxes northwards, where they increasingly cross paths with their smaller relatives, the Arctic fox. For Arctic foxes, red foxes now represent not just their main competitor - both hunt small animals such as lemmings - but also their main predator. Few actual kills by red foxes have been witnessed so far, but it is likely that conflicts between the two mammals will become more common.

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Komodo judo by Andrey Gudkov, Russia. Finalist 2015, Amphibians and Reptiles

Two formidable Komodo dragons wrestle along the majestic coast of Komodo National Park. Andrey had visited many times, hoping to capture the spectacular fights between males during the summer breeding season. After several fruitless attempts he returned in December and witnessed this unexpected hilltop battle. 'It was an unforgettable show', he recalls. Weighing up to 150 kilogrammes, with huge claws and serrated teeth, Komodo dragons rear onto their hind legs to wrestle. In this case it was likely a territorial dispute. These formidable competitors have a protective outer layer, their scales reinforced with tiny bones, which acts like natural chainmail. They are the world's largest lizards.

Inside Job by Charlie Hamilton James, UK. Finalist 2015, Birds

Charlie wanted to capture an African vulture feeding scrum from its centre, so he positioned a specially adapted camera inside multiple carcasses. After three weeks and thousands of photographs 'this was the only shot that worked,' he says. The low angle captured the action as these endangered Ruppell's and white-backed vultures gorged on carrion and bone. Vultures use cunning tactics to locate carcasses, which include looking for behavioural cues from other vultures. They also keep an eye out for eagles, which are more likely to spot a kill first, following them to the carcass, tucking in once the sharpbeaked eagles have made the first incision.

A whale of a mouthful by Michael AW, Australia. Winner 2015, Underwater.

An imposing Bryde's whale rips through a mass of sardines, gulping hundreds in a single pass. Photographing this feeding frenzy was a real challenge for Michael. Already knocked clean out of the water by whales on two occasions, he just managed to stay out of the way during this encounter. This scene happened during the annual sardine run, when billions of sardines migrate along South Africa's Wild Coast, attracting predators such as gannets, dolphins and sharks along the way. Bryde's whales are among them. This species tends to exploit the activities of other predators, swimming through and engulfing the fish they have herded.

Landscape in ash by Hans Strand, Sweden. Winner 2015, Land

Flying through heavy drizzle, Hans came across this 'fairytale landscape' as he recalls. The ice-fields and glaciers lining the flanks of the mountains were stained grey with ash, recording in glorious textural detail the slow movements of snow and ice, like a gigantic charcoal sketch. The fine ash may have settled here after being carried on the wind from a volcanic eruption elsewhere. Iceland is famous for its high concentration of active volcanoes, which have been responsible for a third of the world's total lava output in the past 500 years.

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The art of algae by Pere Soler, Spain. Winner 2015, From the Sky

This park is famous for attracting huge flocks of migrating birds. Pere was there for the birds, but also for another spring phenomenon, only fully visible from the air. In late spring, parts of the marshes burst with intense colour, creating a rich tapestry of textures and patterns. As the temperature warms and the salinity changes, the wetlands see the bright green of seaweed mix with a multicoloured microalgae bloom. White salt deposits, brown and orange sediments coloured by sulphate-loving bacteria and iron oxide add to the riot. The full display usually lasts only a few weeks in May or June.

The meltwater forest by Fran Rubia, Spain. Winner 2015, Details.

There is magic in mud. As Fran watched the glacier's meltwater filtering through a patch of it, trunks, branches and twigs slowly formed until an entire forest appeared. He waited for the right light so the 'trees' would appear to magically stand up, as if out of a child's pop-up picture book. Trees are a rare sight in Iceland's landscape. The Vikings in the ninth century deforested much of it, creating the country's barren wilderness. Today, a rise in temperature linked to climate change has contributed to the arrival of new tree species in the southern parts of the country.

Broken cats by Britta Jaschinski, Germany/UK. Winner 2015, The Wildlife Photojournalist Award: single image

Locked into obedience by their trainer's gaze, big cats perform at the Seven Star Park in Guilin in 2012. The cats have been drugged, their teeth and claws pulled out, and they are controlled during the show by poles with metal spikes at the end. Audiences are often unaware of the level of cruelty involved. 'This was truly an arena of broken animals', Britta remarks. These cats are probably all hybrids of captive-bred animals. The one in the centre is most likely a liger - a cross between a male lion and a female tiger. Ligers are thought to be the largest living felines, tending to exceed the size of both their parent species.
A participant holds a candle as activists of Indiaas LGBT (Lesbians Gays Bisexuals Transgenders) community and their supporters hold a candle light vigil condemning the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida as they gather in Bangalore, India, Tuesday, June 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)

Although the queer community is still grieving the deaths from the massacre at Pulse nightclub, many are doing something to give back.

On June 16, New York city's nightlife performers teamed up for a three-hour tribute called Let Love Live to honor the lives of the survivors and victims.

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The event was organized by drag queen and nightlife connoisseur, "Monica Blewinsky." The 26-year-old from Rockaway, New Jersey has been a mainstay in New York City's drag scene for the last three years, and felt the need to take action after the Orlando shooting.

"[We're] Doing what we can from a distance, which is showing solidarity and unified support and raising funds to send down there that will hopefully help with relief efforts," Blewinsky told the Huffington Post in an interview.

After hearing the news, Blewinsky immediately reached out to other drag queens, dancers and queer cultural leaders within the nightlife industry to participate.

Blewinsky pointed to the historic event Stonewall that began the modern queer movement as the impact that nightlife has had in mobilizing queer people. Within the queer community, nightclubs and bars are cultural gathering spots where queer people can feel accepted.

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"A lot of drag queens function as leaders within the LGBTQ community," Blewinsky said, "They represent a celebration of the arts that exist within our community as well as a lot of the political struggles that we face."

The event had more than 100 attendees with performances from New York City's drag elite such as Aquaria, Aja, and BibleGirl. Even MTV reality-star Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi showed support by promoting the event on Instagram.

Blewinsky, who often uses drag as a way to promote charitable causes, secured the venue and performers all with no cost to the beneficiaries. Volunteers assisted in gathering donations from attendees and all the proceeds are going directly to relief aid. The performers were able to raise $3000 dollars to send to The Center, a local LGBT community organization in Florida.

"The funds raised [at the event] are going to the center in Orlando," Blewinsky said. "Those funds will then be distributed locally to various relief efforts such as counseling or funeral arrangements or medical bills."

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Drag performer Tammy Spenks told the Huffington Post, "We're a community that when attacked with hate we're not going to respond with hate were going to respond with love."
By Carlos Ricque, SVP, Creative at DigitasLBi

Carlos Ricque heads creative for DigitasLBi San Francisco and served on the 2016 Health and Wellness jury at the Cannes Lions Festival

Maybe Im a sucker for good marketing, but I just saw some work that could help cure whats ailing humanity. I served on the Health and Wellness jury of this years Cannes Health Lions, where over 2,000 entries were submitted from around the world. As the jury discussed, debated and dissected the work, we were looking for gems that would elevate the conversation about health and wellness. We werent disappointed.

We talked a lot about the healthification of marketing -- the notion that, in the words of a fellow juror, health is the new green. The cynical will see this as a marketing ploy and nothing more. And sometimes thats true.

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But there is a sweet spot. When the goals of the marketer overlap with the needs of the human being, great things can happen. The marketing component can be overt, or subtle. But as long as its transparent and handled honestly, these ideas have the power to do a lot of good.

This can be as simple as talking to your customers in a new way, as proven by the submission for French grocery chain Intermarche. They offer customers a Sugar Detox -- six-packs of reduced-sugar yogurts that step down the amount of sugar a little bit per serving. Its widely acknowledged that sugar is, indeed, an addiction; it takes a while for taste buds to acclimate to lessening amounts. This step-down pack is designed to wean chocolate fans off their sweet tooth a little at a time. Surely Intermarche will sell more yogurt, but theyll be helping curb sugar consumption, and educating consumers, in the process.

Sometimes starting with the noble goal can open you to new possibilities. Deutsche Telekom, one of Europes largest wireless providers, partnered with a research company to create a mobile video game expressly designed to gather data for Alzheimers research. Just two minutes of game play provides five hours worth of research into human cognition. DT obviously has an interest in people using more data. But if that data is consumed while playing an addicting game, and supports a noble and scientifically valid goal, thats a win for everyone. Happy telco exec, happy gamer, happy scientists.

Samsung is comfortable in this space as well. A global brand that yearns to be viewed as a world-changing innovator, theyve established multiple startup-type projects around the world to explore how technology can help solve health-related issues. Will the consumers takeaway be a better view of Samsung? Certainly they would hope so. But along the way, Samsung is using marketing resources that would have been used to sell.and instead spending that money to help.

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The list goes on. Theres the paint company helping the colorblind see colors; the dairy company giving free calcium-rich milk to kids with broken bones; the pain reliever brand that created a VR app to show non-sufferers what a migraine really feels like.
A map of clinical trials for melanoma around the world. For 336 studies in the USA, 155 in Western Europe and 33 in China, there are only 8 in Russia. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov.

Let me tell you about a hobby that I have. What do I do when I have a minute to spare? Well, I stalk doctors. Researchers, too. Compliance managers. Assistance staff. Anyone I can get hold of, basically. A soft cajoler. A smiling harasser. Sounds fun? I know.

The sad truth is that I help find clinical trials for seriously ill patients from Russia. I'm filling a gap that ought to be catered for by the state healthcare system. I help a colleague help patients on their way to treatment - and life, in many cases. If you win an Olympic medal for Russia, the government gives you the keys to a new Mercedes and $52,000 to $120,000 in cash (a present that the taxpayers, effectively, pay for). If you get cancer, as could happen to anybody, the government turns its back on you. Does it sympathize only with those of its citizens who are healthy, I wonder?

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It is a lonely battle. You'll have to plot and scheme to find ways to get expensive medications from abroad. Take Keytruda, a new drug highly effective against various tumors, including melanoma. A vial sells for $2,520, which is 6 median monthly salaries of a taxpayer in Russia as of January 2016 (27,500 rubles, or $420, after tax). The bad news is that the medication will only last a couple of weeks. You'll have to try and get the drug and/or treatment under a state quota, explaining over and over again in different offices what is clear as daylight - that you have cancer and are therefore entitled to state-funded care.

Adding to the problem, newer and better drugs are often registered with several years' delay, and as such are not even available to patients in Russia. Enrollment in clinical trials often becomes a way to connect the patients with the best doctors, medications and medical care.

Clinical trials have taken me to regions I'd never even dreamed of. They got me in contact with Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Norway. They got me to speak Italian and write Spanish (I never studied either). They got me exchanging up to 400 e-mails per case. They got me talking to suave Italian doctors, calling on behalf of frantic patients because sometimes, even though you've taken care of everything, the patient still can lose his way in a clinic 3,000 km away from you. They got me fuming when a patient forgot the biopsy results at a clinic abroad. They got me talking to a female patient who said matter-of-factly that her liver was so enlarged she was mistaken for pregnant.

Clinical trials have taught me to persevere. Diplomatic and quiet by nature, in my regular life I find it difficult to insist or even ask for something. With clinical trials, you almost always have to stand your ground. Doctors, trials administrators - everyone is busy. E-mails go unanswered, phone calls aren't taken, the patient's condition is not getting any better, and valuable time slips away. You have to be a bit of a bulldog and refuse to be shaken off or sidetracked.

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Don't be afraid of gatecrashing. Don't just knock on doors - knock them down if you have to. Keep every contact for the future, and then use it. Call the clinic every day until someone responds.

At the end of the day, it is invariably fascinating to see how the conversation moves from online to offline, and an exchange of messages in the virtual world secures real medications for a real person. It is very satisfying to join hands across the globe, even if the story does not have a happy ending. Like that of the lady with the formerly enlarged liver. She underwent treatment in Italy, which worked very well at the start. Unfortunately, she passed away, but the Italian program awarded her almost a year of life with her two young kids.

For the next few weeks, I picked up a new hobby - making lists of contact persons at major pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers. Sounds exciting? I know. Here's to a fun summer season.
This is the second year I am invited to speak about the war in Yemen at a side event during the UN Human Rights Council annual session. Nothing has changed since last year except the expansion of the catastrophic humanitarian situation, an increase in the atrocities committed by all warring sides, and the UN failing Yemeni children. With the UN's withdrew of Saudi's name from the child rights blacklist, the UN has lost its credibility. I feel very pessimistic that there's any meaning of me speaking here, but I'm here today only because it has been extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get Yemenis from inside Yemen traveling to come here and speak to you. I was able to be here only because I had to seek political refuge in Sweden where I live today. Yemenis' mobility is extremely difficult and can be impossible for them to get visa to travel abroad, and even to seek refuge in neighbouring Arab countries who are members of the Saudi-led coalition. Yemenis are trapped, while the world doesn't bother to care.

Mwatana's Radhya Almutawakel should have been here with us, but it's been a mission impossible to help her travel with the never ending obstacles for Yemenis to get visa to travel to anywhere. Despite her absance, the youtube clips she sent us, illustrating the grave human rights violations in Yemen were a smart solution. Watching these clips break my heart because I know that every single Yemeni house has a similar heartbreaking story as they are affected by the killing and the violence.

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Today in Yemen, if the violence doesn't kill you directly, the lack of food, water and medicine will kill you. 80% of Yemen's 26 mil population are in a dire humanitarian situation and struggling to stay alive. Nowhere else in the world today, you have millions of people in need of water, food, medicine, electricity shelter, like the situation in Yemen. I wish we see this as if the country was hit by an earthquake, so perhaps the world can rally to help us. All warring sides are responsible for this situation. The Houthis/Saleh coalition and the Hadi/Saudi-led coalition are both to blame. However, two wrongs don't make a right. Million of Yemenis' lives is at stake, as we are busy blaming this or that side. We must support any peace agreement, immediately. Yemenis must join their efforts to stop this war and work together in bringing peace, yesterday before today.
President and Portfolio Manager of Paulson & Co. John Paulson speaks during the Sohn Investment Conference in New York, May 16, 2012. The Sohn Conference Foundation is dedicated to the treatment and cure of pediatric cancer and other childhood diseases. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz (UNITED STATES - Tags: BUSINESS)

According to Forbes magazine, John Paulson is worth over $11 billion. He is the 42nd richest person in the United States and the 108th richest in the world. Paulson made a big part of his fortune betting against low-income homeowners and on the collapse of subprime mortgage market and during the 2007-2008 global financial crisis. Millions were hurt, but Paulson made money.

A decade later Paulson is betting against public schools and on Donald Trump. In July 2015, the hedge fund billionaire donated $8.5 million to Success Academy Charter School Network, supposedly to benefit the poor and minority school children victimized by the economic system that so generously awards him. Now, probably out of concern for the poor, working families, and immigrants, Paulson is raising money for Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

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On Tuesday, June 21, Paulson is a host of a joint Republican National Committee and Trump fund-raiser. Other "hosts" include hedge-fund manager Stephen Feinberg, founder of Cerberus Capital Management, and real estate magnate Peter Kalikow. Feinberg's Cerberus Capital Management controls Remington Outdoor, the manufacturer of the gun used in 2012 to kill 20 children and teachers at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The National Rifle Association has endorsed Trump's candidacy for President. Kalikow, a Republican Party Convention at-large delegate from New York, originally supported John Kasich's Presidential campaign but now wants the Republican Party to unite behind Trump.

The New York Times reported that tickets for the New York Trump gala cost $50,000 a person. However hosts Paulson, Feinberg, and Kalikow have agreed to pay $250,000 a couple to support Trump.

In 2015, Trump endorsed charter schools, school vouchers, and magnet schools. He dismissed educators who support public schools and argued that competition is the best way to achieve excellence in American education. Trump wants to close schools that are not "good enough to attract students," but does not explain what happens to children abandoned to failing schools while the market works itself out.

Trump is certainly not an expert on public education based on his own experience. Trump's father was wealthy before him and sent his son to expensive private schools and colleges. Trump's children also all attend or attended private schools and colleges. According to the website BuzzFeed, Trump and the Trump Foundation contribute heavily to the Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in Manhattan where tuition is almost $39,000 a year, but it is not public whether any members of his family currently attend the school.

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The Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School was founded in 1764 by King George II of England and was originally affiliated with Old King's College which is now Columbia University. At Columbia Prep the student teacher ratio is 5:1 compared to a national average of 13:1, but I can understand why a Trump would need so much attention.

John Paulson was on the board of directors of the elite, private, Spence School for Girls and contributed $11 million to the school, so I assume his two daughters went there. Currently, the tuition at Spence is $45,150 a year for grades K-12.

It is amazing how the wealthy use the "market" to grow richer at everyone else's expense, send their children to expensive private schools, and then blame public schools for the problems of the world. We are still waiting to find out if Donald Trump pays any income taxes.

From July 8-10, educators, parents, and activists will rally in Washington, DC for three days of action in defense of public education. Featured speakers include author Jonathan Kozol, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis, and Diane Ravitch. On July 8 there will be a People's March for Public Education and Social Justice. Save Our Schools is organizing a conference for July 9 to be followed by a July 10 Coalition Summit and organizing session. The program for the rally and meetings includes full, equitable funding for all public schools; safe, racially just schools and communities; community leadership in public school policies; professional, diverse educators for all students; child-centered, culturally appropriate curriculum for all, and no high-stakes standardized testing.
U.S. President Barack Obama, right, gestures while speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin before a bilateral meeting at United Nations headquarters in New York, Monday, Sept. 28, 2015. (Mikhail Klimentyev, RIA-Novosti, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

BEIRUT -- Gradually, the mist of ambiguity and confusion hanging over Syria is lifting a little. The landscape is sharpening into focus. With this improved visibility, we can view a little more clearly the course of action being prepared by Iran, Russia and the Syrian government.

Russia is emerging from an internal debate over whether the U.S. is truly interested in an entente or only in bloodying Russia's nose. And what do we see? Skepticism. Russia is skeptical that NATO's new missile shield in Poland and Romania, plus military exercises right up near its border, are purely defensive actions.

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Iran, meanwhile, is studying the entrails of the nuclear agreement. As one well-informed commentator put it to me, Iran is "coldly lethal" at the gloating in the U.S. at having "put one over" Iran. Because, while Iran has duly taken actions that preclude it from weaponizing its nuclear program, it will not now gain the financial normalization that it had expected under the agreement.

What do we see? Skepticism.

It's not a question of slow implementation -- I've heard directly from banks in Europe that they've been visited by U.S. Treasury officials and warned in clear terms that any substantive trade cooperation with Iran is closed off. Iran is not being integrated into the financial system. U.S. sanctions remain in place, the Europeans have been told, and the U.S. will implement fines against those who contravene these sanctions. Financial institutions are fearful, particularly given the size of the fines that have been imposed -- almost $9 billion for the French bank BNP a year ago.

In principle, sanctions have been lifted. But in practice, even though its sales of crude are reaching pre-sanctions levels, Iran has found that, financially, it remains substantially hobbled. America apparently achieved a double success: It circumscribed Iran's nuclear program, and the U.S. Treasury has hollowed out the nuclear agreement's financial quid pro quo, thus limiting Iran's potential financial empowerment, which America's Gulf allies so feared.

French president Francois Hollande welcomes Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Paris on Jan. 28. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Some Iranian leaders feel cheated; some are livid. Others simply opine that the U.S. should never have been trusted in the first place.

And Damascus? It never believed that the recent cease-fire would be a genuine cessation of hostilities, and many ordinary Syrians now concur with their government, seeing it as just another American ruse. They are urging their government to get on with it -- to liberate Aleppo. "Just do it" is the message for the Syrian government that I've heard on the streets. A sense of the West being deceitful is exacerbated by reports of American, German, French and possibly Belgian special forces establishing themselves in northern Syria.

Some Iranian leaders say that the U.S. should never have been trusted in the first place.

All this infringement of Syrian sovereignty does not really seem temporary but rather the opposite: there are shades of Afghanistan, with all the "temporary" NATO bases. In any case, it is no exaggeration to say that skepticism about Western motives is in the air -- especially after Ashton Carter, the U.S. defense secretary, raised the possibility of NATO entering the fray.

As Pat Lang, a former U.S. defense intelligence officer, wrote last week:

The Russians evidently thought they could make an honest deal with [U.S. Secretary of State John] Kerry [and President] Obama. Well, they were wrong. The U.S. supported jihadis associated with [Jabhat al-Nusra, al Qaeda's Syria wing] ... merely 'pocketed' the truce as an opportunity to re-fit, re-supply and re-position forces. The U.S. must have been complicit in this ruse. Perhaps the Russians have learned from this experience.

Lang goes on to note that during the "truce," "the Turks, presumably with the agreement of the U.S., brought 6,000 men north out of [Syria via the] Turkish border ... They trucked them around, and brought them through Hatay Province in Turkey to be sent back into Aleppo Province and to the city of Aleppo itself." Reports in Russian media indicate that Nusra jihadists, who have continued to shell Syrian government forces during the "truce," are being commanded directly by Turkish military advisers. And meanwhile, the U.S. supplied the opposition with about 3,000 tons of weapons during the cease-fire, according to I.H.S. Jane's, a security research firm.

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Syrians carry a wounded man after airstrikes on opposition-controlled areas in Aleppo on June 5. (Beha El-Halebi/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

In brief, the cease-fire has failed. It was not observed. The U.S. made no real effort to separate the moderates from Nusra around Aleppo (as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has affirmed). Instead, the U.S. reportedly sought Nusra's exemption from any Russian or Syrian attack. It reminds one of that old joke: "Oh Lord, preserve me from sin -- but not just yet!" Or in other words, "preserve us from these dreadful jihadist terrorists, but not just yet, for Nusra is too useful a tool to lose."

The cease-fire did not hasten any political solution, and Russia's allies -- Iran and Hezbollah -- have already paid and will continue to pay a heavy price in terms of casualties for halting their momentum toward Aleppo. The opposition now has renewed vigor -- and weapons.

It is hard to see the cease-fire holding value for Moscow much longer. The original Russian intention was to try to compel American cooperation, firstly in the war against jihadism and, more generally, to compel the U.S. and Europe to acknowledge that their own security interests intersect directly with those of Moscow and that this intersection plainly calls for partnership rather than confrontation.

The opposition now has renewed vigor -- and weapons.

The present situation in Syria neither facilitates this bigger objective nor the secondary one of defeating radical jihadism. Rather, it has led to calls in Russia for a less conciliatory approach to the U.S. and for the Kremlin to acknowledge that far from preparing for partnership, NATO is gearing up for a hybrid war against Russia. A hybrid war means an amalgam of conventional, unconventional, narrative, information, financial and cyberwarfare tactics.

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It is also hard to see the cease-fire holding any continuing value for Tehran either. While the Iran nuclear agreement seemed to hold out the promise of bringing Iran back into the global financial system, such expectations seem now to be withering on the vine. As a result, Iran is likely to feel released from self-imposed limitations of their engagement in Syria and in other parts of the Middle East. Damascus, meanwhile, only very reluctantly agreed to leave its citizens in Aleppo in some semi-frozen limbo. Iran and Hezbollah were equally dubious.

Syrian fighters near the wreckage of a government warplane reportedly shot down by the Nusra front on April 5, (OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP/Getty Images)

All this suggests renewed military escalation this summer. Russian President Vladimir Putin will probably not wish to act before the European summit at the end of June. And neither would he wish Russia to figure largely as an issue in the U.S. presidential election. Yet he cannot ignore the pressures from those within Russia who insist that America is planning a hybrid war for which Russia is unprepared.

The Russia commentator Eric Zuesse encapsulated some of these concerns, writing that "actions speak louder than words." Earlier this month, he notes, the U.S. refused to discuss with Russia its missile defense program:

Russia's concern is that, if the 'Ballistic Missile Defense' or 'Anti Ballistic Missile' system, that the U.S. is now just starting to install on and near Russia's borders, works, then the U.S. will be able to launch a surprise nuclear attack against Russia, and this system, which has been in development for decades and is technically called the 'Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System,' will annihilate the missiles that Russia launches in retaliation, which will then leave the Russian population with no retaliation at all.

Zuesse goes on to argue that the U.S. seems to be pursuing a new nuclear strategy, one that was put forward in 2006 in a Foreign Affairs article headlined "The Rise of Nuclear Primacy," and scrapping the earlier policy of "mutually assured destruction." The new strategy, Zuesse writes, argues "for a much bolder U.S. strategic policy against Russia, based upon what it argued was America's technological superiority against Russia's weaponry -- and a possibly limited time-window in which to take advantage of it -- before Russia catches up and the opportunity to do so is gone."

Putin, Lavrov and Kerry attend a meeting about the Syrian war at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia Dec. 15, 2015. (REUTERS/ Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik/Kremlin)

So, what is going on here? Does the U.S. administration not see that pulling Russia into a debilitating Syrian quagmire by playing clever with a cease-fire that allows the insurgency to get the wind back in its sails is almost certain to lead to Russia and Iran increasing their military engagement? There is talk both in Russia and Iran of the need for a military surge to try to break the back of the conflict. Does the U.S. see that ultimately such a strategy might further entangle it -- just as much as Russia and Iran -- in the conflict? Does it understand Saudi Arabia's intent to double down in Syria and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's political interest in continuing the Syrian crisis? Does it judge these very real dangers accurately?

No, I think not: the political calculus is different. More likely, the explanation relates to the presidential election campaign in the U.S. The Democratic Party, in brief, is striving to steal the Republican Party's clothes. The latter holds the mantle of being credited as the safer pair of hands of the two, as far as America's security is concerned. This has been a longstanding potential weakness for the Democrats, only too readily exploited by its electoral opponents. Now, perhaps the opportunity is there to steal this mantle from the Republicans.

The Democratic Party is striving to steal the Republican Party's clothes.

All this hawkishness -- the American shrug of the shoulders at making Iran feel cheated over the nuclear agreement; at Russia, Iran and Damascus seething that the Syria cease-fire was no more than a clever trap to halt their military momentum; at the psychological impact of NATO exercising on Russia's borders; at the possible consequences to Obama's refusal to discuss the ballistic defense system -- all this is more likely about showing Democrat toughness and savvy in contrast to Donald Trump.

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In short, the Democrats see the opportunity to cast themselves as tough and reliable and to transform foreign policy into an asset rather than their Achilles' heel.

But if all this bullheadedness is nothing more than the Democratic Party espying an apparent weakness in the Trump campaign, is this foreign policy posturing meaningful? The answer is that it is not meaningless; it carries grave risks. Ostensibly this posture may appear clever in a domestic campaigning context, where Russia is widely viewed in a negative light. But externally, if the Syrian cease-fire comes to be viewed as nothing more than a cynical ploy by the U.S. to drag Russia deeper into the Syrian quagmire in order to cut Putin down to size, then what will likely follow is escalation. Hot months ahead in Syria. Russia will gradually reenter the conflict, and Iran and Iraq will likely increase their involvement as well.

Firefighters try to extinguish a fire after airstrikes in Idlib, Syria on June 12. (Abdurrahman Sayid/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

There are those in the U.S., Turkey and the Gulf who would welcome such a heightened crisis, hoping that it would become so compellingly serious that no incoming U.S. president, of either hue, could avoid the call to do something upon taking office. In this way, the U.S. could find itself dragged into the maw of another unwinnable Middle Eastern war.

We should try to understand the wider dangers better, too. Baiting Russia, under the problematic rubric of countering Russian "aggression," is very much in fashion now. But in Russia, there is an influential and substantial faction that has come to believe that the West is planning a devastating hybrid military and economic war against it. If this is not so, why is the West so intent on pushing Russia tight up into a corner? Simply to teach it deference? Psychologists warn us against such strategies, and Russia finally is reconfiguring its army (and more hesitantly, its economy) precisely to fight for its corner.

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The U.S. could find itself dragged into the maw of another unwinnable Middle Eastern war.

As another noted Russia commentator, John Helmer, noted on his blog on May 30, the new NATO missile installations in Eastern Europe "are hostile acts, just short of casus belli -- a cause of war." According to Reuters, Putin warned that Romania might soon "be in the cross hairs" -- the new NATO missile installations there will force Russia "to carry out certain measures to ensure our security."

"It will be the same case with Poland," Putin added.

Did you hear that sound? That was the ratchet of war, which has just clicked up a slot or two.

Earlier on WorldPost:
Everything or almost everything has been said on the political and economic consequences of Brexit: possibility of Remain, Leave, number of jobs to be lost, falling pound, loss in GDP, borders and end of the European Union as we know it.

Everything, except perhaps, the political coup it represents. Everywhere in Europe, our leaders try to compensate a loss of political legitimacy by emotional blackmail and authoritarian postures. Looking at the campaign arguments on both sides, Brexit looks just like another ideological emotional communication campaign for the masses: "fear or fear not".

We have to admit that referendum is (or was?) a formidable tool of democracy. Looking at popular initiatives, it allows Italian citizens, Swiss and Austrian, bringing together a predetermined number of signatures to hold a referendum on a proposed text. If the critical number of signature is reached, the Parliament opens the legislative debate by proposing the referendum.

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This solution was also implemented in 2009 at EU level by the European citizens' initiative. This opens the possibility for a million EU citizens to challenge the Commission as part of its prerogatives and to submit a legislative proposal. While being a model of participatory democracy on paper, ICE has quickly disappointed in practice as the Commission remains judge and party in the final decision.

We will see a certain irony in the fact that the Lisbon Treaty, which introduced ICE in European legislation, also opened the possibility for a Member State to withdraw from the Union.The Brexit perfectly illustrates the lack of political responsibility ethics in favor of the illusion of participatory democracy and short term politician strategy.

The British referendum to be held on June 23 was born as a desperate spin from David Cameron during the 2013 campaign. Cornered by both the rise of UKIP and the reactionary nationalist wing of his own party, Cameron had fired at the time his last round of political credibility by promising a vote on the EU.

By inviting people to vote for or against keeping the country in the European Union without foreseeing the consequences in the short and medium term, the Prime Minister had affected not only participatory democracy but also the last vestiges of the European dream in Great Britain.

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The referendum allows taking people hostage of a poor decision and monopolizing the political debate to bring them up to the extreme of the political spectrum artificially. The concessions obtained by Cameron since February 2016 are already significant and constitute a blow to the European model and its added value for Britain: reduced access to social benefits of EU citizens resident in the United Kingdom, end of the goal of "ever closer union", veto power of national parliaments, recognition of several currencies in the European Union and the simplification of regulations with the limitation of the European ambition to one big free market. So what is the real interest, if not to ensure a political victory on the European stage, to propose such a choice to the Brits?

Here lies the real problem with Brexit: it is a very bad idea. There is absolutely nothing good for the UK in leaving the EU, while the EU Institutions are at a turning point in their own history.

Apart from the direct satisfaction of low nationalist instincts forgetful of the interconnection of our modern world, leaving the European Union will not improve the lives of British citizens. It may instead weaken the rights of workers and consumers. In addition, this artificial respiration imposed on partner countries was certainly not needed to renegotiate the terms of an agreement with the EU. In the same way that Brussels has folded on the refugee issue to preserve the scores of the CDU, EU sailed to the rhythm of the internal turmoil to the Conservative party. The 28 nations forming the EU advance in parallel at various paces on complex subjects. All the crises we face today exceed by far the simple power of an isolated nation. Negotiation and dialogue have been at the foundation of this strange assembly, unique in the world: a Union between consenting states, aware of their own limits.

The referendum on Brexit is another form of the nationalist contraction now raging in Europe: a reassuring chimera that avoids complex thinking and refuses to confront the world to come. Energy issues, the great migrations, climatic constraints, the reorganization of the financial markets, the digital transformation of work, finance and the free power of multinationals: how a small country like the UK or France can claim finding on its own positive solutions for its people?

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Although defeating Donald Trump is one essential goal for this fall's campaign, that should be seen less as an end in itself than as one important means toward the ultimate goal, which is to be able to move the nation in a positive direction.

There is every reason to believe that the Republicans in Congress, if they are able, will do to a new Democratic President what they've been doing for more than seven years to the current Democratic President: use their power to obstruct progress on all fronts.

For that reason, a wise Democratic campaign should be designed also to minimize Republican power in Congress. Two campaign themes can achieve that purpose. In addition to tying down-ticket Republican candidates to the defects of their grotesque standard-bearer, the Democrats should run against Republican obstructionism.

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One of the main lines from the speeches from Democratic nominee for president should be, "Give me a Congress whose priority is the good of the nation."

That theme is a necessary supplement to the set of issues on which Hillary Clinton has been has been campaigning, and which will, of course, remain essential to the campaign. It remains important for her to seek to inspire the people with a vision for a better America.

But all the campaign talk about issues is largely just the expression of a wish, with no likely relation to future reality, unless this across-the-board obstructionist control by the Republicans in Congress can be eliminated. And that is a reality that must not be ignored.

Neither Democratic candidate has seemed eager, during their contest, to talk much about the Republican roadblock in the way of almost all they propose. Perhaps they worried that voters would find it depressing. Perhaps they feared that voters don't have the stomach to face the reality that the task that needs doing is larger than electing them president.

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But telling the truth about this big problem of Republican obstructionism doesn't have to be a downer. It can help ignite something. It can be a way of motivating the voters to do the job America needs for them to do.

After the Democratic nominee presents her issues in an inspiring form (think here of FDR's great "I see an America" speech), she can continue:

"But for us to move toward that better America, I need for you to elect a Congress eager to do its job on behalf of the people. And our experience in recent years shows clearly what that requires: kicking out the obstructionist Republicans and electing Democrats to Congress.

"I understand why some people - on both sides of our partisan divide -- have been eager this year to 'shake things up' in our politics. But really, it's clear what kind of shaking up we most urgently need: fixing the problem of our 'broken government' has to start with the people rejecting those who deliberately chose to break it.

"These Republican obstructionists have deliberately jabbed a stick through the spokes of government to prevent our nation from moving forward. In putting party ahead of the good of the nation, these Republicans have betrayed the people's trust."

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Democratic candidates - top to bottom, and around the nation - can use this straight-forward truth to rally the people to get these obstructionist congressional Republicans out of power.

We can look to two sources of passion to fuel a potential Democratic landslide:

a vision of the better America, to touch Americans' yearning to move forward rather than to stagnate and deteriorate, and

a call to send the obstructionists packing, to tap into Americans' evident readiness to rise up against a system that clearly is not serving them well.

That's a combination that might capture both the presidency and the Congress.

"I pledge to you, my fellow Americans, that I will do everything in my power as president to move the nation forward. The most important thing you can do now is 'Give me a Congress that will make a better America - not partisan advantage-- its priority.'

"'If the president was for it, we had to be against it.' Those were the Republicans' marching orders as we know from former Republican Senator from Ohio George Voinovich. That's not how our founders intended for their wonderful system to work.

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"The system our founders set up - with divisions of powers and checks and balances-- wasn't supposed to cripple the country. It was supposed to teach people how to work together to move the nation forward.
I was once asked this question from an anonymous follower of my blog: "Why so many selfies?" The same question has been asked of other transgender women that post about their transitions.

Let's assume that this was an innocent question for a moment and give it a simple answer:

I take lots of selfies because my body is slowly starting to match the sense of self that has always been there. I post some of them along with the narratives that I write about my life because both the photos and the narrative give hope to other transgender people. My website (arianadanielle.com) and my blog are for them, it is not for anyone who wants to look at transgender women for "other" purposes. The feedback I receive from other transgender or non-binary people is amazing and it lifts me up, so I benefit from sharing my story as well (see the bottom of my home page for samples of the support I receive from other people like me).



"I take lots of selfies because my body is slowly starting to match the sense of self that has always been there."



Beyond this simple answer, is a more complex one that I hope takes on yet another stereotype of transgender women.

You see, a funny thing happened once my outside started to match my inside. I began to love myself again. I have gone from being in a 242 lb dysphoria inducing body that was pre-diabetic and condemned to being on cholesterol medication, to living in a body that is healthy, happy and dare I say growing more beautiful by the day. Now, the stereotype is that transgender women are narcissistic. Apparently we only want attention, and that is the only reason why we post pictures on the internet. As I mentioned above, we are putting our stories and our pictures out there to support each other and to present ourselves accurately. Imagine turning on the nightly news and having a politician or a pastor demonize you on a national news story when they know nothing about you. THAT IS WHAT WE FACE. The nightly news, movies, radio programs, authors and bloggers all misrepresent us. We are not able to trust anyone else to tell our stories, so many of us have chosen to do it ourselves.



"A funny thing happened once my outside started to match my inside. I began to love myself again."



"But you just said 'I began to love myself again,' which makes you narcissistic" -- If this is what you may be thinking at this point, my response would be to point you to a dictionary.

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Narcissism means: excessive or erotic interest in oneself and one's physical appearance. This is not the same thing as having a healthy love of yourself or in finding joy in walking a path that is difficult but leads to extreme growth. I tie a few photos to every post that I write. It captures a moment in time. It shows how I looked that day and it captures the subtle tension in my face or the lack thereof. It captures the joy in my face of finding acceptance from yet another family member or friend. It can capture confidence and courage that I may need to look for again on a bad day. For me, it also shows me the evolution of my makeup skills over time and reminds me of things that I probably should not try again.

People that call out women for being narcissistic do so from a very misogynistic viewpoint. This misogynistic attitude purports that women are not allowed to call attention to their beauty and are not allowed to think of themselves as beautiful. If a girl is complimented on her looks and says anything other than "thank you" then she is seen as being narcissistic. She can be told she is beautiful, but she better not think she is beautiful on her own. This is of course, complete and utter garbage.

Women, whether transgender or not, are beautiful and have the right to love themselves for who they are. They have the right to share their stories with those who draw encouragement from their experiences.

Stop calling women narcissistic for having confidence and for sharing that confidence.

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Image: United Nations. Stock Photo. Pixabay.com

As the world watches Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump compete for the U.S. presidency, another important election campaign is under way that could have a huge impact on human rights internationally -- the jockeying to succeed Ban Ki-moon as head of the United Nations. Over the past few years, human rights has not been enough of a priority for the UN. From Russia to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Venezuela, Ban Ki-moon's failure to defend freedom and stop killings and persecutions has been appalling. Violations have gone unpunished and leaders have not been held accountable. As the candidates for the post of UN secretary-general actively campaign for the support of the UN Security Council members, it's important for us to more carefully scrutinize their commitment to human rights. Four candidates seemingly lead the race so far -- Susana Malcorra, Helen Clark, Irina Bokova and Antonio Guterres. Unfortunately, two of them have a disastrous human rights legacy. Susana Malcorra, Argentina's foreign minister and former chief of staff to Ban Ki-moon, is totally unacceptable. When she became a candidate for the post, she and Argentina made a sickening U-turn on human rights. To secure Venezuela's support at the UN Security Council, she flip-flopped on the human rights crisis engulfing the country. To "do a deal with the devil," she abruptly stopped her public criticism of the systematic abuses in the country and turned her back on her Latin American and international partners. Now Malcorra limply calls for "dialogue." That's politics, but nothing new.

Malcorra was already at the center of the cover up of a UN peacekeeper sex abuse scandal in the Central African Republic (CAR). UN officials persecuted the staff who raised the alarm instead of addressing the actual problem. Whistleblower Anders Kompass was fired for publicizing the crimes of French soldiers. E-mails show that Malcorra coordinated the meetings of senior UN officials who decided how to punish Kompass. Neither she, nor any other senior UN official was ever held accountable. Kompass' criticism speaks for itself: "The complete impunity for those who have been found to have, in various degrees, abused their authority, together with the unwillingness of the hierarchy to express any regrets for the way they acted towards me sadly confirms that lack of accountability is entrenched in the United Nations." Although Helen Clark's human rights track record is not as disastrous, she behaved with the Sri Lanka scandal much like Malcorra in the CAR, defending the UN system and blaming critics instead of taking the side of the victims. According to Foreign Policy, she and her senior staff allegedly forced out American-Swedish UN official Lena Sinha after she took part in an investigation critical of the UNDP's response to the mass atrocities in Sri Lanka. The investigation, called the Petrie Report, criticized senior members of Clark's agency, saying they downplayed the Sri Lankan government's role in killing thousands of Tamils.

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Philippe Bolopion, UN director for Human Rights Watch, said the report highlighted a "dereliction of duty" and was "a call to action and reform for the entire UN system." After the report was completed, Sinha, who held a position at the UNDP for 15 years, was told that she would "never work for the UNDP again," Foreign Policy reported. On the contrary, Irina Bokova, the director-general of UNESCO, has led her agency to become more vocal and engaged on human rights issues. She has taken a strong stand to defend free speech, protect journalists and promote interfaith dialogue to neutralize extremism. During her tenure at UNESCO, she has also fought racism and antisemitism around the world, promoting Holocaust awareness and becoming its first head to appoint a special envoy for Holocaust education. Antonio Guterres, the former UN High Commissioner for Refugees, is another candidate with a strong human rights track record. He has been passionately engaged in addressing the challenges faced by Syrian refugees. He has not been afraid to confront leading world powers, gaining praise for his firm stance on China's forcible return of North Korean refugees. It's time for the UN to lead by example. The organization speaks incessantly about human rights, but all too often fails to follow up its words with action. Civil society and the international community must ensure that the next UN secretary-general is not only a seasoned diplomat, but also a true champion of human rights.
By Hong Soon-do, Beijing correspondent, AsiaToday - China and Cuba are friendly since both of them are socialist countries. They enjoy active exchanges in various fields, including the economy. Their friendly relationship has been confirmed recently. GBD (global commercial district) Center for Public Diplomacy and Culture Exchange (hereinafter referred to as the Center), a Chinese non-governmental public diplomacy organization in Beijing, has agreed on principle of cooperation for bilateral cultural exchange with Cuban Ministry of Culture. As a result, a program where Cuban art group pays a visit to Beijing and Chinese art group to Havana to perform, will soon be promoted.

[Ma Zhenxuan (fourth to left), the Chairman of the Center, and Liu Zhong (right to chairman Ma), the Executive Chairman of the Center, met Julio Guzman and his delegation from Cuban Ministry of Culture to talk about bilateral cultural exchanges./ Photographed by Hong Soon-do]

According to a source from the Center on Saturday, the principle has been set up through a Fidel Castro portrait delivery ceremony held the previous day at the Center building in Beijing. Ahead of the delivery ceremony, Chairman Ma Zhenxuan and Executive Chairman Liu Zhong met Cuban Vice Minister of Culture Julio Guzman and agreed on such principle.

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Chairman Ma said, "Between China and Cuba, there is a clear connection called socialism. So far, we have maintained friendly relations as well. This relationship will continue to be firm. The mutual exchange of art group visits between the two countries is expected to strengthen the current relationship." Executive Chairman Liu Zhong said, "Cuba is one of the few friendly socialist countries of China. We should enhance mutual relations to help the two countries."

[Ma Zhenxuan (first to left), the Chairman of the Center, and Liu Zhong (next to Chairman Ma), the Executive Chairman of the Center, take a photo with Cuban Vice Minister of Culture Julio Guzman at the Fidel Castro portrait delivery ceremony./ Photographed by Hong Soon-do]
[PM Narendra Modi performed yoga at Rajpath along with a gathering of 35,000 people as part of International Yoga Day celebrations on June 21 last year./ Source: Yonhap News]

By Ha Man-joo, India correspondent, AsiaToday - The Indian government will set up a department of yogic arts and sciences ahead of the 2nd International Yoga Day on the 21st.

Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani recently said that six universities will have full-fledged departments of yoga from academic session 2016-17 and the department would be opened in at least 14 more universities by the end of this year. Irani said, "I call upon all those professors researchers and academicians who can help us quantify empirical evidence with regard to the benefits of yoga and yogic sciences."

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The decision was based on recommendations of Dr. H R Nagendra, chairman at yoga organization S-VYASA and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's yoga guru. Dr. Nagendra suggested certificate, bachelors, masters and PhD courses in yogic science.

Irani also presented an analysis conducted by IIT Kharagpur of chanting "Om" during yoga practices. This action seems to resolve the Hinduism chanting controversy surrounding chanting of 'Om.'

[New Delhi residents performing yoga in a town park./ Photographed by Ha Man-joo]

PM Modi will join the second International Yoga Day Program to practice yoga with 25,000 residents for nearly 45 minutes at Chandigar, the capital of the states Haryana and Punjab. Last year, he practiced yoga at Rajpath in New Delhi with 35,000 residents.

Nearly 50 Union Ministers will participate in the yoga performance across the country on Tuesday for the second International Yoga Day Program. Ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, and Smriti Irani have been assigned the task of leading the program in Lucknow, Mumbai, and Bhopal, respectively.

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This event reminds of a two-week event of gatherings where ministers explained the state administration in 200 cities across the country in celebration of Modi government's second anniversary on May 26, naturally arousing 'politicization of yoga' controversy.
A coalition of local community organizations have launched an ICE Free Zones campaign.

By Paul McLennan, Azadeh Shahshahani, and Adelina Nicholls / AlterNet

On June 15, coordinated actions were held across the world including in Atlanta, seeking justice for Berta Caceres, an indigenous human rights and environmental justice activist who was assassinated in Honduras on March 3. Several of those charged with her murder have ties to the Honduran military, including at least one high-ranking officer who reportedly was trained by U.S. Rangers.

At the Atlanta action, we also drew attention to the recent ICE raids that have targeted women and children fleeing horrific persecution, rape, murder, and torture in Central American countries such as Honduras, who were seeking a safe haven in this country. Caceres' assassination was only the latest example of this systematic, patriarchal violence, in part facilitated by U.S. government policies and decades of intervention in the region.

The actions of the Obama administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement combined with the racist rhetoric coming from Republican Party candidates are responsible for generating fear and anxiety in our immigrant and refugee communities. This is only gearing up in the wake of the horrific Orlando attack with attempts to scapegoat Muslim communities.

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In order to end government policies of raids, detention and deportation which are tearing apart families in the Latino community in particular, a coalition of local community organizations in metro Atlanta led by the Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights, Southerners on New Ground and the Georgia Not1More Coalition has launched an ICE Free Zones campaign.

As part of the campaign, we aim to make our state, cities and neighborhoods welcoming spaces for our immigrant, refugee, Muslim, and queer and trans communities. We demand that ICE put an immediate stop to the deportation raids. We demand that the Georgia legislature stop pushing through bills targeting our communities and instead repeal the xenophobic and discriminatory legislation they passed in previous years. We demand an end to policies of mass incarceration that target and imprison communities of color, immigrants, queer and trans people, and poor people. We demand an end to violence against our communities in whatever form it takes, initiated by the state or individual actors.

We are also cognizant of the role of U.S. foreign policy in creating conditions of colonization, extreme poverty, terror, and hypermilitarization, forcing people to flee their homes. The Caceres family has publicly stated it believes U.S. military aid has fueled repression and violence in the country which now has the highest murder rate in the world. Political violence and militarization have intensified since a military coup in 2009 overthrew the elected government of Manuel Zelaya. The Obama administration and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton provided tacit support for the coup.

But 2009 is not the first year the United States has interfered in the internal affairs of Honduras. U.S. Marines landed in Honduras to protect the economic interests of U.S. banana plantations, banks and railroads in the early and mid-1900s. In the '80s, Honduras was also used by the United States as a staging area for contras, a right-wing armed group heavily supported by the U.S. which attempted to sabotage and topple the leftist Nicaraguan government.

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In addition to military intervention in the internal affairs of Central and South American countries, economic trade policies such as the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, signed by President Bill Clinton, are responsible for causing havoc and creating economic refugees forced to come here to seek a livelihood for their families.

In the Middle East and Africa, decades of militarized violence by the U.S. and governments it supports are responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths resulting from the destruction of Iraq, the invasion of Afghanistan, drone bombings in Pakistan and Yemen, and the occupation of Palestine. This led to more than a million migrants and refugees fleeing to Europe in 2015. Dislocation of individuals and their families due to economic, political, and military reasons is happening on a massive scale all over the world.

Whatever form it takes, this dislocation is traumatic and violent. If we want to address the root causes of this crisis, we must address the corporate and governmental policies responsible for it. The decades-long U.S. political and military intervention in the internal affairs of countries such as Honduras combined with exploitative trade deals benefiting U.S. multinational corporations have led to what we are facing today.

Demagogic politicians seize upon the economic anxieties of working-class people in an attempt to get them to misdirect their anger toward immigrants and refugees, Latinos and Muslims, in particular. It is a classic formula of finding scapegoats reminiscent of Germany in the 1930s. As a recent local example, Governor Deal illegally attempted to stop the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Georgia and deny them federal aid. A whole group of people was branded as suspects based on their country of origin and their faith.

This atmosphere of increasing xenophobia, racism, Islamophobia, and homophobia demands that we confront hate and any attempts to divide us. We must build solidarity, locally and internationally, with all those who are under attack. Only by standing together as one can we all be made free.

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Speakers at Low Carbon Buildings: Innovative Strategies, Policies and Incentives Session

On June 7-8, NRDC hosted a session on low-carbon buildings during the Second U.S.- China Climate-Smart/ Low-Carbon Cities Summit in Beijing. Leading city officials, academics, and NGOs from the two countries convened to take firm steps toward more sustainable urban development. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and China State Councilor Yang Jiechi delivered opening remarks.

This high-level summit aims to help both countries address climate change by assisting cities that have already taken significant steps to strengthen their sustainability efforts. At the first Summit, held in Los Angeles in 2015, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Sichuan province, among others, jointly launched the Alliance of Peaking Pioneer Cities initiative, which is modeled on Chinas national commitment to peak carbon emissions by 2030. Some cities, such as Beijing and Guangzhou, even committed to peaking their emissions by the end of this decade. This year, more than double last years number of city representatives attended the forum, including 20 from the U.S. and 54 from China. The explosive growth in attendees demonstrates the high regard with which both countries held this years Summit and a growing mutual interest in the effort to peak emissions as soon as possible.

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China and the U.S. are leading the movement of low-carbon cities as one of the fastest ways to reduce energy consumption. More than 70% of global emissions come from cities, of which the building sector is by far the most energy-intensive. In the U.S., buildings account for 40% of total energy use and related emissions. In China, the share is around 30%, but it is projected to increase rapidly as the economy transitions from heavy industry to the service sector and more people move into cities to find work. Moreover, in densely populated urban centers like New York City, buildings may account for up to 75% of the citys carbon emissions. The same is true in China, as standards of living improve: in the business districts of Beijing and Shanghai, the building sector is approaching 70% of the cities carbon impact. Buildings, therefore, present huge opportunities for U.S. and Chinese cities to cut carbon emissions by raising building standards and performing retrofits on all existing building stock.



Gu Honghui, Mayor of the Changning district of Shanghai, introduces low carbon building development in Changning

Fortunately, there are proven technologies that will facilitate this low-carbon transition at a low cost, and some strategies will cost nothing at all in the long run. The NRDC breakout session focused on cities that are already taking concrete steps to implement low-carbon building strategies: Shanghai, Urumqi, Weifang, New York City, and Chicago. NRDC hosted the session in collaboration with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Rocky Mountain Institute, and China Association for Building Energy Efficiency in order to help participants expand their understanding of critical strategies such as large-scale retrofits, virtually zero emission buildings, and innovative market-based incentives.

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For example, Changning District in Shanghai retrofitted 23 large buildings as of last year, accounting for 1.34 million square meters (14.5million sq.ft). According to Gu Honghui, the Mayor of Changning District, the retrofitted buildings collectively save 600,000 tons of CO per yearequivalent to more than 20% of local energy use in previous years. New York City is following a similar path: the citys 80 x 50 plan aims for an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In light of this goal, the city has implemented new requirements and support programs that align with this comprehensive pathway, including almost 100 low- and medium- difficulty energy conservation measures (ECMs) designed to reduce building-based GHG emissions cost-effectively. The city also launched a program called Retrofit Accelerator that provides individual home-owners, tenants, and residents with resources to improve their energy efficiency.

A common practice shared by cities of both countries is to increase the transparency of energy consumption data. You cannot manage what you do not measure. Changning has set up an energy monitoring system to collect real time data from sub-meters installed in non-residential buildings. As of 2015, 165 buildings have been connected to the system, allowing for the oversight of 610 million kWh of electricity usage. With this enormous data collection, Changning intends to decarbonize their building sector by regulating energy information disclosure, drawing lessons from other countries, and designing their own system of energy benchmarking.



NRDC China Program Director Jingjing Qian asks a question relating to clean buildings

(Photo: Zhiming Pan, 2016)

NRDC has supported Changning in this endeavor for the past three years. After a year of partnering with the district, we presented Shanghai in 2014 with an in-depth study (in Chinese)on the best practices of New York City and other U.S. cities. On Earth Day 2016, we hosted a delegation from Changning in New York City and arranged for a tour of the Bank of America Tower, the first high-rise office building to have attained LEED platinum certification, as well as the Empire State Building, a well-known example of a deep retrofit of a high-rise building. We also conducted a study on the potential for implementing a benchmarking policy in Shanghai by collaborating with Shanghai Twenty-First Century Energy Conservation Technology Co., Ltd.. We are now working with Changning to implement a pilot benchmarking program in Shanghai and helping the Shanghai government develop a stronger market for building energy retrofits with the support of the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC).

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Chicago, meanwhile, passed an Energy Benchmarking and Transparency Ordinance in 2013 in the same spirit of information disclosure. The Ordinance now receives whole-building energy data and verification for approximately 3,600 buildings20% of the citys square footageincluding all residential, commercial, and governmental buildings above 50,000 square feet. The potential for energy savings is significant: last year alone, the Ordinance identified $100-184 million in prospective energy savings. Chicago is also the first U.S. city to require residential energy use disclosure for real estate agents, according to Chris Wheat, Chicagos Chief Sustainability Officer.

Looking forward, Chinas building sector must prioritize the retrofit of large existing non-residential buildings and expand the construction of near-zero emission buildings. Wu Yong, former Director General of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, presented a roadmap for increasing the energy efficiency of buildings at the Summit. He described the importance of scaling up from individual building retrofits to large-scale retrofit projects, demonstrating the central governments determination to advance low-carbon buildings. To accelerate the process, cities in both China and the U.S. must dynamically adapt. They must establish regulations, clear guidelines, and policies to eliminate obstacles that hinder the expansion of low-carbon buildings and retrofits that will increase energy efficiency.

It is estimated that during the 13 Five-Year-Plan period, China will need to invest roughly $250 billion in energy efficiency (in Chinese) to support the construction of greener buildings and the large-scale retrofitting of older homes and commercial buildings. However, the towering budget is unlikely to be met by government alone. The path to sustainable cities in China calls for active investment from the private sector as well.

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NRDC is proud to provide strategic advice and technological support to low-carbon building development in China. We are confident that our efforts will lead to the early peak of energy-related emissions in Chinese cities.
Last week, thousands of West Papuan people rallied in the streets to call for freedom and for our fundamental right to self-determination to be exercised. They showed their full support for the United liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP)'s full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). The people of West Papua also rallied to show their support for the Pacific Islands Forum Human Rights Fact Finding Mission to West Papua, and a rejection of Indonesia's false attempts of an Indonesian led Fact Finding Mission.

In every corner of West Papua and in several Indonesian cities, the people of West Papua gathered peacefully to show their true aspirations.

I hope that the world will look and see these demonstrations as evidence that we the people West Papua continue to risk our lives by simply calling for our fundamental right to self-determination. While our demonstrations were entirely peaceful, the Indonesian police were determined to use brute force to crush them and unconfirmed reports estimate that over 1000 people were arrested simply for joining and supporting these peaceful demonstrations.

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It is reported that in the last 5 days over 1000 people have been arrested in Port Numbay/Jayapura, over 100 people arrested in Wamena, 32 people arrested in Malang, 5 people arrested in Yahukimo and 4 people arrested in Nabire. At least one of the people arrested in Port Numbay/Jayapura is believed to have been interrogated and beaten until they lost consciousness. Such mass arrests and brutality are becoming increasingly common in West Papua and it is estimated that in the last 2 months, nearly 3000 West Papuan people have been arrested by the Indonesian authorities simply for peacefully demonstrating and calling for our fundamental right to self-determination to be exercised.

My people cannot be silent while our fundamental human rights continue to be crushed, violated and denied to us by this brutal occupying colonial power. We desperately need a Pacific Islands Forum Fact Finding Mission to come to West Papua to help to uncover, document and expose these ongoing human rights violations. The Indonesian government is trying to claim that there are only 11 human rights abuses that need to be investigated in occupied West Papua. We West Papuans know that this is totally and deliberately false. It is estimated that over 500,000 West Papuan people have been killed since Indonesian illegally took control of West Papua and this killing along with torture, rape and other of the most heinous human rights abuses continues unabated to this day. As an example of the scale of human rights atrocities in occupied West Papua, the Asian Human Rights Commission has found that between 1977 and 1978 at least 4146 West Papuan people were killed by the Indonesian authorities in the Central Highlands region of West Papua alone.

Why then is the Indonesian Security Minister Luhut Panjaitan going to West Papua, the UK and Australia, attempting to claim that he is helping human rights in West Papua when his government continues to oppress our fundamental human rights, arresting hundreds of people for peacefully demonstrating? Clearly there is no democracy or freedom of expression in occupied West Papua. We are being silenced and suppressed by the Indonesian government, military and police. While the Indonesian government is trying to claim it is resolving human rights abuses, literally thousands of West Papuan people have been arrested in the last two months alone; just for peacefully demonstrating for self-determination.

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West Papuan people continue to be arrested, continue to be tortured and continued to be murdered by the Indonesian military and police.The world needs to see this truly desperate situation in occupied West Papua. West Papua is a militarized emergency zone with more and more Indonesian soldiers coming and killing innocent people. The biggest human rights disaster in the Pacific is happening today just 250km North of Australia and we West Papuans are worried that if this genocide and illegal occupation continues to be ignored, in the next few decades will will be completely wiped out from our own country.

Therefore on behalf of my people I am calling for urgent international intervention in West Papua. We are suffering under a cruel genocide and have been brutally oppressed ever since Indonesia illegally took control of our country in the 1969 Act of NO Choice. It is time for we the West Papuan people to be free to choose our own destiny and to exercise our fundamental right to self-determination in an Internationally Supervised Vote (Independence referendum).

Please help to support the people of West Papua before there are no West Papuans left. Please help to end to these human rights atrocities once and for all by joining the growing number of voices around the world supporting the people of West Papua and our fundamental right to self-determination being exercised through an Internationally Supervised Vote.

Please hear my people's cry for freedom.

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I am part of the scientific committee of the Second World Ayahuasca Conference, which will be held in Rio Branco, in the Brazilian Amazon, in October. I'd like to share some of the amazing science involving ayahuasca.

The conference combines a main track, a parallel track consisting of researchers who answered the "call for abstracts", a film festival, and a series of cultural events. The main track will have representatives of the Brazilian ayahuasca religions, about 100 indigenous individuals, and 11 round tables. These include: Amazonian shamanism, culture and cultural heritage, scientific research, contemporary uses, clinical interventions, challenges of globalization, politics and laws, environment and sustainability, plants from the Amazon, gender issues, and risks.

In the first edition of the conference in Ibiza in 2014, one hundred presentation proposals were submitted. Now, two years later, this number has doubled. Ayahuasca science seems to be spreading around the world as vigorously and dynamically as the brew itself. A number of professionals are increasingly inspired to study this intriguing substance through the lenses of different disciplines.

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From the 200 proposals received, 120 were for the academic track, and 80 for the community track, which consists of practitioners with empirical knowledge. The abstracts come from an impressive 28 countries! Half of the proposals are from the area of social sciences, and the other half from the biomedical, psychology and public health fields combined. Although there is still a predominance of male researchers and practitioners, an increasing number of women are presenting on these issues.

The topics are as varied as: ayahuasca for homeless people, treatment for problematic drug and alcohol users, use by war veterans and prisoners, for coping with death and in giving birth, and ayahuasca's role in mental health disorders and in enhancing psychological well-being. They also address ritual practice, shamanic knowledge, inter-ethnic relationships, cultural hybridism, religious transnationalization, the politics of healing, and commodification. Further, the relationship with alternative therapies and New Age spirituality will be contemplated. Some presentations also focus on the topics of legality, health risks and sexual abuse. Finally, arts and music, alongside ecology and conservation, are on the menu.

Almost half of the proposals came from Brazil. Though that is understandable, the conference has revealed, to our surprise, the outstanding emergence of new research groups throughout the country. These include:

Program for the Orientation and Treatment for Drug Addicts (PROAD)

Sao Paulo

Dr. Dartiu Xavier da Silveira

This focuses on a 21-year-old research group on ayahuasca that materialized out of the organization PROAD, which has been conducting research with drugs since 1991. Currently, around 20 professors, post docs, and graduate and undergraduate students research the therapeutic potentials and ritualistic use of ayahuasca, including epidemiological studies, clinical essays, comorbidity studies, neurosciences, and harm reduction.



Interdisciplinary Group for Psychoactive Studies (NEIP)

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Sao Paulo and other cities

Dr. Bia Labate

A 15-year-old social sciences network with 70 professors and postgraduate-level researchers. The members of the group have organized several conferences, published two books and a large number of master's dissertations and PhDs, predominantly in anthropology, on the Brazilian ayahuasca religions (Santo Daime, Barquinha and Uniao do Vegetal), new urban ayahuasca uses, and indigenous and mestizo ayahuasca uses.

University of Sao Paulo (USP)

Ribeirao Preto

Dr. Jaime Hallak, Dr. Jose Alexandre Crippa, Dr. Flavia Osorio and Dr. Antonio Zuardi

A research group of more than 20 professors, post-docs, and graduate students that has been involved for more than a decade in the investigation of new drugs for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and Parkinson's disease. The group is one of the most productive Brazilian scientific teams in the biomedical field. They perform clinical trials with both healthy volunteers and patients, investigating the potential therapeutic use of several drugs, including ayahuasca, cannabidiol, sodium nitroprusside, and oxytocin, among others.

Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)

Natal

Dr. Draulio de Araujo

This is a seven-year-old interdisciplinary group of 30 researchers, including professors, post docs, graduate and undergraduate students. Their research interests include the acute and lasting antidepressant effects of ayahuasca. Different biological and behavioral markers are investigated in the fields of biochemistry, neuropsychology, and neuropsychiatry, using methods such as MRIs and EEGs.

University of Brasilia (UNB)

Brasilia

Dr. Regina Celia de Oliveira

This work is from a two-year-old group composed of six botanical researchers and one toxicologist, including professors and graduate and undergraduate students. The focus of the research is to both find out which species of the vine Banisteriopsis spp are used by the Brazilian ayahuasca religions, and to understand their ethnobotancial knowledge of these species. The focus includes external morphology, cytogenetic analysis, DNA sequencing, chemistry characterization, phyto-chemistry, anatomy, genetic diversity, conservation, phylogenetic analysis, chemistry composition, and ayahuasca's bioactive components.



State University of Campinas (UNICAMP)

Campinas

Dr. Luis Fernando Tofoli



This is a one-year-old interdisciplinary group, composed of 20 professors, researchers, and students. Their research interests include agricultural management of Banisteriopsis caapi and Psychotria viridis, chemical analyses of the species of ayahuasca itself, ayahuasca's physiology, the stability of ayahuasca samples, lyophilization, metabolomics, therapeutic potentials, and neuroscientific studies.

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According to the researchers, the main challenges are:

- to find funding;

- to obtain access to DMT;

- the orthodoxy of some ayahuasca groups and access to them;

- to find volunteers for the experiments (due to recruitment criteria);

- prejudice from health professionals;

- access to the vine and the leaf, both growing in nature and cultivated;

- the analytical challenges of characterizing the chemistry of the plants collected.

On the other hand, as potential benefits, these researches can:

- acknowledge and register a wide variety of rich cultural practices;

- broaden the understanding of diverse contexts of use and its meanings;

- dissipate stigma and criminalization;

- bring more legitimacy to ayahuasca groups;

- propose alternatives to the challenges of expansion;

- inform about risks and benefits;

- learn about mental health processes in healthy individuals;

- find alternative treatment for mental illness or disorders, including new forms of treatment for depression and anxiety;

- develop psychedelic therapies;

- understand the origin and age of the species;

- understand the cultural and genetic diversity of the plants.
Waleed Abu al-Khair began to practice law in Saudi Arabia in 2007. He quickly earned an international reputation as one of the most respected human rights lawyers in one of the world's most repressive countries. Within a year he joined in a high profile critique of the ruling monarchy. He repeatedly and openly advocated for democracy. He controversially defended the human rights of women, dissidents, and prisoners targeted by the authorities. Before long, the government called his stands for human rights terrorism. They harassed him, surveilled him, shut down his social media and finally put him in prison, where he has remained since 2014. Even from prison, though, he refuses to back down and continues to publicly press for freedom and human rights. This is his story.

First, a bit about Saudi Arabia, which has been a close ally of the US since the 1940s. Saudi Arabia is tightly ruled by a hereditary monarchy and is a scary place to be a free human being, much less a human rights lawyer. Freedom House rates Saudi Arabia as one of the worst in the world in civil liberties and political rights. Torture is common, according to Amnesty International. The country ranks third globally, right behind North Korea, in denying freedom of the press, frequently arresting not only protestors but also those who report on protests. Human Rights Watch notes government authorities continue to arbitrarily arrest, try and convict peaceful dissidents. Recent "antiterrorism" laws allow the government to jail anyone who demands reform or engages in dissent.

Waleed Abu al-Khair was born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 1979. His family includes a number of judges and Imams. As a young man he memorized the Quran and graduated from King Abdulaziz University in 2003. He began to practice law in 2007. He set up his office with a well-known Saudi human rights lawyer, Essam Basrawi. Basrawi was one of ten people, known as the Jeddah reformists, who was arrested for trying to set up a human rights association.

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Immediately upon starting his legal career, Abu al-Khair joined other activists and released a petition titled Parameters of the Constitutional Monarchy calling for the Saudi Royal Family to change the country's rule from absolute monarchy to a democracy based on free elections. Within weeks, the government revoked his scholarship to study abroad.

Waleed Abu al-Khair founded the globally well-respected Monitor of Human Rights in Saudi Arabia (MHRSA) in 2008. Also in 2008, Abu al-Khair organized the country's first 48 hour hunger strike for prisoners of conscience in Saudi Arabia which led to sit-ins and demonstrations. According to the BBC, activists report there are as many as 30,000 political prisoners in Saudi Arabia while the government says there are only 10,000.

In 2009, he became a defense lawyer for several of the "Jeddah reformists" who were arrested along with Basrawi after trying to establish a human rights organization. The same year he received his Masters of Jurisprudence from Yarmouk University in Jordan.

Abu al-Khair volunteered to represent Samar Badawi in 2010 after she had been jailed for "disobedience" of her father by, among other actions, fleeing to a woman's shelter to avoid 15 years of his abuse. According to Human Rights Watch Saudi Arabia denies women the right to obtain a passport, marry, travel, or access higher education without the approval of a male guardian like father, husband, brother or son. Abu al-Khair established a vigorous online campaign to support her during the trial. Now an acclaimed human rights activist in her own right, Samar Badawi married Abu al-Khair soon after she was released.

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Abu al-Khair later took on the case of Raif Badawi, the brother of Samar Badawi and a prominent Saudi blogger, who was charged with insulting religious authorities and was ultimately sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1000 lashes.

While he was becoming well known for his advocacy, his own government harassed him and the US, though supportive behind the scene, refused to publicly try to protect him.

In 2012 he was awarded the Olof Palme Prize for "his strong, self-sacrificing and sustained struggle to promote respect for human and civil rights for both men and women in Saudi Arabia." The government did not allow him to attend the ceremony. Around the same time, he and his wife, Samar Badawi, began hosting weekly gatherings in their home where small groups of young dissidents could discuss important issues which are not allowed to be debated publicly.

Waleed Abu al-Khair acknowledged how difficult it was to be a social justice lawyer in an article he wrote around this time. "There are many rich people here because of our oil - and this oil is all we have. But a lot of people do suffer and live a hard life. And they know if they raise their voices, the consequences will be very serious. It's not that people don't want change; it's that they don't have the ability to bring it about....I have been told many times by United States officials that good relations with Saudi Arabia are vital for them. So they cannot back any political activism - the best they can do is show support for some kinds of social change. Backing people who want to change the system is out of the question. We know that we will get no support from outside in trying to change our country....It is not easy to be an activist in Saudi Arabia. I have been taken into custody for investigation many times; I have been beaten; my wife is banned from leaving Saudi Arabia; and my Twitter, my Facebook account and my website are blocked. I have no doubt they want to put me in prison and one day this will happen - the authorities are just waiting for a good opportunity."

Finally, after only 7 years of practice, the government jailed Waleed Abu al-Khair was jailed for his human rights advocacy. He has been in jail ever since. Human Rights Watch reported he was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison on July 6, 2014 on vague charges stemming from his peaceful human rights advocacy by a special Saudi terrorism court including "Inflaming public opinion and disparaging and insulting judicial authority," "founding an unlicensed organization," "distorting the kingdom's reputation," and other charges based on his peaceful human rights advocacy.

In jail Abu al-Khair became a father and has been repeatedly been moved around to different prisons, some 600 miles away from his family. In September 2015, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called for the release of Abu al-Khair and 8 others from Saudi prisons after great work by the International Federation for Human Rights, an international human rights advocacy group, and others. Keeping him in jail, the UN stated "forms a part of both continued and recent persecution and crackdown on human rights activists in Saudi Arabia."

While imprisoned, Waleed Abu al-Khair was awarded the prestigious 2015 Ludovic-Trarieux Human Rights Award, first given to Nelson Mandela.

Samar Badawi reflected on what it meant to have her husband Abu al-Khair in prison. "To my fellow Saudi Arabians I say that my husband has been imprisoned so that you could live free. He stood up to the tyrants to claim your rights; he faced up to his oppressors telling them he would not tolerate their repression. Remember that history does not forget, it will exalt those who have fought for freedom and cast aside the memory of those who succumbed to a life of humiliation and servitude." She also addressed their child, Joud, who was born shortly after he was imprisoned. "My last words are to my baby daughter, Joud. Do not feel sad because you were born while your father was behind bars. Be proud instead and hold your head high, for the whole world envies you for the father you have - even if his homeland has turned against him. The future awaits you to continue your father's struggle so that you make him even more proud than he is now. You will grow up to be a role model yourself, soon to become known as Joud the free, Joud the defiant, Joud the resilient: Joud Waleed Abu al-Khair."

Though the US and the UN make noises about the widespread human rights violations by Saudi Arabia, in the end the country's oil and regional power silence most critics.

As he prepared to enter prison, Abu al-Khair wrote: "In Saudi Arabia, we live a special challenge - the challenge to be free and to own yourself, your inner being, as well as to be a human rights defender in the face of a political power that employs all of its resources and capacity to dominate the judiciary so as to send you to jail and silence your voice.... As long as the oil keeps flowing, the world will turn a blind eye if Saudi Arabia continues to crack down on freedom and human rights.... Because freedom is cultivated, its seeds are those who have sacrificed a lot and have made the sky the limit to their sacrifice. They created a sense of inner peace for themselves that only they can understand. That is why I shall be flying high with them, even from behind bars. In prison I will never need a window that opens out to the sky. I do not need a door to explain to the world why I am there in prison. What I truly need lies within your conscience and every free conscience. There will always be free souls in this world who will not be silenced by oil!...The exception here involves a type of very spiritual people who suffer a lot in the eyes of others but are jubilant and overtly happy deep within. They feel like this simply because they cling onto great hopes - they are resilient in the face of all hardship. They are supported by human rights activists from all over the world and feel overwhelmed by their kindness and solidarity. One of them once said, in front of a courtroom, after being threatened to be sent to prison by the presiding judge: "Even from prison, you can still light a candle."

Please consider signing the Amnesty International online petition demanding his freedom. You can be sure he is working to free all political prisoners.
The most profound conversations remain unspoken since the Orlando massacre. Many of us are still sitting in deep silence not believing something of this magnitude could happen in our lifetime. Not that we have't seen shootings before, not that we haven't seen mass deaths, there has been plenty since Stonewall, since AIDS, it's that we have borne witness to too much hate directed against us, we never expected that a gun, an American-made, bigoted assault weapon could be pointed at us, all of us, killing 49 of our young people, but hurting all of us. All at once. In one sacred space.

You see, gay clubs -- they're our school. Where we met our life teachers who filled the blank pages of history books that never acknowledged our existence. They are the places where many of us learned to wake up, yes, wake up, and quickly learn to make up for the lost time of our youth in schools where we couldn't love openly, or stare at someone with desire for the fear of being bullied again, of hearing the word "maricon" one more time on a day when the wound finally healed from a taunting the week before, or go up to someone we were crushing on even for a moment or two. Gay bars -- these are the places where we met historians who freely shared their personal stories and told us about secret places where we could find each other again after daybreak.

You see, gay clubs -- they're our church. Where we found peace in the noise. Where our age-old prayers to the stars were heard. They are places where we worshipped desire, where we opened our hearts to others, the Jesus-type-of-love rendered upon those without judgment or lament, even for an hour or two, we managed to show someone that we could be as normal as those who privately and publicly condemned us for not being like them. They are places where we weep quietly over drinks and confess to the bartenders, the willing Jesus, personal sufferings only people like us could understand. Gay bars -- they are places where our internal demons continue to test us, where we heal the scars from being labeled an abomination way too many times and being hated way too early in our lives for just being born this way.

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You see, gay clubs -- they're our public park. Our weekend picnics where we satiated our hunger for air. They are the places that pulled us in because there are no other places open enough to breathe and celebrate. Where we learned to drink. In the height of our inebriation, we met people we were not supposed to meet, lovers who would teach us what we should have learned a long time ago, the way you straight people grew up, secretly had sex in your parent's house, fell in love in summer camps, at weekend parties that we attended with our straight masks on. Gay bars -- these are the places, the tight smoky places, that slowly remove our masks, week after week, partner after partner, drink after drink, broken heart after broken heart, the rebellious type of awakening, gestures of hope and survival, so the next time we meet someone who will call us an abomination, we know that we are not alone anymore.

You see, gay clubs -- they're our family reunion. Where we found the brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts and even the parents who were missing in the past lives we have lead, the new family who saw us for what we were as soon as we accepted their embrace. We didn't have to explain ourselves to each other. Our stories, all of them, smelled of the same beginnings, the same muffled screams. And from each other we learned how we could continue to weave our stories to become functioning members of our communities, to speak aloud, and scream when we needed to. Gay bars -- these are the places, the crowded, noisy places that sang our new meaning, where the words of familiar music finally meant something good because the message was not appropriated by people whose lifestyles made ours look like we didn't deserve the music at all.

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You see, gay clubs -- they're our theatre. Where we became Madonna, Cher, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, RuPaul, Cindy Lauper. Where we broke all standards of dressing because the attention deprived of us growing up was finally attainable. Boys didn't have to wear dresses behind locked doors anymore, afraid of being caught by a punishing relative. Gay bars -- these are the places where we became drag queens at any night of our choosing, where genders are crossed, and labels are torn. Our movements are born at the first knowing that we have never been alone, that there are so many people like us who have felt the same way since we were born, normal as a girl in pants, as a boy-princess, secrets held so dear for years, decades, until the clubs set us free.

You see, gay clubs -- they're our revolution. Our Stonewall. Our history. Our march. Our true rainbow flag. Our Martha P. Johnson. Our Sylvia Rivera. Our Puerto Rican and black transwomen who started the riots and fought for pride, only to be whitewashed into the fringes. Gay bars -- these are places where corners have colors, where we learned the double whammy of being LGBT of color, that even in a community where we thought we belonged, there exists people who look down on us while they savor the privileges of one human right gained after another, and put the rest of us in the shadows. These are the places where the forgotten within oppressed communities still struggle for visibility and recognition, whether it's Latin Night or another ethnic night, where "No Asians, No Blacks, No Fats, No Fems" are a battlecry for inclusion, a reminder that even in a community that raises a rainbow flag, the blood of oppression still drips from the corners.

On Sunday, June 12th, a deranged man broke into our school, our church, our theatre, our public park, our family reunion, our revolutionary space, invoking all the mass shootings of the past decade -- all at once, in one sacred space -- and left many of us dead. His intent was clear, triggered by hate rhetoric that he breathed in for years from homophobic religions and political establishments. He knew the LGBT clubs are our sacred space. He knew the impact his murderous spree would make. What he didn't know is that where the floor of sacrificial blood flows, the seed of a new revolution will grow.

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Exactly what's behind the Bahraini government's thinking in provoking a new political crisis is hard to read, but in the last three weeks it has taken a series of astonishingly inflammatory steps, presumably with the intention of goading opposition protests. It's a risky policy, likely to produce significant instability and a fresh round of large scale protests. Since May 30 the main opposition group Al Wefaq has been suspended, its leader Sheikh Ali Salman has had his jail sentence increased from four to nine years, activists have been prevented from attending the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Bahrain's Foreign Minister lashed out angrily at senior U.N. and U.S. officials, leading dissident Zainab al Khawaja was forced out the country, and prominent human rights defender Nabeel Rajab was arrested and taken into custody. Then today, leading Shia cleric Sheikh Isa Qassim was stripped of his citizenship. This amounts to the most ferocious assault on Bahrain's civil society and peaceful opposition since the large scale violent crackdown in 2011. Bahrain's powerful allies in London and Washington can no longer insist Bahrain is moving in the right direction, or brandish token reforms as evidence of progress. What has triggered this outburst is baffling. The opposition was largely moribund, offering no threat to the ruling family. The international community was losing interest in Bahrain, and the regime seems to be sitting comfortably, albeit with mounting economic worries and a struggling oil price. But totalitarian governments tend to crave total control, even when it amounts to self-harm. The removal of Sheikh Qassim's Bahraini nationality has provoked the largest protests in Bahrain for years, and at the time of writing a large scale sit-in is developing outside his home. In response Hezbollah has predictably called for Bahrain "to express anger and rage decisively." Tehran must be loving this new mess the Bahrain government is creating for itself. This is all very worrying for the State Department, which is due any day now to produce an assessment of how the Bahrain regime has implemented key human rights reforms in the last five years. Whatever the report says, we have clearly been pushed into new territory over the last three weeks.
There is a strong stench coming up from the cobblestones in Boston. And the more we dig, the worse it gets. (Start with first article.)

On March, 31, 2016, Verizon Cellco Partners, D/B/A Verizon Wireless, signed a full, 71 page, detailed agreement (and appendixes) to offer wireless services, including DAS, (Distributed Antenna System; small cell, fiber-to-the-antenna)--in the City of Boston.

Yet, there is no 'FiOS TV' Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) agreement or details about the Boston deployment to 100% of the City, which was reported by the media; no maps, no time line--just a bait and switch and a lot of questions.

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America's East Coast is affected: And it concerns everyone, residences and businesses alike, on the entire US East Coast, from Massachusetts to Virginia, as all fiber to the home deployments have been halted, (except to complete existing contracts)--and this is a road map of what to expect from Verizon.

Here's an excerpt:

Boston has waited years to get FiOS TV--a fiber optic wire to the home for broadband, internet and cable TV service.

The Boston Globe wrote:

"Verizon is finally ready to offer its high-speed fiber optic service to Boston -- a victory for city officials who have long sought meaningful competition for high-speed Internet and TV service in a city dominated by Comcast Corp. "Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the Verizon move Tuesday, a $300 million investment that will roll out in select neighborhoods beginning this summer but will take six years to cover the whole city. Boston has also agreed to speed up permitting for the infrastructure upgrade and to begin the process of licensing Verizon as a cable TV provider."

But, the City of Boston residents and businesses were deceived. This was never the plan. The Plan is to substitute wireless for the wires, including fiber optic wires for FiOS TV. Just read the press coverage. There's no mention that this is a 'wireless first' project.

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"Verizon to build $300M fiber network in Boston"

"Verizon will bring its fiber-optic FiOS network to Boston over the next six years, city and company officials announced..."

And the City had been asking Verizon to bring fiber optic FiOS to the City for years.

The Boston Herald reported, October 15, 2015:



"City can't convince Telecom giant to expand into Boston" "Boston promised to roll out the red carpet for Verizon if the company would expand its high speed FiOS service across the city, but the telecom giant at a hearing yesterday told the City Council no thanks.

"Administration officials and city councilors told Verizon representatives they would reduce regulations, help with permits and make the city an extraordinarily welcoming place to build a network. "The city is willing to do whatever we need to do to facilitate private broadband investment in a way that is beneficial to all of Boston," said Jascha Franklin-Hodge, chief information officer for the city."

This is not about wired broadband--This is a bait and switch.

First, Fierce Telecom's coverage tells us that the Verizon plan for Boston was driven by wireless.

Fierce Telecom: May 19, 2016

Verizon's Shammo: Our Boston FiOS build was driven by LTE needs "Verizon's (NYSE: VZ) recent announcement to bring FiOS to Boston -- one of the cities that was initially left out of its initial build target -- was driven by a desire to fulfill its wireless LTE and business service desires, its top financial executive said. "Shammo added that 'at this point in time we're focused on Boston only because wireless was going to densify Boston for LTE and that's what made sense'."

Motley Fool details that this was about cost savings--including cutting jobs.

Motley Fool, on June 16th, 2016 discussed statements made by Fran Shammo, Verizon's CFO.

Motley Fool:



"Moving the wireline segment to wireless "Verizon's biggest potential for margin and cash flow improvements comes from migrating some of its wireline operations to its wireless business. To that end, Verizon is working on developing and deploying 5G technology to bring fixed wireless broadband to people's homes using its wireless network."

Shammo stated:

"We are incurring the capital to install those small cells today to deliver LTE. I will come over the top and just install 5G into that cell, and then the only thing that happens beyond that is what happens in the home that I would be doing with FiOS today, but at a much reduced cost because there's no labor to dig up your front lawn, lay in fiber. I'll be able to stick something, whether it's on your window or somewhere, to receive that line of sight signal, deliver it to a router, and then you have WiFi in the home.

Motley Fool continues:

"As a result, Verizon's home Internet service would require much less labor and no extra capital expenses. Additionally, Verizon would be able to expand its home internet service nationwide, wherever it's built out a dense LTE network, producing more scale for the business. The spectrum required for 5G -- 28 gigahertz or 39 gigahertz, depending on the standard the FCC sets -- is widely available today, so that expense won't break the bank, either. "While the Verizon strike affected earnings a bit more than initially expected, there doesn't appear to be much potential for prolonged impacts from renegotiations with the unions. Furthermore, Verizon has a plan to reduce the amount of labor it needs for its in-home broadband service that should produce better margins and scale for the business in the long run."

But this is what should start the investigations. On March 31, Verizon Wireless - that's right, wireless -- signed a detailed agreement with Boston to do wireless, and to do DAS, distributed antenna systems; small wireless cells that are attached to a fiber optic wire.

Verizon Wireless-City of Boston Agreement:

And there are maps at the back of this agreement of historical preservation areas and specific needs of these areas - and they are in Boston proper. And while these maps could be part of the City of Boston's wireless agreements, the pictures and diagrams of the poles all have Verizon's logo attached to them - so we believe that the wireless build out is the entire city--not only in the limited areas that are supposed to have fiber to the home.

This listing of just Boston streets and alleys goes on for over 9 pages.







Verizon-City of Boston Cooperation Agreement--Toilet Paper Is More Useful.

I go searching and find that the City of Boston and Verizon have an official signed "Cooperation Agreement"; it's only 4 pages: the wireless agreement is 71 pages.

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It's like the wireless agreement. It doesn't mention FiOS; it doesn't mention "fiber to the home", and it is filled with wireless references.



Even though 'wireless' is in every paragraph, this Cooperation Agreement states that the construction is NOT being done by Verizon Wireless (or for Verizon Wireless) - but as part of the state utility's wireline budget and its rights of way, and it classified as "Title II" and part of the existing state utility. And this paragraph says it is 'removing the copper' but never mentions wireless will be using these networks...

And the final kicker: The next few paragraphs never mention doing 100% of the entire city. It does not say Verizon is going to even do other areas. It says--- the City and Verizon will 'examine' the needs--of other areas. It DOES NOT say that they will 'complete' even the areas listed above, like Roxbury; there are no penalties or fines, or discussions or maps.





And it never mentioned fiber to the home or FiOS TV--i.e., it never mentions what was reported by the media over the last few months.



Con-Collusion

This is unbelievable. When I started this investigation I hadn't known there was a signed contract for wireless and a piece of toilet paper for an agreement which never mentioned fiber to-the-home or FiOS TV or has anything about an actual deployment past the beginning areas. Instead, it reveals a plan for wireless that, it appears, is going to be using the state utility--Title II, fiber optic wired networks- and paid for by wireline phone customers.

This means that the entire state has also been deceived as, instead of properly upgrading and maintaining the copper networks, they are playing games to divert the construction budgets to a separate company - Verizon Wireless - so that they can make more money and get rid of 'labor'.

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And this means that the entire East Coast has been conned as well as Verizon has no plans to do any other city - and if they do, they will use this wireless con--even when the wireline customers are footing the bills.

As we detailed in New York, Verizon received multiple rate increases to do 'massive deployment of fiber optics'--(which was diverted to fund wireless). Doesn't this violate both state and federal laws? Verizon Wireless is not the wireline franchise holder, yet it is controlling the wireline fiber build out for wireless.

Everyone who lives in the Verizon 'footprint' - not to mention the entire United States east coast, from Massachusetts to Virginia, should start demanding investigations of the wireless cross-subsidies.

And Boston? Did the Mayor and staff actually sign this agreement knowing it had nothing to do with bringing a fiber to the home service to customers?

There is absolutely NO evidence to show that based on this bathroom paper-based 4 page cooperation agreement that the areas mentioned will be completed, or that any other part of the City of Boston will ever get FiOS wired services.

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A serial about two artists with incurable neurological disease sharing fear, frustration and friendship as they push to complete the most rewarding creative work of their careers.



Read Episode Twenty-One: Diagnosing the Diagnostics Or, start at the beginning: An Illness's Introduction. Find all episodes here

In the weeks following her July 2013 MSA diagnosis, Hadley hustled to meet the design proposal submission deadline for the Montana Women's Mural competition. The mural, which would hang permanently on the third floor wall flanking the Montana State Capitol building's grand staircase, would be a dream commission for any artist. The work was to commemorate the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in Montana by depicting women's contributions as community builders throughout the state's history. Noting that of the forty existing art pieces in the Capitol building's permanent collection, only seven included an image of a woman, two women legislators had initiated the Senate bill to establish the commissioning of the mural. The project's guidelines stipulated that the work not depict any one, recognizable woman but rather, represent Montana's anonymous "unsung heroines" in their diverse roles on ranches, in their tribes, government, businesses and as founders of schools, theaters, libraries, and hospitals.

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As a strong community contributor, feminist, and the mother of a daughter, Hadley was deeply inspired by the project's objectives; ideas and images for a narrative about women's roles in Montana's history came to her fast and furiously. But the day before she planned to drive her design proposal from Missoula to Helena, the mural project's administrator called Hadley and the other finalist to tell them that budget constraints had forced them to put the project indefinitely on hold. Hadley had mixed feelings about this development. On the one hand, she'd put almost everything else aside to complete a design she was excited about; on the other, she was exhausted and had been worrying about how she would execute the mural if she was given the commission. Maybe it would be a blessing in disguise if the project was canceled.

But losing the mural commission and its substantial fee would mean a bigger financial burden for Hadley and John in the coming year. Ever resourceful, Hadley researched best-selling author Stephen King's Haven Foundation and decided to apply for a grant. King started the Haven Foundation after being struck by a car while walking along the road in 1999. When it took ten months to heal enough to be productive again, he realized how extremely vulnerable a freelance artist's livelihood can be. The Haven Foundation grants funds to artists who have suffered career-threatening disabilities from illness or injury, or have lost their workplaces to natural disasters or other catastrophes. Hadley's prognosis and increasing disability, as well as her enormous medical bills from the past few years would make her a strong candidate for a grant.

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Again and again, I was amazed by Hadley's resourcefulness and perseverance. Anyone else confronting her physical, financial and professional challenges might have been deterred, even if temporarily. But Hadley had found her way to a place of equanimity. How she described this shift at the time says as much about the excruciating difficulty of her medical ordeal as it does about her capacity for acceptance, compassion and joy:

COME BE WITH ME

I am entering a very peaceful place. There has been so much noise and distraction through this medical process, most of it with a lot of negativity attached, and as I further accept my diagnosis I am slowly leaving behind chunks and pieces of the past year/years. My body feels so light and free. I feel like I have almost let go of all of the weight I have been hauling along with me. All the noise was pulling me further from myself, isolating me. With the release of it I feel centered in a way I have never experienced. I feel open. I feel so calm. I feel happy.

I am not afraid of the road ahead. The road feels quiet and calm. It feels simple. It is inviting and comforting. It is bringing me closer to people I love and allowing me to be with them. I feel like the wall I started building when I was young is starting to come down and what I see on the other side is beautiful. I am not only seeing what is on the other side, but for the first time I am bringing it down for others to come be with me.

Somehow this centering and acceptance is bringing me to a new place that I have never been before. I have always wanted to be here, but I didn't know how to get there. I knew this existed, but somehow I was so removed I felt like I would never be able to get close enough to touch it. It is amazing. I finally see myself and everything in my life is so clear. It is as if I have been hovering someplace outside of myself, and my shell has been maneuvering through life. I'm suddenly struck by the feeling of being back in my body and feeling what it is to live again.

My passion is coming into focus. I have been public through the arts, but my true passion lies with my people. I feel very content because I know I am connected to the people I love and that the connection lives and breathes beyond my physical presence. I will always be present in some way; I don't see my time as ever ending. As I move forward, I hope to bring people closer to me. It is hard for me to feel their sadness, and I want to bring them with me to this place of peace. I want to be with them, support them, to love them. I want them to come be with me.

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Would I be able to go with Hadley "to this place of peace"? I wondered. On many days, it seemed impossible not to become preoccupied with the painful inevitability, as I aged, of losing people in my life. Just months before Hadley's MSA diagnosis, one of my closet friends was diagnosed with metastatic cancer. Like Hadley, Sylvia was a very informed patient, dogged in her medical research. She'd survived breast cancer ten years earlier, but now, four major hospitals were unable to agree on what kind of cancer she had, making a treatment plan unclear. Throughout the summer, Sylvia endured rounds of chemotherapy with remarkable good humor, sending me photos of her new hair from the wig shop and planning outings for her weeks off from the poison. Every time I saw her laugh, I wanted to cry: How much longer would I get to see her blue eyes dancing as she delivered her incisive analysis of the news? One day she told me, "I always thought I'd be around to take care of you when your Parkinson's got bad." Her telescoping punched me in the gut.

Hadley's and Sylvia's courage was an important reality check when my mood slumped because my agent hadn't been able to sell Dream House to more than thirty publishers. A couple of them explained they could only take books that would be "big" and one of them lamented that publishing was at its "lowest point in my long career." The rejections were generous, at least, and it seemed that in some cases, I was in the right place at the wrong time.

Armsden does a marvelous job of (blah-blah-blah)...I was really impressed by (blah-blah-blah)...But as much as I admire the book, I confess I'm not sure I see the best way to really break this one out. It seems that this otherwise wonderful business becomes harder and harder, the market being what it is. So, with admiration, I should pass.



When July was gone without a publisher in sight, I decided it would be unhealthy to remain in waiting mode. I opened the file for the other novel I'd been sporadically writing for five years. Working around commitments to family and friends, a house full of dust and contractors who were six months into our remodel, and my symptoms, I made myself sit at my laptop and type words that would push my story along. For two weeks, everything I wrote was slow and sticky, as if my fingers were connected to a donut, not to my brain. The donut was dense, full of fat and static.

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Finally, I realized: My real life was out-shouting the voice of my fiction. Every time I spoke with Hadley, I felt an urgency to listen and rehash details, to wonder aloud with her, to dissect the characters and dialogue in her life that stood out so vividly. I recognized this urgency as the thrust that often launches a new writing project.

The troubled teens in my novel could wait! It was Hadley's story I wanted to tell.

Hadley was very excited about the idea. She thought her experience would resonate with others trying to get diagnoses and raise awareness about neurological diseases. Braiding together our two stories was a way for me to be with her and to process my experience with Parkinson's. I'd witnessed the empowerment fellow Parkies gained from throwing themselves into PD advocacy, education and fundraising, and I had a feeling that through writing, I too could put Parkinson's on a leash, instead of the other way around.

That October, while I was acutely aware of how hard Hadley and Sylvia were working to make the most of each sick day, honoring their bodies' limitations and struggling to remain equanimous in the face of terminal illness, my husband, Lewis, flaunted his disregard for his mortality by taking his hands off his bicycle handlebars going downhill at 30 miles per hour. After hitting a bump in the road, he flew off his bike, breaking three ribs, his collarbone and mangling his left hand so gruesomely it took three hours of surgery and subsequent skin grafts to return it to 85% functionality.

I would like to say that the first emotion I felt -- after fear and then profound relief that Lewis was alive without head injury or internal bleeding -- was compassion. But it was anger. At that moment in my life, just being human seemed harrowing enough; I had no patience for dangerous sport. "What were you thinking, taking your hands off the handlebars?" I asked him a few days after the accident. "You have a big life, a family and twenty-five employees who depend on you." Lewis confessed he frequently rode for short stretches with no hands and had a "speed problem;" since he was a boy, he's loved going fast. This latter fact I knew from being his passenger in our car, not to mention the four vintage motorcycles in our garage that he occasionally raced. What alarmed me was what he said next: "Even though I know cyclists have accidents all the time, I have never once imagined it happening to me. It's like I lack an inner warning system that would tell me I'm being too risky." It was a revelation for both of us and I was grateful for his insight and honesty, albeit arrived at the hard way.

Human bodies are miraculously designed, but we are not cars that come with different safety ratings. Yet, even though we are all constructed of flesh and bone, vulnerable to the same injuries and illnesses, and even though we all will die, each of us has our own special relationship with mortality. Illness or accident will bring most people face-to-face with the specter of death; some survivors, like Stephen King, will make the consequences of human vulnerability a cause. Among the unaffected, however, are those who curiously lack an inner sense of what threatens their survival, or might block such threats from their consciousness, as if the mere thought of them might be a harbinger of death.

For sure, there is an exhilarating freedom in living life as if immortal. But confronting one's mortality can bring about a different kind of unburdening, one that comes with a heightened appreciation for life. In 2015, upon learning he had terminal cancer, the renowned neurologist and author Oliver Sacks wrote:

Over the last few days, I have been able to see my life... with a deepening sense of the connection of all its parts...my predominant feeling is one of gratitude. I have loved and been loved; I have been given much and I have given something in return; I have read and traveled and thought and written...Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and adventure.

Dr. Sacks wrote his essay just a few weeks after being diagnosed, and six months before his death. Hadley's piece, Come Be With Me, describes a very similar shift in life view even though she still had years to live. Practitioners of mindfulness know the rewards of feeling grateful and present in the moment, but what if all of us, even without facing terminal illness, could attain this gratitude for life, could seize on it right now as if at any moment, the bodies that provide us the power of sentience could be broken?

The passion, vigor and altitude in Sacks' and Hadley's words prove that we can find thrill right where we are; even riding carefully, hands firmly on the handlebars, we can let go, we can soar.

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More than 65 million people are displaced globally; here's what you can do about this global crisis.

On World Refugee Day, consider this statistic: Refugees today are displaced for 17 years on average--almost twice as long as 20 years ago. Since half of the 60 million people who have been forced to flee are children, this "lost generation" could spend their entire childhood without a place to call home.

The conflict in Syria alone--now into its sixth year-- has put more than 11 million people on the move.

"The scale of the suffering is devastating. Each of the millions of displaced Syrians is an individual uprooted from a full life, a career, a loved one," says Kevin Hartigan, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) regional director for Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia.

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In recognition of World Refugee Day, here are seven ways you can make a difference in the lives of those who've had to leave one of their most cherished possessions behind: their homes.

1. RAISE AWARENESS: The Syrian Civil War has led to massive displacement. Watch this video and share it with your network to help raise awareness about the plight of Syrian refugees. (Video is available for download and embedding via YouTube)

2. LEARN MORE: The more you know about this crisis, the more you understand its underlying causes, the better you will be able to teach others. Continued warfare in Syria and violence in places like Iraq and Afghanistan has contributed to the surge of refugees from those countries. Meanwhile, deteriorating economic conditions in places like Sub-Saharan Africa has led people to Europe in search of a better life just as violence in Central American neighborhoods has sent people looking for safety.

3. DONATE: Donate to those organizations like Catholic Relief Services that are providing immediate life-saving assistance to those in need.

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4. ADVOCATE: For years, countries in the Middle East have been sheltering the largest number of Syrians and Iraqis. Urge members of your Congressional delegation to continue and expand humanitarian assistance to help refugees in these countries, as well as those burdened by this new migration.

5. USE SOCIAL MEDIA: Connect with other like-minded people and organizations that are advocating for refugees through your social media channels. Look on Twitter for the latest updates on the #RefugeeCrisis.

6. SUPPORT REFUGEES IN THE UNITED STATES: Let Capitol Hill know this issue matters to you and we need to do more together. Support organizations such as Migration and Refugee Services and your local Catholic Charities. You can also volunteer to help refugees in your own area through local refugee resettlement centers.

7. PUSH FOR PEACE: Remember that until the bloodshed stops in their homelands, these refugees will continue to live in limbo. Until people have economic opportunities, they will travel to security for themselves and their families. Pope Paul VI said "Development is the new name for peace." So become an advocate for peace and development because 17 is too many years to lose.

Additional Information:

For additional resources on the Syrian refugee crisis and World Refugee Day, click here.

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When my grandparents were displaced from Northern Palestine to Lebanon in 1948, they had no way of knowing that they would be the first of many generations of refugees to follow. Despite losing their house, their jobs, and most of their possessions, they held onto hope that one day soon they would be able to return to their home and pick up their lives where they had left off. But they became stateless... and so did my parents... and so did my generation... and so did the generation that followed. By the time I entered the world as a refugee, children being born without a true home had already become a terrible normality.

In 2000, World Refugee Day was established to coincide with Africa Refugee Day on June 20. Just over a decade later, the Syrian Civil War displaced more than 9 million people, creating a global migrant crisis that has frequented international headlines ever since.

Fast-forward to today, more than 60 million people worldwide have been forcibly displaced from their homes. About one-third of those displaced are living under refugee status, the majority of whom are forced to live in overcrowded camps with inhumane living conditions.

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Many attempt to escape by migrating to Europe, but without the resources to secure proper travel arrangements, thousands die every year attempting the voyage. Overcrowded and poorly built boats have been known to capsize and kill hundreds at a time. Their bodies are tossed ashore by the Mediterranean with such regularity that it has become a matter of statistics, rather than individual cases of inhumanity.

Last year, I wrote an article for World Refugee Day hoping it would help shed light on the dire situation of our global migrant crisis. And since then, countless reports, stories, and articles have continued to pour in, reminding us that the crisis is far from over.

The world knows the problem too well, yet awareness of the refugees' plight only helps so much. That's why instead of writing about the crisis again this year, I've opted to reach out directly to those who are displaced--not only as someone who has witnessed the crisis firsthand as a journalist, but also by sharing my personal experience of growing up stateless.

The following is my guide to navigating life as a refugee. I write this not only for those displaced, but for all of humanity, as no person can ever predict when a war, fire, or flood will displace them from their home. Over the years, the world has proved that when it comes to displacement, no region or person is immune.

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RULE #1: MAKE HOPE YOUR OXYGEN

So now you have lost everything. The reality of becoming displaced is jarring, but it's paramount that you don't allow your current circumstances to steal your hope for the future. Refugees know better than anyone that material possessions are not permanent. This is what makes hope the most valuable asset to an asylum-seeker. Because unlike most things in this world, hope is one of the few things nobody can take away from you.

When I was growing up in a Palestinian refugee camp, I hoped for many things, but a proper education was near the top of the list. I knew that an education for someone in my position was a long-shot as Palestinians could not attend public schools in Lebanon--but I never let that reality steal my hope for higher learning. I studied as hard as I could, and one day I was fortunate enough to earn a high school scholarship, and ultimately would obtain another to attend university in Canada.

When you're a refugee, opportunities like the ones I received are few and far between. By using hope as the fuel to your fire, you can be assured that you're ready to capitalize should an opportunity ever arise.

When you lose everything, hope becomes your life force, your oxygen--you must maintain it at all costs. Harness it and let it fuel you to transform nothing into something incredible.

RULE #2: YOU ARE A FIGHTER

Regardless of whether you were born a refugee or became one later in life, you must fight for a new beginning. Your war is not fought on the battlefield, but rather on the stage of daily life. You must fight to maintain your dreams and goals. You must fight the laws of society that seek to discriminate against you and others who share your plight. But most of all, you must fight to survive.

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Syrian refugee Ameer Mehtr showed the world just how fiercely the displaced will fight in order to find a new beginning. Ameer left his home of Damascus after his friend was killed by a government sniper and his family's home was destroyed in the crossfire of civil war, eradicating whatever finances his family had left. Ameer fled to Turkey, and subsequently swam across an 8-kilometer stretch of the Mediterranean to the Greek island of Samos. The trip took 7 hours.

"Every second of the way I thought I was going to die," Mehtr said. "But I kept going. I just kept looking at the cliffs in front of me and thinking 'There is my future!'"

A refugee must be creative and resourceful to find every possible avenue in regards to education and employment. The internet today has no borders, meaning there are occupations around the world that will allow you to work remotely. The United Nations has called for all businesses to utilize whatever resources they have to help alleviate massive unemployment among the displaced. You can visit the UN website to see a list of businesses who have answered the UN's call with pledges. There, you can examine what type of programs can be utilized to help provide yourself more opportunities for employment and education in the future.

Like Ameer, a time will come where you must decide whether to accept your fate or take control of your own destiny. Don't give up without a fight.

RULE #3: SEEK LOVE IN THE WORLD

While it's important to fight, you must also keep in mind what it is you are fighting for. A refugee fights because they love their family, their friends, their homes, and themselves. In times of great turmoil, it's easy to lose sight of what matters most.

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Not everyone in the world is looking down at you, and you are not everyone's problem. Numb yourself to the naysayers who do not understand your journey. If you find yourself feeling alone, remind yourself that there are many people out there who wish to help you seek out a better life.

I will never forget the kindness of those who helped me move from Lebanon to Canada, and the opportunity I was given to fulfill my dream of obtaining a higher education. In the worst of times, you may find it hard to believe that there are those out there who love and wish to help you. Keep an open heart, otherwise you may not recognize when somebody truly has your best interests in mind.

RULE #4: DON'T LET GO OF YOUR PRIDE

Being a refugee will naturally affect a person's pride. Some people may misperceive displacement as your defining quality, but nothing could be further from the truth. Remember that it is the person inside that defines who you are, and not whatever outside circumstances you may have found yourself in.

Identification will always be an issue when you are a refugee. I remember feeling self-conscious and a little embarrassed the first time I left Lebanon. Whenever I presented my travel document to an agent, they acted as if they had never seen anything like it before in their life. It was on that trip that I was first given the label of 'Stateless.' While I was able to complete my journey to Canada successfully, there were many moments of self-consciousness along the way.

I also remember distinctly how uneasy I felt when swarms of humanitarians, journalists, and photographers would visit our camp regularly in search of a story. As a journalist today, it's easy for me to reconcile that these people were doing their jobs, and many had nothing but good intentions. But as a youth, it seemed almost as if they were there only to highlight just how less fortunate we were than the rest of the world.

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The outside world's perception and acceptance (or lack thereof) of refugees is also going to try your pride at times. In fact, the more you experience the rest of the world, the more you realize how polarizing and misunderstood the migrant crisis can be for outsiders. More than half of the United States' governors made it known that they oppose allowing refugees of the Syrian Civil War to resettle in their states. Most Arab countries' laws make it extremely difficult for a displaced person to obtain a work permit or visa, and some feelings of rejection may begin to eat away your self-esteem.

My life was changed forever when I was given a chance to resettle in Canada. Today, my refugee origins are a source of great pride, and it should be for you too. We are the embodiment of strength, persistence, and resilience. We are the ones who will never give up. By refusing to break under the pressure of great adversity, you become empowered to write your own story, in which you are the hero. Never let anyone take your pride away.

RULE #5: THE WORLD IS YOUR HOME NOW

Finding a new home does not mean you have forgotten or given up your old one. It's true that your home will always be worth returning to (although it might not be what it once was). We all have a home that we long for, but obsessing over the idea of return may deter you from seeking a new beginning. It's never too late to start again, and you'd be surprised by how big the world truly is. While nothing will be quite like your home, you may find that there are parts of the world which suit you better than you could have ever imagined.

Never, ever feel as though you are homeless, even if you are living in a tent. After I completed my education, I took every opportunity I could to see the world. What I found is that everywhere is unique and beautiful in its own way. You don't have to limit yourself to a single home, either. Through my travels, I've met so many wonderful people and experienced so many beautiful places that I now feel as though I have many homes.

Family is important, money is helpful, and nice houses are great. But you don't need these things to have a great home. A great home is anywhere that you feel you can be yourself, happy and loved by those surrounding you.

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THE NEXT STEP

All refugees, even after gaining another citizenship, must always remember where they have come from. Once you have been a refugee, you will always remember being a refugee, no matter how many homes you make for yourself in the future. You will maintain your hope, your pride, your determination, and all of the other traits that were vital when you were still stateless.
He's a political outsider whose angry words have come to dominate public discourse. He's a gifted communicator whose power to hold a crowd has been magnified by new social media. He's a doomsayer who cares little for rational argument because his opinions tap a deeper truth, and who promises to banish the fear and anger that he himself has stoked in his audience.

He is, of course, Girolamo Savonarola (1452-1498), the mid-level Dominican friar who exploded from obscurity in the 1490s to ignite the original Bonfire of the Vanities in Florence, Italy. Florence was home to Michelangelo, Machiavelli and the Medici, and was the heart of Renaissance Europe--its populace famously liberal, cultured and educated. But with public sermons and printed pamphlets, Savonarola bound together those Florentines who felt left behind, economically or culturally. His daily sermons laid blame upon leaders who had gone morally soft, set bad policies and made stupid deals with foreign powers. He and his zealous supporters, though a small minority, seized control of the city's councils and swept away the 'crooked' establishment. From there, Savonarola launched an ugly campaign of public purification, radicalized laws against homosexuality, and attacked artists and intellectuals with acts of intimidation (like his historic Bonfire). He also rolled back political correctness. In his sermons, Savonarola renamed the city he ruled the 'Christian and Religious Republic of Florence'.

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His success was equally the failure of the pope, the Medici and other established leaders to help the populace cope with the anxieties of the times--many of which were well-founded. Ottoman Turks loomed like a dark cloud on the horizon: they had cut off Asia, occupied Greece and now terrorized Italian shores. The Medici patriarch Lorenzo 'the Magnificent', Florence's de facto ruler and a symbol of the city's splendor, fell ill and died in 1492. His unimpressive heir, Piero 'the Unfortunate', inspired no confidence. In 1494, the people's doubts were proven well-founded, when Charles VIII of France invaded Italy and carried away a good deal of Florentine wealth in the deal Piero struck to buy peace. In a general way, Savonarola had called it all: if the people did not wash away the weakness that was corrupting their institutions and its leaders, then God would send a new Flood to do it for them.

But the same populist pandering that put Savonarola into power also led to his downfall. The danger with winning people's trust by peddling false solutions to the wrong problems is that reality will eventually break that trust. The illusion of prophecy inevitably shatters, the ugly truth is revealed, and popular support abruptly melts. Enemies are quick to seize their chance.

The year after Savonarola lit his triumphant Bonfire, he himself was hanged and burned in the very same square.
Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas and 2016 presidential candidate, pauses while speaking during a campaign event in Irvine, California, U.S., on Monday, April 11, 2016. Cruz swept the Republican National Convention delegate selection process in Colorado, displaying a strong grassroots organizational effort and greater popularity among the western state's most committed party activists. Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

After the Senate debate on the requirement for women to register for selective service, Senator Ted Cruz made an intriguing statement.

Mr. Cruz, who voted against the measure and had previously invoked his own daughters to underscore his opposition, said in a prepared statement, "I could not in good conscience vote to draft our daughters into the military, sending them off to war and forcing them into combat."

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Although not his primary intent, with this statement Senator Cruz made two important points. First, requiring women to register for selective service is altogether different from conscripting women into the military. The United States hasn't used conscription since 1973.

More importantly, Mr. Cruz implied that in order to send our men and women to war, Congress would need to--with a good conscience--vote. Before Senator Cruz's daughters could be drafted and sent to combat, Congress would have to both authorize the use of military force and pass legislation to modify the Military Selective Service Act and initiate conscription.

Mr. Cruz brings up an underlying question about the personal stake our leaders in Washington have in the use of military force. Fewer than one in five members of Congress have served in the military, and even less have children who currently serve. But, if the possibility existed that members of Congress could be sending their own sons and daughters to war, they would certainly further contemplate the gravity of their votes.

Creating a gender-equal selective service requirement would not only provide Congress with a more tangible stake in the use of military force, it should also make citizens examine the issue more closely. Civic participation is foundering in this country. Voter turnout is low, national service funding is constantly threatened, and the military struggles with recruiting.

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President Clinton told Congress in 1994 that "Maintaining the Selective Service System and draft registration provides a hedge against unforeseen threats...."

But what if the new gender-equal selective service system could do more than provide for military enlistment? What if the system could allow young citizens to become more civically engaged?

A national database of all 18-year-old U.S. citizens should also be an automatic voter registration process, allowing our country's newest adults to more easily participate in the democratic process.

Young people who complete a year of national service--like that promoted by General Stanley McChrystal--could be exempt from potential military conscription. After all, they would have already served their county.

Most importantly, any future reinstatement of the draft would not have to be in the form of a lottery--as it was before 1973. We have the technical capabilities today to enact a "smart draft," through which military recruiters could proactively target individual Americans with skills that are in high demand and short supply. For example, a smart draft in the wake of 9/11 could have sought out citizens with Arabic language skills, asked them to volunteer, and provided a monetary incentive for their service.

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Mr. Cruz has given us a lot to think about. Most crucially, we all have a role to play in the way the country manages our military, and we all might benefit from having a bit more at stake.
Group of People Waving Gay Pride Symbol Flags

Since the disturbing event that took place at the Pulse nightclub In Orlando, Florida where forty-nine people tragically lost their lives. Many have been inspired across the globe to express their love. Some are responding to this tragedy with their ally-ship and their truths.

My mind has been conditioned to not accept who I truly am.

Growing up, I hid my sexual identity from my family, which caused a load of stress for me. I've dated various people in the LGBTQ community, a lot who would want so badly for me to express my love for them, but I was terrified. My girlfriends were my "friends" that was the lie I was holding on to. I'd make up anything that wouldn't create suspicion for my mother. I would extend invitations to my house to the people I dated, and during those visits, I would sneak a quick touch of hands with them, before anyone saw, it became a game. Being playful, with my fingers crawling up their back, was a risk.

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I continued to give a little of myself to those who gave me their all. It wasn't fair, and I knew that. My mom, with her motherly intuition, found letters from lovers, even sex toys that I have to admit, weren't in better hiding places. When I confronted her, she turned away, swept it under the rug and we never spoke about my sexuality, or any relationship I was involved in. I tried explaining to her, that I dated between men and women. I thought maybe telling her this, she wouldn't think I was a complete sinner, because my attraction for men was still present. It didn't matter, she was silent and wanted me to be quiet too. I saw the obvious hurt that was on her face, it was the ultimate betrayal from me, and we never brought it up again.

In my early 20's I dated an amazing woman, but my family was still left in the dust. Like my relationships she was a mere "friend" nothing more. We had a blast together, adventures were planned for our future, but in the meantime, our adventures were parties! There were places where I truly felt safe and free, gay nightclubs, no one I knew, would be caught dead there, I was dancing with trustworthy friends and strangers that I knew wouldn't out me to anyone. It was a safe zone, my business was my business, and no one cared.

What happened at Pulse made my heart sink. I remembered all the times I had laughed and danced the night away with my friends In the LGBTQ community. Gay night clubs are sanctuaries, it's a safe landing, a quick escape from a rough day in a homophobic home.

I no longer want to hide in fear. It is the fear and hatred that has been programmed into our minds, from our homes, schools, churches, politicians and bigoted social media comments, that are stopping so many from living in their truth.

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Fear, is what some people want to instill in us after this tragic event.

I am bisexual, In the shadows of hatred I will live in my truth.



With rest comes awakened. This tragedy has sparked a nation, the conversation can no longer be put aside. Whether you are coming out as an ally or queer. We are visible.

Some may say that this is the "wrong time" to come out about their sexuality, I think they're missing the bigger picture. This is EXACTLY the right time, the time for visibility, to be open, and to extend a hand to the LGBTQ community, that is in need of love, solidarity, and allies, especially Queer POC, for us to be a part of more than one marginalized community, while also carrying the pain and hardships of being oppressed.

I will no longer be intimidated by hatred. We are devastated not defeated.
If you had black skin in Mississippi in 1964 your right to vote was not recognized. Voting was a privilege, and one only granted to white people. That is why my brother, Andrew Goodman, headed down to Mississippi. He believed all people are created equal and therefore all should have the right to vote.

June 21 marks the 52nd anniversary of the day that Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner were murdered by the Ku Klux Klan in an act of domestic terrorism. Andrew, James and Michael were a part of a team of one thousand young volunteers during Freedom Summer 1964. Their deaths shocked the nation and changed the course of history.
The latest scandal to roil French political waters resulted in the resignation last month of Denis Baupin, vice-president of the National Assembly, France's lower house of Parliament, following public accusations that he had sexually harassed female colleagues. A rising star in the Green Party (supposedly France's most feminist-friendly party), Baupin, 54, had not only physically assaulted his female colleagues but, when spurned, had threatened them with reprisals. In an immediate show of solidarity 16 current and former French women ministers, including Christine Lagarde, ex-minister of the economy, now head of the IMF; Roselyne Bachelot, ex-minister of health; and Cecile Duflot, ex-minister of housing and head of the environmentalist party, signed a "Statement Against Sexism," and the Paris prosecutor has announced an investigation.



Immediately afterwards, the avuncular Finance Minister Michel Sapin made a defensive public apology for his "inappropriate" behavior with a woman journalist at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The incredible fact is that Baupin's victims were all high-ranking officials in a major French party, but until now no one reported him even though the harassment and physical assaults had gone on for years and apparently were known about by party members of both sexes. He was nicknamed "The Octopus." One woman who had been assaulted by Baupin said that she became physically ill when she saw him wearing lipstick at a parade in support of International Women's Day.

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Only five years ago Dominique Strauss-Kahn, head of the IMF and a leading contender for the French presidency, was arrested for assaulting a female hotel worker in New York. It ruined his career (although Strauss-Kahn's allegedly abusive behavior toward women had long been an open secret), but until now the much-discussed fallout apparently didn't do much to encourage French women to come forward when they themselves were sexually harassed. The fact is that when women in France complain of this sort of abuse in the workplace they still risk being ostracized or worse, losing their jobs. And if they go to the police they are rarely taken seriously due to an institutionalized sexism that is rarely openly confronted.

It doesn't help that one of the most prominent feminist voices in France, Elisabeth Badinter, has said that women have made the mistake of "demonizing male sexuality" and are preoccupied by putting men on trial, which she calls a "dead end." So what's a woman to do if she suffers sexual harassment? And if there is a code of silence concerning harassment among some of the most successful, high-ranking women in the land, then what's to be done for the millions of Frenchwomen in low-echelon jobs: clerks, waitresses, office and factory workers, who are condemned to suffer in silence because the system is rigged against them, leaving them with no recourse. A feminist French revolution seems long overdue.

Earlier on Huff/Post50:
An important lesson in Hispanic family dynamics for media people.

This article is part of an ongoing Media Life series entitled "Catching the next big wave: Hispanic advertising." You can read previous stories by clicking here.

"With Latinos, talk to the man -- but sell to his wife," a used car dealer in Houston once told me in the early 1990s.

Spitting out a wad of chewing tobacco, he added, "She's the one calling the shots."

Despite the underlying sexism in the guy's advice, I recognized an element of truth. Decision-making is often a collective effort, even if one party believes it owns the process.

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In Hispanic marketing, the same line of thinking can apply to age demographics.

Most of the attention goes to younger Latino consumers -- particularly those bilingual Millennials whom Univision has dubbed "billennials" -- but smart marketers know there's value in addressing older folks, who hold huge sway over purchasing decisions.

This month Nielsen released its latest Hispanic consumer report, The New American Vanguard, Latinos 50+: Healthy, Wealthy and Wise, which spotlights the growing economic power of Boomer and Greatest Generation Latinos.

In 2015 they represent a tenth of their age cohort and will grow to 24 percent, or 42 million people, by 2060.

Among the key findings:

Life expectancy for U.S. Latinos right now is 83.5 years versus 78.7 for non-Hispanic whites.

Multigenerational living arrangements are the norm for only 20 percent of the total population 55+ but for 40 percent of Hispanics in that age group.

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Significant advantages in childcare, nourishment, travel and shopping come from communal living, including more free cash and more shared family experiences, including meals, plus more distinct TV viewing and purchasing behavior.

Communal living leads to shared purchasing decisions, spearheaded by the older generations.

So, what does the Nielsen study mean for media buyers and planners?

This report can service as a catalyst for addressing with clients a key cultural difference between the Hispanic and general markets.

If younger Latinos are more likely to live in a multigenerational household, then it's obvious buying decisions are going to be made differently than for the total U.S. target.

Most Hispanic media buys target adults age 18 to no older than 49. More plans should consider targeting 25-54, 18-54, or at least using 55+ as a secondary or tertiary demo.

The U.S. Army is an example of an account that understands the familial decision-making dynamic in Hispanic households.

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Through its ad agencies, Interpublic Group's Casanova Pendrill (planning) and independent shop d exposito & Partners (buying), the Army creates distinct media plans: one for males 18-24, called "Prospects," and another for persons 35-54, or "Influencers." Separate creative may be tailored for each campaign.

Another example could be in the automotive category.

If a certain model plans to reach 18-34s in the general market due to the car's price point and features, the manufacturer would be wise in the Hispanic market to use 35+ as a secondary demo to ensure it's reaching parents and grandparents, who likely will be consulted by the younger consumers before making such a large purchase.

Latinos often respect and honor their elders to a greater degree than the overall population -- it's a cultural thing.
"I'm not just a Republican, I'm a conservative Republican."

Yet she prefers Bernie over Trump and Clinton. And who did she vote for in 2008? Sheela Odom helped turn a red county blue with her vote for Barack Obama in 2008. At 57, Sheela Odom is just two years older than President Obama. However, she feels he was born in a vastly different world from hers.

Odom spent most of her life in Pitt County, home of East Carolina University. Life was relatively comfortable, economically speaking, until she lost her job as a clerk at an office equipment and supply company in 2009. The layoff forced her to move in with Mom and her stepfather around the time Odom turned 50. "Mom is 80. Her husband is a little bit younger.. He's a Southern Baptist preacher and he also does construction... I help them and they help me and it's a good fit right now."

Odom is now an Uber driver who pieces together other part time opportunities. I spoke to her in Greenville, the county seat.

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The transcript below has been lightly edited for clarity:

Sheela Odom: I just don't know if Trump would be good for the country. The country is going in the wrong direction. And I don't think Hillary is the answer because I think she is a liar. She claims to help the people that need the help and wants to help them but yet she goes out and she wears $12,000 shirts and I think that the Clintons have been very, um... What's the word for it? I don't think they've done the right things for the people. I do know that. That's my opinion. I think that they're hypocrites. And Bernie- he's an older fella, but I think he's got the American people in his heart. Even though I believe Bernie is a socialist! But, out of the three, I would have to go-- Out of the three I would have to go with Bernie.

David J Dent: So you're a conservative Republican who supported Bernie Sanders?

S: Yes.

D: Do you think he should fight Hillary all the way to the convention?

S: Well it's been said that it would hurt Hillary's chances if Bernie keeps going but in my opinion if there's any sort of a chance that he should continue to fight.... if Bernie thinks he's got any sort of a chance he should never give up.

D: What did you like about Bernie?

S: He's a down-to-Earth person. I think he speaks his mind, I think he's honest, and he'll tell you right away, 'I'm a socialist, I want to do this...' He's gonna actually raise taxes. There's no doubt about that. And it will hurt some people, but in the long run- like I say- I think he's got America at heart. You know, our best interests in his heart. I don't believe that the other two do.

###

S: I voted for Barack Obama when he was first in office but I did not vote for him second time around.

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D: You voted for Romney the second time? What bothered you about Obama's first four years?

S: It's not Obama himself. It's certainly not racism. People think racism. I'm certainly not a racist. I just believe that Obama -- he has an agenda to change America into what he wants it to be. And for me, I want America to stay like it's always been from its founding fathers and not that Obama's a bad man but he wants to change America. He wants to get out of the colonialism thing. He wants everybody to be equal, which I guess, wouldn't be great if we could all have the same, homes and cars? But until you get out there and work and make something of yourself, you never will. ,, If everybody could have the same thing, what reason would you have there to get out there and work if it's always given to you? And I believe Obama really does not want America to be the number one superpower anymore and I believe he's truly a Muslim. I don't have any problems with his life and where he comes from but I lie for my America to stay the same.

D: What did he do to give you that indication that he's a Muslim and that he wants to change America?

S: In everything that he does. I mean, it's absolutely everything. He... He's depleting our military, and he took away people when we were fighting in different places. He's taken away troops. And once you do that, if you've already won the war, at least where you're going to fight to free these people-- If you're fighting to free these people and then you decide to pull out a little bit too early, all the people that died trying to give these people freedoms was for nothing. You take the military away, you deplete your military, you weaken your country. Other peoples will come in and destroy you and that's what he's done. There's so many things I could say. And you know taxes and people. What is it? Benefits. All that kind of stuff. Welfare. It's good to help people but you need to let people start helping themselves so we can have a reason to get out there and work and not have everything handed to you... And that's just my beliefs... He's contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Muslim Brotherhood... And different radical Islamic groups that I think a whole lot of people know about.

D: He has? And where did you learn that?

S: And I learned that from my news outlets that I listen to... I guess you hear what you believe and you believe what you hear... And I've not only heard it from one group, because I've read it as well because I go online. But like I've told you before, it's hard to know exactly what all the truths are. And what are not truths. But that's my opinion from what I've learned and read and listened... You know, I love CNN, I've always listened to CNN, you know. News, and stuff like that. But, you know, just from what I've lived and learned and read and digested from things I've heard, I believe he's done that, yes.

D: What are your favorite media outlets? What news outlets that you watch and get most of your news and information.

S: Well I am a definite FOX and Friends... I mean like I said, I'm a conservative Republican. I just don't like the gentleman that's going to be our nominee. So I'm taking, like I say, the lesser of the two evils. Which is why I'd like Bernie. But when it comes right down to it, who would I vote for in the polls? If I went in and decided I was going to do in and vote, it would not be Hillary. It would not be Hillary. We got to take a chance at something different! Trump could go in there and destroy us. Totally destroy our country. But right now, in my opinion, it's not getting better, it's getting worse. That's my opinion.



D: What was it about Obama that made you vote for him in the first place?

S: Well like I say, I didn't know anything about Obama other than he was from Chicago. What was he, a senator or something? Okay. And he just looked fresh and clean-- I don't mean clean in the physical sense-- I didn't mean clean physically, I mean clean, fresh ideas. And of course naturally, with the first black American president I thought, he's got everything going for him. Let's get a first black American in. He's smart as a whip; he's got good ideas. Let's go with him. And then when he got in office, things I've read and seen and not witnessed personally, of course, but I just don't think he's got America's interests at heart. And that's why I didn't vote for him the second time around. I thought Romney was a better candidate to get us back to where we were.

###

S: I pretty much been here in Greenville my whole life except I was in Raleigh a few years. When I worked at a uniform company in customer service, and that's been a while back. But it was a uniform service- we sold uniforms to fire, police-- all the services that a city would offer to the public. I've never raised a family. I've been in a couple relationships and kids never came up and right now I'm single. I had always been in a good place from the time I graduated high school, which was '77. It was easy to get a job back then. Back in Raleigh, on a whim on a weekend, had three opportunities for a job within a week. And things are just different now, it's just different. I don't know exactly how or why the climate's changed.. It's just difficult now for me since I got laid off in 2009 and I've had other friends that were laid off as well... I know that it's hurt a lot of people. "

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D: Where were you working?
I just got a chance to interview Ooshma Garg, Founder & CEO of Gobble, last Friday June 3rd, as I was heading to JFK airport for my own roadshow starting in Stockholm, Sweden. Gobble is a company that prepares fresh 10-minute gourmet dinner kits with 3-step instructions, and delivers these dinner kits right to your doorstep. Ooshma was eloquent and forthcoming and her story was interesting to say the least.

Prior to 2008, Garg was the president of Stanford Women in Business. She organized career advancement workshops and opportunities for 400+ female members of the organization. Her experience inspired her to establish Anapata, her first company, in 2008 when she was still in junior year. An online student recruiting platform, Anapata was focused on law students and law firms since these groups are quite slow in embracing online recruitment. Garg sold Anapata in 2010 to a law firm. In that same year she was named as one of Inc. Magazine's Top 30 Under 30 Entrepreneurs.

Garg was busy at Stanford, attending to her classes and her previous organization when the idea of Gobble emerged. She was eating out most of the time, and her intense schedule left her no time to eat healthy. She was tired of eating fast food in her car, so she went on Craigslist and asked if there was anyone willing to cook for her at $8 a plate. She was surprised with the response she received. She was on a mission to create the easiest way for everyone to access healthy home cooked meals. Having solved the problem of healthy home-cooked meals for herself, eventually led her to found her breakout company Gobble in 2010. She developed innovative 10-minute fresh dinner kits for delivery to your home.

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With a degree in BioMechanical Engineering, Garg thinks differently about food. She applies a mechanically data-driven approach in collecting and understanding consumer taste preferences. She wanted her company to be the modern family's default definition of dinner, delivering the perfect menu of dinner kits for each unique family every week.

Gobble is similar to competitors like Blue Apron and Plated for all of them provide a selection of meals each week and then deliver the recipes and pre-portioned ingredients in refrigerated containers to subscribers' homes. However, with Gobble there's very little actual cooking involved. With kitchens and warehouses in California,, Gobble is able to prepare ingredients - to be pre-portioned, pre-chopped, pre-mixed and pre-cooked, so users just stir and serve. Clients can finish preparing the whole dish/meal within about 10 minutes. Cleaning takes up only 15-20 minutes.

These meals are favorites for single parent families with children, and even for families with both parents working. For instance, one Stanford mom with a 5-year old daughter had used Gobble meals for 76 weeks straight. Before the Gobble meals came into the picture, she used to spend 1.5-2 hours preparing their meals and the kids wouldn't eat until 8pm. Gobble now allows her time to play with her child for 1.5 hours instead of preparing the meals.

Ooshma captured the professional kitchen preparation work, and now brings this to families that want to act as a head chef for their children. Most recipes can be cooked within 10 minutes in one pan. The company charges $12 per meal if you order six or more meals per week, or $14 if you order four meals.

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Gobble is in several states and today has the capacity to reach up to 30 million people. It is currently in Washington State, California, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Idaho. It is coming to NYC end of the summer.

The company has raised $10.75 million in Series A funding by high profile VCs, including early investors in Starbucks, Jamba Juice, and Trinity Ventures, the man behind Vitamin Water and Smart Water, as well as several other iconic brands associated with Rohan Oza and Andreessen Horowitz. Personally I feel this resolves and combines parents desire for quality time and potential quality food for their kids.

Note: All images are credited to Pixabay.com
It's late morning and the children in Maria Woolley's class at the Iona school in Nottingham are busy kneading dough. The dough is made from flour they saw ground at the local windmill using grains harvested from a nearby farm they had visited. During the morning lesson the children have sung songs, recited poetry and done rhythmic clapping and stomping.

There is no uniform here, and no head teacher - the school is run by staff and friends - and, unlike the vast majority of primary schools these days, here the students don't work on tablets or computers. At the front of the class is an old-fashioned blackboard.

...Critics suggest that in not allowing children to use screens as part of its ideology Steiner schools are putting them at a disadvantage. "The needs of our young people are that when they leave school, they become part of a world that is highly likely to include technology," says Mark Chambers, the chief executive of NAACE, a professional association for those concerned with advancing education using technology. "We should be doing all we can to help them be prepared for that world, just as we would for the physical world that is around them."

...Research into the effects of technology on learning has yet to demonstrate much in the way of positive results, though. A recent study published by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that students barred from using laptops or digital devices in lectures and seminars did better in exams than those allowed to use computers and access the internet. And research last year from the London School of Economics found schools that banned pupils from carrying mobile phones showed a sustained improvement in exam results, with the biggest advances coming from struggling students.

A Cambridge University study found that spending an extra hour a day of TV, internet or gaming time in year 10 saw a fall in GCSE results equivalent to two grades overall. Its co-author, Esther van Sluijs, says reducing screen time could have important benefits and adds that "limiting the amount of time spent in front of screens and introducing children to a variety of activities is likely to have the most beneficial long-term impacts on a child's health".

...Despite the evidence from such studies there is still, according to Moore [founder of Iona school], "an anxiety that children aren't going to be ready to fit into the economy because they don't do computers at the age of four - whereas if you give them a healthy education and childhood, they can catch up very easily".
Eclipsed, that striking depiction, as fictional drama, of women in crisis - Liberian women to be specific - closed last night after its 15-week Broadway run.

But not before dedicating its 117th Golden Theater performance to saving the lives of Liberian women in reality. That life-saving work is being carried out on the ground by The Women: Global Cancer Initiative (TheWomen.org) whose main international program is testing for and treating female cancers in Liberia, and also sexually-transmitted diseases.

As anticipated in a column I wrote last week, Liberia's Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Berenice Dahn, ended up spending her last night of a whistle-stop United States tour in the Eclipsed audience. Along with her were workers and supporters of TheWomen.org. The non-profit's donors were each contributing $2,500 to its vital mission.

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After the performance, the all-female cast met with both Minister Dahn (left) and the Initiative supporters. Joining them was Dr Ann Marie Beddoe (right), co-founder of the non-profit and Director of Global Women's Health at New York's Mount Sinai Hospital.

The players included Lupita Nyong'o (center), distinguished by being an Oscar winner, and Saycon Sengbloh, distinguished by being the only cast-member with Liberian parentage. (Those who know, though, say all the Liberian accents on stage were convincing replicas of the real thing.)

Liberia's all-too-real civil war - once seemingly endless, and killing a quarter of a million people - was the violent context for actress/playwright Danai Gurira's stirring text. That ruinous conflict did finally end twelve years ago, thanks in no small part to determined organizing by "Women for Peace" networks - also depicted in the play). But post-war recovery has inevitably been hobbled by the Ebola epidemic that killed nearly 5,000 Liberians (with a similar death-toll shared between two neighbors, Sierra Leone and Guinea). Each country's health infrastructure is inevitably in desperate need of help.

With a population of nearly four million people, Liberia has been reckoned to have only 50 doctors and about 5,000 full-time or part-time health-workers. That's a prospective patient-load of about 80,000 patients for each single doctor.

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Health Minister Dahn told me: "We are of course extremely grateful to Dr Beddoe and her professional and volunteer teams for all their work, especially with cervical cancer at a recently-installed chemotherapy center in the Hope for Women Hospital in Paynesville, outside of our capital. And we've also been helped enormously by their treatment of that terribly problematic childbirth outcome, fistula - at JFK [the capital Monrovia's biggest hospital]."

The Women.org has already ensured cancer and STD screening for over a thousand women, conducted by local health-workers whom the project has trained. The hope is for many more thousands to be screened and treatment made available for all who need it.

****
Remember the time in your relationship when sex was spontaneous, fun, and frequent? You'd both jump into bed eager for the physical closeness and the sexual interludes that would follow.

But as the years went by, suddenly she is not as interested as she once was. Suddenly, more often than not, when you crawl into bed, she is already laying on her side facing away from you. You gently caress her shoulder to assess her interest and right away, she not only gives you the proverbial cold shoulder but also the terse "not tonight" response.

When desire is missing

What happened men ask? His sexual desire is as strong and vibrant as ever but hers has fallen to the wayside. This is not an unusual scenario being played out in bedrooms across the United States. Women, who still love their husbands or partners, have found more of a desire to simply get a good night's sleep than to have a wild rumble in bed.

It's estimated that 24 million women in the United States lack interest in sex according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

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The lack of interest appears to peak when a woman is in her thirties and early forties before most women have begun to enter into the phase of menopause. Often blamed for this downward spiral of sexual desire is a weakened libido due to a progressive decline in estrogen levels that start during this time of a woman's life.

This makes sense but there are also many other factors involved putting up roadblocks to a couple's intimate relationship.

During a woman's thirties and forties is an extremely busy time. Whether she is working outside the home or not, caregiving of children and their busy schedules along with caregiving of aging parents puts a strain on her formally more carefree lifestyle manifesting itself by putting on the brakes in the bedroom. Along with all the activities and responsibilities she faces, chronic sleep deprivation can arise causing women to lose precious hours of needed rest. She feels tired, angry, and resentful and the last thing she wants is one more person asking her to give of herself.

Women who have been in a long-term relationship may be bored with "the usual" when it comes to sex. If the relationship has become routine with hardly any spark of newness, she may view it as feeling less personal and more of a chore. When sex isn't mutually pleasurable for both her and him - and usually it's him that does get the pleasure - she may lose desire in feeling like she is being used and missing out on a satisfactory sex life.

Depression among women can be another issue leading to a loss of interest in sex. This is when a woman needs to seek advice from her physician on whether an anti-depressant may be an answer in helping her discover more joy in life.

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Other contributing factors possibly inhibiting libido can be oral contraceptives, an underactive thyroid, and blood-pressure-lowering medications.



Igniting sexual desire

What does it take to light the fire to where a couple once again resumes a mutually satisfying sexual relationship?

It starts with both the man and woman stepping back and really talking about what each of them want out of their sex life. Plan a time outside of the bedroom to simply discuss if their sexual needs are being met, what works and what doesn't, how frequent does each person want sex, and most importantly is for him to ask her "What can I do for you to make you more interested in sex?"

He needs to be prepared for whatever she will tell him and then be a man of honor and do what she asks. It might be doing more household chores, paying more bills, driving children to activities, doing yard work or simply giving her a massage every night.
Although more countries have been passing laws to promote and to protect breast-feeding, the breast-milk substitutes industry continues to present a formidable challenge to achieving universal breast-feeding goals, a new report by United Nations agencies and a large advocacy group reveals.

The laggards? Some of the richest regions in the world. Europe, for example, remains at the bottom of legislating laws to promote and protect breast-feeding.

Paradoxically, research published this year in the medical journal The Lancet shows that breast-feeding is one of the few positive "health behaviors" that is more prevalent in poor countries than in wealthy ones.

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Of the 194 countries analyzed in the May 2016 report from the UN and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN), a sprawling advocacy group that strives to reduce infant and child deaths worldwide, 135 countries have set up some form of legal measures related to the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes.

The code was adopted in 1981 by the World Health Assembly, the governing body of the World Health Organization, and augmented with later resolutions tied to the code's mandate. It aims to support breast-feeding while also ensuring the "proper use" of breast-milk substitutes and the "appropriate marketing and distribution" of them worldwide.

The infant formula industry has fought the code with remarkable power, advocates say, as a new generation of sweetened milks for children begins to saturate the market with dubious health claims, through blessings from such countries as the United States and New Zealand, advocates also warn.

The rate of compliance by nations to abide by the international code has increased 88 percent since 2011, when the World Health Organization last analyzed this topic. The 2016 report notes, however, that the increase partly reflects that more information has become available on adherence to the code since before 2011.

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Only 39 countries have laws enacting all provisions of the code, a mere five percent increase from 2011. A broad range of 49 countries has no legal measures in place, including the United States, Australia, Belarus, Haiti and elsewhere in the Caribbean, Bhutan, Japan, New Zealand, Chad and other nations in Africa.

Full provision of the code is enacted in an equally disparate group of nations, such as Afghanistan, Bahrain, Brazil, Cameroon, Costa Rica, India, Kenya, Lebanon, Nepal and, recently, in Vietnam.

Patti Rundall, the policy director of Baby Milk Action (part of IBFAN), singled out India, the second-most populous country in the world, for its strong legislation to conform to the code and for pushing back against the infant formula industry.

Although no single reason explains why certain countries have passed laws or measures to conform to the code and others have not, some countries provide a "friendly atmosphere" to the lobbying industry of infant formula makers, said Laurence Grummer-Strawn, who was involved in the report as a technical officer in the Nutrition for Health and Development sector of the World Health Organization in Geneva.

Certain countries, Grummer-Strawn added, may be more open to the arguments of the breast-milk substitutes industry, which is dominated by such multinational corporations as Nestle and Danone, so these countries have weaker laws or none at all regarding the marketing of infant formula.

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Moreover, a sense that breast-feeding in rich countries is not important may be related to people thinking that if they have access to clean water (in which to mix the formula), using it is a fine alternative, Grummer-Strawn noted.

The report, titled "Implementing the International Code of Breast-Milk Substitutes in Countries: Time to Accelerate Action," featured the rare participation of the World Health Organization and Unicef with an advocacy group, IBFAN, Rundall said in a conversation from her base in Cambridge, England. (IBFAN, founded in 1979, was a main campaigner behind the code's realization.)

"It's the first time such a report was done with all three," she said. "Why didn't we do this before? We come at it from slightly different places, so the report is a compromise, a struggle to get it, but it's fine, it's O.K."

The region with the highest rates of enacting full legislation is Southeast Asia, at 36 percent; followed by Africa at 30 percent; and eastern Mediterranean, 29 percent.

The Americas (including the US) had 23 percent, or 8 out of 35 countries; Western Pacific region, 15 percent; and Europe, six percent.

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Most national data that were used for the report were submitted through questionnaires, with information gaps filled by experts. No data was available from 10 nations, including in Africa, Europe and the Western Pacific region.

Both the World Health Organization (WHO), a staunch supporter of breast-feeding, and Unicef recommend that babies be fed breast milk exclusively for the first six months of their lives, after which they should continue breast-feeding -- as well as eating other "safe and nutritionally adequate foods," the report said -- until two years old or beyond.

WHO member states have made commitments to increase the rate of exclusive breast-feeding in the first six months of life to at least 50 percent by 2025, among other global nutritional goals.

Breast milk is considered safe and clean and contains antibodies that help protect infants against many common childhood illnesses, research shows. Breast-fed children perform better on intelligence tests, by about three IQ points, Grummer-Strawn said, and they are less likely to be overweight or obese and less prone to diabetes later in life.

The act of breast-feeding itself stimulates proper growth of the mouth and jaw and secretion of hormones for digestion and satisfied bellies. Women who breast-feed have a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

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Only one Sustainable Development Goal focuses strictly on nutrition. Goal 2 aims to end all forms of malnutrition, including addressing the nutritional needs of lactating women and others.

Near-universal levels of breast-feeding, The Lancet reported earlier this year, could save 823,000 annual deaths for children under five years old. Globally, nearly two out of three infants under six months old are not exclusively breast-fed -- a rate that has not improved in two decades.

Fewer than one in five infants is breast-fed for 12 months in high-income countries, and only two out of three children between 6 months and 2 years old receive any breast milk in low- and middle-income countries.

The goal to reach universal breast-feeding contends with a well-financed foe: the breast-milk substitutes industry, which has annual sales totaling nearly $45 billion worldwide, the WHO says. The industry is projected to grow to $70 billion by 2019, with new products like sweetened milk for children flooding the market.

These projections are based on many factors, Grummer-Strawn said, including how fast countries are growing economically as well as national politics. Heavily populated China, for example, is considered a huge emerging market for consumer products, while reports of unscrupulous marketing tactics by outside salespeople of infant formula in China have been exposed.

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Aggressive marketing of breast-milk substitutes -- infant formula, feeding bottles, pacifiers and other items -- continues to undermine work to improve breast-feeding rates, say specialists at the UN and at IBFAN.

Globally, the prevalence of breast-feeding at 12 months is highest in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and parts of Latin America, according to The Lancet. In most rich countries, the prevalence is lower than 20 percent, with stark differences found even among those nations -- like between Britain (less than 1 percent) and the US (27 percent); and Norway (35 percent) and Sweden (16 percent).

Promotion of breast-milk substitutes is shifting from advertising in stores and mass media to the Internet and social media, raising legal and practical challenges, The Lancet said, requiring countries to better manage the newest sales methods of reaching consumers.

The UN report stressed the importance of monitoring the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes through a mechanism to detect violations and report them to authorities. But political engagement is almost nil: only 32 countries have such a mechanism, with few fully functional.

The use of infant formula in poorer countries can be problematic because of lack of clean water and sanitizing equipment to prepare the formula for feeding. In addition, social and commercial pressures worldwide to stop breast-feeding, Unicef says, contributes to its stall in becoming universal.

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These pressures combine with faulty or inadequate information in health care centers, such as hospitals, where support for new mothers to breast-feed can be minimal or conflicting. (In New York, for example, this writer, preparing to leave the hospital soon after giving birth in 1988, was handed several cans of free infant formula by a nurse, despite actively breast-feeding.)

Complicating matters, Unicef says that many women must return to work soon after they give birth, leaving them with tough choices as to whether to keep breast-feeding exclusively. Grummer-Strawn said working women throughout the world face barriers to breast-feeding, not just in well-off countries. The goal, he said, is to better enable breast-feeding in all work settings.

Infant formula was highlighted by many international media when a long-awaited UN-led convoy of aid destined for Syrians in Daraya, a besieged area outside Damascus, was blocked on May 12 by soldiers in the 4th division of the Syrian Army, which is controlled by Maher al-Assad, the brother of Bashar al-Assad, the country's president.

Which leads to the question why infant formula was being donated to residents of an area that reportedly has no running water or other appropriate sanitary conditions in which to prepare the baby food. Standards by WHO and Unicef on managing the use of infant formula in humanitarian emergencies have been outlined in policies, including banning free donations of such supplies.

Linda Tom, a spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Syria referred questions to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, or SARC, as to why infant formula was part of the UN convoy to Daraya.

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"You are correct in that the UN does not usually delivery infant formula," Tom wrote in an email. "On the rationale, you will need to address your question to SARC." That group did not answer emails from this reporter.

Breast-milk substitutes should be used only as a last resort, two UN experts recently wrote in an essay but common misconceptions persist, they said, including that mothers who may be malnourished or who live in stressful situations cannot breast-feed.

Grummer-Strawn of WHO said that aid provisions of infant formula to emergency situations are done on a case-by-case basis, and though potable water may not be available to mix infant formula powder, water can be boiled for ingestion. Up to five percent of women in emergency settings cannot breast-feed for various reasons, such as illness or being separated from their infants, he added.

Rundall noted that WHO and UNICEF policy states that donations of breast-milk substitutes, bottles, teats and other milk products in emergencies should be avoided, but she added that a fairly high percentage of bottle feeding exists in Syria, "so all this must be handled sensitively."

"If formulas are needed -- and of course they sometimes are -- they should be purchased, distributed and used according to strict criteria by those who really need them. Well-meaning people are often unaware that these products can do more harm than good. What's needed are health workers who are well trained in providing breast-feeding support."

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The global controversy over infant formula use originated with a boycott carried out in the US in 1977 against the Swiss-based Nestle company, prompted by concern over its aggressive marketing tactics of breast-milk substitutes, particularly in poor countries, and the possibility of fostering malnutrition.

The boycott spread to Europe in the early 1980s, with actions still underway in Britain through Baby Milk Action, Rundall's organization. The 1977 boycott led to the creation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes.

The controversy continues, as a statement from Baby Milk Action, IBFAN and others remarked on a recent World Health Assembly meeting regarding "two closely linked hot topics: how WHO should interact with businesses and venture philanthropies and whether trade should come before health when tackling the marketing of baby foods and formulas."

The statement said: "During a full week of behind-closed-doors negotiations on both topics, the United States and rich producer countries in the EU and New Zealand, pushed the interests of their corporations: opposing the adoption of effective safeguards to protect WHO's independence, integrity and credibility and attempting to sabotage the adoption of a new WHO Guidance on baby foods. The bullying power of these nations and their disregard of public health was evident in the two Resolutions that were finally adopted today."

The resolution on infant and young-child feeding focused, for example, on a "new generation of processed, expensive, sweetened and flavored milks that are fuelling the obesity epidemic and causing great concern," the statement said.

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These products are not infant formula, so they can be exempt from laws regulating the marketing of such goods, although they resemble infant formula packaging and are targeted for infants and children, Grummer-Strawn said.

Rundall said that the US, backed by the European Union and New Zealand, was leading the fight against new WHO guidance for ending the inappropriate marketing of baby foods and formulas, "after the White House had been heavily lobbied by the formula industry, arguing that trade should come before health."

"These rich producer countries clearly wanted the freedom to dump these formulas onto developing world markets, especially in Asia, and have no concern about the impact this has on global health and the environment," Rundall added in an email.

The new generation of sweetened flavored milks accounts for 50 percent of absolute growth in a market that is projected to rise to $70 billion in the next few years, according to Rundall, by "using misleading idealised health claims" that the products "are essential for child health and development."
Let us dispense with a few of the most ascribed to election dictums right off of the bat.

The vice presidential pick is rarely a game changer. When it is, it is almost always for the worst (see Palin, Sarah). Also, rid your mind of the need for so-called "geography balancing" picks; that hasn't really been a factor since Kennedy picked Johnson. Some may argue that Bush won Texas for Reagan, but that is thoroughly debatable.

The successful vice presidential nominees are the ones who fill an expertise gap. Bush 41 and Cheney covered foreign policy for their respective bosses, Gore covered legislative work from his time on Capitol Hill, and Biden covered both for Obama. Making the wrong pick can also doom a campaign (again, see Palin, Sarah), and the choices made to fill a geographic or demographic gap also tend to not help (just ask Joe Liberman, John Edwards, Dan Quayle).

Trying to predict anything Donald Trump will do or say is a fool's errand and in attempting to guess who he will convince to be his VP is even more thorny (plus, few may be interested). In all likelihood his short list likely includes the following: Chris Christie, Ben Carson, Newt Gingrich, Marco Rubio, Joni Ernst, Tom Cotton, and an unnamed retired military officer. Smart money is on Gingrich, Christie, or the retired military officer, but at the end of the day, Trump is just as likely to pick compulsively and erratically in typical form.

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The "veepstakes" for Secretary Clinton, however, is truly intriguing. Between her time as first lady, senator and secretary of state, Hillary has the domestic and foreign policy spaces covered, so picking someone to fill and expertise gap is not needed. Another rule of vice presidential-picking is "do no harm." Picking a sitting senator from a state run by Republican governor can most easily do this, as they can appoint whomever they want to the seat and jeopardize the - potential - razor thin majority in the Senate. With this Hippocratic principle in mind, we need to eliminate Ohio's Rob Portman, New Jersey's Cory Booker and (for this and reasons explained below) Massachusetts' Elizabeth Warren.

Tim Kaine is a solid pick, and a smart one -- which is why his name has been in the mix for years. As a former mayor, governor, party chair, sitting senator on the Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, Catholic, fluent Spanish speaker, etc he is well-deserving of consideration. But let's take a step back and be more creative.

More than a little ink has been spilled about how the Democrats have a weak bench. While this too is debatable, having a wide open veepstakes makes it possible to bring new folks off the bench. One reason to do this is that should Hillary not win (she's currently a -300 favorite), a young(er) face could be available in 2020 (see Ryan, Paul). This is one of the reasons Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro and his brother Representative Joaquin Castro (TX-20) receive attention. Although, it seems either are unlikely.

Despite what the progressive left might think, Elizabeth Warren is not an ideal running mate. In addition to giving up a Senate seat, combining Clinton and Warren could be like oil and vinegar. Besides--wouldn't you rather see Warren battling Ted Cruz in the senate for the next two decades? More importantly, whereas primary elections are always about the base, general elections turn towards the middle.

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Sure, Warren could mollify the Bernie followers, but that is not the group Hillary should be concerned about grabbing. She needs to go after the moderate middle who find Trump reprehensible, and the Republicans who cannot imagine voting for Trump. Choosing Warren turns too hard to the left and makes it easy for those in the moderate middle (i.e. most of the country) to not vote for her. Finally, Trump has already "tagged" Warren--why give him more material? She's already proven in recent weeks that she's more valuable attacking from the sidelines.

The rationale undermining many additional nominees is the lack of national security credentials. The Republicans have already signaled that they intend to cut through the Trumpian cacophony by running their favorite, classic, tired and wrong strategy of "Democrats are weak on defense" campaign. Given the head of their ticket, that will be hard argument to make--but they're going to do it anyway.

Three extremely interesting choices would be South Bend Indiana mayor, Rhodes Scholar and Navy Reservist Pete Buttigieg (age 34), Massachusetts' congressman and Marine veteran Seth Moulton (age 37) and Hawaii's Tulsi Gabbard (age 35), who is also an Army Reservist. Any of these would ignite young Democrats and crush the "Democrats are weak on defense" line of attack. Sticking with that logic, Hillary can end that route of attack entirely by choosing a former high-ranking military officer.

According to reports, including Mark Landler's New York Times Magazine piece, Hillary developed strong relations with the military as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and as Secretary of State. General Stanley McChrystal (age 61) is highly respected, and enough time passed since a career-ending Rolling Stones story that his name should be towards the top of the list. Another special operations commanding officer - General William McCraven (age 61) could be an ideal candidate. The man who oversaw the mission to kill Osama bin Laden is well respected and has spent the last year as the Chancellor of the University of Texas System. An even more intriguing idea would be the first woman to ever achieve four-star officer status, General Ann Dunwoody (age 63).

These former officers may not currently be party activists, but with the prospects of a President Trump, they may not need much convincing--even General David Petraeus (age 63) may be interested in preventing Trump from winning.

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At least since Mondale in 1976, the Office of the Vice Presidency has less resembled what John Nance Garner termed a "warm bucket of spit" and much more as the most senior advisor to the president. Biden asked that he be the "last person in the room", Cheney may have had too much power, and Gore was--at least for the first six years--a partner to Clinton. We've come to expect, as rightly we should, more than a pulse from our vice presidents.
World Refugee Day is an opportunity to pause and reflect on what are some of the most pressing and basic issues that refugees and displaced people face. There are an estimated 60 million refugees or internally displaced persons worldwide. Their circumstances vary greatly, from those temporarily displaced by conflict or natural disaster to those who spend years in camps or urban areas far from home. About two-thirds live in "situations of seemingly unending exile".(1)

While becoming a refugee changes many things, it does not change the human right to the highest attainable standard of health and well-being. All people regardless of race, ethnicity, sex, age and country of origin have health needs and specific vulnerabilities - and these are often exacerbated when they are forcibly displaced. For example, as refugees on the move, women and children may have problems accessing even basic services, such as care at the time of delivery, postnatal check-ups for mothers and babies, routine vaccinations and family planning. This leaves them exposed to common illnesses and often unable to plan their families.

Many people face life-threatening situations as a result of displacement. Of the 806 migrants estimated to have died or gone missing in the Aegean Sea en route to Greece in 2015, 33% were children - and most of these were under the age of 10. (2)

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Risk to pregnant women

An estimated 26 million women and girls of reproductive age live in emergency situations. Humanitarian workers in Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia reported a high number of pregnant women among the refugees passing through in 2015, including some in the late stages of pregnancy. During one 12-hour shift, Red Cross staff at the exit point in Tabanovce recorded 16 pregnant women among the 128 people who used their services. (3)

Unfortunately, even when health services are available, the volatile circumstances of refugee status mean that many women and children are not willing or able to take full advantage. Observers near the borders in Greece and Macedonia gave examples of women leaving hospital less than 24 hours after giving birth to continue their journeys. Incredibly, some did so after Caesarean sections.

Threat of sexual violence

As of 2015, the average length of stay of a refugee outside his or her country of origin was 20 years, so many refugees will have spent much of their lives in camps or as urban refugees - alongside the host population, but often not enjoying the same rights and entitlements. About a third of the world's refugees live in camps. (4) According to UNFPA, standards vary widely - but often over-crowding, inadequate sanitation and lack of essential health care increase the risk of death and disease.

Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence in these settings, and those with physical or mental disabilities face heightened risk of abuse. A survey of adult rape survivors in the Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal between 2009 and 2011 found that 49% had physical or developmental disabilities. (5) This quote from 16-year- old Ayan at the Minkaman Camp in South Sudan sums up the threat: "I feel unsafe when I go to the bush because there are often men who rape women."

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Ensuring the right to health



So what can be done to empower women, children and adolescents - whether refugees or asylum-seekers - to access the health care and protection they need? First, the international community and receiving countries must face up to their responsibilities and obligations under international law, echoed in political commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).



The Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health aims to ensure health and well-being for all women, children and adolescents "everywhere". In crises and conflict settings, it asserts the need to urgently address gaps in services, focusing on humanitarian and fragile settings and integrating emergency responses.

Second, all countries and humanitarian partners should deploy the Minimum Initial Service Package for reproductive health during emergencies. This package provides clinical care for survivors of rape, makes condoms available to prevent HIV transmission, and ensures availability of skilled birth attendants to prevent maternal and newborn mortality.

Third, countries need to develop strong and resilient health systems that are accessible to all populations within their jurisdiction, including refugees, asylum-seekers and other forcibly displaced populations. The World Health Organization has developed a toolkit to help countries assess the readiness of their health systems to cope, which it has piloted in countries across southern Europe. Greece, one of the main points of entry to Europe for refugees, applied to the European Commission in 2015 for emergency funding for a health response plan. (6) In June 2015, the Macedonian government gave refugees access to free health care from public health centres and hospitals.(7)

Gaps remain in our understanding of how the international community can better meet the needs of women and girls who are displaced from their homes. To inform this process, a World Health Organization report due in 2017, Women on the Move, will explore issues around women's health and mobility in the SDGs era. In an age when global mobility is increasing rapidly, how can we increase our knowledge of the health status and health needs of women and girls on the move?



As we mark World Refugee Day, let us live up to the commitment to ensure the right to health applies equally to every human being, whatever their circumstances. The SDGs commit countries to embark on a collective journey that leaves no one behind. No one. The message could not be more clear.



Find more information on heath and human rights as well as issues of health through the life-course at the World Health Organization.
It's been one year since the racist massacre at Charleston, South Carolina's Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. On the evening of June 17, 2015, a white supremacist walked into the church we know as Mother Emanuel and joined our sisters and brothers in their weekly bible study. He then calmly turned on them with a legally-purchased handgun, opened fire and murdered nine parishioners.

For African Americans and our Progressive allies, Mother Emanuel is a place of peace, a center of activism, a safe haven for children and families and a refuge for the persecuted. It is a sacred space where we connect with our higher power and our history. It was the spiritual refuge of Denmark Vesey, who led the largest slave revolt in U.S. history. It was where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. went to speak when he visited Charleston.

Bernard Bowens, an 1199SEIU member at Cape Cod Hospital in Massachusetts, grew up attending the church. "It was like a second home," he says. "As a child, I didn't know a safer place."

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Last year at this time, we were in mourning for the victims in Charleston - Rev. Clementa Pinckney, Tywanza Sanders, Rev. Sharonda Singleton, Cynthia Hurd, Rev. DePayne Middleton, Ethel Lance, Susie Jackson, Myra Thompson and Rev. Daniel Simmons, Sr. - all murdered in a demented attempt to start a "race war."

But our reality is one of becoming accustomed to seeing Black folks' blood spilled as a consequence of racial injustice. The struggle against racism sometimes seems intractable, but because recent movements like Black Lives Matter refuse to be silenced, issues like police violence, mass incarceration and the realities of systemic racism have been brought to light. So we were doubly outraged when blood was spilled in a place so enshrined in our history as Mother Emanuel -- where African Americans learn to fight back not with guns, but with movements, mobilizing ever greater numbers of likeminded people who will stand up for change.

Almost unbelievably, we find ourselves today mourning for victims of yet another hate-fueled act of gun violence. Again, we are grieving lives taken by hate in a space of safety, community and acceptance. Our hearts go out to all families and loved ones of those killed and injured in the attack on Orlando's Pulse nightclub. The loss again hit close to home. Members of our 1199 family are among the dead and wounded: Eddie Jamaldroy Justice, just 30 years old and the cousin of veteran Florida member Anita Williams, is among the dead. You may remember Eddie. The media reported his frantic, heartbreaking texts to his mother.

Our union is founded on the principles of equality and justice. We're committed to the idea that every one of us entitled to build the life we envision for ourselves, no matter who we are or where we come from. No person should live in fear because of who they are or whom they love.

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Fist with Gay flag on white.

I believe that love always wins, that love will always defeat hate. This week that belief has been shaken.

Last Sunday, hate opened fire on innocent souls in their sanctuary. A gay night club was attacked. Hate drove murder into a place where love reigns.

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Our nation is mourning. We are asking how this could happen. Why this would happen. We are trying to believe that love trumps hate. We are clinging to the feel good stories of heroes and community support. We are left wondering what we can do. Wanting to extend our love, to lift up the victims and the community, but feeling helpless.

Because our love is not enough. Yes, love can win. I still believe this. But love alone is not enough, not now. Not after hate came storming in on a Sunday morning.

So, it is with love that I say the following:

We need to fight.

We need to fight the hate that is becoming all too familiar in our country. Love won't win if the loving people curl up on their couches and stay quiet. Not if we wrap our arms around each other but don't raise our fist in the air in protest.

Now is the time to get loud. To get our hands dirty. To do some serious soul searching. To dig in and refuse to allow hate one more inch.

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It means things are going to get uncomfortable. It means challenging beliefs and social norms. Norms that have been accepted in our country for too long.

The norms that say that being gay is a sin.

The norms that say that being gay is "unnatural."

The norms that say that LGBT people are "freaks."

"Mentally ill." "Sick." "Deranged." "Deviants."

Norms that say gay people shouldn't get married.

Norms that give cover to parents who disown their children because they are gay.

Norms that say it's ok for a clerk to refuse to grant a marriage license in the name of religious freedom. As if steadfast beliefs could actually be shaken by doing one's job. Norms that allow good people to stand behind the clerk and support her bigotry.

Norms that have politicians saying that gay people adopting would be a social experiment.

Norms that have large religious organizations condemning a population of people.

Norms that have evangelists saying that hurricanes and natural disasters and even murder is the price to pay for homosexuality. Norms that allow these things to be spoken without widespread condemnation. Without their followers leaving their flock en masse.

Norms that repeat "Love the sinner, hate the sin." A phrase used as a band aid for bigotry. Because bigotry is what it is when people themselves are classified as sins.

Think about that. A person is a sin.

That is hate. That is demonizing a whole population.

Apparently these things are ok to say. To say it as a "belief" makes it ok. Hate cloaked in ideology. Hate under the veil of spirituality.

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But make no mistake, it's hate.

I have heard these words sitting in a church pew. I have heard them shouted on the playground. I have heard them in casual conversation with adults. My kids have come home relaying stories of kids repeating these hateful words. I have read them in the comments section on my own blog post.

Words matter. Words spoken in houses of worship of many faiths matter. These words may not be said from a place of hate, but once spoken they become permission to condemn. To judge. To look down upon.

To hate.

And for some people? To kill.

Hate is swelling as we speak. Hate is running amok out of fear, fear of progress and fear of change. We see more hate when rights are being given to people who have been oppressed. As we progress and we give more rights to LGBT, as most of us welcome and love our brothers and sisters regardless of who they are, without any concern for who they love, as we move forward and make progress on being a better, more inclusive society... we see more hate.

Hate doesn't like progress.Hate will always try to stop it. Hate will try to keep things stagnant. To regress. To make America great again. Progress is the antidote to hate, so hate will call in the reinforcements and do everything it can to stop forward motion.

Hate needs fuel. It needs people to buy into it. It needs people to repeat tired and senseless words of oppression and judgement. Words repeated so often over the years. Repetition. Routine. Tradition. Hate that survives in our modern day out of tradition. Is that a reason to allow hate to continue? Is tradition so important that we won't stand up to words that speak hate? Hate infiltrates the routine. It repeats softly, sings it's hateful words with a sweet melody. Repeat after me...

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I'm sick of hate. I'm tired of seeing it when I read the news, tired of hearing it from people who aim to be our leaders. Tired of hearing it from people who think they have the right to pass judgement. I'm tired of hearing kids spout off the hate they are hearing in their homes. The DNA of hate being embedded in their young bones. I'm tired of reading it when I write about LGBT rights.

I'm just tired.

But I refuse to give in to hate. I refuse to concede. I will call it out every time I see it or hear it. I will defy the sick social norms we've all become accustomed to.

Whether the hate comes from a twisting of an ancient faith, whether it comes from self loathing, whether it comes from fear of change, whether it comes from ignorance, I will not let hate go unchallenged.

Hate under the guise of beliefs has a long history. It was hate when interracial marriages were considered against "natural law." It was hate that allowed Nazi Germany to commit genocide. It is hate that radical Islamic extremists employ to stone gay people to death. It is hate when Vladimir Putin jails people for being gay. It is hate when the influential American Family Association advocates criminalizing LGBT, advocates abducting the children of gay couples, among other despicable things. And it is hate when fundamentalist Christianity decries homosexuality as a sin.

It's time to challenge some antiquated, misguided, despicable norms.

It means challenging people you may respect. It means calling them out. Saying "No more." It means not tolerating hate speech.

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Love sometimes means fighting. Hate doesn't play fair. We can't hug our way to a better place. The Civil Rights Movement didn't make groundbreaking progress by disassociating and only looking at the positive. Martin Luther King, Jr. fought hate and injustice. He challenged notions that were being defended as faith. He advocated for love and peace while fighting oppression. He did it eloquently and fervently and loudly.

You can fight in the name of love. Change doesn't happen with a whisper.

There's much work to do, my friends. It's time to challenge norms, change mindsets, change the words that are acceptable to say. It's time to change what we accept. We have people who have been attacked. They have been attacked with hateful policies, with ignorant laws, with slurs and bullying. And now they have been attacked in cold blood.

It's time to shine a hot, glaring light on darkness and hate. It's time to stop it's angry feeding, to cut off it's food supply.

Carry love in your heart while you shut down the hate you see and hear. Let love be the reason you decide No more. No more hate under the guise of faith. No more co-opting something we hold sacred to further an agenda. No more tolerating bigotry, no matter where it comes from. No one is above reproach in this battle.

No more staying quiet.
The Scranton, Pennsylvania, LGBTQ community is normally low key in this fairly conservative community. Monday evening, change came to Scranton. St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Scranton, hosted a NEPA Rainbow Alliance Vigil for Victims of Orlando. The large stone church was packed. Attendance far exceeded organizers' expectations. Not only the gay community but a very diverse cross section of Scranton's population was present in support. Our entire community was gay now. The Orlando monster brought us together - another fail for terrorism.

Why the Orlando massacre hurt but failed:

1. People say enough! So typical in mass killings, the murderer was a weak, spouse abusing individual whose life was unraveling. Unchecked rage and anger combined with a need to lash out and blame others. It was no accident that immigrants and the LGBTQ community became his scapegoats.

2. Anti-LGBTQ legislation from regressive states like North Carolina and Mississippi creates divisiveness within society providing a target for people fueled with anger over their personal failures seeking scapegoats. These losers' thoughts appear to be motivated by the need to show 'them'.

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3. Raving nativists, like Congressman Barletta, reality TV stars and demagogues, like Donald Trump, stoke the fires of prejudice and fear of immigrants and Muslims. This is not America. These are not the voices of progress, growth and peace. These are the voices that tear communities, states and the nation apart.

4. Cowards condemning Islam only fuel hate and harm security. Al Qaeda, ISIS and the Taliban are Sunni Islamic versions of Saudi Wahhabi and Salafi extremism. Identify and address this extremism exported worldwide by Saudi Arabia and her allies. We aid religious extremists when we blame the entire Muslim world. Two Muslims, one an Imam, were present in support of our LGBTQ community at the Scranton vigil. They preached the Islam that I encountered around the world.

5. Good religion unites; bad religion divides. Not a religious person, I found the words, music, people and preaching to be of comfort. St Luke's provided religion at its best. Religious leaders from Islam, Hinduism, Christianity and Judaism spoke words of peace, unity and family. At Shabbat on Friday evening, Rabbi Daniel J. Swartz, Temple Hesed, accompanied by Senator Robert Casey offered words and songs of comfort. The Jewish community understands the damage of bigotry faced by the LGBTQ and immigrant communities. More guns are not the answer; the answer is more community.

6. Conservatives and Republicans are transforming America into the land of the stupid, not the brave. Armed security and good guys with guns are little help against a well-planned, dedicated suicide attack like Orlando Pulse. Guns provide a false illusion of safety. Military grade weapons and ammunition have no place in civilian hands. Afghanistan War veteran Nate Bethea's view: "...But I don't want an assault rifle. I don't want to be back in Afghanistan either. I've shot thousands of rounds, and I've seen the effects of the bullets' impact, and I want nothing of it..."

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7. Local action and unity are vital. Moments of silence and prayers fail without a dedication to action at every level. Hate speech, oppression and threats must be confronted loudly and publicly. Silence fails; we must confront violence and hate while building community. Our broad diversity is America's greatest strength.

8. The killer was a home grown monster. Words have power. Demonizing groups creates hate and makes violence easier. Before you can kill people, the majority of us must demonize them. Was it a fluke that the latest violence was at a Gay Club on Latin Night? I strongly doubt it. The rising crescendo of anti-immigrant rhetoric coupled with the increasing bigotry directed toward the LGBTQ community; identified targets for this monster. New York Times columnist Frank Bruni understands:

"...His past behavior and his call to 911 demonstrated an overarching hatred of America, with its celebration of diversity and individual liberty. The revelers in Pulse epitomized that liberty, and what happened to them is part of a bigger story and a bigger struggle that affect all Americans..."



9. Fear weakens. The public hysteria over 'Islam' is grossly misplaced. The enemy is not Islam. If ISIS did not exist some 'other ism or belief' would. This massacre seems far more a factor of US fears and bigotry than Islam. ISIS does not oppose, and even encourages, immigration.

10. Too stupid to learn? From Pearl Harbor to New York City, The Pentagon and Boston the one truism that has held constant in US history - attack one of us; you attack all of us.

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It was a perfect moment. Mid-afternon, June 15, 2016. CNN.

Wolf Blitzer had his team of talking heads ready to bloviate on Trump versus Hillary in the context of the Orlando shooting. They had just seen a video clip of the Donald, posturing and gesticulating, the consummate blowhard, bully, and con man. Then followed a clip of Hillary, giving a policy wonk speech at some conference, displaying all the empathy and connection of a dry sponge.

To top it off, the screen showed a graph of the candidates' respective disapproval ratings: 77 % disapproval for Trump, 55% for Hillary. The talking heads had just started when, inexplicably, the screen cut to a live press conference being given by the FBI and local officials on the ground in Orlando.

Wow.

Suddenly, we saw real people. Not posturing for our attention, trying to convince us of their worth, but people doing a difficult job, asking the media for help, but also asking the media to give them a break.

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There was the kind of police chief we rarely see on T.V. Talking about how the whole community was grieving. The gay community. The Latino community. His own officers, tough, hardened veterans who had faced down murderers and thieves, and nothing they had experienced before had prepared them for something like this. All those officers were on leave, undergoing counselling, and the chief pleaded with the media to leave them alone, noting that some aggressive media types had been trying to force themselves on the officers in their own homes.

There was the local US attorney, asking members of the public who were phoning death threats to members of the Muslim community to cut it out. "All you're doing is making our work more difficult."

He could barely contain himself, he was so mad.

There were others--the lead FBI agent, the mayor. Each time a speaker said there was someone else who wanted to say a few words, I braced myself for some opportunist coming forward to exploit the moment, make it about them rather than about what had happened.

Not a sign of it.

Even more amazing, the CNN coverage of the press conference went on for a good ten minutes. Maybe their people on the ground were as mesmerized as I was.

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Wolf and his team never came back.
"I think Bulleh Shah is fascinating but I fail to understand his relationship with his murshid," said a 14-year-old student of mine who was acting in a school play on the life of Bulleh Shah. The play was an English adaption of Shahid Nadeem's Bulla that has been performed on the platform of Ajoka several times and has received critical as well as mass acclaim. The play chronicles the life of the mystic poet from Kasur, using his poetry and folk tales about him, to present a semi-biographical account that revolves around his relationship with his murshid - his spiritual master, Shah Inayat.

I could understand the confusion of my student. To be honest, the relationship also baffles me. This is primarily because we live in a different time, and we understand Islam and its traditions in our own modernistic way. Modernism requires rigid categories, of sexuality, religion, identity, et cetera. Gay, straight and bi, are all distinct categories that do not overlap, just like Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism.

Bulleh Shah of course had pre-modern notions of sexuality and religion. For him the rigid categories between religion, gender and sexuality did not exist. For example in the following verses he has no scruples in incorporating a Hindu deity into his Muslim ethos, blurring the distinction between Muslim and Hindu concept of God.

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Krishna plays the magical flute

O Ranjha with the flute -

O cowherd Ranjha!

You are in tune with all of us!

You make your delights

Chime with your consciousness

Krishna plays the magic flute

Just as in devotional Bhakhti poetry Krishna symbolises God, in Sufi Islamic poetry Ranjha becomes a symbol of God. In other poems Bulleh Shah dissolves gender identities when he presents himself as a woman, appearing before her lover.



Remembering Ranjha day and night

I've become Ranjha myself.

Call me Dhido Ranjha,

No more I be addressed as Heer.

I am in Ranjha and Ranjha is in me

There is no distinction left.

Addressing her beloved Ranjha as Heer, Bulleh Shah then blurs the distinction between the lover and beloved, as Heer is consumed in Ranjha's love.

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It is perhaps his treatment of sexuality that has the potential to offend the sensibility of a modern reader. In his poetry, Bulleh Shah regularly refers to his murshid as his beloved. Some of these references are loaded with sexual innuendos. For example at one point Bulleh Shah says:

Inayat will come to my nuptial couch;

I am in great delight.



And:

Bullah has fallen in love with the Lord.

He has given his life and body as earnest.

His Lord and Master is Shah Inayat

Who has captivated his heart.

It was of course this sexuality exhibited by Bulleh Shah towards his murshid that my student was finding so hard to fathom. At one point in the play, dressed up in red as a bride, Bulleh Shah is embraced by "her husband" Shah Inayat.

Sufi poetry is rife with such homoerotic references. Another prominent Sufi saint, Shah Hussain, is believed to have fallen in love with a Hindu boy, Madho Lal. Buried together in Lahore and even referred together in one name - Madho Lal Hussain - the two symbolise a divine love. Like Bulleh Shah, in Shah Hussain too it is Heer addressing the beloved as Ranjha, while he also refers directly to Madho Lal in some of his poetry. At one point he says:

O Madho! I have been greatly defamed!

After drinking last night from my cup of sorrows,

I have wandered from morning till evening.

What can I say that I had drunk of?

People say it was the forbidden wine!

All here call me an infidel and accuse me of transgression!

They turn back their faces from me and abuse me!

Wails Hussain O Madho fast send my prayer to my Master!

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I find Shah Hussain's relationship with Madho Lal even more intriguing than Bulleh Shah's with Shah Inayat, primarily because of the age difference between the two, as Madho Lal was but a boy. This is an even a graver onslaught to our modern sensibility. Even at that time, this relationship seems to have caused a controversy but the reason for it is cited as their belonging to different religions and not that they happened to of be of the same gender or the age-difference between them.

The story of Sarmad Kashani is also quite similar to that of Shah Hussain. An Armenian merchant, Sarmad is believed to have fallen in love with a Hindu boy, Abhai Chand, while travelling to India for trade. Sarmad abandoned his trade and started living with his beloved at Thatta, taking him on as a student. Eventually the couple moved to Delhi as then Mughal crown prince Dara Shikoh invited Sarmad at his father's court. After Aurangzeb was victorious in the war of succession, he had Sarmad arrested and tried for heresy - Sarmad was eventually put to death by beheading in 1661 and lies buried in the shadow of the Jamia Masjid of Delhi. Sarmad says:

I know not if in this spherical old world

My God is Abhai Chand or someone else

Any mention of Sufism and Delhi is incomplete without the mention of Nizamuddin Auliya and Amir Khusro. Amir Khusro was a spiritual devotee of Nizamuddin Auliya and, like Bulleh Shah, used to compose verses in the honour of his beloved - Nizamuddin Auliya. In his poetry too there is sexual innuendo towards his murshid:

Khusro has given himself to Nizam

You made me your bride when our eyes met

How are we to understand these relationships today? Are these references in poetry metaphorical or is there some other inspiration behind them? What was the exact nature of the relationship between Shah Hussain and Madho Lal, or Sarmad Kashani and Abhai Chand? Unfortunately, it has become impossible to have an informed discussion on the nature of these relationships.
You can share your home by using a service like Airbnb.

So, why not share the cost of your medical treatments?

That's one of the arguments behind so-called health cost savings programs.

These groups, most of which are religious based, have seen double digit increases in memberships the past few years, thanks in great part to an exemption they received to requirements in the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

Since the Obamacare law went into effect in 2010, it's estimated the number of people in the United States enrolled in health cost sharing plans has more than doubled from 200,000 to 530,000.

Officials at Samaritan Ministries told Healthline their membership has jumped from 22,000 households in 2013 to its current 62,000 level.

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Supporters of these plans say they are more affordable, provide more choice, and are more personal as opposed to corporate.

Critics, however, say the ministries are unregulated, don't guarantee claims will be paid, and could hurt the overall healthcare industry by pulling a segment of the country out of the insurance market.

How It Works

Health cost sharing groups have been around for more than 20 years.

They originally formed because of rising health costs in the 1990s.

It's estimated there are at least 50 health sharing ministries in the United States. A report by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) estimated those groups oversee about $60 million in healthcare payments a year.

Many of these ministries are small, but there are three large organizations.

They are Samaritan Ministries, Christian Care Ministry's Medi-Share, and Christian Healthcare Ministries.

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The rules vary from group to group, but there are some basic tenets most follow.

Most require members to go agree to a code of conduct before they enroll. This pact requires members to follow Christian-supported behavior. They can mean no smoking, limited drinking, and no premarital sex.

Households pay anywhere from $75 to $500 a month depending on their size and other factors. An average monthly stipend seems to be around $400.

Sometimes members pay into a ministry pool. More often, they are directed to send their money to a specific family to help with medical costs.

An administrative arm of the ministry decides whose bills are reimbursed and who donates to which family.

Most ministries will not help pay for medical services they say go against their Christian faith. At the top of that list is abortion.

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Lower Costs, More Caring

There are a number of reasons supporters like this setup.

One is the cost. Ministry officials estimate their members pay up to 30 percent less than people with traditional insurance coverage because there is no corporate overhead.

However, Anthony Hopp, director of membership development at Samaritan Ministries, says there's a lot more to it.

Hopp told Healthline that Samaritan members like the personal nature of their group. They know whom their money is going to and many times send along cards and prayers.

His May payment of $405, for example, went to another member who had a hernia operation.

Hopp said the sharing of the "emotional and spiritual burden" means more to members than the sharing of the financial burden.

"It's person to person," he said. "People taking care of each other."

He added that members also feel secure knowing their money isn't going to a medical procedure to which they are opposed.

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"Most join out of principle," Hopp said. "It's an operation consistent with their religious values."

Twila Brase, the president of the Citizens' Council for Health Freedom, told Healthline the ministry health sharing programs also give members freedom of choice.

They can go to the doctor and hospital they choose and still get reimbursed.

She added the members are also more selective when making medical decisions because they personally know who is helping pay for it.

She said costs are sometimes lower, too, because members are paying cash and their medical providers are not dealing with an insurance company.

"It brings cost-consciousness to every healthcare decision because there is no big pocket in the background," said Brase, whose group doesn't oversee any health cost sharing programs but supports the concept and the organizations.

Concerns, Criticisms

The health sharing groups might not be appealing to a lot of folks if it wasn't for the exemption to Obamacare that Congress granted the ministries.

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Among other things, the exemption relieves members of ministries that were formed before 2000 of the ACA's individual mandate requirement.

Since the ministries are not insurance companies, their members would be required to pay a fine every year for not having signed up for health insurance if the exemption were not in place.

Critics say the exemption is unfair to people who are not close followers of a Christian faith.

They also say the ministries are siphoning off healthy individuals from the country's insurance pool, weakening the industry as a whole.

"I think health sharing ministries seem to be terrific institutions for most of the people in them, but I do have concerns about their effects externally," Rachel Sachs, an academic fellow at the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology and Bioethics at Harvard Law School told U.S. News & World Report in a February article.

Hopp and Brase, however, rejected that notion.

Hopp said the membership of the ministries nationwide is only 2 percent of the total insurance market, a number too small to affect the industry.

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He added many people with chronic ailments and pre-existing conditions join the ministries, taking those more expensive patients out of the insurance pool.

Another criticism leveled at the ministries is the limited services.

Besides abortion, some groups do not cover preventive care, dentistry, vision, and mental health services.

They also point out the ministry code of conduct might be OK for adults in the programs, but they might not cover actions taken by, say, teenage children.

Hopp and Brase said the limits are well-known to those who sign up and are part of the price of being a member.

"We recognize this option is not for everybody," said Hopp.

Critics also say that since the ministries are not regulated, there is no guarantee members will be compensated, and if there is a disagreement they are not allowed to sue their group.

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Hopp explained there is an appeal process at Samaritan Ministries. Members can ask a panel of 13 randomly chosen individuals to review a claim. He said there have only been four such incidents in the past two decades with his group.

"There aren't many insurance companies that offer this kind of consumer protection," he said.

Brase agrees.

"The industry itself doesn't make guarantees," she said.

The ministries are required to perform annual audits.

This was instituted after at least four lawsuits were filed against different ministries between 2000 and 2008 involving disputed claims.

The legal actions were against Christian Healthcare Ministries and Medi-Share.

Despite the criticisms, Hopp and Brase said the ministries provide an alternative for people who want a more affordable, faith-based healthcare system.

"It's voluntary," said Brase. "Nobody has to join."

By David Mills
More than 50 U.S. mid-level diplomats have sent a memo through the State Department's "dissent channel" to a likely sympathetic Secretary of State John Kerry, advocating an American bombing campaign to bring Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the negotiating table in the bloody Syrian civil war. The memo concluded, "It is time that the United States, guided by our strategic interests and moral convictions, lead a global effort to put an end to this conflict once and for all."

Because it is even remotely unclear what strategic interests the United States has in Syria--other than perhaps crippling Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) fighters, who are in opposition to Assad--President Obama and his military commanders have been reluctant to get into it with Assad directly, despite much pressure to do so from inside the government and from congressional hawks. They correctly ask what would happen if Assad were actually deposed from power by U.S. military action. Amazingly, the experts' memo and congressional hawks have never addressed this question.

Given what has happened in Iraq and Libya when "undesirable" leaders were overthrown using American force--chaos and mayhem leading to havens for ISIS and other bad groups--one can scarcely believe that seasoned diplomats want to topple yet another Middle Eastern despot with no plan for what comes next. Assad is surely a brutal autocrat, but he at least keeps the portion of Syria he still controls out of the hands of the even more brutal ISIS and al Nusra, the al Qaeda affiliate. The diplomats claim that attacking Assad will shore up support for "moderate" Sunni rebels, who are U.S. allies against ISIS and al Nusra. Yet the moderate rebels have always been relatively weak and would probably not win another civil war with those ruthless groups if Assad no longer ruled Syria.

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Despite such catastrophic failures (also add counterproductive U.S. meddling in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia to the pile), the diplomatic "experts," including the top levels--John Kerry and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton--still believe that calibrated U.S. military action can eventually social engineer the world, including the dispatching of Assad. They insist that they just want enough bombing to get Assad to negotiate his departure, but not enough to get into it with his nuclear-armed Russian sponsor or to involve the United States in another quagmire. The experts use the model of the Iran nuclear deal, arguing that ratcheting up economic sanctions brought Iran to the table.

In this line of analysis, they make several assumptions, which may not be proven correct. First, Iran had endured sanctions for many years without caving in; thus internal Iranian economic mismanagement rather than external pressure may have been the main cause of Iran's economic problems, which led to the negotiation of the nuclear deal. Second, if the effects of economic sanctions are imprecise and hard to calibrate exactly, the results of military attacks are even more so. This is especially true nowadays with a world media focused on any unintended collateral damage against civilians caused by U.S. military action. Also, what happens if U.S. air strikes don't do the job in ousting Assad, a man with his back against the wall and who could be charged with war crimes if deposed from power? As in past conflicts, pressure will then build for further escalation. Finally, what if the Russians refuse to allow the United States to eliminate the one remaining friend they have in the Middle East and decide also to escalate? Does the United States really want direct conflict with a nuclear-armed Russia over a strategically insignificant place?

Finally, the diplomats make the moral argument that Assad must be stopped from barrel bombing Syrian civilians, ignoring that atrocities have been committed by all sides in the horrendous conflict. Moreover, Iraq and Libya should be poster children for the unintended consequences of U.S. military action. The cure was worse than the admittedly bad ailment: more deaths resulted from the ensuing turmoil and civil wars than from the evil dictators that the United States deposed.

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Donors [to Fair Public Advocate, an independent expenditure committee] include Denver personal injury attorney Michael Sawaya, with $5,000. Another $1,000 came from attorney Norm Brownstein of Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber & Schreck, one of Denver's best-known and most politically-connected law firms.

The biggest donation, $50,000, came in February from a Texas holding company, FDJR Holdings, Inc. of Houston.

According to the Texas Secretary of State, FDJR Holdings is one of a group of holding companies owned by Azar and/or his wife, Jeanette Renfro Azar.
(Progressive churches -- let's do our part to end the "bathroom wars" and stand up for full LGBT equality! Through Progressive Christians Uniting, you can order "all gender" bathroom signs at a deep discount, and get publicity for it at a national level. Click HERE for details.)



"Love the sinner, but hate the sin."



This phrase has been used countless times by some Christians to pretend to offer welcome to LGBT people while condemning the natural consequence of the way God made them. It speaks for a shallow kind of love at most: one that claims to be okay with a person's same-sex orientation while stigmatizing its fulfillment. This noxious phrase also summarizes the underlying attitude of many people of other religions towards sexual minorities.



It is a phrase whose time has come - and gone. More than ever, it needs to be excised from the vocabulary of faith, once and for all, as it pertains to homosexuality.



What happened in Orlando can be interpreted in many ways and at many levels. One of them surely is as an act of unspeakably violent hatred against gay people, motivated in part by a twisted interpretation of a religion. This horrifying massacre happens against the backdrop of a backlash against increased acceptance of LGBT people in American society: hundreds of anti-LGBT laws have been passed at the state and local level in the last few months. This mass murder and this rash of legalized bigotry remind us that religion continues to be part of the homophobia problem.



Things are changing fast. Young people who have grown up in evangelical churches are increasingly mystified that their pastors still believe homosexual sex to be sinful. Fewer and fewer of these young evangelicals are going with the "culture war" program, as more and more of them maintain friendships with lovely, caring LGBT people who are in obviously healthy same-sex sexual relationships.



And more and more of these young evangelicals, both straight and gay, are getting disgusted with the faux welcome that their pastors and churches offer to LGBT people. There is a category of evangelical churches that take great pains to appear culturally relevant. They look and feel like places that would be LGBT-friendly, and make no mention of homosexuality in their sermons and websites. But eventually both gay and straight folks discover that these churches claim to love the homosexual sinner but hate the sin of homosexual sex. Mosaic Church in Hollywood is an example. You have to probe deep into the internet to discover that this groovy congregation with hipster decor and Hollywood production values is really a Southern Baptist church. Its pastor, Erwin McManus, in an LA Times interview, described homosexuality as a "lifestyle", which is fundamentalist code language for a "choice" rather than something intrinsic to a person's very being.



Fake love and empty welcome need to be named for what they are. Let's save gay people and their straight allies the pain and hassle of going to churches that pretend to be what they aren't. It's time to love Christian homophobes while outing them for their homophobia. And it can be a genuine love, because homophobia is not part of who they are. It really is a choice! Abstaining from homophobia deprives them of nothing but delusion for themselves and pain for others.



There's at least one thing that progressive Christians can do right now to go public with a truly loving form of the faith. A simple thing: posting all-gender signs on our church restrooms. Let's show America that we have gone beyond the bathroom wars, and that we stand for full LGBT inclusion and affirmation. Through Progressive Christians Uniting, you can order the signs at a deep discount, and get publicity for it at a national level. Click HERE for details.





(For a scathing but eloquent article on the subject of this post, see Paul Brandeis Raushenbush's recent piece in Huffington Post.)
Photo: Andy Campbell, Huffington Post

He didn't say much, but he wasted no time. The day after Sediqque M's son committed a brutal massacre at an Orlando nightclub, leaving an astounding 49 people dead, the father of the murderer immediately surfaced and apologized:

I am really sorry and have expressed this to the people of the United States, especially in this holy month of Ramadan. What he has done has shocked me ... I ask God for help and guidance.



He added:

Those people who lost their loved ones, they are my family. I am as sad and as mad as you guys are. I'm very, very mad.

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I don't know anything about the man's politics, what kind of father he was, if he made other inflammatory statements, took questionable actions. The man deserves credit, though, for immediately coming forward. It's not how the parents of rampage shooters used to act.

What will the reaction be from surviving victims, or those struggling to survive devastating injuries? What about the reaction from the scores of grieving family members of those young men and women whose lives his son tragically cut short?

Some will simply ignore him as inconsequential and meaningless as they cope with despair. Others may react with anger. Still others might find some quiet measure of appreciation, if not now, eventually. The victims, the survivors, in fact the world, cries out with one simple question: Why? What did my son or daughter, my sister or brother, do to deserve this? Why did your son take them away from me? What were their last words? What made your son act in this barbaric fashion?

One thing Sediqque's expression of sorrow, shock and anger was not: it was not silence. Silence was the default position taken by the parents of rampaging murderers in the past. The disbelief expressed by Sediqque is common. It is common that parents of rampagers cannot fathom their children could be capable of the unimaginable carnage they unleash. Parents are blindsided by the event and are simultaneously engulfed with an international media tidal wave. Police in arrive in SWAT gear and forcibly remove them from their homes, interrogate them as suspects: what did they know about their children's plans and how did they obtain their weapons? The media camp out on their lawns, visit their employers, family members and friends. The images of their children and themselves are plastered on the television, newspapers and web and in infamy.

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If their child is dead, as if so often the case, the parents, too, are in mourning. They have to figure out what to do with the dead body. Funerals and burials are difficult, or impossible, in fear of vandalism. The parents are blamed, vilified, and hated. They receive death threats.

Expecting lawsuits and even possible arrest, parents huddle with lawyers. Lawyers advise silence. Statements made could be used against parents in big multimillion dollar lawsuits, which in the United States will, no doubt follow. Statements might be used by criminal prosecutors looking to charge somebody, anybody, with "aiding and abetting," accomplice criminal liability, or failure to prevent a crime, something called "misprision." For lawyers, silence helps shield clients.

Parental apologies seem to have started in the age of Columbine. Prior to Columbine, parents often maintained silence, as did the parents of the 14-year-old boy who, in 1997 killed 3 classmates in a school prayer circle at Heath High School in West Paducah, Kentucky. And in the late 1999 when the parents of mass shooters made a statement, it came after a few days and great deliberation with attorneys. The statements were typically written and released by parents' attorneys.

An example is the brief and statement released by the lawyer for the parents of one of the Columbine High School murderers:

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Wayne and Kathy...have been devastated by what their son...did.'' They continue to grieve for all of the victims and their families. "Hopefully, there will come a time when they feel they are ready to speak publicly about their son and the horrible acts that he committed. But now is just not that time.

Sediqque's brief but immediate apology is more common now. It's how most parents now react. In 2013, for example, a mother held an impromptu press conference in her Brooklyn, N.Y. apartment the day after her son murdered twelve innocent people at the Navy Yard in Washington D.C. She stood in her living room and with clergy standing beside her, read a brief apology, concluding that she was now was glad in her son's death he could "no longer do harm to anyone." Her words were preferable to the deafening silence of bygone eras. There are countless examples of the newer trend.

A second development, much rarer but even more remarkable, is that parents of shooters conducting private meetings with parents of victims. One such meeting occurred in 2013 following the Sandy Hook elementary school tragedy where the father of the shooter met privately with grieving parents of one of his six-year-old victims. Another such meeting between parents occurred between two fathers in 2014 near Los Angeles, California. The meetings offer the slightest possibility of making sense of the senseless.



Experts like psychiatrist Aaron Lazare say apologies are "a validation of another person's feelings, intuition, and perception," and, when sincere, are an important component of the healing process. The apology, he wrote in 2004 (On Apology), "is a method of social healing that has grown in importance as our way of living together on this planet undergoes radical change." Radical change, indeed.
Note: The first interview I did with playwright/activist/political commentator and writer John Steppling for The Huffington Post blog was in May 2014



J. Folino: Good afternoon, John. Thanks for the interview. With this current election in the U.S., a great many Bernie Sanders' supporters are deeply upset over the possible voting fraud that has occurred during this election season. But it's pretty much a given now that what happened with Bush and Gore in Florida showed that the voting mechanisms can not be trusted. And yet people still behave as if democracy is functioning. Where do you think such a deep cognitive dissonance emanates from in Americans? What is it people are so fearful of admitting and why?

John Steppling: I don't think there has been a functioning democracy, not a real one, since 1963.* I think that was a signature moment. And nobody fully knows who was behind it. We can guess. But the point here is that most people running for national office are already vetted, and they know the drill. Nobody who is an outsider has even the remotest chance of running for national office for either of the two major parties. Now Sanders was never an outsider. Period.

But I think something else is occurring this election. And while everyone always says, that this is the most important election of our era, it's never true and it's not true now. The deep toxins and ugliness of these candidates is becoming harder and harder to ignore. It's becoming difficult to not see how broken the U.S. is as a nation. Most people are getting overly upset and strident and aggressive this election when they usually don't. This election has been upsetting and I think it's been upsetting in ways that are at least partly unconscious.

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J. Folino: The recent massacre in Orlando has focused the public's attention away from the election as well as the upcoming Republican and Democratic conventions and shifted it to public safety and gun control. The way the American media suddenly switched from politics to gun control seems almost calculated to me. Can you comment on this?

John Steppling: The Orlando shooting raises so many questions. I want to write in some depth about them. And now the White House is rainbow. This drives me nuts. Where is the solidarity with dead Palestinians? Or dead Black teenagers? Or the victims of Fallujah? I mean yes, it's a hate crime, committed, allegedly by a former G4 security worker. The same guys who torture Palestinians in Israeli jails. Irony? Uh, yes. But the violence against sexual orientation has not changed at all really. And I wonder sometimes if the progress of gay marriage and the way it's on almost every show on TV now, the well adjusted loving gay marriage... if that isn't a disservice to the queer community. For me part of the sexual outlaw nature of Fassbinder* or John Rechy* was in not fitting in. Rejecting the bourgeois norm. Not adjusting. So yes, it's progress of a sort. Absolutely. I am not minimizing that. But marriage is a pretty retro institution. There is a domestication of this storyline that I think is more complex than it's given credit for. The great queer artists that I am thinking of would have laughed at the idea of marriage and this new "fitting in" notion.

I think people are twigging to the ugliness of American society and culture. And I happened recently to start smoking pipes again. I hadn't in a decade or more. But it made me remember back when I was twenty or so and I wanted to be like Anthony Braxton* who I knew. I knew I looked silly so I smoked it alone in private. But I remember the older men who were at the old tobacco and pipe stores. One on Hollywood Boulevard and one later in Century City. It was an introduction to a ritual of becoming a man. It was symbolic. And I think it's odd that people get upset by the health risks but don't care at all about plastic wrapped everything or factory farmed meat etc. Einstein, Ernst Block, Bertram Russell, JR Tolkin, CS Lewis, Mark Twain, Jung all great pipe smokers. On and on. Anyway it helps me think. Nicotine and caffeine. And I think these rituals of maturing have been lost. Even simple ones such as pipe smoking are lost. I have such distinct memories of the tins... the labels that never change... old pipe tobacco companies... Gawith, Rattrays, Germain and Sons. All of them. And it's something you have to learn a bit about, too. It's an art.

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Anyway, I mention this because there is something about this shrinking masculine in the events around Omar Mateen, and around the Stanford rapist Brock Turner and others ... a sense of psychosis and lack of fertility somehow. And then remember that the men who distort these stories for the news, or those who create false flags or set up stings for patsies... these are men who never grew up right either. They are pinched at the soul somehow.

J. Folino: Since Senator Bernie Sanders is pretty much out of the picture at this point as a possible Presidential candidate, describe what you envision as a Trump Presidency as opposed to a Clinton Presidency and which you believe is more dangerous for the working poor and middle-class population in the U.S. and why?

John Steppling: Trump -- well two things about Trump and his candidacy. One is that it's shocking so many resentful white men are actually out there. I'm laughing but it's true. And two...that this man is a cartoon. For liberals he is a fascist ...but a sort of cartoon fascist. I mean look at him. He wants to be the mack daddy* of Atlantic City, the quarter to three cool, but all that, whatever he is in his head...that's all gone. He's just a rich kid who inherited a lot of money. For his followers he is a cartoon too, but they like cartoons. The liberals I know are all up in arms about defeating Trump. They don't care about Hillary. They identify with the social class above them. They want to belong to that class. They want a dinner at the Clinton mansion. It's an inner groveling. But also, they don't grasp the nuances of the neo liberal globalized soft fascism. They just don't. And they are not Marxist. They are usually positivists or New Age (though they would deny it) and they are vaguely revisionist psychologically about Freud. But the point is that Hillary is appealing to them, and they don't care if she is a warmonger or sadist.

J. Folino: There has been a great deal of anti-Putin propaganda in the United States in the last five years. In what ways is Putin a true threat to American financial interests and how much of what he has actually done in the Ukraine is simply being used by American politicians and the military to advance an agenda for US imperialism?

John Steppling: The Putin proganda is just jaw dropping. I mean jaw dropping. It's so endless and I'm always amazed when someone I know parrots this stuff. Putin is not Lenin nor is he Castro or Sankara*. And most Russians love him. And he has made some shrewd and thoughtful maneuvers to stay clear of the US and NATO. This is what scares me about Hillary. Her love of war. And I think literally she does LOVE it. I think she is very unbalanced. And while Trump is a moron and a bigot, I can't help but wonder how serious he is about what he says. He's not an ideologue. Hillary is. She is merciless. Cunning. And highly destructive.

J. Folino: You live with your wife Gunnhild in Norway, a relatively progressive country with strong social nets. How has this changed your life in both positive and less than positive ways? What do you miss about the United States if anything?



John and Gunnhild Steppling, copyright J. Steppling 2016

John Steppling: I miss a lot about the U.S. I miss the desert. And I miss aspects of culture, of art. But Norway is very empty. I drove down from Trondheim, through Denmark to Germany recently. And I love Danes. They are my favorite people if I may generalize. But that country is a bit crowded in some ways, even though Jylland is utterly empty. Germany oddly feels less so, surprisingly less crowded. And I love Germany, actually. But Norway and Finland... they are empty. Totally empty. And I really like that. It's why I liked Joshua Tree. I can't deal with too many too close.



John Steppling and his son Lex, copyright J. Steppling 2016

J. Folino: In light of all that you have said, can you predict what the United States will look like eight years from now if Clinton is elected? If Donald Trump is?

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John Steppling: It's hard to even guess. All I can say is that foreign policy is what scares me with Hillary Clinton as president. Her vision is one I associate with neo con thinking, actually. Destabilizing Russia is a clear goal. Break it up. Bring about regime change in Syria. And probably an intensified attack on Venezuela and Ecuador. And maybe others in the global south. And that's very dangerous. The U.S. is economically tied to defense. And I fear her coterie is slightly delusional with respect to this stuff. With Trump, the fear is more unclear. Domestically a rise in hate crimes certainly and while I don't think he can build a wall or deport millions, he will certainly usher in a new level of racist policy and probably new levels of police surveillance and erosions of civil liberties. The two of them are both a nightmare.

J. Folino: Is there any hope in your opinion?

John Steppling: The only hope is that more people will start to see that both parties are utterly compromised and will start to reject the system of the two war parties. Trump is a blurrier image. But there are so many contingencies. The environmental crises and unemployment -- there is going to be social unrest. How either of them handle that is hard to guess. Given the usual advisers, it will be a continuance of what we have, only worse. I do appreciate, on one level, the fear of Trump in the sense that he lacks all sense of proportion and is such an ignorant man. He occasionally, however, says things that are supportable. He's right that unemployment is really more like 20%. That's true. But then he just says things. Who is really under that cartoon mask? Still I worry less because I think Hillary is the next president almost certainly. And I have wondered often if Trump even wants the presidency. He is certainly the perfect foil for Hillary who is unelectable against anyone else.

John Steppling walking the walk in Norway.

References

*1963 The assassination of President John F. Kennedy

*Anthony Braxton: American composer and musician

*Rainer Werner Fassbinder: Prolific queer German filmmaker

*John Francisco Rechy: Pioneer of LGBT literature

*mack daddy: pimp-meister, the king of the streetwalkers, possessor of the blingest of bling-bling

*Thomas Sankara: Marxist revolutionary, pan-Africanist theorist, and President of Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987.

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Education Reform is a phrase that has been thrown around the political world for decades. Conventional wisdom dictates that any time the word "education" has been brought up, you need to add "reform" to it to start a conversation. However, in 2016 conventional wisdom is being turned up side down. "Reform" is no longer in our political debates. Education, everyone's favorite ball to kick around, regardless of party, is not even mentioned.

Is this a good thing for our education system? How did this happen?

The easy answer is to say: there are more pressing issues and the Republican party wants to dump Common Core. But that is not taking into account the fact the public education has been under going reform for close to twenty years and the results are mixed at best. Also, attitudes are changing and professional opinions are starting to head in a different direction. Many parents are pushing back on testing and scholars are citing poverty, not the education system, as the biggest reason why education have underperformed for many students.

Recently on a podcast of "We Love Schools," host Carole Dorn Bell cited Dr. Denver Fowler's of Ole Miss's work, which states that poverty and income are the biggest qualifiers for education performance. Many studies have pointed out that racial integration is the only sure way to improve under preforming schools. "This American Life" has a gripping podcast on this very subject, describing how immediate the results can be when kids from a lower preforming school go to higher preforming school.

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To answer to the aforementioned question, the lack of debate on public education in this year's election is a good thing for public education. Public education has been under reform for a long time, and educators are being put into the impossible task of changing the script every few years and expecting immediate results once it has changed. The public has heard plenty about education forms and is starting to push back on testing and charters that are not living up to their promises. This, plus the toxic feeling that many feel about this upcoming election, has people who support public schools feeling grateful that theirs is to the ball getting kicked around in this contest.
"I wish to speak to you today about the tragedy of Europe," Winston Churchill told his audience in 1946. But he wasn't speaking of a united Europe as a bad thing. Actually, he strongly supported the development of a European Union, and probably wouldn't embrace "Brexit," the decision of the United Kingdom to leave the EU, which will soon be in the hands of voters.

"Let Europe Arise!" former Prime Minister Churchill stated at a speech to the University of Zurich, which you can find in "Vital Speeches of the Day" published on October 1, 1946 (you can also find it in the book The Sinews of Peace, under "Post-War Speeches by Winston S. Churchill, published by Cassell & Company, Ltd. in 1948). The entire text is here



Image provided by the author

"If Europe is to be saved from infinite misery and, indeed, from final doom, there must be this act of faith in the European family and this act of oblivion against all the crimes and follies of the past, and the free peoples of Europe must rise to the height of these resolves of the soul and of the instinct of the spirit of man," Churchill said.

And he wasn't some "Britain First" character like the assassin of British MP Jo Cox, where everything is about national sovereignty. "The structure of the United States of Europe, if well and truly built, will be such as to make the material strength of a single state less important," Churchill stated. "Small nations will count as much as large ones and gain their honor by their contribution to the common cause."

Of course he didn't like some of the specific plans of his day, namely the Treaty of Paris as well as the European Defense Community. But when he got back into office after his party lost parliament in 1945, he pushed hard for the West European Union.



"If we are to form a United States of Europe, or whatever name it may take, we must begin now....Our constant aim must be to build and fortify the strength of the United Nations organization. Under and within that world concept, we must recreate the European family in a regional structure, called, it may be, the United States of Europe, and the first practical step would be to form a Council of Europe. If at first all states of Europe are not willing or able to join the union, we must nevertheless proceed to assemble and combine those who will and can."

I'm sure there are some who would say that things are different now than in Churchill's time, with Middle East refugees. But the great British Prime Minister knew that xenophobia and hatred of others was what led to the need for a stronger Europe to combat these in the first place.

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"It is from Europe that has sprung that series of frightful and nationalistic morals originated by the Teutonic nations in their rise to power, which we have seen in the twentieth century and which have for a long time wrecked the peace and marred the prospects of all mankind," Churchill told the people.

He also credited "that great republic across the Atlantic Ocean has at length realized that the ruin or enslavement of Europe has involved their own fate as well." That's right...Churchill wanted the United States to play a strong role in helping foster a unified Europe. We need to study what Churchill said, beyond the Iron Curtain speech and catty comments to Lady Astor. If we're so angry over a bust of him being allegedly removed from the White House (check fact checkers on this), we should listen to his words about what should be done in Europe.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - JUNE 10: President of Mexico Enrique Pena Nieto and President of Singapore, Tony Tan Keng Yam (not seen) hold a press conference at National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico on June 10, 2016. (Photo by Daniel Cardenas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

"Building a Society of Rights means there is no room for first- and second-class citizens. It means choosing inclusion over discrimination. It means creating unity from diversity."

These words sound as if they could have easily come from President Barack Obama's eighth and final Pride Proclamation, marking June 2016 as LGBT Pride month. However, these words came from a different president: President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico in his June 2, 2016, Huffington Post essay explaining why he introduced legislation in the Mexican Congress to amend Mexico's Constitution to make marriage equality the law of the nation. Currently, marriage equality is the law in 9 of Mexico's 31 states and the federal district of Mexico City.

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The marriage equality movement in Mexico has been building quickly and steadily in the last several years. In late 2009, Mexico City passed legislation allowing LGBT couples to wed, and in 2010 the Mexican Supreme Court upheld the law and ruled that such marriages were valid throughout the nation. Progress continued in subsequent years.

Then last June, just days before the U.S. Supreme Court decided Obergefell, the Mexican Supreme Court issued its own marriage equality opinion. Unlike the U.S., the Mexican Supreme Court lacks the authority to issue one decision that directly and immediately invalidates all state marriage bans throughout the country. However, the Court held that any same-sex couple refused a marriage license anywhere in the country could seek a federal court injunction ordering that the couple be married and that granting the injunction was mandatory. The Court stated, "there is no justified reason that the matrimonial union be heterosexual, nor that it be stated as between only a man and only a woman. ... Such a statement turns out to be discriminatory in its mere expression."

In early 2016, the Mexican Supreme Court unanimously struck down the state of Jalisco's marriage ban in its entirety, stating that it "undermined" people's "self-determination" and violated "the principle of equality." Guadalajara, Mexico's second most populous city after Mexico City, is located in Jalisco. However, to have true nationwide marriage equality-where LGBT couples can simply marry without having to undertake the expensive and degrading process of obtaining a federal injunction-each Mexican state that currently lacks equality would need to enact its own legislation or the Supreme Court would need to invalidate each state's law in separate challenges. In an interview, Supreme Court Justice Olga Sanchez Cordero urged states to adjust their rules to avoid the Court declaring their laws unconstitutional.

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President Pena Nieto, though, wants to cut through this cumbersome process and "guarantee every person's full marriage rights" once and for all through a constitutional amendment. The process of amending the Mexican Constitution is difficult, requiring 2/3 votes of both houses of Congress and ratification by a simple majority of the states. The President, however, noted that May 2016 polling showed that "66 percent of people fully or partially agree that same-sex marriage should be allowed under our Constitution." While acknowledging some resistance, he stated that "as President, it is my duty to ensure that the personal beliefs and customs of some do not limit the human rights of others."

Neither did President Pena Nieto limit his actions to marriage equality. He launched "an initiative to revise [the country's] entire legal framework" and "identify any and all laws that go against equality and propose the necessary changes to improve them." He also announced in May that Mexico will join the United Nation's LGBTI Core Group formed to promote LGBTI rights internationally.

We applaud President Pena Nieto's initiatives and the Mexican Supreme Court's unanimous support for marriage equality. We look for nationwide marriage equality to come to Mexico soon. And we are reminded that when we go to the polls in November, we will have a stark choice as to whether the U.S. continues to have a President that embraces LGBT pride and acts on it, and a Supreme Court that protects the constitutional rights of LGBT Americans.


Despite what many passionate winemakers will tell you about the excitement of what they do, the hard facts are that the science and making of wine are largely agricultural and biological. It's just that Idaho potatoes and New Jersey tomatoes haven't quite the romantic associations that a Napa Valley Cabernet or Chardonnay has accrued though literature and marketing. Wine writers like myself have to know Chemistry 101 just to be able to interview a wine maker, so we can chat about things like Brix levels, micro-oxygenation and TCA contamination.

Fortunately, as in all interviews, it is the contrarians of the industry who are the most fun and the most revealing about modern viniculture in California, where far too many wines are indeed manufactured back at the winery lab to taste a certain way and to win awards according to the preferences of the wine media.

"If I were asked by a winery to make 96-point [on a scale of 100] wine, I'd just walk away," says Robbie Meyer (above), since 2015 winemaker at Murrieta's Well winery in the Livermore Valley. "The people who ask for such a thing know nothing about wine."

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Holding such an opinion flies in the face of many wineries, often owned by Silicon Valley millionaires or Wall Street billionaires who want nothing more from their investment than to win high points or "Wine of the Year" from publications like Wine Spectator and The Wine Advocate.

Instead, Meyer, 45, focuses on small lot harvesting and blending based on the soil and micro-climate of the acreage, called terroir. Hailing from Georgia, Meyer earned his Master's degree in enology at the University of California, Davis, and has worked in prestigious wineries like Peter Michael, Lewis Cellars, and Jericho Canyon as well as for his own labels, Peirson Meyer and L'Angevin.

Murrieta's Well is owned by the much larger Wente Family Estates, which has built it into their luxury wine brand. Murrieta's Well honors the name of Joachin Murrieta, who founded a winery in the 1800s and devoted himself to "artfully blended" wines. So, too, Meyer assesses the wine from various estates owned by the winery, then blends them to reflect each vintage's strengths, so that Murrieta's Well wines may taste somewhat different from year to year.

Meyer works with 20 different grape varieties from 500 acres with three soil profiles ranging from 560 feet to 860 feet elevations; he plants root stocks according to the soil composition, which will affect flavors. Livermore Valley, for instance, has very gravelly coarse sandy loam, while at Pleasonton the gravel is very fine, and Las Positas has a grass pasture.

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Still, Murrieta's Well wines sell at modest prices by comparison with other well-known California small estate labels. Its white blend, called The Whip, sells for about $22 and has a wonderful aromatic bouquet that comes from orange Muscat, Semillon, chardonnay and sauvignon blanc, to give it an acidic edge that makes it very food friendly. The red blend, The Spur, at about $30, is made from Petite Syrah, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc, which provide several layers of fruit and tannin.





Murrieta's Well's Small Lot line is more expensive and rightly so. Both the Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 ($58) and the Chardonnay 2014 ($44) are excellent examples of what those California varietals should taste like, not replicas of Bordeaux or Burgundy templates but expressive of the far different terroir of Livermore Valley.

The Cabernet, at 14.4 percent alcohol, skirts being massive while maintaining its tannic muscle, which should mellow further in another two years. The blend contains Petit Verdot, Melbec, Petite Syrah and Merlot, and, according to Meyer, the drought conditions of 2013 actually allowed the winery to "subsidize the minimal water requirements through our sustainable drip irrigation methods."
Like the Grinch in Dr. Seuss's story, who, after being caught by Little Cindy-Lou Who trying to steal the family Christmas tree, sends the tot back to bed with a warm glass of milk and a gentle but firm push on the behind, the same Democratic elites who worked tirelessly for months to destroy Bernie Sanders and his campaign are now fondly patting him on his head, thanking him in dulcet tones for his "important" contribution, and rushing him to the wings, hoping to return him as soon as possible to the relative slumber of the US Senate.

Before Sanders goes off into that good night, though, they'd first like him to sign his millions of passionate supporters over to Hillary Clinton, like a blank check made out to "CASH."

Sorry, I don't think so. Neither I nor most of the Bernie supporters I know here in the Boston area, and I know quite a few, have any intention of returning to the Democratic fold. The Party has already lost its progressive base. It just doesn't know it yet.

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If you want to know why millions of Bernie Sanders supporters are almost certainly going to defect to a third party in the coming years, to a party with principles worth having, a good place to start is Mark Schmitt's op-ed in the New York Times last week. Schmitt is director of the political reform program at the New America think tank, one of the poisonous weeds growing from the manure pile of the Democratic Party establishment. The beltway is full of such weeds, and though few Americans are aware of their existence, they play a key role in choking out alternative visions of society.

In an op-ed entitled, "Is the Sanders Agenda Out of Date?", Schmitt observed that Sanders is too old to run again, and that he never had influence with his colleagues, anyway. As for Sanders' proposals, Schmitt opined, they're like Windows 95 -- old, discredited junk that wouldn't work even if Sanders had won. The "biggest reason that Mr. Sanders won't shape the next progressive agenda," Schmitt wrote, is that his "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."

Now we know the real reason why the American people can't have affordable health care, free higher education, prison reform, a livable minimum wage, a reigning in of Wall Street, or decisive action on climate change or on anything else: because the existing Democratic leadership, and the think tanks like New America who do their thinking for them, say they can't.

And just who funds Schmitt and New America? Among others, Northrop Grumman, the defense contractor, Google, Microsoft, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the US Department of State, Fedex, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and millionaire stalwarts of the Democratic Party like Eric and Wendy Schmidt and Zachary Karabell, Head of Global Strategy at Envestnet (a financial firm). That's who.

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So goes our "trickle down" democracy, in which Schmitt and other self-appointed Imagineers of the future, accountable to no one but to the wealthy donors and foundations who privately fund them, determine the boundaries and shape and values of society. Our role, yours and mine, is to live in the world these technocrats create for us. Thus, if New America and the Center for American Progress -- run by such "progressives" as former Secretary of State Madeline Albright -- decide that health care is a privilege, not a right, or that we have no business breaking up the big banks, or that advocating a $15 minimum wage is the wrong way to address economic inequality, who are we to disagree?

I think you know already. We're the riff-raff. Pie-in-the-skyers. "Bernie Bros." The hoi polloi. Or, to use a much abused yet still indispensable word, the people.

Yes, them. Taken for granted and essentially written off for decades by wealthy elites in the Republican and Democratic parties alike, the American people have suddenly become restless and unmanageable. The stunning twin successes of the Sanders and Trump campaigns have done more than upend the conventional political order -- they've revealed deep fissures in our society. Vast economic, racial, and political cracks in the polity have opened up at our collective feet. And it's a long way down.

Though Schmitt and others in the managerial elite see these fissures, too, they fail to grasp how deep they go. Stranded on the shore of their own economic privilege, they gaze out confidently at a distant horizon, not noticing that the rest of suffering humanity is being swallowed by the earth. As the playwright Arthur Miller once quipped, "There is nothing further away from Washington than the entire world." He was right, there isn't.

The vast distance between members of the elite class and everybody else has also kept the former from noticing that liberalism as an ideology is no longer tenable. The fascist elements in our society, clinging like ugly burs to Donald Trump's candidacy, aren't going to go away. On the contrary, even if Hillary wins in the fall, the conditions that gave rise to Trumpism in the first place -- massive economic and social inequality, a government unresponsive to its citizens' needs, foreign war and militarism, a market culture that secretly thrives on misogyny and racial division, a mode of economic development directly at odds with planetary survival--are certain to worsen. That's because liberalism fails to comprehend the relation between these problems and the underlying structure of capitalism, which it endorses.



While a Sanders presidency would by no means have solved these problems, it might at least have slowed the rapid pace of decline, giving us a little time to build an alternative form of culture. What Sanders' candidacy did was to crack open a window, letting some light and air into our democracy. Now, that window has come crashing down.

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This week, after it became clear that Hillary will be the Democratic nominee, Sanders made a conciliatory speech, suggesting that his supporters might begin working within the Democratic party structure to push it in a more progressive direction. For once, though, Sanders appears to have misjudged his constituency.

The young people who've been inspired by Sanders' campaign will be leaving it with a bitter taste in their mouths. Apart from their feelings of hope and excitement listening to Sanders' fiery speeches, what they will remember most about this election season is how the Democratic establishment set out to destroy Sanders. They will remember the early media blackout around Sanders' candidacy, and the shocking--and still unexplained--voting irregularities that marred primaries across the nation. They will remember too the unending stream of vicious attacks on Sanders by liberal columnists at the New York Times and Washington Post, and how the latter became de facto house organs of the Democratic Party.

Schmitt thinks that Sanders supporters will now flock to the Democratic Party, recognizing it as their true home. But for young progressives, the take-away is likely to be quite different. They have now seen that even mild, social democratic reforms of the system are unacceptable to the Party's elite. They have also experienced, first hand, the contempt with which that elite views their reasonable human needs and political aspirations. For many, it has been a shattering experience, one that has only confirmed their sense that the system is rigged -- just as their rumpled prophet said it was.

Far from having prepared his supporters to become passive new consumers of the Democratic Party mythology, then, Sanders has, on the contrary, prepared them for a new kind of radicalism. So, farewell, Democrats, and farewell Schmitt. The status quo is over.


image credit: Compfight/SIM USA

On 13th May 2000, The Economist magazine ran a front cover that notoriously labeled Africa as 'The Hopeless Continent'.

In its eyes, Africa was a forsaken place -- ravaged by war, famine and disease.

Just a decade later, the tune had changed. In 2011 and 2012 respectively, The Economist and Time magazine released editions with resplendent displays of the 'Africa Rising' slogan. Lavish with praise and optimism, they described Africa as a continent of promise, growth and prosperity.

But as I write this, Africa's biggest oil exporters - Nigeria and Angola - are in dire straits. Due to tumbling oil prices, their economies - which are heavily dependent on oil revenues - are dangerously close to recession.

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In the face of the slump in global commodity prices - gold, iron ore, copper and coffee, for example - countries like Ghana, Zambia and South Africa have been hit hard.

According to the World Bank's predictions, economic growth across sub-Saharan Africa will slow to 3% in 2016, down from 8% nearly a decade ago.

These are not good times for Africa, right?

Wrong!

It's funny how history repeats itself, because the pessimists and naysayers are back. And they're asking: 'Is Africa still rising?'

The answer: a resounding 'Yes!'

Actually, Africa's just getting started. And I'll give you 5 reasons why...

1) Africa's future is NOT in commodities

Africa's present commodity challenges have a silver lining. It's actually a good thing.

For decades, the continent has continued to depend on the export of commodities - especially agricultural produce and raw minerals. As a result, the economies of several countries on the continent have historically been vulnerable to global price fluctuations of crude oil, cocoa, coffee, copper, gold and diamonds.

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They say 'adversity is the mother of creativity', and Africa's savvy entrepreneurs are finding interesting paths out of the continent's commodity-dependence conundrum.

Two interesting ways they're doing this are through diversification and local value addition.

Take Good African Coffee, for example - a local business that works with coffee farmers in Uganda to grow, roast and export finished coffee products to retailers in Europe. Rather than export raw coffee beans, like Uganda has been doing for decades, the country and its coffee growers now earn more revenue by having a larger footprint in the coffee value chain.

As changes like this spread across the continent, the Africa's future will be much more resilient in the face of commodity price shocks.

2) A fast growing domestic market

Over the next 30 years, Africa will have the fastest growing population in the world. Its population is projected to reach 2.4 billion by 2050 -- double its current size, and a quarter of the world's estimated population by 2050.

It's not just the size of Africa's current and future population that should interest you; but its composition. An overwhelming proportion of Africans (more than 60 percent) are below the age of 30. In a future of aging populations in the developed world, Africa's youthful population will be a growth engine for the global economy in the coming decades.

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3) It's now much safer and easier to do business in Africa

In the World Bank's latest Ease of Doing Business report, five of the ten fastest reformers on the index are African. While some countries on the continent have made more progress than others in dismantling the structural and economic barriers that frustrate business and investment, the overall trend is looking up.

While there are exceptions in places like Burundi, DR Congo and a few other countries, democracy is taking root in Africa. The continent is now more peaceful and stable, compared to a few decades ago when it was run by dictators, military juntas and warlords.

4) A hotbed for innovation and entrepreneurship

In 2015 alone, African startups received over $500 million in funding from investors within and outside the continent. The entrepreneurs behind these ventures are young, hungry and ambitious to transform the continent with their ideas and innovation.

Technology, especially the internet and mobile phones, has become a powerful springboard for innovation in Africa, and will help the continent leapfrog its way to 'first world' status. More African entrepreneurs are using technology to create simple and practical solutions to tough problems.

And there are hundreds of interesting examples and success stories. Everywhere you look, across several industries - agribusiness, healthcare, financial services, education and tech - Africa's entrepreneurs are transforming the continent's landscape.

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5) Generally, life is better on the continent

Most people who have been constantly fed a warped image of Africa by mainstream media may have a hard time believing this, but it's hard to ignore the following facts:

Across the board, Africa is less poor than it used to be. The proportion of Africans living in absolute poverty (on less than $1.90 a day) has fallen from 56% in 1990 to 35% in 2015.

Literacy rates among the continent's young people now exceed 70% in most countries, and primary school enrolment has increased from 60% to 80% since the year 2000.

The battle against major diseases like HIV/AIDS and malaria is making great progress. According to the World Health Organisation, the annual deaths from malaria in Africa declined by as much as 66% between 2000 and 2015. This is a very significant developmental milestone for the continent.

Africa is just getting started...

Africa's journey to economic prosperity has followed a long and tortuous path. After decades of domination, decline, instability and uncertainty, the stars are starting to align for the continent, and the prize could be within reach in this century - regardless of its present challenges.

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And here's something to always keep in mind:

Africa's rise to the top will not be achieved by sudden flight. No. Its rise is not a matter of speed, but a test of strength, endurance and faith. There will be setbacks and headwinds along the way, but rise it shall.

Africa is not for the shortsighted; it's for those who are in for the long haul.
Dictionary definition of terrorism

Over the weekend, the New York Times published an article by Mark Mazzetti regarding Saudi Arabia's role in the 9/11 attacks.



The article describes some important facts and circumstances surrounding the support that two Saudis gave to two 9/11 hijackers. However, there is more to the story.



In addition to its discussion of Saudi Consulate official Fahad Thumairy, there is also an FBI and CIA report that indicates that Khallad bin Attash was in Los Angeles in June 2000 -- compliments of "diplomatic arrangements" provided by Fahad Thumairy. To understand the relevance of this key piece of information, it is necessary to have some context.



In 1997, Saudi intelligence arrested Khalid al Mihdhar and Nawaf al Hazmi as they attempted to bring weapons into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. From that point on, the Kingdom monitored the activities of these known al Qaeda operatives. In other words, these two men were not just random young Saudis who had a passing interest in jihad. They were "known" al Qaeda operatives who planned and participated in al Qaeda attacks -- and, more importantly, they were being closely watched by Saudi intelligence.



Also around that time, U.S. intelligence (and quite possibly their good friends at Saudi intelligence) came across the Yemen Switchboard. The Yemen Switchboard was a calling station where al Qaeda operatives around the world checked in and passed information back and forth to one another -- especially to Osama Bin Laden who was up in the hills of Afghanistan.



Essentially, if you listened to the conversations going back and forth on the Switchboard, you had the Rosetta Stone of al Qaeda's movements, activities, and plans for terrorist attacks around the globe. Admittedly, some information might have been spoken in code; but nonetheless, the CIA and NSA discovered the mother lode when they started listening to the conversations on the Yemen Switchboard.



By eavesdropping on the switchboard, intelligence agencies discovered information regarding: the African Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania, the bombing of the USS Cole, the attempted bombing of the USS The Sullivans, and the 9/11 attacks.



The problem, of course, with having the Rosetta Stone in their pocket, was not letting al Qaeda and Bin Laden know that they had it. Unfortunately, instances like this cause collateral damage. Much like in "The Imitation Game," when the English cracked the German Code. In order for the Germans to not realize the English had cracked their Enigma code, the English had to allow some attacks to happen -- innocent people had to be sacrificed for the greater cause. For example, the German bombing of the quaint little town of Coventry that killed 600 innocent people, illustrates this harsh reality. So, too, do the possible 3,239 people killed and 10,539 people seriously injured as a result of the Embassy bombings, the USS Cole, and the 9/11 attacks.



It was via their monitoring of the Yemen Switchboard that U.S. intelligence learned about the now infamous meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, also known as the "terrorist summit," held in January 2000. U.S. authorities tracked Mihdhar and Hazmi to this meeting when they traveled there with al Qaeda operative Khallad bin Attash. U.S. intelligence agencies monitored this meeting with help from certain foreign friends, Malaysian intelligence, among them. Whether our good friends and allies over at Saudi intelligence were also involved in the surveillance of this meeting remains unknown.



Also attending the Malaysia meeting were al Qaeda operatives: Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, Ramzi bin al Shibh, and Abd al Rahim al-Nashiri. At the meeting in Malaysia, the 9/11 attacks and the bombing of the USS Cole were discussed and planned in great detail. After the meeting wrapped up, Mihdhar and Hazmi flew to LAX on January 15, 2000 -- and quite possibly, according to one FBI report, so did Attash.



Recall that the period between December 1999 and January 2000 was a time of extreme high alert in al Qaeda threat reporting and warnings because it was the Millennium period. On December 14, 1999, al Qaeda terrorist Ahmed Ressam was arrested at a Seattle, Washington ferry crossing. Ressam was arrested with explosives found in his car, on his way to blow up LAX as part of al Qaeda's Millennium attacks.



Ressam -- without the use of torture, I might add -- immediately and completely cooperated with U.S. authorities, sharing vital information about Osama Bin Laden and al Qaeda's attempts to attack the United States. Indeed, several of the things detailed by Ressam were likely included in the August 6th Presidential Daily Briefing, "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.," as well as the top-secret documents that Clinton National Security Advisor, Sandy Berger, scandalously stole from the National Archives. These highly classified and apparently very damning documents were permanently destroyed by Berger--so, we'll never know what was so secretive and problematic in that Millennium after-action report that Berger stuffed in his socks. Perhaps a Saudi role? Who's to say? Berger is dead, and he certainly didn't leave any clues behind.



We do know, however, that some of Ressam's information was used in the indictments of several al Qaeda operatives who carried out the Embassy bombings, the USS Cole bombing, and the 9/11 attacks. Clearly, Ressam knew a lot. And, he shared that abundance of information openly and willingly with U.S. intelligence agencies -- starting in December 1999.



More notably to me, of course, is that Ressam detailed his connections to known al Qaeda operative Abu Zubaydah. This is relevant because after 9/11, by Zubaydah's own admission (albeit through torture), Zubaydah acknowledged having direct connections to Osama Bin Laden, Saudi intelligence and the Saudi Royal Family.



So, let's review what we have so far: the 1997 arrest of al Mihdhar and al Hazmi by Saudi intelligence (our allies); Saudi monitoring of the two al Qaeda operatives from that point onwards; monitoring and eavesdropping of the Yemen Switchboard by U.S. intelligence and quite possibly Saudi intelligence; the Meeting in Malaysia where the USS Cole and 9/11 attacks were further planned and discussed; the arrest of Ressam in December 1999; the cooperation of Ressam and his sharing of boatloads of al Qaeda information with U.S. intelligence; and the eventual arrival of Mihdhar, Hazmi, and potentially Attash into LAX on January 15, 2000. So now, let's get back to Mazzetti's article.



In addition to the material Mazzetti discusses in his article is the curious evolution of facts surrounding the arrival of these 9/11 hijackers on January 15, 2000 and precisely how, when, and why Saudi agent Omar Bayoumi met them.



Right after 9/11/01, the media, the Joint Inquiry, and several well-respected authors routinely and regularly reported that Bayoumi met the hijackers on the day of their arrival at LAX. Indeed, to this day, the FBI's official timeline of the 9/11 attacks, has the hijackers being met by Bayoumi and living with Bayoumi for the first two weeks of their stay in the United States.



The fact that Bayoumi met the hijackers at the airport on January 15, 2000 has been, not surprisingly, softened, glossed over, and morphed by the Saudis and their allies into the notion that Bayoumi merely crossed paths with the hijackers by coincidence at some random, Middle-Eastern restaurant some two weeks after their arrival into the U.S.



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It is perhaps not a surprise that given the millions the Saudis have dropped on lobbyists, PR campaigns, and gifts that this narrative is still being pressed by those who want to obscure the Saudi role on 9/11. Hoping to leave a fantasy saleable to the U.S. public, the Saudis want us to believe that Bayoumi was just being a good Muslim when he "coincidentally" met the two operatives.

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By the way, the frequent excuse and invocation of "just being a good Muslim" employed by Saudi agents and officials when it comes to their connections to the 9/11 hijackers needs to be properly addressed. Muslim culture does not entail offering your home, phone, and/or money to complete strangers. Nor does it call for Muslim Saudi royalty to randomly and wantonly write $150,000 checks to unknown acquaintances. Typically, Muslim tradition entails some sort of introduction or connection being made first by a trusted intermediary or third party. So who "vouched" for the 9/11 hijackers? Apparently, no U.S. investigator wants to know.



Nevertheless, Bayoumi met Mihdhar and Hazmi after reportedly being at the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles. While at the Consulate, he met with a man who fits the description of Fahad al Thumairy. Fahad al Thumairy was an accredited administrative officer and diplomat at the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles. Bayoumi and Thumairy had known each other prior to the hijackers arrival. After 9/11, U.S. authorities learned that Fahad al Thumairy had extensive contacts with al Qaeda.



Evidence now points to Bayoumi being tasked as the advance man for Mihdhar and Hazmi. His job was to provide financial and logistical support for the two terrorists since neither of them spoke English, nor had they ever lived in the United States. As such, immediately after his meeting with Thumairy at the Saudi Consulate on January 15, 2000, Bayoumi picked up Mihdhar and Hazmi and drove them back to his home in San Diego where they lived with him for two weeks.



Mihdhar and Hazmi stayed as guests in Bayoumi's home until Bayoumi found them an apartment next door to his own. On February 5, 2000, Bayoumi appears as co-signor and guarantor for Hazmi and Mihdhar on their rental application. They listed Bayoumi's home as their prior address. Bayoumi recommended Hazmi and Mihdhar to the property manager and was the co-signor and guarantor for Hazmi and Mihdhar because they did not have established credit. Upon entering the lease agreement, Bayoumi paid the 9/11 terrorists' first two months' rent and security deposit. In addition, according to the apartment manager, Bayoumi occasionally paid other monthly rents for Hazmi and Mihdhar.



After securing them a place to live, Bayoumi then helped the two 9/11 terrorists open a bank account at Bank of America with a $9900 cash deposit (conveniently just slightly below the $10,000 threshold for suspicious activity). In addition, Bayoumi gave a welcoming party for the two 9/11 terrorists to introduce them to the San Diego Muslim Community. Members of that community included radical Imam Anwar Awlaki who was killed by a drone strike in 2011 and was connected to nearly 25 terrorist attacks. According to intelligence reports, al Qaeda operative Anwar Awlaki met on many occasions with the two 9/11 hijackers and Omar Bayoumi.



During the month of February, Bayoumi apparently shared his phone with the two 9/11 terrorists. According to FBI reports, phone calls from both the hijackers' and Bayoumi's phones included operational calls to Anwar Awlaki, the "Yemen Switchboard," the Saudi Embassy, Fahad al Thumairy, and the Saudi Cultural Mission in Washington D.C.



For example, between January 2000 and May 2000, someone using Omar Bayoumi's phone made 32 calls to the Saudi Embassy in Washington D.C., 37 calls to the Saudi Cultural Mission in Washington D.C., and 24 calls to the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles.



Bayoumi also traveled often to the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles, to the Saudi Consulate in Washington D.C., and to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during this same time frame. Exactly whom Bayoumi met during these trips remains a mystery since apparently no investigator has ever bothered to ask about or look into these trips.



Because of this frequent travel, Bayoumi arranged for the hijackers to have a "handler" for the times that he was away from them. This handler's job was to help the two terrorists obtain social security cards, driver's licenses, purchase a new car, and arrange for their flying lessons so they would eventually be able to fly AA Flight 77 into the Pentagon on the morning of 9/11.



Also of significance is Bayoumi's connection to a Saudi named Osama Basnan. During the time that the hijackers were living in San Diego, Omar Bayoumi was in constant contact with his close friend and Saudi associate Osama Basnan. Like Bayoumi, Basnan has been alleged by U.S. intelligence agencies to be a Saudi agent. Basnan lived in the same apartment complex as Bayoumi and the two 9/11 hijackers. From the time that the two 9/11 hijackers arrived at the apartment complex until the attacks, Basnan signed over to Bayoumi's wife, checks totaling some $150,000 for the alleged support of the two hijackers.



Basnan received this $150,000 from Princess Haifa al Faisal, daughter of Saudi King Faisal, and wife of Saudi Ambassador to Washington, Bandar bin Sultan. Princess Haifa says that she was merely being a good Muslim princess and sending money to Basnan to help defray the costs of Basnan's wife's alleged thyroid ailment. No investigator has asked or answered whether Basnan's wife's ailment was legitimate. But, in this case, don't blame the intrepid investigator -- she was fired before she had a chance to investigate and answer those questions.



On May 31, 2000, Mihdhar and Hazmi moved out of Bayoumi's apartment complex and moved into the home of an FBI informant. The FBI informant denies knowing anything about the 9/11 attacks. During the time frame that the hijackers had contact with the FBI informant, Bayoumi paid regular visits to the hijackers and the FBI informant had regular meetings with his FBI handler. Unfortunately, the FBI did not capitalize upon these opportunities.



Mihdhar lived with the FBI informant for 10 days until he flew back overseas on June 10, 2000. Hazmi lived with the FBI informant for nearly six months until he moved to Phoenix to live with Hani Hanjour, another 9/11 hijacker and the pilot of AA Flight 77 that flew into the Pentagon.



Another key piece of information is the "mini- terrorist summit" held on June 9, 2000 in Los Angeles. The mini-terrorist summit took place at a hotel near the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles and was held on Mihdhar's last night in the United States. The meeting was attended by Mihdhar, Hazmi, and Khallad bin Attash. According to CIA and FBI reports, this mini-terrorist summit might have been facilitated by Saudi Consulate official, Fahad Thumairy.



This information is particularly damning since Attash was, at the time, a very well known, very well identified lethal al Qaeda operative. In addition, Attash, Mihdhar, and Hazmi had just traveled together (and been monitored by several intelligence agencies) five months earlier, in January 2000, when they attended the larger terrorist summit in Malaysia. Recall that the 9/11 attacks and the bombing of the USS Cole were planned at this larger terrorist summit in Malaysia -- and, that Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, the mastermind behind 9/11, and Ramzi Bin al Shibh, the bagman behind 9/11, were also at this meeting.



So, the arrival of Attash into the United States should have set off HUGE alarm bells. It did not.



And, even more alarming, is the information "surmised" by the NYC FBI field office that Saudi Consulate official -- likely Thumairy -- escorted this known al Qaeda operative into the United States to evade I.N.S. and Customs procedures and protections.



According to the report, "certain diplomatic arrangements exist at various airports which allow diplomats to meet incoming foreign nationals at the baggage carousels -- before entrance into Customs. New York FBI opined that it may have been possible that someone from the Saudi Consulate in Los Angeles may have met Khallad at the airport and escorted him through customs."



Clearly, this explains how a known al Qaeda operative (and the alleged mastermind behind the bombing of the USS Cole), Khallad bin Attash was able to enter the U.S. without anyone knowing about it. It does not explain, however, why the bombing of the USS Cole was not interrupted and 17 innocent U.S. sailors were killed. Incidentally, Mihdhar and Hazmi were also named as co-conspirators in the USS Cole attack. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Fahad Thumairy were not.



What needs to be understood by anyone who looks at just these facts surrounding the Saudi connection to the 9/11 attacks and the USS Cole bombing is that the Saudis and their relationship to Bin Laden and al Qaeda have never been fully investigated -- by anyone --either before or after 9/11.



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The result of the failure to expose all these facts?



Before 9/11, if there was behavior by Saudis that raised red flags or caused some concern, those questions and that investigation were shut down. Former JTTF Agent, John O'Neill, certainly knew how that felt. And, on 9/11 and the days soon thereafter, what happened to questionable people, known associates, family members of al Qaeda operatives and Osama bin Laden? They were quietly whisked out of the country, and warmly protected by the blanket of sovereign immunity--because the Saudis, though not perfect, are our allies. And, in the fifteen years since the 9/11 attacks? What has happened to the Saudis and their ties to the 9/11 attacks? Any real, unfettered investigation? Any genuine accountability? Any clear answers? Any truth? Not one bit.



So what's left?



The murder of more than 3,000 innocent people. Two wars. Thousands of U.S. military killed, and thousands more seriously injured. Countless innocent Afghans and Iraqis killed and injured. And, a burgeoning ISIS still hell-bent on killing Americans because of our values, our beliefs, and mostly our failed intelligence and foreign policies.



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The bottom line is that it has been 15 long years and the 9/11 families, as well as the American public, are growing extremely tired of this endless battle to uncover the truth.

(9/11 widows Patty Casazza, Monica Gabrielle, Mindy Kleinberg, and Lorie Van Auken also sign their names to this blog.)
I don't even know what to say anymore. I have no more words, thoughts or prayers to offer in the wake of the Orlando shooting. None of us can adequately describe the magnitude and horror of the events of this week or the loss experienced by the GLBT community in Orlando and around the world.

The same sad music played for breaking news, President Obama made an eerily similar statement about the senseless attack and blame was shifted as to why the shooting happened in the first place. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. Anger, sadness, and shock are everywhere. A striking moment that defined this sadness is when Anderson Cooper read the victim's names on-air while choking back tears through his entire broadcast. The worst part of this week was the palpable hopelessness around stopping gun violence.

Everyone has a degree of connection to the Orlando shooting. For me, Florida is my home state and my father's business is seven minutes away for The Pulse nightclub where the shooting took place. One of his employees survived the attack physically unscathed but is emotionally having difficulty. Also, my Facebook feed is flooded with posts from friends who live in the Orlando area and are connected in some way to the tragedy.

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To make sense of what has happened, I write. I have nothing new to say, others have not already shared, but I still write. I hope in the face of hopelessness we will take action to ensure this never happens again. There is some comfort that people are still fighting and hoping for change and have provided overwhelming support for Orlando and the GLBT community.

But exasperation over the failed attempts to stop these shootings is ever present and for good reason. Mass shootings are now common and we all can easily remember Charleston, Aurora, Tucson and Newton just to name a few. Just take a look at the University of Southern California School of Social Work's infographic detailing a timeline of 182 school shooting since Sandy Hook, including at my alma mater Florida State University and the latest event at UCLA on June 1. This week's Washington Post article The Math of Mass Shootings details 126 events (which four or more people were killed) since 1966 which took place at churches, workplaces, schools and military bases. It's worth noting, the 244 guns used in these events, 140 were obtained legally and 39 illegally.

We know the statistics well, but the reasons why gun violence occurs and how to prevent it no one agrees upon. One reason is the lack of research. Did you know in 1997 the Centers for Disease Control was barred from doing research on causes and prevention of gun violence? It wasn't until President Obama issued an executive order after Newtown to loosen the ban and ordered the CDC to start collecting research. But two years after the Newtown tragedy, this order still has not spurred the CDC to start gun violence research even though the medical profession views this as a major public health concern. The January 2015 Washington Post article, indicated funding was still tight at the CDC and this ban has instilled fear in the academic community and other research institutes from diving into studying this issue. Without research-informed policy we are truly adrift from preventing gun violence.

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"There is no logical reason in the world that our choices in a democratic free society should not be built around solid research data on how to prevent injury, fear, and the loss of life surrounding the ease of access and availability of weapons," said Ron Astor, MSW, PhD, school violence expert and professor at the University of Southern California School of Social Work. "The idea that conducting research on gun violence is against the second amendment is a red herring. There is NO conflict between the second amendment and making research-based rational decisions based on strong science to curtail dangerous situations to reduce the loss of lives."

Although the CDC's muscle has been muted, we do know some facts around gun violence that can still guide better gun laws. First, only 4 percent of all gun violence in the U.S. can be attributed to people diagnosed with a mental illness with nearly two-thirds of this number related to suicide. It's hard for people to believe this statistic given the headlines but it's an important distinction to be made that most mass shooters are not mentally ill and treatment can't help a sociopath who has a truly dark and evil soul.

Secondly, the best predictor if someone is to perpetrate gun violence is past violent behavior such as domestic abuse and violent crime. In 2013, The Consortium for Risk-Based Fire Arms Policy's Evidence-Based Approach for State Policy Report pointed to several key risk factors associated with firearm violence, including violent crime, domestic violence, and alcohol and substance use. Also, between November 30, 1998, and Dec. 31, 2010, nearly 600,000 gun purchases were prevented because of criminal records, including misdemeanor crimes and domestic violence convictions, which represents about 73% of The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) denials. But yet there are still massive problems with reporting to NICS.

In the wake of the Orlando shooting there is a confluence of reasons; hate against gay people, terrorism, and radicalization inspired by the Internet, a self-loathing gay person lashing out, pure evil, and gun control policy failures. Let's just say it's all of the above. We may not be able to stop or control all of the factors which contribute to gun violence or the bigotry someone holds in their hearts, but we must expect and demand that someone who was once on an FBI watch list should not be able to legally buy an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle with this gun's only purpose is for mass killing.

As people search for answers to curb gun violence, it's an easy conclusion for me. There are too many guns and it's too easy for the wrong people to get them. Let's stop talking and do something to stop this violence.How to Help Orlando, Huffington Post

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"Give me your tired, your poor,

your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..."

Despite what current rhetoric would have you believe, there is no asterisk at the end of Emma Lazarus's iconic poem etched into our Statue of Liberty. The poem doesn't end with *except Muslims or any other prohibition; the sentiment etched on our nation's most iconic statue captures the best of who we are--who we can be--as a nation: a place of refuge, a place of belonging, a place of inclusion. This is the America we believe in.

And yet, as we mark World Refugee Day on June 20th, the United States will have taken in less than 1 percent of the total number of refugees coming from Syria - a country from which half the population has fled in fear for their lives.

Students of history know this is hardly the first time our nation's actions have failed to match up with our ideals--when our fear rather than our compassion has driven us to turn our backs to those in need.



And now we find ourselves in a defining moment once again. Dozens of bills have been filed in Congress that seek to limit the human rights of refugees, by targeting refugees based on their religion or place of origin. Some governors are trying to flat-out bar refugees from resettling in their states, making sweeping and dangerous decisions based on nothing more than bigotry and fear-mongering.

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The fear-mongering around refugees has no basis in reality. And despite what politicians and the media would have us believe, Americans overwhelming welcome refugees and think the United States should do more--not less--to help refugees.

In our best moments, we remember that we are a country of immigrants and refugees. A country that in its finest moments has tried to help others in need.

Everyone has the right to safe haven from persecution, and all governments have an obligation not to force refugees back into situations where they will be at risk. We have a responsibility to do more - not less - to help refugees.

Today, on World Refugee Day, you can be the best version of America: write your elected official, demand that we do more--not less--to help refugees.

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As Father's Day approached, and I watched my kids excitedly make plans to celebrate, I couldn't help but reflect on my juvenile justice reform work. As a former youth corrections administrator, I noticed their excitement is so different than the isolation we know is too often experienced by kids in facilities.

Based on my experience working with incarcerated youth, I know that many families do not get to enjoy Father's Day. Across the country, too many families are torn apart by our criminal and juvenile justice systems, with loved ones locked away in facilities, often far away from their families. In particular, I think about kids in solitary confinement. Stuck in isolation, all alone in a cell, I know kids in solitary confinement are having a very different Father's Day than my own children.

Solitary confinement is the involuntary placement of youth alone in a room or cell, for any reason other than a temporary response to behavior. Solitary is often used when there are insufficient staff or resources in facilities, particularly critical mental health services and appropriate training for all staff. This means that solitary confinement often prevents kids from getting the treatment and services they need. It can have long-lasting and devastating effects on youth, including trauma, psychosis, depression, anxiety, and increased risk of suicide and self-harm. In fact, over half of all suicides in juvenile facilities occur in solitary confinement.

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That's why my organization, the Justice Policy Institute, is working on a national campaign to end the use of solitary confinement for youth. Along with the Center for Children's Law and Policy, the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University, and the Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators, we launched Stop Solitary for Kids, with a focus on ending solitary confinement of youth at the local, state and national level. Through this campaign, research experts, advocates, correctional administrators, parents of incarcerated youth, medical professionals, and elected officials have all come together in an effort to end solitary confinement of youth.

At the Stop Solitary for Kids campaign launch on April 19th, US Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) spoke about the need to end solitary confinement, in order to do better for our kids. "We are engaging in a practice that human rights activists, and other countries, consider torture," said Booker. He highlighted the growing consensus among activists, experts, and corrections administrators that solitary confinement is a harmful practice. The Senator also showed why this damaging practice is so harmful and counterintuitive in a juvenile justice system intended to rehabilitate youth, stating, "we're being robbed of their beauty and their glory because we are punishing them and torturing them, harming them and traumatizing them."

Our campaign builds off the momentum of the action of President Obama, who made history by calling for a ban on solitary confinement for youth in federal facilities. Obama wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post that rightly called solitary confinement "an affront to our common humanity." Though few youth are in federal custody, Obama's Executive Action is influential in raising the bar across our country. The President is using the bully pulpit to spread the message that solitary confinement of youth is not only counterproductive, but inhumane, providing strong leadership to encourage the end of this practice.

Even in my own community, here in Washington, D.C., great strides are being made towards ending the solitary confinement of youth. DC Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie introduced the Comprehensive Youth Justice Act of 2016, proposing sweeping reforms to juvenile justice in the District. One of these reforms includes limiting the use of solitary confinement for all youth under the age of 18, whether held in a juvenile or adult facility, and requiring stringent reporting when it is used. These are the types of approaches we need in working with our young people. At the end of the day, it will make our kids healthier and our communities safer.

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Altogether, these efforts show a growing consensus in America that we must stop solitary for kids. From national elected officials such as President Obama and Senator Cory Booker, to local decision makers like DC Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie, reforms are being advanced to end solitary confinement. The campaign also includes important supporters such as corrections administrators from Ohio, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Indiana who are doing this in their own facilities and setting an example for facilities nationwide. Dozens of organizations across America, from the ACLU to the American Correctional Association, have also joined in support of the campaign. With such a wide variety of groups coming together, we know that true reform is possible.
Photo: Kim Veillon Photography

John Hart, a bestselling author, is the only writer ever to win the Edgar Award for consecutive novels. He's also won the Barry Award, the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award, and the North Carolina Award for Literature, among others.

Redemption Road features Elizabeth Black, a North Carolina detective accused of murdering two kidnappers and rapists after their bodies are discovered riddled by 18 bullet holes.

The novel also focuses on Adrian Wall, a former police officer who was convicted of murder and imprisoned for 13 years, during which time he was tortured relentlessly.

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The reason for the torture is one of the backbones of this dual narrative novel.

In the past, Elizabeth's and Adrian's paths had crossed, and they meet once again to deal with a web of corruption, abuse and evil conspiring against their coming to terms with their own demons.

Your last novel, Iron House, was published five years ago. What caused so long an interval between that novel and Redemption Road?

Having written four novels, with each one having done better than the preceding ones, I came to believe I knew what I was doing. That turned out to be a rookie's mistake. As soon as I started taking the writing process for granted, or putting faith in some kind of 'divine inspiration,' I was in trouble. Of course, now I'm speaking with the clear view of hindsight.

With the first four books, I knew exactly who my main characters were. I knew their weaknesses and their strengths. And those books worked because in addition to the plot, I had created real, fully-fleshed-out characters. When I began writing book five, I lacked that awareness.

So, when I started to write my fifth book, I just had the idea for a story...I envisioned it to be a modern retelling of The Count of Monte Cristo. There would be a good man wrongfully imprisoned, and an exploration of what he does after his release.

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Three hundred pages later, I had the meat of a novel, but the protagonist was like those of a hundred thrillers I'd read before. He was predictable and the story didn't resonate.

My publisher was very patient and decided to wait for me to produce the right book. It turned out Liz, who had been a bit player in the first attempt, now became a main player in Redemption Road. Once I had her character, it took another two years to complete the novel.

I've read all your novels. Redemption Road is the first written largely from the perspective of a woman. Was it a difficult challenge for you to write from this point of view?

I was worried when writing from a woman's perspective that the character would ring false. I don't think that happened with Liz. The reason seems clear to me: what makes us human is universal--the core emotions of fear, love, hate, and rage; the need for security and understanding. They're the same whether one is a man or a woman. I focused on those elements, not on personal things like fashion or makeup. I kept it to the core of meaningful things.

Redemption Road describes police corruption and prison abuse. Does your earlier work as a criminal defense attorney inform your writing about these issues?

I can't say I've seen a lot of corruption and abuse, but I have seen the jaded callousness that comes from institutional indifference. In a real sense, the people who cycle through the justice system become something less that human in the eyes of the people running the system--including administrative people, as well as guards. Even as a visitor to a prison, you feel yourself being dehumanized and turned into part of an indifferent machine. Once you go to prison, everything is beyond your control.

My background gave me that baseline of understanding from which to extrapolate some of Adrian's experiences as a prisoner.

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Your writing is very lyrical. Is it accurate to characterize your prose as Southern literary?

Actually, I'm woefully under-read. I'm always flattered to be called into the canon of Southern writers, and anything I could say about that would probably be grounded on air. I do think Southern literature is about love of place, a sense of history, and embracing the difficult parts of the human experience.

For a long time, the South was a vanquished nation. We have darkness and pride in our history. The South's history is largely agrarian and there's a strong tie to the land. Many people have had family farms for generations. As for the language itself, I love the late Pat Conroy's writing. I don't pretend to rise to his level, but I think language matters very much to storytelling. If in a reader I can create an emotional response that goes beyond enjoying pure story, then I've accomplished adding richness to the reading experience.

What do you love about the writing life?

I believe being a novelist is the ultimate expression of personal freedom. I have no boss; no calendar; I can live wherever I want; write what I want; and with sufficient readership, the relationship with the publisher becomes a partnership. I love living a writer's life--being able to make a living through pure imagination and not have someone telling me what to do.

What's the most important lesson you've learned about writing?

The most important lesson about the writing life is you must hold onto the world.

I spend my time in virtual isolation. I no longer have colleagues or people with whom I talk at the water cooler. It's just me and silence. For a writer, it's very important to hold onto friendships and activities, to stay grounded in the real world.

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As for the most important lesson I've learned about writing, it's this: you must be brutally hard on yourself. You have to keep at the writing until it's right. It's very seductive to say to one's self, 'This is good enough.' But, you can almost always make a manuscript better. There's a balance between wanting a novel to be completed and a willingness to go back again and again. As Dennis Lehane said, 'The first draft is spaghetti on the wall.' The real work is in the rewriting.

You're hosting a dinner party and can invite any five people, living or dead, real or fictional, from any walk of life. Who would they be?

I'd invite Leonardo DaVinci, arguably the most amazing man who ever lived. I'd also invite Admiral Horatio Nelson because I love that period in naval history. I'd ask Hans Solo to join us along with J.R.R. Tolkien, the writer I admire for his gift of pure storytelling; and I'd invite my wife, because if I didn't, she'd never forgive me [Laughter].

Congratulations on writing Redemption Road, an explosive and riveting novel written so lyrically, it must be described as literature.
When I recently visited Save the Children's refugee programs on the Greek Island of Lesvos, I met a Syrian family who had escaped Aleppo, traveled through Turkey and successfully made the dangerous voyage across the Aegean. Their reason for fleeing Syria was as simple as it was stark - they had given up all hope and their 12-year-old daughter, who stood close to her father during our talk, had been out of school already for four years.

War, persecution and natural disasters have displaced more than 65 million people worldwide, an all-time high since the end of the World War II, over half of whom are children and most struggling to access basic services. That includes food, shelter, healthcare and education.

Education is the single most important tool we can equip children with, yet it is usually one of the first casualties of conflicts and emergencies. Only 2 percent of global emergency aid funding is set aside to pay for learning during crises - jeopardizing the future of millions of children worldwide.

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Despite the generosity of many countries hosting large refugee populations - the overwhelming majority of which are developing countries - most struggle to provide these large numbers of refugees with the most basic services, including education. The situation is especially bleak in countries like Kenya where a third generation of children has now been born into displacement.

Enrollment in primary school among these vulnerable children is well below the national average in places like Lebanon, Uganda, Kenya and Malaysia - a gap which is even more startling among secondary school-aged refugees. In fact, refugee children globally are five times less likely to attend school than other children, with 50 percent of primary school-aged refugee children and 75 percent of secondary school-aged refugee children completely left out of the education system. What does that portend for the future of countries that need to be rebuilt?

A poll commissioned by Save the Children in April found that 77 percent of respondents in 18 countries think children fleeing conflict have as much right to an education as any other child. More than three quarters of school-aged refugee children interviewed in Greece said that going to school was one of their top priorities, more than one in five of them have never even begun their education. Those conclusions are consistent with a 2015 analysis by Save the Children of 16 studies from eight organizations covering 17 different emergencies, reflecting the voices of 8,749 children, which found that 99 percent of children in crisis situations see education as a priority. Yet, for the millions of refugee children around the world like the young Syrian girl I met in Greece, who want nothing more than to learn and go to school, education is often an unattainable dream.

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Children affected by crisis clearly prioritize education, alongside other essential needs such as food and livelihoods. Yet, the international community consistently fails to answer their call. Instead, education is regularly under-prioritized. This must not continue; we can do something about it.

Countries who host refugees need to summon the political will to make education for refugee children a top priority. Equally we know that host countries need support from the international community. No single country can solve this challenge on its own.

Last month at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul, several organizations, including Save the Children, joined forces with governments and donors to stop education from falling through the cracks during emergencies.

Our goal is simple - to get millions of displaced children by crises back in school, where they belong.

Save the Children - like the United States and several other governments -- also committed via the Education Cannot Wait fund to push to get children affected by crisis back in school. That new fund has the potential to be a game-changer alongside other initiatives. We are calling on host and donor governments to commit to and mobilize the funds necessary to reach the goal of getting 3.2 million refugee children back in school as the first step in helping all children displaced by crisis. In the near term, countries should also join the handful of countries such as Lebanon and the Netherlands which spoke in favor of a commitment that no refugee child should go without education for more than a month. Only then can we meet the Sustainable Development Goals set out by world leaders at the UN, and ensure that no child in the world is 'left behind.'

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As world leaders prepare to attend a United Nations summit in New York City on September 19 on migration and refugees, and as President Obama prepares to host a complementary summit on refugees on September 20 with leaders from six other nations, we urge all world leaders and donors to prioritize education for children in emergencies, including those who have been displaced. Formal learning provides children with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed, while giving them hope for the future. It also gives children who have experienced the trauma and horrors of war and disaster the stability and normalcy they need to restore their childhood.
Europe's second largest economy offers a number of opportunities. The key to a good relationship with French partners involves having a clear understanding of French culture and etiquette, which are distinctly different from those in the U.S. The French believe that the business relationships you develop are more important than the contracts, so think in the long-term about building partnerships.

To start with, remember: you'll get furthest with some knowledge of French.

The traditional belief that the French often do not bother with English and other foreign languages is not far from the truth. In large and multinational companies, the situation is better, but it is still recommended to learn at least a few basic phrases in French. 'Bonjour' and 'Enchante' (it's nice to meet you) are almost essential. To a certain extent the emphasis on using their own language is due to national pride. The French have a deep patriotism. Although it is a very diverse country in which many different cultures live, they tend to have a reserved approach toward foreigners. If you are in doubt about a situation, it might be best to use interpreters' services.

Stylish intellectuals

French society is very hierarchic, and this also has an effect on business relationships. Therefore, always be careful to ensure that your French business partner communicates with someone in a correlating position in your company. Respect toward a company's management is also shown through gestures such as standing up when superiors enter the room, or through acknowledging their arrival, at the least.

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There is a general emphasis on education and good morals. In discussions with you, French business partners may debate about the most wide-ranging topics and in the process assess your intellectual abilities. French men are gentlemen based on principle, treat women with courtesy, and adhere to ethical standards. Of course, there is also an emphasis on elegant fashion and aesthetics in general. For instance, the French consider the quality of their environment, wherever they are, to be very important. So, when choosing a location for lunch or dinner, consider not only the quality of the food and a good address, but also the restaurant's interior design and ambiance.

First - and lasting -- impressions

The French prefer personal interaction, so initial contact should be made by telephone, rather than e-mail. Arrive at meetings on time (although the French are comfortable with slight delays), shake your business partner's hand, and start the meeting with casual conversation. The French do not get right down to the heart of the matter, and this is in part because they are seeking to understand you as an individual. If you seem disinterested in debating the issues involved with your potential deal, they can consider that a sign of arrogance.

The French pay close attention to detail, so you can expect a lot of added questions. It will be a major advantage to have a visual presentation prepared, such as a PowerPoint presentation, and descriptions in French will aid your cause. The French are generally conservative when it comes to body language.

When defending their own interests, the French know how to be tough, and when negotiating, they are suspicious of supposed "win-win" deals. They are not generally fond of risk, and prefer arrangements that leave room for adjustment and adaptation over time.

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During negotiations, it is acceptable and appropriate to take detailed notes so that you will be able to ensure that everything makes sense. French meetings tend to be more creative than the average American business meeting. It can seem as if they are rudely interrupting you in conversation, but this is a customary French mode of expressing interest in the topic. It's probably a good idea to pay close attention to their suggestions, without allowing them to throw off your focus. For important negotiations, it is a good idea to sign a written document, such as a memorandum. In fact, with the French oral agreements don't mean much, so if you're serious, get it in writing.
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. -- MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016: Marwa Balkar holds a candle at the Islamic Center of Southern California and ICUJP Interfaith Vigil Against Violence and Hatred Monday, June 13 in remembrance of the 50 people killed in Orlando, Florida on June 12 at the mosque in Los Angeles, Calif., on June 13, 2016. The vigil was attended by speakers and public from a variety of different faiths. (Photo by Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- It is an indisputable fact that the Quran is pro-life. In no uncertain terms, the Quran promotes the idea that life is sacred.

In the law of just retribution there is the saving of life, O you who are endowed with insight, so that you may learn to restrain yourselves and develop consciousness. (Quran 2:179)

Hence, the killing of innocent people, despite their ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation, can have no justification in Islam.

Those who kill without a just cause or to prevent mass spreading of corruption on Earth, it is as if they have killed the whole of mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as if they have saved the whole of mankind. (Quran 5:32)

There are too many factors to be considered in the case of the Orlando massacre, too many questions. Was it an internalized homophobic reaction by a Muslim who could not make peace between two seemingly conflicted identities, and thus acted out in the way that he did? Was it a homophobic attack in which Omar Mateen was assisted by Muslim extremists, including his father, to rid the Earth of evildoers?

Days after the Muslim world celebrated the life of Muhammad Ali, this incident happened. It was followed by Donald Trump again calling for the expulsion of Muslims from the United States a few hours later. Was that perhaps a political ploy to support his politics and escalate the fear of Islam in the minds of Americans? As the days unfold and more information is coming to the fore, it becomes clear that the issue is less about homophobia and more about Islamophobia.

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People at a memorial service for the victims of the Pulse nightclub massacre on June 19 in Orlando. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

We must be vigilant and cautious about the messaging in media. We live in an era of great political and technological deception. We must be responsive, and we must stand firm in our resolve for peace and justice. We must not allow ourselves to become reactive, as opposed to having an informed response.

Islamic extremism, preached in mosques funded by militant Muslim sects, has hijacked Islam. It is this form of Islam that seeks to play on the innocence of ordinary Muslims who only seek to practice Islam to an extent that pleases their creator. As guilty as Omar Mateen may have been for committing mass murder, he, too was a victim of Islamic extremism, homophobia and Islamophobia.

Extremism has hijacked Islam.

Perhaps this is a time for the Muslim community to reassess its stance on sexual orientation and gender identity. The former is distinct from the atrocities committed by the inmates of Sodom and Gomorrah where sex was used for power and dominance; innocent men became victims of a power play and women become victims of temple prostitution. The orthodox belief that homosexuality is a sin -- based on the story of Sodom and Gomorrah -- is what leads to the nuances of homophobia around the massacre in Orlando.

My message on behalf of The Inner Circle is a call for us to amplify our stance against oppression in all its forms and against the divisive powers at play. It is a call for us to refocus our attention on peace and social justice, and it is a prayer of condolence for the innocent victims and their families.

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Foundr has scaled to significance in the entrepreneurial media space in a relatively short amount of time, teaching and inspiring hundreds of thousands of young entrepreneurs through their podcast, magazine, blog, courses, entrepreneur club, and more. And as you've heard me say before, this overnight success took some time to build.

For Foundr, one of the most important drivers of growth has been Instagram (which is surprisingly not just for selfies, memes, and pictures of food). After trying a plethora of marketing approaches which were not moving the needle significantly, Nathan started to experiment with Instagram one day, and immediately noticed a $150 spike in sales for the magazine by the following day. He knew he was on to something. Eighteen months later, @foundrmagazine has reached over 800 thousand followers, generated tens of thousands of leads for their business, and launched an Instagram course which has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs to achieve real business results on the platform.

For example: thanks to the knowledge and teachings of Foundr, the @DailySparkTV account, run by yours truly, has ballooned to nearly 20K followers in just a few months while generating plenty of engagement and leads. Check out one of our best performing posts below:

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But let's look back to to the beginning. Before Foundr existed, allowing him to regularly rub shoulders with the most influential entrepreneurs in the world such as Richard Branson, Tony Robbins, and Seth Godin, three to four years ago Nathan Chan's work consisted of fixing mouses, resetting passwords, repairing laptops, and similar things.

As an IT Support Professional at an Australian travel company, Nathan found his work unfulfilling, and even somewhat degrading at times, and like most of us at one point or another, he found himself pondering what to do next. He soon left the job and returned to university where he would earn his Masters of Marketing and subsequently began to experiment with different opportunities in online marketing.

After some months of struggling to start a successful business, Nathan began to realize there was a gap in the market: there was no high quality publication targeting entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs in the younger generation he belongs to... and that is how the vision for Foundr was born.

Perhaps my greatest takeaway from sitting down with Nathan is one that all new entrepreneurs can benefit from. Though he had a massive vision for where Foundr was going, in terms of execution, things happened very much step by step and brick by brick. At every step, Nathan focuses intently on the one problem (or brick) that is most important to moving the business forward, increasing their chances of advancing rather than getting caught in overwhelm.

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The first brick was releasing the first issue. The second brick was releasing the second issue. The third brick was starting to reach out to more influential entrepreneurs, and so on. Landing Richard Branson for a cover story was pivotal to the brand, but it happened eight months into the business. Eight months of grinding day in and day out towards the goal of releasing a fantastic monthly issue. Their next big break was landing Arianna Huffington for issue 17, after which things started to snowball a bit.

During this journey, Nathan and his team have learned some key lessons, such as:

Be prepared to blow people away with some of the best content out there that is compelling and potentially life changing, the type of content people want to tell their friends about

Consistency over a long period of time is critical

Leverage and speed of implementation is absolutely key. All of the best entrepreneurs execute fast

On a personal level, Nathan has become much more disciplined about his use of time as well as becoming insanely focused on the business to the level of obsession, which has actually led to greater appreciation for the downtime with friends and family. Fitness and nutrition have become a key focus in order to get the optimal performance out of his mind & body.

Today, in addition to the parts of the business we've already discussed, Nathan is working with his team on the Foundr Club, which he describes as "a gym membership for entrepreneurs". Foundr Club was created as a community offering to unite Foundr's entire following across blog, podcasts, IG, courses. It is a community based initiative outside of Instagram that is meant to be around no matter what happens to Instagram. In return for a reasonable monthly subscription, members receive access to all back issues of Foundr Magazine, monthly expert presentations and mastermind trainings, and exclusive deals providing over $10,000 in savings on various startup tools and perks.

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You can reach them at foundrmag.com or @foundrmagazine.

And while you're at it, don't forget to follow @DailySparkTV on Instagram :-P.

Muoyo Okome is the founder of Daily Spark Media & the Daily Spark Entrepreneur Community, a fast-growing online community dedicated to the empowerment, education & support of entrepreneurs. He has previously started, grown, and sold a mobile gaming company and runs several businesses in the mobile, online & e-commerce spaces.

A career-long technology professional and alumnus of the Princeton University (BA) and The Wharton School (MBA), his prior experience includes software engineering, consulting, and business management roles at companies such as Microsoft & IBM.
If you've been watching the news or been on the internet the past few days then it's likely that you've seen or read about the tragic death of 2 yr old Lane Graves. The Nebraska boy was visiting Disney's Grand Floridian Resort with his family and had been at the resort since Sunday. On Tuesday while enjoying an evening on the beach with his family Lane was snatched from the shoreline of the Seven Seas Lagoon by an alligator. According to authorities and eye witnesses the boy's father tried fighting the alligator off, but was unsuccessful. After a 16 hour search divers recovered the boy's body from about six feet below the lagoon's surface and only 10 to 15 feet from where he had last been seen.

When I first read this story, without knowing any of the details, my first reaction was one of anger and judgment against the parents. My initial thought was "where were the parents?" As the mom of two young girls I assumed the child had been left alone or wasn't being carefully monitored. That was probably a bad assumption on my part because you know what they say when you assume.

However, after the story started to unfold and more details began surfacing about the incident my initial anger and judgment towards the parents turned into sympathy, empathy, and sadness. The child hadn't been left alone or wasn't unmonitored. He was simply doing what he went to Disney to do. He was enjoying the evening by the water with his family.



As I reflect on this story, on my own role as a mother, and the many vacations I've yet to take with my little ones (one of which is to Disney) my heart breaks for this family. For the family to bear witness to such an unimaginable experience is beyond comprehension. For the father to fight unsuccessfully against the alligator trying to get his son back and not succeed is gut wrenching; and to have to stand there watching the animal disappear back into the deep water with his son in its jaws is a memory that I'm sure will be forever embedded in his mind. To call this a tragedy is an understatement. This is a freak accident that never should have happened.

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Alligators are a common sight in Florida ponds, lakes, lagoons and canals. Orange County sheriff, Jerry L. Demings said five alligators were taken from the lagoon after the boy went under. They were euthanized in an effort to determine if any of them had been responsible for the boy's death. The fact that there were five alligators taken from the lagoon begs the question of why didn't the resort have signs warning of alligators in the area?



According to the NY Times, "Sheriff Demings noted that Disney had been in business in the area for 45 years and had never had a similar incident." However, the absence of similar incidents is not a good enough defense for not having signs and warning hotel guests and patrons of the potential dangers and risks.



I am almost positive if there had been a sign warning of alligators in the area the Graves family or any family for that matter would have been nowhere near that lagoon. I know for sure I wouldn't have been. Thomas Scolaro, a Miami based attorney, who has represented families after alligator attacks elsewhere, expressed that in this case, "the facts look horrible for Disney."



"While this is a tragedy, it was entirely preventable had Disney acted reasonably and not left unwitting tourists at the mercy of dangerous and wild animals that roam its resort," he said.

Considering that wildlife experts estimate that there are 1.3 million alligators in Florida, and that they can be found in all 67 counties it is a reasonable expectation that the place which promotes itself as the "Happiest Place on Earth" exercise all precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of its guests. I've never stayed at a Disney resort, but I would expect that any place that caters specifically to children would be safe. I believe that is a reasonable expectation.



Thus far every article I've read about this and every news broadcast I've seen has failed to ask any of these questions. Why isn't Disney being held responsible? Why didn't they take measures to make sure an incident like this didn't occur? I bet now they will. But it's too little too late. A boy lost his life and a family lost their son.

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Director of Communications for Walt Disney parks and resorts, Jacquee Wahler said ""We are devastated by this tragic accident. Our thoughts are with the family."
For every entrepreneur and business, finding a manufacturer is one of the most challenging aspects of getting your idea off the ground. Manufacturing products is a hurdle that nearly every entrepreneur faces, regardless of if their business is hardware or fashion focused.

For people looking to find a trustworthy manufacturer, they usually spend hours searching Alibaba and then conduct hours of due diligence on that manufacturer. One of the biggest problems that knock companies out is their inability to find the right manufacturer.

Sourcify, a new startup based in San Francisco, is creating a marketplace of the world's top manufacturers to enable entrepreneurs to source in an easy, reliable, and trustworthy way. Their marketplace curates pre-screened manufacturers that fit your needs so you don't have to spend hours searching through Alibaba. In addition, they also offer a customized concierge service that finds the right manufacturer for your needs, helps communicate your idea clearly to that manufacturer, and manages your project so it runs smoothly.

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This company joins a new generation of startups focused around curating top talent and manufacturers. Similar to Gigster, a company that helps entrepreneurs work with top developers, Sourcify focuses on connecting entrepreneurs with quality manufacturers in their industry.

Companies like Sourcify focus on making the process of starting a company easier. As their co-founder Yaniv Menashervo says, "We are in an industry that is lacking innovation. People have been trying to find manufacturers using the same methods for ages. Sourcify is different, we pre-screen and conduct detailed due diligence on each manufacturer before we let them join our marketplace. If I were to source through Alibaba, I would be facing potential frauds as people can easily act as a fake manufacturer on their platform. By having a prescreened approach, we are making the process of finding a manufacturer secure while easing the process."

In my mind, there are three main reasons why this curation of top talent approach will change every industry.

Time Saving

It takes hundreds of hours for entrepreneurs and enterprises to find a manufacturer in the current landscape of the sourcing industry. First and foremost, entrepreneurs need to find reliable ways to find manufacturers. Most will turn to Alibaba, one of the largest networks of manufacturers in the world. On Alibaba, these people will get lost as their marketplace isn't intuitive to use and is filled with frauds.

A curation of top manufacturers enables people to focus on their product and not the actual process of sorting through thousands of manufacturers. Sourcify only takes the top 10 manufacturers in each industry and introduces them to people looking to find the right manufacturer.

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Trustworthy

Once you've found a manufacturer you think you want to work with, the next step is establishing trust. This is easier said than done, as most manufacturers aren't located locally. Flying across the world to visit a manufacturer is expensive and doesn't make sense for most companies. Though there are certain due diligence processes you can setup to build trust, it takes a lot of time and doesn't close up all the loose ends.

When Gigster on boards their development team, each and every one is required to sign a NDA to ensure trust across the platform. This way entrepreneurs can legally have a guarantee of non-disclosure. In addition, the platform has a very uptight screening process to only hire the world's top developers.

Secure

After finding a manufacturer and hopefully establishing some level of trust, you still face the unsecure environment of wire transfers, email, and much more. I've had friends whose manufacturers have apparently gotten their emails hacked, which resulted in the loss of valuable data and even the transfer of funds to the wrong account. Security is a huge issue when dealing with international transactions.
In calculus class, you'd never use the phrase "star student" to describe Chris Deyo. He was slow to complete assignments about strange-sounding concepts like solids of revolution and related rates, staying behind to get extra help as his classmates jeered that the subject just "sucks." To them, all they needed to know was enough to pass the test. After several after-school sessions, Deyo learned upper-level math well enough to tutor his peers. But instead of teaching straight out of the thick textbook like many teachers do, he showed how the lessons related other subjects. "The same kids who were saying they hate math could do it and were good at it when taught in a method that they identified with," he noticed, causing him to wonder, "Is it really math or the way we're teaching?"

Feeling accomplished, Deyo headed to the University of Texas at Austin with the thought, "I love [teaching and math] so much, I should try to make a living out of it." There, he signed up for UTeach, a national program training math and science majors to become high school instructors. After graduating from UTeach last spring, Deyo began teaching math at a charter school in Austin. Frequently seen wearing a bowtie, the 23-year-old Deyo doesn't look much older than the seniors in his calculus class. But he hopes to get them interested by teaching in ways that suit them, rather than just lecturing to teens that have tuned him out already. "From a young age, I realized those are the teachers that are making a difference," he says.

Bored and intimidated by math and science, American teenagers are disengaged from the classes that prepare them for today's tech-driven labor force -- making UTeach needed now more than ever. The United States ranks a disappointing 35th in math and 27th in science out of 65 countries. Recruiting STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) majors who often arrive at college with no intention of teaching, these undergraduates "represent the most promising pool from which to draw future teachers," says Kimberly Hughes, director of UTeach Institute, who expanded the UTeach model from eight Texas colleges to 35 more partner universities nationwide.

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No high schooler is eager to do math problems without end, which is why UTeach trains its teachers to create hands-on, collaborative, real-world projects (a teaching method dubbed "project-based learning") that are exciting to both educators and pupils. Recently, instead of solving systems of equations on the whiteboard, Deyo divided his class into groups and asked them to develop the problems themselves. Groups came up with equations that involved splitting pizza, controlling the amount of money spent on clothes and even comparing Spotify, TIDAL and other music-streaming services. "We try to be a student-led program, where students are taking initiative for their own learning," Deyo says, speaking with a fast cadence, the enthusiasm about his students emanating in quick sentences. "They are coming up with the questions they want to answer."

In response to the shortage of STEM professionals in our country, UTeach has already certified 2,676 instructors and is certifying 6,280 more in the next four years -- just one of many ways it's placing valuable 21st-century skills at the center of today's education.

Case in point: Manor New Technology High School, a secondary magnet public school in Manor, Texas that employs only UTeach educators for math and science classes, is using project-based learning to instill a love of STEM in an unlikely student body. Unlike most STEM-focused magnet schools, Manor New Tech opened in 2007 to provide 21st-century-learning skills to economically disadvantaged minority students. These teenagers are statistically expected to be behind their white peers in in biology (26 points for blacks, 16 for Hispanics), as well as in algebra (13 points for blacks, four for Hispanics). Yet, Manor New Tech eradicates the achievement gap to match state test scores in math and far exceed them in science, despite comparatively lower scores in the surrounding district.

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Impressive? Yes. But for schools nationwide to replicate those results, a huge influx of passionate STEM educators is desperately needed. UTeach-trained instructors staff at least 1,120 schools in 34 states, but 43 states and the District of Columbia are short math or science teachers. Filling that gap will only happen as UTeach expands, Hughes believes. "Leveraging the universities in our country as places from which to prepare excellent math and science teachers is key to addressing the shortage of teachers nationwide," she explains.

Statistics tell the numerical story of UTeach's impact. But Deyo's ability to convince math- and science-loving young people to be teachers is how the program truly creates a lasting impression. Problem solving ignites a passion inside Deyo, but more than that, he loves "seeing other people appreciate and fall in love with math and see the value in it. That's what makes me want to teach."

"Math, as a whole, to me is one big puzzle," Deyo says. There may be one final right answer most of the time, but there are so many ways to arrive at it. UTeach may not be the only way to improve STEM education in America, but it's clearly one of those vital pieces.
The lives and freedom of women and girls across the globe have suffered attacks both subtle and horrific, political and personal, in peace and in war. There are victimizations that we in this nation could not imagine, others we know all too well, as in the recent Stanford University rape case.

World Health Organization global statistics show that 1 in 3 women, or some 35 percent, have experienced intimate partner or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetimes. Nearly 40 percent of women murdered each year are killed by an intimate partner. Some 150 million-plus women and girls the world over live with the consequences of female genital mutilation, a cruelty performed in the name of tradition or religion. The Islamic State's savage campaign in the Middle East has turned thousands of kidnapped young women into sex slaves. And though not on the level of such extreme violence, hard-won rights to birth control and abortion, even in cases of rape or incest, are under constant threat in the United States.

The toll of such emotional and physical stress is monumental, and the health fallout is as predictable as it should be preventable. So the world will be watching as the 2016 International Council on Women's Health Issues (ICOWHI) Congress convenes in Baltimore from November 6 to 9, 2016. This is a chance for researchers to hear, to share, and to nurture ideas furthering the ICOWHI mission to "enhance empowerment, decrease inequity, and promote the health and well-being of women worldwide by facilitating and supporting communication and networking among researchers, clinicians, educators, and community advocates."

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ICOWHI is a nonprofit association dedicated to promoting health and well-being of women throughout the world through participation, empowerment, advocacy, education, and research. Its 2016 Congress, "Scale and Sustainability: Moving Women's Health Forward," is incredibly important because of those two key words: scale and sustainability.

When there is an attack against a specific population, health care teams can act to heal and protect victims from further immediate harm. But then we learn of the next targeted group, scramble, and might miss a chance to fully empower those we've just helped. What ICOWHI intends--along with those of us who believe so strongly in its mission--is to gather ideas that work for individual cases, scale them up so they can serve many other at-risk communities, and finally support and nurture ideas so they become economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable.

Nurses' key role here is undeniable. We are the suppliers of empathetic care where there is hurt and fear. It is we who, through shared knowledge and unflinching support, can empower women and girls to protect themselves and each other. But when nurses speak of "scale" and "sustainability," it is with the knowledge that there are too few of us to go around a world that is so filled with violence and chronic need. Any opportunity to discuss potential fixes for that is one we should not miss.
Co-Authored by Camilo Buscaron

At the inaugural Applied AI conference, hosted by BootstrapLabs, a venture builder company with a global outlook based in the Bay Area, the discussion centered on the disruptive power of artificial intelligence and the impact it will have in the world. BootstrapLab believes that artificial intelligence will accelerate the pace of innovation in most industry verticals across the world. To that end, they brought experts from some of the leading technology companies and organizations together to discuss the future of AI. "We have entered the age of Applied AI," espoused Nicolai Wadstrom, CEO of BootstrapLabs.

AI is not new, yet today we are standing at a turning point. Today, every industry is relying on AI to reimagine how business is being conducted. The conference covered technologies and applications related to AI systems and how these advances are fueling our world.

Rob Nail, CEO of Singularity University, kicked off the conference by introducing key concepts that are playing a pivotal role in actualizing this second coming of neural networks as a technique to solve some problems that were previously bounded to the cognitive realm. For example, exponential growth in computational power and big data sets that can now be mined for key insights. He explained how experts are often the worst people to predict the future and they don't realize the doubling patterns in exponential technology. The problem is that quite often we are fed a negative vision of the world.

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By 2025, there will be 500 billion connected devices in the world. In the next five years alone there will be three to five billion new people connected to the internet. This is unprecedented. And this means that we need to develop a new vision for the future. A more optimistic vision for the future.

According to other expert, data holds the power and utility for some of the most pervasive applications that will be created. What does this mean? In the future, start-ups will have to strategically find the domain and problem set to work on where big tech firms don't have a massive amount of data. Those startups can leverage and play it to their advantage.

In general, we were told that those companies that chase big data are pushing the envelope in AI. Think of Google's self-driving car, which has already accumulated more than 1.6 million miles of data. Google's Nest, Netflix algorithms, Amazon's Echo, Microsoft's Xbox are all examples of companies using huge amounts of data to improve the service for consumers. This age of big data requires new scalable infrastructures to handle the enormous influx of data.

"Messaging is the next killer app," we heard a lot, and in many ways bots and messaging can be seen after the initial web and then apps as the third wave of the internet.

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Multiple speakers touched on the implications of cost reduction of sensing and hardware which will lead to an explosion in the gathering of data. In the future, developers will be incentivized to focus on creating unsupervised machine learning systems that can automate the process of collecting data. This will cause a pervasive spread of intelligent automation in new industries such as food preparation, health-care and ordinary household appliances.

The implications of this AI revolution are enormous. Isaac Newton thought that everything could be computed, but reality does not work like that all the time. As German physicist Heisenberg posited with his Uncertainty Principle, there is a lot of indeterminacy in the world. There are many things we don't fully understand yet. We don't really understand intelligence on a deep level. We don't even understand the weather. Despite this some things are predictable. For example, humans are naturally better at creativity than analysis. In the future more machines will take over the analytical part of the economy, and making decisions. This will make creativity even more important as a driver of the growth for the world.

Some are preparing for this change, especially in the private sector. A director of a big car company said that they don't see themselves solely as a car company anymore. The future of the car is being transformed right now, in large part by philosopher entrepreneur Elon Musk and Tesla. As Elon Musk spoke of the Model S, not as a car, but as a "sophisticated computer on wheels." Even after your purchase, whenever the company pushes a new software update to all its cars, the car improves.

Not everyone, however, is ready for this change. We heard from a senior government official that the government hasn't paid that much attention to AI yet. This is worrying as a lot of these rising issues are issues of policy. The technology is here, but the government isn't ready to embrace them with new regulations. When we asked one senior government official about how issues at the intersection of governance and technology will be solved, he emphasized cooperation. More will need to be done on that front.
In 1977 Afghanistan had no refugees.



Omar Mateen, the man believed to be responsible for the June 14th 2016 Orlando shooting massacre, was born in America twenty-nine years ago to Afghan parents who'd fled to the US as refugees following the fulfillment of President Jimmy Carter's National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski's scheme to inveigle the Soviets into Afghanistan to give Moscow its own Vietnam. In 1977 Afghanistan had no refugees. It was Brzezinski who set in motion the events that have come full circle through this tragedy and leaves Afghanistan today with the second largest refugee population in the world.



In 1977 Afghanistan was transforming itself into an enlightened, modern and democratic society. Eyewitness accounts from the 1960s and 1970s document the rapid changes embraced by Afghan men and women across a broad spectrum of society. Despite its poverty, Afghanistan had been independent in its foreign policy and self-sufficient in many areas, including food production; a vivid illustration of what life was like when Afghans were in control of their own state. It was also the year that Zbigniew Brzezinski stepped into the role as National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter. Brzezinski was about to turn back the clock for the Afghan people by inaugurating a plan to lure the Soviet Union into an invasion of Afghanistan that was fulfilled on December 27th 1979. Now the blowback from Brzezinski's scheme has delivered another dagger into the heart of America's soul and the people of Orlando, Florida.

This is how Zbigniew Brzezinski did it.

Upon entering the White House in 1977 Brzezinski formed the Nationalities Working Group (NWG) dedicated to weakening the Soviet Union by inflaming ethnic tensions, especially among the Islamic populations of the region. While Brzezinski was activating his scheme, former CIA operative Graham Fuller was station chief (1975-1978) in Kabul, Afghanistan. Conveniently for Brzezinski, Fuller's focus was on how to politicize the Islamic world on behalf of American interests. In Fuller's own words, he explains his thesis:

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"In the West the words Islamic fundamentalism conjure up images of bearded men with turbans and women covered in black shrouds. And some Islamist movements do indeed contain reactionary and violent elements. But we should not let stereotypes blind us to the fact that there are also powerful modernising forces at work within these movements. Political Islam is about change. In this sense, modern Islamist movements may be the main vehicle for bringing about change in the Muslim world and the break-up of the old "dinosaur" regimes."

In 1977 Fuller was in a position to activate Brzezinski's scheme. As CIA station chief in Kabul he was also perfectly positioned to provide Brzezinski with the intelligence needed to build his case for President Carter to sign the directive allowing him to lure the Soviets into invading Afghanistan.

As the first Americans to gain access to Kabul after the Soviet invasion for an American TV crew in 1981 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 as an open and shut case of Soviet expansion by Harvard Professor Richard Pipes on the MacNeil-Lehrer News Hour could just as easily have been 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 making national security estimates by inventing threats where they didn't exist and intentionally skewing its findings along ideological lines. Now that ideology was being presented as fact by America's Public Broadcasting System.

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In 1983 we returned to Kabul with Harvard Negotiation Project Director Roger Fisher for ABC's Nightline. Our aim was to establish the credibility of the 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 they entered office, the Reagan administration demanded that the Soviets withdraw their forces, while at the same time keeping them pinned down through covert action so they couldn't leave. Though lacking in facts and dripping in right wing ideology, this hypocritical 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 U.S. 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 had 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 Stansfield Turner was saying in 1995 was that Brzezinski's well-known Russophobia led him to take advantage of the Soviet's 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 they even considered invading. Yet, despite Brzezinski's admission, Washington's entire political spectrum continued to embrace his original false narrative that the Soviets had embarked on a world conquest.

For Brzezinski, getting the Soviets to invade Afghanistan was an opportunity to shift Washington toward an unrelenting hard line against the Soviet Union. By using covert action, he created the conditions needed to provoke a Soviet defensive response which he'd then used as evidence of unrelenting Soviet expansion. However, once his exaggerations and lies about Soviet intentions became accepted, they found a home in America's imagination and never left. US policy since that time has operated in a delusion of triumphalism that both provokes international incidents and then capitalizes on the chaos.

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From its origins in 1977 as a covert program to destabilize the Soviet Union through ethnic violence and radical Islam in Afghanistan, Soviet Georgia, Azerbaijan and Chechnya, a straight line can be drawn to the alleged perpetrator of the Orlando massacre from theories, practices and policies implemented by Brzezinski prior to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

If it hadn't been for Brzezinski's scheme, Omar Mateen, the man believed to be responsible for the June 14th massacre, most likely would have been born in Afghanistan twenty-nine years ago instead of the United States. We will never know what kind of man Omar Mateen might have become had he been born and raised in home of his ancestors. One thing is sure; the time has come for Americans to question whether the legacy of Brzezinski's obsession with fulfilling his dream of conquering the world at any cost, should continue to be America's goal as well.
We have seen the enemy, and he is us. - Pogo



Like millions of people in America and around the world, I read about the Orlando tragedy with a heavy heart. There will be much wise advice on what should be learned, and most importantly, what must be done to help prevent what is becoming an all too familiar attack on innocent people in this country. Yes, there are too many guns on the street. Yes, we must have a better path to intervention for the police, the FBI and our other intelligence and law enforcement agencies. We must find ways of making it harder for troubled angry rogues, or radicalized extremists, to carry out their violent urges. And yes, the availability of military-type weapons is a travesty. I hope pressure from good and wise people will lead to progress in all these areas.



It seems as if violence and the threat of violence envelops us. Only days after Orlando, we arrived at the one-year anniversary of the church massacre in Charleston. Literally days ago, a British member of Parliament was killed in cold blood as the Brexit debate was drawing to its climactic vote. San Bernardino. Virginia Tech. It hurts just to say these names now. Sandy Hook: 25 helpless kids killed in their school. In less than ten years, we've endured 20 other mass killings, and they still loom large in our minds.



Explaining each tragic episode helps, but each explanation of a mentally deranged, alienated or radicalized individual seems somehow inadequate. Underlying all of these elements is a growing ethos of anger, vitriol, raw hatred, bigotry, and contention. It's part of the air we breathe now. Our paralyzed, partisan Congress is an ugly mirror of the larger society it represents. We demonize the other tribe. It's about us and our side. Meanwhile, we have been turning our backs on the needs of the vast majority of Americans. And after decades, the disenfranchised are legitimately angry. Yet they want action, not insult. In today's political discourse, we spew invective with impunity. The language sometimes incites only thinly-veiled violence. Bigotry and scapegoating, after decades of progress, seem to have returned with abandon. Women continue to be treated as second-class citizens in too many ways. All too often our belittling actions torment groups of minorities, races, those of different sexual orientation or religious beliefs.



Our society seems to be devolving into a greater and meaner discord, contention and abuse. Less civility, less compassion in our words and deeds prevails. A civilized society must have norms of behavior, codes of ethics and morality--and a simple respect and courtesy toward those who are different or see the world differently. If we were able to transcend ourselves we would observe our species heading toward an earlier, evolutionarily tribal, self-centered, and violent time. We seem to have unleashed instincts and tendencies ingrained, and for a while, deeply buried in our DNA.



The point is this. Violence begets more violence. Anger, hatred, and physical or verbal abuse offer fertile ground for the unacceptable behaviors surrounding us.



Yes, we must be vigilant and aggressively protect ourselves from madmen and the radicalized elements. In this vein, I can also point to Muslim imams and other Muslim American leaders to stand up against this same kind of bigotry and discrimination in their own culture. (As an increasing number of Muslim leaders have done after Orlando.) Respect for women and respect for the full spectrum of sexual orientation must prevail within any cultural group in America. It is simply the price for being a Muslim American or any other American. Those who advocate outright violence and harm to this country must find, or be assisted in finding, another home in this world.



Yet all the measures we can take to protect ourselves, while essential, are not sufficient. We must also come together as people, as Americans. We must change our mindset, and our behaviors. We must simply become better people. We must not only cease to participate in anger and hatred. We must also stop tolerating it in others. We can no longer turn a blind eye or simply shrug our shoulders. We live in a global village. What happens over there, nearly anywhere, eventually affects us here and vice versa. But the best inoculation against this contagion is what we do here. The codes of behavior that honor the common good, tolerance and constructive collaboration must return and take over. This must happen in our families, in our communities, in our governments, and in our nation. Children are not born bigots. We teach it to them. We must substitute caring, love and compassion. We cannot live like renters in this nation: we have to take ownership of it all. This is our family. We all matter, regardless of race, gender, religion, or sexual orientations. We are indeed one people, one set of humans with similar aspirations, dreams and hopes. We are all struggling to be the person we know we can be. That can't happen, we can't safely be ourselves, unless we respect that struggle in everyone around us. A beautiful song, written in the wake of the Orlando massacre, cries out to the listener: "I am human. I am like you. Feel my pulse."


On June 14th and 15th, the White House convened and hosted its inaugural United State of Women Summit at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Speakers included President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama, Warren Buffet, Oprah Winfrey, Gloria Steinem, Nancy Pelosi and other powerhouse champions for the advancement of women and girls. "Solution Seminars" (breakout sessions) highlighted the six pillars of the Summit, i.e., economic empowerment, health and wellness, educational opportunity, violence against women, entrepreneurship & innovation and leadership & civic engagement.

Over 10,000 nominations were submitted by or on behalf of women around the world for an opportunity to attend the inaugural launch which celebrated the work being done by women's rights advocates to advance the global state of women. In light of my work with female survivors of sex trafficking and rape in the developing world, I was one of those chosen to attend the Summit in person and honored as a 'Nominated Changemaker." It was certainly flattering to be acknowledged by the White House, to be considered a "Changemaker" for simply engaging in what I feel is my obligation and duty to our broken world.

Hour after hour, speaker after speaker, 5,000 attendees remained engaged, eagerly awaiting a direct and focused call to action as well as concrete solutions that could readily be implemented to effectively change the #StateOfWomen in our world. For me, that focused call to action never fully came and as I boarded my train back home, it dawned on me that the real "Changemakers," i.e., the millions of women and girls whose recycled bodies have contributed to generating a $150 billion global trafficking industry, deserved a much bigger seat at the table of conversation. These are the women whose exploited bodies are the money makers, the ones who have generated financial "change" for thousands of traffickers around the world.

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The sex trafficking of women and girls is one of the worst human rights abuses of our time. In 2012, it was estimated that approximately 20.9 million people around the world were trapped in what is now commonly referred to as modern day slavery. The Global Slavery Index has more recently placed that figure as high as 45.8 million. 98% of the victims of forced sexual exploitation are women and girls. Statistics further indicate that sex trafficking has been identified in almost every country around the world. However, it is undisputed that it is particularly rampant in some.

It is within this climate and under the toxic pressure of poverty, minimal education and little to no economic opportunities that an overwhelming number of young self nominating "Changemakers" have emerged. These young women, whose prospects of the future appear rather bleak because of the foregoing, often volunteer to be trafficked abroad because they view prostitution as an alternative to poverty.

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In Edo State, where most of our work with survivors of rape and sex trafficking is conducted, the Edo to Europe sex trafficking pipeline is rampant. Our informal research indicates that one out of every three young women in the State has been recruited by a trafficker to work in Europe's sex trafficking industry. More and more are heeding the call, believing that they will find refuge in the alluring arms of Europe. The exact opposite is true.

The debt bondage scheme is not complicated. A trafficker or recruiter, often a woman who was a former trafficking victim herself, approaches a young prospect at a market, at her school, in church but most often in her own home. Family members are informed by the trafficker that the young woman has the potential to pull the family well out of poverty by traveling to Europe where she may work in prostitution for a short period of time on her own terms. Facing immense family pressure, the young woman agrees and promises, usually pursuant to an oath administered by a local juju (voodoo) priest, that she will repay a "reasonable" loan (often what she believes will be a $5,000 smuggling fee) to the trafficker to cover her travel costs and accommodation.

Victims are usually trafficked into Europe (Russia, Italy, Spain, Netherlands and Belgium) by air and/or by land and sea across the Mediterranean, their passage often aided by the trafficker's finely tuned network which includes multiple actors, such as government officials in passport agencies, embassies and customs and border control. Increasingly, however, victims are being killed along the way by an even larger emerging network of organ traffickers who can secure upwards of $500,000 for a human heart on the black market. Others drown on the precarious boat ride from Libya across the treacherous waters of the Mediterranean. Assuming a victim makes it to Europe, she is immediately stripped of her passport and forced into prostitution on the trafficker's terms to pay back inflated smuggling fees or her "loan," which averages $50,000. If she refuses, she is brutally beaten, starved and raped. There are no negotiations.

I work tirelessly to raise awareness about the reality of this debt bondage scheme and endeavor to discourage women from embarking on a trip from which they may never return. Yet, each year, thousands of young women from my home state continue to offer up their bodies as self nominating "Changemakers" for traffickers who see them as nothing but that.

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The problem is massive. Why? Because there is a global lack of political will to eliminate trafficking. Beyond Nigeria, the world should care, not simply because of the impact of sex trafficking on human rights, but also because turning a blind eye to this evil fails to consider the value of women as essential economic building blocks of society. Research has elucidated the fact that women, when economically empowered to work as legitimate "Changemakers" for themselves, invest a higher proportion of their earnings back into their communities than men. In other words, both freedom of choice and economic gain underpin personal and national productivity.
Fishing Boats by South African Tourism via Flickr

The European Union, United States and 28 other countries have ratified and brought into force the first global treaty that aims to put an end to illegal fishing and enforce a previous United Nations agreement. The Port State Measures Agreement (or PSMA) is a laudable achievement that comes after seven grueling years of negotiations among nations as geographically far flung as Iceland, Oman and Uruguay, but the treaty holds special promise for African nations in their long struggle to protect their territorial waters from illegal fishing boats - often Chinese vessels, notorious for their disdain for human rights and environmental standards.

Officials were quick to hail the PSMA as the product of an ambitious and determined effort to reign in a problem that has plagued local economies and state treasuries for decades - but the devil is in the details. For all its bluster, the treaty holds no guarantees that any provisions designed to improve port controls and vessel licenses will be enforced with the same consistency or expertise in different parts of the world. It's no wonder that environmental activists and watchdog groups were guardedly optimistic, mixing their praise with concern that the agreement isn't nearly enough to curb the $23.5 billion a year industry or address the scope of the damage done to the world's coastal waters.

There is plenty of evidence for their skepticism. The treaty requires participating countries to prevent access to ports until they've verified detailed information in advance about every vessel seeking entry, conducting standard inspections when vessels enter and denying access when necessary. Fishing boats are permitted to dock only at special ports equipped for enforcement and inspection. When officials complete a failed inspection, they're required to both deny access and report violations, sharing that information with the vessel's home country as well as with neighboring countries and their ports.

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That raises real questions about countries like Thailand, which have signed the PSMA but have abysmal enforcement records. Thailand is now the world's third-largest exporter of seafood, but the industry relies on illegal overfishing that leads to environmental damage as well as even appalling human rights violations. High-profile investigations of Thailand's fishing operations, spearheaded by the AP and the Guardian, have raised awareness of human trafficking, safety violations and other concerns that have led the international community to demand reforms. The EU, for its part, is set to meet with Thai officials next month to assess progress - or, in its absence, enact a ban on Thai seafood.

Illegal fishing and the cost to Africa

Thailand, however, is just the tip of the iceberg of a practice whose practice has inflicted the most harm on Africa's fragile coastlines - oftentimes at the hand of Chinese vessels. Although China is not a party to the treaty, the impact of Chinese fishing operations on the African continent is a key motivation for African nations like Somalia - notorious for its struggles with piracy in waters off the Horn of Africa - to join Kenya, Mozambique, Angola, South Africa, and several others in signing the treaty. The stakes are high for all of the nations involved, notably in coastal nations like Mozambique and Seychelles as they seek to protect their rich waters from illegal fishing. In 2013, only one of the 130 ships fishing off Mozambique's shores was actually from that country, prompting the government to order 30 ships to take advantage of its own ocean resources. The order included 24 fishing ships as well as six patrol boats to protect the fleet and fend off illegal fishing activities. When Mozambique ratified the PSMA in 2014, the World Wildlife Fund estimated that illegal fishing cost it $35 million a year - a huge sum for a poor nation.

A Greenpeace report on China's distant water fishing (DWF) practices, released in 2015, found that China's fleet of fishing vessels operating in West Africa's coastal waters skyrocketed from 13 to 462 vessels in just 30 years. These boats, flying Chinese flags or registered to Chinese owners, now account for 20 percent of the nation's DWF fleet. Concerns about Chinese operations extend beyond illegal and unregulated fishing or tonnage fraud, and that's because most of these ships are bottom trawlers - a high-impact method that inflicts some of the worst environmental damage. Bottom trawling entails dragging a weighted net across the seabed, catching both common fish and endangered species while tearing up ocean habitats. The Greenpeace report also emphasizes a subtler cost of the practice: Chinese fishermen aren't just engaging in illegal fishing that impacts the fragile ecosystems off Africa's coasts. They are also imperiling the local fishing industries many African coastal communities rely on for their livelihoods.

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West Africa loses $1.3 billion a year to illegal fishing. But as African nations seek to align their policies with sustainability targets, the commitment made by nations like Guinea and Gabon is encouraging. They reflect a proactive optimism that extends beyond the immediate threat of China to preventing the far greater financial impacts associated with climate change, including the increasing acidity of ocean waters and other long-term threats to biodiversity and food security.

Critics rightly point out that in order for the UN treaty and similar regional or NGO initiatives to properly function, more countries need to ratify and implement them to create a real impact. While some unilateral efforts have met with success - an agreement between South Africa and Mozambique among them - that real impact will require a coordinated global effort.
Political situation and poverty has always been the major reason behind the intellectuals and talented Nepalese leaving the country. If the country was able to absorb these human resources, the emigration would never happen in such a large quantity. On the other hand, the large number of population is conditioned in such a way that Nepal is useless, America is heaven, and Europe is the future and those who go to Australia make it. This kind of conditioning since early age is happening in Nepal at this moment. Young folks are looking forward to enjoy the rest of the lives in some foreign countries where life is comfortable and secure. They are not focused on creating opportunities in their own country.

Only elites and rich had an access to foreign countries before but after the introduction of mass communication media everything has changed. With the radio, TV and internet, general public was able to get information from all over the world and opportunities for them outside Nepal. This immediately changed the status of those who were ambitious and willing to work hard but were not able find opportunities within the country. This drastically increased flow of Nepalese ambitious youths to foreign countries like Japan, Australia, Europe and USA. With the changing global situation, America favoured Nepal with DV lottery program and added thousands more to the increase Nepalese population in USA.

This desire for prosperity pulled a large number of populations to foreign countries but now Nepalese abroad are competing with fellow citizens of those countries. They have pulled their entire family members and relatives abroad to help them in their businesses and obtain education. Nowadays, the desire to compete for and live the life style of Americans and Europeans is of more interest to Nepalese youths than mere poverty.

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The easy and cheap means to travel, the ability to speak English language easily and increasing number of well-settled Nepalese abroad make it easy for the beginners today. There are Nepalese lawyers and accountants in America and Europe to help the new-comers with immigration procedures and Nepalese communities to provide knowledge of easily settling there. Nepalese shops and restaurants are all over the world today.

The global village that the world has become in last few years makes the question of separate countries really useless except in the map. No country can do on its own and there will be increasing number of Americans and Europeans moving into Nepal and Nepalese moving elsewhere. It is just the way future is going to look like. We cannot stop the inevitable. Nepalese youths are marrying with Americans and Europeans. Either they move abroad or foreigners are moving in. Different people have different interests and motives for doing different things.
Photo: gofundme

On the April 25th, 2015, Nepal was struck with 8.1 Rechter Scale destructive Earthquake at mid-day. On the other hand, on 11th of June, 8786 people were killed while 22303 were severely injured. Several highly value properties were destroyed by the earthquake. More than 16000 lost their lives. Over 6 lakh families lost their homes. More than 20,000 got injured. Net loss of economy was over 7 Trillion. What is the situation of renovations and tourism a year from the destructive earthquake.

Earthquake of 1987 killed 721 people. On April 25, 2015, 7.6 Rt. Scale earthquake hit with epicenter at Gorkha. 9000 folks died, according to PDN report created by National Planning Commission.

Not only Nepalese citizens, but foreign nationals also lost their lives in this earthquake. The government statistics show that tourist flow decreased by over 72% after the 2015 Earthquake. Tourist flow that was beginning to grow after the earthquake of Baisakh 12, 13 & 29 began receding once again after the Indian blockade and Terai-Madhesh revolution.

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Terai-Madhesh revolution that began after the new constitution was drafted and the petroleum shortage due to the Indian Economic Blockade caused a great damage to the tourism industry. Ordinary folks haven't been able to cook their food or use mass-transportation while the nation's major income source tourism industry has been hurt badly.

The havoc caused by an earthquake a year back hasn't been properly sized up yet. Victims are still lying under the temporary shades. The fear of the earthquake tremors haven't left the heart of many Nepalese. After-tremors haven't stopped. None have forgotten the pain caused by earthquake.

Hundreds were injured. Among them, at least 100 are regularly visiting hospital for check-up. Earthquake of Baisakh 12 caused many unborn children to lose their fathers while many wives their newly-wed husbands. Many have lost their hands while many more still have iron rods within their legs. Many have taken to beds after the spinal cord ceased to support them.

After many deaths of foreign nationals in the earthquake, new tourists planning to visit canceled their tickets. Besides, after those residing in the country shortened their stay, tourism industry began suffering. Even though, earthquake didn't directly hit Pokhara, tourism industry of Pokhara was greatly hampered. In the world statistics, Nepal ranks as the 11th most dangerous country in terms of earthquake hazard. Nepalese geological structures are considered to be very weak. Regular small scale earthquakes continue to weaken Nepal's geo-structure.

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Not only Nepalese citizens, but foreign nationals also lost their lives in this earthquake. The government statistics show that tourist flow decreased by over 72% after the 2015 Earthquake. Tourist flow that was beginning to grow after the earthquake of Baisakh 12, 13 & 29 began receding once again after the Indian blockade and Terai-Madhesh revolution.

According to the bureau's statistics, weak rock structures in the area have increased the chances of earthquake hazards. 1990's earthquake of 8.3 Riechter Scale had its center at Sankhuwashabha. At that moment, 8519 persons were killed while 200 Km area was destroyed. Great numbers of lives and properties were destroyed.

Terai-Madhesh revolution that began after the new constitution was drafted and the petroleum shortage due to the Indian Economic Blockade caused a great damage to the tourism industry. Ordinary folks haven't been able to cook their food or use mass-transportation while the nation's major income source tourism industry has been hurt badly.

Earthquake of 1987 killed 721 people. On April 25, 2015, 7.6 Rt. Scale earthquake hit with epicenter at Gorkha. 9000 folks died, according to PDN report created by National Planning Commission.Despite the fact that government declared 14 districts as highly affected areas, no arrangements of residence have been made for them even after a year. Victims of earthquake have had to live a very difficult life because of the delay in renovation work.

Many of Nepal's tourist towns are vacant these days. There's a negative impression upon many tourists because of the impact of earthquake upon Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan area. Despite the fact that Nepal obtained tremendous support from the international community for the rebuilding process, it hasn't been able to channel it towards constructive ends. What can one expect from an incompetent government like this?

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Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is on the verge of making history as the first female ever nominated by a major Party for President of the United States. This is no small feat. Rather, it is the culmination of decades of struggle for women's rights - and civil rights. Just as we participated in an unprecedented election of the first African American President of the United States in 2008, we now have the opportunity to shatter a few more cracks in that highest glass ceiling (to steal a line from someone). This remarkable moment didn't occur overnight or in a vacuum however, and we must recognize the work and sacrifice of those that came before Clinton. My mind instinctively goes back to 1972, when Shirley Chisholm became the first African American to run for President. I witnessed firsthand the sexism, racism and humiliation she endured from all angles, and I can say wholeheartedly that today the struggle for gender equality and racial equality must be married more than ever because the fight for justice and fairness most definitely continues.

In 1972, I was a 17-year-old youth coordinator for Shirley Chisholm's campaign. I was extremely proud to be in charge of organizing young people in support of her presidential bid. She was a woman of many firsts; the first African American congresswoman, the first woman to run for the Democratic Party's Presidential nomination and the first African American woman to run for President. She once stated: "If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair." Those are words that she not only lived by, but they also set an example for both women and African Americans at a time when we needed such a fierce role model. Sadly, because she was such a trailblazer and ahead of her time, Chisholm faced extensive backlash - even from some African American leaders.

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At the historic National Black Political Convention in Gary, Indiana that year (I was the youth on the Platform Committee), we could not get them to support Chisholm officially. It was an extraordinary gathering of black leaders and activists, and I was completely shocked that they would not endorse Chisholm. She was a Black candidate with our agenda, in addition to a feminist agenda, but sexism prevented many from backing her, unfortunately. I watched the division and tensions during this time, and it was at that moment that I first realized racial equality and gender equality go hand-in-hand, and we cannot fight for one without fighting for the other.

As a civil rights leader, I cannot push for an end to racism without pushing for an end to misogyny. Men must realize that an empowered woman only further empowers society. We can see that today in places like the workforce for example. Wherever there is diversity - both racial and gender diversity for that matter - the more successful and productive that business or institution is. As the father of two daughters, I cannot only highlight racial inequities, but I must also call out gender bias when I see it. My daughters, and all of our daughters, deserve to live in a country where they are not denied opportunities because of their race or gender.

One of the greatest lessons I learned while working with Chisholm at such a young age was that we must lead by example and pave the way no matter how rough or uncharted the terrain. As I often say, we have made tremendous progress in this great nation of ours, but we have more barriers to break down. The only way to do so is to unite in our collective struggle to move forward. Blacks must fight misogyny, and women must fight racism.

Earlier this month, Clinton took to the stage at a warehouse at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and echoed this sentiment as she moved one step closer to securing the nomination. "Tonight's victory is not about one person," she said. "It belongs to generations of women and men who struggled and sacrificed and made this moment possible."

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Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at the Cleveland Industrial Innovation Center, Monday, June 13, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

If Donald Trump continues to implode, Hillary Clinton will win simply by being the presidential candidate who isn't Trump.

But the prospect of a President Trump is so terrifying that Hillary shouldn't take any chances. The latest match-up polls show her about 6 points ahead -- a comfortable but not sure-fire margin.

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What else can she offer other than that she's also experienced and would be the first woman to hold the job?

So far, she's put forth a bunch of respectable policy ideas. But they're small relative to the economic problems most Americans face and to Americans' overwhelming sense the nation is off track.

She needs a big idea that gives her candidacy a purpose and rationale -- and, if she's elected president, a mandate to get something hugely important done.

What could that big idea be? I can think of several big economic proposals. The problem is they couldn't get through Congress - even if, as now seems possible, Democrats retake the Senate.

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Nor, for that matter, could Hillary's smaller ideas get through.

Which suggests a really big idea -- an idea that's the prerequisite for every other one, an idea that directly addresses what's disturbing so many Americans today -- an idea that, if she truly commits herself to it, would even reassure voters about Hillary Clinton herself.

The big idea I'm talking about is democracy.

Everyone knows our democracy is drowning under big money. Confidence in politics has plummeted, and big money as the major culprit.

In 1964, just 29 percent of voters believed government was "run by a few big interests looking out for themselves," according to the American National Election Studies survey. In the most recent survey, almost 80 percent of Americans think so.

And because the free market depends on laws and rules, big money's political influence has rigged the economic system in favor of those at the top.

Which has fueled this year's anti-establishment rebellions - propelling Bernie Sanders's "political revolution" that won him 22 states, and contributing to Donald ("I don't need anybody's money") Trump's authoritarian appeal.

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A study published in the fall of 2014 by Princeton professor Martin Gilens and Professor Benjamin Page of Northwestern shows that big money has almost entirely disenfranchised Americans. Gilens and Page took a close look at 1,799 policy issues, determining the relative influence on them of economic elites, business groups, and average citizens.

Their conclusion: "The preferences of average Americans appear to have only a minuscule, near-zero, statistically non-significantimpact upon public policy." Instead, lawmakers respond to the policy demands of wealthy individuals and big business.

The super wealthy account for a growing share of both parties' funds. In the presidential election year 1980, the richest 0.01 percent gave 10 percent of total campaign contributions. In 2012, the richest 0.01 percent accounted for an astounding 40 percent.

Adding to the cynicism is the revolving door. In the 1970s only about 3 percent of retiring members of Congress went on to become lobbyists. In recent years half of all retiring senators and42 percent of retiring representatives have done so.

This isn't because recent retirees have fewer qualms about making money off their government contacts. It's because so much money has inundated Washington that the financial rewards of lobbying have become huge.

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Meanwhile, the revolving door between Wall Street, on the one side, and the White House and Treasury, on the other, is swiveling faster than ever.

Clinton should focus her campaign on reversing all of this. For a start, she should commit to nominating Supreme Court justices who will strike down "Citizen's United," the 2010 Supreme Court case that opened the big-money floodgates far wider.

She should also fight for public financing of general elections for president and for congress -- with government matching small-donor contributions made to any candidate who agrees to abide by overall spending limits on large-donor contributions.

She should demand full disclosure of all sources of campaign funding, regardless of whether those funds are passed through non-profit organizations or through corporate entities or both.

And she should slow the revolving door -- committing to a strict two-year interval between high-level government service and lobbying or corporate jobs, and a similarly interval between serving as a top executive or director of a major Wall Street bank and serving at a top level position in the executive branch.

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Will Hillary Clinton make restoring democracy her big idea? When she announced her candidacy she said "the deck is stacked in favor of those at the top" and that she wants to be the "champion" of "everyday Americans."
"If protesting solved problems, Illinois wouldn't have any problems."

That's what Governor Bruce Rauner, a billionaire Republican politician and former private equity executive, had to say when 10,000 concerned citizens journeyed to the Illinois capital on May 18 to oppose his destructive policies.

The governor had already sped out of town by the time thousands of marchers set off through the streets of downtown Springfield. Clearly he wanted to convey that he had no interest in hearing their concerns, much less heeding them.

But, of course, Rauner couldn't really escape. As soon as he arrived at his destination, reporters began grilling him about the overflow crowd that jammed the street (and every other available space) in front of the Capitol.

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That's when he professed his contempt for the value of protests--demonstrating a shocking ignorance of the history of our nation.

Weren't the American colonists who challenged British rule engaged in one of our country's pioneering protests when they marched down to Boston Harbor for that incendiary Tea Party? Of course that action alone did not drive out the Brits. But it did inspire countless colonists to enlist in the battle for freedom and liberty--a battle that, in case our governor hasn't noticed, was indeed eventually won.

That's the thing about protests. Seldom does one march, one rally or one sit-in bring about systemic change. But the accrual of such actions educates, inspires and conveys a sense of urgency. Each protest builds on the one before. And it is this growing intensity that demands attention and achieves action. Protests are potent messages delivered in human form that can shake the complacency of the powerful and lift the spirits of the disempowered.

The simple truth is that protests have been an essential element of every successful movement for social and political change.

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We need only reflect on the civil rights movement and the vast transformation it has effected in our own lifetimes. Would change on that scale--the dismantling of an entire system of legally sanctioned segregation and discrimination--have been possible without the moral authority and passionate conviction expressed in the innumerable actions of protest, from lunch-counter sit-ins in the smallest of towns to massive marches in our nation's capital?

Or we can think back on how workers in our country gained the right to join together in unions to improve their lives. Standing against an entire corporate class bent on denying their right to have a voice on the job, millions of workers all across the country walked picket lines, went out on strike, and even occupied their factories until the day finally came that the corporate elite could resist no more.

Today we too often forget the workplace struggles and tumult that shook the entire country during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but there is no denying that those multitudes of protests were essential to forging the rights workers have today.

Now we are in a battle to defend those rights here in Illinois. That is why the thousands of union members, human service advocates, and other concerned citizens thronged the State Capitol. We came to protest Rauner's budget blockade that is forcing program cuts and layoffs at social service agencies and state universities, his efforts to annihilate basic collective bargaining rights, and his refusal to negotiate with his own employees in state government.

We came to stand in solidarity with workers injured on the job whose benefits Rauner wants to cut, with construction workers whose right to a "prevailing wage" he wants to take away, with home health aides whose overtime hours he wants to eliminate, and with students whose college assistance grants he has blocked.

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We came building on dozens of smaller protests that have been held at the Capitol in recent months--by university students, the homeless, child care providers, disability advocates, domestic violence survivors, clergy, and scores of others harmed by the governor's insistence that laws to diminish workers' rights must be passed before he will allow passage of a state budget.

We used our vacation time or took a day off with no pay. We got up at dawn to make the bus or packed our cars full of co-workers or rode in on our motorcycles. We scrambled to find child care or brought our children along for a great lesson in civic engagement. We came with canes and walkers, even in wheelchairs. And many of us who couldn't make it followed it all on Facebook or Twitter, and joined in the cheering from afar.

Will that one day of protest--even such a mighty day--turn Rauner around? Not very likely. But this much is certain: We sent a message of unity and determination that will build a stronger fighting force for the battles to come.
Stanford students John Lancaster Finley(L) and Brandon Hill(C) carry signs during the 'Wacky Walk' to show their solidarity for a Stanford rape victim during graduation ceremonies at Stanford University, in Palo Alto, California, on June 12, 2016. / AFP / GABRIELLE LURIE (Photo credit should read GABRIELLE LURIE/AFP/Getty Images)

Before we decide what the proper sentence is in a particular criminal case, we should be able to explain what purpose the punishment serves.

Like many people, my initial reaction to the sentence imposed on Brock Turner, the Stanford student convicted of sexual assault, was that it was too lenient. Six months in a county jail did not reflect the seriousness of his crime.

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This reaction seemed to be justified by the numerous condemnations of the sentence by various politicians, jurists, and commentators. As I read these condemnations, however, I was disappointed by the lack of any convincing argument regarding the outrageousness of Turner's sentence based on accepted notions of criminal justice. Many of us felt outraged, but what objective principles supported this subjective feeling?

One law professor argued the sentence was far too lenient by comparing the sentence to the punishment Turner would have received under federal law. But so what? What makes federal law better as a guide to an appropriate sentence as opposed to, say, the recommendation of the probation office on which Judge Persky relied?

The purposes of punishment

Why do we punish? We need some justification for having the government impose suffering on others, presumably. Punishment must serve some valid public purpose. Modern jurisprudence has moved away from retribution as a justification for punishment, for good reason. Retribution is simply another way of saying the offender "deserves" punishment. But then we still have to explain why the offender deserves punishment.

Three objectives are often cited as a rationale for punishment: removal of dangerous persons from society; rehabilitation; deterrence. These are valid purposes as they all relate to the important and undeniably legitimate goal of containing and reducing crime.

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However, if we analyze the sentence Turner received using these criteria the sentence does not necessarily appear outrageously lenient. Turner is not a socially dangerous person in the sense that we need to keep him confined for a long time to prevent further harm. With respect to rehabilitation, a longer term in jail or prison is unlikely to make him a better person. Up to a certain point, long prison terms increase, they do not reduce, recidivism. (For obvious reasons, a life sentence does reduce recidivism.)

Would a longer sentence have been a better deterrent? Arguably. But if so, Judge Persky merely made an error in calculation instead of imposing a wholly inappropriate sentence--and the harsh criticism Judge Persky has received would seem like an overreaction. Furthermore, A two-year or three-year sentence may have been more effective as a deterrent, but it's difficult to say how many more potential offenders would be deterred from engaging in sexual assault if Turner had received two years as opposed to six months. Sexual assaults don't always occur after the offender has made a careful weighing of the magnitude of possible punishment against the benefit of immediate gratification.

But after going through this analysis, there remains, at least for me, the conviction that Turner's sentence was too lenient, and not just because Judge Persky may have miscalculated the deterrent effect. Something seems to be missing from this analysis. It is.

The expressive function of punishment

To locate the missing element in our analysis, I suggest we consider our determination, in some instances, to prosecute and sentence individuals who decades ago may have been complicit in some crime, but who since have been law-abiding citizens. Why do we do this? To make this analogy concrete, let's consider the prosecution of Nazi concentration camp guards. I recognize this doesn't seem immediately relevant to the Turner case, but bear with me.

Just the other day, a 94-year-old man, Reinhold Hanning, was sentenced to five years in prison for serving as a guard at Auschwitz. Significantly, he was convicted and sentenced even though there was no evidence that he directly participated in the murder of inmates. What purpose does the punishment of this nonagenarian serve? Rehabilitation? Given Hanning's age, that's not a consideration. Removal of a dangerous person from society? Again, he's 94. He's been a peaceful citizen for seventy years. Deterrence? Fortunately, it is highly unlikely that Germany will ever again experience a campaign of genocide like the Holocaust.

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Unless we can think of another legitimate purpose for punishment, it would appear that the sentencing of Hanning is an unjustified act of vengeance.

Punishment does have another purpose. In addition to rehabilitation, incapacitation, and deterrence, punishment serves an expressive function. This is a function that a number of philosophers and jurists have acknowledged, but unfortunately it is not widely recognized among the general public.

What is meant by the expressive function of punishment? State-sanctioned punishment is the means by which the community expresses strong disapproval of certain types of action. It is a means of communicating to the entire community the seriousness of the offense. This may seem like a trivial purpose, but it is not. Condemnations through the criminal justice system are a critical part of the social glue that holds the community together. Punishment conveys the clear message that certain actions will not be tolerated and it reassures victims of crime that the community is aligned with their interests and considers the harm they have suffered to be significant.

This is why we punish concentration camp guards. Not to deter others or to seek vengeance. It is to send the message that the community condemns this conduct and that the harm to the victims was significant, so significant that it requires the state to prosecute offenders even seventy years after the actions in question.

To convey the message of condemnation, to fulfill the expressive function of punishment, the punishment must be proportionate to the offense. As the symbolic vehicle of public condemnation, the punishment must reflect the harm to the victim and society. Here is where Judge Persky failed. In too many cases, crimes involving sexual assault have not been taken seriously. Judge Persky's light sentence unfortunately lends support to the view that sexual assault--especially when alcohol is a factor--isn't that significant an offense.

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"Like every immigrant, I have thought a lot about identity and belonging. But to be honest, it is only recently that I started thinking about how food fits into these concepts. Since I left Turkey years ago in search of different places and another future, the only constant in my life has been Turkish food. In America, I brought with me the need to come together around the table, always choosing dinner conversation over other activities and trying to recreate familiar tastes from around Turkey. Reminiscing about my homeland over food has become a constant in my life, so much so that foods I never ate while in Turkey, such as kebap or baklava, have become dishes that I make at home or order at restaurants...

As a sociologist, seeing how my Turkish identity became sharper in the kitchen made me curious. But I only became aware of this phenomenon after I moved to Alaska. Living in a state with long and dark winters that limit agriculture made me realize what a privilege it was to come from a land where you can bite into sun-ripened grapes, fresh-picked cherries and tomatoes, right off the stalk. On the other hand, Alaska taught me the pleasures of eating fresh salmon you catch yourself or biting into a moose burger that may possibly be road kill, as well as the joys of picking blueberries or raspberries by the handful while hiking. I started to think that perhaps eating like a Turk while living in Alaska was absurd. Should I be combining Turkish tastes with Alaskan bounty in my kitchen? Or, perhaps as many of my American guests would secretly wish, should I stay as authentically Turkish as possible?

But what is on the 'authentic' Turkish table? Kebap? Is the Turkish kitchen in our minds simply a jumble of cliches? As I keep urging my students to stay away from generalizations, am I following my own advice?"
There has been on average one mass shooting (involving at least four people) for every day this year. In the wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting -- the most recent widely-covered mass shooting, America has reopened the debate over gun control, pitting a bereaved public beckoning for gun reform against rifle-thumping, strict-Constitutionalists. Yet, in this polarizing debate filled with a seemingly binomial future, there are other options: namely those that focus on common-sense public health measures, like repealing the federal ban on gun research and physician gag laws.

Guns kill more than double the number of Americans compared to AIDS -- more than 33,000 people each year. With such a heavy toll, gun-related deaths are epidemic in America. As with any other epidemic, one would expect the federal government to fund research on the causes and treatments of such a scourge on society -- except with the case of guns. Since 1997, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been explicitly prohibited by Congress from using taxpayer dollars to study something that kills more than 90 people a day. As described in an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the action stems from an irrational fear that saving lives is equivalent to forfeiting essential American values -- the act is reminiscent of 1950s paranoia where a glance askew was labelled as McCarthyism.

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All efforts to have a meaningful impact on gun violence have been dead in the water for nearly two decades. More importantly, it has left the public without any "position" statements -- guidelines that set the rhetoric for public health measures -- to steer the public on safety. Instead, we are left to decide for ourselves, or worse, be swayed by an increasingly emotional debate on gun safety. If you're confused if having more guns makes America safer or more dangerous, you should be. Here's a study showing that guns increase crime, and here's another showing the opposite. It would be nice if the CDC -- with all of their resources -- could separate the noise from the signal for us.

Another counterintuitive and inane bulwark of the pro-gun group is the institution of so-called "gun gag" laws. Florida was the first, and likely not the last, state to seemingly ban physicians from asking their patients if they owned a gun and if that gun was secured and out of reach of children. Although conversation on the topic is permitted if it is "medically relevant," many physicians find the laws so restrictive that they chill any discussion on gun safety. Such seemingly common sense practices -- practices that are routine for physicians -- are now banned as a part of the hysteria that envisions British red coats returning America to the Queen. If my patient finds my questioning not "medically relevant" -- even though it may be, I could be liable under Florida law. The issue is all the more painful for Floridians who are still stunned after the Orlando nightclub massacre.

Accidental injury from guns among children is a serious issue. A 2013 New York Times article estimated gun accidents may be in the "top five or six" leading causes of unintentional deaths among children due to discrepancies in accidental death reporting. Several months ago, Darnal Mundy, a 3-year-old boy in Miami, FL, shot himself in the head while looking for an iPad. He had climbed onto a chair, reached into a drawer, found a gun, instead of an iPad, and shot himself in the head. After being in a coma for several weeks, Darnal survived and was released from the same hospital at which I work. But not all children are so fortunate. One study has estimated that nearly two children die every week from unintentional shootings alone.

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According to the Children's Defense Fund, more than 40% of gun owning households with children store their guns unlocked. Some of these households don't know the basics of gun safety, and they may never know now given the emergence of gun gag laws. Safe storage of guns -- another common sense public health measure -- is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics because it has been shown to be effective at reducing injuries. It is no surprise that the National Rifle Association, one of the most powerful lobbies in Washington, has opposed safe storage laws for guns because it would have rendered homeowners "defenseless and given criminals a clear advantage in home invasions." But unlocked guns are also dangerous, if not more.

Changing public health policy usually begins with solid research. If you are interested in reducing the number of preventable deaths and injuries from guns, you can begin by opposing the nonsensical ban on federal funding of gun violence research. If you are a non-physician, you can show your support here. If you are a physician, you can sign a similar ban here.
Take That Stonehenge!

You have heard - you must have heard - about the prehistoric Stonehenge alignment in England, a mysterious solar clock is it? Or maybe a lunar calendar, or simply a burial ground, we don't know for sure to this day.

Let me tell you about the menhirs and dolmens of good old Brittany, in France. The erected granite stones found in several places in the salted land, with the most prominent ones seen in Carnac, are older than Stonehenge, 4500 BC versus 3000 BC.

The legend wants the giant Carnac stones to be the stuff of enchantment and superstitions. The dense collection of megalithic rocks includes dolmens, menhirs, tumuli, and other alignments. Menhir is a word in Breton language that means long stone ( maen, "stone" and hir, "long.")

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Some 3,000 tall stones were erected 7,000 years ago at Carnac by the pre-Celtic people of Brittany. It is unclear why the story of Saint Cornelius turning pagan soldiers of Rome into stones, or why the wizard Merlin was also possibly responsible for entire Roman legions to be turned to stone, as both of these happenstances would have been no older than the first century.



Merlin, the Beloved Wizard.

For those unfamiliar with Merlin, he was a good wizard in the Arthurian (from King Arthur) legend, and even though he was allegedly born in Britain (UK), he died and was buried in Brittany. Was Merlin a real person? The fog over Brittany will never reveal such a secret, but in the history of that part of France, Merlin was sometimes a holly tree, sometimes a wise man.

The forest of Broceliande in Brittany was often used as the site of magical happenings involving several legendary wizards and fairies, as well as some of King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table working undercover to assure the pursuit of the Holy Grail and the preservation of the peace.

In Arthurian times, Brittany was not yet part of France but was its own kingdom, sometimes even considered a colony of Britain, as many Britons (from England) came to settle there. In French England is also called Grande-Bretagne, which means Great Brittany.

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Druids in Brittany were real and were the medicine men of their time - they roamed the land of pines, roses, and wild lavender, scavenging roots and flowers to make special potions and ointments from the products of the earth.

With the power to heal and to treat, the mystical side is easy to imagine surrounding such creatures. Brittany is very much filled with myths and fairy tales, with a sentiment of knowing that none of it can be the truth, the oral traditions are stronger in Brittany than history books, and the deep forest of the land are very good at hiding facts.

Are They Sacred Stones?

Some of the rock formations clearly look like massive tables, or perhaps just shelters. Were they used for sacrifices? Maybe a goat or two saw their final moment flash in front of their eyes while lying on the cold stone in the darkness of a tragic moonless night.

My grandparents had a small dolmen in their backyard, and they used to tell us, kids, that it was a sacred stone where you could lay one hand and solemnly make a wish of your desire. I have many unfulfilled wishes waiting for that particular stone to make them happen.

If those dolmens were tombs, the acidic soil of Brittany has long eaten away the human bones. The dolmens are usually made of several standing stones, capped by a flat top lying on the "legs". Some were gigantic monuments, such as the Crucuno dolmen, a 40-ton semi-flat table stone of about 25 feet, supported by 5 ft 11 in high pillars.



Smaller stones in perfect alignment remind the eye of a modern cemetery, but the fact that no bones are left makes it impossible to confirm the true meaning of the strange stones. And if they were indeed graves, why only at a few special spots in the province of Brittany, and not all over the country?

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Ireland, England, France, and India all have well-documented such stones, most probably all tombstones. Was it a way to preserve bodies from the harsh elements to have them buried under such heavy stones? But the mystery of how such heavy pieces were moved around and aligned in sometimes perfect symmetry remains an unexplained phenomenon.

The remarkable alignment of Carnac is unique in the World, and even though it might not be as famous as Stonehenge, it remains an eerie beautiful mark of our ancestors' prints on this earth.
It is not everyday that a metropolitan city welcomes a world-class museum with over two hundred million dollars of art in its collection. It also takes a bit extra to impress art savvy Los Angelinos, who are already blessed with the Getty Center, The Walt Disney Concert Hall, LACMA and MOCA. Despite these near impossible odds, the Broad knocked my socks off when it finally opened its doors to visitors in 2015.

I had been waiting in anticipation since the first billboard went up displaying this marvelous piece of architecture. In short, a white cube with cutoff corners for entrances and an elliptical vortex window on the front facade, like an eye observing the surroundings. As soon as preorder tickets were made available, I arrived on the first date available and have since visited the museum a total of three times.

It is not only the outside envelope that is inspiring since the experience of walking between the outside suspended stretched concrete facade and the inner glass core is also strangely fascinating.

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Entering though the triangular cutout at the east side of The Broad is like walking into a cave. From here, an escalator takes one through a tubular hole up into the main hall, which opens into a myriad of impressions.

The first impression is that this museum is somehow different, without being able to articulate exactly why. My brother, Rasmus, a facade engineer in Denmark, noticed that there were no pillars or permanent walls holding up the roof. The roof is a suspended structure, similar to what one might see in a sport stadium.

As with the facade, the roof structure takes the form of a stretched concrete mesh, blurring the transition between ceiling and sky. The meshed walls and ceiling enables visitors to glimpse the surrounding buildings, bringing in the outside world.

Walking along the glass walls, one experiences the reflections of the exhibited art pieces in the glass, providing a hint of what is just around the next corner. In effect, the glass wall is an exhibit within itself.

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The extremely high ceiling coupled with the complete flexible location of temporary modular separating interior walls allows for endless configurations and tailoring for the exhibitions. The inaugural exhibit displayed several works by a wide range of modern artists, providing an excellent introduction and overview to modern art.

What makes The Broad such a unique experience is the modern building, which beautifully contains the exhibits, while providing an ever-changing visitor experience around each corner.
The illusionary landscape at Grand Canyon National Park. Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

There will never be a photograph captured of the Grand Canyon that can adequately describe its depth, breadth, and true beauty. Its canyon walls have stories that we will never hear and beholds a history that our eyes will never see. It is a spectacular illusion - a scene flattened onto an earthly canvas that you could almost reach out and touch. But if you stand and watch long enough, you'll begin to see its vastness as fields of depth open up with every shadow touched by a glimmer of light. It is perhaps for those reasons that it has earned a rare spot among the 7 Natural Wonders of the World, and why everyone should try to visit it at least once in their lives.

The Grand Canyon is about 1-mile deep and 10 miles wide, measuring 277 miles in length, and it holds more than 10,000 years of history in that space (millions if you really want to get technical) ... there are endless ways to experience it depending on what the body and mind is looking for. The Grand Canyon is not "one place," but a desert wilderness with many areas to explore - the North Rim, South Rim, East Rim, and the West; Supai, and Kaibab National Forest - there are different stories to seek out and to create in each of them.

To tackle this article in a logical way, we are breaking it down by what we feel are the best ways to experience life beyond the South Rim viewpoints, ending with our experience - the epic rim-to-river-to-rim hike which challenged us to no end.

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First, let's take a quick look at the two most visited locations:

The North Rim is traveled less often than the South Rim is for a few reasons - on the Utah border, it is more difficult to get to than the busy South Rim is; it maintains a short season (May 15 - October 15) because of its high elevation (8,000 feet); and it offers fewer easy access points to peer into the valley of views than its southern counterpart does. We like to think of this area as Grand Canyon 2.0. If you are only going to visit the Grand Canyon once in your life, you'll probably want to pay a visit to the South Rim first to get a load of the views that drew awareness to the area in the first place. They really are spectacular. If you've already done the South Rim, a visit to the northern side is where you can find solitude in backcountry camping and hiking, and unique sites to photograph such as the Cape Royal viewpoint. We really wanted to explore and share with you this area, but seasonality reared her head again so we had to miss a visit to the Grand Canyon less traveled... this time.



A traveler takes in the beauty of the South Rim. Photo credit: Stefanie Payne

The South Rim is the most well-known area of the park and is passageway to iconic view points such as Yavapai and Mather Points, both of which often serve up to many the first views of the colorful gorge as it is located just a short walk from the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. At night, catch the sunset at Hopi Point and Mojave Point, two of the most popular places in the park to drink in the pink sky. Near to all of them are iconic lodges, some located just steps from the canyon rim, where visitors hang their hats during a visit. The panoramic views in this area seem to stretch on endlessly and visitor amenities abound, including shops, restaurants, free shuttle access to iconic viewpoints, trail access, historical sites, exhibits ... the list goes on and on.

Now, how to get into the canyon...





Stefanie Payne heads down the South Kaibab trail in search of the canyons deepest, darkest secrets... Photo credit: Jonathan Irish

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The Southern Rim-to-River-to-Rim Hike

We knew we wanted to get out of the crowds and into the canyon. We wanted to hike, camp, and embrace the park more intimately so that we could deliver to you something more meaningful than a collection of selfies taken from an overlook. In that spirit, we planned a rim-to-river-to-rim hike--a remedial version of the famed rim-to-rim adventure that starts at the North Rim and winds into the bottom of the canyon before finishing at the top of the South Rim clocking 24 miles (it takes about 3 days factoring in time to enjoy the ride.)



Jonathan Irish is armed with the backcountry camping permit needed to stay at the bottom of the canyon. They will turn you back if you don't have it, regardless of your condition. There are rules people! Photo credit: Stefanie Payne

In observance of our schedule, we opted a 17-mile route--7 miles down the South Kaibab Trail; 10 miles up the Bright Angel Trail; and a night of camping on the shores of the Colorado River in between at the Bright Angel Campground. If camping isn't your jam, there is a lodge just steps from the campground called Phantom Ranch. It welcomes visitors for stays after long days in proper dwellings--complete with happy hour, decadent meals prepared by others, and hot showers. True to form, we opted instead for flask whisky, dehydrated dinners, and a continuation of filth that we can't seem to scrub clean this year as we forge this wild adventure. The area near Phantom Ranch and the Bright Angel Campground is where base-canyon national park rangers live (what a crazy job they have), and where they give regular nightly talks on topics ranging from geology to Teddy Roosevelt (the latter of which we missed because we were fast asleep by 7:30pm when it started.)

The hike itself is a monster. You are descending/ascending 4,000 feet on either side of it, carrying at least some amount of gear. We hired mule service to transport our backpacking equipment because we didn't know if we could carry it and we didn't want to try. We made the right choice. Even in the spring it was hot out there (cannot imagine doing this hike during the desert summer) and there are no elevators going down or up. Once you make the personal commitment to hike this trail, you know that your body is your only vehicle, and that is a daunting frame of mind to be in. In hindsight, this was one of the greatest backpacks of both of our lives. It was challenging, rewarding, and along a path to the Colorado River where one can see the Grand Canyon unlike any other way--from inside of it.

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Jonathan Irish captures Stefanie Payne inside a magical moment at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

Note: Travelers assume all risk when braving hikes like this, and/or any excursion off the beaten path. We are not competitive athletes, but we are experienced hikers. Train your body, get your gear, talk to the park staff in advance, and as always when exploring our national parks--your safety is your own responsibility.



Travelers in a mule team descend the Bright Angel Trail as we make our way up... Photo credit: Stefanie Payne

Mule ride from the South Rim to the Phantom Ranch

Do you remember the Brady Bunch adventure when Mike, Cindy and the clan ventured down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon by mule? This is an actual thing! Not until we were on the trail part way down that a mule caravan of travelers bypassed us. As they towered above peaks while learning from their guides, it was clear that this is a really fun way to venture to the bottom of the canyon without the commitment or exertion of hiking there.

Heli flight into the Canyon

Did you know that you can get a birds-eye view of the Grand Canyon while flying in by heli? Papillon Aerial Adventures offers day trips into the canyon with pick up points in the Grand Canyon, Phoenix, Sedona, and Las Vegas. The unique vantage point upon entering has to be one of the most wonderful ways to get a load of the landscape and to capture one-of-a-kind photo ops. If you've ever asked yourself, "how much I can see in one day?" ...a lot. One can see and do a whole lot. Oh god, we wanted to do this! Unfortunately timing interfered...

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And finally...

Rafting the Colorado River

This is one for the lifelong bucket list: rafting the length of the Colorado River, a pursuit that we feel deserves 10-15 days of being purely wired-out and tied-in to really do right. That being said, we knew we wouldn't do any portion of that adventure this year. When it is time, there are several well-known independent operators working the circuit and we can't wait to hop on with any of them. :)
Senator McCain's argument boils down to the following: President Obama, by removing US combat troops from Iraq and not militarily intervening in the Syrian civil war, is responsible for the rise of ISIS, and thus the carnage in Orlando.



Let's start with some simple fact checking. The departure of American military forces from Iraq was negotiated under the Bush Administration. When President Obama came to office, having soundly defeated Senator McCain (who famously promised to keep US troops in Iraq for 100 years), Obama actually sought to negotiate a new Status of Forces Agreement with Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki that would allow as many as 10,000 US troops to stay in Iraq. The Iraqis refused. After a decade of occupation, there was no political will or support for Iraqi leaders to keep thousands of American soldiers on the streets of Iraq, and so no agreement could be reached.



Senator McCain also believes that Obama's refusal to violently overthrow Syria's government -- the way we had a decade earlier in Iraq -- led to the shooting at Pulse. Here, Senator McCain is on stronger footing inasmuch as President Obama has in fact refused to take direct military action against Bashar al Assad and to engage in regime change in Syria. But while Daesh (also referred to as ISIS or ISIL) undoubtedly gained power in the chaos of Syria's civil war, it owes its origins to the invasion of Iraq, of which, lest we forget, Senator McCain championed.



Daesh emerged from al-Qaeda in Iraq, which arose during the Sunni opposition to the Iraq War. It's well remembered that, despite the lies of the Bush Administration, there was no al-Qaeda presence in Iraq prior to the US invasion. That disastrous war of choice brought al-Qaeda to Iraq, which subsequently spawned Daesh. As unpleasant as that recent history is, Senator McCain cannot be forgiven for ignoring the reality of the origins of the violent extremism he now pins on Obama's shoulders. Daesh's ranks are filled with those indoctrinated with hatred fueled in part by the torture of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay, the dark reality of military occupation, and the brutal repression of Sunnis at the hands of the Maliki and Assad regimes, two governments openly, substantively, and recently supported by America.



If one were feeling generous, you might allow McCain a 'half-truth' for claiming that America's slow response to the horrors of the Syrian revolution turned civil war. But the reality is that Sen. McCain has openly advocated for policies that had little chance to improve the situation and may have made things even worse. Let's set aside the fact that Daesh drives American tanks and fires American guns that they looted from the $25 billion army American taxpayers built in Iraq. Sen. McCain's argument essentially boils down to 'Obama should have attacked the Assad regime and done more to arm and train Syrian rebels.'



The truth is that America has spent hundreds of millions of dollars arming and training Syria's various rebels. In some cases, those forces have handed their guns over to al-Qaeda affiliates, while others have turned their guns on other rebel groups that America has also armed and trained. Sen. McCain's argument boils down to 'We should have done more of this and sooner.' Not exactly compelling.



The core of Senator McCain's argument is that we should have done more to violently overthrow the Assad regime. In particular, he is likely amongst those who believe President Obama failed when he did not bomb Assad following the alleged use of chemical weapons in 2013. Again, history tells a reality at odds with McCain's wishes. Having been abandoned by our allies, including the British who announced they wanted no part in a military attack on Assad, President Obama turned to Congress to authorize military action against Assad. McCain was, of course, one of the loudest supporters, even earning private meetings at the White House to discuss the plans with the President.



But here's the thing, we live in a democracy and the American public, when asked their opinion, responded with a resounding and unequivocal 'hell no' to the planned war. Congress was inundated with calls 100 to 1 against bombing Syria, and, faced with such overwhelming opposition, was set to reject the requested war authorization. Confronted with this reality, President Obama dispatched Secretary of State Kerry to make a deal with Russia. In an overlooked diplomatic masterpiece, Assad was forced by his Russian backers to not only acknowledge a chemical weapons stockpile he had always denied, but to hand it over to international organizations to destroy. Within months, that's exactly what happened.



However one feels about America's policy towards Syria, we should all agree that the carnage and death in Syria would be far, far worse if Syria's chemical weapons had remained in Assad's hands, or worse, fallen into Daesh's hands as they almost assuredly would have done as they overran numerous previous chemical weapons storehouses not long after the weapons were removed. Had the Obama administration listened to Senator McCain and intervened militarily, Daesh would have likely held and deployed major stockpiles of chemical weapons by now.



Senator McCain is wrong in his belief that we should have overthrown Assad through military force. It is hard to look at the carnage and bloodshed in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan today and see any basis for thinking that this argument holds any merit. It is far more likely that a US military intervention would have continued to fuel the same instability we saw in Iraq where Daesh was created or in Libya and Afghanistan, where it is gaining strength today. Sen. McCain's own arguments fail to pass a basic bar of common sense, and history has shown them to be dangerously at odds with reality.



This is not to say America should not be doing more to stop the violence in Syria, including holding Assad responsible for horrific war crimes. We can and we should, but we have options for doing so that go beyond airstrikes and ground troops.



The reality though is that Sen. McCain is allowed to continue spilling lies and false history like this because of a simple fact, we lack accountability. Ironically, while Sen. McCain wants to hold President Obama accountable for his policies, it is an accounting of the consequences of McCain's own preferred policies that is truly needed if we want to understand America's disastrous failures in the Middle East. If John McCain wants to hold someone accountable, he should look in the mirror.



A quarter century of US military intervention in Iraq, supported by Senator McCain, has brought a failed state, brutal sectarian violence, and the fuel for a global violent insurgency. The core of McCain's constant calls for more deployments is his belief that American troops can overcome centuries of hostility and sectarian conflict. Never does McCain explain how 10,000 troops in Iraq would have accomplished what 100,000 failed to do between 2003 and 2011. Our troops are perhaps the most amazing fighting force in history, but they're not magical, and they cannot win wars that have no military solution.



The simple reality is that we cannot bomb our way to peace in the Middle East, no matter what John McCain thinks. And, until the Senator from Arizona wants to apologize for the disastrous consequences of the policies he advocated, he can kindly shut up. It would be disgusting and untrue to say that Senator McCain is directly responsible for the actions of a deranged young man who walked into a gay nightclub in Orlando with death in his heart. But if he wants to talk about who is responsible for the violence and chaos of the Middle East, let's have that debate.
Recently, I went to a restaurant to meet a friend. When I arrived he was in a deep and thoughtful conversation with a young hostess. They were talking intensely about the paradox of California's new smoking law. Apparently, the newly passed law now considers individuals under the age of 21 as minors and precludes them from purchasing and/or smoking tobacco and/or using vapor-smoking devices.

Growing up in America there is a huge focus on, what I now know to be, dysfunctional rights of passage. Much of this, from my research, is created and promoted through music, film, TV, magazines and advertising narratives. These story lines are designed to shape our worldview and the mythology by which the public, you and I, are trained to establish our individual and collective self-image. Noam Chomsky, famed smartest man on the planet from MIT, calls all of this "manufactured consent."

Famed TV and film actors once and still portray the style of being cool, hip and looking sophisticated, intelligent and/or sexy when they smoke cigarettes. So as a result, young people smoke. Drinking a beer or hard liquor is portrayed at the center of fun and laughter were one gets loose and is more likely to pick up someone from the opposite sex. So, young people and adults drink. Gun wielding actors, especially those in crime and war films are modeled as macho, people who have the power (through the gun) to do good, defeat our enemies or disable/kill people who are acting in a life threatening way towards a person being victimized. So as a result, young people are drawn to play with toy guns. Unconscious parents enable them to do. Later, the familiarized grip of the toy gun morphes into a desire to hold and use the real thing. Guns are now used to hunt and kill defenseless animals. Enlisted military personal use them to hunt and kill people, whom our propaganda machine have told us, are bad and deserving of death.

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The promoted narratives of these dysfunctional rights of passage never seemed to bring a focus to the downsides of getting lung cancer from smoking, injuring or killing yourself or another as a result of driving while being intoxicated, or killing yourself or others as a result of mishandling a gun or unconsciously taking the life of another person as a soldier. Yes, these realities do indeed occur beyond an attractively engineered narrative that is designed to keep us spiritually asleep and on the treadmill of consumerism.

Yes, these realities and tragedies could serve as a forewarning, yet most of the time, it doesn't. Most of us know someone who died of lung cancer and yet, we continue to smoke. Yes, most of us know of someone who has been seriously injured, died or killed someone else while under the influence and yet, we continue to drink and drive. Most of us know someone who has been killed by a gun or taken the life of an animal or another person with one and yet, as individuals and in society we continue to keep and use guns.

To bring this close to home, I recently learned of a teenage racing friend, who was now in his 50's, had died after a bullet discharged while he was in the process of dislodging it from the gun. Yes, all of these things do happen, and with regularly and yet, we continue to pursue the narrative of glamor sold to us by the media machine rather than consider the downside of tragedy that can likely occur. It is perhaps safe to say that those who play this Russian Roulette with life feel lucky or invincible against the odds that they don't think will happen to them. Indeed, we pray that it doesn't.

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Now as for myself, I rarely drink and when I do I have glass of beer or wine. Having one to many, at my age and with my responsibilities is a life-crushing / altering event that I'm not prepared to risk, on any level. I did, admittedly, in my early 20's and on a rare occasion, probably have one to many drinks and drove as a result, irresponsibly. Lucky, I never had a crash, hurt anyone or got a DUI.

I'm not a smoker, and really never, have been. I did, admittedly, as a young teen puff (not inhale - it made me cough) on cigarettes because I thought it looked cool. My Dad saw me once doing this and later never said anything about it to me. I reflected about this and because of my respect for my Father I had the space to think 'Cigarettes can never make me be cool. Coolness comes from inside.' Now, I'm actually allergic to cigarette smoke and fearlessly ask people smoking near me, to move.

I'm not a hunter and was turned off by killing anything at a very early age and as a result of shooting a blue bird with my bee bee gun. I painfully watched it die after I had attempted to save it from my lack of good judgment and cruelty. Fortunately, I missed the Vietnam war draft, because of my young age, and as a result never had to fire a gun at another human being.

Now, back to the conversation with the young and thoughtful restaurant hostess. Though I have an occasional drink, I also don't condone this. I definitely don't smoke and don't condone this. I don't use a gun to hunt/kill and/or protect myself and also don't condone this. However, with all this said there here is a bigger picture at hand that stinks of moral hypocrisy. Simply stated, the US government encourages and allows men and women to enlist in the military once they turn 18. Then, they are de facto authorized and chartered by the US Military, voting Politicians and our society at large to kill and take another persons life in the name of war. So, let me get this right, at age eighteen you are responsible enough to kill and take another persons life and yet not, at this same age, someone who is not responsible enough to smoke and/or drink. Does this sound a little crazy?

Franky, I'm philosophically and intellectually befuddled by the blatant hypocrisy and mind numbing stupidity of elected officials and/or our society at large who have voted to mandate that a person who has just turned 18 has the spiritual, intellectual, philosophical and moral discernment to know when and under what circumstance that they can take another persons life. Again, really, a person whose 18 (or any age for this matter) really has the wisdom to kill a person that they know nothing about and/or then stand responsible for the horrific daisy chain of events that follow the heartbreak and suffering for all who have loved this person throughout their life.

History and our madness continues to repeat itself when our 18 year and older US soldiers failed to have the discernment to see through the propagandized lie that lead them to murder some 1.5 million Iraqi people. These people, who had absolutely nothing to do with the 9/11 event were actually victimized by the lie of the propaganda machine that lead us to war. And, yes, I could go on and on about this situation and other similar US lead war agendas however, this is not the point.

The point to the craziness is this: We grant God-like (create life take life) permission to an 18 year old to kill and take the soul of another person and yet, we won't, until this person turns the age of 21, authorize them to drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes and/or use vapor devices. Come on !!! This is a totally irrational and insane level of thinking. Are you with me on this?

Well, if you are, here is what I suggest we establish as a mandate for our elected officials and/or society who believe in this irrational thinking and have voted for the 21 year of age law that designates adult freedoms and liberties as a right of passage.



I propose we implement a special law that makes it a contractual imperative for any and all Board members, stockholders and/or executive team members of any and all companies who manufacture and distribute any part, element or system of military weaponry including: wiring harnesses, nuts/bolts/screws/rivets, circuit boards, computer systems and software, design elements, fabricated enclosures, fuel, oil/lubricants, tires, chassis, bullets, bombs, missiles, trucks, tanks, planes, ships etc. or service thereto, and/or any member of the US Government who votes to go to war, under any circumstances, to be forever required to indenture, enroll and enlist their children and grandchildren into one of the US military branches for first strike and front line battlefield engagement operations.

Maybe with this contractual imperative in place decision making adults will step back, understand and embody the wise teachings of the Native American people who require, before entering the sweat lodge of spiritual transformation, to say the prayerful words of "Let Nothing Be Done to Harm the Children." Perhaps this contract will compel each of us, before we ever consider going to war, to have us search for what the Jesus figure said, "the kingdom of heaven which dwells within." Perhaps with this place found, and as parents, we will better model only empowering rights of passage to our children...Ones, that inspire only loving wisdom and healthy habits that honor our divine body temples. After all, whether we realize it or not, our children view parents in the light of being their God creators. Perhaps with this knowledge of the heart, we will insightfully follow the true meaning of the Jesus figure quote when he stated, "love our/thy our neighbors as ourselves." Yes, in truth, we are not able to love another until we are first able to hold love and compassion for ourselves.

When each of us are able to choose and express our true and authentic state of BEING, I believe that our individual and collective cultural attractions toward dysfunctional rights of passage will dissolve and fall away. In this true state of BEING, we will not nor ever see 'others' as enemies (meaning 'Not Friend"), we will only know them as our friends.


Unidentified Russian master, Miniature with a portrait of Catherine the Great, 1765-70,  State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg

Though she preferred posterity to be her judge, Catherine II acquired the moniker 'Great' during her remarkable 34-year run as empress. Under her watch, Russia became a global superpower and St. Petersburg a sophisticated cultural capital. "Catherine, the Greatest. Self-polished Diamond of the Hermitage" at the Hermitage Amsterdam explores how a teenage bride from Germany seized the Russian throne and reinvented herself as Europe's most powerful ruler (June 18 to January 15, 2017).

Organized thematically, the exhibition traces Catherine's extraordinary life -- from her eighteen years as Grand Duchess and 1762 palace coup to her political savvy, foreign conquests, and consuming passion for art. Many of the show's 300 objects are packed with personal and political meaning, like the silk dress Catherine designed after a regimental uniform and a cobalt snuffbox with gold bees flying from a diamond beehive, representing her formidable work ethic.



Snuffbox with the Device Useful, St Petersburg, Johann Gotlieb Scharff, 1780  State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg

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A portrait gallery introduces us to the colorful cast of supporting actors, starting with her parents, her imbecilic husband Peter III, his jewelry-loving aunt Empress Elizabeth, and Catherine's sons. We also meet Catherine's "favorites" like Stanisas August Poniatowski, her puppet King of Poland, and military strategist Gregory Potemkin, who she may have secretly married. But the most telling portraits are those Catherine commissioned of herself to fashion an enlightened image.



Vigilius Eriksen, Portrait of Catherine II in Front of a Mirror, c. 1763 Oil on canvas  State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg

In Vigilius Eriksen's Portrait of Catherine II in Front of a Mirror, a charming Catherine stands before us in a silver embroidered dress, head tilted, holding a fan. In contrast, her reflection in the mirror captures the steely ruler who will wage war with the Turks, annex the Crimea, and partition Poland out of existence. Catherine's charming public persona lulled rivals into a false sense of security. As Prussia's Frederick the Great observed: "She's a living reproof to all those drowsy monarchs on their thrones who have no comprehension of the plans she is executing."

As part of her cultural campaign, Catherine went on a three-decade building spree. She embraced neoclassicism, the new design style inspired by antiquity. A series of aquatints, engravings, and drawings of ruins by France's Charles-Louis Clerisseau give us a sense of her obsession with architecture, which she described as "a devilish affair." Catherine also bought art by the boatload. With help from connoisseurs like French philosophe Denis Diderot and Russian diplomat Dmitry Golitsyn, she snagged entire picture galleries and commissioned works from Europe's leading artists. A sampling from her thousands of paintings and drawings are on display, including paintings by Anthony Van Dyck, David Teniers the Younger and Jean-Baptiste Greuze, and drawings by Paolo Veronese, Nicolas Poussin, and Francois Boucher. Combining energy and passion with a seemingly unlimited budget, Catherine went from a self-described "glutton" for art to the highly knowledgeable founder of the Hermitage Museum.

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Catherine lavished many of her lovers with art. Examples of her largesse include seven pieces from the Sevres Cameo Service she ordered for Gregory Potemkin. It took the illustrious French porcelain maker eight redesigns before the Empress finally signed off. Presented with the astronomical bill, equivalent to about $40 million today, Catherine negotiated an installment plan. Also on view is part of Catherine's gift to her beloved Alexander Lanskoy -- 15 pieces from an elaborate table decoration designed by Roman goldsmith Luigi Valadier for Baron de Breteuil. The neoclassical ensemble featured miniature Roman buildings and monuments in gilded bronze, marble, agate, and other gemstones.

Occasionally, Catherine's favorites reciprocated with their own gifts. As a thank you for his stunning porcelain service, Potemkin gave Catherine an angora cat she called "he of the velvety paws" and "the cat of all cats." Dashing Alexander Dmitriev-Mamonov caught Catherine's "gem disease" and carved her portrait in agate as Minerva, goddess of war and art. Catherine described her obsession with carved gems a "species of gluttony that spreads like scabies." By the end of her reign, she'd amassed a staggering 10,000 cameos and intaglios. Several dozen are on view, including Renaissance sardonyx portraits of Philip II of Spain and England's Elizabeth I. Pieces from the Berlin Dessert service, a diplomatic gift from Frederick the Great, feature scenes from the Russo-Turkish War.



Cameo showing Catherine the Great as Minerva, Alexander Dmitriev-Mamonov, 1786-89 (?)  State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg

Catherine spared no expense as she turned Russia's victories against the Ottoman Empire into an art genre, commissioning sculptures, paintings, and decorative works. To add authenticity to Jacob Hackert's Destruction of the Turkish Fleet at the Bay of Chesme, the naval battle was recreated by blowing up an old Russian frigate loaded with gunpowder in Livorno harbor. Also on view are an etching and a painting of Catherine's most successful propaganda project - the equestrian statue of her grandfather-in-law and role model Peter the Great. Unveiled in St. Petersburg for the centenary of Peter's coronation and twentieth anniversary of Catherine's accession, the tsar and his rearing horse stand atop a huge plinth bearing the inscription "To Peter I from Catherine II."

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To some observers, it was Catherine the Great who stole the show. "I could not avoid during this ceremony," wrote England's envoy to Russia, "reflecting on how impossible it was that any successor of Her Imperial Majesty, who might...erect a statue in commemoration of Her great Actions, ever should be so much superior to Her, as she Herself is superior to Peter the Great, both in the art of governing, and in that of making Her People respected and happy."

For more information, visit http://www.hermitage.nl/en/tentoonstellingen/catherine_the_great/index.htm


Telecommunications clearly facilitate economic growth and participation. As such, countries should care about competitive outcomes in this sector. When competition works it can result in expanded services and lower prices, and it can stimulate innovation.

The South African record of telecommunications policy and regulation has been poor. Regulations that would allow competitors to access essential infrastructure have been part of government policy since 2007. But they have not yet been implemented. Lengthy delays in digital migration have also prevented telecommunications service providers from rolling out faster broadband. These regulations have disadvantaged competitors and benefited larger incumbents.

Semi-private telecoms company Telkom was entrusted to invest in the country's telecoms sector and ensure expanded access. Instead, it undermined entrepreneurial activity across a range of services.

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South Africa has made some headway in improving competition, but there is still a long way to go. While the prices for both voice and broadband have come down, the "cost to communicate" is still high relative to other African countries.

For example, in 2015, South Africa's lowest "off-net" (calls between networks) and "on-net" (calls on the same network) mobile voice prices were still 700% and 300% more expensive than Kenya's.

A de facto fixed-line monopoly

Telkom was the fixed-line monopolist in South Africa until managed liberalisation took place from the mid-1990s. As part of this Telkom was partially privatised and Neotel was licensed as the second network operator in 2005.

Neotel was initially supposed to acquire state-owned network infrastructure belonging to Transnet and national power utility Eskom. This would give the company a critical backbone on which to roll out fixed-line broadband. Instead, government belatedly decided to create a state-owned entity, Broadband Infraco, to own and operate the assets. This meant Neotel had to set up a network from scratch. In 2013, it had just 6,500km of fibre to Telkom's 105,000km.

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Downstream competition to Telkom was enabled by the licensing of value-added network services providers. But they were reliant on Telkom's fixed-line infrastructure to provide services - and Telkom was also competing downstream.

Anticipating the end of its upstream monopoly once Neotel was licensed, Telkom used its control of essential upstream input to exclude downstream competition. It did this through a "margin squeeze", charging high prices for the essential inputs the value-added network services providers required.

This was the basis for two findings of anticompetitive conduct against Telkom by the competition authorities, resulting in two large fines and behavioural remedies.

The mobile market

The first movers in mobile telecommunications, Vodacom and MTN, were allowed to establish a strong duopoly. The companies were licensed in 1993 and followed, much later, by challenger firms Cell C in 2001 and Telkom Mobile in 2010.

Vodacom and MTN constructed extensive networks and set prices in a relatively weak regulatory environment. They continue to reap the benefits of this, and challenger firms have struggled to grow their market share. The challenger firms - including Neotel, Cell C and Telkom Mobile - were expected to compete with the incumbents while the playing field was far from level.

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On the other hand, interventions to introduce competition have yielded positive outcomes. After the decision by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) to cut mobile termination rates in 2011, the challenger operators (Cell C and Telkom Mobile) were better able to compete with incumbent operators.

The decision led to a R1.09 reduction of the termination rate. Vodacom passed 81% of this reduction to its consumers, while MTN passed on 91%. The price cuts were driven by the challenger operators and the incumbents lowered prices to meet challengers' offerings.

The total consumer savings generated for MTN and Vodacom's customers as a result of the decision amounted to R47.2 billion between 2010 and 2015. The two companies' call volumes also increased at a compound annual growth rate of 18% over the same period. This shows what was gained through intervention and, conversely, the cost of not having facilitated effective competition sooner.

Regulating for competition

The decision by ICASA to introduce asymmetry and reduce the termination rates can be described as regulating "for competition" by creating a more level playing field. This is important, as the telecommunications industry has inherent characteristics that raise barriers to entry, such as network effects, which make it difficult for entrants to reach scale.

Incumbent firms can pursue strategies to take advantage of scale effects. For example, they provide substantial discounts for "on-net" calls and charge high premiums for "off-net" calls. From the customer's perspective it is rational to belong to the larger network to receive more discounted calls. This makes it difficult for challenger networks to attract new customers.

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These discounts are particularly problematic for challenger firms if the effective prices charged by larger networks are lower than mobile termination rates. Customers on the smaller, challenger networks are more likely to call to larger networks than the other way around. So challenger networks will always incur greater termination costs.

Internet service providers

The positive impact of competition has not been limited to the mobile sector. When Seacom entered the market for undersea cables in 2009 the cost of bandwidth for typical internet service providers fell by 35%. Prior to Seacom's entry the only cable available was Telkom's SAT-3 cable.

Another example is the 87% reduction in the price of transmission over long-distance fibre between Bloemfontein and Johannesburg between 2013 and 2014. This was due to the construction of two open-access fibre links by Fibre Co and the NLD Consortium.

The recent entry of a number of fibre-optic broadband providers offering open-access networks has also stimulated competition and resulted in significant price reductions.

In response, Telkom's wholesale network, OpenServe, recently announced price reductions for wholesale fixed-line access of up to 57% through its IP Connect product.

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The impact of entry in these examples gives an indication of what is at stake if entrants are blocked or undermined. The price of voice communication has come down, but the next challenge for South Africa will be meeting SA Connect targets by ensuring universal access to broadband at affordable prices.

What can be done to facilitate competition?

Regulating for competition

There is a need to change the balance of regulation to favour rivals. This includes balancing effective services competition by mobile virtual network operators with a fair return on infrastructure for mobile network operators.

The "on-net"/"off-net" price discrimination case requires swift and thorough investigation by the competition authorities.

Spectrum should be assigned in a timely manner through transparent auction processes that don't disadvantage new entrants.

Value-added network services companies should be given access to Telkom's "last-mile" infrastructure (the most expensive network layer). This will remove their reliance on their main rival. Access should also be granted to Telkom's poles and ducts on reasonable terms.

Infrastructure sharing should be regulated more effectively. TV white spaces spectrum can be allocated to fixed-wireless providers to allow for more reliable services and better competition.

Facilitating broadband rollout

Support competition rather than a national champion for broadband roll-out.

Finalise the rapid deployment guidelines to facilitate "rights of way" applications for roll-out.

Aggregate demand from government offices, clinics and police stations so government can be an anchor tenant in rural areas and procure services through a competitive tender process.

The article draws on CCRED research on barriers to entry in the telecommunications sector, funded by the National Treasury.

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Librarian helping students with research in school library

A recent international study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found no positive evidence of impact of educational technology on student performance.

It did not find any significant improvement in reading, math or science in countries that heavily invested in technology to improve student achievement. In fact, the report found that technology perhaps even widened the achievement gaps.

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Does this mean we should abandon attempts to integrate technology in schools?

We are researchers of technology and learning in K-12 environments, and our research suggests this would be shortsighted.

Impact of one-to-one laptop programs

For the last 10 years, our research team has been investigating what are called "one-to-one" programs, where all the students in a classroom, grade, school or district are provided laptop computers for use throughout the school day, and often at home, in different school districts across the United States.

The largest one-to-one laptop program in the world is OLPC (One Laptop per Child), which mainly targets developing countries, with the mission "to create educational opportunities for the world's poorest children." In the United States, the Maine Learning Technology Initiative (MLTI) launched a one-to-one laptop initiative in fall 2002, which made Maine the first state to use technology to transform teaching and learning in classrooms statewide. Later, these programs were extended to other school districts as well.

In addition to our own extensive observations, we conducted a synthesis of the results of 96 published global studies on these programs in K-12 schools during 2001-2015. Among them, 10 rigorously designed studies, mostly from the U.S., were included, to examine the relationship between these programs and academic achievement. We found significant benefits.

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We found students' test scores in science, writing, math and English language arts improved significantly.

And the benefits were not limited to test scores.

We found students with laptops wrote more frequently across a wider variety of genres. They also received more feedback on their writing. In addition, we found they edited and revised their papers more often, drew on a wider range of resources to write, and published or shared their work with others more often.

Student surveys, teacher interviews and classroom observations in these studies revealed that students with access to laptops worked more autonomously and gained experience in project-based learning. This allowed them to synthesize and critically apply knowledge.

For example, researcher Chrystalla Mouza found that elementary school students with access to laptops were able to create electronic storybooks and publish reports in language arts classrooms.

One-to-one laptop programs also enhanced students' 21st-century skills - skills needed in an information age - such as the ability to locate and use internet resources. Students also improved their collaborative learning skills - that is, they were more capable of working collaboratively with others.

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Research led by Deborah L. Lowther at University of Memphis found that when students were given a problem and related answer to consider, students with laptops exhibited higher problem-solving skills than those in the comparison group.

A closer look at the OECD report also reveals that students in the United States performed particularly well on technology-based tasks such as online navigation, digital reading and using computers to solve math problems.

Can laptop use reduce educational gap?

However, our study did not find firm evidence on whether these one-to-one laptop programs helped lessen the academic gap between academically advantaged and disadvantaged students.

Earlier studies have found that laptop programs could help shorten the achievement gap between low-income students and their peers. We did not find such positive evidence in all programs.

One possible explanation is that difficulty in using technology sometimes places an extra load on already challenged students. In contrast, wealthier students are usually more tech-savvy so they can maximize the benefits of using computers to support learning.

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Not all laptop programs are effective

One issue here is that not all programs are successful. In our study, although most programs were successful, there were some stark failures as well.

These tended to be in school districts that treated computers like magical devices that would solve educational problems merely through their distribution, without sufficient planning on how they could best be deployed to improve learning.

Some of these schools, after observing no progress with laptops, decided to phase them out. For example, Liverpool Central School District, a public school district in a suburban community near Syracuse, New York, decided to drop the laptop program from fall 2007.

A school district in Philadelphia had to abandon its program after being sued over its use of laptop webcams to capture pictures of students at home. The district claimed it was an effort to track down missing laptops.

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For schools and classrooms that are already poorly organized, merely having access to a computer connected to the internet will not improve learning. However, for classrooms that focus on improving students' writing, analysis, research, problem solving and critical thinking, those same internet-connected computers could be invaluable tools.

Technology to train future citizens

Perhaps we could learn a lesson from the business world. When computers were first introduced into corporations, it took a number of years to increase productivity.

Today it is hard to imagine any field of commerce or knowledge production succeeding while shunning computers.

Well-organized programs that make individual computers available to students are already getting excellent test score results. Such programs are critical for helping students develop necessary skills for the future. These programs deserve our support.
By Peter Michel, Harvard Business School Class of 2017 & Harbus Contributing Writer

This Thursday (June 23rd), the British people will vote in a historic national referendum and will answer the following question; "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave?"

Over the recent weeks, hype for the referendum has crescendoed, and the vote is now seen to have more significance and a higher turnout than any recent UK General Election. Whilst a seemingly straightforward question, if the British people vote to exit the EU (dubbed "Brexit"), historians and politicians alike will reflect on this pivotal moment in the economics and geopolitics of both the UK and EU for decades to come.

The political campaigning to date has been atrocious. The "Remain" campaign (led by David Cameron, and supported by most major political parties, international bodies and businesses), has focused on scaremongering, by continuing to articulate the exaggerated dooms-day scenario of a Brexit (dubbed "Project Fear"). Conversely, the "Leave" campaign (led by Boris Johnson, and supported by some Conservatives and UKIP), has stooped to sickening lows with its depiction of immigrants as the source of all Britain's problems. Leave has also intentionally misled the public about the costs of EU membership. With only days to go, the outcome is highly uncertain - bookies continue to give Remain the edge, but polls now favor Leave.

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The Remain camp have decisively won the economic argument. Nine out of ten British economists, as well as the IMF and OECD, think a Brexit would be economically damaging. Moreover, recent GBP lows and combined with the 100 billion knocked off the FTSE 100 in a matter of days have all but validated the post Brexit recession argument. Nevertheless, Remain continue to lose ground as multitudes of Britons attribute low value to economics. What resonates with them is a far more emotive, social and inherently nationalistic argument. In their view, the EU has encroached on national sovereignty, damaged traditional British industries and worst of all, accelerated UK immigration, eroding the English identity. Demographic studies show that the elderly, lower educated and working class are more disposed to support Brexit because they do not consider themselves European. These increasingly insular little Englanders have been most disenfranchised by the EU and may prove a silent majority as they yearn for the old days of British society.

The economic and social debate will continue to intensify into the 11th hour, but realistically, it is uncertain how this unprecedented exit will impact the UK. In our globalized 21st century marked by the increased mobility of goods and people, it is fair to assume that a Brexit will neither stem long-term economic growth, nor solve the inherent challenges of increasing immigration. In my opinion, what is vastly more compelling is the geopolitical lens: the geopolitical fallout and impact on Britain's long-term legacy and role.

In 1950, a parliamentary candidate named Margaret Thatcher (aged just 24) made a big promise. She complained the UK had become weak and too hesitant to exercise its international might. She stated, it was "time to make Great Britain Great Again."

I'd like to pose the following question: 66 years later, is Great Britain still Great?

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The UK, a spirited nation that until 1997 ruled an empire, has unquestionably had a precipitous decline geopolitically. While the UK retains a seat at the top table (G7, UN Security Council, NATO), it punches above its weight with a bigger voice and role than its global position merits. The fact is, Britain is a small island on the fringe of Europe with limited natural resources, the world's 6th largest economy and 9th strongest military.

In 2001, Tony Blair stated "if [Britain is] no longer a super-power, then [it is] at least a force for good in the world". If that is still the case, then why did the UK shy away from debt issues with Greece, avoid substantive intervention with ISIS in Syria and leave Ukraine negotiations with Putin to Germany? The answer it seems is the increasingly parochial nature of the British people - foreign policy barely surfaced during the 2015 General Election agenda. If the UK doesn't play its part, it will lose its entire geopolitical pull. So I ask, at what point will its legacy no longer warrant its international stature?

If Britain's relevance dictates that Britain retains its seat at the table, then let us consider a Brexit scenario. The world has changed since European unification began - in a world dictated by large trading blocs, international bodies and political allegiances, where would a newly independent UK sit?

Interestingly, the UK has long been valuable as the lynchpin of NATO - tying North America closely to Europe. By willingly abdicating its position in the EU, the UK risks not only losing political influence within the EU, but also risks alienating its European allies. If we establish that the UK no longer has the might to remain America's political wingman nor has the political sway in Europe, then how can the nation remain the NATO lynchpin? More importantly, what value do they provide the US in the special relationship? Departing the EU could accelerate the diminution of Britain's world stature and as the Brexit domino falls, it could start a chain of events forever pivoting Britain's path.

One specific chain worthy of note is the issue of Scottish Independence. In the 2014 Scottish Referendum, the nationalists lost out on independence from the UK by only a 5% swing vote. Since then, there has been an enormous wave of nationalism, and the Scottish National Party led by Nicola Sturgeon won 56 of 59 seats (up from 6) in the 2015 General Election. The Scottish (as higher beneficiaries of the EU) are widely seen to be more supportive of the EU. Mrs. Sturgeon has reiterated that if the Scottish vote to remain in the EU, but the UK gains a Brexit majority, this would count as a "material change of circumstance" with Scotland's relationship with the rest of the UK, warranting a new Scottish independence vote. Second time round, Scotland will surely leave. Needless to say, breaking the 1707 Articles of Union (the founding of the UK) will have long and material impacts on Britain, dwindling its economy, military and nuclear deterrent.

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Finally, a Brexit threatens the geopolitics and security of contemporary Europe. The EU was established to align a continent stricken by war for centuries. However, this precarious alignment (dubbed the "European Project") may face unravel in the case of EU-exit contagion. The nationalistic sentiment aforementioned is not a condition exclusive to the UK. Across Europe there has been a surge in popularity for radical far-right and anti-EU parties. In fact, a 2016 Pew Research Center study has shown that 47% of Europeans are negative towards the EU. With existing cries in France, Netherlands and even Germany for further separations from the EU, a Brexit could pave the way for other nations to follow suit. Resulting instability would damage Europe as it already faces unprecedented challenges; refugee crisis, Eurozone weakness and ISIS threats. To avoid this end, leaders of the EU will deter other defectors by making a Brexit as economically and politically painful as possible.

Suffice to say, those voting to schism may get more than they bargained for. Will the Brits look back on June 23rd as the day they took control, regained their borders and released themselves from the EU's bureaucratic shackles or will they simply see the beginning of the end for "Great" Britain and the emergence of "Little" England - a nation destined to ghost into the shadows?





National EU Referendum: The referendum has been driven by Eurosceptics within the public and leading political parties. Whilst against leaving the EU, David Cameron called the referendum to gain votes in the 2015 General Election by appeasing the populist views surrounding a lack of control of British borders, the bureaucracy of the EU and skepticism for the value of EU membership. He never expected it to be this close.

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European Union: The UK has had a long and strained relationship with the EU. Whilst a leading member, Britain has never fully committed to the European project, only accepting partial integration and rejecting adoption of the Euro.

Boris Johnson: Boris was the mayor of London from '08-'16 and a senior member of the Conservative party. As David Cameron nears the end of his declared final term, many people speculate that Boris is only heading the Leave campaign to politically position himself to be the next Prime Minister.

Great Britain, Great Again: Who else thinks this has been ripped off?

1997 British Empire:In the 1920s, Britain ruled over a quarter of the world's land area and almost 500m people. The gradual decolonization movement concluded in the transfer of Hong Kong to China in 1997 and marked the end of the British Empire.

9th Strongest Military: UK only spends 2% of GDP on defense (NATO's required minimum). The British military has dwindled precipitously due to lack of funding and some estimate army personnel to eventually fall to 50,000 (the same size as the NYPD).

2014 Scottish Referendum: Strong nationalism in Scotland led to a vote for independence in 2014, driven by a distaste for the English, a desire for autonomy, differences in opinion on social issues, nuclear deterrent, and north sea oil. After significant concessions and lobbying by the three leading UK political parties, the "Better Together" campaign avoided Scottish independence on a fine margin.

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Nuclear Deterrent: Trident is UK's only nuclear deterrent comprising four Vanguard submarines housed in HMS Naval Base Clyde (Scotland). An independent Scotland has pledged to outright ban nuclear weapons, leaving Trident without a home. The $150bn Trident renewal is already contentious with heavy debate on the UK's need for a deterrent given NATO.

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Peter (HBS '17) is an EC at Harvard Business School and a proud member of Section A. In his capacity as a social chair for the section, he spends a lot of time organizing large scale (and often intricate) social events. Outside this role, he is also a Co-President of the HBS Europe Club and a British Friends of HBS Fulbright Scholar. Prior to HBS, Peter worked in London at Merrill Lynch and then Bain Capital, and will be returning to the latter post MBA. Ever since his undergraduate days at Oxford, Peter his been fervently interested in international politics.
There are a number of things that are confusing in life- taxes, getting one's period for the first time and trying to figure out sexual identity. Navigating these confusing times can sometimes be tackled with a good amount of Googling and a series of in depth conversations with peers. The key is sourcing the information that demystifies the tricky terrain. This is a fairly easy task if one is trying to search for 'how to put in a tampon'. The same cannot be said for 'what is the Xhosa/Kikuyu word for sexual orientation?' which has few search results.

When there is no one to talk to, very little online outside of American and Western-based sites, the only information one gets is 'Homosexuality is not African' you begin to think that you are making a lot of things up in your head.

The Orlando shooting shows not only the need for safety but for community with some of the most powerful images and statements coming from a place of support and love, that such a tragedy has brought. The world has had to stop and think about the violence faced by LGBTI people because it was so visible. No longer was it hidden in back streets with small instances of homophobia.

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But there are many LGBTIQ persons around the world who face violence and no one knows. As one Nigerian queer woman wrote 'being invisible can be dangerous' because when violence happens to you in a silo, there is no one around to hear your screams. As an African queer woman on a continent rife with violence against LGBTI, this is a reality that could not be more real.

Many African queer women go (and continue to) through the search for this safe familiar. It is sometimes difficult to reconcile the academic theories, wisdoms of Audre Lorde and fun 'L-Word' type experiences to one's lived experience here on home soil. There was (and to some extent still is) a need to see someone 'like me' in our public sphere. This coupled with the alienating language framed in human rights instruments leaves one out in the cold when trying to build the framework of life. The fact is that when trying to figure these things out, there is a cluster of problems and no answer when your grandmother asks if Foucault is your husband after you try to break down queer theory to her.

Years of running HOLAA! (co created with Siphumeze Khundayi and Christel Antonites ) has showed me the need for community, the need to be able to see yourself out there so you can figure out what is going on inside. It is in learning from those around you.

So the last six months, I started a digital media project as part of an Open Society Foundation Youth Fellowship that focused on allowing queer African women not only the space to tell their stories through HOLAA! but also through material and spaces they create themselves. We have partnered with a number of organisations including 1 in 9 Campaign (an organisation began to support the victim of the Zuma rape trial) and LEGABIBO, the first registered LGBTI organisation in Botswana. The project seeks to map out and teach the ways in which one could utilise the online space to add to the cacophony that is the multiple voices on identity in the world. From digital media training to training on social and digital marketing to a series of artistic publications (the first of which is in partnership with Q-Zine) it is all about making sure that these women are telling their own stories and showing themselves to themselves and the world.

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The idea behind this 'business of sexuality' is to diversify the narrative that has been only about 'corrective rape' and violence and bolster it with stories of everything from work, family, sex and pleasure, disability, religion and identity.

It is about building the story with videos and podcasts, tweets, Instagram selfies and blog posts. From poetry to short stories, to diary entries to a line or two of erotica, it all adds to the flames. It is about finding yourself online, be it through semi nudes posted on our #MyInstaHOLAA take over or simply a post about meeting your girlfriend at a crowded matatu (public transport minibus) depot. It's about making sure that people are not speaking on anyone's behalf but equipping as many people as possible with tools to tell their own stories. It is about finding a narrative that's yours, finding that mirror of yourself in some way, shape or form. No matter where you are, be you in a village in Limpopo or commute to Kikuyu, be you living in Abuja or simply visiting Kinshasa.

The building of a narrative is not only about adding to the conversation but also about building community and claiming visibility. That way in during the confusion, or the good times and even during the height of internal and external violence you can find somewhere to go. Even if people are simply silently retweeting something, giving it a thumbs up on Facebook, double tapping on Instagram or simply reading an article, the ability to go somewhere and see yourself live and in living colour and know you are not alone.
Those responsible for setting corporation tax rates at both the Federal and State level must surely be aware of the words of France's Jean-Baptiste Colbert, (1619 to 1683) Louis XIV's finance minister, who said "The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest possible amount of feathers with the smallest possible amount of hissing."

Many people in the US are now complaining loudly that US corporation taxes are too high and that they are suffering as a consequence. Corporation tax in the US is currently standing close to 40%, once state and federal taxes are taken into account. It is argued that this hurts rather than helps businesses, and means that the US has some of the highest corporate income tax rates in the world.

Why high corporation taxes are a problem

High corporation taxes are a problem. They favor spending rather than saving. Political lobbying in tax policy making is greater because the stakes are higher. High taxes damage the competitiveness of US businesses, they encourage corporations to locate in other countries and the current tax code has unacceptable levels of double taxation.

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High tax rates are not essential for a country's continued prosperity. For example, the British Conservative Government's Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osbourne, offered some good news for UK small businesses in their latest Budget when it was announced that UK Corporation Tax would fall from twenty percent to nineteen percent by 2017. Further reductions are expected, bringing the rate down to as low as 17% by April 2020.

What problems are caused by high corporation taxes?

The problems caused by high corporate taxes are now beginning to be widely recognized in the US, although we are a long way from resolving them. The most urgent issues that need to be addressed are:

US corporate tax codes

US corporate tax code has been set up so that is it favors spending rather than saving. Corporations that spend their revenues in the current tax year on business related expenses can effectively write many of them off. However, for many companies it may be in their interests to put profits aside, for a period of time, and would do so if the tax codes made this viable.

Political lobbying

Corporations now spend vast sums on lobbying politicians to change the taxation system in ways that benefit them. However, this makes public policy making more difficult than ever before and raises fears that special interest groups can only join the debate if they find large corporations who share their aims.

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Limits on competitiveness

Higher rates of corporate income tax are a burden that damages U.S. competitiveness in world markets. Importantly, it diminishes businesses ability to compete with companies located in territories with more business friendly tax structures and so benefits overseas competitors.

Globalization

Inevitably, with the growing benefits of globalization some US Corporations have responded by relocating parts of their business to countries where the corporation tax rates are lower and we find that entrepreneurs are choosing their homes on the basis of a country's tax regime. This takes both jobs and tax revenues away from the US, often permanently.

Double taxation

US corporations effectively pay a double tax on profits earned in other countries. The impact of double-taxation of corporate profits can be significant.

Four of the most important effects of double taxation, are:

1.A reduction in the amount of revenue available to finance jobs growth;

2.The amount available to US corporations to reinvest is lower;

3.Double taxation encourages corporations to borrow money to finance investment;

4.Encourages corporation structuring as 'pass-through businesses';
By Tariq Al Gurg, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Cares

The month of Ramadan is a very special month to all Muslims around the world, me included. Whenever the month of Ramadan starts approaching I am filled with eagerness, the same eagerness I felt when I was a young boy and decided to fast for the first time.

I particularly look forward to the holy month of Ramadan because it gives me inner peace and a chance to spend the extra time I have with my children and the rest of my family, especially with my parents on a daily basis. I deeply value how we all come together to share the breaking of the fast and stay up late at night catching up with family, friends and neighbours. I often think of how fortunate I am to be able to share these special moments with them, all of us together - safe, happy, at peace.

This is not, however, the case for the over 59 million people around the world who have been forced from their homes, 20 million of whom as refugees in another country. In the world we live in today, every minute, 29 people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror, 40% of whom originate from the Middle East. There are more than five million Palestinian refugees and four million Syrians who have been displaced outside their country. Another 7.5 million are displaced internally. An additional three million displaced in Iraq brings the total to 19.5 million There are more than five million Palestinian refugees and four million Syrians who have been displaced outside their country. Another 7.5 million are displaced internally. An additional three million displaced in Iraq brings the total to 19.5 million

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Today, on World Refugee Day, we highlight the plight of those who have had to flee their country in search of safety, 10 million of whom are under the age of 18. In order for these refugee children and youth to one day be able to return to their countries and contribute to shaping and leading their nation as doctors, teachers, engineers, lawyers and parents, or to be able to remain as active contributing members of their host societies, they need to have access to quality education. However, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), only 50% of refugee children are enrolled in primary education and a mere 25% are estimated to be in secondary school. Just 1% of refugees have access to tertiary education. What then is the fate of the majority of these children and youth if they remain uneducated? There are many potential answers, most of which no parent wants to consider - increased risk of trafficking, child labour, being drafted into extremist groups and child marriage.

When I travel to visit our programs, parents who have been forcibly displaced consistently highlight the importance of education and their desire to have their children return to school. The children themselves also share this sentiment. However, teachers and principals in the host communities who have to accommodate for the large number of refugee children, have to make limited resources go even further. Their testimonies regarding the shortage of books and learning materials for the newcomers has made me even prouder to be one of the leading partners in the 'Reading Nation' Ramadan Campaign launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which aims to print and distribute 5 million books benefitting children in the developing world. These books will populate resource-scarce libraries and classrooms with age-appropriate reading material that will both help learning and provide a welcomed escape from the reality of daily life.

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At Dubai Cares, together with our partners, we hope to turn the tide on refugee children and youth who miss out on quality education because of displacement. Education gives them hope. It makes them more resilient. It makes them stronger. Yet education accounts for a small fraction of humanitarian aid, receiving only 2% of total funds from humanitarian appeals. Because of this Dubai Cares has committed to increasing the share of our programs that reach refugee and internally displaced children and youth to 33% of our financial portfolio over the next two years. In addition, at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul in May, we also committed to supporting the newly established Education Cannot Wait fund which aims to address this shortage of funding for education in emergencies, as well as bring together all the concerned actors. By actively and collectively supporting both access and quality of education in emergencies and protracted crises, I believe a difference can be made.

On this World Refugee Day, as I break my fast together with my family, I will think of all of those not able to share a meal surrounded by their loved ones, forced out of their homes, their towns, their country, and I promise not to forget their plight or that of all refugee children.

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I don't often write here about current events, at least not in any definable way. I save that for Twitter or Facebook and even then I limit my opinions, sometimes because it's not appropriate and sometimes because my heart just can't handle the trolling.

But I'm having a hard time this week, as many of us are, following the multiple tragic events in Orlando over the last few days. On the subject of Pulse, it's more than likely that my words are not needed. There are a number of other voices within the LGBTQ and Hispanic communities who are already speaking...and should be heard. Me? I'm straight, white and cisgender. And while I feel no need to apologize for my identity because of its inherent privilege, I will certainly acknowledge that privilege, as well as the fact that far too often my voice is heard above others for no other reason than because I can check a particular set of boxes regarding sexual orientation, race and gender identity.

So let me say this: I'm not really writing today to be heard. I'm writing today to ask questions.



My own beliefs and personal opinions are of no importance here. I will say that I'm a Jesus follower and I love Him with everything I have. This is important because I want you - whoever you are - to be aware that I know how the Church has failed its LGBTQ brothers and sisters. In the past, I'm sure I've been a part of that failure. And because I'm human there might be times in the future, or even in this post, when I fail again despite my best efforts. Please know that I'm trying.

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With that being said, I've also seen a great many successes within the Church in its approach to a community so many others have found troublesome. Nothing brings me greater joy than to witness Christians leave the disclaimer off their love for LGBTQ persons. It seems far too often that believers will declare their love for all, but ONLY with the caveat that the Church hates their sin. Do we say that to our children? Our spouses? How heartbreaking such a thing must feel to believers who don't fit into the straight, cisgender boxes. When I imagine a young woman questioning her sexuality, a young woman who loves Jesus, hearing a friend or leader say, "I love you, BUT..." it saddens me deeply. These are not the words of our Savior. There is no comma at the end of His love for us. He says "I love you" and that's the full story. My love for my husband includes everything about him; your love for your child is the same. Our love for one another should follow this example regardless of beliefs, no caveats needed.

I have questions, a broken heart, and a lot of love I think could be useful. I'm not interested in a theological discussion or declarative statements about right or wrong here. There's a time and place for such things, and those discussions are important, but not today. Today is about inviting my LGBTQ brothers and sisters in the Church to tell me what they need.

How are you hurting and how can I help?

What is it you want me to know, but haven't felt able to say?

Have I personally caused you pain? Will you forgive me?

In what way are you frightened, and how can I support you?

Do you need a Christ community where you can feel safe? (My couch is really comfortable and I have an endless supply of coffee. And hugs.)

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One of the things I admire most about the LGBTQ community is how incredibly FOR each other they are. As a Church, we could really use a lesson in celebrating together. My own church does this wonderfully and I beam with pride when I talk about it. But we've been Blessed with a capital B that Atlanta is a city where Big Love Churches abound. I'm eternally grateful to the men and women who have made that happen. And it grieves me that few Christians, and even fewer LGBTQ believers, knows what that's like. I hope they will one day - sooner rather than later - and I hope I get to be a part of it.

If you're okay with it, I'd really like that day to be today.
We've created a culture where everyone feels entitled to comment on everything. We've become disinterested in gaining knowledge for knowledge's sake. Instead, we're more interested in following what a celebrity did on father's day or challenging someone else's posted opinion with our own. Social media has led this charge with an army of Social Justice Warriors in pursuit of some moral victory. We all want to prove we know things, but we forget the importance of our own ignorance. We forget that it's better to be kind, better to inquire than it is to be "right."

In the video above by the RSA author, producer, and comedian John Lloyd challenges us to embrace our ignorance. Lloyd touches on the concept of knowledge and how good questions drive discovery.



Lloyd's argument is a biting one: We don't know 96% of the universe and it's ignorance that drives discovery. Anyone can find truth, but it takes a great person to use their intelligence to ask the right questions. We all know what is fundamentally right, but it's what you do with that knowledge that counts. Pick your battles and always be kind.

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Making the choice to commit to our personal truths can be a destructive practice. To quote Neil Gaiman, "It is a fool's prerogative to utter truths that no one else will speak."
In light of the media's coverage of the ongoing activities of extremist organizations like ISIL in Iraq and Syria, Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, and a recent wave of attacks in Europe and the United States, there has been an overwhelming tendency for a large majority of viewers who are actively absorbing this flood of information to develop misconceptions about Islam and its basic teachings. Some have viewed Islam as an outdated religion that is antithetical to modernity and resistant to change. Others have criticized mainstream Muslims simply because of their religion and ethnicity. No where is this more overt than on online social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter where users are propagating baseless claims, and sadly their ill-informed viewpoints have only advanced a vicious cycle of bigotry that is a great cause for concern. Even our politicians at the state and federal levels have developed anti-Islamic notions that defame Islam and its followers around the world. They have taken certain tenets of the faith out of context and have failed to comprehend the true nature of the conflict against religious extremism. Moreover, such attitudes have only furthered greater insulation from sharing diverse perspectives and unfortunately created an infectious atmosphere that is bent on spreading hatred against Islam and Muslims in general. What has followed is an utter lack of tolerance in our normal day-to-day conversations about topics pertaining to Islam without being privy to the facts or knowledge of the religion.

The tragic events in San Bernandino and Paris last year were indisputably deliberate acts of terrorism in which innocent, unarmed civilians were killed. Rooted in these acts was the exploitation of a zealous religious ideology, which is crucial to understand if we are to defeat the organizations and the ideology that promotes their activities. But, even more importantly, we can develop a more-informed opinion of the exact nature of these organizations, which will subsequently help us in drawing the distinction between Islam as a belief system and the use of Islam as politically motivated ideology. This will be crucial to our success in dealing with the Muslim world both at the domestic and international levels.

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The media has largely ignored the role of ISIL's ideology and its interpretation of Islam. This might partly explain the rampant confusion that has plagued a proper understanding of the religion and its adherents.

ISIL (more specifically the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) is a militant, ultraconservative Islamist movement that was formed just under two years ago in the war-torn areas of northern Iraq. ISIL's leadership sought to replace the existing political system that would address injustice against the Sunni population, the largest religious minority after the Shiites. However, the group's ideology, propaganda, and confrontation with the West are not like that of Al-Qaeda, the brainchild of Osama Bin Laden in the 1990s, the organization that was implicated in the 9/11 attacks. Though the two organizations share similar goals, their mechanism of reform is actually quite different. To differentiate between the two, an analysis of the two groups' ideologies is key. ISIL subscribes to Salafism, an ultraconservative, puritanical reform movement which until recently was nonpolitical. On the other hand, the ideology of Al Qaeda is inherently political. Since its formation, Al-Qaeda has sought to seize state power and enter the political process through violent means and simultaneously engage in confrontation with any state or ideology that does not adhere to its interpretation of Islam. Through attacks on civilians throughout the world, Al-Qaeda's ultimate goal is to control the state apparatus. This is an example of militant Islamism, whereby a fundamentalist group is engaging itself within the modern context by exploiting Islam to achieve its goals.

On the other hand, Salafism by virtue of its puritanical attitudes and strict adherence to theology makes it an extremely opposed to the Islamism practiced by the Muslim Brotherhood and Al-Qaeda. Salafism seeks to purify Islam of non-Islamic influences and practices. In fact, Salafism is much older than the contemporary Islamist movements like Al-Qaeda and the Muslim Brotherhood. Salafists view other Muslim sects (Sunni, Shiite, and Sufi) all with apparent disdain because of their differing Islamic practices. Salafists trace their origins to a hadith from the Prophet Muhammad who was quoted as saying "The people of my own generation are the best, then those who come after them, and those of the next generation." These three generations are known collectively as the salaf, hence the term Salafism. Salafists regard this saying as central to their beliefs who state that anything from these generations is authentic and anything after is digressive and therefore un-Islamic.

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It was only during the Arab Spring in 2011 that Salafists became participating in the political process. The Al-Nour Party, a Salafist political party, decided to participate in Egypt's elections after the resignation of Hosni Mubarak. ISIL, however, views elections and the democratic process as an anathema that must be discarded in favor of a more pristine form of Islam. But why would a nonpolitical ideology be incorporated to meet ISIL's political ambitions? To answer this, we must first observe the political context in which ISIL was formed. In the wake of the US departure from Iraq in December 2011 various organizations including Al-Qaeda and other dissatisfied Sunni groups in both Iraq and in neighboring Syria sought to address their political grievances against the existing government. Expressing frustration and impatience with the ensuing chaos, these disillusioned elements began to recruit young people by disseminating an appealing brand of Salafism conducive to the sectarian environment. The anti-Shiite and anti status quo rhetoric were instrumental in ISIL's rapid rise to power, having become a successful political force through reliance on theological underpinnings that bolsters what it believes to be true Islam.
DIBYANGSHU SARKAR via Getty Images Arundhati Bhattacharya, the chairman of the State Bank of India, the largest public sector bank in India, attends a press conference on the bank's financial results for the last financial year, in Kolkata on May 27, 2016. / AFP / Dibyangshu SARKAR (Photo credit should read DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images)

Among the seven likely contenders for Reserve Bank's next governor, after the exit of Raghuram Rajan, is Arundhati Bhattacharya, the chairperson of State Bank of India. If she lands the appointment, she would become the first woman to head Indias central bank.

In 2016, Bhattacharya, 60, was ranked as the 25th most influential woman in the world by Forbes. According to media reports, Bhattacharya has taken a tough stance at bringing to book company owners who have defaulted on large loans to the bank. She has also been a staunch supporter of RBIs mandate for Indian banks to clean up their balance sheets, and resolve their mounting pile of bad loans.

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However, according to a Mint report, the trouble with appointing Bhattacharya as the head of the central bank is that there is no precedent in recent times of a banker being appointed as the RBI governor.

Bhattacharya, who joined SBI in 1977, took the office of chairperson at the bank in 2013, becoming the first woman to head the bank. She was also the first woman managing director at the bank.

In her 39-year tenure at the bank, Bhattacharya has held several senior roles at SBI including Managing Director Chief Financial Officer. Previously, she was the Deputy Managing Director and Corporate Development Officer of SBI. She was also the Managing Director and CEO of SBIs investment banking arm, SBI Capital Markets. She is an alum of Jadavpur University.

If Bhattacharya lands the job, she would also be among a handful of women to head the central bank of a leading economy. In 2014, Janet Yellen became the first woman to become the head of the US Federal Reserve in over the 100 years of the institutions history.

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Women central bankers include: Janet L. Yellen, chairwoman of the US Federal Reserve

Christine Lagarde, Head of International Monetary Fund

Chrystalla Georghadji, Governor of Central Bank of Cyprus

Elvira Nabiullina, Head of The Bank of Russia

Azeema Adam, Governor of the Central Bank of Maldives

Karnit Flug, Governor of Bank of Israel

Valeriya Gontareva , Governor of National Bank of Ukraine

Jorgovanka Tabakovic, Governor of National Bank of Serbia

According to a global index that tracks women central bankers, Official Monetary And Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF),and its findings from a survey a year ago, the index moved up slightly to 2.19 (out of a maximum of 10) at the end of 2015 from 2.07 the year before.

Rajan's replacement is expected to be announced within a month, according to media reports.

The other six candidates that are on the list of possible successors to Rajan include Vijay Kelkar, Rakesh Mohan, Ashok Lahiri, RBI deputy governor Urjit Patel, Subir Gokarn and Ashok Chawla, Reuters reported earlier.

On Saturday, Rajan said no to a second term in the post, a surprise decision the industry and opposition parties termed as nation's loss. "...on due reflection, and after consultation with the government, I want to share with you that I will be returning to academia when my term as Governor ends on September 4, 2016," Rajan said in a message to RBI staff.
ASSOCIATED PRESS Protestors hold placards demanding justice for Jisha, a law student whose body was found mutilated more than a week back in Perumbavoor, Kerala, during a protest in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, May 11, 2016.The case has drawn comparisons to the deadly 2012 gang rape of a woman on a New Delhi bus that sparked widespread outrage and nationwide protests demanding an end to the widespread sexual assault and abuse of women across India.(AP Photo/ Rajanish Kakade)

The arrest of two Dalit women and the use of non-bailable charges against them for their alleged scrap with some CPM workers in Kannur district of northern Kerala has caused a major image-challenge for the month-old Pinarayi Vijayan government even as a defiant CPM is trying to brush it aside as a non-event and political conspiracy.

The development became a convenient anti-CPM rallying point for the Congress, the BJP, and Dalit activists when one of the women attempted suicide on Sunday, reportedly at the insults of a DYFI (youth wing of the CPM) leader on TV and abusive party-trolls on the social media.

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There are four critical keywords in this case that spell trouble for the CPM: Dalit, women, social exclusion, and misuse of authority. Both the opposition and activists are targeting the government on these grounds and they are justified to a considerable extent. The recent Jisha murder case, in which these elements were at play, makes the context strikingly topical.

Trying to defend the party through highhanded and condescending ways, CPM leaders and their surrogates are dragging themselves into more trouble because their position and language on the issue are patently intolerant and inflammatory. Most bizarre, or rather foolish, was the response of the chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who told the media to ask the police when they sought his opinion. Ironically, one of the first promises he made at the time of swearing in was safety for women and children, and equal justice to all. In this case, both the promises were at risk.

'POLITICALLY MOTIVATED'

The incident that has snowballed into the present controversy, on which even the national leaders of the Congress and the BJP have responded, happened on 11 June. Two Dalit women in a village in Thalassery (in Kannur) allegedly barged into a CPM branch committee office when they were fed up of the anti-caste taunts by a few party cadres. The women say that they had been targets of incessant caste-abuse and even obscene language by CPM workers for years that they couldn't take any more, and hence went to their office to confront the abusive men.

The CPM alleges that the women were politically motivated, and attacked the men with a piece of wood without provocation.

However, the CPM alleges that the women were politically motivated, and attacked the men with a piece of wood without provocation. They charge that it was the enactment of a conspiracy to besmirch the party because the women belong to the family of a Congressman, who has an axe to grind. The women filed a case under the SC&ST (Prevention of) Atrocities Act for which the local police arrested three CPM men. The party filed a counter-case of trespassing and causing hurt by dangerous weapons, certainly an overkill meant to intimidate them.

'STALIN ERA GULAGS'

The case against the party-men and their arrest were relatively unnoticed, but the action against the women, particularly their arrest and stay in jail for a day, attracted considerable media attention because the charges were excessive (including a non-bailable offence) and because one of the women had her young daughter with her when she was sent to jail. The optics was very bad for the CPM because they had always been notorious for their extra-constitutional control of certain pockets in the district, which are otherwise called "party-villages".

The incident exposes two perpetual allegations against the CPM: that in their "party-villages" in Kannur normal life is impossible for people who don't toe their political line, and two, they don't know how to deal with Dalit-issues. In this case, the women's father is an active Congress worker and hence their family has been allegedly under constant attack from the CPM. Since majority of the families in the village are CPM-supporters, thanks to the unassailable writ of compulsory compliance, the women and their family have been ostracised.

Well known Malayalam writer Paul Zachariah compares these party pockets with Stalin era Gulags. "The left rules this area like the Gulag [cruel labour camps in 1930-1950 run by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin]," he recently told the BBC.

'STAND-ALONE DALIT RESISTANCE'

Although the CPM can refute the charges by the women as baseless and politically motivated, responses by two of their spokespersons - AN Shamseer, a party MLA from the district and PV Divya, a DYFI leader - on TV willy nilly pointed to the existence of the social conditions that the women alleged. In fact Divya was shockingly discriminatory when she said the women were a "social nuisance" and behaved like "quotation" gangs (the term for contract criminals in Kerala). She also said that there were cases against them and that their neighbours didn't like them. Everything that Divya said added up to organised social boycott. Shamseer too portrayed the women and her family as trouble makers that the locality didn't like.

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In fact, in Kerala, Dalit activists accuse the CPM of false-claims of whatever socio-political gains they had achieved, and even for being anti-Dalit.

The prejudicial and judgmental views on the women by Shamseer and DIvya pointed to exactly the same situation that Jisha's family encountered: shaming, hostility and exclusion by local residents.

(An activist of All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) speaks during a protest against the rape and murder of a Dalit woman in Indian state of Kerala, in New Delhi, India, May 4, 2016. AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Both Shamseer and Divya, as well as Vijayan who chose to ignore questions from the media, also exemplified the CPM's duplicity on Dalit issues, which came under attack following the Rohith Vemula tragedy as well. Ideologically, the party doesn't believe in stand-alone Dalit resistance because it thinks its universal idea of class struggle will take care of it.

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More over, despite its claims, it doesn't have much to show in terms of Dalit politics. In fact, in Kerala, Dalit activists accuse the CPM of false-claims of whatever socio-political gains they had achieved, and even for being anti-Dalit. In one of the TV discussions, Mridula Devi, a Dalit activist, told Shamseer that his party had no right to claim any of the victories of Dalits in the state. Recently, the most prominent icon of Adivasi politics in the state, CK Janu, hit out against the CPM and joined the BJP.

Mridula Devi was right because most of their gains had been achieved even before even the CPM (then the undivided CPI) was born. In fact, what the CPM allegedly practised in the case of the Dalit women was the pre-1940s style social exclusion and discrimination. The allegations of social outcasting of non-CPM families in their "party villages" do not reflect civilised politics of a modern democracy, but archaic feudal values and clannishness backed by ideological bigotry.
MONEY SHARMA via Getty Images Indian right-wing Hindu activists hold a celebration to mark the 70th birthday of US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in New Delhi on June 14, 2016.A far-right Hindu group has previously held prayers in the Indian capital to support the Republican presidential nominee, whose ideas and campaign promises they hail, and with supporters saying he had the potential to 'save humanity'. / AFP / MONEY SHARMA (Photo credit should read MONEY SHARMA/AFP/Getty Images)

A CBS news poll says a majority of Americans disapprove of the way Donald Trump responded to the massacre at the Orlando nightclub. As The Donald tweeted "Appreciate the congrats for being right on Islamic terrorism, I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance!" 25% approved of him while 51% disapproved. Too bad the poll does not include the indefatigable warriors of the Hindu Sena in Delhi. Trump's numbers might have gone up a little.

The Hindu Sena made much news for celebrating Trump's birthday in Jantar Mantar with a three tiered cake and balloons and a giant poster of Trump brandishing a gun, a poster which was lovingly fed cake.

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If they cannot have common sense let them eat cake?

The sniggering is well-deserved. A fringe group is trying to ride Trump's coattails into the spotlight. But there's something we miss at our own peril. Trump is the ultimate example of the fringe morphing into mainstream and the likes of Hindu Sena are greedily watching him. Once a little-known Hindu Sena leader frothing about Islamic terrorist would not be a blip on the news cycle. Now he gets coverage everywhere because of Trump. It's a quirky story but a dangerous one and Trump is its oxygen.

"Donald Trump is speaking the entire world's mann ki baat against Islamic terror and we support it," says Vishnu Gupta. Gupta does not support gays at all and he does not care that Trump's idea of a ban on immigration "from areas of the world with a proven history of terrorism" would hardly help make India safer. He just cares that Trump says what others do not.

Trump to him is about legitimizing what could not be said openly before. As Julia Preston in the New York Times explains by proposing to bar people from certain regions rather than certain religions, Trump has cleverly "avoided the sticky issue of testing someone's faith." This is a policy a president could carry out just as they had done before for people from Asia, a policy that incidentally had kept Indians out of the United States.

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It's a clever semantic bait and switch, swapping region for religion but to the same end. We've seen it in India in the fight over illegal migration in Assam. During the riots a few years ago there was immense pressure to label the conflict there was Bodo-Bangladeshi conflict rather than a Bodo-Muslim conflict. Nomenclature matters and Trump who is often derided for inarticulate ad-libbing is actually changing the semantics of discourse by bullying bluster.

It works. The debate has quickly become about labels  radical Islamic terrorist to be precise. After the Orlando mass shooting, Trump's railed against Barack Obama for not using the phrase "radical Islamic terrorist". An angry Obama lashed out at Trump without naming him.

"What exactly would using this label would 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?"

But Hillary Clinton did blink. Like Obama she said "it matters what we do, not what we say." Then she went on to say "We have to defeat radical jihadist terrorism, and we will." To her, "radical jihadism, radical Islamism, I think they mean the same thing. I'm happy to say either, but that's not the point."

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But that is exactly the point. Hillary Clinton and Obama represent a certain mainstream just as the Republican leadership in the US Congress represents a certain mainstream. But now they are both reacting defensively to Trump, the man who came from the fringe, the interloper who hijacked the GOP presidential nomination process. The fringe is directing the mainstream, shaping the contours of the debate.

Trump gloated "I have been hitting Obama and Crooked Hillary hard on not using the term Radical Islamic Terror. Hillary just broke-said she would now use!"

Obviously Vishnu Gupta is not a front runner for any political post but you can see the Hindu Sena trying to play that same game in India. He says "The BJP used to speak against Islamic terror, but after coming to power it has also become a 'secular party'." What the Hindu Sena is saying is that they want leaders who can dare to say what's in their hearts like a Sadhvi Prachi calling for a Muslim-free India after a Congress-mukt India.

The BJP leadership might tut tut just as the GOP leaders shake their heads when Trump goes overboard but he is just discarding the old the dog whistle and using a bull horn instead to say openly what was once read between the lines.

Now a Reuters Ipsos poll shows that while Clinton still leads Trump her margin has shrunk from 14.3 points to 10.7 points. And 45 percent of Americans agree with Trump that immigration of Muslims to the United States should be suspended.

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What was an outlandish idea at one point, another example of Trump talking impractical nonsense, is now the subject of polls and its pros and cons discussed on the front page of the New York Times. It's a policy that would create knotty problems say experts in the article  retaliations against American citizens abroad, disruption of trade agreements and business, even compromise intelligence gathering and America's geopolitical clout in stopping wars.

But note what's happened. Even as immigration experts slam the proposal, the idea itself is no longer beyond the pale.

The likes of the Hindu Sena know that Trump probably cares little about them or their cake. But they are piggybacking on him to take their ideas to the mainstream. Whether or not Trump makes it to the White House he's already proving very useful to those who were until dismissed as the fringe.
Yawar Nazir via Getty Images SRINAGAR, KASHMIR, INDIA - FEBRUARY 18: Kashmiri Muslim girls wearing abaya, a long tunic and veil, the standard ladies' Muslim fashion to wear, walks on a road on February 18, 2014 in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-administered Kashmir, India. Kashmir is known as the 'Paradise on Earth' and has for centuries captured the imagination of many writers, poets and film makers and is integral to the tourist trade. Kashmir has been a contested land between nuclear neighbors India and Pakistan since 1947, the year both the countries attained freedom from the British rule. (Photo by Yawar Nazir/Getty Images)

Three days after protests hit Srinagar's Delhi Public School (DPS) following a complaint by a woman teacher that she was asked to choose between her job and 'abaya', the management of the school tendered an "apology... for hurting the sentiments of people."

The teacher had resigned and the matter was raised in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly by Independent MLA Engineer Rashid during the Zero Hour, the Indian Express reported.

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Students of the school staged a protest on Friday, the government has called it a serious issue and said Jammu and Kashmir was not France.

The principal was absent for two months. After she returned, she sent a message that I should not wear abaya. She categorically told me that Islamic dress is not allowed on the school premises. The (school) chairman later also told me that I should not wear it inside the school. When I refused, I was told that I have to leave the job," the 29-year-old teacher told Express.

However, on Sunday the school, in a one-line statement, tendered an apology after the drastic step triggered protests from students.

"Delhi Public School Srinagar management apologies for unintentionally hurting the sentiments of people," a spokesman of the school told DNA.

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Shutterstock/Rob Bouwman

An Indian doctor working on finding a cure for blood cancer in the US was forced to return to India after the Indian government refused to issue a No-Obligation to Return to India (NORI) certificate to him, following a change in guidelines.

According to The Times of India, Dr Sunil Noothi, who has been working as a biomedical researcher with the University of Kentucky since August 2013, has moved the Bombay High Court challenging the Health ministry's decision.

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Dr Noothi's petition which says that the government's decision "lacks any application of mind" explains that since he has been working "under a confidentiality and intellectual property protection agreement and cannot undertake the same research elsewhere", he is now effectively rendered "unemployed in India".

He told TOI that he had already received the go-ahead by the Karnataka government as well as the Mumbai Regional Passport Office to return to the US. However, the Union Human Resources and Health ministries refused to pay heed to his plea, as did the Prime Ministers Office.

Reportedly, the Health ministry did not given Dr Noothi a NORI certificate because he was a doctor and they wanted to tackle the "the severe shortage of public health professionals in India."

Dr Noothi does not practice medicine, despite holding an MBBS degree. After getting a PhD from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and working as an analyst, Dr Noothi went to the US on a J1 visa in 2011. Since 2013, he has been in Kentucky as a post-doctoral research scholar.

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He said that the American government had already funded to the tune of $1.5 million, the project to find a cure for blood cancer that he is working on.

In his petition to the High Court, Dr Noothi has posed the question: "If motivated people are not encouraged, when will Indians receive a Nobel prize in medicine."

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Stunned to find his family in the Bharatiya Janata Party's "exodus" list, Gaurav Jain, a businessman, has filed a police complaint for being dragged into the controversy fanned by Hukum Singh, BJP's leader in Shamli district, where, he claims, Hindus have fled due to intimidation and harassment by Muslims.

The Indian Expressreported today that Jain's father, Paras Chand, is among 63 names in Singh's second list which includes families who have allegedly fled from Kairana and Kandhla, two towns in Shamli district in western Uttar Pradesh. The first list, which contained over 300 names from the town of Kairana, was debunked by the media and the Uttar Pradesh police.

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After the media and the U.P. Police provided evidence contradicting Singh's claims, the BJP leader made a U-Turn, characterizing the problem as a law and order issue and not a communal one.

BJP's political opponents have accused the Hindu nationalist party of trying to incite communal tensions ahead of the 2017 State Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh.

Jain told the police that unidentified people have written up for sale on the wall of his house in Shamlis Kandhla town, and they are circulating photos in the media as an example of the Hindu "exodus," The Indian Express reported.

I moved out in 2010 for the growth of my career. Later, my family  parents, wife and children  also shifted to Ghaziabad. (But) in the list, my fathers name too has figured, Jain told the newspaper.

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I was surprised to see in the media a photo of my house with a message written on the wall that it is up for sale. The house is located at Saravgyan mohalla in Kandhla. The media is showing my house in the context of the exodus. I immediately complained about it to the district magistrate and requested for an inquiry,  he said.

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Danish Siddiqui / Reuters Volunteers of the Hindu nationalist organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) arrive to attend a conclave on the outskirts of Pune, India, January 3, 2016. Thousands of volunteers attended the gathering which was held to promote the organisation and reach out to the society, according to local media reports. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is the parent body of the BJP, recently announced that the number of Muslim students studying in their schools across Uttar Pradesh had increased by 30 percent over the last two years.

According to The Times of India, the figures are from the time that the BJP-led government came to power in Delhi.

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The RSS, which adheres to the ideology of Hindutva or Hindu nationalism, also said that these students were following all the school rules  such as beginning the day with Surya Namaskar, singing Vande Mataram, as well as reciting Vedic shlokas.

In fact, earlier this month, a Muslim student from an RSS-run school in Assam topped the state boards Class X exam securing 590 marks out of a maximum of 600.

As of now over 7,000 Muslim students are studying in 1,200 RSS-run schools across UP.

"The quality of education is the prime reason why Muslim parents send their wards to our schools," Chintamani Singh, state inspector of Vidya Bharti, which manages these schools, told TOI.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE- In this June 5, 2013 file photo, Bihar state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, listens to a speaker during a conference of the chief ministers of various Indian states on Internal Security in New Delhi, India. The alliance led by Kumar defeated Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Hindu nationalist party in a crucial election in one of India's most populous states. (AP Photo/Saurabh Das, file)

On Sunday, while Baba Ramdev took Rajpath by a storm by showcasing his Yoga moves to about 3,000 people as Kailash Kher kept singing in the background, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar thought that wasn't a good enough way to make Yoga relevant.

The Bihar Chief Minister told a mass gathering in Jharkhand that yoga is irrelevant unless ban on liquor is also imposed.

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At a public meeting in Palamu, Jharkhand, which was organised by a womens group in favour of prohibition, Kumar asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban liquor at least in the BJP-ruled states, reported The Hindu.

Yoga is a natural treatment process but it would be irrelevant unless a ban is imposed on sale of liquor across the country.

Kumar said yoga cannot be practised in its truest form without giving up alcohol.

"You cannot have Yoga Day and the sale of liquor hand-in-hand. The Modi government has turned everything into an event management exercise and never addresses the real issues, he added.

The Bihar Chief Minister also said that Modi should not take credit for the alcohol ban in Gujarat because the state imposed the restriction before Independence. Kumar said that when Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (P) leader Babulal Marandi becomes the Chief Minister again, liquor will be banned in Jharkhand as well.

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If Dajuan Harris Jr. is underrated, its not by those at Kansas

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Return Of Napster Name Signals A Company Running Out Of Options, Says Former Rhapsody Exec Jon Maples

Already known as Napster overseas, Seattle-based streaming service Rhapsody announced its plan to rebrand as Napster in all markets. The expansion of the moniker suggests a company that has nothing left to lose and may do little to boost revenue, says former Rhapsody exec Jon Maples

_________________________________________

Guest Post by Jon Maples, digital music consultant at JonMaples.com

Oh Rhapsody! Or should I say, oh Napster! The pioneering Seattle-based streaming music company yesterday finally announced a long-planned rebranding of its service to Napster. While it certainly got some attention, it wasnt exactly the kind of attention one craves.

[Disclosure: I argued about which brand to support while serving as VP of Product for Rhapsody International until 2013]

Rhapsody acquired the Napster brand when it bought the assets of the company from Best Buy in 2011. Instead of rebranding the service Rhapsody in Germany and the UK, the company has operated two brands sinceRhapsody in the States and Napster internationally.

So it would make sense that the company would need to unite under a single name. We can all agree that Rhapsody hasnt been a powerful brand. Its better known as your Dads first streaming service, back from the days when you had to listen to on the computer or on a weirdo MP3 player (Philips Go Gear or SanDisk Sansa, anyone?) but definitely, absolutely NOT the iPod. When we did surveys on the brand back in the day, the overwhelming consensus from music fans was, meh.

While the company Rhapsody International has had some success growing recently, its all about Napster. All of the companys expansion in past few years in Europe and Latin America has been under the Napster brand. Meanwhile, Rhapsody has failed to find traction.

As I have written about before, Rhapsodys strategy is to focus on cell carriers to market and sign up users, as it does with e-Plus in Germany, Telefonica in Latin America, and Metro PCS in the United States.

Rhapsody has a loyal core of high margin subscribers who have been with the service for years. But those numbers dwindle each year as new products come into the marketplace that are aimed directly at the music fan. Im sure the execs in Seattle had a number in mind when the company could roll out a new brand without risking a mass loss of revenue. So, now they have nothing to lose.

Napster is a powerful brand, bringing back a strong sense of nostalgia for many music fans. So I can understand the temptation to want to utilize that asset. However in the United States, Napsters negatives are huge. Most consumers still associate Napster with stealing music. And its just not potential consumers. Sources tell me that at least one major label is not very happy with the return of the brand.

Look, the world has changed. Does it make sense to continue to look back to an era when people (again, your dad, if youre a young Millennial) stole mass amounts of music, or should the company look ahead and come up with a new name that is associated with something else than the early days of digital music? I mean, if the problem is that Rhapsody is an old tired brand, why do you go back further in the past and pick a name that has more baggage than Samsonite? And no, just because we had this brand laying around is not a good answer.

My personal favorite would have been the original proposed name for Rhapsody, Aladdin. Equally difficult to spell, but somehow apt. You just rub the magic lamp and watch money disappear.

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More than a decade later, he has become an IT professional and, in his spare time, a coder, one of a small group of developers who work undercover in China to design systems to circumvent the largest, most sophisticated system of online censorship anywhere in the world. The government is probably monitoring him, he says, but has yet to take any action.

He first started circumventing the Great Firewall to access pornography. Back in 2003, when he was in college, it was pretty easy: Access some proxy servers, and away you go.

His experience illustrates how Chinas government allows a few cracks in the Great Firewall, but also how the power of this massive system of online censorship lies in the fact that no one knows exactly where the lines are drawn.

Although tens of thousands of websites are blocked, the Chinese government appears to tolerate having a small number of people able to vault the Wall and access the outside world. Yet for those who design systems to help netizens do just that, a knock on the door and a visit by the authorities remains a constant threat.

Id be lying if I said I wasnt concerned about the risks, the IT professional said in an interview. He spoke on the condition that his real name, his Internet alias and the name of his project be concealed. But life is a constant adventure. I try to guess where the bottom line is for the government, weigh the risks and steer clear of the line. I wont stop what I am doing just because it is risky.

Blocked by Chinas censors: Facebook, YouTube, Google, Twitter and Instagram, as well as the websites of many major news organizations. Yet a small minority of people, perhaps a few million in an online population of around 700 million, do get around the controls

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/the-cat-and-mouse-game-between-chinas-censors-and-internet-activists/2016/06/14/77f2b3a8-1dd9-11e6-b6e0-c53b7ef63b45_story.html
2016 may well be remembered as the year of insurance startups.Already, a record 24 seed or Series A deals for technology-based insurance companies have been completed in the United States, and investors continue to express interest in startups promising to disrupt a $1 trillion industry. And the area they see most ripe for disruption?The insurance broker distribution channel.Citing an aging workforce, changing customer expectations and the success of direct-selling models in other industries, startups and investors feel the days of the independent broker are numbered. Its hardly a new phenomenon; more unconventional players like Overstock.com began peddling insurance in 2014, and Wal-Mart made a splash the same year by announcing it would offer auto and health insurance through its online platform.Direct sales, too, have been appealing  not just for auto insurers, but for groups like Berkshire Hathaway that see promise in exploring new avenues to reach an increasingly tech-oriented customer. Its hardly any wonder, when evidence from Morgan Stanley Research suggests companies could achieve a 21% reduction in combined ratio by automating the sales process and incorporating big data analysis.These trade winds have some insurance agents understandably anxious to know their carriers true loyalties  are they simply paying lip service to the broker distribution channel while planning a future comprised of direct sales and robo-agents?The answer is no, according to Lisa Woodley, vice president of experience design with NTT DATA. Not only are automated agents a long, long way off (if they ever materialize), insurers still recognize the value of the traditional channel.I tend to be very skeptical when I see hysterical headlines saying your next agent will be a robot, said Woodley, who works with carriers to improve their technological offerings. Are we really there yet? Im not so sure.Artificial intelligence is indeed playing a larger role in how carriers and agents interact with policyholders, but human emotion and authenticity  which Woodley calls the core of the insurance industry  cannot be replicated.Automation is great for mundane tasks like crunching numbers and analyzing data, but when you suffer a loss, or you experience frustration, confusion or fear, you probably want to talk to someone, she said. And it would be great if its someone you have a relationship with.Insurance carriers recognize that strength and continue to invest in the channel for those reasons. Increased competition from organizations like Insurify have them anxious to innovate, however, and communicating that desire to agents  without causing fear or resentment  is difficult.I think carriers are thinking competitively and asking, Am I going be disrupted by these companies that can quickly and easily come up with quotes and sell a policy? said Woodley. But then theyre saying, If I invest in that, what message am I sending my agents? Am I telling the agent I dont need them anymore?Carriers recognize they need the agent, but they want to figure out how to give customers what they want while still showing agents that they love them.Its a task that still needs perfecting, but recognizing certain trigger points in the lifespan of a personal or business account can be key. Deconstructing the complex language of a new policy, pointing out auto insurance discounts for a family with a newly minted teenage driver, or supporting a business through a loss are all trigger points that require the personal touch of an agent.And artificial intelligence can help with these tasks. By integrating agency and carrier data, software applications can create alerts for such account milestones and aid the agent in being less of a salesperson and more of a trusted guide.Developing the technology to enable these capabilities is still problematic  an NTT DATA survey found that the number one request of agents was for carriers to better integrate into agency management systems  but the hypotheticals look promising in building an industry where both agents and digital advancement thrive, Woodley says.What I always say is to let computers do what they do best and let agents do what they do best, she said.
Councilor at Large Kathleen Amuso issued an apology for her tact in dealing with the director of administrative services budget.

Amuso Apologizes For Pittsfield Budget Hearing Tact

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Councilor at Large Kathleen Amuso stepped to the microphone to start Thursday's budget hearing with an apology.

"I am truly sorry," Amuso said.

In the first budget hearing, Amuso motioned to cut the position of director of administrative services to a part-time job. Amuso had tried to cut the entire budget just a few weeks ago and then spent most of Monday attempting to make a series of cuts to positions and budgets.

But the first one in the mayor's budget was $52,195 for the position currently held by Roberta McCulloch-Dews.

"I think I made some difficult choices that are going to affect people in this room and it doesn't feel good," Amuso said on Monday before motioning to cut the salary in half.

Some councilors raved about her work and her background while others said the she should have been hired at the first salary instead of step 2. Councilor Anthony Simonelli voted to drop the position's salary down to $49,099, which is what is written into the city ordinance as the entry level salary for the job.

Mayor Linda Tyer said McCulloch-Dews performance and resume are worthy of the pay she is receiving. Councilors John Krol and Peter White both said with her experience and expertise, she is underpaid compared to what she'd get in the private section. They both touted her work.

The conversation continued to dovetail into whether raises should be based on performance reviews. McCulloch-Dews is actually paid less than the person she succeeded in the job and is not getting a raise but rather keeping the rate at which she was hired.

Others said regardless of the resume, the employee should be brought in at the first step and moved up. None of that conversation had taken place in the past when employees  including those in that same job  were hired at higher steps because of qualifications.

The City Council left the budget intact but the discussion lingered.

Three days later, Amuso said she apologized privately to McCulloch-Dews and took the microphone to make that public. She also vowed not to vote for any more reductions to the budget.

On Friday, McCulloch-Dews issued only a short statement saying she and the mayor's office have put it behind them.

"In general, budget deliberations can be challenging times. The mayor's office remains committed to moving forward, working hard on behalf of the people of Pittsfield, and building meaningful collaborations with our partners in city government and those in the community," McCulloch-Dews wrote.

McCulloch-Dews said nothing about Amuso's apology nor did she attend Thursday's meeting. But, Warren Dews, McCulloch-Dews' husband, lambasted the council for publicly doubting her qualifications, suggesting the discussion was racist, when he addressed the council during the open microphone.

"If you want to say this had nothing to do with race, you can. You can say it had nothing to do with race. But, if [Amuso] wasn't thinking about it, she wasn't thinking. Why would you do what you did to the first African-American female in this position?" Dews said.

She is also one of the few African-Americans with a high profile seat in the city's government. No other position received such intense discussion, focus on performance, and personality. Warren Dews said he accepted Amuso's apology but called on other councilors to apologize as well.

"It made me mad on Monday and then when I started thinking about how much I love the Berkshires it hurt me. It hurt my heart that you all did what you did to my wife," Dews said. "It should not have been allowed."

In her apology on Thursday, Amuso said, "I believe we are an inclusive community and an inclusive committee."

Jesse Cook-Dubin, president of Downtown Pittsfield Inc., has worked with McCulloch-Dews on a number of projects and said she provides "incredible high level of service" and is "wildly effective." He took to the open microphone period on Thursday to give his support to her.

Ward 5 Councilor Donna Todd Rivers was one of the councilors Dews called on to apologize. Rivers had voted to turn the position into a part-time one and she said on Thursday that her vote wasn't based on McCulloch-Dews as a person but rather the position. She said she felt since the position was fairly recently expanded, it should be one of the first to be constricted. Rivers did agree, however, that the public discussion wasn't the appropriate way to handle it.
Michael Wynn has been serving in the acting capacity for nearly a decade.

Tyer Seeking Civil Service Waiver For Police Chief

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Mayor Linda Tyer says she is "correcting an injustice" by appointing Police Chief Michael Wynn to the job on a more permanent basis within Civil Service parameters.

Wynn has been serving under the "acting" capacity for the last nine years since he was appointed by former Mayor James Ruberto. Tyer is looking to use a provision within the Civil Service Commission to officially give Wynn the title.

"Chief Wynn has been an exemplary chief of police for going on three administrations now without having the very important designation of being officially appointed chief of police," Tyer said.

"I feel strongly that having that appointment gives the chief, whoever that may be, the proper authority and standing in the law enforcement community that is required for a position of that magnitude. I sort of view what I am doing as correcting an injustice."

Opponents of mayoral appointment say using the Civil Service list provides a level of separation between politics and the position, protecting the chief from the whims of a mayor and administration. The Civil Service process has specific provisions for which an employee can be fired, making replacement of the chief a cumbersome task. Police unions support the Civil Service system because it pulls politics out of public safety.

The city's Police Supervisory Union and the Police Patrolmans Union both oppose the process in which Tyer is appointing Wynn. They issued a joint letter on Thursday calling for the hiring process to be open to other candidates. The union says Tyer's plan is a "run around" the process.

"This has always been about the process and never about who is or could be chief. Anything other than that desired process is absolutely unacceptable," the letter reads.

Tyer disagrees. She said Wynn was the top candidate in 2007 when the last exam was given so the job should have been his the entire time.

"It feels to me like Chief Wynn has been asked year after year after year to lead the law enforcement agency in our city and he's done it well. He should have received the appointment in 2007. He was on top of the list. He was the No. 1 candidate," Tyer said. "We have this mechanism to correct an injustice."

She said the city failed to comply with the process then, not now.

"This is the Civil Service process. This is not circumventing Civil Service. This is a unique measure that is available to cities and towns to appeal to the Civil Service Commission for a special order," Tyer said.

Ruberto had also appointed Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski to the job in an acting capacity. Tyer says she doesn't have a plan right now for appointing a more permanent chief there, yet, because her focus is on the Police Department.

"My primary focus, No. 1 priority, is getting the Police Department stabilized, getting it properly staffed with the right new technologies and we can pursue the Fire Department position once we've gotten this," Tyer said.

Tyer is the first mayor is more than a decade to support the Civil Service System. Both Ruberto and former Mayor Daniel Bianchi vocally opposed the process, citing bureaucratic inefficiencies and difficulties in hiring. Tyer says there are aspects of the system those mayors hadn't taken advantage of  such as assessment centers.

"There are alternative ways to use the existing system that haven't been pursued in the past two administrations," Tyer said. "It is the system we have. We have to work within the confines of that system and take advantage of the various features that gives us the best outcomes."

That message may be welcomed by the unions; the three public safety unions opposed a recommendation from a study committee for the city to withdraw the chief positions from the system. The city had gone some 13 years without the system in place for the chiefs until resuming it by special order.

"The purpose of Civil Service is not to tie a mayor's hands in his or her decision-making, but instead to prevent the abuse of position and influence which has been long documented as occurring during periods without it. The department needs the stability of a permanent chief, free from political interference, to focus on the business of public safety and to develop long-term goals for the agency," the unions wrote.

"A politically-appointed chief subject to the whims of a mayor is both disruptive and damaging to the morale of the many fine officers who serve the people of this city."
Demolition will begin at Mount Greylock Regional School this summer.

Mount Greylock Prepares for Summer Construction Work



School Building Committee Chairman Mark Schiek conducts Thursday's meeting with co-Chairwoman Paula Consolini. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The process of renovating and rebuilding Mount Greylock Regional School began when the school year ended last week.

"We started pretty much the minute school was out on Tuesday," facilities supervisor Jesse Wirtes told the School Building Committee on Thursday. "The custodial department turned the school upside down on Wednesday.

"The end date to be out of Phase 1 is July 1. [Turner Construction] can start abatement after that."

Phase 1 is the school's central core, which will be gutted and transformed as part of the $64.8 million project, planned to be completed by spring 2018.

In order to pave the way for that major renovation, the school is relocating offices and instructional spaces that occupy the Phase 1 area.

As early as the first week in July, construction manager Turner Construction hopes to start abatement and installing plumbing and electrical work that will connect the south end of the junior-senior high school to the gymnasium, which would otherwise be cut off because of the demolition work.

On Thursday, the School Building Committee authorized architect Perkins Eastman to spend up to $15,000 to hire a third party to monitor air quality at the site during the initial abatement.

Ultimately, air quality monitoring for the whole project is going to have a higher price tag, but given the timeline, the architects want to bring in a monitor for the initial work while it reviews bids for the more substantial piece.

"We're looking to get a bridge so we can get someone out here for the startup of the enabling project," Dan Colli told the committee.

While most of the project is going to involve interior renovations for the first seven or eight months, there will be one bit of exterior work coming online much sooner than that. The committee was told on Thursday that it can expect to see heavy equipment on site just after July 4 to start constructing a new bus loop. The new traffic pattern will be in place in time for the start of the 2016-17 academic year.

Wirtes, a member of the committee, told his colleagues that work is under way to identify which trees on the school grounds can be moved or must be removed in order to accommodate the new loop and/or the new three-story academic wing that will be erected later in the project.

Wirtes reported that at least one of the trees has been identified as having potential to be harvested to provide material for benches that will be incorporated into the renovated school.

Much of Thursday's meeting was devoted to a review of recommendations from the committee's facilities working group. Committee member Robert Ericson discussed a number of modifications to the design that the working group is recommending to the architects.

Some are intended to make the new facility more energy efficient. Others will increase functionality.

Among the latter is a recommendation that the doorway into the new nurse's office be widened to 41 inches in order to allow for easy access of wheelchairs and EMT gurneys. Another is the suggestion that locker room showers be equipped with private stalls.

On the energy front, Ericson said the working group is recommending that instead of relying on one centralized hot water heater, the school install point-of-use units for those parts of the building  like the main office  that are used year round.

The group also recommends that the areas that operate year-round, including during school vacation periods, be heated and cooled by geothermal energy.

The School Building Committee previously decided against geothermal as an option for the entire school because of the cost of installing the number of wells that would be needed. But the working group noted that the school has two existing wells that are not suitable for potable water but could be used for geothermal energy production, and, "By having the administration/central offices on a separate system, the main heating system can be turned down or off during vacations," the working group's report reads.

In other business on Thursday, the School Building Committee was informed that the final contract with Turner Construction is being reviewed by the district's counsel in the hopes of having it ready for the School Committee's approval at its Monday, June 20, meeting.
The new Local Historic District Commission is hoping to have a say in what will replace St. Francis' Church.

New Historic District Commission Wants a Say in St. Francis Property



The top of the spire is in a pile on the church lawn. A new city commission is hoping to declare the area a historic district to limit what can go there.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Efforts begun nearly three years ago to save St. Francis of Assisi Church may have come to naught, but the new Local Historic District Commission Committee is hoping to prevent anything unworthy from taking its place.



"I started this effort three years ago to save St. Francis by creating a historic district to prevent it from being demolished," said Chairman Kurt Kolok. "Obviously, we're a little late for that."



The former Catholic church, the oldest in the city, fell prey to neglect and water damage a month ago and an emergency demolition was declared to remove the landmark steeple. Closed since the beginning of 2009, interest in its future was sparked when a chain drugstore was proposed to replace the historic structure.



Kolok had been one of the advocates early on of the "Save Our Steeples" efforts but plans for the building never came to fruition. Now, he is hoping the long-awaited commission will be able salvage one of the city's main gateways.



"I hopeful that by creating a local historic district [at Union and Eagle intersection], we will have some say in what goes in its place," he told the commission at its inaugural meeting on Wednesday night.



Commissioners Paul W. Marino, Emily Schiavoni, Frances Buckley, Josh Cullen and Kolok spent the meeting prioritizing their next steps in getting the commission operating and reviewing the state-supplied guide. Once established, their next goal is to meet with Chris Skelly, director of local government programs for the Massachusetts Historical Commission.



However, much of the talk on Wednesday was about how commission might prevent the loss of its historic buildings, with St. Francis as the starting point.



Marino, a local historian and member of the Historic Commission, said city government has already has some sway over facades.



"The mayor can exert a good deal of influence," he said, pointing to the pressure put on Walmart to change its facade. "I think our mayor could the same with CVS."



Kolok said the Local Historic District Committee would work with the City Council and other boards on zoning and other regulations.



"By creating a local historic district you have more teeth ... if the property owner pushes back, you can say we have state law," he said. "The Local Historical District Committee actually has the ability to determine the exterior changes to any structure within the local historic district."



He anticipated things could happen pretty quickly since the Historical Commission has done a lot of asset work on historic structures. A district could be any size depending on the number of buildings it included.



"You can have nonconforming districts with non-historic buildings like on Eagle Street," said Colon, a member of the North Adams Historical Society. "Or do it as a single structure."



not

Editor's note: This article incorrectly described the committee as a commission and the formation of a district. It is also an advising body and the City Council will make any regulations, as was reported in earlier stories.
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artisanal sector

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gender-just, self-reliant and

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artisanal sector

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artisanal sector
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Mayo Clinic Radio On-Air 25 Years

Rochester, Minnesota - Mayo Clinic Radio began broadcasting the latest medical and research information 25 years ago, and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tom Shives has been hosting the program from the beginning.

When I designed the format, I tried to figure out what the public wanted and how we, as medical professionals, could help. I believe the public has an almost insatiable desire for medical news and information, and its important to provide the appropriate context and perspective, so listeners can make sense of it. says Dr. Shives.

Co-host Tracy McCray is a 25-year radio veteran, and together they interview Mayo Clinic physicians and researchers every week. McCray brings the laypersons perspective, helping the audience understand these subjects. Im not a medical professional, but I like to ask questions. I learn something each week from Dr. Shives and our guests. Hopefully, the listeners feel that way, too, says McCray.

Experts provide perspectives on important topics, such as cancer, heart health, transplant, neuroscience, research and healthy living. Mayo Clinic Radio is broadcast weekly on nearly 100 stations in the U.S. and Canada, and is easily accessible for consumers through social media and mobile platforms.

Radio stations interested in carrying this free medical program can contact the Mayo Clinic News Network at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Read more: Mayo Clinic Radio Celebrates 25 Years on Air.
AMA Applauds California Insurance Commissioners Stand for Preserving Health Insurance Competition in Nations Largest State

Chicago, Illinois - AMA Applauds California Insurance Commissioners Stand for Preserving Health Insurance Competition in Nations Largest State - Andrew W. Gurman, M.D. President, American Medical Association:

"The American Medical Association strongly agrees with the assessment of California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones that bigger is not better when it comes to the proposed merger of two corporate giants in the health insurance industry. We applaud the Commissioner's decision to join the AMA and a growing list of others who have strongly urged the U.S. Department of Justice to block the proposed Anthem-Cigna merger.

"The AMA commends the Commissioner for acknowledging the evidence physicians and others presented demonstrating that the Anthem-Cigna merger would likely enhance market power or raise significant competitive concerns in most of California metropolitan areas. Last March, the AMA testified before the Commissioner and warned that the takeover of Cigna by rival Anthem is an attempt to secure anticompetitive market power with long-term consequences for California's health care delivery system that would threaten health care access, quality and affordability.

"The proposed mega-merger highlights the alarming absence of health insurer competition that already exists in California and other states across the country. These areas are vulnerable to a marketplace imbalance that favors powerful health insurers. In practice, a dominant health insurer can flex market power muscle to increase premiums, water-down benefits and grow corporate profitability at the expense of high-quality care - all without fear of losing business to a competitor.

"As noted by California regulators, the proposed Anthem-Cigna merger also shines a light on the growing imbalance between individual patients and physicians and giant health insurers. According to a survey of California physicians, Anthem's and Cigna's track record in dealing openly and fairly with patients and physicians leaves much to be desired.

"The opposition of the California Insurance Commissioner comes less than a month after the proposed Aetna-Humana acquisition was opposed in Missouri when state regulators issued an order preventing the companies from doing any post-merger business in Missouri's Medicare Advantage markets and some commercial insurance markets."
How Patients Can Win With Telemedicine

Rochester, Minnesota - In an editorial in The Pioneer Press and his keynote address at this years annual American Telemedicine Association conference, Mayo Clinic president and CEO Dr. John Noseworthy asserted that the future of health care delivery is very much linked to the increased use of telemedicine. The messages are part of a Mayo Clinic effort to advance telemedicine - the remote delivery of health care through a secure video or computer link - by eliminating administrative and regulatory barriers.

In partnership with Mayo's Center for Connected Care, the Division of Government Relations and local institutional leaders have led successful efforts in Minnesota, Arizona and Wisconsin to eliminate costly barriers to the use of telemedicine. The efforts focused in large part on raising awareness among legislators of how telemedicine can increase access to care while lowering the cost of care.

In his keynote address at the American Telemedicine Association meeting in Minneapolis, Dr. Noseworthy described how Mayo Clinic is using telemedicine to enable Mayo specialists to work remotely with Mayo Clinic Care Network physicians to extend care to 10 million patients across the world. This connection helps the care network's physicians to treat patients locally 80 percent of the time, reducing the need for them to travel to a distant medical center.This prevents the typical, expensive churn and waste that can happen when a patient is referred from specialist to specialist in a local market," said Dr. Noseworthy. "Thats a win for us in health care, but most importantly, its a win for our patients. The more we can drive out waste, drive up the quality of at-home care, and improve the outcomes, the better off our patients will be.

While reiterating Mayos commitment to telemedicine in both his address and the subsequent editorial in The Pioneer Press, Dr. Noseworthy challenged elected officials to do more to reduce barriers to telemedicine. He applauded the actions of the Minnesota legislature, which, in 2015, passed two laws that eliminate some administrative barriers to advancing use of telemedicine. These laws allow telemedicine to be reimbursed as other health care services and reduce red tape for Minnesota physicians to obtain a medical license in other states. This year Mayo also advocated for similar laws that passed in both Arizona and Wisconsin.

Mayo continues to advocate for a single federal solution to advance telemedicine. In closing his editorial, Dr. Noseworthy called on policy makers and health care providers to continue to advocate for increased use of telemedicine technology, which he says has the power to transform the future of health care.

Promoting telehealth services and policies has been and will continue to be one of Mayo Clinics enterprise-wide strategic imperatives.
Six in Ten Adults Prescribed Opioid Painkillers Have Leftover Pills

Baltimore, Maryland - In the midst of an epidemic of prescription painkiller addiction and overdose deaths, a new Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health survey suggests that more than half of patients prescribed opioids have leftover pills  and many save them to use later.

The researchers, reporting June 13 in JAMA Internal Medicine, also found that nearly half of those surveyed reported receiving no information on how to safely store their medications, either to keep them from young children who could accidentally ingest them or from adolescents or other adults looking to get high. Nor were they given information on how to safely dispose of their medications. Fewer than seven percent of people with extra pills reported taking advantage of take back programs that enable patients to turn in unused pain medication either to pharmacies, police departments or the Drug Enforcement Administration for disposal.

These painkillers are much riskier than has been understood and the volume of prescribing and use has contributed to an opioid epidemic in this country, says study leader Alene Kennedy-Hendricks, PhD, an assistant scientist in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Bloomberg School. Its not clear why so many of our survey respondents reported having leftover medication, but it could be that they were prescribed more medication than they needed.

Says the studys senior author Colleen L. Barry, PhD, MPP, a professor who directs Bloombergs Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy Research: The fact that people are sharing their leftover prescription painkillers at such high rates is a big concern. Its fine to give a friend a Tylenol if theyre having pain but its not fine to give your OxyContin to someone without a prescription.

Over the past decade, there has been a sharp increase in the rates of prescription painkiller addiction and overdose deaths. Drug overdose  the majority of which involve opioid pain relievers  was the leading cause of injury death in 2014 among people between the ages of 25 and 64, and drug overdose has surpassed car crashes as the leading cause of injury death among this group.

In March, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged doctors to avoid prescribing powerful opioid painkillers for patients with chronic pain, saying the risks from such drugs outweigh the benefits for most people. Prolonged use of these medications can lead to addiction, putting people at much higher risk for overdose and raising the risk of heroin use since it is cheaper, worsening the heroin epidemic.

For the study, a collaboration between the Johns Hopkins Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy Research and the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy, the researchers used GfKs KnowledgePanel to construct a national sample of 1,032 U.S. adults who had used prescription painkillers in the previous year. The survey was fielded in February and March 2015. Among those who were no longer using prescription pain relievers at the time of survey (592 respondents), 60.6 percent reported having leftover pills and 61.3 percent of those with leftover pills said they had kept them for future use rather than disposing of them.

Among all respondents, one in five reported theyd shared their medication with another person, with a large number saying they gave them to someone who needed them for pain. Nearly 14 percent said they were likely to share their prescription painkillers with a family member in the future and nearly eight percent said they would share with a close friend.

Fewer than 10 percent said they kept their opioid pain medication in a locked location. Nearly half said they werent given information on safe storage or proper disposal of leftover medication. More than 69 percent of those who got instructions said they had received information about turning over the remaining medication to a pharmacist or a take back program, but few actually did. Fewer than 10 percent reported throwing leftover medication out in the trash after mixing it with something inedible like used coffee grounds, a safe method for disposing of medication.

Kennedy-Hendricks says that physicians should, when prescribing these medications, discuss the inappropriateness of sharing and how to safely store and dispose of them.

We dont make it easy for people to get rid of these medications, she says. We need to do a better job so that we can reduce the risks not only to patients but to their family members.

Says Barry: Were at a watershed moment. Until recently, we have treated these medications like theyre not dangerous. But the public, the medical community and policymakers are now beginning to understand that these are dangerous medications and need to be treated as such. If we dont change our approach, we are going to continue to see the epidemic grow.

Medication sharing, storage, and disposal practice among U.S. adults with recent opioid medication use was written by Alene Kennedy-Hendricks, PhD; Andrea Gielen, ScD; Eileen McDonald, MS; Emma E. McGinty, PhD, MS; Wendy Shields, MPH; and Colleen L. Barry, PhD, MPP. This study was supported by an unrestricted research grant from AIG.
AMA Urges Equal Health Care Access for Eating Disorders

Chicago, Illinois - The American Medical Association (AMA) adopted new policy urging equal health care access and payment for eating disorders. Although current federal law mandates parity in benefit levels for eating disorders, many payers do not offer parity of services, effectively excluding eating disorders from mental health parity.

"Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, but too often a patient's care is determined by their insurance company instead of their health needs," said former AMA Board Chair Barbara L. McAneny, M.D. "With only one in 10 patients with an eating disorder receiving treatment and with psychological intervention widely accepted as a critical component of care, ensuring mental health parity in benefits will save lives."

The policy builds on existing AMA policy related to eating disorders, mental health parity and body image. The AMA already encourages payment for physical and behavioral health care services on the same day and for Medicaid to pay for those services in school settings. Additionally, the AMA supports increased funding for research on diagnosis, prevention and treatment of eating disorders, including research on the effectiveness of school-based primary prevention programs for pre-adolescent children and their parents.
Watch: Snake Attacks Owner As She Tries To Release It From Cage
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Anton Yelchin's passing is one so remorselessly cruel. Dead at age 27; he leaves behind both an incredible career and the awful, lingering loss of everything he was set to achieve.

He was an actor beloved for his work, beloved by those who worked with him; a rising star robbed of the opportunity to climb to his pinnacle due to the machinations of fate. This summer will see the release of Star Trek Beyond, where Yelchin returned to the role he'll forever be most fondly remembered for; the 17-year-old Russian prodigy and navigator of the USS Enterprise.

The rebooted Star Trek movies always played to Yelchin's strengths; his gentleness, his charm remained irresistible. He played Chekov's wide-eyed nerves with boundless energy, yet those eyes could in turn capture a fragility that lent itself so earnestly to sincere drama.

Even in his moments of early promise as a young child actor, he shone; Yelchin was the kind of actor who stamped a mark on every role he played, no matter how minor, yet stayed effortlessly generous in his presence. It's awful to think about what we had yet to see from him, but comforting to remind ourselves how much he had given in his short time with us.



Green Room (2015); dir. Jeremy Saulnier



Yelchin still has several roles yet to hit screens, though his most recent is a perfect reminder of his talent: Jeremy Saulnier's frighteningly thrilling Green Room, pitching a young punk band against a horde of neo-Nazis, led by Darcy Banker (Patrick Stewart).

As an actor, he always seemed at home with this kind of genre film. His looks capturing the boy-next-door vibe, tinged with just a touch of the haunted quality; here well-suited to the role of the band's sullen bassist.



Taken (2002); TV Mini-series

Steven Spielberg's science fiction miniseries Taken, which aired in 2002, proved Yelchin's first real opportunity to shine as an actor; outside his memorable comedic turn as the self-described kid magician, who only knew one card trick, on Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm.

In Taken, he played the young Jacob Clarke, a cripplingly shy, alien-human hybrid; yet in possession of vast psychic powers and an ethereal precociousness the young actor was perfectly adept at capturing.



Only Lovers Left Alive (2013): Jim Jarmusch



Even when sharing the screen with immortal vampires, Yelchin's presence was still utterly enrapturing. In Jim Jarmusch's comedically nihilistic, charmingly morbid Only Lovers Left Alive, the actor played human assistant to Tom Hiddleston's wearied neckbiter Adam.

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Loveable in his dog-like loyalty, mixed with an utter obliviousness to Adam's vampiric nature; Yelchin's Ian was also the subject of the film's best punchline, when Adam scolds a churlish, young vampire with, "You drank Ian. You drank Ian."



Charlie Bartlett (2007); dir. Jon Poll



Yelchin may have been headed towards the great league of character actors, but he still had a charm that primed him as leading man; already proven so early in his career, when he took up the role of Charlie Bartlett's titular prodigy.

A wealthy, but rebellious teen, Charlie's string of expulsions land him in public school; where his natural charisma spawns a career in prescription drug dealing and psychotherapy.

Though the film was intended, in many ways, to be one of Robert Downey Jr.'s catalogue of comeback roles - here playing the embittered alcoholic Principal Nathan Gardner - it was Yelchin who soon proved to be the film's true heart.



Odd Thomas (2014); dir. Stephen Sommers



Another example of Yelchin's stellar work in the horror genre, alongside a lead in 2011's Fright Night remake, Odd Thomas served the actor with another chance to fight the supernatural and become the hero of the hour.

His titular character may only be a small-town fry cook, but his ability to see the dead soon pushes him into saviour mode, after evil forces only he can comprehend threaten disaster of apocalyptic proportions. Stephen Sommer's goofy mystery wasn't the best-received film of Yelchin's career, but his enigmatic turn still makes it extremely watchable, and proves he had an innate ability to hoist up everything around him.



Like Crazy (2001); dir. Drake Doremus



It's hard to decipher which will be heralded as the best performance of his career; a combination of being so consistently good, and the tragedy that he was never offered the showy, prestige role that would have made him instantly iconic.

Yet, Yelchin was never quite as raw, or present, as he was in Drake Doremus' Like Crazy. A film which remastered the romantic comedy in its most brutally realistic, tenderly relatable form; with Yelchin and Felicity Jones in that familiar dance of the death of the long-distance relationship, as a British student is taken from her American love after she's banned from the USA for overstaying her visa.
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To say theres a lot of anticipation around the upcoming Han Solo spin-off film would be a huge understatement.

Harrison Fords loveable rogue is one of the most iconic film characters in the galaxy, so anyone looking to fill his shoes has a monumental task on their hands.

Since the film was announced, speculation over who will play the young Han Solo has been unprecedented, with every young, good-looking male actor under the sun having auditioned for the part.

One of them was Charlie Cox, star of Netflixs Daredevil. In the show, he plays the titular superhero who becomes superpowered after being blinded by chemicals at a young age.

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Cox, however, is not blind and unfortunately, when the Star Wars audition took place, he forgot that Han Solo isnt blind like Daredevil.

I had gone to an audition  one of those things that are super secretive and they dont tell you, but Im pretty sure it was for the Han Solo reboot and halfway through it, the casting director stopped me and said, Why arent you looking at me? he told The Hollywood Reporter.

I realised I had gotten into a habit of not making eye contact, because the only thing I had done for two years is play someone who is blind. I never got invited back, probably because they couldnt figure out why I was acting like a complete idiot.

While not confirmed, it is widely thought that Alden Ehrenreich will play the next Han Solo, and may even cameo in the upcoming Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. That spin-off has recently been ongoing reshoots, something that star Mads Mikkelsen recently commented on.
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Fresh from the festival circuit, War on Everyone - the new one from Irish director John Michael McDonagh - has a brand new trailer.

The Calvary director's new crime comedy follows two corrupt New Mexico cops who plot to frame and blackmail every criminal that comes their way.

Alexander Skarsgard and Michael Pena head up the cast alongside Theo James (Divergent), Caleb Landry Jones (X-Men: First Class) and Tessa Thompson who will also be seen in new HBO series Westworld.

Berlin Film Festival 2016 buzz films Show all 8 1 /8 Berlin Film Festival 2016 buzz films Berlin Film Festival 2016 buzz films Alone in Berlin Berlin Film Festival 2016 buzz films The Commune Berlin Film Festival 2016 buzz films Genius Berlin Film Festival 2016 buzz films Midnight Special Berlin Film Festival 2016 buzz films Shepherds and Butchers Berlin Film Festival 2016 buzz films Things to Come Berlin Film Festival 2016 buzz films War on Everyone Berlin Film Festival 2016 buzz films Zero Days

Former True Blood actor Skarsgard will next be seen in The Legend of Tarzan. Pena, who also played a cop in David Ayer drama End of Watch, had a memorable supporting role in last year's Marvel film Ant-Man.

McDonagh - whose brother Martin wrote and directed In Bruges - is the man behind The Guard which paired Brendan Gleeson with Don Cheadle in 2011.

War on Everyone will be released 30 September.
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Algeria has blocked Facebook and other social networks in an attempt to stop people cheating in exams.

The country has taken the decision to cut off access to social networks after papers and exam questions were leaked online. The decision comes ahead of the beginning of retakes of some important exams after they were already leaked, and the government said that it had taken the decision so that people would no longer be able to share leaked papers.

Earlier this month, police arrested dozens of people in an attempt to find out how parts of high school exams had made it onto social media.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

People are unable to access sites including Facebook and Twitter over both normal internet connections and 3G services.

In a statement Sunday, the Ministry of Post and Information and Communication Technology said that the "cut of social networks has a direct relationship with the matriculation exams" which begin Sunday. It said that it had made the move to protect students from phony topics that were being circulated online.

Recommended Read more The Facebook of the future will be powered by telepathic thoughts

Officials said that it had taken the decisions because the papers being circulated were false and so would give students the wrong impression.

No other parts of the internet have been affected, meaning that people are still able to communicate  and potentially cheat  in private.
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A plane that is flying around the world without using a single bit of fuel is about to set out on of the hardest parts of its journey.

The ultra-light Solar Impulse 2, which shelters its pilots inside a tiny cabin, took off from New York on a trip that could take up to 90 hours. The journey to Spain  the 15th leg of the journey  is one of the longest and most arduous, taking the plane all of the way across the Atlantic in one go.

Swiss aviator Bertrand Piccard will be flying the plane on the current transatlantic flight. Mr Piccard has been sharing responsibilities with Andre Borschberg, taking turns to fly the plane on its way around the world.

Climate change protests around the world Show all 25 1 /25 Climate change protests around the world Climate change protests around the world People rally to promote climate protection in Rome, Italy Climate change protests around the world Hundreds of demonstrators gather in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world People hold hands to form a human chain during a gathering called by ecologist organisations in Marseille, southern France, to protest against global warming a day ahead of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP21) held in Paris Climate change protests around the world Demonstrators clash with French riot police during protests on Place de la Republique, ahead of the COP21 World Climate Change Conference 2015 in Paris, France Climate change protests around the world Demonstrators clash with French riot police during a protest on Place de la Republique ahead of the COP21 World Climate Change Conference 2015 in Paris, France Climate change protests around the world A group of people perform during a rally to promote climate protection in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Climate change protests around the world A protester sits next to his sign that reads 'Monsanto the Devil Incorporated ' as he joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world Environmentalists dance during a protest near the Place de la Republique after the cancellation of a planned climate march following shootings in the French capital, ahead of the World Climate Change Conference 2015 (COP21), in Paris, France Reuters Climate change protests around the world People protest next to characters dressed as wild animals during a march against climate change near the Monument to the Revolution, in Mexico City AP Climate change protests around the world Protesters carries a banner while they take part in a protest about climate change at New York City Hall steps in lower Manhattan, New York Reuters Climate change protests around the world People take part in a protest about climate change around New York City Hall at lower Manhattan, New York Reuters Climate change protests around the world People rally to promote climate protection in Piazza Castello, Turin, Italy Climate change protests around the world A woman holds a globe during a protest for the global climate day in Lugano, Switzerland Climate change protests around the world Yemenis hold banners as they participate in the Global March for Climate in the old city of Sanaia, Yemen Climate change protests around the world Protesters dressed as Santa Claus take part in a protest about climate change at New York City Hall steps in lower Manhattan, New York Reuters Climate change protests around the world People gather at the Legislative Palace in Montevideo, during the Global Climate March to demand action on climate change telling world leaders on the eve of a crunch UN summit that there is "no planet B". From Sydney to London, humid Rio to chilly New York, at least 683,000 hit the streets in 2,300 events across 175 countries at the weekend, co-organiser and campaign group Avaaz said, calling it the largest number of people to protest over climate change all at once Getty Images Climate change protests around the world Climate change protests around the world Demonstrators participate in the Global March for Climate in Athens, Greece Climate change protests around the world A man wearing a Bernie Sanders mask leads hundreds of demonstrators who marched near City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world Patricia Hauser joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California Climate change protests around the world A woman holds a poster of a sick Earth as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world Hundreds of demonstrators march around City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world A demonstrator holds cut-out of US Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world George Patten holds a sign that reads 'No Fracking Ever!' as he joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA Climate change protests around the world Gabrielle Sosa wears 'Rising Sea Levels' sign as she joined hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of City Hall in Los Angeles, California EPA

Solar Impulse 2 is being used as a way to demonstrate the power of renewable energies and to highlight the value of using them. It uses more than 17,000 solar cells mounted across a huge wing span, allowing the plane to fly for hours without a single drop of traditional fuel.

Because the plane flies so slowly, the two pilots have taken up meditation and hypnosis so that they can stay awake and alert through the long journeys.

The plane will land sometime on Thursday, either in Spain or France. Where exactly the current leg finishes will depend on the weather.

The plan has four solar-powered engines and takes power from four batteries that can store up surplus energy. It weighs as much as and travels about the same speed as a family car.

The trip began in Abu Dhabi in March 2015, and hopes to return to the United Arab Emirates to finish its journey around the world. It has stopped over for rests and promotional opportunities in Oman, Myanmar, China and Japan.
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JJ Abrams has lead tributes to the late Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin - commending him as supremely talented in a handwritten letter.

Yelchin, who is best known for playing the character Chekov in two Star Trek movies, was killed by his own car at his home in Los Angeles.

Police said the 27-year-old actor stepped out of his car on the steep driveway of his home and the car rolled backwards, pinning him against a brick postbox pillar and a security fence. He died shortly afterwards at 1am on Sunday (19 June).

Renowned Star Trek director, Abrams paid homage to Yelchin.

Anton, you were brilliant, he wrote. You were kind. You were funny as hell, and supremely talented. And you werent here nearly long enough.

Notable deaths in 2016 Show all 42 1 /42 Notable deaths in 2016 Notable deaths in 2016 Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer, businesswoman, film historian, and humanitarian. She died on December 28 in Los Angeles Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Actress Carrie Fisher died on December 27 aged 60 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Comedian and Actor Ricky Harris died on December 26 aged 54 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 British singer George Michael died on 25 December aged 53 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Rick Parfitt OBE was an English musician, best known for being a singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist in the rock band Status Quo. He died on December 24 in Marbella, Spain Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Lord Jenkin of Roding died at the age of 90 on the 21 December PA wire Notable deaths in 2016 Rabbi Lionel Blue died on the 19 December Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Zsa Zsa Gabor died on December 18 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Leonard Cohen died on 7 November Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Grand secretary of the Orange Order Drew Nelson died on 10 October aged 60 after a short illness PA Notable deaths in 2016 Aaron Pryor, the relentless junior welterweight died Sunday, Oct. 9, at the age of 60 at his home in Cincinnati after a long battle with heart disease AP Notable deaths in 2016 Polish Director Andrzej Wajda died on October 9, aged 90 Reuters Notable deaths in 2016 Stylianos Pattakos has died following a stroke on 8th October. He was 103 years old. AP Notable deaths in 2016 Dickie Jeeps, was an English rugby union player who played for Northampton. He represented and captained both the England national rugby union team and the British Lions in the 1950s and 1960s. He died on 8th October. He was 84 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Duke of Westminster Billionaire landowner the Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor has died on 9 August, aged 64 Rex Features Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Knudsen Sir Roger Moores stepdaughter Christina Knudsen has died from cancer on 25 July at teh age of 47 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Caroline Aherne The actress Caroline Aherne has died from cancer on 2 July at the age of 52 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Grimmie Christina Grimmie, 22, who was an American singer and songwriter, known for her participation in the NBC singing competition The Voice, was signing autographs at a concert venue in Orlando on 10 June when an assailant shot her. Grimmie was transported to a local hospital where she died from her wounds on 11 June Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Kimbo Slice Former UFC and Bellator MMA fighter Kimbo Slice died after being admitted to hospital in Florida on 6 June, aged 42 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Muhammad Ali The three-time former heavyweight world champion died after being admitted to hospital with a respiratory illness on 3 June, aged 74 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Sally Brampton Brampton who was the launch editor of the UK edition of Elle magazine has died on 10 May, aged 60 Grant Triplow/REX/Shutterstock Notable deaths in 2016 Billy Paul The soul singer Billy Paul, who was best known for his single Me and Mrs Jones, has died on 24 April, aged 81 Noel Vasquez/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Prince Prince, the legendary musician, has been found dead at his Paisley Park recording studio on 21 April. He was 57 Notable deaths in 2016 Chyna WWE icon Joan Laurer dies aged 45 after being found at California home on 20 April Notable deaths in 2016 Victoria Wood The five-time Bafta-winning actress and comedian Victoria Wood has died on 20 April at her London home after a short illness with cancer. She was 62 Notable deaths in 2016 David Gest The entertainer and former husband of Liza Minnelli, David Gest has been found dead on 12 April in the Four Seasons hotel in Canary Warf, London. He was 62-years-old PA Notable deaths in 2016 Denise Robertson Denise Robertson, an agony aunt on This Morning for over 30 years, has died on 1 April, aged 83 Notable deaths in 2016 Zaha Hadid Dame Zaha Hadid, the prominent architect best known for designs such as the London Olympic Aquatic Centre and the Guangzhou Opera House, has died of a heart attack on 31 March, aged 65 2010 AFP Notable deaths in 2016 Ronnie Corbett British entertainer Ronnie Corbett has passed away on 31 March at the age of 85 2014 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Imre Kertesz Hungarian writer and Holocaust survivor Imre Kertesz, who won the 2002 Nobel Literature Prize, has died on 31 March, at the age of 86 REUTERS Notable deaths in 2016 Rob Ford Rob Ford, the former controversial mayor of Toronto, has died following a battle with a rare form of cancer. The 46-year-old passed away at the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto on 22 March Notable deaths in 2016 Joey Feek Joey (left) passed away in March after a two-year cancer illness. She was part of country music duo, Joey + Rory, with her husband Rory (right) Jason Merritt/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Umberto Eco Italian writer and philosopher Umberto Eco died 19 February 2016 aged 84 EPA Notable deaths in 2016 Harper Lee Harper Lee, the American novelist known for writing 'To Kill a Mockingbird', died February 19, 2016 aged 89 2005 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Vanity Vanity, pictured performing in 1983, died aged 57 REX Features Notable deaths in 2016 Dave Mirra The BMX legend's body found inside truck with gunshot wound after apparent suicide aged 41 Notable deaths in 2016 Harry Harpham The former miner became Sheffield Labour MP in May after many years as a local councillor. He died after succumbing to cancer, at the age of 61. Notable deaths in 2016 Dale Griffin The Mott the Hoople drummer died on January 17, aged 67 REX Notable deaths in 2016 Rene Angelil Celine Dion's husband and manager Rene Angelil has lost his battle with cancer on 14 January, aged 73 2011 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Alan Rickman Legendary actor Alan Rickman has died on 14 January at the age of 69 after battle with pancreatic cancer. He is largely regarded as one of the most beloved British actors of our generation with roles in Love Actually, Die Hard, Michael Collins, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and an illustrious stage career 2015 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Maurice White The Earth, Wind & Fire founder died aged 74. The nine-piece band sold more than 90 million albums worldwide and won six Grammy awards Notable deaths in 2016 Lawrence Phillips Former NFL star found dead in prison cell on 13 January in suspected suicide, aged 40 AFP/Getty Images

Yelchin played Russian specialist Pavel Chekov in the 2009 Star Trek reboot, 2013 Star Trek Into Darkness and the forthcoming Star Trek Beyond set to open on 22 July.

In a 2009 interview with The Guardian, Yelchin said, With Star Trek I wanted to work with JJ Abrams because I think hes great at the kind of things he does.

John Cho, who plays Sulu in the current Star Trek series, also paid tribute to Yelchin.

I loved Anton Yelchin so much, Cho said. He was a true artist - curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. Im in ruins.

Born in Russia to the parents of two figure skaters, Abrams managed to build a career which comprised of both blockbusters and independent films. He was widely viewed as a rising star within the industry.
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A freak accident.

That how police in Los Angeles described the incident on Sunday morning that killed Anton Yelchin, a 27-year-old actor best known for playing the character Chekov in two Star Trek movies.

Police said that Yeltsin died at around 1am after he apparently stepped out of his car on the steep driveway of his home and it rolled backwards.

Police are investigating the circumstances of the accident (AP)

The car pinned him against a brick wall and a security fence and that trauma led to his death, Jenny Houser, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department, told Reuters.

As news of the Russian-born actors death spread, people who knew him paid tributes to a man whose parents had moved to the US from Moscow.

Still in shock. Rest in peace, Anton, tweeted Justin Lin, who directed Yelchin in his third Star Trek movie. Your passion and enthusiasm will live on with everyone that had the pleasure of knowing you.

John Cho, who plays Sulu in the current Star Trek series, said: I loved Anton Yelchin so much. He was a true artist - curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. Im in ruins.

 Star Trek TV series 2016 - First trailer

The actor was best known as playing Chekov in the Star Trek movie series, including 2009s Star Trek, 2013s Star Trek Into Darkness and the upcoming Star Trek Beyond, set to open on July 22.

Yelchin was born in Russia, the son of two figure skaters, and emigrated to the United States as an infant. He also toyed with the idea of a career as a figure skater but decided against such a move. He had appeared in numerous films and was in the TV series Huff.

Notable deaths in 2016 Show all 42 1 /42 Notable deaths in 2016 Notable deaths in 2016 Debbie Reynolds was an American actress, singer, businesswoman, film historian, and humanitarian. She died on December 28 in Los Angeles Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Actress Carrie Fisher died on December 27 aged 60 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Comedian and Actor Ricky Harris died on December 26 aged 54 Rex Notable deaths in 2016 British singer George Michael died on 25 December aged 53 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Rick Parfitt OBE was an English musician, best known for being a singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist in the rock band Status Quo. He died on December 24 in Marbella, Spain Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Lord Jenkin of Roding died at the age of 90 on the 21 December PA wire Notable deaths in 2016 Rabbi Lionel Blue died on the 19 December Rex Notable deaths in 2016 Zsa Zsa Gabor died on December 18 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Leonard Cohen died on 7 November Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Grand secretary of the Orange Order Drew Nelson died on 10 October aged 60 after a short illness PA Notable deaths in 2016 Aaron Pryor, the relentless junior welterweight died Sunday, Oct. 9, at the age of 60 at his home in Cincinnati after a long battle with heart disease AP Notable deaths in 2016 Polish Director Andrzej Wajda died on October 9, aged 90 Reuters Notable deaths in 2016 Stylianos Pattakos has died following a stroke on 8th October. He was 103 years old. AP Notable deaths in 2016 Dickie Jeeps, was an English rugby union player who played for Northampton. He represented and captained both the England national rugby union team and the British Lions in the 1950s and 1960s. He died on 8th October. He was 84 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Duke of Westminster Billionaire landowner the Duke of Westminster, Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor has died on 9 August, aged 64 Rex Features Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Knudsen Sir Roger Moores stepdaughter Christina Knudsen has died from cancer on 25 July at teh age of 47 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Caroline Aherne The actress Caroline Aherne has died from cancer on 2 July at the age of 52 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Christina Grimmie Christina Grimmie, 22, who was an American singer and songwriter, known for her participation in the NBC singing competition The Voice, was signing autographs at a concert venue in Orlando on 10 June when an assailant shot her. Grimmie was transported to a local hospital where she died from her wounds on 11 June Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Kimbo Slice Former UFC and Bellator MMA fighter Kimbo Slice died after being admitted to hospital in Florida on 6 June, aged 42 Getty Notable deaths in 2016 Muhammad Ali The three-time former heavyweight world champion died after being admitted to hospital with a respiratory illness on 3 June, aged 74 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Sally Brampton Brampton who was the launch editor of the UK edition of Elle magazine has died on 10 May, aged 60 Grant Triplow/REX/Shutterstock Notable deaths in 2016 Billy Paul The soul singer Billy Paul, who was best known for his single Me and Mrs Jones, has died on 24 April, aged 81 Noel Vasquez/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Prince Prince, the legendary musician, has been found dead at his Paisley Park recording studio on 21 April. He was 57 Notable deaths in 2016 Chyna WWE icon Joan Laurer dies aged 45 after being found at California home on 20 April Notable deaths in 2016 Victoria Wood The five-time Bafta-winning actress and comedian Victoria Wood has died on 20 April at her London home after a short illness with cancer. She was 62 Notable deaths in 2016 David Gest The entertainer and former husband of Liza Minnelli, David Gest has been found dead on 12 April in the Four Seasons hotel in Canary Warf, London. He was 62-years-old PA Notable deaths in 2016 Denise Robertson Denise Robertson, an agony aunt on This Morning for over 30 years, has died on 1 April, aged 83 Notable deaths in 2016 Zaha Hadid Dame Zaha Hadid, the prominent architect best known for designs such as the London Olympic Aquatic Centre and the Guangzhou Opera House, has died of a heart attack on 31 March, aged 65 2010 AFP Notable deaths in 2016 Ronnie Corbett British entertainer Ronnie Corbett has passed away on 31 March at the age of 85 2014 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Imre Kertesz Hungarian writer and Holocaust survivor Imre Kertesz, who won the 2002 Nobel Literature Prize, has died on 31 March, at the age of 86 REUTERS Notable deaths in 2016 Rob Ford Rob Ford, the former controversial mayor of Toronto, has died following a battle with a rare form of cancer. The 46-year-old passed away at the Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto on 22 March Notable deaths in 2016 Joey Feek Joey (left) passed away in March after a two-year cancer illness. She was part of country music duo, Joey + Rory, with her husband Rory (right) Jason Merritt/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Umberto Eco Italian writer and philosopher Umberto Eco died 19 February 2016 aged 84 EPA Notable deaths in 2016 Harper Lee Harper Lee, the American novelist known for writing 'To Kill a Mockingbird', died February 19, 2016 aged 89 2005 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Vanity Vanity, pictured performing in 1983, died aged 57 REX Features Notable deaths in 2016 Dave Mirra The BMX legend's body found inside truck with gunshot wound after apparent suicide aged 41 Notable deaths in 2016 Harry Harpham The former miner became Sheffield Labour MP in May after many years as a local councillor. He died after succumbing to cancer, at the age of 61. Notable deaths in 2016 Dale Griffin The Mott the Hoople drummer died on January 17, aged 67 REX Notable deaths in 2016 Rene Angelil Celine Dion's husband and manager Rene Angelil has lost his battle with cancer on 14 January, aged 73 2011 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Alan Rickman Legendary actor Alan Rickman has died on 14 January at the age of 69 after battle with pancreatic cancer. He is largely regarded as one of the most beloved British actors of our generation with roles in Love Actually, Die Hard, Michael Collins, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and an illustrious stage career 2015 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2016 Maurice White The Earth, Wind & Fire founder died aged 74. The nine-piece band sold more than 90 million albums worldwide and won six Grammy awards Notable deaths in 2016 Lawrence Phillips Former NFL star found dead in prison cell on 13 January in suspected suicide, aged 40 AFP/Getty Images

Hank Azaria, who acted in Huff with Yelchin, said on Twitter that he was devastated by the news of his death. He was a very sweet kid. My heart goes out to his family.

Early in his film career as a teenager, Yelchin gained wide attention when he appeared with Anthony Hopkins in the film Hearts in Atlantis in 2001, and with Robin Williams in the House of D in 2004.

Yelchin played Jacob Clarke in the Steven Spielberg miniseries Taken, said the news agency, and also appeared in the films Terminator, Salvation, Charlie Bartlett, Fright Night, Like Crazy, and Only Lovers Left Alive between 2007 and 2013.

I loved the improvisation part of it the most, because it was a lot like just playing around with stuff. There was something about it that I just felt completely comfortable doing and happy doing, Yelchin told the AP in 2011 while promoting the romantic drama Like Crazy. He starred opposite Felicity Jones.

(My father) still wanted me to apply to college and stuff, and I did. But this is what I wanted.

Yelchin was on his way to meet friends for a rehearsal, police said. When he did not show up, the group came to his home and found him dead.
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Britain is fed up with having Julian Assange hiding in an embassy in London to avoid extradition, the Ecuadorian government has been told.

The Wikileaks founder is seen by his supporters as a political prisoner who has been effectively imprisoned without charge for four years in the Ecuadorian embassy.

But the British authorities say that he hid there of his own free will to avoid facing the possibility of having to appear in a Swedish court charged with sex offences.

Recommended Read more Swedish court upholds arrest warrant for Julian Assange

Hugo Swire, the Foreign Office minister responsible for relations with Latin America, has met Ecuadors new Foreign Minister Guillaime Long, who was on a visit to London.

During a blunt conversation in the Foreign Office, Mr Swire demanded that the Ecuadorians allow a Swedish prosecutor to enter their embassy to question Mr Assange.

After the meeting, Mr Swire said: Four years after voluntarily entering the Ecuadorian Embassy, Julian Assange remains there, with a European Arrest Warrant in connection with a serious sexual offence allegation still outstanding.

We continue to be deeply frustrated by the lack of progress in this case. I personally expressed to Foreign Minister Long my sincere hope that Ecuador will soon facilitate the Swedish Prosecutors request to interview Mr Assange in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London. It is important that this case is finally brought to a close.

Mr Assange has been living in a makeshift bedroom in the embassy, in Kensington, since 12 June 2012. The start of his fifth year holed up in the building was marked by supporters around the world, who see him as a political prisoner.

Mr Assange was involved in the publication by Wikileaks of 500,000 US military files, and fears that he would face a long prison sentence were he to come into the hands of US law enforcers.

In 2010, two women complained of being sexually assaulted by him while he visiting Sweden. He denies the allegations.

After extradition proceedings began in the UK, Mr Assange alleged that this was a step towards handing him over to the US authorities, and took refuge in the Ecuadorian embassy to avoid being returned to Sweden.
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JK Rowling has accused Nigel Farage of using Nazi-style propaganda to win the EU referendum.

In an essay published on her website, titled "On Monsters, Villains the EU Referendum," the Harry Potter author argues it is "nonsensical to pretend that racists and bigots aren't flocking to the 'Leave' cause, or that they aren't, in some instances, directing it".

She wrote: "The picture of Nigel Farage standing in front of a poster showing a winding line of Syrian refugees captioned 'Breaking Point' is, as countless people have already pointed out, an almost exact duplicate of propaganda used by the Nazis."

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

Mr Farage was widely condemned when he unveiled a poster showing a winding queue of refugees stretching into the distance.

The poster carried the headline "Breaking Point" and said "The EU has failed us all". It has been reported to police under the pretext it allegedly incites racial hatred.

In her essay, Ms Rowling writes: "It is dishonourable to suggest, as many have, that Leavers are all racists and bigots: they arent and it is shameful to suggest that they are.

"Nevertheless, it is equally nonsensical to pretend that racists and bigots arent flocking to the Leave cause, or that they arent, in some instances, directing it. For some of us, that fact alone is enough to give us pause."

 EU kiss-a-thon for UK to stay

The author urges her readers to "look towards the Republican Party in America and shudder," and describes Donald Trump as a "fascist in all but name".

She goes on to write: "No, I dont think the EUs perfect. Which human union couldnt use improvement?

"From friendships, marriages, families and workplaces, all the way up to political parties, governments and cultural economic unions, there will be flaws and disagreements. Because were human."

She adds: "So why bother building these ambitious alliances and communities? Because they protect and empower us, because they enable bigger and better achievements than we can manage alone.

"We should be proud of our enduring desire to join together, seeking better, safer, fairer lives, for ourselves and for millions of others."
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Gwyneth Paltrow has been criticised by a fan for only paying tribute to the male victims of the Orlando mass shooting.

The 43-year-old actress shared a photo of Coldplays concert at Wembley Stadium on Instagram on Saturday.

The image showed rainbow coloured confetti drifting over the crowd in tribute to the 49 people who were killed and 53 who were injured in Orlando, Florida just over a week ago. Gunman Omar Mateen stormed an LGBT nightclub on 12 June in what has been labelled the biggest mass shooting in modern US history.

The nightclub is a well-known gay club in the area and the majority of the victims were members of the local LGBT community.

Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes Show all 7 1 /7 Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes On healthy eating 'I'd rather smoke crack than eat cheese from a can' Theo Wargo/Getty Images for NBC Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes On hitting 40 You can still find yourself at a party at 3am, but you also know enough about who you are and how that informs the choices you make. Steven Henry/Getty Images Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes On maintaining a close relationship with ex husband Chris Martin: Were still very much a family, even though we dont have a romantic relationship. Hes like my brother. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images) Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes On her travel routine: When I land [from a flight] I try to find a sauna to sit in for 20 minutes to help me sweat out all the germs from the plane. Getty Images Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes On the Hollywood Gender Pay Gap: Your salary is a way to quantify what youre worth. If men are paid a lot more for doing the same thing, it feels shitty. Getty Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes On not caring what people think: I dont hold on to fear as much as I used to, because Ive learned a lot about genuinely not caring what strangers think about me. Its very liberating, Its very empowering. Getty Gwyneth Paltrow in quotes On the Met Gala (2013): Im never going again. It was so un-fun. It was boiling. It was too crowded. I did not enjoy it at all. Getty

Paltrow captioned the photo: Rainbow cloud of confetti during #everytearawaterfall made my heartbreak again for the beautiful men of Orlando who senselessly lost their lives. #orlando.

A fan immediately commented on the same photo and wrote: Because only men are gay, right?

Paltrow quickly edited her post so it now reads, For the beautiful men and women, and the fan also deleted their comment.

A representative for Paltrow did not immediately respond to request for comment.
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Why are we asking this now?

Because one of the central arguments of the pro-Remain camp is that Brexit will inevitably leave people worse off relative to staying in the EU. The Leave camp, on the other hand, generally insist Brexit would leave us no poorer  and could even make us more prosperous than if we stay in the 28 state bloc.

Why would Brexit make us worse off?

There are two parts to the argument  and it is important to distinguish them. The first is that the immediate financial and economic shock of a Brexit vote on 23 June would damage confidence, cost jobs and even possibly lead to a recession  all within the next few months. This is the warning that has been sounded by the Treasury, the International Monetary Fund and even the Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney.

The second part of the argument is that in the longer term  over the next 15 or so years - not being in the European Union would mean the economy does not grow as much as it otherwise would. This is the analysis that has been made by independent organisations such as the London School of Economics and The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR).

It has also been made by the Treasury. The Treasurys central estimate is that Brexit would make GDP lower by 6.2 per cent in 2030 relative to staying in, equivalent to 4,300 for every UK household today. This is the amount by which George Osborne says UK households would be worse off as a result of Brexit.

 All you need to know about the EU referendum

What do the Brexit camp say to about these economic warnings?

They dismiss them as baseless scaremongering. Some among the Leave camp tacitly accept that there would be some short-term disruption  but they say the pain would be short-lived. They also claim that the long-term economic forecasts of Brexit are based on erroneous assumptions. They also point out that the UK would not have to make a contribution to the annual EU budget anymore, claiming we would benefit by being able to spend up to 9bn more a year on the National Health Service or other services and subsidies.

So why could leaving the EU hurt living standards?

The Remain camp claim that, in the short term, the economic uncertainty generated by a leave vote would damage confidence, which would cause a sharp cut back in investment by households and businesses. This would directly damage overall output, which would cost jobs and hit incomes. The Institute for Fiscal Studies, using these projections, calculate that this would mean lower tax revenues than otherwise, meaning the Government would have to prolong austerity for a further two years beyond 2020 in order to bring the states budget into balance.

And in the longer term?

The story of damage here is more complex. Economists argue that outside the European single market for goods the UK would trade less with Europe. They say that trade, historically, has been shown to boost domestic productivity through the ratchet of free market competition and that productivity growth boosts overall GDP growth. They argue that less trade would mean less productivity growth which would mean less GDP growth which would mean lower wages and incomes than otherwise.

21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Show all 21 1 /21 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Portugal drinks more wine than France Tindo - Fotolia 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Young Italians, by some distance, are the most likely to live at home with their parents 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Britain is on course to overtake Germany as Europes most populated country 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Greek workers work the longest hours in the EU 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Estonia has, per capita, more drug-related deaths than anyone else 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe The fastest download speeds are to be found in Romania 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Slovenia, Malta and Poland have the smallest gender pay gaps 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe France hates its leader more than other European countries 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Eastern and Western Europe are very divided on the issue of gay marriage 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Germany has the most millionaires 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Everyone likes Christmas, apart from France 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Germany accepts by far the most asylum applications 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe The UK and France have some of the most positive views of Muslim people 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Europe's largest Muslim population is in Germany 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Danes are the most trusting Europeans, and Cypriots the least 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Finland has the worst economy in the EU 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Italy has cut back its military spending more than any other major European Nato member 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Everyone is sad about the refugee crisis 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe People in Spain are also the most likely to live in flats (Brits are most likely to live in houses) 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Spain is the most likely to feel neighbourly 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Luxembourg is home to the highest proportion of foreign nationals

Is it all about trade then?

No. An associated assumption is that the UK being outside the EU would mean less job-creating foreign investment into the UK than otherwise. The point out that some foreign multinationals  such as Japanese carmakers and American banks  have established factories and offices in the UK because they know they can export to the EU easily from here. If they face tariffs it suddenly becomes non cost effective.

Finally, there is migration. In economic models such as the one used by NIESR and the Office for Budget Responsibility, which makes forecasts for the Treasury, higher net migration means higher GDP growth. NIESR estimates that if net migration levels were slashed by around two thirds in the wake of Brexit the economy would be around 9 per cent lower by 2065. That would mean we would have to pay higher taxes to pay for rising healthcare and pension costs to the tune of around 400 per person in todays money.

What do the Brexit camp say on trade?

They deny that trade volumes would fall. But they do not seem able to agree on sort of trade arrangement with the EU and the rest of the world should aim for after Brexit. Some have spoken of the UK joining the European Economic Area in the manner of Norway, which would retain our access to the single market. Others have spoken of a broad free trade deal with Europe in the manner of Canadas new arrangement with the EU.

Others say we should not bother with trade deals at all and simply unilaterally scrap all our tariffs, which should mean a major fall in import prices. While this would mean our manufacturing exporters face crippling tariffs, some Brexiteers say the overall benefits of this radical policy would outweigh the costs. Pro-Brexit economists also say there would be economic benefits from an ability by the UK to de-regulate the economy in the wake of Brexit. And on immigration they claim that scrapping EU free movement and establishing an Australian-style points system for incomers would enable Britain to import better-skilled migrants with higher productivity.

Which side is more credible?

Many on the Leave side have sought to suggest warnings about the impact of Brexit on living standards are a part of a grand establishment conspiracy to frighten voters into opting for the status quo. The Treasury and George Osborne have certainly been guilty of exaggeration by shouting that a Brexit is certain result in an instant recession. Yet no independent economists thinks Brexit vote on 23 June would give an immediate boost to growth. And, in the longer term, the overwhelming consensus of independent economists is that Brexit would be a negative, rather than a positive, influence on growth and therefore living standards. More than 200 practising UK economists have signed a letter arguing precisely that.

By contrast the Economists for Brexit have managed to muster just eight supporters. Numerous economic models, with their parameters clearly laid out, have pointed to a negative long-term impact of Brexit. By contrast the pro-Brexit economists have offered no detailed forecasts to support the contention that Brexit would be economically beneficial. The only real argument the pro-Brexit economists can muster is that groupthink is a perennial pitfall for the profession  and that this is what we are seeing now over 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?

Does the UK need to take more control of its sovereignty?

Could the UK media swing the EU referendum one way or another?

Will the UK benefit from being released from EU laws?

Will we gain or lose rights by leaving the European Union?

Will Brexit mean that Europeans have to leave the UK?

Will leaving the EU lead to the break-up of the UK?

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 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 in Europe?
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Workers unfairly dismissed by their employers are being denied access to justice because of new Government court fees, a cross party committee of MPs has warned.

Since the new employment tribunal fees were introduced in 2013 there has been a precipitate drop of almost 70 per cent in the number of cases being brought, the Commons Justice committee said. It can now cost as much as 1,200 simply to bring a claim.

The committee added it was too early to judge whether they were deterring "vexatious" claims as the Government intended but said there was clear evidence they were acting as a disincentive to the early resolution of disputes if an employer thought a claimant was struggling to raise the fee.

Recommended Read more Bar Council chair attacks plans to hike court fees

"In many cases the existence of fees erects a disincentive for employers to resolve disputes at an early stage," it said.

"The arguments presented to us by the Government in this inquiry ... have not swayed us from our conclusion, on the evidence, that the regime of employment tribunal fees has had a significant adverse impact on access to justice for meritorious claims.

The committee also condemned an "unjustified" increase in the fee for bringing a divorce petition from 410 to 550 - taking it to roughly double the cost to the courts of providing the service.

"It cannot be right that a person bringing a divorce petition, in most cases a woman, is subject to what has been characterised in evidence to us as effectively a divorce tax," it said.

The MPs also expressed concern at proposals for an increase in the fees in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber of up to six-fold so that all the costs could be recovered.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 9 September 2022 King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort wave after viewing floral tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace Getty UK news in pictures 8 September 2022 A screen commemorating Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Piccadilly Circus, London Britain EPA UK news in pictures 7 September 2022 Police officers stand guard after Animal Rebellion activists threw paint on the walls and road outside the Houses of Parliament in protest, in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 6 September 2022 Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA

"If these proposals are proceeded with, there is a danger that they will deny vulnerable people the means to challenge the lawfulness of decisions taken by the state about their immigration and asylum status," the committee said.

The Committee concluded that the introduction of fees set at a level to recover or exceed the full cost of operation of the court required particular care and strong justification.

Where there is conflict between the objectives of achieving full cost recovery and preserving access to justice, the latter must prevail, the committees Chair Bob Neill MP said.

We understand the financial pressures on Ministers in a Department with unprotected spending. We also understand that the MoJ does not always have the luxury to be as rigorous and meticulous in preparing the ground for controversial policies as it might wish. But it is important that in such circumstances the Ministry is frank about that fact.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "We welcome this report and will consider the findings carefully.

"The cost of our courts and tribunal system to the taxpayer is unsustainably high, and it is only right that those who use the system pay more to relieve this burden.

"Every pound we collect from fee increases will be spent on providing a leaner and more effective system of courts and tribunals.

"At the same time, we've made sure that the most vulnerable and those who cannot afford to pay won't have to."
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Former Conservative Party chair Baroness Sayeeda Warsi has defected from the Leave campaign and opted for Britain to remain within the EU.

She cited "hate and xenophobia" as the reasons for changing her position.

Her decision came after she saw Nigel Farage's controversial 'breaking point' poster, which was widely criticised for being xenophobic -- Chancellor George Osborne said it had echoes of 1930s propaganda.

Ms Warsi told The Times the poster was "the breaking point to say 'I can't go on supporting this'".

Are we prepared to tell lies, to spread hate and xenophobia just to win a campaign? For me thats a step too far.

Echoing the sentiment of the Prime Minister's impassioned appearance on Question Time, she also accused leading Brexit campaigner Michael Gove of promoting "complete lies".

The loss of Ms Warsi will be a great blow to the Leave side, which has been fighting off allegations of xenophobia and racism.

A daughter of Pakistani immigrants, she was the first Muslim woman to be selected for political candidacy by the Conservative party, and later, the first to serve in the cabinet.

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.

Her relationship with the Leave side was not always characterised by plain sailing. Earlier in June, Ms Warsi co-signed a letter, along with Labour Peer Doreen Lawrence and former director of Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti, criticising Nigel Farage's claims that migrants to Britain posed a threat to women.

Published in the Guardian, they wrote that warnings of "mass sex attacks" were "spreading fear" and "an age-old racist tool designed to stoke division about the latest group of immigrants arriving in Britain".

The letter continued: "In particular, his use of the term 'nuclear bomb' is deeply disturbing and gives away his intention to cause an explosion in the referendum debate by unleashing a weapon that acts indiscriminately; one that he is willing to detonate regardless of the wider impact on community and race relations in our country.

"This follows spreading lies and fears about Turkey joining the EU and is a cheap political tactic designed to cause maximum harm and convert fear into votes at whatever cost."

The letter concluded by stating that Mr Farage's rhetoric "makes even some pro-Brexit advocates feel profoundly uncomfortable."

 What to believe about the EU referendum

Recommended Read more We need more MPs like Dr Sarah Wollaston

Baroness Warsi is not the only high profile female campaigner the Leave side have lost. In June, the respected Conservative MP Dr Sarah Wollaston also defected to support Remain.

She told the BBC that the core Leave claim that a Brexit would free 350million a week for the NHS "simply isn't true".

She said: "For someone like me who has long campaigned for open and honest data in public life I could not have set foot on a battle bus that has at the heart of its campaign a figure that I know to be untrue.

"If you're in a position where you can't hand out a Vote Leave leaflet, you can't be campaigning for that organisation."

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?

Does the UK need to take more control of its sovereignty?

Could the UK media swing the EU referendum one way or another?

Will the UK benefit from being released from EU laws?

Will we gain or lose rights by leaving the European Union?

Will Brexit mean that Europeans have to leave the UK?

Will leaving the EU lead to the break-up of the UK?

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 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 in Europe?
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Jo Cox would have been disgusted had she lived to see the UKIP poster which depicted a crowd of refugees fleeing form the Syrian civil war as a way of boosting support for Brexit, one of her closest political colleagues has said.

The Labour MP Stephen Kinnock, who shared a Commons office with murdered MP, introduced a rare note of controversy into yesterday's solemn tributes.

He told a hushed House of Commons: I can only imagine Jos reaction had she seen the poster unveiled hours before her death  a poster on the streets of Britain that demonised hundreds of desperate refugees, including hungry terrified children fleeing from the terror of Isis and Russian bombs.

She would have responded with outrage and a robust rejection of the calculated narrative of cynicism, division and despair that it represents.

Mr Kinnock was heard in respectful silence during Monday's hour long session, when the Commons was packed to capacity with MPs wearing white roses, the symbol of Jo Cox's home county of Yorkshire.

David Cameron described meeting Jo Cox in Dafur, when he was opposition leader 10 years ago. He praised her as a voice of compassion, whose irrepressible spirit and boundless energy lit up the lives of all who knew her and saved the lives of many she never, ever met.

Referring to her work with Oxfam on behalf of victims of conflicts in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Syria, he said: There are people on our planet today who are only here and alive because of Jo.

The Prime Minister described her murder, in her Batley and Spen constituency last Thursday, as sickening and despicable.

Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes and candles are placed by a picture of slain Labour MP Jo Cox at a vigil in Parliament square in London AFP Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Tributes to Labour Party MP Jo Cox are placed on her houseboat in Wapping in London REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures The Union flag at half-mast on top of Portcullis House in London after Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (2R) and deputy leader Tom Watson (L) light candles as they attend a vigil to slain Labour MP Jo Cox in Parliament square in London AFP/Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and deputy leader Tom Watson (rear) arrive to leave tributes at Parliament Square PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People leave St Peter's Church after a vigil in memory of Jo Cox REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Flowers left at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminste, following the death of Labour MP Jo Cox PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People react as they look at tributes left for Labour Member of Parliament Jo Cox in Parliament Square, London REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A man writes a message at Parliament Square PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People stop to look at tributes left at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminster PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A woman arrives to lay flowers at a statue to Joseph Priestly in Birstall near to the scene where Labour MP Jo Cox was shot AFP/Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Tributes at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminster PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A woman places candles in tribute to Labour Party MP Jo Cox REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A member of the public signs a memorial for British MP Jo Cox in Parliament Square, London EPA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People sign messages of condolence for MP Jo Cox during a vigil in Parliament Square in London Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Flags at half mast outside Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, after Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death in the street outside her constituency advice surgery in Birstall PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People arrive in Market Square with floral tributes after the death of Jo Co Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes are placed in Market Square next to the statue of Joseph Priestley following the death of Jo Cox Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes are brought to the scene after the death of Jo Cox Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A police officer carries bunches of flowers at the scene of the shooting of Labour MP Jo Cox in Birstall REUTERS

Members of Jox Coxs extended family were in the public gallery to hear the tributes. They included her husband Brendan and their two young children, Cuillin and Lejla, her parents, Gordon and Sheila Cox, her sister and brother in law and their three children, and two of her closest friends, Sarah Hamilton, who knew her from her student days, and Brendan Coxs former best man, Will Paxton.

The session was opened by the Speaker, John Bercow, who was followed by the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who described Jo Coxs murder as an attack on our democracy and urged that it should lead to a kinder and gentler politics.

He added: Jo Cox didnt just believe in loving her neighbour but her neighbours neighbour. She saw a world of neighbours and believed that everyone counted equally.

The Labour MP Rachel Reeves, a friend of the murdered woman, became tearful as she remarked: Batley and Spen will go on to elect a new MP, no one can replace a mother.

She added: Jo was struck down much too soon so it now falls on all our shoulders to carry on Jos work, to combat hatred, intolerance and injustice, to serve others with dignity and love. That is the best way we can remember Jo.

The Commons heard from MPs from every side, including the veteran Tory, Andrew Mitchell, Jo Coxs co-chair in the parliamentary committee on Syria, the SNPs Philippa Whitford, the Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron, the former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, and the Democratic Unionist Nigel Dodds, who spoke on behalf of the all the Northern Ireland MPs in Parliament.

At the end of the hour long tribute, the Speaker led MPs in a procession out of Parliament and across the road to St Margarets Church for a service of remembrance.
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A seemingly endless series of EU referendum debates culminates on Tuesday night with the biggest one of them all.

The BBC's "Great Debate" being marketed as the most significant as is being hosted at the Wembley arena. Over 20,000 people applied for 6,000 tickets for event. The audience will be roughly divided between people likely to vote in favour of leaving or remaining in the EU.

Here is all the information you need to know surrounding the show.

What time is on?

8pm on Tuesday night

Which channel?

BBC1

Who will be on the panel?

The Leave side will be:

Boris Johnson, Conservative MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip and former Mayor of London.

Gisela Stuart, Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston and a former UK Parliamentary Representative to the European Convention.

Andrea Leadsom, Conservative MP for South Northamptonshire and former City Minister.

The Remain side will be:

Ruth Davidson MSP, Leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London.

Frances OGrady, General Secretary of the TUC from the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign.

Anyone else?

There will be additional opinion and commentary on the issues from a second stage of a further 10 guests made up of five representatives from each side.

For Remain:

Humza Yousaf, SNP MSP for Glasgow Pollok

Dr Sarah Wollaston, Conservative MP for Totnes and defector from the Leave side.

Tim Farron, Liberal Democrat leader and MP for Westmorland & Lonsdale

Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion and former party leader.

Justin King, former CEO of Sainsburys.

For Leave:

Priti Patel, Minister of State for Employment and Conservative MP for Witham.

Diane James, Deputy Chairman of UKIP and MEP for the South East of England.

Recommended Read more Wetherspoon pub chief sends new Brexit message on beer mats

Harsimrat Kaur, from Women for Britain.

Tim Martin, founder and chairman of Wetherspoons.

Tony Parsons, journalist and author.

Who will be moderating?

David Dimbleby will host the main panel event, while Mishal Husain will moderate the second stage of comments. Emily Maitlis will provide lead an analysis and fact checking section after the event with the BBCs fact checking team.

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?

Does the UK need to take more control of its sovereignty?

Could the UK media swing the EU referendum one way or another?

Will the UK benefit from being released from EU laws?

Will we gain or lose rights by leaving the European Union?

Will Brexit mean that Europeans have to leave the UK?

Will leaving the EU lead to the break-up of the UK?

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 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 in Europe?
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A 15-year-old boy has been ordered to wear a GPS tracking device that will allow police to track where he is at all times following a string of criminal offences.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will be the first young offender in the country to be monitored in this way.

Offenders who are put under house arrest or parole are generally issued tracking bracelets that use radio signals to communicate with a unit in a fixed location, usually inside the offenders home.

If the person wearing the tracker does not come back in time for curfew, or is not in their home when they are supposed to be, a signal will fail to send to the unit, and police will be notified.

The GPS tracking device, however, is connected to a mobile unit, and it allows police to know the whereabouts of the person wearing the device at any given time using technology similar to that in fitness bracelets. They have previously only been used with adults.

The 15-year-old was reportedly issued a Youth Order, and worked with the Youth Offending Services following a string of offences in Oxford and Didcot including robbery and burglary, according to reports in the Oxford Mail.

Despite receiving the order, the young man continued to offend, committing a further string of crimes including threatening a teenage girl in the street with a mock firearm.

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Due to the risk of reoffending, the court ordered that the young man will wear the GPS tag for six months. This will allow police to monitor his whereabouts, and they should be able to tell whether he was involved in any future incidents that are reported.

Police say that devices like these are not just meant for punishment, but are intended to keep individuals out of prison.

PC Mike Ellis told the Oxford Mail: The youth offending services do all they can to stop a defendant from going into custody, which means they use a lot of time and resources to make sure they are doing what they are supposed to be doing.
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Some of the countrys leading girl-only schools are suggesting their pupils should not be called girls in a bid to become more gender neutral.

The Girls School Association (GSA) has said schools should instead consider addressing children merely as pupils and students.

Caroline Jordan, president of the GSA, said in some circumstances staff should think about using gender neutral language, particularly when transgender pupils are present.

Recommended Read more How schools can help change perceptions of learning disabilities

But the GSA also adds that it is up to individual schools to apply the advice it suggests, where the school thinks it is appropriate.

Staff at the City of London School for Girls have also started to address their pupils neutrally.

The suggestion has come from the GSAs annual Summer Briefing for Heads, which is the latest expert advice, guidelines and good practice on a wide range of issues. It also says schools have a duty of care to all pupils, including "those who decide to transition.

The 20 best countries to raise a family Show all 20 1 /20 The 20 best countries to raise a family The 20 best countries to raise a family 20. Iceland These are the 20 best countries to raise children according to a Unicef report into child inequality, which measured inequality across income, education, health and life satisfaction in rich countries (Pic: Blue Lagoon, Reykjavik) Getty Images The 20 best countries to raise a family 19. Portugal (Pic: The Douro Valley vineyards) Getty The 20 best countries to raise a family 18. United States (Pic: New York) The 20 best countries to raise a family 14= United Kingdom (Pic: London) The 20 best countries to raise a family 14= Hungary (Pic: Budapest) The 20 best countries to raise a family 14= Greece (Pic: Athens) The 20 best countries to raise a family 14. Germany (Pic: Berlin) The 20 best countries to raise a family 13. Australia (Pic: Sydney) The 20 best countries to raise a family 12. Croatia (Pic: Dubrovnik on Croatia's Adriatic coast) The 20 best countries to raise a family 11. Czech Republic (Pic: Olomouc) The 20 best countries to raise a family 10. Latvia (Pic: Riga) The 20 best countries to raise a family 9. Slovenia (Pic: Ljubljana) The 20 best countries to raise a family 8. Estonia (Pic: Tallinn) The 20 best countries to raise a family 7. Ireland (Pic: Dublin) The 20 best countries to raise a family 6. Netherlands (Pic: Amsterdam) The 20 best countries to raise a family 5. Austria (Pic: Vienna) AFP/Getty Images The 20 best countries to raise a family 2= Switzerland (Pic: Rheinau) The 20 best countries to raise a family 2= Norway (Pic: Saebo) The 20 best countries to raise a family 2. Finland (Pic: Helsinki) The 20 best countries to raise a family 1. Denmark (Pic: Copenhagen)

The advice was brought to the GSAs attention by Gendered Intelligence, which runs gender intelligence sessions. It recommends avoiding terms such as young ladies.

The GSA describes the decision as complex pastoral issue.

Ms Jordan said: Language is one part of this complex pastoral issue and GSA schools, which have a long history of excellence in pastoral care, are at the forefront of showing best practice in including transgendered pupils.

Where relevant to the audience, in assemblies, for example, instead for saying Girls, go to lessons, staff should consider saying Pupils, go to lessons, or Students, go to lessons.

Every year there are more and more young people posing questions around their gender identity. I do not want anyone to think that girls or boys are invested in one way of being a girl or one way of being a boy.
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Around 400 fen raft spiders, the UKs largest native species of arachnid, have been released into the wild by zookeepers at Surreys Chessington World of Adventures.

The fen raft spider has a brown or black body with white or cream stripes along the sides. With a span of up to almost three inches (8cm), they are the largest of the UKs 660 native species of spider.

The species only lives in fens, marshes and wetlands, using their long hairy legs to skate across the surface of the water.

The spiders are found across mainland Europe and in particular areas in the south of England and in Wales.

However, populations have declined in recent years and in Britain it has been listed as endangered.

Baby fen raft spiders are reared in test tubes at Chester Zoo in 2011 at the beginning of the conservation efforts (Reuters) (REUTERS)

There are only three known populations of the spider in the UK -- at Redgrave and Lopham Fen in Suffolk, the Pevensey levels in East Sussex, and Pant-y-Sais Fen and Crymlyn Bog near Swansea.

But zookeepers have been working since 2011 on a conservation programme to ensure the species survival.

The programme has seen populations almost double, and the species will no longer need rearing in zoos to ensure its survival.

The wetland-dwelling arachnids feed largely on other spiders, as well as dragonfly larvae, pond skaters, and even eat the occasional tadpole and small fish.

Female fen raft spiders build an egg sac for their offspring, which they routinely dip into water every few hours to keep moist.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2022 Flowers which were laid by members of the public in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland are collected by the Hillsborough Gardening Team and volunteers to be replanted for those that can be saved or composted PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2022 The ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II travels down the long walk as it arrives at Windsor Castle for the committal service at St Georges Chapel AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 18 September 2022 A man stands among campers on The Mall ahead of the Queens funeral Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2022 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nathan Collins fouls Manchester Citys Jack Grealish leading to a red card. City went on to win the match at Molineux Stadium three goals to nil. Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 16 September 2022 Members of the public stand in the queue near Tower Bridge, and opposite the Tower of London, as they wait in line to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II, in London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 15 September 2022 Members of the public in the queue on in Potters Fields Park, central London, as they wait to view Queen Elizabeth II lying in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 14 September 2022 The first members of the public pay their respects as the vigil begins around the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall, London, where it will lie in state ahead of her funeral on Monday PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2022 Crowds cheer as King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort arrive for a visit to Hillsborough Castle Getty UK news in pictures 12 September 2022 Crowds line the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, as King Charles III joins a procession from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles Cathedral following the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS UK news in pictures 11 September 2022 Members of the Public pay their respects as the hearse carrying the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard of Scotland, is driven through Ballater AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 10 September 2022 Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wave at well-wishers on the Long walk at Windsor Castle AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 9 September 2022 King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort wave after viewing floral tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Buckingham Palace Getty UK news in pictures 8 September 2022 A screen commemorating Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Piccadilly Circus, London Britain EPA UK news in pictures 7 September 2022 Police officers stand guard after Animal Rebellion activists threw paint on the walls and road outside the Houses of Parliament in protest, in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 6 September 2022 Queen Elizabeth II welcomes Liz Truss during an audience at Balmoral, Scotland, where she invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA

After the spiderlings hatch, the new mother spins a nursery web up to 25cm across that forms a silk tent over the water which she guards for a week. They then disperse.
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Labour MP Jo Cox was preparing a report for Parliament on the rise of Islamophobia and the dangers of aggressive nationalist radicals before she was killed outside her constituency surgery, it has emerged.

The mother of two died after being shot and stabbed in the street in Birstall, West Yorkshire.

The 41-year-old had recorded a video in which she spoke about preventing Islamophobia and said that in her constituency many of our young women dont feel safe when theyre out on the street, according to the Times.

The video and report were both planned to be launched on June 29.

Ms Cox worked on the report with Tell Mama, a charity that monitors anti-Muslim incidents in the UK, and has warned of a surge in aggression and Islamophobia in the past year.

Tell Mama director Fiyaz Mughal told the Times that the organisations annual report would detail the escalation in anti-Muslim action in the UK last year.

Recommended Read more Why the British media is responsible for the rise in Islamophobia

He said significant clusters of far-right activity during that time had been in Yorkshire.

Mr Mughal said: In the last 18 months South Yorkshire is one of the leading areas in the country [for Islamophobic incidents].

Meanwhile, 77-year-old Bernard Kenny, who was stabbed in the abdomen while trying to help Ms Cox, remains in hospital with serious injuries.

Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes and candles are placed by a picture of slain Labour MP Jo Cox at a vigil in Parliament square in London AFP Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Tributes to Labour Party MP Jo Cox are placed on her houseboat in Wapping in London REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures The Union flag at half-mast on top of Portcullis House in London after Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (2R) and deputy leader Tom Watson (L) light candles as they attend a vigil to slain Labour MP Jo Cox in Parliament square in London AFP/Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and deputy leader Tom Watson (rear) arrive to leave tributes at Parliament Square PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People leave St Peter's Church after a vigil in memory of Jo Cox REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Flowers left at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminste, following the death of Labour MP Jo Cox PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People react as they look at tributes left for Labour Member of Parliament Jo Cox in Parliament Square, London REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A man writes a message at Parliament Square PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People stop to look at tributes left at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminster PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A woman arrives to lay flowers at a statue to Joseph Priestly in Birstall near to the scene where Labour MP Jo Cox was shot AFP/Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Tributes at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminster PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A woman places candles in tribute to Labour Party MP Jo Cox REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A member of the public signs a memorial for British MP Jo Cox in Parliament Square, London EPA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People sign messages of condolence for MP Jo Cox during a vigil in Parliament Square in London Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Flags at half mast outside Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, after Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death in the street outside her constituency advice surgery in Birstall PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People arrive in Market Square with floral tributes after the death of Jo Co Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes are placed in Market Square next to the statue of Joseph Priestley following the death of Jo Cox Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes are brought to the scene after the death of Jo Cox Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A police officer carries bunches of flowers at the scene of the shooting of Labour MP Jo Cox in Birstall REUTERS

Thomas Mair, 52, from Birstall, appeared at Westminster Magistrates court on Saturday, charged with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of a knife.

Mair gave his name to the court as death to traitors, freedom for Britain, and was remanded in custody until June 20 when a bail application will be heard.
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Same-sex symbols in celebration of gay pride has appeared on some traffic light pedestrian crossings in London ahead of the LGBT festival later this month.

The green man has been joined by a same-sex partner in a new design that will light up pedestrian crossings around Trafalgar Square during Pride in London. The couple join hands to show a heart between them.

The initiative, which has been backed by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, comes at a particularly poignant time for the LGBT community following the biggest mass shooting in US history at a gay club in Orlando.

Mr Khan said he was "very proud" of the LGBT community in London and of the city's diversity and acceptance.

"Our thoughts and prayers are, of course, still with the families and friends of the victims of the hideous recent attack in Orlando," he said.

"These new signals show that we stand shoulder to shoulder with them, and display the tolerance and celebration of difference in our city."

The symbols will be on 50 traffic lights around Trafalgar Square (Transport for London)

There will be seven kinds of symbol in total, including the widely recognised transsexual or transgender symbol.

One Twitter user, Tom Knight, tweeted his delight at coming across the symbol near Trafalgar Square.

The new symbols, which were designed with Transport for London, will appear on about 50 pedestrian traffic signals in the area.

Similar initiatives in other parts of the world have not always been welcomed.

The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe Show all 15 1 /15 The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 15. Italy Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 14. Macedonia The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 13. Poland Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 12. Liechtenstein The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 11. Lithuania The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 10. Latvia This content is subject to copyright. The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 9. San Marino The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 8. Moldova The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 7. Belarus Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 6. Ukraine Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 5. Monaco The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 4. Turkey Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 3. Armenia The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 2. Russia Getty Images The top 15 worst countries to be gay in Europe 1. Azerbaijan Getty/AFP

When traffic light symbols of gay and straight couples were put up at pedestrian crossings in Vienna, they were criticised by the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria and the Austrian People's Party chair as "pathetic".

However, they were eventually kept after vocal support from within and outside the country.

Turkey has recently claimed its gay and trans pride marches had to be cancelled this year owing to Ramadan and "security reasons".

Mourners of the Orlando shooting atrocity, meanwhile, have had to deal with hate groups agitating at the funerals of those killed.
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A Conservative peer has been subjected to Islamophobic abuse by Brexit supporters after announcing she was switching sides from Leave to Remain.

Baroness Warsi previously backed Leave but this morning said that the hate and xenophobia of the Leave campaign had gone too far.

She told the Times newspaper she realised she could not support the campaign after seeing a Ukip poster portraying Syrian refugees in a negative light.

Recommended Read more Baroness Sayeeda Warsi defects from Leave to Remain

After her decision became known she was however immediately subjected to vicious attacks on social media.

The peer, who is a Muslim, was sent messages about grooming gangs as well as one referring to her as a jihadist Trojan horse.

She was also referred to as a Cameron stooge with multiple suggestions she would receive some kind of payment for backing Remain.

Another social media user claimed she had hired Muslim fundamentalist staff, while others said she was full of s**t.

One message read: typical MUSLIM ! Lie ,cheat,lie ,cheat ,lie ,good job your in a country like the UK otherwise you'd be stoned by now FACT. [sic]

The Conservative, a former Cabinet minister, highlighted the abuse by posting screenshots of it from her account.

The vile reaction of people unhappy with my decision to leave Leave, she said. Politics of hate must stop.

 What to believe about the EU referendum

Other messages sent to the Baroness include:

 "How f=ckin- dare you call Brexiters small minded islanders,low life s**t."

 "Your the token tory and now Cameron is using you.You carry no weight and with your little stunt people have seen through it"

 "Typical racist comments by warsi,no Muslim should be allowed into our democratic system until they denounce the cult ISLAM"

 "You are just another dishonest ( oh i forgot i had an apartment) politician desperate to stay on the gravy train TRAITOR"

Her defection follows that of Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston who said she could not continue to campaign for the Leave campaign because it was making false claims about the NHS.

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

Ms Wollaston also received a similarly violent reaction when she changed sides, claim claims she was a plant in the Leave campaign who had always intended to switch sides.

The abuse of the Baroness comes amid calls for the tone of the campaign to improve after the killing of Labour MP Jo Cox.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said on Saturday that the EU referendum campaign had become poisonous and that we should all reflect on the way the referendum campaign has been conducted.

Ms Coxs attacker was said by eyewitnesses to have shouted Britain first, keep Britain independent, and Britain always comes first, this is for Britain, according to court filings.

The man charged with her murder was heard to say Im a political activist by police as they arrested him, according to police.

The European Union referendum takes place on 23 June. The deadline to register to vote has already passed. The latest suggest Remain regaining the lead after a short stint ahead for the Leave campaign.
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Former Tory Party Chairman Sayeeda Warsi has condemned the "scaremongering" tactics of the campaign to leave the EU, as she became the latest high-profile figure to defect.

Lady Warsi, who was Britains first Muslim cabinet minister, said she had become increasing uncomfortable with Vote Leave messaging and pointed the finger at her old colleague Michael Gove.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, she labelled the Chief Whip's comments on Turkey a lie.

To suggest that Turkey is on the verge of joining the EU. To suggest that this is somehow imminent was a lie, she said

She added that the tone of Vote Leaves comments on Turkey amounted to an othering of the community.

To try and suggest that there is a link between criminality and Turkish communities  it is scaremongering, she said.

To wake up on Sunday morning  to hear both Michael Gove continue to repeat the lies on Turkish accession to the EU  and Nigel Farage defend his indefensible poster  [it was] impossible to continue supporting leave.

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

Ms Warsi told Today she had joined Vote Leave to present a positive case for Britains future outside the EU but had found moderate voices had been stifled.

I said I had concerns that people were taking the Vote Leave message down a path I was not comfortable with, she said.

Those moderate voices have now been stifled. People like me who are deeply Eurosceptic feel like they now have to leave Leave. The vision that we must present for Brexit  the loud voices should be from moderates who believe Britain has a place in the world.

 What to believe about the EU referendum

Lady Warsi said that she last did media for Brexit four weeks ago but had increasingly felt uncomfortable about the tone of the debate.

The vision we needed to present was hello worlders, an optimistic vision  But unfortunately day after say what we are seeing are lies and xenophobia, she added.
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Nigel Farage has accused David Cameron of a "despicable" attempt to create a link between the EU referendum and the death of MP Jo Cox to improve his chances of winning Thursdays poll.

Mr Cameron tweeted a link on Sunday to an article written by Ms Cox shortly before she was murdered.

Jo Cox's strong voice in the campaign to remain in the EU will be badly missed, he wrote.

But appearing on LBC radio station, the Ukip leader claimed the Remain camp were "scared witless" about the prospect of defeat on 23 June and were trying to "conflate" the motivations of the Labour MPs alleged killer with those of the millions of voters who want to leave the European Union.

"What we are seeing here is the Prime Minister and the Remain campaign trying to conflate the actions of one crazed individual with the motives of half of Britain who think we should get back control of our borders and do it sensibly.

"We have a Prime Minister and a Chancellor and other big political leaders in Britain who are scared witless. They thought they would win this referendum by a country mile. They know its neck and neck, they know its down to who turns out on the day to vote, and there is no level of denigration or false association that they will not stoop to, but I think people are intelligent enough to see through this sort of thing."

He added: I think there are Remain camp supporters out there who are using this to try to give the impression that this isolated horrific incident is somehow linked to arguments that have been made by myself or Michael Gove or anybody else in this campaign, and frankly that is wrong," he said.

Mr Farage also defended the controversial poster released hours before Ms Cox's death, which showed a column of migrants walking through the European countryside under the slogan "Breaking Point".

Challenged over the poster, Mr Farage said: "If the timing of her murder and me putting out that poster has upset people, Im sorry. That certainly wasn't the intention. The intention was to use that poster for a day to point out that the EU is a failed project in every sense."

Mr Farage also launched into the former Tory chairman Lady Warsi  who announced she was transferring her support to the Remain Campaign.

He described her defection as a "Number 10 put-up job".
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Two roses, one red and one white, have been placed in the House of Commons seat of the Labour MP Jo Cox.

The House of Commons met in "heartbreaking sadness" and "heartfelt solidarity" to pay tribute to Jo Cox, Speaker John Bercow said.

Mr Bercow said the killing of the Labour MP - "in this manner, of this person, our democratically elected colleague" - was "particularly shocking and repugnant".

MPs of all sides wore a single white rose as a mark of respect.

Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes and candles are placed by a picture of slain Labour MP Jo Cox at a vigil in Parliament square in London AFP Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Tributes to Labour Party MP Jo Cox are placed on her houseboat in Wapping in London REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures The Union flag at half-mast on top of Portcullis House in London after Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (2R) and deputy leader Tom Watson (L) light candles as they attend a vigil to slain Labour MP Jo Cox in Parliament square in London AFP/Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and deputy leader Tom Watson (rear) arrive to leave tributes at Parliament Square PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People leave St Peter's Church after a vigil in memory of Jo Cox REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Flowers left at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminste, following the death of Labour MP Jo Cox PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People react as they look at tributes left for Labour Member of Parliament Jo Cox in Parliament Square, London REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A man writes a message at Parliament Square PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People stop to look at tributes left at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminster PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A woman arrives to lay flowers at a statue to Joseph Priestly in Birstall near to the scene where Labour MP Jo Cox was shot AFP/Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Tributes at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminster PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A woman places candles in tribute to Labour Party MP Jo Cox REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A member of the public signs a memorial for British MP Jo Cox in Parliament Square, London EPA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People sign messages of condolence for MP Jo Cox during a vigil in Parliament Square in London Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Flags at half mast outside Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, after Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death in the street outside her constituency advice surgery in Birstall PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People arrive in Market Square with floral tributes after the death of Jo Co Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes are placed in Market Square next to the statue of Joseph Priestley following the death of Jo Cox Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes are brought to the scene after the death of Jo Cox Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A police officer carries bunches of flowers at the scene of the shooting of Labour MP Jo Cox in Birstall REUTERS

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said "getting this Lancastrian to wear this white Yorkshire rose" was an achievement in itself.

Several of Ms Cox's Labour colleagues, including Heidi Alexander, Stephen Kinnock and Carolyn Harris, were in tears before Mr Bercow began the tributes.

MPs were allowed to break with tradition to sit together, rather than being divided along party lines, in a gesture of solidarity proposed by Tory MP Jason McCartney.

 Family pays tribute to Jo Cox

A petition to cancel next week's European Referendum has seen a surge in support in the days following her killing. Over 53,000 people have signed the statement on the Parliament website.

A GoFundMe page set up raise money for charities Ms Cox supported has received over 933,000 in three days.

Following the tributes, Labour and Conservative MPs will walk together in pairs to St Margaret's Church - often referred to as the "parish church of the Commons" - for a service of prayer and remembrance.

Additional reporting by Press Association
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Liberty GBs decision to contest Jo Coxs seat at the Batley and Spen by-election following her death last week has been branded as obscene and contemptible by a Labour shadow minister.

Jack Buckby, Liberty GBs parliamentary candidate and a former BNP member, said Ms Coxs party had blood on its hands, and there was too much at stake to allow Labour to retake the constituency unchallenged. In the days after her death the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Ukip all announced their intention not to contest the by-election.

Speaking to the Mirror, shadow Home Office minister Jack Dromey described the partys bid as obsence, outrageous and contemptible. He added: The immorality of the far right knows no bounds. Britain will be shocked and they will be roundly rejected in the by-election.

Councillor Andrew Cooper added: If we have learnt anything in the last few weeks and certainly in the last few days, it is that people need to be more respectful to people who have different and contrasting views.

The 23-year-olds announcement that he will contest the by-election comes after Ms Cox's sister called for people to show strength and solidarity in the wake of her death. The Labour MP died on Thursday after being shot and stabbed as she was due to hold a constituency surgery at a local library in Birstall.

A 52-year-old man who appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Saturday over the killing gave his name as Death to traitors, freedom for Britain.

 Family pays tribute to Jo Cox

Mr Buckby was formerly tipped to be a leading figure in the BNP while a member of its youth wing the BNP Crusaders and has been described as an heir apparent to Nick Griffin, the former party leader. However, Mr Buckby left the BNP, citing concerns that the partys views had become racist.

In a statement announcing his decision to stand, he wrote: While the murder of Jo Cox is tragic, we must not let this tragedy blur the fact that the Labour Party is responsible for the demographic and cultural assault on Britain which has already done great damage in areas of Yorkshire.

Too much is at stake to allow Labour to retake Batley and Spen unchallenged. The constituency is part of a region that has been turned upside down by mass immigration, with mosques sprouting like triffids, Islamic extremism proliferating, child-rape gangs still on the loose, and long-standing English communities under threat of demographic eradication.

Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes and candles are placed by a picture of slain Labour MP Jo Cox at a vigil in Parliament square in London AFP Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Tributes to Labour Party MP Jo Cox are placed on her houseboat in Wapping in London REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures The Union flag at half-mast on top of Portcullis House in London after Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (2R) and deputy leader Tom Watson (L) light candles as they attend a vigil to slain Labour MP Jo Cox in Parliament square in London AFP/Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and deputy leader Tom Watson (rear) arrive to leave tributes at Parliament Square PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People leave St Peter's Church after a vigil in memory of Jo Cox REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Flowers left at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminste, following the death of Labour MP Jo Cox PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People react as they look at tributes left for Labour Member of Parliament Jo Cox in Parliament Square, London REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A man writes a message at Parliament Square PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People stop to look at tributes left at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminster PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A woman arrives to lay flowers at a statue to Joseph Priestly in Birstall near to the scene where Labour MP Jo Cox was shot AFP/Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Tributes at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminster PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A woman places candles in tribute to Labour Party MP Jo Cox REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A member of the public signs a memorial for British MP Jo Cox in Parliament Square, London EPA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People sign messages of condolence for MP Jo Cox during a vigil in Parliament Square in London Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Flags at half mast outside Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, after Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death in the street outside her constituency advice surgery in Birstall PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People arrive in Market Square with floral tributes after the death of Jo Co Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes are placed in Market Square next to the statue of Joseph Priestley following the death of Jo Cox Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes are brought to the scene after the death of Jo Cox Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A police officer carries bunches of flowers at the scene of the shooting of Labour MP Jo Cox in Birstall REUTERS

The Labour Party has blood on its hands. And by shutting down debate and labelling working class people concerned about their communities as racists, they risk driving desperate, disenfranchised people to further horrendous acts like this.

Announcing his campaign on social media, he also said he supported capital punishment for the person responsible for Ms Coxs death. He wrote: Liberty GB calls for a referendum on the restoration of capital punishment. I support it, and I say we hang the Jo Cox killer.
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In the cloisters below Big Ben, Chuka Umunna placed his arm round Stephen Kinnock, and squeezed him firmly on the shoulder as the two men turned left into central lobby.

Most days these are the last steps Members of Parliament walk in a frantic hurry when the division bell has rung and a vote has been called.

On Monday afternoon, but for the white roses on the lapels, it was no different to the sad but familiar scene we have probably all seen before. Dark suits. Stricken faces. One young man, steeling another for that unenviable task of finding the words and holding your nerve to honour a young friend gone too soon.

Parliament is no stranger to tributes. Never a week goes by without it pausing briefly to record the passing of some poet or rockstar, or in relatively recent times, a fallen soldier in some corner of a foreign field. Never before has it been recalled to hold what carried every outward symbol of a funeral for one of its own, murdered in the street just for being one of their own.

A white rose of Yorkshire and a red rose of Labour were pinned to the seat where Jo Cox had become used to sitting, next to the aisle on the third row back, next to Jess Phillips, and a couple down from Stephen Kinnock, her friend of twenty years and Westminster office co-habitor of one.

In the public gallery, a little boy and a little girl bounced with restless energy on the laps of assorted family members. As Jeremy Corbyn spoke of a life that was a demonstration against despair Brendan Cox briefly turned away, keeping his children occupied with a large colouring book. We must tolerate a little more, Mr Corbyn said. And condemn a little less.

As Rachel Reeves told of her visits to the Cox family houseboat, thinking she had had too much wine when in fact, It was the boat that was swaying, Jos sister Kims grief-blotched face split into a broad smile.

The people of Batley and Spen will elect a new MP, but no one can replace a mother, she said, as her composure finally gave way. The Prime Minister and the Chancellor wiped away tears.

The Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell, who had co-chaired the all party parliamentary group on Syria with her, recalled an incident in which he had witnessed, This five foot bundle of old fashioned Yorkshire common sense dressing down the Russian ambassador for his countrys cruelty in Syria.

He called on those present to, 'Redouble their efforts on the biggest human catastrophe our age.' A reminder that Jo Cox had been drawn to this place for its power to change, to do good. It has let her down.

Mr Mitchell's was a common theme. I was in awe of Jo, said Stephen Doughty, who before the pair both became MPs had worked together at Oxfam. If Im honest I was a bit envious. She was never satisfied with platitudes. She wanted action. Jo never asked, What do you think? but What should we do?

He was right. It is actions, not words, that have plunged a political family and a real one into mourning. But anyone in politics knows that words matter.

Jo understood that rhetoric has consequences, said Stephen Kinnock, amid tales of dinosaur drawings brought in the office the two of them shared, a present from her young children.

When insecurity, fear and anger are used to light a fuse then an explosion is inevitable. On Thursday Jo was assassinated for what she was and for what she stood for. But out of the deep darkness of Jos death, must come the shining light of her legacy.

He spoke of the Ukips notorious Breaking Point poster, unveiled with the now traditional Ukip fanfare of theme from The Great Escape.

Jo would have responded with outrage, he said. And with a robust rejection of a calculated campaign of cynicism, division and despair that it represents.

As he sat down, a hand reached over her from the direction of the white and red rose, Wes Streetings this time.

Recommended

She was not the easiest person to whip, said Holly Lynch, MP for Halifax, another of the 2015 intake. She knew that certain late night votes were not as important as tucking her children into bed. She was the heart and soul of these benches. And we are heartbroken.

It lasted just under an hour, before the Serjeant-at-Arms arrived and picked up the mace, formally re-suspending Parliament. As the MPs processed out in pairs, applause broke out. On the labour benches first, then the SNP, then the Conservatives, before it spread to the public gallery and the press, the entire room up on its feet.

High in the far corner, two small pairs of hands flashed against the railing. They were waving, and there on the floor of the house was Mr Kinnock waving back.
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Photographs of personal items which may have belonged to passengers of the missing MH370 flight have been released, after objects washed up on a beach in Madagascar.

Images of hats, bags, laptop cases and shoes were posted online in an effort to determine whether they belonged to those on board the doomed Malaysia Airlines flight that disappeared two years ago.

Blaine Gibson, a lawyer who is funding a search for the plane, warned the items may not be linked to the missing Boeing 777 but has asked relatives of people lost on the flight to come forward if they recognise them.

The flight disappeared on with 239 people on board en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014.

Until now, about three-quarters of the 46,000-square-mile search zone for the Malayasia Airlines Flight has been scoured without success by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

The new photographs from Riake Beach in Madagascar show a camera case, shoulder bags, laptop case, shoes, prayer hat, wash bag, phone case and rucksack.

Potential passenger belongings from MH370 Show all 13 1 /13 Potential passenger belongings from MH370 Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A bag and pen Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 The sole of a shoe Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A satchel with pen Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 The inside of a bag Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A shoulder bag Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 The word Mensa, from the high-IQ organisation, on an item Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A phone case and pen Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A wash bag Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A backpack Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A camera case Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A prayer hat Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 The sole of a shoe Blaine Gibson Potential passenger belongings from MH370 A luggage bag and pen Blaine Gibson

Although they are not yet known to belong to the MH370 flight, the items have washed up in Madagascar close to where Mr Gibson has found other debris.

Several false alarms have occurred during the course of the investigation, including a sonar search which turned up a 19th century shipwreck.

An object which appeared to be a tail wing, on which was written "NO STEP", also washed up in Mozambique in March this year, following a piece of debris from the flight turning up on Reunion Island in July 2015.

Lawyer and adventurer Blaine Gibson on a beach in Madagascar (Blaine Alan Gibson)

The families of the missing passengers have accused the Malaysian government of failing to do enough to uncover the truth about the plane's disappearance.

"We believe our loved ones may still be alive and are being held at an undisclosed location for unknown reasons," a statement previously issued by the group has said.

The search for the wreckage is set to be continued by officials until August, with no plans to continue the hunt thereafter.

Malaysia Airlines also lost the MH17 plane after it was hit by a Russian-made missile over eastern Ukraine, killing its passengers, with the investigation into the Russian government's alleged involvement in the attack ongoing.
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A yellow fever epidemic has been declared in three provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, including the capital Kinshasa.

The epidemic was declared after 67 cases of the disease were confirmed, with another 1,000 suspected cases being monitored.

Health Minister Felix Kabange said seven of the proven cases were indigenous, while 58 were imported from Angola, where the outbreak began.

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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

A further two cases came from remote forested areas not linked to the current outbreak. Five people in total have died, Mr Kabange added.

"I declare today a localised epidemic of yellow fever in the provinces of Kinshasa, Kongo Central and Kwango," he told a news conference.

Kinshasa represents the main concern for global healthcare officials, as it has a densely packed population of more than 12 million people and poor health infrastructure.

Yellow fever is transmitted by the same mosquitoes that spread the Zika and dengue viruses, although it is a much more serious disease. The "yellow" in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients.

 Angola yellow fever outbreak spreads

The global stockpile of yellow fever vaccines has already been depleted twice this year to immunise people in Angola, Uganda and Congo.

It currently stands at six million doses, but this may not be enough if there are simultaneous outbreaks in multiple highly populated areas.

Almost 18 million doses have been distributed for emergency vaccination campaigns so far in the three African countries.

World Health Organisation advisers have recommended using a fifth of the standard dose of yellow fever vaccine in the event of a global shortage - enough to immunise temporarily but not to give lifelong immunity.

Congo's outbreak, since January, comes at a time when political tensions linked to an upcoming presidential election and an economic crisis caused by a commodity slump are already putting a huge strain on the country's stability.

President Joseph Kabila is facing opposition, which has sometimes turned violent, amid concerns that he will try to cling to power beyond the expiry of his mandate at the end of this year.

Additional reporting by Reuters
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The worlds environment is under unprecedented threat. And those seeking to protect it, are also facing risks like never before.

These are the main findings of a new report that reveals 2015 was perhaps the deadliest year yet for environmental and land rights activists. With campaigners in Brazil and the Philippines - along with Indigenous activists - facing probably the gravest dangers, three environmentalists are being killed every week.

As demand for products like minerals, timber and palm oil continues, governments, companies and criminal gangs are seizing land in defiance of the people who live on it, said Global Witness campaign leader Billy Kyte. Communities that take a stand are increasingly finding themselves in the firing line of companies private security, state forces and a thriving market for contract killers.

The killings increased by almost 60 per cent (Global Witness)

He added: For every killing we document, many others go unreported. Governments must urgently intervene to stop this spiralling violence.

The report by Global Witness, an environmental and human rights watchdog, said it had recorded a total of 185 killings across 16 countries in 2015. This marked an increase of 59 per cent from 2014, and was the highest figure since the group began collating data in 2002.

Yet the groups report - On Dangerous Ground - said that a lack of access to hard and reliable data, meant the true number of those who had lost their lives was probably much higher.

The cases of some activists who have been killed while fighting to protect their land and their communities, have become famous. Chico Mendes, a Brazilian rubber tapper who fought to preserve the Amazon rainforest, was assassinated by a rancher in 1988.

Agriculture, hydro schemes and mining are among some of the factors behind the deaths (Global Witness)

Sister Dorothy Stang, an American nun, who lived among locals in the Amazon basin, was killed in the town of Anapu in Para state in 2005. Four people were charged over her killing.

But many of those who fight against the interests of mining companies, loggers and agriculture conglomerates, are little known outside of their communities.

The father and grandfather of Filipino activist Michelle Campos were publicly executed for defending their ancestral land against mining, for example, in an attack that drove 3,000 indigenous Lumad people from their homes. Rich in coal, nickel and gold, their region of Mindanao is one of the most dangerous in the world for land and environmental activists, with 25 deaths in 2015 alone, the group said.

We get threatened, vilified and killed for standing up to the mining companies on our land and the paramilitaries that protect them, Ms Campos told the watchdog.

My father, grandfather and school teacher were just three of countless victims. We know the murderers  they are still walking free in our community. We are dying and our government does nothing to help us.

Meanwhile, in Brazil the fight to save the Amazon is increasingly a fight against criminal gangs who terrorise local populations at the behest of timber companies and the officials they have corrupted.

The watchdog said that Isidio Antonio was one of the latest victims. The leader of a smallholder farming community in the state of Maranhao, he suffered years of death threats for denouncing illegal logging on his land. Police have never investigated his murder.

The group said that an estimated 80 per cent of timber from Brazil is illegal, and accounts for 25 per cent of ilicit wood on global markets. Much of this is being sold on to buyers in the UK, US, Europe and China.

Honduran activist Berta Caceres was killed earlier this year (AP)

Global Witness said that agribusiness, hydroelectric dams and water rights, and logging were also major drivers of killings of activists. In a number of cases, paramilitary groups were suspected of having carried out the killings.

The murders that are going unpunished in remote mining villages or deep within rainforests are fuelled by the choices consumers are making on the other side of the world, said Mr Kyte.

Companies and investors must cut ties with projects that trample over communities rights to their land.

While 2015 was especially deadly for activists, it appears that 2016 will be no different. Among several well-known campaigners who have been killed was Honduran activist Berta Caceres, who was shot and killed in March in her home in La Esperanza. Last year she was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize, an award recognising grassroots environmental activism from around the world.

In Ms Caceres acceptance speech, she spoke of the death threats and kidnapping attempts against her as a result of her struggle against the Agua Zarca dam. Four men have been detained over her death.

I have no doubt that she has been killed because of her struggle and that soldiers and people from the dam are responsible, her 84-year-old mother said on radio Globo at 6. I am sure of that. I hold the government responsible.
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Six people are dead and more than 100 are injured following a weekend of violence between members of a teachers union and police in southern Mexico.

In a violent confrontation with law enforcement on Sunday, teachers belonging to the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) staged blockades across multiple roads in Oaxaca. They were sweeping education reform that requires testing of teachers, as well as the arrest of union leaders and other governmental corruption, the Associated Press reports.

During the Sunday demonstrations, law enforcement opened fire on protesters who were seen throwing rocks and molotov cocktails.

 Mexico teachers' strike turns violent

All of the dead reported were civilians, according to Oaxaca Gov Gabino Cue - two had connections to the CNTE union. In all, 53 civilians were injured in the clash, in addition to 41 federal and 14 state police officers.

The AP says, despite its reporters witnessing riot police firing on protesters, the Mexican government maintained that officers involved in the operation were not carrying firearms. It was not clear whether or not the officers reportedly seen firing were state or federal personnel.

The attacks with guns came from people outside the blockades who fired on the population and federal police, Mexican officials said in a statement.

Federal Police chief Enrique Galindo later confirmed that the federal police had sent in armed officers.

The police obligation is to protect the population, he told reporters.

Two union leaders were arrested last week after federal prosecutors accused them of stealing money from members and money laundering. But members believe those accusations are politically motivated attacks.
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The Orlando gunman spoke in Arabic to a police negotiator, threatened to strap hostages into explosive vests and claimed he was acting to try and stopping the US bombing Syria and Iraq. He pledged his actions to Isis.

Eight days after Omar Mateen stormed in the Pulse nightclub in Orlando and launched an attack that left 49 people dead and wounded 40 others, officials released partial transcripts of conversation between police and the gunman.

The first call came more than a half hour after shots rang out, when Mateen, speaking in Arabic, told a 911 operator: Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God.

He added: I let you know, Im in Orlando and I did the shootings.

Those communications, along with Facebook posts Mateen made before and during the shooting, along with text messages he exchanged with his wife, add to the public understanding of the final hours of during his life.

Mateens name and the groups and people to whom he pledged allegiance were initially omitted from the excerpt. But FBI special agent Ron Hopper told reporters on Monday: He described himself as an Islamic solider bent on harming America. Later, a decision was to made to release all of the coversation and it revealed that Mateen had said: I pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the Islamic State."

He said that the authorities were not proving the audio recording of the calls, but said that Mateen had spoken in a calm manner. The transcript suggests that for a period of three hours there were no gun shots fired, a period during which negotiators sought to talk with the gunman.

The transcripts reveal that the 29-year-old paused during his killing spree to telephone emergency dispatchers, and to post messages on Facebook.

You people are gonna get it, and Im gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid, he said during one call, according to the Associated Press.

Mateen told the emergency dispatcher he was wearing an explosive vest like the kind they used in France, apparently referring to the deadly assault in Paris last November by Islamic militants. As victims were fleeing the club, they told police outside that the shooter said he was going to put four vests with bombs on victims within 15 minutes.

The release came a day after tens of thousands of people held a candlelight vigil in the heart of downtown Orlando for the victims who died in the massacre. The victims also were remembered at church services and at makeshift memorials throughout Orlando.

As a community, its important that we gather together to show our support because only together can we move forward, Gabrielle Claire, a musician and Universal Orlando worker who says she knew three Pulse victims who died, told Reuters.

We dont have to be afraid of holding each other. We dont have to be afraid of saying to other people, Im here for you.

Meanwhile, hospital officials said four people remained in critical condition.
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The US Senate has voted down four proposed gun-control measures introduced in the wake of the recent Orlando massacre, the deadliest mass shooting in US history.

Following the 12 June shooting, which left 49 dead and another 53 injured at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando, Democratic Senators staged a 15-hour filibuster to demand new gun-control legislation. Four such measures arrived on the Senate floor on Monday  two from Republicans and two from Democrats  but none amassed sufficient bipartisan support to succeed. With 54 Republicans and 46 Democrats or Independents in the Senate, any such proposals faced an uphill struggle to attract the 60 votes they needed to pass under congressional rules.

The filibuster was led by Senator Chris Murphy, who entered the Senate in January 2013, less than a month after 20 schoolchildren were killed at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, his home state. He proposed an amendment to require background checks for all gun sales, including those at gun shows. His amendment was supported by just 44 Senators and opposed by 56.

California Democrat Dianne Feinstein, who tried and failed to introduce an assault weapons ban after Sandy Hook, wanted the attorney general to have the ability to deny gun sales to those on the terrorist "no-fly list, a proposal endorsed by the Department of Justice. It also failed, attracting 47 votes for and 53 against.

Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, wanted law enforcement to be alerted when anyone on the terrorism watch list tries to buy a firearm, and to be able to delay the purchase for up to 72 hours. It won a majority with 53 votes, but failed to reach the necessary 60. A proposal from Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley would have seen funds increased for the federal background checks system, but would not have closed the so-called "gun show loophole". That too failed, also with a majority of 53 votes.

The votes were split almost entirely along party lines. Democrats criticised both Republican measures as ineffectual, while Republicans contended that the Democratic proposals were too stringent. Before the vote, Mr Grassley argued that Ms Feinstein's plan to ban those on terror watch lists from buying guns "violates the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

Mr Murphy said he was "disappointed" by the results, "but far from surprised." In a statement issued after all four motions failed to pass, he blamed the result on Republicans beholden to the National Rifle Association (NRA). "We knew breaking the NRA's stranglehold on this Congress would be a long, uphill climb," he wrote. "This country is rising up to demand stronger, safer gun laws, and in the fact of unspeakable tragedy, our movement for change got stronger this week."
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The most senior Republican in the US has suggested the party might yet select an alternative to Donald Trump as its nominee for President amid outrage over his comments after the Orlando shooting.

Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, said he would not stand in the way of a rebellion against Mr Trump after the business tycoon appalled many with his call for "racial profiling" in the wake of the 49 deaths at the Pulse gay night club.

Mr Ryan is the highest-ranking Republican in Congress and will serve as the chairman of the partys convention in late July, where delegates won through primaries formally elect a nominee.

Recommended Read more Donald Trump says US should consider profiling Muslims

The last thing I would do is tell anybody to do something thats contrary to their conscience, he told NBCs Meet the Press.

Mr Ryan said he would not be leading a revolt against Republican presumptive nominee himself, but had been pressing Mr Trump to change his tune and run a campaign we can all be proud of, that is inclusive and aspirational.

Mr Trumps plans for racial profiling come amid plots by party officials to block his nomination at next months showcase convention in Cleveland, and an anyone but Trump campaign. Recent polls have shown 70 per cent of voters had a negative view of the candidate following his recent remarks.

People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Show all 8 1 /8 People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Miley Cyrus 'God he thinks he is the f***ing chosen one or some shit!  Honestly f*** this sh*t I am moving if this is my president! I dont say things I dont mean!' Jemal Countess/Getty Images People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Whoopi Goldberg 'I dont think thats America. I dont want it to be America. Maybe its time for me to move you know' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Samuel L. Jackson 'If that mother**er becomes president, Im moving my black ass to South Africa' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Raven Symone 'My confession for this election is, if any Republican gets nominated, Im gonna move to Canada with my entire family. Is that bad? I already have my ticket. I literally bought my ticket, I swear' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Cher 'If he were to be elected, I'm moving to Jupiter' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Neve Campbell 'Im terrified. Its really scary. My biggest fear is that Trump will triumph. I cannot believe that he is still in the game ... [I'll] move back to Canada' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Jon Stewart 'I would consider getting in a rocket and going to another planet, because clearly this planets gone bonkers' People who will flee America if Donald Trump wins Randy Blythe 'He could just be a clown. If he is the president, though, I am leaving America 'till he's gone'

Following the mass shooting in Orlando, the worst in US history, Mr Trump renewed his plans for America to consider racial profiling in what he described as a bid to prevent terrorism. He cited Israel as a successful example.

I think profiling is something that were going to have to start thinking about as a country, the presumptive Republican nominee told CBSs Face The Nation.

You look at Israel and you look at others, and they do it and they do it successfully. And you know, I hate the concept of profiling, but we have to start using common sense, he said when asked if he supported increased profiling of Muslims in America.

Its not the worst thing to do, he added.

Mr Trump has also renewed his suggestion to ban Muslims entering the US from countries with a proven history of terrorism. The Orlando killer, Omar Mateen, who pledged allegiance to Isis, was born in the US. Officials believe he was self-radicalised.

Mr Trump also said the Muslim community had to cooperate with law enforcement and turn in the people who they know are bad. He said people should look for red flag warning signs which he said were evident in Mateen  who had been investigated twice by the FBI  and Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik, who carried out the San Bernardino killings.

He also renewed his idea to place mosques under surveillance. He said: If you go to France right now, theyre doing it in France. In fact, in some instances theyre closing down mosques. Following the Paris attacks, where 130 people were killed in November, police closed some mosques in the city.

Mr Ryan said a ban on Muslims was not in the US interests.

However, billionaire Mr Trump brushed off the criticism, claiming he would put his own money into the campaign if needed. It would be nice if the Republicans stuck together, he told ABC. I can win, one way or another, he added.
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Donald Trump has responded to the Orlando massacre by suggesting it would be common sense for the US authorities to start profiling Muslims.

Speaking a week after the attack that left 49 people dead and injured 40 others, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee doubled down on his previously stated demand that the US should suspend the entry of Muslims to the country.

On Sunday, he took that further, saying that while he hated the concept of profiling a section of society, it was something that could not be avoided.

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)

Well, I think profiling is something that we're going to have to start thinking about as a country, he told CBS.

And other countries do it; you look at Israel and you look at others and they do it and they do it successfully. You know, I hate the concept of profiling. But we have to start using common sense.

Mr Trumps comments in the aftermath of the shooting, carried out by a Muslim security guard, Omar Mateen, have further distanced him from the Republican establishment, which is concerned that his controversial comments will damage the party in the elections this autumn. Polls have shown the Democrats likely candidate, Hillary Clinton, extending a lead over the New York tycoon.

There have been appeals from the party to the nominee to tone down his rhetoric but Mr Trump has responded by saying that Republicans who dont agree with him should keep quiet.

In Texas, Trump invites Sanders supporters to come on board (AP)

African-Americans and Hispanics have long protested police profiling that ranges from traffic stops to questioning about alleged crimes.

On Sunday, Mr Trump also said the government should investigate mosques in the US in much the same way the New York Police Department's Demographics Unit spied on Muslims and mosques around the city with help from the CIA.

The Associated Press said the group assembled databases on where Muslims lived, shopped, worked and prayed, infiltrated Muslim student groups, put informants in mosques and monitored sermons.

In January, the city settled two lawsuits stemming from such surveillance. Yet Mr Trump believed it was be something that could be returned to.

You do [it] as they used to do in New York prior to this mayor dismantling, Mr Trump said.

The AP said Americans were divided over whether or not to single out Muslim communities as part of a plan to fight terrorism, according to an AP-GfK poll conducted March 31 through April 4.

Forty-nine percent of respondents said they favoured surveillance programmes aimed at predominantly Muslim communities in the United States to obtain information about possible radicalisation. Forty-seven per cent of those surveyed opposed the practice.

Civil libertarians, Muslims and others have strongly opposed the idea of profiling, arguing that it is unconstitutional and discriminates based on race, religion and other factors.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Sunday said law enforcement should remain allied with groups that might have helpful information.

It is very important for to us maintain our contacts within the Muslim community, because, often, individuals, if theyre from that community and theyre being radicalised, their friends and family members will see it first, she told CNN.

They will see activity first. And we want that information to come to us.
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There are some things Donald Trump says that even the NRA does not agree with.

In the aftermath of the Orlando shooting that left 49 people dead and which injured another 40, the presumptive Republican nominee had suggested that if clubbers had been armed, they would have been able to prevent the slaughter, launched by gunman Omar Mateen.

If some of those wonderful people had guns strapped right here, right to their waist or right to their ankle, and this son of a ***** comes out and starts shooting and one of the people in that room happened to have it and goes boom, boom, Mr Trump said after the shooting at the Pulse nightclub.

In Texas, Trump invites Sanders supporters to come on board (AP)

You know what, that wouldve been a beautiful, beautiful sight, folks.

Mr Trump, who has received the endorsement of the National Rifle Association, also said he believed that people who were on a terrorist or no-fly watch-list, should not be able to buy a weapon. The NRA was not wholly supportive of this proposal.

But now, in another sign of potential friction between the gun lobbying group and the Republican nominee, the NRA has said it disagrees with Mr Trumps proposal. Whats more, it believes that mixing alcohol with loaded weapons was only likely to end badly.

I dont think you should have firearms where people are drinking, but Ill tell you this: Everybody, every American needs to start having a security plan, Wayne LaPierre, the CEO of the NRA, told CBS.

Another senior official from the powerful lobbying group, went even further.

(Getty Images (Getty Images)

No one thinks people should go into a nightclub drinking and carrying firearms, Chris Cox he told ABC. That defies common sense. It also defies the law.

The shooting inside a gay nightclub in Orlando killed 49 people and injured dozens more. There was an armed guard, an Orlando Police officer, who exchanged gunfire with the shooter, but Mr Trump had implied that people inside the club should be free to arm themselves.

Laws about carrying a gun while intoxicated vary state by state. A review by the New York Times in 2010 found eight states banned loaded guns in any establishment that served alcohol.

About half of the remaining states allowed loaded guns in bars or certain parts of restaurants that served alcohol, and the other half did not have laws banning it or allowing it

Mr Trump had made similar comments after last years terror attack in Paris that left more than 100 people dead. He said the attack on the Bataclan nightclub would have ended very differently if people had been armed.

When you look at Paris - you know the toughest gun laws in the world, Paris - nobody had guns but the bad guys. Nobody had guns. Nobody, Mr Trump said at a rally.

You can say what you want, but if they had guns, if our people had guns, if they were allowed to carry - it wouldve been a much, much different situation.

Mr Trumps comments were in sharp contrast to those made by President Barack Obama during his visit to Orlando on Thursday.

The notion that the answer to this tragedy would be to make sure that more people in a nightclub are similarly armed to the killer defies common sense, he said.

On Monday, Mr Trump sought on Twitter to walk back in his most recent comments.

He wrote: When I said that if, within the Orlando club, you had some people with guns, I was obviously talking about additional guards or employees.
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A mother suspected of killing her pregnant daughter for marrying against the wishes of her family has been arrested by police in Pakistan.

The incident marked another attack in a series of so-called "honour killings" in the country.

Local police believe Amina Bibi and her son slit the throat of 22-year-old Muqadas Tofeeq in the village of Butrawala in Punjab province. Ms Tofeeq was the mother of a 10-month-old infant.

It is understood Ms Tofeeq had fallen out with her family following the marriage three years ago. Her husband, Mohammed Tofeeq told CNN she was eight months pregnant at the time and was in a maternity clinic when she was lured back to her parental home, where she was killed on Friday.

Her husband reported the murder.

Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Show all 19 1 /19 Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Afghanistan Recommendation: I urge the Government of Afghanistan to adopt legislative reforms to ensure that sexual violence offences are not conflated with adultery or morality crimes and to establish infrastructure for the delivery of protection, health and le gal services to survivors. I call on the Ministry of the Interior to accelerate efforts to integrate women into the Afghan National Police, thereby enhancing its outreach and its capacity to address sexual and gender-based violence Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Central African Republic Recommendation: I urge the authorities of the Central African Republic to ensure that efforts to restore security and the rule of law take into account the prevention of sexual violence and that monitoring of the ceasefire and peace agreement explicitly reflects this consideration, in line with the joint communique of the Government and the United Nations on the prevention of and response to conflict-related sexual violence signed in December 2012. I further encourage the authorities to make the rapid response unit to combat sexual violence operational and to establish a special criminal court Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Colombia Recommendation: I commend the Government of Colombia for the progress made to date and its collaboration with the United Nations, including through the visit of my Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict in March 2015. I encourage the authorities to implement Law 1719 and continue to prosecute cases of sexual violence committed during the conflict to ensure that survivors receive justice and receive reparations. Conflict-related sexual violence should continue to be addressed in the Havana peace talks, as well as in the resulting accords and transitional justice mechanisms. Particular attention should be paid to groups that face additional barriers to justice such as ethnic minorities, women in rural areas, children, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals and women abused within the ranks of armed groups. I encourage the Government to scale up its protection measures and share its good practices with other conflict-affected countries Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Congo Recommendation: I urge the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to ensure full implementation of the armed forces action plan against sexual violence, to systematically bring perpetrators to justice and to deliver reparations to victims, including payment of outstanding compensation awards. I call on donors and the United Nations system to support the Government in its efforts and to pay increased attention to neglected areas, including unregulated mining regions Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Iraq Recommendation: I commend the Government of Iraq for its national action plan for the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and urge its swift implementation, including by training its security forces to ensur e respect for womens rights. Programmes to support the social reintegration of women and girls released from captivity by ISIL are urgently needed, as is community-based medical and psychological care. The capacity of the United Nations system should be enhanced through the deployment of Womens Protection Advisers or equivalent specialists Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Libya Recommendation: I urge the national authorities in Libya to implement Decree No. 119 and Resolution 904 of 2014 to ensure redress for all victims, including those affected by the current conflict, through the establishment of multisectoral services and the adoption of legislation to categorically prohibit sexual violence Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Mali Recommendation: I urge the Government of Mali, with support from United Nations Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict, to develop a comprehensive national strategy to combat sexual and gender-based violence and to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers so that services can reach remote areas. I further call on all parties to ensure that conflict-related sexual violence is addressed in the inter-Malian dialogue and that perpetrators of sexual violence do not benefit from amnesty or early release Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Myanmar Recommendation: I urge the Government of Myanmar to continue with its reform agenda and, in the process, take practical and timely actions to protect and support survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and to ensure that security personnel accused of such crimes are prosecuted. Sexual violence should be an element in all ceasefire and peace negotiations, excluded from the scope of amnesty provisions and addressed in transitional justice processes. It is critical that women be able to participate consistently in and influence these processes Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Somalia Recommendation: I reiterate my call to the Federal Government of Somalia to implement the commitments made under the joint communique of 7 May 2013 and its national action plan to combat sexual violence in conflict, including specific plans for the army and the police. I encourage the adoption of a sexual offences bill as a matter of priority Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life South Sudan Recommendation: I urge the parties to the conflict in South Sudan to adopt action plans to implement the commitments made under their respective communiques. I call upon the Government of South Sudan to address the negative impact of customary law on womens rights and to reflect international human rights standards in national law. I also encourage the African Union to make public and act upon the report of its Commission of Inquiry on South Sudan Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Sudan (Darfur) Recommendation: I call upon the Government of the Sudan to grant the United Nations and its humanitarian partners unfettered access for monitoring and the provision of assistance to people in need in Darfur. Given that there has been grave concern over sexual violence in Darfur for more than a decade, I encourage the Government to engage with my Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict to develop a framework of cooperation to address the issue comprehensively Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Syria Recommendation: I acknowledge the Governments invitation to my Special Representative to visit the Syrian Arab Republic and call upon the authorities, in the context of such a visit, to agree on specific measures to prevent sexual violence, including by members of the security forces. I condemn the use of sexual violence by ISIL and all other parties listed in the annex to the present report and call on them to cease such violations immediately and allow unfettered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Yemen Recommendation: I urge the authorities in Yemen to undertake legislative reform as a basis for addressing impunity for sexual violence, ensuring the provision of services for survivors and aligning the minimum legal age of marriage with international standards. I further call on the authorities to engage with local community and faithbased leaders to address sexual and gender-based violence and discriminatory social norms Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Bosnia and Herzegovina Recommendation: I urge the relevant authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to harmonize legislation and policies so that the rights of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence to reparations are consistently recognized and to allocate a specific budget for this purpose. I further call upon the authorities to protect and support survivors participating in judicial proceedings through, inter alia, referrals to free legal aid, psychosocial and health services, as well as economic empowerment programmes Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Ivory Coast Recommendation: I urge the Government of Cote dIvoire to ensure the effective implementation of its national strategy to combat gender-based violence and the action plan for FRCI, and call on the international community to support these efforts. It is critical to accelerate disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and strengthen law enforcement to ensure that ex-combatants who have been reintegrated into the transport sector do not pose a risk to women and girls who are reliant on those services. The Government and the international community must provide monitoring and awareness-raising to mitigate the possibility of a recurrence of sexual violence in the context of the presidential elections to be held in October 2015 Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Liberia Recommendation: I call on the Government of Liberia to continue its critical efforts to combat sexual and gender-based violence including through the United Nations-Government of Liberia Joint Programme, and in the context of recovery from the Ebola virus epidemic Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Nepal Recommendation: I encourage the Government to ensure that survivors of conflict-related sexual violence are recognized under the law as conflict victims, which will enable them to access services, judicial remedies and reparations. I further call on all parties involved in the transitional justice process to ensure that the rights and needs o f survivors of sexual violence are addressed in institutional reforms and that these crimes are excluded from amnesties and statutes of limitations Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Sri Lanka Recommendation: I call upon the newly elected Government of Sri Lanka to investigate allegations of sexual violence, including against national armed and security forces, and to provide multisectoral services for survivors, including reparations and economic empowerment programmes for women at risk, including war widows and female heads of household Countries where sexual violence has become a way of life Nigeria Recommendation: I encourage the Government to implement its national action plan on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) to ensure that womens protection concerns are mainstreamed throughout its security operations. I also call upon the authorities to guarantee security in and around internally displaced persons camps and to extend medical and psychosocial services to high-risk areas

"They hit her with wooden rods and when that didn't kill her, they slit her throat," Mr Tofeeq told the broadcaster. "I want justice, I beseech the prime minister to help me, I want justice."

Pakistans Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, vowed earlier this year to take a tougher stance on honour killings. Nearly 1,000 women are killed in Pakistan each year for violating conservative norms on love and marriage.

This is totally against Islam and anyone who does this must be punished and punished very severely, Sharif told the Guardian in February. Changing the law is something that needs to be done at the earliest possibility.

However, no new laws against the murders have yet been passed.

In another recent incident, another woman and her husband were found tortured and shot dead in Thikriwala, also in the Punjab province. The killings were allegedly perpetrated by relatives of the couple and police have arrested one man in connection with the crime.

In April, a report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan revealed a rise in the number of honour killings and recorded more than 900 rapes and sexual assaults in 2015, 279 instances of domestic violence, 143 of burning, 833 kidnappings and 777 suicides and attempted suicides.

It is believed many attacks still go unreported.
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The youth group of a right-wing Danish political party has apologised for a song describing Barack Obama as a "negro without talent".

Members of the Danish Peoples Party (DF) youth wing claimed the song, set to the tune of 'California Dreamin' by the Mamas and the Papas and also suggesting the US President was "no bro", was meant to be funny.

It also endorses Donald Trump as the next leader of the US, with the words: We would vote for Trump, if we were in LA, Trump for president, November is the day.

The youth group sang in English at a political gathering in Bornholm, in front of the US ambassador to Denmark Rufus Gifford - an old friend of the president.

In a post on its Facebook page, the group said the song was an attempt to be humorous and was supposed to be a fun party tune. It said the wording had been misunderstood.

The lyrics were first published in a Facebook post by David Trads, who said the partys actions were misplaced and idiotic. He called on the youth group to apologise, especially since the insult was sung to the US ambassador. Many have commented on Mr Trads post expressing disgust at the insulting term.

The Danish People's Party has previously been criticised for promoting a racist message with a poster featuring an an all-white family below the words: Our Denmark - there is so much we need to take care of.

Soren Espersen, a spokesperson for the Danish Peoples party, defended the campaign by saying he was "colour-blind" and that it would make no difference to the message if there were a neger (negro) on the poster.

Controversy surrounds the Danish word neger, which many Scandinavian people continue to use to describe black people. Critics argue it effectively translates as the more offensive N-word, while others say that even the direct translation of "negro" has racist connotations and is not acceptable.

Earlier this year the National Gallery of Denmark removed the term from those titles of its artwork it featured in.
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A French woman has gone on trial for premeditated murder after leaving her 15-month old daughter to die on a beach in Northern France.

Fabienne Kabou, 39, admitted leaving her only child  named Adelaide after her grandmother - in freezing conditions on the Berck-sur-Mer beach as the tide came in during a hearing following the incident in November 2013.

Ms Kabou is said to have taken a train from Paris to the Channel coast, and on arrival had allegedly asked locals about tide times, Le Monde reported.

On the same evening she is accused of taking the girl to the beach  which she allegedly told detectives she chose because even the name sounded sad  and returning without her. A fisherman discovered the child's body the following morning.

Although Ms Kabou admitted to leaving the girl shortly after she was arrested, subsequent psychiatric analysis said the defendant had "severely impaired judgement due to paranoid delusions", Le Figaro reported.

However, psychiatrists found the woman was not clinically insane, so a trial is being held to decide the woman's guilt.

During a hearing at the Boulogne-sur-Mer court on 23 December 2013, Ms Kabou described how she had felt driven by a relentless force, according to Le Parisien.

She explained: I'm still standing, I hold her against me and then I say no, no, no, I keep saying no, I do not know why. I cried. Its as if I was telling someone I could not do a thing like that, but I did.

Ms Kabou was previously living in a Paris workshop with sculptor Michael Lafon, who was 30 years her senior and the father to her child.

She had become pregnant twice before  both times suffering miscarriages  and gave birth to the third child alone in the workshop.

Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Show all 10 1 /10 Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 30 per cent of people deal with anxiety by talking to a friend or relative, or by going for a walk. Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report Almost one in five people feel anxious all or a lot of the time. PA Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 22 per cent of women feel anxious a lot or all of the time, compared to 15 per cent of men. Roman Levin/Flickr Creative Commons Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 45 per cent of people who feel anxious in everyday life cite financial issues as their biggest cause of worry. Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report And 26 per cent of people who feel anxious say fearing for the welfare of their children and loved ones leaves them burdened with worry. And 26 per cent of people say fearing for the welfare of their children and loved ones leaves them burdened with anxiety. Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 27 per cent of people who suffer from anxiety say work issues, such as long hours, are the source of the problem. Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report But 16 per cent use alcohol to cope, while 10 per cent turn to cigarettes in the face of anxiety. Unemployed people are more likely to resort to these harmful strategies: 27 per cent use alcohol and 23 per cent use cigarettes. AFP/Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report Only seven per cent of people who say they suffer from anxiety seek help from their GP. Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report People are thought to be more anxious than they were five years ago. Alessandra/Flickr Creative Commons Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report The stresses of modern life are thought to have created "The Age of Anxiety". Getty

The pair had never registered the birth of the girl, so officially she did not exist. According to three experts on the case this was because the woman believed her daughter to be in great danger.

Drs Daniel Zagury, Roland Coutanceau and Mourassis Wilquin examined the woman  who was born to a wealthy Catholic family in Dakar, Senegal - and found she had great intelligence and an IQ well above average.

However, they were also said to be struck by the faith she placed in irrational beliefs such as witchcraft, according to Le Monde.

Ms Kabou reportedly felt ill and often had hallucinations, which she had documented in a journal. She also wrote how she could hear the voices of dead relatives who she believed intended to harm her, the newspaper said.

The trial is expected to take a week and, if found guilty, Ms Kabou could recieve a life sentence.
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A long-awaited gathering of Orthodox Christian leaders has opened in Crete despite the absence of a Russian delegation, and amidst warnings of a "simmering religious war".

The Holy and Great Council has been 55 years in the planning and was intended to unite all branches of the Orthodox faith and discuss its place in the modern world. It would be the first meeting of all the leaders in more than 1,200 years, the last taking place in 787AD.

But preparations have been marred by very modern geopolitical tensions, particularly between Russia and Ukraine.

This great and holy council will carry the message of unity... it will help to escape the deadlocks of the present, Patriarch Vartholomaios of Crete told reporters at the opening of the meeting.

It began as Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew  first among equals of all the Orthodox clerics - led prayers attended by other church leaders on Sunday on the eve of the weeklong summit.

Pushed by Patriarch Bartholomew, the meeting was intended to discuss issues such as fasting, and how Orthodox Christianity meets modern challenges, particularly in regards to relations with external religions, namely the Catholic Church (The Orthodox Church split from Catholocism in the Great Schism of 1054. Some Orthodox Christians still regard Catholics as heretics).

Patriarch Bartholomew speaks at the meeting (Holy and Great Council via AP)

However, after the Bulgarian delegation pulled out in early June, citing disagreements with the topics due to be discussed and logistical issues such as the seating plan, the Georgian and Russian delegations soon followed. All three countries are closely aligned.

We have made a decision that we will not be able to take part in the all-Orthodox synod if other churches do not go, said Russian Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev. All churches should take part  and only in this case the decisions of this assembly will be legitimate.

World's most popular religions Show all 7 1 /7 World's most popular religions World's most popular religions Christians Source: Pewforum Getty Images World's most popular religions Muslims Source: Pewforum World's most popular religions Hindus Source: Pewforum World's most popular religions Buddhists Source: Pewforum World's most popular religions Folk Religions Source: Pewforum Getty Images World's most popular religions Other religions Source: Pewforum World's most popular religions Jews Source: Pewforum Getty

The Antioch branch, based in Syria, also refused to attend but for different reasons  they are involved in a dispute with the Jerusalem branch over who should control a small Qatari contingent of the religion.

There were strong doubts the meeting could go ahead without the attendance of Russia, a strong and wealthy branch of the Church. It represents 130 million of Orthodox Christianitys 300 million followers. Its head, Patriarch Kirill, is the second most powerful see and a close ally of Vladmir Putin.

Observers have suggested that Patriarch Kirill wanted to disrupt the meeting to undermine Patriarch Bartholomew  who is based in Turkey  to strengthen his own position.

The Russian church also oversees the religion in Ukraine. But Ukrainian politicians have overwhelmingly voted to formerly request that Patriarch Bartholomew establishes a unification council of the church in the country, leading to an independent and recognised branch of the religion which would not be directed from Moscow.

This would have the potential to loosen Russian influence in Ukraine and likely exacerbate the already poor relations between the two countries.

Does religion divide London?

According to The Economist: Patriarch Kirill of Moscow has already warned Patriarch Bartholomew that any move to detach Ukraine from Muscovite authority would be devastating for the relationship between Orthodox Christianitys two most important sees, those of Constantinople [Bartholomew] and Moscow.

This has led to what some Russian media has called a "simmering religious war", according to the BBC.

In a statement on Friday, Patriarch Kirill said he hoped the religious leaders gathered in Crete could prepare for a full meeting at a later date.

Patriarch Kirill visited Greece in May, joining Russian President Vladimir Putin on a trip to the monastic sanctuary of Mount Athos.
Victories for Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and Zamalek of Egypt on Sunday made it a great weekend for away clubs in the CAF Champions League.After hosts Zesco United of Zambia won the first matchday 1 game Saturday, Wydad Casablanca of Morocco set a trend of victories by visiting teams in the premier African club competition.Goals from Tiyani Mabunda and Khama Billiat earned Sundowns a 2-0 win at twice champions Entente Setif of Algeria in a Group B match marred by crowd trouble. Frustrated home supporters hurled plastic bottles on the pitch, forcing a temporary halt to play during the closing stages.Sundowns, eliminated in the final qualifying round only to be reinstated when V Club of the Democratic Republic of Congo were disqualified, scored two superb goals. Mabunda struck in the first half with a long-range shot and Billiat dribbled past several defenders before slipping the ball into the net during the second half.An early headed goal by Bassem Morsy earned Zamalek a 1-0 win in Nigeria over Enyimba, who scored 10 goals in three home matches during qualifying. Both teams battled to pass accurately on a pitch soaked by torrential rain in the southeastern city of Port Harcourt.Zesco upset record eight-time African champions Al Ahly of Egypt 3-2 and Wydad won 1-0 at ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast in other games.Matchday 2 fixtures are scheduled for June 28-29.Source: AFP
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All flights to and from Hamburg in Germany were grounded after a police received a threat from a group calling itself "Isamic Caliphate in Europe" saying a bomb had been placed on an incoming plane.

The anonymous email warned there was a bomb on an Air Berlin flight with 170 passengers and seven air crew on board. The Airbus A320 had taken off from Munich and was on its way to Hamburg when police received the email purporting to come from the Islamic Caliphate in Europe.

All flights into and out of Hamburg were grounded before the jet landed safely and was moved to a position some distance from the airport and other planes.

According to German news site theLocal.de, a police spokesman said: The risk of an attack was labelled as high. You can assume from that that we took the threat seriously.

Police then searched the luggage of every passenger on board and used sniffer dogs to search for explosives, but no bomb was found.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

An investigation has been launched by state security to search for those responsible for sending the email on Sunday afternoon.

The incident only caused a minimal effect on air traffic in and out of Hamburg, an airport spokesperson said.
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Cats in Sicily could have had petrol-soaked rags attached to them by people linked to the Mafia before being set alight and released into forests to start huge fires, according to the islands national park officials.

Dozens of forest fires which broke out within hours of each other in Sicily on Thursday are believed to have been begun by mobsters or their collaborators.

Firefighters had to tackle at least 30 blazes in national parks and woodland. Schools and homes have been evacuated and water and power supplies cut. Several children have been treated for smoke inhalation.

The fires all broke out at around the same time on Thursday, which has led the island's national park officials to suggest a co-ordinated plan was behind the blazes.

The effects have been exacerbated by temperatures of up to 40C while the sirocco, a strong wind which comes from Africa and affects parts of Europe in the summer, has fanned the flames.

Sicilian authorities have pointed the blame at various groups they say have motives for starting the fires, including the mafia, property developers and disgruntled former forest rangers.

We dont yet have the proof but we suspect that there are criminal interests behind these fires, said Rosario Crocetta, the governor of Sicily. It horrifies me that criminals in Sicily would set fire to national parks and centuries-old woodland, but there are speculative interests behind the fires.

The mafia recently attempted to assassinate the director of the islands Nebrodi national park, Giuseppe Antoci, following his efforts to crackdown on the organised criminals making millions of euros through defrauding EU funds set aside for farmers in the park.

Meanwhile, much of the land affected is in areas targeted by developers looking to build homes and holiday villas.

Recommended Read more Video shows family driving through raging California wildfires

Mr Antoci believes the fires were started deliberately. He said: It is not possible that the whole of Sicily can go up in flames at the same time simply by chance.

One of the mobs arson techniques is to tie a petrol-soaked rag to the tail of a cat and set fire to it, he added.

According to the Telegraph, there is speculation on the island that forest rangers fired after their links to the mafia were discovered could be responsible.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Despite being a small island that is not densely forested, Sicily employs around 23,000 full-time and auxiliary forest rangers.

This has long been argued to be the result of cronyism and political corruption. In Canada, which has colossal tracts of forest, the state employs a total of around 4,200 rangers.

Italian interior minister Angelino Alfano has promised a tough reaction to anyone found to be responsible for arson. He said: I will provide all the resources to the police and Carabinieri (paramilitary police) to catch those responsible.
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A man from Argentina has reportedly purchased more than 50 items of Nazi memorabilia from a controversial auction - totalling more than 600,000 (465,000).

The buyer, who used the number 888  evoking the Nazi 88 code meaning Heil Hitler- spent 275,000 (213,160) on a uniform jacket which once belonged to Adolf Hitler.

Among the other items he bought were a pair of Hermann Goerings silk underwear  for which he paid 3,000 (2325)  and the brass container Goering had used to kill himself with hydrogen cyanide before he was due to be executed following charges for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the 1946 Nuremberg trials.

German newspaper Bild, which had sent an undercover reporter to the event because it was officially closed to the press, spoke to the winning bidder who said he was from Argentina and had bought the items for a museum, although he did not give his name.

The reporter also said the room was filled with young couples, elderly men, and muscular guys with shaved heads and tribal tattoos.

The items, sold under the theme Hitler and the Nazi Grandees  a look into the abyss of evil, are from the collection of John K. Latimer, who was the physician at the Nuremberg trials.

Paintings censored by the Nazis Show all 10 1 /10 Paintings censored by the Nazis Paintings censored by the Nazis Paintings censored by the Nazis 'A Woman Sitting In A Chair' by Henri Matisse Paintings censored by the Nazis Paintings censored by the Nazis 'The Veiled' by Otto Greibel. The work is among 25 shown on the Lost Art website and among the approximately 1,400 works German authorities confiscated from the Munich residence of Cornelius Gurlitt Paintings censored by the Nazis Paintings censored by the Nazis 'Allegorical Scene' by Marc Chagall Paintings censored by the Nazis Paintings censored by the Nazis 'Couple' by Hans Christoph Paintings censored by the Nazis Paintings censored by the Nazis 'Couple In A Landscape' by Conrad Felixmueller Paintings censored by the Nazis Paintings censored by the Nazis 'Rides At The Beach' by Max Liebermann Paintings censored by the Nazis Paintings censored by the Nazis 'Street Tram' by Bernhard Kretschmar Paintings censored by the Nazis Paintings censored by the Nazis 'A Moorish Conversation On A Terrace' by Eugene Delacroix Paintings censored by the Nazis Paintings censored by the Nazis 'Man And Woman At A Window' by Wilhelm Lachnit Paintings censored by the Nazis Paintings censored by the Nazis 'Mother And Child' by Erich Fraass

The Central Council for Jews in Germany had previously tried to cancel the auction, held at Hermann Historica, with its president Josef Schuster saying making business, without any limits, with items of Hitler, Goering and Eva Braun [is] scandalous and disgusting.

Such items belong in museums or archives, they should not be sold for profit, he told the Germany Press Agency.

It is forbidden display or distribute Nazi objects, slogans and symbols in Germany, although purchasing or owning such items is allowed.
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Norway is to boost defence spending as a precaution against Russian aggression, described by the Prime Minister as an increasingly unpredictable neighbour to the east.

The Scandinavian country is a Nato member state and shares a northern border with Russia.

Military spending by Norway would increase by 165 billion kroner (17 billion) over 20 years if the plans were accepted, AFP news agency reported.

Recommended Read more NATO allies launch largest military exercise since end of Cold War

Speaking to media in Oslo, Prime Minister Erna Solberg said: "Unfortunately the geopolitical circumstances have changed significantly, in a bad way, in recent years."

"We have an increasingly unpredictable neighbour to the east which is strengthening its military capacity, and showing willingness to use military force as a political tool."

Ms Solberg added that Norway is currently "not adapted to the geopolitical situation". Russia has caused widespread anxiety for neighbouring states since the 2014 annexation of Crimea.

If the proposals are successful, the money would be used to buy  among other things - four submarines, 52 F-35 fighter jets and naval surveillance planes. While a substantial increase, the spending would still not meet Natos target of two per cent of GDP defence spending.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

There are also plans for the armed forces to be more present in Finnmark, an extreme northeastern part of Norway which borders on Russia. Border patrols will take place more frequently there, according to Aftenposten. However, the army would still be a small force, unable to repel any serious attack.

Nato has conducted exercises in eastern European countries in response to a resurgent Russia.

Earlier in June, the US-backed military bloc launched the largest military exercise since the end of the Cold War in Poland, which also neighbours Russia. Dubbed Anakonda-16, the operation comprised more than 20 countries and 30,000 soldiers and saw military exercises carried out over 10 days.

Russia has also conducted snap military exercises in its own territory. In February, 8,500 troops, and numerous planes and ships, conducted drills in the south of the country, close to pro-Russia separatist areas of Ukraine.

However, the Nato drills have received criticism from within Nato member states. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German Foreign Minister, recently told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper that Nato was warmongering with the mass excercises.

He said: "What we should not do now is inflame the situation with sabre-rattling and warmongering. Whoever believes that a symbolic tank parade on the alliance's eastern border will bring security is mistaken.

We are well-advised not to create pretexts to renew an old confrontation.
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The number of refugees in the world has reached the highest level ever recorded, according to figures published by the United Nations (UN).

After an increase of five million last year, the number of people displaced by conflict  refugees, asylum seekers or those displaced internally  was at an estimated 65.3 million by the end of 2015.

It is the equivalent of one in every 113 people on the planet, according to the UN Refugee Agency, and if considered a nation would make up the 21st largest in the world.

In its annual report to mark World Refugee Day, the UN said it was the first time the number of refugees worldwide had passed the 60 million mark.

On average 24 people were displaced from their homes every minute of every day during 2015  some 34,000 people per day.

"World leaders can no longer watch passively as so many lives are needlessly lost" - @RefugeesChief #WithRefugeeshttps://t.co/EiWm9KASTj  UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) June 20, 2016

Lamenting the largest refugee crisis of our time, Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General,described it "not just a crisis of numbers", but "a crisis of solidarity.

More than half of the world's refugee come from Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia.

(UNHCR (UNHCR)

The UN said 86 per cent of the refugees under its mandate were being sheltered in low- and middle-income countries.

If the closure the Dadaab camp in Kenya, the largest refugee settlement in the world, is to go ahead it will risk a "humanitarian disaster", according to campaigners.

Johan Eldebo, World Vision UKs Senior Humanitarian Policy Adviser, said in a statement: The Kenyan Government, like many others, is struggling to help millions of displaced and desperate people.

"But this is not just an issue for Kenya or Africa. Over 200,000 refugees have risked their lives this year to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. More than a quarter has come from Somalia and other war-torn East African countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.

Its time for Europe and the rest of the world to accept that we cant wish the refugee challenge away. We must take collective action to address the root causes driving migration and ensure refugees are not marginalised, or left unproductive for years in camps. Children must be given education, communities should have access to healthcare and adults must have work opportunities. Such factors restore dignity and reduce reliance on expensive and unsustainable aid hand-outs."

Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, last week warned of a "climate of xenophobia" gripping Europe.

Speaking in Tehran, he said: "Refugees don't bring danger but flee from dangerous places.

UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities Show all 22 1 /22 UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272667.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272679.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272675.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272646.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272647.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272649.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272650.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272651.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272654.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272656.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272657.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272658.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272659.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272660.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272661.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272662.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272663.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272664.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272665.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272671.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272666.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai UN warns of rising tensions as refugees flood into cities 272648.bin UNHCR/ Zalmai

[Those who] stir up public opinion against refugees and migrants have a responsibility in creating a climate of xenophobia that is very worrying in today's Europe."

More than 1,011,700 migrants arrived in Europe by sea last year, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), although others estimate that figure to be much higher.
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In our collection of over 700 images, taken during or before the battle of the Somme, there is only one airman.

Here he is, looking very smart in his greatcoat and cap. He appears to be a private in the Royal Flying Corps, the predecessor of the Royal Air Force. He was therefore part of the ground staff, rather than a pilot.

Ten squadrons of British fighter bi-planes operated over the Somme battlefields. They gradually established superiority over the Germans as they received improved aircraft, such as the Sopwith Pup.


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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans chief economic adviser has told a state television programme there is no need for anyone else to engage in politics.

Mr Erdogan and his supporters say Turkey needs a strong executive presidency to help steer the country through its big security and economic challenges. However, critics say the divisive president has been behaving in an increasingly authoritarian manner.

Yigit Bulut, who was previously a journalist but is now a senior adviser to the President, was speaking to TRT Haber last week when he said: There is already a leader in this country and he is engaging in politics.

There is no need for anyone else to engage in politics. He is engaging in politics both at home and abroad. Our duty is to support the leader in this country.

The role of the president in Turkey is largely ceremonial, but Mr Erdogan has been accused of trying to tighten his grip in the country.

The interview was aired just days before the countrys government put forward a draft bill to be debated in parliament which would see the president significantly increase his hold over the judicial system.

Last week the Turkish government announced plans to remove hundreds of top judges from the countrys courts and instead hand Mr Erdogan more say on judicial appointments.

Under the draft law, which is being debated in parliament, all 711 judges at two of the highest courts -- the Council of State, which hears cases lodged by citizens against the government, and the Supreme Court of Appeals -- will be removed. Some are expected to be reappointed, but it is unclear how many.

The government claims the major overhaul would speed up courts and deal with a backlog of cases, however opponents say the move would undermine judicial independence.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes Show all 8 1 /8 Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Just a week before he was elected President, he called Erdogan Amberin Zaman, the Turkey correspondent for 'The Economist', a "shameless militant woman disguised under the name of a journalist" after she had asked an opposition leader whether "Muslim society is able to question" the authorities. "Know your place," Erdogan said. "They gave you a pen and you are writing a column in a newspaper. "And then they invite you to a TV channel owned by Dogan media group and you insult at a society of 99 per cent Muslims," he said he said according to Today's Zaman newspaper. Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Turkish people are pictured chanting slogans during an anti-government protest on Taksim square in Istanbul, on 29 June, 2013. The protests were sparked by brutal police action against a local conservation battle to save Istanbul's Gezi Park, and soon turned into nationwide demonstrations against the government. Amid the protests - the worst in Turkey for years - Erdogan accused demonstrators of being "arm-in-arm with terrorism," according to Reuters. "This is a protest organized by extremist elements. We will not give away anything to those who live arm-in-arm with terrorism," he said. GURCAN OZTURK/AFP/Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes During last years protests, activists used social media to organise and disseminate information. Several dozen tweeters were arrested following the protests, according to local media reports. Erdogan responded by calling the technology a "menace". "There is now a menace which is called Twitter," Erdogan said. "The best examples of lies can be found there. To me, social media is the worst menace to society," BBC New reported. Vladimir Astapkovich/RIA Novosti via Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Not helping to allay accusations of authoritarianism, after Turkish police detained 49 people, including well-known business people and those close to the ruling party, Erdeogan ominously told reporter that Turkey "is not a banana republic" that can be affected by unnamed "operations", according to Today's Zaman newspaper. People who are backed by the media and certain funders cannot change this country," he said. "People backed by certain dark gangs both inside and outside Turkey cannot mess with the country's path. They cannot change conditions in Turkey. Turkey is not a country that anyone can launch an operation into. The [Turkish] nation will not allow that. The AK Party, which is governing this nation, will not allow this." Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Friends and relatives of the miners who died in an explosion at the Soma mine are pictured praying following the burial in Soma cemetery of the last body to be recovered from the mine in May 2014. At the time, the then-Prime Minister badly misjudged the Soma mining disaster, in which 301 workers died. He told the relatives of dead and dying miners that "these types of incidents are ordinary things", following allegations that the government had ignored safety concerns about the privately owned mine, the Guardian reported. In his defence, Erdogan recounted in a separate speech a list of mining disasters which occurred abroad, including a British disaster in 1862, and one in America "which has every kind of technology". Oli Scarff/Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Palestinians pictured attending Friday noon prayers in a destroyed mosque that was hit by Israeli strikes, in Gaza City. As Prime Minister, Erdogan has condemned Israel, accusing it of deliberately killing Palestinian mothers and warned that the it would "drown in the blood it sheds." Speaking to thousands of supporters during a rally in Istanbul ahead of the 10 August election, Reuters reported him as saying: "Just like Hitler, who sought to establish a race free of all faults, Israel is chasing after the same target." "They kill women so that they will not give birth to Palestinians; they kill babies so that they won't grow up; they kill men so they can't defend their country ... They will drown in the blood they shed," he said. AP Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes Amid the worst protests in Turkey for years which had spread across dozens of cities last June, Erdogan accused demonstrators of being "arm-in-arm with terrorism," according to Reuters. A demonstration to halt construction in a park in an Istanbul square grew into mass protests against a heavy-handed police crackdown and what opponents called Erdogan's authoritarian policies. "This is a protest organized by extremist elements," Erdogan said before departing on a trip to North Africa. "We will not give away anything to those who live arm-in-arm with terrorism," he said. Sascha Schuermann/Getty Images Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most controversial quotes The Turkish President's craziest quotes In March 2014, Erdogan accused a 15-year-old boy who died from injuries sustained in last year's anti-government protests of being linked to terrorism. Berkin Elvan, who became a symbol of anti-government protests, had gone to pick up bread when he was hit with a teargas canister - sending him into a nine-month coma before he passed away. In a speech broadcast on state TV, Erdogan said of Berkin: "This kid with steel marbles in his pockets, with a slingshot in his hand, his face covered with a scarf, who had been taken up into terror organisations, was unfortunately subjected to pepper gas. How could the police determine how old that person was who had a scarf on his face and was hurling steel marbles with a slingshot in his hand? ADEM ALTAN/AFP/Getty Images

Mr Erdogan is already accused of using the courts to intimidate opponents. Since he became president in 2014 around 2,000 cases have been opened against people, including journalists, cartoonists and teenagers, who have apparently insulted him.

This will consolidate all power into one man's hand, Metin Feyzioglu, the head of Turkey's bar association warned.

Reuters contributed to this report.
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Iranian state TV says the countrys intelligence agents have disrupted "the biggest terrorist plot" ever to target Tehran.

Reports by state television and the Tasnim news agency quote the Intelligence Ministry as saying several suspects have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to bomb the Iranian capital and other provinces.

The report by Tasnim, an agency supportive of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, referred to: A major plot to carry out a series of bombing raids in several locations across the capital of Iran, specifically during the upcoming events in the holy month of Ramadan."

 Iran: 40 arrested after angry protesters storm and BURN Saudi embassy in Tehran

Thanks to the efforts by the intelligence forces, the report added, The devil plots were thwarted, the terrorists were arrested and a number of bombs -ready for blast- and a huge amount of explosive material were confiscated.

The report did not identify those arrested but referred to a major plot by the Takfiri-Wahhabi groups.

"Takfiris" is a derogatory term in both Arabic and Farsi referring to Muslims who accuse others of being "nonbelievers."

Wahhabism is a conservative form of Sunni Islam that originated in Saudi Arabia and whose followers include members of al-Qaeda and Islamic State.

New York protests against Iran nuclear deal Show all 10 1 /10 New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York A woman holds a poster as she takes part in a rally on Times Square in New York opposing the nuclear deal with Iran New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York An inflatable mushroom cloud stands among demonstrators during a rally apposing the nuclear deal with Iran New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York Protesters rally against the nuclear deal with Iran in Times Square New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York A member of the Neturei Karta Orthodox Jews sect is escorted away by New York City Police during a rally near Times Square to demand that Congress vote down the proposed US deal with Iran in New York New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York A woman shouts slogans during a rally against the nuclear deal with Iran in Times Square in New York New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York A protestor holds a placard during a demonstration and rally apposing the nuclear deal with Iran in Times Square New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York Some of several thousand protestors crowd into 7th Avenue at 42nd street as they demonstrate during a rally apposing the nuclear deal with Iran New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York A woman holds a placard as she joins several thousand other protestors to demonstrate during a rally apposing the nuclear deal with Iran New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York Protesters rallied against the Iran nuclear deal in New York's Times Square KENA BETANCUR/AFP/Getty Images New York protests against Iran nuclear deal New York Protestors shout slogans as they demonstrate during a rally apposing the nuclear deal with Iran

Shia Iran has been active in helping both the Syrian and the Iraqi government in their battles against Islamic State, and news of the alleged terror plot also follows worsening relations with the country's regional and religious rival Saudi Arabia.

When the Sunni kingdom executed the prominent shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr for alleged terrorism offences in January, Iran warned that the Saudis would pay a "high price". An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman claimed that Saudi Arabia "supports terrorists ... while executing and suppressing critics inside the country."

The execution also sparked a wave of protests in Iran during which the Saudi Embassy in Tehran was set on fire and ransacked. In response, Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran.

Further details of the alleged terrorist plot have yet to emerge.
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Rome has elected its first female mayor in a landslide victory for Virginia Raggi, an anti-establishment newcomer from the populist protest party the Five Star Movement.

The 37-year-old lawyer won support for speaking out against corruption and deteriorating public services in the Italian capital.

Her victory comes after dozens of local officials and businessmen were arrested on corruption charges and accused of using "Mafia-like" intimidation methods to secure municipal contracts.

Scandal within the city's government has led to a decline in basic public services, including transport, street repairs and waste collection.

The protest partys success in Rome comes out of growing unrest and dissatisfaction among Italians.

The outskirts [of Rome] are abandoned. The historic city centre is just a showcase for tourists, said citizen Simoneetta Facioni, after casting her vote.

21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Show all 21 1 /21 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Portugal drinks more wine than France Tindo - Fotolia 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Young Italians, by some distance, are the most likely to live at home with their parents 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Britain is on course to overtake Germany as Europes most populated country 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Greek workers work the longest hours in the EU 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Estonia has, per capita, more drug-related deaths than anyone else 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe The fastest download speeds are to be found in Romania 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Slovenia, Malta and Poland have the smallest gender pay gaps 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe France hates its leader more than other European countries 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Eastern and Western Europe are very divided on the issue of gay marriage 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Germany has the most millionaires 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Everyone likes Christmas, apart from France 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Germany accepts by far the most asylum applications 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe The UK and France have some of the most positive views of Muslim people 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Europe's largest Muslim population is in Germany 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Danes are the most trusting Europeans, and Cypriots the least 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Finland has the worst economy in the EU 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Italy has cut back its military spending more than any other major European Nato member 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Everyone is sad about the refugee crisis 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe People in Spain are also the most likely to live in flats (Brits are most likely to live in houses) 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Spain is the most likely to feel neighbourly 21 maps and charts which will challenge perceptions of Europe Luxembourg is home to the highest proportion of foreign nationals

Ms Raggi has promised to bring legality and transparency to the Rome administration. She said the citizens of Rome won in electing M5S, and with us, a new era begins.

The success of the Five Star Movement is being recognised as a blow to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, a member of the Democratic Party, which also lost a mayoral seat in Turin to a female M5S member.

Ms Raggis rival Roberto Giachetti, who was backed by the Prime Minister, conceded defeat less than one hour after polls closed.
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The University of Cambridge has been criticised for not divesting from oil and gas companies, despite pressure from students and academics to do so.

The decision comes after a year in which the university has faced intense pressure on its fossil fuel investments which saw over 2,000 students sign a petition for divestment, while the students union council voted 33:1 in favour of divestment.

Recommended Read more UK universities confirm fossil fuel divestment plans

The Cambridge Zero Carbon Society - a student group which has been campaigning for the university to divest its endowment of over 4 billion from fossil fuels - did, however, praise the institution for blacklisting coal and tar sand companies.

Though, according to a report of the working group on investment responsibility, the university currently has no holdings in tar sands companies, and only negligible holdings in thermal coal companies.

Andrew Taylor, co-director of campaigns at People and Planet, said it was great to see a world-leading university take action against coal and tar sands. However, he added: Its arrogant of them to think companies like BP and Shell are going to stop making vast profits from oil and gas just because they ask nicely.

Angus Satow, campaigns officer at the Cambridge Zero Carbon Society, described the measures as too little and too slow, adding that the university has failed to live up to its own mission statement which cites concern for sustainability and the relationship with the environment.

He said: University administrators have ignored the overwhelming scientific evidence that the fossil fuel industry is not viable if we are to avoid breaching the two-degrees warming limit, they have ignored the strong demands of a united student body, and they have ignored financial common sense. Civil society must stand up to the fossil fuel industry if we want a liveable future.

The working groups report has argued it is best to keep investments in oil and gas industries and to engage with them. The report says: The group recognises, therefore, that engagement with fund managers may include such considerations and involve strategies, where feasible, to divest progressively, consistent with the expected performance of the portfolio.

The developments have come after more than 100 staff, students, alumni, and others affiliated with the institution signed an open letter in April saying the university has always made a remarkable impact on the world, though, when it comes to the climate, the signatories said Cambridge is making exactly the wrong kind of impact.

Former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, also threw his support behind the campaign. He said: A good university is an institution that poses large and serious questions to society overall, and that seeks to shape minds and lives which are not passive, conformist and afraid of responsibility. [These issues are] are a proper matter for the university and the colleges to consider.

Recommended Read more UMass becomes latest university to divest from fossil fuels

A university spokesperson said the report was the result of an in-depth analysis of the universitys investments, which was achieved with the full participation of student officers, alumni, and stakeholders. The spokesperson added: It shows, not only the depth of our current commitment to ethical concerns, but also our efforts to strengthen it going forward.

In a set of recommendations, the working group recommended continued engagement between the university and firms that invest on its behalf to ensure all are fully aware of our values.

The university has no exposure to the most pollutive industries, such as thermal coal and tar sands, and no expectation of having any such exposure in the future. It also has negligible exposure to other fossil fuel industries and expects this to continue in the future.

Looking ahead to the student campaigning groups action, though, Mr Satow said: We are confident that a battle of ideas among Cambridge academics will see divestment emerge as the only viable option. We will win a vote among academics next year, and Cambridge will divest from fossil fuels.
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Suppose you are a weary road-warrior who has to be in Frankfurt every other Tuesday for a meeting, as well as making the odd foray to Milan and Paris to see other colleagues. Assuming you are based in one of the big cities, such as London, Birmingham, Manchester or Edinburgh, you may not notice much difference. There will still be multiple flight options. The pilot will still be in thrall to the air-traffic decisions of Eurocontrol in Brussels. And when you arrive you will go through the same Non-Schengen passport control.

Your finance director may notice a difference, though. If the Treasurys forecast about the effect on sterling is correct, then the pound will plummet against other currencies between 12 and 15 per cent. Since a large slab of the costs in aviation, notably aircraft leases and fuel, are priced in US dollars, fares on British airlines could rise (though with competitors such as Ryanair, Wizz and Norwegian, their room for manoeuvre is limited).

The cab or train from the airport, drinks and dinner and the room for the night will also cost more, as holidaymakers this summer will also discover. The company bean-counter, though, may regard the increase as, literally, a small price to pay for the benefit to UK exporters of weaker sterling.

Suppose you fly further afield - whether across the Atlantic, to Asia or no further than eastern Europe. You might soon see some changes. At present many multinationals have their European headquarters in Britain, predominantly London. They do this partly because of the capitals connectivity (it has far more flights than any other city on earth) and partly because the UK is in the EU.

Those familiar with the upper echelons of corporate life have predicted that some relocation could quickly begin as businesses scramble to stay inside the EU.

After London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris are western Europes next-busiest hubs, with Madrid and Munich not far behind. London-New York will remain the worlds leading intercontinental air route. But it wouldnt take a big reduction in demand from the very high flyers who fill out the first- and business-class cabins to make airlines look closely at long-haul routes that are only marginally profitable: some destinations in Africa, Latin America and China look particularly susceptible.

Closer to home, I wouldnt put too much money on a link such as East Midlands to Brussels surviving. As with regional airports such as Bristol and Newcastle, the connection to the Belgian capital exists partly because a good few seats are taken up by people on EU business.

Routes to eastern Europe could also be affected, but for a different reason. The backbone of Wizz Airs extraordinarily intensive network between the UK and Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Balkans is the market created by nationals from these countries working in Britain: both their own journeys, and those of visiting friends and relations. If the population flows diminish, so will the number of options. Without the free movement of labour, its unlikely that a route such as Doncaster to Cluj (starting next month) would ever exist.

Back in the mundane realm of flights to Dublin, Luxembourg and Rotterdam, perhaps the most obvious effect of Brexit will be the banal reality that duty-free returns for all intra-European trips. You will be able to buy cut-price liquor to and from Dublin, just as you currently can from Dubai and anywhere else outside the EU.

A plus? Well, not for the kind of business travellers who are required to transport high-value professional equipment or commercial samples across international frontiers.

With the same customs controls applied to and from Germany and Italy as the US and China, you may find yourself in ATA Carnet territory. Those who are not familiar with the intricacies of this temporary export-import document may soon have to become so. Suppose you are attending a trade fair with production samples or specialist equipment. In order to take them in and out of the destination country without having to pay duty, you have to obtain an ATA Carnet (the ATA, by the way, is an almost-acronym of Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission). Having endured both root canal work and completing a complex carnet form, given a choice Id go for the dental treatment next time.

I hope your choice on Thursday doesnt prove so painful.
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The growing power of big finance is one of the least attractive aspects of the EU. So remember, the British government has been the main backer of this financial takeover. In fact, ironically for those thinking of voting no this week, the referendum itself has only helped embed the power of the City of London in Brussels.

A report by the Brussels-based Corporate Europe Observatory last week showed how from the day a ballot on UK membership was first announced by David Cameron three years ago, the financial sector has sought and won significant lobbying victories as Brussels bureaucrats and politicians kowtowed to the City of London in order to keep Britain happy ahead of this weeks vote.

We shouldnt be surprised. Nearly every act of the British governments in the EU suggests that far from representing the British people in Brussels, they actually act as mouthpiece for the City. George Osborne makes shielding City priority in EU talks was the summary of the Financial Times last September when announcing the Governments pre-referendum renegotiation. Osborne got his way, which is why those who want real reform in the EU, such as Spains Podemos party, opposed Camerons renegotiation.

 European 'Human Kiss Chain' Culmintes in London for 'Bremain' Campaign

After the financial crash, it was the British government that led the fight against caps on bankers bonuses, supported only by Ireland. Britain also blocked proposals for an EU-wide financial transactions tax, a measure which would reduce speculation in the financial markets, and act as a tax for redistributing financial profits. In fact, the British government even tried to stop Eurozone countries pressing ahead with this tax, trying unsuccessfully to challenge their right to do so in court. So much for national sovereignty.

When it comes to the controversial US-EU trade deal known as TTIP (the Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership), Britain has been the strongest advocate of including financial services, backed by the City UK lobbying group. Putting finance in TTIP will help banks get round Obamas more stringent financial regulation in the US and make it even more difficult for governments to take action which would prevent a future crash.

When MEPs worked to end food speculation two years ago, given the hardship it was causing to millions of people around the world, it was Britain that fought tooth and nail to oppose it, succeeding in watering down rules that will restrain gambling on basic foods. In another case, Britain took legal action against the European Commission when it tried to stop so-called short-selling  the financial practice of betting on the fall of prices in the market, a major cause of economic instability.

Tax havens and elite corporate tax avoidance are perhaps the biggest financial impediment to a more equal society. Yet Britain opposes the creation of an EU blacklist of tax havens. No wonder, because according to Christian Aid a quarter of the worlds major tax havens on a blacklist published today by the European Commission are either British Overseas Territories or Crown Dependencies.

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

So Britains role in making the EU a less democratic place is well established. But in the last three years, the shadow of the referendum has been used, according to Brussels based campaigners, to trample on any progressive regulation which might control big finance. The appointment of high flying British lobbyist Jonathan Hill as European commissioner for financial services was a key sweetener to Cameron.

Hill is now overseeing something called the Capital Markets Union, which threatens to roll-back rules to protect against financial instability. And, as part of his renegotiation, Camerons primary success was to get special decision-making privileges should the interests of banks come under attack. He also made progress pushing a broader deregulatory agenda; music to the ears of the big business lobby. In fact, the EUs whole better regulation (read: deregulation) agenda is a mirror image on Camerons own obsessive attack on regulations which upset big business.

In all likelihood, British exit will indeed lessen the influence of big money on Brussels. For those of us who remain in Britain, it will be a disaster. We will quickly discover that it is financial and corporate power, not Brussels, which is the biggest threat to our sovereignty, something which the British government standing alone has little power, and no willingness, to do anything about.

Meanwhile, if we do vote to stay on Thursday, we need to stop letting our government hide behind the bureaucracy of Brussels. We dont elect our government to be a paid lobbyist for the City of London.
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There are a number of terms we use to describe the kind of people who shoot innocent civilians. Many are described as alienated, psychopathic narcissists or troubled. But it seems like you have to satisfy a particular criteria to be labelled a terrorist.

Jo Coxs alleged attacker identified himself in court as death to traitors, freedom for Britain and yet we have responded to her a death in a way that has become tragically routine  a search for a mental health issue, surprise at reports of links neo-Nazi groups.

We must wonder, where an attack takes place and words like Allahu Akbar are used, would we be labelling it a terrorist attack from the outset?

We find it difficult to accept that white terrorist organisations are alive and kicking in the west. Some fringe far right groups have already advocated militant direct action in achieving their aims. Had a group of Muslims claimed to be specialising in militant action in the UK, surely the threat would be taken far more seriously, especially given the potential to intervene under our counter-terrorism laws.

 Jo Cox: Tributes to the Labour MP

We also appear to fall into the trap of humanising perpetrators of violence and terror who happen to be white. In the sad case of the killing of Jo Cox, the suspect has not been described either as a terrorist or a possible terrorist. And, if coverage of other shootings by white perpetrators is any indication, I expect this individual never will be labelled in such a way.

Rather, the perpetrator of what looks like a terrorist attack under any other name will be described as a victim of inadequate mental health care, or that simple catch-all: a lone wolf.

We have different rules when talking about crimes involving Muslims or black people. Even as suspects, they are quickly labelled as terrorists, the attacks interpreted as a possible terror attack motivated by religion or belief. We chalk it up as an expression of extremism or radicalism, instead of looking for possible external injustices.

Unlike Islamic extremists, Anders Breivik, the Norwegian white supremacist who killed 77 people in July 2011, was given a public trial where his motives, philosophy and even his World of Warcraft fascination were explored in great depth. The suggestion was that, by looking hard enough into his life, we could understand his actions. But in the case of Seifeddine Rezgui, the 23-year-old Tunisian gunman who shot dead 38 people on a tourist beach, the perpetrator faced a very different treatment. There was some surface curiosity over how normal he appeared to be  videos of the attacker breakdancing were shared, and there were reports of his love for Real Madrid  yet there were no attempts to investigate his background fully since he was, of course, an Islamic extremist.

Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes and candles are placed by a picture of slain Labour MP Jo Cox at a vigil in Parliament square in London AFP Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Tributes to Labour Party MP Jo Cox are placed on her houseboat in Wapping in London REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures The Union flag at half-mast on top of Portcullis House in London after Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (2R) and deputy leader Tom Watson (L) light candles as they attend a vigil to slain Labour MP Jo Cox in Parliament square in London AFP/Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and deputy leader Tom Watson (rear) arrive to leave tributes at Parliament Square PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People leave St Peter's Church after a vigil in memory of Jo Cox REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Flowers left at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminste, following the death of Labour MP Jo Cox PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People react as they look at tributes left for Labour Member of Parliament Jo Cox in Parliament Square, London REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A man writes a message at Parliament Square PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People stop to look at tributes left at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminster PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A woman arrives to lay flowers at a statue to Joseph Priestly in Birstall near to the scene where Labour MP Jo Cox was shot AFP/Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Tributes at Parliament Square opposite the Palace of Westminster PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A woman places candles in tribute to Labour Party MP Jo Cox REUTERS Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A member of the public signs a memorial for British MP Jo Cox in Parliament Square, London EPA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People sign messages of condolence for MP Jo Cox during a vigil in Parliament Square in London Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Flags at half mast outside Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, after Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed to death in the street outside her constituency advice surgery in Birstall PA Jo Cox tributes - in pictures People arrive in Market Square with floral tributes after the death of Jo Co Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes are placed in Market Square next to the statue of Joseph Priestley following the death of Jo Cox Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures Floral tributes are brought to the scene after the death of Jo Cox Getty Images Jo Cox tributes - in pictures A police officer carries bunches of flowers at the scene of the shooting of Labour MP Jo Cox in Birstall REUTERS

We hold a special status for the term terrorist: it appears it no longer just describes those who commit acts of terror, but those who we feel belong to a different background or culture; a different breed. These terrorists are, ultimately, opposed to our way of life and our so-called British values. No wonder an attacker who reportedly shouted Britain first appears to have escaped the label.

But by not calling the attack on Jo Cox an act of terrorism, we are subtly restricting who and what has the ability to terrify us. We shouldn't go easy on any form of terrorism, regardless of ethnic background or religious affiliation. All crimes of this nature must be treated with the same level of seriousness, and described in the same way.
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Now the Five Star Party has secured the mayor-ship of Rome, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi probably understands what Benito Mussolini meant when he stated: "Governing the Italians is not impossible, it is merely useless". Attempts at reformation by Renzi have not yielded the hoped-for results.

Italys economy has shrunk by around 10 per cent since 2007, as the country endured a triple-dip recession. Output has regressed to levels of over a decade ago. Overall unemployment is around 12-13 per cent, with youth unemployment around 40 per cent. Consumption and investment are flaccid.

The damage is long term, with as much as 15 per cent of Italian industrial capacity destroyed, reducing employment and growth potential. Once its strength, Italys smaller enterprises have contracted as a result of low sales, declining profitability and lack of financing.

Italy has a current account surplus of 1.9 per cent, reversing a number of years of deficits. The change reflects the deterioration of the Italian economy rather than a change in its trading position.

Banking system problems have exacerbated the contraction. Italian banks are hamstrung by around 150-200 billion of bad or doubtful loans, which has exposed inadequate capital and reserves. Unlike counterparts in the UK and US, Italian banks have been unwilling or unable to tackle the asset quality problem. The most recent exercise (with a glorious title based on the Atlas) was underfunded and ill-conceived and did little more than support a few weaker banks at the expense of more solid enterprises.

This has constrained the supply of credit to the economy. Larger companies can use capital markets for finance but this option is less available to small and medium sized enterprises that are crucial to employment and activity. The lack of credit availability combined with the deformation of Italys industrial structure will constrain any recovery.

Total real economy (government, household and business) debt is around 259 per cent of GDP, up 55 per cent since 2007. This understates real liabilities as it ignores unfunded pension and healthcare obligations. Household debt is low, relative to peers. Its net international investment is -32 per cent of GDP, superior to Spain (-92 per cent) and Portugal (-100 per cent).

Despite its commitment to fiscal reform, Italy is running a budget deficit of 3 per cent. Government debt is US$2.4 trillion approaching 140 per cent of GDP. The government is tardy in paying suppliers, in an elaborate shell game to lower Italys overall debt levels and mollify the EU and investors. There is an estimated $160 billion in taxes uncollected each year, the third highest rate in Western Europe.

While the Eurozone debt crisis has been a factor, Italys problems are more fundamental with the economy having grown little since the introduction of the Euro in 1999.

Recommended Read more Labour unrest in France needs to be defeated to avoid financial crash

Labour markets, the legacy of the power of the Italian Communist Party in the post-war period, are rigid, with high labour costs and multiple barriers to hiring and firing workers. A long-running government scheme requires the state to pay laid-off workers up to 80 per cent of their normal salary while their employer restructures. Productivity improvements are also slow.

Italys economy is increasingly unbalanced with high end producers, such as those in luxury products and also advanced manufacturing, benefitting from demand from emerging markets. Other sectors, such as standard automobiles, domestic appliances and low-priced fabrics and clothes have found it difficult to compete with manufacturers based in emerging markets.

Domestic appliances or white goods exemplify Italys decline. In 2007, Italy, once a world leader in the sector, produced 24 million appliances. By 2012, it was down to 13 million; output of washing machines, dishwashers, refrigerators and cookers was down by 52 per cent, 59 per cent, 55 per cent and 75 per cent. Italian manufacturers have shifted production to lower cost countries, resulting in large job losses. These developments have increased the gap between the industrial North and the Mezzogiorno, the traditional term for the southern regions, which competes with emerging economies in price-sensitive sectors.

There are other structural problems. In World Bank studies, Italy ranks 65th out of 189 countries for ease of doing business. Infrastructure, dating back to the immediate post World War II era, is in need of renewal and lags leading economies. Energy costs are high. Italy spends less than 5 per cent of GDP on education, compared with a 6.3 per cent average across the OECD. The proportion aged 25-34 completing higher studies is 21 per cent, compared with a 39 per cent average for the OECD.

Italys large public sector and bureaucracy is legendary. Tax and other revenues are around 46 per cent of GDP. According to the World Bank, the effective Italian corporate tax burden is around 65 per cent. The European average is around 41 per cent, with only France (64 per cent and Spain (58 per cent) in a comparable range. Switzerland and Croatia, both located close to Italy have tax rates of 29 per cent and 20 per cent respectably. This diverts investment away from Italy. There are around 100 new tax laws affecting business promulgated annually.

The size of the government payroll is not matched by the quality of public services. Enforcement of a contract takes around three years compared to an OECD average of 18 months. Civil lawsuits take over eight years compared to less than three years in Germany.

Italian business is not much better, dominated by a group of well-connected monopolistic or oligopolistic firms and, in the words of author Alan Friedman, self-congratulating and self-perpetuating dynasties and salons, historically focused around figures such as Fiats Gianni Agnelli and Mediobanca founder Enrico Cuccia. Complex corporate cross holdings ensure that external disciplines are minimal and resistance to change high.

Transparency International ranks Italy 69 out of 175 countries in perceived levels of public corruption, comparable to Romania, Greece and Bulgaria. The World Bank indicator for Control of Corruption and the World Economic Forum also ranks Italy poorly on indicators related to ethics and corruption. The International Monetary Fund considers bribery a serious problem. A number of prominent business figures are facing embezzlement charges as well as prosecutions for breaching regulations, highlighting the extent of the problem.

 11 most corrupt countries in world

The cost of corruption, in the form of increased cost with resultant economic losses, has been estimated by the Italian Court of Auditors at around 60 billion annually or 4 per cent of the countrys GDP. It also creates economic incentives reducing potential output, investment and ultimately the growth without which Italys debt problems threaten to overwhelm the nation.

Despite the weight of problems, the desire for change is limited. Italians favour "pannicelli caldi" that is small tinkering. Radical reforms are for Anglo Saxon or Teutons, but not for them.

Satyajit Das is a former banker and author. His latest book is 'A Banquet of Consequences'
President John F.Kennedy during his visit to Ireland in June 1963 *** Local Caption *** indo pic Scanned from the NPA archives.

President John F.Kennedy during his visit to Ireland in June 1963 *** Local Caption *** indo pic Scanned from the NPA archives.

President John F.Kennedy during meets the people at Aras an Uachtarain during his visit to Ireland in June 1963 *** Local Caption *** indo pic Scanned from the NPA archives.

American President John Fitzgerald Kennedy (J.F.K.)'s visit to Ireland June 1963. Lord and Lady Elveden's Garden Party at Aras an Uachtarain. Eamon de Valera and JFK in doorway.

American President John Fitzgerald Kennedy (J.F.K)'s visit to Ireland, June 1963. Reception in Wexford. (Part of the Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Collection)

American President John Fitzgerald Kennedy (J.F.K)'s visit to Ireland, June 1963. JFK walking with a smile amongst crowd. (Part of the Independent Ireland Newspapers/NLI Collection)

President John F.Kennedy meets the people at Aras an Uachtarain during his visit to Ireland in June 1963 *** Local Caption *** indo pic Scanned from the NPA archives.

President Eamon De Valera with .President John F.Kennedy during his visit to Ireland in June 1963 *** Local Caption *** indo pic Scanned from the NPA archives.

He could have been one of the decade's rock and roll gods considering the welcome he received in Ireland that year.

US President touched down on his ancestral soil in June 1963.

Thousands of people turned out at Dublin Airport to greet the President as he arrived, and tens of thousands more swamped the city centre awaiting the Presidential motorcade.

Irish and American flags, flowers, banners and bunting were clutched in hands along the eight mile route from the airport to the Irish Presidents residence, and a continual chorus of cheering and applause echoed across Dublin as the John F. Kennedy travelled through the city centre.

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His grandparents had Emigrated to America within nearly a single month and as part of his inaugural visit to Ireland the President visited the family homestead in Dunganstown, County Wexford.

From the rousing speeches he made during his tour of the country, to the grand receptions he was given at Aras an Uachtarain and poignant scenes as the President greeted family at his ancestral home, these images from the Irish Independent Archives captured a unique event in Irish history.

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The photographs show President JFK meeting Taoiseach of the time Sean Lemass, the US President with President Eamon De Valera and John F Kennedy meeting with his Irish cousins in the barnyard of their mutual forefather's homestead at Dunganstown on June 27, 1963.

Click here if you're interested in purchasing these exclusive Independent Archives photos

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Exporters are being urged to keep diversifying their business regardless of the outcome of the EU referendum.

With record overseas trade of more than 20 billion euro last year, state agency Enterprise Ireland reported homegrown firms have already felt the effect of uncertainty around the Brexit vote.

Half of the record exports from Irish companies are now in the food sector.

But Enterprise Ireland said diversification of trade into Northern Europe, the US and high-growth markets such as China, India, the Gulf and Brazil was paying off.

It said exports to the UK shrank from 45% of overseas sales in 2005 to 37% last year.

Julie Sinnamon, Enterprise Ireland chief executive, said Irish exporters were a big success story with record levels of business being won internationally.

"Significantly, growth was recorded across all sectors and we are seeing that diversification into high growth markets is a focus for our clients," she said.

"The UK remains our largest export market, but we are seeing a trend whereby the exports to the UK as a proportion of our total client exports has declined."

But Ms Sinnamon added: "There are a number of risks to the continued growth in exports and the uncertainty associated with the UK referendum has already had an impact on clients exporting to the UK.

"We are hopeful that the UK will remain within Europe, but we will continue to work on our strategy over recent years of supporting our clients to diversify into new markets."

A review of 2015 exports showed business in the US and Canada soared by 27% to almost 3 billion euro while exports to the UK grew 12% to 7.5 billion euro and those to Northern Europe grew by 8% to 4.2 billion euro.

Enterprise Ireland is targeting 22 billion euro of exports this year.

Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O'Connor said: "Irish companies continue to deliver for the Irish economy and the figures announced today show the strength and capabilities of Irish companies competing at a global level."
Irish EU Commissioner Phil Hogan has been dubbed 'Brussels secret weapon' in the campaign to persuade British voters to back the Remain campaign in Thursday's referendum.

While other EU commissioners and bureaucrats have been kept at home, Mr Hogan has played a high-profile role on the canvass trail for the past two months.

However, his efforts may not have met with total success as large numbers of farmers are ready to vote Leave.

The influential Brussels magazine 'Politico' has dubbed Mr Hogan "a secret weapon" and reported that neither the EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, nor his high-profile first vice-president, Frans Timmermans, had visited the UK at all this year.

In total, just five of the 28 commissioners have visited since the referendum got into full stride in May, after its official launch on April 15 and, bar Mr Hogan, they have kept a low profile.

Besides Commissioner Hogan, only the British commissioner, Jonathan Hill, who is responsible for financial services, has actively canvassed for the Remain side.

The Agriculture Commissioner has travelled to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, publicly arguing that EU policies are in farmers' best interests.

Some Brussels diplomats believe that Mr Hogan "passes as not especially foreign" among British voters - especially outside of the big metropolitan centres.

One British source suggested that only an Irish or Dutch person would be accepted in giving an opinion on the referendum, whereas US president Obama was rebuffed for his intervention on behalf of the Remain side.

Commissioner Hogan controls the EU's Common Agriculture Policy (CAP), which still accounts for almost 40pc of the EU budget or a total of 58bn per year.

Britain's farmers get almost 3bn in farm grants each year and this amounts to 53pc of farm incomes.

Within the European Union, Britain has been the most strident and longstanding critic of CAP, urging that it needs to be reduced.

'Remain' campaigners insist that if Britain leaves the European Union, the CAP payments would not be replaced on the same scale by any national subsidy scheme.

A spokesman for Mr Hogan told the Irish Independent that they had no comment to make and that the commissioner accepted speaking engagements all over the 28 member states and beyond.

Writing on his own blog, Mr Hogan stressed that he would not be advising anyone on how they should vote.

But in a speech delivered last month at Queen's University in Belfast, Mr Hogan pointed out that Northern Ireland's farmers got 87pc of their income from EU payments.

"Were it not for European assistance, many farms would not only generate significant losses but would struggle to survive," he said.

"Farmers in Northern Ireland are able to capitalise on 53 free trade agreements negotiated by the EU," the commissioner told his Belfast audience.

Free trade

However, his campaign impact maybe limited - surveys show farmers lean towards Leave, with one poll for the magazine 'Farmers' Weekly' suggesting the figure was as high as 58pc.

Brussels officials say this is mainly due to a price slump in all key farm sectors and a weariness among farmers everywhere with "EU red tape."

Opinion in Britain's political leadership is also divided, with the senior agriculture minister, Liz Truss, lining up on the Remain side, while junior farming minister George Eustice is advocating a Leave vote.

Mr Eustice told journalists at the weekend that British farmers should be compensated via an insurance scheme modelled on the system that is used in Canada.
Next week marks the fifth anniversary of an event that has already proved to be an inflection point not only in the history of these islands, but in that of our entire continent.

The Great Disintegration that has taken place over the past five years is gathering pace. Its most obvious and painful manifestation for us is the almost weekly departure of foreign companies, as one after another shuts its European headquarters here. This island is rapidly going back to mid-20th century isolation and peripherality. The future has not appeared bleaker since the 1950s.

Read More

Our nearest neighbour, which for centuries was the most stable country in Europe, has undergone more change  politically and constitutionally  in the past five years than in the previous 200. The referendum to leave the now-defunct European Union (EU) on June 23, 2016, led ultimately to the disintegration of two unions, Britains and Europe.

Within days of that vote, the Scottish administration announced that it would hold a referendum on that nations constitutional status.

Read More

With a large majority of Scots having voted to remain in the EU in June 2016, the July 2017 independence referendum in Scotland was always only going to have one outcome. Faced with a choice between staying in the United Kingdom or becoming independent and staying in the EU, Scots resoundingly chose the latter.

Among the very few good things to emerge over the past half decade from an Irish perspective has been the deep and strong relations that have evolved between the Irish and Scottish states since the latter became independent on January 1, 2019. But without in any way denigrating our Scottish friends and allies, the relationship has buttered few parsnips.

The laboriously negotiated Ireland-Scotland Free Trade Agreement has still not been concluded, and, even if it is eventually wrapped up, with two-way trade amounting to a mere IR800m annually, it wont be a gamechanger. Nor will it be anywhere near enough to drag either economy out of the deep and protracted recessions that both have been suffering for more than three years.

Read More

Closer to home we can at least be thankful that the North has not returned to its violent past, for now at least. The return of the Border in 2018 was met with dismay by the nationalist community, even if they have taken it in their stride. Sharply falling standards of living have been a much bigger worry since Prime Minister Boris Johnson ended the Norths huge block grant from the UK treasury causing Greek-style austerity.

If Johnson is unloved by the green side of the sectarian divide, he is loathed by those on the orange side. Unionists say his pandering to English nationalists, who have become as hostile to sending money to Belfast as they once were to handing it over to Brussels, makes a mockery of his partys claim to value the union.

The disintegration of these islands over the past five years has been matched on a continental scale. Within weeks of the UK referendum result a half decade ago, the campaign in the Netherlands to hold a similar in/out EU referendum had gathered one million signatures. Pressure to hold a referendum became irresistible. In the climate of anger and disillusionment that had festered in the Netherlands over more than a decade, the Dutch voted to quit in March 2017.

The implications of that vote were felt more immediately than the British vote nine months earlier. The Netherlands was a member of the Eurozone; the referendum meant that, having spent years working to keep Greece in the euro largely to prevent any undermining of the single currency, a member country had set a course to leave voluntarily and re-establish its own currency.

The panic and uncertainty of the first euro crisis of 2010-12 quickly returned. Financiers across the continent dusted down their euro break-up plans and began pulling back to their home countries. The continents nascent economic recovery, which had been slowly gathering pace since 2013, came to shuddering halt.

It was at that point that the feedback loop between Europes deteriorating political environment and its weakening economy went into a death spiral. With the French presidential election in full swing at the time of the Dutch vote to leave, the commitment of the National Fronts Marine Le Pen to hold a referendum in France on quitting the EU was adding to her already surging levels of support.

Read More

As a means of neutralising the issue, the centre-right candidate Alain Juppe matched Le Pens commitment. Although he defeated her comfortably in the presidential run-off in May 2017, the issue of EU membership came to dominate French politics.

By the time the in/out referendum was held the following March, the European economy was in its deepest slump since 2008/09. The day French voters chose to leave the EU, on Sunday March 18, 2018, the European integration project was dealt the coup de grace.

Early the following week the increasingly acrimonious talks that had been going on between the EU and the UK on the latters exit from the bloc were suspended. Prime Minister Johnson claimed that the unravelling of the EU had vindicated his stance of campaigning for Brexit in 2016.

Many of his fellow leaders, by contrast, blamed him for unleashing the forces of disintegration. An Irish diplomat with long experience of Brussels said of the emergency summit following the French vote that he had never experienced an atmosphere as poisonous in his career. Europe, he said of that week, came apart before his eyes.

Participants in the financial markets, seeing that the break-up of the euro and the EU was imminent, went into the sort of panic not seen since the Lehman Brothers collapse 10 years earlier.

The Greek and Portuguese banks were the first to close their doors. Contagion spread fast. By the end of the week a run on the Netherlands third-biggest bank saw queues form outside branches in Dutch towns and cities.

A rattled-looking Mario Draghi held a press conference after the markets closed on Monday, March 26. The Italian, who was close to the end of his term as head of the ECB, repeated his mantra of 2012, saying Frankfurt would do whatever it takes to save the currency and the financial system. Those words had worked at the beginning of the decade. They didnt work second time round. So weak was the system and so great were the uncertainties surrounding the coming break-up that no words could calm the situation. As bank runs spread across the single currency zone, the entire system shut down.

It was on Monday, April 2, 2018, that the Irish banks didnt open for the first time. The then Taoiseach Micheal Martin broadcast to the nation that evening in an attempt to bring calm. His words were as effective as Draghis. Mandarins in the Department of Finance and officials from the Central Bank reactivated 2011 plans to introduce a new currency.

Nobody who was alive at the time will ever forget the following weeks and months. As the banks stayed closed for most of the summer, the economy suffered a coronary. By October unemployment soared past 15pc, the highest level recorded in the previous collapse, and showed no signs of stabilising.

Rural areas were particularly badly hit as tourism dried up almost completely. Currency chaos and the sheer depth of recession across Europe saw to that. Ryanair was forced to file for bankruptcy at the end of the summer. A furious and visibly aged Michael OLeary apologised to shareholders, staff and customers. He said that the carrier had not only suffered huge losses as a result of the crisis, but that its business model had no future in an era when governments had gone back to the bad old days of protecting national airlines and clamping down on foreign ones.

Googles announcement in January 2019 that it was shutting its European headquarters in Dublin was the beginning of another wave of lay-offs. The decision had been triggered by President Juppes warning that he would block its search engine if it did not move staff dealing with the French market to France.

With the EU single market being dismantled and other countries following the French lead, most multinationals began closing or downsizing their European headquarters, spreading staff to national capitals across the continent.

Ireland suffered far more than any other country as so many multinationals had centred their European operations here. Today, IDA-supported companies employ just 90,000 people, down from almost 200,000 at the peak five years ago. More losses are inevitable and with no single European market to service, those jobs are never coming back.

By the spring of 2019, unemployment surged past the 20pc threshold. Making matters worse was the deterioration in relations between Dublin and London. The new Taoiseach, Regina Doherty, and her counterpart, Boris Johnson, were not on speaking terms after London had suspended free movement of labour. He had done so after caving in to pressure from Nigel Farages English Sovereignty Party to halt the flow of Irish migrants into the recession-hit English economy.

With other European countries also ending free movement of labour after the EU was formally dissolved, and President Trump in the US closing Americas borders to all Europeans, the old release valve of emigration was closed more tightly than it had ever been before. The near-permanent encampment that has existed for more than three years outside the Australian embassy on Dublins Cumberland road is a painful and poignant reminder of how desperate many people are to get out.

The seemingly never-ending depression has embittered public discourse to an extent barely imaginable a decade ago. Nothing illustrates this better than the heavy security measures around TDs constituency offices following assaults and a proliferation of threats against politicians.

Another manifestation of the deep and wide anger towards anyone in a position of authority is the ever more fragmented nature of politics.

The 34th Dail is in its dying days. A fourth election in a little over five years can only be months away. But with polls showing that the 35th Dail will be the most fragmented yet, there is little prospect of strong stable government, and every prospect of continued ungovernability.

The centre didnt hold in Europe. It is far from certain that it will hold at home.
Entrepreneur Richard Branson has warned that Brexit would be devastating for the UK's long-term prosperity.

The billionaire and founder of the Virgin Group wrote an open letter as he is backing the "Remain" campaign ahead of Thursday's EU referendum vote.

Virgin Group currently employs 50 000 people in the UK.

Branson wrote: As an entrepreneur I have been known for taking risks throughout my career but leaving the European Union is not one of the risks I would want the UK to take - not as an investor, not as a father and not as a grandfather. I am deeply concerned about the impact of leaving.

Although Ive been living in the British Virgin Islands for some time now, I have never stopped caring passionately about the UK and its great people. I am one of the few business people who can remember how difficult it was before the EU was formed. Setting up a new business was a challenge, I couldn't move my employees between Britain and Europe without visas, moving goods was hugely complex with high taxes and the hassle of red tape and heavy-handed bureaucracy. I'm saddened to think the UK would ever go back to that time.

He added: There are a few times in your life when you can see thing going horribly wrong. I truly believe that leaving the EU would be devastating for the long-term future of Great Britain and the future of Europe.

He added that the EU had managed to secure peace in Europe in the wake of the Second World War.

My father Ted fought in North Africa, Italy and Germany during World War 2. My grandfather survived the horrors of the trenches in World War 1. I truly believe that one of the EU's greatest achievements that it has kept its members out of conflict in Europe. In fact, not a single shot has ever been fired between the armies of EU member states.
A 40m 257-bed hotel planned for Dublin city centre has been given the green light.

Planned by the Hodson Bay hotel group, one of the last remaining hotel groups owned by an Irish family, the hotel will be built on a site on Dean Street, close to St Patricks Cathedral in the Coombe area of the city.

John OSullivan, owner of the hotel group said he hopes to have the hotel up and running within a year of final approval.

The four star hotel is expected to employ up to 200 full time staff in the city. The group has previously stated that the new hotel will be operated under a franchise license with a major brand and due to their existing strong relationship with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, the new property is likely to be opened as a Sheraton Hotel.

The development which will adjoin Fallons pub, a protected structure, will range in height from three to six stories high comprising of 257 bedrooms, reduced from the planned 263 bedrooms as a condition of planning. It will include a cafe bar/restaurant along with meeting and conference facilities.

The hotel group currently runs three hotels around the country, the Hodson Bay hotel on the shores of Lough Ree, the Sheraton Athlone hotel and the Galway Bay hotel in Salthill Galway, employing over 550 staff.

The group survived the recession with some forward thinking from its boss. Mr OSullivan first became concerned about a looming recession in 2007, preparing plans for a 30pc drop in business and increasing this to a predicted 40pc as the recession took hold. His predictions proved spot on

It was some wallop, I had 500 mouths to feed and it was 2013 before we saw the first break in the clouds. We focused on quality when everybody else was giving away product. We were basically one of the few family hotel groups that survived the recession, he said.

For years the group, set up by Mr OSullivan and his wife Mary in 1990 avoided the Dublin market due to the excessive costs involved in buying real estate in the city.

However, after earmarking the perfect site for a hotel near St Patricks Cathedral, the group spent the past three years working on securing 10 properties in the area.

It was a domino effect, when you had one secured you were never sure you were going to get the next one. It took a long time to secure them all, said Mr OSullivan.

The hotel boss believes the area is ripe for regeneration with the planned DIT move from various premises in the area to the Grangegorman site freeing up a lot of properties for re-development.

The location is optimal. Were seven minutes walk from Stephens Green and less that to Temple Bar. It has huge potential, he added.

Mr OSullivan is eager to get moving on the project and is hopeful that any appeal can be dealt with quickly and successfully.

It will take a year to built it and from the very day it comes out of the board were ready to dig, he said.

Failte Ireland welcomed the decision. Chairman Michael Cawley said that the development of a four star hotel of this scale so close to a major tourism attraction such as St Patricks Cathedral, together with the recent opening of Teelings Distillery and the Dublin City Council plans for Newmarket Square are major steps towards the development of a world class centre for culture and heritage in the heart of the city.
Ireland has become a small net contributor to the EU Budget for the first time since it joined the bloc in 1973.

In 2014, the last year for which complete data is available, the country paid 168m more to the EU than it received in grants and payments.

That's according to briefing material provided to Finance Minister Michael Noonan by officials in his department.

The note states that in 2014, Ireland contributed around 1.69bn to the EU Budget, and received 1.52bn in return.

"Ireland has been a significant net beneficiary from the EU Budget since accession in 1973," the briefing material states.

"However, 2014 represented the first time that Ireland was a (small) net contributor."

The vast majority of Irish receipts for 2014, approximately 1.22bn, are direct payments to farmers. Data from the Department shows that even during the boom years, Ireland was a significant net beneficiary from EU funds.

For example, in 2004, net receipts totalled 1.4bn, while in 2006 they slipped to 672m.

Since 1973, Ireland has received over 50bn.

Final data for last year will not become available until the summer.
Kenmare Resources is a step closer to securing a much needed capital injection after lenders agreed a plan to restructure the Irish miner's debt.

It has to raise $275m for the deal to take effect. The Oman State General Reserve Fund has committed $100m, and Kenmare said discussions with new and existing shareholders have been positive, with three large shareholders committing $115m between them.

Some of the company lenders have agreed to make up the balance if the company falls $40.8m or less short, via an equity stake.

The plan is designed to reduce Kenmare's debt from $392m to $100m, with $75m of capital set aside for working capital and other day-to-day expenses.

"With the finalisation of key transaction agreements as announced today, we look forward to further engagement with investors and the completion of the Capital Restructuring in the next few weeks," Kenmare managing director Michael Carvill said.
The Irish Euro 2016 squad flew out to France with CityJet

Takeover talks between CityJet and Stobart Air have intensified, with signs a deal could be soon ready to land, the Irish Independent has learned.

The two Dublin-based airlines have been involved in negotiations for a number of months with a view to CityJet striking a merger deal with the Stobart Air business, which operates the Aer Lingus Regional service.

That was initially just one of a number of options being explored by Stobart.

The Irish Independent revealed the takeover talks in March.

Striking a merger involves a significant number of players. Stobart Air is 45pc-owned by UK transport group Stobart. Invesco Perpetual owns 40pc, whole broker Cenkos owns 10pc. Former Aer Arann chairman Padraig O'Ceidigh owns 5pc. The airline, previously known as Aer Arann, was acquired out of Examinership by Stobart and its partners.

Last year, Invesco signalled it wanted to exit the business. Stobart Air then began exploring a possible sale of the company.

That drew bids for about 65m, including one from Stobart Air managing director Sean Brogan.

However, last month Mr Brogan's departure from the airline was announced, ending the possibility of a management buyout.

In tandem with that sales process, Stobart Air has been exploring a tie-up with CityJet, which is now owned by a group of investors including founder Pat Byrne, having been acquired from Germany's Intro Aviation this year.

Under a planned deal, it's believed that CityJet would be the major partner in a merged group, with existing Stobart shareholders taking a minority holding.

But it's not clear how the existing relationship with Aer Lingus will evolve if a deal goes ahead.

Stobart Air's Aer Lingus Regional service feeds passengers from the UK to Dublin, enabling passengers to connect to services to North America.

But Aer Lingus has for some time been engaged in talks with Ryanair to see if its bigger rival could become a feeder airline for the former flag carrier, which is now owned by IAG.

Some issues remain to be resolved, such as who would take responsibility for lost baggage between Ryanair and Aer Lingus flights.

Also, transatlantic passengers would generally carry checked baggage. Transferring baggage from Ryanair flights could impede its short turnaround times.

Ryanair could generate a fee for providing passengers to the Aer Lingus network.

Ryanair is this summer trialling so-called interlining between its own flights at Stansted and Barcelona.

That allows passengers on Ryanair flights from cities not served by a wide range of destinations to connect to the airline's services at the bigger hubs, without having to go through security again. If successful, the trial will see Ryanair expand the service.
The front page of this morning's Irish Independent business section

Here are the business stories you need to know about this morning:

Irish Independent

*Takeover talks between CityJet and Stobart Air have intensified, with signs a deal could be soon ready to land.

The two Dublin-based airlines have been involved in negotiations for a number of months with a view to CityJet striking a merger deal with the Stobart Air business, which operates the Aer Lingus Regional service.

That was initially just one of a number of options being explored by Stobart.

*Ireland has become a small net contributor to the EU Budget for the first time since it joined the bloc in 1973.

In 2014, the last year for which complete data is available, the country paid 168m more to the EU than it received in grants and payments.

That's according to briefing material provided to Finance Minister Michael Noonan by officials in his department.

*UK chancellor George Osborne has warned the hit to the country's economy from a vote on Thursday to leave the European Union could be worse than initially thought.

As the referendum campaign resumed in the wake of the killing of Labour MP Jo Cox, Mr Osborne said the economic fallout from a vote to pull out could be much worse than forecast, as the 'Remain' side sought to persuade voters to pull back from the 'Leave' camp.

"The central estimate is that our GDP would be 5 to 6pc smaller," Mr Osborne said.

The Irish Times

*Financial markets are bracing for an extremly volatile week as Britain votes on its membership of the European Union.

A so-called Brexit could result in a major sell-off with $1 trillion wiped off the value of equities last week.

Friday, the day after the vote, will probably be the busiest trading day of 2016 thus far.

*A record number of solicitors from the UK have been admitted to practice here ahead of the Brexit vote, according to new Law Society figures.

186 have been admitted in the first six months of the year - up from 50 last year.

The vast majority have cited the potential Brexit as their primary reason for seeking admission here, the Society said.

*Deutsche Bank has partnered with an "ethical investment specialist" to launch new investment products.

The move comes as the bank anticipates a surge in demand for socially responsible investments.

The products will focus on companies that are strong in the areas of environmental, social, and governance policies.

Irish Examiner

*The European Court of Justice is this week to issue its opinion on a challenge by Permanent TSB shareholders to the bank's recapitalisation during the crash.

The court has been asked to determine if Finance Minister Michael Noonan breached any laws when he got an order allowing the State to replenish the bank's funds.

It put 2.7bn into the bank, taking a stake in excess of 99pc.

*Irish exploration company Lansdowne Oil & Gas has applied for a resumption of trading in its shares.

Its shares - listed on London's AIM market - have been suspended since an adverse legal ruling in April that also negatively impacted Providence Resources, Lansdowne's senior partner in the Barryroe field off the Cork coast.

Lansdowne has shelved plans to sell itself after raising 2.7m.

*Insurance and breakdown assistance firm AA Ireland is hiring 20 extra telesales staff to cope with an upsurge in call volumes.

Part of the reason is turbulence in the car insurance market, AA consumer affairs director Conor Faughnan said.
The first update to guidelines on personal injury awards in more than a decade is to recommend higher, not lower, payouts.

As the Irish Independent today launches a campaign to tackle high insurance costs, it can be revealed that further price hikes are looming.

Despite insurance costs rising by more than a third in the past year alone, new guidelines are to see a 10pc rise in the recommended payout for lower level injuries which make up the majority of claims.

It would mean that the recommended payout for whiplash - which accounts for around 80pc of all claims - would be 16,500, up from 15,000 at present.

There is already heavy criticism of existing whiplash awards here, as they are three times higher than those in Britain.

And it has emerged that judges have been secretly briefed on the contents of the new awards guidelines, known as the Book of Quantum, ahead of any other group.

Insurers have complained there is huge inconsistency in court awards, while AA Ireland has called for specific training for judges on how to handle personal injuries cases.

Awards made in court tend to set the benchmark for all awards and settlements, whether the cases are heard in court or not.

The Book of Quantum is a general guide to the compensation that should be awarded for various types of injuries, depending on their severity.
Mr Goodhand said that Australia's banks, the mainstay of the local credit market, performed well compared to global peers even during the 2008 crisis, while some of the largest domestic issuers such as Telstra Corporation and BHP Billiton are strongly rated.

Corporate debt in Australia is providing one of the best refuges from global financial market volatility this quarter.

Adjusting for the magnitude of price swings, a Bank of America Merrill Lynch gauge of Aussie corporate notes delivered a 1.2pc gain since March 31, surpassing similar indexes for the US, Canada, UK, Japan and the eurozone, according to data compiled as of June 16. It's also beating indexes for developed market sovereign debt and the MSCI World Index of equities.

"Looking at the market on a whole, it's a reasonably high-rated market which brings an element of comfort and provides less volatility as a result," said Gavin Goodhand, who helps oversee about $490m in fixed-income assets at Altius Asset Management in Sydney.

Measures of global volatility have spiked in recent weeks as the UK referendum on European Union membership approaches on June 23, while a dialling back of bets on US interest-rate increases is also causing disquiet.

The gauge of stock market turbulence known as the VIX last week saw its biggest one-day lurch upward for 2016, while Group-of-Seven currency volatility climbed to levels unseen since 2011 and expected one-week price swings for the pound surged to a record.

Mr Goodhand said that Australia's banks, the mainstay of the local credit market, performed well compared to global peers even during the 2008 crisis, while some of the largest domestic issuers such as Telstra Corporation and BHP Billiton are strongly rated.

The relative strength of the nation's economy is also supportive of the Aussie credit market, with the country having avoided recession for a quarter century. (Bloomberg)
We met at Listowel Writers' Week 14 years ago. I was picking up the poetry prize, Karen was enrolled in a fiction writing class. It was a week when Karen and I talked about books, but not actually about writing them together. We swopped numbers, and kept in touch. Still no mention of a collaboration.

Back in the 1990s, when we were still in our 20s anyway, we published in the Hennessy New Irish Writing page, and were happy to meet again when Ciaran Carty edited a Hennessy Anthology which included our individual work. The following year, in 2003, I published my first collection of poetry, The Drowning of the Saints. A couple of years later, Karen published her first novel, Seven Nights in Zaragoza. We were in our early 30s now, getting married, having kids, writing.

Half a dozen books later, and we are having a pint in Neary's, shooting the breeze, mired in books still. It's late 2010. Out of the blue, I suggest we write a book together. Karen considers the idea. It would, she suggests, be a nice break from the Florence Nightingale novel she is working on, a hiatus from the cholera wards, the darkness. We are both drawn to the notion of writing about parental fear, the differing ways people deal with grief and guilt. As we talk some more, an idea starts to form. We go our separate ways mulling over thoughts for individual characters.

By chance, a week later, I'm in Dublin city centre when I get caught up in an anti-austerity demonstration. Something about the atmosphere that day, it all clicks into place with the idea germinating in my head. I go home and quickly write the first chapter, then send it to Karen. Within days she sends me the second, and so begins a kind of relay-write.

It was an exhilarating process, writing, barely able to wait for the next chapter to arrive from Karen, so that I could see what had happened, and where she had brought the story. As we finished the novel, Karen met our agent, Jonathan Lloyd of Curtis Brown, at a conference in Brussels. She sent him a copy of our book and soon afterwards we signed with him. He sold the book, The Boy That Never Was, to Penguin UK, and within a few weeks we were signing contracts for American, German, French, Dutch, Spanish and Italian publishers.

What had started out as a whimsical notion became the new and unexpected focus of both our careers. Our second novel, Only We Know, was published a year later, and was shortlisted for a Crime Award at the Irish Book Awards. The collaborative nature of our writing necessitates a lot of communication - by phone, email, text, but most importantly, face-to-face. We meet in each other's homes, sometimes in cafes or pubs, although the most regular venue for our meetings is on the UCD campus where I teach Creative Writing. Karen's husband is also a lecturer there. Perhaps it was inevitable that our third novel - Girl Unknown - would be set in UCD. It tells the story of a university lecturer whose life is turned upside down when one of his students announces that she believes he is her father. As the girl becomes ever more tangled in their lives, the family begins to violently break apart.

We are currently working on our fourth novel, and our first screen-play - a film adaptation of The Boy That Never Was. The past six years has been a kind of whirl-wind affair of letters. And to think, if we had not bumped into each other at Listowel, or if we had not met that night in Neary's and stumbled upon the notion of writing together, none of this would have happened. As a character from the above book says: 'Chance came, and I took it.'
One hundred and thirty years ago Sigmund Freud, the father of psychoanalysis, presented his "seduction theory" at a major forum in Vienna. His idea was that most neuroses - female neuroses particularly - could be traced back to repressed memories of sexual interference on the part of fathers. The proposition was met with widespread outrage - the idea that fathers would sexually molest their daughters was shocking at the time - and Freud later shifted away from it, instead claiming that most of the memories of abuse, which he heard from patients, were false, with their subconscious unable to discern between fantasy and reality. Freud believed that Victorian men should be allowed indulge in forbidden sex (indeed he thought that incest was important to civilisation) with one caveat: that it must be "discreet".

It was a word, with all of its dark undertones, that seemed to echo down the ages this week with the revelation that Clement Freud, grandson of Sigmund, had sexually abused girls, including one whom he brought up as a daughter. 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. 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.

The rape was so violent and brutal she said, that she bled for a week afterward. It has been suggested that there may be more revelations and more victims still to tell their stories. The allegations are being investigated by British police and in the meantime have caused enormous embarrassment to one of the most storied families in Britain. Whether art, media, politics, fashion or high finance, the Freuds have their fingers in every pie.

For renown though, none of them quite eclipsed the patriarch of the family. Clement, was, in his own account, in awe of his grandfather. He was beaten at school, he once said, because Sigmund had written somewhere that corporal punishment was damaging to children - the masters had their own theories of psychoanalysis apparently - but he forgave the old man because from Sigmund he had his own black sense of humour. "He took me for a walk once," Clement told an American TV anchor before he died. "I must have been seven or eight years old and a man had an epileptic fit in the street and he was holding my hand. And I was of an age where when anybody had, I mean, caught a finger, my nanny would say, 'Look away, it's not nice.' But my grandfather stood there with me watching the man have an epileptic fit. And the man was writhing on the pavement and foaming at the mouth and his hat had fallen off and people were watching and some people with sympathy put some money in his hat."

Did Sigmund follow suit, the interviewer asked. "He didn't, and we walked away and I said, 'Why didn't you put money in his hat?', Clement recalled. "And my grandfather said, 'He didn't do it well enough.'"

This wry, mocking wit became as much part of Clement as it had been a part of Sigmund and indeed it became the cornerstone of the younger man's career. Born in Berlin, he became a naturalised British citizen four days before the outbreak of World War II and after the War ended worked as an officer in the Nuremburg trials. He would go on to train as a chef, a profession which allowed him to keep his finger on the pulse of London society. Freud was one of Britain's first celebrity chefs and while still in his twenties ran his own restaurant and club in Sloane Square, where he gave a young Rolf Harris his first break (a fact that seemed to gain sinister significance this week). He became one of the first stars of advertising, after appearing in a series of dog food ads with a bloodhound called Henry.

For 42 years his acerbic, funereal manner made him what Gordon Brown once called "not only an icon, but an institution" on the radio. On Just A Minute, the series that made his legend, Clement came over like a waggish aristocrat with blood at least as blue (read: German) as any royal and with a preternatural gift for weaving afternoon spells of nostalgia. He had an unforgettable, curmudgeonly charisma. He appeared on the Late Late Show "four or five times", remembers broadcaster Gay Byrne, and usually his appearance was connected to a talk he gave to universities here. "The attraction with him as a guest was his wit and lugubrious style of speaking" Gay recalls.

He parleyed his media work into a career in politics and in the 1980s rescued the no-hope constituency on the Isle of Ely for the Liberal Democrats. While an MP he shared an office with Cyril Smith, the Liberal MP for Rochdale, against whom a number of accusations of sexual abuse were subsequently made, causing much murmuring this week as people speculated on what else the two men may have shared.

In politics, Clement's charisma was allied to an association with the armed forces which made him beyond reproach. To a Tory MP accusing him of weakness over the Falklands War, he replied: "I don't think that you worked directly and personally under Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery of Alamein. During the Second World War. I did."

Freud was awarded a knighthood in 1987 for his services to the nation. It marked the high point, perhaps, of a remarkable journey from wartime refugee to the heart of British society. And even with this honour Clement always seemed remarkably sensitive about his place in the pecking order. During his time as an MP, he visited China with a delegation of MPs, including Winston Churchill, the grandson of the wartime British prime minister. When Churchill was given the best room in the hotel, on account of his illustrious lineage, Freud, in a typically winking reference to his own famous forebear, remarked that it was the first time in his life that he had been "out-grandfathered".

Out-grandfathered, perhaps, but few families could match the Freuds for sheer breadth and depth of luminaries.

Clement was married for most of his life to Jill, who is said to have been CS Lewis's inspiration for the character of Lucy in the Narnia stories - during World War II, Jill was evacuated to Oxford and was taken in by Lewis and his lover Jane Moore. Jill made headlines a few years ago when author Jonathan 'Joss' Self, a friend of the Freuds and brother of the writer and intellectual Will Self, revealed in a memoir, Self Harm, that he was only 16 when he started an affair with a married woman who was 30 years his senior. He named her only as 'June' and it went on for five years until he met his first wife. June is the real first name of Jill Freud, and it soon emerged that she was the married women involved. Self wrote about "the impossibility of the situation" and added that Clement had known all along about him - the Freuds apparently had an open relationship.

Video of the Day

Clement's son, Matthew Freud, was formerly married to Caroline Hutton, who became the second wife of Earl Spencer, brother of Princess Diana; Matthew then married media mogul Rupert Murdoch's daughter Elisabeth.

While married to Elisabeth, with whom he has a son and a daughter, he had another child with one of her close friends. Elisabeth once even held the child in her arms, not knowing the father was her husband.

Clement's daughter Emma, a noted broadcaster, is the partner of Richard Curtis, the legendary scriptwriter of Blackadder and Four Weddings and a Funeral. Clement's nieces (by his painter brother Lucian) are fashion designer Bella Freud and writer Esther Freud. His brother, Stephen Freud, has closely guarded his privacy, with the exception of an interview he gave to The Daily Telegraph. Freud died without resolving a feud with his brother Lucian, thought to have dated back over 70 years, over which of them was the rightful winner of a boyhood race. "I was offered a knighthood, but turned it down," the celebrated artist once sniffed in an interview. "My younger brother has one of those. That's all that needs to be said on the matter."

On the matter of Clement he had slightly more to say, however: "Why on earth would I want to speak to him or see him again?" Lucian said. "Do you know, Clement put it about years ago that I was illegitimate, which is a bit odd as I was the middle child. I am not, by the way. Family is not important to me," he added. "It doesn't bother me in the slightest."

If the Cyril Smith connection sent a chill down the spine this week then the association with the family of Madeleine McCann seemed too macabre to be true. Clement had a villa in the Algarve resort where Madeleine disappeared nine years ago. After the little girl vanished, and the press and British police descended on southern Portugal, he invited her parents around to his villa. Freud had written the McCanns a letter saying he was "ashamed of the intrusion into your lives by our media". He also told them: "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."

In her book, Kate 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, she wrote, and was "incredibly warm, funny and instantly likeable", cheering the couple up with his "lugubrious wit". Clement kept in touch with the couple by email after his return to England, and called them again when he was back in Portugal the following August.

When the McCanns were named as suspects in the disappearance of their daughter, he joked with them about the ineptitude of the Portuguese investigators. Offering Kate 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.

Several British publications wrote that the McCanns were "horrified" by the revelations this week and 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."

He added: "It is not something that ought to be taken lightly and you would also want to look at any connections he may have had in the area at the time."

One of Clement's alleged victims this week told reporters that she had warned police about his links to the McCanns, but nothing was done.

During this past week, Vicky Hayes, who is now 64 and grew up in Lincoln, described to ITV News how the former Liberal MP took a liking to her during a visit to her father's restaurant in the 1960s, when she was aged just 14.

After becoming friends of the family, he showered her with attention and then one night, when she was 17, plied her with alcohol and raped her. Hayes, who is now 64, said he "forced himself on me" and subsequently stripped the bedsheets because she had bled. Hayes said Freud's "parting words to me were, 'If you are pregnant, ring me.' That was it... As if he had done this before," she added.

Her story echoed that of Sylvia Woosley, whose social-climbing parents met Freud while they were living in Cannes, and invited him to a party. He became close to the family and took Sylvia on day trips. This week, she said: "He'd stroke me, and he'd kiss me at the back of the bus on the mouth, he put his tongue in my mouth and it was wet. It was horrible and I didn't like it. I was disgusted and helpless."

When Sylvia's parents' marriage broke up her mother sent her to live with Freud. "He used to sort of touch me a lot, quite a lot," she said. She recalled one occasion, when she was 14, when Freud pulled up her nightdress and molested her. He told her: "You feel just like your mother."

She eventually told a nanny about what was happening and managed to move out and got a job. The truth seemed to be out there. But her mother got wind of the allegation and forced Sylvia to phone Jill Freud and recant.

And this, apparently, was accepted. Sylvia this week described a morning when she was 14 when she joined the couple for breakfast in their bed. When Jill got up to make the breakfast, Sylvia offered to help, but Jill allegedly told her to "stay where you are with Clay". The allegations have all fed into speculation about how much Jill Freud knew about her husband's predilections.

In the ITV programme, Jill makes no protest of innocence on her deceased husband's behalf. Instead she apologises "for what has happened to these women", expressing her shock, and her deep sorrow, while warmly remembering the man she had loved for 50 years or more.

She was hardly alone in this. Freud died a hero in 2009 with the great and good of British society attending his funeral. Clement's many friends - including the luminaries who attended his funeral - Stephen Fry, Bono and Gordon Brown amongst them - have thus far stayed silent on the scandal.

The dead cannot be prosecuted of course, but as the case of Jimmy Savile showed when historical child abuse accusations are proven, the public needs some way to vent its rage. It seems likely, therefore, that Clement will soon, at the very least, be stripped of his knighthood.

Whether the scandal has repercussions for the wider Freud dynasty remains to be seen. Across the generations they might look back to Sigmund, the patriarch, for guidance on how to deal with this catastrophe.

In his revised theory of neurosis and sexual abuse, discerned mostly from private letters, the elder Freud wrote that fantasy and 'impulse control' in victims, rather than shame, were the cause of psychological pain in sexual abuse survivors.

He could hardly have predicted that the grandson he once held by the hand would one day make a mockery of these ideas, and tarnish forever the family name.
Amy at the IFTA awards in April wearing the Umit Kutluk dress which sold out soon afterwards.

Actress Amy Huberman will make a welcome return to the small screen after landing a leading role in a major new RTE drama as a betrayed wife.

The mum-of-two (36) will take centre stage in a four-part legal drama called Cheaters, which has just been given the green light by the TV station and which co-stars Rory Keenan from Peaky Blinders.

It represents her first major TV role in recent times.

The actress and best-selling author will take on the part of a solicitor named Tara who sets up her own legal practice after catching her fiance and workmate Eric, played by Keenan, having an affair.

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Filming will begin around Dublin in the coming weeks with a transmission date yet to be announced.

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The series has been created by James Phelan, who was also behind Wrecking the Rising, and was written by Rob Heyland from Whistleblowers.

Speaking about the new series, RTE's Head of Drama Jane Gogan described it as a "series that reflects a modern world and stories of family and emotional relationships - the flux, the chaos and the ridiculous - and how such stories end up in the legal system. It's a good time to explore the subject."

RTE are joining forces with Blinder Films, who were behind The Queen of Ireland documentary starring Rory O'Neill, for the show. It has also secured international co-financing from Acorn Productions Ltd in London.

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Glen Killane, RTE's MD, said Cheaters was the first in a number of dramas which RTE has commissioned, with more announcements to come soon.

Although she has been dipping in and out of roles, Amy has been mainly focusing on her growing family over the past few years.

She and Brian O'Driscoll welcomed Billy in November 2014 and Sadie in February 2013, but she recently said she was keen to immerse herself in new work projects now that her children were a little older.

"It's been a busy few years at home but I feel like it's just suddenly a little bit easier," she said.

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For Father's Day, she treated Brian to a day in the salon that she co-owns with Rob Kearney - Oslo on the Mespil Road.

The legendary former rugby star certainly seemed to enjoy it, and he posted a picture of himself enjoying his pampering day on social media.
Nine people in the Diocese of Elphin have come forward so far expressing an interest in becoming a volunteer Catechist.

Dr Doran says the role will not replace priests, but will help fill a gap in the Churchs teaching.

The idea of a catechism is providing information to deepen your faith. Religious education takes place in the schools but what we havent got is anything that happens after school, so that the peculiar thing is when people are 17 or 18, they may cut loose a wee bit. They are also at the stage where they are beginning to actually ask questions about the meaning of their existence.

The schools will tell you that if nothing is happening at home, what they do is diminished.

We are looking for people who have an energy around faith and are anxious to do something to support their own parish.
A Catholic bishop has said the Church has probably gone too far in its apologies but is in a better place because of it.

Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran (62) also says the Church is one of the safest places in society as a result of the abuse scandals.

And he says there are still some priests who avoid children altogether as a result.

Dr Doran also spoke of how he believes Ireland has lost some of its spirit of volunteerism because of State intervention.

The Dubliner was appointed to his diocese - which covers parts of counties Sligo, Roscommon, Galway and Westmeath - two years ago.

Launched

He was speaking to the Irish Independent as he launched a plan to appoint new professionally trained lay Catechists to the western diocese to close what he says is a gap in faith teaching to younger adults and parents.

"One of the challenges for us as Catholics is to play a part in forming the way our society works and what our culture is," said Dr Doran.

"In the past there was an overbearing influence on the part of the institution of the Church on society and perhaps in recent years we have tended to apologise too much for that and we've gone the other way.

"The whole child abuse controversies have been very painful for the Church. We are in a much better position now with safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.

"The Church is probably now one of the safest places in society for children, because there is no way now that a child will be on their own with an adult."

However, he said the Church continues to suffer in some ways from what happened.

"The hardest thing for us in some ways was to avoid backing off (from children); maybe it affects some priests more than others, where some priests feel that the only way they can feel really safe themselves is to have nothing to do with children."

Dr Doran courted controversy last year over comments before the marriage equality referendum and in a social media post on Fine Gael.

"I do stick my neck out at times. If I believe in something I am not afraid to say it. You have to be prepared to take the flak then," he said.

Undermine

"I put up a post saying they (FG) were entitled to collect at the church gate but given the fact they had spent the last 18 months trying to undermine everything we stand for it might make more sense to collect somewhere else."

Dr Doran said many positions in society which were voluntary are now paid roles because "we got very used to State funding for things".

"I actually think that Irish society to some extent has lost the sense of the importance of volunteerism," he said.

"What I would love to be able to do would be to go down to the local refugee centre and volunteer...but if I went...I'm there as the bishop.

"I still find it very strange after two years as a bishop when I go somewhere it is automatically a special occasion. I am not used to that."
A NUMBER of people arrested during the Donegal International Rally at the weekend are due in court in Letterkenny later today.

Gardai say 59 people were held for various offences over the three days of the rally, twice the number of arrests for the same event last year.

Gda Insp Goretti Sheridan said the number of incidents had left officers shocked.

The breakdown of the arrests included 21 people held for dangerous driving, 14 arrests for drink-driving, and 23 arrests for public order and criminal damage offences.

One of the suspected drink-drivers is just 17.

Another driver was arrested with the help of local taxi drivers in Letterkenny after he drove at speed on the wrong side of Pearse Road in the town.

The rally drew in its biggest crowd for years with an estimated 35,000 extra visitors to north Donegal.

In Carrigart a man from Northern Ireland lost part of his ear after it was bitten during a melee a number of other people from the North.

Insp Sheridan said many of those arrested over the weekend weren't even following the rally.

"Certainly when it came to a lot of the public order incidents in Letterkenny, we were dealing with people who were in the county for the rally weekend but who were not actually following the rally," she said.

"Some of the behaviour was disgraceful. The dangerous driving and drink-driving incidents were shocking."

Gardai deployed extra motorbike officers, the Garda helicopter, a dozen unmarked vehicles as well as regular patrol vehicles. Road Safety Authority engineers were also on duty detecting modified cars.

The vast majority of actual rally fans behaved "impeccably" throughout the event which finished last night in Letterkenny.

But despite the resources, it was clear gardai were under-staffed for the event, according to residents in Letterkenny who have taken to social media to complain today.

Residents in Manorcunningham claim up to 50 vehicles were involved in races on the main Letterkenny to Derry road at 6am on Sunday.

On Letterkenny's Port Road there were brawls between drunken youths.

"There just weren't enough guards around. This weekend is a nightmare every year," posted on irate resident.
A mother has avoided a jail term after she admitted harassing a former family friend for two months over some mild school banter between the women's young daughters.

In September 2015 Aisling McCann (34) began making anonymous silent phone calls to the victim from a blocked number. Over the next two months she harassed the victim by sending anonymous emails insulting her daughter and telling her to keep away from her children.

She would also order food online and have it delivered to the woman's home and ordered taxis to pick her up at her home.

McCann of Oaklands Park, Swords, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to nine charges of harassment on various dates between September 11 and November 22, 2015.

Garda Sergeant Gerry Holland told Tom Neville BL, prosecuting, that all the harassment grew out of some very mild school banter that was taken out of proportion by McCann at a stressful time in her life.

Judge Melanie Greally noted that McCann was going through a particularly difficult and vulnerable stage in her life. Instead of confiding in family members she was trying to manage her stress by drinking alcohol.

Judge Greally said she was suspending a 12 month prison sentence after taking into consideration the woman's lack of any other convictions and her very early plea of guilty.

When gardai went to McCann's house in December last (2015) the accused owned up to all the acts of harassment.

Sgt Holland told the court she was completely remorseful at that time. He said there was no logic to her behaviour, which he described as completely irrational.

He said the harassment stopped immediately after gardai confronted her. The victim had declined to make a victim impact statement and was just relieved it had stopped.

Before it was traced to McCann the harassment caused the victim fear and anxiety and was very distressing to her and her family, the court heard. Sgt Holland said that the former family friendship was now severed and unrecoverable.

Patrick Jackson BL, defending, said his client came from a very decent and honest family. He said the McCann family wished to thank the garda sergeant for his sensitivity in dealing with the matter.

He told the court that the two women's daughter had been friends and that McCann's daughter told her mother about some very innocent innocuous comment.

Counsel said McCann was drinking at the time and was under stress because her family home was in negative equity and her daughter was starting secondary school.

Sgt Holland said she had made the calls and sent the emails from her own smart phone and it was easy for gardai to trace them back to her.

In imposing sentence Judge Greally said McCann was a responsible and supportive parent who was going through a difficult period in her life.
A protocol has been approved that will ensure the availability of psychiatric services to children in secure care on a weekly basis, five months after an inquiry was made by the High Court into unavailable therapeutic services.

New case reports by the Child Care Law Reporting Project (CCLRP) outlined that child care agencies will now be able to avail of psychiatric care once a week at three secure units.

A psychiatrist will now be made available three days a week.

According to the report, previously these secure units could not provide the psychiatric care because it was under the provision of the HSE, a separate remit.

However, after Ms Justice Bronagh O'Hanlon received a letter of complaint from a child at one of the secure units, she made an inquiry into the provision of the services.

The child's guardian had also raised the issue, pointing out that the child was detained in this care because they were deemed to be in need of therapeutic services and that therefore psychiatric care should be provided. Previously, in an emergency, the child would have had to been taken to a hospital's A&E department.

The new protocol was approved by the High Court earlier this month.

The CCLRP has conducted reports on more than 1,200 cases in their first three-year phase.

Director of the organisation Dr Carol Coulter told the Irish Independent that their next focus will be to examine the delay in certain child care cases, which can take up to two years to conclude.

She said the more complicated cases can regularly include those in relation to child sex abuse allegations.

"I knew that if I attended another 300-400 cases it wasn't going to change what I've already found," Dr Coulter explained.

"I'm going to look in depth at the very long, difficult, complicated cases that can take up to 25 days over two years and see if it's possible to find out why these cases take so long.

"Very often, but not always, they often include allegations of child sex abuse. We hope we can learn from these cases how to improve child care proceedings for children and their families," she added.

The Child Care Law Reporting Project, led by Dr Coulter, publishes regular reports from the courts which make orders under the Child Care Act.

It collects and analyses data from the proceedings, reports on the nature and outcomes of the child care proceedings and promotes a public debate on the issues raised. The anonymity of the children and their families is preserved throughout. The project is supervised by an oversight committee composed of legal and child care experts.

In another case highlighted by the CCLRP, Care Orders were granted for the five youngest children of a family of 18 where the father was at the bottom 0.3pc of the population in terms of intellectual ability. A psychologist gave evidence of his inability, and that of his wife, to understand what was required of them in order to parent their children.
Microsoft has become the latest US multinational to have its tax affairs put under the spotlight, as it reportedly managed to avoid 100m (127m) a year by booking sales through Ireland.

The Washington State-based company, founded by Bill Gates, has allegedly sent more than 8bn of revenues from computers and software that were bought by British shoppers through to Ireland, to avail of a lower rate of corporation tax, according to an investigation by the 'Sunday Times'.

The newspaper claimed that elements of Microsoft's off-shore structure had received the blessing of the UK tax authorities. The UK's corporate tax rate, at 20pc, is much higher than Ireland's at 12.5pc, although the former is due to fall to 17pc by 2020.

The company is one of a number of high-profile multinational firms facing scrutiny of its business affairs.

In March, it emerged that social media giant Facebook would stop routing sales from major UK customers through Ireland, as pressure intensified across Europe, in particular on multinationals over their corporation tax bills.

Facebook said in a statement that the new arrangement -which was due to start in April - would provide greater "transparency".

The move will mean that the company will not rout advertising revenues from big clients like Tesco and WPP through Ireland, with the higher tax bill being paid from 2017.

And earlier in the year, Google agreed to pay 130m in back taxes to Britain, prompting criticism from politicians and campaigners who branded the figure "derisory".

Google had been under pressure in recent years over its practice of channelling most profits from European clients through Ireland to Bermuda, where it pays no tax on them.

The technology giant is also under the spotlight in France.

Dozens of French police raided Google's Paris headquarters last month, escalating an investigation on suspicions of tax evasion.

The company has stressed that it has been complying with French law and is co-operating with the authorities.

And the European Commission is probing the tax affairs of Apple in Ireland. Brussels has accused Ireland of striking a tax arrangement with Apple that was based on keeping jobs here but which gave the company an advantage that amounted to state aid and went against international guidelines.

Both the Irish Government and Apple have said they have no case to answer.
Dean Evans takes a boat trip in Marbella and (right) murdered Alan Ryan with Stacey Roche

This is alleged dissident gunman Dean Evans enjoying a summer holiday in Marbella  despite the fact that he is facing a murder charge.

Evans and two others have been charged with the 2013 murder of 35-year-old Peter Butterly, the father-of-three who was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn pub in Gormanston, Co Meath.

The 27-year-old of Grange Park Rise in Raheny, was granted permission by the High Court to change the conditions of his bail so he could travel abroad.

The application was opposed by gardai who argued that the strength of evidence against him and the seriousness of the crime made him a potential flight risk.

Evans was successful in his bid however, but the costs of the application were awarded against him.

In the photograph posted on Evans Facebook page, he can be seen enjoying a boating trip.

In the sunshine he displays a tattoo on his arm and shoulder.

He was a close pal of murdered Real IRA chief Alan Ryan and was regularly seen in his company before he was murdered.

Evans was joined at the resort in Puerto Banus by Ryans former partner Stacey Roche, who was previously in the news after she appeared in paramilitary-style gear at a memorial march for him.

At the time of his murder in September 2012, Crumlin native Stacey was regarded as the republican dissident terror chiefs main girlfriend.

Her links to Ryan brought her to the attention of both gardai and drug gangs.

In 2013, she was formally warned by gardai that her life was in danger.

The 55-day long trial of Evans and his co-accused collapsed at the Special Criminal Court in January last year after a failure in evidence disclosure.

The court delivered its ruling after the disclosure of previously privileged material contained in a statement given in July 2013 by witness David Cullen to gardai.

Cullen (30), with a last address in Balbriggan, was allegedly part of the murder plan himself but turned States witness against his former co-accused Evans, as well as Edward McGrath (33) of Land Dale Lawns, Springfield, Tallaght, and Sharif Kelly (44) of Pinewood Green Road, Balbriggan.

They had pleaded not guilty to murdering Butterly.

Evans and McGrath also pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession of a 9mm calibre Beretta model 9000s semi-automatic pistol and seven rounds of 9mm parabellum calibre ammunition at the same address on the same date.

The pair also pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession of a 9mm calibre Beretta model 9000s semi-automatic pistol and seven rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life at the car park of The Huntsman Inn on the same date.

A retrial was ordered for January 2017 and Mr Justice Michael Moriarty said justice demands that bail be granted to Evans until then.

Evans is believed to have arrived back in Ireland last Friday and his bail conditions returned to what they were before his holiday.
Ireland is "remarkably" prone to droughts and there is a "high likelihood they will occur again", despite the storms and extreme rainfall experienced in recent years.

Recently uncovered weather records dating to the beginning of the 19th century show the country was decimated by drought on four occasions in the 1800s, and in the 1920s, 1930s, 1950s and 1970s.

The situation became so bad that the Bishop of Meath placed newspaper notices in 1887 asking the faithful to pray for rain.

Dr Conor Murphy, from the Department of Geography at Maynooth University, said the last 40 years had been "unusual" due to the absence of persistent droughts, which have been a frequent occurrence over the last 200 years.

The historical records demonstrate that Ireland was subject to persistent, multi-season drought episodes, and a team is currently working on a detailed drought catalogue for Ireland stretching back to the mid-1700s to map the extent of droughts and trace their impacts.

In 1893, Dublin experienced a drought and water crisis when the Vartry supply failed to meet demand.

Dr Murphy said a key question which arises today is how contemporary Dublin would cope if climate history were to repeat itself.

"When it comes to planning around extreme weather conditions, to predict the future you must understand the past," Dr Murphy said.

"Last winter saw significant flooding, which caused severe damage to homes and businesses across the country. We have recently derived continuous records of storminess and flooding dating back to 1871, and what is very significant is, although we are in a notable flood-rich period, it is not unprecedented since the records began."

Prior to 1880, meteorologists in Ireland were not a unified professional body but a disparate group of amateur "gentlemen" scientists.

With weather instrumentation becoming widely available in the mid-19th century, many amateurs began keeping detailed ledgers which have proven to be treasure troves for modern climate scientists. Head of Climatology and Observations at Met Eireann, Seamus Walsh, said funding was needed "urgently" to allow the data be digitised which would help track signals of climate change.

"You can compare it to a map - to know where you are going you need to know where you are. These long records are vital to help place recent extreme events in context, and allow us to track emerging climate change signals," he said.

The findings will be discussed at the 9th ACRE Historical Weather and Climate Data Forum at Maynooth today.
Garda killer Adrian Crevan Mackin's cremated ashes have been stolen in a ghoulish raid.

Mackin was secretly cremated in Belfast last October in front of a handful of mourners after one undertaker from his home city of Newry finally agreed to handle his remains.

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Garda Tony Golden was shot by the 25-year-old last year in Omeath, Co Louth, as he escorted Mackin's partner to her home. She had made a complaint of domestic abuse against Mackin. The killer then turned his gun on himself.

The 'body-snatcher' controversy erupted following a report and photographs in the Sunday World, in which it was claimed the remains were exhumed under cover of darkness and taken away.

Mackin, who had been disowned by family members, was cremated in Roselawn crematorium last year and his ashes remained unclaimed for months.

But it is believed they were buried in a casket at a family plot in Drumgath, reportedly without the family's permission.

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Despite Mackin's violent past, the exhumation has caused dismay. A source told the Sunday World: "It may shock people but we could not stomach the idea that his remains had been secretly interred in the family plot without their knowledge or permission. People will no doubt think it was a desecration to open the grave and take him out but it was a bigger desecration to leave him there.

"It was agreed to dig up the remains of a killer and dispose of the ashes in a place less worthy."

The whereabouts of Mackin's remains are unknown. It is also unclear if the removal of the remains is a matter for the police. The PSNI was unavailable for comment last night.

Yesterday, Fr Tom McAteer said he could not comment on the shock news which has stunned parishioners at St Patrick's Church at Drumgath near Newry. When asked by the Belfast Telegraph yesterday if he could confirm the incident, he said: "I know nothing about it."

He added: "I am sorry, I cannot help you."

When asked if he would appeal for the remains to be brought back, he responded: "I know nothing at all about it so I wouldn't comment."

He said he was unaware if the church authorities are making any comment on it.
Garda at the scene of the shooting this morning

Garda at the scene of the shooting on Jonathan Kenny

A man in his 30s has been shot in Crumlin this morning and has undergone emergency surgery.

The victim, named locally as Jonathan Kenny, is the brother of Ian Kenny who died in 2009 after spending two years in a coma following a shooting.

The exact circumstances of last nights shooting are unclear, but emergency services were called to Monasterboice Road at around 4am where they found Kenny on the street suffering from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

It is unclear if he was targeted at the family home or elsewhere and then made his way to Monasterboice Road.

An ambulance and fire tender arrived at the scene and Kenny was treated by paramedics before being taken to St Jamess Hospital for surgery.

His condition is not believed to be life threatening.

Gardai sealed off the scene this morning pending a forensic examination and items of an evidential nature were taken away for analysis.

Jonathans brother Ian Kenny was 22 when he was shot in a car in Stillorgan by his friend Jonathan Dunne in 2007.

The background to the murder is complex but stems from the fact that when he was a teenager, Dunne lost cannabis worth 50,000 which gardai believe belonged to 'Fat' Freddie Thompsons gang.

He was not asked to pay back the cash at the time but was told that he owed Thompson's gang a favour.

In July 2007, the gang called in that favour and Dunne was ordered to kill his childhood friend Kenny.

Sources say that the reason for this is that Kenny had been in a long standing feud with associates of Ian 'Mad Dog' Maloney (24) - the notorious criminal who was closely linked to Thompson's gang at the time.

As the feud between Kenny and 'Mad Dog's' associates threatened to spiral out of control in September 2006, a garda sergeant was shot and injured as he stood outside Kenny's home by one of Maloney's associates.

The gang targeted the house, and when two Gardai were later posted at the property to preserve the scene a car drew up to target it a second time.

Newly promoted sergeant Mark Clarke was one of those Gardai.

As the car drew up to the house somebody threw a bottle towards it and as Sgt Clarke walked onto the roadway to confront the occupants, he was shot in the left side of his chest and in the wrist.

The car then sped away followed by three gardai in a patrol car. After a chase, the car crashed into another vehicle near the Mourne Road and Benbulben Road junction in Drimnagh.

Sgt Clarke was hospitalised but survived the attack.

The Kenny family home on Monasterboice Road in Crumlin, which has been the target of several attacks in the past, is now like a fortress, with three CCTV cameras on the front of the house and one on the roof.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information on last night's shooting to contact Sundrive Rd Garda Station on 01- 6666600, The Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
After meeting with representatives of the Dublin Central area, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has committed to meeting more north inner city groups to hear the effect gangland crime has had on their communities.

This is expected to take place in coming weeks to allow the Government to plan short and long term interventions for the area before the Dail recess.

Speaking after todays meeting, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe stressed the importance of hearing the views of groups formally so they can be fed back into Government.

We heard all of their views regarding what needs to be done to build on the great work underway in Dublin Central and the north inner city but also to respond back to the challenges there, the Minister said at Government Buildings.

We have committed to meeting some other groups and individuals within the north inner city to make sure that we hear the broadest possible set of views.

Its the aim of the Government to bring this period of consultation to an end as quickly as we can and move to the development of a plan that will make a difference to the residents of the north inner city.

We will be clear by the Dail recess what it is we want to do in the long run. We will also be clear on what short term interventions will be put in place to make a difference.

In relation to the need for local employment, we are going to have more economic activity in the north inner city than we have seen for many years.

We see the development of a local apprenticeship programme as being part of how we deliver that, he added.

Tanaiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald, who was also in attendance at the meeting, emphasised the importance of policing such areas.

Right now we need to have the level of intensive policing which is happening in the inner city. That has to continue obviously because the gardai want to prevent further murders, she said.

Community policing will be developed right across the country and that is more possible as we bring more garda recruits into Templemore.

We are very conscious of the fact we need such a heavy garda presence is very difficult for the community, and of course what we want to do is move to as normal a situation with routine policing.

There are many families getting on with their lives, sending their children to school, doing the ordinary things families do every day.

The local representatives were very concerned that because of the situation in relation to the murders in recent times, that there is a real risk of the community being seen in a very stereotype way.

She said it was important to ensure this did not occur and added that while there are wonderful services in Dublin Central, there are long-term issues to be dealt with, particularly around education and housing.

The drugs issue is a very complex one across the whole country. There is a demand for drugs and we have to look at who is buying the drugs as well. That is a national conversation to be had, she added.
Courageous: Veronica Guerin was honoured by the worlds media in Colombia where INM Group Editor-in- Chief Stephen Rae accepted an award from World Association of Newspapers President, Tomas Brunegard

The media world has paid tribute to Veronica Guerin as the 20th anniversary of her murder approaches next Sunday.

Executives attending the World Editors Forum earlier this week took time out to remember the courageous Sunday Independent investigative journalist.

The conference held in Cartagena, Colombia was attended by more than 700 of the most senior media decision makers.

A major topic of the event - and one of the reasons Latin America was chosen - was press freedom and the ability of journalists to operate in the most volatile environments.

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At a specially convened session, the president of the World Association of Newspapers (WAN-IFRA), Tomas Brunegard spoke of how Veronica's cold blooded murder on June 26, 1996 left her colleagues around the globe in shock.

WAN-IFRA is proud to honour the memory of Veronica Guerin and take the opportunity to acknowledge the enormous contribution she made to our profession.

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"Her tireless pursuit of truth and justice  the cornerstones of our belief in freedom and democracy  remain as necessary today as they were 20 years ago," said Mr Brunegard.

"Veronicas death profoundly shocked us all, yet her legacy inspires us to be better journalists, true to the ideals of a free press and fully committed to the belief that journalism has a vital role in forging better societies, he added.

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Mr Brunegard presented Group Editor-in-Chief at INM, Stephen Rae, with a plaque on behalf of all his members, which will now hang in the Sunday Independent newsroom.

"I and many of my colleagues at Independent News and Media remember the awful day that Veronica was murdered as if it was yesterday," said Mr Rae

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"It was a strong act of solidarity by our international journalistic colleagues to commemorate her forthcoming anniversary. Reporters and photographers right around the world continue to be harrassed and threatened and recently enough two of our journalists were warned by gardai about their personal security amidst the murderous Kinahan/Hutch organised crime gang feud," he said.

"We cannot be put off by threats and must continue to report the news accurately, in context and in a trustworthy way. Journalists must diligently question and verify stories to build a strong democracy," he added.

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Amongst the reporters who attended the event commemorating Veronica was Jineth Bedoya Lima, deputy editor of the El Tiempo newspaper in Colombia.

Read more: Remembering Veronica

Jineth has twice been abducted by paramilitaries in Colombia. On May 25, 2000 she was taken hostage at a prison where she was reporting. During the kidnap she was tortured and sexually assaulted by gunmen.

Three years later she was kidnapped and held again, this time by the leftist FARC guerillas before being released.

She is a nominee the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for her work in defence of womens rights as a result of a her campaign against gender violence and impunity in Colombia, called 'No Es Hora De Callar' (It's not time to be silent), launched in 2009.

Her campaign has helped many other women victims of violence. In 2013, Jineth was ackowledged as one of the 100 most influential journalists in the world covering war and violence, and the following year was amongst Colombia's most important leaders, selected by the prestigious Colombian Semana magazine and the Fundacion Liderazgo y Democracia.

She was part of the group of victims that participated in the current peace process taking place in Havana among the Colombian government and the FARC Armed Guerrilla. Last February, she received the Premio Nacional al Merito Periodistico (National Award to the Journalistic Merit) for her more than 20 years of profesional trajectory.

Also honouring Veronica Guerin was Sergey Sokolov, an editor with Novaya Gazeta in Moscow. The acclaimed opposition Russian newspaper received this year's Golden Pen award at the conference. Five of their journalists, including , Anna Politkovskaya have been murdered.

Sergey emphasised that the main task of journalists in conflict areas is to "determine the truth and destroy the myths." He illustrated the current "information war" in Russia that began with the crisis in Crimea. He underlined that journalists have to be rigorous in registering crimes committed by both sides during a conflict because they may well be the only witnesses.
Kian Griffin can't get a break when it comes to motor insurance. He is a young driver and has a car that is more than 15 years old, so few insurers want to take him on and his premium is close to 1,000 every year.

The sheer cost of motor cover prompted the Kerry travel agent to organise a monster rally in Dublin next month to protest about soaring premiums.

Mr Griffin is 24 and works in Portman Travel agents in Tralee, but needs his car to travel to work as he lives in Killorglin.

He drives an 01 Audi A4.

"I got a renewal quote of 967 last month. I am used to paying around 1,000 a year because my car is 15 years old and I am a young driver.

"So I have not a hope of moving to another insurer," he says.

He is with Axa Insurance, but has no claims on his policy, no penalty points and has being driving for eight years. This, he says, makes him one of the many blameless victims of the motor insurance crisis.

So many drivers are interested in turning up for the rally on Saturday, July 2 that the rallying point has had to be moved from Kildare Street to nearby Merrion Square.

"We are expecting 6,000 cars from all parts of the country to turn up," he says.

With a likely average of three people per car, the rally could see between 12,000 and 15,000 turning up.

That would make it the biggest rally since the water charges protests. Mr Griffin says the website Ireland-underground.com, which is being used to co-ordinate the running of the protest, has had 80,000 hits in the last month alone.

He set up the website to discuss motoring issues but soon thousands of people contacted him about insurance costs.

"I've been told that some people are driving without insurance, simply because they can't afford it. And others are trying to carpool with friends.

"The hardest hit would be the under-30s. Having said that, I've been talking to 50- and 60-year-olds whose premiums have gone up 300pc or 400pc," he said.
Dear God what a week - is there no end to the mass slaughter of innocents that America's unfathomable love of guns repeatedly facilitates? Last week we saw the aftermath of the murder of 49 people and the injuring of 50 more, who were having fun and minding their own business, out on a Saturday night in Pulse nightclub - an LGBT venue in Orlando, Florida. A cruel and cowardly act by another damaged, messed-up individual. High on hate and latching on to the message of intolerance, bigotry and violence that Isis is attempting to spread across the globe in a kind of malevolent franchise.

The reactions were complex and confused initially. With people uncertain was it an act of Islamic terrorism or a homophobic hate crime. It turned out they were not mutually exclusive and it was both. 'This was an attack against all of us' was said repeatedly - mainly I believe in an attempt to show solidarity with those lives lost. However, those in the LGBT community pointed out it was not. A gay venue was targeted because radical Islam - much like radical Christianity - targets LGBT people and incites intolerance, hatred and violence against them.

Owen Jones, a gay journalist with The Guardian newspaper in the UK, walked off the TV set of a Sky News review of the papers, discussing the events in Orlando, when the other panellists failed to acknowledge that the choice of venue was significant. This was not an attack on all of us. This was an attack on a group of people marginalised the world over simply because of their sexual orientation.

From Fairview to Moscow, LGBT people have had their heads kicked in, just because of who they love. Straightsplaining went into overdrive, as the wider community explained patiently to gay people that this was not really about them, all the while failing to understand that the message of Isis, like every other oppressive regime targets the marginalised and the vulnerable first. Gays and women are among their favourite people to crucify, torch, behead and throw off tall buildings.

Donald Trump, in a spectacular lack of empathy - even for him - rather than caring about the dead, crowed about being right about 'a Muslim' being responsible, without ever recognising that the brand of hate he spews, is almost as intolerant as that of the Islamic fundamentalists he vilifies. Journalists ran scared and the online conversation didn't know how to cope with the heady cocktail of guns, terrorism, racism, homophobia and grief that disparate groups tried to carve their own agendas from. James Wesley Howell, a white, non-Muslim, with an arsenal of guns, stopped on his way to the LA gay pride event, was only mentioned as an afterthought by the few. It seems you don't even have to be an Islamic fundamentalist to want to kill the gays.

In the meantime, 49 young bodies lay on cold, mortuary slabs in sunny Florida.

All in all, a very bad week, despite the anger, vitriol and confused narratives online and some public denouncements and withdrawals from social media. I think these digital conversations are important. Society is evolving. We are only now learning what is and isn't acceptable from different perspectives - many of whom were almost voiceless before social media. Privilege is being challenged and the privileged don't like that. Yes the LGBT community is not the only group that intolerant, hate-filled, murdering bastards target - but it is certainly always near the top of the list.

Guns don't make America safer, despite what the gun lobby claims, and tolerance and humanity - not an automatic assault rifle - are the best weapons against the indiscriminate violence of bigots. The only hope we have is that this current wave of hate, polarising the people of our planet, will pass off, without us descending into full-scale war. Love is love people. Let's not lose sight of that.

@ciarakellydoc
The number of requests to attend to cockroach infestations has almost doubled since this time last year, Irish pest control companies have reported.

New data released reports a 50pc rise in callouts to cockroach infested dwellings in April 2016, compared to the same month last year.

A steady rise in the number of cockroach infestations in residential dwellings since 2014 has also been documented.

The creatures are a threat to health and can carry salmonella, typhoid and gastroenteritis. They also exasperate the symptoms of eczema and asthma.

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The analysis found that apartments in Dublin were the most frequently tended to by pest control companies this year, and 75pc of all cockroach call outs were in the capital.

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Dr. Colm Moore, Area Technical Manager at Rentokil UK, Ireland and the Baltics revealed that the most common signs of cockroach infestation is a lingering smell.

An established cockroach infestation produces a lingering and unpleasant odour that taints items they contact. If little water is available cockroaches will produce brown or black cylindrical droppings, approximately 2mm long. Smear marks are also a sign that cockroaches may be present.

If water is abundant cockroaches will produce brown and irregular shaped smear marks. Check for marks on horizontal surfaces and at wall-floor junctions where cockroaches scuttle along.

Cockroaches also shed cast nymphal skins five to eight as they mature to adults. These shed skins are usually found close to where the cockroaches are sheltering, he said.

Irish-owned pest control company Orkin said they have also experienced a rise in the number of cases of cockroach infestations in recent years.

Managing Director of Orkin, Donal Butterly told Independent.ie: "For us, I don't feel like the figures have doubled, but there has been a significant increase in the number of infestations we are dealing with on a regular basis.

"Just last week we had a particular bad infestation in Navan, so it isn't Dublin specific.

"I think the creatures can come in foreign food stuffs, and because they breed so rapidly, they quickly become a bad problem."
Meeting Maurice Clarke I have the feeling of knowing him well. This soon makes complete sense as we are both 'Serious Shoe Lovers'. Our mutual 'Sole Love' pre-dates Carrie Bradshaw and even Imelda Marcos. Soon we're reminiscing about Salvatore Ferragamo: The Art of the Shoe, at the V&A in the late 1980s. Eighteen months after seeing this exhibition Clarke was working for Ferragamo and "couldn't believe it".

Although there is no set template of what a shoe designer should look like I think Clarke looks the part, being stylish in a tweed jacket, glasses and a great pair of brogues. He has, he tells me, always been obsessed with footwear.

As a young child, one of four, growing up in Drogheda, Clarke would scrutinise the feet of the faithful as they queued up for communion at Sunday Mass. "I'd never heard the word 'catwalk' but that's basically what the aisle of the church was. Sunday morning was a big deal, you'd polish your shoes and get all jazzed up to go to Mass." Although the young Maurice was already obsessed by shoes, "I didn't realise you could actually make them for a living," he says. "In our house shoes were re-heeled and resoled, they weren't just thrown out."

After school Clarke got a place at NCAD (the National College of Art and Design in Dublin) where he specialised in fabric print and fashion design followed by Cordwainers, in London, then the only school in the world where students could learn the craft of shoe-making. "The Shoe School was half shoes half saddles," he tells me. "It was the only place where you could learn to pad and cut. People were stitching saddles," he reminisces, "and other people would come in on day release from Borstal to make small leather goods."

While at Cordwainers (which is now part of the London College of Fashion) Clarke beat 450 other applicants to win the prestigious Royal Society for the Arts Bursary Award that allowed him to spend a year at Grenson of Northampton followed by a three-month pattern-cutting placement at the world-renowned Arsutoria in Milan.

Since his first job with Ferragamo, Clarke has worked on the footwear and accessories lines of several of the better-known designers (including Celine, Jimmy Choo, Chloe, Mulberry, Calvin Klein and Tods) over the past twenty-five years. The designer's working life has been divided between Florence and London with long periods in New York. "I feel so incredibly grateful to have found my talent and passion early in life," he says. "It has allowed me to travel the world and the thrill of helping a ready-to-wear designer bring a 'total look' to life by making the perfect pair of shoes is indescribable."

Clarke has now launched his own line, The Merchant of Florence, named after his second home. The label's first release is, hardly surprisingly, a line of shoes. Clarke has produced a pair of hand-made ballet flats/slippers which come in four colours (Black, Midnight Blue, Cardinal Red and Fuchsia) in fabric made in Como. There are four different designs (three Celtic, The Claddagh, the Celtic Brooch and the Celtic Tri-Spiral while the fourth is the Florentine Iris, the symbol of the city) in gold thread. All of the shoes are produced in Tuscany using techniques that date back to the Renaissance. While the slippers appear delicate Clarke says "my shoes reflect my background - they're meant to be around for a long time. They're not 'fashion' - they're apart from fashion."

Clarke is somewhat disappointed at the way the fashion industry has evolved. "There used to be two fashion seasons a year and now it's four. I wanted to do something that didn't fit into that mould, something that wouldn't be so transient and I think these slippers are timeless."

They're also a tribute to Clarke's Irish heritage, of which he is extremely proud. He sees the slippers as just the first step and would like to do a whole range of accessories using the same symbols. "Id love to use the Celtic symbols and help to promote Ireland and Irish fashion abroad."

The Merchant of Florence collection is available at the So Collective, a contemporary Irish Lifestyle store hosted at the Kildare Village and at Corso Como 10, Milan from July. mauriceclarkeshoes.com
Motorists are to be given the option of paying a 'double fine' in return for avoiding a court appearance under plans being brought to Cabinet tomorrow.

Tanaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald is moving to close a loophole in the law which has seen thousands of road traffic-related cases thrown out of court.

Under the current system, motorists who fail to pay a fine within 56 days of the offence are summoned to court.

Prior to their court appearance, they are given two options to pay their fines.

However, thousands of people escape convictions and penalty points by telling the judge they did not receive the original fixed-charge notice.

The Courts Service tentatively estimates that around 7,500 cases are dismissed every year on these grounds.

The Irish Independent understands that Ms Fitzgerald will bring a memo to Cabinet tomorrow, which proposes the introduction of a new payment option which will permit motorists to avoid appearing in court in return for paying double the fine.

The proposal, which has been agreed with Transport Minister Shane Ross and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, was recommended by the Criminal Justice Working Group.

Independents 4 Change TD Tommy Broughan has also called for the introduction of the new payment option.

"This bill will restore fairness to the system, while giving people another payment option and therefore another opportunity to avoid court," a Government source said.

"The Tanaiste has been aware of the urgency of this legislation and has progressed it as quickly as possible. It will come before Cabinet tomorrow."

Presently, a fixed-charge notice offence affords two payment options before a courts summons is issued - a first period of 28 days, during which the person may pay the fixed amount, followed by a second consecutive period of 28 days during which the person may pay the fixed amount plus 50pc.

The measures being introduced by Ms Fitzgerald introduce a "third option".

Separately, Mr Donohoe and Finance Minister Michael Noonan will brief the Cabinet on the Government's summer economic statement which will be announced on Thursday. Central to the statement will be plans for a new 'rainy day fund', according to one government source involved in drafting the statement.

The statement will also reflect the prospect of a 'Brexit' and the impact this could have on the Irish economy.

However, it is understood Mr Noonan will say that the 900m planned for tax cuts and spending increases is still possible in October's Budget.

Last Friday, Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin questioned whether the Government has done enough preparation in the event of a 'Brexit'.

Government sources have rejected the criticism and have claimed that Mr Howlin himself would have had an input into the contingency plan.
A satellite image of Galesnjak, Croatia from 2013. Photo DigitalGlobe via Getty Images

What more could a canoodling couple want from their holiday? A heart-shaped island, that's what.

Galesnjak is a pint-sized slice of paradise located between Pasman and mainland Croatia in the Zadar Archipelago.

It was noticed by eagle-eyed browsers on Google Earth in 2009, and there's no prizes for guessing why it has become a honeymoon hotspot since.

At the time, news reports suggested that even the owners of the island hadn't realised the amorous geography of their Adriatic gem.

Galesnjak, known as 'Lover's Island', measures barely 32 acres. It is uninhabited, rocky, and devoid of facilities - so think twice before rocking up in your wedding dress.

Boats can be rented from nearby Pasman or Zadar. Visitors can also join cruises which make a stop-off at the romantic hideaway.

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A speedboat trip from Zadar with Sailing Croatia (sailingcroatia.hr), for example, costs 420 including skipper, picnic, fishing and snorkelling equipment. A half-day boat trip with Nav Travel (navadriatic.com) is advertised from 500 Kuna (66pp).

As for the strips visible on the island, the owner has reportedly been developing it as a potential wedding venue by clearing land for olive groves and a new pier.

Galesnjak existed long before Google Earth, of course. The island's heart-shape was reportedly noted by Napoleon's cartographer way back in 1806.

Nor is it the only heart-shaped island awaiting Cupid's castaways.

Fiji's Tavarua Island (pictured above), Harbor Island in Maine and of course, the manmade St Petersburg isle in Dubai all await your arrival.

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John Downing Opinion New British prime minister Rishi Sunaks succession proves an important milestone in British political inclusivity

There is an old saying in British politics that goes: The right looks for converts while the left seeks out traitors. It comes to mind when one reflects upon the election of Rishi Sunak as the UKs first non-white prime minister in a party traditionally seen as most opposed to mass immigration and the dilution of national identity via multiculturalism.
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Mary Kenny Opinion If men want to yammer on about sport, then let them  it helps them connect emotionally

I was travelling on a train from Dublin to Cork, and near me sat two Dublin men. Throughout the entire journey they managed to keep up a fluent dialogue about English football teams. From Aston Villa to Sheffield Wednesday, from Crystal Palace to Manchester City the conversation flowed eloquently. I was in awe at the minutiae of their knowledge and expertise. And if the topic of their discourse lacked a certain variety, it was nonetheless better than sitting in sullen silence, or glued to their phones.
Its a home truth that Irish people are not saving sufficiently for their retirement income needs.

And the statistics show that a pension gap exists between women and their male counterparts in terms of pension coverage and contributions to existing pension schemes. But, the fact is that women may need to contribute significantly more than men to their pensions to have an equal income in retirement.

The reasons for this can apply to men also, but on the broader scale research indicates that the following issues have a greater general impact upon women.

LONGEVITY

Women typically live longer than men and so need a larger pension pot to be able to support their income needs in retirement. Actuarial assumptions typically suppose that a woman who retires at age 65 will live 3 years longer than a man who retires at the same age.

REDUCED WORKING HOURS

Women tend to remain the primary care givers to children and aging family members, moving in and out of this role throughout their lifetimes. Reducing working hours can reduce the capacity to contribute to a pension. This is compounded by the loss of growth that would have accumulated over the years.

IMPACT OF OFF-RAMPING ON EARNINGS POWER

Many women take an off-ramp at some point in their career, taking time out of the workforce to care for others. The more time a woman takes out, the more dramatic the decline in her future earnings potential when she decides to return to work. In an educated workforce where constant upskilling is a requisite the cost of timeout can add up. The Centre for Work-Life Policy estimated that taking 1-2 years out of the workforce can decrease earnings potential by 14% and an absence of over 3 years can reduce earning power by almost 50%.

(Source: Off-Ramps and On-Ramps Revisited, CWLP June 2010)

CASE STUDY

Say for example, we compare Matthew and Jane, both 25 year old young professionals with long term successful careers in front of them. Both start out on the same salary at the same age, with their salaries increasing by 4% year on year, and both contribute 15% of every pay check to their pension invested in the same moderate risk strategy achieving a return of 6% per annum. They would like to have 2/3rds of their final salary as income in retirement at age 65. When planning for retirement, the fundamentals remain the same for both Matthew and Jane  save an adequate amount during working years, and invest wisely so these assets can provide an adequate income in later years  but Jane may face the unique challenges we have discussed.

EQUAL IS NOT ALWAYS EQUITABLE

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In reality, the practicalities and sums may work out a little differently  just adding longevity to the equation means Jane has to save more to be able to meet her income needs for her longer life expectancy. A further 1% pension contribution (a total of 16%) during Janes working life is required to meet the additional 3 years income requirement.

This is amplified if Jane decides she would like to off-ramp at age 30 to be able to take care of her young children for a 5 year period. For example, lets assume Jane significantly reduces her working hours resulting in a salary reduction of 50%. She makes 15% pension contributions of her revised paycheck and then goes back to work full-time at the end of the 5-year period on the same salary as before she reduced her hours. Compared to Matthew who has taken no time out Janes salary is now 20% lower than Matthews at the age of 35 attributed to the off-ramping impact on her earnings potential. In this case, to make up for this impact we calculate that a 20% pension contribution throughout all her 40 year working life is required for her to be able to meet her financial objective, i.e. to maintain an income of 2/3rds her salary in retirement based on her life expectancy Thats a whole 33% more than what Matthew has to contribute over his 40 year working period i.e. Matthew contributes 15% over his working life while Jane must contribute 20% to essentially put them on an even keel going into retirement.

The maths of this scenario is exacerbated if Jane decided she wanted to cease working entirely for a period, therefore ceasing pension contributions altogether.

This is a simple scenario, excluding any tax considerations and revenue requirements, but it might not be that far from home for many working families. Personal considerations likely take priority when families make decisions in regards to care-giving and work-life balance, but the financial implications of any decision should be taken into account.

Avoiding the situation of not having enough saved to meet your goals in retirement requires careful and timely planning. We recommend taking the first steps on this journey by discussing the balancing act between your finances and objectives with your financial advisor to devise a pre-retirement plan.

Fiona oversees the analyst team in developing and analysing financial plans and investment solutions for Davy Private Clients. Prior to arriving in Dublin two years ago and starting at Davy, she worked at UBS Wealth Management in New York City. Fiona is a founding member and serves as the Secretary of the Irish Network Dublin, aimed at fostering links between Ireland and the USA. J&E Davy, trading as Davy, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

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Tens of thousands of people have held up candles around a lake in the heart of central Orlando as the names were recited of each of the victims who died in the Pulse nightclub massacre.

People chanted "We remember them!" after the names were recited at Lake Eola Park.

Forty-nine people were killed and 53 injured during the gay nightclub massacre a week ago. The gunman, Omar Mateen, was killed in a shootout after police stormed the club.

The candles held by participants created a ring of fire around the lake, and o rganisers estimated that as many as 50,000 people attended.

Meanwhile attorney general Loretta Lynch said the FBI will release a partial transcript of conversations between Mateen when he was in the nightclub and Orlando police negotiators.

Ms Lynch said the main goal while intensifying pressure on Islamic State - the extremist group thought to have inspired Mateen - is to build a complete profile of him to help prevent any similar massacres.

"As you can see from this investigation, we are going back and learning everything we can about this killer, about his contacts, people who may have known him or seen him. And we're trying to build that profile so that we can move forward," Ms Lynch said.

She said she will travel to Orlando on Tuesday to meet investigators.

They are still interviewing witnesses and looking to learn more about Mateen and others who knew him well, including members of his mosque.

Ms Lynch said another key goal of the investigation is to determine why Mateen targeted the gay community. The victims were predominantly gay and Hispanic as it was "Latin night" at Pulse.
Aweuk and her son who will turn one soon and who never met his father

THE unsettling feeling of loss and not having a place to call home is just as heartbreaking for an Internally Displaced Person (IDP), as it is for a refugee.

There is still grief for what was left behind. A feeling of helplessness. Today is World Refugee Day. It is also a day on which IDPs should not be forgotten.

"I have nothing. When my village was attacked, I left with the clothes on my back and my four children, Aweuk told me outside her small, thatched hut that was assigned to her in an IDP camp in Melut in South Sudans Upper Nile State.

She ran from her home in Rom, a small town three hours to the south, when it was attacked in May, 2015.

They came from the river and started shooting. I took my children and ran with the rest of the women to hide in the bush. The men stayed behind to fight.

In the 10 days from May 15th to the 24th, the stretch of land between the strategic city of Malakal and the oil fields of Paloich was the site of fierce fighting between government troops and forces loyal to defected General, Johnson Olony, a South Sudanese militia leader. The aftermath was devastating. Much of Melut and Akoka County - including Aweuks town, Rom - was destroyed, burnt, and looted.

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Aweuks husband was one of the men who stayed and fought to protect their village. He was shot and killed by the attackers.

At the time, Aweuk was pregnant. Her husband never met his son, who is just about to turn one.

After the attack, we had to leave our home. We brought nothing with us. It took us (Aweuk, her four children and her mother-in-law) eight days to walk from Rom to Melut. The journey was very difficult because I was heavily pregnant and none of us had any shoes.

Aweuk has been living in this IDP camp for just over a year. While she is grateful to be safe, she says it doesnt feel like home. She lives in a cramped space on a small plastic mat with her children and her mother-in-law. She has only basics to survive.

I miss beds, clean clothes for my children and cooking utensils for preparing food. Everyday items, really. We came with nothing and I cant work because my husband is dead.

My children are suffering and missing their childhood.

Childhood is a luxury few experience in an IDP camp.

Approximately 50,000 civilians fled the May attacks, including tens of thousands of IDPs who had already been forced away from home by violence. Over 35,000 remain displaced today across three IDP camps in Melut County, including Koradar, Aweuks camp.

Aweuk understands many have a similar story to hers.

There are others suffering all around me in this camp. I am not the only one. I know this.

I hope there is peace in my village soon so I can return. It will be different now that my husband is dead.

Survival will still be hard there, but at least it is home.

GOAL has been operating in the former southern Sudan since 1985. In the Koradar camp, GOAL operates a health and nutrition clinic, as well as a water and hygiene programme. The charity also operates water and hygiene and food security programmes in other locations in Upper Nile State, in Warrap State, and in the Abyei Administrative Area.

To find out more about GOALs work in South Sudan, visit goalglobal.org
A federal police helicopter flies overhead as protesting teachers who were blocking a federal highway maintain their positions in the state of Oaxaca, near the town of Nochixtlan, Mexico

Violent clashes between police and members of a radical teachers' union who had blockaded a highway in southern Mexico have left six people dead and more than 100 injured, officials said.

The activists from the National Co-ordinator of Education Workers, or CNTE, are opposed to the mandatory testing of teachers as part of education reform and are also protesting over the arrest of union leaders on money laundering and other charges.

Expand Close Riot police officers stand guard beside a damaged car after they clashed with protesters from the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) teachers union during a protest against President Enrique Pena Nieto's education reform, in the town of Nochixtlan, northwest of the state capital, Oaxaca City, Mexico June 19, 2016 / Facebook

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In clashes in the southern state of Oaxaca, protesters threw stones and petrol bombs, and burned vehicles, while riot police were said to have fired on protesters. Clashes took place in several municipalities in Oaxaca, but the most violent were in Nochixtlan, north of the state capital, also called Oaxaca.

In a late-night press conference, state governor Gabino Cue, accompanied by Federal Police chief Enrique Galindo, raised the death toll from the clashes in Nochixtlan to six. They said 53 civilians, 41 federal police agents and 14 state police officers were injured. Twenty-one people were detained.

Expand Close Riot police officers help an injured colleague during clashes with protesters from the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) teachers union during a protest against President Enrique Pena Nieto's education reform, in the town of Nochixtlan, northwest of the state capital, Oaxaca City, Mexico June 19, 2016 / Facebook

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Whatsapp Riot police officers help an injured colleague during clashes with protesters from the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) teachers union during a protest against President Enrique Pena Nieto's education reform, in the town of Nochixtlan, northwest of the state capital, Oaxaca City, Mexico June 19, 2016

Mr Cue said all the dead were civilians, with two having ties to the CNTE union.

Earlier, Mexico's government released a statement saying 21 federal police had been wounded, three of them by gunfire, and that its agents who participated in the operation were not carrying guns.

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"The attacks with guns came from people outside the blockades who fired on the population and federal police," it said.

Footage showed at least one police officer firing a gun several times, though it was unclear if he was a federal or state agent.

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Mr Galindo acknowledged that he had sent in some officers with guns after agents came under fire.

"The police obligation is to protect the population," he said.

Expand Close A burning truck, which was carrying chickens, is seen after clashes between riot police officers and protesters from the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) teachers union during a protest against President Enrique Pena Nieto's education reform, in the town of Nochixtlan, northwest of the state capital, Oaxaca City, Mexico June 19, 2016 / Facebook

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Whatsapp A burning truck, which was carrying chickens, is seen after clashes between riot police officers and protesters from the National Coordination of Education Workers (CNTE) teachers union during a protest against President Enrique Pena Nieto's education reform, in the town of Nochixtlan, northwest of the state capital, Oaxaca City, Mexico June 19, 2016

Clashes continued outside Oaxaca city and in the municipalities of San Pablo Huitzo and Santiaguito, where protesters burned federal police installations.

Over the past week, unionised teachers have blockaded streets, a shopping centre and train tracks in the western state of Michoacan. They have also forced some bus lines to cancel trips to Oaxaca, which is a popular tourist destination, and blocked a highway in Tehuantepec.

Federal prosecutors accuse union leaders of setting up an illegal financial network to fund protests and line their own pockets. They allege the scheme operated in 2013/15, when the union effectively controlled the payroll of Oaxaca's teachers.

Following the arrest of some if its leaders, the union called for a revolt against Mexico's government.

Ten years ago, the teachers started a six-month takeover of Oaxaca that did not end until police stormed the barricades.
Donald Trump has responded to the Orlando massacre by suggesting it would be common sense for the US authorities to start profiling Muslims.

Speaking a week after the attack that left 49 people dead and injured 40 others, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee doubled down on his previously stated demand that the US should suspend the entry of Muslims to the country.

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On Sunday, he took that further, saying that while he hated the concept of profiling a section of society, it was something that could not be avoided.

Well, I think profiling is something that we're going to have to start thinking about as a country, he told CBS.

And other countries do it; you look at Israel and you look at others and they do it and they do it successfully. You know, I hate the concept of profiling. But we have to start using common sense.

Mr Trumps comments in the aftermath of the shooting, carried out by a Muslim security guard, Omar Mateen, have further distanced him from the Republican establishment, which is concerned that his controversial comments will damage the party in the elections this autumn. Polls have shown the Democrats likely candidate, Hillary Clinton, extending a lead over the New York tycoon.

There have been appeals from the party to the nominee to tone down his rhetoric but Mr Trump has responded by saying that Republicans who dont agree with him should keep quiet.

African-Americans and Hispanics have long protested police profiling that ranges from traffic stops to questioning about alleged crimes.

On Sunday, Mr Trump also said the government should investigate mosques in the US in much the same way the New York Police Department's Demographics Unit spied on Muslims and mosques around the city with help from the CIA.

The Associated Press said the group assembled databases on where Muslims lived, shopped, worked and prayed, infiltrated Muslim student groups, put informants in mosques and monitored sermons.

In January, the city settled two lawsuits stemming from such surveillance. Yet Mr Trump believed it was be something that could be returned to.

You do [it] as they used to do in New York prior to this mayor dismantling, Mr Trump said.

The AP said Americans were divided over whether or not to single out Muslim communities as part of a plan to fight terrorism, according to an AP-GfK poll conducted March 31 through April 4.

Forty-nine percent of respondents said they favoured surveillance programmes aimed at predominantly Muslim communities in the United States to obtain information about possible radicalisation. Forty-seven per cent of those surveyed opposed the practice.

Civil libertarians, Muslims and others have strongly opposed the idea of profiling, arguing that it is unconstitutional and discriminates based on race, religion and other factors.

Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Sunday said law enforcement should remain allied with groups that might have helpful information.

It is very important for to us maintain our contacts within the Muslim community, because, often, individuals, if theyre from that community and theyre being radicalised, their friends and family members will see it first, she told CNN.

They will see activity first. And we want that information to come to us.
James Baker was pronounced dead at the scene on Saturday afternoon (WCPO-TV)

The owner of a gunshop in Ohio has been shot and killed as a weapons safety class was taking place at his business.

James Baker, 64, was in a room adjoining the class where a lesson was underway for around 10 people permitted to carry concealed weapons, when one gun was apparently discharged by accident.

Expand Close James Baker was pronounced dead at the scene on Saturday afternoon (WCPO-TV) / Facebook

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Sheriff AJ Rodenberg told local media that one of the students fired by accident while practicing weapons-malfunction drills. Mr Baker was pronounced dead at the scene on Saturday afternoon.

The lesson had been taking place at the KayJay Gun Shop, which sells, repairs and engraves firearms and has the authorisation to manufacture its own guns and ammunition. It is located in Monroe Township, 25 miles southeast of Cincinnati.

Neighbour Anita Fritz recalled Mr Baker as a man who was much loved and spent his life teaching others how to protect themselves.

I cant say enough about him  how much he was loved by the whole community  and we lost someone really special, she told the WCPO-TV news channel. He loved and wanted to protect. Thats why he did what he did.

Another neighbor Sherri Ward, said Mr Baker serviced law enforcement officers weapons. He was very well known in the community as a result of his work and his friendly attitude, she said.

According to the gun shops website, the class taught basic pistol safety, gave students range time and reviewed Ohios gun laws. The student who fired the weapon has not been identified.
Sandy Hook Elementary School in the aftermath of the massacre (AP)

The maker of the gun used in the 2012 massacre of 26 young children and educators at a Connecticut elementary school will ask a judge to toss a lawsuit saying the weapon never should have been sold to a civilian.

Bushmaster Firearms LLC, which manufactures the AR-15 that 20-year-old Adam Lanza used in his attack on Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, said a 2005 federal law prohibited gunmakers from being sued when their products are used to commit crimes.

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The families of nine people who died in the attacks sued Bushmaster in 2014 in Connecticut Superior Court in Bridgeport. The lawsuit said the AR-15 should never have been sold to the gunman's mother, Nancy Lanza, because it had no legitimate civilian purpose.

Judge Barbara Bellis, who has set an April 2018 trial date, will hear arguments on Monday, eight days after a gunman armed with another model of assault rifle, a Sig Sauer MCX, killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Bushmaster, as well as the wholesaler and retailer involved in the sale of the Sandy Hook gun, said the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act exempted it from lawsuits for having legally sold the gun to Nancy Lanza in 2010.

"No amount of rhetoric from plaintiffs should cloud the plain language of the PLCAA and frustrate congressional intent to protect firearm manufacturers from claims that they negligently entrusted lawfully manufactured firearms that were later used by criminals to cause harm," Bushmaster said in a court filing ahead of Monday's hearing.

Expand Close Former pupil Adam Lanza, who carried out the shooting (Western Connecticut State University/AP) / Facebook

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Boston College Law School professor Robert Bloom said the federal law gave the companies a strong defense, but the judge appeared to be open to the families' position.

"They have an uphill battle, but given the climate and the judge's previous rulings, it seems that she is sympathetic to the argument," Bloom said.

Following the Sandy Hook shooting, congressional Democrats tried unsuccessfully to pass stricter national gun laws.

The Senate, however, agreed last week to vote on gun control measures following a 15-hour filibuster by Democrats.

Adam Lanza began his Dec. 14, 2012, attack by shooting his mother dead in their home and ended it by turning his gun on himself as he heard police sirens approach.
The 'angels' wore large wings to block out protestors at the funerals of victims of the Orlando shootings

Hundreds of people have dressed as angels to protect mourners at funerals of victims of the Orlando shooting from homophobic protesters from the Westboro Baptist Church.

The Christian fundamentalist organisation are picketing the funerals with signs containing messages such as God Hates Fags and are well known for protesting funeral ceremonies of LGBT people.

Around 200 counter protesters have formed a ring around the funerals, with many wearing large white wings in order to block the church members from seeing or interacting with the mourners.

49 people died when Omar Mateen entered Pulse nightclub in Orlando and began shooting people with a Sig Sauer MCX gun. More than 50 people were also seriously wounded in the attack. Mateen was killed in cross fire with police officers at the scene.

The nightclub is a well-known gay club in the Orlando area and most of the victims were members of the local LGBT community.

The Westboro Baptist church is a small but vocal religious group in the US which is known for their demonstrations at funerals of those who they perceive as falling foul of Gods orders. The Southern Poverty Law Center lists the Kansas-based organisation as extremist hate group, and say that they are arguably the most obnoxious and rabid hate group in America.

Earlier this week, the church issued a statement saying: God sent the shooter. It read: No coincidence that God is smacking Orlando with grievous sorrow, killing your children with shooters and alligators, when you are about to belly up to fathers day! DONT DO IT! Your faithless dads are to blame for your horrible sorrow.

Executive director of a local LGBT community centre Terry DeCarlo had called for calm and asked people to shower them with love instead of becoming angry with the church protesters.

He said: Lets shower them with our love. We have the ability to counter this hate and show the world once again why we are the City Beautiful and we cannot be broken by hate and those that would challenge our way of life.
Republican US Presidential candidate Donald Trump greets supporter Diana Brest in the crowd at a campaign rally in Phoenix, Arizona.

Donald Trump has called for more racial profiling by US law-enforcement agencies in a move that risks further stoking a growing Republican rebellion against his presidential candidacy.

Already facing widespread criticism over his response to last week's mass shooting in Orlando, the presumptive nominee refused to back down and instead urged more scrutiny of American Muslims.

Racial profiling is the controversial practice of targeting individuals for suspicion of crime based on their ethnicity or religion and has been widely opposed by civil liberties groups as discriminatory.

"I think profiling is something that we're going to have to start thinking about as a country," Mr Trump told CBS's 'Face The Nation'. "You look at Israel and you look at others, and they do it and they do it successfully. And you know, I hate the concept of profiling, but we have to start using common sense."

He also revived a call for surveillance of mosques, a proposal that has already been widely condemned.

"If you go to France right now, they're doing it. In fact, in some instances they're closing down mosques," he said.

Mr Trump's latest remarks marked an extension of his hard-line response to last Sunday's killing of 49 people in a gay night club by Omar Mateen, an American Muslim who was born in New York.

He said that the massacre justified a suspension of immigration from countries with "a proven history of terrorism".

Mr Trump also provoked unease among Republican officials by tweeting his thanks for "congratulations" on being right about terrorism and later tried to link President Barack Obama to the killings by suggesting that he sympathised with radical jihadists.

Mateen pledged allegiance to the Isil during the attack.

Mr Trump's comments seem certain to increase anxiety about his candidacy amid renewed plots by party officials to unseat him as their nominee at next month's convention.

He issued an appeal for party unity following disclosures that delegates were trying to organise an "anyone but Trump" movement that could overturn his expected nomination, despite his emphatic victory in the Republican primaries.

Opinion surveys showed a majority of Americans disapproved of Mr Trump's response to the Orlando shootings.

One poll showed 70pc of voters registering a negative view of the candidate. The revolt is being spearheaded by officials with the power to change the rules at the convention.

"This literally is an 'anybody but Trump' movement," Kendal Unruh, a Republican delegate from Colorado told the 'Washington Post'. "Nobody has any idea who is going to step in and be the nominee, but we're not worried about that. We're just doing that job to make sure that he is not the face of our party."

More ominously for Mr Trump, Paul Ryan, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives - who has given the candidate a tepid endorsement - said he would not use his position as chairman of the convention to save Trump's nomination if delegates wanted to remove him.

"It's not my role to tell delegates what to do and what not to do," he told NBC's 'Meet The Press' programme.

"They (delegates) write the rules and make the decisions."

Mr Ryan also said he would not try to persuade Republicans who felt they could not back Mr Trump, adding: "I'm not going to tell someone to go against their conscience."

Mr Trump dismissed the growing disquiet, calling attempts to change the Republican Party's convention rules "illegal". ( Daily Telegraph, London)

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Iranian intelligence officials have broken up "the biggest terrorist plot" ever planned to target Tehran and other provinces in the Islamic Republic, the country's state television has reported.

An anchor on state television read from a statement attributing the information to Iran's Intelligence Ministry.

Several suspects have been arrested and are under interrogation over the plot after agents seized ammunition and bombs, the TV report said on Monday.

The semi-official Fars and Isna news agencies quoted Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, as saying the attack was timed to hit during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Iran's state-run Irna news agency, citing the Intelligence Ministry, said the attack was supposed to come on the anniversary of the death of the Prophet Muhammad's wife, Khadija, which was commemorated in small ceremonies across Iran on Thursday.

The report did not identify those arrested, though it called them "takfiris" - a derogatory term in both Arabic and Farsi referring to Muslims who accuse others of being "non-believers".

Iranian authorities often refer to followers of the Sunni militant Islamic State group as "takfiris", though it was not clear if this case involved the extremist group that holds territory in Iraq and Syria.

Shiite power Iran has been helping both the Syrian and the Iraqi government in their battles against the Islamic State group. It has warned of possible militant attacks targeting the country, which largely has not seen such attacks since the immediate aftermath of its 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Irna, however, called those involved in the plot "Wahhabi takfiris". Wahhabism is an ultra-conservative school of Islam practised predominantly in Saudi Arabia.

Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have frayed following the kingdom's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric in January and subsequent attacks by protesters on Saudi diplomatic posts in Iran. The kingdom cut diplomatic relations with Tehran following those attacks.

Iran recently announced that it would not be sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the annual hajj pilgrimage, as it said the kingdom did not meet Iran's requests for better security for Iranian pilgrims. The hajj pilgrimage is required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their lifetime.

In May, Iran's Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi announced that 20 "terrorist groups" which planned to detonate bombs and cause insecurity across the country had been dismantled. It was unclear whether that included the plot announced on Monday by state television.

Iran faces threats from several militant groups. Last week, Iran's Revolutionary Guard battled armed members of an insurgent Kurdish group in the country's West Azerbaijan province near its border with Iraq and Turkey.

Both sides gave conflicting death tolls from the fighting, as the Guard said its forces killed 12 insurgents while three of its own died. The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan said Kurds killed more than 12 Guard members, including a colonel.
A bag and pen found by Blaine Gibson, a lawyer and adventurer searching for the MH370 flight, on Riake beach in Madagascar

The sole of a shoe found by Blaine Gibson on Riake beach in Madagascar, which may or may not belong to passengers of the MH370 Malaysia Airlines flight

A prayer hat found by Blaine Gibson on Riake beach in Madagascar, which may or may not belong to passengers of the MH370 Malaysia Airlines flight

Photographs of personal items which may have belonged to passengers of the missing MH370 flight have been released, after objects washed up on a beach in Madagascar.

Images of hats, bags, laptop cases and shoes were posted online in an effort to determine whether they belonged to those on board the doomed Malaysia Airlines flight that disappeared two years ago.

Expand Close A prayer hat found by Blaine Gibson on Riake beach in Madagascar, which may or may not belong to passengers of the MH370 Malaysia Airlines flight / Facebook

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Blaine Gibson, a lawyer who is funding a search for the plane, warned the items may not be linked to the missing Boeing 777 but has asked relatives of people lost on the flight to come forward if they recognise them.

The flight disappeared on with 239 people on board en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in March 2014.

Expand Close The sole of a shoe found by Blaine Gibson on Riake beach in Madagascar, which may or may not belong to passengers of the MH370 Malaysia Airlines flight / Facebook

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Until now, about three-quarters of the 46,000-square-mile search zone for the Malayasia Airlines Flight has been scoured without success by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

The new photographs from Riake Beach in Madagascar show a camera case, shoulder bags, laptop case, shoes, prayer hat, wash bag, phone case and rucksack.

Although they are not yet known to belong to the MH370 flight, the items have washed up in Madagascar close to where Mr Gibson has found other debris.

Several false alarms have occurred during the course of the investigation, including a sonar search which turned up a 19th century shipwreck.

An object which appeared to be a tail wing, on which was written "NO STEP", also washed up in Mozambique in March this year, following a piece of debris from the flight turning up on Reunion Island in July 2015.

The families of the missing passengers have accused the Malaysian government of failing to do enough to uncover the truth about the plane's disappearance.

"We believe our loved ones may still be alive and are being held at an undisclosed location for unknown reasons," a statement previously issued by the group has said.

The families of the missing passengers have accused the Malaysian government of failing to do enough to uncover the truth about the plane's disappearance.

"We believe our loved ones may still be alive and are being held at an undisclosed location for unknown reasons," a statement previously issued by the group has said.
A 65-year-old man died in a cinema auditorium last week while watching a screening of horror movie The Conjuring 2.

The incident occurred at the Sri Balasubramaniar Cinema in Tiruvannamalai, a town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The cinema-goer, from Andhra Pradesh, had complained of chest pains during the films climax, and fainted shortly afterwards.

Expand Close Damian Ng Yih Leong / Facebook

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He was rushed to the nearby Old Government Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. Medics ordered his body to be sent to the Tiruvannamalai Government Medical College Hospital for post-mortem but, according to the Times of India, the cadaver, and the person charged with transporting it, have both gone missing.

While there are no doubt rational explanations for both the mans death and the disappearance of his body, the story has fuelled a wave of supernatural panic on social media that has accompanied the films release.

A video purporting to show a woman who got possessed while watching The Conjuring 2 has been viewed close to five million times since being uploaded to Facebook last week, with many viral news sites in South East Asia reporting the possession as fact. However, the video in question is thought to have been filmed in 2013, long before the release of film.

Another viral Facebook post, from Singaporean man Damian Ng Yih Leong, shows a cross on a hotel room mirror the man claimed to have found after watching The Conjuring 2, which he describes as my first firsthand encounter with paranormal activity.

His post has been shared more than 3,000 at time of writing. Whether or not it was posted sincerely, the films makers are no doubt cheering the extra attention these social media reports are generating for the film, which received a two-star review from the Telegraphs underwhelmed film critic Robbie Collin.

Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
Germany's foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the EU would be losing "more than just a country" if Britons vote to leave the bloc

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, second right, at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg (AP)

European Union heavyweights Germany and France have said the bloc would be poorer if the UK votes in favour of Brexit.

German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Europe would "lose more than just a country. We would be losing the history and traditions of Great Britain in the European Union".

He said that "Europe would be much poorer if Britain leaves".

Mr Steinmeier's French counterpart, Jean-Marc Ayrault, said: "The choice the British people make will be important for them, but also for Europe."

He told reporters at an EU foreign ministers' meeting in Luxembourg: "All Europeans are looking to the British people, because we have - history reminds us - a long life in common."

The UK's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said "there will be no going back" if Britons vote to leave the EU.

He said that even if it was possible to reapply for EU membership, the outcome of Thursday's referendum will be an "irreversible decision".

Mr Hammond said "Britain could never rejoin the European Union at a later date except on terms that would be unacceptable to it", including membership of the euro and membership of the Schengen passport-free travel zone.

He is pressing his EU counterparts in Luxembourg to swiftly implement negotiated concessions if the UK votes to remain in the bloc.

Prime Minister David Cameron won a series of concessions during his renegotiation of the UK's membership of the EU in February on immigration, the euro and staying out of ever-closer union.

Mr Hammond said Britons "will expect a speedy and complete implementation of the package that was agreed in February".

He added that Brussels needs "to make sure that the EU works for all its people going forward and addresses the concerns of ordinary people".

EU President Donald Tusk has promised that the concessions would be implemented in "less than one year".

Elsewhere in Europe, a Swedish newspaper joined the chorus of publications across the continent urging Britons to vote to remain in the EU.

Sweden's biggest financial daily newspaper Dagens Industri channelled one of its country's greatest exports, the pop group Abba, as the front page of Monday's edition was emblazoned with the Union flag and the headline "Take a Chance on EU", a reference to one of the band's biggest hits.

In its online edition, the paper's political editor PM Nilsson lists things he believes Sweden and the UK have in common, from similar tastes in music to a belief in free trade and that "meetings should start on time".

Mr Nilsson wrote in English that "we are all like you - proud and headstrong with special relationships to each other. And we have a club. Don't leave it".

Dutch newspaper AD suggested the EU without the UK would be like "tea without milk" last week as it featured an adapted Union flag on its front page alongside the headline "Don't leave me this way", the day after The Sun backed the Leave campaign.

Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said Europe will wake up to "a new political reality" if the UK votes to leave the EU.

He told Swedish news agency TT: "We don't know exactly which effects and which forces could be triggered in Europe. But it doesn't mean any collapse, panic or chaos in Sweden. We will manage."
Handout photo issued by the European Space Agency of Major Tim Peake sitting in a chair after landing in Kazakhstan, as the British astronaut has made a dramatic return to Earth after six months on the International Space Station

British astronaut Tim Peake is recovering from the "world's worst hangover" after spending six months in space freed from the shackles of gravity.

Now back on Earth at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, he faces a hectic three weeks of rehabilitation during which he will undergo a barrage of medical tests and maintain a strict exercise regime.

Doctors will draw blood, conduct Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans, and question Major Peake to improve their understanding of the physical and psychological effects of space travel.

The astronaut will also be examined on a "tilt table" that can rotate his body from a horizontal to a vertical position to monitor how his heart and blood circulation are responding to gravity.

Expand Close Handout file photo issued by the European Space Agency dated 18/06/16 of Major Tim Peake in a recovery helicopter shortly after landing in Kazakhstan, as the British astronaut said he feels like he is having the "world's worst hangover" as his body adjusts to life on Earth / Facebook

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Whatsapp Handout file photo issued by the European Space Agency dated 18/06/16 of Major Tim Peake in a recovery helicopter shortly after landing in Kazakhstan, as the British astronaut said he feels like he is having the "world's worst hangover" as his body adjusts to life on Earth

It will take Major Peake a few days just to learn to walk again. Soon after landing in Kazakhstan on Saturday, he could be seen be seen making his first wobbly attempts at walking in Earth's gravity supported by two helpers.

Sense of balance is also greatly affected by the transition away from an environment where there is no "up" or "down" as defined by gravity.

Back on Earth, the vestibular system in the inner ear that keeps us on our feet can be over-stimulated.

Dizziness and nausea are common problems experienced by astronauts returning from orbit, as are feelings of faintness caused by a drop in blood pressure.

After arriving in Cologne, Major Peake said he was experiencing "a lot of dizziness and vertigo" every time he moved his head.

Such effects normally disappear very quickly. Others could take much longer to recover from and some may cause permanent changes.

Months in space will have weakened Major Peake's muscles and bones, and temporarily shrunk the size of his heart.

On average, astronauts lose up to 1.5% of their bone mass for each month spent in space. The loss is greatest in the upper thighs and pelvis, and can increase the risk of injuries such as hip fractures.

Over time, the influence of gravity helps the bone to regrow, but full recovery can take as long as three years depending on the individual.

Muscles get stronger quickly, but the weakness can be deceptive to begin with and astronauts have reported straining their necks by turning their heads too quickly.

While in space, unprotected by the Earth's magnetic field, Major Peake will have been exposed to a radiation dose equivalent to around 1,200 chest X-rays. That is enough to increase his risk of cancer, but not by more than about 3%.

Major Peake and his crew mates - American Nasa astronaut Colonel Tim Kopra and Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko - made the trip back to Earth on Saturday in a tiny Soyuz "descent module" measuring just over six feet across.

Two other elements of their Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft - the "orbital module" providing extra living accommodation while in orbit, and the "service module" housing propulsion and control systems - were allowed to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere.

As they plunged through the atmosphere, friction on the craft's forward-facing heat shield slowed its speed from 17,398mph (28,000kph) to 514mph (827kph) and raised the temperature to a scorching 1,600C.

The capsule parachuted down to a remote spot on the vast scrubland of the Kazakhstan steppe. One second before touch down, a burst of fire from six retro rockets reduced the impact speed to 3mph.

Major Peake was the second crew member to be lifted out of the capsule, which was rolled onto its side after landing by a gust of wind.

He described the journey as "incredible - the best ride I've been on ever" and admitted being tempted to celebrate his arrival home with pizza and cold beer.

On Sunday, Major Peake flew in to Cologne where he was greeted with a hug from his mother, Angela.

His father, Nigel, was also there to meet him. He said: "It's a job well done, I'm so proud of him and what he's achieved."

On Tuesday, Major Peake gives his first press conference since arriving back on Earth at the European Astronaut Centre, the European Space Agency's astronaut base.
The man accused of murdering Labour MP Jo Cox was brought before a senior judge at the Old Bailey under the "terrorism protocol".

Thomas Mair, 52, is accused of shooting and stabbing Mrs Cox, 41, outside her constituency surgery in Birstall, near Leeds, last Thursday.

He is charged with murder, grievous bodily harm, possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of an offensive weapon.

Mair, from Birstall, made his first crown court appearance before Mr Justice Sweeney via video link from top security Belmarsh prison.

Expand Close A sketch of Thomas Mair as he appeared in court Photo: PA / Facebook

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During the brief hearing, he spoke only to confirm his name - unlike his first appearance at magistrates' court when he declared: "Death to traitors, freedom for Britain."

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Grey-bearded Mair sat with his arms folded beside a prison officer. He wore beige trousers and a white long-sleeved t-shirt.

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There was no application for bail and he was remanded in custody.

He will appear at the same court for a preliminary hearing before Mr Justice Saunders at 10am on Thursday.

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Cases under the terrorism protocol are managed by senior judges, usually sitting at the Old Bailey.

Mr Justice Saunders is expected to set a timetable for Mair's case at the next hearing.
A mother whose son died after taking ecstasy has said drugs are being designed to appeal to children after three 12-year-old girls were rushed to hospital after taking "Teddy Tablets".

Fiona Spargo-Mabbs, whose son Daniel, 16, died after taking MDMA at an illegal rave in London in 2014, said children need more awareness on drugs.

On Saturday evening, the three girls were rushed to hospital in a serious condition after taking the drug in Salford, Greater Manchester.

They are now in a stable condition but Mrs Spargo-Mabbs, from Croydon, said that conversations about drugs needed to be kept "open and frank".

She said: "It's just so awful, they are just so young. I know what it's like being in the hospital, the awfulness of not knowing. I'm so relieved that hopefully they are going to be okay."

Daniel died of multiple organ failure three days after taking MDMA, or ecstasy, when he went to a rave in Hayes, west London. He was among five friends who had clubbed together 80 to buy the class A drug before the party.

Following his death Mrs Spargo-Mabbs and her husband Tim set up the Daniel Spargo-Mabbs Foundation to make youngsters aware of the dangers of drug abuse and take their drug awareness programmes into schools.

She added: "For most young people, even if they know it is ecstasy, they are not going to understand what that means. They look like sweets and are designed to appeal to kids, there has been ones shaped like Lego bricks, ones called Rockstar. They are designed to appeal to young people."

She warned that young people were using ecstasy more because of its availability and cost, but stressed that the drugs were "much stronger".

"It's just ecstasy in a different form but it has all the same risks. They have no kind of awareness how strong it is. A 12-year-old's body is really small and not able to cope."

She added that parents needed to keep conversations about drugs "open and frank" and said youngsters needed to be armed with life skills to be able to navigate peer pressure.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of being in possession of drugs and were being held for questioning.

The force continues to warn people to stay away from the party drug - which has already led to the death of a 22-year-old woman in recent weeks and a 17-year-old girl a few months ago.

Anyone in possession of illegal substances is urged to hand them in to police, chemists or medical practitioners.

For help or advice on all drugs, contact the Talk to Frank service on 0800 777 6600 or at www.talktofrank.com
An experimental vaccine for the Zika virus is due to begin human testing (AP)

An experimental vaccine for the Zika virus is due to begin human testing in coming weeks, after getting the green light from US health officials.

Inovio Pharmaceuticals said it received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration to begin early-stage safety tests of its DNA-based vaccine against the mosquito-borne virus.

That puts the company ahead of researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), who have said they expect to begin testing their own DNA-based Zika vaccine by early autumn.

Inovio's vaccine is intended to prime the immune system to fight Zika by introducing genetically-engineered material that mimics the virus. Inovio reports that animals tested with the vaccine developed antibodies and immune-system cells that attack Zika.

The NIH is working to develop a Zika vaccine by swapping out the genetic material from its experimental West Nile virus vaccine.

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Inovio and its partner, GeneOne Life Science, plan to begin a 40-person study to determine the safest dose of the vaccine in coming weeks. Company officials said they expect results from the vaccine study by the end of 2016.

There are currently no licensed drugs or vaccines for Zika.

Ultimately, confirming the safety and effectiveness of any Zika virus will require large studies, and how fast those could be done depends in part on whether Zika still is spreading widely in 2017.

Zika is spread mainly through the bite of a tropical mosquito, Aedes aegypti. It causes only a mild and brief illness, at worst, in most people. But it can cause fetal deaths and severe birth defects in the children of women infected during pregnancy.

Zika has become epidemic in Latin America and the Caribbean since last year. Officials are not expecting big outbreaks in the continental US, but some cases are likely as temperatures rise and mosquitoes spread.
Afghan security forces inspect the damage of a minibus that was hit by a suicide attacker at the site of the incident in Kabul, Afghanistan June 20, 2016

More than 20 people were killed in separate bomb attacks in Afghanistan on Monday, including at least 14 when a suicide bomber struck a minibus carrying Nepali security contractors in the capital Kabul, officials said.

A Reuters witness saw several apparently dead victims and at least two wounded being carried out of the remains of a yellow bus after the suicide bomber struck the vehicle in the capital.

Hours later, a bomb planted in a motorbike killed at least eight civilians and wounded another 18 in a crowded market in the northern province of Badakhshan, said provincial government spokesman Naveed Frotan. The casualty count could rise, he said.

The attacks are the latest in a surge of violence that highlights the challenges faced by the government in Kabul and its Western backers as Washington considers whether to delay plans to cut the number of its troops in Afghanistan.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter that 14 people had been killed and eight wounded in the attack in Kabul. Police were working to identify the victims, he said.

The casualties appeared to include Afghan civilians and Nepali security contractors, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said, after police and emergency vehicles surrounded the scene in the Banae district in the east of the city.

He said the suicide bomber had waited near a compound housing the security contractors and struck as the vehicle moved through early morning traffic. Besides the bus passengers, several people in an adjacent market were also wounded in the attack during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the Kabul attack in a statement from the Islamist group's main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, on Twitter. However it denied responsibility for the attack in Badakhshan.

Islamic State, which is bitterly opposed by the Taliban, said it carried out the Kabul attack but Zabihullah Mujahid dismissed the claim as "rubbish".

"By organising this attack, we wanted to show Americans and NATO military officials that we can conduct attacks wherever, and whenever, we want," the Taliban spokesman said.

The Nepal government was still working through its embassy in Pakistan, which also oversees Afghanistan, to verify reports that its citizens were involved in the attack, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bharat Paudel said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent his condolences to his two South Asian neighbours after the attack.

"We strongly condemn the horrible tragedy in Kabul. Our deep condolences to people and governments of Afghanistan and Nepal on loss of innocent lives," Modi said on Twitter.

Another explosion in Kabul later on Monday morning wounded a provincial council member and at least three of his bodyguards, Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid said. It was thought a bomb had been attached to the lawmaker's car, he said.

The attacks underlined how serious the security threat facing Afghanistan remains since former Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a U.S. drone strike last month and was replaced by Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada.

The blasts follow a deadly suicide attack on a bus carrying justice ministry staff near Kabul last month and a separate attack on a court in the central city of Ghazni on June 1.

The Taliban claimed both those attacks in revenge for the execution of six Taliban prisoners.
Orlando gunman Omar Mateen identified himself as an Islamic soldier in calls with authorities during his rampage and demanded to a crisis negotiator that the US "stop bombing Syria and Iraq", according to transcripts released by the FBI on Monday.

The partial transcripts were of a 911 call made by Mateen and three conversations he had with the police crisis negotiators during the worst mass shooting in modern US history, in which 49 people died and dozens were wounded.

Those communications, along with Facebook posts and searches Mateen made around the time of the shootings, add to the public understanding of the final hours of Mateen's life and to the possible motivations behind the rampage.

The first call came more than a half-hour after shots rang out, when Mateen told a 911 operator, "Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God", he told the dispatcher, referring to God in Arabic.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Thousands attend a nightclub shooting vigil by Lake Eola in Orlando (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel/AP) The 'angels' wore large wings to block out protestors at the funerals of victims of the Orlando shootings Barack Obama and Joe Biden pay their respects to the victims in Orlando, Florida. Photo: AFP/Getty Images People in Sydney, Australia, at a candlelight vigil for victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando. Supporters of the victims of the recent mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub attend a vigil at Lake Eola Park (AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Thousands attend a nightclub shooting vigil by Lake Eola in Orlando (Red Huber/Orlando Sentinel/AP)

"I let you know, I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings."

During the 50-second call with a dispatcher, Mateen "made murderous statements in a chilling, calm and deliberate manner", Ronald Hopper, FBI assistant special agent in charge in Orlando, said during a news conference.

However, there is no evidence Mateen was directed by a foreign terrorist group, and he was radicalised domestically and on his own, Mr Hopper said.

Mateen's name and the groups and people to whom he pledged allegiance were initially omitted from the excerpt.

But the Justice Department reversed course later Monday, providing a more complete transcript confirming Mateen pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State.

The extremist group encourages its followers who seek to commit violence in its name to make public pledges of support.

The Justice Department said in a statement it initially withheld the names so as not to give extremists "a publicity platform for hateful propaganda", but the omissions became an unnecessary distraction.

Shortly after the call with a 911 operator, Mateen had three conversations with crisis negotiators in which he identified himself as an Islamic soldier and told a negotiator to tell America to stop bombing Syria and Iraq. He said that was why he was "out here right now", according to the excerpt.

City officials have refused to provide hundreds of 911 calls to The Associated Press and a coalition of news organisations, citing confidentiality under Florida law, and arguing that an ongoing investigation kept the tapes secret. Mr Hopper also said Monday that the tapes would not be released out of respect for the victims.

"Yes, the audio was compelling, but to expose that now would be excruciatingly painful to exploit them in this way," Mr Hopper said.

Mr Hopper also said: "Part of redacting is to not give credence to individuals who have done terrorist acts in the past. They are not going to propagate their violent rhetoric."

The AP and others requested the 911 tapes and related data, a common practice after such major events. The recordings could offer insight into how law enforcement responded.

Also at Monday's news conference, Orlando police Chief John Mina said that if any fire from responding officers hit victims at the club, gunman Mateen bears the responsibility.

He would not give further details but said: "Here's what I will tell you. Those killings are on the suspect, on the suspect alone in my mind." He stressed that the officers "acted heroically".

Meanwhile, hospital officials said four people remained in critical condition Monday morning, more than a week after they were wounded in the attack.

Orlando Regional Medical Centre said 18 victims from the shooting were still at the hospital and three more surgeries were scheduled for Monday. The other 14 patients are listed in stable condition.

Armed with a semi-automatic weapon, Mateen went on a bloody rampage at the Pulse nightclub on June 12. He died in a hail of gunfire after police stormed the venue.

US attorney general Loretta Lynch will travel to Orlando on Tuesday to meet with investigators. She said that a key goal of the investigation was to determine why Mateen targeted the gay community. The victims were predominantly gay and Hispanic since it was "Latin night" at Pulse.

Around Orlando, people left balloons, flowers, pictures and posters at a makeshift memorial in front of the city's new performing arts center and at Orlando Regional Medical Centre where 49 white crosses were emblazoned with red hearts and the names of the victims.

The crosses were built by a Chicago carpenter with a history of constructing crosses for victims of mass shootings. Greg Zanis drove from Illinois to Orlando last week and installed the crosses at the medical centre, where many of the 53 shooting victims who survived were taken for treatment.

Dr Khurshid Ahmed was part of a group of Muslim-Americans at a Sunday vigil attended by tens of thousands who held signs reading, Muslims Condemn Extremism. A letter from the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Republican Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, said Mateen wrote on Facebook that "real Muslims will never accept the filthy ways of the West".
Afghan police soldiers inspect the site of a suicide attack in Kabul in which a number of Nepalese security guards were killed (AP)

A Taliban suicide bomber has killed 14 Nepalese security guards in an attack on their minibus in the Afghan capital, the Interior Ministry and an Afghan security official said.

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, a bomb rigged to a motorbike killed 10 Afghan civilians during morning rush hour in a busy market. A second Taliban bombing in Kabul killed an Afghan civilian and wounded five people, including a provincial council member who was the intended target of that attack, authorities said.

The Nepalese were on their way to the Canadian Embassy, where they work as guards, when the explosion took place on Monday morning, according to a Nepalese guard who was wounded in the attack.

Canadian Foreign Minister Stephane Dion condemned the attacks, including the one that killed the security guards, and offered condolences.

"Many of the victims have been part of our embassy family for years, and they will be remembered for their service in the protection of the men and women at the Embassy of Canada to Afghanistan," Mr Dion said.

The Taliban have stepped up attacks as part of their summer offensive, and frequently target government employees and Afghan security forces across the country.

The bomber who killed the Nepalese was on foot when he struck the minibus, said General Abdul Rahman Rahimi, Kabul's police chief.

The Interior Ministry confirmed that all 14 killed were Nepalese citizens, describing the attack as the work of a "terrorist suicide bomber". It said the explosion also wounded nine people, five Nepalese employees and four Afghan civilians.

Amrit Rokaya Chhetri, a Nepalese guard wounded in the attack, said they were on their way to the Canadian Embassy when the blast took place.

"Many people died," Mr Chhetri said from his hospital bed, his head covered with bandage. "I say to my family, I am OK and I will come home."

Abdullah Abdullah, the country's chief executive, condemned the attack in a posting on Twitter, calling it "an act of terror and intimidation".

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement. An Islamic State affiliate also claimed responsibility for the Kabul attack. The conflicting claims could not immediately be reconciled.

Bharat Raj Paudyal, the spokesman for Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the government is aware of Monday's incident in Kabul and is trying to verify the names of the victims and details about the bombing. Nepal does not have an embassy in Afghanistan but the embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, is working to get the details, he said.

Insurgents frequently target buses carrying civil servants, or those perceived to be working for the Kabul government. In late May, a suicide bomber struck a minibus carrying court employees during morning rush hour in Kabul, killing 11 people. The Taliban claimed the attack.

In the northeastern Badakhshan province, the bomb planted on a parked motorbike killed at least 10 Afghan civilians and wounded 40 others, according to Naved Froutan, spokesman for the provincial governor.

The explosion took place in the main bazaar in Kashim district, he said, adding that "an investigation is under way to determine the target of the attack, but all victims of the attack are civilians," including women and children.

The Taliban spokesman denied any involvement in the blast in Badakhshan, though the insurgent group regularly targets security forces there.

The second blast in Kabul went off near the home of provincial council member Mawlavi Attaullah Faizani as his vehicle was passing by, said Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the interior minister. Mujahid said the Taliban had carried out the attack and that the council member was the target. The IS affiliate also claimed the attack, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, a US-based firm that monitors jihadi groups.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned all three attacks, saying "terrorists do not hesitate to kill people even during the holy month of Ramadan".
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By Ray Chandler

MOUNTAIN REST  On the rainy night of March 10, 1943, an Army Air Corps B-25, on a training flight from Meridian, Miss., to the Donaldson Army Air Base in Greenville crashed on a mountainside about 21 miles north of Walhalla, killing all the crew. The crewmen were Flight Officer Richard Brook, the pilot, from Lima, Ohio; 2nd Lt. Earl Monroe, co-pilot, from Bolivar, N.Y.; 2nd Lt. Philip Graziano, navigator, from Lawrence, Mass.; Staff Sergeant Harvey Capellman, engineer, of Blanchard, Idaho; and Sergeant Michael Sekel, radio operator, from Buffalo, N.Y.

On Friday, the crew will be memorialized by the dedication of a marker along S.C. 107, near the crash site.

The drive to honor the men began at the suggestion of Jack Lombard and Jimmy Rankin of Mountain Rest, according to Jerry Dyar, Oconee County veterans affairs officer.

As a 16-year-old boy, Lombard had persuaded his mother to let him visit the site after the crash was discovered, Dyar said, and it was an experience he never forgot. At the time, the bodies were still as they had been found.

Lombard, Rankin and others of the community had long discussed some kind of honor for the crew, Dyar said, and approached his office.

When Mr. Lombard and Mr. Rankin asked me about helping them get that crash site memorialized I wasnt about to tell them no, Dyar said. For anyone who knows Jack Lombard and Jimmy Rankin, when those guys ask you to help them, you dont say no.

The Oconee County Veterans Council, representing all veterans organizations in the county, was eager to help, Dyar said, so his office became involved and with the help of state Sen. Thomas Alexander of Walhalla, got permission from the South Carolina Department of Transportation to place a marker with the names of the crew, along with a picture of a B-25 likeness, just across the road from where the plane hit the mountain.

The marker will bear the inscription Oconee County Remembers.

The selection of the date March 21 is deliberate.

The plane was reported missing by the Greenville air base the morning of March 11, 1943, and a search along its expected route began. When it was found, however, it was by accident.

On the morning of March 21, a 15-year-old local boy, Seab Crane, was riding his horse over the Moody Trail to the Cheohee community when his horse was spooked by what turned out to be one of the planes engines lying in the trail.

The locals found that all five of the planes flight crew had died in the crash, at the site, about a mile south of the Walhalla Fish Hatchery and about 200 yards off S.C. 107.

According to the March 25, 1943, edition of the Keowee Courier, three had been thrown from the plane on impact, one was still strapped into his seat and the last was found in the twisted wreckage. The broken wristwatch of one crewman had stopped at 9:30.

We thought March 21st, seventy-one years to the day after the wreckage was found, would be a good time to display and dedicate the site, Dyar said. Therefore, Friday afternoon, March 21st, at 2 p.m., Oconee County will officially remember the ultimate sacrifice of those airmen during a brief but memorable dedication ceremony.

It is also hoped that family members of some of the deceased service men will be here for this special event, said Dyar. And of course, we would like for as many of our Oconee County citizens as possible to turn out.

The dedication site is on S.C. 107, about a mile south of the Walhalla Fish Hatchery, at the area known as Burrells Place Pull-off.
Perhaps for the first time in the history of Malayalam cinema, a movie is being shot at Pakistan. The movie is titled 'Karachi 81' and stars Prithviraj in the lead role. Prithviraj will head to Pakistan among other foreign locations for the movie.

Other locations in the movie include Moscow, Rajastan and Kochi. 'Karchi 81' is being directed by K. S. Bava, who has previously directed Asif Ali in 'Idiots'. Teh finer details of the movie including the rest of the cast is yet to be finalised.
Chaitali Laddad, Founder & Director, Indian Paediatric Network

is a practicing Paediatrician by profession, and a mother of two, her passion mainly lies in neonatology. She is an Alumni of Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital. Having secured a gold medal from Mumbai University in her MD exams, she has worked as an assistant professor at KEM and later on moved to JJ hospital.

Paediatric Network (TPN)

is founded by Pediatrician's Dr. Atish Laddad and Dr. Chaitali Laddad and is run by a team of professionals. TPN bridges the gap between what is available today and what can be availed for the betterment of society, particularly for children.By enrolling into TPN, a child will be more closely monitored by medical professionals. This program will help parents, especially working parents, to be at ease as challenges in health pattern will be observed at the initial stages and necessary actions can be taken before it is too late.

Replying to Yash Ved of IIFL, Chaitali Laddad says "Our long term plan is to make these facilities available for 80% of pediatrician's and their patient base, as well as reach out to micro market level in mass communication. The road map is laid down for the next 5 years with clear short term objectives and miles stones to reach the goal. "

What will be your focus area going forward?

We have entered into the project with unique business strategy and it has proved be to very much workable. The mere awareness about what this platform can offer to the end user, is lacking. Therefore, going forward, our focus area will be reaching out to masses through different channels to demonstrate the benefits of the project offering.

What are your fund raising plans?

Funds are always a key factor for any start up, especially during expansion phases. Hence, we also need funding for the pan India operation launch. However, at this point of time, we are lucky enough to manage with our own resources, and are working towards bringing in investments into the company through investment partners as well, who believe in our social obligations and ethics. Our plans are to liquidate 10% stakes with interested investors for supporting pan India launch process.

Your expansion plans for the road ahead?

The road ahead for the company is to capitalize on the market potential, by spreading the information to as many beneficiaries as possible. Our long term plan is to make these facilities available for 80% of pediatrician's and their patient base, and reach out to micro market level in mass communication. The road map is laid down for the next 5 years with clear short term objectives and milestones to reach the goal.

Your revenue target over the next 3 years?

Currently, the strategies we have engaged into the business is giving us an encouraging result. However, during the course of our business process, we have realized that the potential for this project is very high and can prove to be beneficial for every child in the country. Therefore, we have diversified our focus into different revenue streams, with multiple streams filling in the revenue bucket, our estimation is to reach 100 cr annual revenue in three years time.

Which are the services you offer?

TPN works on two main pillars - Pediatricians and Children. While its the next generation clinic that empowers adaptation to an advanced treatment delivery platform, for pediatricians, for children, it offers improved healthcare support, eco system of availing 24x7 health guidance, digital health profiling, age wise milestone based information and alert assistance, disease based authenticated timely information dissemination.

What are the opportunities do you see?

The opportunity for TPN is really more than what we have expected, in fact it's overwhelming as this is the need of the society today.

The fact that most of the top notch doctors are joining this network, is an evidence for the need of such service in the market. There are big corporate houses keen on joining us, so as to provide these services and add value to their customers. Corporates are willing to provide these services to their employees, ad employee welfare. Schools too are showing interest in the project and offering the services to their students, as a value add.

In fact, if digitization is the word tomorrow, TPN has already started to bring in significant changes in pediatric primary health care domain by using it wisely. As our price point is also very negligible, Now our main and only task is to reach out to masses and educate them about the services.
Apollo Hospitals is planning to invest close to Rs.650 crore in West Bengal over a five-year period.The investments will come in the form of a medical college, a gastro-science and liver institute and its second hospital in Kolkata.Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd is currently trading at Rs. 1296.5, down by Rs. 0.9 or 0.07% from its previous closing of Rs. 1297.4 on the BSE.The scrip opened at Rs. 1286.3 and has touched a high and low of Rs. 1298.5 and Rs. 1283.7 respectively. So far 39172(NSE+BSE) shares were traded on the counter. The current market cap of the company is Rs. 18049.43 crore.The BSE group 'A' stock of face value Rs. 5 has touched a 52 week high of Rs. 1544 on 02-Mar-2016 and a 52 week low of Rs. 1182 on 18-Jun-2015. Last one week high and low of the scrip stood at Rs. 1353.5 and Rs. 1290 respectively.The promoters holding in the company stood at 34.35 % while Institutions and Non-Institutions held 46.23 % and 19.42 % respectively.The stock is currently trading below its 200 DMA.
The New Civil Aviation policy has been finalized after nearly eight months since the Ministry came out with the

Prem Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director, Bhadra International (India) Pvt. Ltd. said,

that The National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 cleared by the Union Cabinet will be a great boost to the hitherto ailing aviation policies, which were followed without any clear focus. The new policy for ground handling clearly lays down level playing field amongst the authorized service providers in terms of the Royalty and has put a total stop on the hiring of manpower from the manpower suppliers at the security sensitive Indian Airports. The government has allowed self-handling to the domestic carriers at all the airports only through their permanent employees or through the employees of their own subsidiary taken on regular employment and are on their own pay roll. The government thus has taken a right decision in this regard keeping the charged security scenario.

We are happy to note that including the national carrier, there will be a total of three ground handlers at Airports like Delhi and Mumbai where the passengers handled is in the range of 41 million passengers per annum. Similarly at the other major airports at Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata where the passenger handled is almost one third of Delhi and Mumbai, the number of authorized ground handlers will continue to be two. We must appreciate MOCA that they have carried out a careful study of the passengers handled at non major airports and has rightly kept the numbers of ground handlers very much limited to the capacity and size of operation at the Airports.

The policy has also given due emphasis on all equipment operating within the airport environment complying with latest emission norms by

, which is the need of the hour , besides looking for use of alternative fuel and for deploying hydrogen and electric vehicles when compared with diesel and petrol vehicles. Bhadra is very happy to share that as desired by MOCA now to strengthen the policy guidelines on energy conservation, Bhadra has already positioned equipment which are electrically/battery operated and heavy equipment with low emission ,as per norms prescribed by ICAO guidelines. We are the first ground handling company in India meeting the quality requirements brought out in the New Civil Aviation Policy 2016.

Aviation education and skill building had always been a priority for Bhadra and accordingly created a full-fledged training center to constantly upgrade the skills of its ground handling staff.

The MOCA needs to be complimented in categorizing the ground handling under Infrastructure for getting tax benefits as well and also bringing the services of ground handling under the essential Services Maintenance Act.

The Govt. of India and especially the MOCA therefore needs to be appreciated in carrying out a sound and firm policy for India to emerge as one of the largest aviation ecosystems in the world.

Murali Ramachandran, CEO-India, Celebi Aviation said 

The much awaited policy has been announced today and the MOCA has paid a lot of due attention to this part of civil aviation ecosystem and heard the voice of stakeholders carefully. Whether it helps in improving economies of flying is a moot point, since there was sufficient competition already existing in this sector. An important aspect of the policy is the single window system for all aviation related transactions and complaints by aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation or DGCA.

The ministry has taken bold and progressive step by insisting on permanent employment in this security and safety sensitive sector. The domestic airlines cannot use contracted employees and must have employees on regular pay roles. This is a big change in favor of ground handlers. The domestic airlines will not be permitted to do third party handling which is good however they have allowed equipment to be taken on hire from third parties. There will be no outsourcing to manpower contractors and there will be level playing conditions now. Let us hope that it is adhered to diligently by the Authorities and the deployment of non-entitled entities is forthwith abolished. The ministry has not been successful in this area till now despite clear policy and court directions.

The policy however has not answered our concerns on level playing field since self-handling airlines will still not pay royalty and deposits as the third party Ground Handling Companies had to pay pursuant to the 2007 policy. The policy has also ignored that there were running contracts that our companies had with the Airport Authorities which will get violated with the new policy. This will certainly erode investor confidence.

Rakesh Jain, President and CEO, Indo Thai Airport Management Services Pvt Ltd said 

The NDA government for the first time is building an ecosystem that will lead to an increase in air travel by making it affordable with real time safety tracking. It is a very comprehensive attempt at policy making and reconciliation of an excellent vision with heavy detailing. The long wait was certainly worth its while. The ground handling part of the policy witnesses a lot of changes from the original draft and has become far more sector friendly. However, the process continues and requires further detailing and the crafting of appropriate rules and regulations and we hope that stake holders are involved with similar sincerity as was witnessed in the policy formulation stage.

revised draft in October 2015. The NDA government had for the first time unveiled the policy draft in November 2014 and thereafter the meetings between officials of AAI, Ministry of Civil Aviation took place at certain intervals. During these deliberations lots of issues were discussed, various suggestions were submitted. Thereafter and after intense scrutiny across ministries and the Group of Ministers, Ministry Of Civil Aviation finally sent the policy for Cabinets approval on June 32016.The new policy opens up the skies to greater competition, the government scrapped an almost-decade-old restriction that cramped new airlines from flying international, and to bring down operation costs, the new Civil Aviation Policy allows domestic airlines to undertake ground handling by themselves and also deployment of private security staff for non-core security duties at airports.The existing ground handling policy is being replaced with a new framework to ensure fair competition. The airport operator has been advised to have maximum number of three ground handling companies including Air India's subsidiary/JV at all major airports as defined in AERA Act 2008. At non-major airports, the airport operator has to decide on the number of ground handling agencies, based on the traffic output, airside and terminal building capacity. All domestic scheduled airline operators including helicopter operators will be free to carry out self-handling with their permanent employees on their payroll at all airports. Hiring of employees through manpower supplier will not be permitted.1st April 2017
Over 53% of the corporate companies are opting for yoga sessions in workplace to boost productivity, reduce sick days, increase mental clarity, combat fatigue, improve memory, fight stress and increase workplace satisfaction, an ASSOCHAM paper coinciding with the International Yoga Day (June 21) noted.

As per the ASSOCHAM recent estimates, there is about a 35 percent annual increase in demand for yoga learning in India with a growing publicity and health awareness. This demand trend will accelerate further to become multi-billion dollar market in the form of health clinics, ayurveda resorts, holiday camps, corporate training etc, conducted by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) paper on International Yoga Day.

The number of employee from the corporate world who seek yoga classes have gone up by about 35-40% this year compared with last year (20%), said Dr. B K Rao, Chairman of ASSOCHAM Health Committee Council. Many B-Schools are also taking the lead from corporate to have compulsory yoga modules to minimize the stress of the candidates.

According to the findings, nearly 53% of corporate companies are participating in yoga sessions in their offices as stress management activities and many individuals are also opting for personalized yoga classes at home. The corporate industry is looking to promote healthier practices for their employees to boost productivity, adds the survey.

Increasingly demanding schedules and high stress levels are leading to depression or general anxiety disorders in individual lives and have wide ranging effects like daytime fatigue, physical discomfort, psychological stress, performance deterioration and increased absenteeism. Almost 60 to 65% of executives are suffering from stress-related diseases, said Mr. D S Rawat, Secretary General ASSOCHAM while releasing the survey.

ASSOCHAM Co-Chairman of Health Committee Council Dr. H K Chopra said, Yoga helps people to think clearly, sharpens intelligence, improves learning ability, helps cope with problems and produces better job performance. Having yoga in the workplace offers a convenient way for employees to have a balanced life and to fit a workout in, without having to leave the premises.

As per ASSOCHAMs corporate employees survey result, around 45.5% of the sample population are suffering from depression or general anxiety. Obesity is the second hard hit disease that was observed among the respondents, with 23% of the sample corporate employees suffering from obesity alone can modify occupational morbidity, mortality and injury risks that can further affect workplace absence, disability, productivity and healthcare costs. High blood pressure (B.P) and diabetes are the third and fourth largest disease with a share of 9 per cent and 8 per cent respectively as suffered among the corporate employees. Spondolysis (5.5 per cent), heart disease (4 per cent), cervical (3.0 per cent), asthma (2.5 per cent), slip disk (1 per cent) and arthritis (1.5 per cent) are the diseases that are mostly suffered by corporate employees.

The following statistics are sad and shocking, nearly 40.5% of corporate employees sleep less than 6 hours in a day due to high stressed levels that arise out of tough targets set for themselves by employers and cause diseases like depression, hypertension, sugar etc.,

The demand for yoga instructors has increased in the last one year. The increase in awareness on yoga is helping the market grow. In India, a yoga instructor, can earn between Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 60,000 a month, adds the paper.

Yoga is not only the greatest stress buster, but it is also an effective therapy option. It prevents and cures diseases and promotes general good health as it imparts mental, spiritual, and physical well being, said Dr. Rao.

As per the findings, Yoga sessions are introduced for an hour daily, from Monday to Friday, or for three days a week, depending on the employees requirements. The benefits of a workplace wellness program, improve presenteeism, Control/reduces escalating health care costs, improve productivity, increases employee loyalty and reduces attrition rate, employees leading healthy lifestyles tend to take lower sick leaves with improved work performance and increased productivity that reduces overall costs of the organisation.

The report is based on the views of 1,500 corporate employees from 250 companies across 18 broad sectors like media, telecom and knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) etc.

The report included the major cities like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabd, Pune, Chandigarh, Dehradun etc. A little over 200 employee were selected from each city on an average.

Around 55 per cent of the survey respondents fall under the age bracket of 20-29 years, followed by 30-39 years (26 per cent), 40-49 years (16 per cent), 50-59 years (2 per cent) and 60-69 years (approximately 1 per cent). The survey was able to target corporate employees from 18 broad sectors, with maximum share contributed by employees from IT/ITes sector (17 per cent).

Employees working in engineering and telecom sector contributed 9 per cent and 8 per cent respectively in the questionnaire. Nearly 6 per cent of the employees belonged from market research/KPO and media background each. Management, FMCG and Infrastructure sector employees share is 5 per cent each, in the total survey. Respondents from power and real estate sector contributed 4 per cent each. Employees from education and food & beverages sector provided a share of 3 per cent each. Advertising, manufacturing and textiles employees offered a share of 2 per cent each in the survey results.
Global IP traffic will nearly triple at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22 percent over the next five years, according to the 11 th annual Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) Complete Forecast for 2015 to 2020. The Middle East and Africa (MEA) region will see a 6-fold growth in IP traffic, which is the highest at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41 percent by 2020. More than one billion new Internet users are expected to join the global Internet community, growing from three billion in 2015 to 4.1 billion by 2020. The MEA region will see 445 million new Internet users by 2020 at a CAGR of 10.8 percent.The global digitization transformation, based on the adoption of personal devices and deployment of machine-to-machine (M2M) connections will have an even greater impact on traffic growth. Over the next five years, global IP networks will support up to 10 billion new devices and connections, increasing from 16.3 billion in 2015 to 26.3 billion by 2020. There are projected to be 3.4 devices and connections per capita by 2020up from 2.2 per capita in 2015.One of the most significant changes of the next few years will be the dramatic increase in worldwide connectivity via the Internet. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than across the Middle East and Africa where we are looking at the highest growth rate in the world with 2.4 billion new devices and connections to be added by 2020, said Mike Weston,Vice President, Cisco Middle East. The rapid increase in connected devices and IP traffic will create new opportunities that arise from digitization, delivering benefits such as reduced costs, increased efficiency and improvement in the lives of citizens.Video services and content continue to be the dominant leader compared with all other applications. Internet video will account for 79 percent of global Internet traffic by 2020up from 63 percent in 2015. The world will reach three trillion Internet video minutes per month by 2020, which is five million years of video per month, or about one million video minutes every second. HD and Ultra HD Internet video will make up 82 percent of Internet video traffic by 2020up from 53 percent in 2015.In Middle East and Africa, Internet video traffic will grow 8-fold from 2015 to 2020, a compound annual growth rate of 52%. This means that for MEA 169 billion minutes (321,793 years) of video content will cross the Internet each month in 2020. That's 64,359 minutes of video streamed or downloaded every second.Advancements in the Internet of Things (IoT) are continuing to drive IP traffic and tangible growth in the market. Applications such as video surveillance, smart meters, digital health monitors and a host of other M2M services are creating new network requirements and incremental traffic increases. Globally, M2M connections are calculated to grow nearly three-fold from 4.9 billion in 2015 to 12.2 billion by 2020, representing nearly half (46 percent) of total connected devices. The connected health consumer segment will have the fastest growth (five-fold) of M2M connections from 2015 (144 million) to 2020 (729 million). The connected home segment will have the largest volume of M2M connections over the forecast period with 2.4 billion in 2015, growing to 5.8 billion by 2020nearly half of all M2M connections.With the growing dependence on mobile and fixed broadband networks, security concerns are increasingly becoming top of mind for service providers, governments, businesses and consumers. For the first time in this forecast, Cisco collaborated with Arbor Networks to help quantify the current and future threats of DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks. The new DDoS analysis suggests that these types of breaches can represent up to 10 percent of a countrys total Internet traffic while they are occurring. Over the next five years, DDoS attacks are projected to increase from 6.6 million to 17 million attacks. These initial findings underscore the need for more comprehensive security measures to protect data and reduce network exposure to such risks.
SpiceJet, the countrys favourite low-cost carrier, continues to lead the Passenger Load Factor (PLF) charts among all Indian carriers by clocking over 90% PLF for 13 successive months.

The figure for the month of May 2016 stood at 93.5%, an industry best figure, as per the statistics released by DGCA. This is also the airlines highest ever PLF.

The On-time Performance (OTP) of the airline during the same month stood at 79.2%. OTP has been computed for its operations across the four metro airports of Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai.

SpiceJet operated 306 daily flights and carried 10.96 lakh passengers during the month thereby registering a market share of 12.6%. Flight cancellations rate for the carrier during May 2016 was just 0.31%.
Kolkata witnessed the launch of Vodafone 4G with the help of Kinetic India, Vodafones OOH partner. A sharp focus was kept on youth frequented areas, where the campaign was screened and reinforced with OOH media. Proximity to malls and hangout zones was maintained strategically with a balanced media mix. To this, transit media like Metro trains, AC Volvo buses etc were used in an interesting way, to add value and differentiation in the OOH communication. There were TVCs displayed inside Metro trains.Anand Sahai, Business Head, Kolkata and Rest of Bengalsaid 4G is all about speed and Kinetic too lived up to our expectations and rolled out the campaign in least possible turn-around time; at the same time ensuring highest levels of safety for the installation team.Commenting on this Launch, Rachana Lokhande, Head  Buying & Trading said, Kolkata was the first circle in eastern India, where Vodafone launched its 4G services and being the primary localized communication medium, the launch outdoor campaign had to be extremely cost-efficient and also deliver the desired result. With this specific objective, the campaign had been planned meticulously and the right mix of media had been recommended to deliver both impact and maximise the reach at the same time. The campaign also saw several landmark innovations with the least turn-around time, which had been highly lauded by the Vodafone team too.
Commemorating the partys golden jubilee celebrations, Shiv Sena chief, Uddhav Thackeray, has donated two Mobile Healthcare vans to Wockhardt Foundation, a not-for-profit organization known for its committed service to the poor, weak, and needy. The Mobile Healthcare Van will be operated and managed by Wockhardt Foundation for providing primary healthcare to the needy in Mumbai. Shiv Sena has funded the van as part of its CSR initiative to benefit underprivileged people in Mumbai.Launched in 2007, Wockhardt Foundations ISO 9001:2008 approved Mobile1000 programme has been successfully administering high quality, free, primary healthcare services to growing number of rural areas across India. The programme currently runs 83 number of mobile health vans in the country administering free primary healthcare to 25 million Indians every year.Dr. Huzaifa Khorakiwala said, I am thankful to Uddhav Thackeray for the partys continued support in helping Wockhardt Foundation make primary healthcare accessible to the needy people. The Mumbai Metropolitan region now has 85 mobile health vans serving the needy and ensuring primary healthcare for them.The Mobile1000 health van equipped with a GPS tracking system and consists of one doctor, one pharmacist and one driver travels across villages conducting free OPD/health screening for rural people and providing free basic health services. They work towards creating awareness in rural areas on sanitation, hygiene, mother and child healthcare, safe drinking water, immunization, anemia, de-worming, vector-borne diseases, HIV, snake-bites, diabetes and tuberculosis. This is followed up with diagnosis and treatment. Specific cases requiring specialty care are referred to specialists.Wockhardt Foundation, through its various programmes, works towards improving rural healthcare, sanitation and children and youth education. Till date, the foundation has positively impacted over 53 million people.
Internet today represents an opportunity that can catapult India into a digitally empowered society and a knowledge economy. Even with 350 million Indians online today, the digital divide in India continues to remain a big challenge. On the occasion of the inaugural World Wi-Fi Day by The Wireless Broadband Alliance, Google has partnered with Railtel to provide high speed Wi-Fi at Railway Stations across India.Last week Google rolled out the network at four of Indias largest stations - Sealdah, Lucknow Jn, Lucknow and Gorakhpur Jn, 1.5 million Indians benefited from the high-speed broadband experience across 19 stations.Majority of India continues to access the Internet on a narrow band network, limiting their experience of Internet to basic activities. Easy and affordable access to full fidelity broadband network continues to be a challenge in India and is throttling the economic impact that Internet can have on the country. With this project, Google aims to create broadband access to millions of Indians whore currently not online or are using it in limited capacity to significantly enhance the benefits and productivity of the Internet. While Google is at approximately 20% of the roll out schedule for this year, the response has been phenomenal.Google said, We saw 100,000 users connect to the network within a week of launch at Mumbai Central and as we started rolling out the network at more stations, we saw exponential jump in the consumption of the network. Users in tier 2 cities latched onto the network with more enthusiasm and we saw much higher consumption of data in tier 2 cities, where access to high speed broadband is more challenging. Our data reveals that usage in Bhubaneshwar overtook Mumbai central within a day of the launch, and were seeing similar usage patterns emerge in tier 2 cities like Patna, Jaipur, Vishakhapatnam. Per capita consumption of data in tier 2 cities far exceeds the consumption we are seeing in tier 1 cities.The tech giant added, Its heartening to note that even though users are in transit catching their trains and moving to their destinations, the average consumption per user on the network is 15* times the data they would consume on a 3G pack in a day, which today is the most dominant means of access to the Internet in the country. While the primary usage is focussed around infotainment, we are seeing a lot of users in tier 2 cities use the network to look up and apply for jobs online. Bhubaneswar and Pune see lots of students come to the stations to look for up information related to educational courses, exam results, downloading softwares and upgrading their phone apps.
With films like The Lunchbox and Airlift, Nimrat Kaur proved her acting mettle and that she is here to stay. Nimrat, who is currently busy shooting for the second season of M Night Shyamalans Wayward Pines, (Star World) revealed that when she is not shooting for the show, she likes to explore the country.

North bound up the coast on the glorious 101...one of my favourite roads in the world ! #Oregoncoast #wanderlust #crazylifewilddays #nofilterneeded #101 A photo posted by Nimstagram (@nimratofficial) on May 8, 2016 at 11:50pm PDT

Talking about her hiking plans and road-trips, she said:

An accidental moment....visibly awestruck  #redwoods #california #crazylifewilddays #nofilterneeded A photo posted by Nimstagram (@nimratofficial) on May 7, 2016 at 11:06pm PDT

I have been hiking in and around Vancouver. Its such a beautiful place! I love the country and its been a really fun trip so far. Everyday ,Id just get out and try to explore a new place and meet new people. Here in Vancouver, I also took a six-day road trip from Vancouver to California and it was a 3000 kilometer trip via Oregon, she says. Ever since I have been here, I have become a local. I have made so many friends and now ,it feels like a home away from home. I feel like I belong here."

Right now Nimrat is in Vancouver, Canada and she revealed why she is not an indoor person at all. She said:

Im terribly restless. When I am not shooting, I have to go out and do something. I cant stay inside."

Well, we totally believe Nimrat because her Instagram account is a good enough proof of this. She is a traveler by heart and here are the pictures that will make you want to leave everything and head for a vacation.

#1

The storky point of no return.... #craziestdayofmylife A photo posted by Nimstagram (@nimratofficial) on Jun 20, 2016 at 1:56am PDT

#2

#3

#4

Happiness is... A photo posted by Nimstagram (@nimratofficial) on Jun 18, 2016 at 3:20pm PDT

#5

Caught in a 'candid' Instagram moment by the very vigilant and incredible @markjfriedman !! #setlife #crazyearlymorning @waywardpines A photo posted by Nimstagram (@nimratofficial) on May 30, 2016 at 10:15am PDT

#6

Sun kissed wind swept Kodak moments on Cannon beach  (irresistible assembly) #oregoncoast #wanderlust #crazylifewilddays #nofilterneeded #nocares A photo posted by Nimstagram (@nimratofficial) on May 10, 2016 at 12:03pm PDT

#7

#8
1. In an official statement, Sussanne Khan refuted all the rumors against her.

#sussannekhan for #femina #india #shoots #2016 #_    #  A photo posted by BollyShoots (@bollyshoots) on May 26, 2016 at 9:07am PDT

In her official statement, Sussanne Khan said that such incidents don't scare her; instead, they encourage her to stand up for the truth.

2. Akshay Kumar made an interesting yet valid point on parenting

Happiness is...watching him stumble,struggle & eventually grow into a fine young man #HappyFathersDay A photo posted by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) on Jun 18, 2016 at 10:24pm PDT

He said: "Whatever they get, they have to earn it. I want them to be responsible human beings who are also full of gratitude for what they have. Kuch khairat mei nahi milta, whatever they get is achieved by them...

3. An injured John Abraham chose to perform his own stunts in Force 2

The best photoshop that you can do for your body is in the gym. Stay fit!! Love - John Abraham. #Perseverance #Ripped #Shredded #Motivation #TrainTillYouDrop #FitnessIsMyReligion A photo posted by John Abraham (@thejohnabraham) on Mar 14, 2016 at 1:56am PDT

John Abraham will be seen playing the role of a tough cop in Force 2, However while shooting in Budapest last year, he injured his knee and had to undergo three surgeries and even when he has a tough regime to overcome the same, he denied having a body double for his stunts. He is still performing all his stunts minus a body double.

Twitter clearly doesn't give a damn about facts and even when Soha Ali Khan holds an LSE degree, she was trolled for passing a statement.

5. Ranveer Singh's trainer caught him while enjoying his cheat meal, he shares an adorable picture of the actor.

. . . #ranveersingh with trainer stevent #_                . #bollywood_stars22 #news#pics#style#india A photo posted by    (@bollywood__stars22) on Jun 20, 2016 at 5:11am PDT

While Ranveer Singh was hogging some Nutella, his trainer chose to photobomb in the most epic way.
Science and technology are marching ahead at breakneck speed. However, there are certain incidents and phenomenon that are literally making science say BRB. These happenings still have science scratching its head as there are no proper researched theories that identify causes and effects.

1. Animal migration

Image Credit: sciencedaily

Science still has no answers to why animals migrate. Especially confusing are birds during a particular season, that reach their destination without any tracker or navigation signs.

2. Animals that can live without oxygen

Image Credit: telegraph

Almost all animals, including micro-organisms, need oxygen to survive. However, the discovery of the new species of bacteria and organisms suggests that oxygen is not the component required for survival.

3. Intuition

Image Credit: sott

Our gut-feeling is always right. Intuition or sixth sense is a mystery to psychologists as there is no specific study to prove how intuition functions.

4. Ghosts

Image Credit: ghost diaries

This will always be a hot debate among believers and non-believers. People who claim to have witnessed ghosts believe in their existence, whereas science is of the belief that its a mental phenomenon.

5. Aliens and their location

Image Credit: theghostdiaries

With various UFO sightings and intriguing crop patterns, extra terrestrials is still something science cant figure out.

6. Magnets and their directions

Image Credit: futurism

Scientists still havent figured out why magnets have a north and a south pole. Even if you divide the tiniest part of a magnet, it will still have a north and a south pole.

7. Yawning

Image Credit: Getty

Apart from yawning being a sign of boredom, scientists have no clue about what instigates this reaction in our bodies.

8. The Placebo Effect

Image Credit: themindunleashed

The Placebo Effect is the belief that a medicine has worked on an ailing body, even if the medicine is inert. Scientists are still trying to figure out how the placebo effect occurs within the human body.

9. The disappearances at Bermuda Triangle

Image Credit: dailymail

Bermuda Triangle is considered one of the most mysterious locations on earth. The disappearances of planes and ships has made this place even more dangerous and intriguing. Till date, there is no official reason as to why things disappear when they enter this zone.

10. Why there are more right-handed people in the world

Image Credit: wonderpediamagazine

Scientists still havent figured out why the majority of us prefer using our right hand over our left. Many believe that the reason dates back to evolution, but there is still no study that suggests why there are less left handed people in the world.

11. Crooked Forest

Image Credit: earthprom

Botanists have no answer behind the mysterious Crooked Forest in Poland where around 400 pine trees took a detour and grew in a weird shape.

12. A tomato has more genes than a human

Image Credit: foodpoisonjournal

A tiny looking tomato has more genes than any of us. Unbelievable, right? Well, tomatoes have 31,760 genes which is 7,000 more than human beings. Scientists still havent figured out what this paradox really is.

13. The bottom of the Black Hole

Image Credit: Youtube

Physicists around the world are still trying to figure out the black hole and what lies beneath. There's one question raised that's baffled physicists - what would happen if a person falls into the black hole? Apart from not coming back, which is the apparent answer, there is no specific theory on this till date.
Looks like Apple honcho Tim Cook's lighting fast trip to India, did the magic anyhow!

Indian Express

In the latest revision To India's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms, the government has given a lot more leeway to foreign companies thus inviting them to see India as the premier destination. And amongst these sellers, the most awaited is surely Apple, who can now open their own stores in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the changes to the FDI rules, stressing his government's reform credentials.

Key reform decisions were taken at a high level meeting chaired by the PM, which makes India the most open economy in the world for FDI.  PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 20, 2016

Centre has radically liberalized the FDI regime, with the objective of providing major impetus to employment and job creation in India.  PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 20, 2016

The move comes just two days after RBI governor Raghuram Rajan announced he would not seek another term, a surprise move that raised concerns about whether reforms he set in motion will stall.

Apple is expected to be a beneficiary of a three-year relaxation India is introducing on local sourcing norms with an extension of up to five years possible if it can be proven that products are "state of the art".

"We will inform Apple to indicate whether they would like to avail new provisions," Rajesh Abhishek, secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, told a news conference.

Other single-brand retailers like furniture giant IKEA also stand to benefit

Tim Cook, who visited India last month, knows how important India is to Apple's future. Last year saw a 100 million smartphones sold here, a number that may grow 25% this year. Apple sales grew 56% in India during Q1 2016, even as global iPhone sales fell for the first time in the January-March quarter. India is also third-largest smartphone market - Cook said We (India) are where China was at about 7-10 years back.

The Indian government is now expected to try and persuade Apple to invest in smartphone and computer manufacturing facilities in the country, in line with the government's 'Make in India' campaign. The Indian government had earlier rejected smartphone giant Apple's request to sell refurbished iPhones in India.
For a cash-based economy like India's, fake currency notes are nothing short of hemlock.

The circulation of these fake notes in India is an open secret but over the years, this menace has increased to this level that government is mulling to change the design of the notes in circulation currently.

AFP

In a meeting held last month, the RBI Central Board recommended designs for new banknotes series to the government. The reason for proposing the new series is that since India is still a cash based economy, the flow of fake currency notes in economy continue to be huge problem.

One can fathom of extent of the problem that each year Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) with face value of Rs 70 crore enter Indian Economy but only one-third get intercepted.

How Colossal is the problem?

AFP

One can imagine how big this menace is fake currency is that according to the study conducted by Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), as many as 250 out of every 10 lakh currency notes are fake.

According to the study at any given point of time, banknotes with a face value of Rs 400 crore are in circulation in the country. The study also reveals that FCIN with face value of Rs 70 crore enter Indian economy but Indian agencies only manage to intercept one third of the amount.

The study also reveals that the fake 1000 rupee notes constitutes nearly 50% of the total values of the fake notes. The fake notes of 100 and 500 rupee are also in circulation but the ratio of their detection is slightly higher.

AFP

How does fake currency find its way in India

According to the reports of Intelligence Bureau and RAW, Pakistan's Military spy agency and their infamous Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) have been reaping an annual profit of Rs 500 crore by circulating counterfeit currency notes in India.

According to the notes, ISI has been making a profit of 30 to 40 % on the face value of each Indian currency note produced in Pakistan. According to reports, the cost of printing a Rs 1,000 counterfeit note, for instance, is Rs 39 (the RBI spends Rs 29 to print a Rs 1,000 note), but it is sold at Rs 350-400. The total fake notes that came into India in 2010 from abroad was pegged at Rs 1,600 crore, and going by this estimate, the report put the ISIs total profit at Rs 500 crore.

Once printed, Pakistan agencies use porous border of Nepal and Bangladesh to smuggle to fake notes into India.

AFP

To what extent government has been able to intercept FICN

On May 3, the Union Home Ministry submitted data to the government in which a slight decrease in circulation of fake notes is witnessed since the beginning of year 2013. In the calendar year 2015, the agencies and RBI seized and recovered around 6.32 lakh fake currency notes with a face value of Rs 30.43 crores. The number of notes seized are down by 10 % from a year ago whereas in terms of face value it was down by 15 % for the same period.

In 2015, various agencies filed 788 FIRs in cases of smuggling and circulation of FICN, in which at least 816 people were accused. Data show that Delhi and Uttar Pradesh together accounted for over 43% of recovered and seized FICN in 2015.

AFP

What has been done to tackle this problem?

1. Under Home Ministry, the government has formed a special Fake Notes Co-ordination (FCORD) Group to share FICN information with security agencies of states and the Centre.

2. The government has also constituted a Terror Funding & Fake Currency Cell (TFFC) in the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to investigate terror funding and fake currency cases.

3. Smuggling and circulation fake currency is considered to be an act of terror under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, effective from February 1, 2013. According to this act damage to the monetary stability of India by production, smuggling or circulation of high quality fake Indian paper currency, coin or any other material has been declared an act of terror.

4. Apart from this, the government in August 2015 signed an MoU with Bangladesh to prevent the counter-smuggling and circulation of fake currency notes. This, after it found that smugglers were increasingly using the India-Bangladesh border to smuggle in FICN. Under the MoU, the two countries will share intelligence on such cases.
Extending a helping hand towards BSF jawans who guard the Indo-Pak border extreme climatic conditions, diamond merchants of Surat and Mumbai donated 10,000 goggles, RO water purifiers besides ECG machines and a few other essentials for BSF jawans. At a special function that was organized in Nadapet in Gujrat, these items were handed over to the BSF Jawans.

The event was also attended by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Appreciating this noble gesture by the traders, the Home Minister urged the diamond traders across the country to join hands with the security agencies for the welfare of jawans who toil hard in ensuring our safety. Calling Border Security Force as the "first wall of defence," Singh also ensured that government too will do the best for making the life of jawaans easier.

Among the donated items were 10,000 sunglasses worth Rs 650 each, ECG and X-Ray machines, medical laboratory equipment, an ambulance, 10 oxygen concentrators, 10 RO water plants of 500 litre capacity each and 7,000 mattresses.

BCCL

Apart from the objects that were donated, contribution worth Rs 15 Lakh from the traders will be utilized upgrading three BSF hospitals and another contribution worth 25 Lakh would be used for developing develop three shooting ranges. Residential units will also be constructed for children of martyrs studying in Gandhinagar.

Thedailyhunt

'SRK Knowledge Foundation' chairperson Govind Bhai Dholakia said that he was immensely happy to help the BSF jawans, who give their everything to protect our lives at challenging climatic conditions. Even though this initiative focuses on BSF jawans posted in Gujarat, this initiative will gradually expanded to other borders said Chaudhary.

(With agency inputs)
Former IPS officer D G Vanzara's attempt to cozy up to the Patidars backfired as the community took a strong objection to him garlanding statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel with a festoon of pistol and pens in Saurashtrian Patels dominated Varachha area on Sunday.

bccl

Vanzara was on a day's visit to the Diamond City on the invitation of Jaher Nagrik Sanman Samiti, an organization of his and rape-accused religious preacher Asaram's supporters.

Even as Vanzara sided with Patidars on their opposition to the 10% quota for economically backward classes (EBC) announced by the state government, the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) sought an unconditional apology from him for "insulting" India's Iron Man. He even described Hardik Patel's arrest as a political issue.

bccl

Dharmik Malaviya, Surat PAAS convener, said, "Sardar Patel is Gujarat's pride and adorning him with a garland of pistols is an insult which we will not tolerate. Our workers will go to his programmes and oppose him if he tries anything similar in future."

PAAS leader and Hardik's close aide, Dinesh Bambhaniya, said, "If Vanzara fails to apologize and clarify his action, we will ban his entry into the Patidar-dominated areas."

PAAS activists later 'purified' the statue of Sardar Patel. Vanzara, however, remained defiant and said he did nothing wrong.

"Symbols change with situation and time. Pen signifies law and pistol is a symbol of strength. Sardar Patel had spent his entire life with both these things. Rule of law helped him to integrate 645 princely states with the country and use of strength compelled states like Junagadh, Hyderabad and Jammu & Kashmir to become a part of India. What is wrong if I garland Sardar Patel's statue with these symbols?" he said.

bccl

Asked about his political ambitions, he said, "Situation in Gujarat is such that I am getting drawn to politics. For me, politics is not important, but I am not averse to it if it is going to help people of my state."

He said his guru Asaram had been wrongly implicated in the rape case and that he was a victim of conspiracy . "I will produce facts at the right time at the right place against the right people," Vanzara said.
The toll of poached rhinos has gone up to 12 this year with the sudden rise in incidents as the Assam government and police have stepped up action against the poaching nexus. The latest victim, an adult female rhino, was killed and its horn cut off on Sunday.

PTI File photo

Last week, Forest Divisional Officer Mahat Chandra Talukdar was arrested after a raid on his house where cash, gold worth more than Rs 2 crore was found along with tiger skin and elephant tusks. He had been remanded to five days in police custody by a special court on Saturday.

PTI

According to conservationists, the ongoing acts of killing the female rhinos - which have smaller horns and are less profitable in the black market - are revenge killings. The poachers are reacting to the government's crackdown and threatening the entire species (which is affected greatly by the death of the female which could produce more calves to keep the population stable).

The poachers have been making such continued statements through their attacks during or around VIP visits to the Kaziranga National Park. A rhino was poached hours after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited to increase awareness on rhino conservation. Then, a rhino was poached while the state's forest minister was on tour of Kaziranga. The third incident, the day after tainted forest officer Talukdar's court sentence, is being considered a part of the revenge killing spree.

Hindustan Times

According to a Press Trust of India report, the carcass of the bullet-riddled pachyderm killed last night was recovered on Sunday from near Amkattoni camp in Bagori Range in the southern part of the Park along river Brahmaputra.

Current DFO, Subashis Das, has also said that six empty cartridges of 303 rifle were recovered near the body of the rhino.
Hrithik Roshans ex wife Sussanne Khan was booked for allegedly cheating a real estate firm by "posing" as an architect. Sussanne has been booked under section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of IPC. The complaint was lodged by Emgee Properties alleging that Sussanne claimed herself as an architect to secure a contract to design its building in Panaji in 2013. In a media statement, police inspector Siddhanth Shirodkar had said:

The case was registered against Sussanne Khan on June 9 after the real estate firm lodged a complaint against her. The firm has claimed that she cheated them by posing as an architect through her firm 'The Charcoal Project

Looks like Sussanne Khan is miffed with these 'baseless' rumors and complaints. Claiming the allegations as false and defamatory and a pressure tactic by the firm, Sussanne said:

Twitter

"The said complaint is motivated and preposterous and has been only filed to intimidate me and pressurise me to withdraw the arbitration proceedings initiated by me in the first instance to recover my dues and damages resulting from the breach of contract.

Clearing her stand, Sussanne has challenged the termination of the contract and has invoked arbitration under the contract for recovery of her dues from the firm. She added:

"As a counter-blast to the said proceedings, Mudhit Gupta, with the only intention to harass and pressurise me to give into his frivolous counter-claim, initiated the criminal complaint.

Sussanne is all set to take an apt step against the complaint. Claiming that she maintains highest standards of work ethics, she added:"Such complaints do not scare me rather it encourages me to stand up for the truth. The allegations in complaints are false and defamatory. I will take appropriate proceedings in accordance with law.

(With agency inputs)
Rio 2016/Daniel Perpetuo

It was only three years ago that Aida Gemanque was declared the world's oldest skydiver. From that to becoming the oldest torchbearer in 2016, Aida's name will go down in Olympic history as the oldest person to carry the flame.

The feat was accomplished Saturday when Aida carried the flame in the city of Macapa in Amazon at the age of 106 years. Did you know what was the earlier record? Check out more details here

Here are some more stories that will make you go WTF!

1. Chinese Bank Manager Unleashes His Inner Beast, Spanks Employees On Stage For Poor Performance!

Can you ever imagine being hit on your bottom by your boss in front of an audience? Bet these guys didn't think that either. Abused and shamed publicly, a group of bank employees were thrashed by their boss on a stage, where they were repeatedly spanked by a ruler. Check out what happened next

2. Shoes With 'Om' Inscribed On Them Are Being Sold In Pakistan, Local Hindus Register Protest

abplive

The reports of some shopkeepers in Pakistan's Sindh Province allegedly selling shoes with sacred Hindu word 'Om' inscribed on it are doing rounds.

The alleged incidents have reportedly angered the minority Hindu Community on Pakistan and if reports are to be a believed a formal protest have already been lodged with Sindh government by the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC).

The alleged incident has been rendered as unfortunate and blasphemous by the minority community in Pakistan after the incident was brought to notice of Hindu Community. Read more details here

3. Apple Fans Rejoice, New FDI Norms Will Allow Tech Giant To Open Stores Across India

Indian Express

In the latest revision To India's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms, the government has given a lot more leeway to foreign companies thus inviting them to see India as the premier destination. And amongst these sellers, the most awaited is surely Apple, who can now open their own stores in the country.

Apple is expected to be a beneficiary of a three-year relaxation India is introducing on local sourcing norms with an extension of up to five years possible if it can be proven that products are "state of the art".

"We will inform Apple to indicate whether they would like to avail new provisions," Rajesh Abhishek, secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, told a news conference. Read more details here

4. Partially Blind Ph.D Student From Delhi University Fights Off Mobile Snatchers, Gets One Arrested

thehindu

A partially blind MPhil scholar at Delhi University fought off three bike-borne assailants who tried to snatch his mobile phone and bravely held on to one of the youths despite being brutally beaten.

Shakir Hussain, 26, is 80% visually impaired. He was attacked on his way to an ATM near north campus on Friday night. Hussain grabbed one of the youths by the collar and refused to let go even as the other two rained blows that left him bleeding profusely. It was only after struggling with the assailants for several minutes that Hussain could raise an alarm and attract the attention of people in the vicinity. The youth 'captured' by Hussain has been arrested while a hunt is on for the other two, police said. Read more details

5. Meet Papa Reji, A Superdad Who Saved 22 HIV-Positive Kids By Loving Them As His Own

Humans of Bombay

Papa Reji is a man par excellence. A father to over 24 children -22 of them are HIV-positive and adopted, Reji looks after them as his own. His story is inspiring to anyone who reads it, because that's the effect he has on people who want to do right by the world.

In his tete-a-tete with Humans of Bombay, Papa Reji opened up about how his journey with these kids started - one that is sure to continue for life.

In his conversation, he talks about the incident that changed the course of his life:

"I was passing DY Patil hospital one day when I saw a girl sleeping outside -- weak to the point that you could see her bones. I found out that she was HIV positive and had lost both her parents. I asked what she would like to eat and she said noodles, but I couldn't find them anywhere so I promised her I would return the next day. She passed away that night and that incident kept haunting me, so I went inside the hospital and asked them to contact me if there were any such children in the future." Read how this changed his life here
Between 1996 to 2008, Sourav Ganguly represented India successfully in Tests and ODIs. The left-hander's career in the longer version had its ups and downs.

With a debut century to a duck in his last innings, the timeline of his playing days has seen him at his best and worst.

AFP

The man has 16 hundreds in 113 Tests with 7212 runs at an average of 42.17. But what is interesting is that none of his centuries have come in a losing cause. Four wins and 12 draws - that is how Team India has fared when the Prince of Kolkata has breached the three-figure mark.

These are the matches where Ganguly's tons have avoided defeat for his team:

1. 131 vs England in 1996 - Draw

Reuters

2. 136 vs England in 1996 - Draw

AFP

3. 147 vs Sri Lanka in 1997 - Draw

AFP

4. 109 vs Sri Lanka in 1997 - Draw

YouTube

5. 173 vs Sri Lanka in 1997 - Draw

PTI

6. 101* vs New Zealand in 1999 - Draw

AFP

7. 125 vs New Zealand in 1999 - Draw

AP

8. 136 vs Zimbabwe in 2002 - Win

AFP

9. 128 vs England in 2002 - Win

Reuters

10. 100* vs New Zealand in 2003 - Draw

AFP

11. 144 vs Australia in 2003 - Draw

AFP

12. 101 vs Zimbabwe in 2005 - Win

Twitter

13. 100 vs Bangladesh in 2007 - Draw

AFP

14. 102 vs Pakistan in 2007 - Draw

AP

15. 239 vs Pakistan in 2007 - Draw

AFP

16. 102 vs Australia in 2008 - Win

PTI
Before Omar Mateen Committed Mass Murder, The FBI Tried To 'Lure' Him Into A Terror Plot New revelations raise questions about the FBIs role in shaping Mateens lethal mindset.



By Max Blumenthal, Sarah Lazare June 20, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - Before Omar Mateen gunned down 49 patrons at the LGBTQ Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, the FBI attempted to induce his participation in a terror plot. Sheriff Ken Mascara of Floridas St. Lucie County told the Vero Beach Press Journal that after Mateen threatened a courthouse deputy in 2013 by claiming he could order Al Qaeda operatives to kill his family, the FBI dispatched an informant to "lure Omar into some kind of act and Omar did not bite." While self-styled terror experts and former counter-terror officials have criticized the FBI for failing to stop Mateen before he committed a massacre, the new revelation raises the question of whether the FBI played a role in pushing Mateen towards an act of lethal violence. Since 9/11, the FBI has relied heavily on informants to entrap scores of young, often mentally troubled Muslim men and send them to prison for as long as 25 years. As Aviva Stahl reported for AlterNets Grayzone Project, the FBI recently encouraged an apparently mentally disturbed recent convert to Islam named James Medina to bomb a South Florida synagogue and pledge allegiance to ISIS, a militant group with which he had no prior affiliation. On trial for planning to commit an act of terror with a weapon of mass destruction, Medina has insisted through his lawyer that he is mentally ill. Trevor Aaronson, a journalist and author of Terror Factory: Inside the FBIs Manufactured War on Terror, revealed that nearly half of terror cases between 9/11/01 and 2010 involved informants, including some with criminal backgrounds raking in as much as $100,000 from the FBI. The FBI's assets have often preyed on mentally ill men with little capacity to resist their provocations. Is it possible that the FBI is creating the very enemy we fear? Aaronson wondered. The revelations of FBI manipulation have cast Mateens case in a uniquely troubling light. Though he refused to bite when an FBI asset attempted to push him into a manufactured plot, he wound up carrying out a real act of spectacular brutality years and, and allegedly swore loyalty to ISIS in the midst of it. It looks like it's pretty much standard operating procedure for preliminary inquiries to interview the subject or pitch the person to become an informant and/or plant an undercover or informant close by to see if the person bites on the suggestion, Coleen Rowley, a former FBI agent and division counsel whose May 2002 memo to the FBI Director exposed some of the FBIs pre-9/11 failures, told AlterNet. In the case of Mateen, since he already worked for a security contractor [G4S], he was either too savvy to bite on the pitch or he may have even become indignant that he was targeted in that fashion. These pitches and use of people can backfire. To highlight the problematic nature of informants, Rowley pointed to the case of Humam Khalil al-Balawi, a Jordanian physician whom the CIA used to gather intelligence on Al Qaeda,. The CIA ignored obvious warning signs like Balawis extremist online manifestos and never subjected him to a vetting process. While Balawi claimed to have penetrated Al Qaedas inner circle, he was actually exploiting his CIA security clearance to plan a major attack. On December 30, 2009, Balawi strode into Camp Chapman in Khost, Afghanistan, and detonated an explosive vest that killed seven CIA agents and wounded six more -- the deadliest attack on CIA personnel in 25 years. Mateen, for his part, displayed many of the psychological characteristics that typify both FBI informants and those they attempt to ensnare in bogus terror plots. Raised in a troubled home by an abusive mother and an apparently eccentric father, Mateen exhibited signs of erratic, violent behavior throughout his life. His ex-wife told reporters that he physically abused her and was unstable and mentally ill. He transformed from a chubby adolescent to a burly young man with the help of steroids, yearning all along for a career in law enforcement. Seven months into a job as a prison guard in 2007, Mateen was fired for threatening to bring a gun to class. He settled on a career as a low level security guard for G4S Security Solutions, a global security firm that employed him for nine years. Though Mateens applications to two police departments were rejected, he was able to pass a G4S background check and receive several guard assignments. (The worlds third largest private employer, G4S has accumulated a staggering record of human rights abuses, including accusations of child torture.) While the full extent of Mateens contact with the FBI is unknown, the fact that an informant encouraged Mateen to agree to carry out a terror attack should provoke serious questions and further investigation. Whether or not manipulation by a FBI informant had any impact on Mateens deadly decision, there is no denying that the attempt to entrap him did nothing to protect the public. The FBI should scrutinize the operating procedure where they use undercovers and informants and pitch people to become informants, said Rowley. They must recognize that, in this case [with Mateen], it had horrible consequences if it did, in fact, backfire. Max Blumenthal is a senior editor of the Grayzone Project at AlterNet, and the award-winning author of Goliath and Republican Gomorrah. His most recent book is The 51 Day War: Ruin and Resistance in Gaza. Follow him on Twitter at @MaxBlumenthal. Sarah Lazare is a staff writer for AlterNet. A former staff writer for Common Dreams, she coedited the book About Face: Military Resisters Turn Against War . Follow her on Twitter at @sarahlazare.
Syria: Aleppo Doctor Demolishes Propaganda and Media Warmongering:



Dr Antaki reinforces that President Assads popularity has increased rather than waned since the US NATO war against Syria began five years ago and he deconstructs much of the propaganda upon which the US and NATO base their interventionist, neo-colonialist policies.



By Vanessa Beeley The following is the transcript of an interview given to Be Curious TV by Dr Nabil Antaki, a doctor based in the Syrian government held western sectors of Aleppo. In this interview, given during his recent trip to France, Dr Antaki once more observes that Western media has been misleading and obscurantist in their reporting of events in Syria. Dr Antaki reinforces that President Assads popularity has increased rather than waned since the US NATO war against Syria began five years ago and he deconstructs much of the propaganda upon which the US and NATO base their interventionist, neo-colonialist policies. Translation of interview by Vanessa Beeley. June 20, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " 21stcenturywire " -  Welcome Nabil Antaki. Please would you let us know what is happening in Aleppo and Syria. You are briefly in Europe. You are Syrian, born in Syria and residing in Aleppo. You are a doctor at the St Louis hospital in western Aleppo, the area under regime control. People living in the west who are are not aware of what is happening in Syria might ask which is worse, the Syrian regime violence or that of the terrorists or the rebels. This antagonism is reflected at the heart of our media where on one side we find those who affirm that Bashar al Assads regime is terrorising his own people and on the other side are those who claim that Assads forces are defending their people against armed Jihadists Dr Antaki: Firstly I would like to clarify..you have mentioned several times, Assads regime and Assads army and its a confusion that we dont appreciate in Syria..when we read in all the media about Bashars airforce, Bashars army. In fact, it is the Syrian army, the army of the State of Syria and when you mentioned that I live in western Aleppo which is under regime control, no, it is under the control of the Syrian state. Our people are not afraid of the Syrian army because it is an army that defends all of Syria against armed terrorists who have invaded Syria in order to establish their Islamic state. Therefore we should never say at all that the Syrian people are afraid of the Syrian army because it is not a regime army as described by the media, people are, in reality very grateful for the presence of the Syrian army. Let me give you an example. A few months ago the Syrian army launched an offensive to bring some relief to Aleppo which has been surrounded or besieged [by terrorists] for the last 3 years. According to the western media the Syrian army was imposing a siege upon the Syrian people in Aleppo when in fact the opposite was true and the Syrian army was trying to break the three year terrorist siege of Aleppo. Therefore, no, the people are not afraid of the Syrian army, they are afraid of the terrorists. BCT: So just to be clear, the western media is not reporting accurately what you are living through in Aleppo? NA: Exactly. Western media only reports on events in eastern Aleppo. Since 2012, Aleppo has been cut in two. Three hundred thousand people live in the zones controlled by the terrorists in the east but the remaining three quarters of Aleppo inhabitants, around 1.5 million people, live in western areas controlled by the Syrian state. So, when we hear from the western media about what is happening in Aleppo they focus only on the eastern areas. When we issue a cry for help for Aleppo, it is transformed into a cry only for eastern Aleppo. When the media announced that the last pediatrician in Aleppo had been killed, it is not true because in western Aleppo we have around 100 pediatricians. Perhaps its the last pediatrician killed on the other side, I have no idea, I have no information, but what I do know is that the inhabitants of the eastern sector living under terrorist control are Aleppans like us but chance dictated that they were living in areas invaded by terrorists. BCT: They didnt flee the area..? NA: From the beginning over half a million people fled towards western Aleppo because they were afraid of the terrorists but there are some people who were afraid to leave, perhaps without the means to leave, afraid to lose what they had amassed during their entire life, their little appartment, their TV. They thought that if they left they might lose it all, so they decided to stay not for any ideological reasons but because materially they prefered to stay where they were. BCT: You have just been describing eastern Aleppo to us which is under terrorist control. Please would you differentiate for us between terrorist and rebel. NA: At the beginning of the war in Syria there were multiple groups among which there were a very small percentage of democratic opposition to the Syrian regime but the majority were terrorist groups intent upon establishing an Islamic state. Over time these democratic groups were absorbed into the terrorist groups and currently these terrorist groups represent more than 95% of the hundred or so armed opposition groups on the ground in Syria. Therefore the Free Syrian Army and the opposition who are not terrorists but are nevertheless armed represent no more than 5% of the armed groups, the rest are all terrorists. The principal terrorist groups are DAESH [ISIS] and Al Nusra. These two groups have been added to the terrorist list by the United States and Russia so everyone has the right to target them with air-strikes. However there are other groups which emanate from Al Nusra, an Al Qaeda affiliate, which are not yet considered to be terrorists. Among these are three principal groups, Jaish al Islam [Army of Islam], Ahrar al Sham [Free of Damascus] and Jaish al Fatah [Army of Conquest/Liberation]. These three groups were created by Al Nusra to escape being put on the terrorist list but nevertheless have their origins in Al Nusra which is Al Qaeda in Syria. So when these three groups are added to the terrorist list which will enable them to be neutralised, there will remain only those armed groups that are not terrorists with whom we could negotiate and achieve a political compromise. BCT: What about the refugees? The 12 million migrants seeking refuge. NA: Half the Syrian population is displaced. There are 23 million people in Syria and 12 million people have been driven from their homes. 3.5 million are refugees outside Syria in neighbouring countries like Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan. There are 8 million internally displaced people who have not left Syria but have been forced to leave their homes. This is a very serious situation and these people need assistance just as much as those who have left Syria. The United Nations agencies focus only on the people living in the camps external to Syria. All these people are not fleeing the actions of the Assad regime or Assads army as described in the media. These people are fleeing neither Assads government nor the Syrian army, nor the hypothetical actions of either of these groups. These people are either fleeing from combat zones or they are fleeing misery. The majority of the Syrian people are now living below the poverty line. 80% of Aleppos population are dependent upon NGO food parcels. People are impoverished. They have exhausted their savings, those who had work lost it, those who had an asset, a workshop or a factory, a shop, have lost everything. People are destitute, they are fleeing this misery or they are fleeing the combat zones. They are also considering their children, they endured 2, 3, even 4 years but the war has continued into 5 years and they want to assure their children of a future so they take the decision to uproot and to seek a future somewhere else, to start a new life. BCT:  How do you and the Syrian people feel about the sanctions and economic embargoes imposed by western governments since the beginning of the war? NA: We are disgusted by these sanctions because these sanctions and these embargoes have not been implemented against the Syrian government but against the Syrian people, all the Syrian people. For example, me personally, as person x, living in Syria, does not have the right to conduct the smallest transaction. If I wanted to send $ 1000 to my children, I am unable to do so. I can neither import or export anything. This is crippling. I am a doctor, I wanted to replace one part of a piece of medical equipment. Normally this would take one week, it took a year and a half to get hold of the part because we couldnt import it from Japan as it was a multi-national company. So these sanctions penalise the Syrian people and at a certain moment the EU lifted the sanctions but only for the people living in the terrorist controlled zones. Those people living in areas under the control of the Syrian state could do nothing. Contrary to their claims, this does not penalise the regime, it punishes the Syrian people. BCT: You are a Christian. A middle east Christian. If someone were to question your objectivity what would be your response? NA: I dont speak to you as Nabil Antaki the Christian, I speak as Nabil Antaki the Syrian who has witnessed his country being attacked and destroyed. It is not about being Christian or Muslim, Syria is an ethnic and religious mosaic. There are eleven different Christian churches and as many different Muslim sects, its not about the Syrian government protecting the minorities and that is why we support the Syrian government. No, the government is secular, it protects everyone, whether a minority or a majority, everyone is respected inside Syria. It is a secular regime. Unlike the Islamic state that absolutely does not respect the minorities. If the Christians are pro-government or pro the Syrian state it is because from the beginning they have supported a secular state as opposed to an Islamic state. The current President is very popular. I am actually not a fan of the President, I defend Syria not the President. But viewing it objectively we cannot deny his popularity and in my opinion, if tomorrow, we have free elections under international law, giving all Syrians the right to vote, even those in diaspora, we would see our President re-elected. The west has not understood this fact. Assads was popular at the beginning of the war against Syria, his support is even stronger now, not because he defends the minorities which is what the media would like you to believe but because he defends all Syrians. Christians are about 8% of the Syrian population so when they say Assad is popular because he defends the Christians and that is why the Christians support Assad, its a joke. If we are with him or against him, it has no effect upon his popularity. We have neither soldiers nor arms, we are 8%. Assad is popular with all groups and sectors of our Syrian society so if we want this war to end we have to stop demanding that Assad steps down as one of the conditions, we have to negotiate with him, conduct free elections and work towards democracy. BCT: Let me just come back to some of the points you made. You speak of Assads huge popularity but was this the case in the beginning, in 2011? NA: This is my point! When the troubles started, there were anti Bashar demonstrations, 10,000 or 15,000 people maximum. These demonstrations were televised and the figures were hugely exaggerated up to one or two hundred thousand. On the other hand, massive spontaneous demonstrations poured onto the streets in support of the Assad government, in Aleppo, in Damascus, all the big towns and cities. Over a million people supporting Bashar. Nobody filmed these demonstrations or perhaps I should say nobody televised them in the west. So, organic demonstrations of millions of people were ignored while the few thousand that marched against Bashar were blown out of all proportion and highly exaggerated. So there was a huge amount of bias, partisan reporting and partiality from the media from the beginning. Assad was always popular and this has not changed. He is perhaps even more popular now than in the last few years before the war. He had enormously liberalised both the political and the economic sectors so people were happy, even though they knew there were still things that needed improving.

Life was not perfect but nobody wanted war, they wanted reform. Even the most outspoken enemies of the government did not want war, and certainly not this war. They wanted reforms and they wanted democracy but nobody wanted to kill Syria to improve Syria. BCT: We have two coalitions on the ground in Syria, according to you what is their efficacy? NA: In my opinion the Western international coalition is not effective because you cannot combine two opposing sides. You have a coalition of the US and Europe with Turkey and the Gulf States and at the same time we know that Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia finance the Jihadists, finance Daesh, finance Al Nusra. On the one hand they want to fight against the terrorists, on the other they are helping them. That is completely abhorrent. Additionally, there are the Kurds in Syria who have also taken up arms against DAESH. The US has found its allies in the Kurds to fight against DAESH. However Turkey is completely against the arming of the Kurds so Turkey combats the Kurds. So, we have two countries who are allied, the US and Turkey but one is allied with the Kurds and the other is against them so how can this ever work. There are too many contradictions within the Western coalition and that is why it has achieved nothing. Before the Russian intervention, the coalition air-strikes were cosmetic strikes. They would carry out a hundred or so strikes in the desert and that was the extent of their campaign. They only became effective after Russia intervened. From our perspective the Russian intervention was extremely beneficial and they have the full support of the Syrian people which contradicts the western narrative. The west accuses Russia of targeting not only the terrorist groups but also the moderate rebels. Russia has been very succesful in bombing the Islamic State groups so the West is trying to slow their progress by claiming they are targeting the non terrorist groups and accusing Russia of aiding Bashar instead of targeting DAESH. Of course this is not true, when the West want to bomb its ok but when Russia wants to bomb, they dont do it right. BCT: How do you think the Western media portray the reality on the ground in Syria? NA: Western media is not objective. They are partisan, they are against the Syrian state. They are supporters of the terrorist-rebels, so the Syrian people is fed up with their portrayal of events in Syria. We dont ask that they are pro or anti regime, we simply ask them to be objective.

BCT: What might you like to say from a personal point of view? NA: All that I want to say to the West is please be more objective, educate yourselves, dont accept disinformation, put pressure upon your governments because Syria is a country that desires its freedom, prosperity and democracy. The war has destroyed us, we have had enough, we want it to stop!
German minister warns Nato against 'warmongering'

By BBC

June 20, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " BBC " - Mr Steinmeier said that extensive Nato manoeuvres launched this month were counterproductive to regional security and could inflame tensions with Russia.

He urged the Nato military alliance to replace the exercises with more dialogue and co-operation with Russia.

Nato has carried out a 10-day exercise simulating a Russian attack on Poland.

The drill, which ended on Friday, involved about 31,000 troops, as well as fighter jets, ships and 3,000 vehicles.

Russia has been strengthening its military presence near its borders. In February it held a combat-readiness exercise involving 8,500 troops in a southern region near areas of eastern Ukraine held by pro-Russian rebels.

In 2013, Russian jets staged a simulated attack on the Swedish capital Stockholm.

'Do not create pretexts'

"What we shouldn't do now is inflame the situation further through sabre-rattling and warmongering," Mr Steinmeier said in an interview to be published in Germany's Bild am Sontag newspaper.

"Whoever believes that a symbolic tank parade on the alliance's eastern border will bring security is mistaken.

"We are well-advised to not create pretexts to renew an old confrontation," he said, adding that it would be "fatal to search only for military solutions and a policy of deterrence".

The exercise in Poland, which takes place every two years, was intended to test Nato's ability to respond to threats, and to allay fears in eastern Europe since Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Nato spokesperson Oana Lungescu said the alliance's actions were "defensive, proportionate, and in line with our international commitments".

She said the alliance had maintained dialogue with Russia through the Nato-Russia Council, although practical co-operation had been suspended, following the annexation of Crimea in 2014.

In an interview with the Bild newspaper on Thursday, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia was seeking to create "a zone of influence through military means", with "massive militarisation" at Nato borders.
The Civil War Didnt End Slavery After All



The American prison system is a massive  if invisible  part of our economy and social fabric.



By Lauren Karaffa June 20, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " OtherWords " - Slavery has been abolished in the United States since 1865, when the 13th Amendment was passed in the ashes of the Civil War. Well, almost abolished. Actually, the amendment included a caveat: except as punishment for a crime. Since then, prison and forced labor have always gone together. In fact, with over 2 million people behind bars in this country, the American prison system is a massive  albeit largely invisible  part of our economy and social fabric. Recent years have seen a rise in both private prisons and the use of prison labor by private, for-profit corporations. This has created perverse incentives to imprison people and exploit them for cheap labor  often at 50 cents an hour or less. Corporations such as Microsoft, Target, Revlon, and Boeing have all made products with prison labor. With over a third of home appliances and 30 percent of speakers and headphones made using prison labor, its likely most American households own inmate-made products. Even Whole Foods, a famed destination for ethical consumers, was forced to stop selling certain artisanal cheeses last year when those artisans were revealed to be prisoners who made a base wage of 60 cents a day . We wont even get into what Whole Foods  sometimes called Whole Paycheck  was charging consumers for prisoner-made products, which also included organic milk and tilapia. The problem is making its way into popular culture as well. A season three episode of the Netflix prison dramedy Orange Is the New Black, for example, illustrated a similar scam. In the episode, a thrilling new job opportunity is marketed to the inmates. Most are beside themselves at the idea of working for $1 an hour  well above the compensation offered for any other job in the prison. A scheme is hatched to trick the women into clamoring for the job in a fake competition. The episode closes with a scene showing the chosen women as their new job is revealed to them. They walk into a warehouse. The lights click on, and the viewer first sees the shock and disappointment on their faces. Then the camera turns to show rows and rows of sewing machines and a corporate logo overhead. Theyd competed to work in a sweatshop. Real-life prisoners are starting to organize against this kind of abuse. This April, prisoners in Texas held a coordinated work stoppage with the help of the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee  an arm of the global IWW union. The striking inmates refused to do work assigned to them by Texas Correctional Industries, an arm of the state Department of Justice that uses inmate labor to make everything from personal care items to toilets. Incarcerated workers there are paid as little as 17 cents an hour, even as phone calls can cost $1 a minute and medical care requires a $100 copay. Another union-coordinated strike is underway at several Alabama prisons, where inmates labor in deplorable conditions even as they generate profits for private industries. Unions and rights groups are gearing up for a national strike this September to derail this exploitative system. Those most directly and negatively affected, the prisoners and their families, need and deserve our support. But the rest of us need to finish the work of the Civil War and end forced labor in our country for good. Lauren Karaffa is a New Economy Maryland fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies. Distributed by OtherWords.org.
BREXIT vs. GREXIT  The True Face of Europe By Peter Koenig June 20, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - With every day, the true face of Europe mirrors ever so clearer the abject inhumane colonial power that raped and usurped Asia, Africa and South America for hundreds of years, as so well depicted in numerous articles and essays by my friend, philosopher, historian and war journalist, Andre Vltchek. Every day this neo-colonial continent spits out new atrocities. And its getting worse. Jean Paul Sartre was right, when he said the US is but a Super-European-Monstrosity. The colonial Europeans, mostly Anglo-French Europeans, are at the helm of this monster-octopus, self-declared empire. They are behind the mysterious and Machiavellian eye on top of the pyramid on the US-dollar bill, the symbol of the Freemasons, the forefathers of todays United States of America  and the driving force towards the New and One World Order. They pull the strings via such semi-secret organizations like the Bilderbergers, Trilaterals, CFRs (Council on Foreign Relations), Chatham Houses, WEFs (World Economic Forum)  you name it. Spineless individuals, like Bush, Obama, Clinton, Merkel, Hollande, Cameron  are mere vassals commandeering vassals; a construct that has grown so sophisticated and so evil  Im sadly afraid, only eradication by war can stop it. And that is exactly what the Monster is preparing, by provoking Russia and China, encircling Russia with NATO planes, bombs and tanks, and encroaching on Chinese territories with war ships in the South China Sea  and with slander propaganda day-in-day-out against any sovereign nation that refuses to bend to the US super power. Then again, there is Hope, the life blood of our lives  that this evil tower of greed will collapse in itself by the weight of its sheer maliciousness, thereby reducing violence to a minimum. But collapse it must this criminal beast. Its as clear as the pristine water that still flows from distant, uncontaminated springs, the hope for human survival.  It may take more than our lifetime to happen, but happen it will. It has happened many times before. Exit or No Exit From the European Union May it suffice to watch the gradual decay of Europe by observing the current spectacle over Brexit  the Brits in the limelight for exit or no exit from the European Union. With all the fake theories and invented projections, the UK and European elite spreads around the globe, nobody really knows what they are talking about. The people of an ancient-new empire is daring to take a step, a step towards freedom and self-determination, a step which the Lucifer eye on top of the pyramid wont let it take. Its a mere show, but people believe in it, hence the hype about the UK exit  or not  from a diabolical construct, its possible consequences of suffering, its possible losses or gains versus an almost forgotten and down-trodden Greece, destroyed by the same vile Machiavellian forces that sit behind the clandestine eye. Greece, also a European country, but not at par with the Great, Great Britain, the very lauded, praised and literally prayed-to by the cream of the crop of the rest of the western world  Greece, today is almost totally destroyed and whats left is in the process and programmed to be devastated and looted by the same admirers of the ancient-new Anglo colonialists  murderers, exploiters, looters, rapists  which Greece never was. There is no term properly describing this still ongoing, perfected and legalized crime against Greece  and potentially against any other misbehaving EU country. The people of the west are blinded by the massive killer propaganda funded by limitless billions of dollars made of thin air by the western liberated and too-big-to-fail predatory banking system. The top-notch politicians of France, Belgium, Spain and Portugal are no better. Against public will, they follow the orders of Washington and Brussels to the letter, enslaving and impoverishing tens of thousands of people by imposing austerity, producing poverty, disease and death. Spain, according to official statistics, is recording 11 suicides per day, of which at least half are directly related to the economic crisis, unemployment, desperation. Cancer rates have drastically increased since 2008. A study published in the British Lancet concludes that between 2008 and 2010 an additional 260,000 cancer deaths in OECD countries can be attributed to the effects of unemployment; 160,000 of them in the EU. Depression, loss of self-esteem and hopelessness are known to lead not only to suicide, but frequently affecting the immune system, thereby provoking cancer. This figure does not account for all the premature deaths due to malnutrition and lack of medical care and adequate shelter. New generations of peoples of neo-colonialist nations are being brainwashed into believing they are floating on the crest of the world, they are part of the elite, and, thus, are to perpetuate this killer system. These same elitists and their new generation students lambast Greece for being corrupt and lazy, deserving what she is getting, when indeed corruption originates in colonialism. A country weakened and injured by financial guns, tanks and bombs, is being stomped into the ground. Its the victims fault anyway. These are the values we have grown up with in our western world, the values we are passing on to future generations. Slamming Greece into oblivion is unimportant. But a possible Brexit  the Great British Empire leaving the corrupt EU  that would be a calamity. This fabricated event fills all the mainstream media  and takes Europes breath away. What a distorted and derailed world we are living in. What Greece has done for civilization, not just for the west but for the world  the invaluable intellectual wealth she gave us, is forgotten. Nobody thinks about it anymore. Democracy, grown out of the Oracle of Delphi, the epitome of a think tank for peace, if there ever was one  democracy, the voice of the people for justice and equality, is today meaningless. The term is used to cheat and deceive the people  the We, The People  into believing they have a saying in what their governments are doing. In reality, we have a new world philosophy: Globalized neoliberalism, where peoples opinions dont count. People are used as peons and cheap labor. Naked fascism in new shiny clothes. And like the sexual taboos of our monotheistic Christian culture, we are not allowed to see and recognize and talk about this new fascisms nakedness. Solidarity is Gone Solidarity is gone  long gone. Though, we are born with it. Thats for sure. But as soon as we push out of the sheltering womb, the evil fist of a greed-struck and greed-driven society grabs us and makes sure we never look back  back to the realm that we are all coming from  the realm of solidarity and love. The debate over Brexit by an elite that still adores the British Empires supremacy, while the same elite despises their southern neighbor, Greece, kicked and beaten into poverty, into horrendous suffering, but never, never into submission. Greece is vulnerable, Greece can be smashed. Its unimportant. It consists of un-people. Germany and the troika are doing the right thing  putting Greece and the Greek into oblivion. That seems to be the going opinion of many European leaders (sic). Many of these spineless politicians perceive sub-consciously that what they are doing may be back-firing one day. So, why are they not standing up, screaming stop it! to the monsters of Brussels and Washington? Instead, the cowards who know about the wrong that is being done in their little remaining shred of consciousness, they allow the continuing looting and devastating of Greece. It is good politics. It is whats called political correctness; and to belong to the elite, you have to behave as politically correct. What the Greek have worked for in millenniums of their history  a significant part of the life-capital of the world  is being pillaged and annihilated by self-proclaimed emperors of the universe  the corporate leaders of the New World Order, headquartered in Washington, Tel Aviv and London, with asuccursale overseeing the vassals in Brussels. This is how Greece and the UK compare on the eve of the crucial show-referendum, only a few days from now: Remain or Exit. The elite abides by the elite; debates the fate of the elite, as they want to be part of the elite  by association of intellect (sic-sic). Greece is not on their radar screen.  Who cares whether the UK Remains or Leaves?  well, leaving could be the straw that brings the EU down. And that would be a good thing. But does anyone really believe that Britain, the US mole in the European Union, is allowed to leave the EU?  To put it into context: The creators of the EU, who were not the Europeans, but America, the self-proclaimed winner of WWII  they will allow a Brexit only if they deem that now the artificial construct of usurpation, the constitution-less European Union and its artificial currency, the Euro  has lived its time and may now pass into the next phase, a feudal group of high-tech nations with low cost labor  with always the right number of unemployed  to be sustained by refugees of nearby wars and conflicts; the new serfs of the Washington-Tel Aviv based empire. When the Greek leaders on 5 July 2015 put the question of accepting or not the troikas financial sledgehammer, the Greek people decided overwhelmingly against the suffocating austerity. Then, somebody at Lucifers bidding put the gun to the head of the leaders and they, gutless as they are, disobeyed the decision of the people, the very people who democratically elected them six months earlier. Saying no to the austerity strangulation, would have meant exit from the Euro and possibly exit from the EU. It would have meant the salvation of Greece. But the masters of the universe  Washington, Berlin, Paris and London  couldnt allow the southern, beautiful and proud Greece, the forefathers of our civilization, to become independent, autonomous and sovereign again. Greece, a strategic NATO position  no way can she get away. Few people seem to recognize the insulting threats against Greece of expulsion from the Euro and the EU by Germanys Lord of Finance as the bluff they are. Greece is not allowed to leave the Eurozone, not as long as there are still public assets to be stolen; and less so to leave the EU. The Greek territory and strategic position is needed by NATO, the vassal-EUs military command center for the protection of the global corporate empire. Brexit vs. Grexit ; the elite vs. the un-people. One just wonders who is who? Hey  we are in the 21st Century Roman Empire of Bread and Blood  and are enjoying it too. Peter Koenig is an economist and geopolitical analyst. He is also a former World Bank staff and worked extensively around the world in the fields of environment and water resources. He writes regularly for Global Research, ICH, RT, Sputnik, PressTV, Chinese 4th Media, TeleSUR, The Vineyard of The Saker Blog, and other internet sites. He is the author ofImplosion  An Economic Thriller about War, Environmental Destruction and Corporate Greed  fiction based on facts and on 30 years of World Bank experience around the globe. He is also a co-author of The World Order and Revolution!  Essays from the Resistance .
The US Is Sleepwalking Towards A Nuclear Confrontation By Dmitry Orlov and Chris Martensondot.com



Chris interview Dmitry Orlov this week about the potential likelihood for actual direct conflict to break out between the world powers. Posted June 20, 2016 Orlov was born and raised in Leningrad in the former Soviet Union and immigrated to the United States in the mid 70s, He has spent the past several decades traveling back and forth between the two countries, writing about the collapse of the Soviet Union and the many similarities he sees between that and the secular decline happening in the West. Orlov recently co-authored a stark warning with a number of other experts on Russia, concerned that the US is recklessly provoking a military confrontation it cannot win.
Putin: People Do Not Understand How Potentially Dangerous The Situation Really Is We know when US will get new missile threatening Russias nuclear capability By RT June 20, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " RT " - The US anti-missile defense systems being installed near Russias borders can be inconspicuously transformed into offensive weapons, Vladimir Putin has said, adding that he knows year by year how Washington will develop its missile program. Talking about NATOs ballistic missile defense systems in Eastern Europe, Russias president said that the Americans are now deploying their missiles at these military complexes. The missiles are put into a capsule used for launches of sea-based Tomahawk missiles. Now they are placing their antimissiles there, which are capable of engaging a target at a distance of up to 500 kilometers [310 miles]. But technologies are developing, and we know around what year the Americans will get a new missile, which will have a range not of 500 kilometers, but 1,000, and then even more  and from that moment they will start threatening our nuclear capability, Putin said at a meeting with the heads of international news agencies at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on Friday. We know year by year what will happen, and they know that we know, he said, adding that Western officials pull the wool over [their news outlets] eyes, who in turn misinform their audiences.



The main problem, according to the Russian president, is that people do not understand how potentially dangerous the situation really is. The world is being pulled into a completely new dimension, while [Washington] pretends that nothings happening, Putin said, adding that he has been trying to reach out to his counterparts, but in vain. They say [the missile systems] are part of their defense capability, and are not offensive, that these systems are aimed at protecting them from aggression. Its not true, Putin told the journalists, adding that strategic ballistic missile defense is part of an offensive strategic capability, [and] functions in conjunction with an aggressive missile strike system.



The great danger is that the same launchers that are used for defense missiles can be used to fire Tomahawks that can be installed in a matter of hours, Putin noted. How do we know whats inside those launchers? All one needs to do is reprogram [the system], which is an absolutely inconspicuous task, he said, adding that the governments of the nations on whose territories these NATO complexes are based would have no way of knowing if this had happened. Washington engaged in deception from the very start when it claimed that it was moving its ballistic missile defense east to counter Irans nuclear threat, Putin said, pointing out that Tehrans alleged offensive nuclear capability now doesnt exist  largely thanks to President Obamas involvement. So why have they now built a missile defense system in Romania? he asked. While pointing out that NATO keeps rejecting concrete proposals from Russia on cooperation, Putin said that US policy is now jeopardizing the so-called strategic balance... thanks to which the world has been safe from large-scale wars and military conflicts.



By unilaterally withdrawing from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, Washington struck the first colossal blow at international stability, the president said. To maintain the balance, Moscow has had to develop its own missile program in turn, to which the US agreed in the beginning of the 2000s, when Russia was in a difficult financial situation. I guess they hoped that the armament from the Soviet times would initially become degraded, he said.



Today Russia has reached significant achievements in this field. We have modernized our missile systems and successfully developed new generations. Not to mention missile defense systems, Putin told the international news agencies, stressing that these moves are counter-measures and not aggression, as Moscow is so often accused of. We must provide security not only for ourselves. Its important to provide strategic balance in the world, which guarantees peace on the planet... Its the mutual threat that has provided [mankind] with global security for decades, Putin concluded.
Great Danger: US-NATO Missiles Threatening Russia . Putin: We Know and they Know that we KnowPeople do not Understand how Dangerous the Situation Really Is If You Value Life, Wake Up! By Paul Craig Roberts June 20, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - Do you remember how close we came to Armageddon in the early 1960s when Washington put nuclear missiles in Turkey on the Soviet Unions border and the Soviets responded by putting nuclear missiles in Cuba? Fortunately, at that time we had an intelligent president instead of a cipher. President John F. Kennedy pulled us back from the brink and was assassinated by his own government for his service to humanity. For a number of years I have been warning that the recklessness of a half century ago has reappeared in spades. The crazed, insane, nazified, neoconized government in Washington and Washingtons despicable Europeran vassal states, especially the UK, Germany, and France, are driving the world to extinction in nuclear war. See, for example , This is the most obvious fact of our time. Yet only the Russian government addresses Washingtons threat to life on earth. Why is this? Why was there no debateor even mentionin the presidential nomination primaries of the road to nuclear war on which Washington has the world? Washington is putting its nuclear missiles on Russias borders, conducting war games on Russias borders, and stationing its Navy off Russias coasts in the Black and Baltic seas. To cover up its reckless, irresponsible aggression toward a nuclear power, Washington accuses Russia of aggression. The presstitute mediathe New York Times, the Washington Post, Fox News, CNN, and the rest of the despicable whores repeat the lie over and over until the Western populations are brainwashed. Do you suppose the Russians, who know what is happening, are going to just sit there until they are so completely surrounded by nuclear missiles that they have to surrender? Unless you believe this, you had best get busy saving your life and the life of our planet. Do not expect political leaders to do this for you. There are no political leaders in public office anywhere in the West, only paid puppets of powerful interests groups. Do not expect experts, most of whom are dependent on these same interest groups, to bring influence to bear on government and media. There is no one but us. Dr. Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and associate editor of the Wall Street Journal. He was columnist for Business Week, Scripps Howard News Service, and Creators Syndicate. He has had many university appointments. His internet columns have attracted a worldwide following. Roberts' latest books are The Failure of Laissez Faire Capitalism and Economic Dissolution of the West , How America Was Lost , and The Neoconservative Threat to World Order .
Israel! This Is No Way To Treat A Child By Cathy Sultan June 20, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - How do you tell your eight year old son that you cannot protect him from that eventual, fateful day when Israeli soldiers, in the middle of the night, will break down the familys front door, enter his bedroom, forcefully pull him from his bed and, if so inclined, smack his head against the wall? What will go through your sons mind when he sees you, his father and protector, beaten by the soldiers because you try to intervene? And what of the mental image hell keep of his helpless mother as their house is ransacked, his games and prized possessions crushed by callous soldiers whose job it is to harass and terrorize Palestinians because they can, with impunity? Like his four brothers before him, when he comes of age, he will be blindfolded, his hands tied with a plastic cord so tight it will cut into his wrists at the slightest movement. His mothers mournful cry will not deter the soldiers who will forcibly drag him to the waiting Jeep, kick and beat him on the way to the nearest settlement police station before finally, hours later, transferring him to a prison where his official interrogation, often with torture, will begin.



According to Israeli law, any Israeli, regardless of age or crime, is tried in a civilian court of law. A Palestinian arrested, whether child or adult, in either East Jerusalem or the West Bank, is tried in a military court with one caveat. A child must be at last fourteen years old to be tried.



Currently, if a child younger than fourteen is arrested, and they number in the hundreds, they are held in detention, without legal counsel, without parental visitation rights, tortured, and often times put in solitary confinement until they reach the designated court age of fourteen. At this stage, the Israeli authorities offer the detainee two options. They can sign a confession in Hebrew, a language they do not understand. If a child agrees to sign the paper, often times after torture, he is released with a criminal record, a stigma he or she will carry when applying for a travel permit from Israeli authorities to leave their village or seeking future higher educational or job opportunities inside Israel proper. If a child insists on his innocence and refuses to sign a confession, he is held in prison, without representation, until a court date is set, often times many years later.



Israel calls this policy suppression of resistance.



Palestinians call this a calculated and callous attempt to breach the familial bond of security and trust between child and parent. Israels policy is meant to dispel the idea that a parent can protect his or her child and that a home is sacred and safe, and that a child can safely sleep in his bed a night without fear of arrest. Currently, there are 440 Palestinian children in Israeli prisons, a dramatic increase from 171 in February 2016. 75% are subjected to some form of physical violence. 60 children have been placed in solitary confinement for an average of 13 days.



This is no way to treat a child.



Cathy Sultan just returned from a two week delegation to Palestine/Israel which she and Rabbi Joseph Berman co-led on behalf of Interfaith Peace Builders, a Washington, D.C. based NGO. They met with the father of this child. He is a social worker in Hebron, employed by Defense of Children International-Palestine. Visit Cathys Blog https://cathysultanblog.wordpress.com/


Children Pay the Highest Price in Refugee Crisis By Cesar Chelala June 20, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - The world is witness to a rapid increase in the number of people forced to flee from wars, conflict, and persecution in countries such as Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. It is estimated that approximately half of the 19.5 million registered refugees at a global level are children and youth. They are the most vulnerable victims of these conflicts. The case of Syria is paradigmatic. Three years of conflict have turned Syria into one of the most dangerous places to be a child, according to UNICEF. Out of a population of 21.9 million, more than 9 million are under 18. It is estimated that 5.5 million children are affected by the conflict, a number that is almost double from the year before. More than 4.29 million children inside Syria are poor, displaced or caught in the line of fire. International aid organizations have been doing a remarkable job helping the population of countries affected by wars. However, only in Syria, one million children are living in areas that aid workers cannot reach regularly, thus depriving them of vital support. More than a third of Syrian families are no longer living in their own homes or communities, seriously affecting their health and quality of life. As a result of the fall in immunization ratesfrom 99 percent before the war to less than 50 percent nowpolio has reemerged in Syria, after a 14-year absence. At the same time, doctors report an increase in the number and severity of cases of measles, pneumonia, and diarrhea. In response to the polio outbreak, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and health ministries in the region have launched the largest immunization campaign in the regions history, targeting more than 25 million children. The capacity of the countrys health care system to provide assistance to the population has been seriously affected. Many doctors and health personnel have either been killed or have left the country. 60 percent of the public hospitals have been damaged or are out of service. Many times, militants bomb health care facilities, wait for first-responders and emergency crews to come in and then strike again, thus maximizing the impact of their attacks. On April 27, 2016, the Al Quds field hospital in Aleppo was hit by an airstrike. It killed 30 people, including 2 health workers, and injured 60 people, completely destroying the facility. Dr. Abdo El Ezz, an Aleppo physician says, The war in Syria has violated and destroyed anything called agreements or an agreement or human rights or anything humanitarian Hospitals are looking for coffins because people are pouring in, some are completely burned and soon die. We need to bury them Some people wish to die so they can finally rest and not live in constant terror and see constant destruction. An estimated 37,000 children have been born as refugees and over 83,000 Syrian pregnant women are living as refugees in Lebanon and Jordan, placing a heavy burden on those countries health and social systems. For example, Lebanon is planning for 600,000 schoolchildren this yeartwice the number currently enrolled. Syrian children refugees are at very high risk for mental illness and have poor access to education. In the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, for example, one third of all children displayed aggressive and self-harm behaviors. According to Europol, Europes policy agency, more than 10,000 thousand unaccompanied refugee and migrant children have disappeared, raising fears they are being exploited and used for sex. The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) rate among Syrian refugee children is comparable to that observed among other children who experienced war. A study by the Migration Policy Institute shows that refugee children who are not formally educated are more likely to feel marginalized and hopeless, making them probable targets for radicalization. What is experienced by Syrian children is also experienced by refugee children coming from other countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq. Few people have expressed as poignantly as James Fenton the tragic fate of these children. In his poem Children in Exile, Fenton writes, What I am is not important, whether I live or die 

It is the same for me, the same for you.

What we do is important. This is what I have learnt.

It is not what we are but what we do, Says a child in exile, one of a family

Once happy in its size. Now there are four

Students of calamity, graduates of famine,

Those whom geography condemns to war Cesar Chelala, M.D., Ph.D., is a global public health consultant for several U.N. and other international agencies. He has carried out health-related missions in 50 countries worldwide. He lives in New York and writes extensively on human rights and foreign policy issues, and is the recipient of awards from Overseas Press Club of America, ADEPA, and Chaski, and recently received the Cedar of Lebanon Gold Medal. He is also the author of several U.N. official publications on health issues.
Did George W. Bush Bless Israels Killing of Yasser Arafat With Polonium? By Sputnik June 20, 2016 " Information Clearing House " - " Sputnik " - French jurists delayed their decision on whether to reopen an investigation into the cause of Yasser Arafats death, but mounting evidence of polonium poisoning and shocking admissions suggest an explosive assassination cover-up has been underway for over a decade.



On Friday, a French court ruled to postpone a decision on whether to resume an investigation into the death of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat until June 24 or July 8. This comes amid growing suspicions that Israeli agents assassinated him using polonium po In 2012, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leaders widow, Suha Arafat, filed a complaint after traces of polonium, a highly toxic radioactive substance, were found on Yasser Arafats personal effects. Arafat drifted into a coma and passed away on November 11, 2004 at the age of 75, after suffering nausea, massive stomach problems, and other gastrointestinal related issues. His illness initially began on October 12, 2004, despite have previously been given a clean bill of health. The French hospital treating the Palestinian leader determined that the cause of Yasser Arafats death was a stroke triggered by blood poisoning. Inexplicably, French officials have never inquired about the type of blood poisoning to which Arafat eventually succumbed. Yasser Arafats demise is consistent with polonium poisoning, which causes gradual deterioration of the body, ending in death over the course of several weeks or months. Victims experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and hair loss. Recognized as the leader of the Palestinian movement, some viewed Arafat as the father of Palestine. On Thursday, Loud & Clears Brian Becker sat down with Dr. Ghada Talhami of Lake Forest College to examine what the evidence suggests about Arafats death. "Well, the first thing that we know is that Souha Arafat succeeded in convincing the Palestine Authority in Ramallah to exhume his body so that they could take samples in order to have it investigated individually," Talhami says. "Additionally, according to Al Jazeera, she sent his toothbrush and some of his clothing to a Swiss agency to be tested for polonium and that was last year. The Swiss lab confirmed that there were, in fact, traces of polonium on his effects," the professor explains. "Polonium is a radioactive material that has no smell, no visible color, and it is very secretive." "In order to pursue this one step further she would need to get a verdict, which can be done either by opening a new court case, that he was actually assassinated," she adds. Do Palestinians and Israelis believe that Yasser Arafat was assassinated? "This is what I can tell you: According to a very well-known article by Uri Avnery, a member of the Knesset and a famous peace activist in Israel, said that he himself got some kind of confirmation by an individual named Uri Dan who was the loyal mouthpiece of Ariel Sharon for nearly 50 years," she says. According to professor Talhami, President George W. Bush authorized the assassination of the revered Palestinian leader when asked directly by then-Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. "Uri Dan said that there was a conversation that Sharon had with him and President Bush, and Sharon apparently asked for permission to kill Arafat and Bush gave it to him on the condition that it must be done very quietly under the table," Talhami says. "When Uri Dan asked Sharon if it had been carried out, the former Prime Minister said that 'it is better not to talk about that,' so Dan took that to be a confirmation." Is there reason to believe that Israel would have killed Yasser Arafat? "We have this and several instances that are very well known in Israel where the press would actually ask Sharon why didnt you kill him when he was right under your nose, especially after Israel held Arafats headquarters under siege during the Second Intifada," the professor says. "Sharon would say that I couldnt do it because he had Israelis protecting him and living with him in his headquarters." "One of those Israelis was Uri Avnery who, along with two other Israelis, decided to live with Arafat as a human shield in order to protect him," Talhami explains. "We also know during the Israeli siege of Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War that as soon as the Israelis invaded Beirut on the eve of the massacres of Sabra and Shatilla, that Israeli soldiers would actually scour Beirut looking for Arafat." "You put all of this together and the fact that there was this strange illness that struck Arafat which nobody knew what it was. Was it the flu? No. The French hospital decided that he had died of a stroke caused by blood poisoning, but providing no further details," she adds. "Either the French hospital that was treating him does not want to release the full story or French authorities are masking the truth. In Israel, the story is really linked to Sharon."
At least twenty persons were killed and several others injured in Kuda village, Madagali local government area of Adamawa State when suspected Boko Haram insurgents opened fire on them.

Witnesses said the suspected insurgents walked into the village from the direction of Sambisa Forest around 9pm on Thursday and opened fire on the villagers, who were gathered at a square to mourn the 40th day since the demise of some tribesmen.

They added that the gunmen fired at the crowd, killing 20 people before attacking several houses where they executed men and carted away foodstuff.

A former Chairman of Madagali LGA, Maina Ularamu, who confirmed the attack, called for the deployment of soldiers to villages connecting Sambisa Forest so that pockets of attacks by remnants of the insurgents, who he said are hunger-stricken and hiding in the area, could be effectively checkmated.

Mr. Ularamu, however, commended the Nigerian military for their impressive performance in the war against insurgency.

Also confirming the attack, the Adamawa Police Command spokesman, DSP Othman Abubakar, said 18 villagers died in the attack.
With 67 confirmed cases of yellow fever, the Democratic Republic of Congo has declared a yellow fever epidemic in three cities including the capital, Kinshasa.

Congos health Minister, Felix Kabange said at a news conference, I declare today a localized epidemic of yellow fever in the provinces of Kinshasa, Kongo Central and Kwango,

He went to disclose that five people have died so far and another 1,000 suspected cases are being monitored by health workers. Of the 67 confirmed cases, Kabange said 58 were imported from Angola.

Yellow fever is transmitted by the same type of mosquito (Aedes Aegypti) which transmits the Zika virus. Its symptoms include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.
A former Supreme Court judge, Justice Niki Tobi has died.

The Nation reports that the judge passed on last Friday at the National Hospital, Abuja, from an undisclosed ailment.

He was born in Esanma, Bomadi local government area of Delta State.



It was gathered that the late jurist, regarded in the nations legal circle as a highly brilliant judicial officer, had been ill for some time.

Sources at the Supreme Court said that the court was only informed on Monday about the jurists death and the movement of his corpse to the Garki hospital.

Justice Tobi, who was born July 14, 1940, died almost a month to his 76th birthday.

He retired on July 14, 2010 as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

Source: Dailypost
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has declared support for the Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, saying the militant group is fighting for the freedom of the enslaved people of the South East by an oppressive Nigerian government.

The IPOB made this position known in a statement, entitled, IPOB supports our kith and Kin- the NDA, and jointly signed by the spokesmen of the organisation, Mr. Emma Nmezu and Dr. Clifford Iroanya, yesterday.

In the statement, the pro-Biafra group stated categorically that IPOB under the leadership of Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, has no connection with some groups that have distanced themselves from the NDA, which it described as our fellow freedom fighters.

IPOB alleged that the Ralph Uwazuruike faction of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, which disowned the violent campaign by the Avengers last week, had been bribed with oil block allocations in the oil-rich areas of Biafra land.

It stated that This same compromised group is known to have started the ugly incidence of kidnapping in Biafra land with its members often used as thugs and hired killers for politicians in the country.

The NDA had consistently stated that the release of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu is a precondition for any discussion with Nigeria. Unfortunately and disgracefully, the incompetent Nigerian government has swept this demand under the carpet while magnifying the notion of amnesty payments and resource control as reasons for the NDAs actions.

For the avoidance of doubt, the NDA is fighting for the freedom of the people of Biafra and not for amnesty payment or for resource control as some commentators would like to believe. When Biafra is finally liberated from the bondage called Nigeria, resources shall be controlled by the owners of the land where those resources are located.

The incompetent Nigerian government should stop deceiving the entire world into believing that what the freedom fighters of NDA are demanding is resource control. Amnesty is associated with criminality and a people who are fighting for their freedom should not be unjustly termed criminals.

The notion and talk about amnesty for our own freedom fighters, the NDA, is a misnomer and should be taken out of any discourse. On the contrary, amnesty should be granted to the Nigerian government, especially to those from the criminal class masquerading as elite, who unjustly appropriated oil and gas wells and other resources in Biafra land to themselves and their cohorts to the detriment of the masses, it added.
A group known as Kogi Professional Forum (KPF) and 200 other civil society groups yesterday in Abuja berated Senator Dino Melaye and the Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, for setting up a committee to probe alleged anti-party activities against Governor Yahaya Bello, describing the move as a futile one.

The Kogi APC last week named Senator Melaye as head of an 11-man disciplinary committee to probe the Kogi governor over allegations that he favoured members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in appointments into his cabinet.

Addressing a press conference in the nations capital, the leader of the group, Comrade Ibrahim Ali, said it was wrong of Melaye (APC-Kogi West) and other disgruntled leaders of the party to accuse the governor of engaging in anti-party activities.

The group accused the senator of orchestrating the crisis because of selfish interest, adding that Melaye was only out to distract the governor from pursuing the vigorous agenda of developing the state.

Ali also debunked the allegation that Gov. Bello appointed non-APC members as commissioners and his personal aides.

The governor should be commended for his large-hearted policy of inclusive government rather than archaic policy of winner takes it all, Ali said.

The group also berated the Kogi APC Chairman, Alhaji Hadi Ametuo and other leaders of the party for supporting the call to probe Bello over the appointments he has made since becoming governor on January 27, 2016.

For the records, having single-handedly nominated the secretary to the state government, Melaye had no locus standi to accuse the governor of sidelining him in the scheme of things in the state, it said.

Ali further stated that Melaye, who played a prominent role in the inauguration of Bello, should stop blackmailing the governor and face the responsibility of making laws, which the people of his senatorial district elected him to do.

Dino should stop blackmailing the governor and face the business for which he was elected, join hands with other well-meaning people and give Kogi west the desired representation.
The death toll from the attack on communities in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State by suspected Fulani herdsmen has risen to 59, a lawmaker representing the constituency in the State House of Assembly, said on Sunday.

The herdsmen, said to number over 3000, spread across Turan council ward in Logo LGA and were moving round, destroying houses and farms between late Saturday night and early hours of Sunday.

The attack by the herdsmen reportedly left a large number of members of the community with varying degrees of injuries while several others were still reported missing and property worth millions of Naira destroyed.

A source said the armed herdsmen stormed the Gabo Nenzev community in large numbers from the neighboring Nasarawa State, shooting sporadically and burning down houses at sight.

This was also as the marauders invaded Ugondo, also in Logo LGA, killing no fewer than 15 persons on Saturday.

The attacks came less than a week after Governor Samuel Ortom sent an Executive Bill to the state House of Assembly, criminalizing cattle grazing in the state.

Confirming the attacks, the member representing Logo State Constituency in the Benue House of Assembly, Mr. Kester Kyange, said as of this morning (Sunday), the calls I made confirmed to me that about 59 persons including a traditional ruler were killed while many others are still missing. The women, children and the elderly have all fled their homes to take refuge in Ugba, headquarters of Logo LG.

The lawmaker said he had already visited his constituency to commiserate with the families of victims and met with the council leadership, traditional rulers and security agencies to find lasting solutions to the insurgency.

Kyange, however, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to come up with a clear policy that would end the incessant clash between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the country.

In a related development, the Benue Police Command spokesman, Moses Yamu, confirmed that there were other attacks in the early hours of Sunday, disclosing that more mobile policemen had been drafted to the area to forestall further attacks.

Mr. Yamu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the police had been mobilised and deployed to the area to ensure that the incident did not escalate beyond the present level.
The Senate has slammed the executive arm of the government over the manner in which MTNs N1.04 trillion fine was reduced to N330 billion.

SEE ALSO: NCC, MTN Agree On Fine Reduction

Describing the reduction as short-changing the country, the upper chamber of the National Assembly, therefore, summoned the Attorney General, Governor of Central Bank, Minister of Communications and Accountant General of the federation, to come and explain the parts they played.

The Federal Government, however, explained that the fine was reduced to give impetus to foreign investors in the country. The fine was imposed on the operator by the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, last October for failing to cut off some unregistered lines before the given deadline.

As far as we are concerned, the MTN issue is a closed matter. The Federal Executive Council has remitted a substantial part of the penalty to them. Nigeria as a country must move on. We must not do anything to drive away foreign investors. Foreign investments are potent means of bringing about development and wealth creation, Minister of Communications, Mr. Adebayo Shittu, said, weekend, at the venue of an Achievers Award ceremony in honour of Senator Lekan Balogun, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Again, we must not forget that before MTN and other telecoms operators came on board, Nigeria had only less than 500,000 telephone lines. Today, because of their involvement, Nigeria now has more than 152 million lines and MTN is the dominant operator in the field. It controls almost 50 per cent of the lines. Though they (MTN) have violated the law and we have put in the necessary penalty, we must put a halt to the limitless crisis so that we dont discourage foreign investors, he added.
The pastor in charge of Bishop David Oyedepos Winners chapel church in Nairobi, Kenya Pastor Patrick Ngutu posted the photo of the owl lying lifeless with a number of people surrounding it, and said it was a second killed in the churchs compound.

He said the bird is a witch sent to haunt members of the church. However, his post has attracted massive criticism from a section of Kenyans who now want the man of God to be arrested by the Kenya Wildlife Service for killing an innocent bird.

Considered the biggest church in Kenya, the 20,000 seaters capacity Winners Chapel is situated along Mombasa Road, less than a kilometre from the Nairobi National Park. Perhaps this explains why many who have seen the post feel that the bird just wandered to the church compound because of the proximity to its habitat.

Efforts by Ngutu to defend his post attracted even more criticism, with many telling him off and even referring to the church as just another cult.

Sample some of the comments:

Beppie Favour: Wambui what is this about, I dont see any witch but only an owl

Emmanuel Segun Anoukon: This is a bird, created by God, just like any other animal.

Tom Mboya Opiyo: Surely this is appalling!

Steve Mbogo: Brainwash of the highest level. Owls are just birds. Witches are actually to be found amongst you, the people killing innocent birds. Sad.

Victoria Odungo: Stop killing birds in the name of stupidity nkt!!!!!

Aroji Otieno: Excuse me! Is someone killing animals due to a superstition. Is KWS aware of this?

Mercy Shay: That bird looks beautiful to me, Preach the true gospel please

Lopa Thebosslady: This Is Crap !!! Iliroga nani ?? Give Us The Number Of People This Poor Thing Has Bewitched !!!!

PJ Obonde: Pst Patrick Ngutu, this is just evil wrong. The animal killers must be themselves the witches in the Church. These birds are endangered. Any person killing them in the name of God must be satan himself. Read Genesis 1:26-30.

Dina Gilberts: If the owl is the witch why kill it. Pray for it so the demons leave. Pastor does it mean if any of your member is possessed yo do kill him?

Wairimu Mahinge: Kenya Wildlife Service Kindly arrest this person.Why would create this beautiful bird then go ahead to hate it.Some of these churches and pastors!

Wairimu Nyar Asembo Metta: Soo shameless and you had the guts to post this? Witch my footcult churches.You should be arrested

Source: News Every Hour
The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged all security agencies, Interpol, the Presidency and United Nations to monitor the activities of Governor Rauf Aregbesola which the party alleged can cause religious crisis in the country.

In a statement issued in Osogbo by its spokesperson, Prince Diran Odeyemi, the PDP premised its call on what it tagged: embarrassment and the insincerity of Governor Aregbesola over the hijab issue which is a diversionary tactic to cover up his mismanagement of the state human and material resources.

The party noted that despite religious crisis in some parts of the country, Christians and Muslims still find a way to live together in peace. But since hijab became an issue under Aregbesolas administration in Osun, Christian Association of Nigeria CAN and Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs SCIA, have taken different positions and this portend great danger for the harmonious co-existence of people of different faith and denominations in the country.

PDP is particularly happy that the issue of hijab has exposed to the entire country the character of Osun State governor and his divide and rule system of diverting peoples attention against his inadequate knowledge of governance and total mismanagement of the state, the party said.

Is the Federal Government aware that Osun no longer uses 6-3-3-4 system of education nor sing the National Anthem which are the first misstep of Aregbesolas administration. Schools were lumped together under the guise of reclassification, several strange initiatives such as same uniform for all schools in the state, obnoxious and double taxation and other policies that confused rather than enhanced governance were introduced just to benefit few Lagos based individuals and sponsors, the statement added.
Senate President Bukola Saraki, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and their co-accused are scheduled to appear on Tuesday before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Jabi, Abuja for arraignment on two counts of forgery & criminal conspiracy.



Saraki, Ekweremadu, a former Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasu, and his deputy, Benedict Efeturi, were on June 10, charged with criminal conspiracy and forgery of the Standing Rules used for the leadership election of the presiding officers of the Senate in June last year

SEE ALSO: Senate Says Fresh Charges Against Saraki Is Politically Motivated

According to the Federal Government, the offence of conspiracy is punishable under Section 97 (1) of the Penal Code Act; and offence of forgery with fraudulent intent punishable under Section 364 of the same law.

Senate President Bukola Saraki is still facing charges relating to false declaration of assets at the code of conduct tribunal.
Former Zamfara state governor and Nigerian Senator, Ahmad Yerima has decided to change his look. Were not sure why the usually conservative Senator has decided to switch up to suits, but we sure love the new look.

The most shocking part of his new look is his decision to shave his once large beard- no more beard gang for him!

Yerima shot into a semblance of notoriety after paying a bride price of $100,000 to marry an Egyptian girl who he divorced barely three years later.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has praised Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State for recording tremendous achievements in office in spite of the challenges posed by Boko Haram insurgency.

The former vice president, who gave the commendation in a chat with journalists in Maiduguri, the state capital, said it was commendable that governance did not grind to a halt as a result of the insurgency in the North-East state, stressing it was evidence of the leadership qualities of Mr. Shettima.

He (Shettima) is doing a lot of work to provide for infrastructure in the state. You can see new roads, buildings all over the state capital. But for the insurgency, he would have been perhaps the best governor we ever had around, said Mr. Abubakar.

The Turakin Adamawa also used the opportunity to declare support for the new foreign exchange policy of the federal government, saying the move was a sign of a good omen for the Nigerian economy.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Abubakar, who just returned from a short foreign trip weekend, indicated that he would be spending the next few days in his home state of Adamawa and Borno, both ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency.
The Federal Government has explained that the reason it reduced the $5.2billion fine slammed on MTN Nigeria was to encourage foreign investments in the country.

The Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, made the disclosure on Sunday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital at an award ceremony in honour of Lekan Balogun, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land.

According to the minister, the Federal Executive Council took cognizance of the negative impact the burden of paying the record fine would have had on the nation, its people and the economy at arriving at the decision to reduce the penalty.

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, last October slammed the fine on the telecommunications giant for violating the directive of the regulatory body in Nigeria.

MTN Nigeria was accused of disobeying the NCCs directive to all telecoms service providers in the country to register subscribers and disconnect erring subscribers.

After repeated warnings to comply with its directive was ignored, at the expiration of the deadline the regulatory body gave to all telecoms service providers, MTN Nigeria was handed a $1,000 fine for each of the 5.2 million unregistered subscribers on its network, which it failed to disconnect, totaling $5.2 billion (N1.04 trillion at the time).

Mr. Shittu said there was pressure on the FEC from different quarters, which later agreed to reduce the fine imposed on MTN to N330 billion to be paid within a period of three years.

As far as we are concerned, the MTN issue is a closed matter.

Nigeria as a country must move on. We must not do anything to drive away foreign investors. Foreign investments are potent means of bringing about development and wealth creation, he said.

The minister said that people must not forget that there were less than 500,000 telephone lines before the telecom operators came on board.

According to him, Nigeria now has more than 152 million lines and MTN is the dominant operator in the field. It controls almost 50 per cent of the lines.

Though, MTN violated the law and we had to penalise it. We must put a halt to the limitless crisis so that we dont discourage foreign investors.

That is what the Federal Executive Council has done to ensure we move ahead.

We know for instance, that MTN operates in 22 countries.

What it realises in Nigeria alone is more than what it realises in the other 21 countries put together, he added.

Mr. Shittu also advised the telecoms operators against taking Nigeria and their customers for granted, warning that all infractions would be appropriately sanctioned.

The operators owe a duty to Nigerians to continue to improve on their services. Nigerians have been paying through thick and thin to patronize them.

To whom much is given, much is expected, he said.

(NAN)
The family of late Governor of Kaduna State, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, has expressed appreciation to Governor Nasir El-Rufai for immortalizing their late father.

In a letter signed by the late governors widow, Dame Amina Yakowa, and addressed to El-Rufai, the family specifically the governor for renaming the General Hospital, Kafanchan, after Yakowa and also completing abandoned projects started by him.

Our correspondent reports that this is the first time the Yakowa family will be writing to any sitting governor of the state since the demise of Sir Yakowa in a helicopter crash in 2013 in Bayelsa State.

Mr. El-Rufai had on May 24, 2016 announced the immortalization of the late governor following the approval of the Kaduna State Executive Council.

In a heartfelt letter to Gov. El-Rufai on behalf of the family dated May 27th, 2016 a copy of which was obtained by journalists in Kaduna, Mrs. Yakowa commended the present administration in the state for ensuring the completion of projects initiated by her late husband despite paucity of funds.

She further lauded el-Rufais numerous gestures towards the family since assumption of office as Governor in 2015.

The letter read in part, On behalf of my humble self and the entire Yakowa family, I write to sincerely thank you and the Kaduna State Government for the honour you have bestowed on my late husband, Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa by renaming the Kafanchan General Hospital after him in recognition of his distinguished public service career and the selfless service he rendered to Kaduna State, spanning over decades.
In Celebration of Fathers Day yesterday, the daughter of Nigerias President, Zahra joined other high profile personalities on social media to celebrate the dad-tastic day.

Zahra shared this lovely photo of herself & her dad with a caption; #HappyFathersDay to my hero Youre my inspiration Je tadore papa she wrote with a face throwing a kiss emoji.
Weekly U.S. Ethanol Production and Stocks Climb 2% Renewable Fuels Association - 58 minutes ago Report on U.S. ethanol production, usage, and stocks for the week ending October 21, 2022.

Hogs Higher at Midday Barchart - 1 hour ago Tuesdays late session bounce carried through Wednesdays midday with front month lean hog futures 12 to 72 cents higher. The USDA National Average Base Hog Price was $8.23 higher in the AM update... HEZ22 : 88.575 (+0.14%) HEJ23 : 94.300 (+0.37%) KMZ22 : 97.500 (-0.03%)

Cotton Red but Firm at Midday Barchart - 1 hour ago Midday cotton futures are trading 4 to 14 points in the red through midday. A weaker US dollar was initially supportive, as was the stronger stock market. Futures had gotten down to 77.68 cents at the... CTZ22 : 78.11 (-0.46%) CTH23 : 77.65 (-0.37%) CTK23 : 76.94 (-0.29%)

Cattle Futures Trying a Bounce Barchart - 1 hour ago After a Tuesday pause in the cattle rally, front month futures are UNCH to 17 cents higher through the Wednesday midday. October contracts are the exception with a 40 cent drop so far. The weekly FCE auction... LEV22 : 151.350 (-0.21%) LEZ22 : 153.425 (+0.08%) LEG23 : 156.950 (+0.16%) GFV22 : 176.375 (-0.13%) GFX22 : 178.775 (+0.48%)

Beans Off their Highs at Midday Barchart - 1 hour ago Soybean prices had printed +10-12 cent gains early in the day session, but sold off between 10 and 11 AM CDT and are only 1 1/2 to 4 cents in the black coming into midday. A weaker US dollar was initially... ZSX22 : 1385-0 (+0.22%) ZSPAUS.CM : 13.3925 (+0.25%) ZSF23 : 1395-6 (+0.25%) ZSH23 : 1404-2 (+0.23%)

Mixed Midday for Wheat Market Barchart - 1 hour ago Wednesday wheat trading has winter wheat futures working in the black. CBT SRW fractionally higher to 3 cents in the black so far. KC HRW futures are up by 2 1/2 to 3 1/4 cents in the front months. Spring... ZWZ22 : 841-0 (+0.75%) ZWH23 : 859-0 (+0.56%) ZWPAES.CM : 7.7443 (+0.81%) KEZ22 : 940-6 (+0.67%) KEPAWS.CM : 8.9897 (+0.70%) MWZ22 : 953-0 (unch)

Corn Red at Midday Barchart - 1 hour ago Wednesday action initially had the market working higher, but midday quotes show 1 to 2 cent weakness in the front end of the corn market. EIA reported ethanol production averaged 1.033 million barrels... ZCZ22 : 686-2 (unch) ZCPAUS.CM : 6.7705 (+0.10%) ZCH23 : 691-6 (unch) ZCK23 : 691-2 (unch)
Jim Simons knows more than a little bit about math. At the age of 23, he earned a Ph.d. in mathematics from UC Berkeley, took a job cracking codes for the U.S. government, and later was chair of the math department at SUNY Stoneybrook in New York. In the early 1980s, Simons founded Renaissance Technologies, a hedge fund that averaged over 70 percent in annual returns from 1994 to 2014, with over $70 billion total assets under management in 2015.

Lately, as we've reported, Jim and his wife Marilyn have been scaling up their Simons Foundation, which aims to advance the frontiers of research in mathematics and basic sciences. And while its grantmaking focuses mainly in the United States, Simons has a keen eye on boosting math elsewhere in the world, most notably Africa, with its Africa Mathematics Project, started in 2013.

Related:

The Africa Mathematics Project is designed to nurture and accelerate high-level mathematics research in sub-Saharan Africa. The foundation invites math researchers in Africa working in a broad range of mathematical fields to apply for coveted five-year grants.

Grants typically go toward the support of graduate students, mathematics conferences, research, and international collaborations and exchanges. This years maximum grant amounts is $90,000 per year over the course five years, not to exceed $450,000. The application deadline for this years grant round is August 31 and the foundation plans on making a total of five awards.

We all know that the United States has a math problem. And while improvements are being made, the country is still lagging internationally. The situation is much worse in Africa, with South Africa ranking dead last in math and science education quality according the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report. The African nations of Mozambique, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, and Malawi also came in toward the bottom of those rankings.

While those low rankings are certainly a point of interest for Simons, it didnt choose to focus on sub-Saharan Africa due to any one countrys poor math performance. According to the David Eisenbud, former director of mathematical projects at Simons, it chose sub-Saharan Africa due to the fact that the region is home to pockets of strong mathematics researchers who lack resources and could potentially benefit greatly from small, but long-term investments.

Simons is really big on collaboration, here. For example, 2013 awardee Tony Ezome of the Universite des Sciences et Techniques de Masuku in Gabon and his team won an award to support work in number theory, cryptography and allied fields. At the time, Ezome was the only researcher in his field. The situation was similar for Patrick Rabarison of Madagascar, so the two formed a collaboration, both studying in France with four other researchers.

Simons isnt the only funder interested in bolstering scientific research in Africa. As we've reported, a number of foundations have an eye on this challenge, which is closely related to building up the continent's overall human capital, along with its economic prospects.

Last year, the Gates Foundation, Wellcome Trust, and the U.K. Department of International Development (DFID) contributed a collective $4.5 million to establish the Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa (AESA). The new initiative fosters autonomy among scientists in Africa, giving them the freedom to decide how and where research dollars from global funders will be spent.

Related: The Latest in the Growing Push to Bolster Autonomous Scientific Research in Africa

At the same time, Wellcome Trust also put a plan in place for its Developing Excellence in Leadership, Training and Science initiative or DELTAS program. DELTAS is a $60 million, five-year initiative that is working toward the continued development of research leaders in Africa. Eventually, Wellcome Trust hopes to hand over control of DELTAS to the Alliance for Accelerating Excellence in Science in Africa.

Africa has been gearing up for a scientific revolution for some time, now. Support from big private and public funders like Simons, Wellcome, Gates, and DFID will certainly do a lot to help forward that revolution.
Update 6/20/16  For the seventh consecutive year, Westy Self Storage is supporting the Greenwich-Stamford SAA event, held this year on June 25. The operator has donated use of the facilitys moving truck to help transport items to the event, which begins at ACGT headquarters at 96 Cummings Point Road.

All proceeds from the swim will benefit ACGT. Last years event raised more than $350,000 for the charity. This years fundraising goal is $400,000.

We are very proud to again support Swim Across America. Their dedication and drive is exemplary, said Joe Schweyer, district director of Westys Stamford location.

Westy Self Storage is supporting the eighth annual Greenwich-Stamford Swim Across America (SAA) event on June 21 in Stamford, Conn., to benefit the Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT). The event is expected to draw hundreds of swimmers, who will plunge into the Long Island Sound, an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean. All funds raised will support local foundations and initiatives, such as the Greenwich/Stamford-based ACGT, with 85 cents of each dollar raised donated directly to the cause.

The event begins at ACGT headquarters at 96 Cummings Point Road. Participants can choose their open-water distance: .5 miles, 1.5 miles or 3 miles. Non-swimmers are also able to participate as boaters, kayakers or land volunteers. Each participant in the three swims is required to raise a minimum of $500 (swimmers under the age of 18 have a $300 minimum).

Were hoping to raise half a million dollars at this years Greenwich-Stamford event, said Matt Vossler, who co-founded SAA in 1987 in Connecticut with friend Jeff Keith.

Every year, we are amazed by the heroic individuals and groups that swim in honor of a loved one or friend, said Janel Jorgensen McArdle, SAA president, an Olympic medalist and Connecticut native. This year we are encouraged to see even more people swimming for someone they love, and are also incredibly moved by the large number of cancer survivors we have participating.

Additional national and local sponsors include Balance Bar, Chobani, Classic Kids, Donut Delight, LeTarte Swimwear, Poland Spring, Richards of Greenwich, Upper Crust Bagels, Whole Foods and Xterra.

SAA events include 18 open-water swims and hundreds of pool swims annually. The organization has raised more than $55 million for cancer research and treatment, with $460,000 donated to ACGT last year.

ACGT is a nonprofit dedicated exclusively to cancer-gene therapy, supporting cancer research internationally.

Founded in 1990, Westy Self Storage is headquartered in Stamford, Conn. The company's portfolio of facilities spans the tri-state area of Connecticut, New Jersey and New York.
Childress Klein, which operates the SpaceMax Storage brand, has purchased a former Walmart Neighborhood Market in Nashville, Tenn., which it plans to develop into self-storage and retail space. The $5 million property at 1216 Gallatin Ave. will become the first SpaceMax location in the state. Childress will convert the existing 38,690-square-foot building to self-storage and build more than 15,000 square feet of retail space, according to the source.

We are very much looking forward to our first SpaceMax Storage in Nashville, said Chris Poholek, a partner at Childress Klein. The East Nashville neighborhood is booming, so it was a top choice for our new location. We are excited to join the neighborhood as not only business owners, but as neighbors, and to take part in all that East Nashville has to offer.

The grocery store was one of five Walmart locations closed in Tennessee five months ago. The big-box retailer plans to shutter 269 stores worldwide to focus on it supercenters and e-commerce business. Although other food retailers expressed interest in the building, Walmart stipulated the Gallatin Avenue property couldnt be sold to a potential competitor, the source reported.

Childress Klein was represented in the purchase by JC Darby, a broker with Southeast Venture, a Nashville-based brokerage and real estate development firm. John Cavin, also a broker with Southeast Venture, represented the seller, Walmart Real Estate Business Trust.

When studying the site, we realized that, since there is a minimum parking requirement for the storage component, another commercial use was possible, Darby said. We believe that delivering class-A, newly developed retail on the street level with high parking ratios is a great complement to the project. This is non-existent in present day East Nashville and will be a welcome amenity.

Founded in 2005, SpaceMax operates six facilities in Georgia and North Carolina. For more than 35 years, Childress Klein has developed, leased and managed approximately 42.2 million square feet of industrial, multi-family, office and retail properties in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Bee Safe Storage and Wine Cellar, a Greensboro, N.C.-based self-storage operator with two locations, is scheduled to open a new, three-story facility in Raleigh, N.C., on June 24. The property at 11001 Cayden Trail will comprise 63,000 square feet in 280 traditional storage units and nearly 60 wine-storage units, according to the source. The facility is being built by The Carroll Cos., a development firm founded by self-storage owner Roy Carroll.

"We are thrilled to open our newest store in the Raleigh market," Carroll told the source. "With top-tier, climate-controlled storage and a secure wine cellar, all of our stores will have a moving van that can be used to move items into the facility.

The new facility is part of an ongoing expansion plan announced by Carroll earlier this year. In March, the developer said he envisioned 18 new storage facilities throughout North Carolina and the Southeast. His current plan is to build five Bee Safe facilities in Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh, N.C., in an area known as the Triangle, and as many as 20 other facilities across the region within the next 18 months.

"We have three full-time Carroll Cos. employees who are land-acquisition specialists, spread out over the Southeast U.S., who are continuously looking for Bee Safe sites," Carroll told the source. "We have allotted the capital to really put this concept on the map over the next few years."

The Carroll Cos., has developed real estate for more than 30 years. The company has built or is in the process of building more than 14,000 apartment homes with an asset value of more than $1.4 billion, according to its website. The company has more than $500 million invested in development projects in the Carolinas, Tennessee and Texas.
Major insurer IAG has expressed its support for the NSW Government efforts to stop green slip fraud by allocating $1.2 million on a Compulsory Third Party (CTP) fraud prevention framework.



Anthony Justice, IAG chief executive of Australian Consumer Division Authority, said he looks forward to consultations with the Government on the framework. He is also hopeful that the CTP reform will create a fairer and more affordable CTP scheme for NSW motorists and injured parties.



Justice noted the alarming rise in fraudulent CTP claims in a statement: Despite falling casualty rates and safer road awareness campaigns, the number of CTP claims in NSW increased by 39 per cent between 2008 and 2015 and we have seen a 30 per cent increase in just 12 months.



What we know is that CTP fraud, which includes exaggerated claims and staged accidents, has significantly contributed to the increase in CTP claims and ultimately its NSW drivers that pay, through their higher insurance premiums.



According to NSW Government data, fraudulent and exaggerated CTP claims contribute to a $75 increase for each NSW green slip.



To tackle green slip fraud, the NSW Government has established in March this year the Green Slip Fraud Taskforce and the CTP Fraud Hotline on 1800 600 444.



Related Articles:

NSW Budget - $1.2m To Target CTP Fraud



New Taskforce To Tackle CTP Green Slip Fraud
Insurers have agreed to an $86 million cash settlement for the property damage component of Mount Gibson Iron Limiteds insurance claim  an announcement welcomed by international broker Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG).The insurance claim is for the collapse of the Main Pit seawall at Mount Gibson Irons Koolan iron ore mine in November 2014.The $86 million settlement account includes the $1.85 million interim payment received in mid-2015, with total payments expected to be received by the end of July 2016, AJG said in a statement.Colin Todhunter, AJG GM Mining and Construction, was lead in the Koolan Island seawall failure claim process. He described the announcement as a fair and reasonable outcome for the junior miner, and the Koolan Island seawall incident as one of the several landmark WA resources sector claims AJG has successfully resolved.This outcome provides further validation of Arthur J. Gallaghers market leading value proposition, and most importantly, represents substantial recompense for our client," Todhunter explainedTodhunter said the insurance investigation undertaken between Mount Gibson Iron and its insurers is one of the most technically challenging and complex claims in Australian history, and involved a panel of more than a dozen specialist underwriting companies from Australia, Europe, and Asia.Our teams deep capability and expertise in the mining industry, coupled with tailored policy wordings and strong negotiation skills, have been instrumental in the successful conclusion of this matter, said Todhunter.Jim Beyer, Mount Gibson CEO, said: This significant property damage insurance settlement is a welcome outcome for Mount Gibson and all shareholders in the wake of the failure of the Main Pit seawall at Koolan Island. Gibson also hopes for a similarly constructive conclusion to ongoing discussions on the business interruption component of their claim.
A highly experienced lawyer has joined Sparke Helmore as a partner in the Insurance Group, and will be based in Melbourne.Patrick McGrath has 20 years experience in insurance law and commercial litigation, and has significant expertise across a range of insurance classes, including professional indemnity, management liability, investment management, construction and contract works, cyber risks, and public and products liability insurance.Chris Wood, the firms Commercial Insurance National Practice Group leader, commented on the new hire: I am delighted to welcome such a highly-respected and experienced practitioner like Patrick to the Insurance Group and am looking forward to working closely with him.Patricks strong knowledge of insurance law, his practical commercial advice and his expertise in defending litigation is highly sought after, and will enhance our insurance expertise in Melbourne and assist our clients nationally, said Wood.McGrath is involved with advisory work in Aussie and Kiwi insurance markets, and manages the defence of medium to large-scale claims against companies in the financial services, construction, and engineering sectors.Before joining the firm, McGrath was a partner in Lander & Rogers Insurance Law & Litigation Department, and co-led its Construction & Engineering team.
Louisiana drivers struggling to pay unpaid fines from lapsed car insurance coverage can now find some relief.

Gov. John Bel Edwards office announced the governor has signed a bill to authorize driver payment plans to repay the state Office of Motor Vehicles for the outstanding fines.

The new law took effect immediately.

Louisiana law requires drivers to have insurance on their vehicles. The state can revoke licenses and seize bank accounts and tax refunds if fines remain unpaid.

House Bill 245 from Rep. Denise Marcelle, a Baton Rouge Democrat, outlines six payment plans for drivers owing $250 or more. The largest plan offers installments for drivers owing more than $5,000.

The OMV is owed more than $250 million from thousands of drivers. The office reports 275,000 drivers are listed as owing fines in more than 550,000 lapsed insurance cases listed in its database that dates back to 1986. Fines range from $125 to $525 for each violation.

As of May 2016, the OMV had collected fines and proper documentation to clear more than 50,000 records, but officials said they were waiting to start the process to collect additional outstanding lapsed coverage penalties until the governor took final action on the bill.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Auto Louisiana Personal Auto
North Dakota Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm has fined an insurance firm that sold crop insurance in that state and ordered restitution to farmers.

The North Dakota Insurance Department announced the multi-layered disciplinary action against The Climate Corporation a/k/a The Climate Insurance Agency (formerly known as Weatherbill), a licensed business insurance entity that sold crop insurance products in the state from 2011 to 2014.

The commissioners consent order requires that a total of $738,106 be credited to approximately 150 farmer customers in the form of premium return and premium waivers. Farmers will receive $485,948 to return previously paid premiums and any that still owe premium will be given waivers totaling $252,158. Additionally, the company must pay a $150,000 fine.

According to the commissioners order, the company misrepresented their producers as agents for the insureds and misrepresented the products they were selling as well. The order also states that at least 100 farmers who purchased coverage from the company had historically low yields and profits during the 2012 growing season but received no money from the insurance product they had purchased. The Climate Insurance Agency also offered to reduce premiums for insureds who complained about the unsatisfactory performance of the insurance product. Such offers are generally not permitted North Dakota, with certain exceptions.

I am satisfied we were able to come to an agreement with the company on our numerous concerns with this product and the manner in which it was sold, Hamm said in the departments announcement. The payments I have ordered in combination with the premium waivers and the fine are an appropriate response to the confusion and frustration caused by the actions of the company.

The Climate Insurance Agency denied the allegations, but consented to an informal disposition of the matter. The agencys license was not revoked.

The consent order is: File No. AG-16-600.

Topics Agribusiness
Bunker Project Inc., a San Francisco, Calif.-based insurance technology startup, announced a $2 million seed funding round.

The round was co-led by Comcast Ventures and Route 66 Ventures. Insurance carriers Hiscox and American Family Ventures also participated in the round.

Bunker plans to launch its first product this summer. The founding team includes Chad Nitschke, Dan Feidt and Steve Giddens.

An area of initial focus will be the 1099, or the gig economy. As more businesses leverage contingent staffing models, the need to manage the associated risk is growing, according to a release announcing the seed funding round.

Bunker has a second office in Madison, Wis. The release states the firm was founded in 2015 to redefine the insurance value chain through the creation of a contract-related insurance marketplace.

Bunker has redesigned the insurance experience for independent contractors and small businesses, Callum King, principal at Comcast Ventures, said in a statement.

Topics California InsurTech
John Antonio Ruiz, 49, of Riverside, Calif., pleaded guilty earlier this month to 11 felony counts of grand theft after selling $334,972 in bogus surety bonds and stealing the clients premium.

His theft left a major retailer exposed to loss on a construction project. Ruiz, doing business as Cornerstone Surety and Insurance Agency, reportedly sold and issued multiple performance and payment bonds to a general contractor. The contractor unknowingly included the bonds with a winning bid for new store construction projects throughout the nation.

After the retailer attempted to satisfy liens filed by subcontractors, they discovered the surety bonds sold by Ruiz were bogus and they had no protection to satisfy the liens.

The California Department of Insurance Investigation Division launched an investigation that revealed Ruiz did not have a valid agent license, had not remitted any of the collected premiums to the insurance company, and pocketed the money for personal expenses.

Ruizs theft of more than a quarter of a million in premiums left the contractor and the retail client at great financial risk, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said in a statement.

Ruiz is scheduled for sentencing on July 15 in Riverside Superior Court. The California Attorney General is prosecuting this case.

Topics California Agencies Fraud
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The death of a 2-year-old boy at a Walt Disney World resort in an alligator attack has brought back some frightening memories for a New Hampshire man who was grabbed by a gator at a Disney campground in 1986, when he was 8.

Paul Santamaria, of Hebron, said he was horrified for the family of Lane Graves, who was snatched by an alligator in shallow water Tuesday at a beach at Disneys Grand Floridian resort, 3 miles from where Santamaria was attacked.

I have two little girls the age of the boy that was taken, and it was just something that kind of hit home, Santamaria said.

In 1986, Santamarias family was staying at Disneys Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground when he was attacked while feeding ducks at a pond. The gator knocked him down, grabbed his leg and started to thrash around and try to pull him into the water, Santamaria said.

He yelled for help. His 12-year-old sister grabbed him under the arms, and his 10-year-old brother started hitting the gator. Santamaria kicked the gator with his other leg.

Instead of just freezing, they decided to fight, to help me to fight to get away, and Im here because of it, he said. I was lucky.

Eventually the alligator opened its mouth and let him go.

He suffered gashes and a tooth stuck in his thigh, and he was hospitalized for a week. He still has the scars on his leg.

The alligator that attacked Santamaria was later shot and killed. A Disney spokesman said then that as far as he knew, it was the first such attack at the sprawling theme park.

In Lanes case, five alligators were killed in the search for his body, but authorities have yet to determine which of them, if any, was responsible for the boys death. The Orange County sheriff said it was the first time an alligator had killed someone at Disney in its 45 years of operations.

Santamaria has been back to Disney World since he was attacked, but he said hes been much more cautious.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New Hampshire
A federal appeals court has upheld the political corruption conviction of former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland.

A three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City on Friday rejected Rowlands appeal.

Rowland, 59, a former insurance agent, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison last year for allegedly conspiring to disguise work he did on a failed 2012 congressional campaign and a 2010 campaign.

His attorney, Andrew Fish, argued the government withheld evidence that would have benefited the defense and misapplied a federal law.

But the appeals court ruled the evidence was properly disclosed. It also found that Rowland was properly convicted of creating documents that falsified his relationships with congressional candidates Lisa Wilson-Foley and Mark Greenberg, with the intent to impede a possible future federal investigation.

This was the second political conviction case for the once rising star in the Republican Party. He resigned as governor in 2004 amid a corruption scandal, eventually serving 10 months in prison for taking illegal gifts.

In this latest case, prosecutors successfully argued that Rowland was paid $35,000 to give political consulting to Wilson-Foley, who in 2012 was running for the 5th congressional district that Rowland once held. They say while Rowland claimed to have volunteered for the campaign, the payment was disguised in a contract between Rowland and Wilson-Foleys husband, who owned a nursing home chain.

Rowland tried the same arrangement with Greenberg in the 2010 election cycle, but was rebuffed by the candidate, prosecutors charged.

U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton, who presided over Rowlands 2014 trial, allowed him to remain free on bail while appealing.

It was not immediately clear whether Rowland would file further appeals. Fish didnt immediately return messages Friday.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Connecticut
With non-military actors like coast guards increasingly active in the disputed South China Sea, former U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen said international law was becoming even more important to keeping a lid on tensions.

Describing the region, including the Strait of Malacca and the Java Sea, as one of the worlds most visible maritime choke points, the retired admiral expressed the need to maintain freedom of movement through the waters. An international court is expected to rule within months on a Philippine challenge to Chinas claims to more than 80 percent of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of trade passes each year.

These issues need to be decided by an independent third party, Allen said in an interview on Friday in Singapore. Wed all be well-reasoned to wait for that to happen and see what the results are. The region was very critical to commerce not only for the U.S., but a number of countries, he said.

In recent years, China has reclaimed more than 3,000 acres (1,200 hectares) in the waters and beefed up its military presence, causing the U.S. to increase its own naval activity in the West Pacific. The buildup has put the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations grouping on edge.

Making a claim is not the same as having it adjudicated at a UN forum, in a tribunal, Allen said. And thats the place to have that decision made, not just a de facto action taken unilaterally by any one country.

China has deployed its coast guard to assert its claims in the South China Sea, which crisscross those of countries like Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Increasingly, Chinas coast guard vessels resemble naval vessels in weapons and other capabilities and the country has been accused by its neighbors of harassing fishing and military boats, chasing them from disputed waters.

Allen, who retired in 2010 and is now an executive vice president at Booz Allen Hamilton, said that coast guard services would play an more important role in securing national fish stocks and other economic assets such as oil, gas and mineral deposits.

I believe there is an ascendancy right now of coast guard-like agencies, Allen said. Unless you are trying to project power across the globe  and there are very few countries trying to do that  you need to protect your exclusive economic zone.

Other Regions

Friction at the intersection of land and sea boundaries wasnt restricted to the South China Sea, Allen said. It was also visible in the Caribbean, West Africas Gulf of Guinea and off the Horn of Africa, including Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.

Thats the reason, I think, you are seeing China use that as an engagement tool of choice, he said, referring to the coast guard. In some cases, a coast guard agency appears to be less provocative than a naval force.

Allen said any nation that intentionally violated or ignored international rulings on sovereignty claims would be taking a significant risk.

Youre begging the question of whether or not theyre challenging a global regime on how to govern the oceans, Allen said. That is not a very stable way of managing the oceans in the future, and any action that would be taken to contravene an international forum should be done very cautiously.

Unprecedented Complexity

Allen said one bright spot in international maritime relations is that countries are getting at better at cooperating when it came to disaster management in the face of unprecedented and growing complexities.

In my mind, there are two things that countries rarely argue about: search-and-rescue and oil-spill response, Allen said. Recent experiences of nations working together in response to disasters, he said, showed that such actions can take place independent of national security issues that may be going on.

Those things are generally not in question, that you want to do a job if there is an event and you want to help each other, it becomes a basis for cooperation and engagement. Its hard to do on the defense side.

The greater the level of information sharing, and the more intensive the efforts to build pre-existing relationships, Allen said the more success nations would have in reducing risk from things such as piracy, virus outbreaks, drug-trafficking and illegal migration.

What we are starting to see are complex challenges that dont have any precedent, Allen said.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics China
Health care advocates and a U.S. senator are raising concerns that nearly 22,000 Ohioans could end up paying much more for health care as their struggling insurer winds down its operations.

Republican Sen. Rob Portman has asked federal officials whether InHealth Mutual policyholders will have to satisfy new insurance deductibles if they switch plans, though they may have already paid hundreds or thousands of dollars this year with the financially troubled carrier.

Portman also questioned whether some policyholders might face a federal tax penalty if they continue to stay on a plan that no longer meets certain minimum coverage requirements under the Affordable Care Act.

In short, Ohioans who trusted in the Obamacare marketplace now find themselves between a regulatory rock and financial hardship, Portman wrote to Andy Slavitt, head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

A spokesman for the federal agency said it would respond directly to the senator.

We are working with InHealth and the state to provide consumers with the information they need to stay covered, said Aaron Albright, a CMS spokesman.

The questions come after a judge last month allowed Ohios insurance department to take over the suburban Columbus-based Coordinated Health Mutual Inc., an insurance co-op that sold the policies under its InHealth brand. The court granted the states request to liquidate the company after a financial review showed the companys losses would keep it from paying future claims.

Such insurance co-ops were created under President Barack Obamas health care law to provide a nonprofit alternative to commercial insurers. But they struggled to build their businesses. Twelve have folded and regulators are winding down the Ohio co-op.

Tax credits end June 30 for consumers who bought InHealth coverage through the federal marketplace. They must pick a new plan before then to keep their subsidies for July. Those that dont will have until July 26 to enroll into a new plan with tax credits.

Advocates and provider organizations want Ohio insurers who pick up InHealth members to apply any medical expenses already incurred toward their new deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.

It would be a terrible hardship for those newly enrolling in a plan through no fault of their own to begin paying all of their own medical expenses when they may have partially or fully met their deductibles, the groups wrote in an open letter to insurers.

Those signing the letter were the Ohio Hospital Association, Ohio State Medical Association, Ohio Academy of Family Physicians, Ohio Association of Community Health Centers, Ohio Osteopathic Association and the Universal Health Care Action Network of Ohio.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Carriers Ohio
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in partnership with international regulatory and law enforcement agencies, said that it took action last week against 4,402 websites that illegally sell potentially dangerous, unapproved prescription drugs to U.S. consumers.

This effort was part of Operation Pangea IX, the Ninth Annual International Internet Week of Action, a global cooperative effort, led by INTERPOL, to combat the sale of illegal and potentially counterfeit medical products on the internet.

According to George Karavetsos, director of the FDAs Office of Criminal Investigations, the enforcement action ran from May 31 to June 7.

The FDA said it conducted inspections at international mail facilities in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and sent formal complaints to domain registrars requesting the suspension of the 4,402 websites. Included are 110 websites that sell the chemical 2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) as a weight-loss product. DNP is most often used as a dye, wood preserver, and herbicide and has never been approved by the FDA for use as a drug.

The FDA said that, in addition to requesting the suspension of 4,402 websites, it issued warnings to the operators of 53 websites illegally offering unapproved and misbranded prescription drug products for sale to U.S. consumers. Inspectors seized illegal drug products in San Francisco, Chicago and New York, which resulted in the detention of 797 parcels which, if found in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, will be refused entry into the country and destroyed.

Source: FDA

Topics USA Drugs
The U.S. properly labeled MetLife Inc. as too big to fail, the government said, arguing to overturn a ruling that dealt a major blow to efforts to rein in risk in the financial system.

A federal judge was profoundly mistaken in interpreting the guidelines required to determine whether a financial institution is systemically important, lawyers for the Financial Stability Oversight Council, a regulatory panel led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew, said in court papers filed Thursday at a federal appeals court in Washington.

The U.S. panel is seeking to reverse a March ruling from U.S. District Judge Rosemary Collyer that dealt a blow to the financial regulation enacted after the 2008 financial crisis. FSOCs process to designate MetLife as a systemically important financial institution, or SIFI, was fatally flawed since the panel failed to follow its own guidelines when deciding the insurer could be a danger to markets if its in distress, she said. SIFIs face stricter regulation than smaller firms, including capital and leverage requirements.

The district court overturned the collective judgment of the heads of the nations financial regulatory agencies, the panel said. The courts ruling leaves one of the largest, most complex, and most interconnected financial companies in the country without the regulatory oversight that Congress found essential.

MetLife will file a response to the appeals court by Aug. 15, company spokesman, Randy Clerihue, said in an e-mail.

Failure Consideration

The guidance laid out for the council was merely to explain the process and doesnt suggest that regulators need to consider the likelihood of a large companys failure, FSOC said in the filing. The panel also argued that the guidelines dont require it to consider the potential costs to the New York-based insurer, saying that the judges determination that the cost of the too-big-to-fail tag was a risk-related factor is a conclusion not based in common sense.

Additionally, FSOC says it didnt try to estimate specific losses to other companies if the firm were to come under distress because that would be an impossible task, and a financial crisis often spurs sudden and unforeseen failures.

We continue to believe that the council acted well within its legal authority in designating MetLife, the Treasury said in an e-mail.

Risks Amplified

The government argued in February that regulators focused on MetLifes financial ties to firms around the world, which could amplify risks during a period of instability. Collyer questioned why FSOC seemed to assume that the insurer would be close to collapse during a crisis.

MetLifes lawyer Eugene Scalia has argued that the company isnt a financial institution that should be subject to FSOC and that the designation process violated federal administrative procedure law.

The case is the biggest challenge yet to the council which counts Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen among its members. American International Group Inc. and Prudential Financial Inc., two insurers that are also deemed SIFIs, havent pursued legal cases against the panel. The third non-bank SIFI, General Electric Co.s finance arm, has been shedding assets and asked regulators to drop the label.

Smaller MetLife

Chief Executive Officer Steve Kandarian is seeking to shrink MetLife, the largest U.S. life insurer, through the separation of a domestic retail unit. The operation sells annuities and could be at a significant competitive disadvantage if subjected to tighter capital requirements, the insurer has said. Kandarian has said he plans to proceed with the breakup, even after his court victory, because of regulatory uncertainty and the need to focus on businesses that generate the most free cash flow.

The case is MetLife Inc. v. Financial Stability Oversight Council, 15-cv-00045, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia (Washington).

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics USA Legislation
A case in Connecticut state court could help victims from mass shootings  including the recent massacre in Orlando  sue manufacturers of military style assault rifles used in the attacks, despite state and federal laws granting them immunity.

On Monday, families of victims of the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, where 20 children and six adults were killed, face off against Bushmaster Firearms International LLC, the maker of an AR-15 assault rifle used in the attack. The case is seen by lawyers and gun-control advocates as the best chance to challenge the legal immunity Congress granted gun manufacturers a decade ago.

Connecticut State Judge Barbara Bellis, in Bridgeport, will hear arguments by Bushmaster that the case should be dismissed because a 2005 federal law protects gunmakers from liability. The case has already proceeded further than other suits like it, giving hope to plaintiffs who want Bushmaster to pay for selling military grade weapons to untrained civilians.

If Bellis allows the suit to proceed, it could open the door for shooting victims elsewhere to file similar cases, Katie Mesner-Hage, a lawyer for the Sandy Hook plaintiffs, said in an interview. Bushmaster didnt respond to calls or e-mails about the suit. The company has said it did nothing illegal by selling the gun used in the attack.

Liability Shield

A lawsuit in Florida over the Orlando shooting would face steep odds. Florida is one of 34 states that gives immunity to gunmakers, offering protection that a judge may deem more comprehensive than federal law. For instance, Florida, unlike Connecticut, requires plaintiffs to cover defense attorney fees if the court sides with the gunmaker. Cultural differences could make a difference too, said Franklin Zimring, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

The community attitudes that affect the general orientations of judges are much more skeptical about firearms in Connecticut than in a Florida setting, he said. If Im a gun manufacturer, Id much rather defend a case in Florida.

Gunmakers say theyre protected in all states by the federal law, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which shields them from liability when crimes are committed with their products. The statute has helped the industry win dismissal of other cases, and U.S. lawmakers have rejected attempts to impose tighter restrictions on gun sales.

The Sandy Hook case hinges on whether the plaintiffs claims fall within an exception to the federal law, that Bushmaster negligently entrusted a military-grade weapon to civilians. The exemption normally is used to target a retailer who sells a weapon to someone who shouldnt have one, or a parent who gives a gun to a child, rather than a manufacturer, said John Culhane, a professor at Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Delaware.

Seemingly Paralyzed

With Congress seemingly paralyzed on this issue, certain state court judges  depending on what state youre in  might approach the case with some kind of urge to do something about it, Culhane said. A creative interpretation of the law like this might be a way to do that.

Regardless how the case turns out, the partisan gridlock over gun control means creative lawyering is the only way to bypass the federal legislation, said Timothy Lytton, a professor at Georgia State Universitys College of Law and the author of the book Suing the Gun Industry.

Judge Bellis may take as long as three months to rule on Bushmasters dismissal request.

The June 12 massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando left 49 people dead, becoming the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Omar Mateen, the gunman, acquired his assault rifle  manufactured by Sig Sauer Inc.  legally under Florida law about a week before his attack, according to newspaper reports.

The case is Soto v. Bushmaster Firearms International LLC, 15-cv-6048103, Connecticut Superior Court (Bridgeport).

With assistance from Katherine Greifeld

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Florida Connecticut Gun Liability Manufacturing
A $750,000 settlement has been reached with relatives of an unarmed motorist fatally shot by an off-duty South Texas sheriffs deputy.

The family of Mathew Jackson has agreed to settle the civil lawsuit. The money will be paid by Bexar Countys liability insurance that covers employees.

Jurors last month acquitted Anthony Thomas of a murder charge in the August 2013 death of Jackson. Authorities say Thomas was in uniform but driving his personal vehicle when the side mirrors of both vehicles bumped.

Thomas, who did not testify at his criminal trial, had told investigators that he feared for his life when Jackson ran toward him while carrying a shiny object. The item turned out to be a cigarette lighter.

Thomas was fired after the fatal shooting.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Carriers Texas
The General Assembly has confirmed Pat McCrorys two appointments to the North Carolina Industrial Commission, including a former Cabinet secretary.

The Senate gave unanimous approval June 16 to Bill Daughtridge and Linda Cheatham. The House previously backed their appointments to the commission, a quasi-judicial panel that resolves contested workers compensation claims.

Daughtridge is a former state House member who became McCrorys secretary of administration when the governor took office in 2013. Cheatham already has been on the commission since 2010 and was reappointed for another term.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics North Carolina
Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak has been elected by her fellow members of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) to serve as vice chair of the groups Executive Committee (ExCo).

Comprised of insurance regulators and supervisors from more than 200 jurisdictions, the IAIS is the international standard-setting body for insurance supervision. IAIS meetings provide an opportunity for state insurance regulators to meet with their international counterparts.

The groups Executive Committee provides leadership in its ongoing efforts to support global financial stability.

I am honored and pleased to represent the United States and state insurance regulators as vice chair, said McPeak, who has served on the IAIS ExCo for more than two years. We will continue to work on behalf of consumers and ensure consumer protection both in the U.S. and abroad in the creation and implementation of international insurance standards.

McPeak was appointed to lead TDCI by Governor Bill Haslam in January 2011. In February 2016, McPeak was elected as vice president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The NAIC is the U.S. standard-setting and regulatory support organization created and governed by the chief insurance regulators from the 50 states.

Other IAIS ExCo appointments to the ExCo include NAIC President-Elect and Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Ted Nickel and Texas Insurance Commissioner David Mattax. Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Katharine L. Wade was appointed to the IAIS Financial Stability and Technical Committee.

Topics USA Tennessee
Storms moving through Huntsville, Ala., damaged three apartment buildings severely enough to displace residents.

Winter Park Apartments property manager Alejandra Chavez tells WHNT-TV that 13 families couldnt stay in their homes because of roof damage that buildings sustained from storms on June 15.

Huntsville Fire Chief David Whitman says firefighters are unsure about the structural integrity of the buildings after strong winds damaged the roofs of three of the buildings.

Chavez says residents will be moved to another property once its safe to go in and move their things. Its unclear if any of the displaced residents will be able to return to their homes.

The Red Cross was on the scene following the storms to provide assistance to families.

No one at the apartment complex was hurt.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Homeowners Alabama
Firefighters say a wildfire not far from the Arizona-Mexico border has grown but is not threatening any homes, so far.

Carrie Dennett, of the Arizona State Forestry, said on June 18 that the blaze is burning about 20 miles north of the border near Sasabe.

Dennett described the area as sparsely populated but there are ranch homes out there.

She says one structure has been destroyed but it was vacant.

The fire is east of the Baboquivari Mountains and has grown to nearly 2 square miles.

There is no containment.

At least 150 firefighters and a single-engine air tanker have been assigned to it.

The wildfire began Friday morning inside Brown Bear Canyon.

The cause remains under investigation.

The area of the fire is about 50 miles southwest of Tucson.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Arizona
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. ignored pipeline safety regulations to cut costs and tried to cover up its illegal practices by misleading federal officials investigating a deadly explosion of one of its natural gas pipelines in the San Francisco Bay Area, a prosecutor said on June 17 as a criminal trial against the utility giant got underway.

PG&E knew exactly what to do to comply with regulations but didnt do it, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hallie Hoffman said in her opening statement.

Instead, it chose a cheaper method that did not ensure the safety of pipelines running through high-consequence areas, Hoffman said.

PG&E attorney Steven Bauer said the companys employees did what they could in the face of ambiguous regulations they struggled to understand.

The evidence is going to show good, qualified people coming into work every day and doing the best they can under the circumstances they are in, he said.

A PG&E natural gas pipeline exploded in the city of San Bruno six years ago, sending a giant plume of fire into the air. The blast killed eight people and destroyed 38 homes. During the investigation that followed, prosecutors say the San Francisco-based utility misled federal officials about how it was identifying high-risk pipelines.

The standard the company used violated safety regulations and led to a failure to classify the San Bruno pipeline and other similar pipelines as high risk, prosecutors said in a 2014 indictment.

Hoffman said the company did not subject the pipelines to appropriate testing, choosing a cheaper method.

Bauer said the companys engineers did not think the pipelines posed a safety risk. The company also did not intend to mislead investigators, he said. It inadvertently sent them a draft policy about its standard for identifying high risk pipes, not one the company was actually following, he said.

PG&E has pleaded not guilty to one count of obstruction and multiple charges that it violated pipeline safety regulations by, for example, ignoring errors in its records about pipelines. It faces a $562 million fine if convicted.

Family members of blast victims along with San Bruno officials were in the courtroom during Fridays opening statements.

Bauer cautioned jurors not to let the 2010 explosion overwhelm their evaluation of the case, saying the trial was not about determining compensation for the blast victims or determining future pipeline regulations.

Investigators have blamed the September 2010 blast in part on poor PG&E record-keeping that was based on incomplete and inaccurate pipeline information. California regulators fined the company $1.6 billion for the blast last year.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Legislation
(Bloomberg) -- Startup Oscar Insurance Corp. wants to be more than just a health insurer.

The company is laying the groundwork to start a health center in New York where its members can see primary-care doctors, according to a job listing on Oscars website. The insurer is seeking a doctor to lead the project, with the job beginning in September.

Running a clinic would be Oscars latest effort to adjust its strategy as it confronts massive losses on sales of Obamacare policies. The company already has been narrowing its network of doctors and hospitals in New York, and the clinic could give it more control over the care its members receive.

Oscar Health Center will be integrated with a top-tier network of specialists and community resources to make sure we can guide members to the best possible care, Oscar said in the job listing. The posting said physician candidates must be licensed in New York, though it didnt say where the health center will be located.

An outside spokeswoman for Oscar declined to comment.

In the New York area, Oscar started out with a broad network of doctors and hospitals. That proved costly, and the company reported about $105 million in losses last year in New York and New Jersey.

When the insurer expanded into the Los Angeles area, Dallas and San Antonio for this year, Oscar crafted narrow networks by striking deals with more limited groups of hospitals and doctors.

Other startups have been working to gain more control over which doctors their patients see as well. New insurer Bright Health Inc. is teaming up with hospital system Centura Health to offer individual plans in Colorado next year.

Similarly, Harken Health, an independent subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group Inc., provides primary care to members at Harken Health Centers in Atlanta and the Chicago area. That can help limit expenses by reducing costly emergency-department visits, the company has said.
Il governo per il 2016 sblocchera circa 20 miliardi di investimenti in infrastrutture. Questa la ricetta per dare la spinta decisiva alla ripresa emersa dal confronto tra Matteo Renzi e Graziano Delrio andato in scena ieri sera al Nazareno. Nello specifico, alla scuola andranno 1 miliardo e 220 milioni di euro, per lo sblocca Italia sono previsti 3,2 miliardi e per il dissesto idrogeologico altri 3 miliardi.

Per Rfi saranno stanziati 4 miliardi e per il contratto di programma Anas 1 miliardo e 115 milioni. In opere dei provveditorati dovrebbero essere investiti 4,5 miliardi, mentre agli aeroporti dovrebbero andare 228 milioni, 468 milioni al piano casa e 900 milioni ai porti; in ambito locale sono previsti 260 milioni per Tpl e 500 milioni di interventi nei comuni.

I cantieri che si possono sbloccare rapidamente, ha spiegato il premier durante il seminario nella sede del Partito democratico, rappresentano circa 20 miliardi di investimenti: risorse gia stanziate ma ancora ferme al palo. In questo momento e il ministro Delrio a dettagliare la serie di interventi possibili nel breve periodo.
The investment management world is divided into retail and institutional investors. Products designed for middle-income individual investors, such as the retail classes of mutual funds, have modest initial investment requirements: $1,000 or even less. In contrast, managed accounts or funds for institutions have imposing minimum investment requirements of $25 million or more.

Between these ends of the spectrum, however, is the growing universe of separately managed accounts (SMA) targeted toward wealthy (but not necessarily ultra-wealthy) individual investors. Whether you refer to them as "individually managed accounts," "separate account," or "separately managed accounts," these individual-oriented managed accounts have gone mainstream.

Key Takeaways A separately managed account (SMA) is a portfolio of assets managed by a professional investment firm.

SMAs are increasingly targeted toward wealthy (but not ultra-wealthy) retail investors, with at least six figures to invest.

SMAs offer more customization in investment strategy, approach, and management style than mutual funds do.

SMAs offer direct ownership of securities and tax advantages over mutual funds.

Investors must do due diligence before committing to a money manager whose discretionary services cost 1% to 3% of assets in the portfolio.

What Is a Separately Managed Account?

An SMA is a portfolio of assets managed by a professional investment firm. In the United States, the vast majority of such firms are called registered investment advisors. These firms operate under the regulatory auspices of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 and the purview of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). One or more portfolio managers are responsible for day-to-day investment decisions, supported by a team of analysts, plus operations and administrative staff.

SMAs differ from pooled vehicles like mutual funds in that each portfolio is unique to a single account (hence the name). In other words, if you set up a separate account with Money Manager X, then Manager X has the discretion to make decisions for this account that may be different from decisions made for other accounts. Mutual funds cannot offer, due to their structure as investments shared by a group of investors, the benefit of customized portfolio management. Separate accounts overcome this barrier.

Say, for example, that a manager oversees a diversified core equity strategy including 20 stocks. The manager decides to launch a mutual fund investing in these stocks as well as a separately managed account offering. Assume that at the outset, the manager chooses the same investments and the same weights for both the mutual fund and the SMA. From a client's perspective, the beneficial interests in either vehicle are identical at the outset, but the statements will look different. For the mutual fund client, the position will show up as a single-line entry bearing the mutual fund tickermost likely a five-letter acronym ending in "X." The value will be the net asset value at the close of business on the statement's effective date. The SMA investor's statement, however, will list each of the equity positions and values separately, and the total value of the account will be the aggregate value of each of the positions.

From this point, the investments will begin to diverge. Decisions the manager makes for the mutual fundincluding the timing for buying and selling shares, dividend reinvestment, and distributionswill affect all fund investors in the same way. For SMAs, however, decisions are made at the account level and will, therefore, vary from one investor to another.

How Separately Managed Accounts Are Customized

The high level of customization is one of the main selling points for SMAs, particularly when it comes to individual taxable accounts. Portfolio transactions have expense and tax implications. With managed accounts, investors may feel like they have a greater degree of control over these decisions, and that they are more closely attuned to the objectives and constraints set forth in the investment policy statement.

So what is the price of entry for this extra level of customized attention? Given technological advances, money-management firms have been able to significantly reduce their minimum investment requirements to well below the traditional $1 million level. But there is still no single answer for the several thousand managers that make up the SMA universe. As a general rule of thumb, the price of entry starts at $100,000. SMAs targeted to high-net-worth retail investors tend to set account minimum balances between $100,000 and $5 million. For strategies designed for institutional managers, minimum account sizes may range from $10 million to $100 million.

For style-based investors who seek exposure to several different investment styles (e.g., large-cap value, small-cap growth) the price of entry goes up, as there will be a separate SMA, and a separate account minimum, for each style chosen. For example, an investor seeking style-pure exposure in the four corners of the style boxlarge-cap, small-cap, value, and growthmight need to have at least $400,000 available to implement an SMA-based strategy. Other investors may prefer an all-cap blend (or core) approach that could be accessed through a single manager.

In addition, investors can impose restrictions on how the account is managed. For example, a client might not want to invest in alcohol or tobacco companies or they may wish to invest only in companies that are committed to some greater good, such as helping the environment. Separately-managed accounts are ultimately designed to provide individual investors with the kind of personalized money management that was formerly reserved for institutions and corporate clients.

Separately Managed Accounts and Direct Ownership

The ability to have an individual cost basis on the securities in your portfolio is the key to those benefits. To understand the significance, consider the nature of the mutual fund. In its most basic form, a mutual fund is a company that invests in other companies by purchasing the stocks and bonds issued by those companies. When you purchase shares of a mutual fund, you share ownership of the underlying securities with all of the other investors in the fund. You do not have an individual cost basis on those securities.

As an example, say XYZ Mutual Fund holds shares of Company 1 and Company 2. You purchase 100 shares of XYZ Mutual Fund. While you own those 100 shares of XYZ, you do not own any shares of Company 1 or Company 2. Those shares are owned by the mutual fund company. Since you are an investor in XYZthe companyyou can buy or sell shares in that firm, but you have no ability to control XYA's decision to buy or sell shares in Company 1 or Company 2.

However, in a separately managed account, you do own those shares. If a separate account portfolio includes shares of Company 1 and Company 2, the money manager purchases shares in each of those companies on your behalf.

To avoid the "mutual" nature of mutual funds, you could choose to purchase individual stocks and bonds to build your own portfolio, but that is a time-consuming proposition and denies you the benefit of professional portfolio management, which is the primary reason most investors put their money in mutual funds. To obtain the benefits of professional portfolio management without the hindrance of mutual ownership of the underlying securities, an increasing number of investors are turning toward separate accounts.

Tax Benefits of Separately Managed Accounts

One of the most significant benefits of separate accounts involves tax gain/loss harvesting, which is a technique for minimizing capital gains tax liability through the selective realization of gains and losses in your separate account portfolio. Consider, for example, a separate account portfolio in which two securities have been purchased at similar prices. Over time, one of the securities has doubled in value while the other has fallen by half.

By instructing the money manager to sell both securities, the gains generated by the security that has doubled in value are offset by the losses in the other security, eliminating any capital gains tax liability. The proceeds from the sale can be reinvested, maintaining the balance in your account. In a similar fashion, if you sold some real estate, art or other investments at a profit, but have unrealized losses in your separate account, you could realize the losses and use them to offset the gains from the sale of your other investments.

Another tax benefit that comes with SMAs is the lack of embedded capital gains, a common issue with mutual funds. Since mutual funds are "mutual," all investors share the tax liability on the capital gains incurred by the fund, which must pay them all out once a year. So, for example, if the fund doubled in value from January through November, investors purchasing into the fund in December did not get the benefit of any of those gains, but they do inherit the tax liability because the gains are embedded in the portfolio. Separate account investors, thanks to individual cost basis on the underlying securities, would not be liable for capital gains generated prior to the day they invested in the portfolio.

Fee Structures of Separately Managed Funds

One of the difficulties inherent in making an apples-to-apples comparison among investment offerings is that fee structures vary. This is even trickier for SMAs than for mutual funds, for reasons explained below.

Mutual fund fees are fairly straightforward. The key number is the net expense ratio, including the management fee (for the professional services of the team that runs the fund), miscellaneous ancillary expenses, and a distribution charge called a 12(b)1 fee for certain eligible funds. Many funds also have different types of sales charges. Funds are required to disclose this information in their prospectuses and show explicitly how the fund expenses and sales charges would affect hypothetical returns over different holding periods. Investors can easily obtain a fund prospectus from the fund's parent company, either online or through the mail.

Professional money managers' fees typically run from 1% to 3% of assets under management.

A prospectus is not issued for a separate account. Managers list their basic fee structures in a regulatory filing called a Form ADV Part 2. An investor can obtain this document by contacting the manager, but they tend not to be as widely available through unrestricted online downloads as mutual fund prospectuses. Moreover, the published fee schedule in the ADV Part 2 is not necessarily firmit is subject to negotiation between the investor (or the investor's financial advisor) and the money manager. Often, it is not a single fee but a scale in which the fee (expressed as a percentage of assets under management) decreases as the asset volume (the amount invested) increases.

The Importance of Due Diligence

Because SMAs do not issue registered prospectuses, investors or their advisors need to rely on other sources for investigating and evaluating the manager. In investor-speak, this is referred to as due diligence. Comprehensive due diligence will elicit sufficiently detailed information regarding all of the following areas:

Performance Data

A manager should be prepared to share performance data (annual and preferably quarterly returns achieved) since the inception of the strategy. The information is contained in a compositea table showing aggregate performance for all fee-paying accounts in that strategy. A good question to ask here is whether the composite complies with the Global Investment Performance Standards set by the CFA Institute and whether a competent third-party auditor has provided a letter affirming compliance with the standards.

Philosophy and Approach

Each manager has a unique investment philosophy and method of applying that philosophy to an investment approach. You will want to know whether the manager has a more active or passive style, a top-down or bottom-up approach, how alpha and beta risk are managed, the strategy's performance benchmark, and other pertinent information.

Investment Process

Find out who makes the decisions and how they are implemented; the roles and responsibilities of portfolio managers, analysts, support staff, and others; who's on the investment committee; and how often it meets. You should also find out about sell discipline and other key aspects of the process.

Operations

Some managers have extensive in-house trading platforms, while others outsource all non-core functions to third-party providers like Schwab or Fidelity. You also need to understand transaction expenses and how they can affect your bottom line. Another useful area of information here is client and account services. Among other things, you can find out about net client activitythe number of clients joining and leaving the firm.

Organization and Compensation

How the firm is organized and how it pays its professionalsespecially the managers whose reputations and track records are the big draware extremely important aspects of the investment. Understand the calculations behind incentive compensation. Are the manager's incentives aligned with those of the investor? This is an essential feature.

Compliance History

Red flags include prominent infractions with the SEC or other regulatory bodies, fines, or penalties levied and lawsuits or other adverse legal situations. The SEC considers separate account managers to be investment advisors subject to the provisions of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940.

Much of this information can be obtained from the manager's Form ADV Parts 1 and 2 (Part 2 includes more details on strategy, approach, and fees as well as biographical information on the principal team members). Performance data should be available directly from the manager, either online or through personal contact with a management representative. The representative should also be able to coordinate phone or in-person meetings with key team members and direct your questions regarding compliance and other issues to the appropriate personnel.

The Bottom Line

Given the account minimums, separately managed accounts are not for every investor. If you have the means, they can be a useful alternative to mutual funds or other pooled vehicles and more closely align with your own specific return objectives, risk tolerance, and special circumstances. To maximize the benefits separate accounts offer, most investors work with a professional investment advisor. The advisor assists with asset-allocation decisions and money-manager selection, as well as coordinates portfolio customization and gain/loss harvesting.
As president of the United States, Donald Trump was likely the wealthiest individual to inhabit the White House and his net worth remains a topic for debate.

In 2015, Donald Trump claimed in a press release that he was worth more than $10 billion, however, his net worth as of 2022 is estimated at $3 billion.

Key Takeaways Donald Trump is the founder of The Trump Organization, a private entity.

He is required to submit a financial disclosure document each year, although numbers are self-reported and dont provide an accurate estimate of his net worth.

Forbes estimates Donald Trump's net worth at $3 billion although Trump has claimed the value at $10 billion.

The Trump Organization

Since 1976, Donald Trump grew his wealth through global commercial, resort, and residential real estate development under the umbrella of The Trump Organization. As a private entity, The Trump Organization is not required to publish financial statements in the same manner as a publicly-traded company.

Donald Trump famously refused to publish his tax returns, which would show his annual income and taxes paid or owed. Although The New York Times published abbreviated information from Trump's tax returns on Sept. 27, 2020, the disclosure failed to provide details about his actual net worth.

As a former president, Trump completes a required annual financial disclosure to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. Government financial disclosures may list assets and investments but in estimates and broad value ranges. In 2021, many of Trump's properties were valued at "over $50 million," however, these estimates are self-reported, unaudited, and also differ from numbers The Trump Organization has reported to state and local tax officials.

71 The number of properties in the portfolio owned and operated by The Trump Organization. This total includes commercial and residential real estate, golf courses, hotels, and personal estates.

Assets

In May 2022, Forbes estimated Trumps net worth at $3 billion, falling short of the $10 billion estimates that Trump suggested while running for office in 2015.

Forbes' numbers marry with the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which placed the former presidents net worth at $2.97 billion in August 2020.Forbes has attempted to break down Trump's net worth by assets.

Net Worth The value of all assets minus liabilities.

Much of Trumps wealth is tied to multi-use buildings in Manhattan, including retail real estate in the busy Midtown district. His highest value asset is a 30% stake in the office and retail space at 1290 Avenue of the Americas, valued at $2.2 billion, with a debt value of $950 million on the property.



The Trump Organization owns several exclusive golf properties estimated at $730 million, including clubs in Scotland and Dubai. Trump's private golf club in Palm Beach, Fla, Mar-a-Lago, is valued at $350 million.

Trump holds approximately $275 million in cash and liquid assets. Other personal assets include three Florida homes and his 11,000-square-foot residence in New York City, the Trump Tower penthouse. Residential units throughout the United States and around the globe have an estimated value of $340 million. This includes hotels and residential locations in Chicago, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Europe, Asia, and South America.



Donald Trump announced in October 2021 that he was creating his own social media platform. Truth Social, held through Trump Media, garnered Donald Trump $430 million from investors. The Donald Trump brand, including his licensing and management business, is valued at just over $50 million.

Trump holds roughly $275 million in cash and liquid assets. Other personal assets include three Florida homes and his 11,000-square-foot residence in New York Citythe Trump Tower penthouse.



Trumps vast real estate empire includes approximately residential units throughout the United States. This includes hotels and retail locations in Chicago, Las Vegas, and San Francisco.

What Are Donald Trump's Estimated Liablities? Trump has a lengthy financial record which includes corporate bankruptcies and lawsuits. In 2021, Trump Organization owed $590 million in debts due within four years by 2025.



What Prominent Real Estate Locations in New York City Has Donald Trump Owned? Donald Trump has owned and sold many buildings in New York including the Plaza Hotel, the St. Moritz Hotel, now the Ritz Carlton on Central Park South, and the land under the Empire State Building.

What Is Considered One of Trump's Bad Investment Decisions? In 2014, Donald Trump partnered with an Azerbaijani family that U.S. officials called notoriously unethical. The building, a five-star hotel, and residence called the Trump International Hotel & Tower Baku in Azerbaijan has never opened.

The Bottom Line

Donald Trump's net worth has ranged in estimates from $3 billion to $10 billion. With his private firm, The Trump Organization, and its limited public disclosures, it has been difficult to capture the true net worth of his global commercial, resort, and residential real estate as well as his licensing and social media ventures.
Snapchat's parent company Snap Inc. (SNAP) is taking another stab at camera glasses with the release of two new stylish designs for its Spectacles line on Wednesday -- but investors still aren't buying it. Shares of the social media company fell to all-time lows on the news, reflecting larger concerns on the Street that Snap has little hope in regaining ground against Facebook Inc.'s (FB) Instagram and monetizing its photo and video sharing platform.

Trading down 4.2% on Wednesday at $10.15, SNAP reflects a 30.5% decline year-to-date (YTD), sharply underperforming its high-flying tech peers and the broader S&P 500, up 8% over the same period.

Snap Struggles to Boost User Engagement

Snap's new Spectacle 2 glasses, named Veronica and Nico, look more like traditional sunglasses than prior styles, and contain all of the same features and recording quality improvements as the first model launched in April. The main difference in the glasses is their style, as well as the addition of polarized lenses. Spectacles 2 start selling today at a price of $199 in "limited quantities" and will debut at select Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus stores in the US and Europe this fall.

Snap's Spectacles reflect the company's larger goal of boosting engagement on its mobile application. The company indicates that users on average post 40% more photos and videos captured with the glasses. Snapchat has also made an effort to facilitate sharing on other platforms by adding automatic camera roll sales and allowing video exports to the conventional square and horizontal formats. This fall, a new feature will automatically curate the Spectacle highlights of the day and create a 24-hour story.

(See also: Can Amazon Help Snap Beat Instagram?)

The Venice, California-based company has attempted to diversify its business as digital ad dollars continue to flow towards Instagram and other competitors. Instagram's rival Stories platform now boasts twice the number of users and is growing six times faster than Snapchat. Meanwhile, a report from Cowen earlier this year showed Snap's daily engagement down 7% over last year, while the platform ranked the lowest in a survey of ad buyers.

In July, rumors surfaced that Snap was working with Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) to add a feature which would allow users to identify products, songs, and item barcodes and link them to product listings. The social media company is also reportedly mapping its expansion into the red-hot gaming industry and has doubled down on its internal Lens Studio to develop software for specialized augmented reality (AR) filters.

(See also: Snap Inc. to Launch Gaming Platform This Fall.)
BP PLC (BP) is a British integrated oil and gas company with operations in more than 70 countries around the world. Its upstream operations were responsible for the production of 2.4 million barrel-of-oil equivalents (BOEs) per day in 2020. In terms of revenue, it is the fourth-largest oil company in the world as of 2020, after PetroChina, Sinopec, and Saudi Aramco.

The company's downstream operations include oil and gas trading and distribution activities, and the production and marketing of petrochemicals, lubricants, and fuels. As of August 24, 2021, BP has a market capitalization of $82.91 billion.

BP's ordinary shares are traded publicly on the London Stock Exchange and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in Germany. BP American Depositary Shares (ADSs) trade publicly on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). One BP ADS represents ownership rights in six BP ordinary shares.

As of June 30, 2021, BP had 283,569,587 total shares outstanding. Here are the top five institutional shareholders of the company. The information is current as of June 30, 2021.

Key Takeaways British Petroleum, better known as BP, is a global oil company based in the United Kingdom.

In terms of revenue, BP is the fourth-largest oil company in the world as of 2020, after PetroChina, Sinopec, and Saudi Aramco.

As a British company, U.S. investors can purchase its American Depositary Shares (ADS) on major stock exchanges.

The company is owned 8.4% by institutional investors.

The top five shareholders of British Petroleum are State Street, BlackRock, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Fisher Investments, and Menora Mivtachim.

State Street Corporation

State Street Corporation is a global financial services company based in Boston, Massachusetts, and the largest institutional shareholder of BP. The company's investment management arm operates under the State Street Global Advisors brand, offering institutional investors a range of investment products and research and advisory services.

State Street Corporation owns roughly 26.8 million shares of BP as of June 30, 2021, which represents 9.5% of the company.

BlackRock, Inc.

BlackRock is the world's largest investment management firm with $9.5 trillion assets under management (AUM) as of June 30, 2021. The company provides a vast array of financial services, from portfolio construction to analytics and data management to advisory to capital markets support to risk analytics, all to a wide breadth of clients.



BlackRock owns approximately 16.3 million shares of BP as of June 30, 2021, which represents 5.7% of the company.

Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc.

Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. is an American investment manager serving institutional and individual investors in North America, Europe, and Asia. The Dimensional Fund Advisors' approach to investment is founded on the use of cutting-edge academic research. It has long-nurtured close relationships with leading academics in the field of finance, including the 2013 Nobel Prize Laureate Eugene F. Fama, who is a founding shareholder of the firm and a member of its board of directors.

Dimensional Fund Advisors, Inc. owns 14.1 million shares of BP as of June 30, 2021, equivalent to roughly 5% of the company's outstanding shares.

The largest oil spill in U.S. history was the BP oil spill at the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. It is estimated the cost to BP for cleanup and other associated activities will be approximately $60 billion.

Fisher Investments

Fisher Investments, based out of Camas, Washington, is a private investment management firm that oversees over $188 billion in assets around the world. The company offers annuity conversion, financial planning, portfolio management, and tailored investment services. The firm offers these services to institutions and private clients.

As of June 30, 2021, Fisher Investments owns approximately 12 million shares of BP, amounting to 4.2% of the company.

Menora Mivtachim Holdings Ltd.

Menora Mivtachim is an Israeli company in the insurance industry that trades on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. The firm and its subsidiaries offer all types of insurance, including life insurance, car insurance, business insurance, and health insurance. The company also provides mutual fund management, mortgages, portfolio management, and underwriting services through its subsidiaries.

As of June 30, 2021, Menora Mivtachim owns 8.6 million shares of BP, which is 3% of the total shares outstanding.

Is BP Going Out of Business? BP is not going out of business. It is currently the world's fourth-largest oil and gas company in terms of revenue. Though the company has suffered financially due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill from all of the associated clean-up costs, it is not going out of business. BP, however, has exited from some of its businesses, such as petrochemicals.



What Is the World's Richest Oil Company? The world's richest oil company is the Chinese firm, PetroChina. In 2020, it had revenues of $280 billion. It is followed closely by another Chinese oil and gas firm, Sinopec. Sinopec had 2020 revenues of $271 billion.
Walmart Inc. (WMT) operates a worldwide network of retail stores as well as an e-commerce business. The company is known for its "everyday low prices" strategy in selling a wide variety of merchandise, including home goods, apparel, electronics, food, and more. The company operates in 24 countries, with roughly 10,500 stores and clubs under 46 banners as well as e-commerce sites. It employs more than 2.3 million people, with the large majority of employees based in the U.S.

Walmart's competitors include both traditional retailers such as Target Corp. (TGT) and e-commerce businesses like Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN).

Key Takeaways Walmart is a global retailer selling a wide variety of merchandise at low prices at 10,500 stores and on its e-commerce sites.

Walmart's Sam's Club membership-only warehouses was the fastest growing segment in Q4 FY 2022.

The company raised its annual dividend for FY 2023 by approximately 2% compared to FY 2022.

Walmart's Financials

Walmart announced in mid-February financial results for Q4 of its 2022 fiscal year (FY), the three-month period ended Jan. 31, 2022. The company posted net income attributable to its shareholders of $3.6 billion, a significant turnaround from the $2.1 billion net loss reported in the year-ago quarter. Revenue rose 0.5% year over year (YOY). Operating income, which Walmart uses as a profitability metric for its individual business segments, rose 7.3% YOY to $5.9 billion.

Walmart said that its revenue for the quarter was negatively impacted by $10.2 billion due to divestitures of certain business operations. But the company noted that its Walmart stores in the U.S. gained market share in grocery. Its e-commerce sales rose 1% YOY and 70% compared to the same three-month period two years ago.

Walmart's Business Segments

Walmart divides its operations into three reportable segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club. The first two of these segments represent Walmart-branded stores and products on a geographical basis, while the third represents the Sam's Club warehouse store.

Walmart only provides segment profits measured by operating income, which is a profit metric that excludes several expenses, such as taxes and interest on loans, that are included in overall profit, called net income. As mentioned above, Walmart reported operating income for Q4 FY 2022 of $5.9 billion, which includes a loss of $677 million attributed to "corporate and support."

Besides the three segments represented below, Walmart also reported $1.3 billion of revenue for Q4 FY 2022 under the category "membership and other income."

Walmart U.S.

Walmart U.S. is by far the largest of the company's segments. It represents Walmart stores in the U.S., including Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. This segment includes both "Walmart" and "Walmart Neighborhood Market" stores, as well as multiple e-commerce brands.

Walmart U.S. reported operating income of $5.2 billion on $105.3 billion in net sales in Q4 FY 2022. This represents 79% of the company's operating income and 69% of its net sales for the quarter. Walmart's U.S. operating income increased by 0.3% YOY in Q4 FY 2022. Net sales increased 5.7% YOY.

Walmart International

Walmart International includes Walmart's operations outside of the U.S. The company has wholly-owned subsidiaries in Africa, Asia, Central America, and elsewhere around the world. Walmart International includes supercenters, supermarkets, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, and e-commerce sites.

Walmart International reported an operating income of $832 million on net sales of $27.0 billion for Q4 FY 2022. This represents 13% of the company's operating income and 18% of its net sales for the quarter. Walmart International's operating income decreased 13.7% YOY for Q4 FY 2022, the only segment to post a YOY decline in this area. Net sales fell 22.6% YOY.

Sam's Club

Sam's Club is a membership-only warehouse club that operates across most of the U.S. Unlike the other two segments, membership income is a major contributor to this segment's operating income. Sam's Club also includes e-commerce sales through samsclub.com.

Sam's Club reported an operating income of $549 million on net sales of $19.2 billion for Q4 FY 2022. This represents 8% of the company's operating income and 13% of its net sales for the quarter. Sam's Club operating income grew by 41.1% YOY and net sales climbed by 16.5% YOY for Q4 FY 2022. This represented the fastest net sales growth of any Walmart segment.

Walmart's Recent Developments

On Feb. 17, 2022, Walmart announced that its board of directors had approved an annual cash dividend for FY 2023 of $2.24 per share, representing an approximately 2% increase from the previous year's dividend. The annual dividend is set to be paid in four quarterly installments of $0.56 per share.


Warren Buffett is widely regarded as one of the most successful investors of all time. Yet, as Buffett is willing to admit, even the best investors make mistakes. Buffett's legendary annual letters to his Berkshire Hathaway shareholders tell the tales of his biggest investing mistakes.

There is much to be learned from Buffett's decades of investing experience. Here is an analysis of three of Warren Buffett's biggest mistakes.

Key Takeaways Warren Buffett is widely regarded as one of the most successful investors of all time, but even the best investors make mistakes.

Buying at the wrong price, confusing revenue growth with a successful business, and investing in a company without a sustainable advantage are all mistakes the Buffett has shared with his shareholders in his legendary annual letters to them.

Among the companies that Buffett names as his biggest investing mistakes, he includes ConocoPhillips, U.S. Air, and Dexter Shoes.

Alison Czinkota / Investopedia

ConocoPhillips

Buying at the Wrong Price

In 2008, Buffett bought a large stake in the stock of ConocoPhillips as a play on future energy prices. I think many might agree that an increase in oil prices is likely over the long term and that ConocoPhillips will likely benefit. However, this turned out to be a bad investment, because Buffett bought in at too high of a price, resulting in a multibillion-dollar loss to Berkshire Hathaway. The difference between a great company and a great investment is the price at which you buy stock; this time around Buffett was even more wrong. Since crude oil prices were well over $100 a barrel at the time, oil company stocks were way up.

Lesson Learned

It's easy to get swept up in the excitement of big rallies and buy-in at prices that you should not have (in retrospect). Investors who control their emotions can perform a more objective analysis. A more detached investor might have recognized that the price of crude oil has always exhibited tremendous volatility and that oil companies have long been subject to boom and bust cycles.

Buffett says: "When investing, pessimism is your friend, euphoria the enemy."

U.S. Air

Confusing Revenue Growth With a Successful Business

Buffett bought preferred stock in U.S. Air in 1989no doubt attracted by the high revenue growth it had achieved up until that point. The investment quickly turned sour on Buffett, as the U.S. Air did not achieve enough revenues to pay the dividends due on his stock. With luck on his side, Buffett was later able to unload his shares at a profit. Despite this good fortune, Buffett realizes that this investment return was guided by lady luck and the burst of optimism for the industry.

Lesson Learned

As Buffett pointed out in his 2007 letter to Berkshire shareholders, sometimes businesses look good in terms of revenue growth, but they require large capital investments all along the way to enable this growth. This is the case with airlines, which generally require additional aircraft to significantly expand revenues. The trouble with these capital intensive business models is that by the time they achieve a large base of earnings, they are heavily laden with debt. This can leave little left for shareholders and makes the company highly vulnerable to bankruptcy if business declines.

Buffett says: "Investors have poured money into a bottomless pit, attracted by growth when they should have been repelled by it."

Dexter Shoes

Investing in a Company Without a Sustainable Competitive Advantage

In 1993, Buffett bought a shoe company called Dexter Shoes. Buffett's investment in Dexter Shoes turned into a disaster because he saw a durable competitive advantage in Dexter that quickly disappeared. According to Buffett, "What I had assessed as a durable competitive advantage vanished within a few years." Buffett claims that this investment was the worst he has ever made, resulting in a loss to shareholders of $3.5 billion.

Lesson Learned

Companies can only earn high profits when they have some sort of a sustainable competitive advantage over other firms in their business area. Wal-Mart has incredibly low prices. Honda has high-quality vehicles. As long as these companies can deliver on these things better than anyone else, they can maintain high profit margins. If not, the high profits attract many competitors that will slowly eat away at the business and take all the profits for themselves.

Buffett says: "A truly great business must have an enduring 'moat' that protects excellent returns on invested capital."

The Bottom Line

While making mistakes with money is always painful, paying a few "school fees" now and then doesn't have to be a total loss. If you analyze your mistakes and learn from them, you might very well make the money back next time. All investors, even Warren Buffett, must acknowledge that mistakes will be made along the way.
Stock market or equity indexes are composite measurements reflecting price movements of component stocks. Investors use indexes as a benchmark to gauge portfolio performance and as a barometer for overall market sentiment. When stock indexes trend upward, it can reflect a bull market, but when they trend lower, it may signify a bear market.

The technical definition of a bear market is a drop of 20% or more. In the United States, two of the most popular stock market indexes are the Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500) and the Russell 2000.

Key Takeaways Stock market or equity indexes measure reflecting price movements of stocks.

The S&P 500 index is an equity index comprised of approximately 500 large-capitalization companies.

The Russell 2000 index is a stock market index comprised of approximately 2,000 small-capitalization companies.

Both the S&P 500 and the Russell 2000 index are market cap- weighted.

The S&P 500 is used as a large-cap benchmark, while the Russell 2000 is commonly used as a small-cap proxy.

The S&P 500 Index

The S&P 500 is an equity index comprised of 503 large-capitalization companies listed on U.S. exchanges. A large-capitalization (large-cap) company typically has a market value greater than $10 billion and less than $200 billion. The S&P 500 is one of the most widely used benchmarks corresponding to the broader U.S. stock marketto be included in the S&P 500, the stock must have a market cap of $14.6 billion or more (among other requirements).

The index was introduced in 1923 and took on its present form in March 1957. The U.S. Index Committee from S&P Dow Jones Indices selects the index's constituent companies on an as-needed basis. The aim is to pick companies in industries and market segments that mirror the U.S. economy.

Due to its composition of 500 companies, the S&P 500 is a much broader and perhaps more accurate measure than the popular Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), which contains just 30 stocks.

S&P 500 Weighting

Shares are weighted by market capitalization, resulting in a cap-weighted or value-weighted index in which companies with larger market values receive relatively greater weight. The S&P 500 is float-weighted, which calculates a company's market capitalization using only the number of shares available for trading by the public. This helps to reflect a firm's investable valuation accurately.

The makeup of the index is adjusted from time to time to account for mergers and acquisitions (M&A), bankruptcies, special dividends, share repurchases, and new share issuances. Companies may be added or removed as the landscape of the U.S. economy changes, or as companies fail to meet listing criteria, such as market valuation and financial viability.

Investing in the S&P 500

The S&P 500 is an investable index, making it useful as a benchmark for the entire U.S. stock market. Investors and traders can replicate the S&P 500 by buying the component stocks using the same weights as the index.

Accumulating positions in 500 different shares can be costly and time-consuming, so alternatives exist to make investing in the index easier, including S&P 500 futures, indexed mutual funds, and indexed exchange traded funds (ETFs), like the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY).

There's also an active and liquid options market on S&P 500 futures and the SPY ETF, allowing well-diversified large-cap portfolios to be hedged.

S&P 500 Top Components

As of Sept. 30, 2022, the top 10 holdings in the S&P 500 by market capitalization include:

Apple (AAPL) Microsoft (MSFT) Amazon (AMZN) Tesla (TSLA)

Alphabet Class A (GOOGL)

Alphabet Class C (GOOG) Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B) UnitedHealth Group Inc (UNH) Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

Exxon Mobil (XOM)

The S&P is a diverse index in that it holds both growth and value stocks.

The Russell 2000 Index

The Russell 2000 index, created in 1984 by FTSE Russell, is a stock market index comprised of 2,000 small-capitalization companies. It's made up of the bottom two-thirds of the Russell 3000 index, a larger index of 3,000 publicly traded companies that represent nearly 97% of the investable U.S. stock market.

While the S&P 500 is a suitable benchmark for large-cap portfolios, the Russell 2000 is the most common benchmark for small-caps. Investors typically monitor this index to gauge the performance of smaller, domestically-focused businesses. The smallest 1,000 companies in the Russell 2000 make up the Russell 1000 Microcap Index. The Russell 2000 index is constructed to be representative of the smallest 2,000 listed companies in the U.S.

Russell 2000 Weighting

The Russell 2000 is another market-capitalization-weighted index and is designed as a comprehensive and unbiased barometer of small caps. Unlike the S&P 500, the components of the Russell 2000 index are selected by a formulathe bottom 2,000 of the Russell 3000and not by a committee.

Investing in the Russell 2000

Like the S&P 500, the Russell 2000 index is investable by replicating the index using component shares or through index futures, mutual funds, and ETFs like the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM). There's also an active listed options market for IWM and Russell 2000 futures.

Russell 2000 Top Components

As of Aug. 31, 2022, the top 10 holdings in the Russell 2000 by market capitalization include:

Shockwave Medical (SWAV) Biohaven Pharmaceutical (BHVN) Karuna Therapeutics (KRTX) Chart Industries (GTLS) Rbc Bearings (RBC) Matador Resources (MTDR) Murphy Usa (MUSA) Texas Roadhouse (TXRH) Emcor Group (EME) Chord Energy (CHRD)



The Russell 2000 is maintained by FTSE Russell, which is a subsidiary of the London Stock Exchange Group.

How Many Stocks Overlap Between the Russell 2000 and S&P 500? There is little to no overlap between the Russell 2000 and S&P 500. The Russell 2000 has a median market capitalization of $1.05 billion, while the median market cap for the S&P 500 is $27 billion.

How Has the S&P 500 Performed Against the Russell 2000? The S&P 500 and Russell 2000 have had similar performance over the long term. However, the S&P 500 outperformed the Russell 2000. Over the last five years, the S&P 500 has outperformed the Russell 2000 by 33%.



Which Is Better Between the S&P 500 and Russell 2000? The S&P 500 is considered a large-capitalization index, while the Russell 2000 is a small-cap index. The S&P 500 focuses on large, well-established companies, while the Russell 2000 tracks U.S. small-caps. Which is better depends on your investing goals and risk profile.



The Bottom Line

The S&P 500 and Russell 2000 are both investable, market-capitalization-weighted U.S. indexes commonly used as benchmarks by portfolio managers and investors. There are also several differences between the two indexes.

The S&P 500 is comprised solely of large-capitalization companies and serves as the most common large-cap benchmark. A committee selects constituent stocks, which contain just one-fourth of the number of companies listed in the Russell 2000.

Alternatively, the Russell 2000 is an appropriate benchmark for small-cap portfolios, with a formula determining member stocks rather than a committee.

Investopedia does not provide tax, investment, or financial services and advice. The information is presented without consideration of the investment objectives, risk tolerance, or financial circumstances of any specific investor and might not be suitable for all investors. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.


Utility companies provide natural gas, electricity, water, sewage, and other basic necessities for both residential and commercial properties. While many companies in the utilities sector make a profit, they are typically heavily regulated by public authorities. Utility companies range from large businesses providing a spectrum of services to specialized, niche companies focusing on wind energy and other services.

These are the 10 biggest utility companies by 12-month trailing (TTM) revenue. This list is limited to companies that are publicly traded in the U.S. or Canada, either directly or through ADRs. Some companies outside the U.S. report profits semi-annually instead of quarterly, so the 12-month trailing data may be older than it is for companies that report quarterly. Data is courtesy of YCharts.com. All figures are as of August 3, 2020.

Some of the stocks below are only traded over-the-counter (OTC) in the U.S., not on exchanges. Trading OTC stocks often carries higher trading costs than trading stocks on exchanges. This can lower or even outweigh potential returns.

Revenue (TTM): $76.8 billion

Net Income (TTM): $2.2 billion

Market Cap: $30.2 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: -17.7%

Exchange: OTC

French state-owned Electricite de France SA (EDF) provides services such as power generation, transmission, distribution, and trading. As a major provider of power in France as well as elsewhere in the world, the company is involved in every aspect of the electricity industry. The company's production is currently 90% free from carbon dioxide emissions.

Revenue (TTM): $67.6 billion

Net Income (TTM): $2.4 billion

Market Cap: $92.2 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: 39.5%

Exchange: OTC

Based in Rome, Enel SpA is a multinational power company and a leading integrated player in the worlds power and gas markets, with a presence in 32 countries and a focus on Europe and Latin America. More than half of Enel's electricity production is from thermoelectric, nuclear, geothermal, wind, solar PV, and other renewable sources.

Revenue (TTM): $67.0 billion

Net Income (TTM): $1.1 billion

Market Cap: $32.1 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: -13.0%

Exchange: OTC

Engie is a French multinational utility providing a broad spectrum of energy and environment services to customers in more than 70 countries. Previously known as GDF Suez, Engie has operations in electricity generation and distribution, natural gas, and renewable energy. The name change reflects the companys departure from the state-owned nationalized gas monopoly.

Revenue (TTM): $57.4 billion

Net Income (TTM): $0.5 billion

Market Cap: $4.4 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: -40.9%

Exchange: OTC

Tokyo Electric Power Co. generates and distributes electricity through the Tokyo area and several other regions in Japan. An integrated utilities company, the firm utilizes hydroelectric, nuclear, and thermal power sources.

Revenue (TTM): $55.1 billion

Net Income (TTM): $0.9 billion

Market Cap: $30.3 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: 22.8%

Exchange: OTC

Germany-based E.ON is an international energy supplier with operations across Europe. The company's focus is on power and gas distribution, while it also operates a customer solutions branch which is focused on energy sales, infrastructure, and growth businesses. E.ON's biggest markets are Germany and Sweden.

Revenue (TTM): $49.4 billion

Net Income (TTM): -$1.3 billion

Market Cap: $10.1 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: -33.3%

Exchange: New York Stock Exchange

South Korea's largest electric utility, Korea Electric Power Corp. generates and distributes electricity for a variety of residential and business uses. The company operates nuclear, thermal, and hydroelectric power units.

Revenue (TTM): $38.3 billion

Net Income (TTM): $4.0 billion

Market Cap: $78.9 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: 39.9%

Exchange: OTC

Iberdrola SA is a Spanish multinational electric utility with operations in the U.S., U.K., Spain, Portugal, and throughout Latin America. Among the company's subsidiaries are Scottish Power, Iberdrola USA, and Elektro (Brazil).

Revenue (TTM): $33.7 billion

Net Income (TTM): $2.6 billion

Market Cap: $37.6 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: -11.3%

Exchange: NASDAQ

Exelon Corp. operates as a utility services holding company serving millions of customers in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and several other areas of the U.S. The U.S. company is one of the largest domestic power generators, with power capacity generated by nuclear, gas, wind, hydroelectric, and solar stations.

Revenue (TTM): $29.3 billion

Net Income (TTM): $1.2 billion

Market Cap: $8.2 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: -22.4%

Exchange: OTC

Kansai Electric Power Co. provides electricity to customers in Osaka and the surrounding Kansai region in Japan. The company builds and maintains electric power facilities and utilizes thermal, geothermal, nuclear, and hydroelectric power sources.

Revenue (TTM): $27.6 billion

Net Income (TTM): -$0.8 billion

Market Cap: $3.6 billion

1-Year Trailing Total Return: -33.0%

Exchange: OTC

British multinational Centrica provides energy services to 25 million consumer accounts. Centrica primarily supplies electricity and gas to customers across the U.K. and elsewhere in Europe as well as in the U.S.
Top News - Investor Idea

REE Stock News - Defense Metals (TSX-V: DEFN.V) (OTCQB: DFMTF) Drills 113 metres of 2.50% Total Rare Earth Oxide at Wicheeda

Vancouver, British Columbia - October 26, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mining / Metals / Green Energy Stock News - Defense Metals Corp. (TSX-V: DEFN / OTCQB: DFMTF/ FSE:35D) is pleased to announce high-grade Rare Earth Element ("REE") assay results from one additional core hole, totalling 383 metres (m), collared within the northern area of Defense Metals' 100% owned Wicheeda REE Deposit.

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Breaking EV Stock News: Mullen (NASDAQ: MULN) FIVE 'Strikingly Different' EV Crossover Tour Starts Tomorrow, Oct. 27, in Pasadena, California; New Los Angeles Area Stop Added

BREA, Calif. - October 26, 2022 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mullen Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: MULN) ("Mullen" or the "Company"), an emerging electric vehicle ("EV") manufacturer, announces today the beginning of the Mullen FIVE Strikingly Different EV Crossover Tour, which will commence on Oct. 27 in Pasadena, California. Due to overwhelming interest, new dates have been added for Nov. 1 and 2 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.

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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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You can now withdraw cash from your Bank of America account using Apple Pay. Users on Reddit have already begun to see compatible ATM machines throughout America, like the one pictured above in Redondo Beach, California.

Apple Pay, Android Pay, and Samsung Pay can be used to make withdrawals and transfers at Bank of America ATMs without the need for a physical card, explains Reddit user WhatWhatTech. This only works at some Bank of America ATMs, but its scheduled to roll out to all Bank of America ATMs this year.

Compatible ATMs are equipped with an NFC reader, which lets them communicate wirelessly with your iPhone when you hold it up to the machine. Your fingerprint then authenticates your withdrawal and allows you to grab your cash.

Bank of America is said to be promoting Apple Pay support on compatible ATMs, so you probably wont miss it when you stumble across one. However, it should be noted that only Bank of America cards and accounts are supported at this time.

If you attempt to use another card, the ATM might allow you to move past the PIN entry and amount selection screens, WhatWhatTech says. But then they will get stuck when attempting to process your cash.

The ATM gave an error that the transaction was not supported and that the card should be inserted in the card slot to continue with the transaction, so third party cards seem to not work at this point.

Other U.S. banks are looking to catch up with Bank of America. Chase announced a similar feature earlier this year, and Wells Fargo has confirmed it is working on it.

[Via 9to5Mac
After the last few years of a global pandemic, and the resulting pressure that is being put on many care providers, health is
An Irishman has been ordered to pay 75,000 ($84,570) in damages for defamatory Facebook postings.

The man was ordered by the Monaghan Circuit Court to pay damages after he posted comments on the social media platform about the National Director of the National Association of Regional Game Councils.

The Irish Times reports that Desmond Crofton, 63, from Stonestown, County Offaly, took the civil action against John Gilsenan, from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, in relation to a Facebook comment posted on or about December 22, 2015.

Crofton said comments resulted in questions being raised by members about the organizations finances and legal costs and had led to him being suspended on full pay.

Gilsenan failed to appear in court. Counsel said that he had engaged in early communication with the plaintiff, but he had since abandoned the matter.

Judge John OHagan awarded the maximum allowable damages and told the court that his order should teach people posting messages on the social media site to be very careful.

A Digital Rights Ireland spokesman said it was a big ruling to get in the Circuit Court and described it as a wake-up call for a lot of people.

He said people need to remember that they are online and are not engaged in pub talk.

Often they are talking off the top of their heads and they dont have any facts, the spokesman said. To them its like pub talk and it goes away at the end of the night.

However, once online they turn into publishers and are subject to the same defamation laws as newspapers. They have committed something to writing and are speaking to a large audience of people they do not know.

Theres a feeling that the old laws [offline] dont apply online, but they do, he said.

Irish defamation laws are pretty strict. Theres a very low bar for what defamation is in our system.
A young woman who was sexually abused by her father nearly every day for 10 years said she felt like an animal the day her father cornered her in a shed and tried to have sex with her.

Her 50-year-old father has since been diagnosed a paedophile by a psychiatrist. The Central Criminal Court heard that he began abusing his daughter when she was five years old and after he developed an addiction to pornography.

The now 20-year-old first disclosed the abuse to her school chaplain when she was 17 years old. She said she always felt different from others and was bullied in school.

'Cornered'

She read in her victim impact statement that a father was supposed to care for and protect his children, but he treated me like an object that he could use and control. She said as a child she felt she was unable to turn to anyone, even after I realised what was going on.

Recalling an incident of attempted rape when she was cornered in a cattle shed, she said; I remember thinking he treated the animals better than me. I told him I felt like a chained up animal.

The 50-year-old man pleaded guilty to two attempted rapes and 10 sexual assaults on dates between 2003 to 2012 at the family farm and other areas under the family holding in County Sligo. He has no previous convictions.

The court heard that the man would often wake the girl up from her sleep and bring her into his bedroom where he would sexually assault her in the bed he shared with his wife. The girl recalled that on one occasion her baby sister, who would sleep in a cot in their parent's room, was awake and watching them.

The man would also watch the girl while she showered. He always abused her after asking her to come out and help him on the familys farm with the evening chores.

Dara Foynes BL, prosecuting, told Mr Justice Tony Hunt that the 10 counts were representative of 37 counts. She said the girl claimed that he abused her every day and the father admitted to gardai that it happened at least two or three times a week.

Younger ones don't know why father left the home

The man made immediate admissions to a social worker in March 2014 and immediately left the family home.

The girl said the fact that her younger sisters still didn't know why their father left was very upsetting for her and she felt responsible for breaking up the family.

The man told gardai during interview that he took advantage of the close relationship he had with his daughter. I had a thing in my mind that I was giving her comfort, he said.

Mr Justice Hunt said he had concerns about the man being diagnosed as a paedophile following an assessment by Doctor Brenda Wright.

He asked John Paul Shortt SC, defending if such a person could ever be rehabilitated, having said he would be worried about allowing person with that diagnosis back into the community. Counsel replied that he believed nobody was beyond redemption.

The man took the stand and addressed his daughter in court saying that a proper apology was well overdue. He said he understood that a prison sentence was for him to surrender to his past failings and his crimes, which he said his poor daughter was the victim of.

Mr Justice Hunt told him that the victim, the man's eldest daughter was the very obvious victim but there are other victims in the family too.

Mr Shortt said a psychiatrist report from Dr Wright concluded that his client's descent into depravity ran in tandem with an addiction that he developed into watching pornography and sex channels.

She concluded her report by giving the diagnosis that the man was a paedophile who was sexually attracted to prepubescent girls.

Mr Shortt said his client had led an otherwise blameless life before the appalling offences began.

He asked that the court take into account that the man always admitted the sick and perverted behaviour over a protracted period.

Mr Justice Hunt remanded the man in custody until July 11 next for sentence to allow him time to consider the case.
Today is World Refugee Day, and aid agency GOAL have released six facts that you probably do not know about refugees.

It comes as the UN refugee agency released a report saying that the number of refugees and internally displaced people worldwide stood at 65.3 million at the end of last year.

The record number is because persecution and conflict in places like Syria and Afghanistan have lead to an increase in their numbers.

1. More than half of the worlds refugees are children.

Refugee children are a particularly vulnerable group. Mary T Murphy, probably Corks most famous aid worker, has witnessed the reality of life for refugees during her time with international aid charity GOAL.

She said: Life for people living in camps is difficult but they are happy to be safe and away from conflict. Mothers struggle to keep their children healthy and to ensure that they have enough food, water and shelter.

2. Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud were refugees, along with music artists M.I.A., Wyclef Jean and the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama, who was forced to flee Tibet at a young age, remains a refugee.

He said: "At 24 I lost my country and became a refugee. I've met difficulties, but as the saying goes: 'Wherever you're happy, you can call home, and whoever is kind to you is like your parents.' I've been happy and at home in the world at large. Living a meaningful life isn't just a matter of money; it's about dedicating your life to helping others."

3. Most refugees live in cities, not camps.

About 25% of the worlds refugee population live in camps but many more live in cities, where most pay rent.

Many refugees end up living in slums and informal settlements on the fringes of cities, where conditions are often difficult and hazardous.

4. More people are displaced today than any time since World War Two.

For the first time since the Second World War, the number of refugees, asylum-seekers and internally displaced people worldwide has exceeded 50 million people.

Every day, more than 40,000 people worldwide are forced to flee their homes; thats equivalent to the population of Longford. While more than 1 million migrants crossed into Europe in 2015, an overwhelming 86% of refugees are hosted by developing countries.

5. The contraceptive pill, fish and chips, the mini, and Sriracha, the hot sauce with a cult following, were all invented by refugees.

We owe a lot of modern day inventions to refugees, including the contraceptive pill, the key ingredient for which was developed by Carl Djerassi, an Austrian refugee.

Jewish refugees fleeing persecution in Portugal in the 17th century brought the first adaption of fish and chips to Britain. Sriacha, the hot sauce that has gained a cult following among foodies, was invented by a Vietnamese refugee named David Tran.

The greek refugee who created the iconic Mini, Sir Alec Issigonis, fled from Turkey in 1922.

6. Syria was the worlds second-largest refugee hosting country before war broke out in 2011.

Today Syria is the largest refugee producing country in the world, with a staggering 4.2 million refugees.

The crisis has been raging for over five years, resulting in the internal displacement of 7.6 million people.

An average of one bomb a day fell on the province of Idlib in northern Syria in October, an area about the size of Galway.
BREXIT, shorthand for a British exit from the European Union, sounded like a brand name for a new beer at first hearing.

However, it is now being seen by many in Ireland as a condition with serious consequences for the national economy, especially the agricultural sector.

Britain will go to polls on Thursday to decide whether it will leave the EU or remain a member. The implications of a decision to leave are enormous for Ireland and for the agri-food industry in particular.

Agriculture, Food and Marine Minister Michael Creed outlined some of those implications in recent replies to Dail questions.

He told Fianna Fail TD Shane Cassels that Central Statistics Office figures show that in 2015 we exported almost 5.1bn worth of agricultural products to Britain while imports from the UK were worth 3.8bn.

He said an ESRI report last year estimated that the potential reduction in bilateral trade flows could be as high as 20%, with an even higher impact on agriculture, food and beverages.

An analysis by Teagasc found that, depending on the assumptions made, the minimum impact could be a reduction of 1.4% or 150m per annum in the value of Irish agri-food exports, with a possible worst-case scenario involving a reduction of over 7%, or 800m, per annum.

Mr Creed said the possibility of a UK exit also poses a serious and complex situation for our fisheries sector. While the negative impact on trade could be significant  the UK is our second largest market for seafood after France  the most complex fisheries issues are those related to the possibility of restricted access to fishing grounds and resources.

Mr Creed, replying to Labour Party TD Willie Penrose, said Brexit is an issue of enormous concern and is exercising the minds of the whole government.

While people ask themselves what they can do without being seen to meddle, there are 140,000 people in the State who are entitled to vote in that referendum, and many of us know people in those communities and should reach out to them.

When the Mercosur trade agreement didnt have an initial offer on beef, people breathed a sigh of relief. However, that achievement would pale into insignificance were the UK to leave the EU and be in a position to negotiate bilateral trade agreements with South America, he said.

Mr Creed said slightly less than 50% of Irelands beef exports are on supermarket shelves in Britain. This encapsulates the scale of the potential crisis we face, he said.

Irish Farmers Association president Joe Healy said it is hugely important for Ireland that the UK remains within the EU.

Britain represents Irelands most important agri-food export market, accounting for over 40% of agricultural exports.

It is the destination for some 50% of our beef, 60% of our cheese, 350m worth of pigmeat exports and almost 100% of our mushroom exports. It is a high-value market, with customers sharing the same language and with similar consumer preferences as Irish customers.

Mr Healy said Irish agriculture would surely suffer negative consequences, in the short-term and the longer term, if Britain votes to leave the EU. With a long history of emigration to Britain, all Irish farm families have members, relatives and friends living in the UK and eligible to vote.

We are asking farm families and families in rural Ireland and across the country to communicate the concerns and risks that we are highlighting.

Our appeal is to those voting to take the concerns into account and to vote for the UK to remain within the EU, he said.

The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association has also warned that a British exit from the EU could be the biggest threat to the Irish economy since 2009.

Livestock Committee chairman Michael Guinan, said in the latest ICMSA newsletter that a substantial part of that threat falls on agriculture and beef exports. Analysts believe the mere threat of Brexit has been enough to precipitate a serious drop in the value of sterling and that a vote to leave would prompt a further significant depreciation, he wrote.

Uncertainty over whether Britain should stay in the EU or leave is already having an impact on land prices and agri-food exports here. Thats according to a market review and outlook for 2016 published by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and Teagasc.

The report notes the difficulty of measuring the economic impact of Britain leaving the EU, but predicts that in the broad economic sense it is expected to have negative consequences.

Jason Loughrey, Teagasc, one of the report authors, said if Brexit happens the effect on Irish trade and on the Common Agricultural Policy may have a knock-on effect on overall confidence in the land market.

Ongoing uncertainty in the lead up to the vote is already having a negative effect on agri-food exports due to the depreciation of sterling against the euro.

It has lost 7p against the euro since the end of 2015. So, Brexit is already having a dampening effect on land prices. If the Leave side wins the situation becomes more complicated, although it will be some time before the consequences crystalise fully, he said.

Meat Industry Ireland has warned that meat exports to the UK, worth 2bn each year, will lose their competitive position if the UK leaves. Farmers in the North are split on whether remaining part of the EU is in their best interests.

However, Ireland rugby captain and Armagh farmer Rory Best has no doubts. He is urging North voters to keep Britain in the EU.
Politicians from across the political spectrum have criticised the limits, which aim to avoid a repeat of the 2008 property crash, saying the required 20% deposit puts house ownership beyond the means of many.

The Central Bank is due to review the rules in November, but deputy governor Sharon Donnery said in an interview with the Sunday Independent that it was not considering removing the limits.

Our expectation at this stage is that the caps will be a permanent feature and what we will analyse will be the calibration, she said, according to a transcript of the interview published by the bank.

Our intention is that some form of cap around LTV (loan-to-value) and LTI (loan-to-income) would become a permanent feature.

If signs emerge that the property market is overheating, the measures could be tightened further, she said.

Last week, the Central Bank launched a public consultation process  on how the new mortgage rules have affected the market  ahead of its November review. Ms Donnery, then, said that while individuals ability to access credit and buy houses has been affected, the limits are designed to protect the system as a whole and should be seen in a medium-to-long-term view.

This weekends interview with Ms Donnery also said that the Central Bank unsuccessfully sought permission, from the Department of Finance five years ago, for it to be able to regulate vulture funds and special purpose vehicles for fear of hedge funds and private equity houses buying discounted mortgage books and treating borrowers unfairly.

Submissions to the Central Banks mortgage consultation process, or call for evidence, can be made up until August 10.

* Reuters (additional reporting Irish Examiner).
Since 2008, many forms of tax reliefs and incentives have been whittled-out of the tax code. Taxpayers are confined to standard reliefs and allowances, like PAYE allowances, and to paying tax at high marginal rates after that.

Some tax reliefs, though, have survived  a case in point is the dwelling-house relief, which can reduce the inheritance tax on homes.

Tax policy is still used as an instrument to engineer social change. This is obvious when we consider the high rates of tax on cigarettes, the levy on plastic bags, and the reduced VAT on items like childrens clothing. But the desire to promote social change also applies to one of the oldest taxes of all  inheritance tax.

Any nation as sensitive to property rights as Ireland is will always be suspicious of a tax on property and inheritance. Maybe thats why inheritance tax (or capital acquisitions tax, as it is more formally known) generates little revenue for the Exchequer.

It is one of the least lucrative taxes, bringing in about 400m every year. Thats less than the local property tax brings in.

Successive governments have decided that inheritance tax shouldnt prejudice business activity.

Usually, it is possible for family businesses to be passed down to the next generation without an exposure to tax.

Measures introduced two years ago use the inheritance-tax system to encourage the transfer of farmland from older to younger generations. Relief from inheritance tax is available, if a farm is passed onto a generation that will ensure it is actively farmed, either directly by themselves, or by a tenant.

This agricultural relief is one of the most valuable in the tax code, and reduces the inheritance tax bill by up to 90%.

Inheritance tax is unusual, because it is charged with reference to the relationship between the person receiving the gift or inheritance, and the person giving the gift or leaving the inheritance. A gift from a stranger will be more heavily taxed than a gift from a parent. The rate is high, at 33%, so there are plenty of rules to ensure it cant be evaded.

Its impossible for a solicitor to make a legal transfer of an inheritance to a beneficiary without the Revenue knowing about it.

Of course, for most parents, the biggest family asset is the home. There is a threshold amount, which is the amount that a child can receive tax-free from their parent, and that stands at 280,000.

If the family home has a higher value, the child will pay inheritance tax on the excess over 280,000. Inheritance tax is becoming predominantly a charge on family homes in more valuable urban locations.

This is where the dwelling-house relief becomes important. Dwelling-house relief eliminates the inheritance tax charge, where the child has no place of their own.

Figures obtained by Deputy Michael McGrath, from a parliamentary question last month, suggested that 700 families availed of this relief in 2015, at an Exchequer cost of 52m.

That is a big number, but, in the overall scheme of things, its only one-eighth of the total capital-acquisitions tax yield.

And if the promise in the Programme for Government, to raise the parent-to-child threshold to 500,000, is kept, fewer homes again will fall into the tax trap.

As with all tax loopholes or tax reliefs, I wouldnt be naive enough to suggest that the dwelling-house relief works exactly as intended, in all cases.

But no more than the agricultural relief I described earlier, the social idea behind it is sound. It needs to be retained, at a time when housing difficulties are so high on the agenda.

* Brian Keegan is director of taxation with Chartered Accountants Ireland
It is worth looking at some of the key figures who began grouping European countries after World War 2, resulting in the formation of the European Economic Community, in 1957, a long period of prosperity, and the construction of todays European Union.

In 1945, the continent was being divided, as the Soviet leader, Joseph Stalin, and his military and secret police, tightened their grip on Eastern Europe. By 1948, the takeover would be complete.

In 1946, Britains prime minister, Winston Churchill, spoke, in the US, of how an iron curtain had descended from Stettin, in the Baltic, to Trieste, in the Adriatic. That year, he also delivered a speech that is considered by some as the first step towards European integration. He argued that the recreation of the European family, or as much of it as we can, could, as if by a miracle, transform the whole scene. We must build a kind of United States of Europe.

This rhetoric was matched by practical actions on both sides of the Atlantic. In America, the Truman administration put together the Marshall Plan, an ambitious aid programme born of rational self-interest and of a recognition that a prosperous Western Europe was required, if further land grabs by Stalin were to be resisted.

Countries right across Europe, Ireland included, gained. Key beneficiaries included France, Italy and, above all, West Germany. The plan was named after General George Marshall, but its driving forces were bureaucrats, financiers, and economists, led by Dean Acheson, of the US State Department, and a New York lawyer, John McCloy. The Americans were promoting a new, centralised European organisation. In 1948, the OEEC, or Organisation for European Economic Cooperation, was established.

In Western Europe, key local figures were also active. The people of the Low countries, led by that great trading race, the Dutch, were in the vanguard. In 1944, they set up the Benelux customs union, involving Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

Key figures in this parallel move included Frances foreign minister, Robert Schuman, and Jean Monnet, a talented bureaucrat and financier. Monnet helped to inspire the Schuman Declaration of May, 1950, in which a plan for European integration was set out.

Schuman proposed that coal and steel production be pooled to provide the common foundation for economic development as a first step in the federation of Europe. Schuman was a social Catholic. The son of a German farmer, he grew up in Lorraine, which remained under German control until 1918. He cut his teeth investigating corruption in the Alsace Lorraine rail and steel industries. After the war, he engaged in what he described as a great experiment, the fulfillment of the same recurrent dream, which, for ten years, has revisited the peoples of Europe, that of creating an organisation to put an end to war.

Monnet was more practical, but equally visionary. He had served as deputy general secretary of the League of Nations between 1919 and 1922. He became disillusioned by its muddled decision-making and headed off to work as an international financier, initially with a US bank, Blair & Company. He helped stabilise Polands currency and advised the Chinese government. His social network extended to the powerful Rockefeller and Wallenberg families.

In December, 1939, he was brought back to reshape British and French industry, ahead of the coming war. After the fall of France, he advised the US president, Franklyn Roosevelt, and helped to assemble the great American arsenal of democracy that would soon outproduce the Germans. The economist, John Maynard Keynes, claimed that Monnet, by his actions, helped shorten the war by a year.

Monnet turned his attention to building up the European Coal and Steel Community. This would form the basis for the embryonic European Economic Community. The ECSC came into being in April, 1951, soon after the French government had proposed the establishment of a European Defence Communtiy. Some regard the establishment of the Coal and Steel Community, by six states, as the real foundation date of the European Community.

Monnet had few doubts about the direction in which he was headed. In 1955, he founded an Action Committee for a United States of Europe. Two years later, this bore fruit with the enactment of the Treaty of Rome and the foundation of the European Economic Community.

These moves would not have been possible without the foundations of recovery, particularly in the new German Federal Republic, where another key partnership had been formed, between the Chancellor, Konrad Adenauer and his economy minister, Ludwig Erhard. Adenauer was 73 when he took over and was still in post at the age of 87.

A Catholic from the Rhineland, he believed strongly in alliances with both France and the US, as Germany set out to rehabilitate itself. His right-hand man, Erhard, presided over the abolition of price and production controls. This set the stage for economic recovery.

Days after the controls were removed, goods appeared in shops and work absenteeism plummeted. The stage had been set for the West German economic miracle. The Federal Republic soon was able to underwrite part of the cost of the new Economic Community.

France, the other key component of the embryonic EEC, endured a miserable 1950s, facing disruption at home and the loss of its colony in Vietnam, as well as rebellion in Algeria. Charles de Gaulle returned to power in 1958, bringing political stability and boosting the French economy.

Across the continent, urbanisation and an industrial revival underwrote the new European Economic Community, though it would take until the early 1990s before the European Single Market would come into being. De Gaulle is a complex figure in EU history. He envisaged a confederation of states rather than the integrated entity that Monnet pushed for. He twice blocked Britains application for entry, and by extension Irelands. Arguably, he did us a favour.

But de Gaulle set the stage for the remarkable Franco-German alliance that was so pivotal to the early success of the EU. Perhaps it was the shattering experience of war. Europe had statesmen then. We could do with a few now.
Driven by a combination of poor prices, barriers to cashflow, lack of retail regulation, and high input costs, farm incomes are under extreme pressure.

IFA elected officers will tomorrow meet with government and opposition TDs and senators from around the country to brief them on the dire situation facing farmers.

We will meet Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed later this week to spell out the steps necessary here and in Brussels to deliver positive change for farmers.

Payments and supports

Direct payments make up a significant element of farm income, particularly for drystock and tillage farmers.

There is an opportunity for the minister to boost income by raising the number of GLAS entrants to over 50,000 and by bringing forward the Government commitment to increase ANC payments to the upcoming Budget.

A 70% advance on the basic payment in October is also needed to help cashflow.

The beef and sheep sectors make a significant contribution to Irish economic growth, through export growth and employment. However, farmers are not receiving a fair and sustainable income from these enterprises.

The minister must immediately act to secure the viability of these sectors, which are vital to local economies particularly in marginal areas.

We will be making a strong case for the re-opening of Beef Data and Genomics Programme to applicants this year and for an increase in funding in Budget 2017. The Governments commitment to 25m for a new sheep scheme, which is essential to maintain our national ewe flock, must be promptly acted on.

The scheme must be simple, effective and it must impose minimal bureaucracy and costs on farmers.

Farm finances

The income crisis on farms is compounded by a clear market failure in the Irish financial sector.

The cost of financing short-term working capital is very high, with average quoted rates for overdraft facilities of 8% and higher rates for merchant credit.

The EU Agriculture Council has recognised the need to address cashflow pressures on farms with provision for State Aid through low interest loans or loan guarantees.

Urgent action is now needed by the Government to provide low-cost short- term loans to alleviate cashflow pressures across all sectors.

Both Farm Assist and the Rural Social Scheme are vital supports for low income farmers. The review of Farm Assist promised in the new Programme for Government must reinstate the income and child disregards abolished by the previous minister.

Their abolition had a dramatic effect on the qualification criteria for Farm Assist and with farm incomes under severe strain across most sectors, it is important that changes are made and the assessment process carried out in a fair way reflecting the volatility of farm incomes.

The Rural Social Scheme is a vital community employment initiative, particularly in areas where job opportunities are limited. The number of places on the scheme must be doubled from 2,600 and flexibility must be put in place on the eligibility criteria to reach out to other low-income farmers.

Strong stance in Brussels

Farmers need government support for stronger EU legislation to tackle the dominance of retailers and wholesalers in the food supply chain.

I chaired a meeting of the Copa Working Group on the Food Chain last week, at which farming organisations called for an EU-wide approach so Irish and other EU farmers have protection from the existing exploitation in the supply chain.

IFA needs government support for the campaign that we are leading for the abolition of EU import tariffs on fertilisers to deliver a price reduction for farmers on key inputs. A report by the International Food Policy Research Institute, commissioned by the IFA, clearly shows a failure of competition in the fertiliser market, costing European farmers up to 1bn.

Government support

A strong Government stance is required to support the abolition which will deliver between 50m and 70m in annual savings for Irish farmers.

Farmers also need to see our government take a strong stance against damaging trade deals. There can be no concessions on sensitive products in Mercosur, in particular they must be vigilant against the reintroduction of an offer on beef.

On the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), our Government must insist that the EU demands equivalence of standards on all important and that they must meet the same animal health, welfare, traceability and environmental standards required of EU producers.
Fianna Fail TD Kevin OKeeffe, who has raised the issue in the Dail on a number of occasions, said he visited a number of grain and cereal farmers in east Cork in early spring and had seen for himself the devastation caused to winter barley crops.

This was the same weather cycle that caused flood damage and loss of fodder to farmers during the storm season. These tillage farmers should be considered for compensation under the emergency flood damage relief measures scheme, he said.

Former Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said in April that it was not possible to address all circumstances of flood damage experienced on farms through the emergency flood damage relief initiatives. In this respect, damage to crops was not eligible for support.

Deputy OKeeffe again raised the matter last week when he urged the new Minister Michael Creed to request European Union Farm Commissioner Phil Hogan to review the basic payment scheme and greening rules given the irregular climatic changes in weather as experienced last winter.

Minister Creed said hes in regular contact with Commissioner Hogan and his officials regarding the implementation of the scheme and the operation of the rules with regard to greening.

Last year marked the first year of these new direct payment schemes and, as might be expected, Ireland and other member states have had to deal with many issues related to the interpretation of the regulations and rules governing their operation.

We have submitted a range of proposals to the Commission aimed at more effectively achieving the outcomes envisaged under the schemes, while at the same time maintaining flexibility for member states to implement these provisions in accordance with domestic farming circumstances.

The commissioner has responded with a number of simplification initiatives, and has indicated that a further package of measures in relation to greening will be presented to member states at the Council of Ministers meeting later this month, he said.
There are such things as healthy obsessions. Obsessions that come with the drive and determination to create something much bigger than the self.

At the Wild Atlantic Start-up Conference, it was clear that this was intending to be more than just a conference.

It wasnt big and it wasnt brash. As a journalist you end up finding yourself at a lot of conferences that are all about the lights and the television screens, rather than the content.

This was my second time at WASUP. For a second time, it didnt disappoint. From how to form start-up eco-systems to the real stories on venture capital, it provided insights determined by real life experiences.

For several years the West of Ireland has been pushing itself as a start-up hub. Not something to rival Dublin, but one to complement it. In particular, Galway and Limerick have had an air of self- determination for some time. Determining their own fate by what they help to create on their own doorstep.

A number of months ago in this column, I wrote about how the Irish start-up scene was moving into its adolescence and beginning on the long road of creating its own unique global identity. The development of that scene is available to see in places like WASUP.

This is no longer a place in search of something, clawing wildly in the dark for an identity to hold onto. It has become more confident in its beliefs of what it wants and where it can fit on a global scale.

For a place like the West of Ireland that is extremely important. Dublin naturally has a gravitas, an all-encompassing pull. Places all along the western seaboard have had to work harder to carve out an identity that makes them different. Some have had simple goals at the heart of their progress.

Dave Cunningham was a founding director of Galway Innovation District and the Portershed working space in the city centre. While discussing what he was doing he explained why he was doing it.

I have two kids and I asked myself what will they have when they start looking for jobs. If we start now, you can create a system that will help support what comes in the future. If they want to create a business they can. If they want to find a job with a great company, they can. There has to be something more to what this means.

Building an ecosystem is about the people at its heart. Its about getting people who give a damn outside of their 9-to-5 to convince Government and local officials to start getting on board and help to develop that eco-system.

We talk a lot in the start-up scene about creating these magnificent ecosystems with which to create the companies and the jobs of the now and the future. However, no one ever really explains what the end game is. Just what exactly do you want that ecosystem to look like?

Well, that was the question I put to Shane McCarthy, a big start-up supporter and who MCd on the day along with Conall O Morain from Today FMs Sunday Business Show.

For me, Mr McCarthy explained, a start-up ecosystem is about building a community with the right supports. I dont just mean financial supports, but I mean from the point of view that when you are a start-up founder youre in a lonely place.

As a start-up founder, its really really hard and you need people who can help you through those moments. The sad reality is that family and friends cannot help you through it because they will not understand. So put simply, the infrastructure that we want to build here in Limerick is one where if you are a student in a university or secondary school, or you want to come from the workforce to build your company then jump into this community that is already there in order to drive and scale that company, then you can do that. That is the ultimate goal.

The keynote address came from Ian Lucey. Mr Lucey is always good value for his candid nature and his entertaining style of presentation. His speech was about using the system thats already there to get cash into your company. He talked about how things like the tax system and innovation vouchers are underutilised by companies.

The system, he argued, has the money to give you, but youre not going out to get it. Before going to banks or venture capital firms, go and find out what is there. Many start-ups go out to find big chunks of investment without checking to see whats already there for them.

A lot of people go out to get big chunks of cash. If youre a software company youre going to burn through half a million or a million building up your company. You dont raise that all in one go, which is what a lot of you are doing, he told the floor.

You raise fifty thousand, which will get you a hundred thousand, which gets you one hundred and fifty thousand which gets you to three hundred thousand. Thats the way it really works, he said.

The start-up panel held a discussion about the pitfalls of owning a start-up. One of the best commentaries of the day came from Kieran Normoyle, who was asked about his Plan B if things didnt work out in his company Ocean Survivor.

Mr Normoyle explained: When we won the Seedcorn competition our runway was really tight and it was coming up to Christmas with me asking whether or not I should pay myself. Then we won Seedcorn, but the money didnt come in for another two-to-three months, so the runway was still small. So you just have to hang on in there. Everyone in my family was asking whats your Plan B all the time. I said I could get a job doing this or that and that Id be fine.

Realistically speaking I dont have a plan B. I dont need to think about it until I need it, so why waste my time wondering about getting this job or that job. Why frustrate yourself? Concentrate on the business until it falls down around you, then you can move to plan B.

That is how the start-up scene in the west now views itself.They are going to make it work, no sense in thinking that it wont. They have no plan B in how to create a start-up eco-system in the west of Ireland.

Why waste time thinking about it when plan A is working.
The one-day-a-week service was agreed between child and family agency Tusla and the Health Service Executive (HSE) and was approved by the judge earlier this month.

She spent several months inquiring into psychiatric services provision after taking the childs letter as a letter of complaint.

The details emerged in the first report of the latest phase of the Child Care Law Reporting Project (CCLRP).

The childs guardian ad litem, who represents their views and interests, said psychiatric services should be provided, as the justification for detention in special care is that it is therapeutic.

The three special care units at Ballydowd in Dublin, Gleann Alainn in Cork and Coovagh House in Limerick cater for more than 20 children aged 11 to 17.

They are placed there on court orders in light of behaviour such as self-harm, drug or alcohol abuse, and all residents have serious emotional and behavioural difficulties.

Tusla, which runs such settings, told the judge that provision of child and adolescent psychiatrists was a matter for the HSE. Its counsel said a child in secure care could be brought to an emergency department in a crisis situation.

The clinical director of the HSEs child and adolescent mental health service said a small national specialised service provided assessments of young people engaged in risk-taking behaviour. A consultant psychiatrist who visited a unit from another county told the court that distance meant he could not deal with emergencies.

At the moment it is a very ad-hoc system, the judge said.

The newly agreed protocol that emerged from this case means that 0.6 of a full-time psychiatrist role must be provided for three units. This effectively means that a psychiatrist will attend each unit one day a week.

It is one of 19 cases detailed in the report of the CCLRP, whose second phase includes in-depth research into a number of long complex cases.
The likely measure may come after county councillors unanimously backed a motion from Cllr Seamus McGrath to tackle what he termed the deeply inequitable scheme.

Under the scheme introduced some years ago, the council retained an equity share in the property and purchasers payed a rent to the council as well.

On top of the annual rent, the purchaser must buy out the councils equity share after the end of the scheme which can take from 20 to 25 years.

The scheme had been introduced to assist purchasers who needed government support to purchase a house.

However, according to Cllr McGrath, who is leader of Fianna Fail on the council, the reality is the scheme has served the Government and local authorities far better than the purchasers.

I know several people under the scheme who have paid hundreds of euro in rent each month to the council for well over a decade and yet will still owe the council a sizeable amount for its share in the property when the scheme comes to an end, he said.

This is despite the fact that the council takes no involvement, whatsoever, in the maintenance of the property. When you compare the scheme to the Affordable Housing Scheme which operated a number of years ago, you can clearly see how unfair it is.

People purchasing affordable housing had been offered a discount under the scheme and they did not have to pay any rent, nor will they end up owing any lump sum to the council after a certain period of time.

This is why the shared ownership purchasers must be given some relief, Cllr McGrath said.

Cllr Claire Cullinane said the shared ownership scheme was clearly inequitable.

Cllr Des OGrady also agreed and said it was time purchasers were given some recompense.

Mayor of County Cork Cllr John Paul OShea agreed and asked officials to write to the Government seeking changes to the scheme to lessen the burden on householders involved.

Cllr McGrath added: Im pleased to have gained the support in the council chamber to seek an urgent review of the scheme.

This is the only fair thing to do and I sincerely hope Minister Simon Coveney will take our views on board.
A memo is due to be brought to Cabinet tomorrow which would allow drivers summonsed for not paying a fine to avoid court.

It is understood that Justice Minster Frances Fitzgerald, Transport Minister Shane Ross, and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Pashcal Donohoe have been working on the measures in a bid to combat the thousands of drivers who avoid penalty points each year.

Currently, those who do not pay the fixed-charge fines within 56 days receive a court summons.

However, less than one in four of those brought to court receive a conviction and the Government is now hoping to activate this third option to tackle the issue.

Between January 2013 and March 2015, more than 147,000 drivers received summonses, but were not convicted, according to Court Service figures.

On average, 77% of drivers who appeared in court did not receive convictions, however, in Kerry the number of people who were not convicted was as high as 89%.

Many drivers have been able to avoid prosecution by claiming in court that they never received the penalty points notice.

As fixed-term notices are sent by regular post and are not registered, it can be difficult to prove whether the driver has received their penalty points or not.

This third payment option would aim to rectify this by, it is believed, arriving along with the summons. Motorists will have the option of paying the increased fine or going to court where they cannot use the excuse that they had not received the fine. It is already provided for under section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 2010, but has yet to be commenced.

The memo is among a number due to come before Cabinet tomorrow.

Environment Minister Simon Coveney will brief ministers on the pay-by-weight system after meeting with waste companies on Friday.

Although a consensus appeared to be reached after Mr Coveney met with the major bin collectors, yesterday concern was raised by some major operators.

The minister had proposed that a 12-month price freeze be introduced ahead of the new pay-by-weight system which is due to come into force on July 1.

However, some providers who are currently operating at below-cost, especially in the larger urban areas, could not sustain their rates for another year.

Speaking on the issue yesterday, Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar said: We all agree that pay by weight makes sense. It encourages people to produce less waste and to recycle and compost more.

What none of us want to see is waste companies taking advantage of the new regime to hike charges.

The Taoiseach is also due to bring a memo to Cabinet on the citizens convention to look into the Eighth Amendment.

Enda Kenny

It is expected that Finance Minister Michael Noonan will also provide details on the summer economic statement which is also due to be released tomorrow.

Revised forecasts are expected to show that the Government will have more than the 900m to use on tax cuts and additional spending on budget day, it is understood that the figure will still be less than 1bn.

Separately, the Paternity Leave Bill is due to be published today ahead of Dail discussion on Friday.

Mr Varadkar said the new measures will give every father the right to take two weeks leave in the first six months of their childs life and during that time, the Department of Social Protection will pay 230 a week to the father: Some employers will top that up to the full salary, others wont but everyone including self-employed people will get a minimum of 230 for those two weeks. Its good news for fathers, its good news for families and for wider society as well.
Applications for a judicial review, regarding the Regional Support Unit, were being taken by 12 gardai and supported by the Garda Representative Association.

The reasons behind the application could not be confirmed, but the process was due to begin in the High Court this morning.

The Garda Representative Association confirmed to the Irish Examiner that the application had been withdrawn on Friday afternoon.

GRA sources said the case would no longer be going ahead and the issue had been resolved.

The case was taken by 12 gardai, who had applied for a place in the sought-after, 55-strong armed unit.

The 12 included nine women and three men, who were stationed in various parts of the country.

The establishment of the unit had received a green light from the Department of Justice, late last year, but was formally announced after the Kinahan-Hutch feud exploded onto the streets of Dublin in February.

Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan said the unit, which will provide a 24-hour service, would be operational by June.

This was clarified to mean training would start then and the unit would be active on the streets by September.
Michael McGrath said a vote this week to leave the European Union would have major political ramifications for Ireland which the already fragile minority Government may not be able to withstand.

It comes after Labour leader Brendan Howlin questioned whether the Government has put robust enough plans in place in the event of a Brexit.

With Britain due to go to the polls on Thursday, Mr McGrath has warned that the Fine Gael-led minority Government may not be able to cope with the implications of a Brexit. He told the Irish Examiner: If Britain votes to exit the European Union, what will the consequences be for Ireland in the very short term and then over the longer term, when the negotiations go on over a period of two years or so?

There are huge risks for Ireland. Inevitably, there would be political ramifications here in Ireland, thats one potential issue that I could see as being of huge significance in Ireland, which would certainly test the capacity of a minority Government. He said it would be sink or swim for the Government, adding that a Brexit vote would have economic and political consequences here.

At a minimum there would be massive uncertainty; there would be economic consequences, and I think it would be a defining test for the current Government.

Yesterday, however, Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar said the Government is preparing for either outcome in Thursdays vote.

He said: It is a matter for British citizens to decide whether or not they want to leave the EU or remain, but it is going to have  or could potentially have  a significant impact on Ireland. Both on Ireland as a country and on Irish citizens living in the UK who are entitled to vote, so we are really hoping that the British people decide to stay in the European Union.

The Government is making preparations and contingency plans to respond to the result, whatever it is, Mr Varadkar added.

Leo Varadkar

Although the exact implications of a Brexit are unclear, Mr McGrath said it would cause immediate uncertainty in the markets, and the country would face the single biggest economic risk that we have faced since the economic crash of 2008.

Could the Government withstand that, and deal with that? Possibly so, but I think it would depend on what happened in the immediate aftermath of a Brexit, and the risks for Ireland are huge. It could be very, very dangerous and could test the current Government to its limit.

Campaigning with the British Labour Party for a remain vote last week, Mr Howlin said: We certainly have to prepare for other eventualities and I am not sure we have done robust preparation in that regard.
These are in addition to the statutory inquiry into the case involving Offaly youth Shane Tuohey, announced last week.

The five cases are among an estimated 70 files which the Department of Justice has agreed should be subject to further action of one kind or another.

More than 20 cases are to be referred to the Garda Ombudsman for investigation, according to the Department of Justice briefing document.

The 70 cases are from a total of 320 cases examined by the independent review mechanism set up by the department in mid-2014.

A panel of seven junior and senior counsel recommended no further action could reasonably be taken in most cases.

Of the 70 cases:

21 cases have been referred to GSOC for investigation.

14 cases have been referred to the Garda Commissioner for report.

Five cases are to be subject to new independent inquiries.

One case gave rise to a recommendation that a review of certain procedures regarding how certain criminal allegations were handled should take place.

One case is to be reviewed by an independent legal assessor to assist a complainant in narrowing down his complaints, which then may lead to a further inquiry.

29 cases are subject to informal action by the Garda commissioner.

The document said a number of complaints had expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of their cases and will not accept it and may continue to highlight their cases.

It said work was underway to set up the inquiries but added the process will take some time and will give rise to certain costs.

The briefing document flags requirements in tackling international terrorism.

Additional resources are needed by the Garda and the immigration authorities to enhance the capacity to prevent and to respond to threats from international terrorism given the evolving nature of that threat, the requirements of the EU-level response and developing requirements in respect of immigration security, it said.

Elsewhere, it said returning foreign fighters from Syria and other war zones pose a heightened security threat to all EU member states.

It said a proposed European Commission directive on terrorism criminalised travelling for terrorist purposes (currently not covered in Irish law, unlike some member states) and funding and organising such travel.

On terrorist financing, the document said it was important the country got a favourable review from the international Financial Action Task Force.

A negative review would have serious implications for the Irish economy, it said.

On combating money laundering, the document said the absence of prosecutions for money-laundering had been the subject of adverse commentary in past international evaluations.

The policing division section said that the current recruitment rate of 600 people every year would bring the strength of the force to 14,000 by 2020, once retirement predictions are factored in.

It said the Garda authorities wanted 750 recruits per year, which would hit the 14,000 mark by 2019 and 15,000 by 2021.

Theres a backlog of 140 claims for compensation by gardai maliciously injured on duty.

On Coroners legislation, the document said there was a pressing need for comphrensive reform of the outdated and fragmented Coroner system.
Science and Irish Identity is the theme of this years Robert Boyle Summer School taking place in Lismore, Co Waterford, from Thursday.

According to Eoin Gill of the organising group, the legacy of Robert Boyle proves Ireland packs as much scientific as literary punch, yet were more comfortable applauding the work of Yeats, Joyce and other writers than Boyle and other leading scientists.

It is not unusual for people to talk openly about Yeats and Joyce and their significance in our history and culture, said Mr Gill.

Science has been squeezed out, and some suggest it is because many of our leading scientists were Anglo-Irish and science therefore was seen as an Anglo-Irish pursuit and spurned by the Free State. Others claim the Catholic Church was wary of science and some even suggest that Catholics themselves leaned more towards superstition than rational inquiry.

The general public will join scientists, academics, historians, philosophers and performers in Lismore for the fifth annual Boyle summer school which will probe why scientific achievements are less celebrated than others.

Robert Boyle

The four-day long school includes presentations, walks, poetry, re-enactments and lively debate.

We will also be examining the truths about science and our identity, noting how Irish greats from Swift to Joyce addressed science in their works and explore the fading of science from national conversation, Mr Gill said.

Among the talks will be one by Lismore-born Dr Florence McCarthy who will discuss the identification of a new drug candidate for the treatment of leukaemia.

On Sunday, Prof Luke Gibbons will talk about the period from Celtic Revival into the Free Sate while Dr Bill Eaton will bring it back 350 years arguing that Boyles On Forms and Qualities, published in 1666, was one of the most important works in the history of philosophy.

Boyle was born in Lismore Castle in 1627 and is known as the father of modern chemistry.

Bookings can be made on Eventbrite and robertboyle.ie.
Masha and Nadya Pollard, 23 and 21, respectively, met grandmother Tatiana in Russia last week.

The charity, founded by Debbie Deegan in 1998, works with orphans and disadvantaged children, especially in Russia, to give them better opportunities.

Masha and Nadya were raised by their grandmother, until her weakened eyesight meant she was no longer able to care for them. They were placed in an orphanage and adopted together by an American family in 2001. They have not been back to Russia since.

The sisters found a photo of Debbie, with her name written on the back of it, in their memory box of home, and contacted her through Facebook several years ago.

Last week, Debbie, alongside volunteer and child psychotherapist Joanna Fortune, brought the sisters to Russia to be reunited with their grandmother.

There is no distance in the heart, and the moment Tatianna opened her front door she held her girls like she would never let them go again. It was her dream come true and she said so many times. Tears flowed, smiles beamed, hands held tight, as a bridge was built to overcome the pain of distance, language, and loss. An incredible privilege to bear witness to a magical moment of true love, Ms Fortune told the Irish Examiner.

Two gorgeous, inside and out, Russian girls, who had spent their early childhood in Hortolova orphanage, before being adopted to America were making an incredible journey home, she said.
Independent Alliance TD John Halligan said he had contacted gardai after being told to look under his car.

His disclosure came as it emerged murdered British Labour MP Jo Cox had been the subject of abuse online in recent months.

The Waterford TD and junior minister for training and skills said he had received abuse after doing Leaders Questions in the Dail on fatal fetal abnormalities recently.

I am pro-choice, I am quite clear on that, and I suffered absolute unbelievable abuse from a small element of what I would call the pro-life mob. I had literature put through my door at 2am; I had threats to look under my car which the gardai were made aware of.

He said that those making the threats dont bother me  I think they are lunatics, but he felt he had to contact gardai. A man was later arrested in Dublin over the threat on his car.

My daughters suffered abuse when they were around Waterford, and I continue to suffer it.

My fear is always when you have all this abuse that we will kill you... and that sort of stuff, that you wonder if there is someone out there that may not be, if you like, 100% mentally OK, can it happen, can somebody do it, can some lunatic come along and do something?

Enough is enough, we need to do something about this, he told RTEs Marian Finucane radio show, hosted by Katie Hannon. He added other former colleagues who lost seats had also suffered similar types of abuse.

Speaking on the same programme, Fine Gael senator Jerry Buttimer said he had also received homophobic abuse online.

Their comments came after former tanaiste Joan Burton highlighted the threatening behaviour experienced online by female TDs. Writing in a Sunday newspaper, she stated: As a society, we need to have a frank and candid discussion about putting an end to the abuse women politicians are subjected to on social media.
The arrests are double the amount last year.

The majority of arrests were for public-order offences and dangerous driving. One driver was arrested for endangerment; he put other drivers, and pedestrians, at risk.

The young man who had part of his ear bitten off was rushed to Letterkenny University Hospital, following a huge melee in Carrigart.

A number of people, including the bite victim, needed treatment for their injuries.

He was able to give gardai a statement yesterday afternoon.

Gardai, last evening, said the ear-bite attack might not have directly involved rally fans, but an investigation was continuing.

Gardai said they were shocked to discover that some of those arrested for dangerous driving were middle-aged.

Residents of several areas have been fuming at the lack of garda numbers over the weekend.

The majority of those arrested will be dealt with at a special sitting of Letterkenny court on July 4.

Garda Inspector Michael Harrison, head of the Donegal Traffic Corps, stressed that the vast majority of rally fans were well-behaved.

The arrests were made following a security operation that included the use of the Garda helicopter.

Thousands of rally fans flowed into Donegal for the event, which brings hundreds of thousands of euro of revenue into the area.

Bed and breakfasts and hotels were booked out for months beforehand, while local Letterkenny GAA club, St Eunans, even turned their grounds into a campsite for visitors.
The four-day event runs from Thursday and will attract McGraths from the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Switzerland, Spain and the UK.

Among the visitors is one family group of 15 which includes three generations, with roots close to Dungarvan. Its the towns second official McGrath gathering.

Visitors will be able to explore their McGrath roots through history and heritage tours across west Waterford.

They will also visit the nearby Gaeltacht of An Rinn and launch their own McGrath clan DNA project in Waterford County Museum while nightly trad sessions will also take place.

Chairman of the organising committee Dan McGrath said publicising the event has been a constant job for three years.

Our social media campaign and website helped build our network and continues to do so.

We found that Christmas time and St Patricks Day were key times to push out our message but its a work in progress as we still seek to find McGraths around the globe and let them know that an official gathering of the clan is happening here.

Resident in Dungarvan, he believes the seaside town is an ideal location for the clan gathering. Many people live in cities and rarely are close to the sea so Dungarvans location just blows them away. Its also an area with a rich McGrath heritage which is so vitally important to the event.

He acknowledged great support from local businesses as well as Waterford City and County Council, who will give the group a mayoral welcome on arrival. n To learn more visit www.mcgrathclangathering.com
She was a passenger in one of two cars that crashed at the skew bridge on Lower Glanmire Road, which passes over the rail line at the eastern edge of the city.

Four other people were injured and brought to hospital, where their injuries were described last night as not life threatening.

Gardai said the woman was pronounced dead shortly after arriving by ambulance at Cork University Hospital.

They have appealed for witnesses to the crash which happened around 4pm to contact Mayfield Garda station at 021 4558510, the Garda confidential line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

The forensic and technical examination of the scene meant the busy road was kept closed for several hours last night.

A man in his 30s was killed when he drove his car at speed at the bridge from Cork City in October 2006. In 2012, a couple in their 20s had a lucky escape when a man drove a stolen car at speed and lost control at the skew bridge and crashed into their car.

The fatality yesterday followed another head-on collision at Blackwater Bridge in Enfield, Co Meath on Saturday night. The 25-year-old woman passenger in one car was killed, and the man in his 20s who was driving was in a serious condition in hospital yesterday.

The woman in her 30s who was driving the other car was taken to Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar with injuries that are not believed to be life threatening.

Gardai at Enfield (046 9541002) are investigating or information can also be given to the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any station.
The ECJ has been asked by the High Court in Dublin to determine if Finance Minister Michael Noonan breached any legislation when he obtained an order to allow the State to recapitalise the ailing bank.

The State assumed 99.29% control of the bank after it injected 2.7bn into the former Irish Life & Permanent (now Permanent TSB) in 2011.

Mr Noonans intervention came after the Central Bank had directed the bank to raise 4bn in capital.

The legal action against the minister for finance was taken in the Irish courts in the name of Permanent TSB shareholders Gerard Dowling, Padraig McManus, Piotr Skoczylas, a former director of PTSB and his London-based investment management company, Scotchstone Capital Fund Limited.

They believe the actions of the minister had the effect of wiping out most of the value of their shareholding.

An extraordinary general meeting of Irish Life & Permanent in July 2011 voted 60/40 against Mr Noonans intervention.

Under the Credit Institutions (Stabilisation) Act 2010, the minister secured a direction order from the High Court later that month allowing for the capital injection of 2.7bn in funds.

The shareholders claim Mr Noonan was legally precluded from forcibly increasing the capital holdings in the bank, against the decision taken at the EGM on July 20, 2011.

They also contend that the minister was required to issue shares at the then- market value of around 32 cents, instead of the 6c at which they were issued.

In her ruling in August 2014, Ms Justice Iseult OMalley said the High Court was not in a position to say definitively if Mr Noonan had properly applied the Credit Institutions (Stabilisation) Act 2010 to secure a direction order for investing State capital into the bank.

The judge said from 2008 onwards Irish Life & Permanent, along with other banks, had become increasingly reliant upon State and EU financial aid and by 2010 it was apparent there was a serious threat to the financial stability of the State.

On Wednesday an advocate general of the ECJ will give an indication on whether the recapitalisation of the bank by the State was valid under EU law.

Although the ECJ is not bound to adhere to the opinion, it is seen as a reliable barometer of the final ruling in the vast majority of cases which come before the Luxembourg-based court.

Mr Noonan has stated he made the order providing for the investment of 2.7bn in Permanent TSB Group Holdings so that its banking subsidiary could meet its minimum capital requirements.

The minister has expressed confidence of a successful outcome, noting that the High Court had already made important findings of law and fact, including that on the balance of probabilities, the required capital could not have been raised from either private investors or existing shareholders.

The High Court accepted the failure to recapitalise Permanent TSB by a deadline would probably have led to the failure of the bank and severe consequences for the State, which had issued guarantees worth 26bn.
The Commission has been tasked with examining the treatment of unmarried mothers and their babies between 1922 and 1998 in 14 Mother and Baby Homes, as well as a representative sample of County Homes.

The Commission has now settled on four County Homes for this sample  St Kevins Institution (Dublin Union), Stranorlar County Home, Co Donegal (St Josephs), Cork City County Home (St Finbarrs) and Thomastown County Home, Co Kilkenny (St Columbas).

The Commission said the four homes selected best met the criteria of serving a similar function to Mother and Baby Homes, having regard to factors such as the number of relevant births, the duration of such operations, and the typical length of accommodation period of these mothers and children.

However, with regard to people who lived or worked in Irelands approximately 27 other County Homes, the Commission said that, at present, it does not intend to take evidence from people who were resident in other County Homes.

Responding to the decision to include just four County Homes in the inquiry, Claire McGettrick, of the Adoption Rights Alliance and Justice For Magdalenes Research, said too many people were set to be excluded, as a result of the narrow list of institutions being examined.

The current shortlist of institutions under examination will have to be added to, because the Irish people expect that the Commission to inquire into Mother and Baby Homes will address the matter in full and with all of the transparency required.

Nobody wants this to be an issue that is only partially addressed and that will have to be revisited later, and, as it stands, the current, narrow list will not be able to include many peoples experiences, she said.

Paul Redmond, of the Coalition of Mother and Baby Homes (CMABS), said the inquiry needs to listen to the testimonies of any County Home resident, regardless of where they were incarcerated.

There is no hierarchy of pain in the real world. All survivors are equal. CMABS have strongly recommended to the Commission that they should expand their terms of reference to include all survivors, by following an identical procedure to that applied to the County Homes, he said.

Kathy McMahon, of the Irish First Mothers group, said the focus should not just be on individual institutions.

Pregnant women were victims of an embedded social poison of which County Homes were but one key example. We should be investigating processes  not just places, she said.
Three of the five missing people were patients in Unit 5B, a 40-bed acute mental health unit located on the grounds of University Hospital Limerick, but which operates under the remit of the Community Health Care section of the HSE.

It is understood two others were waiting to be admitted to the 5b unit in the emergency department when they left the hospital and the alarm was raised.

All five people were subsequently located and described as safe and well.

Unit 5B offers a wide range of mental health services for adults, the elderly and some adolescents, and is also an approved centre for the admission and detention of patients under the Mental Health Act 2001.

It has emerged in the past two months, five people  three men and two women  were reported as missing to gardai after they either left the 5b unit or the emergency department of University Hospital Limerick while waiting to be assessed for admission.

In one incident last month, gardai had to break into a property after a man barricaded himself into a house in a housing estate close to the hospital.

The man entered the house which was not his but was vacant at the time and spent two hours inside before gardai and a special negotiator team managed to get him to leave.

Another patient reported as missing was located in the west of Ireland.

When asked about the recent incidents, CEO of UL hospitals group Colette Cowen, said unit 5B was not part of her brief. However, she was aware of the recent incidents.

Ms Cowan confirmed she will be meeting Bernard Gloster, chief officer of Community Health Mid-West, to discuss the matters.

She said: 5b is not part of my brief, it is part of the community health organisation but I am aware of the number of incidents that were there [in 5b] over the last few months. We have a full security team here.
The Revolutionist was published in 1914 by the dramatist and poet who was to become a TD, lord mayor of Cork, and revolutionary military leader.

But it was not staged until a 1921 Abbey Theatre production just months after MacSwiney died on hunger strike in England.

The five-act play was produced for three nights in 1937 at Corks Fr Mathew Hall by MacSwineys sister Annie, with his daughter Maire playing Nora, the subject of the heros affections.

In what is believed to have been the first Irish performance since then, Maires son Cathal MacSwiney Brugha saw extracts from the play read by a local cast on the stage of Cork Opera House last Friday.

In light of his later involvement in the Irish Volunteers and membership of the first Dail after the 1918 election until his death in October 1920, the play is eerily autobiographical and prophetic.

Mr MacSwiney Brugha said The Revolutionist was his grandfathers use of art to show how to fight an unjust power and how subsequent independence could work.

Cork Dramatic Society circa 1910, with Terence MacSwiney front centre and writer Daniel Corkery front right. Picture: Examiner archive

It turns out the main character Hugh ONeill in the play dies, and Terence MacSwiney later dies himself. Its an act of mysticism, where he is part of the art, he said.

The readings interspersed a day-long series of talks about MacSwineys cultural legacy, celebrating a lesser-known but very significant aspect of his life.

Fiona Ni Bhriain outlined the anxiety about perfecting his craft that litters MacSwineys diaries from 1913 as he finished the play, a characteristic that dominated his literary and other work.

The play is similar in name to William Orpens painting, The Revolutionary, which features in a continuing exhibition, Conflicting Visions in a Turbulent Age 1900-1916 in Corks Crawford Art Gallery, which organised Fridays event. The painting was probably inspired by the Boer War, as Orpen finished it in 1902 when MacSwiney, then 23, was already heavily politicised.

Local historian Tom Spalding said he may have seen the procession of King Edward VII pass along the citys South Mall on the way to the Cork International Exhibition on August 1, 1903.

He preferred to leave the adulation for the king to those he described in a poem on the event as flattering sycophants.

The groups that objected to the king visiting Cork included local branches of the Gaelic League, one of many organisations that brought MacSwiney and others with separatist ideals together in the decade before the 1916 Rising.

UCC historian John Borgonovo said their involvement in Sinn Fein, the Celtic Literary Society, Inghindihe na hEireann and other bodies prepared them for later leadership roles.

That revolutionary generation worked hard trying to generate interest at a time when their beliefs were very much on the margins of Irish political life, he said.

All that work paid off, he suggested, when the skills they learned and networks they made were put to use from 1916 onwards.

A person like Terence MacSwiney who was almost completely obscure, even in Cork, before 1914 was six years later probably the best- known Irishman in the world, Mr Borgonovo said.
The group is demanding these vulnerable people be resettled to Ireland as a matter of urgency.

UCCs Friends of Refugees group wrote to the bishops last month, asking they host one family each in response to Pope Franciss call to do just that.

In April, the Pontiff took three Syrian families to the Vatican and called on Catholic bishops across Europe to follow suit.

He had said taking in desperate asylum seekers was a way to express the Gospel in concrete terms.

Piaras McEinri, a spokesman for the UCC group, pointed out that the Catholic Church has more than 1,000 parishes in the Republic of Ireland.

uccQuad_large.jpg

If each of these were to provide refuge for one family this would provide ample accommodation for the 4,000 refugees the Government has committed to resettling in this country, he said.

Last September, the Government pledged to take 4,000 refugees; 2,622 were to be taken in under the EU relocation scheme from Italy and Greece, and 520 from Lebanon under the refugee resettlement programme.

The department said the Government still has not decided how the additional 858 refugees will be brought to Ireland.

To date, just one Syrian family has been resettled in Ireland under the EUs slow-moving relocation programme. The department said that a further 31 Syrian asylum seekers have been cleared for transit to Ireland and are expected to arrive in later this month.

In its letter to bishops, Friends of Refugees said it has identified resources, mainly offered by UCC staff and students, that will be of value to refugees in the Cork area including language classes, counselling, and other forms of community activity and support.

We ask that your dioceses consider what other support it can provide to refugees either within Ireland, in Europe or in the Middle East through services, essential supplies, and financial support, they wrote.

We ask you to bear in mind the extreme vulnerability of refugees in refugee camps in the Middle East and Turkey, in Greece and Italy, and in transit through Europe.

We also recall that many of these refugees have lost all their possessions, and are fleeing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in their native countries.

Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, replied to the groups letter stating that he would circulate it to all bishops for their attention and consideration.

A spokesperson for the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference said the matter was for each individual bishop to consider.

UCCs campaign group decided to make the letter public today on World Refugee Day.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, nearly 60 million people are displaced worldwide.

Each day thousands more flee their homes.
Sources speaking to Eurogamer have indicated that the PlayStation 4 Neo will be released this year. In the run-up to E3, Sonys Andrew House confirmed that the Neo is a real thing, but said that it wouldnt be at E3. However, no release window was given at that time.

If the Neo does release this year, Sony has gotten the jump on Microsoft who will release the more powerful Project Scorpio  and possibly the most powerful console on the market  next year.
This is the witching hour, the moment just before Britains historic vote on secession from the EU, when Remain advocates will be relying on the convention that, faced with releasing the dark angels of uncertainty, the undecideds opt, in large numbers, for keeping the status quo.

What are the implications after the dust settles when, whatever the outcome, a deep divide about the EU will be its legacy, and what jersey will Ireland be forced to play, green or blue?

The secede campaign has, almost exclusively, rallied around underlying fears of immigration. Its nothing new. From violence against Irish Catholic immigrants fuelled by the Know-Nothing Party in 19th century to American politics today, stoking fears about job losses, crowded schools, and squeezed resources is hoary old ground for divisive politicians.

The Republican Partys presumptive nominee for the US presidential race, Donald Trump, is playing the same card against Mexicans and Muslims and, across the Irish Sea, those who have chosen to frame Britains EU membership around immigration are appealing to similar insular instincts.

The irony is that, shorn of a steady flow of immigrants, running at a net 350,000, the British economy would experience sub-normal economic growth and long-term damage. However, try telling that to an indebted voter struggling with the costs of a family, a mortgage, taxes, and precious little sign of net pay increases from the lethargic hangover of the global financial crisis.

Half of the immigrants arriving to Britain are coming from outside the EU so escaping the EU free-movement rules will not fully address the problem, meanwhile nearly 40,000 British emigrate yearly, many to the EU. If the British economy was experiencing a sustained purple patch, leading to real gains in net pay and lifestyle for British workers, would next Thursdays vote be knife-edge? Dont think so.

The murder of Labour MP Jo Cox isnt just a reminder to advocates that there are consequences to stirring up hate and fear, but is it enough to prove to be a tipping point? Despite the shrill of negative campaigning, people prefer to rally around positive ideas that appeal to the better angels of our nature and the British are no different  but it is too hard to call, economics is easier.

Labour MP Jo Cox

Britain exports 44% of its goods and services to the EU and gets nearly half of the EUs net inward foreign direct investment, but the EU exports just 7% to the UK. The Leavers bargain that, outside the EU, Britain can have its cake and eat it. This badly miscalculates the outcome of secession.

Triggering Article 50 procedures would lead, initially, to at least two years of heated negotiations, likely to spill out for several years further and creating a pall of uncertainty over investment in the UK. It is most unlikely to result in a special package for Britain, giving it privileged access to EU markets. The reason is simple and the template is already there.

EU governments are under political threat at home from a growing tailwind behind anti-EU movements. In Holland and Austria, these have captured over a third of electoral support and the National Front in France is tipping over 27%. By contrast, Ukip, led by prominent Leave campaigner Nigel Farage, is on 13%.

To discern how the EU reacts to those who threaten secession and, by extension, undermine its foundations, cast your mind back to Syrizas lunge and the punishment wrought on Greece, because that wasnt purely about debt.

Britain is not Greece but the implications of secession from the EU are the same. Strip away the diplomatic language that would accompany exit negotiations and underneath will be a determination to make the exit cost so high as to permanently discourage those toying with following Britain there will be nothing but disincentive left on the table.

The result, most likely, is that Britain would net a deal little different to a World Trade Organization member. Britain, from an EU perspective, is no Norway or Switzerland, as the German finance minister, Wolfgang Schauble, has already flagged.

British prime minister David Camerons strategy of changing the EU from within is sensible but if he has miscalculated and Britain leaves, will the end of his political career prove to be the pivot for fundamental reform of the EU after its inglorious handling of the EUs own existential challenge? If not, Brexit would spell the beginning of the end for the EU as we know it.

David Cameron

A modest Remain vote is no panacea. It would still leave Britains political groups internally split on the EU and, more importantly, it would light the way for anti-EU political movements throughout Europe, which are closely studying the British debate as a template for what is yet to come.

For Britain, anything other than an emphatic stay is likely to lead to fragmentation of political support and reduce the future chances of single- party Government. There is unlikely to be a strong rally in global equity markets even if Brexit risk dissolves largely because the outcome of the US presidential election for the engine room of the world economy is considered to be the next hurdle and because equities are already at high-price levels given the likely sub-normal growth path of major regions.

An exit vote is a different matter  while some of the effects are already discounted by falling bond yields such as 10-year German bunds going negative and by rising gold prices, the price of sterling will be where the first effects can be tracked.

The British currency would need to fall in relative price against the euro and dollar to compensate the expected lower economic growth to boost export competitiveness. The FTSE 100 where 80% of revenues are from outside the UK economy, is likely to be less affected. In the short term an exit would rain on the Irish recovery, creating uncertainty, until a fresh special relationship is thrashed out while fighting the vortex of the bigger British exit battle with the EU and where Ireland would be in danger of becoming a pawn.

Those who think in quick fixes, underestimate the slow incremental grind of the EU. Dont expect a quick outcome that resets Anglo-Irish economic and social relations. One of the first tests would be the redrawing of territorial fishing rights, when we would be expected to wear a blue jersey with a shrunken circle of stars, the green jersey at the bottom of the kitbag.
The Naval Services most famous vessel, LE Aisling, is to be decommissioned on Wednesday, following 36 years of distinguished service.

It was involved in the capture of the IRA gun-running ship Marita Ann, in 1984, and was also one of the first ships on the scene after the Air India jumbo jet disaster, in 1985.

The LE Aisling was the last of its type to be built at Verolme Dockyard, in Cork Harbour, and, to signify this, she was affectionately known as the Last of the Mohicans (an emblem of which is emblazoned on her funnel).

She became operational in 1980, with a 48-strong crew, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Peadar McElhinney.

The decommissioning, which will take place in Galway because the ship is twinned with that city, will be emotional for three of her former crew who are still serving in the navy. They are the services second-most senior officer, Captain David Barry, Chief Petty Officer Con Looby, and Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel Fawsitt.

An early picture of the LE Aisling.

When LE Aisling entered service, few could have imagined that it would clock up 628,856 nautical miles  the equivalent of around the world more than 32 times.

LE Aisling was involved in two particularly notable incidents during its service.

On September 29, 1984, the patrol boat intercepted and detained the IRA gun-running ship Marita Ann off the Kerry coast. The trawler contained seven tonnes of arms.

These included American-manufactured heavy machine guns, which had special mountings allowing them to be used as anti-aircraft weapons.

Five of the Marita Ann crew were detained. One of them, current Sinn Fein TD Martin Ferris, received a 10-year prison sentence.

The following year, LE Aisling was one of the first vessels to arrive at the scene of the Air India flight 182 disaster.

A bomb had been planted on-board the plane, which exploded off the Irish coast as it was en route from Montreal, via London, to New Delhi, in India.

None of the 329 passengers and crew survived. The victims included 82 children aged under 13.

The majority of passengers were Canadian citizens, or had strong connections with the country, although they were of Indian origin.

LE Aislings crew, under the command of Captain Jim Robinson, recovered 38 bodies littered among the wreckage of the aircraft, which was located 160km off the south-west coast.

With the assistance of as RAF and Royal Navy helicopters, along with merchant ships and fishing trawlers, 131 bodies were finally recovered, 101 female, and 30 male.

Several of LE Aislings crewmen had to enter shark-infested waters to recover the bodies.

Capt Robinson was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal and several of the crew were also decorated for their actions.

The ship was also a real workhorse, and was especially good out in the harsh waters of the North Atlantic.

In its Irish and EU duties to safeguard fishing stocks, LE Aislings crews have boarded 5,579 fishing vessels at sea, and detained 222 vessels for fishing offences in Irish waters, since 1980.

A Naval Service spokesman said the ship had been continually modernised, and adapted, to ensure she could still deliver an efficient service in a constantly evolving, and challenging, maritime area of operations.

It is often said that the crew makes the ship, a spokesman said. Whether by luck or tradition, the LE Aisling has always had a good crew onboard.

An early picture of the LE Aisling after she had come into service.

She has always been known within the service as a happy ship and the high standards established in 1980 have been consistently upheld at home and abroad.

LE Aisling has also been involved in a large number of search and rescue missions, drug interdictions, and UN supply missions.

LE Aisling has visited many foreign ports, most recently Vigo, in Spain, during a fisheries Common Control Inspection Programme, which is a collaboration between Britain, Ireland, and Spain.

Twinned with the City of the Tribes, it is closely associated with the Childrens Ward of Galway University Hospital.

This is a proud association for the the ships crew, who have raised funds for, and regularly visited, their friends in the ward, the Naval Service spokesman said.

It is not yet clear if the ship will be auctioned off, although this is most likely. Older ships are usually sold to the highest bidder, but this trend was disposed with when the last ship to be decommissioned was gifted to the Maltese government.

Last year, then defence minister, Simon Coveney, presented LE Aoife to the Maltese to assist with the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean Sea.

LE Aoife

LE Aisling, meanwhile, will be replaced by the 70m LE William Butler Yeats, which will shortly undergo sea trials off the south-west coast of England.

The ship is being built by Babcock Marine, in Appledore, Devon, and is expected to be delivered to naval headquarters in Haulbowline in Cork Harbour, next month.
Weve had a phenomenal response to the initiative to date, says Peter Walsh, chairman of Brookpark Enterprise Centre Ltd, the driving force behind the community project in Dunmanway.

Since the buy-a-brick-for-Brookpark was launched in early May, it had met with very strong support, he said: We raised more than 5,000  our target is 15,000 so we are really one-third of the way there.

The response, he said, has been particularly strong locally: People are delighted someone is taking the initiative and something like this is happening in Dunmanway. Organisers are now considering extending the length of the fundraiser.

The planned Brookpark Enterprise Community Centre, due to open in January, is expected to create up to 50 jobs. It will provide two large start-up production units and an enterprise centre with purpose-built conference, board and meeting rooms.

All are equipped with the most up-to-date technology, as well as hot desks and other support facilities for local entrepreneurs in the area of food production, manufacture or other services.

A 1m construction project began on the towns Clonakilty Road site last October and is set for completion this autumn. Cork County Council donated 355,000 while Enterprise Ireland approved 400,000. Locals must raise 85,000, with 75,000 collected so far. We only have about 10,000 to go, said Mr Walsh, expressing thanks to businesses and private individuals who had supported the drive. I would welcome donations from anyone who has not as yet participated.

Research, he said, had showed the Dunmanway area needed the provision of custom-built, small, own-door start-up units to get enterprises off the ground.

A waiting list exists of prospective tenants who will pay a nominal rent to Brookpark Enterprise Centre Ltd.

What the enterprise needs now, Mr Walsh said, is continuing solid, individual support from as little as 20 upwards from locals and those with Dunmanway connections scattered throughout Ireland and the globe.

Each Brookpark brick entitles the buyer to a ticket in a draw which will take place on July 2.

For further details, see: brookparkenterprise.ie
After weeks of political wrangling, the upper Senate chamber voted in favour of making Canada one of the few nations in which doctors can legally help sick people to die.

Some senators complained that the scope of the law  initially passed by the House of Commons elected chamber  was too narrow and should not be restricted to those facing imminent death.
If Britain votes to leave the EU, it will likely start a process of fragmentation of the political and security structures on which the post-Second World War and Cold War European order was built.

Even if the British step back from the brink on Thursday, the bruising legacy of the debate, the growing trend of national referendums on EU issues, and the backlash against globalisation and internationalized elites on both sides of the Atlantic will not fade away any time soon.

How far and how fast contagion may spread in case of a Brexit vote, no one can know. Just dont expect it to stop with one major country walking away from the EU.

European Council president Donald Tusk, a historian and former Polish prime minister who took part in the struggle to overthrow Soviet-imposed communist rule in eastern Europe and join the EU, was both a witness and an actor in that history.

Tusk, who knows from personal experience what it means to be on the wrong side of a wall or border, has warned: Brexit could be the beginning of the destruction not only of the EU but also of Western political civilisation in its entirety.

He is equally aware that if British Prime Minister David Cameron succeeds in turning public opinion in the final days and winning the referendum, his tactics of demanding a renegotiation of EU membership terms using a plebiscite as leverage are bound to tempt politicians in other countries.

In private, there is anger at Cameron among EU leaders and diplomats who feel he has played Russian roulette with Europes future in a failed bid to end civil war in his own party.

In case of a Brexit, Germany and France will work to shore up the remaining EU and put forward new projects in security and defence. But their lack of agreement on how to strengthen the eurozone  and the prospect of anti-EU populists gaining in elections in those countries next year  makes any big integration initiative impossible for now.

The forces of European disintegration are on the rise in many countries, fuelled by economic discontent, fear of job losses to foreign competition or to immigrants, and the anxieties of ageing societies.

Eurosceptics in the Netherlands forced a referendum in April on an EU agreement on closer ties with Ukraine via a petition and mobilised just enough voters to make the no vote valid, leaving the Dutch and EU authorities with a legal conundrum.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who boasts of having established an illiberal democracy, is planning a public vote in October to defy EU rules obliging member states to share the burden of taking in refugees flooding into Greece and Italy.

And a eurosceptic rightist failed by a whisker to win Austrias presidential election last month, surfing a wave of hostility to migrants and defiance of Brussels.

The latest Pew Research Centre survey of European attitudes shows public support for the EU has plunged across Europe, with the steepest fall in France, where only 38% have a favourable view of the EU, six points fewer than in Britain.

Such findings do not necessarily indicate that other countries are likely to leave the bloc. Ironically support for the EU is strongest in Poland and Hungary, which are major beneficiaries of funds from Brussels but have two of Europes most eurosceptic governments.

But public hostility to sharing risks  financial, humanitarian, or geopolitical  had gained ground around Europe even before the British vote, widening north-south and east-west gaps within the EU.

In a sense, the populists have already won, because they are setting the agenda for the mainstream parties, said Heather Grabbe, of the European University Institute in Florence.

Among those most alarmed are strategists in the US and at Nato, convinced a British vote to leave the EU would weaken the unity of the West and its resolve to tackle security challenges.

The project of European construction that began in the aftermath of the Second World War and that has done so much to ensure that Europe did not again become a venue of instability and violence would be further endangered, said Richard Haas, president of the Council on Foreign Relations in the US and a former state department policy planner.

Writing in The American Interest magazine, Haas noted that for US strategists, the continent that sparked two world wars had become boring after the end of Cold War.

Brexit alone would not make Europe that much more interesting, he said, but it would contribute to the slow unravelling of a stable European order, leaving both the EU and the UK weaker and more divided.
Two Osceola County Sheriffs deputies on motorcycles were injured at the funeral procession for Jean Carlos Mendez in Kissimmee, Florida, some 32km south of Orlando, when a driver cut through the cortege and struck them with her car.

The deputies were taken to the hospital, where both were in a stable condition, said the sheriffs office.

At the funeral of another victim, Christopher Leinonen, at a church close to the centre of Orlando, a handful of protesters from the Kansas-based anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church stood silently for about 45 minutes.

They were blocked from view of those attending the funeral by about 200 counter-protesters, who cheered when the Westboro members left.

Authorities are still investigating what motivated Omar Mateen to kill 49 people at the popular gay nightclub Pulse in the early hours of last Sunday, in the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.

Mateen was later killed in a shoot-out with police.

The shooting has sparked a new push for gun control legislation.

The US Supreme Court may weigh in this week on gun control, an issue smouldering again following the Orlando massacre, with justices due to decide whether to hear a challenge by gun rights advocates to assault weapon bans in two states.

The Connecticut and New York laws prohibit semi-automatic weapons like the one used by the gunman who killed 49 people in Orlando.

The Supreme Court will announce shortly whether it will hear the challenge brought by gun rights groups and firearms owners

.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over the jihadists on Friday after troops reached the city centre, following a four-week US-backed assault.

But shooting, suicide bombs, and mortar attacks continue.

More than 82,000 civilians have evacuated Falluja, an hours drive west of Baghdad, since the campaign began and up to 25,000 more are likely on the move, said the UN.

Yet camps are already overflowing with escapees who trekked several kilometres past IS snipers and minefields in sweltering heat to find there was not even shade.

People have run and walked for days. They left Falluja with nothing, said Lise Grande, UN humanitarian co-ordinator for Iraq. They have nothing and they need everything.

The exodus, which is likely to be many times larger if an assault on the northern IS stronghold of Mosul goes ahead as planned later this year, has taken the government and humanitarian groups off guard.

With attention focused for months on Mosul, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in May that the army would prioritise Falluja, the first Iraqi city seized by the militants in early 2014.

He ordered measures on Saturday to help escapees and 10 new camps will soon go up, but the government does not even have a handle on the number of displaced people, many of whom are stranded out in the open or packed several families to a tent.

One site hosting around 1,800 people has only one latrine, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council.

We implore the Iraqi government to take charge of this humanitarian disaster unfolding on our watch, the aid groups country director Nasr Muflahi said.

Iraqs cash-strapped government has struggled to meet basic needs for more than 3.4m people across Iraq displaced by conflict.

People fleeing Falluja have been barred from entering Baghdad, just 60km away, and aid officials note a lack of community mobilisation.

Many Iraqis consider Falluja an irredeemable bulwark of Sunni Muslim militancy and regard anyone still there when the assault began as an IS supporter.

A bastion of the Sunni insurgency against US forces following the 2003 invasion, it was seen as a launchpad for bombings in Baghdad.

The participation of Shiite militias in the battle alongside the army raised fears of sectarian killings, and the authorities have made arrests related to allegations that militiamen executed dozens of fleeing Sunni men.

Formal government forces are screening men to prevent IS militants from disguising themselves as civilians to slip out of Falluja.
The protest marked a new low for the US and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in their relations with the island and threatens plans to move the US Marines Futenma air station to a less populous part of the island.

Organisers said 65,000 people attended the rally at a park in central Naha.

Japan is part of Japan and when you hurt your little finger the whole body feels pain. I want Abe to feel Okinawas pain, said Shigenori Tsuhako, 70, who came to the event because his granddaughter is the same age as the 20-year-old murdered woman, Rina Shimabukuro.

The US and Japan agreed in 1996 to close Futenma, located in a residential area, after the rape of a 12-year-old Japanese schoolgirl by three US military personnel spurred demonstrations.

That plan has been on hold because residents near the proposed relocation site oppose the move, worrying about noise, pollution, and crime.

Okinawa hosts 50,000 US nationals, including 30,000 military personnel and civilian contractors.

The site of some of the bloodiest fighting between the US and Japan in the Second World War, Okinawa remained under American occupation until 1972 and around a fifth of it is still under US military control.

Lieutenant General Lawrence D Nicholson, commander of the Marines there, said Washington may be able to return a 40.5 sq km tract of jungle early next year, which would be the biggest hand back since 1972.

Japans Self Defence Force is fortifying the region.
Tens of thousands of students were retaking part of their baccalaureate exams after details were shared over social media.

The cut in social media is directly related to the partial baccalaureate exams that are taking place on Sunday, said an official source.

This is to protect students from the publication of false papers for these exams.

Access to the internet through the 3G mobile network also appeared to be disrupted yesterday.

Earlier this month, authorities said police arrested dozens of people, including officials working in national education offices and printers, as part of an investigation into how parts of the 2016 high school exams were leaked onto social media.

Hooked on Sanders

USA:

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders didnt make it to the Washington Democratic Convention, but a crochet version of him did.

Donna Burdick, a delegate from Everett, crafted the life-sized upper body of Sanders, complete with tie and eyeglasses, shortly after the caucuses earlier this year. The final touches  his teeth and a bird on his shoulder  were added on the first day of the convention.

She said she brought him because Sanders is always by my side.

He represents everything I represent, she said. He cant be at our convention today, so I thought Id bring him and raise awareness about Bernie.

Sanders won the Washington state caucuses in March.

Shooting from the lip

USA:

A judge has upheld the suspension of a Maryland school pupil who chewed his breakfast pastry into the shape of a gun and pretended to shoot classmates.

Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Ronald Silkworth ruled that the school system could reasonably consider the seven-year-old boys actions disruptive and a two-day suspension was appropriate.

Reports said that in March 2013 the Brooklyn Park pupil nibbled his breakfast pastry into the shape of a gun and exclaimed: Look, I made a gun! The incident happened less than three months after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

Better birthday

USA:

A Massachusetts womans plea for people to send cards to her autistic cousin has resulted in a flood of more than 10,000 greetings from strangers.

Rebecca Guildford posted a picture to Facebook of her cousin Hallee Sorenson, 18, of Bangor, Maine, sitting alone in a bowling alley last year for a birthday party she said no-one attended.

Ms Guildford asked for people to make Ms Sorensons 19th birthday memorable by sending her cards. The post was shared more than 200,000 times.

Ms Guildford said the response has been uplifting and overwhelming.

Getting clean away

USA: A fawn trying to make a clean getaway after it got caught in fencing, ended up in the bathtub of a Colorado home.

Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said a man freed the animal from fencing outside his home in Evergreen. Instead of returning to nature, it ran through an open door in his house and into the bathroom. He told officers he put it in the bath before calling for help. The sheriffs office said officers put the fawn in a blanket, carried it outside, and set it free away from the fences.

Cash-flow problem

USA:

It was raining money in Providence after three bags of cash fell off an armoured truck and a car drove over them, bursting two of the bags open.

The incident occurred when the Brinks armoured truck was pulling into the main entrance of Rhode Island Hospital.

The Brinks crew tried to catch the flying notes but werent able to get them all. It was reported they were missing in excess of $20,000 (17,700).

Wife-saving skills

USA:

A new bride didnt let her white gown stop her from reviving a woman who was unconscious on a bench in Pittsburgh.

Julie Stroyne, a trauma nurse, was walking in downtown Pittsburgh after her wedding reception when she and others from her wedding party saw the ailing woman.

Her sister Kaitlyn Stroyne said the woman had no pulse. She says Stroyne kicked off her heels, got down on her knees, and began performing CPR on her while others called 911.

Everyone said the bride saved the day, she added.
Moscows intervention on the side of President Bashar al-Assad, alongside Western backing for rebel groups and attacks on IS targets, has raised the risk of a wider international confrontation in the war.

Russias defence ministry said military officials from both countries had agreed on the need to improve co-ordination.

There was no immediate confirmation from Washington.

The announcement came a day after the Pentagon said it had questioned Moscow over Russian air strikes against US-backed Syrian opposition forces last week, saying Moscow had failed to heed US warnings.

A spokesman for Russias defence ministry, Igor Konashenkov, dismissed the allegation, saying the Russian strikes had hit about 300km away from territory where the US had said opposition forces were operating.

He said Russia had notified the US-led coalition about the targets it was planning to strike.

The Russian defence ministry, for the past few months, has been proposing to its American colleagues to draw a unified map, which would contain information about the location of the forces which were active in Syria. However, no material progress has been made on this issue, Konashenkov said.

Russia, which has been bombing opposition-held areas, is blamed by the opposition and rights activists for causing hundreds of civilian deaths and for targeting hospitals, schools, and infrastructure.

Activists say these are indiscriminate attacks. Moscow has dismissed the allegations.
The American actor was killed in a traffic incident early yesterday morning, his publicist confirmed.

According to TMZ, which first reported the news, he was pinned by his own car at his San Fernando Valley home.

Friends apparently became concerned when Yelchin did not show up for a rehearsal. According to the report, they found him at his home, pinned between his car and a brick mailbox.

Police reportedly told TMZ that the engine was still running when he was found, and that his car was in neutral. Its not clear what caused the accident.

Yelchin started his acting career as a nine-year old.

He impressed critics and audiences with a series of prominent roles, holding his own against the likes of Anthony Hopkins and Robin Williams. He had parts in indie films and television shows such as Judging Amy and The Practice before getting his big break in 2006 crime thriller Alpha Dog.

His biggest role to date has been as Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek films.

The third film  Star Trek Beyond  is due to be released next month. Several celebrities have paid tribute to the actor on Twitter.

Actress Anna Kendrick wrote: This is unreal. Anton Yelchin is such a talent. Such a huge loss.

Little Britain star Matt Lucas said Yelchin was an amazing actor.

Glee actor Kevin McHale said: Anton Yelchin has always been one of my favorite actors.

Ive seen every movie. This is awful. Im so sorry for his family & friends.

Yelchin, an only child, was born in Russia. His parents were professional figure skaters who moved the family to the United States seeking political asylum when Yelchin was just six months old.

The actors family has requested privacy at this time.
Burma As Suu Kyi Preps For Thai Trip, Migrant Workers Hope For More Rights

Burmas State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi heads for Thailand, raising expectations of better labor rights protections for the Burmese migrants working there.

CHIANG MAI, Thailand  Burmese migrant workers living in Thailand hope to receive greater labor rights protection after State Counselor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi visits Bangkok later this week, according to advocacy groups on Monday.

It is expected that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Labor Cooperation and the Agreement on the Employment of Workers will be signed during her bilateral meetings with the Thai prime minister and foreign minister Don Pramudwinai.

The state counselor, upon the invitation of the Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha, will also visit migrant worker communities in Samut Sakhon as well as the isolated Tham Hin refugee camp in Ratchaburi, during her three-day trip running Thursday to Saturday.

Migrants hope the new agreement and MOU on the employment of workers will ensure their labor rights by addressing issues around the minimum wage, workplace discrimination and legal support.

Min Oo, the coordinator of the Migrant Labor Program at the Foundation for Education Development, said, There are common demands about a minimum wage, legal protection and discriminatory working environments that are being advocated for by the migrant rights groups, and we hope these will be brought up in a new agreement between Thailand and Burma.

The labor rights activist said the State Counselor will meet migrant workers before she has bilateral meetings on labor cooperation, in which she will be joined by Burmas ministers of Labor, Immigration and Population and of Planning and Finance, along with her deputy minister of Foreign Affairs.

Sai Sai, a migrant worker and member of the Migrant Worker Rights Network, said he hopes Suu Kyis trip yields a lot of benefits for migrant workers.

I have heard that the migrants rights groups are advocating for changes in the MOU and are asking for the minimum wage to be equalized for the Burmese migrant workers across Thailand, he said.

In spite of Thailands minimum wage of 300 baht (US$9) per day, migrant workers in different sectors still earn different amounts, and those working as domestic helpers or in sweatshops receive significantly less.

Burmese migrant workers are often vulnerable to employment agents who take advantage of Thailands 2009 National Verification program and the 2012 memorandum, which are considered to be unfavorable to the workers.

Beginning last year, migrants with expired passports were given pink working permits, lasting for two years. Min Oo said the new MOU seems to endorse this scheme, which would save the cost of obtaining new official documents.

In order to obtain official documents, migrant workers have to use employment agents, who charge at least three times the official rate. Migrants usually have to spend more than 10,000 to 12,000 baht for the visa, a health check-up and a work permit. Officially these procedures cost around 3,000-6,000 baht.

After going through unethical agents, some Burmese migrants end up with a fake stamp on their passports, which could result in jail time.

Kyaw Thaung, the director of the Migrant Association of Thailand said the current MOU between the governments of Burma and Thailand, which was introduced in 2012, should be revised because it benefits agents more than the workers.

I would like to request Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to talk openly about stopping the government-to-government MOU which encourages corruption, he told The Irrawaddy.
Burma Hoping For Riches, Jade Miners Instead Find Addiction

Tens of thousands of poor men from across Burma seek their fortune at Hpakants jade mines, only to see their lives ruined by drug addiction.

HPAKANT, Kachin State  On a hill overlooking the scarred landscape of the Hpakant jade mines, five men huddled together in a dirty makeshift hut made from tarpaulins.

In hushed tones they help each other tie their forearms and inject heroin. Then they wait for the drugs high to kick in and slip into oblivion.

In another ten huts at the site, which is located Sai Taung village and littered with trash and used syringes, dozens more miners are gathered to spend their hard-earned cash on opium, cheap methamphetamine and low-quality heroin.

One of them is a 23-year-old, frail-looking man nicknamed Ko Shan Sheior Brother Long Hairfor his long unkempt locks. He left his poor village in Sagaing Divisions Ye U Township for the mines in northern Burmas Kachin State five years ago and worked here until drugs took over his life.

Now I am addicted to drugs and I also sell them to others, said Ko Shan Shei. I buy two small tubes of opium the size of a fingertip and then I take a small amount to sell to other users so I can buy food.

He is one the estimated 300,000 migrant workers who have come from across Burma to scavenge through mining waste in the hope of finding jade stones. Daily income levels are good in Hpakant, but living conditions are harsh and deadly landslides are common. Yet, the biggest threat to the mens health is drug addiction.

Though there are no official estimates on narcotics use in Hpakant, local community leaders, such as Rev. Sai Naw, think that up to half of the miners use drugs.

Tint Soe, a National League for Democracy (NLD) parliamentarian from Hpakant Township, said there could be as many as 60 drug user camps spread out among the mines.

Across all of Burma there are about 83,000 injecting drug users, according to estimates from the UN Office of Drugs and Crime. There is, however, a dearth of data and the organization is currently conducting the first nationwide survey on the issue.

Drugs Are An Easy Choice

Opium, heroin and meth are easily available in Hpakant and produced by ethnic rebel groups, pro-government militias and criminal gangs in lawless parts of Kachin and Shan states.

Like many of the men doing hard work at the mines, Ko Shan Shei said he began using drugs to relax and relieve physical painin his case he smoked opium to ease a persistent cough. But soon he found himself spending much of his daily incomearound US$ 7on heroin, which is far more addictive due to the strong high induced when injected.

The hard work makes laborers want to relax with alcohol, drugs and sex workers. Drugs are an easy choice for the men here. he said. Illegal drugs can be purchased easily and money can be earned without much difficulty, so there is a high risk for developing a drug addiction.

One of the greatest risks for injecting drug users is HIV infection, which can occur when users share needles. A government service and several NGOs, such as the Asia Harm Reduction Network, provide methadone, clean syringes, as well as counselling and HIV testing for thousands of users in Hpakant.

Medecins Sans Frontieres said it runs a clinic that provides antiretroviral drugs and other medicine to nearly 2,000 HIV/Aids patients in Hpakant, while it helps another 8,000 patients in four clinics in Kachin State.

Some NGOs that formed the Drug Advocacy Group have called on the new NLD government to scale up such services and shift to a rights- and healthcare-based approach to drug abuse problem.

Corrupt Authorities

While there are harm reduction services for the miners, law enforcement by authorities is largely absent and users at the site near Sai Taung village made no effort to hide drug abuse. Some walked around with needles still hanging from their veins so they could easily shoot up again later.

Tint Soe, the parliamentarian, said drug dealers operate freely because they pay off local officials, police and military officers, while local authorities also lack capacity to control the vast mining area.

Law enforcement cannot reach remote areas where there are [jade] scavengers, who are the regular customers for illegal drug dealers, he said.

Pat Ja San, the vigilante anti-drug movement set up by the Kachin Baptist Convention, is also active in Hpakant and has deployed its hardline tactics of sending groups of volunteers to apprehend dealers and users.

We normally arrest drug dealers. When we find drug abusers, we seize the drugs and release them, said Khu Lwam, a local Pat Ja San member.

He said last October the group nabbed a female member of a local drug-dealing ring who carried a ledger that recorded nearly half a million dollars in bribes paid to top officials, police and army commanders in Hpakant over the course of 58 days.

Pat Ja San has held on to the ledger out of distrust of local authorities and Tint Soe raised the allegations in the Lower House in February.

I Deeply Regret My Situation

The Baptist Church-led movement also operates a rehabilitation center near Hpakant called Uru Htwe San, a spartan camp with simple sleeping quarters that are surrounded by barbed-wire fences to prevent addicts from running away.

Rev. Sai Naw leads the camp where he tries to help about 50 men and women end their addiction solely through bible teachinga method that has been criticized by groups promoting alternative treatments.

We have a difficult task to provide for all of them. We need land, food and accommodation. We cannot afford anything. There are so many [users] in need in the Hpakant area and we can help a small number of them, he said.

A 29-year-old Kachin woman named Gar Lew said her husband, who earns about $8 per day from jade trading, sent her to the center to end her opium addiction after she failed to care for their two children.

I was willing to do so but could not control myself. I was angry when they brought me to the rehabilitation centre, but I am okay now, she said.

Ko Shan Shei said he had returned to his native village twice to end his addiction, but relapsed every time he came back to Hpakant. He said he felt ashamed of his life as a homeless addict.

During the Water Festival, I saw some people happily celebrating but I was in dirty clothes, Ko Shan Shei said. I deeply regretted my situation when I compared myself with other people.

He added, As I am still young I think I have enough strength to quit drugs. Hopefully, I will succeed this time.
Burma Mon State Govt to Replace Brahminy Duck Statue, Removed by Former Junta

The Mon State government will replace the cultural symbol at the entrance to its capital, which was removed nine years ago by the former junta.

RANGOON  The Mon State government will replace the Brahminy Duck (hintha) statue, a cultural symbol at the entrance of the Mon State capital Moulmein that was removed under ex-junta leader Snr-Gen Than Shwe.

The Brahminy Duck is a national symbol for millions of ethnic Mon people living in southern Burma. The military junta removed the figure in January 2008, without approval from the local ethnic people. According to Mon community leaders, the junta removed it at night when no one was around. The statue has been abandoned in a municipal office for the past nine years. The former military regime replaced the duck with a large alms bowl at Moulmeins entrance, which Mon leaders say Than Shwe did to bring himself good luck.

Min Kyi Win, Mon States natural resources and environmental conservation minister, told The Irrawaddy that the local government was trying to replace the statue as soon as possible.

The chief minister went to see where it had been abandoned and how much damage it had suffered. He also visited the entrance to Moulmein to see if the statues foundation needed repair, said Min Kyi Win.

The Mon State government tasked Min Kyi Win with arranging the statues return. He said that after meeting with involved parties, including Mon Buddhist leaders and an engineer to settle problems with the original foundation, it would be returned as soon as possible.

Min Htin Aung Han, Mon States minister of energy and electric power, told Viva Video, It is the symbol of the Mon. It is better to bring it back. This will even help ethnic unity with the Mon.
Burma Wa and Mongla Armed Groups to Attend Pre-Panglong Peace Meeting

The powerful United Wa State Army and the Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army will take part in preparations for the 21st Panglong Conference.

RANGOON  Ethnic Wa and Mongla armed groups have agreed to participate in a political dialogue framework review meeting ahead of the 21 century Panglong peace conference, according to a member of the governments peace delegation.

The union peace conference is scheduled for late July. Although part of the process envisaged the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) signed between the previous government and a minority of Burmas ethnic armed groups last year, the current government has been trying to persuade NCA non-signatory groups to take part in it.

The United Wa State Army (UWSA), Burmas largest non-state armed group, and the Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA), known also as the Mongla group, refused to sign the NCA. Both are based along the Chinese border in Shan State.

Khin Zaw Oo, a retired Burmese army general who is part of the governments 21 Century Panglong Preparatory Sub-Committee 2, posted on Facebook that the UWSA and the NDAA had agreed over the weekend to join the framework review meeting. However, the armed groups themselves have yet to confirm.

Khin Zaw Oo said that the UWSA and NDAA leaders had also signaled willingness to attend the Panglong peace conference, and will meet with the government in Naypyidaw to follow up at an unspecified time.

The governments peace delegation, led by Tin Myo Winthe personal physician and long-time confidant of State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyitraveled to Kengtung in eastern Shan State on Friday last week before meeting with the two armed groups in Mongla, the NDAAs base in Special Region 4, a 1.5 hour drive from Kengtung.
Burmese Jade Mining Film Scoops Awards at Rangoon Festival

Burmese documentary films about gender inequality, disability and jade mining are honored in an annual human rights-themed film festival in Rangoon.

RANGOON  A documentary about the deadly jade mining industry in Hpakant, Kachin Statewhere landslides have killed scores of small-scale miners over the last yearwon two out of ten awards at the Human Rights Human Dignity International Film Festival held last week in Rangoon.

The 30-minute film, Vein, by Ko Jet, Htet Aung San and Phyo Zayar Kyaw, won the Aung San Suu Kyi Award (National) and the Hantharwady U Win Tin award at the ceremony held on June 19 to coincide with the birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi, to whom the festival is dedicated.

Filmmaker Ko Jet told The Irrawaddy that Vein highlighted the human tragedy behind the jade industry in Hpakant: the death of small-scale miners, the families deprived of a father and a source of income, and the harm wrought on the environment in the absence of safeguards.

[Mining] should not be done to excess. The unruly pursuit of money is damaging the environment, Ko Jet said.

This year, prizes were awarded to eight Burmese and two foreign documentaries. Included were two new prizes, the VOA Award, referring to the US public broadcaster Voice of America, and the Gender Equality Award.

The VOA Award went to the Lovely Bone by director Nwaye Zar Che Soe, about the struggles faced by a disabled breadwinner in a rural area of Burma.

Four documentaries competed for the Gender Equality Award, which was won by A Woman with a Gun by Mary and Yu Par Mo Mo. It tells a story of an ethnic Rawang woman from Putao in Kachin State who has a talent for shooting firearms.

I wanted to show that although a woman can perform just as well as a man, she is given lower positions than men because she is a woman. She is not valued, Mary said.

I was really happy to receive awards for my two first documentaries, and also for A Woman with a Gun, Mary added.

Staged for the fourth year running, the festival featured free screenings of 42 Burmese and 25 foreign documentaries between June 14-19 across three Rangoon cinemas: Naypyitaw, Junction Square and Junction Mawtin.

Twilight Over Burma, a film about the marriage of an Austrian women to the last Shan prince of Hsipawbefore he was arrested during Ne Wins 1962 coup and never seen againwas scheduled for the opening night. However, Burmas film censorship board refused permission for the film to be shown during the festival, because it could damage the ethnic unity of the state.

On the festivals Facebook page, the organizers apologized for being unable to screen the film: Our mission is A Society of Dignity. But it is failed [sic].
Burma Heavy Downpours Continue to Batter Arakan State

Heavy rain and severe flooding continue to devastate parts of Arakan State, says a spokesperson for the regional government.

RANGOON  Heavy rain and severe flooding continue to devastate parts of Arakan State, a spokesperson for the Arakan State Government, told The Irrawaddy on Monday.

Four women in Taungup Township, a man in Thandwe Township and a student in Ann Township were killed by deadly deluges on Sunday, according to spokesperson Min Aung. However, the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement has reported a different figure of four total deaths in the region for the month of June.

In terms of damage, 155 households were destroyed in Ann Township, while in Thandwe Township the heavy downpours have caused water levels to rise seven feet, Min Aung added.

Arakan States Ministry of Social Welfare and Ministry of Electric Power, Industry, and Roads and Communications reportedly intend to visit flood-affected townships to deliver aid, including food and material for building houses.

Since the beginning of June, several other parts of Burma have also been struck by severe rainfall. The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement has reported that natural disasters have claimed the lives of two people in Pegu Division, two people in Sagaing Division, one person each in Magwe and Irrawaddy divisions and one person in Kachin State.

More than 5,000 households in total have also been affected by flooding, with some homes having been completely submerged and others rendered essentially unlivable.

With the La Nina weather pattern looming, it is likely that Burma will continue to be hit by extreme weather in the coming months.
Burma BBC Journalist to Appeal Conviction

After being sentenced to hard labor for allegedly striking a police officer, BBC reporter Nay Myo Lin seeks an acquittal or lighter sentence on appeal.

RANGOON  A Mandalay-based journalist working for the BBCs Burmese-language news service, who was sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labor on police assault charges, plans to file an appeal next week, according to his lawyer.

Forty-year-old reporter Nay Myo Lin was convicted under Article 332 of Burmas Penal Code, which covers voluntarily causing harm to deter [a] public servant from carrying out his duty, at Mandalays Chanmyathazi Township court on Monday after a year-long trial.

The initial complaint was submitted by Lance Corporal Ba Maw over an alleged altercation between the policeman and the journalist during a demonstration in Mandalay last year. The 2015 protest was held by several dozen Mandalay-based students and activists demanding the release of those arrested in the Letpadan crackdown that saw students imprisoned in Pegu Division for demonstrating against Burmas controversial National Education Law.

Nay Myo Lins defense lawyer, Thein Than Oo, told The Irrawaddy that the appeal would be submitted to Mandalay district court next week once the Chanmyathazi Township courthouse finishes its legal procedures.

We will try our best to get an acquittal or a more lenient sentence [at the appeal], he said.

He also stressed that the three-month jail term was an unexpected punishment as the court could have chosen to impose a monetary penalty instead.

Nay Myo Lin is the husband of Zarni Mann, a Mandalay-based reporter for The Irrawaddy who is also currently pregnant.

Zarni Mann claimed that the whole process of testimony by the trial judge was questionable, adding that the judge did not review the altercation clearly.

I think the sentence was too heavy for such a minor injury, she said. The injury was so insignificant it was hardly noticeable, she said.

According to the police, the authorities tried to stop protesters on motorbikes and caused several drivers to fall. The reporter Nay Myo Lin was among those who were caught up in the accident, after which he allegedly hit one of the officers on his left temple.

He [the judge] said he wanted to protect civil servants. But he didnt think about other people, Zarni Mann told The Irrawaddy, referring to the protesters who fell from motorbikes because of the attempts of the police officer to stop them.

She also questioned the new governments commitment to reform the judiciary and called on the government to review the verdict.

The BBC issued a statement after the verdict that the organization would work with the lawyer to support his appeal.

Both the Foreign Correspondents Club of Myanmar (FCCM) and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) said in press releases on Tuesday that the verdict was harsh as the incident was not intentional and had occurred during a scuffle.

We believe that such a harsh sentence meted out against a journalist could tarnish the image of the new civilian government that espousesdemocracy and reforms, FCCM said in their statement.

SEAPA described both the charges and sentence as an attempt to diminish blame on the police, whose own actions at the demonstration had not been reviewed in the context of their legality.

Burma News International said in a statement on Thursday that the case against Nay Myo Lin deeply saddened Burmese journalists, as they are working with the new government to create a better media environment in the country.

We believe it would be appropriate for officials from the judiciary department together with government agencies to review reporter Nay Myo Lins case in accordance with the legal procedures of the News Media Law rather than the Penal Code, the statement said.
Burma Burma Army Deploying Armed Drones

The Burma Army has deployed drones in ethnic minority regions, likely for surveillance and surgical strikes, says a defense analyst for IHS Janes.

RANGOONThe Burma Army has deployed armed military drones in ethnic minority regions in Burmas north, likely for surveillance and surgical strikes, said a military analyst in a report for the consultancy IHS Janes.

The unmanned combat aerial vehicles [UCAVs] can be used for reconnaissance and surveillance for extended periods over remote terrain, and for surgical strike missions, Anthony Davis, a Bangkok-based military expert who writes for IHS Janes, told The Irrawaddy.

The IHS has confirmed that one or more Chinese-made CH-3A drones, with the capacity to carry air-to-ground missiles and satellite-guided bombs, have been deployed from an airfieldlikely Lashio in northern Shan State or Bhamo in southeastern Kachin State.

Davis noted that the CH-3As have not typically been used in Burma other than in Shan States Kokang Self-Administered Zone last year, which is believed to be the first time they were used in the country.

The Kokang Army, also known as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), was in protracted conflict with the Burma Army last year, during which time the government army conducted airstrikes against the Kokang armys bases.

They [the drones] can play an important role in gathering intelligence. As weve seen in the Pakistani tribal areas, they can be lethally effective in surgical strikes against insurgent command centersprovided there is adequate intelligence on the ground level on which to base the targets, said Davis.

The IHS confirmed the deployment of the drones after a picture, believed to be taken by a serviceman, was posted on Facebook. The photograph showed a group of seven military personnel standing around a CH-3A, with its distinctive three-bladed propeller.

It appears that the CH-3As have also been deployed along the Bangladesh border. However, it is unclear whether that is because of Arakan Army (AA) insurgent activity or in support of border reconnaissance for counternarcotics and counter illegal migration purposes, said Davis.
Burma Burma Army Raids Mon National Liberation Army Base

In the midst of tensions over an annual local donation drive by the Mon armed group, the Burma Army has conducted a raid in an otherwise stable area.

The Burma Army has seized two guns and a handheld transceiver from a Mon National Liberation Army (MNLA) base on Thursday afternoon in Kyaikmayaw Township, Mon State.

This was a surprise raid in what has been, over the last twenty years, a zone of largely quiet coexistence between the Burma Army and the non-state ethnic armed group.

The annual collection of donations by the MNLA from local residents had contributed to recent tensions with the Burma Army, but a formal link with the raid has not been established.

Nai Hong Sar Bong Khaing, a spokesperson from the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the political wing of the MNLA, told The Irrawaddy: They raided our base and took one AK 47 assault rifle, one 9mm pistol and one walkie-talkie. But they did not detain our members.

[The Burma Army] threatened our members, saying, Who allowed you to come here? Our members responded that they had been ordered to by their leaders, said the NMSP spokesman.

The MNLA has maintained bases in the area since a ceasefire was signed with the Burmese military government in 2005. The area has been free of conflict in the years since; this is the first time tensions have prompted such an aggressive maneuver.

The NMSP spokesman said they did not know exactly what prompted the Burma Armys raid.

We have already informed the [union-level] security and border affairs minister about the incident over the phone. We will ask [the Burma Army] why they did it, the spokesman said.

The Security and Border Affairs ministry is one of three ministries controlled by the Burmese military, in accordance with the military-drafted 2008 Constitution.

The NMSP spokesman reported on growing tensions between the Burma Army and the MNLA in the area in recent weeks, connected to the MNLAs yearly revenue-acquisition drive.

Our members asked for monetary donations from our people in the area. This is our yearly donation drive. The Burma Army objected and told us to stop, he said.

In recent months, tensions have developed in Mudon, Thanbyuzayat and Kyaikmayaw townships of Mon State: the Burma Army ordered the MNLA to withdraw from some bases, claiming were beyond the lines agreed to in the ceasefire.

In the ceasefire reached in 1995renewed in 2012 under the nominally civilian, military-backed government of President Thein Seinthe MNLA and the Burma Army agreed to share control of the area, separated by lines of control.

The NMSP/MNLA did not sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement reached between the Thein Sein government and eight ethnic armed groups in October last year. It is part of the United Nationalities Federal Council, an alliance of ethnic armed groups whose members the present government is trying to woo into the upcoming 21st Century Panglong peace conference.
Burma Burmas Gender Issues to Take Center Stage in Geneva

Burmas government and NGOs will present reports on womens issues at a UN conference in Switzerland in July.

RANGOON  Burmas new government will present a report on the countrys implementation of gender equality and womens rights to the UNs Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on July 6, when the committee will also hear shadow reports from womens rights advocates.

Burma ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1997, making the country legally bound to put its provisions into practice and to submit national reports at least every four years.

Burmas government submitted its first periodic report in 1999, followed by its second and third periodic reports in 2007 and a combined report of the fourth and fifth periods in January 2015, according to UN Women.

Khin May Kyi from UN Women said the CEDAW committee will hear the Burmese governments report for fourth and fifth period, covering 2008-2015 at its coming session to be held in Geneva, Switzerland in July. They will also hear comments from NGOs and give recommendations on how to improve gender equality.

The government established the National Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Women for 2013-2022 but, according to UN Women, it has not yet been effectively implemented.

At the session, we will talk about which laws need to be amended or drafted to best protect womens rights and stop discrimination, Khin May Kyi said. And the respective ministries are expected to implement those policy recommendations.

The government has been working hard on the advancement of women and to end to discrimination and violence against them, Win Myat Aye, minister of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, said at the opening of the session of the CEDAW Mock Review in Naypyidaw on Thursday.

We need to use this opportunity to gather as much data as possible to showcase our good work and also work together to address whatever constraints we have faced in achieving gender equality, the minister said.

The Womens Organizations Network (WON), Gender Equality Network, CEDAW Action Myanmar, the Womens League of Burma and the Women Peace Network  Arakan also submitted their shadow reports to the CEDAW committee, which will be heard in the session.

An official from WON told The Irrawaddy they have been researching and preparing their shadow report for two years.

In the report, we are not criticizing the government, but instead we are giving comments on issues that still need to be addressed, said the WON official, declining to be named before the report has been reviewed.

This will be the first time that local womens organizations inside the country will have submitted shadow reports alongside the governments report on implementation of CEDAW, even though some organizations had prepared them in the past.
Censorship Harms Burmas Chance for Reconciliation

It is the governments responsibility to recognize wrongdoings that have happened before in the effort to bring national reconciliation.

The Human Rights Human Dignity film festival could not screen its opening film Twilight over Burma: My Life as a Shan Princess in Rangoon this week. Burmas film censorship board banned the film because it could allegedly tarnish the image of the Burma Army and harm ethnic unity.

I expect that there will be enoughcompletely warrantedcriticism of this decision. It showed that censorship still exists in Burma under the new government, and highlighted two critical issues as festival co-organizer Mon Mon Myat pointed out at the opening, that military and religion still cannot be touched.

The decision shows that there is a line the National League for Democracy (NLD) ministers dare not cross. I have been in Burma long enough that I already know that argument of those who are ready to defend banning this film: that this is a sensitive time leading up to the 21st Century Panglong Conference and it is better not to shake the boat now.

Because I care about peace and reconciliation in Burma and do understand that reconciliation is the biggest issues facing our country, I have spent hours asking myself if the screening of the film could really have been harmful.

I came to the following conclusions:

It is simply wrong for the censorship board to have banned the film. It is wrong to have a censorship board.

The fact that the festival could not screen the film highlighted how the military still influences what can and cannot be done from behind the scenes. But it is not only about the military, it is about the deep fear that has been ingrained in peoples minds, and that even people who are not ex-military but who currently work in state institutions are afraid of upsetting the military.

Banning the film does not help reconciliationit is the other way around. Censoring the truth harms reconciliation. Honestly recognizing the wrongdoings that have happened beforeand are still happeningwill do much more for reconciliation.

I think I understand the concerns of the people in top positions who are making decisions on the NLD side. They are trying to walk a narrow path, one that will not upset the military but will also introduce reforms that people expect. But the truth, suffering and pain that many families and communities have dealt with must also be taken into consideration. Their experiences cannot be censored or pushed under the rug in the name of reconciliation. Denying the truth and not acknowledging pain and suffering undermines the chance for a resolution.

Many groups have suffered under military rule. But if the democratically elected leaders and the military leaders want to achieve peace, they need to admit that ethnic and religious minority groups have suffered. Recognition of this will do just as much for reconciliation as any negotiations that go on behind closed doors. To really succeed in the peace process, you need those negotiations, partnered with high-profile talks and public recognition of past wrongdoings. It is the responsibility of the leadership to do so.

If Burma genuinely wants to address human rights abuses, culture, art and media should be encouraged to bring truth, painful stories and wrongdoingsboth past and presentinto the open.

Igor Blazevic is a human rights campaigner, founder of One World, Europes biggest human rights documentary film festival, and a jury member at the Human Rights Human Dignity International Film Festival in Burma.
Editorial Cronies Still Deserve Blame for Burmas Poverty

Since the early 1990s, crony-run companies have exploited the countrys resources and made away with funds from govt coffers, leaving the people in poverty.

Burma was subjected to military rule for nearly five decades between the late dictator Ne Wins coup in 1962 and former Snr-Gen Than Shwes abdication in 2010. Everyone says the country was destroyed by the authoritarian rulers. Generally speaking, they are right.

The military is not supposed to govern the country or manage the people. It is supposed to protect the country against external dangers and provide emergency rescue and relief in case of natural disasters. But in the case of Burma, the country descended into chaos because of the military elites gross mismanagement in politics, the economy, education, social policy, health care and diplomatic relations.

Whats worse is former dictator Than Shwe adopted and carried out a policy of producing rich Burmese nationals. Dubbed by many as cronies, they achieved success during the dark era of the military junta, especially from the 1990s to the early 2000s. They won lucrative no-bid contracts from government ministries and accumulated wealth out of the countrys coffers. Some even amassed substantial fortunes and became billionaires.

Most cronies, however, did not build up their fortunes through their entrepreneurial flair or years of hard work in a fair business environment. Quite the contrary, they became wealthy by exploiting the countrys natural resources and forests. Meanwhile, the country and the people today are still suffering from the consequences of over-exploitation of natural resources. The most prominent example is deforestation in northern Burma caused by the excessive logging carried out by companies close to the military and previous government. As a result, several upcountry regions faced unusually extreme floods last year, and more severe flooding is expected this year.

Cronies included generals in their business dealings, further entrenching their monopolies over key government industries. The generals also pulled some of the cronies into politics, like Yuzanas Htay Myint and Zaykabars Khin Shwe. Both became lawmakers in 2010 on the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) ticket. Htay Myint represented Myeik in Tenasserim Division where his company had been running a massive palm oil plantation. Khin Shwe represented townships like Kawhmu and Kungyangon in southern Rangoon, where his Zaykabar company was building and operating roads under a government concession system. Under Thein Seins government, which ruled from 2011 to 2015, the situation was not very different from the military regime. The cronies still had their place and some who were close to then-president Thein Sein were granted even more business concessionsfrom introducing international debit cards to nationwide television and radio broadcasting.

As a result of this nefarious collaboration, the country has spiraled downward into abject poverty while the generals and cronies have amassed wealth for themselves and their offspring.

Burma, which was once expected to become an Asia tiger in the 1960s because of its great economic potential and quality education system, must not forget the reason behind its position today. While we need to have more clarity on the economic policies of the National League for Democracy (NLD), we also need to recognize that many people have misappropriated the countrys funds and resources over the past few decades.

It is not wrong to say the cronies are among those who are mainly responsible for Burmas grinding poverty today.
Dateline Irrawaddy: Ethnic Groups Faith in Parliament Has Somehow Been Dashed

The Irrawaddy talks with ethnic affairs reporters Lawi Weng and Saw Yan Naing about challenges facing the new government in the ongoing peace process.

Kyaw Kha: Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy! This week, well discuss the internal peace processa must for the new civilian government. Irrawaddy English edition ethnic affairs reporters Ko Saw Yan Naing and Ko Lawi Weng will join me for the discussion. I am Irrawaddy Burmese edition reporter Kyaw Kha.

The new civilian government has said they would give priority to internal peace and ethnic issues. Late last month, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi formed two sub-committees responsible for preparations for the 21st Century Panglong Conference. Sub-committee 1 is led by Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and is tasked with holding talks with ethnic signatories of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement [NCA]. Sub-committee 2 is led by Dr. Tin Myo Win and is tasked with holding talks with the NCA non-signatories. Sub-committee 2 met for the first time with non-signatories in Chiang Mai, Thailand earlier this month. Ko Saw Yan Naing, you covered the meeting. What significant things did you notice there?

Saw Yan Naing: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi formed the sub-committee led by Tin Myo Win and therefore they have greater confidence and more transparency than the military-backed peace negotiation team led by U Aung Min. But then again, Tin Myo Wins team could not make decisions immediately regarding sensitive issues, so important decisions could not be made at the meeting. Mainly, they invited non-signatories to attend the 21st Century Panglong Conference and participate in the political dialogue framework reviewing process. The United Nationalities Federal Council [UNFC] leadership said they would make a decision on whether they would attend the meeting, but it seems they have not decided yet. They want to understand clearly how Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will hold the conference, and they want to take their time. Some analysts said the UNFC might be concerned that they will miss the opportunity to negotiate their demands if they dont participate in the Panglong Conference, because Daw Aung San Suu Kyi does not want to postpone it. She wants it to take place soon. Some people have pointed out that if the UNFC does not participate in the conference, its role might be downplayed.

KK: NCA signatories met the sub-committee led by Lt-Gen Yar Pyae a few days ago in Yangon. It was an informal meeting about the political dialogue framework review. I covered the meeting and found differences between the previous government and the new government. The previous government held the Union Peace Conference and invited NCA-signatories. Although NCA non-signatories were also invited to the conference, they could only attend as observers and were not allowed to participate in discussions. But the new government has taken a different approach. It will allow NCA non-signatories to participate in discussions during the conference and in reviewing the framework for political dialogue. It looks like there a good outlook for talks between the government and NCA non-signatories. What do you think, Ko Lawi?

Lawi Weng: Yes, and that is because of the differences between U Aung Min and U Thein Sein from the previous government and Dr. Tin Myo Win from the new government. The developments are encouraging. Given the circumstances, it is likely that the Arakan Army [AA], Taang National Liberation Army [TNLA] and Kokang may join the peace conference. If the military does not intervene and allows them to participate, it will do a lot for the process. We always write news stories about these three groupswho are non-signatories and members of the UNFC. It is possible that if these three groups join the peace conference, the rest may automatically come along. But then again, it greatly depends on the decision of the military. If the military stays silent and says nothing, it is a good sign. If they speak out against it, the situation might be different.

KK: The Palaung [Taang] and Kokang submitted their official resignations to the UNFC last month, but the UNFC has not made a decision yet. We have also heard talk that the Palaung and Kokang may resign from the UNFC in order to join the United Wa State Army [UWSA], and that the Wa might lead allied forces in northern Burma along the Burma-China border. If that is true, it will be a tough challenge for the new government. What do you think?

SYN: If the military agrees with the way paved by the NLD and allows NCA non-signatoriesthe AA, TNLA and Kokangto sign the NCA, the peace process is almost a done deal. But if the military does not allow these three groups to sign, forces in northern Shan Statethe Mongla Army, Kokang, Shan State Progressive Party [SSPP], AA and UWSA might ally. All of them are big forces and will pose grave danger together. Military tensions might arise then. In Shan State, ethnic groups are even fighting against each otherthere are renewed clashes between the Restoration Council of Shan State [RCSS] and the TNLA. It could lead to a very complicated situation if the military does not accept those three groups.

LW: Speaking of the military, we have talked about a federal army. The UNFC has tried to establish a federal armyan inclusive army that ethnic minority groups could join, but it has been quite difficult. Mainly, there are budget problems. The UNFC has tried hard to translate its idea of a federal army into a reality, but it has not happened. The UWSA is the strongest ethnic armed group in Burma. If those three groups are not allowed to sign the NCA, they will probably join the Wa, which will pose a serious challenge to the ongoing peace process. The UWSA has money and can take the helm with that money.

KK: What people expect in the time of the new civilian government is a ceasefire and permanent peace. So far, their expectations are far from being fulfilled. Local people measure peace against a yardstick of clashes. There are clashes in Kachin State, and in northern and southern Shan State. It seems like there are more clashes now than under the previous government. There are even clashes between ethnic armed groupsthe RCSS and the TNLA. Both sides have suffered heavy casualties and locals have also seen their homes destroyed or suffered injury or death. People in war zones wonder what Parliament, under the civilian government, can do for them. Ko Lawi, how much do you think Parliament will be able to solve this problem?

LW: Ethnic minority groups had high hopes for the National League for Democracy [NLD], but the NLD-dominated parliament has made no significant effort to help resolve their problems. Ethnic groups expected Parliament to seek a resolution. Ethnic issues were only permitted as questions in Parliament. In the case of Arakan issues, their proposal was rejected by Parliament. Ethnic groups faith in Parliament has somehow been dashed. Lawmakers from the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy [SNLD] and the Arakan National Party [ANP] have been informally talking at Parliament about merging the two parties. I spoke with a Palaung lawmaker a few days ago and he said they are thinking about how the TNLA could join that merger. He said the NLD is forced to make political maneuvers depending on the moves of the military. It is not that the NLD does not bother to solve the problems, but it cant make moves without military approvalsome ethnic groups are fed up with it.

KK: The new government is already taking steps in the peace process. What are some of the improvements and challenges, Ko Yan Naing?

SYN: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has said she would give priority to peacebuilding. Then, her government took a series of steps. Tin Myo Win invited UNFC leaders to hold talks in Rangoon. He is also set to meet with the Wa group. There were also some improvements under the previous government; for example, guns almost fell silent in most of the regions controlled by the Karen National Union [KNU].

The challenge is Shan State. Fierce clashes have erupted there in spite of the ongoing peace process and there were even air strikes. According to consultancy IHS Janes intelligence report, modern military equipment [drones] was deployed. There are renewed clashes in Arakan State. The AA was not strong before but they have become bigger and more active throughout the peace process. While there are some improvements, there are many challenges. It will depend on how effectively Daw Aung San Suu Kyi can handle the situation and how willing the military is to cooperate.

KK: Assessing what you two have said, most of the ethnic policies of the new government and the ethnic groups are the same, which is a positive sign for peace. The military plays a major role in the peace process under the current government. If the military will cooperate with the government, we can expect good news for peace. Ko Saw Yan Naing, Ko Lawi, thanks for your contributions.
Burma Military Chopper Crashes, Kills Three

Three Burma Army officers died when a military helicopter crashed this morning in Pegu Division due to bad weather, according to the Office of the Commander-in-Chief.

Three Burma Army officers died when an MI-2 military helicopter crashed today in Pegus Daik-U Township, according to the Office of the Commander-in-Chief.

The offices initial report stated that the chopper, having undergone major maintenance at Meiktila air base, took off around 9 a.m. for Tenasserims Myeik air base. The chopper stopped in Taungoo, also in Pegu, to refuel and then continued toward Hmawbi, in Rangoon Division. Due to bad weather, it crashed before reaching its final destination.

The pilot, Maj Yan Naing Htoo, co-pilot Capt Tun Tun Naing and Sgt Tin Tun Lwin were reportedly killed on the spot. There is an open investigation into the cause of the accident.

This is the fourth known air force accident in recent months. In February, a Beechcraft airplane crashed near Naypyidaw International Airport, killing all five army officers onboard; in March, there was a runway accident at the same airport due to a mechanical failure; in April another chopper crashed in Mandalay Division.
Commentary Natural Resources Can Pay for Burmas Needs

The government should smooth out year-on-year spending, upgrade tax collection and channel the wealth of state-owned enterprises into social programs.

This is an important year for Burma. With expectations so high, the new government is under enormous pressure to prove that it can transform the more than 20 trillion kyats (US$17 billion) budgeted into tangible benefits for the people of Burma. This will not be easy, yet significant reforms are already underway to help achieve this objective.

For one, the government has adopted a new way of budgeting. It can now allocate money more rationally between ministries and set ministry spending limits based on available resources, thanks in part to three years of revenue projections. The result has been an increase in education, health and social service spending, albeit from very low starting levels, and more money for the state and regional governments.

Increased income and commercial taxes have paid for this reform. So have cuts to general public service spending, including government hiring. However, defense spending has also increased substantially since 2009; social spending might have increased much more had military spending not been such a priority.

While these changes are positive signs of progress, overlooking the specificity of natural resource revenuesmainly from oil, natural gas, minerals and gemstoneshinders public finance reforms in at least three ways.

First, the majority of payments the government collects from the natural resource sector never get spent on social services or infrastructure. Rather, state-owned economic enterprises such as the Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise (MOGE) and the Myanmar Gems Enterprise (MGE) retain significant amounts of natural resource revenue in Other Accounts.

While some Other Accounts are simply payment mechanisms for subcontractors or international donors, others are enormous funds kept at the Myanma Economic Bank, only reviewed by a select few inside the Ministry of Planning and Finance and the Auditor Generals office. Burmas citizens are unable to monitor how the money is being used or whom it is benefiting. In absence of official information, based on our projections, MOGEs Other Accounts could hold as much as 4.6 trillion kyats ($3.9 billion).

In addition to a lack of transparency in Other Accounts, there is a question as to whether MOGE, MGE and other state-owned economic enterprises should retain such large amounts of money. In 2013-14, MOGE transferred more than 1.3 trillion kyats ($1.1 billion) into Other Accountsor 60 percent of all its oil and natural gas revenuesmore than either public health or education spending for the entire country.

Yet, MOGE does not serve as the operator in charge of managing most of Burmas petroleum fields, meaning it does not need to invest significant amounts of cash in unpredictable exploration activity and does not need particularly large levels of cash on hand for sophisticated capital planning.

Currently, the Union Parliament and public interest groups do not have enough information to make informed recommendations on the amount these powerful organizations should retain for reinvestment purposes, or, alternatively, whether the system should change to give the Union Parliament greater power to approve their budgets.

However, the information we do haveincluding indications that the company is being allowed to hold onto significantly more money than it is spendingsuggests that MOGE retains too much given its limited mandate. The people of Burma may be better served if a large portion of this money were spent on social services or infrastructure, or to help cover the budget deficit.

Second, the governments rule currently limiting the budget deficit to 5 percent of GDP is inappropriate for a resource-rich country with low public debt levels, like Burma. While the government is rightly concerned about not overspending, the current rule is what economists call pro-cyclical, meaning that the government can spend more when GDP rises and must cut spending when GDP drops.

Not only does this go counter to the fundamentals of macroeconomic management, it is particularly detrimental in a resource-rich country reliant on volatile oil, gas or mineral revenues. The drop in oil and gas prices led to an approximate 600 billion kyat-drop (US$500 million) in government revenue in 2014-15. However, the rule did not allow for temporary increased borrowing to compensate for this drop.

The current rule is also inappropriate for a country where public spending on infrastructure and social services can generate significant economic growth. According to the World Bank, in 2014 Burma spent approximately US$20 per person on healthcare, compared to $61 in Cambodia, $142 in Vietnam and $360 in Thailand. Instead of focusing on the risks of over-borrowing, the government could focus on smoothing year-to-year spending volatility to prevent boom-bust cycles and increasing spending in areas that will reduce poverty and generate economic growth.

Third, the government does not collect what it should from the resource sector. There are many reasons for this, but one is that the Ministry of Planning and Finances Internal Revenue Department (IRD) is under-resourced and lacks capacity to properly audit petroleum and mining companies. Relative to agencies with similar functions in other countries, the IRD has less than one-eighth of the budget it needs to do its job. According to experts, properly funding the IRD could generate a more than 1,000 percent return on investment for the government.

Furthermore, the IRD has no real way of closely controlling tax rates and tax exemptions, which are decided by MOGE and the Ministry of Mines (now the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation), since contracts are neither transparent to the public nor to many other government ministries.

The IRD has also very little sway over the Myanmar Investment Commission, which plays an important role in investment incentives and is subject to political control. Discretionary tax exemptions seem to cost the government billions of kyat annually. Thus it is unclear whether the government is receiving a fair share of profits generated from the resource sector.

Additionally, smuggling and the underreporting of mineral productionparticularly in the lucrative gems marketmeans that the reported value is sometimes less than 10 percent of the true value of mineral and gem extraction. Even if the small proportion that is declared is taxed at appropriate rates, illegal activities represent a loss of trillions of kyat per year for the government. Undeclared jade production alone could be valued at more than 17.5 trillion kyat ($15 billion) per year. Accurate reporting could generate trillions of kyat in tax revenue per year, enough to cover the entire healthcare and education budgets.

The governments reforms are on the right track and spending on social programs under the National League for Democracy government is expected to increase. However, given the vast amounts of money at stake, the government should pay particular attention to the specificities of the natural resource sector.

With respect to macroeconomic management, the government could implement a rule smoothing volatile year-to-year spending, thereby preventing boom-bust cycles. Other Accounts at MOGE and MGE could be made more transparent. The government could reevaluate whether MOGE and MGE are retaining too much revenue rather than sending more to the budget to finance health, education and infrastructure. Tax collection could be improved by providing the IRD with more resources to audit accounts.

Finally, gem production monitoring could be improved and incentives provided to incorporate illegal mining activities into the formal system, thereby generating much-needed revenue. Together, these policies could improve the quality of public spending decisions and increase the share of natural resource revenues that make their way into the budget, helping pay for what the country needs most.

Andrew Bauer is a Senior Economic Analyst and Matthieu Salomon is the Myanmar Manager with the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI). NRGI conducts international research and advocacy, and provides technical advice, to members of government and civil society on how to promote accountable and effective governance in the extractive industries.
Burma Twilight Over Burma To Be Reviewed by Censorship Board

The Burma debut of a film about an Austrian woman who became a Shan princess is delayed as the censors, worried about harming ethnic unity, decide its fate.

RANGOON  Twilight Over Burma, a film about a Shan leader and his Austrian wife, will be subjected to the scrutiny of the film censorship board before it receives permission to be premiered in Burma at the annual Human Rights Human Dignity International Film Festival, which starts Tuesday, according to a board member.

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.

Sao Kya Seng instituted land reforms and promoted democracy, but was arrested by the Burma Army during Gen Ne Wins coup. He was later killed in prison under mysterious circumstances.

Although it was scheduled to be the Human Rights Human Dignity International Film Festivals first screening on Tuesday at Rangoons Naypyitaw Cinema, the movie has since been pulled.

Phone Maw, a member of the film censorship board and a secretary of the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization (MMPO), told The Irrawaddy on Tuesday that the final decision of the censorship board will be announced on Thursday after the board has its second viewing of the film. He added that the board had already given initial comments on the film but had decided to hold a second viewing as the board members were not yet ready to give permission for a public screening.

The main reason [for the review] is that [the content] of the film could damage the ethnic unity of the state, Phone Maw said.

The film censorship board is made up of 15 representatives from different associations including the MMPO and Myanmar Music Association. Ministries such as Home Affairs and Religious Affairs and Culture are also represented on the board.
Burma YCDC Policy Hits Developers, Workers

Last month, the Yangon City Development Commission halted work on more than 200 buildings. Now developers and workers are complaining about lost income.

RANGOON  A month after the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) announced the suspension of certain high-rise construction projects across Rangoon, developers have complained that the move is hurting their businesses and workers.

Without giving the developers prior warning, on May 14 the YCDC announced a halt to the construction of more than 200 buildings in Rangoon that were to be nine or more stories high.

Developers like us are facing big problems, said Myo Myint, M.K.T Constructions chairman, who was forced to stop work on at least five construction sites around Rangoon. We have no idea whether we should keep our skilled laborers at the sites or not. We have at least 300 workers per site.

According to the YCDC, the previous Rangoon divisional government and municipal council had given initial approval for proposals to build 204 high-rises (classified as buildings with nine stories or more) from 2013 to March 31 this year.

There are many related industries and people, like construction workers, who have also been impacted by this suspension, Myo Myint said. Were not breaking any rules. What we want is to be allowed to continue working on the projects while [the YCDC] conducts its inspections.

Authorities said they will form a committee to review these suspended buildings soon, but its been more than one month now, Myo Myint said. If the delays continue, how can we survive?

Developers said there have been many consequences following the YCDCs announcement: labor issues, complaints from buyers of the unfinished apartments, delays on repaying bank loans, cash flow issues and lack of business for construction suppliers.

Kyaw Kyaw Naing, director of i-Green Construction, which has now stopped two high-end properties in Yankin and Hlaing townships, said he has no idea how to resolve his customers complaints, as his company has sold more than 200 rooms at each site.

Who will take responsibility for this? Most developers have lost the trust of our customers because we dont know how to explain what has happened or when construction will recommence, he said. Some customers stopped payments on their apartments, which will make our continued operations difficult.

We have started work at each construction site many times, and we have had to fill out a lot of paperwork and wait for government approvals on different occasions, Kyaw Kyaw Naing said. It is a convoluted process, but we are not breaking any laws.

Khun Naung Myint Wai, chairman of Waminn Group of Companies, said the developers are not blaming YCDC, they are just hoping for more rational policies.

For my site, I tried hard to receive approval to build, and the land was won at an auction by the government. Weve been making a massive investment, and Im worried that now that its the rainy season, the site needs care to prevent landslides, he said.

Were not cronies and tycoons. Were just small- and medium-[level] businessmen. If government policy harms us, it means many people will suffer, so the government should address this problem as soon as possible.

There are more than 100,000 construction workers who have been affected by this policy, he said.

In construction industry, workers daily wages range from 7,500 kyats (US6.40) per day to 12000 kyats, while architects and engineers earn 3 million kyats (US$2,500) per month.

We dont earn money every day like we used to, said Aung Htoo, a construction worker for developer Naing Group. This is a big loss, and now school is starting, so we will really have problems supporting our children, and might not be able to cover some of the costs of daily living.

Most workers came here from rural areas and dont know how to survive in Rangoon without a job, he said.

But developers have been lucky that workers have not protested yet.

Actually, construction workers are still holding out hope, Myo Myint said.

Than Htay, head of YCDCs building department, said the Rangoon government will solve this problem very soon as they are aware of the impact the policy is having on the bottom rungs of the construction industry.

The Rangoon government will form a committee very soonas soon as possible, he said.
Monday, June 20th, 2016 (3:14 pm) - Score 476

A cross-party Culture, Media and Sport Committee has published the outcome from an inquiry into Internet (cyber) security, which was setup following last years TalkTalk hack. The report recommends a series of changes, including jail terms for data abusers and fines for those who fail to report, prepare for or learn from data breaches.

The attack against TalkTalks web server and customer database, which appeared to combine a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) assault and later an SQL Injection exploit, exposed the personal details of some 156,959 customers to abuse and could end up costing the ISP around 80m; not forgetting the many subscribers who have since switched provider.

Sadly the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) has yet to produce a final verdict on the TalkTalk cyber-attack and todays report suggests that their 30 staff might not be enough to handle the 200,000 or so public concerns received per year, although the incident did at least help MPs to recognise that cyber security is something that needed to be given greater consideration.

As such todays report starts by praising TalkTalks prompt admission of the attack and strong crisis management, which it largely attributes to the leadership of CEO Dido Harding. However it also notes that not enough detail has been provided and then proceeds on to examine the wider issues.

Jesse Norman MP, Chair of the Committee, said: Companies must have robust strategies and processes in place, backed by adequate resources and clear lines of accountability, to stay one step ahead in a sophisticated and rapidly evolving environment. Failure to prepare for or learn from cyber-attacks, and failure to inform and protect consumers, must draw sanctions serious enough to act as a real incentive and deterrent. As the TalkTalk case shows, the reality is that cyber-attacks are a constant, evolving threat. TalkTalk responded quickly and well to this attack, but appear to have been much less effective in the past, failing to learn from repeated breaches of different kinds. They should now publish as much of the PWC investigation as commercially possible without delay, and set out exactly how they will implement any necessary changes. Everyone must take the lessons from the Talk Talk breaches as a wake-up call  both in how they prepare to prevent cyber-attacks, and in how they deal with their consumers when those attacks occur.

The report claims that 90% of large organisations have reportedly experienced a security breach and 25% of companies experience a cyber-breach at least once a month. The public sector was also found to suffer from similar problems, with the health and local government sectors being hit by the most data breaches of all.

However, not all threats to cyber security or data protection are from external actors, with over 40% being caused by employees, contractors and third party suppliers (half of these are said to be accidental). In keeping with this the inquiry has made a series of recommendations.

Company responsibility and consumer rights * Companies must report their cyber security and data protection strategies to the ICO. * They should also include these in their annual reports, in the same way as the requirement for environmental and social reporting where material: quadruple bottom line reporting. * It is appropriate for the CEO to lead a crisis response, should a major attack arise, but cyber security should sit with someone able to take full day-to-day responsibility who can be fully sanctioned if the company has not taken sufficient steps to protect itself from a cyber-attack. * To ensure this issue receives sufficient CEO attention before a crisis strikes, a portion of CEO compensation should be linked to effective cyber security. General recommendations * Companies must make it much easier to verify if communications, whether online or by telephone, are genuine. The ICOs system of sanctions should include fines for companies that fail to do this. * It should be easier for victims of a data breach to claim compensation. * It is not enough for companies to say they werent aware. Breaches are common, and all companies need to plan and test for that eventuality. * Further, they need to demonstrate they have identified and addressed the weaknesses that have led to any data breaches. * The vulnerability of the massive new data pools that will be created by the Investigatory Powers Bill needs to be urgently addressed by Government. * Good cyber practice will need to evolve and develop: this is essential to maintain consumer confidence and Britains place as the top internet economy in the G20. * There needs to be a step change in consumer awareness of on-line and telephone scams, and the Government should initiate a public awareness-raising campaign, on a par with its campaign to promote smoke alarm testing. * We support the ICOs call to bring into force Sections 77 and 78 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, which would allow a maximum custodial sentence of two years for those convicted of unlawfully obtaining and selling personal data.

The inquiry should form a useful foundation for future changes, although its perhaps worth considering the other side of the story. Firstly, nothing is ever 100% secure and no organisation, business or individual can ever truly claim to be completely safe; enterprising hackers will always find a way around even the best security, assuming theres even a clear definition of best.

Similarly not all businesses or organisations, especially smaller ones, will have the money or skills necessary to guarantee (if possible) that they have the best security. Meanwhile that lack of knowledge may lead some to assume that they are safe when in fact the opposite may be true. Education and assistance would perhaps be a more productive than simply imposing a fine, which penalises an entity that has already suffered damage through a criminal attack.

The threat of a fine may also have the undesired impact of encouraging those who have suffered from a cyber-attack to not report it, which is especially relevant since some criminals will blackmail their target with requests for money in order to stop an attack against the targeted entity/group. As a result some may end up finding it cheaper to pay the criminal rather than risk a fine from being honest by reporting the later breach.

On top of all that theres a wrongful assumption above that the target will know theyve been hacked, when in reality this only happens if the attacker needs to be aggressive in order to break into a system and that can leave a noticeable trail of damage. However other hacks, especially those that aim to steal personal data, may happen without the target even being aware and only those organisations that have full visibility / control of their network might spot the activity and even then its not always obvious.
Google's line of Nexus phones has had tech enthusiasts at the edge of their seats. While the company handles the design, marketing, support and development of the handsets, it looks to other mobile manufacturers to create the tangible material. The Nexus 7 will be running on the new Android N.

The Nexus 7 did not receive any air time during the Google I/O in May, despite a developer preview launched last March. A second preview was released in April and a third followed in May. The fourth preview was launched just recently, reported Breathe Cast. With all of this on the table, it is likely that the Nexus 7 will arrive with the Android N this August.

Hiroshi Lockheimer took to Twitter to tease the Android N further. According to Science World Report, the senior VP in charge of Android showed a screenshot of him entering "Nutella" on Google's search page. He captioned the post, "Just testing some stuff out..." which is leading many to believe that Android "N" will soon be called by its real name, Android Nutella.

It has also been confirmed that Huawei will be manufacturing the Nexus 7. This is the company's second consecutive time to be trusted with the responsibility, but that is all the company is sharing right now. "We're doing the Nexus again this year, by the way," Huawei South Africa Consumer Business Group General Manager, Charlene Munilall, shared.

The Nexus 7 will reportedly be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 820/Nvidia Tegra X1 processor with 4GB of RAM with an expendable memory of up to 2TB. The touch screen will be around 7 inches.

HTC is reportedly going to release two other Android N devices, codenamed S1 and M1. These handsets, along with the Nexus 7, will feature Android N ad will come with new 3D Touch display technology as well as a new Google Photo backup feature with improved camera specs.
If you have noticed that Windows Explorer seems to be running especially slow when mapped to your IBM i server, you are not alone. Over the past month, there have been several reports of what appear to be limited denial of service (DOS) attacks against servers running IBM i 7.3. This issue stems from a change in protocols for mapped drives that IBM made with the new operating system, but it appears that Microsoft is on the hook for the fix. IBM issued a Technote about a month ago to describe the problem and to offer various workarounds. The problem exists in the connection between the Windows Explorer utility in Windows 7 and Windows 10, and the NetServer program in IBM i version 7.3 that lets clients access the IFS file shares via a network drive. In its Technote, IBM says: Microsoft Windows Explorer performs an endless, rapid, refresh of a drive mapped to a NetServer share. This prevents the user from paging through the file list and performing tasks such as rename object, etc. The result of the rapid refreshes is wasting of IBM i resources, which is the definition of a DOS attack. However, it doesnt appear that the problem is impacting any other aspects of IBM i performance. So far the DOS attack only causes issues with the Windows file explorer sessions, Rob Berendt, an IBM i administrator for a company in Indiana who has been tracking the problem, wrote on the MIDRANGE-L discussion board. Weve not noticed other performance implications. You can tell if your copy of Windows Explorer is impacted if the arrows on folders are flashing on/off when in Windows Explorer with the mouse cursor in the navigation pane, IBM says in its Technote. The problem is related to a change in the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol that IBM made with the new OS. In previous releases, IBM used SMB1 to connect network drives to Windows clients and provide access to printers, serial ports, etc. With IBM i 7.3, IBM switched to the newer SMB2 protocol for security reasons. IBM says theres nothing wrong with its implementation of SMB2 in its NetServer software. NetServer is protocol compliant and changes need to be made on the client to avoid wasting resources, IBM says in its Technote. Microsoft Windows Explorer is ignoring a STATUS_NOT_SUPPORTED response that is returned to it from the IBM i server on a Change Notify request. It doesnt appear that this problem is a priority for Microsoft. In an email to IT Jungle, Berendt says the author of IBMs Technote talked directly to the developers of the SMB2 code at Microsoft. They admitted theyre not up to spec, Berendt says. They have no plans at this time to change. IBM is encouraging other IBM i 7.3 users to come forward if theyre experiencing the problem. IBM is also encouraging IBM i 7.3 users to request that Microsoft fix the problem. IT Jungle contacted Microsoft about the apparent problems with the SMB2 implementation and the change notify requests. While there was no official response, it appears the two sides may be working together to find a solution. In the meantime, IBM offers several workarounds, including: Using IBM System i Navigator instead of Windows Explorer

Using a SAMBA client to connect to NetServer shares

Modifying the Windows registry to disable change notify

Using FTP instead of Explorer

Using an NFS mount

And disabling SMB2 on IBM i For more information, see IBMs Technote at http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=nas8N1021348.
The data sovereignty concerns of its clients was a key driving force behind wholesale telecommunications and MSP provider, Real World Technology Solutions, decision to deploy NextDCs Australian-based virtual exchange, AXONVX.

Real Worlds chief executive and founder, Andrew Yager, says many of the companys customers have particular requirements around data sovereignty and ownership, a factor taken into account when looking at the appointment of a provider to offer customers higher speed connectivity to major public cloud services, including Microsoft Office 365 and Azure.

According to Yager, being able to identify where their data is stored, and can be located, gives customers comfort.

They benefit from hosting their data locally within NextDCs Australian-owned and operated data centres.

As we partner with our customers to deliver cloud solutions, its important for us to work with the right colocation partner. We were drawn to NextDCs innovative product delivery  AXONVXs elastic cross-connects empower our customers to do business in a way that suits their own needs and timelines with flexibility, visibility and cost control.

Real Worlds cloud infrastructure is deployed across NextDCs Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne data centres.

NextDC has flagged expansion to its Perth data centre in the next six months, as well as gaining additional rack space at its second Melbourne and Brisbane facilities when they open next year.

According to Adam Scully, group executive  sales and marketing, NextDC, the rising demand for quality cloud hosting services and applications, makes it essential for providers like Real World to have access to innovative, flexible technologies which enable uninterrupted service delivery.
A local government department in South Australia is continuing to use software that runs only on an MS-DOS-based system, even though its licence for the product ran out in March.

The SA health department has been using the Chiron patients record system, which was developed in the 1980s, in several of its rural units.

At that time, the operating system predominantly used on personal computers was MS-DOS, renamed from PC-DOS, and sold by Microsoft.

The department has been the sole user of Chiron since 2008.

in Pulse IT said Chiron to have been replaced in the 1990s with a more recent application, Enterprise Patient Administration System, from a company known as Allscripts Healthcare Solutions.

The latter system was to have been used state-wide for electronic medical records and and also as a patient administrative system.

The EPAS system was cut back to being used in hospitals in the metropolitan area of Adelaide and in Port Augusta and hence rural hospitals in the state continued using Chiron, even though its owner Global Health  formerly known as Working Systems Software  had released an update known as MasterCare ePAS in 2003. This is a Windows-based system.

According to an ABC report, the matter, between the South Australian government and the company that created Chiron is now in court.

The SA government is arguing that if it agrees to stop using Chiron, as demanded by the owner, patients would be at risk.

The company, in turn, says this is the government's fault as it failed to upgrade its systems when asked to in 2003. Court records are said to show that the South Australian government told the company in 2014 that it was looking for a new system.

Global Health says it no longer supports Chiron and, therefore, cannot issue a fresh licence.

The ABC said the matter was listed for trial in December.
Well-known privacy advocate and developer Jacob Appelbaum is no longer a member of the Debian GNU/Linux project, with his status as developer having been revoked as of 18 June.

Whether he was thrown out or chose to go on his own is unclear. Clarification has been siought from Debian leader Mehdi Dogguy.

Appelbaum left the Tor project, a system enabling anonymous online communication, on 2 June after charges of sexual misconduct were raised against him.

He has been asked to leave hacker groups Cult of the Dead Cow, Noisebridge, and will not be allowed to attend events organised by the hacker group Chaos Computer Club.

And Melbourne-based senior Debian developer Russell Coker is pushing for him to be barred from attending the Australian National Linux Conference hereafter.

Appelbaum was one of the keynote speakers at the LCA in Ballarat in 2012.

In an email sent to the Linux Australia mailing list, Russell wrote: "Due to his long history of sexually abusing many people Jacob is no longer involved with Tor, Cult of the Dead Cow, Noisebridge, Chaos Computer Club, and Debian.

"I think he should not be allowed to attend LCA in future.

"Also I think that as he was an LCA keynote speaker and has a history of sexually abusing other delegates at computer conferences (in a gross violation of every CoC) I think that Linux Australia should make a public statement about this.

"Jacob has a history of using positions of influence and respect to exploit people, we don't want his history as an LCA keynote speaker to be used for that."

Responding to his email, Linux Australia president Hugh Blemings wrote: "Thank you Russell for flagging this. It is on our agenda for the regularly scheduled council meeting tomorrow (21 June) evening, I'll defer further commentary until after same."

Since Appelbaum left the Tor Project, a number of people have come forward to accuse him of sexual misconduct.
If you use the popular Citrix GoToMyPC remote access product for macOS, Windows, Kindle, iOS, and Android you will need to change all passwords now.

Citrix has advised that the service has been targeted by a very sophisticated and persistent password attack. It has reset all users' passwords, effective immediately.

Users must reset passwords through the Forgot Password link under the GoToMyPC account login before they can log in again.

Citrix has recommended that for mission-critical applications, users must adopt two-step verification. It is the addition of a code generated and sent to a mobile device, in addition to username and password

Another day, another hack, but this time it is on a company that should have bulletproof password systems. Congratulations on its quick actions to reset all user passwords  that cannot have been easy.

What has not been revealed is the extent of information that has been compromised  it is likely to be IP address, MAC address, login, password, device name, device type, and user name. It may  but probably does not  have credit card information or other personally identifiable information, but frankly once the hacked data is dumped into the huge data lake on the dark web, it can all help to round out user profiles and help with ID theft.

It comes soon after the alleged hack on TeamViewer  a popular piece of software also used for remote access. TeamViewer has remote-control clients for iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS and more. TeamViewer denied any hack, blaming careless users, but the volume of tweets on the subject would indicate otherwise.

And we all remember recent mega-breaches on LinkedIn, Tumblr, and MySpace that ended up on the dark web for sale.

As always passwords must be difficult to crack (long and a mix of alpha/numeric/symbols and different cases), unique (never use the same password twice), and regularly changed.
The world has a brand new number one supercomputer and it is thrice as fast as the previous leader.

The June 2016 Top500 Supercomputer list was released earlier today at the International Supercomputing Conference (ISC) in Frankfurt, Germany.

Following six consecutive number one positions by the Chinese Tianhe-2 (Tianhe is Chinese for "Milky Way"), the leader was finally pushed down to second by a new entrant also from China  the Sunway TaihuLight.

Boasting an amazing 10,649,600 processor cores the new computer achieved a Rmax rating (the standard measuring tool for Supercomputers) of 93,014,594 Mflop/sec  that's over 93 Petaflop/sec. For comparison, an Intel Core i7 2700K will achieve nearly 90Gflop/sec.

The Sunway TaihuLight features a locally designed and manufactured CPU that was built to achieve low power usage. In fact, this new computer features one of the most energy-efficient Gflop/sec / Watt ratings in the list, requiring 15.37MW to run at full speed. One of the poorest energy-efficient performers is Japan's K Computer, sitting at number five in the list, requiring 82% of the power to achieve 11% of the performance.

Aside from the new entrant at number one, the top 10 is unchanged  the next new machine arrived at position 18.

Australia has five entries on the list.

"Magnus" at the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre (WA) is at position 79;

Unnamed computer at the National Computational Infrastructure, ANU is at 98;

"Avoka" at the Victorian Life Sciences Computation Initiative, is at 143;

The CSIRO GPU Cluster at 409; and

"Phoenix" at the University of Adelaide, is at 437.

Additionally there is one supercomputer from New Zealand  an unnamed computer at Weta Digital (part of Peter Jackson's movie organisation) comes in at 251.

It was only a few years ago that we were celebrating the first ever peta-scale supercomputer; now that achievement is held by the first 94 place holders.

Every computer runs a version of Unix, with all but 16 being a Linux variant.

The list contains 170 computers in the Americas (4 in Brazil, 1 in Canada and the rest in the US), 105 in Europe (in a broad mix of countries), 218 in Asia (with 167 of those being in China  one more than the US), six in Oceania and just one in Africa.

In June 2008, when the list first achieved petascale computing, there were just 12 entries based in China (with a peak of 19 a couple of years earlier).

At position 500 is "Helen", based at the Imperial College London with an Rmax of 285908 Gflop/sec. This is Helen's first time on the list. It is also certain to be her last.
Australia is an early tech adopter and in the 3/4G stakes, it is no different. Its mobile networks meet or exceed world standards.

Open Signal conducted 15.594 million tests on 7900 users between February and March 2016 and had some surprising results.

While Telstra claims maximum land coverage  undisputed  Vodafone statistically tied with 76% network availability (proportion of time users have a 4G signal available). In fact, the latter beat Telstra for 3G latency, and tied on 4G latency and 3G download speeds reflecting the massive work done by the carrier.

Telstra dominated in speed, achieving 23.6Mbps on 4G and 17.1Mbps average across both 3G and 4G. Both Vodafone and Optus achieved 12.8Mbps. All three operators exceed global averages for 3/4G data, and Australia is in the top 10 globally for LTE performance and top 20 for availability.

Telstra, however, has introduced a game-changing 4GX that aggregates carrier bands and potentially offers some of the fastest 4G speeds in the world  up to 600Mbps  with compatible smart devices like the Samsung S7/Edge and Netgears Telstra AirCard Cat 11 4GX Wi-Fi dongle.

Although Telstra is uncharacteristically playing this down, claiming 100Mbps typically for Cat 6 devices and 75Mbps for Cat 4. iTWire tested the AirCard and consistently received 200Mbps around Sydney (where 4GX is available). In later use in regional areas, it was capable of holding on to a one-bar 4G signal and delivering 30Mbps when a standard 4G dongle would not.

Open Signal concludes: "If anything, Australia is too far ahead when it comes to network innovation. Telstra and Optus have built LTE-Advanced networks capable of theoretical speeds far faster than its subscribers can access. Smartphone technology is still catching up."
To put the accomplishment into perspective, the independently-audited SPC-1 Result for the DataCore Parallel Server software confirms the product as faster than the previous top two leaders combined. The Huawei OceanStor 18800 V3 held the previous top spot with 3,010,007.37 SPC-1 IOPS[3], followed by the Hitachi VSP G1000 (with Hitachi Accelerated Flash) with 2,004,941.89 SPC-1 IOPS[4].



DataCores record-smashing results were achieved on a pair of standard Lenovo servers connected by Fibre Channel to 12 external hosts, each generating enterprise application workloads to drive the required I/O traffic (see the DataCore Parallel Server Full Disclosure Report[1]). The 2-node configuration used DataCore Parallel Server, a software solution that harnesses multicore computing to perform I/O processing in parallel, thereby transforming standard computing platforms into parallel storage servers well suited to driving I/O for demanding applications on the storage network as well as in hyper-converged stand-alone systems.



While the world record in performance is a great accomplishment, for DataCore, it is just the start of what can be achieved with Parallel I/O technologies and multicore advances  it is boundless, said George Teixeira, president of DataCore Software. These results were based on just two small standard servers. Our software flexibility allows more cores and more server nodes to be added, but our real objective was not just to show top performance. Instead, we wanted to demonstrate that we are in a new era of I/O and storage architecture driven by parallel software capable of harnessing the processing advances presented by a transformed but still unmistakable expression of Moores Law.



Best Price-Performance for an External Storage System

For this level of performance, customers typically pay upwards of $2 million for the storage system. For example, the total price for the Huawei OceanStor system was reported at $2,370,763.89[3], while the Hitachi VSP system was $2,003,803.84[4]. The DataCore solution comes in at only $506,525.24[1]. DataCore offered an unprecedented price-performance of $0.10 per SPC-1 IOPS[1], making it a 7X times better value in terms of price-performance.



Affordable price-performance and accompanying lower operating costs enable a much broader set of customers to tackle high-performance and I/O-intensive problems such as data analytics and large scale databases within their budget and space constraints.



Fastest Response for an External Storage System

Average response time under heavy loads is another telling indicator, especially for customers eager to shorten the time it takes to turn big data into actionable intelligence for a competitive edge. DataCore Parallel Server software sustained an unheard-of average of 280 microseconds (0.28 milliseconds) response through the entire eight hour SPC-1 Sustainability Test Run[1] -- showing none of the elongated delays seen on many competing products. The previously top-rated Huawei and Hitachi systems average response times were more than 3X slower (0.92 milliseconds[3] and 0.96 milliseconds[4], respectively).



This average response time is all the more impressive for an external storage system accessed over a conventional Fibre Channel SAN (Storage Area Network), where other products have experienced considerably higher latencies. With partners QLogic, Brocade, and Lenovo, the DataCore configuration proved that contemporary Fibre Channel SANs are no barrier to blistering storage performance.



Lenovo is excited to be part of this DataCore solution, which is poised to disrupt the storage marketplace by providing customers the top performance and best price performance in the industry, stated David Lincoln, general manager of Lenovos Storage Business Unit. DataCore's industry-leading SPC-1 results on Lenovo System x demonstrate the high levels of performance, innovation and reliability that Lenovo is delivering to meet the demanding storage needs to our customers.



The Parallel Era is Here: DataCore Parallel Server Harnesses the Power of Multicore Computing

DataCores new Parallel I/O technology, and its high performance should attract potential customers that are looking to accelerate applications without breaking the bank. Multicore processing has been around for over a decade  but for the most part, software development hasn't fully evolved to take advantage of the parallel processing capabilities that these powerful, multicore x86 systems can provide, said Steven Hill, senior analyst for storage technologies at 451 Research. If these benchmark results translate into real-world performance, DataCore Parallel Server technology could prove to be disruptive to both the systems and storage markets.



The record-setting numbers clearly demonstrate that DataCore Parallel Server offers a revolutionary new software architecture for I/O-intensive, latency-sensitive applications. Its Parallel I/O technology transforms standard computing platforms into powerful parallel storage servers. DataCore executes many independent no stall I/O streams simultaneously across multiple CPU cores, dramatically reducing the time it takes to process I/O by taking full advantage of cost-effective but dense multicore servers. This technology removes the serialized I/O limitations and bottlenecks that restrict the number of workloads that can be consolidated on a server -- internally or externally -- and instead enables them to process far more work per server and significantly accelerate I/O-intensive applications.



Powered by DataCore Parallel I/O Technology

With uncontested leadership in all three key SPC-1 dimensions, including overall SPC-1 IOPS, average response time at 100% load and overall SPC-1 Price-Performance[5], one can see how far DataCore Parallel I/O Technology has taken the state of the art in storage over the last year.



For additional results highlighting a multi-node hyper-converged configuration, please see our recent announcement: DataCore Up-scales Its Record-Breaking Hyper-converged Performance with Multi-node Highly Available Server SAN.





SPC-1 Full Disclosure (FDR) Report

The rigorous SPC-1 performance testing is designed to demonstrate a system's performance capabilities for business-critical enterprise-level workloads typically found in database and transaction processing environments. The audited configuration that was tested and priced includes DataCore Parallel Server software running on two standard Lenovo System x3650 M5 servers. For complete configuration, pricing and performance details please see the full audited SPC-1 report at: https://www.storageperformance.org/results/benchmark_results_spc1_active/#a00179





About the Storage Performance Council

The Storage Performance Council (SPC) is a vendor-neutral standards body focused on the storage industry. The SPC created the first industry-standard performance benchmark targeted at the needs and concerns of the storage industry. For more information about the SPC and its benchmarks, please visit: https://www.StoragePerformance.org.



About DataCore

DataCore is the leading provider of Software-Defined Storage and Adaptive Parallel I/O Software  harnessing todays powerful and cost-efficient server platforms to solve the IT industrys biggest storage problem, the I/O bottleneck. Visit https://www.datacore.com or call +1 877.780.5111 for more information.

###

Storage Performance Council, SPC-1, SPC-1 IOPS, SPC-1 Price-Performance and SPC-1 Result are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Storage Performance Council.



DataCore, the DataCore logo and SANsymphony are trademarks or registered trademarks of DataCore Software Corporation. Other DataCore product or service names or logos referenced herein are trademarks of DataCore Software Corporation. All other products, services and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.



CONTACT

For media & PR inquiries:

SVM on behalf of DataCore

Jill Colna or Sarah Anderson

+1 401.490.9700

DataCore@svmpr.com

[1] DataCore Parallel Server (Dual Node, Fibre Channel SAN) (Current as of 6/15/2016)



[2]SPC-1 Results - Top Ten by Performance(Current as of 6/15/2016)



[3]Huawei OceanStorTM 18800 V3 (Current as of 6/15/2016)



[4] Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform G1000 (with Hitachi Accelerated Flash)(Current as of 6/15/2016)



[5] SPC-1 Results - Top Ten by Price-Performance(Current as of 6/15/2016)
Consumers on the move with their mobile phones are now the biggest target of major brands and retailers around the globe with digital advertising spend on mobile, wearable and online devices expected to blow out to a whopping US$285 billion by 2020.

With digital advertising spending at US$160 billion for 2016, global research house Juniper expects an average annual growth of 22% in mobile, wearables and online device digital advertising as advertisers continue to ramp up investment in mobile consumer engagement.

And, last year saw global ad revenues from mobile platforms surpassing those from online platforms, which Juniper says offers publishers the opportunity to capitalise on a sector that is both growing and has a comparatively low adoption of mobile ad blockers.

Juniper research author Sam Barker notes that publishers such as Facebook are utilising their unprecedented audience knowledge to offer advertisers highly accurate targeting, thereby increasing the click-through rates that advertisers are witnessing now.

According to Barker, publishers who are able to offer the most efficient targeting are set to become the most popular amongst advertisers.

Junipers report also highlights that increased ad revenues will be further driven by faster real time bidding processes from exchanges such as the Rubicon Project and Fiksu.

And Barker says that by streamlining the bidding process, page load times are reduced  increasing the user experience.

Junipers prediction of a big rise in advertising revenues is despite the rising adoption of ad blockers, as advertisers get better with audience targeting, driving higher click-through rates and increasing publisher revenues.

Barker expects mobile ad blocking adoption to increase over the next five years as users increase use of the technology onto their mobile devices.

He warns that publishers will have to contend with the introduction of network-level ad blocking, currently being deployed by the UK mobile operator Three.

Junipers whitepaper  'Digital Advertisers vs The Ad Blockers'  is now available for download from the Juniper website together with further details of the full research.
Computer science graduates are in demand. Last year, 76% of computer science graduates were working full time within six months of finishing school -- the highest full-time employment rate among new college graduates and well above the 58% average across all majors, according to a new report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

But as veterans in the tech world know, earning a degree is just the beginning of a new professionals education. To help this years newcomers navigate the transition from academic life to the professional world, we asked tech pros to share their best advice for computer science graduates entering the workforce. Heres what they had to say.

Have fun and ask questions

"Find a career you enjoy. There is nothing better than getting up each morning looking forward to your day at work. Once youre on the job, never be afraid to ask questions. Too many times I see people just starting out who are afraid to admit they dont know something. Ive been in technology for 18 years and Im still learning and asking questions.  Jacob Ackerman, CTO of SkyLink Data Centers

Accept the knowledge gap and be ready to learn

"[Its a myth that] the knowledge gained from your degree will prepare you 100% for your role. Fitting into tech culture is all about knowledge. If you dont know how to perfectly manipulate a CSS or how to write a JS script, you will get laughed at. You WILL be an outsider. The key is to OWN it. The knowledge gap is just temporary. The best response to fitting in is to be curious and inquisitive. Asking questions goes a very long way. Trying to learn will garner you respectability. The more you try to fight the knowledge and technical gap, the worse it will be for you. Roll with the waves until you become an integral part of the team."  Pierre Tremblay, director of human resources at Dupray

Practice old-school networking

"Even in the young, hip, tech space, the best way to network is still pretty old-school: build a network of peers. Go to hackathons, engage on social networks, participate in forums, etc. Everyone you talk to and meet can be an asset whether it's now, five years or maybe even 10 years from now. A fellow developer will be an ally when you are looking for your first job or a new job down the line when it's time for something new."  Nishant Patel, CTO of Built.io

Build your own lab

"Develop your specific skills by building yourself a lab with enough basic components that you can test your skills and knowledge. This not only improves your understanding of the field you're looking to get into, but it also helps with getting [industry certifications such as a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)]. It can also give you an edge in an interview, so be ready to market the fact that you have a personal lab. You can build an inexpensive network lab for a couple hundred dollars with old gear purchased off of eBay, and a server for code development is just as easy. I've actually hired folks that had this and impressed me and the team with their learned skills."  Tim Parker, vice president of network services at ViaWest

Participate and contribute

"Online participation in open source is the new job interview. A candidates' participation in an open source community tells a lot more about the person. Not just their understanding of computer science concepts, but also their ability to communicate clearly, and how they work in a team.  No matter what area of computer science you want to focus on, you can easily find a half dozen active open source projects in that field. Participate, contribute, and you may well find yourself being courted by companies looking to hire you before you graduate."  Amrith Kumar, CTO and co-founder at Tesora

Develop problem-solving skills

"Companies who know what theyre doing will want to see how you think and problem solve. They may give you a problem or scenario and ask you to talk through how you would approach solving it. They want to know that you can think through the process, ask the right questions, and come to a conclusion. This may or may not involve writing code.  The specific language(s) you know are not as important as your ability to learn and to problem solve. Anyone can pick up a language. Its much harder to find someone who fully understands software development."  Ann Gaffigan, CTO at National Land Realty

Dont rush into projects

"Make sure you have collected enough data before you begin a task. Become a voracious note taker and investigate problems with the care of an old-school investigative journalist. Know the who, what, where, why, and when behind a problem before you formulate how youre going to address it. Good engineers and developers will operate within the guidelines of a process like Six Sigma DMAIC (define, measure, analyze, implement and control), but too often the definition and measurement [phases are] shortened or overlooked. That leads to assumptions in the analysis and implementation and often uncontrollable outcomes."  John Chapin, lead consultant at Capital Technology Services

Sharpen customer service skills

"We find that a lot of recent computer science graduates have very similar skills and experience, so when hiring, we look for other things. Any customer service experience is valued here (like retail or waiting tables), because that tells us the candidate knows how to communicate with others well. We look for humble candidates because there is always something to learn  even if someone comes to us with stellar coding skills, we need to know that he or she will be able to take criticism and also be open to learning other programs."  Aryana Jaleh, social media manager at Eboxlab

Get to know the sales team

"You should absolutely spend time with the sales team at your company. Make a point to walk by their cubes and speak with them. Invite them to lunch, go to their happy hours. It will be out of your comfort zone. Good. You need that. Realize that there will come a day when you might want to start a company, and you know absolutely zero about sales. Fix that ASAP. ... Not saying you should ignore your development colleagues, just make an effort to know the sales team. You need to find out who the top performers are and spend time with them. You also need to know who the low performers are and avoid them. Figuring that out is an amazingly valuable life skill that you didnt learn in college."  Robert Reeves, CTO and co-founder of Datical

Work on communication skills

"One of the most critical items that I see missing from many new grads entering industry is a lack of proper communication skills. As helpful as it is to know technical concepts such as algorithm analysis, if your coworkers and management don't enjoy being around you, you are going to find it difficult to have sustained career success. I highly recommend computer science and software engineering graduates to deliberately work on soft skills such as communication and learning to get along with team members. It will lead to a more enjoyable career path and better overall work culture."  Jordan Hudgens, CTO of CronDose.com, co-founder of devCamp, and graduate student in the computer science department at Texas Tech University
A global study from IDT, conducted in collaboration with SAP, surveyed 81 executives (65 percent of which identified themselves as CIOs) and found that 80 percent of businesses cite digital transformation as a priority. However, according to the report, only 35 percent of respondents said their business actually had a clearly defined digital transformation strategy.

Although digital transformation is important to businesses, companies are still dragging their heels on developing a strategy. One thing that might be holding businesses back the most is hiring, according to a study from The Hackett Group. The study found that for midsized and large businesses, one of the biggest roadblocks with digital transformation has been actually finding and sourcing talent with the right skills.

Without the right skills in IT and other business units, companies will not understand the possibilities of what can be accomplished through digital transformation and they wont define a digital transformation strategy, says Scott Holland, principal, Global Advisory Practice Leader at The Hackett Group.

[ Related story: Businesses lack a streamlined approach to digital transformation ]

The skills gap

IDT found that only 17 percent of respondents had enough employees with the right skills to embark on a smooth digital transformation. While, at the same time, The Hackett Group study identified talent as the most important determinant of ITs capability to successfully address its key issues, in relation to digital transformation.

The central importance of talent reflects a broader issue in the IT field today: a structural mismatch between in-demand roles and the skills and experience of the talent available in the marketplace, says Holland.

Holland advices creating a comprehensive strategic workforce plan to win the talent war and executing on a strong hiring strategy to land the best talent. And its not always about technical skills, he says. Oftentimes businesses are looking for skills like analytics and strategic thinking, an ability to manage others and business acumen.

But hiring for the hottest skills can get expensive. So when looking at hiring for new and in-demand skills, you might first want to look within your own workforce and see if there is an employee who could be trained in that area, says Holland. Another options, he says, to look to at third-party services who are selling a full solution without the need to unpack what specific skills are necessary. While a third-party option may initially be more expensive, it can give more insight into what skills your business will really need for digital transformation, so you can then hire accordingly.

Mark Troester, vice president of Solutions Marketing at software provider Progress, hiring for digital transformation is about striking a balance between skills. From a leadership perspective, look for individuals that live in the middle of business and technology  individuals that are entrepreneurial in spirit and have the ability to apply technology in new and creative ways. If that skillset is lacking then you may need to go outside the organization, he says.

And not only is it expensive, theres also a lot of competition  its not just IT departments that are seeking out employees with these skills. All departments are clamoring for the right tech talent, as technology becomes a company-wide responsibility thats no longer isolated to IT. Skills that were once considered purely IT skills in the past  such as coding  are now being hired into business units. The line between what is IT and what is business is blurring. IT will need to hire or develop better coordination and soft skills to maintain alignment with business partners, says Holland.

[ Related story: Digital transformation will shape 2016 ]

Rethinking job titles

IDT reports that cross-functional knowledge is important for digital transformation. In the study, 88 percent of respondents said extensive business-related knowledge on the IT side is crucial for developing a digital transformation strategy, but theyre experiencing major gaps across departments. Fifty-eight percent say their IT executives have the right knowledge for digital transformation, while only 27 percent said their business executives had the same level of technical knowledge. The business and IT leaders need to come together to create a single strategy driven by business goals that provides overall guidance which the entire organization can support, says Troester.

As a result, new job titles are emerging, targeted at blending the line between business and IT, according to Harry Osle, global HR solutions practice leader at The Hackett Group. He says hes seen a growing trend in new titles, including director of digital transformation, chief data officer and chief digital officer. These positions will be key in helping organizations transform and provide insights on how important digital transformation is to any given company, he says.

For Troester, demonstrating your businesss capability to encourage cross-functional knowledge and skills, can make your company more appealing to potential candidates. Because what motivated individual would not want to work for an industry leader that is known for innovation? he says.

A strong business strategy

In the business world, most new initiatives are driven by ROI, and digital transformation is no different. Businesses need to have a clear and well thought-out IT hiring strategy in place in order to convince the board of executives to allocate the right resources to find people with the necessary skills, according to Osle.

Digital transformation strategies should be driven based on financial goals, and the investment should be measured over time, says Holland. He adds that its not a race  it takes time, and goals, and should be measured over time in a grand multi-year strategy, accomplished through incremental steps that drive the success of the ultimate goal.

A good digital hiring strategy will ultimately change the way businesses view technology. For the first time in the history of modern computing, we have seen a convergence of business and IT strategy, primarily fueled by the increasing power that new innovative and disruptive technologies have emerged, says Holland.

It takes time and energy to successfully transition your business to digital, says Holland. Its impossible to do all at once. He says its important to take it one step at a time  even if that means deploying only one piece of technology, or hiring only one new employee at a time to see how it impacts or doesnt impact the business. According to Holland, it requires a measured approach, that needs to include customer engagement, worker engagement, process optimization and digital value networks.

Its critical that a company create a focused, incremental plan to achieve enterprise digital transformation by improving the parts that make up the whole based upon the apparent opportunity to drive ROI through increased efficiency and effectiveness almost function by function, says Holland.

Related Video
Scientists in South Korea have developed solar cells thin enough they can be bent around a pencil. The cells, which were announced on Monday, could help usher in the use of solar energy in small portable gadgets where space is at a premium.

The cells are fabricated onto a flexible substrate that is just a micrometer thick -- one-half to one-quarter the thickness of other "thin" solar cells and hundreds of times thinner than conventional cells. A human hair, by comparison, is about 100 micrometers.

The team at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology in South Korea managed to reduce the thickness by directly attaching the cells to the substrate without the use of an adhesive.

They were stamped onto the substrate and then cold welded, a process that binds two materials together through pressure, not heat.

The scientists tested the cells and discovered they can almost be folded in half -- wrapped around a radius as small as 1.4 millimeters.

A paper describing the work was published on Monday in Applied Physics Letters, a journal of the American Institute of Physics.

Solar cells are commonly used as power sources in several types of large electronics, but their use on consumer items, such as gadgets and even cars, has been limited. That's in part because of the smaller area available to mount the cells and the fact that such products often have numerous curved surfaces. The new panels could overcome those limitations.
Everyone knew him as Checkov in the new "Star Trek" movies. His wit and humor tickled fans but in an instant, it has all disappeared after one fatal car collision.

Anton Yelchin has reportedly passed away early Sunday morning after he was found dead and pinned by his own car.

In his own career level, he was a rising actor. He made his name in the "Star Trek" film franchise. He also starred in the upcoming movie "Star Trek Beyond." Not many can pull off the accent and humor of Checkov. The Guardian describes the actor to have an impressive range in his career. In addition, he had a "cherubic charm who inspired huge affection."

Although he had many notches under his belt, he is mostly known for his role in "Huff" and "Star Trek Into Darkness." Sadly, his life was taken away. According to USA Today, his publicist Jennifer Allen confirmed the news in a statement: "Actor Anton Yelchin was killed in a fatal traffic collision early this morning. His family requests you respect their privacy at this time."

In the statement, it was found that a fatal traffic collision caused the accident. It was his own car rolling backward and downward. His steep driveway pinned him against a brick mailbox pillar and security friends. He was on his way to meet with friends. When he failed to show, they got worried and checked on him. He as found dead by his car.

At an early age, his parents have always been supportive of his acting career. He said, "My parents were of the opinion that you should have something that you do that you care about, because it structures your life as you're growing up." Before his tragic passing, he had accumulated a net worth of $10 million. Most of his wealth coming from his "Star Trek" movies. From his properties, Yelchin sold a home in California in 2013 for $900,000, and he bought another home in Studio City in 2012 for $945,000.

"Star Trek Beyond" was his last movie appearance.
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Investors have for months been cool to the idea that Anthem and Cigna's proposed $50 billion insurance merger will actually happen. Now things are looking downright frigid.

Less than a week after California's insurance commissioner went scorched-earth on the proposed merger and asked regulators to block it, the Wall Street Journal on Monday reported federal antitrust officials doubt Anthem and Cigna will be able to make enough concessions to make the deal viable.

Not-so-secretly applauding are rivals Aetna and Humana, which are also trying to combine in a $37 billion deal. The more challenges Anthem and Cigna encounter, the better the odds for the smaller transaction. It's a worst-case scenario for Anthem and Cigna. But it's a possibility both firms need to acknowledge.

The Aetna-Humana deal raises fewer regulatory red flags.

A combined Anthem and Cigna would be a private sector juggernaut. Anthem was already the biggest private health insurer in the country by enrollment, at about 31 million at the end of 2015. Adding Cigna would bring it to nearly 45 million. That heft would work to the merged companies' advantage in courting clients, but would make it harder for smaller rivals to compete.

Aetna-Humana would be the biggest Medicare Advantage insurer. But because that's a more localized market, with low barriers to entry, the combination wouldn't shift the competitive landscape as much.

The Aetna-Humana deal got an extra shot of confidence on Monday, when California's Department of Managed Health Care agreed to approve it. The state wasn't critical for the companies, given Humana's small presence there. But it's one more indication Aetna is in a better position than Anthem to get its megamerger done.

Both proposed deals were announced almost concurrently last summer because none of these insurers wanted to be left without a major partner. Going it alone would mean operating at a competitive disadvantage to larger rivals, including the already giant UnitedHealth Group. The pressure on Anthem and Cigna to find a deal and build negotiating leverage in a rapidly consolidating health care industry will get all the more real if their merger is sidelined while Aetna-Humana goes through.

In that scenario, Anthem wouldn't gain the dominant position in commercial insurance or the pricing power it hoped to add by buying Cigna. The company's margins have been under pressure from its participation in Obamacare's insurance exchanges; adding scale with a big deal was meant to help pad those margins. Cigna, meanwhile, would remain a distant fourth in commercial enrollment and a relative minnow on the government-managed side, meaning it will also face pressure to build scale.

The problem is there just aren't any perfect alternatives for a transformative acquisition, particularly from Anthem's perspective. The next three biggest publicly traded U.S. health insurers after Cigna and Humana are Centene, WellCare and Molina. A deal with any of those would be an easier sell to regulators than the Cigna combination. But only the first can deliver the kind of sales impact a Cigna deal can. Centene is on track to bring in about $40 billion of revenue this year, in line with Cigna.

Centene, WellCare and Molina are primarily focused on Medicare and Medicaid, government-sponsored coverage for the elderly and the poor, respectively. Those are growing areas as the aging baby boomer population pushes Medicare enrollment higher and state governments with tight budgets shift more Medicaid patients to managed-care companies. But the beauty of a deal with Cigna is that it offers exposure to both government and national commercial plans. Anthem could try to snap up some Blue Cross Blue Shield plans to gain more commercial coverage, but it would have to do that on a state-by-state basis, which could be time-consuming.

Anthem won't be hunting for a back-up deal in a vacuum, either. UnitedHealth was considered a potential buyer for either Centene or Health Net before those two companies decided to merge. That deal closed in March, creating the biggest private provider of Medicaid and perhaps an even more attractive target for UnitedHealth. A single Cigna will also be on the prowl, armed with $1.85 billion in extra firepower, courtesy of Anthem's breakup fee. Any pursuit of Centene, WellCare or Molina is likely to be competitive  and expensive. All three surged on Monday on the prospect they could become more likely targets.
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The odds on British voters choosing to leave Europe in Thursday's referendum were always fairly long, but have gotten longer after last week's assassination of a pro-European Union Member of Parliament.

Even Nigel Farage, head of the U.K. Independence Party and a leading advocate of Britain exiting the EU, conceded that the killing of Labor Party lawmaker Jo Cox apparently by an anti-immigrant fanatic has probably stopped whatever momentum the "Leave" proponents had.

"We did have momentum until this terrible tragedy," Farage told British television over the weekend. "When you are taking on the establishment, you need to have momentum. I don't know what's going to happen over the course of the next three to four days."

It was far from certain even before the shocking assassination in northern England last Thursday that the "Leave" campaign would actually convince voters to make the leap into the dark that "Brexit," as it is known, would entail.

In a similar situation two years ago, Scottish voters backed off from the consequences of a split with England as a referendum on independence lost by more than 10 points.

Betting odds for the current referendum  generally a reliable indicator in Britain's sophisticated betting markets  had shortened in recent weeks but still gave the "Remain" camp a 60% chance of winning, down from 70% in the weeks before. This week they have swung back to well over 70%.

Polls had emerged giving the "Leave" camp a slight edge among those with an opinion, but still left a large pool  10% or more  as undecided, and these were likelier to break for "Remain."

New polls in the wake of Cox's murder have "Remain" voters on top again, and Farage's comment indicates that the tragedy has hurt the chances of "Leave" advocates to win over those on the fence.

In any case, British polls have been notoriously unreliable in recent years, calling the Scottish independence vote a dead heat when in fact the "No" to independence prevailed with a comfortable margin. Polls last year forecast a hung Parliament in national elections  no party winning a majority  when in fact the Conservatives won their first outright majority in nearly a quarter century.

Ultimately, for all the noise about independence and recovering sovereignty, British voters have few compelling reasons to leave the EU, aside from the vexed issue of immigration.

The debate over Brexit, however, has clarified the choice for those who want Britain to enjoy the trade and other economic benefits of the EU  namely, that London should stay and show more forceful leadership in fixing the problems in the EU, starting with immigration.

A defeat of the Brexit referendum could give British Prime Minister David Cameron greater leverage in exercising that leadership.

For one thing, "Leave" supporters have already begun talking about a new referendum if this one fails  prompting a discussion of "neverendum" in the British media  and Cameron can use that threat for wresting further changes from Brussels.

Even if the "Leave" vote falls short, the Brexit debate and the fact that a substantial minority of British voters think the country would be better off on its own has already changed the dynamic in the EU.

Britain, and perhaps a fair number of other European countries, no longer accept  if they ever did  the goals of full-fledged political and economic integration in a European superstate that is implied in the EU treaties.

At the very least, there is likely to be an evolution toward a two-speed Europe, with those countries that choose to remain in the euro proceeding toward greater integration, and other countries receding back to a looser affiliation with a common market.

The principle of subsidiarity  making rules and laws at the level closest to the people  could be restored after essentially being abandoned in the quest for "ever closer union" that required more decisions to be made in Brussels.

In short, win or lose, the Brexit referendum has already changed the trajectory of Europe's future, putting an end to the idea of a United States of Europe.

This was the message from no less an authority than Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council and so the top EU official, when he urged in a speech earlier this month to abandon "utopian dreams" like "total integration" and focus on more pragmatic measures to preserve union in Europe.

Tusk doubled down on this warning Monday in new comments about the Brexit vote. "Whatever its result is going to be, we must take a long, hard look on the future of the Union," he said after a meeting in Lisbon. "We would be foolish if we ignored such a warning signal as the U.K. referendum."

Brexit may fail, but the changes sought by its supporters may well prevail.
At Whole Health Clinical Group in West Allis, Rosalyn McFarland (right), a nurse practitioner, has the advantage of working closely with psychiatrists, psychologists and other therapists, pharmacists and case managers like Rachel Leahy (left), director of case management services. Credit: Angela Peterson

SHARE Rosalyn McFarland, a nurse practitioner, talks with John Chianelli, head of the Whole Health Clinical Group. The addition of primary care at the clinic is an example of a broader move to integrate medical and behavioral health care. Angela Peterson

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Rosalyn McFarland provides primary care to some of the most challenging patients in the health care system: people with severe and chronic behavioral health conditions.

But McFarland, a nurse practitioner at Whole Health Clinical Group in West Allis, has the advantage of working closely with its psychiatrists, psychologists and other therapists, pharmacists and case managers.

The result is more collaboration and better coordination of care.

It's an example of a change slowly beginning to take hold in the U.S. health care system: integrating primary and behavioral health care.

The Institutes of Medicine recommended integrating primary and behavioral health care more than 20 years ago, and supporters contend that the model can improve care and lower costs.

It also is part of the realization that the historical separation between physical and mental health doesn't serve patients well.

"Behavioral health was carved out of the medical world many, many years ago, and people are finally beginning to see there were some mistakes around doing that," said Peter Carlson, president of behavioral health for Aurora Health Care.

The U.S. health care system spent $220 billion on behavioral health in 2014, more than any other medical condition, including cancer and heart disease. Behavioral health conditions, ranging from depression and anxiety to severe chronic conditions such as schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, affect nearly one in five people.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 20% of primary care office visits are related to behavioral health conditions. Patients with behavioral health problems also are more likely first to seek help from their primary care doctor.

Yet many of those patients are referred to what essentially is a separate health care system.

Supporters of integrating primary and behavioral health care contend that treating depression, anxiety or other behavioral conditions shouldn't be any different than treating diabetes, high blood pressure or other medical conditions.

"It's an illness like any other illness, in the sense that something goes wrong somewhere in the body," Carlson said.

One model for integrating behavioral health and primary care focuses on making it easier for primary care physicians and other clinicians to consult with psychiatrists.

But the model thought to have the most potential is having psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists and nurses work with doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and others who provide primary care  all in the same clinic and ideally on the same team.

The model, known as collaborative care, is a proven way to improve the care for patients with mental illness, said Thomas Heinrich, a family medicine physician and psychiatrist at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers has moved to a version of collaborative care. And Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin and Aurora Health Care, among others, plan to test the model.

The model enables primary care physicians to treat more patients with behavioral health conditions, reducing the number of referrals and improving access.

That's in part because the primary care physicians can easily draw on the expertise of specialists in behavioral health or immediately do a "warm handoff" to a therapist at the clinic.

The primary care physicians and other clinicians and behavioral health specialists also learn from each other, Heinrich said.

"They are going to be operating in the same hallways and the same clinic," he said. "Education occurs on a daily basis in these kinds of environments."

Another feature is care managers who can follow up with patients, such as checking on side effects of medications.

"It provides the backup that the primary care doctors need," Heinrich said.

The collaborative model also is seen as a way of dealing with the severe shortage of psychiatrists by reducing referrals and freeing psychiatrists to focus on patients with the most severe conditions.

Patients may have to wait two to three months to see adult psychiatrists at Aurora, Carlson said. The wait is four to five months or longer for child psychiatrists, and even longer for addiction psychiatrists.

Merritt Hawkins, a health care recruiting company, said psychiatrists now are its second most-requested search.

"Psychiatrists are next to impossible to find," said Maria Elena Perez, a psychologist and director of behavioral health at Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers.

The community health center has a behavioral health staff of roughly 28 psychiatrists, psychologists and licensed counselors and social workers. (Psychologists have doctorates; licensed counselors and social workers have master's degrees.)

Its behavioral health staff has long been located at its clinics and available for referrals and consultations. But in the past five years or so, it began looking at new models for providing care.

In the past year, Sixteenth Street began embedding behavioral health specialists with primary care doctors, enabling them to do brief interventions and further assessments, Perez said. That has freed up its physicians.

The behavioral health specialists also can work with patients on changing behaviors, such as helping them manage chronic diseases.

In addition, Sixteenth Street has three behavioral health specialists who are available for same-day appointments several days a week.

Patients with more acute or chronic conditions that require more intensive care are referred to a therapist or psychologist on staff  although there typically is a monthlong wait for an opening.

Community health centers are located in low-income urban neighbors and rural areas. Most of their patients are covered by Medicaid programs, such as BadgerCare Plus. And people with low incomes are more likely to have a behavioral health problem than those with higher incomes.

Medicaid accounts for more than a quarter of all behavioral health spending nationally, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health policy research organization. By one estimate, more than one-third of the people covered by Medicaid have a mental illness.

Of those, 61% also have other medical conditions  and treating those conditions is much harder when a patient has depression, anxiety or other behavioral health conditions. A patient with depression, for instance, is less likely to manage his or her diabetes or high blood pressure.

"We can't separate the mind and the body," said Perez of Sixteenth Street.

The model isn't designed for patients with severe mental illnesses  estimated at almost 10 million, or 4.1%, of adults.

They require the specialized care available at a behavioral clinic such as Whole Health Clinical Group.

"Our mission is to serve the people with the most need," said John Chianelli, executive director of Whole Health's West Allis clinic.

Whole Health Clinical Group, part of the Milwaukee Center for Independence, provides an array of services for people with severe behavioral health conditions.

The clinic employs 240 people, including 60 case managers who closely monitor the most vulnerable patients, visiting some as often as twice a day.

The Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division contracts with the clinic for case management and other services.

Whole Health, which also operates 170 apartments for people with severe behavioral health conditions and a crisis resource center, is an example of an organization that provides so-called wraparound services that people with severe mental illness often need in their day-to-day lives.

Providing primary care extends that model.

McFarland, the clinic's nurse practitioner, provides primary care to about 500 of the clinic's 1,100 patients.

She is part of an interdisciplinary team that meets every Tuesday to discuss complex patients who may be at risk.

Case managers will identify patients who may be at risk of a crisis, such as someone who is not taking his or her medications or not following up on referrals. And the clinic's pharmacists have expertise in the complex drugs used to treat severe mental illness and their side effects.

"One person can't do it all," McFarland said. "We have to do it as a team."
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A U.S. district judge in Milwaukee has dismissed a lawsuit that accused Time Warner Cable of keeping subscribers' personal information after they ended their cable service.

Derek Gubala, formerly of Oak Creek, claimed that Time Warner Cable kept personal identifiable information such as names and addresses, birth dates, Social Security numbers and credit card accounts of former customers, in violation of the Cable Communications Policy Act.

The CCPA would provide for liquidated damages of $100 per day of violation, plus punitive damages and attorney fees.

Gubala accused Time Warner Cable of putting former customers at risk of identity theft and other dangers. His lawyers wanted a class-action status for his lawsuit.

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Pamela Pepper dismissed the case, citing the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling in a case involving a Virginia man who sued the internet search firm Spokeo for posting false information about people.

The Supreme Court said consumers could bring legal claims in such cases only if the information used by the company caused actual harm to the plaintiffs. Consumer rights advocates had sought a broader ruling that would let people sue without showing a real injury.

Gubala, who now lives in Illinois, was represented by attorney Joseph Siprut of Chicago, who previously filed similar lawsuits in California against Time Warner Cable.

At least one of those cases wound up in arbitration, the preferred method for companies to avoid potentially pricey, class-action lawsuits.

"We will be appealing the court's order immediately," Siprut said Monday.

Time Warner Cable declined to comment.

The lawsuit contended that, while the company's privacy policy indicates that subscribers' personal information is destroyed after it's no longer needed, the company actually keeps it all indefinitely.

Gubala was a Time Warner Cable subscriber from 2004 to 2006, according to his suit, but when he called the company again in 2014, he learned it still had all his personally identifiable information on file.

"There are numerous serious and troubling privacy issues implicated by TWC's practice of retaining and misusing their former customers' personal information, including the risk of identity theft and conversion of personal financial accounts," the suit noted.

That kind of data "functions as a new form of currency that supports a $26 billion per year online advertising industry in the United States," according to the suit, and has growing value to each individual consumer.

The Time Warner Cable decision was consistent with the Supreme Court ruling regarding Spokeo, said Ed Fallone, associate professor of law at Marquette University.

"As I read Judge Pepper's opinion, it's a very straightforward application of what the Supreme Court was saying in Spokeo. The Supreme Court did make it clear that someone could be injured by the theft of intangible data, but there has to be a clear allegation of that, and I think it was missing in the (Gubala) complaint," Fallone said.

"There are many other similar class-action lawsuits that have been recently dismissed by federal judges around the country, under the same rationale," he added.

Congress could someday change the law, but for now, consumers should realize that their personal, identifiable information isn't private if they share it with a business.

"I think once you give it to one company, it's pretty much out there," Fallone said.
Avan Kittler  suspected in a triple shooting, two armed robberies and three carjackings  is back in jail after his initial release on $10,000 bail. Credit: Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office

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A 17-year-old suspect in a triple shooting, two armed robberies and three carjackings, who drew attention last week because he was released on $10,000 bail, was back behind bars on Monday.

Avan T. Kittler of Milwaukee was booked into Milwaukee County Jail on Sunday after Milwaukee police searched his house Friday and reported finding marijuana, a stun gun, multiple cellphones and drug paraphernalia, according to court records.

Kittler was released on bail last Tuesday after being charged May 28 with seven felonies, including first-degree reckless injury, armed robbery and child abduction.

In one of the carjackings, a baby was still inside the vehicle. Kittler stopped driving about a half block away from the robbery and placed the infant and his car seat on some grass before driving off, according to a criminal complaint.

When news of Kittler's release on bail circulated, many people expressed outrage.

Although Kittler and 22-year-old Matthew Lawrence Long are co-defendants and each faces seven felonies, online records indicate they made their initial court appearances a day apart and went before different court commissioners.

Court Commissioner Katharine Kucharski set Kittler's bail at $10,000 while Commissioner Barry Slagle set Long's bail at $200,000, those online records show. Long has remained in jail since his arrest.

In general, when setting bail, judges here have said they consider a defendant's background, seriousness of the charge and prior criminal record, ties to the community including family and employment, and a risk assessment.

A relative posted Kittler's $10,000 cash bail and he was released to Justice Point, a pretrial monitoring service, under house arrest with GPS monitoring.

On Thursday, Milwaukee police filed a search warrant affidavit that described a Facebook live video posted in April on Kittler's account showing the teen taking a video of himself holding a gun and smoking a blunt.

Police said they were seeking permission to search his house for evidence of a person under 18 possessing a dangerous weapon, and a court commissioner signed off on the search warrant Friday.

After his house was searched, Kittler was arrested on potential charges of bail jumping, a felony, and possessing marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a dangerous weapon, all misdemeanors, according to police.
Ald. Mark Borkowski (right) is criticizing Attorney General Brad Schimel (left) for not personally attending a meeting of Milwaukee's Public Safety Committee on Monday to discuss crime issues. Credit: Journal Sentinel files

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State Attorney General Brad Schimel is taking heat from a Milwaukee alderman for failing to show up at a meeting Monday focused on combating violent crime in the city.

Schimel was invited to attend a special meeting of the Common Council's Public Safety Committee, but instead sent another official from the state Department of Justice.

"Am I mistaken?" Ald. Mark Borkowski asked. "Was the attorney general supposed to be here today?"

Ald. Bob Donovan, the committee's chairman, said Schimel had been personally invited, but quickly explained that he understands Wisconsin's top cop has a busy schedule and sent someone in his place.

"I find it disappointing that the elected official couldn't be with us today, because like all of us that are elected, we're held accountable," Borkowski said. "Or we should be held accountable."

A spokesman for the state Department of Justice said Schimel's job doesn't involve running local agencies.

"The Attorney General cannot and should not get into the business of running local law enforcement agencies. Decisions about resource allocation and best practices and policies are best made at the local level," DOJ spokesman Johnny Koremenos said in an email. "At the end of the day, local officials need to be the ones accountable for Milwaukee's violence."

During the meeting, Borkowski said he had specific questions for Schimel about his job. He went on to ask if Milwaukee leaders reach out to the attorney general for help combating crime during spikes in violence, and whether Schimel takes the initiative to offer assistance during those times.

"I mean, if we're all in this together, then I would think that people would feel comfortable enough to say, 'Why don't you do this,' or 'Why don't you do that?'" Borkowski said. "And I'm not hearing that at all. I'm not hearing that there's a line of communication. I'm not hearing there's a sense that we're all in this together."

Constance Kostelac, director of the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Information and Analysis, who appeared in Schimel's place Monday, said the agency was in regular communication with cities and communities throughout the state, but wasn't aware of any specific requests for assistance.

Borkowski, who represents the city's southwest side, went on to rail against the share of the state budget that goes toward Milwaukee's public safety efforts, such as funding for paying overtime to Milwaukee police officers.

"I see peanuts  peanuts  going to Milwaukee!" he said.

Schimel has directed extra money to Milwaukee that has gone unused, Koremenos said.

"The Attorney General is committed to the City of Milwaukee, just as he is to every other municipality in the state, and has directed that additional resources be provided to the city, including two prosecutors dedicated solely to gun cases and $50,000 in overtime for Milwaukee police officers working on gun crime investigations," he said. "It's hard to take the city's complaints about lack of resources from the state seriously when the Milwaukee Police Department has yet to draw down any of the overtime resources made available to them by our office."

Koremenos added that Schimel turned down the committee's invitation two weeks ago, saying he instead sent a "well-respected, well-qualified DOJ researcher" who was better positioned to answer questions on data and statistics.

Monday's meeting addressed a broad range of public safety issues, including homicide rates, drug arrests, illegal gun purchases and human trafficking.

Donovan said human trafficking and prostitution are "out of control" in Milwaukee, and called for efforts to hold people who pay for sex, known as "johns," accountable. And Ald. Jose Perez pushed for more efforts to crack down on pimps.

The session was the third in a series of special meetings Donovan scheduled this summer "offering civic leaders the opportunity to join the fray and take collaborative action" to address violence in the city. The first featured a discussion with Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn. The second was with Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm and his office.
A campaigner for Vote Leave holds a placard during a rally for Britain Stronger in Europe, the official campaign group seeking to have Britain remain in the European Union ahead of Thursdays referendum in Hyde Park in London on Sunday. Credit: Getty

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"Fog in channel, continent cut off," is a very old British joke about an alleged newspaper headline regarding weather over the waterway separating Britain from Europe. Even a brief visit to the British Isles can readily confirm this sense of distance from the European continent.

On Thursday, British voters will have the opportunity to express their collective opinion on whether to remain in the European Union. "Brexit" is the shorthand term for leaving. The referendum of Prime Minister David Cameron's government has been extremely controversial, even within his own Conservative Party.

However, the referendum does reflect the strong established currents within Britain of skepticism and outright opposition to European economic and political integration. Over the past year, Cameron has been pursuing a substantial renegotiation of Britain's EU membership. Britain's demands include restrictions on immigrants from Europe, a move strongly opposed by other member nations, led by Germany.

In December 2011, Cameron dramatically vetoed a proposed solution to the EU financial crisis. The accord, constructed with great effort by Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, would have imposed fiscal limits on all member nations.

In recent years, the Conservative Party, which led British entry into the European community, has become notably more hostile to the organization. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was a famous Euroskeptic, and battled ferociously  and generally successfully  for concessions from the other members. The 1997 general election brought into Parliament a younger generation of Conservative politicians who reflected her views.

In 2005, Britain also led the way in vetoing a proposed comprehensive European Constitution. The risk of losing aid from Brussels encouraged politically astute Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision. Additionally, European backers of integration had grown more ambitious, alienating Britain and others with visions of expanding EU authority at the expense of national sovereignty

Britain stayed out when the original European community was founded in the mid-1950s. France, one of six founding members, nonetheless was committed to defense of national sovereignty, led by President Charles de Gaulle, the national hero of World War II. On two occasions in the 1960s, he vetoed Britain's entry, greatly reinforcing the sense of the English Channel as a great gulf.

British resistance to institutional engagement in Europe is deeply rooted historically, traceable at least to the 16th century. According to one story, King Henry VIII had a portrait of himself painted in which he held in one hand a pair of scales labeled Austria and France. In his other hand, he held a weight capable of tipping the balance in favor of one state or the other. This image is a useful symbol for British policies toward the continent in the centuries that have followed. Britain proved crucial in defeating Napoleon and then Hitler.

Wider context also is useful to analysis. Merkel has done an exceptional job of mobilizing vital political as well as economic resources to address Europe's debt problems. Engaging Germany constructively in Europe was a principal goal of unifying the region in the wake of the total destruction and horrors of World War II. This essential security goal has been achieved.

Since the war, British trade with the rest of Europe has grown steadily, moving away from the old global empire. Leaving the EU would bring self-imposed barriers to sales.

Polls have gone back and forth on support for Brexit. London bookmakers, however, calculate Britain will stay.

Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College and author of "After the Cold War" (Macmillan and NYU Press). Contact acyr@carthage.edu
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stands with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie before a rally in Fort Worth, Texas, in February. Credit: Associated Press

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Help wanted: Seasoned Republican politician with Washington experience. Must have high energy, conservative credentials and a strong stomach. Job requires working for mercurial boss who provokes needless crises without warning. On paper, you'll be his deputy, but this chief executive prides himself on ignoring others' advice. The successful candidate will roll with the punches and subordinate his/her public image to the boss's whims. Four-year, no-exit contract; once you're in, you're in.

Would anybody want this job?

As Donald Trump's scorched-earth style has driven his poll numbers downward, the question isn't only whom he'll pick as his running mate; it's also whether leading Republicans are willing to shackle their futures to his.

"If you take the job, you're betting your reputation and your career on Donald Trump," said Vin Weber, a former Republican congressman from Minnesota who, it must be noted, is not a fan.

If Trump loses the general election, his No. 2 risks collecting a share of the blame. If Trump wins, the new vice president gets to spend four years contending with a boss whose reality TV catchphrase was: "You're fired."

Small wonder that the list of prominent Republicans who don't want to be considered is as long as those who are signaling interest.

Nominees often find their running mates among the rivals they defeated in the primaries, but Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Marco Rubio and Gov. John Kasich are all in the "not me" camp.

Trump has said he would like a vice president with experience in Congress, "somebody that can help me with legislation." But some of his party's top figures on Capitol Hill don't appear interested, either.

House Speaker Paul Ryan would be a logical candidate; he was Mitt Romney's running mate in 2012, and he's beloved by many conservatives.

But while Ryan has formally endorsed Trump, he has repeatedly criticized the real estate mogul, slamming his criticism of a Mexican American federal judge as "the textbook definition of a racist comment." Besides, Ryan is passionate about cutting future spending on Social Security and Medicare; Trump disagrees. That marriage isn't going to happen.

The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Bob Corker, has traveled to Trump Tower in New York to offer foreign policy advice. But if Corker was initially interested, he's sounding less enthusiastic now.

"In an effort to be constructive, I have offered public encouragement (to Trump), but I must admit that I am personally discouraged by the results," Corker told me.

Who would take the job?

Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House, has been virtually campaigning for the role.

"Trump was right" about Orlando, he told conservative columnist Byron York. "Trump has been warning again and again that this has been getting more dangerous."

Trump and Gingrich are also in broad agreement on domestic policy; like Trump, Gingrich criticized Romney and Ryan for proposing cuts to Medicare spending in 2012.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, one of the first primary candidates to endorse Trump, seems eager, too  all too eager.

Christie's term as governor ends in January 2018, and he can't run again. But it's not clear what he'd bring to the ticket; his job approval in New Jersey has plummeted and he has no Washington experience.

Trump has said he would consider Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the first member of the Senate to endorse him. But Sessions has pointed out that he'd be a bad strategic choice, since the GOP shouldn't need extra help in the Deep South.

The presumptive nominee also has said he likes Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, a governor with solid conservative credentials; she has said she's honored to be considered.

Contrary to popular belief, it's not unprecedented for politicians to decline an offer to run for vice president. It's not even unusual.

So it doesn't hurt a politician's career to turn down the second spot on the presidential ticket. But it's definitely not a good sign for the candidate at the top.

Doyle McManus is a columnist for The Los Angeles Times. Email doyle.mcmanus@latimes.com Twitter: @DoyleMcManus
People attend a vigil in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, on Saturday for the victims of the Orlando mass shooting. Credit: European Press Agency

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Just over a week ago, 49 souls were stolen from Orlando, murdered in an unimaginable act of terror. Hundreds more were injured or witnessed unthinkable violence. Our city remains in a state of shock, our hearts broken as we grieve for the victims and their families. Everyone in our city is struggling to comprehend how Orlando, a place known around the world for joy and fun, is now also the site of the worst mass shooting in American history.

In Orlando's darkest hour, our community has been uplifted by the love and support from across our country and around the world. For decades, the world has come to Orlando to have fun. This week, when we needed it most, the world came to Orlando's aid.

We heard Americans singing outside of the White House. We saw rainbow flags flying above Seattle's Space Needle and iconic landmarks lit up from coast to coast, all to show Orlando that we weren't alone.

Tens of thousands gathered in London, chanting, "Orlando, we have your back." We witnessed candles alight in honor of our victims in front of the Coliseum in Rome. We saw the Eiffel Tower lit up in the colors of the rainbow. So many of our victims are Hispanic, and we felt the love and strength of Latin America. Every day, we continue to watch unique and powerful displays of support from Germany, Sweden, India, Chile, Brazil, and on and on.

On behalf of everyone in Orlando, we want to thank our brothers and sisters from across America and around the world for standing with us, praying with us and mourning with us. Your shared strength and resolve has helped our city.

If there is any good to be found in the darkness that has consumed our city, it is that the world has had the chance to see the other side of Orlando. Not our famous theme parks, but the growing city that still has a small town feel. The place that in many ways is America's new melting pot. The city where diversity and inclusion are a vital part of our way of life.

When the worst that humanity has to offer visited our city, the residents of Orlando showed they were more than capable of showing the world the best of humanity. My hope is that what happened in Orlando and our response to it compels others to find ways to work together to overcome hate, intolerance and injustice.

Incredibly, we've already begun to hear from those who say that what has happened here and how our community has responded has sparked a change in their hearts.

My hope is that we will be remembered not as the city where a horrible shooting took place, but as the city that showed others that love can conquer hate. And my hope is that Orlando's tragedy is remembered as the event that led our country into a new era of embracing diversity, equality and fairness.

On behalf of everyone who calls Orlando home: thank you, thank you, thank you.

Buddy Dyer is the mayor of Orlando. Email: Buddy.Dyer@cityoforlando.net
Blaze is treated for a concussion at the Raptor Education Group near Antigo. Credit: Courtesy of the Raptor Education Group

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Kronenwetter  One of three peregrine falcon chicks that hatched this spring at the Weston Power Plant crashed to the ground while learning to fly last week but is back at the nest now after rehab efforts.

The chick known as Blaze left his nest box to test his wings for the first time at about 6 a.m. last Monday. Workers found him dazed on the ground about two hours later, and he was rushed to the Raptor Education Group Inc. near Antigo for treatment.

Blaze was diagnosed with a concussion and held at REGI until he regained his strength and orientation, REGI director Marge Gibson said. Eating well and healthy again, he was returned to the top of the Weston Power Plant Friday morning and released as his wary parents circled above, WPS community relations leader Kelly Zagrzebski said.

Peregrine falcons are the fastest animals on earth, topping 225 mph as they dive on their prey, usually smaller birds. They were driven to the brink of extinction in the 1970s by the use of the pesticide DDT, and were eliminated in Wisconsin until captive-breeding programs reintroduced them in the 1980s.

Gibson said it is not unusual for chicks to have mishaps as they are learning to fly, and those mishaps can be perilous because peregrines tend to live atop high cliffs or, as in Kronenwetter, on tall buildings.

Zagrzebski said WPS employees spotted Blaze's siblings, Spark and Pirate, flying with their parents, Sheldon and Rosalee, on Friday and Blaze quickly rejoined them.

Gibson said Rosalee and Sheldon also are teaching the chicks to hunt before they reach adulthood and venture out to start families of their own.
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New York  Wherever you look in this nation born of a bloody revolution of musket fire, chances are there's sharp disagreement over firearms.

Democrats war with Republicans, and small towns are against cities. Women and men are at odds, as are blacks and whites and old and young. North clashes with South, East with West.

"The current gun debate is more polarized and sour than any time before in American history," said Adam Winkler, a constitutional law professor at UCLA and author of the 2011 book, "Gunfight: The Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms in America."

In the midst of debate over the latest mass shooting, in Orlando, it's easy to imagine that guns have always divided us this way. But a close look at survey data over decades shows they haven't.

There was a time, not that long ago, when most citizens favored banning handguns, the chief gun lobbyists supported firearm restrictions, and courts hadn't yet interpreted the Second Amendment as guaranteeing a personal right to bear arms for self-defense at home.

Today, in a country of hundreds of millions of guns, public opinion and interpretation of the law have shifted so much that outright gun bans are unthinkable. It's true that large segments of the public have expressed support for some aspects of gun regulation  but when Americans have been asked to say which is more important, gun control or gun rights, they trend toward the latter.

That shift has come, perhaps surprisingly, as fewer Americans today choose to keep a gun in their home. The General Social Survey, a massive study undertaken by NORC at the University of Chicago since 1972 and one of the foremost authorities on gun ownership, found that 31% of households had guns in 2014. That was down from a high of 50.4% in 1977.

"Institutions have repeated, 'More guns, less crime. More guns, less crime,' over and over again for almost 40 years, and it's hard to turn that belief around in any easy way," said Joan Burbick, an emeritus professor at Washington State University who wrote "Gun Show Nation: Gun Culture and American Democracy" and who owns a gun for hobby shooting.

Among the longest-existing measures of public gun sentiment is a Gallup poll question asking whether there should be a law banning handguns except by police and other authorized people. When it was first asked, in July 1959, 60% of respondents approved of such a measure.

By last October, only 27% agreed.

Many point to a single date as crucial in the societal shift: May 21, 1977, when the National Rifle Association held its annual meeting at a convention hall in Cincinnati.

"That was the moment, in one evening, when the gun debate in America radically changed," Winkler said.

The turmoil of the country in the 1960s and 1970s roiled institutions of all kinds, the NRA included. The organization had fought gun laws in the past but also had come to accept some, including the Gun Control Act of 1968. As the next decade wore on and the NRA entered its second century, it faced an identity crisis: Was it a coalition of sportsmen, or a political powerhouse?

Leaders were set on the former, drawing up plans to move its headquarters from Washington to Colorado and to retreat from politics. Some of its most fiery members disagreed, staging a revolt that night that stretched into the next morning, and remade the group's leadership. Plans for a westward move were scuttled, and a rightward move politically was sealed.

The gun lobby's increasingly powerful voice found receptive ears among a public that witnessed the country's civil rights battles, assassinations of beloved leaders and growing lawlessness in cities. Over time, statehouses and Congress bowed to the influence of the NRA and its allies. And in 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court finally declared Americans have the right to a gun for self-defense.

"What they (gun rights advocates) did is a classic example of how you make constitutional change: They realized they needed to win in the court of public opinion before you could win in the court of law," said Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University and author of "The Second Amendment: A Biography."

Pew Research Center data provides a sketch of what the gun-owning populace looks like today:

 74% of gun owners are men and 82% are white.

 Those in rural areas are more than twice as likely as urbanites to own a gun.

 Ownership rates in the Northeast are lower than in the rest of the country.

 Gun owners are far more likely to identify with or lean toward the Republican Party.

Data from the General Social Survey shows that gun owners are more likely to have higher incomes  and to vote.

Taken together, this is a description of a motivated and politically potent group. But their clout sometimes obscures a simple fact: Although polarization appears in broad questions on gun rights, far more consensus emerges on individual proposals.

A Pew poll released in August showed that 85% of people support background checks for purchases at gun shows and in private sales; 79% support laws to prevent the mentally ill from buying guns; 70% approve of a federal database to track gun sales; and 57% favor a ban on assault weapons.

"The fact is it's not divisive. The things that we're advocating in the American public, when you're talking about keeping guns out of dangerous hands, we all agree. We all agree on the solutions," said Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence whose brother was severely hurt in a shooting. "The only place where this is truly a controversial issue is, tragically and disgracefully, in Congress and in our statehouses across the country."

In the aftermath of the Orlando shooting that claimed 49 lives, Democrats mounted a 15-hour filibuster in the U.S. Senate to try to break a stalemate on a gun bill  just as attempts to revive legislation have followed other recent mass shootings, though with little effect. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a moderate Republican, likened it to "Groundhog Day," while Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat from Florida, said he couldn't see how even the NRA could object to a bill such as the one being considered, to keep those on a terrorist watch list from purchasing guns.

There is little expectation that the Democratic bill will pass. "They are accustomed to getting their way around here," Nelson said of the NRA.

The NRA did not respond to an interview request.

Gross sees signs for hope for gun control supporters. Social media, he said, has helped get out a message that his side, for years, struggled to spread against the deep pockets of the gun lobby. The Democratic presidential primary, in which Hillary Clinton made gun control a flagship issue in differentiating herself from Bernie Sanders, showed it's not an untouchable political issue. And changing national demographics could further bolster the case of those who favor gun restrictions, because minorities constitute a growing share of the populace and are less likely to own guns.

Still, this debate remains one of the most toxic in America.

Winkler, the UCLA professor, knows divisiveness. He worked on the defense teams of O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson. His research has prompted impassioned debates on issues from free speech to campaign finance.

"Nothing has ever come close to the level of vitriol I have seen with guns," he said. "Both sides feel that life and death is at stake."

The fear expressed by many gun owners that the government seeks to confiscate their weapons harkens back to the time of the Constitution's framers. When James Madison first proposed the right to bear arms, Waldman said, it was specifically seen as a right for gun ownership in the service of militias, which were seen as a bulwark against the possible tyranny and risk of overreach from a central government. That rationale for gun ownership still exists among many today.

"People were worrying about overreach from Washington when it was George Washington and not Washington, D.C.," Waldman said.

This story is part of Divided America, The Asoociated Press' ongoing exploration of the economic, social and political divisions in American society.
SHARE The sign at the Northeast Standard BP station on 9th St. and Erie Ave. in Sheboygan has a strong statement about drugs. Gary C. Klein / USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

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Sheboygan  Frustrated with the drug problem in Sheboygan and tired of seeing customers dying from overdoses, convenience store owner Dick Hiers decided to bring awareness to the problem.

"I've lost more than 30 customers to overdoses," Hiers said. "The last one that affected me more than anything was Dakota, 19 years old with a 2-year-old child. She came in here, her parents came in here, her sister comes here. That one affected me the most, and I decided something needed to be done to bring some awareness to it."

The signs are hard to miss at the Northeast Standard BP station on 9th St. and Erie Ave. The first signs Dick posted read "Heroin is killing people  help wanted" and "Wake up! Your kids are dying  heroin." While the signs grabbed attention, and photos of the signs on social media spread through the nation, Hiers said he was disappointed by the community's response  or, more specifically, lack of response.

"The signs have traveled the United States and maybe outside the country, but from the community itself, there has been very little response," Hiers said. "A lot of people thought it was cute and took pictures of it, but no one was knocking on my door to find out why."

He's not just frustrated by the community response, but the police response as well. Hiers said the police are often too slow to respond, and he criticized them for taking what he feels is a reactive approach to the drug problem in the community rather than a proactive approach toward prevention.

"We've watched deals out here on the driveway for years now, and for us to call (the police) is useless because nothing happens," he said. "It's more than frustrating."

Sheboygan Police Chief Chris Domagalski responded late Friday to Hiers comments, saying that he is also frustrated by the assumption that people make that police are the only answer to the opioid epidemic and that people need to understand how important a community response is.

"A successful approach involves a coordinated community effort focused on preventive efforts such as education on the dangers of drug and alcohol use and abuse and the long-term consequences including problems with physical and mental health, relationships, employment and the law," Domagalski said.

Response to the signs, however, is picking up. Hiers said he is now working with two groups, Samaritan's Hand and the Christian Intervention Program, two faith-based addiction support programs.

"I give them a lot of credit. That's what we're trying to do," Hiers said. "

To raise awareness, Samaritan's Hand is holding a "Prayer at the Pump" at 6 p.m. on June 29.

The prayer will center on healing the community and spreading awareness about addiction.
State Sen. Nikiya Harris Dodd believes in second chances.

And third.

And fourth.

Harris Dodd, who is not running for re-election, recently hired a 31-year-old aide with four felonies on his record and multiple misdemeanors, including a third drunken-driving offense.

The aide also has been charged with a handful of other offenses, such as armed robbery, bail jumping and second-offense cocaine possession, for which he was not convicted.

"This is who the Legislature hires?" said a tipster in an email. "It's astonishing, really."

Yeah, not your typical legislative or campaign aide, for whom even the whiff of scandal can put an end to a career.

But Harris Dodd, a Milwaukee Democrat, is standing by her staffer.

"Tim Schabo is a remarkable young man," said the first-term senator.

Harris Dodd hired Schabo in March to serve as her constituent services director, a job that pays about $35,000 a year. Schabo, a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, had worked as an intern for Harris Dodd from 2013-'15.

After that, he put in internships with U.S. Reps. Gwen Moore and Nancy Pelosi  Democrats from Wisconsin and California, respectively  and a short stint with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an Independent.

When Schabo called earlier this year to see if he could get a full-time gig back in Madison, Harris Dodd readily agreed.

"As a person who champions giving people a second chance, it's a no-brainer to me why I would give him an opportunity in my office," Harris Dodd said Friday. Schabo also is volunteering on the Assembly campaign for David Crowley, another Harris Dodd staffer.

Harris Dodd would not discuss any of her aide's past criminal acts  something that, no doubt, saved her a good bit of time. Because Schabo has a lengthy rap sheet.

His online court file includes 20 different entries.

Since 2002, he has been convicted of felony counts of possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver, maintaining a drug trafficking place, robbery with the threat of force and child abuse with intent to cause harm.

On top of that, he's been found guilty of criminal damage to property, driving with a revoked license, failing to install an ignition interlock device and three OWIs. His last drunken-driving conviction came in February 2014.

And that's not all. He has had his probation revoked in the past, and he's had other charges dropped as part of plea deals or because the cases didn't hold up to scrutiny.

Schabo isn't hiding his past.

"It's been a hard road," he said in a Friday interview. "I don't have any problem with people asking questions about it."

An Appleton native, Schabo said he started using drugs at an early age and eventually became addicted to cocaine and crack cocaine. He credits his "amazing parents," his college professors, rehab workers and many others with getting him on the right path.

He said he has been clean for the past eight years, though that doesn't mean sober. Two of his OWI convictions have come since 2010. He said he has laid off the bottle for three years.

Schabo said he realizes that Harris Dodd is taking a risk.

"You can never be 100% sure," he said. "But they can tell, seeing me, the way I work, my parenting, my work in the community, that I'm not the same person."

He added, "I consider myself a shining example of the ability to change."

Schabo said he has now settled down, with a full-time job, a girlfriend and a set of 9-month-old twins.

He shares his story in the documentary "Milwaukee 53206: A Community Serves Time," which focuses on the ZIP code with the highest incarceration rate in the country. In the movie, Schabo says he doubts he'd be given the same chances if he weren't a white male.

Without a doubt.

A young black man with multiple criminal offenses, including four felonies, is not likely to land a full-time gig, with benefits, at the state Capitol handling issues for a state rep.

But his boss said Schabo is able to do his constituent relations job so well because many people in the district are dealing with similar issues.

"You're talking about someone who understands that the criminal justice system is not fair," Harris Dodd said.

"Who better to deal with the Department of Corrections?" Schabo asked.

In fact, he said, Friday was his last day on probation.

That means, if he doesn't screw up between now and early August, the legislative staffer will be able to do something that he's never done before.

"It's my first time to vote," Schabo said of the August primary election. "I'm pretty excited."

But with Harris Dodd stepping down in January, Schabo will soon need a new job  and a new employer willing to take a chance on him.

Contact Daniel Bice at (414) 224-2135 or dbice@journalsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanielBice or on Facebook at fb.me/daniel.bice.
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Severe storms could blow into southeastern Wisconsin on Wednesday, possibly bringing damaging winds and hail.

It all depends on the track of a low pressure system moving into the area from Nebraska. One computer model is showing the system heading farther south into the Chicago area, which would mean southern Wisconsin dodges the bad weather.

But other computer models are predicting the low pressure to swing over southern Wisconsin, said Justin Schultz, a National Weather Service meteorologist based in Sullivan.

"The primary threat will be damaging winds and large hail. One or two tornadoes can't be ruled out but it certainly isn't the primary threat," Schultz said. "There's also the potential for heavy rainfall due to the moisture content in the air mass."

Schultz said the forecast calls for southeastern Wisconsin to get about an inch of rain on Wednesday.

If the low pressure system pushes warm, humid air over southern Wisconsin, the first round of showers are expected to hit Wednesday morning. The second round could slam the area Wednesday afternoon and evening, which would likely be more severe than the morning storms.

The Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., is concerned enough to send out alerts because of the possibility of damaging winds and torrential rains.

High temperatures in the Milwaukee area are forecast in the mid-70s with dew points in the lower to mid-60s, which will make it feel humid.
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Maan News Agency |  

BETHLEHEM (Maan)  The Israeli government approved on Sunday the allocation of an additional 72 million shekels (about $18.6 million) to settlements in the occupied West Bank due to the worsening security situation in the territory, according to Israeli media.

The funds to illegal settlement communities will reportedly include 15 million shekels from the Interior Ministry, 10 million shekels from the Agriculture Ministry, 12 million shekels from the Health Ministry, and 6 million shekels from the Welfare and Social Services Ministry. The remainder of the sum will be provided by various other ministries.

According to the resolution, the 12 million shekels from the Health Ministry will be spent on creating psychological support centers for residents in the settlements, which have been deemed illegal under international law.

The approved funds are in addition to the 340 million shekels ($87.9 million) already allotted to settlements.

Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria face a unique security situation on a daily basis because of their geographic location and the fabric of life in the area, the cabinet resolution statement said, using the Israeli term for the occupied West Bank. From the beginning of October 2015, there was an escalation in the security situation in Judea and Samaria as a result of the wave of terror.

According to the explanation in the resolution, the worsening security situation has had a negative influence on life in the settlements in a number of areas, particularly the psychological well being of the residents and economic damage to business, which the additional funds are set to deal with.

In response to resolution, head of the Knessets Joint List Ayman Odeh said in a statement this is the face of the extremist far right government of Netanyahu. Odeh slammed the resolution, saying the millions of shekels only serve to deepen the occupation and settlements at the expense of the rest of the states citizens.

Claims of increasing insecurity for illegal Israeli settlers comes amidst a wave of unrest that began last fall, during which at least 200 Palestinians and just under 30 Israelis have been killed, with increased violent attacks by settlers on Palestinian civilians and agricultural lands.

American and Israeli officials have criticized Palestinian leadership for failing to condemn a number of attacks carried out by Palestinian individuals  the majority of which have been carried out on military targets  while critics say Israel has practiced a policy of extra-judicial executions of Palestinians.

Meanwhile, UN figures released in April showed a four-fold increase from last year in the rate of Israeli demolitions of Palestinian homes and structures, that have left a record-high of at least 808 Palestinians displaced since the start of 2016, while Israel has also stepped up land confiscation in the occupied West Bank for the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements and outposts.

Settlement watchdog Peace Now warned in March that Israel has not confiscated such large swathes of land for the purpose of settlement expansion since the pre-Oslo period in the 1980s.

All settlement construction on occupied Palestinian land is considered illegal under international law, as the international community has agreed that any peace negotiations would necessitate that the Israeli government freeze new settlement construction.

Both the Israeli prime minister and defense minister declared their support for the internationally-supported two-state solution in a joint statement earlier this month. Shortly after the release of the statement, it was revealed that the Israeli government approved new settlement housing in East Jerusalem.

In response to the approval of the new housing, PLO Executive Committee Member Hanan Ashrawi said at the time: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sending a clear message to the international community that the Israeli government is interested only in expansionism, control, and pandering to the extremist and racist settler population.

Ashrawi called upon the international community to put an end to Israels continued annexation of Palestinian land and its destruction of the two-state solution.



Related video added by Juan Cole:

PressTV: UN: Some Israeli ministers killing hope for peace
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |  

Marx said that every great event in history happens twice, the first time as tragedy and the second time as farce. In this regard, the Red Scare of the late teens and early 20s of the last century, promoted by Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer, was the tragedy. Donald Trumps anti-immigrant hatred today is the farce, albeit a dangerous farce. What is ironic is that the Trumps could have been Palmers victims, themselves.

Donald Trump is pushing for racial profiling again now that, as the GOP standard bearer, he has free access to the Sunday morning news shows.

It wont matter to Trump or his acolytes, of course, but the practice is unconstitutional. It violates the 4th amendment prohibition on unreasonable search and seizure, as affirmed by the California 9th District Court of Appeals (it found that it is not allowed to take Latino origin into account in stops in Southern California.)

Moreover, the 14th Amendment was passed specifically in an attempt to outlaw treating some Americans differently than others under the law (then it was African-Americans). The amendment wasnt actually enforced by federal or local authorities very often, which is what allowed for Jim Crow. But there is a sense that the Civil Rights Movement was about translating the ideal law of the 14th amendment into positive law, actual practice. It has also been argued that the 13th Amendment, outlawing slavery, is antithetical to racial profiling of African-Americans.

Trumpism is about repealing the 14th Amendment; maybe it is about repealing the Constitution in favor of whatever Trump thinks the law should be on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

We have seen Trumps before in our history. Palmer in the Palmer Raids had thousands of first-generation Americans arrested with no due process or warrant, and had them jailed for months without charge. He had hundreds of people summarily deported with no hearings or any shred of legality. He also put 200,000 first-generation or hyphenated Americans (as he sneeringly called them), under surveillance. Fully a third of FBI agents of the time were just following around Hyphenated Americans.

Many of Palmers targets were Germans, the working-class counterparts of Friedrich Trumpf (thats how Ellis Island recorded his name), the Donalds grandfather, who died in 1918 when Palmer was active. Trumpf changed his first name to Frederick, and he probably dropped the f at the end of his name sometime during World War I because of strong anti-German and anti-immigrant feeling at that time. He had to keep a low profile during the war, which prevented him from buying some land.

Let me just repeat this: Donald Trumps name is spelled like it is because his immigrant family suffered from anti-immigrant prejudice! And, the familys interest in real estate would have been seen as dangerous on the part of The Hun in the teens of the last century.

Trumps mother, Donald Trumps mother, Mary Anne Trump nee Macleod, was a first-generation immigrant from Scotland, a Hyphenated American.

Scots were also targeted by Palmer during his raids, according to a Congressional inquiry:

Fellow Worker McDonald was arrested in Spokane, Wash., in May, 1918 and was shipped to Ellis Island in February on the  red special. A short time ago he was ordered released on a writ of habeas corpus by Judge A N. Hand of the New York Federal court, the judge deciding that the evidence upon which he was held was insufficient, but he was rearrested by the immigration authorities without being permitted to leave Ellis Island. When asked what he thought of this action, he said: This is the third time that the immigration authorities have framed up on me to prevent my release; so in view of two previous frame ups. I expected this one. The Roy sisters, he continued, held on Ellis Island for deportation to Scotland for being members of the I. W. W., had their baggage taken away from them and shipped to Liverpool, England, about a week ago, and are now almost without any other clothes except those which they are wearing. That is a fair example of the things which have been done to deportees by the immigration authorities. When asked about conditions on the island, he stated that the food was bad; sleeping quarters full of bedbugs, and not enough fresh air, but added that they were generally better than when he arrived.

During the anti-immigrant hysteria, in 1917 a Czech-American community sent off some of their sons to fight in the US army in WW I, and had a celebration wearing their traditional clothing. A mob of American nativists attacked them! (If you dont know what nativism is, just listen to one of Trumps speeches).

Ivana Trump, the Donalds first wife, is from Czechia (then Czechoslovakia).

His current wife, Melania, is from Slovenia, which used to be part of Yugoslavia. Yugoslavs in Detroit were accused of being Communists in the early 20th century.

You will say that Palmer bothered leftists and anarchists, whereas the Trumps and their immigree wives have been business people and grifters in equal parts.

But thats the point. When you profile people based on ethnicity, it doesnt matter what they really think. Theyve been convicted by how they look or how they talk, or when they arrived. Palmer didnt need warrants or charges to arrest and hold people, or even to physically deport them. He just needed his bigotry. Any of the Trumps or the Trump wives, had they been around then, could have fallen victim to his dragnets.



Related video:

Wochit News: Trump Makes Remarks In Support Of Racial Profiling 
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By Bryan van Hulst Miranda | ( TeleSur) |  

A year after Roof was charged over the mass-killing of nine Black people in an African Methodist church, it is worth remembering him for what he was.

The domestic act of terror at a historic African-American Church in South Carolina on June 17, 2015, was quickly branded a hate crime by U.S. officials, and the white man who perpetrated it a troubled person who was otherwise sweet and quiet.

It was a predictable media narrative to many for whom the racist and white supremacist motives behind the killing were immediately transparent.

Hate crimes are defined and categorized by U.S. state institutions as a criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offenders bias against a race, religion, disability, ethnic origin or sexual orientation.

Following this definition, the killings were not explicitly recognized as being racially-motivated, which allowed some media outlets like Fox News to turn it into a religious dispute.

There does seem to be a rising hostility against Christians across this country because of our biblical views , said Bishop E.W. Jackson on Fox News.

If a hate crime can be so openly interpreted it becomes easier to deviate from the more obvious reasons behind the killing of Black people by a white man parading flags of apartheid South Africa and Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe.

If it is at all understood as a race-related hate crime, its very categorization by U.S officials as such can also make the terrorist act appear as an isolated event that has nothing to do with the very racist foundations of the United States. In fact, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, whose director James Comey recently confessed that law enforcers are racist, claims to work with the state to combat hate crimes since the emergence of the Skinheads and the Ku Klux Klan. In other words, the racial hatred that needs to be fought is displaced onto some radical far-right extremists.

Race-related hate crimes are thereby disassociated from the very culture and institutions that have continued to dehumanize, kill, and dispossess Black and brown people in the U.S. for centuries.

If the shootings are an isolated case and a deviation from the norm, the shootings demand meticulous inquiry. Why would a white man kill these people? Who is this white man?

I dont know what was going through his head, a woman who knew the killer told CNN. He was a really sweet kid. He was quiet. He only had a few friends.

Stories detailing the killers personal characteristics abound, which paradoxically function to empathize not with the victims of racial violence, but with the perpetrator.

It didnt take long either before the killer was pathologized and mental illness seen as the cause of the terrorist act. For instance, an MSNBC anchor said on Thursday morning, we dont know his mental condition.

As people on social media have been quick to point out, this not only erases racism and white supremacy as the instigating motives behind the crime, but it also contributes to the vilification and stigmatization of people who in fact have mental illness.

In this light, the brutal killing of nine people at a historic African-American church by a white man is removed from the historical legacy of the enslavement of Black people, the ethnic cleansing of Indigenous populations and the ongoing destruction of Black and brown lives in the U.S.

In a culture that divides people as good guys vs bad guyswith white people often represented as embodying the former and people of color the latterit simply cannot be fathomed that white people in this story might possibly be villains.

It is this delusion of white peoples exceptional greatness that instigates in-depth investigations to understand how one (of) our own kin could commit this random act of violence. It is easier to say the killer is troubled than to look in the mirror and acknowledge that white supremacy runs in the DNA of White America.

In this rehearsed story of good white people and evil Black and brown folks, there is no similar questioning or investigation when acts of violence are committed against white people by people of color.

However, in violent cases where the perpetrator is Muslim, it is automatically assumed the person is some backward terrorist without any political motive but the blood-thirst drive to kill innocent white Americans and attack their exceptional freedoms. The attack translates into Muslim terrorism that the 1.57 billion Muslims around the world must condemn and apologize for.

Of course , no such thing is ever demanded from white people , the mainstream media or society .

As long as white people continue to run away from the reality of racial violence, to invent new myths and lies so as to cover up their past and present crimes and displace collective accountability, Black and brown lives remain in peril.

Via TeleSur

-

Related video added by Juan Cole:

Fusion: Orlando Shooter Omar Mateen Is A Terrorist But Dylann Roof Isnt?
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - June 20, 2016) -

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Independence Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE:IGO) ("Independence" or "the Company") is pleased to announce a private placement of 10,884,880 flow through shares ("FT Shares") of Independence for net proceeds of C$1,959,278.40. The private placement is part of a donation arrangement structured by Peartree Securities Inc. through which Goldcorp Inc. ("Goldcorp") (TSX:G)(NYSE:GG) intends to acquire all of the Shares.

The financing is expected to close on June 24, 2016, following which Goldcorp would own approximately 19.9% of the Company's issued and outstanding shares. The net proceeds of the placement will be used to further advance the Company's Yukon Projects.

Randy Turner, President and CEO of Independence stated: "We are pleased to welcome Goldcorp as a shareholder of Independence. We view this investment as a validation of our exploration results and as well as positive encouragement for the White Gold District in the Yukon."

On completion of the financing, Goldcorp will have the right to maintain its pro rata ownership percentage during future financings and the right (but not obligation) to participate in any future equity financings to the extent required to allow Goldcorp to maintain its equity ownership interest in Independence to a maximum of 19.9% of the issued and outstanding common shares, provided that Goldcorp holds not less than 7.5% of the Company. Goldcorp will also the have right to match non-equity financing and tolling arrangements related to future exploration on the Company's current and future Yukon properties and a 30 day right of first refusal over any sale, in full or part, of the Company's interest in the Boulevard Project.

This financing is subject to a four month plus one day hold period on the issuance of the FT Shares and approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Upon completion of this private placement, the Company will have 54,697,892 common shares issued and outstanding. No finder's fees will be paid for the placement.

Independence Gold Corp. (TSX VENTURE:IGO) is a well-financed mineral exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange, with a portfolio of projects in the Yukon and the 3Ts Project located in British Columbia. The Company's holdings range from early stage grassroots exploration to advanced-stage resource expansion. For additional information please visit the Company's website www.ingold.ca.

INDEPENDENCE GOLD CORP.

Randy Turner, President & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA--(Marketwired - June 20, 2016) -

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Highlights

Institutional placement to raise up to approximately A$61 million (Placement)

1 for 10 accelerated non-renounceable entitlement offer to raise up to approximately A$41 million (Entitlement Offer)

New shares to be issued at A$0.50 per share (Offer Price), representing a 9.4% discount to TERP of A$0.552 as at 20 June 2016

Perseus has mandated Macquarie Bank and BNP Paribas to provide a US$60 million debt facility to be applied to fund the development of the Sissingue Gold Project

Perseus expects to be fully funded to commence delivering on its growth strategy following the successful completion of the Equity Raising and finalisation and drawdown of the debt facility

Overview

Perseus Mining Limited (Perseus or the Company) is pleased to announce the launch of an institutional Placement of up to approximately A$61 million (approximately US$45 million) and a 1 for 10 pro rata accelerated non-renounceable Entitlement Offer to raise up to approximately A$41 million (approximately US$30 million) for total proceeds of up to approximately A$102 million (approximately US$75 million) (collectively the Equity Raising).

Proceeds raised via the Equity Raising will be used to fund and accelerate Perseus's growth strategy, which includes the development of the Sissingue Gold Project, completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) at the Yaoure Gold Project and increased exploration across its operations. Funds will also be applied to working capital and general corporate purposes to ensure continued balance sheet strength and flexibility.

Development of Perseus's Sissingue Gold Project is expected to resume in the September quarter 2016, subject to the successful completion of the Equity Raising and finalisation of a US$60 million project finance facility outlined below. The project is forecast to deliver average gold production of 75,000 ounces per annum at a Life of Mine (LOM) average All-In Site Cost (AISC)(1) of US$632/oz over 5.25 years. Post the development of Sissingue, Perseus will have two cash flow positive, geographically diversified, operating mines and expects to be well placed to fund future growth projects(2) (including the Yaoure Gold Project) from internal cash flows and/or future debt facilities.

With the recent acquisition of Amara Mining plc, Perseus acquired the Yaoure Gold Project in Cote d'Ivoire, one of West Africa's highest quality development stage projects. Yaoure has the potential for a large scale, long life and low cost gold operation. Completion of the Equity Raising will allow Perseus to undertake further Resource definition drilling, progress the definitive feasibility study (DFS) which is expected to be complete by mid-2017 and fund pre-development costs ahead of a development decision expected around mid-2018.

In late April 2016 Perseus revised its production and cost guidance for the half year to June 2016 due to reconciliation issues, delays in accessing fresh ore and unscheduled maintenance shutdowns at its Edikan gold mine in Ghana. Perseus has implemented remedial actions to address these issues and Edikan continues to demonstrate improvement in key operating parameters and daily gold production. The Company is expecting its FY2016 gold production to be towards the lower end of the production guidance range at between 152,000 - 157,000 ounces and AISC to be towards the upper end of the guidance range of US$1,300-$1,400/oz given the substantial ongoing capital investment and lower production levels. In line with its recently published life of mine plan for Edikan, production is expected to increase to 226,000 ounces in FY2017 and to 282,000 ounces in FY2018 while AISC costs are anticipated to fall to US$1,207/oz (production costs(3) of US$1,115/oz) and US$996/oz (production costs3 of US$977/oz) in FY2017 and FY2018 respectively, benefiting from the capital investment incurred in FY2016/2017 including a plant upgrade, and higher grades as new ore sources are opened up by the current investment in waste stripping.

Perseus's Managing Director and CEO Jeff Quartermaine commented, "The successful completion of the Equity Raising and finalising debt financing for Sissingue will provide Perseus with the ability to implement our growth strategy. Perseus has the opportunity to transform from a company with a single producing gold mine in Ghana into a diversified West African focussed miner with two producing operations, a very high quality development project in Yaoure Gold Project and further exploration potential. The Equity Raising will also provide us with the balance sheet flexibility to accelerate exploration and completion of the DFS at the Yaoure Gold Project. Following completion of construction at Sissingue, we expect to be in a position to fund further growth initiatives through a combination of internal cash flows and/or future debt."

Use of Proceeds

The A$102 million gross proceeds from the Equity Raising will be applied to the following:

Proposed Use of Proceeds A$ million(4) US$ million To provide the equity funding component of development capital for the Sissingue Gold Project 54 40 To complete the Definitive Feasibility Study at the recently acquired Yaoure Gold Project including a 42,000m drilling programme plus pre-development costs 22 16 For working capital, exploration and general corporate purposes to ensure continued balance sheet strength and flexibility during a period of increased growth spend 26 19 Total 102 76

Financing Update

Perseus has mandated Macquarie Bank and BNP Paribas to provide a project debt facility of US$60 million to fund the balance of the US$100 million Sissingue capital development cost.

Bank technical due diligence is underway, site visits have been undertaken and an indicative term sheet has been commercially agreed (including a requirement for 100,000 ounces of hedging at US$1,200/oz or higher). Macquarie Bank has been a long term lender to Perseus and has a good understanding of the Edikan operation. Credit approval and documentation are anticipated to be completed in the coming months.

Macquarie Bank has provided Perseus Mining Limited with an early hedge facility of 100,000 ounces. 50,000 ounces of forward gold sales have been put in place at US$1,307.45/oz. The execution of this hedging greatly reduces the price risk for completion of the financing.

Subject to the successful completion of the Equity Raising and finalising of these debt arrangements, the development of the Sissingue Gold Mine will be fully funded.

Equity Raising

Perseus is undertaking a A$102 million Equity Raising at a price of A$0.50 per share, which, represents (as at market close on the ASX on Monday, June 20, 2016) a:

9.4% discount to TERP(5) of A$0.552; and

11.5% discount to the last closing price of A$0.565; and

14.3% discount to the 5 day VWAP on ASX of A$0.583.

The Equity Raising is comprised of:

the Placement of up to approximately 122 million new shares to sophisticated and institutional investors at the Equity Raising price of A$0.50 per new share (New Shares), to raise up to approximately A$61 million; and

the Entitlement Offer to raise up to approximately A$41 million, comprised of: an accelerated institutional entitlement offer (Institutional Entitlement Offer); and a retail entitlement offer (Retail Entitlement Offer).



New Shares will rank pari passu with existing shares on issue.

Perseus has appointed Macquarie Capital (Australia) Limited as Sole Lead Manager and Bookrunner to the Equity Raising. Arlington Group Asset Management Limited has been appointed as Co-Lead Manager (Europe).

Placement and Institutional Entitlement Offer

Eligible institutional shareholders with registered addresses in the offering jurisdictions will be invited to participate in the Placement and Institutional Entitlement Offer, which is being conducted between Monday, June 20, 2016 and Wednesday, June 22, 2016. Eligible shareholders can choose to take up all, part or none of their entitlement. As the Entitlement Offer is non-renounceable, entitlements cannot be traded.

Together with the Placement, institutional entitlements that eligible institutional shareholders do not take up by the close of the Institutional Entitlement Offer, and institutional entitlements that would otherwise have been offered to ineligible institutional shareholders, will be offered to Eligible Institutional Shareholders who apply for New Shares in excess of their entitlement, as well as to certain other eligible institutional investors.

Retail Entitlement Offer

Eligible retail shareholders with retail addresses in Australia and New Zealand will be invited to participate in the Retail Entitlement Offer at the same price as the Placement and Institutional Entitlement Offer. The Retail Entitlement Offer will open on June 27, 2016 and close at 5:00pm (AEST) on 15 July 2016. Applications will not be accepted for additional New Shares in excess of an eligible retail shareholders' entitlement.

Further information will be sent to Eligible Retail Shareholders in a booklet (Retail Offer Booklet) expected to be lodged with ASX and despatched on or around June 27, 2016. The Retail Offer Booklet and the accompanying personalised entitlement and acceptance form (Application Form) will contain instructions on how to apply. Application Forms and payments are due by no later than 5:00pm (AEST) on July 15, 2016.

In the event not all Retail Entitlements are taken up, Perseus reserves the right to place any retail shortfall securities to select institutions within 3 months following completion of the Equity Raising.

Key Dates

Key Event Date (AEST)(6) Trading halt and announcement of Equity Raising After-market, 20 June 2016 Placement and Institutional Entitlement Offer bookbuild opens 5.30pm, 20 June 2016 Placement and Institutional Entitlement Offer bookbuild closes 12:00pm, 22 June 2016 Trading halt lifted and trading resumes on an "ex-entitlement" basis 23 June 2016 Record Date for determining Eligible Shareholders under the Entitlement Offer 9.00pm, 23 June 2016 Retail Entitlement Offer opens and Retail Offer Booklets despatched 27 June 2016 Settlement of New Shares issued under the Placement and Institutional Entitlement Offer 30 June 2016 Allotment on ASX and normal trading of New Shares issued under Placement and Institutional Entitlement offer 1 July 2016 Retail Entitlement Offer closes 5.00pm, 15 July 2016 Allotment on ASX of New Shares issued under the Retail Entitlement Offer 25 July 2016 Despatch of holding statements and normal trading of New Shares issued under Retail Entitlement Offer 26 July 2016

UK Listing Intentions

As part of the recent scrip acquisition of Amara Mining Plc, the Perseus Board committed to examine the merits of obtaining a standard listing on the official list of the UK Listing Authority. As at the date of this announcement, Perseus has not yet reached a conclusion in relation to this and will continue to consider the merits of obtaining a standard listing on the official list of the UK Listing Authority over the coming months, with the decision being influenced by the level of UK investor participation in the Equity Raising and ongoing engagement with existing and new UK and European investors.

Additional Information

Additional information regarding the Equity Raising is contained in the investor presentation released to the ASX today. The Retail Offer Booklet will be released separately and mailed to eligible retail shareholders.

Nothing contained in this announcement constitutes investment, legal, tax or other advice. You should seek appropriate professional advice before making any investment decision.

This announcement has been prepared for publication in Australia and Canada and may not be released or distributed in the United States. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction. Any securities described in this announcement have not been, and will not be, registered under the US Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States except in transactions exempt from, or not subject to, the registration of the US Securities Act and applicable US state securities laws.

Competent Person Statement:

The information in this presentation that relates to Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves for Sissingue was first reported by the Company in compliance with the JORC Code 2012 in a market announcement released on April 21, 2015. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information in that market announcement and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in those market announcements continue to apply and have not materially changed.

All production targets for Edikan and Sissingue referred to in this release are underpinned by estimated Ore Reserves which have been prepared by competent persons in accordance with the requirements of the JORC Code. The Company confirms that all material assumptions underpinning those production targets, or the forecast financial information derived from those production targets, in the market releases dated April 19, 2016 (Edikan) and April 21, 2015 (Sissingue) continue to apply and have not materially changed. Refer "Technical Report - Central Ashanti Gold Project, Ghana" dated May 30, 2011 and "Technical Report - Sissingue Gold Project, Cote d'Ivoire" dated May 29, 2015. Steffen Brammer and Paul Thompson, each of whom is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101 and an employee of the Company, have approved the inclusion of technical and scientific information in this announcement.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

This report contains forward-looking information which is based on the assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management of the Company believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made by the Company regarding, among other things: the price of gold, continuing commercial production at the Edikan Gold Mine without any major disruption, development of a mine at Sissingue and/or Yaoure, the receipt of required governmental approvals, the accuracy of capital and operating cost estimates, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used by the Company. Although management believes that the assumptions made by the Company and the expectations represented by such information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking information will prove to be accurate. Forward-looking information 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 anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others, the actual market price of gold, the actual results of current exploration, the actual results of future exploration, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents. The Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the Company's ability to carry on its exploration and development activities, the timely receipt of required approvals, the price of gold, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Perseus does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. This announcement contains forward-looking information in respect of Edikan's forecast production and average All-In Site Costs for the mine. This information supersedes the forward-looking information provided in the Company's updated Life of Mine Plan for Edikan released on April 19, 2016 and the Investor Presentation released on April 20, 2016.

(1) All-In Site Costs include all production, royalties, development and sustain capital.

(2) Based on current life of mine plans, a gold price of US$1,200/oz and Perseus's current estimates of Yaoure which may change as a result of the DFS

(3) Production costs reflect All-In Site Costs excluding sustaining capital.

(4) An assumed A$/US$ exchange rate of 0.74 used to convert from US$ to A$ values.

(5) The Theoretical Ex-Rights Price (TERP) is the theoretical price at which Perseus shares should trade immediately after the ex-date for the Entitlement Offer. TERP is a theoretical calculation only and the actual price at which shares trade immediately after the ex-date for the entitlement offer will depend on many factors and may not equate to TERP. The TERP includes New Shares to be issued under the Placement.

(6) All times are Australian Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise specified. The above timetable is indicative only and subject to change. Perseus, in conjunction with the Sole Lead Manager, reserves the right to amend any or all of these events, dates and times subject to the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), the ASX Listing Rules and other applicable laws.
The US Supreme Court [official website] on Monday denied certiorari [order list, PDF] in two separate cases challenging bans on assault-style weapons. The court denied the appeals without comment, letting stand lower court rulings that had upheld the bans [JURIST report] as constitutional. The cases were Shew v. Malloy, concerning Connecticuts ban, and and Kampfer v. Cuomo [dockets], dealing with New Yorks ban. The Supreme Court has not taken a Second Amendment [text] case since the 2008 decision in District of Columbia v. Heller and the 2010 follow-up decision in McDonald v. Chicago [JURIST reports].

Also Monday the court granted certiorari in two cases. In Jennings v. Rodriguez [docket; cert. petition, PDF] the court will address three questions concerning immigrant detention under 8 USC  1225 and  1226 [text]:

Whether aliens seeking admission to the United States who are subject to mandatory detention under Section 1225(b) must be afforded bond hearings, with the possibility of release into the United States, if detention lasts six months. Whether criminal or terrorist aliens who are subject to mandatory detention under Section 1226(c) must be afforded bond hearings, with the possibility of release, if detention lasts six months. Whether, in bond hearings for aliens detained for six months under Sections 1225(b), 1226(c), or 1226(a), the alien is entitled to release unless the government demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that the alien is a flight risk or a danger to the community; whether the length of the aliens detention must be weighed in favor of release; and whether new bond hearings must be afforded automatically every six months.

In National Labor Relations Board v. SW General, Inc. [docket; cert. petition, PDF] the court will rule on presidential appointments. The Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 (FVRA) provides for someone to fill a vacant role in an acting capacity. Section 3345(b) provides as a general rule that [n]othwithstanding subsection (a)(1), a person who is nominated to fill a vacant office that is subject to the FVRA may not perform the offices functions and duties in an acting capacity unless the person served as first assistant to the vacant office for at least 90 days in the year preceding the vacancy. The question presented is whether the precondition in 5 USC  3345(b)(1) on service in an acting capacity by a person nominated by the President to fill the office on a permanent basis applies only to first assistants who take office under Subsection (a)(1) of 5 USC  3345, or whether it also limits acting service by officials who assume acting responsibilities under Subsections (a)(2) and (a)(3).
The US Supreme Court [official website] ruled [opinion, PDF] 7-1 Monday in Taylor v. United States [SCOTUSblog materials] that the Hobbs Act [DOJ backgrounder] applies to a drug robbery. The Hobbs Act makes it a crime for a person to affect commerce, or to attempt to do so, by robbery. In an opinion by Justice Samuel Alito, the court found that because Congress has the power to regulate the market for marijuana under the Commerce Clause [Cornell LII backgrounder], Congress may also regulate drug theft. By targeting a drug dealer in this way, a robber necessarily affects or attempts to affect commerce over which the United States has jurisdiction. Justice Clarence Thomas filed a dissenting opinion. He would hold that the Act punishes a robbery only when the Government proves that the robbery itself affected interstate commerce.

Petitioner David Taylor was gang member who broke into the home of a drug dealer and stole marijuana, drug proceeds and a cell phone. He was prosecuted under the Hobbs Act and was eventually convicted and sentenced to 28 years in prison. The Supreme Court granted certiorari in the case in October and heard oral arguments [JURIST reports] in February.
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The board of Italian dairy group Centrale Del Latte Di Torino has given the go-ahead to a proposed merger with the Florence-based dairy firm Centrale del Latte di Firenze, Pistoia e Livorno  also known as Mukki.

Under the terms of the deal, which is expected to be completed by the end of next September, Centrale Del Latte Di Torino will change its name to Centrale del Latte dItalia.

Immediately after the merger becomes effective, Centrale del Latte dItalia said it will spin off Mukki into a new dairy firm based in Florence  Centrale del Latte della Toscana, which will be wholly owned by Centrale del Latte dItalia. The move will guarantee equity consolidation and safeguard the production facility and current levels of employment at Mukki, which is an important institutional presence locally, Centrale del Latte dItalia said.

Privately-owned Centrale Del Latte Di Torino said the merger was part of both companies wider growth strategy for external lines aimed at creating an inter-regional hub facility specialising in the production and sale of milk and dairy products The hub will be Italys third regional centre for milk and dairy production centre, with a leadership position in the Piemonte, Toscana, Liguria and Veneto regions.

The city of Florence is Mukkis largest single shareholder (43%). The city of Pistoia holds just over 18% in the firm.

In 2014, Centrale Del Latte Di Torino announced the delivery of its first shipments of UHT milk and soya drinks to China, towards what it said would be estimated total exports of around two million litres of product to the Chinese market.
PepsiCo insisted it has engaged with Indofood over allegations the US groups Indonesian partner breaches workers rights through practices including the use of child labour on its palm oil plantations.

Free Report Whats the forecast for the food and grocery industry? Market drivers and inhibitors

Five-year forecasts and the impact of COVID-19

The performance of the online channel versus offline

Major trends in the market including rapid delivery, ambient retailing, supply chain disruption, and inflation Assess developments within this sector to help your business thrive in 2022 and beyond. The food and grocery sector thrived during the pandemic, largely due to the shutdown of the food service industry and the sectors subsequent necessity, panic-induced bulk purchasing, and spending more time at home. The market has grown as a result of inflation. Consumer unwillingness to go out and socialize, and the reopening of several hospitality facilities, helped maintain the demand for groceries, particularly online, in 2021. As consumer behavior changes, we consume more food and drink at home, and inflation increases basket sizes. GlobalData predicts that the sector will continue to hold a higher share than had been predicted prior to the pandemic. This is true despite the fact that the food and grocery sector's share of overall retail will decline from its peak in 2020. This report will discuss market forecasts and key themes in the global food & grocery industry in 2022 and beyond. It covers:Assess developments within this sector to help your business thrive in 2022 and beyond. by GlobalData Enter your details here to receive your free Report. Please enter a work/business email address Country United Kingdom United States Afghanistan Aland Islands Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo Congo, The Democratic Republic of The Cook Islands Costa Rica Cote D"ivoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-bissau Guyana Haiti Heard Island and Mcdonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Democratic People"s Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Lao People"s Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russian Federation Rwanda Saint Helena Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and The Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Georgia and The South Sandwich Islands Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Svalbard and Jan Mayen Swaziland Sweden Switzerland Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand Timor-leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United States Minor Outlying Islands Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Viet Nam Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Wallis and Futuna Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe Download free Report By clicking the Download Free Report button, you accept the terms and conditions and acknowledge that your data will be used as described in the GlobalData privacy policy By downloading this Report, you acknowledge that we may share your information with our white paper partners/sponsors who may contact you directly with information on their products and services.



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A recent report from the Rainforest Action Network, Indonesian labour rights advocates OPPUK and International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) highlighted various abuses following field investigations and worker interviews completed on two palm oil plantations owned and operated by Indofood subsidiary IndoAgri. Documented practises included the use of child labour, worker exposure to highly hazardous pesticides, payment below the minimum wage, long-term reliance on temporary workers to fill core jobs and the use of company-backed unions to deter independent labour union activity.

Simply put, this report reveals that Indofood is violating the fundamental rights of workers on its palm oil plantations, as PepsiCo watches on. Both companies must act without delay to address the egregious worker exploitation exposed on Indofoods plantations, urged Robin Averbeck, senior campaigner at the Rainforest Action Network.

Indofood, the largest food maker in Indonesia, manufactures snacks in the market under PepsiCos brands as part of a joint venture agreement between the two companies. While PepsiCo issued an initiative on palm oil in September, committing to sourcing sustainable palm oil, the joint venture with Indofood is not included in the plan.

A spokesperson for PepsiCo moved to distance the Frito-Lay manufacturer from the alleged violations. Through the snack food joint venture, we have a relationship with Indofood, an independent company. Youll note the report is focused on IndoAgri, a completely separate agriculture division of Indofood. PepsiCo operations do not directly source palm oil from IndoAgri, the spokesperson stressed.

However, the spokesperson added PepsiCo takes any alleged violation of labour and human rights policies seriously and insisted that the company has a track record of acting on such matters to ensure they are appropriately resolved.

The spokesperson continued: When we were made aware of this issue we immediately engaged with our snack food joint venture partner Indofood, including a letter from PepsiCos chairman and CEO to the Indofood CEO. The letter acknowledged the gravity of the allegations and confidence that Indofood is taking them as seriously as PepsiCo does. Based on the last information we have from Indofood, they have engaged with RAN but due to a lack of detailed info and data supporting the allegations, Indofood expressed concern in their ability to fully investigate the matter. The full report has now been provided so we will continue to engage Indofood to address any outstanding issues.

Indofood did not respond to requests for comment on the labour policies allegedly employed on its palm oil plantations.

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By Elisa Lledo

Spain has celebrated its thirtieth anniversary as a member of the EU, in a family that has little time for parties. The refugee crisis; the exit family (Brexit, Grexit and now, Nexit); the rise of populism in some of the Member States; and the constant terrorist threat in Europe  yet another wound to join those that still fester from the Great Recession  have filled the European agenda with urgent priorities to address.

The country has come to the end of these three decades with its own ailments too. Above all, the gradual institutional under-representation it suffers from, when compared to the political heavyweights in the Union. Spain currently has only one commissariat, held by Miguel Arias Canete with the portfolio of Climate Action and Energy, coupled with the lack of Spanish leadership in European foreign policy, in the absence of a clear stance against the challenges we face.

As if this were not enough cause for concern, the image of Spain has been tarnished recently due to the situation in the country since the general elections last December. No single party or combination of like-minded parties has got a sufficient majority to be able to form a government. Spains caretaker government thus lives on.

The accession to the European Communities in 1986 marked a turning point in Spanish foreign policy. Today, however, both Spanish diplomacy and politics need to clarify their course forward.

The opportunities are clearly visible. Spain is a country that has suffered and fought national and international terrorism on its own territory. Moreover, the country has extensive experience in matters related to the management of illegal immigration, due mainly to its location on the southern border of Europe. These being the two most pressing concerns on the EUs agenda, Spain could take on a leading role within the European club, contributing fresh ideas. An active role in these two areas, exporting its knowledge, along with the other two jewels in the crown which make up its letter of introduction to the EU (Latin America, and North Africa and also the Mediterranean), would place the country among the key players of an EU with 28 different voices.

The 11 March 2004 terrorist attacks introduced an ominous reality into the Spanish consciousness. Spain, hit by the domestic terrorism of armed groups like ETA or GRAPO, was now also the target of a new fundamentalist enemy. Twelve years later, many questions arise after 130 died in Paris on 13 November 2015, and then 31 last 22 March in Brussels, especially as to the type of response that should be given by France, Belgium and their EU partners and allies. What were the measures taken at the time by Spain to combat Islamist fanaticism? Is it necessary  or even advisable  to apply exceptional measures to increase executive powers, as has happened in France? Do we have to give up our freedoms to feel safer?

The truth is that in Spain there have hardly been any changes in criminal legislation against terrorism after the 2004 Madrid terrorist tragedy. The country had already advanced fully-fledged legislation in this area, as a result of long years of suffering from the threat of ETA. Some of the new features to increase the effectiveness of the fight against terrorism were, among others, the creation of the National Centre for Antiterrorist Coordination  now merged with the Intelligence Centre and the Centre for Organised Crime  or the adoption of new regulations on explosives, to toughen sanctions in this regard.

In order to adapt Spanish criminal law to the new threat  that of individual terrorists and returnee terrorist fighters  last 1 July the Framework Law 2/2015 came into force, amending the 10/1995 law, thus amending the penal code on terrorist offenses. In addition, we must not forget the signing of the fourth State Treaty against terrorism, signed in February 2015 by the Popular Party and the Spanish Socialist Workers Party, and joined by nine other political forces (Podemos remains an observer).

Spain has also looked abroad to demonstrate its savoir faire on terrorism, especially taking advantage of its membership of the UN Security Council for the two-year term, 2015-2016. Within that body, the Spanish Government has given proof of the importance it attaches to the fight against terrorism, hosting meetings such as the EU-Southern Mediterranean against jihadist terrorism, held one year ago (April 2015) in Barcelona, or the High-level Meeting of the UN Committee Against Terrorism, held in Madrid last July, not forgetting the new step of bringing the voice of the victims of terrorism to the Security Council last October.

Moreover, the massive arrival of migrant boats in August 2006 marked a before and after in Spanish immigration policy and the instruments in place to combat illegal immigration. In just one weekend of that summer, a total of 1,268 illegal immigrants managed to reach the Canary Islands. That year saw the highest number of registered illegal migrants, 39,180 people, according to the Ministry of the Interior.

The crux of the Spanish response, given as an example by European Council President Donald Tusk, lies in promoting cooperation with the countries of origin and transit of illegal migration, the constant effort by the police and the Civil Guard, and tailor-made responses from the Interior Ministry to the new challenges in the field of immigration.

The previous government led by Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero adopted what was known as the Africa Plan. He thus signed bilateral cooperation schemes with numerous countries of origin, mostly West African: Guinea Bissau, Nigeria, Mauritania, Senegal, in order to stem the massive outflow of migrants. More recently, Spain also signed agreements with Morocco, the main departure point for illegal immigrants, due to its proximity to the Spanish coast.

The current so-called refugee crisis has an origin (armed conflicts) and a legal and political nature (an economic immigrant is not the same as an asylum seeker), as well as a volume (2015 doubled the figure for asylum seekers in the EU (1,255,640) compared to 2014 (562,680) according to Eurostat data, 03/04/2016), which is different from the crisis that Spain experienced in 2006. Nonetheless, the Spanish experience should not be underestimated and provides important lessons, such as the need for a strong global plan that acts upon all stages of immigrant flows, with special emphasis on addressing the root causes. However, the European solution to lighten the weight of the massive influx of refugees into Europe has come from the controversial agreement, signed last 18 March with Turkey, to expel all persons arriving at the Greek islands.

Despite the political uncertainty that Spain is currently experiencing, the country has much to offer to a Europe hit by a multifaceted crisis, blocked by internal divisions, and marred by the lack of political ambition.

Elisa Lledo is a policy analyst/researcher working on EU and Spanish foreign policy. Previously, she was a junior researcher at the European think tank FRIDE. Her latest articles included Dont compare the Portuguese and Spanish elections (Euractiv oped, November 2015) and Errores y aciertos de Espana en politica exterior (Esglobal magazine, December 2015).
Containing terror with security measures only goes so far.

An article with the same title as this one was published in the Jerusalem Post, Israels English-language daily a day after the terrorist attacks in Brussels. The author, Yossi Melman, describes the attacks as the result of years of negligence and a colossal security and intelligence failure. According to Melman, Europe missed the opportunity to profit from Israels security-related know-how. The author is both right and wrong.

The price of security

Before I became a European, I had been an Israeli citizen and my closest relatives still live in Israel. I do not have the slightest doubt that containing terror with the help of security measures is effective only up to a certain point.

Multiple levels of security have been introduced at Ben-Gurion International Airport and in several airports around the world, where El-Al, Israels flag carrier, is operating. It could indeed prevent attacks on Israeli planes similar to several dramatic hijackings by Palestinian terrorists in the 1970s. Yet, securing air traffic comes at a price. Passengers are now expected to be at the terminal some three hours before departure and many foreigners report humiliating searches and interrogations.

The so-called Separation Fence in the West Bank is claimed to have reduced suicide bombings that targeted Israeli buses and shops during the Second Intifada (2000-2005). But the 8-meter-high Wall has become both the symbol of occupation and, together with the accompanying system of check-points, has further aggravated human rights violations against the Palestinian population.

The Gaza Strip has de facto become the largest ghetto in the world. Pounding it with bombs from the air, land and sea in the summer of 2014 has stopped the barrage of home-built rockets, at least for now. And while Hamas extremists are improving their missiles range, my parents and other Israelis tidy up their panic rooms, keeping them ready for the next round of confrontations.

Unorganised terrorism?

Moreover, Melmans article passes in silence over the new wave of terror that has been plaguing Israel since September 2015. A series of stabbing assaults that occur almost on a daily basis have been labelled the Intifada of Individuals.

Israels leadership has so far failed to address the roots of Palestinian terrorism. Instead of working towards a lasting political solution, it sticks to old habits, treating the symptoms (security challenges) and not the disease (the occupation). As a result, terrorist threats, time and again, mutate and reappear in ever scarier forms.

The lack of political prospects has dramatically increased the share of the Palestinian population willing to engage in violent resistance. Solidarity rooted in blinding rage is replacing terrorist networks. Scissor-wielding teenage girls and old men armed with screwdrivers attack settlers as well as random bystanders. The systemic violence of occupation, which deprives the Palestinian people of a future, transforms itself into spontaneous outbursts of reckless brutality.

Treatment vs. cure

In recent months, Europe has experienced a drastic increase in terror attacks by Islamists. For now, the response of the European governments has been impulsive and short-sighted. They turn a blind eye on the suffering of refugees on Europes borders, further discriminate against already underprivileged parts of Europes own population, and increasingly limit the freedoms for the rest in terms of cross-border movement, their right of privacy and the rest.

Instead of addressing the roots of radicalisation, these security measures can only exacerbate it. By all means, they do not deserve the attribute security. Neither can they qualify as a cure. Rather, they seem to be part and parcel of the very syndrome that have been afflicting Israel and now increasingly spreads into Europe as well  securitarian myopia .

Of course, Europe must take care of acute symptoms. Evidently, the authorities (especially the Belgian ones) will have to admit serious failures. Also, each European country, and Europe as a whole, should crack down on existing networks of radicalised youth at home. Abroad, we should join moderate forces on the ground in their fight against the cutthroats of the self-declared Islamic State.

However, despite its shortcomings, or rather because of them, Israels holistic security doctrine provides strong evidence that security measures and military operations alone, however sophisticated they might be, ultimately fail to ensure long-lasting security. The Israeli case offers Europe the following lesson: a symptoms-centred treatment only lets the disease progress.

Hopelessness as weapon

Secure the airport  and the terrorists will switch over to buses and cafes. Erect ever tighter barriers around entire populations, terrorise them with frequent night-raid arrests, populate its sky with surveillance drones, turn daily commuting into an enfilade of checkpoints  and you will see more ordinary people turning into terrorists. Try to prevent the hopeless from accessing weapons  and they will use their hopelessness itself against you.

In 2011, Anders Breiviks lone-wolf attacks resulted in 76 deaths. The then Norwegian prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, reacted as follows: The Norwegian response to violence is more democracy, more openness and greater political participation. Europe should learn from that, too.
LEXINGTON  Salvador Guevara, a Lexington man accused of driving the vehicle in a drive-by shooting Sept. 1 in Lexington, pleaded no contest Friday to a charge of aiding and abetting the discharge of a firearm.

Dawson County District Judge James Doyle ordered a pre-sentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for May 6.

Lexington police said Guevara was the driver of a vehicle involved in a shooting in which subjects in Guevaras vehicle shot into an occupied parked vehicle, according to court records.

Police said the incident was part of a gang dispute. There were no injuries in the shooting. Police stopped the Guevara vehicle shortly after the shooting and recovered a .22-caliber revolver from which one shot had been fired.

Guevara, 20, was originally charged with two Class IC felonies, which carry prison terms of five to 50 years, but a plea bargain reduced the charges to a single Class III felony punishable by five to 20 years.

Three men in Guevaras vehicle await prosecution. Jury trials are scheduled April 12 for Esgar Morales-Erives, 20, and Jose Cardenas, 23. Police said Morales-Erives was the shooter in the incident.

Further court action against Joaquin Beltran-Carranza, the fourth member of the group, has not been scheduled.

All three men were charged with Class IC felonies.
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The Grand Piano Range  Sibyl James

Black Heron Press  91 pp.  $16

Night Beyond Black  Lois Parker Edstrom

MoonPath Press  112 pp.  $15

Let's kick off summer with some poetry!

Seattle poet Sibyl James has a new collection that was published this spring by Black Heron Press. The works in "The Grand Piano Range" do indeed range across terrains and strike different emotional tones.

Let's begin with the title poem, which takes place during a lingering Alaskan summer sunset. James describes a hike to an abandoned mining camp. Along the way, she reflects on a story told to her the night before, about a long ago bartender who had her grand piano toted up the mountain to the camp, where she poured drinks for the men and played music for them, "A vision of herself she hauled intact / through who knows how many claw-holds of years / spent measuring cheap whiskey "

This rumination captures the wistful tug of time and memory that seems to be inspired most ardently by summer's long twilights. Other poems in "The Grand Piano Range" consider similar drinking holes in other small, and sometimes extinct, towns.

This collection also features many overtly political pieces that address injustice in Central America, labor abuses overseas, and the displacement of squatters in Appalachia. Some of these poems record moments in time that have since been paved over  thanks to James' poetry, they may be gone but they're not forgotten.

Then there's the poem called "Peace Habits," about a sisterhood of women walking from Washington to Texas to protest the military-industrial complex's generation and disposal of nuclear waste that will remain poisonous well beyond our easy conception of time.

Forgotten, perhaps  but not gone.

James is a renowned poet who has had much publishing success. Now let's turn to someone who is celebrating a first milestone as a poet.

After a long career as a nurse, Lois Parker Edstrom began writing poems a decade ago. "Night Beyond Black," published by MoonPath Press, is the Whidbey Island poet's debut collection, although many of the individual poems were first published elsewhere.

These pieces probe personal moments from a life lived and felt abundantly. There is sorrow, joy, inspiration, and wisdom born of despair. The natural world is invoked often  its life-forms, colors, smells, sounds  and especially its light.

Edstrom's choice and arrangement of words is meticulous and exquisite. In a hike to Rainy Day Pass, she depicts "the jade river sliding / like ruched silk over a bed of stones."

In another poem, she describes Admiralty Inlet: "So intent on sky, the fickle clouds / the smack of salt, waves pushing / against the shore "

And particularly resonant at this time of graduations and new beginnings, it seems fitting to close with some of Edstrom's lines from a flawless poem titled "Raw Luck":

Was it good to live

in those moments, those years

walking along the shore of choice

without realizing how dreams

could fill the sail of sky?
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By Ed Friedrich of the Kitsap Sun

POULSBO  A portal between east Poulsbo and Highway 305 moved closer to fruition after it was recommended for federal funding last week.

Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council recommended that Noll Road be among 15 local projects to receive $16.2 million in federal dollars. At $3.4 million, it would get the largest chunk.

Puget Sound Regional Committee, which allocates federal transportation funding among Kitsap, King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, will review all the projects July 14. After public comment, the executive board will take final action in October.

Poulsbo is presuming funds from the 2015 Connect Washington transportation revenue package will build a roundabout at Highway 305 and Johnson Road. The federal funds would pay to extend a new arterial from there to the Noll Road-Storhoff Lane intersection.

The 2015 transportation package provided $38.6 million for Highway 305 corridor improvements. A congestion and mobility study will be conducted between Poulsbo and High School Road on Bainbridge Island to determine how best to spend the money. The Johnson Road roundabout will be among the candidates.

"They're making an assumption that the project will be on the priority list," state Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island, said. "They do not have funding. There will be a lot of projects along 305, and the money is limited."

If the project makes the list, construction could occur in 2018 because the funding doesn't become available until July 2017.

The new road would be called Johnson Parkway, said Diane Lenius and Michael Bateman of Poulsbo Public Works. It would be a minor arterial with two car lanes, a sidewalk and bike lane on one side and a shared-use path on the other. It is the first phase of a 2-mile Noll Road corridor that connects Highway 305 to Lincoln Road. Kitsap Transit also proposed a 75-slot park-and-ride lot for Johnson Parkway, but it wasn't selected for funding.

About 2,000 new lots are expected to be developed in the east Poulsbo area, which will contribute 6,000 trips per day to Highway 305, according to the project's funding application.

The project was envisioned in 1992 and a corridor study conducted in 2008.

Lenius and Bateman allow that funding isn't locked up, but stakeholders believe it's worthy.

"We're excited about the project," Bateman said. "It's a big project for us, and I think it's an important one."

The project will increase safety for students at nearby Poulsbo Elementary, Poulsbo Middle School and North Kitsap High School, and recreational users in addition to vehicles, he said.

Kitsap County Commissioner Rob Gelder, who represents the north end, likes the Noll Road project and the list of 15 that KRCC, the council of local governments for Kitsap County, sent to PSRC.

"I think all in all it's a pretty good list," he said. It incorporates geographic equity at the same time as it targets key projects. As much as I think some folks don't care for roundabouts, they've been shown to be one of the best tools we have for managing traffic congestion and flow. It'll be a learning experience for everybody, but it might end up opening a new chapter of how we can handle other intersections along that corridor."

Kitsap projects

Sportsman Club-New Brooklyn intersection improvement  Bainbridge Island $156,000

Fletcher Bay shoulder improvements  Bainbridge Island $389,000

Warren Avenue Bridge shared-use pathway  Bremerton $475,750

Sixth Street preservation  Bremerton $640,100

Ridgetop Boulevard green streets phase 2+3  Kitsap County $1,188,000

Silverdale Way preservation  Kitsap County $930,000

Totten Road nonmotorized construction  Kitsap County $723,000

Carney Lake Road  Kitsap County $389,000

Seabeck Highway No. 2  Kitsap County $941,000

Highway 305 improvements study  Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council $367,625

Wheaton Way Transit Center  Kitsap Transit $800,000

Highway 16 park-and-ride alternatives analysis  Kitsap Transit $249,000

Kitsap Transit bike barn rehabilitation  Kitsap Transit $248,000

Tremont Street widening  Port Orchard $1,680,447

Noll Road phase 1 construction  Poulsbo $3,429,448

For funding applications for each Kitsap project, click here.
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Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) recently disclosed that a congressional investigation has found at least 72 employees of the Department of Homeland Security listed on the U.S. terrorist watch list.

In other news, President Obama used a memorial service for the victims of the Orlando massacre to advocate for more gun control laws. Anyone else see a contradiction in these two items?

Interviewers frequently ask me why I don't favor more gun control laws. My response: Name one law that deters someone intent on breaking the law. Murder has been prohibited since the beginning of civilization, but people still murder. One might as well outlaw human nature.

Only those predisposed to obey laws will obey them. Florida prohibits openly carrying firearms and many places advertise "gun-free zones," which can be an open invitation to anyone intent on mass murder. The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, reportedly visited Pulse nightclub several times before breaking its gun-free zone policy. That night, he entered the club with an assault rifle and entered into a gunbattle with the club's security guard, an off-duty police officer. He then retreated to a bathroom, taking hostages. Had Mateen cased the place? Did he know the guard would be the only one standing in his way? It would appear so.

Despite the president's claim to the contrary, it is reasonable to believe that even a small number of armed patrons might have limited the number of fatalities. And had the shooter known he would encounter armed patrons perhaps he might not have chosen that particular club as his target.

More gun laws are not the answer. Britain has some of the toughest gun laws in the world, but that did not stop a deranged man from shooting and stabbing to death Labour MP Jo Cox.

Omar Mateen was a radical Muslim who pledged his allegiance to ISIS. Why do so many of us find it hard to accept that Islamists want to kill us as part of a strategy to create a worldwide caliphate? And why is the president adopting their language by using the term ISIL, which stands for the "Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant," a larger area of the Middle East that includes Lebanon, Jordan and Syria? The president uses their terminology, but refuses to say "Islamic terrorism," while continuing to allow thousands of Syrian refugees into America when authorities say there are so many that they can't conduct proper background checks.

The answer to the first question is political correctness. The owner of the gun store where Mateen purchased his rifle says he also asked about body armor. When Mateen left the store, someone contacted the FBI. The follow-up, however, proved insufficient.

James Kallstrom, a former FBI assistant director, recently spoke with Megyn Kelly on her Fox News show. Kallstrom told Kelly that orders have come down from the White House that the bureau cannot investigate "anything to do with Muslims" and agents are "petrified" of losing their jobs if they do.

Islamists could not have a better friend in the White House had they put one of their own there.

The media and liberal activists have returned to their default positions, of course. New York Times columnist Charles Blow blames conservative Christians and their biblical doctrines on marriage, sexuality, even evolution for fomenting "hate" against LGBT people, a hate that, supposedly, propelled Mateen toward mass homicide.

Truth is often a casualty in politics, but in a presidential election year it has become a mass casualty.

Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com.
contributed photo The writer's father tells a great story of the time he arm-wrestled Muhammad Ali, with a photo that backs it up.

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By Christopher Blair

Near Valdez, Alaska, in the winter of 1978, my father, Fred Blair, faced off against "The Champ" in a mostly unknown challenge match.

My father was a weatherman and air traffic advisory specialist, and he was stationed in Valdez on a weather boat, monitoring 14 airports along the pipeline, teaching civilians how to carefully and accurately observe weather, and instructing them also in the methods of clearly reporting weather to pilots. The pipeline was critical to the state and the nation, of course, and the safety of observation flights was paramount.

Muhammad Ali was in late career; this was the era in which he fought Leon Spinks.

The Ford Motor Company had engaged Ali to do some commercials for Ford Motorcraft Parts. The theme was "Tested Tough," and Alaska's rugged landscape presented an appropriate place for filming.

Peter Israelson, the film director, remembers the shoot. He reminisced that Ali, who had never been far from gyms, hotels and handlers, was "like an out-of-control kid in an Alaskan candy store  like a caged animal set free, careening snowmobiles through carefully-groomed sets, and warning the Ford team to back off when they tried to tone down his antics."

"I don't drive a Ford," Israelson said Ali told him. "I drive a Rolls-Royce, and you best remember that."

That season, my dad had a reservation at a large lodge some 30 miles north of Valdez. When he checked in, the receptionist told him that Ali and his entourage were also staying there.

The two men crossed paths that night in the dining room. After dinner Ali introduced himself to my dad, and praised my dad's physique. Fred explained that he was an avid kayaker, and used rowing machines to keep his muscles hard and toned. They chatted amiably, as the story goes.

Then Ali proposed an arm-wrestling bout. My father was startled, but he agreed.

They immediately went at it.

For what seemed in my father's memory a very long time, they went back and forth on the table. You would expect in this hard Alaskan town of roustabouts a rowdy crowd, catcalling and whooping, urging on The Champ. But there were only about eight or ten onlookers, and my dad remembers an intense quietness in the place. He was struck by Ali's attitude  gentle, patient, respectful, devoid of the brashness and bravado everyone expected, but very determined.

Somewhere around the three-minute mark in the bout, my father, an astute man, sensitive to others and what they are about, began to suspect that Ali was holding back. He could have won early on in the round, but Ali was pulling punches.

The two fighters battled another minute, then dad pressed his right arm into the table and forced Ali's wrist down.

Ali smiled graciously in defeat.

A spectator nearby had a Polaroid camera, and she photographed the two in the heat of the match. Afterward, Ali signed the photo, which dad still has at home: "To Fred. Muhammad Ali. Next time I will get you."

Over the years my father watched wistfully as Parkinson's took its awful toll on Ali. When he heard the news that Ali died, my father broke down into tears.

Christopher Blair is a Kenmore Air pilot who lives in Seattle. His father, Fred Blair, lives in Gig Harbor.
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By Robert Reich

I don't know what Bernie Sanders is going to do from here on, and I'm not going to presume to advise him on his next steps. He's earned the right to figure out for himself what's next for his campaign and the movement he has launched.

But of this I'm sure: He has already succeeded beyond anyone's 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 70-something, 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.

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.

He's shown it's possible to come within a stone's throw of getting the Democratic nomination for president of the United States without selling your soul or compromising your conviction.

That's a big deal. It gives lie to the often-repeated claim by candidates that, while they believe in reforming America's campaign finance laws, they won't 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.

He's also inspired millions 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 that's important for America to do can be accomplished.

It's difficult to reverse climate change when big energy companies dominate politics. It's hard to achieve equal opportunity when big corporations and Wall Street pay for special privileges and corporate welfare.

We can't have a sane foreign policy when military contractors hold sway. There's 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.

It's impossible to enlarge the typical worker's 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.

Just as progressive leaders at the turn of the last century  the "prairie populist" presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan, Wisconsin's "fighting" Bob La Follette, and California's Hiram Johnson  laid the foundation for Teddy Roosevelt's 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.
The Observer reports:

Dissenting State Department officials are demanding President Barack Obama wage war on the Assad dictatorshipwhich is a short step away from demanding regime change. Late on June 16 The Wall Street Journal reported that the near collapse of the current ceasefire had spurred 51 mid-to high-level State Department officers involved with advising on Syria policy to sign a dissent channel cable calling on the Obama Administration to target Syrias Assad regime with repeated military strikes.

The Obama strategy seems to be to do as little as possible and hope someone wins.

Journal reporters who personally reviewed the cable described the document as a scalding internal critique of a longstanding U.S. policy against taking sides in the Syrian war, a policy that has survived even though the regime of President Bashar al-Assad has been repeatedly accused of violating cease-fire agreements and Russian-backed forces have attacked U.S.-trained rebels. The dissenters argue Failure to stem Assads flagrant abuses will only bolster the ideological appeal of groups such as Daesh, even as they endure tactical setbacks on the battlefield. The Journal adds that Daesh is an Arabic acronym for Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Having 51 mid to senior staff sign on to such a dissent is not something I can recall in recent times.

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Watch out, Georgia! Tennessee gunning for the 'College GameDay' record

Georgia Bulldogs have been featured 6 (!) times in one season. Here's how the Vols could tie that, plus a look at other teams with many appearances.
Mildred Culp Columnist SHARE "Gary" conveys the spirit of Nashville's GreenPal Inc., which provides free lawn mowing as a community service for some Nashville residents whose grass stands two feet tall or more. (Credit: Courtesy of GreenPal Inc.)

Community service potentially brings rewards most people overlook in the rush for contacts and increased business. It offers a path to community engagement, which has hidden benefits. For example, an intense focus on community service enabled Seattles Mark Hancock to perceive the integrity of the work itself and subsequently deepen his personal involvement in it. It also helped Nashvilles Bryan Clayton, CEO of GreenPal Inc., compensate for technologys impersonal quality while improving the business culture.

INTEGRITY

In 2010 the recession concluded a 30-year career for Hancock as a real estate project manager. Newly undistracted by a traditional job, he continued his lifelong secondary practice of serving the community. After extensive soul-searching and market analysis, he realized that the industry could offer a full career around his interests.

This new awareness of the scope of community service as more than an add-on sparked more education, volunteering and networking. Then two traditional full-time jobs in the industry followed. He now travels worldwide for his self-generated social justice project, teaching teachers how to combat extremism.

Hancock found that community engagement became more than the normal and right thing to do, fun and satisfying internally and externally. It was valuable on its own terms and stopped being tangential to other work.

DIGITAL DEFICIT

Clayton, in a very different situation, discovered that GreenPal, his online same-day lawn mowing service in Nashville  the Uber for Lawn Care  was missing a critical component. The digital platform didnt allow for face-to-face contact with the local community. How could he obtain it? He brought his 50 local lawn service providers into the solution.

Clayton developed an innovative service for community members who are most likely in a bind, as their grass of two to four feet high indicates. Every month, individual mowing services photograph a yard and submit it to be considered for GreenPals community lawn service. Mowing, which typically costs $200 in these cases, is free for the homeowner, but GreenPal pays 50 percent of the normal fee.

What happened the first time? Not much, which made Clayton skeptical. Shortly thereafter, a participating lawn service found a yard of a single mom about to be fined by the city. After the fourth or fifth yard, people used social media to thank GreenPal for the contribution. This is something worth doing, Clayton then realized.

Partnering with the lawn service business owners also improved. It makes us feel good, he says. The program gives our product a little soul. Community ties emerged as trust and purpose grew on both sides of overgrown grass.

Before-and-after photos posted in the office now remind Claytons software engineers that you can build all the technology you want, but people do business with people, the entrepreneur explains. He calls his business a conduit and concedes that its innovative service has expanded the local customer base at least ten times. He also points out that the resulting team unity and culture couldnt be bought.

The experience of Clayton and Hancock shows that a sincere, concerted effort in the community, no matter how small when formed, has the potential to affirm the integrity of the work itself. Their community engagement demonstrates that business should stop reducing its view of community service solely as an opportunity to increase business. It invites community engagement, which uncovers other riches.

(Knoxville News Sentinel syndicated columnist Mildred Culp, Ph.D., welcomes your questions. Contact her at culp@workwise.net.  2016 Passage Media.)
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PINTS FOR A PURPOSE

Little River Trading Company/Switchback Craft Beer Tavern will host its monthly community partners pints for a purpose fundraiser from 5-9 p.m. Thursday, June 23, at 2408 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway. New Belgium Brewer will take over the tap and This Is It Pizza food truck will offer wood-fired pizza.

Info: 865-681-4141

TASTE AND TOAST

Sweet P's Downtown Dive, 410 W. Jackson Ave., will host a Taste and Toast fundraiser from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday, June 22. The special dish to be served is a Thai spinach and cashew salad topped with smoked sesame tuna and a wasabi grit cake with green papaya, fresh herbs and lemon grass vinaigrette served with a Lagunitas beer. For each salad purchased a $5 donation will be given to the Boys & Girls Club of the Tennessee Valley.

SUMMER MOVIES

Local Carmike Cinemas is hosting their Summer Kids Series at 10 a.m. every Mon. and Thurs. through Aug. 4. Tickets are $4 and include admission, a special drink and popcorn. Upcoming movies are "Home" (June 20, 23); "How to Train Your Dragon 2" (June 27, 30); "Kung Fu Panda 2" (July 4, 7); "Monsters vs Aliens" (July 11, 14); "Rio 2" (July 18, 21), "The Peanuts Movie" (July 25, 28); "The Penguins of Madagascar" (Aug. 1, 4). And note, Carmike have $5 movie tickets every Tuesday, with $2 small popcorn. More: Wynnsong 16: 200 North Peters Road; Carmike 10: 5020 Millertown Pike, https://www.carmike.com/summer-kid-series-2016-p1-mon-thur

FREE CONCERTS

The Sounds of Summer is a new concert series that will be held at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday in June at the Pinnacle at Turkey Creek. Menchie's Frozen Yogurt, Zoe Kitchen and Smoky Mountain Brewery will have food and cool treats for purchase. Guests will have the chance to win gift certificates, merchandise and other prizes. This is a free event; however, all donations benefit the Boys and Girls Club of TN Valley. Bring your own lawn chair. James & Emma perform on Thursday, June 23, and Piper Montana Smith on June 30.

Info: 865-675-0120, https://www.facebook.com/PinnacleAtTurkeyCreek/events

CAMP CREATIVITY

Michaels, 11348 Parkside Drive, is hosting its summer crafting sessions again this year. Now known as "Camp Creativity," the classes will be held from 10 a.m.-noon Monday, Wednesday and Friday through July 29. Pay $5 per person in store or online or $12 for three sessions in store. Each week has a different theme, with new crafts each day. Crafts take approximately 30 minutes and parents or guardians must stay in the store. Land of the Dinosaurs is the theme this week.

Info: 865-297-5006, www.michaels.com/camp-creativity

Like us at www.facebook.com/knoxvillefamily and www.facebook.com/knoxvilledotcom
FILE - Dr. Vivek Hallegere Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy will speak on the opiate epidemic Tuesday at a community town hall at the Knox County Health Department, 140 Dameron Ave.

The event will be moderated by Dr. Martha Buchanan, health department director. Doors to the building open at 6:30 p.m., with the program beginning at 7 p.m.

The surgeon general is considered "America's Doctor." Murthy tweets at #TurnTheTide to provide his message on doing something about the opiate epidemic.

The program is sponsored by the Metropolitan Drug Commission, the county health department and the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where Murthy will meet with professionals privately.

Dr. Murthy is vice admiral in the Public Health Service Commission Corps. He was born in England to Indian immigrants. The family came to the U.S. when he was 3.

Murthy earned a bachelor's degree in biochemical sciences from Harvard University, an M.D. from the Yale School of Medicine and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. He was confirmed as surgeon general on Dec. 15, 2014.

REMEMBERING KOREA: Korean War Vets will commemorate the 66th anniversary of the start of that war at a Dutch-treat lunch at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Bearden Banquet Hall.

The event is coordinated by former City Councilman Rex Davis, who served in Korea in 1952-53 for six months of his two years service in the Army. The annual "Rex Davis Korean War Reunion" keeps the memory of "the Forgotten War" alive, Davis said.

The reunion is on the actual anniversary of the invasion of North Korea into South Korea.

The Knoxville Area Korean-American Association will be represented, as well as administrators of various government organizations serving veterans. Davis requests veterans to RSVP with him at 865-689-3900. The meal is $12 per person.

MAKING ROUNDS: Tom Spangler, who's named a treasurer to run in the Republican primary for Knox County sheriff in 2018, is attending community events as he can, he says.

Spangler retired in 2009 as chief deputy in the Knox County Sheriff's Office, where he briefly served as sheriff after the Black Wednesday controversy in 2007. Since retiring, he has been deputy chief over training in the Blount County sheriff's office

Spangler filed a financial disclosure in January reporting he raised $5,200 from July 9-Jan. 15. Debra Powers is his campaign treasurer.

Lee Tramel, a top aide to Knox County Sheriff Jimmy "J.J." Jones, also is interested in running. He has not yet named a treasurer, which is necessary to raise money. Jones is term limited.
By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel

An engineer charged in the nation's first nuclear espionage conspiracy case involving China is being accused of financial shenanigans by a federal magistrate judge.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Guyton has denied a bid by Szuhsiung "Allen" Ho for pretrial release on charges he was procuring American nuclear know-how for the Chinese government.

Among the reasons Guyton says he does not trust Ho, 66, to return to U.S. District Court in Knoxville to face trial is financial information Ho provided to a pretrial services office that Guyton found dubious at best.

"The court observes that the income and assets reported by (Ho) in his pretrial services report do not comport with the value of his home in Delaware, his retention of multiple attorneys, his maintenance of two apartments and a separate family in China and his multiple trips overseas each year," Guyton wrote.

"This discrepancy causes the court to believe that (Ho) has not been forthright about his financial resources and causes the court to doubt whether (Ho) would abide by any conditions the court could impose."

Ho, his firm, Energy Technology International, and a Chinese nuclear power plant, China General Nuclear Power, were indicted in April in an alleged plot to lure nuclear experts in the U.S. into providing information to allow China to develop and produce nuclear material based on American technology and under the radar of the U.S. government.

It is the first such case in the nation brought under a provision of law that regulates the sharing of U.S. nuclear technology with certain countries deemed too untrustworthy to see it. Those countries include China.

Although the technology is used for nuclear-power generation, the by-product of that process can be used to produce nuclear weapons.

Ho was born in Taiwan but was educated in the U.S. and is now a naturalized citizen. He has a home in Delaware with his wife. But, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Atchley Jr., Ho earns a paycheck from the Chinese government and spends the lion's share of his time in China, where he maintains an apartment for himself and an adjoining one for his 9-year-old son and the boy's mother.

Atchley also said at a hearing last week that Ho has transferred $3 million from a bank account in China to various accounts in Delaware since 2009. That was the year Ho allegedly first began to recruit engineers working in the U.S. to provide  in return for money from the Chinese government  restricted nuclear power technological information.

One of those engineers, Ching Huey, was working as a TVA senior manager when he agreed to divulge such information to Ho and the China nuclear power plant and even traveled to China on the Chinese government's tab. Huey struck a secret deal to cooperate in an investigation last year. His plea agreement was unsealed after Ho's arrest.

Ho's defense team of Peter Zeidenberg of Washington, D.C., and Knoxville veteran attorney Wade Davies contend Ho did nothing wrong and believed, based on communications with federal officials, the information he was buying did not fall under U.S. regulations.

In turning aside the attorneys' request for pretrial freedom for Ho, Guyton said he was concerned about Ho's ties to China, both familial and financial.

"The government of China obviously has ample financial resources to direct to the aid and assistance of the defendant," Guyton wrote. "The defendant's motivation to flee to China is further enhanced by the fact that the United States does not have an extradition treaty with China. In other words, this is a case where the defendant knows that if he can just get to China, he can stay in China."

Guyton also noted Ho faces a potential life sentence if convicted.

"He has strong motive to flee," Guyton wrote.

Ho's trial is set Jan. 24, 2017.
SHARE Jason Evan Kennedy. (KNOX COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE) Zubin Percy Parakh. (KNOX COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE)

By Jamie Satterfield of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Two East Tennessee pastors nabbed in an online prostitution sting have agreed to skip preliminary hearings, records show.

Defense attorney Gregory P. Isaacs filed waivers of the probable cause hearings on behalf of former Grace Baptist Church children's minister Jason Evan Kennedy, 46, and Zubin Parakh, 32, a pastor affiliated with Lifehouse Church in Oak Ridge. The hearings had been set for Monday in Knox County General Sessions Court.

The pair face charges of human trafficking and patronizing prostitution in connection with a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Internet sting in May in which advertisements were placed on the website Backpage.com offering sex for money. Some of the ads promised sexual trysts with underage girls. Those who responded to ads for adult women were charged with misdemeanor patronizing prostitution, but those who agreed to pay for sex with minors face the heftier felony trafficking charges.

Authorities said both Kennedy, who was fired from the Knoxville church after his arrest, and Parakh sought sex with teenage girls under age 17.

The sting is part of the TBI's new campaign against prostitution, particularly that involving minor girls. It comes as part of a nationwide effort to combat what is now labeled human trafficking and after the state Legislature provided funding for four TBI agents to specifically target these particular sex crimes. The Knoxville operation was the agency's fifth this year statewide.

Of the 300 people who responded to the fake TBI ads, more than two dozen expressed interest in underage prostitutes, the agency said. A total of 32 people were arrested on various charges, ranging from trafficking  a felony with a penalty range of eight to 12 years  and misdemeanor patronizing prostitution.

Kennedy was arrested when he showed up at the Best Western Suites on Pratt Road, which was TBI's base of operation. The TBI said Kennedy affirmed his desire to have sex with an adult woman and an underage girl, placed $100 on a counter and took off his pants. A warrant filed against Parakh states he agreed to pay $100 for a half-hour of sex with a 17-year-old girl.

In both instances, the meeting place on Pratt Road was within 1000 feet of the Gospels Voice Russian Church, so the two pastors face an enhanced penalty range of 15 to 25 years if convicted on the trafficking charge.

Isaacs' waiver of preliminary hearings means the cases now go before a Knox County grand jury for consideration of charges. Grand juries rarely reject charges brought by the prosecution, so indictments are likely.

Kennedy, a married father of three, was responsible for ministry for Grace Baptist's children from birth through fifth grade, according to a cached page of the church's website from Feb. 13, 2015. Lifehouse has not responded to media inquiries on Parakh's role at the church or his current status.
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By News Sentinel Staff

The Knoxville Police Department has identified the 25-year-old man whose body was pulled out of Fort Loudoun Lake on Saturday afternoon after he apparently became separated from a friend on the bluffs overlooking the river the night before, authorities said.

The man was identified as Tomas Skyler Ledford, of Oak Ridge, Tenn.

According to authorities, late Friday evening, Ledford and a friend went to the bluffs and drank until about 3 a.m., when they became separated. After searching for his friend with no luck, the second man left the area.

He returned Saturday afternoon to search again, and boaters passing by on the river spotted a body in the river at the bottom of the bluff near River Towne Condos at about 2:27 p.m. Knoxville Fire Department crews pulled the body from the river by 3 p.m., said KFD Capt. D.J. Corcoran.

The man's body was taken to the Knox Country Regional Forensic Center for an autopsy. Police do not believe foul play was involved, but said alcohol is likely a contributing factor.

More details as they develop online and in Monday's News Sentinel.
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By MJ Slaby of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Eighteen University of Tennessee employees registered to carry concealed handguns on the first day that registration was possible, according to the school.

Registration started Monday and is ahead of a new state law that starts July 1. Full-time college employees, not enrolled as students on campus, may carry concealed handguns, but must first notify campus law enforcement.

There are also locations and times handguns are prohibited at UT, including disciplinary meetings as well as in stadiums, gyms and auditoriums during university-sponsored events.

Employees were required to bring their UT identification, as well as a valid Tennessee driver's license and valid state handgun permit to complete their registration "in the presence of a sworn officer," according to the UT Police Department website.

"The registration process requires applicants to acknowledge their responsibilities in carrying a handgun, which include their duty to secure and conceal it," UT police wrote in an email to faculty and staff last week.

On Monday afternoon, three people who came to UT police for the handgun registration declined to comment or have their photo taken by a News Sentinel photographer.

The names of those who register are not available to the public. And UT President Joe DiPietro and the UT Faculty Senate have previously voiced opposition to the new law.

UT Police is also offering to those who register voluntary classes about the responsibilities under the new law. The first class is July 1, and no advance sign-up is required. Campus police will also speak with groups on campus who want more information about the law and its application on campus, according to the university.
George Korda hosting his "State Your Case' radio talk show. (Jack Lail / News Sentinel)

A few non-touristic observations about the U.S. and Europe, based on a just-completed trip to five countries.

* The mass killing in Orlando, Fla., of 49 people by an ISIS-inspired terrorist was heavily covered by European media. What we could understand best was on the BBC, Skynews, and a couple of other English-speaking television channels.

I expected a good deal of criticism and debate directed at the U.S. over the 2nd Amendment, but interestingly, from what we saw it wasnt prevalent. Europe, particularly France, has been recently victimized by terrorist attacks despite more stringent gun laws than those in the U.S., so perhaps that realization factored into the initial coverage we saw, as well as the fact the gunman identified himself as aligning with ISIS.

* Speaking of European media, it was pleasant to be spared the all-Trump, all-the-time mania of U.S. news stations.

* The taxi drivers, guides, and others with whom we spoke were generally, but not universally, critical of the high taxes in their countries, saying it threatens or keeps them from improving their standard of living.

A universal gripe was that every time the government raises taxes on gas, construction, etc., to grow revenue it results in slowing down those areas of the economy, thus reducing government revenues, causing governments to seek other ways to acquire more revenue, with the same resulting slowdowns.

* In 2010 we were driving with a Greek guide when I asked him, Am I seeing this correctly? Are Greeks paying the about 13 U.S. dollars for four liters (a little more than a gallon) of gas? Yes they were, he said. High oil prices at the time were one reason, another significant contributor were taxes on gas.

Today gas prices are about six dollars for four liters. Taxes are the reason for the difference in cost between the U.S. and Europe.

* In the bathroom uproar that has taken place in the United States concerning men who identify as females using womens restrooms, and vice-versa, it has been frequently said by some that Europeans dont differentiate in their public facilities so Americans shouldnt either.

In the mid-1970s we lived for three years in Germany and traveled extensively throughout Europe, never encountering an all for one, one for all bathroom scenario.

My wife and I have been back to Europe several times over the years, never seeing such restrooms. On this latest trip, to five countries and four islands, I made a point  given the controversy back home  of looking for said unisex restrooms.

Didnt see one.

Every restroom we encountered - in restaurants; stores; shops; rest stops; seaports; airports; and public parks - had signs for men and women only. No gender neutral, uncertains, or doesnt matters. Just signage or a designation of male or female.

Im not saying none exist; what Im saying is that the claim doesnt fly that Europeans dont care about who uses what restroom therefore we shouldnt do so here in the U.S.

* Welcome back, kind of, to the United States.

Getting off the plane in Atlanta was a surprise in comparison to past travels. People in official attire greeted those deplaning with smiles and Welcome to the U.S., or Welcome home.

Once through passport control, however, travelers encountered employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Several were quite friendly, which was appreciated. Others, not so much.

Were typically TSA-pre travelers. TSA-pre flyers dont take off their shoes or remove certain items from their bags. A TSA employee said we need not take off our shoes. However, the next one said yes, we did, and all liquids, electronics, etc., had to be removed and put on the conveyor.

Based on the first TSA employees direction, I asked another TSA employee further down the line if we had to do this if we were TSA-Pre (we had a lot of items requiring removal). She could have said I need to see your boarding pass, or, Im sorry, but that isnt possible for international travelers, even Americans.

Instead, her exact words were, I dont see nothin' in your hand. She meant, of course, a boarding pass. I handed it to her. Theres nothing on this saying TSA-Pre, and handed it back.

There were seven or eight blue-shirted TSA employees standing around talking to each other. But there were no plastic bins on our lane in which we or other travelers could put our things. I went to another lane and retrieved several for our liquids, cell phones, computers, belts, etc., as well as everything that had to come out of our pockets.

As our bags and bins came through the scanner we started to put it all back into our bags, as was everyone else with their own luggage, and this became an issue because it was a short table and people were scrambling to try to get their items out of the plastic bins as more came down the conveyor. Once emptied, there was no place to put the bins  again, there were about a half-dozen TSA employees standing there, watching  so they started falling onto the floor.

A TSA employee behind us called out angrily, Are they throwing those bins on the floor?

I turned and said, Theyre falling off because theres no room for them. If the group of TSA employees chatting up each other would have helped out a bit she wouldnt have had to be concerned.

I turned back to our bags and said, Well, its easy to see were back in the U.S. Nearby travelers laughed as they dealt with the same scrambling and saw the same group of TSA employees standing by, watching.

* Many of the people we encountered in each country, as they talked about their families, said they had relatives who had moved to America, and that they love being here.

While some Americans s speak of the U.S. as a mean, oppressive, exploitive, and rapacious country for which apologies must be made, much of the rest of the world would love to come to the U.S. Its interesting to listen to Europeans who have a higher opinion of America than do many Americans.

Its nice to hear, and its good to be home.

George Korda is political analyst for WATE-TV, appearing Sundays on Tennessee This Week. He hosts State Your Case from noon  3 p.m. Sundays on WOKI-FM Newstalk 98.7. Korda is a frequent speaker and writer on political and news media subjects. He is president of Korda Communications, a public relations and communications consulting firm.
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The nonpartisan website PolitiFact looked at all the public statements that have made by the presidential candidates during the campaign and found that 50 percent of Hillary Clinton's statements were true or mostly true, exceeded in truthfulness only by John Kasich at 52 percent. Donald Trump had a 9 percent rating, making Clinton more than five times more truthful.

The New York Times' Nicholas Kristof suggests that journalist Jill Abramson, no fan of the Clintons, spent decades investigating Hillary Clinton or overseeing investigations of her and concluded in The Guardian: "Hillary Clinton is fundamentally honest and trustworthy." Even the Clintons' arch nemesis, Kenneth Starr, now seems full of praise.

In contrast, Trump adopted one of Wall Street's worst proprietary school scams, disproportionately leaving a wake of loan defaults and destroyed lives. What to make of someone who authorizes charging as much for a single class as a four-year degree from the University of Tennessee?

A London banking official suggests that if Trump had put the money he inherited from his dad into a simple index fund tied to the S&P 500 and spent his days finger-painting, he would be worth $8 billion dollars instead of the $2.9 billion he is purported to be worth. If this is true, then as a businessman, Trump is an abject failure. Since his business acumen is the only reason he is in the public arena, he would be a complete fraud.

As an aficionado of the short bumper sticker world view, Trump should appreciate the following suggestion. Considering he rides the fence of populism and is an empty shell of a tycoon, "Trumpty Dumpty" should become the swift-boat epithet Clinton utters to the crowd as she smiles, shakes her head slowly and looks to her feet.

William Culbert, Oak Ridge
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Reducing methane emissions from across the natural gas value chain in an efficient manner is good for business and good for the environment. It's why eight leading companies from across the natural gas industry formed Our Nation's Energy Future, a coalition that is squarely focused on identifying policy and technical solutions that yield continuous improvement in the management of methane emissions associated with the production, processing, transmission and distribution of natural gas.

A recently released study by economic consulting firm ICF International that was commissioned by ONE Future found 97 billion cubic feet of methane from across the natural gas value chain could be captured through the deployment of various technologies and practices. These reductions will help us meet our goal of a natural gas value chain that is 99 percent efficient.

This new analysis makes clear that in order to reduce methane emissions in the most cost-effective and meaningful way possible, a flexible pathway should be considered by federal environmental regulators. If a company can get from point A to point D directly, so long as they are achieving the desired emissions reduction, government regulation should not require that they pass through points B and C to get there. Unnecessarily adding costs with little to no environmental benefit is an inefficient use of resources that could be better deployed to areas of the natural gas value chain that could provide a larger environmental return on the investment.

This new analysis provides the natural gas value chain with a flexible pathway towards reducing methane emissions, and it is our hope that policymakers and the Environmental Protection Agency recognize this approach as a constructive way forward.

Richard Hyde, executive director, ONE Future, Houston, Texas
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I must take exception to the letter "Setting the record straight," about veterans who served in the Vietnam War. The writer stated she was a flight attendant who worked 72 flights into Vietnam during the war. Apparently, she took umbrage with Mike Blackerby's HonorAir article and how it described how our Vietnam veterans were treated. While I am delighted to learn that our soldiers on her flights were never asked to put on civilian clothes and were treated "sympathetically," that is not the experience my husband had. Of course they were not asked to wear civilian clothes. They were not flying commercial and they landed at Travis Air Force Base.

My husband, Patrick, served in the U.S. Navy and completed three and a half nine-month tours of duty in Vietnam from 1966-1970. Each time he went on leave, he was told to wear civilian clothes rather than his uniform. Even though he did just that, people at airports and in the streets knew immediately he was a sailor by his haircut. Back in those days, civilians could identify soldiers and sailors by their look. My husband was spit on multiple times and called a baby killer. He was told that he had no business being in that war and that it wasn't anyone's business. There were no ticker-tape parades. Nobody told them, "Thank you for your service."

HonorAir is a wonderful organization, and I am quite certain that Blackerby has more accurate information about our veterans than the letter writer.

Out of the 2,709,918 Americans who fought in the Vietnam War, I suspect that many more veterans experienced what my husband did, rather than what this writer did.

And to all of our Vietnam veterans, my husband and I say: "Welcome home."

Andrea Carbone, Sevierville
Love the Clinch River? Sign Up for Big Clinch River Cleanup!





Everyone who enjoys the Clinch River, from anglers to kayakers to wildlife watchers, is invited to help remove litter from the Clinch and its banks.





A tangle of wire fencing is handed ashore to Tony Gregg by TWRA Region 4 Fisheries Coordinator Bart Carter. Image by FH Oates.

Registration is open now for everyone who wants to help with the fourth annual Big Clinch River Cleanup on Saturday, July 23. It starts at 8 a.m. with breakfast at the scenic Museum of Appalachia, 2819 Andersonville Highway, Norris. The cleanup will wrap up about 2 p.m.



Everyone who enjoys the river, from anglers to kayakers to wildlife watchers, is invited to help remove litter from the Clinch and its banks. The community wide cleanup is an expansion of annual pickups run for many years by members of the Clinch River Chapter, Trout Unlimited, which hosts the event. Last year, 106 volunteers from 30 ZIP codes gathered tires and trash from the river.



Volunteers work in a variety of ways:



 Above the water line, workers walk along riverside roads and through parking areas, gathering trash.

 Volunteers wearing waders patrol for litter in shallow water.

 In kayaks and canoes, volunteers work to clean shorelines and shallow water where there is no public access by road.

 In powerboats, volunteers haul tires and other items from the depths.



Support for all the teams is supplied by volunteering emergency medical people, ham radio operators, tire disposal professionals and workers with trucks who collect and dispose of filled trash bags.



This year, the first 100 volunteers to register will qualify for a free full breakfast at the picturesque museum (expenses of the meal are supported by a grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority). To sign up, please visit http://crctu.org and click on Big Cleanup Registration. For more information, contact Buzz Buffington at buzz.buffington@gmail.com or (865) 463-7167, or Jim Ferguson at jimferguson41@gmail.com or (865) 494-8081. The event will be held rain or shine (in case of severe weather, the breakfast will be held but volunteers will stay on shore).



Clinch River Chapter TU works to preserve and protect the Clinch River tailwater and its watershed through conservation projects and through education of children and adults in aquatic natural resources. Meetings are held the second Thursday of the month in the parish hall at St. Francis Episcopal Church, Norris, except when outdoor activities are scheduled. Published June 20, 2016
Rim of the Pacific Exercise 2016 Begins June 30

JUNE 20, 2016 AT 11:22 a.m. EST

By Terri Moon Cronk, DoD





In its 25th iteration this year since its 1971 inception, Rimpac is the worlds largest

international maritime exercise





Service members from partner nations maneuver amphibious assault vehicles toward shore during a simulated beach assault as part of the Rim of the Pacific Exercise 2014, July 29, 2014. The worlds largest international maritime exercise, the 2016 iteration of Rimpac starts June 30 will involve 27 nations. The exercise provides a training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Corey T. Jones





WASHINGTON  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 August 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. Published June 20, 2016
By Choi Sung-jin



To narrow gender gap, Korea should close the economic gap by, for instance, placing more women at high positions at economic and political institutions, the World Economic Forum said Friday.



The level of economic participation and opportunities won by Korean women last year represented 56 percent of that for men, said a WEF report on closing the economic gender gap.



Part-time women workers made up 15 percent of the female work force, compared with 7 percent among men. Women accounted for 45 percent of professional and technical workers. The portion of women in parliament, ranking government officials and corporate managers remained at only 11 percent of the total.



Pointing to the considerable economic gender gap in Korea, the Swiss-based forum advised Seoul to focus on narrowing the capability-related gap. The forum said that if the nation maintains the economic participation rates of men and women at similar levels for 20 years or longer, it will be able to increase per capita gross domestic product by 0.5 percentage point or more.



Women's wages are just 55 percent of the wages of men doing similar work, and female workers' labor income is 56 percent that of male workers'. In the WEF's annual global gender gap survey, Korea was ranked 115 out of 145 nations.



The forum said Korea has made progress in closing the economic gender gap since 2014, when the nation launched a task force on gender parity and empowerment of women, under the joint patronage of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. A total of 142 businesses and other organizations, including 30 largest conglomerates, are participating in the task force.



According to a survey on the changes before and after their participation in the task force, the share of women who were promoted increased from 15.6 percent to 29.9 percent of the total. The share of companies that won certifications as family-friendly businesses also rose to 82.5 percent, up 26.1 percentage points, indicating that the task force has spread gender parity awareness resulting in social changes.



"The portion of men who use paternity leave has exceeded 5 percent since the launch of the task force, and the employment of women aged 30 or more has been rising steadily," the ministry said.



The WEF report said that the Korean task force is making plans based on a solid foundation, adding that Korea will see productive collaboration this year, the final year in the official operation of the task force.



Commenting on the Park Geun-hye administration's performance in the area of gender parity, the report praised her policy pledges to raise the women's employment rate to 61.3 percent. The report also highly evaluated the gender-equality ministry's five-year plan to close the gender gap.



"Korea's legislative and policy developments are focusing on the fundamental and long-term aspects of narrowing the economic gender gap," it said.












GS Engineering & Construction's Xi brand is posted on an entrance sign at Village Park Apartments in Mountain View, California. / Courtesy of GS Engineering & Construction



By Jhoo Dong-chan

GS Engineering & Construction (E&C) is poised to enter the U.S. housing market, participating in a reconstruction project for old apartments in Silicon Valley, California.

According to a company official, Monday, GS E&C will invest in a housing project as a limited partner with a local U.S. company, under which it will buy 208 old apartment units in Mountain View, California, and reconstruct them into 600 units.

GS E&C set up a corporate body for the project, last year.

If the reconstruction plan is approved, GS E&C's apartment brand, Xi, would be the nation's first brand to be erected in Silicon Valley.

A company official said that the apartment complex is expected to attract IT people because of its proximity to major high-tech companies like Apple, Facebook and Google.

Google headquarters is only 2.6 kilometers from the site, while Apple, Intel and Facebook headquarters are all within a 12-kilometer radius, less than a 15 minute ride by car from the site of the apartment complex.

The San Antonio Shopping Center and a Safeway supermarket are located near the complex along with a number of parks, including Cuesta Park and Charleston Park.

San Francisco is also located about 50 kilometers north of Mountain View while Palo Alto, home of prestigious Stanford University, is only 8 kilometers north.

"Xi topped the nation's reconstruction market last year, and has made inroads into the U.S. luxury housing industry," said Kim Gyu-hwa, head of the company's U.S. subsidiary.

"The reconstruction project in Mountain View will enhance Xi's brand power as a luxury apartment not only in Korea but also in the global market."

In March, GS E&C clinched a 1.7 trillion won ($1.46 billion) subway depot construction deal with Singapore's Land Transportation Authority (LTA). Under the deal, GS E&C is expected to complete building what it claims will be the world's largest subway train depot by February 2024. The depot will be built on a total area of 320,000 square meters near Changi Airport in southeastern Singapore, connecting three major Singapore subway lines  the Downtown Line, Thomson East Coast Line and East-West Line.
By Lee Hyo-sik



Samsung Construction & Trade (C&T) has decided to carry out another round of layoffs to reduce its bloated construction division to cope with the prolonged global slump in construction.



This is the third layoff in less than six months as hundreds of workers are expected to leave the company this time in exchange for special severance packages.



Samsung C&T said Monday that all workers, except for new recruits, are eligible to apply for voluntary retirement.



The terms of retirement are not finalized yet but those who will opt for it are expected to receive tens of millions of won in special bonuses, in addition to their regular severance pay. The amount of bonus will largely be determined by workers' employment periods.



In December last year, the company dismissed 800 workers from its construction division following its merger with Cheil Industries earlier last year. In February, about 600 more left through a voluntary retirement scheme.



"We don't know how many will leave the company this time. We will receive applications by the end of June," a Samsung C&T official said. "The firm has been restructuring its business portfolios since it merged with Cheil Industries. Given its declining construction business, it has to downsize its workforce."



In addition to optimizing its manpower, Samsung C&T has to downsize its construction division amid the continued industry downturn. The firm has also been under pressure to reduce labor and other costs to deal with the huge losses it's incurred from overseas construction projects.



Samsung C&T, consisting of trade, construction, fashion and resort divisions, earned 6.5 trillion won ($5.6 billion) in sales in the first quarter of 2016, down 10.2 percent from a year earlier. The firm posted a 434.8 billion won operating loss.



Its construction sector alone incurred a 415 billion won loss.



At first, managers and other senior employees left through a voluntary retirement scheme. But an increasing number of younger workers are opting to leave before it becomes too late for them to find new careers elsewhere, according to company officials.



Besides Samsung's construction and trading arms, the group's other unprofitable units are facing a similar fate.



Samsung Heavy Industries has decided to dismiss 1,500 workers this year and thousands more in 2017 and 2018 to cope with the global slump in shipbuilding.



Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Samsung SDI and Samsung Engineering are also moving to downsize their workforce through a voluntary retirement scheme.




By Nam Hyun-woo



Domestic insurers' capital soundness may worsen because of government-led corporate restructuring, according to the insurers, Monday, as they increase loans to companies.



According to the Korea Life Insurance Association, the outstanding balance of loans from 25 life insurers' stood at 107.17 trillion won in March, up 8.5 percent or 8.4 trillion won year-on-year.



Of them, Samsung Life has the largest share with 33.94 trillion won, followed by Hanwha Life with 16.97 and Kyobo Life with 16.5 trillion won.



Non-life insurers also saw an increase in their outstanding balance of loans. According to the General Insurance Association of Korea, the loan balance of 32 non-life insurers' amounted to 50.28 trillion won at the end of February, up 19.5 percent or 8.21 trillion won year-on-year.



Samsung Fire had the largest balance with 14.94 trillion won, ahead of Dongbu Insurance with 7.65 trillion won and Hyundai Marine and Fire Insurance with 7.3 trillion won.



The insurers mostly extended loans on real estate. Life insurers lent 29.56 trillion won and non-life firms 21.96 trillion won as real estate mortgage.



Research from Korea Insurance Research Institute (KIRI) showed that insurers' loans to companies stood at 65.3 trillion won, with life insurers extending 41.89 trillion won and non-life firms lending 23.45 trillion won.



Data regarding the insurers' loans to conglomerates suggest that they have increased the amount by 70 percent this March, compared to a year earlier.



Industry sources say the rise came as banks impose stronger guidelines on reviewing companies' credit and as a result companies often resort to insurance firms, which are an easier source of borrowed money.



"It is similar to the balloon effect. Companies flock to insurance firms for loans as they see more advantages, such as higher yields, in borrowing money from here," said an industry insider. The balloon effect describes a scenario where pressure applied in one area pushes the air into another area of less resistance but the air does not disappear.



According to KIRI, companies that receive mortgages from insurers tend to have low credit ratings that banks refuse to provide loans to or extend expiration of current loans.



"The ratio of banks' loans to conglomerates classified as substandard or below stood at 4.07 percent in the first quarter this year," KIRI said in the research. "Given that companies that receive loans from insurance companies have relatively lower credit ratings, insurers may have a higher ratio."



KIRI also expected that the ongoing restructuring will inevitably slow profitability and productivity of companies and that they will hesitate to buy industrial insurance policies.



Market watchers say this is an additional burden for insurers, who have to build up provisions to cope with the looming introduction of the International Financial Reporting Standards 4 Phase II in Korea, new accounting rules assessing insurers' liabilities based on market value, rather than book value.




South Korea's award-winning pianist Cho Seong-jin said it was an honor to record an album with the London Symphony Orchestra, one of the world's most celebrated orchestras.



The 21-year-old prodigy recorded his first studio album at London's Abbey Road Studios on June 11-12 under an exclusive contract with the global record label Deutsche Grammophon.



He performed Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the orchestra led by the Italian conductor Gianandrea Noseda there. The album is scheduled to come out in November, two months after he finishes recording Chopin's four ballades.



"I was really nervous because this was my first time to record a studio album. But it was interesting and was a good experience. It's an honor to do it with the London Symphony. I also was pleased to work with Noseda," he told reporters after the recording.



For the album, the winner of last year's prestigious International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition in Poland repeatedly played the 40-minute-long concerto for nine hours during the two days.



"I played it the same way I usually do," he said, adding that the difference was he had to repeat the same movement again and again. "Another thing is that there was no audience. But I just tried to think there's an audience before me while recording."



Cho chose the five masterpieces to play after Deutsche Grammophon offered him the opportunity to make a Chopin album.



"All of them are my favorite pieces. Furthermore, Piano Concerto No. 1 means so much to me because I played it in the final of the International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition."



Cho is scheduled to perform about 70 times in the United States, Europe and Asia in the 2016-2017 season that lasts till July next year. He also has concert schedules up till June 2018.



"Since winning the competition, I have gotten many chances to perform, and I perform feeling thankful every time."



Questioned what type of musician he wants to be in the future, Cho said he will continue to make efforts to reach a level that can satisfy himself and wants to be an "artistic" pianist.



"I don't have any particular role model," he said. "I just want to be an artistic pianist." (Yonhap)




Conductor Park June-sung / Courtesy of Aram Khachaturian International Competition



By Yun Suh-young

South Korean conductor Park June-sung was awarded the top prize for conducting at the 12th Aram Khachaturian International Competition held in Armenia, along with Miran Vaupotic from Croatia.

Park also won the competition's three special prizes  Orchestra Award, Best Interpretation of Aram Khachaturian and the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra Special Prize. The two winners will split a cash prize of $10,000 and receive opportunities for concert engagements until 2018.

The competition was held at the country's capital Yerevan June 6-14. The winners were announced through the website.

The Aram Khachaturian International Competition, which was established in 2003 in commemoration of the 100th birthday of Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian, has been held June 6-14 every year since its foundation. The competition is hosted jointly by the Armenian Ministry of Culture, the Aram Khachaturian Competition Cultural Foundation and the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan. The competition aims to identify talented young musicians in piano, violin and cello. This was the first year the competition was open to conducting.

Conductor Park June-sung moved to Germany at age 16 and studied piano at the State University of Music and the Performing Arts Stuttgart in Germany. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in orchestra conducting at University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna in Austria.
By Choi Sung-jin



North Korea is likely to experience its worst food shortage since 2011 this year, the Voice of America reported Sunday, quoting an official of the U.N.'s Food and Agricultural Organization.



North Korea will need to cover 694,000 tons by imports or foreign aid, the most since 2011, VOA reported, quoting Christina Coslet, the FAO's global information and early warning system officer for Far East Asia.



"The rice crop dropped 26 percent from the previous year, and corn production also fell 3 percent," she was quoted as saying. "The amount of food North Korea has secured remains at 23,000 ton, or 3 percent of its shortfall."



As of last month, North Korea had received 1,000 tons of corn from Norway, and 4,600 tons of wheat from Russia while importing 12,000 tons of wheat from Ukraine and 1,100 tons of corn from South Africa, VOA said.



"In North Korea, the spring farm hardship begins in May and ends in late August," Coslet said. "Unless the North Korean government imports or receives more food from outside during this period, the food shortage is expected to become more serious."



Pyongyang provided food rations of 410 grams per person last year, but reduced this to 370 grams in the first quarter of this year and to 360 grams in the second quarter, the smallest since 2010, the FAO officer said.



North Korea watchers here said North Korea's food shortfall was expected to worsen because China and Russia had joined in international economic sanctions, and the U.S., South Korea and Japan were imposing sanctions independently.



Rodong Shinmun, the official paper of the North Korean Workers Party, acknowledged the deepening isolation of the communist state amid tightening international sanctions.



In a recent commentary, the paper said, "Our enemies' maneuvers to isolate and crush this republic are becoming increasingly atrocious, while no countries are coming forward to help us."




By Choi Sung-jin



Japan's elementary schoolchildren recently sat a mock examination that is raising some controversy because of a question involving the Japanese government's unilateral claim on Dokdo, the Yonhap News Agency reported Monday.



In the mock test, a multiple-choice question said, "Pick a country from among the following examples that is unlawfully occupying Takeshima (Dokdo in Korean)," and the Republic of Korea was one of the four examples, Yonhap said quoting Japan's Kyodo News.



An official from the organization that wrote the exam said South Korea's illegal occupation of Dokdo was "common knowledge" among test-takers because all four companies that published social studies textbooks carried the descriptions of Takeshima and Senkaku (Diaoyu in Chinese) Islands.



The Japanese education ministry, in a guideline on history book released in 2014, said Dokdo was "Japan's sovereign territory," and was under "illegal occupation by South Korea that the Japanese government is protesting against." As a result, all social studies textbooks for fifth and sixth graders state that Korea "has unlawfully occupied Japan's sovereign territory of Takeshima."



Kyodo pointed out that there were concerns among intellectuals and parents about "putting a priority on memorizing terminologies without learning about historical details." Students who memorize only the words "illegal occupation" tend to be carried away by anti-Korean sentiments, the news service said.



"I was surprised with the expression illegal occupation of Takeshima' in the question," a parent in Osaka was quoted as saying. "Children accept things as they learn. This question seems to lack consideration (of other countries)."



A scholar also expressed concern. "We need to be more careful in dealing with terms and interpretations over which there are disagreements," Professor Atsushi Murai of Kanazawa University was quoted as saying. "We should focus on teaching students from diverse viewpoints rather than having them memorize things just for tests."




By Kim Bo-eun



A lawmaker has proposed a revision to a special act on the Sewol disaster to extend government financial support for civilian divers who participated in search and rescue (SAR) operations for their physical and mental damage.



Many divers voluntarily took part in SAR operations for missing passengers who were on the ferry which sank and killed more than 300 people on April 16, 2014.



"Many of these victims have been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder but they have had to pay for their own treatment," said Rep. Park Joo-min of the Minjoo Party of Korea, Monday. "And many of these individuals have had difficulty making time to receive treatment as they need to work for their livelihoods."



Kim seeks to revise the act so that divers can be included as recipients of government support along with the survivors and bereaved families who lost loved ones in the sinking.



The draft of the revision states that the civilian divers can receive government support to treat the traumas of the Sewol disaster through medical treatment and counseling.



The lawmaker's proposal follows a recent suicide by one of the divers.



Kim Gwan-hong, 43, was found dead inside a greenhouse at his residence in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, Friday.



Kim, who was unable to work as a diver after sustaining injuries during SAR operations, had been making a living by growing flowers and working as a chauffeur.



Police said Kim had returned home early Friday after finishing work, drank alcohol and then collapsed, according to surveillance camera footage. They found a bottle of pills on the site and also records of Kim sending messages to acquaintances implying that he would commit suicide.



Kim had been involved in activities to uncover the truth about the Sewol disaster, attending a hearing hosted by the Special Investigation Commission and the National Assembly's audit of the Ministry of Public Safety and Security.



Disappointed at the government's negligence of the divers and many other volunteers who suffered, he said in the audit, "Now I urge the government not to seek people's help in any disaster but do it itself."



Kim also assisted the lawmaker in drawing up the revisions.



The revisions also seek to provide support for firefighters and volunteers who took part in SAR operations as well as students and teachers of Danwon High School, who were not on the ferry but were also psychologically traumatized by the tragedy.



According to the revisions, those who sustained injuries or died in SAR operations will be recognized by the state for their contributions. The revisions have also deleted a time frame limiting registration for compensation.



Park said he will also work to extend the investigation period of the Sewol committee. The investigations are set to conclude within this month, but the salvaging of the sunken ferry is not expected to be completed until the end of July, which has raised concerns that a proper investigation would be impossible.




Boryung Pharmaceutical CEO Choi Tae-hong, right, stands with Paul Geymayer, Asia-Pacific head of Sandoz, at the Sandoz regional office in Singapore after signing a contract to export Cilnidipine, a hypertension drug, to Southeast Asia, May 26.

/ Courtesy of Boryung Pharmaceutical



By Lee Kyung-min

Boryung Pharmaceutical has signed a deal with Sandoz, a generics division of Novartis, to export Cilnidipine, a hypertension drug, to six Southeast Asian countries for the next 10 years.

The company said Monday that it will have the license to exclusively supply the medicine to Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Hong Kong through Sandoz.

The contract is expected to generate $73 million in revenue for Boryung during the period.

Cilnidipine is a calcium channel blocker (CCB) hypertension medicine and is currently sold in Japan, Korea, Vietnam and India. Boryung obtained the commercial rights to sell the drug from one of the co-developers, UCB Japan, in 2014, and can sell it around the world except for in Japan.

"We expect Cilnidipine will help Boryung expand its presence in the hypertension market in Southeast Asia as we have already introduced the angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) hypertension medicine, Kanarb and Kanarb PLUS to the market," company CEO Choi Tae-hong said.

"This deal is meaningful in that we have already achieved globalization through our experience with exporting Kanarb," Choi said, adding that Boryung will become the new model for Korean pharmaceutical companies' advancement into the global market.

Cilnidipine is a fourth generation CCB hypertension drug which can block both L- and N-type calcium channels. So far, most of the CCB drugs have only blocked L-type channels to lower blood pressure. Cilnidipine prevents the increase of cardiac contractions and heart rate by blocking the N-type channel, according to Boryung.

"We expect synergy by selling the two products  CCB and ARB hypertension drugs," Choi said. "We'll raise Boryung's brand value in Southeast Asia."

According to data collected in 2010 about the use of global medicine by IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics, the size of "Pharmerging countries," meaning developing countries where the use of pharmaceuticals is rapidly growing, was $260 million last year, and is expected to grow by 7 percent annually to $380 million by 2020.
Ruling Saenuri Party floor leader Rep. Chung Jin-suk, center, greets the party's former leader Rep. Kim Moo-sung, left, and ex-floor leader Rep. Yoo Seong-min after giving a speech at a plenary session at the National Assembly, Monday. The three are at odds with lawmakers affiliated to President Park Geun-hye. / Yonhap



By Kim Hyo-jin



Ruling Saenuri Party floor leader Rep. Chung Jin-suk criticized chaebol, or family-controlled conglomerates, in his first speech at the National Assembly, Monday, for dragging their feet on correcting poor business practices.



It is quite rare for a ruling party member to express critical views of chaebol in public _ an indication that the Saenuri Party may be toughening its stance on poor business practices inside the firms.



Noting that irregular workers have been marginalized in the labor market with a growing income gap between them and regular workers, Chung vowed to deal with the matter by looking into the corporate structure.



"Our labor market is deeply distorted while regular workers are overly protected and irregular workers are poorly treated," Chung said during a speech at the National Assembly. "Narrowing their income gap is the key to revitalizing the economy as the IMF and OECD have advised."



"I will overhaul the income distribution mechanism between regular and irregular employees as well as between conglomerates and their subcontractors," he said, naming Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. and Seoul Metro as priorities.



He underlined the need to reform the family-controlled conglomerates to uproot unfair business practices in the market.



"They are harming the business environment like an invasive species that disrupts the food chain, ruining the ecosystem," he said. "They have multiplied their fortune through illegal inheritance practices, expansion of businesses and unfair competition with small- and mid-sized firms. Those irregularities should be reigned in now."



Chung also argued that the chaebol ownership should be limited, not expanded to family members, citing a handful of ailing examples  Lotte Group, Hyundai Merchant Marine and Hanjin Shipping.



"They don't fit the name of a global company when they are controlled by an extended family. We need to oversee if unverified offspring of the owners are irregularly involved in running the company."



The speech marked a rare occasion for the business-friendly ruling party to call for chaebol reform. It was viewed as part of the party's efforts to overcome the defeat in April's general election and expand its support base in the lead-up to the presidential race next year.



Chung mentioned the need to expand welfare and address the polarization of wealth.



"The Saenuri Party has been mainly working on expanding the size of the pie while policies on sharing it have been neglected. Now is the time to discuss the issue for sound economic growth," he said.



However, the public consensus on how to distribute welfare benefits should be sought before collecting more taxes, he added.



The opposition parties dismissed the remarks as failing to admit the ruling party's responsibility, and present a practical solution.



"It's doubtful if Chung is sincere in seeking social agreement as he blamed regular workers and particular groups for the current situation without admitting the responsibility of the ruling bloc," said Rep. Ki Dong-min, a spokesman of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK).



Chung's parliamentary speech is the first among leaders of the parties that formed the negotiation bloc in the past general election. Kim Chong-in, the MPK's interim chairman, and Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, the co-chairman of the People's Party, will deliver their speeches, today and tomorrow, respectively.
The Kwang Hyun 803 tuna trawler is seen at a port in Busan in this file photo. Two drunken Vietnamese crewmen allegedly killed the captain and an engineer during operations in waters off the coast of the Seychelles, Monday. / Yonhap



By Lee Kyung-min

Two Vietnamese crewmen allegedly killed their Korean captain and a Korean chief engineer aboard a deep-sea fishing vessel in waters off the coast of the Seychelles, authorities said Monday.

According to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the two, both 32, whose identities were withheld, stabbed to death the captain, surnamed Yang, 43, and the engineer, Kang, 42, at around 2 a.m. aboard the tuna trawler Kwang Hyun 803 operated by Kwangdong Shipping.

No other casualties were reported among the 18 fishermen aboard, including one more Korean crewman, eight Indonesians and seven Vietnamese aboard the 138 ton vessel.

The Korean navigator, surnamed Lee, 50, said the stabbing came shortly after the sailors shared two bottles of liquor given by the captain as a present for hard work.

Lee told the Korean coast guard that he was resting in his berth after a night shift, when one of the Indonesian crewmen came to him and said the captain was dead.

He said he found the captain dead covered in blood on the deck and the engineer in his berth.

Lee then found the two perpetrators holed up in a corner of the vessel, and fought with the two to disarm them. Lee and other crewmen confined the two assailants in a cabin. Lee reported the incident to the vessel's operator in Busan, which relayed the message to the coast guard.

According to Lee, the two Vietnamese were hardworking, obedient sailors, except when they were drunk.

The vessel, navigated by Lee, is expected to arrive at the Port of Victoria in the Seychelles, in four days.

Korea's maritime safety authority said it plans to set up a task force here and dispatch officers to the island country for further investigation.

"We suspect the killing was an impulsive act committed by two heavily intoxicated men but will investigate the details, including whether other crewmen were involved," a Busan coast guard officer said.

The ministry and its affiliated organizations are communicating with the rest of the crew to closely monitor the situation on the vessel.

An official from Kwangdong Shipping, the operator of the vessel, and two bereaved family members of the captain and the engineer, said they will leave for the island nation today.
By Kim Se-jeong



A Seoul court ruled Monday that people can stage a rally within a 100-meter radius of a diplomatic mission, although the law bans demonstrations at such a distance in principle, if the rally is peaceful.



The Seoul Administrative Court ruled in favor of a civic group which asked the court to cancel a police ban on a demonstration near the Embassy of the United States in central Seoul.



The civic group, Solidarity for Peace and Reunification of Korea (SPRK), reported to police that it would hold a gathering in front of the Korea Telecom headquarters in Gwanghwamun, 50 meters away from the embassy property, on Nov. 10 last year.



But police banned it, citing the Assembly and Demonstration Law that prohibits a rally within 100 meters of diplomatic missions or residences. They said the venue was within 100 meters from the embassy, and the rally message was directed against the United States because the SPRK was protesting against a U.S. missile defense system. They also said the event would obstruct the function of the embassy because it was a weekday.



However, the court said the law has an exceptional clause that says a rally is allowed when it is unlikely to expand to a massive or violent demonstration.



The court said the civic group's demonstrations between February and September last year had an average of 50 participants and they mainly did picketing. "There were no cases where other people joined in the group's gathering which did not expand to a massive or violent demonstration," it said.



After the police ban, the group held a gathering more than 100 meters away from the embassy and it was peaceful, the court added.



The ruling came immediately after a United Nations report on the right to gather in Korea last weekend. Maina Kiai, the U.N. special rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, wrote that, "blanket bans on the location of peaceful assemblies intrinsically constitute disproportionate restrictions. It turns the right into a privilege."



The People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), another civic group, welcomed the ruling.



"The ruling clearly shows the police are extreme in restraining basic rights of citizens. I hope the ruling comes as a wake-up call to the law enforcement body," Kim Sun-hugh from the PSPD said.



The PSPD released a report on the role of the law governing rights to assembly. "We have concluded that a clause in the law banning gatherings near key political places and diplomatic locations should be removed."



The group is waiting for the Constitutional Court's decision in a similar case it filed on behalf of a protester who was sentenced to one year in prison suspended for two years for holding a rally within 100 meters from a court in southern Seoul. The law also bans gathering within 100 meters from a court location.



"If the protest is not big in scale and does not interfere with the work of the court, the man should be able to go ahead with it," the group said at the time.




By Kang Seung-woo



President Park Geun-hye faces multiple obstacles in pushing ahead with reforms and economic initiatives with the ruling party stuck in a nasty factional dispute.



Currently, a plan to build a new airport in the southeastern part of the country is splitting her political strongholds in Daegu and Busan, while her reform drive is being overshadowed by growing calls for a constitutional revision.



In addition, the Saenuri Party's recent decision to readmit Rep. Yoo Seong-min, who is at odds with Park, is plaguing the President  a sign of the shaky relationship between the presidential office and the ruling party. Last year, Park denounced Yoo, a former Saenuri Party floor leader, as a "traitor" for pursuing his own political gains.



In the wake of the party's poor performance in the April 13 general election  defined as a referendum on her government's botched economic policy  Park has sought to make a fresh start. However, a sense of crisis is gripping Cheong Wa Dae amid concerns that the President may lose her grip on state affairs in the months to come.



"If such issues continue to sweep the political circle, President Park will have trouble handling state affairs, including her reform plans," said Cho Jin-man, a professor of political science at Duksung Women's University.



"If the President had high popularity, she could turn the tables, but her current approval rating of 30-something percent is not enough to do so."



Later this week, the government will pick the site for a new airport, either on Gadeok Island or Miryang, but any result is expected to split her political bastions ahead of next year's presidential election. Busan backs Gaedeok Island, while Daegu favors Miryang.



Although President Park has stressed that the decision over the new airport site will be based on "economic logic" without any political considerations, the issue has already triggered regional conflict and political conspiracy theories.



In addition, as Busan Mayor Suh Byung-soo has staked his office on bringing the airport to Gadeok Island, a Miryang victory will result in a by-election for the mayoral post in the port city, in which the Saenuri Party's popularity has been waning, raising concerns that the surging opposition may capture that post as well. In April's election, the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea won five seats in Busan.



President Park has resisted calls to amend the Constitution out of concerns that any discussions may distract the nation from efforts to revive the sluggish economy.



However, the issue, rekindled by National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun last week, is sweeping the political circle, with the matter becoming uncontrollable for Cheong Wa Dae.



A majority of Saenuri party members as well as opposition lawmakers are in favor of a constitutional amendment to change the current five-year, single-term presidential system.



A poll, conducted by Yonhap News Agency on all 300 lawmakers, found Sunday that 250 lawmakers, or 83.3 percent, said that they see the amendment as a necessity.



Following Yoo's reinstatement last week, Cheong Wa Dae is concerned he may run for the party chairmanship in August.



While Park needs support from the ruling party to push ahead with her reform plans, Yoo's election may lead the President to lose momentum, hastening the arrival of a lame-duck session.



"Given her waning career at Cheong Wa Dae, she is limited to summoning her self-righteous governing style to press ahead with state affairs like in the past, making her a lame duck," said Hwang Tae-soon, a senior analyst at the Wisdom Center.




Lawmakers from the ruling Saenuri Party and main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea, based in Busan, participate in a rally, held in the port city, supporting Gadeok Island's bid to establish a new airport, June 14. They claim that an airport on the island could be operated around the clock and expanded if necessary.

/ Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo



The government's plan to choose the site for a new airport in the southeastern part of the country is producing tensions inside the rival parties.

The two candidate sites are Gadeok Island near the southern port city of Busan and the inland town of Miryang in South Gyeongsang Province.

Busan is backing Gadeok Island  not far from the existing Gimhae International Airport, claiming that it could be operated around the clock and expanded if necessary, while Daegu, Ulsan and North and South Gyeongsang provinces are favoring Miryang, citing better accessibility and economic feasibility.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Tuesday, ADPI, a French company specialized in airport architecture and engineering, is slated to unveil the location of the new airport before June 24, ending a decade-long political and regional conflict.

At the ruling Saenuri Party, the long-running thorny issue is especially driving a wedge between lawmakers based in Busan and those representing Daegu  both of which have served as traditional political strongholds for the party  raising fears within the governing camp that any result will split its political bastions ahead of next year's presidential election.





North Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kwan-yong speaks during a press conference in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, June 14, together with, from left, Daegu Mayor Kwon Young-jin, South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo, Kim, and Ulsan Mayor Kim Gi-hyeon in favor of Miryang as the best fit for a new airport, citing better accessibility and economic feasibility. / Korea Times file



On the other hand, an unlikely feud related with the site selection is stretching into the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) that has received less support from the regions, as its two presidential hopefuls  Moon Jae-in and Kim Boo-kyum  are squaring off against each other over the issue.

Rumors are rampant that the government has already decided on Miryang for the new airport site because Daegu is the hometown of President Park Geun-hye. Also, Saenuri Party lawmaker Cho Won-jin whose district is in the town said in March that the head of state was preparing "gift packages for Daegu."

In response to the escalating speculation, Busan Mayor Suh Byung-soo, regarded as a loyalist to President Park, has declared that he would not agree with the selection, should evidence in the selection process be found to be "unfair."

"I cannot help having doubts that the selection may be made politically by an invisible hand because a number of officials from Daegu belong to the land ministry's decision-making office," Suh said in a radio interview, June 8, vowing to step down if Busan fails to win the project.

Earlier this month, some Saenuri Party lawmakers from Busan and a civic group visited ruling party floor leader Chung Jin-suk and stressed that Gadeok Island is a better fit for the new airport. One day later, a similar delegation from Daegu also met with Chung asking him to urge politicians to stay away from the issue.

Lawmakers from Daegu, who had remained reserved on the issue, have begun to raise their voice against the port city.

"It is not a responsible behavior for a local governor to mention possible disobedience to an unannounced result," said Rep. Kang Seok-ho from a constituency in North Gyeongsang Province.

North Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kwan-yong also said, "The government should sternly deal with those who split public opinion and instigate regional conflict."

Despite pledging to build a new airport during his presidential campaign in 2007, the Lee Myung-bak government scrapped the plan because of the intense regional rivalry.

However, President Park brought it back as a presidential campaign pledge.

The new airport issue is re-emerging as the Saenuri Party sees its popularity in Busan waning, as evidenced in the April 13 general election, in which the ruling party lost six out of 18 parliamentary seats up for grabs in the city  five to the MPK and one to an independent candidate.

"Should Miryang be picked for the site, the Saenuri Party will face the toughest backlash yet from people in Busan, which will eventually lead them to withdraw their support for the party ahead of next year's presidential election," said a Saenuri Party lawmaker.

MPK plagued by airport selection

Former MPK Chairman Moon, who is from Busan, visited Gadeok Island, June 9, and called for the government to resolve suspicions that the city is claiming  a move seen as his endorsement for the island.

"Based on objective and international standards, the decision on the site for the new airport would be the same as Busan people want," Moon said.

"It is not proper to express my position, but what matters is that Busan citizens are questioning the objectivity, fairness and transparency of the selection process."

Along with Moon, five MPK lawmakers elected in the port city are also campaigning to bring the project to Busan.

On the other hand, Kim Boo-kyun, who became the first opposition Assemblyman in Daegu in 31 years, slammed Moon for politicizing the national project.

"While the selection process is still underway, a politician, who is unprofessional, is raising a conspiracy theory to deepen the conflict. A political leader should behave with prudence in this kind of situation," said Kim, who backs Miryang.

Kim also criticized Saenuri Party lawmakers representing Daegu, saying that they are passively responding to Busan's "unreadable arguments."

Amid the emerging feud between Moon and Kim, the MPK leadership is sitting on the fence out of concern that it may expand to the whole party.
By Jun Ji-hye





Park Sung-choon, Patriots and Veterans Affairs Minister

Three opposition parties agreed, Monday, to submit a joint resolution calling on President Park Geun-hye to dismiss Patriots and Veterans Affairs Minister Park Sung-choon over his decision to hold a controversial military parade in Gwangju to commemorate the 1950-53 Korean War.

The resolution will be signed this week by the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) and two smaller parties, the People's Party and Justice Party, said MPK floor leader Rep. Woo Sang-ho.

They objected to the earlier decision by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to include the Army's 11th Airborne Special Forces Brigade in the parade to commemorate the war, along with other Army troops.

Amid deepening controversy, the ministry announced its decision later in the day to cancel the parade, saying that the city as well as civic groups in the region did not want it to take place.

The parade was as part of a nationwide event, scheduled to be held Saturday, to mark the 66th anniversary of the outbreak of the war, but opposition parties reacted against it, citing the brigade's role in suppressing the May 18 democratic uprising in the city in 1980, during which hundreds of civilians were killed and wounded by the military.

Earlier in the day, Rep. Woo said during a party meeting that the opposition parties could not understand how the ministry planned to let troops of the brigade out in the streets of Gwangju at a time when the wounds of the uprising have yet to completely heal.

"We can never forgive Minister Park, as his behavior is beyond acceptable," he said.

Rep. Park Ji-won, floor leader of the People's Party, urged the President to make a swift decision to sack the minister.

"There is no need to defend him, considering the amount of trouble he has made so far," Park said. "If President Park refuses to sack the minister, it will be her virtual denial of the May 18 pro-democracy movement."

Rep. Park cited earlier controversy surrounding the minister last month over a decision not to accept the symbolic pro-democracy song, "Imeul Wihan Haengjingok" (March for the Beloved), as the official song for a government-led memorial service for the pro-democracy movement in Gwangju.

Because of the decision, the minister was barred from taking part in the ceremony by the relatives of those killed by soldiers.

Appointed to the post in 2011 by former President Lee Myung-bak, Minister Park, a retired Army lieutenant general, has been in office for the past five years, becoming one of the longest serving government ministers.

But he has frequently become the subject of controversy for some excessively conservative moves and improper remarks.

The minister faced public criticism in June 2014 for his comment disparaging the bereaved families who lost children in the Sewol ferry disaster in April of that year.

At the time, he said, "The people in this country criticize the government and the President whenever big accidents occur," referring to the families of the victims who called on the government to thoroughly unearth the truth surrounding the tragic incident.

The Sewol ferry disaster killed more than 300 people, most of whom were high school students on a trip to Jeju Island.
South Korea's prime minister is scheduled to visit China and meet Chinese President Xi Jinping as well as other top officials, his office said Monday.

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn will visit Tianjin, northeastern China, and participate in the Summer Davos Forum 2016 to introduce South Korea's flagship creative economy policy, which aims to generate new business opportunities through merging different industries and fostering startups.

During his five-day visit starting Sunday, Hwang will also travel to Liaoning, a province adjacent to North Korea. It will mark the first time for a high-ranking South Korean official to pay a visit to the region since the relationship between the two Koreas became tense following the North's nuclear test early this year.

In Beijing, Hwang will hold talks with Xi and share ideas on various issues from Pyongyang's development of nuclear weapons to finding solutions on illegal Chinese boats fishing in South Korean waters. He will also meet Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and touch on other outstanding issues related to the neighboring countries.

The prime minister is then scheduled to visit a Korean cultural center in the Chinese capital and seek to expand cultural exchanges between the two countries. (Yonhap)
Korea's military is willing to provide security forces to the United States' military units in the country to fend off potential terrorist attacks by the militant Islamic State (IS), which threatened to launch attacks against American installations here, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday.

Korea's police and military are stepping up their anti-terrorism readiness after the National Intelligence Service, the country's spy agency, said a day earlier that IS designated U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) air force facilities and a South Korean national as targets of attacks.

The intelligence agency said the mapped locations of the USFK's air bases in Pyeongtaek and Gusan were among the 77 air forces facilities of the U.S. military and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization whose locations were exposed recently by IS on the internet messenger program Telegram.

"The joint chiefs have been informed of the related intelligence from concerned institutions and relayed them to the Combined Forces Command (between South Korea and the U.S.) and we are taking necessary preparations," a JCS official said.

"South Korea is working with the Combined Forces Command to tighten the protection of USFK bases and we also plan to provide security forces if there is a request (from the USFK)," he also said.

The official said the South Korean military had already revised up its terror alert in November to deal with potential terrorist attacks. (Yonhap)
The chassis of a K-9 howitzer



By Yi Whan-woo

Hanwha Techwin said Monday it has completed the first shipment of chassis for 120 K-9 self-propelled howitzers to be assembled in Poland for the Polish Army.

The firm exported the chassis and related parts in accordance with a deal signed in December 2014 between Polish defense contractor Huta Stalowa Wola (HSW) and what was then Samsung Techwin. Hanwha Group took over the firm and renamed it Hanwha Techwin in July 2015. The contract is worth approximately $310 million.

The Defense Agency of Technology and Quality, a state-run defense research center in Seoul, said it ensured the quality of the K-9.

The K-9 met driving performance and other qualification criteria set by the Polish Army, according to defense officials.

"The shipment this time is bringing attention to the K-9 from European markets, in which we had difficulty finding customers," a Hanwha Techwin official said on condition of anonymity. "We'll use this as a chance to bolster marketing in Northern and Eastern European countries. We also expect we'll able to expand our business to the Middle East and Asia."

Hanwha Techwin said at least seven countries in Asia, Europe and Africa consulted with its officials to purchase the K-9 in the Eurosatory, a defense exhibition held last week in Paris.

"We're about to strike a deal with one Asian country to export about 100 K-9s," a Hanwha Techwin official said. "We think African countries are also interested in the K-9 in line with our government's efforts to strengthen military ties in the region."

Developed in 1998, the K-9 replaced K-55 howitzers and has been one of the core weapons used by South Korea's Army.

It has a maximum speed of 67 kilometers per hour and its 155-millimeter gun has a maximum range of 40 kilometers. The K-9 can fire off a three-round burst in a period of 15 seconds.

It was used to counter North Korea's artillery shelling of Yeonpyeong Island near the disputed maritime border in the West Sea in November 2010.

In 2011, Turkey purchased 350 K-9s on a technology transfer basis, which requires a seller to provide the parts and technology. The trade value was estimated at about $1 billion.
North Korea on Monday slammed South Korea for its operation with the United Nations Command (UNC) to repel Chinese fishing boats operating illegally in neutral waters between the two Koreas, calling the move a "military provocation."



This marks the North's first official reaction to South Korea and the UNC's joint crackdown on Chinese fishing vessels operating in the neutral waters of the Han River's estuary. The only vessels allowed to operate in the area are those manned by military police officers.



South Korea's move is aimed at "escalating the intrusion into the hotspot waters in the West Sea of Korea into the inland to secure a chance for military provocation," the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in an English dispatch.



North Korea warned South Korea and the United States that it has been active in exercising its sovereignty and won't hesitate to retaliate against any encroachments. The news report said the country's military is highly vigilant against their "ever-more dangerous military moves."



On June 10, South Korea and the UNC conducted their first crackdown on Chinese fishing boats illegally operating in the area. The region is a rich fishing ground that has been left largely untouched since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.



A growing number of Chinese fishing boats have trespassed into the military buffer zone as the peak season for blue crabs has arrived.



Chinese fishing boats often cross into South Korean waters in the Yellow Sea during peak crab season in search of bigger hauls, regularly leading to crackdowns by the South Korean Coast Guard.



Chinese fishermen are presumed to have bought the right to operate in the waters on the North Korean side of the sea demarcation line, widely known as the Northern Limit Line (NLL), but they often intrude into the South Korean side.



North Korean patrol and fishing vessels often show up in the western NLL region, along which the two Koreas fought several bloody sea battles in the past.



Pyongyang does not acknowledge the de facto demarcation line drawn unilaterally by the U.S.-led UNC when the Korean War ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty. (Yonhap)




South Korea on Monday condemned North Korea for threatening to carry out nuclear attacks against U.S. military assets in the South, saying that the latest provocation clearly proves that Pyongyang's recent dialogue offer was just a bogus peace initiative.

North Korea's National Defense Commission (NDC) said that its military has long put U.S. bases in South Korea in the range of its precision strike, warning Washington that it has the capacity to carry out nuclear strikes.

Seoul's unification ministry said that the North's threat shows the series of inter-Korean dialogue offers are just a propaganda ploy without sincerity.

"With North Korea's bogus peace offensive failing its purpose, the North appears to be seeking a change in our attitude by blackmailing us," Jeong Joon-hee, ministry spokesman, told a regular press briefing.

The government hopes that North Korea's latest treat will not drive a wedge in the unified front in implementing tougher sanctions against the communist country, he added.

At the North's ruling party congress held in early May, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un offered to hold military talks with Seoul, but South Korea rejected the move.

The Seoul government countered that Pyongyang needs to reaffirm its commitment to denuclearization in order for talks to begin in earnest.

The North's young leader called his country a "responsible" nuclear state, vowing not to use its nuclear weapons first if it is not attacked by others with nukes.

The ministry dismissed a local report that the government will not hold any talks with North Korea until September when the implementation of the U.N. sanctions against the North's nuclear and missile tests enter into the six month.

"What's important is that North Korea should take firm actions towards denuclearization," Jeong said. "The government did not designate the specific time frame in assessing the effects of the sanctions and setting its North Korean policy." (Yonhap)
By Yi Whan-woo



Tensions are escalating near the inter-Korean maritime border in the West Sea as the two Koreas are exchanging barbs over the South's joint crackdown with the United Nations Command (UNC) on illegal Chinese fishing.



North Korea denounced the crackdown near the disputed Northern Limit Line (NLL) as a "military provocation" on Monday, threatening that it will "never tolerate intrusion into the hotspot waters."



"No South Korean regime in the past mobilized naval ships to heighten such tension and the crackdown shows it is becoming outrageous," Pyongyang's state-controlled Korean Central News Agency said. "We have issued enough warnings against those who trespass into our land, sea and sky, and we're closely watching the growing military provocations waged by South Korea and the United States."



This was the first response from the Kim Jong-un regime after the South Korean military and the U.S.-led UNC formed a joint team on June 10 to repel Chinese trawlers from neutral waters on the estuary of the Han River, which stretches along with the NLL.



The South's Ministry of Defense immediately refuted the North's claims, saying "Our operation is being made in line with the armistice and relevant procedures."



"The North should take into account that no one trespassed into its waters on the estuary of the Han River," ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun said. "It should also note that UNC officers will accompany us in our operation and that we notified Pyongyang concerning the operation in advance."



Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, speculated that Pyongyang denounced Seoul and Washington to capitalize on the crackdown as a possible excuse when military conflicts occur near the NLL in the future.



Other analysts said North Korea also excluded China in its denouncement because it sold its fishing rights to Beijing.



Ten of the boats remained in North Korea-controlled waters for over a day after being chased away by the South Korean military and the UNC. North Korean defectors in Seoul testified last week that the fishing deal has been a major source of income for the impoverished regime.



"If their claims are true, it makes sense why North Korea cannot speak against China concerning illegal fishing involving Chinese trawlers," said Kim Yong-hyun, a professor of North Korean studies at Dongguk University. "It will be also important for Pyongyang to remain silent toward Beijing considering it needs a route to earn money in pursuit of its nuclear program amid the U.N. sanctions."




By Andrew Hammond



The final countdown to Thursday's landmark in-out' EU referendum in Britain is now underway. With the result of the ballot still highly uncertain, politicians and financial markets are actively exploring the ramifications of two key scenarios if Britain votes to exit the EU.



The implications of a leave vote will depend, in part, upon whether there is a strong vote to exit (55% or more of the vote), or a much narrower vote (53% or less). Both scenarios could trigger significant political and economic turbulence, and most likely force the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron only a year after his landmark General Election success last May in winning the first majority Conservative Government for over two decades.



While the pathway forward from a strong vote to leave is relatively clear cut, there is significant uncertainty about what may arise from a more marginal vote to leave. For while many voters believe that the latter outcome will definitely lead to Britain leaving the EU, the reality may be more complicated.



In the event that Cameron does resign, in a marginal vote to leave scenario, it is far from clear that he as outgoing prime minister will trigger Article 50 of the EU Treaties which is the formal mechanism for bringing about the withdrawal process from the Brussels-based club. Instead, and given the massive stakes in play, he may instead leave this decision to his successor as Conservative leader and prime minister who would be selected in an internal Conservative Party leadership contest that may not be finalised till this Autumn.



The favourites to win such a race would be former London Mayor Boris Johnson and other key exit supporters, including Justice Secretary Michael Gove, although the prospects of some who favoured remain', including Home Secretary Teresa May who has largely stayed out of the referendum fray, and potentially Chancellor George Osborne, could not be dismissed.



Once a new leader is in place, he or she will face a momentous decision that may take place in a context of significant economic volatility and political angst. In these circumstances, a second EU referendum in coming months could not be completely ruled out, not least if European partners make positive overtures and the new prime minister feels there is potential scope to cut a better deal' with Brussels.



There are numerous precedents for such second-bite' referendums on key issues relating to the EU. Most recently, for instance, the Irish electorate voted in 2009 to overwhelmingly endorse the EU's Lisbon Treaty only 16 months after having initially rejected it.



While both the remain and leave campaigns dismiss talk of a second referendum, Johnson (who polls indicate is most likely to become the next prime minister, especially in the event of an exit vote) had previously indicated his support for this approach. However, such a strategy would be a key risk for him or whoever becomes Cameron's successor, and this will give much pause for thought as there are no guarantees that such a second vote could be won given that many pro-leave supporters would be furious and cry foul.



In this scenario, therefore, it is quite plausible that the new prime minister would seek to engineer a general election if he or she believes the outcome will be favourable, potentially as soon as the Autumn, to try to secure a strong electoral mandate. While the current Parliament theoretically runs to 2020 under the terms of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, the new Conservative leader would be in a strong position to challenge opposition parties to support him in calling an early ballot given the change of prime minister, and the potential gravity of the situation facing the country.



Compared to this marginal vote to leave scenario, the circumstances of a strong vote to leave would be clearer cut. With 55% or more of the ballot, the result would have more clarity and the prospect of a second referendum could be extinguished in the near term, with Cameron under intense, immediate pressure to resign as prime minister.



Although a strong vote to leave would most likely result in Article 50 of the EU Treaties being eventually triggered, Cameron (presuming he resigns) may potentially prefer to leave this to undertake to his successor given that the new leader would head Britain's exit negotiations with Brussels. In these circumstances, the United Kingdom would have two year window to complete the withdraw process, a timeframe which can only be extended with the unanimous consent of all other 27 members of the EU.



Such exit discussions would be immensely complex, and potentially very difficult. So before what could prove a mammoth undertaking, the new prime minister may well choose in this scenario to try engineer a general election to give him or her a stronger mandate to win the best possible outcome in what is, in effect, a 27-1 negotiation with EU partners.



A final complicating issue here is that the terms of any eventual exit negotiation deal with the EU would have to be approved by the UK Parliament. However, there is currently a significant majority of Members of Parliament (MPs)  including about half of Conservative MPs, and the vast majority of opposition ones too  who favour remaining in the EU. So whether such an exit deal could ultimately get through Parliament is far from certain, and this could prompt further political uncertainty in the medium term.



Taken overall, both a strong or marginal vote to leave result could trigger significant political and economic turbulence, including the resignation of Cameron as prime minister. Especially if there is a marginal vote for exit, a second referendum cannot be completely dismissed, especially if the result of the ballot prompts significant economic volatility.



Andrew Hammond is an associate at LSE IDEAS (the Centre for International Affairs, Diplomacy and Strategy) at the London School of Economics.




IS terror presses for elaborate approach



Terror by Islamic extremists should not be taken as somebody else's problem anymore. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said that Islamic State in Iraq and Levant or IS, the group that is tied to the recent Orlando, Fl. shooting and responsible for a savage war in Syria, has designated as targets U.S. airbases in Osan and Gunsan and at least one Korean national.



According to the counter-intelligence agency, IS is issuing an order for jihad through the Telegram messaging service to incite attacks on these targets as well as other U.S. facilities worldwide. It came after IS's inclusion of Korea among 60 target states last November.



All these developments point out that it is time to face an inevitable and complicated question: how to deal with Muslims here. First of all, the fundamental premise is that not all Muslims are fundamentalists so the key is keeping bad apples at bay, while not stigmatizing other Muslims or triggering Islamophobia. The authorities discovered some Indonesian Muslims with extremist ties and deported them. Currently, the government has at least ostensibly attempted to keep Muslim-related affairs on a low profile in order not to draw attention from extremists for the fear of being victimized.



This standoffish approach is no longer viable. Rather, it is time to err on the side of caution to get prepared for all kinds of eventualities, especially considering sympathizers, as shown in the Orlando case, commit attacks in the name of Islam.



There are compelling reasons for that. The IS threat comes as the number of illegal aliens remains a problem, although it is being strongly tackled by the law enforcement authorities. The number of foreign residents as of 2015 doubled to 1.9 million or about 3.7 percent of the total population, with more than one in every 10 staying illegally. As for the Muslim population, over 11,000 are from the predominantly Islamic Middle East, Egyptians being the largest at about 2,900, while Iran and Saudi Arabia account for about 1,260. Aliens from Indonesia, the world's largest Islamic country, counted over 40,000, most of them brought in to counter labor shortages.



Pivotal is a better accounting of foreigners coming into and out of the nation with the goal of reducing illegal aliens. This would in turn squeeze terrorists' movements and narrow the chance for terrorism.



Also reaching out to Muslims and fostering rapport with them is as important. When acts of terrorism by Islamic fundamentalists take place in the U.S., one of the first things to be seen is for the government and the community to reach out to each other and show their solidarity against the perpetrators. This act of "camaraderie" also has an effect of isolating the terrorists and preventing antagonism against innocent Muslims.



The U.S. pattern of behavior shown in dealing with a series of terror attacks can and should be taken as a valuable lesson for the nation that has been proud of its homogeneity for long and is now entering into the initial stage of diversity and needs to embrace it, considering its declining population. Developing a well-balanced policy toward Muslims can serve the purpose of deterring Islamic terrorism and dealing with it, when deterrence fails.




North Korean officials will attend an annual security conference next week that usually brings together government officials and scholars from all six nations involved in long-stalled negotiations on North Korea's nuclear weapons programs, organizers said Friday.

Organized by the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC) of the University of California, San Diego, the Northeast Asia Cooperation Dialogue (NEACD) has served as an opportunity for informal dialogue between North Korea and its nuclear negotiation partners -- South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the United States.

North Korea, which conducted its fourth nuclear test in January this year, did not attend the NEACD in 2014 and 2015.

This year's forum will be held in Beijing next week with officials from North Korea planning to take part.

"I can confirm that representatives from the North Korean government will attend," Anthony P. King, the American university's director of communications, told Yonhap News Agency via e-mail.

The six-party talks were last held in late 2008 and diplomatic efforts to resume the negotiations on ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions have produced little results as the North showed no signs of giving up its nuclear weapons program.

Earlier this month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned that North Korea appears to have restarted its main nuclear bomb fuel plant.

If the warning by the IAEA is correct, it would be the latest move by North Korea in expanding its nuclear weapons program, despite tightened international sanctions.(Yonhap)
Master blender Lee Jong-ki

By Kim Ji-soo

Omija  the berry's unusual name, vivid blood-red color and nutritional benefits conjures positive images of health and well-being. Also known by its scientific names maximowiczia typica and schisandra chinensis, it is widely used in summer drinks, tea and Oriental medicine.

But not many thought it could be made into wine or liquor, except for Lee Jong-ki.

Last week, master blender Lee introduced Gowoon Dar, a 52-percent-alcohol distilled liqueur made from omija.

"I feel confident about this product," said Lee, 60, in an interview with The Korea Times, flashing his signature smile and the curiosity in his eyes that has got him so far in the local industry. "I used traditional Korean ingredients and world-class methods for fermenting, distilling, maturing and blending," he said.

Among these steps, blending is the most crucial part.

"Blending is an art rather than a science," said Lee, head of JL Co., consultant and professor. He is also known as Johnnie Lee. He said he draws from his five senses and more than three decades of experience in making sure the liqueur has allure in terms of flavor and fragrance and has high quality. The blender vowed that Gowoon Dar would not fall behind Johnny Walker Blue or Ballantine 30-year blended scotch whisky.





In the hour-and-a-half interview, Lee spoke ardently on blending. Asked what qualities makes one a leader in the field in Korea, he said: "I guess your sensual acumen may be sharper than others, and remembering the process of mixing different things and how they taste, i.e., the experience," he said. But most of all, he said, "You should have curiosity." Determination to experiment helps too.

After graduating as an agricultural chemistry major from Seoul National University, he started his career at OB Brewery in 1980, retiring in 2006 as a vice president at Diageo Korea. He's known for adjusting the alcohol content of some brands of Diageo's series for the Korean market.

Gowoon Dar, which roughly translates into "the beautiful moon," is the culmination of his blood, sweat and tireless efforts since founding his omija wine production facility in Mungyeong, North Gyeongsang Province, in 2008. Both liqueurs  the Gowoon Dar aged in ceramic containers and the Gowoon Dar aged in oak barrels  are respectively translucent, and golden-tan, in color.

Omija liqueur Gowoon Dar / Courtesy of Lee Jong-ki



Gowoon Dar demonstrates a slightly exotic fragrance  a harmony of fruity, herbal and spicy. At its launch ceremony, one attendee said Gowoon Dar oak was like whisky, while Gowoon Dar baekja was fruitier and perhaps may appeal more to women drinkers.

"I will say just this. China spent some 5,000 years to produce Maotai, while Lee took only three years to produce Gowoon Dar," said Hans Lee, head of the Jell, one of the oldest wine shops in Seoul.

Lee firmly believes the liqueur will not be outdone by Johnny Walker Blue or Ballantine aged 30 years in terms of quality. He said he fermented the omija for one year and then distills it over three stages using his copper distilling equipment at Omynara, his winery in Mungyeong.



An embarrassing incident that gave rise to a dream

Lee said he had long wanted to create a premium traditional Korean alcoholic beverages that would be on par with the best in the world.

"I got my impetus in 1990 when I went to study at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh," Lee said. At that time, he and his 25 classmates from nearly 22 different nations studied brewing and distilling. His employer at that time, OB Seagram, sent him on the program as part of its efforts to foster homegrown enologists and as an acknowledgment of Lee's 10 years of service. At the school, the students showed off their countries' traditional alcoholic beverages, such as the Japanese sake and the French rose champagne. Lee, who considered himself already an expert, pulled out the Korean traditional ginseng liquor, only to hear his professor quip that Koreans do not necessarily distinguish between medicine and alcohol.

"My fellow students cracked up at the comment, and from that time, I vowed in my heart that I would create a world-class Korean alcohol," he said.

In some ways, the embarrassing incident was a silver lining that led him to become a leader.

Lee recalled another embarrassing incident that prompted him to give up something that he loved  writing. He had written and submitted a short novel, but it never got printed in the high school journal of the new principal.

Back at the Edinburgh school, Lee said the French rose sparkling wine presented by a French classmate inspired him to create the omija sparkling wine. After founding Omynara (www.omynara.com) in 2008, he succeeded in producing omija wine including the sparkling one in 2011.

The omija sparkling wine was selected for the dinner at the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit and as the official drink at the 2014 ITU Plenipotentiary Conference in Busan and at the 2015 World Water Forum in Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province.

Lee said he has tested virtually all types of ingredients. "Rice, barley, sorghum, persimmons, Korean pears," Lee said. "In terms of medicinal ingredients, I've experimented with omija, gugija and bokbunja," he said.

However in terms of color, fragrance and taste, nothing came close to omija, Lee said.

His maternal grandfather and paternal great-grandfather were both Oriental medicine doctors, which explains his familiarity and affinity for herbal ingredients. "I remember them growing omija and other herbal ingredients in the field," the Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province native said.

After more than 30 years in the industry, he has taken some time to reflect on what the different alcohol drinks mean.

"The idea behind alcohol is that it symbolizes a decorum and that it's an important medium of communication," Lee said. "As they say, in vino, veritas,'" he said.

To this end, he hopes to establish the highest possible recognition for Korea-produced alcoholic beverages.

This year, Lee said he can produce about 5,000 bottles of Gowoon Dar. Both Gowoon Dar baekja and Gowoon Dar oak are priced at 300,000 won for a 500-milliliter bottle. The brand is not the most affordable; Lee does not have plans for promotions, but he is considering selling it at duty-free shops.

He has ideas about making his Mungyeong facility as a model for the "sixth industry." "This sixth industry' or value-added farming needs one of the three: a fine product, a fine artisan and a fine terroir or location," said Lee, who was designated by the government as a "sixth industry person" in March. Quality is also a requisite in making people want to visit or experience a certain product or place.

Asked if he feels a sense of loss because Gowoon Dar at this time does not have a distinctive color, he said not to worry. "Either in fall or next year, I plan to introduce the King Yeongjo Omija Tea," Lee said. "It will be called tea' but will actually be omija liqueur, in color and in taste," he said, flashing his smile once again.
/Courtesy of Yonhap News Agency



By Lee Han-soo

Russian President Vladimir Putin has admitted that the U.S. is the world's most powerful nation, according to the Guardian.

"America is a great power today probably the only superpower. We accept that," Putin said at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. "We want to and are ready to work with the United States."

Putin also revealed his plans to work closely with the new U.S. president after the November elections.

He said he would focus more on what the new president would do after being elected than what they said they would do during the campaign. "We will cooperate in global security and economics to normalize the relationship between Russian and the U.S," he said.

Putin also commented on the U.S.-EU sanctions against Russia in response to the situation in Ukraine.

"The world needs such strong nations, like the U.S, and we need them," he said.

"But we don't need them constantly getting mixed up in our affairs, instructing us how to live, preventing Europe from building a relationship with us."

Asked what he thought about the leading U.S presidential candidates, his answer varied.

Describing Republican candidate Donald Trump as flamboyant, he welcomed the Republican's plan to restore the Russian-American relationship.

But Putin did not say much about Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton.

"She probably has her own view of US-Russian relations," he said.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum is an annual event.
By Lee Jin-a

A New York teenager has been stabbed to death over $2 days before his high school graduation.

Carl Ducasse, 17, was stabbed several times in the chest during a robbery on Friday night, the New York Times reported. He was on the way home after buying a milkshake from a grocery store.

Ducasse's friend, who was also at the scene, told police that two strangers approached them as they headed back to Ducasse's apartment.

The strangers demanded $2, but Ducasse said he did not have any money. As one man patted Ducasse down to look for money, Ducasse's cellphone fell out. When Ducasse bent to pick it up, the other man stabbed him and two fled.

Police are still searching for the suspects.
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People who want to know more about how they'll be affected by a construction project on East Chestnut Expressway can attend a meeting on Tuesday afternoon. It's at High Street Baptist Church, 900 N. Eastgate Avenue, from 4:30 to 6.

Drivers can already see construction activity near the railroad tracks just west of U.S. 65 and Ingram Mill Road. Contractor crews will build a railroad bridge over the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe railroad in two phases.

The first phase includes constructing access roads and a temporary bypass on the north side of Chestnut Expressway at the railroad tracks. The bypass will move Chestnut traffic away from the site of the new bridge. The second phase includes building the new bridge and improving the Ingram Mill/Chestnut intersection.

At the public meeting on Tuesday, Missouri Department of Transportation representatives will answer questions about the project and its traffic impacts. It's a come-and-go style meeting with no formal presentation planned, so people may show up at any time in those 90 minutes.

If you can't attend the public meeting, you can see the exhibits and make comments at at www.modot.org/southwest.
The SLFP does not condone the continuation of the Emergency Regulations (The Public Security Ordinance) more than a day necessary

Read more
The Wall Street Journal started a small media boomlet last week with a casual mention that Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti might be on Hillary Clinton's medium-long list of potential running mates. Actually, the boomlet started with whomever planted the seed in the WSJ's ear. We are not here to speculate on who that may have been, but to look at how the news, so to speak, got spread around and received.

First thing you notice is that, beyond the Wall Street Journal, Garcetti's inclusion really wasn't much of a national news story. The coverage led with the name of Elizabeth Warren and whether she might actually get the nod, along with the omission of Bernie Sanders as a possible selection. There were nine possible candidates listed in all: not a "short list" by any means. Garcetti's association with the group made the second item in Politico's California Playbook newsletter, which treated the news as "the Clinton campaign leaked a VP short-list that included two CA politicians." The other Californian was Rep. Xavier Becerra.

Politico quoted an analysis from Vox shooting down both names.

Vox says of Becerra that "hes actually qualified to become president." A Stanford-educated Mexican American "who would be well-positioned to slam Trump on his racist immigration rhetoric  which has Becerra already done....he speaks perfect Spanish, and he has a more compelling backstory as the child of first-generation immigrants and the first in his family to go to college. He's been earning his stripes as a Clinton surrogate, campaigning in 10 states and doing numerous TV hits on her behalf during the primary race."

Reasons arguing against Becerra, per Vox:

He successfully pushed Bill Clinton to commute the sentence of Carlos Vignali, a cocaine trafficker serving a 15-year federal sentence, at the behest of Vignali's father, who donated nearly $14,000 to Becerra.

His disastrous 2001 campaign for mayor of Los Angeles (he ended up getting only 6 percent of the vote) drew criticism when it had a woman pose as LA County Supervisor Gloria Molina and make robocalls attacking Antonio Villaraigosa, a rival of Becerras who'd be elected mayor four years later. After the calls prompted an investigation, campaign staffers erased their copy of the message; Molina was furious.



Now Vox's take on Garcetti:

The case for picking him: Well, for one thing, he actually got elected mayor of LA, unlike Becerra. Garcetti, who has served since 2013, is young (45) and a Rhodes scholar, and would be the second Jewish person ever on a national ticket, after Joe Lieberman. He also has Mexican-American ancestry, which would make him the first Latino running mate, just like Castro, Perez, and Becerra; he also speaks passable Spanish.

Unlike San Antonio, LA has a strong mayor system, so Garcetti is actually running the show. The city's powers are somewhat limited by the distinction between the city and Los Angeles County, but Garcetti still has some accomplishments to tout. After initially calling for a $13.25 an hour minimum wage, he ultimately signed a $15 one into law, beating California as a whole to the punch (though hes said its a bad idea nationally and maybe statewide too). He has offered housing to unauthorized minor immigrants in LA as they await court proceedings, a notable win for pro-immigrant activists, and hes a vocal advocate for making LA more transit-based and less car-dominated. And despite endorsing Obama early in the 2008 cycle, and despite Bill Clintons endorsement of his rival in 2013, Garcetti campaigned diligently for Hillary throughout the primaries, especially in the runup to the vote in California. The case against picking him: Garcetti is all but anonymous nationally  and unlike, say, Sherrod Brown and Tim Kaine, the place where people have heard of him is going to vote for Democrats no matter what. While he has national roots, he doesnt have the kind of community standing that, say, Becerra or Perez does. And it's basically unprecedented to elevate a mayor directly to a national ticket, even a mayor of a giant city wielding real power. There just isn't much precedent for picking someone like Garcetti over a senator or governor.



And that's the main argument against Garcetti. Mayors, especially relatively new unknown ones, don't bring anything to a national campaign ticket. The reason these names get dropped is to test for a reaction, and also to give a little free image boost to friends of the big candidate. Garcetti got the appropriate mileage out of the WSJ mention by waiting to be asked about it by various local media, and then saying he's happy with his current job and isn't running for anything except reelection. (Left unsaid: Speculation that right after his reelection campaign next year, he might run statewide for governor.) Garcetti happened to have an Ask the Mayor segment scheduled for KNX radio right after the news broke, so he was able to get his denial on the record there. I think its probably one story of thousands well hear on things like this, Garcetti said on KNX. And I guess Im a little old-fashioned. Im not looking for a new job. I have a great one right now, and thats being mayor of the city.

He also was asked by reporters at a gathering in Burbank, which after all is the point: make sure your potential voters see you being treated as VP material, even if you aren't really a candidate.

From KPCC:

At an event for Los Angeles County mayors in Burbank Thursday, Garcetti said he has not been contacted by Clintons team and was surprised to be in the newspaper's list of potential running mates.

"Im not looking for a new job. I have a great job right now. Im running for reelection and thats what Im focused on," he told reporters. Garcetti's political consultant earlier in the day batted away suggestions raised in The Wall Street Journal story that the mayor is on a short list of potential vice presidential candidate choices. Bill Carrick, who handles Garcetti's campaign activity, labeled Wednesday's Wall Street Journal article as "false speculation." "Theres nothing going on," he said.



Dakota Smith of the LA Daily News called some political consultant types to get their spin, and they sounded a lot like Carrick.

From a political perspective, it doesnt make a lot of sense, said Sacramento-based Democratic strategist Steve Maviglio. Clinton has a lot of close or closer relationships with other politicians. [skip] Jaime Regalado, professor emeritus of political science at Cal State LA, said the 45-year-old mayor would bring youth and energy to the Clinton campaign. The mayor also has a liberal-progressive bent that could play well with supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. But in terms of Garcettis help in securing California votes, Regalado said, Clinton already is likely to win the Golden State, which is reliably Democratic. Its not a battleground state, he said.



Also this: "A political strategist familiar with Clintons campaign, who requested anonymity, told the Southern California News Group that Clintons team lets names be floated as possible VP picks as a reward for his or her support. That doesnt mean the candidate is being vetted, he added."

Yah.

There is a Draft Eric Garcetti for VP page on Crowdpac that is off to a slow start: five pledges totaling just $184.

Also: LA Times, CBS LA, LA Weekly
Obama party in Yosemite Valley on Sunday. National Park Service.



President Obama and his family spent Fathers Day weekend in Yosemite Valley and appeared to be appropriately blown away by the surroundings. They arrived late Friday by helicopter in Ahwahnee Meadow  I count at least four military helicopters landing in the valley, which had to put up a heck of a racket in the granite walls. Aircraft are generally not allowed to operate in Yosemite National Park, for obvious reasons. The Obamas apparently stayed overnight at the hotel formerly known as the Ahwahnee, and before leaving on Sunday had visited at least Yosemite Falls, Sentinel Bridge, Happy Isles and the Mist Trail, which leads to Vernal Fall. Accordng to the White House press pool report, on Saturday the Obamas were driven up to a trailhead on the Glacier Point road and hiked down to the valley floor. Park visitors were kept off the trail while the president, first lady and daughters Malia and Sasha hiked down.

Before going on the Saturday hike, President Obama gave a speech at Sentinel Bridge about the 100th anniversary of the national parks. He mentioned how climate change is already forcing adaptations to the native range of species in Yosemite and causing the park's formerly largest glacier to be almost gone. I probably wasn't the only one who wish he would have announced an executive order striking the name Majestic Yosemite Hotel and whatever they were forced to rename Yosemite Lodge and Curry Village.

These parks belong to all of us.

This planet belongs to all of us.

Its the only one weve got. #ActOnClimate https://t.co/GEKhf4Pc9V  The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 18, 2016

It was the first weekend of the summer season and no doubt there also were many displaced or inconvenienced tourists  and one whopper of an Obamajam.

Friday's late afternoon arrival via the Fresno Bee.

The family's Fathers Day card.

Happy Father's Day  pic.twitter.com/peU8VZASRm  The First Lady (@FLOTUS) June 19, 2016

Former LA journalist Guy McCarthy's photo of Highway 108 on Friday, in the Sonora Union-Democrat.




PRESS RELEASE

Feinstein and Tauscher Slam Plans for New Nuclear Weapon

June 19, 2016 (EIRNS)Senator Dianne Feinstein and former Congresswoman and Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher jointly wrote an op-ed that appeared in the Saturday, June 18 edition of the New York Times, demanding a halt to the planned production and deployment of the new Long-Range Standoff Weapon (LRSW), a new generation nuclear weapon that greatly increases the danger of thermonuclear war. The authors warned

The Air Force is set next year to accelerate the development of this new nuclear cruise missile. It would carry an upgraded W-80 nuclear warhead and be able to penetrate the worlds most advanced air-defense systems.... However, building new nuclear weapons like this one could be unnecessary, costly and dangerous.

Feinstein and Tauscher cited former Defense Secretary Bill Perry, who warned a year ago that the deployment of the LRSW would increase the risk of nuclear war by blurring the lines between conventional and nuclear weapons (the LRSW could use both nuclear or conventional warheads). The two authors of the New York Times op-ed demanded that Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter provide a detailed public accounting of the plans for the LRSW, including whether it would be considered as a potential offensive weapon, rather than an added element of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. They cited estimates by the Federation of Atomic Scientists (FAS) that the new weapons system could cost $30 billion:

At a time when the Defense Department is set to modernize every leg of the nuclear triad, investing $30 billion in an unnecessary and dangerous new nuclear weapon is irresponsible.

They also stressed that We want to eliminate any ambiguity that this new missile would be an offensive weapon. The authors noted that the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review called for the reduction of the U.S. nuclear arsenal and the increased reliance on conventional systems like the Air Forces Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile and the Navys Tomahawk cruise missile, which do not carry the risk of nuclear escalation.
PRESS RELEASE

German Foreign Minister Criticizes NATOs Military Maneuvers in Eastern Europe Which Could Worsen Relations with Russia

June 19, 2016 (EIRNS)  In an interview published today in Bild am Sonntag, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has broken ranks and criticized the decision by NATO to stage military maneuvers in eastern Europe. He warned that these maneuvers could increase tensions with Russia. He added that "What we shouldnt do now is to inflame the situation by loud saber-rattling and shrill war cries."

"Whoever believes that symbolic tank parades on the alliances eastern border will bring more security is mistaken. We are well-advised not to create pretexts to renew an old confrontation."

NATO has just completed a ten-day military training exercise in Poland, in which 20 NATO and allied countries were involved. The maneuvers included 30,000 troops. Germany participated.

This month, Bild am Sonntag reported plans for a new NATO force, in which the United States, Britain, and Germany would each command a battalion on Russias border beginning next year. This development has led Russian President Vladimir Putin to order checks on the combat readiness of Russian armed forces.

These developments have taken place merely weeks before a NATO summit in Warsaw, the three aforementioned powers reportedly indicated they would each command a battalion on NATOs eastern flank to help deter any show of force against Poland or the Baltic states.

The proposed NATO battalions are part of a bigger military force that is to be approved at the July 8 Warsaw summit. This force is to include troops on rotation, stored military equipment, and a highly mobile force backed by NATOs 40,000-strong rapid reaction unit, according to Bild am Sonntag.
Amazon will open its third brick-and-mortar bookstore in the Portland, Ore., metropolitan area. Its probably just a coincidence that Portland is home to legendary independent retailer Powells Books.

The Oregonian reports that Amazon Books will be located in the tony Washington Square shopping mall in Tigard, Ore., between a Bath & Body Works and a Michael Kors store. The mall is about 10 miles from the Powells flagship store in downtown Portland. Amazon Books is scheduled to open this fall.

Independent bookstores, like Powells, have historically had a frosty relationship with Amazon. Many observers have said the business has led to the demise of smaller book retailers across America.

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Powells, which bills its flagship location as the largest used and new bookstore in the world, has made Portland its home since the 1970s. Miriam Sontz, its current CEO, reacted coolly to the news that Amazon would be expanding to the greater Portland area.

When asked why he robbed banks, Willy Sutton reportedly replied because thats where the money is, Sontz told USA Today. I am certain that Amazon has the data to show that opening a store in the Portland area will be financially beneficial to the company.

Amazon opened its first physical bookstore last year in Seattle, the home of its corporate headquarters. The store is about a mile from indie retailer Third Place Books.

In March, the company announced its second brick-and-mortar store would open this summer in San Diego. That announcement was consistent with reports  which Amazon denied  that the online retailer was planning to open hundreds of physical locations in the coming years.

If Amazons first store is any indication, the locations in San Diego and Tigard wont look much like regular bookstores. The Seattle store features fewer books than most retailers, with all the books covers facing out. There are no prices listed on the books; shoppers have to use a scanner or a smartphone app to find out how much each item costs.

The Seattle store also sells electronics, such as Amazons Kindle e-reader, Fire TV and earbuds.

Reaction to the store on Yelp reveals mixed, but mostly positive, feelings from customers. One shopper gave the store five out of five stars, writing, This is heaven. when I got to the counter, my one book was only $7 despite the much greater price on the back of the book. Gotta love Amazon!

Another customer gave the store two stars, and had sharp words for Amazon: This place, like the Hemingway short story, is a well-lit place, and, also like the Hemingway story, is really all about death. Amazon has nearly killed used bookstores, and now it is on its way to killing new bookstores, too.

It remains to be seen how successful Amazon Books will be in greater Portland, a metropolitan area known for its love of reading and indie retailers, particularly the huge Powells store downtown.

The competition between the two retailers might never have happened, though, if it werent for a decision made by Powells owner Michael Powell 20 years ago.

In 1996, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos tried to convince Powells to be Amazons sole supplier of used books. Powell declined the offer. I dont regret the decision, Powell told Willamette Week. Amazon has proved to be a big and sometimes rather ruthless company. Im sure at some point they would have decided they wanted a bigger field to plow than what we could provide them, and wed wake up to discover we were no longer the sole provider.

MORE:

Amazon opens a brick and mortar bookstore in Seattle

Is Amazon really going to open hundreds of brick and mortar bookstores?

Amazon to open another physical bookstore  this ones in San Diego
The governments penchant in white-collar-crime cases for charging corporations with wrongdoing, rather than the human beings who make the decisions and pocket the proceeds, is a flaw in our justice system that lets wrongdoers off the hook.

How big a flaw just became evident in the criminal case stemming from the 2010 San Bruno gas explosion, in which federal prosecutors indicted Pacific Gas & Electric Co. on 27 counts, but didnt name a single individual. The explosion in a deteriorated section of pipeline leveled a suburban neighborhood and killed eight.

Now PG&E has thrown that policy right back in the prosecutors faces. In his opening statement Friday to the San Francisco federal court jury hearing the case, PG&E lawyer Steven Bauer implied that if the government really had a case, it would have gone after people, not a faceless corporation.

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PG&E, the company, is just  its a logo, right? Bauer told the jury. Its easy to snarl at a logo. Its easy to say PG&E ...it did this, it did that. But its much harder to look a person in the eye and say You are a criminal  who made these pipelines unsafe. And you notice the government didnt do that.

Bauer had followed federal prosecutor Hallie Hoffman, who played into her adversarys hands in her opening statement by laying blame on the inchoate corporation. PG&E knew that it needed to keep certain records in order, she said. It knew its records were inaccurate.  Instead of a test that it knew would test the integrity of the pipeline  it chose a cheaper test, a deliberate choice.

Its easy to snarl at a logo. ... Its much harder to look a person in the eye and say, You are a criminal.... And you notice the government didnt do that.  PG&E; lawyer Steven Bauer

She continued, This case is about these deliberate and illegal choices and the coverup of these choices.

Yet, obviously, a corporation cant make deliberate choices, or decide to cover them up. The deliberations had to have occurred in the mindset of individuals with the corporate responsibility to make them. They had to be aired somehow in meetings among those responsible, and communicated formally to other people. Who are these people? The government doesnt say.

Ive reported before on the drawbacks of treating white-collar crime as the handiwork of a faceless corporation while leaving the human decision-makers untouched. The issue comes up most frequently in the context of prosecutions for the mortgage industry meltdown leading to the financial crisis of 2008.

The Department of Justice brought not a single high-level financial executive to criminal court in connection with that disaster, thought it extracted billions of dollars in fines from corporations  that is, from those companies shareholders. On Friday, just as the criminal trial was opening against PG&E, the Justice Department was reported to have dropped its civil case against Angelo Mozilo, the former head of Countrywide Financial, the mortgage lender that sat at ground zero of the mortgage disaster. Mozilo already had settled a lawsuit brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission for $67.5 million, but evidently the Justice Department concluded that the difficulties of pursuing him for civil fraud werent worth the candle. The agency dropped a criminal investigation of Mozilo in 2011.

The drawbacks of naming only corporations in criminal and civil lawsuits are obvious  so obvious that they were enumerated last year by Deputy Atty. Gen. Sally Yates in a memo explaining why henceforth prosecutors would look for individuals to blame. For one thing, corporate penalties have zero deterrent effect on executives, who seldom pay any monetary price and certainly are inoculated against the penalty that would really make them sit up and take notice: a stretch in prison. They do nothing to change corporate culture, and they undermine public confidence in the justice system and rule of law.

Even penalties that are eye-catching at first glance tend to amount to a relative pittance in context of a big corporations financial resources. PG&E, for instance, could be hit with $562 million in fines if the jury finds it guilty on all 13 criminal counts in the San Bruno case. Sounds like a lot. But the company, which has pleaded not guilty, collected nearly $17 billion in revenue last year, and paid out $856 million in dividends; its on track to pay out about the same in 2016 dividends.

The Yates memo aimed to signal a change in approach at the Justice Department. Henceforth, it would start with the individual wrongdoers and work up the ladder from there: Criminal and civil corporate investigations should focus on individuals from the inception, she ordered, adding that the department would not release culpable individuals from civil or criminal liability when resolving a matter with a corporation.

Its too early to know whether Yates new policy will bear fruit. It doesnt seem to have shaken corporate executives to the core yet. (The message should not be that the sky is falling, an attorney at the corporate firm DLA Piper advised colleagues and clients late last year.)

The San Bruno case was filed in 2014, before the Yates memo, and its subject matter is rather different from financial-crisis cases. But the governments decision to indict the company allowed Bauer, the PG&E lawyer, to paint the decisions that led up to the San Bruno explosion as the product of individual men and women doing their level best to fulfill their responsibilities, over a period of decades. His goal was to diffuse responsibility among thousands of working men and women just like the jurors themselves. Someone, somewhere made the decision or gave the order to choose a less effective pipeline test, or to ignore signs that its records were lousy, but that person or those people arent on trial or in the courtroom, because the government chose not to name them.

The only entity on trial is PG&E, and for Bauer it was just as easy to paint the company as a huge enterprise determined to do well as it was for the government to paint it as a lumbering giant determined to cut corners. PG&E company policy, he said, is safety comes first, compliance comes first  you are going to hear that in testimony from people. Which makes sense, because its the engineers job to keep it safe.

But thats misdirection. Company policies are words, but San Bruno was the result of actions. The most concise statement of this truth comes from C.S. Lewis, as quoted by Mark Kleiman of New York University: The greatest evil is not now done in those sordid dens of crime that Dickens loved to paint.  It is conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices. The government took the easy way out in the San Bruno indictment. Even if the company is found guilty, the quiet men who run it can continue to do their damage, quietly.

Keep up to date with Michael Hiltzik. Follow @hiltzikm on Twitter, see his Facebook page, or email michael.hiltzik@latimes.com.

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A California regulator is approving Aetna Inc.'s proposed acquisition of rival health insurer Humana Inc.

Shelley Rouillard, director of the California Department of Managed Health Care, announced her decision Monday.

As a condition of the approval, Aetna agreed to limit premium increases in the small group market and to allow greater state oversight of its rates. The company will also have to keep certain decision-making functions in California and must invest in various health initiatives.

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See the most-read stories in Business this hour >>

The proposed $35-billion cash-and-stock deal would make Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna a sizable player in the rapidly growing Medicare Advantage business, which offers privately run versions of the federally funded healthcare program for the elderly and some people with disabilities.

The merger still requires approval by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Aetna shares rose 1% to close at $122.34 on Monday. Shares of Louisville, Ky.-based Humana climbed 1.5% to $189.90.

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UPDATES:

1:57 p.m.: This article was updated with stocks closing prices.

This article was originally published at 11:20 a.m.
Southern California has long been the breeding ground for new and unconventional aircraft.

It was the birthplace of such fanciful dreams as the Spruce Goose seaplane, which only had one flight. The region served as home base for a number of secretive military projects, such as the U-2 spy plane, the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane and the B-2 stealth bomber.

Now, another unusual aircraft is taking shape in Southern California  the Stratolaunch Systems giant rocket-carrying aircraft.

First announced in 2011, the giant plane is designed to air-launch satellites into orbit. It is expected to have a wingspan of 385 feet  longer than any plane every built  and is being constructed in Mojave, Calif., by Vulcan Aerospace, a Seattle company backed by Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen.

Take a look at some of the other unconventional aircraft and spacecraft that have roots in Southern California.

DC-3 airliner

The DC-3 airliner was built in Santa Monica by the Douglas Aircraft Co. in the 1930s and 1940s. The aircraft was the countrys first reliable passenger plane and revolutionized commercial air travel.

edge in on a market controlled by Chinese and American firms.

FOR THE RECORD

June 23, 10:52 a.m.: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the DC-3 airliner was built in Long Beach. It was built in Santa Monica.

(Los Angeles Times) (Test)

Spruce Goose

The Hughes H-4 Hercules, better known as the Spruce Goose, was built in Playa Vista by Howard Hughes Aircraft Co. The transport seaplane only had one flight, in 1947.

(Larry Bessel / Los Angeles Times) (Test)

U-2 spy plane

The U-2 spy plane was built in Burbank at Lockheed Corp.s secretive Skunk Works facility. The plane has played a key role in U.S. intelligence gathering since its first flight in 1955.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) (Test)

X-15 rocket plane

The X-15 rocket plane was built in Downey by North American. The plane, which set altitude and speed records in the 1960s, demonstrated that a winged aircraft could fly to and from space.

(Getty Images) (Test)

SR-71 Blackbird spy plane

The SR-71 Blackbird spy plane was built in Burbank at Lockheed Corp.s Skunk Works starting in the 1960s. The high-altitude jet set a record in 1990 for its cross-country flight from Los Angeles to Dulles International Airport, near Washington, in 68 minutes and 17 seconds.

(Associated Press) (Test)

Night Hawk

The F-117 stealth fighter/bomber, also known as the Night Hawk, was built in the 1980s in Burbank by Lockheed Corp.s Skunk Works. After the introduction of the stealthier F-22 in 2006, the Pentagon retired its fleet of F-117s.

(U.S. Defense Department) (Test)

Space Shuttle

The Space Shuttle was built in Downey by Rockwell International. The reusable spacecraft first took flight in 1981.

(Richard Derk / Los Angeles Times) (Test)

Voyager

The Voyager was built in Mojave by Dick Rutan, Jeana Yeager and others. The plane was constructed of hardened paper and graphite fiber and weighed only 939 pounds. In 1986, it completed the first nonstop, unrefueled flight around the world.

edge in on a market controlled by Chinese and American firms.

For the Record

June 22, 5:06 p.m.: An earlier version of this article stated that Voyager was built by Scaled Composites. It was built by pilots Dick Rutan, Jeana Yeager and others.

(Douglas Pizac / Associated Press) (Test)

B-2 stealth bomber

The B-2 stealth bomber, which first flew in 1989, was built in Palmdale by Northrop Corp. The plane is virtually undetectable by radar.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) (Test)

Predator drone

The MQ-1 Predator drone was built in Hacienda Heights and Poway by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems starting in the mid-1990s.

(Kirsty Wigglesworth / Associated Press) (Test)

SpaceShipTwo

The SpaceShipTwo civilian spacecraft was built in Mojave by aerospace pioneer Burt Rutans Scaled Composites LLC for Virgin Galactic. SpaceShipTwo was intended to take paying customers into space, but an early version broke apart during a test flight in 2014.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) (Test)

Aeros 40D Sky Dragon

The Aeros 40D Sky Dragon heavy-lift zeppelin was built in Tustin by Igor Pasternaks Worldwide Aeros Corp. A version of the airship was sold to Grupo Toyan, a Mexican company that intended to use it to monitor oil pipelines.

(Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times) (Test)

Hybrid Airship

The blimp-like Hybrid Airship heavy-lift aircraft is being built in Palmdale by Lockheed Martin Corp.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) (Test)

samantha.masunaga@latimes.com

For more business news, follow me @smasunaga

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A woman who vandalized rock formations at Western national parks is sentenced. Frank Gehrys Los Angeles River plans are revealed  sort of. A symbol of innovative architecture for a poor community in Africa collapses. Plus: Checking out the new wing at Londons Tate Modern, trying to save an important work of Mexican land art, and a Swiss biennial shows a load of poop.

Im back from vacation and ready to pick through the art worlds detritus to make a liminal sculpture thats all about hybridity. Heres the Roundup:

 Casey Nocket, a 23-year-old San Diego woman, has been sentenced to two years of probation and 200 hours of community service for vandalizing rock formations and other natural features in seven national parks, including Yosemite.

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 Christopher Hawthorne offers a peek at Frank Gehrys low-key debut of his design analysis for the L.A. River. So far, its mostly research.

The new Herzog & de Meuron-designed wing at Londons Tate Modern. (Matt Dunham / Associated Press )

 The Tate Moderns new Herzog & de Meuron extension has opened. The Guardians Laura Cumming has a look: It is brick. It is a mountain, a fortification, a battleship, a Babel, a truncated and torsioned pyramid.

 Two new museums in Japan tell opposing stories of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. (The New Inquiry)

 The Makoko Floating School, a contemporary symbol of architecture that responded to the needs of a water-based Nigerian community, has collapsed. (Weisslink)

The Trump International Hotel & Tower in New York City. (Frank Franklin II / Associated Press )

 In Tampa, a planned toll road evocative of careless 1960s highway building, would slash through a minority neighborhood, in the process destroying low-income housing. (The New Inquiry)

 At the Venice Architecture Biennale, a historian revisits the architecture of Auschwitz. A moving piece.

 Art collector David Nahmad says that a famed Modigliani painting in his collection is not Nazi loot. Nahmads ownership of the work first came to light through the Panama Papers.

 A longtime film curator at New Yorks Museum of Modern Art has been let go over the screening of a documentary about North Korea. Plus, three prominent figures to depart the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of a voluntary buyout plan. Among the departures: The museums high-profile chief digital officer, Sree Sreenivasan.

 At Bryn Mawr, does a painting by Susan Macdowell Eakins hide a canvas by her husband, Thomas Eakins, underneath? One conservators quest.

 A battalion of global artists is fighting to preserve the scenic vistas around Espacio Escultorico (Sculptural Space), one of Mexicos finest works of 20th century land art. The battle  against an unsightly tower being built by the countrys National Autonomous University  has been led by prominent Mexican artist Pedro Reyes and is being supported by the likes of blue chip figures such as British artist Anish Kapoor.

 How sound artist Alan Nakagawa will work with the Los Angeles Department of Transportation to help reduce traffic deaths.

A woman covers her nose in front of the art installation The Zurich Load, made from human waste, at Manifesta 11. (Ennio Leanza / EPA )

 7 infrastructure myths perpetuated by Donald Trump.

 United Talent Artists Fine Arts division has signed Chinese artist Ai Weiwei for a tentative documentary about the European refugee crisis.

 A new installation by Christo in Italy allows visitors to walk on water  or at least a brilliant yellow walkway that floats on water in Lake Iseo. Looks pretty rad.

 Which is better art: a performative piece whose movements are informed by real-time Los Angeles traffic patterns, or plein air watercolors of delicate song birds done on a foggy morning? Douglas Coupland on art and the universe in What if theres no next big thing? (Weisslink)

 Which presents a perfect segue to Manifesta: The all-important European biennial, which has landed in Zurich on this go-around. The show features a sculpture that is built out of 176,000 pounds of human poop. Take it away, Adrian Searle. (For context: A helpful overview of art made with number two.)

 Aztec bod mod.

 Why the Bronte sisters  Charlotte and Emily  are big in Japan.

 And last, but not least: An artist-created Japanese Trump commercial. Cant get enough of this.

Find me on Twitter @cmonstah.
HLN has set July 11 for veteran Los Angeles anchor Michaela Pereiras homecoming.

The sister channel to CNN plans to announce Monday that Pereiras live, three-hour daily news program will be called Michaela and air from 7 to 10 a.m. PT and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET.

Originating from CNNs Los Angeles bureau in Hollywood, Michaela will serve as the only live national morning program based on the West Coast. The broadcast network morning shows are on tape delay with live updates as news warrants.

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Pereira joined HLN after three years as co-anchor of New Day, CNNs morning program based in New York.

Before her CNN stint, Pereira, was a co-host of KTLA Morning News, the top-rated morning show in the Los Angeles market, for nine years.

Pereira expressed a desire to head back to Los Angeles to be closer to family and friends. CNN accommodated her and is using the move to expand HLNs live, news and talk programming during the day as a breezy alternative to flagship CNN.

Pereiras program will have a format similar to HLNs popular Morning Express with Robin Meade, which airs from 3 to 7 a.m. PT and 6 to 10 a.m. ET.

Pereira will be reunited with her KTLA executive producer, Scott Warren, who will run her new program.

HLN recently hired Erica Hill, a former co-anchor for weekend editions of NBCs Today, who also will be added to the channels daily lineup.

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Fans of CW shows such as The Flash and Jane the Virgin who choose to wait until the full season is over to binge-watch them on Netflix may not have to wait as long.

Netflix is nearing a renewal of its streaming deal with the CW that would greatly condense the window of when episodes become available on the streaming service, The Times confirmed.

The original 2011 deal, which was set to expire this year, saw seasons of shows hit Netflix months after they ended, typically ahead of the premiere of a new season. This time around, Netflix has sped up how quickly episodes become available to less than two weeks after each season ends on the network, according to a source familiar with negotiations.

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The deal is expected to run an additional five years and would give the streaming company domestic rights to the shows for several years after they end.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour >>

The CW and Netflix declined to comment.

The small television network, owned by CBS and Warner Bros., lost money for years until 2011, when it struck a four-year, $1-billion deal to provide its programming to Netflix.

The extension with Netflix comes just as the CW is ending its relationship with Netflix rival Hulu.

The CWs deal with Hulu, which was also secured in 2011, made Hulu the only online subscription service to offer next-day access to the most recent five episodes of current CW series. But negotiations to renew the pact, which is set to expire in October, stalled, according to another source familiar with the talks.

The Santa Monica streaming service, a joint venture of major TV network owners 21st Century Fox, Walt Disney Co. and Comcasts NBCUniversal, wanted the ability to offer viewers the full season of shows to date. Hulu was also dissatisfied by the limited terms, which would bar episodes from appearing on Hulus ad-free subscription tier, and also felt the pricing did not match the performance of some of the CWs low-performing shows.

Hulu declined to comment.

While viewers will lose the ability to stream in-season CW programming on Hulu this fall, they can still access episodes through ad-supported CWTV.com and the networks app, as well as its affiliate stations video-on-demand deals.

The changes to the CWs streaming deals come on the heels of the network signing a five-year affiliate deal with Tribune Broadcasting to keep programming, which also includes Supernatural and CBS-jumping Supergirl, on 12 Tribune-owned stations including KTLA in Los Angeles.

Tribune Broadcasting is unaffiliated with Tribune Publishing, owner of the Los Angeles Times.

yvonne.villarreal@latimes.com

Twitter: @villarrealy

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The The Danish Girl star made his debut as a father just in time for Fathers Day. Eddie Redmayne, 34, and wife Hannah Bagshawe, 32, welcomed their first child, Iris Mary Redmayne, into the world on June 15, a representative confirmed to The Times.

Redmayne and British publicist Bagshawe seem to consistently make family milestones about every two years. In 2012, the couple began dating. In 2014, the two got married at Babington House in Somerset, England. And now, in 2016, they can celebrate the birth of Iris Mary. Only time will tell what happens in 2018.

This isnt the only big news in the last week for the Academy Award-winning actor. Just two days before the birth of the couples daughter, Prada released its Menswear AW16 campaign, which features photos of the sharply dressed Redmayne and his signature smolder.

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According to the Prada campaigns press release on Instagram, the images, shot by Craig McDean, play with surface and depth, illusion and reality, with Redmayne, assum[ing] a number of roles  hero, villain, [and] revolutionary. Redmayne can now add father to that list of roles.

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A 2008 mini profile of actor Anton Yelchin, who died early Sunday, as his movie, Charlie Bartlett was about to debut.

Anton Yelchin brings an irresistible mix of suppressed anger and longing, innocence and precocity to his role as the title character in Charlie Bartlett. He plays a crafty misfit who makes Ferris Bueller and Max Fischer look like rank amateurs.

Opening Friday, the film tells the story of a rich kid with an outsiders complex. The product of an absentee father and his well-medicated mother, Marilyn (Hope Davis), Charlies expelled from his last elite academy -- this time, for making fake drivers licenses -- and sent to public school.

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After a few rough days that culminate in a sound beating in the boys bathroom, Charlie concocts a scheme to win over the bullies, the jocks and the drama geeks. He plays shrink to his classmates, convinces his own on-call psychiatrist that hes suffering from their maladies, then sells the doctors prescriptions to the wounded parties.

Along the way, he attracts the beauty Susan, played by Kat Dennings, who is the daughter of Robert Downey Jr.'s long-suffering principal.

Charlie Bartlett could be a breakout role for Yelchin, 18, who earned critical notice for his performances in 2001s Hearts in Atlantis and last years Alpha Dog. (Next year, hell play Chekov in J.J. Abrams reboot of the Star Trek franchise.) Yelchin puts on an energetic show -- in his underwear, no less -- depicting Charlies inadvertent Ritalin euphoria. In a scene where Charlie auditions for a school play, Yelchin delivers a monologue as a teenage girl with serious panache. Later, he sings a startlingly Danny Kaye-esque version of Yankee Doodle Dandy.

For Yelchin, all the attention-getting antics had to be more than just empty, sarcastic gestures. Like his other character choices -- Charlies compulsive need to introduce himself, his ramrod-straight posture -- he wanted the behavior to be grounded in something honest. Ultimately, the actor agreed with director Jon Poll and screenwriter Gustin Nash that Charlie was suffering from neglect.

He has a desire for attention because hes never had it, Yelchin said. He was having to parent himself.

1 / 3 Actor Anton Yelchin in 2015. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 3 Yelchin played the title role in Charlie Bartlett, which won Best Feauture Film at Boulder International Film Festival in 2008. Yelchin starred alongside Robert Downey Jr. as a wealthy yet troubled high-schooler. (Ken Woroner / Associated Press) 3 / 3 Yelchin is pictured with co-stars Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban and John Cho in his best-known role playing Chekhov in the 2009 Star Trek reboot. (Industrial Light & Magic / Associated Press)

Yelchins own parents have always been supportive of his creative aspirations. Professional Russian figure skaters who came to the United States soon after their son was born, they have championed his career since he first began auditioning at age 10. In fact, it was their idea to enroll their only child in acting classes to help him conquer his shyness. Instead, it launched his career.

The older Ive gotten the more obsessed Ive become of nit-picking every detail of a character to death, Yelchin said. Because then youre fully free to be them.

gina.piccalo@latimes.com

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Anton Yelchin made a brilliant impression from the beginning.

One of his earliest films was Scott Hicks 2001 drama Hearts in Atlantis, in which he played Bobby, an 11-year-old boy who spends a fateful 1960 summer with a mysterious older neighbor who introduces him to a world of grown-up wisdom and (this being a Stephen King adaptation) eerie psychic phenomena. The film could be at times stickily sentimental, at times stirringly so, but Yelchin was a natural  evincing a warm, captivating chemistry with his veteran co-star Anthony Hopkins, and charmingly carrying a memorable scene on a Ferris wheel, where Bobby kisses a girl for the first time.

Im loath to quote myself, but Ill make an exception for Hearts in Atlantis, which was one of the first movies I wrote about as a college film reviewer for USCs Daily Trojan, and from which I singled out Yelchins performance as wonderfully engaging. That was fairly stock praise coming from someone rather less skilled at his new craft than Yelchin was, but it remains an entirely accurate description of his effect on audiences over the course of his tragically shortened career.

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Years after Hearts in Atlantis, Yelchin had another major film role in Nick Cassavetes Alpha Dog, a feverish true-crime saga inspired by the misdeeds of the notorious L.A. drug dealer Jesse James Hollywood, presently serving time for the 2000 kidnapping and murder of 15-year-old Nicholas Markowitz. Yelchin played a fictional version of Markowitz named Zack, and against the films exuberantly sordid wasted-youth backdrop, he struck a wrenching chord of innocence and humanity  a good kid along for the ride, sadly unaware of what was about to happen to him until it was far too late.

That air of boyish naivete never fully left Yelchin, though it was a measure of his versatility that he so adeptly turned it to his advantage  and at times subverted it  on-screen. The character for whom he will be remembered most broadly is, of course, Pavel Chekov in the rebooted Star Trek franchise. That Yelchin was himself Russian by birth could be guessed from Chekovs impeccable accent, though genetics alone couldnt account for the spirited intelligence the actor invested in this excitable space prodigy, racing frantically down corridors to beam his colleagues up at the last minute.

It wasnt the only time Yelchin would embody a fresh new face in a famous Hollywood franchise. If you remember Terminator Salvation, you probably remember him as an unusually intense update of Kyle Reese, the future father of John Connor and a resurgent new wave of humanity. And if you didnt immediately recognize Yelchin as the accident-prone Clumsy Smurf in the two live-action movies adapted from that cartoon franchise, his identity became clear not long after he opened his computer-generated mouth.

But for those who havent seen much of Yelchin beyond the multiplex, he leaves behind a treasure trove of vivid character work. He and Felicity Jones made a winsome couple navigating the pitfalls of first love in Drake Doremus heartfelt 2011 Sundance Film Festival prizewinner, Like Crazy. Before that, he and Robert Downey Jr. formed a combustible comedic duo in the little-seen Charlie Bartlett, which also reunited him on-screen with his Hearts in Atlantis mom, Hope Davis, this time in a happier, loopier mother-son pairing. And in Jim Jarmuschs marvelous Only Lovers Left Alive, Yelchin had a brief but memorable role as a rock n roller named Ian, who meets an untimely end at the fangs of a thirsty female vampire (Mia Wasikowska). (Hes immortalized in perhaps the films funniest line: You drank Ian.)

1 / 3 Actor Anton Yelchin in 2015. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 3 Yelchin played the title role in Charlie Bartlett, which won Best Feauture Film at Boulder International Film Festival in 2008. Yelchin starred alongside Robert Downey Jr. as a wealthy yet troubled high-schooler. (Ken Woroner / Associated Press) 3 / 3 Yelchin is pictured with co-stars Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban and John Cho in his best-known role playing Chekhov in the 2009 Star Trek reboot. (Industrial Light & Magic / Associated Press)

Very few moviegoers saw Dying of the Light (2014), Paul Schraders fascinating wreck of a thriller starring Nicolas Cage as a rogue CIA operative. But none of the headaches and compromises of that pictures embattled production history were enough to quell the warmth and pluck of Yelchins performance as Cages loyal protege, Milton, in which the actor did something with the lower register of his voice that Id never heard before: Raspy and loquacious, he suddenly seemed a very old man in a very young body, an agency functionary imbued with a surfeit of soul.

Yelchin leaves behind projects in various stages of completion, including Star Trek Beyond (due out on July 22); the Jarmusch-produced, Portugal-set romance Porto; and Guillermo del Toros animated Netflix series Trollhunters. The last time I saw him on-screen  and incidentally, in person  was in April, at the L.A. premiere of Jeremy Saulniers spectacularly grisly backwoods horror-thriller Green Room. So good at playing oddballs and misfits of every stripe, Yelchin was thoroughly in his element as Pat, a bassist in a scrappy punk band that finds itself besieged by murderous neo-Nazis in rural Oregon.

Backed into a corner with machete-wielding skinheads clawing at the door, Pat is the recipient of one of the films first major acts of brutality (he nearly loses an arm) and also its signature moment of revelation. Flashing back to a childhood experience playing paintball and being similarly on the ropes, he realizes that in confronting his attackers, nothing less than all-out anarchy  the very spirit of the art that he knows and loves  will ensure his survival.

That defiant rage-against-the-machine sensibility wasnt all that Anton Yelchin and his screen work represented, but it is hardly the worst way to remember him: Possessed of a brilliant punk sensibility in a world that too often prefers American idols, he was a singular voice silenced terribly soon.

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From the Archives: When Anton Yelchin met Anthony Hopkins: An Oscar winner becomes a mentor to a 12-year-old actor

From the Archives: Anton Yelchin is ready to launch; Never heard of him? After Star Trek and Terminator Salvation, that should change

From the Archives: Anton Yelchins work has been praised as he plays the crafty teen in Charlie Bartlett

justin.chang@latimes.com
In 2009, Anton Yelchin had two huge franchise movies that were about to debut. Nicolas White talked to the actor, who died early Sunday.

Sipping hot tea on a recent morning in Studio City, the Russian-born actor Anton Yelchin could have passed for one of the thousands of scruffy, out-of-work musicians who roam the Valley with unruly hair, an aura of angst and their Repo Man wardrobes. Yelchin, still eager to prove himself after almost a decade making feature films, was a practiced study in low-profile excitement.

These two movies, he said, are special.

Special indeed. This month, Yelchin has an appointment with fanboy-film destiny. On Friday, he will be unveiled as Pavel Chekov, the Star Trek crew member first brought to life by Walter Koenig on the 1960s television series, and then on May 21 hell be seen playing memorable freedom fighter Kyle Reese in Terminator Salvation, the dark revival of the killer-robot franchise.

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The early buzz on both films is strong and either may finish among the years highest-grossing films. That fact is not lost on the actor who, despite his growing filmography, is just a few weeks removed from his 20th birthday. The confessed movie nerd logged plenty of hours watching Michael Biehn portray Reese in the original Terminator film and also made an intense study of Trek in its many permutations.

I got really lucky, and I am very happy to do them, but I look at it as getting better each time, Yelchin says. There is a sense of responsibility, but its just in capturing what people appreciate about the character. No one wants to lose what made [Trek] last for 40 years. But then again, it might go away right now if its not rejuvenated. . . .

Watching [Terminator] over and over now, its fascinating, very intense, vulnerable. Its a layered character work that Michael Biehn did. Its an interesting character to take and adopt to say, How did they act when they were younger? There are different paths to the same person.

Yelchin was sitting in a gelato store, but none of the passersby gave him a second look; thats really no surprise considering his released work to date has plenty of blink-and-you-missed-it projects, among them Charlie Bartlett, Fierce People and the panned David Duchovny-directed House of D, a trio of films with a cumulative domestic box-office return of $4.4 million. Even a cameraman stalking the sidewalk with a paparazzos photo lens ignored Yelchin.

1 / 3 Actor Anton Yelchin in 2015. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 2 / 3 Yelchin played the title role in Charlie Bartlett, which won Best Feauture Film at Boulder International Film Festival in 2008. Yelchin starred alongside Robert Downey Jr. as a wealthy yet troubled high-schooler. (Ken Woroner / Associated Press) 3 / 3 Yelchin is pictured with co-stars Chris Pine, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban and John Cho in his best-known role playing Chekhov in the 2009 Star Trek reboot. (Industrial Light & Magic / Associated Press)

I just dont think there is any reason for them to follow me, he said with a shrug. I havent really done anything for them to follow me. I really think thats it.

After taking a run at USC (he says he was accepted but had to change his plans because of the shooting schedule for Terminator and Star Trek), Yelchin is now a full-time actor. If the roles dry up, its back to school for him, he says: Honestly, if I didnt have this job, [my parents] would be kicking my butt right now. I would be working, taking tons of classes, and I would have to be doing well, or there would be punishments. They would make sure I wasnt a slacker.

Yelchins big break came opposite Anthony Hopkins in 2001s Hearts in Atlantis. It was the Oscar-winning British elder who had the biggest influence on Yelchins nascent career.

Hes incredible to witness, he says. Its a presence when he does something, because youre consumed by him. For a moment, he creates something insane. Its captured on film. I have had a pretty short career. I wish I could say the milestones. Everything is important to me. . . . But then working with Anthony Hopkins is huge.

Yelchin was born in 1989 in St. Petersburg (then still called Leningrad), where he said he rarely returns, although he did make it back during the filming of You and I with Mischa Barton, directed by Roland Joffe. His mother, Irina Korina, and father, Viktor Yelchin, were champion figure skaters for the Leningrad Ice Ballet. The pair qualified for the 1972 Winter Olympics but did not find a place on the Soviet team. They moved to Southern California in the late 80s. They continue to work in figure skating; Viktor is a trainer, and Irina is a choreographer.

In his free time, Yelchin doubles as a musician with a band of local friends in L.A. and has been recruited for DJ duty around town. He considers himself a cinema geek, watching old movies at the Egyptian and Nuart theaters. After his Summer of the Fanboy, Yelchin is looking through scripts for, ideally, a small drama.

His aspirations may delve into the absurd: It would be nice to live off the land and fix cars, Yelchin says. Instead of visions of Hollywood glamour, he waxes on about hiking the steep hills in Tarzana, playing music, taking pictures and writing. The serious young man even has a notion that would make him look even more serious.

I want, he said, a Tolstoy beard.

calendar@latimes.com

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From the Archives When Anton Yelchin met Anthony Hopkins: An Oscar winner becomes a mentor to a 12-year-old actor

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Kaspar Wans gender reassignment surgery in 2012 solved some of his problems, but left many untouched. How would he reconcile his identity with his Christianity? Would his parents accept him for who he was?

In a short documentary about his transition, If I Had a Soul, Wan, a Hong Kong-based director and transgender rights activist, said that the surgery was about aligning my inner and outer selves. Yet his elderly mother struggled to understand. I once thought if he insisted [on getting surgery], I would disown him, she says in the film. And then Im thinking hes all grown up, so do I really want to disown him? Do I want to ruin the relationship because of this?

Wans documentary screened on Sunday at the opening of the second annual ShanghaiPRIDE Film Festival, a showcase of Chinese and foreign lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ)-themed cinema. (It won second place in the festivals short films contest). The event will feature 40 films over 10 days, according to its website, and focus specifically on films about transgender and non-binary experience. About half of the films are foreign, and half are Chinese.

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The festival comes as China slowly turns a corner on social attitudes towards homosexuality and transgenderism. Although Beijing stopped classifying homosexuality as a mental illness in 2001, much of Chinese society still subscribes to traditional gender norms, and many parents put their children under enormous pressure to enter heterosexual relationships, marry and start families of their own. Chinas political environment also makes advocacy difficult  protests and marches are virtually banned, and the state views nongovernmental organizations with suspicion.

Yet attitudes are changing. In recent years, Chinese courts have heard several landmark legal cases about gay marriage, gay-straight conversion therapy and university textbooks treatment of homosexuality. One web series about a homosexual relationship went viral before government censors took it down.

Charlene Liu, 43, a cofounder of the volunteer organization ShanghaiPRIDE and an 11-year Shanghai resident, said that the ShanghaiPRIDE Festival  a broader program featuring the film festival as well as panel discussions, parties, exhibitions and a fun run  has expanded since its founding in 2009.

Last year we had 6,000 participants throughout the whole pride week, she said. Its good progress. Were not as big as pride [festivals] overseas, like in L.A., San Francisco, Sydney and London. But given the situation were in, I think were progressing.

A few hundred people attended the festivals opening ceremony on Sunday, packed shoulder-to-shoulder at a low-lit bar in Shanghai. Organizers played an opening video that showed city scenes interspersed with same-sex couples sharing intimate moments; they then screened Wans documentary, followed by a short film about a young woman caught between the affections of her boyfriend and a female friend.

The past twelve months have seen a burst of high-profile legal battles and discussions on LGBTQ, with the primary discourse being on same-sex union and the pink market, said Matthew Baren, 28, a British citizen and film festival organizer, in opening remarks. Not so long ago, this was unimaginable. So is it better to put all our energies into mainstream battles and not divert them to gender minorities?

Film is very important to the LGBT movement in China, he said later, in an interview. We figure film is important  its how you reach people. There are festivals in Beijing and Guangzhou, and theyre popping up across the country.

So much of [LGBTQ cinema] is dominated by the West, he continued. We wanted to support Chinese stories, Chinese faces.

Raymond Phang, 27, ShanghaiPRIDEs chief planner, said that LGBTQ-themed cinema has expanded significantly in recent years, both in China and abroad. I think Brokeback Mountain really did it, he said. He added that Chinese LGBTQ films tend to focus more on family than their Western counterparts, as family in Asian culture is very important.

I wouldnt say this is a mature market, because of the limitations, he said. Chinas film market is government-controlled, and the countrys LGBTQ-themed films have yet to achieve widespread distribution.

Phang added: The filmmakers are independent. They are exploring, even themselves. Now filmmakers are trying to explore transgenderism. Theyre taking a different approach.

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The vilest character on HBOs Game of Thrones since the late and terrible King Joffrey Baratheon (Jack Gleeson) suffers a gruesome fate on Battle of the Bastards, Season 6s penultimate and oh-so-bloody Episode 59.

Psychopathic Lord Ramsay Bolton (Iwan Rheon) has committed innumerable atrocities during his reign of terror.

He savagely raped his bride, Sansa Stark (Sophie Turner), on their wedding night. He fatally stabbed his father, Roose (Michael McElhatton). And he fed his stepmother, Walda (Elizabeth Webster), and newborn half-brother to the dogs.

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Now the only obstacle standing between Ramsay and complete control of northern Westeros is Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and his outmatched, ragtag army marching on Winterfell Castle.

Why lead these poor souls into slaughter? Theres no need for a battle, Ramsay tells Jon with a cynical smirk. I am a man of mercy.

In exchange for surrendering his soldiers and proclaiming Ramsay the true Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, Jon will supposedly be pardoned for deserting his Nights Watch post.

But Jon doesnt bite. And Ramsay doesnt bite at Jons counteroffer to settle their conflict mano a mano. Jon might prevail in a swordfight, but Ramsays army will surely defeat a force half its size.

My dogs are desperate to meet you, Ramsay taunts Jon in parting. I havent fed them for seven days. Theyre ravenous!

Ramsays smartest strategy would be to remain inside the castle and repel an attack. However, Jons military advisor, Ser Davos Seaworth (Liam Cunningham), believes Ramsay that will fight on an open field.

If the other houses sense weakness on his part, theyll stop fearing him, Davos says of Ramsay. And fear is House Boltons prime weapon.

Just as predicted, Ramsay and his troops leave the protection of Winterfell and prepare to charge.

But first Ramsay plays a cruel game by releasing his hostage, Jons half-brother Rickon Stark (Art Parkinson), and ordering him to run. As Jon attempts a rescue, Ramsay slays Rickon with a well-aimed arrow.

Soon the battle erupts with epic, horrifying carnage.

When Ramsays men raise their shields, point their spears and form a tightening ring around Jons troops, it appears House Bolton will triumph.

But suddenly Petyr Littlefinger Baelish (Aidan Gillen) and his soldiers from House Arryn arrive and crush Ramsays forces.

Retreating to Winterfell doesnt save Ramsay, for Wildling giant Wun Wun (Ian Whyte) batters down the gate before crumbling to the ground with dozens of arrows lodged in his body.

Jon avenges Rickons murder by ferociously pummeling Ramsay until his face is a disfigured mess. But Sansa has the honor of delivering the final blow.

You cant kill me, Ramsay protests. Im part of you now!

Your words will disappear, Sansa coldly replies. Your house will disappear. Your name will disappear. All memory of you will disappear.

With that, Sansa releases those ravenous hounds. And thats how wicked Ramsey meets his demise, while Sansa walks away with a satisfied smile.

But wait. Theres more!

Across the Narrow Sea in Meereen, the slave masters with their fleet of ships hurl fireballs at the Great Pyramid in an attempt to topple Queen Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke).

Danys counselor, Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage), tries to put a positive spin on the dire situation.

Despite appearances, Tyrion says, I think youll find the citys on the rise.

Though Tyrion favors diplomacy, Dany favors military action.

So she soundly defeats the slave masters by deploying her three fire-breathing dragons, her Unsullied warrior-eunuchs, her Second Sons mercenary army and her fearsome Dothraki horsemen.

Danys message to those who would restore slavery on the continent of Essos?

Ive got dragons!

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Its hard to decide what about Around the Fire, by Gabrielle Quinonez Denton and Greg Denton, is most intriguing: that the new meat-minded, grill-centric cookbook arrives just when youve been spending time cleaning the cooking grates of your backyard Weber? Or that these James Beard Award-nominated husband-and-wife co-chefs seem to be on the readers side when it comes to duplicating some of the most popular dishes at Ox, their critically acclaimed Portland, Ore., restaurant?

My mom was invited to a dinner party where a woman cooked the whole meal straight from the cookbook, said Quinonez Denton when asked about the response to their loose, you-can-do-it approach. She was so proud of herself, just gloating. She said, This is the best food Ive ever cooked.

At least some of the couples brand of Argentinian grilling by way of Pacific Northwest seasonality has its roots in Los Angeles-raised Quinonez Dentons summers spent with relatives in Quito, Ecuador. It was there that she fell in love with seafood ceviches, hominy stews and empanadas. As a kid, there werent that many Ecuadorian restaurants in L.A., maybe two, said Quinonez Denton. Unless you were in someones home, you werent eating those Ecuadorian dishes.

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The two met in 1999 in the kitchen of Napa Valleys Terra restaurant, then they put in a stint at the Mala Ocean Tavern in Maui. When they began to long for cold-weather food (We missed roasting and braising, said Denton), they moved to Portland in 2009.

Tonight, the Dentons will sign copies of Around the Fire at a special prix fixe Ox-inspired dinner in collaboration with Kris Morningstars Terrine. Recently, the couple got on the phone to talk about  among other things  how to make a mother marinade of deliciousness, their newly opened Portland restaurant, SuperBite, and the meaning of hangry.

Judging from your Instagram feed, what recipes in Around the Fire are calling out to people?

Gabi: I think the most popular thing is the grilled skirt steak with onion marinade and chimichurri. Ive seen a couple of people post the grilled asparagus with Dungeness crab, fresh herbs and crispy capers. And chowder! People have made the clam chowder with smoked marrow bones, green onion and jalapeno. That surprises the heck out of me. Its one of the more challenging, labor-intensive recipes in the book.

Fans of Ox will probably be surprised at how many signature items are included in Around the Fire. Including the Dirty Grandma Agnes, a martini that calls for dry vermouth, vodka and pickle juice.

Greg: Of course. From the very beginning we were selling it by the bucket-load. People just love what pickle brine does to a martini instead of using the normal olive brine. Its named after my grandma, who was not dirty at all. She got a great kick out of the name when we told her about it. She had a great sense of humor.

Lets go back in time. Greg, youve said that your first kitchen job was at age 9 at a restaurant in Rutland, Vt. Walk us through the application process.

Greg: We lived basically right next to the restaurant. It was called Lums. My dad was the general manager. Partially to keep an eye on my brothers and I, we worked at the restaurant. But I had the interest. Id prep and do dishes in the morning. I started cooking on the line when I was 14. You learn how to cook a steak, a burger, how to make sandwiches. I still actually take thoughts and ideas that I had at that age and I apply them to things that I do now.

For example?

Greg: Where to put acid? What to combine with a salad? How delicious potato skins are when you put sour cream, cheese, green onions, bacon and whatnot on them. Were always playing around with that spicy-salty-blue-cheesy-crispy combination of things. Its not like I put chicken wings on the menu. Its like I tap into that palette from that age.

Fittingly, the first recipe in your book is for spiced beef empanadas with olives and raisins. Gabi, share some memories about your childhood summers spent in the Andean highlands.

Gabi: My family still lives there. My grandmother basically spent her life in the kitchen. As a child I definitely enjoyed being with her, watching her make all of my favorite treats that Id get to eat while I was there in Ecuador. Shed make empanadas with cheese and minced onion that are fried, and then  this sounds so bizarre  theyre taken out of the fryer and dusted with a kind of bigger-grain, less-refined granulated sugar. Its kind of strange, with the cheese and the onions, but it works really, really well. Theyre called empanadas de viento or empanadas of the wind because they puff up when theyre frying. It looks almost like its empty because all the cheese and onions have melted on the bottom with the big puffy dome over it.

Is there a dish that your grandmother made that you cant seem to master?

Gabi: Over the last six months Ive been trying to make another style of empanadas and I cant get it quite right. Its a kind of empanadas that you get in the highlands of Ecuador and it is called empanadas de morocho. [The dough is made from] a big grain corn thats dried and then ground. The filling is usually just minced pork, onions, garlic and annatto seed oil so its got this orange color. The spices are minimal, maybe salt, a little oil, just a little bit of carrot and sometimes peas.

Theyre really hard to work with. You form the empanadas and then you fry them and they almost crackle with the crispiness. Theyre delicate and greasy and theyre so good with Aji hot sauce. We get in multiple kinds of hominy because its on the menu at Ox. Ive tried different ways of cooking it. Ive tried soaking it. I tried soaking it and rinsing it for a week. Ive tried grinding it. Ive tried everything and I cant get it right. In Ecuador, its just one of those ingredients that you take for granted. You can go to the mercado, the open-air market, and you can buy a bag of masa and then just make the filling yourself. Thats definitely one of those things that keeps me up at night.

Part of your research involved traveling to Argentina and Spain. One takeaway was how, when it comes to wood-fired grilling, location wasnt a high priority.

Greg: Americans always have a barbecue area. Like, this is where we grill. Its much more free-flowing there. Once, this guy was cooking a baby lamb and he just kind of threw it on the lawn. Like, Heres where we are cooking it! Theres a picture in the book of this guy stabbing beef ribs. He just threw it on a piece of sheet metal and used this big old pitchfork to pick it up, move it and turn it over. It was amazing. A lot of people here have big, beautiful, amazing, fancy grills. And all you really need is fire and some sort of metal to keep the meat from falling into the coals in the fire. It comes out just as good.

At Ox, you use a giant Argentinian-style grill with grooves that catch the fat as it runs off. Talk about the decision to use that overflow.

Greg: What we knew was that the stuff coming off the grill was fantastic. But we thought, How can we make it taste better? So we started lining those troughs with lemon, garlic, herbs, green onions and whatnot. Then as the night goes on and were cooking hundreds of pounds of meat, we end up with this fantastic, really warm fat that we use for basting the meat that were cooking all night.

Gabi: As much as we love cooking over a wood fire grill or charcoal, a lot of people arent able to. In a lot of places you have to have a gas grill or youre cooking indoors on a grill pan. So we tried to figure out a way to bring more flavor to something that youre grilling.

Isnt that how you came up with Black Gold, a home version of that basting liquid?

Gabi: What we did was duplicate the same aromatics and we kind of tried to leave it up to the reader to figure out what kind of fat they want to use. People who cook a lot of bacon will save the bacon fat in the refrigerator. If you like to trim your meat you can always render the fat from that. But it can also be as simple as putting some butter in there and some olive oil or whatever you have on hand and then slowly heating it. And youll start to infuse that fat with all of those aromatics. Twenty minutes later you have a really delicious herb, spice and fat that you can baste anything with.

Greg: You baste your meat with an herb brush or a regular brush and its soon going to be a mix of those juices. We also say to people just to strain it out, save it in the fridge for the next time you grill. Youre kind of just basically making this mother marinade of deliciousness.

Some of the dishes in Around the Fire will be new to your regulars, right?

Gabi: We loved including recipes that sadly never made it onto the [menu at Ox]. And thats because theres limited real estate on our grill. As it stands there are about a dozen items that are cooked on the grill every day. And the vegetables and the seafood that we do on the grill tends to change all the time. But the meats  the skirt steak, morcilla sausage, the house-made chorizo  they just live there. Theres just not enough room to play around with other meats.

Elaborate on that other.

Gabi: We like presenting certain things that youll probably have to source like the quail or the turkey butts. But we also enjoyed coming up with alternatives for the people who didnt want to spend too much time trying to find the specialty items. The recipes we have for the specialty items have something that is basically infusing that protein with flavor. The maple-brined and grill-roasted turkey butt with cilantro-peanut relish and watermelon, for instance. That recipe works great with chicken thighs.

One thing you stress is that components for recipes can be interchangeable. Explain.

Gabi: What we found is that in each of those components is a really, really great element to put into other dishes. Like the cured and smoked beef tongue. The caper vinaigrette that goes with it would be really delicious, for example, with some grilled salmon. The sweetbread croutons are good on a salad. The tongue itself, if youre going to go to all that work and theres some left over, slice it thin and make delicious sandwiches. The ensalada rusa, a sort of delicious potato-and-beet salad, is a great accompaniment to anything that has been cooked on the grill.

SuperBite is your newest restaurant. Whats a super-bite?

Greg: A tiny adventure in small bites. Were providing something for people that will try to satisfy them and be a little bit over-the-top. Youre not committing to a large quantity of it. Like, the chowder. Thats a super-bite. In one spoonful you get a little bit of marrow, you get a little jalapeno, you get a piece of clam, you get some broth. You get a single bite of all those things. People lose their brains over it.

Gabi: Another example is the Little Gem lettuces salad with mozzarella milanesa, fried anchovy garlic vinaigrette, chopped Marcona almonds and avocado. The combination of textures. Youve got the cool, crisp greens, the creamy avocado, then you got this hot fried mozzarella ball on top and the zesty salad dressing. Theres so much going on but it all makes sense in a single bite.

Greg, I read that in 2006 you had experience with a very different sort of super-bite: Eating two pounds of raw sweet Maui onions in two minutes. Details please.

Greg: [Laughs] Im a bit competitive. We lived in Maui for five years. One day I saw that they had an onion-eating contest and I decided to go for it. So I did. But I didnt win that first year. And that really stuck with me. The next year I didnt train, but I thought about it a lot. Then I entered the competition again and I just dominated. I ate two pounds of onions in two minutes.

And your strategy was?

Greg: You have to be careful because an onion is very watery. You bite it like an apple, chew it a couple times, but not too much because too much water will release, and then you just swallow it. You gotta get a rhythm. I won a hundred bucks and a Maui onion lei.

Do tourists from Argentina come to Ox, order some of your riffs on traditional dishes, and say, What are you doing?

Greg: They have and theres been times where theyve been happy and theres been times when they say, just straight up, This isnt the way that you do it. But whats funny is that every place we went to in Argentina wed ask, Is this just your version? And theyd answer, No, this is the best version. This is how you do it! This is the only right way. We tried chimichurri and chorizo all over Argentina and every one was completely different. So, believe me, we feel more justified in the creative freedom that weve taken.

Gabi: But for every one person that says, This isnt how its supposed to be, weve had nine people say, I love this. Weve had families from Argentina come in and at the end of their meal order another skirt steak to take home or another round of empanadas to smuggle into the hospital because grandma is there and shes sick and flavors from home are going to make her feel better.

I understand that you have a word for customers who are having trouble with Oxs no-reservations (except for large parties) policy.

Greg: Hangry. Thats when someone comes in to the restaurant and they are acting a little childish, a little grumpy. We say to each other Oh gosh, they must be hangry. Sometimes theres a wait at our restaurant and people get frustrated. They dont want to wait.

Gabi: They want food now. You might start off hungry, but as you wait and wait you start to get cranky and then youre hangry.

Greg: When this happens we try to be as gracious as we can, show them hospitality, try to get them what they need as soon as possible. And they really start to relax and that hangry goes away pretty quickly. By the end they always say it was worth the wait.

Skirt steak with chimichurri sauce from Around the Fire, by Gabrielle Quinonez Denton and Greg Denton. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times )

GRILLED BEEF SKIRT STEAK WITH ONION MARINADE AND CHIMICHURRI

50 minutes, plus marinating time. Serves 4

ONION MARINADE

12 medium yellow onion, coarsely chopped

1 small garlic clove, peeled

14 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons water

2 pounds skirt steak, silver skin trimmed away

To make the onion marinade, in a blender combine the onion, garlic, oil, and water and blend until smooth. Put the skirt steak in a large resealable plastic bag or baking dish and pour in the onion mixture, coating both sides. Cover or wrap the meat well so the onion scent does not permeate your refrigerator; chill for at least 4 hours and up to 24 hours.

CHIMICHURRI

1/2 cup minced yellow onion

1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano

1 teaspoon finely grated or minced garlic

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

In a bowl or jar, combine the onion, parsley, oregano, garlic, salt, black pepper and red pepper. Add the oil and vinegar and mix well. Store covered and use before the herbs begin to turn brown, 3 to 5 days. This makes about 2 cups chimichurri

GRILLED SKIRT STEAK WITH CHIMICHURRI

Marinated skirt steak

1 teaspoon kosher salt

14 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Smoked sea salt, homemade or store-bought, for finishing

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Chimichurri, for serving (optional)

1. Heat a grill over medium-high heat.

2. Remove the steak from the marinade and season both sides with the kosher salt and pepper. Transfer the meat to the grill and cook until one side is well seared, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook for about 2 minutes more, for rare to medium-rare. At this point, remove the steak from the grill and rest for 2 minutes to allow the carryover heat to give it a more even doneness. Finally, return the steak to the grill and cook for 1 minute more per side (this guarantees this thin cut of steak will be served hot). (Add another minute of cooking on the second side for medium doneness.) Remove the skirt steak from the grill and rest 1 to 2 minutes before slicing and serving.

3. Cut each steak along the grain into three sections. Turn each piece to slice against the grain at a 45-degree angle. Slice into 14-inch pieces on a slight bias against the grain. Transfer the meat to a warmed plate. Garnish with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and smoked sea salt and serve with the chimichurri.

Each serving: Calories 697; Protein 50 grams; Carbohydrates 2 grams; Fiber 0; Fat 55 grams; Saturated fat 13 grams; Cholesterol 157 mg; Sugar 0; Sodium 602 mg

Note: Adapted from a recipe in Around the Fire by Gabrielle Quinonez Denton and Greg Denton.
When a Spanish firm submitted a bid last year to help build the California bullet train, it cautioned that taxpayer money probably would be needed to keep the system operating.

Having reviewed data on 111 high-speed train lines around the world, construction giant Ferrovial said, it found that all but three could not make ends meet.

More than likely, the California high speed rail will require large government subsidies for years to come, the proposal said.

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That warning, however, was expunged from the version of Ferrovials proposal posted on the states website. The only record of it was on a data disk provided to The Times and others under a public records act request.

The state rail authority repeatedly has asserted that it will not need a subsidy and that every high-speed system in the world operates without taxpayer assistance  despite significant evidence to the contrary. A number of projects around the world have failed financially, others require direct operating subsidies and many more benefit from government taxes and regulations on competing airline and highway systems, according to audits, studies and interviews.

NEWSLETTER: Get essential California headlines delivered daily >>

But in asking taxpayers to help build the Los Angeles-to-San Francisco line, officials assured the state would be able to pay the operating costs purely from the systems revenues  and thus not sap money needed for social services, education or other projects.

When California voters committed the $9 billion in bonds in 2008, the measure stipulated that the system would have to operate without future public funding.

But neither officials nor the law defined what constitutes a subsidy.

It is unclear, for example, whether future interest payments on bonds and other debt that will be paid by taxpayers for the California bullet train amount to an operating subsidy. Those eventually could amount to hundreds of millions  or even billions  of dollars, according to Martin Wachs, a UCLA professor who serves on a state-appointed peer-review panel on the project.

I dont think it is realistic to argue that doesnt constitute a subsidy, he said. I think the citizens of California would be well-served to know whether the system will cover its costs or not.

Asked about the change in the Spanish firms proposal, which came from Ferrovials Cintra subsidiary, high-speed rail spokeswoman Lisa Marie Alley said the authority had requested a clarification because California officials had never before seen the data submitted by the company.

I think the citizens of California would be well-served to know whether the system will cover its costs or not.  Martin Wachs, UCLA professor, member of state-appointed peer-review panel on the project

The amended document, which was posted online, removed any mention of foreign system subsidies. Instead, it said California would be unlikely to handle the construction cost of a high-speed rail line without a subsidy, an issue that has never been disputed.

At the time, Ferrovial was bidding to build a 22-mile segment of the rail system south of Fresno. In January, the rail authority announced that the company had submitted the low bid of $348 million and it was later awarded the contract.

The change in Ferrovials proposal was first noticed this spring by Morris Brown, a Bay Area resident and former Caltech chemistry professor who closely monitors documents and statements issued by the bullet authority.

Brown said that the passage dealing with subsidies appeared to be the only change to the original document contained on the data disk and the subsequent online version.

California High-Speed Rail Authority Chairman Dan Richard in April assured skeptical legislators that high-speed rail operations are known to make profits. There is much evidence to the contrary. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times )

In April, rail authority Chairman Dan Richard assured skeptical legislators during a hearing that they shouldnt worry. Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) asked Richard, Do you know of any high-speed rail operations around the world that make substantial profit?

Richard answered, Actually all of them, virtually all of them, make operating profit. He defined that as being able to cover costs after the expenditure of capital to build the systems.

Ha, OK, Patterson said.

The prohibition on subsidies was pushed in 2008 by former state Senate transportation staffer Art Bauer.

It was put in to ensure the high speed rail would be run with discipline, protect the general fund and protect transit operating subsidies, he said. The transit riders are lower income people.

The assertion that similar systems around the world do not get subsidies is broadly disputed.

It is very easy to falsify a claim like Every HSR system in the world collects revenues that cover their cost, said Bent Flyvbjerg, a University of Oxford business professor and one of the worlds leading experts on bullet trains.

See the most-read stories this hour >>

Flyvbjerg noted that a number of systems became insolvent after starting operations, including the English Channel tunnel train system and Oslo airport train. The Gautrain in South Africa is subsidized, he said. And a national government audit of the Arlanda Express airport link in Stockholm found that agencies had secretly supported the money-losing system.

A 2015 study by Spains Foundation for the Studies of Applied Economics concluded that the nations massive investments into high-speed rail were not yielding economic benefits to businesses or individuals. Gerard Llobet, the lead author, said in an email exchange that he obtained data showing the systems northern line did not cover its operating expenses, separate from repayment of capital.

A study of international high speed rail systems by four Silicon Valley financial experts  including Stanford University emeritus professor Alain Enthoven and former World Bank executive William Grindley  found that Californias system could be among the worst performing in the world.

Its prospective fares would be the lowest on a per-mile basis, driven by a need to compete with the states cutthroat airline market. The California bullet train could only be profitable if it also had the worlds lowest per-mile costs, roughly one-fourth the typical European system, the report said. But given the costs of doing business in California, that is not likely, Grindley said.

The authority, the report said, is in a trap of their making.

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ralph.vartabedian@latimes.com
About one in 10 of California State Universitys 460,000 students is homeless, and one in five doesnt have steady access to enough food, according to the initial findings of a study launched to better understand and address an issue that remains largely undocumented at the nations public universities.

This is a gasp, when you think about it, Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White said Monday at a conference in Long Beach, where more than 150 administrators, researchers, students and advocacy groups gathered to exchange ideas, case studies and their personal experiences with the issue.

White, who commissioned the study, emphasized the need for Cal State, the largest public university system in the nation, to tackle the issue systematically across its 23 campuses.

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Were going to find solutions that we can take to scale, he said. Getting this right is something that we just simply have to do.

Homelessness in higher education is difficult to study and measure accurately, and experts praised Cal State for trying to quantify the scope of an issue with limited data.

Across the country, the number of students who experience food insecurity largely is undocumented and unknown, and the number of homeless students tends to be underreported in national surveys, said Clare Cady, who led Oregon State Universitys program to support homeless students and is now addressing the issue on a national level with the antipoverty nonprofit Single Stop.

Students with unstable housing conditions are not required to say so, and many are reluctant to seek help because of the shame associated with homelessness, said Rashida Crutchfield, an assistant professor in the School of Social Work at Cal State Long Beach, who led the first phase of the study.

Crutchfield, who launched her research in April 2015, interviewed 92 students and conducted four focus groups at urban and rural campuses. She and her team also sent out surveys, reviewed existing resources and asked university staff, faculty and administrators for their impressions of the level of homelessness on their campuses.

Many students and faculty members, she said, were unaware that the definition of homelessness extended beyond living on the street. Some students who couch surfed or lived in their cars, for example, did not consider themselves homeless.

Initial findings indicated that an estimated 8% to 12% of Cal States students are homeless, and 21% to 24% are food insecure, she said.

Crutchfield and her team talked to professors who gave students money and kept food in their desks for those who confided their struggles. A lot of these conversations took place inside our office with the door shut, one university staffer told Crutchfield.

Follow the Times education initiative to inform parents, educators and students across California 

On Monday, Crutchfield talked about meeting Kassandra, a student she identified only by her first name, who said her studies were often on the back burner because you cant really concentrate on school and put in any effort when youre trying to look for where to stay and how youre going to make ends meet.

In the first phase of the research project, Crutchfield identified 11 campuses that already offered some form of a food pantry or homeless support program. Five of these schools have been particularly proactive, she said.

Fresno State, for example, launched a cupboard last fall that tracks leftover food from catered campus events  and developed an app that notifies students when food is available. The university also created, among other initiatives, a center that provides free groceries, toothpaste and other basic supplies.

At Cal State Long Beach, a campus-wide intervention program offers students emergency grants, hotel vouchers, meal assistance and counseling. The initiative also has secured jobs on campus for nine students so far, to help them reach more stable living conditions.

Their work and ideas will be shared at the conference this week with representatives from other campuses, the UC system and nonprofits.

The study will continue over the next two years, Crutchfield said, with the goal of collecting more concrete data, confirming the scope of the problem and finding ways to launch intervention support programs on each campus.

We have much, much more work to do, she said.

rosanna.xia@latimes.com

Follow @RosannaXia on Twitter for more education news.

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UPDATES:

11:08 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about campus programs.

This article was originally published at 2:09 p.m.
Despite winds blowing 50 mph and triple-digit heat this weekend, firefighters made gains on a wildfire that has burned more than 12 square miles of forest in Santa Barbara County and Los Padres National Forest since last week, officials said Monday.

The Sherpa fire was reportedly 54% contained and had burned 7,893 acres since it started Wednesday afternoon near Refugio Road in the Santa Ynez Mountains. Residents in Refugio, Venadito, Las Flores and El Capitan canyons have been under a mandatory evacuation since shortly after the fire began to grow.

The fire also burned a small water treatment building at El Capitan state beach, fire officials said, and damaged avocado, lemon and olive crops. At one point, the fire forced the closure of the 101 Freeway.

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The greater danger of the fire is always at night here because of the sundowner winds, said Costa Dillon, an information officer stationed at the command post on Sunday.

Those conditions are expected to continue Monday, the U.S. Forest Service said.

A red flag warning has been issued for Southern California through Tuesday morning. Temperatures are expected to hover in the triple digits in Los Angeles and remain in the 90s near the Sherpa fire, authorities said.

See the most-read stories in Local News this hour >>

The blaze is the largest active fire in California, according to state and federal data.

In San Diego County, a wildfire fueled by dry brush and sweltering temperatures has scorched 1,500 acres just north of the U.S.-Mexico border and prompted mandatory evacuations for the entire east county community of Potrero.

About 25 homes south of state Route 94 and east of state Route 188, near where the fire initially sparked about 11:30 a.m. Sunday, were also evacuated.

In Silver Lake, a fire broke out Sunday that threatened homes and forced the closure of the 2 Freeway for several hours.

The fire started near the intersection of Lake View Avenue and Allesandro Way  the cause was under investigation  and pushed northwest by winds, Los Angeles fire officials said. Nearly 200 firefighters responded as a helicopter swooped over the freeway, dropping fire retardant.

Crews needed about 45 minutes to get the fire under control. Two homes on Corralitas Drive were damaged along with three sheds on nearby properties, said David Ortiz, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna.

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A Sacramento sheriffs deputy has been placed on leave as the department conducts an investigation into the shooting and killing of a teenage boy who drove toward officers in a pursuit over the weekend, authorities said.

The deputy is a 12-year veteran of the sheriffs department assigned to the field service division, according to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Department. The deputy was placed on paid leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

The sheriffs department said deputies tried to stop the boy, identified as 17-year-old Sergey Makarenko, at 11 p.m. Saturday because he was driving erratically through neighborhoods in Carmichael, according to the Sacramento County Sheriffs Department.

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When the boy turned onto a street with a dead end, deputies got out of their cars and ordered him to exit his vehicle, sheriffs officials said.

Instead, the teen boy put his car in reverse and accelerated, deputies said.

A deputy fearing for the safety of the officers behind the suspects vehicle discharged his firearm at the suspect, the sheriffs department said.

The boy was struck by the gunfire and removed from his vehicle. He died at the scene, deputies said.

The Sheriffs Homicide Bureau and Professional Standards Division was investigating the shooting.

For breaking news in California, follow @VeronicaRochaLA on Twitter.

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Three workers were injured Monday morning when a 300-ton crane collapsed at Exxon Mobils refinery in Torrance, fire officials said.

The contract workers suffered minor injuries during the collapse at the refinery in the 3700 block of West 190th Street, said Battalion Chief Bob Millea of the Torrance Fire Department. The workers were taken to an area clinic for evaluation.

Fire officials said the crane was moving debris at the refinery just after 9:30 a.m. when it suddenly collapsed, he said.

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Water was doused onto the debris to stop any vapors from escaping, Millea said. The situation, he said, appeared to be static.

The extent of the damage to the refinery was not immediately known, he said.

Exxon Mobil spokesman Todd Spitler said the company was cooperating with fire officials and determining the cause of the incident.

A breakdown in some units triggered a flaring event at the refinery, he said. The refinerys flare system is activated to safety stabilize operations during an unplanned interruption. The flaring event was not related to the collapse, Spitler said.

Our main concern is for the safety of our employees, contractors and the community, Exxon Mobil spokeswoman Gesuina Paras said. There is no impact to the community.

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There was no deep undercover operation, no long-term surveillance, no wiretaps that led authorities to Josue Lomeli and his drug-smuggling work.

It was as simple and as obvious as the poorly concealed bulge in the clothes of the teenager who approached the Customs and Border Protection officer assigned to Lane 59 at the San Ysidro Port of Entry.

Shuttled to a secondary inspection area, the youth  identified in court records as E.G.  was asked what he was carrying. In response, he stood up and lifted his shirt, revealing four sealed packages taped to his torso.

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The packages contained 2.7 kilos of heroin, nearly six pounds. E.G. told inspectors he had been paid $800  a fraction of the street value of the narcotics  to carry the drugs across the border.

He said the man who had strapped the packages to his body was standing right behind him in the pedestrian crossing lane when the officer noticed the bulge. After reviewing security camera footage, authorities identified Lomeli. Months later, they arrested him when he again appeared at the port of entry.

All they see is the immediate gratification of the money. There is no appreciation for the long-term collateral consequences.  Assistant U.S. Atty. Sherri Walker Hobson

Lomeli eventually admitted he had taped drugs to at least six people, including two juveniles. Last week, four years after E.G. was caught, Lomeli stood in front of U.S. District Judge Marilyn Huff and was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison.

Drugs flow across the U.S. border by land, sea and air, in underground tunnels, hidden in cars, packed inside toys and construction materials  and strapped to the bodies of willing youths tempted by the promise of ready cash and the reality that, if caught, their age would mean they would not be harshly sentenced.

Lomelis case, Huff said, was a chilling example of a long-running phenomenon of using minors as body carriers for narcotics.

Several years ago, alarmed by a jump in arrests of minors caught at the border, authorities embarked on a program of visiting high schools in San Diego and Imperial counties to warn of the dangers and long-term consequences of smuggling drugs.

It appears to have had some effect, according to statistics from Customs and Border Protection.

In 2013, there were 118 youths caught smuggling marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin and cocaine through the San Diego sector, an area that covers the six official ports of entry from San Ysidro east to Andrade in Imperial County, as well as the airport and seaport.

The education and outreach program began in 2013. By the next year, the number of youths caught had dropped to 63. It rose slightly to 70 in 2015. Through May this year, some 24 minors have been caught, agency figures show.

The decline can be attributed to many factors, such as tighter border security, although the numbers only show those caught  not those who likely are still getting through.

While acknowledging the drop, authorities said the problem persists.

Unfortunately, its something we still do see often, said Sidney Aki, the port director at San Ysidro, the busiest land border crossing in the world.

Drug gangs target youths who can legally cross the border because they are U.S. citizens who may live in Tijuana and go to school in the United States, or have a border crossing card. They are paid no more than a few hundred dollars, which seems like big money to teenagers, Aki said.

If theyre caught, minors arent prosecuted in federal court but are sent to state juvenile court, usually charged with possession of drugs for sale. San Diego County Deputy Dist. Atty. Dwain Woodley said that in the last month, his office has filed drug-smuggling cases against five minors.

The youths, mostly first-time offenders, likely wont receive a lengthy sentence, he said.

This is not an offense that warrants someone getting sent to the Division of Juvenile Justice, he said, referring to the state youth detention system.

The outreach program that visits high schools emphasizes that there are serious consequences to smuggling, even for youth, Assistant U.S. Atty. Sherri Walker Hobson said.

That includes being deported if not a citizen or losing a visa that allows entry to the United States. Longer-term effects for citizens include losing the right to vote, affecting certain professional licenses or even losing eligibility for some federal benefits, she said.

See the most-read stories this hour 

All they see is the immediate gratification of the money, she said. There is no appreciation for the long-term collateral consequences.

The education program intensified in late 2013 when a Tijuana teenager died. The youth was carrying two bottles of a dark-colored liquid and after telling inspectors it was juice, voluntarily took a small sip.

He fell violently ill a short time later and died. The bottles contained liquid methamphetamine, authorities said.

The smuggling incident involving E.G. occurred in July 2012, and Lomeli was charged in November of that year. According to court records, federal agents offered him a chance to be released if he agreed to cooperate.

When he was released, Lomeli  a U.S. citizen  fled to Mexico. It was not until May 31, 2015, that he was again arrested at the San Ysidro crossing. He had been stabbed by rival drug traffickers, and his mother had loaded him into an ambulance in Tijuana and shipped him to the port, where as a citizen he would get medical care, court records show.

What happened to E.G. isnt known because juvenile records are sealed.

greg.moran@sduniontribune.com

Moran writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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Verna B. Dauterive, a USC donor and longtime Los Angeles Unified School District principal, died June 1 of natural causes. She was 93.

Dauterive was hired by L.A. schools in 1943, one of only four black teachers in the district at the time.

Four decades later, Dauterive and her husband, Peter, endowed the first scholarship for minority doctoral students in education at USC, where she had completed graduate work.

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It was one of several gifts to USC. The couple, over time, committed a total of $30 million toward scholarship funds, libraries and other functions there. Verna Dauterives 2008 donation in memory of her husband, who died in 2002, was considered one of the largest gifts at the time from an African American to a U.S. college.

Well into her 80s, as an honorary USC trustee, colleagues said Verna Dauterive outlasted them in meetings and powered up stairs in her elegant high heels.

Slim and attentive to style, she was always put together, she was always prepared, she was always thoughtful, said friend and colleague Tom Sayles, USC vice president for university relations.

According to USC, Dauterive was born Oct. 1, 1922, in LeCompte, La. Her mother was principal of a blacks-only school, and her father was a Pullman train porter.

She landed a teaching job in Los Angeles after receiving her bachelors degree at Wiley College in Texas, and later earned her masters and doctorate in education at USC, where she published a widely-cited dissertation on public school integration  a topic that she also pursued in her career.

She became a top administrator in L.A.s program to voluntarily bus minority students to schools in white areas, a role she looked back on with mixed feelings. The program raised some students aspirations, but didnt seem to make a big difference academically by sitting in a different environment or next to a white student, Dauterive told the Los Angeles Times in 2008.

She chaired Californias Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the Commission on the Status of Women and for 23 years served as principal of Franklin Avenue Elementary school in Los Feliz.

Colleagues and parents said Dauterive, who did not have children, poured her energies into Franklin Elementary.

This school was her child, Elisa Paolino-Dubois, whose daughter was a student, told The Times in 2005. She never missed an event. She understood the school system, and she was a quintessential lady.

When she retired in 2005, about 300 people attended her retirement luncheon. Some waited an hour in line to hug her.

Dauterive had met her husband, a former soldier, in the basement stacks of USCs Doheny Memorial Library when both were students in 1947.

He was, like her, a recent arrival from segregated Louisiana looking for better opportunities in Los Angeles. After getting his business degree on the GI Bill, he started Founders Savings and Loan Assn., a Crenshaw district institution that helped provide home loans for residents devastated by the 1965 Watts riots. He stepped down in 1986, the same year federal regulators seized Founders and said at the time that the thrift was suffering from mismanagement, according to a Times report in 1989.

Peter Dauterive later formed a property management firm and was known as a savvy investor in apartment buildings, stocks and oil drilling projects. He also served on the boards of a number of civic institutions, such as the Los Angeles Zoo and the California Science Museum. The couple were married 53 years.

A longtime resident of View Park, Dauterive was active in her church, Holman United Methodist in Jefferson Park, and was rooted in her neighborhood, Sayles said. But her branches went well beyond the black community  she really was a leader in the city.

rosanna.xia@latimes.com

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A senior FBI official was named chief of the long-troubled U.S. Border Patrol on Monday in an effort to curb abuses, investigate corruption and improve discipline within the 21,000-member force.

Mark Morgan, who heads the FBI training division, is the first outsider to lead the Border Patrol in its 92-year history.

He inherits a force under fire for ignoring or downplaying shootings of unarmed people and other abuses by agents, and of doing too little to stem corruption by drug cartels, smugglers and other criminals.

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The Border Patrol is responsible for securing the nations borders. Driven by concerns about national security, the number of agents and other personnel has grown dramatically in the last 15 years.

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Critics say that has led to a lack of accountability and an array of other problems, from excessive use of force to racial profiling.

In a statement, R. Gil Kerlikowske, commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Border Patrols parent agency, praised Morgans strong law enforcement and leadership credentials.

Morgans career has included stints as a Los Angeles Police Department officer, as a deputy sheriff in Platt County, Mo., and 20 years at the FBI.

He ran an FBI-led Hispanic gang task force in the Los Angeles field office that focused on MS-13 and 18th Street gangs. He also held senior FBI roles in Baghdad, Iraq; New Haven, Conn.; and El Paso, Texas.

Most recently, Morgan headed training at the FBIs training center in Quantico, Va., and at FBI headquarters in Washington.

FBI Director James Comey said in a statement that Morgan brought passion for justice and public service to his work.

Morgan also led the internal affairs office at Customs and Border Protection in 2014, a post that put him at odds with the Border Patrols insular culture.

Officials say he helped internal affairs overhaul how abuse cases are investigated, identified weaknesses in how agents were trained to use force, and pushed to get greater authority for internal affairs officers.

Morgans appointment immediately took flak from the Border Patrols powerful union, however. It complained that Kerlikowske had ignored viable candidates within the force.

How can someone who has never made an immigration arrest in his career expect to lead an agency whose primary duty is to make immigration arrests? asked Joshua Wilson, a spokesman for the unions local chapter in San Diego.

The union had urged Kerlikowske to choose Ronald D. Vitiello, a veteran of the Border Patrol who has served as acting chief. Vitiello improved new shift rotation schedules, Wilson said.

See the most-read stories in National News this hour >>

Some advocates of tougher immigration actions also criticized the selection of an FBI veteran over an internal candidate.

It basically is saying that the existing border agents dont know what they are doing and need an outsider to come in from a totally separate branch of law enforcement and tell them how to do their jobs  its offensive, said Rosemary Jenks, director of government relations for NumbersUSA, a Virginia-based advocacy group that lobbies to reduce immigration levels.

By almost any measure, the Border Patrols problems are significant.

In March, for example, an independent task force said in a report that the system for disciplining abusive or corrupt Border Patrol agents is deeply flawed.

A separate independent review of 67 uses of deadly force made public in 2014 found that some agents had deliberately stepped in front of cars to justify shooting at drivers and had fired weapons at people throwing rocks from the Mexican side of the border.

It is not a secret that the Border Patrol has major accountability problems resulting from years of unchecked abuse, James Lyall, an American Civil Liberties Union lawyer in Tucson, said in a telephone interview.

Morgan needs to act promptly to implement modern law enforcement best practices that the Border Patrol has resisted for far too long, Lyall said.

Follow me on Twitter @bybrianbennett

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The Supreme Court turned away another challenge to state laws banning the sale of rapid-fire assault weapons on Monday, a victory for gun control supporters at a time of heightened public concern over the issue.

Without comment or a dissent, the justices dismissed appeals from gun-rights advocates in Connecticut and New York who contended the state bans violated their rights under the 2nd Amendment.

The courts action came as no surprise. In December, the justices had turned down a similar appeal in a case from Highland Park, Ill., but over the dissents of Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

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The high courts refusal to even consider the claim that the 2nd Amendment includes the right to own a rapid-fire weapon strongly suggest the majority of justices see the Constitutions protection of gun rights as more limited than many gun-rights advocates maintain.

In 2008 and 2010, the justices struck down ordinances in Washington, D.C., and Chicago that banned the private possession of handguns at home.

But the court has declined several opportunities to extend its ruling to protect other rights asserted by gun owners. The court has repeatedly refused to hear appeals from gun-rights advocates who claimed a constitutional right to carry a weapon in public or to buy rapid-fire weapons.

The U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York upheld the state laws in Connecticut and New York, and the justices said Monday in Shew vs. Malloy that they would not review that decision.

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The Supreme Court agreed Monday to decide a case from Los Angeles on whether foreigners who are held for deportation are entitled to hearings that could lead to their release on bond.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the government must provide a bond hearing and prove by clear and convincing evidence that detainees would pose a flight risk if set free.

Obama administration lawyers, in a strongly worded appeal, accused the appeals court of a radical revision of the law that governs foreigners who are picked up trying to enter the country illegally and criminals who are being held for deportation.

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Throughout the history of U.S. immigration law, Congress has never provided bond hearings for aliens detained at the threshold of entry to the country, U.S. Solicitor Gen. Donald Verrilli said in asking the high court to consider the case. The law says aliens who have criminal records shall be detained and deported, he said.

See the most-read stories in National News this hour >>

Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union had won the appeals court ruling after suing in federal court in Los Angeles and arguing that people who are held for more than six months deserve a hearing. Some of the detainees have jobs and families in the United States, and a significant percentage of them are eventually spared from deportation, the ACLU argued.

Verrilli said the 9th Circuits ruling, if adopted nationwide, would pose a threat to public safety and put a heavy burden on the immigration system.

The high court said it would hear the case in the fall, so a final ruling may not come until after President Obama leaves office. The case is Jennings vs. Rodriguez.

In a second case from Los Angeles, the court cast doubt on whether service advisors who work at auto dealerships are entitled to overtime pay.

The federal law that sets minimum wages and extra pay for overtime had long included an exemption for any salesman who is primarily engaged in selling or servicing automobiles. The notion was that these employees were paid commissions on their sales, not for the hours they worked.

This exemption had also covered the more than 40,000 service advisors at car dealerships nationwide who advise customers who need work on their vehicles; they too receive commissions. But in 2011, the Labor Department announced a new rule that limited the exemption to salespeople only, not service advisors.

When service advisors at Encino Motor Cars, a Mercedes-Benz dealership, sued seeking overtime pay, a federal judge initially dismissed their claim, citing the earlier exemption. But they won before the 9th Circuit court, which relied on the Labor Departments new policy.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal, and on Monday set aside the 9th Circuits decision in Encino Motor Cars v. Navarro.

Justice Anthony Kennedy said the Labor Department had failed to explain its switch in policy, and he faulted the 9th Circuit for relying on its new rule. The case now goes back to the 9th Circuit for a second look.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented. They said they would have ruled that the law makes clear that service advisors do not qualify for overtime because they are engaged in servicing automobiles.

On Twitter: DavidGSavage

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The Supreme Court on Monday gave police more power to stop people on the streets and question them, even when it is not clear they have done anything wrong.

In a 5-3 ruling, the justices relaxed the so-called exclusionary rule and upheld the use of drug evidence found on a Utah man who was stopped illegally by a police officer in Salt Lake City.

The court, in an opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas, said that because the man had an outstanding arrest warrant for a traffic violation, the illegal stop could be ignored.

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In this case, the warrant was valid, it predated [the police officers] investigation, and it was entirely unconnected with the stop, Thomas wrote for the court.

The courts three women justices strongly dissented and warned that the ruling will encourage police to randomly stop and question people because they face no penalty for violating their constitutional rights against unreasonable searches. They said racial minorities in major cities will be most affected.

The court today holds that the discovery of a warrant for an unpaid parking ticket will forgive a police officers violation of your 4th Amendment rights, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in dissent.

Do not be soothed by the opinions technical language: This case allows the police to stop you on the street, demand your identification and check it for outstanding traffic warrants  even if you are doing nothing wrong, she wrote. If the officer discovers a warrant for a fine you forgot to pay, courts will now excuse his illegal stop and will admit into evidence anything he happens to find by searching you after arresting you on the warrant.

Allowing police to stop people to fish for evidence is a serious mistake that will give officers reason to target pedestrians in an arbitrary manner, Sotomayor wrote.

We also risk treating members of our community as second-class citizens, she wrote, adding that the white defendant in this case shows that anyones dignity can be violated in this manner. But it is not secret that people of color are disproportionate victims of this type of scrutiny.

Justice Elena Kagan in a separate dissent noted that millions of people have outstanding warrants.

The state of California has 2.5 million outstanding arrest warrants (a number corresponding to about 9% of its adult population), she said. She and Sotomayor pointed that the Justice Department found that Ferguson, Mo., with a population of 21,000, had 16,000 outstanding warrants on file.

Thomas, rebutting the dissenters, said the case did not involve a flagrant violation of the 4th Amendment. He said he doubted police will engage in dragnet searches if the exclusionary rule is not applied. We think this outcome is unlikely.

The Supreme Court first adopted the exclusionary rule for federal cases in 1914, but greatly expanded its reach in 1961 by applying the rule to state and local police. The rule generally requires judges to throw out evidence if a police officer or federal agent conducted an unreasonable search, including stopping a pedestrian without reasonable suspicion that the person had committed a crime.

In the last decade, the court led by Chief Justice John Roberts has relaxed the rule in cases in which officers made an innocent mistake or relied on a defective warrant.

The Utah case began when a Salt Lake City officer saw a man walking away from a house where drug dealing was suspected. He stopped Edward Strieff in the parking lot of a nearby convenience store and asked to see his identification.

When Det. Douglas Fackrell relayed the information to a police dispatcher, he was told Strieff had an outstanding warrant for a traffic violation. Based on that, he arrested Strieff, searched him and found a bag of methamphetamine.

Strieff was charged with unlawful possession of an illegal drug, although the prosecutors conceded the officer had lacked reasonable suspicion when he stopped and questioned the man outside the convenience store.

The Utah Supreme Court reversed Strieffs drug conviction on the grounds that the illegal stop required throwing out the evidence against him.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear the states appeal and upheld the conviction Monday in Utah vs. Strieff.

Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Anthony M. Kennedy, Stephen G. Breyer and Samuel A. Alito agreed with Thomas.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined Kagans dissent.

On Twitter: DavidGSavage
The Republican-led Senate on Monday voted down proposals to bar gun sales to terrorism suspects, notching another victory for gun rights advocates eight days after a gunman who had been on an FBI terrorism watch list killed 49 people at a nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

The votes marked the latest attempt by Democrats to break the congressional impasse on guns, a bitter partisan divide that long has blocked new federal regulations.

The body blocked all four proposed gun-related amendments  two by Democrats and two by Republicans  to a spending bill.

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The Senate similarly blocked new restrictions on gun sales after the 2012 massacre of 20 schoolchildren and six adults in Newtown, Conn., and the killing of 14 people in December in San Bernardino.

The competing measures Monday focused on two issues: background checks and terrorism watch lists.

Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) proposed strengthening federal background checks. Sen. Christopher S. Murphy (D-Conn.) proposed expanding the background checks to include sales at gun shows and on the Internet. Both failed.

The other round of voting focused on sales of firearms to people on terrorism watch lists and no-fly lists.

A proposal by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) would have given investigators 72 hours to prove that someone on a watch or no-fly list has ties to terrorism. If not, the suspect would be allowed to purchase a gun.

In the most closely watched measure, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) proposed an amendment that would bar any individual on a terrorism watch list from purchasing a firearm. That failed 47 to 53.

Both sides accused the other of trying to exploit the Orlando shooting for political gain.

No one wants terrorists to be able to buy guns or explosives. No one, said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). He said Senate Democrats were trying to craft the next 30-second campaign ad, and he praised Republican efforts to pass legislation.

Murphy said before Mondays votes that I have been so angry that this Congress has mustered absolutely no response to mass shooting after mass shooting, in city after city that is plagued by gun violence.

He staged a nearly 15-hour filibuster last week to force leaders to schedule the votes on Monday, but he acknowledged that the proposals might not pass.

See the most-read stories in National News this hour >>

Polls show Americans favor some new restrictions on gun sales, but compromise in Congress remains out of reach.

Republicans, who are largely backed by the National Rifle Assn., mostly opposed the Democratic bill from Feinstein.

The Orlando shooting has given gun control a central role in the presidential campaign. Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has backed the Democratic effort.

Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump -- who has said armed patrons in the Pulse nightclub could have tried to stop the killer -- said last week that he would meet with the NRA to discuss options.

Before the vote, Feinstein argued that under her bill, authorities could have blocked Omar Mateen from buying the semiautomatic rifle and handgun that he used in Orlando, because he previously was on the FBIs watch list.

The NRA and other opponents insisted that Feinsteins bill could prevent people who are wrongly listed as terrorism suspects from gaining access to firearms.

Many Republicans said they backed Cornyns measure.

Every single senator wants to deny terrorists access to guns they use to harm innocent civilians, but theres a right way to do things and a wrong way, Cornyn said before the vote.

With competing measures up for votes, neither was expected to pass.

Thats what happened six months ago when senators considered similar bills after a married couple shot and killed 14 people at a holiday party in San Bernardino.

A separate measure Monday to tighten background checks also failed -- similar to what happened after a gunman killed 20 elementary school children and six adults in December 2012 in Newtown.

The House has shown even less urgency in considering gun control measures in the aftermath of the Orlando shooting.

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) has suggested taking a slower approach and studying the best legislative response.

Weve got to get it right, Ryan said Sunday on Meet the Press. Were going to take a deep breath and make sure that this is done correctly.

The Senate votes came the same day that the Supreme Court turned away another challenge to state laws banning the sale of rapid-fire assault weapons, a victory for gun control supporters.

Without comment or a dissent, the justices dismissed appeals from gun rights advocates in Connecticut and New York who contended the state bans violated their rights under the 2nd Amendment.

The courts action came as no surprise. In December, the justices had turned down a similar appeal in a case from Highland Park, Ill., but over the dissents of Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

The high courts refusal to even consider the claim that the 2nd Amendment includes the right to own a rapid-fire weapon strongly suggest the majority of justices see the Constitutions protection of gun rights as more limited than many advocates maintain.

Times staff writer David G. Savage contributed to this report.

lisa.mascaro@latimes.com

Follow on Twitter @LisaMascaro

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UPDATES:

4:24 p.m: This story was updated with results of the Senate votes

This story was originally posted at 12:34 p.m.
The gunman who launched last weeks deadly shooting rampage at an Orlando gay nightclub identified himself to police as an Islamic solider and demanded that the U.S. stop bombing Syria and Iraq, the FBI said Monday.

In the name of God the merciful  praise be to God, Omar Mateen, a security guard from southeast Florida, told a police dispatcher in a 2:35 a.m. phone call June 12 from Pulse nightclub. Im in Orlando, and I did the shootings.

The call, detailed in transcripts released Monday by the FBI, came about half an hour after Mateen, 29, entered the popular gay nightspot and began a rapid-fire barrage that left 49 people dead.

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During that first, 50-second conversation, Mateen pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr Baghdadi, head of the militant group Islamic State: May God protect him, he said in Arabic, according to the new FBI report.

The full transcript was released only after several Republican political leaders criticized a version released earlier Monday in which the names of Baghdadi and Islamic State, as well as the full name of the gunman, were redacted.

Out of respect for the victims of this horrific tragedy, law enforcement will not be releasing audio of the shooters 911 calls at this time. Furthermore, the name of the shooter and that of the person/group to whom he pledged allegiance are omitted, the FBI said in its initial release.

FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Ronald Hopper said this was an attempt to avoid giving credence to cowards or fueling copycats.

Were not going to propagate violent extremism, he said.

But Florida Gov. Rick Scott said not including references by name to the group, which is also referred to by the acronym ISIS, deprived victims families of a full picture of the killers motive. He accused the Obama administration of shying away from focusing on Islamic State.

Weve got to call this for what it is, he told Fox News. This is evil, its ISIS, its radical Islam.

House Speaker Paul D. Ryan had also been critical of the initial editing, calling it preposterous censorship and insisting that an unredacted transcript was necessary so the public is clear-eyed about who did this, and why.

Before long, federal officials backtracked.

In a joint statement with the Justice Department, the FBI several hours later released a new version of Mateens 911 call with no omissions. The agency said it reconsidered after realizing the unreleased portions had caused an unnecessary distraction from the hard work that the FBI and our law enforcement partners have been doing to investigate this heinous crime.

The statement also noted that much of the redacted material had already been reported.

Mateen never gave his name during his 911 call, but he did claim responsibility for the attack.

Whats your name? the dispatcher asked at that point.

My name is I pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, may God protect him, on behalf of the Islamic State, Mateen replied.

The dispatcher tried to find out where he was before Mateen abruptly hung up. Mateen went on to have three conversations with Orlando police negotiators. The first conversation lasted nine minutes, the second sixteen minutes and the last was three minutes. At one point, a crisis negotiator asked the shooter what he had done.

You already know what I did, Mateen responded, adding that there was a bomb-filled vehicle outside the club.

You people are gonna get it, and Im gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid, he said.

FBI officials said that during the calls Mateen told negotiators he had a vest, which he compared to explosives used in a recent terrorist attack in France. He also told police to tell the U.S. to stop bombing Syria and Iraq, saying that this was why he was out here right now.

In the next few days, Mateen told them, youre going to see more of this type of action going on.

Orlando Police Chief John Mina declined to go into detail about the negotiations during a news conference Monday, but said one purpose of the conversations was to keep Mateen talking to distract him from shooting more victims.

After an initial round of shots was fired at about 2 a.m., Mina said, no other shots were fired inside the nightclub until three hours later, when police burst into the building using a tactical vehicle. At 5:15 a.m., the FBI said, members of the SWAT team shot and killed Mateen.

Asked whether any civilians had been killed during the shootout between police and Mateen, Mina said he couldnt comment because it was part of an ongoing investigation. He then added, Those killings are on the suspect and on the suspect alone.

Some of the questions around the timeline have centered on the three hours that elapsed between the initial shootings and when police stormed the bathroom where Mateen was holed up with hostages.

Mina emphasized that police first entered the nightclub six minutes after authorities first got word of the shooting. And the new details released Monday make it clear that emergency officials were rescuing victims inside the club during the hours between the initial siege and the end of the drama.

In one case, at 4:21 a.m., Orlando police pulled an air-conditioning unit out of a dressing room window in order for victims to evacuate, the report said.

Im very confident they saved many, many lives, Mina said.

Hopper said investigators had conducted more than 500 interviews, collected more than 600 pieces of evidence from the crime scene and received thousands of tips. Investigators said they were combing through social media accounts and contacting people who knew Mateen  even people who talked to him only once  in search of clues to a motive.

Hopper hedged when asked whether Mateen was gay, saying those allegations are still being vetted out.

By Monday, someone had claimed the gunmans body, which had been housed separately from the bodies of the 49 victims, according to the Orange County, Fla., medical examiners office. There was no word on who claimed the body or whether any funeral was planned.

Bedar Bakht, who knew Mateen and his family from the mosque they attended in Fort Pierce, Fla., said the imam there has said he will not perform traditional funeral prayers for Mateen at the mosque before any burial. Bakht isnt even sure whether he would attend the funeral, if there was one.

The thing he has done. I dont know if I want to go to his funeral, he said. Given the attack, Bakht said, Mateen doesnt deserve the attention that any funeral gets.

Besides, he said, its believed that those with more than 100 people at their funeral are rewarded in the hereafter. Why would I attend and give him the reward? Bakht said. Its not right.

Times staff writer Del Quentin Wilber in Washington contributed to this report.

MORE NATIONAL NEWS

Orlando nightclub shooting timeline: Three hours of terror unfold

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UPDATES:

4:54 p.m.: The story was updated with comments on possible funeral plans.

1:12 p.m.: The story was updated with additional details from the transcripts and an FBI news conference.

The story was originally published at 9:35 a.m.
Donald Trump, whose rocky start to the general election has prompted dire concern among Republicans, separated from his campaign manager Monday.

Corey Lewandowski, 42, has been credited with orchestrating Trumps unlikely rise during the primary season. But he has also been a controversial figure, notably facing a battery charge against a Breitbart News reporter, which prosecutors in Florida declined to pursue.

Corey Lewandowski will no longer be working with the campaign, spokeswoman Hope Hicks said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. The campaign is grateful to Corey for his hard work and dedication and we wish him the best.

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The campaign has been dogged by reports of infighting in recent weeks, and Trump has faced an onslaught of criticism for a lack of the fundraising and infrastructure typical of a modern presidential campaign. Trump has also hit record low approval ratings in recent polls.

Since securing the nomination, Trump has prompted a backlash with his public comments and style, even from fellow members of the GOP, who assailed him for asserting that an Indiana-born judge is a Mexican who could not rule fairly in a fraud lawsuit waged against Trump. Trump drew further criticism after the Orlando, Fla., massacre for re-upping his anti-Muslim rhetoric and repeating his call to temporarily ban all Muslims from entering the country.
To the editor: Ben Ehrenreichs essay about what the Israeli government does to the Palestinians leaves a lot out. Reading it, one would think that the government has really nothing else to do but ruin the lives of innocent Palestinians for no reason at all. (Are Democrats finally ready for a real debate on U.S.-Israel policy? Opinion, June 16)

Though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus actions might be heavy-handed, they are directed at Palestinians who randomly stab Israelis, plow into crowds of Israelis with cars and trucks, shoot at them and sometimes explode themselves in buses, restaurants, cafes and other gathering spots.

If I were living in Israel or in any country where this was happening, I would want some drastic protection from my government. Why shouldnt Israelis have the same expectations for protection that citizens of any other country would have in these circumstances?

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Israeli lives matter too.

Sara L. Cannon, Santa Monica

..

See the most-read stories this hour >>

To the editor: Israel has lost the moral high ground.

From the very beginning, as Palestinian farmers, shopkeepers, businessmen and families were forced out, there has been no concerted effort by Israels government to provide credible relief to the dispossessed. Attacks and uprisings are no excuse. They should have been expected given the circumstances.

Only an overt and successful campaign to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians would have helped resolve the situation. Instead, Israel has taken the opposite approach. It wont work. The root cause of the conflict has not been addressed.

The world has begun to question this approach, and if the signs in America are true, Israel is going to find itself in a much more dangerous position. Better look for a new strategy.

W.R. Frederick, Tarzana

..

To the editor: Israel does not arrest Palestinian youths or demolish their homes for fun. Since the beginning of last year, dozens of innocent Israelis have been killed by Palestinians.

Palestinians have been offered a state on numerous occasions, but their leaders have rejected one. Israel withdrew unilaterally from the Gaza Strip in 2005 and has experienced thousands of rocket attacks on its civilians ever since. It has withdrawn from many areas of the West Bank.

The conflict has devolved over the years to a point where distrust on both sides makes it hard to see a way forward. But this issue is not one-sided as Ehrenreich would have us believe.

If he wants to present a case for the Palestinians, he should at least provide a context.

Pauline Regev, Santa Monica

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook

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Vice President Joe Biden called anti-Muslim rhetoric deeply, deeply damaging to our national security on Monday and warned that proposals like those supported by Donald Trump only threaten to further inflame Arab-world sentiment against the U.S.

Biden never named Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, during an address to a national-security think tank in Washington. But the vice president clearly stepped into the campaign fray in casting Trumps approach to the world as antithetical to American values.

There are 1.4 billion Muslims in the world, Biden said. Some of the rhetoric Im hearing sounds designed to radicalize all 1.4 billion.

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Wielding the politics of fear and intolerance  like the proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States, profiling Muslim Americans, slandering entire religious communities as complicit in terrorism, calls into question Americas status as the greatest democracy in the history of the world, he said. It doesnt make the situation better. It makes it worse. And it plays into the narrative of extremists.

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Bidens address to the Center for a New American Security was in his capacity as vice president, not a surrogate for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. In it, he defended the Obama administrations foreign policy record, one that has positioned the United States at the forefront of tremendous opportunity.

But the subtext was clear, as he discussed what he said were the administrations hard choices, to quote the title of a book  namely, Clintons 2014 memoir.

He said the next president must avoid the temptation to turn inward or seek sound-bite solutions in a world defined by complexity, lest the U.S. squander all of our hard-earned progress.

Ive never been more optimistic about Americas capacity to lead our world to a more peaceful and prosperous future. But our leadership does not spring from some inherent American magic  it never has, he said.

Our ability to lead by example and draw partners to our side  thats what has always been Americas greatest capability, he said.

The vice president, a former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has played a significant role in helping shape the Obama administrations foreign policy, along with Clinton during her tenure as secretary of State.

Biden and Clinton did differ on some key issues, most notably during Obamas first review of the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. But Bidens speech highlighted their shared policy views and the partys main argument against a President Trump: that he would put Americas standing in the world at risk.

The United States cannot afford to draw back from our responsibilities now. There is simply too much at stake, he said.

Biden targeted Trumps praise for Vladimir Putin, arguing that embracing the president at a time of renewed Russian aggression, I believe, could call into question Americas long-standing commitment to a Europe whole, free and at peace.

He also emphasized the need to carefully manage the relationship with China, a nation of particular focus to the vice president for the last eight years, and one in which the U.S. has sought both enhanced cooperation and responsible competition.

And in the wake of the Orlando nightclub massacre and with renewed concern about so-called lone-wolf attacks inspired by extremist propaganda, Biden defended the administrations approach to defeating Islamic State in part by encouraging the cooperation of allies, particularly those in the Muslim world.

ISIL wants to manufacture a clash of civilizations, Biden said, using administration shorthand for the extremist group. They want Americans to view things in terms of us versus them. Why in Gods name are we giving them what they want? And besides, we are so much better than that.

Biden endorsed Clinton this month after she clinched a majority of pledged delegates. Aides say he will join her on the campaign trail, likely after Biden returns from a weeklong trip to Ireland that begins Tuesday.

MORE POLITICAL COVERAGE

Ticket to the White House or political oblivion? The challenge for Donald Trump as he seeks a running mate

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michael.memoli@latimes.com

For more 2016 campaign coverage, follow @mikememoli on Twitter

UPDATES:

1:05 p.m.: This story was updated with comments from Bidens speech.

This story was originally published at 3 a.m.
As a high school student in Sebastopol, Natalie Higley urged fellow students to support Barack Obama in a mock election. She registered as a Democrat once she turned 18, but she never voted, disappointed by Obamas presidency and dismayed by her partys candidates.

That changed this year, when she cast her first ballot for Bernie Sanders. In July, she is heading to the Democratic National Convention, still hoping to help the Vermont senator win the partys presidential nomination.

I really want to be part of it, I want to be able to say I went and nominated Bernie, said Higley, 23, of Lakeport. Regardless of what people are saying, we do still have a chance. Its not a huge one, but we do have a chance. There are also huge party changes we want to make if we are to continue to be part of the party.

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Higley is one of more than 200 Sanders delegates certified by the state Democratic Party on Sunday at a meeting in Long Beach. The California group will have a large voice at the Democratic National Convention, making up more than 10% of Sanders delegation.

They already showed their clout in California, pushing a resolution the party passed unanimously on Sunday urging the DNC to overhaul the presidential nominating process for the 2020 race, including reducing the number of superdelegates.

Those unbound delegates have been a major point of contention in the 2016 race. Their overwhelming support for Hillary Clinton, coupled with her winning a majority of the delegates allocated in primaries and caucuses, led to her being declared the partys nominee June 6, the night before California and five other states voted.

Clinton has about 500 more delegates than the 2,383 needed to claim the nomination, including the superdelegates, while Sanders is about 500 short. She also beat Sanders in the popular vote and the number of states won.

Get the latest news from the campaign trail 

But many of Sanders delegates here refuse to accept that, arguing that the race was fixed, that superdelegates backing Clinton could change their minds, or that new revelations in Clintons email scandal could force her to leave the race.

And although Sanders campaign manager, Jeff Weaver, said publicly several days ago that the campaign no longer is trying to change superdelegates minds, officials with Sanders campaign, addressing their delegates during a standing-room-only meeting here Sunday, did nothing to quell such thoughts.

If theres a chance, we want to be in a position to go for it, said Javier Gonzalez, Sanders Western states deputy field director.

The delegates are also taking their cues from the candidate, who has not endorsed Clinton and has not ended his campaign.

Ill wait till the convention, as Sen. Sanders has suggested we all do, said Robert M. Nelson, a retired NASA scientist from Pasadena. He last attended the Democratic National Convention in 1992, as a delegate for Jerry Brown, who refused to endorse Bill Clinton after the then-Arkansas governor clinched the nomination.

During a tense environmental caucus gathering Friday evening, as Sanders delegates urged the crowd to remain true to the insurgent candidate, chairwoman R.L. Miller told the crowd that Clintons nomination was inevitable.

Im a supporter of Bernie Sanders, but Im also a realist, she said. Theres a point we have to accept whats happening. Bernie Sanders is not going to walk out of the convention as the winner.

The crowd booed and people walked out as others screamed, Why? and You dont know that!

It was a constant throughout the state Democrats three-day gathering. During Saturdays general session, as vice chair Alex Rooker called for party unity, a man in the crowd yelled out, Theres no nominee yet! Rooker responded that it was a big deal, using an expletive.

Party chairman John Burton harked back to his heartbreak after Eugene McCarthys loss at the Democratic National Convention in 1968. He and other McCarthy supporters didnt truly help Democratic nominee Hubert Humphrey, and the result, Burton said, was the election of President Nixon. He warned Sanders supporters not to make the same mistake.

Now is the time to suck it up and do what we can do for this state, these [legislative] majorities, for the country, he said. Getting people enthused who have had their spirit and their heart broken is not easy. I was, like, there. We cant let that fallen dream bring us Donald Trump as president of the United States. We cannot and will not allow that to happen.

Among many Sanders delegates, the words fell on deaf ears. Despite polling that shows most of the senators supporters will vote for Clinton in the fall, nearly every delegate interviewed here demurred or said they would not.

Asked if she would support Clinton, Shawnee Badger, a community college student and actress, changed the subject and said she had set up a GoFundMe fundraising account to raise the thousands of dollars the trip to Philadelphia will cost.

I just really want to get Bernie the nomination, and thats why Im going to the convention, said the 22-year-old Valencia resident. I also want to shed light on the nominating process that disenfranchises voters and push for a progressive platform.

Among her priorities: single-payer healthcare. She doesnt have health insurance. Others mentioned free tuition at public colleges and universities, and climate change. Nearly all mentioned campaign finance reform and changing party rules, especially about superdelegates.

Valarie Martin, 63, a potential Sanders delegate who leaned on a walker as she protested outside of the Democratic meeting, said she wept when she learned that the state resolution calling for fewer superdelegates would probably pass.

This is what democracy looks like, she said.

Martins family was politically active, and as a young girl she met John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie in Richmond, Calif. The then-presidential candidate shook her hand, while the future first lady kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear: Never lose your passion.

Martin said she had been a consistent Democratic voter, but since Kennedy, I have not felt this deep connection and need to support. Until now.

She was on the cusp of winning a delegate slot, and she wont know until all of the ballots in Sacramento County are counted. It doesnt matter; Martin is headed to Philadelphia regardless.

seema.mehta@latimes.com

For the latest on national and California politics, follow @LATSeema on Twitter.

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By abruptly sacking his campaign manager, Donald Trump sought to end an internal power struggle that persistently undermined his White House bid. But if Corey Lewandowskis departure Monday was supposed to end doubts about Trump or the direction of his struggling campaign, it apparently did neither.

Hes going to be the nominee; that doesnt change. The real question is his viability in a general election, said Tom Rath, a longtime Republican strategist in New Hampshire, who backed Ohio Gov. John Kasich over Trump in the rancorous Republican nominating fight.

What you want is clear direction and a coherent strategy that allows you to get to 270 electoral votes, Rath said. If you didnt have that confidence before, you dont have it now.

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Lewandowski, who was unceremoniously escorted from Trumps Manhattan headquarters, lost his job after weeks of inner turmoil that came to a head last week when Paul Manafort, the campaign chairman, delivered a him-or-me ultimatum, according to one campaign insider.

The dismissal put Manafort, a seasoned Washington operative, fully in charge at a moment when Trump is facing growing restiveness in the GOP less than a month before its national nominating convention in Cleveland.

With three of Trumps adult children pushing for Lewandowskis ouster, the firing came during a Monday morning strategy session.

Sooner or later it was going to come to this and it was going to come to this pivotal moment where you had to choose one, said the insider, who requested anonymity to discuss the campaigns internal workings. The kids helped him understand he had to choose sides.

Confirming his siblings involvement, Donald Trump Jr. told Bloomberg Politics the firing was the right and appropriate decision to make.

You need one guy running the day-do-day aspects of the campaign, Trump said. To have more than that, youre just going to stumble over yourselves.

Some Republicans suggested, hopefully, that the move could represent a turning point, ending the fractiousness that has split Donald Trumps campaign, and perhaps leading to a steadier performance by the candidate whose top advisors  the combative Lewandowski and by-the-book Washington insider Manafort  counseled drastically different approaches.

You cant have warring factions within a campaign, said Dick Wadhams, a GOP strategist and former chairman of the Colorado Republican Party. Weve seen Trump move to put his campaign in order. Now its time for the candidate to get himself in order.

Lewandowski, 42, was one of Trumps earliest and most pugnacious supporters. A New Hampshire-seasoned campaign operative who had no previous experience running a presidential campaign, Lewandowski was credited with orchestrating Trumps unlikely rise during the primary season.

Among his duties, he was charged with overseeing Trumps vice presidential selection process and fundraising operation, the latter a source of major concern in GOP circles; a Federal Election Commission report Monday night showed Trump collected just $3 million in May, when he in effect wrapped up the GOP nomination, compared with $27 million for Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Lewandowski has also been a controversial figure; most notably he was criminally charged with manhandling a reporter at a Florida campaign event. The misdemeanor charges were eventually dropped, but his brawling reputation, which he encouraged in Trump, was firmly fixed.

The campaign shake-up followed weeks of growing concerns within the GOP about Trumps lagging fundraising and failure to build the infrastructure typical of a modern presidential campaign. Lewandowski was blamed inside the campaign for slowing its hiring decisions.

Manafort joined the campaign in March to professionalize the operation and help lead Trumps delegate-hunting effort.

His portfolio was soon expanded to include, among others charges, oversight of next months Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

Like many aspects of the Trump campaign, the open nature of the infighting has been highly unusual. Just after word of Lewandowskis departure surfaced, one of Trumps advisors tweeted, Ding dong the witch is dead!, with a link to the video of the song from The Wizard of Oz.

The advisor, Michael Caputo, quit later Monday, saying in his resignation letter his response was too exuberant a reaction to this personnel move.

In some regards, parting ways with a campaign manager during troubled times is not unusual. Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole, Al Gore and George W. Bush all shook up their presidential campaigns at various stages.

None, however, did so this close to their partys national convention.

Getting rid of a campaign manager is not something undertaken lightly, especially for someone like Trump, who prizes loyalty, said Eric Fehrnstrom, a senior advisor to Mitt Romney, the GOPs 2012 nominee. It was because pressure for change was coming from many different directions, that it was getting loud, and that it could no longer be ignored. Something drastic needed to be done.

In cable TV appearances Monday, Lewandowski had only positive things to say about his former boss.

I wouldnt change one second of my time with Mr. Trump other than to say, Thank you, its been an honor, Lewandowski said on MSNBC.

On CNN, he repeatedly insisted that Trump was correct in taking numerous controversial stands, including his proposal for an open-ended ban on Muslim immigration to the U.S. and, most recently, advocating racial profiling by law enforcement.

He has had his finger on the pulse of the American public for the last 16 or 18 months of this campaign, Lewandowski said.  Mr. Trump has unparalleled success in the business world. Hes now unparalleled success in the world of politics.

Lewandowski professed his continue loyalty, saying he planned to attend next months GOP national convention in Cleveland as leader of New Hampshires delegation.

Since securing the nomination early last month, Trump has prompted a backlash with his public comments and style, even from fellow members of the GOP, who assailed him for asserting that an Indiana-born judge is a Mexican who could not rule fairly in a fraud lawsuit against Trump.

Trump drew further criticism after the Orlando, Fla., massacre, bragging that he had predicted the attack, and repeating his call to stop Muslims from entering the country.

Some Republicans have renewed attempts to plot an open convention next month in a long-shot bid to replace Trump with a more philosophically conservative, temperamentally moderate alternative.

The candidate is also plagued by organizational and tactical concerns.

The Clinton campaign and its allies, for example, have spent more than $23 million in television ads in eight potential battleground states  Nevada, Colorado, Iowa, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and New Hampshire  while Trump has spent nothing.

The asymmetrical nature of the battle could prove crucial as voters begin to cement their impressions of the candidates. Four years ago, Romney was battered by a barrage of negative advertising during the weeks before the parties summer conventions.

Trump has relied mostly on the shoot-from-the-hip style that served him well during the primaries, using social media and TV interviews to compensate for the lack of traditional tools of advertising and field operations.

But his ability to respond to Clinton is also hampered by a minuscule campaign staff, including a press operation with only a handful of staffers who can speak on his behalf  subject to contradiction and humiliation by their boss.

Times staff writer Michael Finnegan in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

noah.bierman@latimes.com

mark.barabak@latimes.com

Twitter: @noahbierman, @markzbarabak

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UPDATES:

7:45 p.m.: This article has been updated with new quotes, analysis and details throughout.

2:22 p.m.: This article has been updated with another Trump advisor resigning after tweeting critically about Lewandowski.

12:51 p.m.: This article has been was updated with comments from former Mitt Romney advisor Eric Fehrnstrom.

11:29 a.m.: This article has been updated with comments from Lewandowski.

This article was originally published at 9:21 a.m.
So who wants to be the apprentice?

Who do you like? Donald Trump recently quizzed supporters at a Tampa rally, cupping a hand to his ear as they suggested vice presidential running mates.

Newt!... Sessions! Condi Rice! came the cries, referring  respectively  to former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama and Condoleezza Rice, President George W. Bushs national security advisor and secretary of State.

Loud, undisciplined and often uncouth, the presumptive Republican nominee is a presidential candidate like no other, and whoever joins his ticket will be tested in ways no understudy ever has been.

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The line of eager prospects typically winds from the U.S. Capitol across the country  through statehouses, governors mansions, city halls  and back again.

Not this time.

Election 2016 | Live coverage on Trail Guide | Track the delegate race | Sign up for the newsletter

He needs some stability. He needs some class. He needs somebody that people trust, said Stu Spencer, a campaign strategist who has spent more than half a century offering counsel to Republicans from the White House down. Anybody of that caliber who attaches themselves to Trump is insane.

Many prospects who might make good political sense  Ohio Gov. John Kasich, for instance, or Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, or the defense and foreign policy mandarin Robert Gates  have made clear their abundant lack of interest.

What is a less-than-zero percent chance? said John Weaver, a strategist for Kasichs unsuccessful White House bid. What is no under any circumstances? 

Ever the showman, Trump has said he would reveal his choice at next months Republican National Convention, adding a little zing to what is typically four days of scripted pablum.

But there already is no small amount of drama surrounding his selection, beyond even the usual guessing that attends a candidates pick for the man, or woman, who may be a proverbial heartbeat away from the presidency.

It is an article of faith that the naming of a No. 2 is one of the crucial moments of a presidential campaign, cracking a window into candidates judgment and the decision-making style they might bring to the White House.

It signals and symbolizes an awful lot, said Kenneth Duberstein, a former chief of staff to President Reagan and one of Washingtons Republican elders.

All the more so for the Manhattan business mogul, who lately has stumbled from one controversy to another, sending his poll numbers into sharp decline.

Trumps choice will have to be the first explainer every time he goes out and says a judge cant be fair because hes Mexican, or we ought to exercise oversight over all Muslims, said Joel Goldstein, a Saint Louis University law professor and one of the countrys leading experts on the vice presidency. Im not sure thats a very attractive way to spend the next few months.

Corey Lewandowski, who was overseeing Trumps vice presidential selection process until his firing Monday, insisted there was no shortage of willing candidates, saying the presumptive nominee has settled on a handful of finalists culled from a larger pool under consideration.

Trumps running mate will be a partner, his former campaign manager said in an interview before his abrupt ouster, a partner who will help achieve his legislative agenda in Washington and help put our country on track.

Gingrich and Sessions, the first sitting U.S. senator to back Trump and one of his staunchest defenders, are among those in the thick of speculation. Rice has said she is happy teaching at Stanford and has no interest in the vice presidency.

Other names that have surfaced  which is to say thrown out by chatterers in a political version of the guessing game  include Govs. Chris Christie of New Jersey, Mary Fallin of Oklahoma and Rick Scott of Florida and Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee, Tom Cotton of Arkansas and John Thune of South Dakota.

Trump has not revealed his short list of finalists. But he has explained some of his selection criteria, saying foremost he wanted someone who would make a great president in the event he or she rose to the position. He ruled out a businessman or political outsider like himself.

I do want somebody thats political because I want to get lots of great legislation we all want passed, he said at a February campaign stop at Virginias Regent University. Were going to probably choose somebody thats somewhat political.

Certain verities have guided the picking process over time. Foremost among them, said Bill Schneider, a visiting UCLA communications professor and longtime student of government and national politics, is picking someone who can help you win. Nothing else matters.

Traditionally, that has meant bringing some balance to a presidential ticket  demographic, geographic, ideological  or selecting a popular politician from a battleground state.

Reagan chose George H.W. Bush to reassure moderates and capitalize on Bushs foreign policy background. Bushs son, then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush, chose Dick Cheney, the ultimate Washington insider, to help govern.

Some of the obvious choices for Trump appear to have been foreclosed.

Rubio was the candidate many Democrats feared most in November, given his youth, charisma and roots in Floridas Latino community. The scathing personal attacks he and Trump hurled at one another in the GOP nominating fight  Little Marco! small hands!  would have seemed to preclude a coming together even before Rubio took himself out of consideration.

Kasich, who combines a long Washington resume with executive experience and strong standing in Ohio, a state Trump must almost certainly carry to win in November, would seem a strong vice presidential contender.

But according to Weaver, his campaign advisor, the governor told Trump in a recent conversation that running together would be like merging two companies that have totally different value systems, different ethics, a different way of doing business.  It would not work.

Lewandowski said the Trump campaign does not comment on private discussions.

Political protocol requires that a vice presidential prospect, however interested, avoid seeming too covetous of the position. This time, though, the demurrals seem less rote and more genuine.

Kasich, Rubio and others may have an eye on 2020, believing that if Trump were to lose  and opinion polls suggest he would lose badly if the election were held today  their future prospects would be irretrievably damaged.

Former New York Rep. William Miller, who was Barry Goldwaters running mate in his 1964 landslide defeat, disappeared from public view soon after. His obscurity was celebrated in an American Express commercial  Do you know me?  and by the time he died in 1983 he was better known for his advertising appearance than his years in Congress.

But polls fluctuate, and attitudes can change along with them.

Duberstein, for one, believes the vice presidential pickings might not be as slim if Trumps fortunes improve between now and the July 18 start of the GOP convention.

If Donald can make a compelling case that he has a plausible shot at being president of the United States, Duberstein said, that pool will expand rapidly.

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UPDATES:

2:07 p.m.: This article was updated with the firing of Donald Trumps campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.

The story was originally published at 6 a.m.
Im Christina Bellantoni, and this is Essential Politics. Here we go.

It might be two weeks after the California primary, but the Golden State is still making political news.

California Democrats gathered Sunday in Long Beach to certify delegates attending next months Democratic National Convention. More than 200 delegates for Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has transitioned to a new phase of his campaign that is more about defeating Donald Trump than Hillary Clinton, are headed to Philadelphia. Californias group makes up more than 10% of Sanders delegation, Seema Mehta reports.

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The group already showed its clout in California, pushing a resolution the party passed unanimously on Sunday urging the DNC to overhaul the presidential nominating process for the 2020 race, including reducing the number of superdelegates.

The California resolution calls for Democratic governors and members of Congress to lose their status as superdelegates and instead attend the nominating convention as nonvoting guests. Members of the Democratic National Committee would remain superdelegates, but would be required to vote for the candidate who won their constituency. The resolution also calls for replacing all state caucuses with state primaries.

The move has no official power, but is a symbolic statement from the largest state Democratic party in the nation. California Democrats also pushed  again  to change the primary election calendar and shift focus away from the tiny, homogenous states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

And theres still news to be had from the primary itself  with the still-being-tallied results revealing surprising bright spots for Republicans in California, Cathleen Decker writes.

BIDEN TO ENGAGE TRUMP

Vice President Joe Biden will step into the campaign fray Monday with a foreign policy address that casts Trumps approach to the world as antithetical to American values, Mike Memoli reports.

The vice president will speak to the Center for New American Security and defend the Obama administrations foreign policy record.

Well cover the speech  and everything else happening on the campaign trail  on Trail Guide. Make sure youre following @latimespolitics for breaking news.

THE VEEPSTAKES

The shortlist is short  Newt Gingrich and Jeff Sessions  and we arent likely to know whom Trump has chosen as his running mate until about one month from now. As Mark Z. Barabak reports, ever the showman, Trump has said he would reveal his choice at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, adding a little zing to what is typically four days of scripted pablum.

Barabak writes, "[T]here already is no small amount of drama surrounding his selection, beyond even the usual guessing that attends a candidates pick for the man, or woman, who may be a proverbial heartbeat away from the presidency. It is an article of faith that the naming of a No. 2 is one of the crucial moments of a presidential campaign, cracking a window into candidates judgment and the decision-making style they might bring to the White House.

VOTERS WILL CONSIDER REPEALING THE DEATH PENALTY IN NOVEMBER

A statewide measure to repeal Californias death penalty qualified Friday for the Nov. 8 ballot, with elections officials determining its backers had gathered more than enough voter signatures. This will be the second time in recent years that voters have considered a repeal, rejecting an effort in 2012.

The initiatives author is Mike Farrell, the actor who rose to fame as B.J. Honeycutt on the television series MASH.

At its meeting this weekend, the California Democratic Party voted to support the death penalty measure and a ballot initiative to legalize pot, Phil Willon reports.

The only mild surprise was the partys decision to take no position on an initiative to bar the state from paying more for prescription drugs than the cost negotiated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Drug companies have mounted an aggressive opposition campaign to the measure.

Well be watching the rest of the initiatives as they qualify  or dont  for the Nov. 8 ballot, so keep an eye on our Essential Politics news feed.

STATE BUDGET WORK GOES ON AS GRIDLOCK BECOMES A THING OF THE PAST

Lawmakers in Sacramento passed the main budget bill last week by their constitutional deadline, but there are a series of related bills that remain works in progress. Even so, some of the biggest items talked about this year wont be in any of the bills. Weve put together a list of the big items completed as well as those left undone.

Meantime, its worth noting what is different now in Sacramento: Long summer stalemates over the budget are a thing of the past. As John Myers explains, its voters who deserve the credit as much as politicians. Two successive ballot measures -- one on budget rules, another to impose temporary taxes -- are what changed everything.

DREAMING BIG

Why is Gary Johnson focusing his energy on Utah? Reporting from Provo, Melanie Mason explores how the Libertarian presidential nominee hopes to capitalize on the revulsion against Trump felt by many conservative Mormons. Winning the state, or even getting a significant share of the vote, will hardly be easy for the Libertarians.

The very fact that theyre being seriously discussed  Mitt Romney, who remains a highly popular figure here, recently said he would not rule out voting for the party  has Libertarian activists dreaming big, Mason writes.

A TAXING QUESTION

In his Monday column George Skelton lists all the ways California legislators could reform the tax system  from adding a sales tax to Dodgers tickets to taxing tax the services of agents for athletes, movie stars and other entertainers. But they wont, he writes, because most politicians are cowards on the subject.

PODCAST: OF BUDGETS AND BULLETS

This weeks California Politics Podcast takes a closer look at the new state budget deal and how liberal Democrats won some of the items they hadnt been able to get in years past. The conversation also went over last weeks emotional debate in a committee hearing over gun control proposals.

WELCOME, JAZMINE ULLOA!

Our Sacramento bureau is expanding today, with Jazmine Ulloa getting started as a reporter covering politics and policy in state government.

Ulloa, who comes to The Times from the Austin American-Statesman, also will be contributing to coverage of the November election with a focus on ballot measures.

At the American-Statesman, Ulloa has been covering state and federal courts, criminal justice and cybersecurity. She also has written for the Boston Globe as well as the Texas Monthly and Texas Observer. She previously worked for the San Antonio Express-News and the Brownsville Herald.

TODAYS ESSENTIALS

-- Californias new motor voter law, due to be implemented next year, could add more than 2 million voters to the rolls in its first year, says a new study from the PPIC. The new law could also help diversify the states electorate, bringing in more Latinos, young people and lower-income voters, the study says. But it all depends on how successful the laws rollout will be.

-- A Santa Cruz woman convinced a judge to switch her voter registration, after the June 7 primary, and count her vote for Sanders. She said she had mistakenly registered with the American Independent Party, similar to our April investigation that showed widespread AIP voter confusion.

-- The November election is still months away, but the ad wars already are heating up over Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsoms proposed ballot initiative to strengthen state gun laws. Proponents released an online-only video focused on the recent mass shooting that left 49 dead at an Orlando nightclub and other deadly gun-related rampages. A coalition of gun rights groups also have produced videos warning that imposing the proposed gun law would put lives at risk.

-- Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti says theres nothing to those vice presidential rumors he could be named as Clintons running mate.

-- Wondering what that bizarre Japanese Trump ad was all about? Dexter Thomas breaks it down.

-- Dont miss the detailed look at how Trump has dealt with Native American tribes over the years from Joe Tanfani and Noah Bierman.

-- Clinton ad spending: $23 million. Trump ad spending: $0.

-- Chelsea Clinton had her second child over the weekend.

-- Check out our Electoral College map.

LOGISTICS

Did someone forward you this? Sign up here to get Essential Politics in your inbox daily. And keep an eye on our politics page throughout the day for the latest and greatest. And are you following us on Twitter at @latimespolitics? Please send thoughts, concerns and news tips to politics@latimes.com.
Its the photo of a 6-year-old smiling broadly in his Little League uniform that sticks with Mike Thompson as he pushes Congress to consider tougher gun control laws.

The Napa Valley Democrat was sitting in a Yolo Pass duck blind in 2012 when he learned of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn.

My phone started buzzing and I opened it and read the horrific news that all these little children and these teachers had been murdered, he said. They kept showing that picture of one little boy in a Little League uniform, you know, and he looks like Little League kids that live down the street from me, and Little League kids that I played Little League with when I was growing up.

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The lifelong hunter quickly became the leader of House Democrats efforts to expand background checks, keep people on the FBIs watch lists from being able to buy guns and a host of other changes to the nations gun laws.

Efforts that at first seemed possible failed in the Senate after Newtown, but Democrats havent given up. And now, after the largest mass shooting in modern U.S. history in Orlando, Fla., Thompson and Democrats are renewing the call to action.

Four years after it was broadcast for the first time, the image of Jack Pinto in his Little League uniform and the 19 other children murdered that day flash in the congressmans mind.

I just couldnt imagine sending one of my kids off to school in the morning and have them not come home because some deranged killer came into the school and murdered them, Thompson said in an interview in his Capitol Hill office. I dont want to minimize lives, but it wasnt two hoodlums shooting at each other, it wasnt accidentally a gun went off and hurt someone. This was just one of the cruelest acts that I could possibly imagine.

Thompson came home from hunting that December day, cleaned up, and then called House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco).

Theres nobody in our caucus that knows any more about guns than I do, Thompson said he told her. He asked to be at the table.

My family hunted, I grew up in a community that hunted, Ive always hunted, Thompson says now. Folks at home know that I know guns, that I respect guns, that I support the 2nd Amendment. They know that Im not going to throw them under the bus.

Thompson wanted the newly formed new Gun Violence Task Force to reflect the diversity of opinions on guns within the Democratic Party. He also wanted to include members who had had a mass shooting in their district, like Reps. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) and Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.), or had been shot themselves, like Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough).

After a crash course on gun terminology for members and staff, the task force brought in experts from the gun industry and safety groups. They compiled policy principles, a legislative wish list that includes reinstating the national assault weapons ban, which expired in 2004, more money for community policing efforts, and increased prosecution of felons and other prohibited buyers when they attempt to buy a gun.

The first piece of legislation, sponsored by Thompson and Rep. Pete King (R-N.Y.) requires background checks through a licensed dealer on all commercial gun sales, including those at gun shows, over the Internet or through classified ads. It exempts sales between family and friends.

Leaders in the GOP-controlled House referred the measure to two committees more than a year ago, and no hearing has been scheduled.

Thompson and others bring up items from the wish list every few months, or after a mass shooting propels the topic back into the public eye.

Thompson pushed for mental health records to be part of gun background checks through the Promoting Healthy Minds for Safer Communities Act of 2014 after a man killed six people and wounded 14 others in Isla Vista, Calif.

Democrats tried to force a vote on whether people on the FBIs watch list should be able to purchase guns after a man killed three people and injured nine others in a Colorado Springs, Colo., Planned Parenthood location. That floor action happened Dec. 2, just as Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands) first learned of the shooting in his hometown of San Bernardino.

In the week following, Democrats stalled action on the House floor repeatedly to try to force a vote on the proposal, to no avail.

Since then, Democrats have pushed the issue more than a dozen times, including Tuesday.

Thompson said hes optimistic that with public opinion on his side Congress can get something passed, this time.

The American people are getting fed up, he said. They want their members of Congress to help keep their communities safe.

Republicans dont seem to share his sentiment. Congress hasnt been able to agree on new gun legislation in years, and the addition of an election makes any changes unlikely.

Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Elk Grove) questioned efforts to pass new gun laws instead of focusing on terrorism given the Orlando shooter pledged allegiance to Islamic State that night.

The first line of defense against an armed terrorist is an armed American, McClintock said. Yet the Democrats seek to make it harder for Americans to arm themselves while increasing the threat posed by mass immigration from those countries where Islamist ideology is rampant.

After a 15-hour filibuster by Sen. Christopher Murphy (D-Conn.) and other Democrats on Wednesday night, Senate Republicans scheduled votes on adding the watch list and background check proposals. They are expected to fail on the Senate floor Monday afternoon.

Thompson said he understands that for many Americans, owning and using a gun is a way of life.

He was fixated on guns as a child. Hed gaze, captivated, at the gun rack in his fathers office, until one day his father took him shooting in hopes it would break him of the infatuation.

On a dirt road about a mile from the house, Thompson pressed the deer rifles stock against his tiny shoulder  his father had to help him  and he squeezed the trigger for the first time.

It made a roar and the report of the rifle was loud and it kicked me good, Thompson recalled with a laugh. I said, Can I do it again?

Hes been hooked since, spending summers as a child hunting ducks along the river, bringing his shotgun with him to the grocery store or school. He carves his own duck decoys, and in 2013 donated a pair to the Smithsonian Museum.

The National Rifle Assn. in 2010 gave Thompson a C grade, higher than the average for most Democrats, but the Vietnam veterans NRA ranking has dropped to a D-minus since he has championed gun control in the years since Newtown.

Thompson points out that Californias gun laws are already much stricter than Congress is considering. State lawmakers are poised to pass a dozen new restrictions following the shooting in Orlando.

He said gun owners risk having laws written without their input if they refuse to be part of the conversation.

Its a way of life in a lot of places, but that doesnt mean you cant be responsible and I dont care where its a way of life, the people there certainly dont want criminals and the dangerously mentally ill to get guns. People there dont want people on the terrorist watch list to have guns, he said. We need the responsible gun owners to be with us on this to make good laws.

sarah.wire@latimes.com

Follow @sarahdwire on Twitter

Read more about the 55 members of Californias delegation at latimes.com/politics

ALSO:

Congress remains unlikely to change U.S. gun laws after Orlando shooting

Democrats push Congress, again, for gun control votes

Tempers flare as lawmakers move forward with a dozen gun-control bills in wake of Orlando shooting

Democrat wont stand for moments of silence

Updates on California politics

UPDATES:

11:12 a.m.: This article was updated to include Thompsons NRA ranking.

This article was originally published at 9 a.m.
During Burbanks Veterans Day ceremony this week, the flyover by the Condor Squadron was sponsored by the Cusumano Real Estate Group. When the city held its tech summit last week, the event was hosted in the Tower, one of many commercial properties owned by Worthe Real Estate Group.

The two companies, like other major businesses in Burbank, including Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros., are frequent sponsors of community events and donors to local causes. But, as owners of two of the largest portfolios of real property in Burbank, they also bear the brunt of public criticism that they receive favor from the city or wield too much influence.

What a loaded question that is, said Gary Olson, president and chief executive of the Burbank Chamber of Commerce, when asked if the developers and land owners control the city.

Whether its the major studios ... or the developers ... they dont want to run Burbank, Olson said, calling the idea an old bromide that people have been declaiming for years.

Olson said the last thing the developers want to do is run roughshod over the city government, but instead seek to make the most of business opportunities.

Among those who own significant properties in Burbank, according to analysis of data from the Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor obtained by the Los Angeles Times, are Warner Bros., Walt Disney Co. and the Roman Catholic church  both through the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and Providence Health Systems.

At the top of the list of commercial and multifamily landlords are the Worthe and Cusumano real estate groups.

Founded by M. David Paul in 1967, and part of a trio of related companies, Worthe boasts nearly 70% of the class A office space in the city and has a portfolio of properties that includes the Pointe, the Pinnacle and the Burbank Studios.

The company has more than 4 million square feet of rentable square footage in Burbank with another 2.1 million planned or entitled, according to its website.

Cusumano Real Estate Group, founded by Chuck and Roger Cusumano in 1959, has grown to become one of the largest real estate owners in Burbank, with more than 100 properties in the city, including more than 1,500 housing units, according to assessor data.

Chucks sons Michael and Charles Cusumano are now co-owners of the business, which has investments from San Diego County to Kern County.

We started developing in Burbank because this is where we live, said Michael Cusumano. It was natural.

He said the real estate firm owns the largest share of multifamily property in Burbank, but has a diversified portfolio that includes ownership stakes in commercial and industrial properties as well. For example, the company owns the former Elephant Bar at 110 N. First St., a property Michael Cusumano said hes excited to have attracted Wood Ranch into.

One of the highlights of its 56-year history, he said, was the development of the companys headquarters, located at 101 S. First St., along with what is now BJs Restaurant and Brewhouse, then a Bobby McGees. The citys downtown was not as vibrant as it is today when the building was developed in the mid-1980s.

At the time, it was a fairly untested market that required a lot of faith in the city of Burbank as a destination, Michael Cusumano said. It was a big investment for us.

Another of the familys downtown investments, however, has been a source of lingering backlash  the Civic Plaza at 250 E. Olive Ave., across from City Hall and formerly the city of Burbank Police station. After several false-starts, the Redevelopment Agency sold the property to the Cusumanos for $100 in March 2003.

The property had sat vacant for several years and the city had made several attempts to find a developer for the 3.4-acre project  bordered by Olive Avenue, San Fernando Boulevard and Angeleno Avenue  since May 1997, including attempts to build a luxury apartment, retail and office space project on the site, according to news reports from that time.

Part of the reason for the deal was to make what officials said was a risky investment attractive to the developer. The city had tried and failed twice to attract other projects, said David Laurell, a council member at the time who now writes a column for the Burbank Leader. The other firms couldnt make their plans pencil out financially, he said.

It was a significantly better deal for the city than was on the table ... at the time, Michael Cusumano said, adding that in retrospect the company could have done a better job of explaining to the public that the agreement offered a better economic value to the city than other proposals.

Work on the roughly $18-million, 80,000-square-foot building was completed in 2005. Last year, it was sold to a Chinese investment group for $22 million.

In the grand scheme of things, Laurell said, the development the Cusumano group built was better for the city than an empty barren lot.

A few opponents of a more recent Cusumano project invoked the $100 land deal in criticizing what they said was more special treatment, when the City Council last year approved the Talaria at Burbank project, a proposed 241-unit luxury apartment complex on top of a 43,000-square-foot Whole Foods in the citys Media District.

A four-member majority agreed to sell several remnant parcels of city-owned land at the site for $1.2 million. An appraiser had valued the parcels at between just under $1 million and $3.7 million.

Then-Mayor David Gordon, now a councilman, as well as some members of the public present at that meeting last October, called the sale of the patches of land, which were sections of streets and alleys on the roughly 4 acres where the company already owned all of the other land, a giveaway.

In a letter to the editor, Burbank resident Molly Shore claimed that the council had given away the land and chosen to ignore problems with the proposed development, such as a density bonus that conditionally allows for 18 more apartments than would be authorized without council approval, because the Cusumano company was a favored developer.

It was tricky property to appraise, said City Manager Mark Scott this week, because the parcels were of such odd shapes and sizes that nothing could be done with them on their own and there was really only one potential buyer on the market  the Cusumano group  because they already owned the surrounding properties necessary to package together for a development.

Michael Cusumano said that the $1.2-million price was above fair market value and doesnt include the cost his company will bear in relocating utilities on those parcels, which is in the millions, he said.

Critics have said the city more or less had Cusumano over a barrel and could have gotten an additional $2.5 million, which could have benefited the city. But Michael Cusumano said if the deal were structured another way, where his firm paid more for the land, it would have looked better for him, but the city would have spent much of the proceeds on relocating the utilities.

He also noted that the city was going to give the property to the prior developer, Rick Platt, whose $200-million project at the site was killed in 2009 after a decadelong battle over the plans.

Why is it Platt got them for free? Michael Cusumano said. We had to pay $1.2 million.

Scott said that the fact that the city owned the remnants was an accident of history, and was not even discovered until Cusumano was deep into the planning process.

In the end, Michael Cusumano said, hes satisfied with the price and hes confident the city benefited from it. He said he believes the community will also benefit from the effect that Whole Foods will have on property values. Whole Foods executives who were recently in Los Angeles for the opening of a store there were also excited about the Burbank project, he said.

The Worthe group isnt without controversy, either. In the summer of 2001, the city spent $3.4 million on a 1.5-acre site bordered by Ontario Street, Thornton Avenue and Fairview Street, with plans to turn around and sell it to M. David Paul and Associates for what the Burbank Leader in an editorial at the time called a sweetheart deal  a whopping $1.

The proposal called for construction of 20 small-lot homes and a childrens day-care facility, with half of the homes set as affordable housing that would be reserved for middle-income families at a price of $190,000. The other 10 homes were to be sold at fair market value, with any profits above $240,000 to be split by the developer and the city.

The editorial contrasted that exclusive club out there in which members are big-time developers through whose hands pass millions and who get such favors with the plight of the wage slave who is never offered a home for a buck. The homes were built in 2003 and are currently assessed at a collective $7.6 million in taxable value, according to the Assessors data.

Jeff Worthe of Worthe Real Estate Group could not be reached for comment.

Bud Ovrom, who was Burbanks city manager for 18 years before he left in 2003, said thats the way the anti-blight Redevelopment Agency worked, before it was dismantled by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2011. It packaged properties, cleared them of blight, then sold them to developers based on the value the development would bring in, rather than the value of the land.

The discounts were an inducement to build there rather than someplace else, Ovrom said, and Burbank managed to win several developments that were a boon to the city using such methods. He said much of the retail and other amenities, such as the AMC Burbank 16, wouldnt be around if not for redevelopment.

So, do developers in Burbank enjoy an unfair advantage?

I know they dont with me, said Councilman Will Rogers this week.

But, Rogers said he was bothered by the fact that the Cusumano familys good works and long standing in the community were discussed during City Council discussions of the Talaria project, which was before he was elected to council. Those issues shouldnt have a role in the citys decisions over land use, he said, and they shouldnt even be mentioned.

The Cusumano family members have been very supportive of the community, Councilman Jess Talamantes said. Theyve stayed in the community, theyre involved in the community.

However, Talamantes said that doesnt curry extra favor with him.

My doors are open to everybody, Talamantes said. I dont judge by influence, by dollar signs.

Scott said he has heard from members of the public claiming that developers get sweetheart deals.

Id like somebody to show me what they (the deals) were, Scott said.

But that would be difficult, he said, because theres such little development in Burbank, particularly in housing. He and other officials have said that Burbank is in dire need of more housing. When developers build in North Hollywood and Glendale, we get the traffic as people drive into Burbank for work, Scott said.

Im just so happy somebody is building housing in Burbank, Scott said of the Talaria project. Were deficient in every category [of housing].

Ovrom, who still lives in Burbank, said large developers and property owners are major players in the city, but he said thats not unique to the Media City.

As a major property owner, you have a seat at the table, Ovrom said. You have a voice to be heard.

The Worthe and Cusumano groups, as well as the studios, are all good corporate residents, he said, and he is less worried about their influence than he is about the slowing of development in the city, which began around the time NBC left for Universal City, he said.

I dont worry about ... influence, Ovrom said. But, I do worry that Burbank doesnt have the economic momentum that it had before.

--

Chad Garland, chad.garland@latimes.com

Twitter: @chadgarland
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will host a community meeting at Bob Hope Airport from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday to discuss its plans for a pedestrian bridge at the airfield.

The meeting will be held in the Skyroom at the airport, 2627 N. Hollywood Way.

NEWSLETTER: Get the latest headlines from the 818 straight to your inbox >>

The bridge is proposed to connect the airports transportation center to the Amtrak / Metrolink station next to the airfield.

The graded walkway is planned to be built over Empire Avenue to give pedestrians quicker access to the terminals or the train station.
The Laguna Beach Arts Commission is accepting proposals for an installation in or near a red phone booth on Forest Avenue.

Designs should be imaginative, whimsical and colorful and incorporate durable materials that are safe and appropriate to a public setting, according to a project description. The booth stands more than 8 feet tall and is 3-by-3-feet wide.

The installation, which has an honorarium of $3,500, will be on display for 24 months and then returned to the artist. The contest is open to artists from Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Imperial and Ventura counties.

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Architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott designed the original booth in 1935, from which models were made. At one time the booth contained a working telephone.

Proposals are due by Aug. 15.

The winning piece will replace Michael Grahams aluminum sculpture titled, I Want to Make a Phone Call after its two-year run in the location. The piece depicts a man who looks as if he is struggling to open the booth.

For more information and to access an application, visit lagunabeachcity.slideroom.com.

--

Bryce Alderton, bryce.alderton@latimes.com

Twitter: @AldertonBryce
Best known for her lush paintings of womens tongues, lips and eyes filled with jewels, dripping with paint or caked in makeup, Marilyn Minter has spent the past four decades interrogating societys relationship to beauty, glamour and female bodies.

I wanted to make beautiful images disgusting, said Minter, whose artwork at once invokes the pages of a glossy fashion magazine while also subverting them.

My whole premise is not to judge but to look at how the glamour industry makes you feel like [expletive], and at the same time, gives you so much pleasure.

A traveling retrospective of Minters career, Marilyn Minter: Pretty/Dirty, is now on display at the Orange County Museum of Art, in Newport Beach. It features paintings, photographs and video installations by the New York-based artist, created over her 40-year career.

Historically, thats been womens only currency, Minter said about her artworks focus on beauty and sexuality. We cant shame women for trying to be beautiful. Thats so mean and unfair. But theres a part of me that thinks its really sad too. Its very complicated.

Placing Minters most recognized paintings in the context of her entire career allows for a fuller understanding of the meaning of her work, said Bill Arning, executive director of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and an organizing curator of the exhibition.

Ive heard a lot of what I considered misinterpretations because people only knew 10 years of an artist who had a career of 35 years, he said. There were misunderstandings that she was complicit in manufacturing celebrity and beauty. I would hear that her works are just like Hollywood images. And I would be like, Look more carefully! These things are kind of gnarly. Its closer to Creature from the Black Lagoon than an actual photo shoot.

The exhibition begins with some of Minters earliest works from 1969, a black and white photo series of her drug-addicted mother, who wore wigs because she compulsively pulled out her hair and always wore full makeup even though she rarely left the house. These images, Arning said, expose the dark underbelly of manufactured beauty, a theme Minter continued throughout her career.

In another section, Minters paintings focus on the things that are eliminated from fashion photography, like freckles, pimples, errant eyebrow hairs, wrinkles or lipstick on teeth, said Elissa Auther, research and collections curator at New Yorks Museum of Arts and Design and an organizing curator. Shes looking at the body and all the things we hate about ourselves and try to eliminate.

Arnings favorite piece is in this section. Blue Poles, created in 2007, is a close-up of a woman with thick blue eye makeup, freckles and a pimple above one eyebrow.

She is very aware of the time and things in culture, he said of Minter. This was the last moment before what I call the regime of Photoshop took over. We all know on our phone cameras how to take out red eye or make a zit disappear. This painting was the last moment when those sorts of human flaws were going to be reproduced.

According to Auther, Minter stands apart in the genre of photorealism, in which an artist studies a photograph and attempts to replicate it through painting or drawing.

Unlike the conventional photorealist painter of her generation, she doesnt take photographs, project them onto the canvas, then paint them in, she said.

Instead, Minters process is far more complex.

My whole premise is not to judge but to look at how the glamour industry makes you feel like [expletive], and at the same time, gives you so much pleasure.  Marilyn Minter

She takes many pictures on a digital camera and then inputs them into Photoshop, where the images can be manipulated.

She has a bunch of photographs that shell cut and suture different parts of into an overall image, which is never printed out and displayed, said Auther.

Minter then uses this sutured image as a reference to create her painting, which is also the product of layers upon layers.

On some level there is a copying, but it is very fluid and open, said Auther. Color changes are made, scale is changed, and different marks are completely removed and remade. So theres a lot more fluidity that looks like a straight painting on canvas than someone who uses a photograph as a source to copy.

Minter said these paintings often take over a year to create.

The end result is oversize paintings  Pop Rocks, for instance, is 9-by-15 feet  that from a distance are indistinguishable from high-resolution photographs.

This is a technology that wasnt possible when she started the work, and it allows for a kind of hyper-reality thats absolutely fascinating, added Arning.

Ive had people stand next to me and say, So this is one of the photographs? You have to get really close to see what youre actually looking at. Theyre extremely abstract when you get up close, and the farther away you are, the more perfect they look.

This style also plays into the broader themes of Minters work  fashion, glamour and femininity  by making the audience question what is authentic.

Whats real, whats fake, whats been Photoshopped out and what hasnt  these are the questions that people will come up with, said Auther. There are so many back-and-forths between originality, the real and the fake. All of those dualisms are undone.

Another category that Minter complicates is feminism. While she is often given the label of feminist artist, she is also criticized for being too uncritical of celebrity and the glamour industry.

Theres a feminist audience that wants to see a bright line between right and wrong and doesnt appreciate any kind of gray area in the treatment of the female body or the use of pornography, said Auther. And theres a feminist audience that really loves Marilyns work and enjoys the ambivalence of her not giving us the answer.

Shes not the kind of activist artist whos going to tell you, Heres what I think and heres why its right or why its wrong.

While compiling works from the past 40 years gives audiences perspective on Minters vision, the exhibition has also brought clarity to the artist herself.

Theres a consistent thread that runs all the way through when you see the very earliest works until now, said Minter. I suspected it, but when I saw it all together, it really made sense.

I almost feel like I made the exact same image my whole life.

--

What: Marilyn Minter: Pretty/Dirty

Where: Orange County Museum of Art, 850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach

When: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays, through July 10

Cost: $10, free on Fridays

Information: (949) 759-1122

--

Caitlin Yoshiko Kandil, caitlin.kandil@latimes.com
Hotel affects a quiet part of the city

It looks like the fix is in, so I dont have much hope of stopping the 85-room, 82-foot-tall hotel on Brand north of Glenoaks. It is, after all, allowed by the existing code. But I want to warn the city that building up one of the few parts of Glendale that still has a low profile and isnt in the hills could backfire.

There are few places in the city where we can relax in relative quiet, or where we can stretch out. Over-development cant be reversed, and someday property values will stop soaring. I hope that when that happens, Glendale has some of its gracious old neighborhoods left.

Renee Leask

Glendale

--

All that building during a drought

I drove through downtown Glendale for the first time in a few months and took note of the gargantuan amount of development of apartments and condos. Simple question: If we are in the midst of one of the worst droughts in SoCal history, how can we continue to build and build and build?

George NeJame

Glendale

Vote By Mail ballots complicate things

Those pesky Vote By Mail ballots! It has been a week since I volunteered at the local polling place but those Vote By Mail ballots are still bugging me. Too many people treat their ballots as carelessly as if they were junk mail. They show up at the polling place wanting to sign the roster when there is a printed sentence " vote by mail ballot issued by their name. Rules demand that a VBM ballot has to be surrendered if a voter desires to vote at the polling place. Some voters were able to go home and retrieve their ballots, others stated that they never got one or that they threw it away and some then were upset over having to vote provisionally, since those votes are counted later, after being verified.

My other concern regarding vote by mail ballots is that we now have hundreds of them being requested, whereas we used to have only a handful, usually for reasons of being out of town. Now half pages in the roster are VBM requests. What concerns me is that if a voter needs help at the polling place, we have to document who helped and why, but anybody could fill out a VBM ballot. Therefore technically, a campaign worker could go door to door and help people fill them out. VBM ballots can look quite complicated and a person could have difficulties marking the many numbers, since that is all that you see on the ballot.

One regular, longtime voter was upset over how noisy the polling place was; she did not realize how much explaining had to be done this time, either regarding the nine different party ballots, the crossover voting or the VBM ballots. A big thank you to the wonderful neighbors who brought treats or who thanked us for volunteering.

Lilo Holzer

Glendale

--

Appreciates Friedmans no vote on hotel

I want to thank Councilwoman Laura Friedman for voting no on the City Councils resolutions to approve the design of the Aloft hotel as presented, and to adopt the mitigated negative declaration without further consideration of the communitys many concerns about the mass and scale of the design and the significant impacts of the project on the neighborhood. She listened to the communitys concerns and also considered the rights of the developer, which is what I want members of the council to do. Sadly, the other four members of the City Council each turned a deaf ear to the appellants request for a dialogue to discuss the concerns of the community.

Celeste Armstrong

Glendale

--

Decorum is needed on hotel debate

At the June 14 hearing on the appeal of the DRBs approval of the Aloft project Ara Najarian asked the opponents of the project to please not clap and yell after testimony given by a person opposed to the project. I agree with him that decorum should be maintained. What I find offensive, though, is the hypocrisy Najarian engaged in when he did not similarly caution the proponents of the project to not clap or yell, especially when a number of the proponents loudly mocked and jeered at a woman who lives adjacent to the project, is 37 weeks pregnant, and who gave very emotional testimony. As for the mayor, she apparently needs more training on how to conduct a meeting.

Laurie Collins

Glendale

--

Development advocates dont get his vote

What is it about folks who get on development boards or the City Council, or the management of Glendale that they develop the mass hysteria known as an edifice complex, the most recent being the approval of the Aloft building? In the last few years several gray, boxy buildings have been approved and built around the general downtown area randomly poking up and destroying the beauty, ambience and views of the city. I pretty much stay away from downtown Glendale including the Galleria, Marketplace, the Americana, and the fine restaurants that I used to patronize often.

As a result of this, I have vowed that I will never again vote for any council person or employee seeking (re)election in Glendale, or for county, state, or national office. I exercised that vow on June 7.

John Hindsill

Glendale

--

Fighting all the tax measures costs cities

Now that Proposition N has been soundly defeated in Glendale, I hope the folks behind TeaPAC will stop their fruitless attack on public employees through efforts to repeal the Utility Users Tax in multiple California cities. Glendale is just one of several cities where they have failed miserably. Other cities will be facing similar votes in the near future and its likely they will all go down in defeat.

It doesnt take many signatures on a petition to get a measure on the ballot. Petition gatherers can say whatever they want while standing outside Ralphs, regardless if its the truth. These attacks on cities UUTs create considerable cost to local government, businesses, and others who do not want to see an ill-advised and misleading measure that will not accomplish what the petition gatherers say it will do approved. City staff spent many hours on educating, not advocating, the public on what Proposition N really said. That was time better spent on pressing issues for both government and businesses.

The supporters of Proposition N believe that government employees make too much money and their pension benefits are too great. Employee compensation is a legitimate question worthy of public debate. But continuing to address this issue by trying to significantly cut revenue to government and telling the public that will reduce employee costs with no negative impacts, is a big lie and serves no purpose.

If the TeaPAC people really want to do something about public employee compensation, they should quit wasting effort on going after cities Utility Users Tax and take it up with the Legislature through pension reform that will be statewide. While TeaPAC members wont admit it, the Legislature has already substantially reduced benefits for new and future public employees through the Public Employees Pension Reform Act of a couple of years ago. In addition, public employees throughout the State have voluntarily agreed to concessions in salaries and other benefits.

Finally, thank you to the 71% of the Glendale voters who studied the issue and voted down Proposition N.

Dan Watson

Glendale

--

Thanks after a campaign journey

When we began our recent journey seeking a seat in the state Assembly, we knew we had a steep hill to climb. We wanted to rethink policies that impact critical areas of our lives, especially how we support kids. We sought to do so free from the influence of outside special interest money. No one could accuse us of setting our sights too low.

Nor could they say that the result was the consequence of something less than the extraordinary passion and integrity of people too numerous to name. That desire matched with a humbling commitment to action permitted us to knock on 50,000 doors, engage in thousands of conversations that could not be contained by mailers, and earn the confidence of about 10,000 voters.

Supporters believed in a brand of politics that lived up to the expectations we should rightfully have for those seeking to represent us. I am proud of our staff, volunteers and supporters who represented a positive vision that never shied from nuance and maintained a commitment to our motivating principle: A campaign should engage our community in the vital conversation of how we improve together.

While I was unable to deliver a victory, the pride we have should be resolute, as is my gratitude to all those who made it possible. I embarked on this journey as a continuation of my desire to serve. The only thing that has changed is the platform on which that service will take place. I am as committed as ever to those aims and am newly committed to reforming our politics, especially how they are financed.

Thank you for your investment in this work. And, on a personal note, thank you for allowing me to learn and grow from an experience usually reserved for those with a few more miles on the odometer.

Andrew J. Blumenfeld

Silver Lake

The writer, a former president of the La Canada Unified School District Governing Board, sought the seat representing the 43rd District in the state Assembly. He came in fourth in the June primary election; Glendale Councilwoman Laura Friedman and Glendale City Clerk Ardy Kassakhian led the way and will head to a November runoff.
Opposition to the U.S. militarys presence on the Japanese island of Okinawa drew tens of thousands of protesters to a rally Sunday, including some who demanded that all Marines must go.

Protesters carried signs objecting to the security agreement between Japan and the U.S. that places most American troops and bases on Okinawa. Many also wore black in memory of a local woman whose recent killing led to the arrest of a Marine veteran who was a civilian contractor.

Some placards read: Our rage beyond the bounds, and Marines, get out.

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An estimated 65,000 people attended the rally, making it one of the largest such demonstrations in many years, officials said.

Participants called for a review of the security agreement and many expressed displeasure with plans to relocate a Marine air station to another part of the island.

The recent killing has rekindled memories of other cases involving U.S. servicemen over the decades, including the rape of a 12-year-old girl by three Americans in 1995, a number of robberies and a March incident in which a U.S. Navy sailor pleaded guilty to raping a woman he found asleep in the corridor of his hotel. Two weeks ago, a 21-year-old Navy petty officer second class was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after ramming her car into two vehicles while traveling the wrong way on the main highway that traverses the island.

Weve been enduring cruel treatment for more than 70 years, said Jinshiro Motoyama of a national student group in addressing the demonstrators.

Other student group members stepped on the stage to introduce #OkinawaLivesMatter, modeled after the campaign protesting police shootings of African Americans.

Since the end of World War II, Okinawa has hosted a vast network of bases used by the U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines. Even though the island chain reverted to Japanese control in 1972, American military installations still take up one-fifth of the main island, and nearly three-quarters of the more than 50,000 Japan-based American troops and family members are stationed here.

In local elections two weeks ago, voters turned out in force for the anti-base candidates. So for the first time Okinawas governor commands a near two-thirds majority in the prefectural assembly that opposes relocating Futenma Air Base in densely populated south-central Okinawa by expanding Camp Schwab up north. And the newly elected assembly called for a review of Status of Forces Agreement to have U.S. servicemen subject to Japans judiciary system.

Sundays demonstration coincided with mounting maritime tensions between China and Japan. This month, Tokyo denounced Beijing after a Chinese frigate entered a contiguous zone just outside Japanese waters in the East China Sea near the disputed islands known as the Senkaku to the Japanese and Diaoyu to the Chinese.

Kyodo News service in Japan reported Sunday that government sources had warned that Self-Defense Force vessels may be deployed for security operations.

Okinawa would be on the geographical front line in any conflict over the islands, which are controlled by Japan but claimed by China.

Law is a special correspondent.

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A senior Conservative Party politician announced Monday that she was switching sides in the debate over whether to leave the European Union, saying the Leave campaigns hate and xenophobia had forced her to vote Remain.

Both sides temporarily suspended campaigning after Labor MP Jo Cox was attacked and killed on Thursday. Cox had been campaigning for Britain to remain in the EU and had spoken up for the rights of refugees. Prosecutors said Thomas Mair, the man accused of her murder, was heard saying: Britain first. Keep Britain independent. Britain always comes first. This is for Britain, as he shot and stabbed the lawmaker.

As battle buses for the two camps hit the road again for the first time since Coxs death, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi said she could no longer align herself with the pro-Brexit campaign.

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Warsi, a former co-chair of the Conservative Party, has said that she has long been skeptical of the EU, and had been making a case for Britain to leave the union before the Leave campaign had been established. But she found herself alienated by the campaigns rhetoric.

Are we prepared to tell lies, to spread hate and xenophobia just to win a campaign? Warsi, who was the first Muslim to sit in the cabinet, told Londons Times newspaper. For me thats a step too far. She cited a widely criticized poster unveiled by UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage. The poster shows a long line of refugees crossing Europe next to the words: Breaking Point. The EU has failed us all.

The political fallout from last weeks events were still reverberating around the country on Monday and the effect it could have on voters Thursday was largely unknown.

Some new polls showed that the Remain camp had regained a few points in the wake of the politicians killing, but the two sides still appear to be neck and neck.

We dont know at the end of the day whether this is going to make any difference to the result, said John Curtice, professor of politics at the University of Strathclyde. Its certainly created a hiatus in the campaign. You can argue it different ways. It gave the Remain side a chance to regather its force in the wake of a bit of a panic. Or they missed out on two days of campaigning with the risk of being behind.

In parliament on Monday, lawmakers packed the House of Commons to pay tribute to their slain colleague.

See the most-read stories this hour >>

A red-and-white rose was placed on the bench where Cox usually sat and heartfelt, tearful eulogies were given for the mother of two as her family watched from the viewing gallery.

Prime Minister David Cameron described Cox as extraordinary and a humanitarian to her core.

She was a voice of compassion, whose boundless energy lit up the lives of all who knew her and saved the lives of many she never met, he said.

Labor MP Jeremy Corbyn called for a kinder and gentler politics and said that everyone in the chamber, regardless of their political affiliation, had a responsibility not to whip up hatred or sow division. We can come together to change our politics to tolerate a little more and condemn a little less, he said.

The comments struck a chord in a country that has been forced to face some uncomfortable truths about the circumstances leading up to the attack.

Both sides of the debate on whether to leave the EU  a debate that has raised issues of national sovereignty and Britains ability to control its own immigration policy  have been accused of running a bitter, vitriolic campaign, the likes of which Britain has not seen before. Leave and Remain supporters were openly calling each other liars.

Coxs friend of 20 years, Labor MP Stephen Kinnock, said she had been assassinated because of what she stood for. He called for hope not fear, respect not hate, unity not division, and also lambasted the UKIP poster for demonizing people fleeing terror and persecution.

Jo understood that rhetoric has consequences. When insecurity, fear and anger are used to light a fuse, then an explosion is inevitable, he said.

The UKIP leader fought back at his critics, accusing those in favor of staying in the EU of trying to use Coxs death for political advantage.The Remain camp are using these awful circumstances to try to say that the motives of one deranged dangerous individual were similar to half the country, perhaps more, who believe we should leave the EU, he said.

Curtice said he was unsurprised that despite the calls for calm, the debate suddenly turned bitter again. There are careers at stake, there are beliefs at stake, he said. Its not as though the Remain side stood apart and said, Well, Nigel [Farage] was a bit naughty but we wont go on about it.

Dont be surprised when the Remain side get the big guns out and the Leave side respond with equal ferocity, he added.

MORE WORLD NEWS

Turkeys president vows to pursue project that sparked deadly protests

Number of people displaced worldwide last year greater than the entire population of Britain

Suspect in slaying of British lawmaker tells court his name is Death to traitors, freedom for Britain
A Taliban-claimed suicide bombing targeted a bus transporting Nepalese security guards Monday morning on the outskirts of Kabul, killing at least 14 people and injuring nine others, Afghan officials said.

The Nepalese nationals were on their way to work at the Canadian embassy in Afghanistan.

The Afghan interior ministry said the bus was traveling near the Pol-e Charkhi prison outside the capital when it came under attack about 5:40 a.m. The interior ministry said all 14 killed were Nepalese.

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It was believed to be the deadliest incident in Afghanistan to strike migrant workers from Nepal, many of whom work as security guards at embassies and compounds belonging to international agencies.

Five Nepalese and four Afghans were wounded in the attack. Abdul Rahman Rahimi, Kabul police chief, said the injured Afghans were at a nearby market when they were struck by the blast.

Thousands of Nepalese nationals work in Afghanistan, where they can earn salaries much higher than in their impoverished home country. About 3,300 work as security guards, according to government statistics, earning several hundred dollars each month.

The Nepalese website Pahilo Post, citing official figures, said more than 1,200 Nepalese had left for Afghanistan in the last three months.

An international aid worker whose organization has often used Nepali guards said the contractors have extremely dangerous jobs. On the other hand, these guards are not liked by many Afghans as well, mainly for two reasons, said the worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak for his organization. One, they are the target of the Taliban as illustrated by todays attack; two, many Afghans are not very happy with them for stealing what would potentially be their jobs.

Nepalese Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli said he was saddened by the attack.

I pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the incident, Oli tweeted.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast.

Also Monday, the Afghan parliament finally approved a defense minister -- a position that had been in the hands of a caretaker minister for more than 2 years  and a new spy chief.

Gen. Abdullah Khan Habibi, who has been acting defense minister since May, was confirmed by parliament with 167, well over the 113 he needed to secure the post.

Since a national unity government took office in September 2014, President Ashraf Ghani had proposed several nominees to become defense minister, but none had received parliamentary backing. The lack of a permanent appointment contributed to concerns about Afghanistans security in the face of a growing Taliban insurgency and mounting casualties among Afghan security forces.

The new head of the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistans main spy agency, is Mohammad Masoom Stanikzai, another former acting defense minister.

The previous spy chief, Rahmatullah Nabil, resigned in December following a highly publicized spat with the government. Nabil wrote a Facebook post expressing anger at Ghanis efforts to engage with neighboring Pakistan  whom many Afghans accuse of supporting the Taliban  to begin peace talks with the insurgents.

Latifi is a special correspondent. Times staff writer Shashank Bengali contributed to this report from Mumbai, India.

UPDATES:

10:32 a.m.: This article was updated with a comment from an international aid worker.

This article was originally published at 8:02 a.m.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is vowing to pursue a divisive construction project in downtown Istanbul that sparked mass protests three years ago and claiming that part of the project would introduce the world to the crimes of Western powers.

The project would see the last remaining piece of green space in downtown Istanbuls Gezi Park replaced with a replica Ottoman-era military barracks, a new Sultans mosque and an opera house.

The combative president also claimed during the weekend that part of the project would highlight crimes committed by Germany, France and the United States, following a decision by the German Parliament this month to label the mass killings of Armenians during the Ottoman collapse as genocide.

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The world should know all of them, Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul on Saturday, and we should all see what they have done.

Turkey has long challenged the use of the term genocide to describe the massacres beginning in 1915, arguing that they cannot be separated from the historical context of global upheaval around the time of World War I.

Historians largely agree that about 1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered in a state-organized campaign of ethnic cleansing and on long death marches in what many consider the first genocide of the 20th century.

See the most-read stories in World News this hour >>

Istanbul residents opposed to the project reacted angrily to Erdogans plans. The protests three years ago left eight people dead and thousands injured.

If he tries, there will be mass riots again, said Timur Karadeniz, who participated in the protests that swept the nation in the summer of 2013. I think he is trying to change the agenda by making provocative statements: Tourism is horrible this year and [he is embroiled in a scandal about] his fake university diploma. Recent controversy in Turkey has centered on whether Erdogan graduated from university, a requirement for the presidency.

Many Istanbul residents lament the citys shrinking green space and rampant construction projects that have turned the mega-city on the Bosporus Strait into a concrete sprawl. Erdogan, however, said the project was central for Turkey to reclaim its heritage.

If we want to preserve our history we must rebuild this historic structure, he said of the military barracks, according to media reports.

Turkeys ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, has vowed that 2016 would be the year of the mega-construction projects  a reference to Erdogans building blitz that he believes signifies Turkeys rise to the highest echelons of global power and exalts the virtues of his political Islamist, or neo-Ottoman, movement.

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A new mega-mosque perched atop Istanbuls highest hill  replete with the worlds tallest minarets  and modeled on Istanbuls iconic Blue Mosque is due to open next month. A third bridge on the Bosporus named after Sultan Selim the Grim, who vastly expanded the Ottoman Empire, is expected to open in August.

There is competition between two architectural currents: Republican and Ottoman, said Korhan Gumus, a prominent Istanbul architect who views the construction frenzy as a broader battle for ownership of identity in Turkey. These projects become icons and symbols of Erdogans [Ottoman] power. They represent Erdogan.

Part of Erdogans Gezi Park vision would see the Ataturk Cultural Center on Taksim Squares eastern fringe, a prominent example of Republican architecture, demolished and replaced with an opera house or a museum.

Erdogan said this was necessary to show the countrys sense of art, according to Hurriyet Daily News.

Turkeys top administrative court blocked Erdogans Gezi Park redevelopment plans after 2013s protests, but last year reversed its decision, following an appeal by the Istanbul municipality and what critics contend is Erdogans encroachment on the judiciary.

Since ascending to the presidency in August 2014, Erdogan has sought to entrench and expand his powers. He is presently seeking to garner enough support in parliament to take a new constitution, increasing his powers, to a public referendum.

Parliament recently passed a bill that lifted the political immunity of 138 lawmakers, mostly from a pro-Kurdish opposition party that last year dealt a stunning defeat to the AKP in national elections, temporarily scuttling Erdogans plans for a shift to a presidential system of rule.

Erdogan signed the bill into law June 7  one year to the day after he lost his parliamentary majority, later reclaimed in a redo election in November  paving the way for the lawmakers prosecution on terrorism and other charges, and expulsion from parliament.

There is already a leader in this country and he is engaging in politics, Erdogans chief economy advisor, Yigit Bulut, said recently, according to Hurriyet Daily News. There is no need for anyone else to engage in politics.

Johnson is a special correspondent.

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Suspect in slaying of British lawmaker tells court his name is Death to traitors, freedom for Britain
On 15 June Mexicos interior ministry (Segob) confirmed that US authorities had delivered convicted drug trafficker Hector El Guero Palma Salazar to officials from the federal attorney generals office (PGR) at the Puente Nuevo border crossing in the city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas state. Palma is a Mexican national considered to be one of the founding members of the Sinaloa/Pacifico drug trafficking organisation (DTO) along with Joaquin El Chapo Guzman Loera. After being extradited to the US from Mexico, Palma was given a 16-year prison sentence for drug trafficking in the US in 2008 but was released on 10 June on good conduct. Palmas repatriation was confirmed by the US embassy in Mexico which said in a statement that he was released after serving 85% of his sentence with good conduct (the US counted the five years that Palma spent in prison in Mexico awaiting extradition) and that he was delivered back to the Mexican authorities in a sign of good faith.

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UPDATE: Student walkout leader guilty of 3 counts of corruption of minors

Principals from the seven Allentown schools affected by a student walkout last fall testified about standing at doors urging kids not to leave school.

Michael Frassetto arrives for court on June. 20, 2016, for his summary trial on hundreds of corruption of minors citations related to an Allentown student walkout in the fall of 2015. (Sarah Cassi | lehighvalleylive.com)

The principals -- from William Allen High School, Dieruff High School and South Mountain Middle School -- said they couldn't keep students from leaving, but urged them to re-think leaving the building without permission.

District Judge Karen Devine will decide if Michael Frassetto should be convicted on hundreds of corruption of minor citations for organizing the walkouts the week of Sept. 28 and encouraging students to be truant.

Frassetto's summary trial began Monday morning and testimony was expected to continue in the afternoon.

Students walked out and protested on Sept. 28 and Sept. 29, but Frassetto called for students to stay in class on Sept. 30 because of weather and safety concerns.

Solicitor John Freund said the district estimates 417 students walked out of school as part of the protests, and are seeking citations for each student. The private summary complaints were filed by the Allentown School District and Freund on behalf of the affected high school and middle school principals who had students participate in the walkouts.

The three principals testified Monday morning that by the second day, the numbers of students who left school dwindled and the protest "fizzled out."

The principals with William Allen and Dieruff high schools said students were not punished for participating in the protests; those who were disciplined were disciplined for other issues, such as having excessive absences or violating the code of conduct.

Frank Derrick said while some South Mountain Middle School students spoke of their concerns about education in the district, others said they were leaving to get Chinese food.

Derrick said students who left the middle school received in-school suspensions. Out of the 990 students at the middle school, about 5 percent left for the walkouts and did not return, according to Derrick.

Some students told him they were leaving to get Chinese food, while other students left to protest but were brought back to school by their parents, Derrick testified.

Susan Bocian, Dieruff's principal, said 50 students walked out on Sept. 28, but by the second day, "students were not interested."

William Allen saw the most students leave: 186. Frassetto stood outside William Allen on the first day of protesting, encouraging students as he spoke into a bull horn.

Principal Luke Shafnisky said officials and staff stood by the doors to encourage students not to leave.

Defense attorney Gary Asteak asked if any William Allen students were cited for truancy for participating in the protests.

"Not to my knowledge," Shanisky said.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Freemansburg police are investigating the report of a suspicious man in the area of Lincoln and Roosevelt streets.



Police said the man was walking in the area during this past weekend when he stopped for about 30 minutes and watched a group of children who were playing outside. The male then left the area.

Police took to Facebook to alert the public.

***Awareness Alert*** The Freemansburg Police Department received a report of a suspicious male in the area of Lincoln... Posted by Freemansburg Police Department on Saturday, June 18, 2016

Police are describing the suspicious person as a white male with a medium build, dark hair and a bandage on his left arm. Anyone with information is urged to call Freemansburg police at 610-866-2221.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Kelly Aldinger, 49, of the Easton area, gets into a vehicle waiting for her following an appearance Monday in district court. (Pamela Sroka-Holzmann | For Lehighvalleylive)

The attorney for a substitute teacher accused of having sex with a student in a cemetery said his client has had a "good professional and personal background" and no criminal history prior to the incident.

Kelly Aldinger, 49, of the Easton area, Monday appeared before District Judge Antonia Grifo and gave up her right to a preliminary hearing. Dressed in a coral top and denim skirt, Aldinger did not speak unless addressed by the judge.

When Grifo asked if she understood her rights to a hearing, Aldinger replied, "This part, yes."

The judge then sent on charges of institutional sexual assault on a 17-year-old male student to Northampton County Court. A formal arraignment is scheduled for 1 p.m Aug. 18.

Following the hearing, Aldinger quickly ran to a vehicle waiting for her to avoid photographs. A man with her stood in front of cameras with his arms up.

Philip Lauer, the attorney representing Aldinger, stated in an interview after the hearing it's too early in the case to see if Aldinger can apply for a first-time offenders' probationary program. No plea arrangements have been discussed, says both Lauer and Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Tatum Wilson, prosecuting the case.

"Kelly is a good person and a good educator," Lauer said. "Where this ends up, God only knows."

Lauer declined comment on further specifics pertaining to Aldinger's relationship with the student.

Aldinger was found by a police officer at 1:06 p.m. May 6 having sex with the 17-year-old student in Easton Cemetery off North Seventh Street, Easton police Lt. Matthew Gerould said.

Aldinger at the time was employed by Source 4 Teachers and placed at Easton Area High School as a substitute teacher. The 17-year-old was at one point taught by Aldinger, Gerould had said.

The sexual relationship between Aldinger and the student began in 2015, though they initially met when the teen was middle school, according to court documents. The teen now is a junior in high school.

Source 4 Teachers spokesman Owen Murphy later said Aldinger was suspended indefinitely from teaching anywhere. According to church bulletins, Aldinger also was involved with St. Paul's III Lutheran Church. She served as the council's president as recently as last fall.

Aldinger quickly bonded out of Northampton County Prison. Bail was set at $50,000 following an arraignment before District Judge Daniel Corpora. Grifo reminded Aldinger on Monday she needs to stay away from the victim and have no contact whatsoever with minors.

Aldinger is awaiting her day in court to resolve the issue, Lauer said.

"We look forward to bringing it to a conclusion for all concerned," he said.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
On City AM, Jeremy Browne has been explaining that Europe fears Brexit because it would unleash forces that could prove impossible to control. He writes:

In Britain, we inevitably focus most on how our departure from the EU would affect the UK. What the other countries in the EU mainly worry about, however, is how it would affect Europe. They are standing back, nervous that any intervention could be open to misinterpretation and be counter-productive, but they watch our referendum with trepidation. The consensus is that it would be damaging if Britain walked out; but different countries have different reasons for coming to that conclusion.

He describes the global significance of Britains financial services, and the large hole that would be left in Europe if that was ripped out of the EU.

The dynamic of negotiating our departure will be very complicated. There is only one thing more damaging to the EU than Britain leaving  apart from Germany or France leaving  and that is Britain leaving and succeeding.  The referendum matters to Britain, but it matters to the rest of Europe too. And, to complete the circle, what matters to the rest of Europe matters to Britain, whether we are in the EU or not.

You can read the full post here.

The former Lib Dem MP and Foreign Office minister, Jeremy Browne, is the City of Londons special representative to the EU .

* Mary Reid is a contributing editor on Lib Dem Voice. She was a councillor in Kingston upon Thames, where she is still very active with the local party, and is the Hon President of Kingston Lib Dems.
A LEADING Limerick hotelier is fighting for his life after being placed in an induced coma following a fall in Spain.

Former Limerick Hurling sponsor, Tom Moran, who owns the Red Cow Hotel in Dublin, is in hospital in Malaga after sustaining head injuries while at the wedding of Charlie Chawkes daughter Jenny in Puerto Banus.

Well-placed sources have confirmed the father-of-seven fell after the chair he was sitting upon slipped off a ledge. He suffered internal bleeding.

Mr Moran was admitted to hospital in Marbella, near Puerto Banus, before being transferred up the Costa Del Sol to Malaga.

Members of the popular businessmans family travelled from Britain and Ireland to be at his bedside this week, and are maintaining a constant vigil.

Born in Athea, West Limerick, and a former sponsor of Limericks GAA teams  was in Spain for the wedding of publican Charlie Chawkes daughter Jenny, 30 to partner of three years Rory Burgess.

And while Mr Morans family remain by his side in Spain, messages of support to have been flooding in from Limerick people, many of whom were at last weekends nupitals.

We're all wishing him well. He is a wonderful man," a fellow Limerick hotelier  who did not wish to be named  said.

Another person in Adare said that Mr Moran's family remained "very worried".

Mr Moran previously owned hotels across Britain. However, he sold the bulk of his group  which comprised Bewleys Hotels  to Dalata in a 455m deal. But he held onto the landmark Red Cow property after paying 8m.
THE Minister for Justice has been questioned about how she plans to stop persons from travelling to Limerick in order to incite hatred.

The Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald was questioned in the Dail by deputy Pat Buckley if she is aware of the plans by a group to organise a meeting in Limerick this month; and her plans to counteract such hate groups and to stop persons from travelling here in order to incite hatred.

Deputy Buckley was referring to an upcoming talk due to be given by Lutz Bachmann, the German founder of a controversial anti-Islam group Pegida.

The Tanaiste and Minister for Justice said that she has been advised by the Garda authorities that they are aware of proposals for this event and that the appropriate liaison has taken place in this regard.

The persons concerned have been requested to notify An Garda Siochana if the event is scheduled to proceed in order to ensure that an assessment can be made of any policing requirements and that the necessary policing arrangements can be planned and put in place.

The Garda Authorities will continue to monitor the situation. The Deputy will appreciate that as with all such events the arrangements for policing are operational matters for An Garda Siochana.

The purpose of Garda arrangements is to ensure that lawful meetings, demonstrations or protests can take place, that peaceful and lawful activities can be carried out and that, in such circumstances, general public safety and order can be supported.

Earlier this month an ex-member of Pegida Ireland told the Limerick Leader that they feared there could be violent clashes in Limerick if its German founder gives an address here this month. The subject of Bachmann's talk, according to Identity Ireland, which invited him to Limerick, is to highlight the mass sexual assaults on European women by Muslim men, which they claim has been covered up across Europe.
Jun 19, 2016, 11 PM

Author and social activist Charles W. Chesnutt was honored on a 41 stamp in the Black Heritage series in 2008.

By Michael Baadke

Charles Waddell Chesnutt was born June 20, 1858, in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of free blacks and the grandson of a white slave owner. Originally a teacher and public school principal, he studied law and was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1887. He worked as a law firm stenographer, and began his own successful legal stenography practice.

At the same time, Chesnutt was also publishing his first stories, addressing concerns of racial identity, mixed race heritage, and prejudice. His story Uncle Peters House was published in a local newspaper in 1885, and The Goophered Grapevine was featured two years later in the Atlantic Monthly.

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Chesnutt was honored Jan. 31, 2008, on a 41 stamp in the Black Heritage commemorative series (Scott 4222). On the liner paper behind each stamp in the pane is a brief biographical summary: Charles W. Chesnutt (1858-1932) is recognized today as a major innovator among turn-of-the-century literary realists. In novels such as The Marrow of Tradition and short stories such as those collected in The Conjure Woman he probed the color line in American life.

Chesnutt also wrote a biography of abolitionist Frederick Douglass that was published in 1899. In later years, he became a prominent voice in the civil rights movement, contributing essays and giving speeches on the subject of race relations.

In 1928, Chesnutt was awarded the prestigious NAACP Spingarn Medal, acknowledging his pioneer work as a literary artist depicting the life and struggles of Americans of Negro descent, and for his long and useful career as scholar, worker, and freeman.
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Built for the pharaoh Khufu about 4,500 years ago, the Great Pyramid at Giza is considered a wonder of the ancient world.

The Great Pyramid of Giza may be a Wonder of the Ancient World, but it's not perfect: Its base is a little lopsided because its builders made a teensy mistake when constructing it, new research reveals.

The west side of the pyramid is slightly longer than the east side, scientists have found. Although the difference is very slight, it's enough that a modern-day research team, led by engineer Glen Dash and Egyptologist Mark Lehner, was able to detect the small flaw in a new measuring project.

"The base is not quite square," Dash said. The project is being carried out by the Glen Dash Research Foundation, led by Dash, and Ancient Egypt Research Associates (AERA), led by Lehner. AERA has been mapping and excavating the Giza plateau for about 30 years. [Photos: Amazing Discoveries at Egypt's Giza Pyramids]

Ancient wonder

The Great Pyramid was built for the pharaoh Khufu about 4,500 years ago. Called a "wonder of the world" by ancient writers, it is the largest of the three pyramids located on the Giza Plateau.

The Great Pyramid was originally covered in casing stones, though just a few survive today (and are shown here). (Image credit: Mark Lehner)

When the Great Pyramid was first constructed, it was clad in a limestone casing, much of which is now gone. Much of the casing was reused for building projects in past centuries. Without the casing, scientists have had a tough time getting accurate measurements of the pyramid as it originally stood.

"What is the exact size and orientation of the Great Pyramid? Archaeologists, scientists, engineers and mystics have sought answers for centuries," Dash wrote in a reportpublished in the most recent issue of the newsletter Aeragram, which chronicles the work of AERA.

"Most of those casing stones were removed centuries ago for building material, leaving the pyramid as we see it today, without most of its original shell," Dash wrote. [In Photos: Inside Egypt's Great Pyramids]

Measuring the Great Pyramid

Researchers took measurements of the Great Pyramid's edges and platform, showing what one of the corners may have looked like when built. Researchers noticed a "corner socket," or a cutting in the rock, whose purpose remains unclear. (Image credit: Image courtesy of Glen Dash)

To determine the lengths of the original pyramid sides, Lehner led a search for surviving casing stones whose edges still touched the platform that the Great Pyramid was built on. They also searched for marks on the platform that would provide clues as to where the edges were. In total, they found 84 points along the pyramid's original edges. These points were marked on a grid system that AERA has been using to map all of the features on the Giza Plateau.

Then, the team used a statistical method called linear regression analysis to determine those lengths. They found that the east side of the pyramid originally measured somewhere between 755.561 and 755.817 feet (230.295 to 230.373 meters), while the west side of the pyramid originally measured somewhere between 755.833 and 756.024 feet (230.378 to 230.436 m).

This means that, at most, the west side was only 5.55 inches (14.1 centimeters) longer than the east side. Though that would leave the pyramid not quite square, it's a remarkable level of precision for a monument constructed more than 4,500 years ago, the researchers noted.

"The data show that the Egyptians possessed quite remarkable skills for their time," Dash wrote in the report. "We can only speculate as to how the Egyptians could have laid out these lines with such precision using only the tools they had." [How Were the Egyptian Pyramids Built?]

Dash thinks the ancient Egyptians laid out the pyramid on a grid. The pyramid's north-south axis (or meridian) runs 3 minutes 54 seconds west of due north while its east-west axis runs 3 minutes 51 seconds north of due east, he told Live Science. The east-west axis also runs through the center of a temple built on the east side of the pyramid. These measurements mean that the Great Pyramid is oriented just slightly away from the cardinal directions, the degree of error from north-south and east-west being almost the same.

The fact that the degree of error is almost the same and that it is so small provides "good evidence that the pyramid and its associated temple were laid out on a common, very precisely oriented grid," Dash said.

The researchers will continue analyzing the data they gathered to find more information on the design and construction of the Great Pyramid.

"We hope to eventually figure out how the Egyptians laid out the pyramid with such precision and, in doing so, hope to learn much about the tools and technology they had at their disposal," Dash wrote.

Original article published on Live Science.
In the aftermath of the death of a 2-year-old boy who was drowned by an alligator at a Disney resort in Florida, much of the public response has been sympathetic. But not all of it: Sprinkled across social media, online comments and even whisperings you may hear at the water cooler, some individuals are instead pointing fingers, blaming the parents.

Is this a sign of the times? Is parenting shame on the rise and empathy taking a dive?

Research says maybe so. The brain is wired for empathy, but it's also wired for moral judgments. And some facets of modern American culture may push people away from the former and toward the latter.

The blame game

Beneath any given online article about the alligator attack, there are at least a few comments questioning the child's parents. The theme persists on the Twitter hashtag #DisneyGatorAttack.

"People are blaming an alligator for being an alligator, when the real issue here is child negligence. Watch your child," Tweeted a user with the handle @nuffsaidNY.

Ubiquitous reports that the child's parents were right next to him  and that the father struggled to pull open the alligator's jaws to save his child  seem not to put a damper on the judgments. A similar pattern occurred in late May after a preschooler slipped away from his mother and fell into a gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati Zoo. The child survived, but zoo officials had to shoot the gorilla, resulting in calls for the parents to be prosecuted.

In response to the blame has come a backlash. Melissa Fenton, a writer for the parenting site Scary Mommy, wrote a plea for compassion on Facebook, arguing that in the past, child-in-peril stories engendered support, not judgment. [5 Ways to Foster Self-Compassion in Your Child]

"We now live in a time where accidents are not allowed to happen. You heard me. Accidents, of any form, in any way, and at any time, well, they just don't happen anymore," Fenton wrote. "Why? Because BLAME and SHAME."

Empathy and judgment

Empathy is the ability to put oneself in another person's emotional shoes. This ability is baked into people's moral reasoning, even at the level of brain anatomy, science shows. Researchers reporting in 2013 in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience examined the brains of psychopaths (who have stunted empathy for others) and found multiple brain regions involved, including the anterior insula, the anterior cingulate cortex, the supplementary motor area, the inferior frontal gyrus, the somatosensory cortex and the right amygdala. (Specifically, these areas are linked to empathy for pain.)

In a review paper that same year, published in the journal Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, researchers catalogued all of the brain regions involved in moral judgments. The names of a few familiar regions popped up. The insular cortex  which holds the anterior insula and is associated with the processing of disgust, uncertainty and emotions  plays a role in morals. So does the anterior cingulate cortex. [5 Ways Your Emotions Influence Your World (and Vice Versa)]

In other words, empathy is tangled with moral judgment even at the level of brain anatomy. Understanding how others think and feel is important to making moral decisions, of course.

But people aren't perfect at it. A 2013 study published in the Journal of Neuroscience found that when one person is exposed to a negative stimuli (a picture of maggots and a bowl of slime, for example) while another person is exposed to a positive stimuli (e.g., a picture of a puppy and a soft fleece), the individual emotions of the two people get in the way of understanding one another. The person exposed to the negative stimuli views the person exposed to the positive stimuli as less happy than that individual really is. Meanwhile, the person who had the positive experience views the person who had the negative experience as happier than he or she really is. A person's own emotional state bleeds into his or her understanding of another's.

Brain bias

Empathy is "a powerful emotion," said Emile Bruneau, a cognitive scientist and visiting scholar at the University of Pennsylvania. Even so, people can be easily "distracted" from empathy by other emotions and even external factors, she told Live Science.

"It can motivate us. It can bring us to tears and motivate us to great action of altruism," Bruneau said. "But it's also incredibly flexible. We can feel a great amount of empathy for someone and something, but then we can turn around and feel no empathy at all for someone else."

For instance, people might feel empathy for a dead or endangered child, and this emotion might lead them to feel anger and aggression toward the parents they perceive as being at fault, Bruneau said. People also prefer to apply empathy to their own in-groups, and tend not to feel as much empathy for out-groups.

"That can be across any boundary," Bruneau said. "It's one of the curious things about humans. We can distinguish in-group and out-group across any arbitrary boundary we decide."

Another serious hiccup for empathy is what's called the fundamental attribution error. This is a cognitive bias by which people assume that other people's actions are mostly driven by their personalities, rather than external factors that are out of their control. However, when people think about their own behavior, they do take these external factors into account.

In other words, if your kid gets away from you at the zoo, you can list the reasons why: He's fast; the place was crowded; your other kids needed your attention. If someone else's kid slips away at the zoo, it's because that person is a bad parent, you may conclude.

In a particularly individualistic culture, like modern America, the fundamental attribution error may play an outsize role.

"People in individualistic cultures are more likely to commit this error, and are more likely in general to attribute actions to the individual instead of the situation," said Jean Twenge, a psychologist at San Diego State University and author of "Generation Me: Why Today's Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled  and More Miserable Than Ever Before" (Free Press, 2006).

Culture change?

Survey data comparing today's Americans to their counterparts of the same age in previous generations suggests that the population is becoming more individualistic, and has been doing so for at least a century.

"Since U.S. culture has grown more individualistic, it makes sense that people are now more likely to blame parents when things go wrong," Twenge told Live Science.

Similar generational research also finds declines in empathy. A study published in 2011 in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Review found a decline of 48 percent in college students' scores on empathic concern, a measure of feelings of sympathy, tenderness and compassion for others. There was also a 34 percent decline in perspective-taking, the intellectual tendency to imagine another's point of view. (This data is subject to some controversy over whether people really feel more individualistic and less empathetic, or whether it's simply more socially acceptable to say so now.)

Changing attitudes toward parenting and children may also make blame and judgment more rampant. Life has become staggeringly safer for children over the past century. According to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, the rate of deaths for children under the age of 4 has dropped from 1,418.8 deaths per 100,000 in 1907 to 28.6 deaths per 100,000 in 2007. [What Are the Odds of Dying From]

Unintentional accidents made up about the same proportion of deaths of small children since 1970 (37 percent that year, versus 34 percent in 2007), but the overall number of deaths has continued to decline during that time. This means fatal childhood accidents are rarer than ever.

"People used to think accidents were normal  acts of God, or just random bad luck," said Stephanie Coontz, a historian of families at The Evergreen State College in Washington. "And precisely because life was less safe then, people were less inclined than today to have the expectation that life would be safe if no one screwed up."

Original article on Live Science.
It's been a sweltering week for many in the northern hemisphere. Temperatures in parts of England rose past 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) on Tuesday (July 19), a record never before seen in the country, while more than 100 million Americans were under excessive heat warnings as of Tuesday evening. The heat is not just uncomfortable. It can be deadly.

In Spain and Portugal, the broiling temperatures of the last two weeks have contributed to 1,169 deaths, according to ABC News (opens in new tab). The fatalities harken back to the devastating 2003 European heat wave, in which 14,802 people died of hyperthermia in France alone. Most were elderly people living alone in apartment buildings without air conditioning, according to Richard Keller, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of medical history and bioethics and author of "Fatal Isolation: The Devastating Paris Heat Wave of 2003 (opens in new tab)" (University of Chicago Press, 2015).

So how does heat kill? When core body temperature rises too high, everything breaks down: The gut leaks toxins into the body, cells begin to die, and a devastating inflammatory response can occur.

Part of the insidiousness of heat-related deaths is how quickly they can happen. Older individuals are more at risk, often because their cardiovascular systems are less resilient to the strain caused by excess heat, according to a 2014 article in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (opens in new tab). But in extreme enough temperatures, even young, physically fit people can succumb quickly. One victim of a heat wave in Phoenix in 2017 was a personal trainer who was mountain biking with friends on a day when temperatures would soar to 118 F (47.7 C). Despite drinking plenty of water and biking with two doctors who immediately attempted to resuscitate her, the woman died, according to ABC15 News (opens in new tab). And in 2021, Philip Kreycik, an expert trail runner in California succumbed to heat stroke, on a day when temperatures approached the triple-digits, Outside reported (opens in new tab).



And in Northern California that same summer, a family was found dead in Sierra National Forest for similar reasons. The story made national news because it was not clear at first what had killed the family. But an investigation showed that temperatures reached up to 109 F (42.7 C) that August day, and the family ran out of water, according to NPR (opens in new tab). Jonathan Gerrish, Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter, Miju, and their dog, Oski, all died.

Sudden death

These kinds of tragedies aren't typical heat deaths, however, Keller told Live Science. Rather, they're "like shots across the bow telling you that something is coming," he said. Outdoorsy types and outdoor workers like roofers might suffer first, but it's the elderly and the mentally ill who make up the majority of deaths.

The medical term for excessive body heat is hyperthermia. The first phase is heat exhaustion, a condition marked by heavy sweat, nausea, vomiting and even fainting. The pulse races, and the skin goes clammy. Muscle cramping can be an early sign of heat exhaustion, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (opens in new tab) (CDC).

Heat exhaustion can be reversed by moving to a cool location, loosening clothing and applying cool, wet washcloths to the body. But when people with heat exhaustion can't find relief, they can quickly advance to heat stroke. This condition happens when a person's core body temperature rises above 104 F (40 C). (This number is something of an estimate; there are a few degrees' variability among people as to how much internal heat they can tolerate.)

In heat stroke, sweating stops and the skin becomes dry and flushed. The pulse is rapid. The person becomes delirious and may pass out. When trying to compensate for extreme heat, the body dilates the blood vessels in the skin in an attempt to cool the blood. To do this, the body has to constrict the blood vessels in the gut. The reduced blood flow to the gut increases the permeability between the cells that normally keep gut contents in, and toxins can leak into the blood, according to a book chapter (opens in new tab) in the textbook "Wilderness Medicine (opens in new tab)" (Mosby, 2011).

These leaky toxins trigger a massive inflammatory response in the body, so massive that the attempt to fight off the toxins damages the body's own tissues and organs. It can be hard to tell what damage is caused directly by heat and what is caused by the secondary effects of toxins, according to Wilderness Medicine. Muscle cells break down, spilling their contents into the bloodstream and overloading the kidneys, which in turn start to fail, a condition called rhabdomyolysis.

Proteins in the spleen start to clump as a direct result of heat; they're essentially cooked. The blood-brain barrier that normally keeps pathogens out of the brain becomes more permeable, allowing dangerous substances into the brain. Autopsies of people killed by heat stroke often reveal microhemorrhages (tiny strokes) and swelling, and 30% of heat stroke survivors experience permanent damage in brain function, according to Wilderness Medicine.

Far from help

As many as 10% of people who experience heat stroke die, according to the American Association of Family Physicians (opens in new tab) (AAFP). Heat exhaustion requires immediate medical treatment and rapid cooling.

In the case of a hiker on a trail, there may not be time to get to a spot that's cool enough to reverse the damage. Similarly, people who live in urban areas and lack air conditioning may end up disabled in their own homes, unable to get help before they die from heat stroke.

The elderly and those with chronic medical conditions have more difficulty regulating their body temperatures than those in midlife, Keller said, and medications for some chronic diseases can make the problem worse. Likewise, the signals between body and brain that make people feel thirsty may not function as well in old age. (Babies and young children also have more difficulty regulating their temperature than people in the prime of life.)

The elderly, neurologically disabled and mentally ill also tend to be more socially isolated than their younger, healthier counterparts.

"They tend to find themselves socially isolated," Keller said. "And that's really, far and away, the biggest risk factor for dying during a heat wave."

In France in 2003, the heat hit in August, when many Europeans go on vacation. Elderly people found themselves in mostly empty apartment buildings when the heat crisis reached them. Some were found dead with their doors ajar, Keller said, suggesting that they were trying to get out and get help when they collapsed.

Others were functionally trapped, he said. An 80-year-old in a seventh-floor walkup who recently had hip surgery can't get down the stairs by themselves.

"They had no way to seek help," Keller said.

Finally, some may not have realized the severity of the situation. A 2013 analysis by the New York Department of Health and Mental Hygiene found that people who died of heat stroke in that city were not necessarily more likely to live alone (opens in new tab) than people who survived, in contrast to the 2003 European heat wave. However, the people who died in New York might not have been aware of the warning signs of heat stroke, the researchers wrote. Some people during the European heat wave probably thought they were going through an uncomfortable time and didn't recognize how precarious their survival was, Keller said.

Regions used to high heat are built to keep people comfortable despite soaring temperatures, Keller said, so they're unlikely to see high levels of mortality. Most at-risk are low-income people or those living in marginal housing, such as mobile homes, he said. The United Kingdom is not accustomed to dealing with heat; a 2021 government report estimated that only 5% of homes in England have air conditioning.

Arizona's Department of Health Services (opens in new tab) has shared the following tips for preventing heat illness:

Drink at least 2 liters (about a half-gallon) of water per day if you are mostly indoors and 1 to 2 additional liters for every hour of outdoor time. Drink before you feel thirsty, and avoid alcohol and caffeine.

Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing and use a sun hat or an umbrella to deflect the sun's rays.

Eat smaller, more frequent meals instead of large ones.

Avoid strenuous activity.

Stay indoors as much as possible.

Take regular breaks if you must exert yourself on warm days.

Original article published on Live Science on June 20, 2016 and updated on July 20, 2022.
People who drink very hot beverages may increase their risk of developing cancer, a new investigation by the World Health Organization (WHO) has found. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer agency of WHO, said last week that it classifies very hot beverages as "probably carcinogenic to humans."

Specifically, drinking beverages at or above 149 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius) can cause cancer to develop in the esophagus, the IARC researchers wrote in their article, published June 15 in the journal The Lancet Oncology.

So what is it about drinking hot beverages that may lead a person to develop cancer?

Hot beverages in the U.S. tend to be served at temperatures between 140 and 160 degrees F (60 to 71 degrees C), according to o\Adriana Salmon, a clinical nutritionist at the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, who wasn't involved in the current study. Salmon recommended that people wait until their coffee or tea cools a tad before imbibing. Or, she said, go with the cold variety of your hot drink. [10 Surprising Facts About Coffee]

Throat burns

Coffee, tea or other hot beverages at or above the cutoff temperature can burn the esophagus, and it's that scalding that seems to trigger cancer, according to the report.

Such burns from hot beverages can damage the cells of the esophagus, Salmon said. This link between hot drinks and cancer works in a similar way to the link between alcohol consumption and esophageal cancer, the eighth-most-common form of cancer worldwide, she said.

"Alcohol, for example, is related to increased risk of cancer because the alcohol technically damages the throat or the cells of the esophagus," Salmon told Live Science. "Something that's too hot could potentially also [cause] damage."

Mariana Stern, one of the 23 scientists on the IARC committee that wrote the report, explained that information on how hot beverages lead to cancer are "scant."

"The current standing hypothesis is that thermal injury of the lining of the esophagus may contribute to cancer formation," Stern told Live Science. "Whether by itself or in conjunction with exposure to other carcinogenic agents, it is not clear yet."

Past research in mice and rats showed that animals that had been exposed to very hot beverages after already having been exposed to thenitrosamines, carcinogenic chemical compounds found in tobacco, had an increased risk for the formation of tumors, said Stern, an associate professor of preventive medicine and urology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Some studies on humans also showed limited evidence that hot drinks were associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer, Stern added.

How hot coffee leads to cancer

Though she was not part of the discussion at IARC, Stern offered some speculation as to how the cancer could develop. [10 Do's and Don'ts to Reduce Your Risk of Cancer]

"We are constantly exposed to carcinogenic substances in the environment (pollutants, carcinogens in foodstuffs, smoking, secondhand smoke, alcohol) and internally (oxidative stress radicals, etc.), all of which could contribute to DNA damage in our body," Stern said. "Sometimes, this damage by itself does not go very far, unless cells are stimulated to divide and grow, and other changes occur in the cell environment."

When cells in the esophagus are exposed to very hot beverages, it can injure cells and spur new tissue to be renewed, and that "might promote the proliferation of cells, [and] affect the cell environment and its inflammatory state," Stern said. "And if some of this happens among cells that have some mutations that allow them to grow faster, a tumor can grow."

"Clearly, more research will need to happen in the coming years to understand how thermal injury of the esophagus contributes to cancer formation," Stern added.

Dr. Brant Oelschlager, an esophageal surgeon at the University of Washington, suggested a similar mechanism that involves the repeated damage to the skin cells lining the esophagus as a person drinks their hot morning coffee every morning.

The esophagus is lined with a type of cell called squamous-type epithelial cells, the same type as the skin, Oelschlager told Live Science in an email. "Severe burns are also known to occasionally form skin cancers in the scars," Oelschlager said in the email. "The same thing probably happens here. The esophagus gets burned repeatedly, and the repeated injury and regeneration of the lining occasionally replicated itself incorrectly (in the DNA sequence) and forms a cancer."

To save your esophagus, do not "go above and beyond asking for things to be extra-hot," Salmon warned. "Either order your drink cold  which is perfect now, because it's summer  but if not, just don't drink it [while it's still] too hot," Salmon said.

Original article on Live Science .
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: June 20 2016

Nassau County Police Officers Ronald Curaba and Joseph Laundrie were honored for their heroic actions in catching an armed robbery suspect who they arrested on June 6th.

Nassau County, Ny - June 16, 2016 - Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano, Acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter and PBA President James Carver recently honored Nassau County Police Officers Ronald Curaba and Joseph Laundrie for their heroic actions in catching an armed robbery suspect who they arrested on June 6, 2016 for committing armed robberies at three gas stations and a 7/11 in the Bellmore/Merrick area in a span of seven hours.

I commend Officers Curaba and Laundrie for the outstanding job they performed in bringing this defendant to justice and helping to keep our streets safe, said County Executive Mangano. Our officers are known for their expertise in law enforcement, which is why Nassau is one of the safest large suburban counties in America today. Keep up the good work Officers Curaba and Laundrie!

Officer Curaba was on patrol in Merrick when he observed a subject who matched the description of the man wanted in the robberies, walking in the street. Officer Curaba approached the man to speak to him but the man fled and Officer Curaba pursued him on foot. Officers Curaba and Laundrie were able to tackle and arrest the defendant, who was in possession of a loaded Sccy 9mm gun wrapped in a sweatshirt.

Officer Laundrie recently graduated from the Police Academy and was on his first tour and Officer Curaba has been with the Nassau County Police Department for approximately a year.
Local News, Business & Finance, Home & Garden, Press Releases

By Long Island News & PR Published: June 20 2016

I am proud to support legislation that protects ratepayers and holds PSEG-LI accountable for putting its bottom line ahead of the interests of Long Island families, said Murray.

On top of operating and maintaining a service area that provides electricity to approximately 1 million residential and commercial ratepayers, PSEG-LI is in charge of resource planning and procurement  responsibilities it assumed from LIPA.

Long Island, NY - June 14, 2016 - New York Assembly Members Dean Murray (R,C,I-East Patchogue) and Fred W. Thiele, Jr. (I,D,WF-Sag Harbor) today introduced legislation (A.10683) that prohibits PSEG-LI, a subsidiary of New Jersey-based utility PSEG, from providing any power management services or electric resource planning for Long Island as long as PSEG continues to sell electricity into the Long Island market and PSEG-owned plants continue to compete with generation plants on Long Island.

I am proud to support legislation that protects ratepayers and holds PSEG-LI accountable for putting its bottom line ahead of the interests of Long Island families, said Murray. PSEG has publicly admitted that new cost-effective and efficient power plants would impact the market prices and competitiveness of their own generating plants. With little regard for transparency, PSEG-LI has let its bias taint the Integrated Resource Plan process to determine long-term electric resource planning for the region. This bill aims to put an end to such prejudice against efforts to boost on-Island generation.

Long Island imports approximately 45 percent of its electricity, including from PSEG-owned plants in New Jersey and Connecticut. In its 2015 Form 10-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, PSEG stated that: New additions of lower-cost or more efficient generation capacity could make our plants less economic in the future. Although it is not clear if this capacity will be built or, if so, what the economic impact will be, such additions would impact market prices and our competitiveness.

Financial self-interest must not be allowed to cloud crucial decisions about meeting the energy needs of Long Island residents and businesses, said Thiele. It is critical that the responsibilities and functions of LIPAs service provider be carried out in an impartial manner so that ratepayers get the affordable, reliable electricity they deserve.

On top of operating and maintaining a service area that provides electricity to approximately 1 million residential and commercial ratepayers, PSEG-LI is in charge of resource planning and procurement  responsibilities it assumed from LIPA. In November 2015, PSEG-LI determined that Long Island did not require new power generation until 2028 and halted the development of on-Island energy projects that would modernize the regions aging power infrastructure and create hundreds of jobs for Long Islands middle-class families. Read the legislation here.
School & Education, Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases, Seasonal & Current Events

By divorceattorney Published: June 20 2016

Mr. Wayne Devonish, Principal Founder/Chairman of 500 Men Making A Difference, will be honored at the 3rd Annual "Walking Towards A Brighter Future" 8K Walk-A-Thon.

Wantagh, NY - June 18, 2016 - Mr. Wayne Devonish will be honored at the 3rd Annual "Walking Towards A Brighter Future" 8K Walk-A-Thon, on Saturday, June 25 at Wantagh Park. The event is hosted by the Dollicia F. Holloway Memorial Foundation and The H.I.P. H.O.P. Movement Community Enrichment & Economic Development Program.

Mr. Devonish serves at the Principal Founder and Chairman of 500 Men Making A Difference, is a 501(c)3 Not-For-Profit Organization, which operated in the five boroughs of New York City. Mr. Devonish, who founded the organization in 2010, recruits, trains and matches mentors who are eligible to support young men ages 12-22. The organization is based in Brooklyn, New York and engages young men in one on one mentoring, hands on community revitalization projects, group tutoring and volunteer placement.

Mr. Devonish credits his father for being a great influence in his life. He stated he watched how his father gave back selflessly to his community and was inspired to carry his legacy through his organization.

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. Registration will start promptly at 9:30AM and the walk will start at 10AM.

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. is pleased to recognize the great work of other community leaders along with a pioneer of the Hip Hop Community. Along with Mr. Devonish, 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 Mrs. La'Shawn Allen-Muhammad, Brooklyn Director, The Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Steve Muir, Co-Founder/President of Heeling Soles 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 an 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 to 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 information about the 8K Walk-A-Thon, please email
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
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.
Summer Solstice 24 Hour Travel Sale

This one day only sale will begin at midnight EST on the summer solstice, during which travelers can find exclusive travel deals averaging more than 35% off nightly rates, and running all the way up to 50% in savings.All offers are currently available for consumers to view at www.CyberSummerTravel.com and will be available to book on June 20th. Although its a one-day only booking window, offers are valid for travel throughout the summer, and in some cases through the end of the year.Participating hotels are in locations that range from the crystal clear waters of Floridas east and west coasts to the beaches of the Caribbean & Mexico to the hills & mountains of Latin America. Similar to CyberMonday, which was coined in 2005 and takes place annually on the Monday after Thanksgiving, CyberSummer continues to gain momentum.The sale will run from 12:00 a.m. EST on Monday, June 20, 2016 to 11:59 p.m. EST. Reservations are subject to availability and black out dates. To view participating hotels, offers and booking details, visit www.cybersummertravel.com Summary of Offers:- 30% off 3 nights or longer 20% off your flight and 20% off your stay- 20% off select fall departures- 40% off, starting at $108/night 35% savings, with rates starting at $170 per night 30% off on flexible rate- 35% off, starting at $100/night 35% off 3 nights or longer 35% off 3 nights or longer- Starting at $169/night Save up to 35% off regular rates Save up to 25% off nightly rates with rates starting at $180- Rates starting at $129/night 50% off best available rates Rates starting at $230/night Rates starting at $99/night Every 3night free 35% off rates + daily breakfast, starting at $200/night- 30% off stays 3 nights or longer
Viceroy Santa Monica Delivers LA Style

Think of a Viceroy hotel as the life of the party, the extrovert, the one that turns heads when entering a room. A Viceroy is never shy, and always provocative. A Viceroy is a bit flirtatious, and dares its guests to flirt back.No better example of this profile will you find within the Viceroy line-up as that of the brands flagship. The hotels unassuming and boxy facade belies the whimsicality and glamour found within. Located on bustling Ocean Avenue, with higher westward facing floors affording spectacular views of the Pacific, Viceroy Santa Monica is not only a perfectly located beach retreat, its a gathering spot for in-the-know locals who appreciate the allure of the quixotic common areas. (For those hoping to spy a few stars during their LA stay, the Viceroy Santa Monica often delivers.)Creative, spontaneous, and a bit eccentric  these Viceroy hallmarks are delivered in spades at Viceroy Santa Monica. Originally designed by Viceroy muse Kelly Wearstler with a modern colonialism aesthetic, and recently refreshed by Seattle-based Dawson Design Associates, the design is bold and fashion-forward. Vibrant colors such as parakeet yellow, Prussian blue, parrot green, and dove gray accentuate the lobby, the bar, the library, and the lounge. Large tufted leather sofas and wingback chairs beckon and are best enjoyed with a craft cocktail from the Cast Lounge bar, or with morning coffee and tea from the complimentary silver coffee service. Design elements are eye-catching and unexpected  a collection of mirrors accented by a giant cameo at the check-in desk, diagonal shelving in the bright yellow library, a ceramic plate mural on an outside wall.Guest rooms in more subdued hues of sand and sea are equally aesthetically pleasing and contain all the comforts expected (and then some) of a luxury brand hotel: plush bedding, luxurious robes, Neil George bath and beauty products, stocked mini-bar, flat screen televisions, and ample outlets for personal electronics. Each of the 162 rooms has a step-out balcony with views of either the ocean or the propertys elegant backyard. This intimate sanctuary features crisp black and white cabanas, and lush Hawaiian-like foliage all adjacent to the hotels popular Cast restaurant, serving Chef Tony DiSalvos shareable plates of farm-to-table, globally inspired LA street food favorites. And make note  on Fridays and Saturdays, theres no need to venture beyond the hotel in search of night life. Instead, the night life comes to you when the in-crowd descends for live music at the lobbys Cast Lounge.Work off the previous nights indulgences at the hotels fully equipped wellness studio. Enjoy complimentary poolside yoga on Saturdays and Sundays, hire a guide for either a Temescal Canyon hike, or a run through the city, or enlist a Kinema Fitness trainer to lead you through a stretch session, a personal training hour, or poolside Pilates.For additional activities, borrow a beach cruiser from the hotels fleet, stroll the famed Third Street Promenade, or surf the ocean waves. Head to one of the areas theme-parks, or museums. Check-out the famed Santa Monica pier and take a ride on the iconic Ferris wheel. But the truth is you never need to leave the hotel property to experience the best of LA. As a guest at the Viceroy Santa Monica, this objective is inherently achieved.Visit website:Photos: Christian Horan
Security and privacy expert Matthew Green reassures us, Your iPhone is not going to kill you. Thats good. But in his recent explanation of how Apples differential privacy approach will send an obscured subset of our private activities to Apple, he explains that some studies demonstrate serious consequences to restricting privacy too much when collecting data related to medical research.

Apple proposes initially to gather data in iOS 10 from typing to improve emoji substitution and predictive word suggestions for previously unrecognized words, and from deep links within apps (non-private internal destinations) to improve Spotlight search results. In macOS Sierra, it will use data to improve autocorrect. And in both, it will watch which Lookup Hints are selected in Notes to provide better help.

For instance, when the word twerk was first used, it appeared in no dictionaries. With differential privacy, the term could have become recognized rapidly and added to iOSs dictionary as it spread in common usage. But nobody would be able to determine whether you personally used the word twerk.

Differential privacy discovers the usage patterns of a large number of users without compromising individual privacyif its set up and run correctly. To obscure an individuals identity, differential privacy adds mathematical noise to an individuals usage pattern, and only a small amount of data is ever uploaded from a given person.

In addition to anonymizing your data, Apple will mix in some noise.

As more people share the same patternlike visiting the same popular song in a music-streaming appgeneral patterns begin to emerge, which can make the operating systems produce more desirable results. (This is all distinct from Apples anonymization techniques with Siri and other aggregated results, where data is tied to a randomly generated ID number that can be reset by the user.)

For the most part, this technique as applied by Apple should allow meaningful information to be gathered in a form that cant be reconstructed to obtain accurate answers, whether captured on a device, in transit, or at the destination by Apple, criminals, or other parties. Ostensibly, a malicious or unwanted agent could gain access to all of Apples details collected from users and still remain unable to reconstruct and reconnect a single piece of data, much less a profile, of any individual.

Balancing the privacy budget

Differential privacy is a relatively recent technique in data gathering that relies on a survey tactic thats decades old. It tries to split the baby of privacy: providing enough information about peoples decisions that the responses can be used to summon the wisdom of a crowd and train deep-learning systems, but not so much that it associates those actions or answers with an individual.

In the classic randomized response approach developed in the 1960s, a coin flip adds randomness. For instance, a researcher might ask the then-fraught question, Are you a member of the Communist Party? The subject would flip a coin out of view of the researcher. If the coin came up heads, they always answer yes. If tails, they answer truthfully. This gives them plausible deniability, as neither the researcher nor any other party knows if the actual answer is truthful, leading to better survey results. With enough answers, the noise of that randomness can be calculated and subtracted to produce a relatively accurate distribution.

Apples privacy budget will determine how much data it collects from any one device.

Differential privacy is effectively a modern, more complicated iteration of the same idea. Instead of flipping a coin, a system adds more sophisticated random values that produce a result that cant be reverse engineered. Instead of one coin flip and one answer, there can be the equivalent of manysometimes many dozens.

But there are four related problems with differential privacy that could allow some recover of the original data:

How much data from any individual party is collected.

How the information is obscured before transmission and on reception.

How many questions are asked that are similar enough.

How many times an individual is asked the same or similar questions across a period of time.

On the first point, Apple plans to send just a subset of all data collected. With a massive number of users, only a relatively small number of data points provides nearly as much certainty as a huge number.

On the second, Apple apparently plans to add noise to data it collects before it stores it on an iPhone or in macOS. In an interview, Green, a professor at Johns Hopkins University who has uncovered issues with Apples cryptography and security in the past, says Apple told him in a briefing that some of that data is discarded and some uploaded on a daily basis. Even if somebody got into your phone and got through your passcode lock, theyd get a big database with a lot of noise in it, he says.

Users can opt to not send any data at all, he says, and Apple will additionally discard IP addresses before storing information on its end to avoid connecting even noisy data with its origin. (Apple didnt respond to a request for confirmation on the points Green was briefed about.)

Green notes that on the third point, asking too many similar questions, matters become more subtle. If you ask someone if theyre a member of the Communist party, and then ask if they admire Joseph Stalin, and then ask the ideal economic and political system, and so on, its possible an outside observer would eventually penetrate through the noise and determine an attitude on a given topic. This requires a system design that correlates related questions.

On the last point, asking questions over time, Apple will establish a privacy budget, which will limit how much data about the same or related things is transmitted in a period of time or ever from a device. The answer to a question will often remain the same over time, and providing the same answer multiple time again can make it possible to determine the truthful answer.

If Im using the poop emoji today, Im probably going to use it tomorrow, Green notes, or if he goes into Starbucks today, he might enter it again tomorrow. None of the stuff theyre doing today seems to matter, he says, but that will change over time as Apple becomes more confident of the technique.

Why differential privacy matters

The academic work behind differential privacy largely dates back a decade or so; Apples deployment may be the largest-scale publicly identified test to date. Google discussed its research in 2014, but its not clear how broadly the company uses it, outside a few cited examples.

In the example Green cited in his blog, a study involving dosing of an anticoagulant drug, having a very restrictive privacy budget delivered information that provided the wrong guidance for personalized medicine, in which a persons characteristics have a large bearing on the correct medical approach. Suggesting the wrong emoji wont injure someone, but theres a continuum from Apples initial limited approach to life-changing (or life-ending) outcomes.

Apple is attempting to prove in practice that it doesnt have to track every action or collect raw data at the scale at which its operating in order to gain the advantages of artificial-intelligence processing. Apple has to make the right choices and perform its own internal analysis on how much truth can be tracked back. But its a smart approach that balances improvement with obscurity.
New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on last day clarified that China is not protesting India's entry into Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). While addressing a press conference, She clarified that China was only taking about the criteria and procedures.

Meanwhile, Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that the External Affairs Secretary Jaishankar visited China to discuss Indian's NSG bid. China was believed to be opposing Indian's membership by arguing that it was not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty ( NPT).

Also nations like Turkey, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand had raised questions on India's application to NSG.
Syria: Syrian Orthodox Church Chief Patriarch Igantius Aphrem II had a narrow escape after a suicide bombing in Qamshi in Syria which was targeted towards him on Sunday. The patriarch was attending the commemoration of thousands of Christians killed by the Ottaman army in 1915, called the 'Sayfo massacre'.

Three security personals were killed in the suicide attack. Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem 11, head of the Syrian orthodox church including the Jacobite church in Kerala was said to be the target of the bomber. The explosion occurred at the intersection of al-Quwatli and El-Kindi Park road in a neighborhood which was heavily populated by Assyrians.

Situated along the border with Turkey, Qamishi had been regularly targeted by suicide bombings, many of which had been claimed by the ISIS group. Meanwhile Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan condemned the attack on Patriarchies Bava and said that the incident was an unfortunate one.
Elektrans Group has promoted Capt. Deepak Arora to Managing Director of Elektrans Shipping Pvt. Ltd.



Arora has been with the Elektrans Group for four years during which he has served in several executive positions within Elektrans.



Arora will take the helm and lead the group's shipping portfolio, which is going through a phase of consolidation, organizational adjustment, internationalism as rapidly expansion of its tanker owned fleet.



Arora will report directly to the Group CEO of Elektrans Group.
DNV GL has issued a report on fire incidents in Ro-Ro spaces to address growing safety concerns in this segment and provide guidance to shipowners. DNV GLs Fires on Ro-Ro decks has examined fires within Ro-Ro spaces on Ro-Pax vessels, vehicle carriers and general Ro-Ro cargo vessels and has identified 35 such fires between 2005 and 2016. A previous DNV GL paper on Ro-Ro fires, published in 2005, had counted 25 fires in Ro-Ro spaces between 1990 and 2003.



We would like to contribute with facts, as well as with our experience. Hopefully, this can be useful input to operators and legislators in order to focus on the relevant items and make the right decisions, says Hans Eivind Siewers, Segment Director Passenger Ships & Ro-Ro at DNV GL  Maritime.



The DNV GL report shows that 18 of the incidents recorded between 2005 and 2016 happened on Ro-Pax vessels. In the same time frame, nine fires were reported on pure car carriers (PCC) and pure car and truck carriers (PCTC) and eight were reported on cargo Ro-Ro vessels.



In all cases, the fires were caused by the cargo (cars, trucks etc.) or the power connection between the reefer unit and vessel, explains Anders Tosseviken, Principal Approval Engineer Fire Safety & Life-Saving at DNV GL  Maritime.



To improve fire safety in daily operations, Anders Tosseviken recommends: Owners and operators should have a clear policy on what cargo and operations they accept in Ro-Ro spaces. Cargo should be screened, and old and towed second-hand vehicles in particular should be carefully checked before being allowed on board. A policy on reefer units also needs to be available, and these units should, if possible, be placed in dedicated areas such as weather decks, and monitored by CCTV (closed-circuit television). Additionally, the access to Ro-Ro spaces, including open Ro-Ro spaces, should be restricted during voyages.



Comprehensive crew training and clearly defined procedures for reacting to fire incidents are also necessary to ensure that personnel are able to release fixed fire-extinguishing systems as quickly as possible. Realistic training on the use of the fixed fire extinguishing system should be implemented with company-defined goals for release times (for instance three minutes for deluge systems and 15 minutes for CO2 systems). Fire safety policies should also include a plan on how to handle vehicles which use alternative fuels.



To enhance the fire safety of newbuildings with open Ro-Ro spaces, the location of lifeboats and other life-saving equipment and the location of air intakes for main and emergency power need to be carefully considered. Power circuits serving reefer units should be equipped with ground fault detection systems which trigger an alarm in a manned control station.



DNV GL also offers the voluntary class notation F-AMC, whereby owners can demonstrate that they have enhanced the reliability of their fixed fire-extinguishing systems, improved the fire detection and CCTV systems, have additional firefighters outfits available and better UHF/VHF coverage.
The U.S. government agency created after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill plans in coming weeks to unveil tougher financial requirements for offshore oil producers aimed at protecting taxpayers from the risk of cleaning up abandoned oil rigs, an agency executive told Reuters.

Under the new guidelines, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will demand additional guarantees to cover producers' legal obligation to plug offshore wells and dismantle rigs in the Outer Continental Shelf once they have extracted oil and gas, according to Renee Orr, chief of Strategic Resources at the agency.

Currently, companies are exempt from providing supplemental bonds for the cleanup-process, known as decommissioning, if the total estimated liability is less than half of their net worth.

The stricter bonding rules, which will demand more capital of more companies, were proposed by the federal agency in September and will be implemented this year, Orr said.

They follow more than 80 bankruptcy filings by North American oil and gas producers since the beginning of 2015, when plunging oil prices gripped the sector, triggering concerns at the agency that companies would walk away from clean-ups.

"BOEM's primary goal is to ensure that the U.S. taxpayer never has to pay for decommissioning OCS facilities," Orr said in an interview.

Randall Luthi, president of National Ocean Industries Association, which represents the U.S. offshore energy industry, said in an interview: "We're looking forward to being able to review the guidance in detail and are hopeful that it provides flexibility to both the agency and the industry."

If a company defaults on its financing obligations, the government will track down previous owners or operators of the wells, Orr said.

Leases on many of the wells were originally owned by oil majors like BP, Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp.

Balance Sheet Pressure

Under the new rules, companies will be exempt from providing additional clean-up guarantees only if the total estimated liability is less than 10 percent of a company's net worth.

It will be particularly difficult for companies to meet the new criteria given that net worth, which is closely tied to the value of proven reserves, has shrunk during a prolonged oil price slump.

This could pose a hurdle for producers that are already struggling to make interest payments on their debt, some restructuring advisers said.

"Bankruptcies have triggered BOEM's enthusiasm for bonding, but as industry groups have commented, the proposed cure may actually put more of them into bankruptcy," said Poe Leggette, co-leader of law firm BakerHostetler's energy team, which represents offshore producers.

To mitigate financial risk for the companies, the government is working with small and large producers to craft tailored financial plans, Orr said.

The agency already has met privately with dozens of oil-and-gas producers and insurers to lay out its new rules, which may permit additional forms of security previously not allowed, such as third-party guarantees and U.S. treasury notes, she said.

Two energy exploration and production companies, Stone Energy and W&T Offshore, have been told by the agency that they no longer qualify for bonding exemptions for their Gulf of Mexico operations under the current rules.

Both companies said in SEC filings that they are in discussions with the agency to meet its demands for hundreds of millions of dollars in guarantees to cover offshore clean-ups.

In separate SEC filings, Stone Energy said it was considering a prepackaged bankruptcy petition, while W&T announced debt restructuring talks with its creditors. Neither company responded to requests for comment.





(Reporting by Tracy Rucinski; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Dan Grebler)
Panama Canal expansion opens June 26 amid much fanfare and one of the worst shipping industry slumps ever.

WSJ says, while it wont do anything to help the dire state of the industry near-term, the changes are critical to Western trade in the long run.

The canal, which handles about a third of Asia-to-Americas trade, had no choice but to expand. As the industry copes with its downturn, major shipping companies are pooling their resources and using fewer but much bigger shipsones that are too large to fit through the pre-expansion Panama Canal.

According to the Economist, the revenue it receives each year from the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is expected to double to around $2 billion in 2021. This is a country that knows how to reap the benefits of its geography.

The ACP will be able to charge more for passage to bigger ships now that massive new locks have been built at both the Pacific and Atlantic ends of the canal and channels have been deepened and widened.

The $5 billion venture will be inaugurated on June 26th when the first vessel officially sails through. The widening of the canal was initially mooted before the second world war, but became more urgent as ever larger ships were unable to use it.

The expansion makes the Panama Canal more competitive with the Suez Canal in Egypt, shortening the one-way journey by sea from Asia to the U.S. East Coast by roughly five days and eliminating the need for a trip around Cape Horn to get to the Atlantic.


The Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organisation at its ninety sixth session (11 to 20 May 2016), having considered the urgent need to raise awareness on cyber risk threats and vulnerabilities, approved the Interim guidelines on maritime cyber risk management.



These Guidelines provide high-level recommendations for maritime cyber risk management.For the purpose of these Guidelines, maritime cyber risk refers to a measure of the extent to which a technology asset is threatened by a potential circumstance or event, which may result in shipping related operational, safety or security failures as a consequence of information or systems being corrupted, lost or compromised.



Stakeholders should take the necessary steps to safeguard shipping from current and emerging threats and vulnerabilities related to digitization, integration and automation of processes and systems in shipping.



Member Governments are invited to bring the contents of this circular to the attention of all stakeholders concerned.


EU maritime mission gains more power to seize weapons; also says moves will help break migrant smuggling gangs.



The European Union on Monday gave its naval force in the Mediterranean the authority to search suspicious vessels at sea in a bid to stop arms getting to Islamic State in Libya and to break up gangs smuggling migrants to Europe.



EU foreign ministers acted to boost the effectiveness of the five-frigate "Sophia" mission after winning a U.N. mandate to reinforce an arms embargo on Libya, where Islamic State is strengthening its grip, and limit the near-impunity of the people smugglers.



"We must act, both against those who exploit the migrants, those traffickers who exploit this misery, and against the arms trafficking that benefits Daesh," French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told reporters at a meeting in Luxembourg, referring to Islamic State militants.



European military powers Britain, France and Germany say ending the chaos in Libya that has reigned since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 is a crucial part of the EU's moves to end the migrant crisis. NATO ships have also been sent to the Aegean to stem uncontrolled flows to Greece from Turkey.



Although EU ships in the central Mediterranean have picked up around 16,000 migrants at sea in the past year, their limited tasks of surveillance and information-sharing have meant they were not able to destroy weapons, catch traffickers or head off migrants trying to reach Europe by sea from Libya.



At least one smuggler vessel loaded with arms was allowed to pass an EU inspection in the Mediterranean in the past few months for lack of U.N. authority to act, one diplomat said.



Now, the European Union also hopes NATO ships already patrolling in the central Mediterranean could link up with its "Sophia" mission, providing intelligence about smuggling routes.



The United States has said it supports such a move.



"ACCESS TO AMMUNITION"

Gangs, using profits from people smuggling into Europe, control arms networks stretching across Europe into North Africa via the Mediterranean.



Libya U.N. envoy Martin Kobler has told the Security Council that Libya is already awash with arms, with 20 million pieces of weaponry in the North African state of six million people.



By controlling new flows, the West could grant exemptions in the arms embargo to provide weapons to the U.N.-backed unity government in Tripoli and help it assert control in the lawless country.



"Getting control of illegal arms trafficking then gives the international community a lever, because we can consider relaxations in the arms embargo to allow certain groups access to ammunition," said Britain's Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond.



Britain is expected to send another ship to the mission, as well as helicopters and other assets from 24 EU governments.



The EU and NATO say they could operate closer to Libyan shores if requested by the Libyan government, but for now the EU will focus on training the Libyan coast guard in international waters to help combat smugglers.





Reporting by Robin Emmott
A tropical depression over the Gulf of Mexico was expected to strengthen to a tropical storm before coming ashore in southeastern Mexico on Monday and bringing torrential rains that could cause life-threatening mudslides and flash floods.



The U.S. National Hurricane Center said that at 8 p.m. EDT, (0000 GMT), Tropical Depression Four was 275 miles (285 km) east-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph).



The storm system will be named Danielle if it reaches sustained tropical storm-force winds of 39 mph (63 kph).



It was moving at 8 mph (13 kph) and was due to reach the Mexican shore by 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT) on Monday, just north of Veracruz, a city of more than 400,000 people.



The NHC said the storm would produce total rainfall in the area of 6 to 10 inches (15 cm to 25 cm), with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches (38 cm) possible in higher terrain over the Mexican states of Veracruz, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, Queretaro, Hidalgo, and northern Puebla.



"These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides," the Miami-based center said.





Reporting by Sandra Maler
Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines on Monday agreed to designate a transit corridor for commercial vessels crossing a maritime zone hit by a spate of hijackings by Islamist militants in the southern Philippines.



Nearly 20 Indonesian and Malaysian tugboat crew have been kidnapped by the Abu Sayyaf militants this year, with Jakarta airing fears that the problem could reach levels seen off the coast of Somalia.



Alarmed at the frequency of attacks, port authorities in some areas of Indonesia, particularly Kalimantan on the island of Borneo, have stopped issuing permits to ships taking coal to the southern Philippines.



Indonesia is the world's largest thermal coal exporter and supplies 70 percent of the Philippines' coal imports.



"The ministers have agreed in principle to explore the following measures, including a transit corridor within the maritime areas of common concern, which will serve as designated sea lanes for mariners," the defence ministers of the three nations said in a joint statement after a meeting in Manila.



Analysts say $40-billion worth of cargo passes through the Sulu and Celebes seas each year, including supertankers from the Indian Ocean that cannot use the crowded Malacca Strait.



The three countries also agreed to step up air and sea patrols and escorts for commercial ships in the common maritime areas to fend off potential hijacks, kidnaps and robbery.



Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the leaders agreed to share the best practices evolved by Indonesia and Malaysia during a joint effort to patrol the busy Malacca Strait waterway against pirates, as a model for three-way cooperation with the Philippines.



It was the second meeting of officials of the three countries to tackle growing regional security challenges, after their foreign ministers met in Jakarta last month.



In 2002, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, which share maritime borders, signed a pact to stiffen security against growing cross-border attacks by Abu Sayyaf militants.



But they have not set up coordinated naval patrols, with navies operating in their own territorial waters.



Kidnappings over the last 15 years have made the Abu Sayyaf militants notorious, with extorted ransoms running into millions of dollars.



The seamen kidnapped this year were freed, with police and military officials saying at the time it was unclear if a ransom had been paid. The Philippines rarely publicises such payments, but few believe captives are released without them.



There was no immediate comment from the Abu Sayyaf rebels.



Piracy near Somalia's coast has subsided after shipping firms hired private security details and international warships patrolled the waters.





Reporting by Manuel Mogato
Golar LNG Limited announced that it has entered into a 50/50 joint venture with investment vehicles affiliated with private equity firm Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners. The joint venture company, Golar Power Ltd, will offer integrated LNG based downstream solutions, through the ownership and operation of floating storage and regasification units (FSRU) and associated terminal and power generation infrastructure.

Stonepeak shares Golar's ambition to aggressively grow in the FSRU and LNG fueled power market and is committing $290 million in new equity to develop Golar Power.

Stonepeak Senior Managing Director, Luke Taylor, commented, We are excited to partner with the leading player in the LNG downstream market and see compelling opportunities in this market to build and operate long term LNG and power infrastructure with high quality counterparties. While our initial commitment is $290 million we hope to invest up to $500 million in the coming years.

Golar commented, By establishing this downstream entity with a strong financial partner that has extensive experience in the energy business Golar is able to accelerate the realization of its downstream ambitions and exploit the unprecedented number of opportunities in the current market.

Golar Power's initial asset base will comprise the FSRU currently being constructed at Samsung shipyard, two modern 160,000 cbm trifuel LNG carriers suited for conversion to FSRUs, and the right to invest in up to 25 percent of the Sergipe Power project. The Sergipe Power project is progressing well and is expected to take FID in the second half of 2016. Golar will also grant Golar Power a one year option to acquire from the Company a further two LNG carriers for conversion to FSRUs. Upon closing, Golar Power will immediately commence conversion of the first LNG carrier to a FSRU.

Subsequent to the formation of Golar Power and the contribution of the abovementioned assets, the Company has sold a 50 percent interest in Golar Power to Stonepeak. Stonepeak will acquire its 50 percent of Golar Power for $117 million in cash, subscribe to $100 million in preference shares on closing of the deal and commit to $75 million in additional equity. This, together with an additional $75 million funding commitment from Golar, in the period before Q1 2018, is expected to be sufficient including debt financing to fully finance the conversion of the two carriers to FSRUs, take delivery of the 2017 new-build FSRU and complete the financing of its share of the Sergipe Power project. Approximately $214 million in ship mortgage debt and $217 million of remaining newbuilding capex on the FSRU is projected to be transferred to Golar Power. The transaction will improve Golar's liquidity position.

LNG prices are at a significant discount to oil prices and Golar Power sees a range of potential LNG importers who would benefit from a rapid switch to gas. The first converted vessel is expected to be available within 16 months. There are only three unfixed FSRU newbuildings presently under construction and delivering within the next 28 to 30 months. Golar Power sees well in excess of three employment prospects that could be met within this window. The conversion model allows Golar Power to cost effectively and timeously address projects with bespoke requirements at a price that remains competitive with the all-in delivered cost of a newbuild equivalent. As the only company to have successfully converted LNG carriers to FSRUs, Golar expects that this partnership with Stonepeak will once again position it to aggressively exploit this competitive advantage.

Golar Power will also enter into an Omnibus Agreement with Golar LNG Partners L.P. This agreement will govern the events upon which the partnership will be able to acquire assets from Golar Power.

Clarksons Platou Securities AS acted as Sole Financial Advisor.

This transaction is subject to customary financial closing conditions.
Helle Hammer, Managing Director Cefor & Chair of the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) Political Forum discuss about Container Weighing Rules.

As of 1 July 2016, only containers with a verified gross mass will be allowed to be loaded on board a vessel (although IMO is allowing a grace period of three months).

Although the new SOLAS requirement was adopted in 2014, many shippers and forwarders are still unprepared, and masters will have little choice but to refuse unverified containers.

In the short term, non-compliance is likely to affect the cargo insurance sector. Issues include increases in risk exposure due to disturbances in the supply chain, delays for perishable or time-sensitive cargoes, and the consequent accumulation risk associated with more containers languishing in ports.

Additionally, liability underwriters will have short-term issues with clients in the logistics sector as their exposure increases.

Failure to comply on the other hand, will have serious safety implications. The long-term effect will help save lives, and reduce both cargo and hull losses.

Due to the increasing growth in international trade, the number of containers stacked on top of each other is continually growing. When loaded, overweight containers can cause injury to dock workers and damage containers stored underneath during transportation. Containers that are misdeclared can cause equipment or chassis damage when they reach port.

In a worst-case scenario the balance of a vessel can be altered and this might easily impair its stability. For these reasons, IUMI remains strongly in favour of the new SOLAS amendment.

The new regulation requires verification of a packed containers gross mass by the shipper sufficiently in advance for use in the ship

stowage preparation plan. By way of a compromise solution, either of two approved methods may achieve the verification: 1. weighing the packed container using calibrated and certified equipment; or 2. weighing all packages and cargo items, including the mass of pallets, dunnage and other securing material to be packed in the container and adding the tare mass of the container to the sum of the single masses, using a certified method approved by the competent authority of the State in which packing of the container was completed.

While welcoming the requirement, IUMI would have favored the mandatory weighing of all boxes prior to loading, and remains concerned that with this compromise solution mis-declaration may still occur. Consequently, the application of the new SOLAS amendment should be carefully monitored and new action taken if necessary.

In a recent statement, IUMI has warned of the possible insurance implications if found in breach of the new requirement.

Stakeholders may find their insurance cover invalid if failing to comply. Shippers and cargo interests should check their insurance conditions on delay and/or in the event of unsuitable packing/conditioning.

IMO guidelines and industry guidance for the implementation of the new requirement are already in place. To deal with expected short-term disruptions, the IMOs Maritime Safety Committee recently agreed on a circular advising Administrations and Port Control Authorities to adopt a practical and pragmatic approach when verifying compliance. This approach will be offered over a threemonth settling-in-period after 1 July.
Brexit Would Trigger Devolution of Europe

UK citizens will vote on June 23 whether to leave the European Union. The latest polls suggest that the vote is very close and the Leave side has a slight edge.

The poll I saw recently, however, showed Leave ahead by a full 10 points55 to 45. More importantly, the trend over the past few weeks has seen the spread in favor of Leave widen.

If you are in the Remain camp, you have to be worried.

It is hard to overstate the impact Brexit will have, should it pass. And the impact will spread far beyond Britains borders.

The UK is the EUs second largest economy after Germany and one of its largest exporters. Numerous laws and international agreements may need to be rebuilt.

Even with years of planning, Brexit could make the Y2K bug look puny.

Brexit would have a domino effect on the largest members

A major concern is that a winning Brexit vote might inspire other nations to do the same. French voters dislike the EU even more than UK voters do, according to a recent Pew survey reported by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard.

The EU racked up a 61% unfavorable rating in France versus 48% in the UK. Opinions in Spain and Germany are worse. The EU doesnt look like an ever-closer union to the citizens of its largest members.

I recently got the following note from Brent Donnelly (trader par excellence at Citi FX, whose morning note is a must-read). He is quoting the London Daily Express:

EU FALLING APART: Now HOLLAND wants its own referendum to follow historic Brexit vote.

NINE out of ten Dutch people hope the Netherlands will hold its own EU referendum amid mass discontent at Brussels bureaucrats. A whopping 88 percent of people polled by a top Dutch newspaper said they would be in favor of an in/out vote along British lines. They have been inspired by the possibility of Britain quitting the bloc on June 23and hope Nexit will follow Brexit.

Harry van Bommel, MP for Hollands Socialist Party, told Express.co.uk: If Britain leaves, that will give other countries courage.

So now debate is beginning in the Netherlands about having a referendum on EU membership.

We cannot go on the way we arefinancing Greece, trying to keep countries in the eurozone. The eurozone will break up eventually.

He added: Because were in the euro, Dutch people see budget cuts, unemployment going up, and they relay that to the EU. These facts make the EU very unpopular. People distrust Europe and some people even hate Europeits in an existential crisis.

The graph below shows the general negative trends in opinions on the EU in other European countries.

Despite this trend, Politico reported that French leaders intend to push for severe consequences against the UK if Brexit passes.

Paris thinks it must send a strong warning to other would-be deserters that leaving the EU would be very painful. Maybe they also want to send that warning to their own citizens.

Stuck in two minds

The EU is a distinct entity from the Eurozone currency area, which has its own problems. I think the EU can probably survive a Brexit, but it wont survive a Frexit, Germexit, or Spexit.

And that would leave Europe back where it was before World War II: a fragmented continent in which disagreements get very ugly and occasionally turn violent.

No one wants that outcome, but very few Europeans outside EU headquarters in Brussels seem happy with the status quo, either. This summer could see the beginnings of devolution. Its up to UK voters now.

Just as the rest of the world cannot understand what America was thinking when we nominated Donald Trump for president, most of us who think we understand the consequences of Brexit are wondering what the British are thinking. Can they be serious?

I had this discussion with Jim Bianco yesterday. He pointed out that it is almost impossible to turn the TV on in England without seeing Labor Party leaders, Tory Party leaders, economists, and everybody else except Boris Johnson telling people why Brexit is a bad idea.

The mood in Europe is part of the same phenomenon with Trump and Sanders in the United States. There is growing discontent with the establishment, no matter which party people are aligned with.

The pollsters are going crazy trying to figure out how to handicap this referendum vote in England. The numbers are not breaking down along the normal left/right lines that they have in their political models.

By the way, if England does decide to leave the EU, expect a quick call for a referendum on Scotlands leaving the United Kingdom and joining the EU on its own.

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Follow Mauldin as he uncovers the truth behind, and beyond, the financial headlines in his free publication, Thoughts from the Frontline. The publication explores developments overlooked by mainstream news and analyzes challenges and opportunities on the horizon.

John Mauldin Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




The Economic Reality of BrExit

The United Kingdom will shortly vote either leave or remain in the European Union. This is the most important European event of this century since a vote to leave will likely have important domino effects for the rest of Europe.

A recent poll showed that if the UK could keep free trade with EU nations, the British people would vote overwhelmingly to leave the EU. To drum up support for staying in the EU, The UK Government and quasi government agencies, like the IMF and OECD, have issue continuous warnings about the costs of such a divorce. The IMF recently reiterated its forecasts that BREXIT would have a significant negative effect on the UK economy with a drop in GDP anywhere between 1% and 9% over the long term. The reality is that Brexit would probably only have a minor initial impact on trade or GDP and, on the contrary, would open up vast possibilities for the UK to exploit trade relations with other faster growing regions of the world without having to reach complex trade agreements that satisfy the vested interests of the other 28 members of the EU.

The impact of Brexit on trade has been grossly exaggerated. In today's world, a product has parts coming from all over the world. A BMW is only called German because of historical association. In reality, the steel in a BMW may come from Brazil or China, the upholstery from the UK, the engine from France and the electronics from the USA. Labor costs are only 10% of the cost of a car, and this may include foreign labor. Also, profits are distributed to BMW shareholders and bondholders which are more likely to be sent to a hedge fund in Japan than to the mechanic in Dusseldorf. The world is highly economically integrated. Relatively free trade and free movement of capital is no longer an issue for most countries, whether it is the UK or any of the other countries in the EU. This boat has left years ago!

Trade restrictions and capital controls are no longer a countries choice: either you participate in the world economy or accept living standards equivalent to that of North Korea or Venezuela. So the issue is NOT whether the UK will continue to trade mostly freely with the EU: it will, because today there is no other choice, and the same is true for the other countries of the EU. Despite French threats of a bloody Brexit, Germany, which runs its second largest bilateral trade surplus with the UK, has little interest in starting a trade war, nor do most of the private interests in the rest of Europe.

If the UK government is really concerned about trade, it has the power to significantly increase both its exports and living standards. It only has to remove any impediments to imports. It is an accounting identity that a higher level of imports must imply a higher level of exports and foreign investment in the UK. We must never forget that imports are intractably linked to exports. What is true of the individual is also true for a nation. The ability to buy (foreign purchase of UK exports) is linked to the ability to sell (UK purchases of imports).

The history of mankind is a struggle between the individual trying to retain freedoms and tyrannical governments trying to take it away from them. The EU was created to increase freedoms: the freedom of the movement of goods, capital, and people. As expected, it has evolved into an entity that does just the opposite with a myriad of rules and regulations that benefit large crony capitalist firms at the expense of small and medium sized enterprises that do not have the resources to jump through every EU hoop that is necessary to bring a product to market. Furthermore, the EU is moving in the wrong direction - that of limiting freedoms. It recently established a code of conduct to limit what it considers illegal hate speech. This code is so vague that it could include almost anything including criticisms of the EU. If this sounds familiar, it should! It was called the Ministry of Truth in Orwells 1984.

If the UK votes to leave the Union, the EU would lose a significant source of revenue since the UK historically has paid more to the EU that it has received from the EU. Since the EU already has unpaid bills of 19.6 billion pounds, it will find it very difficult to find additional resources from cash strapped countries such as France, Italy or Spain whose debt to GDP ratios are already over 100%. With a higher contribution ratio, Germany will already be required to fund more of the EU budget and may find it difficult to cover those countries that may soon find themselves unable to assume their share of funding. For example, Greece does not really contribute anything to the EU budget since Germany covers a majority of its contribution indirectly through EU loans to Greece. The same is likely to occur when Spain or Italy run into even deeper trouble.

Germany already envies Britains decision not to join the monetary union. It laments losing control of its currency. If Brexit is successful, Germany will find the option of regaining control over its monetary and regulatory policies seductive. We may shortly be talking about Dexit. Yet, without Germany, the EU would then be a non-entity: good riddance, it would not be missed!

Frank Hollenbeck teaches finance and economics at the International University of Geneva. He has previously held positions as a Senior Economist at the State Department, Chief Economist at Caterpillar Overseas, and as an Associate Director of a Swiss private bank. See Frank Hollenbeck's article archives.

You can subscribe to future articles by Frank Hollenbeck via this RSS feed..

 2016 Copyright Frank Hollenbeck - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors.

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Is Orlando The New 9/11?

Last week America was rocked by the cold-blooded murder of 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Unlike the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Orlando shooter appears to be a lone gunman who, while claiming allegiance to ISIS, was not actually working with a terrorist group. About the only thing Orlando has in common with 9/11 is the way power-hungry politicians and federal officials wasted no time using it to justify expanding government and restricting liberty.

Immediately following the shooting, we began to hear renewed calls for increased government surveillance of Muslims, including spying on Muslim religious services. Although the Orlando shooter was born in the US, some are using the shooting to renew the debate over Muslim immigration. While the government certainly should prevent terrorists from entering the country, singling out individuals for government surveillance and other violations of their rights because of religious faith violates the First Amendment and establishes a dangerous precedent that will be used against other groups. In addition, scapegoating all Muslims because of the act of one deranged individual strengthens groups like ISIS by making it appear that the US government is at war with Islam.

The Orlando shooting is being used to justify mass surveillance and warrantless wiretapping. For the past three years, the House of Representatives passed an amendment to the Defense Department appropriations bill limiting mass surveillance. But, last week, the same amendment was voted down. The only difference between this year's debate and previous debates was that this year defenders of the surveillance state were able to claim that the Orlando shooting justifies shredding the Fourth Amendment.

The fact that the Orlando shooter had twice been investigated by the FBI shows that increased surveillance and wiretapping would not have prevented the shooting. Mass surveillance also creates a "needle in a haystack" problem that can make it difficult, or impossible, for law enforcement to identify real threats. Unfortunately, evidence that giving up liberty does not increase security has never deterred those who spread fear to gain support for increased government power.

The Orlando shooter successfully passed several background checks and was a licensed security guard. But, just like those who used Orlando to defend unconstitutional surveillance, authoritarian supporters of gun control are not allowing facts to stand in the way of using the Orlando shooting to advance their agenda. Second Amendment opponents are using Orlando to give the federal government new powers to violate individuals' rights without due process. One pro-gun control senator actually said that "due process is what's killing us."

Ironically, if not surprisingly, one of those calling for new gun control laws is Hillary Clinton. When she was sectary of state, Clinton supported interventions in the Middle East that resulted in ISIS obtaining firearms paid for by US taxpayers!

Mass surveillance, gun control, and other restrictions on our liberty will not prevent future Orlandos. In fact, by preventing law-abiding Americans from defending themselves, gun control laws make us less safe from criminals. Similarly, mass surveillance and warrantless wiretapping erode our rights while making it more difficult for law enforcement to identify real threats.

If Congress really cared about our security and liberty, it would repeal all federal gun laws, end all unconstitutional surveillance, and end the hyper-interventionist foreign policy that causes many around the world to resent the US.



Dr. Ron Paul

Project Freedom

Congressman Ron Paul of Texas enjoys a national reputation as the premier advocate for liberty in politics today. Dr. Paul is the leading spokesman in Washington for limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies based on commodity-backed currency. He is known among both his colleagues in Congress and his constituents for his consistent voting record in the House of Representatives: Dr. Paul never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution. In the words of former Treasury Secretary William Simon, Dr. Paul is the "one exception to the Gang of 535" on Capitol Hill.

Dr. Ron Paul Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




Article 3, section 3, clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution specifies that the giving of aid and comfort to the enemy is an element in the crime of treason. Last December, in the wake of the San Bernardino shootings, I appeared on numerous network news outlets and wrote op-ed pieces. Two Democrats and every Republican in the U.S. Senate had just defeated a measure to allow the attorney general to deny known or suspected terrorists the ability to obtain firearms and explosives. On Tuesday, the House of Representatives rejected a similar bill. These are acts of cowardice and define aiding and abetting the enemy. Treason. In light of the horrific slaughter that took place in Orlando, I'm doubling down.

The Orland shooter was on the FBI watch list and was able to easily purchase an assault weapon. Just as in the aftermath of San Bernardino, Umpqua, or my daughter Alison's murder, the likes of Morgan Griffith, Bob Goodlatte, Michael McCaul, and their fellow traitors trot out the universal catch phase"Youre in our thoughts and prayers". I'm sure its engraved on a plaque somewhere in their offices that came along with the monthly NRA check.

The same can be said for cowards like Virginia Delegates Danny Marshall and Les Adams. They never had the courtesy to call us before attaching themselves to a resolution honoring Alison at the start of general assembly this year. Barbara and I wanted no part of their gesture but my requests that they desist were completely ignored. The resolution passed with co-patrons Adams and Marshall. Both are in the pockets of the NRA and we find their blatant effort to garner political points in the wake of her death repugnant.

Meanwhile, McCaul, the House Chairman of Homeland Security, says he's focusing on terrorism, yet he continues to ignore the ease with which a terrorist can get an assault weapon and kill Americans in their homeland. His sidekick Bob Goodlatte, the House Judiciary Chairman, whose district included Alison and the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings, has over 100 common sense gun legislation bills on his desk he refuses to address. In my one and only meeting with him, he told me would not hold any hearings on the subject. Defunding Planned Parenthood, sure. Guns, nope.

I've lost friends who I at one time thought reasonable and rational on guns. I used to paddle with one before he told me he didn't like the way I was "going about my advocacy". Like so many with the same irrational thought, his is a fear of a tyrannical government. Last time I checked, the candidate who most identifies with their paranoid views on guns looks more and more like an incarnation of Hitler. But then, he's their tyrant, so they're fine with that. What scares them is our Muslim president that's coming to kick down the door and take away all their guns and Bibles. The vast majority of gun owners support reasonable laws to keep dangerous people from buying assault weapons but are ignored by a majority in congress who do the bidding of their NRA masters.

It's time once again to call out these "thoughts & prayers" obstructionists for what they are. Allowing innocents to be slaughtered for the sake of a fat NRA check is aiding and abetting. Its betrayal of the American people and the undermining of its government.

It's high treason and it is my mantra.

Andy Parker is a resident of Martinsville
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A Montana lawmaker is proposing that the Legislature rename Columbus day with a name that celebrates Native Americans.

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports that State Rep. Bridget Smith, D-Wolf Point, submitted a bill request last week that would change the holiday to celebrate indigenous people instead of the explorer.

Full Story: http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2016/06/19/montana-lawmaker-proposes-renaming-columbus-day/86120724/
When one thinks about the companies that laid the foundation of the commercial internet, one thinks of companies like Cisco, AOL, IBM, and Sun Microsystems, among others. Sun was co-founded by Scott McNealy, who did not have a technical background, and yet ran one of the most successful tech-centric companies of 80s and 90s. The company created Java , Solaris Unix, and the Network File System to name three of many products designed by the company. Oracle purchased Sun Microsystems in 2010 for $7.4 billion, and since then, McNealy has invested in and advised a number of technology companies from his home-base in Silicon Valley.

Peter High

Full Story: http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterhigh/2016/05/16/former-sun-microsystems-ceo-scott-mcnealys-new-focus-on-social-media-innovation/#74af990f2baa
With the next fiscal year less than two weeks away, Bozeman city leaders are trying to finalize the budget. As it stands now, property owners are looking at an increase in annual taxes.

At first, the city managers recommended budget called for a six percent net increase in annual taxes for a typical resident. That adds up to about $125.

With the next fiscal year less than two weeks away, Bozeman city leaders are trying to finalize the budget. As it stands now, property owners are looking at an increase in annual taxes.

At first, the city managers recommended budget called for a six percent net increase in annual taxes for a typical resident. That adds up to about $125.

Some residents think they are already taxed enough.

By: Josh Kristianto

Full Story: http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/ktvm/as-it-stands-new-bozeman-budget-increases-taxes/26125226
Discours de Mahen Seeruttun

I am privileged to be here this afternoon as we mark the beginning of another important and exciting journey in our combined efforts to enhance the Quality, Productivity and Competitiveness of our people serving across sectors of the economy.

As we progress into the new era of growth amidst a dynamic business landscape, our continued success will be greatly influenced by our ability to harness our intellectual capital.

And, indeed we are a country of great intellectual capabilities!

This is the very hallmark of our success.

We are gathered around the imperative of further professionalising our workforce in this most compelling area of Financial Crime Compliance.

And I am happy to see so many of you here from varied sectors which testifies to the significance which the fight against financial crime has taken in your respective industry.

Ladies and Gentlemen

From where I stand, I am greatly comforted by this eminent line-up of heads of public sector with a keen interest and involvement in this International Graduate Diploma.

I would like to take a moment to tip my hat to the respective leaderships present among us, in particular 

(i) Mr Duva Pentiah and Dr Kaviraj Sukon of the Open University of Mauritius,

(ii) Messrs Veeren Manikion and Mohamed Khan of the FSI,

(iii) Mr Vikash Thakoor of the FSC,

(iv) Ms Carine Charlette of the FIU, and

(v) Mr Kona Yerukunondu from Bank of Mauritius.

I take the opportunity to also express appreciation to Navin Beekharry, Director General of ICAC, for supporting the project and providing his valuable resources to assist in delivery of the programme.

This partnership supports what I have been saying all along.

The FATF experience has made our institutions Inter-Dependent as opposed to Independent. They are talking to each other like never before.

As the Latin dictum goes, E pluribus Unum, Out of many, we are one!

Todays event bears testimony to the fact that we are not just talking but executing so that the Effectiveness of our AML/CFT System prevails at all times.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Players Win Matches while Teams Win Championships.

Indeed, we are witnessing an interesting transition to a reformed environment which hinges on a culture of collaboration and sharing of intelligence for effective Identification, Prosecution and Conviction of criminals, and Freezing of criminal proceeds.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Passing laws and putting in place systems will never be a substitute for the capabilities of a well-trained workforce.

As our International Financial Centre develops in scale and sophistication, we remain under the radar of launderers.

We need skilled and competent people to detect and escalate delinquent and suspicious behaviours, to identify and flag riskier customers, to understand the risk-based approach, new typologies and risks.

We need People to make AML/CFT Systems Effective and Sustainable.

David Lewis, who was until just a couple of days ago the Executive Secretary of the FATF, mentioned in many of his public addresses that implementation is the biggest challenge.

While speaking on the importance of the FATF Global network in 2016, he stated (and I quote): Most countries now have laws and regulations but too few are using them and those that are, are rarely doing so Effectively. End of quote

Training, Ladies and Gentlemen, is an important limb to ensure effectiveness.

It is from this perspective that the alliance between the FSI and Open University has been working on certification standards for Financial Crime Compliance training.

The ever-expanding list of achievements and contribution of Open University in the field of Higher Education is a secret to no one.

The FSI, on its part, in its few years of existence, has been able to distinguish itself in the quality of its programmes, developing a particular strength in delivering practice-oriented learning.

I understand from Mohamed Khan, that the partnership between the Open University and FSI is such that changes are brought to the curriculum in no time so that our competence in the field keeps us One Step Ahead of the launderers and offenders.

Many of you here have approached me and shared the scarce pool of compliance and finance professionals.

You have also shared with me that our talented professionals are being spotted and siphoned away by other IFCs.

I accordingly initiated this project so that we can close competency gaps in the months to come.

I am confident that this First of Its Kind Diploma will become a flagship qualification not only for Mauritius but also for the region thereby putting steam to Governments policy of strengthening the position of Mauritius as a Knowledge Hub.

The Diploma is centric for Mauritius but the knowledge is transferable across jurisdictions.

I was happy to learn that the Diploma is expanding its reach and relevance beyond national boundaries and enrolments are coming in from across Africa and even the Caribbean.

To Heads of Associations and Captains of Industry, I would wish to say that you are a Privileged Partner in this capacity-building process.

We are presenting you today with a home-grown qualification, Made in Moris, which is tailored around the requirements of international standard setters and our regulatory authorities.

I have been through details of the modules and I can tell you that it is highly relevant, and practice-oriented.

The Diploma will not only augment the capacity of your existing staff but will prepare a pool of qualified resources on which you can tap.

It works well across sectors of activity from Global Business to Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions.

During my conversations with Mr Thakoor, we agreed that we can no longer approve MLROs on the basis of qualifications and experience where they have not been examined on Financial Crime Compliance.

We are accordingly stepping up the Competency Standards.

We are offering you today a Sustainable Solution to your HR requirements which the FSI will be regularly topping up with programmes aimed at clocking CPD requirements to ensure that the competency bar is maintained.

This qualification ticks another important box for us Policymakers  Job Creation and Job Retention.

This qualification will go a very long way in creating structured career pathways for professionals thereby increasing the Image, Stature and Attractiveness of Compliance as a Profession.

I can see the Diploma bringing many more graduates to the workplace so that they can join good jobs with better aspirations of fulfilling careers.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In this new year, I am meeting as many of you as possible so that we can continue reviewing our ecosystem and innovating to make 2022 as competitive, meaningful and attractive as possible.

Attentive to the demands of the private sector, we will be further innovating and diversifying our product offerings.

This year will definitely be the year for Digital Assets, for cryptocurrency, and for the launch of a new suite of high-end products and services.

Furthermore, Mauritius is one of the rare countries to be compliant or largely compliant with 39 out of the 40 FATF recommendations and hopefully, with our decisive actions in the digital space, we are aspiring to become the first country to be compliant with all the 40 Recommendations.

We have received many requests from our peers to share best practice.

This is a highly marketable feature of a sound and reputable IFC.

We will be reaching out with smarter marketing strategies to enhance our standing on the international marketplace.

Sanitary exigencies now in easing mode, we shall be travelling to existing and new markets moving more into Africa for more focused meetings to see how we can better serve our clients.

Distinguished Guests,

We have gathered this afternoon in the shared pursuit of a financial system that promotes integrity, transparency and accountability and drives prosperity for our people.

I look forward to your support in making this project a success.

My grateful thanks to all of you for your presence among us.

I thank you for your time and attention.
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.
by Laurie Sullivan , Staff Writer @lauriesullivan, June 20, 2016

Hidden in the shadows of Microsoft's $26.2 billion purchase of LinkedIn sits another Redmond, California acquisition  Wand Labs, a tech startup that builds messaging apps based on artificial intelligence.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in a post explains what the acquisition means for Bing and how it accelerates the company's "Conversation as a Platform" strategy, which repackages Bing to support technology behind chat bots and a bot development framework.

The Wand Labs team, founded in 2013 by former Google VP of products Vishal Sharma, will join the Bing engineering and platform team to support work in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Wand's engineers are building natural language and AI messaging intelligence, which Microsoft will add to Bing.

Sharma spent seven years at Google, but also has experience with servers and storage at Sun Microsystems and Tandem Computers, according to his LinkedIn page.

David Ku, corporate VP of Microsoft's information platform group, explains in a post how the acquisition helps investments in Bing, Azure, Office 365, and Windows.

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In June 2015, Wand Labs released a form D for $2.75 million in equity financing, according to one report, which explains the capital. The report also provides analysis of the fund raising, suggesting that it helps potential customers feel safer "to deal with a firm that is well financed.

The odds are higher that it will stay in the business. Second, this could attract other investors such as venture-capital firms, funds and angels. Third, positive PR effects could even bring leasing firms and venture lenders."

In this case Wand Labs apparently attracted Microsoft to the technology to build into Bing.
A newly developed artificial intelligence system is showing promise as a way to help pathologists improve diagnosis of breast cancer from images. In a test at a scientific meeting, it boosted human accuracy from 96 to 99.5 percent.

Share on Pinterest Peering into the microscope to sift through millions of cells to spot just a few cancerous ones can be very labor-intensive with conventional methods. The new AI system is able to tackle this task quite well, the researchers found.

The artificial intelligence (AI) system is based on deep learning, a machine-learning algorithm used for a range of applications including speech recognition and image recognition, explains Andrew Beck, an associate professor in pathology at Harvard Medical School, who heads the team developing the new system at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), in Boston, MA.

Prof. Beck and colleagues demonstrated the new AI system in a competition held at the annual meeting of the International Symposium of Biomedical Imaging (ISBI 2016) in Prague in April.

He and his colleagues are developing AI methods that train computers to interpret pathology images to improve the accuracy of diagnoses.

The approach they are using teaches computers to interpret the complex patterns seen in such images by building multi-layer artificial neural networks, says Prof. Beck.

The process is thought to be similar to the way learning takes place in the layers of neurons in the neocortex of the brain, the region where thinking occurs.

The team put the new AI system to the test at the ISBI 2016 meeting by getting it to examine images of lymph nodes to decide whether or not they showed evidence of breast cancer.
Scientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen and the Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich (LMU) have developed a new method of predicting disease progression in gliobastoma patients who have undergone standard treatment. Their findings, published in the journal Oncotarget, show that four miRNAs may hold the vital clue. An application for the corresponding patent has already been filed.

Roughly one fifth of all brain tumors diagnosed by doctors are gliobastomas. This aggressive and most common type of brain tumor continues to present doctors with huge challenges. However, molecular markers could help them to make the right treatment decision. A team of researchers led by Dr. Kristian Unger, Deputy Head of the Radiation Cytogenetics Research Unit (headed by Prof. Dr. Horst Zitzelsberger) at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, and Prof. Dr. Claus Belka, Director of the Clinic and Policlinic for Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology at the University of Munich's Grosshadern Hospital (member of the DKTK cancer research consortium), has now succeeded in identifying specific miRNAs1 that could serve as biomarkers for disease progression.

miRNAs indicate a poor prognosis

In collaboration with the Institute of Neurology (Edinger Institute) at the University Hospital Frankfurt, researchers examined the composition of miRNAs in samples from 36 patients from whom tumor material had been removed during treatment, and whose subsequent course of treatment had been well documented. "We repeatedly detected four miRNAs in tumors that had a particularly poor prognosis," explains PD Dr. Karim-Maximilian Niyazi, senior physician at Grosshadern, and first author of the study. Based on their data, the scientists calculated a risk score to distinguish two patient groups who were undergoing standard treatment and whose life expectancy varied by about five months. In order to corroborate their findings, they used data obtained from a further 58 independent samples. Here, too, they found that the composition of the miRNAs altered, the worse the prospects of a successful treatment outcome were.

Patent already applied for

The scientists are confident that their observations will have more than mere theoretical implications. For this reason, they have already filed an application for the corresponding patent. "To date only few prognostic and predictive factors for glioblastoma have been identified," says research team leader Unger.2 "Our method could be used to identify candidates for alternative or intensified treatment options, as it is highly unlikely that patients with a high risk score would benefit from standard therapy." Since tumor tissue would generally be removed immediately, a corresponding analysis would be relatively easy to conduct and would not require any additional time or expense, the researchers note.

Whether the miRNAs have a malignant function in the cancer cells themselves or are merely an indirect marker remains to be clarified. In initial studies, however, the scientists have shown that miRNAs could possibly even play a role in various processes of tumor development.

Article: A 4-miRNA signature predicts the therapeutic outcome of glioblastoma, Niyazi, M. et al., Oncotarget, doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.9945, published 11 June 2016.
The out-of-pocket costs of health care are rising well above the consumer price index and are influencing patient decisions about their own health, an editorial in Medical Journal of Australia highlights.

Professor Sanchia Aranda from Cancer Council Australia and Professor David Currow from the Cancer Institute NSW explained that out-of-pocket expenses accounted for 57% of non-government health expenditure in 2011-12 and over 17% of all health care expenditure.

"The net burden of costs are reported by clinicians to influence some decisions that patients make, with the potential for detrimental health outcomes for individuals and for Australia's health as a whole," the authors wrote.

Many patients aren't informed of the full cost of a procedure and whether there are alternatives that offer similar benefits, which "may be as important to the patient as the side effects or risks of an intervention".

Patients are sometimes not informed about comparative waiting times in the public and private systems, particularly important as public surgical waiting times for cancers are very short.

"Publicly available data on waiting times and service quality are critical for supporting informed treatment decisions, especially when out-of-pocket expenses can vary from zero to tens of thousands of dollars for the same procedure," the authors wrote.

Failure by medical practitioners to inform patients of all these financial costs could prevent many patients from avoiding additional suffering.

"A new standard for financial disclosure is required - a standard that moves beyond disclosure of the costs of a single procedure to one that accounts for the costs of a full pathway of treatment and all the alternatives open to the patient," the authors concluded.

Article: Financial toxicity in clinical care today: a "menu without prices", David Currow and Sanchia Aranda, Medical Journal of Australia, doi: 10.5694/mja16.00182, published 20 June 2016.
Researchers have identified a new signaling pathway that helps cancer cells cope with the lack of oxygen found inside tumors. These are the results of a study published in Nature Cell Biology on June 20, and led by researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center and its Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, Princess Margaret Cancer Center, the University of Toronto, Harvard Medical School and Oxford University.

Oxygen is important for the proper function of all human cells, but cancer cells thrive even when deprived of it. Rapid, abnormal cell growth seen in many solid tumors causes them to outgrow their blood supply and leave some cells with less oxygen. In the face of this "hypoxia," cancer cells change their gene expression to turn off all but the most vital oxygen-using processes.

"Our results, by yielding a new understanding of cancer cell response to hypoxia, hopefully will enable the design of future treatments that drive such cells into low-oxygen environments and then take away their ability to survive these conditions," says Benjamin Neel, MD, PhD, director of the Perlmutter Cancer Center.

In the new research, led by Robert Banh, a graduate student in Neel's lab, the investigators found that signals sent by the enzyme protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) work in a previously unknown way to shut down oxygen-using processes in breast cancer cells deprived of oxygen, thereby enhancing their survival.

Diabetes to Cancer to Moyamoya Disease

Neel and colleagues first identified the gene for protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) as part of search for molecules that suppress tumor growth in the early 1990s. PTP1B is the hallmark member of a group of enzymes that take a phosphate group away from biomolecules to turn processes like cell growth on or off.

Neel and colleagues, as well as the group of Michel Tremblay at McGill University, found in earlier studies of mice that PTP1B function was required for the growth in certain cancers. These included breast cancers caused by the Her2 oncogene (HER2+ breast cancer cells), which is implicated in 20 percent of human breast cancers. In more recent work, Banh, Neel and colleagues found that human HER2+ breast cancer cells lacking PTP1B grew normally under standard culture conditions, but died much more rapidly in low oxygen.

Furthermore, researchers found that the three signaling pathways by which cancer cells were known to adapt to hypoxia worked fine in PTP1B-deficient HER2+ breast cancer cells. These included the well-known hypoxia-inducible factor pathway, which shifts the way cells use oxygen from oxidative phosphorylation in cellular "machines" called mitochondria to glycolysis, which does not require oxygen. Instead they found that other non-mitochondrial sources of oxygen consumption were not dialed down appropriately in PTP1B-deficient breast cancer cells.

The team further found that PTP1B controls the response of tumors in hypoxia by regulating the protein RNF213, which in in turn suppresses oxygen consumption by enzymes called -ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases (-KGDDs). These enzymes use oxygen, vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and iron to catalyze myriad reactions.

As the team began to fill in details concerning PTP1B pathway, they realized from the literature that RNF213 was also important in a rare condition called Moyamoya Disease, where patients experience abnormal blood vessel growth in the brain that can lead to blocked arteries and seizures. Conceivably, says Neel, Moyamoya disease symptoms could reflect an abnormal response to hypoxia in vascular cells, and his lab is working to understand the condition's molecular basis.

"We have seen many times in the cancer field that studies of rare syndromes can be being important in explaining mechanisms by which cells respond to stresses," says Neel. "We hope our new study will provide insights into Moyamoya disease that then feed back into our work in cancer biology."

Along with Neel and Banh, study co-authors were Yang Xu, Dan Cojocari, Ankit Sinha, Ronald Wu, Thomas Kislinger and Bradly Wouters at the University of Toronto and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; Caterina Iorio, Richard Marcotte and Carl Virtanen at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre; Wei Zhang and Sachdev S. Sidhu at the University of Toronto; Anas Abdel Rahman at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, and King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh; Judy Pawling and James Dennis at Mount Sinai Hospital; Christopher Rose, Marta Isasa and Steven Gygi at Harvard Medical School; Shuang Zhang at NYU Langone; Toshiaki Hitomi, Toshiyuki Habu and Akio Koizumi at Kyoto University; and Sarah Wilkins and Christopher Schofield at Oxford University.

This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants R37 CA49152 and GM96745. This research was also supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Terry Fox New Frontiers Research Program, Cancer ResearchUK and the Wellcome Trust, Kiban Kenkyu, the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.


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Tips to Practice Yoga Correctly

Find out if a well-known yoga studio near home is hosting an event on June 21 st .

. Wear loose fitting clothes that are comfortable and will let you stretch your body

Hydrate well by sipping water

Get a yoga mat or a thick towel for use during yoga.

International Day of Yoga 21.06.2016

http://idayofyoga.org/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=4 International Day of Yoga

http://www.un.org/en/events/yogaday/ The Benefits of Yoga

http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/about-your-health/health-conditions-library/general-health/Pages/yoga.aspx

"This year's observance of the International Day of Yoga highlights the important role healthy living plays in the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted last year by all 193 United Nations Member States."- Ban-Ki-Moon United Nations Secretary General. Mr. Narendra Modi's request for celebrating International Yoga Day was supported by 175 member countries, including Canada, China and the U.S. This is one of the most overwhelming support received to pass any resolution in the United Nations Assembly. June 21was decided upon as the day for International Yoga day as it is the longest day of the year and it coincides with the day that Yoga is believed to have been taught by the Adiguru to saptarishis.There has been tremendous popularity that has been generated, with many people from India, U.S, China and Canada gearing up for the day. The Prime Minister stated recently that he had not anticipated such 'enormous enthusiasm' for the day. "This unique occasion brings all of us together to celebrate the invaluable gift of India's ancient tradition. Your support and participation last year and once again now, redeems our commitment to nurture and promote this ancient discipline and reaffirm yoga as the manifestation of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam  the world as one family," he said.On June 21,10,000 people are expected to participate in the International Yoga Day by performing Yoga at the Rajpath, while the Prime Minister will participate in the celebrations at Chandigarh's capitol complex.The logo chosen for the Yoga day has been carefully selected to represent the different facets of yoga. The folded hands show the union of mind and body, the element of the earth are represented by the brown leaves while the green leaves represent nature. The sun represents the source of energy and also for inspiration.There are yoga sessions that are being conducted across the world to celebrate International Yoga Day. From Texas to China, the improved awareness and the passion of followers have made this awareness day a success already.In order to be a part of this popular day and to benefit from the energy that combined sessions will radiate, it is important to take note of the following:Practicing yoga every day will provide holistic healing, infusing energy into the mind, body and soul.Source: Medindia
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Several other University of Texas System institutions also have increased efforts to study and combat Zika, which has triggered fear in the United States as mosquito season ramps up."The UT System is leading the way on multiple fronts to knock out this virus," said David Lakey, M.D., the System's chief medical officer. "This situation demands urgency, as the mosquitoes that spread Zika are most active during the summer."Lakey recently was selected to help plan and present at a workshop convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to discuss and explore the key factors associated with the Zika virus. The workshop came at the request of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.UT System institutions' efforts against this vexing virus advances The UT Health Care Enterprise, one of eight bold strategic initiatives described as Quantum Leaps, launched last year by UT System Chancellor William H. McRaven. This particular initiative aims to improve the health of Texans."We are leveraging our size and expertise to understand Zika at its fundamental level and disseminate the best and most timely information to help state, local and federal agencies fight this terrible virus," McRaven said.Cloning, brain cells and algaeIn one of the biggest Zika research breakthroughs to date, a team of UTMB researchers became the first scientists in the world to genetically engineer a clone of the Zika virus strain. This groundbreaking discovery could speed up many aspects of Zika research, including the development of vaccines and treatments."The new Zika clone represents a major advance toward deciphering why the virus is tied to serious diseases," said Pei-Yong Shi, Ph.D., a UTMB professor who led the clone study. Another important finding occurred when researchers from UT Southwestern discovered that Zika directly infects brains cells and evades immune system detection.The study shows that the virus - linked to microcephaly and other birth defects in newborns - infects brain cells destined to become neurons, according to UTSW microbiologist John Schoggins, Ph.D., the study's senior author. This scientific knowledge is invaluable to further understand how Zika causes severe brain-related problems.At UT Austin, biology professor David Herrin, Ph.D., wants to stop the virus by attacking its host, the Aedes mosquitos.Herrin is combining algae with a bacterium that attacks mosquitos in places such as ponds, where their larvae grow. Right now, only the bacterium attacks the guts of mosquitos and certain flies, but Herrin is working to modify the algae so that it attacks the Aedes and Culex mosquitos, the latter carries other infectious diseases such as the West Nile virus.Mosquito testing kitUT Austin students are also getting involved in the Zika fight.Undergrads from the Freshman Research Initiative are working under the leadership of UT Austin molecular biosciences professor Andy Ellington, Ph.D., to create a cheap and simple hand-held device for the public to test mosquitos in their own backyards for Zika. The do-it-yourself device requires little technical knowledge and would produce results in 45 minutes by testing dead mosquitos."This is a really quick and efficient way of being able to identify whether or not a mosquito is carrying a virus," said Nicole Pederson, a biology major.Tracking the virusUT System researchers are pinpointing Zika's spread and mapping mosquito infested areas to better understand the virus' movement.UT Austin integrative biology professor Sahotra Sarkar, Ph.D., is projecting the global spread of Zika in 100 cities based on the prevalence of two Aedes mosquitos species. The first species, Aedes aegypti, is known to be effective at spreading the virus to humans. The second species, Aedes albopictus, is also a carrier of Zika and found in many more cities, but researchers are trying to determine whether it can spread the virus.Meanwhile, UT Rio Grande Valley biologists Christopher Vitek, Ph.D., and John Thomas, Ph.D., are launching several projects with state and South Texas officials to pinpoint the location and density of Aedes mosquitos by locating their eggs. They are collaborating with a team of researchers from UTHealth Houston's School of Public Health in Brownsville, led by Joseph McCormick, M.D., on the South Texas study.Near the Mexican border, UT El Paso's Mosquito Ecology and Surveillance Laboratory, led by Doug Watts, Ph.D., is tracking the Aedes aegypti to see if it's carrying the virus around El Paso and studying the insect's biology and ecology."If mosquito control is ever going to work, the number one priority is education," said Watts, who has been chasing down the deadly insect since 1977. "It'll be a never-ending profession to stay ahead of them."Source: Newswise
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a condition that affects the muscle layer of the heart in patients without any underlying heart problems or systemic disease which could lead to the heart hypertrophy (enlargement).

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy affects 1 in 500 people. It is equally distributed among the males and females. It can manifest at any age. In athletes and young adults, it can manifest as sudden cardiac arrest leading to sudden death, which leaves a high impact on the families.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is of two main types.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which can lead to obstruction of the blood flow out of the left ventricle (left lower heart chamber) is called obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

HCM with no obstruction to the blood flow out of the left ventricle is a non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

HCM usually involves the left ventricle or the septum between the two ventricles.

The Role of Genetics in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: HCM is a genetic disorder, autosomal dominant in inheritance. It is due to mutations in the genes that help in the formation of proteins of the heart muscle that are involved in its contraction.

Conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and thyroid disease can cause the heart muscle thickening.

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Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy have a variable presentation. HCM can present at any age. Also, few people do not present with any symptoms. A few patients die suddenly without any previous symptoms.

Symptoms of HCM are due to:

Thickened heart muscle leading to the increased oxygen demand

Stiffening of the ventricular wall, and narrowed left ventricular blood outlet, resulting in reduced blood supply to the body

Weakness of the heart muscle in due course resulting in decreased force of pumping out blood

Mitral valve insufficiency and backpressure to the left atrium (left upper heart chamber) and lungs

Disorganized heart muscle fibers, resulting in abnormal electrical activity of the heart

The patients can present with shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations (abnormal sensation of ones own heart beats), dizziness, syncope, heart failure and sudden cardiac arrest. Exertion aggravates the symptoms.

HCM in Athletes: In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, not only the muscle layer of the heart is thickened but also the arrangement of the muscle fibers in the heart is disorganized. The disorganized heart muscle arrangement can lead to the abnormal electrical heart activity and result in a sudden arrest and death. Usually, the sudden death is seen more on exertion. Therefore, it is important for the athletes to be conscious of the presence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the family and to undergo proper health screen.

HCM during Pregnancy: In pregnant women with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the symptoms which the patient had before the pregnancy are aggravated. Regular echocardiographic examination depending upon the symptom severity and administration of the medications belonging to the beta blocker group are essential in symptomatic patients. Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy frequently stand the pregnancy well.

Diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is based on the following tests:

Electrocardiogram (ECG) helps detect abnormal heart rhythm as well as the thickened ventricle in these patients.

Echocardiogram is a test where a small device is placed over the chest wall and the heart is viewed on a monitor in the different views. The heart chambers, the valves in the heart, the wall thickness and the dynamics of blood flow are measured and monitored.

Exercise Stress Test: In this test the patient is asked to walk on a treadmill, and report any symptoms. The blood pressure, heart rhythm and the breath are monitored by the technician. It is sometimes done along with echocardiogram.

Chest X-Ray can show an enlarged heart image in these patients.

Cardiac Catheterization is a procedure to see the blood vessels which supply the blood to the heart. This test is not frequently used in these patients.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging: Electromagnetic waves are used in this imaging technique. It is an important investigation to establish the presence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in recent times.

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Genetic Testing is done to detect the presence of mutated genes.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is treated with the following approaches:

The medications beta blockers, verapamil and diltiazem are used for the effective heart function.

Disopyramide and amiodarone are antiarrhythmic agents used to correct the heart rhythm.

Alcohol Septal Ablation: This is a procedure by which the portion of thickened heart muscle is destroyed by injecting alcohol into the blood vessel supplying to the septum. However, the procedure can lead to the heart rhythm disturbances.

Glue Septal Ablation: This procedure is similar to alcohol septal ablation, but instead of alcohol, glue (n-butyl cyanoacrylate) is injected. This appears to be a superior and effective method.

Septal Myectomy: In this procedure, the thickened portion of the heart muscle in the septum is surgically removed through an open heart procedure.

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator: This small device is placed beneath the skin and connected to the heart through leads (wires). It is useful for patients with life-threatening abnormal heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias). It instantly delivers a therapeutic dose of shock to the heart and prevents the patient from sudden cardiac arrest and death.

Heart Transplant: This is the only option for the patients with severe heart failure with no response to medical management.

HCM is not a preventable heart condition. But sudden death in the young adults with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is preventable. To prevent sudden death, participation in the strenuous activity is not encouraged among HCM patients.

Pre-participation Evaluation before any sport is essential to diagnose the condition early and hence prevent the sudden death among athletes.

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD): To prevent the sudden death in patients with HCM due to the life-threatening arrhythmias, ICD implantation is essential.
In his June 12, 2016 column in the London daily Al-Hayat, Majed Kayali responded to the terror attack at Tel Aviv's Sarona Market complex, criticizing the tactic of armed struggle which he said that over the years has harmed the Palestinians more than helped them. He said that even if the attack had elements of heroism and sacrifice, and even if it could be seen as a natural response to the occupation, it did not help the Palestinians but only gave Israel an opportunity to take countermeasures, and also did damage to the Palestinian struggle's global legitimacy and image. According to him, the current manifestation of the armed struggle, that is, attacks by individuals, reveals a clear lack of Palestinian strategy, and shows the helplessness of the Palestinian leadership as well as the Palestinian resistance factions. Adding that under the current difficult circumstances, on both on the Palestinian and the regional levels, there can be no liberation of Palestinian land, he called on the Palestinians to focus on rebuilding their society and political entities, formulate a political vision that is appropriate for the Palestinian problem, and choose ways of struggle that benefit them, as the First Intifada did.

Following are excerpts from his column: [1]



Majed Kayali (image: alarab.co.uk)

"The Tel Aviv operation that targeted Israelis at one of the restaurants took us back to the days of the Second Intifada, 2000-2004, which saw an escalation of attacks against restaurant, attractions, buses, and markets.

"It is interesting that our collective mind, which relies on emotions, slogans, and sanctifying the armed struggle, forgets, in those moments of enthusiasm and vengeance, the lessons learned from the past and the heavy toll that we have paid, without obtaining the desired benefits from operations like this and with a disproportion of victims versus achievements...

"By any standard, we can view this operation as a natural response to the occupation, the settlements, and the arrogant and racist Israeli policy. But at the same time it is also a product of a divisive culture and of the factions' inability to create a culture of resistance that is appropriate to the capabilities of the Palestinian people, to the circumstances, and to the time. Therefore, it is possible to differentiate between the spirit of heroism and sacrifice shown by those carrying out the operation and the fact that [this operation] was a spontaneous act by an individual, in isolation from any political context or context of struggle in the strategic sense.

"With regard to the moral aspect, it can be said that the imperialist, racist, and usurping Israel is responsible for everything that happens to the Palestinians - their frustration, and their sense of oppression and rage. But this operation, which targeted civilians, damages the credibility of their struggle. It can be assumed that [the Palestinians] have become more aware of, and sensitive to, this issue [of preserving credibility], in light of the increased sympathy worldwide for [the Palestinian] problem and rights, and the increased calls to isolate Israel and boycott it politically and culturally in Europe, and even in the U.S....

"The idea here is that sacrifice and heroism are not enough, and that they do not prevent the severe or disproportionate consequences that they could bring about, because they are the actions of individuals, disconnected from any agenda or faction. The problem, it seems, is that the [Palestinian] factions welcome these operations [by individuals], in an attempt to cover up their helplessness. [But] such operations expose the lack of a clear strategy for a Palestinian struggle after half a century of the national movement's existence, and reveal that the Palestinians' armed struggle activity is random and depends on mood and on trial and error.

"Aside from the moral aspect, the drawback of this operation and others like it is that they are unrelated to any political solution [while at the same time] do not emanate from any capability to continue this form of struggle - particularly in light of the upheavals in the Arab world and the devastation of state and society in Syria and Iraq. Israel, which launched three devastating wars in Gaza in 2008, 2012, and 2014 without anyone stopping it, may perhaps seize the opportunity in these circumstances to launch a new war on Gaza, and maybe even take steps to uproot thousands or tens of thousands of Palestinians and drive them out of, say, Jerusalem or Hebron. We have already seen the world's lenience towards the regime of Bashar Al-Assad, who killed hundreds of thousands of his own people, destroyed their homes, and drove out millions. How will this world act against Israel, if it only did to the Palestinians a quarter of [what Assad did to his people]?

"Additionally, the Palestinians' problem is that they are not examining their historical experience critically. Where was the armed Palestinian struggle when it began in the mid-1960s, and where is it now? The Second Intifada, 2000-2004, saw the largest conflict between the Palestinians and Israel, with the latter suffering heavy loss of life... but [Israel ultimately] succeeded in neutralizing the resistance while negotiating with the Palestinian national movement, reoccupying the West Bank, and abusing the Palestinians. Furthermore, it prevented the Palestinians from entering Jerusalem without a permit; it erected the separation fence; it built dozens of settlements; and it set up checkpoints between the cities and villages of the West Bank.

"I do not mean to say that the Palestinians should give up the struggle and surrender. But they must know which form of struggle is most effective - like the First Intifada, for example - and must balance cost and benefit, and wear down their enemies, rather than becoming worn down themselves. The resistance must consider the people's steadfastness, endurance, and ability to develop Palestinian society and strengthen its political entities - because otherwise this form of resistance will do Israel no harm, but will make it easier for it to divide Palestinian society and wear down and subjugate the Palestinians.

"Naturally, some will ask what the alternative [to armed struggle] is; this is the opportunity to emphasize that the author of these lines does not see negotiations or the Oslo Accords as the path to Palestinian rights. That is, the Palestinian experiment has failed, in both negotiations and resistance, due to a lack of strategic political vision as well as the weakness, calcification, and lethargy of the Palestinian political infrastructure (PLO, PA, and the organizations). As for the question of the alternative that seems impossible - the answer is simple: There is no use walking on a path that is a proven failure and has caused damage...

"Therefore, under the current difficult circumstances, both within and without, the best thing for the Palestinians is to gather their strength and not to enable Israel to take advantage of what is happening in the region to strike them and to dismantle their society - because under these circumstances it is impossible to liberate even an inch of Palestine and to weaken Israel, in light of the events in the Arab world.

"Under these circumstances, it would be best for the Palestinians to reassess [their course of action], with a critical and responsible approach; to rebuild their society inside [the PA] and out [in the diaspora]; to restore consensus; and to rebuild their political entities on new foundations and in accordance with a political vision that is appropriate for the Palestinian problem, the Palestinian people, and the land of Palestine. It is best for the Palestinians to undertake forms of struggle that are appropriate for the people's capabilities, and not to allow Israel to use its unrestrained force to wear down and dismantle Palestinian society."

Endnotes:
On June 17, President Vladimir Putin addressed the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The plenary session was followed by Q&As, moderated by CNN host Fareed Zakaria. Putin's speech tackled the following topics: Eurasian integration, Russia's economic growth, Russia's investment in research and development (R&D). The Q&As tackled issues that were more political such as: NATO, Russia-U.S. relations, and the U.S. elections.[1]

The first part of Putin's speech was dedicated to the Kremlin's pet Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) project, which was established in 2015. It was therefore no coincidence that Kazakhstan's president, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Italy's prime minister, Matteo Renzi, were the only two leaders participating in the forum's plenary session aside from Putin. Nazarbayev is the EAEU's initiator, as he originally proposed the idea of forming a "Eurasian Union" back in 1994. Renzi, who has been critical of the EU sanctions against Russia,[2] represented Europe, a continent that Russia' would like to integrate in the EAEU. As Putin put it in the closing session, the presence of Kazakhstan, Russia's closest partner, and of Italy is "indicative", because "we must focus on joining forces", an invitation to Europe to integrate its economy with the EAEU. It is worth noting that the same day the plenary session convened, the Council of the European Union decided to extend the restrictive measures in response to the annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia, until June 23, 2017. The measures apply to EU persons and EU based companies. They are limited to the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol. [3]

In the speech, Putin brushed off the sanctions by advocating that the EAEU should become a center for a "greater emergent integration area." He added that this June, Russia plans to start official talks on the formation of comprehensive trade and economic partnership in Eurasia in which EU member states and China will participate. In conclusion, Putin stressed that the EAEU should create an expanded Eurasian Partnership encompassing China, India, Pakistan, Iran, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and other countries.

First of all these remarks disclose Putin's design to transform the EAEU into a bloc that will form a counterweight to the American Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership (TTIP),[4] by becoming one of the "greater emergent integration area". This organization will also engage countries traditionally hostile to the U.S. such as Iran. Second, Putin reiterated Russia's friendship with China, hinting, albeit not explicitly, that Beijing prefers joining forces with Moscow in the EAEU rather than engage in a possible G2 with the U.S. Putin also wants to bring India under Russian influence. India is an emergent economy that already takes part in BRICS (the association including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). Third, Putin tried to demonstrate that some EU members seek cooperation with Russia instead of joining the U.S. in imposing Anti-Russian sanctions over the Crimea' annexation.

In his speech, Putin stressed that the "greater Eurasia" project is open to Europe, given his conviction that such cooperation may be mutually beneficial. In an article published in Izvestia back in 2011, titled "A New Integration Project for Eurasia: The future in the Making", Putin, who was then officially prime minister wrote that the EAEU should become "one of the poles in the modern world and serve as an efficient bridge between Europe and the dynamic Asia-Pacific region".[5] He also explained that some of Russia's neighbors then lacked interest in joining integration projects in the post-Soviet space by protesting that these projects contradicted their pro-European stance. ""I believe that this is a false antithesis", Putin wrote, "We do not intend to cut ourselves off, nor do we plan to stand in opposition to anyone. The Eurasian Union will be based on universal integration principles as an essential part of Greater Europe united by shared values of freedom, democracy, and market laws." Putin then stressed that in line with this idea, Russia proposed setting up a "harmonized" (a word that Putin often uses in the context of Eurasian integration) community of economies and a free trade zone stretching from "Lisbon to Vladivostok." According to Putin, a partnership between the EAEU and the EU would "prompt changes in the geopolitical and geo-economic setup of the continent as a whole with a guaranteed global effect."[6]

However, in his St Petersburg speech, Putin underlined that if Europe does not want to integrate with the Kremlin's Eurasian project and prefers to be part only of the TTIP, or in other words, if Europe wants to align itself economically with the U.S., then Europe will "narrow its opportunities" and will not "preserve space for a gainful maneuver," implying that the TTIP only favors U.S. interests. In Russian eyes, the TTIP and its companion Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement are considered U.S. tools for expanding its global leadership . On the Russian pro-Kremlin think tank Valdai Discussion Club website, Dmitry Suslov, Director of the Valdai Club's program "Globalization and Regionalization: General State of the World Economy and Global Governance" explains the rationale behind TTIP as follows: "In recent years the aspirations of the U.S. to revive and strengthen its leadership have been inseparable from economic, military and political consolidation of its allies and the creation of two gigantic political and economic communities in the Atlantic and Asia-Pacific, each based on rules and norms written by and benefiting Washington. TTIP and the TPP are expected to provide an economic foundation for these communities, while beefed-up NATO and Asian alliances involving the U.S. would provide a political framework."[7]

Despite the outstanding controversial issues separating Europe form Russia, Putin said that Europe should cooperate in the restoration of Russian-European relations, arguing that the "current breakdown" was not initiated by Russia. In the Q&As, Putin also stated that sanctions against Russia are counterproductive for Europe and are merely pushed by the U.S., since sanctions leave the American economy unaffected. Putin said: "How are the sanctions that you have mentioned affecting the United States? In no way whatsoever. It could not care less about these sanctions, because the consequences of our actions in response have no impact on it. They impact Europe but not the United States. Zero effect. However, the Americans are telling their partners: 'Be patient.' Why should they? I do not understand."

Below are excerpts from the first part of Putin's speech at the plenary session. In the following days, analyses on the second part of Putin's speech and on the Q&As will be published. Emphases in the text are added.



Putin at the plenary session with the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (Source: Kremlin.ru, June 17, 2016)

Our Partners And We Think That The Eurasian Economic Union Can Become One Of The Centers Of A Greater Emergent Integration Area

"The St. Petersburg Forum has traditionally served as a venue for discussing strategic issues. Such conversation is all the more important now that the world is undergoing a serious transformation, when deep changes are affecting practically all areas of life.

"I would like to take this opportunity to share with you my assessments and thoughts, to tell you how we view Russia in a changing world. And I would like to start with the systemic problems that are besetting the global economy and practically all countries.

"True, after the 2008-2009 crisis, we managed to partially balance our financial accounts, limit but not overcome the debt increase problem and make cash flow more transparent and manageable.

"However, the structural problems accumulated by the global economy still persist, and we have not yet put our economy on the growth trajectory.

"Incidentally, current geopolitical tensions are related, to some extent, to economic uncertainty and the exhausting of the old sources of growth. There is a risk it may increase or even be artificially provoked. It is our common interest to find a creative and constructive way out of this situation.

"... The scale of technological, economic problems and the objective situation we are in - their scale and nature suggest that we can develop effectively only together, by building cooperation. We believe that such cooperation can be effectively built as part of a flexible and open integration environment that encourages competition in scientific research, a variety of technological solutions that allow the participating countries to fully employ their competence and their potential. In 2011, with Belarus and Kazakhstan, and relying on the dense network of cooperative relationships we inherited from the Soviet Union, we formed a common customs space, and then upgraded it to the Eurasian Economic Union [which was officially established in 2015]. The initiator of this project is here with us today, on this very panel. It is President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.

"We are deepening our [Eurasian] integration gradually, and are removing obstacles to commerce and the movement of investment, technology and workforce. We are implementing an industrial and technological cooperation program already, and are forming a common service market incrementally. Common energy, oil and gas and financial markets will emerge by 2025.

"We are aware of the impressive prospects of cooperation between the EAEU and other countries and integration associations. Over 40 states and international organizations have expressed the desire to establish a free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union. Our partners and we think that the EAEU can become one of the centers of a greater emergent integration area. Among other benefits, we can address ambitious technological problems within its framework, promote technological progress and attract new members. We discussed this in Astana quite recently. Now we propose considering the prospects for more extensive Eurasian partnership involving the EAEU and countries with which we already have close partnership - China, India, Pakistan and Iran - and certainly our CIS partners, and other interested countries and associations.

"To start, we might streamline and unify the regulation of departmental cooperation and investment, nontariff measures of technology and phytosanitary control, customs administration and protection of intellectual property. Further on, we should move gradually to the reduction and eventual abolition of tariff restrictions.

"We might proceed from a network of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements that envisage a varying pace, extent and level of interaction and the extent of market openness, depending on specific national economies' readiness for teamwork, with understandings on joint research, educational and high-tech projects. All these agreements should be future-oriented and provide the basis for harmonious joint development resting on equal and effective cooperation.

"As early as June we, along with our Chinese colleagues, are planning to start official talks on the formation of comprehensive trade and economic partnership in Eurasia with the participation of the European Union states and China. I expect that this will become one of the first steps toward the formation of a major Eurasian partnership. We will certainly resume the discussion of this major project at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in early September...

The 'Greater Eurasia' Project Is Open For Europe

"Friends, the project I have just mentioned - the 'Greater Eurasia' project - is, of course, open for Europe, and I am convinced that such cooperation may be mutually beneficial. Despite all of the well-known problems in our relations, the European Union remains Russia's key trade and economic partner. It is our next-door neighbor and we are not indifferent to what is happening in the lives of our neighbors, European countries and the European economy.

"The challenge of the technological revolution and structural changes are no less urgent for the EU than for Russia. I also understand our European partners when they talk about the complicated decisions for Europe that were made at the talks on the formation of the Trans-Atlantic partnership. Obviously, [when] Europe has a vast potential and a stake in just one regional association [this] clearly narrows its opportunities. Under the circumstances, it is difficult for Europe to maintain balance and preserve space for a gainful maneuver.

"As the recent meetings with representatives of the German and French business circles have showed, European business is willing and ready to cooperate with this country. Politicians should meet businesses halfway by displaying wisdom, and a far-sighted and flexible approach. We must return trust to Russian-European relations and restore the level of our cooperation.

"We remember how it all started. Russia did not initiate the current breakdown, disruption, problems and sanctions. All our actions have been exclusively reciprocal. But we don't hold a grudge, as they say, and are ready to meet our European partners halfway. However, this can by no means be a one-way street.

"Let me repeat that we are interested in Europeans joining the project for a major Eurasian partnership. In this context we welcome the initiative of the President of Kazakhstan on holding consultations between the Eurasian Economic Union and the EU. Yesterday we discussed this issue at the meeting with the President of the European Commission [Jean Claude Juncker].[8]

"In addition, it would be possible to resume dialogue between experts at the technical level on a broad range of issues, such as trade, investment, technical regulation and customs administration. In this way we could create the groundwork for further cooperation and partnership.

"Naturally, we consider it important to continue cooperation on major research projects, such as the ITER thermonuclear plant and the x-ray free electron laser, to name a few. Joint efforts will allow us to seriously increase the technological competitiveness of both Europe and Russia. It is enough to note that in 2015 Russia invested 1.2 billion Euros in high-tech joint projects with Europe..."

Endnotes:
Following the Orlando terror attack, Professor Ahmad Nofal of the University of Jordan said in his weekly program that gunman Omar Mateen was a "sick personality" with "perverse tendencies" and that "[homosexuality] is controlled and imposed upon the world by global Zionism, Allah's number one enemy on Earth." Professor Nofal added that Mateen "evoked the Western model of heroism," represented in the massacre of Native Americans. His address aired on the Jordanian Yarmouk TV channel on June 17.

Ahmad Nofal: "(Omar Mateen) is a dramatic character that requires a film - a Hitchcock-style horror movie, like 'Psycho' from over 50 years ago - in order to portray this sick personality. The last thing one can do is link this creature to Islam. A person who is addicted to... To what? This is beyond our topic now. He visited this homosexual club for over three years. His wife said that he could not stand women. He clearly had perverse tendencies. Of course, the word 'perverse' is forbidden. What do you expect me to say? I am not going to use their words, because using such language is a crime and an aggression against the shari'a, against Islam, and even against God Almighty. God described (homosexuality) as an abomination and a disgrace, which runs counter to humanity, to religion, and to the nature of Man. And these criminals dare to call it marriage?! To hell with you! Brothers, forgive me for saying this, but I am forced to speak up on this, because (the Orlando attack) was exploited, not just by Trump... Oh, no. All the haters have exploited this incident - global Zionism, the local collaborating Arab media in its entirety... They have all exploited this incident, calling it 'terrorism' and 'Islamic extremism' ... (Mateen) was not 'Islamic' He was never 'Islamic.' He was born in America, I believe.

[...]

"The American hero used to be measured by the number of Indians he killed. (Mateen) evoked the Western model of heroism, so don't talk to me about his Islam or his identity conflict. He did not suffer from any identity conflict, and if he did, it was a conflict within the Western culture in which he grew up. These conflicts... The Church is now allowing gay priests to marry one another, having succumbed to the pressure of global Zionism. My brothers, (homosexuality) is controlled and imposed upon the world by global Zionism, Allah's number one enemy on Earth. They force (homosexuality) upon the world. Every country must legislate laws to that effect. I visited South Africa 15 years ago or so, and the foreign minister said: 'We had no choice but to legislate a law permitting this, because the International Monetary Fund set it as a precondition...'"
N. KOTZIAS: I started my intervention today, in the Foreign Affairs Council, with an observation: Council meetings arent held on the Monday of the Holy Spirit or Easter Monday. Because I asked whether the same is the case for the Catholic and Protestant dates and feast days, and of course the answer was no. And I said there needs to be equal treatment of nation states as well as convictions, and I told them that, as is well known, I am an atheist, but one who respects and honors Greek Orthodoxy.



Subsequently, I explained that in 1997, when we vetoed Turkey due to the Cyprus issue, everyone in Turkey said that once Greece lifted the veto, Turkey would become a member of the European Union the next day, and that neither would there be democratic problems in Turkey. It has proved that, from 1997 to today  19 years, and 17 since Tampere and Helsinki, where we lifted the veto  the problems of that time continue to exist in the Turkey of today and in Turkeys relations with the European Union. Im not looking at who or what is at fault. I am assessing the fact, responding briefly, as I did, to the argument that if we hadnt used our veto due to the name issue, FYROM would be stable today. The developments in EU-Turkey relations show how wrong that outlook is.



I reminded them that, last year, in the same Council, of June 2015, I underscored to them that there is a major problem with FYROM, which is a deficit in democratic functioning, and particularly in terms of a culture of democratic dialogue and compromise. This deficit is also due to the member states of the European Union who call themselves friends of FYROM  member states that educated the leaderships of FYROM not to make compromises, because they, these member states, would solve FYROMs problems. And I told them then, last year, that, unfortunately, through the manner you conduct yourselves with FYROM and throw the weight onto Greece, in the end these leaderships of our neighbour will not be in a position to make domestic compromises that are necessary for the development of Democracy.



Unfortunately, I proved to be right. Because this leadership, the way the Europeans treated it, did not learn to make compromises, and the main issues we have today are, first, to help with a culture of compromise. Second, to help in the development of democracy, particularly by contributing to there being regular electoral rolls and democratic functioning of the news media. Third, that they shouldnt  because this was heard  consider sanctions. In general, like the Greek government, I am against sanction systems. In the case of FYROM, too, we will not allow sanctions. And the real friends of the stability of this country are countries like Greece and Bulgaria, and I reiterated to them that the creation of this state is a real fact that one must look upon it positively. But the name this state has and the irredentism that name conceals are negative elements.



JOURNALIST: Did you also talk about other Western Balkan countries?



N. KOTZIAS: Thank you for the question. I also talked about the need for us to persist with regard to good neighbourly relations with all the countries, stating that FYROM, through the issues it is raising, as well as other Western Balkan countries are not following the rules of good neighbourly relations. I underscored in particular that we are seeing the birth of a new, unique wave of nationalism in the Western Balkans, which must be the object of very close attention on the part of the whole of the European Union. Because it is nationalism that can destroy states and the European course and peace and stability in the region. And this was a message not just to Skopje, but also mainly to countries where, despite the proposals we have made  and I referred to proposals that are known to the Vice President of the European Commission; proposals to others of our neighbours we are seeing an rash of nationalism that is not helpful with achieving understanding with these states and does not help the European course of these states, and if they persist in allowing the propagation and strengthening of nationalism, there will be corresponding repercussions for their European courses.



JOURNALIST: Does this mean you will use all the weapons of diplomacy?



N. KOTZIAS: Diplomacy always has a long list of weapons, which Greece, consistently, depending on the circumstances, uses. And, as you know, over the past year and a half there has not been a tool or weapon of Greek or European diplomacy that has not been used correctly and, I would say, effectively. It is characteristic that states on which, in my opinion, we had come down hard, thanked us publicly, in the Council meeting, for our assistance on the migration issue, with stability in the Balkans, and even with the policy on FYROM.



JOURNALIST: You met with Mr. Kasoulides. Two days ago you saw Mr. Ban Ki-moon.



N. KOTZIAS: I briefed Mr. Kasoulides on the discussion I had with the UN Secretary General, I briefed him on the positions I set out on the solution to the problem of security and the guarantees on the Cyprus issue  positions that are certainly known to Mr. Kasoulides  and I gave him an extended text I have written on this issue.



JOURNALIST: The quadrilateral meeting held two or three weeks ago in Sofia 



N. KOTZIAS:  was to be repeated today. It didnt happen because the Romanian Foreign Minister is accompanying his Prime Minister on a state trip. In Croatia, as you know, the government resigned and the country is once again in a transitional phase. Domestic developments led to a postponement of the new meeting of the four.



JOURNALIST: Regarding Skopje, did you discuss what is happening with the political situation in FYROM? Whether the EU will intervene?



N. KOTZIAS: We talked in detail. I noted this, and I underscore it: That we need to talk little about FYROMs domestic affairs, we need to help it in all the diplomatic ways and capacities, through diplomatic channels, and not come out constantly, publicly, pressing for the FYROM leaderships to move in one direction or the other. However much you invoke democracy, when you exert pressure it can be perceived as undemocratic conduct or generate unfriendly feelings towards democracy.



JOURNALIST: Is the meeting that is to take place in Austria, on the Western Balkans and the refugee routes  a meeting to which Greece has been invited  a subject you discussed with Mr. Kurz?



N. KOTZIAS? Mr. Kurz reiterated his appreciation of Greece during the session. It is a subject that will be discussed later on.
At todays meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, we talked about the developments in Central Africa and the Arctic. We also talked about the Middle East and about developments in FYROM.



Regarding the developments in FYROM, I explained in an extensive intervention our experiences with Turkey from 1997 to 1999, when our veto was lifted and Turkey proved to continue to have pending issues on its course towards the European Union. Responding to the argument that, if we didnt use our veto against FYROM, it wouldnt have problems today.



I explained that FYROMs central problem is the fact that it has a lack of a democratic culture of dialogue, and this lack of a democratic culture of dialogue is due to the stance of certain friends of this country who trained it in such a way that its leadership is not in a position to make certain domestic compromises and implement certain domestic democratic practices. I explained that we have to talk less, publicly, regarding the policy being followed within FYROM, and do more to help.
The sheriff's office said the boy's mother heard screaming while he was playing outside in the front yard with his older brother. The mother ran outside, where she saw the animal on top of her son and she dragged the boy away.

The Pitkin County Sheriff's Office said the boy suffered face, head and neck injuries and was in fair condition at a hospital in Denver. The mother was treated and released from a hospital.

Pitkin County sheriff's deputies and a Forest Service Ranger were the first to arrive and killed the lion believed to be responsible for the attack after they found it wandering near the home. According to wildlife officials, the lion was 2 years old and had been seen previously in the area where the attack occurred.

Officers with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the federal wildlife authorities are tracking a second lion and will kill the animal when they find it.

A necropsy will be performed on the lion suspected in the attack.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said the last known lion attack on a human in Colorado occurred in July 2015. A young lion attacked a man as he fished along north of Dotsero, about 60 miles from where Friday night's attack occurred. The man had scratches and bites on his back and was treated and released from a local clinic.

The lion in that incident, described as a small, yearling male, was tracked and killed.
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.
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter sidestepped Monday on the main topic of a think tank forum -- how the Pentagon will work with a new commander-in-chief -- while laying out a range of ongoing DoD programs and strategies that appeared to conflict with positions taken by Donald Trump.

Vice President Joe Biden, who spoke later at the same conference, had fewer qualms in remarks aimed at Trump on a Mexican border wall, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Muslims.

Carter initially said he would be avoiding the topic of the all-day Center for a New American Security conference: "The National Security Inheritance: Setting the Next President's Agenda."

"Now, I know today's conference is focused on the upcoming Washington transition," Carter said. "I want to be clear up front that I'm not going to talk about that subject. And the reason for that is, the United States has a long-standing practice, tradition and principle that our department, our military and our security leaders stand apart from the electoral process."

Without mentioning Trump by name, Carter then went on to lay out a series of Pentagon programs to bolster NATO, strengthen cooperation with allies against ISIS, counter China's rise in the Pacific, and oppose the aggression of Putin that appeared to conflict with the campaign stances on foreign and defense policy of the presumptive Republican nominee.

Biden, who spoke later at the conference, was more direct in remarks clearly aimed at Trump. He also did not mention Trump by name while warning against a new commander-in-chief wielding a "soundbite" foreign policy that projects "the attitude and insecurity of a bully."

Building a wall on the Mexican border, one of the Trump's main policy positions, would only bring "a return of anti-Americanism and a corrosive rift throughout our hemisphere," Biden said.

"Environmental disruptions, pathogens, computer viruses, malicious ideologies -- these threats don't respect borders. And no matter what others may claim, we cannot wall ourselves off from these challenges. Even in simpler times, isolationism never offered more than a false sense of security."

Trump has often cited his ability to get along with Putin, but Biden said that cozying up to the Russian leader while he was backing separatists in Ukraine "could call into question America's long-standing commitment to a Europe whole, free and at peace."

The next administration "will make its own choices," Biden said, but singling out Muslims for profiling or exclusion should not be among them.

"Wielding the politics of fear and intolerance -- like proposals to ban Muslims from entering the United States or slandering entire religious communities as complicit in terrorism -- calls into question America's status as the greatest democracy in the history of the world," Biden said.

In his opening remarks, Carter, as he has done before, had high praise for Michele Flournoy, often touted as a possible successor to Carter should Hillary Clinton win in November. "Michele, thank you for your years of dedicated service, for -- dare I say -- 30 years of friendship, and for your leadership at CNAS."

"For almost a decade now, CNAS has been an engine for the ideas and talent that have shaped American foreign policy," Carter said. Flournoy, co-founder and chief executive officer of CNAS and a former undersecretary of defense for policy in President Obama's first term, took herself out of consideration in late 2014 to succeed Chuck Hagel as defense secretary. Carter later got the nod.

Biden also engaged with Flournoy on her possible ambitions. Flournoy misspoke in introducing Biden, calling him the "candidate" and drawing laughter from the audience. Biden pretended to trip up: "Thank you, Madam Secretary, I mean, uh, I don't know," he said to more laughter.

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Some of the country's leading veterans' service organizations are pressing lawmakers to defy lobbying efforts and legislation that they say will damage veterans' health care.

In a letter to Congress on Monday morning, The American Legion urged lawmakers not to listen to veterans' groups that are merely "mouthpieces" for organizations intent on privatizing Department of Veterans Affairs health care, a move that it says will spawn "a host of billion-dollar federal contractors, private medical enterprises and cottage-industry opportunists."

Though the Legion does not identify the "mouthpieces," it appears to be taking aim at Concerned Veterans for America, a Koch brothers-linked group that would have the VA overseen by a non-profit government organization while moving more veterans' health care to the private sector.

Those recommendations, pitched by CVA last year, are included in draft legislation that prompted the Veterans of Foreign Wars to issue an action alert last week warning members that "Politicians, pundits and politically-motivated organizations are using the national crisis in access to care at the Department of Veterans Affairs as justification to dismantle and privatize the VA health care system, with some even proposing that veterans be charged for their service-connected care. The VFW says no!"

The alert drew more than 6,000 responses over the weekend, according to the VFW, which on Monday joined with four other veterans groups to request a meeting with Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Washington, the sponsor of the draft bill, theCaring for Our Heroes in the 21st Century Act.

"We would like the opportunity to explain why we believe enactment of the legislation would have significant negative consequences for millions of veterans who choose, need or rely on VA for most or all of their health care," representatives of the VFW; The American Legion; Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; and Paralyzed Veterans of America said in the letter to Rodgers.

In an email to Military.com, Concerned Veterans for America defended its positions on VA health care.

"Concerned Veterans for America has developed a bipartisan and comprehensive set of reforms to the VA that would offer all eligible veterans the ability to choose where they get their health care, and which would give the existing VA health care system the tools to better respond to the changing needs of the veteran community in order to better serve those who have sacrificed for our country," CVA Vice President Dan Caldwell said.

"We have a made robust effort to work with all major veteran organizations in advancing meaningful reform to the VA -- including ones that are now smearing us and others who support meaningful reforms to the VA with false and debunked accusations," he said.

Veterans groups are loathe to criticize each other publicly regardless of what they disagree on, as evidenced by the Legion's letter, which never names CVA but makes clear it is criticizing a veterans organization that endorsed increasing the role of the private sector in VA health care, has political and industry ties and has accused other veterans' groups of being "insiders."

Earlier this month, CVA went after the Paralyzed Veterans of America, accusing it of mischaracterizing Rodgers' proposed bill.

"[PVA's] D.C. insider-leadership has made clear that not only will it defend the VA, and its own place in the Washington establishment, at all costs, but also that it is willing to lie and mislead veterans about the solutions being proposed to deliver more timely care to veterans," CVA said in a press statement.

The Legion, in its letter on Monday, said that "to suggest that the nation's largest veterans service organization, or any other major VSO, supports a strong and robust VA because we are somehow 'insiders' or uninformed is insulting and counterproductive."

Garry Augustine, executive director of Disabled American Veterans, said he is in agreement with the Legion's letter.

"We've been very vocal along with our fellow major VSOs in supporting and fixing the VA," he said. "We've made it very clear we need to fix the VA, but we are supportive of the VA health care system."

-- Bryant Jordan can be reached at Bryant.jordan@military.com. Follow him on Twitter at@BryantJordan.
Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford last weekend became the first Joint Chiefs chairman ever to address the United Nations, where he called for more women in U.N. peacekeeping missions.

"I'd like to highlight there's a growing need for women to serve as peacekeepers," said Dunford, who as Marine Corps commandant was one of the last holdouts to opening all combat positions to women in the U.S. military.

"During my deployments to Iraq and later as the commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, I learned firsthand that women are an important part of an effective response to today's challenges," Dunford said Saturday at a forum on peacekeeping at U.N. headquarters in New York.

Related stories:

After Losing Combat Debate, Corps Sells Gender Integration to Marines

Bill Requiring Women to Register for the Draft Passes Senate

"Women not only add to the capability of our own forces, they have a unique ability to connect with local populations in areas of instability," Dunford said.

The U.N. currently funds at more than $7 billion annually numerous peacekeeping missions worldwide, including in Abyei (Sudan), the Central African Republic, Cote dIvoire, Cyprus, Darfur, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Golan, Haiti, Kosovo, Liberia, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan and Western Sahara.

Current peacekeeping operations involve more than 121,000 troops, police and civilians in increasingly dangerous efforts to cope with the chaos of failing states. Since 1948, more than 3,700 UN peacekeepers have been killed on missions.

Dunford said it was a "personal priority for me" to improve the discipline and professionalism of the missions, which have been plagued by charges of corruption and sexual assault against local populations.

"I think it's clear to all of us that the U.N's record in this area has been mixed -- and there's a lot of reasons for that mixed record -- but chief among them is the hard reality that U.N. peacekeeping missions deal with some of the most challenging and protracted issues on the planet," he said.

"But while many of the challenges are due to the nature of the conflicts, there's other challenges that should concern us all. Problems of ill-disciplined units conducting criminal acts, including sexual assault, problems with corruption, and shortfalls in equipment cannot be blamed on the environment," he said.

Dunford said the need for U.N. peacekeeping missions was likely to grow to meet the challenges of spreading global terrorist networks and transnational threats.

"No nation today can turn away and consider violent extremism somebody else's problem. We have many examples of how the fight can follow us home from fragile states in the form of terrorist acts and the mass migration of those seeking to escape violence," Dunford said.

"Just as the character of war has changed, the nature of U.N. peacekeeping missions has changed," the general added. "Today, two-thirds of all blue-helmeted peacekeepers are serving in active conflict areas, a trend that in my estimation is likely to continue well into the future."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Depending on your PT test, the order of swimming may best be determined by where it is in the order of events of that test.
Wickfield Center.jpg

Universal Marketing Group has left its offices in the former Borders headquarters building on Phoenix Drive.

(File photo | The Ann Arbor News)

ANN ARBOR, MI - Two-and-a-half years after announcing plans to bring 400 jobs to Ann Arbor, Universal Marketing Group appears to have shuttered its call center.

Although a company spokesman could not be reached for comment, Universal Marketing's doors are locked and windows are blacked out at its suite at 100 Phoenix Drive. The company also no longer is promoting an office in the Ann Arbor area on its website.

In October 2013, the Toledo, Ohio-based company announced plans to bring 400 jobs to Ann Arbor by the end of 2016 as part of an incentive agreement. Six months later, the company told The Ann Arbor News it had already brought 150 jobs to the area and was planning on bringing 200 more in the coming months.

The planned job creation was to be funded in part by a $600,000 grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

A spokesperson from the MEDC confirmed that the incentive agreement was terminated for failure to meet the first milestone. As a result, no money was disbursed to the company. The spokesperson could not comment on what the milestone target was, but said it typically revolves around job creation numbers.

Employees were offered a base pay starting at $10 per hour, but employees were offered either the base pay or 2.5 percent of their sales, whichever was higher.

The company leased approximately 10,000 square feet of space in the former Borders headquarters. At the time, UMG said it was investing $570,000 to set up the offices and get it ready to handle all the expected employees.

When the company first announced plans, Ann Arbor SPARK and Michigan Works! were named as partners to work with UMG on talent recruitment for the center.

Paul Krutko, CEO of SPARK, said his company offered marketing support around available job opportunities and created a video for UMG that highlighted the company and available job opportunities. SPARK's involvement with the company was part of an effort to promote companies and jobs in the Ann Arbor region.

By January of this year, it appears the job growth was not as aggressive as UMG had originally planned.

"SPARK met with UMG in January of this year and the company had grown to 146 employees," Krutko wrote in a statement. "At that time, SPARK provided guidance on additional hiring tools available in the region, such as the WCC talent board, networking opportunities for UMG's executive team, etc."

According to its website, UMG maintains offices in Bowling Green and Toledo.

Matt Durr is a business reporter for The Ann Arbor News. Email him at mattdurr@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter.
ANN ARBOR, MI -- Janet Schwamb will continue to lead Huron High School following her role as interim principal of the school for the 2015-16 school year.

Superintendent Jeanice Swift announced June 10 that Schwamb will continue as principal.

Schwamb has worked for Ann Arbor Public Schools since 2006, starting as principal of Forsythe Middle School and then acting as assistant principal at Huron High School before she was named the interim principal for the current school year.

"She has provided excellent leadership for the many established instructional and extracurricular programs offered at Huron High School as well as worked closely with faculty as they continue their work toward achieving full International Baccalaureate authorization, anticipated in 2017," Swift said in a statement. "Dr. Schwamb brings extensive experience, knowledge and a deep commitment to partnering with the Huron community to ensure high quality educational opportunities for all students."

Schwamb began her career in school administration in 1997 in Long Island, New York, as assistant principal of Northport High School. She then served as an assistant principal and then principal of a middle school in the East Northport and Bethpage School Districts, respectively, before she came to Ann Arbor.

Prior to becoming an educator, Schwamb was a registered nurse and worked in a hospital critical care unit. She returned to school to study health science and obtain teaching credentials, beginning her teaching career with K-12 health education classes.

Schwamb obtained her doctorate in Educational Administration from Hofstra University; a Professional Diploma in Educational Administration and Certification in Health Education from Long Island University; a Master of Science in Health Sciences from the State University of New York; and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Long Island University.

Lauren Slagter covers K-12 education for The Ann Arbor News. Contact her at 734-255-1419, lslagter@mlive.com or on Twitter @LaurenSlagter.
UPDATE: Ann Arbor teen dead after police-involved shooting in New Hampshire, according to media reports.

ANN ARBOR, MI - Media reports say New Hampshire and Maine authorities are searching for an Ann Arbor man who recently was accused of impersonating an FBI agent. He was formally charged in Michigan with stealing a car and breaking into a home and was given a delayed sentence.

More recently, however, 19-year-old Lane Lesko was reported missing from a Umbagog Lake State Park campsite on the Maine/New Hampshire border that he was visiting on a trip organized by his adolescent treatment center, the New Hampshire Union Leader reported. Officials were notified about 3 a.m. Sunday, June 19.

Lesko was last seen at the Magalloway Plantation in Maine and is believed to be connected with the theft of a canoe, pontoon boat and truck, according to the Union Leader. The canoe and pontoon boat were located.

In Michigan, Lesko stole a Dodge Charger from the Cueter Chrysler dealership, 2448 Washtenaw Ave. in Ypsilanti Township, after saying he was an FBI agent in May 2015, police said. Police allege he then crashed the car in the Toledo, Ohio, area, and presented himself to authorities as an FBI agent.

While out on bond in July 2015 for charges related to the vehicle theft, Lesko broke into a neighbor's Ann Arbor home, police said.

Lesko pleaded guilty in January to unlawfully driving away a vehicle, first degree home invasion, lying to a police officer and false pretenses less than $200.

Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Darlene O'Brien delayed his sentence until January 2017, so he could complete mental health and substance use treatment.

At the time, O'Brien said she would consider sentencing Lesko under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, which would limit any prison or probation sentence and keep him from a criminal record, based on his behavior.

Darcie Moran covers cops and courts for MLive and The Ann Arbor News. Email her at dmoran@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter @darciegmoran.a
Construction_ROW

A Wolverine-developed diagram showing how the 75 feet in its right-of-way will be used.

(Courtesy of Wolverine)

Pittsfield Township has approved a wetland permit that will allow the Wolverine Pipe Line Co. to run a new refined petroleum line through the township's protected areas.

Wolverine is preparing to start construction on the 35-mile Detroit Metro Access Pipeline that will carry 90,000 barrels of refined petroleum daily from Freedom Township to storage facilities in Romulus.

The pipeline, which has a 75-foot easement, will be built 10 feet from an existing pipe that runs through agricultural land in much of Washtenaw County, including Lodi, Freedom and Ypsilanti townships. It travels under or near residential areas in the 6 miles it runs through Pittsfield. It will also be laid in around 5.5 acres of wetlands in Pittsfield Township.

Wolverine spokesman Tom Shields said it's common for the company to build lines through wetlands, which it then rebuilds.

"Wolverine Pipe Line Company worked with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the Environmental Protection Agency, other federal agencies and Pittsfield Township to develop a plan to install our new pipeline in wetland areas," Shields said in a written statement. "The Township permit includes a requirement to restore all temporary wetland disturbances and provide escrowed funds for the township to pay for monitoring of the wetlands restoration over a 10-year period."

He added Wolverine typically lays pipeline about 4 feet underground in wet areas and rebuilds the environment, but circumstances sometimes require the company to directionally drill deeper. It isn't yet known yet what approach is required in Pittsfield.

The company also is donating 25,000 trees to the township's tree-mitigation fund, said Craig Lyon, Pittsfield Township's director of municipal services.

The township strongly opposed the new approximately $140 million pipeline, and in May 2015 passed a resolution expressing its opposition to the project. But it doesn't hold the authority to block the line's construction, and the Michigan Public Services Commission approved Wolverine's proposal earlier this year. The Planning Commission approved the wetland permits at its June meeting.

Construction will start in June and the line will likely be operational by the year's end.

The 16-inch diameter pipe will transport refined petroleum from Chicago-area refineries to Detroit, Shields said, and is being built to meet increased demand in metro Detroit. By comparison, transporting the same volume by truck would require 425 round trips per day, he said.

Wolverine is a Portage-based pipeline transportation service company. Its 67 employees help operate more than 630 miles of active pipelines connecting refineries in Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.

The company has had one spill, which happened around 1999 at its Jackson station. Shields previously said the spill was cleaned up without injury or permanent damage to the environment.
PITTSFIELD TWP, MI - A pregnant woman was hospitalized after a crash on Carpenter Road in Pittsfield Township on Monday afternoon.

The crash occurred about 3:15 p.m. June 20 on Carpenter Road near the Bob Evans at 2411 Carpenter Road, Deputy Police Chief Gordy Schick confirmed.

Officials believe the woman was headed northbound on Carpenter Road when her truck collided with a southbound sedan attempting to turn into the Bob Evans parking lot, said Pittsfield Township fire Captain Jeff Foulke.

Firefighters took extra precautions because the woman is pregnant and cut off the roof of the vehicle to get her out, Foulke said.

She was taken to the University of Michigan University Hospital in stable condition, said Chad French of Huron Valley Ambulance.

The crash closed northbound Carpenter Road at Central Boulevard, Pittsfield Township dispatchers said.

Staff photographer Melanie Maxwell contributed to this story.

Darcie Moran covers cops and courts for MLive and The Ann Arbor News. Email her at dmoran@mlive.com or follow her on Twitter @darciegmoran.
BAY CITY, MI -- A Sebewaing man has admitted in court to raping a Bay City woman he met on a dating website more than two years ago.

James G. Lyman, 25, on Monday, June 20, appeared before Bay County Circuit Judge Joseph K. Sheeran and pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. The charge is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

A person convicted of the charge must also register for life as a sex offender.

Lyman faced no other charges.

Lyman's crime occurred in February 2014. The judge asked Lyman to tell him why he believes himself guilty of the charged offense.

"Well, I met her by texting her off of (Plenty of Fish) at 2 a.m.," Lyman said. "She invited me over to her apartment here in Bay City. I drove from my house in Sebewaing all the way over to where she lives. She asked if I wanted to kiss her. We went to her room and ended up having sex then she told me to leave. When she told me to stop, I didn't stop. "

Pressed by the judge, Lyman clarified that at some point during intercourse, the woman told him to stop and did not do so.

After he was charged with the offense, Lyman was committed to a psychiatric facility. In June 2014, District Judge Dawn A. Klida granted defense counsel's request to have Lyman undergo a psychological evaluation to gauge his competency to stand trial. Two months later, Klida received the evaluators' report and ruled Lyman incompetent to stand trial. She signed an order committing him to the Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital for treatment.

Staff at the facility discharged Lyman on Oct. 1, 2015, recommending he was competent to stand trial. The following month, Klida ruled Lyman could participate in court proceedings.

Lyman, who is free on bond, is scheduled to be sentenced by Sheeran at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 1.
DETROIT -- A Detroit police officer suffered minor injuries after a gunshot grazed his hand during a struggle with an armed suspect about 11:40 p.m. Saturday, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy's office says.

Donald L. Simmons, 29, of Detroit, is charged with resisting and obstructing police causing injury, felony assault, being a felon in possession of a firearm and felony firearm use.

Police claim they saw Simmons with a gun in his waistband, "walking and then running" near 15800 Prairie in Detroit.

"The officers pursued Simmons on foot and it is alleged that Simmons took his gun out of his waistband and while struggling with one of the officers Simmons fired his weapon striking the officer," Worthy's office said in a statement issued Monday.

"The defendant also shot himself in the hand during the struggle."

The second officer was able to handcuff Simmons, but he slipped away and ran again, according to police.

"Shortly thereafter, officers captured Simmons and although he fought them, he was eventually placed under arrest," Worthy's office said.

Both the officer and Simmons were hospitalized for nonfatal injuries.

MLive couldn't immediately confirm what prior felony of felonies Simmons has been convicted of.

There are none listed in Wayne County Circuit Court nor Michigan Department of Transportation online records.

Simmons is jailed pending posting of a $250,000 cash or surety bond, and scheduled for a preliminary examination July 5.
DETROIT, MI -- A man accused of renting out diseased body parts, including an HIV-infected head, will be transferred from the Midland County Jail to the Milan Correctional Facility to be nearer to his attorney as they prepare for trial, a federal judge ruled Monday.

The ruling is a partial victory for the defense.

Attorney Byron H. Pitts filed a motion in U.S. District Court requesting Judge Paul D. Borman release his client, Arthur Rathburn, so they could review together thousands of documents expected to be entered into evidence when Rathburn's trial begins Aug. 9.

Rathburn's bond was revoked pending trial and he's been lodged in the Midland County Jail, a nearly four-hour round-trip drive for his Detroit-based attorney.

Rathburn is being transferred to the Michigan Department of Transportation prison in Milan, located south of Ypsilanti and about 55 miles from Detroit.

Arthur Rathburn is accused of running an illegal body-part rental business with his wife, Elizabeth Rathburn. She pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

Her plea agreement suggests a likely sentence of four to 10 months in prison and $55,225 in restitution. She's scheduled to be sentenced July 18.

The Grosse Pointe Park couple procured donated human bodies, dismembered them, and provided parts to medical and dental professionals for a rental fee, according to federal prosecutors.

The husband and wife at times got body parts at a discounted cost, when they came from people who died of infectious diseases.

And they're accused of renting out those parts without notifying clients of the infections, according to the indictment unsealed in Detroit federal court in late January.

Both were charged with nine counts of wire fraud. Arthur Rathburn is also charged with transportation of hazardous materials and making false statements to the U.S. government.

In one instance, eight human heads, one of which came from a person who died of bacterial sepsis and aspiration pneumonia, were wrapped in trash bags and piled into a camping cooler for delivery via Delta Cargo in February 2012.

Federal investigators accuse Arthur Rathburn of falsely telling the government that the heads were embalmed, and that a pool of blood found at the bottom of the cooler was Listerine.

In another case, the couple's company provided body parts to the American Society of Anesthesiologists for an October 2012 conference in Washington D.C.

Federal agents later seized records from the company that listed the body parts as having tested positive for both HIV and Hepatitis B, prosecutors alleged.

And the American Society of Anesthesiologists provided the government a Sept 25, 2012 form in which International Biological asserted "all specimens have been tested negative for HIV, Hep A, B & C."

"This alleged scheme to distribute diseased body parts not only defrauded customers from the monetary value of their contracts, but also exposed them and others to infection," said McQuade in a statement. "The alleged conduct risked the health of medical students, dental students and baggage handlers."

Detroit FBI Special Agent in Charge David Gelios said the case is a consequence of the "poorly regulated willed-body-to-science industry."

"We recognize that thousands of donor families, medical doctors and affiliated personnel across the country have been adversely affected by these illegal acts," he said. "This investigation does not stop here. We continue to work with our state and federal partners to conduct a full and rigorous investigation."

The Centers for Disease Control, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Arizona attorney general's office were involved in the investigation of the Grosse Pointe Park couple..
Barbara McQuade MLive.JPG

U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade in a July 9, 2015 file photo taken after the sentencing of oncologist Farid Fata, who was sent to prison for 45 years for administering chemotherapy to patients who didn't need it. (Tanya Moutzalias | MLive file)

Four of six Michigan doctors indicted on health care fraud charges in 2015 are likely to spend years in federal prison after being linked to a massive Medicaid and Medicare scheme.

One has already been sentenced to nearly four years in prison.

Three accepted plea deals in which they'll serve likely sentences of at least five years in prison, fines approaching $250,000 and millions in restitution or forfeiture.

Two other cases are still working their way through court motions.

The charges were part of a wider health care fraud case that involved 16 suspects, including doctors, a social worker, a pharmacist and two physical therapists.

It was a fraud and kickback scheme that involved $122 million, according to U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade's office.

"The schemes involved services that were medically unnecessary or never rendered, including physician visits, hospice care, home health care, and the billing but not dispensing of pharmaceuticals," McQuade's office said last year.

"In addition, law enforcement agents executed search warrants at eight locations and seizure warrants of 24 bank accounts related to the alleged schemes."

The federal agency that oversees Medicare and Medicaid also attempted to suspend 14 health care providers in connection with the fraud ring.



Status of cases:

Dr. Laran Lerner

of Northville was sentenced to 45 months in prison, three years supervised release and ordered to pay nearly $2.8 million in restitution.

Dr. Gerald Daneshvar

, 39, of West Bloomfield is scheduled for a status conference before U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn at 2:30 p.m. June 21.

Dr. William Binder

, M.D., 58, Ypsilanti: Case is pending. Both sides are arguing carious motions that haven't been resolved. No trial date is set.

Dr. Rizwan Qadir

, 52, of Bloomfield Hills entered into a plea agreement in February that will require him to serve up to 10 years in prison and pay over $4 million in restitution. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 28 before U.S. Ditrict Judge Arthur J. Tarnow.

Dr. Waseem Alam

, Woodward Urgent Care, accepted a plea agreement March 22. The U.S. Attorney's Office is recommending a minimum sentence of 11 years and 3 months in prison. He's also agreed to pay a $250,000 fine and will accept a nearly $8 million forfeiture judgement filed by the government. Sentencing is set for Sept. 14 at 3 p.m. before U.S. District Judge Sean F. Cox

Dr. Hatem Ataya

, 47, Flushing, entered into a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office on March 18. He's agreed to serve a minimum of 6 1/2 years in prison, pay a fine in up to of $250,000 and accept a forfeiture judgement filed by the government for $4.1 million. He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 16 before U.S. District Judge Sean F. Cox.

Most of the indictments were filed in 2015 and are part of a nationwide effort to curb fraud involving government health care.

Federal agencies called the case one of the "largest national Medicare fraud takedown in history."

The action was "a nationwide sweep led by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force in 17 districts, resulting in charges against 243 individuals, including 46 doctors, nurses and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving approximately $712 million in false billings," the U.S. Attorney's Office said at the time of the indictments.

Full details from U.S. Attorney's Office release:
This Account has been suspended.
Illegal foreign-run real estate agencies are snatching work from licensed agencies, real estate professionals are complaining. They say the influx of foreign investors and companies and the boom in the construction of luxury homes have been accompanied by an upsurge in activity by unlicensed foreign estate agents.





And now they want to put them out of business.

Sai Khun Naung, chair of the Yangon Region Real Estate Entrepreneurs Association, told The Myanmar Times on June 17 that the association would gather information on these activities and complain to the regional and Union authorities.

The law does not allow them to come here and do direct investment business. If they want to invest in the service sector, they need to form a joint venture with the approval of the Myanmar Investment Commission. But some companies are operating here without a licence and without approval. Local licensed real estate agencies are hurting. So we will gather data on these companies and make our complaint, he said.

Local real estate agencies are facing losses as the number of foreign companies operating illegally is apparently growing, while some foreigners are doing business in the real estate sector in joint ventures with local agencies, he added.

About two months ago, work began on compiling a list of such agencies in Yangon, and indications are that the number could run into the hundreds, said Sai Khun Naung.

Weve been compiling a list for more than two months. We can say there are more than 100 such unofficial agencies being run by foreigners. If they persist in operating, we will report them to the relevant authorities at each level. As they are providing service to their citizens without a permit, they are snatching our rights. The government has placed restrictions on their investing in the real estate service sector, he added.





Foreigners doing business in real estate typically consult local agents about rental fees and apartment prices on the pretext that they are genuine customers. In fact, they then help other foreign companies find rentals.

Though the Myanmar Investment Commission has invited complaints about such practices, the firms can be hard to track down because they deal mainly with their own compatriots.

The investment commission said we should complain if we come across such unofficial businesses. The problem is, they operate mainly with their own connections. Sometimes foreigners with joint ventures with local firms also act as unofficial agents. We are developing plans to deal with this, said U Than Oo, vice chair of the Myanmar Real Estate Services Association, on June 17.

There are 35 official foreign real estate agencies in Myanmar as of May 2016. Complaints about illegal activities may be made to the Myanmar Investment Commission.

Translation by Thiri Min Htun
Revenue from the export of beans and pulses could double for Myanmar  but not without reforms, said Sunil Seth, chair of the Overseas Agro Traders Association of Myanmar (OATAM).





Myanmar is one of the worlds largest exporters of beans and pluses, typically exporting more than 1 million tonnes a year  worth about US$1 billion, according to the chair of Myanmar Pulses, Beans and Sesame Seeds Merchants Association, U Tun Lwin.

Mr Seth, who is also Myanmar country head of the Indian firm Tata Group, thinks Myanmar could be exporting $1.5 billion to $2 billion worth of beans and pulses in the next three to four years if changes are made.

He is hoping OATAM will be able to sit down with the new administration in the next few months to discuss what reforms need to be implemented.

One issue is that production has been largely stagnant for the last four or five years, Mr Seth said, speaking on the sidelines of an Economist Myanmar Summit last week. Better-quality seeds, improved nutrients and more protection from disease and insects would all help, he added.

In 2015-2016 Myanmar exported 1.1 million tonnes of beans and pulses, but the country is hoping to hit 1.4 million tonnes this year, after two years of falling supply.

Another issue is that Myanmar needs to start exporting higher-value-added bean and pulse products, and to make use of the some of the lower grades of pulse produced during milling, Mr Seth said.





We [OATAM] are planning to go and meet the new [agriculture] ministry and bring up those issues to see how we can improve [the industry] overall, he said, adding that this would probably take place in July or August.

Moving to higher-value-added products would involve making finished pulses, not simply exporting them raw, which would raise the margin for farmers. That in turn requires a milling facility, and Mr Seth said his company had looked at the logistics of setting up its own plant.

Thats something we want to take a good look at, he said, adding that such a venture faced several challenges. The lack of a stable electricity supply is one, and the availability of land is another.

A third issue is that during the process of milling prime-grade pulses, other grades are produced. If those lower grades cannot also be exported to viable markets, then the cost of producing the prime grade becomes exorbitantly high, said Mr Seth.

Its a product mix issue, he said. Myanmar [at present] cant fully utilise the other grades that are produced when youre milling prime.

Operating a milling plant as a foreign company would likely require a joint-venture agreement with a local firm, said Mr Seth. But he has not looked around for potential partners because preliminary studies have shown that a plant would not be economically viable, mainly because of the lower-grade export issue, he said.

The good news is that if Myanmar can start exporting higher volumes and higher-value-added products there is a ready market  India.

The markets are there, he said. India has the demand and Myanmar has an inherent advantage due to its proximity.

About 80 percent of Myanmars bean and pulse exports head to India, although Myanmar is also hoping to break into the United States and Middle East markets.

Some pulses, like black beans, are also very specific to Myanmar, Mr Seth added. Competitors in bean and pulse exports like Canada or Australia are too far away, but Myanmar needs to be on the lookout for competition from African countries, he said.

Thats where the threat to Myanmar for trade with India will come from, he said.

Mr Seth would also like some restrictions on foreign firms engaging in agro-trading to be lifted. At present, he is unable to buy agricultural produce directly from farmers in local currency, and instead has to buy from separate suppliers in dollars.

Foreign trading firms also have to make advance payments to the supplier. While most of the suppliers are good, there have been cases where people have taken the money and not delivered, Mr Seth said.

At the end of last year, the Ministry of Commerce relaxed long-standing trading restrictions on fertilisers, insemination seeds, pesticides and hospital equipment. Mr Seth suggests pulses could be added to this list.
Yangon business leaders have joined a call for the new government to address exchange rate regulations, which they say are causing difficulties for exporters trying to convert their earnings back into Myanmar kyat.





U Myo Lwin, deputy chair of Yangon Region chapter Union of the Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), asked Union Minister for Planning and Finance U Kyaw Win for a policy solution at a meeting between the minister and UMFCCI representatives in Yangon on June 13.

Government regulation passed late last year means that exporters and importers must use banks for foreign currency transactions. Banks can connect importers in need of dollars and exporters looking to exchange their dollar earnings into kyat, but the two parties are not allowed to conduct their own private transaction.

The problem is that the Central Bank only allows lenders to conduct foreign exchange transactions within a band set at 0.8 percent above or below the Central Banks daily reference date. Banks have long chafed at this restriction, because, they say, the reference rate often fails to reflect market reality and when it does customers turn to the informal market.

Exporters are one such group of customer. When volatility leads the Central Bank and market exchange rates to diverge, exporters sometimes opt to conduct their transaction outside the banking system. Exporters that do not are forced to exchange their dollar earnings at rates less favourable than in the wider market.

Foreign currency can be acquired from exchange counters in banks; the black market; licensed money changers; and the informal hundi market in remittances from overseas.

Exporters sometimes have to change their dollar earnings into kyat at rates below those in the hundi market, said U Myo Lwin, who noted that banks also restrict exporters to withdrawals of US$10,000 at one time when converting earnings into kyat.





U Kyaw Lin, vice chair of CB Bank, told The Myanmar Times that requiring exporters and importers to conduct exchanges through banks was not the issue. The problem, he said, is the exchange rate and the 0.8pc band, which commercial banks are pushing the government to widen.

The variation between the Central Bank and market exchange rates not only inconvenienced exporters, but sometimes required banks to put a hold on dollar exchange transactions, he said.

It would be better for banks and exporters if the Central Banks policy was amended, he said.

U Kyaw Win told the business leaders, I have taken careful note of your position. But some matters cannot be settled by a decision of the ministry alone. We need to await the decision of parliament, which may take some time.

Translation by Thiri Min Htun
Soldiers of the Arakan Army were convicted under Myanmars Unlawful Association Act and sentenced to three years in prison with hard labour last week.





The 13 soldiers confessed in court to having connections with the Arakan Army and were found guilty of contacting an illegal organisation by the Sittwe township court on June 17. The defendants lawyer Daw Aye Nu Sein said there was currently no plan to appeal the verdict.

Fighting between the Arakan Army and the Tatmadaw first broke out in April 2015, after the ethnic armed group launched an attack on government troops in western Rakhine State. Since then sporadic clashes have continued, displacing more than 1000 civilians. Arrests under the Unlawful Association Act occur frequently in conflict zones around the country, as civilians are detained for alleged links to ethnic armed groups. More than 60 people were arrested in Rakhine State under the Unlawful Association Act in May this year. The Tatmadaw accused most of them of being members of the Arakan Army, after the ethnic armed group again clashed with government forces in Kyauktaw township a month earlier.

U Maung Maung Ohn, then the chief minister of Rakhine State, told The Myanmar Times in May 2015 he had requested that the military and police abide by the law when making arrests as he feared local residents were being wrongfully detained.

In other conflict zones, such as those in Shan and Kachin states, similar arrests happen frequently, with rights groups complaining of arbitrary detention without evidentiary proof of wrongdoing.

U Wai Hun Aung, a senior member of the Won Latt Foundation, which is assisting Rakhine State IDPs, said that the law under which the men were sentenced was outdated and had no place in Myanmar under the National League for Democracy-led government. Our Rakhine youth started believing that our regions situation would be better if we have our own ethnic armed group to protect our land and rights. There was no war in Rakhine State before, he said.

The Arakan Army in recent years has fought mainly as an ally of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army and the Kachin Independence Organisation. The group was not involved in the ceasefire talks held under U Thein Seins government.

The Tatmadaw has said the group needs to disarm if it wants to be part of peace talks under the new government.
The United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar begins her fourth official field visit to the country today.





The 12-day trip will be special rapporteur Yanghee Lees first official visit back to Myanmar since the elections took place last November and the National League for Democracy-backed government came to power in April.

Important steps have already been taken to further democratic transition, national reconciliation, sustainable development and peace, Ms Lee said in a statement. I intend to make a comprehensive and objective assessment of the human rights situation taking these elements into account.

In a report delivered to the 31st Human Rights Council in March, Ms Lee provided several recommendations for the new government to adopt within the first 100 days of office. The priorities include immediately releasing remaining prisoners of conscience and improving conditions for Muslim Rohingya in Rakhine State by addressing limited access to basic rights like healthcare, education and freedom of movement. She also urged that the Buddhist Rakhine and Rohingya communities be reintegrated to avoid fuelling further communal tensions.

The special rapporteurs reports on human rights abuses in Rakhine have in the past elicited vitriol and personal attacks from nationalist groups. Ms Lee also faced pushback from the previous government, which had argued her role was unnecessary and lobbied to have the post removed.

In August last year, the special rapporteurs trip was reportedly hampered by government intervention that blocked her from accessing Rakhine State. Her staff did not immediately return requests for information on her current itinerary and whether a Rakhine visit will be re-attempted on this trip.

Human rights groups had feared that the UN would downgrade the special rapporteurs position this year amid optimism about the new elected government and switch Ms Lee from a reporting role to one solely intended to observe. Despite Australias UN representative suggesting Myanmar was no longer a country with serious human rights concerns, the council decided to extend the special rapporteurs mandate in Myanmar for another year. She has been tasked with identifying benchmarks for progress on how the new government implements reforms to the rule of law and better protects minority groups.

My main objective, as special rapporteur, is to continue to work closely with the government and people of Myanmar, for the promotion and protection of human rights in the country, Ms Lee said.
Malaysia is stepping up efforts to compete with Singapore and Thailand to attract Myanmar medical tourists.





This weekend, the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council, an organisation set up by the Malaysian Ministry of Health to promote Malaysia as  in the words of its website  a unique destination for world-class healthcare services, launched a year-long partnership with a local tourism agency. The council also held its first Myanmar Sales Mission & Exhibition in Myanmar Plaza on June 17 and 18.

Though the number of Myanmar patients travelling to Malaysia has increased since the country started offering services, the total still lags far behind those travelling to Thailand and Singapore.

Malaysia has a disadvantage over the other two ASEAN members, which have signed visa exemption MoUs with Myanmars government. Thailands visa exemption agreement has already been implemented while Myanmar citizens will be able to travel freely to Singapore from December. Malaysia is the only ASEAN country that has not signed a visa exemption agreement with Myanmar.

Mohd Haniff Abd Rahman, Malaysian ambassador to Myanmar, said his government is still reviewing visa requirements for Myanmar citizens and possibilities for the future.

Numbers of Myanmar medical tourists to Malaysia have risen slowly, according to Vincent Gool, the regional director for market development of the travel council.

According to MHTC figures, in 2015, 12,000 Myanmar patients came to Malaysia compared to 10,000 in 2014, he said.

The biggest challenge we have is awareness. People do not know about Malaysia. I think everybody knows about [medical tourism in] Thailand, Singapore and India, but not Malaysia since we started late. In 2012 we were where Thailand and Singapore were 20 years ago.





Myanmars healthcare system was long-neglected under the former military government and now faces a number of challenges for delivering effective and affordable care. Patients say central hospitals lack basic supplies, medication and equipment and many forms of treatment continue to be cost-prohibitive.

Dr Mei Mei Ko, who is chief editor of the medical magazine Ziwaka, said medical tourism has increasingly attracted patients over the last 15 years.

She said patients in Myanmar can expect to spend between K5000 and K7000 for just a few minutes with a specialist, but are willing to spend significantly more, in some cases upward of K5 million (US$5128), for treatment in foreign hospitals.

We need to change our healthcare system to match [the needs of] our patients, she said.
Tens of thousands of poor labourers from across Myanmar seek riches at Hpakant's jade mines, only to see their lives ruined by drug addiction.





On a hill overlooking the scarred landscape of the Hpakant jade mines, five men sit huddled together in a dirty makeshift hut made from tarpaulins.

In hushed tones they help each other tie their forearms and inject heroin. Then they wait for the drugs high to kick in, allowing them to slip into oblivion.

In another 10 huts at the site, which is located in Sai Taung village and is littered with trash and used syringes, dozens more miners are gathered to spend their hard-earned cash on opium, cheap methamphetamine and low-quality heroin.

One of them is a 23-year-old, frail-looking man nicknamed Ko Shan Shei  or Brother Long Hair  for his long unkempt locks. He left his poor village in Sagaing Regions Ye-U township for the mines in northern Myanmars Kachin State five years ago and worked here until drugs took over his life.

Now I am addicted to drugs and I also sell it to others, said Ko Shan Shei. I buy two small tubes of opium the size of a fingertip and then I take a small amount to sell to other users so I can buy food.

He is one of the estimated 300,000 migrant workers who have come from across Myanmar to scavenge through mining waste in the hope of finding jade stone. Daily income levels are good in Hpakant, but living conditions are harsh and deadly landslides are common. Yet the biggest threat to the mens health is drug addiction.





Though there are no official estimates on narcotics use in Hpakant, local community leaders, such as Reverend Sai Naw, think that up to half of the miners use drugs.

U Tint Soe, a National League for Democracy parliamentarian from Hpakant township, said there could be as many as 60 drug users camps spread out among the mines.

Across the whole of Myanmar there are about 83,000 injecting drug users, estimates the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. There is, however, a dearth of data and the organisation is currently conducting the first nationwide survey on the issue.

Drugs are an easy choice here

Opium, heroin and meth are easily available in Hpakant and produced by ethnic rebel groups, pro-government militias and criminal gangs in lawless parts of Kachin and Shan states.

Like many of the men doing hard work at the mines, Ko Shan Shei said he began using drugs to relax and relieve physical pain  in his case he smoked opium to ease a persistent cough. But soon he found himself spending much of his daily income  around US$7  on heroin, which is far more addictive due to the strong high when injected.

The hard work makes labourers want to relax with alcohol, drugs and sex workers. Drugs are an easy choice for the men here, he said. Illegal drugs can be purchased easily and money can be earned without much difficulty, so there is more chance for drug addiction.

One of the greatest risks for injecting drug users is HIV infection, which can happen when users share needles. A government service and several NGOs, such as the Asia Harm Reduction Network, provide methadone, clean syringes, as well as counselling and HIV testing for thousands of users in Hpakant.

Medecins Sans Frontieres said it runs a clinic that provides antiretroviral drugs and other medicine to nearly 2000 HIV/AIDS patients in Hpakant, while it helps another 8000 patients in four clinics in Kachin State.

Some NGOs organised into the Drug Advocacy Group have called on the new NLD government to scale up such services and shift to a rights- and healthcare-based approach to the drug abuse problem.

Corrupted authorities

While there are harm reduction services for the miners, law enforcement by authorities is largely absent and users at the site near Sai Taung village made no effort to hide drug abuse. Some walked around with needles still hanging from their veins so they could easily shoot up again later.

U Tint Soe, the MP, said drug dealers operate freely as they pay off local officials, police and military officers, while local authorities also lack capacity to control the vast mining area.

Law enforcement cannot reach remote areas where there are [jade] scavengers, who are the regular customers for illegal drug dealers, he said.

Pat Ja San, a vigilante anti-drug movement set up by the Kachin Baptist Church, is also active in Hpakant and has deployed its hardline tactics of sending groups of volunteers to apprehend both narcotics dealers and users.

We normally arrest drug dealers. When we find drug abusers, we seize the drugs and release them, said Khu Lwam, a local Pat Ja San member.

He said last October the group nabbed a female member of a local drug-dealing ring who carried a ledger that recorded nearly half a million dollars in bribes paid to top officials, police and army commanders in Hpakant over the course of 58 days.

Pat Ja San has held on to the ledger out of distrust of local authorities and U Tint Soe raised the allegations in the lower house in February.

I deeply regret my situation

The Baptist Church-led movement also operates a rehabilitation centre near Hpakant called Uru Htwe San, a spartan camp with simple sleeping quarters that are surrounded by barbed-wire fences to prevent addicts from running away.

Rev Sai Naw leads the camp where he tries to help about 50 men and women end their addiction solely through Bible teaching  a method that has been criticised by groups promoting a harm reduction approach.

We have a difficult task to provide for all of them. We need land, food and accommodation  we cannot afford everything. There are so many needy [users] in the Hpakant area and we can help a small number of them, he said.

A 29-year-old Kachin woman named Gar Lew said her husband, who earns about $8 per day from jade trading, sent her to the rehabilitation camp to end her opium addiction after she failed to care for their two children.

I was willing to do so but could not control myself. I was angry when they brought me to the rehabilitation centre, but I am okay now, she said.

Ko Shan Shei, the 23-year-old, said he had returned to his native village twice to end his addiction, but relapsed every time he came back to Hpakant.

He said he felt ashamed of life as a homeless addict.

During the Water Festival, I saw some people happily celebrating but I was in dirty clothes, Ko Shan Shei said. I deeply regretted my situation when I compared myself with ordinary people.

He added, As I am still young I think I have enough strength to quit drugs. Hopefully, I will succeed this time.

 Republished with permission from Myanmar Now
Nearly 80 health centres will be built in rural Myanmar to improve services and reduce inequality, according to the Three Millennium Development Goal Fund.





The project targets rural areas in the country where obstacles for accessing healthcare services abound, including bad road conditions, high cost of transportation and often poor services available at existing clinics.

People living outside the cities have shorter life expectancies and are affected by higher numbers of maternal and infant mortality, according to a statement released by the 3MDG Fund. As many as 2400 pregnant women and 70,000 children continue to die each year, mostly from preventable diseases, its website states.

The first 17 centres have already been built in Magwe Region and handed over to the Ministry of Health and Sports. Another 61 will be constructed by 2017, financed by the 3MDG Fund, which is managed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

The focus of the healthcare provided in the centres is on maternal, newborn and child health, according to the statement. Services will also be available for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria. All centres will have two to five staff and have the capacity to treat 30 to 50 patients a day.

We believe that the health facilities can fulfill the health needs of people by focusing on maternal and child health services, combating against communicable diseases, providing basic healthcare, nutrition and immunisation, Dr Soe Lwin Nyein, director general for the Department of Public Health, was quoted as saying in the statement.

After Magwe, the other centres will be built at several locations in Ayeyarwady (15 centres), Mandalay (2), Sagaing (17) and Yangon (3) regions, as well as Chin (5), Kayah (6) and Shan (13) states.





Last month, Health Minister Dr Myint Htwe told The Myanmar Times that donor-funded health programs for rural areas would be prioritised as the government seeks to streamline NGO projects.
Several parliamentarians are hoping to establish a new university in the nations capital, which now only has an agricultural institution of higher learning.





Five lower house representatives of the Nay Pyi Taw Council area met with a representative from the Yangon-based International Language & Business Centre (ILBC), the councils chair and three of its members on June 17 to discuss the matter, MP U Thant Zin Tun told The Myanmar Times.

It is still just an oral discussion, its not official. The Nay Pyi Taw Council chair told us to submit a letter to him or the state counsellor [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi], the Dekkhinathiri township lawmaker said.

U Thant Zin Tun said ILBC had given a presentation in which it claimed such a university could also accept international students.

Students who pass their matriculation exams in Nay Pyi Taw, and who do not wish to take agriculture courses, now mostly attend university in Mandalay, including the regions outlying townships of Kyaukse and Yamethin. Because there are no local options in the council area, the students face higher cost of living and travel expenses, said Ko Kyaw Thiha, who graduated with a geology degree from the Mandalay University of Distance Education in 2009.

Nay Pyi Taw is made up of eight townships and has a population of more than 1 million, including migrants, locals and government staff. In the 2015-16 academic year, more than 5000 students passed the matriculation exam in the Nay Pyi Taw Council area, about one-third of a total of over 15,000 students who took the test.

Translation by Khant Lin Oo
Yangon township administrators have denied stories carried by state-owned and other media stating that officials are conducting a census of Yangon Regions squatter population. They say the immigration department is in fact preparing household lists for workers across the country who moved from their home state or region and have been living at their current address for more than six months.





The regional government estimates that there are more than 430,000 unofficial residents in Yangon Region, including 157,400 in Eastern Yangon district, 93,000 in Southern Yangon, 8100 in Western Yangon and 170,000 in Northern Yangon district. Other accounts have put the numbers far higher. Most migrant workers are drawn by the prospect of jobs. Of the 26 industrial zones in Yangon Region, nine are located in Hlaing Tharyar, providing jobs to more than 300,000 workers.

At the end of May, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein said that the first step in his strategy to address the citys large number of shanty towns was to conduct a headcount. No new squatters would be permitted during the count, and the unofficial tenants will eventually be moved to rehabilitation camps, he told media at a press briefing.

But the census launched by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population focuses on workers who migrated from other states or regions, as part of the ministrys 100-day project. The intention is to issue household lists to migrant workers who have lived in the current region or state for more than six months.

U Saw Nyi Nyi Htwe, Mayangone township administrator, told The Myanmar Times on June 17 that immigration staff had begun to collect the migrant worker data on June 15, and he was surprised by the story in the state-owned daily Kyaymon (The Mirror). He denied the story, which appeared on June 17 and said authorities were conducting a census of unofficial residents in Mayangone township. Similar stories were also carried on state-owned radio and television networks.

We have received no instructions from the government to collect [census] data, and we are not collecting such data, U Saw Nyi Nyi Htwe said. The [newspaper story] was wrong. Were just collecting data on local migrant workers.

State-owned media said the immigration department had formed working committees with ward administrators, township police, the general administration department, Yangon City Development Committee and township officials, and that squatters were being asked about their personal history, household details and NRC cards.

Mizzima also reported on their Facebook page last week that immigration staff were collecting lists in Mayangone township.





Hlaing Tharyar township administrator U Tin Maung Kyi said no census data were being collected in his township either.

Were not collecting squatters census data, just local migrant workers data, he said.

U Myint Kyaing, permanent secretary of the immigration ministry, yesterday confirmed that the goal of the census is to collect information about workers, but disputed that his ministry was in charge of the task.

We wont collect the squatter census data. That process is not directly concerned with the ministry. It is a process run by the regional governments, he said.

The census of internal migrant workers has also prompted confusion and backlash in Mon State. Leaders of ethnic political parties have objected to the count, fearing it could lead to household registration cards being issued and add to a perceived increase in Bamar numbers in the state. And at the beginning of the month, 10 Mon civil society groups sent a letter to the state government demanding the officials reconsider the migrant census.

Our party objects to that plan. Our candidates will present our issues with it to the hluttaw, said Naing Soe Myint a secretary of the Mon Nationalities Party. We worry this will affect the demographics of the state and have an impact on the coming election.

Migrant voters were a contentious issue during the 2015 election when many were left off electoral rolls and unable to cast ballots unless they travelled back to their home township or received a letter of recommendation from a ward administrator at least one month before the vote. Election monitoring groups had estimated that hundreds of thousands of migrant workers at Hlaing Tharyars factories were unable to participate in the election.

Additional reporting by Thu Thu Aung
A woman in Yangon Region has been charged with murder after allegedly seizing a knife wielded by her drunken husband and stabbing him once. The man subsequently died of his wound.





On the night of June 16, Police Captain Than Soe led officers from the Hmawbi police station to investigate a stabbing incident in Ye Su village.

Police said the victim, U Hla Moe, 44, had returned home earlier that evening in a state of inebriation. His wife Daw Mu Mu Win, 43, was in the couples shop with their four daughters.

She apparently stepped in to protect their 14-year-old daughter, who had told her father that her mother would not be cooking for him the next day.

He smashed some bottles in their shop and took a carving knife from near the fridge, threatening to kill them all.

Later, after the children went to bed and U Hla Moe laid down on his bed, his wife laid next to him. He reportedly shouted at her, saying, I will stab you, get out. I will kill you all. The couple grappled before Daw Mu Mu Win seized the knife and stabbed him. He died in Insein Hospital.

Hmawbi police have charged Daw Mu Mu Win with murder under section 302 of the penal code.

Translation by Emoon
When I was first asked to write a weekly column about Myanmar political and social affairs, I jumped at the chance. The primary reason is that I think academic analysts should take part in public debate.





Strangely, this perspective is quite rare in todays universities, where almost all social science publishing effort is devoted to high-prestige, peer-reviewed products. These certainly win kudos among other academics, but nobody else seems to care.

Instead, our highly polished publications end up locked behind fortified institutional pay-walls or priced out of reach in deluxe hardcover formats.

Even when these books and papers are accessible, they rarely relate to the immediate concerns of policymakers, journalists, officials or the ordinary taxpayer. A newspaper column, by contrast, might be read very widely and can deal with up-to-the-minute concerns.

The other reason I write for The Myanmar Times is that when I started researching the country, in the early 2000s, there was simply no prospect of a foreign academic being able to offer their frank assessments in the local media. Exile media obviously had plenty of room for interesting opinions, but even in its heyday The Irrawaddy enjoyed limited reach inside the country.

Today, from where I sit, no topic is off-limits. In my columns, I have dealt with some of the big controversies of the age: the outrageous treatment of the Rohingya, retired Senior General Than Shwes sad legacy and Daw Aung San Suu Kyis limitations as a leader.

I have also devoted many words to day-to-day concerns: the arrival of global fast food brands, the expansion of internet connectivity, the rehabilitation of Myanmar educational culture and so much more.





I get my inspiration from what I see and hear. I keep a growing list of prospective topics, including some that I doubt I will ever get around to writing. I also gain a great deal from reading widely, especially across the broad range of publications that nowadays deal with Myanmar affairs.

I confess that it is hard to keep up with the deluge of relevant reports, essays, journal articles and books. Hour-by-hour, week-by-week, there is more explanation of local economic, political, social, cultural and historical issues than ever before.

Like a monsoonal downpour, all the new analysis can saturate us, leaving us shivering. Sometimes the amount of material is simply overwhelming and we all benefit from smart techniques for keeping on top of the flow.

But this immense range of content definitely beats the alternative. In the old days, too many of Myanmars most important issues were impossible to adequately understand. There was a relatively small group of local and foreign journalists, researchers and analysts trying to cover the big issues.

That small circle has expanded rapidly, which is a hugely positive trend. Wherever I go, I find new people are doing the most incredible work, seeking to figure out aspects of how society is changing and how it can be better managed for long-term success.

Myanmar academics  who previously struggled under tight restrictions on their academic practice  are now more able than ever to pursue their scholarly interests. There are also many more opportunities for them to present analytical work. It helps that more people are interested.

Nowadays, the biggest Myanmar-focused academic events bring together hundreds of curious minds, all eager to share the latest ideas about the country. Traditionally, the most significant of these conferences have been held in DeKalb, Illinois, USA, and Canberra, Australia.

The next DeKalb extravaganza, which is called the International Burma Studies Conference, is scheduled for October 7-9 this year. At such a gigantic conference, the program is eclectic, a reflection both of Myanmars diversity and the enormous array of topics deserving scholarly attention.

The Myanmar/Burma Update Conference held in Canberra is a different animal, with a more tightly focused program. It has taken place on a relatively consistent 18-monthly cycle since 1999. The next one will happen on February 17-18, 2017.

These conferences tend to lead to published products like books and journal special issues. For instance, the next Myanmar Update book, titled Conflict in Myanmar: War, Politics, Religion and based on papers presented at the 2015 conference, will come out with the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies Press in the next few months. Such published outputs are available in Myanmar itself, including in the many bookshops that sell inexpensive facsimiles.

Next year, the Myanmar Update Conference will deal with the theme of Transformations. The call for papers is open until the end of the month, and we are accepting contributions in either English or Myanmar.

What this looming ANU conference will showcase is that the amount of research activity happening in and around Myanmar is bewildering. For academics, the next big challenge is to make sure we get the best of our analysis to the people who might use it.

 New Mandala

Nicholas Farrelly is director of the Australian National Universitys Myanmar Research Centre and co-convenor of its 2017 Myanmar Update Conference. His column appears each Monday.
Powerlessness and fear overtake a person who is suddenly arrested by secret police and spirited away. The harrowing story told by Lam Wing-kee in Hong Kong on June 16 of his arrest and imprisonment by Chinese authorities is one such saga of helplessness, bewilderment and pressure. But, in a remarkable turnabout, Lam broke free and aimed the spotlight on Chinas repression. He defied his captors and revealed how China seized and punished one of the vanished booksellers of Hong Kong. In so doing, he exposed the depth of Chinas betrayal of its 1997 pledge to maintain one country, two systems, under which Hong Kong was to preserve its cherished freedoms.





Lam is one of five employees at a publishing house in Hong Kong who mysteriously disappeared in 2015. The books they printed and sold were critical of Chinas Communist Party leaders, and often filled with salacious gossip, thinly sourced. Banned on the mainland, where the printed word is censored, the books were widely sold in Hong Kongs freer climate. Until, between October and December, one by one the men disappeared.

Lam said he was arrested October 24 as he crossed into Shenzhen, on the mainland north of Hong Kong. He was detained overnight, then blindfolded, handcuffed and taken by train to Ningbo, 684 miles (1100 kilometres) away, where he was confined to a small room and interrogated up to four times a week for five months. The psychological pressure was intense. He said he was coerced into confessing on television that he had been shipping banned books to the mainland; he said the security forces wrote a script and forced him to repeat it.

He was released on June 14 on the condition he return to Hong Kong and fetch a hard drive for his captors containing names of people who bought the books. Instead, Lam called a news conference. If I dont speak up, being the least of the five, then there is no hope for Hong Kong, he declared. I had to be very courageous. I thought about it for two nights before I decided to tell you all what happened, as originally and completely as I could.

Of the other four, one, Gui Minhai, remains in Chinese captivity, and the others have not dared tell their story  perhaps because China has become adept at using relatives as hostages. It is sad that the only person that has spoken out has done so because he has not got family on the Mainland that could be threatened and punished for his choice to tell the truth, Guis daughter Angela said on June 17.

Lams story indicates that the worst fears of Hong Kongs population have come true: China, intolerant of dissent, is exporting its police state tactics to their streets, despite the pledge of one country, two systems. China feels unbound by the rules of others, especially rules guarding liberal values such as democracy and free speech, and will go to great lengths to repress them.

Hong Kongs rulers, like those of Sweden (Gui is a Swedish citizen) and the United Kingdom (which negotiated the terms of one country, two-systems before handing over its colony), have been depressingly timid in response to Chinas violations of civilised norms. Those who care about the liberal values that are under assault must rally to defend them, as Lam did in his moment of courage. The people of Hong Kong, he said, will not bow down before brute force.

 The Washington Post
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19.06.2016 LISTEN

Tema, June 19,GNA - More than thirty police men and women of the Ghana Police Marine Unit in Tema have attended a three day workshop on fisheries enforcement.

The workshop was organised by the Fisheries Commission in collaboration with Friends of the Nation, a socio-environmental advocacy Non governmental Organisation and sponsored by United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The workshop was organised under the Ghana Sustainable Fisheries Management Project (SFMP), a five-year programme supported by USAID to contribute to the rebuilding of marine fisheries stocks and catches through the adoption of responsible fishing practices.

Superintendent Joseph Antwi Ababio, Unit Commander, Tema said the Police administration was crafting a strategy to increase the manpower level of the Marine unit to adequately police the country's fisheries resources.

"The fisheries sub sector is an important factor in the country's economy, contributing about 4.5 per cent of Gross National Product(GDP).

The sector also provides livelihood for about 10 per cent of the population, representing about 2.5 million people who are employed directly or indirectly."

According to him, "As law enforcement officers, our role in policing this sector is enormous. We should ensure that fish stocks within the waters of Ghana are exploited within biologically acceptable levels."

GNA
Geneva (AFP) - The number of people displaced worldwide has hit a new record, with 65.3 million people forced from their home as of the end of 2015, the UN said on Monday.

"This is the first time that the threshold of 60 million has been crossed," the UN refugee agency said.

The figures, released on World Refugee Day, underscore twin pressures fuelling an unprecedented global displacement crisis.

As conflict and persecution force growing numbers of people to flee, anti-migrant political sentiment has strained the will to resettle refugees, according to UNHCR chief Filippo Grandi said.

"The willingness of nations to work together not just for refugees but for the collective human interest is what's being tested today," he said in a statement.

The number of people displaced globally rose by 5.8 million through 2015, according to the UN figures.

Counting Earth's population at 7.349 billion, the UN said that one out of every 113 people on the planet was now either internally displaced or a refugee.

That marks "a level of risk for which UNHCR knows no precedent", the agency said, noting that the number of people displaced is now higher than the populations of Britain or France.
The Ghana government will today, June 20 begin a detailed revaluation of the fixed assets of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

A memo signed by the Director of Finance at ECG, Frank Anokwafo and copied Myjoyonline has directed the General Managers of ECG in Accra West branch, Eastern, and Western Regions to prepare for a thorough declaration and revaluation of the assets of the company.

The memo comes some weeks after President Mahama justified the need for the nations power distributor to be privatised in the country.

Though the ECG workers have opposed the plan of the government amidst threats, there is no sign the government would listen to them.

Addressing participants at an ICT expo in Accra, President Mahama said the current power distribution in the country is inefficient.

He explained, You fix a situation by taking risks. It is a risk we took when we deregulated telecommunications. If you are not ready to take risks then the world is not ready to make progress.

In line with that, the government has contracted Messrs KPMG as consultants to undertake a physical inventory and revaluation of the companys fixed assets in fulfillment of its policy of carrying out this exercise every five years and also to assist in determining appropriate values to be assigned them for the impending concession arrangement.

According to the memo, "The consultant and his team will be visiting your region and a number of districts from 20th June 2016 to 1st July 2016 to do a physical inventory of both movable and immovable property i.e. vehicles, substations, switchgear, computers, electricity networks and all others."

It ordered the release of the regional and district engineers to assist the team of evaluators in locating the networks and the various substations as well as switchgear in the regions.

It also called for the release of "transport officers to assist the team to identify all vehicles in the regional and district offices; the release of a human resource officer to assist the team in identifying structures in the region."

"The provision of first class accommodation (including meals) to the team which includes expatriates," it added.

The memo ended by urging the General Managers of ECG across the country to support the exercise with all the necessary attention and seriousness it deserves.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | Email: [email protected]
The 2016 Presidential Candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has said the Ghanaian electorate have the power to effect the changes they desire in their livelihoods, and can do so in the November elections.

According to him, as is stipulated by law, the time has come, this year, for us to vote and decide who leads us. Let us use the power of our thumbs to change Ghana, and bring in a government that can change our circumstances, and bring relief, progress and prosperity to all.

The NPP flagbearer made this known when he visited a total of five churches within the Cape Coast Municipality on Sunday, June 19, at the commencement of day 4 of his tour of the Central Region. Nana Akufo-Addo worshipped with congregants at St. John the Baptist Parish, Pedu; Mosama Disco Cristo Church, Effutu; Christ Church Anglican Cathedral, Cape Coast; the Lamb of God Ministry, Jejeano; and the Methodist Church  Calvary Society, Abura.

Addressing congregants, Nana Akufo-Addo, requested for prayers for Ghana, and the preservation of the peace and unity of the nation.

I have come to ask for prayers for Ghana. Pray that in this election year, there will be peace, before, during and after the elections. Let us cast our ballots peacefully, mindful of the fact that we need unity and oneness to prevail amongst us, he said.

He also requested for prayers for the Electoral Commission, so the body creates a level playing field for all political parties, and conduct this year's elections in a free, fair, credible and transparent manner, so that the results of the elections will be readily accepted by all, without any dispute.

Finally, in this critical year of decision, please pray for the NPP. Pray to God for victory for the NPP. Pray for your servant, Nana Akufo-Addo, so that God grants me wisdom, strength, courage and a good heart to be a good leader for the NPP, and, if He wills, a good leader for Ghana, he further added.

Nana Akufo-Addo introduced Barbara Ayisi and Michael Arthur-Dadzie, the NPP parliamentary candidates for Cape Coast North and Cape Coast South constituencies respectively, to the various congregations describing them as persons with clean hearts who have the welfare and concerns of the people of Cape Coast at heart.


The Progressive People's Party (PPP) has called for fresh investigations into the abortive STX Korea deal following recent reports of a 100,000 dollar car gift to President Dramani Mahamah by a Burkinabe contractor.

The PPP said it was important the nation opened fresh and independent investigations into the failed housing deal as part of the commitment to fight corruption.

The STX Korea contract sought to build 30,000 housing units in phase one of the proposed 200,000 units project within five years.

But the deal was cancelled after minority MPs in Parliament punched holes into it, and raised critical questions about the propriety of the agreement.

The PPP, in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency on Saturday, said: The Ford vehicle saga calls for fresh and independent investigations into President Mahama's role in the abortive STX Korea deal.

The foreign Burkinabe contractor must face independent investigation and should be banned from participating in all Ghana Government contracts, the statement said.

We urge all contractors  Ghanaian or foreign  to take a cue from this and desist from giving so-called gifts to the President, Ministers of State and other government officials, it said.

We reiterate our position on the crusade against corruption and call for national support for, as a matter of urgency, the need to separate the Attorney General's Department from the Ministry of Justice and separate Parliament from the Executive arm of Government.

A story by Joy FM's investigative reporter, Manasseh Azure Awuni, indicates that in 2012, President Mahama received a vehicle from Djibril Kanazoe, the Burkinabe contractor, who secured a 650,000 dollar controversial deal to build a fence wall at Ghanas Embassy in the Burkina Faso capital, Ouagadougou.

The Minister of Communication, Dr Omane Boamah, issued a statement on Wednesday confirming that President Mahama received the 2010 Ford Expedition model but denied it was linked to the contract in Burkina Faso.

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 statement quoted Dr Boamah as saying.


The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) has indicated it will petition the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) over the Ford Expedition gift given to President Mahama by a Burkinabe contractor.

Policy Advisor of PPP, Kofi Asamoah-Saiw, said the party will lodge an official complaint with CHRAJ because the Presidents act flies in the face of portions of the 1992 Constitution which calls public officials to desist from taking gifts which could influence their decisions.

We in the Progressive Peoples Party will lodge a complaint with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice in accordance with Article 287, he said.

Article 287 (1) reads:

"An allegation that a public officer has contravened or has not complied with a provision of this Chapter shall be made to the Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice and, in the case of the Commissioner of Human Rights and Administrative Justice, to the Chief Justice who shall, unless the person concerned makes a written admission of the contravention or non-compliance, cause the matter to be investigated."

The Ford Expedition scandal hanging on President Mahama has generated much tension in Ghana especially between government officials and anti-graft campaigners who have slammed the President for what they say is his blatant disregard for anti-corruption guidelines in the country.

The government has been explaining that the vehicle donated by Oumarou Djibril Kanazoe and valued at $100,000 has been added to the pool of vehicles at the Presidency.

It also said the car did not influence the number of contracts Messrs Oumarou Kanazoe Contractors of Burkina Faso received from the government including the controversial $650, 000 Ghana Embassy wall in Burkina Faso which was flagged by the Auditor-General.

Speaking on the Joy FM and MultiTVs news analysis programme, Newsfile, Communications Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah said the President cannot be corrupted and is incorruptible.

Reacting to the ministers comment, Mr Asamoah-Siaw said: The President has engaged in misconduct and a Minister of State cannot throw dust in our eyes to say our President is incorruptible. Perhaps he doesnt understand the word.

He averred The President has breached portions of the Constitution and he has misconducted himself, adding his attitude constitutes grounds for impeachment.

Without mincing words the PPP policy analyst said What we want to put on record is that the presentation of the car to the presidential pool was the decisions of the president to give something that is his bonafide property to the state and that cannot justify or obliterate the act of bribery that the President had engaged himself in.

He explained the vehicle scandal cannot go away with propaganda.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | Email: [email protected]
In the annals of Ghanas presidency, there is no one like President Mahama when it comes to indulgence in corruption. He has no rival. He is second to none. He is unprecedentedly corrupt. He stinks of corruption and pollutes the air with corruption. Anyone who has a sensitive nose like that of a trained sniffer dog can smell him of corruption from miles away when holding their nose high up in the air.

Was it not alleged that the late President Evans Atta Mills had ordered for him to be investigated over the purchase of Embraer aircrafts for the Ghana military, from Brazil; where he, then Vice President Mahama, had indulged in suspicious dealings amounting to corruption?

He had personally corruptibly profited from that deal, the strongest view about President Mahama by many a discerning Ghanaian.

Has he not been reassigning his appointees found to have committed open acts of corruption and blatant thefts against the State from one ministry or post to the other instead of firing, prosecuting and incarcerating them? What does this tell you about the President himself when you take into consideration the instances where those found to have committed crimes of corruption had threatened to expose him if he dared sack them?

Did Yaw Boateng Gyan, once a guru of NDC, not threaten to reveal all the evils done by President Mahama and the NDC, especially regarding the late President Mills death, if they ever ganged up to ensure his defeat during the then upcoming NDC Congressional meeting where new party leaders were to be elected? Did he not claim to possess evidential recorded materials that he could divulge the content to the public anytime any day if he was challenged?

What were the secretly committed evils Yaw Boateng Gyan threatened to lay bare in public? Is it not the usual suspected corrupt practices fondly and inextricably engaged in by the President and his party members?

If the President wasnt or isnt corrupt, why is he not bothered about whether or not the infamously crowned Ghanaian swindler of the century, Alfred Agbesi Woyome, pays back to the State the GHC51.2 million he fraudulently took from the State with probably the help of NDC to finance the NDC party and their 2012 electioneering campaign or to construct their NDC Headquarters?

When a credible journalist who knows how to probe, and to inform the public on pertinent issues asked President Mahama during his recent visit to Scotland, if he had ever involved himself in corruption, did we not see how he was stammering, with his voice quivering in attempts to answer that simple Yes or No question? He asked for the question to be rephrased before he could answer it.

However, from the answer as well as his body language, one could clearly establish without difficulty that President Mahama is awash in corruption. He eats corruption, sleeps corruption, clothes in corruption and behaves corruptibly through and through.

From the most recent exposure of President Mahama accepting a car gift from a Burkinabe contractor, Djibril Kanazoe, as a thank you for awarding him a contract, one can conclusively say that President Mahama is corrupt beyond redemption. He awarded a US$650,000 contract to the named contractor for erecting a perimeter wall around the Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso. The cost of the contract vis-a-vis the job done, thus, the size of the wall, is highly inflated.

Could then Vice President Mahama not collusively have inflated the cost to get a kickback in the form of the Ford Expedition car at the approximately selling price of US$100,000 as offered to him for a gift?

To those little minds like Kofi Adams, the National Organiser of NDC, please tell me on what condition did the Burkinabe contractor offer that car gift to then Vice President Mahama? Had he offered him any gift before or prior to arranging to get him that contract at that much inflated cost to Ghana? If yes, what gifts were they? If answered in the negative, why so?

For all the subsequent contracts, e.g. the Dodo Pepeso-Nkwanta road contract, worth 25.9 million in 2012, given to the contractor, had then Vice President Mahama not played any role in their award, having been influenced by the gift he had received?

Whatever the reason behind the presentation of the car gift to then Vice President Mahama who was indirectly running the affairs of Ghana due to the obvious indisposition of President Atta Mills, he, now President Mahama, has accepted bribe. Consequently, he is corrupt by accepting the gift; using his influence to gain the contractor further contracts from Ghana government at astronomically inflated cost to the nation and also, directly or indirectly assisting his family and cronies to dubiously get rich overnight.

No matter what President Mahama does or say to exonerate himself from this blame of corruption, the tag and stain can never be removed no matter how far he tries to portray himself as an honest leader. The blemish caused is worse than ugliness which is understood to cut deeper across bones.

Until I write about Kofi Adams defence of the President, alleging that nobody will ever think of offering Nana Akufo Addo an old banger for gift, because Nana is not famous and popular, I wish President Mahama and the bereaved family my heartfelt condolences on the death of his beloved mother.

Rockson Adofo
We may enjoy laughing at the antics of the current crop of student politicians, but if history is any guide, we'll end up paying them to govern us, writes Dominic Knight.

Election is a decision making process where electorates choose their representatives from contesting parties to hold official offices and deliver services to them. The party with clean track records and good manifesto with detailed work plans always win the hearts of electorates. This is the usual mechanism by which modern democracy fills offices in the legislature, Executive, local government and also in Unions like student Unions and Associations like Bar associations.

There is a saying that goes no an easy job it same goes to the election, no an easy election! The recent JUSUs election was not an easy election. It was a real election battle and the SPLM/SL squarely won it with over 50% of the total votes casted. SPLM student politicians did their campaign thoroughly on programs that they will implement and changes they will bring about unlike the other camps. Up to now they are still euphorically celebrating their mini-election win on the campus, in hostels and around Hai Thoura shouting at their top voices SPLM OYEEE!, INTA WA ANA SPLM, SPLM AKUMA BITANA while the democratically defeated NSAF students are mourning. Indeed they labored for lost and they deserve!

However, one may ask; how election was the JUSUs election? What does the win of the SPLM/SL in the University of Juba mean to the SPLM-main stream and what can political fortune tellers predict about the political life span of the SPLM?

Indeed the election was seen as a referendum on the SPLMs popularity; litmus test on the SPLMs performances and lifespan-meter on the SPLMs political supremacy in South Sudan. However, the win of the SPLM/SL, reaffirms that SPLM is still the largest and popular political party in the country; means that the students of the University of juba have trust and believe in the SPLM leadership as the only political party which can rule South Sudan whether on the campus or at the national level.

The recent election was heavily politicized and contested by many political parties and student political organizations. There were three main contesting camps: The National Unity Alliance which consists of SPLM/SL and ANC; National Students Alliance force (NSAF) which consists of two political parties, DC, UDF and three student-organizations, MSF, CIS and MSF-SD; the last camp is the Students Alliance (SA).

The camp of NSAF was established on the ideal aim of taking students to street. Its components dont have similar political visions but one aim, taking students to street Their campaign sarcastically focused on the SPLMs shortcomings including corruption in the country, war, and the ongoing strike of lecturers of the public universities. No election manifesto, no plans for betterment of the University of Juba throughout their campaign period!

For the benefit of readership, I will concisely explicate the visions and backgrounds of MSF, MSF-SD and CIS because they are not known to many people.

MSF, it is a students organization which operates only in the University of Juba. It was formed by southern Sudanese students in Al-Neelian University back in 2002 in the tutelage of Dr. Lam Akol when he was a minister for road and transport. In other word, it was students wing of Fashoda peace agreement.

When Dr. Lam broke away from the SPLM in 2009 and formed SPLM-DC, the MSF bifurcated into three faction; the Cholo students left and join the SPLM-DC, Abyei students left and formed their own organization called MSF- southern Development (MSF- SD) and the final faction which was composed of the Darfur students and other students from southern Sudan decided to remain in the old MSF which is sometimes known as MSF- Afaf faction. Although the organization didnt dichotomize into political oblivion in then Sudanese universities, it maintains almost zilch membership in the University of Juba. Despite their (MSF and MSF-SD) claim of political independency, it is open secret that there are links between MSF, MSF-SD and DC. Dr. Lam Akol is the de facto leader, mentor and political god-father of the MSF and MSF-SD. Therefore, the two MSFs are side B of the DC party and it is the very reason why they formed a coalition with DC party.

Congress of Independent Students (CIS), it is students philosophical organization which teaches the philosophical thoughts of Plato, Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. Their thoughts and visions dont in any way around meet with the academic demands of students of the University of Juba. This group strongly believes in Platos theory of The Republic of aristocratic model which is based on ruler-ship of PHILOSPHER-KINGS. And therefore, CIS would want South Sudan to be governed base on its paraphrased Republic theory of aristocratic model on DR-PRESIDENTS by likes of Dr. Lam. In short, CIS shares the same political antagonism with DC against SPLM and hence they are birds of the same feather and that is they flocked together.

Elections outcomes are always unpredictable; it cost NSAF Dr. Lam Akol, SPLM-IO and UDFs acting president to campaign on the campus for seven days and lost the election. while it cost SPLM/SL & ANC Hon. Micheal Makuei, Hon. Louis Lobong, Hon. Nadia Arop and Ustaz Kuel Aguer to campaign on the campus for one day and win the election.

People often criticize the intrusion of political parties into students bodies. However, universities are not merely the centers for academic learning. Democracy is well nourished and natured in educational institutions. Students are cradles of modern political thought. They are intelligent; they are selfless by nature; they love truth and hate wrong; they are always ready to lie down their lives for the sake of their ideal, patriotism or something as noble as that. Prof John A. Akech deserves appreciation and thanks for allowing students to engage in political activities on the campus.

The students of the University of Juba are intelligent and can see far beyond horizon and it is well manifested in their overwhelming rejection of NSAF which wants to use the university as a platform to incite the protest against the government. The National Unity Alliance has registered or written a noble history for electing Abuba Evelyne Peter as the first female president of the JUSU since the inception of the Union. It reaffirms the equality, affirmative action and diversity which the SPLM believes in.

In conclusion, it is no secret that the students politics in South Sudan suffers from perception problem. Student politicians in the universities are scurvily thought not the best and brightest students on academic performances, not nationalists, and practicing grotesque politics. But contrary, they are the ones who will work their butts off perfectly, and execute effectively and efficiently what they are told. And they will be more relevant to the world of real power, politics and governance.

The writer can be reached via [email protected] or 0955246235
President John Dramani Mahama

20.06.2016 LISTEN

It is understandable to express outrage at the alleged bribery scandal involving the President. He is the doyen of accountability and so any infractions perceived or real dents the image of the government and country. However, we must focus on two important matters going forward.

First, it is important to appreciate that the constitutional democracy we operate gives the Presidency enormous powers and the government setup, a very centralized one, allows indiscriminate access to the President making him susceptible to influence. Sadly, this is Africa, where every village chief, fetish priest, linguist who dies, have their sympathizers and subjects wanting to officially inform and invite the President to the funeral. We need to revisit our progress towards full decentralization of power and ownership of resources.

Second, this incident raises the question about political party funding in Ghana. I vehemently disagree that parties must be funded through taxes for the simple reason that we will have a deluge of mushroom parties with lazy adventurers as leaders all feeding large on the state. It would have become the best but unwise way of paying a welfare cheque to persons who are unemployable or have no clue how to create employment. I will only yield to the idea, except of course, that these parties exhibit some superb ideas on how to rake in more productive revenue for the state through smart thinking and not overburdening persons with odious taxes. But that is expecting too much from short terminism that has characterized majority of our political parties focus.

In any case, these political parties boast of having millions of followers anytime they want to convey some of their core messages. And, yet, how often do you hear or see these teeming millions donate or pay dues to their parties? It is not because they are unwilling to pay, it is because the party leadership is not interested in building the structures that allow for the million members to pay their small coins and cents. Secondly, political party leadership do not want to be challenged by serious minded members who feel outraged about party decisions, just because they pay a miserly due of Ghc5 Ghana cedis or less.

So, you see your party leadership will rather cater to special interest groups and crony capitalists who have the big dollars. I have seen many documents from foreign official accountability bureaus showing the leadership of our major political parties literally beg and engage lobbyists to raise campaign funds for them and we never ever know the source of such funding.

So, let us all get angry by all means at any incidents of corruption, real or perceived, but let's begin to ask our political party leadership to ask us to help them. Imagine if all these millions of members the two major parties command contributed even Ghc 2 each towards campaigns? But will that happen? Can it happen? Perhaps that is what the Social Contract is about- a fee paying citizenry and a prudent leadership. For this to happen, political parties must show us how they intend to build prosperous lives and futures that will make us donate more and better towards their activities. But keep thinking think think think!

Franklin Cudjoe is IMANI Africas Founding President and CEO
President John Dramani Mahama

20.06.2016 LISTEN

I have refrained from addressing this earlier because of the President's Bereavement. Even a President deserves some space to bury his mother. May Hajia Abiba Nnaba rest in peace. She raised good children.

Daniel Batidam, the President's advisor on ethics and governance, got it right when he condemned the above on principle before he knew who was involved.

He should double down on his condemnation.

Since the above story broke, I have been saddened by many of the comments that have been made.

Kweku Baako defended the President.

In a rare agreement with his one-time ideological soul-mate, Kwesi Pratt opined, " In fact, I see nothing wrong with the gift to the President because he is entitled and allowed to accept gifts". Ebei Kwesi!!

Is this what is left of the unbending revolutionary?

Ivor Greenstreet of the CPP saw nothing wrong till his party rightly and swiftly rebuked him. Good for the great party.

Franklin Cudjoe of IMANI thought the President was careless in accepting the gift. Franklin, careless? What about reckless? He was reckless in accepting the gift!!!

The NPP, which does not have the numbers, threatened comically to impeach him. Really? With which votes?

Then Omane Boamah, as expected, capped it all, like the chief propagandist of Animal Farm, by declaring, "The inference of a conflict of interest is therefore absolutely false and untenable"

Honourable, the failure to see a conflict of interest here suggests the existence of a blind spot in this government that should trouble every Ghanaian. Chai!!

Of course, there are a few who stood by Ghana, including Professor Adei and CHRAJ.

While verification of the claim that the gift was turned over to the state, is mitigation, every Ghanaian should be troubled by this.

Whether it was a bribe or a gift, accepting something of this nature from a person who does business with our country was wrong. Indeed, even if the giver had known he was donating to Ghana instead of the President, his subsequent contracts would create the impression that others seeking business from the state must offer gifts.

It may have broken our procurement law and negated the President's own guidelines to his Ministers.

I fear that the loud chorus of respectable voices seeking to justify what happened will encourage the President and the government to learn the wrong lessons from this.

Here is what we must do;

First, Mr. Batidam must issue a letter of rebuke to the President for the lapse in judgment in accepting the gift.

Second, the Presidency must work with Parliament to develop and codify guidelines that will guide the acceptance of gifts by public officials. This crisis must not go to waste.

Third, the National Media Commission, with the support of GJA, must commend and support Manasseh Azure Awuni and his team for their work in reporting this. The attacks on him are disgraceful and must be condemned.

Fourth, the media and civic authorities must use this opportunity to heighten public education. If the President did not recall this when he was asked about corruption during his interview, we have issues, big issues.

Finally, in these discussion, we must resist the temptation to pretend that this is the first time a President or the Presidency has been caught in corruption or the appearance of corruption. That would be false.

God bless Ghana.

Arthur K
Udinese star Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu hopes his former side Berekum Arsenals can rejoin the Ghana Premier League.

Arsenals got evicted from the Ghana top-flight in 2011 and have been playing in the second-tier league.

After the first half of this season's Division One League, the Gunners lie second on the Zone I table.

Badu played two seasons for the side in the Ghana Premier League before joining Asante Kotoko on loan.

"I wish Berekum Arsenal returns to the League, I will like to see them play in the Ghana Premier League again," he told Happy FM.

"Playing in division one is not easy but I just hope they make a return back to the League soon."
20.06.2016 LISTEN

I AM can mean a lot of different things depending on your perspective. For instance it can show your individuality e.g  I AM Mr X. Or it can mean a supreme being  God, Allah or whatever you refer to as God  exerting his superiority over us mere mortals. Likewise the word Gospel can mean books in the New Testament or as it was used by the Romans in a time pre-dating Jesus Christ  good news. Also Archangel is a higher form of angel or a superior entity.

I AM would have given his imperfect mortals a set of rules and regulations by which to live by for instance the Ten Commandments.

Now, as the mere mortals that we are we flout these simple rules all the time and have been doing so ever since the beginning of time when that couple got kicked out of Utopia.

Over the ages enlightened beings such as Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha etc, have come to right us of our wayward ways, but we continue to ignore them doing the wrong things to our hearts delight. Each time these Ascended Masters came, apart from trying to correct our ways they also preached, to us, a powerful message. A message which is best understood through the Christian doctrine of  love thy neighbour as thy love thyself  this transcends all religious beliefs which preach the same  even though the meaning may slightly differ.

We are in a new age now. Some would like to believe that these are the end days. Far from it. We are in a period of time when Mankind will turn itself around  the sweeping changes happening now around the world is evidence of this. Things are changing for the best despite all the seemingly doom and gloom. Sometimes for things to get really better they first of all need to get very bad. Bad enough for evil base spirits to think they can sneak in and take over the world. That wont be possible for every morning the sun rises and the Light illuminates our lives.

Perhaps there should be more Light in our lives to dispel the darkness engulfing our world, a new kind of Lightness not currently preached - or practiced  by hypocritical self-appointed Men of God who walk around with Bibles embedded in their hands. The scriptures can sometimes be a story book if read literally. The true hidden meanings behind the sacred writings is what elevates one to Godliness and not the memorising and repetition of certain phrases and verses like a parrot on drugs . Anyone can read the Scriptures and reel off quotations on demand but very few can live in accordance to them or understand them fully.

Racism, intolerance, tribalism etc is slowly disappearing from our vocabularies and hopefully this will be joined by war, greed, vanity, religious indifferences, poverty and disease. Mankind is powerful, resourceful and disciplined enough to eradicate anything from this world, our lives and mind-sets if the effort is applied. Most of the time mankind cant be bothered to effect any change and can be complacent to let things be.

In becoming complacent weve become spiritually bankrupt, idle or empty and all sorts can creep in to fill the vacuum. Normally what creeps in isnt pleasant  could be evil, dark thoughts that causes mankind to get up to all forms of mischief.

Since the beginning of Time there has been an on-going battle between Good and Evil, between what is right and what is wrong. There is evidence of this in our daily lives where the efforts of good people are constantly being overshadowed by those who do bad things. There needs to be a shift in the order of things  more good less evil.

The only thing preventing our world from being a paradise, with enough for all, is the overwhelming efforts of those with evil or selfish intentions who intend to destabilize everything through their avarice, ostentatious lifestyles and nonchalant attitude to the needy. A recent Oxfam report suggests just 85 people in the world have more money than the combined wealth of the poorest 3.5 billion of the worlds population  uneven distribution of wealth  and very few of the 85 rarely think of giving something back.

This is not the end of days or the end of the world. Nations are not going to rise up against each other. No kid with 666 emblazoned across his forehead will be born and the devil is not going to come riding back. This is all scaremongering.

The human race is evolving  at a slow pace  consigning to the past, and history, all its negativity, as we head, slowly, towards Godliness. Its going to be a journey that will force us to take a good look at ourselves, at our world, at our humanity and force us to decide whether we want to overhaul our lives becoming godlier or were going to throw it all away by continuing to live our corrupt lives.
Government has taken a swipe at the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akuffo Addo for condemning its approach in converting Polytechnics into Technical Universities.

Nana Akuffo Addo , addressing students at the Cape Coast Polytechnic during his Central regional tour, slammed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration for adopting what he calls a piecemeal approach in the conversion and promised to convert all 10 Polytechnics into Technical Universities if he is elected President.

However in a statement, a Deputy Minister of Education in charge of Tertiary, Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwah said Nana Addo is being disingenuous.

It seems strange that Nana Addo is the only Ghanaian claiming not to know that the vision and agenda of President Mahama is to convert all ten polytechnics into technical universities. Unfortunately for Nana Addo, incontrovertible evidence abounds pointing to the fact that President Mahama has consistently indicated that all ten polytechnics will be converted.

It is worth noting that Nana Addo's attack on what he calls a piecemeal approach is an attack on experts and stakeholders in higher education who unanimously recommended to government to avoid a wholesale conversion in order not to compromise the integrity of the conversion process. Our conversion process has thus been guided by technical experts. Very sadly, Nana Addo's advisors continue to let him down, the statement added.

Nana Addo slams Mahama

According to Nana Addo, government's decision to convert some polytechnics while neglecting others has created some challenges.

We cannot do this policy piecemeal. Either you are doing it for everybody, or you are not doing it at all. We can't have a situation where some are picked and some are left out of the process. It is not a good idea. Let us make sure that all the polytechnics in our country, in each of the regions, have the same infrastructure and the same level of development. Then we can make the transition for all of them. But pick some and leave some out, then you are disadvantaging and destabilizing the ones that you have left out, he said.

Everything that John Mahama does, there is no proper preparation and there is no proper follow through of the idea, Nana Akufo-Addo assured the students of Cape Coast polytechnic that when we get the chance (in 2017), we are going to make sure we do all together as one, he added.



By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin
Perhaps you've seen the #Accrafloods pictures, the conclusive proof that our beloved city is managed by incompetents and is unworthy to be called a capital city.

Barely a week after the Metropolitan Chief Executive [MCE] of Accra, Oko Vanerpuije, President John Dramani Mahama and religious and traditional leaders gathered to remember victims of the June 3 flood and fire that killed more than 150 Ghanaians and destroyed property worth thousands of cedis in Accra, the entire city was submerged after a few hours of rainfall.

Ahead of that ceremony, the MCE, Oko Vanderpuije declared at a presser that the city of Accra will never see such floods again. His words were: That is my assurance to the people of Accra and indeed the whole nation that the people's capital is ever safe than before.

Photo credit: Google Some work has been done. The Odaw river which was one of the major causes of the flood and fire tragedy has been partly-dredged. A major storm drain is under construction in Nima. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, Mr. Vanderpuije went on a demolition binge causing residents of Old Fadama to clash with the Police. The Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mahama Ayariga demolished fuel stations he decreed were on waterways.

What was clear even before the anniversary and last week's rainfall was that, the work done was not sufficient to save the city from further floods. The Kwame Nkrumah Circle area was still in a mess. Major and minor drains were still clogged with solid and liquid waste. The waterways were still blocked and the city was full of solid waste.

At the remembrance ceremony, Mr. Vanderpuije reiterated the claims he made on the eve of the anniversary stating that Accra residents shall never again endure the horrors of the June 3 tragedy.

Parts of the of Accra flooded in June 2016

Not long after his famous never again comments, the city was submerged in water confirming what we all knew, that the reassurances given by the MCE and the president were just that  reassurances. What last Thursday's rainfall proved is that, Mr. Vandepuije and his peers had failed to do enough since the June 3 calamity to forestall a recurrence.

In the four years that Mr Oko Vanderpuije has been in office, the city of Accra floods every June with huge losses. Every year he and the government that appointed him promise to make things  and fail.

In 2012 they announced that they had secured over $600 million loan facility from the EXIM Bank of the USA and Standard Chartered Bank for what they called the Accra Sanitary Sewer and Storm water Drainage Alleviation(awful name for a project, by the way) to end the floods.

In May 2013, he declared that the city was ready for floods. After the city flooded again in June 2014, Vanderpuije said on Eyewitness News that infrastructure was needed and that his government will do so through the Conti Project. It was the man who appointed the MCE, President John Mahama, who said drastic measures will be taken to prevent future floods. Nothing he or his government said they would has been accomplished.

What is unsettling for me is the silence of residents over the MCE's incompetence. Thursday's ferocious downpour was intense enough to keep many people trapped in their homes and offices. Everyone, rich and poor was all heavily affected by the rain.

Oddly, there have been no protests or no calls for the sacking of the MCE, Oko Vanderpuije. There has been no word from the city's elite who couldn't make it to their million-dollar properties or from the business community that lost the most in the floods. Not even a squeak has been heard from the religious community either.

Some are blaming the deplorable waste disposal habits for the floods. I've heard people say if we (residents) stopped littering and dumping solid waste into open drains and spaces, the impact of the rains won't be so heavy. Of course, this is a line used by officials too. There have been more calls on residents to change than calls for the MCE's sacking.

Residents are guilty of irresponsible disposal of waste habits but we can't fix the city. It's the responsibility of the MCE. It is his duty to ensure that tonnes of solid waste generated by residents don't end up in drains and liquid waste isn't dumped into the sea.

He is obliged to make sure the assembly's environmental and health laws are enforced. He is mandated to punish indiscriminate dumping of rubbish. So far, Mr. Vanderpuije has failed to meet the basic requirements of his position.

If his bosses had any respect for residents they would've acknowledged his failings and fired him by now. We deserve better  we deserve an MCE who works hard every day to make our city livable in every way and one who respects us enough to apologise when he fails to fulfill his promises.

Oko Vanderpuije's continuous stay in office is an indictment on all the hardworking and right-thinking residents of Accra. We need to force him out in our journey towards the election of a mayor of our choice.

Source: nnyamewaa.com
File Photo

20.06.2016 LISTEN

Its was 11:47 am, we were at the post-natal ward of the maternity unit.

A man, about 47 years of age, I am good at guessing peoples ages (dont ask me how), sitting beside the bed with a neonate. I picked up the folder at the foot of the bed. It was a case of elective C/S on account of post-date and failed induction two days ago.

It was touching to see the man carrying the neonate while the mother sleeps the role fathers play in our families and society. That was when I asked the question. I asked my colleagues including a medical student from the United States who joined us for the ward rounds.

I paused, look at the man struggling with the baby just so the mother can sleep and asked; are the men irresponsible or the children ungrateful? why do fathers perdure neglect and disrespect synonymous to peotomy?

I wont tell you what everyone said but it was good five minutes as everyone gave his or her opinion including all the mothers. A colleague asked the medical student (who happens to be an African American) how it is like in the USA for fathers day?

She grinned, in America, most of the African American fathers are not in the house which means consequentially that the children see more of the mothers.

The story might not be different in Ghana, its true that some fathers are irresponsible but I have also equally seen irresponsible mothers in Ghana, mothers who abandon their children, leave them with breast-less fathers but we tend to magnify irresponsible fathers and diminish as well as excuse irresponsible mothers.

Some mothers poison their children not to respect their fathers and even threaten them never to go to them. Whatever the reason, whatever happened, a child still needs a father and that is why we have a disjointed society. Some people hate their fathers even till death. I have lost my dad and I have cause to complain but hey the man passed his good brains and looks if for nothing at all-J. I am of the strong belief that some children are also ungrateful, they simply dont appreciate their fathers under the pretense that the father was irresponsible.

I just have to stop writing here and sit back to read what you think, are the men irresponsible or the children ungrateful?

RUDOLPH NANABANYIN MENSAH

WRITER

FACEBOOK/LINKEDIN: RUDOLPH NANABANYIN MENSAH

TWITTER/IG: @dolphmedics

Blog: dolphinspires.wordpress.com
John Kudalor, IGP

20.06.2016 LISTEN

Ghana's Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor has been awarded a Doctorate Degree in Psychology and Christian Counseling by the Dayspring Theological University in Dallas Texas, USA.

A citation conferring the award which took place on June 11 was read by the President of the University, Dr. Adrain Najera.

Dr.Kudalor was also received recognition for his continuous support for the expansion of Christian education and excellence in Christian leadership.

The IGP was among 80 grandaunts who completed various programmes of study at the University.

In his vote of thanks on behalf of the graduating class, Dr. Kudalor thanked the University for the guidance and knowledge they had acquired over the years. He promised that their studies will help them in their daily lives.

Dr. Kudalor, a former Director General of Police Operations and a former Lecturer in Ethics in Law Enforcement at the Ghana Police college already holds a Masters degree. Present was DSP Emmanuel K. Dade, Police Advisor, Ghana Mission to United Nations.
PC Appiah Ofori

20.06.2016 LISTEN

Just when I was beginning to miss his virtual absence on the national political landscape, there he comes trying to charitably defend the patently indefensible. The fact of the matter is that the man who heartily celebrated the mysterious passing of President John Evans Atta-Mills as one of a godsend, which also constituted an auspicious changing of the guard, is notorious for being pathologically corrupt.

No wonder he has been singularly credited with having invented the primitive politics of shit-bombing, whereby any media institution bold enough to take on the erstwhile Rawlings-led government of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) had its premises flooded with human waste.

Now, lets get to brass-tacks  and the real fact of the matter is that Little Dramani is as putridly corrupt as they come; and in Ghanaian political circles, they come a dozen a pesewa. But, of course, among the vanguard ranks of the megalomaniacal operatives of the so-called National Democratic Congress, they come two dozen a pesewa.

Many of our readers may have so soon forgotten this, but it was the now-President John Dramani Mahama who, as Vice-President, led a parliamentary delegation to Seoul, the South Korean capital, in the matter of the contractual scam that became globally known as the STX Scandal. The fact of the matter is that Little Dramani never espied any opportunity for scamming the Ghanaian taxpayer that he was willing to pass up or let slide by.

Just the other day, for instance, one fed-up Ghanaian lawmaker described the Chief Resident of the Flagstaff House as an impudent man who eats, breathes and drinks corruption. And to the latter, one may aptly add, And evacuates corruption. Indeed, going by the available evidence, the entire corporeal fabric of the Bole-Bamboi natives personality reeks of thoroughgoing corruption. In the STX Scandal, for example, the Mahama-led delegation was widely reported to have literally scrambled for state-of-the-art laptop computers from the proprietors of the Seoul-based construction firm that was lamely handed the billion-dollar (abortive) contract to build, of all projects, public housing for Ghanaian citizens.

As I pointed out back then, the STX Scandal represented the most lame-brained contractual agreement ever to be entered into by any sitting postcolonial Ghanaian government. It was, to be very charitable, indescribably dumb, particularly the part regarding making Ghanaian masons, architects and real-estate developers and dealers the subcontractors of the Koreans.

No wonder the extant South Korean Vice-President took the red-eye to Accra in the wake of the initialing of this veritably slavish contract, perhaps the most soft-headed compact to be entered into by any postcolonial African government since the massive deportation and enslavement of African humanity from the mid-fifteenth century until the close of the nineteenth century.

Ironically, Little Dramani has been described as a historian of remarkable genius. Somebody tell me what sort of history books and/or documents the Chief Resident of the Flagstaff House has been reading lately. Where my beef with PC Appiah-Ofori comes in regards the former maverick New Patriotic Partys Member of Parliament for Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwas vacuous admonishment that Ghanaians must not hasten to pass judgment on the $ 100,000 Ford Expedition SUV reportedly gifted then-Vice-President Mahama by a Burkinabe contractor by the name of Monsieur Gibril Kanazoe (some media sources have the gift-givers first name spelled as Djibril), because the capacity in which the aforesaid gift was presented to Little Dramani has yet to be objectively established.

Nice try, PC, but you come into this sorry-assed game of self-interested defense of Little Dramani too late. Already, Dr. Edward Omane-Boamah, the notorious scofflaw and President Mahamas morally rotten Town-crier, known officially as Communications Minister, has let it on to the nation that, indeed, the alleged gift was proffered by Mr. Kanazoe and duly and promptly accepted by his boss. What is even more significant to observe is the fact that according to Dr. Omane-Boamah, the Ford Expedition SUV was added to the existing fleet of vehicles marked with the imprimatur, of official seal, of the Flagstaff House or the Presidency.

And so the logical question becomes: Did the Mills-Mahama government officially and categorically appeal to Monsieur Kanazoe, who is also known to be an auto dealer in Ouagadougou, to either donate or present the 2010 brand-new Ford Expedition SUV to the Presidency? Was Mr. Mahama known to have been friends with Monsieur Kanazoe prior to the offering of the Gift Horse? well, I call it a Gift House, in classical Trojan parlance, because we have yet to learn to what extent this purported gift may have significantly compromised the financial and/or economic integrity of the nation, being that Mr. Kanazoe is alleged to have been ceded government contracts totaling approximately some GH 82-85 million.

Now, isnt a payola investment of some $100,000 an epic bargain of bonanza proportions?!

*Visit my blog at: kwameokoampaahoofe.wordpress.com Ghanaffairs
President John Dramani Mahama

20.06.2016 LISTEN

Any human being in the world would have encountered corruption one way or the other, either being offered a bribe or a bribe being demanded from you. What you need to do is to put yourself in a position to (resist it)."

This was President Mahama's response when BBC Focus on Africa host Peter Okwoche asked him if he had "been offered a bribe before". The President was in the United Kingdom to participate in an anticorruption summit on the invitation of the British Government.

The President's delayed (or do I say calculated?) response to this seemingly innocuous and simple question sent tongues wagging. Many were those, including his aficionados, who interpreted that to mean the President was complicit in the act. In fact, some went as far as suggesting that the President delayed in responding to the question in order to lie through his teeth.

Well, the President answered and tacitly admitted having been tempted before but resisted it. What a relief!

But then, not many people believed that the President was incorruptible and clean of bribery and corruption; not many believed him when he said he had never accepted a bribe before, either as a human being or as a president.

Without apology, I am one of those who believed that the President was not entirely honest with us, considering the dire ramifications of admitting taking bribe.

President Mahama's administration has been rocked by many scandals ranging from the award of contracts to perceived cronies at ridiculously exorbitant costs to questionable procurement procedures. One that opposition members never cease mentioning is the acquisition of aircraft for the Armed Forces negotiated by him, then Vice President. In that deal, according to the opposition and "Citizen Vigilante" Martin Amidu, the then Vice President inflated the cost of the aircraft, leading to the setting up of a Committee of Enquiry by President Mills to investigate the deal. The report of the said committee never saw the light of day because the current President allegedly dissolved the committee and gave the chairman a juicy position in government as a reward.

Another scandal that had the President's name associated with it is the atrocious GHS 3.6 million Smartty's MMT bus branding deal. It has been alleged, particularly by opposition members, that Smartty's was sole sourced with that dubious deal because the owner of the company was a bosom friend of the President. The Amajaro cocoa contract is just another one. Some US$10 million was alleged to have exchanged hands there.

The foregoing are just a few of the scandals under this government to which the President's name has unfortunately been linked.

With this background, it didn't come as a shock when I first heard the expose on the gifting of a US$100,000 Ford Expedition SUV (2010 Edition) to the President by a Burkinabe contractor, Mr. Djibril Kanazoe. My immediate feeling was to treat it with contempt, believing it to be another opposition propaganda.

However, by the time the full details of the deal was laid bare, I was convinced that it could be that sought-after smoking gun to derail the president's second-term Presidential bid.

Then comes a press release by the Minister of Communications, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah. As expected, he denied the suggestion of bribery and corruption against the President. Among other things, the Minister stated that the acceptance of the gift was done with paper trails, and therefore the President could not fairly be accused of accepting a bribe from Mr. Djibril Kanazoe. The press statement also claims the gift has been part of the official Presidential fleet since it was received, as convention demands. Therefore, it was not a hidden personal gift to the President but to his office.

These explanations do not hold water as far as I go. And these are my reasons:

1. The general public would not have been aware of this deal had it not been unraveled by Mr. Manasseh Azure Awuni.

2. The paper trails that were left as a result of the movement and registration of the vehicle were necessary evils that had to be encountered in the course of making the vehicle useful. Thus, the trails were not consciously and wilfully left on the altar of transparency.

3. Bribes do not come in name. Every giver of a bribe comes in the name of gift. Therefore, only events preceding and following that gift can define them as bribes.

4. Question marks about the contracts won by Mr. Djibril Kanazoe's company after the presentation of that gift have not been sufficiently and convincingly addressed. Questions regarding sole sourcing, contract costs and quality of execution need to be addressed with documentary proofs to lay to rest the doubts.

5. Not all bribes are given in closets. Some are given openly in order to throw dust into observers' eyes. That's what confidence tricksters do.

6. The President cannot operate below his own measuring rod. He cannot warn his Ministers and other political appointees not to accept gifts beyond GHS 200 or US$50 while doing the stark opposite in a grand style.

In my considered opinion, therefore, Mr. Djibril Kanazoe did not mean well when he gifted President Mahama the Ford Expedition. He certainly had something up his sleeves then. As to whether the President was able to read the same hidden motive of his so-called friend, and as to whether he received it knowing it was a bribe meant to influence him to influence the award of juicy contracts to Mr. Djibril Kanazoe at the expense of local Ghanaian contractors, I leave it to the judgment of the general public. I say and believe so because it beggars belief that Mr. Djibril Kanazoe went past 18 million Burkinabes and 25 million Ghanaians to give a gift worth $100,000 to President Mahama, who, apart from not paying tax, has everything he needs at his disposal.

In ending this piece, I do not think that the President did discharge himself well in view of the position of the Constitution. He will agree with me if he reads Article 284 (24) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, Section 21 (b) of the Conduct of Public Officers Bill, 2013, Code of Ethics for ministers and political appointees on gifts and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice's (CHRAJ) Guidelines on Conflict of Interest.

I therefore urge President Mahama to submit himself to any anticorruption investigative authority to be investigated and cleared if found clean. The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) are the institutions that readily come to mind. Needless to add that those institutions should initiate the process of investigations and not wait for petitions from private citizens as is often the practice. The President and his government will be the biggest gainers if this is done.

In concluding, I want to ask Mr. President the same question asked by Mr. Peter Okwoche of the BBC.

Mr. President, have you been offered a bribe before?

Stephen Agbai
President John Dramani Mahama

20.06.2016 LISTEN

The latest bribery scandal involving President John Dramani Mahamas receipt of the over $100,000 worth of Ford Expedition vehicle from his Burkinabe friend and contractor is enough to leave any discerning, objective and patriotic Ghanaian with no doubt that he came into office to amass wealth, and not to improve the wellbeing of the very people who voted to give him their mandate.

To the cabal of greedy bastards whose palm kernel nuts have been cracked for by the benevolent spirit of the Mahama presidency, no one can be surprised by their spirited and desperate attempts to justify the immoral, indecorous and reprehensible conduct of the president. After all, they are the direct beneficiaries of the presidents corrupt nature and administration.

But for those who have decided to allow themselves to be influenced, by either alleged monetary inducement or other considerations, to overlook the harm President Mahama is causing the nation, through his innately corrupt practices, we at the Daily Statesman simply want to urge them to listen to their conscience, and consider the ramifications of their conduct on the future of the country.

The President has taken a vehicle from a contractor who was doing business with his government, and his own advisor on corruption says only irresponsible presidents would do that. According to him, this is something the president would never dream of doing. Yet, he has done it. The president himself, while launching his Code of Ethics for Political Appointees, told the whole world that it was against his personal beliefs for a public office holder to do what he has done. Yet, people who want to be taken serious in this country insist there is nothing wrong with this: its not a BIG DEAL, so they say.

We at the Daily Statesman, like other discerning Ghanaians who are not prepared to bury the truth for any consideration, will forever insist that the very circumstances that led to the friendship between President Mahama and the Burkinabe contractor is enough in concluding that the car he doled out was a bribe  pure and simple! The link is so clear for those who have not been blinded by some considerations to see.

A simple question: Would the Burkinabe contractor give the car to President Mahama if he was not looking for a contract and President Mahama was not a public officer in position to trust to influence decisions in his favour? Whoever answers his question from his heart and not from the stomach will come to the firm conclusion that a conflict of interest situation arises in the presidents association with the contractor. This simply makes the consideration, which is the Ford vehicle, a BRIBE

This man, who had been struggling, without making any headway, to win road contracts in Ghana, secured a juicy contract from the government after a friend had advised him to go and salute President Mahama. What could have changed for the man to begin securing contracts after going to salute President Mahama? It is clear something must have changed hands even at the first meeting. And no discerning person will ever attempt to refute any assertion that the mans motive of going to see President Mahama, in the first place, was to solicit favour to enable him get contracts.

And he, indeed, got the contract, after going to salute Mr Mahama, and subsequently decided to thank the president with a vehicle, after executing that contract and getting paid for the outrageous amount he charged and collected from the poor Ghanaian tax payer.

Following this, the nations procurement laws and guidelines suffered obvious manipulations to enable the presidents friend secure more contracts through sole-sourcing. Yet, Ghanaians are being made to believe that there could not have been any presidential maneuvering, and that the Burkinabe businessman won his contracts on merit.

At this stage, we at the Daily Statesman want to caution Ghanaians that another term for the corrupt President Mahama and his cabal of greed bastards will only extent the opportunity they have to steal more from the national coffers, and thus create more hardships for all of us.

The only way out for the nation now is to boot out this corrupt president from power and replace him with the more patriotic, incorruptible Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who has convinced the nation beyond every reasonable doubt that he is not into politics to amass wealth, but to seek the wellbeing of the masses
Nairobi, Kenya, June 20 2016Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises has been elected as the Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), which is amongst the worlds oldest and most respected global business organisations. He is the third Indian business leader to hold this prestigious position in ICCs near -100 year history.

Sunil Bharti Mittal takes over from Terry McGraw, Chairman Emeritus of S&P Global, who will subsequently become ICCs Honorary Chairman. The ICC World Council elected the new leaders in a voting held today in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

On being elected, Sunil Bharti Mittal, said, I am honoured at being given the opportunity to lead this prestigious global institution and look forward to working with our members to ensure that we continue to play a constructive role as the voice of global business in formulation of economic and trade policies to support inclusive growth. The global economy is facing unprecedented headwinds to growth and there is an urgent need to restore trade and investment as a driver of growth and jobs, particularly in the developing world and this will be a central focus of my tenure.

Founded in 1919, ICC is the worlds largest business organization which represents private-sector views to national governments and intergovernmental bodies around the world. It advocates for free trade and the market economy, working through a network of national committees and direct members in over 130 countries. ICC was awarded the highest level consultative status with the United Nations (UN) in 1946, and since then has represented the private sector by engaging in a broad range of activities with the UN and its specialized agencies.

Sunil Bharti Mittal serves on many international bodies and think-tanks. He is currently the Chair of the World Economic Forums (WEF) Telecommunications Steering Committee, Member: International Business Council-WEF, GSMA Board, Telecom Board of International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Commissioner of the Broadband Commission, International Advisory Panel of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Prime Minister of Singapores Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council. He is a Trustee of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and on the Board of Qatar Foundation Endowment.

He is closely associated with spearheading the Indian industrys global trade, collaboration and policy- he has served on the Prime Minister of Indias Council on Trade & Industry. He is also a member of the India-US, India-UK and India-Japan CEO Forums. He is Co-Chair of the India-Africa Business Council and India-Sri Lanka CEO Forum. He was the President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the premier industry body in India in 2007-08.

Sunil Bharti Mittal is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan, one of Indias highest civilian honors, awarded to individuals for demonstrating distinguished services of high order. He has also been awarded Harvard Business Schools Alumni Achievement Honor  the utmost honor accorded by the institute to its alumni. He is the recipient of GSMAs prestigious Chairman award, besides being decorated with numerous industry honors. Sunil has been conferred Honorary Doctorates by several leading universities in India and UK.

About the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC):

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is the worlds largest business organization with a network of over 6.5 million members in more than 130 countries. We work to promote international trade, responsible business conduct and a global approach to regulation through a unique mix of advocacy and standard setting activitiestogether with market-leading dispute resolution services. Our members include many of the worlds largest companies, SMEs, business associations and local chambers of commerce. www.iccwbo.org
20.06.2016 LISTEN

From Richard Owusu-Akyaw, Kumasi

The Minister of Communications, Dr. Boamah has jumped to the defense of President John Dramani Mahama over the Ford Expedition gift from a Burkinabe contractor, Mr. Djibril Kanazoe , which has gone haywire in Ghana as a bribe.

Speaking on JOYFM's NEWSFILE programme over the weekend, the minister defended President Mahama, saying the gift would not have been channelled through official sources, if it was meant to bribe the president.

He described the process under which the vehicle in dispute got to Ghana as official and that if the Flagstaff House or Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso had something to hide, they would have put a security number plate on the car to paint a different picture, but that was not the case.

He wondered how Mr. Djibril would place a bribe in an official source and the ambassador also documenting it to go through official channels.

Investigative expose by JOYFM's Manasseh Azure brought to fore a Ford Expedition car reportedly worth $100,000  which was given to President Mahama through the Ghana Embassy in Burkina Faso as a gift from the Burkinabe contractor, Mr. Djibril.

According to official government release, the car has been added to the pool of cars at the presidency. The contractor was behind the controversial $650,000 Ghana Embassy wall in Burkina Faso.

The Communication Minister and official spokesman for the presidency defended President Mahama that, Mr. Djibril did not bribe our President when he took the gift to the official source, which is the Ghanaian Embassy in Burkina Faso.

He contended that anybody who would give bribe in this circumstance must be a 'terrible bribe giver'. The Communication Minister again told his listeners, that it would also be wrong for people to argue that the gift was meant to influence awarding of contracts when the contractor had completed his job.

He explained: There so many contractors on the eastern corridor roads, which work people expect to be completed at a very faster pace and as we speak now, his portion of the stretch has been completed and everybody appreciate his work. On the rigorous projects review procedure, Dr Boamah defended that everybody appreciates the details and processes reviewing projects go through.

He told the host, Mr. Samson Lardy to have time and go through the said project and it would be appreciated that, the President is not corrupt as it is being alleged by some Ghanaians. Prof. Kwasi Prempeh, who was on the telephone line from his base in the US, however, belongs to another school of thought about the presidential gift.

According to him, gifts have nothing to do with conflict of interest. He was emphatic it was also immaterial, whether or not the giver of the car intended it to influence decisions of the president. Attacking the Presidency, he said: We do not want to countenance a Robin Hood situation where you could say, well I took the gift but I gave it to the needy or to the poor or I donated it to Korle-Bu Hospital. We really don't want to enter into those kinds of after-the-fact rationalisations or excuses.

Prof Prempeh said, President John Mahama has been embroiled in what many have described as an untidy controversy, following his acceptance of a brand new Ford Expedition (2010 edition) gift from Mr. Djibril Kanazoe in 2012.

The legal luminary argued that President John Mahama might have engaged himself in a conflict of interest situation when he accepted the car gift. Mr. Abdul Malik KwekuBaako, the Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, observed that the Ford expedition car was a mere gift and the contractor had no intention to bribe Mr. Mahama, who is battling for re-election in the November polls.
20.06.2016 LISTEN

From Ernest Best Anane, Kumasi

Mr. Alexander Attah-Asante, Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Education has expressed worry over the alarming number of Ghanaian children in child labour. According to him, about 1.9 million children in Ghana between the ages of five and 17 are involved in child labour quoting the Ghana Statistical Service.

Among the number, he said, 1.2 million children in the same age group are engaged in hazardous forms of child labour and indicated that, the number of children who do not go to school but participate in economic activities is higher than those in school.

Mr. Attah-Asante revealed this when he delivered a speech as part of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly commemoration of World Day against Child Labour, under the theme: End Child Labour in supply Chains, its Everyones business. He explained that, Child labour is done by any working child who is under the age specified by law or custom stressing that Child labour is a hazard to a childs mental, physical, Social, Educational, emotional, and spiritual development.

Mr. Attah-Asante stated that, it is obligatory for all countries to set a minimum age for employment according to the rules of ILO written in Convention 238 (C. 138), which he said Ghana has obliged. The Education director said stipulated age for employment is not below 15 and that even as a developing country we are allowed to set the minimum age at 14 years in accordance with our socio-economic circumstances.

He disclosed that, it is our business to end child labour, and should not be a funfair that every year we gather to give speeches only to go back and perpetuate the ills against children.

Mr. Kojo Bonsu, the Metropolitan Chief Executive, stated that Child labour is wrong and that, every possible action must be taken to put an end to it. He called for renewal of our commitment towards putting an end to all forms of child labour.

According to him, we all need to play our collective roles and work hard to ensure that, children have access to basic resources including nutrition, health and education, so that they may fully realize their potentials in the World.

Pix: Students marching on the principal streets of Kumasi in

commemoration of the Day


20.06.2016 LISTEN

By Pascal KafuAbotsi ([email protected])

The Minister for Transport, Mr.FifiKwetey, has appealed to media training institutions in the country to include marine-related courses in their curricula to deepen their students understanding of the sub-sector.

This, he said, would lead to the churning out of journalists who could explain matters related to the area, better to the public.

With the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) and the University of Ghanas School of Communication Studies as his reference points, the minister underscored the importance of the maritime transport sub sector to augment his argument of the need for a specialised area in Maritime and Transport Studies in those institutions of higher learning.

Speaking at the 5th Maritime Seminar for Journalists organised by the Ghana Shippers Authority in Accra on Wednesday, Mr Kwetey revealed that apart from over 70% of governments internal revenue coming from activities of the sub-sector, more than 90% of Ghanas international trade by volume, was maritime-based.

Ghanas oil exploitation activities are maritime based. The seaports are critical national security installations requiring the interest and attention of the journalists,  he added.

It is in the light of the foregoing that I would like to advocate strongly for the appropriate authorities to consider introducing this specialised area of learning into their curriculum of Schools of Journalism in the country, he said, explaining that This action, I believe, would ensure that we churn out Maritime Transport Journalists of high calibre in the medium to long term.

Unveiling some of the developments that were underway for the expansion of the two sea ports in the country in order to enhance their operational capacities and efficiencies, he mentioned a $1.5 billion invested by the private sector investor reserved for the TemaPort , which, he said would see the development of a new container terminal, construction of a 3.85 kilometres breakwater, a railway terminal and the reconstruction of the Tema motorway into a six lane.

Besides, there is the construction of a bulk cargo handling jetty at the Tema Port, with a length of 450 metres to receive bulk cargo vessels to facilitate clearance of goods.

Work is also completed on the construction of a Reefer Terminal to expand capacity to meet demand for more refrigerated cargo points at a cost of US$ 20 million, he indicated, as he also announced The completion of phase one of the Takoradi Logistics Platform project involving the construction of two  20,000 square feet capacity warehouses and 1,200 sq. ft of office space on two acres at Funko, near Takoradi to service the oil industry in the Western Region.

The Ketu South legislator further touched on a 12-storey Ghana Shippers House intended to become a one-stop shop facility for maritime transport services with Freight Exchange House comparable to the Baltic Exchange in London.

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA) said the seminar was organised to provide journalists with the valuable knowledge on the maritime sector, especially recent developments, which affected the operations of the sector globally and nationally.

Mrs Sylvia Asana DaudaOwu stated that the fundamental role of the Authority of protecting and promoting the interests of shippers in the country through the provision of direct and indirect services, called for the dissemination of clear and accurate information.

It is in recognition of the special role of our media practitioners that the idea of this seminar series was mooted and has been sustainedIt is the Authoritys firm belief that the carriers of the news must first understand the news to effectively disseminate it and this has been the underlying principle for organising these seminars for our media practitioners, she acknowledged.

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr AffailMonney, who expressed gratitude to GSA for the seminar pointed out that capacity building had proven to be the most potent medicine to cure the professional diseases of journalists.

He was hopeful the theme for the seminar which loudly amplifies the dividend of capacity building will help journalists abreast of current developments in the maritime industry and other key sectors of the economy and dimensions of the national life.

Mrs.NaaDensuaAryeetey, Head of Shipper Services and Trade Facilitation at the GSA, took participants through the topic: The International Maritime Organisations (IMO) Requirement for Container Weight Verification: Is Ghana Ready? while the Chief Revenue Officer, Export, of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Dr.GodfredOkon-Appiah spoke on Understanding the ECOWAS Common External Tarrif.

The final speaker, Mr. Aminu Uthman Oluwatoni, who is the Project Manager of West Blue Consult had his presentation focused on: The Ghana Single Window-How far?
Ndoum

20.06.2016 LISTEN

We the Volunteers for Nduom wish to congratulate Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, on winning the Ultimate man of the year at the Exclusive Men of the Year ( EMYs) Awards. At the Banquet Hall on Saturday 18th June, 2016, Dr. Nduom emerged the Ultimate man of the year amongst top business leaders in the country.

This award has renewed our spirit to campaign for you because, this is evident of acceptance of your ingenuity and industrious nature by Ghanains who have voted you as the ultimate man of the year. It also means Ghanaians shall be willing to accept you as the leader who shall take Ghana to the next level.

We pledge to continue to work diligently to support Dr Nduom, create a credible competitive political platform capable of winning power and many seats in parliament come November 2016.

We also take this opportunity to wish you Happy Fathers Day.

The Ultimate Father of the Year.

EMMANUEL OSEI

PROGRAMMES OFFICER

VOLUNTEERS FOR NDUOM

0501449544
The deputy Minister of Education Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has clarified that the Akropong School for the Blind was not left out of the 500 buses distributed recently to schools and educational institutions by President John Mahama.

The headmistress of the school Mahela Narh said she was disappointed following governments inability to allot them one of the 500 vehicles.

According to her, the development was regrettable since the school has been in dire need of vehicles to facilitate students movement among others.

In 2007 they shared vehicles and the school for the blind was left out, the first special school in the country which has the greater number was left out, just last year they gave Yutong buses, we were hoping and appealing.

Just this last week too, honestly I was down spirited. WA school for the blind hasn't got a bus at all and they were left out. Sometimes we are invited for national programmes, just this last week they were to start their BECE, our exam center is Okuapiman, we had to convey the students so it was some people who supported us with their car. So its a big challenge, we need a bus seriously, she lamented.

But speaking at a Town Hall meeting in Cape Coast, Central region, on the Schools that benefited from the new buses, Ablakwa stated that a bus was allotted to the Akropong School for the Blind but an oversight led to the headmistress of that school not being invited for the distribution at the Independence Square in Accra.

It was an oversight...we checked on our list and we noticed that though their school was on the list the headmistress was not invited to the independence square. So their bus is available for them and would be given to them.

He said the bus will be handed over to the school Monday and the headmistress has been duly informed.
Police in Kumasi are promising a ruthless crackdown on self-appointed Zongo chiefs whose conduct poses a security threat to the people.

Manhyia Divisional Command warns the police will arrest and prosecute these self-appointed chiefs to prevent bloodshed ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations.

Acting Divisional Commander, Superintendent Rev. Dr. Nana Samuel Nyamekye Adane-Ameyaw says police will not tolerate indiscipline that will plunge the city into lawlessness.

He warns anybody who wants to take the law into his own hands and to spoil the beauty of that event, that person will have a brush with the law.

The two major Muslim festivals, Eid-ul-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan fasting, and Eid-ul-Adha or Feast of Sacrifice, are celebrated in Kumasi with street carnivals.

Often, the procession has resulted in violent clashes between followers of rival the Zongo chiefs.

A middle-aged man, Baba Seidu, was murdered in cold-blood in one of such incidents last year.

A docket on four people arrested over the young mans death still awaits advice from the Attorney- Generals Office, almost one year after the incident

Police fear the violence could repeat itself as some self-styled chiefs continue to parade themselves as lawfully-enskinned community leaders.

This year some people have started it. I am also warning them; if they have a problem, they should sort it out before it is too late. Superintendent Adane-Ameyaw warned.

He mentioned particularly claimant to the the Builsa skin in Kumasi who has been parading himself despite the enskinment of the rightful heir recently in collaboration with the Asantehene.

The security agency has scheduled a meeting with all Zongo chiefs in the region to discuss ways of averting a recurrence.

Superintendent Rev. Dr. Nana Adane-Ameyaw appeals to Muslims and their leaders to ensure peace as Zongo chiefs consult with the Asantehene to resolve chieftaincy issues.

Ahead of the meeting with the chiefs, Supt Adane-Ameyaw tells Nhyira FM no effort will be spared in securing celebrants and their communities.

I want to use your platform to let every chief or any other person individual or group of people who have a similar mission or intention to stop that otherwise I will not sit down here for anybody to do anything that will cause bloodshed here, he stressed.
Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwasi Pratt Jnr. has showered a litany of praise on his one-time best friend, Kwaku Baako Jnr. for his  stance regarding the alleged bribery scandal cooked by Joy FMs Investigative Journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni.

The veteran Journalist cum Social Commentator was contributing to the recent alleged bribery scandal levelled against President John Dramani Mahama by Joy FMs Investigative Journalist, Manasseh Awuni last Saturday, 19th June on Radio Golds flagship socio-political Programme, ALHAJI and ALHAJI.

The stance taken by Kwaku Baako, in his opinion was the beginning of what we have been looking for in this country for a long time and for that singular instance, I salute him for the stance he has taken.

President Mahama, in a latest investigative piece by Joy FMs investigative Journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni received a gift of a Ford Expedition from a Burkinabe Contractor, Djibril Kanazoe (who described President Mahama as a friend), which some opposition party activists claim amounts to bribe and has therefore called for his immediate resignation.

Meanwhile, Government through the Minister of Communication, Dr. Omane Boamah has confirmed that a Burkinabe contractor indeed offered a vehicle as a gift to President John Dramani Mahama in 2012 and explained that the said vehicle has been placed in the vehicle pool at the Presidency as per established convention.

Many anti-corruption campaigners, as well as some civil society organizations, have slammed President Mahama in what they say is his blatant disregard for anti-corruption guidelines in the country.

However, Mr. Abdul Malik Kwaku Baako Jnr, editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper and a known critic of the Mahama-led administration thinks otherwise.

According to him, for the great lengths he (Manasseh) went to, in order to get to the bottom of the matter is commendable, but the attempt to link the issue to a bribe could have been better packaged.

The veteran Journalist, who was speaking on Metro TVs Good Morning Ghana show on Thursday, explained that Mr. Azure Awuni could have taken his time to apprise himself with the full facts of the matter before rushing to the public with the documentary.

"Checks from an authentic source indeed confirms that the President is not using the car for his personal comfort" and that, as indicated in the Communications Minister's statement, "it has been added to the fleet of cars at the presidency He added.

In Pratts view, the honest stance taken by Mr. Baako is a positive development for the nation.

When this case broke, my friend, Kwaku Baako; Malik Kwaku Baako, was one of the first people to say that, look, people are chasing a mirage. I salute him for the stance he has taken. He echoed

The ace Journalist bemoaned the situation where political party functionaries would always try to see the gloomy side of events without an iota of objectivity. This trend, according to Mr. Pratt is a negative antidote for the country's forward movement effort.

For a long time, I have been wondering. How come that anything the government does is seen as bad in the eyes of all activists of the New Patriotic Party (NPP); and anything the NPP does is seen as bad in the eyes of all the people in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and so on? He queried.

Mr. Pratt sees nothing wrong with President Mahama receiving a gift from a Burkinabe contractor, who happens to be President Mahamas friend. According to Mr. Pratt, the circumstances surrounding the gift does not in any way constitutes a bribe. Never!

The fact that everything about the gift was not shrouded in secrecy, and were indeed documented buttresses his argument of no case of bribery on the part of the president. What kind of bribe is documented? He retorted.

Besides, Presidents around the world including President Barak Obama of the United States of America (USA) have had gifts; therefore, he sees absolutely nothing wrong with Mahama receiving gifts. In fact, President Obama, for instance, last year received gifts over 3. 6 million dollars. He said.

He dismissed claims that President Mahama has compromised his integrity by accepting a gift from his Burkinabe friend.

To buttress his argument, Mr. Pratt claims both President J. J. Rawlings and J. A. Kufuor did receive gifts in their capacity as presidents.

In recent history, we do know, for example, that President Rawlings received gifts, including the payment of school fees for his children who were studying abroad. Would we consider that as bribery?

We do know President Kufuor received gifts including the gift of an armored vehicle. Was that a bribe? He continued. It is a legitimate question we need to answer in order to arrive at the conclusion as to whether it was a bribe or not.  He stressed.

The question of whether what the president received from his Burkinabe friend constitutes a bribe or not was neither here nor there.

He has therefore praised Mr. Kwaku Baako, Hon. P. C. Appiah Ofori of the NPP and Ivor Greenstreet, Convention Peoples Partys presidential candidate for being honest in their analysis of the allegation.

When this case broke, P. C. Appiah Ofori, a member of the NPP who has said he would not do anything to bring his party down, said publicly that he does not consider this as a bribe. I think we have made one step forward. P. C. Appiah Ofori, he said that. And he remains a loyal and committed member of the NPP.

In the case of Mr. Ivor Greenstreet, Mr. Pratt said, he has brought credibility to the camp of the CPP since being elected to the position of a presidential candidate. He eulogized Mr. Greenstreet for his sincerity and honesty and has, therefore, called on members of the party to cease fighting their leader in public for his stance regarding the alleged bribery scandal being erroneously levelled against the president.

He urged party supporters to support the Mr. Greenstreet in his quest to turn the fortunes of the party around.

Mr. Pratt, however, encouraged Ghanaians to criticize president Mahama severely should he go astray in the performance of his constitutional mandate since he is an employee of the country.

When the president goes wrong, it is our duty as citizens to criticize him severely. The president is our employee. And if he is not doing his work well we have to punish him well. But for goodness shake, when there is nothing, dont lets try to create something
KIGALI, Rwanda, 20 June 2016,-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- Carnegie Mellon University's commitment to educating Africa's next generation of technology leaders and entrepreneurs received a boost today with a $10.8 million commitment from The MasterCard Foundation. This new partnership, which will be established at Carnegie Mellon University's College of Engineering program in Kigali, Rwanda, will benefit 125 academically talented but economically disadvantaged students from Sub-Saharan Africa as part of The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program.

Carnegie Mellon University will join a global network of 23 Scholars Program partners, comprising educational institutions that are committed to developing Africa's young leaders. These Scholars will go on to use their knowledge and skills to lead change in their communities and contribute to meaningful transformation across the continent.

Since 2011, Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda has contributed to enhancing the quality of the engineering workforce in Africa. This effort has addressed the critical shortage of information and communication technology (ICT) skills required for Africa to compete in the Fourth Industrial Revolution where physical, cyber and biological systems converge through information, computing and communication technologies to transform the lives and livelihoods of citizens around the world in unprecedented ways.

The talented graduates of Carnegie Mellon in Rwanda play a strategic role in Africa's trajectory, leveraging ICT to digitally leapfrog socio-economic development across the continent. With transformative support from The MasterCard Foundation, Carnegie Mellon will be able to multiply its impact on higher education and the ICT sector in Africa, as part of the Rwanda Government's vision to create a Regional Center of Excellence in ICT and to serve as a technological hub for the region.

"We are excited to partner with Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda, an exceptional institution committed to training the next generation of African engineers, innovators and entrepreneurs to meet pressing global challenges," said Reeta Roy, President and CEO of The MasterCard Foundation. "Investment in STEM education is pivotal to Africa's future and will ensure that African nations have the opportunity to identify, develop and deploy their wealth of talent."

By offering globally recognized degree programs in ICT to 125 students from lower-income families in Africa, Carnegie Mellon will have impact in three ways: first, this Program will dramatically expand future career options for each of the Scholars; second, it will be an essential educational and research resource underpinning growth and development of the technology sector in Africa; and third, alumni and faculty will benefit from Carnegie Mellon's resources for supporting entrepreneurship and innovation. The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda will attract a diverse mix of Scholars from Rwanda and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa, with a priority on increasing the enrollment of women.

"With this generous support from The MasterCard Foundation, we can multiply the impact of our program in Rwanda and educate a new cohort of exceptional engineers who will become catalysts for Africa's digital transformation," said CMU President Subra Suresh. "CMU shares the Foundation's commitment to elevating intellectual and economic vitality around the globe, especially in developing regions. Students attending Carnegie Mellon in Rwanda receive a world-class education that enables them to become leaders in Africa's growing innovation ecosystem."

The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program will provide holistic student support, including comprehensive scholarships, leadership development, volunteerism and industry-driven career services - developing highly skilled, transformative leaders to catalyze Africa's digital transformation. The Program will start in Fall 2016 and conclude in 2023, underscoring the importance of establishing long-term education programs in Africa. Research underway at Carnegie Mellon in Rwanda also takes a long-term approach. The faculty understand that to address Africa's technology needs, students require time to analyze and solve problems in the context in which they occur. Research at Carnegie Mellon explores critical topics relevant to Africa: wireless networking, mobile applications, energy systems, cyber security, agriculture, financial services and telecommunications.

The partnership announcement was made on June 20th during Carnegie Mellon University's graduation ceremony, when 24 students received master's degrees in Information Technology and Electrical and Computer Engineering. CMU President Suresh, and Dr. Jendayi Frazer, a member of the Board of Directors of The MasterCard Foundation, attended the graduation ceremony. To date, the program has graduated 70 students hailing from Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and the United States. The vast majority of these graduates are working in their home countries, making an impact in the private sector, government and academia, and the rest are pursuing the creation of startup companies as well as doctoral programs.
20.06.2016 LISTEN

Bloodshed in the northern states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, Taraba, and Bauchi terrified residents to abandon their homes for safety across the 36 states of the federation and across borders.

Since 2009, killings and destructions in the mentioned states by members of Jamaatu Ahlis Sunna Liddaawati Wal-Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram (BH), have affected about fourteen million people.

Boko Haram is a sect that has been fighting naively hard to establish an Islamic State and also end western education in the north-east region of Nigeria. The group has been engaging Nigerian security forces in severe warfare.

Many efforts made by the presidency to end the insurgency proved abortive with the group causing untoward mayhems in the towns and villages across the north east of the country and by extension in other parts of northern Nigeria.

The conflict became chiefly forceful in 2014, with the government gasping for help. Within the Lake Chad Basin, there was estimation that 250,000 people were in-search-of protection in Niger, Cameroon, and Chad.

The internally displaced people (IDP) were on the increase with Cameroon unaided, recording more than 90,000 dislodged people. The Federal Government of Nigeria requested assistance from the international community, especially the United Nations (UN), to review the requirements related to peace building and crisis recuperation in the troubled north.

From Nigerias presidency, Professor Joy Uche Angela Ogwu, a former Foreign Minister of Nigeria (and has been the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations in New York since 2008), waited tolerantly for August 12 2015 to come by for a United Nations Security Council meetings, to discuss the issue.

The meeting was offered in harmony with the 2008 Joint EU-UN-WB Declaration on crisis assessment and recovery planning, geared towards discussing strategies in tackling terrorism.

The presidency was worried that if nothing was done, the number of malnourished persons affected in the north-east would be on the increase with estimation by the UN that there were 223,000 relentlessly malnourished children that could die if urgent measures were not applied.

UN Envoys To Nigeria

When the UN Special Envoy to Nigeria, Leila Zerrougui representing the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Children and Armed Conflicts, visited Nigeria, she found out that humanitarian crisis Boko Haram had brewed in northern Nigeria was intensifying.

The international body guesstimated that the number of internally displaced persons (IDP) was between two and three million. International Alert, a peace-building group, and the United Nations Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in different fora, accounted that those captured (especially women and children by the sect) and later freed by the efforts of security agents, were often rejected by their towns and villages, with the fear that they had been radicalized and might recruit others.

Zerrougui said that she witnessed people's shock and disbelief at the devastation suffered by their communities, and saw trauma in children's eyes. She further expressed that the scale of the suffering was way beyond what she anticipated to find; the people she met demanded and deserved urgent protection.

The UN envoy in addition uncovered that over 900,000 people, many of them women and children had fled their homes in the North-east; over 300 schools had been rigorously destroyed, and hundreds of children killed, injured or abducted from their homes and schools.

After Zerrougui Visit

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator of the UN, Stephen OBrien arrived to Nigeria on May 18, 2016.

He was on a two-day visit, to assess the humanitarian crisis created by Boko Haram insurgency.

It was disclosed in Abuja by the Head, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA), Miss Kate Pond.

The UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen OBrien, will be in Nigeria from May 18 to 19, to take stock of the humanitarian crisis in the Lake Chad Basin.

The crisis in the Lake Chad Basin, including Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad, has continuously deteriorated over the last two years.

Insecurity and counter-insurgency measures have affected over 2.4 million people, making it the fastest growing displacement crisis in Africa, Pond said.

Pond frowned that communities in the Lake Chad Basin are already struggling with the effects of climate change, environmental degradation, chronic food insecurity and malnutrition.

Kate harangued that the conflict has dramatically exacerbated their Internally Displaced Persons vulnerability. In the worst-affected areas, she said, almost half of the population of up to 9.2 million people need assistance; and more than three million of the Internally Displaced Persons were affected by food insecurity.

Hence, the UN vowed to make the crisis in the North east an international issue at the World Humanitarian Summit, which was intended to take place in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 23-24 2016.

$500m Appeal To Tackle Refugee Crises

On 25 January 2016, the United Nation High Commission on Refugee (UNHCR) had appealed for financial aid from the international community to the melody of $500 million.

The fund, as according to the UN, was to facilitate its effort in providing humanitarian aid to millions of people forced to flee due to conflicts in Nigeria and by extension, the Central African Republic (CAR).

The UNHCR Regional Refugee Coordinator for CAR and Nigerian situations, Liz Ahua, said, These two humanitarian crises must not be forgotten; they are not going away. The suffering is great and the needs acute among both the displaced and host communities.

Violence occurs on almost daily basis in north-eastern Nigeria and CAR, generating fear and new displacement in the region, citing suicide attacks, kidnapping, indiscriminate killings and massive human rights abuses.

Assistance/Donation Of Food

The World Food Programme (WFP) was particularly troubled about the state of displaced persons, saying that malnutrition rate was higher than the disaster brinks.

The WFP was present in the three countries of the Lake Region of Chad. The body provided food and other assistance to refugees, returnees, IDPs, and the communities that are hosting them.

Life-saving food assistance is being provided along with specialized nutritional food to treat malnourished children under five, and pregnant and nursing women.

In March, WFP provided food assistance to more than 100,000 people in the three countries, and blanket supplementary feeding activities were launched in Cameroon and continued in Niger to prevent the nutritional status of children under five and nursing women from getting worse, said a Nigerian official with the presidency who claimed anonymity.

Checks, however, revealed that the WFP had plans to reach close to 400,000 people each month with essential food assistance, even without burning funds. But it had vowed that with its efforts in making sure that the growing needs were met, the WFP was only 25 percent funded  with US$33 million needed at present to meet urgent needs over the next six months.

Odimegwu Onwumere is a Rivers State based poet, writer and consultant and winner, in the digital category, Nordica Media Merit Awards 2016. Tel: +2348057778358. Email: [email protected]
President John Dramani Mahama has been advised to apologise to Ghanaians for accepting a Ford Expedition worth $100,000 gift from a private Burkinabe contractor.

Policy Analyst, Dr. Thomas Buabeng, says the Presidents action violates the code of conduct governing public officers.

I expect the President to come out boldly and apologise to the entire citizenry because he got it wrong. President John Mahama must accept his fault and take responsibilities, he said.

Dr. Buabeng was speaking with Afia Pokua on Adom FMs current affairs programme Burning Issues, Wednesday.

He was reacting to investigations by Joy News Manasseh Azure Awuni which revealed the President received a Ford Expedition in 2012 from Burkinabe contractor, Mr Djiril Kanazoe.

The President must come out and say that Im sorry, I had it wrong for accepting the vehicle Dr. Buabeng stated.

Manassehs expose its a very dark story for Ghana as a country which shows that we have more to do he stressed.

Joy News' investigations have revealed that President Mahama was given a brand new Ford Expedition in 2012 by the contractor who won the bid to construct the $650,000 Ghana Embassy Wall in the Burkina Faso capital, Ouagadougou.

According to reports, in 2014 Parliaments Public Accounts Committee (PAC) ordered the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to investigate the transaction when the cost of the project came up.

But checks by Joy News reveal the Bank did not undertake the investigation. The contractor in question is the same person who also won the bid to construct the recently commissioned Dodo-Pepeso section of the Eastern Corridor Road.

Joy News checks also show there are moves to award him a 82 million contract on sole sourcing.

Government in a statement issued by Communications Minister, Edward Omane Boamah said though the car was received, it had nothing to do with the contract awarded to Djibril Kanazoe.

But Dr. Buabeng believes that the President has violated the code of conduct of public officials.

He also warned the opposition parties and communicators of the ruling government not to politicize the issue.

Dr. Buabeng called on Ghanaians to congratulate Manasseh Azure Awuni for this expose.
Police in Tamale have said they are yet to forward the docket of the sixteen year old boy, who was brutalized by soldiers, to the Attorney Generals office for advise, weeks after they took over the case.

According to the Northern Regional Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Chief, DSP John Anane, his outfit is awaiting an official statement from the victim, who had not yet given one, despite several invitations from the police.

Its a very delicate issue. We wanted to send the docket to the Attorney General (AG) for advise, but we realized that the complainant has not given any statement. Since then, weve been calling him to come and give a statement, but he hasnt yet done that. We want him to come and give us a statement before we send it for advise, he explained.

We have got the medical report oh him, but we still needed to see him personally to get some further information from him. We have sent for him more than 3 times. He is staying in Accra and his condition is now stable, so I dont know why hes still not coming. He should be able to tell us how many soldiers beat him and how he was beaten. We need to have that information before we go to court.

The victim, Christopher Bam, was reportedly beaten by the military officers at Tamale in the Northern Region, for allegedly stealing a Tecno mobile phone.

He has since been discharged by the Nsawam Government Hospital where he was receiving treatment.

The Northern Regional Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, handed over three of the five soldiers who brutally assaulted the teenager, to the Northern Regional Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, for thorough investigations.

The soldiers were then granted police inquiry bail as investigations progressed

Speaking to Citi News, the Public Relations Officer of the Northern Regional Police Command, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh said, We took statements from them and have granted them police inquiry bail so we have released them to the military authorities.

The Ghana Armed Forces said they had found the soldiers guilty after their own investigations into the incident, adding that they would be punished accordingly.



By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana
I have in recent times suspended myself from writing political articles. But my experience as a Ghanaian has given me the interest to bother you with an article which I believe is of much concern to the ordinary Ghanaian. Howbeit, I have been quiet for some time because of certain reasons. Probably, because of my academic work. And just a few days ago, I was tempted to write this little piece. For the past months, the word Incompetence has been on the lips of members of the opposition New Patriotic Party. And one wonders if they really understand the word, and whether or not it is used in the right context.

Some of our market women, traders, trotro drivers, artisans, and famers are a few Ghanaians conversant with this word. Come to think of it, and how this word is been used to malign an innocent man like H.E John Mahama, you will understand it was first used by Nana Addo and his surrogates. Somewhere last year, I released an article which I titled, A call for hygiene in Ghanas politics. In this article, I urged that as Ghanaians, we ought to do our very best to create a political environment which is serene and conducive going into the 2016 polls. And that we must purge our politics.

Whatever is done today in politics, be it good or bad, becomes a precedent for generations to follow. Lets get it clear. It is instructive to note that this article is devoid of the many achievements of H.E John Dramani Mahama. I intend not to go that direction. All I intend doing is unveiling to you the understanding of the word. Incompetence, as defined by the Encarta Dictionary, explains the word as, bad at doing something: lacking the skills, qualities or ability to do something. Now the question is simple. Does H.E John Dramani Mahama have the skill and ability to occupy the position he currently occupies?

The last observation I made revealed that H.E John Mahama has attained certain skills and abilities which are alien or strange to Mr. Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo. Sometimes I get amused when the NPP make allusion to the fact that H.E John Dramani Mahama is incompetent. How? In fact, in Ghana, when one applies for a job, the organization to which the application is made requires that there must be a working experience, which is otherwise espoused in the Curriculum Vitae of the applicant. Now, why is this done? It is done to ascertain whether or not the application has the skills, abilities, and qualities for the job.

Let us now judge H.E John Dramani Mahama in two phases. One being his educational qualification. And the other being his political experience. Any genuine politician today will testify to the fact that the president is the most successful and transitional politician in the history of this country. Take it or leave it. However, I beg to start with his educational credentials. After graduating as an excellent history student in Ghana Senior High School (GHANASCO), he was admitted into Ghanas first and best University, LEGON, where he studies for his first degree in History. He also attained a postgraduate diploma in mass communication in 1986 in the same University.

Later, he studied at the institute of Social sciences, in Moscow, specializing in Social psychology, obtaining a postgraduate degree. H.E John Dramani Mahama before joining politics has worked in a number of organizations and agencies. He worked with the Japan Embassy, Plan Ghana, Plan International, Ghana Aid Commission, and a host of others.

Are these experiences not enough? Let me embarrass you with his political career and why I concluded that he is the most successful and transitional president in Ghanas history. From being an MP for Bole-Bamboi for 12 good years, he also served as a Deputy Minister for Communications and subsequently a Substantive Minister. He also occupied positions such as Chairman of the National Communications Authority, Chairperson of the West Africa Caucus, Minority Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs etc.

He later became the Vice President and today, by Gods divine grace, he is President of Ghana. Common sense should dictate to any well-meaning Ghanaian, that this man is more than competent. Unless you have forgotten, Mr. Nana Addo, as competent as he is, filed a suit against Tsatsu Tsikata in the name of the President. Quite outrageous! That clearly defines incompetence. Aside H.E John Mahamas educational excellence, he is also a gifted orator and a true definition of a politician. He is a transformational leader with his country at heart.

If you care to juxtapose his experiences, both educational and political to that of Mr. Nana Addo, H.E John Mahama stands tall. Mr.Nana Addo is no match for H.E John Mahama. The NPP must reorient. The NPP must take a second thought on the subject of Incompetence and consult their lexicons for further understanding of the word and stop misusing it on the wrong person.

The question now is, has incompetence been misunderstood by the NPP or it is a deliberate attempt to mud the waters?

Mahama Socrates Samuel is a columnist, Communicator and an activist of the National Democratic Congress.
Warri (Nigeria) (AFP) - The Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group that has been attacking Nigeria's oil infrastructure since early this year, is anything but new, according to those familiar with the region.

Despite their fresh name, it was only a matter of time before the militants returned to the swamps and creeks of the delta region, the sources said.

The "boys" behind years of violence a decade ago surrendered their guns in 2009 when the government introduced an amnesty programme for militants, once described as a "bribe for peace".

Thousands stopped bombing oil pipelines to go overseas for skills training as divers, welders and boat builders using monthly stipends of 65,000 naira, which at the time was worth $400.

Then last year President Muhammadu Buhari announced he was planning to wind down the programme as well as lucrative pipeline security contracts to save money for the cash-strapped government.

"That infuriated everybody," said Silva Ofugara, chairman of the Ekpan-Uvwie community in the oil town of Warri in Delta state.

The militants had been getting something from the government, a monetary acknowledgement that they too should benefit from Nigeria's vast oil wealth.

People thought they could leave their lives as guerilla fighters behind and focus on a new future.

"A year ago nobody wanted to go back to the creeks," Ofugara told AFP alongside local leader Ufuoma "White Don" Ikaka, wearing a black leather jacket and shirt the colour of the US Stars and Stripes.

But Buhari's announcement changed their minds. For many, the amnesty money was their only income.

"This brought boys to the roundtable to prepare for the next phase."

- 'Kegs of gunpowder' -

Leading the charge are the Niger Delta Avengers, a previously unheard of group, which has claimed a series of attacks on pipelines and facilities mostly in Delta and Bayelsa states.

They have targeted facilities operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, as well as local subsidiaries of Shell, Chevron and Eni.

In the impoverished region, the Avengers are anything but unknown.

"The only way they know how to survive is pulling a trigger," said Uche Ifukor, project manager at the Warri-based non-profit organisation AA PeaceWorks.

The militants never found jobs in Warri despite it being home to the biggest oil fields in Africa, he added.

Each militant kingpin -- or "civilian general" -- still commands legions of men from the days before the amnesty deal, Ifukor said.

The generals are effectively the "godfathers" of the oil mafias that run the creeks. Ifukor called them "kegs of gunpowder... just waiting for the wrong move".

- Anarchy returns -

The attacks have cut oil production to some 1.6 million barrels per day, well down from a budgeted 2.2 million bpd, as global prices remain low, sending Nigeria's economy into a tailspin.

In response, the army has started invading river land villages, hunting for the Avengers and the influential militant kingpin-turned-businessman Government "Tompolo" Ekpemupolo, who has been on the run since he was charged last year with corruption.

The result: a return to anarchy in the delta, shootouts between militants and soldiers -- and Ijaw civilians, the dominant ethnic group in the region, caught in the crossfire.

The villages of Okerenkoko and Kuritie in the Gbaramatu Kingdom, the region of snaking waterways stretching from Chevron's Escravos terminal on the Atlantic Ocean coast to Warri, have been abandoned.

People fear a repeat of air raids in 2009 that levelled communities in the final weeks before the government and Tompolo hammered out the amnesty deal.

"The average life in Gbaramatu Kingdom is brutish, short. I just buried my sister yesterday," said Chief Godspower Gbenekama, of the Gbaramatu Kingdom.

Floral Joel was selling wares in a houseboat on June 1. Soldiers chasing militants opened fire on the boat, shooting the 42-year-old mother of five in the heart, he added.

"My sister paid a supreme price," he said. "As it is, every Ijaw man is an Avenger. We are an endangered species."

- Muzzled hyenas? -

Not everyone in Nigeria is sympathetic to the Avengers, whose demands include self-determination for the delta region and the withdrawal of foreign oil majors.

One recent newspaper editorial depicted the militants as unleashed hyenas who had been muzzled by the amnesty and security contract cash doled out by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Yet without peace in the Niger delta, which produces the bulk of Nigeria's oil, Buhari will struggle to source funds needed to kick-start the economy during its worst slowdown in a decade.

"The best case scenario is the Avengers agree to hold talks with the government, and some form of compromise is made whereby the government gives payments in order to stop further attacks," said Rhidoy Rashid, an analyst at London-based Energy Aspects.

"Worst case is the attacks continue, and even worse turn violent. They are more than just aggrieved locals and have access to sophisticated weaponry and funding."
The governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), has pooh-poohed a promise by the Flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo Addo, to establish one factory in each of the 216 districts of the country, saying such factories are already under construction to employ Ghanaians and make their lives better.

Speaking in the Central Region as part of a 5-day tour of the region, the NPP flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, said his government would establish a factory in each of the 216 districts as part of plans to industrialize the economy.

But the Communications Minister, Dr. Omane Boamah, also speaking at a town hall meeting in Cape Coast in the Central Region, said the NDC administration is already constructing factories for the benefit of all Ghanaians.

President Mahama is not waiting for the 2016 elections to be over to begin to spread factories across the length and breadth of the nation. I have spoken about the Komenda Sugar Factory, the Fish processing factory in Elmina, the Kumasi Shoe Factory, the Fertilizer factory that is coming on board and the ceramics and tiles factory that is also taking place at the free zones enclave in the Western Region. All these have jobs associated with them and all of them are creating direct and indirect jobs, the Minister said.

He further stated that, government had already initiated processes to create more factories which will subsequently lead to the creation of more jobs for the unemployed youth, ahead of the November polls.

As we speak now, we have been told that the second FPSO is also being fast-tracked and may be in earlier than anticipated. What this means is that, together with the Jubilee Fields, the TEN fields and the Sankofa fields we are going to have a minimum of 300 million standard cubic feet of gas a day, which will ensure that more power is made available. This power is not just going to be consumed in our homes, but also feed industries, and that is where President Mahama hinges his integrated aluminum industry on the investment in our gas fields, because you need significant amount of power to take care of [industries such as ] Valco.

NPP's '1 district, 1 factory' makes no sense  Murtala Mohammed

The Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, has also laughed off the NPP's promise of establishing factories in every district.

Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed

I think sometimes in their desperation to make promises, they always forget that they have made certain statements in the past if you want to make promises, you should be mindful that the promises won't contradict the very position you took in the past, the Deputy Trade Minister said in an interview with Citi News.

In the view of Mr. Mohammed, the party's promise of scrapping import duties would allow for the importation of more goods, and that a will be to the disadvantage of the factories they seek to establish.

Now you say the you are going to abolish all forms of taxes. It means that anybody can import anything into this country at cheaper costs because once people don't have import duties on the goods, they bring into this country, they can bring them at will.

Mr. Mohammed further indicated that he saw no prudence in an economy that offered Ghanaians both indigenous and imported goods for consumption.

Those goods, if it is even true, are going to be consumed by people in Ghana and people in Ghana will then have to consume those goods alongside the goods that are imported into this country freely. It simply doesn't make sense.

'One district, one factory' plan feasible  NPP insists

But the Member of Parliament for Obuasi West, Kwaku Kwarteng, is insisting the move is feasible.

He further argued that the move is necessary to curb the exodus of people migrating from most rural areas to the urban centers.



By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @EfeAnsah
The Vice Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, Samuel Atta Akyea, has described as disgraceful, the high level of financial impropriety uncovered in the accounts of the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) by the Auditor General in 2013 and 2014.

Speaking to Citi News' Duke Mensah Opoku after the first of a series of sittings on Monday, Mr. Atta-Akyea accused the current SADA management of trying to shield the perpetrators of various financial infractions.

It is the most disgraceful report that I have ever seen and read since I became a member of the Public Accounts Committee. The shameful dimension to this whole thing is that, it seems to me that there are people who want to do cover ups, he said.

The CEO of SADA, Charles Abugri and other officials have been meeting with the PAC over the Auditor-General's 2013 report on a project which cost the nation GHc 32 million, and was subsequently terminated midway following public uproar occasioned by mismanagement and corrupt practices.

Some officials of SADA were reportedly involved in corrupt deals during its initial years, notably the use of over GHc 250,000 on unapproved and wasteful trips to Birmingham, Berlin and Istanbul.

The payment of GHc 620,000 for the services of four consultants and the abuse of single sourcing procurement in the award of a tree planting contract to ACI constructions, were issues of financial malfeasance that were also brought up against the officials who appeared before the Committee.

Committee disatisfied with SADA appearance

Mr. Atta-Akyea underscored the committee's displeasure with SADA management and said it planned to speak to all implicated in the report despite the alleged attempts at a cover up.

We are going to take a very serious view of this matter. We are going to call all those who are involved to come personally and physically because when we wrote to them that they should come, the cover up was that they didn't want to bring them because they could answer the questions meanwhile they couldn't answer the questions.

He also said the committee intended to invite the former SADA boss, Gilbert Iddi, to answer to some of the infractions that happened under his watch.

He should be hauled before us to come and explain away the kind of serious infractions that he committee and then we will take a quality decision when we take our recommendations to the house floor.

SADA not doing enough to recover money -CEO admits

Also speaking to Citi News, the current CEO of SADA, Charles Abugri, admitted that his outfit has not been doing enough to recover state funds that were wrongfully expended by the past management.

No we haven't done enough. We have to keep working at it some things we are recovering. Some efforts, we are making. We probably need to give a bit more effort in one thing or the other, but some of these legal things are complex.

He however expressed reluctance in using the legal route to recover the monies saying, courts are not cheap so sometimes you have to find other ways to resolve the problem other than court to get our money back and try and build the relationships going forward. That doesn't mean that we have ruled out court. These are all possibilities.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has urged Ghanaians to ignore persons who are discrediting his policy to build factories in all 216 districts of the country, saying such sceptics, have always made it a point to bastardize policies and programmes announced by him.

The National Democratic Congress administration has said Nana Addos policy is not attainable , describing it as a desperate vote-buying promise.

According to Nana Akufo-Addo, anytime I bring an idea, my political opponents will say 'he cannot do it', only to turn round, use the backdoor, and try to implement it.

The NPP leader explained that this talk of 'it can't be done', anytime a new idea is proposed by me, is not one that bothers me. It is those who have no vision or clue of how to develop policies to help the Ghanaian people who peddle such stories. These people, clearly, have no business in leadership.

Nana Akufo-Addo made this known on the final day of his tour of the Central Region on Monday, June 20, when he paid a courtesy call on the Sarkin Zongo of Winneba, Chief Sulemana Salaga, on his tour of the Effutu constituency.

Reiterating his commitment to the establishment of the Zongo Development Fund, Nana Akufo-Addo urged the residents of Winneba Zongo not to be side-tracked into believing that this pledge cannot be fulfilled, citing examples of policies he introduced in the past, which was described by experts and political opponents as not doable.

When I said I was going to implement the Free SHS policy, Mahama said it cannot be done. But, later he turned around and tried to implement it, he said.

Again, the NPP flagbearer noted that the same way I proposed the Northern Development Authority to help the three Northern Regions, so as to help bridge the developmental gap between the North and South, there was the usual talk of 'it cannot be done', 'he can't do it'. Again, he (President Mahama) tried, through the creation of SADA, to implement my idea. He failed woefully at it.

Nana Akufo-Addo, therefore urged Ghanaians not to be hoodwinked by this propaganda, as it is a clear evidence of persons who have no vision of how to bring progress to Ghana.

According to him, it is only a good leader who can spot the problems and propose policies to solve the problems to the benefit of Ghanaians.

Ignore the anti-Moslem propaganda

In this election year, Nana Akufo-Addo admonished residents to be wary of the anti-Moslem propaganda that will be waged against the NPP by appointees and functionaries of the NDC.

As usual they will come with their usual politics of 'NPP does not like Moslems', but I am urging you to ignore them. In 8 years of President Kufuor, nothing was done to indicate that we did not like Moslems. Under my tenure of office, nothing of that sort will be done, he assured.

He explained that if he or the NPP did not like Moslems, there is no way that he would have selected Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to be his running mate, just as all other flagbearers of the NPP before him had selected Moslems as their running mates, including the late Alhaji Aliu Mahama, Vice President to President Kufuor.

This is all propaganda. Do not listen to them, and, also, urge the young men and women under your care to ignore such talk. Let us vote for the person and party who can do the work and bring wealth and prosperity to the people, he added.

An Akufo-Addo government, he added, will also reintroduce the payment of allowances to Islamic instructors, which were in existence under the Kufuor government, but had been scrapped by the Mahama government.

Because of the good management of the economy by President Kufuor, he was able to pay these allowances. However, they have been cancelled by President Mahama because of the mismanagement of the economy. When I win the elections, I will reintroduce it, he added.

In concluding, he urged the Zongo community in Winneba to be mindful of the fact that the hardship and poverty that has drenched the entire country does not only affect the Zongo community, or Christians. It is affecting all of us in Ghana. So those who come to you in the name of politics of division must be ignored. Those kinds of politicians are not after your welfare. I am here to do a job for all Ghanaians so we bring progress to all.



By: citifmonline.com/Ghana
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business UDAY scheme to drive up power demand, prices: JSPL Power as well as steel sector continue to be in a downtrend. If MIP is removed, some other protective mechanism for steel sector must be there, says Ravi Uppal, MD & CEO of JSPL.
business Would like to up stake in Indian arm: AirAsia chief AirAsia would like to increase its stake in its Indian unit, AirAsia India, given a chance, says the Malaysian carrier's founder and CEO Tony Fernandes.
June 20, 2016

An Eyewitness Tells How The U.S. Ambassador Instigated "Revolution" In Syria

S. Rifai, also known as @THE_47th, is a Syrian "activist" from Homs. He was involved since early 2011 when the U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford (@fordrs58) fomented the "revolution" in Syria. He has since tweeted about the "revolution" and has shown lots of insider knowledge. Below S. Rifai corrects the U.S. propaganda record.

The former ambassador Ford allegedly had a hand in last weeks "dissident" letter by some State Department employees. The letter urges launching an open U.S. war against Syria and its government. Ford was recently interviewed about the letter for an exculpatory piece in the New Yorker.

In the New Yorker interview Ford asserted:

We all learned from Iraq that regime change is not the way to bring about positive political change. In the case of civil war, there needs to be negotiation between the opposition and the government. The question is how you increase the likelihood that it will succeed. And ever since Secretary Clinton and Sergei Lavrov concluded the communique, in June, 2012, Administration policy has failed to create the conditions necessary to succeed.

Quoting the above S. Rifai responded to former ambassador Ford's assertions (emphasis added, edited to expand Twitter shorthand):

S. Rifai @THE_47th 5:02 AM - 19 Jun 2016 That's not what u told us in meetings in Damascus Ambassador @fordrs58 ..that's not the message you conveyed Ambassador Ford @fordrs58 you have had more freedom in Damascus in 2011 than most political opposition and throughout your meetings, the above message was different You actually had the courage Ambassador @fordrs58 to sit with regime officials who seemed ready to defect and your message certainly wasn't "negotiation" Your meetings in Abu Remmaneh, Malki, and in known dissidents houses Mr. @fordrs58, remember those? remember the promises? I can get more specific about these meetings Mr. @fordrs58, but it is not in your interest nor mine These details are like farts in the wind Mr. Ambassador @fordrs58 - what counts is the "Assad must go" part that you and your president said repeatedly.

Ford did not immediately respond but S. Rifai insisted

S. Rifai @THE_47th 5:14 AM - 19 Jun 2016 @fordrs58 so please clarify: you knew all along that Obama wanted "negotiations with the government" but you and him kept telling us "Assad will go"?

Another "revolutionary" joins:

Abdul @al_7aleem 5:36 AM - 19 Jun 2016 .@THE_47th @fordrs58 Isn't it our fault for forgetting the last 90 years of US history in all our excitement...

S. Rifai @THE_47th 5:38 AM - 19 Jun 2016 We didn't forget as much as we hoped for change.. It's not like we had another power-player we could rely on

Later on Ford responded:

Robert Ford @fordrs58 10:34 AM - 19 Jun 2016 you should remember that we (US Embassy and others) urged a dialogue with the Syrian government and that protests stay peaceful

(Ford's tweet implies that, despite his claimed urging, the protests did not stay peaceful. He admits that the protesters, not the government, initiated the violence.)

Rifai counters:

S. Rifai @THE_47th 11:36 PM - 19 Jun 2016 Expectation vs. Reality Your trip to Hama was about dialogue? Your Malki meetings were about peace? Are you insulting my intelligence? .@fordrs58 when you knew Manaf Tlass or the Prime Minister was about to defect, did you urge them to dialogue instead? .@fordrs58 where is "dialogue" in Obama's "Assad must step aside"? Assad must go, Obama says .@fordrs58 when farouk Al Sharaa invited the opposition to a meeting in 2011 you advised Nabil Maleh, Michel Kilo, Fayez Sara NOT to dialogue. .@fordrs58 do you want the Bulgarian Ambassador to refresh your memory? How about B.R? Or M.T? All were there when you advised the opposition NOT to dialogue. .@fordrs58 you were giving us lectures on how important it was to tour the EU and lobby for our cause, and to capitalize on EU cutting ties with Assad

Later:

Robert Ford @fordrs58 7:33 AM - 20 Jun 2016 @THE_47th please get your facts straight. I never even met Fayez in 2011. We urged Sharaa dialogue to expand to include people like Michel & Haithem M. S. Rifai @THE_47th 8:10 AM - 20 Jun 2016 .@fordrs58 fine. I'll get them to say what you told them. On another note: why did you provide "non-lethal" aid to rebels? .@fordrs58 and when you went to the Syrian border with Turkey to meet rebels, were you also urging them to dialogue?

To recap. Ford now asserts that he and Obama did not want immediate violent "regime change" in Syria. That they wanted to have a dialogue and negotiate with the Assad government.

Rifai, who was there from the very beginning, says that those are lies. In his talks with the opposition Ford argued against any negotiations. His talks were not about peace or dialogue. They were for blatant, violent "regime change".

The "revolutionary" dupes fell for it.

---

Addendum:

Ford peddles at least one other big lie in the New Yorker interview. He says:

[Back in 2012, we in the State Department ...] didnt anticipate that the Al Qaeda organization would split and produce an even more virulent formthat a more extreme form would come to control the eastern portion of Syria going into Iraq.

In mid 2012 the Defense Intelligence Agency circulated a high level assessment of the situation in Syria that said the opposite. The Obama administration did anticipate the Islamic State. According to (vid, 8:50) then DIA boss Gen. Flynn, it was a "willfully decision" by the Obama administration to do nothing to prevent it.

THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A DECLARED OR UNDECLARED SALAFIST PRINCIPALITY IN EASTERN SYRIA (HASAKA AND DER ZOR), AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE SUPPORTING POWERS TO THE OPPOSITION WANT, [...] ISI COULD ALSO DECLARE AN ISLAMIC STATE THROUGH ITS UNION WITH OTHER TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS IN IRAQ AND SYRIA, WHICH WILL CREATE GRAVE DANGER IN REGARDS TO UNIFYING IRAQ AND THE PROTECTION OF ITS TERRITORY.

Ford did know what was going to come. He is lying.

Posted by b on June 20, 2016 at 13:39 UTC | Permalink

Comments
Senior executives at eight leading fund managers  including Fidelity International, BlackRock, Schroders and JP Morgan Asset Management  have written to the European Commissioner urging him to overturn a potential ban on using past performance data.

New consumer legislation, due to come into effect in 2017, is expected to prevent fund managers using this information in key customer documents. Instead fund managers will have to give guidance on how these funds might perform in future: in unfavourable, moderate and favourable economic conditions.

Fund managers argue this change risks misleading investors, and will make it harder for consumers to select potential savings products.

Other groups putting their name to this letter include AXA Investment Managers, Allianz Global Investors, Nordea Asset Management and Robeco.

This change is expected in a draft of new consumer legislation, known as PRIIPs  (or Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products regulation). This is due to be published imminently by the European Commission.

Investors Left Without Vital Information

In a letter published by The Financial Times, executives from these fund managers called for past performance data to be used alongside these future projections. They argue this would provide historic proof of an active managers ability (or not) to regularly outperform the funds benchmark.

They add legislation which prevents past performance data being used on key documents risks leaving consumers without the high-quality information they deserve. It adds that an approach which simply estimates future projections is not evidence based, will not help consumers and will not command respect.

The fund managers also called for changes to the proposed methodology for calculating and disclosing transaction costs.

Jason Hollands, managing director at Tilney Bestinvest said: Fund groups are entirely right to lobby Jonathan Hill, the European Commissioner for financial services, on this matter.

While past performance alone should not be relied on alone to make judgements about future performance of a fund, this is nevertheless relevant factual information that shows how a fund has actually performed in particular market conditions. He added Removing this data would not help consumers one jot.

Are Consumers Mislead by Performance Data?

But not everyone agrees that the amendments put forward by these fund managers will be in the interest of ordinary investors.

The FT reported that Sven Gielgold, a Green member of the European Parliament warned that the changes demanded by the asset managers would mislead ordinary investors.

Laith Khalaf, a senior analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown said: Its strange that in most walks of life we look to the past to provide us with clues to the future, yet in the investment industry doing so is bordering on the taboo.

He added that the politicians concerns about past performance data stem from misuse of these figures in the past. Part of the reluctance to use past performance data hinges on the high stock markets returns of the 1980s and 1990s which have not been replicated since, causing widespread disappointment amongst investors who bought products at the end of this period.

There is therefore certainty some cause to caution investors that past performance data does not indicate the total returns available in future.

However when it comes to assessing fund manager performance a long history of past performance does have some bearing on the managers skill, though clearly there are no guarantees and this information needs to track the manager, not necessarily the fund.

Patrick Connolly of financial advisers Chase de Vere added: There is no doubt that past performance numbers can be very misleading. You only need to look at the performance of AXA Framlington Biotech fund a year ago, and since then to see this clearly.

The AXA Framlington Biotech fund delivered returns of 63% in 2013, and 45% in 2014 but has fallen 17% so far this year. It is not rated by Morningstar analysts.

European Union Urged to Reach Sensible Compromise

However, while Connolly understood the EUs misgivings about past performance data he said proposals put forward that include past performance alongside information on future scenarios sounds like a sensible compromise.

He pointed out that even if fund managers were banned from using past performance data on fund factsheets and consumer marketing material its clear that this information would still be widely available online and would continue to be a key part of most peoples decision making process when selecting a fund.

The danger of using future scenarios  which look at how a fund might perform in unfavourable, moderate and favourable economic conditions - is that many of the funds will simply revert to spurious standard projections, which may bear little relation to actual future returns and could make it harder for consumers to differentiate between various fund offerings.
Business / International

by Staff Reporter

Zimbabwe is set to assume the leadership of the African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO), whose mandate is to facilitate intra-Africa trade through harmonised standards.The 22nd ARSO General Assembly meeting, which runs from the 20th to the 24th of June in Arusha, Tanzania, will see Zimbabwe taking over the leadership of the organ.Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAZ) Director General, Dr Eve Gadzikwa will become the first women president to lead the continental organisation.In an interview, Dr Gadzikwa said she will strive to advance the standardisation of goods in line with the regional integration drive.Zimbabwe will assume the leadership of the standards body at a time the organisation is implementing a five year strategic framework which runs until 2017.One of the key objectives under the strategic framework is to disseminate harmonised standards and guidelines to support intra, inter-African and international trade and industrialisation.
Maintaining independence and editorial freedom is essential to our mission of empowering investor success. We provide a platform for our authors to report on investments fairly, accurately, and from the investors point of view. We also respect individual opinionsthey represent the unvarnished thinking of our people and exacting analysis of our research processes. Our authors can publish views that we may or may not agree with, but they show their work, distinguish facts from opinions, and make sure their analysis is clear and in no way misleading or deceptive.

To further protect the integrity of our editorial content, we keep a strict separation between our sales teams and authors to remove any pressure or influence on our analyses and research.

Read our editorial policy to learn more about our process.
BEACON 9 has caused quite a stir among brokers, with many arguing the positives and negatives.Change is inevitable, and when it impacts broker business you know industry players will have an opinion. Equifax recently announced its new BEACON score and brokers have had varying opinions about the success of the change.We are going to start to see some very bad effects of BEACON 9; today we had a client change their mind about the product they wanted, we had to go to a new lender and run a new bureau because the old CB was 40 days old, Ron Butler , a broker with Butler Mortgage, wrote in the comments section of MortgageBrokerNews.ca. Old Score: 742, New Score: 648. The only changes: balances on the only two trade lines the client had increased closer to the credit limit by $200 each. No other change.BEACON 9 is 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.Some brokers have noticed an uptick in BEACON scores, with one noting a record-breaking score coming in.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 , recently told MortgageBrokerNews.ca.However, the negative impacts will outweigh the positives, according to Butler.I think we should all realize once a score goes past 760 no one cares, the insurers, the lenders and the background investors do not care, he wrote. But if a score goes below 700 or 680 it may be a very big deal to mortgage brokers; it may lose access to certain rates under 700 and under 680 totally changes the debt ratio calculations.Some have claimed BEACON 9 places more emphasis on credit utilization, which has made for lower scores coming in. However, Equifax denies this.BEACON 9 does not place any higher weight on credit utilization than previous versions of the score, Tom Carroll, director of communications at Equifax Canada wrote in an email to MortgageBrokerNews.ca. Carroll also provided a fact sheet on the new score.
The proposed increase in the minimum down payments for government-backed mortgages from 5 per cent to 10 per cent would not slow down the out-of-control price growth in Canadas most overheated housing markets and will only make things more difficult for first-time buyers, according to a prominent industry player.As reported by Garry Marr for the Financial Post, Canada Guaranty president and CEO Andrew Charles warned that a hike in the down payment requirements would not be appropriate in the current climate where many of consumers are first-time buyers who are already struggling with the ever-rising costs of living, especially in Vancouver and Toronto.The first-time home buyer market in Canada represents approximately 30 per cent of the entire housing market, Charles stated. The insured segment of the market has a $1-million cap in terms of maximum. We take the view that increasing, or further penalizing, the first-time home buyer does zero or has minimal impact on price valuations in two specific markets.Charles added that markets outside of Vancouver and Toronto will get hit hard by the regulatory change, since majority of the policies in the two cities are conventional mortgagesthat is, those that require 20 per cent or more, and thus would not be affected by such a hike.An increase in down payments will negatively impact the Calgary, the Edmonton, the smaller urban centres where weve seen prices values moderate and in some cases decrease, the executive warned.Related Stories:
The Canadian economy is expected to remain flat or even shrink in the second quarter of the year and will only show signs of outsized recovery by Q3, the Bank of Canada recently said.In a Globe and Mail report published by BNN, BoC Governor Stephen Poloz said that this slump could be largely attributed to the economic output affected by the unprecedented Fort McMurray blaze, which is expected to knock 1 to 1.25 per cent off the GDP in Q2 2016, thus leading lead to a very choppy economy this summer.Fortunately, a combination of stronger exports and better trade prospects with an improving U.S. economy would allow Canada to make up for the lost output between July and September.Poloz assured that these signs of recovery would be here to stay, despite the road bumps from Fort McMurray and the continuous decline in energy and resource investment. By the end of this year, energy sector investment is projected to be at least 60 per cent below 2014 numbers.Many firms are close to their capacity limits, which augurs well for future investment and new job creation, the Governor said. So while the whole process has been disappointingly slow and uneven, we remain confident that we have the right narrative.Poloz pointed pharmaceuticals, furniture and fixtures, and building materials as the strongest performing export segments, having recovered to their pre-crisis levels. Tourism also continues to be a boom sector, and the real estate bubble does not seem to be popping any time soon.The process has been uneven, and probably will remain so, but we are making real progress, he stated.Related Stories:
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP)  One worker was killed and two others were seriously injured in an explosion and fire at an oil well in western North Dakota, authorities said.

The McKenzie County Sheriff's Department said 52-year-old Johnny Stassinos of Rock Springs, Wyoming, died Saturday afternoon from injuries suffered that morning at a well site operated by XTO Energy Inc. near Watford City.

The department's statement issued Monday said Daniel Montes, 28, of Fruita, Colorado, and Richard Maheu, 27, of Rock Springs, Wyoming, were airlifted to the Regions Burn Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, where they were listed in critical condition.

The men suffered third-degree burns to 70 percent of their bodies, said Eric Brooks, director of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's office in Bismarck.

Authorities said 40-year-old Justin Pyle of Grand Junction, Colorado, was treated for minor burns to his face at a Watford City hospital and later released.

The fire was out when emergency workers arrived on the scene Saturday morning, authorities said.

Houston-based XTO Energy is a subsidiary of ExxonMobil. XTO Energy spokeswoman Suann Guthrie said the men were contractors working for companies that do maintenance on oil wells.

Guthrie said XTO Energy has been working with regulators to determine the cause of the explosion.

The men were on a workover rig that's used to perform maintenance at an oil well. An initial investigation found there was a breech in a gas pipe that ignited, state and federal investigators said.

"There was a split in a pipe, and there was an explosion," Brooks said. Investigators were on the scene Monday attempting to find the cause of the breech and the source of the ignition, he said.

Bill Suess, an environmental scientist with the state Health Department, said no oil or gas escaped from the well.

Brooks said it was the first oilfield-related death in North Dakota in the fiscal year that began last August, compared with seven in the same period during fiscal 2015.

Since late 2010, there have been 108 workplace fatalities in North Dakota, including 48 that were oilfield-related, Brooks said.

Crews on workover rigs have among the most dangerous jobs in the oilpatch, he said.

"There has to be eternal vigilance on ignition sources," he said.

OSHA has stepped up inspections on workover rigs in the past few years and has issued 30 citations of violations since 2012 to companies that did not take appropriate safety measures, Brooks said.
News / Local

by Staff Reporter

Jameson Hotel employee in Harare has been arrested and charged for stealing two yoghurts and sausages worth $4.Primrose Shoko (31) appeared before Harare magistrate charged with theft. He was represented by a lawyer Ephraim Ndlovu.The lawyer applied for the matter not to be prosecuted saying the value of the goods he allegedly stole was not worth for the court to waste its time on.The magistrate Mugwagwa in her ruling said the value of the stolen goods was not an issue but what was important was the employer-employee relationship.The court was told that on May 11 this year Shoko was at work when Roy Mutsikwi a controller at the hotel heard the foot steps in the cold room and investigated only to find AShoko holding yoghurt and the sausages.He then asked what was he doing in the cold room since he was not allowed to be there. Shoko failed to answer and this led to his arrest.
BIGFOOT, Texas (AP)  The worst oil bust since the 1980s is putting Texas and other oil producing states on the hook for thousands of newly abandoned drilling sites at a time when they have little money to plug wells and seal off environmental hazards.

As U.S. rig counts plunge to historic lows, and with at least 60 oil producers declaring bankruptcy since 2014, energy-producing states are confronting both holes in their budgets and potentially leaking ones in the ground. In Texas alone, the roughly $165 million price tag of plugging nearly 10,000 abandoned wells is double the entire budget of the agency that regulates the industry.

The problem is forcing states to get creative: Texas regulators now want taxpayers to cover more of the clean-up, supplementing industry payments. Wyoming and Louisiana are riling drillers with steeper fees. Oklahoma is reshuffling money among agencies in the face of a $1.1 billion state budget shortfall, while regulators also grapple with earthquakes linked to oil and gas activities.

As downtown turns go, this one happened faster and accelerated. It moved downward faster than the big downturn we had in the 80s, said John Graves, a Houston oil consultant. For some people in our industry, its been more intense. Crude prices that peaked above $100 a barrel in 2014 plunged by 60 percent in just six months.

But these responses  if they even wind up working  are still years from meeting the growing backlog of untended wells. Texas officials predict the number of orphaned wells could soar to 12,000, which would be nearly 25 percent more than what regulators cant keep up with now. Landowners, meanwhile, are growing restless with abandoned pump jacks and damage while drillers warn that crackdowns would only put them out of business faster at a time when oil has finally crept from below $30 a barrel to about $50.

Its the magnitude because this bust is so deep. In Wyoming they had a single operator walk away, and instead of it being 5, 10, 20 wells, it was 150, said Bruce Baizel, who monitors oil and gas regulators for the environmental group Earthworks. Its not the small, marginal operators. Youre starting to get into some medium-sized independents walking away from things.

Orphaned wells are potential environmental hazards below ground as well as rusted-out eyesores above. A 2011 report by the multistate Ground Water Protection Council found at least 30 cases of groundwater contamination in Texas caused by orphan wells between 1993 and 2008.

In the Bigfoot Field south of San Antonio, tall stalks of weedy thistle surround dormant wellheads, some stained with crude or leaking fluids. State regulators place a higher priority on bigger hazards.

The problem is not new. Energy-rich state had thousands of orphaned wells on the books for decades, particularly in Texas, where the backlog exceeded 25,000 in the early 2000s before landowners pressured lawmakers to light a fire under state regulators. Landowners are getting antsy again, as the states Republican comptroller, Glenn Hegar, has predicted that a third of oil producers in Texas will go bankrupt this summer.

These landowners are chained to a corpse, said Trey Scott, a managing partner of Trinity Mineral Management, which represents landowners who own thousands of acres in the Texas oil patch. With the state facing an average cost of $17,000 per well, Scott said, If you have those wells, your chances of getting them plugged are slim to none.

Such expenses are normally covered by fees paid by producers, a reliance that Texas regulators say is no longer sufficient as they appeal for more taxpayer funding. Texas hasnt raised the price of required bonds on drillers since 1991, which are as low as $25,000 for smaller operators. Last year, Texas collected $4 million from drillers who abandoned more than 1,500 wells  about a fifth of the cost of plugging all of them. Texas lawmakers wont decide whether to give regulators more money until 2017, while a critical report by the states Sunset Commission in April urged finally hiking bonding rates to protect both the environment and public safety.

Last winter, Louisiana started requiring producers to put up a new bond of $7 for every foot drilled in an attempt to deal with the states roughly 3,000 abandoned wells. After drillers revolted, however, Louisianas Office of Conservation in April suspended the new bonding until August.

The states broke and theyre trying to raise funds however they can, said Dempsey Oil Company owner Jimmy Dempsey, an operator in northwest Louisiana. It doesnt take a genius to fill a well with concrete.

In Oklahoma, budget cuts to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission have led to fewer well-plugging contracts. Nearly $400,000 in emergency funding that Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin sought for the agency this year was used instead for technology upgrades and earthquake monitoring.

Were not going to have that same luxury next year, Oklahoma Corporation Commissions Director of Finance Cleve Pierce said of the states well-plugging dollars.



Associated Press writer Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.



Follow Paul J. Weber on Twitter: https://twitter.com/pauljweber
DENVER (AP)  New data on air pollution from fracking wells in Colorado will be a big help in assessing whether the emissions are harmful to human health, state officials say.

A three-year study released Tuesday measured methane  a greenhouse gas  and ozone-causing compounds that were released from new natural gas wells in western Colorado.

The research, by Colorado State University professor Jeff Collett, didnt measure the emissions health effects, but state officials will use the data in computer modeling to assess the risks, said Mike Van Dyke of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

This study is incredibly useful, said Van Dyke, chief of environmental epidemiology, occupational health and toxicology for the health department.

The state expects to hire outside researchers by the end of next month to begin modeling the human health risks, using the western Colorado research as well as data from a second study Collett is conducting at wells near the states urban Front Range.

The state risk study is expected to be completed in January 2018.

Colletts study is the first time researchers have been able say with certainty they were measuring pollution only from drilling operations and not from other sources, Van Dyke said.

Van Dyke believes Colletts study is the first of its kind in the country.

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, uses pressurized water, sand and chemicals to break open underground formations and release oil and gas. Critics say air pollution, spills and leaks from fracking operations are a threat to public health and the environment, but the industry says the procedure is safe.

Garfield County, in the heart of western Colorados biggest gas field, contributed $1 million toward Colletts study. Oil and gas companies donated another $700,000 and allowed researchers access to drilling sites.

Collett said that access was essential.

Quizzed by the county commissioners in Glenwood Springs on Tuesday, Collett said neither the companies nor anyone else influenced his research.

Colletts team took air samples and measurements from the plume of air emissions downwind from new natural gas wells during three phases: drilling, fracking and flowback, when the natural gas began flowing out of the fractured formations and up the well, pushing the water and fracking chemicals back out.

They also released a tracer chemical  acetylene  at the well site, which helped them identify which direction the emissions were blowing.

Since they knew how much acetylene they released at the well, they were able to calculate how much of it was dispersed before it got to their sampling stations. That data allowed them to calculate how much of the well emissions were dispersed, also.

Researchers measured the same pollution upwind from the site so they could determine how much of the emissions were from the well and how much were already in the air.

Collett said the highest level of well emissions came during the flowback phase.
On Tuesday the city of Midland Transportation Department updated the Midland City Council on the condition of our existing street infrastructure. To be honest, it left me with a gut-wrenching feeling. The time has come to address this issue. We can no longer kick the can down the road for a future council to make a decision. The current estimate that was presented to get our existing streets to an acceptable grade was in excess of $150 million. That total doesnt include the cost to upgrade the water and sewer lines under the streets in the older portion of our city. If we are going to continue to pursue the goal of being a World Class City having acceptable streets is a major portion of that pursuit.

So how do we pay for it? Many have suggested that if the 4B tax is to be re-purposed a large percentage should go to infrastructure, and I agree. However, Texas law places limits on the use of Type B tax funds for streets and roads. Funds can only be used to build new streets or roads that promote business development or eligible Type B projects and cannot be used for regular maintenance of our existing streets. So what is our next option? I believe that we should put the measure to a vote next year. The City Council needs to hear from the residents and see if our city is ready to make a significant investment in our citys streets. Is it expensive? Absolutely. But, what is the cost of doing nothing?
The idea of a new multi-million-dollar Midland Center is intriguing. The need for that facility might be much greater.

We think the Midland City Council is making the right call on a new Midland Center for many reasons, but as members of this community and people involved in its nonprofits, its hard to deny the impact of having one less convention facility.

Midland is so much about its nonprofits, and often these organizations' success hinges on fundraising events that require appropriate venues. Not having Midland Center available for those fundraisers this year has forced these nonprofits to seek new homes and not always with great results.

Other facilities have not always been a good fit, and cost is a big reason. The Midland Center was more affordable, and spending more for a facility impacts a nonprofits bottom line. We hope that when the final plans are put together, city leaders and those running Midland Center are more realistic about the communitys true needs, including and especially when it comes to the cost of local groups using the facility.

We have heard that a new Midland Center will bring in events that officials with the Chamber and VisitMidland (formerly Convention and Visitors Bureau) say we lose because of an inadequate facility. Considering the growth in the number of hotels across the city, we will be excited if Midland can pick up more events with better convention facilities, but the need for a new facility cant be based on that alone. In our view, a new Midland Center will only be as successful as Midland organizations ability to use it.

Having said that, we like the idea of a centrally located convention facility. We also see adding another piece to the downtown development plan is a positive for our community. The younger residents often came from cities with vibrant downtowns, so an upgrade there is important.

But location and having the ability to bring more events from out of town are just perks. Midland Center must be there -- first and foremost -- as an affordable option for Midlanders.

Community Editorial Board

Jaime Alexander, civic volunteer

Miguel Bustilloz, attorney

Michele Harmon Cobb, instructor at University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

Alison King, Warren Charitable Foundation director of operations

Charlene Romero McBride, Hispanic Cultural Center of Midland executive director

Guy McCrary, Permian Basin Area Foundation president and chief executive officer

Mark Nicholas, president of Nicholas Consulting Group

Jessica Rule, founder of SHK  The Advertising Firm

Editors Note: Members of the Community Editorial Board met monthly to discuss issues impacting Midland and West Texas. The editorials are meant to reflect a consensus of the board and not necessarily the opinions of each board member.
This past school year, the Reporter-Telegram partnered with Pioneer Natural Resources to honor those teachers making a difference in the classroom.

Classroom Pioneers was the feature, and every week for 40 weeks a teacher from Midland Independent School District was profiled for their work with the boys and girls in our community.

The Reporter-Telegram was proud to profile those selected for the award. Our teachers do so much while asking for so little in return. We cant blame them that when they do speak up what they ask for is more parental or community involvement. It probably feels like teachers are left on an island for nine months with the expectations of reversing the fortunes of a district that has been spiraling downward for about a decade.

It shouldnt be that way. Teachers cant even -- for a second -- feel like it is us against the world or in this case us against a community. We have to create those partnerships and generate the interest -- even when its not one of our own children involved.

Pioneers decision to work with the Reporter-Telegram was one of many ways the company is involved in improving education for all Midlanders. Teachers honored with the Classroom Pioneers honor have received r will receive a $500 stipend to be used in the classroom.

These are critical times for education in Midland. Educate Midland -- a collaboration between Midland ISD and the public-private initiative Educate Texas -- has shown how high the hurdle is that our community must clear. Reform wont be easy, and it wont be quick. We know teachers will be part of the process because one goal involves recruiting the best teachers and reducing the teacher turnover rate in our community. We need the best teachers to come to Midland and stay here. We owe a debt of gratitude to hose people and businesses, such as Pioneer Natural Resources, who are already busy making that happen.
News / Local

by Staff Reporter

The civil service apex body has expressed concern with the unilateral decision taken by the government to change pay dates for this month.Following a treasury circular that announced the staggering of June pay dates for civil servants, the Apex Council, held a press conference this Monday afternoon to express its displeasure.Apex Council Chairperson, Ms Cecilia Alexander complained that there was no consultation before the announcement was made.She said they are also not happy that the government decided to announce through the media just 48 hours after holding a national joint negotiating committee meeting with the associations, where the issue to move pay dates was not discussed.According to the circular released last week, members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) will be paid on the 27th of June followed by police and prison officers who will be paid on the 30th of June.The education sector will be paid on 7 July followed by health workers and the rest of the civil service on 14 July.Pensioners will get their dues on 19 July.However, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Prisca Mupfumira has conceded that the government is facing revenue challenges but is committed to pay its workers.The Apex council Confirmed that Minister Mupfumira has since called for a consultative meeting with civil servants representatives, officials from the Civil Service Commission, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor and officials from the Ministry of Finance to discuss the matter.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A Cowdray Park man in Bulawayo was severely assaulted by his small house over a money dispute.Clifford Nkomo's crime was that he was no longer giving Lunia Moyo enough cash for food.Nkomo had been in love with Moyo for a long time.His wife had no clue of the affair.However, when Nkomo's wife became aware of the affair, she started grabbing and hiding all of his salary.That resulted in Nkomo not being able to take care of his small house.That led to Nkomo being assaulted."Nkomo was assaulted using a hoe handle all over his body" saidLyton Ndlovu who witnessed the drama."When I saw Nkomo laying on the ground I rushed to rescue him."Moyo told me that it had been long since Nkomo gave him money and he was not explaining why he had stopped".Another eyewitness, Betty Maphosa said the battered Nkomo later told his wife that he was attacked by criminals."He said he was attacked as he was coming from work and was robbed of his mobile phone and money."It was difficult for us to tell his wife the true story".On his part Nkomo said he does not discus his family affairs with the media.
Speaker is totally wrong in his ...
News / National

by Staff reporter

A KOMBI driver allegedly killed a Zanu PF youth league member after ferrying him from Harare International Airport, where he had gone with others to welcome President Robert Mugabe.Costa Gono, who is out on bail, appeared before Harare magistrate Fadzai Mtombeni yesterday facing culpable homicide charges.Gono denied the allegations, while arguing that the deceased, Tapiwa Chibvunze of Waterfalls, caused his own death.The incident allegedly occurred on February 4 this year.According to prosecutor Ressy Nyamombe, Gono was hired to ferry Zanu PF supporters to Harare International Airport and back to Waterfalls.The supporters wanted to welcome Mugabe on his return from Japan.Gono transported the supporters to the airport and back to the spot where he had picked them.The court heard the supporters wanted to be taken to Chigwende shopping centre in Ushewokunze, resulting in a feud between the kombi driver, his conductor and the Zanu PF supporters.The conductor, Talent Nyamande, then fled, leaving Gono being mobbed by the supporters.Charges against Nyamande were withdrawn before plea.Gono allegedly sped off while dragging the now deceased and another supporter, who was hanging from his mirror.Nyamombe said the accused failed to stop despite realising that his actions could cause the death of the two supporters, who were still hanging precariously onto the kombi.Chibvunze fell off the tarmac and sustained severe head injuries and bled profusely.The first State witness, Paul Marimira, told court that Gono and his driver actually pushed the now-deceased off the car.He died before admission at Harare Central Hospital. Gono's trial continues tomorrow.
News / National

by Thobekile Zhou

Zanu-PF top spin doctor, Jonathan Moyo has made bold claims that Zimbabwe People First leader Joyce Mujuru is making political capital out of Gukurahundi atrocities.Last week, Mujuru was quoted saying once elected as President she will bring perpetrators to book.More than 20 000 people in Matabeleland and some parts of the Midlands were killed by the fifth brigade.President Robert Mugabe has never apologised only saying it was a moment of madness.Writing on his social media micro blogging site - twitter, Moyo accused Mujuru of seeking relevance by using the Gukurahundi issue.He posted, "Its interesting that Mum Mujuru who was mum during Gukurahundi now seeks to profit from it! ".As usual, his comment attracted a barrage of attacks by his followers.Some said Moyo is also profiting from Gukurahundi through his silence.A former critic of Mugabe, Moyo once revealed that his father was killed by Gukurahundi forces.Said Dr Tendai "@ProfJNMoyo And u Prof who was so vocal about gukurahundi are now mum about it, and profiting from it".Shellylane added "@ProfJNMoyo even more interesting that you see Mai Mujuru's flaws after she is out of your ZANU PF, be easy on her, she is still your leader."Mathews Dera said "@ProfJNMoyo As amazing as a Mugabe critic turned Spin Doctor because of Chingwa".Bmusonza said Mujuru was not involved in the heinous crime. "@ProfJNMoyo Mujuru was never part of Gukurahundi perpetrators. her husband never involved. Five Brigade was operating from President's office".Ruyedzo Mutizwa joined the attack saying " @TOITASEYI @bmusonza @ProfJNMoyo I don't usually agree with @ProfJNMoyo but he said mum and silence means concurrence and him also is mum on injustice and poverty".FearlessJournalist @mugrade_seven @ProfJNMoyo your father was killed during gukurahundi but you are mum about it."One Bryan Nana said Moyo was silent because he is busy looting resource."@DiminguB @ProfJNMoyo Just like u, before 2000 u saw the rot in Zanupf but now it's squeaky clean Becoz u r benefiting from the looting?During her first rally as opposition leader in Bulawayo on Saturday, Mujuru avoided the emotive Gukurahundi issue.
News / National

by Staff reporter

A bellicose President Robert Mugabe yesterday appeared determined to scuttle his broke government's tentative re-engagement efforts with Western powers, saying bizarrely that Zimbabweans would rather suffer than accept conditional assistance from the international community.The remarks flew in the face of Mugabe's own recent statements that he wanted better relations with the West, as well as the untiring and laudable work in that regard of pragmatic Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa and the hard-working governor of the Reserve Bank, John Mangudya.Mugabe told mourners at the burial of former Health minister, Felix Muchemwa, at the National Heroes Acre that he would not accept Western aid that came with strings attached  utterances that observers said were ill-advised and could scuttle ongoing re-engagement negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)."Some say your policies are blocking the British and Americans who would want to pour lots of funds if we do not have our indigenisation and empowerment laws."Nonsense! Let's suffer if we are going to suffer because we have been denied assistance by outsiders demanding that they should do what they want in our country. We say no."Our land which we have died for and suffered for is greater, much greater than your resources. Your resources will come and go, my land will always be there, and it shall always be Zimbabwe."We shall always have Zimbabwe and the land shall always be in the hands of the sons and daughters of Zimbabwe," Mugabe thundered.In his re-engagement efforts with multilateral institutions, Chinamasa has reached the stage where the IMF is now supposed to clear the country's accumulated debt amounting to $1,7 billion.But Mugabe will seemingly have none of this, saying yesterday that he and his ruling Zanu-PF would continue to fight the West."So, today our revolution must continue. We have got to be united behind the party that defends what we fought for, the party that tells us that the land on which we now till, where our schools are built, was fought for, suffered for, and died for," he said.Mugabe has long been treated as a pariah in the West, and is widely blamed by critics for turning Zimbabwe from once being regarded as the bread basket of southern Africa into a poverty-ridden basket case, through mismanagement and corruption.On his part, he has accused the West of ruining the country's economy through its targeted sanctions, even as evidence on the ground repudiates these politically expedient claims.The increasingly frail nonagenarian also took a dig at the country's health personnel yesterday for being "selfish".He spoke as doctors were vowing that they would no longer accept patients with medical insurance from July 1, due to insurers owing them $220 million."Today, when we read about the standoff between doctors and medical insurers we never cease to wonder what has become of these fields of care. Have they lost their values that used to define them to life and its sustenance?"True, we expect everyone, doctors included, to be rewarded evenly for work done. But is it not important for us all in the medical field to appreciate the social context within which we execute our duties?"Our country is going through a temporary phase of challenges, most traceable to hostile sanctions imposed on us by the West."But in the meantime, we need to serve our people, often for modest returns. Government is aware of your cries, and is doing its utmost to address them," Mugabe said.
News / National

by Staff reporter

This is a moving, evocative and strangely tender book. It is a 349-page love letter to Zimbabwe and it is also a book of mourning. Godwin mourns his father and his parents' past life in Zimbabwe; he mourns a country that has changed beyond recognition and he mourns the suffering of those who opposed Robert Mugabe.Insofar as it is a memoir of degeneration, mirrored in the fate of his family's Zimbabwean farm, and witnessed in the company of his sister, it is a book that is deeply personal. It is capable, however, of irony, as when Godwin and his sister do manage to visit the old farm to find it dilapidated but under the supervision of the apologetic, English-educated employee of its new owners. This, though, is one of the rare occasions where a character is couched in ambivalence rather than given a hardened moral and political position.The subtitle, "The Last Days of Robert Mugabe", is drawn from Godwin's trip back to Zimbabwe just after the first round of the 2008 elections when it seemed, finally, Mugabe had lost. I was there for this period and it was clear that Morgan Tsvangirai had won the presidency with 56%. Mugabe had secured somewhat less than 40%. By machinations, rigging and intimidation he held on to power. Godwin recounts the certainly accurate rumours that Mugabe did almost stand down, until a fateful politburo meeting of his party dissuaded him. The book looks to a future when he will finally go because of the continuing courage of those who resist him. Godwin is unequivocal about Mugabe. He can't wait for him to go.But this means that Mugabe, who is the sinister backdrop of the entire book, and whose powerful personality breathes life into the opposition arrayed against him, is simultaneously the book's weakest link. He has to carry too much. As with so much western policy towards Zimbabwe, the problems of the country have been personalised in one man to the extent that he is caricatured and the complex blend of forces, which he represents but does not by himself constitute, are acknowledged more in passing than in real depth.The forces within Zanu-PF are profound. In some ways, the military and intelligence hierarchy resemble those in the last days of apartheid in South Africa. There, it was called the era of the securocrats and this term has now entered popular parlance in Zimbabwe. However, the securocrats are themselves a varied bunch. Some supported the third presidential candidate in 2008, Simba Makoni, and Mugabe's rigging had to steal almost as many votes from Makoni as from Tsvangirai. Zanu-PF has its own technocratic wing that would like to see a more equitable accommodation with the Movement for Democratic Change, the main opposition party, and the high-stakes chess game between Mugabe loyalists and the more moderate technocrats is not reflected in Godwin's book. Nor is the deep suspicion that the hard-line securocrats are not Mugabe loyalists at all, but his controllers.Similarly, the complexity and divisions of MDC politics are submerged under a blanket label of bravery and suffering. The fact that the MDC is sometimes capable of being its own worst enemy seldom emerges. Morgan Tsvangirai, a hugely courageous opposition leader, has not necessarily been a good prime minister and his performance cannot be entirely blamed on the harassment he has suffered from Zanu-PF. The split within the MDC is not seriously treated by Godwin, so that the complex foundation of the MDC-Mutambara splinter party is not given its place, and nor is the fact that, when the MDC divided, its best political and technocratic figures preferred Mutambara to Tsvangirai.Rather than provide real analysis, Godwin presents us with a terrifying morality play where the truly heroic are good and those in Mugabe's Zanu-PF party are, like Mugabe himself, evil. But this, in a way, is also the book's great achievement: not so much its unnuanced characterisation of evil, but its commemoration, its bearing witness to the truly heroic. None will read it without being moved by the examples of commitment to democracy that make voters and activists in the west pale by comparison. The accounts of torture and murder are terrifying. Godwin's narrative is superb and spare in recounting the tales of courage, just as his patient descriptions of the landscape give a masterly context to what is perpetuated and endured. When Godwin describes courage and defiance, he does so without embellishment. Godwin shows what a good writer he is by almost under-writing the strongest parts of his book.But he cannot answer the questions posed by the MDC finance minister, Tendai Biti, brought into the compromise coalition government brokered by Thabo Mbeki. Biti asked what happens when the struggle is personalised  all against Mugabe - but Mugabe never goes? What strategies are left to seek to improve, even a little, the predicament of Zimbabwe's suffering people?Godwin doesn't try to answer Biti and I suspect he is as bemused as he is impressed by one of the last testimonies he recounts, that of the MDC municipal politician, Chenjerai Mangezo. This man was beaten so seriously by Mugabe's thugs that he was left for dead. He defied them with what he thought was his last breath. Amazingly, he recovered but, even in his painful convalescence, he insisted on attending the swearing-in ceremony of the new council. He arrived in the back of a pick-up piled with mattresses to cushion the pain of travelling, and entered the council chamber with both legs in plaster casts. Godwin wonders how he sits there alongside those who ordered his murder. Finally, he attributes it to patience. He means a patience for justice.It could also be an amazing pragmatism. After all the condemnations and the cries for justice, someone has to make the country crawl forward. Godwin's is a book for western readers who need to be reminded what courage is. But it won't help them understand the absurd nature of courage on the part of people like Chenjerai Mangezo. People look beyond Mugabe in more ways than one. They have more complex things to deal with than can be accommodated even in superb narrative and writing that, sadly, leaves us with the age-old Zimbabwean problem of seeing things in binaries - bad and good, black and white.The absurd courage of Biti and Mangezo is in their heroic, perhaps doomed, effort to live with the devil, to refuse to be crushed by his handiwork, and seek almost forlornly to repair it.
LONG BEACH, Calif.The California Democratic Party voted on Sunday to oppose the pending Safer Sex in Adult Film Act, a controversial ballot initiative that would allow private citizens to sue adult performers and other industry workers when a condom is not visible in an adult film.

Eric Paul Leue, campaign manager for Californians Against Worker Harassment, a committee opposing the initiative, said this was a historic win for the adult industry: both major political parties in the state now oppose the initiative.

This is a tremendous, unprecedented victory. We applaud the California Democratic Party for recognizing the many problems with this dangerous initiative. No worker in any other industry can be sued and harassed by members of the general public, and this initiative would open adult performers to stalking, extortion and profiteering.

Performers have spoken out repeatedly against the measure expressing concerns for their safety and privacy. Many attended the convention to make their case to the party leaders directly.

This initiative puts adult film performers at risk, said Chanel Preston, President of the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee (APAC). The Democratic Party recognizing this is a major turning point in the battle. This win could not have happened without the help of the many performers who have been consistently impressive in their participation and support. As we move forward in our efforts to fight the adult film initiative, I believe we will continue to impress others with our passion and dedication in keeping our industry free from regulations that threaten, rather than protect performers.

Ela Darling, a Board Member of APAC, who spoke to the resolutions committee, echoed Prestons sentiment.

This is a huge success and it wouldnt have happened without the support and hard work of performers who came out and spoke up for their right to privacy. Im so honored to have stood beside such a passionate, industrious group of people this weekend. We spoke out against violations of our safety and privacy and our voices were heard.

We could not have done this without the voices of the performers, and the continuous support of our industry workers and businesses, said Leue. Our unity is our success.

The California Republican Party opposed the measure in February. Major LGBTQ groups and AIDS/HIV outreach organizations have also announced opposition, including the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and AIDS Project LA.

This is not about condoms, said Leue. Its a lawsuit bonanza that will be used to harass this work force. Harassment is not a California value.
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The shooting death of a 22-year-old Palm Bay man by an off-duty Brevard County deputy appears to have occurred during a road-rage incident, the Brevard County Sheriff said Sunday.

The shooting was reported at about 11:15 a.m. at the intersection of St. Johns Heritage Parkway and Emerson Road.

It appears to be a road-rage incident involving Deputy Yousef Hafza, according to Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

Clarence Mahogany X. Howard, of Palm Bay, was taken to an area hospital, where he died.

Hafza, who was off-duty at the time of the incident, is currently assigned to the west precinct patrol and has been employed with the Brevard Sheriff's Office since November 2015. Hafza is an 11-year law enforcement veteran, having been previously employed by the Palm Bay Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff's Office and the West Melbourne Police Department.

Hafza wasn't injured in the shooting. He has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, which is standard procedure.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Florida Department of Law Enforcement at 407-425-0801 or Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477).
A Florida National Cemetery worker stole a deceased veteran's wallet from an urn and bought pizza and video gaming cards with the vet's credit card, Sumter County deputies say.

Kevin A. Cullen charged with theft, disturbing contents of grave

Cullen works at Florida National Cemetery

He was in charge of interring World War II veteran's ashes

Kevin A. Cullen, 33, of Bushnell was arrested Monday on several charges, including fraudulent use of personal identification of a deceased person and credit card theft.

Cullen was responsible for interring the ashes of a 93-year-old World War II Navy torpedoman who died in late November but whose ashes were not interred until April, Sumter County deputies said.

Family members were resolving the veteran's financial affairs when they found suspicious credit card charges on his accounts that occurred on the same day the veteran was interred, deputies said.

Sumter detectives and a special agent from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General met with Cullen before he reported for duty at the cemetery Monday morning. During an interview at the Sheriff's Office, deputies said he admitted to taking the deceased veteran's wallet from the urn and buying the pizza and gaming cards with the credit card.

Cullen was booked in the Sumter Detention Center on $11,000 bond.


An Ocala woman shot a naked intruder who forced his way into her home, the Marion County Sheriffs Office stated in a media release on Monday.

Naked man forced his way into a womans house and then the bedroom she was hiding in, MCSO states

Woman shot the suspect in the abdomen, which stopped him

He is listed in stable condition after surgery

Sometime Sunday evening, a 54-year-old Ocala woman was in her kitchen when 27-year-old Victor Alex Etherington allegedly knocked on her window and demanded that he wanted to come inside, deputies stated.

Since the woman did not recognize the man, she told him to leave. The suspect allegedly kicked her door open and the victim ran upstairs to her bedroom, called 911 and armed herself, according to deputies.

The suspect then followed her upstairs to the bedroom at which time she locked herself in the bedroom closet. The suspect forced entry into the bedroom, took off his shorts, (which he had defecated in) and forced entry into the closet where the victim was hiding, deputies stated.

The woman then fired her .22 caliber handgun and hit the suspect in the abdomen, which stopped him, deputies explained.

When deputies arrive at the home, they allegedly found Etherington naked and hiding behind the bedroom door.

Etherington was transported to Ocala Regional Medical Center where he underwent surgery and is listed in stable condition.

Deputies stated that they believe Etherington was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident and may have lived in the home 12 years earlier.


Somewhere between pig Latin and social medias abbreviations substituted for words -- perhaps a quarter-century ago -- American drivers communicated on CB (citizens band) radios.

Truckers used CBs best, and probably still do, warning of wrecks up ahead, bad weather and smokies -- the do right guys who write tickets when excessive speed is detected.

I miss the chatter, including such expressions as breaker one/nine and got your ears on? I also enjoyed random chats with good buddies on the super slab. A preacher caught up in CB talk ended a prayer one Sunday with catch you on the flip/flop rather than amen. And a trucker asked, Hey, Van Gogh, got your EAR on?

Since most truckers still have CBs, Im counting on them to spread the news about food thats larrapin good at a restaurant in the innards of a swanky resort hotel in San Diego.

Though the hotel is unique, the eatery -- in appearance, anyway -- isnt. Tucked away at the Town and Country Resort on Interstate 5, Charlies depends on clientele who arrive there on purpose.

It has true Texan appeal, meat cooked on a custom stainless steel smoker on a trailer. The servings are so generous the plates need sideboards. Once drivers of 18-wheelers visit, they depart with enough left-overs for their next meals. And they spread the news on their CBs.

Texans know the secret to finding good grub is to stop where trucks are stacked up. Truckers know.

Town and Country has been around more than 60 years, beginning with 47 units when many travelers called road lodgings tourist courts. There are almost 1,000 units now, and theyre on the front-end of an $80 million makeover.

While we were there, hundreds of ballroom dancers converged from across the nation. The resort -- awash in conventions -- recently hosted mens and womens body building competition. Another, a Steampunk gathering, featured guests dressed in period costumes. (Truckers may gawk, of course, but are reminded their stops are for victuals.)

Chef Paul McCabe, who doesnt have enough walls or shelves to display his awards, directs food and beverage operations. Charlies seems to be a pet project, featuring his Texas-style brisket.

We were encouraged to try his poutine appetizer, a dish of Canadian origin. With ingredients including fries, burnt brisket ends, gravy, fried cheese curds and celery, one order would feed a scout troop, perhaps even a fleet of truck drivers.

Enough said.

San Diego is a favorite destination, for us and millions of others. Its the largest city in the world with a single airport runway -- it stays hot. The arrival gate is one of the happiest anywhere, but boarding on return flights is sad. Its a city tough to leave.

We loved the hop on, hop off trolley tour. Timed correctly, visitors can hop off at Old Town, if only to grab grub at the world-famous Coyote Cafe, then hop back on.

At our stop in Coronado, American flags flew in great numbers. Riders grew silent upon learning the flags honored the memory of a Navy Seal, slain by ISIS and trained at the Coronado Seal training school. Such poignant moments are too rarely experienced.

Little wonder that the late Dr. Theodor Geisel resided in nearby La Jolla during the last half of his life. Most of his writing was inspired by experiences there. A wise and unique author, he founded the Geisel Foundation. It continues to support many causes, locally and beyond.

He didnt mind the Dr. Seuss pen name that was always mispronounced. It is, indeed, his middle name. Correct pronunciation of Seuss -- of Bavarian origin -- actually rhymes with the word choice. They said he preferred the mispronunciation; it rhymes with goose. Worse would have been use of his nickname: The Kaiser. Need more be said?

Folks with at least casual interest in the life of this brilliant writer should Google away. Better yet, visit his museum in La Jolla, Calif. Its just a few pebble tosses from San Diego, a destination city thats the starting point for many adventures. In the words of Dr. Seuss, Try it, try it, you will see.

Dr. Don Newbury is a speaker in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Send inquiries/comments to newbury@speakerdoc.com.
QUEBEC CITY, CanadaCrakRevenue is offering a payout bump of $50 PPS to celebrate the launch of SwipeFlirts.com, the newest product on the CPA networks platform.

SwipeFlirts.com is designed to be a meeting point for English-speaking traffic looking for casual sex and dicrete affairs.

Affiliates promoting the offer will receive the payout for every SwipeFlirts membership that they generate.

We are thrilled to make such a promising offer available to our affiliates, said Axel Vezina, COO of CrakRevenue. We have designed, tweaked, and tested the SwipeFlirts landing page for months before making it available to our affiliates and its now the perfect product to promote this summer.

We fully expect this promotional launch to kick off with a bang! said Maxime Bergeron-Laramee, Sales Director at CrakRevenue. We are so convinced of the conversion potential behind this productthat we didn't even hesitate to increase the payout to the max!

For now, the SwipeFlirts pay increase is planned to stay in effect until July 31 but may be extended depending on the numbers.

For more information, visit the official CrakRevenue blog.
Have an opinion on standardized testing in Texas? Well, the Texas Department of Education wants to hear it.

The state agency has submitted an online survey for citizens to voice their thoughts on how Texas handles education.

The TEA said in a press release, the State Board of Education (SBOE) is issuing a survey in English and Spanish to seek public input about the state's current assessment and accountability programs and gather suggestions for future program development. The survey will be open online to all Texans through June 30.

The SBOE said from October 2015 to March 2016, the board held nine community conversation meetings around the state, gathering comments about the student assessment and accountability systems.

The online survey is said to address the issues raised during the meetings and allows for input from teachers, parents, students and the entire community.

"Our constituents often talk to board members about testing and school ratings issues," said SBOE Chair Donna Bahorich. "I felt it was also important for board members to have in-depth discussions to learn what educators, parents, business people and others want from these two high-profile programs. I believe our findings will be useful in shaping the next generation systems."

The information gathered from the survey and the Community Conversations will be compiled into a report and presented to the SBOE for its consideration at its July 19-22 meeting. Once adopted, the report will be provided to legislative leaders and the Texas Commission on Next Generation Assessments and Accountability.

The 15-member commission, created by the Texas Legislature, is to make recommendations for statutory changes to the state's assessment and accountability systems. The commission report is to be submitted to the governor and legislature by Sept. 1.

The survey is available in English at http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2762440/State-Assessments-and-Accountability-Survey and in Spanish at http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2851839/Encuesta-de-evaluaciones-y-responsabilidad-educativa-del-estado.

Bahorich encourages Texans to share the link to the surveys to encourage widespread participation.

Comments gathered at each of the Community Conversations are available at

http://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/Leadership/State_Board_of_Education/SBOE_Meetings/Community_Conversations_about_Assessment_and_Accountability/.

For more information about the Texas Commission on Next Generation Assessments and Accountability, visit http://tea.texas.gov/2804Commission.aspx.
WALLINGFORD  Sixteen years after being dismantled, one of the oldest houses in town remains in two storage containers in town.



The Yale House, built in 1790, traces its origins to the family of Yale University founder Elihu Yale.



Representatives from the Historic Preservation Trust said there are no current plans to reassemble the house, citing cost and the need to maintain the other two homes the trust operates  the Johnson Mansion and Royce House.



The Yale House was located near what is now Home Depot. It was purchased by the Mesite family in 1991 and later gifted to the Historic Preservation Trust.



The Trust hired historical architect Jeffrey Bradley to dismantle the house piece by piece so it could be reassembled at a new location. Sixteen years later the house remains in storage.



I wouldnt say its the highest priority right now, said Trust president Jerry Farrell Jr.



Farrell said Bradleys unexpected death last year complicated the matter because he had more knowledge on how it should be put back together than anyone else. Each piece is numbered and has been stored in two 40-foot trailers in town.



Farrell said he has been in conversations with local land owners on possible locations. Even if the Trust doesnt have to purchase land, it will cost several hundred thousand dollars to put the house back together.



Its one of those things, as I say, we will get to, Farrell said. Were committed to preserving it in Wallingford, but we have to prioritize.



Farrell said he has heard of historic homes being stored upwards of 20, 30 years.



Ralph Mesite, whose family owned the house for about a decade, said he hopes it will one day be put back together in town.



It was something historical for the town, Mesite said.



ltauss@record-journal.com 203-317-2231 Twitter: @LeighTaussRJ






A California regulator is approving Aetnas proposed acquisition of rival health insurer Humana.

California Department of Managed Health Care Director Shelley Rouillard announced her decision on Monday.

As a condition of the approval, Aetna agreed to limit premium increases in the small-group market and to allow greater state oversight of its rates. The company will also have to keep certain decision-making functions in California and must invest in various health initiatives.

The proposed $35 billion cash-and-stock deal would make Aetna a sizable player in the rapidly growing Medicare Advantage business, which offers privately run versions of the federally funded health care program for the elderly and some people with disabilities.

The merger still requires approval by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Paso Robles

Fallen oaks,

winery woes

A Central California winery hailed as one of the best in the country is facing boycott calls and enforcement actions after it clear-cut hundreds of old oak trees to make way for more vineyards.

Justin Vineyard and Winery west of the town of Paso Robles has been under stop-work orders since June 9 from San Luis Obispo County and a resource-conservation district on the expansion project.

Officials ordered the halt to the clear-cutting after neighbors and at least one pilot reported spotting lumber crews and hillsides newly cleared of oak groves. In an email Monday, the winery said its felling of the oaks was in compliance with the law, and that it would be planting 5,000 young oaks.

California billionaires Stewart and Lynda Resnick, who also market popular lines of pomegranate juice, almonds and bottled water from Fiji, own the business, which is known for its upscale Bordeaux-style wines. Wine Enthusiast magazine named Justin its winery of the year in 2015, and Wine Spectator magazine has rated some of the winerys offerings among the worlds best.

The waves of praise turned to criticism, however, after the winery removed what authorities say were hundreds of oak trees. Oaks can live for 250 years or more, and are known as a keystone species in California, providing food and shelter for other native species.

New York

Ad law would

hurt Airbnb

A proposal to outlaw online ads for short-term New York City apartment rentals on sites like Airbnb has cleared the state Legislature.

Its already illegal to rent apartments for less than 30 days in the city.

The measure heading to Gov. Andrew Cuomos desk would establish graduated fines of up to $7,500 for advertising online or elsewhere for short-term rentals, which have expanded with online platforms.

Airbnb has created a black market for illegal hotel operators, said Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, a bill sponsor. The practice reduces affordable housing, she said.

Josh Meltzer, Airbnb head of public policy, said lawmakers cut a last-minute deal with the hotel industry to pass the bill. He called it a bad proposal that will make it harder for thousands of New Yorkers to pay the bills.

Venture capital

Morgenthaler

founder dies

Venture capitalist and former National Venture Capital Association chairman David Morgenthaler died in Cleveland on Friday. We was 96.

Mr. Morgenthaler founded the eponymous Morgenthaler Ventures in 1968 and served as president then chairman of the association from 1977 to 1979. The company has been involved in several major projects in Silicon Valley.

He received the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the group in 1998 for his work in investing. Hes also a member of the Venture Capital Hall of Fame.

To say that David Morgenthaler was a pioneer would be an incredible understatement. David was much more than a pioneer, he was an icon of venture capital, titan of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and champion of innovation, NVCA CEO Bobby Franklin said in a statement.

Chronicle News Services
WASHINGTON, D.C.Today the Woodhull Freedom Foundation filed an amicus brief at the United States Supreme Court, supporting a petition for review by Dave Mech. Woodhull joins the First Amendment Lawyers Association (FALA) and the Free Speech Coalition (FSC) in the brief.

Dave Mech, who formerly acted in adult films as "Dave Pounder," seeks to have the U.S. Supreme Court decide whether he has been illegally discriminated against in his attempt to hang banners advertising his math tutoring business, "Happy/Fun Math Tutor," on schoolyard fences in Palm Beach County, Florida. Mech has several degrees in both math and teaching.

The banners had been displayed for some time and there were no issues with Mechs tutoring. In fact, there was nothing about the banners that raised concerns. It was, instead, that one parent discovered that "Dave Pounder Productions" used the same mailing address as "Happy/Fun Math Tutor"and using the now-well-established (if unwritten) doctrine of "porn cooties," anything that's in the vicinity of, or in any way connected to, an adult performer or production company is seen as having been contaminated by that proximity. To be clear, no one has claimed that children being tutored by Mech saw any adult material, or even knew of his connection to adult.

Mech's claim was denied last month by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that messages which appear on schoolyard fences are "government speech," despite the fact that advertisers actually pay (or donate cash) to have their banners displayed on the fences.

"When the government exercises 'the right to "speak for itself," it can freely 'select the views that it wants to express,'" wrote the Eleventh Circuit panel which included ultra-conservative William Pryor. One of the "views" that the school board elected to "express" to middle school kids was for a local tavern, Miller's Ale House.

Woodhull is represented in this case by First Amendment Attorney, Gary Edinger; the principal author of the brief. Woodhulls General Counsel, Lawrence G. Walters (along with attorney Jim Green) represents Mech in the case. The question posed to the Supreme Court is, "Whether the Eleventh Circuit improperly expanded the 'government speech' exception to the First Amendment to include circumstances where the government was not itself a 'speaker' but had clearly discriminated against private speech on the basis of content."

Read more about the case and the brief here.

Ricci Levy, Woodhulls President and CEO, observed, Mech appears to be an obvious target of discrimination based on his involvement in the adult industry.

Woodhull is proud to join with the First Amendment Lawyers Association and the Free Speech Coalition in urging the Court to consider this important case involving the right to sexual expression, Levy added.

UPDATE: Dave Mech sent AVN the following comments on the FALA brief:
Two San Francisco police officers tore a 65-year-old mans rotator cuff when they mistakenly grabbed him after his wife called for help amid an outburst by the couples son-in-law, according to a federal lawsuit.

Melchor Javier Ortega sued the city Thursday, saying the two unidentified officers used excessive force when they encountered him July 11 in his Bayview home.

The city attorneys office said it had not seen the lawsuit and declined to comment. The city responded to Ortegas administrative claim in January, denying any liability.

At the time of the incident, Ortega and his wife, Elena, lived on the top level of a two-story home while his daughter, her husband and their children lived on the lower level.

According to the lawsuit, Ortega and his wife heard their son-in-law and daughter arguing, and Ortega, knowing that his son-in-law could become violent when he drank alcohol, tried to calm him down.

After speaking to his son-in-law, Ortega left to buy plastic pipe for home repairs, the suit states. But the argument continued while he was gone, and his wife, who had gone downstairs, saw their son-in-law throw a pan of cooking oil.

Elena Ortega called police, describing her son-in-law as a tall, fair-skinned, bald man. Her husband returned home and was in the garage cutting the plastic pipe with a handsaw, when officers arrived, the lawsuit says.

She let the two officers in, and as she closed a door and gate behind them, they walked ahead and opened the inside door to the garage, the suit states.

The first officer grabbed Melchor Ortegas left arm without announcing himself or saying a word, while the second officer grabbed his other arm, the suit alleges. It states that both officers twisted his arms until he heard a pop and felt pain in his left shoulder.

Youre breaking my arm! he recounted saying. His wife yelled for the two officers to stop and pointed them to the in-law unit, where they found and arrested the Ortegas son-in-law.

Melchor Ortega, a retired truck driver, said doctors told him he needs surgery to reattach the rotator cuff tendon to the bone by inserting screws in the bone and muscle, followed by months of recovery and physical therapy.

Rachel Lederman, his attorney, said her client did not fit the suspect description. Instead of being tall and bald, he is short with a full head of hair.

Its an example of poor training and overreaction by San Francisco police officers, Lederman said. My client didnt match the description at all, and they simply burst in and immediately used a high degree of force on him when he actually wasnt even the person they were looking for. He wasnt resisting. Hes quite a mild-mannered person, and there was no reason for them to jerk his arm back so forcefully that they damaged the tendon.

According to the lawsuit, the officers supervisor apologized to Melchor Ortega and offered to call him an ambulance. But they purportedly told him hed have to pay for the ambulance himself.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: VivianHo
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BRIDGEPORT - For one sun-filled moment, the nations debate over assault weapons was planted on the front steps of the Main Street courthouse here Monday morning, as 18-year-old Matthew Soto of Stratford proclaimed to a huge crowd of news media: We are Newtown, we are Orlando.

The sun, not the debate, was short lived as the crowd moved inside to a small, sixth-floor courtroom. There, Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis was asked once again to let the lawsuit against the maker and sellers of the gun used to kill 20 first-graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School go to a jury.

After a nearly four-hour hearing in a courtroom crowded with news media and many of the families of the children killed, the judge did not rule and has 120 days to make her decision.

Matthew Soto was 15 when his older sister, Victoria, was shot to death as she tried to shield her class from the bullets Adam Lanza fired from a Bushmaster AR-15. He recalled going to the firehouse near the school and waiting six hours to find out whether his sister was still alive.

He didnt want any other family to go through that. he said. And then, just over a week ago, 49 people were shot to death in a nightclub in Orlando, Fla.

Because our country cannot come together on the issues of assault rifles, these mass shootings will continue to happen, Soto said.

Their choice to sell

Minutes later, Soto was front row center in the courtroom, as he heard his lawyer, Josh Koskoff, say basically the same thing.

Koskoff urged the judge to deny motions to strike or dismiss the lawsuit by lawyers for the gunmaker, Remington Outdoor Co., the distributor, Camfour Inc. and the now-closed gun store store Riverview Sales.

It was their choice to sell these weapons, Koskoff argued after the lawyers for the defendants challenged that the issue of assault weapons was better argued in the Legislature, not the courtroom.

They knew what these weapons could do better than any congressman, and our congressmen are like sheep, Koskoff maintained.

The families of those killed and wounded in Newtown claim that the AR-15 assault rifle used by Lanza, while legal at the time, was too dangerous to be manufactured, marketed and sold to a civilian, in this case, Lanzas mother.

The AR-15 is the most dangerous, most lethal instrument readily available to the civilian population, Koskoff told the judge. He said the U.S. military considers the gun its weapon of choice and that It was Remingtons choice to entrust the most notorious killing machine to the public, which constitutes negligence.

The defendants claim they are immune from such lawsuit under the 2005 federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act that shields licensed gun manufacturers, dealers and sellers of guns and ammunition from lawsuits resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of a firearm or ammunition.

However, the families claim the marketing and sale of a military-type weapon to civilians violates the 1973 state Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act, which prohibits unfair and deceptive acts and practices in trade and commerce.

Equating guns, cars

The Connecticut General Assembly has acted on firearm issues, argued Remingtons lawyer, James Vogts. It is not the role of this court or a jury to decide whether a class of people are not permitted to purchase these firearms.

The government at the time said it is legal for Remington to sell the gun to Camfour and for Camfour to sell the gun to Riverview, added Camfours lawyer, Christopher Renzulli. We are just asking the court to follow the law.

Riverviews lawyer, Peter Berry, sat at the end of the defense table, preferring to let the other lawyers argue the issue. Finally, he stood to make a point that has been argued again and again on social media.

If the case is allowed to go forward, Berry said, why couldnt suits be brought against, say, Ford Motor Co., if a Ford is stolen in a carjacking and then used to plow down innocent people.

Koskoff smiled.

Cars can be dangerous, he admitted. But they dont even come close to the AR-15, otherwise the government, instead of ordering AR-15s, would be ordering Fords and Chevys to mow the enemy down.
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WASHINGTON  Connecticut lawmakers and gun-control advocates hailed the Supreme Courts refusal on Monday to hear a challenge to the assault-rifle ban the state adopted after the Newtown school massacre.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who led the 2013 gun-safety effort, said he was vindicated by the defeat of the case brought by the Connecticut Citizens Defense League, a gun-advocacy group.

"During tragic times, we acted, Malloy said of the ban on military-style rifles and large-capacity ammunition magazines. When we saw wrong, we did what was right. After enduring a moment as a state that shook our collective conscience and jolted the soul, we banded together and stood up for common sense. We passed one of the toughest, one of the smartest gun laws in the nation. As today shows, common sense has prevailed.

The gun rights group, in a statement on its website, said that if the Supreme Court were at its full strength, instead of down one justice, the result might have been different.

Scott Wilson, president of the CCDL, said that the the banned firearms, such as the Bushmaster XM-15 or AR-15, are the most-popular weapons in the country.

(They) are very rarely used by criminals, and the only things that distinguish them from non-banned firearms are external features such as thumb-hole stocks and pistol grips that promote safe and accurate use, Wilson said. We fully intend to renew our challenge to Connecticuts blatantly unconstitutional ban as soon as there are five justices sitting on the Supreme Court committed to the proper understanding of the Second Amendment.

Adam Lanza used a Bushmaster to kill 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in December 2012. Omar Mateen used an AR-15 style rifle in the Orlando nightclub massacre earlier this month.

Ron Pinciaro, executive director of CT Against Gun Violence, said he was sure the state was acting within its constitutional power to regulate firearms.

We were confident from the outset that our Connecticut law was within the guidelines for respecting Second Amendment rights while protecting the public safety of Connecticut citizens, Pinciaro said.

Renewed ban

If the court had agreed to hear the case, the eight justices would have heard oral arguments and issued a ruling by June 2017. But now that the court turned it down, the 2015 decision of the New York-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit  which upheld the post-Newtown ban  is the final word.

Although Connecticut has restricted assault rifles like the AK-47 and AR-15 for 25 years, the post-Newtown law strengthened the ban by listing specific guns by make and model. It also bars weapons with certain military features such as a detachable ammunition magazine, a pistol grip, a flash suppressor or a folding stock. In addition, the law prohibits the sale of large-capacity magazines, although there was a registration process for owners of banned weapons and magazines could register them and keep them.

Attorney General George Jepsen, whose office defended the law prior to the high courts review, said Monday the decision was reasonable, sensible and lawful.

Despite the unwillingness of Congress to take the necessary steps to address the serious problem of gun violence in our country - we will take strong and decisive action that makes progress in keeping guns out of the hands of those who seek to commit acts of violence without infringing on the rights of sportsmen and those who seek to keep guns for personal protection, Jepsen said in a statement.

Chief States Attorney Kevin Kane said he didnt think the ruling was unexpected and noted that Connecticuts assault weapons ban may very well have saved lives since its enactment in April, 2013.

Not the first challenge

The nations highest court had turned down a similar appeal last year when it declined to consider a local assault-weapons ban from Highland Park, Ill.

The court has deadlocked 4-4 on several issues since the abrupt death of its leading conservative, Justice Antonin Scalia, in February. Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, has promised to nominate justices in Scalias mold. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee, presumably would nominate liberals not inclined to support the gun-rights position.

President Obamas nominee to fill Scalias slot, appeals court judge Merrick Garland, has not participated in any major gun-related rulings but also would be an unlikely source of support for the CCDL view.

In its landmark D.C. v Heller ruling in 2008, the court stated the Second Amendment does, in fact, confer the right of individuals to own firearms. But the opinion by the late Justice Antonin Scalia said that Second Amendment rights are not unlimited.

Were sorry the Connecticut law has to stand, said Larry Pratt, president of Gun Owners of America on MSNBC. It wasnt the best news in the world but it certainly wasnt the worst.
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FAIRFIELD  With General Electrics corporate headquarters on Easton Turnpike expected to officially go on the market, locally based Kleban Properties is poised to make an aggressive push to buy the 68-acre site.

CBRE is the broker for the property. However, when asked to confirm that the GE offering would become official, Johanna Clark-Wendt, a marketing and communications manager for CBRE said, We do not comment on active marketing assignments.

But Kleban said it was ready to move ahead. We think that its an absolute necessity, as far as were concerned, for our company, and for the town of Fairfield, said Albert Kleban, chairman of Kleban Properties. Were going to be very aggressive.

Kleban Properties, a Fairfield-based real estate investment/development company, owns the Brick Walk, a downtown retail/office complex, as well as other properties on the Post Road and Black Rock Turnpike. It recently knocked GE out as the towns top taxpayer.

Albert Kleban came up with the idea to try and acquire the site within days of GEs announcement earlier this year that it would move its corporate headquarters to Boston. He said he wants to make it a technology hub, with an educational component.

To that end, the company has already reached an agreement with Fairfield University, which would lease space at the site.

Kleban said Monday that the company was aware the property was set to be marketed. Were well aware of it, he said. We expect to be in the forefront.

Since it is a public company, Kleban said, GE would need to solicit competing bids, and all involved would be required to sign a confidentiality agreement.

The two office buildings and the hotel on the property are assessed at about $59 million.
Safest Sunscreens

Trade In Your Toxin-Filled Sunscreen For One Of These Safe Options

The AskMen editorial team thoroughly researches & reviews the best gear, services and staples for life. AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service.

Last month we unpacked the dangers of mass-market sunscreens and phototoxic ingredients such as PABA, retinyl palmitate and oxybenzone. While theres no such thing as a bullet-proof sunscreen, there are some safe formulas on the market that provide adequate armour without relying on too many chemical nasties. And with summer finally eraring its head, these are the best and safest sunscreens to stop the burn.



Jason Sun Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 30

Jasons chemical-free and broad-spectrum physical sunblock is hypoallergenic, making it ideal for sensitive-skin types. Mineral sunscreens like these are made from light-reflecting chemicals that sit on the surface of the skin and create a physical barrier. The only downside to a sunscreen that doesnt get absorbed by the skin is that it can sometimes leave a slight white residue on the skin.

22.99 at Amazon.co.uk



Yes To Cucumbers Natural Sunscreen Stick, SPF 30

Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide are the most common (and effective) sunscreen ingredients and they are included here alongside plant oils and  you guessed it  cucumber extract. The beeswax base gives the product a dense texture, making it ideal for those areas that get burned the easiest. Slather over the tops of your ears, the back of the neck and your nose.

35.44 at Amazon.co.uk

Ultrasun High SPF 30 Super Sensitive Family

Were usually wary of bombastic claims about the level of protection offered by any commercial product. Most suncare products require multiple applications (around every 2 hours) for a good reason  they wear off with time and exposure. One coat of Ultrasuns formula, however, should keep you in good stead for the entire afternoon. Its not a 100% chemical-free formula like some of the others listed here but it does block 93% of UVA rays and boasts UVB protection of SPF30.

24.95 at Amazon.co.uk

Zelens Daily Defence Sunscreen Oil

Traditional oils barely qualify as a sunscreen; they just help you fry a little more easily. Dr Zelens photostable formula, however, is deceptively strong, with organic UV filters encapsulated in silica-based capsules. These encapsulated filters have a low chemical load and dermal uptake, meaning theyre unlikely to cause any irritation because they dont get absorbed by the skin. Moreover, the base of the sunscreen is a skin-identical phospholipid that moisturises, protects and restructures the skin. It can also be used in the hair.

68.75 at Amazon.co.uk



Hampton Sun Continuous Mist Sunscreen For Kids, SPF 70

Granted, this hypoallergenic product may be formulated for kids, but theres no reason why grown-ups cant use it too. Among the ingredients is polycrylene, which increases the formulas resistance to water. It can even be applied to wet skin. The SPF 70 rating isnt really quantifiable (see last months feature for the reason why) but this is as strong as you can get without the assistance of harsh chemicals. Non-aerosol and eco-friendly.

37.29 at Amazon.co.uk



La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50+ Ultra Light Fluid

The chemical culprits to watch out for are absent in this broad-spectrum and photo-stable product from French cult brand La Roche-Posay. Ideal for fair or sensitive skin, it is non-greasy, hypoallergenic and hardwearing.

17.89 at Amazon.co.uk

AskMen may get paid if you click a link in this article and buy a product or service. To find out more, please read our complete terms of use.
SAN ANTONIO  A man and a woman were taken to San Antonio Military Medical hospital in critical condition after being shot Sunday night before the man, who has yet to be identified, died from his wounds Monday morning.

According to authorities, the man and a woman were shot multiple times in front of a house in the 800 block of Canton around 2:40 a.m. on Monday.
In exchange for pleading guilty, a former Sullivan City police officer will not serve any jail time after he took marijuana from the department's evidence room, according to media reports.

Angel de la Mora, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of official oppression Monday, according to valleycentral.com. The Sullivan City Police Department did not immediately respond for comment.
Two signs in Hondo that tout the city as Gods Country have prompted the Freedom From Religion Foundation to complain the placards constitute an impermissible government endorsement of religion.

But Mayor Jim Danner left no doubt that hell oppose removing the iconic signs beside U.S. 90 that say, in full, This Is God's Country  Please Don't Drive Through It Like Hell.
Saturday and Sunday evening just north of San Antonio at Bracken Cave one of nature's small wonders took flight as millions of mother bats who recently gave birth took the air for the first time with their babies clinging to their backs.

The Nature Conservancy and Bat Conservation International gave spectators a great view of the bat flight Saturday night as the two groups hosted an event at Bracken Cave for the special occasion.
A former Central Texas police officer has been arrested on two felony charges of sexual assault and official oppression following an investigation into his conduct during work.

According to an indictment issued last week by a Bell County grand jury, Christopher R. Morris, 28, penetrated a woman without her consent and knowingly engaged in sexual harassment by making unwanted advances toward the victim while in uniform.
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SAN ANTONIO  A mansion perched on a cliff overlooking Lake Whitney in North Texas began slowly collapsing into the water 75 feet below on Tuesday night.

The foundation of the 4,000-square foot home, which the owners vacated two weeks ago, began crumbling into the water at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, according to WFAA-TV.

The luxury home, which is dangling over the rocky shoreline of the lake located about 55 miles south of Fort Worth, was condemned about a year ago after a crack was noticed in the earth below. The residence was built in 2007 and is valued at more than $700,000, WFAA-TV reported.

Lake Whitney is 61 percent full as of Wednesday and one year ago the lake was 68 percent full, according to the Texas Water Development Board. The lake was 100 percent capacity or more for 154 days in 2007, when the home was built.

Another large piece of the home fell into the water at around 11 p.m. and authorities have said the home owners will be responsible for cleaning up the debris. The Hill County Sheriff's Office told WFAA that there is no way to predict when or if the rest of the home will collapse, but that the soil was shifting at a fast pace Tuesday night.

Officials said the collapsing home is not a public safety concern and the White Bluff Subdivision security has blocked access to visitors and reporters, according to CBS DFW.

Mark Wilson, chief deputy of the Hill County Sheriff's Office, told CBS DFW that members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are in the lake near the house blocking access from boaters.

Authorities were alerted to the collapse when two neighbors saw heard a loud crash Tuesday evening, WFAA-TV reported.

kparker@express-news.net

Twitter: @KoltenParker
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A 26-year-old man has been detained in Oregon after he allegedly groped a girl on an American Airlines flight from Texas, according to media reports.

Chad Cameron Camp was booked into Multnomah County Jail in Oregon June 16 and charged with abusive sexual contact after he allegedly inappropriately touched a 13-year-old girl on an American Airlines flight from the Dallas to Portland on June 15, according to the CNN.

RELATED: San Antonio man already serving 135 years for child porn gets life sentences for sex assault of two children

The Portland Police Department did not immediately respond for comment.

The 13-year-old was flying as an unaccompanied minor, an additional $150 fee charged to the passenger's parents, where the airline, according to its website, "(ensures) your child is boarded onto the aircraft, introduced to the flight attendant, chaperoned during connections and released to the appropriate person at their destination."

RELATED: United Airlines pilot pleads guilty to stalking of S.A. ex-girlfriend

A flight attendant saw Camp's hand near the 13-year-old's crotch who had a tear streaming down her cheek, according to CNN. Camp had allegedly been talking to the girl and leaned against, nudged and her with his elbow. Additionally, Camp allegedly put his hands on her knee and upper thigh three times, according to CNN.

The flight attendant moved the girl to a different seat and sent Camp back a few rows and told the captain of the incident. When the plane landed in Portland, Camp was arrested.

RELATED: Texas' 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders

In an email sent Monday, American Airlines said, "American cares deeply about our young passengers and is committed to providing a safe and pleasant travel experience for them. We take these matters very seriously and have cooperated fully and immediately with law enforcement officials in their investigation of the suspect. Due to the pending criminal case against the suspect, we are referring all questions to law enforcement."

Camp is being held without bail in Multnomah County Jail, according to jail records.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5
The deadliest mass shooting in our history early June 12 in Orlando, Fla., is the latest, but unfortunately not the last, of such murders to happen in America.

We will sadly witness more mass shootings in the months and years ahead, despite pleas from the pulpits and the White House to address this problem. The record is clear  from Columbine High School in Colorado to Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut and countless places in between  this society and its lawmakers resolutely refuse to do anything sufficient to reduce the gun-related carnage.

What we will do is repeat a familiar pattern that has now become a mass shooting tradition:

Categorize it: hate crime motivated by religious zealotry.

Psychologize it: mentally ill shooter.

Condemn it: terrible crime that should happen to no one.

Give motive to it: inspired by the radical ideas of a known extremist group.

Praise those who end it: brave police officers who killed the suspect.

Pray about it: Keep the victims and their families in your prayers.

Have the president address it: President Obama met with victims families.

We will not, however, address ways to stop or reduce mass shootings. There have been ample opportunities to date to deal with mass shootings, and next to nothing has been done. The National Rifle Association can rest easy. Radical gun control laws are not coming.

According to Gun Violence Archive, an organization that compiles accurate statistics about shooting incidents, there had been 135 mass shootings this year before the Orlando murders. Mass shootings  shootings with four or more shot and/or killed in a single event  happen on an average of almost six times a week in the U.S.

Admittedly, the U.S. is not the only country where mass shootings occur. They happen in other countries, too. In July 2011, Anders Brevik killed 77 people in Norway by bombing eight and shooting 69. However, mass shootings do not define the Norwegian experience the way they do the American experience.

Put succinctly, according to a CNN report, while the U.S. has 5 percent of the worlds population, it had (between 1996 and 2012) 31 percent of all public mass shootings.

Could these tragedies be prevented? Absolutely. For guidance look no further than Australia, which was shocked by a mass shooting in 1996. Then Prime Minister John Howard, a tough-minded Liberal Party leader, engineered what has been called sweeping gun control legislation in only 12 days. Among other things, automatic and semiautomatic weapons were banned and a buyback of guns was instituted.

Where Australia found itself in 1996 and where America finds itself today is similar when it comes to the myths about the importance of guns is a free society. What is strikingly different is the lack of American political will to address the issue of guns.

Americans who seriously believe that people should carry automatic weapons to make this a safer society are also apt to believe the writers of the Constitution had these weapons in mind when drafting the Second Amendment. This is about as likely as suggesting they foresaw the advent of the internet.

Given the lack of political will in the U.S., anything close to the Australian response will not happen here.

We will simply wait until the next mass shooting takes place. And it will.

These shootings have happened at post offices, restaurants, universities, elementary schools, churches, temples, factories, shopping malls, theaters and military installations.

Now, tragically, we can add a gay nightclub to the list. The only real question is, where will the next one be?

Roger C. Barnes, Ph.D., is professor of sociology at the University of the Incarnate Word. Don C. Smith is associate professor of the practice of law at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in Denver.
First, the good news. The city of San Antonio and the San Antonio Police Officers Association have finally come to an agreement on an updated labor contract, ending several years of acrimony.

The fight over public safety health care costs had grown petty and overtly personal. It distracted from other important city issues. In that sense, the community is better served with this agreement.

Both sides had to give up something to make a deal. Assuming this agreement is formally approved, San Antonio police officers will contribute to their health care costs, a key goal of the city.

City Manager Sheryl Sculley was also seeking to void a 10-year evergreen clause, which keeps the contract intact once it expires. But in the end, despite a legal fight, the city agreed to an eight-year evergreen clause. Since the city had long argued the evergreen clause was so lengthy it didnt compel the police union to negotiate, its hard to see how going from 10 years to eight years is substantively better.

Under the new deal, police health care premiums would increase 10 percent a year while the evergreen clause is in effect, and that is some dilution of the unions leverage. But one of the plan options, the high-deductible plan, doesnt include premiums.

Its hard to see how Mayor Ivy Taylor or the city won in these negotiations. Mike Helle, the police associations president, pointedly gave extreme credit for the deal to Taylor during a news conference announcing the agreement. The union bosss lavish praise for Taylor was ironic given the police and fire associations strong endorsement of her opponent Leticia Van de Putte in the last mayoral race.

Sculley, with the support of Taylor and City Council, had sought to contain public safety costs to 66 percent of the general fund. This deal does not do that. In the fourth and fifth years, the city estimates, public safety spending will increase to 66.3 percent and 67.6 percent of the general fund, respectively.

Add the $800 increase in officers annual clothing allowance, the 3 percent lump-sum bonus and 14 percent wage increases over the five-year contract, and it shouldnt be difficult for the police union to approve this contract.

It was a grinding, grueling fight. To make a deal, everyone has to give up something. If the city gave up too much, Taylor and taxpayers have to live with it.
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SACRAMENTO  In front of state lawmakers weighing a slate of gun-control measures, the Dalai Lama said Monday that ending violence requires inner disarmament and an education system that focuses on teaching moral values, compassion and what it means to be a global citizen.

In a speech to lawmakers in the state Capitol, the Tibetan spiritual leader called a sense of community the basis of our own happy future.

His comments came in the wake of the mass shooting in Orlando and the deadly attack in San Bernardino in December, which led California lawmakers to introduce more than a dozen gun-control bills.

Real gun control must come from here, the Dalai Lama said, pointing at his heart.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate also spoke to the Legislature of the need to care for the planet and the threat of climate change  a hallmark concern for Gov. Jerry Brown  in an address that diverged widely from his prepared comments.

Earlier in the day, the Dalai Lama met with Brown in a small, private luncheon at the historic Leland Stanford Mansion, the governors office said.

As he waded through the crowded Assembly chambers to the dais, the Dalai Lama quieted the room by urging clapping politicians to sit, saying he did not like such formalities.

He praised California for its focus on climate change, something he said he understands firsthand. He said his home, Tibet, is warming three times faster than the rest of the planet.

This planet is the only place we can live happily, we can breathe happily, he said. There is no other choice but fully protect our home.

Education is the best platform

The Dalai Lama also called on educators to do more to ensure that compassion, love and citizenry are at the core of what they teach.

The generation who come from (the) existing sort of society (have a) very much materialist life, materialist culture, he said. I feel the existing education system (is) very much oriented about material value and not talking about our inner value.

The Tibetan spiritual leader said that his generation has witnessed much violence and that todays youths have an opportunity and a responsibility to create a better world.

However, he said, many places in the world are not preparing young people to grow into compassionate adults, noting religion is helpful in promoting inner peace, but that in a world of many nonbelievers, education is the best platform.

It was the Dalai Lamas first trip to Sacramento and came five days after he met with President Obama at the White House, a session that angered China. Beijing leaders accuse the 80-year-old Dalai Lama of leading a campaign to divide Tibet from the rest of China by using religion as a cover for the political talks.

Tensions with China

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said in a statement that meetings in the U.S. with the Dalai Lama send the wrong message to separatist forces that support Tibetan independence and could jeopardize the relationship between China and the U.S.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said in a press briefing after the meeting last week that the U.S. has not changed its position on Tibet.

Tibet, per U.S. policy, is considered a part of the Peoples Republic of China, and the United States has not articulated our support for Tibetan independence, Earnest said, according to a transcript of the media briefing.

The Dalai Lama has called for a higher degree of autonomy under Chinese rule.

He and his followers have lived in exile in the Himalayan hillside city of Dharamsala, India, since 1959, when they fled Tibet following a failed uprising against China.

The Tibetan government-in-exile, which elects its own prime minister and parliament, is not recognized by China. Earlier this year, the exiled government renewed calls for China to grant it autonomy.

The Dalai Lama led the exiled government until 2011, when he stepped down to focus on his role as a spiritual leader.

Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: MelodyGutierrez
After success in Philadelphia, the former New York mayor is preparing to fund similar efforts out West.

NEW YORK  CNBC reports that after successfully funding a campaign to pass a soda tax in Philadelphia, billionaire Michael Bloomberg wants to fund similar efforts in several other cities.

The former New York City mayor contributed about $1.6 million to the pro-tax efforts in Philadelphia, and is planning to support soda tax measures in San Francisco and Oakland, California, according to Howard Wolfson, a senior adviser to Bloomberg. The billionaire may also support soda tax drives in Seattle and Multnomah County in Oregon, which includes Portland, in 2017, Wolfson told the news source.

CNBC notes that passage of a soda tax in the nations fifth-largest city could be a turning point for health advocates messaging that sugary drinks and foods lead to obesity and diabetes. "If Berkeley [California] was a tremor, Philadelphia is an earthquake, and we expect there will be more earthquakes going forward," Wolfson told the news source.

Following enactment of Philadelphias soda tax, the American Beverage Association (ABA) said it would seek legal action to stop the tax. According to CNBC, Wolfson did not rule out the possibility that Bloomberg would contribute to the city's defense.
Fed up with watching his customers go through drug addiction and overdoses, a local convenience store owner is bringing awareness to his community.

SHEBOYGAN, Wis.  A local BP convenience store owner is frustrated with the drug problem in his community, and hes doing something about it.

The Sheboygan Press writes that Dick Hiers is tired of seeing his customers die from drug overdoses and is bringing awareness to the problem. Ive lost more than 30 customers to overdoses, Hiers told the news source. The last one that affected me more than anything was Dakota. 19-years-old with a two-year-old child. She came in here, her parents came in here, her sister comes here. That one affected me the most and I decided something needed to be done to bring some awareness to it.

At his Northeast Standard BP station, Hiers has posted signs that are hard to miss. The first says Heroin is killing peoplehelp wanted and Wake up! Your kids are dyingheroin." While the signs grab attention, Hiers told the news source that hes disappointed by the community's lack of response.

The signs have traveled the United States and maybe outside the country, but from the community itself, there has been very little response, Hiers said. A lot of people thought it was cute and took pictures of it, but no one was knocking on my door to find out why.

Hiers isnt giving up hope, having posted about a dozen different signs that draw attention to drug addiction and heroin use in the community. I am hoping that this will be a building block and it will expand and get bigger and bigger, he told the news source. So people, if they see drug deals going down or lose a neighbor to heroin, that they bug the police department and get some response.

The c-store owner is now working with two faith-based addiction support groups, Samaritan's Hand and the Christian Intervention Program. To help raise awareness, Samaritan's Hand is holding a "Prayer at the Pump" at 6:00 pm on June 29.

"I want Hiers to know that we care. I want people to know that Samaritans Hand cares," Julie Conard, program administrator at Samaritans Hand, told the news source. "While prayer might be laughed at by some people, we see positive results of people finding our faith here and finding healing. We know that prayer is quite something and want to stand with a business owner who is willing to stand up.

Conard noted that the prayer will focus on healing the community and raising addiction awareness. "Healing the community is really where it's coming from. Hopefully other people who maybe don't understand what addiction is [will] open up their hearts and minds to realize it is a hard thing to overcome," she said. "It's not easy and [it] wrecks lives. It hurts business owners, people get robbed, and a lot of things happen due to drugs and alcohol."
The Kentucky Retirement System may wind up illustrating William Gibsons observation: The future is already here  its just not evenly distributed. Its rapidly escalating from dysfunction and corruption at the fund level to disregard of the law at the executive level, even if supposedly to deal with the disaster more effectly. Is this sort of might makes right theory of political action on its way to becoming the norm in America in response to hopelessly partisan politics? Or to put it another way, are we to expect more and more Detroit-bankruptcy-style abrogations of democracy in the name of the supposed urgency of dealing with financial train wrecks?

By way of background, the Kentucky Retirement System is the worst funded in the US, with assets at only 19% of its projected needs. Former trustee Chris Tobe, author of Kentucky Fried Pensions, which described corruption on both the investment and funding side, has provided us with periodic updates, as well as the quote in the headline.

The current state of play is that the Republican governor and the Democratic attorney general are engaged in a turf war over whether the governor can exert control over the fund. By law, the trustees are supposed to be independent. Yet the new governor used an executive order to remove the boards chairman in March. From the Financial Times:

Armed police officers are not a usual sight at pension board meetings. Yet last month a number of state troopers were on standby when the board of Kentuckys second-largest public pension scheme, which oversees $16bn of assets, convened. Some of those attending the meeting assumed the law enforcement officers were accompanying the US states governor, Matt Bevin, to the session. Instead, it transpired that Mr Bevin had sent the troopers to stop the chairman of the pension board from taking part in the proceedings. The states former governor  a political opponent of Mr Bevins  had appointed Thomas Elliott, a banker, to chair the board of the Kentucky Retirement Systems (KRS) in 2011. Mr Bevin, a Republican, removed Mr Elliott from the board in March, several years before his term as chairman was due to end in 2019. The governor argued that the pension scheme needed a fresh start. The days events, which were described by members of the public at the meeting as shocking, terrifying and ludicrous, are the latest example of the role politics has played in Kentuckys pension woes.

A report at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce publication that ran weeks earlier included some critical details that the pink paper omitted:

A meeting of the Kentucky Retirement System (KRS) Board of Trustees kicked off Thursday with an a claim by the KRS executive director that the systems former board chair would be arrested if he participated in the meeting after Gov. Matt Bevin issued an executive order removing him from that position last month. Board members and attendees of the meeting at KRS headquarters were informed by KRS Executive Director Bill Thielen that members of the governors office and the personnel cabinet were in the room, along with Kentucky State Police officers who Thielen claimed had been asked to arrest former KRS Board Chair Tommy Elliott if he participated in the meeting. Elliott remained in the room during the meeting but not at the table with the board members. Because the board needs someone to preside over the meeting, board member Joseph Hardesty was nominated and served as chair for the meeting. There was discussion about the board electing a new chair at the Thursday meeting, with Vince Lang being nominated, but those motions were delayed to avoid any more controversy at this point. KRS is currently without an official board chair after Bevins replacement for Elliott, dermatologist Dr. William Smith, turned down the post Tuesday, the same day Attorney General Andy Beshears office issued an opinion stating Bevin does not have the authority to remove Elliott and that Dr. Smith did not have the qualifications to serve in the position.

The attorney generals ruling is the official determination of what is legal. It is not permissible for the governor to remove the executive director. The state troopers are supposed to enforce the law, which means the attorney generals interpretation. The fact that state troopers instead moves to enforce an illegal order, worse with the threat of arrest, is an banana republic level stunt. As a former trustee of different pension system remarked, This is government at the barrel of a gun.

Bevin continued with his illegal staffing measures. From the Lexington Herald-Leader:

Saying he wants to address the states $35 billion public pension shortfall, Gov. Matt Bevin on Friday abolished the Kentucky Retirement Systems Board of Trustees by executive order and replaced it with a new board that will have four additional members appointed by him. The reorganization will provide a more focused, expert vision and purpose, designed to carry out the objectives honoring the expectations of current retirees and employees, the governors office said in a prepared statement. The KRS board oversees $16 billion in assets for the retirement benefits of about 350,000 people employed by state or local governments or the Kentucky State Police. It faces billions of dollars in unfunded liabilities, due largely to the failure of state government to contribute recommended sums over most of the last two decades. At Bevins urging, an audit of the state pension system is set to begin in coming months. A state retiree watchdog group immediately blasted Bevins order on Friday. It called for the previous trustees to sue the governor. The governor has granted himself extraordinary new powers over a board that is supposed to be insulated from political interference, said Jim Carroll of Kentucky Government Retirees. Moreover, his actions further marginalize the elected representation of Kentucky Retirement Systems members by stacking the KRS board of trustees with more appointees. We urge the legitimate KRS board to litigate this matter. We as stakeholders deserve nothing less.

And despite the claim that Bevin wants to clean up a badly-run system, some of his picks look to be too close to the financial services industry for comfort:

Bevins order replaces the 13-member board with a larger 17-member board. Eleven trustees will be appointed by the governor, including four newly created positions Bevin filled Friday with William S. Cook of Louisville, who retired from investment firm KKR Prisma in 2015; David L. Harris, of Nicholasville, a senior partner and shareholder of financial services firm MCF Advisors LLC; Neil P. Ramsey of Louisville, who founded Ramsey Financial Inc.; and state budget director John E. Chilton of Louisville, a certified public accountant.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/news/politics-government/article84451847.html#storylink=cpy

Needless to say the attorney general also lodged an objection:

In a statement, Attorney General Andy Beshear questioned Bevins unprecedented actions Friday, citing the governors decisions to remake both the KRS and University of Louisville governing boards. Lawmakers mandated that these boards be independent, said Beshear, who previously has said that Bevin lacked the authority to strike Elliott off the KRS board in the middle of his appointed term. My office is therefore closely reviewing todays actions.

Having said all of that, there is one move that Bevin plans to take that could have national ramifications:

KRS will be required to publish on its website all of its individual investment holdings and the fees and commissions paid on each, with quarterly updates. KRS already releases the total sums that it pays in investment fees and commissions per asset class, but it has carefully guarded the individual payments to each fund manager, saying that public disclosure with interfere with its ability to negotiate competitive terms.

KRS invests heavily in private equity but it is only a moderate-sized fund and many of its investments are in fund of funds. Nevertheless, disclosing fees quarterly by manager, whether gross or net fees, will still crack open the transparency door further, and demonstrate that the private equity industrys contention that more fee disclosure is somehow competitively harmful is hogwash.

The governors press release also stated that:

All individuals associated with the investment and management of retirement system assets, whether contracted investment advisors, board members or staff employees shall adhere to the The Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct the Asset Manager Code of Professional Conduct promulgated by the CFA Institute.

Chris Tobe pointed out via e-mail:

Over 1300 firms like KRS managers PIMCO, Northern Trust, BlackRock, Loomis Sayles, and Columbia Asset Management have signed on to the Asset Manager Code of Professional Conduct. However many of the private equity and hedge funds owned by KRS do not. These firms include hedge funds like Blackstone,Luxor Capital, Magnetar, Prisma, Pacific Alternative (PAMCO), Tortoise capital, real estate funds like Harrison St. and Walton Street, and private equity firms like GTCR, Harvest Partners, OakHill, Tenaska Power, and Vista.

The wee problem is that KRS has no leverage to get any existing private equity managers to agree to adhere to the CFA standards. The general partners have the states money. They will just ignore this demand.

If KRS says it wont respond to capital calls as a result, the limited partnership agreements have draconian sanctions for failing to meet a capital call, such as seizing the defaulting partys portion of fund assets and distributing them to the other partners.

So as much as action to deal with the dire state of the Kentucky pension system is long overdue, the governors use of police to get his way is an alarming precedent. And the lack of an outcry in the local media means this alarming precedent may be on the way to becoming yet another bad new normal.
Politicians are finally waking up to the fact that infrastructure deals are bad deals for their citizens, as demonstrated by a revolt against a toll road project in North Carolina. From IPE (hat tip j3):

A vote this month in the North Carolina House of Representatives has highlighted the political risks inherent in infrastructure investment  at a time when institutional investors are increasing allocations to the asset class. Local lawmakers in the US state passed a bill to cancel a 50-year toll road contract with Spanish developer Cintra Infraestructuras. Cintra began work last November on the section of I-77 close to North Carolinas primary business hub in Charlotte. North Carolina has experienced strong economic growth in the past decade. Some 25 miles north of Charlotte, areas such as Lake Norman have become affluent, while neigbourhoods closer to Charlottes north side are less so. Residents object to having to pay tolls to commute to work when residents in southern suburbs have access to more free lanes built when the state had more funding available for highways. The objections can be seen as part of a wider public criticism of toll roads and growing support for the publicly-funded road building that created the free interstate highway system in the middle of the 20th century. The fact that the North Carolina House of Representatives passed the bill to cancel the contract by an 81-27 margin, with strong bipartisan support, has implications for other infrastructure projects in the US.

Before you get too excited, some observers contend that the bill will die in North Carolinas Senate. And Fitch, which rated the bonds on this project BBB-, appears unruffled, since it believes the cancellation clauses in the deal are strong and require bondholders to be made whole. The estimated cost exit up to $250 million. Backers of the bill to scupper the toll road contend theyd found other projects that could be delayed to defray the cost.

But the bigger issue, which the IPE article only alludes to, is that it appears that more and more state and local governments are starting to wake up to the fact that these deals are bad for their constituents.

As we wrote in 2013:

As weve discussed at length earlier, these schemes are simply exercises in extraction. Investors in mature infrastructure deals expect 15% to 20% returns on their investment. And that also includes the payment of all the (considerable) fees and costs of putting these transactions together. The result is tantamount to selling the family china and then renting it back in order to eat. There is no way that adding unnecessary middlemen with high return expectations improves the results to the public. In fact, the evidence is overwhelmingly the reverse: investors jack up usage fees and skimp on maintenance. And their deals are full of sneaky features to guarantee their returns.

And as we pointed out in a more recent post, toll road construction projects virtually without exception wind up in bankruptcy. From a 2014 article in Thinking Highways: Beginning with the contracting stage, the evidence suggests toll operating public private partnerships are transportation shell companies for international financiers and contractors who blueprint future bankruptcies. Because Uncle Sam generally guarantees the bonds  by far the largest chunk of private money  if and when the private toll road or tunnel partner goes bankrupt, taxpayers are forced to pay off the bonds while absorbing all loans the state and federal governments gave the private shell company and any accumulated depreciation. Yet the shell companys parent firms get to keep years of actual toll income, on top of millions in design-build cost overruns. Of course, no executive comes forward and says, Were planning to go bankrupt, but an analysis of the data is shocking. There do not appear to be any American private toll firms still in operation under the same management 15 years after construction closed. The original toll firms seem consistently to have gone bankrupt or zeroed their assets and walked away, leaving taxpayers a highway now needing repair and having to pay off the bonds and absorb the loans and the depreciation. The list of bankrupt firms is staggering, from Virginias Pocahontas Parkway to Presidio Parkway in San Francisco to Canadas Sea to Sky Highway to Orange Countys Riverside Freeway to Detroits Windsor Tunnel to Brisbane, Australias Airport Link to South Carolinas Connector 2000 to San Diegos South Bay Expressway to Austins Cintra SH 130 to a couple dozen other toll facilities. We cannot find any American private toll companies, furthermore, meeting their pre-construction traffic projections. Even those shell companies not in bankruptcy court usually produce half the income they projected to bondholders and federal and state officials prior to construction.

In other words, the question North Carolina needs to be asking is not whether it should cancel the project. It is whether it is cheaper, all in, to cancel it now or wait and deal with the cost and disruption when it goes bankrupt down the road.

Another question is whether these cancellation clauses are as rock-solid as Fitch and others contend. Good faith and fair dealing undergird all contracts. If the failure of these projects is as inevitable as the 2014 article we cited suggests (and the IPE story lists other recent bankruptcies by the very same sponsor), can North Carolina argue that there were significant misrepresentations made and therefore the participants are not entitled to full cancelation fees? Or alternatively, that the state is entitled to pursue damages that will wind up being netted against those fees?

Even if the state were to pursue this line of argument and lose, it could still have a chilling effect for two reasons. First is that litigation is a crapshoot. A later plaintiff would build upon and improve North Carolinas argument, and might also have a more damning set of facts to work from. Second is that political and legal action would make the consistent failure of toll road infrastructure deals better known. That in turn would make it more politically dangerous to enter into them, particularly given their one-sided terms.

Put it another way: since investors are so keen to get into infrastructure, cities and states have more bargaining leverage. It should be inexcusable if they fail to use it.

* * *

If you are in North Carolina, or have friends or family there, I hope youll sent this post to them, and urge them to call it to the attention of their state senator. Have them stress that given the record of toll road infrastructure deals, theirs is almost certain to be a goner. The question they need to analyze if whether they will do better by exiting now, since the state may face greater costs (making up revenue shortfalls, being stuck with an under-maintained asset) if it puts its head in the sand and pretends everything will work out in the end.
Treating aggressive thyroid cancer with nanomedicine (Nanowerk News) Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC), the most aggressive form of thyroid cancer, has a mortality rate of nearly 100 percent and a median survival time of three to five months. One promising strategy for the treatment of these solid tumors and others is RNA interference (RNAi) nanotechnology, but delivering RNAi agents to the sites of tumors has proved challenging. Investigators at Brigham and Women's Hospital, together with collaborators from Massachusetts General Hospital, have developed an innovative nanoplatform that allows them to effectively deliver RNAi agents to the sites of cancer and suppress tumor growth and reduce metastasis in preclinical models of ATC. Their results appear this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ("Theranostic near-infrared fluorescent nanoplatform for imaging and systemic siRNA delivery to metastatic anaplastic thyroid cancer").

These are immunofluorescence images of cells (nuclei shown in blue; actin shown in green; BRAF shown in red). Left: control; right: after treatment with nanoparticles that silence BRAF. (Image: Jinjun Shi, Brigham and Women's Hospital)

"We call this a 'theranostic' platform because it brings a therapy and a diagnostic together in one functional nanoparticle," said co-senior author Jinjun Shi, PhD, assistant professor of Anesthesia in the Anesthesia Department. "We expect this study to pave the way for the development of theranostic platforms for image-guided RNAi delivery to advanced cancers."

RNAi, the discovery of which won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 10 years ago, allows researchers to silence mutated genes, including those upon which cancers depend to grow and survive and metastasize. Many ATCs depend upon mutations in the commonly mutated cancer gene BRAF. By delivering RNAi agents that specifically target and silence this mutated gene, the investigators hoped to stop both the growth and the spread of ATC, which often metastasizes to the lungs and other organs.

When RNAi is delivered on its own, it is usually broken down by enzymes or filtered out by the kidneys before it reaches tumor cells. Even when RNAi agents make it as far as the tumor, they are often unable to penetrate or are rejected by the cancer cells. To overcome these barriers, the investigators used nanoparticles to deliver the RNAi molecules to ATC tumors. In addition, they coupled the nanoparticles with a near-infrared fluorescent polymer, which allowed them to see where the nanoparticles accumulated in a mouse model of ATC.

By measuring the glow from the near-infrared fluorescent polymer, the team verified that nanoparticles had reached the primary site of ATC in the thyroid. The team found that the nanoparticles circulated for long periods of time in the blood stream and accumulated at high concentrations in the tumors.

In addition, the team reports evidence that BRAF had been successfully silenced at these sites. They found that, for cells grown in a dish and treated with the nanoparticles containing RNAi agents, cell growth was drastically slowed and the number of cancer cells that were able to migrate decreased by as much as 15-fold. In mouse models, tumor growth was also slowed and fewer metastases formed.

In order to translate the new nanotechnology to cure cancer platform into clinical applications, the research team notes the importance of having an imaging diagnostic that will allow them to quickly assess which patients most likely to benefit from RNAi nanotherapeutics.
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WASHINGTON  There is a chance, albeit a very slim one, that Congress may find the courage to act against gun violence in some way as the country continues to reel from the carnage of another mass murder, the largest in our nation's history with a firearm.

There also is quite a possibility that once the furor subsides over the tragedy in Orlando apathy will set in as it has time and again. We will then await the next horror, which seems inevitable in a nation where huge numbers of citizens value their right to bear arms almost above everything else, and where the Supreme Court of the land has certified that dubious constitutional privilege despite the fact it was written 225 years ago when weapons were one-shot affairs with unrifled barrels and little standing army in what was then mainly a wilderness.

The hideousness of 49 innocents being killed by a single actor, who was either a terrorist or a mad man or both, seems to have cracked, at least slightly, the wall of congressional opposition to sensible conversation about this enormously flawed firearms culture, which has resulted in regular tragedies from weapons of mass destruction designed for the use on the battlefield and nowhere else. Republicans and Democrats alike have indicated perhaps it is time to keep semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15, the type used in the Orlando attack, out of the hands of those who are being officially watched by the government as possible terrorists influenced directly or indirectly by religious radicals.

Even Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, the National Rifle Association and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell have indicated some openness for new restrictions on the sale of such weapons as long as the law-abiding aren't prevented from owning them. Denying firearms to those on a terrorist watch list, for instance, would be a start, and a bill to do this may now have a chance. Modifications would likely be needed for it to gain support, and hopefully those changes would not render it useless.

Without certification, how does one identify who is crazy or about to be or who is a real terrorist threat? Apparently not even the FBI has that answer. It once again ignored the signs of a radicalized mass murderer although its agents had the man under surveillance for months before deciding he wasn't a threat. Perhaps warning gun dealers to notify the bureau if he made a purchase, which he did, would have been a good idea.

Holding gun manufacturers and dealers liable in instances like Orlando or the Newtown, Connecticut, massacre of little children might help too, except that Congress decided to protect them from such litigation. Interestingly, a liability suit against the manufacturers of the AR-15 used by the killer at Newtown has survived a court test. But this could take years to wend through the judicial levels with odds that are very long.

The brutal fact is that the efforts to ultimately ban the sale of semi-automatic battlefield weapons to civilians probably isn't going anywhere except to be buried along with the poor souls who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The reason is simple: That horse left the barn with its rifle scabbard full a longtime ago. In fact, few gun laws, no matter how stringent  even the nullification of the pernicious Second Amendment  would have much impact. There are more than 300 million firearms in the hands of Americans and many now are of the kind used to indiscriminately eliminate those in a large gathering like the Orlando nightclub. Every time one of these monstrous events takes place hundreds of our law-abiders rush out and buy more of the AR-15 variety with the excuse they need to protect themselves.

From what?

There is no evidence of any armed civilian inside the club having come to the rescue of himself or his fellow victims in the chaotic hours of the standoff with the shooter and police. Most of them did the wise thing  hid or played dead or escaped out the back. Still, 49 died and 53 were wounded. It has been that way in all these deadly affairs.

Does all this mean we are hopeless, that there is little we can do but pray? There is always a way, but as long as the advocates of unfettered gun ownership refuse to budge and the Congress allows it, salvation may still be a long way off.
Rachel Klein wears special glasses modified for her amblyopia and strabismus condition. Klein has made it her life's work to promote orthoptic research. Ashley Collins/Staff

SHARE Rachel Klein cuts into a cake during a celebration at the Barrington Terrace Assisted Living and Memory Care in Naples, honoring World Orthoptic Day. Submitted photo

By Ashley Collins, Staff

Rachel Klein never saw the world quite like others.

At an early age, she faced an uphill battle with amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, and strabismus, a misalignment of the eyes, causing her to have double vision.

As a result, she wears a frosted lens, or patch, on the left side of her glasses, which has aided her vision by blurring one eye in order to allow her to focus on the other.

Rather than allowing this condition to consume her, she found a silver lining  making it her life's mission to cure children of strabismus.

The retired orthoptist has accomplished a lot in her lifetime because of this passion. She founded the Marco Eyeland Eradicate Amblyopia Foundation, served in the U.S. Navy and continues her work as a member of the American Association of Certified Orthoptists.

At 95, the vivacious veteran continues to finance and advocate the cause that's close to her heart, so that one day no one has to suffer a lifetime of treatable vision problems.

Most recently, she donated money to three local charities  Bonita Springs Lions Eye Clinic, Lighthouse of Collier and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Naples  in honor of World Orthoptic Day on June 6.

Klein said many people don't understand what an orthoptist does.

"We rehabilitate binocular vision and we are the non-surgical treatment of strabismus and we work with pediatric ophthalmologists," she described.

Orthoptics is considered a subspecialty field of ophthalmology. It pertains to the evaluation and treatment of people with disorders in the visual system, emphasizing on binocular vision and eye movements, according to the American Association of Certified Orthoptists.

From a young age, Klein knew she was different.

She was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Italian immigrants.

Because of her strabismus, she endured vision problems and taunts from peers into adulthood.

Regardless, she was determined to overcome this obstacle, joining the U.S. Navy as a secretary in Washington, D.C., sometime after Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941.

Klein was one of the 66 female veterans on Collier County's 10th Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., on June 11.

She visited the National World War II Memorial, where her office once stood tall, which she described as a surreal experience.

She was medically discharged from the U.S. Navy because of her strabismus.

No matter how many doctors treated her or how many surgeries she underwent, nothing corrected her vision.

It wasn't until 1940 that the American Association of Certified Orthoptists was founded. For more than 75 years, orthoptists have worked in the United States.

But it was too late for Klein.

"It's a brain thing as well as a vision thing. I can't get my brain to change from what it learned during all those developmental years," she said.

Even so, she was determined to help others.

She spent many years treating children as an orthoptist. She moved to Florida and continued her work, starting her foundation.

She also owned a patent on an instrument called the Rachel Pietrini Fusion Visual Training Instrument, which she used to help cure children suffering from strabismus. Pietrini was her maiden name.

"I made them aware to the fact that there were two images in their brain, which nobody made with me. It's like a car; when I'd straightened my right eye, my left eye would go in and when I'd straighten that one, the other one would go in," she said, describing her vision with strabismus.

This is the reason why she's fought long and hard to ensure children receive vision screenings early on.

"Vision is so important because really underlying every reading problem is an undetected vision problem," she said.

She credits her parents for giving her the courage to overcome her obstacles.

Her mother and father fled Italy, at different times, in search of a better life in America. They met in Connecticut. Her mother was a widow from a small town in southern Italy and her father was an aristocrat from Rome.

When Klein was young she asked her mother how she built up the courage to leave Italy.

"She said, 'I took the rosary in my hand and I looked up at the sky and I said what a beautiful sky and I said to God, Dear God, I don't know where I'm going and I don't know what's going to happen, but I will always thank you for being my God and I will depend on you and only you.'"

Her parents bravery inspired her to speak to God many times, which helped her make peace with her double vision.

She now calls Barrington Terrace Assisted Living and Memory Care in Naples her home.

When asked what's kept her so young over the years, she said, "I've been motivated and I love what I'm doing. And that gives you an incentive in life."

While Klein has never seen clearly, she's somehow seen more than most people.
After years in the making, Naples City Council on Wednesday took the first steps toward ensuring the proposed Gordon River Park would become a reality.

Council voted 6-1 to accept a final conceptual master plan, grant a conditional use to enable to roughly 20-acre property to be a park, and to auction off naming rights to the park for $2 million and roughly $8 million of its amenities at the March 15 Gordon River Park Gala. Councilwoman Teresa Heitmann voted no.

And despite two residents, Paul Arsenault and Corey Cabral, objecting to the bridge being located to the north, saying it obstructs views, Conservancy of Southwest Florida President Robert Moher assured council it was the best spot, with the least impact on mangroves.

Council member Doug Finlay had questioned a reduced cost version, $7.2 million versus $15 million, that eliminated the bridge, a crucial element that had been in plans for decades and links the 20-acre city park property to the county zoo and conservancy properties. Mayor John Sorey also questioned the deletion.

'I am 100 percent committed to the bridge,' Sorey said. ' ... The bridge is an absolute component. The park is spectacular.'

Council spent four hours considering the various park votes, with some council members worried they'd be bound by the master plan and cost estimates. But City Attorney Bob Pritt assured them it was only a conceptual plan, and engineering plans and tests could prompt changes.

The park has been discussed for decades, but last year council agreed to purchase 6.7 acres of adjacent land for $3 million from the McCauley-Pulling Family Trust. Combined with 8.36 acres the city already owned, that created a nearly 20-acre park. Council also had approved $2.5 million to develop the park and the Gordon River Greenway pedestrian bridge linking the city and county properties.

Architect Matthew Kragh, of MHK Architecture & Planning, donated his time, meeting with residents at dozens of charettes that enabled residents to discard some ideas, propose others and come up with a design and features. Kragh said he'd consulted with landscape architect Christian Andrea to come up with plant choices and Andrea agreed to donate 80 percent of his time. Kragh said engineers might be interested in donating their time.

Still, the hefty cost was a concern to some. 'It's just like a moving target and I have real angst about that,' Councilwoman Dee Sulick said, citing the $7.2 million to $15 million price tags.

But Sorey assured council he had a surprise that would be revealed at the fundraising gala and naming auction.

'Multiple Santa Clauses are coming to the gala,' he said, referring to pledges he'd lined up from donors committed to buying naming rights to everything from the park to dozens of amenities, including a carousel, waterfalls and benches.

Council eliminated a $50,000 croquet feature from the naming rights list, with Sulick questioning whether it would be used. And $50,000 in naming rights for the Rowing Association of Naples boat house was deleted after Councilman Doug Finlay questioned where the group's revenues from private boat owners would go, noting Naples hadn't received them in the past and the association used them to support itself.

Residents urged council to approve the plans, with Randy Porter likening it to Central Park, a park that 'actively engages you.'

In other business:

Council agreed to sell an adjacent one-quarter acre parcel on the Pulling parcel for $125,000 to Mangrove Bay Development LLC, which will donate another $100,000 to build the bridge, as well as 40,000 cubic yards of fill excavated from its property to the park. The company plans to use the land to increase its development from 52 to 53 homes; the site plan allows 56.

Council approved the final design and installation of a tile mural at the River Park Aquatic Center. Public art funds would be roughly $8,279.50. Schoolchildren reviewed 24 artists' water paintings and artist Phil Fischer incorporated them into one.

Council approved a notice of intent to charge 50 residents on Bembury Drive, 13th Avenue North, 14th Avenue North and 15th Street North special assessments to install a centralized sanitary sewer assessment area. Payments are estimated at $24,376 or $1,843 yearly for 20 years; public hearings will follow and residents are expected to protest the hefty charge.
Park Royal Hospital, Lee County's sole inpatient psychiatric hospital announced it will build a $1.8 million addition to its main campus in south Fort Myers. (Photo: Sarah Coward/The News-Press)

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By Frank Gluck, The News-Press

Former patients of Park Royal Hospital, Lee Countys only inpatient psychiatric health center, have settled a lawsuit over a former employee accused of sexually abusing them.

Terms of the settlement are confidential. The 103-bed Park Royal, which is owned by the Franklin, Tennessee-based Acadia Healthcare, admitted no wrong-doing, according to the plaintiffs attorney, Dennis Webb.

The accused in this case, 47-year-old Benjamin Bland, is currently serving a five-year sentence at Liberty Correctional Institution in Bristol after pleading guilty in 2014 to two counts of sexual abuse of a disabled adult.

Two other civil cases involving Bland were resolved without trials last year.

"There were definitely some problems, some systemic problems, at that facility," Webb said.

Seven former adult patients, all identified as Jane Does to hide their identities, claimed that the abuse took place at the hospital between May and September 2013.

Police investigators said Blands offenses included masturbating in front of a patient, sexual contact with patients and requests for sex.

Mike Ham, the CEO of Park Royal Hospital, did not respond to an interview request on Friday. The events alleged in the lawsuits took place before Ham came to the hospital.

A lawsuit claiming that another former Park Royal employee, Anthony Guarino, abused a patient is still pending. Guarino, who was later fired, was never criminally charged, Webb said.

In that case, a 36-year-old former patient accused Guarino, an administrative employee, of inappropriately touching and forcing her to engage in oral sex during her February 2013 hospital stay. The patient had been admitted for depression with psychosis and had expressed suicidal thoughts, according to the lawsuit.

She claims that Guarino fondled her again in September of that year, after she had been brought in for involuntary mental health evaluation under Florida's Baker Act.

Webb, who is also the attorney for the plaintiff in that case, would not say if it is expected to also be settled out of court.

The hospital's attorney in Tampa, Kevin Richardson, said the hospital does not comment on pending litigation.
By Melissa Montoya and Michael Braun, The News-Press

Authorities suspended their search Sunday night for a 22-year-old Cape Coral man off the coast of Boca Grande.

Javier Castro and a second man were swept away on Saturday as they were swimming in the water, said Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson, of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The search for the men began at around 4 p.m., she said. Watchstanders from Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg received an alert reporting Castro was missing after swimming with family members just off Boca Grande. Castro's father reported Castro and one of his brothers were swept out by a rip current.

One man was found by a jet skier, but the other remained missing as of 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Johnson said.

The missing man was wearing red shorts and a black life jacket.

Coast Guard crews covered 250 square nautical miles during 20 searches by air and sea looking for Castro.

The search was suspended Sunday evening.

"I cannot imagine what Javier's friends and family members are enduring during this difficult time; our thoughts and condolences go out to all of them," said Cmdr. Randall Brown, Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg Deputy Commander. "We have made the difficult decision to suspend the search with a heavy heart."

The Coast Guard, the Lee and Charlotte sheriff's offices, Boca Grande and Englewood fire departments, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission had searched for the man about a quarter nautical mile off shore, Johnson said.

The Coast Guard had a boat crew from Fort Myers Beach assisting, as well as air craft.
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Joseph Gandolfo, Naples

Division

Just when I thought we had finally come together as a nation immediately after 9/11 and subsequently proved our color-blindness by electing the first black president, not once but twice, we are unfortunately now more divided than we have ever been.

Racial animus has resurfaced with a vengeance, "them vs. us" is our new mantra (again). Cultural, ethnic, gender, economic, political and theological differences seem to be the verbal weapons of choice for talking heads in the media and politicians, fostering and encouraging more divisiveness.

I was struck in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Orlando, where the emphasis in the reporting was: the location of the attack, a gay bar, and the victims' supposed sexual identities, calling them members of the "LGBT community" (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender), further segmenting the narrative by explaining it was "Latino night."

While all this may have been factually correct, what was completely missed is that a radical Muslim, yes an American citizen who was inspired and taught by an imam at his local Orlando mosque, killed Americans.

Enough with addressing ourselves using hyphens, code words or divisive descriptive adjectives.

If we are to survive as a nation, we must remember how blessed we are living in this incredible country, whether we are Americans by birth, or migrated here legally, as my family and I did. We must protect our borders, our core values, our constitutionally granted freedoms and rights.

We need to be aware that the buzzwords "multiculturalism," "gender studies," "political correctness" and "inclusiveness" may seem benign, but are just chasm creators in our modern society.

Through our diversities, we must embrace our commonness. We are after all Americans. God bless America.
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Philip Litow, Naples

The issue

On June 14, columnist Brent Batten declared "Islam is the issue" and blamed Islam and the failure of the Council on American-Islamic Relations for not denouncing and not setting up a warning process of possible terrorism in our country.

He goes so far as to subscribe to Donald Trump's xenophobic call to ban all Muslims from immigrating into our country.

While radical Islam may be a part of the cause, I would suggest his extreme fear is an overreaction and a blind or intentional omission of other instances and factors.

The Oklahoma City bombing by Timothy McVeigh had nothing to do with Islam, nor did the atrocities at Columbine, Sandy Hook or Virginia Tech, where troubled young people, armed to the teeth, mowed down innocent victims.

Should we blame the actions of the sniper who stalked and killed a doctor who provided abortions and those of the Atlanta Olympic Park bomber on radical Christianity? After all, some Christian groups do their best to whip up followers into zealous frenzy over a practice they disagree with.

Did they warn the FBI about possible attacks?

What Batten doesn't address is that most such fatal attacks are committed by troubled, hate-filled people with weapons and bombs. He rightly cites reasonable limitations to the First Amendment right to free speech. We know one can't yell "fire" in a crowded movie theater and you can't incite to riot.

What about reasonable limitations to the Second Amendment right to bear arms, which was designed to assure "a well-armed militia?"

Why should any citizen need or be allowed to have an automatic assault weapon? Ronald Reagan, the icon of the right, spoke out strongly against that. Would that Batten had addressed these also as "the issue."
The Naples Art Association (www.NaplesArt.org)  a non-profit organization whose mission is to expand cultural opportunities, broaden education, and enrich Southwest Florida through the visual arts - has awarded its Camera USA National Photography Award to Art David of Naples for his photograph of a Miami street scene. Three distinguished judges unanimously chose David as the Camera USA 2016 National Photography Award Winner. In addition to national recognition, the prestigious and highly coveted award carries a cash prize of $5,000.

David is a Naples resident and has been a NAA member since 2011. In addition to photography, he and his wife Sharon are realtors with Caldwell Banker on 5th Avenue South in Naples. In addition to the Naples Art Association, David is an active member of the Naples Digital Photography Club, a.k.a DIP-SIG.

David graciously accepted his award in front of a large crowd of art enthusiasts, supporters, and fellow photographers during a preview reception for the Camera USA 2016 exhibition on June 17 at the Naples Art Association. David said, I am honored just to be in the exhibition, let alone receive the national photography award.

Davids photograph and 50 other photographs by photographers from across Florida and the United States are on display through Friday, August 5, 2016 in the Naples Art Associations sixth annual Camera USA Exhibition.

The Naples Art Association is a respected and award-winning non-profit organization that has served and enriched the community by championing education, interest, and involvement in the visual arts in Southwest Florida since its inception in 1954. The Naples Art Association serves as a catalyst for individual artists of all ages and skill levels and continues to inspire all who visit to live and think artistically. A working art center, the Naples Art Association creates unique opportunities for local artists and guest as well with a full calendar of events each season including special exhibitions featuring local and national artists; Art in the ParkNaples' oldest outdoor art show; The Naples National Art Festivala nationally-ranked outdoor festival; its popular Dinner with Artists series which pairs local chefs with an artist for a dinner and live demonstration like no other; For the Love of ArtNaples Art Association's Annual Art Celebration Fundraiser; Goddess Nightan evening of friendship, empowerment, education, and philanthropy for women; ARTScool summer arts education program for kids; a Halloween haunted house; over 100 various classes and workshops for all levels; and a myriad of collaborative outreach programs with area non-profits. Linking visual arts creators with those that love it. The Naples Art Association also offers its space for rental for anyone looking to host an event in a unique venue. The Naples Art Association is located at 585 Park Street in Downtown Naples and is open to the public with no admission charge from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information about the Naples Art Association, please visit www.NaplesArt.org or call 239-262-6517.
Nathans legendary hot dog eating contest in Coney Island is coming to Fort Myers by live broadcast when Nathans Fort Myers hosts a simulcast of the competition at noon, Monday, July 4. Nathans is at 11150 S. Cleveland Ave. The event is free and open to the public.



Leading up to the July 4 contest, Ray Masciana, owner of Nathans Fort Myers, has launched a guessing-game program for patrons. With every purchase now through 12 p.m. July 4, patrons will receive an entry form to guess the exact combined number of hot dogs that will be eaten by the winner of the Womens and Mens divisions at the Coney Island contest. The form is then entered into a random drawing that Masciana will conduct immediately following the July 4 noon broadcast.



The first patron whose correct guess is drawn will win the grand prize of a 3-day trip for two to the Bahamas. Runners-up will receive an authentic Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest T-shirt. The event also features in-store giveaways. The contest winner must be 18 years of age or older. Nathans employees are not eligible to win.



To learn more about the contest, visit Nathans at 11150 S. Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers.



The original Nathans Famous opened its second store in 1955 in Oceanside, NY. Growing up just down the block from this landmark, Masciana became a lifelong fan, which years later inspired him to bring Nathans to Southwest Florida, where he now resides. The Page Field Center location is Nathans first standalone restaurant in Florida. Its hangar-style architecture pays homage to Page Field Air Park, located directly across U.S. 41 in Fort Myers.



The restaurant houses a Yankee Clipper airplane with a 30-foot wingspan, that hangs from the roof joists and is suspended over the tables. Even its drive-through is innovative, featuring a video ordering system in which customers can see the person taking their order. Nathans offers something for every palate, with Nathans Famous hot dogs of all kinds, chicken sandwiches, burgers, fries, Philly cheesesteaks and much more.
D.R. Hortons Southwest Florida division invites the public to tour the professionally decorated model at Barrington Cove, where several homes are under construction for quick move-in. This gated community offers a rare opportunity to build a brand new home in a neighborhood setting in prestigious North Naples. Preserve and lake views are available at Barrington Cove, located just two miles north of Immokalee Road on Livingston Road.



Eight distinctive one- and two-story home plans can be customized with many personalized touches and start in the low-$400s. These homes range from 1,983 to 3,609 square feet of living space, with three to five bedrooms, two to three-and-a-half baths, and a two- to three-car garage.



The public is invited to tour the professionally decorated 2,587-square-foot Bedford model. This two-story home plan offers a spacious kitchen and cafe that are open to a large great room and lanai, as well as a formal dining room. The three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath plan offers the flexibility of open loft space, a two-car garage and an optional den.



The discerning homeowners at Barrington Cove enjoy a unique combination of convenience and serenity, with easy access to the famous white sandy beaches of Naples and Bonita Springs and an array of options at dining and shopping destinations like the Mercato. The community is also conveniently located near I-75 and the desirable schools of North Naples.



To schedule a tour of the model home in Barrington Cove, or for more information, call sales agent Angela Garzone at 239-287-9499. Visit www.drhorton.com/swfla for more information.



Founded in 1978 in Fort Worth, Texas, D.R. Horton has operations in 79 markets in 26 states in the East, Midwest, Southeast, South Central, Southwest, and West regions of the United States. D.R. Horton has been the largest builder in the United States by volume for fourteen consecutive years. For over 35 years, D.R. Horton has consistently delivered top-quality new homes to homebuyers across the nation. The livable floor plans, energy-efficient features and robust new home warranty demonstrate our commitment to excellence in construction. D.R. Horton exhibits leadership in residential development through design innovation, superior craftsmanship, and responsiveness to the needs of its customers. The simple vision that began over 35 years ago represents years of value and security when you choose America's Builder to make your dreams come true. For more information, visit our website at www.drhorton.com/swfla. Home and community information including pricing, included features, terms, availability and amenities are subject to change and prior sale at any time without notice or obligation. Square footage dimensions are approximate. D.R. Horton is an equal housing opportunity builder.
An etiquette luncheon and networking reception for students in The Immokalee Foundation programs underscored how invaluable the support of the professional community is to the foundation and the students of Immokalee.



Nearly 50 Southwest Florida professionals from a variety of fields attended the event and gave the students practice in meeting, greeting and conversing in a business environment. The results were important and immediate.



Luis Velazco, an Immokalee High School graduate and a Take Stock in Children scholarship recipient, attended the luncheon at Shulas in Naples and reception following at Hilton Naples. Since then, he has met with a variety of university officials and attended a business meeting.



Because I learned how to communicate with other people and talk professionally, I felt confident, Velazco said. I knew how you are supposed to greet everyone, shake hands and other things. I used the techniques.



Students like Velazco also pass on what they have learned. Although he is the youngest sibling at home, Velazco has shared his new skills with his family and they have been receptive. Velazco will attend Michigan State University in the fall, taking steps toward his goal of becoming a special education teacher. He volunteered with this population at school during the past two years, and the experience confirmed his intention to make that his lifes work.



Meeting successful local adults at events such as the etiquette and networking afternoon helps students learn how to interact among professionals such as TIF supporter and sponsor Dr. Massoud Eghrari, a local surgeon. Eghrari points out that quite often the students exposure to professionals is mainly limited to their teachers.



This helps them know what to do when someone introduces themselves, and what to do with a business card, for example, Dr. Eghrari said. Its important for them to meet professional people in this society, to show them they are capable of getting to that level themselves.



To recent high school graduates such as TIF student Widline Duvert, the benefits are clear. At 18, she is ready to move on academically. This fall she will attend Florida SouthWestern State College in hopes of becoming a music teacher. She attended the event to learn proper etiquette and business conduct, with her goal for the future in mind. I hope to grow a mindset that is meant for the real world. I want to build character and make a difference in my family tree, Duvert said.



That is the type of vision that Thomas DiBernardo, vice president of MidWestOne Bank, is proud to support. I participate in the event because it is important to make the real-life connection for the students, he said.



The Immokalee Foundation provides a range of education programs that focus on building pathways to success through college and post-secondary preparation and support, mentoring and tutoring, opportunities for broadening experiences, and life skills development leading to economic independence. To learn more about TIF, volunteering as a mentor, making a donation, including TIF in your estate plans, or for additional information, call 239-430-9122 or visit www.immokaleefoundation.org.
Ralph Maccarone: Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award finalist Meet Ralph Maccarone and his cause, Who We Play For. Ralph is one of four finalists chosen for the Betty Jane France Humanitarian award for his dedication to helping children.
Chicago Has Already Seen 300 Homicides So Far This Year

By Stephen Gossett in News on Jun 20, 2016 9:27PM



Getty Images

Chicago reached an ignominious milestone last weekend as the city tallied its 300th homicide this year. That figure represents a significant rise over last year's numbers, which saw 220 homicides through the end of June. Homicides have been on the rise in the city since 2014, according to New York Times analysis, but this year saw a drastic 62 percent spike.

The bulk of the homicides are the result of gun violence. There have been roughly 1800 shooting victims throughout the city so far in 2016, more than 200 of which resulted in fatalities, according to Tribune statistics.

Strict local regulations prevent gun retailers from operating within the city, but firearms still pour into the city due in part to lax laws in surrounding areasespecially Indiana, where private sales do not require background checks, according to another New York Times study.

Some of the violent-crime news this year has been particularly enervating, including a massacre in Gage Park that left six dead and the targeted killing of 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee. Another child, 3-year-old Devon Quinn, was shot Sunday and hospitalized in critical condition.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg marked the launch of NATO's anti-submarine warfare exercise "Dynamic Mongoose" in a visit to Trondheim, Norway on Monday (20 June 2016). The exercise, focused on detecting and defending against submarines, runs for ten days. Joined by Norwegian Defence Minister Ine Marie Eriksen Sreide, Mr. Stoltenberg addressed sailors aboard the Norwegian frigate HNoMS Fridtjof Nansen. Calling naval capabilities "as important as ever", he noted that 70% of the earth is covered by water, and that 90% of world trade travels by sea. He stressed that NATO must be able to operate "on the sea, over the sea, and also under the sea.

Three thousand sailors and aircrew from eight Allies (Canada, France, Germany, Norway, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States) are participating in the exercise. Four submarines from Canada, Germany, Norway and the United States are taking part, along with nine surface ships and four maritime patrol aircraft. The exercise takes places in the Norwegian Sea, in an area measuring 14,000 square nautical miles.

During the exercise, submarines will have to transit from one point to another, while surface vessels try to track them down and simulate an attack. Surface units will also have to transit between two points while under submarine threat. This is the fourth time Exercise Dynamic Mongoose has been conducted; it previously took place in 2012, 2014 and 2015.
(NaturalNews) Three major clothing lines based in Sweden and Norway are selling products that contain toxic chemicals, reported . KappAhl and H&M, both Sweden-based clothing chains, and Cubus, a Norway-based company, were caught selling articles of clothing in which one out of three contained DBP or DEHP.Dibutyl phthalate, or DBP, is a commonly used plasticizer that was banned by the European Union (EU) in 1999 for use in products like nail polish, cosmetics and children's toys. The United States followed suit, banning the chemical in 2006.Due to its low cost, Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, or DEHP, is also used to manufacture plastics. It's one of six compounds that the EU claimed to remove from the market in early 2011; however, the testing conducted by the Norwegian Consumer Council found this to be untrue.Researchers also identified the chemical nonylfenoletoxilat (NPEO) in some items, "which breaks down to the endocrine disruptor nonylfenol" and can act as a hormone disruptor.NPEOs aren't banned but restricted to limited use in the EU.The study was completed ahead of a seminar on protecting consumers against toxic substances, held by Norwegian and Danish councils earlier this month.Researchers believe both chemicals to be endocrine disruptors, responsible for increasing cancer, fertility complications, damage to fetuses, type 2 diabetes, obesity and ADHD in humans."It is disturbing that every third children's garment we tested contained substances with properties that could be harmful," said council director Randi Flesland. "These are substances that should not be found in children's clothing ."Cubus services customers throughout Sweden and Norway, while H&M has stores in the U.S. KappAhl's international website ships clothing to Finland, Norway, Poland and Sweden.KappAhl was the first fashion chain store to be certified according to the environmental management standard, with 18 percent of their products labeled "eco," meaning that they met certain criteria mandated by the state. The label was intended to help customers make healthier, safer choices for both humans and the environment.The chain stores responded to the testing, arguing that the chemical levels are below "what's deemed acceptable." However, the council countered that even a small amount of exposure to these chemicals could be very harmful, particularly for children."Scientists warned the chemicals may have no safe lower limit, and exposure to even very small amounts during vulnerable stages such as during fetal development could result in damage manifesting later in life," reported. "The substances are banned in games and products for young children."The council director added:The Detox Campaign , which focuses on pressuring major clothing brands to commit to using zero dangerous chemicals in their products by 2020, found the following brands to contain similar harmful substances: Adidas, American Apparel, Burberry, C&A, Disney, GAP, Li-Ning, Nike, Primark, Puma and Uniqlo.Each brand tested contained hazardous chemicals, said Greenpeace. One Adidas swimsuit tested for high levels of perfluorooctanoic acids (PFOAs), higher than the company's own set standards. According to the EPA , PFOAs do not occur naturally but are very persistent in the environment and remain in people for a very long time.Developmental and other adverse health effects are known to occur in laboratory animals exposed to PFOAs."Norwegian authorities must put significantly more pressure on the EU to ban the substances, while the industry must be encouraged to start phasing them out immediately," argued Flesland.Large, powerful chemical companies often pressure governments into leniency regarding repercussions for violating human health standards. Flesland said a "non-toxic action plan" must be put in motion with government enforcement.Cubus' communications manager, Julie Bragli Eckhardt, assured that the chain would examine the test results and act accordingly."H&M's chemical restrictions have since 1999 voluntarily contained strict restrictions against NPEO," said press officer Kristin Fjeld.Since the test results fell below set standards, "It tells us that NPEO has not been used on purpose, but rather has rubbed off on clothing through contamination," said Fjeld, adding that contamination can occur during transport.KappAhl responded similarly to Cubus, stating that the levels found were far below the proposed maximum limit.
HPV vaccines cause severe health complications worldwide

(NaturalNews) A human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the U.S. affecting about 14 million people each year.While most of these infections occur without any notable symptoms and usually go away within a day or two, some can persist for many years with cell damage as a result. If left untreated, this damage can lead to cervical cancer, which is the most common form of cancer in women under 35.Over the years, HPV vaccines rapidly became part of the standard immunization protocol for teenagers between 13 and 26 years old. It is thought that vaccination programs can save almost half of the thousands of lives lost each year to cervical cancer.While many newspapers and television stations worldwide consistently express their concern regarding the devastating health effects linked to these controversial vaccines, the U.S. media and officials keep suspiciously silent while mass inoculations proceed.In 2015, thereported that 8,228 teenagers had fallen seriously ill after taking the routine cervical cancer vaccination, leaving some of them wheelchair-bound.Jackie Fletcher, of the pressure group Jabs said: "Previously fit and healthy young girls have developed seizures or viral fatigue, some have lost the ability to walk. And years on, some have still not recovered."Claire Knight, Cancer Research UK's health information manager, said: "If it were to be proven that the vaccine is linked to these illnesses in girls that would be a concern, but the vaccine has been rigorously tested in trials and shown to be safe."Apparently, these 8,228 adverse drug reactions do not seem to prove anything at all.Earlier this year, thereported that a group of young Japanese women is planning to sue the government and two drug companies over the debilitating side effects from approved HPV vaccines."The government in April 2013 recommended the vaccinations for sixth-graders through first-year high school students. But this recommendation was withdrawn two months later following a series of reports about serious health problems. By that time, an estimated 3.4 million women had been inoculated against cervical cancer. The ministry said it had received 2,700 reports about suspected side effects by the end of June 2015," the newspaper reads.Recently, the, reported on a 13-year-old girl who died after receiving a cervical cancer vaccine."Shazel Zaman, 13, was suffering with a severe headache, vomiting and dizziness after having the HPV vaccine and her symptoms became so severe that her family took her to Fairfield Hospital in Bury. But the family claim that a doctor dismissed her condition was linked to the cervical cancer jab and sent her home citing a stomach bug. She was found collapsed and unconscious with no pulse an hour later at her home in Bury, and died in hospital four hours later."While the U.S. media keeps silent, more horrific reports about HPV vaccine damages and deaths are making the headlines in well-respected international media sources. In 2015, TV2, one of Denmark's national television stations, aired a documentary (The Vaccinated Girls  Sick and Betrayed [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO2i-r39hok ]) about the development of severe health issues after being vaccinated against HPV with Gardasil.In Ireland, more than 200 teenagers developed "acute physical side-effects" after receiving the vaccine at their schools."My daughter was a very healthy, sporty outgoing active child until she received the Gardasil vaccine. Then her life changed dramatically, she started suffering from persistent pain, muscle pains, memory impairment, headaches, sore throats, joint and menstrual problems, seizures, auto immune illnesses, chronic fatigue and nose bleeds to name but a few... She said an urgent, independent and transparent investigation is needed and said the latest EMA report on Gardasil, which quotes its benefits, is flawed because many of its contributors had 'huge ties to the pharmaceutical industry," Susan Whitmore, from Castlebridge toldThe Japanese health ministry has previously warned against HPV vaccinations and European countries continue to re-evaluate their use. Nonetheless, U.S. 'health' officials keep promoting the vaccines while deliberately concealing the dangers. For many pharmaceutical companies, HPV vaccines are one of the biggest sources of their revenue. Merck reported $1.9 billion in Gardasil sales in 2015.
How biotech companies buy scientists

Trying to bury the evidence

(NaturalNews) On June 1, the discredited biotech puppet publicationpublished an article entitled "Why GMOs Don't Cause Cancer," by Michael Stebbins. Stebbins is a spokesperson for the GMO industry front group GMO Answers, and she works for its parent organization, the Council for Biotechnology Information.The article  framed as a news story, but carrying a disclaimer that the contributor is solely responsible for its content  relies heavily on discredited biotech advocate Kevin Folta , who was famously exposed in 2015 as having lied when he claimed that he had no financial ties to biotechnology giant Monsanto And Folta's participation is only the tip of the iceberg in the deceptive techniques used by the disingenuouspiece.The conflicts of interest alone should be enough to call the article's veracity into doubt. Although Stebbins is listed as the author of the article, the "contributor" is identified as GMO Answers. Clicking on a link for more information informs the reader that "GMO Answers is funded by the members of the Council for Biotechnology Information, which includes BASF, Bayer, Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, Monsanto Company and Syngenta."To evaluate claims that GMOs have been linked to cancer , the article quotes Folta as saying: "There is absolutely zero reputable evidence that GMO foods cause cancer."Folta is identified simply as "professor and chairman of the Horticultural Sciences Department at the University of Florida, Gainesville." The article does not reveal that Folta himself is a regular spokesperson for GMO Answers. It certainly makes no mention of the notorious Freedom of Information Act request that revealed  in spite of Folta's claims that he had "no connection" with Monsanto  that Folta's institution had received a $25,000 grant from the company, and that Folta had received expense reimbursements for his "educational" talks on GMOs. It was later revealed that Monsanto paid for Folta to attend Monsanto-sponsored talks about GMOs and debunking organic foods Folta had also received emails from Monsanto's public relations firm, Ketchum, with suggested talking points for him to use in his GMO advocacy ("education").So it's no surprise that in the Forbes piece, Folta toes the party line, claiming that "years of careful evaluation" (Stebbins' words) prove that none of the ingredients in GMOs can possibly cause the development of cancer in human cells  without citing any such studies, or explaining how such a sweeping claim can be scientifically credible.Folta mentions one study showing that the Bt protein (present in many GMOs) could lead to precancerous changes in cells, but then dismisses it on the grounds that cell-based studies are not the same as human studies  even though cell-based lab studies are one of the foundations of modern medical research. He ignores other studies that have shown a GMO-cancer link, such as the 2012 study in which rats fed GMO corn containing traces of the herbicide Roundup developed mammary (breast) tumors and liver and kidney damage, whereas the control rats did not. GMO-exposed rats died at roughly twice the rate of control rats.Departing from Folta, thearticle goes on to mock the International Agency for Research on Cancer as seeing carcinogens everywhere, as a way to discredit the agency's recent finding that glyphosate/Roundup  sprayed on GMO crops in enormous quantities  is probably carcinogenic Thearticle is deceptive in a final, more subtle and more pervasive fashion: by pretending that cancer is the only health risk that GMO critics are concerned about. By focusing exclusively on cancer , the author is able to ignore the host of other health risks from GMOs that have even stronger evidence behind them.In 2010, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine warned that evidence is strong enough that GMOs directly cause health harm to warrant warning people to avoid eating them. The academy noted that numerous studies and incidents have suggested that GMOs can cause problems including immune dysfunction, insulin disorders and damage to organs and the reproductive system.
Man Struck And Killed By CTA Blue Line Train Sunday Night

By Stephen Gossett in News on Jun 20, 2016 4:05PM



CTA

A person was struck and killed Sunday evening by an inbound CTA Blue Line train near the intersection of West Harrison Street. and South Homan Avenue, just west of the Kedzie-Homan stop.

The victim was a man in his 50s, according to the Tribune.

The accident caused a temporary suspension of service between the Racine and Cicero stops, with shuttles provided by the CTA. Normal service was restored within the hour and no further related delays were reported.


MEANS and TIRF microscopy reveal complementary structural information

Supplementary Fig. S1 further illustrates the schematic difference comparing the MEANS technique with a variety of available axial-enhanced microscopy techniques. MEANS, similar to TIRF by providing wide-field microscopy with axial confinement and improved contrast, can confine the axial PSF depth of confocal microscopy to ~100 nm, with doubled signal intensity. Furthermore, MEANS complements the TIRF imaging modality by optically sectioning two different super-resolution layers: TIRF is responsible for imaging the sample layer close to the coverslip, whereas MEANS optically sections the layer that is close to the mirror (interior of the specimen). In Figure 1b1d, we demonstrate a series of in situ correlative images of TIRF and MEANS from a single Vero cell. Whereas the layer near the coverslip can be imaged by TIRF (or HiLo mode21 because the refractive index of the medium is larger than the NA of the objective, Figure 1b), the MEANS imaging modality (Figure 1c) provides super-resolution information within the interior layer of the cells with a ~110 nm axial thickness but a distance of ~100 nm from the mirror surface (wavelength dependent), making MEANS more suitable for the study of problems that are not at the cell membrane but localized more deeply within the cell. When the MEANS image is overlaid with a complementary TIRF image (Figure 1d), the spatial relationship between the two images is clear (see also wide-field in Supplementary Fig. S2, in which both layers can be visualized simultaneously).

Theoretical simulation of the MEANS and MEANS-STED PSFs

To predict the axial confinement of the PSF, we simulated the excitation electromagnetic field for multiple imaging techniques (Figure 2). Our simulation results of the electromagnetic field of the MEANS microscopy revealed that, the local maximum intensity for MEANS (Figure 2c) is approximately four times that of conventional confocal microscopy (Figure 2a) and approximately two times that of 4Pi (Figure 2b). Because the local maximum is a result of constructive interference, MEANS can generate local EM-field enhancement over a long focal distance (Supplementary Video S1), relieving the need for precise alignment of the mirror.

Figure 2 Theoretical simulation results of the focal intensity profiles of: (a) confocal excitation, (b) 4Pi excitation, (c) MEANS excitation, (d) STED depletion and (e) MEANS-STED depletion. The origin of the z-axis denotes the center of PSFs in ac and the mirror position in d and e. Whereas confocal microscopy can generate a PSF with 700 nm axial thickness, 4Pi and MEANS can generate PSFs with ~110 nm axial thickness, benefitting from axial interference. Objectives with n=1.5, NA=1.4, and  ex =488 nm and  dep =592 nm are used for simulation. The local maximum intensity for MEANS d is approximately four times that of conventional confocal microscopy a and two times that of 4Pi b because in 4Pi, the beam is split into two and then recombined, whereas MEANS takes full advantage of the incident intensity through reflection. Because the intensity of depletion is improved by 3.6-fold, close to two-fold resolution enhancement over conventional STED can be obtained for MEANS-STED, as shown in (f). Full size image

Demonstration of optical sectioning using MEANS and excitation scanning

Because the distance between the mirror and the MEANS-enhanced layer is linearly proportional to the excitation wavelength, we can realize optical sectioning within the specimen with MEANS through excitation wavelength modulation (MEANS-excitation scanning optical nanosectioning, MEANS-ESON), which has been experimentally verified using MEANS to axially section fluorescent nanodiamonds by scanning the excitation wavelength and taking advantage of the broad absorption spectrum of the nitrogen vacancy centers within nanodiamonds. A laser scanning confocal system (Leica TCS SP8) equipped with a white light laser and a plan-apochromatic objective (Leica HC PL APO CS2, 63x/1.40 OIL) has been used. As shown in Figure 3, three scanning results using different excitation bands resulted in different layers of nanodiamond nanoparticles (pseudocolor is used to indicate different layers of nanoparticles scanned by different excitation color). If the nanodiamonds are in the same layer, then the color should be identical. However, from the arrows, we can see that some of the nanodiamonds are yellow as the dominant color (which is a combination of R and G), whereas others are strongly blue (which locates mainly in the B layer, closer to the mirror).

Figure 3 Imaging of nanodiamond particles embedded in agarose with different excitation wavelengths. Excitation with longer wavelength results in a further PSF relative to the mirror. In the lower RGB image, the fluorescence excited by 470490, 550570 and 650670 nm is mapped to the B, G and R channels, respectively. Arrows show beads with different colors, which indicates that they are at different depths and are differentiated by MEANS-excitation scan optical nanosectioning (MEANS-ESON). Scale bar=5 m. Full size image

Furthermore, taking advantage of the virtual PSF, MEANS modality has only one sidelobe with which to generate images with sharper contrast, whereas the PSF of 4Pi has two symmetric sidelobes22, which requires deconvolution for data representation. In our MEANS approach, after passing through the confocal pinhole, the only sidelobe is largely suppressed, making the image very sharp.

Verification of the axial confinement thickness

To verify the improved axial PSF confinement of 110 nm, we prepared a phantom specimen by embedding 20 nm fluorescent beads inside low-concentration agarose, which was then evaluated by MEANS confocal microscopy. As shown in Supplementary Fig. S3, a three-fold enhancement in the signal-to-background ratio (SBR) was achieved at the 1314-m layer primarily because with the decrease of the PSF, the fluorescent signal increases proportionally due to the higher excitation energy confinement. We have also simulated the effect of the integrated energy enhancement (detection photon number) for MEANS with different confocal pinhole sizes, and the simulation further validated our experimental results.

Dual-color MEANS microscopy

To further verify the above simulation results and to demonstrate the robustness of the MEANS modality, we applied the MEANS approach on a commercial laser scanning confocal microscope (single- and two-photon excitation) as well as a spinning-disk microscope. We acquired a series of images along the z-direction of the microtubules of a Vero cell grown on the mirror substrate. The images for confocal, two-photon and spinning disk approaches are shown in Supplementary Figs S4S6, respectively. The dual-color imaging of microtubules and NPCs in a Vero cell is shown in Figure 4. In these figures, image stacks are acquired by moving the objective toward the specimen. According to our simulation result (Supplementary Video S1), the position of the MEANS confinement focal spot is fixed ~100 nm above the mirror surface during mirror translation. The layers from 22.5 m in Figure 4 and Supplementary Fig. S4 belong to the MEANS modality region and show almost identical images due to the fixed MEANS focal spot. The optical sectioning layers above this 0.5 m region belong to the conventional confocal microscopy modality. These quantitative imaging results indicate that the MEANS-confocal modality has a tolerant region of ~0.4 m to section an axially confined thin layer of the cell, 100 nm from the mirror, which is consistent with our simulation result (Supplementary Video S1). Comparing the MEANS image (Figure 4f) to the confocal images (Figure 4a4c), the MEANS with excitation intensities enhanced by interference can significantly enhance the image SNR through its increased fluorescence signal intensity, which suggests that the conventional axial resolution measurement, in which the specimen translates relative to the objective will not work in MEANS because the PSF does not move with the objective.

Figure 4 Confocal and MEANS image of the dual-stained Vero cell. The microtubules of the cell are stained with Dylight 650 (pseudo-colored red), and the nuclear pore complex of the cell is stained with Alexa 488 (pseudo-colored green). (ah) Image series taken from a confocal microscope (Olympus FV1200) with axial step of 0.5 m. As observed, MEANS forms at 2.5 m depth in f, in which the nuclear pore proteins are shown clearly as grains. Scale bar=5 m. Full size image

Moving the MEANS layer within the cell

To show the possibility of imaging at different depths into a cell, we grew Vero cells on mirrors coated with different thicknesses of silica. Figure 5 shows different optical sectioning layers of actin filaments within the Vero cells, achieved by changing the thickness of the silica coating from 50, 100, 150 and 200 nm. Actin microfilaments, one type of cytoskeletal element, are responsible for cell shape and cell motility. Figure 5c and 5d shows the optical sections of the MEANS layer as it is moved closer and closer to the cell surface membrane when the thickness of silica spacer is increased from 50 to 150 nm. By rigorously examining the 50 nm layers, we found that all images (typically shown in Figure 5b) were rich in actin filaments and bundles but with very little blank shadow of the nuclei. The images from the 100 and 150 nm layers (Figure 5c and 5d) show clear elliptical shadows of the nuclei free of the actin filaments inside. In addition, the margins of the cell are more apparent in Figure 5c and 5d compared with the 50 nm in Figure 5b. After further increasing the thickness of the silica spacer to 200 nm, the images contain both actin and nuclei (Figure 5e), similar to the control images taken by conventional confocal microscopy (Figure 5f), suggesting that the axial super-resolution power from the MEANS modality disappears when the silica spacer is more than 200 nm. In addition, MEANS is tolerant to small-angle misalignments of the mirror relative to the objective (Supplementary Fig. S7).

Figure 5 Imaging of the actin filaments with different thickness of silica spacer. Adjusting the spacer thickness can obtain the cross-sectional imaging of different layers of the cell specimen. For MEANS constructive interference, the maximum spacer thickness is 100150 nm. The images are all of the same size. Scale bar=10 m. Full size image

MEANS-STED microscopy of the NPC and viral filaments

Another significant advantage of the MEANS modality is its compatibility with STED microscopy. According to our simulation results (Figure 2d and 2e, and Supplementary Video S2), the local electromagnetic field for the vortex-modulated doughnut STED PSF is axially confined to form a 163-nm MEANS-STED depletion PSF. Therefore, both the intensity of the donut-shaped depletion beam and the excitation beam23, 24, 25 have been enhanced by 3.6-fold within the MEANS region. Because the resolution of STED is dependent on the depletion intensity, which can be written as26, 27

where I dep is the depletion intensity and I sat is the saturation intensity of the molecule, the constructive interference in MEANS-STED mode provides close to two-fold resolution enhancement over conventional STED.

To verify our MEANS method in STED nanoscopy, we applied the MEANS approach in a commercial Leica TCS SP8 STED 3X super-resolution microscope. As a result of the MEANS-assisted STED (Figure 6a6d), we achieved 19-nm resolution to visualize the inner rim of the NPC using a relatively low 592-nm depletion laser power of 60 mW measured at the back aperture of the objective. The NPC restricts the diffusion of molecules between the nucleoplasm to the cytoplasm and is composed of three concentric ring nucleoporins (Nups) held together by linker proteins. The inner channel is composed of the phenylalanine-glycine (FG) Nups28. Because of the small diameter of FG Nups (~50 nm), its ring structure has only been revealed by electron microscopy from isolated NPC complexes29, 30. Even when other super-resolution techniques, such as dSTORM, were utilized with localization precision of 20 nm, the ring structure was unresolvable31. After the inner channels (including Nup62, Nup95 and Nup110 proteins) of the NPCs were stained, MEANS in conjunction with a commercial STED system enabled us to record one of the first optical images of an FG Nup in a mammalian cell (Figure 6a6d). The measured diameter relative to the size of the whole nuclear pore complex confirmed that the antibody was indeed bound to Nups in the center of the NPC29. The resolution of 19 nm is one of the new record of STED super-resolution in biological applications32, 33, 34, 35, 36. The resolution improvement is largely because two-fold resolution enhancement can be obtained without increasing the depletion laser power. Because biological specimens and fluorescent dyes are generally very sensitive to high power laser, this is a very important advance in order to dramatically improve the resolution without increasing the laser power. A comparison with conventional 3D STED can be found in Supplementary Fig. S8.

Figure 6 The NPC of a Vero cell (ac) imaging using confocal (a: upper right) and MEANS-STED (a: lower bottom) modalities, and the hRSV viral filaments imaging via conventional STED (fi) and MEANS-STED (lo) modalities. MEANS-STED gives clear lateral resolution enhancement in a. (b) Magnification of the boxed area in a, in which the porous structure of the NPCs can be observed. (c) Magnified individual NPCs. (d) Plot of the intensity distribution along arrows in c. To demonstrate the advantage of the axial confinement of MEANS-STED, the hRSV filaments are imaged with conventional STED (on coverglass, fi) and MEANS-STED (on mirror, lo). The simulation of the convolution of conventional STED PSF vs MEANS-STED PSF with the filament structure is shown in (e) and (k), respectively. The central hollow structure is hard to visualize due to the uniform intensity distribution in e, but in k it can be observed. (i,o) Magnifications of the white box areas in h and n, respectively. The hollow structure of the hRSV-F can be visualized, taking advantage of the optical sectioning of MEANS-STED. (j, p) Intensity plots of the line indicated by the yellow arrows in i and o, respectively. Gaussian fitting of the data in j only shows one slope with width of 214 nm, whereas the fitting in p indicates that the width of the hRSV-F is ~56 nm, and the distance between the split peaks is ~119 nm. Scale bar=500 nm (f, l). Full size image

The axial super-resolution achieved by the MEANS approach has further assisted STED for 3D super-resolution visualization of the sub-micron hollow structures. hRSV produces filamentous virions that are 100200 nm in diameter and up to several microns in length. The distance between the centroid of the fusion (F) proteins was measured as ~120 nm by dSTORM37. To use this model system to test MEANS-STED, we immunofluorescently stained the F protein, which is in the virion membrane, and the nucleoprotein (N), which is bound to the genomic RNA inside the virion space. Without the mirror, despite using even higher STED depletion power (108 mW at 592 nm) than the MEANS-STED (72 mW), the conventional STED with the axial PSF of over 500 nm cannot resolve the F protein on the two opposing sides of the membrane (Figure 6f6i) due to contaminating light from the F protein present on the top and bottom of the filament. With the MEANS implementation (Figure 6l6o), a thin section in the middle of the filament is excited, and the top and bottom of the filament are not excited, allowing us to resolve the F proteins on opposing sides of the viral envelope with the N protein in the center.

These two model systems illustrate the benefits of the MEANS implementation. The NPC structure (a ring laying parallel to the mirror surface) benefits from increased lateral resolution. According to the Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem, to resolve a ring structure of ~50 nm in diameter, a 25-nm imaging resolution is needed. For the hRSV filament (a cylinder lying parallel to the mirror surface), a very thin optical section (less than the diameter of the filament) is required to avoid exciting the entire surface of the filament envelope and to resolve two opposing sides. A more detailed explanation of the geometry of the viral filament can be found in Supplementary Fig. S9.

Because the axial light confinement occurs away from the metal surface, the MEANS method is immune to metal surface quenching13. The working distance for MEANS super-resolution can therefore be adjusted by customizing the thickness of the silica coating, which is a standard procedure for commercial protective mirrors. Growing the cell on a coated layer of silica rather than directly on the metal surface provides a more compatible environment for cell growth13. Further, with excitation wavelength tuning, MEANS can be extended to axial sectioning of the specimen through MEANS-ESON.

MEANS is compatible with a variety of confocal-based technologies, such as laser scanning, spinning disk and two-photon. In addition, MEANS-STED is broadly applicable to PSF engineering-based super-resolution techniques, including the pulsed or time-gated STED20, RESOLFT4, ground-state depletion, excitation-state absorption, saturation38, optical data storage39, upconversion40 and charge-state depletion41. Compared with the other imaging techniques based on the recollection of the signal through interference to confine the axial resolution, including 4Pi 15, I5M14 and wide-field standing-wave microscopy7 or mirrors combined with spatial light modulator10, 42, MEANS is much simpler and does not require precise alignment of the mirror. In addition, MEANS is compatible with conventional sample preparation procedures, which is advantageous over virtual imaging43.
Forgiving other people or yourself can do wonders for your mental health, a new research found.

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Health Psychology, not holding grudges against yourself or other people can help you avoid stress and other mental health problems.

The researchers examined the effects of holding grudges to 148 young adults through a series of questionnaires. The questions aimed to assess their levels of lifetime stress, their tendency to forgive, and their mental and physical health.

The research found that living with stress takes a toll on a person's physical and mental well-being.

However, the research also discovered that if people were forgiving of themselves and other people, this virtue alone eliminated any effect of stress on their mental health.

"Forgiveness takes that bad connection between stress and mental illness and makes it zero," Loren Toussaint, associate professor of psychology at Luther College in Iowa and lead author of the study, told Time.

"If you don't have forgiving tendencies, you feel the raw effects of stress in an unmitigated way. You don't have a buffer against that stress," Toussaint added.

According to the research, people who are more forgiving may have better stress-coping skills than people who are not. Also, the study suggests that people who don't hold grudges react to their stressors with less intensity.

Critics of the study point to the fact that a connection between being forgiving and lesser stress and mental problems is difficult to determine and that the sample of people used in the study is too small.

Toussaint, however, said that forgiveness could be learned. He said that there are therapists who promote forgiveness within a person and also referred to a recent study he had done, which shows that a short prayer or a brief meditation can help people become more forgiving.

"I think most people want to feel good and [forgiveness] offers you the opportunity to do that," Toussaint said.
Certain varieties of Combos snacks were recalled due to low levels of peanut residue in the snack food.

According to Mars Chocolate North America, manufacturer of Combos snacks, recalled products include Combos Cheddar Cheese Pretzel, Combos Cheddar Cheese Cracker, Combos Pizzeria Pretzel, Combos Sweet and Salty Caramel Pretzel, Combos Pepperoni Cracker and Combos Buffalo Pretzel.

Affected Combos products have a "Best Before" dates from March 2017 to April 2017. The full list of products including item codes is available on the company's website.

Majority of these products were distributed throughout the U.S., with the remainder being shipped internationally to Bahamas, Jamaica, Virgin Islands-St. Tomas, Antigua, Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore.

According to a press release by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the recall was prompted when the company's flour supplier, Grain Craft, recalled the flour in April after detecting peanut residue in some of their wheat flour from their mill in Georgia. The particular flour was grown in the South where peanuts are also produced.

On Monday, Kellogg Company also recalled over 20 of their products due to the same flour with peanut residue from Grain Craft, FoxNews.com reported. These brands include Keebler, Famous Amos, Kellogg's Special K, Mother's and Murray.

Flour with peanut residue may trigger allergic reactions if consumed by people with peanut allergies.

In the U.S. alone, 2 percent of adults and 5 percent of children suffer from food allergies, resulting in 150 deaths each year, FDA said.

However, the company stated that the amount of peanut exposure from use of the flour and affected products is considered low and not expected to cause adverse health effects to peanut-allergic customers.

According to Mars Chocolate, there have been no reports of illness related to the products covered by the recall. The company urges consumers to be wary of the health effects of the products and return affected products to the store for a full refund.
To read the latest Border Fire update, please click here.

A wildland fire by the U.S.-Mexico border near Potrero jumped from 5 acres to 1,500 acres in a matter of hours its first day burning, forcing the city to be evacuated as the flames quickly spread.

As of 11 p.m. Sunday, the fire was 5 percent contained, four outbuildings had been destroyed and one firefighter was injured.

Homes along Highway 94 between Emory Road and Plaskon Road were evacuated, along with residents in the community of Potrero. Highway 94 is closed from Highway 188 to Potrero Valley Road.

The city of Potrero is 45 miles east of San Diego with a total population of 693 people in 207 units, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2014 American Community Survey.

Schools in the Mountain Empire Unified School District will be closed Monday, the district said around 8 p.m. Sunday.

Evacuees from other temporary evacuation shelters were being directed to Campo Elementary School at 1654 Buckman Springs Road, which was open overnight.

"As we came out of Potrero, there was fire on both sides of the road so I guess it was a good thing we got out when we did," evacuee Andy Lindsay said at the evacuation location on Sheridan.

Lindsay spent six days in an evacuation center during the Harris Fire in 2007.

"Hopefully we won't be here for five or six days like we were last time," he said.

Mary Hall was working at the library when she was told to evacuate. She grabbed some cats wandering around as she left, and is now waiting at the evacuation center.

"I am nervous about the state my home is in right now," she told NBC 7.

Additional temporary evacuation points were set up at the Campo Community Center, at 300 Sheridan Road and Dulzura Community Center at 16985 State Route 94.

The fire broke out Sunday morning around 11:30 a.m. near Highway 94 and Highway 188, north of Tecate, Mexico, and west of Campo.

At first, Cal Fire crews reported the fire at 3 to 5 acres with a slow rate of spread, not threatening any structures.

The fire grew to 900 acres by 6 p.m., jumped Highway 94 and was heading southeast toward Potrero, threatening structures.

In 2007, the Harris Fire burned more than 90,000 acres in the same area, killing one person and badly burning another. The fire also destroyed 253 homes.

Sunday night the California Governors Office of Emergency Services secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress the fire.

The FMAG also enables local, state and tribal agencies to recover eligible costs.

The fire comes during a day of record-breaking heat across San Diego County.

The closest weather station to the fire is in Potrero, slightly northeast of the blaze. In Potrero, the weather is hot and dry but not too windy, Bledsoe said. It is currently 104 degrees with a 10 percent relative humidity and winds at 7 miles per hour from the west.

The National Weather Service says an excessive heat watch will be in effect for parts of San Diego County and Imperial Valley, including valleys, mountains and deserts, from Sunday morning through next Thursday evening.

Communities that will feel the heat the most include: El Cajon, Santee, La Mesa, Poway, Pine Valley, Julian, Escondido, San Marcos, Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear.

If you have photos or videos of the fire, please send them to isee@nbcsandiego.com.
Residents in Richmond were alarmed Sunday night at the sight of flames shooting into the sky at the Chevron oil refinery.

Social media lit up with reports of a fire, but Chevron said it was "normal" flaring that occurs during the refining process. Witnesses said the latest flare lasted from before sundown until about 10pm and sent a plume of smoke into the air.

Chevron spokeswoman Leah Casey said the flare was a result of an "upset" in one of the hydrocracking process units.

Casey said the flare was not part of scheduled maintenance and came in response to a build up of pressure within the hydroprocessing unit.

there was initial flaring, then a pause for a while

it looked pretty severe because of the timing - sunset

but as far as what that means

although it looked alarming, emission levels were

"There was initial flaring, then a pause for a while. It looked pretty severe because of the timing, the smoke against the sunset," she said. "Although it looked alarming, our air quality monitoring systems showed emission levels within the safe range."

Richmond Hills resident Matt Renner said he saw flames shooting in the sky and saw a big, black cloud of smoke blowing in his direction.

"It's not supposed to happen. They're not supposed to just burn off chemicals and polllute the sky," he said. "It felt like the world was ending. The refinery is blowing up, the Warriors lost."

Renner called Chevron's emergency hotline and the woman who answered told him to shelter in place until refinery managers could get more information.

the PR operation just tells you to be calm while they figure it out.

"We need to know what happened there. We've moved beyond the era of trusting oil companies. They no longer deserve that trust," he said.

Environmental watch-dog groups said the flaring incident is just the most recent in a series of mishaps at the Chevron refinery.

"The flaring was pronounced. There was black smoke and it went on for quite some time," said Greg Karras, a scientist with Communities for a Better Environment. "It's happened way too many times before in this unit at this refinery. It's a pattern of unsafe operation and pollution from this refinery."

Chevron released a statement saying the flaring started Sunday afternoon and occurred intermittently into the evening.

"Although the sight of the flare may cause concern, we want to assure our neighbors that occasional flaring is an important part of keeping the refinery running safely," the statement said. "Flares are a safety device used in refineries to relieve pressure during the refining processes and help keep our equipment and plants operating safely."

The hydroprocessing unit removes impurities like sulfur and nitrogen and heavy metals. It also uses catalysts breaks down larger hydrocarbon molecules into fuels for gas tanks, diesel engines and jets.

California refineries are required to report hazardous materials emissions to the governor's Office of Emergency Services where preliminary information is recorded in a database.

One report filed Sunday said hydrocarbons were being released into the atmosphere but promised that the situation would stabilize soon. Another report, filed more than 3 hours later, described a release of black smoke and reported a flare caused by the depressurized hydroprocessing unit.

The Contra Costa Co. Health Department's hazardous materials division has asked Chevron to file a report within 72 hours because the incident was visible from off-site.

The refinery must file another report on the cause of the flare within 90 days to the Bay Area Air Quantity Management District, which could find a violation of air quality rules and impose fines for the incident.

The oil giant encouraged concerned residents to visit www.fenceline.org/richmond to view real-time air quality data and call 510-242-2127 for any odor concerns.
3-Year-Old Shot In Drive-By Near University Of Chicago Campus

By Stephen Gossett in News on Jun 20, 2016 2:55PM



Crime scene tape (Photo by LukaTDB via Shutterstock)

Another child was caught in the crossfires of Chicago gun violence this weekend. A three-year-old boy was shot in the shoulder and critically injured Sunday evening in the Woodlawn neighborhood, according to police.

The child, identified as Devon Quinn, was in a minivan with his father on the 6100 block of South Kimbark Ave. The two were about to pick his mother up from work, according to ABC7, when another vehicle approached at around 6:15 p.m. and fired shots into the car.

Quinn was taken to Comer Children's Hospital and listed in critical condition. As of Monday morning, no suspects are in custody and authorities have not identified a motive, police told Chicagoist.

Throughout the city, 13 people were killed and 42 injured over the Fathers Day weekend.
Law enforcement officials from across the Bay Area and beyond - including California Attorney General Kamala Harris - will be in San Jose on Tuesday to pay their respects and offer a final salute to fallen San Jose police Officer Michael Katherman.

The memorial service for the motorcycle officer killed in the line of duty last week will begin at 11 a.m. at SAP Center and is open to the public. There will be a private burial in Gilroy later Tuesday, according to the San Jose Police Department.

Katherman, 34, an 11-year veteran of the force, died June 14 after a minivan collided with his motorcycle on 10th Street in San Jose. He leaves behind a wife and two young sons.

"Our officers are out there on the front lines taking extremely dangerous risks for us every day to keep our community safe and to serve us," said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo. "We need to honor them when they spend their final moments in that service."

Before the service, starting at about 9:45 a.m., there will be a large police procession escorting Katherman's body from the funeral home in Los Gatos to downtown San Jose.

The procession route will follow Santa Cruz Avenue out of Los Gatos until it becomes Winchester Boulevard. From Winchester, it will turn right onto Stevens Creek Boulevard, which becomes San Carlos Street. From San Carlos, the procession will turn left onto Montgomery Street, which becomes Autumn Street just south of the arena. The procession is scheduled to arrive at SAP Center at about 10:30 a.m.

Because of the procession and other traffic congestion, San Jose police are encouraging the public to use public transportation. Standard security procedures will be in place at the arena - all bags and purses of those entering SAP Center will be checked by arena staff.

The service will feature a walk-in by SJPD officers and a flyover conducted by the department's Air Support unit.

The service is expected to last about two-and-a-half hours and will be followed by another procession from SAP Center to the Gavilan Hills Memorial Park in Gilroy.

The police department said that during the service there will be a fully staffed law enforcement presence throughout the city, including San Jose officers answering calls, with support from the California Highway Patrol, the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office and other agencies from across the county.

The San Jose Police Officers Association has planned an all-day fundraiser at Famous Dave's BBQ on Curtner Avenue in San Jose, with proceeds going to the Katherman family trust fund.

Those wishing to make donations should contact Joanne Segovia with the San Jose Police Officers Association at joanne@sjpoa.com.
A week after the deadly Orlando attack, San Francisco is preparing to host one of the largest Pride events in the country.

Tens of thousands of people will pour into the city this weekend, and police say due to the Orlando shooting there will be increased security at the event and at gay clubs.

On Monday, a memorial continues to grow on Market Street for the victims of the shooting.

"We can't live in fear," said Vick Germany with San Francisco Dykes on Bikes.

San Francisco Police Department Deputy Chief Michael Redmond said plain-clothes officers will be out throughout venues and all Pride-related events.

There will also be several security check points set up around Civic Center Plaza, police said. New this year will be banning large bags or purses at the event and everyone will have to walk through a metal detector to enter the festival.

"It's really tempting to curl up into a ball and retreat when this tragedy happens," Supervisor Scott Wiener said. "We have to do the opposite."

Wiener on Monday called the Orlando attack incomprehensible, and he said the city is doing everything it can to make this weekend safe and welcoming for everyone.

"You can attack us, beat us, bully us, kill us. We will just keep coming back," Wiener said. "We're stronger than before."

The city said there are no known threats to Pride Week. Officials are asking eveyrone who will be in the city this weekend to sign up for emergency alerts by texting "alertsf" to 888-777.
Donald Trump fired his hard-charging campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, on Monday in a dramatic shake-up designed to calm panicked Republican leaders and reverse one of the most tumultuous stretches of Trump's unconventional White House bid.

The Donald J. Trump Campaign for President, which has set a historic record in the Republican primary having received almost 14 million votes, has today announced that Corey Lewandowski will no longer be working with the campaign, spokeswoman Hope Hicks said in a statement. The campaign is grateful to Corey for his hard work and dedication and we wish him the best in the future.

A source close to Trump told The Associated Press that Lewandowski, 42, was forced out of the campaign largely because of his poor relationship with the Republican National Committee and GOP officials. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity because the source was not authorized to discuss internal deliberations.

Trump informed Lewandowski of his decision Monday morning in a "direct conversation," and top Trump strategist Paul Manafort will become campaign manager, two sources told NBC News.

Reached on Monday, Lewandowski, who lives in Windham, New Hampshire, and is a Lowell, Massachusetts, native, deflected any criticism of his approach, pointing instead to Manafort.

"Paul Manafort has been in operational control of the campaign since April 7. That's a fact," Lewandowski said, declining to elaborate on his dismissal.

In an interview with Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, Trump described Lewandowski with more than a few adjectives  "terrific," "good" and "talented" among them  and said that together they ran "a small, beautiful, unified campaign" during the primaries.

But, Trump added, "we're going to go a little bit of a different route from this point forward. A little different style."

A hard-charging figure, and in some ways as unconventional as the candidate himself, Lewandowski had been by Trump's side since the beginning of his unlikely rise to presumptive GOP nominee.

The move came as Trump faces continued deep resistance from many quarters of his party concerned by his contentious statements.

Lewandowski has long been a controversial figure in Trump's campaign, but benefited from his proximity to the presumptive Republican nominee. He traveled with Trump on his private plane to nearly every campaign stop, giving him more direct access to the businessman than nearly any other campaign staffer.

In March, he was accused of grabbing then Breitbart News reporter Michelle Fields at a campaign event in Jupiter, Florida. Battery charges were filed against him, but later dropped.

One source close to the candidate and with direct knowledge of the situation told NBC News Trump's daugther Ivanka Trump has been particularly unhappy with Lewandowski and has felt that way "for months."

The incident involving Fields put her over the top but it took time for her and the family to convince Trump he needed to oust Lewandowski, the source said.

She and her brothers, Donald Jr and Eric Trump, were there for this morning's meeting, according to the source.

Trump defended Lewandowski throughout the episode and repeatedly framed his own actions as a sign of loyalty and a demonstration that he would not give in to outside pressure.

"Folks, look, I'm a loyal person," Trump told voters at the time.

"It's so important," he said of loyalty in a subsequent interview. "And it's one of the traits that I most respect in people. You don't see it enough."

Lewandowski was a chief promoter of the idea that the best campaign strategy was to "Let Trump be Trump." He frequently dismissed the notion that Trump needed to hire more experienced political hands, spent on polling and sophisticated data operations, or moderate his rhetoric as he moved toward the general election.

Minutes after news of Lewandowski's departure was announced, Trump adviser Michael Caputo tweeted "Ding dong the witch is dead!" along with a link to the song from the film, "The Wizard of Oz."

Caputo resigned later in the day.

Fields, who reportedly resigned from Brietbart citing a lack of support from her former employer, now works for the Huffington Post.

"I hear @BreitbartNews is hiring," she said on Twitter in addressing Lewandowski on Monday.
The man suspected of killing British lawmaker Jo Cox once attended a meeting of American white supremacists in London, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center report published Sunday, NBC News reported.

According to the SLPC, which tracks hate groups, Mair was one of between 15 and 20 people to appear at a gathering 16 years ago, aimed at expanding an American neo-Nazis white power music business into Europe.

Mair appeared to be loosely connected to a local chapter of the neo-Nazi group National Alliance, former GOP domestic policy analyst and consultant Todd Blodgett told the SLPC.

Cox, 41, died Thursday after Mair, 52, allegedly stabbed and shot her and referenced a far right anti-immigrant group opposed to Britain's membership in the European Union.
Donald Trump is backtracking from his contention that victims of the Orlando massacre should have been allowed to carry arms into the nightclub where they were attacked  a stance even the NRA says is untenable.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee tweeted Monday that he was "obviously talking about additional guards or employees" of the Florida nightclub when he spoke about the value of having more people armed to challenge the gunman.

That flies in the face of his comments after the massacre.

A day after the attack, he told radio host Howie Carr: "It's too bad that some of the young people that were killed over the weekend didn't have guns, you know, attached to their hips, frankly, and you know where bullets could have flown in the opposite direction, Howie. It would have been a much different deal. I mean, it sounded like there were no guns. They had a security guard. Other than that there were no guns in the room. Had people been able to fire back, it would have been a much differennrat outcome."

Trump had repeated his suggestion at rallies across the country last week. In Atlanta he said the carnage would have been lessened if "some of those great people that were in that club that night had guns strapped to their waist or strapped to their ankle."

His statements were a step too far for the National Rifle Association, a powerful lobby for armed self-defense and broad permissions to carry weapons. "No one thinks that people should go into a nightclub drinking and carrying firearms," the NRA's chief lobbyist, Chris Cox, told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. "That defies common sense. It also defies the law."

As Trump revised his position on the matter, the Senate prepared to vote Monday on expanded gun background checks and proposals to keep people on a government terrorism watch list or other suspected terrorists from buying guns. But prospects for any significant change in gun laws were dim.

The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was added to a government watch list of people 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 made the case on the weekend that the U.S. should consider profiling Muslims inside the country as a terrorism-fighting tool, the latest example of his backing positions that could single out a group based on its religion.

"We really have to look at profiling," Trump told CBS's "Face the Nation." ''It's not the worst thing to do."

Trump's proposal runs counter to Justice Department policy, which prohibits profiling on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity and national origin. That profiling ban applies not only to federal agents but also to local law enforcement officers who participate in federal task forces.

Trump's increasing embrace of policies that could isolate Muslims in America is extraordinary for a candidate assured of his party's presidential nomination. The proposals have been roundly criticized by many Republican leaders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan. Civil libertarians, Muslims and others also have strongly disagreed, arguing that profiling is unconstitutional and often constitutes unlawful discrimination based on race, religion and other factors.

Trump's statements are consistent with his long-expressed views on how to stop terrorism in the United States, most notably a freeze on the entry of foreign Muslims in the U.S. But he's intensified his approach since Mateen carried out the worst mass shooting in modern American history on June 12. Forty-nine people were killed in the attack.

On Sunday, Trump also said the government should investigate mosques in the U.S. in much the same way a New York Police Department unit spied on Muslims and mosques around the city with help from the CIA.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel, looking for a compromise, proposed and received an agreement to postpone City Council's vote this week on stricter rules for companies including Uber and Lyft.

Instead, the council is set to vote on Emanuel's proposed six-month study on fingerprinting drivers for background checks.

Transportation Committee Chair Ald. Anthony Beale has agreed to the six-month independent study on fingerprinting. Beale is not sure yet who will conduct the study, but says it will come out of the Transportation Committee.

Beale said when the study is finished, "at that particular time, we're going to impose fingerprinting without question."

Thousands of Chicagoans have voiced their support for the safe rides and economic opportunities Lyft provides throughout the city," Lyft said in a statement. "This agreement sets high safety standards while still allowing people to use Lyft to get around. We urge the full Council to pass this revised ordinance on Wednesday.

Uber and Lyft have also agreed to a six-month window on finding a way to make sure the disabled community can use the rideshare companies.

Beale says when the study is over, both companies will be required to provide access for disabled customers.

"Every day that they do not comply, they will be buying a car for the disabled community," he said.

Access Living, however, said it supports the ordinance as it was originally written.

The modified proposal is unacceptable, Marca Bristo, president & CEO of Access Living, said in a statement. We have already waited two years for Rideshare companies to make a commitment to accessibility. Theyve done little to nothing in that time. Through August of 2015, Uber had provided only 14 wheelchair accessible rides. The Rideshare Ordinance needs concrete benchmarks that will hold Uber and Lyft accountable. We have a right to equal access, equal fares and equal service.

Last week, both rideshare companies threatened to leave Chicago if the ordinance proposing stricter rideshare rules passed the full council.

The Ridesharing Reform Ordinance, which passed out of a joint Transportation and License Committee on Friday, would require drivers to obtain restricted public chauffeur licenses. This includes protections like fingerprinted background checks, drug testing and city debt checks.

The ridesharing industry has pushed back against fingerprinted background checks, physical exams and drug tests for all their Chicago drivers. Companies warned against what could happen to the industry if the ordinance ultimately passes.

Chelsea Wilson, a Lyft spokeswoman, said the ordinance "forces part-time Lyft drivers into an onerous, outdated model, requiring hundreds of dollars in fees just to share a seat in their car."

Chicago's City Council has argued that the ordinance would level the playing field between rideshare services and the city's struggling taxi industry. A similar ordinance passed in Austin last month, and both companies pulled out of the city.
Bill Clinton is scheduled to attend a Chicago fundraiser for his wifes campaign Friday, while Hillary will be in town next Monday for a pair of events, according to Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times.

The former president will speak at a Hillary Victory Fund reception in downtown Chicago Friday. The fund contributes money to Clintons primary campaign fund, Hillary for America, as well as the Democratic National Committee and 32 state Democratic Parties.

The events hosts, who will receive preferred seating and a VIP reception with Clinton, have to contribute or raise $50,000. Additionally, co-hosts have to give or raise $33,400. General admission is $2,700.

Additionally, Hillary Clinton will be the keynote speaker at an International Womens Luncheon next Monday as part of the 50th annual Rainbow PUSH Coalition convention.

The event, which will take place at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, will be hosted by Jacqueline Jackson, wife of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. Jackson is the founder and president of Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

The luncheons theme is lifting as we climb. Mrs. Jackson said Clinton was an appropriate speaker because that is exactly what Hillary has done her entire career.

Clinton clinched the Democratic presidential nomination earlier this month, becoming the first female in the countrys history to be nominated for president, Rev. Jackson endorsed Clinton earlier this month, calling her the most qualified and best hope for America.

Clinton will also hold a fundraiser at The Ivy Room next Monday. Hosts for the event, who will receive a VIP reception with Clinton, have to raise $27,000. General admission is $2,700.

According to the Sun-Times, Members of Clintons National Finance Committee, known as Hillblazers, will host the event. These are individiuals who have raised over $100,000 since Clinton launched her campaign in 2015.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky is among the hosts for the event.
A man was found dead in a public pool on the citys Southwest Side early Monday.

Police officers pulled the body of a 27-year-old man out of the Chicago Park Districts Franklin Park pool Avenue around 12:50 a.m. after he was found unresponsive in the water.

Upon arrival, emergency responders and paramedics spent several minutes trying to revive the man and performing CPR before pronouncing him dead.

Fire officials said the cause of death is believed to be accidental drowning.

The pool in the 1400 block of South Kolin Avenue is surrounded by a tall iron fence and closes to the public at 7 p.m. daily, police said, so how the man got inside after hours is still in question.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 3,500 fatal unintentional drownings annually for the past decade, or an average of roughly 10 per day. The CDC reports roughly 80 percent of the drowning victims are male.

Monday marked one of the hottest days of the week in Chicago and the first day of summer.

The drowning has park district officials warning swimmers about safety.

"You always want to swim when there's a lifeguard," said Eric Fischer with the Chicago Park District. "So when there's no lifeguard present, there's no swimming."

The park district and the West Cook YMCA in Maywood are also offering free swim lessons.

The free lessons begin July 5 at the Maywood public pool managed by the West Cook YMCA.

"We feel it's very important to provide free swim lessons here in the community," said West Cook YMCA CEO Phillip Jimenez.
Orlando gunman Omar Mateen identified himself as an Islamic soldier in calls with authorities during his rampage and warned a crisis negotiator that in coming days "you're going to see more of this type of action going on," according to transcripts released by the FBI on Monday.

The partial transcripts were of a 911 call made by Mateen and three conversations he had with the police crisis negotiators during the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, in which 49 people died and dozens were wounded.

Those communications, along with Facebook posts and searches Mateen made around the time of the shootings, add to the public understanding of the final hours of Mateen's life and to the possible motivations behind the rampage.

The first call came more than a half-hour after shots rang out, when Mateen told a 911 operator, "Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God," he told the dispatcher, referring to God in Arabic.

"I let you know, I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings."

During the 50-second call with a dispatcher, Mateen "made murderous statements in a "chilling, calm and deliberate manner," Ronald Hopper, FBI assistant special agent in charge in Orlando, said during a news conference.

However, there is no evidence Mateen was directed by a foreign terrorist group, and he was radicalized domestically and on his own, Hopper said.

Mateen's name and the groups and people to whom he pledged allegiance were initially omitted from the excerpt. But the Justice Department reversed course later Monday, providing a more complete transcript confirming Mateen pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State. The extremist group encourages its followers who seek to commit violence in its name to make public pledges of support.

The Justice Department said in a statement it initially withheld the names so as not to give extremists "a publicity platform for hateful propaganda," but the omissions became an unnecessary distraction.

Shortly after the call with a 911 operator, Mateen had three conversations with crisis negotiators in which he identified himself as an Islamic soldier and told a negotiator to tell America to stop bombing Syria and Iraq. He said that was why he was "out here right now," according to the excerpt.

City officials have refused to provide hundreds of 911 calls to The Associated Press and a coalition of news organizations, citing confidentiality under Florida law, and arguing that an ongoing investigation kept the tapes secret. Hopper also said Monday that the tapes would not be released out of respect for the victims.

"Yes, the audio was compelling, but to expose that now would be excruciatingly painful to exploit them in this way," Hopper said.

Hopper also said: "Part of redacting is to not give credence to individuals who have done terrorist acts in the past. They are not going to propagate their violent rhetoric."

The AP and others requested the 911 tapes and related data, a common practice after such major events. The recordings could offer insight into how law enforcement responded.

Also at Monday's news conference, Orlando police Chief John Mina said that if any fire from responding officers hit victims at the club, gunman Mateen bears the responsibility. He wouldn't give further details but said: "Here's what I will tell you. Those killings are on the suspect, on the suspect alone in my mind." He stressed that the officers "acted heroically."

Mina acknowledged that questions have been raised by media outlets and the public about whether Orlando police waited too long after the start of the rampage at 2 a.m. to send in a SWAT team about 5 a.m.

He said an exchange of fire between police and Mateen shortly after 2 a.m. prompted the attacker to retreat into a bathroom and take hostages, shifting the incident from a shooting to a hostage-taking. Mina said there was no additional gunfire for about three hours until the SWAT team entered the building, although survivors have describing at least some firing taking place inside one of the bathrooms.

Surviving hostage Patience Carter, in a live televised interview two days after the attacks, described the attacker firing when he entered the bathroom and more firing when the SWAT team burst into the building.

"I think there's this misconception that we didn't do anything for three hours," Mina said. "I'm trying to clarify: That's absolutely not true. Our officers were within the club within minutes, exchanging gunfire with the suspect, forced him to stop shooting and retreat into the bathroom."

"From there, we let our negotiator take over and try to negotiate this to a peaceful resolution in an effort to save lives while our SWAT team set up," Mina said.

Meanwhile, hospital officials said four people remained in critical condition Monday morning, more than a week after they were wounded in the attack.

Orlando Regional Medical Center said 18 victims from the shooting were still at the hospital and three more surgeries were scheduled for Monday. The other 14 patients are listed in stable condition.

Armed with a semi-automatic weapon, Mateen went on a bloody rampage at the Pulse nightclub June 12. He died in a hail of gunfire after police stormed the venue.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch will travel to Orlando on Tuesday to meet with investigators. She said that a key goal of the investigation was to determine why Mateen targeted the gay community. The victims were predominantly gay and Hispanic since it was "Latin night" at Pulse.

Around Orlando, people left balloons, flowers, pictures and posters at a makeshift memorial in front of the city's new performing arts center and at Orlando Regional Medical Center where 49 white crosses were emblazoned with red hearts and the names of the victims.

The crosses were built by a Chicago carpenter with a history of constructing crosses for victims of mass shootings. Greg Zanis drove from Illinois to Orlando last week and installed the crosses at the medical center, where many of the 53 shooting victims who survived were taken for treatment.

Dr. Khurshid Ahmed was part of a group of Muslim-Americans at a Sunday vigil attended by tens of thousands who held signs reading, "Muslims Condemn Extremism." A letter from the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Republican Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, said Mateen wrote on Facebook that "real Muslims will never accept the filthy ways of the West."
 Flash

Photo taken on April 5, 2016 shows the lighthouse on Zhubi Reef of Nansha Islands in the South China Sea, south China. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

The most effective way to solve the South China Sea dispute is to hold diplomatic talks between stakeholders and not overdramatize the issue, according to Italian experts.

"Negotiations" are the most effective way to solve the disputes, Giovanni Andornino, professor of international relations of East Asia at the University of Turin and vice president at the Turin World Affairs Institute, said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

In the mid-1990s, China and the Philippines reached a clear agreement on settling their disputes in the South China Sea through negotiation. This has been reaffirmed in many other bilateral documents since then, including the joint statement the two countries issued in September 2011.

However, in 2013, the Philippines unilaterally filed an arbitration case against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, the Netherlands.

China maintains that the tribunal handling the arbitration proceedings has no jurisdiction over the case, which is in essence about territorial sovereignty and maritime delimitation.

Territorial issues are beyond the scope of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and China has excluded maritime delimitation from compulsory arbitration in a declaration it made in 2006 in accordance with Article 298 of UNCLOS. Therefore, China has made it clear it will not accept or get involved in those proceedings.

"Safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity is one of the priorities of China, which has not acted aggressively but has reacted to its perception of the growing interference by the United States and other countries in the South China Sea," Andornino said.

In his view, working toward formulating a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea issue, accepted by all the interested parties, would be "an extraordinary step forward" to solve the disputes.

For Paolo Borzatta, director and senior partner of think tank The European House-Ambrosetti, the only solution at this moment is "the status quo."

"China has officially said it does not recognize the international arbitration, and after all the international arbitration has not the power to force China to participate," he said.

"The situation is complex and difficult, and I only hope that it does not deteriorate," Borzatta said. "What is certain, however, is that China is not invading any other country, which does not justify an overreaction by the United States."

In his view, the South China Sea issue is indicative of a new balance of power at the international level. "China will play a fundamental role," Borzatta said.

Romeo Orlandi, vice president of the Bologna-based think tank Osservatorio Asia and strategic consultant, agreed with Borzatta that the dispute is a natural evolution of China's peaceful rise, which at the present cannot avoid a digression into political tensions.

For decades during its fast development, China had put aside political issues, especially in its relations with the Unites States, he said. "But now China has almost totally emerged from underdevelopment to become a strong, powerful and respected country," Orlandi told Xinhua.
In the midst of incredible sorrow over the loss of her son, a New Hartford mother recently made the difficult decision to donate his organs.

Monday, she and her family were honored by Hartford Hospital for that donation and for the first time she shared how she came to that decision with NBC Connecticut.

Zachary Dube was just 23-years old when he was killed in a hit-and-run crash in May. Authorities say he was struck by a pickup truck on Rt. 44 in Barkhamsted as he was riding his dirt bike.

The person who hit him had left him there. They left him there," said Zak's mother, Beth Mehmel-Dube.

State Police say they've found the vehicle involved, but not the driver. They say the case is still under investigation.

Taken from this world too soon, a decision by Zaks family kept a part of him here on Earth.

He just was a gift to me and everybody that he came in contact with. He was special," said his mom.

That's why Zaks mom says it was only fitting that they donate his organs, giving four other people the gift of life. She says it wasnt an easy decision but it was the right one.

People who are out there waiting for a second chance at life because theyre hanging on by a thread, and then something like this happens, and thats something that you can do to make a little bit of sense on this earth about this," she said through tears.

Monday, the family celebrated that gift at Hartford Hospital. Zak's sister raised the "Give Life" flag, while a friend sang Hallelujah. A letter from the family of a patient who received Zak's kidney was read. The hospital says a man in his 30's received one of Zak's kidney's while a woman in her 40's received the other. His liver went to a woman in her 60's and his heart saved the life of man in his 50's. Four lives saved. The hospital hopes will bring more attention to the need for organ donation.

"About 20 people die every day in the United States waiting for an organ donation to save their life, Heather Paquin, Organ Donation Coordinator, LifeChoice Donor Services

She added that only one-percent of people die in a manner that will allow organ donation.

For the most part that you need to be fairly healthy prior to your death," Paquin explained.

Zaks family wasn't done giving. Through the sale of inspirational stickers, they donated $1,000 to the cause, keeping their sons spirit alive as well.
A food service company that distributes to several Connecticut school districts is recalling certain ready-to-eat sandwiches over contamination concerns.

Lets Do Lunch, Inc., dba Integrated Food Service (IFS) has issued a voluntary recall of the sandwiches after a routine FDA sampling found Listeria monocytogenes on surfaces that come into contact with the food. Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and possibly fatal infections in young children and older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Healthy adults may suffer short-term symptoms like high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea. The organism can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.

The recalled products were distributed to school districts and food service distributors that serve school districts. The company is working to notify customers so products can be returned to the company. No retail products were affected by the recall.

Bridgeport Food & Nutrition Services and Waterbury Public Schools are both customers of IFS. The recall is believed to affect school districts in 29 states.

Any school district that believes it may have the affected products should contact the IFS recall coordinator at (800) 560 9999 or at recall@integratedfoodservice.com for return instructions.
A former state representative admitted to a mortgage fraud scheme in court Monday.

In a press release, the Department of Justice says that Victor Cuevas, 52, of Bristol, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to commit bank fraud in a home mortgage loan scheme.

The charges stem from an incident that began in 2013 when Cuevas applied for a loan from the Federal Housing Administration Loan (FHA) to purchase a resident in Bristol. The FHA program various restrictions on the types of funds that can be used to purchase properties. According to court documents, Cuevas claimed he was using funds gifted to him by family to purchase the property.

At the time, Cuevas was an employee of the City of Waterbury and the state representative for the 75th District. It was determined that the funds he used to purchase the Bristol property were actually a loan from another City of Waterbury employee, whom Cuevas repaid $7,000 after the mortgage closed.

Cuevas pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He is scheduled for sentencing September 21, 2016. He resigned from the Connecticut General Assembly in March 2016.

Cuevas was also arrested on DUI charges in October of last year.
Local

The latest news from around North Texas.
An Irving family seeks justice after a drunken driver who critically injured a man received 15 months probation.

Last August, Chad Hill was traveling southbound on Belt Line Road when he started to turn left onto Rock Island Road, court records show. Police said Hill failed to yield the right of way to Harley Jones, who was riding his motorcycle northbound on Belt Line.

When officers arrived, Hill smelled like alcohol and had bloodshot eyes, records show.

Hill was originally charged with intoxication assault with a vehicle causing serious bodily injury, but an investigation found Jones was speeding on his motorcycle.

Hill is currently serving a 15-month probation sentence. He also has to pay $500 in restitution.

The charge was dropped and Hill pleaded guilty to driving drunk. It was Hill's second DWI arrest.

Jones' family has started a petition seeking a harsher penalty. They plan on delivering the petition to the Dallas County District Attorney.

"He doesn't have a voice. We're his voice. We're speaking loud and proud for Harley Jones," said Harley's sister Melanie Jones. "First offense, second offense, drunk driving. It shouldn't matter. If you seriously hurt some one, you should get a harsher punishment than 15 months probation and $500 in restitution."

Jones sustained severe brain damage and is confined to a bed. He also had two broken arms, two broken legs, a laceration to his liver, and a contusion to his lungs.

"There's no amount of pain or anger that's going to bring him back. He's never going to be whole," said Harley's mother Shirley Jones. "Everybody told me it was going to be hard, but he's my son. I can't turn my back on him."
Tonya Couch, the North Texas mother charged with hindering apprehension of a felon and money laundering, was in and out of a Tarrant County courtroom within an hour Monday after her attorneys requested her hearing be reset.



Tonya Couch's hearing Monday will be reset for a future date after her attorney claimed both the defense and prosecution needed more time to investigate, but what theyre looking for he wouldnt say.



Couch is accused of taking $30,000 and fleeing to Mexico with her son, Ethan Couch, late last year after a video was published on social media that appeared to show her son at a party where there was alcohol. Ethan Couch, who killed four people in 2013 while drinking and driving, was prohibited from drinking alcohol as a condition of his 10-year probation sentence.



Both Tonya and Ethan were found in Puerto Vallarta in December and were extradited to the United States the next month.



Tonya Couch is out of jail on a $75,000 bond and her attorney said the conditions were loosened slightly Monday to allow her to start looking for a job.



Curfew regulations now are that she has to stay at home unless shes looking for a job or shes coming to her lawyers office, shes reporting to court or probation's department. Just, she cant go where she wants to go when she wants to go," said Don Carter, Couch's attorney.



Couchs attorney told it will be very difficult for to try to get a job right now.

The next hearing date hasnt been set yet, but her attorney does expect this case to go to trial.



Ethan Couch, whose case was transferred to adult court in April, is currently serving two years in county jail as a part of his adult probation.
When it comes to unlocking the mystery of an Ancient Greek poem, a planetarium probably isn't the first place you'd think to turn.

But in between the daily visits, programs and Pink Floyd light shows it runs, the Planetarium at the University of Texas-Arlington was able to shed light on this academic puzzle.

Field trips and public shows are only part of what we do here," UTA Planetarium director Levent Gurdemir said.

Several months ago, UTA physics professor Manfred Cuntz went to the planetarium with a unique proposition. He was trying to date a famous work by the Greek poet Sappho  and believed the answer was written in the stars.

We had to extrapolate information from the literature," Cuntz said.

One section of the poem describes where a specific group of stars called the Pleiades was located in the night sky. Using them as a guide, Cuntz hoped they could recreate that same sky inside the planetarium, then figure out how long ago it would have looked like that.

"It is very easy to estimate the sky tomorrow or the sky yesterday," said Gurdemir. "But going back several thousand years in the past or future is not easy."

Because the earth's rotation is not completely uniform, Gurdemir said there are many factors you have to adjust for as you try to build an ancient sky. Fortunately, new technology has simplified things  and with the help of a specialized computer program, they were able to do just that.

I think its fascinating that we have the ability to connect science to liberal arts," Cuntz said.

They ultimately determined the poem was written at least 2,500 years ago, sometime in the late winter or early spring. Their work was recently published in the Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage.

"It's a feeling of accomplishment that's great," said Gurdemir.
Read the most recent Border Fire story here.

In the second day of the Border Fire, authorities issued additional evacuations across Southern Californian communities between Campo and Potrero as triple-digit heat fueled the blaze, growing from 1,900 acres to 7,500 acres, nearly 12 square miles.

Crews worked throughout the day during record-breaking heat to battle the Border Fire, which ignited Sunday and quickly grew Monday from 1,900 acres to 7,500 acres in a matter of hours. Cal Fire officials said the wildland fire was 5 percent contained.

NBC 7s Elena Gomez has the latest from the Border Fire near Potrero.

Mandatory evacuation orders are still in effect for the community of Potrero. Cal Fire officials have issued additional evacuations for Forest Gate, Star Ranch, Cowboy Ranch, Dog Patch and Canyon City, east of Potrero and west of Campo.

Evacuation advisories are in place for Lake Morena and for the area near Campo and Buckman Springs. Evacuations are voluntary. Residents who choose to evacuate can convene at Golden Acorn Casino at 1800 Golden Acorn Way, which has been set up as a temporary evacuation point. It is not a shelter.

Residents were encouraged to evacuate to Buckman Springs Rest Area at Buckman Springs Road and Interstate 8.

The fire has prompted mandatory evacuations in Potrero. NBC 7s Liberty Zabala reports.

A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the city early Sunday afternoon. The community of Potrero has a total population of 693 people in 207 units, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2014 American Community Survey.

Homes along Highway 94 between Emory Road and Plaskon Road were also evacuated. Highway 94 is closed from Highway 188 to Potrero Valley Road. It is unclear when the road will be open again.

Mountain Health, the only community clinic in Campo and the Mountain Empire Region, has opened up their community center in Campo for displaced residents. The center is located at 31115 CA-94 in Campo.

Residents in need of emergency assistance evacuation should call 911.

Google Maps/Cal Fire

Evacuees are being directed to Los Coches Creek Middle School, where an overnight shelter was set up. The school is located on 9669 Dunbar Lane in El Cajon.

A previous emergency shelter at Campo Elementary School at 1654 Buckman Springs Road has closed.

Updates on the fire and emergency shelters can be found here.

The fire, near Potrero, prompted mandatory evacuations Sunday. NBC 7s Matt Rascon reports.

Residents looking to cool off near the fire can go to the Campo-Morena Village Library at 31356 Highway 94 in Campo. The library was closed Monday but was open as a cool zone from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Find a complete list of cool zones here.

Crews expect more fire activity in the coming days. NBC 7s Matt Rascon reports.

Big flames continued to burn Tuesday on the east portion of the fire.

Four outbuildings have been destroyed, but no homes have been damaged as of Sunday night. One firefighter suffered heat-related injuries while working in triple degree heat, but is expected to be okay. Another firefighter suffered heat-related injuries and another suffered a knee injury.

Monday, 40 engines and 15 to 20 hand crews assisted in the fight against the fire, which moved quickly over the rugged and steep terrain near Potrero, 45 miles east of San Diego.

[G] Border Fire Scorches 7,609 Acres East of San Diego

San Diego Sheriff's officials said 48 of their deputies are assisting with security patrols and traffic controls in the evacuated and fire areas. Two ASTREA Bell 205 fire-rescue helicopters are making water drops; each copter has a 375-gallon belly tank.

Cal Fire officials said the biggest challenge Monday will be the heat and making sure crews stay safe.

Scenes from the Border Fire, which has charred more than 200 acres in Southeast San Diego near Potrero in a matter of hours.

Schools in the Mountain Empire Unified School District will be closed Monday, the district announced.

The fire broke out Sunday morning around 11:30 a.m. near Highway 94 and Highway 188, north of Tecate, Mexico, and west of Campo.

At first, Cal Fire crews reported the fire at 3 to 5 acres with a slow rate of spread, not threatening any structures. The fire jumped Highway 94 in a matter of hours and continued rapidly spreading from there.

"As we came out of Potrero, there was fire on both sides of the road, so I guess it was a good thing we got out when we did," evacuee Andy Lindsay said at the evacuation location on Sheridan.

Lindsay spent six days in an evacuation center during the Harris Fire in 2007. In 2007, the Harris Fire burned more than 90,000 acres in the same area, killing one person and badly burning another. The fire also destroyed 253 homes.

A time lapse of the smoke seen from Los Pinos as a result of the Border Fire.

"Hopefully we won't be here for five or six days like we were last time," he said.

Sunday night the California Governors Office of Emergency Services secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress the fire.

The FMAG also enables local, state and tribal agencies to recover eligible costs.

Record-breaking heat across San Diego County was expected to continue Monday as a heat wave passed through Southern California. NBC 7 Meteorologist Jodi Kodesh forecasted valleys in the low 100s, mountains in the upper 90s and deserts with highs at 119.

The National Weather Service said an excessive heat watch will be in effect for parts of San Diego County and Imperial County, including valleys, mountains and deserts, from Sunday morning through next Thursday evening.

The Border Fire is zero percent contained and has grown to 900 acres. NBC 7s Liberty Zabala reports from the scene.

Communities that will feel the heat the most include: El Cajon, Santee, La Mesa, Poway, Pine Valley, Julian, Escondido, San Marcos, Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear.

If you have photos or videos of the fire, please send them to isee@nbcsandiego.com.
Record-setting temperatures are possible Monday as a heat wave tightens its grip on Southern California.

Triple-digit heat is likely again Monday afternoon across a widespread part of the region, prompting a request that residents watch their power usage to prevent excessive strain on the state's power grid. Cal-ISO, the state's independent grid system operator, said a Flex Alert will go be in effect until Monday evening.

The alert comes during what is expected to be the hottest day of the heat wave that began Saturday, with the warmest temperatures ranging between 100 and more than 120 degrees.

Power Outage Information: SCE | LADWP

The heat was blamed for at least some of the outages reported Sunday night by Southern California Edison. More than 4,400 customers were without power in Los Angeles County and nearly 5,000 in Orange County as of 3:30 a.m., with equipment failure the main cause. The LADWP also noted spot outages around its coverage area.

An outage in La Canada Flintridge left a shopping center, including a Trader Joe's store, without power Monday morning.

A Flex-Alert is a request for customers to voluntarily conserve electricity, including turning off unneeded lighting, postponing the use of major appliances including washing machines and dryers, and setting air conditioning thermostats to 78 degrees or higher.

The Los Angeles DWP urged residents to prepare for possible power outages by having flashlights and batteries readily available and keeping a battery-operated radio handy. DWP officials also recommended that people keep a phone charger in a car to ensure they can contact friends or relatives during an outage, keep a supply of non-perishable food and have a cooler available to use for food that needs to be refrigerated.

The heat wave included a record-setting Sunday, when a reading of 109 degrees was reported at 2:36 p.m. Sunday at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank. Palmdale and Lancaster topped out at 105 and 106 degrees respectively, the temperature at Long Beach Airport hit 100 degrees, downtown LA topped out at 96 degrees and LAX hit 85 degrees. It hit 107 degrees in Beverly Hills.

Many beaches were not much cooler: it was 94 at Seal Beach and 88 at Zuma Beach.

Red flag warnings continue until 8 p.m. Tuesday in the San Gabriel Mountains and through 10 a.m. Tuesday for the Santa Barbara mountains and south coast, where the Sherpa Fire continued to burn. Gusty sundowner winds were expected to continue today which should continue to fuel the Sherpa fire now burning near Goleta in Santa Barbara County, the NWS reported.

Minor relief was expected in coastal and valley areas beginning Tuesday, but the San Gabriel Mountains and the Santa Clarita Valley were to remain dangerously hot.
Firefighters battled a house fire that spread to hillside brush near freeways in the Silver Lake area on Sunday afternoon.

At least 20 homes were threatened by the blaze at its peak, and two sustained damage from the flames on Corralitas Drive. Three sheds were destroyed, according to the Los Angeles City Fire Department.

The fire was reported just after 1 p.m. in the 2200 block of Allesandro Way, according to the Los Angeles City Fire Department.

Plumes of smoke could be seen from the 2 and 5 freeways near the fire, and as far as the 110 Freeway near the downtown LA area. Nearly 200 firefighters were responding from the ground and air.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BG2YoEsgE0R

Onramps on the 2 and on the 5 freeways were shut down temporarily, but reopened at 5:21 p.m.

Residents were helping to put out spot fires by dousing flames along the freeway.

The fire erupted amid a record-breaking heat wave in Southern California, where fire danger was high.

No injuries were reported.
"Fast-paced" and "hectic" were the words Pepper Medina used to describe working at grocery store chain Ralphs.

For four years, Medina has been making $11.20 an hour working at the deli station, cutting meat, preparing hot and cold meals, and serving customers.

She says the compensation she receives does not equate to the amount of work she does.

"All the work I do is not worth it and I wish there were improvements to the system," Medina said. She explained that she wasn't asking for much, just hoping to keep her pension and get a raise "every once in awhile."

On Monday, Medina may finally get her chance for change.

Grocery store workers across the Los Angeles area will vote to authorize a strike against grocery giants Ralphs and Albertsons in the midst of contract negotiations.

As many as 47,000 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 770 could cast a vote throughout the day. The vote will not necessarily mean an immediate strike, though it gives union leaders the power to call a walkout during talks with company executives, which have lasted two months.

The union represents workers of the Ralphs and Albertsons grocery chains, which includes Vons, Safeway and Pavilions.

After minimum wage legislation was passed in 2015 authorizing an increase to $15 an hour by 2022, the union said they have seen a decline in benefits for workers and an increase in time required for entry-level workers to reach the highest pay grade, which is 7.5 years.

The current starting salary for a grocery store worker is $10.10 an hour, only 10 cents more than minimum wage.

Ricardo Icaza, president of the union, said these changes "were not done in good faith" for the workers.

"[The grocery stores] are trying to find ways to negotiate a contract that would offset the cost by cutting benefits," he said.

Benefits on the chopping block include pensions and health care plans.

Though this vote could authorize a strike, Icaza maintains that is the last thing the union wants. He said they want it as a bargaining tool throughout negotiations. He said the union's goal is to make working at a grocery store a middle-class occupation.

The grocery chains involved call the vote "premature".

"Ralphs is committed to reaching an agreement with union leadership at the one place an agreement can be reached  the bargaining table," the company said in a statement. "[The vote] only serves to cause concern for associates and customers."

A little more than a decade ago, both grocery chains faced a strike that lasted more than 140 days, leading to a financial loss of almost $2 billion and a huge market share loss, Icaza said. During that time, customers turned to smaller chains for their food needs, some not returning when the strike ended.

Ralphs spokeswoman Kendra Doyel said authorization votes such as this one were not uncommon and often ends in a contract.

Workers can vote from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. at different locations throughout the Southern California area. Icaza expects a "very strong vote" from union workers.

Medina voted for the strike authorization this morning, saying that though no one wants a strike, sometimes "you gotta do what you gotta do" for changes to occur.

"I'm trying to make ends meet here," she said. "If something doesn't change soon, we might as well be on the street."
President Barack Obama announced Monday that Los Angeles will become the headquarters for a federally funded institute devoted to developing sensors that make manufacturing more efficient.

Obama announced the project, which will receive more than $140 million in public and private funding, at the SelectUSA summit in Washington, D.C.

A consortium of researchers in Los Angeles will coordinate the work of five regional centers -- one at UCLA, and outposts in Texas, New York, Washington and North Carolina. Dozens of companies across the country will participate and invest in the initiative, including Google, Microsoft and Northrop Grumman.

The initiative will get $70 million from the Department of Energy, and $70 million from private companies and state entities.

One of the hub's goals is to develop advanced sensors that monitor the use of energy in manufacturing and make the software available on an open- source platform so that the code used to create the sensors is broadly available.

"We are entering a sensor world,'' said Lynn Orr, the undersecretary for science and energy. He said it has become much cheaper even for households to use "smart'' tech to regulate their consumption of electricity, heat and water.

"What we are trying to do here is to apply and use those techniques more effectively to make manufacturing more efficient, more productive,'' Orr added.

Manufacturers use about a third of the energy consumed in the country, he said. Sensors can help commercial manufacturers figure out exactly what part of their process is sucking up the most energy.

Congressman Ted Lieu, D-Los Angeles, called today's announcement "welcome news for Los Angeles, California, and our nation. I applaud President Obama, (UCLA) Chancellor Block, the faculty and staff at UCLA for this innovative partnership that will certainly be an important step forward in energizing our manufacturing base -- a key component of American economic leadership in the 21st century global economy,'' Lieu said. "I look forward to any and every opportunity to support UCLA in this groundbreaking work.''

This is the ninth center for manufacturing research created by the Obama administration. The president also announced the launch of five new manufacturing hub competitions which will invest nearly $800 million from private companies, participating states, and different branches of government, including the Defense Department and the Department of Energy.

Copyright City News Service
Two men were arrested after a wild truck pursuit -- during which officers tried to ram the truck at least twice -- as the duo ran into a La Mirada neighborhood Sunday night.

The chase began just after 10:30 p.m. as the truck traveled at 70 mph on surface streets after the driver failed to yield, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Norwalk Station.

Officers attempted at least two PIT maneuvers, and while they both sent the driver spinning out of control, and once hitting a stop sign, the driver continued on.

The driver and passenger had a few close calls, almost hitting other vehicles before bailing out of the car and running when they became trapped in a cul-de-sac.

Police searched for the two just before 11 p.m. at Whiterock and Roma Drives.

La Mirada resident Paul Camacho went outside when he heard helicopters and saw one of the men involved standing in his backyard. Camacho took him by the arm and told him to stay down until officers arrived.

"He was really cooperative," Camacho said.

The driver and passenger were both taken into custody around midnight.

Live ammunition was found inside the truck, Buena Park Police said.

No other information was available.
No one needs to tell anyone currently existing within Southern California that Monday, June 20, 2016 is the longest day of the year.

It's also going to be the hottest day of the year, thus far, so call it an understatement of vast proportions to say that, yes, summer is at the forefront of many sweaty-browed minds.

But even though we're seeking out oscillating fans, and ice cream bars, and sprinklers, and the ocean, many a local still longs to pay heed to what has been, throughout history, a hallowed time of observance, reflection, and peaceful sunset-watchery.

Know this: If you're hoping to visit that famous hilltop bastion of all things cosmic, you'll find it closed on June 20. But it won't be totally quiet 'round Griffith Observatory, as staffers will host June 20 press events regarding the solstice during the day and evening.

Thus you're bound to see some hubbub if you drive up the hill to call upon the observatory's famous sundial. (A fine and timely outing on the longest day of the year, or any day of the year that doesn't have extreme cloud cover.)

If you want to be in the parking lot at sunset, that's at 8:08 p.m. Starting June 21, the slow and steady march to earlier nightfall times kicks off.

If you desire something less silent, and more celebratory, for your solstice needs, hang tight. A trio of summer solstice parties are just ahead over the final weekend in June, including one at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton on June 26, Summer SOULstice in Santa Monica on June 26, and the long-running, always lively parade in Santa Barbara on Saturday, June 25.
What to Know A 33 year old man is behind bars, charged with making threats toward members of a North Miami Beach monastery over the weekend.

A 33-year-old man is behind bars, charged with making threats toward members of a North Miami Beach monastery over the weekend.

Jorge Arizamendoza was arrested Sunday night and charged with multiple counts including aggravated assault of a religious institution and three counts of criminal mischief.

Arizamendoza appeared in court Monday, where he was represented by a public defender. He was being held Monday evening on $92,500 bond, jail records showed.

According to the arrest report, Arizamendoza entered The Ancient Spanish Monastery off N. 167th Street and Dixie Highway. Once inside, he began to yell about wanting to speak with the priest, saying the congregation "shouldn't conduct mass at that location" among other things.

"Deranged, loud, shouting," is how Father Gregory Mansfield described the encounter. "Saying 'you can't have mass, you can't have services here, this can't be, this has to be stopped.'"

Members of the congregation began to exit, some yelling that the suspect may have a gun. Arizamendoza reportedly told them he didnt, but that he would go get one and shoot the priest in the face.

Arizamendoza had twice before been at the monastery in the last week. On Thursday, he allegedly threw a rock at the sign in front of the building before grabbing a tool out of his car and destroying the rest of the sign before leaving.

On Friday, he allegedly used a tool to force his way into the building. Once inside, Arizamendoza destroyed a security camera before beheading a statue, an 800 year old relic the members of the congregation deemed "irreplaceable."
What to Know Over 30 routes changed in some form starting Sunday along the Metrobus system in Miami-Dade County.

If you use Metrobus to get around Miami-Dade County, the bus you use and the route you take could be changing. Starting Sunday, over 30 stops along the system saw some alteration that will affect those that use the system.

Along with locations in the city of Miami and the county that will see changes, those who take the I-95 express buses to downtown from the Golden Glades stop will also see a change.

Miami-Dade Transit also eliminated the Biscayne Boulevard and Brickell legs will no longer be in service, while picking locations at the Jackson Memorial Hospital stop will change for the morning and evening hours.

According to officials with M-D Transit, the adjustments are being made to be more efficient with the routes while dealing with getting riders through the congested areas of Miami easier.

To see if your route is one that is changing, click here to see adjusted maps and schedules according to Miami-Dade Transit.
The Miami Bach Community Church opened their doors to the community Sunday wanting everyone to know it is a safe place.

At the the oldest church in Miami Beach you can see the drawings on the walls, showing support and solidarity for the Orlando community.

Drawings cover the walls outside of the Miami Beach Community Church. Forty nine tears is written on one spot, recognizing the 49 people killed and 53 injured in the brutal attack at Pulse nightclub.

Herb Sosa is a member of this church and also serves as the president and founder of the Unity Coalition. Sosa lost friends and colleagues in the Orlando massacre. Sitting in the pew listening to the names of each shooting victim one by one comes with all sorts of emotions.

"It's impacted my community, my Latino community, my LGBT community and really just all of us," said Sosa

Pastor Harold Thompson is pushing for our communities to honor those who lost their lives and the loved ones they leave behind by surrendering their guns to the Miami Beach Police Department, who set up a booth right outside.

Thompson said: "This is not a second amendment issue. This is a faith issue about how we live in a peaceful world. Rhetoric about owning guns and assault rifles that might sound great politically, but it moves us further away from the teachings of Jesus Christ."

Some visitors stopped by looking for a shoulder to lean on, saying you can only do so much on your own.

Many gathered in lighting candles, joining hands and coming together in prayer; drawing strength, hope and encouragement from others.

Sosa added: "I refuse to be fearful. I refuse to be fearful. The fact that I'm standing here that I'm standing here on Lincoln Road; the fact that I'm at this service and put my self out there, you have to."

The Miami Bach Community Church will have events focused on honoring the victims throughout this week.
There are nostalgia restaurants for 1950s Americana, for 1960s rock-and-roll, and now ... New York is getting one for curmudgeonly 1980s sitcom grandmas.

A close friend of the late actress Rue McClanahan is planning a "Golden Girls"-themed cafe in northern Manhattan, DNAInfo reported.

The Rue La Rue Cafe, planned for Broadway between 187th and 188th streets, recently went before Community Board 12 for its wine license.

Owner Michael LaRue will decorate the cafe with memorabilia from McClanahan's estate, DNAInfo reported.

The show, which ran on NBC for seven seasons, featured McClanahan as the feisty widow Blance Devereaux.
Four NYPD officials  including one who has pleaded guilty to bribery have been charged along with a pair of businessmen in connection with a federal corruption investigation, according to law enforcement officials and court documents.

Deputy Chief Michael Harrington, Deputy Inspector James Grant and Sgt. David Villanueva all faced charges Monday that they accepted gifts and favors from influential businessmen in exchange for favorable treatment and official services, including one instance in which the businessmen allegedly pulled strings to get the NYPD to shut down a lane of the Lincoln Tunnel so officers could escort an entrepreneur visiting from another country.

Two of those businessmen, Jeremy Reichberg and Alex Lichtenstein, were also named in a trio of criminal complaints unsealed Monday.

A fourth officer, Richard Ochetal, has already pleaded guilty to bribery charges in connection with the probe.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said Monday that the case marks the latest instance his office has found public corruption.

"When corruption subverts public safety that is especially tough to take, it can tear at the very fabric of society," he said. "It makes people wonder whether those entrusted to protect and serve them are actually doing that."

NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton, meanwhile, said that Monday's arrests show that "the system works" and that the department is not ignoring or covering up corruption.

"This case shows that whether you are a cop or a chief you will be handled the same way if you break the law," he said.

Prosecutors allege that Harrington and Grant accepted expensive meals, game systems, hotel stays and other benefits in exchange for being "on call" for Reichberg and Jona Rechnitz, another businessman who previously pleaded guilty to charges and has been cooperating with federal investigators.

Court papers also alleges that Reichberg and Rechnitz used their connections for a variety of purposes.

Villanueva and Ochetal also allegedly took bribes from Lichtenstein for help expediting gun permits, court papers state.

According to the criminal complaints, Reichberg and Rechnitz allegedly took Grant, another unnamed detective and others on a private jet to Las Vegas for Super Bowl XLVII. The two businessmen also allegedly arranged for a prostitute to join in on the trip, and the prostitute spent the weekend in Grant's hotel room.

Grant also allegedly let the businessmen pay for a hotel in Rome, several home projects and a $3,000 watch. On Christmas in 2014, the complaint alleges that Reichberg and Rechnitz showed up to Grant's home wearing elf hats and gave his children and wife gifts.

The two businessmen also allegedly recommended that Grant, then the head of the 72nd Precinct, be promoted to the head of the 19th Precinct on the Upper East Side in 2014 and were on the phone when Grant's supervisor told him about the promotion.

In exchange for the gifts, the complaint alleges that Grant regularly provided the pair police escorts and allowed the businessmen and their friends around police barricades. He also helped Reichberg get a gun license in about a third of the time it normally takes.

Bharara said that Grant also complained when he felt he wasn't getting "lavish gifts" quickly or often enough. According to the complaint, Grant allegedly told Reichberg on one occasion "see you don't love me anymore bro."

Harrington, meanwhile, is accused of accepting one to two meals a week from Rechnitz at a cost of about $500 per meal. He also allegedly accepted Nets and Rangers tickets from Rechnitz and let the businessman book a hotel for a family trip to Chicago. Harrington later allegedly lied and said he paid the $6,500 hotel bill back to Rechnitz.

Harrington is accused of investigating an off-duty cop who worked for one of Reichberg's rivals, according to the complaint. He later took steps to discipline that cop. He also allegedly sent patrol cars to religious sites at Reichberg's request, according to the complaint.

Another criminal complaint alleges that Lichtenstein charged community members thousands of dollars to expedite gun permits, then turned to Villanueva and Ochetal to push permit applications through the system. The two officers allegedly approved permits without waiting for normal background checks and sometimes upgraded limited carry permits to full carry permits.

In all, prosecutors allege, the two officers expedited 100 applications for Lichtenstein, who allegedly boasted to another cop who later reported to the department's internal affairs bureau that he could pay $6,000 per gun permit.

Grant and Harrington were placed on modified duty after they were implicated in the investigation earlier this year. The two officers later put in retirement papers and will receive their retirement benefits. But Bratton said they will not retire in good standing, meaning they won't receive permission to carry a gun or get the so-called "good guy" letter former cops often use for getting post-retirement jobs.

Villanueva, meanwhile, has been suspended. Ochetal was placed on modified duty.

Susan Necheles, Reichberg's attorney, said in an email that her client did not commit a crime.

Reichberg's "only mistake," Necheles said, was befriending a government cooperator "who is desperately trying to get others in trouble in order to curry favor with prosecutors and save his own skin."

Harrington's lawyer, Andrew Weinstein, said that the charges were politically motivated.

"Chief Harrington is a loyal and devoted family man who has an unblemished record and has spent the last three decades working tirelessly to keep New York City safe," Weinstein said. "One would be hard-pressed to find a straighter arrow in their quiver."



Harrington and Grant were each released on $250,000 bail. Reichberg was freed on $500,000 bail.

Grant's attorney didn't return calls seeking comment and the head of his union declined to comment. Attorney information for Villanueva, Ochetal and Lichtenstein wasn't immediately available.



Villanueva and Lichtenstein pleaded not guilty at court appearances Monday afternoon. Villanueva was freed on $200,000 bail.

The charges come amid a widening probe that focuses on whether former NYPD supervisors accepted gifts and vacations in exchange for official services like police escorts, fixing tickets or shutting down streets for private events.

Among those who have been under scrutiny is former NYPD Chief of Department Phil Banks, who allegedly took vacations with Rechnitz along with former correction union boss Norman Seabrook. An attorney for Banks said that the former top cop didn't knowingly violate the law.

Seabrook was arrested on corruption charges earlier this month and pleaded not guilty. Banks, through defense lawyer Ben Brafman, has denied any wrongdoing.

Several other officers retired or were placed on modified duty since the criminal investigation began. Former 66th Precinct community affairs officer Michael Malici was fired after the NYPD said he refused to cooperate in the investigation. Inspector Michael Ameri shot and killed himself on Long Island after being questioned in connection with the investigation.

Federal investigators continue to look into the fundraising practices of Mayor de Blasio and some of his key staffers. They want to know if favors, contracts or positions were offered in exchange for campaign donations.

Questions have swirled around the mayor's fundraising, including his efforts to try to help Democrats take over the state senate, his efforts to ban horse carriages and even a contract given to a donor who now sells the citys so-called rat-proof garbage bags.

The mayor has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has said all campaign activities followed the law.
A New York City fire department EMS lieutenant from Staten Island has died in a hiking accident Upstate.

Essex County Coroner Francis Whitelaw released at statement saying it happened Saturday afternoon at Roaring Brook Falls in the town of Keene.

Whitelaw says 37-year-old Joann Restko was with a friend when she went to a ledge towards the top of the falls to take a photograph and disappeared. Her friend was unable to locate her and called rangers from the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Restko's body was found at the base of the falls about 80 to 100 feet below the ledge. The falls is among the tallest in Adirondack Park, with a total height of around 300 feet.

On Sunday, the FDNY Women's Benevolent Association posted photos on Facebook of her uniform hanging above her picture with flowers and a candle below it.

Outside Restko's firehouse, Fire Commissioner Dan Nigro called her death a terrible tragedy and said the department's thoughts and prayers were with her family.
What to Know A 20-year-old man was slashed on a train in the Columbus Circle station early Monday morning.

The man had been arguing with another commuter moments before he was slashed, according to police.

A suspect was arrested and the victim was taken to an area hospital. A vendor at the station said he has encountered violent people before.

A man was slashed across his neck at the Columbus Circle subway station early Monday after an argument with a fellow commuter, police said.

The 20-year-old man and the alleged attacker got into a verbal fight as their northbound A train approached Columbus Circle around 1:30 a.m.

As the train was pulling into the station, the suspect took out some sort of sharp object and slashed the man across his neck, police said.

Cops quickly arrested the suspect on the station platform. The victim was taken out of the subway in a stretcher and taken to Weill Cornell Hospital, where he is recovering.

David Brown, a newspaper vendor, said that violent people hang out at the station.

"Making noise, screaming, a lot of them just come at you start yelling at you for no reason and stuff," Brown said.

Police tape still blocked off a section of platform serving the A, C, B and D lines shortly before 5 a.m. Monday as the NYPD continued their investigation.
A New York City woman was arrested in South Carolina after she was accused of breaking two Confederate flags off of a parked truck.

The 22-year-old Brooklyn woman and her father were both arrested after the alleged vandalism in Charleston's historic Battery on Saturday afternoon, The Post and Courier reports.

Authorities told the newspaper that the South Carolina Secessionist Party was putting on its weekly display of Southern flags when the 22-year-old walking by broke the flags off the truck and ran off.

The party's founder gave chase but was allegedly held back by the woman's 50-year-old father, the Post and Courier reports.

The woman later told police that she broke the flags because they upset her, according to the report.

The party, which is an activist group that apparently came into being in the months after the Confederate flag was removed from the South Carolina State House's front lawn following the 2015 Charleston church massacre, posted about the incident on its Facebook page.

"The moral of the story? Make the Yankees pay for their crimes when they come to our State, break our laws and attempt to dishonor our ancestors," the group said in the post.

The daughter and father were both booked into a Charleston jail and were released on bail the next day.
West Nile virus has been detected in New York City mosquitoes for the first time this mosquito season, but no human cases have been reported, the health department said Monday.

The infected mosquitoes were collected June 12 from Prince's Bay on Staten Island. Health officials said they would set up more mosquito traps and perform additional treatments to curb the growth of the mosquito populations.

To protect against being bit, health officials advise New Yorkers to wear bug repellent and cover arms and legs when outside at dawn or dusk. Any standing water in buckets or planters or other similar items that are outdoors should be removed, and residents can call 311 if they need assistance with water removal.

Though there has yet to be a human case of West Nile this season, they generally occur every year in the city, mostly from July through October. Not everyone infected will become ill, but West Nile can cause flu-like symptoms like headache, fever, fatigue and weakness, and sometimes serious complications, including neurological disease.

Health officials say they are also aggressively monitoring mosquitoes for the Zika virus, which to date has not been detected in mosquitoes in the city.
Iran's Intelligence Ministry thwarted "one of the biggest" terrorist plots, which included a number of bombings and attacks in different parts of the country, during the holy month of Ramadan, state media said Monday.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani praised the "capable and experienced" authorities, telling the state-run IRNA news agency, that "several people" had been apprehended in recent days.

Terrorists were arrested, bombs were detonated and equipment was seized, IRNA said.

The plot was "one of the biggest" to target Iran, according to the semi-official FARS news agency.
A week after winning a best leading actor Tony Award, Philadelphia-native Leslie Odom Jr. has announced he will leave the hit Broadway musical "Hamilton," joining key principals out the door next month.

The actor, who plays Aaron Burr in the hip-hop hit musical about Alexander Hamilton, announced Sunday on Facebook that he'll leave the show on July 9 when his contract is up. He has been with the show since it first began performances in early 2015 downtown. [[382635661, C]]

Odom, who grew up in East Oak Lane, said on Facebook that he would never forget the people he met during the process, which he described as "healing" and "inspiring." In an interview with The Associated Press on Friday, the actor said that he wanted to focus on his music after he leaves the show. This month, he released a self-titled jazz album, his first in a new four-CD deal with S-Curve Records.

Before leaving "Hamilton," Odom will host Wawa Welcome America festivities in Philadelphia (You can watch the entire July 4th concert on NBC10 & NBC10.com).

Odom's announcement follows that of show creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda, who said Thursday that he also would exit the show on July 9. Phillipa Soo who plays Eliza Schuyler also announced this week that she'll exit the show in July. So far, there is no word on two other principals  Tony-winners Daveed Diggs and Renee Elise Goldsberry.

Many who celebrated the 11 Tony-haul of "Hamilton" have been with the show for a long time, most for a punishing eight-show-a-week schedule. And producers will soon be introducing new cast members for a production in Chicago, a national tour that kicks off on the West Coast and a London company.

Odom, who studied at Carnegie Mellon University, became the youngest ever cast in the Broadway company of "Rent." He also was on TV in the series "Smash" and "CSI: Miami," in the film "Red Tails" and on Broadway in "Leap of Faith."

On Friday, Odom told The AP that he was looking forward to other people tackling Burr, which was written specifically for minority actors. "It's a great part that now exists for actors of color," he said. "I have friends that I want to see sink their teeth in this part."
A 70-year-old acupuncturist in New Jersey faces charges accusing him of touching a woman patient in a sexual way and practicing the traditional Chinese medical technique without a license.

Fort Lee police on Friday searched the office of Myung Ho Lee after a woman complained on May 4 that she had been inappropriate touched while receiving an acupuncture treatment, said acting Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir Grewal on Saturday.

Officers subsequently learned that Lee didn't have a valid license to practice acupuncture.

Lee was charged with fourth-degree criminal sexual contact and third-degree unlicensed practice of acupuncture, Grewal said.

Lee was remanded to Bergen County Jail in lieu of 10,000 bail.

There was no information available on whether he had obtained a lawyer who could comment on the charges.
Two men face drug dealing charges after allegedly being found with more than 250 grams of heroin packed in small quantities and ready to be sold.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced the arrest of Santos Javier Alvarez-Ruiz, 38, and Felipe Fontanez-Burgos, 42, at a news conference in Philadelphia Monday morning.

"While our office likes to concentrate on wholesale purveyors of illegal drugs, and continues to do so, these incredibly dangerous drugs also must be combated at the street level," said Kane. "Heroin has destroyed countless lives across Pennsylvania. We will use the resources of our office to target dealers large or small, and to let them know there will be severe consequences for the people dealing this poison."

Investigators found heroin packing materials during a traffic stop of Fontanez-Burgos' car in the area of Summerdale Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard. They later obtained a search warrant for Alvarez-Ruiz's Mayfair residence  where Fontanez-Burgos' was seen leaving with a black trash bag  and they found the heroin, said Kane. [[383647291, C]]

The heroin seized in this investigation is worth around $85,000 said Kane.

Both men face drug distribution, criminal conspiracy and drug paraphernalia charges.

NBC10 explored the tragic world of heroin and opioid addiction earlier this year in a special investigation, Generation Addicted. The in-depth project highlighted people suffering to break free from the drug's strong and deadly grip as well as explore efforts by public health officials and law enforcement to address the growing epidemic.
Gunfire rang out near a South Jersey playground late Sunday leaving 3 people hurt.



City of Burlington Officers were called to the area of Linden and Mitchell avenues -- that's near Mitchell Avenue Playground -- in Burlington Sunday night and found someone suffering from a gunshot wound. Medics took the gunshot victim to a Lourdes Medical Center, Willingboro Campus with injuries not considered to be life-threatening, said police.



A short time later, a second gunshot victim showed up at Willingboro hospital suffering from a possible graze wound. A third victim arrived at Memorial Hospital of Burlington County in Mount Holly also suffering from an apparent graze wound, said police.



The victims, who weren't immediately identified, are expected to survive their injuries.



Authorities investigated late Sunday night and no immediate arrests were made. Anyone with information can submit tips online or call police at 609-386-0262.




A Philadelphia Police officer is in the hospital after an SUV slammed into his or her vehicle, according to officials.

The 35th District Officer was driving westbound on Champlost and Front streets at 7:09 p.m. Sunday when a Black Ford Expedition traveling southbound on Front Street struck the front end of his or her vehicle. The impact caused the police vehicle to crash into a telephone pole.

The officer was taken to Einstein Hospital. Officials have not yet revealed his or her condition. A driver and at least one passenger inside the Ford Expedition complained of neck and back pain and were also taken to Einstein.

Officials dont suspect drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash and no arrests have been made. They continue to investigate.




Local

Breaking news and the stories that matter to your neighborhood.
The Wawa Welcome America Festival! will be filled with events, performers, and 100 hours of fun for kids of all ages.

The weeklong event on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway leading up to the Fourth of July features some 35 events and 350 performers in Center City. Here's a list of events for each day that specifically cater to children.

Here are the best events for kids during the 8 day festival:

June 27

Free Museum Day:

Enjoy free admission into The Benjamin Franklin Museum where visitors can learn the history of Philadelphia. The museum features artifacts, computer animations, and interactive displays. (Ages 4 and up)

Go 4Th and Learn about The Science Behind Pixar:

At 7 p.m. go behind-the-scenes of Pixars beloved films as The Franklin Institute brings Pixar to life with live demonstrations and interactive activities from The Science Behind Pixar exhibit. (Ages 5 and up)

Philly @ the Movies: Finding Nemo at Franklin Square:

At 8:30 join us under the stars for a free movie screening at Franklin Square. Children and adults alike will enjoy a family-friendly, fun-filled night! (Ages 4 and up)

June 28

Philly @ the Movies: The Legend of Tarzan Advance Screening:

At 7:30 p.m be the first to see the Legend of Tarzan at the Kimmel Center of Performing Arts. (Ages 4 and up)

June 29

Go 4th & Read: Citywide Reading at ALL Free Libraries:

Starting at 2 a.m. join Wawa Welcome America at one of the 54 branches of Free Library Philadelphia for citywide reading and activities! (Ages 6 and up)

June 30

Free Museum Day:

Enjoy free admission into the National Constitution Center. This interactive all-ages museum is dedicated to the U.S Constitution featuring rare artifacts and theater. The theater is known for its famous production of Freedom Rising narrated by a live actor that vividly describes the story of the U.S. Constitution. (Ages 4 and up)

Go 4th & Learn About Music and Culture:

At 5 p.m. enjoy free access to the Mummers Museum all day. Take advantage of the free Tours, Instrument Demonstrations, Mask Making and more! (ages 5 and up)

Philly @ the Movies: National Treasure:

At 9 p.m. watch as Ben Gates races through Philadelphia in search of the legendary treasure that is secretly mapped out on the back of the Declaration of Independence at Penn's Landing. (Ages 4 and Up)

July 1

Go 4th & Learn about Fitness:

At 10 a.m. come break a sweat on the Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse featuring the Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide.

At 9:30 catch the beautiful fireworks at Penn's Landing!

July 2

At 9:30 p.m. Wawa Welcome America! Festival Fireworks at Penn's Landing.

July 3

Free Museum Day:

Enjoy free admission into The Philadelphia Museum of Art which houses a variety of collections that welcomes all ages.

July 4

Wawa Welcome America! Festival Independence Day Parade:

At 11 a.m. the parade begins at 5th and Chestnut Streets and ends at Front and Chestnut Streets.

Party on the Parkway:

At 12:00 a.m. the free KIDZ BOP Kids: Life of the Party Tour takes the main stage at Eakins on Benjamin Franklin Parkway. (Ages 11 and Up)

Wawa Welcome America! Festival Firework:

At 10 p.m. enjoy the Finale Fireworks on Benjamin Franklin Parkway!

Get ready to enjoy a week of fun!
A Maryland man is accused of holding his wife captive for nearly three months in the couple's Salisbury apartment.

Court documents show 51-year-old Michael David Austin has been charged with false imprisonment and reckless endangerment.

Records say Austin's wife states that her husband had kept her locked inside their apartment since March 26. His wife told police that Austin would lock the door from the inside and outside when he would leave for work.

Court documents state that Austin's wife was able to escape the apartment on Wednesday, after she told police Austin fell asleep without locking the door.

After escaping, court documents say Austin's wife approached two police officers, informing them of what happened.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident.

It isn't immediately clear whether Austin has an attorney
What to Know Metro is now shut down through July 3 in a stretch of the BL/OR/SV lines from Eastern Market to Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road.

There is also no train or bus service between Arlington Cemetery & Rosslyn on the Blue Line. Metro said riders should use the Yellow Line.

Metro officials say shuttle buses won't be able to handle the volume of riders and that commuters should make other plans if possible.

Many commuters seemed to plan ahead -- and brought their patience along -- for the new reality of Metro's aggressive maintenance plan both Monday morning and afternoon.

"Safety Surge 2" of WMATA's SafeTrack plan began Saturday. But the Monday commute brought the first test for riders who now must navigate a system where two stretches of Metrorail are cut off from the rest of the region.

Now through July 3, the Orange, Blue and Silver lines are shut down from Eastern Market to Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road. The Potomac Avenue and Stadium-Armory stations are closed.

And in Northern Virginia, there's no train or bus service between Arlington Cemetery and Rosslyn on the Blue Line. Metro told commuters to travel via L'Enfant Plaza instead.

Some stations that were directly affected by the service reductions saw decreases in ridership of up to 65 percent. Some other stations saw increases, as passengers figured out a way around the disruption.

"It's a necessary thing," said rider Jo Brooks. "I don't believe we have a choice."

While there were times of crowding at some stations, including L'Enfant Plaza, other riders noted that some stations were actually emptier than usual, and praised Metro for helping commuters with clear instructions.

Blue Line: Trains run btwn Franconia & Arlington Cemetery every 12 min.

After 10pm, no train service, use Yellow Line to continue trip.  Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) June 20, 2016

#safetrack Potomac Ave & Stadium-Armory stations are closed. Shuttle buses operate Eastern Market to Benning Rd & Minnesota Ave. #wmata  Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) June 20, 2016

Orange/Silver Line: Trains every 10 -12 min due to SafeTrack; expect crowded conditions & delays. After 10pm, trains every 20 min.  Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) June 20, 2016

"[I'm] impressed with the level of #wmata #smarttrack prep at new Carrollton," @missjames tweeted Monday morning. "MARC helpers, big signs, police posted. good work from pg county."

In Arlington, Morgan S. noted the Rosslyn platform was "actually quieter than usual" in the morning.

A WMATA employee at L'Enfant Plaza on Monday morning said some of his "regulars" told him they would use other forms of transportation during SafeTrack.

Leading up to the shutdowns, commuters were told to make alternate plans or to work from home if possible. And for the most part, it seemed to work Monday -- although plenty of riders did express frustration.

April Clutter was one of them. She said her commute usually takes an hour, but on Monday, it took her three.

"There's all these people standing around, but they aren't telling us exactly where to go," Clutter said.

WMATA is rolling out 15 separate "safety surges" for SafeTrack over the next year, which include segment shutdowns, extended single-tracking and reduced train frequency in various parts of the system.

Commuter Dan R. said Monday he was happy to see Metro's new general manager "biting the bullet" on repairs.

WMATA has extra employees at affected stations to answer commuters' questions. One worker told NBC Washington that he had previously retired, but Metro has been calling on former workers to return.

Despite the increase in staffing, though, a temporary glitch had many riders seeing red.

Another WMATA worker outside Stadium-Armory said some other station managers were apparently been telling commuters to take buses to her station, where they could catch the train. But Stadium-Armory is closed to rail travel, leaving riders angry and running to catch a new set of buses.

Workers at Stadium-Armory contacted Metro and got the communications error cleared up, the employee said.

But at least one would-be rider, when faced with the situation at Stadium-Armory, had had enough, saying, "I'm just going to work from home."

Twitter user @WaffleW also decided to avoid Metro, posting, "Miraculously got last seat on 3Y [bus route]. Definitely avoiding #metrorail as much as I can during #SafeTrack. Hope traffic isn't too bad."

Some riders did encounter more crowded trains. Since Metro had advised those traveling to or from Virginia to take the Yellow Line across the river, some of those trains were more full than usual.

"Packed yellow train going across the river today," @AshDee04 tweeted Monday morning. "I hope the number of yellow line trains is increased to handle the capacity #wmata[.]"

Amanda Aguilar, Emmanuel Ayisi, Marcus Dash, Julia Grace, Ellie Hartleb, Dystany Muse and Brooke Wivagg contributed to this report.
A firefighter was injured battling a 3-alarm blaze in Newton, Massachusetts, on Monday afternoon.

The fire was first reported at 16 Merrill Rd. around 1:30 p.m. It appears to have started in the attic.

Newton Fire Lt. Eric Fricke said all of the occupants were able to escape safely. He said one firefighter was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

The fire department said the flames were difficult to reach due to the slate shingle roof on the home.

Ward Street was temporarily closed eastbound at Nobscot and Hammond Street was closed northbound at Commonwealth Avenue due to the fire. Motorists were urged to avoid the area.
Three people were arrested and nearly 800 bags of heroin seized in a drug bust in Vermont earlier this month.

Demar Neal, 30, Corey Fitzgerald, 26, and Ashley Webster, 24, all of West Rutland, were arrested on June 9 and charged with distribution of heroin, possession of heroin, possession of cocaine base and possession of a firearm.

Vermont State Police, the FBI and the Rutland County Sheriff's Department executed a search warrant at 66 Harrison Ave. in West Rutland after several months of investigation. The search warrant yielded approximately 56 grams of raw heroin, 790 bags of heroin, 77 grams of crack cocaine and a firearm.

State police said all three suspects have already appeared in court and are being detained pending trial.
A man accused of killing a 31-year-old man early Sunday morning in Dracut, Massachusetts, faced a judge Monday.

Davanni Curran, 22, of Lowell was arraigned on murder and gun charges in connection with the fatal shooting of Trevor Washington, a Dracut resident.

The shooting happened at 5:30 a.m. during an argument that broke out at party on Methuen Street.

Officials say Washington was taken to Lowell General Hospital after the shooting, where he was pronounced dead, and that Curran fled the scene.

The Middlesex District Attorney's Office, Massachusetts State Police and Dracut Police are actively investigating the incident.

Curran has been with murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a loaded firearm and unlawful possession of ammunition.

It's not clear if Curran has an attorney.
A Rhode Island businessman has admitted to running a scheme to sell mislabeled drugs, including those used to treat cancer.

Arif Diwan pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Providence to conspiracy to engage in false labeling of pre-retail medical products and related crimes.

Diwan ran Lifescreen LLC, a Cranston-based company that sold drugs under the brand name LifeLogic. Between 2012 and 2015, Diwan filled numerous orders for high-cost pharmaceutical products, including a number of cancer treatment products.

Prosecutors say he rebranded and relabeled drugs manufactured in India, adding bogus Federal Drug Administration codes to make it appear the drugs were manufactured in the United States or Europe and approved by the FDA. Diwan shipped the drugs to customers in numerous countries.

Diwan is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 16.
Police are investigating after a 72-year-old North Smithfield, Rhode Island, man was assaulted by two men in his own home.

Police say two masked men broke into the victim's home early Sunday afternoon, ripped out the telephone wires so he couldn't call for help, attacked him and ransacked the home.

The victim was found on his neighbor's front porch with lacerations to the head and face.

He was taken to the hospital but the injuries are not considered life threatening.

Police have not announced any arrests.
Sunday, dads and others gathered in unity for the Father's Day Peace Walk in Boston.

Boston Police Commissioner William Evans condemned violence in the community. The commissioner was already scheduled to attend the walk just hours after three shootings occurred in Boston, leaving one man dead -- the 16th homicide in the city this year.

"That's the stuff that keeps us all awake every night," Evans said. "It ruins my day when I get the call, like I did last night, when we lose a young kid to senseless violence."

At the 2-mile march, organized by city leaders, Evans and others spent the morning encouraging parents to change the violent narrative that has plagued Boston and surrounding cities.

"A lot of bad things are going on, so this is kind of shedding a little light on some bad situations," said Gregory Jameau, who brought his son to the event.

"This walk, for instance, matters," Jameau said, "I wanted my son to be a part of it, to actually see some positive images of people, people of color."

Helping host the event, in its second year, necn anchor Latoyia Edwards addressed the fathers in the crowd.

"I grew up in Dorchester," Edwards said. "You role models really make this community what it is."

A second walk was also held in Dorchester to encourage peace on Sunday. Many hope that with increased focus on the violence, they can potentially put an end to it.

"The power of us is what will make sure our city changes for the better," said Conan Harris of Mayor Marty Walsh's office.
A man's blood-alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit when he crashed into another car Sunday afternoon in Swanton, Vermont, according to state police.

Twenty-eight-year-old Philip Barron of South Hero was arrested after crashing his Chevy S-10 pickup truck into a Honda Civic.

Barron and the 59-year-old North Hero woman driving the Honda were both uninjured, but the air bag of Baron's truck deployed.

Police say Barron had a blood-alcohol content of .268.

He is charged with DUI and careless and negligent operation. He is due at Franklin County Superior Court on July 5. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney.
New Hampshire State Police have arrested a man they say drove at 128 miles-per-hour on I-93 north Sunday in Northfield.

Police pulled over Samuel Melo, 22, of Methuen, Massachusetts, at 12:30 p.m.

The speed limit was 70 MPH in the zone Melo was pulled over in.

He was arrested for reckless driving and is set to appear in court on Sept. 13.
UPDATE June 22: Concord, New Hampshire, police say Jessica Drury has been found safe. Police did not say where she was located.

Earlier story below:

Police in Concord, New Hampshire, are asking for the public's help in locating a woman last seen a week ago.

Jessica Drury, 30, was last seen near her home on Alton Drive on June 13.

She has not made contact with any friends or family in that time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 603-225-8600.
Rhode Island environmental officials are asking for the public's help in tracking the state's wild turkey population.

The Department of Environmental Management has a survey on its website to report sightings of wild turkey hens and young turkeys, known as poults.

DEM says there were 449 brood sightings last year, an above-average year for wild turkeys.

The state's wild turkey population is now estimated at about 3,000 birds.

A wild turkey restoration project began in 1980 with the release of birds in Exeter, Burrillville, Little Compton, West Greenwich, Foster, Scituate and Tiverton.

DEM says information gathered from the public helps determine how many young birds survive after common causes of mortality are accounted for, such as predators, weather and road kill.

The survey can be mailed or emailed to DEM.
It's a shocking development in the Celina Cass murder mystery, as her stepfather Wendell Noyes is officially charged with causing the 11 year old's death.

It the first time we have seen Noyes since his step daughter Celina Cass was found dead back in 2011. It's also the first time that Cass's mother has seen her ex husband.

As you can imagine it was a difficult day for her, but one she says has been a long time coming.

"I hope he rots in Hell," said Louisia Cass. "He deserves every bit of what's coming to him, I want the death penalty."

Celina's mother sat in court Tuesday afternoon, once married to the man who prosecutors say caused her daughter's death by "submerging her in the Connecticut River," in 2011.

Cass told us there were never any warning signs when they were together.

"My kids all got along with him, it seemed like a perfect family," Cass said.

Celina was last seen at her home in West Stewartstown on July 25th, 2011 watching TV with her mom.

"I was rocking her in my chair the last time I saw her alive," Cass said through tears.

The next day, she was gone. During the search, crews scoured the area.

Divers found Cass's body in the river days later. The case has remained open and active for all this time.

"Celina has stayed in our hearts and she will remain there for the duration of this case," said New Hampshire Associate Attorney General Jane Young.

Louisa Cass says she's always believed the investigation would lead to Noyes and that she's been waiting for this moment for years.

"I just want justice," she said. "It's been five years, I didn't think it was ever going to come."

Noyes was arrested at the state psychiatric hospital Monday night where he's been staying since last year.

The judge granted the defense's motion for further mental evaluations before moving forward with court proceedings.

No plea was entered and bail was not discussed.
The Connecticut Supreme Court has upheld the murder convictions of a man who killed a Waterbury police officer in 1992, but has overturned his death sentence because of the court's earlier abolishment of capital punishment.

Justices ruled Friday on the appeal of Richard Reynolds and ordered a lower court to resentence Reynolds to life in prison without the possibility of release.

Reynolds fatally shot Waterbury Officer Walter Williams.

Reynolds' appeal said his public defenders failed to question jurors about racial biases and failed to introduce evidence that Reynolds suffers from an anti-social personality disorder.

The Supreme Court abolished the death penalty last year. One death row inmate, Steven Hayes, has already been resentenced to life in prison. The 10 men remaining on death row also will be resentenced to life.
A woman was seriously injured after she crashed into a stone ledge in Limerick, Maine, Sunday morning.

According to necn affiliate WCSH, the crash happened on Parsonsfield Road.

The driver, Chrystal McNelly, crossed the center line, overcorrected and then crashed head-on into the ledge.

McNelly was trapped in the vehicle, which flipped over.

She was taken to Limerick Airport and then was airlifted to Maine Medical Center.

Her current condition is not known.
Rev Nigel Fox, who has served as a Methodist Minister for 15 years in Norwich, shares an open invitation to pray for the nation at a crucial moment.

Rev Nigel Fox, who has served as a Methodist Minister for 15 years in Norwich, shares an open invitation to pray for the nation at a crucial moment.

Norwich church seeks musicians Kingdom Ambassadors International Church is appealing for instrumentlists, keyboardists and guitarists to be part of their worship experience. Read more

Please keep Rishi in your prayers Andy Bryant urges us to pray for our political leaders, especially the new Prime Minister, and avoid unhelpful judgementalism. Read more

Dereham churches help people to help themselves A group of churches in Dereham have launched an ambitious project which aims to meet needs in the town, including the provision of food and skills training. Read more

Emilys art boosts growing Yarmouth foodbank A pupil at a primary school in Bradwell has been selling her pictures in order to raise money for the Yarmouth and Magdalen Foodbank, which is expanding its capacity and is seeking more volunteers. Read more

Patrick Regan helps Norwich to bounce forwards On Saturday St Stephens in Norwich hosted Bouncing Forwards as part of a national tour by the mental health charity Kintsugi Hope. Read more

Painting and biblical feasting in Overstrand There will be opportunities to improve your painting skills and indulge in some biblical feasting next month at the Pleasaunce in Overstrand in North Norfolk. Read more

Latest Norfolk Christian community events Events of interest to the Norwich and Norfolk Christian community happening over the next few weeks are listed. Read more

National award for Dereham Christian bookshop The Green Pastures Christian bookshop in Dereham has won a national award for providing boxes of Christian books to 21 local schools. Read more

Norma's care home jigsaw challenge complete A resident at Norwich-based care home Corton House has completed an incredible 70 jigsaw puzzles in celebration of the homes 70th anniversary this year. Read more

Norwich charity's appeal to support Palestinian students A Norwich educational charity, set up in memory of a Norwich Anglican priest, to support students from a Palestinian refugee camp, is inviting people to support its Christmas appeal  to be launched on November 29. Read more

Norfolk drug and alcohol charity pays tribute to its founder Andy Sexton, CEO of the Matthew Project, introduces a series of tributes from the charity to its founder, Peter Farley. Read more

Cliff look alike at Cromer Church breakfast Cliff Richard tribute performer Will Chandler will be the speaker at a special Mens Breakfast at Cromer Parish Hall next month, and all men are welcome to come along. Read more

Heartsease Lane Methodist church to close As part of a reorganisation of the Norwich Methodist Circuit, Heartsease Lane Methodist Church will be closing towards the end of the year. Read more

Free Julian of Norwich reflection and prayer day The Friends of Julian of Norwich present a free Quiet Half-Day with Robert Fruehwirth, author and former Priest Director of the Julian Centre, on Saturday November 12, 10.30am-2pm. Read more

What it means for us to repent Nigel Fox believes that now is the time for a tide of repentance, and shares his thoughts about what that actually means for our society. Read more

Christmas card shop opens in Norwich church Thousands of Christmas cards from around 30 local Norfolk charities have gone on sale today (October 19) at the Original Norwich Charity Christmas Card Shop inside St Peter Mancroft church in Norwich city centre. Read more

Revelation Christian Resource Centre and Cafe Revelation in Norwich is a Christian resource centre, offering a bookshop, a meeting place and a welcoming refuge for refreshment open to visitors of any faith or none. Read more
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Montreal, Quebec, was named Intelligent Community of the Year this week at the annual Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) Summit. In the face of economic decline and political scandals, Canadas largest French-speaking city began its turnaround with a Smart City plan starting in 2011.

The city, home to a 10th of Canadas population, had endured trade losses, an eclipse of manufacturing, and years of separatist nostalgia. The new Montreal staked its future on a broader economic base of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT), aerospace, health sciences, and clean technologies. These sectors now field 6,250 companies with 10% of the regions workforce.

The Visionary of the Year award went to Rio de Janeiros Knowledge Squares (Nave de Conhecimento) program. This was for its focus on the digital inclusion category among ICFs six criteria for what makes an intelligent community: broadband, knowledge workforce, innovation, digital inclusion, marketing and advocacy, sustainability.

Knowledge Squares were envisioned by Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes and city CIO Franklin Dias Coelho. Working with companies like Cisco and Embratel, the technology and information centers are designed to develop knowledgeable citizens, even in the poorest areas.

The goal is to serve as hosts for global events like the Olympics, and to learn to work in the global networked economy. Over 50 modern technology centers with classrooms and labs anchor the vision in neighborhoods all over the city.

Revolutionary Community drives Innovation and creativity

In a provocative keynote speech, Ohio State Universitys David Staley, a historian; designer; and futurist, called for cities to serve as key sources of creativity and innovation when ideas collide. Cities, by bringing diverse populations and disparate professional fields into close proximity, have always been hotbeds of new ideas and social energy. It is their historic, revolutionary role to bring innovation to meet the needs of their era.

Staley offered the global leadership example of Barcelona, which now has a Deputy Mayor for Culture, Knowledge, Creativity and Innovation. Staley said. Barcelona sees creativity and innovation as being as important to the life of a city as the urban infrastructure or the jobs and employment outlook.

Information systems security for Smart Cities

Urban systems security expert Bob West of CareWorks Tech said Intelligent Cities share these criteria: they leverage technology, are efficient, economical, competitive, attract and retain business and demonstrate inclusive prosperity.

+ ALSO ON NETWORK WORLD 10 cities with fast emerging tech hubs +

West characterized the older model of systems security: outside the wall is dangerous and bad, inside the wall is safe and good. West says that wasnt true then, now even less so  its too simplistic a view, especially for cities and communities. No CIO can build architectures with such a coarse-grained viewpoint.

West said from a city perspective the key security questions are about access to systems, by whom, for what. Security, like governance, should be built into everything you do in a city context.

Advice for community and organizational leaders

Among the most interesting talks was a panel of veteran city mayors, featuring Mayor Rob Van Gijzel, of Eindhoven, Netherlands (the 2011 ICF top award winner); Mayor Paul Pisasale of City of Ipswich, Australia; and Michael Coleman, former mayor of Columbus, the 2015 Intelligent Community of the Year.

Coleman, now out of office after 16 years as mayor, a Columbus record for longevity, offered some candid perspectives for leaders at all levels. He said:

Other communities in the world will look at you as you look at yourself.

When he took office, Coleman said, Columbus had an inferiority complex; as a mere Midwestern city; a Cowtown. Now, Columbus is a global player and the biggest city in Ohio, bigger than Cleveland or Cincinnati. He said there is value in international trade and opportunities. You must lift your eyes beyond your local or regional horizon.

Columbus took opportunities to invest in poor neighborhoods and areas that had been neglected.

The city embarked on building infrastructure, including a municipal fiber network.

Most important, our attitudes about ourselves changed, he said. Mayor Coleman says a city needs swagger, which you show by being prepared; by understanding your values; by knowing what you want.

Besides the winning city of Montreal, the complete list of 2016 intelligent community finalists includes:

Hsinchu County, Taiwan

Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany

New Taipei City, Taiwan

Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Whanganui, New Zealand

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

The next, 2017 Intelligent Community of the Year competition, opens with nominations in July, with the closing deadline in fall 2016. Seven new finalists will be announced early in 2017. The winner will be named at the Intelligent Community Forums annual Summit in June 2017, probably to be convened at ICFs home base in New York City.

Jay Gillette is professor of information and communication sciences at Ball State University, director of its Human Factors Institute, and a senior research fellow and officer at the Digital Policy Institute. He also served as Fulbright-Nokia Distinguished Chair in Information and Communications Technologies at the University of Oulu, Finland for 2014-2015.
One of the best things about a build-your-own PC is you can make sure no crapware/bloatware is installed, since you are buying a bard hard drive to start. No unwanted apps or utilities that cause more harm than good. You install the OS and the apps you want.

Unfortunately, not everyone is as good with a screwdriver as me, and most folks prefer to buy a brand-name PC. That's especially true for laptops, since the white box/builders market is primarily for tower builders. So, laptop buyers have no choice but to put up with unwanted apps that clog the hard drive and memory.

+ Also on Network World: Windows 10 Anniversary Update: A guide to the builds +

Well, it seems Microsoft has had enough of these OEMs causing havoc with its customers and is doing something about it. A recent build of Windows 10 released to Insiders comes with a special tool that will fetch a new version of Windows and perform a clean installation. You already have the option to clear out applications and courtesy of the Refresh and Reset features that first appeared in in Windows 8. Now you can just gut the whole thing and start over.

The tool is currently in preview, along with Build 14367, for both desktop and mobile devices. This will most likely be a part of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, due July 29. As Microsoft gets closer to the release date, it has stopped adding new features and is now totally in bug squashing mode.

Microsoft has been keen to this issue for a while. It sells its own line of Signature laptops online and in its retail stores that come with nothing but the bare OS, although some come with OEM update tools that could potentially distribute other OEM software that they are trying to avoid in the first place.

There was a time when Microsoft had a policy requiring nothing but a bare OS install. This was back in the 1990s and the Windows 95/98 days. Back then, the move was viewed as a way to keep Netscape Navigator off PCs, although no one knew this for certain. Maybe they should bring it back.

To me, this mess with bloatware shows that relations between Microsoft and OEMs are not ideal. Microsoft gets the hell for bloatware even though it's not Microsoft's fault because, let's be honest, the default blame when anything goes wrong on a PC is Microsoft in the first place. They have to take the grief for an OEM's shoddy, if not dangerous, product.

One would like to think OEMs and Microsoft are working together to ensure that OEM update utilities work properly, don't conflict with Windows Update, etc. Judging by all the problems they are having, it doesn't appear there is much back and forth going on. And if I'm wrong, that doesn't speak well to the relations between OEMs and Microsoft.
Who is The Daily News Athlete of the Week? Here are the 7 nominees.
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
Exco InTouch, a leading provider of digital health technology, announces the launch of the TARGET My Hives app for Android the digital healthcare platform is now available in both Android and iOS systems. It is the first digital health community for everyone impacted by chronic urticaria, creating a vital support network that the patients have long needed. By enabling wider communication, it will reduce the sense of isolation that people with the condition often feel; it is about sharing experiences and help. Ultimately, TARGET My Hives seeks to improve patient outcomes by also integrating physicians and patient associations into the network.

Patients with chronic urticaria (commonly referred to as hives), can suffer from sudden occurrence of red, itchy rashes or angioedema with rapid swelling in the deeper layers of the skin.The condition is often triggered by external factors, including sunlight and water, but it can also occur spontaneously, without any identifiable triggers. Patients with chronic urticaria are often left alone to cope with the condition and eventually stop seeking help; many have even given up on visiting their doctor.

TARGET My Hives is already operating successfully, having attracted over 2,000 patient registrations from 61 different countries. Since the iOS app went live in May, the social community for chronic urticaria has developed rapidly with growing levels of active participation. Patients are using the community to communicate with each other, sharing their experiences and giving each other first hand advice  its an invaluable support group. The network is providing a platform through which patients have the opportunity to openly discuss their condition and feelings, removing any stigma or sense of isolation felt previously.

Tim Davis, CEO and founder of Exco InTouch commented:

TARGET My Hives is proving its value in opening up the much needed conversation between people affected and the wider healthcare community. To date, patients have already been reporting how much it is helping them manage their condition, and empowering them to share their own knowledge that may help others. Our mission is to connect everyone, patients, physicians and support groups together. But most importantly, we want to use technology to help patients to actively take control of the condition.

TARGET My Hives will allow patients to learn from others how to manage their disease, set goals for themselves and to share results and outcomes with others. By motivating and supporting each other, TARGET My Hives helps patients to actively take control of their condition. The app also aims to enhance awareness and visibility for patient advocacy groups, acting as a conduit for expanded content and networking opportunities for patients

TARGET My Hives is owned and maintained by Exco InTouch who have extensive experience and a track record of innovation in digital health programs. It is no easy task to develop such a comprehensive support group running across multiple devices and platforms  and Exco InTouch are globally recognized as digital health experts that leverage proven technologies to put patients at the heart of solutions.

Another key factor in the success of their health programs has been the companys commitment to data privacy and security, an essential component in achieving patient trust, through its partnership with Regulatory Strategies. In fact, two years ahead of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) coming into effect, Exco InTouch introduced a fully compliant regulatory Data Protection Officer. The website and mobile application were developed with funding and support from Novartis Pharma AG.

The app is now available for download on the iTunes App Store and on the Google Play store for Android devices.
One Medicine: how human and veterinary medicine can benefit each other

Professor Roberto La Ragione

News-Medical speaks to Professor Roberto La Ragione, Chair of Trustees at Humanimal Trust, about the concept of One Medicine and how human and veterinary medicine can collaborate, share knowledge, and initiate research for the benefit of both humans and animals.
Porsche won the Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar race for the second year in a row on Sunday after Toyota had a first victory snatched from their grasp by a last lap power failure.



Japanese driver Kazuki Nakajima had been on course to take the chequered flag when sudden drama unfolded as he reported a problem with five minutes remaining. He then slowed before coming to a halt.



That allowed Porsche to blast past and claim their 18th victory, with the German manufacturer's number two 919 hybrid car shared by Switzerland's Neel Jani, Frenchman Roland Dumas and Germany's Marc Lieb.



"What can I say? First of all I feel sorry for the boys down in the other garage," said Lieb. "They deserved this, they were giving us a hard time as well. This race should have had two winners, it was really unbelievable."



The 84th edition of the race was watched by a crowd of 263,500 spectators.



Toyota would have been only the second Japanese manufacturer to win the greatest prize in sportscar racing, after Mazda in 1991, but instead finished as runners-up for the fifth time.



Nakajima had shared the stricken number five Toyota TS050 hybrid car with Britain's Anthony Davidson and Switzerland's Sebastien Buemi.



"I literally have no words," said Davidson on Twitter, reporting that Nakajima had said he was ready to cry as he crossed the line.



The Toyota pit crew beat him to that as well, the heartbreak evident across the garage.



Instead it was the number six Toyota that took second place for Japan's Kamui Kobayashi, France's Stephane Sarrazin and Britain's Mike Conway.



Audi finished third with their number eight car.



Porsche and stablemates Audi had each entered only two cars instead of three in the main LMP1 category for cost-cutting reasons in the wake of parent company Volkswagen's diesel emissions scandal.



The number one Porsche hit problems shortly before midnight and ceased to be a contender.



Last year's race was won by Germany's Nico Hulkenberg, New Zealander Earl Bamber and Britain's Nick Tandy but none of them were driving in the main LMP1 category this time.



Hulkenberg was competing in Sunday's European Formula One Grand Prix in Baku for Force India.



Porsche, who returned to Le Mans with a works team in 2014 for the first time in 16 years, are the most successful manufacturer.



The race also marked a winning return by Ford in the GTE Pro category.
Mumbai: The rupee on Monday ended lower by 23 paise to close at an over two-week low of 67.31 against the US currency on heavy bouts of dollar demand amid uncertainty in the wake of RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan's decision against pursuing a second stint.



Rajan, whose tenure as the RBI chief will end on September 4, had on last Saturday said he will not be seeking an extension as the governor.



The home currency opened sharply lower at 67.65 per dollar as against the last weekend's level of 67.08 at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (Forex) Market and dropped further to one-month low of 67.70 on initial heavy dollar demand.



However, it recovered afterwards to 67.28 in view of a sharp recovery in equity market on hopes of robust foreign capital inflows following government's announcement of a further liberation of foreign direct investment coupled with sharp rise in global market before ending at 2-week low of 67.31 per dollar, still showing a loss of 23 paise or 0.34 per cent.



The domestic currency had ended higher by 13 paise or 0.19 per cent on last Friday.



The local currency hovered in a range of 67.28 and 67.70 per dollar during the day.



Meanwhile, the dollar index was down by 0.48 per cent at against the basket of six global currencies in the late afternoon trade.



The RBI fixed the reference rate for the dollar at 67.4087 and euro at 76.5358.



In cross-currency trades, the rupee fell further against the pound sterling to close at 98.49 from 95.86 on last Friday and also moved down against the euro to 76.25 from 75.53.



However, the domestic currency inched up further against the Japanese yen to 64.37 per 100 yens from 64.38.
(Image source: Resevoir Dogs)

(Image source: Dawn of the Dead)

(Image source: The Walking Dead)

If you've seen something in a violent movie that made the blood drain from your face, there's a good chance that Oscar-winning Greg Nicotero provided the special effects. The 53-year-old and his partners have worked on more than 400 TV and film projects, from George A. Romero's "Day of the Dead" in 1985 to last year's Quentin Tarantino splatter-fest "The Hateful Eight."Best known these days for his effects work and directing on AMC hit series "The Walking Dead," Nicotero's obsession with the macabre began back in 1975 with "Jaws.""I needed to know how they did it. When the movie came out I was obsessed with learning everything I could about how they built that shark," said the filmmaker, who was 12 when Steven Spielberg's tour de force hit theaters.Nicotero's effects have provided some of the iconic moments of modern cinema, from the "hobbling" scene in "Misery" (1990), when James Caan's ankles are shattered by a sledgehammer-wielding Kathy Bates, to the ear-slicing in Quentin Tarantino's "Reservoir Dogs.""What makes that so memorable is that you don't see it on screen. The camera is on him, and then Mike Madsen goes in with the razor and then the camera pans away and Madsen enters the shot holding the ear," he says."You don't see it, and I'll never forget Quentin telling me over and over again how many people objected to seeing it."- Barbecued sausage meat -A tour of Nicotero's workshop 35 miles (55 kilometers) northwest of Los Angeles is like dying and going to horror geek heaven.There are vampires, werewolves, giant piranhas, a huge shark suspended from the ceiling, a T-Rex head, a life-sized horse and models of aliens, monsters and ghouls of all kinds and their messed-up victims.In Nicotero's office, severed arms are propped up on a wooden cabinet while decapitated heads clutter the floor the way a stray box of paperclips or a paper coffee cup might in a normal workplace.And then there are the zombies, dozens of them in various stages of decomposition. There are smashed heads with eaten-away faces, broken hands, cloudy eyeballs and dentures stacked neatly in drawers.The blood that pours from every gouge, slash and gunshot wound in Nicotero's universe is corn syrup and food coloring, while the human flesh is usually barbecued sausage meat.Nicotero grew up in Pittsburgh, where the legendary Romero and his special effects supremo Tom Savini were busy redefining the horror genre, having shocked the world with 1978's "Dawn of the Dead.""I grew up 30 minutes away from where they filmed 'Dawn of the Dead' and the cemetery from 'Night of the Living Dead' was 20 minutes from my house," says the father-of-two.After a chance meeting at a restaurant in Rome, Nicotero became friends with Romero and quit pre-med to manage the make-up effects department on "Day of the Dead," the third in the horror master's zombie trilogy.- Zombie boot camp -Within a year he had moved to Los Angeles where he rented a house with freelance make-up effects artists Howard Berger and Bob Kurtzman, and the three would eat pizza, drink beer and watch horror movies together.They channeled their shared interest into KNB EFX, a workshop that would grow into a 20,000 square foot base of operations northwest of LA, serving film and television productions all over the world.Nicotero won an Oscar in 2006 for his work on "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and in 2010 Frank Darabont, his director on "The Green Mile," asked him to join a new TV series called "The Walking Dead."It quickly became the most-watched show in the history of cable television, and Nicotero graduated from special effects and co-executive producing to becoming its most prolific director.He has recently set his sights beyond the film and TV to theme parks, working on a walk-through "Walking Dead" attraction opening at Universal Studios on July 4.Nicotero has provided the make-up and special effects, as well as training for the attraction's 100 extras at a zombie boot camp showing them how to find "their inner walker."So having used rubber prosthetics, countless gallons of fake blood and some of the most talented artists in the business to murder, maim and maul in every way imaginable over three decades, is there anything that could possibly scare the God of Gore?"Spiders," he says instantly, without having to think about it."But other than that, nothing."
Delhi: Delhi's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday lodged an FIR in the water tanker scam and could examine Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Sheila Dikshit.



This comes nearly a year after a fact-finding committee of the government indicted former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit of wrongdoing and causing a loss of Rs 400 crore to the national exchequer. Congress leaders said they are ready to face any probe.



The fact-finding report dated July 14, 2015 highlighted irregularities in the appointment of a private company as an advisor to the government on the water tanker scheme. It also pointed out that the hiring of consultants was done in an arbitrary manner.



The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government sat on the report for nearly a year before Water Minister Kapil Mishra forwarded it to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung asking him to get it probed either by the CBI or Delhi's ACB.



Sheila had earlier said, "The allegations are politically motivated. It was not my decision to procure the water tankers. It was a collective decision by a board comprising DJB CEO, engineers and experts. A BJP MLA and two municipal councilors were also part of the decision making process."







The probe comes at a time reports suggested that Dikshit could be Congress party's poll in-charge in Punjab or its chief ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh.


Goa: A 60-year-old tourist from Delhi was found murdered in his hotel room in Panaji in Goa on Monday morning.



The victim has been identified as Virender Kumar and the motive behind the murder is yet to be known. Preliminary inquiry revealed that he was suffocated to death with a bed sheet by the assailants.



All the suspects were captured in CCTV footage of the hotel. "Sketch of one of the accused has been made as he is visible in the CCTV footage of the hotel and also visible in the CCTV footage of a nearby ATM kiosk. The suspects made two ATM transactions using victim's card including one from Panaji and the other from Vasco," police sources said.



According to police the senior citizen, Virendra Kumar, was last seen entering his room numbered 209 of Sapna Hotel at 9:30 pm on Sunday with four unknown people.



It was learnt that Virendra had gone out to a local casino and while coming back he was seen entering his room with four unknown people.







The hotel staff found the body in the morning and called the cops around 8.15 am. "The victim was tied with clothes and the cause of murder might be asphyxiation," Police sources said.
Patna: Former chairman of the Bihar State Education Board Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife Usha Sinha were arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Monday in connection with Class 12 toppers' scam.



The arrests were made based on a tip off about their presence in Varanasi. "Both will be brought to Patna on Monday itself and police will interrogate them," Senior Superintendent of Police of Patna, Manu Maharaj said.



The Patna civil court had issued an arrest warrant last week against Singh, who is a key accused in the case and had gone underground after resigning from the board.



According to police, Singh and his wife Usha Sinha who is former Janata Dal-United (JDU) legislator of Bihar, were on the run after his name figured in the Class 12 toppers' scam.



So far 10 persons have been arrested in the case, police said.



Amit Kumar alias Bachcha Rai, the mastermind behind the Class 12 Board merit list scam in Bihar, was arrested ten days ago after he surrendered to police.



Both Singh and Rai were 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 held in 2016.



Evidence collected by the SIT indicates the board's complicity and Singh's role in the scam.



Usha Sinha, a former JD(U) MLA from Hilsa and Principal of Ganga Devi college in Patna from which she was removed, is a co-accused in the case where degrees were allegedly awarded to undeserving students in lieu of a hefty sum of money.










Mumbai: The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly borrowed an oil painting from noted artist late MR Achrekar 28 years ago, but did not return it to him or his family, an RTI query has revealed.



The painting is now in custody of the city-based Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan.



As per the information received through an application filed by RTI activist Anil Galgali, the Legislature Secretariat had requested Achrekar to lend a painting for a few days for an exhibition at the Vidhan Bhavan complex during its golden jubilee celebrations in 1987-88.



Achrekar, a Padma Shri awardee, complied with the request and handed over an oil painting drawn by him.



However, this art work was never returned to the artist during his lifetime or later to his family. It is now in custody of the Pratishthan, the RTI query revealed.



The Pratishthan, named after Yashawantrao Chavan, the first Chief Minister and architect of Maharashtra, is a non-party platform whose main objective is to deliberate and discuss the issues that the state faces.



How the painting landed with the Pratishthan is not known as the Secretariat has no record of handing it over to the organisation, the activist said, citing information provided in response to his application.



"I filed multiple RTI pleas with the Legislative Assembly. They admitted to have requested for the said painting from Achrekar, in which he has drawn events related to foundation of Maharashtra state," he said.



But the art work was never returned to its owner or his heirs and is now in "illegal possession" of the Pratishthan, the RTI activist said.



After the revelation, Achrekar's son Nitin said he will take legal recourse soon to get possession of the painting.



When contacted, Prathisthan Secretary Sharad Kale, who is also its Information Officer, said, "I shall not make any comment as of now."



Principal Secretary of the Legislature Secretariat Anant Kalse said, "Since this case is very old, I need to check the records before making any comment."
Mumbai: Entrepreneur and interior designer Sussanne Khan on Sunday said a complaint accusing her of falsely projecting herself as an architect to secure a contract with a company, is false, motivated and preposterous.



A news report claimed Sussanne Khan, the former wife of Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan, has been booked by Panaji police in an alleged Rs 1.87 crore cheating case by Emgee Enterprises.



Responding to this, Sussanne, who is currently in London, said in a statement: The said complaint is motivated and preposterous and has been only filed to intimidate me and pressurise me to withdraw the arbitration proceedings initiated by me in the first instance to recover my dues and damages resulting from breach of contract.



According to the news report, Emgee Enterprises in September 2013 executed a written contract with Sussanne for architectural and designing services for its Naira Complex being constructed at Siridao in Tiswadi, North Goa.



The complainant alleged that Sussanne failed to deliver the project within the period stipulated in the contract.



Explaining her side of the story, Sussanne said she had challenged the termination of the contract with Emgee Enterprises and has invoked arbitration under the contract for recovery of her dues.



As a counter-blast to the said proceedings, Mudhit Gupta, only with the intention to harass and pressurise me to give in to his frivolous counterclaim, initiated the criminal complaint, she added.



Sussanne maintained that she had not made any misrepresentations, and maintained the highest standards of ethics in discharge of my work.



She plans to give a befitting response to the frivolous complaint, she said.



Such complaints do not scare me. Rather it encourages me to stand up for the truth. The allegations in complaints are false and defamatory and I will take appropriate proceedings in accordance with law, she added.




Mumbai: Actor Shahid Kapoor, who has featured in Udta Punjab based on drug abuse in Punjab, has thanked the audience for praising the Abhishek Chaubey directorial. He has even given thumbs up to honest and fearless cinema.



The controversial film collected Rs.10.05 crore on its opening day on Friday in the country. It has also been lauded by celebrities like Kunal Kohli, Rajkumar Hirani, Guneet Monga and Ayushmann Khurrana.



Humbled and thankful. Your love has been overwhelming. More power to honest, fearless cinema. Thank you all, Shahid tweeted on Sunday.



Udta Punjab makers experienced problem in securing a release certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which first suggested as many as 89 cuts in the movie. Thereafter, its Revising Committee asked for 13 cuts.



Ultimately, the makers moved the Bombay High Court which overruled the CBFC-recommended cuts to the film and cleared it for release with just one cut and three disclaimers by the filmmakers.



Rahul and Anushka design for Jaqueline Fernandez



Fashion designers Rahul Anand and Anushka Laul have designed an Indo-Western ensemble for actress Jacqueline Fernandez.



The duo designed a gold bralet paired with a printed maxi sleeveless jacket and black pants for the Kick star.



Designer and owner of label Rahul and Anushka, Laul said in a statement: Jacqueline looks absolutely dazzling in royal lotus print jacket and at the same time, elegant and hot in gold galaxy gown.



I believe that Rahul Anand and I have done proper justice to our label which is known for offering royal luxury women's wear in bold and beautiful look, she added.



Jacqueline sported the look for the cover of a magazine.




While Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has on several occasions reiterated his government's commitment to maintaining law and order in the state, a merger with mafia turned politician Mukhtar Ansari's Qaumi Ekta Dal is set to raise many eyebrows.



Ansari, along with his brother Afzal Ansari will be joining Samajwadi party in Lucknow on Tuesday.



The merger gives more ammunition to the opposition parties which have consistently hit out at Samajwadi Party for protecting the hooligans and miscreants in the state.



"This is nothing new. Samajwadi Party is trying all means to get back to power in the next elections," BJP leader Vijay Bahadur Pathak said.



He also added that the BJP will "definitely take up the issue of increasing lawlessness that the BJP will take up ahead of the elections."




Traveling out of the country for a few days on a short visit.Thanks again to all who met &wished me y'day,truly grateful for your affection!  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) June 20, 2016

.@OfficeOfRG book Malaysian airlines..

Good discount rate..

You will Benefit..

India will also Benefit !  Babu Bhaiya (@Shahrcasm) June 20, 2016

.@OfficeOfRG secret foreign trips are part of his pvt life

But will outrage on Modi Official trips

Thats Indian MSM https://t.co/O5moFkmd3E  Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) June 20, 2016

A day after his 46th birthday, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi tweeted on Monday that he will be travelling out of the country for a "short visit", but he did not disclose the destination.The Congress leader also took to Twitter to thank all those who met and wished him on his birthday.Rahul leaves the country at a time when temperatures in the northern part of the country are still high. As usual, his tweet has set off wild speculation on social media about the choice of his holiday destination. Though, he has not stated if he is going on a vacation.On Twitter, many trolled him for the timing of his trip - when there are severe problems within the party - while his followers wished him a happy stay abroad.While Rahul's annual trips abroad are a source of light banter for his political rivals, for those within the party these are tense moments as there is always an ambiguity over where he goes, what goes on in his mind during these days, and what he would do when he gets back.In early 2015, Rahul Gandhi was away from India fuelling speculation of a political sanyaas, but after nearly three months he returned rejuvenated from his 'chintan' vacation and made aggressive bids to take on the Narendra Modi government.This time around, he is leaving at a time the Congress is looking at bleaker times, with a bad showing in recent state elections and rebellions in its units, from Karnataka to Haryana. The party has defended his tour saying he has every right to take a short break.As per sources, Rahul has given his inputs on organisational changes in Uttar Pradesh to Congress President Sonia Gandhi. He reportedly had a series of meetings with UP leaders.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is struggling to quell a rebellion in the party's state unit a day after he dropped 14 of his ministers and inducted 13 new ones.



Kannada film star Ambareesh, who lost his Cabinet berth, has resigned as MLA. Angry followers of Ambareesh, and other senior ministers like V Srininivasa Prasad, Quamarulla Islam and Baburao Chinchansur, who had to make way for the new faces, hit the streets in Gulbarga, Mandya, Mysore and Bengaluru for the second day on Monday shouting slogans and damaging public property.



Supporters of Vijayanagara MLA M Krishnappa, who missed out at the last minute, even entered a Metro station in Bengaluru and damaged the sign boards.



The Karnataka Film Chambers has called for a cinema bandh in protest against sacking of Kannada film star Ambareesh who was Housing Minister in Siddaramaiah government. His fans went on a rampage across Mandya district protesting his unceremonious removal.



Congress veteran V Srinivasa Prasad, who quit as Revenue minister, launched an all-out attack on Siddaramaiah calling him a traitor.



The Cabinet reshuffle will cost Siddaramaiah dearly. What he has done is betrayal. He himself is an outsider. He has ruined Congress, he told News18



Supporters of Ambareesh and Srinivasa Prasad said both of them may even defect to JDS to take revenge on Siddaramaiah and the Congress.



Commenting on the cinema bandh, Power Minister DK Shivakumar said, Congress made Ambareesh a minister. Not the Film Chambers. Who are they to protest? This kind of blackmailing won't work



Gulbarga district in Hyderabad-Karnataka region is also witnessing a widespread agitation over sacking of two ministers Quamarullah Islam and Baburao Chinchansur.



By dropping these two senior ministers Siddaramaiah has inducted Priyank Kharge, a first-time MLA and son of top Congress leader M Mallikarjuna Kharge, as a minister of state. This has rankled many Congress workers across Kharges fiefdom Gulbarga who accuse him of promoting his son at the expense of other party leaders.



Kharge has betrayed us. He has made his son a minister. We have been his supporters for over 40 years. The Congress party will see bad days in future," veteran MLA and former minister Dr. AB Malakareddy told News18.



Reacting to this Priyank Kharge said, it is natural for people to be perturbed when things dont go their way. But, such violent protests are not a part of Congress culture.



Besides these developments, more than 10 ministerial hopefuls are also planning to quit their MLA posts after failing to make it to the Cabinet.



Siddaramaiah who came to power in May 2013 has reshuffled his Cabinet for the first time in three years. In the 224-member assembly, the ruling Congress has 123 MLAs. He can have 34 ministers. After the reshuffle, just one Cabinet berth is vacant.




Image source: Weibo

Image source: Weibo

Long-standing rumour is that Apple will ditch the headphone jack in its next iPhone, but latest leaks from a repair shop based in China's Ganzhou suggest otherwise.China-based Rock Fix has posted photos of the components of the speculated iPhone 7 which continues with the standard headphone jack design but hints at an addition of dual cameras and even a dual SIM tray.The photos, posted on Chinese microblogging site Weibo, show the upcoming Apple phone 4.7-inch model with a lightning cable assembly which, contrary to earlier rumours, still has the 3.5mm headphone jack attached to it.Interestingly, some of the recent photos also show the assembly having dual-SIM trays. If true, it would mark a huge shift from Apple's design culture of offering single SIM devices.Another set of eye-popping features shown off in the images is memory chips of up to 256GB, dual-lens camera for a larger model, and also a change in antenna design. A report on Engadget notes that while the design will be different, there is no likelihood of completely doing away with the antenna bands on the back of the phone. This could be attributed to the rumoured switch to Intel's modem for the GSM models.
Tim Cook's recent India visit and Government relaxing FDI norms cannot be just coincidence. Apple has been eyeing the Indian market and looking forward to open exclusive Apple stores.



Apple stores are one stop experience zones for all Apple products. The Government of India has now relaxed foreign direct investment now and allow 100% FDI in single-brand retail trading in the country among other sectors.



The decision was taken at a high-level meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 20.



And now the gates are open for Apple to come to India with Apple Stores. Apple has been selling their goods in India with Apple distributors and authorised retailers and following the highly priced Apple products they had a plan to sell refurbished iPhones in India. But the Indian government had turned down the refurbished iPhone model by the company recently.



The FDI decision will not only help Apple open up their stores in India but also help Chinese tech companies like Xiaomi, Le Eco and Huawei top open their own retail stores in India. Right now the Chinese smartphone companies majorly rely on e-commerce model to sell phones in India.



Retail stores will also help consumers take a look at the devices before they plan to buy them.
People are quicker to share than read news on Twitter, according to a new study conducted by Columbia University and the French Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation (INRIA).



The tiny fraction of headlines that news editors push out on Twitter draw a large share of eyeballs, but it is the

stories recommended by friends that trigger more clicks, the study found.



Social media in 2014 overtook organic search as the top way people accessed content on the web, driving 30 per cent of all traffic.



Facebook and Twitter, filter and personalise news for users and closely track the results, but because this data is

fundamental to their advertising business very little is made public.



From the one per cent of tweets made public by Twitter, the researchers picked all URLs linked to five news outlets

BBC, Huffington Post, CNN, New York Times and Fox during a one-month period last summer.The goal was to find out which stories in their sample of tweets would be shared and clicked on more.



For those willing to read, the study finds that stories on Twitter have a relatively long shelf life.

While more than 90 per cent of links in the study were shared within a few hours, most links were clicked on, and

presumably read, much later; 70 per cent of clicks happened after the first hour, and 18 per cent happened in the second week, the study found.
A lot of black leather, roaring engines and shined-to-perfection chrome are about to hit the streets of downtown Lynchburg.

For the first time in 10 years, the Virginia division of the Harley Owners Group is hosting its annual rally in the region Wednesday through Saturday.

With a projected attendance of 2,000, the HOGs (as they call themselves) will be hard to miss as they take over downtown Lynchburg and ride the rolling hills of the surrounding counties.

The HOG Rally is all about riders getting together and enjoying the scenery, said HOG Rally Marketing Coordinator Jeremy Friedley. We want Harley owners to come together to be with other bikers to ride and have fun.

When the rally came in 2006, it was held on the outskirts of town. This year, the rally will be centered at the Holiday Inn downtown. According to Friedley, the rally wanted to involve the visiting HOGs with the host community.

We put it next to these downtown vendors because we wanted the HOG rally to draw attention to these merchants so they can reap the benefits, Friedley said. The citys having us here, the citys helping us, so we felt the need to pay it forward and make sure the businesses reap the benefit.

For this year, the rally committee forecasts $1.5 million to $1.8 million in economic impact from attendees. Last year, the 25th Anniversary HOG Rally was held in Williamsburg and brought an estimated $2.3 million to that area.

In order to help guide people around the region and downtown, the rally committee has developed two different poker runs.

The walking poker run changes every day and requires rally participants to walk to different landmarks and businesses downtown. Each location members visit yields one poker chip. Upon returning to the hotel, members exchange poker chips for cards. At the end of the day, the best poker hand wins a prize.

The riding poker run stays the same every day and is almost 400 miles in total, meant to be completed over the course of the four days of festivities. Destinations include Patrick Henrys Red Hill, the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Appomattox Court House and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

On Saturday, the rally is offering a special promotion to support the breast cancer awareness nonprofit Make Mammograms a Must. If rally attendees shop at participating businesses, they are eligible for a discount or gift, and a portion of those sales will go to Make Mammograms a Must.

Kegney Brothers Pub, on Main Street, is participating in the promotion and is looking forward to the increased visitors.

Some of the organizers approached us to participate in the poker run and promotion, said Kegney Brothers proprietor Nicholas Cash. Were looking forward to the increased business for the week and look forward to the number of events being held over those couple of days.

While a majority of the events are open only to registered HOG members, several events will be open for community participation.

On Friday, Lynchs Landing is sponsoring a special edition of Friday Cheers, renamed Harley Cheers. Following the concert will be a fireworks display.

"Lynchs Landing looks forward to welcoming the Virginia HOG Rally to downtown Lynchburg, Ashley Kershner, executive director of Lynchs Landing said. We hope they enjoy the concert in the newly reopened (Riverfront) park and explore all that downtown has to offer during their stay."
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AG steps down from Clico matter

Al-Rawi yesterday confirmed that all aspects of the Report have, instead, been handed to Stuart Young, a Minister in the Office of the Attorney General and Legal Affairs as well as Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister.

The Attorney General has removed himself from the process due to his role as a former director of Clico Investment Bank (CIB), a CLF subsidiary.

He expressed confidence, however, that no adverse findings in relation to him would be forthcoming.

I have recused myself from managing any aspect of this because I sat as a director of Clico Investment Bank (CIB) for a short period, the Attorney General told Newsday. I am very concerned that justice must not only be done but must appear to be done. I am confident there is nothing untoward that could be brought in relation to me and that is underscored by the fact that I was not called by the inquiry to be witness nor have I received any communication from the inquiry.

No Salmon letter was written to me. The Attorney General said a Salmon letter is normally written to persons who are subject to adverse inferences in an inquiry.

Al-Rawi said the report is likely to be submitted to President Anthony Carmona on Wednesday. Thereafter, the process involves the document being tabled at Cabinet where it is to be considered. On whether the report will be made public or submitted to the police, the Attorney General said this would depend on deliberations relating to the documents recommendations and findings.

Ultimately, the position will be to see what is inside and make sure you dont embarrass the administration of justice, Al-Rawi. One will lean to full public disclosure, yes, but you have to ensure you dont erode the rationale of the commission which is accountability.

You will recall the Director of Public Prosecutions had come concerns. Al-Rawi is not the only politician who had ties to CLF.

Former Planning Minister Dr Bhoe Tewarie sat on the Clico board and also testified at the inquiry where he was made to face questions about his duties to ensure that proper practices were adopted. Tewarie did not immediately respond to queries from Newsday yesterday.

In July 2014, then Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar tabled the first volume of the Report  in relation to the Hindu Credit Union  in Parliament.

That volume called for a police probe into HCUs former management, including founder Harry Harrinarine. At the time, a police probe was already reportedly ongoing.

The PNM Government has already planned legislative reform of the insurance, credit union and cooperative societies sectors, according to the legislative agenda of Al-Rawi which was tabled in April. Peter Permell, a spokesperson for a group of Clico policyholders, yesterday urged the Government to ensure the Report is made public.

This is an issue that has engaged the attention of the public of Trinidad and Tobago for several years, Permell said. The inquiry has been reviewing the collapse of Clico which has cost taxpayers several billions. The public has a right to know. We need to know what really happened as well as the shareholders, the policyholders, the Government, the Central Bank  all have an interest. Who were the players responsible? Permell further said, Clearly, there is a lot of blame to go around in terms of what caused the collapse so I think from that perspective it is going to be of value and it is going to tell us what we need to do to ensure it does not happen again. Those who were responsible should be held accountable for their deeds and what they contributed. However, Permell expressed disappointment over the time that has elapsed, saying some legal remedies may now be statute- barred. Some of the things may be statute-barred, Permell said. Criminal conduct is not restricted in this way, but in terms of civil action we may have some problems because of the passage of time. I hope that is not the case and we can still take some action depending on who is identified. Permell continued, Trinidad and Tobago has a problem with taking action and really prosecuting wrong-doers. Nobody has really faced the full brunt of the law in terms of high-profile matters. You will recall the DPP would have tried to stop the Colman Commission in relation to matters he was perusing.

But up to now, we have heard nothing further in terms of all the matters he was looking at.
One Theory on the Big Jump

in Workers With Disabilities
(Newser)  The question of whether Jesus was married became a hot topic in academic circles when a papyrus fragment surfaced in which he's quoted as talking about his wife. A Harvard professor was convinced enough to present an academic paper on the subject, though skeptics abounded about the fragment's authenticity. Now the Atlantic digs into the matter with an utterly fascinating investigative story, one that delves not so much into the scientific particulars but into the background of the man who provided the fragment to Harvard's Karen King. His name is Walter Fritz, a native of Germany who now lives in Florida, and that background is fishy indeed. While King allowed Fritz to remain anonymous, Fritz eventually concedes to Ariel Sabar of the Atlantic that he is indeed the owner of the controversial fragment.

Fritz's background includes a stint as head of a museum in the former East Germany that he left amid the suspicious disappearance of pricey artifacts. There's also the porn business he started that centered around his wife, who, he claims, speaks a strange tongue, possibly Aramaic, during sex. Plus there's the mountain of inconsistencies in his story about how he acquired the fragment, not to mention his background studying the ancient language of Coptic that would have given him the know-how to create a forgery. Also: During an interview, he floated a proposition to Sabar about collaborating on a book in which the writer would "have to make a lot of stuff up." There's much more. The bottom line: In a follow-up story, King herself says Fritz misrepresented himself to her, and she now concedes that the fragment is probably a forgery. Click to read the full story. (Read more Jesus Christ stories.)
(Newser)  Iranian intelligence officials have broken up "the biggest terrorist plot" to ever target Tehran and other provinces in the Islamic republic, the country's state television reported on Monday. An anchor on state television read off a statement attributing the information to Iran's Intelligence Ministry, the AP reports. Officials could not be immediately reached for comment to elaborate. Several suspects have been arrested and are under interrogation over the plot after agents seized ammunition and bombs, state TV said. The semi-official Fars News Agency quoted Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, as saying the attack was timed to hit during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The report didn't identify those arrested, though it called them "takfiris," a derogatory term in both Arabic and Farsi referring to Muslims who accuse others of being "nonbelievers." Iranian authorities often refer to ISIS followers as "takfiris," though it isn't clear if this case involved the extremist Sunni group. Shiite power Iran has been helping both the Syrian and the Iraqi government in their battles against ISIS. It has warned of possible militant attacks targeting the country, which largely hasn't seen such attacks since the immediate aftermath of its 1979 Islamic Revolution. (ISIS, fearing spies, is killing dozens of its own followers.)
(Newser)  Not sure what or who a Brexit is? John Oliver understands why a good number of Americans may not, and so the HBO talk-show host took it upon himself to educate the US of A in an "epic" rant that Mashable calls a "thing of beauty." In Sunday's episode of Last Week Tonight, Oliver first offers a basic primer on Brexita nickname he describes as something that sounds like a "s----y granola bar you buy at the airport"explaining how the UK's "in/out" referendum taking place Thursday will determine whether the UK leaves the European Union.

Oliver then dives into why Americans should even care, citing the "wide-ranging implications" a British exit could have for not only that country's GDP, but also the global economy. Although he acknowledges that the EU is "large, confounding, and relentlessly bureaucratic" (and he somehow compares this to Gerard Depardieu), he also believes Britain taking its leave would be a "huge destabilizing decision." Instead, Oliver has another proposal for the British peopleone that both "relentlessly insults Europe and quietly acknowledges how lost we'd be without it." Enjoy that proposal here. (At least Oliver has moved on from insulting Chechen leaders.)
(Newser)  The FBI has released the latest in the Orlando massacre: partial transcripts of 911 calls made by shooter Omar Mateen the night of the attack. Per the Orlando Sentinel, Mateen's first call was with a 911 dispatcher at 2:35am from the bathrooms inside Pulse, where he held hostages. "In the name of God the Merciful, the beneficial," he started out, the Washington Post reports, to which a confused dispatcher answered, "What?" "I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings," Mateen continued, offering up more praise to God, TMZ notes. Mateen, who also spoke in Arabic, swore allegiance to different groups (redacted by the FBI) before he ended the call less than a minute later. The Post reports that Mateen called back after that hang-up, then quickly hung up after a quick conversation with the dispatcher. The dispatcher was able to call back and get in touch with Mateen a third time before another brief back-and-forth and another hang-up.

That's when police negotiators began receiving their own calls, of which Mateen made three between 2:48am and 3:24am: one totaling nine minutes, one 16 minutes, and the final just three minutes. In those calls, Mateen proclaimed himself an Islamic soldier and demanded the end of bombings in Iraq and Syriahe also warned of a vehicle loaded with bombs outside the club and looming attacks. "In the next few days, you're going to see more of this type of action going on," he said. After that trio of calls, officials could no longer reach him on his phone. Orlando PD Chief John Mina gave the go-ahead for the SWAT team to crash the club's bathroom wall right after 5am after police learned Mateen planned to suit hostages up in bomb vests. Mateen came out shooting and was shot down at 5:15am. The FBI says it doesn't plan to release full transcripts of the calls. (Read more Pulse Orlando shooting stories.)
(Newser)  Even in death, you have one final way to go green. The flameless cremation uses an alkaline solution of potash, salt, and water to quickly dissolve human bodies in a pressurized vesseldoing the work of 15 to 20 years in the ground in less than two hours, the CBC reports in a story about an Ontario, Canada, firm that recently got the go-ahead to use the method, which came from the US several years ago. Flameless-cremation boosters point to the fact that standard cremations use up fuel, take up to four hours, and spew some 550 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air. Once the chemical solution has done its job, per the CBC, the "leftover coffee-colored effluents" are just flushed into the sewer system.

The utilities superintendent in Smith Falls, Ontario, where Aquagreen Dispositions is operating, says that's "nothing to be concerned about." However, he's taking a wait-and-see approach: "It could be a problem. I don't know how many bodies they'd have to do in a day for that to be a problem." Dale Hilton, who owns the business, says he's performed some 200 flameless cremations. The remaining bones are ground up and given to the deceased's family. "I think this is the way of the future," he says. In 2011, the Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home in St. Petersburg, Fla., became the first funeral home in the US to offer flameless cremation, the Tampa Bay Times reports. "It's not going to be a process for everyonejust like flame cremation," proprietor John T. McQueen said at the time. "I can give you a long list of people who will say, 'Hey, I don't want to be burned up.'" (A lot of people opt for traditional cremation in these states.)
(Newser)  Think your Starbucks lattes are light on the milk? Well, get this: Not only are two Starbucks customers suing over an alleged lack of milk in the coffee drinks, a judge on Friday allowed their proposed class-action suit to proceed, Reuters reports. The plaintiffs, California residents Siera Strumlauf and Benjamin Robles, claim Starbucks cheats customers by selling lattes that are 25% smaller than advertised. The suit says baristas are given pitchers for heating milk that have purposely low "fill to" lines, with lattes then topped with foam and left 1/4 inch short. The plaintiffs say this conflicts with Starbucks' promise that tall, grande, and venti lattes contain 12, 16, and 20 ounces, respectively.

"The court finds it probable that a significant portion of the latte-consuming public could believe that a 'Grande' contains 16 ounces of fluid," wrote US District Judge Thelton Henderson is his decision. The suitwhich Top Class Actions says will be open to "all US Class Members who purchased a Starbucks Latte"further claims that the alleged lack of milk has saved Starbucks "countless millions of dollars," as Eater reported in March. For its part, Starbucks says it's ready to fight the accusations in court. When the lawsuit was filed earlier this year, Today Show reporter Jeff Rossen went out and bought six lattes that all turned out to be underfilledat least once the foam had settled, the Guardian recalls. (One woman sued Starbucks for $5 million over the ice in its drinks.)
(Newser)  A divided Supreme Court bolstered police powers on Monday, ruling that evidence of a crime in some cases may be used against a defendant even if the police did something wrong or illegal in obtaining it, the AP reports. The 5-3 decision drew heated dissents from liberal justices who warned that the outcome would encourage police to violate people's rights. The ruling comes in a case in which a police detective illegally stopped defendant Joseph Edward Strieff on the streets of South Salt Lake City, Utah. A name check revealed an outstanding warrant. Police Detective Doug Fackrell arrested Strieff and searched him, finding methamphetamine. The case raised the question of whether the valid warrant outweighs the stop, which was illegal because Fackrell lacked any reasonable suspicion that Strieff had been violating the law.

It was the court's latest case that questions whether evidence should be thrown out of court because the police did something wrong or illegal that led to the discovery of the evidence. Justice Clarence Thomas said for the court that the officer's actions were not a flagrant violation of the law. "While Officer Fackrell's decision to initiate the stop was mistaken, his conduct thereafter was lawful," Thomas wrote. But Justice Sonia Sotomayor said in dissent that the decision is a blow to constitutional rights. "The court today holds that the discovery of a warrant for an unpaid parking ticket will forgive a police officer's violation of your Fourth Amendment rights," Sotomayor wrote, joined by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Elena Kagan filed a separate dissent in which she said the ruling "creates unfortunate incentives for the policeindeed practically invites them to do what Fackrell did here." (Read more US Supreme Court stories.)
(Newser)  A 4-year-old boy in Kansas City, Mo., is dead after he was shot early Monday morning while sitting in the backseat of a car, FOX 4 reports. Police say the car Mahsaan Kelley-Wilson was riding in around 2am got caught between two other vehicles, the occupants of which were engaged in a "rolling gun battle," according to KMOV. The boy was struck by gunfire and died at a hospital. No one else in the car was hurt. "Absolutely tragic. This family unfortunately is going to remember Father's Day as not a happy holiday," a police spokeswoman says. Per FOX, police in the city say there has been an uptick in reckless shootings and "neighborhood wars."

Local activists, saying such tragedies don't get the attention they deserve, have placed a cross at the intersection where the shooting occurred. "Now in this case right here, this baby had nothing to do with nothing. Life lost," says a member of the People's Action Committee. "Where are the people that were lined up last Sunday about what happened in Florida? Where they at now? The mayor's not out here." Kelley-Wilson's death comes just days after another 4-year-old boy in St. Louis was shot in the head while driving in a car with his father, ABC reports. Police have made no arrests in either case. (Read more Kansas City stories.)
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New Delhi:

Former Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and wife Usha Sinha have been arrested on Monday by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Earlier a Bihar Court had issued arrest warrants against Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife former JD(U) MLA Usha Sinha in connection with toppers scandal in the state.

BSEB had put their results on hold after severe criticism from outside over alleged academic incompetence of its state-level toppers. The board had also formed a committee to investigate the complete issue.

An FIR was registered against four toppers of the Bihar school board and three others on a complaint filed by the state education department for alleged irregularities in the exams.

Their arrest by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was made following a tip off about their presence in the temple city of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh

Lalkeshwar Singh and his wife Usha Sinha, a co-accused in the toppers scandal, had gone underground after police had acquired an arrest warrant from a Patna court in the irregularities in the Bihar +2 examination.

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Washington:

In another controversial remark, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump today said that the US should start thinking about racial profiling to prevent incidents like the mass shooting in Orlando.

Citing the example of Israel and other countries in this regard, 70-year-old Trump argued this is not the worst thing to do.

Well I think profiling is something that were going to have to start thinking about as a country, Trump told the CBSs Face the Nation in an interview.

Other countries do it, you look at Israel and you look at others, they do it and they do it successfully. And I hate the concept of profiling but we have to start using common sense and we have to use our heads, he argued.

Trumps comments come one week after 49 people were shot and killed in a gay nightclub in Orlando, the deadliest mass shooting in US history. Following the massacre, Trump renewed his calls for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the US.

During the interview, Trump, said horrific incidents like Orlando shooting could be prevented if the Muslim community would report suspicious things.

When you look at, when you look at people within the Muslim community and where people are living and they dont report, and a good example of that would be San Bernardino, he said.

I mean, they had bombs all over their apartment floor and people saw it and nobody reported them, and 14 people were killed, many injured, he added. Trump said Omar Mateen, the Orlando shooter, had red flags before the attack.

You look at his past, I mean? Ive never seen a past quite like that. You look at his record in school, you look at a lot of other things. There were a lot of red flags, this was not a very good young man, he said.

Trump said he is working with the National Rifles Association (NRA) to develop a policy that people on no fly list would not be allowed to buy a gun.

We understand there are problems with that because some people are on the terror watch list that shouldnt be on. So Im working with the NRA, were discussing it and again the NRA has the best interests of our country, it just has the absolute best interests of our country, he said.

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New Delhi:

Nuclears Suplliers Group (NSG), 48 nuclear supplier countries will today take up the applications of both India and Pakistan regarding NSG membership in its annual plenary meeting starting today in Seoul.

A day before, India pinned hopes and displayed confidence that NSG membership is not far away from its grasp. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj while addressing a press conference said, China is not protesting membership of India in NSG and we will succeed in convincing the Dragon too.

Being a party to Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is also one of the contributing factors here for admission in NSG. North Korea withdrew from the NPT in 2006 before conducting its first nuclear test.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar also made an unannounced visit to Beijing on June 16-17 in this regard to enlist support for Indias bid for NSG membership opposed by China.

India has been reaching out to NSG member countries seeking support for its membership of the bloc whose members are allowed to trade in and export nuclear technology. The US has backed India and asked various NSG members to support New Delhis bid.

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Dhaka:

Voicing concern over the ongoing wave of brutal slayings of Hindus and secular writers by Islamists, over 100,000 Islamic scholars in Bangladesh have issued a fatwa, declaring militancy and terrorism in the name of Islam as haram.

Maulana Farid Uddin Masud, the chairman of Islamic scholars organisation Bangladesh Jamiyatul Ulama, pronounced the decree or a ruling on a point of Islamic law at a press conference here.

Maulana Masud, the imam of Bangladeshs Sholakia Eidgah, the largest Eid prayer congregation, said some of the militants and terrorists were wrong to identify themselves as jihadists.

Islam is the religion of peace...Islam doesnt support terrorism, Maulana Masud said yesterday. Referring to the Quran and Hadith, he said the suicide attackers will be cast in hell.

Even taking part in funeral prayers of terrorists, militants, covert killers is haram. And those killed for their stance against militancy will be martyrs, he added.

According to Maulana Masud, 101,524 muftis, alims and ulamas have signed the fatwa. The fatwa was issued amidst a spate of killings of writers, bloggers, online activists, and people of different religious and social views by suspected Islamic radicals.

The fatwa titled the edict of peace for wellbeing of humanity denounces the clandestine attacks on minorities and secular activists. Even if the fatwas fail to stop terrorism completely, it will definitely help in curbing violence, Maulana Masud said.

Claiming that a section of criminals were spreading panic in several parts of the country with misinterpretation of the Quran and Hadith, Masoud said law enforcers will not be able to prevent them if the criminals misperception is not eradicated.

The process to launch the fatwa began in January after the attacks on liberal and secular activists and religious minorities including Hindus and Christians by suspected Islamists sparked an international uproar, Masoud said.

Bangladesh is under mounting international pressure to halt the violence, which in the past three years has claimed the lives nearly 50 peopleHindus, Christians and secular bloggersmany 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. Over 11,000 criminal suspects have been arrested last week as part of an intensified crackdown against extremists in the country.

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New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today condemned the horrible Kabul attack on a minibus carrying Nepalese security guards and said India will provide all assistance to Nepal government in this hour of tragedy.

We strongly condemn the horrible tragedy in Kabul. Our deep condolences to people & Govts of Afghanistan & Nepal on loss of innocent lives, he said in a tweet.

We are taking steps to provide all relevant assistance to the Nepal government in this hour of tragedy, the Prime Minister said. Fourteen Nepalese security guards were killed when a Taliban suicide bomber targeted their minibus in the Afghan capital.

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New Delhi:

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today demanded arrest of BJP MP from East Delhi Maheish Girri in connection with the murder of NDMC official M.M. Khan even as he accused the Prime Minister of shielding him.

Giri, meanwhile, continued for the second day his hunger strike outside the residence of Kejriwal, demanding that he prove his allegations regarding the murder of Khan. The BJP MP had asked Kejriwal to either prove his charge against him or resign from the post of Chief Minister.

In a tweet, Kejriwal demanded that Giri should be arrested. He shud be arrested n interrogated by Modi police in MM Khan murder case. Modi police shielding him, he said.

Kejriwal, in a letter to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, had accused him of trying to save Giri and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) vice-chairman Karan Singh Tanwar in Khans murder. Giri had asked Kejriwal for a public debate over his allegations.

In a letter to Kejriwal on June 16, Giri had invited him to Constitution Club to produce evidence he had against him in the M M Khan murder case on Sunday 4 PM.

Kejriwal did not accept the challenge following which Giri, accompanied by his party supporters, reached the Chief Ministers flagstaff Road residence and sat on hunger strike.

Khan, an estate officer of NDMC, was shot dead in Jamia Nagar on May 16, a day before he was scheduled to pass the final order on the lease terms of a hotel which was functioning on a property leased out by the civic body.

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Kabul:

A Taliban suicide bomber killed 14 Nepalese security guards today in a blast targeting their Kabul minibus, officials said, the first claimed attack in the capital since Washington expanded the US militarys authority to strike the insurgents.

The attack, which police said was carried out by a suicide bomber on foot, came shortly before 6:00 AM on a main road leading east out of the capital towards the city of Jalalabad.

As a result 14 foreigners were killed, all Nepalese nationals, the interior ministry said in a statement, adding it strongly condemns the attack.

The guards were employed by a company that provides security to Western embassies in Kabul, a security official who asked to remain anonymous told AFP. Nine other people were wounded, including five Nepalese and four Afghans, the ministry said.

The sound of the explosion could be heard across Kabul and a plume of smoke could be seen above the site of the blast on the Jalalabad road, a main route that houses many foreign compounds and military facilities.

More than two dozen ambulances rushed to the scene, an AFP journalist said, with police blocking off the road. Children watched as the yellow, blood-spattered bus was taken away. There was also damage to shops near the explosion site with windows shattered.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, saying it was against the forces of aggression in Afghanistan.

The attack comes days after Washington announced an expansion of the US militarys authority to conduct air strikes against the Taliban, significantly boosting Afghan forces who have limited close air-support capacities.

It was the first attack in the capital since the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan two weeks ago. The Taliban have rejected the governments call for a ceasefire over the month.

The last attack in the Afghan capital on April 19 left 64 dead and more than 340 wounded, and was also claimed by the Taliban.

The resurgent militants have been fighting against the Western-backed Kabul government since they were ousted from power by a US-led invasion in late 2001.

They have stepped up attacks in recent weeks as part of their annual spring offensive. Last month they named Haibatullah Akhundzada their new leader, in a swift power transition after former head Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan.

US forces have been in an advisory role in Afghanistan since the start of 2015 and had only been authorised to hit Taliban targets for defensive reasons, or to protect Afghan soldiers.

The recent changes mean US troops can now work more closely with local fighters in striking the Taliban, who have demanded the departure of all foreign forces.

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New Delhi:

A day after Raghuram Rajans announcement of not seeking a second term as the Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the government on Monday relaxed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms, putting most sectors under the automatic route. The norms have been eased for single brand retail, civil aviation, airports, pharmaceuticals, animal husbandry and defence sectors.



The major reform is believed to be a bid to calm the foreign investors, who are distressed following the exit of Raghuram Rajan. The decision was taken on Monday at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.



The new norms allow 74 per cent FDI in pharma sector under the automatic route. This means that the investors will no longer require approval from government to invest up to 74 per cent in existing companies. Currently, FDI up to 100 per cent is allowed in new projects in the pharmaceutical sector.

100 per cent FDI in scheduled airlines has also been allowed. Currently, the Foreign airlines are allowed to own just 49 per cent in local airline.

According to the new norms, the foreign companies can own 100 per cent equity in the defence sector. Last year, the FDI norms were relaxed by the government in about dozen sectors. The move had helped FDI flows to hit an all-time high of $40 billion in 2015-16.
London:

Amid the ongoing turoil of debate, actor Johnny Depp was spotted having fun and getting serenaded by belly dancers at a private party in Romania. The 53-year-old actor, who is in the midst of divorce battle with estranged wife Amber Heard, was seen relaxing with the members of his rock band The Hollywood Vampires, reported Mirror. The group were having an after-party following a gig on their European tour in Bucharest.

If Johnny was under any stress, he didnt show it. He was quite relaxed, sipping beers and chatting with his friends. He even talked about Amber a little - but he clearly feels that he is the innocent party in all of this. Johnny told the restaurant owner hes always had a weakness for being too trusting, and said that was what had caused his problems, a source said. The actor looked like he was not worried about the allegations made by Heard, 30.

Obviously Amber is making some shocking claims about him, but he gave the impression of someone who wasnt worried. He doesnt accept the things that have been said. He also said their relationship was great until they got married, the source added.

A Superior Court hearing into Heards allegations that the star beat her was postponed less than 24 hours before it was due on last Friday. The decision came after a telephone discussion between the judge and lawyers of the former couple.

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New Delhi:

The wait of students is finally over as the Rajasthan Board Of Secondary Educations (RBSE) has announced the Class 10 results on its official website. The students who appeared in the exam can log on to the official websites to access their Rajasthan RBSE Class 10 result 2016.

The links of the official website are  rajresults.nic.in and rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in. The Rajasthan RBSE Class 10 examination was held between March 10-March 21, 2016. 10 lakh students had appeared in the exam.



Here are the steps to check Rajasthan RBSE Class 10 result 2016:

Logon to any of these official websites  rajresults.nic.in and rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in

Click on Higher Secondary 2016 Result

Enter your details such as roll number

Rajasthan RBSE Class 10 result 2016 will be displayed on your computer screen

Save and download the result for further use

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Kathmandu:

A Taliban suicide bomber today killed 14 Nepalese security guards in a blast targeting Kabul minibus. Nine other people were wounded, including five Nepalese and four Afghans in the blast.

Nepal today strongly condemned Taliban-led suicide attack on the minibus. Nepali Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli condemned the attack on Nepali people and expressed grief over the loss of lives. Five others were also injured in the attack.

I am shocked to hear that 14 Nepalis were killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan. I express my heartfelt condolences to their kin, Oli said in a tweet.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa condemned the incident dubbing it a heinous crime against innocent people.

Main opposition leader at the Parliament and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has also expressed condolence to the bereaved families, adding he was shocked by the incident.

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Bengaluru:

It seems the reshuffling of ministers in Karnataka have created problems for Chief Minister Sidddaramaiah and the Congress party. Discontent simmered within the Congress party after actor-turned-politician Ambareesh today resigned as Member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly. The MLA sent one line resignation letter addressed to the Assembly Speaker through his personal assistant.

Deputy Speaker Shivashankara Reddy, who is officiating as the Speakers post is lying vacant with Kagodu Thimmappa being appointed as the cabinet Minister, has not accepted the letter as the Member himself did not submit it.

Ambareesh has sent a letter of resignation through some other person; any such letter will be considered valid if the member himself submits it. I have sent it back, Shivashankar Reddy told PTI.

The resignation letter states he is resigning as MLA of Mandya constituency, without assigning any reason.

Ambareesh was the Housing Minister before he was dropped. He had earlier also served as Member of Parliament and was Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, but had resigned from the Lok Sabha membership, expressing dissatisfaction with the Cauvery Dispute Tribunal award.

Ambareeshs supporters in Mandya continued their protest for the second consecutive day today. They had blocked the Bengaluru-Mysuru Highway yesterday.

Resentment is brewing within Congress after the reshuffle, with several dropped Ministers and those who were aspiring to join the cabinet openly expressing their unhappiness against the party leadership.

The ministers who faced the axe are: Qamarul Islam, Shamanoor Shivashankarappa, V Srinivasa Prasad, M H Ambareesh, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Satish Jarkiholi, Baburao Chinchansoor,Shivaraj Sangappa Tangadagi, S R Patil, Manohar Tahasildhar, K Abayachandra Jain, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Kimmane Ratnakar and P T Parameshwar Naik.

Srinivasa Prasad and Islam are among others who have made no secret of their displeasure over being dropped. Supporters of Srinivas Prasad had called for a bandh in Chamarajanagar and Nanjangud today.

Similar protests by supporters of various aspirants Congress MLAs and dropped Ministers have been reported from different parts of the state.

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New Delhi :

In a huge boost to the major mobile phone firms in India, the central government has released Apple and other premium brands from adhering to the 30 pc local sourcing norms, thereby paving the way for them to set up exclusive stores across the country. A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, announced major changes to the domestic FDI policy.

Major player Apple was vying for an exemption from sourcing locally-manufactured products for its stores after its offer to sell refurbished phones in the country was turned down by Prime Minister Narendra Modi while Apple CEO Tim Cook was in the country

Earlier, Apple had sought an exemption from the local sourcing norms as it makes state-of-the-art and cutting edge technology products, where local sourcing was difficult.

The new tweaks to the single brand retail sector will now let the company set up exclusive stores in the country. So far, the company was tying up with companies in India to set up their stores. It has no wholly-owned store in India and sells its products through distributors such as Redington and Ingram Micro.

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Srinagar:

Independent legislator of Jammu and Kashmir Er Sheikh Abdur Rasheed who is known for creating controversies, on Monday spoke the separatist language in the State Assembly, claiming that J&K was not an integral part of India and demanding plebiscite. His comments drew angry reaction from the ruling BJP, which said he should resign from the Assembly and join separatists or migrate to Pakistan.

Even if you send me to jail, debar me from contesting elections or hang me, it will not force me to change my stand on Kashmir, Rasheed said in the Assembly.

J&K is neither Indias integral part nor Pakistans jugular vein. You should understand the historic reality and tell New Delhi that there is no substitute to plebiscite, said the legislator who had triggered a major controversy last year during the beef row by hosting a beef party at the MLAs Hostel here.

Even as members of BJP and Congress protested against his comments, Rasheed said he was not against Indias sovereignty but I am talking simply about J&K which has become a bone of contention between India and Pakistan and Assembly has no authority to overrule UN Resolutions.

He said, New Delhi has been claiming all the way that people in this side of Kashmir have cast their votes in huge numbers and people living in PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir) are not comfortable with Pakistan. So there is no reason why New Delhi should run away from plebiscite. May be people on both sides of LoC (Line of Control) will vote for India and then whole J&K will become Indias integral part, he added.

Reacting sharply to Rasheeds statement, BJP spokesman Khalid Jehangir said, If Rasheed believes that J&K is not an integral part of India, he should tender his resignation from the Legislative Assembly and join the separatist camp or migrate to Pakistan.

He said it was unfortunate that Rasheed, despite enjoying all the privileges and drawing hefty salary as MLA, is questioning J&Ks merger with India.

In a statement, Jehangir said, Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India and the people who challenge J&Ks accession with India are welcome to migrate to Pakistan.

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New Delhi :

The southwest monsoon has covered almost half of the country, including the drought-hit Marathwada, even as the overall rainfall deficiency has come down to around 22 per cent, the Met department said today. Monsoon has covered half of the country, M Rajeevan, Secretary Ministry of Earth Sciences, said.

The drought hit Marathwada and parts of Vidarbha too have been receiving rains over the past two-three days.

Rajeevan said the monsoon should reach the national capital by last week of the month or early July.

The southwest monsoon has further advanced into remaining parts of central Arabian Sea, Konkan, Marathawada and Vidarbha, most parts of Madhya Maharashtra and some parts of southwest and east Madhya Pradesh, the IMD said.

The Northern Limit of Monsoon (NLM) passes through Dahanu, Malegaon, Pachmarhi, Jabalpur, Sidhi, Patna and Raxaul.

Conditions are favourable for further advance of southwest monsoon into some parts of north Arabian Sea, south Gujarat region, remaining parts of Madhya Maharashtra, some more parts of Madhya Pradesh and East Uttar Pradesh and remaining parts of Bihar during next 48 hours, the IMD said.

The weatherman has forecast an above normal monsoon this year. However, its onset over Kerala, which marks the commencement of the rainy season in the country, was on June 8, seven days later than its normal date.

Also, it made a slow progress due to lack of a favourable system that could have given it a boost. The overall rainfall deficiency, which was 25 per cent until Saturday, has now dropped to 22 percent. It is expected to further drop down, it said.

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Facebook quickly censors social critic Pamela Geller from commenting on Islam following Florida massacre

Hillary and Obama and the confused masses who support them have said that the Orlando mass murder event demonstrates a propaganda and perversion of Islam, because Islam is a religion of peace. And the access to powerful weapons is really the problem. Even Bernie Sanders retorted that anyone who speaks out about the true intent of Islamic jihad is a bigot. Their answer, of course, is more gun control and an ramp-up of our fascist state, with Homeland Security forces standing in front of every movie theater and nightclub, schools and playgrounds, banks and bus stops.

But they all are wrong  dead wrong  and they might even know they are wrong, in an attempt to maintain the facade of political correctness. A few lives here or there while America takes its last dying breaths wont matter. Its power and control that matters. The end justifies the means.

Then theres the ACLU who blames this jihad event on Christian bigotry, while concurrently promoting solidarity between Muslims and the LGBT community. Why would anyone in the LGBT community want to hang out with individuals whose scriptures indicate that LGBT individuals  and any non-believing infidel who wont pay the tax or convert to Islam  must die?

Pamela Geller knows this. She is an activist, author and publisher who has continually pushed for human rights, our freedom of speech and to awaken the West to the dangers of Sharia Law. She has stated that she believes in moderate Muslims, but not in moderate Islam. Ms. Geller is castigated by the Southern Poverty Law Center as the anti-Muslim movements most visible and flamboyant figurehead. And, after this tragic event in Orlando, following a posting by Ms. Geller that called out the Presidents tepid response, Facebook decided to ban her free speech and blocked her comments under the worn-out guise of political correctness. Right before that 30-day ban was instituted, Facebook removed an entire Geller-inspired Facebook group on a similar topic.

Breitbart.com reports, Just hours after they removed her 50,000-strong group, Stop Islamization of America, Facebook has issued prominent Islam critic Pamela Geller with a 30-day ban. . . According to Facebook, the message violated their community standards  but they did not specify which specific section of their standards was breached.

So who is controlling Facebooks community standards? The Husseini Islamic Center, just northeast of Orlando, invited Sheikh Farrokh Sekaleshfar to their center and he said that killing homosexuals is not just right, its merciful. What do Facebook and YouTube and Google say about this? Not much, it seems.

Its important to understand that this man is not an extremist. Hes a Muslim who takes his scriptures very seriously. Many Muslims, like Christians, dont spend a lot of time reading their books. Maybe its time to start.

It is the Muslim who takes Islam seriously that Ms. Geller wants to make known. When Facebook banned her, heres what she said, as reported by Breitbart.com.

Facebook has enormous power, and implements fascist sharia-compliant policies on free speech in the wake of unfathomable slaughter, wrote Geller. Every freedom lover should be outraged.

Sources:

JihadWatch.org

DailyCaller.com

Science.NaturalNews.com

SPLCenter.org

Breitbart.com

YouTube.com

IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com

Submit a correction >>
Post Orlando: Afghan migration to United States surging; nearly all support Sharia law

(NationalSecurity.news) As most Americans know by now Omar Mateen, the child of Afghan migrants, was responsible for the killing of at least 50 American and the wounding of at least that many more in an attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., last weekend.

What most Americans probably dont know, however, is that there is the potential that scores more like him are either already in the United States or are headed this way. And nearly every one of them supports the same anti-gay, anti-constitutional positions contained in Sharia law.

As reported by Breitbart News, between 2001 and 2013 the U.S. permanently resettled almost 30,000 Afghans on green cards. And according to the Pew Research Center nearly all Muslims in Afghanistan (99%) support sharia law as official law.

As legal migrants these Afghan residents of the United States will be granted lifetime resettlement privileges, be given work permits and, eventually, voting rights. In addition to the 30,000 Afghans resettled in the U.S., during the same time frame the United States permanently resettled 1.5 million Muslim immigrants throughout the United States, Breitbart News reported.

Over the next five years, if there are no changes at all to visa dispensations  which are pretty much on autopilot right not  the U.S. will permanently resettle a Muslim population larger than the entire population of Washington D.C., Breitbart noted.

Without fueling flames of intolerance, it is noteworthy that, according to the Department of Homeland Security, immigration from the unsettled and war-torn Middle East is on the rise. Based on 2014 DHS data, the number of green cards issued to Middle Eastern countries increased by 32 percent. The number of green cards issued to Afghan migrants increased by 379 percent in the course of that single year.

Speaking of DHS, the CounterJihad web site noted that the Orlando terrorist Mateen worked almost a decade for a major Department of Homeland Security contractor, raising alarms that ISIS sympathizers and agents have infiltrated the federal agency set up after 9/11 to combat terrorists. Further, the company that Mateen worked for secures 90 percent of U.S. nuclear plants.

The site noted further:

Officials say Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, an Afghan-American who held two firearms licenses and a security officer license, was employed by the security firm G4S Secure Solutions USA Inc. since Sept. 10, 2007. The Jupiter, Fla.-based company merged with the Wackenhut Corp. after 9/11 and assumed federal contracts.

G4S supports the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection (CPB), with its operations at the U.S.  Mexico border and with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to transport illegal immigrants in selected urban areas, the company says in a brochure, titled Providing Manpower Solutions for Government Services.

The DHS contract with G4S is worth more than $234 million. The contract states that one of the performance requirements is helping identify suspected terrorists trying to enter the U.S.

More:

NationalSecurity.news is part of the USA Features Media network. Check out ALL our daily headlines here.

Submit a correction >>
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Amuse bouche, en papillote: Diners often encounter words on a menu that they just don't recall seeing before and can't figure out.

Those words and terms that diners don't know impact how they order at restaurants. OpenTable commissioned a Harris Poll survey to find out which menu terms are confusing people when they order at restaurants, and how it affects the dining experience.

The online poll surveyed 2,035 diners, according to the Associated Press, and discovered 56 percent of diners worried about ordering a dish that had an unfamiliar word in it, thinking it could ruin their meal. Another 74 percent said they would feel like they wasted money if they didn't like the dish they ordered.

The terms that confused diners included a mix of international dishes and condiments, along with "heritage techniques" in cooking that chefs are incorporating into their style of food, the Associated Press reported.

"Chefs are reaching back, they're reaching to all corners of the globe," Caroline Potter, OpenTable's chief dining officer, told the Associated Press. "When you talk to chefs, the way they're spending their downtime, they're saying I'm going to Thailand for two weeks and I'm going to eat my way through street food and all these restaurants and come back with inspiration."

The Harris Poll also found diners said that they would be more likely to order menu items they were unfamiliar with if the menu had photos (53 percent) or explained the terminology (30 percent).

Scroll through the slideshow above to find out which 25 menu terms are confusing diners.

To read more about the survey from OpenTable, click here.
Tyler Sizemore / Tyler Sizemore

A serious motorcycle wreck sent a Danbury man to the hospital Sunday night, police said.

Michael Rodriguez, Jr., 27, of Danbury, was driving a 2003 Honda CBR600 westbound on Jeanette Street, just east of Clayton Road, around 9:55 p.m. when he lost control of his motorcycle and was ejected, according to a press release from the Danbury Police Department.
DANBURY - Two dozen children in one of the citys neediest neighborhoods will receive catch-up help this summer to start Kindergarten on equal ground with kids who have pre-school experience.

The initiative at the Park Avenue Elementary School, funded by a private foundation and managed by the United Way of Western Connecticut, is in its second year.

Last year was our first year and we kind of pieced it together at the last minute, Park Avenue Principal David Krafick said Monday. When children are given an opportunity like this to gain skills before the school year begins, it helps get them off on the right foot.

The Kindergarten Summer Skills Program will run for four weeks at the Park Avenue School. It will provide free transportation, meals and guidance in academic and social skills.

The program is part of the United Ways larger effort in the Park Avenue neighborhood to close the achievement gap between children from wealthier families and those from lower-income homes.

The city is growing at the fastest rate in the state, mainly due to immigration. The citys school district is growing by 2.5 percent, with jumps as high as 5 percent at the elementary school level, School Superintendent Sal Pascarella told the City Council earlier this month.

At the same time, the city has complained to lawmakers in Hartford that it does not get its fair share of state aid, based on the citys growing enrollment and Danburys higher percentage of students who require extra teaching resources.

That makes the United Way initiative important, supporters say.

[F]or children who have not been to preschool, the classroom setting can be especially overwhelming, said Kim Morgan, CEO of United Way of Western Connecticut, in a prepared statement.

This program familiarizes children and their parents with Park Avenue School and gives them a sense of what kindergarten will be like, Morgan said. It lays the foundation for a successful first year.

The idea is to give children help with social skills as well as classroom skills.

We foster student independence, and part of that is dealing with specific situations as they come up, such as learning how to share, Krafick said.

Morgan agreed.

When children feel good about their kindergarten experience, it sets the trajectory for success for their entire school career, she said.

The program is being supported by the Grossman Family Foundation. A foundation official on Monday said grant amounts are not made public.

The program is part of the United Ways Strong Start Kindergarten Readiness Initiative.

That initiative is a multi-program effort to support the Park Avenue neighborhood and encourage community involvement.

Other programs in the initiative are the Abriendo Puertas Program for Latino parents, Play to Learn Playgroups, and Parent Workshops at Park Avenue School.

Its a phenomenal thing that the Grossman foundation is doing, Krafick said.

rryser@newstimes.com; 203-731-3342
/ Carol Kaliff

DANBURY - A federal judge on Monday denied a new trial request from a Danbury High School graduate and night club owner who was convicted last year of wire fraud and money laundering.

The ruling by the judge means that Ian Bick - the 21-year-old owner of Tuxedo Junction - will be sentenced in September.
OTTAWA, June 20, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - For twenty years, June 21 has marked National Aboriginal Day in Canada. The day, which aligns with the summer solstice, is an important opportunity to celebrate the many remarkable achievements, vibrant diversity and heritage of Indigenous peoples. Assembly of First Nations (AFN) National Chief Perry Bellegarde made the following statement acknowledging this important day:

"This year marks the 20th anniversary of National Aboriginal Day. On June 21, we unite as Indigenous peoples to acknowledge our collective strength and resilience.

As we come together to celebrate our cultures and languages, we must also refocus our efforts on the path toward reconciliation. We will work with all Canadians to advance the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, and with Canada to ensure federal legislation on the adoption and full implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We will work to close the gap in the quality of life and work with Canada on the commitment to ensure First Nations have sufficient, predictable and sustained funding reflecting an intergovernmental relationship.

In 2013, AFN Chiefs-in-Assembly passed a resolution calling for a renaming of this day to Indigenous Peoples Day, and the establishment of a national holiday.

On the 20th anniversary of National Aboriginal Day, we are poised on a new era of reconciliation, a time to renew our original relationship of partnership, respect and sharing. This is a time to be hopeful for what the future holds. A number of celebrations will be taking place across the country, and I encourage First Nations and all Canadians to participate in these events. It is an opportunity to get to know one another better. Education and awareness leads to understanding and action.

On behalf of the entire Assembly of First Nations, staff, and AFN Executive, I wish a peaceful and joyous National Aboriginal Day to peoples from all walks of life. Today and every day we stand as proud First Nations peoples and will continue moving together toward reconciliation."

On Tuesday, June 21, National Chief Bellegarde will be in Parry Sound, Ontario at the Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts (2 Bay Street) to attend the unveiling of the monument commemorating Francis Pegahmagabow, the most highly decorated First Nations soldier in World War I. For more information visit: http://www.oneca.com/francis-pegahmagabow-commemoration-2016.html

The Assembly of First Nations 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: Jenn Jefferys, AFN Communications Officer, 613-241-6789 ext. 110, 613-222-9656 (cell), [email protected]; Alain Garon, AFN Bilingual Communications Officer, 613-241-6789 ext. 382, 613-292-0857 (cell), [email protected]
TORONTO, June 20, 2016 /CNW/ - Bedrocan Canada Inc. (Bedrocan Canada), wholly owned subsidiary of Canopy Growth Corporation (Canopy Growth) (TSXV: CGC) has received its Health Canada license to sell cannabis oils in addition to dried cannabis products. Three varieties are available for sale today with the remaining three standardized Bedrocan varieties following shortly.

New bedro-oils are made by extracting oils from Bedrocan Canada's line of standardized whole-flower cannabis varieties using CO2 supercritical extraction equipment. Once the crude extraction is purified, it is balanced with organic sunflower oil to create a versatile product that can be consumed on its own or used for baking or cooking.

"Many of our clients have expressed a desire to ingest cannabis oils to either compliment or substitute the inhaled route," said Marc Wayne, President, Bedrocan Canada. "We're proud to offer this new option for patients who, whether for convenience or for health reasons, prefer to ingest their medical cannabis."

Along with Bedrocan Canada's sister company, Tweed Inc., the company has committed $50,000 toward partnerships with leading organizations committed to responsible use education. $1 from every bottle of 10:1 bedro-oils sold will also go towards important initiatives such as a recently announced partnership with MADD Canada and the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition.

Keeping with Bedrocan Canada's commitment to True Compassionate Pricing, bedro-oils will be sold for $110 per 100ml bottle.

About Bedrocan Canada

Bedrocan Canada is focused on medicinal cannabis production and research, including, the EQUAL Study, which is currently enrolling patients and evaluating how cannabis is affecting their quality of life of Canadian patients. Bedrocan's standardized strains have been used by thousands of patients in seven countries around the world. www.bedrocan.ca

About Canopy Growth Corporation

Canopy Growth is Canada's first publicly traded medical marijuana company and the first geographically diversified producer with multiple licenses under the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Tweed, Tweed Farms, and Bedrocan Canada, the Company operates three state-of-the-art production facilities in Ontario and distributes marijuana across the country to Canadian patients managing a host of medical conditions. The Company is dedicated to educating healthcare practitioners, providing consistent access to high quality medication, conducting robust clinical research, and furthering the public's understanding of how marijuana is used for medical purposes. www.canopygrowth.com

Forward Looking Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "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. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or any of its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

Although Canopy Growth Corp. has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The factors identified above are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries. The forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and Canopy Growth Corp. does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities legislation.

SOURCE Canopy Growth Corporation

For further information: Jordan Sinclair, [email protected], 613-706-2185 ex 309; Investor Contact: Tyler Burns, [email protected], 613-706-2185 ex 122; Director, Bruce Linton, CEO, [email protected]
Fintech company becomes first in Canada to provide credit scores for free without applying for credit

TORONTO, June 20, 2016 /CNW/ - Borrowell, a leading Canadian fintech lender, today announced a new service that gives Canadians access to their Equifax credit score for free. From the privacy and security of their own homes, Canadians can access their Equifax credit score through Borrowell's easy-to-use website. Available for the first time in Canada, the no-obligation service allows consumers to learn about their financial wellbeing, without having to apply for credit.

In addition to allowing consumers access to their Equifax credit score, Borrowell's simple-to-use service also provides information about the factors that may impact credit scores and recommendations on how to improve an individual's credit worthiness. Furthermore, Borrowell will provide consumers with an updated score every three months, allowing them to track their progress.

"In talking to consumers everyday, we came to realize that many Canadians don't know their current credit score, or how to improve it," said Andrew Graham, CEO, Borrowell. "The reality is that lenders across the country use credit scores to decide who qualifies for loans and at what price. By providing Canadians with their scores and educational resources on how to improve them, Canadians will have better options when it comes to accessing credit."

According to a 2015 recent survey published by BMO Bank of Montreal, approximately 56 percent of Canadians said they have never checked their credit score, and only 14 percent check at least once a year. In an April 2016 survey conducted by Equifax of more than 1,000 U.S. consumers nationwide, only 27 percent of consumers check their credit score  with the majority of those consumers receiving their score for free from a third-party website.

"We're excited to partner with Borrowell to bring this game-changing financial service to Canadians," said Chris Briggs, Chief Marketing Officer, Equifax Canada. "Accessing a credit score can be an important first step for a consumer on his or her financial journey  in helping them better understand their personal financial situation. Our decision to work with Borrowell is based on our mutually similar desire to work with consumers to provide them with the information they need to get started on the path toward financial wellness."

As well as providing resources that help Canadians better understand their credit scores, Borrowell also plans to present consumers with personalized offers for third-party financial products in addition to its own loan products.

For more information, go to www.borrowell.com .

About Borrowell

Borrowell is a Canadian fintech lender that offers fast, fair, and friendly personal loans. Its affordable, fixed-interest loans give Canadians a smarter way to access credit. A wholly online application process instantly provides personalized loan options to Canadians with good credit who want better alternatives to expensive credit card debt. Borrowell is backed by a number of investors including Equitable Bank, Power Corporation, David Chilton (The Wealthy Barber, Dragons' Den), John Bitove (Sirius XM Canada, Mobilicity) and Joe Canavan (Assante Wealth Management).

Find out more at www.borrowell.com.

About Equifax Canada

Equifax powers the financial future of individuals and organizations around the world. Using the combined strength of unique trusted data, technology and innovative analytics, Equifax has grown from a consumer credit company into a leading provider of insights and knowledge that helps its customers make informed decisions. The company organizes, assimilates and analyzes data on more than 800 million consumers and more than 88 million businesses worldwide, and its databases include employee data contributed from more than 5,000 employers.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. It is a member of Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Index, and its common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the symbol EFX. Equifax employs approximately 9,200 employees worldwide.

Some noteworthy achievements for the company include: Ranked 13 on the American Banker FinTech Forward list (2015); named a Top Technology Provider on the FinTech 100 list (2004-2015); named an InformationWeek Elite 100 Winner (2014-2015); named a Top Workplace by Atlanta Journal Constitution (2013-2015); named one of Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies (2011-2015); named one of Forbes' World's 100 Most Innovative Companies (2015). For more information, visit www.equifax.com.

Equifax is a registered trademark of Equifax Canada Co. used here under license. The Equifax credit score is based on Equifax's proprietary model and may not be the same score used by third parties to assess your creditworthiness. The provision of this score to you is intended for your own educational use. Third parties will take into consideration other information in addition to a credit score when evaluating your creditworthiness.

SOURCE Borrowell

Image with caption: "Borrowell and Equifax Canada (CNW Group/Borrowell)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160620_C3727_PHOTO_EN_716952.jpg

For further information: Media Contacts: Borrowell, Melanie Greco, 647-456-2653, [email protected]; Equifax Canada, Tom Carroll, 416-227-5290, [email protected]
OTTAWA, June 17, 2016 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada remains committed to making it faster and easier to travel from Canada into the United States.

Today, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, announced the introduction of legislation in the House of Commons to expand the highly popular and effective preclearance agreement with the United States.

The preclearance initiative builds on the significant progress made during the Prime Minister's official visit to Washington. There, Prime Minister Trudeau and President Obama agreed in principle to expand preclearance to a number of new Canadian locations, including Quebec's Jean Lesage International Airport, Toronto's Billy Bishop City Airport, Montreal Central Station and the Rocky Mountaineer.

The expansion  which now includes passage by land, water and train  will allow more Canadians to enjoy the benefits of preclearance, which include direct access to more U.S. destinations, and greater economic growth for local economies that will benefit from increased tourism.

Quotes

"Today, the Government of Canada demonstrated its commitment to strengthening its relationship with the United States and to ensuring a more efficient and secure border, by introducing the legislation required to implement the CanadaU.S. Preclearance Agreement. When it takes effect, the Agreement will provide the legal framework that will enable the expansion of preclearance operations in all modes of transportation  land, rail, marine and air  including the locations announced by Prime Minister Trudeau and President Obama in March 2016."

 Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"This legislation is an important step towards ensuring the efficient flow of people and goods between our two countries in all transportation modes. We are pleased to build on our long history of successful preclearance operations by introducing a bill that, when passed, will enable us to ratify the new agreement on preclearance."

 Marc Garneau, Minister of Transportation

"Preclearance is a major achievement for both governments, enhancing travel and trade to facilitate robust economies, and increasing efficiency and predictability in cross-border tourism and transportation. I look forward to continuing to work together as international partners to ensure our collective security."

 Jeh Johnson, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security

Quick Facts

Preclearance operations currently take place at eight Canadian airports: Vancouver , Calgary , Edmonton , Winnipeg , Toronto , Ottawa , Montreal and Halifax .

Immigration pre-inspection is also conducted at multiple locations in British Columbia in the rail and marine modes.

Related Product

Associated Links

SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

For further information: Scott Bardsley, Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, 613-998-5681; Media Relations, Public Safety Canada, 613-991-0657
OTTAWA, June 17, 2016 /CNW/ - Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston will celebrate the 20th anniversary of National Aboriginal Day at the Woodland Cultural Centre, a former residential school in Brantford, Ontario, on Tuesday, June 21, 2016.

"As honorary witnesses of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Sharon and I understand the importance of learning about residential schools and the impact they had on First Nations people in order to work towards healing the wounds of the past and creating a better future for all," said the Governor General. "National Aboriginal Day is an opportunity to continue to tell the complete story of Canada and to celebrate the great contributions Aboriginal peoples have made to this country."

Upon arrival at the Woodland Cultural Centre, Their Excellencies will meet with Her Honour the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and Chief Ava Hill of the Six Nations of the Grand River to discuss the importance of preserving the Centre and the Save the Evidence campaign.

Following this, Their Excellencies will attend a National Aboriginal Day ceremony, where His Excellency will deliver remarks. The ceremony will conclude with the presentation of the latest instalment of Historica Canada's Heritage Minute series, written by Joseph Boyden, which explores the legacy of the residential school system in Canada.

Here is the schedule:

11:15 a.m.

Meeting with the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and Chief Ava Hill

In front of the former residential school building at Woodland Cultural Centre, 184 Mohawk Street, Brantford

PHOTO OPAt the beginning of the meeting

11:45 a.m.

National Aboriginal Day Ceremony

Auditorium, Woodland Cultural Centre, 184 Mohawk Street, Brantford

OPEN TO MEDIA

About Woodland Cultural Centre

A First Nations museum and art gallery, the Woodland Cultural Centre is home to the site of the Mohawk Institute Indian Residential School, the longest-running residential school in Canada (1828-1970). In 2013, the institute's buildingone of only two still standing in Ontariosuffered severe and costly roof damage, prompting Woodland to launch the Save the Evidence campaign. The campaign aims to preserve and restore the building, so as to allow current and future generations to better understand the history of the residential school system.

Follow GGDavidJohnston and RideauHall on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Governor General of Canada

For further information: Media information: Josephine Laframboise, Rideau Hall Press Office, 613-990-9324, 613-668-1929 (cell), [email protected]
TORONTO, June 19, 2016 /CNW/ - Based on information from Environment Canada, Dr. David McKeown, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health, has issued a Heat Warning for Toronto today. The Heat Warning will be in effect until further notice.

During a Heat Warning, the public is encouraged to call or visit family, friends and neighbours, especially isolated adults and seniors who are at greater risk of suffering from heat-related illness, to make sure they are cool and drinking plenty of fluids. Other groups at risk include people with chronic illnesses, individuals with limited mobility or certain mental health illnesses, infants and young children, people on certain medications, and those who are homeless.

Members of the public are advised to beat the heat by taking these precautions:

Drink lots of cool water even before you feel thirsty.

Go to air-conditioned places, including shopping malls or one of many local libraries or community centres located in each neighbourhood.

Take cool showers or baths or use cool wet towels to cool down.

Wear loose, light-coloured, breathable clothing and, when outdoors, wear a

wide-brimmed hat.

wide-brimmed hat. Avoid the sun and stay in the shade or use an umbrella.

Reschedule or plan outdoor activities during the cooler parts of the day.

Never leave seniors, children or pets unattended in a car.

Landlords of buildings without air conditioning are encouraged to provide a dedicated cooling room for vulnerable residents to escape the heat. Community agencies are encouraged to educate clients on the risks of heat-related illness and to call or check on those clients at increased risk of heat-related illness during warnings.

When a warning is declared, those who need assistance or have heat-related inquiries may call 311.

More information about how to beat the heat is available at http://bitly.com/1ks3FTv.

Air pollution often increases during hot weather conditions. People with heart and lung conditions, and seniors and children should pay special attention to the hourly Air Quality Health Index levels and forecasts available at http://bitly.com/1neJmrP.

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

SOURCE City of Toronto

For further information: Media contact: Jennifer Veenboer, Toronto Public Health, 647-218-7612, [email protected]
MONTREAL, June 20, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Knowlton Capital Inc. ("Knowlton") (TSX-V: KWCH) previously announced that it has entered into an Arrangement Agreement with Leni Gas Cuba Limited ("LGC") for a reverse take-over of Knowlton by LGC. Knowlton has mailed a management information circular dated June 9, 2016 to its shareholders for an annual and special meeting to be held on July 6, 2016 to consider the reverse take-over with LGC.

Knowlton wishes to advise its shareholders that LGC issued a press release today announcing that LGC has acquired a 10% interest in The Cuba Mountain Coffee Company Ltd ("CMC") for an investment of 27,300 (approximately CAD$50,000). LGC's press release is available on its web site at www.lg-cuba.com under "Investors/Media Releases".

LGC's press release discloses that CMC is an English company founded in 2013 to promote, on a worldwide basis, single-origin gourmet coffee from Cuba's Guantanamo region, both as green beans and also via CMC's own bespoke coffee brand, "Alma de Cuba".

LGC's press release also discloses that CMC signed a letter of intent in April 2015 with Grupo Agro Forrestal and Empresa Procesadora de Cafe Asdrubal Lopez Vazquez ("AL") for green bean coffee supplies and that CMC is working towards formalizing a definitive ten-year (extendable) International Economic Association Contract with AL intended to provide, over a five-year period, capital and equipment to improve the processing and quality of green beans from the Guantanamo region of Cuba. In return, CMC would obtain the rights to an increasing proportion of this production for global marketing. The press release describes AL as a part of the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture/Grupo Agro Forrestal, which controls the majority of green coffee processing in Cuba.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The press release referred to above was issued by LGC. Knowlton has not made any independent inquiries as to its accuracy or completeness and assumes no responsibility for the contents thereof.

Completion of the reverse take-over between Knowlton and LGC is subject to a number of conditions, including TSX Venture Exchange acceptance and disinterested shareholder approval. The reverse take-over cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the reverse take-over will be completed as proposed or at all or that The Cuba Mountain Coffee Company Ltd. will enter into the definitive International Economic Association Contract referred to above. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in Knowlton's management information circular dated June 9, 2016, any information released or received with respect to the reverse take-over may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Knowlton should be considered highly speculative.

SOURCE Knowlton Capital

For further information: Rafi Hazan, Chief Financial Officer, Knowlton Capital Inc., Tel: (514) 839-7234
TORONTO, June 20, 2016 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to strengthening Canada's place in the world and will continue to pursue Canadian interests and values at every opportunity.

Today, the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced that he will travel to Warsaw, Poland, to attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Heads of State and Government Summit from July 8 to 9, 2016. After the Summit, the Prime Minister will travel to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp to remember the six million Jews and the millions of other victims who were brutally murdered by the Nazis during the Holocaust. The trip will conclude with an official visit to Ukraine from July 11 to 12.

During the NATO Summit, the Prime Minister will sit down with our closest Allies and partners to discuss important security challenges, including ways to strengthen NATO's ability to defend its territory and population, and to project stability beyond NATO borders.

While in Ukraine, the Prime Minister will reiterate the Government of Canada's longstanding  and ongoing  commitment to the Ukrainian people, and its strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He will also voice encouragement for Ukraine's reform efforts, and will work to deepen commercial ties between the two countries, all in an effort to create jobs, strengthen the middle class, and grow the Canadian economy.

Quotes

"Canada remains firmly committed to working closely with NATO Allies and partners to ensure our citizens can continue to live in safety and security."

 Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

"Canada and Ukraine enjoy a historic friendship forged through generations of shared values and strong relations. By working together in close partnership, Canada will help bring greater security, prosperity, and economic independence to the Ukrainian people."

 Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick Facts

Canada , along with 11 other nations, founded NATO in 1949 on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. Over the past 67 years, NATO has proven itself to be a major contributor to international peace and security.





, along with 11 other nations, founded NATO in 1949 on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. Over the past 67 years, NATO has proven itself to be a major contributor to international peace and security. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million people -- mainly Jews -- were exterminated at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, which has become an enduring symbol of the Holocaust.





Canada and Ukraine share a special relationship, with close to 1.3 million Canadians tracing their roots to the country.





and share a special relationship, with close to 1.3 million Canadians tracing their roots to the country. Since the beginning of the crisis in Ukraine in November 2013 , Canada has provided multi-faceted support to Ukraine , including low-interest loans for economic stabilization, as well as development assistance projects to promote sustainable economic growth and to advance democracy, human rights, the rule of law and support to civil society, humanitarian assistance to help people affected by the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine , and assistance to strengthen Ukraine's security sector.





in , has provided multi-faceted support to , including low-interest loans for economic stabilization, as well as development assistance projects to promote sustainable economic growth and to advance democracy, human rights, the rule of law and support to civil society, humanitarian assistance to help people affected by the ongoing conflict in eastern , and assistance to strengthen security sector. Canada is cooperating with the Ukrainian Armed Forces to support Ukraine in its efforts to maintain sovereignty, security, and stability. There are approximately 200 Canadian Armed Forces personnel deployed to Ukraine to deliver training and capacity building programs until March, 2017.

This document is also available at http://pm.gc.ca

SOURCE Prime Minister's Office

For further information: PMO Media Relations: 613-957-5555
Her Excellency Mary Robinson and The Hon. Susan Lang honoured at Call to Bar Ceremonies

TORONTO, June 20, 2016 /CNW/ - The Law Society of Upper Canada presented a degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LLD), to Her Excellency Mary Robinson and the Honourable Susan E. Lang at its Call to the Bar ceremonies on June 20 at Roy Thomson Hall.

Her Excellency Mary Robinson received her honorary LLD at the morning Call ceremony in recognition of her work as a transformative international force in advancing human rights and, more recently, climate justice. An academic, legislator and barrister, she has devoted her career to social change by serving as President of Ireland (1990-97), UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002), and founder and president of the Mary Robinson Foundation - Climate Justice. She also was the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Climate Change (2014-15), and was recently appointed as a Special Envoy on El Nino and Climate (May 2016). (Full biography)

Retired Court of Appeal judge, The Honourable Susan E. Lang, received her honorary LLD at the afternoon Call ceremony in recognition of her numerous contributions to the legal profession, the judiciary and the Ontario public. Justice Lang was appointed by the Ontario government in November 2014 as the Independent Reviewer of the Motherisk Hair Analysis Review. Her Report, delivered in December 2015, identified the flawed hair-strand analysis and interpretation provided by the Motherisk laboratory and used in child protection and criminal proceedings. Justice Lang recommended a further review into the individual cases affected by the flawed toxicology evidence. (Full biography)

Law Society Treasurer Janet E. Minor awarded the honorary LLDs to Robinson and Justice Lang, who then delivered separate keynote addresses to new lawyers attending the respective ceremonies. A total of 295 were called at the morning ceremony and another 325 were called at the afternoon Call.

As part of its Call ceremonies each year, the Law Society awards honorary doctorates to distinguished people in recognition of outstanding achievements in the legal profession, the rule of law or the cause of justice. Recipients serve as inspirational keynote speakers for the new lawyers attending the ceremonies

In her remarks to the newly called lawyers, Treasurer Minor said, "We need your innovation and creativity. We are counting on you. You are privileged because you have the capacity to make a difference. You are empowered  you can help to empower others. When you do, in your work and in your life, I think you will find this kind of engagement is the most rewarding and fulfilling and it will give you the kind of happiness you feel today."

The Law Society regulates lawyers and paralegals in Ontario in the public interest. The Law Society has a mandate to protect the public interest, to maintain and advance the cause of justice and the rule of law, to facilitate access to justice for the people of Ontario and act in a timely, open and efficient manner.

Find @LawsocietyLSUC on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

#lawyered

SOURCE The Law Society of Upper Canada

Image with caption: "Law Society Treasurer Janet E. Minor (left) watches as Law Society Bencher Joanne St. Lewis places the LLD hood on Her Excellency Mary Robinson at the morning Call to the Bar ceremony on Toronto June 20. A former President of Ireland, Robinson received the honorary LLD from the Law Society in recognition of her work in the fields of human rights and climate justice. (CNW Group/The Law Society of Upper Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160620_C3573_PHOTO_EN_718071.jpg

Image with caption: "Law Society Treasurer Janet E. Minor (left) confers the title of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, LLD, on Justice Susan E. Lang, while she receives the LLD hood, at the Call to the Bar ceremony in Toronto on June 20. Justice Lang received the honorary degree in recognition of her numerous contributions to the legal profession, the judiciary and the Ontario public. (CNW Group/The Law Society of Upper Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160620_C3573_PHOTO_EN_718083.jpg

For further information: Media contact: Susan Tonkin, Communications Advisor, Media Relations, at 416-947-7605 or [email protected]
International organization thanks area residents for their generosity

MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 20, 2016 /CNW/ - Today World Vision is launching the Campaign for Children in Saskatchewan. It is an opportunity for the international aid organization to thank residents for their incredible generosity, and give others a chance to sponsor a child and change a life. More than 11,000 people from Saskatchewan are World Vision sponsors, helping nearly 14,000 children around the world. The organization is rallying to help an additional 1,200 children waiting to be sponsored.

"Saskatchewan gets more sunshine than any other province and holds the record for the hottest day. We're excited to be spending the summer in one of the best places to feel the heat in the country. We have 1,200 kids who need some sunshine in their lives and you can help."

 Joyce Gonzales, Campaign for Children Manager

During the summer months area residents may hear and see more about World Vision, and door-to-door representatives will be in communities in the province to answer questions about World Vision and provide the opportunity for area residents to sponsor a child and change a community.

QUICK FACTS:

There are 11,413 World Vision child sponsors in Saskatchewan who help over 13,807 children.

who help over 13,807 children. Child Sponsorship makes World Vision's community development programs possible; providing communities with sustainable access to necessities like clean water, nutritious food, economic opportunity, health care and access to education.

The Saskatchewan Campaign for Children hopes to find an additional 1,200 sponsors to change a life, and connect with a child in a World Vision community around the world.

HOW AREA RESIDENTS CAN HELP:

Sponsor a child at worldvision.ca or call 1-877-34CHILD (24453) to find out more, or sponsor a child.

World Vision is a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. Visit our News Centre at worldvision.ca

SOURCE World Vision Canada

Image with caption: "8-year-old Franklin from Guatemala is much smaller than he should be, malnutrition has stunted his growth. (CNW Group/World Vision Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160620_C4636_PHOTO_EN_715694.jpg

For further information: Sarah Bartley; 905-565-6200 ext. 4054, 289-242-1733; [email protected]
The Ondo State All Progressives Congress(APC) has expressed concern over Governor Olusegun Mimikos trip to the United Kingdom (UK) with...

The Ondo State All Progressives Congress(APC) has expressed concern over Governor Olusegun Mimikos trip to the United Kingdom (UK) without making meaningful effort to end the workers strike.It noted that the hardship facing the residents is becoming more daunting as the industrial action crippled the states economic activities.A statement by the partys Director of Research and Publicity,Steve Otaloro,at the weekend, queried Mimikos trip in spite of the issue confronting the state.It said:This is a height of callousness on the part of Governor Mimiko and it is unacceptable to the people, who elected him to take care of their welfare.We know Mimiko had been frequently globe-trotting since he came to power in 2009 at the expense of the states meagre resources and under the guise of visiting these places to seek for investors.But this present trip to the UK, which is of no economic value, is uncalled for at this time in the midst of serious crisis that has engulfed the state, which requires serious attention of the governor that prides himself as running acaring heartgovernment.It should also be noted that Mimikos previous trips have not seem to have yielded a single foreign investment to the state. Instead, his policies have killed businesses through multiple-taxations inflicted on existing businesses.The opulent lifestyle of the governor and his family at the Government House and the fact that he is living large enough at the expense of the state must have beclouded him to appreciate the pains and the hunger that permeate the entire citizenry.The party said he should remember that this was not what he promised the people at his inaugural speech, where he boasted, I will work for you, in his 2009 speech.The APC noted that the hardship in Ondo State was self-inflicted.We warned the governor before now to desist from borrowing and that repayment will stiffen development; but he did not listen.We told him that he who goes a-borrowing will one day go a-sorrowing. It is repayment of these various unwarranted loans collected by the PDP led-government of Ondo State that is now making life difficult for our people because of the inability of government to pay salaries of civil servants and pensioners emolument.These are with its attendant consequences on other sectors of the states economy that is largely driven by revenue from the state workers.It is true there is revenue shortfall from the Federation Account, but Ondo State is not the only state affected. Some states are still afloat paying their workers salaries and discharging other government responsibilities to their people.The bitter truth is that Mimikos administration has this die hard prodigal habit of spending money on frivolities.APC said the governor did not find it necessary to save for a rainy day and invest in revenue-generating activities, hence the fulcrum for the present predicament.It maintained that the excuses by the government that it is waiting for an imaginary reimbursement from the Federal Government on road projects executed and the funny Paris Club fund were unattainable and unacceptable.
The All Progressive Congress, (APC), has asked Nigerians to rate the government of President Muhammad Buhari one year after.

One year on: How would you rate government's efforts in fighting the Boko Haram sect? Kindly vote, RT and comment  APC Nigeria (@APCNigeria) June 20, 2016

The All Progressive Congress, (APC), has asked Nigerians to rate the government of President Muhammad Buhari one year after.The party, on Monday, on its twitter handle said One year on: How would you rate governments efforts in fighting the Boko Haram sect? The APC further asked if Nigerians would encourage the Federal Government to negotiate with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA)?As at the time of publishing this report the rating the the APC-lead government effort in fighting the Boko Haram sect read thus38% Excellent34% Good21% Can do better7% PoorSome other tweets by the APC includeWould you encourage FG to negotiate with the NDA? Lets have your opinion; and kindly RT.APC Nigeria @APCNigeria 3h3 hours ago The brick walls arent there to keep us out, the brick walls are there to give us a reason to demonstrate how badly we want to succeed!Since we want something weve never had then weve got to do things weve never done, for thats the only way our nation can work better.
The Lagos State Government has warned public schoolteachers against collecting fees from pupils, saying basic education is free for all s...

It added that any official, who acted on the contrary, would be appropriately dealt with.The Executive Chairman of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Ganiyu Sopeyin, gave the warning while announcing the establishment of three new public primary schools in the state, a statement on Sunday said.Sopeyin said the addition was in line with the governments vision to make qualitative and quantitative basic education available in all parts of the state.The new schools are Local Government Primary School, Oke-Ishagun/Ikola, in the Alimosho Local Govermnment Area; Community Primary School, Abule-Eko, Ikorodu LGA; and Tsangaya Primary School, Orofun, Ibeju-Lekki LGA.The statement said the schools were approved for listing in a memo dated June 13, 2016, adding that the total number of primary schools across the 20 LGAs in the state now stood at 1,010.Sopeyin reiterated the governments commitment to free, qualitative and quantitative basic education in the state, adding that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that public primary schools were more competitive than private schools.He urged public school teachers in the state not to collect any money from pupils or their parents, saying any public schoolteacher and headteacher caught violating the directive would face disciplinary action of the board.Sopeyin also advised teachers to always abide by the rules and regulations governing their profession, stressing that the present administration was doing a lot to take education to a greater height, the statement added.
The personal account of the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose and that of his associates have been frozen by the Economic and Fi...

The personal account of the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose and that of his associates have been frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).Fayose Speaking at the premises of Zenith Bank, Ado-Ekiti, where he had his personal account, the governor claimed that he had gotten winds of plans by the Presidency to freeze his account some days earlier. A source at the Bank told the visibly surprised Governor Fayose that his account was allegedly frozen on the order of the anti-graft agency.The Governor said, he had earlier issued a counter-cheque to make withdrawal and was rejected by the bank located at Onigari , GRA in Ado Ekiti, describing the action as criminal and illegal.Citing Section 308 of the 1999 constitution, Fayose said he enjoys immunity as a sitting governor , urging the federal government to fight corruption within the ambit of the law.Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution gives me immunity just like the President. I wouldnt know why these people are intolerant of others and in a haste. Let them wait till 2018 when I will end my tenure for them to do their investigation. The other time the EFCC accused me of embezzling N1.2 billion poultry project fund, I was the one who voluntarily reported myself to the EFCC.It was when I got a hint of their move that I wrote a cheque to withdraw some money from the account and I came myself. I was denied access to the account as I was told the EFCC has placed restriction on it. That is executive rascality taken too far. Even when I had case with EFCC my properties were not affected.If they say they are investigating money spent on election, does it mean it is only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that spent money on election? A lot of people and groups supported my campaign then.Where did APC and their leaders get the money they spent on 2015 general elections from? Now it is only in PDP that they find thieves, to them there are no theieves in the APC.Even the President cannot claim to be an angel. The estate he built in Abuja is known to us. His wife was indicted over the Halliburton Scandal. When that American, Jefferson, was being sentenced, the Presidents wife was mentioned as having wired $170,000 to Jefferson. Her name was on page 25 of the sentencing of Jefferson. We can serialize the judgment for people to see and read.We will not allow this and we will defend our rights within the law of the land. Those who think they can silence me are mistaken. I am a person who is not perturbed by things like this.Let them wait till 2018 when I will finish my term and I will be the one to go and meet them. I wont run away and let them investigate the whole world, I have nothing to hide or fear, he said.Fayose who vowed to challenge the action appropriately.Fayoses personal account was frozen following clues on alleged suspicious lodgments, a top official of the anti-graft agency said last night.The agency said the action was part of an ongoing investigation, adding that governors have no immunity against investigation.Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution only confers immunity on governors and some public officers against prosecution, the official added.Although there were allegations that the frozen cash was about N1.3billion, the EFCC said it might released the figure today as part of its findings.EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren told NE last night that Fayose cannot stop the anti-graft commission from doing its job.Uwujaren said: It is true that we have frozen Governor Fayoses acount in connection with an ongoing investigation. We will soon release the details of our findings to the public.We froze the account because Fayose has no immunity against investigation.Let me clarify that the 1999 Constitution does not grant immunity to governors or public officers against investigation.The governors and others enjoying the immunity clause in Section 308 cannot be prosecuted. Therefore, Fayose cannot stop EFCC from doing its job.Asked if the amount in the Post No Bill ( PNB ) account was up to N1.3billion as being speculated, Uwujaren said: Certainly, some amount was frozen in Fayoses account but I cannot say the exact amount till tomorrow (today).A top official, who spoke in confidence, said: It became necessary to freeze the account following clues on alleged suspicious lodgments.We will release the facts soon to Nigerians to appreciate the extent of our investigation.Fayose accused the EFCC of intimidating him and vowed not to succumb.A statement by his Chief Press Secretary Idowu Adelusi and a broadcast relayed on the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State (BSES) yesterday announced the freezing of the governors account.The governor, who accused the President Muhammadu Buhari administration of running a selective anti-corruption crusade, alleged that the accounts of his political associates and followers were also frozen by the EFCC. But he did not give their names and details.He also claimed that he was not informed that he had committed any offence before his account was frozen.The governor accused some leaders of the APC and a prominent lawyer from the state of being behind the action.
A call has gone to the Federal government to invest recovered looted funds in the development of low-cost housing and mortgage financing t...

A call has gone to the Federal government to invest recovered looted funds in the development of low-cost housing and mortgage financing to facilitate the reduction of housing deficit in Nigeria.Director-General, Institute of Mortgage Brokers and Lenders (IMBL), Elisha Jasper, made the call in a congratulatory message to the President Muhammadu Buhari on his one year in office.There is a lack of mortgage professionals in Nigeria due to lack of mortgage studies; thereby creating a lack of knowledge and skills on mortgage brokerage, financing and lending. But IMBL cannot do it alone.Individuals (workers and/or students), governments, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and Primary Mortgage Institutions (PMIs) must all play their parts or roles in this fight.The governing council of IMBL urges that the looted funds recovered should be reinvested in low-cost housing and mortgage. While IMBL, with help from the government, continues to raise and produce mortgage professionals, FMBN should build mass houses that can be allocated or acquired by Nigerians on mortgage, he stated.Jasper said that members of IMBL believe that every Nigerian should own a house, no matter the situation of the economy. He noted that the problem with housing in Nigeria has become very unbearable and unimaginable, for not just the poor or low-income earners, but also for the so-called rich and elite.According to IMBL, the problem with housing in Nigeria has become very unbearable and unimaginable, for not just the poor or low-income earners, but also for the so-called rich and elite. The IMBL DG added that problems bedeviling the housing sector range from lack of funds, insurgency, economic crisis, unavailability of structured houses and, most importantly, lack of skills and knowledge on mortgage. He noted that these have led to the ineffectiveness of the housing sector and the inefficient processing of the National Housing Fund (NHF) application.The lack of awareness, skills and or knowledge on mortgage studies have brought about low capacity of mortgage professionals, he added. Lots of Nigerians serve their country and dont even have houses owned by them to show for it.People waste money on paying rent for the rest of their lives without knowing that the money paid for rent can be factored into mortgage financing and owning these houses after the payment period. People who give their lives for Nigeria dont even own houses of their own.What then can they leave behind for their children, loved ones, family? The housing problem in Nigeria is unfathomable when you look at the massive land and infrastructural organisations at our disposal, the message read.
The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday urged all security agencies, Interpol, the Presidency and United Na...





The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday urged all security agencies, Interpol, the Presidency and United Nations to dispassionately monitor activities of Governor Rauf Aregbesola which the party alleged can cause religious crisis in the country.The party, in a statement issued in Osogbo by its spokesperson, Prince Diran Odeyemi, premised its call on what it tagged: embarrassment and the insincerity of Governor Aregbesola over the hijab issue which is a diversionary tactic to cover up his mismanagement of the state human and material resourcesThe main opposition party in the state said even at the peak of Boko Haram activities when churches and mosques were under severe attack by the insurgents, Christians and Muslims in the country were not divided and still cohabit in all the states of the federation. But since hijab became an issue under Aregbesolas administration in Osun, Christian Association of Nigeria CAN and Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs SCIA, have taken different positions and this portend great danger for the harmonious co-existence of people of different faith and denominations in the country.PDP is particularly happy that the issue of hijab has exposed to the entire country the character of Osun State governor and his divide and rule system of diverting peoples attention against his inadequate knowledge of governance and total mismanagement of the state the party said.It then warned all the stakeholders in the affairs of the country not to allow petty politics dominate common sense in handling the festering issue of hijab in Osun public schools, adding that; If the issue is not well managed, Aregbesolas confusion may spread to other states just like the payment of half salary to workers which has now spread to other states.Is the Federal Government aware that Osun no longer uses 6-3-3-4 system of education nor sing the National Anthem which are the first misstep of Aregbesolas administration.Schools were lumped together under the guise of reclassification, several strange initiatives such as same uniform for all schools in the state, obnoxious and double taxation and other policies that confused rather than enhanced governance were introduced just to benefit few Lagos based individuals and sponsors, the statement added.No order by CJ to provide informationMeantime, the state government has refuted reports that the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, had granted an Order of Mandamus compelling the governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, to provide information about the debt profile of the State and its payment modality.A statement by Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, Secretary to the State Government in Osogbo yesterday stated that the report was patently false and misleading.The statement read in part: The applicant in the case is a well-known member of Peoples Democratic Party PDP from Ikeji Arakeji, who served in the last PDP administration in the state.The Order of Court granted him is the right to put the other party on notice, in this instance, the Governor of the State of Osun.
The Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, has denied claims that he is behind the hijab crisis rocking the education sector in the s...

The Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, has denied claims that he is behind the hijab crisis rocking the education sector in the state.Let me say this there is no official pronouncement on hijab. I have not ordered the use of hijab in schools and I challenge them to bring evidence, Aregbesola said during a roundtable on developing collaborative framework for education organised by the Development and Advancement in Western Nigeria.It might interest you that my wife does not use hijab, my daughter does not use hijab. So, I did not order the use of hijab.My view on Islam is why I am suffering unmerited persecution. My crime is that I struggle to be a good Muslim and not because I hurt anybody.The governor insisted that there was no crisis in the states education sector and accused the media of celebrating idiocy by focusing on the decision of some misguided students of Baptist High School to wear church garments to school.He said it was wrong for any religious body to claim the ownership of any public school in the state as government took over the schools about 41 years ago.The governor also said it was not true that schools founded by Muslim were merged with schools established by Christian missionaries.He explained that the hijab crisis started in 2012 when four Muslim students were prevented from using hijab after they were transferred to Baptist High School from a school where they were allowed to use hijab.Meanwhile, some Muslim clerics stormed some public schools in Osogbo on Monday, insisting that female Muslim students should be allowed to wear hijab to the schools in accordance with the judgment of the Osun State High Court.Our correspondent gathered that the clerics went to St. Charles High School and Ife Oluwa Middle School early in the morning but the teachers told them it would take a directive from the Ministry of Education for that to happen.Some Muslims came this morning and said they wanted to enforce the use of hijab. We explained to them that we will allow our students to wear hijab whenever we get instruction from the state government to do so, the Principal of St. Charles High School, Mr. Anthony Famoriyo, said.You know that everything we do in schools follows procedure; what you teach, the way you teach. We are not against any group. We are here to teach our children and that is our mission.
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, on Sunday said he was never invited for questioning by the police over allegations of forgi...

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, on Sunday said he was never invited for questioning by the police over allegations of forging Senate rules.He expressed surprise at the lawsuit filed by the Federal Government against him and other suspected conspirators.Mr. Ekweremadu alongside Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasu, and his deputy, Benedict Efeturi, have been charged to court for allegedly forging the Standing Rules that brought the Senate presiding officers to office last year.The charges were filed on June 10, more than a year after the controversial election and inauguration of the two principal officersDays after the elections, Suleiman Hunkuyi (APC-Kaduna North) petitioned the Inspector General of Police, alleging that the Standing Rules used for the exercise was forged.He accused the four officials of conspiracy, and demanded criminal investigation of the matter.The police later launched an investigation, submitting a detailed report to the nations Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.Consequently on June 9, the Federal Government formally accused the quartet and pressed criminal charges of offence of conspiracy punishable under Section 97 (1) of the Penal Code Law; and offence of forgery with fraudulent intent punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Law, against them.However, Mr. Ekweremadu, in a statement on Sunday by his spokesperson, Uche Anichukwu, denied complicity in the alleged forgery, and described the suit as a form of intimidation and onslaught to rubbish him.The hands of Sen Ike Ekweremadu are clean because he has no business whatsoever with the production of Senate Standing Orders, said the statement.This is the latest attempt to try and convict him in the court of public opinion, notwithstanding that we do not want to mount a public defence.We would rather meet them in court if they so wish.We plead with our supporters across the nation to maintain the peace and go about their normal businesses unperturbed by this latest act of harassment and impunity.We want to reassure them that no form of intimidation and onslaught to rubbish him will make him shy away from diligently carrying out the constitutional duties.Ekweremadu will not legislate in fear, and he will certainly not fear to legislate, the statement further added.Expressing surprise, Mr. Ekweremadu said neither he nor Mr. Saraki was invited by the police or indicted in the report to the Attorney-General of the Federation. He, therefore, queried why charges should be pressed against them.He said in July 2015, the police spokesperson told the world (and it is on record) that the agency did not invite him for questioning and that the Force did not at any time question him over the so-called forged Senate Standing Orders.We are, therefore, as surprised as other Nigerians at the current twists and turns by the same police one year after and also after they had since submitted to the Attorney General of the Federation, their investigation report, which neither indicted nor even made the slightest mention of Senator Ike Ekweremadu. Moreso that the petitioners never named Ekweremadu in their petition in the first instance, his statement said.We wish to state that we read the reports of the so-called police invitation and charges allegedly preferred against Senator Ekweremadu; the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki; and others on the pages of the newspapers like other Nigerian.Even as we try to reconcile the reports of the simultaneous police invitation and court processes, nobody has, till date, served the Deputy President of the Senate any letter of invitation by the police or court summons.The Office or person of the Deputy President of the Senate is not in the moon. The concerned authorities know how and where to reach Senator Ekweremadu if they want to. But, so far, everything remains in the realms of the usual propaganda onslaught to malign, bully, intimidate, and divert attention from the real challenges presently confronting the nation. However, when the bird jerks in the air, we can fathom where it would perch.
Jamie Vardy is yet to make up his mind about a summer move to Arsenal, and could still move to the Emirates, according to Sky souces.Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger told Chinese television over the weekend that he believes Vardy is staying at Leicester.Wenger said: "Jamie Vardy is, at the moment, at Leicester and from what I know, he will stay at Leicester."Arsenal told Leicester three weeks ago they are prepared to meet the 20m buy-out clause in Vardy's contract, and Leicester responded by offering the striker improved terms.Vardy wants to focus entirely on England while they are in Euro 2016, and will delay making a decision about his domestic future until he returns home.On Saturday, speaking at England's 2016 training base at Chantilly, Vardy insisted he was not thinking about his club future."I'm just here completely focusing on England and that's all I want to do at the moment," said the 29-year-old."We're here to represent England and that's all I want to think about."
One Ike Iwuanyanwu has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly raping and impregnating his 15-year-old daughter.

One Ike Iwuanyanwu has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly raping and impregnating his 15-year-old daughter.The suspect, a driver residing on Anuoluwapo Street at Ajao Estate, in the Isolo area of the state, was arrested at the weekend after the matter was reported at the Ajao Estate Police Division.According to the Punch, Iwuanyanwu had also beaten his daughter and wife, warning them not to disclose the incident to anyone but his wife informed her family members who went to the girls school to confirm the story from her.Upon her confirmation, the case was reported to the state Ministry of Youth and Social Development, which informed the police and the victim was taken into custody by the Lagos State Government.Meanwhile, the unnamed victims mother had reportedly aborted the pregnancy, saying she cannot bear such abomination.The pregnancy was said to have been aborted before she was rescued and taken into custody by government officials.The Coordinator, Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team, Lagos State, Lola Vivour-Adeniyi, said the victim was safe in government custody.She said, Social workers have rescued the victim. She is now at an orphanage provided by the state government. We have also called for the duplicate case file.The girls mother was arrested for allegedly aborting the pregnancy. The police may grant her bail on the grounds that she has a four-year-old boy, Lola added.Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Dolapo Badmos, said investigation was ongoing.The PPRO said, The man raped and impregnated his daughter, while the mother also procured abortion for her.The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has ordered that the case be transferred to the gender unit of the command for investigation.The girl is placed in a shelter because we cannot afford to see her go back to that vicinity, she added.
South Africa-based Telecoms giant MTN on Monday named a new chief executive after resolving a dispute with Nigeria over a huge fine for fa...





South Africa-based Telecoms giant MTN on Monday named a new chief executive after resolving a dispute with Nigeria over a huge fine for failing to disconnect millions of unregistered mobile phone lines.MTN announced that Rob Shuter, a South African who is currently the Vodafone Europe CEO, will take over as its new group president and CEO next year.Africas biggest wireless operator, MTN said in a statement that following the successful resolution of the Nigerian dispute, it has completed the review of its governance and management structures.The Johannesburg-based company was last year hit with a $3.9 billion fine for failing to cut off 5.1 million unregistered SIM cards, amid fears that some of the affected lines were being used by Boko Haram insurgents.On June 10 MTN announced that following negotiations with the Nigerian authorities, it had agreed to pay $1.7 billion as a final settlement.Shuter will take over from executive chairman Phuthuma Nhleko, who stepped in last November in the thick of the Nigerian fine debacle.
The U.S. Justice Department has said the embattled former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, could be extradited to the...

The U.S. Justice Department has said the embattled former Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro, could be extradited to the country to stand trial as long as the Federal Government followed due process.The erstwhile minister had last week, dared the federal government to extradite him from the U.S, his current place of residence, following the invasion of his home in Lagos by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, who made away with cars and other valuables.But Peter Carr, an official at the United States Department of Justice, DOJ, said the former ministers extradition from the U.S. was possible provided the Federal Government did the needful.The official responding to an email sent by online portal, SaharaReporters, on the issue at the weekend, said: Within (existing) statutory and treaty framework, US is generally to extradite its citizens, assuming that the requirements of the treaty are met. The fact of dual nationality with Nigeria would be irrelevant in this context.Quoting Article 8 of the extradition treaty, Carr said it specifies that extraditions will comply with the laws of the requested country, i.e. the place where the fugitive is found.Also speaking on the issue, an international legal expert in the U.S., Roger Clark, said the United States has no problem extraditing its nationals, provided there is a treaty.Clark, an expert on international criminal law and a professor at Rutgers University School of Law in the United States, noted that some countries in Western Europe were reluctant to extradite their own citizens but noted that common law countries didnt usually have a problem, assuming legal processes were followed.
Orji Uzor Kalu, billionaire businessman and former governor of Abia state, placed an advert in Daily Sun newspaper on Monday  to welcome...

Orji Uzor Kalu, billionaire businessman and former governor of Abia state, placed an advert in Daily Sun newspaper on Monday  to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari back from his vacation in London.The advert on page 46 of the newspaper, which he owns, is titled: Welcome, Mr. President.My family and I welcome His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, on his return to the country after a deserved rest abroad, he wrote.As you return to your duty post, I wish you more strength and grace to continue in your selfless service to the nationa and humanity.He signed off as Dr Orji Uzo Kalu, Former Governor, Abia State.The advert is quite unusual  welcome adverts to presidents returning from vacation were not even common in the past, much less under a government that is considered less receptive to waste.Kalu is currently on trial for alleged money laundering and corruption to the tune of N5.6bn when he was the governor from 1999 to 2007.The once powerful figure in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has found himself on the margins of power, recently losing his Abia north senatorial bid to Mao Ohuabunwa.Kalu ran on the platform of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) which he formed in 2006 at the height of his face-off with President Olusegun Obasanjo.He recently attributed his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to his opposition to Obasanjos third term.This is part of the price I have to pay for opposing the third-term agenda fiasco of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, he said in a statement.I have all the records and facts of the case. I am willing to submit myself for the rule of law to take its course. That has always been my passionate advocacy right from the lower courts where the case emanated.
Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) would focus on winning the governorship election, follo...

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) would focus on winning the governorship election, following the emergence of Mr. Godwin Obaseki as the candidate.He said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is divided, adding that he would not lose sleep over the opposition party.Oshiomhole said the APC would soon commence campaigns for the general election as, according to him, the PDP is lighter than a loaf of bread.His words: Our delegates have spoken, now the party will hit the ground running. There is no PDP in Edo state. Which of the factions, we have one body several heads, even when they were in Federal we defeated them with all their Federal might. So there is no PDP as long as I am concerned.For me they are lighter than a loaf of bread. But we will go to the election, there are other parties in the state. PDP is not an issue, I dont think Edo people will forget the crime of PDP in a hurry. Not for the next twenty years in this state. Even when you ask young boys and girls in the state, who is responsible for this bad school they say PDP.Who is responsible for this bad hospital, they say PDP. Who is responsible for this bad road PDP, who is responsible for this good road, APC. Even children knows that, by the time they become 18 they will continue to vote APC and vote against PDP. We have no fear at all, infact we will do better in the next election and kick them out of existence he declared.
In a way to persuade Nigerians that hes fully recuperated and strong, President Muhammadu Buhari who arrived the country on Sunday af...

President Buhari who said he is resuming work stronger and more energetic jokingly challenged the reporter who asked him about his state of health at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.You have seen me, you saw me when I was going, you can do the assessment by yourself.You can see me inspecting the guards of honour, if you want to wrestle me, you can do so, but you know Im taller than you, the president told the reporter.The president, clad in a light brown kaftan with a cap to match, did not use the helicopter meant to transport him to the presidential villa, but rather embarked on road journey to further prove his fitness to doubting Thomases who feasted on his state of health after extending his vacation by five more days last Thursday.The presidential plane carrying the president landed at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 5.30 p.m.Members of the Federal Executive Council, Service Chiefs, Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari and Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, were among those who welcomed President Buhari at the airport.Others at the airport were Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi and other government functionaries.
Godwin Obaseki recently emerged the flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress APC, in the Edo gubernatorial elections

Godwin Obaseki recently emerged the flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress APC, in the Edo gubernatorial electionsEDUCATIONHe had his early education in St. Matthews Anglican Primary School Benin City from where he proceeded to Eghosa Anglican Grammer School, Benin City for his secondary schoool eductaion. He attended the University of Ibadan where he obtained a BA in Classics.Mr. Obaseki attended the Columbia University and Pace University in New York and has an MBA in Finance and International Business. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers, Nigeria and an alumnus of the Lagos Business School Chief Executive Program.He was nominated a Global Leader for Tomorrow (GLT) by the World Economic Forum in 2001.CAREERGodwin Obaseki began his career over 30 years ago and has established track records in Investment Banking, Asset Management, Securities Trading and the Public Sector both internationally and in Nigeria. He started out in 1983 with Capital Trust Brokers Limited Lagos as a stockbroker where he excelled and subsequently worked with International Merchant Bank (an affiliate of First Chicago Bank). In 1988 he joined AVC Funds Limited, Lagos where he served as a Project Manager and led the core team that set up two of the new generation banks which eventually reshaped the face of the banking industry in Nigeria. Between 1993 and 1995 he worked in New York as a principal of Equatorial Finance Co, a Financial Advisory firm with a focus on Africa and providing Structured Trade Finance for African related transactions through credit, financial advisory and risk insurance.He Founded Afrinvest West Africa Limited (formerly Securities Transactions & Trust Company Limited (SecTrust)) in 1995 as the pioneer Managing Director. The firm has since grown to become a leading Investment Banking and Investment Management firm in Nigeria. In 1995 SecTrust was appointed the correspondent stockbroker for Nigeria by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). In 1996, SecTrust established the first derivative product, the Nigerian International Debt Fund (NIDF) on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, which allowed Nigerians invest local savings in US Dollar instrument. This fund has outperformed projections on returns.Other Committee activities in Edo State GovernmentTax Assessment Review Committee for Edo State Internal Revenue Service (TARC)  ChairmanCommittee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)  ChairmanCommittee on the Implementation of the Law Establishing the Edo State University of Science and Technology, Uzaire  SecretaryCommittee on Contributory Pension Scheme  MemberEdo SEEFOR/DPO Steering Committee  MemberCommittee on the Report of the Audit of the Credentials of Teaching Staff in Public Schools in Edo State.Land Use Charge Committee  ChairmanState Steering Committee on the European Union Assisted Niger-Delta Support programme (NDSP) Component 3 (Development of Edo State Water & Sanitation Policy and Law.
ATLANTIC CITY -- A man who allegedly stole about $386,000 by opening fraudulent bank accounts in New Jersey and four other states was arrested Saturday in Atlantic City, authorities said.

Daniel A. White

Daniel A. White, 49, of Manalapan, established 86 checking accounts at various TD Banks in New Jersey as well as in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania, Stafford police said in a news release. One of the banks was in Westfield, while others were in Brooklyn, N.Y., and New Haven, Conn.

White's luck began to change when he allegedly tried to pull the scam May 9 in Manchester. He fled when an employee became suspicious, nearly striking a responding police officer before authorities called off the chase, the report said.

Then on June 10, an employee at a Stafford bank recognized White from a previous encounter, authorities allege. The worker called police, but the pursuit again had to be terminated when White sped through a school zone and ran several school buses off the road while traveling the wrong way on Route 72, according to police.

The U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and the New Jersey State Police Casino Investigation Unit assisted Stafford police and the Ocean County Sheriff's Department in capturing White at a casino. Police didn't name the casino.

He is charged with multiple counts of second-degree eluding as well as numerous fraud and theft-related charges, police said.

Additional charges are expected to be filed. He was held on $125,000 bail at the Ocean County jail. Police are still seeking White's co-conspirators.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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In a file photo, a warning marker for a natural gas pipeline is shown. (Michael Mancuso | The Times of Trenton)

(Michael Mancuso | The Times of Trenton)

BURLINGTON COUNTY -- A Burlington County judge on Friday issued a split decision in a lawsuit by New Jersey Natural Gas to invalidate a county policy that the utility company claimed would impede construction of its natural gas pipeline.

NJNG filed suit in February challenging the county's policy regarding permits to close and excavate roads where the pipeline would be buried.

The utility company argued the policy was "adopted not for any legitimate governmental purpose, but for the wholly improper purpose of granting Burlington County unfettered decision to impede NJNG's installation of a natural gas pipeline within the roads and rights-of-way of the county."

The 30-mile, 30-inch pipeline, known as the Southern Reliability Link, would begin in Chesterfield and continue through North Hanover, Upper Freehold, Plumsted and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst before connecting to the company's system in Manchester.

Superior Court Judge Ronald Bookbinder did not invalidate the county's entire policy as requested, but recommended that some changes be made.

The company's central concern was that some provisions gave the county and county engineer too much discretion in determining when they could approve, deny or revoke a permit or require that certain plans be submitted with an application.

Bookbinder voided the challenged provisions, giving the county 60 days to revise its policy and make clear the conditions for a denial.

"The county contends that the engineer's discretion is governed by the 'specific rules' in the policy. However, the county did not explain what rules in the policy limit the engineer's exercise of discretion," Bookbinder wrote in his 57-page decision. "Instead, the county engineer is empowered to 'approve...deny...and/or revoke' a permit at his discretion, with no objective criteria limiting that exercise of discretion."

Under the policy, for example, the county engineer or the Board of Chosen Freeholders could, at their own discretion, deny a permit application or revoke an issued permit "in the interest of public safety."

"It is unclear what conditions or for what reasons the county engineer would deny an application or revoke an issued permit, other than in the 'interest of public safety,'" Bookbinder wrote. "This reference to public safety is unsupported by objective standards or governing criteria to guide the county engineer's exercise of discretion and cannot save the challenged provisions."

The judge found that the "remaining conditions and restrictions" were valid and that applications for road-opening permits could proceed.

"We'll be making the minor changes to the policy as recommended by the judge, but we continue to vigorously defend our road-opening policy to ensure that New Jersey Natural Gas has to play by the same rules as everybody else," county spokesman Eric Arpert told NJ Advance Media on Monday.

Michael Kinney, spokesman for NJNG, said the company was pleased with the court's decision.

"Judge Bookbinder granted our motion to strike certain provisions of the county's road-opening policy, agreeing with NJNG that those provisions gave the county unfettered discretion over road-opening projects and are clearly illegal," he said in a statement. "Furthermore, Judge Bookbinder retained jurisdiction to review any re-writes to the policy ... and to address any improper action by the county engineer with respect to NJNG's permit application for the SRL project."

Editor's Note: This post was updated to include more information from the judge's decision.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
boozle_AirlineMiles_miller_5.JPG

Marc Ort holds his two Brotish Airways/Chase credit cards. He never received his promised rewards because the wrong British Airways account number was assigned to the credit card.

(Andrew Miller/For NJ Advance Media)

Air travel is expensive.

That's why millions of travelers scour for low fares on so-called discount travel sites. It's also why consumers take advantage of special offers from credit card companies.

A rewards credit card is the strategy Marc Ort decided to try to lower his travel costs.

He chose an offer for a British Airways Visa Signature credit card by Chase.

A screen shot of the come-on Marc Ort answered to get a credit card with a 100,000 mile bonus.

As part of the offer, Ort would become a member of British Airways' Executive Club, and he'd earn "Avios" -- what British Airways calls its "club currency" -- based on his purchases. The Avios could be redeemed for flights and other rewards.

Consumers who signed up for the card and made $20,000 in charges during the first year would get 100,000 Avios credited to their accounts.

The special deal would also give the member a free companion ticket.

Ort signed up for the card in October 2015. When he received the card, it had his credit card account number and a British Airways Executive number printed on the front.

He started spending.

Months later, in March 2016, Ort reached the required amount and he decided it was time to cash in some of his rewards.

But something was wrong.

His British Airways account didn't show the 100,000 bonus.

When he called British Airways, the runaround began in earnest.

A close-up of the two cards with different account numbers, held by Marc Ort.

They realized the Executive number printed on the front of Ort's credit card was not the Executive account number registered to Ort's name.

There was a mix-up.

Because the number on Ort's card wasn't his Executive account number, British Airways refused to discuss it.

"I am told I have to figure out who that person is and get the miles from them because once the miles are placed into an account, they cannot be taken back," Ort said.

That didn't make sense to Ort -- he had no way to track down the real owner of that account number -- so he tried Chase again.

A rep said someone would get back to him in a few days.

While he waited, Ort opened a new British Airways Executive account to make sure no new rewards he'd earn would be assigned to someone else's account.

Chase told Ort that it was sending him a new credit card with Ort's real Executive number on it.

When the card arrived a few days later with Ort's new Executive number printed on the front, he logged into his account to check out his balance.

It showed only 2,300 Avios, he said.

Ort said he called Chase and spoke to a supervisor, who said he could see the rewards had been transferred to Ort's account.

"I reply that I'm looking at the screen and it's missing the 100,000-plus miles," Ort said. "He said it can take up to 30 days and I have to understand the process and wait."

So Ort waited. And waited. And waited some more.

By mid-May, the rewards still hadn't been transferred to his account.

Ort needed to book round trip airline tickets, but his small rewards balance wouldn't cover the cost. He said he couldn't wait any longer so he paid $500 for the flight he needed.

He called Chase again to "beg for the miles that should have been in my account months ago."

A rep offered 2,500 for his trouble.

That's when he turned to Bamboozled.

HITTING THE RUNWAY

We reviewed the British Airways and Chase offer, screenshots of Ort's Executive account and Ort's timeline of his communications with the companies.

Then we reached out to British Airways and Chase, and both said they'd review the account.

After about two weeks, Ort received a message from Chase. A rep said the rewards would be credited to his account in about a week. He would also receive 10,000 additional rewards -- for his trouble -- and the companion ticket he was promised as part of the initial deal.

Ort said he was skeptical, and that he'd believe it when he sees the balance in his account.

We asked the companies what happened.

British Airways said it worked with Chase to resolve the issue, but it wouldn't offer any more detail.

A screen capture of Marc Ort's British Airways account, showing the overdue $100,000 plus the $10,000 extra were credited to his account.

"The issue has been resolved," a Chase spokeswoman said. "Per our privacy policy, we cannot speak to individual cardholder issues. Please reach out to Mr. Ort for additional information, as he has been notified of the resolution."

Ort said no one gave him any additional information about how this happened, but he did report the rewards were in his account the following day.

He is grateful that it's all over and he now has the rewards he earned, but overall, he said, he received lousy service.

"Did they give me an extra 10K? Yes. Not much for all the hassle I went through but better than the 2,500 miles they originally offered," Ort said.

Have you been Bamboozled? Reach Karin Price Mueller at Bamboozled@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KPMueller. Find Bamboozled on Facebook. Mueller is also the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com.

Stay informed and sign up for NJMoneyHelp.com's weekly e-newsletter.
A New Jersey man who allegedly visited toy stores here and in Florida to steal Lego Star Wars sets to fund his cocaine habit has been busted.

Shannon J. Kirkley

Shannon J. Kirkley, 35, of East Orange, was arrested after being caught trying to steal thousands worth of the items from a Toys "R" Us in Wesley Chapel, Fla., the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

Kirkley hid the Legos in a toy chest, which he paid for, TampaBay.com reported. He was seen on surveillance camera trying to hide the Legos on Tuesday, the report said.

Authorities were on the look out for Kirkley as he was suspected in other similar thefts before being taken into custody last week.

Kirkley is charged with grand theft, resisting arrests and possession of cocaine. TampaBay.com reported that Kirkley told police he'd committed similar thefts in New Jersey.

He remains held on $7,300 bail at the Pasco County jail in Land O'Lakes.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
NEWARK -- It was a cockfight held on a street in Newark's North Ward on a June night nearly two years, and three men planned to rob all the people who were watching, authorities say.

However, one of wouldbe robbers fired a gun, killing a woman in the crowd, authorities said.

On Monday, the three men, Samir Thomas, 24, and Kelvin Diaz, 31, both of Elizabeth, and Luis Ortiz, 28, of Newark, were indicted on charges related to the attempted robbery and killing, acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn Murray in a statement.

Murray and Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Justin Edwab, said the victim, Maria Cruz, 41, of Rockway, N.Y., was killed during the robbery on 100 block of Third Avenue.

Edwab, who is prosecuting the case, said Thomas fired the fatal shot.

Authorities said the shooting occurred about 3:30 a.m. on June 29, 2014. They said Cruz was taken to University Hospital where she died about an hour later.

Thomas now faces a 10-count indictment for charges of conspiracy, attempted robbery, felony murder, manslaughter, attempted burglary and weapons offenses.

Diaz was indicted on seven counts, including felony murder, attempted robbery, attempted burglary and weapons offenses.

Ortiz faces indictment for conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit burglary and animal cruelty charges, authorities said.

They said Diaz is being held at the Essex County Correctional Facility, but Thomas is in custody in North Carolina and Ortiz has been released pending court hearings.

Cruz was one of two people shot and killed in a span less than five hours in Newark.

About 11 p.m. on June 28, Raheem Hughee, 33, of East Orange was found shot on Mountainview Avenue near Cedar Avenue, officials said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Tom Haydon may be reached at thaydon@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Tom_HaydonSL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Donald Trump,Diana Brest

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump gives a kiss to supporter Diana Brest after he spoke at a rally Saturday in Phoenix.

(Associated Press Photo)

The Washington Post is the latest in a number of media organizations that have been banned by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in covering his campaign events because of stories he feels are unfair.

Others banned include Politico, BuzzFeed News, The Huffington Post and others.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Mr. Trump accused The Post of "incredibly inaccurate coverage and reporting" and deemed it "phony and dishonest," although he has granted frequent interviews to the paper's editors and reporters in the past.

Combined with Trump's promise to "open up" the nation's libel laws, his punitive attitude toward the press has prompted concern among media and free-speech advocates. Martin Baron, the executive editor of The Post, issued a statement on Monday calling

Trump's action "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 organization is banished," Mr. Baron wrote, referring to Mr. Trump's practice. "The Post will continue to cover Donald Trump as it has all along -- honorably, honestly, accurately, energetically and unflinchingly."

Trump's pique stemmed from a Post headline on Monday that suggested that the Republican candidate had linked President Obama to the Orlando, Fla., shooting massacre. The article, published on Monday, cited vague but insinuating comments made by Trump in a Fox News interview, in which he said Obama's response to the shooting meant "he doesn't get it or he gets it better than anybody understands."

The Trump campaign cited the Post headline in a statement, adding: "We no longer feel compelled to work with a publication which has put its need for 'clicks' above journalistic integrity." The campaign added: "Mr. Trump does not mind a bad story, but it has to be honest."

Saturday's results:
Hiatt Bean, a 2013 graduate of North Hunterdon High School, returned last week from serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hiatt spent his time proselyting and serving those in need in the Fresno-Modesto area in central California.

Missionaries for the Church focus a significant portion of their time to serving. For Hiatt, this ranged from helping the community set up for a big rodeo to preparing food for the poor or helping a new widow manage her yard. Hiatt said, "I believe service blessed my life just as much as it blessed others." He recounted one experience helping transients jumpstart their car. He claimed that, at first, he was a little "judgmental" and "unfortunately cynical." But he began to see them as the Lord saw them. Hiatt said, "Before my mission I saw people as the world sees people, through the eyes of economic standing, position and applause. Now thanks to my mission I see my brothers and sisters through the eyes of unity and great potential."

When asked about what challenges he faced on his mission, Hiatt said that going without worldly pleasures was at first difficult. Missionaries put aside things like hobbies, social media and dating to dedicate themselves to service. "Yet," Hiatt remarked, "the more I served others and forgot about my own wants and desires, the deeper my satisfaction with my mission grew. I overcame these challenges by thinking and serving others."

Hiatt will apply what he has learned as he pursues a college degree from LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, Utah this fall. He plans to make a more conscious effort to find opportunities to help others. He said, "I plan on continuing to serve now. Service does not just mean physical labor in my book. Service can involve making cookies for a neighbor, pulling weeds for the new widow or by taking the time to write cards of love and gratitude to those burdened with the challenges of life."

This item was submitted by Kim Button.
HD0623ScoutsPhilmontPrep.jpeg

Scouts from Troop 200, Venture Crew 200, and Troop 199 relax around a campfire after a strenuous hike at Harriman State Park in Ramapo, New York while preparing for a 75-mile, 12-day trek at Philmont National High Adventure Base in New Mexico.Scouts from Troop 200, Venture Crew 200, and Troop 199 relax around a campfire after a strenuous hike at Harriman State Park in Ramapo, New York while preparing for a 75-mile, 12-day trek at Philmont National High Adventure Base in New Mexico. Pictured (from left) are Zack Majarossy, Brinton Gibbons, Barrett Reep, Caleb Corson, Clay Grigg, Matt Majorossy. (courtesy photo)

Scouts, Scouters, and Venturers from Oldwick's Troop 199 and Annandale's Troop 200 and Venture Crew 200 prepare for 12 days and 75 miles of hiking at Philmont National High Adventure Base in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico. Because this trek, which will begin July 28, requires all needed camping gear and food to be carried, the boys have carried 50-pound packs during five "short" 6-14 mile practice day-hikes and three 12-14 mile practice hiking/camping trips.

While most practice treks have taken place locally at Round Valley Reservoir and the Delaware Water Gap, the eighth trek, on June 13, was at Harriman State Park in Ramapo, New York. With many elevations, the strenuous Harriman hike provided many challenges and just as many rewards. After reaching their campsite, the Scouts and Venturers built a campfire and discussed their experience though a Scout lesson, "Thorns, Buds, and Roses." The next morning they enjoyed a breakfast of bacon, eggs, and Aunt Jemima pancakes. One last practice hike is planned for the Appalachian Trail before heading to New Mexico.

Troops 200 and 199 meet Mondays at Immaculate Conception Church in Annandale and Zion Lutheran Church in Oldwick, respectively. For more information about Scouting visit www.BeAScout.org or visit www.T200.org or www.oldwicktroop199.org for information about these troops.

This item was submitted by Pam Nemeth.
EAST AMWELL - One person was hospitalized with smoke inhalation during a three-alarm fire early-morning Monday at a residence off Rosemont-Ringoes Road, Amwell Valley Fire Company Assistant Chief Max Jason confirmed.

One of the residents suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. It was not known what hospital they were taken to and their condition was not available. No other injuries were reported.

The Amwell Valley Fire Company was dispatched at 12:29 a.m. Monday morning for a fire that had started in an enclosed porch in the back of the house. The fire was contained to within the room, but caused substantial damage. The family will not be able to return to the home until township officials have inspected it, Jason said.

The fire was brought under control within two hours and by 4:30 a.m. firefighters left the scene. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Other fire departments also responding to the blaze included Sergeantsville Volunteer Fire Company, Stockton Fire Company and West Amwell Township Fire Department.

The south county tank task force was also requested to provide water to the scene. Fill up stations for the tankers were at two locations - Amwell Valley Fire Company and the Delaware Township School.
Honeybee swarm

A swarm of bees hangs from a branch above the parking lot at Clinton United Methodist Church. (courtesy photo)

CLINTON -- Faced with a swarming hive in the parking lot, members of Clinton United Methodist Church were helped by beekeepers in Hunterdon County.

On Wednesday night, as the praise band at Clinton United Methodist Church pulled in for practice, they were greeted by thousands of honey bees hanging from a tree branch overlooking the church parking lot.

While the bees were not attacking anyone, an active parking area was clearly not a good place for this swarm to call home. A quick internet search turned up the Northwest New Jersey Beekeepers Association and the band was soon on the phone with S&F Honey Farm and Stan Wasitowski, a beekeeper for more than 50 years.

Wasitowski put them in touch with Robert Simonofsky of Annandale, aka The Bee Man, who quickly came to the rescue. Simonofsky, who specializes in honeybee removal from the walls of homes, "buzzed in" in a truck he's dubbed the "bee mobile."

Working without a veil and aided by curling smoke from a cigar, Simonofsky started carefully gathering the bees using a special vacuum that doesn't hurt them.

The idea of going without a protective veil in a swarm of bees may seem a bit dangerous. The Bee Man, however, says honeybees are actually very gentle when they swarm because they don't have a hive to protect. The bees are merely looking for a new home and often settle in trees or the eaves or walls of a house.

Bees will swarm if their current home becomes too small. Half the honeybees will then move on with the queen while the rest of the hive remains in place and makes a new queen.

According to Simonofsky, this traveling swarm amounted to a nice size of about 20,000 bees (there are some four thousand bees per pound and the swarm weighed five pounds). In about an hour, vacuuming was completed and the rescued honeybees were whisked away in the bee mobile to a new home.

Once there, the bees and their queen were released from the vacuum into a new hive, where they'll begin the important job of pollinating Hunterdon County and producing honey.

As bee populations continue to be wiped out by Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and other threats, rescue missions like these play a critical role in their ongoing survival.

Sallie Graziano may be reached at sgraziano@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SallieGraziano. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A five-alarm fire Saturday morning tore through a Bayonne building that housed a laundromat and apartments displaced 45 people.

Two firefighters were taken to Jersey City Medical Center-Barnabas Health with non-life threatening injures from falling when the building's cockoft collapsed, according to Bayonne Fire Chief Keith Weaver.

Three residents were treated for minor smoke inhalation.

The blaze started around 1 a.m. and ripped through 455, 457 and 459 Avenue C near West 20th Street.

Weaver said the fire is believed to have started in a trash area in the back of the building. It expanded and spread up the walls into the top floor and cockloft, he said.

Bayonne firefighters alongside departments from neighboring areas including Jersey City, Hoboken and Kearny, fought the flames until it was quelled around 5 a.m. Workers were clearing debris by noon on Saturday.

Karen Shaneen, who lives near the affected building, said she could see the "terrible" blaze from her window.

"You (couldn't) see the firefighters because they were just engulfed by the smoke," she said this morning. "There was so much smoke, it was heading to Broadway. My family's been in Bayonne since 1905, and I've never seen a fire like this."

Neighbor Ivette Cintron said that she and other residents gave clothes to the victims of the fire that had to run out of their apartment while under dressed.

"The community really helped," said Shaneen. "It was really beautiful."

Lasha Hill, a displaced resident, came home around 2 a.m. to see her apartment in flames and her dog, Rocky, unaccounted for. About four hours after the blaze started, Rocky ran out from the apartment soaking wet and into the arms of a firefighter.

Hill and the other displaced residents are currently being housed at the Bayonne High School ice rink at 667 Avenue A.

"We're trying to relocate everybody," said Michael Qunitela, the owner of the building. "Thank God nobody died, that's all that matters."

The cause of the blaze is unknown and currently under investigation.
WEST WINDSOR -- A West Windsor man who failed to appear in a New York federal court was arrested last week and now faces weapon and drug charges, authorities said Monday.

Alexander Rosario, 41, of West Windsor, faces new drug and weapons charges (Courtesy of Mercer County Prosecutor's Office)

A federal warrant had been issued for 41-year-old Alexander Rosario, Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri said.

On June 15, Prosecutor's Office Detective Kevin Searing and members of the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force were executing the warrant at Rosario's South Post Road home when they saw him with heroin in plain view, Onofri said.

Officers took Rosario into custody before securing a second warrant. A search of Rosario's home turned up eight bricks of heroin, three handguns include one with a silencer, 10 grams of crack cocaine and about $3,000 in cash, Onofri said.

Rosario was charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, four counts of possession with the intent to distribute, multiple weapons offenses, possession of stolen property and maintaining a narcotics production facility.

He is being held at the Mercer County Correction Center in lieu of $750,000 cash bail on the new charges.

It was not immediately known what initial federal charges he faced.

Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
FREEHOLD -- Danielle Procopio says she was surprised she didn't cry as the woman charged in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that left her 15-year-old daughter dead last summer appeared in court on Monday.

"I thought I was going to be a lot more emotional," Procopio said after a brief hearing in Monmouth County Superior Court. "But the rage versus the restraint I had to show, having to balance that out at the same time, left no room for tears."

Procopio said she is "absolutely shocked" that Toni A. Marletta, 50, wasn't charged with vehicular homicide or vehicular manslaughter after a toxicology report showed she had drugs and alcohol in her system the night of the crash. The report, according to Procopio, could not prove she was intoxicated or impaired at the time of the crash.

"You don't leave an accident if it's an accident, you leave for a reason," Procopio said. "You're rewarded, basically, by not being charged with it."

Marletta's toxicology report was not made public, and a spokesman for the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office, Charles Webster, said he could not comment on an ongoing criminal case.

Authorities said 15-year-old Marissa Procopio was struck by Marletta's vehicle as she crossed Route 36 near the intersection of Avenue D in Middletown around 8:20 p.m. on July 7, 2015. Procopio died the next day at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune.

Marletta, of the Leonardo section of Middletown, had three 16-year-old passengers in her car at the time and fled the scene of the crash, authorities said.

She was indicted in May on one count of knowingly leaving the scene of a fatal motor-vehicle crash and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child -- one for each of the three passengers in her car.

Marletta pleaded not guilty in a court appearance on Monday, which is common in criminal cases. She sat in silence, with her sunglasses resting on her head, as Assistant Prosecutor Meghan Doyle read the terms of a plea offer in front of Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Ronald L. Reisner.

If she accepts the offer, Marletta will plead guilty to knowingly leaving the scene of a fatal crash, and two of the counts of endangering the welfare of a child will be merged into one, and another one will be dismissed. The state will seek a 7 year prison sentence, Doyle said.

Marletta has until Sept. 6 to accept the offer. If she rejects it, prosecutors will seek more prison time for Marletta and the final offer would recommend a 21-year sentence, Doyle said.

Marletta was escorted outside the courtroom with a sheriff's officer and her attorney, Peter O'Mara. Wearing her sunglasses, Marletta did not acknowledge an NJ Advance Media reporter who approached her for comment. She was then taken out a rear entrance of the courthouse.

Danielle Procopio was accompanied by a group of supporters who all wore purple, her daughter's favorite color. Danielle Procopio pledged that those same supporters will be with her again on Sept. 6.

"We'll see what other things (Marletta) has ... to amuse us all with," she said.

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
UPDATE:

LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP -- A 24-year-old New York woman has died after being swept out into the ocean in an apparent rip current off Long Beach Island on Saturday, authorities said Monday.

The woman, who was only identified as being from Port Chester, NY., and a male companion were knocked off their feet by a wave and pulled out into the ocean off the Spray Beach section of Long Beach Township on Saturday, said Lt. Chuck Schnell, a Long Beach Township police spokesman.

The woman was rushed to Southern Ocean Medical Center in Manahawkin, where officials said on Saturday she was in critical condition. She was later airlifted to a hospital in Philadelphia, where she died early Sunday morning, Long Beach Township Mayor Joseph Mancini said.

Schnell said police were called at 11:12 a.m. to the 24th Street beach on a report of a swimmer in distress. No lifeguards were on duty at the time, Long Beach Township Beach Patrol said on Saturday. Lifeguards officially started guarding the beaches on Sunday, according to its website.

Schnell said it appears the pair got caught in a rip current and pulled out to where they could no longer touch bottom.

When Patrolman Thomas Franks arrived, several good Samaritans were already performing CPR on the woman at the water's edge, Schnell said. Emergency responders also used a defibrillator on her, he said.

This was the second water rescue-related death in Long Beach Township this month. On June 5, a Watchung man died after helping to pull a group of teens from an apparent rip tide. James Clarke, 55, collapsed in the surf after he went to the aid of the teens, including his 15-year-old son.

MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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.
Welcome to nonleaguedaily.coms news provision, your go-to source for all non league updates, rumours, interviews, and much more besides.

Founded by a team with a genuine passion for the world of non league football, nonleaguedaily.com understands exactly what supporters of the so-called lower leagues are looking for. You want the high-quality reporting, in-depth analysis, and match reporting that matches that is more commonly found in the journalism for the top flights, but with the focus firmly fixed on the national leagues.

We understand that your passion, interest, and dedication is constant, and we believe you need a news service that matches that commitment with its own dedication and thoroughness  so thats what you can expect from our site.

The latest non league news, as and when it happens

Conventionally, non league news has always travelled fairly slowly, especially when compared to the instantaneous, constant breaking news cycles found in the upper leagues. Tales are told on terraces, rumours passed between pub patrons and circled between supporters at the latest game, often forced to remain somewhat local initially before word eventually spreads to other locales.

For us, this slow spread may be fairly organic in nature, but it simply isnt compatible with the modern football environment. Its also not conducive to the current fast-paced, always-available media landscape, nor the way that people tend to consume news nowadays. Thats why we have put together a non league news source that fans can turn to for the latest updates, as and when they happen, and as and when you want to read them. Non-league news now is the only acceptable speed at Betting.co.uk.

We update our non-league football news coverage constantly, bringing you all the latest developments and seeking to spread the word as quickly and accurately as possible. So if youre wondering whats happening both with your local team and with the lower leagues as a whole, you can visit us for non league news now, and be confident the stories you find are completely up to date.

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However, everyone who writes for us also shares our readers enthusiasm for non league football. Were not just churning out content in the hopes of cashing in on a professional dream; were here because we want to be, and will always be dedicated and committed to non league football as an entity and thriving in the experience of being able to talk about our favourite subject whenever we can. We create non-league news now that is written by genuine fans and enthusiasts, for fans. We know what you want to know and what matters most to an ardent non league supporter, and we always ensure that focusing on these elements is our guiding principle as we seek to solidify our status as an online non league paper fans can always rely on.

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News content written with passion and expertise

We believe that thanks to our dedication, insightfulness, and commitment to our subject matter of non league today, we are offering the best of both worlds to those searching for an online non league paper. We give you the professional approach we feel is appropriate for news about one of the most intriguing aspects of UK football; an aspect that we genuinely feel does not receive the interest and plaudits that it should be generating. Nevertheless, we dont let that professionalism take over everything we do: we remain committed fans, nurturing our own personal interest in non league football and ensuring every word we compose is infused with a sense of passion and dedication that enhances the posts we create.

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Beyond news: the nonleaguedaily.com interview series

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A new city centre cocktail bar will open in September following a 750,000 investment in a former nightclub.

The co-founder of national bar chain Be At One says Nottingham will have seen nothing like its "high-quality" and service-focused concept.

The chain will create 15 new jobs at the former Nirvana nightclub, in Victoria Street, which closed earlier this year.

It has also pledged to spend 5,000 on each staff member in a nine-week training programme aimed at turning them into "professional bartenders".

Co-founder and director Steve Locke said: "I'm really looking forward to opening the bar  it's going to be absolutely phenomenal.

"Nottingham is great and the Hockley area in particular is fantastic. It's a really buzzing area but there's nothing like Be At One there at the moment.

Read more: Red Hot World Buffet has been sold

"In a lot of ways it's like Birmingham and Manchester as a city, with such a broad range of brands and products.

"The likes of Five Guys and Red's True Barbecue are coming to Nottingham as it's one of the first places companies go to when they move out of London.

"There's a lot of competition from other bars but we like to go toe to toe with the best operators out there."

The chain was launched in London by Mr Locke and co-founders Leigh Miller and Rhys Oldfield 18 years ago but only expanded outside the capital when it opened a bar in Reading four years ago.

Be At One will be based in the old Nirvana nightclub site, in Victoria Street

Since then, it has extended its reach into cities like Bristol, Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester, with a bar opening in Liverpool this summer.

Read more: Here's the weird and wonderful cocktails you can expect at Be At One

Mr Locke said Nottingham has always been on his radar after visiting friends at university in the city when he was younger.

Be At One describes it as a "cocktail institution", serving 140 cocktails using ingredients such as nettle cordial, kale, sweet and salty popcorn, Oreos and beetroot juice.

Staff are trained to adhere to Be At One's "5-60-30" customer service principle.

It aims to ensure that revellers are met with eye contact by a bartender within five seconds, drinks are made in 60 seconds and change for payment is given in 30 seconds.

Popster cocktails like this will be among the 140 cocktails served

Mr Locke added: "That allows us to deliver a very quick service in which customers can come in and get a great quality drink but within their timeframes.

"Quite often when you go to a high-quality cocktail bar, it can take 10 to 15 minutes to get a drink but we want it to be the same as it would take to get a beer in a pub  but with far superior quality.

"We recruit locally and have that tone of service where we speak to the locals in the way that they understand what they want.

"As part of the refurbishment we're going to take the whole bar out and start from scratch  it won't look anything like it did last time it was open."
WASHINGTON  A divided Senate blocked rival election-year plans to curb guns on Monday, eight days after the horror of Orlando's mass shooting intensified pressure on lawmakers to act but knotted them in gridlock anyway  even over restricting firearms for terrorists.

In largely party-line votes, rejected were one proposal from each side to keep extremists from acquiring guns and another shoring up the government's existing system of required background checks for many firearms purchases.

With the chamber's visitors' galleries unusually crowded for a Monday evening  including people wearing orange T-shirts saying #ENOUGH gun violence  each measure fell short of the 60 votes needed to progress. Democrats called the GOP proposals unacceptably weak while Republicans said the Democratic plans were overly restrictive.

The stalemate underscored the pressure on each party to give little ground on the emotional gun issue going into November's presidential and congressional elections. It also highlighted the potency of the National Rifle Association, which urged its huge and fiercely loyal membership to lobby senators to oppose the Democratic bills.

"Republicans say, 'Hey look, we tried,'" said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. "And all the time, their cheerleaders, the bosses at the NRA, are cheering them."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the Orlando shootings  in which the FBI says the American-born gunman swore allegiance to a leader of the Islamic State group  show the best way to prevent attacks by extremists is to defeat such groups overseas.

"Look, no one wants terrorists to be able to buy guns or explosives," McConnell said. He suggested that Democrats were using the day's votes "as an opportunity to push a partisan agenda or craft the next 30-second campaign ad," while Republicans wanted "real solutions."

That Monday's four roll-call votes occurred at all was testament to the political currents buffeting lawmakers after gunman Omar Mateen's June 12 attack on a gay nightclub. The 49 victims who died made it the largest mass shooting in recent U.S. history, topping the string of such incidents that have punctuated recent years.

The FBI said Matteen  a focus of two terror investigations that were dropped  described himself as an Islamic soldier in a 911 call during the shootings. That let gun control advocates add national security and the specter of terrorism to their arguments for firearms curbs, while relatives of victims of past mass shootings and others visiting lawmakers and watching debate from the visitors' galleries.

GOP senators facing re-election this fall from swing states were under extraordinary pressure.

One, Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., voted Monday for the Democratic measure to block gun sales to terrorists, a switch from when she joined most Republicans in killing a similar plan last December. She said that vote  plus her support for a rival GOP measure  would help move lawmakers toward approving a narrower bipartisan plan, like one being crafted by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Monday's votes came after Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., led a near 15-hour filibuster last week demanding a Senate response to the Orlando killings. Murphy entered the Senate shortly after the December 2012 massacre of 20 first-graders and six educators in Newtown, Connecticut, but that slaughter and others have failed to spur Congress to tighten gun curbs. The last were enacted in 2007, when the background check system was strengthened after that year's mass shooting at Virginia Tech.

With Mateen's self-professed loyalty to extremist groups and his 10-month inclusion on a federal terrorism watch list, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., proposed letting the government block many gun sales to known or suspected terrorists. People buying firearms from federally licensed gun dealers can currently be denied for several reasons, chiefly for serious crimes or mental problems, but there is no specific prohibition for those on the terrorist watch list.

That list currently contains around 1 million people  including fewer than 5,000 Americans or legal permanent residents, according to the latest government figures.

No background checks are required for anyone buying guns privately online or at gun shows.

The GOP response to Feinstein was an NRA-backed plan by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. It would let the government deny a sale to a known or suspected terrorist  but only if prosecutors could convince a judge within three days that the would-be buyer was involved in terrorism.

The Feinstein and Cornyn amendments would require notification of law enforcement officials if people, like Mateen, who'd been under a terrorism investigation within the past five years were seeking to buy firearms.

Republicans said Feinstein's proposal gave the government too much unfettered power to deny people's constitutional right to own a gun. They also noted that the terrorist watch list has historically mistakenly included people. Democrats said the three-day window that Cornyn's measure gave prosecutors to prove their case made his plan ineffective.

The Senate rejected similar plans Feinstein and Cornyn proposed last December, a day after an attack in San Bernardino, California, killed 14 people.

Murphy's rejected proposal would widely expand the requirement for background checks, even to many private gun transactions, leaving few loopholes.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley's, R-Iowa, defeated plan increased money for the background check system. Like Murphy's measure, it prodded states to send more records to the FBI, which operates the background check system, of felons and others barred from buying guns.

Grassley's proposal also revamped language prohibiting some people with mental health issues from buying a gun. Democrats claimed that language would roll back current protections.

Monday's votes were 53-47 for Grassley's plan, 44-56 for Murphy's, 53-47 for Cornyn's and 47-53 for Feinstein's  all short of the 60 needed.

Separately, Collins was laboring to fashion a bipartisan bill that would prevent people on the no-fly list  with just 81,000 names from getting guns. There were no signs Monday that it was getting wide support or would receive a vote.
The 9th Annual Diversity Career Fair and Business Symposium will spotlight several speakers who will share their unique journey during the June 22 business symposium.

The keynote speaker will be Violet G. Sistovaris, executive vice president of NIPSCO. Sistovaris is responsible for the operations, regulatory policy, and compliance functions at NIPSCO, and she also ensures premier service delivery to NIPSCOs 1.1 million customers across the state.

Sistovaris co-sponsored NiSources Women in Leadership (WIL) initiatives, which include a womens Affinity Group for all women in the company, as well as the Women in Leadership mentoring program.

Karen Freeman-Wilson, mayor of Gary, will share her journey and discuss the progress of diversity in Indiana.

Twenty years ago I became involved with the Indiana Civil Rights Administration, Freeman-Wilson said. I knew very little about the civil rights movement before then. I learned the importance of championing for those who are treated differently.

Freeman-Wilson is the past CEO of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP) and executive director of the National Drug Court Institute, based in Washington, D.C. While at the helm, the number of drug courts in the U.S. doubled to 1,700 and the NADCP became the premier organizational advocate for drug treatment in the judicial arena.

Freeman-Wilson has consulted with the Office of White House Drug Control Policy, the Department of Justice, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the creation and implementation of drug policy.

I believe people need to diversify their own personal circle, she said. If all of us just stay within our own comfort zone, we dont learn much about how others struggle. There are many benefits to exposing ourselves to very diverse environments.

In January 2015, Freeman-Wilson was appointed chair of the National League of Cities (NLC) Public Safety & Crime Prevention Committee. This committee has the lead responsibility for developing NLC federal policy positions on issues involving crime prevention, corrections, substance abuse, municipal fire policy, juvenile justice, disaster preparedness and relief, homeland security, domestic terrorism, court systems and gun control.

We cant be quick to judge others, she said. We need to base our judgments on merit, on what others can bring to the table. We all want the same thingsfair pay for honest work, a clean and safe place to raise our families, and opportunities to succeed.

Freeman-Wilson acknowledges that Gary has a history of many obstacles, but quickly notes that the citys challenges pale in comparison to its potential.

Our city is a diamond in the rough and we simply need the right leadership.

Beth Wrobel, HealthLinc CEO, will be a member of the panel. Wrobel believes that diversity should be a strong element of a companys business strategy.

In the medical field, I have learned that our clients want to talk to someone similar to themselves, Wrobel said. Its a matter of comfort and trust. So its important for a business to place diversity and inclusion at the front of their business plan.

HealthLinc manages community health centers through Northwest Indiana. Wrobel said that their diverse business has led to the need for 22 different languages on their communication system.

We have students and their families from Notre Dame and Valparaiso University, two very diverse educational institutions, she said. Its a perfect example of the need for diversity.

Maureen Zakutansky is the Human Resources director for the Restaurant Management Corporation, which oversees the McDonalds restaurants in Northwest Indiana.

I am very excited to be a part of the Diversity Symposium and have the opportunity to share best practices and personal experiences regarding the topic, she said. Within our restaurants, I have had the privilege of working with all ages, genders and races, and have been able to influence our policiesand, more importantly, our cultureto become more accepting and welcoming of others. I have seen transformation within our organization and it is truly rewarding.

Dr. Vanessa Allen from the Urban League of Northwest Indiana has volunteered to sit on the roundtable panel as well.

The Times Diversity Symposium is another resource that continues to advance awareness and opportunities that support efforts to enhance diversity conversations and awareness throughout the Region, she said. The Urban League of Northwest Indiana is a lead agency that provides services that promote diversity and inclusion strategies via training/workshops, and awards organizations on their proactive methods during an annual luncheon.

The Urban League guides Northwest Indiana citizens through the processes of learning how to live, work and communicate with people who are different. The emphasis is on diversity and inclusion training. They provide a team of professionally trained consultants who will tailor cultural competency, diversity and inclusion exploratory dialogues for any size staff or team.

Christopher D. Smith, vice president of Human Resources at NIPSCO, will be the roundtable discussion moderator.

To me, diversity means being able to become your full self, he said. We are all unique. We are so much more than race or gender. We need to have the opportunity to bring everything we have to the table.

NIPSCO was ranked in the Top Ten Best Places to Work in Indiana. Their efforts to encourage and promote diversity have been recognized around the state.

We (NIPSCO and NiSource) make a sustained effort to be a good corporate citizen, he said. We try to do the right thing for the right reason. We try to always give back to the community. We have participated in the Symposium since its inception. I think that speaks to our involvement in bringing true diversity to Northwest Indiana.
It's a story almost too fantastical to be true: A flea market dealer finds a painting near a subway trash bin, submits it to laboratory analysis and emerges convinced he has a Modigliani on his hands.

No one would believe it, given the modernist master is one of the most sought-after and forged artists around.

But a public relations firm in Rome that doubles as the Amedeo Modigliani Institute is claiming a signed portrait of "Odette" could be a real deal. It's putting the work on public view next week saying it hopes to start an academic debate on its authenticity.

"I assure you, this isn't a fake and we are dealing with a discovery," insisted Luciano Renzi, the institute's president and head of an eponymous publicity firm. While acknowledging that experts must make such a certification, he said he wouldn't put it up to critical review "if the institute didn't firmly believe it."

However, the institute has no role or expertise in authenticating Modigliani works, has a financial interest in drumming up publicity for its exhibit, and even the lab it hired refuses to date the painting.

Amedeo Modigliani died in 1920 in Paris at age 35 of tubercular meningitis after a short but intense career that produced masterpieces: portraits, nudes and sculptures, many featuring the distinctive lithe necks of his muses. The most authoritative catalogue of his works, completed in 1972 by critic Ambrogio Ceroni, lists 337 known pieces.

The timing of "Odette's" appearance is certainly suspect: In November, Modigliani's "Nu Couche" ("Reclining Nude") fetched $170 million at a Christie's auction in New York, the second highest price ever paid for an artwork at auction. A host of museum exhibits around the globe are planned in the run-up to the 2020 centenary of his death.

And it comes as the Amedeo Modigliani Institute tries to recover from a credibility scandal involving forgeries and its past president, Christian Parisot, who was arrested in 2012 on charges he knowingly authenticated fake works. Parisot and Renzi founded the institute a decade ago to house the artist's documentary archive, which had been bequeathed to Parisot by Modigliani's only daughter. The institute wasn't implicated in the scandal, but its reputation suffered by association.

Experts cautioned that any purported Modigliani must be greeted with an overdose of skepticism, given the propensity for hoaxes, fakes and forgeries and the financial interests of all involved. Most significantly, "Odette" has no provenance, or paper trail of past owners, rendering it virtually unsellable by any reputable gallery and problematic for any serious scholars to consider.

"It's extremely rare that a work would pop up out of nowhere without any previous trace," said Kenneth Wayne, a leading Modigliani scholar who heads the Modigliani Project in New York. "If a work just appears in 1990 or 2016 without any history whatsoever, no exhibitions, no programs, that's a major cause of concern. It's a red flag."

The institute and the painting's owner point to two sets of laboratory analyses that they claim date the painting to the first two decades of the 1900s, during the artist's lifetime and before the first Modigliani copies started to appear. The analyses show no trace of titanium white, which only came into use in 1924 and would be a tell-tale sign of a fake given Modigliani's death four years prior.

The analyses point to the wood frame, canvas, colors and surface dirt as being consistent with the era in which Modigliani lived, said Alberto D'Atanasio, a docent at a Brescia art academy who was brought in by the institute to give an artistic assessment before going public.

"We don't know anything about this painting," conceded D'Atanasio, who is not a Modigliani expert. "Nevertheless, nothing, nothing makes me think this is a fake."

But even the laboratory hired by the institute refuses to make any claim about the painting's age based on its analysis.

"The paint suggests an ageing  years have passed  but to bring it back to 100 years, we can't do anything like that," said Luana Casaglia, restorer at the Cooperativa Beni Culturali in Spoleto. "It would be risky for us to say that."

Wayne, who hasn't viewed the painting, noted that the absence of titanium white doesn't exclude a more recent forgery using old paint. He also noted that "Odette's" measurements  73x54 centimeters (29x21 inches)  aren't found with any consistency in the Ceroni catalogue. Modigliani's portraits often measured 100x65 centimeters, he said.

The owner hasn't come forward publicly, another red flag. His Rome-based lawyer, Gennaro Arbia, says only that his client is a flea market dealer who in June 2006 found the painting resting up against a trash bin at the La Rustica metro stop in Rome's periphery. Rats had gnawed some holes in it.

Arbia, who previously represented a man claiming to be the son and heir of painter Renato Guttuso, said he sent a photo to Parisot's Paris-based operation in 2006 hoping to get it certified. Parisot's office responded saying there were no elements to suggest it could be authentic and declined to analyze it further, Arbia said.

His client persisted and 10 years later Arbia approached the Rome institute with a first set of lab analyses. The institute then hired the Spoleto lab for a more invasive analysis of the paint and accumulated dirt.

Arbia freely admits his client wants to sell the work, even though he would be hard pressed to find a collector willing to spend serious money for a painting with no provenance. The institute, too, has a financial stake in promoting it given the publicity for its upcoming exhibit of Modigliani reproductions at a Spoleto arts festival where "Odette" will be shown.

And all involved concede that Modigliani hoaxes abound: One of the greatest involved the "discovery" in 1984 of three sculpted heads purportedly tossed by the artist into a canal in his hometown of Livorno. Three young men eventually confessed to having carved the heads themselves with power drills and tossed them in as a joke.

What if "Odette" is found to be a fake?

Arbia pauses. "The dream is over."
A judge's decision to dismiss criminal charges against a Long Beach man who fatally shot his wife could be challenged by the Indiana Attorney General's Office.

A charge of voluntary manslaughter was dismissed June 9 against John Larkin, who could have faced an up to 50 year prison sentence for the December of 2012 fatal shooting.

LaPorte County Prosecutor John Espar said the special prosecutor assigned to the criminal case will decide whether to approach the Indiana Attorney General's Office, which would make the final decision on any request for an appeal.

"My hope is that the case and the decision of the judge gets reviewed and duly considered for an appeal so that no one accused of a crime as serious as what John Larkin is facing sees the charge dismissed on a technicality," Espar said.

In his ruling, Patrick Blankenship, a judge from Pulaski County presiding over the case, ruled Larkin could not have received a fair trial due to several rights violations by the police during the investigation.

Police continued questioning Larkin about what transpired despite his request to have a lawyer present, according to the violations cited by the judge, who also ruled further conversations Larkin had with police and later his attorney were illegally recorded.

Blankenship also found that further violations occurred when copies of those illegally obtained and recorded talks were made and disseminated for use as evidence.

Evidence tampering by detectives from both Michigan City and Long Beach was also cited by the judge, who felt any testimony offered from those investigators at trial would be soiled.

Larkin's attorney, Michael Ettinger, said any chance of having the case reinstated on appeal was slim especially based on the judge's findings of police misconduct.

Stacey Larkin, 41, was shot twice in the chest in December of 2012 inside the couple's home in the 2900 block of Lothair Way.

Ettinger said his client is not denying he shot her, but claims she had a gun when he confronted her about difficulties she was having about substance abuse and the same gun went off during a struggle between the couple.

Espar said he made the request for a special prosecutor and judge at the recommendation of the Indiana Court of Appeals due to circumstances in the case that developed prior to him taking office to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
LAKE STATION  One person was in custody Sunday in a shooting at a city park that wounded a man, police said.

The shooting happened about 3 p.m. Saturday at Columbus Park located in the 4700 block of Liverpool Road in Lake Station. A dispute between two groups of people at the park ended with one person being shot, according to a release from the Lake Station Police Department.

Capt. Brian Williams said by email that an adult man who was shot during the incident had undergone surgery at an area hospital. The man was in stable condition.

Though one person was in police custody as of Sunday, Williams said the shooter was still at-large. He said detectives plan to meet with the Lake County prosecutor's office this week to seek charges against the person who was being held.

Police officers from New Chicago and Hobart assisted Lake Station police.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Williams or Lake Station police Detective Sgt. Glenn Gulley at (219) 962-1186.
PORTAGE  A St. Charles, Illinois, woman was charged with neglect after police said she left her toddler son alone in a motel room.

Rachael Sturkey, 26, was charged with neglect of a dependent, false informing and possession of paraphernalia.

A man she was with, Akbar Butt, 28, of Glendale Heights, Illinois, was charged with identity deception and possession of paraphernalia.

Police were called to the Travel Inn, 6101 U.S. 20, about 10:30 p.m. Friday to assist an Indiana Department of Child Services worker with checking on the 16-month-old boy.

When police arrived, they saw Sturkey and Butt leaving the motel without the boy and stopped them. Sturkey told police her son was alone in the room sleeping. When police entered the room, they found the boy asleep in a bed without anything around him to prevent him from rolling off. They also allegedly found drug paraphernalia in plain site on a nearby nightstand, which later tested positive for cocaine.

The boy was turned over to Child Protective Services.

Police said Sturkey and Akbar lied about their identities to officers.

Sturkey allegedly told police she lied about her name because she believed there was a warrant for her arrest through Illinois involving a drug-related incident in St. Charles. She told police they fled Illinois and that Butt was her heroin dealer and she was "stuck with him."

Butt allegedly told police they were a couple and he financially supported her and the boy.

They were both taken to Porter County Jail.
EAST CHICAGO  Approximately 919,000 cubic yards of material have been removed as part of an Indiana Harbor and Canal dredging project that began in 2012.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the East Chicago Waterway Management District shared that information during a meeting last week to update residents on the project.

Mike Nguyen, project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said dredging for the 2016 fiscal year is expected to begin in August.

"For this year, we're actually planning to dredge 150,000 cubic yards of federal material and 20,000 cubic yards of non-federal, private material," Nguyen said.

He said federal material is that which is found in a federal channel the government is authorized to maintain. Taking contaminated material out of it allows barge traffic to navigate through to conduct business.

"If we don't get rid of it, some of that contamination will actually go into Lake Michigan," Nguyen said. "And then that's our drinking water."

Nguyen said 40 years' worth of sedimentation and industrial deposits had accumulated in the harbor and canal because no dredging occurred there between 1972 and 2012.

A contract was awarded in September 2011 to a joint venture of the Kokosing Construction Co., Inc. and O'Brien & Gere to do the dredging and operate a confined disposal facility.

That facility is located just west of the Indianapolis Boulevard bridge and takes in material that is gathered through mechanical dredging and then placed in sealed hoppers.

Stan Neff, operations manager for Kokosing, provided information regarding environmental monitoring that occurs at the confined disposal facility, including four air monitoring stations present there.

He said it will take all of August and part of September to remove the 170,000 cubic yards of material.

"Some or all of the time, we'll be working two shifts, 24 hours a day," Neff said.

The contract with Kokosing and O'Brien & Gere expires Sept. 30.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to advertise soon for contractors to bid on a new five-year contract.
LAKE STATION  Charges could be filed this week in connection with a shooting that wounded a man last weekend at Columbus Park, police said.

Lake Station police took one person in for questioning, but another  the person suspected of pulling the trigger  remained at large Monday, Capt. Brian Williams said.

Lake Station police planned to meet Monday afternoon with Lake County prosecutors to discuss charges, he said.

Police responded about 3 p.m. Saturday to the park in the 4700 block of Liverpool Road. A dispute between two groups of people at the park ended with an adult male being shot, according to a news release.

The man underwent surgery and was in stable condition, Williams said Sunday.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Williams or Lake Station police Detective Sgt. Glenn Gulley at (219) 962-1186.
GARY  One person was killed and four people were wounded in four separate shootings last weekend, police said.

Hudson Evans, 22, of Gary, was with another man in an alley near Fifth Avenue and Taft Street early Sunday when three men approached and began shooting, Gary police Lt. Dawn Westerfield said.

Evans and the other man ran, and the man eventually helped Evans into a vehicle and took him to a local hospital, she said.

Police were called about 3:50 a.m. to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus for a gunshot victim.

Evans was pronounced dead at 4:26 a.m., according to the Lake County coroner's office. The cause and manner of death were multiple gunshot wounds in a homicide.

Evans was facing charges alleging he hit a teen with the butt of a handgun Dec. 21, 2015, near Fifth Avenue and Grant Street in Gary, according to court records. The incident was alleged to have been part of a chain of events that ended in the slaying of Johnny Ware, though Evans was not charged in that homicide.

Evans' family said Sunday he wasn't perfect but they loved and depended on him. He had two children and a third on the way.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Sgt. Shauna Poirier-Peter, of the Gary/Lake County Metro Homicide Unit, at (219) 755-3855.

Less than two hours before Evans was shot Sunday, Gary police responded about 2:15 a.m. to the area of 25th Avenue and Jefferson Street for a report of shots fired. About 2:50 a.m., police were dispatched to Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus for a gunshot victim.

A 33-year-old Gary woman told police she was walking to her car in a parking lot outside the Elbow Room nightclub, 200 W. 25th Ave., when she heard several people arguing and gunshots.

The woman suffered graze wounds to her neck, breast and upper shoulder and was taken to the hospital by another person, Westerfield said.

A Lake County sheriff's K-9 helped Gary police attempt to track a suspect, but no one was located, she said.

On Saturday, two Gary men were wounded in a shooting about 12:50 a.m. in the 300 block of McKinley Street, Westerfield said.

The men were in a vehicle when a heavyset black man in a black hoodie approached and fired several shots into the vehicle, she said. One of the men yelled to the other to hit the gas, and they drove to a local hospital.

A 29-year-old man was shot in the left side, and a 23-year-old man was shot in the left shoulder and left side, police said.

About 4 a.m. Saturday, police responded to the area of 17th Avenue and Madison Street for reports of shots fired and a gunshot victim. Officers found a 28-year-old Gary man lying on his side, Westerfield said.

The man told police he was walking north on Madison Street when another man drove up and asked the victim if he had anything to do with his house being damaged by gunfire.

Before the 28-year-old could answer, the driver struck him with the vehicle, police said. As the 28-year-old tried to get up, the driver shot him once in the back and left.

The shootings marked a violent weekend for the city, which has seen a significant decrease in gun violence so far this year. From Jan. 1 to May 31, the city logged 37 assaults with firearms, compared to 60 during the same period last year.

Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call Detective Sgt. Michael Barnes at (219) 881-1210. To remain anonymous, call (866) CRIME-GP.
GARY  The man helping lead the city's economic development efforts said it has to overcome decades of neglect to bring business into the area around Gary/Chicago International Airport.

Increased focus has been put on land north of the airport since a proposed immigrant detention center was soundly rejected by the Gary City Council in May on ethical and other grounds.

Despite the promise of more than 200 jobs, many people did not like the idea of such an operation and said it might deter other potential businesses from locating around the airport.

The city's economic development efforts are focused on bringing more heavy industry into the Buffington Harbor area north of the airport, while seeing the land directly across from the airport as appealing more to logistics operations, such as trucking or distribution businesses, according to Bo Kemp, executive director of Gary's Economic Development Corp.

Attracting businesses to the land along Airport Road faces challenges because of wetland and brownfield issues along with the need for some infrastructure improvements, some of which are in the works.

GEO Group Inc., for instance, the company that wanted to place the immigrant detention center there, estimated it would cost $3 million to remediate the land it was expected to use.

Much of the vacant land along Airport Road between Cline Avenue and Clark Road, north of the airport, however, may never be developed  at least not in the near future, Kemp said.

Probably about a third of that land is either protected wetlands owned by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources  or polluted Superfund sites that can't be developed on now.

For some 40 years, the city hasn't really invested in its infrastructure and in a way the city is starting from scratch as it gets land ready for companies to come in, Kemp said.

"One of the things that is under-appreciated is how much pre-development has to go into it," he said.

Developing fresh ideas for the land

There are some opportunities, however, to develop at least some of the remaining land there. Kemp suggested speculative buildings could be built there for distribution centers or other logistics operations, which could include trucking firms like existing tenant Swift Transportation. The area also could be used to create access roads into an 84-acre industrial park being developed around Buffington Harbor.

A year ago, the city announced it had formed a partnership with Garmong Construction Services, of Terre Haute, for the industrial park development. Carmeuse Lime and Stone transferred the site to the city two years ago. Garmong specializes in building industrial shells and marketing them to companies.

Kemp said the city is still working with Garmong, but is more interested in attracting heavy industry to the site and while it may still have a spec building there, indicated it is focusing on other areas in the city to build them.

He said the city is expected to have an announcement within 18 months on spec buildings being constructed in Gary.

Kemp said the advantage of heavy industry, such as Carmeuse, over light industry, such as technology companies, is that heavy industry offers more jobs and seeks employees with a broader spectrum of skills. Technology companies, he noted, may be seeking a more limited group of employees with specific skill sets.

Spec buildings, land planning needed

Chris Gary, senior vice president specializing in industrial real estate for NAI Hiffman, believes the airport area is attractive to companies, but a deterrent is a lack of speculative buildings for companies to use.

The area is "potentially an attractive area" for distribution and light manufacturing companies, Gary said. It is close to Chicago, and Cline Avenue is "like an interstate" with no stoplights, limited access, and off-ramps that make it easier for trucks to get to and from the area, he said.

Gary, noting the area's proximity to the airport, rail, highway and water, said if the land were near O'Hare International Airport, "there would be 1,000 buildings there."

Kemp agreed with NAI Hiffman's Gary that the area is unique in its proximity to rail, highways, ports and the airport.

The biggest issue, however, is a lack of buildings for distribution companies and others to use, according to Gary. He said distribution companies like being able to rent a building for three to five years to have flexibility in case their business shrinks or expands. Gary said developers "so far, have not been willing to put a speculative building there."

Gary said warehouse developers also like to have shovel-ready sites and large sites of 50 acres or more for economy of scale. For that same reason, the buildings erected are usually 100,000 square feet or larger.

Development plans underway

Some companies already scheduled to open along Airport Road include Vexor Technology, a waste-to-energy firm expected to open late this year or early next year.

The company turns material that can't otherwise be recycled into a fuel that will be used by Carmeuse as a coal alternative to heat limestone in its kilns.

Kemp said one of the city's challenges is that it has several hundreds of acres, but for the most part they don't have contiguous pieces of land that span 15 acres or more.

He said for that reason, the city would have to work with private owners to put together such a large plot, unless a private company comes in and buys the needed land on its own, as GEO Group did.

The Airport Facilities Co. Inc. of Dulles, Virginia, which is in the second year of a contract with the airport to attract development to the area, has been involved in the ongoing analysis of the land that could be used for development, according to Kemp.

Airport Executive Director Dan Vicari noted a significant amount of infrastructure work is taking place in the area, including the planned improvement of Airport Road between Cline Avenue and Clark Road starting later this year. Kemp said this project will cost about $20 million and could take two years to complete.

It will involve replacing the road with one that has gutters and includes landscaping, bike trails, and other infrastructure improvements, such as storm sewers, to make the area more attractive.

The city is also involved in a $14 million project at Buffington Harbor that will improve road access for some current and future businesses that may go into the industrial park area. The airport is looking at securing a customs office that will make the area even more attractive for businesses.

Vicari said each property has different challenges. In some cases, it may be environmental remediation or wetland mitigation; in others it may be concerns involving utilities or access that have to be addressed.

Contamination remains an issue

The city is making efforts on different fronts to make the land around the airport more available for development, including lobbying for help in dealing with wetland issues, seeking grant money, and doing an ongoing analysis of the area's land.

In addition, officials have been looking into whether there might be some insurance money available for cleanup at some of the brownfield sites by investigating what companies might have caused the contamination.

Kemp said another waste-to-energy business was considering locating a plant in that area, but plans for the estimated $30 million project were scuttled when it was determined wetlands remediation on the site would be too expensive.

Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson last month traveled to Washington, D.C., partly to determine the best approach to deal with such wetland issues.

Kemp, who said it wasn't clear from the beginning how big an issue wetlands were going to be when it came to development, said discussions are ongoing with the Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
HAMMOND  An 85-year-old Chicago woman died of injuries she received Saturday in a two-car accident at Indianapolis Boulevard and Casino Center Road.

Hammond police said Felix Lukauskas, 82, also of Chicago, was waiting in the southeast bound left turn lane on to Indianapolis Boulevard about 7:14 p.m. when, according to a witness, he tried to make a left turn on to eastbound Casino Center Road while the left turn arrow was still red. Lukauskas' 2008 Chevy Cobalt was struck in the side by a northbound 2006 Chrysler 300 driven by Alejandro Ortega, 20, of Chicago.

Dana Lukauskas, 85, who was a front seat passenger in Lukauskas vehicle, was taken to St. Margaret Hospital North Campus and was airlifted to a trauma hospital because of the severity of her injuries. She later died.

Both drivers were tested for alcohol and registered none. The drivers also complained of chest pain and were taken to St. Margaret's for treatment.
In the aftermath of 9/11, then-President George Bush called on American civilians to step up and volunteer in their communities to help keep the country safe and secure. Ten years later, the Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program is alive and well in Highland.

It has been nearly 10 years since the town created a team of residents who volunteer to protect the health and safety of our residents, says Cpl. Glenn Cox, the police officer who coordinates the VIPS.

Our town is even better through the efforts of these dedicated volunteers, he adds. These individuals give of themselves without expecting anything in return.

The Highland VIPS program is one of five in Lake County. The program is also a member of the national initiative that began post 9/11. Then-President George Bush espoused the idea of a citizen corps whose volunteer efforts would make communities safer, stronger and better prepared to respond to emergencies in the days and months following the attacks on New York and Washington D.C.

Important to Volunteer and Help Out

Terry Krooswyk began his service when the program was launched in 2005. He joined after attending the Citizens Police Academy.

In our family, its very important to volunteer and help out in our community, Krooswyk says. Its one of the ways that we give back.

Cpl. Cox has 30 VIPS at his disposal. Many of them are ready to work every day, he says. Others who still have full-time jobs volunteer on their off days. Its a nice mix of different people with different skills.

The VIPS conduct traffic control for funerals, parades and fire calls. They also conduct routine visits to homes on the vacation list, and check on elderly residents who require interaction.

Back in 2008, the Great Recession resulted in serious budget cutbacks. The town utilized the VIPS to maintain safety and security on what Cpl. Cox called a shoestring budget.

There were many time-consuming and expensive activities that patrol officers offloaded onto the VIPS, Cpl. Cox says. It helped us to maximize the time and talents of our patrol officers.

We all have our niches and do what we can, Krooswyk says. I enjoy the interaction with the public and opportunity to give back. Because we do what we do, police are free to attend to other duties.

Other tasks handled by the VIPS include conducting fingerprinting, filing, typing, answering telephones, code enforcement, and DUI checks. They also patrol the bicycle trail and walk beats in assigned areas, such as downtown.

We try to match volunteers with their interests, Cpl. Cox says. Two of our volunteers perform a large amount of clerical work for the department. Two others are serious cyclists who patrol the bike trail. Its really great when we can match skill sets with needs.

The VIPS also take care of the towns animal control, rounding up strays and coordinating with the Calumet Humane Society.

A Natural Fit

Dave Beanblossom has been a Highland resident since 1963. He joined the VIPS program after a stint in the Citizens Police Academy.

Ive been a member for eight years, he says. I knew a few of the members of the program, and I became interested after talking to them. It was a natural fit for me. I like to volunteer and stay busy, and I like helping out in the community.

The crime statistics in Highland have been steadily decreasing, and Cpl. Cox believes that the VIPS play a role in that. When uniformed volunteers patrol areas on foot, on bicycles, and in patrol cars, people take notice, he says. I believe that their presence helps to deter crime.

Its a quality of life service, Krooswyk adds. Highland is a great place to live. Its a close-knit community. Programs like this help to make it even better.

Volunteering makes me feel good, says Beanblossom. Its a win-win for the town and the citizens.

I have called these volunteers at 2 oclock in the morning, Cpl. Cox says. They jump right on it. This is a great group of volunteers that put the welfare of their fellow residents ahead of personal comfort. Its a great testament to the townspeople of Highland.
LAKE STATION  A home in the 4800 block of 26th Place was destroyed late Saturday when a fire broke out in the basement, firefighters said.

Lake Station Fire Chief Chuck Fazekas said crews were dispatched to the home about 10:30 p.m. and arrived within three minutes.

When firefighters arrived, half of the home was already engulfed in flames, Fazekas said. Firefighters believe the fire started in the basement and spread through the first floor. The cause of the fire was still under investigation Sunday.

Firefighters worked to put out the fire for about two and a half hours with the home's roof at one point collapsing, Fazekas said. The fire also caused damage to the siding of a nearby home.

One firefighter was taken to an area hospital, because he had overexerted himself.

He remained in the hospital Monday for observation, Fazekas said.

The family who lived in the rental property was not home when the fire broke out. Officials called the American Red Cross to assist the displaced family.

Firefighters from Hobart and New Chicago assisted the Lake Station Fire Department.
VALPARAISO  The building that served for decades as a point of departure for residents here now serves as a hands-on building project for local high school students and will soon become a high-tech classroom at the Porter County Career and Technical Center.

Thanks to the efforts of local officials, donations from local businesses and the help of local trades the former Grand Trunk Western depot is slowly transitioning from a 19th-century train station into a 21st century learning facility.

Background

Canadian National owns the rail line that bisects the city. In 2012, CN obtained a demolition permit from the city because it no longer had a use for the former depot.

A 1991 survey of county buildings by the Indiana Historic Landmarks Foundation and the state Historic Preservation Office classified the depot as "notable." The city's Historic Preservation Commission scrambled to find an organization willing to move the building and preserve it.

A plan was eventually developed to move the building across the tracks and a short distance to the west to the Porter County Career and Technical Center where the building would serve not only as additional classroom space for the school, but also as a project for the building trades students.

In July of 2014 the 3,200-square-foot building made a slow, but successful move to its current site about two blocks to the west at Washington Street.

Parts of the building are being restored while other areas are getting modern upgrades, said PCCTC Principal Jon Groth.

"Basically, we've spent this year using the building as student trades building project," Groth said.

Students have been doing interior demolition work to return the building to what it looked like as a train depot.

Decking has been built around the depot and the building eventually will be handicapped accessible.

Groth said the windows will need to be replaced and the building will be insulated.

There is electric service in the building, but no water or sewer yet, that work will be done by outside contractor, Groth said.

Groth said although the work on the building is being done primarily by students, the project has broad support from the community.

"People like seeing it," he said. "People stop me on the street, neighbors bring outside visitors to see the building. It has been adopted as a local project."

What's next

Groth hopes to have an event in the fall to open the building to the public so local residents can view the progress.

In the works is the reconstruction of Valparaiso signs on the building, which haven't been in place for more than 50 years, according to his research.

Fundraising for the project is ongoing.

Groth said two local businesses have been major corporate donors, and 40 to 50 other companies have made smaller donations.

He is hoping to find more donors of any size.

"Ive never done anything thats been so universally accepted. I really appreciate that," he said.

He said building trades student usually build a house each year, but last year worked on the depot.

Some students were initially disappointed.

"Now kids are excited as heck to work on a piece of history," Groth said.

The depot will house a high-tech classroom for the Career Center large enough to accommodate all students enrolled in the program.

If all goes as planned, it will be ready for use for the 2017-18 school year.
VALPARAISO | A 36-year-old Valparaiso man pleaded guilty Monday morning to the shooting death of his friend during an evening of drinking, smoking marijuana and break dancing two years ago.

Abraham Bratcher pleaded guilty to a felony count of voluntary manslaughter as part of a proposed agreement that calls for a 20-year prison term with no time suspended, according to the staff for Porter Superior Court Judge Roger Bradford.

Bradford will decide July 25 whether to accept the agreement and carry out sentencing.

Bratcher told officers he shot 31-year-old Gerid Forste on April 2, 2014, just minutes after catching him attempting to steal his cologne and the rifle used in the shooting, police said .

Bratcher said he took the Smith & Wesson AR-15 back from Forste and the two ended up in a tugging match with the rifle, at which time he wrestled it away and shot Forste, according to charging information.

An autopsy revealed the Kouts resident was shot once in the chest and twice in the legs. It also showed Forste was shot at intermediate range and was facing away from Bratcher and possibly in a defensive posture.

Following the shooting, Bratcher spent 20 minutes calling his father, his sister and the man who is leasing the Chandana Point apartment and owner of the gun before calling 911, according to charging information. Responding officers said Bratcher initially told them everything was fine.

Investigators said they found six shell casings and blood evidence indicating Forste was shot a distance away from where Bratcher claimed they were wrestling with the gun.

Both men have lengthy arrest records, including a September 2010 case in which Forste was taken into custody on allegations of battering Bratcher after the two had been up all night drinking, according to records obtained from the Porter County Sheriff's Department.
Seven Democrats looking to take over Charles Rangel's 13th Congressional District seat clashed over who is best positioned to carry on the long-time representative's work in a debate Monday that aired live on NY1.

The 90-minute event took place at Hostos Community College and was moderated by NY1's Errol Louis.

Among the participants were former Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV, whose father lost his seat to Rangel in 1970; current state legislators Guillermo Linares, Keith Wright and Adriano Espaillat; Clyde Williams, the former Democratic National Committee political director and advisor to Bill Clinton; stay-at-home father Michael Gallagher; and faith leader and former ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook.

Two other candidates, Sam Sloan and Republican Tony Evans, did not participate.

Powell, Linares, Wright and Espaillat, who all served or currently serve in the state legislature, were asked what they specifically have done to improve the legislature's performance.

Powell juxtaposed his time in the Assembly against his time in the City Council.

"In the City Council, the budget process, for example, is more open, and delegations would meet and come back, and there was a back and forth, and that's how the budget was arrived. Not in the state Assembly, unfortunately. The budget is just three men in a room," Powell said.

Linares said there was a need to separate money from serving a constituency.

"I believe very strongly that unless you get money out of the business of government, you're not going to be able to deliver for the constituents and those who represent you in the community," he said. "And I believe we need financial reform. We need to get all the big fish out of the water when it comes to representing in the state government. And I think we need to have a strong change in ethics to be able to rescue our government for the people."

When specifically asked about ethics reform, Wright said there was a need to get so-called "dark money" out of politics.

"Some candidates talk about how they are for ethics reform, but they have these secret sort of dark super PACs that they are participating in in order to fund their campaigns," Wright said. "They can say they are for campaign finance, but they are participating in some dark money activities."

Espaillat said he believes in a full-time legislature, saying he does not have another job.

"You must get money out of politics. You must close the loopholes that allows special interest," he said. "Particularly the party accounts, the housekeeping accounts. Millions of dollars go into the party housekeeping accounts to influence decisions in Albany, to influence elections, to take the people, the people that are in this room, out of the elections of who is going to represent them. We must get rid of the housekeeping accounts."

Williams referenced "the political people in New York going to jail" and said the voters need to know whether any of the candidates are under any investigations.

"I pledge right now, and I would challenge everyone on this stage to pledge that they are not under any investigation whatsoever," he said. "Because what we don't need is months from now, Preet Bharara coming after anybody when they get elected to Congress that would damage the good name of this community and make certain that they're not doing anything that is against the good people of this community."

Gallagher said "nobody really knows what was passed" when it came to ethics reform in Albany, saying there were no hearings and no public events.

"Governor Cuomo, he offered four or five different options to try and change the rules, not selecting one that he actively sought support. So how much possibility was there for real reform when they had the whole session since April to talk about this in public, and they have not, they have not done anything publicly as it relates to this," he said.

All of the candidates were asked how they would work with Republican lawmakers if elected, particularly if the House ends up with a Republican majority.

Espaillat, Wright and Powell referenced their records passing legislation while working with a Republican-controlled state Senate.

"I was successful during the Pataki years, I was in the Assembly with a Republican-run Senate, to pass in-state tuition for undocumented students, which was the prelude of the Dream Act. We were able to do that in 2002 with a Republican governor and a Republican-led Senate," he said. "I think that I can get other people to cross over and support issues that are very relevant and important to us."

"I have passed over 90 pieces of legislation in the Assembly. I have chaptered more than 35 pieces of legislation signed by the governor. So all I've been doing is working to get things done with a majority state Senate," Wright said.

"One of the first things I did when I went to Albany was push to pass a minimum wage, a higher minimum wage, which many said it could not be done because the Republicans controlled the state Senate, but we got it done," Powell said.

Cook referenced her time working as a chaplain for the NYPD after the September 11th attacks and as an ambassador in Washington for U.S. religious freedom, where she said she attended Senate foreign relations committee hearings.

"You have to be able to build coalitions, and when we go to Congress, that's what we have to be able to do," she said. "Work certainly with the black and Hispanic caucuses that are there, but also build coalitions throughout, so that we can get legislation passed."

Williams talked about his time as the deputy chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, when he said he had to work with Republican senators like Jesse Helms.

"When you work at a place that has responsibility for both urban and rural issues, you have to work with people across the aisle," he said. "And I haven't done it in Albany. I have no desire to do it in Albany. But I've definitely done it at a very senior level in Washington D.C."

Gallagher said the issues faced in the district as it relates to housing and affordable care are issues faced in other districts, where there are not just Democrats.

"Renting, I say about a renter's tax credit that this is the same, if you go to Houston, if you go to Phoenix, if you go to other cities, it's all about trying to bring the issues to the fore," he said. "Criminal justice reform, the Republicans are looking for criminal justice reform. So it's more about the ideas you bring to the table and your ability to reach across the aisle, and I believe I can do that."

In the lightning round, all of the candidates said they supported a bailout of Puerto Rico, but none of them supported the use of a financial control board to oversee finances. They all also said they supported the closing of Rikers Island, though Gallagher said he did not believe there was a federal role.

All candidates, with the exception of Linares, said they felt Police Commissioner Bill Bratton should consider resigning when asked in the lightning round. All of the candidates also said they supported the use of medical marijuana, but only some of the candidates said they supported marijuana's legalization for recreational use.



Rangel is nearing the end of a nearly 50-year run representing the 13th Congressional District, which includes Harlem, Upper Manhattan, and part of the Bronx.

The primary vote is scheduled for June 28.
Five people were arrested on bribery and services fraud charges Monday morning as part of a federal anti-corruption probe, including several high-ranking members of the NYPD.

Deputy Inspector James Grant, formerly of the 19th precinct in Manhattan, and Deputy Chief Michael Harrington, second in command of the department's housing division, are accused of accepting a variety of gifts from Brooklyn businessman Jeremiah Reichberg, who was also taken into custody.



U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara says this was done in exchange for private police services, including personal escorts and VIP access to parades and other large events.

"They got in effect a private police force for themselves and their friends. Effectively they got cops on call," Bharara said.



"These are never good days, never easy days as the U.S. Attorney referenced, but what I see here is the system works. A system where we seek to proactively go where the truth takes us no matter what the consequence," said Police Commissioner Bill Bratton.

Among the benefits accepted by Grant, as alleged in the complaint, were a private jet trip to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl, costing $57,000 for the plane alone; a two-night stay in a hotel in Rome, worth more than $1,000; contracting work on his home worth approximately $12,000; and jewelry.



The complaint alleges benefits accepted by Harrington were private security work worth tens of thousands of dollars for a company he unofficially helped manage; hotel rooms for a trip to Chicago for his family worth in excess of $6,000; and thousands of dollars in dinners.

The two other NYPD members named in criminal complaints Monday morning are Sergeant David Villanueva and Officer Richard Ochetal.

Both worked in the department's gun licensing division, and are accused of accepting bribes to fast-track gun permit applications.

Prosecutors say more than 100 people were issued gun licenses in the scheme.

Grant, 43, of Staten Island, Harrington, 50, of Staten Island, and Reichberg of Brooklyn each face one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud which carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison

Villanueva, 42, of Valley Stream, was charged with was charged with one count of bribery, which carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, which carries a maximum term of five years in prison.

Ochetal, 37, previously pled guilty to one count of bribery, which carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, which carries a maximum term of five years in prison.

A businessman who contributed heavily to Mayor Bill de Blasio's campaign has already pleaded guilty in the case.



A spokeswoman for the mayor released a statement, saying, "The Mayor and Commissioner Bratton are both committed to ensuring that the NYPD maintains the integrity and trust that the public expects from its Police Department, and the NYPD is conducting a joint investigation with the NYPD to discover all the facts. The Mayor is fully supportive of these investigations."

Police Commissioner William Bratton says Harrington, Grant and Villanueva are suspended from the NYPD. Ochetal has been placed on modified assignment.
Season 3, Episode 9: Daily Active Users

This seems like an odd question to ponder nearly three full seasons into Silicon Valley, but its worth asking: What exactly is Pied Piper anyway? We know that it offers lossless file compression, which is appealing to anyone who doesnt want their music, movies and photos to bump against the memory limits of their computers, phones and other devices. But a lot of the cutting-edge concepts that make Pied Piper a technological breakthrough  the neural net, the peer-to-peer distribution cloud, the centralized data store  remains abstract and elusive. We trust that it will improve our lives, but how might the app actually work? And how can we be sure that its machine-learning function wont lead to a robot apocalypse, like Skynet in The Terminator?

A terrific piece in The New Yorker recently on the commitment to verisimilitude on Silicon Valley is filled with examples of the minor details in tech culture that inform the show, but not enough can be said about how smartly conceived Pied Piper is as a concept. Building the show around a technology that people need but dont fully understand allows the writers to mine comedy from the distance between a handful of socially awkward engineers and the ordinary people theyre trying to reach. More than pocket protectors or periodic table shower curtains, nerds are isolated by their genius  or, at least, a chronic inability to make their ideas accessible and understood. So it follows that Pied Piper might nerd itself out of existence.

Daily Active Users exposes the failure underlying Pied Pipers success, the termites nibbling at the foundation. It turns out that Monicas misgivings about the beta were an outlier only because Richard and his team sent invites exclusively to other engineers. So while Pied Piper celebrates its 500,000th install, the crucial metric of daily active users is a woeful 19,000, suggesting that Monicas bafflement is shared by everyone else. Jack Barkers plan to confine Richards revolutionary technology to a clunky box may have been bereft of imagination, but a storage box for corporate data is at least easily understood. It makes sense, then, for Barker and Gavin Belson to form an unholy union around a Hooli/Endframe box at the same time Pied Piper is struggling to define itself.

Many of the jokes in Daily Active Users stem from a breakdown in communication. The Pied Piper Tables ad that opens the episode is a masterpiece of obscure metaphors and vague platitudes: Tables are made so a person can sit down and do something. Or nothing. Grapefruits, postcards, hugs, three-alarm chili. The ad tries to liken Pied Piper to a table for sharing  and a metaphor for all thats beautiful and sad and hopeful and dangerous about life itself, for that matter  but it doesnt connect. After a flustered Richard blasts a focus group thats totally freaked out by the platform, he needs an hourslong whiteboard tutorial to win them over  or, at a minimum, reassure them that Pied Piper wont become sentient and take over the world.
Prince Be, the frontman for the psychedelic pop-rap group P.M. Dawn, which in the early 1990s was both popular and maligned  and since then has been both underappreciated and quietly influential  died on Friday at a hospital in Neptune, N.J. He was 46.

The cause was renal failure resulting from complications of diabetes, his wife, Mary Sierra-Cordes, said.

Prince Be had suffered from diabetes for more than two decades, and had various health problems over the years, among them several strokes, including one in 2005 that left him partly paralyzed, and gangrene, which led to the partial amputation of one leg. He had been in nursing homes for the last several years.

Even in an era of earnest bohemianism in hip-hop, P.M. Dawn stood out for its hippie-esque mysticism, fantastical imagery, crypto-Christian references and ethereal musical aesthetic. Prince Be was an early blurrer of the lines between rapping and singing, and between the earthly and the spiritual, inspired in part by the American mystic Edgar Cayce, about whom he learned from his mother, Janice Carr. (Prince Bes father, Attrell Cordes Sr., died when he was young. His stepfather was a drummer, for Kool & the Gang and others.)
Suited, with Lena Dunham as a producer, examines the link between clothing and gender identity. Jill Kargman spoofs her life as a brunette in a world of Upper East Side blondes on Odd Mom Out. And a family of home-schooled children tries to get out the door in Raised by Wolves.

Whats on TV

SUITED (2016) 9 p.m. on HBO. When he opened Bindle & Keep, a bespoke tailoring company in Brooklyn, Daniel Friedman expected to make suits for Wall Street types. Then Rae Tutera, who is transgender, apprenticed with him and became a partner. Jason Benjamins documentary, of which Lena Dunham is a producer, follows as gender-nonconforming and transgender clients find their way to Park Slope and into suits that reflect their shapes and stories. Suited doesnt completely dispel the impression that its an elaborate free advertisement for Bindle & Keep  there are no dissatisfied customers here  and theres a gentrified-Brooklyn feel to this particular take on the struggles of gender-nonconforming individuals, Neil Genzlinger writes in The New York Times, noting that prices are never discussed. Those caveats noted, the film has plenty of illuminating moments leading up to, of course, a concluding fashion show.

THE FOSTERS 8 p.m. on Freeform. The school is put on lockdown when Marinas boyfriend, Nick, shows up with his fathers gun after seeing her kiss her ex.

TRAPPED (2016) 10 p.m. on PBS. Dawn Porter travels the South to examine so-called TRAP laws (an acronym for targeted regulation of abortion providers) that could reduce the number of abortion clinics by placing unfeasible demands on them  and sending women to seek alternatives that may be harmful or even deadly. Trapped is not a balanced analysis of the abortion debate; it makes its sympathies clear, Andy Webster wrote in The Times. But it is a powerful and persuasive rendering of a corner of womens health care under siege.
____________

TECHNOLOGY

Mark Zuckerbergs majority control is up for vote.

Facebook will hold its annual shareholder meeting in Silicon Valley on Monday, where its top executives, Mark Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg and others, will field questions about the state of the company. Up for a vote is a proposed new stock structure, one that is intended to continue giving Mr. Zuckerberg majority voting control over the company even as he plans to sell off his stock in the coming years to donate much of his wealth to philanthropic causes. The proposal is expected to pass, since Mr. Zuckerberg already maintains strict control under current company bylaws. Mike Isaac

E.U. to decide on cross-Atlantic personal data sharing.

European politicians will decide on Monday whether to approve new rules allowing companies like Google and Facebook to transfer personal data back and forth across the Atlantic. The proposals, known as the E.U.-U.S. Privacy Shield, have been criticized by some for failing to fully protect Europeans rights, and the lawmakers may still ask for more concessions from their American counterparts to meet Europes strict privacy standards. Mark Scott

BlackBerrys turnaround plan is unproved ahead of meeting.

BlackBerry is no longer in danger of imminent collapse, as was the case when John S. Chen was brought in to lead the company in 2013. But as Mr. Chen prepares to run the companys annual meeting in Waterloo, Ontario, on Wednesday and release first-quarter results on Thursday, his turnaround plan, which involves focusing on phone management and security systems for business and government, remains unproved. Despite adopting Googles Android operating system, BlackBerry has not revived the smartphone business it once dominated. Last week, Maynard Um, an analyst at Wells Fargo, published a detailed case for finally shutting down the phone business. That would cut BlackBerrys revenue almost by half to just over $1 billion, by Mr. Ums estimates. But he forecast that without phones, BlackBerry could earn 27 cents a share this year rather than lose 10 cents a share. Ian Austen

General Electric sets high target for software unit.

General Electrics software business is now a stand-alone unit, GE Digital. On Thursday morning, G.E. executives will present Wall Street analysts a progress report on the new unit. At the moment, G.E. Digital looks modest financially. The company has said it expects $6 billion in revenue this year, compared with total G.E. revenue of $117 billion in 2015. But G.E. has set aggressive growth targets for GE Digital. And the software units new products including Predix, an operating system for the industrial internet, are vital to G.E.s plan to become a digital-industrial company. Steve Lohr

____________

AUTO INDUSTRY

Volkswagen shareholders are expected to get loud.

Volkswagen will hold its annual shareholders meeting in Hanover, Germany, on Wednesday. Members of top management and VWs supervisory board are expected to get an earful from shareholders about the companys slim profits and emissions misconduct. But there are unlikely to be any real consequences as almost all of Volkswagens voting shares are owned by members of the Porsche and Piech families, the state of Lower Saxony and the sovereign wealth fund of Qatar. Jack Ewing
SIREN: WASHINGTON TO LOSE ITS DAILY BARD AT A MOST UNCERTAIN TIME: MIKE ALLEN WILL STOP WRITING POLITICOS MORNING PLAYBOOK COLUMN MIDCAMPAIGN, on July 11  A Guide to Capital Intrigue Through Entire Obama Era and Part of W. Bushs  MILLENNIAL TAKEOVER: Politico Young Guns ANNA PALMER, JAKE SHERMAN and DANIEL LIPPMAN Grab the Baton  CHANGES IN STORE FOR A NEW ENVIRONMENT  Times Subscription Deal: 50 percent off for a year!

DRIVING THE COLUMN If information is the lifeblood of Washington, the Politico writer Mike Allens Playbook forms the veins. Pumped out by email every morning, it is where the most influential political operatives in the United States send tidbits or bigger news scoops that they hope will give them the edge in the D.C. skirmish of the week, month or year (and sure, maybe settle a score or two). They do so because its what 100,000 insiders, outsiders, lobbyists and journalists, governors, senators, presidents and would-be presidents read every morning of the week to be in the know, or, in some cases, to see their own names in print. If they say they do not look for it in their inboxes in their first waking minute, they are lying.

Even if youre not one of these addicts, it reaches you, too, because the distillation of what Mr. Allen considers the most vital news items of the day can influence the thinking of television news producers and Mr. Allens rival national political reporters, sometimes in a pro-Allen way (especially when Mr. Allen has included their work in his list of TOP TALKERS) and occasionally in an anti-Allen way (especially if he has dismissed their work as already-been-done USED NEWS).

THE CONVERSATION Mr. Allens Playbook provides a daily sense of cohesion for a town at war with itself. Along with important news items, Playbook lists birthdays, births and swanky parties where Republicans and Democrats manage to hold hostilities in check for a couple of hours. It can also carry the whiff of reporter-source coziness, pack journalism and clubbiness that pervades our capital city, contributing to Washingtons case of acute bubble-itis. But that also goes with its role as official D.C.s village square. The central element of its success has been the frenetic mind of Mr. Allen, who is preparing to start an undisclosed media venture with his Politico colleagues Jim VandeHei and Roy Schwartz.
Shares in National Bank of Abu Dhabi and First Gulf Bank soared on Sunday after they confirmed discussions of a possible merger. A combination would create one of the largest banks in the Middle East and Africa.

Both banks have close links to the Abu Dhabi government, which has been cutting costs and restructuring its assets to increase efficiency as low oil prices take a toll on its revenues.

Analysts said a merger could start a wave of consolidation in the United Arab Emirates banking sector, which is crowded with more than 50 banks and squeezed by lower government spending and tougher global capital rules.

In a statement on Sunday, the banks, Abu Dhabis largest and third-largest lenders by assets, said each had formed a working group to review the commercial potential along with any legal and structural aspects of a merger or combination. The groups would provide recommendations to their respective boards.
Sam Sifton emails readers of Cooking seven days a week to talk about food and suggest recipes. That email also appears here. To receive it in your inbox, register here.

Good morning. This is it, the longest day of the year and, for those of us who thrill to sunlight, the greatest: a chance to linger in the sunset until well after 8 p.m. (Thats until well after 11 p.m. in Homer, Alaska, if youre out there and thinking of grilling salmon outside after the newscast on KTVA.) Why, even if its hot, we may make pierogies, off Francis Lams ace new recipe, which accompanied his terrific column yesterday in The Times Magazine.

We love a project in the summer, after all. And a Rosie Schaap gin and juice will keep our temperature regulated. Pierogies are delicious.
In 2003, the archaeologist Michael Morwood and his colleagues discovered a skull and other bones of an ancient human relative  otherwise known as a hominin  in a cave on the Indonesian island of Flores. The Flores hominins were very small, standing about 3 feet tall, and had very small brains. And yet Dr. Morwood and his colleagues also found stone tools alongside the fossils, suggesting that they still had substantial mental firepower.

Making the discovery even more exciting was their estimate of the age of the fossils  as recent as 18,000 years ago. In 2010, Dr. Morwood and his colleagues re-examined the sediment layers in the cave and redated the fossils to somewhere between 60,000 and 100,000 years ago. That makes the fossils older, but not that much older, relatively speaking. Our own species had already emerged about 200,000 years ago.

The scientists decided the Flores fossils were so different from anything else ever found that the hominin deserved a new name. They dubbed it Homo floresiensis.

By 2004, Dr. Morwood and his colleagues were ready to publish a scientific paper with all the details of their research. They also wanted to publicize the results, but they knew very well that Homo floresiensis is a mouthful. Dr. Morwood proposed to his colleagues that they nickname the hominins of Flores hobbits, in honor of J.R.R. Tolkiens 1937 novel about the little people of Middle Earth.
Times Insider delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how news, features and opinion come together at The New York Times. In this piece, Elizabeth Harris, a Metro reporter on the education beat, explains why she spent several months sitting in tiny plastic chairs.

When I started covering education in New York City at the beginning of the 2014-15 school year, one of the first things that struck me was how schools cobbled together a little extra here and there for their students who were homeless  and how often that came up.

At a high school in the Bronx, supplies were set aside for homeless kids in one section of a walk-in closet. At an elementary school in Brooklyn, bags packed with food were laid out on a Friday afternoon for students who were not likely to get enough to eat over the weekend. And at a school in Manhattan, a principal told me how accommodating children from nearby shelters caused her student roster to pinball up and down, and her teachers just had to adjust.

There have never been more homeless people in New York City, and in recent months this crisis has been getting attention. When many people think about homelessness, however, they dont generally picture kids; more likely they think of a grown man huddled on the street alone. But there are tens of thousands of homeless children in the city  nearly 83,000 in the public school system last year. And where do those kids spend their days? At school.
On a residential block of Union Street in Brooklyn, everyone seemed to have known Andre Lane, the neighborhood fixture with the body of a fighter and a great singing voice who appeared a little off but was considered harmless.

Now, they all want to know who killed him in the public housing complex around the corner.

Mr. Lane, 26, who had a lengthy history of mental health problems, had survived a brutal beating at the hands of correction officers at Rikers Island, New York Citys main jail complex, in 2012. But he was shot and killed on Wednesday night as he struggled to remake a life that had been difficult from the start.

People in the Brownsville neighborhood where Mr. Lane lived and died could not make sense of his death.

He didnt bother nobody, Byron Jenkins, 49, said. Everybody knew Andre had a mental problem. Once he had an argument with somebody, he calmed down.
News of the arrest splashed across the front pages of New York Citys newspapers: Willie Sutton, an infamous bank robber who was one of the F.B.I.s most-wanted fugitives since escaping from a Pennsylvania prison, had been captured in Brooklyn on Feb. 18, 1952, by two young patrolmen and a detective.

One of the officers, Donald P. Shea, would frame a newspaper clipping with a photo taken of Mr. Sutton on the day of his arrest  with Mr. Sheas profile in the background  and keep it mounted on the wall of his home on Long Island for decades.

Though Mr. Shea would serve 36 years with the New York Police Department and work other important cases, none were as high profile as this one.

Mr. Sutton, who was known as Slick Willie and Willie the Actor for his habit of carrying out robberies in various disguises, had escaped from prison three times, most recently in 1947. Even though he was living only a few blocks from what at the time was Brooklyns Police Headquarters, he had evaded capture until Mr. Shea and a partner found him.
Later on Sunday, the governor addressed such post-session analyses, suggesting that they often fell into false on-one-hand, on-the-other-hand dichotomies. He added, However, this year, on one hand it wasnt perfect, on the other hand it was probably the most successful session in modern history.

But the inability of Mr. Cuomo and Mr. de Blasio to push through several major initiatives underscored how both men failed to sway a Legislature that seemed ripe for change after the corruption convictions of Sheldon Silver, the former Democratic Assembly speaker, and Dean G. Skelos, the former Republican Senate majority leader.

Mr. Cuomo had pledged to push hard for new ways to clean up Albany, laying out 11 ethics reforms in his speech in January. But only a handful of modest changes were passed by the states 239th Legislature. And the most prominent  pension forfeiture for convicted lawmakers  would need to pass the 240th, due here in January, and then be approved by voters. (The earliest enforcement would be in 2018, when Mr. Cuomo will be up for re-election.)

Ethics proposals that failed to get through included bans on outside income  a central feature in Mr. Silvers conviction  and eliminating the so-called L.L.C. loophole, a source of almost unlimited corporate campaign funds. Mr. Cuomo had offered various solutions on the loophole but did little public campaigning on the subject. A late-session suggestion of eight different bills, including one focused only on the campaign for governor, foundered on the shoals of legislative indifference.

In his first remarks since the end-of-session deal was announced, Mr. Cuomo said that, despite his proposals to close the L.L.C. loophole, it was far-fetched to believe that the Legislature  particularly the Republican lawmakers  would ever agree to it.

There has to be a dose of reality in the assessment, the governor said, noting that the issue has been discussed for years. It is tantamount to political suicide for the Republican Party in this state because they believe it ends corporate money, and only union money would come into the system, which would help the Democrats.

Mr. Cuomo added that the only way to solve the problem was a constitutional convention. The people are going to have to do it, he said.
8. Looking for something to watch? Our reviewer says ESPNs O. J.: Made in America (streamable through the ESPN app) and FXs The People vs. O. J. Simpson (rentable on iTunes and Amazon) are two of the most astonishing television series of the year. He says the two offer history in both intense close-up and revelatory long view and wind up standing together, not as competitors but as collaborators. We have more small-screen recommendations here.

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In 2014, Melissa Padilla, an immigrant from Mexico, was dismayed to find while doing research for a paper at Dartmouth College that all articles about undocumented students were archived under the heading illegal aliens. When she led a group of students to ask the college library to consider phasing out the term, they expected, at best, to make a statement at the campus. But their request triggered a political fight that has drawn in lawmakers engaged in the immigration debate.

Dartmouth librarians told the students that indexing terms were set by the Library of Congress, but agreed to raise their concern with the American Library Association.

In January, the association passed a resolution calling on the Library of Congress to drop the subject heading illegal aliens and replace it with undocumented immigrants. In March, the librarys officials said they intended to replace illegal aliens with two new terms: noncitizens and unauthorized immigration.

The library changes or eliminates thousands of subject headings each year as language, meaning and connotations evolve. The term Negro, for instance, was retired as a subject heading in 1975; insane was abandoned in 2007 and replaced with mentally ill.
Do you remember what happened when the Berlin Wall fell? Until that moment, nobody realized just how decadent Communism had become. It had tanks, guns, and nukes, but nobody really believed in its ideology anymore; its officials and enforcers were mere careerists, who folded at the first shock.

It seems to me that you need to think about what happened to the G.O.P. this election cycle the same way.

The Republican establishment was easily overthrown because it was already hollow at the core. Donald Trumps taunts about low-energy Jeb Bush and little Marco Rubio worked because they contained a large element of truth. When Mr. Bush and Mr. Rubio dutifully repeated the usual conservative cliches, you could see that there was no sense of conviction behind their recitations. All it took was the huffing and puffing of a loud-mouthed showman to blow their houses down.

But as Mr. Trump is finding out, the Democratic establishment is different.

As some political scientists are now acknowledging, Americas two major parties are not at all symmetric. The G.O.P. is, or was until Mr. Trump arrived, a top-down hierarchical structure enforcing a strict, ideologically pure party line. The Democrats, by contrast, are a coalition of social groups, from teachers unions to Planned Parenthood, seeking specific benefits from government action.
Los Angeles  EVEN today, Americans argue over the Vietnam War: what was done, what mistakes were made, and what were the lasting effects on American power.

This sad history returns because of Bob Kerreys appointment as chairman of the American-sponsored Fulbright University Vietnam, the countrys first private university. That appointment has also prompted the Vietnamese to debate how former enemies can forgive and reconcile.

What is not in dispute is that in 1969 a team of Navy SEALs, under a young Lieutenant Kerreys command, killed 20 unarmed Vietnamese civilians, including women and children, in the village of Thanh Phong. Mr. Kerrey, who later became a senator, a governor, a presidential candidate and a university president, acknowledged his role in the atrocity in his 2002 memoir, When I Was a Young Man.

Those in the United States and Vietnam who favor Mr. Kerreys appointment see it as an act of reconciliation: He has confessed, he deserves to be forgiven because of his efforts to aid Vietnam, and his unique and terrible history makes him a potent symbol for how both countries need to move on from their common war.
To the Editor:

Re To Stop Bad Prosecutors, Call the Feds (editorial, June 6): As a former judge who presided over countless criminal cases in New York for almost 19 years, I can attest that more injustice is done by prosecutors hiding material evidence than by any of the other numerous flaws in our criminal justice system.

This is especially true in New York, where trial judges are prohibited from ordering disclosure of necessary evidence to defense counsel. The result is ill-informed bail decisions, lopsided plea bargaining, frustrated defendants denied a fair shot at preparing for trial, a seemingly endless stream of wrongful convictions and one-sided sentencing hearings.

New York is almost unique among the states in allowing prosecutors to bury evidence and, amazingly enough, in barring judges from ordering disclosure or even allowing a defendant to gather disclosure by subpoena.

The New York Assembly has repeatedly passed legislation, elegant in its simplicity, that provides that a court may, in its discretion, order disclosure by a prosecutor of material evidence, necessary for preparation for trial, if the defense request is reasonable and if there is no reason to protect the evidence from disclosure. Inexplicably, it has failed in the Senate.
Rarely has a vote in one country attracted as much active kibitzing abroad as Britains approaching referendum on whether to stay in the European Union. President Obama, Chancellor Angela Merkel, the head of the International Monetary Fund, five former supreme commanders of NATO and a host of other leaders have openly urged the British not to leave, and the chorus is growing by the day.

Whether its having any effect will not be known until the vote on Thursday. What is known, what the debate over the referendum has demonstrated with great clarity, is that there is in Britain a populist strain of the sort that has brought nationalist governments to Hungary and Poland, helped right-wing parties make strong showings in France and some other European countries  and, in America, done much to promote the cause of Donald Trump. In the United States and Britain, a relatively normal electoral process became seized with populist nationalism and increasingly immune to normal political discourse.

In Britain, Prime Minister David Cameron announced back in 2013 that he would hold a referendum on E.U. membership largely to mollify euroskeptics in his Conservative Party, presuming that Britons would vote to stay in. Before long, a similar demographic gathered on the Leave side in Britain and the Trump side in America  workers who felt alienated by a globalizing and changing world, who felt politicians had ceased listening to them, who were convinced that tides of foreigners were threatening their livelihood and identity.

And so the British referendum has become something of a battleground for all Western democracies where anti-immigrant hostilities are building.
By failing for decades to regulate for-profit colleges, the federal government encouraged a predatory industry that saddled poor and working-class people with crippling student debt, often in return for useless degrees or no degrees at all. The industry accomplished this by relying on the federal student aid program for virtually all of its revenue. But the Obama administration took steps last week that could keep future students from falling into this trap.

The cost of poor oversight was made clear in 2014, when Corinthian Colleges, one of the nations largest operators of for-profit schools, collapsed financially in the wake of state and federal fraud investigations. That left the federal government legally responsible for forgiving the student loans of thousands whose schools had either defrauded them or shut down while they were enrolled.

The Obama administration last week proposed new regulations intended to protect taxpayers and borrowers from Corinthian-style disasters while eliminating some obstacles that have historically prevented students who have been defrauded by schools from aggressively seeking redress through the courts. The proposed regulations would be an improvement, but they need more work before they are finalized.
The failure to close Guantanamo, where 80 detainees remain, is a shameful stain on Congress, which has hindered efforts to release prisoners and barred the Pentagon from moving those remaining to prisons in the United States. The prison has undermined Americas standing as a champion of human rights and set a deplorable example for other governments inclined to violate international human rights law. Its familiar orange jumpsuits have been made part of the terrorists propaganda, most recently by Islamic State fighters in photos and videos that show the execution of hostages.

There is a modest step still available to Mr. Obama to demonstrate to the world that he is willing to acknowledge what has taken place at Guantanamo. The United Nations special rapporteur who examines issues of torture has sought access to the detainees for years, seeking to document their treatment while in custody. The government has refused repeated requests since 2004, with no good reason.

I want to believe that the use of torture by the United States is a dark chapter that has ended, Juan Mendez, the special rapporteur, said in an interview. But I cant be certain of that until we see a change in policy and verify that the United States is meeting all its international obligations.

The defense team of Ammar al-Baluchi, one of the detainees at Guantanamo who is being tried in connection with the 9/11 attacks, filed a motion in May asking the military commission to allow him to meet with Mr. Mendez. Thomas Pickering, a veteran diplomat who has served as ambassador to Russia, India and the United Nations in Republican and Democratic administrations, has filed a memorandum supporting this request. Mr. Pickering wrote that recent reports of heavy-handed and even brutal force-feedings, indifferent medical care, unacceptably cold stainless steel cells, indefinite solitary confinement at Guantanamo may constitute violations of the Geneva Conventions and the Convention Against Torture. The United States is a signatory of both.
One of the most brazen  craven even  ploys by Republicans in the wake of the Orlando massacre has been to suggest, incredibly, that they would be better for the L.G.B.T. community than the Democrats.

At a rally on Thursday, Donald Trump said L.G.B.T is starting to like Donald Trump very much lately, I will tell you, starting to like Donald Trump very, very much lately. He mentioned that the Clinton Foundation had taken money from countries where they kill gays, and continued:

So you tell me whos better for the gay community and whos better for women than Donald Trump?

As Tierney Sneed of Talking Points Memo put it last week:

The same Republicans who have argued that gay couples should not be allowed to marry, that L.G.B.T. Americans dont need federal anti-discrimination protections and that trans people should not use the bathroom that matches their identity are now claiming that they  not Democrats  are the party on the L.G.B.T. communitys side.

Republican Representative Mo Brooks of Alabama took it even further, saying last week:

The Democrats are in a perplexing position. On the one hand, theyre trying to appeal to the gay community, but, on the other hand, theyre trying to also appeal to the Muslim community, which, if it had its way, would kill every homosexual in the United States of America.

But the L.G.B.T community is not deceived by this treachery, in which the mouth speaks of protections while the hands and heart toil away at subjugation, if not destruction.
To the Editor:

In Dump G.O.P. for a Grand New Party (column, June 8), Thomas L. Friedman says, America needs a healthy two-party system. Really? An increasing number of voters dont feel that the present two-party system does anything but maintain the two parties.

As more and more voters become independent, it is time for America to examine ways to get more players into the political mix, people without the major party loyalties that increasingly seem to be at odds with the countrys welfare. We will never get the nominees we deserve if we let the two parties control the nominating and electoral process as they currently do. Open the system.

RICHARD ROSENFELD

New York

To the Editor:

Thomas L. Friedman is right that the G.O.P. has failed the country, and long before Donald Trump made it excruciatingly obvious. But the answer is not a new center-right party, as he proposes. The Democratic Party, in largely abandoning its traditional constituents  workers and unions  has become the center-right party. What we now need, as Bernie Sanders well demonstrated, is a true center-left party.

MARCIA ANGELL

Cambridge, Mass.

To the Editor:

Thomas L. Friedman thinks the Republican Party is morally bankrupt because of  what? Because it doesnt have sensible positions on his list of liberal issues, such as global warming and more gun control. He doesnt understand why Republicans are skeptical about man-made global warming and dont believe in gun control.
Great-tailed grackles first caught the attention of Dr. Logan, now at Cambridge University, in 2004 when she was doing undergraduate research in Costa Rica.

Theyll actually walk right up and look you in the eye, she said. They look like theyre so smart.

Years later, having earned her Ph.D. at Cambridge, she decided to look more closely at them because she was interested in behavioral flexibility. Grackles, for example, might look under rocks at the beach for something to eat, or switch to discarded sandwich wrappers in a city park.

There is another kind of behavioral change  innovation. Thats solving new problems either by adapting an existing kind of behavior or coming up with a new one. For instance, some crows and other birds have dropped stones in water to make the level rise so they can get a floating treat. Dr. Logan said that scientists have thought about flexibility and innovation as two sides of the same coin, and both are very characteristic of invasive species. But recently some researchers have wondered if they may be separate abilities.

Dr. Logan, then working at the SAGE Center for the Study of the Mind at U.C. Santa Barbara, wanted to see if the grackles were as innovative as they were flexible. They seemed like good candidates for the experiments because, although they are very adaptable, they have relatively small brains compared with birds like crows, which are part of the very smart and inventive corvid family.
Situated several stories above Bleecker Street, the fashion designer Autumn Hrubys studio is a series of vignettes: Tchotchkes sit carefully grouped, lush plant leaves tumble out of a self-watering contraption and her dogs, Bob and Charlie, lay across the floor. Hruby and her editorial assistants are huddled together in front of a large computer monitor, finalizing the inaugural volumes of Hesperios Journal, Hrubys art and literary publication, which launches this week. A cream-colored sweater pictured on the screen also hangs on a nearby clothing rack  alongside other pale pink, ecru, burgundy and navy knits  which are made under the same name, Hesperios, Greek for the evening star.

Im definitely the type of person who needs to do a lot at once; I like to keep stimulated, but Im also determined to finish what I start, Hruby says. Born in Chicago and raised in Northern California, she fully devoted herself to photography after high school graduation, which took her to Amsterdam, France and Italy. She relocated to Tokyo in the early aughts to help a friend launch a clothing line, then returned to the States in 2004 and formed a design agency between L.A. and Montreal. In 2008, I got burned out, she says. I became tired of trying to meet the needs of clients and I wasnt passionate about it anymore. She returned to photography, picked up more freelance assignments and headed to New York  and toyed with the idea of launching her own clothing line.

Image Autumn Hruby

She wanted to begin with a garment she loves: sweaters. Last summer, I was in Marthas Vineyard at an estate sale  they were selling everything from records to chairs  and a charming old man approached me, Hruby recounts. He had a coral cashmere sweater wrapped around his neck and, for some reason, he shared with me that his wife had just passed and hed given everything away except for her cashmere sweaters. He had saved those for the women shed played bridge with. That was a real confirmation for me. I wanted to start the collection on the basis of making something that would last a long time. Hrubys first Hesperios Knit offering, for spring/summer 2016, was inspired by the beaches of Marthas Vineyard as well as the island of Gotland, Sweden, where she has spent time. The collection includes traditional silhouettes, including boxy and fitted pullovers and tank tops to button-down work shirts and dresses. (Her fall/winter 2016 knits consist of crop tops, long and short pleated skirts, striped and solid turtlenecks and unisex pullovers.)
A more appropriate title for Out of the Mouths of Babes, a new play by Israel Horovitz that opened on Sunday at the Cherry Lane Theater, might be Dead Mans Harem. In this improbable and eventually even fantastical comedy, enlivened by an excellent cast including Judith Ivey and Estelle Parsons, four women who have all been involved with the same man gather to mourn him in his Paris apartment.

First on the scene are Evelyn (Ms. Parsons) and Evvie (Ms. Ivey), who exchange polite conversation that becomes somewhat less polite when Evelyn learns that Evvie used to be called Snookie  a nickname bestowed by the man they both loved (whose name is never mentioned). It was Snookie who broke up Evelyns marriage to the man.

The portrait that emerges of this lifelong womanizer is not a very appealing one. He met all the women in his life, it appears  and there were many, including his first wife, the original Snookie, who killed herself after Evelyn came along  when they were students attending his literature classes at the Sorbonne. Serial predator, one might call him today. Plus: He refused to do dishes.

But apparently, and we must take it on faith, he was irresistible, at least to the young women dazzled by his intellect and sophistication. While Evelyn and Evvie are discussing their past, the name Janice crops up. Its confusing, but apparently Janice slipped in when Evvie was over, but then Evvie came back.
I dont think anyone had prolonged suffering, he said in an interview.

Evaluating the Response

Autopsy reports could help explain how victims died, by describing the wounds. But no details have been released because the investigation is in progress.

Analysis of bullets like the ones Dr. Vickaryous removed from victims may eventually answer another difficult question: whether some people were caught in the crossfire and shot by the police, said Dr. Jan Garavaglia, Dr. Stephanys predecessor.

The response to the massacre is already generating debate in academia.

Dr. Irwin Redlener, the director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, said there was little doubt that more of the injured would have survived if they had been rescued sooner.

But he also urged against judging the police, because the gunman had boasted that he had bombs and accomplices. Both claims were lies, but no one could be sure at first.

As to whether victims had died quickly or suffered, it depends on where the bullets hit, Dr. Redlener said.

Here in Orlando, officials are just beginning to evaluate their response, even as they continue to care for patients, plan funerals and tend to their own emotional trauma. Mr. Alberts, the emergency preparedness manager, has had two debriefings with his medical team.

At the Orlando Fire Department, Chief Roderick S. Williams, who supervised many of the paramedics first on the scene, is planning to tell others our lessons learned. Fire chiefs from New York; Aurora, Colo.; and Boston  cities that have also confronted traumas  have already reached out to share their information.

As the next city to experience a horrific event like this, Chief Williams said, we have to pay it forward.
ROME  An anti-establishment newcomer, capitalizing on anger over political corruption and deteriorating city services, easily won Romes mayoral runoff on Sunday to become the first woman to lead the Italian capital.

With more than 80 percent of the ballots counted, Virginia Raggi of the Five Star Movement led by a 2-to-1 ratio. Her rival, Roberto Giachetti of the Democratic Party, who was backed by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, conceded defeat less than an hour after polls closed.

Mr. Giachetti said he had called Ms. Raggi to wish her luck.

Dozens of people, including local politicians from the governing Democratic Party, right-wing parties and other political forces, have been implicated in corruption probes of city contracts.

While Romes established parties struggled, municipal services, especially strike-plagued mass transit, street repairs and trash collection, deteriorated to the exasperation of residents.
More people are on the run than ever before in recorded history, the United Nations said in a report released Monday.

They include those fleeing marauders in South Sudan, drug gangs in Central America, and the Islamic State in the Iraqi cities of Mosul and Falluja. While most are displaced within their own countries, an unprecedented number are seeking political asylum in the worlds rich countries. Nearly 100,000 are children who have attempted the journey alone.

All told, the number of people displaced by conflict is estimated to exceed 65 million, more than the population of Britain.

The new figures, part of the United Nations refugee agencys Global Trends Report, come as hostility is surging toward migrants and refugees in the Western countries where they are seeking sanctuary and relief.
Ive been doing this for 40 years now, and I understand the importance of the history maybe better than anyone else, said Mr. Reuter, who is also a photographer and filmmaker. But there is a time when things have to come to an end. These are not materials that were designed to last indefinitely, and the investment to keep making them would be huge, multimillions.

News of the wind down has been spreading for several months through the art world, where it has been met more often with disbelief than disappointment.

I havent given up, said Mr. Close, one of the first artists to begin using the camera in the late 1970s to make photographs as both the basis for painted portraits and as works themselves. Heres yet another medium that will be lost to history, and it just shouldnt be allowed to happen. If it does, I dont know what Im going to do, to tell you the truth. Its so integrated into everything I do. I can always imagine what making a painting from one of those pictures will look like.
People dont always stay dead on the show. Any chance Ramsay will be back?

I made a bit of a joke to David [Benioff, one of the creators] about how he could be a White Walker now that hes been eaten by dogs. And David went, No! [Laughs.] So yeah, not to give away any spoilers, but Ramsays done. And good riddance, Im sure everyone would agree.

What was your final day like?

That was my actual last day, that scene. That was the last thing we shot. So it was kind of fitting, really. And to be honest at the end of that day all I really wanted to do was go and get all the [grime] washed off me. I was covered in all manner of it and it was quite uncomfortable. So that was my priority, as opposed to having a big round of applause and being sentimental.

Yes you were covered in all sorts of stuff. How long did you have to sit in that?

All day. Eating was a challenge.

The dog attack began with a pretty brutal strike to the face. How was that shot?

Id love to tell you it was me with some big scary dogs but it was all C.G.I. Theres very little contact with the dogs  theyre trained to be brutal guard dogs. Theyre not pets. Youre not allowed to make eye contact with them because they might think youre threatening them. Its just not safe to be anywhere near them. We did one shot where there was a real dog behind me in a cage. But the rest of them were digitally put there. It also adds extra pressure to shooting when you throw in a few dogs  you cant really ask them to be quiet.

Now that youve had some time to look back on it, do you have a couple of favorite moments from the show?
I think he is absolutely right in what he is doing, and you dont alter it just because people are wailing, Mr. Herro said. If a trader makes money, they get a bonus  if they lose, the shareholder bites it. These changes have been long overdue.

As he has done in meetings with investors and clients, Mr. Thiam has blamed upset investment bankers for a negative environment, and he has said repeatedly that he will not backtrack as a result of their complaints.

In his memo, though, Mr. Thiam did strive to strike a positive tone in terms of the effort to turn around the global markets division. Significant progress with the accelerated restructuring, not only in terms of de-risking and cost reduction but also in reinvigorating our client franchise, he wrote.

Nevertheless, Mr. Herro did say that it is important for Mr. Thiam to do better in terms of getting his message across internally. If change is going to happen, it has to be done with good communication and empathy toward employees, he said.

Mr. Herro said in the interview that he saw no need for Credit Suisse to raise new funds. With the cash generation they have now, their capital position is fine, he said.

More than most investment banks, Credit Suisse relies on company stock to compensate employees.

There are few analysts or investors who think that Mr. Thiam is mistaken in his strategy, which is in line with what other banks in Europe are doing.

But even his biggest supporters have started to express some concern that he could be doing a better job communicating his message  unpleasant as it may be  to his employees.
The two executives sued Marsh in 2010 to recover employment benefits denied to them because of the firing. They claimed that the company breached its contract and that it was acting as an agent of Mr. Spitzers office when it sought to force them to speak with investigators, violating their constitutional right to silence.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Manhattan agreed with the conclusion of a federal district judge that their termination was not a breach of contract because the company had good reason to demand that they provide information or face the consequences of their refusal. The appeals court found that when a company finds itself under scrutiny for potential violations, it did what any other company would do, and (arguably) what any company should do. Marshs interview demands were reasonable and it had cause to fire Gilman and McNenney for refusing to comply.

That language effectively recognizes a broad right for companies to use the threat of termination to obtain information from employees because of the potential for shareholder lawsuits and government enforcement actions.

The power to fire an employee is rarely an effective method to gather evidence because employees who possibly engaged in misconduct will expect to pay a price at some point, and speaking with investigators will provide little protection from dismissal.

What the power to terminate an employee does give a company is a means to show the government that it has tried to obtain evidence of wrongdoing and took measures to punish those unwilling to cooperate.

Adopting an aggressive approach with a recalcitrant employee has become even more important since the Justice Department announced a new policy in 2015 that conditions any credit for corporate cooperation on providing information about misconduct by individuals in the company. Sally Q. Yates, the deputy attorney general of the United States who issued the policy directive, said in a recent speech before the New York City Bar Association that our goal is not to collect corporate heads.

That may not be the governments goal, but showing that a few heads were lopped off for refusing to cooperate in an internal investigation can go a long way toward making the case that a company tried its best to provide the information that the Justice Department policy demands. If a company cannot furnish all the information the government would like, it can at least show it got rid of anyone who did not help its investigation.
In general, the Supreme Court has said that a United States law should be presumed not to apply abroad unless Congress has clearly said it does. On subjects like securities fraud and human rights abuses, the court has limited the power of American courts to hear cases based on foreign activities.

Justice Alito said parts of the racketeering law overcame that presumption. The law requires proof of violations of underlying state and federal laws, he wrote, and at least some of those laws apply to conduct abroad. At least one applies only abroad, he wrote, referring to the crime of killing a United States national outside the United States.

Short of an explicit declaration, Justice Alito wrote, it is hard to imagine how Congress could have more clearly indicated that it intended RICO to have (some) extraterritorial effect. This unique structure makes RICO the rare statute that clearly evidences extraterritorial effect despite lacking an express statement of extraterritoriality.

All seven justices hearing the case agreed on that analysis. But they parted ways about whether the part of the racketeering law authorizing private civil suits, as opposed to ones brought by the United States government itself, applied to conduct abroad. The majority said no.

It is not enough to say that a private right of action must reach abroad because the underlying law governs conduct in foreign countries, Justice Alito wrote. Something more is needed, and here it is absent.

Image Pall Malls, an R.J. Reynolds brand. Credit... Simon Dawson/Bloomberg

There is a potential for international controversy that militates against recognizing foreign injury claims without clear direction from Congress, he added.
Global health authorities are trying to get more countries to mandate the use of the worlds ugliest color on cigarette packaging to discourage smoking.

In 2012, GfK Bluemoon, a market research company under contract to the Australian government, announced that nearly 1,000 smokers had voted that a drab greenish brown known as opaque couche, number 448c in the Pantone color matching system, was the worlds most repulsive color.

It was described as looking like death, filth, lung tar or baby excrement. Color aficionados later noted that it was also similar to the hue of the dress worn by the Mona Lisa.
The other businessman, Jona S. Rechnitz, 33, has pleaded guilty and has provided information in the police case and in at least one of the fund-raising investigations focused on Mr. de Blasio, a Democrat, and his inner circle, according to several people familiar with the case.

Although the charges being leveled against the police commanders involve some of the same figures who appear in the mayoral fund-raising investigations  most notably Mr. Rechnitz  there has been no suggestion that the mayor himself was involved in the police influence-peddling and bribery scheme described in the court papers unsealed on Monday.

Preet Bharara, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, said little about the connection between the various inquiries, beyond noting that there is no allegation that has anything to do with the mayor anywhere in those court documents.

Mr. Reichberg and Mr. Rechnitz do not appear to have had any official affiliation to the Police Department, although Mr. Reichberg, a member of the large Orthodox Jewish community in Borough Park, would often describe himself as a community liaison to the department. He even had business cards identifying him as such, prosecutors said.
GOSHEN, N.Y.  In chilling detail, a State Police investigator on Monday publicly described for the first time a 45-minute walk he took on a Hudson River island with Angelika Graswald, whose remarks to him soon led to charges that she murdered her fiance while the two had been kayaking there last year.

Ms. Graswald said she felt trapped and had withheld her fiances paddle after his kayak capsized, the investigator, Donald DeQuarto, testified during a pretrial hearing.

I took his paddle when he was in the water, Ms. Graswald had told him, Investigator DeQuarto said.

The walk and subsequent questioning last spring occurred 10 days after the fiance, Vincent Viafore, 46, disappeared into the cold waters of the Hudson, on April 19, 2015. Ms. Graswald was visiting Bannerman Island, where the couple had stopped on the day of the drowning, and ran into investigators who were searching for clues to the episode, which was still being treated as an accident.
To the Editor:

Re 51 U.S. Diplomats, in Dissent, Urge Strikes on Assad (front page, June 17):

The United States has unintentionally prolonged the Syrian civil war, first by supporting a mythical moderate Syrian opposition, then by pursuing a contradictory strategy of attacking President Bashar al-Assads regime and its most powerful enemy, ISIS, simultaneously.

There is no doubt that American policy in Syria has failed. American military action, overt and otherwise, has contributed to rather than abated the misery and suffering of the Syrian people and helped to create conditions that have led to a refugee crisis of biblical proportions.

But the answer is not for the United States to increase its efforts to remove a brutal dictator with a military intervention. We tried that before in Iraq, and the result was chaos and a failed state. Indeed, the American invasion of Iraq led directly to the strengthening of Al Qaeda and the birth of the even more extreme Islamic State.

JOHN E. STAFFORD

Rye, N.Y.
In politics, as in life, there is the question of the company you keep.

Reasonable people, some friends of mine, make reasonable arguments for Britain to leave the European Union. They say it lacks transparency. They say a union containing an inner club of nations with a common currency, but outliers without it, constitutes a setup that defrauds voters because it is intellectually dishonest. The euro nations require a political union that is ever closer for the euro to be sustainable. Other nations, like Britain, do not want that.

They argue that the E.U. is undemocratic, run by unaccountable bureaucrats, and that Britain can somehow reinvent itself, overcome geography and defy several authoritative predictions of economic disaster  most recently from the International Monetary Fund  by linking with fast-growing parts of the emergent world after it turns its back on a stagnant Europe.

I am prepared to lend half an ear to such notions, even if they are paltry quibbles when set against the wonder of a borderless Europe at peace, access to a market of half a billion people, decades of growing prosperity since Britain joined the European Economic Community in 1973, and the British capacity to count in the world as a leader within a united Europe rather than become an insular minnow adrift in the English Channel.

The European Union has been through a tough decade. It has been beset by the structural flaws of the euro and a weak response to the financial meltdown of 2008. It has faced the ongoing difficulties of absorbing former Communist bloc nations and the challenge of mass immigration. It needs reinvigoration  of a kind Britain could lead.
The United States, along with France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia, reached a historic deal with Iran last July that lifts most sanctions in return for curbs on Irans nuclear program. The deal, codified in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and endorsed by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, specifically includes allowing non-American banks to operate in Iran.

But European banks are still reluctant to enter Iran because they have no solid legal assurance from Washington that its enforcement agencies would not later sue them for violating residual American sanction laws that predate the nuclear negotiations. These laws are complex and ambiguous even to sophisticated legal departments in European banks. So the banks, understandably, have been unwilling to do business with Iran and risk fines in the billions of dollars if they unwittingly violate the rules.

That reluctance has made some critics of the historic nuclear deal question its ultimate value as a stabilizing factor in international relations and an enduring barrier to nuclear proliferation.

So far, political commitments by Secretary of State John Kerry and his Western counterparts not to pursue the banks have not had their intended confidence-building effect.
CHIOS, Greece  Late spring has a prelapsarian sweetness in this small, breezy port.

Jasmine and bougainvillea line the roads. The trees are heavy with ripe lemons and figs. In the main square, locals chat over coffee and honey-drenched fried dough. The town has 25,000 residents, and they all seem to know one another.

The island, also called Chios, lies in the eastern part of the Aegean Sea. A few miles from Turkey, its a primary transit point for migrants hoping to reach Europe. Today it hosts some 2,500 refugees in three camps: Souda and Dipethe, both dusty warrens of tents and tarps in Chios city, and Vial, the islands official hotspot, set amid olive groves a few miles west of town.

For many European countries, the E.U.-Turkey deal to curb mass migration into Europe is working: The steady influx of boats from Turkey to Greece has nearly stopped since the agreement went into effect on March 20, as has the rush of foreigners into continental Europe. But now more than 50,000 migrants are stuck in Greece, living in extremely difficult conditions while they await decisions on their asylum applications.

A few weeks ago at Souda camp, I sat on an N.G.O.-provided blanket with Wassim Omar, a 34-year-old English teacher and father of three from Damascus. It was day 12 of his hunger strike, and a brown-striped polo hung loosely on his slim frame.
On March 3, two armed men entered the home of Berta Caceres, an environmental activist in Honduras, and shot her dead. For years, Ms. Caceres had vigorously opposed the proposed Agua Zarca Dam, to be built on the land of an indigenous people, the Lenca.

Ms. Caceres was one of 185 environmental activists killed in 16 countries last year, according to a new report published by Global Witness, a nonprofit organization dedicated to exposing environmental abuses. Those murders represent a 59 percent increase over the number murdered in 2014, according to the report, and the highest since Global Witness began compiling data in 2002.

The environment has emerged as a new battleground for human rights, said Billy Kyte, a campaign leader at Global Witness and the reports author.
It was a silent spring for saiga antelopes last year.

Within a few weeks in May in Kazakhstan, a mysterious illness claimed the lives of more than 200,000 of the endangered animals, or over 60 percent of the species.

This spring scientists and conservationists around the world waited anxiously to see whether the die-off would be repeated. Not only has May come and gone with no epidemic, but newly published results from an April census revealed that the saigas are making modest gains in population.

In particular, the Betpak-Dala saiga population in central Kazakhstan, which was hit hardest by the epidemic, grew from 31,000 after the die-off to 36,000 by April, said Steffen Zuther, who coordinates the Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative, a large-scale conservation program in central Kazakhstan.

Its fantastic news, said Stephanie Ward, a representative of Britains Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, a partner in the conservation program. She attributed the population growth to the Kazakh governments effort to combat poaching for meat and male saiga horns, which are prized in Chinese traditional medicine.
SAN FRANCISCO  A new list of the worlds fastest supercomputers provides more evidence that the once-yawning technology gap between the United States and China is closing.

China dominates a biannual ranking of the worlds 500 fastest supercomputers, called the Top500, that was published on Monday. Not only does China have the worlds fastest machine for the seventh consecutive time, it has the largest number of computers among the top 500  a first for any country other than the United States.

Also for the first time, the worlds fastest supercomputer uses Chinese-made microprocessor chips instead of chips from Silicon Valleys Intel.

Supercomputers are viewed in scientific circles as an indicator of national technology leadership, and they are vital for research in areas ranging from the development of new weapons and medicines, to the design of cars and consumer products. American computing experts and business executives have warned for years that leadership in supercomputing is vital to a range of national interests.
Technology has all kinds of ways to make life easier  particularly for the tech companies themselves.

As Katie Benner writes, Airbnb is currently under scrutiny over the way some of its members choose who they will rent to. One study shows its harder for people with names that seem African-American to book stays. Yet if those people are wronged on Airbnb, theres little they can do to seek legal redress.

When people sign up for the service, they waive the right to sue Airbnb, or join any arbitration or class-action lawsuit against the company. A few months back, Airbnb highlighted those terms, and older users were compelled to show that they were aware of the rights they were losing by listing with Airbnb.

This is not the only time Airbnb has been selective with information. Last year, San Francisco held a referendum on whether, among other things, short-term rentals could be restricted to 75 nights a year. Airbnb, which was viewed as the primary target of the vote, spent heavily to defeat the measure, and it was.
General election advertising will soon begin in earnest. Just last week, Hillary Clinton announced she was launching her general election ad campaign in many battleground markets, but there is no indication where and when Donald Trumps campaign will respond.

There was a lot of political advertising on TV during the primaries. By one count, ads were shown nearly three-quarters of a million times. Media consultants will tell you the primary ads worked. But youd expect that, because its often in their financial interest to persuade candidates to advertise. What is more surprising is that research from political scientists, some involving creative and carefully designed field experiments done in cooperation with real campaigns, corroborates this notion.

The evidence suggests that campaign ads have small effects that decay rapidly  very rapidly  but just enough of the impact accumulates to make running more advertising than your opponent seem a necessity.

It sets off an arms race of ads as candidates try to neutralize or displace their opponents. But will the 2016 general election be different? Mr. Trump has used unconventional campaign tactics and has relied on free media to get his messages out. All of this may render advertising less relevant.
Some details of the Orlando nightclub massacre are known to the minute: The first reports of gunfire came at 2:02 a.m. The gunman made a 911 call at 2:35 a.m., in which he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State. By 5:15 a.m., as hostages fled to safety, he lay dead or mortally wounded in a scene of unimaginable carnage.

Many questions persist about those three hours at the blood-drenched Pulse nightclub, and about how law enforcement handled the crisis on June 12. Orlando police officials have been peppered with queries from the public, survivors and the news media about whether they should have confronted the gunman sooner and whether any of the victims were shot by the police.

The citys police chief, John Mina, and other officials have repeatedly defended the delay in storming a bathroom where the gunman had taken hostages, and have deflected questions about whose bullets did what damage. On Monday, Chief Mina answered in a way that left open the possibility that some of the 49 people killed and 53 wounded were, in fact, hit by police gunfire.

Thats part of the investigation, but heres what I will tell you: Those killings are on the suspect, he said.

The chief spoke at a news conference with local and federal law enforcement officials outside the club to release a partial transcript of the gunmans conversations with the police during the siege, and to fill a few gaps in the official account of what took place. But the news conference seemed intended just as much to reject criticism of the police.

I think there was this misconception that we didnt do anything for three hours, and thats absolutely not true, the chief said. He said the police had used the time to rescue patrons, get the lay of the building, put resources into place, determine where people were hiding and talk to the gunman.

Federal law enforcement officials at Mondays news conference offered vigorous praise of local agencies and their personnel. They should not be second-guessed, said A. Lee Bentley III, the United States attorney for the Middle District of Florida. Lives were saved because of their heroic work.

The killer, Omar Mateen, spoke with the authorities four times for a total of 29 minutes while holding hostages in a bathroom where victims lay bleeding. The transcript released by the F.B.I. covered only the first, brief call and fragments of the last call; the substance of his statements was made public last week but not the precise language.

In the first call, to 911 at 2:35 a.m., which lasted less than a minute, Mr. Mateen, 29, took responsibility for the shootings in the name of God the merciful, and declared allegiance to the Islamic State and its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He demanded that the United States halt its bombing in Syria and Iraq.

He talked with a police negotiator at 2:48 for nine minutes, at 3:03 for 16 minutes and at 3:24 for three minutes. In the last call, he claimed  falsely, it turned out  to have explosives.

There is some vehicle outside that has some bombs, just to let you know, he said. You people are gonna get it, and Im gonna ignite it if they try to do anything stupid. He said he had a vest of the kind used in France, an apparent reference to explosive vests used by Islamic State attackers in Paris in November.
ORLANDO, Fla.  It seemed as if all of Orlando was here, crowded around a glittering lake to remember the 49 people who died in a fit of violence.

Among the people, estimated by the police at 50,000, present at a vigil on Sunday for the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting were:

Minnie Perez, 47, a Pulse regular who said she had lost 14 friends. She wore a blanket bearing their faces.

Megan Elkins, 25, who held her 7-year-old nephew as if it was the last time she would have the chance to do so.

And Syed, Ivette and Sasha Shamsuzzaman, a Bangladeshi-Puerto Rican family sitting under a black umbrella at the edge of the lake. Mr. Shamsuzzaman, 61, a Muslim from Bangladesh, wore a peace sign around his neck and called for Pulse to reopen as quickly as possibly.
Facing backlash from the National Rifle Association for taking Second Amendment rights too far, Donald J. Trump on Monday walked back his suggestion that people should be armed when attending nightclubs or other public places where people tend to drink alcohol.

When I said that if, within the Orlando club, you had some people with guns, I was obviously talking about additional guards or employees, Mr. Trump wrote in a morning post on Twitter.

The clarification signified an about-face for Mr. Trump, who heartily embraced the argument that more guns equals more safety when discussing the recent massacre in Orlando Fla., during a rally in Houston on Friday.

If we had, if we had, people where the bullets were going in the opposite direction, right smack between the eyes of this maniac  if some of those wonderful people had guns strapped right here, Mr. Trump wrote (with a gesture to his right hip), right to their waist or right to their ankle, and this son of a bitch comes out and starts shooting, and one of the people in that room happened to have it, and goes boom  boom  you know what, that would have been a beautiful, beautiful sight, folks.
WASHINGTON  The Senate on Monday failed to advance four separate measures aimed at curbing gun sales, the latest display of congressional inaction after a mass shooting.

Eight days after a gunman claiming allegiance to the Islamic State killed 49 people in an Orlando, Fla., nightclub, the Senate deadlocked, largely along party lines, on amendments to block people on the federal terrorism watch list from buying guns and to close loopholes in background check laws. Families of gun violence victims looked on from the Senate chamber as the votes were held.

Further action on gun safety measures or mental health provisions seemed unlikely before the fall election, given the rush to finish a series of spending bills and the relatively limited time that Congress will be in session before November.

In addition, the four gun measures were attached to legislation that contains several other thorny issues, such as the question of whether to take passports away from terrorism suspects, which suggests there will be little chance for further debate.
The main super PAC supporting Hillary Clinton raised $12.1 million in May, the group said on Monday  its largest haul of the year as Mrs. Clinton shifts from the Democratic presidential primary to a likely showdown with Donald J. Trump in the fall.

The group, Priorities USA Action, said it had entered June with over $50 million in cash on hand after securing more than $130 million in donations and commitments during the election cycle to date.

Priorities USA Action has reserved about $147 million in television, radio and digital platform spending across eight states: Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Nevada, Colorado, North Carolina, Iowa and New Hampshire.

In the last few weeks Donald Trump accused President Obama of working with ISIS, took a victory lap following a national tragedy and mimed shooting someone at one of his events, Guy Cecil, the groups chief strategist, said in a statement, using an acronym for the Islamic State. Priorities USA is not going to let this man anywhere near the White House because he is far too dangerous and divisive to ever be president of the United States.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court refused on Monday to hear a Second Amendment challenge to a Connecticut law banning many semiautomatic rifles. The law, enacted in 2013 in the wake of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., made it a crime to sell or possess the firearms, which critics call assault weapons.

The decision not to hear the case, not long after the mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., does not set a Supreme Court precedent. But it is part of a trend in which the justices have given at least tacit approval to broad gun-control laws in states and localities that choose to enact them.
The Senate is to vote on Monday on competing gun control proposals that gained renewed attention in the aftermath of the Orlando, Fla., killings. But there is little optimism that the two parties can come to an agreement on the contentious issue despite another horrific attack.

Senate Democrats successfully employed a filibuster last week to increase pressure on Republicans to at least allow debate on legislation making it more difficult for people on terrorist watch lists to buy guns. Omar Mateen, the Orlando gunman, had been scrutinized by the F.B.I. for possible terrorist activity, but he was still able to buy firearms.

One proposal, by Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, would allow the Justice Department to block gun sales to individuals on terrorism watch lists if law enforcement decided the weapons could be used in an attack. Republicans have responded with an alternative proposal by Senator John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Senate Republican, that is backed by the National Rifle Association. It would give the authorities 72 hours to convince a judge that a sale should be blocked. Democrats say that process is unworkable.

Senator Susan Collins, a moderate Republican from Maine, has come up with another plan that would ban gun sales to those on the federal no-fly list but would pay their legal costs if they were successful in appealing the decision.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that evidence found by police officers after illegal stops may be used in court if the officers conducted their searches after learning that the defendants had outstanding arrest warrants.

Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for the majority in the 5-to-3 decision, said such searches do not violate the Fourth Amendment when the warrant is valid and unconnected to the conduct that prompted the stop.

Justice Thomass opinion drew a fiery dissent from Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who said that it is no secret that people of color are disproportionate victims of this type of scrutiny.

This case tells everyone, white and black, guilty and innocent, that an officer can verify your legal status at any time, she wrote. It says that your body is subject to invasion while courts excuse the violation of your rights. It implies that you are not a citizen of a democracy but the subject of a carceral state, just waiting to be cataloged.
KABUL, Afghanistan  A Taliban suicide bomber attacked a minibus carrying Nepalese and Indian security contractors to work at the Canadian Embassy early Monday, killing 14 people in one of the deadliest attacks on foreign workers in the Afghan capital, the police and government officials said.

The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the bombing, along with another explosion in the city on Monday morning that wounded a Kabul provincial council member. The twin explosions shattered a relative calm in Kabul during the holy month of Ramadan, which began in early June, and underscored the Talibans rejection of a request by the United Nations for a cease-fire that would last the month.

Thousands of Nepalese security contractors, in particular, work at foreign military or diplomatic compounds in Afghanistan, many drawn to work here by better wages and more jobs than are available for them back home. Despite tight security measures at the foreign missions where they work, or surrounding their barracks, the contractors often travel to work in unguarded buses that are seen as especially vulnerable to insurgent attacks.

The minibus carrying the contractors was traveling through the eastern part of Kabul when it was attacked by a bomber wearing an explosive belt and traveling on foot, security officials said. Sediq Sediqqi, the spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, put the death toll at 14, with eight more people wounded, some of whom might also have been civilians.
HONG KONG  Protesters in a Chinese fishing village that earned renown for its activism have taken to the streets in recent days to call for the release of a detained local leader and the resolution of a long-simmering dispute over land sales, residents said on Monday.

The village of Wukan, in the southeastern province of Guangdong, became the focus of attention both in China and abroad in 2011, as villagers angered over the sale of land temporarily forced out the local authorities.

Eventually, the villagers and the authorities reached a compromise, and the residents voted in leaders they hoped would resolve the dispute.

But protests on Sunday and Monday were the latest indication that the hope of the villagers to achieve their goals at the ballot box has been far from realized and that the so-called Wukan model of resolving local disputes in China has not worked in Wukan itself.
JAKARTA, Indonesia  Indonesia is holding the crew of a Chinese fishing boat it says was fishing illegally last week in the South China Sea, an official confirmed on Monday. It was the third maritime skirmish  all involving warning shots  between the two countries in the past three months.

The latest episode occurred on Friday when Indonesian warships challenged a group of Chinese fishing boats operating within Indonesias 200-mile exclusive economic zone off the Natuna Islands, northwest of Borneo, said Atmadji Sumarkidjo, a spokesman for Indonesias Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.

The Indonesian Navy fired warning shots to get the fishing boats to halt, which the Chinese say injured one sailor, and confiscated one boat and detained its seven-member crew, Mr. Atmadji said. The crew was taken to the Natuna Islands, he said. The injured person was not one of those detained and was treated on the Chinese island of Hainan.

Like the previous incidents, the Chinese ships were fishing in the area that we claim is part of our E.E.Z., Mr. Atmadji said, referring to the exclusive economic zone. The navy pursued them, and they tried to run away and did not obey our instructions to stop.
MOSCOW  A boating accident in northwestern Russia that claimed the lives of 14 disadvantaged children from Moscow was the result of criminal negligence and recklessness, investigators said in a statement on Monday.

The children, most of them 12 to 14 years old, took a boat trip on Saturday on Lake Syamozero in the Karelia region, near the border with Finland. A sudden storm caused two canoes to capsize, plunging the children into the frigid waters in the evening. Rescue operations could not begin until Sunday morning, meaning that some survivors spent up to nine hours in the water.

Before their departure, investigators said, the children asked their instructors if it was safe to take a boat trip at a time when storms were forecast with winds up to 45 miles per hour. The adult instructors, all of whom survived, did not address their concerns.

The instructors who accompanied the children did not take necessary efforts to rescue them, Russias powerful Investigative Committee, the countrys equivalent of the F.B.I., said in the statement. They were thinking about their own lives.
LONDON  Across the English Channel, a great and unyielding power holds sway, denying Londons rights. The sovereign state is not sovereign at all.

Days before a referendum on leaving the European Union, those are the images of Britains plight advanced by the so-called Brexiteers, who are campaigning for their nation to signal a muscular new era of independence by leaving the 28-nation bloc.

But the English have been there before.

Five centuries ago, King Henry VIII, chafing at the theological and financial clout of the papacy, broke with Rome and led his subjects into the new pastures of the Church of England, with himself as its supreme overlord. It was a step that changed Christendom, molding faith and identity to this day among the worlds roughly 85 million Anglicans.

In the process, England ceased to be part of a huge, medieval, cross-channel European empire and instead became an independent sovereign nation-state, free from the authority of any foreign potentate  above all the Pope, Adrian Pabst, a lecturer in politics at the University of Kent, wrote in The Guardian in 2009. If you ever wondered about the origins of English euroskepticism, look no further than the Protestant Reformation.
ROME  Angry voters have swept anti-establishment candidates to power in Rome and Turin, dealing a severe blow to Prime Minister Matteo Renzis political standing  and highlighting his vulnerability as he moves forward with a plan to revise Italys Constitution.

Mr. Renzi became prime minister two years ago pledging to change Italys sclerotic political system, but judging by the results from Sunday, voters have become tired of waiting.

Channeling fury over corruption scandals and ineptitude, Virginia Raggi of the Five Star Movement, a party co-founded by the comedian Beppe Grillo, crushed her opponent from Mr. Renzis governing Democratic Party to become the first female mayor of Rome.

A new era begins with us, Ms. Raggi, a 37-year-old lawyer, told reporters early Monday, as polls showed her winning by a ratio of two to one. I will work to bring legality and transparency.
PALOMARES, Spain  Jose Manuel Gonzalez Navarro, a mechanic, headed out of this seaside village on his motorbike one morning 50 years ago when he heard explosions overhead and looked up to see a ball of fire in the sky. Debris started to shower down, some falling very slowly, like if a giant tree was shedding shiny metal leaves, he recalled in an interview.

Mr. Gonzalez Navarro turned around and sped home to check that his house was not hit. He later drove back to where he had seen debris land and found an undetonated bomb attached to a parachute. He cut off the straps of the parachute and took them home, along with some work tools and bolts that he found scattered on the ground.

I was just thinking about what objects might prove useful, he said. I liked fishing, and those parachute straps, thin but very solid, were clearly perfect to be turned into a weight belt for diving.

Like many in Palomares, Mr. Gonzalez Navarro, now 71, figured he had witnessed a military air crash. But he was unaware that a United States Air Force bomber and a refueling jet collided, accidentally sending four hydrogen bombs hurtling toward Palomares. Although no warheads detonated, two of the bombs shattered, spreading plutonium over the village.
Escalating a crackdown on political opposition, the Sunni monarchy in Bahrain said Monday that it had revoked the citizenship of a top cleric who is regarded as the spiritual voice of the countrys Shiite majority.

Rights activists and other critics said the move against the cleric, Ayatollah Sheikh Isa Qassim, is likely to further inflame divisions in Bahrain, a tiny Persian Gulf kingdom that is home to the United States Navys Fifth Fleet and is an important American ally.

Bahrain has been periodically roiled by protests seeking more democracy since the Arab Spring uprisings five years ago, and its police and security agencies have a reputation for using disproportionate force. Ayatollah Qassim has been an outspoken critic of the governments tactics.

The Interior Ministry, in a statement carried by Bahrains official news agency, said that Ayatollah Qassim, through sermons and religious edicts, had fomented sectarianism, collected funds unlawfully and exploited the religious pulpit for political purposes to serve foreign interests.
TEHRAN  Irans Intelligence Ministry issued a statement on Monday saying it had foiled one of the countrys biggest terrorism plots ever.

Several people were arrested, and bombs and other explosives were seized from Wahhabi takfiri groups, the statement said, employing a term commonly used in Iran for supporters of the Islamic State militant group. They had been planning bomb attacks on June 16, the anniversary of the death of the first wife of the Prophet Muhammad, Khadija, the statement said.

Several bombings were intended in different locations in the heartland of the country, the statement said, asking people to pray for the intelligence agents who had discovered the plot. No further details were given.

The Iranian authorities frequently say they have discovered plots and arrested terrorists, but they rarely provide evidence. The Islamic State has organized bombings and assassinations almost everywhere in the region, as well as in Europe, though the group has not successfully staged attacks in Iran.
A driver for the smugglers in Dahriya who spoke on the condition that he be identified only as Abu Ramzi said that he and his colleagues alert Palestinian security forces at the first hint that a client intends to commit violence in Israel. He complained that the Israeli military had stepped up patrols of the southern barrier since the Tel Aviv shootings.

Before this last attack, the army would act as if nothing was going on  30 or 40 workers would cross into Israel all at once, said Abu Ramzi, 34. This last attack has temporarily complicated our operation. Still, he said, we will always find ways to get these workers in.

That resolve was tested after nightfall last Monday, when five pickups and a Mazda sedan filled with workers massed in the center of Dahriya. With their lights off, the vehicles made two attempts to cross the web of rutted, rocky dirt roads and reach gaps in the fence, but they turned back because spotters saw Israeli Army Humvees converging on the same areas.

Finally, the smugglers vehicles roared toward another spot, throwing up thick billows of dust and bouncing the workers mercilessly in the beds of the trucks. At the bottom of the hill, two lookouts were talking on their cellphones under an olive tree. To the west, past the fence, nothing was visible but the distant lights of Israeli towns and cities.

Then the lights of the cars sent to pick up the workers on the Israeli side could be seen approaching on the bare hills. A smuggler yelled, Yalla, yalla!  Go, go!  and workers leapt from the trucks and began running toward a gap in the fence that had been flimsily repaired. Someone pulled it open, and someone else carefully lifted a few strands of razor wire that had been tossed in the dirt to make the passage more difficult.

The workers, many toting backpacks stuffed with clothing, slid under the razor wire and met the cars. The last man lifted the razor wire himself, slipped under and ran toward the cars, which drove off toward job sites among the distant lights.
Headline-grabbing attacks like those last week in Orlando, Fla., or on 9/11 are as bloody as they are horrifying, but what they are not is typical. The average death toll in terror attacks, it turns out, is close to zero.

The Global Terrorism Database, a federally financed project at the University of Maryland, has a trove of surprising statistics about terror attacks. The data includes 140,000 attacks around the world since 1970. In more than half of them, no one was killed.

Thats the good news. The bad news: It seems to be changing.

In the 1970s and 80s, there was much more of an emphasis of symbolic events, said Erin Miller, the program manager for the terrorism database. Terrorists would call in a warning. It would be terrorizing, intimidating, coercive but nonlethal.

Nowadays, terrorist groups like the Islamic State and Boko Haram are not looking to simply send messages; they are looking to kill people.
Yet Cuba also offers 11 million potential new customers for conventional agriculture. Just days after Ms. Pingrees group left, the U.S. Agriculture Coalition for Cuba, which had already been working in the country, returned.

Founded in 2015 to promote normalizing American relations with Cuba, the group has more than 100 members, including corporations like Butterball and Cargill, commodity associations like corn refiners and soy growers, and several state farm bureaus.

The delegation returned home holding an agreement with Cubas Grupo Empresarial Agricola to re-establish Cuba as a market for American agricultural products. In a follow-up stroke, Gov. Jay Nixon of Missouri announced on May 30 that Cuba had accepted a 20-ton donation of long-grain rice grown in his state. The last official shipment of United States rice to Cuba was in 2008.

Although many in the organic industry see the coalition as a threat to their cause, its leaders say they share the same goal: to help Cuba feed itself and improve its agricultural practices.

Theres not tension, because at the end of the day, this is about how the Cuban farmer is going to raise their productivity and make their own choices, said Devry Boughner Vorwerk, a former Cargill executive who is now the groups director. The key point here is that there is room enough for everyone.

Doug Schroeder, a soybean farmer from Illinois, came along on the coalitions trip. His state ships about $20 million worth of corn and soy to Cuba every year under the complex set of rules governing trade between the two countries. If the United States ends its financial embargo with Cuba, that figure could jump to $220 million.
When a homophobic killer armed with an assault rifle perpetrated one of the worst mass shootings in United States history in an Orlando gay bar this month, the reassuring idea that such places are sanctuaries was upended for many of us. Gay bars are supposed to be refuges from intolerance; judgment-free zones that are, for many people, the only public places you can be truly, essentially, you. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people often travel with the thought in mind that almost anywhere we go, well be able to find a neighborhood, a club circuit or a beach town where acceptance is a given.

If recent events are any indication, L.G.B.T.-friendly and safe are not exactly synonymous. When it comes to safe places for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender traveler to visit, danger wont always be as obvious as it is in Syria and Iraq, where people murder homosexuals by throwing them off buildings. But here, the same day the Orlando massacre took place, a man was arrested on his way to the Los Angeles Pride festival with several assault rifles and the makings of an explosive device in his car; though his motives were not clear, we can assume he is not a pacifist. In the ensuing days, officials in Oakland, Calif.; Atlanta; Houston and New York looked into people who made copycat threats.

As lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people make summer travel plans, or even plans to attend pride celebrations in our own cities, how important is safety when deciding where to go in a post-Orlando world? And how do we balance the need for visibility as a means of social change with the need for fellowship within the community that accepts us? I talked to people who form a loose-knit L.G.B.T. travel collective, and explored how a sense of nervousness and, as there has been since the beginning of the gay rights movement, a powerful feeling of defiance, may shape where we go.

I dont think it will deter the L.G.B.T. community from going to clubs, said John Tanzella, the president and chief executive of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, speaking about the Orlando attacks in a telephone interview. Were seeing huge attendance at vigils and pride events. Weve seen vigils in every city.
At The Bungalow in Santa Monica, locals treat the lounge like an extension of their homes  a place to hang out over cocktails while soaking up the bars dazzling seaside view.

Owner Brent Bolthouse, a hospitality guru best known for his nightclub experience, said hes hoping to duplicate that laid back experience at The Bungalows new Orange County venue. The bar, his first hospitality project in the county, opens July 8 at Pacific City. The luxury mall, with panoramic coastal views, opened last year in Huntington Beach.

The 6,000-square-foot lounge, on the malls second level, will be decorated with an eclectic mix of furniture with decor inspired by the Bohemian vibe of the1950s and 1960s. The bar is divided into five rooms with fireplaces, a pool table, sofas, papasan chairs, rustic patio furniture, and two-seater tables. The floors are herringbone green and white Moroccan tile floors.

Its like a great living room, said Bolthouse, a collaborator on nightlife and fine dining venues such as Hyde Lounge, Area, Foxtail, Katsuya and Chef Michael Minas XIV restaurant.

Bolthouse opened The Bungalow in July 2012 at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows. Like Santa Monica, The Bungalow in Huntington Beach is meant to be a hangout for friends and large, special-occasion parties.

But, its also designed for intimacy.

We create these little nooks, where you can go away and have a private moment, he said during a recent phone interview.

For those unfamiliar with the Santa Monica venue, Bolthouse is adamant about one thing: Bungalow is not a restaurant.

At our core, we want to be a neighborhood bar, Bolthouse said.

Still, in Santa Monica, the lounge serves seasonal small plates provided by the hotel. In Huntington Beach, Bolthouse has partnered with Bear Flag Fish to provide a menu of tacos, sliders and flatbreads.

Located directly below the Bungalow on the first level, Bear Flag will send up food through a custom-made dumbwaiter. Bolthouse said Bear Flags food, exclusive to the bar, will compliment the Bungalows cocktail program, which includes its signature line of sangria and margarita drinks.

So how do you keep people from nursing drinks during prime sunset hours?

Table or party minimums.

While exact prices have not been determined in Huntington Beach, Bolthouse said check minimums will be similar to those in Santa Monica. For example, a party of four on the patio overlooking the ocean on a Saturday night requires a $500 check minimum.

I think thats absolutely fair, he said. You have it for the whole night.

Table minimums Monday through Thursday wont likely happen, he said. Weekend prices are still up in the air, he added.

Were going to test the temperature of the community, he said. We want to be perceived as fair.

The bar opens July 8. Hours: Monday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Saturday, noon to 2 a.m. and Sunday, noon to 10 p.m. It is located at the south end of Pacific City, 21058 Pacific Coast Highway.

Contact the writer: nluna@ocregister.com
Hannah Madans, a USC graduate, has been with the Register since 2014. Her beat covers a gamut of subjects that include the robust retail landscape of Orange County, consumer commodities such as groceries, gas and cable, and the hospitality industry. In her time at the Register, Madans has written breaking news stories about Haggens fall in Southern California and backlogs at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. She has also written features on topics including tourism on Catalina Island, a helicopter pilot school at John Wayne and nobody's favorite subject: taxes. Madans also helps curate story and slideshow packages for the Register's voracious online audience.
In a college gymnasium this month in Newark, n.j., Sen. Cory A. Booker introduced Hillary Clinton to the crowd.

It took him nearly 13 minutes. He piled praise on her and bashed her Republican rival, quoting Thomas Jefferson, Maya Angelou, Abraham Lincoln and even a 1980s song by Jon Bon Jovi, a New Jersey native.

I hate to contradict Bon Jovi, Booker said. But dear God, Hillary Clinton, you give love a good name.

Clinton waved her arms in the air, as if marking the end of a tent revival that lasted a touch too long. She patted Booker on the back, a much less effusive embrace than the one she had given to Bon Jovi, who was standing nearby.

Ambitious Democrats like Booker have started to audition as their presumptive presidential nominee considers who should join her on the national ticket. There is much for Clinton to consider, including competence, agreement on policy and geography.

Yet Clintons advisers and those who have gone through the process emphasize an equally important, if more elusive, quality: chemistry.

Clinton needs a No. 2 who can ease into the insular and often distrusting Clinton orbit. And a running mate whose company Clinton genuinely enjoys could help present a joyful picture to voters, after a primary season that was sometimes dreary.

When the chemistry works, it communicates enthusiasm and a team and the likelihood of success and progress, said Michael Feldman, who was an aide to former Vice President Al Gore. But it cant be an arranged marriage with someone she meshes well with on paper, he added. It very much has to be real.

Clintons aides began collecting information last week on as many as 10 candidates. James Hamilton, a Washington lawyer who is overseeing the vetting, will begin meeting with candidates as early as this week.

Senior Democrats, thinking about both the fall election and a potential re-election in four years, said the right choice would stir up enthusiasm on the campaign trail, enhancing Clintons strengths while not outshining her or overtaking events.

Clinton is warm and personable one on one, the Democrats said, which creates an easy camaraderie when she teams up with people she likes.

In San Antonio, Clinton seemed to light up in the presence of Julian Castro, the citys former mayor and now the secretary of housing in the Obama administration. She grabbed his hand and thrust it skyward at an outdoor rally, and the two glided naturally on the rope line, snapping selfies.

The photos from the event, with Clinton, 68, beaming next to Castro, 41, turned out so well that cable networks often show the campaigns images of the two together on screen when Clinton calls in for phone interviews.

Last month, at a stop at the Court Street Diner in Athens, Ohio, Clinton warmly embraced Sen. Sherrod Brown, whose policy expertise Clinton has said she admires.

They made their way, practically arm in arm, through the narrow 1950s-themed diner, talking to voters and meeting a developmentally disabled man, Noah, whom Brown introduced to Clinton as my friend.

Dr. Lillian Glass, a body language expert, was struck by Clintons ease with Brown: Her body is leaning into his, and she never leans into anybody. She adores that guy.
LONDON  There were moments of silence and occasional sobbing in the British Parliament on Monday as it convened in a special session to pay tribute to Jo Cox, the lawmaker who was killed in a village in northern England last week, as the man charged with murder in her death made a brief appearance in court via a video link from prison.

As legislators from all parties sat together on the green leather benches and stood intermingled in the aisles  rather than divided by party affiliation as usual  Prime Minister David Cameron called on them to honor Cox, 41, by uniting against the hatred that killed her.

Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, to which Cox belonged, said that we need a kinder, gentler politics.

The loss of the energetic and popular Cox, who was elected in May last year, was a special blow to the Labour Party. We have lost one of our own, and society as a whole has lost one of our very best, Corbyn said.

The killing of Cox last Thursday was the first of a sitting member of Parliament since 1990 and brought a three-day halt to raucous campaigning over this weeks referendum on British membership in the European Union.

Parliament had been in recess until June 27, as the nation prepared for the referendum on Thursday, but members were summoned back to Westminster after the killing of Cox on a street in Birstall, a town in her district in West Yorkshire. Her husband, Brendan Cox, her children, 3 and 5, her sister and her parents were in the gallery to listen to the tributes.

It was only the sixth time Parliament has been recalled since 2010, according to the BBC; the last two recalls were votes on airstrikes against Syria and then, in September 2014, against the Islamic State. Parliament was also recalled to pay tribute to the former prime minister Margaret Thatcher after her death in 2013.

Cameron called Cox a loving, determined, passionate and progressive politician who epitomized the best of humanity and who proved so often the power of politics to make our world a better place.
In professional sports, the team that is favored usually beats the underdog. Oddsmakers determine who is the favorite by considering who has home field advantage, who has a better winning percentage and which team has done better against the other historically. Every once in a while, the underdog will pull off an upset, but thats not how it normally goes.

The same is true in politics. The candidate who is expected to win typically wins. If theres an upset, its usually because the favorite puts his or her foot in his or her mouth or because an issue breaks for the underdog at the 11th hour that changes the dynamic of the race.

Every once in a while, youll see a candidate with all of the endorsements, all the money and every other conceivable advantage lose a race that they have no business losing.

It doesnt happen too often, but it does happen. And it happens more often than youd think to Democratic women running for executive offices.

In 2013, then-New York City Council President Christine Quinn was the candidate best positioned to succeed retiring Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Despite this inside track, Quinn ended up coming in third in the Democratic primary  behind the eventual winner Bill de Blasio and second place finisher New York State Senator Bill Thompson.

Why did she lose? The New York Times reported that Democratic voters who expressed unfavorable views of Ms. Quinn in New York Times/Siena College polls described her in follow-up interviews as ambitious, petty, mean, bossy, self-interested, defensive, combative and argumentative.

Not traits voters are looking for in a mayor.

Also in 2013, Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel got trounced by then-City Council President Eric Garcetti in the race for L.A. mayor.

Heres how the L.A. Times described Greuels standing in the race: Wendy Greuel entered the race for mayor of Los Angeles with the formidable advantages of a front-runner.

She had amassed a huge political war chest, and independent campaigns were willing to spend millions more. She won the backing of some of L.A.s most powerful labor unions, but also of the Chamber of Commerce. Big names from opposite ends of the political spectrum  former Republican Mayor Richard Riordan and former Democratic President Clinton  would ultimately endorse her. She spoke inspirationally of becoming the citys first female mayor.

Six months later, she lost.

Most experts blamed her defeat on being too close to the unions and on failing to win the endorsement of the third place finisher, Republican Kevin James.

In 2014, Massachusetts Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakley went on to lose to Republican Charlie Baker in the contest for Massachusetts governor.

At one point Coakley enjoyed a 29-point lead in the heavily Democratic Bay State. She also had Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Hillary Clinton campaign on her behalf in the final days of the campaign.

But none of it was enough to push Coakley over the finish line.

And we cant forget what happened in 2008, when then-New York Senator Hillary Clinton went on to lose the Democratic nomination for president to then largely unknown Illinois Senator Barack Obama.

Even in the 2016 presidential cycle, Hillary Clinton lost states to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders that never should have been competitive.

If Hillary Clinton expects to be the next president of the United States, shes going to have to figure out a way to reverse this trend. Otherwise say hello to President Underdog, I mean Trump.

Staff opinion columnist John Phillips can be heard weekdays at 3 p.m. on The Drive Home with Jillian Barberie and John Phillips on KABC/AM 790.
HUNTINGTON BEACH  Bosco and Princess Robbins stood in the afternoon sunshine Sunday, ready to take the next step in a lifetime spent together.

With the ocean breeze blowing gently in front of Top Dog Barkery, Bath and Boutique, owner and officiant Karen Mahmalji pronounced the happy couple mutt and woof, at which point treats were tossed in the air for some of the guests to sniff, then eat.

Top Dog threw its first dog wedding for Bosco and Princess, 12-year-old and 11-year-old French toy poodles. Customers and their dogs watched as the pair were joined in muttrimony.

For years, Rick and Jira Robbins joked that it was as if their dogs, typically inseparable, were a married couple.

Veterinary behaviorists have studied dogs relationships for years and found that they form friendships and bonds with other dogs, said Dr. Melissa Bain, chief of the behavior service at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

Bain said theres no evidence dogs form romantic relationships, but shes not opposed to people holding weddings for them as long as the canine couples arent breeding unwanted puppies.

Top Dog staff members noticed how close Bosco and Princess were whenever they were brought in to be groomed. When Princess is picked up to be taken to the grooming room, Bosco follows and waits patiently beside the table, and Princess does the same when its Boscos turn, said cashier and baker Monica Bertolini.

Ive never seen two animals look at each other the way they do, she said.

Mahmalji said Top Dog is used to holding private events for dog birthday parties and meetup groups, but Bosco and Princess closeness made them perfect for its first wedding. Top Dog paid for everything  the tuxedo and gown, the treats and, of course, the cake, peanut butter with a yogurt-buttermilk frosting.

The cake went to the dogs.

Contact the writer: 949-667-1933, cyee@ocregister.com and @ChrisMYee on Twitter
PARIS  The rest of the European Union nations are looking at the possibility of a British departure from the bloc with disbelief, trepidation and anguish. But they are also preparing to retaliate.

If Britons do vote in a referendum on Thursday to leave the European Union, they can expect a tough and unforgiving response, with capitals across the continent intent on deterring other countries from following the British example, European officials and analysts said.

In other words, Britain will be made to suffer for its choice.

With other issues pressing, including Greek debt, the migrant crisis and terrorism, the largest and most powerful European nations will want clarity, and are not likely to tolerate a long period of post-referendum confusion.

In is in  out is out, the powerful German finance minister, Wolfgang Schauble, told Spiegel magazine. I hope and believe that the British will ultimately decide against Brexit. The withdrawal of Britain would be a heavy loss for Europe.

The president of the European Council, Donald Tusk, spoke apocalyptically about a British exit, or Brexit, to the German tabloid Bild. He said all members of the European Union would suffer, as would the postwar structure of Europe that had kept the peace.

Why is it so dangerous? Tusk asked. No one can foresee what the long-term consequences would be. As a historian, I fear that Brexit could be the beginning of the destruction of not only the EU, but also of Western political civilization.

Britain would face at least seven years of limbo during painful negotiations about a new relationship with the bloc, Tusk said.

Preparing for a British vote to withdraw, France and Germany are debating the immediate announcement of a joint initiative on European security, perhaps an operational command headquarters, to show, at least symbolically, that the European Union remains solid and will continue to progress without Britain.

But Germany has rejected some ideas from the European Commission, the permanent bureaucracy in Brussels, to respond by moving quickly toward more European political or fiscal integration, understanding that with Spanish elections this month and French and German elections next year, more Europe is not what voters want.

And no government wants treaty change, which would prompt more referendums at a time when populist, anti-Brussels sentiments are running strong across the continent.

Suggestions by British politicians favoring a departure that the rest of the European Union will give Britain more favorable terms in a new trading arrangement will be rejected out of hand by European leaders, who do not want to make further concessions to a country that has rejected them, officials said. This would ensure that the British example discourages others tempted to seek a special deal for themselves.

To that end, the main European Union nations are envisioning a two-stage negotiating process for a British exit, once the British government invokes Article 50 of the treaty governing membership in the bloc. Article 50 provides two years to haggle over the terms of a divorce from the bloc  something that has never happened.

The European Union is expected to want to talk about a future trade agreement only after Britain and the other 27 nations in the bloc have made a decision about how to unwind British membership. That process would require resolving complex legal and financial issues and addressing all kinds of topics that would affect ordinary people  what happens to pensions and health coverage, as well as the immigration status of European citizens working and living in Britain, and that of British citizens in the bloc.

Officials want to negotiate future trade and financial services arrangements with Britain as a nonmember; they do not want to allow Britain to use the status of European citizens in Britain and their rights as a bargaining chip in the trade negotiations, which could take several years to conclude, beyond the two-year time limit for exit talks.

Even then, Brussels would offer Britain one of the three existing models of varying closeness and mutual obligation  the blocs arrangements with Norway, Canada and the World Trade Organization  rather than offer to negotiate something new, said Charles Grant, the director of the Center for European Reform, a London research institution.

France and Belgium, and probably Germany, are almost certain to reject any British proposal to remain within the European single market  even, or especially, for financial services  without at least an agreement that Britain continue to allow European citizens to live and work in Britain, analysts and officials said. In any case, such a trade-off, the so-called Norway model, is strongly opposed by British advocates of withdrawing from the bloc, in the name of controlling immigration.

There is no appetite to be nice on the day after, said Camille Grand, director of the Foundation for Strategic Research in France. Whatever the British say or feel, there will be a price to pay, if only to prevent further attempts to exit the EU.

The French message, Grand said, is like Schaubles: If you leave, you leave. And we wont grant you the benefits of the single market. You wont move to an a la carte membership.

The Germans and Dutch, Grand said, might be tempted to be more flexible, but in Paris, its a divorce, and we must be tough with the British to prevent the Czechs or whomever from trying to make their own deals.

But it may be the political aspect of a British exit that worries Europeans the most, coupled with the expected financial shock, said Guntram Wolff, director of Bruegel, an independent research institution in Brussels.

Populists throughout Europe will celebrate this as a feast of democracy, where finally the citizens get their say over the elites, Wolff said. Populists all over Europe will gain in strength. And markets could react by saying, The first brick is out of the wall, and now lets bet on another brick.

The next brick, Wolff, said, could be economically troubled Italy, and that could set in motion a domino effect, with the euro dropping sharply in value along with the pound. So the European Central Bank would have to be prepared to prop up the banks and the euro against market pressure, just as the Bank of England would have to prop up the pound.

No one in Germany thinks it would be good if the British left, said Daniela Schwarzer, director of the Europe program at the German Marshall Fund in Berlin. If the European Union is not able to prove that membership is worth having, and that in the end emotion wins over rational debates, this not only tells you something about public sentiment in Britain, but will have a contagion effect in other nations, she said.

Added to European instability, Schwarzer said, the immediate economic shock could badly damage countries with high debt, like France, Italy and Greece.

Even if the British vote to remain, this Europe of multiple speeds may continue to disintegrate, said Emmanuel Macron, Frances economy minister. But if the U.K. leaves, we will have this risk squared. Are we capable of keeping the founding promises that led to the unions creation  peace, prosperity, freedom?

The effect on the bloc of a British departure would be threefold, Grant said.

First, he said, a British withdrawal would be a big boost to nationalist, anti-European Union movements, with Marine Le Pen, the leader of Frances far-right National Front, already comparing a British exit to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Its not that the right will win power, but theyll feel they have history with them, and pro-European elites in government will be on the back foot and afraid of moves toward more integration, Grant said. Federalism would be dead, and there would be no more referendums and treaty changes for generations, so it would be a new period of national power and not the federal future the European Commission wants.

Second, he said, without the counterweight of Britain, the German problem becomes more acute. Rome, Paris and Warsaw fear that without Britain as a countervailing force in the bloc, Germany would become too powerful. The Germans themselves fear that an anti-German alliance would form.

Third, he said, the European Union without Britains free-market influence would be more French in its economic policy outlook and more protectionist, with little impetus for free-trade deals or for the extension of the single market to services.

The stakes are high, because what happens in Britain will set off a domino effect and possibly a cycle of disintegration, said Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations. The European Union would look like a broken project, a declining power.

Radoslaw Sikorski, a former Polish foreign minister, said a British departure from the bloc might have some benefits for those who want the nations of Europe to continue drawing closer.

Europe could forge ahead with a common security policy, which the British have vetoed repeatedly, he said. And the countries of the eurozone would probably insist on all euro trade being moved out of Britain, which could help efforts by Paris, Frankfurt and Luxembourg to establish themselves as more important financial centers relative to London.

But overall, Sikorski said, the European Union is much better with Britain in it, providing liberal politics, liberal economics and a center of democratic political consensus of a kind needed now in Europe.
MONTEBELLO  Fire officials say 10 horses have died in a stable fire outside Los Angeles.

Montebello Fire Department Battalion Chief Richard Fredrickson says the suspicious fire broke out early Sunday morning at a boarding stable near a river.

Fredrickson says investigators are not necessarily looking at the fire as arson but havent ruled it out.

Fredrickson says stable workers freed many of the horses, and some firefighters were nearly hit by horses running from the fire. Fredrickson says 22 horses escaped injury, but 10 perished in the blaze.

No people were injured in the fire that took two hours to knock down.

Fredrickson says anxious owners arrived after the fire to look for their horses.
SANTA ANA  Police are offering a reward for information about the death of a food truck owner, who was gunned down in a possible case of mistaken identity.

Eliu Armando Gramajo, 52, was working in his food truck in the 1700 block of South Evergreen Street shortly after 7 p.m. Sunday, when an unidentified gunman or gunmen opened fire, Santa Ana police Sgt. I. Garcia said.

He was struck in the upper torso and died, Garcia said. Police do not believe Gramajo was the intended victim, he said.

On Monday, police released information about a reward from the departments Gang Homicide Reward Program for tips that lead to the prosecution of a suspect. The reward can be as much as $50,000.

He was not a gang member, and there was fresh gang tagging in the area, Garcia said.

Police are asking anybody with information about this crime to reach out to investigators at 714-245-8390. Tips can be given anonymously, Garcia said.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7802 or jsudock@ocregister.com
Wherever you look in this nation born of a bloody revolution of musket fire, chances are theres sharp disagreement over firearms.

Democrats war with Republicans, and small towns are against cities. Women and men are at odds, as are blacks and whites and old and young. North clashes with South, East with West.

The current gun debate is more polarized and sour than any time before in American history, said Adam Winkler, a constitutional law professor at UCLA and author of the 2011 book, Gunfight: The Battle Over the Right to Bear Arms in America.

In the midst of debate over the latest mass shooting, in Orlando, its easy to imagine that guns have always divided us this way. But a close look at survey data over decades shows they havent.

There was a time, not that long ago, when most citizens favored banning handguns, the chief gun lobbyists supported firearm restrictions, and courts hadnt yet interpreted the Second Amendment as guaranteeing a personal right to bear arms for self-defense at home.

Today, in a country of hundreds of millions of guns, public opinion and interpretation of the law have shifted so much that outright gun bans are unthinkable. Its true that large segments of the public have expressed support for some aspects of gun regulation  but when Americans have been asked to say which is more important, gun control or gun rights, they trend toward the latter.

That shift has come, perhaps surprisingly, as fewer Americans today choose to keep a gun in their home. The General Social Survey, a massive study undertaken by NORC at the University of Chicago since 1972 and one of the foremost authorities on gun ownership, found 31 percent of households had guns in 2014. That was down from a high of 50.4 percent in 1977.

Institutions have repeated, More guns, less crime. More guns, less crime, over and over again for almost 40 years, and its hard to turn that belief around in any easy way, said Joan Burbick, an emeritus professor at Washington State University who wrote Gun Show Nation: Gun Culture and American Democracy and who owns a gun for hobby shooting.

Among the longest-existing measures of public gun sentiment is a Gallup poll question asking whether there should be a law banning handguns except by police and other authorized people. When it was first asked, in July 1959, 60 percent of respondents approved of such a measure.

By last October, only 27 percent agreed.

Many point to a single date as crucial in the societal shift: May 21, 1977, when the National Rifle Association held its annual meeting at a convention hall in Cincinnati.

That was the moment, in one evening, when the gun debate in America radically changed, said Winkler.

The turmoil of the country in the 1960s and 1970s roiled institutions of all kinds, the NRA included. The organization had fought gun laws in the past, but also had come to accept some, including the Gun Control Act of 1968. As the next decade wore on and the NRA entered its second century, it faced an identity crisis: Was it a coalition of sportsmen, or a political powerhouse?

Leaders were set on the former, drawing up plans to move its headquarters from Washington to Colorado and to retreat from politics. Some of its most fiery members disagreed, staging a revolt that night that stretched into the next morning, and remade the groups leadership. Plans for a westward move were scuttled, and a rightward move politically was sealed.

The gun lobbys increasingly powerful voice found receptive ears among a public that witnessed the countrys civil rights battles, assassinations of beloved leaders and growing lawlessness in cities. Over time, statehouses and Congress bowed to the influence of the NRA and its allies. And in 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court finally declared Americans have the right to a gun for self-defense.

What they (gun rights advocates) did is a classic example of how you make constitutional change: They realized they needed to win in the court of public opinion before you could win in the court of law, said Michael Waldman, president of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University and author of The Second Amendment: A Biography.

Data from GSS shows gun owners are more likely to have higher incomes  and to vote.

Taken together, this is a description of a motivated and politically potent group. But their clout sometimes obscures a simple fact: Though polarization appears in broad questions on gun rights, far more consensus emerges on individual proposals.

A Pew poll released in August showed 85 percent of people support background checks for purchases at gun shows and in private sales; 79 percent support laws to prevent the mentally ill from buying guns; 70 percent approve of a federal database to track gun sales; and 57 percent favor a ban on assault weapons.

The fact is its not divisive. The things that were advocating in the American public, when youre talking about keeping guns out of dangerous hands, we all agree. We all agree on the solutions, said Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and whose brother was severely hurt in a shooting. The only place where this is truly a controversial issue is, tragically and disgracefully, in Congress and in our statehouses across the country.

In the wake of the Orlando shooting that claimed 49 lives, Democrats mounted a 15-hour filibuster in the U.S. Senate to try to break a stalemate on a gun bill  just as attempts to revive legislation have followed other recent mass shootings, though with little effect. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a moderate Republican, likened it to Groundhog Day, while Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat from Florida, said he couldnt see how even the NRA could object to a bill such as the one being considered, to keep those on a terrorist watch list from purchasing guns.

There is little expectation that the Democratic bill will pass. They are accustomed to getting their way around here, Nelson said of the NRA.

The NRA did not respond to an interview request.

Gross sees signs for hope for gun control supporters. Social media, he said, has helped get out a message that his side, for years, struggled to spread against the deep pockets of the gun lobby. The Democratic presidential primary, in which Hillary Clinton made gun control a flagship issue in differentiating herself from Bernie Sanders, showed its not an untouchable political issue. And changing national demographics could further bolster the case of those who favor gun restrictions, because minorities are comprising a larger share of the populace and are less likely to own guns.

Still, this debate remains one of the most toxic in America.

Winkler, the UCLA professor, knows divisiveness. He worked on the defense teams of O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson. His research has prompted impassioned debates on issues from free speech to campaign finance.

Nothing has ever come close to the level of vitriol I have seen with guns, he said. Both sides feel that life and death is at stake.

The fear expressed by many gun owners that the government seeks to confiscate their weapons harkens back to the time of the Constitutions framers. When James Madison first proposed the right to bear arms, Waldman said, it was specifically seen as a right for gun ownership in the service of militias, which were seen as a bulwark against the possible tyranny and risk of overreach from a central government. That rationale for gun ownership still exists among many today.

People were worrying about overreach from Washington when it was George Washington and not Washington, D.C., Waldman said.
WASHINGTON  A divided Senate blocked rival election-year plans to curb guns on Monday, eight days after the horror of Orlandos mass shooting intensified pressure on lawmakers to act but knotted them in gridlock anyway  even over restricting firearms for terrorists.

In largely party-line votes, rejected were one proposal from each side to keep extremists from acquiring guns and another shoring up the governments existing system of required background checks for many firearms purchases.

With the chambers visitors galleries unusually crowded for a Monday evening  including people wearing orange T-shirts saying #ENOUGH gun violence  each measure fell short of the 60 votes needed to progress. Democrats called the GOP proposals unacceptably weak while Republicans said the Democratic plans were overly restrictive.

The stalemate underscored the pressure on each party to give little ground on the emotional gun issue going into Novembers presidential and congressional elections. It also highlighted the potency of the National Rifle Association, which urged its huge and fiercely loyal membership to lobby senators to oppose the Democratic bills.

Republicans say, Hey look, we tried, said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. And all the time, their cheerleaders, the bosses at the NRA, are cheering them.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said the Orlando shootings  in which the FBI says the American-born gunman swore allegiance to a leader of the Islamic State group  show the best way to prevent attacks by extremists is to defeat such groups overseas.

Look, no one wants terrorists to be able to buy guns or explosives, McConnell said. He suggested that Democrats were using the days votes as an opportunity to push a partisan agenda or craft the next 30-second campaign ad, while Republicans wanted real solutions.

That Mondays four roll-call votes occurred at all was testament to the political currents buffeting lawmakers after gunman Omar Mateens June 12 attack on a gay nightclub. The 49 victims who died made it the largest mass shooting in recent U.S. history, topping the string of such incidents that have punctuated recent years.

The FBI said Matteen  a focus of two terror investigations that were dropped  described himself as an Islamic soldier in a 911 call during the shootings. That let gun control advocates add national security and the specter of terrorism to their arguments for firearms curbs, while relatives of victims of past mass shootings and others visiting lawmakers and watching debate from the visitors galleries.

GOP senators facing re-election this fall from swing states were under extraordinary pressure.

One, Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., voted Monday for the Democratic measure to block gun sales to terrorists, a switch from when she joined most Republicans in killing a similar plan last December. She said that vote  plus her support for a rival GOP measure  would help move lawmakers toward approving a narrower bipartisan plan, like one being crafted by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Mondays votes came after Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., led a near 15-hour filibuster last week demanding a Senate response to the Orlando killings. Murphy entered the Senate shortly after the December 2012 massacre of 20 first-graders and six educators in Newtown, Connecticut, but that slaughter and others have failed to spur Congress to tighten gun curbs. The last were enacted in 2007, when the background check system was strengthened after that years mass shooting at Virginia Tech.

With Mateens self-professed loyalty to extremist groups and his 10-month inclusion on a federal terrorism watch list, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., proposed letting the government block many gun sales to known or suspected terrorists. People buying firearms from federally licensed gun dealers can currently be denied for several reasons, chiefly for serious crimes or mental problems, but there is no specific prohibition for those on the terrorist watch list.

That list currently contains around 1 million people  including fewer than 5,000 Americans or legal permanent residents, according to the latest government figures.

No background checks are required for anyone buying guns privately online or at gun shows.

The GOP response to Feinstein was an NRA-backed plan by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. It would let the government deny a sale to a known or suspected terrorist  but only if prosecutors could convince a judge within three days that the would-be buyer was involved in terrorism.

The Feinstein and Cornyn amendments would require notification of law enforcement officials if people, like Mateen, whod been under a terrorism investigation within the past five years were seeking to buy firearms.

Republicans said Feinsteins proposal gave the government too much unfettered power to deny peoples constitutional right to own a gun. They also noted that the terrorist watch list has historically mistakenly included people. Democrats said the three-day window that Cornyns measure gave prosecutors to prove their case made his plan ineffective.

The Senate rejected similar plans Feinstein and Cornyn proposed last December, a day after an attack in San Bernardino, California, killed 14 people.

Murphys rejected proposal would widely expand the requirement for background checks, even to many private gun transactions, leaving few loopholes.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, defeated plan increased money for the background check system. Like Murphys measure, it prodded states to send more records to the FBI, which operates the background check system, of felons and others barred from buying guns.

Grassleys proposal also revamped language prohibiting some people with mental health issues from buying a gun. Democrats claimed that language would roll back current protections.

Mondays votes were 53-47 for Grassleys plan, 44-56 for Murphys, 53-47 for Cornyns and 47-53 for Feinsteins  all short of the 60 needed.

Separately, Collins was laboring to fashion a bipartisan bill that would prevent people on the no-fly list  with just 81,000 names from getting guns. There were no signs Monday that it was getting wide support or would receive a vote.

Associated Press writers Matthew Daly and Richard Lardner contributed to this report.
Welcome to Day One of summer.

The heat wave that brought brush fires and general public disruption to much of Orange County over the weekend kicked up slightly on Monday, when virtually every non-beach community in the county was sweltering under triple-digit temperatures  topped by a reading of 109 in Lake Forest, the Fullerton Airport and Yorba Linda.

The heat, expected to subside starting Tuesday, sparked fire warnings, small power outages and, for many, a lot of sweat.

And for anybody who spent the already hot day working over an even hotter grill?

Dont ask.

No one likes to work this way, but who has a choice? said Geronimo Morfin on Monday morning as he and his wife, Margarita Morfin, prepped for the days lunch rush in their colorful food truck, El Rey de Las Carnitas (The King of Carnitas), which they parked on Old Tustin Avenue near 17th Street in Santa Ana.

It gets hot in there, anyway, Margarita added. But now  I dont want to think about how hot it will get.

Officials with the National Weather Service said no June 20 records were broken in Orange County, but they noted a triple-digit day was still high for the start of summer.

This is something we see more in July and August, said meteorologist Phil Gonsalves.

Some records were set outside the county. Palm Springs hit 122 degrees, Riverside hit 114.

For some who had to earn a living in the heat, prepping for triple digits is part of the job.

On a day like this it could get up to 125 degrees on a roof, said Charles Woldhuis, manager of Hoyt Roofs.

Materials used in roofing, like concrete and asphalt, absorb heat. And a roofers heavy-duty metal tools can get hot enough to burn your hand.

The guys will put special taping on them and wear safety gloves, Woldhuis said.

The Anaheim-based company, with nearly 75 roofers, repairs roofs all over the county but does much of its work in hotter areas like Yorba Linda. Woldhuis said workers are allowed to take more breaks and work at their own pace when its super hot.

But we cant stop working.

Mondays heat was preceded by a hot weekend that caused power outages throughout Southern California. On Saturday afternoon, about 10,000 Southern California Edison customers were without power, nearly all of them in Santa Ana.

The trend continued Sunday, when more than 2,500 customers across the county lost power due to heat-related equipment glitches.

Four people were hospitalized over the weekend for heat-related illnesses, according to the Orange County Medical Emergency Data System.

On Monday, the red-flag warnings issued Saturday by the National Weather Service for several parts of Southern California due to low humidity, extreme heat and gusty winds  all of which contribute to wildfires  continued throughout Orange County.

Fire threats were all too real in some places.

By late Monday, the Sherpa fire in Santa Barbara County had burned about 7,900 acres near Goleta. Also two wildfires Monday forced evacuations in Duarte and Azusa.

In Orange County, the rising temperatures meant fire departments and transportation services remained on alert Monday. The Orange County Fire Authority staffed a helicopter round the clock to spot fire emergencies, and a crew of 23 firefighters who specialize in clearing vegetation during wildfires was on call 24 hours, said Capt. Steve Concialdi.

Even public transportation was scorched. Metrolink officials reported some delays Monday as trains were ordered to run more slowly. Extreme heat expands the metal in railroad tracks, increasing the possibility of the tracks warping.

And officials in some Orange County cities offered up air-conditioned community centers and senior centers as cooling stations for anyone who needed it.

Still, the heat wasnt horrible for everybody.

Its good for business, said Jose Alonzo, 63, who pushes an ice cream cart in Santa Ana.

His wallet likes the heat but the rest of him doesnt. Alonzo wears light colors and a huge, brimmed hat when the temperature hits 100. He also walks in shade as much as he can.

The summer is hotter and the kids are out of school  its the best time for ice cream.

Staff writers Courtney Perkes, Nathaniel Percy and Tomoya Shimura contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7865 or afausto@ocregister.com
OAKLAND  Three hits on Saturday werent enough to get C.J. Cron into the Angels lineup on Sunday.

Manager Mike Scioscia said he wanted to start Jefry Marte, who was hitting .326. Although Cron has had two three-hit games this week, he still hadnt been hitting as well as Marte over the larger sample of a couple weeks. Cron is hitting .265.

This is one of the few times we have depth on the offensive side, Scioscia said. We are going to have guys fighting for at-bats. Its good for the team. We definitely want to see Jefry and C.J. swinging the bat.

Scioscia could have started both of them on Sunday, with Marte in left field, but he didnt because it wasnt a good spot for an inexperienced outfielder. Jered Weaver is a fly ball pitcher, and the sun, wind and spacious foul territory in Oakland make it a challenging outfield.

Against most lefties, it is likely Marte would play left with Cron at first or DH.

NEXT FOR LINCECUM

After coming out of Saturdays 98-pitch outing without any issues, Tim Lincecum is in line to make his second start on Thursday at Angel Stadium, also against the As.

Lincecum, who gave up one run in six innings on Saturday, was apparently still feeling pretty good about it on Sunday.

Hes still pumped up, Scioscia said. He says he still has adrenaline.

ALSO

Geovany Soto will not be ready for his rehab assignment on Monday, as Scioscia had suggested was a possibility. Soto, who is recovering from knee surgery, could still be playing in games by the end of the week, though

Joe Smith, on the disabled list because of a strained hamstring, has played catch three days in a row, including throwing off a mound on Sunday.
WASHINGTON  The Justice Department will release partial transcripts of conversations between the police and the Orlando gunman from the night he carried out a deadly attack at a gay nightclub, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Sunday.

The transcripts, expected to be released today, will include three calls between the shooter, Omar Mateen, and negotiators who spoke with him as the massacre was unfolding. Law enforcement officials will also provide a detailed timeline of those calls.

Lynch said the calls should shed light on the motivation behind Mateens decision to walk into the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, on June 12 and carry out an attack in which he fatally shot 49 people before he was killed by police.

The announcement came as Lynch, the nations top law enforcement official, made rare appearances on five major Sunday morning news programs to discuss the investigation. She said on CNNs State of the Union that she considered the shooting both an act of terror and an act of hate.

Lynch said the transcripts would not include portions of the calls that would risk revictimizing those affected by the shooting or could further this mans propaganda, including Mateens pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State.

As we have said earlier, he talked about his pledges of allegiance to a terrorist group, Lynch said on CNN. He talked about his motivations for why he was claiming at that time he was committing this horrific act. He talked about American policy in some ways.
TOKYO  Tens of thousands of people on the Japanese island of Okinawa gathered Sunday to demand the removal of United States military bases in what organizers said was the largest demonstration against the U.S. presence there in two decades.

The protest, in Naha, the capital of Okinawa prefecture, was billed as a memorial for a 20-year-old woman who was found dead last month. A U.S. Marine veteran who was working as a civilian contractor on the island has been arrested in connection with the killing, prompting a public outcry.

Organizers said that 65,000 people attended the Sunday protest. That would make it the largest demonstration since 1995, when two U.S. Marines and a Navy sailor were arrested over the rape of a 12-year-old girl, an episode that shook the tight military alliance between the United States and Japan and is still bitterly remembered by many Okinawans.

Separate estimates of the crowds size on Sunday from the police or the Japanese news media were not immediately available.

Vicious crimes cannot be tolerated, the governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga, was quoted by the Japanese news media as saying during a speech at the rally on Sunday.

Onaga wants the U.S. military footprint reduced, a position that Japanese newspaper opinion surveys and recent election results indicate is shared by an increasing number of residents.

U.S. forces on Okinawa are under a 30-day curfew, billed by their commanders as a mourning period, in response to the recent killing. They are prohibited from drinking in public and must be back on their bases or at home at night.

The Navy imposed a separate, stricter drinking ban on all its personnel in Japan this month, after a sailor who was thought to have been drinking was arrested on Okinawa over a car accident that left two Japanese civilians injured.

Resentment against the U.S. presence has been on the rise in Okinawa, driven by concerns over crime and by an unpopular plan to build a new Marine Corps airfield in the northern part of the island. In local elections this month, voters gave an expanded majority in the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly to politicians who oppose the airfield and want to reduce the U.S. military presence.

Defenders of the military point to statistics that show U.S. soldiers and sailors in Okinawa are charged with crimes by the Japanese authorities at lower rates than locals. The numbers are difficult to weigh, however, because U.S. personnel spend only part of their time under Japanese legal jurisdiction. Their bases are, in effect, U.S. territory.

Onaga has been seeking to forge a broad political coalition to reduce the U.S. presence. But he is opposed by the national government in Tokyo, led by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a conservative who has been working to strengthen ties with Washington. Abe argues that any perceived weakening of the alliance would only embolden Japans regional rival, China.
OAXACA, Mexico  Mexican authorities and protesters on Monday traded accusations of responsibility for weekend clashes that left at least six people dead and more than 100 wounded in the restive southern state of Oaxaca.

Federal Police Chief Enrique Galindo, speaking on local Radio Formula, said few teachers were involved in the violence and attributed it to other, unspecified radical groups.

However the radical teachers union involved in the protests denied that and alleged that police infiltrators were to blame.

The clashes are the latest flashpoint in an ongoing battle for control of public education in Oaxaca, where the union is vehemently resisting government attempts to implement national education reforms passed under President Enrique Pena Nieto.

Galindo said things initially went smoothly Sunday when officers moved to reopen the highway around 7 a.m. after it had been blocked by protesters. Traffic flow resumed for about two hours following dialogue between unarmed police and demonstrators from the National Coordinator of Education Workers, or CNTE.

But later the crowd swelled to about 2,000 protesters, some of them armed with gasoline bombs and powerful fireworks, Galindo added. When police confirmed gunshots, he ordered armed police to move in.

It was a radical change of scene, Galindo said. It was practically an ambush.

He reported that seven officers suffered bullet wounds, others had serious burns on their hands and feet and some lost fingers.

Six people were killed and more than 100 were wounded before police pulled back, he said, adding that staying in Nochixtlan would have brought more serious consequences.

In a news conference late Sunday, Oaxaca state Gov. Gabino Cue said all the dead were civilians and two had ties to the CNTE union.

On Monday the CNTE said eight had been killed and 20 more were missing. It said the dead comprised teachers and members of other social groups that support them.

But the union denied the presence of radical groups and said police had infiltrated their movement. It demanded Cue resign and blamed him and national Education Secretary Aurelio Nuno for the upheaval in the state.

This movement is not going to stop, union member Juan Garcia said at a news conference. They had their opportunity to resolve it with dialogue and discussion.

Galindo said he did not know if police had fired any of the fatal gunshots. Video filmed by The Associated Press showed at least one officer firing a gun several times, though it was unclear if he was a federal or state agent.

About 100 to 150 protesters maintained the roadblock on Monday in Nochixtlan, where about a half-dozen burned vehicles littered the area and there were no police in sight. Protesters were allowing people to pass on the highway but continued to block commercial traffic.

Galindo said there were a number of blockades around the state and officials would try to resume talks with the teachers, who planned a march in the capital, also called Oaxaca.

Several thousand teachers and activists staged a protest march in Oaxaca, chanting Murderers!

The protesters demanded the federal government sit down to negotiate the educational reform; to date teachers who have refused to take evaluation tests have been fired. The radical teachers union in Oaxaca says local conditions in the heavily indigenous state should be taken into account in the testing.

Despite the largely peaceful atmosphere in Mondays march, a group of masked men tossed rocks and powerful fireworks at public buildings and police.

Mexicos National Human Rights Commission reported that journalist Elpidio Ramos Zarate of the newspaper El Sur del Istmo in Juchitan de Zaragoza, Oaxaca state, was killed Sunday, but it was not immediately clear if it was related to the protests.

Ramos Zarate had reportedly been taking pictures of some looters taking advantage of the protests in Juchitan to clean out store shelves. The Inter American Press Association quoted the news manager of Ramos Zarates paper as saying he had been threatened by a group of masked men, who demanded he not cover the protests and looting.

The press group condemned the killing of Ramos Zarate and another man standing nearby him. The group said the killings were carried out by two men on a motorcycle.

Teacher protests have been going on for years in Oaxaca; a decade ago, the union launched a six-month takeover of central Oaxaca city that only ended after police stormed the barricades.

Mexicos education reform aims to wrest control over struggling schools from unions that have often had sole power over hiring, firing, promotions and budgets. The CNTE strenuously opposes a new system of teacher evaluations and rules allowing for educators to be dismissed if they miss too many schooldays.

Federal prosecutors accuse union leaders of setting up an illegal financial network to fund protests and line their own pockets. They allege the scheme operated in 2013-2015, when the union effectively controlled the payroll of Oaxacas teachers.

Following the recent arrest of some if its top leaders, the union called for a revolt. In the past week, teachers have forced some bus lines to cancel trips to Oaxaca city, a popular tourist destination, and blocked a highway on the isthmus of Tehuantepec. Teachers maintain a protest encampment in the state capitals main square.
Heres a roundup of restaurant and retail news from across Orange County. Take a look at the slideshow for more details on each.

Lido Marina Village: The center, which has been undergoing a major makeover for more than a year, is expected to roll out more than a dozen new shops and restaurants by summer and fall.

Taco Bell: The NBAs Golden State Warriors have won a free Doritos Locos Taco for everyone in the U.S. The freebies are part of Irvine-based Taco Bells Steal a Game, Steal a Taco promotion. The free tacos will be available 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday. Taco Bell locations participating in the promotion can be found at TacoBell.com/StealATaco.

Burger Boss: Corona-based Burger Boss plans to open five Orange County locations this year, including one in Cypress. The first location will be Mission Viejo this month, the second in a Lake Forest location set for July. A Newport Beach restaurant will open in December, followed by one in a Tustin shopping center in January. The Cypress spot is planned for September or October 2017.

Mezzet Mediterranean Cuisine: It opened June 9 in the former Nello location at South Coast Plaza in the Crate and Barrel/Macys Home Store Wing.

Lot 579: Bear Flag Fish is scheduled to open Monday, making it the first Lot 579 restaurant to open at Pacific Citys food hall. Burnt Crumbs (sandwiches), PopBar (frozen gelato on a stick), Pie-Not (Australian meat pies), Hans Homemade Ice Cream and Petals & Pop (floral shop) are slated to open by Saturday, according to representatives for Pacific City developer DJM Capital Partners. Address: 21010 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach.

4th Street Market closure: Another food hall tenant has closed. Radical Botanicals juice bar closed in late May. Front Porch Pops, in a less visible space inside the Santa Ana marketplace, is relocating to Radicals space.

Cheribela: Brazilian activewear brand Cheribela has launched a pop-up shop in Laguna Beach. All garments at the shop are made in Brazil.

SkinLIV: The skin care boutique isnt your average day spa: It also doubles as an art gallery. SkinLIV, which opened recently in Newport Beach, offers corrective skin care treatments such as back treatment, LED light therapy and peels. The spa is located at 4001 Birch St., Suite C.

Send any retail updates to hmadans@ocregister.com and any restaurant news to nluna@ocregister.com

Staff writer Angela Ratzlaff contributed to this report.
NEW YORK  Donald Trump abruptly fired campaign manager Corey Lewandowski on Monday in a dramatic shake-up designed to calm panicked Republican leaders and end an internal power struggle plaguing the billionaire businessmans unconventional White House bid.

In dismissing his longtime campaign chief  just a month before the partys national convention  Trump signaled, at least for a day, a departure from the seat-of-the-pants style that has fueled his unlikely rise in Republican politics. Perhaps more than anyone else in Trumps inner circle, the ousted aide has preached a simple mantra: Let Trump be Trump.

I have no regrets, Lewandowski told CNN just hours after he was escorted out of Trumps Manhattan campaign headquarters. Still, the former conservative activist seemed to acknowledge the limitations of his approach, which has sparked widespread concern among the GOPs top donors, operatives, elected officials, and even some of Trumps family members.

The campaign needs to continue to grow to be successful, he said.

Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee, described Lewandowski as a good man who helped a small, beautiful, well-unified campaign during the primary season.

I think its time now for a different kind of a campaign, Trump said on Fox News Channels The OReilly Factor.

People close to Trump, including adult children Ivanka, Eric and Donald Jr., had long-simmering concerns about Lewandowski, who had limited experience on the national scale before becoming Trumps campaign leader. Like many Republican officials, Trumps family urged the billionaire businessman to professionalize a bare-bones campaign that had previously resisted adding staff and paid advertising heading into the general election.

A person close to Trump said Lewandowski was forced out largely because of the campaigns worsening relationship with the Republican National Committee, donors and GOP officials, who have increasingly criticized the candidates message and campaign infrastructure in recent weeks. That person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss internal deliberations.

While Trump dismissed his critics publicly, he has been privately concerned that so many party leaders  House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell among them  have been reluctant to support him, the person said. Trump at least partially blamed Lewandowski.

Yet in his response Monday evening, Trump left little indication that he was prepared to abandon his divisive rhetoric.

He repeatedly called Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren Pocahontas in the Fox interview. He also said facts suggest President Barack Obama sympathizes with Muslim terrorists.

Firing your campaign manager in June is never a good thing, said veteran Republican operative Kevin Madden. The campaign will have to show dramatic changes immediately on everything from fundraising and organizing to candidate performance and discipline in order to demonstrate theres been a course correction. Otherwise its just cosmetics.

Lewandowskis chief internal rival, campaign chairman Paul Manafort, largely inherits the campaign reins. The political veteran has long advocated a more scripted approach backed by a larger and more professional campaign apparatus, although Trump has shown little willingness to embrace a wholesale change in his approach.

Lewandowski, speaking to The Associated Press, noted that Manafort actually has been in charge of major campaign functions, including media strategy and Washington outreach, for months.

Paul Manafort has been in operational control of the campaign since April 7. Thats a fact, Lewandowski said.

Lewandowski has long been a controversial figure in Trumps campaign, but he benefited from his proximity to the presumptive Republican nominee. Often mistaken for a member of the candidates security team, he traveled with Trump on his private plane to nearly every campaign stop.

His aggressive approach produced internal enemies.

Just minutes after his departure was announced, Trump adviser Michael Caputo tweeted, Ding dong the witch is dead! and included a link to the song from the film, The Wizard of Oz.

A few hours later, Caputo was gone, too. The aide was to have served as Trumps director of communications at next months convention, but Hicks confirmed late in the day that he was no longer with the campaign.

The public airing of internal campaign turmoil comes as Democrats rally behind their presumptive nominee, Hillary Clinton. The former secretary of state has already assembled a national campaign with hundreds of paid staffers backed by millions of dollars in battleground-state television advertising. Trump has roughly 30 paid employees working in key states and isnt spending anything so far on television advertising.

The shakeup came a day before Trump was to attend a major New York City fundraiser, organized by longtime GOP financier Woody Johnson, the owner of the New York Jets.

Fundraisers have encountered turbulence between worried donors and a campaign manager who did not seem fully onboard with the idea that Trump and the party needed to buckle down and raise the money needed to build a robust general election operation.

Trump publicly backed Lewandowski last spring when he was charged with misdemeanor battery after an altercation involving a female reporter during a campaign rally. The charges were later dropped.

Yet, under the weight of dismal poll numbers, many of Trumps supporters recognized a need to make a change.

Its got to become much more disciplined and much more focused and much more organized and have a bigger structure, said Stephen Stepanek, Trumps New Hampshire co-chair. I think the campaign, for lack of a better word, outgrew Corey.

AP writers Jonathan Lemire in New York, Julie Bykowicz in Washington and Kathleen Ronayne in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this report.
Buying your first house is supposed to be a joyous occasion, but for young Tamara Holloway, from Nashville, Tennessee it was a terrible nightmare she couldnt wake up from, because the man she bought the house from refused to move out.

Holloway closed on the home on June 1, and although there was no clause in the contract that stated former owner Justin McCrory couldn stay there past that date, he simply wouldnt leave. The transaction went through and theyre getting a good clean property, McCrory told local reporters. Whats the problem?  I technically dont have to go anywhere. Theyd have to evict me and theyre not having that. Signature Title Services had said the processor for the closing also contacted McCrory asking him to move out of the house, but that didnt seem to do much good, so the new owner filed a detainer warrant, the first step in an eviction process. However it can take up to 30 days until you can have someone forcefully removed that way, so things didnt look good for the inexperienced buyer.

When the story was first reported, everyone was shocked. Mark Leedom with Signature Title Services, and local real estate attorney Grover Collins told News 2 Nashville that they had never heard about a case like this. Even The Greater Nashville Association of Realtors was stunned and released some warning so prospective buyers could avoid such problems. They strongly advised buyers to get the keys to their new property at closing, which Holloway did not, and try to work with sellers who have licensed realtors representing them, which McCrory did not. Make sure your realtor understands that its a for sale by owner and can work with that other party to make sure things like this dont slip through the cracks, said GNAR President Denise Creswell.

Its been a nightmare, Tamara Holloway told News 2 in Nashville. The seller has essentially pirated my house. Luckily for her, all the media attention her story has been getting both on a local and national level seems to have intimidated former owner Justin McCrory, and on June 14 it was reported that Holloway had finally gotten the keys to her new house. She admitted that the problem would have probably been much harder to resolve without the awareness raised by the press.
Animal leather alternatives like Polyurethane and PVC leather may have solved the fashion industrys animal cruelty problem, but they are not the most environmentally friendly solutions. Pinatex  a new leather-like material made from pineapple leaves  on the other hand, may just be the all-around eco-leather weve all been waiting for.

Pinatex or vegan leather is the invention of Dr. Carmen Hijosa and her innovative materials company, Ananas Anam. While working in the Philippines as a consultant to the Product Development and Design Center of the Philippines in the 90s, she discovered the properties of pineapple leaf fibers and dedicated her life to creating sustainable alternatives to leather and petroleum-based textiles. After years of research, Ananas Anam has finally come up with what it believes is a viable alternative to animal leather. It recently showcased the versatility of Pinatex during a presentation held at the Royal College of Art in London, where designers displayed various clothing items and accessories made exclusively from the revolutionary material.

This new vegan leather is made from bonded fibers that are extracted from pineapple leaves on plantations by farmers before they are cut up and layered. These fibers than go through an industrial process that yields the innovative Pinatex textile. The canvas-like materials can then be dyed, printed and treated to give it different thicknesses and types of texture, including leather. The production creates a byproduct of biomass which can be returned to the farmers to be used as fertilizer on their plantations. To produce one square meter of medium thickness Pinatex, 480 pineapple leaves are required. That may seem like a lot, but its only the leaves from 16 pineapples, leaves which are otherwise just left to rot in the fields after the pineapples are picked.

Pinatex is still in development, and currently includes a non-biodegradable protective top layer for durability, but Ananas Anam is looking into natural alternatives in the hopes of soon making the material fully bio-degradable. Dr. Hijosa admits that it will take some time before vegan leather becomes market ready, but brands like Puma and Camper have already created sample shoes out of Pinatex, and designer Ally Capellino has turned into fashionable bags, and they all turned out quite well. As for how well items made of Pinatex actually perform in real-life usage conditions, that remains to be seen.

To continue her research and hopefully turn Pinatex into a commercially-viable sustainable alternative to animal leather, Dr Hijosa is currently trying to secure more funding for Ananas Anam, of which she is the majority owner. She is also looking into other possible uses for Pinatex, including anti-bacterial wound bandages, as the material would allow air to circulate to an injury, and insulation for homes.

Photos: Ananas Anam

Sources: The Guardian, Dezeen
Efforts by ex-Canadian Army Captain Jerry Flynn to interest international and U.S. investigative reporters in the health threats of Wi-Fi have failed so far. Resistance is high at local levels, this reporter has also found.

Flynn, who emailed last week an essay titled Mans Worst-Ever Genocide to the International Consortium of Investigative Reporters and Investigative Reporters & Editors (U.S.), has received no replies thus far. We also emailed the same groups looking for a spark of interest to no avail.

Helping to focus attention on the issue was a two-page feature in the Sunday June 19 New York Post with the headline: Loving our phoneseven if it kills us.

Americans check their cellphones an average of 46 times a day and half of adults sleep with their cellphones, holding them like a security blanket, said Time magazine.

The article does not mention the danger of pulsed, micro-wave radiation from cellphones nor warn that cellphones must not be carried in pockets, held close to the head or put in bras (or stuffed in bottoms of bathing suits which we noticed this weekend).

It tells of motorists crashing and dying because of cellphone use. More than eight people are killed daily and 1,161 injured by distracted driving, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Westhampton Officials Ridicule Threat

L-R: Steve Frano, elected Westhampton Beach trustee, talks to Charles Palmer, who lost his seat; Mayor Maria Moore, who was re-elected, with daughter Jackie Moore; Tom Moore, husband of Maria, and Ralph urban, re-elected trustee.

Efforts by this reporter to interest Westhampton Beach village and library officials in the dangers of cellphones and Wi-Fi routers went nowhere this past week.

All we got for our efforts was rudeness and ridicule.

We showed Mayor Maria Moore the Acoustimeters high pulsed radiation readings in the trustee meeting room where thresults of the annual election were announced at 9 p.m. Friday night.

We got no reaction from her. We asked to have a tour of village offices to see where the routers were, take photos of them, and obtain all their specifications. The only answer we got was from Moores assistant, Maureen Jones, who said that would not happen.

High readings in the library were also shown to library president Tom Moore, husband of Maria, and other library trustees at their meeting Wednesday. We got nothing but derision and ridicule. One of the trustees said why dont we worry about sunlight since thats radiation also.

We have been asking Tom Moore and library director Danielle Waskiewicz for weeks for the opportunity to examine the routers used in the library with no result. High readings have been found in the childrens area and in the room where 64 bridge players meet for four hours each Tuesday.

A Freedom of Information request has been faxed to WHB offices seeking access to the routers. A similar request is being sent to the library which announced in April that it would accept such requests for the first time in its nearly 120-year history. The library has been under pressure to be more responsive to the community.



Waskiewicz replied by email today that FOIL does not apply to wi-fi routers. "The router is part of our network and access points are contained within the ceiling. Due to security, there is no public access to our network or its infrastructure." She has been asked to supply all specifications for the routers including the power, wattage and distance their signals travel.

Stealth Election in WHB

Residents expressed surprise at the all-time low WHB voter turnout June 19. Only 209 of the 1,414 registered voters went to the polls14.7%. For the first time in many years there were no signs around town by candidates promoting themselves. The four candidates agreed not to put up such signs.

Mayor Moore got 132 votes vs. the 284 that she received in 2014 out of 471 votes cast. This was called an ultra-low turnout in a letter to the Southampton Press.

I guess the public is realizing that her accomplishments are cosmetic, her command of the public meetings are pitiful, and her platform will eventually cost us taxpayers greatly, said the letter.

The letter, by realistic, says studies for a Main street sewer district have cost nearly $100,000 for a system that could cost $50 million+ and serve only Main street businesses.

Library Wrongfully Fired Trager

A letter to 27East.com by former library employee Sabina Trager, which appeared under a story on the election, said that trustee Eric Mirell resigned at the June 15 meeting and by the next day Mitchell Schecter had been appointed.

Trager, who said she has been at every board meeting since July 2015 and has never seen Schecter there, said she had applied for the opening June15 but was not even interviewed. She has been campaigning for a year for the current appointed library board to be replaced by an elected board.

Trager worked at the library from February 2012 to June 2015 when she was wrongfully fired, according to a finding by the National Labor Relations Board. She won $25,000 for front and back pay.

The library had attempted to deny her unemployment benefits for discussing what pay raises library staffers might receive. NLRB said that her description of 2-3% raises was legal and did not violate any library policy.

Moores Are Abusing Powers

Local blogger Dean Speir, who has lived in WHB since the 1960s, noted that there were 21 write-in votes for mayor which would be more than any such votes since the late 1960s.

The low turnout for Maria Moore plus the 21 write-in votes indicates there is a lot of dissatisfaction with her administration. She has never had a press conference or town hall and this reporter has only been able to speak to her once, and for a brief period, in the past year and a half. Other write-ins included this reporter who received three votes; ex-trustee Toni-Joe Birk, seven; ex-school board member Clint Greenbaum, three; former mayor Conrad Teller, one; ex-trustee Patricia DiBenedetto, three; Paul Bugge, three, and Jim Budzik, one.

WHB has just agreed to allow Orthodox Jewish religious symbols to be placed permanently on 46 utility poles that are on public property. Moore did not sign it nor did any of the four other trustees. It was signed by outside legal counsel Brian Sokoloff.

We have asked her why she didnt sign it but have received no reply. Southampton Town Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst signed for SH so why didnt Moore?

The deal with the East End Eruv Assn. flies in the face of the U.S. Constitution which calls for separation of church and state. George Washington himself said, The United States of America should have a foundation free from the influence of the clergy.

The false statement in the agreement that it is not a recognition or endorsement of any religious boundary is another reason for the deal being invalid besides the lack of Moores signature. Jewish law requires approval by local elected officials and that does not describe Sokoloff. Also, no one can find any of the lechis that are supposed to be on 46 utility poles on WHB property.

WHB Residents Misled on Eruv

WHBs website, as operated by the trustees, has short-changed residents on documents related to the eruv. Court decisions and papers are the only thing on the WHB website. There are no links to the large body of literature declaring eruvim unconstitutional including 18 pages written expressly for WHB by Yeshiva Law Prof. Marci Hamilton.

Westhamptons library and the Books&Books bookstore on Main street should prominently display the new book, The Curious Case of Kiryas Joel: The Rise of a Village Theocracy and the Battle to Defend the Separation of Church and State.

It should be required reading for WHB high school, middle school and grade school students as a case history in how politics allowed a breach in the Constitutionally required separation of church and state. Author Louis Grumet fought for that principle through 11 court actions in ten years and won in the Supreme Court. But victory was snatched from him by a middle-of-the-night bill passed on the last day of a New York State Legislature session.
Richard Goldstein

It seems to me that the PR merger/acquisition market is hot again. Many larger agencies are acquiring smaller ones. If you think about it, the most significant asset that a PR agency has to sell is goodwill. There is not a heavy investment in tangible property for most agencies.

Business goodwill is an intangible asset that represents the portion of a business value that cannot be attributable to other assets. For the vast majority of service businesses, its their most significant asset that will be transferred to the buyer.

The factors that contribute to the creation of business goodwill includes: going concern value, excess business income and the expectation of future economic benefits.

For example, David Jones PR Inc. is a $4 million revenue PR agency doing business as a corporation. The profitability of the agency is approximately $1.3 million and its valued at approximately $7.0 million (somewhat less than five times earnings). The net asset of the agency, assets minus liabilities, is about $1.5 million. Most of the assets consist of cash, accounts receivable and furniture and equipment. The liabilities are accounts payable and taxes payable. Whether or not you agree with the valuation is not relevant. What is relevant is that $5.5 million thats being sold is nowhere to be found on the balance sheet. This excess is generally considered goodwill.

The sale of goodwill is considered the sale of an intangible asset of DJPR. If DJPR is a C corporation, the sale is taxable to the corporation. Because there is no distinction between corporate income tax rates of ordinary income or capital gain, the sale of the goodwill will be taxed at 35 percent. Unfortunately for David Jones, he will have to pay tax on the distribution of the sales proceeds he receives due to the sale.



In other words, there is double taxation on the sale. In order to reduce or eliminate this double taxation, David Jones may insist on the sale of his corporate stock to the buyer. The advantage of this is he will only have to pay tax once on the sale of stock.



The buyer, if you will, will step into his shoes and become the owner of DJPR. Generally, buyers try and avoid the purchase of stock for two reasons: the basis of the assets are less than the selling price (outside basis is higher than the inside basis of the assets), and the buyer will receive no tax benefit on the purchase (note: there are planning techniques that can possibly work around this by making elections under Section 338 of the Internal Revenue Code which is beyond the scope of this column).

Secondly, buyers are nervous about future liabilities that arent known at the date of acquisition. For example, assume DJPR was sold in 2013. In 2015, the IRS decided to audit the 2012 and 2013 tax returns of DJPR. The buyer, as the owner of DJPR, must handle the audit and pay any tax liability deemed owed. Of course, lawyers try to protect the buyer by placing a portion of the purchase price in escrow and other techniques.

If DJPR is an S corporation, life is easier. Generally, the sale of assets of an S corporation is taxed only once to the seller. The exception to this rule is the built-in gains tax in an S corporation liquidation. While this subject is beyond the scope of this column, suffice it to say, if DJPR was never a C corporation from its inception, no built-in gains tax will result.

Another problem area is the possibility that the S election is not recognized by a state and/or local jurisdiction. For example, New York City does not recognize S corporation status. Therefore, as far as New York City is concerned, DJPR is a C corporation. Therefore, the sale of DJPR will be taxable at the corporate level and again at the individual tax level to a resident of New York City.

Personal goodwill

In the sale of a PR agency, the goodwill of the agency, if attributable to the owner  in this case David Jones  may be treated as an asset sold by the owner. In this case, a double tax inflicted on the sale of the C Corporation will be eliminated or reduced. The personal goodwill is not considered a sale of a corporation asset and is not subject to double taxation or the built-in gains tax as mentioned above. The gain will be considered a capital gain subject to tax at the capital gains tax rate rather than the ordinary income tax rate. Keep in mind that a portion of the consideration may be in the form of a covenant not to compete or to contractually bind David Jones to perform consultation services to the purchaser of the agency. These types of arrangements will be subject at ordinary income not capital gains tax rates.

Net investment income tax

Im sure that many readers of this column are familiar with the net investment income tax by now. The Internal Revenue Code in 2010 by way of Section 1411 added a tax on net investment forms of income. Therefore, interest, dividends and capital gains are generally subject to a 3.8 percent additional tax above a certain threshold. Net investment income includes net gains from the disposition of property except to the extent attributable to a trade or business that is not a passive activity. The activity of a C corporation is not a trade or business to David Jones, DJPR s owner. The gain on the sale of corporate stock, see above, is considered net investment income and therefore subject to the 3.8 percent tax. If personal goodwill is sold as part of the sale of DJPR, the gain should not be subject to the 3.8 percent tax. Evidence that personal goodwill exists is supported if the shareholders negotiate the sale of goodwill separately from the sale of corporate assets.

The issue of business versus personal goodwill should be reviewed by your tax advisor before, not after a contract is negotiated and signed.



* * *



Richard Goldstein is a partner at Buchbinder Tunick & Company LLP, New York, Certified Public Accountants.
Bill Adams

When looking for the right platform to create content, the least utilized yet most powerful approach is to envision the future.

Tech companies dominate future-focused discussions, as theyre perceived to be creating the next era of human experiences with new technologies. For example, GE and Oracle are masterfully touting a vision for the Internet of Things. But these companies and their peers wont be the only firms in the market in 2050.

Having worked in China for the past 20 years, I can say with confidence that few markets in the world are as obsessed with the future or offer brands so many opportunities to discuss their role in shaping tomorrow. Its for these reasons that we emphasize the power of future-based communications with our clients.

For example, Ive worked with a Swedish home furnishings company to create a vision of China 2030 to accelerate internal communications and planning. Ive also assisted a medical devices company in the development of a multi-stakeholder forum to discuss Chinas role in the future medical technology innovation network. Right now, were working with a global leader in aviation to communicate a vision of Chinas One Belt, One Road initiative, in which regional airports and utility aircraft contribute equally to economic integration as will rail links and ports.

Unfortunately, most brands are hesitant to leverage the future and their vision of it. This is because the future is a complex and unknowable thing. Also, while reluctant to admit it, many CEOs and their management teams dont have a clear vision of their place in the market over the next few decades. This is understandable, as having an MBA doesnt automatically turn a business leader into the Oracle of Delphi. However, communicators should make the future a platform for content creation, engagement and influencer initiatives exactly because its such a big, complex and critical topic.

Here are some reasons and recommendations to consider:

If your firm doesnt already have a vision of the future  and its place in it  get one. Your shareholders, employees and customers will thank you for it. The future-focused vision answers questions such as: Why should I invest in your firm? Why should I work for your firm? And, why should I partner with your firm? Building a vision involves getting smart people in a room to have a thoughtful conversation about your market, the trends impacting it, a thorough analysis of what this means for your business and how you will respond.

Building a vision of the future is a valuable exercise in stakeholder engagement, risk management and innovation. Developing a vision of the future is an opportunity to invite your leadership, partners, regulators, researchers and others to share insights and knowledge. Leading the conversation about the future of your market positions your firm as forward thinking and prepared to capitalize on opportunities. Furthermore, the exchange that follows is likely to reveal risks, such as previously unexplored market trends, as well as spur innovation as potential new products and services are identified.

Once you have defined your vision, continually test it and dont be afraid to tinker. The megatrends affecting the global economy and shaping your market will shift and you should adjust your vision accordingly. Discussions about the future are fluid by nature and never become stale. This is what makes a future-focused platform so powerful.



* * *

Bill Adams is an executive vice president in Allison+Partners Global China Practice and market leader in Shanghai.
The OECD Observer online archive takes you on a journey through half a century of public policy and world progress.

Since November 1962, the OECDs experts and leading guests offer insights on the questions facing our member countries with concise and authoritative analysis, and provide our audiences with an excellent opportunity to understand policy debates and consider solutions.

Each edition of the OECD Observer reports on a core theme of the OECDs on-going work, from economics and society through governance, finance, and the environment, and articles are bolstered by tables and graphs.
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Ahmedabad blasts: Key accused arrested in Karnataka

Ahmedabad

oi-Vicky

Ahmedabad, June 20: A key accused in the Ahmedabad serial blasts was picked up from Belagavi, Karnataka by the Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad. In a late night operation, Nasir Rangrez, an accused in the case was picked up from Karnataka and taken to Gujarat by the ATS.

Rangrez had figured in the investigation into the blasts that commenced in 2008. He has been absconding since then.

He is believed to be part of the Indian Mujahideen, police officials say. Only recently the police had also arrested one person called Alamzeb Afridi and his role into this case is also being probed.

On July 26 2008 a series of 21 blasts ripped through Ahmedabad in a span of 70 minutes in which 56 people were killed.

The bombers had prior to the attacked warned the police through an email. The email was in fact reported by the media just before the blasts took place.

OneIndia News
Karnataka cabinet reshuffle: Congress aims at snatching Lingayat vote bank from BJP

Bengaluru

oi-Vicky

Bengaluru, June 20: The cabinet re-shuffle in Karnataka was a much watched affair. There were several who were sulking after being dropped and many indulged in protests as well.

Going by the manner in which Chief Siddaramaiah has gone about the reshuffle, it becomes clear that he was aiming at the perfect caste balance.

The most interesting aspect of the reshuffle was the berths given to those from the dominant Lingayat community who traditionally have been allying with the BJP. The caste wise break up of the ministry today following the reshuffle is OBC-9, Lingayat-7, Vokkaliga-5 SC-5, Muslims- 3, ST-1 and Christian-1.

Caste equations:

If one looks at the break up the OBCs and the SC/STs have 16 of their representatives in the state cabinet. However there is also a message to the BJP which depends heavily on the Lingayats for their votes.

The Congress which has not recovered from losing the Lingayat vote bank ever since former CM, Veerendra Patil was unceremoniously dropped have tried to make amends this time.

B S Yeddyurappa the state chief of the BJP is a major hit with the Lingayat community and can sway that vote bank easily in favour of the party.

For the Congress to take on the BJP in the 2018 elections, it is extremely important for them to hit a chord with the Lingayat community. The re-shuffle aims at just that.

Moreover, the Chief Minister has also proposed the names of Nadagouda and K Koliwad to the post of speaker which fell vacant after Kagodu Thimappa was inducted into the cabinet. Nadagouda and Koliwads are both prominent Lingayat leaders.

There is however some amount of disgruntlement among the Vokkaliga community who seem to feel ignored. There were protests in Mandya the heart land of the Vokkaligas after M H Ambareesh was dropped.

The Congress would however, make amends by appointing Vokkaliga leader, D K Shivakumar as the Congress chief.

OneIndia News
This UP village lights up on Diwali, for the first time ever!

Know Constituencies of UP Assembly elections 2017: BADLAPUR

Feature

oi-Sandra Marina Fernandes

Uttar Pradesh will go to Assembly elections early next year. The state has an Assembly comprising 403 seats. In order to form the government, a party or alliance has to win 202 seats.

Samajwadi Party had won 224 seats in the last state elections in 2012 and got decisive majority. Oneindia will take one Assembly constituency a day and have a look at electoral information related to it:

Know Constituencies of UP Assembly polls 2017: BAIRIA

[Know your UP Constituencies]

Constituency Name: Badlapur

[Comprises 2-Badlapur Tehsil]

Constituency No- 364

District: Jaunpur

About Jaunpur: Jaunpur is a district in the Varanasi division. It divided into nine assembly constituencies -Badlapur, Jaunpur, Kerakat, Machhlishahr, Malhani, Mariyahu, Mungra Badshahpur, Shahganj and Zafrabad.

District Area: 4,038 square kilometres

District population: 44,94,204

District literacy: 60.8%

2012 Assembly election result in Badlapur

Winner: Om Prakash 'Baba' Dubey

Winning Party: Samajwadi Party

Votes received: 65,278

Runner Up: Lalji Yadav

Runner up party: BSP

Runner up votes: 49,085

Total votes: 1,76, 236

Margin: 16,193

Margin %: 9.19

Turnout %: 55.49

Census data for Jaunpur

Total area: 4,038 square kilometer

Total population: 44,94,204 out of which 22,20,465 are males and 22,73,739 are females.
Know Constituencies of UP Assembly polls 2017: Kanpur Cantt

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:

Constituency Name: Kanpur Cantt (216)

[Kanpur (CB), Northern Railway Colony (CT), Ward Nos. 17, 23, 56, 58, 70, 75, 81, 84, 93, 97 & 100 in Kanpur (M Corp.) of 2-Kanpur Sadar Tehsil.]

Constituency Number: 216

Winner: Raghunandan Singh Bhadauriya

Winning Party: BJP

Winning Votes: 42,551

Runner Up: Mohd.Hasan Roomi

Runner Up Party: SP

Runner Up Votes: 33,243

Total Votes: 1,44,351

Margin: 9,308

Margin Percent: 6.45%

Turnout: 48.46%

Electors: 2,97,863

Total Votes Polled: 1,44,351 (48.5%)

Total Valid Votes: 1,44,217 (48.4%)

District: KANPUR NAGAR

Actual Population: 4,581,268

Male: 2,459,806

Female: 2,121,462

Area per square kilometer: 3,155

About KANPUR NAGAR

Nestled on the banks of the eternal Ganga, Kanpur stands as one of North India's major industrial centers with its own historical, religious and commercial importance. Believed to be founded by king Hindu Singh of the erstwhile state of Sachendi, Kanpur was originally known as Kanhpur'. Historically, Jajmau on the eastern outskirts of present day Kanpur is regarded as one of the most archaic townships of Kanpur district.

The biggest city of UttarPradesh and eighth biggest in India. Kanpur is the most important metropolis of the state. Kanpur has benefited from its fertile agricultural hinterland of the Upper Ganga Valley and Bundelkhand plateau, the available developed links of transportation and the stimulant of World War-2 with its industrial demand. In this city, in spite of a low percentage of irrigated area, the density is high and that is obviously due to great industrial Concentration.

The city which once was termed as Manchester of India for its matured cotton industry. The city which hosts the world famous 'Lal Imli' woolen factory, industries such as LML, Pan Parag, ICI Limited (now known as Duncuns Fertilisers), one of the largest leather industries in the world and myriad cotton mills. The city which boosts one of the largest number of defense establishments; To name a few Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL), DMSRDE, Small Arms Factory(SAF), Field Gun Factory and Parachute factory.

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Story first published: Monday, June 20, 2016, 14:54 [IST]
Tuesday is now No Meeting Day in Haryana and officers to be with people on Friday

Know why Narendra Modi is a passionate propagator of yoga

Feature

oi-Oneindia

By Maitreyee Boruah

It is not often that we see a prominent political personality propagating the importance of leading a healthy and a holistic life. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one such leader, who has been continuously promoting ancient Indian art of holistic wellness-yoga-for the last few years. His zeal has brought benefits to many across the world.

As we are all set to observe the International Yoga Day on June 21 (Tuesday), Modi on Sunday (June 19), thanked nations across the globe for their enthusiasm and support to celebrate the ancient Indian discipline. He said that yoga was so much more than just physical exercise and that it helped in achieving a sense of clarity.

"As #IDY2016 approaches, sharing a few thoughts on Yoga & the enthusiasm towards International Day of Yoga," Modi tweeted. Along with the tweet, a video message outlined his ambitious plans to make yoga an international phenomenon--practiced by one all.

The Prime Minister said that when he had outlined a vision for an International Yoga Day in September 2014 at the United Nations General Assembly, he never anticipated the enormous enthusiasm for the occasion from all corners of the world.

"The reverberations of the discipline found a natural home at the UN Headquarters in New York where the journey began. I was fortunate to celebrate the event along with 30,000 of my fellow citizens and foreign guests in New Delhi. As so many of you have already discovered, yoga is much more than physical exercise. It enables us to access a new dimension of our self. Even while providing a holistic approach to preventive health care, yoga helps us to restore balance and furnishes us with a much need sense of clarity," Modi said.

"I thank you for your commitment and welcome you as sisters and brothers' of India's family," he added.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead a yoga programme in Chandigarh's Capitol Complex. The first International Yoga Day celebration was organized at Rajpath in New Delhi on June 21 last year.

Reports say around 10,000 people will be participating in the International Yoga Day celebrations in the national capital on June 21 in collaboration with the Ministry of AYUSH and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).

The Prime Minister has always used every possible podium, including his Twitter handle, to promote and encourage people to practice yoga.

OneIndia News
Why Bangladesh is a bigger threat to India than Pakistan today

Feature

oi-Shubham Ghosh

The growing terrorist activities in Bangladesh where liberal thinkers and minorities are being ruthlessly attacked and the Sheikh Hasina government's failure to completely rein in the elements have made India worried.

The latter has now seriously taken up with the neighbouring country the issue of terrorists threatening a priest of the Ramakrishna Mission in Dhaka. The external affairs ministry has said that it will stand by the Hasina government to tackle the threat and will not allow any kind of misunderstanding crop up between the two countries. The Indian high commissioner to Bangladesh also paid a visit to the mission. [The more Bangladesh faces IS threat, the better becomes BJP's chances in Bengal]

India's urgency in its ties with Bangladesh is not unexpected. At a time when New Delhi is trying hard to cement its base of influence in the neighbourhood, the rise of extremism in Bangladesh is both a worry and opportunity for the former.

Extremism in Bangladesh: Both a worry and an opportunity

The worry is of course the radicals' reaching the eastern border and the opportunity is to bring Dhaka closer to New Delhi than it is to Beijing for China has shown a determination in challenging India by encircling it through the smaller countries in South Asia.

New Delhi needs to engage with Bangladesh for it poses a bigger security threat than Pakistan today. At the same time, it offers a huge economic opportunity to integrate South Asia like never before.

IS has a better chance of reaching India via the eastern front

The IS has a better chance to flourish in Bangladesh and enter India from the east for two reasons: first, the IS has a bigger challenge to reach India from the west owing to the presence of the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Bangladesh, on the other other hand, is a more fertile territory for the IS to grow, thanks to the country's shrunk space for media and other freedom and the inability of the government to deal with the problem.

Secondly, India has a more clumsy border to the east which is also given lesser strategic significance compared to that with Pakistan or China. We have seen in the recent past how extremist elements have been entering easily in the border state of West Bengal and conducting sinister activities. If New Delhi doesn't act to tighten things up in the east, the potential of India-Bangladesh relations could not just be ruined but even India's internal security would be jeopardised.
Bhattacharya, Gokarn, Das being considered for RBI chief post

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, June 20: Looking to finalise RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan's successor at the earliest, government is considering SBI chief Arundhati Bhattacharya, former RBI deputy governor Subir Gokarn and Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta Das among the probable contenders.

Highly placed sources said that other names being considered include RBI Deputy Governor Urjit Patel, former Deputy Governor Rakesh Mohan and Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian. "It (announcement of new Governor) will happen reasonably in advance.

We don't want unnecessary speculation," said a top government source, adding that "the process of selection is already on".

With Rajan's term ending on September 4, sources said the government would like to announce the next Governor of the Reserve Bank of India by July end. They also said the government will not be setting up a search panel for selection of the new Reserve Bank Governor.

Interestingly, some of the contenders whose names are doing the rounds at the Finance Ministry, including Patel and Subramanian, have worked at IMF - same as Rajan.

Besides, Mohan has been the representative of India as Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund, a post currently held by Gokarn. Bhattacharya, sources further said, is unlikely to get an extension as chairperson of State Bank of India, indicating that she could be considered for the top job in the Reserve Bank.

Her three-year term ends in September. The announcement of the new RBI Governor could be made as early as July end, sources said, adding that a bureaucrat might be the last option.

Buffeted by political attacks coupled with unending speculation over his continuance, Rajan on Saturday announced that he would return to academia after expiry of his term on September 4, putting to rest all speculation over the issue.

"...on due reflection, and after consultation with the government, I want to share with you that I will be returning to academia when my term as Governor ends on September 4, 2016," Rajan had said in a message to the RBI staff.

Stocks and rupee today took an early morning plunge on Rajan's no to a second term, but soon recouped their losses on hectic buying by some institutions and soothing voices from rating agency Fitch as well as some prominent marketmen, while fading Brexit worry helped too.

PTI
Bihar: Girls protest after being asked to remove Hijab during exam

Bihar: When asked to take off hijab to check for bluetooth device, Muslim student leaves exam centre

Central team roped in as dengue cases in Bihar rise to over 5000

Bihar's Gopalganj by-poll to see a tough fight between BJP and RJD

Bihar topper scam: Former BSEB chief, wife Usha Sinha arrested

India

oi-Mukul Kumar Mishra

Patna, June 20: In the wake of topper's scam, Bihar School Examination Board's former chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife Usha Sinha were arrested on Monday.

Reportedly, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested them from Varanasi. Both were on the run since after their name figured in the Class 12 toppers' scam.

Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj, who is heading the SIT, confirmed the arrests.

"Both will be brought to Patna on Monday itself and police will interrogate them," Maharaj said.

Last week, the 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.

So far 10 persons have been arrested in the case, police said.

Amit Kumar alias Bachcha Rai, the mastermind behind the Class 12 Board merit list scam in Bihar, was arrested ten days ago after he surrendered to police.

Both Singh and Rai were 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.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from IANS)

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, June 20, 2016, 9:46 [IST]
Chhath Puja fasting rules: What one must keep in mind during the 4-day festival

BJP MP Girri sits on protest outside Kejriwal's residence

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, June 20: BJP MP Mahesh Girri on Sunday sat on protest outside the residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after the AAP leader did not take up his challenge of "open debate" over his allegations concerning murder of NDMC official M.M. Khan.

After Kejriwal had written to Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung, accusing him of trying to shield Girri and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) vice-chairman Karan Singh Tanwar in the murder case.

Girri had dared Kejriwal to a public debate over the allegations levelled against him.

He had invited Kejriwal to the Constitution Club on Sunday afternoon for the debate and had asked him to produce evidence. Girri had said that he would quit politics if Kejriwal proved the allegations and the Aam Aadmi Party leader should resign if he was not able to do so.

Addressing a gathering at the Constitution Club, Girri said that he was also taking legal opinion and will also move court over Kejriwal's allegations.

"But before that I want to go to the people's court. Either he should prove the allegations or he should resign. He should accept that he has made a mistake," said the BJP MP from East Delhi.

He accused Kejriwal of making baseless allegations. Girri said if police had any doubt, he was prepared for questioning.

He sat in protest outside Kejriwal's residence after the Aam Aadmi Party leader did not come to the Constitution Club

Khan, an official of NDMC, was shot dead in Jamia Nagar last month.

IANS

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Monday, June 20, 2016, 8:53 [IST]
Exclusive Interview: Find out more about Fametick Media and First HelpCare founder Afzal Anis

Digital India: The four pillars of 5G Era listed out by PM Modi

Digital Skillset Essential in Education

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, June 20: Adobe hosted the India chapter of its APAC Education Leaders Seminar 2016 in Colombo, and revealed the findings of its study Creative Classrooms Through Strong Digital Partnerships. [Link]

The annual event attracted many of India's eminent thought leaders, industry professionals and education leaders, offering delegates an opportunity to connect as a community and share best practices on how India's institutions are catalyzing creativity and embracing digital transformation in the classroom.

Thought leaders in education from UNESCO, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Jain Group of Institutions, Indian Institute of Technology (Madras), and Cognizant Interactive took to the stage to explain how the digital era is rapidly transforming the education sector.

"Digital natives in India are forcing educational institutions to offer amazing student experiences across a range of platforms and devices. This trend is accelerated by the government's focus on strengthening the nation's digital roadmap, driving a wave of transformation across India. As a result, leaders in education are focusing their efforts on addressing the classroom of the future by embracing digital technologies to modernise and stay relevant for students and teachers alike," said Mr.

Kulmeet Bawa, Managing Director (Designate), South Asia, Adobe. "At Adobe, we are deeply involved in helping educational institutions offer enriching digital experiences to their students - on and off campus - while also helping them derive business benefits from data-driven insights."

The report, Creative Classrooms Through Strong Digital Partnerships, which surveyed more than 1,300 educators across Asia Pacific (APAC) including India, was designed to understand the digital transformation journey within academic institutions in the Asia-Pacific region; its link with creativity and successful educational outcomes.

With the arrival of the digital era, employees need a vastly different skillset than that of the generation preceding them.

Educational institutions are being challenged to deliver success-oriented, digital skills building programs which provide rich learning experiences that equip graduates to cope with the changes brought about by technology advances such as multiscreen devices, and Internet of Things (IoT).

To keep up with this digital transformation, preparing students with the digital skills needed for success was seen by 73% of Indian respondents as most critical.

PTI
Solar eclipse to be sighted in Bengaluru for 45 minutes: Report

Dinesh Gundu Rao appointed as Karnataka state Working Congress President

India

oi-Shreyas

Bengaluru, June 20: In a surprising development, the Congress High Command on Monday has appointed Former Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao as Karnataka State Working Congress President.

Confirming the breaking the news, Dinesh Gundu Rao asserted to OneIndia that he has been appointed as state Working Congress president.

Gundu Rao however declined to take further questions citing "the news has reached just now and the process is just on."

It has to be noted that he had been asked to relieve from the Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Ministry during the cabinet reshuffle. The fresh appointment comes after he walked of his former job.

The press release on the same read- "The Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi has approved the proposal to appoint Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao as Working President of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect."

OneIndia News
BJP is its own opponent in Karnataka

India

oi-Shreyas

Bengaluru, June 20: Internal bickering marring the Karnataka BJP will certainly prove costly for the party in the upcoming 2018 assembly elections.

Forget 'Congress Mukt Bharat'. The State BJP President B S Yeddyurappa (BSY) is trying out a new combination of Union Minister Ananth Kumar Mukt BJP in the state, while Kumar is countering the effort. Unless the national leadership intervenes in the secret fiery political battlewhich is going on between Kumar and saffron party's dream for a Congress-Mukt Bharat will be a mirage.

A section of disgruntled BJP members over the internal power rumble tell OneIndia that this time around (2018) BJP has high hopes on catching the big prize. But this war between Ananth Kumar and Yeddyurappa is making the BJP's aspirations to wane.

Ananth Kumar rather bowing to the decision of the top rung of the BJP, considers appointment of BSY to the top post as the colossal set back. Kumar has allegedly began to work against BSY secretly and near elections, one may expect planting of 'negative stories' against BSY in the media by Kumar, through his 'close confidants' in the press circles, say sources.

On the other hand BSY considers his return to significance, this after he resigned as chief minister of Karnataka, as victory against Ananth Kumar who is also backed by B L Santosh, National Joint General Secretary (organisation) BJP.

Yeddyurappa in the latest appointment of general secretaries to BJP district unit and various wings deliberately sidelined BJP leaders owing allegiance to Ananth Kumar in a bid to make BJP Ananth Kumar Mukt in Karnataka, revealed sources.

The sidelining has angered the Ananth Kumar to which he will be retorting in a right time. His aim remains BSY Mukt BJP. This intense mudslinging among party leaders will yield nothing but losses to the BJP in the upcoming elections. Boosting the political career of loyalists of BSY will render imbalance in the party.

On the other hand BJP has not strongly shown its opposition voice against the Congress and has failed to capitalize on the failures the Congress. It is turning out now in the state, for BJP, BJP itself is the opposition in Karnataka unless national leaders take stoke of the developments, quipped a member of the BJP.

OneIndia News
In a relief to the poor, Govt extends free ration programme by 3 months

Govt relaxes FDI norms in civil aviation, defence, pharma

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, June 20: Government on Monday,June 20 relaxed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) norms in a host of sectors including civil aviation, single-brand retail, defence and pharma by permitting more investments under automatic route.

Other sectors in which FDI norms have been relaxed include e-commerce in food products, broadcasting carriage services, private security agencies and animal husbandry.

"Now most of the sectors would be under automatic approval route, except a small negative list. With these changes, India is now the most open economy in the world for FDI," said an official statement.

The decision to further liberalise FDI regime with the objective of "providing major impetus to employment and job creation in India" was taken at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today. This is the second major reform in the FDI space.

The Centre in last November had significantly relaxed the foreign investment regime.

PTI
Woman can't be forced to cohabit with husband even by court decree: Gujarat High Court

Cannot be considered 'misconduct': Gujarat HC says extramarital affair not a reason to sack cop from service

Gujarat HC notice to CIC, Kejriwal on Modi's degree

India

oi-PTI

Ahmedabad, Jun 20: The Gujarat High Court today issued notices to Central Information Commission (CIC) and Arvind Kejriwal on a petition filed by the Gujarat University against the CIC's earlier order asking the varsity to provide information on degrees of by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Delhi Chief Minister.

After admitting the application of Gujarat University (GU), seeking to quash the CIC order on technical grounds, judge S H Vora issued noticed to Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu and Kejriwal to furnish their responses and kept further hearing next month.

In its application before the court, the GU stated that "the Gujarat University is not a party to any of the proceeding before the Information Commission. Hence, the order is adverse to the interest of the Gujarat University."

The University further argued that the jurisdiction of CIC extends to the public authority under that central government while GU falls beyond its jurisdiction.

"Therefore, the said order of CIC is patently erroneous and requires to be quashed and set aside," stated the application. GU further argued that Kejriwal's status as the Chief Minister has been kept in mind by the CIC while issuing the order, a move which is against the law, said the application.

Forget Modi's degrees, Kejriwal's real gameplan is something else

"CIC has passed a direction on the basis of the status of Kejriwal. The CIC has considered the CM on a different pedestal which is against the principle of rule of law." The GU authorities claimed that "no notice of hearing has been served upon the GU, and the order is passed by CIC without hearing the GU.

There is no application given by Kejriwal before the information officer of GU, nor is there any complaint made against the GU before the Information Commission, Gujarat. Citing the Right to Information (RTI) Act provisions, GU argued that Kejriwal has not sought any information directly from the university.

"Kejriwal has not sought any information from the GU at any time till date and no application has been preferred under section 6(1) of the RTI Act".

Further, it is argued that the "CIC is not the authority constituted under the RTI Act for the purpose of any information to be supplied by the GU." Earlier on April 29, CIC directed Delhi University and Gujarat University to provide information on degrees earned by Modi to Kejriwal, who had criticised the functioning of the transparency panel.

The CIC's order came a day after Kejriwal wrote a letter to Acharyulu saying he does not object to government records about him being made public and wondered why the Commission wants to "hide" information on Modi's educational degree.

The Information Commissioner had treated Kejriwal's letter as an RTI application and passed the order.

PTI
Consider paid if broken: Gujarat to not fine for traffic violation till Oct 27

Gujarat to continue to lead Digital India Programme

News

oi-Lisa

By Lisa

Digital India is a flagship programme of the Government of India with a vision to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi realised that despite the successful implementation of many e-Governance projects across the country, e-Governance as a whole has not been able to make the desired impact and fulfil all its objectives.

Gujarat is trying its level best to ensure that numerous government services reach people through their smartphones and tablets and so for the same the state government has decided to launch a mobile application for the same.

Dhananjay Dwivedi, Secreatary Science and Technology Department was quoted to have said that, "The Gujarat government has decided to launch the mobile app 'Digital Gujarat' by August 15. Our aim is to put most of the services on the fingertips of citizens, so that they don't have to visit government offices".

He was further quoted to say that, "Initially, it would offer 30 services for which the citizens hitherto had to visit government offices or access the online portal digitalgujarat.gov.in".

About the app:

Using this app, people can apply for various services, such as ration card.

Initially, the services available through the app would include procurement of ration card, senior citizen certificate, caste certificate, domicile certificate, income certificate, widow certificate, SC or ST certificate, non-creamy layer certificate and religious minority certificate. These services are currently available through portal digitalgujarat.gov.in also.

Plan is to add 70 more services in later stages and take the number of services to 100.

Once the app is fully functional the citizens would no longer be required to visit any government office even to register himself. Earlier, when the common services portal was launched, people were still required to visit nearby Jan Seva Kendra to verify their credentials before being registered. Now that provision has been done away, as the authenticity of the (app) user will be verified by checking his Aadhaar number or ration card number.

Apart from providing e-services, the app would be equipped with several other features, including e-Locker to digitally store certificates.

Users would be able to pay application fees among others using the e-Pay feature.

The app would have option of feedback by the user, image capture, document upload, multilingual support, access to social media websites, etc.

To make it user-friendly, the user interface would be available in English as well as Gujarati languages.

The app would facilitate the users in the submission of applications, tracking status of their application, receiving alerts and notifications and paying fees online.
After Centre's ban, Nagaland govt declares PFI and its affiliates as 'unlawful association'

AFSPA in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland extended for 6 months from today

Hectic preparations on in Nagaland ahead of Yoga day

India

oi-PTI

Kohima, June 20: Hectic preparations are on to celebrate the International Day of Yoga in Kohima on Monday,June 21.

Theme of the Day this year is to connect the youth.

The state level event of Yoga celebration organised by the Nagaland Government will be held at Indira Gandhi Stadium here from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM. Governor of Nagaland and Assam, P B Acharya will grace the occasion.

PTI
Hrithik Roshan's ex-wife Sussanne booked by Goa police, here's why

India

oi-Mukul Kumar Mishra

New Delhi, June 20: After Hrithik Roshan, now his ex-wife Sussanne Khan is in the news for wrong reasons. Reportedly the Goa Police has registered an FIR against her.

Police booked 37-year-old interior designer under section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of IPC for allegedly cheating a real estate firm.

"The case was registered against Sussanne Khan on June 9 after the real estate firm lodged a complaint against her. The firm has claimed that she cheated them by posing as an architect through her firm 'The Charcoal Project'," police inspector Siddhanth Shirodkar told.

However, Sussanne has dubbed the allegations against her as "false" and "defamatory" and a pressure tactic by the firm.

'The Charcoal Project' is a Mumbai-based interior design store set up by Sussanne. As pat of the investigation, police have sought documents from Sussanne's address in suburban Andheri in Mumbai.

Know all about the issue

The complaint was lodged by Emgee Properties alleging that Sussanne claimed herself as an architect to secure a contract to design its building in Panaji in 2013. Company's Managing Director Mudith Gupta has mentioned in the complaint that his firm signed a contract for Rs 1.87 crore with Sussanne.

The complaint stated that she failed to submit the requisite design in a stipulated period of time and that the designs submitted by her were not of professional standards. Sussanne, presently in London, rubbished the allegations in a statement today.

"The said complaint is motivated and preposterous and has been only filed to intimidate me and pressurise me to withdraw the arbitration proceedings initiated by me in the first instance to recover my dues and damages resulting from the breach of contract," she said.

As per the statement, Sussanne has challenged the termination of the contract and has invoked arbitration under the contract for recovery of her dues from the firm.

"As a counter-blast to the said proceedings, Mudhit Gupta, with the only intention to harass and pressurise me to give into his frivolous counter-claim, initiated the criminal complaint," she was quoted as saying. Sussanne denied any "misrepresentations" while stating that she maintains the highest standards of ethics in discharge of her work.

The statement said that Sussanne intends to take the arbitral proceedings to the logical conclusion and will give a befitting response to the complaint.

"Such complaints do not scare me rather it encourages me to stand up for the truth. The allegations in complaints are false and defamatory. I will take appropriate proceedings in accordance with law," she added.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from PTI)
Rahul Gandhi will be seen in new avatar after Bharat Jodo Yatra: Digvijaya Singh

Fact Check: This image of a massive gathering is not from the Bharat Jodo Yatra

Kudos Rahul Gandhi, a birthday for a good cause?

India

oi-Pallavi Sengupta

New Delhi, June 20: Unlike the previous years, the pomp outside the Congress headquarters for Rahul Gandhi's birthday was incomplete without the youth icon himself.

Evidently, he had given it a miss. The Youth Congress celebrated his birthday instead by reaching out to the poor students in Delhi and Mumbai and by visiting cancer patients.

In Delhi, the youth Congress offered to pay the annual fees of 31 students in Delhi University who were about to drop out due to poverty.

Youth Congress Amarinder Singh Raja said, "Whenever and wherever anyone has required any kind of support, we have been there to help."

A water cooler and monthly grocery bills of children at the Kasturba Gandhi Memorial Trust, Alipur was also donated.

The Mumbai Congress branch also did not stay behind. Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam led party workers to Bandra Hospital to spend time with cancer patients and distributed fruits and food items among them. Later party workers distributed notebooks to the deprived children from Borivali area.

Rahul had a message for his workers today. Interacting with them outside the party headquarters where they had gathered to wish him, Gandhi said that they should go back to their native places and work hard for the party's win.

Rahul Gandhi turned 46 today.

OneIndia News

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Story first published: Monday, June 20, 2016, 12:49 [IST]
He fulfilled BJP's political agenda at cost of Constitution: Mehbooba Mufti criticises Kovind

Fact Check: Mehbooba Muftis claim that J&K students are forced to sing bhajans is misleading

PDP president Mehbooba Mufti claims she is under house arrest

Mehbooba Mufti gets notice to vacate official bungalow 'meant for J&K CMs'

Mehbooba's challenge: How many will vote in Anantnag?

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Anantnag, June 20: Amid poll boycott appeals by separatist politicians and underground militants, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehmooba Mufti will be worried by the voter turnout on Wednesday,June 20.

A total of 84,081 voters are eligible to vote in this south Kashmir assembly constituency to decide the fate of eight candidates including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader.

Others in the electoral fray include Iftikhar Hussain Misgar (National Conference) and Hilal Ahmad Shah (the Congress). An independent candidate, Tejinder Singh, is also trying his luck.

Both Misgar and Shah fought the 2014 elections against Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, Mehbooba Mufti's late father. Sayeed defeated his nearest rival, Shah, by around 6,000 votes.

The seat fell vacant because of Sayeed's death in January this year.

The contest is believed to be mainly triangular involving Mehbooba Mufti, Misgar and Shah.

No one doubts that Mehbooba Mufti has a definite edge over her rivals; so victory is not the main challenge she faces.

Her main worry is going to be the voter turnout on Wednesday. At present, she represents the Anantnag parliamentary seat in the Lok Sabha.

Having been sworn in chief minister on April 4, it is constitutionally obligatory for her to get elected to the state assembly within six months.

After picking the constituency represented by her late father, the 57-year-old first woman chief minister of India's only Muslim-majority state will not be comfortable if she does not get a decisive mandate.

When she sought a "decisive mandate" from voters during her electoral campaign on Saturday, what the chief minister was actually seeking was a respectable voter turnout.

Separatist leaders including Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Muhammad Yasin Malik and others have urged the people to boycott the polls.

The appeals have been backed by guerrilla attacks in the Kashmir Valley. Two policemen were killed by militants in Anantnag town on June 4.

Based on threat perception by intelligence agencies and security forces, the Election Commission has categorized 52 of the 102 polling stations as "hyper sensitive" and 50 as "sensitive" - official parlance to mean they could see violence.

No polling station has been categorized as "normal".

A total of 514 staff members is being deputed to manage the 102 polling centres where EVMs would be used.

There are 4,229 Kashmiri migrant Pandit voters in the constituency for whom polling stations are being set up: 15 in Jammu city, four in Delhi and one in Udhampur town.

To ensure transparency, authorities have decided to do web casting at 20 polling stations and videography at five.

Police and paramilitary forces are being deployed in sufficient strength to secure the polling stations -- and voters.

Voting will begin at 7 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. Counting of votes will take place on June 25.

--IANS

sq/mr/ruwa
5G will take education to next level: PM Modi at the launch of Mission Schools of Excellence in Gujarat

MoS HRD Ram Shankar Katheria calls for saffronisation of education

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Lucknow/New Delhi, June 20: In remarks that are likely to stoke controversy, Minister of State for Human Resource Development Ram Shankar Katheria has said that "if saffronisation of education was good for the country, it would happen".

Katheria made the remarks on Saturday at a function in Lucknow University.

"Reporters told us that some people are saying that our government is saffronising education in the country. I am saying that saffronisation will definitely take place in both education and in the country.

"Whatever is good for the country will definitely take place, whether it is bhagwakaran (saffronisation) or sanghwad," Katheria said in his address at the event.

"For a very long time, we just kept watching. We did not make any allegations against anyone. But today, keeping in mind the condition of the country, whatever is necessary for the welfare of the nation and its reputation will take place," he added.

He further said:"If our children do not read about Maharana Pratap or Maharaj Shivaji, then will they read about Genghis Khan?"

Katheria's remarks came even as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership has cautioned its leaders from making controversial statements as these deflect from the "development agenda" of the Narendra Modi government.

IANS

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Story first published: Monday, June 20, 2016, 8:47 [IST]
After the 'Jihad' comment, Patil now claims \"I never said it\"

'They want Congress-mukt Bharat': Kharge in his first address as Cong chief

Nothing will change in Congress: For Gandhis, power stays but the onus shifts

Veterans clash at CPI-M conclave

India

oi-IANS

By Ians English

New Delhi, June 20: A major clash between members of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the "Bengal brigade" broke out at the three-day central committee meet of the party here where veterans also exchanged heated words over the party's poll debacle in West Bengal.

At the meeting, Surjyakanta Mishra, former Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, was charged with being "architect of the massive electoral defeat" for the party and "embarrassment" for his insisting for the alliance with the Congress.

Leaders from Kerala, Assam and Tripura favoured adopting resolutions under which the Bengal brigade "should own up their responsibility" for the alliance.

The issue figured prominently during the two-day meeting on Saturday and Sunday wherein the hardliner camp asked why the party's Bengal unit insisted on the alliance with Congress in total contravention of the party resolutions adopted earlier not to have any ties with the party at the state level.

In fact, a few top Kerala leaders, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said for the CPI-M, both the BJP and the Congress were "equal enemies".

At this, Mishra is learnt to have said that despite the humbling, the CPI-M could poll as high as 2.15 crore votes in Bengal and this was "much higher than any other state".

The remarks predictably provoked the leaders from Kerala and other states, including Assam.

At one point of time during Saturday's deliberations, even party general secretary Sitaram Yechury had to intervene and reprimand a few leaders who were insisting on "admission" of failure by the Bengal camp.

Mishra was at times supported by party leaders from West Bengal but others kept on insisting that unlike Bengal, no where else the party decided to oppose the well established and traditional party line of having no ties with the Congress.

"Comrade Prakash Karat and many others opposed the alliance with Congress. Leaders from Tripura and Kerala said this would send a wrong signal at the ground level; yet Bengal leaders led by Biman Bose and Mishra insisted on the understanding with the Congress. We have paid a big price," a party leader said.

At least 60 members in the 91-member central committee are said to be against the "Bengal brigade" for having decided in favour of the informal alliance with the Congress.

Some members, especially from Kerala and Tripura, said in the meeting that Bengal team and especially leaders like Mishra and Bose could not justify the alliance with the Congress as "winning elections cannot be the sole objective" of the CPI-M.

IANS
Prashant Kishor claims Nitish Kumar in touch with BJP says don't be surprised if he joins hands with it again

Will not tolerate any 'twisted' alliance deal: Uddhav to BJP

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Jun 20: Stating that he has no desire to snap alliance for ensuing elections to the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) and 9 other civic bodies, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today issued a veiled threat to his estranged ally BJP saying that he will not tolerate any "twisted" alliance deal.

Uddhav was addressing Shivsainiks on the occasion of Sena's 50th foundation day here. As he broached the topic of MCGM elections, it evoked a strong chorus from the crowd "no alliance, let us contest alone". The Sena chief said that he would leave it to the judgement of the Sainiks.

"I will not tolerate any 'twisted' alliance deal," he said. Referring to the debate over holding simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Uddhav took a dig at frequent foreign visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi by saying, "it would be better if simultaneous polls are held or else it might create constant hurdles in someone's foreign visits."

On 50 years of the party's journey, Uddhav said, "25 years of it went in stitching alliance with the BJP."

A lion always moves with a pride, but a tiger always moves alone and hunts head-on, Uddhav said. Lambasting NCP chief Sharad Pawar for advising Sena to leave (both state and Centre) government, he said that it was the NCP, which in order to avert split, had stayed in power for the last 15 years.

Clarifying that he was not criticising for the sake of it, Uddhav said he had praised Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his leadership.

However, referring to the rising prices of Dal, the Sena chief asked the Chief Minister to do something to at least bring some relief to common man if not 'Achche Din' (better days). Speaking on the recent reports of alleged exodus of Hindus from Kairana in Uttar Pradesh, Uddhav reminded the BJP that it was in power at the Centre.

"In Kashmir too it (BJP) is now in alliance and what has it done to gives homes to those Kashmiri Pandits in that state," he said. (More)

PTI

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Story first published: Monday, June 20, 2016, 8:57 [IST]
From hijab to Kashmir, Zawahiri was Al-Qaeda's voice for everything anti-India

Zawahiri dead, but terror looms large as Taliban links with Al-Qaeda intact

More than 20 dead in massive explosion inside Kabul madrasa

For the dark rule in Afghanistan, blame is on the US

13 killed in Kabul suicide attack

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Kabul, June 20: At least 13 persons were killed on Monday when a suicide bomber struck a bus carrying security personnel in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, officials said.

"The bus was running along a busy road in Pul-e-Charkhi area at around 6.30 a.m. A terrorist rammed his explosive-laden car into the bus, causing a heavy explosion," witness Farhad Mohammadi told Xinhua news agency.

"Most of the victims were foreign security guards onboard the bus. Initial information showed they were Nepalese," a security official said.

Twenty-five others were inured in the attack, the official said.

The Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

IANS


Twitter has a field day as Biden calls new UK PM 'Rashid Sanook' | Watch

Algeria temporarily blocked Facebook, Twitter to tackle exam cheating

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Algiers, June 20: In a bid to stop cheating in secondary school examinations, Algeria on Sunday,June 20 temporarily blocked access to Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms across the north African country.

According to a report in africanews.com, following the earlier exams leaks, police arrested several people, including officials working in national education offices and printers after high school exam papers were leaked onto social media.

The students accessed questions on Facebook and other social media ahead of the exam in early June.

Owing to the leaks, 300,000 of the 800,000 students who sat for the "baccalaureate" exam earlier had to sit for re-exam on Sunday.

"This (move) is to protect students from the publication of false papers for these exams," the report said, quoting an official.

While Algeria blocked social media to fight exam leaks, similar blockages have been reported in Uganda and Congo Brazzaville regarding unsettling political situations in those countries.

IANS


Petrol bomb hurled at BJP office in Chennai, one detained

Bomb hurled at RSS office in Kerala, BJP suspects role of ruling CPI(M)

Nothing suspicious found, says Delhi Police after unattended item found in Rohini

Bomb kills 8 in northeast Afghanistan: officials

International

oi-PTI

Kabul, Jun 20: At least eight people were killed and 18 injured this morning when a motorcycle bomb exploded in a crowded market in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, local authorities said.

"Our initial information is eight people were martyred, and 18 others were wounded."

"All the victims are civilians," the Badakhshan provincial governor's spokesman Naweed Froutan told AFP, adding that the death toll is set to rise.

PTI
India's NSG bid suffers setback;China says issue not on agenda

International

oi-PTI

Beijing/New Delhi, Jun 20: India's hopes of making progress towards NSG membership at the plenary meeting of the 48-nation grouping which began in Seoul today received a setback with China saying that this was not even on the agenda of the meeting.

Nuclear Suppliers Group remains divided over non-NPT countries like India becoming its members, China's Foreign Ministry said less than 24 hours after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had exuded hope that "we would be able to convince China to support our entry to the NSG."

Even as the 5-day annual NSG Plenary began in the South Korean capital, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying in Beijing said that India's admission into NSG was not on the agenda. "We understand that non-NPT countries are concerned about their entry into the NSG.

But since NSG is still divided about the issue, so it is still not mature to talk about the entry issue in the annual conference in Seoul," she said. Beijing's response came a day after Swaraj at a press conference in New Delhi had said "China is not opposing membership of India in NSG, it is only talking of criteria and procedure.

Vladimir Putin to support India's bid for NSG membership

I am hopeful that we would be able to convince China as well to support our entry to the NSG." Officials in New Delhi sought to downplay the snub with the MEA Spokesperson saying that India remained "optimist".

The main meeting of the NSG Plenary on June 24 comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Tashkent for SCO Summit, which is also being attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping. Modi may meet Xi during which he is expected to raise the issue of India's NSG membership but whether the discussions will lead to break in the logjam is a moot point.

PTI
Ready to face parliament, Nepal PM Oli in no mood to resign

KP Sharma Oli gets it wrong again, claims 'Yoga originated in Nepal, not India'

'Will 'take back' Kalapani, Lipulekh from India, If...': KP Sharma Oli

Nepal condemns Kabul suicide attack

International

oi-IANS

By Ians English

Kathmandu, June 20: Nepal has reacted with grief and shock to a bomb attack in the Afghan capital Kabul on Monday in which a suicide bomber blew up a mini bus killing 14 Nepali citizens.

Nepal's Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli condemned the attack on Nepali people and expressed grief over the loss of lives.

Five others were also injured in the attack.

"I am shocked to hear that 14 Nepalis were killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan. I express my heartfelt condolences to their kin," Oli said in a statement.

The Nepal government strongly deplores the heinous crime in Kabul, said the Nepali premier adding: "I wish the early recovery of those who were injured in the incident."

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa also condemned the attack.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was seeking details about the victims and those injured.

Nepal has no embassy in Afghanistan. Its mission in Islamabad is concurrently responsible for the country's Afghan affairs.

The attack was carried out at around 5.40 a.m. by a suicide bomber who approached the bus which was carrying the victims.

Sediq Sediqi of the Afghan Interior Ministry said primary reports revealed that the Nepali nationals worked for Canada's embassy in Kabul, media reported.

Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.

IANS
Sale of 'Om' inscribed shoes angers Hindu community in Pak

International

oi-PTI

Karachi, Jun 20: Some shopkeepers in Pakistan's Sindh province allegedly sold shoes with sacred Hindu word 'Om' inscribed on it, angering the minority community in the country which described it unfortunate and blasphemous.

The patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu Council (PHC), Ramesh Kumar told PTI they had already lodged protests with the Sindh government and local authorities in Tando Adam Khan after it was brought to the notice of the Hindu community that shoes were being sold with the sacred word 'Om' inscribed on them.

"It is most unfortunate that some shopkeepers in Tando Adam Khan are selling shoes on the occasion of Eid ul Azha with the Hindu sacred word inscribed on them and the purpose just appears to be to insult the sentiments of the Hindu community," Kumar said.

"The pictures of the these shoes have been circulated on the social media by concerned members of the Hindu community and we demand they be removed from the shops immediately," he said.

Kumar added the sale of such shoes was an insult to the Hindus in Pakistan as it is blasphemous to use the sacred word 'Om' on shoes.

"As 'Om' is the sacred religious symbol of Hinduism which talks about the oneness of God, let's protect this oneness peacefully for the progressive and positive face of Pakistan.

Let's appeal the authorities concerned to take notice of the matter immediately to override any expected mistrust within the locals," said another statement released by the Pakistan Hindu Seva.

The local Sindhi newspapers have also reported that similar shoes were also being sold in some other places of Sindh.

PTI

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Story first published: Monday, June 20, 2016, 9:16 [IST]
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by  Graham Pierrepoint



Its been one of the most interesting US Presidential nomination campaigns in recent history  for both major parties  with Donald Trump standing alone as the sole representative for the Republican Party and Hillary Clinton all but ready to take up the reins of the nominee for the Democratic side. However, Clinton has had less of an easy ride to getting nominated than Trump, as Vermont senator Bernie Sanders has proven extremely popular with young working voters throughout the country, allowing the party race to run far closer than many had expected it to.

However, with Donald Trump and his campaign team preparing themselves to promote and canvass ahead of the election in November this year, there has been talk within the Democratic Party that there now needs to be a greater sense of unity ahead of the challenges Clinton will face against her rival in the months to come. With both Trump and Clinton having already criticized each others campaigns and suitability to take up the mantle of US President, its clear that the latter half of the year could be marked by a fiercely-fought battle to the finish line.

Sanders, however, while not having dropped out of the race, has this week advised publicly that the major political task facing the party over the months to come is to ensure that they defeat Trump in the polls. Sanders comments come as he is yet to officially concede defeat, however, it was implied that he would be looking to work with his one-time rival in the face of a potential Trump victory  and that he was to be challenging Clintons campaign no further.

Sanders made reference to ongoing discussions between his and Clintons camps in an effort to better represent the Democratic voice in the forthcoming election  and while he has not officially left the race, his message of hope for the future of politics reflects to many that Sanders is ready to move onto the next challenge. This challenge, as Democratic representatives and supporters alike will concede, is to mount their own campaign against the Republican Party ahead of Novembers Presidential election. It has been a long road for all candidates involved  and one that has been marked by controversy and media attention  but while Sanders will not emerge as the victor in the nomination process, it cannot be denied that he has gone further than many assumed he would in capturing the attention of thousands of voters across the US.
BERLIN (AP)  A Swiss team working to take a solar-powered plane to the edge of space says it has performed the first jump and..

SeattlePI.com 25 Aug 2020
Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia: With the long anticipated referendum in less than one week away, the earlier certainty of remaining within the EU has made way for uncertainty and possible uncharted territory. Global financial services firm Privium Fund Management said that for the Pan-European asset management industry this is now a threat they have to face and prepare for. Clayton Heijman, director of Privium Fund commented "Several of our portfolio managers run funds with investors based across many parts of the European Union, both in the United Kingdom as well as Continental Europe. Following a possible Brexit result, the rules for distribution to these two groups of investors are very likely to change. Privium Fund Management offers its portfolio managers regulated support for management and distribution in both the UK as well as the other EU jurisdictions. We are satisfied that having a regulated entity in two of the largest institutional asset pools will help to cover distribution issues going forward. It will support portfolio managers on both sides of the English Channel with just a 45-minute flight between them." He added that in the asset management industry today, investor due diligence questionnaires often refer to disaster recovery plans and business continuity sites. With these items in mind Privium Fund wants to highlight its double management company approach within Europe. This results in a ...................... To view our full article Click here


Pro-Trump provocateur Milo Yiannopolous exploited the Orlando massacre to paint Muslims and liberals as the greatest threat to gays.





While dozens of survivors of the mass shooting at Orlando's LGBTQ Pulse Nightclub recovered from gunshot wounds in area hospitals, senior editor of the far-right outlet Breitbart Milo Yiannopoulos appeared at the site of the massacre for a press conference. Dressed in a dark, neatly tailored suit, flanked by a burly, sunburned bodyguard on one side and his racist hipster friend and Vice co-founder Gavin McInness on the other, Yiannopoulos unleashed a rambling tirade against Muslims, collectively blaming them for the shooting spree by the Afghan-American Omar Mateen.

"We will shoot back," the openly gay former tech entrepreneur vowed, dabbing the sweat pouring from his brow with a handkerchief.

Racing breathlessly through his lengthy manifesto and glancing down at notes on his smartphone every few seconds, Yiannopolous took time to deny the existence of a rape crisis on college campuses -- "to believe that you'd have to believe that America resembles the Congo" -- trashed the columnist and CNN commentator Sally Kohn as a "Jewish lesbian feminist lunatic," promoted the Israeli army as a model for gay self-protection, compared himself to Alexis de Tocqueville, and celebrated the Catholic church in Ireland for supposedly "looking after gay people before any Western state did."

"I want you to listen me on social issues," he pleaded before a small crowd of supporters. "I want you to listen to me on this minority war that the left has forced us into."

It might have been easy to dismiss the display of sneering, English-accented resentment as the irritable mental gestures of an attention starved, neo-fascist popinjay. But Yiannopolous had not traveled to the scene of a blood soaked hate crime to promote himself alone. He was also in Orlando as a surrogate for the Republican nominee for president, Donald Trump, helping the campaign's roll out its gay outreach strategy, which paints immigrant friendly liberals as the true enemy of LGBTQ communities.

Click Here to Read Whole Article
Reprinted from Paul Craig Roberts Website





Putin: "We Know and they Know that we Know ...People do not Understand how Dangerous the Situation Really Is"

Do you remember how close we came to Armageddon in the early 1960s when Washington put nuclear missiles in Turkey on the Soviet Union's border and the Soviets responded by putting nuclear missiles in Cuba? Fortunately, at that time we had an intelligent president instead of a cipher. President John F. Kennedy pulled us back from the brink and was assassinated by his own government for his service to humanity.

For a number of years I have been warning that the recklessness of a half century ago has reappeared in spades. The crazed, insane, nazified, neoconized government in Washington and Washington's despicable Europeran vassal states, especially the UK, Germany, and France, are driving the world to extinction in nuclear war. See, for example, this.

This is the most obvious fact of our time. Yet only the Russian government addresses Washington's threat to life on earth.

Why is this?

Why was there no debate -- or even mention -- in the presidential nomination primaries of the road to nuclear war on which Washington has the world?

Washington is putting its nuclear missiles on Russia's borders, conducting war games on Russia's borders, and stationing its Navy off Russia's coasts in the Black and Baltic seas. To cover up its reckless, irresponsible aggression toward a nuclear power, Washington accuses Russia of aggression.

The presstitute media -- the New York Times, the Washington Post, Fox "News," CNN, and the rest of the despicable whores repeat the lie over and over until the Western populations are brainwashed.

Do you suppose the Russians, who know what is happening, are going to just sit there until they are so completely surrounded by nuclear missiles that they have to surrender?

Unless you believe this, you had best get busy saving your life and the life of our planet. Do not expect political leaders to do this for you. There are no political leaders in public office anywhere in the West, only paid puppets of powerful interests groups.

Do not expect experts, most of whom are dependent on these same interest groups, to bring influence to bear on government and media.

There is no one but us.
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I Perfect Online Pvt Ltd

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Design for Space - Soviet and Russian Mission Patches

www.gisela-graf.com

The white helmet of Yuri Gagarin is adorned with the Cyrillic letters CCCP  in a luminous shade of red. The images of the first man in space circulated throughout the world in 1961 and were highly effective in terms of publicity. Although Gagarin only flew with military insignia, a new genre of political art was set to evolve soon after. The dove of peace with which Valentina Tereshkova journeyed across space in 1963 arguably constitutes a specific message. Since then, the embroidered emblems on the space suits of crew members have become an independent form of political art. This heraldic tradition has continued until the present day in the East and West for all space missions, taking into account motifs, forms and colours, the location on the space suit and the occasion for which these were affixed.The Design for Space volume documents a rare collection of almost 250 mission patches worn by Soviet and Russian cosmonauts alike, as well as their international colleagues when they travelled through space together. Alexander Glushko, one of the leading specialists in manned space flight and rocket technology in Russia, categorises for the first time partially forgotten emblems which have been compiled from various archives. Irrespective of whether this involves abstract symbols or figurative depictions  such as the Russian-French Starman dating back to 1982 or the The Buddhas Wheel from the joint Russian-Indian mission in 1984  these countless variations of motifs and forms are integrated into a complex, often contradictory, system. They were intended to express the significance of heroism within Soviet society and, at the same time, promote an appreciation of achievements. This collection provides ample historical background information and traces developments in Soviet and Russian symbolism. Furthermore, Glushko displays the emblems together with rare photographs of space crews to help the reader make associations. This book thus provides a basis for interpreting cosmic heraldry, which has been tightly knit with the Russian history of space travel.This book will inspire space enthusiasts, cultural historians and experts on heraldry in equal measure. For more in-depth reading on the topic, we offer a monograph on the space architect Galina Balashova. In addition to spaceships, she has also designed arguably the most widely known emblem, namely that of the Soviet-American Apollo-Soyuz flight in 1975.gisela graf communications supports publishers, museums and institutions specialising in architecture, design or art, with professional press and PR work, also on an international level.Communications  Individual concepts and texts for media relationsConnections  Media contacts, interview arrangements, events  anything that brings people and subjects togetherCorrections  Editing and copy editing of texts and specialised publications, catalogues and brochuresgisela graf communicationsGisela GrafSchillerstr. 20D 79102 FreiburgT +49 761 791 99 09F +49 761 791 99 08contact@gisela-graf.com
Advancements in Technology Boost Cyber security Market

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Cyber security (or computer security) refers to the security applied to entire web (cyber) world, which includes everything from computers to smartphone and other automated devices with web-connectivity. The prime objective is to ensure the confidentiality of the information shared across the network. It is also applied to data monitoring in public and private computer networks including the internet to ensure information security. The cyber security enables protection from attacks such as unauthorized access, hacking, injection of codes such as virus and Trojans and other vulnerabilities. Today, due to growing industries and preference for centralization amongst the organizations; the computer based systems have become an indispensable part of the business processes. Thus, cyber security has become the most critical concern for organizations to protect their data from the fast rising incidences of cyber crimes. Cyber security systems are used in computers connected to the internal as well as external networks.Get More Information :Cyber security can be broadly segmented on the basis of technologies used to prevent cyber attacks. Various technologies to ensure cyber security include antivirus, data encryption, intrusion prevention systems, firewalls and distributed denial of service (DDoS) mitigation. Antivirus is computer software which is used to detect and remove viruses and other malwares interfacing with the systems through the internet. Data encryption is an algorithm used for the security of electronic data by encrypting the data using symmetric key. Intrusion prevention systems are network security appliances which monitor system and network activities for malwares. The intrusion prevention systems are used to identify malwares, follow its information, attempt to block the malware and report it to the system. Firewall is network security system which monitors and controls the network traffic and works on a set of network specified rules. The firewall establishes a barrier between secure, trusted internal network and other unknown, non-trusted networks. DDoS mitigation includes set of techniques to ensure protection from denial of service attacks to the systems connected to the internet.Currently, Middle East nations are witnessing significant economic and technological transformation due to growing business opportunities in large industries such as banking, financial services, insurance (BFSI) in the region. With the rapid economic growth and increasing threat of cyber crimes, many organizations in the Middle East countries are beginning to recognize the need for an efficient cyber security system . This creates healthy demand for cyber security systems among the organizations in this region. Moreover, the Middle East region is dominating in heavy industries such as oil and gas. These industries due to their remote and geographically vast operations are highly dependent on internet networks, which in turn magnify their vulnerability to cyber attacks. This threat of cyber attacks is another factor boosting the demand for latest cyber security solutions in this region.Amongst the Middle East countries, United Arab Emirates (UAE) accounts for the largest demand for advanced cyber security solutions, due to expanding BFSI sector, for the past few years. Saudi Arabia follows UAE in terms of demand for cyber security systems with growing oil and gas as well as BFSI industry. However, countries such as Oman and Qatar are expected to grow at a healthy rate in near future owing to increasing business opportunities in oil and gas industry in this region.About UsTransparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information.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. S90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Yield Monitoring Devices And Services Market Research Trends And Forecast 2014 - 2020

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Yield monitoring refers to monitoring several factors such as pesticides, effect of weather, soil properties, and fertilizers required for crop (yield) production. Yield monitoring is a part of precise agriculture which is a farming management concept for measuring, observing and responding to variations in the land and subsequently the yield/harvest. In order to implement proper management of crops that are sensitive to the location (climate and soil composition) and require precise farming, the farmers deploy yield monitoring techniques. Yield monitoring devices and services enable the farmers to procure yield map of the land to accurately assess any variation in the yield from the existing land. The monitoring devices help the farmers to continuously record the flow of grains and harvester, and integrated the same with the harvest position in the land. This process is known as yield mapping. The position data and information of the yield is stored on storage devices and is further used to produce yield map of the land.The yield monitoring devices and services market is primarily driven by the rising demand for cost saving and optimum energy consumption. The technological enhancement in the food and agriculture industry is further supporting the growth of this market. Additionally, the increasing population resulting in rise in food consumption is encouraging the farmers to adopt yield monitoring devices and services, so as optimize the production. Moreover, the government subsidies in the food and agriculture industry boost the growth of yield monitoring devices and services market. Yield monitoring devices and service market is expected to witness potential growth with the implementation of unmanned vehicles in the yield monitoring market. In addition, the deployment of communication network to procure the data over the internet from a remote location is further expected to support the growth in the coming years. However, the lack of technical expertise and improper utilization of data generated for yield mapping is hindering the market growth. Additionally, the major challenge for the yield monitoring device manufacturing companies is to accurately calibrate the devices to provide precise results. Moreover, in spite of yield monitoring devices and services offering several advantages for precise agriculture, the high cost of implementation is a potential challenge for the farmers in countries such India, Indonesia and Brazil, which restricts large scale adoption across these emerging markets.The yield monitoring device and services market is segmented on the basis of components used component and services, technology and applications. The applications segment comprise of crop reconnaissance, land mapping, soil monitoring and other variable rate applications such as seeding, weed control, fertilizer and lime. The technologies involved in yield monitoring market include global positioning systems (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing. Moreover, there are several software solutions available in the market to manage the yield data and retrieve information from the same. In addition, some companies offer consulting service to the farmers for precise farming and implementation of yield monitoring devices.Request For Sample Copy:On the basis of geography, the major revenue contribution to the yield monitoring devices and services market is from North American countries followed by European countries. However, with technical advancement and government support, the Asia Pacific region is expected to emerge as attractive market for yield monitoring devices and services. The major players in the market are AGCO Corporation, Ag Leader Technology, Case IH, Raven Industries Inc., Precision Planting Inc., Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc., AgJunction Inc., Deere & Company, Trimble Navigation Limited (U.S.) and TeeJet Technologies.This research report analyzes this market on the basis of its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsIt provides distinctive graphics and exemplified SWOT analysis of major market segmentsMarketresearchreports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. Marketresearchreports.biz services are especially designed to save time and money of our clients.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
DAFFYS GIN CELEBRATE INTERNATIONL MARTINI DAY WITH WORLDS MOST EXPENSIVE MARTINI

Daffy's Gin celebrates World Martini Day by serving up a 50K martini

www.daffysgin.com/blog

www.daffysgin.com

www.daffysgin.com

Raise a 50k glass with a twist this International Martini Day  Sunday 19th JuneDaffys, the award-winning small batch premium gin, is raising a 50,000 glass with the worlds most expensive martini - served with a gin-spirational eight-day trail across the globe.Now available at Londons best Independent gin bar**, Merchant House, until the end of the month, the Daffys Ginscapade will take customers on a luxurious trip of a lifetime - visiting some of the locations where the exotic botanicals that make the best London Dry Gin in the world* are grown.Jetting off in style with private planes and chartered yachts at their disposal, customers who purchase the exclusive martini will be able to experience first-hand, Daffys founders spirit of adventure and love of travel. With Daffys made from eight carefully selected botanical ingredients, the bespoke trip curated by premium concierge service Travel 360, includes stop-offs in Morocco, home of the floral scented orris root and coriander seeds, and the Balkan States where Daffys juniper is sourced.To guarantee every drink is perfect, Daffys senior mixologist and brand ambassador, will also drop by along the route, transforming the trip into the ultimate tailor-made Daffys cocktail experience. From building bespoke cocktails in New Yorks chicest bars, to creating a one of a kind Daffys blend, infused with fresh ingredients selected at the Moroccan botanical farm, each creation will be individually designed to compliment guests flavour profile and preferences. Your very own personal mixologist on call.Departing from London, the first stop is New York, home to the artist, Robert E. McGinnis, famed for creating the iconic James Bond and Breakfast at Tiffanys movie posters - and most recently, Daffys beautiful bottle artwork. Known as the city that never sleeps  youll have a dedicated nightlife concierge on hand to ensure VIP access to the most exclusive haunts.From New York, customers will fly first class to the Balkan States  home to the botanical that makes gin a gin, juniper  then set sail on a private yacht, gliding through the Adriatic Sea visiting the jaw dropping bay of Kotor en route to Montenegros world famous Aman Sveto.Ever wondered what gives gin its floral notes? Travel to Marrakesh via private jet where Daffys orris root is sourced  the roots of Iris germanica and Iris pallida which are dried and used to give Daffys its complexity of flavour . Upon arrival, guests will be chauffeured to the majestic Atlas Mountains, to spend three nights in Kasbah Tamadot, Richard Bransons most luxurious destination yet  staying full board in a Berber Tent at, with an exceptional dining and drinks experience.Chris Molyneaux, founder and MD of Daffys Gin, said: Weve travelled the world to source the best quality ingredients to ensure Daffys is the smoothest and most balanced London Dry Gin in the world. Thanks to our Ginscapade, our customers can now travel in our footsteps and experience the adventure.Anyone who purchases the tipple at Merchant House is in for the ride of their lives, not only will they get to see first-hand the stunning locations where our botanicals are sourced, but theyll also experience the Daffys jet set lifestyle  from private jets and yachts to eating and drinking in the worlds best venues. Well raise a 50,000 toast to that.Nate Brown, co-founder of the London Bar Consultants, added: "We are delighted to be offering this once in a lifetime experience at Merchant House. Daffys Gin continues to be one the finest on the market, and we are so pleased to be involved in something so special which delves into the internationalism of the Gin."At the end of the journey, expect to be supremely well-rounded and quenched with culture  much like Daffys.To purchase Daffys martini  with a twist of travel visit Merchant House from now until- 30 June, priced at 50,000. To view the itinerary please visit@DaffysGin*Winner, Gold, London Dry Gin, International Wine & Spirits Competition 2015**Winner, Best Gin Bar (Independent), Think Gin Awards 2016Bottles of Daffys can be purchased onlinepriced 34.99 for 70cl.UK stockists include Waitrose, Harvey Nichols, Fortnum & Mason, Harrods and select independent retailers.An introduction to the worlds best gin*An unrivalled masterpiece, Daffys Gin is so smooth and flavoursome it can be uniquely enjoyed neat over ice. It was this essence of perfection which inspired Robert McGinnis beautiful bottle design  creating the Goddess of Gin, akin to the timeless beauties he previously depicted in some of historys most iconic film posters (Breakfast at Tiffanys, James Bond etc.).Established by master distiller Chris Molyneaux and his wife Mignonne in 2014 and crafted in small, single batches, Daffys adopts the worlds best ingredients and a distillation process close to that of a fine single malt, using an ancient copper pot still.A gin with its roots in Scotland, Daffys represents its founders flair for adventure, taking them across the globe to source the botanicals which set this gin apart; Lebanon for mint leaves, Southern Spain for lemon peel  and not forgetting the ingredient which makes a gin a gin, with juniper from the Balkan States.The finishing touch: a precise 43.4% bottling strength. The result: a perfect balance of strength and flavour  any stronger and the notes become too potent, any weaker and the balance and complexity is diluted.At the end of its distillation journey, Daffys Gin is supremely well-rounded and smooth, with a long finish and notes of citrus, spice, caramel and toffee.48/4 Albion StreetGlasgowG1 1LH
Global Telehealth Market Trends, Growth, Size, Share, Regulatory Landscape and Operational Strategies

http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=685915

http://www.researchmoz.us/telehealth-global-market-trends-regulatory-landscape-and-operational-strategies-report.html

http://www.researchmoz.us/

http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG

Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Telehealth: Global Market Trends, Regulatory Landscape and Operational Strategies" to its huge collection of research reports.Telehealth: Global Market Trends, Regulatory Landscape and Operational Strategies", provides key insights into the global telehealth regulatory and market landscape, as well as its main applications in healthcare and associated sectors.The continued adoption of telehealth technologies around the world will have a positive impact, not only on healthcare markets, but on a range of different sectors as well. The report assesses the potential impact these technologies will have on healthcare systems as well the business opportunities they offer to other industries  including the technology and telecommunications sectors. Furthermore, the analysis explores recent developments in regulations and guidelines in key geographies including the US, Europe, Japan, China, India and South Africa. Along with global market drivers and restraints, the report also provides insights into the size of telehealth/telecare markets in key geographical markets.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Many healthcare providers have developed integrated strategies for adopting telehealth technologies, particularly as their value continues to be quantified. Detailed case studies of recent successful telehealth programs are provided in this new report, showcasing strategies and the impact these have had on patients and healthcare systems. The analysis shows that successful telehealth programs will tend to implement careful and detailed planning, considering all key stakeholders and available engagement channels while integrating appropriate services across them. Important operational strategies to consider when planning and implementing a new telehealth program are also outlined in dedicated sections of the report.mHealth technologies and telemedicine devices are being increasingly adopted globally, and represent the most rapidly growing fields within telehealth. In particular, the introduction of easily worn biosensors has sparked a great deal of interest in this sector in recent years. Profiles and product descriptions of novel technologies within these two fast-growing telehealth segments are provided, along with an outline of challenges and business opportunities.Publisher has conducted extensive research in order to provide a comprehensive view of the global market trends in the telehealth industry. These unique and trusted industry analyses will enable a complete understanding of the telehealth market in both established and emerging markets.Browse Detail Report With TOC @ScopeWhat impact will telehealth technologies have on healthcare systems, patients and related sectors?What strategies are healthcare providers considering when implementing new telehealth programs?How does the telehealth regulatory and market landscape compare in the developed markets of the US, Europe and Japan, compared with that of emerging economies like India, China and South Africa?What technological, macroeconomic and industry factors are driving or restraining the telehealth market?What are the most important factors to consider when designing and implementing a new telehealth program?What are the most pertinent considerations for all telehealth programs?What telehealth devices represent the biggest commercial opportunities and what are their key features?Key Reasons to PurchaseThis report will allow you toGain unique insights into the regulatory landscape of the telehealth sector in key geographical markets including the US, Europe, China, Japan, India and South Africa: This report comprehensively describes and assesses recent regulatory developments and telehealth guidelines in this dynamic sector.Assess the most pertinent commercial trends in the telehealth sector: This report provides global market drivers, restraints and market size and growth estimates for key geographical markets, providing insights into novel product technologies and those garnering significant adoption.Assess operational strategies for telehealth program design and implementation: This report provides insights and recommendations to consider when implementing a new telehealth program, including market research, HR, channel analysis, governance, revenue models, monitoring and security considerations.Assess novel technologies in key telehealth sectors: This report also provides a comprehensive analysis including trends, challenges and opportunities for telemedicine devices and mHealth technologies, providing insights into novel product technologies and those garnering significant adoption around the world.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 @
Association of Fundraising Professionals (Greater Louisville Chapter) is CALLING FOR AWARD NOMINATIONS

Contact:Kate Biagi-RickertNational Philanthropy Day Chairkatebr@kosair.org502.637.7696 (Office)502.689.0060 (Cell)Association of Fundraising Professionals (Greater Louisville Chapter) isCALLING FOR AWARD NOMINATIONSNominations due by June 30, 2016June 14, 2016 . Louisville, KY The Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Louisville Chapter invites nominations for its annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon to be held on Friday, November 18, 2016, at the Seelbach Hilton Hotel.National Philanthropy Day recognizes the great contributions of philanthropy  and those people active in the philanthropic community  to the enrichment of the community. Individuals and organizations making philanthropic contributions to the Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana community will be considered in seven award categories. All nominations are due Thursday, June 30, 2016. Visit afpgreaterlouisville.org and click on the 'Philanthropy Day' section for a listing of awards and nomination details. Baylor Landrum, Jr., Leave a Legacy Award: recognizes an individual who has made a planned gift or has helped to promote planned giving in our community. Frank W. Penick Founders Award: presented to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to the advancement of the development profession, and provides a grant to support the recipients continuing professional education. Nominees must have at least 10 years of experience. Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser: recognizes an individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in raising money and organizing groups of volunteers for major fundraising projects for more than one organization. Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy: recognizes an individual or a group of young people ages 5-17 who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the community through direct financial support, development of charitable programs, volunteering, or leadership in philanthropy. Philanthropist of the Year - Individual: recognizes an individual with a proven record of exceptional generosity who demonstrates outstanding civic and charitable responsibility, and whose generosity encourages others to take on philanthropic leadership roles on local, national, and international levels. Philanthropist of the Year  Organization: recognizes a business or grant-making organization with a proven record of exceptional generosity through direct financial support and whose generosity encourages others to take on philanthropic leadership roles on local, national, and international levels. Young Philanthropist of the Year: recognizes an individual or a group of young people ages 18-35 who demonstrate outstanding commitment to a community through direct financial support, development of charitable programs, volunteering and leadership in philanthropy.About AFP Greater LouisvilleThe Association for Fundraising Professionals Greater Louisville is an official chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that represents nearly 30,000 members in more than 205 chapters throughout the world, working to advance philanthropy through education, training, mentoring, research, credentialing, and advocacy. The association fosters the development and growth of fundraising professionals and promotes high ethical standards in the fundraising profession. To learn more, visit afpgreaterlouisville.org.The National Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon will be on November 18, 2016. National Philanthropy Day recognizes the great contributions of philanthropy-and those active in the philanthropic community-to the enrichment of the community.in.Mode Marketing LLC201 S Shelby St, Suites 203 & 209Louisville, KY 40202
MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS celebrates completed restoration of 140-year-old bank building in Longmont

321 Main Street Historic Remodel in Longmont, CO

http://www.mwgolden.com

Jon Schallert, owner of the Schallert Group, is celebrating a new start for a historic building in Longmont, Colorado. 321 Main Street, the building that once housed Longmonts first bank is now open for business.MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS provided extensive interior demolition down to the buildings original framing, saving as much of the original furnishings and features along the way. More prominent restoration features include nineteenth century marble penny tile found under layers of later flooring, the original tin ceiling, original 1870s brick, and a fireplace made of cast iron and marble.Saving the original features was a top priority, explained Jason Golden, Vice President of MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS. We rehabilitated the marble penny floors, recreated the ceiling, removed plaster to expose the brick, and refurbished the fireplace. It was a unique project.Many new features of the building are made from sustainable materials. Beetle kill paneling was used for architectural woodwork and reclaimed lumber was used for shelving.As a result of $217,252 worth of construction work, the new space now holds office space for the Schallert group with a second floor containing a renovated apartment for Jon Schallert and his wife. Without MW Golden, this would never have become the showplace it now is! Thanks to Jason Golden and his entire company for their dedication to this project!MW GOLDEN CONSTRUCTORS is an award-winning firm that has been providing professional construction services throughout Colorados Front Range and mountain towns for more than thirty years. We take pride in building some of the states most recognizable schools, fire stations, libraries and other local and regional landmarks, as well as a wide range of commercial and industrial buildings, each project expertly designed and built to establish a sense of place in its respective community.1700 N. Park StreetCastle Rock, CO 80109
Medical Equipment Global Market Briefing Released By The Business Research Company

http://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/our-research/healthcare/medical-equipment-global-market-briefing-2016/

Medical Equipment Global Market Briefing provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global Medical Equipment sector.Medical equipment devices are designed to aid diagnosis, monitoring or treatment of medical conditions. The medical equipment market comprises surgical and medical instruments, surgical appliances and supplies, ophthalmic goods, dental laboratories, and in vitro reagents.Surgical instruments are specially designed tools or devices which are used in operations to modify biological tissue or to provide access for viewing it. Surgical instruments are used to provide assistance to a surgeon during an operation or sometimes by a specialized professional such as surgical technologist or a nurse. Graspers, clamps, retractors, distracters, mechanical clutters, injection needles, and suction tips and tubes are the surgical instruments widely used by surgeons and nurses.The medical equipment has segments which are main providers to other healthcare industries including healthcare services and pharmaceuticals.Self-Diagnosis/Treatment is increasing  Use of medical devices for the home based diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions is increasing. Technological developments in devices such as glucose monitors, insulin delivery devices, nebulizers and oxygen concentrators have enabled diagnosis and monitoring of many diseases at home. Remote control technology is also allowing healthcare professionals to support home based treatments which is leading to preference for home and self-care treatment.Technology and Analytics in Patient Care  Device performance and patient data is available to healthcare service providers helping them to improve patient monitoring and overall care quality. Some companies are integrating medical device data with EMR (Electronic Medical Records) to improve transparency and collaboration. As consumer wearables are becoming more common, patient data volumes are increasing and companies are investing in deploying data management, warehousing and security technologies. For example, Medtronic launched a tool to augment their cardiac devices to securely transfer device data to doctors and allow them to monitor the critical health indicators of their patientsDescription The Medical Equipment Global Market Briefing Report from the Business Research Company covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. The market size section gives the medical equipment market revenues, 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 the key sub sectors which make up the market. The regional breakdowns section gives the size of the market geographically. 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 the last three years are identified. The trends and strategies section highlights the likely future developments in the medical equipment market and suggests approaches.Reasons to Purchase Get up to date information available on the medical equipment market globally. Identify growth segments and opportunities. Facilitate decision making on the basis of historic and forecast data and understand the drivers and restraints on the market. Develop strategies based on likely future developments. Gain a global perspective on the development of the market.ScopeMarkets Covered: Medical Equipment.Companies Mentioned: Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, GE Healthcare, 3M Healthcare, Danaher, Abbott Labs, Becton Dickinson, Siemens Healthcare, Philips Healthcare, Baxter International and Others.Geographic scope: Americas, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa, Oceania.Time series: Five years historic and forecast.Data: Market value in $ billions.Data segmentations: Regional breakdowns, market share of competitors, key sub segments.Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes.Table of Contents Introduction 3 Medical Equipment Market Characteristics 4 Medical Equipment Market Historic Growth 5 Drivers of the Market 5 Restraints on the Market 6 Medical Equipment Market Forecast Growth 7 Drivers of the Market 7 Restraints on the Market 8 Medical Equipment Market Regional And Country Comparison 9 Medical Equipment Market, 2015, By Region 9 Medical Equipment As A Percentage Of Total Healthcare Market, By Country 11 Medical Equipment Competitive Landscape 11 Key Mergers And Acquisitions In The Medical Equipment Market 15 Medical Equipment Market Trends And Strategies 16 Appendix 17 NAICS Definitions Of Industry Covered In This Report 17 Abbreviations 19 Currencies 19 Research Inquiries 19 The Business Research Company 19List of TablesTable 1: Global Medical Equipment Market Historic Market Size, 2011  2015, $ Billion 5Table 2: Global Medical Equipment Market Forecast Market Size, 2015  2019, $ Billion 7Table 3: Global Medical Equipment Market, Split By Region, 2015, $ Billion 9Table of FiguresFigure 1: Global Medical Equipment Market Historic Market Size, 2011  2015, $ Billion 5Figure 2: Global Medical Equipment Market Forecast Market Size, 2015  2019, $ Billion 7Figure 3: Global Medical Equipment Market, Split By Region, 2015, $ Billion 9Figure 4: Global Medical Equipment Market, Key Competitor Shares, 2015, Percentage (%) 11Buy Now Medical Equipment Global Market Briefing is a detailed report giving a unique insight into this market. The report is priced at $1000 for an individual user. To use across your office the price is $1500 and $2000 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.About The Business Research CompanyVisit 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)+91 8897263534
World Cryptosporidium Diagnostic Testing Market Analysis to 2020

Cryptosporidium Diagnostic Testing

http://www.marketintelreports.com/pdfdownload.php?id=vpid16241

http://www.marketintelreports.com/purchase.php?id=vpid16241

www.marketintelreports.com

Summary of the report:The 2016-2020 World Cryptosporidium Diagnostic Testing Market: Commercial Labs, Hospitals, Physician Offices, Public Health Labs--Competitive Strategies, Country Volume and Sales Segment Forecasts report presents a detailed analysis of the Cryptosporidium diagnostics market in the US, Europe, (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK) and Japan. Current scientific views on the Cryptosporidium definition, epidemiology and etiology are reviewed.Check complete report @ http://tinyurl.com/z7422w2The report provides the 5- and 10-year test volume and sales forecasts by country for the following market segments: Hospitals Commercial/Private Labs Physician Offices Public Health LabsAvail more information from Sample Brochure of report @Also, the report examines the market applications of DNA Probes, Monoclonal Antibodies, Immunoassays, IT and other technologies; profiles leading suppliers and recent market entrants developing innovative technologies and products; and identifies emerging business expansion opportunities, alternative market penetration strategies, market entry barriers and risks, and strategic planning issues and concerns.Contains 207 pages and 9 tablesGet 20% discount on 2016-2020 World Cryptosporidium Diagnostic Testing Market with ordering now, Offer Valid Till June 30th, 2016 @About us:MarketIntelReports (MIR) aim to empower our clients to successfully manage and outperform in their business decisions, we do this by providing Premium Market Intelligence, Strategic Insights and Databases from a range of Global Publishers.A group of industry veterans who are well experienced in reputed international consulting firms after identifying the sourcing needs of MNCs for market intelligence, have together started this business savior MarketIntelReports.MIR intends to be a one-stop shop with an intuitive design, exhaustive database, expert assistance, secure cart checkout and data privacy integrated. It curates the list of reports, publishers and studies to ensure that the database is constantly updated to dynamically meet the targeted, specific needs of our clients.MarketIntelReports currently has more than 10,000 plus titles and 35+ publishers on our platform and growing consistently to fill the Global Intelligence Demand  Supply Gap. We cover more than 15 industry verticals being: Automotive, Electronics, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, Healthcare, Chemicals, Building & Construction, Agriculture, Food & Beverages, Banking & Finance, Media and Government, Public Sector Studies.Contact us:Sales ManagerMayur S.2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400,Wilmington,Delaware,19808United Statessales@marketintelreports.comTelephone: 1-302-684-6088
Global Synthetic Biology Market is expected to Grow more than US$ 38 Billion by 2020 - by Market Research Engine

Synthetic Biology Market

http://www.marketresearchengine.com/reportdetails/synthetic-biology-market

http://www.marketresearchengine.com/

New York, June 17: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Synthetic Biology Market (Synthetic DNA, Synthetic Genes, Synthetic Cells, XNA, Chassis Organisms, DNA Synthesis, Oligonucleotide Synthesis) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020Synthetic biology also called as constructive biology or system biology in which creating and designing new biological device, part which is not exist in environment. It also reconstructs the existing system to perform better job. It is branch of biology as well as engineering. The main aim of synthetic biology is to develop biological system same like engineers produce mechanical and electronic system. System based on molecular are helpful in detection and changes in health of body. It also helpful in developing synthetic vaccines. Synthetic biology plays vital role in HIV and cancer treatment. Synthetic biology accepts different technology such as nano-technology, bio-technology and more.Browse Full Report:The synthetic biology market is expected to exceed more than US$38 billion by 2020.The major driving factors of synthetic biology market are as follows: Financial support and assistance from government and private organizations. Increasing number of individual conducting research. Growing number of industries entering in the market. Declining price of DNA sequencing.The restraints factors of synthetic biology market are as follows: Issue related bio-safety and bio-security Creation of strict regulatory bodies Formation of ethical challengesThe synthetic biology market is segmented on the lines of its product, technology and application. The synthetic biology is segmented on the lines of its product are enabled products, core product and enabling products. The enabled product is further segmented into pharmaceuticals, chemicals, biofuels and agriculture. Under core product segmentation it covered synthetic DNA, synthetic genes, synthetic cells, XNA and chassis organisms. The enabling product is segmented into DNA synthesis and oligonucleotide synthesis. The synthetic biology is segmented on the lines of its technology like enabling technology and enabled technology. Under enabling technology it covers genome engineering, microfluidics technologies, DNA synthesis & sequencing technologies, bioinformatics technologies, biological components and integrated systems technologies. The enabled technology the market is segmented into pharmaceuticals, chemicals, biofuels and agriculture. Under application segmentation the market covered into research & development, chemicals, agriculture, pharmaceuticals & diagnostics, biofuels, environment, biotechnology and biomaterials. The synthetic biology market is geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for synthetic biology and related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2013, estimates for 2014 and 2015, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2020.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for synthetic biology4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.REPORT SCOPE:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various types of synthetic biology with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include BASF, GEN9 Inc. , Algenol Biofuels , Codexis Inc. , GenScript Corporation , DuPont , Butamax Advanced Biofuels , BioAmber , Biosearch Technologies, Inc. , OriGene Technologies, Inc. , Synthetic Genomics, Inc. , GeneArt (Life Technologies) , GENEWIZ, Inc. , Eurofins Scientific, Inc. , Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc. , DNA2.0, Inc. , Pareto Biotechnologies , Synthorx, Inc. , TeselaGen Biotechnology , Editas Medicine, Inc. , Twist Bioscience , GeneWorks Pty Ltd. , Proterro, Inc. and Blue heron (OriGene technologies Inc.) . Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary, business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.The Synthetic biology Market has been segmented as below:by Product Analysis Enabling Products DNA Synthesis Oligonucleotide Synthesis Enabled Products Pharmaceuticals Chemicals Biofuels Agriculture Core Products Synthetic DNA Synthetic Genes Synthetic Cells XNA Chassis Organismsby Technology Analysis Enabling Technology Genome Engineering Microfluidics technologies DNA synthesis & sequencing technologies Bioinformatics technologies Biological components and integrated systems technologies Enabled Technology Pathway engineering Synthetic microbial consortia Biofuels technologiesby Application Analysis Research & Development Chemicals Agriculture Pharmaceuticals & Diagnostics Biofuels Others (Environment, Biotechnology & Biomaterials, etc.)by Regional Analysis North America Europe Asia-Pacific Rest of the WorldReasons to Buy this Report:1) Obtain the most up to date information available on all active and planned synthetic biology industry globally.2) Identify growth segments and opportunities in the industry.3) Facilitate decision making on the basis of strong historic and forecast of synthetic biology industry and unit capacity data.4) Assess your competitors refining portfolio and its evolution.About MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States
RENTOKIL NORTH AMERICA ANNOUNCES MULTI-YEAR CONTRACT WITH CDC TO COMBAT ZIKA VIRUS

www.rentokil-steritech.com

www.cdc.gov/zika/

www.rentokil-steritech.com

Reading, Pa. (June 17, 2016) - Rentokil North America, and its pest control companies Rentokil Steritech, Ehrlich, Presto-X, and Western Exterminator, have been awarded a contract by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct a vector control program to help control the species of mosquitoes that carry Zika virus. The requirements of the program are to provide pest control services for the term of two years, subject to government review. The anticipated period of performance runs June 3, 2016 through June 2, 2018.The species of mosquito likely to carry Zika virus (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) are container-breeding mosquitoes that prefer to live in and around human dwellings. Rentokil North America will employ their network of more than 4,000 pest experts and technicians alongside their multifaceted team of technical resources to systematically target affected or high-risk areas. Additionally, a key component of the contract includes support services that entail community outreach, surveillance and inspection, and planning support for the distribution of materials and educational information.Were pleased that the CDC has chosen to partner with us to support the fight against the spread of this very serious virus, said John Myers, CEO of Rentokil North America. Our business is focused on protecting people and enhancing lives and our involvement allows us to provide the areas affected most with our world-class service to protect those at risk from the dangers of this disease.According to the CDC, Zika virus is transmitted primarily to people through the bite of infected mosquitoes, although sexual transmission has also been documented. There is currently no vaccine or treatment for Zika. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). In previous outbreaks, the illness has typically been mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week after being bitten by an infected mosquito. However, the Zika virus infection in pregnant women can result in microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects. Zika also has been linked to Guillain-Barre syndrome, an uncommon sickness of the nervous system in which a persons immune system damages the nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis.For additional information on preventing the spread of Zika, mosquito prevention, and treatment, please visitand###About Rentokil North America:Rentokil North America, which also owns pest control brands Rentokil Steritech, Western Exterminator, Presto-X Pest Control and Ehrlich Pest Control, provides commercial and residential pest control to customers in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico through its expertly trained team of technicians. Rentokil North Americas approach focuses on a technician-customer partnership to ensure the highest quality pest control service which includes a comprehensive pest management solution encompassing pest control, termite and bed bug inspections, vegetation management, bird management solutions, mosquito control, and fumigations. Rentokil North America is a division of Rentokil Initial plc. a leading business services company, operating globally in more than 66 countries. For more information, visitAbout the CDC:CDC works 24/7 to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same. CDC increases the health security of our nation. As the nations health protection agency, CDC saves lives and protects people from health threats. To accomplish our mission, CDC conducts critical science and provides health information that protects our nation against expensive and dangerous health threats, and responds when these arise.888 South Figueroa StreetSuite 1000Los AngelesCA 90017
Hillsides Encourages the Reduction of Medication for Children and Youth in Foster Care

www.hillsides.org

(PASADENA, CA) Hillsides encourages the reduction of medication for its clients, Hillsides Chief Executive Officer Joseph M. Costa said in response to an article in the Los Angeles Times addressing the over medication of children in the Los Angeles County foster care system. The introduction of positive behavior reinforcement, an engaging individualized routine, strengthening of social skills, and cognitive therapies usually result in lessening the need for medication and equipping the child to be better prepared for a return to home and community, said Costa.Costa noted that virtually all the children referred to Hillsides arrive having been prescribed some medication. The first thing that we do is a review of medications and dosages to determine the appropriateness while engaging family and responsible authorities in re-examining the need for each prescription, he said. One of the many benefits of a highly structured and supervised environment like Hillsides is to determine if there may be a way to cut back the use of medication.Costa said that it is important to consider why any child would be prescribed a psychotropic medication.Children in the foster care system have been traumatized in some way, if for no other reason that they have been removed from their families, he said. The reasons for the removal point to another layer of experiences that have further affected them. In addition, many of these children have experienced delays in their education, and in some instances, have been diagnosed with special learning challenges. Often for children in these kinds of situations medication is recommended to address impulsive behavior, an inability to sustain focus, depression, and anxiety. As helpful as some medication may be to address these issues, it is nevertheless a risk to prescribe medication without any assurances that there will not be any long-term negative effects.As a result, it is with some reluctance medication is prescribed. However, often the nature of a childs diagnosed severe emotional disturbance and a sense of urgency to maintain the childs emotional well-being contribute to introducing medication into the regimen of care. For a child in the foster care system, this is often complicated because of inconsistencies in a childs care such as multiple living placements, several school enrollments, and changing social workers and consulting psychiatrist. All these are factors that contribute to the overmedicating of children in care. Overmedication is a symptom of a system that is haphazard, uncoordinated, and driven by the need to safeguard its own interests rather than that of the children it serves.Costa noted that some effective medications have a profound impact on children and youth, enabling them to lead healthy lives. Mental illness is like any other illness; it requires constant attention and appropriate care to allow for improved functioning and a restoration of well-being. We certainly would not deny a child with juvenile diabetes insulin. Then we should not deny a child experiencing an episode of mental illness the appropriate care needed to get better, he said. He continued: Abuses can occur whenever medication is prescribed. What is required is a system of care that assures vigilance and seamless care focused on the long-term best interests of the child.Hillsides, founded in 1913, is a premier provider of child welfare services serving more than 6,200 children, youth, and families throughout Los Angeles County, including Echo Park, Baldwin Park, and the San Gabriel Valley. For more information, please visit###This press release was originally published in a slightly different version on Hillsides blog on February 19, 2015.CONTACT: Alison BellOffice: (323) 543-2800 ext. 226Cell: (626) 390-1640E-mail: abell2@hillsides.orgHillsides is a premier provider dedicated to improving the overall well-being and functioning of vulnerable children, youth, and their families. Our vision is to create lasting change in the lives of at-risk children and youth we serve. We provide high quality care, advocacy, and innovative services that promote safe, permanent environments where young people can thrive.Hillsides has four main programs:Family Resource Centers, which offer numerous community based programs and services that provide parenting classes, mental health support and additional crucial resources for vulnerable children and families throughout Los Angeles County.Residential Treatment Services, which provide a safe and stable environment where children and youths, who cannot live at home, suffered trauma, or have severe emotional or behavioral challenges, can thrive.Education Center, a therapeutic residential and day school that offers individualized education for students with social-emotional, learning and/or behavioral challenges for children in kindergarten through 12th grade.Youth Moving On, which provides former foster youth affordable quality housing and numerous support services to help them become responsible, self-sufficient adults.Hillsides940 Avenue 64Pasadena, CA 91105323-254-2274Company Contact/Press Contact:Alison Bell323-543-2800 ext 226815 Colorado Blvd, Suite 300Los Angeles, CA 90041
Ylang Ylang Beach Resort Joins Home Country of Costa Rica in Participating in International Day of Yoga

www.ylangylangbeachresort.com

Ylang Ylang Beach Resort will join millions around the globe in celebrating the International Day of Yoga on Tuesday. The United Nations declared June 21 each year as the International Day of Yoga, with the aim of raising awareness of the many benefits of practicing yoga. This is the second year the special day has been officially observed by the nation of Costa Rica.Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in India and is now popular worldwide. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon shared his thoughts on the universal appeal of yoga:"Yoga offers a simple, accessible and inclusive means to promote physical and spiritual health and well-being. It promotes respect for ones fellow human beings and for the planet we share.Ylang Ylang Beach Resort is one of numerous locations throughout Costa Rica that will celebrate the day. The family-owned Costa Rica beach resort is located on the southern tip of the Nicola Peninsula on the Pacific Coast. The resort offers daily yoga classes for all levels in their beachfront yoga studio. Their walk-in classes are open to both resort guests and non-guests. The resort also offers private classes. The Ylang Ylang Beach Resort has a yoga staff of four certified instructors who lead classes.Owner Moraya Iacono and his wife, yoga instructor Syska Iacono, are proud to be participating in the International Day of Yoga for the first time. "We regularly host international yoga retreats here. We welcome this unique opportunity to unite our minds and bodies with people in Costa Rica and around the world on this special day."The resort offers yoga classes in a variety of styles including Vinyasa, Hatha, Kundalini and Yoga Nidra. Ylang Ylang yoga instructor Dianne Siegfried creates a relaxed and non-competitive environment in her classes. She said, "The sounds of the sea and the incredible view make it easy to glide into our daily yoga practice. I invite you to join us and explore the creative expression of your body through yoga."In addition to yoga, Ylang Ylang Beach Resort offers a restaurant, spa, tours and activities including snorkeling, scuba diving, horseback riding, fishing, boating and hiking.For more information, visit the website:You can also reach Ylang Ylang Beach Resort at:Telephone (from out of country): 1-888-795-8494Telephone (in Costa Rica): 2642-0636Email: info@yybr.infoYlang Ylang Beach ResortPlaya MontezumaMontezuma, Costa Rica1-888-795-8494 / +(506) 2642-0636
Individualized Engagement is Key to Reducing Medicating Children in Foster Care

www.hillsides.org

(PASADENA, CA) Medication should never be used to manage a child but rather to assist with a clearly diagnosed psychiatric disorder, according to Hillsides Chief Executive Officer Joseph M. Costa. More often than not, what helps reduce the utilization of medication is a greater level of individualized engagement, which includes educating the child and the family on the specific effects of any medication. Education, behavioral supports, and constant monitoring of a childs reaction to any medication is the only acceptable treatment strategy for children who may benefit from psychotropic medication because of some clearly defined psychiatric diagnosis and traumas they have experienced.Costa was speaking in response to an article in Pasadena Star-News that drew attention to the use of psychotropic medication for children in the foster care system based on a study published by the Bay Area News Group. The statistics in the study showed that adolescent children in foster care in California are 3.5 times more likely to be on psychotropic medication than all adolescents in the U.S.Costa noted that the utilization of these medications is high, and some may assume that this is unnecessary. My assessment of these statistics is that there are a disproportionate number of children in the foster care system, who, because of the level of trauma they have experienced, may for at least a period of time, benefit from some psychotropic medication as they address their most pressing treatment issues, he said.Costa continued that it is not unusual for Hillsides to receive referrals of children who have been in a psychiatric hospital. These childrens level of trauma has been so severe that psychiatric services were required. Typically the children arrive at Hillsides with some psychotropic medications prescribed. Once here, our consulting psychiatrists review the medication they are on and closely monitor the child to determine if medications should be reduced for a childs optimal functioning, he said.I remember one pre-adolescent boy who suffered from debilitating side effects from anxiety medication, he continued. His dosage was lowered, and staff worked closely with our nursing personnel to monitor his behavior and provide him with extra support as he adjusted to the new dosage. Today, his anxiety is under control and he is back with his family. He is still benefitting from some medication, but now is much better prepared to live a normal and full life.Hillsides, as a provider within the child welfare system, is dedicated to partnering with children and families to offer the highest quality care possible, continued Costa. For those we serve, one concrete benefit of a life less dependent, if not completely free, of psychotropic medication is a greater level of functioning and a sense of well-being.Costa noted that the courts take the use of any medication very seriously and, together with providers like Hillsides, do everything possible to reduceif not eliminatethe need for any prescribed medication. Yet, he stated that the foster care system continues to be plagued by a great disparity in care resulting in some children and youth unnecessarily using medications.Articles such as the one in the Pasadena Star-News help to address this disparity and support reforms that have been introduced at the Department of Children and Family Services and, in many instances, initiated by the courts. According to a follow-up article in the Star-News, this article has also spurred California legislators to examine this issue, he said.Hillsides, founded in 1913, is a premier provider of child welfare services serving more than 6,200 children, youth, and families throughout Los Angeles County, including Echo Park, Baldwin Park, and the San Gabriel Valley. For more information, please visit###This press release was originally published in a slightly different version on Hillsides blog on August 27, 2014.CONTACT: Alison BellOffice: (323) 543-2800 ext. 226Cell: (626) 390-1640Hillsides is a premier provider dedicated to improving the overall well-being and functioning of vulnerable children, youth, and their families. Our vision is to create lasting change in the lives of at-risk children and youth we serve. We provide high quality care, advocacy, and innovative services that promote safe, permanent environments where young people can thrive.Hillsides has four main programs:Family Resource Centers, which offer numerous community based programs and services that provide parenting classes, mental health support and additional crucial resources for vulnerable children and families throughout Los Angeles County.Residential Treatment Services, which provide a safe and stable environment where children and youths, who cannot live at home, suffered trauma, or have severe emotional or behavioral challenges, can thrive.Education Center, a therapeutic residential and day school that offers individualized education for students with social-emotional, learning and/or behavioral challenges for children in kindergarten through 12th grade.Youth Moving On, which provides former foster youth affordable quality housing and numerous support services to help them become responsible, self-sufficient adults.Hillsides940 Avenue 64Pasadena, CA 91105323-254-2274Company Contact/Press Contact:Alison Bell323-543-2800 ext 226815 Colorado Blvd, Suite 300Los Angeles, CA 90041
Eveear Technology Inc. Appoints Former HSBC Vice President as Head of Business Development

Ex-Banker Joins Fastest-Growing, Agile Project Management Focused Technology Services Company Delivering Digital Transformation.

http://www.eveear.com

Eveear Technologies Inc. (), a silicon valley based Fastest-growing Technology Solutions Company, announced the appointment of Gaurav Mohan to its leadership team. Gaurav joins as Senior Vice President, Business Development and Head of Sales, to catapult Eveears rapidly growing portfolio of North American client base and expand its technology services footprint among Fortune enterprises. With over 15 years of global sales experience, Gaurav comes as an expert in driving revenue and developing long-term client partnerships. A seasoned sales and marketing leader, he joins Eveear after holding various leadership roles in Fortune Banks where he helped re-shape their value, client relationships and revenues.Gaurav commented, I am excited to embark on this fascinating journey with Eveear and look forward to deepening existing relationships, expanding the geographical footprint and building new partnerships. I am fortunate to join a very motivated team that challenges the status-quo and redefines digital innovation.We are excited Mr. Mohan has joined our team, said Eveears Head of Operations, Mr. Chitnis. We feel confident he will be a key factor in our continued growth across all of our business units.About Eveear Technologies Inc.Eveear is a fast paced Silicon Valley headquartered Technology Services Company focused on driving value for its clients. Eveears DNA is made up of innovation, agility and quick turnaround, helping clients in achieving fast paced technology transformation, supporting growth, fulfilling project needs and talent requirements. Eveears clients range from Fortune to Innovative start-ups primarily in Retail/Ecommerce, Media, Banking Healthcare and Technology start-ups.Eveear offers two core practices - Talent Partnerships & Hiring Practice and Managed Team & Services Practice, covering the entire spectrum of technology needs. Eveear brings both On-shore & Off-shore, end-to- end applications development using Agile focused project delivery methodologies. The development portfolio includes agile application design & development, enterprise mobility, integration and quality engineering, combined with superior engagement model suitable and preferred by the clients. Eveear specializes in Salesforce (consulting, integration, implementation, support and maintenance), ServiceNow and DevOps, helping organizations unlock their full potential.11750 Dublin Blvd., Suite 200 BDublin, CA  94568
Global Rubber Gloves Market Trend, Growth, Size, Share, Analysis and Research Report 2016

http://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=735530

http://www.researchmoz.us/global-rubber-gloves-market-report-2016-edition-report.html

http://www.researchmoz.us/

http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG

Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Rubber Gloves Market Report: 2016 Edition" to its huge collection of research reports.Rubber gloves are common household items that offer many uses. They are inexpensive to purchase and are used for personal care, cleaning, pets, first aid and more. Rubber gloves are made of various types of rubber and are used for several purposes. Rubber gloves cover a wide range of applications from medical gloves to utility gloves. They are also used in food service industry. Many countries have implemented laws regarding the compulsoryusage of gloves. Therefore, rubber gloves are being increasingly used in both professional as well as household chores.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The global rubber gloves market faces limited competition with small number of producers. The industry leaders dominate the rubber gloves market through their economies of scale, wide distribution of networks and efficiency along with product modernism. Although the industry has maintained its growth momentum, the major bottlenecks includes underutilization resulting from overcapacity, hike in natural gas tariffs, entry barriers and sudden exchange rate fluctuations.The factors driving growth of the market includes increasing incidences of pandemics and viral outbreaks, improving revenue from weakening of Malaysian Ringgit, low raw material and manufacturing costs, growth of electronic manufacturing market, rising healthcare expenditure and ageing population. Some of the noteworthy trends and developments of this industry includes ongoing demand shift from latex to nitrile gloves, improving product mix of companies, rising demand from emerging economies, tightening of healthcare regulations and shifting bargaining power to customers.Browse Detail Report With TOC @The report Global Rubber Gloves Market analyzes the development of this market, with focus on Malaysias rubber gloves industry. The major trends, growth drivers as well as issues being faced by the industry are discussed in detail in this report. The four major players in the industry, Top Glove, Kossan, Supermax and Hartalega, are being profiled along with their key financials and strategies for growth. The report contains a comprehensive analysis of the global rubber gloves industry along with the study of regional markets.By combining SPSS Inc.s data integration and analysis capabilities with our relevant findings, we have predicted the future growth of the industry. We employed various significant variables that have an impact on this industry and created regression models with SPSS Base to determine the future direction of the industry. Before deploying the regression model, the relationship between several independent or predictor variables and the dependent variable was analyzed using standard SPSS output, including charts, tables and tests.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 @
Apheresis Market worth 2.5 Billion USD by 2020

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/apheresis-market-950.html

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=950

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsample.asp?id=950

The report "Apheresis Market by Application (Plasmapheresis, Plateletpheresis, Erythrocytapheresis, Leukapheresis, and Photopheresis) by Procedure (Therapeutic Apheresis, Donor Apheresis/Apheresis Blood Donation), by Technology and by Product - Global Forecast to 2020", the Global Apheresis Market is Poised to Reach USD 2.5 Billion by 2020.Browse 139 tables and 45 figures spread through 195 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Apheresis Market"Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.Currently, apheresis procedures are mostly preferred over the existing whole blood collection and therapeutic methods. The increasing awareness about apheresis blood collection, rapid growth in aging population, and increasing number of surgical procedures and emergency treatment cases in hospitals, worldwide, are some of the key factors that are contributing to the growth of the apheresis market.Get PDF Brochure For This Report:However, factors such as high cost of apheresis procedures, lack of awareness regarding the apheresis process in emerging and developing markets, and challenges in donor recruitment are restraining the growth of the market.In this report, the apheresis market is segmented on the basis of product, procedure, technology, application, and region. On the basis of product, the market is segmented into devices and disposables. In 2014, the disposables segment accounted for the largest share 85.1% of the global apheresis market, and is poised to grow at a CAGR of 11.6% during the forecast period. The large share of this segment is mainly attributed to the increasing demand for disposables with the increasing number of therapeutic apheresis procedures, and increasing trend towards apheresis blood collection.On the basis of technology, the apheresis market is divided into centrifugation and membrane separation. The centrifugation segment accounted for the largest share 75.3% of the global apheresis market in 2014, owing to the advantages offered by centrifugation technology over membrane separation.Get The Sample Copy Of This Report:On the basis of application, the apheresis market is segmented into plasmapheresis, plateletpheresis, erythrocytapheresis, leukapheresis, LDL apheresis, and others (photopheresis, lymphapheresis, and extracorporeal immunoadsorption). The plasmapheresis segment accounted for the largest share 46.5% of the global apheresis market in 2014. The high share of this segment is attributed to the increasing demand for source plasma from biopharmaceutical companies, increasing source plasma collections across the globe, and increasing application areas of plasma fractionation products.Geographically, North America accounted for the largest share of ~47.8% of the apheresis market in 2014, followed by Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the RoW. The large share of North America in the global apheresis market is mainly attributed to greater accessibility to advanced technologies, increasing opportunities for apheresis products in the plasma collection and fractionation markets, and established distribution channels in this region as compared to Europe and APAC.However, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the fastest-growing apheresis market during the forecast period. Increasing demand for blood components for the treatment of the large patient population, rapid development in the healthcare infrastructure, and growing per capita healthcare expenditure in these countries are contributing to the growth of the apheresis market in the APAC region during the forecast period.The global apheresis market is consolidated in nature, with top five companies accounting for a market share of nearly 80%85% in 2014. Some of the key players in this market are Haemonetics Corporation (U.S.), Fresenius Medical Care (Germany), Terumo BCT, Inc. (U.S.), Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd. (Japan), Kawasumi Laboratories Inc. (Japan), Cerus Corporation (U.S.), B. Braun Melsungen AG (Germany), HemaCare Corporation (U.S.), Medica S.p.A. (Italy), Kaneka Corporation (Japan), Nikkiso Co., Ltd. (Japan) and Therakos, Inc. (U.S.). The leading players in this market have built a strong market position over the years by focusing on agreements, collaborations, and partnerships, and expanding their geographic presence in emerging markets in order to widen their revenue streams. These still remain the actively adopted strategies by leading players in this market, in order to achieve sustainable revenue growth in the competitive apheresis market.About MarketsandMarkets:MarketsandMarkets is the worlds 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&Ms flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers.We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository.Contact:Mr. RohanUnit No. 802, 8th Floor,Tower - 7, Magarpatta City SEZ,Hadapsar, Pune  411013,Maharashtra, India.Tel: +1-888-6006-441.
EGO International Group host and visiting Power Gen Europe international exhibition in Milan

www.egointernational.it

www.egointernational.it

Succeeding in Europes transitioning power sector requires flexibility, innovation and new business approaches, all of which will be discussed, debated and disseminated at POWER-GEN Europe and Renewable Energy World Europe in Milan 2016. Energy sector in Europe is going through a radical and permanent transition. This drastic change in the power sector caused by the moves towards a green society requires new approaches, new products and new skills. For power industry professionals this presents an opportunity for innovation and new ways of operating, all of which will be discussed and debated at POWER-GEN Europe and Renewable Energy World Europe 2016, taking place at the MiCo Milano Congressi, Milan, Italy, from 21-23 June, under the patronage of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development.POWER-GEN Europe and Renewable Energy World represent the dynamic centre point, where a rapidly evolving power industry meets to gather information and compare views on shared opportunities and challenges. Attracting a worldwide audience, it is the industrys premier event, resolved to discussing solutions for advancing Europe's energy future and the busy schedule is a significant example: in the three-day event, over 50 conferences are scheduled, with 200 speakers from Worldwide. Technicians and engineers from EGO International as well are engaged in Europes energy change, identifying opportunities for innovation, and business development across the sector.Featuring the leading suppliers, sub-suppliers, service providers and end-users across the entire power generation value chain, POWER-GEN Europe and Renewable Energy World Europe encapsulate all aspects of todays centralised and distributed power generation sector. Together they combine strategic and technical presentations with the largest trade show exhibition of power equipment and services in Europe.EGO International is participating in POWER GEN Europe exhibition with a team of skilled engineers and experts in order to create profitable business opportunities and collaborations with businesses from all over the world to ensure a greater brand visibility and knowledge of the brand and services to more than 11,000 power industry professionals, 435 exhibitors and more than a 1,000 conference delegates coming in Milan to attend the fair. Power industry experts gathered from more than 100 countries with more than 40% of attendees being from either Senior or Middle management positions.EGO International offers an excellent service with a complete and effective support to create and manage business relations, in order to create profitable deals and long lasting business agreements. Choosing EGO International, enterprises can reduce fixed costs on staff and variable costs related to travel expenses, attend trade fairs and business meetings out of town and have always an ad hoc and personalized Export Manager whenever they need.Press Office - Studio Binaschi-Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 39 - 20143 MILANO tel. 02.36699126p.binaschi@studiobinaschi.itEgo International Group, with a portfolio of over 3,200 Italian clients and 5,800 foreign buyers, the Italian company provides an efficient technical and commercial service and an international language support thanks to native speakers who are part of the team.Ego International GroupCentro Direzionale PianetaVia Nuova Circonvallazione, 69, 47924 Rimini RN
Cygnet Infotech Launched Hrinnova  An HRMS Solution that Delivers Automation Benefits in Complex HR Environments

www.hrinnova.com

www.cygnet-infotech.com

Ahmedabad, India  June 08, 2016  Cygnet Infotech., one of the premier offshore IT services provider got into the software solution segment with its futuristic human resource management solution, Hrinnova. Mukesh Gajjar - AVP IT & Operations, announced the launch of Hrinnova, which was being tried, tested and enhanced since 2009. During the launch, he mentioned Over the years, human resource departments have been considered a cost centre for organizations, but our disruptive solution would turn it in to a profit centre.Where does Hrinnova fit in organizations?The importance of human resource management continues to bulge, but lack of analytical tools and clear visibility on the organizations intellectual property, deters the value addition expected from the human resource management professionals. HR leaders are undone with the shear burden of administrative assertions preventing them to claim their roles as business leaders and efficiently manage companys greatest resource  its talent.This is where Hrinnova comes in to the picture. It is a comprehensive blend of technology, design and robust analytics that empowers HR to rid of the administrative burden and focus on what they are best at  managing talent.Some of the key features include Core HR, attendance & timesheet, performance management, project management, payroll, recruitment, organizational chart, employee directory and reporting.For more information on Hrinnova, visit:About Cygnet InfotechCygnet Infotech is a distinguished brand when it comes to offering exclusive IT services to its global clients. Renowned for its huge knowledge base across different verticals and technology, Cygnet emerged as one of the most-recommended IT companies evaluated on different parameters including people, processes and technologies.Cygnet Infotech offers software product development, application lifecycle management and enterprise content management services. It also an array of products and solutions - M1-Order, eShabd, TestingWhiz, FSM, Hrinnova, Cygneto and ePub-Hub. To know more about Cygnets capabilities, please visit:16, Swastik SoceityNear Amco Bank, Stadium Circle, Navrangpura
Synthetic Paper Market Projected to Reach 386.5 Million USD by 2020

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The report "Synthetic Paper Market by Type (Bopp, HDPE, Others), by Application (Label, Non-Label), by Geography (Asia-Pacific, Europe, North America, Row) - Trends & Forecast to 2020", The global synthetic paper market is projected to reach USD 386.5 million by 2020, at a CAGR of 7.0%.Browse 89 tables and 42 figures spread through 133 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Synthetic Paper Market - Trends & Forecast to 2020"Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.The global synthetic paper market is projected to reach USD 386.5 Million by 2020, at a CAGR of 7.0%.Synthetic papers are made up synthetic resins, such as BOPP and HDPE and exhibit properties of both, paper as well as plastic films. Synthetic papers show a number of properties, such as good opacity and high tensile strength, among others. The global synthetic paper market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.0% during the forecast period, 2015 to 2020. The label application segment led the global synthetic paper market in 2014 and accounted for a market share of 42%. The Asia-Pacific region led the global synthetic paper market in 2014. The Asia-Pacific synthetic paper market is expected to reach USD 156.3 Million by 2020, at a CAGR of 7.5% during the forecast period, 2015 to 2020.The growth of the Asia-Pacific synthetic paper market is due to increasing applicability of synthetic paper in various label and non-label applications. The consumption of synthetic paper in this region is mainly contributed by Japan, which is the largest manufacturer of synthetic paper in the Asia-Pacific region. The manufacturing sector in the Asia-Pacific region is mainly constituted by multinational companies who have good distribution networks, while a small share in the manufacturing sector is contributed by domestic manufacturers, who concentrate in the local markets only.The growing demand for synthetic paper in this region has attracted many multinational companies to set up their plants in this region or to increase the capacity of their existing plants. In the rest of the world sub-segment, the Middle East synthetic paper market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period owing to availability of raw materials at cheap rates.The application markets demand specific grades of synthetic papers, based on their types and features. Among applications, the label segment is the major application of synthetic paper and plays an important part for packaging purposes in many industries. The non-label application segment consists of a group of many small applications, such as paper packaging, maps, and covers, among others.Request for Sample PDF:Globally, the synthetic paper market is one of growing markets and this trend is expected to continue in the near future as well. The Asia-Pacific region held a major share in the global synthetic paper market in 2014. It is also estimated that China and India will be key markets for synthetic paper in the Asia-Pacific region in the coming years.The U.S. and Japan are projected to lead the global synthetic paper market during the forecast period, 2015 to 2020 while countries, such as Germany, China, France, the U.K., Taiwan, and India are projected to be other key markets for synthetic paper. Japan is the key market for synthetic paper in the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to nearly one-third of the total demand for synthetic paper in the region. It is followed by China, Taiwan, India, and Australia where demand for synthetic paper is growing at a steady rate. This growth can be attributed to increasing applicability of synthetic paper in label and non-label applications in various industries, such as food and beverages, and pharmaceuticals, among others.The label segment is projected to be the fastest-growing application segment of the global synthetic paper market during the forecast period, 2015 to 2020. The leading players of the market, such as Yupo Corporation (Japan) and Arjobex SAS (France) have introduced new grades of synthetic paper which are lightweight, versatile, and recyclable and can be used for printing and labeling applications.About MarketsandMarketsMarketsandMarkets is the worlds 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&Ms flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers.We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository.Contact:Mr. RohanMarkets and MarketsUNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZMagarpatta city, HadapsarPune, Maharashtra 411013, India.Tel: +1-888-600-6441Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.comVisit MarketsandMarkets Blog @Visit MarketsandMarkets @MarketsandMarkets is the worlds 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.Markets and MarketsUNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZMagarpatta city, HadapsarPune, Maharashtra 411013, India.
Reach Your Readers Around the World Without the Hassles of Shipping!

www.cygnet-infotech.com

02-Jun-2016, Ahmedabad, India  Cygnet Infotech, an IT Solutions Provider has their headquarters in the city of Ahmedabad, India and with offices spread across the globe in countries like the USA, UK, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. They recently launched a complete digital publishing solutions suite: ePUBHub. The passionate team of ePUBHub is committed to making the best of available technologies for businesses and provide them with dynamic solutions. During the launch, Apurva Ashar, the Executive Director of Cygnet Infotech said At Cygnet, we are passionate about making the best of available technologies for businesses and provide them with dynamic solutions and the aim of ePUBHub aim is to provide a solution that would empower independent authors, publishers, libraries as well as educational institutions to own their own web bookstore/ebook portal With this, their clients can protect their ebooks digitally with a DRM solution as well as easily stay connected directly with their customers and readers across the globe. One of the biggest highlights of this epublishing solution is that it completely eliminates the need of any other marketplace intermediaries. Their team of experts is constantly striving to provide the most efficient and effective services, tailored specially to meet e-publishing business requirements.The 4 main solution offerings that fall under ePUBHubs umbrella are:Create: eBook CreationDo you have physical books or manuscripts? Do you have a word file or a PDF file of your manuscript? ePUBHub can create a beautiful ebook for you in various formats that are compatible with ereadersDesign: Physical Book DesigningDo you have physical books or manuscripts? Get your books designed by ePUBHubs experts and attract a major audience of readers!Protect: eKavach-DRMIt is a Digital Rights Management (DRM) solution powered by Adobe that controls the access of your digital content.Publish: eBook Web StoreThe eBook Web Store is an effort by epub-hub to bring the benefits of digital publishing directly to publishers and authors. Along with the web portal, ePUBHub also builds an ereader application that provides a seamless reading experience to their clients audiences.Right from creating and designing eBooks in the most optimal format to distributing, marketing and securing it, ePUBHub takes care of all the stages in the publishing cycle. Their aim is to offer publishers and authors a platform where they can protect and sell their works and then, from where any reader can purchase books - by eliminating all the intermediaries. Their solution includes a web portal for sale that offers a dynamic back-end dashboard that is user-friendly and easy to use. It makes for an efficient portal to manage everything from orders to discounts and inventory.About Cygnet:Cygnet Infotech is an IT Services company, empowering businesses by delivering diverse and holistic solutions forging long-lasting, win-win relationships.Cygnet Infotech is a distinguished brand when it comes to offering exclusive IT services to its global clients. Renowned for its huge knowledgebase across different verticals and technology, Cygnet emerged as one of the most-recommended IT companies evaluated on different parameters including people, processes and technologies.Cygnet Infotech offers software product development, application lifecycle management and enterprise content management services. It also has an array of products and solutions under its umbrella namely M1-Order, eShabda, TestingWhiz, FSM, Hrinnova, Cygneto and ePub-Hub.To know more about Cygnets capabilities, please visit:INDIA HEADQUARTERSCygnet Infotech Pvt. Ltd.16-Swastik Society, Nr. AMCO Bank,Stadium Circle, Navrangpura,Ahmedabad 380009, Gujarat, Indiaaditi.buch@cygnetinfotech.comCall: +91-79-67124000
Potassium Silicate Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=12377

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Potassium Silicate Market: OverviewPotassium silicate is water soluble alkali silicate which is used extensively as a metal cleaning agent, binder for cement & electrodes and as a flame retardant. Potassium silicate has numerous industrial uses. It is used as a source of potassium in horticultural applications, in order to increase the potassium content of soil. Potassium silicate is hygroscopic and viscous when dissolved in water. Potassium silicate has uses and properties similar to sodium silicate; however, potassium silicate provides better solubility, temperature resistance and lower efflorescence compared to potassium silicate.Potassium silicate finds use as a pH neutralizer and a buffer to maintain alkalinity of mixtures. It helps to neutralize acidic soils, emulsify fats & oils and disperse proteins. Potassium silicate is used in manufacturing of detergents because it helps in softening of water by sequestering calcium and magnesium ions. This ensures optimal performance of the surfactant system even in hard water.Get FREE Sample Of This Report :Potassium silicate acts as a corrosion inhibitor by forming a barrier to alkali attack and protects sensitive glazed dishware, glass, metal pipes and metallic surfaces. Additionally, potassium silicate is used as a binder in welding electrodes as it improves melting properties, the application of potassium silicates in industrial cleaning, not only cleans surfaces but also protect the surfaces against corrosion. Furthermore, it finds use in decorative coatings and paints and as specialty fertilizer in horticultural industry.Potassium Silicate Market: Key Drivers and OpportunitiesThe growing building & construction is a key driver for the potassium silicate market owing to the growing global population explosion. The use of potassium silicate as a flame retardant in wooden fixtures is driving the market of potassium silicate. The safety regulations imposed by governments necessitate the use of flame retardant components in architectural structures. Additionally, potassium silicate is used as a binder in cement & welding rods. It is also used as a heavy duty metal cleaner. The growing manufacturing industry in certain parts of the globe is driving the growth of potassium silicate market and this trend is expected to continue over the coming years. Potassium silicate is used as a source of potassium for crop plants and therefore used as a potassium fertilizer.This is an important driver for the market of potassium silicate. However, the handling of potassium silicate requires caution as it is an eye irritant. This is expected to restrain the growth of this market. The use of lithium ion phosphate batteries employed in electric vehicles is expected to open new areas of opportunity for the market of potassium silicate within the forecast period.Potassium Silicate Market: Regional InsightCountries such as India, China and Latin America are major markets of potassium silicate owing to the growing manufacturing activities and agrarian economies of these counties. The growing requirement of potassium silicate in industrial applications and in fertilizers is expected to drive the market of potassium silicate within the forecast period. In regions such as Europe, North America and Japan the demand for potassium silicate is majorly due to its use in detergents. The market of potassium silicate is expected to grow at a steady rate in these countries.The major players in this market are  Alfa Aesar, Baoding Runfeng Industrial Co. Ltd, Chengdu XiYa Chemical Technology Co. Ltd, Nutri Tech Solutions, Nanjing Vital Chemical Co., Ltd. PQ Corporation, Rishon Biochem Co. Ltd, Samarth Chemical Products Pvt Ltd, Zaclon LLC and Zhejiang Jiashan Dechang Powdered Material Co Ltd among 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.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 Blog :
Global Rugged Laptop Computers Industry to Show High Growth Owing to Rising need to Work Reliably under Harsh Environments

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ALBANY, New York, June, 20, 2016 - Considering the fact that rugged laptops and computers can be used in virtually any environment, the global rugged laptop computers industry has been constantly witnessing rapid growth since these products were first introduced. As per a recent report added to the database of Market Research Hub, the global rugged laptop computers industry will register an escalating demand for newly introduced products across various geographies.The report, titled Global Rugged Laptop Computers Industry 2016, Trends and Forecast Report, introduces the basics of rugged laptop computers by providing definitions, applications, and classifications. For a better understanding of the global market on rugged laptop computers, the analysts have divided the market into Europe, North America, and Asia. The main countries covered in this report are China, Japan, the United States, and Germany.Browse Full Report with TOC @Across the computer industry, rugged laptop computers are known as ruggedized laptops. Rugged computers are meant to be used in harsh and hazardous environments such as extreme temperatures, strong vibrations, and under dusty conditions. Where most people depend on traditional laptops to complete their daily tasks, scientists and engineers use rugged laptops to work under hazardous conditions. Rugged laptops and computers are commonly used by the military personnel and law enforcement officers to complete their tasks under harsh environments. Regardless of how polluted the environment is, rugged computers assist people to easily complete their tasks in hand. Moreover, most of the ruggedized laptops and computers replace simple plastics with magnesium alloy, which makes them sturdy.Considering the many benefits offered by rugged laptop computers, their demand is expected to increase from end-user industries such as the healthcare sector, field sales and service, and transport and communication. The growing number of people employed in industries having harsh work environments is expected to propel the global rugged laptop computers industry in the years to come. Leading players are focusing on customizing their products to meet the changing demand from the buyers.The global rugged laptop computers industry is widespread with many leading players operating across various geographies. The adoption of changing trends and the implementation of innovations in the manufacturing technology are predicted to assist leading players in contributing new products in the global market. The entry of new players has made the global market for rugged laptop computers more competitive. Additionally, new project investments will help leading players to capture the untapped market in the years to come.Going forward, the growing use of rugged laptop computers in businesses related to engineering, mining, and construction is expected to boost the global market. As rugged laptop computers offer high-quality performance and secure crucial information, they are an asset for businesses.Request for Sample Report with TOC in a PDF Format:This report on the global rugged laptop computers industry is professionally designed to help vendors gain clear insight into the factors governing the global market.Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of market research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free : 866-997-4948 (US-Canada)Tel : +1-518-621-2074Email : sales@marketresearchhub.comWebsite:
SoliTek presents a new frameless glass PV module at Intersolar 2016

SoliTek is a manufacturer of PV modules and polycrystalline cells, bringing industrial manufacturing experience of more than 17 years.The glass-glass module is improved by applying newly developed lamination foil which is substantially more advanced than previously used EVA or PVB technology.SoliTek modules are 100% European product since all the materials used during the production processes are brought from Europe.The module is ideal for all weather conditions. It is resistant against sand, dust, ammonia, salt mist and has Fire Class A.SoliTek modules have a lifetime of 30 years at 85% of efficiency, therefore they do not have to be replaced after 8-12 years of use due to delamination or insufficiency.Visit us at Intersolar 2016 in Munich to learn more about our new product and SoliTek.You will find us in hall A3 booth 352 from 22 to 24 June 2016th.We look forward to seeing You!SoliTek Cells is a Manufaturer of Photovoltaik Modules and Polycrystalline CellsSoliTek CellsMokslininku str. 6A08412 VilniusLithuania
IO Connectors Market 2016 Industry Trends, Review, Research and Forecast Analysis

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http://www.qymarketresearch.com/

Market Research Report on IO Connectors Market 2016 is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the IO Connectors worldwide. First of all,"Global IO Connectors Market 2016" report provides a basic overview of the IO Connectors industry including definitions, classifications, applications and IO Connectors industry chain structure.The analysis is provided for the IO Connectors international market including development history, IO Connectors industry competitive landscape analysis.After that, IO Connectors industry development policies as well as plans are discussed and manufacturing processes as well as cost structures for IO Connectors market. This report "Worldwide IO Connectors Market 2016" also states import/export, supply and consumption figures and IO Connectors market cost, price, revenue and IO Connectors market's gross margin by regions (United States, EU, China and Japan), as well as other regions can be added in IO Connectors Market area.Request For Free Report Sample @Then, the report focuses on worldwide IO Connectors market key players with information such as company profiles with product picture as well as specification.Related information to IO Connectors market- capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Aslo includes IO Connectors industry's - Upstream raw materials, equipment and downstream consumers analysis is also carried out. Whats more, the IO Connectors market development trends and IO Connectors industry marketing channels are analyzed.Finally, "worldwide IO Connectors market" Analysis- feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered.Read More Research with TOC @About Us:QY Market Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations.Contact US:Joel JohnSuite #8138, 3422 SW 15 Street,Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Website:Email: sales@qymarketresearch.com
IQ4I Research & Consultancy published a new report on Spectrometry Global Market  Forecast To 2022

With latest advancement in analytical instrumentation from the array of researchers and manufacturers the use of spectrometry has become a popular technology for wide assortment of analytical and bio-analytical techniques for the analysis in genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and lipidomics etc. The global spectrometry market is expected to grow at mid range single digit CAGR to reach $20,075 million by 2022.Increase in usage of hand-held and portable spectrometer devices, high rate influx of innovative products, increasing demand from emerging countries and fund allotment from government organizations/companies are likely to propel the spectrometry market. However, complex regulatory guidelines, huge capital investments and shortage of skilled technicians are hampering the growth of the market. Unfavourable economic conditions are mainly leading to reduced product sales which are the major threat for the spectrometry industry.In medical research and clinical diagnostics the use of spectroscopy facilitates non-invasive and safe analysis of soft tissues. Now-a-days, researchers are developing highly promising smart and miniaturized spectrometers that would help in real-time analysis using variety of environmental samples which accelerates the market growth.Miniaturization is now a trend where higher throughput is observed in small instrument and is available commercially. For instance, Microsaic company manufactures miniaturized mass detector for real-time online reaction data and customers are able to increase the use of spectrometers in labs by benefiting from cost savings. Patent are filed regularly which is a measurement of research activity being carried out by the industry players. AB Sciex, Agilent Technologies, BioMerieux, Bruker Corporation, Horiba, Perkin Elmer, Shimadzu Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Waters Corporation are some of the major companies filed patents for atomic, mass and molecular spectrometry. Shimadzu corporation has filed 57 patents for spectrometry from 2011 till present where in 2016, 8 patents have been filed.Spectrometry market is mainly classified into technology, application, end-users and geography. The global spectrometry market by technology is further divided into atomic spectrometry, mass spectrometry and molecular spectrometry. Among these, molecular spectrometry accounts for largest revenue and mass spectrometry is fastest growing segment with 8.9% CAGR.The atomic spectrometry market is further divided into atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), X-ray diffraction spectrometry (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), X-ray photoelectron (XPS), inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES) elemental analyzers and others which includes arc/spark optical emission spectrometry and glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GD-OES) where others segment holds with a largest revenue with a CAGR of 4.6% and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer is the fastest growing segment.The mass spectrometry includes gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), magnetic sector mass spectrometry (MSMS), Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) and others. LC-MS accounted for the largest revenue, while ICP-MS segment is the fastest growing segment, and is expected to reach $770 million by 2022.Molecular spectrometry is classified into nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry (NMR), ultraviolet visible spectrometry (UV-Vis), infrared spectrometry (IR), color measurement near infrared spectrometry (NIR) and Raman spectrometry. The nuclear magnetic resonance is sub-segmented into continuous wave, fourier transform and solid state NMR. The ultraviolet visible spectrometry is further classified into single beam, double beam and array based UV-visible spectrometry. Infrared segment includes near infrared (NIR), mid infrared (MIR) and far infrared spectrometry (FIR). Color measurement includes luminescence which is further sub-segmented into fluorescence spectrometry. Raman spectrometry is further classified into fourier transform, surface enhancing and micro Raman spectrometry.The spectrometry application market includes agriculture, food and beverage, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, environmental testing, chemical industry, semiconductors /electronics/nanotechnology and others which include forensic, geology, petrochemical industry, defence industry, cosmetics, marine emission control (MEC), material science, oil and gas, automotive, archaeology.In applications, pharmaceuticals segment holds the largest share of 32.9% and semiconductors, electronics and nanotechnology is the fastest growing segment with high single digit CAGR from 2015 to 2022. Geographical wise, North America is the largest market followed by Europe, Asia and Rest of the World. The Asia Pacific region is the fastest growing region with a double digit CAGR from 2015 to 2022 suggesting an array of opportunities for growth and likely to be getting into the eyes of new investors in the spectrometry market.The spectrometry global market is a highly fragmented market and all the existing players in this market are involved in developing new and advanced products to maintain their market shares. Some of the key players of the spectrometry market are AB Sciex (U.S.), Agilent Technologies Inc (U.S.), Analytik Jena AG (Germany), Biomerieux (France), Bruker Corporation (U.S.), Horiba (Japan), Perkin Elmer (U.S.), Shimadzu Corporation (Japan), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc (U.S.), and Waters Corporation (U.S.).IQ4I (Intelligence Quotient for Innovation) Research and Consultancy Pvt. Ltd. is a global strategy, consulting and a market research firm. Our clients include leading businesses, investment banks, researchers and government agencies.We are a team of highly qualified consultants and market researchers, committed to help clients make strategic decisions by providing relevant and firmly reliable Intelligence support. We enable our clients to identify the market opportunities with best-in-class market intelligence reports.No. 11, Industrial Suburb, 1st Stage, West of Chord Road, Rajajinagar, Bangalore-560010
Five reasons for digital transformation: our takings from Digital DNA

This week we attended the leading digital transformation and technology event at St Georges market, Digital DNA.Digital DNA sees over 1,000 delegates come together to experience workshops, panel discussions, keynotes and networking opportunities from inspirational speakers and businesses from around the world.Opened by the Economy Minister Simon Hamilton, there were five key themes of the day: data, security, fintech, innovation and marketing.Many of the sessions discussed the opportunities and applications of digital technology including case studies of bodies which have undergone a digital transformation journey.Here at Automated Intelligence, we are often asked why organisations, in particular public sector bodies, take the often daunting step towards full digitisation.We have outlined the most common problems our customers identify and why they ultimately made the digital move.Data, Data Everywhere: Public sector organisations tell the same story- they have vast amounts of data, which is just getting vaster. In truth, it can be hugely difficult to know where exactly it is all stored, as well as identifying why it is important or relevant (if of course at all). Digital transformation can categorise data effectively allowing for more productive user engagement, efficient searching, and ultimately, remove the data you no longer need.Money, money, money: If youre storing data thats no longer required, then its costing you money (a major issue today when companies are increasingly being asked to make cost savings.) Whether its paper documents from 15 years ago or multiple versions of the same report across different computer systems, digital technology can mean youre not wasting money unnecessarily. At AI we have identified up to 70% savings for customers who were storing data they didnt need.90s Fashion: Floppy disks were once as popular as our favourite shiny shell-suits. We were shocked to read then, just weeks ago, that the US militarys nuclear arsenal is controlled by computers built in the 1970s that still use, you guessed it, 8in floppy disks. Whats more, the country is spending around $60bn to maintain the computers. Organisations need to move with the times and not spend huge amounts of money and resource maintaining legacy systems which are holding them back.The long arm of the law: Ok, were not taking about the boys in blue here but organisations need to comply with the rules and regulations of their industry. This might be storing documents for a certain number of years or deleting personal data after a particular time. This can be specifically problematic if there are no regulatory systems already in place. A digital transformation can cover the compliance requirements, often automatically, keeping you in check.No longer Dolly Parton: Gone are the days when we sit at our desks working 9-5. More and more, employees are working remotely, working on their own devices and hot-desking, for example. But, how can they pull down information if it is hidden behind a firewall in the office? A move towards digital, for instance moving to the cloud, means we can access the information securely wherever we may be.There are many reasons why organisations are opting for a digital transformation and these are just a snapshot of the vast benefits.If you want to know more about how your business could take advantage of digitisation, please contact us on info@automated-intelligence.comAutomated Intelligence (AI) provides information management software and services that enable organisations to easily transition to, and make the most of, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Azure and Office 365.Using our proven solutions, organisations can analyse and optimise their existing data holdings to aid in the transition to SharePoint from legacy data repositories, reducing costs and increasing data quality. Our technology further enables organisations to exploit their Microsoft platform to comply with legal, government and internal policy obligations, whilst improving user experience, user acceptance, information discovery and data quality.We make it easier to deliver your information strategy.Ryan KyleAutomated IntelligenceUnit 4 - The Legacy BuildingQueens RoadBelfastBT3 9DT
Dam removal, conservation: Terry Flores, executive director of Northwest RiverPartners, criticizes U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon's ruling that the current federal strategy for managing Northwest dams is insufficient for salmon conservation. In claiming that Judge Simon's ruling runs counter to climate change mitigation efforts (the proposed dam removal would eliminate sources of sustainable hydropower energy for the state), Flores simply illustrates a fundamental dilemma faced by conservationists today: ever-increasing anthropogenic threats to the environment and endangered species complicate the process of identifying conservation solutions that benefit every environmental interest.

In this case, however, I can think of one: solar energy. While Flores dismisses solar energy as a source of sustainable energy for rainy Oregon, our state has proven to be a solar pioneer and receives more sunlight than the world's solar energy leader, Germany. Furthermore, Flores' claim that "only" four threatened salmon species would be impacted by proposed dam removal belittles the importance of conserving each of those species. Studies have found that Oregon's Calapooia and Rogue rivers showed full river ecosystem recovery after dam removal, and the removal of dams from Washington's Elwha River lead to improved salmon distribution and reproductive health.

Removing lower Snake River dams is the first step to restoring river habitats for salmon conservation, and investing in solar energy to supplement lost hydropower provides a win-win solution for humans and salmon alike.

Sandra Dorning

Gresham
There's big news these days in the world of Harry Potter, the fictional wizard conjured up by J.K. Rowling. No, we're not referring to the appearance of a new play, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child." What we're talking about is much bigger: Potter's invisibility cloak has been stolen. We know this because Oregon Gov. Kate Brown is wearing it.

Brown has decided not to show up July 22 for a debate sponsored by the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. The ONPA debate historically has kicked off the fall election, and defections like hers are rare. In her absence, Republican candidate Bud Pierce, a Salem-based doctor, will address those in attendance and answer questions.

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or 503-221-8142.

Brown's debate snub is only her most recent vanishing act. For months, she's declined to take a position on a $3 billion annual tax hike that will appear on November's ballot. Even so, the governor recently released a broad plan for using the money the tax hike would generate. It seems Brown wants to avoid the consequences of taking a position on the tax, but is more than happy to smooth its path. Playing political peekaboo in this fashion should be beneath someone who'd like voters to think of her as a leader, and even former Gov. John Kitzhaber, whose resignation last year thrust Brown into the state's top office, called her out for ducking.

Brown surely has strategic reasons for remaining silent and invisible. As an incumbent, she has more to lose than gain from debating Pierce, who's never held elective office. And if nothing else, refusing to take (or state) a position on Initiative Petition 28 deprives Pierce of a chance to criticize her for supporting a tax hike that will cost low-income Oregonians hundreds of dollars per year.

But this approach sends a worrisome message to Brown's constituents, who still don't know how their governor stands on the biggest ballot initiative in years, and who have never seen her participate in a general election debate for the office she now holds. The message is this: My need to win, and to do so with little effort, trumps your need to know what I really stand for.

There's a word for this. It's arrogance. That's not particularly surprising given the fact that Brown is the chosen candidate of the dominant party in what has become a single-party state. Why engage any more than necessary in the political process if you're sure to win anyway? Why act like a leader if you don't need to?

As strange as it may be to see a candidate shut out the public during an election -- especially a candidate who hasn't been elected to the office she holds -- there's really nothing new here. Brown has been shutting out the public since she inherited the governor's office last year.

Her office participated in a months-long effort to delay the release of public records while the Legislature considered -- and passed -- a bill exempting the records retroactively from public disclosure. Later, her office prohibited the members of the Public Utility Commission from sharing their concerns with a sweeping energy bill in a timely fashion. When it has suited her, Brown has tucked the workings of state government beneath the same invisibility cloak she now wears as a candidate.

Perhaps Brown will participate enthusiastically in the campaign at some point, agreeing to show up at more than a minimal number of debates, taking firm positions on important issues like IP28 and sharing with voters a vision for the governor's office and where transparency and openness fit within it. We certainly hope so. But the longer she tries to remain invisible, the more uncomfortable it will be for her to answer the first question Pierce should ask when he finds himself beside her on the stage:

"When you were sworn in last year, you said you valued transparency and openness. How much of that did you really mean?"
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Peeling lead paint dangles from the ceiling of the auditorium at Cleveland High in Southeast Portland. District health and safety officials confirmed the paint contains lead, a neurotoxin, but they denied the school's request to fix it, saying the school should just sweep up and throw away lead that falls onto people or the floor. Lead poisoning experts recoiled at that suggestion, calling it unsafe and irresponsible.

(Beth Nakamura/Staff)

By Reps. Jennifer Williamson and Alissa Keny-Guyer

For the past few weeks, parents, teachers, students and community members have been rightfully shocked and outraged about the fact that water in some Portland Public Schools facilities tested for high levels of lead, and that the public wasn't told about these levels for some time. As legislators who represent the Portland area, we're outraged as well.

Protecting the health and safety of our children should be at the very top of our priority list. Parents should be assured that they are sending their children off to learn in safe environments.

The facts are still being investigated, but it's clear that several parts of the process at PPS broke down or were simply inadequate to keep our kids safe and the public informed. That must be fixed. Bringing in an outside firm to investigate the potential personnel failures is a good first step. We're awaiting the results of that investigation, and we fully expect that district leaders and the Portland School Board will act swiftly and appropriately to correct the problem and restore the public's trust.

But the revelations over the last few weeks have also shown that there's more we can do in the Legislature to ensure that children across the state have safe, clean water and air. State education and health officials have recommended that all public schools and day care centers test their water for lead this summer. To make sure that happens, legislative leaders from both parties in the House and Senate have committed to make state funds available if school districts lack the funds to immediately test for lead contamination.

In the longer term, we need to establish clear statewide rules and expectations for regular lead testing in our school facilities. In the 2015 legislative session, Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer, D-Portland, and Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, brought together a work group to tackle the problem of radon testing in schools. Their work resulted in House Bill 2931, which requires school districts across the state to come up with a plan to test for radon in rooms used by students and to provide the results to the public. Now, we need to do the same thing to ensure that districts have a plan for lead testing and for informing the public quickly.

Lastly, and most importantly, we need to address the root cause of the contamination: outdated, under-maintained school facilities. Many students attend schools that are old and haven't been updated in any significant way due to a lack of funds. Lead contamination is just one of the symptoms of this problem; students, teachers and staff are also dealing with mold, indoor air quality concerns and structural issues that leave buildings unready for an earthquake.

By creating clear statewide guidelines about when and how water and air should be tested, creating strong rules about how the public (parents, students, teachers, staff and community members) should be notified, and partnering with districts to find the resources to clean up the contamination, we can begin to rebuild trust that our facilities are safe for our kids.

*

Democrat Jennifer Williamson, of Portland, represents House District 36, and Democrat Alissa Keny-Guyer, of Portland, represents District 46. This op-ed is co-signed Reps. Rob Nosse, D-Portland, Barbara Smith Warner, D-Portland, Jessica Vega Pederson, D-Portland, Lew Frederick, D-Portland, Shemia Fagan, D-Clackamas, Kathleen Taylor, D-Portland, Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland, and Ann Lininger, D-Lake Oswego.
Thank you, Midland, for your input so far in the downtown Midland streetscape redevelopment process. The task is far from over and there are many more opportunities to get involved. So far, weve had close to 200 contacts with people excited about positively impacting the future direction of downtown Midland  and were not done yet.

On June 2, 50 individuals from all walks of the community spent a beautiful Thursday evening with us at the H talking about best practices of downtowns across Michigan and sharing their own visions of what a strong downtown Midland of tomorrow entails. We heard things like: unique gathering spaces, more outdoor dining, winter amenities like outdoor fireplaces, bike lanes for safe family bike travel, space for festivals, and unique art installation opportunities.

On June 3, we met with nearly 100 others in small group discussions. Included in these discussions were senior residents from Riverside Place, downtown business and property owners, Northwood University, the philanthropic community, and other downtown supporters. From them we heard: the parking system can be confusing for customers, especially the parking deck; there is a need for year-round programming to help draw patrons in the slow winter months; more housing is desired; a grocery store would be nice and downtown needs to become more of a destination.

That same day, the streetscape redevelopment team also set up shop on a downtown sidewalk to talk to visitors about their wants and needs for the downtown district. Overwhelmingly the response was: more restaurant varieties and outdoor dining with more retail coming in a close second. This group also echoed that more bike lanes would be an enhancement. Lastly, weve received more than 50 downtown user surveys through the E-CityHall online portal and visits to downtown businesses.

All of these feedback opportunities have provided the design team with a solid first-direction and ideas for what customers, businesses, property owners and downtown visitors value in district redevelopment. However, we continue to need the publics help as we move into the next phase of this project: the design phase.

On Thursday, June 23, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., join us at Dow Diamond to look at conceptual right-of-way designs developed based on initial input. This event will be an interactive workshop designed to solicit feedback on first-draft plans and ideas. It will be your chance to let us know if were heading in the right direction for what youd like to see in a redeveloped downtown Midland.

If Thursday doesnt work for you, stop by 144 Ashman St. (corner of Larkin and Ashman, former downtown Post Office/Serendipity 181) from 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday, June 24, to watch designers from SmithGroupJJR as they work! Look at drawings, provide feedback, brainstorm alternatives and help our design team create a beautiful, functional downtown district that everyone can enjoy.

The public is also invited to provide feedback online through E-CityHall at http://bit.ly/streetscape16. You can sign up to be notified every time a new streetscape discussion topic is posted.

Its important to seize opportunities for growth and innovation to keep our community moving forward. With the age of the current downtown streetscape approaching 30 years, there has never been a better time to put a fresh face on this important part of our city. We invite our citizens to be a positive voice that will help build a great downtown Midland for today and the future.

Follow the downtown development process at www.cityofmidlandmi.gov/downtowndevelopment.

Bob Rathbun is chair of the 2016 Downtown Midland Streetscape Redevelopment Committee.
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For as long as the Chippewa Nature Center has been operating, its Nature Day Camp has also been sparking an interest in the great outdoors.

The very first thing the CNC did was hold nature day camp, and it was pretty amazing. Weve had to every summer ever since, said Jenn Kirts, director of the program since 2007.

It is her 10th summer running the program, which has been in place as a reflection of the Chippewa Nature Centers philosophy since 1966: to connect people with nature through educational, recreational and cultural experiences.

While the program has grown to include 900 campers of all different ages and backgrounds and a more diverse offering of camp topics, Kirts said not much else has changed.

Its really interesting because the core of it is the same, Kirts said. The goal is still to connect kids to nature through positive outdoor experiences.

Other improvements have been staff training in order to support campers with special needs and working with younger children.

Kirts regularly hears from campers who went through the program decades ago, and also sees some familiar faces every year with campers that return as counselors or even staff members.

A lot of them really enjoy transitioning into that role and getting to share those experiences with kids that are younger, Kirts said.

One of those campers is 12-year-old Midland resident Katie Moyers, who has been a camper for years and is signed up for a Leaders-in-Training camp to one day become a Nature Day Camp counselor. Katie is counting down the days until she goes back to one of her favorite places, the Chippewa Nature Center.

Its great, I enjoy it a lot, Katie said, adding that she likes getting to be outside, meeting new people and learning new things about nature.

One of the skills she has acquired is how to make a first aid kit using materials from nature. Her mother, Kay Moyers, said Katie often brings it along on camping trips. Katies brother Jackson, 7, is also attending Nature Day Camp this summer.

Our experience has been just top notch, Moyers said. All the counselors are awesome and love what they do and they get along with the kids great. My children have had really positive experiences and are always looking forward to it again.

Nature day camp is a positive learning experience that gives kids the opportunity to disconnect from electronics and explore the world around them, Moyers said.

They just love the experience and love trekking all over the nature center grounds, just exploring and seeing things they dont normally get to see, living on a day-to-day basis in the city, Moyers said. Its great for kids to be outside, to be away from electronics, to be away from everything that takes their attention from the beauty of nature and being outside and experiencing it.

Some of Katies favorite memories of camp include overnight camping trips, survival camp and seeing her friends from the previous years. She said she is excited to learn how to become a counselor.

Its been kind of my dream almost to be a CIT (Counselor-in-Training). I really cant wait to learn how to help out with groups, help with clean up and stuff like that. Im really excited for all that, Katie said.

The popularity of Nature Day Camp is not limited to Midland; Kirts said she has campers who travel from places like Germany and Colombia to visit family and partake in the program. It offers opportunities to learn life skills like resiliency, communicating, being assertive and learning to interact with children of all ages.

Building friendships and relationships is huge, Kirts said.

And of course, theres the nature element.

Were not teaching about oceans and rainforests, were talking about the plants and animals they encounter every day living in central Michigan, Kirts said. They get to go out in the meadow and find the grasshoppers, butterflies and spiders.

Some of the time, the campers are too busy with nature activities and lessons to recognize they are learning.

They dont realize theyre learning, theyre falling in love with nature and having a good time with their friends, Kirts said. Parents like they are learning, and kids are having the time of their life.

With an official anniversary celebration planned for June 25, both the Chippewa Nature Center and its Nature Day Camp remain focused on a mission that started 50 years ago.

Theres a lot happening at the Chippewa Nature Center, Kirts said. Were constantly trying to understand our community and our visitors, and understand what we can do to help them connect with nature in a meaningful way.

That connection is often hard to break, as Kirts sometimes hears from former campers who tell her the program influenced where they live and what they went on to choose as a career.

Its tremendously hard work but its incredibly rewarding, Kirts said. You know youve made an incredible impact on that job because you just opened up a world to them, and they love it.

Chippewa Nature Center will showcase its commitment to connecting people with nature at a 50th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday. Free activities will take place throughout the day. CNC is located at 400 S. Badour Rd. in Midland. For more information visit www.chippewanaturecenter.org.
Anesthesiologist Robert Snyder, D.O., was recently awarded the Walter F. Patenge Medal of Public Service, the highest recognition from the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Walter F. Patenge, a Lansing industrialist, was instrumental in the development and founding of MSUCOM, and served as the first president of the Michigan Osteopathic Medicine Advisory Board. In his honor, the Michigan Osteopathic Advisory Board established the Walter F. Patenge Medal of Service, which is awarded annually to leaders in health care, education and community service.
The Dow Diamond Donor Center will collect blood donations five days a week starting Saturday, July 9.

After Friday, July 1, the Midland Donor Center at MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland will close as a collection site.

The Dow Diamond Donor Center will act as Michigan Bloods main donor center in Midland, collecting donations from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and from noon to 7 p.m. on Thursdays.

The transition will allow Michigan Blood to collect whole blood donations and more individual blood components at one site in Midland. Traditionally, blood donation involves drawing a single unit of whole blood. There is another option that allows donors to donate one blood component (platelets, plasma or red cells) at a time. Through the apheresis process, donors can donate with a special machine that draws blood, filters out the needed component, and returns the rest of the blood back to the donor. Blood recipients benefit from receiving components from a single donor, as it reduces the chance of negative reactions.

Michigan Blood and Midland share a rich tradition of strengthening the community through blood donation. As we close one chapter and begin another, our commitment to this tradition remains strong, said Carleen Crawford, director of community relations and marketing. This transition will allow us to serve more patients in Michigan hospitals and provide expanded hours at Dow Diamond Donor Center for donor convenience. We thank our donors for their continued support.
There is still time to submit public comments related to Midlands soil remediation project, recently completed through a partnership of the Department of Environmental Quality and The Dow Chemical Co.

Al Taylor is the project geologist and part of a team that conducted an open house to meet with residents and respond to any concerns or questions, and to report any feedback from property owners involved in the soil remediation project. Taylor has worked on the project for over 20 years.

The open house provided a way for property owners to learn more about the final outcomes of the project, and its future. Taylor said one project report by Dow totaled over 10,000 pages, and addressed the dioxin that resulted from airborne emissions due to historic waste management practices at Dows Michigan Operations.

Taylor said the open house at the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library was lightly-attended and that hopefully it means property owners are satisfied with the cleanup. The project saw a 98 percent adoption rate of owners who had their properties tested and then remediated to good or better condition.

Remediation required the top 12 inches of soil to be removed from the property and then replaced with clean soil. The contaminated soil was then taken to Midlands landfill. At least 130 residential and residential-like properties were cleaned, and Taylor said he received only a few complaints about the scope of the work being done.

One of the topics touched on at the open house was poultry and backyard livestock, according to Taylor. The cleanup criteria did not extend to animals, and is only applicable to human exposure.

While it is safe to work and play in and all the other kind of stuff people do, it is not designed for people who are eating, for example, chicken eggs from chickens raised on Midland soils, Taylor said. That is something we understand and are working with the City of Midland to make sure the current ordinance that prohibits backyard livestock stays in place.

He described the soil remediation project as an important legacy issue for both organizations to get behind, and said all entities involved will continue to share information in the future in order to ensure its success.

We appreciate (Dows) participation and the citys participation, Taylor said. Dows worked hard to accelerate the cleanup and get the remedies done, and we appreciate that.

While DEQs relationship with Dow in the past has at times been challenging, Taylor said both organizations are in a really good place to get a lot of important work done. The soil remediation project was completed a year ahead of schedule, and both continue to work on long-term monitoring and maintenance of the project.

Taylors team has also started working on the Dow plant site to clear up legacy contamination, and another team is continuing work on bank and sediment management areas near the Tittabawassee-Saginaw River.

Taylor said he did take one lesson away from his decades of work on the Midland soil remediation project.

We really did need to sample every residential project, and in a lot of cases we had to do some additional sampling to make sure we had the right data, Taylor said.

The Midland Area Soils Report is available for review at the reference desk of the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, at DEQs Saginaw Bay District Office, at DEQs headquarters in Lansing and online at www.michigan.gov/deqdioxin under Midland Area Soil Cleanup.

Public comments can be emailed or mailed to Taylor, and a final decision on the report is expected to be issued by the DEQ sometime in July. Those interested in writing should address comments to Al Taylor, DEQ, OWMRP, P.O. Box 30241, Lansing, Mich., 49808 or email Taylor at taylora@michigan.gov.

We dont want to feel like people didnt get a chance to comment, Taylor said. If they have a question, we want it on the record.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)  Orlando gunman Omar Mateen identified himself as an Islamic soldier in calls with authorities during his rampage and demanded to a crisis negotiator that the U.S. "stop bombing Syria and Iraq," according to transcripts released by the FBI on Monday.

The partial transcripts were of a 911 call made by Mateen and three conversations he had with the police crisis negotiators during the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, in which 49 people died and dozens were wounded.

Those communications, along with Facebook posts and searches Mateen made around the time of the shootings, add to the public understanding of the final hours of Mateen's life and to the possible motivations behind the rampage.

The first call came more than a half-hour after shots rang out, when Mateen told a 911 operator, "Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God," he told the dispatcher, referring to God in Arabic.

"I let you know, I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings."

During the 50-second call with a dispatcher, Mateen "made murderous statements in a "chilling, calm and deliberate manner," Ronald Hopper, FBI assistant special agent in charge in Orlando, said during a news conference.

However, there is no evidence Mateen was directed by a foreign terrorist group, and he was radicalized domestically and on his own, Hopper said.

Mateen's name and the groups and people to whom he pledged allegiance were initially omitted from the excerpt. But the Justice Department reversed course later Monday, providing a more complete transcript confirming Mateen pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State. The extremist group encourages its followers who seek to commit violence in its name to make public pledges of support.

The Justice Department said in a statement it initially withheld the names so as not to give extremists "a publicity platform for hateful propaganda," but the omissions became an unnecessary distraction.

Shortly after the call with a 911 operator, Mateen had three conversations with crisis negotiators in which he identified himself as an Islamic soldier and told a negotiator to tell America to stop bombing Syria and Iraq. He said that was why he was "out here right now," according to the excerpt.

City officials have refused to provide hundreds of 911 calls to The Associated Press and a coalition of news organizations, citing confidentiality under Florida law, and arguing that an ongoing investigation kept the tapes secret. Hopper also said Monday that the tapes would not be released out of respect for the victims.

"Yes, the audio was compelling, but to expose that now would be excruciatingly painful to exploit them in this way," Hopper said.

Hopper also said: "Part of redacting is to not give credence to individuals who have done terrorist acts in the past. They are not going to propagate their violent rhetoric."

The AP and others requested the 911 tapes and related data, a common practice after such major events. The recordings could offer insight into how law enforcement responded.

Also at Monday's news conference, Orlando police Chief John Mina said that if any fire from responding officers hit victims at the club, gunman Mateen bears the responsibility. He wouldn't give further details but said: "Here's what I will tell you. Those killings are on the suspect, on the suspect alone in my mind." He stressed that the officers "acted heroically."

Mina acknowledged that questions have been raised by media outlets and the public about whether Orlando police waited too long after the start of the rampage at 2 a.m. to send in a SWAT team about 5 a.m.

He said an exchange of fire between police and Mateen shortly after 2 a.m. prompted the attacker to retreat into a bathroom and take hostages, shifting the incident from a shooting to a hostage-taking. Mina said there was no additional gunfire for about three hours until the SWAT team entered the building, although survivors have describing at least some firing taking place inside one of the bathrooms.

Surviving hostage Patience Carter, in a live televised interview two days after the attacks, described the attacker firing when he entered the bathroom and more firing when the SWAT team burst into the building.

"I think there's this misconception that we didn't do anything for three hours," Mina said. "I'm trying to clarify: That's absolutely not true. Our officers were within the club within minutes, exchanging gunfire with the suspect, forced him to stop shooting and retreat into the bathroom."

"From there, we let our negotiator take over and try to negotiate this to a peaceful resolution in an effort to save lives while our SWAT team set up," Mina said.

Meanwhile, hospital officials said four people remained in critical condition Monday morning, more than a week after they were wounded in the attack.

Orlando Regional Medical Center said 18 victims from the shooting were still at the hospital and three more surgeries were scheduled for Monday. The other 14 patients are listed in stable condition.

Armed with a semi-automatic weapon, Mateen went on a bloody rampage at the Pulse nightclub June 12. He died in a hail of gunfire after police stormed the venue.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch will travel to Orlando on Tuesday to meet with investigators. She said that a key goal of the investigation was to determine why Mateen targeted the gay community. The victims were predominantly gay and Hispanic since it was "Latin night" at Pulse.

Around Orlando, people left balloons, flowers, pictures and posters at a makeshift memorial in front of the city's new performing arts center and at Orlando Regional Medical Center where 49 white crosses were emblazoned with red hearts and the names of the victims.

The crosses were built by a Chicago carpenter with a history of constructing crosses for victims of mass shootings. Greg Zanis drove from Illinois to Orlando last week and installed the crosses at the medical center, where many of the 53 shooting victims who survived were taken for treatment.

Dr. Khurshid Ahmed was part of a group of Muslim-Americans at a Sunday vigil attended by tens of thousands who held signs reading, "Muslims Condemn Extremism." A letter from the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Republican Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, said Mateen wrote on Facebook that "real Muslims will never accept the filthy ways of the West."
MINONK  Minonk's new city administrator is settling in and looking forward to re-exploring Central Illinois.

Austin Edmondson joined city staff in early May after stints in Nebraska, Kentucky and Tennessee, as well as Bureau County and Forsyth in Illinois. He replaced Gary Brennan, who left in 2015.

Ive always liked the area, he said. I like smaller communities.

The Vincennes, Ind., native has a masters degree in public administration with a concentration in local government. He's held government jobs for 16 years.

He's found Minonk to be an exceptionally friendly community.

People are waving all the time, he said. I love that.

The town has several projects in the works, including an expansion of the sewer treatment plant. Summer plans include repairs on Carolyn Drive and painting the water tank.

Edmondson said the possible closing of South Elementary School is a pressing worry. Residents have been asked to share their opinions with the Fieldcrest school board.

We are very concerned, he said.
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth have been back together for months now. However, reports are indicating that Miley Cyrus may be threatened by Jennifer Lawrence as J.Lo and Liam have been closed since their separation.

The couple has been in an on and off relationship for years and the last time the two broke up, Miley had a serious transformation by killing Hannah Montana and becoming a "bad" girl of the music industry. She did however, created great hits while she was away with Hemsworth.

Now that the two are back together again, many are questioning whether she will stay with still being the wild child that she is now or would she tame herself back again to suit her fiance.

Miley and Liam's Engagement

The two are also now preparing their wedding as this will be the second time that they will be engaged. Although rumors have said that the two are not rushing things as how they did it before, but reports are also saying that Miley may be threatened by Jennifer Lawrence.





Jennifer Lawrence Likes Liam Hemsworth?

Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth have known to being close since they started filming "The Huger Games" series. Lawrence even admitted that the two had their moments of kissing while they were still on the set, as reported by ET Online

"Liam and I grew up together," Jennifer Lawrence said. "Liam's real hot. What would you have done? Yeah, I have."

After the said admission from Jennifer Lawrence, Miley Cyrus did her work back again to Liam's life as she may have been scared that the two may become more than just friends.

Jennifer Lawrence did admit though that Liam Hemsworth is just her best friend and nothing more. However, because of the closeness of the two, Miley may want to guard the "Independence Day" actor even more.
Blanca Morales, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, has received a full scholarship from the Harvard Medical School. The student, who graduated as class valedictorian in high school and also earned her pre-med degree at the University of California Irvine with top honors, is just one of the many migrants benefiting from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) that President Barack Obama signed a bill in 2012.

ABC 7 reports that Blanca Morales came to the United States with her family when she was just 5 years old. But she has yet to obtain citizenship, thus, she remains with undocumented status. Although she is covered by DACA, which allows her to go to school and get work, being undocumented made her unavailable to apply for student loan.

Fortunately, Harvard Medical School is stepping up and to cover her medical studies. According to Breitbart, tuition at this prestigious school can amount to over $62,000 a year. With her admission, Blanca Morales becomes the first health scholar studying medicine under DACA. Her college success story is making waves for the Obama administration and the Democrats, in its bid to support the migrants.

Blanca Morales, who is already married, is now working to process her green card along with her husband and intends to serve as a doctor in Santa Ana, California, where she grew up.

"[Santa Ana] Gave me so much in terms of education and encouragement and education and opportunities," she said in the ABC 7 report. "I want to be able to return some of that."

However, her case also highlights how millions of immigrants are taking jobs and opportunities off American professionals. In a separate report, Breitbart underscored how the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) received almost seven million applications in 2014 alone, including DACA applications. This has pushed stringent processing of U.S. visa for those seeking to legally study or work in the country.
Cannabis or marijuana is legal in Colorado. In fact, it is one of the first states to impose such law. However, the state, through Governor John Hickenlooper, has recently signed a bill that will make weed gummy bears or candies laced with THC illegal. This law will take effect July 1.

High Times reports that the state found it necessary to enforce the law for the protection of the children and in the interest of public safety despite legal marijuana. Under the House Bill 16-1436, the manufacturer and sale of cannabis-laced candies or edible marijuana products with shapes that might be attractive to children are banned in Colorado. This specifically covers marijuana edibles typically shaped like fruits, people or animals. However, the law doesn't specify the punishments for the violation.

With legal marijuana becoming a booming business in the state, the move to ban candies with THC comes at the right time. The state's health department has actually been pushing for this since 2014, following numerous reports of accidental consumption of marijuana-infused products in children. Some adults apparently carelessly leave legal marijuana or weed gummy bears out in the open, which makes it easier for kids to take, per Merry Jane. These candies also get transported outside of Colorado, thus further putting more innocent kids in danger.

Colorado bans weed Gummy Bearshttps://t.co/rr1moZDfa5  The Freakshow (@freakshow1055) June 17, 2016

Recently, police arrested individuals in possession of candies with THC in South Carolina, which they believe were legally obtained in Colorado, per The State. Parents are now being warned about the existence of candies with cannabis that are quite indistinguishable with the authentic candies.

Most of these weed gummy bears contain at least 10 mg of THC, which can have grave health consequences on children with smaller body mass. Legal marijuana in Colorado took effect in 2012, allowing an individual above the age of 21 to possess 28 grams of pot in one transaction. However, smoking or using this out in the open is prohibited, per the Colorado Pot Guide.
Police officials from Bucks County, Pennsylvania arrested the man, identified as 51-year-old Lee Kaplan, on Thursday, and officials noted that the girls did not look happy and wore blue dresses.

A man in Pennsylvania is facing charges such as sexual assault after police officials found 12 girls living with him, whose ages ranged from 6 months old to 18 years old.

Two of the children are allegedly fathered by Kaplan with the 18-year-old girl living with him. Accordingly, the 18-year-old is the girl that the suspect considered as his wife and they have a three-year-old and an infant child together. Officials were alerted about the matter after they received a complaint about the health and the welfare of the children living with Kaplan.

The neighbor who called the cops on Kaplan said that she decided to do so after seeing the children outside the home and were looking unhappy. She noted that she has seen them wearing the blue dresses in the past. It was unclear if any of the other children living with Kaplan have been subject to any kind of abuse, CNN reported.

No birth certificates were found in the home and no other information were found about them. However, Lower Southampton Township Police Lt. Ted Krimmel said in a statement that they believe they are all originally from the Lancaster County in the Amish community. They have contacted an expert on the Amish culture in order to help them move forward with the investigation.

Aside from Kaplan, the parents of the 18-year-old girl were also arrested. Police said that the couple gifted their then-14-year-old daughter to Kaplan in exchange for financial assistance. The 18-year-old girl had her first child when she was 14.

Kaplan has been charged with statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault and unlawful contact with a minor. The parents of the 18-year-old, identified as Daniel and Savilla Stoltzfus, were charged with endangering the welfare of children. Daniel was also charged with criminal conspiracy and statutory sexual assault. The couple also claims that they are the parents of the other girls living with Kaplan.

All of them are being held on a $1 million bail. The girls are in the care of the county's social services workers. No details are available yet regarding their court appearances.
It's never too early to teach children and students about serious social issues such as hate crimes, and the importance of taking correct and compassionate stands on the same.

This seems to be the guiding principle behind the action staged by the faculty and students of an elementary school in New York just recently as a means to address emotions and thoughts triggered among the students by the Orlando shoot-out the weekend before last.

After the horrific shoot out in Orlando that claimed the lives of almost 50 people, the administration of the Battery Park City School in lower Manhattan took the initiative to lead discussion among its students regarding the issues raised in relation to the massacre. Students, members of faculty and the administration have pledged to actively participate in discussions concerning, religion, sexuality, gun control, race and hate as they are held within the school. The school, also known as PS/IS 276, has 875 elementary and middle school students. The students are aged 5 to 14.

The most important topic of the discussions, however, is the necessity to work for peace and harmony at a time of social conflict. The whole series of activities is intended to help the school community deal with the confusion and fear generated by the killing.

Battery Park Principal Terri Ruyter said that adults should make themselves available to the questions of their children and students regarding the Orlando massacre as well as the issues connected to it. The student will be given opportunities to express their feelings and thoughts by making chalk drawings on the sidewalk, as well as shooting video messages connected to the theme of peace.

The school's activities are also being done in coordination with the school's Gay-Straight Alliance. The alliance is comprised of students who have formed a group for children to discuss sexuality and gender identity.

In related news, the John Hay Elementary School in downtown Seattle has also initiated actions to help students who want to discuss their feelings regarding the Orlando Massacre with a counselor. The school has been said to have a number of LGBT students who now feel threatened because of what happened in Orlando. While the school has not officially made the topic of sexuality open for discussions for the over 530 children of the school who are under 11 years old, many students have questions.

Principal Tami Beach said that children should be assured that everyone wants a community that's safe and secure, but at the same time their questions should be addressed.


When it comes to people with disabilities, a special education school in Washington DC is determined to expand the concept of inclusion from the classroom to the workplace.

The River Terrace Special Education Center is a school with a mission. Its entire campus is devoted to providing education and training to students from the second grade to the 12th, as well as young adults from age 18 to 21 with the full intent to prepare them for productive work in mainstream society.

It has long been documented that people with disabilities are often shunted sideways when it comes to finding livable and meaningful employment. Many of them end up in jobs like sweeping floors, greeting customers in front of supermarkets, or picking up trash in public parks. They are also not given opportunities to work alongside people without disabilities in everyday work environments because they are feared to be incapable of handling even the simplest tasks.

Most are also underpaid. In 2014, there was a report that thousands of disabled adults in Rhode Island were paid a measly $2.21 per hour for putting caps on bottles or stickers in boxes.

All this is what the River Terrace Special Education Center wants to confront and address. It trains its students with disabilities not only to read or write, but also to open their own checking accounts and perform work in various industries such as healthcare, hospitality and horticulture. The teachers acknowledge the difficulties that people with disabilities face when they enter the mainstream workforce, but it is precisely this that goads them to implement a curriculum that will give the students what they need to adjust and fit in better in the everyday workforce.

In the meantime, even as the school is focused on providing practical or vocational skills to its students, it also encourages its students if and when they can to pursue college degrees. At the core of the institution's principles is the belief that everyone - given enough support and assistance-can become a productive and self-reliant member of society, able to build their own lives and make a living.


Charlie Sheen's previous doctor was attached, wherein he claimed that the actor's HIV condition was to be blamed for the attack. Dr. Samir Chachou stated that the attackers handed him a note which mentioned that they're to avenge justice for celebrities that were tricked by being given false hopes in terms of finding the appropriate HIV cure.

Dr. Chachoua stated that he was taking a stroll but was then mobbed by two thugs last June 6. It was then mentioned that they handed him a note which cited that they're doing it for justice. The note was soaked in blood, pointed out the motives behind the attack.

According to Radar, the thugs felt like they needed to take action by putting an end to Dr. Chachoua lies. Dr. Chachoua previously claimed that he already found the cure for HIV by using goat's milk.

Charlie Sheen previously announced that Dr. Chachoua cure didn't really provide successful results. He was only under the doctor's care for two months, wherein his condition eventually got worse. Though it was reported that the two thugs beat Dr. Chachoua, on his police report, he pointed a finger on Sheen. He then stated that Charlie Sheen paid the thugs to beat the doctor up.

In one of his interviews with CBS, Charlie Sheen did open up about trying alternative medicine in terms of his HIV treatment. Charlie Sheen then flew to Mexico wherein Dr. Samir Chachoua treated him by using goat's milk. Dr Chachoua kept claiming that he effectively eradicated Charlie Sheen's HIV, which the actor consistently denied as his condition eventually worsen after trying the alternative medicine.

"Dr Sam I was with u in Mexico for 1 day. It's illegal for u to practice in U.S.A. where u treated me for 2 months. I got some results I was disappointed about. I had been non-detectable, non-detectable and checking the blood every week and then found out the numbers are back up."
On May 20-21, 2016, the University of Memphis hosted Memories of a Massacre: Memphis in 1866, a Symposium Exploring Slavery, Emancipation, and Reconstruction. The culmination of a semester-long series of lectures, workshops, discussions, and book talks, this symposium featured historians and scholars from across the country, including Robert K. Sutton, retired Chief Historian of the National Park Service. Together, their presentations and the ensuing discussions pried open what has for 150-years been the carefully concealed history of Reconstruction, its legacies, and the significant role that Memphis played in both. We are thankful for all who joined us live or followed us on social media as we reflected collectively on a wave of terror that rocked a city and changed a nation.

Below are the names and titles of panel one, Slavery and Slave Life in the Mississippi Valley.

 Joshua D. Rothman, University of Alabama, The Cotton Economy and the Rebirth of American Slavery Twitter Handle: @rothmanistan

 J. Calvin Schermerhorn, Arizona State, Cash for Slaves: The African American Trail of Tears Twitter Handle: @CalScherm

 Max Grivno, University of Southern Mississippi, Death on the River: Slavery in the Yazoo Mississippi Delta

Moderator: Madeleine C. Taylor, Executive Director, NAACP Memphis

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Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.
News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism.
Religious Minority in Iran Asks Khamenei for Constitutional Protection

06/20/16

Source: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran

The leadership of the Yarsan faith in northwestern Iran has written to Irans supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, seeking his blessing for a constitutional amendment that would end discrimination against the faiths followers and recognize their religious beliefs.

As members of a civic organization we wrote a letter to the supreme leader in March 2015 because we believe that the discrimination against our community is rooted in the Constitution and the only person with the power to change it is the supreme leader, Siavash Hayati, a spokesman for the faith, said in an interview with the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. It has been more than 14 months and we still have not received a reply, so we sent him the same letter again.

The mission of the Yarsan Community Civil Activists Society, which represents an estimated 2 million followers in Iran according to the group, is geared towards preservation of religious identity, achieving national reconciliation, seeking freedom, achieving equality among all citizens and ending all forms of discrimination. To achieve its goals, the group has vowed to work peacefully within the framework of Irans Constitution as well as the Universal Declaration for Human Rights.

Known by various names including Aeen Yari, Kish Haghighat, Tayefeh San, Ali-Allahi and Kakaee, Yarsan followers live mostly in the Kurdish regions of Iran and Iraq. Some members of the faith believe it is a branch of Shia Islam, but the group insists on its independent religious identity.

In our letter we mentioned 10 of the most important violations of the rights of Yarsan followers, especially the lack of legal recognition [of our faith] in the Constitution as a religious minority. Thats why our rights are being denied, Hayati told the Campaign. On the one hand, officials consider our faith a branch of Islam and Shiism and yet we dont have the same rights as Muslims and Shias. We cannot get a job unless we deny our identity. We have no representatives in Parliament nor do we have any Yarsan followers in senior [government] positions. We cant even be a school headmaster without denying who we are.

Based on Article 2 of Irans Selection Law, only Muslims and religious minorities recognized by the Constitution can be employed by governmental organizations.

The Constitution is the main obstacle to the Yarsan having equal rights along with other Iranians, said the faiths leadership in their letter to Khamenei. Article 13 in particular does not mention the Yarsan and only recognizes Zoroastrians, Christians and Jews as religious minorities.

Our followers are required to reject their faith, culture and identity in order to get a job. If someone is discovered as a Yarsan follower, he or she is immediately fired, continued the letter. From the time of their birth, Yarsan children are automatically deprived from ever obtaining positions within governmental offices and organizations despite not having committed any crime.

The letter argues that even though the Yarsan are a large religious minority, their houses of worship have been in some cases taken from them with no permits being issued for establishing new ones. It also notes that members of the faith serving compulsory military service have been forced to shave or trim their moustaches against their religious beliefs.

In July 2015 Saeed Heydari Teyeb, then a MP from Kermanshah, noted in a parliamentary speech that the Yarsan make up a significant portion of the population in his province, but admitted that they are being denied some rights as citizens, including employment in state bodies or serving as witnesses in court cases.

The Yarsan spokesman pointed out that some Shia theologians and grand ayatollahs had issued fatwas (religious decrees) that described followers of the Yarsan faith as infidels and apostates. These inflammatory terms can have religious and social consequences that could lead to physical violence, Hayati told the Campaign.

To protest the discrimination and humiliating treatment of the Yarsan, three members of the faith, Hassan Razavi, Nikmard Taheri and Mohammad Ghanbari, carried out self-emulations in public and died between June and August 2013. But the spokesman for the faith said the groups objectives were not political.

What we all have in common is our humanity and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights should apply to all of us, said Hayati. Our issues are not political. We believe in the separation of religion and politics and do not see ourselves as an alternative [political force.] We expect the officials of the Islamic Republic to respect our rights and we hope the public will help us.
UN Refugee Chief Says Displaced Afghans 'Forgotten'

06/20/16

Source: RFE/RL

The UN's refugee chief has said displaced Afghans had already been "forgotten" by the international community before they began arriving in Europe in large numbers last year. On a visit to Iran on June 18, Filippo Grandia said his first regional tour as the new UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was focused on Afghan refugees.



Afghan schoolchildren attend a class at a refugee camp in Iran. (file photo by UNHCR)



"Afghan refugees, unfortunately, have been forgotten by the international community," Grandi said at a joint press conference in Tehran with Iranian Deputy Interior Minister Hossein Zolfaghari.

"It is only when they started arriving in Europe together with many other refugees that the international community suddenly remembered," he said.

According to the UN, there are 950,000 registered Afghan citizens living in Iran. However, Iran's Interior Ministry estimates that the total number of Afghans in Iran is around 3 million.

Grandi urged the international community to increase its support for Tehran's refugee protection programs because "unless we help refugees" more, they will look elsewhere.

"We have seen this happening last year with hundreds of thousands of Afghans moving toward Europe," he said.

Grandi called on the world community to help stabilize Afghanistan so more refugees choose to return since "voluntary repatriation has gone down to very few numbers."

He called the services Iran offers refugees "of very high quality compared to what we see in most countries in the world."





Afghan schoolgirls at a school in Tehran (file photo)



Last year, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issued a decree allowing all Afghan children to be allowed into schools in the Islamic republic.

It was "one of the most important gestures that any country has expressed for refugees anywhere in the world in the past few years," Grandi said.

Zolfaghari told reporters that Iran has borne great costs to prevent illegal immigration to other countries, especially to Europe.

"In the past year, we have repatriated 753,000 people who had entered Iran illegally to their home countries and paid great costs in this regard," he said.

The solution to the refugee crisis is "to eradicate insecurity and poverty" in those countries, he added.

With reporting by AFP

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
Will FATF Acknowledge Iran's Progress on Its Financial Sector?

06/20/16

By Tyler Cullis (source: LobeLog)



Central Bank of Iran Chief Valiollah Seif



Later this month, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-an intergovernmental body that sets and promotes standards for combating money laundering and terrorist financing-will issue a new public statement regarding jurisdictions with deficient anti-money-laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) regimes. As has been true since 2007, Iran will likely be identified as such a jurisdiction.

Nevertheless, FATFs upcoming statement will prove a major test. Currently, major foreign banks remain hesitant to re-engage their Iranian counterparts despite the lifting of certain U.S. nuclear-related sanctions. Part of the reason for this is that Iran remains on FATFs blacklist and subject to financial counter-measures as a result. The big question will thus be whether FATF revises its call to account for the steps that Iran is taking to remedy problems in its AML/CFT regime, thereby permitting the benefit of sanctions relief to flow to the Iranian people.

There is a good reason to expect FATF to revise its call. Recently, Iran has undertaken significant steps to comply with global banking standards, including passage of a CFT law and amendments to its existing AML law. Moreover, Iran has joined the Eurasian Group-a FATF associate member-as an observer state and has scheduled the IMF to undertake a determinative assessment of its AML/CFT regime for 2018. (The IMF insists that such assessment can move no faster than this 18 month-long timeline.) These and other action items illustrate the seriousness with which Iran is taking its global regulatory obligations.

U.S. Response

The U.S. government has taken note of these developments. Recently, two high-level Treasury officials credited Iran with the steps it is currently taking to reform its AML/CFT regime and stated that the U.S. government had an express interest in ensuring that this progress continued.

Speaking at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies annual conference in April, the Acting Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Adam Szubin stated:

If Iran wants to take full advantage of its economic potential, it is up to Iran to cure systemic problems in its markets. To its credit, Iran has publicly recognized that its financial transparency measures lag behind international standards and has begun to improve them. But its only just begun; problems remain.

Soon thereafter, Daniel Glaser, Treasurys assistant secretary for terrorist financing, noted that:

Iran has taken important steps-that I think we should acknowledge and that I think they should get credit for-in trying to come off [the FATF] list. Theyve recently enacted a terrorist financing law; theyve engaged with FATF and are in discussions with FATF to come up with an action plan...I think those discussions have been productive.

Glaser continued:

I think FATF is and will continue to treat Iran quite fairly; and as Iran makes progress, I think that progress will be acknowledged by FATF. It will certainly be good for Iran, for FATF, for the United States, and for the entire international community, the more steps Iran takes to police its own system for anti-money laundering and terrorist financing.

The positive tone of these remarks also follows a Cabinet-level meeting between Secretary of Treasury Jack Lew and the Central Bank of Iran Chief Valiollah Seif in Washington, D.C. in April. According to persons Ive spoken to, Irans status before the FATF and the steps that Iran is taking to address deficiencies in its AML/CFT regime were squarely on the agenda at this meeting.

Implications for the Future

The FATF will issue a statement regarding jurisdictions with deficient AML/CFT regimes in a couple of weeks. Few expect Iran to be removed from this list. As the under secretary noted, Iran has a long way to go to show that it cant just pass laws to reform its banking sector but can also implement and enforce those laws as well.

But the FATFs call for member states and other jurisdictions to impose counter-measures targeting Irans financial sector should be up for revision. If so, it will signal important relief for global bankers interested in making a return to Iran. As Michael Kemmer, head of the German banking association BDB, noted to Reuters recently, It is really important for banks that the FATF re-evaluates the situation in Iran. Such a re-evaluation will instill much-needed confidence in global banking institutions that doing business with Iran is possible.

Moreover, Iran can no longer be regarded as a non-cooperative jurisdiction. As I have noted, Iran is clearly cooperating in good faith to reform its status before the FATF, and such cooperation should be acknowledged by returning Iran to the status it had back in 2008-9. That would mean keeping Iran on the list of jurisdictions with weak AML/CFT measures for now but also noting and encouraging the progress that Iranian authorities are currently making.

Provided such revisions are made, the U.S. and Iran will have shown that good-faith cooperation can lead to positive results for both parties. The United States will be assured that Iran is making real progress on reforming its banking system to conform to global standards, while Iran will start to win back the confidence of global banking institutions. There is a road to a more harmonious relationship between the two adversaries. The task ahead is to figure out how to travel it.



About the author:

Tyler Cullis is a recent graduate of the Boston University School of Law, where he specialized in international law. His writings focus on U.S. foreign policy, the politics of the Middle East, and developments in international law. His work has been featured at CNN's Global Public Square, Muftah, Opinio Juris, and his personal blog, News From The Gutter. He can be reached at tcullis@bu.edu.


Iranian State TV Claims Officials Busted Massive Terror Plot

06/20/16

Source: VOA

Intelligence officials in Iran Monday broke up "the biggest terrorist plot" to ever be conceived against Tehran and other areas of the country, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported.





Iran's National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani





In a statement, the Intelligence Ministry announced it had thwarted plans by a "takfiri" terrorist group to launch a series of bombings over the coming days. The term "takfiri" is a derogatory word used to describe Muslims who accuse one another of being non-believers.

"In a criminal plot of the anti-Islamic terrorist takfiri groups, a series of bombings had been planned in several places of the country for the coming days ... the terrorists were arrested and some bombs and a huge amount of explosives were seized," National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani is quoted as saying.

According to the state TV report, several suspects were arrested and are being interrogated in connection to the plot. The attack was planned to coincide with the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, Shamkhani said.

The IS militant group is led by radicalized Sunni Muslim extremists who consider Shi'a Islam to be heretical.

In March, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry declared that violence initiated by IS militants against Shi'ite Muslims in Syria and Iraq amounted to genocide.

The U.S. House of Representatives in March also classified atrocities committed by IS against certain ethnic and religious minorities as genocide.


LINCOLN  Gov. Pete Ricketts reiterated Monday he has "absolute" confidence in Department of Correctional Services Director Scott Frakes, despite two prisoners escaping 10 days earlier in Lincoln.

Those inmates, both sex offenders, were recaptured, but not immediately.

Armon Dixon was back in custody June 11, the day after the prison break, but after he allegedly assaulted two women in a northeast Lincoln apartment building. Timothy Clausen was captured five days later in Omaha.

Ricketts said Frakes and his staff are working to reform the culture of the Department of Corrections.

"And we've got a lot of work to do," he said.

A lot of issues that came out in a recently released cultural study of prison workers have to do with retention and training of employees and making sure the department attracts the right people.

"We're only going to be successful through our people, so we're going to be focusing on that," he said.

Last week, members of the Department of Correctional Services Special Investigative Committee sent a letter to Ricketts requesting that his office take immediate steps to hire and train additional corrections officers.

They said the union representing the employees has questioned whether the numbers are adequate for the number of prisoners.

Ricketts said that just throwing money at a problem doesn't solve it.

"We need to take a methodical approach to how we address it," he said. "We've got the right leader in the form of Scott Frakes to be able to do that."

On Monday, Sen. Kate Bolz of Lincoln, who serves on both the investigative committee and the Legislature's Appropriations Committee, explained that the department could repurpose funds or allocate dollars for additional prison employees and then bring the Legislature a deficit request in September when those department budget requests are due.

Another option would be to shift funds as the department decreases the number of state prisoners being held in county jails. Officials could use the $5 million appropriated for that purpose for more security staffing.

"Those are the two strategies I would suggest," Bolz said.

It's appropriate to rebalance their budget to meet emergency needs, she said, but in a way that's transparent and communicated to the Legislature.

Any other ideas from the department on how to accomplish the request would be welcomed by the Appropriations Committee, she said.
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Computer maker Acer recently revealed to Californias Attorney General (AG) that hackers broke into the companys online store and grabbed sensitive customer data. The leaked data includes information such as customer names, addresses, and credit card numbers including expiry dates and three-digit CVC security codes. The hack affects 34,500 customers based in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, as first reported by ZDNet, which Acer later confirmed to PCWorld.

Its not clear how the hackers got in to Acers servers. The company has only said it was the result of an unspecified security issue. What we do know, however, is that the hackers obtained nearly a years worth of data stretching from May 12, 2015 to April 28, 2016, according to an Acer form letter submitted to Californias AG.

Acer told PCWorld the data was stolen because the company inadvertently stored [the stolen consumer data] in an unsecured format. As a result, Acer said hackers were able to access the sensitive data for customers who made a purchase on the site [between May 12, 2015 and April 28, 2016].

The impact on you at home: Acers breach is particularly problematic because it affects key information that allows hackers to do actual damage. Your name, address, credit card number, expiry date, and CVC code is exactly the data you need to commit credit card fraud. Luckily, the hack affects just a small segment of online shoppers. But it goes to show that no matter how careful you are with data on your own PC, some hacks are simply beyond your control.

This story was updated at 8:26 AM Pacific Time on June 20, 2016 with additional information from Acer.
When introducing its monster 72-core Xeon Phi chip, Intel couldnt help but take a swipe at graphics processors for being sluggish for some tasks.

Ironically, Xeon Phi is a byproduct of Larrabee, which was supposed to be Intels first major GPU but was abandoned in 2009 after multiple delays.

The swipe was a shot at Nvidia, whose GPUs are flourishing in the gaming and machine learning areas. But Nvidias success has also raised questions about whether Intel shouldve been patient and pursued Larrabee.

Nevertheless, Xeon Phi has been successfully used in supercomputing, and now Intel wants to challenge Nvidias GPU by bringing the chip to machine learning.

The latest 72-core Xeon Phi 7290 chip is companys fastest chip to date. It will start shipping in September for $6,294, making it Intels most expensive processor. The company also announced three other Xeon Phi chips with 64 to 68 cores.

Xeon Phis are already being used in some of the worlds fastest computers. Some of the new chips started shipping months ago, but Intel announced the specifications and prices for the first time at the International Supercomputing Conference in Frankfurt, Germany, this week.

The new chips are packaged much like graphics cards and can be primary chips or co-processors. On supercomputers and servers, the chip will likely serve more as a co-processor to Xeon E5 chips as the primary CPU.

These chips could also be installed as a primary processor in workstations. Dont expect to run the latest games because the chips are designed to run scientific applications with their juiced up Atom cores and vector processors.

The Xeon Phi chip package also integrates some of the latest technologies. It has 16GB of integrated stacked memory and supports up to 384GB of DDR4 memory in a system. The Xeon Phi 7290 chip package draws 245 watts of power, and the 72 cores operate at a clock speed of 1.5GHz.

Outside of supercomputers, theres interest in using Xeon Phi in data centers for machine learning and artificial intelligence, said Charles Wuischpard, vice president of the Data Center Group at Intel.

Future Xeon Phis will push the chip further into those areas, Wuischpard said.

The chips are faster and more scalable than GPUs for machine learning models in servers, Wuischpard said.

Intel is also testing the new Xeon Phi chips for deep-learning systems. In addition to GPUs, Intel could also face competition in machine learning from Google, which has built its own chip called TPU (Tensor Processing Unit).

As Intel tries to break away from PCs, the chipmaker is also trying to link Xeon Phi chips to its latest technologies like the Optane memory, silicon photonics, FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays), and OmniPath interconnect, Wuischpard said. Intel is placing its bets on the fast-growing data center business.

Some of the top server makers, including Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Dell, and Lenovo, will use the Xeon Phi chips in servers and supercomputers.
Actor Anton Yelchin, who was best known for his role as Chekov in the new Star Trek films, was found dead early Sunday after he was crushed by his own vehicle at his Studio City home, Los Angeles police said.

The 27-year-old star was found deceased at about 1:10 a.m. Sunday in the driveway of his home in the 3800 block of Berry Drive, said Officer Jenny Houser of LAPDs Media Relations Section.

The victims unspecified vehicle had rolled backward on his steep driveway, pinning him against a brick mailbox pillar and a security fence, Officer Regina Smith of LAPDs Valley Traffic Division said.

The victim was a well-known actor who was en route to meet with friends for (an unspecified) rehearsal, Smith said. When he didnt show up, friends responded to his residence, where they located him deceased by his own vehicle.

It appeared Yelchin had momentarily exited his car, leaving it in the driveway, and was behind it when it rolled back, she said.

He suffered trauma as a result of being pinned between the vehicle and the brick pillar, she added.

Yelchins family was notified by friends who discovered him, Smith said.

Paramount Pictures, in a statement, said all of their staff joins the world in mourning the sudden death of Yelchin.

As a member of the Star Trek family, he was beloved by so many and he will (be) missed by all, the company said. We share our deepest condolences with his mother, father and family.

Jodie Foster, who directed Yelchin in the 2011 film The Beaver, called Yelchin a rare and beautiful soul with his unstoppable passion for life.

He was equal parts serious thinker and the most fun little brother you could ever dream of. I am so honored to have been able to direct such a deep actor, so committed and genuine, Foster said in a statement, released by her publicist. I will forever be grateful for all of those little exchanges we shared, his contagious enthusiasm, his questions, his company. My heart breaks for his mom and dad who were a part of every anecdote. He carried their love into everything he touched.

Yelchin launched his career with small roles in indie films and television shows before he starred in films like the crime thriller Alpha Dog and the teen comedy Charlie Bartlett. His most prominent role was in the rebooted Star Trek films  the third of which, Star Trek Beyond comes out next month.

The last film to be released that Yelchin starred in was the thriller Green Room, which came out in April, according to his publicist Jennifer Allen.

Yelchin, who was born in Russia, was an only child. His parents, both professional figure skaters, moved the family to the U.S. when Yelchin was a child.

The actor attended the high school Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies in Reseda, according to IMDb.

Yelchin was an animal lover, a real film buff who not only loved making films but watching and studying them, and an avid photographer, Allen said. His parents also lived in Studio City, she said.

Yelchins family requests privacy at this time, Allen said.

Anyone with additional information about the incident is asked to call Valley Traffic Division Detective William Bustos at 818-644-8021. During non-business hours or on weekends, they should call 1-877-LAPD-247. Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous should call 1-800-222-TIPS.

The Associated Press and staff writer Bob Strauss contributed to this report.
The U.S. House of Representatives will consider Tuesday, June 21, Rep. Ken Calverts bill that would facilitate the transfer of L.A./Ontario International Airport to a local authority.

In January, the majority leader introduced Bill 4369, which would allow Ontario International Airport Authority to use passenger fees at ONT to help pay off the cost for the two terminals, a 2015 condition of returning the airport to local ownership.

Im excited that we are going to make progress on one of the last steps necessary to complete the transfer from the city of Los Angeles, Calvert said in a statement.

Under the settlement agreement, the Ontario International Airport Authority will pay Los Angeles World Airports $50 million from passenger facility charges in the first five years; and another $70 million from passenger facility charges in the final five years.

The Federal Aviation Administration was expected to hand the authority its certificate of operation July 1.

But legislation was stalled as part of the much larger FFA reauthorization bill/debate taking place, Ontario International Airport Authority officials have said.

As of last week, the authority wasnt sure when the legislation  which addresses the funding mechanisms for transfer  would be addressed in Washington.

OIAA commissioner and Ontario Councilman Jim Bowman said Friday he was extremely pleased to hear the latest development. Calverts bill is one of three companion bills meant to address the issue. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, whose efforts brought Ontario and Los Angeles to the negotiating table, is sponsoring a similar bill with fellow Californian Democrat Sen. Barbara Boxer.

We want the push to continue, and Rep. Calvert is an integral part of our success, Bowman said.

Calvert said he looks forward to the bill passing the House on Tuesday , and being passed by the Senate in the very near future.

His bill has received bipartisan support, co-sponsored by several legislators in the Inland Empire, including Rep. Norma Torres, D-Chino, and Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-San Bernardino.

Ontario Airport is a major economic engine for our region, and the transition to local control is key to making sure the airport is able to grow to meet rising demand and better serve the needs of the Inland Empire, Torres said in a statement.

Torres, who played a behind-the-scenes roles in the bill, said she appreciated working with Calvert to bring this important legislation to the floor so that we can finalize the transition process and help Ontario airport reach its full potential.

Once this issue is resolved, the purchase agreement will go back to LAWAs Board of Airport Commissioners to ratify its funding plan. It will allow OIAA to issue new bonds to complete the transfer process. The bond process is expected to take 10 weeks. The transfer of the airport is still expected to occur by October.

Congress is in a position to make this happen, Bowman said.

Calverts been a champion for the Inland Empire and has done some heavy lifting to get us to this point, he said. We cannot afford for it to get tied with other important issues such as TSA, this will kick it to the goal post.

Contact the writer: liset.marquez@langnews.com; @JournaLiset on Twitter
A Long Beach man was arrested Sunday, June 19, in connection with two hit-and-run crashes on Corona-area freeways.

The first crash occurred about 12:30 p.m. in the northbound lanes of Interstate 15 south of Magnolia Avenue, said California Highway Patrol Sgt. Nathan Baer. At the time, there was heavy traffic on the freeway.

A man driving a red Dodge Challenger along the right shoulder side-swiped a pickup that was hauling a trailer, Baer said.

The Challenger didnt stop, Baer said. It continued north to the 15/91 interchange. Just before entering the transition road to the westbound 91, the Challenger crashed into a Toyota Sienna minivan.

The driver again neglected to stop, Baer said, and proceeded west on the 91.

Baer located the Challenger west of the Maple Street exit in Corona and pulled it over. The driver, identified as 18-year-old Cesar Gonzalez, was taken into custody without incident.

Gonzalez was booked into jail on suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident. Officers trying to determine whether Gonzalez was under the influence of narcotics when the crashes occurred, Baer said.
Business was brisk Sunday, June 19, at the North Pole.

People ordered cones and shakes inside the Big Bear Lake ice cream parlor, kept refrigerator-cool by a busy air conditioner. Sometimes the line went out the door onto the sidewalk.

The temperature, 83 degrees at noon, wasnt brisk.

Except when you consider the alternative, which is what many people did when choosing to visit the lakeside city in the San Bernardino Mountains on a record-breaking hot day when Inland temperatures climbed to 100 degrees and kept going.

When youre down the hill, the kids cant go out in the heat, and they get cabin fever, said Corona resident Roxanne Laird, adding that it was 104 degrees when she started the drive up with her husband William and children Wyatt, 5 and Aubree, 2. Its not good for any of us.

High-temperature records fell across Southern California. Riverside reached 111 degrees, toppling a record of 107 that had stood since 1922.

Thats pretty remarkable, since Riverside has a long record period National Weather Service meteorologist Brandt Maxwell said.

Thermal, the hottest spot in Riverside County on Sunday, reached 119, 1 degree hotter than the previous record from 2008.

Also setting or tying records: Palm Springs, Indio, Idyllwild, Santa Ana, Ramona, Escondido, Chula Vista, Alpine, El Cajon, Palomar Mountain, Campo, Borrego, Burbank, Sandberg and Woodland Hills.

RELATED: Why is it so hot? The science behind the heat wave

On Sunday, weather and health experts issued stern warnings for people to stay cool or face illness.

In the Inland valleys, the excessive heat warning lasts through Tuesday, but by then, some clouds should return and temperatures will start to fall. Tuesdays highs should be 96-101, while winds could gust to 30 mph in the afternoon. The rest of the week, expect highs in the mid-90s.

Riverside and San Bernardino counties have more than 100 cooling centers for those without access to adequate air conditioning, or whose power goes out.

Expected triple-digit temperatures Monday, June 20, and power outages due to Sundays heat prompted state regulators to issue a flex alert to cope with an increased electricity demand.

The alert  which will be in effect from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday  asks the public to turn off unneeded lights, set air conditioning to 78 degrees or higher and not use major appliances until 9 p.m. It also asks them to limit the opening and closing of refrigerator doors and shift power-intensive processes by businesses to the early morning or late evening hours.

By 5 p.m. Sunday, excessive heat had led to several Inland outages, Southern California Edison spokeswoman Maureen Brown said. Power went out for 244 people at 3:33 p.m. in the Sycamore Springs community of Riverside County, Edisons outage map showed.

In the mountains, the Lairds were among many who stood lakeside just west of Pine Knot Landing, watching mallards float and spin while facing an evergreen-scented breeze coming off the water. Those breezes channeled down Pine Knot Avenue, where they tickled petunias, riffled skirts and swayed trees that shaded people eating ice cream.

Maria Negrete, a North Pole manager, said the shop is accustomed to busy summer days and stocks up accordingly.

Even then, she said, sometimes its hectic.

Next door at Saucy Mamas Pizzeria, shortly before noon the wait for a patio dining table was already 45 minutes. Yet the pace on the street, which caters to shoppers as well as diners, was relaxed, the calm broken occasionally by rumbling processions of touring Harley Davidson motorcycles.

On the other side of Big Bear Lake, outside the Big Bear Discovery Center, Anna Lira of Ontario sat and picnicked with her daughter Karen Ascencio and her daughters eager 4-month-old Chihuahua-Shih Tzu mix, Princess.

The Big Bear Lake area is a perfect place to bring your animals on a hot day, Lira said.

Had they stayed home, they would have been confined indoors with the bouncy dog, she said.

We thought about going to the beach, but we thought she could run around up here.

The lake itself is a popular destination. Even with water levels receding due to drought conditions, motorboats made wakes and families set up base camps on sand beaches so children could swim close to shore. A parasailer soared above, sharing airspace with a fishing osprey.

At the visitor center, staffer Kim Ferguson said its always busy in summer. But she said she noticed many day-trippers Sunday, particularly from Palm Springs, where the temperatures hit 117 by 3 p.m.

She often points refugees from the heat to the Snow Summit Sky Chair.

Its a lot cooler at the top, she said, and the lake views are beautiful.

As the afternoon progressed, Jae Murvine wasnt looking forward to returning to Redlands and the work week. His future mother-in-law rented him and his fiance Kathleen Stark a cabin for the weekend so the expecting couple could escape the heat and take maternity photographs.

Ill be remembering this breeze for sure, he said, standing lakeside beneath gathering clouds.

Staff writers Jeff Horseman and Ali Tadayon contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: 909-483-8545 or john.blodgett@langnews.com
Re: Pondering responses after Orlando [Opinion, June 16]: What jumped out at me as the biggest issue in play after the deadliest mass murder of our times (not in all U.S. history  the Seventh Cavalrys destruction of the Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee was worse) was the presidents unwillingness to label this as an act of Islamic terrorism. Until we speak the truth, there can be no progress in this matter, and the president will not speak the truth. The truth is that Muslims follow a man who encouraged violence as a justifiable method of securing religious goals. The people who attack us know this and are obedient to their prophet. The Muslims who dont know it live peaceably among us. Muslims must abjure Sharia law or leave the country.

Peter Putnam

San Jacinto

  

In your editorial section there was an open letter request to your readers for a dialogue to curb the slaughter of innocent civilians by Islamic terrorists.

Heres a list of wrong solutions: Abolish the Second Amendment and blame Christians, talk radio, Fox News, the NRA, global warming (courtesy of Bernie Sanders), homophobia or Israel.

With clueless ideas like these, youll never make it to the bonus round. However, it will get you in front of a news camera and will give the public the illusion you actually care.

Of course, the correct answer is radical Islamic terrorism. Thats it. If we want to stop the massacres anytime soon, it will require a president whos not afraid and weak. So for the next six months or so, these events will continue to occur over and over.

Dudly Crawford

Corona

  

It is my right to own a gun, the usage of which involves the proximate possibility of homicide  legal or illegal. But driving, thankfully largely safe, is classified as a privilege granted by the state? And in law the words are important, right and privilege. Does that make sense?

Joe Vaira

Sun City
Last weeks mass shooting is reopening wounds left by the San Bernardino terrorist attack  and the hearts of those still grieving now ache for the Orlando massacres survivors and victims friends and family.

Some people have just begun emerging from a numbness thats gripped them since Dec. 2, when masked terrorists shot 36 people at the Inland Regional Center. Fourteen people died.

Many who survived or lost someone that day are now experiencing flashbacks and more grief after a lone gunman shot and killed 49 people and wounded 53 at an Orlando gay nightclub June 12.

The family of San Bernardino County health inspector Damian Meins, who was killed at the IRC, took part in a Washington, D.C., press conference Thursday to press Congress to support gun law reforms that might prevent future mass shootings.

His wife, Trenna Meins of Riverside, and daughters Tina and Tawnya Meins were devastated by the new bloodshed, as were victim Daniel Kaufmans boyfriend and the wife of Nicholas Thalasinos.

Our hearts are with Orlando, 33-year-old Long Beach resident Tina Meins said by phone Thursday.

Jennifer Thalasinos, who waited nine hours at San Bernardinos family reunification center Dec. 2 for word of her husbands fate, said she began crying when she saw the phone number for the Orlando attacks reunification center broadcast on TV that Sunday.

I just lost it. Cuz I know what these people are going through, she said.

Rialto resident Ryan Reyes, whod dated Kaufman nearly three years, said he was extremely hurt by the Orlando shooting carried out by Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old Ft. Pierce, Fla., Muslim who vowed Islamic state vengeance for U.S. and Russian airstrikes in posts on Facebook.

But Reyes urged Americans not to demonize all Muslims in the wake of such attacks and potentially push more people toward radical Islam.

If somebody kept saying, Youre an evil, hateful person, that gets internalized. OK, you think Im a monster? Ill give you a monster, said Reyes, 33.

ORLANDO TRIGGERS FLASHBACKS

Waiting for those killed to be identified by coroners and then to be notified is especially painful for family and friends, said Thalasinos and Tina Meins.

When youre waiting to find out, and youre not getting information back  you pretty much know. But you still want to hear, Yes, theyre gone. You still need that, said Thalasinos, 41, of Colton.

She feared the worst had happened to her health inspector husband as soon as news of the Dec. 2 attack was reported.

I knew he was gone from the minute I heard there was a shooting in San Bernardino. I just had a feeling, she added.

Thalasinos, the Meins family and others began re-experiencing the grief and trauma of their loved ones killings as the number of people reported dead or wounded in the Orlando shooting climbed through the day.

Were reliving it all over again, said Thalasinos, who stays in touch with other victims relatives and survivors.

A teacher, she didnt finish the school year and instead took the last two weeks off because of the stress from the six-month anniversary on June 2. She stayed home for two days after the Orlando shooting.

THWART RADICALIZATION

The nation has tried to understand what motivated Mateens rampage at a gay bar hed hung out in and where he reportedly tried to hook up with other men.

Reyes said neither that nor Mateens use of gay dating apps confirms Mateen was gay. Mateen may have been scoping out targets and club security and trying to entice individuals to kill one by one, Reyes said.

He could have been doing this for so many reasons, Reyes added.

Reyes, who once dated a non-practicing Muslim, questioned whether a Muslims struggle with his sexual identity and homosexuality would push him to massacre others in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community at the club that night.

He acknowledged people often dont get the support they need, but can get through a difficult transition by persevering.

Coming out is no piece of cake. It was a very long, hard road to get to where I am, he said.

Reyes believes Americans are failing to see how their own actions may contribute to some attacks reported to be inspired by radical Islam.

Immigrants come to the U.S. for the freedom they hear about, including religious freedom. Yet when they get here, some, including Muslims, may not feel theyre actually free to peacefully practice their religion, Reyes said.

The San Bernardino and Orlando terrorist attacks were both carried out by U.S. born Muslims in their late 20s who are believed to have self-radicalized.

After attacks involving radical Islam, Reyes said he has seen people treat law-abiding Muslims like terrorists, hurting them and making them feel like they dont belong. Islamic extremist group recruiters prey on marginalized Muslims, giving them acceptance and telling them theyll be heroes, Reyes said.

Kaufman ran the IRCs coffee shop and was the only Dec. 2 victim who didnt work for San Bernardino County. After losing Kaufman to an attack by Muslims, Reyes encourages the public to embrace Muslims as brothers and sisters in humanity and examine whats happening here that draws some young Muslims to radicalism.

The Muslim community is just as desperate to put an end to it as anyone else. These people are giving their religion a bad name, he said.

COPING WITH ATTACKS

The Meins family cant understand why Mateen, whod been on a federal terrorist watch list, was able to buy guns and carry out the countrys 133rd mass shooting in 2016. Tina Meins said the family is pushing for gun law reform to fight for her dad and others hurt by gun violence.

Reyes and Thalasinos are encouraging the Florida attacks survivors and victims loved ones to surround themselves with those theyre close to and not let anyone rush them through the grieving process.

Let relatives and friends know when you need to be alone to process things. Reyes advised people to find the right outlets for anger.

Anger is one of those things in this type of situation, youre going to hit anger a lot  for so many reasons, he said. Anger is normal, but do not let your anger turn to hate.

Thalasinos advises survivors feeling survivor guilt to acknowledge its not their fault they survived and realize they couldnt have saved others.

Meins wants Orlando victims friends and family to know they have her familys love and support.

We know how hard it is to accept. And how much harder it is to try to carry on with your life, she said. Youre always searching for meaning and just trying to understand.

Thalasinos added, The grieving process lasts pretty much forever.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9444 or shurt@pressenterprise.com
With support from the Masons of California, the BLU Educational Foundation awarded approximately $150,000 in college scholarships at its annual scholarship and awards reception June 9 at San Bernardino Valley College.

The award winners are recent graduates of Summit, Vista Del Lago, Pacific, Carter, Eisenhower, Rialto, Arroyo Valley, Middle College, Val Verde, San Bernardino and Rancho Verde high schools.

They have participated in the foundations College Exodus Project, designed to help students obtain college degrees.
Inland Republicans running in November face two challenges  their Democratic opponents and the GOPs presumptive presidential nominee.

Local Democrats, subtly and directly, are trying to connect their foes to Donald Trump in hopes that he becomes an anchor on down-ballot Republicans chances for victory.

Wed be fools not to take advantage of  such an opportunity from a divisive candidate in the Republican Party, said Chris Robles, chairman of the San Bernardino County Democratic Party.

Every candidate, from city council to school board all the way up the ballot, is tainted by him representing the party, Robles added. They have deemed him to be the leader of their party and unless other key leaders like the Speaker of the House reject him outright, they have to own everything he says and does to their detriment.

Scott Mann, Riverside County GOP chairman, downplayed the effect Trump will have on local races.

Using presidential candidates to link them to downstream candidates by political opponents is a long-standing political campaign practice, he said. There is nothing unusual about this. Both major parties have done it for many years, both in a positive and negative way.

On a broader level, both parties are working to link their adversaries to Trump or presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Voters in Californias (36th Congressional District) have a clear choice this fall between (Democratic incumbent) Raul Ruizs record of fighting for working families, and Jeff Stones Republican Party of Trump, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokeswoman Barb Solish said in a news release sent after the June 7 primary.

Last month, the National Republican Congressional Committee said Ruiz only wants to make things worse by supporting Hillary Clinton and her tax plan that would crush the middle class.

GOP candidates for Assembly, state Senate and Congress already have their work cut out for them in California, a state with a plurality of registered Democratic voters and where the percentage of Republican-registered voters is declining.

Democrats hold all statewide elected offices and control the state Legislature. And the November election to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer will feature two Democrats.

Republicans still hold a voter registration edge in Riverside County, home to solidly conservative communities such as Temecula and Murrieta. But Riverside and San Bernardino counties went to Democratic President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 and Democrats have won several competitive Inland races in recent years.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll released this month showed that seven in 10 Americans view Trump unfavorably, although 55 percent said the same about Clinton.

But Clinton is widely expected to win Californias 55 electoral votes, while Trump continues to provoke outrage after reiterating his call for a temporary ban on Muslim immigration, saying a judges Mexican heritage disqualifies him from overseeing a lawsuit against Trump University and implying in the wake of the Orlando terror attack that Obama is sympathetic to Islamic terrorists.

IS WHAT HE IS

Democrat Tim Sheridan, who is running against Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, said Calverts support of Trump is is a mistake for the country. At the same time, Were going to focus on what were going to bring to the campaign and what were going to do if were elected, he said.

In an emailed response, Calvert said: I know that the biggest concern in this election for a majority of voters in my district is the possibility of Hillary Clinton carrying out a third term of President Obamas presidency.

Calverts district, which includes Corona, Norco, Murrieta, Wildomar, Menifee and Lake Elsinore, went for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in 2012.

Roy Behr, a consultant for Ruiz, D-Palm Desert, said that by supporting Trump, Stone, a GOP state senator, is clearly putting blind partisanship ahead of the needs of his constituents.

There is no other way to explain his support for someone who has repeatedly disparaged women, veterans, the disabled, Latinos, and Muslims, and who is so obviously unfit to protect our national security, Behr wrote in an email.

In a statement, Stone campaign consultant Dave Gilliard said: Congressman Ruizs support for a presidential candidate currently under investigation by the FBI, his naive vote for the Iran deal and his insistence on blaming the NRA and the Second Amendment for acts of terror committed by radical Islamists, puts him on the fringe of his own party and makes him vulnerable in November.

Obama carried the 36th, which includes the Pass, Hemet and San Jacinto, four years ago. He also won the 41st Congressional District, which includes Riverside, Perris, Moreno Valley and Jurupa Valley.

Derek Humphrey, a campaign spokesman for the 41sts incumbent, Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside, said the campaign will focus on Takanos record of accomplishment.

That said, Takanos opponent, Doug Shepherd, is running for a federal office as a Republican and thats the top-of-the-ticket natural connection between the GOP (presidential) nominee and the candidate, Humphrey said.

Shepherd said Takano should be concerned about running on Obama and Clintons record and that he plans to point out what he describes as the congressmans ineffective leadership and poor constituent services.

Im not running away from (Trump) and Im not running towards him, Shepherd said. He is what he is.

Obama beat Romney in San Bernardino Countys 31st Congressional District, which includes Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Loma Linda and Grand Terrace. The 31sts incumbent, Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Redlands, faces a re-election challenge from Republican Paul Chabot.

In an email, Aguilar campaign manager Matt Leibman said: Chabots continued support of Trump isnt surprising, since they both oppose laws to reduce gun violence, they oppose allowing women to make their own health care decisions, and they oppose immigration reform that will keep Inland Empire families together instead of tearing them apart.

In a statement, Chabot said: It isnt surprising that Pete Aguilar is making up lies about my vision for a better San Bernardino and record fighting crime and terror to distract from his utter failure as a representative for this district. On Aguilars watch crime has skyrocketed, the economy is failing and we are (losing) the battle against ISIS and terrorists.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9547 or jhorseman@pressenterprise.com
They blamed management for failing to implement recommendations in a memorandum of understanding signed between them in 2010 which enjoined management to establish a conditions of service for all workers.



The workers who began what could be described as a week-long hunger strike by boycotting food from the company's canteen climaxed the protest with a demonstration at the company's premises in Tema.



Clad in red and carrying placards with various inscriptions they sang and called for the removal of the Finance Manager, Mr Tunde Iddrisu and Audit Manager, Mr Tunji Olakokan whom they accused of thwarting the local union's efforts in getting better conditions of service for its members.



Production and transportation activities at the plant was halted as all the factory workers and drivers joined the demonstration.

Source: Daily Graphic









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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In spite of security concerns raised by some Ghanaians on governments actions and inactions, the country is still safe for both expatriate and local investors to do business, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Mrs Mawuena Trebah, has said.



Recently, there were security concerns about governments decision to host the two Guantanamo Bay ex-detainees in Ghana for two years. Many Christian, policy, political and pressure groups spoke against the decision. They expressed fears the presence of the two ex-detainees could put Ghana on the radar of terrorists, thereby driving investors away from the West African country.



But Mrs Trebah has dispelled these concerns, indicating that investor confidence in the country has increased.



She said: Statistically, we have registered about 39 projects in the first-quarter of this year, and they are estimated at about 248 million dollars. Those sorts of increases demonstrate that there is continued interest in investing in Ghana. The investment community (both domestic and foreign) still feels safe doing business in Ghana.



Of course there are various decisions that government will take, but we look at it in the context of the numbers and that suggests to us that Ghana is still seen as a very safe place to do business, she said.



Official figures released by the GIPC also show that total registered projects for the first-quarter of 2016 increased to 39 compared to 38 in the same period in 2015.



Mrs Trebah added: We always have to look at the statistics and be very dispassionate when we are assessing any decision, whether it is political or non-political. For us at GIPC, we only have the numbers that tell us about the quality of in-bound delegation that are coming into the country.



The GIPC Boss further indicated that efforts put in place by the Centre to attract investments, despite security concerns have yielded positive results.



It is important to highlight here that when you find in-bound delegations, about an average of 25 businesspeople, what that indicates is that a great deal of work has been done for people to purchase tickets and fly all the way to this side of the Atlantic to come and look at specific investment opportunities, the GIPC boss stated.



Delegation after delegation, we have hosted the French, the Turks, we have had delegations coming from England back-to-back. That is because we were able to showcase specific investment opportunities. Those sorts of increases demonstrate that there is continued interest in investing in Ghana, she told Accra-based Citi FM.

Source: Classfmonline









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The Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Cephas Arthur, has said that any move by the Police to block all social media outlets in this year's election will be in the interest of the nation.



He is of the view that a ban on all social media platforms will not infringe on people's right as purported by the media but rather will promote peace and ensure a violence-free election.



Supt Cephas Arthur was commenting on remarks by the United Nations Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, indicating that the UN would not support the social media ban on Election Day reportedly being considered by Ghana's Inspector General of Police (IGP).



Opting to tread cautiously, Dr. Ibn Chambas who came on a fact-finding mission to Ghana, said during a media engagement that he was expecting to have a meeting with Ghana's top policeman John Kudalor, during which the IGP would clarify reports that a social media ban on election day was being considered.



I want to be able to hear from the IGP before I jump to any conclusion that a decision has been taken he emphasised



He, however, added the UN would not support such action.

But Supt Cephas Arthur believes the media reported wrongly, the information put out by the IGP during the discussions the Ghana police had with the media.



He opined that a question was posed by one of the journalists on what will be done to prevent social media from spreading falsehood on the Election Day and the IGP responded that, one of the options to use was to consider a ban on social media.



According to him, even though citizens have freedom of movement, we sometimes restrict you if we think your movement is a threat to others.

Source: adomonline









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President John Mahama says that the government is making strenuous efforts to making Ghana a power hub.



Speaking at the maiden congregation of the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Sunyani last Saturday, President John Mahama indicated that as part of measures to solving the energy crisis, the country will be made a major power exporter.



"A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to cut a sod for the commencement of an on-shore receiving facilities for Sankofa gas.... It is estimated at 1.5 trillion cubic feet. It is capable of supplying Ghana with 1000 megawatts of power for the next 20 years.



"Indeed my vision is to make Ghana a net exporter of Power when the West Africa Regional electricity market becomes operational sometime next year," he stated.



President John Mahama urged the University to search for resolutions to the economic energy challenges.



He entreated them to explore ways to harness a variety of energy resources and bio fuels including nuclear energy to achieve a sustainable energy capacity for the nation.



The congregation was the first of its kind for students who had completed their studies after gaining admission in the 2012/2013 academic year after the school was established in 2012.



The graduation and matriculation ceremony was held on Saturday, 18th June with a total of 174 students graduating from the four Colleges of the institution with degrees.



The graduates were from the School of Engineering, School of Sciences, School of Natural Resources, and the school of Agriculture and Technology.



The outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Esi Awuah also in her address to the Congregation highlighted some of the achievements of the University in the areas of teaching and learning, Research, Innovation and Development among others.



She hinted that the institute has manufactured Eco drones which are almost ready for use to monitor nefarious activities in the agricultural sector.



"Be truthful in everything you do at all times and be trustworthy even if it is difficult to," she advised the congregants.



She commended President John Mahama for supporting the school.



Also present at the function were high profile personalities like Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff, Samuel Justice Adjei, the Deputy Brong Ahafo Minister, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Hon Akwasi Oppong Ababio, the Sunyani Municipal chief executive among others.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi and Emmanuel Henryson Okrah/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The Ministry of Food and Agriculture cannot depend on some of its present database for planning and operational purposes because the data is not current.



The sector Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru, said the last time the ministry carried out an agricultural census in the country was almost four decades ago.



The Minister told a Poverty Reduction Strategy Committee hearing in Parliament that the data was collected 37 years ago and was no longer relevant to the planning and operations of the sector.



It is important as a country we go back and resource the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to conduct agric census to enhance productivity of agriculture, he said.



Alhaji Muniru came to Parliament to brief the peoples representatives on measures taken by the ministry to implement the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA), 2010  2013.



The hearing was also to determine if the targets set and incorporated in the GSGDA for 2010-2013 had been met.



Alhaji Muniru said an agricultural census would enable the ministry to determine the extent of the loss of the nations forest cover, the quantum of arable lands and the current levels of soil fertility.



He said such census would also help the ministry to know the major crops cultivated nationwide and the potential of any new crop.



The Minister said the ministry was collaborating with the Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Programme (GASIP) to provide solutions to problems brought forward by farmer-based organisations.

Source: GNA









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The United Nations (UN) says it is opposed to any idea to restrict social media access in Ghana ahead of the November polls.



The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas said such an attempt is aimed at restricting the democratic space which the UN is strongly against.



Dr Chambas disclosed this at a media briefing Accra, Friday.



The Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor on May 26, 2016, declared that the Ghana Police Service was considering blocking social media across the country on November 7. He is concerned that social media could be used as a tool for misinformation thus posing a danger to the nations security during the polls.



"At one stage I was even saying that if it becomes critical on the eve and the election day we shall block all social media as other countries have done. So we are thinking about it," John Kudalor said at a media interaction in Accra



In an interview on Joy News, the IGP said: If people are churning out the type of information which is quite false then why not? The security of this nation is paramount.



Following this announcement, the IGP and the police administration came under severe criticism for what has largely been described by some civil societies as an attack on the Constitution of Ghana.



But Dr Chambas said the UN would obviously be averse to any steps that will amount to restrict to restricting the democratic space particularly any step that will be taken to restrict the freedom of expression. He said, for good or for bad social media serve as one of the modes of expressions of free speech of democratic societies.



Even though he agreed the platform has some negative sides, he did not rule out the obvious good sides.

He disclosed We [UN officials] have a scheduled meeting with the IGP to seek clarification as to exactly what he might have meant. Some African governments including Congo-Brazzaville, Chad and Uganda in Africa have interfered with or banned access to the social networking website Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter.



Bangladesh, China, Iran, North Korea and Syria also blocked social media access although the bans were not related to elections. The impact of social media on elections has become a fascinating subject for research among social scientist. One study published in 2012 found that Facebook feeds have a significant impact on voting patterns.



In the US, political analysts have observed that social media could decide who wins the presidential elections in November.

Source: JFM Ghana









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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A Security Analyst, Irbad Ibrahim has waded into the argument surrounding the shutting down or maintaining all social media platforms during the November 7 polls as raised by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to prevent unwarranted calamity which may arise.



The Inspector General of Police (IGP), John Kudalor, on May 26, 2016, declared that the Ghana Police Service was considering blocking social media across the country on November 7, an utterance that has received total condemnation.



It is due to this argument that Ghanaian born Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWA), Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, has indicated strongly that the UN would not endorse any attempts to ban social media in Ghana during elections.



Dr. Ibn Chambas agreed with the critics of such a ban, saying that any possible ban will restrict the democratic space and curtail freedom of expression.



I should say without hesitation that from a UN point of view, we would be obviously averse to any steps that will be taken to restrict the freedom of expression, he emphasised.



Dr. Ibn Chambas, whilst acknowledging that social media, for good or for bad, are some of the modes of expression of free speech in democratic societies, cautioned that a total ban would obviously not be something the UN would encourage.



But the Security Analyst, Irbad Ibrahim on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show insisted the move by the IGP to ban social media temporary during the November 7 polls is in the right direction as this will prevent fabricated reportage on the election results and also prevent the possibility of using the social media to incite the youth to cause violence.



He stressed that he disagrees with the directive of the UN through Dr. Ibn Chambas, urging National Security to maintain social media during the elections; reiterating that it will be difficult for the police to trap those who will publish false report on the elections as social media allow individuals to create fake accounts with fake identities.



I disagree with the UN on its directive, because social media has the tendency of causing troubles during the elections as we have witnessed people succeeding in faking government letter head to publish a fake government reshuffle to the extent that reputable media houses conducted interviews on this fake social media publication, he indicated.



We must swallow the bitter pill and shut down social media from the evening of November 6 and reopen on November 8 after the results have been officially declared by the EC. This will not affect the country in any way but help prevent possible chaos which may arise, he suggested.

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com.gh









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.

Featured Video
Its a sad fact of living in big cities that options for getting about tend to dry up in big hurry once the sun goes down.

And that lack of options has many negative flow-on effects, particularly for people working late into the night, with people who dont have a car often forced to use expensive taxi or Uber options just to get home from work.

In an attempt to fix this, and as part of a core election promise, Daniel Andrews and the Victorian State Government implemented a trial of 24-hour public transport that began at the start of the year.

Every weekend, instead of shutting down at around midnight, the citys bus, train, and tram networks would remain open, allowing people a safe, reliable, and affordable way to get home in the wee hours of the morning.

Despite a blow out in budget costs thanks to some borked calculations  the price of adding extra security at tram stops and train stations blew the cost of the trial out to some $83million  it would appear that Melburnians have turned the experiment into a raging success.

In the 6 months since the trial began, some 35,000 people per weekend have been using the extra services.

VIC state public transport minister Jacinta Allen heralded the numbers as a big success for the services.

People who work in the hospitality and retail sectors and also in places like our hospitals whove never before had an option like a tram or bus option to get to and from work safely. I think it demonstrates the value in having the night network run as a trial for this year because it shows that there are many people who work in and around Melbourne who benefit greatly from this service.

Whats even more interesting is that, of those 35,000 people using the services every Friday and Saturday night, 20% are shift workers, and a whopping 75% are under the age of 35.

Allen expects the numbers to hold throughout the cold winter months, and increase as Melbournes festival and cultural season picks up during events like the AFL Finals, Spring Racing Carnival, and the Christmas and summer seasons.

The trial currently sees all trains depart on all lines from Flinders Street every 60 minutes, trams on routes 19, 67, 75, 86, 96, and 109 once every 30 minutes, and 2:00am buses depart from Southern Cross station bound for Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong, and Traralgon.

The positive response to the 24-hour services is expected to result in the policy being adopted permanently once the trial ends.

Source: ABC News.

Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty.
Tonight, a week after Opposition Leader Bill Shorten quite confidently took to the Q&A set, a flu-addled Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull took a seat beside Tony Jones in Brisbane.



It was an up-and-down affair for the PM from the get-go. Questions about possible kowtowing to the far right of the Liberal party were met with obvious bloviation.

Next, a rock-solid answer: the man said his government would never, ever privatise Medicare, which goes against the rumblings presented by Labor.

Then, it happened. After answering questions relating to Australias commitment to mental health, a video came through. From Manus Island.

Behrouz Boochani, an Iranian Kurdish writer, beamed onto the sets backdrop. It was revealed he fled the nation due to persecution of his work, but was found to meet the requirements for refugee status.

Speaking to the Prime Minister, his questions were simple: what is my crime, and why am I still in this illegal prison after three years?

Australia exiled me here by force 3yrs ago Why am I still in this illegal prison after 3yrs @TurnbullMalcolm? #QandA https://t.co/NEJHz3jBMk  ABC Q&A (@QandA) June 20, 2016

The exchange that followed made Turnbulls commitment to the governments border protection policy seem like a pained choice.

After rattling off the same statistics on people smugglers the nation has heard many times before, he admitted it is a tough policy, I grant you that.



It is a harsh policy. But in government and in politics, often you are presented with tough choices. And the alternative is not a theoretical one.

Just after, in response to whether he would visit the facility, Turnbull said none of us have hearts of stone. All of us understand how harsh it is, our policy is, in terms of its impact in terms of particular individuals.

Of course, the gentleman we referred to there, he has other options as well. [He] doesnt just have to come to Australia. The thing we know, the alternative, if we abandon the strong defence of our border

And then it was back to our regularly scheduled programming of slamming Labor.

Its worth noting in this exchange that the nebulous option of what Boochani could choose to do probably referred to going back to Iran, which is the exact place he needed to flee from.

Also worth noting: the Prime Minister never answered what his crime was. Granted, the question was sprung on him (and on us), but his response demonstrated a continual reliance on the party line  numbers, statistics, and Labor  over, God forbid, specifically addressing an individuals struggle.

So, Behrouz, youve had your Q, but you might need to wait on that A. Sorry.

Really. Sorry.

Source and photo: Q&A / ABC.
Melbourne bloody loves itself a good bit of street art, and the city is dotted with examples of work by renowned artists from both home and abroad.

But a new mural unveiled in the city today could top all comers, if only in terms of pure size.

A four-storey mural by Australian-born, UK-based, internationally renowned street artist Smug has gone up on a wall of a former power station in the western end of the CBD, with Lord Mayor Robert Doyle officially welcoming it to the city landscape earlier today.

Unveiled a mural by talented artist Smug @ 651 Lonsdale. W Shaun Hossack  @JuddyRoller & @CitiPowers James Rennick pic.twitter.com/Nadug7mifN  Robert Doyle (@LordMayorMelb) June 20, 2016

The stunning piece now adorns the wall of the former power station on the corner of Spencer and Lonsdale streets, which gained some notoriety in the city for its striking chimney stacks that were subsequently demolished in 2007.

The mural depicts Smugs elderly grandparents in a very photorealistic style, which is Smugs trademark.

Citipower commissioned the piece in collaboration with artist representation company Juddy Roller, at a cost of $25,000.

This is not the first time Smugs work has appeared on walls around Melbourne. The somewhat infamous Bogan Mural in Fitzroy is also the handiwork of Smug.

Australian pride. Alongside @sofles and @adnate Thanks @juddyroller for the hookup and being the coolest cat in Melbourne and thanks to Sofs gronk alco big brother for being such a great model A photo posted by @smugone on Aug 20, 2014 at 4:50pm PDT

Smugs also hitting up other walls on this particular tour of the city, one of which has already been vandalised by shithead taggers.

First wall of the trip in Melbourne. Collaborating with the up and comers as always ?? A photo posted by @smugone on Jun 14, 2016 at 5:31am PDT

Nice things. Sometimes we just cant have them.

Source: Herald Sun.

Photo: Robert Doyle/Twitter.
A man in India has reportedly died after watching The Conjuring 2, and we cant say were surprised because would you have a bloody gander at the nun in that photo? RUDDY TERRIFYING.

While this may seem like a convenient story concocted by the marketing team of the horror film, its unfortunately not.

A 65-year-old man in Tiruvannamalai, a small town in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, complained of severe heart pains as the terrifying movie reached its climax, and then fainted.

He died shortly after being rushed to a nearby hospital.

But then, in a very creepy and strange turn of events  his body went missing.

The Times of India reported that doctors sent his body to Tiruvannamalai Government Medical College Hospital, but the cadaver and the person transporting it both went missing before the man could even be identified  and theres been no updates since.

Were sure theres a rational explanation... right? Oh god please say there is. Jesus.

Source: Times of India.

Photo: The Conjuring 2.
Considering our current focus on gun violence  especially when you realise two former The Voice performers have been shot and killed in the past fortnight  youd think a Sydney band would be 100% on top of all the rules and regulations around brandishing boomsticks for a music video.

Youd think.

Well, this arvo, two men were charged for an incident on Friday which saw workers in Marrickville fear for their lives. The men, one of whom was wearing a ski mask, took to Faversham Street while packing heat as part of the production of a new clip.

Heres an artists impression:

Its worth noting at this point that workers in the vicinity werent notified of their presence. At all. Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, a publicist for nearby Elefant Traks recalled how legitimately terrifying the sight was.

My instant thought was, Hes heading somewhere to kill people. Especially with the Orlando shooting happening, something that I was extremely traumatised by, it was really scary.

After she hid in an adjoined warehouse and notified the police, law enforcement officers in riot gear hit the scene. After speaking to the blokes in question, they were taken for questioning at Newtown police station.

Rapper Urthboy, who owns Elefant Traks but wasnt present at the time, took to Twitter to explain the sitch:

Just recd sms from female work colleague saying theres a guy in our car park w a rifle in a ski-mask! After initial panic, and 5 cop cars..  Urthboy (@urthboy) June 17, 2016

Turns out its a fucking band shooting a video clip and the guy with the fake rifle wondering off set scaring the crap outta anyone nearby  Urthboy (@urthboy) June 17, 2016

except just discovered the rifle was real smh  Urthboy (@urthboy) June 17, 2016

Yeeeep, thats right  the air rifle in question wasnt authorised, nor were the blokes even allowed to use it in public.

Today, they were charged for the whole debacle and granted bail, before their appearance at Newtown Local Court on July 12.

No word yet on the outcome of that music vid, though.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Photo: Google Maps / Urthboy / Twitter.
At the beginning of this year, Sydney labourer Zane Alchin changed to a surprise plea of not guilty to menacing and harassing by means of a carriage service.

Today, he changed his mind.

If you dont have the memory of an elephant (this has been going on since August last year), Zane unleashed a torrent of abuse on a group of women for defending a friend. The friend in questions Tinder profile was being publicly mocked because she had included the Drake lyrics Type of girl to suck you dry then eat some lunch with you.

After this incident, several of the women joined together to form protest group Sexual Violence Wont Be Silenced.

Alchin is being accused of posting lengthy derisive comments towards the women, which included saying your [sic] all basic fucking sluts, and also explaining what the best thing about raping feminists was.

Altogether, he made 55 comments during the incident, which he has now stated were made because he was drunk, and because he didnt know that trolling was a crime. Court documents showed he told police, he was drunk at the time and the comments do not represent what he is about.

He today dropped the case, and changed his plea to guilty.

SVWBS spokesperson Paloma Brierley Newton said this about Alchins decision:

Were extremely pleased that Mr Alchin has plead guilty, despite previous indications he wouldnt. This result demonstrates that there is a precedent in Australian law that says this behaviour is unacceptable. It means that harassing women online is not only legally reprehensible, but socially and morally as well. Our victory today sends a message to all women that they dont have to put up with harassment online; that there are steps and channels they can take, and that Australian law is on their side.

The group now says they will turn their sights on better training for police and law enforcement, to enable them to better assist victims of abuse or harassment appropriately, and with tact.

Zane Alchin is due to be sentenced on July 29 this year.

Source: Supplied.

Photo: SVWBS.
First off, you can all relax. It was Fathers Day yesterday, but only in the US. You did not forget to ring your old man for his special day. Australian Fathers Day is on Sunday, September 4th.

Now that weve got that sorted, heres this.

Its been 7 years since the final episode of Scrubs eighth season hit the air (the weird ninth season does not count in any way, shape, or form), but we all still have many fond memories of Sacred Heart Hospital.

And while the bromance between J.D. and Turk is one that will echo throughout the ages, the mentor/mentee back-and-forth between J.D. and Dr. Cox was equally integral to the series.

Zach Braff, heading back to the well, posted a super adorable Fathers Day photo to his Facebook page, celebrating the day with his old pal John C. McGinley.

LOOK. HE GOT THE HUG.

NEVER STOP. EVER.

Source: Zach Braff/Facebook.
mlk grads.jpeg

The Martin Luther King Leadership Development Institute class of 2016 will gradaute on June 26.

(John Micek, PennLive.com)

The 2016 class of the Martin Luther King Leadership Development Institute of Greater Harrisburg will graduate at 5 p.m. June 26 at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, 1201 N. 17th St., Harrisburg.

Guest speaker will be Senator Art Haywood, D-Philadelphia.

Sen. Art Haywood

The institute was organized in 2008. Its first class graduated in 2009.

The mission of the institute is "to prepare and empower individuals committed to exercising creative leadership to improve conditions in the greater Harrisburg community."

The 2016 graduates are:

Mariel Archie is the assistant director of Central Administration for Mikayla's Place Early Childhood Education Center. A graduate of Susquehanna Township High School, she is a part-time student working towards her bachelor's degree, having already received her certified credentials to serve as director of a childhood center.

Eugene Borys of Camp Hill is a student at Penn State Harrisburg where he is a member of the board of academic integrity. Borys dropped out of high school, earned a GDE and now "passionate about eliminating the school to prison pipeline in inner-city schools."

Regina Kay Brown, an alumnus of Harrisburg High School, is an eligibility consultant with Aetna Insurance and is pursuing an associate degree at Penn Foster College. Prior to returning to Harrisburg two years ago, she assisted with tour management of the Harlem Gospel Choir and performed all over the world.

Deneen L.M. Diggs is a retired U.S. Army Senior Non-Commissioned Officer with 20 years of service. She is chief of missions and manpower at the Defense Logistics Agency, Distribution in New Cumberland. She has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Colombia College, an advanced certificate in logistics management from Penn State Harrisburg and an MBA from Eastern University.

Phyllis J. Dew is the executive director of Demage' Inc., a local counseling agency. She has bachelor's and master's degrees in social work from the University of Pittsburgh. She also earned a certificate in theology from The Interdenominational Theological Center of Harrisburg.

Marian Cannon Dornell is a retired nurse and caregiver for her husband. Prior to retirement she worked as a registered nurse in the areas of psychiatric nursing and hospice nursing in Vermont, Maryland and Pennsylvania. A graduate of the former John Harris High School, it wasn't until she had reared he children that she returned to school and earned an associate degree in nursing from the University of Vermont, earning the distinction of Technical Nursing Student of the Year. She is an engaging speaker whose favorite presentation is "How to Slay the Dragon without Becoming One: The Ethics of Race in Community."

James S. Gamble Sr. has been employed with the Pennsylvania State Education Association teacher's union for 28 years. He earned an associate degree in business administration from Harrisburg Area Community College and has accumulated 92 credit hours toward a bachelor's degree in business administration from Lock Haven University. A member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and an ordained minister, he serves as superintendent of the Harrisburg District Churches of the Church of God in Christ, and also state treasurer of the Eastern PA Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ.

Vivian C. Harris is a program manager/Ccounselor at the Discovery House Harrisburg. A graduate of Harrisburg High School, she earned an associate degree in human services from Harrisburg Area Community College and bachelor's and master's degrees in social work from Shippensburg University. She is a certified alcohol and drug counselor and member of the National Association of Social Work.

Zachary Hause is the director of the Central PA Areal Labor Federation of the AFL-CIO, encouraging social and economic empowerment. A graduate of Cameron County High School, he earned bacehlor's degree in political science from Clarion University and a master's degree in social public policy from Duquesne University. He participated in the inaugural class of the YWCA's "Let's Talk about Racism" and views the pursuit of social justice as his life's mission.

Donna King is the licentiate/pastor of the St. Paul AME Church of Bellefonte. She has a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership from St. Francis University and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction/education from Penn State University. She is a member of the National Association for Multicultural Education and the Pennsylvania Council of Churches.

Lennie Lewis is a life-long resident of Allison Hill and is employed by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as a legal assistant. She graduated from the former John Harris High School and has an associate degree in marketing and music from Harrisburg Area Community College and a bachelor's degree in organizational management from Eastern University.

Danielle N. Martin, a former teacher, is an admissions counselor at Harrisburg Area Community College. She graduated from Central Dauphin East High School and has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Millersville University and a master's degree in education/reading from Cabrini College. An active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., she has served as President of the National Pan-Hellenic Council of Greater Harrisburg since 2011. She received the Dr. MLK Jr. Humanitarian Award from Shippensburg University.

Mitchell Patterson is the assistant director of admissions at Penn State Harrisburg. A graduate of DeWitt Clinton High School, Bronx, N.Y., he has a bachelor's degree in political science from State University of New York - Buffalo and a master's degree in urban affairs/planning from City University of New York - Hunter College, NYC. He is pursuing a master's degree in communications from Penn State Harrisburg. He previously worked for several non-profit human services organizations, including as a community organizer addressing substance abuse and alcohol addiction in South Brooklyn, N.Y. He is a founding member of CACHE - Capital Area Consortium for Higher Education for twelve regionally accredited higher education institutions.

Roberta Payne is a hospice specialist for Griswold Healthcare Services, Harrisburg. She is a graduate of Red Land High School and attends Grantham University Online. She is an ordained leader and outreach pastor and a former member of the NAACP Greater Harrisburg chapter.

Dianne Theal is employed by the state Department of Aging in the Bureau of Licensing. She graduated from Central Dauphin High School and studied business administration at Harrisburg Area Community College. She received the United Way Capital Region 2015 Volunteer of the Year Award and in the same year, the Dress for Success Making a Difference Award. She volunteers with the Boy Scouts and the South Allison Hill Residents Association.

Natashia Woods is a case manager with Tri County Community Action, an anti-poverty agency. A graduate of William Penn York High School, she studied applied behavioral sciences at Penn State Harrisburg, and is certified in Family Development Credentialing. Residing in Steelton, she was elected to the Steelton Highspire School Board.
"Her name was Agnes. And she wore anything but paint and powder. Instead of a smile, she carried a scepter wrought by wind and rain. Her touch was disaster."

On June 28, 1972, The Patriot and The Evening News published for the first time since Tropical Storm Agnes hit the midstate and flooded the newspaper office on June 22.

The above was written by the late staff writer Cal Turner in a story recounting the nightmare that was Agnes.

"Coming up out of the Gulf a couple of weeks ago she got big play in the newspaper and on the air waves. But to Central Pennsylvania she was somebody else's worry. She was going other places. And too, don't hurricanes hang along the coast?

But boom! The state got it. From one end to the other, parts of Pennsylvania were battered, lashed, flooded and paralyzed. It was part of a five-day dance of havoc."

More than 40 people died in Pennsylvania and 122 total.

More than $2 billion in damage in Pennsylvania and $12.5 billion total.

Pennsylvania Gov. Milton J. Shapp called the storm "Hurricane Agony."

After the storm had been downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm, it began to move out to the Atlantic then curved back and pounded Pennsylvania with rain.

The flood edition of The Patriot on June 28 was packed with dozens of photos and stories - "The Anatomy of a Disaster."

The newspaper that day also included advertisers offering credit and postponed payments to customers - Bowman's, Pomeroy's, Gimbels and Wanamaker's.

Rams Horn Stores in the Cedar Cliff Mall, Sunbury and Chambersburg, wrote, "It has been rumored that retailers are taking advantage of the situation by increasing prices." As a result, store president Robert Grad said all stores would deduct 10 percent on every salescheck for any item in the store.

John Wanamaker wrote, "John Wanamaker salutes the selflessness, the heroism and the strength of Harrisburg which acted quickly, calmly and intelligently in a time of emergency."

Tropical Storm Agnes dumped 19 inches of rain June 19-24 from Florida to New York. In central Pennsylvania, the Susquehanna River crested at 32.57 feet on June 24, 1972 - 15 feet above flood stage.

"The river climbed with utter abandon, moved rapidly into city streets. It tugged at the underpins of the big bridges. It pulled boat ramps and docks apart, it began knocking homes aside, flipping cars over, settling in to stay. It took lives without even a faint gesture of mercy. Power lines went out, traffic stalled and by nightfall the area was one, big wet sponge. And the rains stayed and the river climbed. And raced along.

By nightfall Thursday the terrible truth was banging all the way home. This was a full-fledged flood and Agnes was on her way to pulling the rug out from under records and memories of 1936."
owner-of-kayjay-gun-shop-shot-dead-during-safety-class.jpg

The concealed carry class held at an Ohio gun shop was billed as teaching basic pistol safety, reviewing gun laws and gave attendees time on the shooting range. But Saturday's class turned fatal for the gun shop owner.

(Screenshot )

The concealed carry class held at an Ohio gun shop was billed as teaching basic pistol safety, reviewing gun laws and giving attendees time on the shooting range.

But Saturday's class at the KayJay Gun Shop in Amelia, Ohio, about 20 miles east of Cincinnati, proved fatal for the owner of the shop, who was shot dead during a mishap during the gun class, according to the Associated Press and Cincinnati.com.

James Baker, 64, was shot in the neck and pronounced dead just before 1 p.m. Saturday at his gun shop, the Clermont County Sheriff's Office tells the media outlets.

Saturday's class at the KayJay Gun Shop in Amelia, Ohio, about 20 miles east of Cincinnati, proved fatal for the owner of the shop, who was shot dead during a mishap during the gun safety session.

A student in a concealed carry permit class held at the store accidentally discharged a weapon, the Clermont County Sheriff's Office adds.

The accident occurred as class participants were practicing weapon malfunction drills.

The student who discharged the handgun has not been publicly identified by police.
UPDATE:

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Newly released transcripts show Orlando gunman Omar Mateen spoke in Arabic to a 911 dispatcher and told a crisis negotiator that the U.S. needed to stop bombing Iraq and Syria.

Armed with a semi-automatic weapon, Mateen went on a bloody rampage at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando June 12 that left 49 people dead and 53 others hurt. Mateen died in a hail of police gunfire.

The FBI released partial transcripts Monday of three 911 calls as it prepared to give additional details about its investigation.

Omar Mateen

Mateen spoke three times with an emergency dispatcher once the massacre was underway.

The FBI says Mateen, born in New York, identified himself as an Islamic soldier. He also claimed to be equipped with bombs in a vehicle outside, though authorities say they've found no evidence of explosives.

The first call came more than a half hour after shots rang out, when Mateen told a 911 operator, "Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God," referring to God in Arabic.

"I let you know, I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings."

Mateen's name and the groups and people to whom he pledged allegiance were omitted from the excerpt. But the FBI has previously stated that he pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State.

#Pulse chronology:

2:02 a: OPD transmits shots fired call at Pulse

2:04 a: Additional OPD units arrive (more...) pic.twitter.com/JRw7EPsJjI  Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) June 20, 2016

#Pulse shooter contacts 911 at 2:35 am. Call lasts 50 seconds. "I'm in Orlando and I did the shootings"  Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) June 20, 2016

Timeline con't. 2:08 a: officers make entry to #Pulse, engage shooter; 2:18 a: OPD SWAT call out initiated. pic.twitter.com/xM4foQgBar  Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) June 20, 2016

FBI said Mateen was not directed by a foreign terror group but was radicalized domestically.

The communications, along with Facebook posts and searches made before and during the shooting, add to the public understanding of the final hours of Mateen's life.

Victims remain hospitalized

Hospital officials say four people remain in critical condition more than a week after they were wounded in the attack at an Orlando nightclub.

Orlando Regional Medical Center says 18 victims from the Pulse nightclub shooting are still at the hospital and three more surgeries are scheduled for Monday. The other 14 patients are listed in stable condition.

Since the shooting, surgeons have performed 54 surgeries on the victims. The hospital treated 44 people after the June 12 shooting at the gay nightclub in Orlando. Nine patients died and 17 have been released.

The attack left 50 people dead, including the shooter, and is the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
Interviews are underway with the 12 girls rescued from a Bucks County home late last week, as authorities work to determine the extent of Lee Kaplan's alleged abuse and to develop a fuller picture of their years spent living under his roof and largely hidden from the outside world.

Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler declined to reveal anything further about the ongoing investigation, but said "We are investigating, obviously, what the situation was with them," referring to all of the females found living inside Kaplan's Feasterville home late last week. They ranged in age from 6 months to 18 years.

Kaplan is charged with having had an illegal sexual relationship with the eldest, who police say was "gifted" to Kaplan by her ex-Amish parents at the age of 14.

The relationship produced two children, also found living at Kaplan's Old Street Road home, and charges against the 18-year-old's parents, Daniel and Savilla Stoltzfus of Quarryville in Lancaster County, 75 miles to the southwest.

Officials believe the Stoltzfuses are biological parents to 10 of the girls found living at Kaplan's home and grandparents to the other two.

"We assert in the affidavit that the father [Daniel Stoltzfus] admitted one of his daughters had been gifted [to Kaplan]," Heckler said on Monday.

"And of course she was 14 at the time and Kaplan continued to have sex with her."

Police and child advocates will be working in the coming days to determine what exactly transpired in Kaplan's home and how each of the children were involved. Amish translators have also been called in to help investigators.

Chris Edwards of Bucks County Children and Youth Services said the children have been placed into protective or sanctioned custody in the meantime. Further details were unavailable, but Edwards added, "they are in a safe place."

The case itself has rattled Bucks County and the tiny, working class community of Feasterville, home to less than 7,000 people.

"This is a pretty intensive thing and upsetting to a lot of people," Edwards said. "There are a lot of concerned residents."

He added, "This is a national story. We're getting calls from national media outlets."

That coverage has sparked the ire of some in Bucks County, including District Attorney Heckler who took issue with what he described as "prurient" media interest in the case.

"You got the affidavit of probable cause and that's what you'll get," he told a PennLive reporter on Monday when asked about the conditions inside Kaplan's home. "Beyond that we are creating a history these kids have to live with."

Heckler, who is also chairman of Pennsylvania's Task Force on Child Protection, then hung up the phone.

More details are likely to be revealed in preliminary hearings slated for Kaplan and the Stoltzfuses in a Bucks County District Court on Aug. 2.

Until then, all 3 remain incarcerated at Bucks County Jail on $1 million bond, Edwards said.

The case began to unfold on Thursday morning, with Lower Southampton police going to Kaplan's home after receiving a complaint from a concerned neighbor.

The woman said she rarely saw the girls outside and questioned why a much older Kaplan lived alone with such young women. Police have also said they received a separate tip specifying the Stoltzfuses' "gifting" of their daughter to Kaplan. The combination prompted a police response where other neighborly complaints about the Kaplan home hadn't, some made years earlier.

As for why it took so long for authorities to investigate, that much remains unclear. Police had been called to the home several times in recent years, but never for child abuse, officials said.

Edwards acknowledged that Children and Youth's caseload has shot up 100 percent in Bucks County in the last year following the passage of new laws requiring more mandatory reporting of child abuse signs, but said the system is not overwhelmed as a result, with positions filled to meet the growing demand.

Multiple attempts to reach Lower Southampton Police were unsuccessful Monday.

Meanwhile, district attorney Heckler told Philly.com Saturday that he did not know why authorities had not acted more quickly on neighbors' complaints, but that his own office was never contacted.

The website reported that local police received calls about Kaplan and the girls, but that they were "too vague for officers to seek warrants."

"I mean we didn't get child-abuse calls there, so if it was a child-abuse call, we would have responded, naturally, but that's not what we got," Heckler said.

When officers finally made entry to Kaplan's home Thursday, they say the girls were found hiding in a cellar and others in a chicken coop.

It appeared some lived in the basement, police said, while all lacked birth certificates and many appeared to have been homeschooled.

Court documents say Kaplan denied the presence of the girls in speaking with some of his neighbors.

But others remained suspicious.

Neighbor Bob Greenfield told the Associated Press that Kaplan seemed "weird" and that he now wishes he had also had called authorities.

"You knew something was wrong," he said. "It makes you feel bad. If I had said something a while ago, they [police] would have come earlier."

Crystal A. Natan, executive director of Lancaster County's Children and Youth Services, said "It's good for the children that someone spoke up and that it came to light."

For others in a similar situation, she said, "If something looks suspicious or you feel something looks odd or strange or you're concerned about it, you should always make a report [to a county agency or child abuse hotline] so it can be looked into."

If children are in immediate or imminent danger, Natan said, call the police.

"Make that call and then the entity, whether it's the police or us, we at least have the authority to go out and make contact and determine if there is any validity to it."

Family members of the Stoltzfuses were suspicious, too, telling PennLive over the weekend that Kaplan may have brainwashed the couple, noting drastic changes in Daniel Stoltzfus's beliefs and behavior after he first met Kaplan at an Erie equipment sale in 2003.

That same year, the Stoltzfuses renounced their Amish faith during a dispute with church elders. They were eventually evicted from their home after what they claimed were predatory and abusive tactics employed by private charities serving members of the Amish church. The Stoltzfuses had used the charities to take out a $300,000 loan in an attempt to save a family business. They eventually filed a lawsuit in federal court in 2009. The lawsuit was later dismissed.

A call to the attorney who represented the Stoltzfuses in court was not immediately returned on Monday.

At some point during this period, police say Kaplan intervened, saving the Stoltzfuses from financial ruin. It was a favor allegedly later repaid with the "gifting" of their 14-year-old daughter to Kaplan who police say had a years-long sexual relationship with the teen beginning in 2012.

Criminal complaints against D. Stoltzfus, S. Stoltzfus, L. Kaplan by PennLive
gunpic.jpg

A 15-year-old Armstrong County boy has lost his battle to live after being accidentally shot in the head during target practice with his dad on Friday.

(file)

UPDATE: New details on Pa. boy, 15, shot dead during target practice with dad

A 15-year-old boy in western Pa. has lost his battle to live after being accidentally shot in the head during target practice on Friday.

WPXI and Valley News Dispatch report that the shooting victim, Nicholas Ursiny, of Leechburg, Pa., died Sunday afternoon at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, according to the medical examiner.

The boy was target shooting with his dad Friday in Allegheny Township, Westmoreland County, when his gun went off while he was trying to reload it.

The incident has been ruled an accident.

An autopsy was set for today.
RITE AID

A woman walks past a Rite. Rite Aid announced plans Monday to move the store into Strawberry Square. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

(CAROLYN KASTER)

Rite Aid Corporation announced plans to move its Market Street store across the street into Strawberry Square.

The store at 309-11 Market Street will move into Strawberry Square by December 2016, according to a news release announcing the plans. The new location will feature both a street level and atrium entrance.

According to the news release, Rite Aid is working with Harristown Development Corporation, a private non-profit organization formed in 1974 to revive Harrisburg's downtown. Harristown Development Corporation is announcing soon additional redevelopment plans for new and existing tenants within Strawberry Square, the release stated.

The new 14,000 square foot store, will feature Rite Aid's Wellness store format, which was introduced by the company in 2011.

"From the street level entrance, customers will find a wooden floor path leading directly to the pharmacy department, the core of Rite Aid's business. Wellness stores have pharmacists with special training in diabetes care, medication management and the ability to immunize against about a dozen diseases including flu, pneumonia, shingles and whooping cough. Also available to customers as a resource, a Wellness Ambassador, which serves as a bridge between the front end of the store and the pharmacy," the news release stated.

Among the other features of the store will be a private pharmacist consultation room where pharmacists can have conversations with patients, administer immunizations and offer other clinical pharmacy services.
The flat-black Honda Civic raced along the winding roads that trace the valleys of northern Dauphin County, neon green wheels spinning as its headlights swished back and forth in rhythm with the curves and dips in the rural highway.

Behind the wheel Michael "Hickabilly" Posten was timing his shifts to the sounds of the engine -- not to the quiet drive of a stock four-cylinder, but to the higher whine of a modified street racer. He had pulled this car back from the brink for $300 and saved it from a junkyard, his nights and weekends spent in the garage behind his mother's house in Wiconisco, turning wrenches.

It was where Michael was happiest -- grease stained fingers and a bottle of beer, country music playing on the stereo, surrounded by his tools and the myriad of projects that he had cobbled together from spare parts picked up here and there.

He had talked about selling the Civic -- his latest project in a string of trucks, jeeps and cars that stretched back across the roads crisscrossing the valley, back through Carlisle and the car shows, back through Mount Holly and deep into the rural midwest, to his grandfather's hay farm in Missouri where it seemed he was born with a wrench in his hand, a gleam in his eye and a penchant for driving fast.

The tendency to push at boundaries and raise a little hell had landed him in trouble before -- speeding tickets and run-ins with the police, arguments with his momma about slowing down -- but he always returned home, to his momma's house and the garage, his dog and his duct-taped bible.

The garage -- and really the car -- speak of his need to fix things. A trip to a junkyard was like a trip to the candy store for Michael, a place filled not with detritus but with possibilities, waiting for a man with a tinker's eye and a mechanic's touch. He was always bringing things home; broken tools or parts, animals or people, offering to help them get back on their feet, more than happy to turn a wrench to try and fix their troubles, mechanical or otherwise.

He had headed out of the house that evening on a quick run to the gas station down the street, in need of a jug of sweet tea and a Monster energy drink for work the next morning. But at the gas station he encountered a man who said he needed a ride to Williamstown -- just a few miles down the valley on Route 209. It was the type of request Michael wouldn't have hesitated to fulfill.

And so a quick run to the store stretched out, down the highway and through the night, until it was a quarter to midnight and Michael was headed home, running down West Market Street, the back-way home, a road he'd traveled a thousand times.

Flying down the road he knew so well, the telephone polls and houses ticked past, marking time and space. Every road is a journey, a passage from some place to somewhere else. Our decisions -- good or bad, right or wrong -- pile up, layer and compound. The more we try to hold on the faster time seems to flow, until everything becomes a blur. Faster and faster down the road now, minutes and miles streaming past.

Michael was 27 as he drove home, maybe a third of the way through his life. About a third of the way from Williamstown to Wiconisco the road dips slightly before rising again to crest a small hill. Then it banks to the right and continues to wind down they valley.

Maybe he was racing a motorcycle, maybe he wasn't. Maybe he was in a hurry to get home, to get some sleep before work the next morning. Or maybe Michael was just doing what Michael loved to do -- to drive fast.

That night as his Civic crested the hill for a split second Michael was caught -- a moment literally split in half; between this place and somewhere else, between the past and the present, between control and chaos, between this life and the next.

***

Friends leave mementos at the scene where Michael Posten, 27, of Wiconisco, Pa., died in a single car accident May 28, 2016, on West Market Street, Williamstown, Pa. June 15, 2016. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

"When God says it's up, it's up," said Sandra Posten, Michael's momma.

She is sitting in the garage as she often does now, surrounded by Michael's tools, his things, his projects. She is sitting on the old front seat of his Civic, which he pulled out and put on wheels when he put a new front seat in the car.

Michael had a quirk. He liked Jamison's Irish Whiskey but he would always leave one shot's worth of whiskey in the bottle that he stashed above the garage door -- just in case he needed it.

The bottle is still there, the shot still waiting for Michael to return.

His car -- or what is left of it -- sits right outside the garage doors, but Michael isn't behind the wheel. He's not the in the garage, sipping a beer and listening to country music. He's not out back around the fire ring, or cooking salmon on his homemade smoker for the picnic on Saturday. Michael isn't out in the creek fishing for baitfish to take down to the lake. He's not out with Bill, his mom's boyfriend, trying to get his truck running. He's not at McKay's Cave in Carlisle, shooting pool and flashing his winning smile, although his friends are.

They're sitting around sharing stories of Michael: of the time he and a friend took off one weekend for Ocean City in cowboy boots and blue jeans, of the time he and another friend butchered a deer they found on the side of the road, of the young woman who says Michael took her in when she had no where else to go, of the woman whose car Michael fixed after he came across her broken down on the side of the road.

As his friends gathered around her at the Cave, for a moment, Sandy's strength broke. For a moment, she let down her guard, and the tears came. She looked around and said; "I know Michael is gone, but he isn't."

She looked at each of them in turn.

"There's a piece of him, in each of you."

***

Michael Posten, 27, of Wiconisco, Pa., died in a single car accident May 28, 2016, when he wrapped his 1995 Honda Civil around a telephone pole. It sits covered in his mother's backyard. Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

Sandy isn't telling this story because she wants your pity, or your help. Not because she wants people to think Michael didn't make a bad choice on that night -- he did. She wants people to hear Michael's story, to see his car. She hopes that by doing so, maybe one person will think twice, will slow down. Maybe, in death, Michael can save a life.

"I'm just trying to figure out the plan and purpose in his death and what God wants me to do," she said.

She is considering putting the wreck on a truck and taking it around to county fairs. To show kids what can happen. To show them they are not invincible. To show them that no matter how good a driver you are, all it takes is one mistake.

"He loved speed. Speed was his gig and it finally killed him," she said.

There's was a tattoo on Michael's arm, which read "It is what it is." Another, on his leg, depicted a Phoenix rising from the ashes.

Michael wasn't perfect. He had his rough edges. He made mistakes. It is what it is. And Sandy knows there is nothing she, nor anyone else, can say or do to bring Michael back.

As long as there have been cars there have been people -- mostly young men -- who have tinkered with them. Trying tried to push the limits of what their cars can do, to go faster than everyone else. It is unlikely that Michael's death will stop this phenomena. But if his death can make one person think twice, get one kid to slow down, then Sandy believes -- firmly believes -- that his death will have had purpose.

"I don't need to be told: 'Oh I'm sorry', I don't need to hear it," she says. "I don't need anything else. I'm wanting Michael's message out there to slow these people down. ... That's what I want out of it.

"Why did Michael die? He was driving too fast. That's the message."

His friends talk about fixing the car, or taking the engine from it and putting into another car. As if, by rebuilding it they can bring Michael back. As if Michael is still out there, somewhere, driving down a lonely country road on his way home.

A few nights after he died, his mother heard another car booming through the neighborhood. She sat bolt up right and said, "Michael's back from the store!"

Bill looked at her for moment, then slowly said, "Sandy ... that's not Michael. Michael's not coming back ...

"He's gone."
esworthy update.jpg

Steven Esworthy, 32, was killed early Sunday on the 1200 block of Green Street in Harrisburg. Police say he was walking home from a wedding.

(Harrisburg police.)

UPDATE:

As the investigation continues into the early Sunday killing of a 31-year-old man who was walking through Midtown Harrisburg to a family member's home after a wedding, police have released a few additional details of the suspect.

Steven Esworthy had spent Saturday at a wedding, and close to 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, he was walking alone along the 1200 block of Green Street, police say.

That's when someone struck him in the head and neck with an object, then went through Esworthy's pockets, and fled.

Police have not yet said what Esworthy was struck with.

Investigators have now said the assailant was a black male who was wearing jeans and a white tank top that may have been wrapped around his neck.

Anyone with information, or who may know of surveillance cameras that could have caught the killing on video, should call the police, 717-558-6900 and ask for a detective.

Dauphin County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to an arrest.

Confidential tips can be submitted online.

Esworthy's killing was the sixth homicide in the city for 2016.

This post has been updated to correct Steven Esworthy's age. Initial police reports said he was 32, but the coroner's office indicated Monday he was still 31 and would have turned 32 this year.
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.
Lagniappe

Robin Wright: Former Ambassador Robert Ford

on the State Department mutiny on Syria

Smart policy should be thinking about how to make that a positive

process, through negotiations rather than through ethnic fighting. The Obama Administration has long been divided over what to do about Syria. The crisis produced one of the biggest differences between President Obama and Hillary Clinton, his first Secretary of State. The policy chasm has only deepened during the five years of conflict, which has now reportedly claimed almost half a million lives. The State Department acknowledged tersely on Friday that more than fifty American diplomats had recently submitted a letter of complaint about U.S. policy in Syria through its Dissent Channel, a sort of complaint box through which employees can voice their disagreement with official policy without fear of reprisal. Travelling in Europe, Secretary John Kerry told reporters, I think it's an important statement and I respect the process very, very much, and I will probably meet with people or have a chance to talk when we get back. Robert Ford was the last American ambassador to serve in war-torn Syria. After the uprising erupted, in 2011, Ford dared to visit opposition areas, meet with demonstrators, and pay a condolence call on the family of a slain activist. Ford was pulled out of Damascus over security concerns after the civil war broke out later that year. The State Department charged the regime of President Bashar al-Assad with incitement against Ford. In June, 2012, the Geneva I Conference on Syria agreed on the need for a transition government, including the government and opposition. Among the participants were Secretary of State Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. But in 2014, the Syrian civil war became even more complex with the emergence of the Islamic State, an extremist movement that has since seized a large chunk of northern Syria, including Raqqa, the capital of its caliphate, as well as Deir ez-Zor, Syria's seventh-largest city, and other strategic areas. In 2014, Ford received the Secretary's Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by the State Department. A long-time Middle East specialist, he continued to work on the Syria crisis from Washington until 2014, when he quit the Foreign Service in frustration over the Administration's reluctance to provide greater support to the Syrian opposition. I could no longer defend U.S. policy, he told me. Ford, who is now a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, in Washington, D.C., discussed the Syria quagmire with me on Friday. The interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. What does the letter of dissent reflect? Frustration at the State Department has come to a boil. People don't write in the Dissent Channel every day. The cessation of hostilities in Syria has broken down completely. The bombings of hospitals in Aleppo and Idlib are a violation of every human normand that's not including the barrel bombs and the chemical weapons. The effort to get a political deal is going nowhere. The Assad government has refused to make any serious concessions. It won't let in food aid, in violation of U.N. resolutions. And the Americans are watching it all happen. So the Dissent Channel message is a reflection of frustration by the people who are responsible for conducting policy on the ground. I felt that way when I leftand that was after Geneva II, in January-February, 2014. The existing policy is failing and will continue to fail. Why? I don't sense, in the message, dissent from the strategic objective, which is a negotiated settlement of the Syrian civil war, but I sense a sharp disagreement with the tactics the Administration is or is not using. The dissent message says that, without greater pressure on the Assad government, it will be impossible to secure the compromises necessary to win a political agreement and end the war. The message says that the Administration needs to reconsider tactics to generate that pressure. We all learned from Iraq that regime change is not the way to bring about positive political change. In the case of civil war, there needs to be negotiation between the opposition and the government. The question is how you increase the likelihood that it will succeed. And ever since Secretary Clinton and Sergei Lavrov concluded the communique, in June, 2012, Administration policy has failed to create the conditions necessary to succeed. Do you blame President Obama? I don't want to assign blame to any individual. There have long been disagreements in the Administration about how to proceed in Syria. The President is not the only one who has been reluctant to use all tools available to create pressure. One of the things we have seen in the Dissent Channel is frustration that those who advocate continuing the course keep calling for a strategic objective, but don't put forward a means to attain it. Hope is not a policy. It can't be the only basis of policy if there are major political consequences in nato countries. The policy of the U.S. government since the end of the Second World War has been that Europe needs to unify to be strong and to avoid more internal conflicts. This goes back to Harry Truman's timeto be strong, to resist pressure from Moscow, and to avoid falling into more world wars. Now the very unity of Europe is being called into question, in no small part because of the refugee problem out of Syria. This is beyond Syria. That we did not expect in 2012. I had no disagreements with John Kerry. He understands that there needs to be more pressure on Assad. Hillary Clinton supported doing more with the opposition as a means of getting to a political deal. That dates back to 2012. What impact is the letter likely to have? I see no indication from the long interviews by President Obama or [Deputy National Security Adviser] Ben Rhodes that they are prepared to do a deep rethink on the Syria question. So the impact of the letter may not be so great. Five years later, what is the state of play in Syria? The war has spiralled from a popular uprising demanding changes in the Syrian security establishments to an international conflict that has drawn in regional and international powers and destroyed large portions of Syria. It has also destabilized countries in Europe as well as spawned the most virulent form of Islamist extremism yet seen. Back in 2012, we in the State Department anticipated that the war was going to become nastier and ever more sectarian, but no one understood how far the Syrian government was willing to go to maintain its control in Damascus. No one foresaw that half the country would be displaced from their homes. No one foresaw that huge refugee flows would become issues for our European allies. We didn't anticipate that the Al Qaeda organization would split and produce an even more virulent formthat a more extreme form would come to control the eastern portion of Syria going into Iraq. What would you advocate? A reinvigorated effort to secure negotiations for a new government with strategic patience in the fight against the Islamic State. The Administration has relied on Kurds, which will pay short-term dividends in recapturing some territory from the Islamic State. That is good. But it will also sow certain seeds of future ethnic conflict between Syrian Arabs and Syrian Kurds. The dissent message makes clear that the focus on the Islamic State will not win the hearts and minds of enough Syrian Sunni Arabs to provide a long-term, sustainable solution to the Islamic State challenge in Syria. The Syrian Sunni Arab community views the Assad government as a greater problem than the Islamic State. Syrian human-rights organizations have pointed out that that government has killed seven times more civilians than isis has. Fast-forward two years. In 2018, Raqqa may be retaken. isis may lose Deir ez-Zor. Will the Islamic State still be there? Yes, but as an insurgency. The danger is that, just as the Palestinian center collapsed, so will the moderate Syrian center collapse. That's the message from the Dissent Channel. It says we have to win over the Sunni Arab community to defeat isis . Do you really think Assad is willing to negotiate a political transition? No, as long as he thinks he can win militarily, even it takes twenty years. Eleven months ago, in July, 2015, it was different. Assad gave a speech to the nation. He said the Army is tired. We don't have enough soldiers. A lot of soldiers have dodged the draft. We don't have enough forces to defend all places and we are having to withdraw. His forces were retreating in northwest Syria and southern Syrianot in front of the Islamic State but in front of the more moderate opposition and the Nusra Front. Even the Alawite heartland [of Assad's sectarian faction] was coming under fire. He was bitter about that. The speech showed he understood that he was losing on the groundand only when he had the mentality that losing would he be willing to make compromises. When Russian intervention began, five weeks after that speech, his position changed a hundred and eighty degrees. He said, We will not negotiate with terroristsand all armed opposition are terrorists. We will retake every inch of territory. We will fight on until total victory. The issue is how to get Assad back to the mentality of July, 2015, so we can get a ceasefire that is durable. Do you think the opposition is capable of winning? The real question is: Can they be unified enough to present a relevant and cogent program and alternative? There are many indications that they can. But it also requires that foreign patrons of different groups agree themselves on how a unified command should operate. It doesn't help for us to increase aid to some groups, with other countries aiding different groups, so they don't coordinate. Will this conflict change the face of the Middle East? We haven't got to the point that the breakup of countries is a certain outcome. But it's gotten to the point that it's becoming increasingly difficult to see how countries like Syria and Iraq will be able to maintain their unity. And the starting point for that will be an independent Kurdish state. Smart policy should be thinking about how to make that a positive process, through negotiations rather than through ethnic fighting.

Robin Wright is a contributing writer for newyorker.com, and has written for the magazine since 1988. Her first piece on Iran won the National Magazine Award for best reporting. A former correspondent for the Washington Post , CBS News, the Los Angeles Times, and the Sunday Times of London, she has reported from more than a hundred and forty countries. She is currently a joint fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Petroleumworld does not necessarily share these views Editor's Note: This commentary was originally published by The New Yorker , on June 17, 2016. Petroleumworld reprint this article in the interest of our readers. All comments posted and published on Petroleumworld, do not reflect either for or against the opinion expressed in the comment as an endorsement of Petroleumworld. All comments expressed are private comments and do not necessary reflect the view of this website. All comments are posted and published without liability to Petroleumworld. Use Notice:This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of issues of environmental and humanitarian significance. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.



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A 24-year-old woman is the second person this month to die at Long Beach Island because of strong ocean currents.

The Associated Press reported that Kristi Pisano, of Port Jefferson, New York, was hit by a wave and pulled out by the current about 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Pisano had been visiting the Jersey Shore to attend a wedding, and was unresponsive when people pulled her from the water.

Al Della Fave, a spokesman with the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, told NJ.com Pisano was swimming with her boyfriend, who initially didn't notice she had been underwater and pulled into the ocean. He didn't know Pisano wasn't a good swimmer because they hadn't been dating long.

Long Beach Township Beach Patrol said there were no lifeguards on duty at the time. When a patrolman showed up to the scene, several people were performing CPR on Pisano, NJ.com reported.

She was transported to two hospitals in New Jersey before arriving at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia, Della Fave said. She died there at 1:24 a.m. Sunday.

"This is a tragic reminder of how dangerous the ocean can be," Della Fave told NJ.com. "Even with guards, this shows how quickly things can go bad."

Pisano's death followed an incident on June 5, when 55-year-old James Clarke died of a heart attack after saving his son and two other boys from a rip current on Long Beach Island.
Jason Travis Simon was charged with sexual abuse of a child. (Photo: Colorado State Patrol)

A Colorado State Patrol trooper is credited with locating three young Idaho children traveling with a suspected child molester.

A 10, 9 and 6-year-old were found with two adults camping near the Vail Pass Rest Area by a state trooper.

An Amber Alert was issued Monday for the children, nearly two weeks after law enforcement began looking for them. Police have since placed Sarah Joy VanOcker-Dunn and 37-year-old Jason Travis Simon in custody.

Police believed the adults left Idaho with the children after they realized detectives were looking for Simon in connection with a child pornography investigation.

Simon is charged with sexual abuse of a child, and VanOcker-Dunn is being sought on a charge of custodial interference.
Denver Police Sgt. Tony Lopez Jr. was shot multiple times during a December traffic stop. (Photo: Denver PD)

Denver police Sgt. Tony Lopez Jr. walked with a limp to a courtroom lectern Friday where he stood beside his wife and, for the first time, faced the man who nearly ended his life.

Lopez glanced over to Jason Wood  who sat clad in red jail clothes and shackled  several times as he berated the 36-year-old for being cowardly, callous, and weak.

People have asked me if I have forgiven the defendant for what he has done, Lopez testified before a judge. I have not.

Wood was sentenced to 52 years in prison for shooting Lopez six times during a December traffic stop when he fired a hail of bullets at the police officer.

Jason Wood pleaded guilty to shooting Sgt. Tony Lopez of the Denver Police. Wood was sentenced to 52 years in prison Friday for the attack. (Photo: Booking Photo)

He showed little emotion as a string of Lopezs family members spoke and had letters read, keeping his eyes focused forward and away from a courtroom filled to its brim, the Denver Post reports.

Time and time and time again he has shown disregard for human life, Lopezs father, police Cmdr. Tony Lopez Sr., testified at the hearing, his voice occasionally cracking with emotion. He has unfortunately chosen a life of violence.

Wood pleaded guilty earlier this month to one count of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer and committing a crime of violence. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors dropped three original charges of assault with a deadly weapon, assault of a peace officer with a deadly weapon, and robbery.

Wood has a long criminal record in Colorado, including arrests for attempted homicide in a road-rage shooting and kidnapping. Police also said Friday he had a criminal record in Illinois and Louisiana.

I just wanted to say a little something so that he knew Im not afraid and also that I get to go enjoy my life, Sgt. Lopez said, explaining why he chose to address his assailant. (Im) going to a steakhouse tonight and hes going to eat a baloney sandwich somewhere.
The question has been asked by many in the days following the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history as to why it took Orlando Police three hours to neutralize terrorist Omar Mateen.

Mateen launched his attack on the gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., around 2 a.m. Sunday, yet the ordeal didnt end until three hours later.

Police say that during those three hours, they were rescuing clubgoers and employees and trying to assess whether the gunmans boasts  he claimed to have an explosive vest  were real. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the commander of the Orlando Police Department SWAT team described the challenges his officers faced and how they made key decisions that morning.

Officers were running inside and grabbing people and throwing them in pickup trucks to be taken to hospitals, said Capt. Mark Canty of the SWAT team. There was never a time we were sitting there twiddling our thumbs. My guys were doing things from the beginning. We werent just sitting idly by. We were doing what we needed to do to save lives.
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*The following is an opinion column by R Muse*

It is generally irrelevant what a person bases their particular worldview on so long as they keep to themselves, but it is relevant if their particular bent is founded on a failed ideology that adversely affects millions of people. That is precisely what has been happening to the citizens of Kansa with their debased Republican governor and trickle down acolyte Sam Brownback. As if there has been a dearth of bad economic news coming out of Kansas, this past week there was more bad news for the state and it is entirely down to trickle down Sam.

For a business, especially a large company, to decide to pack up operations and relocate to another state there has to be both financial incentives and, on some level, a moral imperative to uproot a growing business and the employees who make it successful. For Jeff Blackwood, the CEO of Pathfinder Health Innovations, there was what he called a motivation of conscience that factored into the healthcare companys flight from Kansas and he said, Its not so much that Im moving the company to Missouri as Im moving it away from Kansas.

Thats right, due to the abject dereliction of Brownbacks monumental economic debacle as a result of Republicans love affair with trickle down economic policy, Kansas lost a large and growing healthcare company, the desperately-needed tax revenue it generated, and the steady job growth it provided to the state wallowing in financial despair. There is a sense of irony in Blackwoods decision to get out of Kansas simply because Brownbacks promise to Kansas residents was that by giving the rich and corporations epic tax cuts at the expense of education, social services and tax revenue, a stampede of new businesses would flock to the state to set up shop.

The idea of a growing company fleeing a catastrophically-damaged state like Kansas is not necessarily noteworthy; who in their right mind would want to stay in an obviously failing state with a tyrant like Brownback decimating it with every new economic disaster? Economic cataclysm aside, it was the Pathfinder CEO Blackwoods stinging indictment of Brownback and his Republican cohorts filthy assault on the people of Kansas that should be the news story of the month; particularly during a general election campaign season.

Mr. Blackwood did what too few business owners with a conscience have done and used his voice to lash out at what he called Sam Brownbacks destructive policies. Blackwood slammed Brownback with a publicly released letter announcing the companys escape from Kansas replete with a serious message to the governor and Kansas Republicans explaining why Pathfinder Health Innovations cant get away from Kansas fast enough.

In part Blackwood wrote:

There are a lot of things that factor into this decision. For one, the company has outgrown our current space. There are no seats left, and we have new employees coming on every month. The state of Missouri is also helping us with some tax incentives, but these are minor considerations.

I cant in good conscience continue to give our tax money to a government that actively works against the needs of its citizens; a state that is systematically targeting the citizens in most need, denying them critical care and reducing their cost of life as if theyre simply a tax burden that should be ignored.

I believe that it is the responsibility of business owners and people with some voice in society should speak up against these destructive policies. And I believe it is far past the time that Sam Brownback and his cronies admit the damage theyve caused to the people of Kansas and resign in the shame they deserve.

Now, it is not often that a CEO slams his companys home state, and its pathetic Republican leader(s), for giving extremely generous tax cuts that conventional wisdom dictates should be grounds for unwavering loyalty. However, it is glaringly apparent that Mr. Blackwood has a moral compass and a social conscience not often witnessed in the corporate world, especially from a CEO. It is worth taking the time to read all of Blackwoods assault on Brownback because he diligently takes apart trickle-down economics including citing they originated from economic fool Arthur Laffer during the Reagan administration.

Blackwood noted that after giving ridiculous tax cuts to the rich and veritable tax exemption to LLCs and professional firms, Brownback shifted tax burdens onto the people who can least afford it. He particularly railed on Brownback for a heavy toll on children and the developmentally disabled, destroying a previously excellent public school system, and slashing healthcare in what he said was a test center of trickle down economics. As Blackwood said, Nowhere has there been as thorough an implementation of Laffers policy recommendationsand nowhere has there been as dramatic failure of government.

It is unclear how long Mr. Blackwood has been following Kansas politics, but causing a failed government was, and still is, the primary goal of the conservative trickle down policy. This is according to Governor Sam Brownback himself, who pledged that his massive tax-cutting goal is to shrink government in accord with conservatives anti-taxation agenda to a manageable size that can easily be drowned in a bathtub.

At least Mr. Blackwood will have extracted his company from Brownbacks Kansas disaster and hopefully his exit-announcement will serve as a valuable lesson the rest of the nation should, but will not, learn from. In fact, as Esquire writer Charles Pierce and many, many other political opinion writers have noted, The sorry condition of Kansas under complete tea party dominance serves as a textbook, laboratory-tested example of what unchecked Republican policies lead to.

The real tragedy of Kansas, and it is a self-imposed tragedy, is that despite Mr. Blackwoods screed outlining the despicable actions of Governor Sam Brownback and his Republican destroyers, nothing is going to change. Brownback has been assailed by members of his own party, the Kansas Supreme Court, and several ratings agencies over his trickle down disaster. To think that one CEO announcing he was moving his growing company, more jobs and tax revenue out of Kansas because Brownback is an economic failure and social monster will have any effect on Brownback is a pipe dream. However, although Brownback will never admit he and his cronies have wrought untold damage to the people of Kansas, one can only dream that as Mr. Blackwood believes, Brownback and his cronies should resign in the shame they deserve; something that could only happen if Republicans like Sam Brownback had the capacity to know shame.
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*The following is an opinion column by R Muse *

Deranged is a term that can loosely be interchanged with or refer to a psychosis. However, it is more commonly a generic psychiatric term for a persons mental state described as involving a loss of contact with reality. For the past seven-and-a-half years, Republicans have suffered what has been dubbed Obama derangement syndrome that has completely separated them from reality on myriad levels; none the least of accepting the fact that Barack Obama is the President of the United States.

Actually, Republicans have made the term deranged their special dysfunction because if they were, or are, not obstructing any and every proposal the President supports, they have actively sought to derail his presidency, regardless the harm to the nation or the people they claim to represent. Over the course of the Presidents tenure in office, Republicans have even called for an armed rebellion against his presidency and at one point called for a national (imprecatory) prayer seeking the Presidents death.

Apparently, that Christian act has not lost favor and in what can only be defined as purely deranged, one United States senator once again called for imprecatory prayers seeking the Presidents untimely demise, and the psychotic senator did it in front of a group of Christians at a Faith and Freedom gathering. For the record, an imprecatory prayer is an appeal to the god of the Christian bible to invoke evil upon or curse ones enemies.

Senator David Perdue (R-GA) told Faith and Freedom attendees to pray for Obama. He said,

We should pray like Psalm 109:8 says:

Let his days be few, and let another take his office.

Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.

The entirety of the loving Christian prayer calls for more grief and misery on the victims family and good name, but the point of relating Perdues abominable action is that a sitting United States senator had no qualms calling for the demise of the President by gods hands; it is the definition of being mentally deranged. Perdue has no right to draw breath, much less sit in a position of power and influence over 300 million American citizens, but that is the state of the Republican Party in particular and American politics in general.

Perdue is certainly not the only Republican senator to openly call for visiting misery on President Obama. It was hardly mentioned last week, but another Republican piece of human waste, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark) revealed that he was solely responsible for putting a hold on one of the Presidents ambassadorial nominees simply to inflict special pain on the President.

The Presidents nominee will never serve in the capacity for which she was chosen because after a two-year Senate Republican hold on her confirmation courtesy of Cotton, and a brief illness (leukemia), her life force expired less than two weeks ago. The Presidents choice, Cassandra Butts, was set to be ambassador to the Bahamas after serving in the Presidents Administration as Deputy White House Counsel. The President nominated Butts in 2014 but Senate Republicans put a hold on her confirmation because they are deranged and cannot accept that Barack Obama is the President.

The senator responsible for the hold was Tom Cotton who, as Salons Gary Legum put it, has predicated his entire brief Senate career on being an irredeemable dickhead. A New York Times writer, Frank Bruni, did a nice trace of Butts story and connection to President Obama. According to Bruni, Cassandra Butts actually went to meet with Senator Cotton to ask why he would not lift the hold on her nomination. The irredeemable dickhead Cotton had the audacity to explain to Ms. Butts that he knew that she was a close friend of the President from first encountering each other in a line for financial-aid forms at Harvard Law School where they were classmates. Cotton told Ms. Butts that blocking her nomination as ambassador to the Bahamas was his Republican way to inflict special pain on the president.

Senator Cottons spokeswoman did not dispute Ms. Butts characterization of the meeting and, she took care to stress in separate emails, that Senator Cotton had enormous respect for Cassandra Butts and her career. However, that enormous respect took a back seat to Cottons mental illness that informed his service as a Republican senator from Arkansas entailed inflicting special pain on the President.

Now, these instances are certainly not out of character for Republicans whether they are members of Congress, conservative talking heads, or presidential candidates, and that is precisely why it is a mystery that anyone is surprised that Donald Trump is the GOP standard bearer. Both Senators Tom Cotton and David Perdue perfectly represent what the Republican Party has evolved into over the last 40 years, and why Donald Trump acts deranged to garner support from the Party faithful.

The entire Republican movement, with all its iterations, is beyond deranged, not unlike their psychotic, racist and religiously-twisted base. It is not just Tom Cotton, David Perdue or Donald Trump; it is the entirety of the movement that has gone completely off the rails. Still, Republicans will make a strong showing in November and the sad fact is that it is a damning indictment of what America has devolved into.

Unless voters sweep Republicans out of power in Washington and regionally, America will continue on a path of increasing dysfunction. At this point it appears a significant portion of the population is just as mentally deranged as Republicans and it is precisely why America will never progress beyond being a nasty hate-mongering group that exists to visit misery on everyone including their fellow citizens and the legally-elected President of the United States.
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Talking about Donald Trumps proposed travel ban Sunday on CNNs State of the Union, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) told host Dana Bash that his masters travel ban would target people who come from countries that have sent a large number of people that have become terrorists.

Asked by Bah if Trump is in favor of a ban on all immigration from certain countries, Sessions answered that,



He simply said, and the way I understand, and what I think, is that we should slow down. Lets have a pause and begin to analyze where the threats are coming from. We have a toxic ideology, hopefully very small within Islam; certainly most people, most Muslims dont agree with this violent, jihadist approach. And we need to figure out a better way to identify that.

Watch courtesy of CNN (relevant discussion begins at 2:25 mark):

Bash asked if Trumps plan is to look at certain countries or certain religions and how the ban would work in practical terms. Sessions answered that about 95 percent or so are from Islamic countries.

Bash asked which countries they were looking at specifically, naming as an example, Saudi Arabia. This was Sessions answer:

The public data that we have indicate there are quite a number of countries in that region that have sent a large number of people that have become terroristsPakistan has a number, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen.

Significantly, Sessions did not include Saudi Arabia even though, if he wants to find the point of origin for terrorists, he should: 15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers were citizens of Saudi Arabia.

Why might Donald Trump give Saudi Arabia a pass? Well, Donald Trump is a businessman. He has huge business ties with Russia and you might notice he is soft on Russia too, and very cozy with strongman Vladimir Putin. We are right to question whether NATO is more important to Trump than his business ventures in Russia.

And despite blaming them for 9/11, he also has huge business ties with Saudi Arabia, including a potential hotel project in Jeddah.

In other words, there is a huge gap between Trumps rhetoric and reality. Trump has no significant business interests in Afghanistan. It is easy to blame Afghanistan, particularly since the Orlando nightclub shooters parents emigrated from that country.

But about 50 people died in Orlando; over 3,000 died on 9/11. This seems then to be less about danger vectors than sources of wealth: It would seem that Trump is picking out countries which he is not invested in, or, put another way, countries where rich Muslims are enriching him.

He also, according to Sessions, doesnt plan on punishing those rich Muslims by including them in his travel ban, saying Youve got diplomats and business people, who, apparently, dont bring dangerous ideologies with them. Never mind that Osama bin Laden began as a businessman with a dangerous ideology  son of a Jeddah construction magnate, no less.

Donald Trump says nobody owns him and he is beholden to none, when the fact is, he is beholden to everybody. And when push comes to shove, the American people need to ask if Trump will be more interested in his business empire than in the welfare of the United States.

Americas relations with Saudi Arabia are complicated. But Donald Trump is the candidate with yuge! business ties with that country, and his rhetoric therefore assumes a more nod, nod, wink, wink appearance when pitted against his business ventures (like four Trump companies with Jeddah in their names).

What comes first? Americas safety or Trumps wallet? It is by no means clear that Donald Trump, despite all his talk about making America great again, isnt more interested in making Donald Trump richer more than he is America safer.
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A Chinese supercomputer has topped a list of the world's fastest computers for the seventh straight year  and for the first time the winner uses only Chinese-designed processors instead of U.S. technology.

The announcement Monday is a new milestone for Chinese supercomputer development and a further erosion of past U.S. dominance of the field.

In fourth place was Sequoia, an IBM BlueGene/Q system installed at DOE's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory that was partly designed and manufactured in Rochester. An IBM Seqoia system was the top system in the world in November 2007 but has been passed by several others since then. The last IBM system to be No. 1 was Roadrunner at Los Alamos National Laboratory in June 2009.

Last year's Chinese winner in the TOP500 ranking maintained by researchers in the United States and Germany slipped to No. 2, followed by a computer at the U.S. government's Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee.

Also this year, China displaced the United States for the first time as the country with the most supercomputers in the top 500. China had 167 systems and the United States had 165. Japan was a distant No. 3 with 29 systems.

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Supercomputers are one of a series of technologies targeted by China's ruling Communist Party for development and have received heavy financial support. Such systems are used for weather forecasting, designing nuclear weapons, analyzing oilfields and other specialized purposes.

"Considering that just 10 years ago, China claimed a mere 28 systems on the list, with none ranked in the top 30, the nation has come further and faster than any other country in the history of supercomputing," the TOP500 organizers said in a statement.

This year's champion is the Sunway TaihuLight at the National Supercomputing Center in Wuxi, west of Shanghai, according to TOP500. It was developed by China's National Research Center of Parallel Computer Engineering & Technology using entirely Chinese-designed processors.

The TaihuLight is capable of 93 petaflops, or quadrillion calculations per second, according to TOP500. It is intended for use in engineering and research including climate, weather, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and data analytics.

Its top speed is about five times that of Oak Ridge's Titan, which uses Cray, NVIDIA and Opteron technology.

Other countries with computers in the Top 10 were Japan, Switzerland, Germany and Saudi Arabia.

The TaihuLight is due to be introduced Tuesday at the International Supercomputing Conference in Frankfurt by the director of the Wuxi center, Guangwen Yang.

"As the first No. 1 system of China that is completely based on homegrown processors, the Sunway TaihuLight system demonstrates the significant progress that China has made in the domain of designing and manufacturing large-scale computation systems," Yang was quoted as saying in the TOP500 statement.

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The TaihuLight uses Chinese-developed ShenWei processors, "ending any remaining speculation that China would have to rely on Western technology to compete effectively in the upper echelons of supercomputing," TOP500 said in a statement.

The second-fastest computer, the Tianhe-2 at the National Supercomputer Center in the southern city of Guangzhou, is capable of 33 petaflops. It uses chips made by Intel Corp.

Among countries with the most computers on the top 500 list, Germany was in fourth place with 26 systems, France was next with 18, followed by Britain with 12.

HPE has the lead in systems and now has 127 systems (25.4 percent), followed by Lenovo with 84 systems. Cray now has 60 systems, followed by IBM with 38 systems.

The TOP500 is compiled by Erich Strohmaier of NERSC/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Jack Dongarra of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Horst Simon of NERSC/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Martin Meuer of Prometeus GmbH, a German technology company. Another contributor, Hans Meuer of Germany's University of Mannheim, died in 2014.
EAU CLAIRE, Wis.  For years, Peter Farrow has been a critic of health care costs in this part of Wisconsin that rank among the highest in the state and nation.

Farrow, CEO of Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire, has long decried the idea that more health care providers in the region will reduce prices for consumers. Adding providers in the past certainly hasn't curbed costs, he said.

But Farrow said he believes Friday's announcement by Marshfield Clinic Health System officials to build a hospital in Eau Claire could actually lead to lower medical-related costs. The hospital and cancer center would be built at the site of The Plaza Hotel & Suites on West Clairemont Avenue.

"I have been as skeptical as anyone that adding more health care providers to the Chippewa Valley will drive down costs. It simply hasn't happened that way," Farrow said. "But if Marshfield Clinic is really committed to driving down costs, I believe it is definitely achievable. I think it can be done."

Marshfield Clinic Health System CEO Dr. Susan Turney acknowledged the high health care costs in the region as spelled out in Wisconsin Hospital Association statistics. By combining different facets of its health care network at the hospital, Marshfield officials will be able "to maximize efficiencies and start reducing patient costs while providing even higher quality care and a great patient experience," Turney said.

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Eau Claire health care providers have blamed high health care costs here in part on low reimbursement rates for Medicare and Medicaid patients. They serve a disproportionately high percentage of those patients as a regional health care hub that attracts people from relatively poor rural areas in northwestern Wisconsin, the providers say.

Farrow said he doesn't entirely buy that argument, given that some other parts of the state are home to more poor or elderly people who qualify for those programs than the Eau Claire region.

"Some of the costs here are inexplicably high," he said.

The notion that adding another provider to the regional health care market will lower costs by making the marketplace more competitive hasn't been proven true so far. Costs have continued to rise in recent years as Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire and HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital have expanded significantly, and OakLeaf Surgical Hospital grew after moving from Eau Claire to Altoona, where it built new facilities.

So why does Farrow believe the addition of a new Marshfield cancer center next year and a hospital in 2018 could lead to lower costs? That could happen, he said, because he believes adding another major medical facility will max out how many providers the region can support and could mean some providers could lose patients, thereby prompting competition between them that could drive down prices.

"I think we will see some winners and losers this time," Farrow said. "I think this hospital will get us to the point where we can't just keep growing and adding more services and have enough patients to pay for them, and that in itself could drive down costs."

The fact that Marshfield officials went public with their goal to reduce costs puts added pressure on them to accomplish that goal, Farrow said.

"I think (Marshfield) has something to prove," Farrow said. "If they can lower costs, if that is part of their mission, they will have an impact on (medical) costs in the Chippewa Valley. If they don't, we will continue to see higher costs."

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Bob McCoy, president and CEO of the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce, said it remains to be seen whether Marshfield officials can really curb rising health care costs.

"I know Marshfield said that is their expectation, but I don't have any evidence of that," McCoy said. "We will just have to see."

Also uncertain is whether Eau Claire can support another hospital.

"Are we big enough for a fourth hospital? I'm not sure," McCoy said. "Others would say we have enough already, but Marshfield obviously believes they can make this model work."

The key to reducing health care costs lies not in the number of providers but in changing the way we pay for those services, said Thomas Kemp, chairman of the UW-Eau Claire economics department. He predicts demand for health care will be enough to support another hospital, but

curbing costs will have to come via an overhaul of the current system, he said.

True competition between hospitals won't exist, he said, as long as insurance companies negotiate deals that limit the number of providers people can see or include price breaks for certain providers compared with others.

"If people are limited as to which doctors they can see or which hospitals they can visit, it really limits competition," he said.

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While many people complain about health care-related costs, Kemp said, changing the existing system always proves difficult, as evidenced by controversy surrounding the enactment of the federal Affordable Care Act.

"With health care you're talking about people's lives, and nothing is more personal than that," he said.
Today's column is all about mystery.

Over the many years I've penned this column for readers worldwide, one of the most common queries and haunting mysteries is, why doesn't Mayo Clinic use an apostrophe in "Saint Marys Hospital"?

No one seems to have a good, clear answer about how and why that apostrophe was discontinued, contrary to timeless rules of punctuation. I've simply attributed it to a modernization craze from 50 years ago or thereabouts.

But Ken Allsen, an Answer Maniac and local historian, thinks he may have found the smoking gun. "I was doing a bit of research today, reading the detailed history prepared for the 100th anniversary of our local Franciscan Community in 1977. I stumbled over a footnote reference to a letter written in 1955 by Sister Mary Brigh Cassidy , then head of Saint Marys Hospital.

"Obviously replying to an inquiry about the ungrammatical missing apostrophe, she states, 'After 1940, Saint Mary's Hospital deleted the apostrophe. The present title, which functions as a trademark, is Saint Marys Hospital.'

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"I thought of you when I saw this and decided to share it with you in case the questions ever arises again. I think Sister Mary Brigh is an unimpeachable source on this one."

Yes, if Sister Mary Brigh, who led Saint Marys for 22 years and died in 1992 , was the source, you can probably take it to the bank. FYI, Sister Domitilla DuRocher was the administrator from 1939 to 1949.

One mystery solved. Here's the next one.

A while back, I reminded you that the backwaters of the Mississippi River in the Wabasha area tend to smell like my kitty's litter box in springtime, and to some degree through the summer, and that experts really haven't explained it.

It's an annual puzzle to be solved, and an excuse for me to have some admittedly juvenile fun with puns involving words such as "urine."

Not long after that memorable column on May 16, a reader named Hunkey D.yearned to have his theory on the record:

"I'm surprised you could not figure this out -- being from a river town, we all know it is the start of the mayfly season. In the stagnant waters, the larvae come to the top of the water and pugh ..."

Hunkey thinks he's flushed out the truth, but frankly, the mayfly angle is too easy and doesn't really explain the summer-long odor near Nelson, Wis., as opposed to up and down the river when the mayflies are ripe. But I'll grade that theory P for plausible.

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Keep trying. We'll get to the bottom of this yet.

And the final mystery of the day: I'll have more evidence on Tuesday regarding the Mystery of the Disappearing Statues. Two amateur sleuths have turned up details about the missing Lincoln and Washington statues that were gifts to the city from the Mayo family more than a hundred years ago.

Get your shovels ready.
FREMONT  The Fremont Store on Saturday celebrated 160 years of offering sugar, flour and other necessities, as well as a big dose of history.

The store was built in 1856 south of Lewiston by Luther C. Rice, who named it in honor of John C. Fremont, a Republican candidate for president at the time. Rice sold it after 12 years and there have been several more owners, but all have kept the Fremont Store open, making it Minnesota's oldest continuously-run grocery store.

Martha Johnson, 100, took over the Fremont Store after her son Donnie, who had owned the store, died in 2004.

The Johnson family moved to the Fremont Township in 1949 from Hayfield after Martha's husband Martin became manager at the Fremont Creamery. Growing up in Fremont with his family, Donnie became interested in the store after it was put up for sale in 1978 by former owner Frank Root.

"The store went up for sale and he said, Mom, I think I can run it," Martha said.

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Donnie has muscular dystrophy, but he surprised doctors by living a full life before dying at 68. He would sit in a wheelchair to stock shelves, chat with customers and sell the necessities.

Martha now lives in a house near the store and spends her days running the counter, stocking the shelves, and doing everything it takes to keep the store in operation. One store tradition unusual in today's society is the honor system  customers place their money next to the register and make their own change.

The celebration Saturday attracted several generations of people who had grown up visiting the Fremont Store. With music playing, groups of people sat in lawn chairs or on benches and reminisced about the good old days.

Three of these people were Jim Mueller, Kim Wirt, and Leann Jacobson, lifelong friends who had all grown up walking distance from the Fremont Store in the 1960s.

Leann remembers riding her bike to the store and visiting with Frank Root, who ran the store until he was 95. She said that she and her friends traveled to the store almost every day. These kind of memories are common among those who grew up in Fremont, as the store was a central part of the community.

"Fremont is a good place to be a kid," said Mueller. "We had some great adventures here."

One adventure that Mueller, Wirt, and Jacobson remember fondly is when they would return from vocational bible school to find that Martin Johnson had hid their bicycles.

"We'd have to go on a mission to find our bicycles when we got back," said Mueller. "How he found time to do that, I don't know."

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Having run the store for about 12 years, Martha said that her favorite part is the people that walk through the historic doors. "It's my therapy," said Martha. "People just don't get together much anymore."

Although there are regulars, many people from around the country and even around the world have stopped into the store to visit with Martha. Visitors have come from as far as Switzerland, Sweden, Australia and Ecuador.

At age 100, Martha said that she has no plans to retire. "I wouldn't know how. What would I do?" she said. "If I was in a nursing home I wouldn't be able to meet all these people."

Memories that make Martha smile include store dances, putting on plays and bringing food to newcomers to the area.

For the event, long-time customers and those from around the area were encouraged to bring pictures of the store, town hall, creamery and school to celebrate the history of the store and the impact it has had on the close-knit Fremont community.

"So many of the families in Fremont are families that have been here for their whole entire life," said Jacobson. "That's what makes this community so unique."
MONEY CREEK  A St. Augustin, Fla., motorcyclist was injured just before noon Saturday when he hit a deer as he was riding south on Houston County Road 26 east of Money Creek.

The State Patrol said Ronald R. Strong, 65, was taken the Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, Wis. He is in fair condition today, according to a Gundersen spokeswoman.

The crash was reported at 11:38 a.m.
Deal or no deal?

That's the big question in St. Paul as Gov. Mark Dayton and legislative leaders try to reach an agreement on calling a special session. Left undone is a $1 billion public works bill and a $260 million package of tax cuts. The governor and leaders are slated to meet Tuesday to resume negotiations. But hopes that a deal can be reached are beginning to dim.

Rep. Duane Quam, R-Byron, said the DFL governor's requirements for a special session are unreasonable. Dayton has said he wants lawmakers to agree to $183 million worth of additional projects in the public works bill. Quam said he is particularly upset that the governor wants lawmakers to remove all earmarks for transportation funding. That would include getting rid of a provision setting aside money to help expand U.S. 14 between Dodge Center and Owatonna.

"He is being outrageous," Quam said. "There's a difference between a dictatorship and a governor, and he needs to learn that. That's the problem."

Rep. Jeanne Poppe, DFL-Austin, is also frustrated by the situation but she said House Republicans are the ones to blame for the political gridlock. She said GOP lawmakers have not shown a willingness to work with the governor toward a solution.

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"They are not coming forward with any new proposals. They are not continuing to negotiate on anything. They are just kind of standing firm that what we did is what we did and we need to come together and do that," Poppe said.

House Taxes Committee Chairman Greg Davids, R-Preston, said the major roadblock to a special session deal is funding for Southwest Light Rail in the Twin Cities. He said the governor is insisting that funding for the project be part of any deal. Davids said that is a "non-starter" for House Republicans.

"The governor is holding up tax relief and transportation funding for Highway 14 and all the other highways because he's not getting his train. That's his decision," Davids said. "If he can back off the train, there's 100 percent chance we'd have a special session."

Red Wing DFL Sen. Matt Schmit sees things differently. He said the amendment to fund light rail added to the failed $1 billion borrowing bill in the final moments of the legislative session would have allowed Hennepin County to boost taxes to pay for the train. As a lawmaker from greater Minnesota, Schmit said he sees that idea as a "no-brainer."

"From a rural state legislator perspective, I think it's a great idea for us to take metropolitan transit off of the agenda of the state Legislature every year, free up more dollars and resources in the state for rural roads and bridges," Schmit said.

The Red Wing Democrat said he would like to see a special session called so lawmakers can pass the $1 billion bonding bill and tax cuts, but he fears the slow pace of talks will make reaching a deal difficult.

"I think the deeper we get into campaign season, the less likely it is that we'll find common ground," Schmit said.

Davids agrees.

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He added, "Every day that goes by, there's less of a chance that there'll be a special session."
I can image clinic patients reserve hotel rooms until Friday, so they can attend Thursdays on First. The two-block, busy stretch of First Avenue, filled with music, market and massive crowds of attendees, is one that visitors can use to symbolize Rochester.

Vendors operate close to one another, and artists attract audiences just sidewalk blocks from one another. Crowds arrive to this event because it is the culture of our city colliding with each participant.

Visitors to the city arriving on Thursday would expect the city to remain in this state of exuberant excitement eternally. If Rochester was like Thursdays on First all week, the goals of Destination Medical Center would be accomplished before sketches transposed into steel skyscrapers.

Although I understand vendors conduct transactions aside from the event, as a street performer, I cannot help but be enchanted by the simultaneous collision of the city's culture with business competition for customers and artists competing for audiences, as attendees enjoy themselves in the midst. This event not only competes for customers, but on citizens creating the culture of Rochester.

Thursdays on First provides the platform for citizens to create the Rochester culture, but let's not wait for Thursday to flourish our city's presence. Let us use it as an incubator and not the only visible sign, to visitors, of culture in our city.

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Christian Nisbit

Rochester
"Ka-chuk, ka-chuck kachukkachuckkachuk. KA ka-chuk ka-chuk kachuckkachuck"

If that rattling noise over sidewalk blocks is all you know about skateboarding, we want to use International Go Skateboarding Day 2016 to expose you to some other sounds associated with skateboarding.

Words like brotherhood, perseverance, creativity, acceptance, selflessness, grace.

"Every race is involved, and no one's hating on you because of the color of your skin or your religion or anything like that. If you're on a skateboard, you're on a skateboard. That's all that matters. The same with BMX and scooters, even though I might not favor those," said Collin Gaul, a member of Keep Pushing Forward, a nonprofit started by area skaters to improve the Silver Lake skatepark.

Society could take some notes.

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When Gaul got back into skating, he also reprised his role providing lessons to young skaters. After talking with his students and fellow skaters about how beat-up the park's decade-old, original metal box was, Gaul and a pupil's mother started talking about solutions. Contacting the city as individuals yielded limited results, so they decided to get organized and Keep Pushing Forward was born.

Through coordination with Mike Nigbur, the city's head of parks and forestry, they got a new cement box built. Now in possession of enough funding for detailed park expansion plans, the group is seeking input from the city's skate park users.

"To me, this place is a home, and I kind of just like keeping things tidy around my actual house, so I just brought that to here. I want to keep this place going and get the expansion going," said Cory Distad, a daily fixture at the park and its unofficial caretaker.

Distad sweeps, picks up litter and acts as a lost-and-found for shirts, backpacks and other possessions left behind. It's part of how he and Gaul keep the culture alive. They lead by example and teach younger skaters to take turns and give back.

"That's what we do. We all take care of each other," Gaul said as he motioned toward two younger skaters who were wearing his and Distad's old shoes and skating hand-me-down boards. "We're a brotherhood of friends. We look out for each other, we teach each other, we help each other. That's what the skateboarding community is all about."

"For me, I used to look up to Collin and the older generation, and a lot of them have moved away now," Distad said. "Now I just kind of look at myself as kind of, kids looking up to me how I used to look up at Collin and his generation. Just kind of give the kids, like, hey, he's really good, I want to be someone to look up to."

With International Go Skateboarding Day is Tuesday, the sidewalk block ka-chucking will crescendo. We hope you'll join us in celebrating rather than chastising. Skateboarding isn't a nuisance. It's pointless fun in the face of purpose-obsessed capitalism. Resistance to it comes in both physical and attitudinal ways. Those knobs on handrails and ledges around the city? They're only there to stop skaters.

That resistance just fuels perseverance, though.

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So, before calling the police or security when you see someone getting free in Mayo Clinic's concrete jungle, think about giving them a surf's up sign or a hearty cry of "skate or die." Anything to let them know that you, too, want to keep the stoke alive.
Do you remember what happened when the Berlin Wall fell? Until that moment, nobody realized just how decadent Communism had become. It had tanks, guns and nukes, but nobody really believed in its ideology anymore; its officials and enforcers were mere careerists, who folded at the first shock.

It seems to me that you need to think about what happened to the GOP this election cycle the same way.

The Republican establishment was easily overthrown because it was already hollow at the core. Donald Trump's taunts about "low-energy" Jeb Bush and "little Marco" Rubio worked because they contained a large element of truth. When Bush and Rubio dutifully repeated the usual conservative cliches, you could see that there was no sense of conviction behind their recitations. All it took was the huffing and puffing of a loudmouthed showman to blow their houses down.

But as Trump is finding out, the Democratic establishment is different.

As some political scientists are now acknowledging, America's two major parties are not at all symmetric. The GOP is, or was until Trump arrived, a top-down hierarchical structure enforcing a strict, ideologically pure party line. The Democrats, by contrast, are a "coalition of social groups," from teachers' unions to Planned Parenthood, seeking specific benefits from government action.

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This diversity of interests sometimes reduces Democrats' effectiveness: the old Will Rogers joke, "I am not a member of any organized political party  I'm a Democrat" still rings true. But it also means that the Democratic establishment, such as it is, is resilient against Trump-style coups.

But wait: Didn't Hillary Clinton face her own insurgency in the person of Bernie Sanders, which she barely turned back? Actually, no.

For one thing, it wasn't all that close. Clinton won pledged delegates by almost four times Barack Obama's margin in 2008; she won the popular vote by double digits.

Nor did she win by burying her rival in cash. In fact, Sanders outspent her all the way, spending twice as much as she did on ads in New York, which she won by 16 percentage points.

Also, Clinton faced immense, bizarre hostility from the news media. Last week Harvard's Shorenstein Center released a report on media treatment of the candidates during 2015, showing that Clinton received by far the most unfavorable coverage. Even when reports focused on issues rather than alleged scandals, 84 percent of her coverage was negative  twice as high as for Trump. As the report notes, "Clinton's negative coverage can be equated to millions of dollars in attack ads, with her on the receiving end."

And yet she won, fairly easily, because she had the solid support of key elements of the Democratic coalition, especially nonwhite voters.

But will this resilience persist in the general election? Early indications are that it will. Trump briefly pulled close in the polls after he clinched the Republican nomination, but he has been plunging ever since. And that's despite the refusal of Sanders to concede or endorse the presumptive nominee, with at least some Bernie or Busters still telling pollsters they won't back her.

Meanwhile, Trump is flailing. He's tried all the tactics that worked for him in the Republican contest  insults, derisive nicknames, boasts  but none of it is sticking. Conventional wisdom said he would be helped by a terrorist attack, but the atrocity in Orlando, Florida, seems to have hurt him instead: Clinton's response looked presidential, his didn't.

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Worse yet from his point of view, there's a concerted effort by Democrats  Clinton herself, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, President Barack Obama and more  to make the great ridiculer look ridiculous (which he is). And it seems to be working.

Why is Clinton holding up so well against Trump, when establishment Republicans were so hapless? Partly it's because America as a whole, unlike the Republican base, isn't dominated by angry white men; partly it's because, as anyone watching the Benghazi hearing realized, Clinton herself is a lot tougher than anyone on the other side.

But a big factor, I'd argue, is that the Democratic establishment in general is fairly robust. I'm not saying that its members are angels, which they aren't. Some, no doubt, are personally corrupt. But the various groups making up the party's coalition really care about and believe in their positions  they're not just saying what the Koch brothers pay them to say.

So pay no attention to anyone claiming that Trumpism reflects either the magical powers of the candidate or some broad, bipartisan upsurge of rage against the establishment. What worked in the primary won't work in the general election, because only one party's establishment was already dead inside.

Paul Krugman is a Nobel Prize-winning economist, a professor at Princeton University and a columnist for the New York Times.
Along came the alligator.

A horrifying story at the end of a horrifying stretch, a heartbreaking coda befitting a nation on perpetual edge.

That the story would go viral was guaranteed: a 2-year-old grabbed, his father trying in vain to fight off the primordial beast, an unforeseen danger lurking in what is supposed to be the happiest place on earth.

It is human nature to be mesmerized by such a tale. In the early days of cable news, we could not avert our national gaze from Jessica McClure, the 18-month-old who fell into a well in her aunt's backyard in Midland, Texas. Baby Jessica's rescue was the subject of round-the-clock coverage during the 58 hours workers labored frantically to free her.

Decades before came the Lindbergh Baby, snatched from his crib at 20 months, his decomposed body found two months later, after a tabloid frenzy and a nationwide manhunt, just five miles from home.

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These stories tug at the heartstrings but they also evoke our deepest insecurities  that peril is omnipresent and vigilance unavailing, that happiness and security can evaporate in the unlucky happenstance of a fleeting moment.

You can be a random toddler in a scruffy backyard day care center or "the most famous baby in the world," as The New York Daily News called Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr., put to bed by your nurse in your country mansion. No one is safe. You do not have to be a parent to suffer nightmares.

Which is why the timing of the alligator story magnified its impact. It hit an anxious nation already reeling from the massacre in Orlando. Unimaginable would be the word here except that these episodes  San Bernardino, Charleston, Newtown, Aurora, Tucson, Fort Hood, Virginia Tech  have become all too imaginable.

We glance at the news alert, then brace ourselves to learn in which bucket of evil and animus the latest belongs: who by airplane and who by anthrax; who by Islamic State sympathizer and who by racist skinhead; who by deranged loner and who by alienated co-worker.

The threat may not be existential, as President Obama likes to remind us, but that does not make it any less unsettling. The alligator lunging out of the bucolic pond is always scarier to contemplate than the fiery highway crash, even if the latter is far more likely.

Meantime, our national jitteriness is not solely a function of worries over terrorism or gun violence. We are a country on edge  about America's role in the world, about the functioning of the American political system, and about the resilience of the American dream.

Nearly half of those surveyed by the Pew Research Center say the United States is a "less powerful and important world leader than it was 10 years ago." Just 19 percent of Americans say they can trust the government "just about always" or "most of the time"  among the lowest levels in the last half-century. Fewer than half express "a lot" of confidence in the nation's future. Just one-third say they believe the next generation will be better off than their own.

And then there is the election, in which Donald Trump ignites and inflames this fear, with ominous, overblown warnings of dangerous terrorists "pouring in" to the country by the thousands.

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"If we don't get tough, and if we don't get smart, and fast, we're not going to have our country anymore," Trump, typically hyperbolic, asserted last week. "There will be nothing, absolutely nothing, left." Left unchecked, he said, Hillary Clinton would "bring vastly more radical Islamic immigration into this country threatening not only our society but our entire way of life."

It will not surprise you to hear me say that the country does face a serious threat  from Trump and Trumpism. A fearful public is always susceptible to the tyrant who vows to implement quick solutions, and if high-handed unilateral action is required, so be it.

A rancid foretaste of imperial President Trump came Wednesday, when he advised congressional leaders, "Don't talk. Please, be quiet. ... We have to have our Republicans either stick together or let me just do it by myself."

If you are thinking now about that gator, a menacing creature who emerges unexpectedly from the swamp, jaws clamped on innocent prey, I would not dissuade you from that analogy. But I would argue: The country is not a helpless 2-year-old. Trump is scary but not unstoppable, notwithstanding his threatening march through the Republican primaries. We should not confuse the dangers we must endure with those we can fight off.

Ruth Marcus is a columnist for the Washington Post.
The phrase death by a thousand cuts is so concise and descriptive that I thought it must be Shakespearean, but it is a translation of the Chinese word lingchi (alternately transliterated ling chi or leng tech). The word is translated variously as death by a thousand cuts, the slow process, the lingering death, or slow slicing. It was a venerable form of torture and execution used in China from roughly 900 A.D. until it was banned in 1905. In this form of execution, Wikipedia advises, a knife was used to methodically remove portions of the body over an extended period of time, eventually resulting in death.

President Obama is inflicting lingchi on the Constitutions restraints on the executive branch. Here, however, he is acting consistent with a tradition that, while it doesnt date back to 900, dates back to around 1900 and the onset of the Progressive Era in American politics.

He is also inflicting death by a thousand euphemisms. George Orwell wrote the book on it, so to speak, but here Obama is plowing new ground in American politics.

Obama has given us Violent Extremism in lieu of Islamist terrorism. He has given us Building Community Resilience to Counter Violent Extremism.

Its hard to take the Islam out of the Islamic State, or ISIS, or ISIL. Its hard to take the Islam out of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Yet that is what Obama would have us do.

Obama acts according to what he believes is a higher wisdom behind the apparent denial of reality that makes him look stupid. John McWhorter defends the higher wisdom in The big problem with calling it radical Islam.' Jeffrey Goldberg draws on his interviews with Obama to do the same in What Obama actually thinks about radical Islam.

Now the Obama administration refuses to release the transcript of Orlando mass murderer without redaction of his pledges of allegiance to the Islamic State. An edited transcript will be released today. Attorney General Loretta Lynch blandly announced this remarkable event to Chuck Todd on Meet the Press yesterday (video below).

Query what is going on here. Who is protecting whom from what?

Caroline Glick comments:

The most devastating, and at this point clearly premeditated, outcome of Obamas refusal to name the cause of the violence is that he has made it illegitimate to discuss it. He has made it controversial for Americans to talk about Islamic supremacism, extremism, violence and war for world domination. He has made substantive criticism of his policies tantamount to bigotry. And he has rendered the public debate about the most salient strategic threat to American lives, liberty and national security a partisan issue. Today in Obamas America, only Republicans use the terms Islamic terrorism or radicalism or jihad. Democrats pretend those things dont exist.

The higher wisdom is a component of Obamas strategic withdrawal of the United Staters from the Middle East. It is getting us killed now with more to come later. See, for example, the accounts of CIA Director John Brennans congressional testimony last week by Jonathan Tobin and by the editors of the Wall Street Journal (accessible via Google here).

It requires a bald denial of reality. While Obamas courtiers (paid and unpaid) tell him that his intellectual finery makes him beautiful, the intellectual finery is stupid and Obama is naked.
When conservatism has succeeded in America, whether ideologically or politically, it has done so through the fusion of divergent philosophical viewpoints and diverse policy preferences. Ideologically, conservatism began to take off when William F. Buckley and the National Review crowd fused neo-liberalism  belief in free markets and individualism  with communitarian conservatism. Politically, conservatism prospered thanks to Ronald Reagans coalition of economic conservatives, social conservatives, and national security hawks (the three-legged stool).

Nicholas Gallagher argues that for conservatism to prosper in the future, a new coalition will be required  one that fuses movement conservatism with Jacksonian nationalism. It is the latter world view, Gallagher persuasively argues, that has fueled the rise of Donald Trump. Gallagher contends that while conservatives are more than within their rights to write off Trump, they would be neither wise nor justified to write off the Jacksonians.

What does Gallagher mean by Jacksonian nationalism?

Jacksonians characteristically emphasize anti-elitism and egalitarianism while drawing a sharp distinction between members of the folk group and those outside it. In domestic policy, this translates to tough-on-crime stances and stubborn adherence to traditional views on social issues (and, historically, opposition to civil rights), and to advocacy of government assistance for deserving members of the folk group. Looking abroad, they are uninterested in Wilsonian nation-building projects or promoting global order, but if they feel the nation is threatened, they are willing to fight back by whatever means are necessary.

The tension between movement conservatism and Jacksonian nationalism is pretty obvious and becomes more so as Gallagher elaborates with insight on the latter ideology. As he concludes, from trade to immigration, foreign policy to fiscal policy, Jacksonian instincts are often incompatible with conservative prescriptions.

Yet, says Gallagher, Jacksonianism lies closer to conservatism than it does to the identity-politics Left, and one may reasonably hope for a best of both compromise between intellectual conservatism and Jacksonian impulses. Jacksonians may find incentive to compromise if, as I expect, Trump goes down to defeat in November and the Hillary Clinton presidency commences. Movement conservatives already have an incentive to compromise  this primary season has demonstrated the perils of ignoring the Jacksonians.

If a fusion is possible, it probably will require a skilled politician with a powerful intellect to pull it off. This article by Eliana Johnson suggests that our friend Senator Tom Cotton might be the man for the job. According to Eliana, Cotton believes the billionaire developer represents a populism the GOP should and must incorporate.

In a way, Cotton embodies both movement conservatism and Jacksonian nationalism. Hes a Reaganite and an intellectual, but also a fighting man  to some degree in the same sense as Jackson was (no duels, though).

Read Toms angry 2006 letter to the New York Times, written while he was serving in Iraq (the one the Times wouldnt publish, but Power Line did) and see the intellectual and the Jacksonian mingling. Read his open letter to the government of Iran, written nine years later, and see both still present.

Eliana reports that Sen. Cottons unwillingness to endorse one of Trumps opponents during the primary season and his lack of hand-wringing about Trumps upcoming nomination has been a disappointment to many Never Trumpers. The former disappointed me.

It may well be, though, that Tom is playing chess while most of the rest of us are playing checkers  and by that I dont mean to say hes being personally opportunistic. I mean that he seems to be thinking ahead to the next big conservative fusion.
As Scott discussed below, the Obama administration has decided to remove Omar Mateens pledge of loyalty to ISIS from the transcript of the shooters 911 calls to the police during his rampage. How does Team Obama defend this effort to airbrush reality?

Attorney General Loretta Lynch said:

What were not going to do is further proclaim this mans pledges of allegiance to terrorist groups, and further his propaganda. We are not going to hear him make his assertions of allegiance.

But strictly speaking, the a mere assertion of allegiance isnt propaganda. Propaganda is biased communication that promotes a viewpoint. Simply declaring ones allegiance doesnt really do that.

Mateens rants contain propaganda, though. He castigates the U.S. for bombing Afghanistan (which he calls his country despite the fact that he was born in the U.S. and was an American citizen).

Will Loretta Lynchs censorship brigade remove Mateens criticism of U.S. policy from the transcript? I dont know, but Lynchs remarks to Chuck Todd suggest that Mateens true propaganda may not be expunged:

LORETTA LYNCH: What were announcing tomorrow is that the FBI is releasing a partial transcript of the killers calls with law enforcement, from inside the club. These are the calls with the Orlando PD negotiating team, who he was, where he was that will be coming out tomorrow and Ill be headed to Orlando on Tuesday. CHUCK TODD: Including the hostage negotiation part of this? LYNCH: Yes, it will be primarily a partial transcript of his calls with the hostage negotiators. CHUCK TODD: You say partial, whats being left out? LYNCH: What were not going to do is further proclaim this mans pledges of allegiance to terrorist groups, and further his propaganda. CHUCK TODD: Were not going to hear him talk about those things? LYNCH: We will hear him talk about some of those things, but we are not going to hear him make his assertions of allegiance and that. It will not be audio, it will be a printed transcript. But it will begin to capture the back and forth between him and the negotiators, were trying to get as much information about this investigation out as possible. As you know, because the killer is dead, we have a bit more leeway there and we will be producing that information tomorrow.

(Emphasis added)

It appears, then, that Lynchs censorship isnt really directed at propaganda. Rather, it is, in a sense, propaganda itself  an attempt by the Obama administration to elide the fact that terrorist organizations and their followers are wreaking havoc on the presidents watch. It reminds me of Team Obamas editing of the Benghazi talking points.

And it is the antithesis of how Dylan Roofs horrific shootings in Charleston, South Carolina were treated. J.E. Dyer recalls the constant references to the Confederate battle flag (propaganda?) after that atrocity  a stream of references in which the Obama Justice Department fully participated.

No censorship was employed in the case of that one-off mass killing, in which the killer was silent about his allegiance. But in the Orlando shootings, in which the butcher proclaimed his allegiance, and which is part of a pattern of domestic Islamist terrorism, the inconvenient loyalty pledge will be expunged.

Death by a thousand euphemisms, indeed.
You may recall a young friend of Astronomy magazine, Ben Palmer of Queensbury, New York, who won Astronomys 2011 Youth Essay Contest. Ben has subsequently become an active part of the Astronomy Foundation. He is a great young man and full of energy and enthusiasm for sharing the excitement of astronomy. Id like to share his blog here . . .Virtual. Simulated. Instantaneous. The consummate keywords of the 21st century. Dominated by the Internets ever-expanding ergosphere, our ideas, actions, and consciousness fuel a culture driven by an insatiable appetite for information. Yet is this an empire with a dark side? Rooted in this formula of efficiency and virality lies a potential death knell for observational astronomy. It appears a tale of two sciences: connection vs. reflection, big network vs. big picture, computer vs. cosmos. Sounds impossible for astronomys survival, right? Wrong. Like the monitor in front of you, theres more than meets the eye.In the winter of 2003, an astronomical revolution began, not with a bang, but with a click. With a solitary mouse stroke, internet-oriented observers gained newfound access to a startlingly novel cosmic portal. Through profound purpose and a catchy title, Slooh signaled the dawn of outreach astronomys digital era. In fully controlling the globes first live, web-based observatory, the amateur stargazer could drive real-time investigation to levels unknown.Electric innovation is hard to stop. Once a solo venture, today Slooh joins a contemporary coterie of virtual observing venues. Growth has been unprecedented as dozens of this energizing breed of observatory now spans the globe. Diverse in location yet united in outlook, astronomers have everything to gain in employing these unique outreach arenas.So, does outreach astronomy require their presence? How can they best be utilized? What makes these tech-savvy theaters tick? Lets begin there.In a nutshell, online observatories are robotic telescopes on steroids. The recipe starts with optical tube assembly and mechanical mount components, all united to CCD imagers. Next, we cable in remote access devices and microcontrollers to allow internet-based command. Throw in some nifty coding with an interactive web interface and presto! Youve opened a veritable smorgasbord of outreach opportunity. Its an action based approach---and therein lies the secret of their effectiveness.Online observatories plug perfectly into astronomys prolific in-the-moment nature. Our fields reflective dynamism stems from an incessant desire to be there: real stars, real time. With the physics of photons and distance, cosmology takes that thought process even further. Glance at any astronomical object and bundle past, present, and future into a single image. Talk about a wow reaction. Through live streaming, imaging, and datasets, online observatories amplify this traditional eyepiece experience. Applied properly, this factor can have enormously positive outreach ramifications.The key is selecting the right program. But with a plethora of systems to choose from, how can you, the dedicated outreach observer, craft the right resource blend? Time for an options breakdown.First on the list, the active observing outlets. These ideally cater to independent-minded observers who dont shy away from creativity in the outreach process.Leading off is the. Nestled atop scenic Mt. Teide, this dedicated 0.35m f/5.3 Schmitt-Cassegrain has opened cost-free cosmic windows to thousands. Promoting a simplistic, common sense layout, BRTs website offers novice observers a no-nonsense inlet to online astronomy. However, dont let the ease of use fool you--- sporting three versatile cameras and a Paramount ME mount, BRT is a highly capable platform. Live webcams, real-time data, and a school-based education site will undoubtedly keep BRT on the outreach battlefront for years to come.Leveling up,enters the conversation from a slightly different angle. Founded in 2007, this enterprising commercial observatory merges amateur and professional astronomy into one collective group. Leaving Rodeo, New Mexico for Hautes-Alpes, France, LightBuckets boasts an impressive 5-instrument array, including a magnificent 0.83m Nasmyth-Cassegrain. This broad choice of scopes permits thoroughly diverse outreach observing, making the LightBuckets experience one to remember. A network based system, LightBuckets pitches a slew of unique web options, including telescopic Practice Mode and Easy Imaging. A stunning virtual gallery, scope schematics and online forum round out the picture, creating a more complex, but rewarding stargazing site.Use these fine sources inventively. Consider forming categorical observing dockets tailored to your outreach participants. Think an all-planet observing session for solar system education. Or a barred spiral galaxy program to inspire audiences with galactic formation dynamics. For advanced audiences, solicit crowd input for objects that captivate individual interest. You be the outreach judge.Now the hybrids. Perfect amalgams of astronomical research/outreach, these innovative organizations promote a multi-faceted, interactive avenue to the cosmos. In many respects, theyre the gold standard of virtual observing.kicks off the category. Now in its second decade, the space for everyone pioneer has grown larger, stronger, and more popular then ever. Fueled by Michael Paoluccis visionary team, Slooh exhibits a constantly evolving chain of riveting outreach options. The magic begins with Sloohs robust principle observatories, located in the Canary Islands, Spain (Mt. Teide) and La Dehesa, Chile respectively. Mt. Teide (Northern Hemisphere) takes flagship status with two remarkable Dall-Kirkham scopes, 0.50m and 0.43m in aperture. Down south, La Dehesa totes a 0.35m Schmitt-Cassergrain alongside a wide field 0.09m Apochromatic Refractor. But it doesnt end there. A dedicated worldwide network, Sloohs global reach extends much further.Facilitated by numerous partner observatories, Slooh traverses the planet, stretching from Cape Town and Dubai to Queensland and Hawaii. With so many pushpins on the map, Slooh has brought countless astronomical events to life (think 2012 Venus Transit and 2015 Total Solar Eclipse).Sloohs stimulating website echoes this ability. With user-generated live observing programs, interactive multimedia displays, and astronomy experts to guide you, Sloohs site is, quite simply, fun. If inclined, you can host your own on or off camera outreach observing show, sculpting custom astronomical agendas. And be sure to check out Slooh Space Books, a future project well worth following.What happens when Harvard, Smithsonian, NASA, and the NSF unite?is the elegant answer. Officially the, this handsome online observatory runs an array of 0.15m reflecting Maksutovs. With a powerful student-based bent, MicroObservatory promotes astrophysical education in compelling fashion. The striking website is home base to access portals, each with a unique outreach purpose. Observing With NASA offers full telescopic control, while the Laboratory for the Study of Exoplanets promotes real-world astronomical research. Particularly riveting, DIY Planet Search is now in Beta testing, yet another reason to engage this spectacular venue.Memorable to many as Global-Rent-a-Scope, iTelescope has rebranded and redoubled their efforts of astronomy awareness. Advancing Your Horizons in Astronomy is a fitting tagline, as iTelscope does just that with no less than 19 premium telescopes in California, New Mexico, Spain, and Australia. Including apertures of 0.61m, 0.32m and 0.10m among others, iTelscopes unmatched collection allows users to observe anything in everyway possible. An engaging website hosts live sky cameras, educational links, and mesmerizing astrophotography. Last year, iTelescopes outreach program carried two New South Wales students to first prize honors at SciCon15. Tangible proof that online astronomy fosters field leaders of tomorrow.On an entirely different vector,illustrates large-scale astronomy with unimaginable grandeur. Forgoing live viewing, Microsoft/.NET Foundations brainchild gathers imagery from elite earth/space based telescopes to produce a breathtaking universal universe. Mere words cannot describe this system. Visually, its a 3-D photographic buffet, with options to navigate astronomical anomalies in multiple wavelengths. Five exploration modes (Sky, Earth, Planets, Panoramas, and Solar System) allow users to seamlessly explore the cosmos from different perspectives, while a jaw-dropping time filter runs events from 1 to 4000AD. The effects are enhanced by volumes of academic papers, specific to each object on your screen. Community and Tour features allow members to contribute images, data, catalogs, etc. to this cosmic cloud, advancing this striking interface. With ASCOM, WorldWide Telescope becomes a GOTO system for your personal backyard telescope! A creative initiative to the hilt, Worldwide Telescope is a soul-searching look into our place in the cosmos. Seeing is believing; check out the many sub-features for yourself.Other outstanding programs include theand the. These magnificent programs open unexplored cosmic doors. Be it classroom-based astronomical curriculum, or home-grown crowdscience research challenges, such virtual outlets make outreach more engaging and informative than ever imagined.With epidemic light pollution and conflicting personal schedules, night as we know it has changed. Nothing can supplant the thrill of first light in your own backyard. However, as amplifiers, not replacements, online observatories illuminate a novel road on the outreach astronomy sojourn. Who knows where the journey will take us1.96 x 109. Does that expression look familiar? If a negative response comes to mind, brace yourself. Youve just witnessed a golden number, a contemporary Cartesian plane where science and society collide. From that commanding figure, 1.96 billion, humanitys unquenched thirst for social media emerges. Everyday, nearly 2/7 of the global populace turns its attention downward; drawn to a virtual universe of shares, posts, and pins.Trivialitys pulse, omnipresent in social media, can seem antithetical to the values we assign astronomy. Harnessing rampant vanity, false truths, and ill-analyzed opinions with unerring ease, social media collects superficiality like a mirror gathers photons. Rather than clarifying, adding societys filter often distorts the view of this on-screen eyepiece.But its here to stay. Can astronomy cohesively blend with this virtual venue? Does social media offer hitherto unexplored outreach forums? The answers may surprise you.As a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram scatters stars, so the internet plots social media. Today, a wide sampling of programs, some Supergiants, others White Dwarfs, compete for real estate in the ever-expanding online universe. While many fall short of providing viable astronomical purpose, several adaptable systems have delivered the cosmos to a global audience. In doing so, they have rapidly ignited inventive new outreach methods. Lets delve into the most potent.Science has long encompassed multiple ascetic qualities, and astrophysical settings are no different. Astronomys transcendent vistas remain an alluring big hook to initial cosmological intrigue. Here, social medias photographic propensity really shines.has embraced the contest wholeheartedly. Since its 2010 origins, the innovative media discovery, idea, and collection site has expanded in both scope and capability. Though not a true social media platform by definition, Pinterests ability to latch content onto external applications infuse the program with a networking feel. Briefly stated, Pinterests free registered users orchestrate photos (Pins) on a personal page (Board), utilizing their own images or those collected from outside sources.Astronomically speaking, Pinterest can assist the outreach process in several ways. Corporately, NASA Edge, Chandra Observatory, and a growing host of organizations run informative photo boards on all things cosmological, from mission images to research concepts. But at the grassroots level, amateur astronomy designs get really creative. Evolving CCD technologies and computerized backyard instruments allow users to gather superb cosmic snapshots, processed and posted fresh from the eyepiece. Its feasible to establish pages specific to individual outreach sessions, with albums for targeted objects. Additionally, print images postings can share useful observing tips, from instructing users on telescope prep, to ideas for cosmology craft projects. If a team atmosphere suits your style, consider a page run by members of your local astronomy club.Linking communication and visualization is the holy grail of social media interaction. When sculpted toward astronomy, those same characteristics acquire invaluable ties to outreach quotients.In the social media family,claims patriarchal status. And like many parental figures prior, Facebook presents sage lessons in what does---and doesnt--- fuse well when ideas hit reality. Since 2004, a world without Facebook seems to most, unthinkable. Fortunately, for astronomers, Facebooks inherent longevity has produced some large-scale capability for outreach endeavors.Functionality and volume are the watchwords. Blending shares, likes, posts, and comments in a seamless ballet of information, Facebook expedites the social media experience with tremendous speed, while maintaining that simplistic interface the world knows so well. That universal understanding, and Facebooks unparalleled global numbers, dissipate time and distance interference. That creates an environment conducive to ready-made astronomical audiences.How you reach that crowd matters. Thankfully, Facebook yields astronomers varied angles for outreach attack. Amateur astronomers can freely post observing results (text or image- based), and start rewarding conversations in the comments section. To ratchet things up a notch, do this live from the eyepiece via a scope-side laptop or Smartphone. Additionally, Facebooks news organizing ability compiles user-oriented articles, meaning astronomy enthusiasts can quickly retrieve relevant information. Dont hesitate on the passionate, involved debate stemming from live astrophysical revelations (think Higgs Boson and LIGO discoveries). Some of the most memorable discussions stem from initial reactions, something Facebook provides in spades.Notably, nearly every significant observatory (Kitt Peak, Mt. Wilson, ESO, etc.) hosts a Facebook domain, as do outreach-guided programs such as Night Sky Network and Astronomy Foundation. Gleaning knowledge from such resources is both efficacious and interactive, a great start point for aspiring observers.An intrinsically robust social media mechanism,is perhaps the best tailored avenue for cosmic adventure. The merger child of Google Talk, Google+ Messenger, and Hangouts, this cutting-edge program stirs SMS, VOIP, video chat, and messaging into one tidy database. Its networking 2.0, and incredibly, the tech is free. As such, Google Hangouts takes center stage in online astronomys premier endeavor: The Virtual Star Party.To summarize, a virtual star party is any venue that actively engages participants via remote technologies. As you can guess, these events take a legion of forms, and Google Hangouts embraces them all. Want to host a solar observation jam? Activate desktop Video Messaging and share your home star with up to ten individuals at a time. That VOIP feature comes in handy here as well, allowing you to voice call non-video observers. If darker skies call your name, SMS and live messaging give star party coordinators instant access to their participants. With some adapted low-lighting, video features have evening bearings as well, particularly if youre streaming with a webcam or USB eyepiece camera.But what if cloudy conditions hold you hostage? Small blip on the radar for Google Hangouts. Delving briefly into the personal, Ive utilized some engaging methods to counter those frustrating weather gods. After scheduling a function (either outdoor or purely virtual), send your participants a link to free planetarium software (remains my preference, although, andare admirable stand-ins). After some basic usage instruction, when your event comes, simply activate Google Hangouts and guide participants through the cosmos from the convenience of their PC. In my experience, attendees love the hands-on control aspect, plus incorporation of astronomy in busy schedules. If you cant bring people to the universe, bring the universe to the people. Be original. Thanks to Google Hangouts, the task is both streamlined and rewarding.echoes many of Facebooks features. While preserving a stable platform for imagery, Twitters 140 character cutoff limits the raw amount amateur astronomers can accomplish. However, by live tweeting an observing run/outreach event, Twitter users easily overcome word counts and sculpt fruitful experiences. With a little tweaking, you can apply the same methods from Google Hangouts to a Twitter-based medium.Closing out our social media voyage is, a novel microblogging platform. Yahoo! owned since 2013, Tumblr permits members to shape text and multimedia postings into miniature blogs, generating a self-published vibe for personal completion. You can even alter the HTML to custom code your sections design.United with astronomy, Tumblr becomes a viable tool to encourage enthusiasts to discuss their efforts, novices and veterans alike. Outreach astronomers: Record daily entries on thought-provoking Stem topics. Or challenge newcomers to create digital logs of viewed objects and cosmic perspectives. The opportunities are ripe for the picking.Over the last millennia, weve optimized optics, magnified mathematics, unlocked solar systems, mapped galaxies, charted the Big Bang, refined relativity, and established an astrophysical ordera sequence that occurred without scripting hashtags on Latin scrolls!But evolving knowledge means vocal new outlets. Annexing social media dockets, outreach astronomers spearhead virgin audiences and dynamic technology, primed and wired to develop the scientists of tomorrow.Follow Dave Eicher on Twitter , and please check him out on his Author Page on Facebook.
In this interview, Tope Fasua, founder, Institute for Service and Good Governance (ISEGG), speaks on the challenges of service delivery in the nations private and public sectors and how his organisation is addressing them.

PT: Please can you tell us about your NGO  the Institute for Service and Good Governance and what informs your social interventions and mandate?

Fasua: The Institute for Service Excellence and Good Governance is a private-sector run non-profit organization set up because of a gap that we noticed in our nation, and indeed many of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa. This is the problem of service delivery  manifested in haphazard, lackadaisical service rendering, non-payment of attention to details, nonchalance on the part of service providers, non-adherence to standards, and resulting in general underdevelopment.

We noticed that every country on earth where they lay claim to high levels of economic development, are countries where service excellence is embraced. We saw the link between service excellence and good governance, and decided to do something about it.

Rather than keep complaining, we wanted to see how we can contribute in our own ways towards the upliftment of our country and region. Our definition of good governance entails corporate and public governance. While corporate governance deals with how companies are governed, public governance is concerned with the public space. Most people agree that a lot more could be done in our public service today, whether at local, state or federal government level.

PT: What do you think are the crucial issues pertaining to service delivery in Nigeria?



Fasua: In the first place, it has to do with how we are sometimes; our cultures, the way we see life. The average African is respectful so you would expect that culture to carry through to the way we relate with each other in the service arena. Somehow, this mutual respect breaks down and needs to be constantly rekindled when we get to the service field.

The private sector is ahead in service delivery all over the world because you have to be nice to people if you want to make money from them. But in many advanced countries, the public sector is now following closely and has learnt to sit up. As a matter of fact, in every developed and emerging economy, they have learnt to be even more careful when dealing with public money; even more careful than the private sector guys.

However in Nigeria, both the private and public sector find it tough to stay on the ball for long. We have seen instances where airlines delay passengers for hours and cancel flights without as much as an apology. We have instances where banks slam series of unexplained charges on customers in a bid to maximize profits. The public sector is a dismal, most people will agree. People dont even bother to show up at work, and when they do, they dont believe they should really try and get some work done.

Thankfully under the change regime things are getting better but files can still go missing because someone wants to extract a rent and so on. That is where the link between service excellence and good governance appears. The better the service, the lesser the probability for corruption! They go in opposite directions. If there is no intention to be corrupt, service is likely to be very excellent. Anyway, the bad news aside, we are here to ensure everyone sits up and does the right thing. Our initiative will one day be adopted by the Federal Government because change is equal to service excellence and good governance.

PT: Are you essentially concerned with service delivery in the private sector or this extends to the public sector?



Fasua: Both, even though we want to really make a difference in the public sector because the public sector in Nigeria is pretty large. The private sector in Nigeria waits for the public sector to start spending yearly before they start to tick.

Therefore, as much as we want to reduce the influence of the public sector on public life, that sector will always be formidable. They had brought up several initiatives in the past  like the SERVICOM  and have achieved considerable success in their attempts too, but they still need help. SERVICOM (Service Compact) is an idea supported by the DfID I suppose. It had more impact in the Obasanjo days. We hope the new administration of President Buhari equally adopts it because it is really a great idea.

You see, service excellence is not a destination but a journey. Even in the developed countries that we are talking about we still see painful service failures. We still see people working in private sector flipping sometimes and cursing out customers. We see candid cameras where restaurants abroad serve food they pack from the floor or where waiters spit on food and then serve to hapless customers. Everything happens in this world.

The fact that someone installed the cameras that show these anomalies means they understand that if they dont keep a tab on it service will slip and fall. So, we are here for the public and private sectors and even NGOs like us. No one is beyond our purview.

PT: Would you consider that Nigerians are satisfied with the present level of public service delivery in the country across sectors?

Fasua: Not a chance. As a matter of fact, we are presently conducting an extended survey of service delivery in Nigeria at http://isegg.org/?q=service-excellence-survey and for the first time we included some public sector organizations in the mix. We arent pitching the public sector organizations against each other because many of them are differently structured and perform different services. Well, most of them are rated around 10%  15% by respondents thus far.

The survey is quite exciting because some of the public sector organizations which have tried to reform their service delivery in recent times were acknowledged by those who have taken the survey. I will not mention the names of any of these agencies. Just click on the link and take the survey  takes one minute  and view the results thus far yourself. We also have paper versions of the survey which we are giving people because we need to get a large sample and not everyone is IT savvy. We are rating fast food companies, phone companies, internet service providers, TV and Radio stations and so on. Our intention is that service providers should sit up. We all deserve good things and Nigerians often insist on very high standards. I think things break down when it comes to our turn to perform service. We should learn to give unto others what we demand ourselves.

PT: What value is ISEGG bringing to the public service delivery space?

Fasua: We want to be the go-to organization when it comes to how our people understand service delivery and service excellence. Note that we are not another institute of customer service. We have a number of those doing very well but mainly focused on the private sector  helping banks and telecoms to train their frontline, customer-facing staff.

Meanwhile, a lot of the service failures dont emanate from the level of the frontline staff. There are these five measures of service excellence  people, policy, processes, premises, and ultimately, product. A lot of organizations dont care about their people. Their people are not empowered, often maltreated, and made to feel hopeless, traumatized, underpaid or owed salaries for no just reason at all. Then they expect those used and abused young people to treat customers well? That is often a policy issue. Some organisations enact policies that frustrate their customers by instituting onerous processes that customers have to wade through. Imagine passing through ten desks to get a single thing done! Imagine a loan request that takes six months in a bank! These are some of the things we teach at ISEGG. If you went on our website, you will see even free exercises that you can use to test your service excellence-readiness, or even rate your organization as to how well it is doing in this area.

We certify our members after structured training. We have started with one week courses in different service excellence capabilities. In a short while we shall have things structured so that we can certify those who go through structured modules as Service Excellence Experts. Imagine, if someone goes around with such a certification, such a person has set themselves up to be taken seriously. They had better never drop the ball or be seen in any unsavoury service failure positions. Imagine if almost every Nigerian youth and worker could obtain such certification at different levels, that will tell the world that Nigeria and indeed our larger constituency (sub-Saharan Africa) is ready for business. Mind you, our last rebased GDP figures show that service now occupies 52% of our productivity. And it is like that all over the world.

Manufacturing is now better handled by machines and robots, which are more precise. But, humans can provide personalized service much better. We must therefore do a lot better in that area otherwise other countries will take this advantage  and the attendant cash flow  from us.

So we are poised to award our Associateship and Fellowship to deserving members (one has to join first), who have fulfilled certain criteria, including having passed some exams. It is a gradual process. In due course we shall be facing the Senate to have a law passed granting a charter (or state sponsorship) to this idea. Of course the Senate will want to know what we have achieved. So this is crunch time. We are working hard and moving very fast.

PT: How do you relate to issues of consumer rights and the need to protect these rights within the Nigerian service space?

Fasua: We have the Consumer Protection Council  a government agency  which is charged with advocating for consumers whenever there is a service failure, or breach of rights. We are sure that they are up to their eyes in complaints and we have seen some of their work in the public space. Certainly, consumer rights must constantly be protected. We live in an ultra capitalist society where people try to take advantage of one another  unfortunately. So, eternal vigilance is the word. We cannot do enough of that.

The Central Bank of Nigeria, a few years ago, had to create a department to advocate on behalf of bank customers. Reports have it that that department managed to wring over N6billion out of the banks on behalf of customers last year. That is money that would have been written to swell bank profits and shared by their top shareholders if it is not simply shared by the top dogs in the banks.

The telecoms sector is where a lot of cheating takes place too. The Nigerian Communications Commission is on that case but the tricks continue. One particular telecoms provider recently devised a trick of extracting money from peoples accounts. You have a singular pop up message after your drop a call. You will think it was just telling you your remaining balance and click ok. But if you were in a hurry and didnt read well, you will not see where towards the end the message asks you to buy browsing airtime for N2,000 by clicking OK. You click and N2,000 disappears from your balance (even though you can browse with it; that is if you can browse).

Most people cannot be checking their balances every second. In fact no one can do it. If any telecoms firm decides to take N10 from everyones account in the middle of the night how is anyone to know? So, eternal vigilance in this area is key.

PT: How do you set about achieving your goals? Ive seen a few samples of the survey you shared out on social media, are there other tools you use in measuring public service delivery?

Fasua: The survey is only one aspect. The survey will be publicized in the newspapers when we are done. Again, it is not only online; there are physical copies where we are getting far more responses than online. We want a large sample so that we can have credible results. It hasnt been easy getting Nigerians to do the survey. Someone said we should start offering incentives but we believe that will taint the results. We have decided to go it organically. That survey samples opinions about which fast food provider, which radio station, TV station, public sector organization, blog and others are doing well in terms of service. Again, service excellence is a journey, so we dont expect the survey to be perfect. It will be perfected only as we go along. Perhaps the most important message in this quest for service excellence is that organisations and individuals need to start from somewhere. There should be enough of sitting on our hands and complaining about how service is bad in every area in Nigeria and elsewhere. We are doing our bit.

Other areas we are intervening include the mass education, the free seminars we are organizing from time to time, the membership drive we have embarked upon, the free newsletters we shall be doing and distributing at public spaces, especially public sector organisations, among others. The work never ends.

PT: Do you have any public policy interface with government, or how do you expect your work to feed into issues of public service policy, reforms and change in Nigerian society?

Fasua: Our engagement with government is developing gradually. We have approached SERVICOM and intimated them of what we do. I must say that SERVICOM is a bit rested for now and we advocate that government must please do something about that. We know they have a SERVICOM Institute which will compete with us for cash flows but we dont mind. A good idea should always be sustained no matter the politics. We however work with all nodal officers for SERVICOM in all ministries, agencies and parastatals, as many as have received our brochures and responded to our initiatives.

We are on course to having meetings with top government officials in this area. I was with the DG, Bureau for Public Sector Reforms some weeks ago. He is a man who understands what the issues are and is very much in tandem with our work. We intend to formalize such relationships. We are seeking audience with the Head of Service of the Federation and the Vice President and even the President. There is no way #CHANGE can be achieved except service delivery changes and service excellence is embraced.

We have seen a lot of responses thus far from institutions like the Nigerian Police, Nigerian Postal Service, Raw Materials Research, Nigerian Communications Satellite, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Nigerian Pensions Commission, Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Petroleum Equalisation Fund, and have received moral support from the Consumer Protection Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria. We are trudging on.

We believe that gradually we can work together with these institutions and cause a profound change in service delivery in Nigeria. Ultimately, there is a way that a changed orientation towards service also causes us to see life differently in this country. It is all about standards. It is all about attention to details, about fairness. It is all about being at par with the foreign countries that we love to go to. It is all about economics, because when we provide great service, we will sit in our country and make the most of what we have. The possibilities are limitless.

Let me not forget to say that most of our members come from the private sector and we are working with the banks, telecoms operators and sundry companies to help disseminate the ideals of service excellence. The journey has begun.
Ummy Mwalimu, Tanzanias Minister of Health, on Monday in Dar es Salaam said that a strange disease in central Tanzania has killed seven people and 14 others have been admitted to hospitals for treatment.

The minister said the disease has hit Chmela and Kondoa districts in the countrys central region of Dodoma, wreaking havoc to residents in the areas.

Ms. Mwalimu said the government came to know about the disease on June 13 through the office of the chief medical officer for Dodoma region.

The minister said it started with nine members of a single family at Mwaikisabe village in Chemba district who reportedly fell sick after eating beef.

Ms. Mwalimu said the meat was sourced from a cow that was slaughtered after one of its legs got broken in an unknown circumstance.

She, however, said some of the people who also ate the very same beef were alive and kicking, forcing the government to cast its net wider in the endeavour to examine what the disease could be and its likely causes.

Ms. Mwalimu said other patients from villages of Soya, Itolwa, Kelema balai, Gubali, Chemka, Kintima and Ilesi in Chemba district and one from Ubembeni in Kondoa were reported to be experiencing similar health conditions.

The patients show symptoms of vomiting and running stomachs.

Their eyes and other body parts also turn yellow, she said.

She added that the victims were also feeling pain in the stomach and in a short time, their stomachs were getting filled with water.

The minister noted that preliminary investigations have shown that the disease was not yellow fever, but medical experts were also examining the possibility of it being Rift Valley Fever.

The minister said the government had formed a team of experts to establish what caused the deaths.

The teams comprised of experts from the Muhimbili National Hospital, the government chief chemist, Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) and their counterparts from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Development.

Others are from the Prime Ministers Office, Regional Administration and Local Government Authorities, she said.

She said the government was also working hand in hand with the World Health Organisation and the Centre for Disease Control in trying to arrive at the right conclusion regarding the disease.

Ms. Mwalimu said the main goal is to ensure that government identify the type of disease that is affecting our people as soon as possible so we can take appropriate medical remedies.

James Kiologwe, Chief Medical Officer for Dodoma region, shared Ms. Mwalimus sentiments, suggesting that the disease could have been a result of aflatoxins.

Aflatoxins are toxic metabolites produced by certain fungi in-on foods and feeds.

Aflatoxins have been associated with various diseases, such as aflatoxicosis, in livestock, domestic animals and humans throughout the world, he said.

Mr. Kiologwe said that could basically be a result of storing grains in poor conditions but all in all, everything would be known when we complete a thorough examination on the patients and the samples collected from their vomits, stool and others. (Xinhua/NAN)
The Police in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania have discovered 12 girls in the residence of a man, who was later accused of sexually assaulting one teenager among the girls, local media reported on Monday.

Police searched the home of 51-year old Lee Kaplan after a neighbour called the authorities in growing concern about the weirdness of the house.

It said that Mr. Kaplan was found living with 12 girls from six months to 18 years.

The 18-year-old told police that she and Kaplan had a 3-year-old and six month-old baby.

The police said the teenager being sexually assaulted was given to Mr. Kaplan by her parents when she was 14 after the man helped solve a financial crisis of the family.

They said officials are working to verify where the other children were from.

Report says Mr. Kaplan faces charges including sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor and aggravated indecent assault.

(Xinhua/NAN)
The Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, on Monday said neither his government nor himself has ever ordered the use of Hijab by female Muslim students in public schools in the state.

Mr. Aregbesola stated this at the roundtable on Development Collaborative Framework for Education Development and Advancement organised by the Development and Advancement in Western Nigeria (DAWN) in Osogbo.

Mr. Aregbesola challenged those who accused him of ordering the use of Hijab by Muslims to bring concrete prove to substantiate their claims.

The governor challenged those accusing him of plunging the state into religious crisis to present a video or voice recording, written speech evidencing where he commanded or ordered female Muslim students to wear hijab on their uniforms.

If I permitted Hijab, would the Muslims have gone to court to challenge it? Is that not contradictory? the governor asked.

Is it a crime that I am a Muslim, is it because I struggle to be a good Muslim that everything I do is being misunderstood? I think I dont deserve all these lies against me.

He said the programmes he introduced into the states education system were part of the resolutions that came out of the education summit organised by his administration shortly after coming into office.

The programmes has no religious undertones, the governor said.

Mr. Aregbesola said the resolution of the summit, headed by Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, never considered nor recommended the wearing of religious garments in schools.

The governor said when he came to office, one of the first tasks of his administration was to convene an education summit which was chaired by Prof Soyinka.

There is nothing religious in any of our policies, Mr. Aregbesola said. The fact on ground contradicts our oppositions claim.

The choice of my deputy governor tells it all, I knew she is a pentecotalist of the highest order before I picked her.

Everything we have done in the line of education is in line with the resolution of our education summit.

Against all speculations, I have not ordered the use of Hijab, I challenge anybody with evidence to come out and show that I have made a proclamation on Hijab.

The governor was responding to a controversy sparked by a court judgment approving the use of Hijab by female students in the state.

The Muslim Community of Osun State and the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria had sued the state government asking the court to clear Muslim Students to use hijab.

The court ruled in their favour.

Following the judgment, some Muslim students started wearing head covers to school, a development that irked the states chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

CAN then arranged some Christian students of the Baptist High School, Iwo, to wear choir robes and other church garments to school to protest the judgment and spite the state government.

Speaking on education in the South-West at the conference, the governor said the downward trend in education was worrisome due to the role of education in development.

The governor told participants that his administration was constructing 100 elementary, 50 middle and 20 high state-of-the-art schools in addition to rehabilitating existing ones.

He added that the schools in the state before his intervention would have attracted rebuke from animal rights activists if government had put pigs there.

On the Osun school feeding programme, tagged O-MEALS, the governor noted that the programme provided a template for national adoption and implementation of free meals in schools, adding that he was invited by the British Parliament twice to share Osuns experience with the world.

He said his administrations efforts and intervention in education was massive and that there had been qualitative and quantitative improvement in the performance of pupils and general education of youths.

He said, Those who say we are declining are not being honest. The following data will put a lie to the unfounded allegation of our detractors that the performance of pupils has gone down under our watch. In 2007, the state government put forward 36,171 candidates for WAEC examination out of which 2,483 representing 6.86 per cent had credit pass in five subjects, including English and Mathematics.

In 2008, it was 37,715 candidates with 3,813 pass, representing 10.11 per cent. In 2009 it was 39,676 candidates, with 5,545 pass, representing 13.98 per cent. In 2010 it was 43,216 candidates, with 6,777 pass, representing 15.68 per cent. This four years gave us an average of 15.68 per cent.

However, our administration started sponsoring candidates for WAEC in 2011. That year, we fielded 53,293 candidates, had 11672 pass, representing 21.98 per cent. In 2012, we fielded 51,463 out of which 11,431 passed, representing 22.21 per cent. In 2013, we also fielded 47,013 candidates, recorded 9,301 pass, representing 19.78 per cent.

In 2014, we sponsored 47,672 candidates, 9316 of them passed, representing 19.54 per cent. The average performance for our first four years was 20.88 per cent. Compared with the average performance (13.26 per cent) of the three years that preceded us, the percentage improvement in performance during our tenure is a huge 57.46 per cent.
Protesting Federal Ministry of Finance workers on Monday blocked their minister, Kemi Adeosun, from accessing her office at the ministrys headquarters as they demanded unpaid N1.2 billion special overtime allowances.

The government however said the allowances the workers were demanding was unknown to law.

Wielding placards with various inscriptions, the workers, consisting those from the ministry and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation as well as the Budget and National Planning ministry, locked the entrance to the ministrys headquarters and prevented the minister from accessing her office when she arrived for work.

Other members of the public who had businesses to do in the ministry were also blocked.

Although the protesting workers refused to speak to reporters about their grouses, some of the placards carried messages accusing the minister of insensitivity to the plight of workers.

Some of the placards read: Adeosun: Pay us our N1.2 billion special overtime allowance, PMB sack Mrs. Adeosun now. She is insensitive to workers welfare, Adeosun: you are destroying finance ministry, You must go, You are incompetent , You are killing PMBs change agenda.

When the minister waited for some time without the workers agreeing to free the entrance, her driver chauffeured her away.

A senior official in the Ministry who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on condition of anonymity accused Mrs. Adeosun of refusing to allow workers go on trainings they had enjoyed over the years or pay them the allowances due to those who work beyond official hours.

Some staff of the ministry (of Finance) were entitled to three trainings annually. Under former minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,it was cut down to two training programmes. But, since the present minister arrives, she has refused to approve it.

Over-time used to be part of the ministrys work schedule, because any staff who work beyond the official closing hours were entitled to over-time allowance. But, since Mrs. Adeosuns arrival, all that has been stopped.

Besides, the performance allowance to ministry staff at the end of every year, usually drawn from the cost of revenue collection of Federal Inland Revenue Service, has also been stopped.

However, the spokesperson for the ministry, Salisu Dambatta, described as unwarranted the joint protest by the workers.

Mr. Dambatta said the payment of Special Overtime (SOT), which the workers were demanding was stopped by the previous administration in 2014 on the ground that it was not listed in any extant government circular, financial regulations or the public service rules.

Besides, the spokesperson said the N1.2 billion claims computed by the staff union for payment could not have been budgeted for in 2016 in the first place, not only because of the paucity of funds, but also because the SOT allowance was not part of the remuneration in the federal public service.

The Federal Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Budget Office of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, do not individually or collectively, owe any of their personnel their salaries.

In view of the foregone, the Management of the Federal Ministry of Finance wishes to categorically state that the protests have no justifiable grounds, Mr. Dambatta said.
The Nigeria Air Force (NAF) has carried out its first major air campaign under the recently launched Operation Gama-Aiki mission, during which 15 Boko Haram insurgents were killed.

The terrorists were killed as an Alpha Jet bombed their convoy in the northern part of Borno state, officials said.

The aerial bombardment came about 72 hours after the air force commissioned despatched six war planes to tackle the deadly Boko Haram sect in the countrys volatile northeast.

NAFs Operation Gama Aiki, a Hausa-coined nom de guerre which means Finish the Job, was launched on Friday June 19 with a mission to dislodge remnants of Boko Haram insurgents fleeing Sambisa forest.

The spokesman of the Nigerian Air Force, Ayodele Famuyiwa, a group captain, said the insurgents were spotted under trees by one of its intelligence planes, King Air A350i, while on surveillance of the insurgency-ravaged mission.

They were immediately bombed, with 15 of them killed and their seven Hilux vans destroyed, Mr. Famuyiwa said.

Some wounded terrorists fled with gunshot wounds, the statement said.

The casualty figure was confirmed by ground forces who subsequently consolidated on the gains of the air effort to pursue and inflict further casualty on the fleeing wounded members of the terrorist group, the statement said.

Troops also confirmed two gun trucks were among vehicles destroyed by the Alpha Jet. Two AK-47 rifles, two RPGs and cache of assorted munitions were recovered.

Boko Haram fighters had two weeks ago recaptured the communities around the border with the Niger Republic from where they had been launching attacks on civilians and security forces.

Group Captain Famuyiwa, who is the NAFs Director of Public Relations and Information, said the surveillance aircraft was able to send quick signals back to the Alpha Jet which came to attack the Boko Haram location and dislodged their movement towards a ground troop location.

His Statement reads:

The Air Component of OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE has foiled a plan by Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) to ambush own surface forces harboured at Doron Naira, north of Borno State. Earlier today 19 June 2016, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) King Air A350i Beechcraft aircraft on Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission sighted a group of BHTs in 7 Hilux vehicles hiding under tress at a location along the axis of advance of own ground forces towards Kangarawa, north of Borno State.

Following this discovery, an Alpha Jet was scrambled to attack the BHT location. The attack was successful as 15 members of the BHTs were killed and the whole vehicles knocked out. The casualty figure was confirmed by ground forces who subsequently consolidated on the gains of the air effort to pursue and inflict further casualty on the fleeing wounded members of the terrorist group. Troops also confirmed 2 gun trucks were among vehicles destroyed by the Alpha Jet as 2 x AK-47 rifles, 2 x RPGs and cache of assorted munitions were recovered.

The latest victory against the BHTs brings to fore the important role of airpower in counterinsurgency operation. In furtherance of this role, the NAF has been relentless in its effort to shape the battlespace and provide favourable environment for own surface forces to operate.

The recent deployment of additional platforms to increase the tempo of air operations at the commencement of OPERATION GAMA AIKI is aimed at fostering this objective. The foiled plan to ambush own surface forces by BHTs shows that the air efforts by the NAF has started to yield the desired results.
The Nigeria Army on Sunday visited Kuda Community in Adamawa State to condole families of the 18 mourners shot dead by Boko Haram insurgents during the wake-keep of one of their deceased kinsmen last week.

The gunmen had crept into the agrarian community and opened fire on the mourners, killing 18 of them and injuring at least five others.

The spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Sani Usman, said in a statement that the Commander 28 Task Force Brigade, Brigadier General Felix Omoigui, visited and commiserated with the families of the deceased in the community.

He also interacted with the community leaders and the vigilantes, the statement said.

Mr. Usman, a colonel, said the commander also toured the area, and urged the community not to despair as the military would continue to be on hand to protect residents.

The statement by Mr. Usman added, He (the commander) added that his command would do all that is possible to track and apprehend the assailants and also assured that remnants of Boko Haram terrorists hiding in the area would be found and routed out.

He however stated that that could not be successfully done without the active cooperation and support of the people. He therefore enjoined them to see the fight against terrorism and insurgency as a collective responsibility that requires synergy of efforts and timely and accurate information sharing.

He further encouraged them to be more vigilant and security conscious and report any suspicious movement or persons immediately.

Responding on behalf of the community, the District Head of Gulak, Alhaji Ijadi Bello, thanked the Commander for the visit and acknowledged that there was need for closer collaboration between the security agencies and his people. He promised to cooperate and support the military in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorists.
Olusegun Oyenuga, a state witness in the ongoing trial of two engineers charged with negligence and manslaughter in the collapsed building of the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), told an Ikeja High Court on Monday that the church had not responded to requests for necessary documents.

Mr. Oyenuga, a civil engineer, made this revelation while being cross-examined by the lead counsel for the defence, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

The Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) sent a letter to the Synagogue Church to furnish us with some documents which would aid investigations into collapsed building but we did not receive during our investigations, he said.

Mr. Oyenuga had listed his educational qualifications as a holder of HND in Civil Engineering from the Yaba College of Technology in 1978, a first class B.sc degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Lagos in 1981.

He also has a Masters degree in Public Health Engineering from the Imperial College, London, obtained in 1984.

He listed his professional qualifications as fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Structural Engineers, a past President of the institute from 2009 to 2011 and a current registered engineer of COREN.

While under cross-examination, Mr. Oyenuga told the court that the nine-man investigative committee that visited the site of the building collapse was created by COREN in conjunction with the Nigerian Buildings and Roads Research Institute (NIBRRI).

The investigative committee consisted of nine people but there was no geophysist in the committee, he said.

Mr. Oyenuga, however, admitted he had no knowledge of who delivered the letter of request from COREN to SCOAN and that did he have an acknowledgement copy of the letter.

Titi Akinlawon (SAN), a counsel for the defence, queried Mr. Oyenugas claim that he received no documents from Synagogue.

You had alleged in your evidence that you got Exhibits P2 and P3 from the church. In what circumstances did you get those documents? she said.

Mr. Oyenuga, in his response, said he did not get those documents from the church but rather from the office of the Coroner which was set up to investigate the building collapse.

Akinbela Fatiregun and Oladele Ogundeji alongside their companies  Hardrock Construction and Engineering Company and Jandy Trust Ltd as well as the trustees of Synagogue are facing a 111-count charge bordering on gross negligence and criminal manslaughter.

The Sept. 12, 2014 guest house collapse led to the death of 116 persons, 85 of who were South Africans.

Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo adjourned the case to June 21 for continuation of trial.

(NAN)
Two persons, Yahaya Umar and Muhammed Auwal, have been arrested by the police in Kaduna for allegedly raping a six-year old girl.

The spokesperson of the police command, Abubakar Zubairu, a deputy superintendent, told journalists in Kaduna on Monday that Umar, 67, and Auwal, 30, were arrested on June 13 following a complaint by the parents of the girl.

He said Mr. Auwal, who was the parents neighbour, was also arrested after medical personnel confirmed an earlier alleged rape on the minor.

He said Mr. Auwal was involved in an earlier rape allegation with the same girl, adding that additional information from a medical doctor also indicated that she was earlier raped before that time and was disvirgined.

Mr. Zubairu said the suspects would soon appear in court.

The mother of the victim told newsmen that the incident occurred on Monday, June 13, around 1p.m. at Soba Street, Tudun Wada Area in Kaduna.

After my six years old daughter returned from school, I sent her to buy detergent for me, but she didnt return early as expected.

And I was worried and one boy came to my house to inform me that my daughter has been raped, she said.

According to her, a woman who was passing-by caught the old man in the act in an uncompleted building within the area and she called for help which resulted in his arrest.

She said, So, I went out with my co-wife to see for myself after which we reported the case at Tudun Nupawa Police Station.

On arriving at the station, we were informed that my daughter had been taken to hospital to ascertain if she was actually raped.

The police personnel later returned and confirmed that rape actually took place and I was asked to pay N500 for fuel, which I did.

I am so afraid that she might be infected with HIV and AIDS and I was told that after the doctors investigation that it was discovered that she had been raped earlier by another person.

And it was our neighbour Muhammed Auwal that my daughter identified and the police had already arrested him, they are both in police custody, she said.

The mother claimed that so far she spent N8, 000, but we are yet to receive any drug.

We are only using natural herbs to heal her from injuries inflicted on her.

I am calling on the security agencies to give my daughter justice because people are calling and asking me to forgive them.

(NAN)
 2016 is the first edition of these awards which recognizes the contribution to science communication across different media, whether in writing, broadcasting, music, film, or fine art In the Science category, the medal has been awarded to Jim Al-Khalili, physicist, writer and broadcaster, for his treatment of complex physics concepts through science documentaries The medal of Arts has been awarded to Hans Zimmer, film and television composer, for the music to Interstellar, a science-fiction film with credible physics The documentary film, Particle Fever, directed by Mark Levinson and produced by David E. Kaplan, Mark Levinson, Andrea Miller, and Carla Solomon, is the winner in the category of Film, for insights into the life and work of physicists at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. Culminating in the discovery of the Higgs Boson Medals will be delivered by Professor Stephen Hawking in a ceremony which will take place during Starmus Festival on Wednesday, June 29th 2016 in TenerifeTo bring science to the people and to position it in our daily lives. With this mission, in late 2015, the Stephen Hawking Medal of Science was born to honor individuals and entities that had contributed, in an eminent way, to popularizing science in the category of Science, Art and Film. Sponsored by Starmus and by astrophysicist and Professor Stephen Hawking, the medal awards in this first edition is for Jim Al-Khalili, physicist, writer and broadcaster; Hans Zimmer, film and television composer and the documentary film Particle Fever.Professor Stephen Hawking announced today in a press conference the name of the three 2016 edition winners: In collaboration with the Starmus festival here in Tenerife, I am pleased to announce the first recipients of the Stephen Hawking Medal, for Science Communication. In this special inaugural year of the awards, I have been invited to personally select the awardees. The winners have made outstanding contributions in the articulation and portrayal of science to the public, within the three categories of science, art, and film.According to Garik Israelians, astrophysicist, founder and director of Starmus: these three medals enclose a fundamental message: the importance of disseminating Science and all its achievements to the general public and to inspire too, young people to show interest in the world of Science. The winners have not only understood the dimension of this challenge, but also have led in different disciplines, the transmission and development of knowledge, beating the barriers between science and communicationIn Science category, the medal has been awarded to Jim Al-Khalili, physicist, writer and broadcaster, for his treatment of complex physics concepts through science documentaries, most recently, The Secrets of Quantum Physics.The medal of Arts has been awarded to Hans Zimmer, composer of film soundtracks, for the music to Interstellar, a science-fiction film with credible physics, thanks to science consultant Professor Kip Thorne, portraying the journey through a black hole.The documentary film, Particle Fever, directed by Mark Levinson and produced by David E. Kaplan, Mark Levinson, Andrea Miller and Carla Solomon, is the winner in the category of Film, for insights into the life and work of physicists at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. Culminating in the discovery of the Higgs Boson.The ceremony award will take place in Hotel Piramide Arona (Tenerife, Canary Islands) on Wednesday, June 29th 2016, from 15:00 to 16:00 P.M., where Professor Stephen Hawking will be accompanied by Brian May, Alexei Leonov and Garik Israelian, participants also of this 2016 edition of Starmus Festival.(Irak, 1962) physicist, author and broadcaster. PhD in nuclear physics from the University of Surrey (United Kingdom, 1989) is currently Professor of Theoretical Physics and Chair in the Public Engagement in Science at the same institution. He has published more than one hundred papers on nuclear reaction theory, quantum mechanics and quantum biology. He has presented a number of science programs on BBC television and is a frequent commentator about science in other British media. He is also author of a dozen books on history of science and science diffusion. Al-Khalili has received many awards, amongst them, the Medal of the Royal Society Michael Faraday, the Institute of Physics Kelvin, and the Honourable OBE Queen "for his services to Science.(Germany, 1957) German film soundtrack composer, has been a pioneer in the integration of classical and electronic music with traditional orchestral arrangements. Since the 1980s, he has composed music for over 150 films, amongst them, 'Thelma and Louise', 'Gladiator', 'The Prince of Egypt' 'The Da Vinci Code', 'Rain Man' and 'The Dark Knight'. Zimmer has been nominated for the Academy Award, ten times; the last one in 2014 (Interstellar, Christopher Nolan), winning in 1994 the aforementioned award for Best Original Score.Along his career Hans Zimmer has received several honors, among them four Grammy Awards, three Classical BRIT Awards, two Golden Globes, an Academy Award and a Tony Award. In 2003, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers awarded the prestigious Henry Mancini Award for his entire career, recognizing his effort and creativity. Zimmer has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 2014 was awarded by the Zurich Film Festival. Recently just completed his first European tour in 32 cities.(United States, 1956) physicist and film director. Levinson earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Brown University. He earned his Ph.D in Physics in 1983 at the University of California, Berkeley. Thereafter, he moved into a career in film where he first specialized in the post-production writing and recording of dialogue (ADR). He has worked with prestigious film directors such as Anthony Minghella and Francis Coppola, and with some of the most current talented actors of the film industry; amongst them Ralph Fiennes, Jude Law, Matt Damon and Juliette Binoche. He is the writer, producer and director of the documentary film Prisoner of Time, which examines the lives of former Russian dissident artists after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The film was acclaimed during its premiere at the Moscow International Film Festival. He recently directed and co-produced the award-winning documentary Particle Fever which follows the story of the discovery of the Higgs boson. The film tells the story of six brilliant scientists trying to unravel the mysteries of the universe, documenting the successes and failures of one of the most inspiring and significant scientific breakthroughs of our time. He wanted to show science in a realistic and appealing way. He is currently working on adapting the acclaimed novel by Richard Powers, The Gold Bug Variations.(United States, 1968), Professor of Particle Physics at Johns Hopkins University. He received his PhD from the University of Washington in 1999 and held postdoctoral positions at the University of Chicago/Argonne National Lab and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. Kaplan's research addresses possible extensions to the standard model of particle physics and he spends much of his time either building supersymmetric or other models, coming up with new ideas to explain dark matter, or developing new techniques for discovering physics beyond the standard model. Kaplan has been named an Outstanding Junior Investigator by the Department of Energy, a Kavli Frontiers Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, and a Alfred P. Sloan Fellow. He has also produced the documentary film, Particle Fever, for which he has won a DuPont Journalism Award, and many other accolades. In his spare time, he hosts the In Theory video for Quanta Magazine.Under the name of the greatest scientist of the 20th and early 21st centuries, Stephen Hawking, and sponsored by Starmus, the most ambitious Science festival of all time, the Stephen Hawking Science Medal is a prestigious award which recognizes the merit of popular science on an international level.The design of the medal used a portrait of Professor Hawking by cosmonaut Alexei Leonov, the first man to perform a spacewalk and member of the Advisory Council Starmus since its first edition. The other side combines the image of Brian May of the first spacewalk and the iconic guitar  the "Red Special"  to demonstrate music, another major component of the Starmus Festival.Starmus Festival was born with the aim of making the most universal science and art accessible to the public. The Festival brings together the brightest minds from astronomy, prominent space travelers, astrophysicists and stargazers with tech business leaders and creative industries thinkers to debate the future of humanity.After two ground-breaking editions in 2011 and 2014, gathering together the most important representatives of these fields, such as the astronaut Neil Armstrong and Professor Stephen Hawking. In this new edition, the Starmus III program will include the participation of eleven Nobel laureates in disciplines such as Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Astronomy, along with other guests of great prestige.Marisa Toro / Marina Lewinsky / Jose Luis AndariasMARLOW  STARMUS Media Partner
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday ordered the suspension of the tenure policy in the federal civil service with immediate effect.

The policy, introduced by a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Steve Oronsaye, under the late President Umaru YarAdua administration, prescribed two terms of four years each for permanent secretaries of ministries, while directors were entitled to an eight-year tenure.

The policy also affected top level officers in federal ministries, departments and agencies.

But, a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Communication in the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Haruna Imrana, said the directive to drop the policy was contained in a circular to all ministries, departments and agencies, signed by the HOCSOF, Winifred Oyo-Ita.

The circular, which conveyed the presidents directive on the suspension, said the order took immediate effect, while all concerned were urged to comply accordingly.

The spokesperson said with this circular, the eight-yearstenure policy for directors, which was introduced some years back, has now been suspended.

He said the implication was that civil servants could now stay in service until they are 35 years in service or they turn 60.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has criticized a proposed life pension and immunity from prosecution for Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, and other presiding officers of the National Assembly.

In a statement Sunday, Mr. Falana described the proposal as insensitive, irrational, and immoral.

Indeed, it is the height of insensitivity for legislators to propose life pension for their leaders at a time that workers are owed arrears of salaries in many states of the federation, said Mr. Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

The lawmakers, at the end of a two-day retreat on constitution review on Saturday, took the decision to shield its presiding officers, as well as those of state Houses of Assemblies, from prosecution.

They argued that since the other two arms of government  executive and judiciary  are enjoying immunity, the third arm ought to follow suit.

Mr. Saraki is currently facing prosecution for forgery and false and anticipatory assets declaration, while Ike Ekweremadu, his deputy, is being tried for forgery.

The proposal came amidst allegations of sexual misconduct against three Nigerian lawmakers by the United States government during the lawmakers visit to Cleveland for the International Visitor Leadership Programme.

Mohammed Gololo (APC, Bauchi) was accused of grabbing a hotel maid and soliciting sex, while Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa-Ibom) and Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue) allegedly requested a car park attendant to help them secure the services of prostitutes.

Mr. Falana said the lawmakers proposal to shield their presiding officers from prosecution is provocative.

No serious nation can grant immunity to legislators who have been linked with criminal diversion of public funds, forgery and rape, he said.

We can assure the concerned members of the public that the satanic proposals of the legislators will not succeed.

It is pertinent to inform the legislators that the members of the human rights community have resolved to mobilize the Nigerian people to reject both proposals.
Yet another drama played out Monday at the continuation of trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

Mr. Kanu and two others (Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi), accused of treason and association with an unlawful society, are currently standing trial before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja.

The drama began when the lead defence counsel, Chucks Muoma, accused his clients of judicial misconduct, and threatened to withdraw from the case.

My lord I am the lead counsel in this matter and courtesy demands that the introduction of a new counsel should be made with my consent, Mr. Muoma told Justice Tsoho.

I am a very busy counsel. I am not chasing the priest, the priest is chasing me. If this counsel had come in to be lead counsel, it will be a different case, but he is coming to take away one of my clients. Until this clarifications are made, my further appearance is forestalled.

I cannot do the wrong thing after almost 45 years at the bar. My conscience cannot allow me to pretend.

Responding, the new counsel, Amoebi Nzelu, representing the second defendant, explained how he became counsel to Mr. Madubugwu.

He noted that he was very fond of Mr. Muoma who hailed from the same village in Anambra as himself and would not want anything that rightfully belonged to his elder brother.

Only yesterday at Kuje prison, I was called upon to represent one of the clients, Mr. Nzelu said. The records are there. I tried to reach one of the counsels by name Ifeanyi Ejiofor, who told me this morning that he was aware of the development, since I did not have the number of the lead counsel.

The SAN and I are from the same LGA, Orifite in Anambra State. In Orifite. He is the eldest in this profession, and followed by another person, and myself.

I am not struggling to take your position. I cannot struggle with my elder brother. I am the third in command, in Orifite, while he is the first in command.

He also argued that in criminal matters, the law allows a defendant to choose his counsel.

Reacting to Mr. Nzelus comments, Mr. Muoma said, I m not blaming Amoebi Nzelu. I am blaming my clients, you should have informed your counsel. Let me know how your minds are working.

The lead prosecution counsel was absent in court, and the case was later adjourned to September 26 to 29.
Members of the board of the Transitional Monitoring Group, a coalition of over 400 civic organisations working for the entrenchment of democracy and good governance in Nigeria, on Sunday passed a resolution suspend their chairman, Zikirullahi Ibrahim, from office over allegations that he mismanaged the organisations funds.

A copy of Mr. Ibrahims dismissal letter seen by PREMIUM TIMES said the good governance campaigner was relieved of his job because he claimed several reimbursements that were later found to be fictitious.

The letter was signed by eight out of 14 members of the organisations board.

The signatories are Eddy Ezurike, Osita Ogbu, Rommy Mom, Adejor Abel, Kyanta Giwa, Ibrahim Shuni, Inih Achibong and Bisi Yomi-Layinka.

An accompanying statement from Mr. Abel claimed the board had 14 members, four of whom sent notification letters explaining why they couldnt make it to the meeting, which held at the Purple Tulip Hotel, Abuja.

Claiming a weekly reimbursement of N350,000, spending N80,000 for airline tickets from Kano to Abuja and diverting up to N58 million in United Nations Development Program grants to strictly projects in his native northwest zone are amongst the 14 allegations the board members levelled against Mr. Ibrahim.

The coordinating committee has, therefore, resolved unanimously that you be suspended as chair of the coordinating committee and executive committee of TMG pending investigations of the above allegations levelled against you, the members said.

You are required to hand over to the vice chair all TMG property in your possession with immediate effect.

The group also claimed that Mr. Ibrahim fired a staff, Lazarus Apir, without recourse to the organisations laid down procedures.

But Mr. Ibrahim, in a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES, denied the allegations, saying the action of the board members was strange to the organisation.

I am not aware of these allegations because I have always reported to the groups finances at our annual general meetings.

Mr. Ibrahim said only a national congress of the TMG had the power to remove him from office.

They are only making a mockery of themselves because the TMG is a strong institution that was properly constituted, Mr. Ibrahim said. So these guerrilla tactics of those purporting to have dismissed me from office are in vain.

Mr. Ibrahim acknowledged firing Mr. Apir, but said it was because he breached employee code of conduct.

The spokesperson for the organisation, Armsfree Ajanaku, also countered Mr. Abels claim, saying the organisation has 16 and not 14 board members.

We have a 16-member board and eight cannot take such a drastic action, Mr. Ajanaku said. Their action is in complete nullity and I will urge the general public to ignore the jokers and continue to see TMG as a honourable organisation that will continue to work for a better Nigeria.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has blocked the account Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, operates with Zenith Bank Plc.

An EFCC source confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES.

The governor, who spoke to reporters in Ado-Ekiti on Monday at the premises of the bank, said he had information that the accounts of some of his associates were also affected.

According to a press release by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Idowu Adelusi, the governor accused some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a prominent lawyer from the state of being the brains behind the action.

While condemning the action, Mr. Fayose said under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, especially the provisions contained in Section 308, he enjoyed immunity and wondered why his personal properties should become the targets of the Federal Government and its agencies under the guise of fighting corruption.

Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution gives me immunity just like the President. I wouldnt know why these people are intolerant of others and in a haste. Let them wait till 2018 when I will end my tenure for them to do their investigation. The other time the EFCC accused me of embezzling N1.2 billion poultry project fund, I was the one who voluntarily reported myself to the EFCC.

It was when I got a hint of their move that I wrote a cheque to withdraw some money from the account and I came myself. I was denied access to the account as I was told the EFCC has placed restriction on it. That is executive rascality taken too far. Even when I had case with EFCC my properties were not affected.

If they say they are investigating money spent on election, does it mean it is only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that spent money on election? A lot of people and groups supported my campaign then. Where did APC and their leaders get the money they spent on 2015 general elections from? Now it is only in PDP that they find thieves, to them there are no thieves in the APC.

A lot of petitions were written against former Governor Kayode Fayemi and the EFCC has not asked him a question up till now. The diversion of N850 million fund meant for Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board is there and nobody is asking Fayemi questions.

Even the President cannot claim to be an angel. The estate he built in Abuja is known to us. His wife was indicted over the Halliburton Scandal. When that American, Jefferson, was being sentenced, the Presidents wife was mentioned as having wired $170,000 to Jefferson. Her name was on page 25 of the sentencing of Jefferson. We can

serialize the judgment for people to see and read.

We will not allow this and we will defend our rights within the law of the land.

Those who think they can silence me are mistaken. I am a person who is not perturbed by things like this. Let them wait till 2018 when I will finish my term and I will be the one to go and meet them. I wont run away and let them investigate the whole world, I have nothing to hide or fear, he said.

Mr. Fayose said he would challenge the action appropriately.

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, declined to comment for this story, saying he had not been briefed on the matter.

A senior official of the commission however confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES.

It is true that his account has been restricted, the official said, asking not to be named because he had no permission to speak for the commission. Governors have no immunity from investigations. We are investigating him and so, his accounts can be blocked.
The All Progressives Congress on Monday said it would investigate the alleged case of forgery against some principal officers of the Senate.

The National Chairman of the party, John Odigie-Oyegun, made this known to journalists on Monday in Abuja.

He said the investigation would ascertain the truth in the allegation.

The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and some officers of the upper chamber were accused of forging the Senates Standing Rules in 2015 in June last year to facilitate their election as presiding officers of the upper legislative chamber.

Mr. Saraki is a member of the APC while Mr. Ekweremadu belongs to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

At this stage I dont think there is anything to say. In fact everything is still a guess work, Mr. Odigie-Oyegun said.

Nobody has said yes or they have been arrested or asked to make statement or whatever. As a party we do not think it is the business of the party to interfere in judicial matters of that nature.

`We will just wait and see as we are also making investigations to be sure what the situation is.

On allegation that the party leadership wanted the Senate leadership removed for lack of cordial relationship with the executive, the chairman said: No, no, no; this is the kind of problem that the press always causes.

He added, You are now taking the sensational aspect. You are forgetting the nitty-gritty. Did what they say really happen? That is what you should look at.

Take the two copies (the new copy and the old copy) of the Senate rules and see if there is a difference. If there is a difference, at what formal meeting was it approved and adopted?

You should start from this so that when you are commenting it would not be sensation, it would be based on fact and reality.

You see, we have to change the way we do things in this country; we have to start telling people what is right and what is wrong and to choose what is right as against what is wrong.

This is where I expect you to start. Dont start making it party versus them issue. The point would be: was an offence committed? Establish that first and then you can move on.

(NAN)
The trial of a former governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, was stalled on Monday at an FCT High Court, Gudu, Abuja, due to the absence of EFCC prosecution witness.

The prosecution was to produce its witness in court to testify against the ex-governor.

Mr. Nyame, who is facing trial on a 41-count charge of money laundering, criminal breach of trust and gratification of N1.64bn Taraba fund was present in court.

But Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), counsel to the EFCC, told the court that he could not get in contact with his witnesses due to the fact that they changed their addresses.

Mr. Jacobs, however, promised the court that on the next adjourned date, he would appear with his witnesses.

These witnesses are no longer with the Commission, thats what makes it difficult to contact them.

He said he would contact the Commissions chairman in order to facilitate the process of locating the witnesses.

Ahmed Yusuf, the defence counsel asked the court for a date for the next hearing after the courts vacation.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria Correspondent, Mr. Yusuf said his team did not object to the case being adjourned.

The prosecution intends to continue the case by calling their last witness. We did not object to the case being adjourned, he said.

The judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko, lamented that the case had been on for 10 years.

She adjourned the date for the next hearing to June 28.

(NAN)
Umaru Bature, a son-in-law to Aliyu Gusau, a former National Security Adviser, has dumped the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

He immediately joined the ruling All Progressives Congress in Sokoto state.

Mr. Bature, a former member of the House of Representatives from Sokoto State and long-time associate of Governor Aminu Tambuwal, was presented with a membership card of his new party at the Sokoto North party office on Monday.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Bature said he felt at home in his new party.

He said he was part of negotiations that led to the setting up of the APC but that due to some differences, he remained in the PDP.

I thank Governor Tambuwal and other leaders of APC in Sokoto, notably Umaru Kwabo and Senator Aliyu Wamakko for making me realize that my services are needed here, the former lawmaker said. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to give my best among my friends for the development of our state.

I urge all my supporters to know of this decision (of joining APC) and follow suit by picking up their membership cards. Together we will make Sokoto greater.

In his remarks, the APC chairman for Sokoto North LGA, Muhammad Dangoggo, commended Mr. Bature for joining the APC, saying the party was now laying solid foundation for the unity, stability and progress of Sokoto State and Nigeria.

Our change mantra is gaining foothold across the country and we are making necessary impact. We are instilling moral and ethical values, and very soon, the result of our efforts will be very glaring for all to see, Mr. Dangoggo said.
The All Progressives Congress in Ondo State has expressed concerns over the trip of the state governor, Olusegun Mimiko, to the United Kingdom in the face of the unresolved strike by workers following five months of unpaid salaries.

Mr. Mimikos trip was at the invitation of Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, in London, as a speaker in one of the sessions of its 2016 conference.

Mr. Mimiko travelled to London on Wednesday, June 15, and delivered a lecture on Thursday, June 16, at the Conference.

The governor spoke on the topic, Healthcare for All: From Aspiration to Implementation at a break-out session of the conference.

According to a letter of introduction for UK visas by Chatham House dated June 13, 2016, which was obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the institute committed to paying for the governors travel expenses.

Please note that we will be covering the costs of Governor Mimikos travel expenses and accommodation on June 16 and June17, 2016, the letter, which was signed by the Senior Event Project Manage, Laurel Louden, partly read.

But the letter did not state that the institute would cover the cost of those in Mr. Mimikos entourage, namely, Commissioner for Health, Dayo Adeyanju; Chief Press Secretary, Eni Akinsola and Media Aide to the governor, John Paul Akinduro.

The APC, in a statement on Sunday, condemned the governors trip, saying it was unwise due to the harsh economic situation and the fact that the strike had completely crippled the economic activities of the state.

In spite of this serious issue confronting the state, Governor Olusegun Mimiko still had the audacity to travel out of the country to the United Kingdom without making any meaningful effort to end the strike action of the state workers, the statement by APCs Director of Publicity, Steve Otaloro, said.

This is the height of callousness on the part of Governor Mimiko and it is totally unacceptable to the people who elected him to take care of their welfare.

The party alleged that the governor had been globetrotting since he came to power in 2009 under the guise of seeking investors for the state.

But this present trip to the UK which is of no economic benefit to the state is uncalled for at this time in the midst of serious crisis that has engulfed the state which requires serious attention of the governor that prides himself as running A Caring Heart Government, the statement said.

It should also be noted that Dr. Olusegun Mimikos previous trips seem not to have yielded a single foreign investment to the state. Instead, his policies have killed businesses in the state through multiple taxation inflicted on existing businesses.

The opulent lifestyle of the governor and his family at the Government House and the fact that hes living large enough at the expense of the state must have beclouded him not to appreciate the pains and the hunger that permeate the entire citizenry in the state.

But he should remember that this was not what he promised the people at his inaugural speech where he boasted I Will Work For You in his now infamous 2009 speech.

The party said the current hardship in Ondo State was self-inflicted, as it had warned the governor before now to desist from borrowing, as repayment would stiffen development but that he did not listen.

We told him that he who goes a-borrowing will one day go a-sorrowing, the party noted. It is repayment of these various unwarranted loans collected by the PDP led-government of Ondo State that is now making life difficult for our people and the inability of government to meet payment of salaries of civil servants and pensioners emolument in the state with its attendance consequences on other sectors of the state economy that is largely driven by revenue from the state workers.

It also argued that although there was revenue shortfall from the Federation Account, other states affected were still paying salaries.

The party dismissed the excuses by the government that it was waiting for reimbursement from the Federal fund on federal government projects and roads executed and the Paris Club fund, saying they were unattainable goals and therefore unacceptable.

The APC is therefore strongly advising this administration to consider the overall interests of the people and the future of Ondo State by initiating continuous dialogue with the workers with a view to end the strike by paying them to pave way for their return to work, it said.

The pendulum of time is swinging against the PDP led-government and the general welfare of our people. The people are suffering in silence, and if Mimiko listens well, he will hear their groaning.

Mr. Mimiko and Labour unions failed to reach any agreement to call off the strike despite interventions by traditional rulers.

The state government insists there is no money to pay workers, and said it wad hoping that another largesse from the federal government in form of a bailout could be a breather in the current crisis.


Pobierz zdjecie Przeczytaj o zasadach pobierania zdjec Chinese leader pays official visit to Poland (photo by Krzysztof Sitkowski / KPRP) (1)

Opening the Chinese market to Polish products and the development of trade and infrastructure investments are the main topics of Chinese President Xi Jinping's official visit to Poland starting on Monday.

After the Chinese leader is officially welcomed to Poland by President Andrzej Duda, a plenary session of the two countries' delegations is planned at the Presidential Palace, to be followed by the signing of a total of 11 documents, including bilateral agreements, according to information obtained by PAP.

President Xi Jinping is also scheduled to meet with the Sejm (lower house) and Senate speakers, Marek Kuchcinski and Stanislaw Karczewski.

The topics of the Chinese leader's planned talks with Prime Minister Beata Szydlo include economic issues as well as scientific and cultural cooperation. "The meeting will be an opportunity to discuss cooperation between the two countries in investments, infrastructure and developing transport links", the Prime Minister's Office announced on its website.

Presidents Andrzej Duda and Xi Jinping will take part in a regional forum and symbolically open a China-Europe railway line called the China Railway Express.

"Mr. Xi Jinping's visit is confirmation of the new opening in Polish-Chinese relations that took place during President Andrzej Duda's visit to China in autumn last year", presidential aide Krzysztof Szczerski said.

He underlined that Poland played a key role in the strategic economic programme of building a new land connection between China and Europe. "We want to be China's pivotal partner in Central Europe", Szczerski commented, referring to the "One Belt, One Road" project that envisages the construction and modernisation of a network of land and sea connections between the European Union and the People's Republic of China.

Poland would like to see the development of trade, including the Chinese market opening up more to Polish products, the development of investments and support instruments: banks and investment funds, according to Szczerski. "We expect the Chinese market to open up more and more to exports from Poland, to importing Polish products, including Polish agricultural goods", he said.

The bilateral agreements will cover a wide range of issues, from education, science and new technologies to investments in infrastructure and natural resources. "If we look at the economic volume, the disproportions are obvious, but the important thing is that despite the obvious difference in economic potentials, it is possible to find sectors in which Polish-Chinese cooperation will bring mutual benefits", the presidential minister underlined.

The delegations' political talks will concern "global challenges, the need for peaceful coexistence of countries and together refusing to accept a return to cold war divisions in the world", Szczerski said.

"Poland, like every European country, has a duty to present its concept, its vision of how it understands values, human rights, how it understands today's needs also in a cultural sense in Polish-Chinese relations", Szczerski remarked when asked about the problem of human rights violations in China.

President Andrzej Duda paid a visit to China in November 2015. (PAP)
The presidents of Poland and China, Andrzej Duda and Xi Jinping, in Warsaw on Monday signed a declaration on strategic partnership in which they reiterated that Poland and China viewed each other as long-term and stable strategic partners.

"Poland and China see each other as long-term and stable strategic partners and their development as a significant opportunity for mutually beneficial cooperation," reads a joint statement on the establishment of a comprehensive, strategic partnership between Poland and China.

Both countries view development as an important opportunity for mutually beneficial cooperation, states the declaration while stressing that both countries have built mutual political trust that enables a regular and open exchange of ideas at a high political level.

Both countries also vowed to strengthen political, economic, social and cultural cooperation as well as coordination and collaboration in international and regional matters. Poland and China declared their willingness to raise the level of bilateral relations in a comprehensive manner for the benefit of both nations.

The joint declaration also refers, among others, to the deepening of cooperation in the areas of economy and trade, finances, transport and logistics, infrastructure, civil aviation, energy, agriculture and commerce, technology and environmental protection. "Both sides will unite efforts to promote investment and balancing bilateral trade, especially by providing better access to the market," states the document.

Poland and China declared activities promoting cooperation within the Polish Plan for Responsible Development and the Chinese "Belt and Road Initiative," and note that China welcomes Poland's accession to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as a founding member.

Poland and China also declared their cooperation in the fields of culture, education, sports, tourism, health and between research centres and signal the promotion of "friendly exchanges between young people from both countries." "Both sides will seek to set best possible conditions for contacts through continuous improvement of visa procedures," it has been stressed.

The statement notes that Poland supports peaceful development of relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and reaffirms its attachment to the One China policy.

Presidents Andrzej Duda and Xi Jinping also point to "the need for exchange of views in order to promote and protect human rights and the rule of law, on the basis of equality and mutual respect."

The presidents signed the declaration following both plenary talks of both countries' delegations. Representatives of the Polish and Chinese government and institutions of the two countries also signed a number of bilateral documents.

Among them an agreement on mutual recognition of diplomas and professional titles in higher education as well as a memorandum on joint drafting of assumptions of a bilateral plan of cooperation between the Polish and Chinese governments.

The sides also signed a memorandum between the Polish Ministry of Development and the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission on the setting up of a Steering Committee for Industrial Cooperation. Inked was a memorandum of understanding regarding the development of the "Silk Road" information communications as well as a memorandum on strengthening investment cooperation in logistics infrastructure.

Representatives of Poland and China signed a memorandum on cooperation in the field of industrial parks, a memorandum on cooperation in facilitating customs clearance, a memorandum of understanding between the Polish Space Agency and the China National Space Agency on cooperation in space exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes.

Also signed were letters regarding an agreement on reciprocal waiver of international air transport services from value-added tax or tax of similar nature, as well as a protocol on Polish-Chinese cultural cooperation for the years 2016-2019.

The two countries also signed a protocol on phytosanitary requirements for the export of Polish apples to China, and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in monitoring harmful substances in poultry meat exported to China and a letter of on research and cooperation concerning the principles of regionalisation with regard to African Swine Fever. (PAP)
With more brands slapping on eco-friendly promises that may, or may not be true, can sustainable marketing be a bigger part of the solution ...
By PrintWeek Team

The JCB Prize for Literature announced the shortlist for the 2022 edition of the award, and in a history-making turn, all the five sports we...
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.




As the PA Chamber continues its year-long centennial celebration, we were excited to recently announce that in the near future we intend to combine our operations with the Pennsylvania Business Council. This move will allow for a more effective and efficient utilization of the business communitys resources in crafting and advocating for pro-growth policies and supporting elected officials and candidates for public office who share that vision.

Joining forces will enable us to strengthen our efforts to improve the Commonwealths business climate, which will lead to economic and private-sector job growth. As the PA Chamber enters into a second century of operation, we are looking forward to this new chapter. We are working to finalize the details of the agreement on or about June 30 of this year. Additional information about our combination with the PBC can be found on the PA Chambers website.

In other news, work on the state budget continues as the 2015-16 fiscal year rapidly draws to a close. Over the past several weeks there has been a flurry of legislative activity, with the General Assembly passing a number of bills. One of the more notable proposals that made headlines across the state was a liquor reform bill. For too long, outdated and antiquated alcohol laws gave Pennsylvania a reputation as having one of the most cumbersome and overly complicated alcohol sales systems in the nation. However, with the enactment of Act 39 of 2016  which passed the General Assembly with bipartisan supportthe Commonwealth took a step towards providing Pennsylvania consumers the greater convenience and choice they desired while expanding opportunities for the private sector. The new law allows for the private sector sale of wine in grocery stores with a restaurant license; allows takeout wine sales in licensed restaurants, bars, hotels, supermarkets and delis; and lets about 14,000 holders of takeout beer licenses to sell up to four bottles of wine; among other improvements to the current state store system. In addition, these changes are expected to generate $150 million in revenue for the state annually.

The PA Chamber applauded the General Assembly and Gov. Tom Wolf for making this common-sense reform a reality. As we have long-said, the private sector is ready and able to responsibly sell alcohol  as evidenced by the fact that beer distributors and grocery stores have been doing so for years. While Pennsylvania still has a ways to go in terms of bringing the states alcohol laws into the 21st century, this reform is a positive step.

The issue of pension reform continues to be a major focus of conversation within the Capitol building. As I wrote in last months column, the more than $58 billion unfunded pension liability is the greatest threat to the Commonwealths long-term fiscal health. Growing pension obligations impact the budgets of both the state and school districts across Pennsylvania and the debt has led to multiple credit downgrades for the state. While there are several legislative proposals that seek to address this issue, the House and Senate have yet to find agreement on a bill that will pass both chambers and the governor will sign. The PA Chamber has long maintained that comprehensive, structural reforms are needed to shift the risk of rising pension costs away from the taxpayers, address the growing debt and put the Commonwealth on a firm financial footing going forward.

As events regarding the budget unfold over the next several weeks, the PA Chamber will continue to advocate for a responsible state budget that addresses the states growing pension crisis and protects employers and taxpayers from burdensome tax hikes.
WILMINGTON, North Carolina, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcami, a leading provider of custom development and manufacturing services for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, today announces it has taken major steps in upgrading its laboratory service capabilities to meet market and client demands. Approximately 5,000 square feet of the current Technology Center located in Wilmington, NC will be converted to newly reconstructed laboratory space.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160315/344471LOGO

The newly reconstructed laboratory space will be dedicated to dissolution testing (Apparatus I, II, III, IV and intrinsic dissolution), Karl Fischer testing (humidity controlled room), microbiology, and formulations development. The new space adds 15% additional capacity for dissolution as well as a new capability of a UV sampling automation. Further laboratory expansion is expected with construction of a new building, which was announced in Nov 2015. The new building will provide increased capacity and flexibility to meet client needs. Efficiency efforts following Lean Six Sigma 5S and Lean principles will be paired with this physical expansion. One of five laboratory spaces has already completed redesign/process flow optimization and the remaining labs will be completed by end of 2016.

Beyond facility changes, Alcami also continues to invest in equipment and personnel. Since January 2015, its development teams have grown by 10%. $1.6M has been invested in state of the art equipment such as:

Dionex Ion Chromatography instrumentation  Increasing capacity for ion chromatography testing by 25%

In-line UV automation for dissolution testing for improved quality and efficiency

Agilent 7900 ICP-MS  Increasing capacity by 50%; plans to add units in Edison and St. Louis over the next 12 months

over the next 12 months Coulochem Detector for ion chromatography, which is a new capability

Specialty detectors (Refractive Index detector, Evaporative Light Scattering Detector, and Charged Aerosal Detector) added to Wilmington and Durham sites for increased capacity

and sites for increased capacity MicroSEQ library and an Applied Biosystems/Hitachi 3500 Genetic Analyzer capable of successfully identifying microorganisms to the species level. The system is ideal for environmental monitoring, contamination investigation, root cause analysis and raw material testing.

The company has also improved its stability services by adding 2,000 cubic feet of chamber space, new control systems for all chambers, and a state of the art REES monitoring system to maintain the safety and integrity of all its clients' stability samples at all times.

Alcami is on the forefront, responding quickly to regulatory changes such as the new guidelines for abuse deterrent studies and elemental impurity testing. Its expertise continues in performing API / standard characterization studies, intrinsic dissolution evaluations, semi-solid comparator studies, filter validation to support parenteral drug manufacture and studies to support the microbiological quality of drug products after penetration of the container system for dose preparation prior to patient administration.

Alcami also recently announced Saturday sample delivery for its clients across all of its laboratory locations. This ensures utilization of precious time without concern regarding sample storage or handling. The sales and project management teams will help demonstrate the significant impact that this change can have on the critical deadlines of its client projects.

Alcami is committed to ongoing investment in its people, technology, capabilities and equipment to allow Alcami to better meet all of its clients' needs  from clinical to commercial.

ABOUT ALCAMI

AAIPharma Services Corp. and Cambridge Major Laboratories, Inc. have joined to form Alcami, a world class supplier of comprehensive pharmaceutical development and manufacturing services. With seven sites across the globe, our combined capabilities include API development and manufacturing, solid state chemistry, formulation development, analytical development and testing services, clinical and commercial finished dosage form manufacturing (oral solid dose and parenteral), packaging, and stability services.

Related Links

http://www.alcaminow.com



SOURCE Alcami
ZURICH, Switzerland, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

After the triumph of two internationally renowned accolades in 2015, the "GOOD DESIGN Award" and the "Red Dot Award: Product Design 2015", Haselmeier has now also been crowned winner of the prestigious "German Brand Award 2016".

Established at the behest of the German Bundestag more than 60 years ago, the "German Design Council" nowadays represents international design and brand activity in Germany with the "German Brand Award". The aim of the award is to discover groundbreaking brands and brand makers and to champion these through a prize competition. Following a particularly rigorous nomination process, an expert panel of judges distinguishes companies who have made a name for themselves by virtue of their impressive brand expertise. For many years Haselmeier has been internationally recognized for its innovative ideas and qualitative excellence in the medical technical field. The company philosophy also embraces a complex brand management that has contributed to the success of Haselmeier over the years.

In December 2015, the "German Design Council" wrote to Haselmeier with the following: "An outstanding example in your industry, your brand represents a unique contribution to the German brand and corporate landscape. You have therefore been nominated by the committees of the "German Design Council" and the "German Brand Institute" to take part in the "German Brand Award 2016 - Industry Excellence in Branding".

The nomination itself is also a distinction as only outstanding brands are given the opportunity to participate in the "German Brand Award" competition. So, it is all the more gratifying that the "Haselmeier Brand" was able to prevail against the other high-calibre competitors by winning the "German Brand Award 2016". The award will be formally presented at an award ceremony in Berlin on 16th June 2016.

About Haselmeier

Founded in Stuttgart in 1920, Haselmeier is a global medical device company and a leading designer and manufacturer of pen and auto injection systems. The devices feature unique function, design and technology and are marketed by leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies around the world. Located in five locations across three continents, we develop and produce innovative technologies for administering medication to improve the health and everyday life of patients.

For more information, please visit http://www.haselmeier.com

Media Contact:

Haselmeier AG

Dufourstrasse 32

8008 Zurich

Switzerland





Stefan Gaul

Strategic Product Manager

+41-44-250-58-53

s.gaul@haselmeier.com



SOURCE Haselmeier AG
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160315/344421LOGO

CH2M was hired by the Jumeirah Group as the client's engineer to deliver Burj Al Arab Terrace, a world-first in marine and off-site construction. The terrace is a 10,000-square-metre outdoor luxury leisure facility that stretches 100 metres out into the sea.

CH2M's maritime experts provided engineering advice and marine modelling, conducted environmental impact assessments and coordinated bathymetric measurements to understand the depth of water at the site.

The CH2M team also reviewed the structural, architectural and MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) designs created by the specialist Finnish firm ADMARES, and provided site supervision services for the construction.

Colin Emmitt, CH2M's Project Director, said, "This project allowed CH2M to build on its 60-year history of maritime work in Dubai by being part of a true global first in hotel construction and marine design. Burj Al Arab is one of the most recognized buildings in the world, and its luxury and hospitality are legendary. The addition of the terrace showcases Dubai's leadership in leisure as well as ingenious engineering."

As the client's engineer, CH2M led the process of obtaining all necessary approvals for the project from various Dubai authorities. The team also conducted frequent visits to Finland to inspect the construction of the 5,000-tonne platform. The platform was then transported by ship to Dubai to ensure its installation gave only minimal disruption to the hotel and the local marine life.

The design also incorporates a 612-square-metre freshwater pool and an 828-square-metre saltwater infinity pool. A staggering 10 million mosaic tiles line the pools, while 1,000 tonnes of white sand was used to create the beach.

Amer Al Akhdar, Director of Capital Projects Jumeirah Group, said, "I was privileged to head the project from inception to completion. The completion of this unique project would not have been achieved without the incredible effort and commitment from all parties involved. It has been an extremely challenging project and nothing was straight forward. Many aspects of the project were being done for the first time ever, making the Burj Al Arab Terrace a breathtaking feature, both in its concept and execution."

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 programme 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.

Contact: Raeda Al Sarayreh / Avnish Raichura

Phone: + 971 50 557 0105 / +974 3376 5474

E-Mail: raeda.alsarayreh@ch2m.com / avnish.raichura@ch2m.com

Related Links

http://www.ch2m.com



SOURCE CH2M
GENEVA, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Friends of Gilgit Baltistan" (FOGB) hosted an International Conference on Human Rights in Gilgit Baltistan, at the UN Human Rights Council on June 17, 2016. The prominent speakers who spoke on this occasion were Alberto Cirio, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Vice Chairman of Friends of Gilgit Baltistan, Paulo Casaca, Executive Director, South Asia Democratic Forum (SADF) and Junaid Qureshi, Senior Leader of the Jammu Kashmir Democratic Liberation Party (JKDLP) and an expert on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

In his remarks, Mr. Casaca stated that while Pakistan and China were today cooperating and jointly constructing the CPEC, they need to remember that Gilgit Baltistan is legally and as per UN Resolutions, still a disputed territory and not a part of Pakistan, though annexed and controlled by it. Highlighting the manner in which the Pakistani Army is managing all aspects of this corridor, he stated that this was on account of opposition of the local population to its construction. He also drew attention to the manner in which all signs of local dissent were being brutally suppressed, including through extra-judicial executions. He called for a minute's silence to be observed for the death of one such local leader, Baba Jan, killed by the security forces recently.

In his remarks, Kashmiri leader Junaid Qureshi also highlighted the disputed nature of J&K, of which Gilgit Baltistan was a part and parcel. He stated that Pakistan, India and China were parties to this dispute, on account of their control of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Indian-administered J&K and Chinese occupation of Aksai Chin and Shaksgam Valley, respectively. Referring to the CPEC being constructed through this disputed area, he stated that this makes the project too, disputed in nature. Besides, he added, while the CPEC may benefit Pakistan, especially Punjab province, it would render more than 10,000 people of Gilgit Baltistan jobless, once the existing dry port in Sost (GB) is relocated to Havelian (Pakistan). Moreover, with mining licences being issued directly from Islamabad and the people of Gilgit Baltistan having no say in the CPEC, while the locals are opposed to its construction, the Anti-Terrorism Act is being used to silence all voices of dissent. He also highlighted the grave threat from militarisation of this fragile area, adding that the Chinese Army was constructing 22 tunnels in Gilgit Baltistan for deployment of missiles, and regretted that like Aksai Chin, Pakistan seemed to have sold out this territory too, to China, under the guise of infrastructure development. Describing the CPEC as a 'corridor of exploitation', Mr. Qureshi stated that he had launched a signature campaign against this project in major European cities, which had travelled to Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Vienna and Geneva so far, and gathered considerable support.

Alberto Cirio, MEP stated that the European Parliament was against human rights abuses anywhere, and stood firmly with the people of Gilgit Baltistan who felt threatened by the CPEC. He added that the EU would be urging Pakistan to recognise all cases of human rights abuses, in view of its third generation agreement with Pakistan on this issue.

SOURCE Friends of Gilgit Baltistan
"Corentium Pro is unlike any other professional device on the market," said Oyvind Birkenes, Corentium CEO. "Radon is a dynamic and volatile element, and the technology we integrate into our products ensures that outside factors do not affect their ability to generate the most accurate readings.

Stand-out features of Corentium Pro include:

Mobile access and branded reporting: The first professional device to incorporate apps for both iPhone and Android. By creating a user profile via the app and corresponding software, professionals can generate on-the-spot reports.

The first professional device to incorporate apps for both iPhone and Android. By creating a user profile via the app and corresponding software, professionals can generate on-the-spot reports. Built-in redundancy: The only instrument on the market that has built-in redundancy, with four radon chambers working in parallel to mitigate inaccuracy or failure.

The only instrument on the market that has built-in redundancy, with four radon chambers working in parallel to mitigate inaccuracy or failure. Additional monitoring: Designed to be tamper-resistant, with built-in temperature, pressure, humidity and motion sensors to ensure accuracy with each reading.

Designed to be tamper-resistant, with built-in temperature, pressure, humidity and motion sensors to ensure accuracy with each reading. Portability and battery-powered: The device is compact and lightweight. Battery-power allows professionals to place the device exactly where needed.

Corentium is a Norway-based company that develops and manufactures both professional- and consumer-grade technologies that have completely changed the way people monitor and analyze radon levels in indoor air. Led by a team of experienced scientists, engineers and technology industry veterans, Corentium is on a mission to ensure people around the world take control of their air quality through simple, affordable and accurate technology solutions.

In the consumer category, the simple but powerful Corentium Home is a proven favorite among homeowners. Designed for durability and efficiency, Corentium Home continuously monitors a home for years.

In the European Union alone, lung cancer resulting from radon exposure is responsible for more than 20,000 deaths annually. A new Commission Directive will safeguard workplaces and people against the effects of radiation, including radon. Corentium technology is tailored to meet those challenges, being quick diagnosis or long-term monitoring of buildings.

Corentium Pro is now available and retails for 1399, while the Corentium Home sells at 199.

For more information on Corentium radon monitors or to purchase a device, visit www.corentium.com.

Related Links

https://corentium.com



SOURCE Corentium
LAVAL, Quebec, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. ("Couche-Tard") (TSX: ATD.A ATD.B) announces today that it has signed, through its wholly-owned indirect subsidiary Circle K Eesti AS, an agreement to purchase majority of the assets operated under the Premium 7 brand from Sevenoil Est OU and its affiliates. The assets are comprised of 23 sites, including 11 full service fuel stations with convenience stores and 12 automated fuel stations. The transaction is anticipated to close in the second quarter of Couche-Tard's fiscal year 2017 and is subject to the standard regulatory approvals and closing conditions. The acquisition will be financed from Couche-Tard's available cash and existing credit facilities. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price for this acquisition.

Couche-Tard would buy the land and buildings for 23 locations. Following the acquisition, all the sites would be operated under the Statoil brand and within a year rebranded and operated under the Circle K brand by Couche-Tard's Estonian business unit.

"This acquisition would be a great addition to Couche-Tard's expansion and growth plans in Europe. Having just added Ireland to our European network and expanded our footprint in Scandinavia with Shell's retail network in Denmark, Couche-Tard's declaration in 2012 is becoming a reality: Circle K Europe (formerly Statoil Fuel & Retail AS) is our platform for growth in Europe," says Jacob Schram, Group President Europe, Couche-Tard.

"Subsequent to this transaction, Couche-Tard's network in Estonia would grow by 40% and would total 77 company operated-stores and fuel stations. These sites occupy strategic locations within their respective trade areas. This acquisition would be a great complement to our existing network in the Estonian fuel market," commented Jrn Madsen, EVP Central & Eastern Europe & Ireland, Circle K Europe.

About Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.

Couche-Tard is the leader in the Canadian convenience store industry. In the United States, it is the largest independent convenience store operator in terms of number of company-operated stores. In Europe, Couche-Tard is a leader in convenience store and road transportation fuel retail in the Scandinavian and Baltic countries with a significant presence in Poland.

As of January 31, 2016, Couche-Tard's network comprised 7,979 convenience stores throughout North America, including 6,560 stores offering road transportation fuel. Its North-American network consists of 15 business units, including 11 in the United States covering 41 states and four in Canada covering all ten provinces. About 80,000 people are employed throughout its network and at its service offices in North America.

In Europe, Couche-Tard operates a broad retail network across Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden and Denmark), Poland, the Baltics (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) and Russia. As of January 31, 2016, it comprised 2,218 stores, the majority of which offer road transportation fuel and convenience products while the others are unmanned automated fuel stations. Couche-Tard also offers other products, including stationary energy, marine fuel and chemicals. Couche-Tard operates key fuel terminals and fuel depots in six European countries. Including employees at franchise stations carrying its brands, about 19,000 people work in its retail network, terminals and service offices across Europe. Since its acquisition of Topaz Energy Group Limited on February 1st, 2016, Couche-Tard also operates a convenience and fuel retailing network comprised of 444 service stations in Ireland as well as a significant commercial fuels operation, with over 30 depots and two terminals.

In addition, around 1,500 stores are operated by independent operators under the Circle K banner in 13 other countries or regions worldwide (China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Guam, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam).

For more information on Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., please visit: http://corpo.couche-tard.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The statements set forth in this press release, which describe Couche-Tard's objectives, projections, estimates, expectations or forecasts, may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of securities legislation. Positive or negative verbs such as "will", "plan", "evaluate", "estimate", "believe", "expect" and other related expressions are used to identify such statements. Couche-Tard would like to point out that, by their very nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties such that its results, or the measures it adopts, could differ materially from those indicated or underlying these statements, or could have an impact on the degree of realization of a particular projection. Major factors that may lead to a material difference between Couche-Tard's actual results and the projections or expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements include the effects of the integration of acquired businesses and the ability to achieve projected synergies, fluctuations in margins on motor fuel sales, competition in the convenience store and retail motor fuel industries, exchange rate variations, and such other risks as described in detail from time to time in documents filed by Couche-Tard with securities regulatory authorities in Canada. Unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, Couche-Tard disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking information in this press release is based on information available as of the date of the release.

Investor Relations: Claude Tessier, Chief Financial Officer, Tel: (450) 662-6632, ext. 4607, claude.tessier@couche-tard.com; Media Relations: Karen Romer, Director, Global Communications, Tel: (514) 603- 4505, karen.romer@couche-tard.com

SOURCE Alimentation Couche-Tard inc.
Solution utilising Blockchain Technology to optimise performance and improve costs

SINGAPORE, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore Dragonfly Fintech (DF), clinched a deal today to power Metro Money Exchange, a Malaysian licensed wholesale and money remittance company using the NEM's Blockchain Technology. The payment and settlement solution will be implemented in partnership with BC Fintech Sdn Bhd, a Dragonfly system integrator.

The solution will drive the entire remittance chain, from wholesale foreign exchange to the receipt of fiat money at the recipient's end. The remittance market in Malaysia is about $10 billion per annum.

"It is about transforming the money remittance space and repositioning the service as a platform business allowing near frictionless participation," said Lon Wong, CEO, Dragonfly Fintech.

This solution is also applicable to banks, and they are very positive about this solution. Banks are meticulously working through their processes to ensure stakeholder concerns and needs are addressed before embarking on such a project. Dragonfly will continue to work closely with its clients in supporting their decision-making needs.

While working through the decision-making process with banks, Dragonfly is also taking a parallel approach by powering money remittance companies. Later, this can be integrated with other financial institutions into a huge ecosystem. The use of Dragonfly's platform will ensure compliance to regulatory requirements with a more robust approach in security, efficiency, cost, and most importantly, introducing a paradigm shift in providing services.

The solution platform does not infringe into the traditional regulatory requirements such as compliance, governance, AML, and KYC. They are still very much the responsibility of the licensed entity and is business as usual. What the platform solution provides is an enablement for the licensed entity to manage all its individual customers' transactions, leaving the licensed entity to manage the wholesale forex and treasury function separately.

The solution also allows each licensed entity to operate its services in an independent private chain. At an opportune time, these entities can opt into the ecosystem while still having the autonomy.

"We have been ahead of the pack and painstakingly designed this solution for the last 3 years. With a proven solution, we are able to demonstrate a world's first in setting the standards right, i.e., establish one's autonomous private chain and then integrate with the larger, massive network of financial institutions, transacting potentially hundreds of thousands of Tx/s at the system level, all on the blockchain while maintaining independence. This remittance service is only one part of a spectrum of solutions Dragonfly is providing, which includes enabling a country to issue its own sovereign digital money," Wong said.

The impact of the services will include meaningful reduction in transaction cost, faster transactions, complete audit trail, and reconciliation of balances, thereby providing an alternative to current de facto messaging method.

At some point in time, this service will be extended downstream to include mobile payments, debit card functionality, as well as ATM functionality. This is made possible because of the ubiquity and expansiveness of the platform solution. Driven by a core blockchain solution, Dragonfly's offer is an ecosystem for the financial system, from central banks to the consumer, coupling them seamlessly, and directly.

About Dragonfly Fintech

Dragonfly Fintech Pte Ltd is a Singapore-incorporated financial technology company. It is a pioneering leading edge blockchain platform solution provider for a financial ecosystem, including for the payment, clearing, and settlement sector. The founder is Lon Wong, a serial technopreneur, and inventor of a patent-pending fintech business method. Lon Wong is a core team member of the open source NEM blockchain technology project initiative.

Link: http://www.dfintech.com

CONTACT: media@dfintech.com

Related Links

www.dragonflypay.com



SOURCE Dragonfly Fintech
DUBLIN, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Frac Sand Market 2016-2020" report to their offering.

The global frac sand market to grow at a CAGR of 10.29% during the period 2016-2020.

Global Frac Sand Market 2016-2020, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.



The global frac sand market has become an integral part of the oil and gas sector due to the increasing demand for oil and gas extracted from unconventional resources. Some of the key consumers of frac sand are oil and gas companies operating in the shale formations in the US and Canada.



The players on the supply side as well as demand side engage in business by forming contracts. The expiry of some of these contracts in 2015 has created much uncertainty on the demand side. In addition, falling oil prices negatively impacted the demand for frac sand. Consumers operating in shale formations like Eagle Ford and Permian basin have reduced drilling, and as a result, there has been a continuous decline in the number of rigs.

According to the report, a key growth driver is the technological advances being made in the oil extraction processes. The extraction of oil and natural gas from conventional resources in North America and ROW has been experiencing a decline. The majority of conventional oil and natural gas resources is already being accessed. Oil and gas production from unconventional resources such as shale and tight sandstone was not considered to be an economically viable option. Unlike the conventional reserves of oil and natural gas, oil and gas in these tight petroleum reservoirs do not flow naturally through the rock, making them much more difficult to extract. However, the introduction of hydraulic fracturing has changed the oil and gas industry, especially in the US, where shale gas is produced in significant volumes at relatively low costs.



Further, the report states that one challenge that could hamper market growth is a decrease in oil prices and reduced drilling activity.

Key vendors



- Emerge Energy Services

- Hi-Crush Partners

- Northern Frac Proppants

- US Silica



Other prominent vendors



- Chieftain Sand

- Di-Corp

- Hanson Lake Sands

- LaPrairie Group

- Sibelco

- Source Energy Services

- Unimin

- Victory Nickel

- Vista Sand



Key Topics Covered:



Part 01: Executive summary



Part 02: Scope of the report



Part 03: Market research methodology



Part 04: Introduction



Part 05: Oil and gas industry analysis



Part 06: Shale gas industry outlook



Part 07: Proppant industry outlook



Part 08: Market landscape



Part 09: Market segmentation by geography



Part 10: Market drivers



Part 11: Impact of drivers



Part 12: Market challenges



Part 13: Impact of drivers and challenges



Part 14: Market trends



Part 15: Vendor landscape



Part 16: Key vendor analysis



Part 17: Appendix



For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/m3pjhd/global_frac_sand

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
DUBLIN, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Wireless Charging Market Analysis & Trends - Industry Forecast to 2025" report to their offering.

The Global Wireless Charging Market is poised to grow at a CAGR of around 56.0% over the next decade to reach approximately $160.2 billion by 2025.

This industry report analyzes the global markets for Wireless Charging across all the given segments on global as well as regional levels presented in the research scope. The study provides historical market data for 2013, 2014 revenue estimations are presented for 2015 and forecasts from 2016 till 2025.



The study focuses on market trends, leading players, supply chain trends, technological innovations, key developments, and future strategies. With comprehensive market assessment across the major geographies such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Latin America and Rest of the world the report is a valuable asset for the existing players, new entrants and the future investors.



The market data is gathered from extensive primary interviews and secondary research. The market size is calculated based on the revenue generated through sales from all the given segments and sub segments in the research scope. The market sizing analysis includes both top-down and bottom-up approaches for data validation and accuracy measures.



Key Topics Covered:



1 Market Outline



2 Executive Summary



3 Market Overview

3.1 Current Trends

3.1.1 As the technology gains more consumer adoption, satisfaction with the technology is likely to decline

3.1.2 Increasing consumer preference towards Wireless Connectivity

3.1.3 Recent Techlological advancements in Wireless Charging

3.1.4 Growth Opportunities/Investment Opportunities

3.2 Drivers

3.3 Constraints

3.4 Industry Attractiveness



4 Wireless Charging Market, By Transmission Range

4.1 Short Range

4.2 Medium Range

4.3 Long Range



5 Wireless Charging Market, By Technology

5.1 Radiation

5.2 Inductive

5.3 Radio Frequency (RF)

5.4 Resonant

5.5 Laser Beam

5.6 Other Technologies



6 Wireless Charging Market, By Application

6.1 Automotive

6.2 Defense

6.3 Healthcare

6.4 Industrial

6.5 Consumer Electronics

6.5.1.1 Computing Devices

6.5.1.2 Wearable Devices )

6.5.1.3 Smartphones



7 Wireless Charging Market, By Geography



8 Leading Companies



- Convenientpower HK Ltd

- Duracell Powermat

- Energizer Holdings, Inc

- Fulton

- Integrated Device Technology

- Leggett & Platt, Incorporated

- Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd

- Oregon Scientific

- Powerbyproxi Ltd.

- Powermat Technologies Ltd.

- Qualcomm Inc

- Texas Instruments, Inc.

- Witricity Corp



For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fd6jz2/global_wireless

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
MOSCOW, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Chinese consumer appliances manufacturer Midea has launched a series of new products for kitchen at the 2016 National Dealer Conference held from June 17-18 in Moscow.

The company unveiled three built-in ovens, three microwave ovens, one vacuum cleaner and one microwave, all new releases tailored to the needs of Russian consumers, with specific adjustments in product design, function and configuration based on local market surveys.

"We have highly competitive products in the international market that excel in both function and industrial design," said Danielle Boils, Branding & Marketing Director, Overseas Sales & Marketing Department of Midea's Kitchen Appliances Division. "Midea's products not only abide by the highest international quality and safety standards but also are attentive to the practical needs of our consumers."

Among the newly released products in Russia, the ultra-silent vacuum cleaner offers a higher degree of suction power, in addition to a blowing function and hand grip control. Midea also introduced microwave ovens, which merge the functions of traditional oven and microwave into one to save kitchen space. These two products are some of the company's most popular products. Midea is also proud to introduce a new microwave oven with an antimicrobial coated cavity that provides a hygienic cooking environment.

Midea's comprehensive production lines present consumers with a wide range of kitchen planning solutions, including 33 built-in oven models, three microwave baking oven models, 49 built-in stoves, 17 kitchen ventilators and 46 microwaves that best suit their needs.

"As one of the largest home appliances manufacturers in the world, Midea aims to bring more high quality, innovative and affordable products to our consumers," Boils said. "As one of our first steps in expanding globally, we very much value the Russian market and we are hoping to grow together with mutual respect and experience and opportunity sharing."

About Midea Kitchen Appliance Division

Midea Kitchen Appliance Division is affiliated to Midea Group, one of the largest household appliance manufacture in China, founded in 1968. One of the world's largest kitchen appliance suppliers with annual sales revenue exceeding USD 2.7 billion, the company is the world's No.1 microwave oven manufacturer and No.3 dishwasher manufacturer. It operates one production base in Belarus and three in China as well as one R&D center in Bologna, Italy in addition to the two in China.

SOURCE Midea Kitchen Appliance Division
VICENZA, Italy, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The ASAlaser Therapy Continues to Prove its Full Effectiveness Both When Treating Small Animal and Horse Pathologies and When Treating Exotic Species. One Emblematic Case Among the Many: the Treatment of an Indian Elephant With Cutaneous Compression Wounds

What do Shirley, a 67 year old Indian elephant with cutaneous compression wounds, Daya San, a young mare with a bite wound in the neck area and Artemis, a Labrador Retriever with tetra-paresis and pressure sores, have in common? Although their dimensions and pathologies are different, all three owe their full physical recovery to MLS Laser Therapy. Thanks to the anti-inflammatory, anti-oedema, analgesic and bio-stimulant effects of the innovative therapeutic ASAlaser technique in the veterinary field, in fact, their recovery was not a utopia, but a solid reality. Quickly, without pain or without incurring any unpleasant side effects. In all three cases, in fact, the MLS impulse, generated by a sophisticated system of continued and pulsed, synchronised and combined emissions of different wave lengths capable of reaching deep into the tissues, confirmed its validity. The reason is simple: the synchronisation of the emission mutually powers the therapeutic effects each would have when used individually. As if to say: when strength is in numbers, results are obtained. Shirley, Daya San and Artemis would be ready to confirm this, thereby underlining the transversal nature of the therapy, which is efficient and decisive in traumatology, rehabilitation and for all those pathologies, which entail pain, inflammation, oedemas, wounds and ulcers.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150217/731088 )

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160617/809830 )



No limit and one single 'dimension': success

The capacity of the MLS Laser Therapy of producing concrete results on pachyderms or pet animals or horses is apparent in the case of Shirley. The elephant - says Dr. Lydia Young of "The Elephant Sanctuary" in Hohenwald, Tennessee, USA, who followed the case - presented cutaneous compression wounds located on the facial crest and the tip of the shoulder and the hip. After 6 sessions with MLS, the wounds were completely closed by healthy granulation tissue. Shirley had already had a similar compression wound, but four months of treatment were necessary to reach recovery. Associating MLS Laser Therapy with the "contaminated wound" protocol to the other topical treatments, the time of recovery was reduced to two months. The animal's relaxed and tranquil state during the sessions allow us to infer that Shirley was immediately able to appreciate the increased well-being given by the therapy. A condition of well-being also experienced by Daya San. Found with a wound on both sides of the neck, probably after having been bitten, the mare presented a subcutaneous emphysema of the neck and chest, neck and head swelling. The wound showed a great deal of exudate and necrotic tissue; the windpipe and jugular were visible. The therapy prescribed - explained Dr Charlotte Degien, Haras de Cordemais in France, who was directly involved - consisted of an oral antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory and an anti-oedema combined with MLS sessions. The laser encouraged such a bio-stimulation that it induced a wound recovery which closed completely in 89 days. Thanks to MLS no keloid developed during therapy, thereby ensuring an optimal healing. Artemis also went back to her owners totally restored after having developed a form of tetraplegia with lameness symptoms and a progressively increasing weakness of the right back limb. This weakness - clarifies Dr Roberta Burdisso, responsible for physiotherapy at the CHV Fregis in Paris -increased until it evolved into a tetra-paresis associated with a marked muscle hypertrophy and pressure sores. The use of MLS combined with hydrotherapy and electric stimulation allowed Artemis to return home on her own legs after three weeks of hospitalisation.

Thanks to results obtained daily in the field, the ASAlaser therapeutic solution represents the arrival point of an attentive educational journey implemented by the company and continued by its Veterinary division (ASAveterinary), which confirms having the right credentials in order to respond to the needs and problems of every veterinary surgery.

SOURCE ASA Srl
OYSTER BAY, New York, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In the latest update to ABI Research's cellular module vendor market shares report, Sierra Wireless maintained its number one position for cellular module revenues in 2015. This marks the fifth year in a row that the company received this ranking, exceeding its next closest competitor by nearly $175 million. But there is a new leader in cellular module shipments, SIMCom Wireless.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151014/276887LOGO

"Through aggressive pricing, strength in its China home market, and some large deals for its original design manufacturer business, which makes specialized M2M devices, SIMCom easily moved into the number one spot for 2015 module shipments," says Dan Shey, Managing Director and Vice President at ABI Research.

SIMCom's M2M module financial results and product roadmap, as well the module results and roadmaps of competitors ZTE and Neoway, suggest that future shipment leaders will be those who can compete on price. This is because the module technologies that will dominate growth over the next five years are from the latest 3GPP standards for LTE: Cat 1, Cat M1, and Cat M2.

"The newest members of the LTE family are designed to be less complex to limit power consumption and, as importantly, less expensive," concludes Shey. "Effectively, these modules are intended to be commodity products, to drive up cellular adoption and expand module use into new markets. But this technology shift is forcing module vendors to rethink their overall IoT strategiesfor some vendors, they simply will not try to compete on price."

These findings are from ABI Research's M2M Cellular Module Vendor Market Share (https://www.abiresearch.com/market-research/product/1025467-m2m-cellular-module-vendor-market-share/). This report is part of the company's IoT, IoE, & M2M sector (https://www.abiresearch.com/market-research/practice/ioe-enterprise-m2m/), which includes research reports, market data, insights, and competitive assessments.

About ABI Research

ABI Research stands at the forefront of technology market research, providing business leaders with comprehensive research and consulting services to help them implement informed, transformative technology decisions. Founded more than 25 years ago, the company's global team of senior and long-tenured analysts delivers deep market data forecasts, analyses, and teardown services. ABI Research is an industry pioneer, proactively uncovering ground-breaking business cycles and publishing research 18 to 36 months in advance of other organizations. For more information, visit www.abiresearch.com.

Contact Info:

Mackenzie Gavel

Tel: +1.516.624.2542

pr@abiresearch.com

Related Links

http://www.abiresearch.com



SOURCE ABI Research
NEW DELHI, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

NewsR.in, the news portal covering India and Indian readers abroad, today launches its new mobile-friendly service. Internet browsing via mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets is increasing year-on-year, and, as India's premier news aggregator, NewsR.in has now optimised access to its 24/7 news coverage and story aggregation for readers on the go. The portal provides readers with regular access to over 11 million headlines and over one million news videos in the English language, allowing for a wealth of stories from thousands of reputable sources to be discovered daily.

The mobile-friendly platform uses the Google Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) protocol, which makes for up to four times the loading speed and ten times less data used than non-AMP websites and portals experience. In combination with an advanced content delivery network (CDN) infrastructure, NewsR.in has now become a news portal that is ideally suited for smartphone or tablet use. This comes as great news to existing readers, and anyone interested in NewsR.in's move to mobile optimisation will be pleased to hear that access to the service remains free of charge.

"We are thrilled to supply an optimised platform for our comprehensive coverage of world news to a mobile audience in India," advises Marc Pinter-Krainer, Director of NewsR.in. "We recognised a growing demand for quicker access and full mobile optimisation for the portal, and we're proud to now be able to offer the fastest-access to worldwide news coverage in the market. It's our dedication to offering our Indian users high-quality news video and hundreds of headline sources that has allowed us to grow in this direction - and we aim to continue to make news even more accessible to all our readers."

Smartphone usage is continuing to grow just as much as the shift in browsing behaviour moves from PC to mobile device - and India's smartphone market in particular is expanding year-on-year, with approximately 200 million smartphone users in the country alone - with another 100 million Indian users predicted to join this tally over the next three years. NewsR.in's adoption of superfast mobile optimisation has come at a great time for such users, and will enhance news coverage delivery for its regular readership.

The mobile-optimised NewsR.in news portal can be accessed at http://www.newsr.in/ from any smartphone or via http://m.newsr.in/ from tablets or other devices. Access is free of charge.

The NewsR.in branded news portal was launched in April 2012 by U.K.-based parent company One News Page Ltd. One News Page was founded in 2008 and services markets in the English, German and Spanish languages across Europe, America, Asia and Australasia. In 2015 it served over 20 million users accessing its news portal websites.

About NewsR.in

NewsR.in is a news portal aimed at online users in India as well as Indians abroad. Offering original news coverage and syndicated content including news video clips from over 200 news providers and media outlets in India and abroad, NewsR.in offers comprehensive coverage of Indian news in English language.

The NewsR.in website is accessible free of charge at http://www.newsr.in/

About One News Page Ltd

One News Page Ltd is a British media firm which runs a family of news portal websites across the globe. The sites feature original news coverage and syndicated news content including news videos from major trusted news sources.

The One News Page portal is arguably the fastest-access news portal in the world. It provides users with a powerful search engine of more than 100 million news resources, allowing them to discover and locate relevant news coverage easily. Users are referred to the source website directly by clicking on a corresponding link.

Optional free member registration provides access to news archives and live news alerts by email.

Access to all One News Page sites is free of charge.

One News Page Sites:

 Global  http://www.onenewspage.com (English Language)

 United States  http://www.onenewspage.us (English Language)

 United Kingdom  http://www.onenewspage.co.uk (English Language)

 Australia  http://www.onenewspage.com.au (English Language)

 India  http://www.newsr.in (English Language)

 German-language  http://www.newsdeutschland.com (Deutsche Sprache)

 Spanish-language  http://www.paginanoticias.com (Idioma espanol)

Enquiries / Media Contact



NewsR.in / One News Page Ltd

Dr Marc Pinter-Krainer

Founder & CEO

Email: marc@onenewspage.com

Tel: +44 (0) 208 1333 700

http://www.onenewspage.com/



SOURCE One News Page Ltd
LONDON, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Building on the trusted reputation of MOVICOL over the last 20 years.

Demonstrating Norgine's expertise in gastroenterology with the development and commercialisation of innovative products.

Norgine B.V. today announced the launch of MOVICOL Ready to Take in Germany. In Germany it is called MOVICOL trinkfertig. MOVICOL Ready to Take is used for the treatment of acute and chronic constipation in adults, adolescents and the elderly.[1]

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130829/633895-a )



MOVICOL Ready to Take is a ready mixed, pocket size dose that can be taken anywhere, at any time. It is an extension to the product line of the well-established MOVICOL brand which has been available for over 20 years in Europe and Australia/New Zealand via Norgine's infrastructure and in the rest of world through a network of partners.

Peter Martin, COO at Norgine said: "The launch of MOVICOL Ready to Take in Germany reinforces Norgine's ability to develop and commercialise products that offer value to healthcare professionals, health systems and more importantly that meet patients' needs."

He added: "The first launch of the new MOVICOL Ready to Take is significant for Norgine, as it builds on MOVICOL's leading position, but it also continues to demonstrate Norgine's gastroenterology expertise and capabilities as a European specialist pharma company."

Norgine anticipates launching MOVICOL Ready to Take through its European infrastructure later on this year.

To view full release go to http://www.norgine.com

References

1. MOVICOL Ready To Take. Instructions For Use. September 2015.

Media Contacts:

Isabelle Jouin, T: +44 (0)1895 453643

Charlotte Andrews, T: +44 (0)1895 453607

Follow us @norgine



SOURCE Norgine B.V.
PUNE, India, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

ReportsnReports.com adds MediPoint: Peripheral Vascular Interventions - Global Analysis and Market Forecasts 2016 - 2022 research report to the healthcare and medical devices sections of its online business intelligence library. The global market for peripheral vascular interventions, including lower extremity stents, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) balloons, PTA drug-eluting balloons (DEB), carotid stents, and renal stents, will rise from $2.1 billion in 2015 to $3.4 billion by 2022, according to this research

Complete report on the Peripheral Vascular Interventions market spread across 157 pages, talking about 9 major companies, their products and supported with 43 tables as well as 43 figures is now available at http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/596250-medipoint-peripheral-vascular-interventions-global-analysis-and-market-forecasts.html .

The growth in peripheral vascular interventions market is set to occur at a compound annual growth rate of 6.8% and driven by an increased demand for minimally invasive endovascular procedures, greater availability of improved solutions for femoropopliteal artery revascularization, and the rising prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Prevalence of PAD is rising worldwide due to an increase in risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and tobacco use, resulting in a greater demand for minimally invasive treatments. An increasing number of physicians trained in endovascular techniques will help to address this.

Drug-eluting devices, including DEB and drug-eluting stents, are expected to significantly impact the treatment paradigm of PAD during the forecast period, particularly for complex femoropopliteal and infrapopliteal artery lesions where bare-metal stents and standard balloon angioplasty have not been as effective as long-term treatments. The development of more efficient drug delivery systems that maintain drug concentration in the vessel wall for longer periods of time will be a significant market opportunity moving forward, as this will improve long-term efficacy."

The current key players within the large and dynamic peripheral interventions market are Abbott Vascular, Boston Scientific, C.R. Bard, Cook Medical, Cordis, Medtronic, and W.L. Gore. Recent high-profile acquisitions, such as Medtronic's acquisition of Covidien and Cardinal Health's acquisition of Cordis, will significantly impact the competitive landscape moving forward. Companies such as Biotronik, B. Braun, Maquet, and Eurocor are also strong potential competitors which are poised for growth due to investment in innovative technologies within this space, including DEB and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered stents.

Order a copy of MediPoint: Peripheral Vascular Interventions - Global Analysis and Market Forecasts 2016 - 2022 research report at http://www.reportsnreports.com/Purchase.aspx?name=596250 .

This report focuses on the global peripheral vascular interventions market in North America (Canada, Mexico, US), Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, UK), Asia-Pacific (APAC) (Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea), and South America (Brazil). This report provides insight into the competitive landscape, the marketed and pipeline products, the current and emerging players, and market analysis of each segment. The report identifies the unmet needs in the market while providing an understanding of physicians' perceptions and decision-making processes in using and evaluating the adoption of different technologies.

Another and related research titled Peripheral Vascular Interventions - Current and Future Players provides up-to-date information and in-depth analysis on the key players that shape this market. This includes an analysis of company market shares, industry trends, and corporate strategy. The report identifies the unmet needs in the market while providing an understanding of physicians' perceptions and decision-making processes in using and evaluating the adoption of different types of devices. NOTE: *This is an on-demand report and will be delivered within 4 working days (excluding weekends) of the purchase. "What Physicians Think" quotes provide a unique insight into how healthcare professionals are reacting to events within the industry, and what their responses could mean for industry strategists. In this report you will understand the perceptions of leading vascular surgeons, interventional cardiologists, and interventional radiologists from around the world. This information is essential for all strategic decision makers in every organization allowing them to act on high quality information. Abbott Vascular, Biotronik, Boston Scientific, C.R. Bard, Cook Medical, Cordis (Cardinal Health), Medtronic, Terumo, W.L. Gore and Other Players have been discussed in this research available at http://www.reportsnreports.com/reports/596251-peripheral-vascular-interventions-current-and-future-players.html .

Explore more reports on healthcare market as well as medical devices segment at http://www.reportsnreports.com/market-research/medical-devices/ .

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SOURCE ReportsnReports
LONDON, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Technology could boost global economic output by $2 trillion by 2020

Robots will outnumber human beings, there will be more driverless cars than traditional vehicles and drones will be used to deliver pizzas to our door. These are just some of the technologies that could transform our lives within the next 20 years according to research released to mark the start of London Technology Week 2016 [1].

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130723/629764-a )

The findings highlight healthcare as a key industry set for change with Britons predicting that they will no longer visit the doctor when they get ill but will instead consult their GP from home using virtual reality technology. A large number of people also believe that 3D printers will be used to produce human organs, potentially removing the need for human donation, while just under half of those surveyed think the world's first cloned human will have been born by 2036[1].

The survey, which was commissioned by London & Partners, the Mayor of London's promotional company, is inspired by a series of predictions put forward by Imperial College London's Tech Foresight research team and reveals the technologies consumers think will disrupt traditional industries and drive forward the growth of London's tech sector.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "London Technology Week shines a light on this hugely important sector of the economy and demonstrates how our city is open to trade, ideas and people from across the globe. Tech-savvy Londoners welcome new digital advances that are going to revolutionise the way that we live and it is crucial that we harness those ideas to help the capital work even better as a city. As someone who has helped to run a successful business, I look forward to supporting the tech sector so it goes from strength to strength over the coming years."

The study, which asked over 2000 people a series of questions about how they believed their lives would be transformed by technology also identified fashion as another industry ripe for change, with over half of Britons predicting that we will regularly wear clothing connected to the internet within the next twenty years[1].

Other findings from the SMG Insight/YouGov survey include:

37% of Brits think commercial space flights could take off from major airports

23% of Brits think the first artificial intelligence ('AI') machine could serve on the board of big companies

19% of Brits think avatar girlfriends and boyfriends could be commonplace

37% of Brits think communications devices will be embedded inside the human body

Professor David Gann, Vice President Innovation at Imperial College London said: "London's technologists, scientists, medics and entrepreneurs are creating the future. No city in the world enjoys London's quotient of talent, technology culture and capital. It is a potent combination.

"London is an environment where ideas flourish, design and innovation is embraced and new technologies are transforming our lives for the better. In London, we don't stand still. Through our Tech Foresight team, Imperial Business Partners is taking some of the world's finest minds from business and academia to predict how whole industries will transform within two decades. By considering breakthrough discoveries taking place in labs today, they help businesses look ahead to tech-driven trends and markets that will shape our future."

London Technology Week is a celebration of the entrepreneurs, innovators and companies making the city's thriving tech hub one of the best in the world. A recent report from EY ranked London as second only to Silicon Valley as the most likely place to produce the world's next tech giant.

London's tech community is also recognised as the most diverse in the UK, with early findings from research to be released in full later this week by technology recruitment firm Mortimer Spinks and ComputerWeekly.com revealing that London is the best location in the UK for women to build their businesses. However, further analysis of the findings suggest there is still a lot of work to be done, with more than half reporting less than 15 percent of their tech teams are female [2]

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has stated that he wants the tech sector to be open to all Londoners and aims to reverse the under-representation of women by encouraging more females to work in the industry.

Eileen Burbidge MBE, Partner at Passion Capital and Chair of Tech City UK said: "As a truly international city, London is one of the world's largest, most inclusive and diverse technology hubs with a range of opportunities for talent of all backgrounds. The breadth, depth and creativity of our expansive talent pool has helped London to become a world leader in areas such as fintech, e-commerce and cyber security, just to name a few. We are already seeing technology disrupting traditional industries, but in years to come we will no longer be talking about the digital tech sector in isolation. Technology and digital will be integrated into every part of the economy."

This year's London Technology Week will focus on London as a centre for the convergence of disruptive technologies and their impact on traditional industries such as fashion, music, financial services and healthcare.

Gordon Innes CEO of London & Partners said: "London is a world-class destination for culture, science, business and technology. When you combine this with our strong culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, London has the perfect conditions for the convergence of disruptive technologies with traditional industries. From fashion to financial services, London's technology businesses are at the forefront of developing the cutting edge technologies which are creating growth for the city's economy and have cemented London's status as one of the world's leading technology hubs."

Kevin Pearce, London Technology Week Event Director, UBM EMEA London added:

With over 300 events taking place across the capital, London Technology Week 2016 is as much a celebration of London's leading role in the 'here-and-now' of our digitally driven economy, as is it about looking to the future. It is about recognising the next wave of technologies that will redefine our world. About creating a growth environment for innovators, researchers and developers. And about connecting the entire tech ecosystem to drive the UK's development as a fully connected digital society. With events covering everything from autonomous vehicles and smart homes, to advanced robotics and AI, London Technology Week offers a unique environment of live events, face to face networking, discovery and learning.

The launch event will also include a first of its kind fashion technology showcase and a selection of innovations from Imperial College London students.

McLaren will also showcase their Formula 1 car and talk about the convergence at the heart of their rapidly growing McLaren Applied Technologies arm that takes insights from racing to create high performance in other sectors.

Ian Rhodes, chief executive of McLaren Applied Technologies said: "McLaren is foremost about innovation. Using insights, ideas and capabilities hot housed in the competitive world of motor racing, we create step-changes in performance across other sectors. We take, for example, the approach used by our F1 strategists to make the best call during a race and work with KPMG to apply it to predicting the financial health of companies. That kind of innovation is crucial to the reputation of London as one of the world's financial centres. Being plugged into the talent pool that London has to offer is vitally important to us as we're now competing with the likes of Silicon Valley for the best and brightest tech talent rather than just the traditional engineering roles people would normally associate with McLaren."

Separate research from Accenture Strategy recently revealed the impact of digital on the global economy. The Digital Disruption: The Growth Multiplier report estimates that the digital economy currently represents 22.5 per cent of the world economy. By optimising the use of digital skills and technologies, global economic output could be boosted by $2 trillion by 2020. For the United Kingdom specifically, that could mean an additional 58 billion in economic output by 2020.

The report also highlighted the impact of digital across a range of industries. In the United Kingdom, the industries that currently have the largest percentage of digital output include Business Services (ranking at 56 percent), followed by Financial Services (54 percent), and Communications (49 percent)[3].

"Digital is unchartered territory, steeped in unknowns, which can feel uncomfortable for risk-averse leaders who have always done things in a particular way. But those ways are no longer delivering. Just like digital disruptors are paving new paths and making up the rules as they go, large incumbents have the opportunity to do so too," said Bruno Berthon, managing director, digital strategy global lead, Accenture Strategy. "Traditional industry incumbents can pivot to digital by adopting a start-up mentality, embracing a platform-based business model, developing a partner ecosystem, focusing on delivering new value to customers and getting comfortable with trial and error."

London Technology Week 2016 will see a record number of events take place across the capital from 20-26th June. Hundreds of international companies and tens of thousands of visitors will come to London to take part in more than 300 events organised as part of London Technology Week.

About London Technology Week

London Technology Week is a festival of events, taking place across the city and representing the entire technology ecosystem.

No other festival of live events brings together as many domestic and international tech specialists and enthusiasts to London for such a variety of networking, social, learning and business opportunities.

London Technology Week is organised by UBM EMEA, in association with founding partners London & Partners, ExCeL London and Tech London Advocates, with support from strategic partners Tech City UK, UKTI and techUK.

Since its launch in 2014 London Technology Week has included more than 400 events and has welcomed delegations from around the world.

For more information about London Technology Week, visit:

http://londontechnologyweek.co.uk/

For more information on how to host an event at London Technology Week 2016, visit: http://londontechnologyweek.co.uk/how-to-host-an-event/

About London & Partners

London & Partners is the official promotional company for London. We promote London and attract businesses, events, congresses, students and visitors to the capital. Our aims are to build London's international reputation and to attract investment and visitor spend, which create jobs and growth.

London & Partners is a not-for-profit public private partnership, funded by the Mayor of London and our network of commercial partners.

For more information visit http://www.londonandpartners.com

About SMG Insight/YouGov Research

London & Partners commissioned SMG Insight/YouGov to survey a sample of 2,077 British adults on their attitudes to a series of technology predictions to happen by 2036. The statements were inspired by a series of predictions put forward by Imperial College London's Tech Foresight research team. For each statement, respondents were asked: how likely or unlikely you think they are to happen. The research took place in June 2016.

About Imperial Tech Foresight Research

Imperial Tech Foresight brings together world-leading academics and business leaders to offer challenging, provocative and personal visions of the future. On 24 June, Tech Foresight's annual showcase event will look forward 20 years to explore the future of materials and design.

Notes to editors

-Photographs and video can be downloaded HERE

-All reports - including infographics - credited in this press release (and detailed below) can be downloaded HERE

[1] London & Partners commissioned SMG Insight /YouGov to survey 2,077 British adults. The research took place in June 2016

[2] Early findings from research conducted by Mortimer Spinks and ComputerWeekly.com. Online survey of 3706 UK respondents (1189 from Greater London). The research will be released in full on 23rd June.

[3] Accenture Strategy Digital disruption: The growth multiplier report 2016: https://www.accenture.com/gb-en/insight-digital-disruption-growth-multiplier

SOURCE London Technology Week
Further, SAIF also outshined its peers in Asia in the areas of international mobility, international course experience, and faculty with doctorates.

SAIF was established in 2009 as part of the renowned Shanghai Jiao Tong University with the goal of supporting the development of Shanghai into a global financial center. It is benchmarked against the leading finance departments and business schools in the world. SAIF boasts a faculty composed of about 60 professors - all with Ph.D. degrees from overseas universities and over 40 of them with tenured positions from top business schools in North America and Europe.

With an aim to become a world-class institution of research and advanced learning in finance and management, SAIF is committed to training top financial talent, building an open platform for research, and becoming a leading think tank, especially on issues related to China's financial system.

Over the last seven years, SAIF has successfully launched a comprehensive portfolio of programs specialized in finance, including the Master of Finance (MF), MBA, EMBA, DBA (Doctor of Business Administration), Ph.D., and EDP (Executive Development Program) programs.

The MF program is a flagship of SAIF with an average acceptance rate of lower than 5% since it first matriculated students in the fall of 2009.

The mission of the SAIF MF program is to provide the best and brightest young individuals with the academic knowledge and professional skills needed to succeed in the global finance industry. To that end, the program provides students with a curriculum rooted in modern financial theory, that delivers sophisticated quantitative and analytical tools and imparts state-of-the-art practical knowledge and skills to meet the rigors of today's finance profession. The program is committed to fostering exceptional leadership and communication skills, the highest levels of professionalism, and an exemplary sense of social responsibility.

The FT rankings for MF (pre-experience) programs, started in 2011, are calculated according to information provided by business schools and their alumni based on a total of 16 criteria, including salary, value for money, and diversity of faculty and students. The 2016 edition saw 55 schools included in the ranking. SAIF is a new entrant following its accreditation in February by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB), the oldest and one of the most prestigious global accrediting bodies for business schools.

"The FT ranking affirms our efforts to offer the best education in finance to the young talent of tomorrow and recognizes the achievements we have made on the journey to becoming the best in the world," said Chun Chang, Executive Dean of SAIF.

SOURCE Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF)
SAN FRANCISCO, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The global skin care products market size is expected to reach USD 196.67 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The emergence and growth of e-commerce trading platforms and development of novel organic skin care solutions are expected to boost the market growth.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150105/723757 )



The market offerings can be categorized on the basis of products into face cream and body lotion. Face creams are divided into anti-aging, sun protection, and skin brightening while body lotions are classified as mass market and premium segment products. The face cream segment is expected to grow at a significant pace, owing to the demand for enhanced anti-aging creams.

Recent administrative regulations pertaining to the use of organic products in countries such as the U.S. and Europe are further expected to bolster the industry growth. Few regulations pertaining to synthetic products restrict the use of numerous chemicals to a certain degree to ensure consumer safety by minimizing the possibility of side-effects associated with the conspicuous products.

However, the availability of pseudo products is expected to pose a challenge to industry growth. The recent trend of green initiatives across industries is expected to impel the global skin care products industry growth.

Browse full research report with TOC on "Skin Care Products Market Analysis By Product (Face Cream, Body Lotion) And Segment Forecasts To 2024" at: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/skin-care-products-market

Further key findings from the report suggest:

The growing demand for organic face creams, sunscreens, and body lotions among consumers is expected to have a positive impact on the skin care industry over the forecast period. Increased prominence of e-commerce websites is further anticipated to drive the market as niche product vendors would be able to cater to a wide base of consumers.

The prevalence of stringent regulations by various agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA), and other associations to increase the shelf life of products is expected to have a positive impact on the market over the next seven years. Products also have to adhere to the Soil Association standard for securing 'organic' and 'made with organic' ingredients clearance.

Asia Pacific is expected to witness a significant growth in the skin care product segment, owing to the increasing demand from developing economies of China and India . The growing awareness of organic products, changing lifestyle of consumers, and rising disposable income of the middle-class populace are expected to fuel the skin care product demand in these countries over the forecast period.

is expected to witness a significant growth in the skin care product segment, owing to the increasing demand from developing economies of and . The growing awareness of organic products, changing lifestyle of consumers, and rising disposable income of the middle-class populace are expected to fuel the skin care product demand in these countries over the forecast period. The key industry participants include Kao Corporation, Beiersdorf AG, L'Oreal S.A., Avon Products Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Unilever PLC, Procter & Gamble Co., Colgate-Palmolive Company, and Shiseido Company. The natural raw material suppliers for organic substances are anticipated to dominate the value chain to offer exclusive ingredients, along with creating new varieties for consumers.

Grand View Research has segmented the global skin care products market on the basis of product and region:

Skin Care Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 - 2024) Face cream Skin brightening Anti-aging Sun protection Body lotion Mass market Premium segment

Skin Care Products Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2015 - 2024) North America Europe Asia Pacific Rest of the World (RoW)



Browse related reports by Grand View Research:

Butyl Rubber (IIR) Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/butyl-rubber-iir-market

Cosmetics Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/cosmetics-market

Alcohol Ethoxylate Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/alcohol-ethoxylate-market

Smart Pills Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/smart-pills-market

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.

Read Our Blogs - ni2014.org, grandviewresearch.com/blogs/bulk-chemicals

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc

Phone: 1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519

Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com



Web: http://www.grandviewresearch.com



SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
SAN FRANCISCO, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SKOUT, the leading global app that helps you meet new people and expand your social circle, announced today it is now available in Hungarian. Skout's community in Hungary has grown in recent years as more people use their mobile phone to meet new friends. Over the past two years, the number of connections made by Skouters in Hungary has grown by more than 71%.

"The SKOUT community in Hungary is growing rapidly, and to make the experience of meeting new friends in our app even better we are proud to launch SKOUT in Hungarian," said Christian Wiklund, co-founder and CEO of SKOUT.

The SKOUT app is free to download for iOS and Android devices. The app enables you to meet others nearby who share your interests, chat with new friends, send virtual gifts and stickers to friends, and even virtually travel to meet friends in other cities. Skouters used the SKOUT Travel feature to take more than 16 million journeys in 2015! Skout's newest feature is 'Interested?,' which uses the 'Meet People' search settings to instantly match Skouters who share similar interests.

The SKOUT community includes millions of users spanning more than 180 countries. The app is now available in 22 languages, including Danish, English, French, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish and Vietnamese.

To download SKOUT for iOS or Android, or to sign up online, visit www.skout.com. You can also find SKOUT on Facebook and Twitter.

About SKOUT

SKOUT is the largest global platform for meeting new people and expanding your social circle. The SKOUT community spans more than 180 countries and is available in 22 languages. SKOUT is dedicated to providing a platform through which people can easily and safely connect. The Andreessen Horowitz backed company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in San Francisco. Visit skout.com to learn more.

Related Links

http://www.skout.com



SOURCE SKOUT
SAN FRANCISCO, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- SKOUT, the leading global app that helps you meet new people and expand your social circle, announced today it is now available in Polish. Skout's community in Poland has grown in recent years as more people use their mobile phone to meet new friends. Over the past two years, the number of connections made by Skouters in Poland has grown by more than 40%.

"We are always looking for ways to enhance the experience of using SKOUT to meet new people," said Christian Wiklund, co-founder and CEO of SKOUT. "We're excited to make SKOUT available in Polish to improve upon the existing experience for our Polish community."

The SKOUT app is free to download for iOS and Android devices. The app enables you to meet others nearby who share your interests, chat with new friends, send virtual gifts and stickers to friends, and even virtually travel to meet friends in other cities. Skouters used the SKOUT Travel feature to take more than 16 million journeys in 2015! Skout's newest feature is 'Interested?,' which uses the 'Meet People' search settings to instantly match Skouters who share similar interests.

The SKOUT community includes millions of users spanning more than 180 countries. The app is now available in 22 languages, including Danish, English, French, German, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish and Vietnamese.

To download SKOUT for iOS or Android, or to sign up online, visit www.skout.com. You can also find SKOUT on Facebook and Twitter.

About SKOUT

SKOUT is the largest global platform for meeting new people and expanding your social circle. The SKOUT community spans more than 180 countries and is available in 22 languages. SKOUT is dedicated to providing a platform through which people can easily and safely connect. The Andreessen Horowitz backed company was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in San Francisco. Visit skout.com to learn more.

Related Links

http://www.skout.com



SOURCE SKOUT
HOPE, British Columbia, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Transforming the critical problem of hazardous waste streams including radioactive waste using transmution

AmoTerra (AMT) and the Government of Hungary announces their plan to build the first ever total program installation for remediating waste streams, including mixed waste and radioactive material. Incorporating proven leading-edge technologies, this integrated holistic management system not only remediates waste, but also recovers greater amounts of materials to be recycled, up-cycled and sold.

"These technologies are a logical option for the cleanup challenges posed by landfills globally, in particular, and for addressing nuclear waste, in general. Our solution, in this case, will extend the life of landfills, and hopefully lessen the need to build more," says Eleonora Anderson-Ahl, CEO and Co-founder of AmoTerra Corporation.

"In addition, we can address the massive problem of radioactive waste across industry sectors. The current solution has been to bury and guard for eternity. Now we can inactivate contaminated materials in a matter of days safely. This potentially helps answer the understandable concerns with the embracing of nuclear power as a green energy solution."

"The first step is characterization of the waste, using our proprietary pollutant valuation modeling to assess the cost of remediation of the individual waste streams, plus calculate the potential for recovery of organic and other intermediates, which may have resale value. No sensors or expensive soil testing, boring, or core samples are necessary. Thereby the costs to assess the problem and develop a remediation plan are dramatically reduced," says Edward Leung, AmoTerra's Global Strategist.

"Our solution represents a paradigm shift from current thinking", adds Mr. Leung, a former environmental strategist for General Electric.

AMT's Separation/Reduction Process, the second step, will process solids, and effluent liquid waste streams. The reduced volume will extend the lifecycle of the existing repositories. Recyclable and reclaimed materials are salvaged.

"If the waste stream contains radioactive materials, certain isotopes are classified, separated, and isolated to be treated in the AMT Inactivation Process, step three. This is a pyro-chemical process, which transmutes (transubstantiates) the materials, thus accelerating the decay rate to a matter of days, rather than the element's natural half-life, " says Perry Keister, Chief Engineering and Design Officer.

Geza Szocs, Senior advisor to Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orban comments, "It has been Hungary's vision to become a world leader in addressing the problem of waste management. It is inconceivable to leave this critical problem to future generations to readdress by either simply ignoring the problem, in general or just digging up contaminated materials, re-packaging and burying them again."

It is anticipated that initial work for building the first ever commercial facility of its' kind on the landfill site located at Puspokszilagyi outside Budapest, will commence Q2 2017. Funding for this industry-first is coming from diverse sources, including the European Union.

AmoTerra Corporation headquarters in Hope, British Columbia, Canada is a technology/data engineering analytics company focused on waste management systems. The European office is located in Budapest, Hungary. For more information please visit http://www.amoterra.ca

Media inquiries: Jacqui Dunne, JacquiDunne@amoterra.ca , + 1(604)-796-2857 (Pacific Time Zone)

SOURCE AmoTerra Corporation
NEW YORK, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

eLearningPro, an established Ed-Tech provider in the Hong Kong region, will expand their offering with Time To Know's array of smart Ed-Tech solutions

Time To Know, a leader in the Ed-Tech market, is joining forces with eLearningPro, a prominent Ed-Tech provider and distributor based in Hong Kong. The two companies signed a five year partnership deal in order to leverage the wide market reach of eLearningPro in the Hong Kong region and expand eLearningPro's set of offerings to the corporate training market.

eLearningPro is a full-scale e-learning provider and consultant solution based in Hong Kong, operating since 1999. The company has extensive expertise and knowledge of the local market, operating primarily in the fields of Corporate Training and Further Education. The company teamed up with Time To Know to address the needs of the local market, where learning providers are seeking tools that enable greater effectiveness along the entire training and certification process, as well as personalized learner experiences and measurement tools.

eLearningPro will introduce several offerings from Time To Know, including an advanced professional authoring tool which enables users to create engaging and interactive materials, whether new or from pre-existing content. Add digital layers of enrichment from a robust library-games, videos, quizzes, e-widgets, and more. An additional offering will be Time To Know's comprehensive Learning Management System (LMS), which enables organizations to benefit from more effective and efficient learning programs. The offerings provide powerful data analytics and knowledge management, and seamlessly integrate with existing systems.

The CEO of eLearningPro, Jackie Chan, stated, "eLearningPro is striving to bring actual and measurable value to our clients. Partnering with Time To Know, we are able to offer organizations valuable ways to make their training and learning processes more effective. Time To Know is a natural partner for our market approach, and we look forward to expanding our market reach through this partnership."

"Time To Know is committed to boosting corporate education processes and increasing the ROI of our customers. We view the full training and learning process and offer organizations added value for their specific needs, being comprehensive yet agile," stated Yair Brosh, CEO of Time To Know. "We are teaming up with innovative and leading partners and we are confident that partnering with eLearningPro will bring success to the corporate customers we will serve in the Hong Kong market."

Time To Know, founded in 2005, is a global Ed-Tech company and a pioneer in the education technology industry, providing cutting-edge solutions for classroom management, learning management systems, authoring tools, and more. The company offers comprehensive solutions for more effective learning programs across various learning sectors-Primary & Secondary, Higher-Ed, Vocational, Publishing, and Corporate. Time To Know has successfully implemented their solutions across the globe, including North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Contact:

Shira Doron

+1-917-979-6632

Shira.Doron@TimeToKnow.com



SOURCE Time To Know
Finalists selected from pool of 290 cities that submitted bold ideas to address urban challenges and improve city life

Finalists now competing for $9 Million USD in Innovation Funds

NEW YORK, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced the 20 Latin American and Caribbean cities selected as finalists in its 2016 Mayors Challenge, a competition that encourages cities to generate bold ideas that solve urban challenges and improve city life  and have potential to spread. The finalists, hailing from 10 countries, will move forward to compete for a $5 million USD grand prize and four $1 million awards, as well as extensive implementation support. The ideas reflect creative new approaches to some of the most pressing issues facing cities in the region, including mobility, youth unemployment, waste management, obesity, and social and economic inclusion for immigrants and people with disabilities.

"We received so many great ideas for this Mayors Challenge, and narrowing it down to just 20 finalists was a big challenge in itself. These ideas really capture the diversity of the region and the creativity and commitment of its leaders and citizens in making cities work better. Each of them has the potential to improve the lives of local residents -- and if they work, to spread far and wide. We look forward to working with all of the finalists on their proposals and to seeing the winning cities bring them to life," said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and three-term Mayor of New York City.

The 2016 Mayors Challenge is Bloomberg Philanthropies' first in Latin America and the Caribbean following successful competitions in the United States and Europe. After receiving submissions from 290 eligible cities in April, Bloomberg Philanthropies conducted an intensive review of the ideas with the support of Bloomberg's extensive global network and a selection committee of 13 innovation and policy experts from across Latin America and the Caribbean. Ultimately, the top 20 best and most innovative ideas were selected to move forward in the competition.

The 20 finalist ideas were evaluated against four key criteria - their idea's vision, potential for impact, implementation plan, and potential to spread to other cities. Finalists will next attend Bloomberg Ideas Camp in Bogota, Colombia - a two-day convening in July where leading innovation experts and peer cities will help finalists take their proposals from good to great. Prize winners will be announced by the end of 2016.

The finalists' ideas (outlined below) illustrate fresh thinking to address common urban challenges experienced by cities across regions:

Asuncion, Paraguay  Data: Closing the city's socio-economic data gap by conducting citizen-led research to gather demographic information that can inform and measure the impact of policymaking for the first time. Barueri, Brazil  Social Inclusion for People with Disabilities/Workforce Development: Increasing access to the workforce for people with disabilities by creating a physical and virtual network to improve job training, analyze workplace conditions, and provide technical assistance to employers and job candidates. Bogota, Colombia  Education: Twice daily, the city will leverage all transportation channels, public facilities, volunteers and the city's cultural history to enhance and shorten the severe school commute times for children. Cap-Haitien , Haiti  Waste Solutions/ Environment: Reducing deforestation and mangrove destruction by creating community biodigesters, which are closed containers that break down organic waste and turn it into renewable energy. Caracas, Venezuela  Social Inclusion for People with Disabilities/Mobility: Enrolling volunteers to drive people with motor disabilities to and from public transport points and providing assistance during their commutes, opening access to education, culture, healthcare, employment and productive citizenship for a vulnerable segment of the population. Corumba, Brazil  Environment/ Economic Development: Combatting further environmental degradation caused by improper disposal of ore  a mining byproduct  by repurposing the waste into productive materials for construction. Curitiba, Brazil  Social Inclusion for People with Disabilities/Mobility: Drawing on its history of transit innovation, improving the mobility of disabled people by integrating more inclusive transport services and introducing better designed routes. Estacion Central, Chile  Social Inclusion for Immigrants / Entrepreneurship: Promoting social inclusion by matching immigrants with new business ideas to technical assistance, office space, and local entrepreneurs looking to partner to launch a new startup. Godoy Cruz , Argentina  Waste Solutions: Preventing illegal waste disposal in canals  an essential feature of the city's irrigation system  by placing sensors to monitor and identify the exact location where infractions occur. Guadalajara , Mexico  Transparency / Government Efficiency: Tackling corruption by streamlining the legal requirements for construction projects through a new geo-referenced app that publicly maps business names, plans, licenses and payments, speeding processing times and increasing transparency. Kingston, Jamaica  Youth Unemployment / Workforce Development: Tackling entrenched youth unemployment through a mobile digital platform that encourages young people to explore, create, and access career opportunities in a variety of industries, especially Jamaica's cultural and music industry, based on their strengths and interests. Medellin, Colombia  Public Safety / Financial Empowerment: Reducing demand for illegal loans that finance organized crime by creating neighborhood lending collectives that offer low-interest commercial loans and connections to employment. Milagro, Ecuador  Environmental Sustainability: Encouraging emergency preparedness for children through the creation of a network chaired and formed by students that promotes better preparation for adverse weather and natural disasters. Pudahuel, Chile  Education: Pairing older residents wishing to volunteer with the children of working families in need of after-school child care, limiting social isolation for seniors and providing a vital service for families. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil  Public Health: Improving children's healthcare standards and outcomes by removing silos and integrating data across agencies to improve the health and wellbeing of children ages zero to six. Santiago (Commune), Chile  Public Health: Through citywide challenges, encourage neighborhood groups to work together to reduce childhood obesity; communities earn points they can use to fund local recreational and civic infrastructure. Sao Paulo, Brazil  Economic Development: Creating an online exchange that connects growing local demand for locally produced farm products from restaurants, markets, and schools to struggling local farmers on the outskirts of the city, addressing a market failure. Tlalnepantla de Baz, Mexico  Social Cohesion: Publishing and promoting a municipal catalog of good deeds, an effort to address widespread civic apathy by engaging citizens in acts like helping the elderly and improving the local environment. Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico  Anti-Corruption: Fighting corruption and improving efficiency by streamlining service delivery for public facing transactions and allowing users to monitor the activity of civil servants through a new mobile app. Valdivia, Chile  Entrepreneurship: Directing promising academic research toward practical problems and helping the local economy by testing bright ideas from local universities in real-world markets with a new mobile lab.

"This year's finalists are using innovation to address the concrete, clear, and urgent needs of citizens  with noteworthy emphasis on vulnerable populations," said James Anderson, the head of Bloomberg Philanthropies' Government Innovation Programs. "There is so much cities around the globe can learn from the way these finalists are engaging citizens and data to meet pressing needs," said James Anderson, the head of Bloomberg Philanthropies' Government Innovation program.

To learn more about the Mayors Challenge, visit www.mayorschallenge.bloomberg.org and @BloombergCities on Twitter and Instagram.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies

Bloomberg Philanthropies works in more than 120 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg's charitable activities, including his foundation and his personal giving. In 2015, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed over half a billion dollars. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter @BloombergDotOrg.

Media Contact

Bloomberg Philanthropies, Rebecca Carriero, (212) 205-0182 | rebeccac@bloomberg.org

Related Links

http://www.bloomberg.org



SOURCE Bloomberg Philanthropies
During his visit, Hagen and Viking Sea's captain, Gulleik Svalastog, presented commemorative plaques, guided tours of Viking Sea, and discussed how Viking can help support the tourism industry through its sailings in Norway and its destination-focused approach to cruise itineraries. The participating mayors, who also spoke about their respective tourism initiatives, included: Mayor of Troms, Mr. Jarle Aarbakke; Mayor of Nordkapp, Ms. Kristina Sigurdsdottir Hansen; Mayor of Brnnysund, Mr. Johnny Hanssen; and in Bod, Mayor Ms. Ida Maria Pinnerod and Port Director, Ingvar Mathisen.

Addressing repeat Viking travelers at a Viking Explorer Society cocktail party Hagen stated, "Sir Richard Branson says space is Virgin territory. I say Scandinavia is Viking territory. No other cruise line can show you this part of the world like Viking can. I have known for years that there is nothing better than Norway in the summer, and I am happy to now be able to share the beauty of my native Norway with you, our Viking guests."

Christened in May, Viking's second ship, Viking Sea, was recently awarded the highest-available editor rating of five stars by Cruise Critic, marking the second consecutive five-star rating for the company's expanding ocean fleet. Classified by Cruise Critic as "small ships," Viking's ocean fleet of 930-passenger sister ships are well-suited for Scandinavian and Baltic itineraries  their size allows for privileged access to smaller ports, getting guests closer to their destinations.

Scandinavian design and heritage are central to the Viking brand and are in the details and understated elegance onboard the new ocean ships. Clean lines, woven textiles and light wood evoke the Viking spirit of discovery and connection to the natural world. Features include:

Explorers' Lounge  In the two-deck Explorers' Lounge at the bow of the ship, the decor was inspired by ancient Viking trade routes and navigation methods  imagery of star constellations and astronomical maps are complemented by antique globes, astrolabes and sofas with cozy pelts.

LivNordic Spa  In keeping with Viking's Nordic heritage, The Spa onboard is designed with the holistic wellness philosophy of Scandinavia in mindfrom the centuries-old tradition of the sauna to a Snow Grotto where snowflakes gently descend from the ceiling through chilled air.

Wintergarden - Guests looking for serenity will find it in the Wintergarden. In this elegant space under a canopy of Scandinavian-inspired trellised wood, guests can indulge in afternoon tea service.

Dining Choices  Viking's ocean ships offer multiple restaurant locations and food choicesincluding The Chef's Table, which offers a multi-course tasting menu with wine pairings and a new Scandinavian Bistro menu in its rotation, and Mamsen's, which serves Norwegian deli-style fare based on the recipes of Hagen's mother, Ragnhild, otherwise known as "Mamsen."

Scandinavian Art  Guests onboard Viking's ocean ships enjoy an original art collection that showcases a diverse group of Scandinavian artists, many of whom are Norwegian, and a variety of mediums and approaches. The collection is based on the idea of "The Traveler as The Collector," just as the Vikings once were and other explorers have been. Artists represented in the collection include Edvard Munch , H.M. Queen Sonja of Norway , Jakob Weidemann and many others.

Viking Exhibition  Located on Deck 2, Viking's ocean ships feature a Viking Heritage Exhibit that contains artifacts and information about the lives and exploration of early Vikings.

Onboard Boutique  Redesigned for the launch of Viking Sea, the onboard boutique features a curated selection of Scandinavian products, including clothing from Norwegian brands Helly Hansen, Oleana, and Dale of Norway .

The 15-day Into the Midnight Sun itinerary provides an in-depth exploration, from the northernmost reaches of Norway to the remote outposts of Scotland's Shetland and Orkney Islands. The itinerary also visits Edinburgh, London and the Hanseatic League city of Bergen. For an up-close look at the Into the Midnight Sun itinerary, visit the Viking Ocean Cruises YouTube channel.

Media Assets

For more information, images and b-roll for Viking Cruises, contact vikingpr@edelman.com.

About Viking Cruises

Viking Cruises offers destination-centric river and ocean cruising designed for experienced travelers with an interest in geography, culture and history. Featuring onboard cultural enrichment and included shore excursions, Viking's journeys are competitively priced for genuine value. As the world's leading river cruise line, since its 1997 inception the company has grown to a fleet of 59 river vessels (in 2016) offering scenic cruising along the rivers of Europe, Russia, Egypt, China and Southeast Asia. Named Cruise Critic's "Best New Ocean Ship" of 2015, the sophisticated state-of-the-art Viking Star hosts 930 guests on itineraries in Scandinavia and the Baltic; the Western and Eastern Mediterranean; and the Caribbean and North America. The company's second ocean ship, Viking Sea, launched in April 2016; a third ship, Viking Sky, is under construction for delivery in early 2017; and three additional sister ships are on order. In 2015 Viking was rated the highest of all cruise lines in Travel + Leisure's "World's Best" Awards after appearing on  and topping  the river cruise rankings multiple times. Viking has also been honored multiple times in Conde Nast Traveler's "Gold List" as well as recognized by the editors of Cruise Critic as "Best River Cruise Line" and "Best River Itineraries," with the entire Viking Longships fleet being named "Best New River Ships" in the website's Editors' Picks Awards. The travel trade has ranked Viking as the "Best River Cruise Line" by Travel Weekly, Recommend and Travel Agent magazines, "Best Cruise Line for Luxury River Cruises" at the Luxury Travel Advisor Awards of Excellence and as "Best Overall Cruise Line for River Cruising," "Best New River Cruise Ship" and for the seventh consecutive year, "Best River Cruise Line for Travel Agent Support" in the 2015 TravelAge West's WAVE Awards. For additional information, contact Viking Cruises at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464) or visit www.vikingcruises.com. To join the Viking Cruises community online, visit www.facebook.com/vikingcruises, www.facebook.com/vikingoceancruises and www.facebook.com/vikingrivercruises.

Related Links

http://www.vikingcruises.com



SOURCE Viking Cruises
The Ryans received a loan from First Community Bank that was funded by an EDP advance from FHLB Dallas. In conjunction with the loan, the Ryans were awarded a $16,000 EDPPlus grant from First Community Bank and FHLB Dallas.

"Small businesses in Arkansas are anything but small," said First Community Bank President and COO Boris Dover. "Companies which have fewer than 100 employees, like GLS Trucking, made up nearly half of all Arkansas employers in 2013."

GLS Trucking is a regional carrier, primarily hauling lumber and steel sheets. The business is a vital contributor to the local economy, explained Debra Taylor, vice president of commercial lending at First Community Bank.

"First Community Bank takes our community commitment seriously because we know it makes such a positive impact for our neighbors," she said. "With the EDPPlus grant, we were able to help the Ryans hire two new employees and purchase a new trailer. That was important to us."

Without the EDPPlus grant, Mr. Ryan said the needed expansion might not have happened.

"I guarantee it would be have been harder to add two more employees," he said. "Keeping up with the cash flow is the hardest thing. When you buy a truck, you spend $20,000, and then you have to wait about a month for the revenues to start coming in. The grant gave us a cushion for working capital."

EDPPlus grants are awarded in conjunction with EDP advances and are available on a first-come, first-served basis to promote and enhance small-business development and job creation.

As part of the program, the Ryans met with the Arkansas State University Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC).

"We are proud to have played a role in strengthening small businesses in northeast Arkansas," said Center Director Laura Miller. "First Community Bank has successfully utilized the EDP program to help many customers start and grow their small businesses."

The SBTDC provided the Ryans with research, including industry and market information. It also reviewed and offered feedback about their business plan and financial projections.

In 2016, FHLB Dallas has committed $1 million for EDPPlus grants. In 2015, FHLB Dallas awarded nearly that amount to assist 50 small businesses in the Bank's five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas. In Arkansas, EDPPlus grants totaling $653,596 were awarded to 32 small businesses.

Gustavo Molina, senior vice president and chief banking operations officer at FHLB Dallas, said the EDP offers members a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

"The EDPPlus grant stands out because it is one of the few available to for-profit businesses in our five-state District," Mr. Molina said. "It allows small companies located in underserved areas the chance to further invest in their communities."

About First Community Bank

First Community Bank, which is locally owned and managed, opened August 4, 1997, in Batesville, Arkansas, and operates 17 full-service branches in Arkansas and Missouri and a stand-alone mortgage origination office in Craighead County, Arkansas. First Community employs more than 300 professional bankers and reports assets as of March. 31, 2016, of more than $1.1 billion.

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System, created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $49.5 billion as of March 31, 2016, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 850 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, and Texas. For more information, visit fhlb.com.

Contact:

Corporate Communications

Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

www.fhlb.com

(214) 441-8445

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160620/381272

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150126/171462LOGO



SOURCE Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas

Related Links

http://www.fhlb.com


VANCOUVER, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - Orex Minerals Inc.  (TSX-V: REX) ("Orex"), is pleased to announce that project partner Fresnillo PLC (LSE: FRES) ("Fresnillo"), will be conducting a Phase-V diamond drilling program of approximately 5,000 metres in 11 holes on the Coneto Gold-Silver Project in Durango, Mexico.

The Coneto Project is a joint venture, with ownership of 55:45 % between Fresnillo and Orex. The mineral concessions of both parties in the Coneto Mining District have recently been combined (subject to final registration before the Public Registry of Mexico, which is expected to be obtained in the next few weeks) into a company named "Exploraciones y Desarrollos Mineros Coneto S.A.P.I." in order to advance the project. A Technical Committee, with membership from both companies, guides the exploration programs.

The main objective of the new program will be to extend the diamond drilling coverage adjacent to gold-silver intercepts in the Zona Norte (La Bufa and Santo Nino veins), Zona Oeste (Loma Verde vein), Zona Centro (Descubridora vein) and Zona Sur (Durazno, Impulsora and Promontorio veins).

For the Loma Verde vein, the furthest north previous hole was BCO-66, which yielded 4.85 metres (true thickness 3.45 metres) grading 3.22 Au g/t and 238 Ag g/t for a silver-equivalent grade of 432 g/t, (see Orex news release 10 August 2015). New drilling in this zone will be located in step-outs further to the north and at depth from hole BCO-66.

Orex's President, Gary Cope says, "We anticipate the new diamond drilling phase will commence in the third quarter 2016. Congratulations to both teams on the successful combination of our portions of the Coneto Mining District. We look forward to continued excellent teamwork on the exploration program."

Coneto Mining District  Durango, Mexico

The historic Coneto Mining District is situated in the heart of the "Mexican Silver Trend", on the Mesa Central, stretching from Guanajuato in the southeast, through to the states of Zacatecas and Durango. This prolific trend hosts some of the world's largest silver camps and deposits, including Fresnillo, Guanajuato, La Pitarrilla, La Preciosa, Real de Angeles, and Zacatecas.

The silver and gold mineralization at Coneto is of intermediate sulphidation style epithermal veins hosted in Tertiary andesites and rhyolites.

Orex and Fresnillo hold, through Exploraciones y Desarrollos Mineros Coneto S.A.P.I., an extensive contiguous land package of mineral concessions in the Coneto Mining District, which collectively total approx. 17,600 hectares and cover multiple mineralized epithermal quartz veins. In the first four phases, Orex and Fresnillo drilled 93 holes totaling 33,400 metres.

Ben Whiting, P.Geo., is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101 and takes responsibility for the technical disclosure contained within this news release.

ABOUT OREX MINERALS INC.

Orex is a Canadian-based junior exploration company comprised of highly qualified mining professionals. Orex has several current projects: The Coneto Silver-Gold Project in Durango, Mexico, as a joint venture with Fresnillo PLC, The Sandra Escobar Silver Project, also in Durango, Mexico, under option from Canasil Resources Inc., and the Jumping Josephine Gold Project in British Columbia, Canada.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Gary Cope

President

This News Release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. 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 Orex undertakes no obligation to update such statements, 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.

SOURCE Orex Minerals Inc.

Related Links

www.orexminerals.com


WASHINGTON, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP Foundation, which serves low-income older adults by creating and advancing effective solutions that help them secure the essentials, announced today the appointment of new members to its all-volunteer Board of Directors, the governing body of AARP Foundation.

"As the Foundation sharpens its focus on poverty as the core obstacle to security and well-being for older adults, effective direction and support from our board are crucial to achieving success," said Lisa Marsh Ryerson, AARP Foundation president. "These leaders bring a wealth of experience and expertise in their fields and will be tremendous assets to AARP Foundation as we further our mission to help transform the lives of low-income older adults."

New board members include:

David Adame of Phoenix, Arizona, is president and CEO of Chicanos Por La Causa, Inc., (CPLC) the largest community development corporation (CDC) in Arizona and the third largest Hispanic CDC in the country. Mr. Adame began at CPLC in 1985 before leaving to hold positions at several organizations including JP Morgan Chase, Fannie Mae, and McCormack Baron Salazar. As senior deputy director for Fannie Mae in their Arizona Partnership Office he worked to form a comprehensive housing investment strategy to provide $15 billion in affordable mortgage financing

Mr. Adame returned to CPLC in 2008, serving as chief economic development officer. Since returning to CPLC, he has raised more than $250 million in resources from government agencies, corporations, and foundations  all during one of the most severe recessions in U.S. history.

Ronald E. Daly Sr., of Olympia Fields, Ill., spent 38 years at the RR Donnelley Company, beginning as a factory worker and advancing to the level of president of its largest unit. After retiring from RR Donnelley, he served as president and CEO of Oce' USA Holdings and was a member of the board of directors of the parent company, Oce' N.V. of the Netherlands, until 2004. He serves on the board of U.S. Cellular and formerly served on the boards of Loyola University of Chicago, Executive Service Corps of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Metropolis Strategies and SuperValu.

Ann G. Daw of Crompond, New York, was recently president of the not-for-profit Specialty Food Association (SFA), a position she had held since 2006. During her tenure, membership grew by more than 30 percent, attendance at the SFA trade shows in New York and San Francisco grew exponentially, and net assets increased five-fold. She expanded educational offerings and research for the Association's members and fostered innovation and outreach. She also established the organization's first foundation to fight hunger and reduce food waste.

Prior to leading the SFA, Ms. Daw held senior management and marketing positions with Kraft Foods and Philip Morris International, domestically and abroad. She currently sits on a number of boards, including the World Education Services as head of its Governance Committee, and advises and mentors startups and turnarounds.

Tim Kelly of Lexington, Kentucky, was the president and publisher of the Lexington Herald-Leader, a position he held for nearly 15 years. Before that, he held key news and editorial management positions in several top newspaper companies. Following his retirement in 2011, he became senior adviser to the CEO of Volar Video Inc. (formerly iHigh.com), a video website for youth activities. Mr. Kelly is also a consultant for Youngs, Walker & Company, a Chicago executive search firm that specializes in media. He is currently serving his fourth term on the board of the YMCA of the U.S.A. and has been involved in two dozen civic and charitable organizations.

Neal Lane, MSW, of Niskayuna, New York, has been an AARP volunteer since 2007. Prior to joining the AARP Board in 2014, he served as president of the AARP New York office and chaired the AARP New York Executive Council. In late 2015, he retired as a partner and analyst with consultancy Optimum Partners, having worked on projects including care systems for HIV/AIDS; dental systems for high-risk and low-income children; helping communities and schools with troubling behavior of youth; and long-term care systems, especially those for older persons and young people with disabilities. Mr. Lane was also director of the New York State Office for the Aging from 2005 to 2007 and executive deputy director before that. In 2005, he led the New York state delegation to the White House Conference on Aging.

Diane D. Miller of Sacramento, California, is president and CEO of Wilcox Miller & Nelson, a human capital consulting firm located in Sacramento. Prior to joining her firm, she served as vice president of Portfolio Management for a national real estate investment company, which at that time was the second largest in the nation.

Among her many affiliations, Ms. Miller is a current Board, Audit Committee, PAC Fundraising and Executive Committee member of the California Chamber of Commerce, the second-largest state chamber in the United States. She is also a board member and chair emeritus of the California Host Committee, which annually gathers the top 1,000 California industry and government leaders.

For more information about the AARP Foundation Board of Directors, please visit http://www.aarp.org/aarp-foundation/about-us/governance/board-of-directors/.

About AARP Foundation

AARP Foundation works to ensure that low-income older adults have nutritious food, affordable housing, a steady income and strong and sustaining bonds. We collaborate with individuals and organizations who share our commitment to innovation and our passion for problem solving. Supported by vigorous legal advocacy, we create and advance effective solutions that help struggling older adults transform their lives. AARP Foundation is the affiliated charity of AARP.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160219/335173LOGO

SOURCE AARP Foundation

Related Links

http://www.aarpfoundation.org/


MCLEAN, Va., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Aireon LLC has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with two leading Russian organizations, JSC AZIMUT and JSC INFOCOM-Avia, to evaluate the benefits of deploying space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) in Russian Federation airspace. Analyses will be performed on how space-based ADS-B will enhance air traffic monitoring, support air traffic management and improve airline and airport operations.

AZIMUT is the leading provider of radio-communication, navigation, landing, surveillance and air traffic management automation to The State Air Traffic Management Corporation of the Russian Federation (State ATM Corporation), Russia's Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) and international markets. INFOCOM-Avia is the designated operator of aviation information services in Russia.

"This is an extremely important step for Aireon. The Russian Federation's airspace spans over 26 million square kilometers and accounts for over 12.5 percent of the world with over 1.4 million flights per year. The MOA with AZIMUT and INFOCOM-Avia positions space-based ADS-B to potentially be used in one of the largest airspaces in the world. With Russia's remote, polar and oceanic areas, Aireon is the logical next step in air traffic surveillance for this vast region," said Cyriel Kronenburg, Vice President of Aviation Services, Aireon.

Aireon's space-based ADS-B service will be operational in 2018, shortly after the completion of the Iridium NEXT constellation. The first Iridium NEXT launch is scheduled for September 12, 2016, when the company will launch 10 satellites using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket out of the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Aireon's launch customers include NAV CANADA, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), Naviair, ENAV, NATS, South Africa's Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS), Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Curacao's DC-ANSP.

About Aireon LLC

Aireon is deploying a global, space-based air traffic surveillance system for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipped aircraft over the entire globe. For the first time, Aireon will provide real-time ADS-B surveillance to oceanic, polar and remote regions, as well as augment existing ground-based systems that are limited to terrestrial airspace. Aireon will harness next generation aviation surveillance technologies and extend them globally to significantly improve efficiency, enhance safety, reduce emissions and provide cost savings benefits to all stakeholders. In partnership with NAV CANADA, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), ENAV and Naviair, as well as Iridium Communications, Aireon will have an operational, global, space-based air traffic surveillance system by 2018. For more information about Aireon, visit: www.aireon.com.

PRESS CONTACT:

Jessie Hillenbrand

Aireon

+1 (703) 287-7452

[email protected]

SOURCE Aireon LLC

Related Links

http://www.aireon.com


BEIJING, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ambow Education Holding Ltd. ("Ambow" or the "Company"), a leading national provider of educational and career enhancement services in China, today announced unaudited financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2016.

"We are pleased with our solid operating and financial results in the first quarter of 2016, as we continue to provide outstanding educational and career enhancement services in China," commented Dr. Jin Huang, Ambow's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Recently, we organized the Application-Oriented University Development and Presidents' Forum, hosted by China's Ministry of Education Science and Technology Development Center. We are committed to supporting application-oriented education in China through our proprietary Application-Oriented Education System, and further developing our platform to help students develop successful careers in the workplace. Our goal is to enhance application-oriented education through joint programs with colleges and universities and connecting students and young professionals with leading enterprises.

"Our efforts were well-recognized by the industry as we received the '2016 China Excellent Brand Top 500' award at the Asian Brand Forum, and the 'Most Powerful Internet Innovative Talent Education Company' award at the 2015 Annual Economic Conference of China IT Industry hosted by China Center for Information Industry Development," added Dr. Huang.

Kia Jing Tan, Chief Financial Officer, added, "In the first quarter, our gross margin increased to 36.9% compared with 26.4% in the first quarter of 2015, fueled mostly by increased operating efficiencies and stronger financial controls. We have ample capital resources and are well positioned to support Ambow's growth objectives."

"We believe the establishment of our service center and the enhancement of our Enterprise Resource Planning system and operational procedures will provide significant leverage by maximizing internal resources and lowering costs. As we further consolidate resources through a cloud-based service platform and talent management processes, we look to enhance our Customer Relationship Management system and upgrade our learning engine. The cloud-based service will be the core IT infrastructure for our unique Ambow platform," concluded Chiao-Ling Hsu, Chief Operating Officer.

Year-to-Date Financial Information For The Three Months Ended March 31, 2016

Net revenues in the first quarter of 2016 were RMB68.3 million , remained constant compared to the first quarter of 2015. Gross profit in the first quarter of 2016 was RMB25.2 million , an increase of 34.0% compared with RMB18.8 million in the same period of 2015. Gross profit margin in the first quarter of 2016 was 36.9%, compared with 26.4% in the same period of 2015. The increase was primarily the result of the suspension of unprofitable businesses and a successful business restructuring, as well as an improved operating efficiency.

, remained constant compared to the first quarter of 2015. Gross profit in the first quarter of 2016 was , an increase of 34.0% compared with in the same period of 2015. Gross profit margin in the first quarter of 2016 was 36.9%, compared with 26.4% in the same period of 2015. The increase was primarily the result of the suspension of unprofitable businesses and a successful business restructuring, as well as an improved operating efficiency. Operating expenses for the first quarter of 2016 were RMB44.0 million , a decrease of 40.6% compared with RMB74.1 million in the same period of 2015. The decrease was mainly due to decreased one-time expenses and headcount reduction, as well as effective cost control.

, a decrease of 40.6% compared with in the same period of 2015. The decrease was mainly due to decreased one-time expenses and headcount reduction, as well as effective cost control. Net loss attributable to the Company was RMB19.1 million in the first quarter of 2016, or RMB0.5 per basic and diluted share, compared with a net loss of RMB117.6 million , or RMB3.59 per basic and diluted share, in the same period of 2015. Net loss in the first quarter of 2015 included a one-time interest expense of convertible loan discount amortization amount of RMB56.6 million .

in the first quarter of 2016, or per basic and diluted share, compared with a net loss of , or per basic and diluted share, in the same period of 2015. Net loss in the first quarter of 2015 included a one-time interest expense of convertible loan discount amortization amount of . As of March 31, 2016 , the Company continued to maintain strong capital resources with a total of RMB494.7 million , including cash and cash equivalents of RMB155.4 million , short-term investments of RMB336.1 million , and restricted cash and term deposits of RMB3.2 million .

Recent Developments

In the month of June 2016 , the Company entered into the initial implementation phase of its enhanced Enterprise Resource Planning system, covering the majority of operations in the tutoring, school partnership business, Genesis as well as group headquarter functions.

, the Company entered into the initial implementation phase of its enhanced Enterprise Resource Planning system, covering the majority of operations in the tutoring, school partnership business, Genesis as well as group headquarter functions. The Company has established a succession management system, using a talent management pool that provides continuous training to individual business units' management teams while simultaneously strengthening the company culture.

Exchange Rate Information

This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are based on the effective exchange rate of 6.4480 as of March 31, 2016.

About Ambow Education Holding Ltd.

Ambow Education Holding Ltd. is a leading national provider of educational and career enhancement services in China, offering high-quality, individualized services and products. With its extensive network of regional service hubs complemented by a dynamic proprietary learning platform and distributors, Ambow provides its services and products to students in 30 out of the 31 provinces and autonomous regions within China.

Follow us on Twitter: @Ambow_Education

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the outlook for the second quarter and full year 2016 and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as Ambow's strategic and operational plans, contain forward-looking statements. Ambow may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the following: the Company's goals and strategies, expansion plans, the expected growth of the content and application delivery services market, the Company's expectations regarding keeping and strengthening its relationships with its customers, and the general economic and business conditions in the regions where the Company provides its solutions and services. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Ambow undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries please contact:

Ambow Education Holding Ltd.

Tel: +86-10-6206-8104

The Piacente Group | Investor Relations

Tel: +1 212-481-2050 or +86 10-6535-0147

Email: [email protected]

- Tables to Follow -

AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD. UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)





























As of March 31,

As of December 31,







2016

2015







US$

RMB

RMB

ASSETS















Current assets:















Cash and cash equivalents



24,099

155,388

246,303

Restricted cash



318

2,050

2,050

Term deposits



178

1,150

1,150

Short term investments, available for sale



24,867

160,343

103,602

Short term investments, held to maturity



27,266

175,810

151,790

Accounts receivable, net



1,883

12,144

11,278

Amounts due from related parties



286

1,845

1,847

Prepaid and other current assets



24,274

156,520

156,104

Consideration receivable



1,318

8,500

8,500

Total current assets



104,489

673,750

682,624

Non-current assets:















Property and equipment, net



14,138

91,160

94,982

Land use rights, net



299

1,926

1,937

Intangible assets, net



15,741

101,495

103,394

Goodwill



13,316

85,863

85,988

Deferred tax assets, net



5,387

34,738

33,903

Other non-current assets, net



783

5,048

5,097



















Total non-current assets



49,664

320,230

325,301



















Total assets



154,153

993,980

1,007,925



















LIABILITIES















Current liabilities:















Short-term borrowings *



357

2,300

2,300

Deferred revenue *



18,797

121,201

115,886

Accounts payable *



4,089

26,365

28,391

Accrued and other liabilities *



56,727

365,773

367,357

Income taxes payable *



49,409

318,592

317,785

Amounts due to related parties *



1,188

7,662

7,662

Total current liabilities



130,567

841,893

839,381

Non-current liabilities:















Deferred tax liabilities *



3,912

25,226

25,721



















Total liabilities



134,479

867,119

865,102



















EQUITY















Preferred shares















(US$ 0.003par value;1,666,667 shares authorized, nil issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015)



-

-

-

Ordinary shares















(US$0.003 par value; 40,000,000 and 40,000,000 shares authorized, 38,328,187 and 38,265,177 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)



111

718

717

Additional paid-in capital



534,635

3,447,329

3,445,408

Statutory reserve



12,563

81,005

81,005

Accumulated deficit



(528,459)

(3,407,506)

(3,388,447)

Accumulated other comprehensive income



872

5,625

5,113

Total Ambow Education Holding Ltd.'s equity



19,722

127,171

143,796

Non-controlling interests



(48)

(310)

(973)

Total equity



19,674

126,861

142,823

Total liabilities and equity



154,153

993,980

1,007,925



















* All of the VIE's assets can be used to settle obligations of their primary beneficiary. Liabilities recognized as a result of consolidating these VIEs do not represent additional claims on the Company's general assets.





AMBOW EDUCATION HOLDING LTD. UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (All amounts in thousands, except for share and per share data)





For the three months ended March 31,





2016

2016

2015





US$

RMB

RMB

















NET REVENUES













Educational program and services

10,598

68,335

71,111

















COST OF REVENUES













Educational program and services

(6,691)

(43,146)

(52,346)

















GROSS PROFIT

3,907

25,189

18,765

Operating expenses:













Selling and marketing

(1,651)

(10,644)

(13,952)

General and administrative

(4,879)

(31,459)

(58,905)

Research and development

(294)

(1,895)

(1,218)

Total operating expenses

(6,824)

(43,998)

(74,075)

















OPERATING LOSS

(2,917)

(18,809)

(55,310)

















OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)













Interest income (expenses), net

427

2,754

(57,837)

Foreign exchange gain (loss), net

10

64

(789)

Other loss, net

(465)

(2,999)

(421)

Gain on sale of investment available for sale

17

112

-

Total other expenses

(11)

(69)

(59,047)

LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAX, NON- CONTROLLING INTEREST, AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

(2,928)

(18,878)

(114,357)

Income tax benefit

13

81

274

















LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

(2,915)

(18,797)

(114,083)

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax

-

-

(3,351)

















NET LOSS

(2,915)

(18,797)

(117,434)

Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling

interest from continuing operations

41

262

163

Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling

interests on sale of discontinued operations

-

-

11

















NET LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO AMBOW

EDUCATION HOLDING LTD.

(2,956)

(19,059)

(117,608)

















Net loss from continuing operations per share- basic

and diluted

(0.08)

(0.50)

(3.49)

















Net loss from discontinued operations per share-

basic and diluted

-

-

(0.10)

















Total loss per share- basic and diluted

(0.08)

(0.50)

(3.59)

















Weighted average shares used in calculating basic and

diluted net loss per share

38,289,046

38,289,046

32,710,037



SOURCE Ambow Education Holding Ltd.
Carlisle Area School Board approved a policy Thursday governing the use of naloxone on school district property as a treatment to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

Known by the brand name Narcan, naloxone blocks the effects of opioids on the brain and can help restore normal breathing within two to eight minutes of the medication being administered to an individual.

The policy establishes guidelines and procedures that allow properly trained district employees to administer the medication during an emergency to any student, staff member, visitor or volunteer suspected of having an overdose. They must also call 911 for EMS to be dispatched.

While the school district physician will supervise the district-wide implementation of this policy, school nurses are in charge of the building-level administration of naloxone under the direction of the physician. Other employees must complete a state Department of Health training program to be qualified to administer naloxone.

District administrators recommend the district stock naloxone at Carlisle High School and the Lamberton and Wilson middle schools. A board committee reviewed the language of this policy on June 9.

At that time, board member Brian Guillaume suggested the policy be expanded to include the elementary schools. Guillaume was especially concerned about school buildings in the rural areas of the district and the response time of first-responders dispatched to an emergency call.

Superintendent John Friend believes an overdose emergency is more likely to take place at the high school or middle schools which tend to draw larger groups of people. Friend added there is also concern about the availability of qualified personnel during evening events and at the elementary schools to administer naloxone in the event of an emergency.

Your point is well taken, Friend told Guillaume. I dont have an issue with it. We can start it and then later expand.

What kind of issues do we have right now in the school district? board member Deborah Sweaney asked Friend on June 9. We have no issues, he said about overdoses. We are not seeing that whatsoever.

This is a preventative, Friend added. We have a lot of people visit our building. I am more concerned about adults visiting the building.

Committee chairman Bruce Clash made a motion Thursday to approve the naloxone policy. He confirmed that there has been no incident to date involving an opioid overdose on school district property.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health is encouraging school districts to adopt a naloxone policy, Clash said. He added approving the policy clears the way for the Carlisle Area School District to apply for a grant to purchase a supply of naloxone doses in the form of a nasal spray.

The state training program focuses on recognizing the signs of a potential overdose, Clash said. He added because naloxone is non-addictive and only reverses the symptoms of overdose, there is no potential for harm or risk of a liability issue if there is a misdiagnosis of the signs.

The police requests that once the emergency has passed, the school nurse or trained employee must submit a written report of the incident to the superintendent or his designee. Documentation of an overdose and the administration of naloxone will be kept on a database and shared with EMS as needed.
WASHINGTON, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The annual Letter Carriers' Food Drive held last month produced record-breaking results, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) announced today.

The 24th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, held on May 14, collected more than 80 million pounds of food, well above the previous record of 77 million pounds.

And the food drive now has surpassed 1.5 billion pounds since it began in 1993.

"These results are gratifying, because they mean that even more people will be helped," NALC President Fredric Rolando said. "As letter carriers, we are honored to be able to assist people in need. On a daily basis we see the struggles in the communities we serve, and we believe it's important to do all we can to help.

"None of this would be possible without the generosity of residents throughout the country," Rolando added. He also praised the organizations that help with the effort.

For a spreadsheet containing information on collected food amounts by city or to compile state totals, use this link:

http://www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive/body/2016-Full-Roll-Up-Report.xls

Hunger affects about 50 million people around the country, including millions of children, senior citizens and veterans.

The nation's largest single-day food drive, the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is held on the second Saturday each May in 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.

It provides residents with an easy way to donate food to those in need in the community. Customers simply leave their donation of non-perishable goods next to their mailbox before the delivery of the mail that Saturday. Letter carriers collect the non-perishable food donations on that day as they deliver mail along their postal routes, and distribute them to local food banks, pantries and shelters.

National partners assisting the NALC in this year's food drive were: U.S. Postal Service, National Rural Letter Carriers' Association, United Way Worldwide, United Food & Commercial Workers International Union, AFL-CIO, Valpak and Valassis.

# # #

The 280,000-member National Association of Letter Carriers represents letter carriers across the country employed by the U.S. Postal Service, along with retired letter carriers. Founded by Civil War veterans in 1889, the NALC is among the country's oldest labor unions.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110406/DC78673LOGO

SOURCE National Association of Letter Carriers

Related Links

http://www.nalc.org


SAN FRANCISCO, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The anesthesia monitoring devices market is expected to reach USD 1.9 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The growing geriatric population base and the spiraling number of surgeries are anticipated to boost the market growth. Geriatric patients are the target population for this industry as they are highly prone to various chronic disorders and are at a higher risk of developing complications.

Grand View Research Logo (PRNewsFoto/Grand View Research_ Inc_)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150105/723757)

The rising awareness amongst the physicians about the various factors that affect patient outcomes, such as the choice of anesthetic drug, the appropriate route of administration, and the right dose of the anesthetic agent, as well as the monitoring of the depth of anesthesia is likely to accelerate the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Technological advancements in terms of accuracy, portability, and affordability have resulted in the increased usage of these monitoring devices. For instance, the introduction of the new generation, microprocessor-based intelligent anesthesia systems with integrated monitors enables monitoring of various parameters along with the precisely-controlled administration of the anesthetic agent.

Browse full research report with TOC on "Anesthesia Monitoring Devices Market Analysis, By Product (Advanced Anesthesia Monitors, Basic Anesthesia Monitors, Integrated Workstations), By End-use (Hospitals, Ambulatory Settings) And Segment Forecasts To 2024" at: http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/anesthesia-monitoring-devices-market

Further key findings from the study suggest:

Amongst the product type segments, the advanced anesthesia monitors segment held a lucrative share of over 60.0% in 2015 owing to its durability, reliability, and accuracy. Moreover, these devices monitor various significant parameters such as oxygen saturation level, carbon dioxide level, heart rate, and blood pressure.

The hospitals in the end-use segment exhibited remunerative growth in 2015; this can be attributed to the presence of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic medical technologies that enables both, faster and accurate diagnosis. Moreover, the availability of these advanced systems coupled with the presence of skilled personnel contributes towards profitable growth of this segment.

North America dominated the overall market with a revenue share of over 35.0% in 2015 owing to the presence of well-developed health care settings and the presence of a favorable reimbursement network, government funding, and increasing health awareness levels amongst the people.

dominated the overall market with a revenue share of over 35.0% in 2015 owing to the presence of well-developed health care settings and the presence of a favorable reimbursement network, government funding, and increasing health awareness levels amongst the people. However, Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest growing region with a CAGR of about 11.0% over the forecast period. The economic developments and the advancing healthcare system with the aid of supportive government initiatives are collectively anticipated to further assist the growth in this region.

is anticipated to be the fastest growing region with a CAGR of about 11.0% over the forecast period. The economic developments and the advancing healthcare system with the aid of supportive government initiatives are collectively anticipated to further assist the growth in this region. Some key players operating in the anesthesia monitoring devices market include Masimo Corporation, Infinium Medical, Inc., Medtronic plc, GE Healthcare, Nihon Kohden Corporation, Philips Healthcare, Mindray Medical International Ltd., Dragerwerk AG & Co. KGaA, and Schiller AG. New product development, mergers, and collaborations are some key initiatives taken to sustain themselves in the competition.

For instance, Masimo Corporation incorporated Oxygen Reverse Index (ORI) which measures the oxygen levels and provides real-time information with regard to the patient's oxygen reserve in synchronization with the partial pressure of oxygen to prevent hyperoxia conditions (oxygen levels above normal) in patients that are receiving auxiliary oxygen supply whilst undergoing surgery.

Grand View Research has segmented anesthesia monitoring devices market on the basis of product type, end-use, and region.

Global Anesthesia Monitoring Devices Market By Product Revenue, (USD Million) 2013 - 2024 Advanced Anesthesia Monitors Anesthesia Gas Monitors Monitors Measuring Depth of Anesthesia Standalone Capnography Monitors Others Basic Anesthesia Monitors Integrated Anesthesia Monitors

Global Anesthesia Monitoring Devices Market By End-Use Revenue, (USD Million) 2013 - 2024 Hospitals Ambulatory Settings Others

Anesthesia Monitoring Devices Market By Region Revenue, (USD Million) 2013 - 2024 North America U.S. Canada Europe UK Germany Asia Pacific Japan China Latin America Brazil Mexico MEA South Africa Saudi Arabia



Browse related reports by Grand View Research:

Fluid Management Systems Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/fluid-management-systems-market

Kidney Fibrosis Treatment Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/kidney-fibrosis-treatment-market

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/magnetic-resonance-imaging-market

Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Devices Market - http://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/gastrointestinal-endoscopic-devices-market

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.

Read Our Blogs - legalworkshop.org, grandviewresearch.com/blogs/healthcare

Contact:

Sherry James

Corporate Sales Specialist, USA

Grand View Research, Inc

Phone: 1-415-349-0058

Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519



Email: [email protected]

Web: http://www.grandviewresearch.com

SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.
ZURICH, Switzerland, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

After the triumph of two internationally renowned accolades in 2015, the "GOOD DESIGN Award" and the "Red Dot Award: Product Design 2015", Haselmeier has now also been crowned winner of the prestigious "German Brand Award 2016".

Established at the behest of the German Bundestag more than 60 years ago, the "German Design Council" nowadays represents international design and brand activity in Germany with the "German Brand Award". The aim of the award is to discover groundbreaking brands and brand makers and to champion these through a prize competition. Following a particularly rigorous nomination process, an expert panel of judges distinguishes companies who have made a name for themselves by virtue of their impressive brand expertise. For many years Haselmeier has been internationally recognized for its innovative ideas and qualitative excellence in the medical technical field. The company philosophy also embraces a complex brand management that has contributed to the success of Haselmeier over the years.

In December 2015, the "German Design Council" wrote to Haselmeier with the following: "An outstanding example in your industry, your brand represents a unique contribution to the German brand and corporate landscape. You have therefore been nominated by the committees of the "German Design Council" and the "German Brand Institute" to take part in the "German Brand Award 2016 - Industry Excellence in Branding".

The nomination itself is also a distinction as only outstanding brands are given the opportunity to participate in the "German Brand Award" competition. So, it is all the more gratifying that the "Haselmeier Brand" was able to prevail against the other high-calibre competitors by winning the "German Brand Award 2016". The award will be formally presented at an award ceremony in Berlin on 16th June 2016.

About Haselmeier

Founded in Stuttgart in 1920, Haselmeier is a global medical device company and a leading designer and manufacturer of pen and auto injection systems. The devices feature unique function, design and technology and are marketed by leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies around the world. Located in five locations across three continents, we develop and produce innovative technologies for administering medication to improve the health and everyday life of patients.

For more information, please visit http://www.haselmeier.com

Media Contact:

Haselmeier AG

Dufourstrasse 32

8008 Zurich

Switzerland





Stefan Gaul

Strategic Product Manager

+41-44-250-58-53

[email protected]



SOURCE Haselmeier AG
NEW YORK, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Growing demand for power backup, declining prices and advancements in technology to drive sales of UPS in APAC countries

New Age TechSci Research Logo (PRNewsFoto/New Age TechSci Research)

According to TechSci Research report "APAC UPS Market By kVA Range, By End User, By Country, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2021", the market for UPS systems in Asia-Pacific is anticipated to surpass $ 4 billion by 2021 on account of increasing IT investments, surge in the number of small & medium sized enterprises and rapid growth in the infrastructural & commercial applications such as IT/ITeS, telecom, retail, hospitality & BFSI sectors. UPS systems provide uninterrupted power and constant protection to electric equipment from sudden interruptions in power supply, and consequently are witnessing a widespread adoption across various end users such as data centres, hospitals, hotels, telecommunication, IT sector, and various industries such as oil and gas, chemical, and food processing. Further, demand for UPS in the Asia-Pacific majorly emanates from expanding IT and telecom sector, which witnessed significant growth over the last decade, owing to the increasing IT investments and rising need for uninterrupted power supply to ensure continuous workflow. During 2012-2017, IT spending in the Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 7%, which is positively influencing the region's UPS market.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140117/663730 )



Browse 3 market data Tables and 72 Figures spread through 154 Pages and an in-depth TOC on

"Asia-Pacific UPS Market"

http://www.techsciresearch.com/report/apac-ups-market-by-kva-range-less-than-5-kva-5-1-20-kva-20-1-60-kva-60-1-200-kva-and-above-200-kva-by-end-user-by-country-china-india-indonesia-australia-and-others-competition-forecast-and-opportunities-2011-2021/700.html

Asia-Pacific Information Technology (IT) Spending, By Value (USD Billion), 2012-2017F

IT Spending (USD Year Billion) 2012 672 2013 725.4 2014 757 2015E 817 2016F 875 2017F 933

Source: TechSci Research

On account of easy affordability and increasing digitalization in diverse end-use segments including small offices, banks, hospitals, shopping malls, amusement parks, retail outlets, etc., less than 5kVA UPS segment accounted for the largest share in Asia-Pacific UPS market, in 2015. Majority of the demand for UPS systems across Asia-Pacific emanates from commercial sector on the back of widening power demand-supply gap and increasing SMB IT spending. Emerson Network Power, APC by Schneider Electric, Eaton Corporation Plc. and Mitsubishi Electric Power Products are few of the major companies operating in Asia-Pacific UPS market.

Download Sample Report @ http://www.techsciresearch.com/sample-report.aspx?cid=700

Customers can also request for 10% free customization on this report.

"Increasing digitalization in the commercial and industrial sectors on account of rising SMB investments coupled with favorable government initiatives focusing on developing energy efficient technologies in order to overcome the problem of frequent power shortages, is likely to boost demand for UPS systems in Asia-Pacific through 2021" said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm.

"APAC UPS Market By kVA Range, By End User, By Country, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2021" has evaluated the UPS market across Asia-Pacific and provides statistics and information on market structure, industry behavior and trends. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyzes emerging trends along with essential drivers, challenges and opportunities available in Asia-Pacific UPS market.

Browse Related Reports

Global UPS Market By kVA Range (Less than 5 kVA, 5.1 - 20 kVA, 20.1 - 60 kVA, 60.1 - 200 kVA, Above 200 kVA), By End User (Residential, Commercial & Industrial), By Region, Competition Forecast and Opportunities, 2011-2021

http://www.techsciresearch.com/report/global-ups-market-by-kva-range-less-than-5-kva-5-1-20-kva-20-1-60-kva-60-1-200-kva-above-200-kva-by-end-user-residential-commercial-industrial-by-region-competition-forecast-and-opportunities-2011-2021/668.html

India UPS Market Forecast and Opportunities, 2020

http://www.techsciresearch.com/report/india-ups-market-forecast-and-opportunities-2020/546.html

India Solar Rooftop Market By State (Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu) By End User (Commercial, Industrial, Residential) By Connectivity (On-Grid, Off- Grid) Forecast and Opportunities, 2021

http://www.techsciresearch.com/report/india-solar-rooftop-market-by-state-delhi-gujarat-haryana-madhya-pradesh-maharashtra-punjab-rajasthan-tamil-nadu-by-end-user-commercial-industrial-residential-by-connectivity-on-grid-off-grid-forecast-and-opportunities-2021/692.html

About TechSci Research

TechSci Research is a leading global market research firm publishing premium market research reports. Serving 700 global clients with more than 600 premium market research studies, TechSci Research is serving clients across 11 different industrial verticals. TechSci Research specializes in research based consulting assignments in high growth and emerging markets, leading technologies and niche applications. Our workforce of more than 100 fulltime Analysts and Consultants employing innovative research solutions and tracking global and country specific high growth markets helps TechSci clients to lead rather than follow market trends.

Contact

Mr. Ken Mathews

708 Third Avenue,

Manhattan, NY,

New York - 10017



Tel: +1-646-360-1656

Email: [email protected]

Connect with us on Twitter - https://twitter.com/TechSciResearch

Connect with us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/techsci-research

SOURCE TechSci Research
CHICAGO, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Arcalea announced today that it has been named the agency of record across multiple marketing and advertising disciplines by ConceiveAbilities, the industry leader in surrogacy and egg donation. As the company continues market expansion in North America and internationally, Arcalea will lead advertising, marketing, digital, and social media strategies for ConceiveAbilities for the Americas and Asia Pacific.

"Today's digital landscape requires the unique combination of national brand experience as well as digital acumen, and Arcalea has been leading new strategic initiatives and innovative, multi-channel campaigns," said Nazca Fontes, founder and CEO of ConceiveAbilities. "Arcalea will play a vital role in assisting ConceiveAbilities with reaching more intended parents, fertility centers, and clinics around the world."

Arcalea, a digital strategy and marketing agency headquartered in Chicago, has experienced rapid growth since its launch in 2015, having recently expanded into the Charlotte market in May of this year. Arcalea combines traditional marketing strategies with proprietary digital platforms to provide brands a business intelligence advantage over competition. Arcalea will create and develop ConceiveAbilities' marketing strategy through all digital channels, including search, social channels, content marketing, and advertising.

"ConceiveAbilities has established themselves as the industry leader by setting the bar for service excellence and support of intended parents, egg donors, and surrogates," said Arcalea CEO Michael Stratta. "Our focus will be to build upon that position and we look forward to leveraging our team's diverse experience and unique platform to increase awareness among constituents and audiences."

About ConceiveAbilities

ConceiveAbilities is an egg donor and surrogacy agency recognized around the world, providing excellent service to intended parents, fertility centers, and clinics for over 20 years. Headquartered in Chicago, ConceiveAbilities has locations in Dallas, Denver, Houston, and New York. ConceiveAbilities is an advocate for modern families and has a highly selective network of donors and surrogates. ConceiveAbilities' uncompromising ethical standards have earned the respect of the nation's leading fertility experts, and made it one of the most highly regarded agencies in the industry.

About Arcalea

Arcalea is an industry leader in digital strategy and marketing. Arcalea combines national brand expertise with marketing analysis and proprietary analytics systems, leading today's digital marketing and advertising initiatives with data-driven solutions. Based in Chicago, IL Arcalea also has offices in Charlotte, NC. For more information, visit https://arcalea.com and/or Arcalea on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Google +, LinkedIn.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160211/332552LOGO

SOURCE Arcalea

Related Links

http://www.arcalea.com


ARLINGTON, Va., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, American Trucking Associations opened the official 2016 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week online store, featuring customizable merchandise designed to show support for the industry's 3.5 million professional truck drivers.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight.Trucking Moves America Forward.

"The men and women who drive trucks in this country do a tremendous service to all of us, and it's important to recognize the work they do to safely and efficiently transport the goods we rely on each day," said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. "Safely navigating the nation's highways is a challenging task for many of us, but truck drivers handle it with professionalism and poise and for that they deserve our appreciation."

Notable additions to this year's e-store include a neon safety shirt, a durable, easy-to-carry search flashlight, and a lightweight, practical backpack, all of which showcase the 2016 NTDAW logo. Popular items from previous years, such as lunchboxes, hats and banners are also available on the NTDAW store.

This year's National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is September 11-17. ATA encourages motor carriers and suppliers throughout the industry to hold appreciation events for professional truck drivers. ATA First Vice Chairman Kevin Burch, president of Jet Express, is hosting ATA and America's Road Team for an event at the Jet Express facility in Dayton, Ohio. For more ideas on hosting your own NTDAW event, visit the Resources section of the official NTDAW website.

"Our economy is literally driven by professional truck drivers, so these men and women deserve our highest respect and praise," said Burch. "We've seen excitement for this week grow from year to year and I think it's because truck drivers are proud of the work they do and the public is starting to understand how important truck drivers are to our way of life."

The official 2016 NTDAW logo is available for download on the ATA website. The site also offers resources ranging from state proclamation drafts to examples of editorials for trucking industry affiliates to enhance their driver appreciation events.

Sponsors for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week include Help, Inc., Velociti, U.S. Legal Services, Smart Drive and Trucker Path.

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Trucking Moves America Forward.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140523/90962

SOURCE American Trucking Associations

Related Links

http://www.trucking.org


SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, First Liberty Institute sent a demand letter to military leaders, asking them to apologize for assaulting Oscar Rodriguez, a decorated Air Force veteran with over thirty years of military service, and kicking him off Travis Air Force Base for giving a speech that included the word "God."

Read the demand letter

Air Force Master Sergeant Charles Roberson heard Rodriguez deliver a patriotic flag-folding speech at a retirement ceremony and asked Rodriguez to give the same speech at Roberson's retirement ceremony on April 3, held at Travis Air Force Base. "I saw Oscar perform the speech live just one month prior to my own retirement ceremony and I really wanted him to be able to perform that same way at my ceremony," said MSgt Roberson.

Watch video of MSgt Roberson



Rodriguez agreed to Roberson's request, but when he began the patriotic flag-folding speech at the retirement ceremony, multiple uniformed Airmen assaulted and forcibly removed Rodriguez because his speech included the word "God." After dragging him out of the retirement ceremony, Travis Air Force Base personnel ordered Rodriguez off the base.

Watch video of the incident

"It was one of the most humiliating experiences of my life," says Rodriguez. "I have given more than three decades of service to the military and made many sacrifices for my country. To have the Air Force assault me and drag me out of a retirement ceremony simply because my speech included the word 'God' is something I never expected from our military."

"The Air Force had no right to assault a citizen, much less a 33-year military veteran, because they didn't want him to mention 'God,'" says Mike Berry, Director of Military Affairs for First Liberty Institute. "Mr. Rodriguez has a constitutional right to free speech and religious expression, even on a military base. The military broke the law and abused its power. We expect the Air Force to hold those responsible accountable, and allow Mr. Rodriguez to continue honoring the flag and other veterans who have sacrificed for our country."

First Liberty Institute attorneys asked the Air Force to respond by June 27.

Read more about the case at StandWithOscar.com

About First Liberty Institute

First Liberty Institute is the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.

SOURCE First Liberty Institute

Related Links

http://www.firstliberty.org


WASHINGTON, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, in partnership with the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), has unveiled a new program called "Market the Welcome" to inspire and welcome international visitors with the New Orleans and Louisiana experience.

MSY is the fourth airport in the nation to implement Market the Welcome as an integral part of Brand USA's new branding and marketing strategies. The program works in support of the country's national goal and airport-specific action plans developed by the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Commerce in response to President Obama's Presidential Memorandum on entry policy in May 2014. The national goal calls for the United States to "provide a best-in-class arrival experience, as compared to our global competitors, to an ever-increasing number of international visitors while maintaining the highest standards of national security." The other three airports to implement the program are Chicago-O'Hare (ORD), Miami International (MIA) and Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP). Many other airports are in the process of engaging Market the Welcome.

"Brand USA and our partners can provide the most inspirational and compelling storytelling about our country around the world," said Christopher L. Thompson, Brand USA president and CEO. "That story begins the moment international travelers arrive in the United States where we have the opportunity to extend the spirit of hospitality to and thank our guests for choosing the USA for their travel experience. New Orleans, Louisiana and MSY officials are leaders in recognizing this critical need and will provide a model as we roll out the program around the country."

IPW, hosted in New Orleans  June 18-22, 2016, is expected to welcome international delegates from 70 countries around the globe. This is the first time the show has returned to New Orleans since 2002 and is the perfect time to showcase the revitalized city to the international market ahead of New Orleans' tri-centennial celebration in 2018, starting with a welcoming at the airport.

"There is no better time to unveil the Market to Welcome partnership program than now, during IPW, as we are showcasing our city to more than 6,000 international and domestic travel buyers, sellers and travel media," said Stephen Perry, President and CEO, New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. "In addition to hosting IPW and the construction of a new world-class North Terminal at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, the launch of this truly inspirational and welcoming program is another tool to help us reach our goal of 1 million visitors by 2018."

Comprised of welcoming signage and digital displays that showcase high-impact, inspirational imagery of all aspects of the New Orleans and Louisiana experiences, the program is designed to provide travelers a warm and seamless arrival experience as they proceed through immigration and passport control and on through international baggage claim and baggage re-check and exit.

"The Airport is pleased to be the part of the 'Market the Welcome' program," said Iftikhar Ahmad, Director of Aviation for Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. "With many international travelers arriving at Armstrong International, this campaign delivers a great welcome to our city and state."

The Market the Welcome program is designed specifically for gateway airports, offering customized display graphics and templates with welcoming messaging, impactful photography and more  all of which is customized to feature local attractions, history, cuisine and personality. It features high-impact signage and digital displays and focuses specifically on the environment inside the federal inspection service areas and international baggage claim prior to clearing customs.

"The 'Market the Welcome' program by Brand USA will impact millions of visitors as they come to the United States at gateway airports," said Kyle Edmiston, Assistant Secretary of Tourism, Louisiana Office of Tourism. "We are very appreciative that New Orleans was chosen as the fourth airport for installation and that the timing was perfect for IPW 2016. This will have such a positive effect on our international visitors as they arrive and prepare to immerse themselves in the culture, music and cuisine of Louisiana."

Brand USA has a similar program with U.S. embassies in which display graphics, video, photography, and informational travel pieces adorn Consular rooms. This public-private collaboration on the front lines helps improve the visa application experience and showcase a wide breadth of experiences that travelers can have in the United States.

In 2014, 75 million international travelers who visited the U.S. spent a record $221 billion on goods and services, with direct support for 1.1 million jobs from international visitor travel-related spending, according to the National Travel and Tourism Office at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Overseas visitors spend approximately $4,300 per trip, stay an average of 17 days, and generate tax revenue in communities across the United States without burdening local services.

About Brand USA

Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, was established by the Travel Promotion Act as the nation's first public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier travel destination and to communicate U.S. visa and entry policies and procedures to worldwide travelers. The organization's mission is to increase international visitation to the USA in order to fuel the U.S. economy and enhance the image of the United States worldwide. Formed as the Corporation for Travel Promotion in 2010, the public-private entity began operations in May 2011 and does business as Brand USA. According to studies by Oxford Economics, over the past three years Brand USA's marketing initiatives helped welcome more than 3 million incremental visitors to the USA, benefiting the U.S. economy with nearly $21 billion in total economic impact, which has supported an average of nearly 50,000 incremental jobs a year.

For industry or partner information about Brand USA, visit www.TheBrandUSA.com. For information about exceptional and unexpected travel experiences in the United States, please visit Brand USA's consumer website VisitTheUSA.com.

SOURCE Brand USA

Related Links

http://www.TheBrandUSA.com


"Dr. Garg brings a deep commitment to our mission of helping patients win their fight against cancer every day," said CTCA Chairman and Founder, Richard J Stephenson. "With his keen strategic vision and solid understanding of the rapidly changing health care economy, we are delighted he will be assuming this position at a place and time when that commitment, vision and understanding is so critical to our patients' well-being. Dr. Garg is the ideal leader to help us open new doors to delivering 'Care That Never Quits' driven by the highest standards of advanced, innovative, personalized and integrative cancer care, and by empowering cancer patients and their families with world-class options," he concluded.

Dr. Garg sees significant opportunities ahead for CTCA in its quest to conquer cancer. "Cancer remains a scourge that demands our collective attention and resolute commitment to defeat. CTCA stands at the forefront in providing patients with numerous innovative therapeutic options, including advanced genomic, precision and immunotherapeutic programs, an unparalleled range of integrative therapies, and a caring, warm and nurturing patient experience. I am honored to have the opportunity to join hands with the more than 5,000 remarkably talented Stakeholders (employees) in this fight."

As a leader in the health care group at McKinsey & Company, Dr. Garg guided many health care companies through transformational change by spearheading innovative strategic growth, operations, and business development programs and initiatives. "Dr. Garg is uniquely suited to help guide CTCA through the emerging dynamics of the health care economy while accelerating its growth and reinforcing its commitment to the delivery of exceptional patient-centered cancer care," said Maurie Markman, M.D., President of CTCA Medicine & Science.

Dr. Garg earned an M.D. from Stanford Medical School, a J.D. from Yale Law School, and a B.A. in genetics and sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining McKinsey & Company in 1992, he practiced medicine and law in California. Dr. Garg serves on the board of directors of The New York City Children's Holiday Party, Inc., a charitable enterprise dedicated to providing holiday cheer to homeless children.

About Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Cancer Treatment Centers of America Global, Inc. (CTCA), headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla., is a national network of five hospitals that serves adult patients who are fighting cancer. CTCA offers an integrative approach to care that combines advancements in genomic testing and precision cancer treatment, surgery, radiation, immunotherapy and chemotherapy, with evidence-based supportive therapies designed to help patients physically and emotionally by enhancing their quality of life while managing side effects both during and after treatment. CTCA serves patients from around the world at its hospitals in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa. Consistently rated among U.S. hospitals that deliver the highest quality of care and patient experience, CTCA provides patients and their families with comprehensive information about their treatment options and encourages their active participation in treatment decisions. For more information, visit cancercenter.com, Facebook.com/cancercenter and Twitter.com/cancercenter.

Contact:

Michael Myers

[email protected]

(561) 923-3179

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160620/381237

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160609/377609LOGO

SOURCE Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Related Links

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MIDDLETOWN, Pa., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A $450,000 Pennsylvania Lottery Cash 5 jackpot from the Friday, June 17, drawing was split by two winning tickets sold in Lancaster and Warren counties.

Each ticket correctly matched all five balls drawn, 03-11-12-25-30, to each win $225,000, less applicable tax withholding. The winning tickets were sold by:

Stover's News, 24 N. 3 rd St., Columbia , Lancaster County ; and

St., , ; and Choice, 215 Pennsylvania Avenue West, Warren , Warren County .

Each retailer earns a $500 selling bonus.

The prizes must be claimed and the tickets validated before the winners can be identified. Cash 5 winners have one year from the drawing date to claim prizes.

The Lottery encourages each holder of a jackpot-winning ticket to sign the back of the ticket, call the Lottery at 717-702-8146 and file a claim at any of Lottery's seven area offices or at Lottery headquarters in Middletown, Dauphin County.

Claims may be filed Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at area offices and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at headquarters.

More than 51,300 other Cash 5 tickets won prizes of various amounts in the drawing, creating "Winners, winners  everywhere!" Players should check every ticket, every time. Lower-tier prizes may be claimed at Lottery retailers.

In Lancaster County, the Pennsylvania Lottery awarded more than $68 million in prizes to winners and provided more than $38.4 million to programs that benefit older residents during the 2014-15 fiscal year. In Warren County, the Lottery awarded more than $12.7 million in prizes and contributed more than $5.6 million to programs serving the county's older residents.

How to play Cash 5: To play Cash 5, players pay $1 and select five numbers from 1 to 43. Players may select their own numbers using a Cash 5 playslip, or they may opt for computer-selected quick picks. Players must match all five numbers drawn to win the jackpot. Players also win prizes for matching two, three or four winning numbers. Cash 5 drawings are held seven nights a week, and tickets can be purchased up to seven draws (one week) in advance. Odds of winning the jackpot prize are 1-in-962,598; the overall odds of winning any prize are about 1-in-10.5.

About the Pennsylvania Lottery: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery that designates all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since its inception in 1971, the Pennsylvania Lottery has contributed more than $25.8 billion to programs that include property tax and rent rebates; free transit and reduced-fare shared rides; the low-cost prescription drug programs PACE and PACENET; long-term living services; and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, including full- and part-time senior centers throughout the state.

The Pennsylvania Lottery reminds players to check every ticket, every time. Players must be 18 or older. Please play responsibly. For help with a gambling problem, call 1-800-848-1880.

For drawings results, winning numbers, winners' stories and to subscribe to the Lottery's RSS news feed, visit www.palottery.com. Like us on Facebook at or follow us at www.twitter.com/palottery.

MEDIA CONTACT: Lottery Public Relations, 717-702-8008

SOURCE Pennsylvania Lottery

Related Links

http://www.palottery.com


AUSTIN, Texas and NEW YORK, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- CI Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm, and Epiphany Dermatology, a Texas-based operator of dermatology clinics, announced today that an affiliate of CI Capital Partners acquired a majority interest in the practice management company for Epiphany Dermatology and its affiliates. The management team of Epiphany Dermatology has retained a significant equity ownership in the company. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Epiphany Dermatology is a rapidly expanding operator of dermatology clinics that is dedicated to high quality patient care. Epiphany Dermatology's focus is improving access to dermatology services, and the company currently operates seven general dermatology and skin cancer clinics in Central Texas. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, one in five individuals will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Given the high incidence of skin cancer, coupled with high cure rates, Epiphany Dermatology's clinics place special emphasis on skin cancer prevention, screenings and treatment.

"We are pleased to announce our partnership with CI Capital," said Epiphany Dermatology's CEO, Gheorghe Pusta. "We will work with CI Capital to expand Epiphany Dermatology, while continuing to operate with the utmost integrity and commitment to high-quality patient care. The dermatology specialty is undergoing rapid consolidation, and we believe that a group practice provides many advantages for dermatologists. Our vision when we founded Epiphany Dermatology was to build a destination for the top dermatology providers. Our partnership with CI Capital will allow us to continue on this path for years to come."

"We are committed to building Epiphany Dermatology responsibly and with both our patients and doctors in mind," said Dr. Cary Dunn, Chief Medical Officer of Epiphany Dermatology. "Together with CI Capital, the company has already formed an independent Medical Advisory Board, comprised of leading dermatologists that will provide clinical guidance and encourage the highest industry standards. We look forward to CI Capital's support in other areas as we bring dermatology services to a greater number of patients."

Tim Hall, Managing Director at CI Capital said, "CI Capital has a long history of investing in fragmented markets within healthcare services. We believe that Gheorghe, Dr. Dunn and the rest of the Epiphany team have built an attractive platform company, and we look forward to assisting them to pursue their goal of strategic expansion."

About Epiphany Dermatology

Epiphany Dermatology currently operates seven general dermatology and skin cancer clinics in Central Texas. The company was founded in 2015 with the goal of improving access to high quality patient care.

About CI Capital Partners

CI Capital Partners LLC, a leading North American private equity firm with $1.9 billion in assets under management, has been investing in middle-market companies since 1993. Since inception, CI Capital and its portfolio companies have made over 190 acquisitions representing approximately $8 billion in enterprise value. CI Capital's existing portfolio consists of companies that collectively generate annual revenue of over $2.5 billion and annual EBITDA of approximately $300 million and employ over 9,000 people.

Media Contact

Daniel Yunger

Kekst

212.521.4800

SOURCE CI Capital Partners
SAN FRANCISCO, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr School is one of the most energy efficient schools in the country. Although providing a safe and productive learning environment was the paramount goal of the project, energy efficiency and energy conservation were areas of intense focus during the planning. The 600 kilowatt solar PV system with Sunpreme Bifacial Panels was commissioned in Q2 2016. It is one of the largest school rooftops bifacial PV deployment. Sunpreme offers high performance panels with advanced bifacial technology -- that allows PV panels to absorb light from both sides, increasing energy yield (kWh per kWp) further. The system will do more than just help the school control its electric bill  it will provide a centerpiece to the holistic approach of environmental stewardship and contribute to the school's LEED platinum certification.

Sunpreme Bifacial PV Panels Installed at MLK School in Cambridge, MA.

"There was only one panel design capable of meeting the energy production requirements within the constraints of available rooftop space, timeframe and cost efficiencies required for MLK School. We chose Sunpreme Bifacial Panels for their smart technical solution and higher energy production, proven product reliability and outstanding aesthetics. Over 1,500 panels of Sunpreme Maxima GxB370, 72 Cell with bifacial advantage  were installed to meet the project requirements. Sunpreme has demonstrated that it is a reliable partner, with innovative products and truly professional customer support," said Stuart Rentz, CivicSolar's President.

"We at Sunpreme are proud to partner with CivicSolar and the MLK School in Cambridge, MA on this large rooftop PV plant, a benchmark in a sophisticated urban setting. Our Bifacial panels are among the most powerful available, delivering space-effective as well as cost-effective solutions to the distributed power market. Building up on a strong foundation of designed-in Quality, we leverage our proprietary Hybrid Cell Technology for Performance, and an innovative lean manufacturing process for Cost," said Ashok Sinha, Sunpreme's Chairman and CEO.

"We are privileged to have partnered with CivicSolar in making Sunpreme GxB370 Bifacial panels available to prestigious MLK School. It is extremely rewarding to enable significant operational savings and significantly lower carbon footprint while inspiring students with the great solar power," said Surinder S. Bedi, Executive Vice President, Global Quality & Reliability, System Products and Market Development at Sunpreme. "Sunpreme has historically offered one of the most reliable solar panels  certified to withstand challenging environmental solutions ranging from extreme hot to cold, snow load, hail stones and wind resistance. By focusing on smart technologies we are able to deliver best designed bifacial panels, outstanding system performance and lifetime yields -- with Lowest Cost per kWh. We look forward to continuing to provide a top quality product and best-in-class customer experience," added Bedi.

About CivicSolar:

CivicSolar distributes a full range of solar equipment to provide customers with everything needed to easily and cost-effectively sell and install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. CivicSolar serves over 3,500 contractors throughout the United States, Caribbean and Latin America. The CivicSolar works hard to empower solar installers by delivering quality equipment, engineering, financing, and competitive pricing for every job. CivicSolar strives to accelerate the adoption of solar power by raising the bar in solar equipment distribution through reliability, efficiency and responsiveness. Dedicated team members continuously meet the unique needs of our customers from offices in Oakland, Boston and Austin,TX. For more information, visit civicsolar.com.

About Sunpreme Inc.

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Sunpreme is a global solar photovoltaic company that designs, develops and manufactures its proprietary HCT which delivers the best cost performance value to clean-tech customers, worldwide. Sunpreme provides the world's most powerful Bifacial and Smart Panels with STC outputs of 310W - 500W based on a patented HCT platform. With 7 of top 10 rankings among thin-film PV products, Sunpreme solutions are deployed across the US, including Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaiian Islands, Massachusetts, Puerto Rico, Utah, Vermont, and worldwide, in Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Ecuador, Fiji, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, the Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey and UK. For more information, visit: www.sunpreme.com. Contact Samantha Lam, [email protected].

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160620/381264

SOURCE Sunpreme, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.sunpreme.com


EUGENE, Ore., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- College Choice (http://www.collegechoice.net/), an independent college search and rankings website, has published a ranking of the top fifty online bachelor's degrees in accounting in the United States (http://www.collegechoice.net/rankings/best-online-accounting-schools-2016/).

Auburn University, Colorado State University, Old Dominion University, Indiana State University, and University of Maryland University occupy the top five spots on the list, which is based on factors such as cost of attendance, each program's reputation in its field, and return on investment. Other schools include Missouri Southern State University, University of Massachusetts, Penn State University, Southern Illinois University, and Florida International University.

Robert Hand, lead editor for the ranking, explains College Choice's ranking further. "All businesses, regardless of type or scale, have one thing in common by definition: they all have to manage finances. For students who are looking for a field that is both popular and highly in demand in both the business world and beyond, accounting studies are a smart choice. For those already in a career but looking to move to the field of accounting or to take the next step in their accounting career, we have provided the best online options, which provide the flexibility of schedule to fit into your already busy life."

The complete ranking, listed in alphabetical order, is as follows:

American Public University System, Charles Town, WV

Auburn University, Auburn, AL

Baker College Flint, Flint, MI

Bellevue University, Bellevue, NE

Brandman University, Irvine, CA

Brenau University, Gainesville, GA

Brescia University, Owensboro, KY

Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, IA

California Baptist University, Riverside, CA

Chadron State College, Chadron, NE

City University of Seattle, Seattle, WA

Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

Columbia College, Columbia, MO

Concordia University St. Paul, St. Paul, MN

Culver-Stockton College, Canton, MO

DeVry University, Phoenix, AZ

Florida International University, Miami, FL

Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL

Gardner-Webb University, Boiling Springs, NC

Granite State University, Rochester, NH

Grantham University, Lenexa, KS

Herzing University, Milwaukee, WI

Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN

Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, IN

Jones International University, Centennial, CO

Keystone College, La Plume, PA

Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, MO

New England College, Henniker, NH

Northeastern University, Boston, MA

Northwest Christian University, Eugene, OR

Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA

Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA

Penn State University, University Park, PA

Peirce College, Philadelphia, PA

Post University, Waterbury, CT

Rasmussen College, Maitland, FL

Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA

Saint Joseph's College of Maine, Standish, ME

Saint Leo University, St. Leo, FL

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Terre Haute, IN

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL

Southern New Hampshire University, Hooksett, NH

The state University of New York, New York, NY

Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN

Thomas Edison State College, Trenton, NJ

University of Maryland University College, Baltimore, MD

University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA

University of Memphis, Memphis, TN

University of Minnesota Crookston, Crookston, MN

Western Governors University, Salt Lake City, UT

College Choice is a leading authority in college and university rankings and resources dedicated to helping students and their families find the right college. The site publishes rankings and reviews that make finding the best colleges for different interests easier and more fun, as well as resources to help students get into, pay for, and thrive at the college of their choice.

Contact:

Christian Amondson

Managing Editor, College Choice

Web: http://collegechoice.net

Email

Phone: (541) 255-3801

SOURCE College Choice

Related Links

http://www.collegechoice.net


UPS Chairman and CEO David Abney served as the Honorary Conference Chair. UPS Chief Information Officer Juan Perez was the Keynote Speaker.

The Coca-Cola Company, Nissan, SunTrust Bank and UPS were the Corporate Host Co-Chairs. Ampcus and Softpath System were the Asian American Business Co-Chairs. PepsiCo and Wells Fargo were the Legacy Co-Chairs.

"We are proud to have brought CelebrAsian to Atlanta, Georgia  home to a dynamic and fast-growing Pan Asian American business community, and major hub to some of the best-known global brands and Fortune powerhouses," said Susan Au Allen, USPAACC National President & CEO.

"We could not have presented a Conference of this magnitude, breadth, and substance without the strong support of our Southeast Chapter and its Board Members, our Brain Trusts, Corporate and Asian American sponsors, and all those who continue to believe and support USPAACC's mission of creating economic parity, inclusion, and minority business growth in the mainstream," Allen added.

The Conference program  designed to inform, educate, create procurement opportunities and propel job growth  included the Chief Procurement Officers Forum, Networking with CPOs, CTO/CIO Forum, Ideas Marketplace: What's Your Pitch? competition, Fast 100 Asian American Business Awards, Doing Business in the Healthcare Industry, Doing Business with Financial Services Companies, Grow Your Business with Google, Asian American Chambers Summit, Wells Fargo Under 40 Millionaire Entrepreneurs Luncheon, Supplier Diversity Managers' Caucus, Business Leaders and Scholarship Awards Luncheon, Supplier Trade Fair, and USPAACC's signature prescheduled One-on-One Business Matchmaking Meetings.

The Excellence Award was presented to the leaders of the largest national supplier diversity organizations  Nat'l Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), U.S. Black Chambers (USBC), and Nat'l Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)  to honor their courage and resolve as they enter a new level of growth in diversity and inclusion for their respective constituency.

The Corporation of the Decade Award was presented to Wells Fargo for their continued support of USPAACC's mission and programs, as well as for their steadfast commitment in ensuring the robust growth and success of the Asian American business community.

The conference theme "Today's Vision, Tomorrow's Reality: Cheers to the Next 30 Years!" reflected the power of transformative ideas that entrepreneurs envision and the promise of a new and boundless horizon as they work hard to realize their dreams.

In three days, CelebrAsian brought together over 800 participants, who came in full force from all over the country, including 94 corporations and 22 government agencies. Over 500 pre-scheduled one-on-one business matchmaking meetings were held between buyers and suppliers, across various industries, and with over 50 commodities to be purchased in the next 12-18 months.

To learn more, visit uspaacc.com or celebrasianconference.com

Media Inquiries: J.P. Torres / [email protected] / (202) 378-1125

ABOUT USPAACC : Founded in 1984 as a national non-profit non-partisan organization, USPAACC has been the single unified voice advocating equal opportunities for Pan Asian Americans in the United States. We promote and propel economic growth by opening doors to business, educational and professional opportunities for Pan Asian Americans and their business partners in major corporations, government at federal, state, and local levels, and small/minority communities. USPAACC serves as the gateway to Pan Asian American suppliers, information about Pan Asian Americans and the dynamic Asia-Pacific and Indian Subcontinent markets.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160620/381128

SOURCE US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation

Related Links

http://www.uspaacc.com


Mark Evans, 23-year Air Force Veteran

Leland Boyles , ten-year Army Veteran

, ten-year Army Veteran Bryan Walk , eight-year Navy Veteran

, eight-year Navy Veteran Dennis Hallowell , seven-year Marine Corps and Army Veteran

, seven-year Marine Corps and Army Veteran Timothy Williams , four-year Navy Veteran

, four-year Navy Veteran Robert St. John , four-year Marine Corps Veteran

Following the recognition of the new members of the Honored Veterans Fleet, C. R England Chairman Dan England presented Colonel Halvorsen with the first C.R. England Honored Veteran Award. England noted that this award would be presented at future current or past members of the United States Military recognizing extraordinary service to the country.

After WWII, Halvorsen flew in the Berlin Airlift. During the 15-month airlift (Operation Vittles), American and British pilots delivered more than two million tons of supplies to the city. But it was Halvorsen's decision to airdrop candy to children (Operation Little Vittles) that clinched an ideological battle and earned him the lasting affection of a free West Berlin. Today, Halvorsen is affectionately known by Berliners and many around the world as the Candy Bomber ("Rosinenbomber"), Uncle Wiggly Wings ("Onkel Wackelflugel") and the Chocolate Pilot. Much of the candy dropped was provided by The Hershey Company. The blockade of Berlin began in June 1948 and ended in May 1949. Flights continued until September 30, 1949 to build up reserves.

Katie Freisen, Senior Director, Global Distribution & Transportation represented The Hersey Company and presented Colonel Halvorsen, the new Honored Veterans Drivers and those in attendance with Hershey candy bars. Hershey was a significant contributor of candy airdropped by the Candy Bomber.

About Colonel Halvorsen

Gail Halvorsen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 10, 1920 and grew up on small farms in Utah and Idaho. He earned a private pilot license under the non-college Civilian Pilot Training Program in September 1941. Almost concurrently Halvorsen joined the Civil Air Patrol as a pilot. He joined the United States Army Air Corps in June 1942. Halvorsen's fighter pilot training was with the Royal Air Force after which he was returned to the Army Air Corps and was assigned flight duty in foreign transport operations in the South Atlantic Theater. Visit http://wigglywings.weebly.com

About C.R. England

Founded in 1920, C.R. England, Inc. corporate headquarters are located in Salt Lake City, Utah and is one of North America's largest refrigerated transportation companies. C.R. England services include National, Mexico and Regional Truckload service in addition to Dedicated and Intermodal services. Visit www.crengland.com.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160619/381013

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160619/381014

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150930/272369LOGO

SOURCE C.R. England, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.crengland.com


NEW YORK, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Deloitte announced today that it has acquired substantially all the assets of Casey Quirk, the world's largest strategy consultancy devoted exclusively to serving the asset management industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Casey Quirk by Deloitte

The move combines the strengths and global reach of Deloitte, a leader in business transformation ranked number one in global strategy and operations consulting, with Casey Quirk, a leader in asset management strategy that has served a majority of the world's 50 largest asset managers. The Casey Quirk partners and existing team will transition to Deloitte and will now operate under the "Casey Quirk by Deloitte" brand.

"This combination brings together capabilities to help our clients drive transformational change across their organizations," said Joe Guastella, U.S. financial services consulting leader, Deloitte Consulting LLP. "Together, we are positioned to work with our clients in responding to the range of quickly emerging, evolving and complex challenges, including globalization, innovation, competition and, most importantly, shifts in investor requirements."

Additional challenges such as fee pressure, industry consolidation, technology disruption, increased regulation and the rise of individual investors are creating unprecedented change in the global asset management industry. With an array of consulting services from strategy formulation through operational execution, Casey Quirk by Deloitte will offer one of the most complete sets of end-to-end consulting services available to asset management organizations.

"Casey Quirk is joining forces with Deloitte to broaden our global financial services footprint and deliver differentiated execution capabilities for our clients," said Kevin P. Quirk, chairman, Casey Quirk. "This combination provides an unparalleled value proposition to the marketplace."

"Casey Quirk has more than doubled its staff in the past three years and opened offices in Hong Kong and New York. Joining Deloitte is an optimal choice to help us maintain our tremendous growth," said Yariv Itah, managing partner, Casey Quirk. "We also believe this creates a superior career platform for our talented team."

"This is the latest in a string of strategic acquisitions Deloitte Consulting has made in recent years to continue helping our clients solve their most complex business challenges," said Janet Foutty, chairman and CEO, Deloitte Consulting LLP. "Casey Quirk's deep strategy expertise, leading research and recognized talent in the asset management consulting space will bring even more value to the trusted relationships Deloitte has with our financial services clients."

About Deloitte Consulting LLP

Deloitte helps organizations grow their businesses and enhance value by identifying actionable insights. More than 23,000 professionals provide a broad range of capabilities across human capital, strategy and operations, innovation and technology that are aligned to the particular needs of specific sectors, businesses and organizations. Deloitte provides clients with leading business insights that can help generate a tangible and measurable impact.

About Casey, Quirk & Associates LLC

Established in 2002, Casey Quirk is a management consultancy that focuses solely on advising asset management firms. Casey Quirk's work with senior leadership teams includes broad business strategy reviews, investment positioning and strategy consulting, market opportunity evaluations, organizational design, ownership and incentive structuring, and transaction due diligence. With a team of highly experienced professionals located in Darien, Conn., Hong Kong and New York, Casey Quirk has advised a majority of the 50 largest asset management organizations worldwide, including eight of the top 10. For more information please visit www.caseyquirk.com.

As used in this document, "Deloitte" means Deloitte Consulting LLP, a subsidiary of Deloitte LLP. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Deloitte LLP is the U.S. member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee ("DTTL"). DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL does not provide services to clients. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a more detailed description of DTTL and its member firms. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

Deloitte member firms were ranked number one in global strategy and operations consulting by revenue by ALM Intelligence (formerly Kennedy) in the Global Consulting Market Index 2015:  2015 ALM Media Properties, LLC. The ALM Intelligence ranking of Deloitte used in this document refers to the globally connected network of member firms of DTTL.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160614/379251LOGO

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160617/380780LOGO

SOURCE Deloitte Consulting LLP

Related Links

http://www.deloitte.com


SINGAPORE, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Singapore Dragonfly Fintech (DF), clinched a deal today to power Metro Money Exchange, a Malaysian licensed wholesale and money remittance company using the NEM's Blockchain Technology. The payment and settlement solution will be implemented in partnership with BC Fintech Sdn Bhd, a Dragonfly system integrator.

The solution will drive the entire remittance chain, from wholesale foreign exchange to the receipt of fiat money at the recipient's end. The remittance market in Malaysia is about $10 billion per annum.

"It is about transforming the money remittance space and repositioning the service as a platform business allowing near frictionless participation," said Lon Wong, CEO, Dragonfly Fintech.

This solution is also applicable to banks, and they are very positive about this solution. Banks are meticulously working through their processes to ensure stakeholder concerns and needs are addressed before embarking on such a project. Dragonfly will continue to work closely with its clients in supporting their decision-making needs.

While working through the decision-making process with banks, Dragonfly is also taking a parallel approach by powering money remittance companies. Later, this can be integrated with other financial institutions into a huge ecosystem. The use of Dragonfly's platform will ensure compliance to regulatory requirements with a more robust approach in security, efficiency, cost, and most importantly, introducing a paradigm shift in providing services.

The solution platform does not infringe into the traditional regulatory requirements such as compliance, governance, AML, and KYC. They are still very much the responsibility of the licensed entity and is business as usual. What the platform solution provides is an enablement for the licensed entity to manage all its individual customers' transactions, leaving the licensed entity to manage the wholesale forex and treasury function separately.

The solution also allows each licensed entity to operate its services in an independent private chain. At an opportune time, these entities can opt into the ecosystem while still having the autonomy.

"We have been ahead of the pack and painstakingly designed this solution for the last 3 years. With a proven solution, we are able to demonstrate a world's first in setting the standards right, i.e., establish one's autonomous private chain and then integrate with the larger, massive network of financial institutions, transacting potentially hundreds of thousands of Tx/s at the system level, all on the blockchain while maintaining independence. This remittance service is only one part of a spectrum of solutions Dragonfly is providing, which includes enabling a country to issue its own sovereign digital money," Wong said.

The impact of the services will include meaningful reduction in transaction cost, faster transactions, complete audit trail, and reconciliation of balances, thereby providing an alternative to current de facto messaging method.

At some point in time, this service will be extended downstream to include mobile payments, debit card functionality, as well as ATM functionality. This is made possible because of the ubiquity and expansiveness of the platform solution. Driven by a core blockchain solution, Dragonfly's offer is an ecosystem for the financial system, from central banks to the consumer, coupling them seamlessly, and directly.

About Dragonfly Fintech

Dragonfly Fintech Pte Ltd is a Singapore-incorporated financial technology company. It is a pioneering leading edge blockchain platform solution provider for a financial ecosystem, including for the payment, clearing, and settlement sector. The founder is Lon Wong, a serial technopreneur, and inventor of a patent-pending fintech business method. Lon Wong is a core team member of the open source NEM blockchain technology project initiative.

Link: http://www.dfintech.com

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE Dragonfly Fintech

Related Links

www.dragonflypay.com


NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The 7th annual Community Needs Evaluation from Metro Social Services in Nashville reported drug overdoses surpassed murder, suicide and motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of death in Tennessee, with more than 1,100 in 2013 alone.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160619/380988

So Drug-Free South hit the streets to distribute copies of the The Truth About Marijuana booklet to people heading for the Country Music Association Music Festival this past weekend. Hundreds of copies of the booklet were distributed by the Tennessee chapter of the Los Angelesbased Foundation for a Drug-Free World (FDFW).

Brian Fesler, regional coordinator for FDFW and pastor of the Church of Scientology Nashville, said, "We are changing lives. Each person to receive this booklet could be a person saved from a lifetime of suffering and addiction."

The Truth About Drugs booklets cover all basic effects of the most commonly abused drugs, their common street names, and how to recognize when a dealer is trying to persuaded you to experiment with a drug. To learn more or order booklets, visit drugfreesouth.org.

Related Images

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This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. For more info visit: http://www.newswire.com.

SOURCE Drug-Free South
LONDON, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

Akari is a biopharmaceutical company advancing the clinical development of Coversin, a complement inhibitor derived from the saliva of a species of tick. Coversin shares a mechanism of action with the $2.59bn drug Soliris (Alexion, 2015 sales), and the company will be seeking approval for the same ultra-rare autoimmune hemolytic disorders as Soliris, as well as two other immune disorders without current treatments. The drug is currently in a dose ranging study and has successfully stabilized a Soliris-resistant PNH patient in a Phase II trial. Akari plans to initiate three Phase II programs in 2016. We currently value Akari at $23.17 per ADS.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130417/608168 )



Using a risk-adjusted NPV analysis, we value Akari at $273m or $23.17 per ADS. We attribute approximately half of this valuation to the PNH program because of the established mechanism and substantial established market. We predict that the company will need $180m in additional funding before profitability in 2020. Currently all programs are modelled with a low success probability, but we expect to update our valuations following increased human data from clinical trials.

Click here to view the full report.

All reports published by Edison are available to download free of charge from its website http://www.edisoninvestmentresearch.com.

About Edison: Edison is an international equity research firm with a team of over 110 analysts, investment and roadshow professionals and works with both large and smaller capitalised companies, blue chip institutional investors, wealth managers, private equity and corporate finance houses to support their capital markets activity. Edison provides services to more than 420 retained corporate and investor clients from offices in London, New York, Frankfurt, Sydney and Wellington. Edison is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Edison is not an adviser or broker-dealer and does not provide investment advice. Edison's reports are not solicitations to buy or sell any securities.

Contact details: Learn more at http://www.edisongroup.com and connect with Edison on:

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For more information please contact:

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SOURCE Edison Investment Research
      :     ;              
SAN ANTONIO, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Execupay, the leading privately-owned provider of HR and payroll services and software, has selected FinFit, a nationwide leader in employee financial wellness, to provide a comprehensive suite of offerings to business owners that will assist their employees in achieving financial health and well-being. According to Forbes, employees spend 1-4 hours per week dealing with financial challenges while at work. This distraction, and the stress created by financial challenges, is a hidden cost and results in productivity loss to businesses. With FinFit, Execupay will provide the leading solution in Financial Wellness to their clients.

With FinFit, employees can conveniently access financial wellness tools and resources at their own convenience 24/7. A quick financial assessment customizes the content for members, guiding them to the content they need most. This gives users an overall financial picture. In addition, FinFit's Financial Dashboard allows them to link all of their financial accounts, including checking and savings accounts, mortgage and auto loans, credit cards, and even investment accounts. Users simply set their monthly budgeted amount for each spending category and the dashboard will automatically organize and categorize their spending. This combines education and practical tools that help employees master their finances, which in turn can reduce employee stress and improve their focus at work and at home.

Because financial challenges happen, FinFit makes short-term loans available to employees based upon their employment, providing a better option than traditional short-term lenders. This relieves employers and employees of the burden of using 401(k) loans or other undesirable alternatives. It also helps keep employees out of the grasp of predatory lenders.....all at zero risk to the employers.

"FinFit is excited to be joining forces with an industry leader like Execupay. Together, we will improve their clients' organizations by allowing employees to take part in the largest and most comprehensive financial wellness platform in the United States today. Developing behaviors to meet long-term financial goals while solving everyday emergencies is critical to employee stability, both at work and at home. As an industry and thought leader for their clients today, Execupay once again is leading the charge on offering their clients unique and affordable solutions to improve their organizations," said David Kilby, President of FinFit.

Both Execupay and FinFit believe that expertly executed workplace Financial Fitness programs provide the most positive impact on employees' health and performance. Execupay is best known for combining experience with today's technology to bring innovation to payroll and human resources, making enterprise-level features available for the first time to small and mid-market businesses. This innovation, coupled with financial wellness offerings, empowers their clients and allows them to focus on taking care of their employees while simultaneously growing their business.

"We are excited to be able to offer a solution to our customers that will help improve the financial wellness of their employees. Improving an employee's financial wellness can make them a happier, less stressed, and more productive employee. Few solutions have such an impact on a business," said Gerald Stowers of Execupay.

About Execupay

Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, Execupay has been a leading provider of Human Capital Management services and solutions since 1974, covering payroll, time and labor management, talent acquisition, talent management, and HR management to thousands of companies of all sizes throughout the United States and over 25 other countries. The company also licenses payroll service software and offers private-label partnership opportunities. Execupay strives to combine our vast experience with today's technology to bring innovation to payroll and human resources, making enterprise-level features available for the first time to small and mid-market businesses. This innovation, coupled with world-class customer service, empowers our clients and allows them to focus on growing their business. For additional information, call us at (210) 366-9511 or visit www.execupay.com.

About FinFit

Founded in 2008, FinFit is a no-liability voluntary benefit for employers throughout the United States. During a time of great financial stresses in the workforce, FinFit developed a means by which today's employees can use their job to gain financial knowledge and also access high-quality credit services. Today, FinFit is serving tens of thousands of employees, which allows their members to become better contributors in the workforce by eliminating the stresses associated with various financial challenges, while accessing credit solutions that are responsible and affordable. FinFit Loans are issued by Celtic Bank, a Utah-Chartered Industrial Bank, Member FDIC.

SOURCE FinFit

Related Links

http://www.FinFit.com


Firm Chairman and Managing Partner Roger Quillen said: "Employers will benefit from the unique experience and expertise that the professionals at Foundations HR Consulting bring after years of working in Toyota. These consultants have built their practice on a strong foundation, and deep knowledge of legal, labor and employment issues."

Quillen said that any employer will be able to maximize its organization's staff performance in a lean business environment when applying the steps outlined by Foundations HR Consulting. "Employers can achieve positive results when applying the practices that Carol and Stef have developed."

Kiyoshi (Nate) Furuta, retired Chairman and CEO of Toyota Boshoku America, states that he was proud to work with Carol Sampson through her career with Toyota and was impressed by her commitment to fostering programs that balanced the needs of the company with the needs of the employees; programs built on mutual trust, teamwork, cooperation and continuous improvement. Furuta was Executive Coordinator, Human Resources, and a member of the management committee of Toyota Motor Manufacturing, USA, Toyota's first wholly-owned assembly plant in North America, when he hired Ms. Sampson.

"Very early in her career, I realized that she truly understood the impact positive employee relations have on the success of a business," Furuta said. He further stated that after a long and successful career with Toyota, he is "excited that Carol will now have the opportunity to share her first-hand experience with other companies."

Carol Sampson has implemented lean Human Resources programs that have ensured stable and positive employee relations at Toyota's North American manufacturing facilities. Her experience included working with experts in the Toyota Production System, and she has used this expertise to counsel suppliers and other Fortune 500 companies.

Sampson has more than 30 years of practical work experience at three automotive manufacturers, a Human Resources degree, and the experience gained from being a small business owner that she will bring to her clients as they partner with her to form their own foundation of positive employee relations.

Sampson has a Master's Degree in Industrial Relations and a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Alabama, where she graduated magna cum laude.

Stephanie Prewitt has partnered with Human Resources executives to implement systems and processes that are not only legally sound, but also further the principles of lean business operations. Much of her experience has been with Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. where she served as Assistant General Counsel.

For nearly 20 years, Prewitt has counseled Human Resource Departments on labor and employment matters and has specialized in disability and medical management issues. Prewitt's experience at Toyota also included legal oversight of numerous plant start-ups, systemic investigations, voluntary termination programs, and extensive training and development programs.

She earned her law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law and graduated, magna cum laude from Duke University.

The professionals with Foundations Human Resources Consulting will help employers with a variety of issues, including:

Developing Positive Employee Relations

Strategic Planning

Communications, Culture and Change Management

Morale Management Initiatives

Compliance

There will be five human resources consulting professionals in the new organization.

Sampson said: "We know the people at Fisher Phillips through the work they do with Toyota. They have the same commitment to developing the solid HR foundations that are important to successful organizations. It is so exciting to have the opportunity to partner with them in this venture."

Prewitt added: "The best-run organizations understand the importance of sound employee relations, communications and compliance. Toyota set a high bar and we want to help other companies implement positive programs."

You can read more about Foundations Human Resources Consulting on the company's website at www.FoundationsHR.com.

About Fisher Phillips (www.fisherphillips.com)

Fisher Phillips attorneys are ready to help you take a stand: in court, with employees and unions, or with competitors. Fisher Phillips has the experience and resolve to back you up. That's why some of the savviest employers come to the firm to handle their toughest labor and employment cases.

The firm has 350 attorneys in 32 offices. The offices are in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbia, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Gulfport, Houston, Irvine, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, New Jersey, New Orleans, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington, D.C.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160616/380415

SOURCE Fisher Phillips

Related Links

http://www.foundationshr.com


NEW YORK, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

According to market research "Global Pigment Market Size, Share, Development, Growth and Demand Forecast to 2022 - Industry Insights by Type (Inorganic, Organic, Others), by Application (Paint & Coatings, Construction, Ink & Varnish, Automotive, Plastics , Others)" by P&S Market Research, the global pigment market was valued at $1,7587.6 million in 2015, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% during 2016 - 2022.

P&S Market Research Logo (PRNewsFoto/P&S Market Research)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150727/756778 )

The major factors driving the growth of the market globally include rapid industrialization and growing infrastructure development, majorly in Asia-Pacific and developing economies. Asia-Pacific is anticipated to create significant growth opportunities for the growth of the global pigment market. The significant growth of the paint & coating, print & ink industries, automotive and others in the region is driving the demand of pigments. The continuous investment in these industries and technological developments is also expected to drive the demand for pigments in Asia-Pacific. The growing demand for organic pigments, cosmetics, along with increasing end user industry is further expected to boost the growth of the pigment market during the forecast period.

Explore Full Market Research Report on "Global Pigment Market" at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/pigments-market

Based on type, the global pigment market has been segmented into inorganic pigments, organic pigments, and others which are further segmented into their subtypes. The inorganic segment accounted for the largest market share among the other types in the global pigments market in 2015. The major factors driving the growth of the inorganic color pigments consumption include growth in urbanization, developing new application areas for paints and coatings, building materials, and plastics. The pigment market is anticipated to witness major growth in developing countries, owing to rise in income levels. The increasing environmental awareness of organic pigments is slowly replacing the share of inorganic pigment market. The consumers are looking at eco-friendly products, along with enhanced properties and effect that can be achieved even at the cost of higher prices.

In 2015, Asia-Pacific held the largest share in the global pigment market with 38.6% share in terms of value and 38.3% in terms of volume. The rapid urbanization and growing industrial development are expected to be the factors contributing to the growth of the market particularly in China, India and Indonesia. North America is expected to witness steady growth, while Europe is expected to witness slow growth rate, owing to decline in infrastructure activities. Middle East & Africa is expected to grow significantly, owing to the rapid growing construction industry.

Explore More Reports Related to Chemicals: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/industry-report/chemicals-materials-and-energy

Some of the major competitors in the global pigment market include BASF SE E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Lanxess AG, Huntsman International LLC., Sun Chemical Corporation, Zhejiang Longsheng Group Co. Ltd., Clariant International Ltd., ECKART GmbH, Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co. Ltd., Kronos Worldwide Inc., and others.

GLOBAL PIGMENT MARKET SEGMENTATION

By Type

Organic pigment

Azo

Phthalocyanine

High Performance

Others

Inorganic Pigments

Titanium Dioxide

Carbon Black

Cadmium Pigments

Iron Oxide

Others

GEOGRAPHICAL SEGMENTATION

North America

U.S.

Canada

Rest of North America

Europe

Germany

U.K.

France

Spain

Italy

Russia

Rest Of Europe

Asia-Pacific

China

Japan

India

Rest of Asia-Pacific

Rest of the World

Middle-East

Africa

Others

Browse Other Published Reports by P&S Market Research

Global Paints and Coatings Market - https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/paints-and-coatings-market

Global Waste Heat Recovery Market - https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/waste-heat-recovery-market

Global Wind Tower Market - https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/wind-tower-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.

Contact:

Deep

Assistant - Client Partner

347, 5th Ave. #1402

New York City, NY - 10016

Toll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)

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Web: https://www.psmarketresearch.com

SOURCE P&S Market Research
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- G&W Laboratories today announced the appointment of Jay Galeota to the position of President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Galeota joins G&W following a 28-year career at Merck, where he was most recently Chief Strategy & Business Development Officer and President, Emerging Businesses. As President and Chief Operating Officer he will oversee all company business operations and will shape the company's long-term growth strategy. G&W's current President, Kurt Orlofski, will assume the newly-created role of President of Generics, where he will lead sales, marketing and commercialization of current and near-term generic products, a foundation for the company's long-term growth.

"Our past performance and vision for the future, coupled with our values-based approach to life and business, have helped us build a high-caliber senior team at G&W with the knowledge, experience and commitment to achieve our ambitious growth goals," said Dr. Aaron Greenblatt, CEO of G&W Laboratories. "Jay Galeota is an experienced global business leader with a track record of industry innovation and commercial success, who brings the expertise needed to build and scale our company for ever-increasing levels of growth, and most importantly he embodies values that are perfectly aligned with those of G&W. I want to sincerely thank Kurt Orlofski for his many significant contributions to G&W and his unwavering commitment to building the strong platform from which the company operates today. His in-depth industry knowledge and commercial skills have been and will continue to be of great value to us in his new role."

Since Carl Greenblatt founded G&W Laboratories in 1919, the company's focus has been on helping people realize their potential through development of reliable and effective medicines, caring for employees and the community, and generating value for the company's strategic partners.

"I am thrilled to join G&W, a leader in delivering high quality, hard-to-source generic pharmaceutical products to patients globally and look forward to expanding the portfolio into novel research-based medicines," said Mr. Galeota. "I have been impressed by G&W's high-performance culture and talented team, which drive the exceptional innovation they bring to the industry and uniquely position the company for success."

Prior to joining G&W Laboratories Mr. Galeota spent 28 years at Merck, where he served in many diverse positions across commercial operations, business development, strategy, and innovation, both globally and in the U.S. Most recently, he was Chief Strategy & Business Development Officer and President, Emerging Businesses at Merck. Prior to that he was President of Hospital & Specialty Care, which represented more than $10 billion in worldwide revenues for the company. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President of Global Human Health Strategy and Business Development, where he helped establish Merck's Global Health Innovation Fund and the Innovative Venture Group to incubate businesses that broadened the company's portfolio and established leadership in key therapeutic areas and markets. Mr. Galeota was instrumental in bringing Merck into diabetes and led the team that developed and launched Merck's top grossing products, Januvia and Janumet. After the merger of Merck and Schering-Plough in 2009, he led the integration of the global pharmaceutical and vaccine businesses. Mr. Galeota started his career in Merck's commercial organization, where he held various U.S. and global leadership positions and led numerous brands and key product launches across a variety of therapeutic areas.

About G&W Laboratories

Carl Greenblatt founded G&W Laboratories, Inc. in 1919 upon his return from military service as a pharmacist with U.S. forces in World War I. While establishing a reputation as an innovative specialist in suppository dosage forms, Carl guided G&W Laboratories with an uncompromising commitment to product integrity and customer service. In 1945, Carl's son, Burton, also a registered pharmacist, returned from military service in World War II and joined the small but growing company.

During the post-war years, G&W expanded its product line beyond suppositories, into creams, ointments, gels, liquids, and oral medicines. G&W moved to a larger state-of-the-art laboratory and production facility, which now exceeds 180,000 square feet in South Plainfield, New Jersey. G&W has since added two additional facilities which have tripled its manufacturing footprint: a former Allergan plc facility in North Carolina and a former Teva Pharmaceuticals facility in Pennsylvania, adding to its broad portfolio and robust pipeline.

Burton passed the reins to his son, Ronald, who was CEO from 2009 until 2015, and remains Chairman of the Board, which named fourth-generation Aaron Greenblatt as CEO in 2015. Aaron continues to uphold the family and company legacy through his commitment to the company's ethical standards, values, and patient focus through this significant growth journey.

Continuing the high ethical standards, patient focus and goal of helping people realize their potential established by Carl and his son Burton, and carried forward by Ron and Aaron Greenblatt, G&W is still privately-held and family-owned and operated.

SOURCE G&W Laboratories, Inc.
DALLAS, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospice Pharmacy Solutions believes in hospice care and is doing its part in letting lawmakers know about this valuable service. HPS, a Dallas-based pharmacy benefit management service with programs specific to hospice providers, is supporting the hospice community by sponsoring the Hospice Action Network's (HAN) 2016 Advocacy Intensive, July 18 and 19, in Washington, D.C.

"HPS works hand-in-hand with hospice providers across the country," said Jack Sayler, HPS president. "We see the remarkable work delivered by hospice caregivers, and we're honored to be able to support those caregivers at this year's Advocacy Intensive."

The HAN Advocacy Intensive is an advocacy event for the hospice community, held annually in Washington, D.C. The event brings hospice caregivers together with members of Congress to effect change for the hospice community.

In 2015, more than 275 hospice advocates from 49 states and the District of Columbia represented the hospice community on Capitol Hill. While in Washington, D.C., hospice professionals will meet with members of Congress to discuss federal legislation that impacts hospice care, such as a proposed Medicare Advantage Hospice "Carve-in," the Care Planning Act and the Rural Access to Hospice Act. The event is free; however, lodging and transportation are not covered. HPS' sponsorship will provide scholarship funding for travel and hotel costs, which allows active hospice caregivers to attend the Advocacy Intensive.

In late 2015, HPS merged Sacramento-based Outcome Resources into its operation. Outcome Resources was HAN's first scholarship sponsor in 2013, and HPS is proud to continue this important support. HPS understands the unique role hospice provides in the healthcare continuum. "Hospice professionals have powerful stories of compassion and care," added Sayler. "HPS is proud to provide support so they can share those stories with our lawmakers."

ABOUT HOSPICE PHARMACY SOLUTIONS

Founded in 2004 and based in Dallas, Tex., Hospice Pharmacy Solutions gives hospice providers control over pricing, plan design and formularies with clinical services. HPS provides high-quality services, including automated CMS-required reports; and software interfaces to help clients deliver optimum end-of-life care through formulary management, education and reporting tools.

SOURCE Hospice Pharmacy Solutions
BERLIN, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei will keynote and showcase its innovative products and solutions at the second Open Platform for Network Function Virtualization (OPNFV) Summit, held from June 20-23 in Berlin, Germany. As a Platinum Sponsor at the Summit, Huawei will showcase its platform of all-cloud carrier network solutions.

On June 23, Forrest Lee, Director of OPNFV's Open Source Development Team (OSDT) at Huawei, will deliver a keynote speech about OPNFV for the all-cloud carrier network, which will focus on how to move from virtualization to full-scale cloudification, and how OPNFV can develop into a full-scale cloud platform. Lee will also provide detailed information on Huawei's plans for OPNFV.

"The OPNFV platform will play a key role in enabling the all-cloud carrier network, based on what richer network innovations will be expected," said Lee. "All-cloud carrier network will take the form of hardware resource pooling, an all-distributed system and complete automation. This is a resource that can be shared widely. The system will be highly scalable, elastic and extremely robust. The service deployment and provisioning, resource scheduling and fault management will be policy driven and fully automatic."

During the Summit, Huawei will demonstrate five NFV innovations that are targeted for commercial deployment including:

CloudEPC: Interoperability demo with WindRiver, Red hat, Ubuntu and VMware

Interoperability demo with WindRiver, Red hat, Ubuntu and VMware ONOS: SDN-based SFC Solution for Mobile Service Provider Edge

SDN-based SFC Solution for Mobile Service Provider Edge OPEN-O: Next Generation OSS Foundation for ICT Service Agility

Next Generation OSS Foundation for ICT Service Agility E9000 server: Best-in-class hardware platform for NFV

Best-in-class hardware platform for NFV CloudOpera IES: Assurance Enabling VoLTE Orchestration

Parallel to the Summit, Huawei will be a part of the ONOS and Open-O mini-Summit on June 20-21. Recently, Huawei proposed an Open-O project in the OPNFV community.

As a Platinum Sponsor and leading contributor at OPNFV, Huawei will be a part of multiple projects including:

Bottlenecks  an OPNFV performance testing project aimed to find system bottlenecks and verify OPNFV infrastructure before committing to a production environment.

 an OPNFV performance testing project aimed to find system bottlenecks and verify OPNFV infrastructure before committing to a production environment. Compass4nfv  one of the important OPNFV deployment tools is an important deployment tool for OpenStack.

 one of the important OPNFV deployment tools is an important deployment tool for OpenStack. Yardstick  an OPNFV project to verify the infrastructure compliance when running VNF applications.

 an OPNFV project to verify the infrastructure compliance when running VNF applications. DoveTail  a project that will define and provide a set of OPNFV validation criteria that will be executed to evaluate the use of OPNFV trademarks.

 a project that will define and provide a set of OPNFV validation criteria that will be executed to evaluate the use of OPNFV trademarks. ONOSFW  a project to integrate ONOS SDN controller within the OPNFV-defined NFVI and VIM framework, which aims to provide the end user and open source communities with greater flexibility to build service applications.

 a project to integrate ONOS SDN controller within the OPNFV-defined NFVI and VIM framework, which aims to provide the end user and open source communities with greater flexibility to build service applications. DOMINO  a project to help carriers distribute template across diffrent infrastructure domains based on global policies while leaving infrastructure domain-specific orchestrations to the local domains.

 a project to help carriers distribute template across diffrent infrastructure domains based on global policies while leaving infrastructure domain-specific orchestrations to the local domains. Opera  a project that addresses OPNFV MANO integration for generic VNFM with OPEN-O acting as a generic NFVO to support cloudification of OSS/BSS.

Huawei open source experts have fulfilled a wide range of important positions such as board member, technical steering committee member and project leader. It has more than 70 committers and over 30 active developers, who are playing a critical role in developing the OPNFV ecosystem. The company also backed two OPNFV testing labs to the OPNFV communityone in Xi'an, China, and the other in Santa Clara, California. Both labs play an important part in OPNFV release development and testing within a sustainable environment.

In the first OPNFV Interoperability Plugfest, held by CableLabs in May, Huawei's E9000 Converged Infrastructure Blade Server, Fusionsphere Cloud Operating System, and CloudEPC, were used with ONOSFW. As a key contributor of Functest and Yardstick testing suits in the Plugfest, Huawei shared its testing solutions based on Yardstick and provided technical support throughout the event.

OPNFV's second release, Brahmaputra (B), was published on March 1.This release focused on delivering lab-ready reference platforms by working with different ecosystems in the industry, that allowed vendors and carriers to verify the NFV concept. Compared to the Arno (A) release, with the second release there has been a significant increase in the number of upstream communities, participating projects, code authors, supporting labs, and commits. As OPNFV matures, collaborating upstream is improving NFV integration and the testing experience.

As a leading ICT solution provider, Huawei values open source networking platforms, as it enables collaboration by industry partners and customers. Huawei has been an active player in more than 170 open source communities. In addition to OPNFV, Huawei is a platinum member of Linux Foundation, a gold member of OpenStack and CloudFoundry, and a founding member of ONOS.

About Huawei

Huawei is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. Our aim is to enrich life and improve efficiency through a better connected world, acting as a responsible corporate citizen, innovative enabler for the information society, and collaborative contributor to the industry. Driven by customer-centric innovation and open partnerships, Huawei has established an end-to-end ICT solutions portfolio that gives customers competitive advantages in telecom and enterprise networks, devices and cloud computing. Huawei's 170,000 employees worldwide are committed to creating maximum value for telecom operators, enterprises and consumers. Our innovative ICT solutions, products and services are used in more than 170 countries and regions, serving over one-third of the world's population. Founded in 1987, Huawei is a private company fully owned by its employees.

For more information, please visit Huawei online at www.usahuawei.com, www.huawei.com or follow us on:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/Huawei

http://www.twitter.com/Huawei

http://www.facebook.com/Huawei

http://www.google.com/+Huawei

http://www.youtube.com/Huawei

Media contacts:

Jannie Tong

(214) 919-6438

[email protected]

Jessica Dionne

FleishmanHillard for Huawei Technologies USA

(617) 692-0543

[email protected]

SOURCE Huawei

Related Links

http://www.huawei.com


NEW YORK, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This report examines a decade of lithium-ion batteries and beyond. It analyses needs, applications, technology, future winners, losers, alternatives, competition and profit with 10 year sales forecasts and 400+ suppliers' technology and applications listed. Their cost, safety and performance trade-off is unchallenged in an increasing number of large new applications including wearable electronics, land, water, airborne vehicles, buildings, off-grid power. Understand how flexible, stretchable, transparent and load-bearing versions will succeed.This report has over 170 detailed slide-format pages of new forecasts, analysis and infographics seeing the future with depth on technology trends, needs and market forecasts. The emphasis is almost entirely on the present and the future such as how parameters will improve and lower costs, new shapes and mechanical properties, improved safety and non-flammable non-toxic versions will open up new markets. Over 450 manufacturers are compared in chemistry, assembly and sales thrust. There is depth on the next technology breakthroughs such as silicon anodes. The key parts of recent presentations by all the key players are embedded in this work, almost entirely researched in 2016 by award winning PhD level IDTechEx analysts travelling worldwide. Interviews, IDTechEx databases, web searches and conference attendance were extensively used.



The structure of the report is a comprehensive Executive Summary and Conclusions with forecasts, issues, roadmaps etc. then Introduction looking at battery basics and lithium-ion in particular. An Applications chapter maps parameters and solutions with detail on the largest market of the coming decade - the trillion dollar electric vehicle business in 2026.



Subsequent chapters delve into the new characteristics needed and the technology to achieve them, notably "Li-ion for high energy density, low cost, long life" then "Li-ion becomes thin, flexible, stretchable". After that we look closely at, "Li-ion becomes non-flammable, non-toxic, structural" with some extra achievements such as transparency. Finally, the report has a unique new listing of over 450 manufacturers of Li-ion cells by country, anode, cathode, electrolyte, structure and application where data are established.



Some of the key findings that are detailed and explained are:



The main market value has recently changed to large versions and electric vehicles and this will continue. This creates a paradox where the number of manufacturers is proliferating past 450 but only a few can make relatively safe, acceptable, affordable large versions - the main market demand. This is because it is easy to make small versions of limited life using primitive factory conditions.



The Japanese and Koreans are named that control the key technology and, with the Chinese, the production. The Tesla Gigafactory using Japanese Panasonic Technology will exceed all this capacity but our calculations show that many gigafactories will be needed in the decade. We say who will build others. We explain why competitive advantage in Li-ion batteries will primarily be based on energy density, safety record, cost, production capacity and being in the protected large market of China. Competitive disadvantages are detailed. We explain which alternatives to Li-ion are strongest. We detail a feeding frenzy building up with purchasers coming from more widely afield in both territory and interest. We identify how successful niche players are proliferating and attracting bidders.

Read the full report: http://www.reportlinker.com/p03908924-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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ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- EAS Consulting Group, LLC (EAS) welcomes Washington, D.C-based attorney Bruce Silverglade to our network of over 150 of the industry's most experienced FDA regulatory consultants. He is the nucleus of a new strategic consulting service for product development and labeling that EAS will be launching this fall.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160620/381153

Mr. Silverglade is a nationally recognized expert in the field of nutrition labeling and related regulations pertaining to health and nutrition. He is currently a Principal at Olsson, Frank Weeda Terman Matz PC (OFW Law) and will serve as an Expert Consultant under contract to EAS by arrangement with the firm.

Prior to joining OFW Law, Mr. Silverglade was director of legal affairs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Bridging the gap between consumer organizations and the food industry, he organized a bipartisan effort that culminated in the enactment of the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990. More recently, Silverglade again worked with Mike Taylor (who served from 2009 to 2016 as FDA's Deputy Commissioner for foods) and his staff on FDA's new revisions of the agency's "Nutrition Facts" regulations.

Mr. Silverglade has extensive experience working with senior officials at FDA and USDA, as well as on the international level with the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the European Commission, as well as the Canadian, Australian and other governments. He speaks and lectures extensively on such issues and is quoted often in the media as a recognized expert in the field. In 2010, Mr. Silverglade was awarded the Food and Drug Law Institute's (FDLI) Distinguished Service and Leadership Award.

Mr. Silverglade received his BA, cum laude, in political science from the University of Illinois, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and his JD from Boston College Law School. He studied Law and Public Policy at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Media Contact:

Cathryn Sacra

571-447-5500

SOURCE EAS Consulting Group, LLC
The McCann Health network this year won five Lions (1 Gold Campaign, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze) and 22 Shortlist Awards, with the wins representing 12 McCann agencies on six continents.

Over the last six months, McCann Health has won multiple new assignments and expanded relationships across their integrated offering with existing clients such as Janssen, GlaxoSmithKline, Bayer, Teva, AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb.

Jeremy Perrott, McCann Health Global Chief Creative Officer, said, "The only way to win this award is when every agency in the network is performing at top level. This would not have been possible without our talented teams and our clients' terrific support and belief in our work around the world. I want to take this opportunity to personally thank everyone at McCann Health for their incredible energy and commitment to generating life-changing ideas that improve the health of humanity."

John Cahill, McCann Health Global CEO, added, "Groundbreaking creativity is at the heart of everything we do at McCann Health. I'm grateful for the trust that our clients put in us to bring this creativity to their brands and customers."

About McCann Health

Comprising the world's most connected community of health and wellness experts, McCann Health (www.mccannhealth.com) is the most awarded professional and consumer health communications network with the largest international expertise spanning 20 countries and 60 offices. McCann Health consists of three strong marketing communications global networks: McCann Torre Lazur, McCann Healthcare (professional) and McCann HumanCare (consumer health & wellness). Specialty units include McCann Echo (professional), McCann Global Health (public health), McCann Pharmacy Initiative, McCann Managed Markets, McCann Complete Medical, and [email protected] Health (market access, medical communications, strategic consultancy & research). McCann Health is a part of McCann Worldgroup and the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG).

About the 63rd Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, 18-25 June 2016, Cannes, France

Founded in 1954, Cannes Lions is an eight-day programme of creative inspiration, celebration, education and networking. Over 15,000 delegates from around 100 countries attend the Festival, making it the only truly global meeting-place for branded communications professionals to connect, share and discover.

Lions Health is dedicated to life-changing creativity, showcasing and inspiring ideas that transcend especially challenging boundaries. With insights from thought-leaders, marketers, specialists and scientists, Lions Health connects global healthcare and pharmaceutical professionals, allowing them to share successes, problem-solve and do business.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160619/380964

SOURCE McCann Health

Related Links

http://www.mccannhealthcareworldwide.com/


For only one more week, the Shakespeare Festival St. Louis will be hosting their Annual Shakespeare in the Park, a three-week carnival-like atmosphere held in Forest Park celebrating the Bards work.

This year, for the first time, the troupe will be repeating a favorite, A Midsummer Nights Dream.

This year will be our 16th season of Shakespeare in the Park, said Mary McHugh, the public relations manager for the festival. With the exception of New York City, we are one of the few cities that offer a free live performance.

Area residents can enjoy an evening under the stars watching a romantic comedy of errors played out by some of St. Louis best actors.

We come every year, said Shelly Andrews of Farmington, who was with her husband Bob during a recent performance. Its our yearly tradition.

Like the Andrews, an annual trip to Shakespeares Glen has become a tradition to many of those in attendance. For some it is a night out with the whole family or a chance to spend the evening with some close friends. For others it is a chance to spend an evening outside, in the park, watching great theater.

We have been coming for the last couple of years, said Deborah Clough, who was with her husband Garret. Its an evening outdoors. Its free and its fun to see how they set up the stage each year.

While other cities do have Shakespeare in the Park, what makes the St. Louis festival unique is most of the cast members and production members are local professionals.

Over two-thirds of our performers are St. Louis-based artists, said Artistic and Executive Director Rick Dildine. We are very proud to celebrate and collaborate with St. Louis actors.

According to Dildine, this years cast is no different, as 16 of the 22 actors in this years production are from St. Louis.

I think this appeals to our patrons, Dildine said. I think a lot of people really appreciate that fact.

The appeal of the annual production is quite obvious not only by the size of the audience each night, but by the amount of people who have watched a production since its inception.

Since we began in 2001 we have had over 670,000 in attendance, McHugh said. That is amazing.

McHugh credits their success to several factors ... from cast and crew to the short run of the production.

I think part of the appeal is because it is an outdoor festival and it is only here for a little over three weeks per year, McHugh said. Besides that, I think people come because of the great performances.

In addition to seeing a first-class production of one of Shakespeares plays, the audience is kept entertained beforehand by a host of other events as well.

Appearing nightly on the Lobby Stage at the entrance of the glen, guests are treated to Shakespeare Squadron: A Midsummer Nights Dream in 20 minutes. On Friday and Saturday evening Juggling Jeff makes his way through the crowd while various other artists perform as well.

This is the third time I have seen the show, said Mineral Area College theater student Jason Boes. A bunch of my friends are in the green show so I came down to see their show.

As the evening progresses, the grassy hillside in front of the main stage begins to fill with patrons. People spread out their blankets, fluff up pillows, enjoy a light fare and just relax and wait for the production to begin.

Whether it is a comedy, a tragedy or a history play, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis has left an indelible mark on the theater community. So load up the car, grab a blanket and experience Shakespeare in the park.

This years production runs through June 26 with the performance on the mainstage starting at 8 p.m. weather permitting. For more information contact Shakespeare Festival at SFSTL.com or call at 314-531-9800.
NEW YORK, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:BR) and PwC's Governance Insights Center today released their ProxyPulse report for the 2016 proxy mid-season analyzing data from 1,881 U.S. public company shareholder meetings held between January 1, 2016 and May 15, 2016.

The report revealed that say-on-pay support at micro-cap companies fell 10 percentage points from the same period last year, while small-cap companies saw a decrease in say-on-pay support of two percentage points from 2015 to 87 percent this year.

"Say-on-pay continues to foster discussion between companies of all sizes and their shareholders," said Chuck Callan, senior vice president, regulatory affairs, Broadridge.

Another finding in the report is that support for directors weakened over the same period last year. Although there were fewer directors standing for election, more directors failed to achieve majority support this year than last. Almost half of the companies that had at least one director fail to gain majority support last year also had a director fail to do so this year.

Proxy access continues to be a major theme this season. "So far this proxy season, over 30 shareholder proposals for proxy access came to a vote and more than half have failed to achieve majority support. Although overall support was slightly lower than last year, many companies have voluntarily adopted proxy access bylaws -- thereby averting a shareholder vote," said Paul DeNicola, managing director of PwC's Governance Insights Center.

The report also includes a preview of demographic data on US equity shareholders.

About ProxyPulse

ProxyPulse is based in part on Broadridge's processing of shares held in street name, which accounts for over 80 percent of all shares outstanding of U.S. publicly-listed companies. Shareholder voting trends during a proxy season represent a snapshot in time and may not be predictive of full-year results.

ProxyPulse is a collaboration between Broadridge, the leading provider of investor communication solutions for financial services firms, mutual funds and corporate issuers globally, and PwC's Governance Insights Center a group that supports directors and investors with governance knowledge to answer tough questions and tackle complex challenges. Visit ProxyPulse.com to access the full report.

About Broadridge

Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR) is the leading provider of investor communications and technology-driven solutions for broker-dealers, banks, mutual funds and corporate issuers globally. Broadridge's investor communications, securities processing and managed services solutions help clients reduce their capital investments in operations infrastructure, allowing them to increase their focus on core business activities. With over 50 years of experience, Broadridge's infrastructure underpins proxy voting services for over 90% of public companies and mutual funds in North America, and processes on average $5 trillion in equity and fixed income trades per day. Broadridge employs approximately 7,400 full-time associates in 14 countries.

For more information about Broadridge, please visit www.broadridge.com.

About PwC US

At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. We're a network of firms in 157 countries with more than 208,000 people who are committed to delivering quality in assurance, advisory and tax services. Find out more and tell us what matters to you by visiting us at www.pwc.com.

PwC refers to the PwC network and/or one or more of its member firms, each of which is a separate legal entity. Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details.

About PwC's Governance Insights Center

We support you with governance knowledge to answer tough questions and tackle complex challenges. Learn from our network of subject-matter experts, business leaders, and experienced peers as they share their insights and the latest thinking on current issues. Beyond governance, we help directors and investors alike better understand new financial accounting standards so they can make better oversight and investment decisions. You can count on us to help you connect all the dots for a more complete perspective  and step ahead with confidence. For more information about PwC's Governance Insights Center, please visit http://www.pwc.com/us/en/governance-insights-center

Media Contacts:

Jenna J. Focarino

+1-212-681-1700 ext.115

+1-845-893-7586 cell

[email protected]

Stephanie C. Corzett

PwC US

+1-617-530-4977

[email protected]

SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.broadridge.com


OSAKA, Japan, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC) (Head Office: Osaka; President & Representative Director, CEO: Masayuki Mitsuka), today announced that a New Drug Application has been submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for edaravone (MCI-186) for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a rapidly progressive neurological disease. As many as 30,000 Americans may be affected by ALS with more than 5,600 diagnosed annually.1

This submission is the Company's first step in accelerating its U.S. business development activities as part of its "Medium-Term Management Plan 16-20: Open up the Future." As part of this plan, the Company established MT Pharma America, Inc., to commercialize approved pharmaceutical products in the U.S. with plans to expand its product line through collaborations with partners.

ALS, sometimes called Lou Gehrig's disease, attacks the nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord responsible for controlling voluntary muscles, such as those needed to move, speak, eat and breathe.2,3 It is one of the most well-known neuromuscular diseases, affecting approximately two in 100,000 people worldwide.4,5 While it is inherited in 5%10% of cases, the cause for the majority of cases is not well understood but may involve genetic and environmental factors.6,7 There is currently no cure.7

"There is an urgent need for new treatment approaches that may affect the course of this devastating disorder," said Lucie Bruijn, PhD, MBA, Chief Scientist, The ALS Association. "The ALS Association is encouraged by the efforts of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma to make this drug available to people living with ALS in the U.S."

The edaravone NDA is supported by a clinical research program in patients diagnosed with ALS in Japan. In 2015, edaravone was approved for use as a treatment for ALS in Japan and South Korea. In the same year, the FDA and the European Commission granted Orphan Drug Designation for edaravone. It is not currently approved by the FDA for any use in the U.S.

((For Details, Contact the Following Section))

Corporate Communications Department

Tel +81-6-6205-5211

About Edaravone

Discovered by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, edaravone is described as a free radical scavenger that is believed to relieve the effects of oxidative stress, a likely factor in the onset and progression of ALS.4,8 Oxidative stress is thought to be an imbalance between the production of free radicals (unpaired, reactive electrons) and the ability of the body to counteract or detoxify their harmful effects.9 In patients with ALS, there are consistent increases in oxidative stress biomarkers.8

About MT Pharma America, Inc.

Based in Jersey City, NJ, MT Pharma America is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MTPC's 100% owned U.S. holding company, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Holdings America, Inc. MT Pharma America is dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that address the unmet medical needs of patients in the United States. For more information, go to www.mt-pharma-america.com .

About Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation is a research-driven pharmaceutical company with a Head Office based in Dosho-machi Osaka, the birthplace of Japan's pharmaceutical industry. As part of its "Medium-Term Management Plan 16-20: Open Up the Future," the company is focused on discovering drugs that address unmet medical needs in several priority disease areas, including autoimmune disorders, diabetes, kidney and central nervous system diseases and vaccines. Through this work, the company contributes to the healthier lives of people around the world. For more information, go to www.mt-pharma.co.jp/e.

1 ALS Association. Quick Facts about ALS. http://www.alsa.org/news/media/quick-facts.html Accessed May 26, 2016.

2 The Mayo Clinic. Diseases and Conditions: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis/basics/causes/con-20024397. Accessed May 17, 2016.

3 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Fact Sheet. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/amyotrophiclateralsclerosis/detail_ALS.htm. Updated March 14, 2016. Accessed May 17, 2016.

4 Nagase M, Yamamoto Y, Miyazaki Y, et al. Increased oxidative stress in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and the effect of edaravone administration. Redox Rep. 2015

5 Chio A, Logroscino G, Traynor B, et al. Global Epidemiology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a Systematic Review of the Published Literature. Neuroepidemiology. 2013;41(2):118-130.

6 ALS Association. Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (FALS) and Genetic Testing. http://www.alsa.org/about-als/genetic-testing-for-als.html Accessed June 8, 2016.

7 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis  United States, 20102011. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6307a1.htm. Accessed April 14, 2016.

8 Manning, M.M. and Kelly-Worden, M. (2015) Potential Regulators of Sporadic ALS Development and Alternative Therapeutic Options. Neuroscience & Medicine. 2015; 6, 5-12.

9 Betteridge, D.J., What is oxidative stress? Metabolism. 2000;49: 3-8.

SOURCE Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation

Related Links

http://www.mt-pharma-america.com


MIAMI, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- At 35, Mark Callahan had abnormally high liver enzymes. A church deacon who never drank or did drugs, Callahan had liver cirrhosis by the time he was 40.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160617/380839

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160617/380840

At 52, after doctors suggested his symptoms might be due to weight or diabetes, he finally learned the real reason for his progressively worsening liver disease: Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency. Five years later, unable to get a liver transplant, he died.

His daughter, Kari Taylor, a nursing student who wants to care for people with Alpha-1 when she graduates, will be among more than 600 Alpha-1 patients, family members, caregivers and supporters at the 25th Alpha-1 National Education Conference in Miami, FL, June 24-26.

Alpha-1 can lead to severe lung disease in adults and liver disease at any age. Like Callahan, most people with Alpha-1 visit multiple doctors over several years before they are correctly diagnosed. Because Alpha-1 is genetic, it often causes lung or liver disease in several members of a family.

Taylor, 41, of Tyler, Texas, wants to become a nurse practitioner to help people like her father get diagnosed and treated sooner. She also wants to raise awareness of Alpha-1, and help find a cure.

"There is hope if you catch it soon enough," she said. "If my daddy had caught it soon enough, he might still be around."

Participants at the National Education Conference will hear some of the world's leading experts talk about the lung and liver diseases of Alpha-1, as well as progress in research and treatment.

The many exhibits will include information on our nationwide patient detection and family testing efforts, with a spotlight on the State of Florida Department of Health booth that highlights the state's unique genetic testing program for Florida residents.

More than 40 AlphaNet coordinators will attend and are looking forward to meeting hundreds of the people they serve. AlphaNet coordinators now provide disease management to more than 5,000 Alphas in the U.S. and Canada.

The National Education Conference will take place at the InterContinental Miami hotel, 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami, FL.

The conference presenting sponsors are AlphaNet; Baxalta, now part of Shire; CSL Behring, and Grifols. The lead sponsor is Dohmen Life Science Services.

Part of Saturday's conference agenda will be streaming live at www.alpha1live.org. The rest of the sessions will be webcast.

View the National Education Conference agenda here.

About Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency

Alpha-1 affects at least 100,000 people in the United States, but fewer than 10 percent have been properly diagnosed, even though the condition can be detected by a simple, accurate blood test. Anyone with a family history of lung or liver disease, or diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or emphysema, nonresponsive asthma, or chronic or unexplained liver disease should be tested. Alpha-1 is the most common known genetic cause of emphysema and is often called "genetic COPD."

About the Foundation

The Alpha-1 Foundation is committed to finding a cure for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency and to improving the lives of people affected by Alpha-1 worldwide. The Foundation has invested nearly $60 million to support Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency research and programs at 103 institutions in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia.

For more information, see www.alpha1.org.

Contact: Bob Campbell

Email

305-567-9888 ext. 230

Direct: 813-732-1354

SOURCE Alpha-1 Foundation
NEW YORK, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Nespresso, the worldwide pioneer and reference in premium single-serve coffee, announced today it will bring back Cuban coffee to the United States for the first time in more than 50 years. Recent regulatory changes in the United States have allowed Nespresso to move forward with its plans, which include making the new Cuban Nespresso Grand Cru, Cafecito de Cuba, available in the United States in the fall of 2016, initially as a limited edition. Over the long term, Nespresso and its partner TechnoServe, a nonprofit development organization, will explore how to work with smallholder coffee farmers in Cuba with the goal ultimately being to support farmers in their production of sustainable coffee and contribute to expanded economic opportunities for them in the long-term.

For more than two centuries, Cuba has produced some of the greatest Arabica coffee in the world. With fertile soil and ideal climate conditions, the country offers an excellent coffee growing environment. Nespresso is purchasing Arabica coffee this year that has been produced by Cuban farmers, and aims to continue purchasing it in the coming years.

"At Nespresso, we always aim to delight consumers through exclusive, unique coffee experiences," said Guillaume Le Cunff, President Nespresso USA. "Nespresso is thrilled to be the first to bring this rare coffee to the U.S., allowing consumers to rediscover this distinct coffee profile. Over the long-term, we have a view to supporting the development of environmentally sustainable coffee farming practices for smallholder farmers which benefit the farmers themselves and their communities. Ultimately, we want consumers in the U.S. to experience this incredible coffee and to enjoy it now and for years to come."

The U.S. Department of State in late April updated its list of goods produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs that can be imported into the United States to include coffee. This change paved the way for Nespresso to offer Cuban coffee to the U.S. market.

Nespresso's approach to sustainability is embedded in its business practices and focuses on initiatives that preserve the environment for future generations and create shared value for all stakeholders and society. Nespresso has extensive experience working closely with coffee farmers to improve productivity and create attractive income opportunities for them. Through the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality Program, which was developed with the Rainforest Alliance, Nespresso works with farmers, providing support, training, financing and technical assistance to improve sustainability and productivity while maintaining quality.

For more information please contact:

Evan Phalon

Weber Shandwick

212-445-8459

[email protected]

Katarina Wos

Nespresso USA

646.658.3829

[email protected]

Jacquelyn Campo

Nestle Nespresso

+41 21 796 9484

[email protected]

About Nestle Nespresso SA

Nestle Nespresso SA is the pioneer and reference for highest-quality portioned coffee. Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Nespresso operates in 64 countries and has more than 12,000 employees. In 2015, it operated a global retail network of over 450 exclusive boutiques. For more information, visit the Nespresso corporate website: www.nestle-nespresso.com.

About the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality Program

The Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality Program, launched in 2003 in collaboration with the NGO The Rainforest Alliance, supports coffee communities by investing in community infrastructures, paying cash premiums for superior coffee and best agricultural practices, and providing training, financing and technical assistance to continuously improve quality, sustainability and productivity  the three pillars represented by the "triple As" in the program's name. This approach drives improvements in social, environmental and economic conditions for coffee farmers and farming communities.

About TechnoServe

TechnoServe is a nonprofit organisation that works with coffee communities around the world. It works in 30 developing countries to support competitive farms, businesses and industries. For nine straight years, TechnoServe has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, placing it in the top 1 percent of all rated nonprofits.

SOURCE Nespresso

Related Links

http://www.nestle-nespresso.com


HOUSTON, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- TreadWright Tires today announced the launch of its new Claw II MT Series of mud terrain tires. The new series combines TreadWright's signature green manufacturing process with a specially designed mud-terrain tread pattern to deliver enhanced performance on even the most challenging 4x4 off-road terrain. Offering more value and more rugged reliability, the Claw II MT series delivers unparalleled performance. Prices start from only $204.99 per tire.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160617/380761

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160617/380762



Rugged Performance and Reliability

The Claw II is TreadWright's premiere off-road mud terrain tire. Its tread pattern has enhanced traction features designed to handle the most extreme mud, gravel, and snow driving conditions and is backed by TreadWright's 2-year workmanship warranty. Its narrow lug design gives the Claw II more surface area, preventing excessive road noise when driving on the highway, making your drive to and from your off-road adventure even more enjoyable.

All TreadWright tires are produced in the United States at its manufacturing facility in Houston Texas with the highest quality commercial grade truck rubber, leading to higher mileage and better wear characteristics.

Greener Tires, Better Value

TreadWright tires are manufactured with 70% recycled content, including premium brand tire casings. Using a proven European manufacturing process called remolding, we apply full-grade truck rubber to our tire casing, the same mold cure process as traditional branded/OE tire manufacturers. As a result, the Claw II series tires get the same mileage as most premium OE LT/SUV tires on the market. Each environmentally friendly Claw II MT series tire is produced using 65% less oil than standard tires as well as less energy consumed in the manufacturing process, helping to preserve the nation's lakes, rivers, and wild terrain these tires were designed for while passing the savings onto the consumer with lower prices.

"This is our most aggressive and rugged mud terrain tire yet," said Anthony Showen, chief executive officer of TreadWright Inc. "Our new Claw II series delivers great performance and value and we're also proud of the Claw II's environmentally friendly manufacturing process, which may be the greenest in the US.

"The Claw II and all our family of tires are perfect for outdoorsmen, hunters, fishermen, 4x4 enthusiasts, hikers, bikers and boaters."

Remolded tires are utilized by the airline and commercial trucking industries to save billions of dollars every year. At 40% less cost than competing brand name tires, the Claw II MT series tires are not only better for the environment, they provide more ruggedness and fun for any budget. With almost 40 years of experience with commercial and passenger tire remanufacturing, TreadWright makes the most environmentally responsible and affordable LT/SUV tires in the USA, saving money for hard-working Americans.

Satisfied Customers

Read what happy TreadWright customers say on TrustPilot.com:

"As always, TreadWright delivers a great product. I'm on my 5th set of TreadWright tires. Simply put, I don't feel there is a better value in all-terrain or mud tires available. This set went on my wife's Hummer H3 and they are riding extremely smooth and perform well on our long dirt drive. I cannot recommend them enough." -James Fallon

"I carry a little over 2000 lbs of weight in the back of my truck. I travel highways, dirt roads, through mud, snow, ice and 35,000 to 45,000 thousand miles a year. This is my second pair of TreadWright tires. I recommend them to anyone that wants a tire they can count on and at a great price." -Zac Sanger

"Hands down, the best tire I've ever run on a vehicle! TreadWright has been a pleasure to work with. Fast shipping and great prices. Awesome traction in all weather and road conditions. They were pretty quiet for a mud terrain tire too and wore like iron." Shawn Morgan

TreadWright tires are perfect for enthusiasts of all light trucks including Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, Dodge Ram, GMC Sierra, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra, Chevy Colorado, Nissan Frontier and others.

Availability

The TreadWright Claw II MT tires are available now in 33" and 35" widths with 18" and 20" rim sizes. Prices start at only $204.99. Learn more at https://www.treadwright.com/collections/mt-tires.

About TreadWright Tires

TreadWright Tires is a Houston-based light truck and SUV tire manufacturer. Its line of MT/AT tires cover 80% of the replacement market, offering reliable, affordable, and environmentally-friendly tires. With 40 years of remanufacturing experience, TreadWright delivers a wide range of LT/SUV tires with 70% recycled material and 40% reduction in cost. All TreadWright tires are made 100% in the USA. For more information, and to learn more about becoming an authorized distributor or purchasing direct, visit www.treadwright.com.

Media Contact: Len Fernandes, 1-888-317-4687, Email

SOURCE TreadWright Tires

Related Links

https://www.treadwright.com


WATERTOWN, Mass., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study by Perkins School for the Blind shows that people who are blind remain largely excluded from society despite the progress in technology and cultural awareness in many other aspects of American life. In its study, Perkins, the school where the deafblind Helen Keller learned to read and write, found that although the public champions the blind population in theory, many people doubt the capabilities of people who are blind. That doubt fosters stereotyping that perpetuates marginalization.

For example, only 28 percent think a person who is blind could do the respondent's job  a perception that contributes to only 40 percent of people who are blind being employed, according to the American Community Survey. The study, "America's Blind Spot: What's Preventing Us from Including Those Who are Blind in our Sighted World?" also uncovered that misperceptions of the blind community give rise to four barriers to inclusion  discomfort, pity, fear and stigma, all of which inhibit the path to meaningful employment and living independently.

"In the nearly 50 years since Helen Keller left the world her legacy of brilliance and tenacity, everything has changed and yet nothing has changed for those who are blind," said Dave Power, President and CEO of Perkins School for the Blind. "Education and technology have opened so many new doors for those who cannot see. But now we need the sighted population's help to welcome them in, and afford them the same access to opportunities as the rest of the population."

To combat these barriers to inclusion, Perkins is sponsoring BlindNewWorld, an ambitious social change campaign aimed at helping the sighted population to be more inclusive of people who are blind and make the world more accessible to them.

Additional findings from the study include:

80 percent of respondents feel sorry for those who are blind, a sentiment that leads to assumptions that prevent the sighted world from embracing their peers who are blind in society

74 percent of respondents do not think they could be happy if they lost their vision, projecting their emotions onto a condition they know little about

46 percent of respondents cannot think of a condition worse than being blind, even compared to terminal illnesses like cancer and Alzheimer's

82 percent of respondents do not think a person who is blind can play sports, while 81 percent think someone who is blind is not capable of babysitting and 70 percent think people who are blind cannot shop for clothes, illustrating how the overwhelming population believes the blind population cannot perform everyday activities

The 2016 study conducted by Research Now included responses from 1,000 Americans with near equal representation across generations and regions of the country.

About Perkins School for the Blind

Perkins School for the Blind was founded in 1829 and is where Helen Keller challenged and dramatically changed society's perceptions of individuals with disabilities. Today, Perkins educates students on its leading-edge campus and throughout Massachusetts. Perkins is the premiere global enterprise dedicated to advancing the lives of the young people who are blind or deafblind through education, accessibility and innovation and remains a pioneer in education, accessibility solutions and teacher training worldwide. Learn more at Perkins.org.

SOURCE Perkins School for the Blind

Related Links

http://www.perkins.org


NEW YORK, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of the OTCQX, OTCQB and Pink markets for 10,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced that Interactive Brokers, an automated global electronic broker, has added real-time Level 2+ service to their Trader Workstation platform. With this agreement, Interactive Brokers' 353,000 client accounts will have access to complete quote data for OTCQX, OTCQB and Pink securities, as well as unique security information such as Market Designation, Security Type, Piggyback Status and Caveat Emptor status.

"We are pleased to expand our partnership with Interactive Brokers and provide their clients with a real-time, complete view of our markets," said Matthew Fuchs, Executive Vice President of Market Data and Strategy at OTC Markets Group. "By integrating our data into their innovative trading applications, we are giving individual and institutional investors a superior information experience to make intelligent trading decisions."

"We are excited to offer our clients access to Real-Time Level 2 Data," said Steve Sanders, EVP of Marketing and Product Development. "This will give our users greater access to depth of liquidity information on OTCQX, OTCQB and Pink securities and provide a more comprehensive view into this important market."

OTC Markets Group provides mission-critical quote and trade data, as well as company and security information on OTCQX, OTCQB and Pink securities to the trading, investment, legal and regulatory communities. The Company's data products include real-time data, end-of-day data, historical quote data, company financial data, security master data, corporate reference data and compliance data. OTC Markets Group also provides data through leading market data redistributors. For more about OTC Markets Group's real-time market data products, including connectivity information, visit http://www.otcmarkets.com/services/market-data/realtime-data/overview.

About OTC Markets Group Inc.

OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market, and the Pink Open Market for 10,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors. To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com.

OTC Link ATS is operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC and SEC regulated ATS.

Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed

About Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers Group, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is an automated global electronic broker that specializes in catering to financial professionals by offering state-of-the-art trading technology, superior execution capabilities, worldwide electronic access, and sophisticated risk management tools at exceptionally low costs. The brokerage trading platform utilizes the same innovative technology as the Company's market making business, which executes and processes trades in securities, futures and foreign exchange instruments on more than 100 electronic exchanges and trading venues around the world. As a market maker, we provide liquidity at these marketplaces and, as a broker, we provide professional traders and investors with electronic access to stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds and mutual funds from a single IB Universal AccountSM. Employing proprietary software on a global communications network, Interactive Brokers Group continuously integrates its software with a growing number of exchanges and trading venues into one automatically functioning, computerized platform that requires minimal human intervention.

Media Contact:

OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, [email protected]

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SOURCE OTC Markets Group Inc.

Related Links

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DUBLIN, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Perrigo Company plc (NYSE: PRGO; TASE) today announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to sell its U.S. Vitamins, Minerals & Supplements (VMS) business to International Vitamin Corporation (IVC). The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close by early August.

Perrigo CEO John T. Hendrickson commented, "Our decision late last year to divest the U.S. VMS business was part of our ongoing portfolio assessment and ensures that we remain focused on our most profitable and strategic businesses. Having explored various options over the past several months, we are pleased to have reached an agreement to sell the business to IVC. We look forward to working with the IVC team to seamlessly transition the business and ensure that our customers continue to receive exceptional service during this transitional period. Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank the more than 300 Perrigo employees who are dedicated to the VMS business for all of their contributions to Perrigo and to wish them all the very best going forward."

Warner Norcross & Judd LLP served as Perrigo's legal advisor and Houlihan Lokey served as Perrigo's exclusive financial advisor on the transaction.

About Perrigo

Perrigo Company plc is a top five global over-the-counter ("OTC") consumer goods and leading specialty pharmaceutical company, offering patients and customers high- quality products at affordable prices. From the Company's beginning in 1887 as a packager of home remedies, it has grown to become the world's largest manufacturer of OTC healthcare products and supplier of infant formulas for the store brand market. The Company is also a leading provider of generic extended topical prescription products, and it receives royalties from sales of the multiple sclerosis drug Tysabri. The Company provides "Quality Affordable Healthcare Products" across a wide variety of product categories and geographies, primarily in North America, Europe and Australia, as well as in other markets, including Israel and China. Visit Perrigo online at (http://www.perrigo.com).

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements relate to future events or the Company's future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements of the Company or its industry to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or other comparable terminology. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While the Company believes these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, including the timing, amount and cost of share repurchases, and the ability to execute and achieve the desired benefits of announced initiatives. These and other important factors, including those discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-KT for the six-month period ended December 31, 2015, as well as the Company's subsequent filings with the SEC, may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made only as of the date hereof, and unless otherwise required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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SOURCE Perrigo Company plc

Related Links

http://www.perrigo.com


PUNE, India, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The report "PET Packaging Market by Form (Amorphous PET, Crystalline PET), Pack type (Bottles & jars, Bags & pouches, Trays, Lids/Caps & closures, others), Filling Technology (Hot fill, Cold fill, Aseptic fill, others), Packaging Type (Rigid, Flexible), End-use industry - Forecast to 2021" published by MarketsandMarkets, The market is projected to grow from USD 57.64 Billion in 2016 to USD 74.32 Billion by 2021, at an estimated CAGR of 5.21%.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302)

Browse 120 market data Tables with 71 Figures spread through 257 Pages and in-depth TOC on "PET Packaging Market"



http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/pet-packaging-market-192975723.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.

The market for PET packaging is growing due to increasing demand in end-use industries such as food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and personal care & cosmetics.

Bottles & jars to gain maximum traction during the forecast period

Bottles & jars are highly preferred as they are light weight, safe, flexible, and most importantly, 100% recyclable. Adding to this, PET delivers excellent performance in extreme conditions such as high temperature, moisture, and humidity. PET packaging is preferred in the food industry because it maintains the freshness of food items and increases the shelf life. It is also highly used in beverages and CSD (carbonated-soda drink) because of the anti-contaminable property.

Food segment is projected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period

The PET Packaging Market is segmented on the basis of end-use industry into food, beverage, personal care, household products, pharmaceutical, and others which include consumer durables. In 2015, the food segment accounted for the largest share of the end-use industry segment and it is projected to grow at a highest CAGR during the forecast period. To maintain the shelf quality of the food and to deal with external environment conditions, PET packaging is highly preferred because of its resistance to chemical, acid, and oil. Additionally, the hot-sealable property of PET helps to manufacture the seal-tight lids and caps. It also plays a crucial role in transportation and logistics because of the light weight.

Make an Inquiry: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=192975723

Asia-Pacific to play a key role in the market for PET packaging

On the basis of key regions, the market for PET packaging is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). The low labor costs, excellent industrialization, a huge scope for FDI, emerging economic conditions, and an excellent hold on industries such as food, retail, beverage, construction, and pharmaceutical & healthcare have played a key role in the growth of the market for PET packaging in the Asia-Pacific region.

The key players considered in the report are:

CCL Industries, Inc. ( Canada ) E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (referred as DuPont) (U.S.) Amcor Limited ( Australia ) Resilux NV ( Belgium ) Rexam PLC (U.K.) Smurfit Kappa Group PLC ( Ireland ) Gerresheimer AG ( Germany ) Klockner Pentaplast GmbH & Co. KG ( Germany ) Graham Packaging (U.S.) GTX Hanex Plastic Sp. z o.o. ( Poland ) Berry Plastic Group Inc. (U.S.) Dunmore (U.S.) Huhtamaki Group ( Finland )

Browse Related Reports:

Protective Packaging Market by Material (Foam Plastics, Paper & Paperboard, Plastics), Product Type (Flexible, Rigid, Foam), Function (Cushioning, Blocking & Bracing, Void-fill, Insulation, Wrapping), Application (Food & Beverage, Consumer Electronics, Industrial Goods, Automotive, Household Appliances, Health Care) - Trends & Forecast to 2020

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/protective-packaging-market-39055502.html

Sustainable Packaging Market by Material (Paper & Paperboard, Plastic, Metal, Glass), Process (Recycled, Reusable, Degradable), Function (Active, Molded Pulp, Alternate Fiber), Application (Food & Beverage, Healthcare, Others) & Layer - Global Forecast to 2020

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/sustainable-packaging-market-177372752.html

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets is the world's No. 2 firm in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors.

M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers.

We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository.

Contact:

Mr. Rohan

Markets and Markets

UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ

Magarpatta city, Hadapsar

Pune, Maharashtra 411013, India

1-888-600-6441



Email: [email protected]

Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog @ http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/packaging

Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets

SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
500 Plaza Drive is a 460,000 square foot Class A office tower, which was purchased in mid-2014 as the last investment in Marcus Capital Partners Fund I, L.P., in a venture with a global institutional partner. The property, which already serves as headquarters for The Children's Place, in addition to several other notable tenants, is now 99% leased.

Marcus Partners is currently investing its $250 million Marcus Capital Partners Fund II, L.P. in a variety of unique office properties like 500 Plaza Drive, as well as other value-add medical office, mixed use, warehouse, and industrial properties in select markets along the East Coast.

Marcus Partners recently completed a transformative $16.5 million repositioning program at 500 Plaza Drive to create a best-in-class quality office building. Upgrades include a comprehensive renovation of the five-story atrium lobby and common areas and the creation of prime amenity spaces, including a new 90-seat conference center, fitness center, full service cafe, and coffee bar. The property improvements also include the construction of a new 222-car parking deck, renovation of an existing 1,100-car parking garage, and the creation of 34 visitor parking spaces in front of the building.

David Fiore, who leads Marcus Partners' NYC Metro office said, "We look forward to welcoming Quest Diagnostics to 500 Plaza. This is a special asset, and with the transformation of the property, we realized our vision to deliver the best asset in the market. I have to admit, the transformation even exceeded my expectations. My hat's off to Gensler and our entire design and construction team." Gensler, led by Dana Nalbantian, was the architect for the project.

The move to 500 Plaza Drive allows Quest Diagnostics to retain its New Jersey employees while being in better proximity to public transportation and many of its major health providers. The new office location will host approximately 600 employees.

Quest Diagnostics was represented by David Opper and David Zelinski of CBRE, and Marcus Partners was represented by Geoff Schubert, Brian Godau and Todd Ward of CBRE.

ABOUT MARCUS PARTNERS

Marcus Partners is a value-oriented real estate investor, operator and redeveloper based in Boston, MA, with regional offices in Norwalk, CT and Secaucus, NJ. The firm invests in real estate and related assets through its fully discretionary $250 million Marcus Capital Partners Fund II, L.P., pursuing a mix of strategic and opportunistic investments. It currently owns/manages a diversified portfolio that includes nearly five million square feet of office, medical office, R & D, warehouse and industrial properties located along the East Coast. For more information about Marcus Partners, please visit www.marcuspartners.com.

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SOURCE Marcus Partners

Related Links

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NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Business-Management-Degree.net has recently released their list of the Top 20 Online Bachelor's of Business Administration Degree Programs for 2016, a comprehensive list of the very best distance education programs of this year.

You may view the list, along with a description of the benefits of each institution and course flexibility by clicking the link below:

http://www.business-management-degree.net/top-20-online-bachelors-of-business-administration-degree-programs-2016/

According to such reputable journalistic resources as USA Today, MSN, and Forbes, a business administration degree is one of the most practical and lucrative degrees that any student could earn. Learning applicable skills of many different disciplines, marketing, communication, finance, human resources, etc. gives students a significant advantage within the job market. Whether students desire pursuing a career as a top executive, starting a new business, or contributing to non-profit organizations as a business professional, a business administration degree will give anyone the necessary skills and understanding for a successful future.

Investing in a bachelor's degree from any one of these 20 institutions will give students the training and experience needed to attain their goals with grace and acuity. Every school on the list has been recognized and awarded for excellent faculty, curricula, and student services. Each program has real-world scenarios built-in to the curriculum and many connect students with business leaders and strategists from hugely successful companies and organizations. Individuals seeking a challenging and well-established business degree that will give them the connections to build a future as a business leader need look no further than our list of the Top 20 Online Bachelor's of Business Administration Degree Programs for 2016.

According to lead researcher and writer, Rowan Jones, "Students will find no greater preparation for the job market, or a graduate program, than in a bachelor of business administration degree from one of these 20, most impressive, online programs. The sheer amount of experience that students gather within the curriculum will give them significant advantages in finding a career and within the workplace."

These colleges and universities were chosen according to a strict methodology. Each has been showered in awards, recognitions, and accreditations from numerous reputable institutions and organizations. Faculty members are extremely well-educated and experienced, giving students the best-of-the-best of business educations.

Below, we have listed the schools that have made the listing:

Arizona State University - Tempe, AZ

Capella University - Minneapolis, MN

University of Massachusetts Amherst - Amherst, MA

Florida International University - Miami, FL

Ashford University - Clinton, IA

Florida Institute of Technology - Melbourne, FL

Regent University - Virginia Beach, VA

Walden University - Minneapolis, MN

University of Illinois at Springfield - Springfield, IL

Penn State World Campus - University Park, PA

University of Florida - Gainesville, FL

American Intercontinental University - Schaumburg, IL

New England College of Business and Finance - Boston, MA

Post University - Waterbury, CT

University of Maryland, University College - Upper Marlboro, MD

University of Illinois at Chicago - Chicago, IL

University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa, AL

Colorado State University-Global Campus - Greenwood Village, CO

University of Minnesota-Crookston - Crookston, MN

Kaplan University - Davenport, IA

Business-Management-Degree.net is an online web publication that is committed to enhancing the information available to students when choosing an academic institution. The editors collect the most important and relevant data about colleges, universities, and campus facilities from various highly respected sources and offer them in a simple format that is easy to understand. In developing this list, we chose not to list the schools in an ordered way, but instead highlighted twenty of the very best programs, all of which have their own unique strengths.

Contact:

Rowan Jones

Email

Cell: (931) 636-4286

SOURCE Business-Management-Degree.net

Related Links

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SEABROOK, N.J., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Seabrook House President Edward Diehl has appointed Suzanne Mulrain, M.A., as Director of Healthcare Collaboratives. This new title is awarded in recognition of the extensive addiction medicine collaborative programs Mulrain has implemented across the tri-state area with physicians and hospitals. The change in her title reflects the current needs of the Seabrook House administration's efforts to expand treatment for patients struggling with Substance Use Disorders and Co-Occurring Disorders.

Mulrain joined the Seabrook House Executive Management Team in 2013 as the Director of Special Projects. She has a strong background in healthcare, developed through working with primary care physicians and mental health specialists since 1992. Her experience in the healthcare field and the accomplishments she has made along the way make her an invaluable member of the Seabrook House Executive Management Team.

Mulrain has spearheaded several major projects that allow Seabrook House to remain a leader in addiction treatment. She created and continues to lead a team of Addiction Medicine Specialists that connect with healthcare professionals in the area. Seabrook House President, Ed Diehl, commends her on the creation of this team.

"Suzanne's greatest accomplishment has been in the work of our representatives creating close working relationships with professional physician practices," says Diehl.

Her other accomplishments include acting as Coordinator of Continuing Medical Education, the establishment of an in-house urine drug screening lab, and forming strategic alliances with medical programs. On a larger scale, Mulrain frequently partners with organizations like the Medical Society of New Jersey, New Jersey State Nurses Association and the New Jersey Drug Enforcement Administration.

Suzanne is honored to be appointed as Director of Healthcare Collaboratives. "This new title reflects Ed Diehl's support of new patient programs which enables me to integrate my key areas of expertise, such as addiction medicine, behavioral healthcare and leadership, with all Seabrook House Departments. We have accomplished so much as a team," states Mulrain.

Seabrook House is a nonprofit, internationally recognized, private CARF-accredited behavioral healthcare organization, with treatment locations in Bridgeton, NJ, Cherry Hill, NJ, Northfield, NJ, Morristown, NJ and coming soon to Freehold, NJ. Founded by Jerry and Peg Diehl in 1974, Seabrook House has been helping families find the courage to recover from alcoholism and drug addiction for over 42 years. For more information on Seabrook House, visit the company website at www.SeabrookHouse.org.



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SOURCE Seabrook House

Related Links

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PRINCETON, N.J., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Soligenix, Inc. (OTCQB: SNGX) (Soligenix or the Company), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing products to treat rare diseases where there is an unmet medical need, announced today that it has appointed Karen Krumeich, as its Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Krumeich has over 25 years of diverse experience in the financial and strategic management of emerging growth life science companies. She has a proven track record and expertise in corporate financial operations, equity financings, and business development, including partnerships, mergers and acquisitions.

Most recently, Ms. Krumeich served as a consultant providing finance, investor relations, and business development services to the Company and other healthcare companies. Previously, she worked as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for several development-stage life science companies, including Cerecor, Inc. and Mela Sciences, Inc. where she was responsible for equity financings, corporate administrative functions, and investor relations. In addition to these positions, Ms. Krumeich was a healthcare consultant partner with Tatum, LLC, a national consulting firm, specializing in their life science practice. Prior to these positions, she held positions of increasing responsibility with several healthcare companies, including Bristol-Myers Squibb Company where she was Director of Health Systems and as Vice President of Finance for a national pharmacy provider. Ms. Krumeich began her career as a pharmacist and transitioned into finance after successfully completing the CPA exam.

Ms. Krumeich earned a BSc in Pharmacy from the University of Toledo, Ohio and completed her post graduate work in accounting and finance at Cleveland State University while pursuing her career as a pharmacist.

"We are delighted to welcome Karen to our team, as we leverage her extensive financial expertise in leading our strategic corporate programs," stated Christopher J. Schaber, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Soligenix. "As we continue to execute our growth strategy, we are clearly building momentum and the talent we are attracting is an absolute reflection of our solid progress to date. Karen's unique experiences in both science and finance will be instrumental to us as we advance our multiple late-stage development programs."

Mr. Joseph Warusz, who has served as Vice President, Finance and Acting Chief Financial Officer since February 2012, will be retiring from the Company effective June 30, 2016. On behalf of the Company and its Board of Directors, we would like to thank Joe for his many contributions during the past five years.

About Soligenix, Inc.



Soligenix is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing products to treat rare diseases where there is an unmet medical need. Our BioTherapeutics business segment is developing SGX301 as a first-in-class photodynamic therapy utilizing safe visible light for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, proprietary formulations of oral beclomethasone 17,21-dipropionate (BDP) for the prevention/treatment of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders characterized by severe inflammation including pediatric Crohn's disease (SGX203) and acute radiation enteritis (SGX201), and our novel innate defense regulator technology dusquetide (SGX942) for the treatment of oral mucositis.

Our Vaccines/BioDefense business segment includes active development programs for RiVax, our ricin toxin vaccine candidate, OrbeShield, our GI acute radiation syndrome therapeutic candidate and SGX943, our melioidosis therapeutic candidate. The development of our vaccine programs incorporates the use of our proprietary heat stabilization platform technology, known as ThermoVax. Currently, this business segment is supported with up to $57 million in government grant and contract funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).

For further information regarding Soligenix, Inc., please visit the Company's website at www.soligenix.com.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements that reflect Soligenix, Inc.'s current expectations about its future results, performance, prospects and opportunities, including but not limited to, potential market sizes, patient populations and clinical trial enrollment. Statements that are not historical facts, such as "anticipates," "estimates," "believes," "intends," "potential," or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from what is expressed in, or implied by, these statements. Soligenix cannot assure you that it will be able to successfully develop, achieve regulatory approval for or commercialize products based on its technologies, including dusquetide (SGX942), particularly in light of the significant uncertainty inherent in developing vaccines against bioterror threats conducting preclinical and clinical trials of vaccines, obtaining regulatory approvals and manufacturing vaccines, that product development and commercialization efforts will not be reduced or discontinued due to difficulties or delays in clinical trials or due to lack of progress or positive results from research and development efforts, that it will be able to successfully obtain any further funding to support product development and commercialization efforts, including grants and awards, maintain its existing grants which are subject to performance requirements, enter into any biodefense procurement contracts with the US Government or other countries, that it will be able to compete with larger and better financed competitors in the biotechnology industry, that changes in health care practice, third party reimbursement limitations and Federal and/or state health care reform initiatives will not negatively affect its business, or that the US Congress may not pass any legislation that would provide additional funding for the Project BioShield program. Positive results from the Phase 2 study evaluating SGX942 does not ensure that the follow-on Phase 2/3 clinical study will be successful. These and other risk factors are described from time to time in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, Soligenix's reports on Forms 10-Q and 10-K. Unless required by law, Soligenix assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events.

SOURCE Soligenix, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.soligenix.com


SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- South San Francisco Unified School District (SSFUSD) officials are excitedly launching the District's first ever Summer STEM Institute this June. This special program is another important example of the District's commitment to being a leader in educating students in the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) in order to prepare them for success in high school, college, and the ever-increasing technical careers of the 21st Century.

OpTerra STEM Educator Alison Smith works with SSFUSD teachers during the first week of the District's Summer STEM Institute. OpTerra has provided professional development training and hands-on energy curriculum tied to STEM for teachers throughout grade levels. South San Francisco Unified School District

The Summer STEM Institute is one of the first priority projects to emerge from SSFUSD's broader sustainability partnership with OpTerra Energy Services. OpTerra's team of STEM educators has been closely collaborating with Interim Associate Superintendent of Educational Services and Categorical Programs, Dr. Leticia Bhatia, and her team to develop a well-rounded, district-wide program that brings STEM, sustainability, and a real-world industry perspective to the teachers and students of SSFUSD.

"We are thrilled to be launching the Summer STEM Institute  it is an exciting learning opportunity for our students and professional development opportunity for our teachers. Providing world-class enrichment experiences like this is a hallmark of the District's commitment to cultivating the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and innovators," shared Superintendent Shawnterra Moore.

The Summer STEM Institute is focused on Grades 2-8, and will incorporate hands-on STEM activities, real-world relevance, and project-based learning. All of the lessons, activities, experiments and design challenges are aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core State Standards.

SSFUSD Board of Trustee President Patrick Lucy commended the program, saying, "The students and families that depend on our local public schools know that STEM learning is no longer an elective. STEM learning is a critical and essential learning tool for every student to succeed in their education and any career path they choose."

Students in Grades 2-5 will participate in a four-week program totaling 64 hours of curriculum designed to introduce them to electricity, renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency, and the engineering design process. While steeped in science, engineering and technology, the program also incorporates math, literacy, and art. Activities in the Summer STEM Institute will include building energy transformation machines, engineering solar ovens, designing and testing wind turbine blades, and conducting classroom energy audits.

Students in Grades 7-8 will participate in a four-week program totaling 88 hours of curriculum designed to introduce them to renewable energy and energy conservation while involving them in hands-on activities, scientific experiments, and multimedia presentations. This program will also engage students deeply in the engineering design process. Activities will include building Rube Goldberg machines, designing circuit mazes, and designing, building and testing efficient homes.

"The OpTerra team is thrilled to support the District's implementation of the Summer STEM Institute. Our core values as a company motivate us to do more than just modernize facilities and engineer technical solutions. Our work must also empower and support teachers and students in leveraging their campus sustainability projects into real-world classroom learning opportunities," commented OpTerra Regional Director Courtney Jenkins.

About the South San Francisco School District: Located in San Mateo County, California, the South San Francisco Unified School District serves elementary, middle and high school students in the City of South San Francisco and a portion of the City of Daly City. The District's website can be found at www.ssfusd.org.

About OpTerra Energy Services: OpTerra Energy Services is a national energy company that works with education, local government, commercial, industrial, and institutional organizations to implement efficiency and sustainable energy solutions that save money, enhance safety, improve assets, and protect the environment. As a subsidiary of ENGIE, the number one energy efficiency services provider in the world, OpTerra Energy Services provides a unique and extensive set of energy and sustainability management services to thousands of customers across the U.S. The company has provided more than $2 billion in energy savings for its customers over the past 40 years. To learn more, please visit www.opterraenergy.com or contact Lani Wild, Communications Manager, at 415-735-9080.

Contact:

Ryan Sebers

Public Information Officer

650-877-8744

[email protected]

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SOURCE OpTerra Energy Services

Related Links

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE: SMLP) announced today that it will host its 2016 Analyst Day on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern at the Fairmont Pittsburgh, located at 510 Market Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222. The event will include a presentation from members of SMLP's senior management team and will be webcast live via the Investors section of SMLP's website at www.summitmidstream.com. A replay of the 2016 Analyst Day will also be available on SMLP's website.

Since space is limited, pre-registration is required to attend this event in person. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to [email protected] before July 15, 2016.

Members of SMLP's senior management team will also participate at Credit Suisse's 2016 MLP Energy and Logistics Conference being held in New York, New York on Tuesday, June 21, 2016. The related presentation materials associated with this event will be accessible through the Investors section of SMLP's website at www.summitmidstream.com prior to the beginning of the conference on June 21, 2016.

About Summit Midstream Partners, LP

SMLP is a growth-oriented limited partnership focused on developing, owning and operating midstream energy infrastructure assets that are strategically located in the core producing areas of unconventional resource basins, primarily shale formations, in the continental United States. SMLP currently provides natural gas, crude oil and produced water gathering services pursuant to primarily long-term and fee-based gathering and processing agreements with customers and counterparties in five unconventional resource basins: (i) the Appalachian Basin, which includes the Marcellus and Utica shale formations in West Virginia and Ohio; (ii) the Williston Basin, which includes the Bakken and Three Forks shale formations in North Dakota; (iii) the Fort Worth Basin, which includes the Barnett Shale formation in Texas; (iv) the Piceance Basin, which includes the Mesaverde formation as well as the Mancos and Niobrara shale formations in Colorado and Utah; and (v) the Denver-Julesburg Basin, which includes the Niobrara and Codell shale formations in Colorado. SMLP also owns substantially all of a 40% ownership interest in Ohio Gathering, which is developing natural gas gathering and condensate stabilization infrastructure in the Utica Shale in Ohio. SMLP is headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, with regional corporate offices in Denver, Colorado and Atlanta, Georgia.

About Summit Midstream Partners, LLC

As of June 15, 2016, Summit Midstream Partners, LLC ("Summit Investments") beneficially owned a 44.8% limited partner interest in SMLP and indirectly owns and controls the general partner of SMLP, Summit Midstream GP, LLC, which has sole responsibility for conducting the business and managing the operations of SMLP. Summit Investments is a privately held company controlled by Energy Capital Partners II, LLC, and certain of its affiliates. As of June 15, 2016, an affiliate of Energy Capital Partners II, LLC directly owned an 8.9% limited partner interest in SMLP.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120927/MM82470LOGO

SOURCE Summit Midstream Partners, LP

Related Links

http://www.summitmidstream.com


BOULDER, Colorado and OAKLAND, California, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

- Director of Technology Stephen Keen to participate in panel -

- Surna to demonstrate products in Booth 9 -

Surna Inc. (OTCQB: SRNA), a technology company that engineers state-of-the art equipment for controlled environment agriculture (CEA) with special expertise in cannabis cultivation, will exhibit at the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) 3rd Annual Cannabis Business Summit held at the Oakland Marriott City Center, 1001 Broadway from June 20th through June 22nd. Attendees can see product demonstrations in Booth 9 or hear Surna's Director of Technology Stephen Keen participate in a panel entitled "Advanced Growing Techniques: Methods and Design Strategies for Large Scale Commercial Operations" at 3:00 on June 21st.

Surna's VP of Sales Brandy Keen stated, "NCIA hosts one of the premier events in the cannabis industry attracting business owners, entrepreneurs, investors, and policy influencers from across the globe. We are excited to participate again and expect to foster existing relationships, educate prospective customers and increase brand awareness for our complete climate control solution, reflectors and system integration support."

NCIA Cannabis Business Summit & Expo

The Cannabis Business Summit is positioned for business owners and operators across multiple verticals in the cannabis industry and offers a meeting ground for investors and entrepreneurs to connect with legitimate buyers and sellers already established in the market, as well as with the brightest minds behind promising start-ups. The Summit will feature CA Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, industry leaders, federal lawmakers and three days of in-depth education and networking in the nation's largest legal marijuana market. More information about the Summit, including a full list of speakers and a detailed agenda, can be found at CannabisBusinessSummit.com .

About NCIA

The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) is the largest cannabis trade association in the U.S. and the only organization representing cannabis-related businesses at the national level. NCIA promotes the growth of a responsible and legitimate cannabis industry and works toward a favorable social, economic, and legal environment for that industry in the United States.

About Surna

Surna Inc. (http://www.surna.com) (OTCQB: SRNA) develops innovative technologies and products that monitor, control and address the energy and resource intensive nature of indoor cannabis cultivation. Currently, the company's revenue stream is based on its main product offerings - supplying industrial technology and products to commercial indoor cannabis grow facilities.

Headquartered in Boulder, CO, Surna's diverse engineering team is tasked with creating novel energy and resource efficient solutions, including the company's signature water-cooled climate control platform. Surna's engineers continuously seek to create technology that solve the highly specific demands of the cannabis industry for temperature, humidity, light and process control.

Surna's goal is to provide intelligent solutions to improve the quality, the control and the overall yield and efficiency of controlled environment agriculture (CEA). Though its clients do, the company neither produces nor sells cannabis.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company's future business expectations, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual results due to a variety of factors including Surna's ability to monetize service components, Surna's support of premium prices for existing products, commercialization of research and development efforts and continued expansion of legal cannabis markets. Other risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks related to new products, services, and technologies, government regulation and taxation, and fraud. In addition, the current global economic climate amplifies many of these risks. More information about factors that potentially could affect Surna's financial results is included in Surna's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company disclaims any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Statement About Cannabis Markets

The use, possession, cultivation, and distribution of cannabis is prohibited by federal law. This includes medical and recreational cannabis. Although certain states have legalized medical and recreational cannabis, companies and individuals involved in the sector are still at risk of being prosecuted by federal authorities. Further, the landscape in the cannabis industry changes rapidly. What was the law last week is not the law today and what is the law today may not be the law next week. This means that at any time the city, county, or state where cannabis is permitted can change the current laws and/or the federal government can supersede those laws and take prosecutorial action. Given the uncertain legal nature of the cannabis industry, it is imperative that investors understand that the cannabis industry is a high-risk investment. A change in the current laws or enforcement policy can negatively affect the status and operation of our business, require additional fees, stricter operational guidelines and unanticipated shut-downs.

Katie O'Block, VP of Marketing, [email protected], +1-303-993-5271 ext. 101

Kirsten Chapman, LHA Investor Relations, +1-415-433-3777, [email protected]

SOURCE Surna Inc.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Sales of Swiss Diamond brand cookware sets have grown an average of thirty-two percent first quarter 2016 over first quarter 2014. Web Browning, director of sales for Swiss Made Brands USA said, "Demand for cookware sets, particular sets of six pieces or more has risen steadily in the last two years."

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160617/380663

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160617/380664LOGO



Swiss Diamond introduced seven new cookware sets since the beginning of 2014. Web Browning stated "By incorporating feedback from our retailers and our consumers, we were able to create specific cookware sets tailored to their needs. We're very pleased with the success we've had from this category."

Swiss Diamond's most popular set to date is their 10 piece Ultimate Kitchen Set, Item number 6010 which retails for $599.95. The set features Swiss Diamond's patented diamond-reinforced nonstick coating for easy cleaning and outfits a kitchen with all of the basic cookware pieces while promoting healthy, low-fat cooking. For more information visit: https://www.swissdiamond.com/products/detail/10-piece-set-ultimate-kitchen-kit#desc

Web Browning said, "We look forward to continuing to work with our valued partners to grow the brand and expand all of our cookware and kitchenware categories."

About Swiss Diamond

Swiss Diamond is a high-end cookware and kitchenware brand established in 2001, with a manufacturing facility in Sierre, Switzerland. The brand is committed to meeting consumer needs by using safe, high-quality materials, by emphasizing innovative design with traditional European craftsmanship and by adhering to an eco-friendly production process. The cookware is oven-safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, PFOA-free and protected with a limited lifetime warranty. For more information please visit: www.swissdiamond.com.

About Swiss Made Brands USA Inc.

Swiss Made Brands USA was founded in 2012 to distribute Swiss Diamond brand cookware and kitchenware in the United States, Central, and South America. Swiss Made Brands USA is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Contact:

Carolyn Kuczynski

Marketing Communications Manager

Swiss USA Inc.

Direct: 704-900-6109

Email

SOURCE Swiss Diamond

Related Links

http://www.swissdiamond.com


PRESTON, Wash., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Talking Rain Beverage Company, the maker of Sparkling Ice flavored sparkling waters, is proud to announce the brand's involvement with the Honor Flight Network, a non-profit organization created to honor America's veterans by transporting these heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at the memorials dedicated to their service.

As part of the brand's "Celebrate America" summer initiative, Vice President of Sales Chris Hall challenged the Sparkling Ice sales team to increase awareness and lend support to the organization through a fund-raising sales program. For every 250-case Celebrate America-themed "WOW" display built in stores from May 15  July 15, Talking Rain will donate $25 to the Honor Flight Network. The brand's donations will specifically support the Puget Sound Honor Flight, which will escort 112 people from the region, 56 veterans of WWII and Korean War and their 55 guardians, from Talking Rain's hometown of Seattle to our nation's capital.

"Having spent nearly five years serving with the U.S. Navy, the Honor Flight Network is an organization close to my heart," said Hall. "It was important to me that we inspire and motivate our team while giving back to our veterans, and we are humbled to lend our support to the upcoming Puget Sound Honor Flight."

The Puget Sound Honor Flight will depart from Seattle, WA on October 15th, flying veterans and their guardians directly to Washington D.C. in partnership with Alaska Airlines. The veterans will receive VIP treatment and private tours at their dedicated memorials. At the end of 2015, the Honor Flight Network, will have transported 159,703 veterans nationwide to Washington, D.C., starting in 2005.

About Sparkling Ice Beverages

Sparkling Ice beverages combine sparkling water, natural flavors, fruit juice and vitamins to offer great tasting, lightly carbonated beverages. Sparkling Ice is the Bold Side of Water, offering a bold-flavored, lightly-carbonated beverage that appeals to all age groups. Available in eleven refreshing flavors: Black Raspberry, Orange Mango, Pink Grapefruit, Kiwi Strawberry, Coconut Pineapple, Pomegranate Blueberry, Peach Nectarine, Lemon Lime, Crisp Apple, Cherry Limeade, Strawberry Watermelon and new in 2016 Black Cherry. Sparkling Ice Lemonades, launched in 2013, are available in three refreshing flavors: Classic Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade and Peach Lemonade. Sparkling Ice Teas launched nationally in 2015 and include Peach Tea, Raspberry Tea, Lemon Tea and Half & Half flavors. In 2016, the brand introduced the Sparkling Ice essence of sparkling water collection, which features four natural varieties free of sweeteners, artificial colors or preservatives. The essence of sparkling water collection includes Lemon Lime, Peach, Tangerine and a non-flavored variety. Sparkling Ice is part of the Talking Rain family of beverages, and retails for $1.19-$1.29. To locate Sparkling Ice, visit www.sparklingice.com/locate/.

About Puget Sound Honor Flight

Puget Sound Honor Flight is a non-profit organization whose mission is to transport Western Washington war veterans to Washington, D.C., at no expense to them, to visit and reflect at memorials dedicated to honor their service and sacrifice. Puget Sound Honor Flight is a regional hub of a national organization, the Honor Flight Network, and was started in March 2013. For more information, visit http://pugetsoundhonorflight.org/.

SOURCE Sparkling Ice

Related Links

http://www.sparklingice.com


PHILADELPHIA, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For the third year in a row, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) has been named an LGBT Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation. Coinciding with CHOP's celebration of LGBT Pride Month, the award recognizes the hospital for providing equitable, inclusive and culturally competent care for LGBT patients and their families.

"CHOP is such an incredibly diverse organization, and while LGBT Pride Month is an appropriate time to celebrate our diversity, we cannot ignore the human tragedy that unfolded last week in Orlando," said Madeline Bell, president and CEO of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "As we mourn those lost, we dedicate this award to them and to their families, and we renew our commitment to implementing policies, programming and resources that create a more ideal LGBT patient, family and employee experience at CHOP."

"This honor reflects CHOP's ongoing commitment to providing culturally competent healthcare to our LGBT patients and families," said Ina Lankenau, senior manager in the hospital's Enterprise Office of Diversity and Inclusion. "At CHOP, our diversity initiatives help us treat everyone equitably in all aspects of life. These initiatives include courses and workshops on equality and diversity; engagement efforts with our employees and the community; diversity recruitment efforts; and Diversity Councils."

Lankenau continued, "Diversity and inclusion are vital to our organizational identity. The diversity movement exists ultimately to facilitate and cultivate equity so that CHOP can fully provide culturally sensitive, compassionate care and services to our patients, families and employees who come to us from many different cultures and countries, and with many different backgrounds, experiences and expectations, whether they live in the United States or abroad."

"Despite all the progress we've made, far too many LGBT people still lack inclusive and affirming healthcare. Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality are helping to change that, and, in the process, making the lives of LGBT patients and their families better each and every day," said Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign. "LGBT people have a right to be treated equally in all aspects of our lives, and HRC celebrates The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for its work to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all patients."

Throughout the month of June, the hospital has celebrated its commitment to diversity and inclusion by spearheading various initiatives and activities for LGBT patients, families and staff, including:

Staff Training : CHOP's Department of Patient and Family Services trains nearly 1,000 staff annually on LGBT competency, including [email protected] Training, an institutional initiative on issues related to LGBT employees, patients and families, as well as tailored training endorsed by the HRC called Creating the Ideal LGBT Patient Experience at CHOP .

: CHOP's Department of Patient and Family Services trains nearly 1,000 staff annually on LGBT competency, including [email protected] Training, an institutional initiative on issues related to LGBT employees, patients and families, as well as tailored training endorsed by the HRC called . [email protected] : This employee resource group connects LGBT staff and represents CHOP at community events, such as the Trans Health Conference and the Philly Pride Parade and Festival. In 2016, the group received a CHOP Cares Community Grant to partner with the hospital's Violence Prevention Initiative and Gender and Sexuality Development Clinic to combat bullying.

: This employee resource group connects LGBT staff and represents CHOP at community events, such as the Trans Health Conference and the Philly Pride Parade and Festival. In 2016, the group received a CHOP Cares Community Grant to partner with the hospital's Violence Prevention Initiative and Gender and Sexuality Development Clinic to combat bullying. Transgender Issues : CHOP is the first pediatric hospital system to have a preferred name section for our transgender patients in the electronic health record and to have a job aid to help staff support our transgender patients and families.

: CHOP is the first pediatric hospital system to have a preferred name section for our transgender patients in the electronic health record and to have a job aid to help staff support our transgender patients and families. Diversity Councils : CHOP has two key councils that support the hospital's diversity and inclusion work. Staffed by the Enterprise Office of Diversity and Inclusion and chaired by the CEO, the Diversity Council serves as Madeline Bell's key advisory group about important topics related to diversity and inclusion. The Cultural Awareness Council develops diversity-focused internal events and feature stories.

For more information about the Healthcare Equality Index, please visit http://www.hrc.org/campaigns/healthcare-equality-index. For more information about diversity and inclusion at CHOP, please visit http://www.chop.edu/careers/employee-diversity-and-inclusion#.V1se3ssUVD8.

About The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 535-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www.chop.edu.

Contact: Emily DiTomo

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

267-426-6063

[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160620/381300LOGO

SOURCE The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Related Links

http://www.chop.edu


TRANSFORMING THE CRITICAL PROBLEM OF HAZARDOUS WASTE STREAMS INCLUDING RADIOACTIVE WASTE USING TRANSMUTION

HOPE, BC, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ - AmoTerra (AMT) and the Government of Hungary announces their plan to build the first ever total program installation for remediating waste streams, including mixed waste and radioactive material. Incorporating proven leading-edge technologies, this integrated holistic management system not only remediates waste, but also recovers greater amounts of materials to be recycled, up-cycled and sold.

"These technologies are a logical option for the cleanup challenges posed by landfills globally, in particular, and for addressing nuclear waste, in general. Our solution, in this case, will extend the life of landfills, and hopefully lessen the need to build more," says Eleonora Anderson-Ahl, CEO and Co-founder of AmoTerra Corporation.

"In addition, we can address the massive problem of radioactive waste across industry sectors. The current solution has been to bury and guard for eternity. Now we can inactivate contaminated materials in a matter of days safely. This potentially helps answer the understandable concerns with the embracing of nuclear power as a green energy solution. "

"First step is characterization of the waste, using our proprietary pollutant valuation modeling to assess the cost of remediation of the individual waste streams, plus calculate the potential for recovery of organic and other intermediates, which may have resale value. No sensors or expensive soil testing, boring, or core samples are necessary. Thereby the costs to assess the problem and develop a remediation plan are dramatically reduced," says Edward Leung, AmoTerra's Global Strategist.

"Our solution represents a paradigm shift from current thinking", adds Mr. Leung, a former environmental strategist for General Electric.

AMT's Separation/Reduction Process, the second step, will process solids, and effluent liquid waste streams. The reduced volume will extend the lifecycle of the existing repositories. Recyclable and reclaimed materials are salvaged.

"If the waste stream contains radioactive materials, certain isotopes are classified, separated, and isolated to be treated in the AMT Inactivation Process, step three. This is a pyro-chemical process, which transmutes (transubstantiates) the materials, thus accelerating the decay rate to a matter of days, rather than the element's natural half-life, " says Perry Keister, Chief Engineering and Design Officer.

Geza Szocs, Senior advisor to Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orban comments, "It has been Hungary's vision to become a world leader in addressing the problem of waste management. It is inconceivable to leave this critical problem to future generations to readdress by either simply ignoring the problem, in general or just digging up contaminated materials, re-packaging and burying them again."

It is anticipated that initial work for building the first ever commercial facility of its' kind on the landfill site located at Puspokszilagyi outside Budapest, will commence Q2 2017. Funding for this industry-first is coming from diverse sources, including the European Union.

AmoTerra Corporation headquarters in Hope, British Columbia, Canada is a technology/data engineering analytics company focused on waste management systems. The European office is located in Budapest, Hungary. For more information please visit www.amoterra.ca

SOURCE AmoTerra Corporation
Waltuck has enjoyed an illustrious culinary career, with two James Beard Awards, two New York Times four-star reviews and two award-winning books under his belt. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to share the knowledge and experience I have gathered in my forty-year career as a chef with a new generation of aspiring professionals," said Waltuck. "I have chosen to work with ICE because the program is excellent, the new facilities are state of the art and, most important, the instructors and administrators are experienced and deeply committed."

Most well-known as the executive chef and proprietor of Chanterelle, Waltuck spent 30 years at the helm of the famed restaurant. During his tenure, he and the restaurant received two James Beard Awards including Best Chef NYC in 2007 and Best Restaurant in America in 2004 (among more than 10 nominations) and two four-star reviews from the New York Times (1987 and 1993). Known for its innovative and refined blend of French new American cuisine, Chanterelle was the first such restaurant to bring this type of fine dining to downtown Manhattan.

Since Chanterelle's closure, Waltuck has most recently served as the executive chef of elan restaurant, which earned two stars from the New York Times. Previously, he served as the Executive Chef for Ark Restaurants Inc., where he opened restaurants for the brand across the country from Las Vegas and Washington, D.C. to Boston and New York City. He is also the author of two books: Staff Meals at Chanterelle and Chanterelle: The Story and Recipes of a Restaurant Classic, which won an IACP Award for Best Cookbook: Chefs and Restaurants in 2009. He began his career in the world of science, earning a bachelor's degree in Biological Oceanography from CCNY and graduating as a member of phi beta kappa.

In addition to his role as chef instructor at ICE, serving as a teacher in ICE's culinary arts program, Waltuck will also serve as the school's first director of culinary affairs. In this role, he will provide mentorship to ICE students as they plan their careers, maintain relationships with New York City restaurants to continue placing ICE students in coveted externships, sustain relationships with ICE alumni chefs and provide insight and collaboration on the school's culinary curriculum to keep current with restaurant standards. He will also teach in ICE's School of Professional Development and School of Recreational Cooking.

"ICE is thrilled to welcome a chef of David's caliber to the school's already outstanding teaching staff," said Rick Smilow, ICE's president and CEO. "He brings with him the knowledge that comes with 40 years of experience in the restaurant industry, the better part of which was spent working in one of the city's top restaurants. Our students will absolutely benefit from the lessons and wisdom he will impart."

About the Institute of Culinary Education

The Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) is one of the largest and most diverse culinary schools in the world. Established in 1975, ICE offers award-winning six to 13-month career training programs in Culinary Arts, Pastry & Baking Arts, Culinary Management and Hospitality Management  with more than 12,000 successful alumni, many of whom are leaders in the industry. ICE also offers continuing education for culinary professionals, hosts more than 500 special events each year, and is home to one of the world's largest recreational cooking, baking and wine programs with more than 26,000 students annually. In 2015, marking the school's 40th anniversary, ICE moved to a new, transformative 74,000-square-foot facility at Brookfield Place in downtown Manhattan, designed for inspiration, creativity and community. Visit us at ice.edu or join us on Twitter and Facebook @iceculinary to find your culinary voice

CONTACT:

Stephanie Fraiman

Public Relations & Communications Director

Institute of Culinary Education

(212) 847-0703

[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160620/381161

SOURCE The Institute of Culinary Education

Related Links

http://www.ice.edu


BABYLON, N.Y., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This summer, Tommy Bahama and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation are collaborating in support of Long Island State Park beaches and the Jones Beach Lifeguard Corps. Tommy Bahama will bring its relaxed, "Make Life One Long Weekend" philosophy to the beautiful beaches of Long Island, by providing the official lifeguard uniform t-shirts, rashguard and board shorts. This is the first time the lifeguard uniforms will be made from technical fabrics with a UPF 50+ rating for sun protection. There will also be Tommy Bahama recognition signs on lifeguard chairs, stands and lifeguard shacks. The full opening for all Long Island region beaches is Saturday, June 25.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160617/380823

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160617/380822LOGO

"For many New Yorkers, summer is best enjoyed with surf, sun and a fun day at the beach," said State Parks Commissioner Rose Harvey. "We are excited to partner with Tommy Bahama to support our beautiful sandy beaches and the Long Island lifeguards who watch over them and keep millions of park visitors safe. Not only does this new gear provide greater sun protection for our lifeguards, but the iconic Tommy Bahama brand also instills a summertime state of mind that's long been an essential part of the Long Island beach experience."

"We're honored to partner with the Jones Beach Lifeguards this year. For Tommy Bahama, summer is about going to the beach and enjoying all it has to offer. The lifeguard's commitment to safety allows New Yorkers to take advantage of some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. We've designed uniforms that will deliver comfort, style and most importantly, one more layer of protection against the sun," says Rob Goldberg, Executive Vice President Marketing at Tommy Bahama.

Tommy Bahama will provide 500 Jones Beach Lifeguards with custom designed uniforms made from fabrics containing a UPF 50+ rating for sun protection. The navy blue and yellow uniforms will include a long sleeve rashguard and swim trunks made of technical fabrics, as well as long and short sleeve 100% Pima cotton t-shirts, all featuring a specially designed co-branded logo. This is the first time the official lifeguard uniform will be made from fabrics with a UPF 50+ rating to provide critical sun protection.

The Jones Beach Lifeguard Corps is responsible for water safety operations within seven heavily visited metropolitan New York beaches, including three major facilities on the Atlantic Ocean and two pools at Long Island State Parks, which serves an estimated 12 million visitors each season. The beaches include Jones Beach, Robert Moses, Hither Hills, Heckscher, Orient, Wildwood and Sunken Meadow State Park beaches as well as swimming pools at the West Bathhouse Jones Beach and Montauk Downs. Established in 1929, the corps is one of the nation's premier rescue organizations.

The public-private partnership also includes Tommy Bahama sponsorship of the 38th Annual Volleyball Tournament at Jones Beach on July 16-17, which hosts over a thousand players. This is a free co-ed tournament consisting of four and six player leagues.

Tommy Bahama will also provide scholarships to support the popular Junior Lifeguard program. This program provides training for young adolescents to become future lifeguards within the New York Metropolitan area beaches.

In recognition of the Long Island region beaches, Tommy Bahama will host a special "Shop for a Cause" event at their New York City flagship store and restaurant on Fifth Avenue and at the Walt Whitman Shops in Huntington Station, Long Island. On Friday, June 24, 20% of net sales at both locations will be donated to the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) which benefits public programs for parks, recreation, cultural, land and water conservation and historic preservation purposes of the State of New York. The NHT accomplishes its mission through cooperative programs and projects with its agency partners: New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Department of State (DOS). The NHT is dedicated to building and sustaining relationships with organizations that share mission compatible goals and purposes.

About Tommy Bahama

Tommy Bahama is part of Tommy Bahama Group, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Oxford Industries, Inc. Established in August 1992, with corporate headquarters in Seattle, Tommy Bahama is an island-inspired lifestyle brand that defines relaxed, sophisticated style in men's and women's sportswear, swimwear, accessories, footwear and a complete home furnishings collection. The company owns and operates over 160 Tommy Bahama retail locations worldwide, 16 of which offer a Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar. The Tommy Bahama collection is available on TommyBahama.com and at the finest U.S. retailers, including Nordstrom and other specialty retailers. Additional stores will be opening this year. For more information, please visit www.tommybahama.com.

About Jones Beach and New York State Parks

Jones Beach is a world-class swimming destination offering Atlantic Ocean and bay swimming along a 6.5 mile beachfront. The park is undergoing a $65 million revitalization to restore its historic grandeur, expand food and beverage service, streamline park entry and increase storm resiliency as part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Parks 2020 initiative to redesign and rebuild state parks for the future. Statewide, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversee 180 state parks and 35 historic sites, which are visited by 65 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com, connect on Facebook, NY State Parks & Historic Sites, or follow on Twitter @NYstateparks

Press Contacts:

Tommy Bahama Corporate: Orsi Public Relations 323-874-4073 Janet Orsi Email/ Greg Lutchko Email

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation: George Gorman, Jr. (631) 321-3403 [email protected]

SOURCE Tommy Bahama

Related Links

http://www.tommybahama.com


BOSTON and BARCELONA, Spain, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ToolsGroup announced today that it will offer new 'Pay as You Grow' commercial terms to early stage online retailers. These terms let eligible customers make a relatively modest initial investment for ToolsGroup's supply chain planning software, paying more as revenues grow. Growing businesses get to punch above their weight and capture market share early by gaining access to powerful supply chain planning software typically only available to larger companies.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160617/380647LOGO

An example of ToolsGroup's first Pay as You Grow customers is Ulabox, a Spanish pure-play online supermarket established in 2011. Ulabox uses ToolsGroup SO99+ to optimize inventory and replenishment planning, and also promotional forecasting. The software helps Ulabox free up working capital that is typically dear to early stage growth companies, and enables exceptional service to its 250,000+ customers in Barcelona and Madrid. As Ulabox aggressively expands its product range to attract new customers, SO99+'s advanced algorithms help forecast demand for the inevitable growth in both fast moving and 'long-tail' inventory items.

According to D. Ricardo Ribes, Director of Operations Ulabox, "Thanks to ToolsGroup's Pay as You Grow model we gained access to knowledge, experience and tools that optimise customer service and logistics costs, enabling us to grow faster. First impressions count when you're offering a new business model. Without ToolsGroup, it would have been harder for us to offer the quality of experience to tempt customers away from their usual grocery store."

According to Joseph Shamir, ToolsGroup, CEO, "Supply chain software is no longer just for the large enterprise. We're pleased to help promising e-commerce players hit the market with outstanding service levels through our new Pay as You Grow commercial terms."

This innovative new pricing model is available immediately to qualified early stage online retailers. To find out more about the programme, contact your local ToolsGroup office or partner at www.toolsgroup.com/en/about-us/offices/americas.html.

About Ulabox

Created in 2010, Ulabox is Spain's first pure-play online supermarket. Customers can order more than 12,500 items from its central warehouse in Mercabarna from any Internet-connected device. Ulabox currently enjoys a satisfaction rate of 95% thanks to customers who value the retailer's brand selection, fresh produce, competitive prices and the new opportunity to take delivery in less than 24 hours between 7:00 am and 11:00 pm. Based in Barcelona and led by the entrepreneur Jaume Goma, Ulabox has doubled in size year on year, reaching 4 million in revenue in 2014. Visit the press room www.ulabox.com/press

About ToolsGroup

ToolsGroup is a global provider of "Powerfully Simple" supply chain planning and demand analytics software. Our customers overcome volatile demand and challenging supply chains to generate accurate forecasts and outstanding customer service levels with less global inventory. ToolsGroup's solutions span key supply chain planning areas such as demand forecasting and collaboration, sales and operations planning(S&OP), demand sensing,

promotion forecasting and multi-echelon inventory optimization (MEIO). For more information, visit www.toolsgroup.com or follow us on Twitter @ToolsGroup.

SOURCE ToolsGroup

Related Links

http://www.toolsgroup.com


JERUSALEM, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A delegation of presidents and chancellors from top U.S. universities and colleges recently travelled to Israel with AJC Project Interchange (PI) to learn about Israeli innovation and discover opportunities for bilateral academic partnerships. Participants met one-on-one with their counterparts from Israeli universities, including the Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Hebrew University, and IDC Herzliya to discuss areas of mutual interest.

"This seminar was a rare opportunity to explore academic collaboration on a global level," said University of California President Janet Napolitano, who chaired the seminar and was actively involved in the recruitment of participants. "The meetings among worldwide educational leaders furthered the exchange of cross-cultural ideas on innovation and learning and have established a foundation for additional collaboration down the road with Israel partners."

Campuses represented included Claremont McKenna College, George Washington University, Oberlin College, Occidental College, Saint Louis University, Syracuse University, and the University of California.

Along with meeting their Israeli counterparts, participants were exposed to an array of complex issues facing Israel and the region through sessions with renowned experts and site visits throughout Israel. Discussions with Israeli government officials, academic and civil society leaders focused on Israel's high-tech and entrepreneurship landscape, security challenges, diversity in Israeli society, programs for Israeli-Palestinian cooperation, the peace process, and Israel's approach to global humanitarian aid.

The delegation also visited Ramallah in the West Bank and met with Palestinian experts on Palestinian society, innovation and entrepreneurship.

"We were delighted to host this delegation of elite American university presidents and chancellors led by President Napolitano," said Robin Levenston, Project Interchange Executive Director. "AJC Project Interchange aims to provide a platform to open up dialogues for mutually beneficial partnerships and collaborations in the future."

This delegation marked the 11th annual PI seminar for university presidents. Past seminars have resulted in innovative partnerships, including the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute and the Miami-Dade College-Tel Aviv University MOU.

The delegation included Presidents and Chancellors from:

University of California , widely regarded as one of the top university systems in the world with ten campuses, more than 250,000 students and 21,000 faculty members, and 1.6 million alumni;

, widely regarded as one of the top university systems in the world with ten campuses, more than 250,000 students and 21,000 faculty members, and 1.6 million alumni; Claremont McKenna College , ranks as the ninth best liberal arts college by U.S. News & World Report;

, ranks as the ninth best liberal arts college by U.S. News & World Report; George Washington University , the Elliott School of International Affairs is recognized among the top ten international affairs programs in the U.S.;

, the Elliott School of International Affairs is recognized among the top ten international affairs programs in the U.S.; Oberlin College , named by Forbes as the best college in Ohio ;

, named by as the best college in ; Occidental College , selected as a community engagement institution by the Carnegie Foundation, becoming one of a handful of liberal arts colleges to be so designated for its commitment to collaboration with the community;

, selected as a community engagement institution by the Carnegie Foundation, becoming one of a handful of liberal arts colleges to be so designated for its commitment to collaboration with the community; Saint Louis University , known for its top rated (#1) health law graduate program and its top ten rated (#7) entrepreneurship and international business undergraduate programs;

, known for its top rated (#1) health law graduate program and its top ten rated (#7) entrepreneurship and international business undergraduate programs; Syracuse University , recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the top graduate school for public affairs.

For nearly 35 years Project Interchange, a nonprofit educational institute of AJC (American Jewish Committee), has brought 6,000 influential figures to Israel from 90+ countries and all 50 U.S. states, offering them broad exposure and first-hand understanding of the complex issues facing Israel and the region. projectinterchange.org

SOURCE American Jewish Committee

Related Links

http://www.ajc.org


BOCA RATON, Fla., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Where do you start publicity for a new client as attractive, charming and capabile as high-end residential Realtor Crystal Leigh Hemphill, owner of Crystal Leigh Realty? (http://www.crystalleighrealty.com/)

This is what TransMedia Group CEO Tom Madden is wondering, now that she's a client of his PR firm.

A dedicated and highly enterprising luxury realtor, Crystal has made Transmedia both her PR firm and personal talent agency.

"We're trying to decide whether publicity should kick off with the fact she's become the darling of celebrity buyers and sellers of South Florida real estate like her recently listing the property of Real Housewives of Miami star Joanna Krupa and her husband Romain Zago, the well known nightclub owner in Miami Beach.

"Do we play up that she's a hard-driving Texas gal who grew up riding fast ponies, going to rodeos and learning to be a crack shot with a 20 guage shotgun or do we present her more seriously as a highly skilled luxury Realtor who has lived in nearly a dozen countries, from Mexico to Spain, and works out every morning lifting and squatting with 185-pound weights?

"There are very few 30-year-olds who are as sharp and innovative at creating events and experiences that make her listings stand out," said Madden, a licensed real estate professional in his own right when he's not making his PR clients famous.

"Crystal markets luxury property to celebrities, athletes and multi-millionaires," said TransMedia Group's Vice President, Tim Allen. "We've already brought her to the Founder and CEO of US OPEN Cricket, Mahammad Qureshi's, affectionately known as Maq, to check out his multi-million-dollar home."

TransMedia said it will buzz highlights of Crystal's 12 years sales experience; 8 year real estate experience of helping movers and shakers find their dream properties. "We'll invite media to walk along with Crystal and discuss her experience in the commercial, investment and residential areas of real estate.

"Our publicity will feature many endorsements such as Barry Stamos, CEO & Co-Founder at Videoo, who said: "Crystal is a real estate superstar. She was quick to understand our preferences and relentless in finding and securing our property."

Contact: Tim Allen

[email protected]

Phone: 561-750-9800 x2220

SOURCE TransMedia Group

Related Links

http://www.transmediagroup.com


PUNE, India, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

The report "Variable Data Printing Market in Labels by Label Type (Release Liner, Linerless), Composition (Facestock, Topcoat), Printing Technology (Thermal Transfer, Direct Thermal, Electrophotography, Inkjet), End-use Sector, Region - Forecast to 2021" published by MarketsandMarkets, The market in labels is projected to grow from USD 10.79 Billion in 2016 to USD 22.27 Billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 15.61% from 2016 to 2021.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 )



Browse 223 market data Tables with 42 Figures spread through 222 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Variable Data Printing Market"

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/variable-data-printing-market-238107944.html

Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report.

This market possesses high growth potential due to its ability to provide customized product information, serialized number printing, and better quality printing that require lower cost and lesser time. Growth in the end-use sector and packaging printing industry, demand for inventory tracking and tracing solutions, product differentiation, and technological advancements in the printing industry are some of the drivers for the growth of the Variable Data Printing Market in labels. The advent of global brands, rising consumerism, and growth of the packaging industry have witnessed significant increase in the scope for the variable printing market in labels.

"Variable data printing on facestock is projected to increase at the highest rate during the forecast period."

Facestock can withstand adverse conditions such as high temperature, moisture, and abrasion. The growth of this segment can be attributed to its ability to offer excellent clarity, gloss, durability, and dimensional stability. Being the basic composite of a label comprising features such as appropriate roughness, stiffness, and absorption degree complementing excellent printability, this segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR and acquire the largest market share during the forecast period.

"The adoption of inkjet printing technology for the printing of variable data on labels is to grow significantly from 2016 to 2021."

The growth of inkjet printing technology in the Variable Data Printing Market in labels is attributed to the introduction of high-speed, commercial color printing inkjet technology. Other factors for the increasing adoption of inkjet printers are low cost of the machine, ability to produce good quality printing at low maintenance costs, small size, and fast printing.

"Asia-Pacific is projected to grow at the highest rate in the global Variable Data Printing Market in labels market"

The Asia-Pacific region is projected to grow at a highest rate from 2016 to 2021 due to factors such as emerging economies China and India, increasing health & safety concerns, and increasing demand for consumer goods and lifestyle products from the urban population in this region. China, being a leading manufacturer and supplier of printing materials and equipment, exhibits high growth opportunities in the Variable Data Printing Market in labels.

Make an Enquiry: http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=238107944

The key players in the Variable Data Printing Market in labels are HP Inc. (U.S.), Canon Inc. (Japan), 3M Company (U.S.), Xerox Corporation (U.S.), R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company (U.S.), Mondi Plc (South Africa), Avery Dennison Corporation (U.S.), Quad/Graphics Inc. (U.S.), Cenveo, Inc. (U.S.), and WS Packaging Group, Inc. (U.S.).



Browse Related Reports

Packaging Printing Market by Ink Type (Water Based & UV Curable), Printing Technology (Flexography, Rotogravure, Offset, Digital), Material (Paper & Paperboard, Flexible & Rigid Plastic, Glass & Metal), Application (Food & Beverages, Cosmetics & Toiletries, and Healthcare) - Trends & Forecast to 2020

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/packaging-printing-market-153207109.html

Printed Tape Market in Packaging by Product Type (Hot Melt, Acrylic), by Material (Polypropylene, PVC), by Printing Ink (Water-based, UV-curable), by Mechanism (Digital Printing, Flexography), by End-user industry (Food & Beverages, Consumer Durables) & by Region - Forecast to 2020

http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/packaging-tape-printing-market-46535011.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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Visit MarketsandMarkets Blog @ http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/packaging

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SOURCE MarketsandMarkets
NEW YORK, June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Verve, the leader in location-powered mobile marketing, today announced that it is expanding its long-standing relationship with Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) with a new $30 million debt financing package.

Growing over 50 percent annually for the past four years, Verve embarked on its international expansion with the opening of its UK office this March. Current campaigns with new European partners are demonstrating strong performance and the new capital will accelerate the expansion of Verve's patented capabilities into other markets. In addition, Verve recently announced increased investment in Verve Velocity, its self-service platform for marketing partners providing location-based mobile solutions for SMB markets. Furthermore, this additional funding will enable Verve to continue building new data and platform solutions for its expanding customer base.

"Silicon Valley Bank has played a pivotal role in Verve's expansion," said Nada Stirratt, Verve CEO. "Verve is a pioneer in the mobile location business, and we have proven our ability to build a rapid-growth, profitable platform with industry-leading margins. This additional investment from SVB allows us to make strategic data and technology acquisitions to complement our distinctive capabilities in the US and abroad."

"Silicon Valley Bank is pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with Verve," said Eric Otterson, Managing Director for SVB in San Diego. "We're impressed by Nada and the leadership team that has realized the company's consistent growth in a highly competitive market. We are thrilled to provide the Verve team with the right financing, connections and global services necessary to facilitate their continued growth."

"We know that the mobile landscape will evolve, and Verve plans to be at the forefront of delivering greater advertising performance for our clients," said Stirratt. "We are doubling the size of our product and engineering team and actively pursuing impressive additions to our portfolio."

ABOUT VERVE

Verve is a location-based mobile marketing platform that connects advertisers with consumers to deliver successful business outcomes. The company's proprietary location intelligence, patented technology, premium inventory, and analytics capabilities empower marketers to identify, reach and engage consumers with compelling advertising experiences.

Headquartered in New York City, Verve has offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago, London, Eastern Europe, India and Southeast Asia. For more information, visit www.vervemobile.com.

About Silicon Valley Bank

For more than 30 years, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) has helped innovative companies and their investors move bold ideas forward, fast. SVB provides targeted financial services and expertise through its offices in innovation centers around the world. With commercial, international and private banking services, SVB helps address the unique needs of innovators. Learn more at svb.com.

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE Verve

Related Links

http://www.vervemobile.com


HOLMDEL, N.J., June 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Vonage (NYSE: VG) announces its latest international calling feature, boomerang, making it easier and faster for customers to get in touch with loved ones around the world. boomerang breaks the cycle and frustration of international "missed calls" or "call me back" messages by allowing friends and family abroad to reach Vonage customers without having to pay for the call.

With the feature, Vonage customers can create a list of boomerang contacts and any contact on that list who initiates a call to the Vonage customer will automatically receive a call back. The experience for both the caller and recipient is seamless.

"A study of our customers' calling patterns revealed that receiving 'missed calls' from friends and family overseas is a common practice to indicate the need to talk without incurring the expense of an international call," said Gene Cannon, Vice President of Product Management for Vonage. "boomerang makes it fast and easy for friends and family anywhere in the world to reach Vonage customers without having to pay for the call, providing a seamless way for customers to connect with loved ones."

When an overseas caller dials a Vonage customer's number, they hear a message telling them to hang up to receive a call back. Vonage then uses the customer's number to automatically place a call between the customer and caller. The Vonage customer then has the option to either answer the phone or direct the call to voicemail. Whether or not the call is connected, friends and family abroad are never charged by Vonage.

Key Features of boomerang:

Customers can choose up to 10 contacts to add to their boomerang list.

Customers can easily add and remove contacts from their boomerang list via the Vonage Extensions App's contacts or "recent" list.

boomerang works with other Vonage features like SimulRing, call forwarding, call waiting, visual voicemail and more.

boomerang calls will ring the Vonage home phone and mobile Extensions App.

Customers will hear a special ring tone on the Extensions App to indicate a boomerang call.

boomerang is included in calling plans for Vonage residential customers in the U.S., U.K. and Canada regardless of the country that originates the call.

For more on boomerang, watch this video with Gene Cannon or click here for a demo.

About Vonage

Vonage (NYSE: VG) is a leading provider of cloud communications services for businesses. Vonage transforms the way people work and businesses operate through a portfolio of communications solutions that enable internal collaboration among employees, while also keeping companies closely connected with their customers, across any mode of communication, on any device. The Company also provides a robust suite of feature-rich residential communication solutions. In 2015, the Company was named a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications as-a-Service, Worldwide and also earned the Frost & Sullivan Growth Excellence Leadership Award for Hosted IP and Unified Communications and Collaboration (UCC) Services. For more information, visit www.vonage.com.

Vonage Holdings Corp. is headquartered in Holmdel, New Jersey. Vonage is a registered trademark of Vonage America Inc. To follow Vonage on Twitter, please visit www.twitter.com/vonage. To become a fan on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/vonage. To subscribe on YouTube, visit www.youtube.com/vonage.

(vg-a)

SOURCE Vonage

Related Links

http://www.vonage.com


Florida ranks fourth in the nation for family hunger, and in Tampa Bay, more than 700,000 people and 250,000 children struggle with hunger every day. Through this new partnership, WellCare and Feeding Tampa Bay will host 12 mobile food pantries across Tampa in both rural and urban locations over a one-year period. WellCare employees will also help distribute food to local residents.

On June 18, WellCare launched its mobile food pantry program at Our St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Seffner. More than 25 WellCare volunteers distributed over 12,000 pounds of food, which feeds approximately 300 to 400 families for up to four days. Over the course of the one-year program, WellCare will reach up to 4,800 families and deliver over 125,000 meals to the Tampa Bay community.

"One in four children and one in six people in Tampa Bay struggle with hunger the long-term effects of which can be devastating to our communities," said Thomas Mantz, executive director of Feeding Tampa Bay. "We are thankful for WellCare's support, which is critical to help eliminate food insecurity and improve the quality of life within our communities."

"At WellCare, we are deeply committed to helping children and families in Tampa Bay lead better, healthier lives," said Michael Radu, senior vice president, clinical operations and business development. "We understand that our members often have challenges in life that go beyond just health care. This often includes a lack of access to nutritious foodsa key component to good health. We are happy to partner with Feeding Tampa Bay to provide greater access to healthy foods in our local communities."

For more information about Feeding Tampa Bay, or to locate an upcoming mobile food pantry in your area, visit www.feedingtampabay.org.

About WellCare Health Plans, Inc.

Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., WellCare Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: WCG) focuses exclusively on providing government-sponsored managed care services, primarily through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, to families, children, seniors and individuals with complex medical needs. WellCare serves approximately 3.7 million members nationwide as of March 31, 2016. For more information about WellCare, please visit the company's website at www.wellcare.com or view the company's videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/WellCareHealthPlan.

About the WellCare Community Foundation

The WellCare Community Foundation was established in 2010 and is a non-profit, private foundation. Its mission is to foster and promote the health, well-being and quality of life for the poor, distressed and other medically under-served populations  including those who are elderly, young and indigent  and the communities in which they live. The WellCare Community Foundation carries out this mission by supporting work that helps people live healthy, safe and productive lives, and by assisting groups with serious and neglected health needs. Underscoring this mission is the WellCare Community Foundation's goal to serve as a national resource that fosters an environment where there is a continuum of education, access and quality health care, all of which improve the overall health, well-being and quality of life of targeted beneficiaries.

About Feeding Tampa Bay

Founded in 1982, Feeding Tampa Bay is the largest food rescue and distribution organization in the community, serving a food-insecure population of more than 700,000 people in a 10-county area. Feeding Tampa Bay recovers surplus food donations from local growers, manufacturers, supermarkets, and organized community food drives and distributes it to those in need through a partnership network of more than 500 faith-based and other incorporated nonprofit hunger relief organizations.

Over the past five years, Feeding Tampa Bay supplied more than 100 million pounds of food, enough to provide more than 3 million meals every month to those who would otherwise go hungry. Feeding Tampa Bay was honored as WEDU's Be More 2014 Nonprofit of the Year.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160618/380940

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150701/227667LOGO

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151120/289928LOGO

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160618/380939LOGO



SOURCE WellCare Health Plans, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.wellcare.com


If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Beijing, June 16 : China could support New Delhi's entry into the NSG if it promises to comply with stipulations over the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, an influential Chinese daily said on Thursday.

As India has not signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) or the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), it was not fit to get into the NSG, a commentary in the Global Times said.

"Beijing welcomes New Delhi playing a role as a major power in global governance, including producing positive effect in a nuclear non-proliferation organization," said the commentary by Fu Xiaoqiang of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

"As long as all NSG members reach a consensus over how a non-NPT member could join the NSG, and India promises to comply with stipulations over the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons while sticking to its policy of independence and self-reliance, China could support New Delhi's path toward the club," it said.

Commentaries in the English-language Global Times are generally known to reflect the views of the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

The daily noted India's efforts to become a member of the 48-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and the support it has received from the US and some countries on this count.

NSG membership would grant India global acceptance as a legitimate nuclear power, the commentary said.

"If it joins the group, New Delhi will be able to import civilian nuclear technology and fuels from the international market more conveniently while saving its domestic nuclear materials for military use.

"The major goal for India's NSG ambition is to obtain an edge over Islamabad in nuclear capabilities.

"Once New Delhi gets the membership first, the nuclear balance between India and Pakistan will be broken.

"As a result, Pakistan's strategic interests will be threatened, which will in turn shake the strategic balance in South Asia, and even cast a cloud over peace and stability in the entire Asia-Pacific region."

The Times noted that the US recognized New Delhi as a "major defence partner" during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Washington.

The US was "highly likely to keep supporting New Delhi's nuclear ambitions in order to make it a stronger power to contain China," it added.

Pointing out the objection to India's membership by New Zealand, Ireland, Turkey, South Africa and Austria, the daily said that China "does not wish to see the political and legal foundation of global nuclear security to be challenged by any party who does not abide by rules".

"For those countries that are developing nuclear technology without the acceptance of the international community, perhaps counting them into the non-proliferation mechanism will better safeguard nuclear security," it said.
New Delhi, June 17 : Jamia Millia Islamia on Friday said it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tehran's National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB) for academic cooperation.

Jamia Millia Vice Chancellor Talat Ahmad said that the academic collaboration between the two partnering institutions would open new opportunities for young researchers working in the frontier areas of genetic engineering and biotechnology and the research outcomes would impact the global society favourably.

"The impetus given by the government towards internationalisation of education would yield positive dividends in the years to come with India emerging as a major education hub in the world," Ahmad said.

The MoU will enable the two institutions to jointly undertake research activities in the frontier areas of genetic engineering and biotechnology, a Jamia Millia statement said.
Kolkata, June 18 : Legal experts have questioned the legality of West Bengal government's decision to probe the Narada News sting operation at a time when the Calcutta High Court is already examining the issue.

Describing the sting as "a provocation and conspiracy to create a hostile public reaction", Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday ordered the probe to be conducted by Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar.

Carried out by news portal Narada News, the sting caught on camera over a dozen Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, including former union ministers, state cabinet heavyweights and MPs, accepting money purportedly in return for promising to do favours to a fictitious company.

Legal experts said the probe ordered by the government amounted to interference in the judicial process as the high court has been hearing multiple public interest litigation (PIL) petitions seeking an independent investigation.

"The high court has ordered forensic examination of the tapes and is slated to hear the matter; so when the matter is sub judice, ordering a probe like this is wholly improper," former Supreme Court judge A.K. Ganguly told IANS.

"The court is not only seized of the matter but has also taken steps in this regard. So ordering such a probe amounts to interference with the court's process and can be legally challenged," he said.

Hearing the PIL petitions, a bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A. Banerjee on April 29 ordered a forensic test on the Narada News sting tapes to be conducted by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) of Hyderabad.

Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, an advocate who is involved in the court case, said he will be moving the high court against the Banerjee government's decision to conduct a probe.

"The probe order really speaks about the intent of the state government to derail the investigation which the high court was contemplating to pass (an order on)," Bhattacharya told IANS.

"This is interfering with the order of the court. We will be moving the high Court against this on Monday."

However, Rama Prasad Sarkar, who had filed one of the PIL petitions, welcomed the government's move.

"In the PIL we had sought a detailed investigation into the entire sting. So the government has done the right thing by ordering a probe," said Sarkar.

Meanwhile, the ruling TMC hit back at CPI-M state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra for ridiculing the probe order.

Alluding to the TMC leadership and Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar, Mishra on Friday tweeted: "The accused in the Narada sting now declares to conduct an investigation and that too by its henchman cop!! Farce of the highest order!!"

TMC Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien said: "Look who's tweeting! Shame. A defeated, frustrated man like S.K. Mishra. Why are they scared? Are they conspirators? Let truth come out".
New Delhi, June 18 : As Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Raghuram Rajan on Saturday made it official that he is not keen on a second term, India Inc voiced its concern while the government said his successor will be announced soon.

"Have no doubts that he will continue to add value to the country. He deserves more dignity than what he was treated with," Infosys co-founder N.R.Narayana Murthy told a private news channel.

Murthy, was in fact batting for not one but two more terms for Rajan.

However, the government, acknowledging Rajan's decision, said his successor will be announced soon.

"Raghuram Rajan has announced his intention to go back to academics at the end of his current assignment. The government appreciates the good work done by him and respects his decision. A decision on his successor would be announced shortly," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in his tweet.

But the opposition Congress, who had appointed Rajan as the governor in 2013 when it headed the UPA government, expressed its disapproval of the decision.

"Disappointed and profoundly saddened by Raghuram Rajan's decision to leave RBI post completion of his term," senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said.

He, however, mentioned that this decision of Rajan's did not surprise him.

Rajan on Saturday formally told his colleagues that he is not keen on a second term at the helm of the country's central bank and would return to academia when his tenure ends in September. He went on to allude that while much was accomplished, a part of that task remained a work in progress.

But Rajan's critics like BJP leader Subramanian Swamy who was particularly harsh on him and had earlier asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to let him go, remained unrelenting.

"Raghuram Rajan was an employee of the government of India. We don't select employees on the basis of popular vote -- and, too, of industrialists," Swamy said.

But industrialists hailed Rajan and his work.

"This is clearly Raghuram Rajan's choice. He has always been very keen on academia and having said this, I do hope that we will have a leadership in RBI soon which would do the very outstanding work Raghuram Rajan had started. We now require a very pivotal kind of leadership from the central bank in order to work with the government," said Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairperson, Biocon.

"If he would have continued, it would have been a great deal of comfort not only to India but to outside world as well," she added.

Before Rajan shot to global fame with his prediction of a looming global financial crisis way back in 2005, he had to face ridicule from such luminaries as then Federal Reserve chief Alan Greenspan and Nobel laureate Paul Krugman.

He had the last laugh, so to say, when that became a reality.

"He was one of the visionaries. He saw the crisis in 2008 happen, long before other people did. He has had a deep insight into how the global economy works. I'm particularly excited to see what he will do next. The economy is strong, things will go on. But he has surely done a remarkable job," said Vishal Sikka, CEO, Infosys.

According to Arundhati Bhattacharya, Chairman, State Bank of India (SBI), Governor Rajan increased the credibility of the central bank.

"Dr. Rajan is a person of very high caliber, who has built ably on the reputation of our Central Bank and given it a very large measure of credibility," Bhattacharya said in a statement.

Business chamber Assocham termed it unfortunate that Rajan is "leaving the RBI at a time when a tumultuous global economy poses several risks to India along with the banks grappling with an unprecedented challenge of mounting non-performing assets".

"While it is the institutions which are paramount, individuals provide leadership and a quality leadership makes all the difference. That is what Dr Rajan has done to the RBI. Over the last three years, he provided a new dimension to entire approach of the central bank with a global perspective, yet keeping intact, the unique advantages of the Indian economy and eco system," said Assocham Secretary General D.S. Rawat, hoping Rajan is persuaded to reconsider his decision.

Stock and currency market observers said that the news will subdue investors' sentiments.

"The RBI governor's exit news could prompt investors to recheck their bullish convictions," Anand James, Chief Market Strategist, Geojit BNP Paribas Financial Services, told IANS.
Dhaka, June 18 : A suspected Islamist accused in the murderous attack on a Hindu math teacher was killed in a shootout with Bangladesh police on Saturday morning, police said.

Golam Faizullah Fahim, prime accused in the attack on a Madaripur teacher on June 14, was a member of the Hizb-ut Tahrir group. He was on a 10-day remand in connection with the attempted murder case, The Daily Star reported.

Fahim had been handed over to the police after being caught by locals while fleeing after a machete attack on Ripan Chakraborty, a lecturer of Nazimuddin University College in the district, that left him critically injured.

According to police, Fahim was being taken to Miachar area in Sadar upazila to nab his cohorts on Saturday.

A shootout began as other suspects named by Fahim started shooting as the police arrived in the area.

Fahim was hit by a bullet in the gunfight and was pronounced dead when taken to the hospital, the police official said.

A court on Friday put Fahim on a 10-day remand after Sub-Inspector of Madaripur Sadar Police Ayub Ali filed an attempted murder case against him and several others in connection with the attack.

Meanwhile, the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party said the government was trying to cover-up the "real story" behind Saturday's shootout.

It said the government by killing Fahim, was trying to hush up the whole incident, bdnews24.com reported.

"The government killed him, which means they are covering it up. They are trying to suppress the truth," senior BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said.

Referring to his party chief Khaleda Zia's recent statements blaming the government for the targeted killings, Rizvi said: "Today's incident proves that once again."

"The information that could have been gleaned from his interrogation would have led to the actual perpetrators, but now it is not possible as Faizullah has been murdered," he said.

Bangladesh has been seeing a wave of targeted killings of bloggers, secularists and religious minorities which began in 2013 and has escalated in recent months.

To date, more than 50 people have been killed, often through machete attacks in public spaces.

Many of these killings have subsequently been claimed by Daesh (IS) or Ansar al-Islam, a Bangladeshi militant group linked to Al-Qaeda, but their involvement has not been established.

The government denies the presence of both the groups in the country.
Kolkata, June 18 : Expressing concern over communal forces' bid to destabilise Bangladesh, the Congress on Saturday slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for remaining silent on the issue.

"The rise of communal forces in Bangladesh is a serious concern. Attacks are being carried out in a concerted way to communally destabilise Bangladesh. Already several priests and Buddhist monks and people advocating secularism have been attacked and killed.

"The communal forces' bid to get Bangladesh free of the minorities is a grave concern for India. I have written to the External Affairs Minister (Sushma Swaraj) in this regard," state Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.

"It is disconcerting to see that despite sharing a cordial relation with Bangladesh, the West Bengal government has remained passive. The Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) has remained unconcerned in the matter," said the Congress Lok Sabha member.

"Being a neighbour we should share their concerns. People in Bangladesh are voicing their concerns and we too share that. We have full faith in the Sheikh Hasina government effectively tackling the issue," said Chowdhury.

His comments come in the wake of death threats from suspected Islamic State militants to a priest at the Ramakrishna Mission in Dhaka.

With India raising the matter with Bangladesh, security at the Mission premises in Dhaka has been beefed up.

Chowdhury said India too faced a similar communal threat in the form of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

"Much like Bangladesh, communal forces are rising in India as well. While the entire BJP wants to have a Congress-free India, a section of the party wants to create a Muslim-free India. This is a matter of grave concern for us and for the people of India," added Chowdhury.
New Delhi, June 19 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on his 46th birthday on Sunday morning.

The Prime Minister wished Gandhi a long and healthy life.

"Birthday wishes to the Congress VP, Rahul Gandhi. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life," tweeted Modi.

Gandhi thanked him for the wishes.

His supporters are expected to celebrate his birthday at party headquarters.

He is expected to meet party workers at around noon.
New Delhi, June 19 : About 1.30 lakh tonnes of pulses have been seized from hoarders in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi and other parts of northern India in the last few months, official sources said here on Sunday.

The crackdown is part of government efforts to rein in the spiralling prices of pulses, of which some varieties are selling in retail in large cities in the range of Rs 180-200 per kg.

"Hoarding is a hard fact and this is reported from parts of north India including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. So far, adequate actions have been taken in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu," an official source said.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told a TV channel in an interview telecast on Saturday that action against hoarders last year helped the government bring the prices of pulses down by about Rs 50 per kg in the retail market.

This year the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Income Tax department and local police have been conducting raids on people who are suspected to have been hoarding pulses to take advantage of the high prices, according to sources.

The high prices of pulses, however, arise from the long-term issue of supply falling short of demand by "about five million tonnes", Jaitley said in his TV interview, terming the shortfall a "serious challenge" for the government to tackle.

The demand-supply gap could be even wider than five million tonnes.

A source in the food ministry said: "As against the average supply of 17 million tonnes of pulses, the national demand is about 24 million tonnes. India is largest producer of pulses but also largest consumer and a very large importer."

The ministry confirms that about 5.5 million tonnes of pulses were imported in the last financial year.

This year too the government is looking to import pulses from Myanmar, Mozambique and other countries, the source said.

He said pulses are generally imported by private traders as well as public-sector agencies.

"But to avoid black-marketing, government-to-government contracts have been planned with countries like Myanmar to import the stuff for enhanced buffer stocks," the source said.

The government decided on June 16 to enhance pulses' buffer stock from 1.5 lakh tonnes to eight lakh tonnes.

At the same time, the government is looking for ways to boost domestic production, especially by better incentivising the farmer to shift to cultivation of pulses.

"Farmers often give up cultivating pulses for want of incentives and shift to paddy. Besides, to cultivate pulses, you need labour and this is also an uncertain crop," said an official in the agriculture ministry.

The government has decided to procure more pulses this year and also announced higher minimum support price (MSP) for the Kharif or the crop cultivated in summer.

"Higher MSP for pulses will give a positive signal to farmers to increase acreage and invest in increase in productivity per acre," the source said.

The Centre has urged states to take pulses from the buffer stock at a subsidised rate of Rs 66 per kg and sell in retail markets at Rs 120 per kg.

Over 10,000 tonnes have been released to the states, including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, for retail distribution so far.

Not many states, however, have come forward so far to buy from the buffer stock.
Jerusalem, June 19 : Israel's recently-appointed Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Sunday started an official visit to the US, his first overseas trip in his new post.

Lieberman, who joined Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government last month as the latter set out to increase his ruling coalition's majority in the Israeli parliament, will have introductory meetings during his visit, Xinhua cited a statement from his office as saying.

The minister, known for his hawkish views and militant statements, will meet US Secretary of Defence Ashton Carter during his visit.

Lieberman will also meet members of the US Senate Committees and take part in the inauguration of the F-35 fighter jets at the Lockheed Martin's factory in Texas.

The visit takes place amid ongoing negotiations between the US and Israel regarding a 10-year aid package, estimated to be worth around $30 billion.

An Israeli defence official said there were still gaps between the two sides.
Yangon, June 20 : Members of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) across Myanmar celebrated State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi's 71th birthday on Sunday by donating blood and planting trees.

In Yangon, Suu Kyi's birthday celebration was held in conjunction with the inauguration of the new building of the headquarters of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) led by her.

NLD patron U Tin Oo cut the birthday cake in honour of Suu Kyi and inaugurated the new NLD building with the presence of Yangon Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein and senior NLD leader U Han Tha Myint.
Lille (France), June 20 : France sealed top spot in Group A despite being held to a 0-0 draw by Switzerland in Lille on Sunday.

The Euro 2016 hosts got the point they needed to ensure they would finish top of the section, while the result also saw Switzerland confirm their place in the last 16 as runners-up.

Les Bleus were the dominant team, with the returning Paul Pogba striking the crossbar twice in the first half and substitute Dimitri Payet doing the same after the break as Switzerland failed to muster a single shot on target.

France will now play a third-place finisher from Groups C, D or E in the next round and Switzerland will face the runners-up of Group C.
Damascus, June 20 : At least three people were killed and five others were wounded when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives in Syria's Qamishli city on Sunday, state news SANA said.

The bomber detonated his explosive belt in the al-Wastani neighborhood in the predominantly-Kurdish city of Qamishli in the Hasakah province, Xinhua news agency reported.

No party has claimed responsibility.
Bucharest, June 20 : Actor Johnny Depp took a break from all the murky divorce battle with his estranged wife Amber Heard by chilling out with belly dancers at private party in Romania.

The only large checks in sight were the ones on the jacket over his chair as he relaxed with his friends from his rock band - The Hollywood Vampires.

The group hired out a swanky restaurant here for an after-party following a gig on their European tour.

The video footage from the bash at the Trattoria il Calcio shows Depp, 53, chatting with his friends and watching the glamourous girls on stage, reports mirror.co.uk.

A party-goer said: "If Johnny was under any stress, he didn't show it. He was quite relaxed, sipping beers and chatting with his friends. He even talked about Amber a little - but he clearly feels that he is the innocent party in all of this.

"Johnny told the restaurant owner he's always had a weakness for being too trusting, and said that was what had caused his problems."

With an age gap of 22 years, the couple got engaged in January 2014. Now, Heard is making shocking domestic violence claims.

But he gave the impression of someone who wasn't worried. He doesn't accept the things that have been said.

"He also said their relationship was great until they got married."
Patna, June 20 : The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Monday arrested Bihar School Examination Board's former chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his wife Usha Sinha from Varanasi, in connection with Class 12 toppers' scam, police said.

Patna senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj, who is heading the SIT, confirmed the arrests.

"Both will be brought to Patna on Monday itself and police will interrogate them," Maharaj said.

Last week, the 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.

According to police, Singh was on the run since after his name figured in the Class 12 toppers' scam.

Singh's wife Usha Sinha, former Janata Dal-United (JDU) legislator of Bihar, was also missing since her name also surfaced in the scam.

So far 10 persons have been arrested in the case, police said.

Amit Kumar alias Bachcha Rai, the mastermind behind the Class 12 Board merit list scam in Bihar, was arrested ten days ago after he surrendered to police.

Both Singh and Rai were 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.
New Delhi, June 20 : Yoga won't give you immortality but this ancient discipline of bringing union between the body, mind and spirit can definitely help you fight age - both physical and mental, say health and wellness experts.

"In my practice in India and abroad I have seen several cases where my clients have gotten better by regular yoga, pranayam and meditation," Preeti Rao, Health, Lifestyle and Wellness Consultant at Max Healthcare here, told IANS.

Regular yoga practice can help fight chronic lifestyle diseases like hypertension, hormonal imbalances, diabetes, reproductory disorders, and respiratory and cardiovascular related health concerns. Besides people with obesity, anxiety, constipation and digestive disorders can benefit significantly from practising yoga, according to the experts.

"From diabetes to high blood pressure, high cholesterol to heart problems, yoga can help you combat many such health issues that usually develop over the years. Also, arthritis is one of the most common problems among elderly people and yoga is a great way to tone it down and help the body become more active and flexible," said Nidhi Arora, physiotherapist at AktivOrtho, an orthopaedic, neurological and gynaecological rehabilitation centre here.

Founded by German orthopaedic specialist Gerd Mueller, AktivOrtho now has several centres in New Delhi and Gurgaon.

"Individuals prone to osteoporosis or are already suffering from the problem can gain a lot from yoga as a daily life discipline which increases bone density and growth. To keep a watch over increase in weight as well, yoga proves to be very helpful," Arora noted.

Yoga can improve blood flow in the body and increase oxygen supply to body cells. It helps improve balance which tends to become weak as one ages, acclaimed fitness expert and nutritionist Sonia Bajaj said.

What's more, the benefits of yoga transcends physical fitness alone.

"Yoga is not limited to yog or physical exercise," Rao said.

Scholarly studies and research in this area have strongly documented how yoga helps in improving cognitive abilities.

"Pranayama helps one to attain a better balance between the right and left-brain bringing more balance between emotional and rational thinking. Meditation facilitates a process of introspection, and brings more clarity and focus in one's life. Regular yoga also improves memory," Rao noted.

"A regular yoga practice even for just 20-30 minutes daily that is simple and involves varied breathing exercises and mediation is what I would recommend to remain sharp, alert and for a balanced life," she added.

A recent study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease found that a three-month course of Kundalini yoga and Kirtan Kriya meditation practice helped minimise the cognitive and emotional problems that often precede Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, brain disorders that impair the memory.

Kirtan Kriya, which involves chanting, hand movements and visualisation of light, has been practised for hundreds of years in India as a way to prevent cognitive decline in older adults.

Yoga and meditation was even more effective than the memory enhancement exercises that have been considered the gold standard for managing mild cognitive impairment, the findings showed.

"Historically and anecdotally, yoga has been thought to be beneficial in ageing well, but this is the scientific demonstration of that benefit," lead author of the study Harris Eyre, doctoral candidate at the University of Adelaide in Australia, said.

"If you or your relatives are trying to improve your memory or offset the risk for developing memory loss or dementia, a regular practice of yoga and meditation could be a simple, safe and low-cost solution to improving your brain fitness," Helen Lavretsky, the study's senior author and professor in residence in the department of psychiatry, University of California-Los Angeles, suggested.

"Yoga forms like asana, pranayama and a regular devotion towards meditation are such strong tools that they are bound to invigorate the brain, help enhance the power of the mind and stimulate the nervous system as well. Yoga should be taken seriously as results from it are long-lasting and life-changing for sure," Arora of AktivOrtho noted.

However, with many different types of yoga being practised today, it is important for you to find out with the help of experts which type of yoga meets your needs, she said.

(Gokul Bhagabati can be contacted at gokul.b@ians.in)
New Delhi, June 20 : A major clash between members of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the "Bengal brigade" broke out at the three-day central committee meet of the party here where veterans also exchanged heated words over the party's poll debacle in West Bengal.

At the meeting, Surjyakanta Mishra, former Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, was charged with being "architect of the massive electoral defeat" for the party and "embarrassment" for his insisting for the alliance with the Congress.

Leaders from Kerala, Assam and Tripura favoured adopting resolutions under which the Bengal brigade "should own up their responsibility" for the alliance.

The issue figured prominently during the two-day meeting on Saturday and Sunday wherein the hardliner camp asked why the party's Bengal unit insisted on the alliance with Congress in total contravention of the party resolutions adopted earlier not to have any ties with the party at the state level.

In fact, a few top Kerala leaders, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said for the CPI-M, both the BJP and the Congress were "equal enemies".

At this, Mishra is learnt to have said that despite the humbling, the CPI-M could poll as high as 2.15 crore votes in Bengal and this was "much higher than any other state".

The remarks predictably provoked the leaders from Kerala and other states, including Assam.

At one point of time during Saturday's deliberations, even party general secretary Sitaram Yechury had to intervene and reprimand a few leaders who were insisting on "admission" of failure by the Bengal camp.

Mishra was at times supported by party leaders from West Bengal but others kept on insisting that unlike Bengal, no where else the party decided to oppose the well established and traditional party line of having no ties with the Congress.

"Comrade Prakash Karat and many others opposed the alliance with Congress. Leaders from Tripura and Kerala said this would send a wrong signal at the ground level; yet Bengal leaders led by Biman Bose and Mishra insisted on the understanding with the Congress. We have paid a big price," a party leader told IANS.

At least 60 members in the 91-member central committee are said to be against the "Bengal brigade" for having decided in favour of the informal alliance with the Congress.

Some members, especially from Kerala and Tripura, said in the meeting that Bengal team and especially leaders like Mishra and Bose could not justify the alliance with the Congress as "winning elections cannot be the sole objective" of the CPI-M.
New Delhi, June 20 : BJP Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy on Monday joined the hunger strike led by his party MP Mahesh Girri outside Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence and demanded his "apology" over allegations on the M.M. Khan murder.

"There is no surprise the way in which Kejriwal is acting. He is a Naxalite by nature. All allegations levelled against Girri by him (Kejriwal) are completely wrong," Swamy said while addressing the party workers here.

"If there is a letter then Kejriwal should present it, if not he should apologise," the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said.

Girri had been sitting on a hunger strike outside Kejriwal's residence since Sunday.

Attacking the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ministers, Swamy said, "All AAP ministers are thieves. Look how each one of them are resigning."

Swamy also slammed Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung and said "he must be dismissed".

Girri, who represents East Delhi in the Lok Sabha, has dared Kejriwal to a public debate over the allegations and asked him to produce evidence to back the charges.

Khan, an estate officer with NDMC, was shot dead here on May 16 in Jamia Nagar, a day before he was expected to pass an order on the terms of the lease of The Connaught, a four-star hotel.
London, June 20 : At least 20 British militants are thought to have travelled to Libya to join the Islamic State (IS) terror group, intelligence officials said.

According to the Sunday Times, the 20 British jihadis are currently in Libya fighting with Islamist groups, some having travelled directly from British shores and others joining from Syria.

IS fighters have been pinned down in parts of Libya's Sirte since forces allied to the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) launched an operation to dislodge them from the coastal city last month.

The city represents the last IS stronghold in the country, and British fighters loyal to the extremist group are believed to have taken up arms to help the group cling on to the area, the Daily Mail reported.

"It's a worrying trend that around 20 of the British jihadis have travelled to Libya, and no doubt others will follow," an intelligence official said.

Officials estimate that IS has 5,000 fighters in Libya, most of them in Sirte.
Los Angeles, June 20 : Actor Anton Yelchin, who appeared in the "Star Trek" reboot films and "Terminator Salvation", has died in a "fatal traffic collision", his representative said. He was 27.

"His family requests you respect their privacy at this time," Yelchin's representative said in a statement to people.com.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office said that Yelchin's body was found pinned between a car and a gate at a home in Studio City, California. No cause of death has been declared yet while the coroner completes the autopsy. However, preliminary results were that he had head and chest injuries.

The medical examiner's office also said that it's believed his vehicle was not properly parked before Yelchin walked to its rear end and it then rolled and pinned him between the car and gate. He was pronounced dead at 1.10 a.m. on June 19.

Born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Yelchin and his family moved to the US in 1989. His parents were celebrated Russian ice skaters Irina and Viktor Yelchin.
New Delhi, June 20 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday told the Supreme Court that kingpin of the multi-crore counterfeit stamp paper scam Abdul Kareem Telgi was "very much alive" and was in incarceration in a Bengaluru jail.

"Abdul Kareem Telgi is very much alive and is in Bengaluru jail," Additional Solicitor General Atmaram Nadkarni told the vacation bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice A.M. Khanwilkar.

He told the court that earlier there were reports that Telgi was suffering from multiple ailments including AIDS and few years back, there was a report that he had passed away and the same was reported by media.

However, the officers of CBI have told methat Telgi was very much alive and was lodged in Bengaluru jail, he said.

The information came during the hearing of an appeal by the CBI challenging the Karnataka High Court order acquitting Telgi in one of the several cases relating to counterfeit stamp paper racket.

The counterfeit stamp paper scam which was estimated to be around Rs 20,000 crores saw registration of 12 cases in Maharashtra between 1992 and 2002 and another 15 cases in other parts of the country.

In the last hearing of the matter when top court was informed that Telgi was dead, the bench had observed that you can't convict a dead person.

However, on Monday when Nadkarni addressed the court on CBI's appeal against acquittal of Telgi in one the cases, the bench observed: "If he is alive, then there is no hurry" and adjourned the hearing.
Mumbai, June 20 : Censor board chief Pahlaj Nihalani, who has been in the news for the "Udta Punjab" row, has now spoken out on the controversy regarding Jacqueline Fernandez's "Dishoom" song. He says filmmakers must be sensitive to religious sentiments.

The Sikh community had reportedly complained regarding the use of a kirpan-like dagger as an accessory on Jacqueline's short outfit in the song "Sau tarah ke".

Reacting strongly to the objection, Nihalani, who has been drawing the ire of the filmmaking community, said: "Would India's new champions of freedom of expression who feel filmmakers must be allowed to show and say anything they like, have a solution to this?"

"In India, religious sentiments are fragile and sensitive. They can easily get hurt and cause severe physical hurt to people at large. And people whose religious sentiments are affected are far more vigilant than we at the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) can ever be," he added.

Nihalani recommends the presence of religious scholars and specialists when censoring films with sensitive religious content.

"But what to do when songs and dances violate cultures and religious codes? Filmmakers must also be sensitive, he said.

The complaint, penned by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, says that Jacqueline's act makes a "mockery of the sacredness and respect of the religious symbols of kirpan".

"Dishoom" producer Sajid Nadiadwala and lead actor Varun Dhawan have already clarified that the accessory used is not a kirpan but an Arabic sword.
New Delhi, June 20 : The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the Delhi University's Guru Teg Bahadur Khalsa College to commence its admission process under the minority status granted to the college in 2011.

Justice G.S. Sistani also said that fresh appointments of teachers in Khalsa college will be subject to the final outcome of the writ petition.

The court was hearing plea of some teachers, who have challenged the order of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions, which granted minority status to the college, on the ground that it would affect the interests of SC/ST students.

The college was granted minority status in 2011 and this was challenged by the teachers as well as Delhi University on whose plea a stay was granted by the high court in 2012, according to the petition filed by the teachers.

As per the plea, DU had withdrawn its petition in July last year, saying it had no objection to the minority status granted to the college.

Last July, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) had assured the court that the admission and appointments of teachers would "continue in the old system" which allows for general admissions and quotas for SC/ST/OBCs. The teachers, however, alleged that the "minority tag" will adversely affect SC/ST/OBC students.

However, on April 18 this year, the DSGMC said that since DU and the government had accepted the minority status, it would not continue the interim arrangement and will not be bound by the provisions of the SC/ST Reservation Act.

The teachers again filed a plea seeking a stay on the order. The High Court on Friday had allowed the college management to "start counselling but not admissions" till the next hearing on June 20.
Kolkata, June 20 : Bangladesh High Commissioner to India, Syed Muazzem Ali on Monday expressed faith in West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee making a breakthrough in the Teesta water sharing.

"We have said that we have full faith in her, she will certainly do the needful," said Ali after a meeting with Banerjee at the state secretariat.

The meeting comes a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday saying she will soon initiate dialogue with Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, over the issue.

"Mamataji was busy with elections and so we could not talk. But now the Bengal polls are over and she is back in power a second time. "This is the right time to start dialogue on Teesta," Sushma Swaraj had said.

Ali also said the issue of a priest of the Ramkrishna Mission in Dhaka getting threats from suspected Islamic State militants was also discussed in the meet besides the export of Hilsa fish.

"For the export of Hilsa, the facilities at the ports here and the infrastructure must be developed," he said.
New Delhi, June 20 : India's move to open up its industry to more foreign investment in nine sectors, including aviation, defence and pharma, has evoked wide praise from India Inc. and other stakeholders.

Here are India Inc.'s views:

Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII):

Liberalisation of the foreign direct investments (FDI) regulations reflects the government's commitment to reforms and openness, and reassures investors that ease of doing business remains high priority. Taken together, the FDI rules announced today will attract big new investments across key sectors such as food processing, defence production, pharmaceuticals and civil aviation, among others, thereby adding to growth and employment.

Didar Singh, Secretary General, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci):

Simplification in the policy framework governing investments in a whole host of sectors, including strategic sectors like defence and aviation, is a huge positive for the economy. The Modi administration through these moves has once again highlighted that reforms is a continuous process in order to capitalise the potential India offers.

D.S. Rawat, Secretary General, Associated Chambers of Commerce of India (Assocham):

The government's bold decision to increase FDI cap to 100 per cent will help India in realising the dream of self-reliance in the defence sector which has immense possibilities for attracting investments, setting up manufacturing facilities, obtaining technologies and capabilities and generating high skilled employment. It will also help in bringing investment and advanced technology into defence sector thereby leading to inflow of capital and setting up entities of original equipment manufacturers and their suppliers through transfer of technology.

Kiran Mazumdhar Shaw, Chairperson and Managing Director, Biocon:

This is a very welcome step by the government, it is a long awaited reform. And I think the pharma sector is a flagship sector of India. And it is in dire need of capital investment.

Kanchana TK, Director General, Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India:

We welcome government's decision to make changes to the FDI policy. We believe that this will provide an impetus to employment and job creation in India. The decision to permit upto 74 per cent FDI under automatic route in brownfield pharmaceuticals and continuing with government approval route beyond 74 per cent will augur well with our members who are constantly exploring ways of ensuring new drugs and medicines are made available to Indian patients.

S.V.Veerramani, President, Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association:

Foreign investors were reluctant to invest in India owing to the delays in getting the government approval in greenfield projects. They were interested in brownfield projects. Now there will be more FDI inflows in the pharma sector. We expect FDI inflow of around $3 billion, but over a period time.

Kalpesh Maroo, Partner, BMR and Associates LLP:

The policy is a significant step forward as FDI in retail trade (multi brand retail as well as for single brand retail) in general has hitherto been subject to several conditions. Only possible dampener on this is that the demand of the industry to allow restricted retailing of essential commodities along with food products does not seem to have been accepted.

Sreedhar Prasad, Partner, E-commerce, KPMG in India:

This initiative could bring in investments in food infrastructure in India by the global players and provide for a platform to them to sell those products manufactured in India, thus opening up the Indian food market. Further, this could enable some of the existing e-commerce players to attract FDI in food category where they are selling only products manufactured or produced in India.

Girish Vanvari, Head of Tax, KPMG in India:

Coming at the back of the draft GST bill last week, the government's move to ease the FDI regime is well timed and sends out a signal of confidence in the Indian economy. It actually opens up the country to the global world.

Peeyush Naidu, Partner, Deloitte India:

While the increase in FDI for aviation is welcome as it will allow flexibility, we are unlikely to see investors suddenly rushing to invest in airlines just because the cap of 49 per cent has been removed.
New Delhi, June 20 : Former Defence Minister AK Antony said allowing 100 per cent FDI in defence meant throwing the sector into the hands of "Nato-American defense manufacturers", which poses a threat to national security.

Antony, in a statement, also pointed out that the move came just after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US.

"It's immediately after PM Narendra Modi's US visit, the central government brought sweeping changes in the FDI policy. The move poses a big threat to national security and India's independent foreign policy.

"Allowing 100 percent FDI in defence sector means India's defense sector is thrown mostly into the hands of Nato-American defense manufacturers," he said.

Antony also said that move "will have an adverse impact on the ongoing indigenous defense research activities in the country".

Stressing on the point that the decision came soon after Modi's US visit, Antony said: "The joint statement issued by Modi and (US President Barack) Obama resembles like India has become a security partner of America. The statement says that both India and America will work together as equal partner towards for peace and security of Asia-Pacific region".

"The announcement in the joint statement about the cooperation between India and America to ensure the security of Gulf and West Asia will also create very serious problems. After issuing the joint statement, the cooperation between India and US in defence sector is changed from a friendly nature to a partnership," he said.

"It will naturally affect India's relations with its natural friendly countries. I strongly condemn this move. It is against the interest of the country and its people. I also urge Modi government to withdraw the decisions affecting national interest," he added.

The liberalised FDI regime announced on Monday permits Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) up to 100 per cent in defence sector.

As per the new rules, foreign investment beyond 49 per cent will be been permitted through government approval route, in cases resulting in access to modern technology in the country or for other reasons to be recorded while the condition of access to 'state-of-art' technology in the country has been done away with. FDI limit for defence sector has also been made applicable to manufacturing of small arms and ammunitions.
New Delhi, June 20 : The CPI-M on Monday called on its state party units to launch nationwide protests in July against what it said were "mounting burdens" on the people.

"In a situation where the burden on the people is relentlessly mounting, the CPI-M central committee has called on its units to observe nationwide protest action and focus on price rise and growing unemployment from July 11 to July 17," Communist Party of India-Marxist General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said here.

Briefing the media at the conclusion of the party's central committee meeting, which commenced on June 18, Yechury said there is little growth in reality in the country despite many attractive slogans like 'Make in India' and 'Stand Up India'.

"The prices of essential commodities, including food items, are skyrocketing. There is a six-year low for new jobs in eight labour-intensive industries. The last quarter of 2015 recorded virtually a negative growth in employment," Yechury said.

"There has been a marked slowdown, if not decline, in agriculture, industry and services, which collectively reflect the economic growth. In the last quarter of 2015-16, the industrial growth rate was recorded at 0.1 per cent. The manufacturing growth rate shrunk by -1.1 per cent," the Left leader added.

Yechury said the overall economic picture was dismal as the rural incomes have fallen to the lowest in the last few years and the minimum support price offered by the government or farm produce was much below the levels promised by the Bharatiya Janata Party in its 2014 general elections manifesto.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist also pledged support to a general strike announced by various central trade unions and federations on September 2.
New Delhi, June 20 : The rehearsals ahead of International Yoga Day hit the traffic movement hard in Delhi on Monday as the commuters were stuck in the traffic logjams for a long time.

According to Delhi traffic control room, massive traffic congestions were witnessed in and around Connaught Place, Mandi House-Barakhambha Road stretch, Gole Dak Khana and near India Gate in central Delhi.

"I remained stuck in a traffic jam for over half an hour near Gole Dak Khana in central Delhi. It was a nightmarish experience as it took me 45 minutes to reach Raisina Road from Gole Dak Khana. It was because of Yoga Day rehearsal in Connaught place," Satyanarayan Rao, a commuter, told IANS.

According to the officials of the traffic department, the inner circle of Connaught Place was closed for vehicular movement owing to Yoga Day rehearsal there. The traffic was diverted to tributary roads.

"The peripheral road around India Gate was completely clogged. Traffic congestion was everywhere, be it Ashoka Road, Purana Qila Road and whoever went towards these places was stuck in the traffic jam," a commuter, Asif Ali, told IANS.
Caracas, June 21 : The Venezuelan opposition on Monday began the process of validating the 1 per cent of signatures required to request a recall referendum against President Nicolas Maduro at centres provided by the National Electoral Council (CNE) across the country.

"The validation process was launched nationwide at 8 a.m., but we have reports that at 6 a.m. people were already lining up to take part," said the former presidential candidate and current governor of Miranda state, Opposition Leader Henrique Capriles.

As chief promoter of the recall, Capriles said he hopes the electoral authority will comply with the schedule established for the validation process, which is from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day from this Monday until next Friday, June 24, EFE news agency reported.

"We hope the CNE is punctual, because every minute we lose in the morning we will make up for in the afternoon. For example, if they show up at 8:30 to start the morning, the day should end at 4:30 in the afternoon," he said.

Allowed to take part in the validation are 1.3 million people whose signatures were previously approved by the CNE out of the 1.8 million the opposition presented to request the presidential recall.

"We have to stand firm at this stage. What should be legally confirmed are 196,000 signatures, but we're going to confirm 1,352,000 so the government has no excuses," Capriles said.

The Democratic Unity Roundtable, or MUD, the coalition of opposition parties that is leading this process, has rolled out a special operation to help citizens who wish to validate their signatures, which even includes transporting them to the centers set up for that purpose.

The opposition leader reminded those taking part that validation can be done "in any centre of the state where you vote".

Capriles insisted that Maduro's recall should be carried out this year.

After the process of signature validation is finalised, the MUD must call on 20 per cent of registered voters -- some 4 million -- to activate the referendum against Maduro.
More than 148,000 renting households in England were put at risk of losing their home in the past year, equivalent to 350,000 renters, according to new research.

The figures from housing charity Shelter come from an analysis of statistics from the Ministry of Justice. Shelter identified 'home threat hotspots' across the country where renters face the greatest risk of losing their home, which comes as a result of the chronic shortage of affordable homes combined with crippling welfare cuts.

Enfield topped the list with one in 23 rented homes under threat of eviction. This was followed by Barking and Dagenham with one in 23, Havering with one in 27 and Croydon also with one in 27.

But Shelter says that the problem stretches far beyond London. Areas such as Luton, with one in 28 rented homes at risk, Thurrock one in 34 and Peterborough with one in 35 also made it into the country's top 20 home threat hotspots.

Additionally, the volume of people facing eviction who are coming to Shelter for advice is getting higher and higher. In the past year alone, over 9,800 people facing eviction have called the Shelter helpline for advice and 500,000 people have visited the Shelter website's eviction advice pages.

An example is Angela, is a 35 year old mum from Bristol. Last year, her landlord increased the rent which she couldn't afford to pay so was evicted, and she's been sofa surfing with her five year old son for the past eight months.

I'd managed to really build a home for my son, where we felt part of the community. It was really scary going from that to waiting for the bailiffs to throw us out. I desperately wanted to be in a position to tell my son that we were moving house but instead, we've been sofa surfing and relying on the good grace of friend's to let us stay, she said.

For me, home is the start of everything. It gives you more than an address; it gives you a life and a community base. For my son, it's just as important. I'm so worried about him and how this will affect him long term. Luckily, we're still getting ongoing support from Shelter so I know we've always got someone to turn to for advice, she added.

According to Nadeem Khan, helpline adviser for Shelter, every day the charity is contacted by people who are struggling to keep up with their rent. Many are in total desperation after the court papers land on their doormat and the threat of being evicted becomes very real, said Khan.

Further research from Shelter shows that some 59% of adults aged 18 to 44 in Britain say they will be forced to put their lives on hold because of housing problems, new research has found.

Overall the current housing shortage is reshaping how millions of people live their lives and creating entirely new timeframes for when they hit traditional life milestones, according to the study by YouGov from housing charity Shelter.

It says that housing is a reason for people lagging behind in crucial aspects of their lives, from career and retirement to family and relationships.

Housing problems are a key factor in stalling people's careers, with 19% saying they had experienced or expected a delay in finding job opportunities. The survey also showed millions of younger people already feel retirement is slipping out of reach, with 11% saying they thought it would be delayed because of housing.

Marriage and family was a major area of concern and 16% of people in relationships said they had postponed marriage, or expected to do so. And many couples are also facing problems starting a family as 22% have put off having children, or are expecting to in future.
A skills shortage is set to affect Irelands ability to address its housing crisis and infrastructure deficit, it is claimed.

In particular there is a shortfall of qualified graduates coming into the profession, according to the newly elected president of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) Claire Solon, a chartered planning and development surveyor.

Research carried out by the Society earlier this year revealed that over 2,000 new job opportunities are expected to be created across the surveying profession in the next four years.

However, based on current enrolment numbers, there will only be enough construction and property related surveying graduates to fill just over half of them and Solon it was imperative to have the qualified personnel to meet the needs of the Irish economy.

Its not only the construction of homes that we need these qualified graduates, its also for the delivery of infrastructure that our country needs to keep pace with the growth of the economy, such as office buildings, hotels, roads and bridges, she explained.

I will be looking at several ways in which we can combat this shortage to get graduates into the workforce faster such as on the job training programmes as well as accelerating routes for those interested in becoming surveyors, she added.

This will included a media campaign to encourage students to choose construction and property courses. Were working with accredited colleges and in-house to develop part time and and modular programmes which enables people to work while studying or to convert graduates from other areas like business or economics into the property & construction sector, Solon pointed out.

She also said that women only account for one fifth of the Societys membership and that needed to change. When speaking with female graduates, they often say that they were unaware of the vast array of professions that exist within the surveying umbrella. So I believe communication is key here, to really highlight the variety of careers within surveying, said Solon.

She pointed out that a chartered planning and development surveyor can be involved in managing teams from the initial viability study to the delivery of major building projects while a chartered facilities manager could be tasked with organising the operation of high spec office premises for technology companies such as Facebook, Google or Ebay.

If you prefer the outdoor life, chartered geomatic surveyors spend most of their time on site, now using high powered drones and sophisticated technology to map and survey land, she added.
Commercial property investment volumes in the West End and City of London markets slowed in the first quarter of 2018 as the number of available opportunities failed to keep pace with strong investor demand, new research shows.

It was a muted start to the year in the City, with first quarter turnover reaching 1.37 billion across 20 transactions, 11% down on the 10 year average of 1.54 billion, according to the report from real estate firm Savills.

It says that while investor sentiment remains strong, highlighted by the fact that there is currently 3 billion of assets under offer in the market, 20% of which has already unconditionally exchanged, a lack of available stock is compressing volumes.

The report explains that this is particularly acute in the sub 50 million segment of the market, with only 16 properties currently available within this price range, compared with 25 in 2017 and 33 in 2016.

In the West End volumes were also subdued with turnover for the first three months of the year totalling 1.07 billion over a total of 24 transactions, some 17% below the 10 year average for the first quarter.

Savills says that little openly marketed product, combined with continued appetite for Central London property, has led to strong prices being maintained for all commercial asset classes within the West End, with the current supply demand imbalance showing no sign of abating.

With investor interest remaining high the lack of available stock is likely to continue to frustrate both Central London markets. The supply/demand imbalance is particularly evident at the lower price points, where there is a wide pool of investors, both foreign and domestic, hunting for stock, said Stephen Down, executive director at Savills and head of the central London investment team.

The research also shows that in the City, Asian investors continue to be the main players, accounting for 57% of total first quarter investment volumes, but UK investors were responsible for 23% and were ahead in terms of number of deals, with 12 acquisitions, some 60% of all City deals.

Savills prime City yield remains at 4% for the fourteenth consecutive month, this compares with the West End prime yield of 3.25%.
"Just like any other property buyer, there may be a more complete and satisfactory offer to be gained through reappraisal and negotiations," NC Eminent Domain Law Firm Attorney Stan Abrams.

The Leicester Highway (N.C. 63) road widening project, a $35 million project affecting more than 100 property owners, is on schedule to move forward after more than five years of planning and discussions. The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has reserved $9,500,000 for right of way purchases.

Attorney Stan Abrams, a former NCDOT attorney who now practices at the NC Eminent Domain Law Firm, is concerned that some property owners will receive offers that may be far less than what their property is worth.

Abrams is hosting a seminar for affected property owners to explain that, rather than accepting these initial offers outright, property owners can and should exercise their often misunderstood eminent domain rights in an effort to obtain a potentially better offer.

The seminar is on Thursday evening, June 23rd, at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Asheville Biltmore West, and is no cost to participants.

Importance of Knowing What an Easement Can Mean

NC Eminent Domain Law Firm Attorney Kenneth Bryan, who has been evaluating the plans for the Leicester Road project, explained that it will be an amended superstreet design. Bryan and Abrams believe that many business owners are likely to be worried about how potential customers will access their businesses and how the easements will affect parking lots. While the NCDOT is not liable for loss of business, they certainly can be held responsible for damages caused by easements.

Bryan said, Homeowners sometimes tend to think that an easement of just a few feet onto their property is benign. What most dont realize is that many easements come with the right to make additional changes to the property at any time in the future. And the state does not have to pay additional compensation to the owner  even if that road comes to within a few feet of their home.

This seminar helps underscore, among other things, the importance of understanding the fine print and negotiation approaches, such as the Second Check negotiation approach.

Second Check Negotiation Approach

Abrams said, Property owners might receive an official-looking offer and think that is the law for what they are able to receive. On the contrary. Just like any other property buyer, there may be a more complete and satisfactory offer to be gained through reappraisal and negotiations.

A negotiation approach Abrams has used is something he calls the Second Check method. By North Carolina law, property owners whose land or businesses are targeted for acquisition ultimately receive an offer from the state. If the owner chooses not to accept the offer and takes no further steps, the state will still acquire the land and deposit the amount of the original offer with the county clerk on behalf of the owner.

This is where the NC Eminent Domain Law Firms Second Check approach comes in. In most cases, the property owner is then free to pursue a better, fairer arrangement, without losing the first offer.

If continued negotiations do not change the offer, the owner can still pocket the first check. But if continued negotiations are successful, the property owner will receive a second check in addition to the first one.

This approach is not as straightforward as it may seem and it is best handled by a qualified eminent domain lawyer, Abrams said.

Other Topics the Leicester Road Widening Eminent Domain Seminar will Cover

This free informational session is intended to help answer property and business owners questions, which can typically include:



How will the value of my property be calculated?

Can I assume the offer for my property is fair?

How is fair market value determined?

What if I lease space? Will there be allowances to move my business?

Should I get my own appraisal?

Property Areas the Leicester Road Widening Will Impact

The project will affect a 4.3-mile section of Leicester Road from Jones Road to about 600 feet past the Newfound Road/Dix Creek Chapel Road intersection.

Seminar Date, Time, Location

Date: Thursday, June 23rd

Time: 7 p.m.

Place: Holiday Inn Asheville Biltmore West

435 Smokey Park Hwy,

Asheville, NC 28806

For more information about the meeting, please call the NC Eminent Domain Law Firm at 1-877-393-4990.

ABOUT THE NC EMINENT DOMAIN LAW FIRM:

A division of the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin, the NC Eminent Domain Law Firm is dedicated solely to representing property owners throughout North Carolina, who may be impacted by eminent domain law. The NC Eminent Domain Law Firm is led by attorneys Stan Abrams and Jason Campbell, both of whom previously worked as Assistant Attorneys General for the North Carolina Department of Justice in the Transportation Section, where they litigated condemnation cases for the NCDOT. They have over 25 years of combined experience working exclusively on eminent domain cases. The Law Offices of James Scott Farrin has the legal resources of 38 attorneys and is based in Durham, North Carolina, with offices throughout the state to serve its clients.

Contact Information:

Stan Abrams

1-877-393-4990

NC Eminent Domain Law Firm

201 McCullough Drive #220

Charlotte, NC 28262
Representatives of Texas first crowd investing platform, MassVenture Inc., and real estate crowd funding company Equity Brick LLC today announced the acquisition of Equity Brick LLC. Beginning immediately, the combined companies will begin operating as MassVenture.

The strategic combination of Equity Brick and MassVenture as a single company will create a dominant force in Texas Real Estate Crowdfunding. Their focus will be on providing quality real estate investment opportunities to accredited and non-accredited investors. The addition of the Equity Brick team and brand will produce a tremendous growth opportunity for MassVenture to continue to scale and improve upon technologies, and expand investment opportunities to their combined client base. The consolidated team will take a localized approach to Texas real estate crowdfunding, providing investors with opportunities to invest in their own community. The team also anticipates bringing Texas based investments to the national market as they continue to scale and attract new interest in real estate crowdfunding. The transaction, which requires approval of shareholders and regulatory approvals is expected to close late in the second quarter of 2016.

Nathan Roach, CEO and Co-Founder of MassVenture expressed his enthusiasm in the merger, stating, "I am excited to work with the former Equity Brick team, together we can do great things . . . Combining forces will allow us to grow and expand at a much faster pace."

The combination of Equity Brick and MassVenture is a highly strategic, value-enhancing step. We are bringing together the unique strengths of two great start ups to deliver best-in-class real estate crowdfunding platform using state of the art technologies to investors around the Texas and country, said Seemant Nakra, Founder of Equity Brick

MassVenture will continue to operate as a Texas Crowdfunding Portal, providing individuals opportunities to invest in private real estate and commercial investment opportunities offering high returns on investment. They also provide real estate developers a platform to present projects to the existing MassVenture community of investors.

About MassVenture

MassVenture, Inc. (f/k/a Hive Equity Inc) is based in San Antonio with operations in Austin and Dallas/Fort Worth, is Texas first approved investment crowdfunding platform. With a focus on real estate investing, MassVenture allows all Texans the opportunity to participate in the ownership of investment ventures across the state.

About Equity Brick, LLC

Austin TX based Equity Brick LLC is a startup also in the real estate crowdfunding space. Equity Brick brings years of experience in real estate, finncial services, and technology to contribute to ongoing success of MassVenture.
Map of Endicott College The installation has had a positive effect, not only in decreasing incidents but also increasing our overall sense of security throughout the entire campus.

IPVideo Corporation, manufacturer of IP-based video surveillance and command center solutions, today announced the successful completion of a comprehensive video surveillance upgrade for Bostons Endicott College, equipping the campus with 650 high resolution IP cameras powered by a SentryVMS video management system. The $1.4 million dollar project, which increased the colleges number of cameras twenty-fold, was spearheaded by Long Island based system integrator A+ Technology & Security Solutions. Endicotts scenic campus spans some 235 acres and encompasses 55 buildings and 30 residence halls which house roughly 2700 full time undergraduate students. About 800 staff members, 2400 graduate school students and over 150,000 annual campus visitors will also benefit from enhanced security provided by the new installation.

The 650-camera expansion project employs a combination of 2, 3 and 5 megapixel cameras manufactured by AXIS Communications as well as some IPVideo-branded models. Video is transmitted from the cameras to a total of eight SentryVMS servers providing over 60 terabytes of storage. The SentryVMS software provides an easy-to-use and intuitive interface for use by the schools Public Safety team. As A+ Technologys Sales Engineer, Brian Lauper, and Business Development Executive, Justin Parish, explain, SentryVMS was the ideal choice for Endicotts extensive needs, as every inch of their campus now has coverage.

As part of the project, A+ Technology constructed a Command Center in the Dispatch Room of the Public Safety office, from which the system is monitored. Pam Droney, Director of Communications Technology at Endicott, explains that, Were very diligent in trying to make sure privacies are respected and that were not intruding on people. This involves sensitivity about the placement of cameras, as well as limiting who can access video from certain cameras. At the same time, she reports that, The Public Safety team is loving all the cameras because theyre cutting down on incidents across campus. People know that the cameras are all over the campus and that theres footage.

To provide the highest level of support for the installation, which took approximately four months, the Project Management team and crew from A+ Technology lived on campus four days a week, running cable, positioning, installing and programming cameras based upon their floor plan diagrams for layout and square footage. Ms. Droney, who chose to work with A+ Technology based upon a recommendation from neighboring Gordon College, says, Absolutely, I would recommend them highly. Theyre professional, thorough, and made the transition very easy for us at Endicott. To support its growing business in the Boston area and throughout New England, A+ Technology & Security Solutions is opening a new office in Bridgeport, Connecticut, with a grand opening scheduled for early July. As for Ms. Droneys satisfaction with IPVideo Corporations SentryVMS solutions, she says, The installation has had a positive effect, not only in decreasing incidents but also increasing our overall sense of security throughout the entire campus.

About IPVideo Corporation:

An industry pioneer since its introduction of one of the first network-based surveillance recording solutions in 1996, IPVideo Corporation is now at the forefront of developing unique, innovative solutions that harness the power of IP video technology. Today, the Companys systems are trusted by Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and municipalities, utilities, healthcare facilities, school districts and leading universities to mitigate risk while protecting people and property. A commitment to an open-standards philosophy and delivering best-in-class performance and value underlies all offeringsfrom physical security solutions that bridge to the Internet of Things, to purpose-built HD audio/video recording solutions for education, law enforcement, healthcare, and beyond. The companys worldwide client base is served by a network of certified distributors, dealers and system integrators, who benefit from ongoing corporate support and training. IPVideo Corporation is headquartered in Bay Shore, NY. For more information, visit http://www.ipvideocorp.com.

About A+ Technology & Security Solutions:

A+ Technology & Security Solutions, a regional systems integrator, is a proven leader in the convergence of IT, Audio Visual, LED Lighting, and Security technologies. The company is one of the largest providers of IP Video Surveillance into K-12 and higher education facilities throughout the New York Metropolitan area and is now expanding its services regionally, with a focus on education, government, healthcare and commercial business markets.
Captain Tanya Mayes received her law degree from Stetson in 2003. I have done many different things as a JAG attorney, but by far the most rewarding work Ive done is with legal assistance at the VA.

Stetson University College of Law alumna Captain Tanya Mayes J.D. '03, a mother and member of the Army Reserves, received a LAMP Distinguished Service Award on June 10 for her work spearheading the establishment of a legal clinic for wounded warriors and qualified veterans at the Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center.

Recipients of the LAMP awards are individuals and units who set the bar for military legal assistance by pushing themselves and their practices in extraordinary ways.

I am not one of those who dreamed as a young adult of going to law school and seeking justice for all, said Captain Tanya Mayes J.D. 03. I did not even enter law school until later in life.

More than a decade ago, Captain Mayes was a Military Police Officer in the Army Reserves who planned to work in federal law enforcement. While working on her criminology degree at Florida State University, a couple of classes in legal writing piqued her interest. She took the Law School Admission Test at the prompting of then State Attorney Jim Appleman, scored well on the test, and applied and was accepted to Stetson law school. At the end of her first year of law school at Stetson, Mayes was deployed to Bosnia as an Army Reserve Military Police Officer. After a year away from law school, Mayes returned to finish her law degree at Stetson. She began practicing in the workers compensation field, later joining the JAG Corp in 2009.

I have done many different things as a JAG attorney, but by far the most rewarding work Ive done is with legal assistance at the VA, said Mayes. Mayes, who is stationed in the Army Reserves in Virginia as a judge advocate, identified a complication in the provision of legal services at the local VA Center that was negatively impacting both active military members and qualifying veterans.

Most VA hospitals receive their legal assistance support from active duty Legal Assistance Offices, Captain Mayes explained. Unfortunately, these offices are often far away and/or fully engaged on their installations. These challenges coupled with the fact many of the patients at the VA centers are not mobile can make the delivery of legal assistance services to our Wounded Warriors, retirees and veterans difficult.

Facing this challenge head on, Mayes established a program to fill the gap and provide veterans at the Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center in Richmond, Virginia, with legal services. The program uses the resources of the US Army Reserves Office of the Staff Judge Advocate at the 80th Training Command (TASS) and volunteer members of the Virginia Bar Association to meet veterans legal needs.

Asked why she sees the need to help wounded warriors and veterans, Mayes recalls an encounter with a badly injured young soldier, the same age as her own son, being treated at the McGuire VA Medical Center Polytrauma unit who was in need of legal assistance.

On my last visit with this Army Scout, he stands with the aid of his father and salutes me, Captain Mayes recalled. I have never been so humbled in all of my life. If there has ever been a soldier that deserved a salute it was that wounded warrior and not me. This is only one of the many many soldiers and qualified veterans we have been able to assist at McGuire. 

From the young wounded warriors striving to return to service, to the WWII Veteran that still has his military photo above his nursing home bed, each and every one touches us in a different way and reminds all of us in the 80th Training Command SJA office just why we get up every morning and put this uniform on, said Captain Mayes.
We look forward to seeing our team excel with Ian and Cameron taking leadership roles.

Longnecker & Associates, a strategic compensation and corporate governance consulting firm based in Houston, announced exciting internal growth. The company recently promoted Ian Keas and Cameron Boswell to director and manager, respectively.

In his five years at Longnecker & Associates, Keas has been an integral member of the firm, providing strategic advice to help clients attract, retain and motivate their top talent. As a director, Ian will serve as a lead consultant, guiding client-facing interaction and delivering and presenting final products to clients.

Mr. Keas has been instrumental in providing our clients with the utmost level of advisory support, said Brent Longnecker, chairman and CEO of Longnecker & Associates. When advising clients, he always approaches each and every situation with a comprehensive view of the business facts and circumstances. Were thrilled to have him serving our clients in this new capacity as a director.

Boswell joined the firm in 2012, progressing to his recent title of senior consultant. Now, in this new role as manager, he will help lead the Longnecker & Associates team in delivering timely and accurate advice.

Were excited for Mr. Boswell to take on this new role as manager. Hes been a dedicated and diligent senior consultant and we know hell continue to exceed our clients expectations in this new position, said Chris Crawford, president of Longnecker & Associates. We look forward to seeing our team excel with Ian and Cameron taking leadership roles.

Both Keas and Boswell have deep experience consulting with organizations on compensation and governance issues, and both have been featured in multiple articles published by Longnecker & Associates.

About Longnecker & Associates

Established in 2003, Longnecker & Associates is a nationally recognized strategic compensation and governance consulting firm based in Houston, Texas. The firms consultants work with public, private and not-for-profit companies on a variety of complex compensation and governance situations that require strategic solutions. The firm is considered a thought leader on compensation and governance issues, and its consultants have been featured on MSNBC, Businessweek, The Wall Street Journal and other national media, as well as speakers for WorldatWork, the Society of Human Resources Management and the American Management Association. For more information, visit http://www.longnecker.com.
Dianne brings enthusiasm and commitment to developing awareness of the importance of the BBB to southwest Missouri. She will be an asset.

Dianne Davis joins the southwest Missouri Better Business Bureau (BBB) board of directors. Davis' duties will include monthly meetings, donation of time and talents and other efforts to further the visibility of the southwest Missouri BBB. Each director is appointed for a three-year term.

Dianne Davis is the founder and president of DL Media. Davis previously served for twelve years as a board member and treasurer of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) of the Ozarks.

"The members of the BBB of southwest Missouri board are pleased to have Dianne join the organization," said Loa Freeman, president of the BBB of southwest Missouri board of directors. "Dianne brings enthusiasm and commitment to developing awareness of the importance of the BBB to southwest Missouri. She will be an asset."

DL Media was honored with the 2015 and 2016 BBB Principles of Trust Award certificates. The Principles of Trust Award certificate recognizes for-profit, BBB accredited companies operating complaint-free for three consecutive years. Certificate holders are considered to be leaders in building trust, advertising honestly, telling the truth, transparency, honoring promises, being responsive, safeguarding privacy and embodying integrity in all business operations.

In 2015, DL Media was also honored with the BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics in the medium-sized business category. The Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics is open to all for-profit businesses in southwest Missouri that provide goods or services to retail and/or wholesale markets. The companies are judged on excellence in customer care, marketplace excellence, advancing marketplace trust and consumer leadership. DL Media has been BBB accredited since 2014 and holds an A+ rating.

"I appreciate all the BBB does to protect consumers," said Dianne Davis. "I am honored to serve on the board of directors and appreciate the opportunity to contribute in helping promote and maintain the high business standards of the BBB's southwest Missouri region."

DL Media is a full-service digital marketing and advertising agency headquartered in Nixa, Missouri. Operating since 1997, the agency works to advance clients businesses by helping solve marketing challenges through relevant, engaging and compelling communications.

The BBB of southwest Missouri, located in Springfield, strives to be a torchbearer in fostering trust while providing unbiased information on the local marketplace. They provide free reports on local businesses, field and monitor complaints, assign BBB accreditation and assist in dispute resolution. For more information about the southwest Missouri chapter of the BBB visit bbb.org.
Many Customers prefer connecting with brands through Facebook Messenger apps rather than calling customer service numbers but they currently get a simple bot experience or are chatting with a live rep from the brands contact center. By adding the Wysdom AI solution behind Messenger, brands are able to answer very complex questions from customers without having to escalate the case to a live rep.

The proliferation of chatbots has opened up a massive new opportunity for Artificial Intelligence based customer service solutions like Wysdom says Ian Collins, CEO and co-founder of CrowdCare. Until now, most chatbot solutions were very shallow, only allowing the simplest of conversations to take place, like ordering a taxi, flowers or pizza, but customers expect much more and a solution like Wysdom can deliver answers to very complex questions.

CrowdCare started working in the conversational economy 2 years ago with WeChat, one of the worlds most advanced messaging platforms based in China and has been enhancing Wysdoms dialog capabilities ever since. The Wysdom AI solution includes a full turnkey service that continuously analyzes customer conversations and trains the AI every day to add more solutions for customers.

CrowdCare will continue to add leading messaging services to the Wysdom Platform including iMessage, WhatsApp and Kik. Full support for messaging apps will be key to keeping the Wysdom customer satisfaction numbers far above industry norms. For decades customers have been frustrated with old fashioned IVR solutions and messaging apps are filling a massive void where customers want to contact brands but hate the thought of an IVR interface.

About CrowdCare

CrowdCare is a fast-growing technology company using the latest artificial intelligence technology to deliver the best self-care experiences. By providing the worlds most advanced AI based support solutions, CrowdCare helps its enterprise customers increase satisfaction and lower service costs. Wysdom, CrowdCares flagship product, is a full turnkey solution incorporating the latest in AI technologies that supports the entire customer self-care experience across all contact channels. When customers ask a question through a product powered by Wysdom, context from billing, network and device data is combined with the power of AI to deliver instant actionable answers, specifically relevant to each user.
Bill Scroggie Im excited to join the Six Red Marbles team. Im impressed by the companys leadership, vision, and its recent successes in the market.

Six Red Marbles today announced that Bill Scroggie joins the companys leadership team as Editorial Director.

Bill is an experienced editorial manager who has spent his career immersed in educational publishing, excelling in content creation, editorial project oversight, and resource management, said Bob Fogel, CEO of Six Red Marbles. His strong background in editorial management, reading, language arts, and social studies content knowledge and development, as well as client and vendor relations will help drive Six Red Marbles editorial strategy.

For 20 years, Six Red Marbles has been a leader in developing textbooks, blended learning materials, interactive curriculum, and online courses for e-learning companies, educational publishers, schools, and nonprofit organizations with the goal of engaging students through rich personalized experiences.

Im excited to join the Six Red Marbles team. Im impressed by the companys leadership, vision, and its recent successes in the market. In the course of my career, I have had the pleasure of working closely with a number of Six Red Marbles' editorial staff, and they are the best in the business, said Scroggie. I look forward to being part of this accomplished editorial team and helping to expand the companys position as a premier developer of interactive and engaging products that support personalized learning.

Scroggie previously worked at MPS North America, where he led the Social Studies department and later oversaw Content Creation. Prior to that, he held various Director level roles at the Mazer Corporation. He has higher education experience as well and has worked on higher ed online learning and content. Scroggie brings 20 years of experience in educational publishing and years of teaching experience to the team.

About Six Red Marbles

Six Red Marbles is an award-winning creator of innovative digital and blended learning programs and educational solutions. As the largest U.S.-based provider of Learning Experience DesignTM, content development, and education technology (edtech) services, the company works on approximately 250 projects each year for more than 50 customers, including publishers, schools, universities, foundations, and technology companies. Six Red Marbles is able to partner with customers to develop interactive and engaging products that support personalized learning for students across the early childhood to adult education markets. Backed by Calvert Street Capital Partners, a lower middle market private equity group, the company is headquartered in Boston and has additional offices in Baltimore, Austin, and Delhi, India.
Hydropods, Inc., a Denver-based technology company, today announced that it has moved into new creative office space in the RiNo neighborhood of Denver.

Hydropods recently began shipping the Hydropods Environment Controller and Hydropods Nutrient Controller to customers. These cloud-based Wi-Fi Controllers enable growers to see, monitor and control a grow operation from anywhere using their smartphone. They are designed for at-home hydroponics and small to medium sized greenhouse and indoor agriculture.

Weve been in product development for the past year, says Ted Tanner, CEO of Hydropods. Now that the product is shipping, its time to enter the next phase of the company, and we needed additional space for assembly, fulfillment, and new hires. Were currently seeking to fill several positions, including roles in sales, customer service, and technology.

Hydropods new space is located at Block 32 at RiNo, a mixed live/work complex in the newly emerging River North district of Denver.

Being in a live/work environment provides lots of amenities we can make available to our employees, continues Ted Tanner. We can offer a fitness center, lounge with a pool table and beer on tap, and outdoors ping pong.

The office a few blocks away from the 38th and Blake train station on the newly opened RTD A-line and is just over a mile from downtown.

Hydropods new address is 3200 Brighton Blvd Unit 112, Denver, CO 80216.

The Hydropods grow controllers are available at http://www.hydropods.com.

About Hydropods, Inc.

Hydropods mission is to make hydroponic growing easy enough for everyone. The Denver-based company focuses on creating well-designed, tightly integrated hardware and software.

For media inquiries:

Please contact press(at)hydropods(dot)com.
We thank CMA Foundation, Kristian Bush, and Charlie Worsham for joining NAfME members in advocating for music education.

Coming off a record-setting CMA Music Festival in Nashville, TN, which directly benefits music education, CMA Foundation Board members and Country Music artists will join NAfME at its annual Hill Day for music education on June 23. Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer; Joe Galante, CMA Foundation Chairman and CMA Board Member; Jennie Smythe, CMA Board Member; and Country Music artists Kristian Bush and Charlie Worsham will join NAfME members on Capitol Hill in advocating for the critical need for complete, high-quality music programs for all students.

The Country Music Association (CMA) and the CMA Foundation have contributed more than $13.6 million to support quality, sustainable music education programs across the country. The CMA Foundation set a record in 2016 with $2.6 million in charitable gifts to music education initiatives, including a generous $150,000 research grant to Give a Note Foundation, an affiliate of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).

CMA created the nonprofit (501C3) CMA Foundation in 2011 as the charitable giving arm of CMA. Funds for the Foundation are provided by CMA on behalf of the hundreds of artists who perform and make appearances during CMA Music Festival for free.

While direct donations make a critical difference in school music programs, to sustain them in the long run, stakeholders look to policy makers to support those programs. With the Well-Rounded Education provision of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) singling out music as a critical component of a complete education for all students, music advocates have leverage in making the case for equal access and sustainable funding for schools. And now is a decisive moment to make that case, as ESSA funding decisions are being made on the national level.

NAfME appreciates CMA Foundation Board members and artists bringing their voices and stories to the table as we urge legislators to fully fund provisions that benefit music education programs, said Christopher Woodside, NAfME Deputy Executive Director. Action does not end with ESSAs passageensuring proper implementation takes place matters to the efficacy of ESSA. And we thank CMA Foundation, Kristian Bush, and Charlie Worsham for joining NAfME members in advocating for music education.

The days events will begin at Hart Senate Office Building, Room 902, at 8:30-10:00AM for a short briefing, during which Kristian Bush and Charlie Worsham will offer remarks, and an awards ceremony, honoring Senator Lamar Alexander (TN) for his work on behalf of music education. There will be a short time after the briefing for press to ask questions.

###

National Association for Music Education, among the worlds largest arts education organizations, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. NAfME advocates at the local, state, and national levels; provides resources for teachers, parents, and administrators; hosts professional development events; and offers a variety of opportunities for students and teachers. The Association orchestrates success for millions of students nationwide and has supported music educators at all teaching levels for more than a century. With more than 60,000 members, the organization is the national voice of music education in the United States.

Follow NAfME on Twitter (twitter.com/nafme) and on Facebook (facebook.com/nafme).

For additional information, contact Catherina Hurlburt at catherinah@nafme.org or 703-860-4000, ext. 216.
All County Complete Property Management, a real estate business specializing in rental property management for residential property owners and their tenants, will commemorate its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 30 at 5 pm. The event will take place at the new All County Complete business location at 2120 Corporate Square Blvd Suite 18 in Jacksonville and will be performed by the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce.

The event is open to all area residents, businesses, organizations and community members. Paula Givler, a previous member of the leadership team at All County CFL in Orlando, Florida, has taken on the broker position at All County Complete. She said that, "We are delighted to have a chance to celebrate with the community and we appreciate the kind welcome from our friends at the chamber of commerce and other nearby business people." Attendees can expect light fare and refreshments, networking opportunities and music by Wes Benwick.

"We're happy to make JAX our home and we're excited by the plenitude of real estate investment opportunities available to those that wish to take advantage of the area's fast growing jobs market and population growth," Givler said. Jacksonville was recently credited as among the top markets to watch considering its "generally good" real estate prospects in investment, development and homebuilding, according to the most recently published Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2016 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Urban Land Institute.

Scott McPherson, the president of All County Property Management Franchise Corp. said that, "As experienced property management professionals with a tenured history with the All County franchise system, I'm confident that Givler and her team will continue to provide the competent and professional property management services that clients and their tenants have come to expect from the All County brand."

About All County Complete Property Management

All County Complete Property Management is an independently owned and operated company and one of 45 All County franchise locations in the United States. All County Complete Property Management offers unparalleled rental property management services in Jacksonville, Florida and Orange Park, Florida and includes the following neighborhoods: San Jose, San Marco, Riverside, Oceanway, Julington Creek, St. Nicholas, Mandarin, Arlington, Middleburg, Westside and all area beaches!. For more information about All County Complete Property Management, visit http://allcountycpm.com

About All County Property Management Franchise Corp.

Established in 1990, All County Property Management Franchise Corp. is a full service property management franchise company headquartered in St. Petersburg Florida. All County serves clients and tenants at 45 locations throughout the United States. Each location is independently owned and operated. All County provides annual management, marketing, tenant screening, lease execution, maintenance coordination and inspection services. Renters can view available properties online, submit applications, and make maintenance requests 24-hours a day. For more information about All County Franchise Corp., visit http://allcountyfranchise.com.
The current report strengthens the evidence associating PD and rural residence, and, by inference, pesticide exposure.

Populations living in French rural regions which require higher levels of pesticide may be at a greater risk of developing Parkinsons disease (PD), according to a study released today at the 20th International Congress of Parkinsons Disease and Movement Disorders.

It is already known that there is evidence of a link between pesticides and incidence of PD through occupational exposure. This study, led by Sofiane Kab and a team of French researchers, investigated whether those living in rural French regions with more crops would be at a higher risk of developing PD through non-occupational exposure.

The study identified PD cases from French National Health Insurance databases from 2010-2012, and examined the association between PD rates and types of farming. They found higher rates of PD in rural areas of France, particularly in areas with many vineyards, as they require the most intense use of insecticides and fungicides. Ultimately, the data collected through the study suggest that those who live in farming regions requiring high levels of pesticide are at a greater risk of PD.

Caroline Tanner, Professor of Neurology at the University of California San Francisco and Director of the Parkinsons Disease Research Education and Clinical Center at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, states, This current report is the largest study assessing newly diagnosed Parkinsons disease and inferred pesticide exposures. Because the study is derived from the national health insurance records of France, and investigates newly diagnosed (incident) cases, bias is minimized, providing an accurate picture for the entire population. Rural residence alone increases the risk of PD, suggesting that ambient pesticide exposure is a risk factor. Information on smoking, a recognized risk modifier, was also included, adding to the strength of the study design. Tanner adds, The current report strengthens the evidence associating PD and rural residence, and, by inference, pesticide exposure. More detailed investigation in this large population will be critical, and would be expected to identify specific causative pesticides, and, in turn, underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms. Ultimately, this work may identify ways to reduce PD incidence.

About the 20th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders: Meeting attendees gather to learn the latest research findings and state-of-the-art treatment options in Movement Disorders, including Parkinson's disease. Over 5,000 physicians and medical professionals from more than 86 countries will be able to view over 2,200 scientific abstracts submitted by clinicians from around the world.

About the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society: The International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS), an international society of over 5,000 clinicians, scientists, and other healthcare professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. For more information about MDS, visit http://www.movementdisorders.org.
DelPlaya Media, Inc., a monetization platform for Android and iOS app publishers, today revealed its new logo, created by acclaimed ocean-centric artist, Blakeney Sanford. Clean and elegant, the new logo depicts a cresting wave of multiple shades of blue superimposed on a digital media play button. The new logo follows DelPlayas move to entirely focus on the companys fast-growing mobile video advertising business.

We decided that a new corporate logo would help communicate the streamlining of our business, announced earlier this year, said John Williams, CEO of DelPlaya. And since we have the good fortune to build our company in Santa Barbara, we wanted our logo to reflect some of our beautiful surroundings. DelPlaya is Spanish for the beach, so a wave seemed like the perfect symbol for our company. Its strong, and powerful, and dependable.

And commissioning Blakeney was the logical choice to create our logo, continued Williams. She has created a lot of iconic ocean-themed images for various companies, and she did an outstanding job for us.

Sanfords art has been utilized by Quiksilver, Roxy, and other ocean-related companies.

About DelPlaya Media, Inc.

DelPlaya is a Santa Barbara, California-based company that helps premium iOS and Android application publishers generate revenue by playing video ads from major brands in their apps. DelPlayas technology significantly shortens the time it takes to respond with a paying video ad, which in turn maximizes a publishers aggregate monthly revenue and improves user experience. delPlaya works with many top apps on the iOS and Android platform and numerous advertisers. http://www.delplaya.com

About Blakeney Sanford

Blakeney Sanford is an acclaimed Santa Barbara based artist. She has shown in galleries and museums nationally, and her works are part of significant global collections. She has also collaborated with corporate brands, such as Quiksilver and Roxy. For more information see: http://www.blakeneysanford.com/
DeWys Manufacturing Inc., a West  Michigan based metal solutions company, is pleased to announce the addition of three co-op students, Jesse, Derek, and Alex, to the DeWys Mfg. team. These co-op students will be exposed to a broad range of projects to encourage new critical thinking skills as well as receiving a hands-on learning experience.

These three students are all obtaining their degree in Mechanical Engineering from Grand Valley State University (GVSU) and Michigan Technological University. Jesse, from GVSU, stated I wanted to be an engineer because they have a direct impact on the world around them, and are given a real chance to make a difference.  Whereas Derek, also from GVSU said, I decided that engineering would offer the perfect mix of intellectual and physical labor.

During their time at DeWys Mfg., the co-op students will be working closely with the DeWys Innovation team to propose efficient weld booth layouts, value stream developments, and front end alignment designs for the engineering team. I enjoy the emphasis of hands-on learning DeWys Mfg. has provided me, as well as the opportunities to implement my innovative ideas, said Alex from Michigan Tech.

Jesse, Derek, and Alexs skills and knowledge will add value throughout DeWys Manufacturing, as well as provide them with opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of the manufacturing industry.

About DeWys

DeWys (pronounced De-Wise) Manufacturing provides precision metal fabrication to a range of clients from commercial equipment, office furniture, medical supply, and many more. From its manufacturing facility in West Michigan, the company provides a wide range of metal production and assembly capabilities to more than 160 clients in Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, and several other areas of the United States.

For additional information, visit dewysmfg.com or contact DeWys Mfg. at (616) 677-5281.
Theres a new food day on the national calendar that food truck fans in particular will be excited about. Called National Eat At a Food Truck Day, foodies nationwide are celebrating this special day by heading outside and grabbing some tasty food from their favorite gourmet food truck on June 24th.

Hundreds of food trucks in cities nationwide will be participating in this annual food event, including Pho-King Awesome (Los Angeles, CA); The Cheesies Truck (Chicago, IL); Toum Food Truck (New York, NY); The Boneyard (San Francisco, CA); Fire Truck Crepes (Denver, CO); Grilled Addiction (Phoenix, AZ); Tastybus (Atlanta, GA); City Slickers (Portland, OR); Saucey Sliderz (Houston, TX) and BoxBurger (Indianapolis, IN) to name a few. In order to get in on the food truck festivities, foodies simply visit their favorite truck, say the phrase Celebrate food trucks, and they will receive a special deal, which could range from a free drink with the purchase of an entree, to 10% off any purchase.

There are a lot of food days out there and some that may be dedicated to food trucks, said Ross Resnick, CEO of Roaming Hunger, the company behind National Eat At A Food Truck Day. However, we believe that National Eat At A Food Truck Day is the only food day with a direct call to action. We want food lovers to get outside and eat at a food truck with friends, family or coworkers.

National Eat At A Food Truck Day is not only a day dedicated to celebrating the thousands of food trucks that dish out some of the best bites out there, but its also an opportunity to honor the hardworking food truck operators who get up early and stay out late so that we never have to eat another boring lunch, dinner, or late night snack.

Not enough credit goes to the people behind the trucks who spend countless hours making those amazing dishes, says Resnick. National Eat At A Food Truck Day is also the consumers opportunity to say thank you by ordering food from a hardworking food truck vendor. We want people to support small business and eat some awesome food at the same time.

National Eat At A Food Truck Day was created by Roaming Hunger, food truck authority and the leading provider of turnkey food truck catering solutions. Alongside Roaming Hunger, the National Food Truck Association, Sir Kensington Condiments and Uber are partners for the celebratory day. New Uber users can use the code foodtruck16 to get a free ride  up to $20  to their favorite truck on June 24th.

To learn more about National Eat At A Food Truck Day and to find out which trucks will be participating, please visit http://www.neaftd.com.

About Roaming Hunger

Based in West Hollywood, Roaming Hunger is the leading provider of turnkey food truck catering, concessions, and branded promotions, with a network of more than 9,000 food trucks, carts, and caterers. Additionally, the company has an app that provides real-time tracking for all food trucks in the Roaming Hunger network. Named one of Los Angeles Best Places To Work by the Los Angeles Business Journal, Roaming Hunger was started by CEO Ross Resnick in 2009. To learn more about Roaming Hunger, visit http://roaminghunger.com/.
Connections Academy Class of 2015 surveyed in new infographic [My program chair] was impressed with Connections Academy preparing me for this opportunity and I passed the interview with flying colors!

As students graduate from high schools across the country, one segment of the graduating class is speaking out about their non-traditional school experience. In a new infographic released by Connections Academy and based on survey data, full-time online school students and alumni from Connections Academy-supported schools discuss their education and how it prepared them for success after graduation  specifically at college.

Although online school students traveled a unique path to their high school graduation day, students and alumni assert they are experiencing the same success as their traditional public school peers. Recent graduates tell Connections Academy that they feel better prepared for the increasingly digital world of college and career thanks to their experience at online school, and are being accepted to prestigious colleges and universities throughout the nation.

The close relationship I have built with many teachers over the years is something I dont feel would have been successfully accomplished in traditional public school. One-on-one interaction with my teachers throughout the day has really helped my educational goals prosper and advance, said Noah Langenfeld, Wisconsin Connections Academy class speaker and Academic Excellence Scholarship recipient. Georgia Connections Academy class speaker and Salutatorian Sean VanMeter agreed: Fortunately, your Georgia Connections Academy education has prepared you to succeed in the modern business world in more ways than you might thinkyou learned self-motivation and initiative  skills that are essential for management positions and valuable in any situation.

More than 4,000 students are expected to graduate from Connections Academy-supported schools as part of the Class of 2016, and will receive their diplomas at in-person commencement ceremonies in the 24 states where 12th grade is available. While more than half of this years graduating class plans to attend 2- or 4-year colleges, other students have plans to join the military or enter the workforce after graduation.

VIEW:

Connections Academy online school graduates infographic

College Acceptances

About Connections Academy

Connections Academy is a leading provider of high-quality, highly accountable virtual schooling for students in grades K through 12. Through tuition-free public schools, and full-time and part-time private school programs, Connections Academy delivers superior, personalized education for students, with the freedom and flexibility to experience our online learning community from anywhere. The combination of certified teachers, a proven curriculum, technology tools, and community experiences creates a supportive and successful online learning opportunity for families and children who want an individualized approach to education. Among the schools supported by Connections Academy in the 201516 school year are 30 Connections Academy virtual (online) public schools that operate in 26 states. It serves students worldwide through the online private school, International Connections Academy. Connections Academy offers grades K through 12, though some public school programs do not offer all grades. For more information, call 8003826010 or visit http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com. Connections Academy and its parent company, Connections Education, are part of the global learning company Pearson.
Integral Voices will introduce our readers to the sophisticated and nuanced observations of leaders with the range of experience and wisdom to inspire us to think differently and to act differently, to imagine a globalization of hope.

Center of Concern is pleased to launch a blog on global social justice, Integral Voices. This blog reflects our commitment to enrich the conversation that Pope Francis has kindled in his landmark encyclical, Laudato Si, regarding integral ecology, the holistic web of relationships between society and the natural world. The blog is a channel in the Centers growing portfolio of research, education, and advocacy for engaging with diverse global constituencies to kindle conversation and inspire action by putting principles and practices of Catholic social tradition in dialogue with signs of the times, noted Center President Dr. Lester A. Myers. It will complement the crown jewel of this portfolio, the Centers award-winning on-line publication, Education for Justice.

Integral Voices will offer concise, high-quality content from prominent pastoral, thought, and executive leaders from diverse religious, cultural, economic, and political backgrounds. These topics could include energy production and consumption, climate change, basic universal rights to nutritious food and safe water, refugee crises, consumerism, education of girls and empowerment of women, respect for the rule of law, governance of public and private institutions, income inequality, integrity of global financial markets, cosmology, and the evolving meaning of duties of care and justice. They also will deal with the practical and procedural aspects and challenges of implementing Pope Franciss recommendations.

Dr. Myers commented, Pope Francis encourages a culture of encounter. He challenges us to be islands of mercy in a world of indifference. Integral Voices will introduce our readers to the sophisticated and nuanced observations of leaders with the range of experience and wisdom to inspire us to think differently and to act differently, to imagine a globalization of hope. We are honored that this cadre of leaders, beginning with Ilia Delio, O.S.F.; John T. Friedman; John P. Langan, S.J.; and Mary Alice Synkewecz, R.S.M.; will help model for us the practice of the Centers renowned methodology of the Pastoral Circle: the reiterative process of insertion into experience, analysis, reflection, and action. They will invite us to participate in the long-term open-source dialogue that has made Catholic social tradition so rich as a resource to advance positive global social transformation. Along the way, the conversation in Integral Voices will provide perspective on accomplishments and challenges facing public and private institutions, including the Church itself, in building a world that nourishes an integral ecology of justice and care for our common home and one another.

The Centers role since its founding in 1971 by Bishop (later Cardinal) Joseph Bernardin and the Very Rev. Pedro Arrupe, S.J., in the office of United Nations Secretary General U Thant as a joint project of the U.S. bishops and the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) has included service as a convener of global conversations about issues of global social justice via its research, education, and advocacy. This service has included engagement in venues such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, United Nations, Capitol Hill, the bishops conference, universities, and other think tanks. Over the past three years, this scope has expanded to include advisory services and engagement with corporations, professional services firms, social service organizations, and philanthropies. Doctor Myers added, Im delighted to see this distinguished legacy of service continue as the Center adds value through the millennium-ready forum of this blog and a growing array of public and private institutions. Such outreachfor sharing, listening, and learningis in our DNA.

He continued, As the Center embarks on its 46th year, its constellation of relationships is growing, global, inclusive, and intergenerational. We are continually augmenting our efforts in research, education, and advocacy in public and private centers of influence around the world to lend a distinctive voice for global social justice and peace from Catholic social tradition. We are deeply appreciative of the ongoing support of the Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities, which graciously provided the seed funding for this latest effort by the Center to advance the common good.

ABOUT CENTER OF CONCERN

Since its founding in 1971 at the office of United Nations Secretary General U Thant by National Conference of Catholic Bishops General Secretary Joseph Bernardin and Jesuit Superior General Pedro Arrupe, S.J., and with significant talent and treasure from women religious, Center of Concern (Center) has operated in Washington, D.C., with a mission to research, educate, and advocate from Catholic social tradition to create a world where economic, political, and cultural systems promote sustainable flourishing of the global community. The Center envisions a global community that upholds basic human rights and human dignity, fosters just relationships, promotes sustainable livelihoods, and renews the earth. The Center is the United States representative to Cooperation Internationale pour le Developpement et la Solidarite (CIDSE) and holds consultative status before the United Nations Economic and Social Council. http://www.coc.org

###
The Association of Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialists (ACDIS) just launched a redesigned website that includes user-friendly navigation, easier search capabilities, an upgraded career center, and networking capabilities with local chapters across the United States.

The redesigned site makes it simple for members to stay informed on CDI news and developments. ACDIS members now have access to a new ACDIS Forum, a greatly upgraded version of the popular CDI Talk listserv. The ACDIS Forum includes different categories in which members can ask questions and interact with their peers on subjects ranging from clinical and coding questions to CDI management issues and pediatric-specific topics.

Through the new ACDIS website, members can take advantage of greatly improved local chapter membership resources, including an interactive map, letting them meet with a local chapter in their areaor start up a new one! Members can also access the same resources theyve come to rely on, including the bimonthly CDI Journal, an extensive forms and tools library, and the complete archives of membership quarterly conference calls and the popular new ACDIS Radio program.

Were pleased to be able to offer this new online home for our members, said ACDIS Director Brian Murphy. ACDIS is the go-to resource for CDI professionals, and we hope our new website continues to deliver the value, education, and networking theyve come to expect.

ACDIS is a community in which CDI specialists share the latest tested tips, tools, and strategies to implement successful CDI programs and achieve professional growth. Its mission is to bring CDI professionals together for improvement. To visit the ACDIS website, go to http://www.acdis.org.

About ACDIS

Now in its ninth year, ACDIS is a community of more than 5,000 CDI professionals who share the latest tips, tools, and strategies to implement successful CDI programs and achieve professional growth. ACDIS mission is to serve as the premier healthcare community for CDI specialists, providing a medium for education, professional growth, professional certification, and networking through its annual conference, local chapter outreach efforts, regular webinars, website, and social media outlets.

For more information about ACDIS and its offerings, please visit http://www.acdis.org or call 877-240-6586.
Stand Up 2 Cancer logo When cancer hits one of us, or our families, it hits us all.

New Horizon Security Services Inc., a privately owned security services firm headquartered in Manassas Virginia and specializing in armed and unarmed security in the Mid-Atlantic region recently celebrated 18 years in business.

To celebrate this milestone, the company and its employees decided to do something that would make a difference for the family-owned company and its employees. The result, a fundraiser to help put an end to cancer.

When cancer hits one of us, or our families, it hits us all. Its a disease that does not discriminate, and no one is immune. Thats why a group of New Horizon Security employees came up with the 18 for 18 idea.

Marking the companys 18th anniversary, employees donated a modest $18 or more, and the company matched their donations. The result was a $1800.00 to Stand Up 2 Cancer to help advance their life-saving mission.

Cancer takes one person every minute. Every day in America 1600 people die despite the fact that the means to save them are literally within our reach. SU2C awards Dream Team grants to multi-institutional groups of scientists who work collaboratively, rather than competitively, to develop new treatments quickly in order to save lives now.

For more information on Stand Up 2 Cancer or for ways you can get involved visit: http://www.standup2cancer.org/

New Horizon Security

New Horizon Security specializes in providing high-quality armed and unarmed security officers throughout the Mid-Atlantic region in support of local and state government agencies, private businesses, commercial and retail properties, construction sites, residential communities, education facilities, and public service buildings. New Horizon Security also operates a certified training academy to train unarmed and armed security officers for the field. This training academy is open to the public as well. New Horizon Security is headquartered in Manassas, VA with satellite branches in Richmond, Harrisonburg, Newport News, Roanoke, and Danville, VA.

Learn more at newhorizonsecurity.com.
Digication, a leading provider of ePortfolios, announces Innovation and Leadership Award recipients at the University of Alaska Anchorages (UAA) Native Student Services (NSS) office. The University of Alaska Anchorage, the largest higher education institution in the state, provides approximately 20,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff members with ePortfolios. UAAs eWolf (ePortfolio) program was formally launched in Fall 2015 and provides students, faculty, staff, and alumni an ability to establish and curate their individual portfolios to document, share and showcase their work and learning.

Native Student Services was established by UAA to provide quality support services to urban and rural Native students promoting: scholastic achievement, student retention, and personal success. Under the leadership of Director WiIly Templeton, the office works to:



foster academic excellence,

career development,

leadership skills,

personal growth,

College-transitioning,

a sense of belonging, and the attainment of one's scholastic and life goals.

Native Students Services received an Innovation Award for their insightful use of ePortfolios to explore native cultural identities. In addition, Sheila Randazzo (Transition Advisor) and Cheryl Turner (Office Manager) were recognized with individual Leadership Awards for their important role in launching these conversations.

Jeffrey Yan, Digication Co-founder and CEO shares that, UAA NSSs innovative use of ePortfolios is one of many exciting projects growing through our collaboration with UAA. We are humbled by the power of the students stories captured in their ePortfolios pages. We wanted to honor the program and the staff that have brought this important work to life at the campus through these awards. We believe their commitment to this project will have far reaching positive influences on other Native students service programs as well.

The innovative use of the ePortfolios by UAA NSS is guided by key indigenous beliefs about learning. Many native peoples believe that it is through learning experiences that people come to realize how they are to live a healthy way of life. A healthy way of life demonstrates a balance of: knowledge, physical, provider, emotional, social, and spiritual wellness. Sheila Randazzo explains,

Alaska Native people are a strong people who have, for centuries, demonstrated tremendous ability to survive within their environment. They are now challenged with adapting to a new society in which they have come into contact with. During this era of transition, Alaska Native students can use the Native Cultural Identity ePortfolio to examine and record their journey of becoming aware of who they are. As students reflect on their identity, students can genuinely embrace self-acceptance and maintain a strong self-perception of themselves and their communities.

The next phase of work efforts will focus on discussions with native elders and subject matter experts to develop curriculum and lessons to assist interested faculty to incorporate cultural identity efforts into education efforts. We are excited to work with our Native community to develop a project that can help our Alaska Native students embrace their cultural identity and succeed as students and a people, Cheryl Turner.

About University of Alaska Anchorage

The University of Alaska Anchorage is the states largest post-secondary institution. UAA is comprised of six teaching units at the Anchorage campus: the colleges of Education, Health and Social Welfare, Arts and Sciences, Business and Public Policy; the Community and Technical College; and the School of Engineering. UAA is committed to serving the higher education needs of the state, its communities and its diverse peoples. UAA is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer and educational institution. For more information, visit http://www.uaa.alaska.edu

About Digication

Founded by educators, Jeffrey Yan and Kelly Driscoll in 2002, Digication is a leading provider of easy-to-use ePortfolio and Assessment solutions for teachers and students at all levels, from K-12 to higher education. Students at more than 6000 schools use Digication's ePortfolios to easily, flexibly and professionally showcase their work and achievements across schools and districts. ePortfolios create new opportunities for learning, reflection, communication, assessment and career advancement. Digication is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. For more information, visit http://www.digication.com
Creating better experiences between citizens and law enforcement in all 50 states, Oh Crap! is a free app available on the App Store and the Google Play Store that was developed by a group of Iowa-based attorneys in 2015 to hold police more accountable. Oh Crap! Version 4.0 now offers a brand new chat feature called CrapChat, where users can post and receive notifications about community events as well as speed traps, roadblocks, and other law enforcement activities.

Oh Crap! is something that we created to make legal advice more accessible to the general public, especially when stopped by the police, said Oh Crap! Co-Founder, Bob Rehkemper. Traffic stops dont have to be a stressful situation. Our app is an upgrade to legal advice cards. Were providing real-time support as well as an interactive community that keeps citizens aware and helps to avoid unfortunate situations nationwide.

With features including audio recording, state-specific legal rights, and local lawyer and bail bondsmen contacts, Oh Crap! equips users with the tools to go out, have fun, be smart, and be safe. Users can access legal help as well as a recording function and recordings can be saved to access for future reference.

Oh Crap! is the perfect go-to resource when it comes to police interaction. Rehkemper and his legal partners developed the app with a main focus on prevention through education and a goal to address the lack of accountability of law enforcement officials who abuse their power.

Now that Oh Crap! Version 4.0 is available with its new CrapChat function, drivers who are confronted by law enforcement no longer have to worry about their interactions going undocumented, contacting legal support, or notifying other drivers in the area about what happened.

Oh Crap! is free and available for download in the App Store and the Google Play Store. To learn more about Oh! Crap, please visit: http://www.oh-crap-app.com.

About Oh Crap!

Oh Crap! is a free app for iPhone and Android that was developed by Iowa-based attorneys in 2015 to hold police accountable during traffic stops and other interactions with citizens. With a focus on prevention and education, the app provides drivers with a comprehensive resource for legal support, documenting police interactions, local traffic warnings, local events and more. Encouraging users to go out, have fun, be smart, and get home safe, Oh Crap! is the go-to resource for police interaction and driver safety on the go. To learn more about Oh Crap please visit: http://www.oh-crap-app.com.
The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition launched its new website, http://ovarian.org, an online tool devoted to supporting its mission with an emphasis on earlier ovarian cancer awareness, community events, research, and quality of life for survivors and their families.

The new website features a modern design, improved back-end functionality, and up-to-date ovarian cancer information. Other features include:



A mobile-friendly layout that can be viewed seamlessly on a mobile device or tablet

Full-screen photos and new infographics

A visually appealing calendar of events, which can be filtered by event type

A blog featuring ovarian cancer survivors stories

Newly designed NOCC chapter pages, with easy-to-find information

We are extremely excited about the recent launch of our new, dynamic website, said NOCC Chief Executive Officer, David Barley. This new online tool will provide our constituents with up-to-date ovarian cancer information, tools to create earlier awareness about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer, and provide hope to those affected by the disease.

The site was created in part with PICnet, a web development agency specializing in providing open source software and services to non-profits and socially responsible businesses.

# # #

About the National Ovarian Cancer

Since its inception in 1991, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC) has been committed to raising awareness, promoting education, and funding research in support of women, families, and communities touched by ovarian cancer. NOCC is well-established as an important national advocate for patients and families struggling with ovarian cancer, and remains steadfast in its mission to save lives by fighting tirelessly to prevent and cure ovarian cancer, and to improve the quality of life for survivors. For more information, please visit http://www.ovarian.org.
SUITED selects RO NEW YORK Founder and Creative Director, Rony Zeidan to curate the biannual fashion and art publications third issue  set to release early Spring focusing on a universal concept and flawed industry: beauty.

The varying definitions of beauty are what sparked the idea to tap into the visionaries of this latest issue. Six of them  including Allure founder, Linda Wells and one-of-a-kind fashion icon, Michelle Harper  lend insight into the industry's triumphs and blemishes, while artists such as the Sudanese painter, Ibrahim El-Salahi and Baltimore photographer, Devin Allen illustrate the reinvigorated concept of beauty from their corners of the world.

"Beauty has been used to profit for a powerful industry by creating a definition for something that simply cannot be defined," says Ashley Owens, SUITED's Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director. "And on the other hand, we live in a society that feels we need to overly explain why someone is beautiful if they dont fit a predisposed mold."

To Owens, Rony Zeidans insiders point of view, and experience in the beauty industry, previously as the VP Global Creative Director of Ralph Lauren Fragrances at LOreal, and the extensive work RO NEW YORK does in the beauty industry with Coty, Unilever, Amore Pacific, Space brands and independent beauty companies, make him the ideal person to curate the issue. Owens and Zeidan agreed to collaborate on creating an issue with meaning and depth  reflective of the current state of the industry and shedding light behind the curtains of the movers and shakers in the field.

With the new issue, Owens stays true to the business model and aesthetic of SUITED, providing a well-curated publication that focuses on the identity, quality and passion of the topic that is presented. SUITED means Well Suited its about people doing what they are suited to do-that innate passion of fulfilling what you need because you are passionate about it. Its product thats made with a purpose. Its art thats made with a purpose, says Ashley Owens. SUITEDs leading objective is to showcase quality content, eliminating dispensable material such as ad campaigns found in mass produced publications. Alternatively, SUITED will continue to be an independent imprint and plans to hold benefits at the end of each year to raise proceeds; allowing them to remain innovative pioneers in the fashion and art industry.

The third issue covers art, fashion and music to accompany the focus on beauty, including insights from Robert Levithan  HIV survivor and LGBT activist who aims to inspire others to live life to their fullest. Another leader amongst the LGBT community, Chris Salgardo gives an interview about his work with the community and fundraising for aids research. 68 year old model, stylist and beauty mogul, Linda Rodin shares how her brand is expanding as well as her low maintenance beauty regime and her idea of beauty while growing older. Former Coty executive, Catherine Walsh explains how her personal story led to her empowerment. Outspoken about the inequalities of the idea of beauty, Poppy King gives her account on the true value of beauty for SUITED.

Sculptor, Rachel Kneebone and Argentinean graphic landscapist painter, Eduardo Stupia are profiled in SUITED as well for their contributions to the art industry. The music industry is also represented with features on musicians, Andrew WK  who fights depression with looking at all moments in life as a reason to celebrate, Dilly Dally  the young Toronto band who channel their darkness to make grunge beautiful and Yolande  founder of Callidus Guild, an art for architecture studio in New York that works with brands such as Chanel, Tiffany & Co and Luis Vuitton. Grenson Shoes, who are celebrating their 150 year anniversary and Bindle & Keep, known for their genderless tailoring are also featured in the issue.

Featured on the cover is unsung personality Patricia Black, the Albright Fashion Library's Creative Director, who sits down with fashion editor and stylist Paul Cavaco for a conversation about her journey from growing up as an outsider to becoming an insider.

On his involvement in SUITEDs beauty issue, Zeidan says, I hope the readers will get to learn about the journey of these individuals and have it shed some light onto their own journeys. The magazine is here to inspire.

The issue is now available for pre-order at Suitedmagazine.com and will be available at over 100 international newsstands on June 24th including the Gagosian Gallery, Corso Como, Colette, Artcurial, Libraire Adelaide/Arts Decos, The Broken Arm and The Photographers Gallery.

For more information on SUITED magazine visit suitedmagazine.com.

For more information on RO NEW YORK visit ro-ny.com

ABOUT SUITED

SUITED is a biannual fashion and art magazine that celebrates forward-thinking creatives and independent thinkers well-suited to making positive change through lasting means.

ABOUT ASHLEY OWENS

Ashley Owens is the editor-in-chief and creative director of SUITED, a biannual fashion and art magazine she began in 2014 with a name that fits a double meaningcelebrating passionate creatives who have found their calling effecting positive change in these industries while also giving a quiet nod to the menswear tailoring for women that Owens is known for. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Owens got her start in fashion when she won a trip to Milan to apprentice under Giorgio Armani. Encouraged to apply to Parsons The New School for Design upon her return, she worked on a portfolio for a year studying under a local painter in Seattle before attending. During the last half of her studies at Parsons, she understudied for tailor Rocco Ciccarelli, and in 2011 she graduated with a BFA in Fashion Design with a focus on menswear for women. After Owens spent two years designing, she created the editorial platform GRANDPASTYLE with the intention to encourage Quality Over Quantity production practices within the fashion industry. After publishing a GRANDPASTYLE in September 2014, SUITED was conceptualized and within months, Issue No. 1 was released during New York Fashion Week in February 2015. Ashley Owens has gained notoriety through her personal style since 2013 and been featured by various publications including Style.com, Refinery29, Elle, GQ, Into The Gloss, and Style Caster. Today, in addition to heading SUITED, Owens works as a fashion stylist and a consultant in creative direction and branding.

ABOUT RO NEW YORK

RO NEW YORK is a design-focused branding agency specializing in luxury, beauty, and fashion. Our campaigns and product launches reflect an instinctive understanding of modern culture by making targeted connections with a universal voice and a thorough design process. The RO NEW YORK team excels at establishing brand identities that can be carried across all media platforms through a meticulous process, identifying each brands spirit.

As the authority in the luxury sector, RO NEW YORK has worked on a multi-capacity approach with global luxury brands such as: The Luxury Collection, Holt Renfrew, Chopard, Ralph Lauren, Swarovski, title of work, Gloria Vanderbilt, Coty, iluminage, and Amore Pacific. RO NEW YORK combines industry experience and creative innovation to build brands with distinct aesthetics and powerful voices.

RO NEW YORK understands the evolving luxury industry and the importance of the brand and consumer relationship. This understanding has made RO NEW YORK the go-to source for reviving classic brands and re-launching them into the market. The RO NEW YORK team excels at establishing brand identity that carries across all media platforms through a meticulous process, identifying a brands spirit.

ABOUT RONY ZEIDAN

Rony Zeidan founded RO NEW YORK to develop brands, both established and entrepreneurial, by building tailored concepts that communicate the essence of luxury with clean, modern sensibilities. Zeidan has acquired rich industry experience as the creative force behind prestigious projects at LOreal, Kraftworks and LVMH. Zeidan also serves as an Editorial Contributor for Luxury Daily, The Washington Post, Digiday, and Forbes. He continues to foster important growth and industry development in mentorship roles for NYCEDCS Fashion Fellows and Design Entrepreneurs NY along with his recent participation as a Steering Committee member for NYCxDESIGN. His creative team is comprised of culturally diverse individuals with expertise in branding, strategy, advertising, packaging, digital, video, and production.
Provar will revolutionize how companies approach testing within the Force.com ecosystem, stated Geraint Waters, Product Manager at Provar. Were very excited to see how ForeFront will make use of Provar going forward.

ForeFront, a business transformation management consulting and systems integration company, launched this week at the Maximize event the first automated testing tool solution for ServiceMax.

As a Gold partner of ServiceMax, the market leader in cloud-based field service management software, ForeFront is committed to its clients success in deploying solutions based on the ServiceMax platform.

Best practices and proven methodologies in Agile development enable ForeFront to be engaged in some of the SaaS industrys most complex integration challenges. Automated software testing is a critical element in ensuring any projects success in todays diversified cloud applications environment such as the Salesforce eco-system.

Earlier this year, ForeFront partnered with Provar to market its testing technology. As a result of a joint development effort, the first testing automation for ServiceMax, based on Provars tool and ForeFronts testing know-how, is now a reality and was launched at Maximize.

Test automation for ServiceMax offers significant benefits by taking the complexity out of testing.

In addition to functionalities such as point and click test creation, our clients get pre-configured ServiceMax test cases which accelerate uncovering issues early on and jump start automating their testing. The ServiceMax add-on solution is to be marketed as Release Management Best Practices and is part of ForeFront Service Accelerators (FSA) portfolio.

Unit testing, system testing, and regression testing in an Agile software development, particularly with Enterprise multiple teams, inshore and off-shore, 3rd party ISVs, is difficult, complex and critical. By providing test automation for the ServiceMax platform, the challenge of a successful deployment is significantly reduced, in terms of costs and time.

The Provar test automation tool is available now and bundled with ForeFront services pricing. ServiceMax clients using the tool have reported significant time savings, increased confidence, and satisfied QA testers having removed monotonous manual testing.

About ForeFront

ForeFront has over 10 years of experience in the Salesforce ecosystem with strong capabilities and expertise in business transformation cloud strategy, Force.com custom development, systems integration and global solution deployments. Our partners include Salesforce, ServiceMax, Apttus and IBM. Our clients include market leaders such as Bayer, Elekta, GE, Ricoh, Walmart. ForeFront is located in the New York metro area with offices across the USA and Europe. ForeFront delivers forward-thinking cloud solutions to clients at the frontline of their industry.

http://www.forefrontcorp.com

About Provar

Provar is the only code-free, integrated automation testing tool for Salesforce. They began as a part of makepositive, a UK based Salesforce implementation partner. Provar specializes in the testing of Sales Cloud, Service Cloud and ServiceMax. providing tools to Fortune 100 companies and Salesforce app vendors. They have a diverse range of customers spanning several industries and serve business sizes ranging from 100 to 100,000.

http://www.provartesting.com/
Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) announces the launch of a new organizational team dedicated to partnering with states to address their diverse assessment needs. NWEAs State Solutions division is led by Jason Mendenhall, Sr. VP of State Solutions and includes summative assessment experts Canda Mueller, Ph.D.; Karen Barton, Ph.D.; and Chris Rozunick, PMP.

NWEA has always had a strong psychometric core, said Matt Chapman, CEO. Its the expertise we have built our reputation on. Now, with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), we see unique opportunities and are adding expertise in developing large-scale assessment systems. This new division will be an important dimension in how we meet our mission of partnering to help all kids learn.

More than 7,800 schools and districts currently use NWEAs Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment to measure growth. Recognizing that educators need insight into student progress relative to grade level expectations in addition to growth data to best serve the needs of every student, NWEAs State Solutions division will support states in the development of innovative accountability systems, including proficiency assessment models. When combined with other measures from the ESSA framework, districts and states will get information that can help inform student learning paths, measure growth, identify opportunities for school improvement, and drive equitable outcomes for all students under their care.

Dr. Mueller, NWEAs new Vice President of State Solutions, is leading these efforts and brings more than a decade of experience in psychometrics to the team. As Questar Assessments Vice President of Assessment Services, Dr. Mueller led a business unit responsible for assessment design, psychometrics and assessment quality. From 2005 to 2009 Dr. Mueller worked as a Program Director at NCS Pearson (formerly Harcourt Assessments). Her recently published work includes guidance on how to properly train writers and review items, standard setting, and the business of psychometrics.

Im delighted to be a part of NWEA, said Dr. Mueller. We have the chance to make state accountability systems that provide instructionally useful information to students and teachers  as well as meet the needs of policy makers  and that is truly exciting.

Dr. Karen Barton, Senior Director of Summative Design, joined NWEA from Discovery Education, where as Vice President, Learning Analytics, she managed a team of experts in content development and design, research and evaluation, and psychometrics and learning analytics. Previously Dr. Barton held several key roles, including Principal Research Scientist, over more than a decade at CTB/McGraw-Hill. Dr. Barton also has experience in state education agencies including the South Carolina Department of Education. She began her career in the classroom as a special education teacher in South Carolina and Virginia.

Chris Rozunick, Director of Summative Content, joined the NWEA team after a decade at Pearson, where she held several key leadership roles including Director, Content Development during the first rounds of Common Core State Standards development and worked with several states on their transition to online testing. Ms. Rozunick worked previously in the analysis, management, and reporting of assessment data for Just for the Kids as well as the Florida Department of Education and the Texas Education Agency. She began her career as a high school science teacher and has taught statistics at the post-secondary level.

Current NWEA employees Chandra Bittner, PMP and Tracy Florczak will bring extensive state-level experience to the NWEA State Solutions team. Chandra Bittner, State Program Director, previously worked as Practice Manager for Endeca Technologies and Program Director for NCS Pearson (formerly Harcourt Assessment). Senior Program Manager Tracy Florczak joined NWEA from roles at Educational Testing Services and Pearson Education.

About Northwest Evaluation Association

Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) is a global not-for-profit educational services organization known for our suite of assessments, including our flagship interim assessment, Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), and Skills Navigator, a skills mastery and progress monitoring tool. More than 7,800 partners in U.S. schools, school districts, education agencies, and international schools trust us to offer pre-kindergarten through grade 12 assessments that accurately measure student growth and mastery, professional development that fosters educators' ability to accelerate student learning, and research that supports assessment validity and data interpretation. To better inform instruction and maximize every learner's academic growth, educators currently use NWEA assessments with nearly eight million students. Learn more at nwea.org.
Chase Iron Eyes, member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, founder of Last Real Indians, activist, and attorney for the Lakota People's Law Project is calling for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission The trauma suffered has gone unrecognized and unresolved, and has been passed down onto subsequent generations resulting in the undermining and devastation of Native American individuals, families and communities, -Chase Iron Eyes

In an effort to address the United States' Indian Boarding School era, the Lakota Peoples Law Project has launched a campaign to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

This Congressional committee would investigate the impacts and ongoing effects of the Indian Boarding School Policy, while working toward healing and addressing the myriad issues Indian country faces today.

The Lakota People's Law Project (LPLP) began its outreach campaign to tribes across the country after the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe signed on to their resolution letter calling for a TRC on June 8th. LPLP's goal is to have as many tribes as possible sign on as a way of showing Congress that it's time to act.

Standing Rock District Representative Robert Taken Alive says a TRC will help heal tribal members and families that have been devastated by the federal boarding school policy.

We want to make sure that we stand with the other tribes that have been affected by this era, says Taken Alive.

The 1869 Peace Policy, known as the Indian Boarding School Policy, funded boarding schools focused on assimilating and civilizing American Indian childrenthe intent, said Richard Pratt, the founder of the notorious Carlisle school, was to Kill the Indian, save the man.

More than 100,000 children were forcibly removed from their families and distributed among the 460 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) operated schools by 1960. Children as young as five years old were punished for speaking their language and banned from engaging in traditional practices.

"They were brutalized simply for existing," says Chase Iron Eyes, Standing Rock Sioux tribal member and attorney for LPLP. He adds that these children faced oppressive discipline and corporal punishment.

They made our children ashamed of who they are, says Iron Eyes, who spearheaded the call for TRC. Nearly every challenge we face today is traceable to this intergenerational trauma.

While these schools no longer exist, Iron Eyes says the policy resulted in the systemic destruction of Native American cultures and communities.

Even the BIA admitted in 2000 that their policies made Indian people ashamed of who they were, and that the BIA committed these acts [meant to destroy all things Indian] against the children entrusted to its boarding schools, brutalizing them emotionally, psychologically, physically, and spiritually.

Kevin Gover, the former Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs who made these statements on behalf of the BIA, declared that a healing process is crucial to letting go of the past and laying the groundwork for the future.

Iron Eyes says this healing process is long overdue, and that the most effective way to achieve it is through a TRC.

More than 30 countries have established TRCs, which are regarded as the universally-adopted mechanism for providing redress for harms caused to a people and culture by government policies, like racially-segregated boarding schools.

Canada established a TRC in 2008 to address the damages caused to its First Nations population through its boarding school policy, which was directly modeled after the United States policy. Canada's final report, released December 2015, decried the policy as a form of cultural genocide.

The United Nations defines cultural genocide as forcibly transferring children of one group to another group. Iron Eyes says its undoubtedly clear that cultural genocide took place through these schools.

The trauma suffered has gone unrecognized and unresolved, and it has been passed down to subsequent generations, resulting in the undermining and devastation of Native American individuals, families and communities, says Iron Eyes.

Assimilation persists today in a more subtle form, as Native American children are being removed from their families at an alarming rate by state departments of social services; they are dramatically overrepresented in state foster care and adoption systems throughout the country. In South Dakota, for example, more than 700 Native American children per year are placed in foster care, representing more than half the states foster care population, though they constitute only 13.8 percent of the states child population.

LPLPs resolution letter, which is being shared with tribes across the country, calls for the TRC to accomplish four key tasks.

First, the TRC will take testimony from boarding school survivors, identifying how their experience impacts their lives, so that their stories will not be forgotten as part of U.S. history. Second, it will release a comprehensive national study focused on the impacts and ongoing effects of the boarding school policy. Third, it will provide recommendations to Congress for how to begin an official process of healing. Lastly, the TRC will make recommendations to Congress for how to move toward having Child and Family Service Programs be run by Tribal Nations for Tribal Nations.
National Taiwan University (NTU) reaches a milestone of establishing a satellite office in heart of Silicon Valley, Northern California. On June 11, 2016 National Taiwan University @ Silicon Valley (NTU@SV) hosted a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony. President Pan-Chyr Yang PhD, MD traveled from Taiwan to officiate this exciting event. Attended by government appointees, elected officials, VIPs and alumni, this Silicon Valley office attracted attention from media and entrepreneur community.

President Yang shared his vision for NTU@SV. It will serve as a window between NTU and academic and research institutes in US to further strengthen strategic partnerships. It also serves as a bridge to connect Silicon Valley innovation spirits and venture resource with the trans-Pacific Chinese entrepreneurs. NTU@SV is a platform. It is to encourage people to inspire and be inspired, to collaborate, and to communicate. The facility opens services not limited to NTU alumni. We welcome young entrepreneurs from all Chinese communities. President Yang has a vision to duplicate the practice and open more facilities to nurture entrepreneurship across Pacific.

National Taiwan University is a leader in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship on campus. In 2012 NTU Entrepreneur Association was formed. In 2013 NTU Garage, an earliest stage incubator, opened its door. In 2014, NTU Entrepreneur Center began to offer programs and classes to mentor young minds. In 2015, NTU Design School established thanks to a generous donation from an alumni. In 2015, the first HackNTU kicked off. In 2016 NTU@SV had its grand opening.

National Taiwan University will continue nurture innovation and entrepreneurship on and off campus. Collaboration from all organizations are welcomed.

NTU@SV contact: Julie Chen, Julie.ntu.sv(at)gmail(dot)com
EY today announced that the president and CEO of Mediware Information Systems, Inc., Kelly Mann, received the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2016 Award in the Central Midwest. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award program.

Mann was selected by an independent panel of judges, and the award was presented at a special black-tie gala event at the Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland in Kansas City June 16. He was among 21 finalists in the Central Midwest region and was among seven selected for consideration at the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2016 national program, which will be presented in Palm Springs, California, on November 19, 2016.

I am humbled that my team and this community nominated me to represent Mediware for this respected award, said Mann, who joined the company in September 2007. The Mediware team, including our board directors, our business leaders, our 600 employees and our private equity partners, Thomas Bravo, work tirelessly to produce products that successfully impact healthcare and human services operations throughout the country and abroad. It is truly a pleasure to be part of such a successful company, stated Mann.

Since 1986, EY has honored entrepreneurs whose ingenuity, spirit of innovation and discipline have propelled their companies success, invigorated their industries, and benefited their communities. In addition to the offerings in the blood management and medication management markets, Mann has played a major role in expanding Mediwares position in the post-acute care and human and social services markets. The company traditionally acquires 1-2 companies each year, and Mann says those efforts will likely continue with the strong financial and supportive backing of Thomo Bravo. Mann also encourages and takes great pride in the companys efforts to support the United Way campaign each year.

The Entrepreneur Of the Year program has honored the leadership of such entrepreneurs as Howard Schultz of Starbucks Coffee Company, Robert Unanue of Goya Foods, and Mindy Grossman of HSN. Recent US national winners include Reid Hoffman and Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn; Hamdi Ulukaya, founder of Chobani; and 2015 winners Andreas Bechtolsheim and Jayshree Ullal of Arista Networks.

Founded and produced by EY, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are sponsored nationally by SAP America, Merrill Corporation and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In the Central Midwest, region sponsors include: PNC Bank, Lathrop & Gage, Lockton Companies and Common Ground Public Relations.

About Mediware

Since 1980, Mediware has provided software solutions to healthcare providers and has since expanded to serve many state and federal agencies. Mediwares solutions are perfect for high-growth, complex patient care environments that remain underserved by existing vendors. The company employs more than 500 subject matter experts who deeply understand business and care processes in highly specialized acute, non-acute and community-based care settings and have years of experience integrating systems. Mediwares portfolio of solutions currently includes human and social services, behavioral health, blood solutions, cellular therapy, home care, medication management, rehabilitation, and respiratory therapy. For more information about Mediware products and services, visit http://www.mediware.com.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the worlds most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries.

About EYs Strategic Growth Markets practice

EYs Strategic Growth Markets (SGM) practice guides leading high-growth companies. Our multidisciplinary teams of elite professionals provide perspective and advice to help our clients accelerate market leadership. SGM delivers assurance, tax, transactions and advisory services to thousands of companies spanning all industries. EY is the undisputed leader in taking companies public, advising key government agencies on the issues impacting high-growth companies and convening the experts who shape the business climate. For more information, please visit us at ey.com/us/strategicgrowthmarkets, or follow news on Twitter @EY_Growth.

About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.
Beneficial State Bank (Beneficial State) today announced the completion of its merger with Pan American Bank (Pan Am) effective as of the close of business on June 17, 2016. The combined entity is now operating as Beneficial State Bank.

Kat Taylor, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Beneficial State, stated, "This partnership brings us significantly closer to changing the banking system for good by extending beneficial banking services that are fair, transparent and relevant to customers throughout California, Oregon and Washington. Banking, which belongs to all of us, should provide benefit to all and harm to none and that's what we try to do every single day."

Tom Steyer, Co-Founder and Chairman added, Kat and I founded Beneficial State Bank to fix a broken system that denies far too many Californians basic access to fair banking and financial services. This merger builds on our commitment to economic justice and opportunity, and it allows us to reach more communities throughout California."

On a pro forma consolidated basis, the combined entity will have assets of approximately $630 million and deposits of approximately $490 million. The combined 12-branch network will serve the California communities of Oakland, Santa Rosa, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno, Porterville, Visalia, Modesto and additionally Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. Dan Skaff, Co-CEO, added, Our goal is to balance organic growth and mission-aligned mergers in order to be resilient under modern bank economics while we serve our communities more deeply. The merger with Pan Am is an important step in fulfilling our five year goal of becoming a $3-5 billion bank serving local communities, providing growth opportunities for our colleagues, and delivering on our social and environmental impact goals.

Robert Hughes, former CEO of Pan Am, will be a Director at Beneficial State and President of a new consumer banking unit upon completion of the merger. Mr. Hughes commented, "We are so happy to be joining our nearly 100 year history of service to our communities in the Central Valley and Los Angeles areas of California with the leading, forward thinking mission-based bank in California. Combined, we have both the history and the resources to greatly expand our beneficial banking throughout the combined West Coast territory.

Pan Ams senior management team and all employees will join the Beneficial State team. The headquarters of the combined company will remain in Oakland. To celebrate the merger, Beneficial State will host family-friendly neighborhood block parties in each of the newly acquired branches in the Central Valley and Los Angeles this summer to empower people to better banking.

About Pan American Bank

Pan American Bank, which in August 2015 merged with Finance and Thrift Company, has a long history of serving under-represented and under-served consumers and small businesses. Pan American Bank, co-founded by Romana Acosta Banuelos, the first Latina Treasurer of the United States, was established in 1964. Finance and Thrift, founded by a group of ranchers and farmers to make small loans to their workers, was established in 1925. Pan American is focused on transforming and empowering the community and is nationally recognized as a leading community bank, based on its advocacy-based style of banking. The Bank maintains a fully-bilingual staff (English/Spanish) ready to meet the needs of its customers and is active in the communities it serves through financial literacy education programs to local elementary, middle and high schools, as well as through non-profits and faith-based organizations.

About Beneficial State Bank

Beneficial State Bank is a social enterprise bank founded in 2007 with a triple bottom-line focus of social justice, environmental resilience and economic sustainability. Beneficial State is a state-chartered, federally regulated, for profit banking organization whose economic interest is owned entirely by a non-profit foundation of the same name. Beneficial State is mandated to produce meaningful social justice and environmental benefits in an economically sustainable manner. In December 2010, it acquired ShoreBank Pacific. The merger greatly expanded the Banks reach on the West Coast, and enhanced its capacity to serve its mission. ShoreBank Pacific, a pioneer of environmentally sustainable banking, serves both Washington and Oregon. The joint forces produced an enlarged footprint covering a bio-regional territory some call the Salmon Nation and united the synergies of social justice and ecological banking. A few years later in October 2013, Beneficial State Bancorp completed a stock purchase transaction of 90% of Albina Community Bank, bringing a Portland-based community bank that has been investing in individuals, families, businesses, and local neighborhoods over 20 years into their family.

Beneficial State, a community development financial institution, has been a certified B Corporation since 2013, and has been honored as Best for the World,a designation reserved for the top 10% of all B Corps based on environmental, community and worker impact. Overall, Beneficial State is the #3 B Corp worldwide on the B Corp impact assessment.

For additional information, please visit http://www.beneficialstate.com.
author Judith Martin

Over one thousand years ago, the Viking Princess Efanda founded the Russian nation with her husband Prince Rurik during the Viking era. While Rurik has been written about in the history books and a large monument was erected to honor him in Novgorod, Russia, Princess Efanda has not gotten any recognitionhistory has ignored her. Children's author Judith Martin has a problem with this and is campaigning to have Russian President Vladimir Putin build a monument in Russia to honor the princess.

Ms. Martin's new children's picture book, "Saga of a Princess," is dedicated to the memory of this forgotten Viking princess. In the book, Prince Rurik is offered and accepts the throne of Novgorod, a city across the sea, but wants his wife Princess Efanda to stay behind in Scandinavia. However, Efanda sneaks off and leaves for Novgorod. While on his way to Novgorod, Rurik runs into his wife and is shocked to know that she made the journey that he thought was too dangerous for her. In the end, Princess Efanda proves that she is just as brave and adventurous as her husband Prince Rurik.

"Saga of a Princess" is the second book in Ms. Martin's "Pantheon of Beauty" series on beautiful and inspiring women from across the globe. Ms. Martins love for fashion, geography and global cultures is what led her to write her books. I want to empower all of the women and young girls of the world with each book. My books are a reflection of the diversity among all of the beautiful women of the world. Its time women started defining beauty for themselves, said Judith.

"Saga of a Princess" is available for purchase at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. For more information on the book, please visit http://www.sagaofaprincess.com. Additionally, Judith can be followed at http://www.facebook.com/sagaofaprincess

Press Contact:

Judith Martin

404-644-3431

judith(at)thegoddessofbeauty(dot)com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBIndRFB2UQ
Kara is joining Watts Capital at an exciting time as we continue to grow our client base and match them with exceptional investment opportunities.

Watts Capital Group, LLC (http://www.wattscapital.com), a leading provider of wealth management services, alternative investments and investment banking, announces the hiring of Kara F. Sweet as General Counsel and Managing Director. In her capacity, Kara will oversee the legal and compliance activities of each of the firms businesses. She will also have business line responsibility in the firms Alternatives and Direct Investment businesses, which focuses on hedge funds, private equity, real estate and direct investments innovative companies.

I am very pleased to have Kara join our team of highly talented professionals, said Thomas W. Watts IV, founder and CEO. Kara will help further the firms goals of independence, expertise, integrity and client focus. Her broad legal background will help us streamline the business and expand our capability to handle our clients multi-faceted needs. Kara is joining Watts Capital at an exciting time as we continue to grow our client base and match them with exceptional investment opportunities.

Prior to joining Watts Capital, Ms. Sweet was engaged in private practice as a general commercial litigator for 15 years, most recently as Special Counsel at Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP, where she practiced under her maiden name Kara F. Headley. She has represented both plaintiffs and defendants with an emphasis on securities matters. As General Counsel, she will bring her skills to the firm in negotiating contracts, handling employment matters, avoiding litigation and ensuring regulatory compliance. As Managing Director, she will attract new investment opportunities and use her contacts to expand Watts Capitals client base.

Ms. Sweet received her J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law-Newark and B.A. from Vanderbilt University. Ms. Sweet has been honored by her peers and clients as a Rising Star by New York Superlawyers for the past 5 years.

About Watts Capital

Watts Capital is a financial services company dedicated to helping our clients achieve their financial objectives, whether they are highly successful individuals, affluent families, family offices, or institutional investors. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning, investment management, trust & estate planning, and charitable giving counsel through its SEC-registered investment adviser Watts Capital Partners, LLC. The firm places alternative and direct investments through its FINRA member broker dealer Watts Capital, LLC. More information is available at http://www.wattscapital.com .

Contact

Tom Watts, CEO

212-735-8291

twatts(at)wattscapital(dot)com
Last week, ByteCubed was recognized as a 2016 Top Workplace by The Washington Post. The Washington Posts Top Workplaces list began in 2014 and spotlights private, public, nonprofit and government agencies that received the highest ratings from their employees in a survey conducted by Workplace Dynamics.

ByteCubed is a high-impact government consulting firm that prides itself on responding to the global mandate to make government processes more efficient through innovative technology solutions. The company specializes in reimagining and replacing government systems. This approach transforms the way clients can distill data into valuable insights, reduce the costs for storing data and provide increased mobility and security for clients' information.

This recognition is entirely due to our dedicated ByteCubed staff, said Mr. Ishaq, ByteCubed Founder. Our employees have created a culture of collaboration and innovation which has led to an environment where everyone thrives. Even in the midst of exponential growth, our staff has done an outstanding job at remaining agile and making this a top place to work.

ByteCubed recently moved into its new headquarters in the creative ecosystem of Crystal City in Arlington, VA. The office is approximately 17,000 square feet, and is equipped with an array of high-end, state-of-the-art technology to provide employees with the best tools available. From fully stocked kitchens offering healthy snacks and beverages to a variety of workspace options including open desks, private offices, a library and media area, the space was designed to foster innovation and collaboration.

The space will serve not only as a headquarters for the company but also as a platform to provide the community with industry events, including meet-ups and hack-a-thons, meant to help discover new talent, inspire employees, and contribute to the tech community.

The winning companies were awarded on Friday at a celebration at The Washington Post headquarters. In addition, ByteCubed was featured in a special section of The Washington Post newspaper on Sunday, June 19th.

To find out how to join the ByteCubed team, please visit http://www.bytecubed.com/careers. To learn more about ByteCubed, please contact Ashley Scott, Director of Public Affairs, at ashley(dot)scott(at)bytecubed(dot)com.

ByteCubed is a results-oriented and high-impact consulting firm specializing in cutting-edge, next-generation software development and technology. The company works with clients using a holistic, lifecycle approach to create unique and transformative solutions to traditional problems. ByteCubed focuses on government innovation, thought leadership and technology development for large federal agencies and Fortune 1000 enterprises. For more information, please contact Ashley Scott, Director of Public Affairs, at ashley(dot)scott(at)bytecubed(dot)com.
Cynopsis Media announced the call for entries for the Model D Awards, celebrating the best in online video content & advertising. Entries are being accepted through August 4, and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony hosted in New York City on November 1, 2016.

Every year, this program has gotten bigger in terms of both the number and quality of entries and attendees, said Cynopsis Publisher Roberta Caploe. Last year, we honored brands such as Honda, Arm & Hammer, and Maxus Americas. And we were lucky enough to attract the participation of top online talent to help present awards, too. This year, we expect just as broad and lively a spectrum of celebs and execs.

Presented by Cynopsis Digital, one of the industry's most trusted brands for professionals in TV and online video content creation, distribution, media buying and planning, ad sales, technology, research and marketing. The Digital Awards are open to all individuals and teams worldwide including: digital media publishers, TV and online video networks, MSOs, studios, production companies, producers, brands, ad agencies, interactive media agencies, ad platforms, technology providers, developers and marketing and PR firms. Vendors are also eligible to compete on behalf of a client, and the program is also open to national and international entrants.

Winners and honorable mentions will be awarded in over 50 categories including content, companies and personnel, marketing, tech and tools, people and more. To enter online, visit http://www.cynopsisdigitalawards.com/

Finalists will be celebrated at an Awards Reception on November 1, 2016 in NYC and profiled in a special edition of Cynopsis Digital. For entry questions, contact Marketing Manager Sarah Martinez at sarah(at)cynopsis(dot)com. For advertising or sponsorship information, contact VP of Sales & Marketing Mike Farina at mike(at)cynopsis(dot)com.

About Cynopsis Media:

Cynopsis Media is what the TV industry reads first every day. The Cynopsis family of products includes the media industry's most-read daily, Cynopsis, plus sister dailies Cynopsis Digital and Cynopsis Sports, the Cynopsis Jobs board and special reports. Serving TV, agency and brand professionals, Cynopsis Media produces conferences, webinars, and awards programs that are second to none. Find out more at cynopsis.com.

##
GiveWill Backpack

Give WILL, a program established by Will Leather Goods designed to support underfunded schools across America through in-kind backpack donations announced their donation and support of The New York Times HigherEd Leaders Forum on June 20 and 21. Will Leather Goods will present the 400 backpacks to the whos who of senior leaders of accredited U.S. colleges and universities at the forum in an effort to encourage these authorities to better help support students college pursuits and dreams.

With our Give Will initiative supporting The New York Times HigherEd Leaders Forum, it provides us a venue to connect with education professionals and leaders who are working every day to change the odds for kids so they make it to college, said Will Leather Goods Founder Will Adler. We are proud to be engaging with the attendees of the Forum to help us understand how Will Leather Goods, who is passionate and dedicated to this initiative, work with schools and teachers to lower the barriers to higher education for kids at risk.

ITS MORE THAN A BAGITS A PLACE TO HOLD YOUR DREAMS.

Established by CEO & Founder Will Adler, the Give Will initiative is a get-and-give program that donates one backpack to a child in need for every purchase of a Give Will Collection item. The companys goal is to donate 500,000 bags by 2025 to underfunded schools across America. Each bag will be filled the everyday school essentials that they need as well as space for something more: their dreams. Children are encouraged to write their goals directly onto the bag and then carry that inspiration with them every day. Give WILL has already inspired more than 8,500 children across the country.

Launched in 2013, Give WILL is a corporate and community collaboration with a variety of ways to help and support the company reach their goal of donation 500,000 backpacks, including:



Make a Purchase - Purchase from the Give WILL Collection and we will give a bag through Give WILL.

Nominate a School - Call or email us to tell us about a deserving school or student you know.

Volunteer - you can be there to witness what happens when you deliver a bag of inspiration to a deserving child.

Donate - help us fill the bags with the important school supplies and essentials that kids need.

Attend an Assembly - help us plan and pull off these life-changing events.

For more information and how to support the Give Will program, please visit http://www.WillLeatherGoods.com.

ABOUT WILL LEATHER GOODS

Based out of Eugene, Oregon, the family owned and operated business offers bags, home goods, and other accessories guaranteed to last a lifetime. From its humble beginnings as a small belt stand started on the boardwalk of Venice Beach, California in 1981, Will Leather Goods has evolved into a brand that is recognized for uniting natural leathers with artisan textiles discovered during Williams travels around the world. Will takes inspiration from a continuing journey in the world of leather craftsmanship. Discover Your Will. For more information, visit http://www.willleathergoods.com.

###

Media Contact: Jason Brown, jbrown(at)publiccitypr(dot)net, 248-252-1687

Facebook: http://www.WillLeatherGoods.com/WillLeatherGoods

Twitter: http://www.WillLeatherGoods.com/WillLeather

Instagram: http://www.WillLeatherGoods.com/WillLeatherGoods
For the first time ever, a locally-built, ground-breaking solar, electric and wind-powered aircraft successfully landed at New Yorks John F. Kennedy Airport after a 200-mile flight.

The history-making flight and landing marked the first time that the revolutionary Luminati Substrata solar electric aircraft  built at Luminati headquarters on Long Island  landed successfully at New Yorks landmark airport. Also landing successfully was the Solar Impulse 2, a Swiss-based solar-powered aircraft on a round-the-world journey.The two solar teams were greeted by aviation workers, law enforcement, pilots, and ground personnel excited to witness this giant step for the future of aviation.

Luminatis Substrata is a 400-pound solar electric aircraft with a 45-foot wingspan. Smaller and more efficient than the giant Solar Impulse 2, the Substrata employs a ground-breaking blend of solar and wind-harvesting technologies which enables the aircraft to do what the giant Solar Impulse 2 does at a mere fraction of its size. Essentially, the Substrata extracts energy from any wind gradient, which allows the craft to be powered by relatively miniscule battery packs.

Weather conditions were perfect for yesterdays flight. After landing, the Substrata took off from JFK, coasted over the Verrazano Bridge, flew over Governors Island and culminated in a photo shoot with Lady Liberty before returning home to the Calverton, Long Island headquarters. Luminati CEO Daniel Preston followed in a chase helicopter, maintaining constant communication with test pilot Robert Lutz, who relayed systems data for evaluation. It was an incredible day for this new generation of solar powered aircraft, with wind energy harvesting performing at optimum levels.

About Luminati: Founded in 2015 by inventor and CEO Daniel Preston, Luminati Aerospace is based in the former Grumman Naval Base at Calverton on Long Island. The companys skilled team of scientists, engineers and aerodynamicists from all corners of the aviation industry are working to set a new standard in aircraft manufacturing, focused on perpetual, solar electric flight as a platform for commercial Internet and government ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) applications.
Two years ago, Misys decided to make a significant investment in building a partner programme and were thrilled with the results being achieved" - Brian Gibson, VP, Partners & Ecosystem, Misys.

Misys, the leading financial software company, today announced the winners of its Misys 2016 Global InFusion Partner Awards. Nadeem Syed, CEO, and Brian Gibson, VP, Partners & Ecosystem, Misys, presented the awards during the Misys Global Partner Forum taking place in Prague today. The awards recognise the contribution that partners have made over the last 12 months in supporting customer success and driving innovation.

The Misys 2016 Global InFusion Partner Award categories and winners include:



Global Collaborator of the Year: Awarded to Deloitte for excellent collaboration with Misys in the Financial Services market.

Key Partner Win of the Year: Awarded to Union Systems Limited (USL) for securing the largest partner-led deal in Misys history. This complex win includes solutions from across the Misys FusionBanking, Misys FusionCapital and Misys FusionRisk product portfolio.

Cloud Partner of the Year: Awarded to Hewlett Packard Enterprise for helping jointly develop and launch to market, a cloud-enabled capital markets transformation proposition. This provides market simplification from front to back, reducing the total cost of ownership for banks.

Banking Partner of the Year: Awarded to IBM for their 20+ year relationship working with Misys across more than 500 clients in the banking sector.

Treasury and Capital Markets Collaborator of the Year: Awarded to Deloitte for excellent collaboration with Misys in the TCM market globally.

Investment Management Partner of the Year: Awarded to Cronos for successfully collaborating with Misys to deliver complex projects in the investment management sector across Europe.

Regional Partner of the Year: Awarded to Kmerit for working closely with Misys in the rapidly growing market in China.

Two years ago, Misys decided to make a significant investment in building a partner programme and were thrilled with the results being achieved, said Brian Gibson, VP, Partners & Ecosystem, Misys. Some 25% of Misys global business now comes through working with our partners, including the signing of our largest partner-led deal to date earlier this year. Todays awards are all about recognising the valuable contribution of our partners and celebrating our successful collaboration in delivering outstanding service and innovation to clients.

More than 100 delegates attended the first ever Misys Global Partner Forum. Today the Misys global partner ecosystem comprises 62 members including companies such as IBM, HPE, Cognizant, Genpact, Accenture, USL, CBM, Finbridge and Eclectics.

-Ends-

Nicola Hamilton

Senior Director  Communications

T: +44 (0)20 3320 5021

E: nicola.hamilton(at)misys(dot)com

http://www.misys.com

About the Misys Global Partner Forum

The Misys Global Partner Forum is a yearly gathering, which sees Misys executives, industry experts, partners and potential partners discussing the critical issues for the financial services industry as well as sharing industry insights, challenges and opportunities. The event is also an occasion for Misys to award those partners who have made significant contributions over the last 12 months. For more information on the Misys InFusion Partner Programme, please check the partner section on the Misys website here.

About Misys

Misys is at the forefront of the financial software industry, providing the broadest portfolio of banking, capital markets, investment management and risk solutions available on the market. With more than 2,000 customers in 130 countries our team of domain experts, combined with our partner eco-system, have an unparalleled ability to address industry requirements at both a global and local level. We connect systems, collect data and create intelligent information to drive smarter business decisions. To learn more about how our Fusion software portfolio can deliver a holistic view of your operations, and help you to solve your most complex challenges, please visit http://www.misys.com and follow @MisysFS on Twitter.
Ramco Systems, the global HR software provider on Cloud, Mobile and Tablets, today announced that Middle-East based Danube Group will have Ramco HCM as their technology platform to automate and integrate HR operations for more than 2500 employees in Middle East, Africa and India markets.

Ramco HCM on Cloud will provide solutions pertaining to various HR functions including Core HR, Talent Management, Recruitment, Leave & Time Management and Payroll. Danube will also benefit from latest technology innovations from Ramco including ability to transact with the application without Logging in - the Mail BOT.

Thamimul Hussain, Executive Director, Danube Group said, Danube is a household name in the Middle East and weve come a long way since the inception of our company. Our thrust on innovation has been consistent with our growth. We have been relentless in our commitment towards our customers and employees. Ramcos commitment towards being future-ready, coupled with great technological advancements and features like Mobility and Mail It instilled faith in us to partner with them. With Ramco, we look forward to holistic automation, and foresee a seamless functioning of all our HR functions.

Commenting on the win, Virender Aggarwal, CEO, Ramco Systems said, With 100+ clients and a growing number of consultants on board, Middle East & Africa is one of the largest markets for us. Our ability to offer Payroll for all regions in Middle East and most parts of Africa coupled with innovations delivered through Cloud and Mobile has positioned us favourably among both local and global players looking for HR software in the region. We are glad to have partnered with Danube in their journey towards modernizing the HR operations. With a complete, yet refreshingly simple HR offering, we have seen Ramco HCM record 63% YoY growth in FY 2016.

Trusted by 400+ global customers, Ramco HCM & Global Payroll with Time & Attendance is compliant with statutory and taxes across 35+ countries and has partnerships to totally cover Payroll for 108 countries, globally. Multi-country Payroll, Mobility, and Intuitive user experience are driving the product to add on an average two new customers a week in 2016. With a comprehensive coverage of APAC, Middle East and Australia, Ramco Global Payroll covers countries such as Hong Kong, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, India among others in APAC; all of GCC and Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Sudan, Republic of S. Africa, in Middle East-Africa; Australia, New Zealand, United States and UK.

About Danube Group:

Danube Group was founded and established by Mr. Rizwan Sajan in 1993. Mr. Rizwan Sajan retained number twelfth ranking on Top 100 Indian leaders in the UAE List 2016 by Forbes Middle East. Over the years the Group has grown steadily from a small trading firm to being the no. 1 building materials company in the region, with its diversified branches worldwide. Danube Group recorded AED 5.13 billion turnover in 2015.

Danube Group comprises of Danube Building Materials FZCO (The leader in building materials in the region); Danube Home (The retail arm (home interior/ decor solutions); Milano (Bath products & solutions with innovative technologies & water saving features); Danube Properties (The residential property development entity); DanubeDirect.com (An exciting new way to buy products (home solutions/ electronics) online at significant savings); Danube F&B (Cha Cha Chai Cafe & Lounge, serves premium tea blends in a relaxed atmosphere, along with snacks and food); Danube Fashion (Tudors- Shirts, Xti- Footwear); Danube Systems (Security & Smart Home Solutions provider of more than 150 leading international brands in the security & IoT field)and Alucopanel Middle East LLC (Architectural applications such as external and interior claddings, roof covering, and ceilings of buildings).

By end of 2016, Danube Group will operate 50 branches in 9 countries worldwide including UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kenya, India and procurement offices in China with employee strength of over 3,000.

Danube Group has earned accolades and distinctions from various local and international bodies- Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Excellence Award, Dubai Quality Award, Dubai Customs Award, RAK SME Award, the Dubai Logistics and Supply Chain Award and UAEs Top 20 Performers.

About Ramco Systems:

Ramco is a fast growing enterprise software player disrupting the market with its multi-tenanted cloud and mobile-based enterprise software in the area of HCM and Global Payroll, ERP and M&E MRO for Aviation. Part of the USD 1 billion Ramco Group, Ramco Systems focuses on Innovation and Culture to differentiate itself in the marketplace. On Innovation front, Ramco has been focusing on moving towards Cognitive and Robotic ERP with features such as Mail It  a feature which enables users to transact with the application by just sending an email; HUB It - a one screen does it all concept built to address all activities of a user; Thumb It  mobility where the system presents users with option to choose rather than type values and Prompt It  a cognitive ability which will let the system complete the transaction and prompts the user for approval.

With 1600+ employees spread across 21 offices, globally, Ramco follows a flat and open culture where employees are encouraged to share knowledge and grow. No Hierarchies, Cabin-less Offices, Respect work and not titles, among others are what makes the team say, Thank God its Monday!

Winner of ISG Award for Innovation; Chosen as Preferred Next-Gen MRO IT Vendor by ARSA; Winner of HR Vendors on the Year Award 2015; Winner of CIO Choice Honor& Recognition 2016

For more information, please visit http://www.ramco.com/hcm

Follow Ramco on Twitter @ramcosystems or read latest updates on http://blogs.ramco.com

For further information, contact:

Vinitha Ramani (For Ramco Systems)

+91 44 3090 4204

vinitharamani(at)ramco(dot)com

Anamika Priyadarshi (For Danube Group)

+971 4 8085522

anamika.priyadarshi(at)aldanube(dot)com
Today, global NGO Conservation International debuts Valen's Reef "http://www.conservation.org/reef" an immersive and intimate virtual reality film set in the most biologically diverse reefs on the planet. YouTube is showcasing it as part of a curated selection of virtual reality films at the YouTube Beach (http://cannes.withgoogle.com/) at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity now through June 24. Viewers worldwide can dive into Valens Reef exclusively on YouTube (https://youtu.be/VfqFwBpS7Ow) in 360-degrees and VR. Starting Friday, June 24, the film also becomes available on the Within app. Valens Reef was created in partnership with leading virtual reality production company Vrse.works and Finch Productions, and made possible with support from The Tiffany & Co. Foundation.

Filmed in the waters of eastern Indonesias Birds Head region, Valens Reef takes viewers to vibrant reefs where 600 types of corals  far more than the Caribbean  and 1,765 species of fish  more than the Great Barrier Reef  are thriving. This is the site of one of the most successful community-based ocean conservation programs in the world, the Birds Head Seascape Initiative (http://www.conservation.org/birds-head). In the film, local fisherman-turned-scientist Ronald Mambrasar narrates an underwater journey in lyrical Indonesian, sharing with his young son Valen the story of how this initiative has helped the community reclaim and protect their ancestral waters.

Our oceans are under severe threat but we know one method  community-based conservation  can and does make a measurable difference, said Dr. M. Sanjayan, Conservation Internationals Executive Vice President and Senior Scientist. In Valens Reef, we use the immersive power of virtual reality to transport you to the most biologically diverse sea on our planet, and one of the greatest conservation success stories of our time, to inspire love and support for our oceans.

While coral reefs occupy just a sliver of the planets surface  0.2%  they serve as habitat for more than 30% of fish in the ocean and generate at least $375 billion annually through food, shoreline protection and tourism. The Birds Head, recently identified as a bright spot for coral reefs by the journal Nature (http://www.nature.com/doifinder/10.1038/nature18607), is faring better than most and is replete with iconic species like sharks, manta rays, whales and sea turtles. Its thriving waters are evidence of how conservation that works in tandem with communities can succeed in protecting our oceans.

The ocean is a critical resource for all of the worlds people, and yet many are still unaware of its plight, said Anisa Kamadoli Costa, chairman and president of The Tiffany & Co. Foundation. Our Foundation is pleased to support Valens Reef and its story of coral conservation, as part of our ongoing efforts to preserve precious marine ecosystems.

Virtual reality can transform the way we experience stories, teleporting viewers to distant places and cultures, as shown in Valens Reef. Were thrilled to include this stunning film in our Cannes Lions lineup, focused on innovation in virtual reality storytelling, said Jamie Byrne, Director, YouTube Creators.

In making Valens Reef, the team from Vrse.works and Conservation International braved strong currents to accompany Mambrasar as he monitored the reefs with Valen, age 8. It is Vrse.workss second underwater VR film and the crew used refined techniques to maximize the color and clarity of the image.

Valens Reef is a powerful illustration of the creative potential for storytelling and impact in virtual reality, said Patrick Milling Smith, Co-Founder and President, Vrse.works. The central character is the planet, the natural world around us. This is cinematic VR at its most arresting and visceral with an important and urgent environmental message to the world.

Additional support for the distribution of Valens Reef was provided by longtime CI partner glassybaby through the glassybaby white light fund. VICE Media also provided support for distribution as part of their growing commitment to support sustainability initiatives.

###

Assets for media use*:

View and embed Valens Reef on YouTube 360 (https://youtu.be/VfqFwBpS7Ow)

Photos, maps, and graphics related to the Birds Head region (https://ci.tandemvault.com/lightboxes/Gj2OVGF2Q?t=2lGhZpcfq)

Behind-the-scenes photos from the filming of Valens Reef (https://ci.tandemvault.com/lightboxes/NS0qzhUAs?t=sEpci7VBd_)

About Conservation International

Conservation International (CI) uses an innovative blend of science, policy and partnerships to protect the nature people rely on for food, fresh water, and livelihoods. Founded in 1987, CI works in more than 30 countries on six continents to ensure a healthy, prosperous planet that supports us all. Learn more about CI and the "Nature Is Speaking" campaign, and follow CI's work on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

About the Birds Head Seascape Initiative

Since 2004, Conservation International has led an initiative with 30 international and local partners in the Birds Head region of Indonesia to establish a network of twelve marine protected areas. Close collaboration between conservationists and the local community have allowed this network to foster one of the most successful marine conservation initiatives in the world, now a model of community-driven conservation. This twelve-year effort has been made possible through the primary support of the Walton Family Foundation along with a coalition of 70 contributors. Learn more about the Birds Head region at http://www.conservation.org/Birds-Head.

About The Tiffany & Co. Foundation

Established in 2000, The Tiffany & Co. Foundation provides grants in environmental conservation, working to preserve the worlds most treasured landscapes and seascapes. The Foundations programs promote responsible mining, healthy marine ecosystems and the enhancement of urban environments through strategic design improvements in new and existing parks. Learn more at http://www.tiffanyandcofoundation.org.

About Vrse.works

Vrse.works is a leading specialized and focused production company that supports the worlds leading creative innovators in Virtual Reality spherical filmmaking. The Vrse.works collective of artists, technicians, thinkers, and innovators strive to create the worlds best experiential media and utilize custom built tools and technology to craft and curate original immersive experiences. The Vrse.works creative team and production talent are industry leaders in short-form commercials, music videos, feature film, theatre, design, photography and fine arts with a proven track record in creating stories that inspire and truly resonate, collectively earning them numerous Emmys, Cannes Lions, Grand Prixes, Palm dOrs, AICP, D&AD, One Show, ADC, Tony, Webby Awards and a Grammy. Learn more at http://vrse.works.

About Within

Within is a leading VR company, whose mission is to tell extraordinary stories in virtual reality. Within uses custom built tools and their own VR app to create and distribute the most innovative, story driven experiences in VR today. Within was founded by director Chris Milk and technologist Aaron Koblin  both renowned for their innovative, industry leading work  and are best known for their high profile collaborations with The New York Times, the United Nations, Vice, Saturday Night Live, and artists like U2. Within's goal is to push VR forward with groundbreaking experiences that explore and expand the medium's potential. As Chris said in his 2015 TED Talk, Within believes that virtual reality has the power to connect us in a profound way. Through virtual reality, we can become more compassionate, more empathetic, more connected and ultimately, more human.

It is the sister company to Vrse.works, which was founded by Milk and awardwinning producer Patrick Milling Smith, and produces all of Within's VR films, as well as bespoke VR experiences for corporate and nonprofit clients. Learn more at http://with.in.

*By downloading these images you agree to the following licensing terms and conditions: CI grants to you, and your employer if you are acting on behalf of your employer, a royalty-free license to download images for one-time editorial use in coverage of CI. The downloaded assets may not be used for commercial, advertising or other revenue generating purposes without express written permission of CI. Credit information is provided in asset metadata under copyright line.
Rigaku XtaLAB Synergy single crystal X-ray diffractometer

Rigaku Corporation is pleased to announce its attendance at the Fourth Meeting of the Italian and Spanish Crystallographic Associations (MISCA 2016). The IV MISCA Conference, organized in the city of Puerto de la Cruz, will take place 21st-25th June, on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Island archipelago. A number informative symposia and events are planned.

Rigaku Oxford Diffraction will be presenting information about its line of small molecule crystallography technology. As a global leader in analytical X-ray technology, the Rigaku Oxford Diffraction division provides the expertise and state-of-the-art technology to suit a broad range of small molecule crystallographic requirements. To that end, Rigaku offers a range of five small molecule crystallography systems.

One of a range of five small molecule crystallography systems, Rigaku Oxford Diffractions innovative new diffractometer, the XtaLAB Synergy, combines speed and intelligent software to provide rapid 3D structure determination. X-ray crystallography can now out-perform NMR as a method for rapid structure determination for samples that can be crystallized.

About Rigaku Oxford Diffraction (ROD)

ROD was formed as the global single crystal business unit of Rigaku Corporation after the acquisition of the former Oxford Diffraction organization from Agilent Technologies in 2015. ROD is a leader in single crystal analysis, both in the field of chemical crystallography and in macromolecular crystallography. Formed in 1951, Rigaku Corporation is a leading analytical instrumentation company based out of Tokyo, Japan.

For further information, contact:

Paul Swepston

Senior Vice President and General Manager

Rigaku Oxford Diffraction

Tokyo, Wroclaw, Oxford, The Woodlands

tel: +1 281-362-2300

Paul(dot)Swepston(at)rigaku(dot)com
"All captured ISIS fighters should be investigated for genocide crimes, including crimes of rape, abduction, and sexual slavery against Yazidi women and girls."

New York  On June 16th, the UN Commission of Inquiry (COI) on Syria concluded that ISIS is committing genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes against the Yazidi people. The report, They Came to Destroy: ISIS Crimes Against the Yazidis, recognizes that the genocide is ongoing and is being committed not just through mass killings but also through gendered non-killing crimes such as rape and sexual violence.

The report confirms not only that over 3,200 women and children remain in captivity, but that they are daily subjected to genocidal acts, says Global Justice Center (GJC) president Janet Benshoof, its time for the international community to act on its obligations under the Genocide Convention to prevent, suppress, and punish genocide.

In December 2015, GJC sent a brief to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in support of Yazda and Free Yezidi Foundations submission, asking the ICC to investigate ISISs gender-based crimes against Yazidi women and girls.

As our submission stated and the COIs report confirms, genocide is being carried out along sharply divided gender lines, says Benshoof. Any actions to prevent and punish these genocidal acts must take into account the role that gender plays in the way genocide is being carried out.

The Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales has been working since the summer of 2015 to raise awareness of the genocide of the Yazidis and breaches of international human rights law. Kirsty Brimelow QC, Chair:

The ongoing genocide of the Yazidi people is one of the worst crimes of our time. Human rights are global and States are obliged to protect the Yazidis from further killings and sexual enslavement. To date, no State has started investigations with a view to prosecuting those concerned in this genocide and no court has seized jurisdiction. The World can no longer watch this carnage and international law must be implemented.

The COI urges the international community, including the United Nations and its member states, to act on its obligations under the Genocide Convention as a matter of urgency.

"Any action must include measures to rescue and save women and children currently in ISIS captivity and hold states and individuals accountable. Genocide prosecutions are enormously important to deter and delegitimize ISIS atrocities, says Benshoof. All captured ISIS fighters should be investigated for genocide crimes, including crimes of rape, abduction, and sexual slavery against Yazidi women and girls. These women and girls deserve justice. Naming the crimes is an important first step, but there must be more. There must be action and prosecutions.
Solix Logo By 2018, 80% of structured data archiving vendors will provide integrated support for unstructured content archiving  up from 30% today.

Solix Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) solutions for Apache Hadoop, has been positioned as a leader in Gartners June 2016 Magic Quadrant for Structured Data Archiving and Application Retirement. Gartners Magic Quadrant is held as the industrys highest source for company differentiation and market analysis based on completeness of vision and ability to execute.

The 2016 report has also placed Solix in the leaders quadrant for the third consecutive year.

The Gartner report further stated, By 2018, 80% of structured data archiving vendors will provide integrated support for unstructured content archiving  up from 30% today.

User access  Structured data archiving can enable access to "warm" and "cold data," meaning that use cases range from "nearline" archiving, where the archived data is viewed through the native application GUI  known as active archiving, as well as access to data from retired applications, often through SQL queries, reports and application GUI mockups. Full text search is another capability in many offerings. Increasingly, support for big data analytics, such as Hive, Spark and Pig, are being added to enterprise buying requirements.

Joydeep Das, COO at KloudData, Inc., a strategic solutions partner to Solix said, Solix is the only vendor today that provides comprehensive Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) solutions for the entire enterprise using big data.

We are humbled to be recognized for the last three years for what we feel is our continued advancement in Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) solutions and leadership in the market along with our partnerships such as Apache, Cloudera and Hortonworks, said Sai Gundavelli, Founder and CEO of Solix Technologies, Inc.

Key features of the Solix Big Data Suite 2.2 include:



Scalability and Performance - Improved performance for SQL based processing using Apache Hadoop and Hive-on-Spark

Flexibility - Archive any data, both structured and unstructured, into Hadoop

Access & Security - Role based access control and data masking of sensitive data

Reduced cost - Low cost, bulk storage for all enterprise data

Analytics - Text search, query or support enterprise analytics on all enterprise data

Compliance  ILM policy driven data governance with retention management and legal hold support

To learn more about Solix Big Data Suite, click here.

To download the report, click here.

About the Magic Quadrant

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Solix Technologies

Solix Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of Enterprise Data Management solutions helps businesses organize their Enterprise Information with optimized infrastructure, data security and advanced analytics by achieving Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) goals. Solix Big Data Suite offers an ILM framework for Enterprise Archiving and Enterprise Data Lake with Apache Hadoop as an enterprise data repository. The Solix Enterprise Data Management Suite (Solix EDMS) enables organizations to implement Database Archiving, Test Data Management (Data Subsetting), Data Masking and Application Retirement across all enterprise data. Solix Technologies, Inc. is headquartered in Santa Clara, California and operates worldwide through an established network of value added resellers (VARs) and systems integrators. To learn more, please visit http://www.solix.com.
After months of rigorous training, canoers came to Xcaret Park May 20-21 to join in the parks 10th annual Sacred Mayan Journey, a 36-mile trip that tested them physically, mentally and emotionally as they journeyed from the park to the island of Cozumel in recognition of a centuries-old tradition.

A total of 2,596 canoers have trained for the event through its 10-year history, in total completing more than 540 days and 80 hours of canoeing while crossing from Xcaret to Cozumel and back.

During the 2016 event, canoers departed the port of Pole at 6 a.m. May 20 on Dos Playas Bay in Xcaret. They arrived at Kuzamil at approximately 1 p.m. in the cove of Chankanaab Park in Cozumel. They left the island at 9 a.m. May 21 for a four-hour return to Pole (Xcaret), where they were greeted with great enthusiasm.

The Sacred Mayan Journey is rooted in rich cultural customs. During the Late Post-Classic (900-1,550 A.D.), various peoples of the Mayan community came to the port of Pole, present-day Xcaret, for commercial and trading purposes. This place also served as the rallying point for crossing to the island of Kuzamil, today Cozumel, to visit the temple of the goddess Ixchel.

Canoers who accept the challenge of crossing to the island of Cozumel to learn the ways of Ixchel have varied motivations, some to make a promise to the goddess seeking fertility or a partner, others to build teamwork, overcome fears or tackle adversity.

After conducting thorough research and documentation for more than three years, in coordination with prestigious bodies such as the Center for Mayan Studies, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and with the advice of specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History, Xcaret Park revived this tradition as the Sacred Mayan Journey in 2007. Since then, the journey has been performed year after year and brings a sense of pride to Quintana Roo and its inhabitants.

http://www.travesiasagradamaya.com.mx

ABOUT XCARET

Xcaret is one of Mexico's ecotourism destinations located on the shore of the Caribbean Sea. There are three Underground Rivers surrounded by magnificent natural scenery. The area also features amazing marine and land species, protected by Xcarets conservation programs. More than 300 performers exhibit the history, culture and folklore of Mexico and delicious varieties of international cuisine are featured in the Park. Xcaret Park was recognized as the Best International Theme Park and the Best Water Park in the world by US travel agents, in the 2016 Travvy Travel Awards.
"We're excited about our future in Austin so we can continue growing and achieving new goals," says Lightspeed Systems President and CEO Brian Thomas.

Ed-tech solution provider Lightspeed Systems has announced plans to relocate employees and operations from Bakersfield, California, to Austin, Texas, expanding its corporate headquarters. The company will gradually transition employees from its original offices in downtown Bakersfield to a larger new facility in Austin starting this year.

Since 1999, Lightspeed Systems has built its reputation creating smart solutions for K-12 school networks. Its award-winning web filtering, mobile device management and classroom management products are used in 5,500 school districts in the United States and 25,000 schools globally. The expansion of Lightspeeds centrally located Austin presence will give the company more opportunities for growth; the transition will be complete sometime in 2017.

Lightspeed Systems new location was chosen by the companys executive team to position the company closer to customers, partners, and other key technology companies. Additionally, concentrating employees in the Central Time Zone will allow the company to better support customers in and out of the country, and work with more agility and speed, says its CEO.

Right now, Austin is the most innovative and dynamic place in the country for technology, says Lightspeed Systems President and CEO Brian Thomas. Bakersfield was an incredible place to found and build our business, and we will always have ties to the community. But were excited about our future in Austin so we can continue growing and achieving new goals.

Lightspeed Systems opened its downtown Austin headquarters in 2013. The thriving start-up scene, culture of innovation and excellent barbecue make Austin an ideal home for Lightspeed Systems staff. Lightspeed Systems Founder Rob McCarthy, a Bakersfield native, moved to lead the Austin presence in 2014; the rest of its executive team is in the process of relocating. The majority of employees working in Bakersfield, California, will be transitioned to the Austin offices this year, while some employees will remain in Bakersfield, working remotely.

To learn more about Lightspeed Systems, visit http://www.lightspeedsystems.com/company.

About Lightspeed Systems

Lightspeed Systems partners with schools to make learning safe, mobile and easily managed. Partnered with 5,500 districts in the United States and 25,000 schools around the world, Lightspeed Systems offers integrated solutions for smarter K-12 school networks: Web Filter, Mobile Manager, Classroom Orchestrator, and Management Bundle for Windows. To learn more, visit http://www.lightspeedsystems.com.
Access Healthcare will be exhibiting at HFMA ANI in Las Vegas and hosting an after-hours event by invitation. With the confidence and peace of mind that comes from knowing their revenue cycle is performing as it should, providers are free to focus on the patient.

Access Healthcare, a leading provider of end-to-end healthcare revenue cycle services, will be an exhibiting sponsor at the Healthcare Financial Management Associations National Institute (HFMA ANI). The conference will take place in Las Vegas from June 26th through 29th.

This years theme is Out of the Box. Exhibitors and attendees alike are encouraged to think of new ways to meet the challenges of consumerism, manage costs while delivering quality, capture more revenue, and leveraging analytics. All of these are a part of Access Healthcares core mission to Bring excellence to revenue cycle management.

Access Healthcares booth at ANI will focus on the impact a well-managed revenue cycle can have on a providers ability to provide great patient experiences.

Providers are spending a lot of time and resources on revenue cycle management. Some are successful and some are not. Unfortunately the marketplace requires so much focus on managing revenue that provider organizations become disconnected from appreciating the full patient experience, said Craig Haskin, Head of Strategy, Sales and Marketing at Access Healthcare. Access Healthcare provides scalable, customizable, and reliable revenue cycle services backed by proven best practices and unique technology which provides unmatched transparency into the process. With the confidence and peace of mind that comes from knowing their revenue cycle is performing as it should, providers are free to focus on the patient.

Access Healthcare will be exhibiting at booth #742 and will be hosting an after-hours event on Monday night by invitation only.

About Access Healthcare

Exceptional healthcare organizations compliment the highest standards of care with a commitment to excellence in revenue cycle management. Billing companies and healthcare provider systems use Access Healthcare to bring excellence to their back office Revenue Cycle Management enabling better focus on strategic priorities, like profitability and creating great patient experiences. By leveraging the Access Healthcare Best Practice Engine for Revenue Cycle Management, our focus on creating results enables not only improved profitability, but opportunity to cultivate growth through reduced costs, better productivity, and higher quality. For more information, check out accesshealthcare.org.

Media Contact:

Peter Snell

illumeture

(214) 810-6207

psnell(at)illumeture(dot)com
Aptech Computer Systems will launch the newest version of its Targetvue Budgeting and Forecasting system at HITEC 2016, booth 719 in New Orleans. The latest Targetvue version provides an intuitive look and feel for the enterprise budget and forecast system. Aptech will also demonstrate its PVNG enterprise back office system with graphical user interface that simplifies hotel accounting. Aptech is the leading provider of hotel management software for business intelligence, budgeting, and enterprise financial accounting. More than 4,500 properties and hotel corporations standardize their financial accounting and decision making on Aptech hotel management software solutions. Click here for more on Aptechs products and services.

The latest Targetvue version gives hotel company managers remote and mobile internet access to their property and corporate budgets and performance data anywhere, said Jill Wilder, Aptech vice president. The system is based on the powerful new Prophix web platform. New features include self-service dashboards for fast data access. The system also offers universal browser accessibility via Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge and Safari for remote/mobile executive access to company performance.

Aptech will also demo its PVNG Enterprise Back Office System. The accounting software is compliant with the 11th edition of AHLAs Uniform system of accounts for the Lodging Industry. PVNG is built from the ground up for the web, said Troutman. Company data and the system itself may be hosted by either Aptech or a hotel operator. The new system handles transactions and posting fast and easy. PVNG is a compact enterprise accounting system that is easy to learn and use. It is feature rich to accommodate the accounting needs of virtually any hotel company.

About Aptech Computer Systems, Inc.

Aptech Computer Systems, Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the only provider of a fully integrated enterprise accounting, business intelligence and planning ecosystem to the hospitality industry. All of its clients are companies like yours, which own or manage hotels. Its solutions help customers at both the corporate and property levels understand their financial and operational data for faster goal achievement.

The company is renowned for introducing business intelligence into the hotel industry, and offers a solid resource of hospitality professionals. Aptech is an IBM Software Value Plus partner and Premier Solution Provider.

Incorporated in 1970, Aptechs state-of-the-art back office, true business intelligence and enterprise planning solutions are 100% hotel specific. Solutions include Profitvue, Execuvue, Webvue and Targetvue. Clients comprise over 3,500 properties - including large chains, multiple-property management companies and single-site hotels. Execuvue and Profitvue are registered to Aptech Computer Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are owned by their respective holders. For more information please visit http://www.aptech-inc.com.
Alpha Flight Guru The travel contest is just about one month from completion.

Alpha Flight Guru, the leader in business class airfare deals at http://alphaflightguru.com/, is proud to announce updates on its 'Never Have You Ever' photo contest. The contest is coupled with the firm's new travel resource centers for country and city destinations popular with business class and first class air travelers. Cities include Dubai, Rome, London, Sydney, and Paris, among others.

"The travel contest is just about one month from completion," explained Alex Scoble, Chief Marketing Officer of Alpha Flight Guru. "We wanted to update the travel community with some details, and alert interested persons that they can still enter by supplying travel photos."

Contest Details: Submit a Travel Photo for a Chance to Win

To enter the contest, participants should upload a travel photo to social media sites Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and/or the Woobox platform with a caption, plus the hashtag #FLYAFG. Full details are available on the contests home page at http://alphaflightguru.com/photo-contest.

Contest Updates: 'Never Have You Ever' Photo Contest

To date, more than two hundred submissions have been sent in to Alpha Flight Guru. The top photos submitted so far, as counted by social shares, are:



One from the 'Hobbit homes'

One from Machu Picchu, in Peru, in 'selfie' format

One of St. Lucia

Two selfies with a kangaroo

To vote for their favorites, users are encouraged to visit the contest website, and click up to the 'vote' tab. The winner will receive 2 round-trip business class tickets to select cities in Europe or Asia. To view destinations, and to learn more about Alpha Flight Guru, interested persons are urged to visit a demonstration page, such as that on business class to Europe at http://alphaflightguru.com/flight-deals/europe. There, look for the image of a smartphone, with an internal ad headline explaining the photo contest and the chance to win two round-trip business class tickets. In the footer navigation, one can click over to other AFG cities to get destinations available in the Alpha Flight Guru system.

About Alpha Flight Guru

Alpha Flight Guru brings personalized guru service to those searching for cheap business class tickets and cheap first class tickets to destinations from Europe, to Asia, to Australia, and beyond. The company's expert gurus find unpublished discount fares, both business class and first class tickets, to cities like London or Paris, New York or Los Angeles, Melbourne or Sydney. Customers simply use the company's website to enter a destination, and then let a guru find discounted, cheap, unpublished business class or first class airfares to London, Paris, Sydney and beyond.

Web. http://alphaflightguru.com

Tel. 800-359-5175
Unified Communications and IT Network Consulting Firm ...we believe it is a strategic and vital step to continuing economic growth for both local business and local talent in the area.

Converged Technology Professionals, Inc., an IT network consulting firm announced today the expansion of an additional office in Indianapolis to better serve the growing need among businesses in the immediate and surrounding areas for modernized unified communications and telecommunication services. The office is expected to open in June 2016.

Specializing in the deployment and maintenance of ShoreTel Unified Communications systems for SMBs as well as Fortune 500 Enterprises, Converged has made Indianapolis one of its primary locations for business development and support operations. Having originally been welcomed by the Indianapolis business community in 2013 as a top performing and reputable ShoreTel IT partner they look forward to acquiring top local sales and support talent to staff the new office.

"We are very excited and enthusiastic about becoming more involved with the community of Indianapolis," states Ryan Cayton, the Location Manager for Converged, "Our mission is to help more businesses experience the cost-savings benefits of unified communications and the technology that makes it possible. By opening this new office, we believe it is a strategic and vital step to continuing economic growth for both local business and local talent in the area."

Converged Technology Professionals is widely known in the community for their dedicated commitment to exceeding standard norms for customer satisfaction and delivering quality service in the telecommunications industry. In November 2015 Converged received the Elite 2015 ShoreTel Circle of Excellence Award for exemplary customer satisfaction levels coupled with exceptional net billings growth.

About Converged Technology Professionals: Converged Technology Professionals, a technology based consulting firm with offices in Chicago, Crystal Lake, Grand Rapids, Milwaukee, and Indianapolis, is a globally-recognized, award-winning unified communications and mobility solutions provider, based in the Midwest and serving a wide range of organizations from medium-sized businesses to multi-site large enterprises for their mobility, voice, and data needs. The company supports clients on 6 different continents, over 200 countries and has recently surpassed supporting over 250,000 end users globally. Converged is one of the largest VARs in the Midwest and considered to be one of the fastest growing privately held consulting firms in the United States. For more information, visit http://www.ct-pros.com.
Dr. Philoman and Esthetix Dental Spa Staff at the Bowery Mission We are pleased to assist and help others. It's why we're here.

The Bowery Mission provides programs that view homelessness as both a problem and a symptom of underlying problems such as chronic substance abuse and financial instability. Dr. Arvind Philomin and his Esthetix Dental Spa staff were at 315 East 115 Street on 10 June 2016.

This is the second charity served by by Dr. Arvind Philomin and his Esthetix Dental Spa staff in 2016.

The first was at the Bowery Mission downtown on a cold winter night in single digits. The second was in the late Spring heat in uptown Manhattan.

Dr. Philomin and his staff were there on 10 June 2016. They were shown their duties and did a superb job at the soup kitchen. Serving those in need increases a feeling of self respect in those being served.

"We are pleased to assist and help others. It's why we're here" said Dr Arvind Philomin.

The Bowery Mission is for men and women needing a second chance.

The Bowery Mission provides programs for peoplle who are homeless in New York. The recovery programs take the viewpoint that homelessness is both a problem and a symptom of underlying problems such as chronic substance abuse and financial instability,

The Bowery Mission

315 E 115th Street

Harlem, NY 10029

Sign up for email newsletter and information on how to help:

http://www.bowery.org

Volunteer Inquiries:

212-674-3456 x107

About Esthetix Dental Spa: Arvind Philomin, DDS uses state-of-the-art dental implant technology and equipment to provide exemplary care to every patient needing dental implants in the 10471 area and nearby. Patients at Esthetix Dental Spa can feel confident about the work being done and their new, beautiful smile. Patients living in Upper Manhattan, Washington Heights, Riverdale and the Bronx should look to the only dental office offering the "teeth in a day" service, Esthetix Dental Spa.

Dr Arvind Philomin

Esthetix Dental Spa

285 Fort Washington Ave #CD

New York, NY 10032

212-795-9675

http://www.esthetixdentalspa.com

https://twitter.com/EsthetixDental

https://www.facebook.com/Esthetix
Andrew Eck, Kinzie Hotel GM Kinzie Hotel embraces an authentic Chicago experience.

The Kinzie Hotel located in River North, just steps away from the hustle and bustle of Michigan Avenue, has appointed Andrew Eck as General Manager. The upscale boutique property, which reopened two years ago following a multi-million dollar reconcepting, boasts a timeless contemporary look and image that pays tribute to great Chicago historical figure John Kinzie. At the center of Ecks agenda is to emphasize the hotels motto, Chicago Starts Here, which is evident in everything from its decor to its customized packages.

As our eponymous name suggests, Kinzie Hotel embraces an authentic Chicago experience, said Eck, who oversees all hotel operations. Im excited to lead a dedicated team that takes pride in giving guests a taste of what makes this a world-class city. Whether youre here to dine at a Michelin-starred restaurant in River North or shop the Mag Mile, Kinzie is your home-away-from-home in the middle of it all to start or end the day.

In addition to being centrally located in Chicagos most entertaining neighborhood and walking distance from several city landmarks, Kinzie Hotel incorporates elements of the Chicago story throughout its design, amenities, and promotions. The hotel hosts a total of 215 chic guestrooms and suites and over 1500 square feet of meeting space  all featuring contemporary decor and artwork that speak to the local Chicago landscape. Designed by Gettys Design Group Chicago, each guestroom pays homage to the hotels exploratory history with a wall treatment subtly displaying a street map of historic Chicago. Additionally, guestrooms and common areas display various painted interpretations of local Chicago sites. Guests can also partake in customized hotel packages that combine their overnight stay with exciting activities around the city and further enhance their Chicago Starts Here experience.

Throughout his various tenures as General Manager, Eck has promoted an inspirational service-based culture to stimulate a unified vision and maximize performance. At Kinzie Hotel, hes dedicated to delivering an extraordinary stay tailored around a Chicago-centric philosophy. Ecks self-described laser focus is on guest experience, having the right talent in place, and honing an eye for detail throughout the hotel.

We are excited for Andrew to lead the team at Kinzie, said Graham Hershman, Chief Operating Officer of Portfolio Hotels & Resorts. His passion for exceeding guest expectations and impeccable service is the perfect formula for success. With Andrews strong pedigree at the helm, this boutique propertys future looks very bright.

The native of Bradford, PA fell in love with hospitality in high school working as a cook at a local country club. He pursued an Associate degree from the Culinary Institute of America where, while working at the Institutes four 5-star restaurants, decided he preferred guest interaction in the front of the house. As such, Eck went back to school and pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA. After graduating in 2001, Eck jumped into the hotel business and joined Winegardner & Hammons, Inc. with their independent hotel in Athens, OH (The Ohio University Inn & Conference Center). After starting off as a Restaurant Manager, he was promoted to Assistant General Manager in 2004.

Ecks career goal of becoming a GM before age 30 came to fruition when he was offered his first GM position at the new Hyatt Place brand in Cranberry Township, PA two month before his 30th birthday. At Hyatt Place, he led a team that earned several awards, including Most Improved Hotel in 2010 and Hotel of the Year in 2012. Shortly thereafter, Eck was recruited by White Lodging Services to open one of the first urban Hyatt Place hotels in Chicago. As GM, he was responsible for launching the worlds first Triplex (3 hotel brands under 1 roof); Aloft, Fairfield Inn & Suites and Hyatt Place Chicago River North. The hotel was incredibly successful and paved the way for several other urban Hyatt Place locations globally.

About Kinzie Hotel

Kinzie Hotel is a Chicago-centric boutique hotel in the vibrant River North district. Along with a contemporary, upscale atmosphere, the 215-room hotel offers daily continental breakfast served on each guest floor as well as a nightly managers reception with light appetizers and a complimentary drink for each guest. Located at 20 N. Kinzie St (Chicago, IL 60654), the property opened in 2014 and is managed by Portfolio Hotels & Resorts. For more information or to book a next reservation, visit http://www.kinziehotel.com.

About Portfolio Hotels & Resorts

Headquartered in Westmont, IL, Portfolio Hotels & Resorts is a hospitality management company experienced in managing unique, boutique-style hotels, destination resorts and significant branded urban hotels in major domestic and destination markets. The company was established in 2005 by former Chicago-based Coastal Hotels founders Helmut Horn and Graham Hershman, industry veterans whose past experience includes development of the Hawthorne Suites brand, the Highlands Inn in Carmel, CA, and Cheeca Lodge in the Florida Keys. For more information about the company, visit http://www.portfoliohotels.com.
National Wedding Day 2016 Love comes in many forms and we want to celebrate it all today..

The National Wedding Council, Americas wedding industry quality certified watchdog, is officially celebrating National Wedding Day across the country on summer solstice day today Tuesday, June 21st, 2016.

The romantic day has been made a permanent fixture on the wedding industry calendar to engage wedding professionals and couples across the nation in a spirit of love, marriage and a commitment to vendor excellence and appreciation. June 21st also marks the start of the annual wedding season.

Since 2007, the National Wedding Councils team of highly trained professionals has tirelessly battled to protect couples in an unregulated industry not just in the United States but in 6 countries. Couples are provided with peace of mind as all verified members of the Council are accredited with a Certified Wedding Vendor designation. They must also be dedicated to working full time in the specialist industry.

Love comes in many forms and we want to celebrate it all today on this official National Wedding Day, expressed, Spencer Potter, Executive Director, the National Wedding Council. The wedding industry veteran has been involved in over 1,000 weddings over the past 20 years. Plus, we are proud that this is the first day in history that honors the many dedicated and talented wedding professionals who serve couples on the biggest day of their lives.

Official figures show that over 2.1 million couples get married in America each year. Inspect: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/marriage_divorce_tables.htm On this special day, the National Wedding Council has planned the worlds largest virtual wedding reception. Married and engaged couples and industry professionals are encouraged to post a favorite picture, go behind the scenes in the preparation process and use the following hashtags; #NationalWeddingDay, #celebrateLOVE, #VendorAppreciation and #NationalWeddingCouncil.
RCN Business, a communications provider delivering network solutions for data, voice and video, announces today its support of the North American Network Operators Group (NANOG) as a Premium Gold sponsor and connectivity provider for the NANOG 67 Conference, held June 13 to 15 in Chicago. The event took place at the Fairmont Millennium Park in the heart of downtown, offering an opportunity to network with colleagues, learn advanced networking techniques and discover new network applications.

RCN Business provided Internet connectivity services for the June meeting over its wholly-owned and locally managed fiber-rich network to support event participants and staff. The company offered Dedicated Internet Access, along with 24/7 onsite support and proactive network monitoring.

NANOG is an association for Internet engineering and architecture professionals who focus on the technologies and systems that make the Internet function. Hundreds of network engineers and product professionals from major North American carriers, content providers, cloud companies, multi-tenant data centers, hosting companies, and interconnection service providers converge at NANOGs tri-annual meetings, such as NANOG 67.

NANOG 67 was the next in a series of important and informative events offered by the organization in order to foster an environment ripe for thoughtful discussion and decision-making, explains Mike Carrosquilla, SVP of Commercial Services for RCN. The Internet was the key area of discussion at this event  how to improve it, shape it and identify key trends that will impact it for years to come. As the chosen provider for connectivity, we helped make the focal point of the event available for all to utilize.

RCN Businesss focus on reliability and innovation, in addition to the presence of their team, made them a perfect communications provider for this event, says Betty Burke, NANOG Executive Director. Not only did they effectively deliver their services, their support was outstanding. We are very pleased to have them involved as a premium sponsor of NANOG.

RCN Business offers a full suite of cost-effective, reliable voice, data, Internet and video services to power business. Additional information about RCN Businesss fiber-based connectivity services can be found at rcn.com/business or by calling 1-877-726-7000.

# # #

About RCN Business Services

RCN Business Service provides industry-leading high-speed Internet, voice, video and network solutions to businesses of all sizes. Delivered through a wholly-owned, state-of-the-art fiber-rich network and supported by 100% U.S.-based customer service, RCN Business serves businesses in Boston, Chicago, Lehigh Valley (PA), New York City, Philadelphia (Delaware County) and Washington, D.C. RCN Business received the Metro Ethernet Forums CE 2.0 certification in the E-Line, E-LAN and E-Access categories in 2014. Follow RCN Business on LinkedIn and Twitter.

RCN Media Contact:

Jaymie Scotto & Associates for RCN

866-695-3629 ext. 13

jsa_rcn(at)jaymiescotto(dot)com

About NANOG

NANOG is a community of industry experts that work together for the common good of the Internet. In many ways, the NANOG community serves as the heart and soul of the Internet. This close-knit group meets three times a year to discuss all issues, large and small, as they relate to the performance, accessibility and evolution of the Internet. NANOG is dedicated to improving the Internet for all major sectors (public, private, education, and consumer) in all corners of the world. NANOG is a non-profit organization and relies on sponsors to help with costs for its tri-annual conferences as well as managing ongoing communications. Annual sponsors include Google, Microsoft, Netflix, NTT Communications, RCN Business, VeriSign and Windstream Carrier Solutions. To learn more, visit: https://www.nanog.org

NANOG

2864 Carpenter Road

Suite 100

Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA

+1 866-902-1336

nanog-support(at)nanog(dot)org
If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity.

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Three of Americas most important publishing associations released a statement last week commending Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee for refusing to provide the names of customers who bought books that criticized Chinese officials.

The statement, signed by the American Booksellers Association, the Association of American Publishers, and the American Library Associations Office for Intellectual Freedom, also praised Lam for revealing details of his illegal imprisonment by Chinese authorities after he and colleagues were detained following a business trip from Hong Kong to mainland China.

During a press conference last Thursday, Lam said he was shown records of the customers of the Causeway Bay Bookstore and asked to identify those who had purchased books published by Mighty Current, which are often critical of the Chinese government. I didnt dare tell them about the readers because I was worried that those readers would be implicated, and then they would think that Hong Kongers  or I  had betrayed them, Lam said during the conference.

We join [Lam] in condemning the Chinese government for its illegal arrest and detention of people engaged in the publication and sale of books, the statement read. In addition, we demand the speedy release of Gui Minhai, the last Mighty Current employee in custody, and call on Hong Kong authorities to protect the Hong Kong booksellers from further retribution by the Chinese government."

Following Lams press conference, several of his colleagues were quoted in different Chinese publications disputing his account of what happened when the five Hong Kong booksellers were held in China.
Steve Antinoff, who wrote about the human tendency to search for salvation and enlightenment in Spiritual Atheism (Counterpoint, 2010), spent 15 years studying Zen at Japanese monasteries and elsewhere in a quest for enlightenment. He hasnt found it yet. In Reports from the Zen Wars: The Impossible Rigor of a Questioning Life (Counterpoint, June), he chronicles the agonies, ecstasies, and occasional disillusionment in his ongoing quest.

You spent many years searching for enlightenment, but your book isnt about that. Its about the people you met along the way. Why?

I soon discovered that the quest for enlightenment was extremely difficult, and while I could not abandon it, I dont think that I achieved very much. I never stopped trying; I still have not stopped trying. In the meantime I started to meet all these people who just were so fascinating. Some of them seemed to have some sort of achievement, and some, after many years of struggle, didnt. All of those people I found very inspirational from different angles. Theyre not so different from me; youre striving for enlightenment and at the same time youre running away from yourself by backing off of that quest. Several of the people that I wrote about at some point in their lives underwent a similar thing.

Who is an example of someone that deeply affected you during your studies?

I met a lay Zen master named Shinichi Hisamatsu who said that all koan can be reduced to one koan: Whatever you do will not do. Right now what do you do? I think that that really is the essence of koan, theres this contradiction between the necessity of solving the problem and the impossibility of solving the problem, and that contradiction is driving the force of the Zen quest.

The book details the physical trials you endured in a Zen monastery; how did you persevere?

I was only in the monastery for just a few months. Two or three times a week in these meditation weeks they would have greasy tempura which I really cant eat, and the head monk said if you dont eat that then you cant eat any of the side dishes for the entire week. So while he was in charge I would just eat basically rice and soup. So I moved into a small temple in the same compound as the monastery and commuted each night. Then I would move in to the monastery for those intensive meditation weeks and lose about eight or nine pounds, and then I would have three weeks to try to recover until the next one. I couldnt have survived life in a monastery; I had to move toward it from a peripheral position where I made kind of incursions and then escaped. That worked out I think pretty well for me.



What do you want readers to learn from Zen Wars?

I just want them to encounter some of the people I met. I also wanted to give a sense of the difficulty of any religious quest, not just the Zen quest. I think theres a tendency among practitioners to just say, well, Ill do a little meditation and life will get better. Although people talk about enlightenment, which is a kind of overcoming of the ego, I think many practices are really about enriching the ego existence. So I guess I wanted to emphasize indirectly without being preachy just the enormous difficulty of the Zen quest and the way in which these various people that I wrote about tried to contend with it.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Two Aviation and Transportation Technology students from Purdue Polytechnic Institute are taking to the skies for a 2,000-mile race across the United States.

Pilot Molly Van Scoy and co-pilot Mary McCarty are this years Purdue University entrants in the annual Air Race Classic. This is the 40th year for the cross-country airplane race.

Its an exciting opportunity for the duo, who departed Purdue University Airport for the starting point in Prescott, Arizona, on Wednesday (June 15). The race begins on Tuesday (June 21).

We always hope to place well, but this is about the experience and learning how to work with each other, said Van Scoy, a senior in aviation management major from Shavertown, Pennsylvania.

The race also gives Van Scoy the chance to fly for the first time in the southwest United States, which brings higher terrain and temperatures into the mix for pilots.

It makes you think a little harder, she said.

Van Scoy was co-pilot for last years entry and part of the ground crew in 2014.

McCarty, a Wilmington, Ohio resident, is entering her junior year majoring in professional flight. She previously was part of the ground crew.

She said the transcontinental race is a benefit to collegiate pilots.

It makes huge difference with all the different types of flying, she said.

Pilots in the Air Race Classic will travel 2,719 miles this year. There are eight checkpoints before they reach the finish line on June 24 in Daytona Beach, Fla. The event is not your standard race. Each plane receives a unique handicap prior to the race. The team that beats its handicap by the largest margin wins.

At each stop, teams do a flyby over a timing line and timers on the ground and electronic trackers record their elapsed time between stops. Scorers calculate each team's times at the end of the race and determine the winners.

For this years race, the team is flying a Cirrus SR20 emblazoned with a black and gold P on the rear stabilizer.

Purdue has had entries in the race for 22 years. A Purdue team took third place in 2010 while another team won in 1996.

Both members of this years team thank family for their interest in flying and aviation. McCartys grandfather, who was a pilot in Vietnam, renewed his pilots license when she got hers. Van Scoy caught the bug for flying, as she puts it, because of her mothers career as a pilot and her family managing an airport.

Purdues entry into the Air Race Class is made up of two parts, starting with the pilot and co-pilot.

The ground crew is working to give racers the best and fastest route for their journey. Crew members analyze weather including winds and front locations as well as forecasts and hazardous weather. The crew also calculates fuel burn and helps with decisions on whether to try flying the next leg of the race or wait for better weather.

About the Air Race Classic

The first race took place in 1929, originally called the Womens Air Derby and included a field of 20 women pilots that included Amelia Earhart, who would later join the faculty at Purdue University. That race flew from Santa Monica, California, to the Cleveland Air Races in Ohio. The All Women's Transcontinental Air Race (Powder Puff Derby) was formed in 1948 and ran until 1977. The ARC ran its first race in 1977 with a 2,400-mile race from Santa Rosa, California, to Toledo, Ohio, and is the longest running air race in the USA.

Writer: Brian L. Huchel, 765-494-2084, bhuchel@purdue.edu

Sources: Molly Van Scoy, mvanscoy@purdue.edu

Mary McCarty, mccart40@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: B-roll video of take off preparations is available at https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxdPFMVWz-l2WHRjdWhDVWJDaTQ
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  A Purdue University professor has been awarded a 2016 Human Frontier Science Program grant to uncover how cells measure time.

Andrew Mugler, an assistant professor of physics, is part of an international team that will study worm cells shown to rely on precise timing.

Mugler will work in collaboration with Rik Korswagen of the Utrecht University in the Netherlands, and Marie-Anne Felix of IBENS in France. The team is one of 25 worldwide to receive a Human Frontier Science Program grant this year from an applicant pool of more than 800.

This award is a testament to professor Muglers talent and capability as a researcher, said John Finley, professor and head of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Applicants for the prestigious Human Frontier Science Program grants went through a rigorous year-long selection process and global competition. We are proud of his accomplishment.

Human Frontier Science research grants are given for projects relating to complex mechanisms of living organisms, and particular emphasis is placed on cutting-edge, risky projects, according to the International Human Frontier Science Program Organization.

Muglers team was awarded $1,050,000 over three years for a project that aims to uncover how cells measure time.

Timing is everything, especially during embryonic development, Mugler said. There are remarkable cells that, during nematode development, migrate from the back to the front in order to become neurons. These cells stop at a precise location, but rather than being guided by positional cues or location, they have been shown to have an intrinsic timer. We want to find out how this system maintains such precise timing.

Studies have shown the cells express a protein that accumulates until it reaches a level where it triggers the cells to stop. However, most protein-expression mechanisms are inherently noisy and are not considered to be precise, he said.

The team will use a combination of molecular genetics tools, comparisons across nematode species and mathematical modeling of protein expression to gain a better understanding of the timing system.

More information about the International Human Frontier Science Program Organization and the 2016 program grants is available at http://www.hfsp.org/awardees/newly-awarded

Writer: Elizabeth K. Gardner, 765-494-2081, ekgardner@purdue.edu

Sources: Andrew Mugler, 765-496-3427, amugler@purdue.edu

John Finely, 765-494-3000, finley@purdue.edu
Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigans first political splash had nothing to do with policy. It wasnt a blueprint for a better state. It wasnt middle-class jobs growth. It wasnt a successful welfare program.

It was cartography.

Political mapmaking is how Madigan first took hold of a position hes held for 31 of the past 33 years: Speaker of the House. For comparisons sake, the median age in the Land of Lincoln is 36, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

While Madigan has endured a few legislative embarrassments over the years, hes never lost the vote he desires most from House Democrats. His caucus has elected him speaker 16 times in a row.

Madigans grip over Illinois government did not begin with a bold vision. Not with lofty ideals. Not with a broad coalition.

It began with random chance, a will to power and a top hat worn by Abraham Lincoln.

In the wake of the 1980 census, an eight-member panel evenly split between Democrats and Republicans was charged with remapping Illinois legislative districts. The panel failed to come to an agreement. To break the gridlock, a ninth member of the panel was drawn at random. Out of Lincolns hat, no less.

The name drawn was that of former Democratic Gov. Sam Shapiro. That made Madigan, then House minority leader, mapmaker-in-chief. The panel was as good as his.

Many observers thought the 1980 census numbers would be a disaster for Illinois Democrats. A growing suburban population and an exodus from Chicago meant the Windy City was entitled to no more than 15.5 Illinois Senate seats and 31 Illinois House seats, according to research from NPR Illinois.

Not on Madigans watch.

His 1981 map gave Chicago 19 Senate seats and 37 House seats. Many of those districts overlapped with the suburbs, diluting Republican votes.

Years later, former state Rep. John OConnell, D-Western Springs, told the Chicago Tribune he didnt think any map could save his seat. But after OConnell told Madigan he was worried, that all changed:

He said, 'What do you need? I said, 'Two more census tracts [of heavy Democratic voting].' He called back a couple days later and said, 'Youve got your two census tracts.'

OConnell went on to win his next three House races.

And that wasnt all. When a cutback amendment ratified by voters in 1980 axed 59 seats from the Illinois House, Madigans map ensured 43 of those seats belonged to the GOP.

Madigans mapmaking would keep Democratic majorities in the Illinois House and Senate for the next decade. The Tribune heralded the arrival of a mastermind.

He is a political wizard, the papers editorial board wrote Dec. 18, 1981.

Two years later, House Democrats, many of whom would not have been in the Statehouse if not for Madigans map, elected him speaker.

The rest is history.

Just as Madigans ascent to power was devoid of any actual policies to better the state, so too has been his speakership. A transactional system based on fear, favoritism and absolute control reigns over House Democrats.

A 1989 story in the Tribune detailed how Madigan was able to concentrate his power so quickly.

When reporters asked one lawmaker what Madigan expected in return for funneling thousands of dollars into his campaign fund, the answer was simple: I suspect Mike will ask me to vote for him for speaker.

Tribune reporters also told the tale of former state Rep. Richard Mautino, D-Spring Valley, who dared vote against Madigan for speaker in 1987. He was immediately deprived of a vice chairmanship on a House committee. Two years later, he would vote for Madigan, who promptly made Mautino chairman of the House Insurance Committee.

Power is like beauty, Madigan once said. Much of it is in the eye of the beholder.

Rank-and-file Democrats should take that to heart. In January 2017, theyll likely be voting for their speaker once again.

Will they have the guts to stand up for themselves? For Democratic ideals? For voters who are sick and tired of lacking real representation? Or will they simply be another footnote in Madigans legacy of gamesmanship?

Illinoisans should remember their elected officials do have that choice. And just like any other vote, lawmakers should be held responsible for its consequences.
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 Tacna - Arica railway (FCTA) is Peruvian-owned and administered by the Tacna regional government and in recent decades has been almost exclusively passenger-carrying.

The reinitiated service was interrupted on June 7 when the line's only railbus broke down, leaving stranded passengers to be rescued by bus.

The service did not recommence until June 14 and passenger usage numbers were low, due to rail fares being higher than those charged by bus and shared taxi operators. However, these numbers soared a few days later when truck drivers, protesting about fines imposed by the Peruvian customs authority, blocked the parallel Pan-American Highway.

FCTA responded by increasing service frequency by 50% until June 18, when Chilean lorry drivers threatened to block the rail line.

The foreign affairs ministries of both Chile and Peru are monitoring the situation to avoid any potential misunderstandings. The terms of a 1929 treaty which fixed the border between the two countries allows Peru special rights regarding the stretch of the FCTA which lies in Chilean territory.
Wynne Davis has joined the Washington D.C. office of WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff as a senior rail and transit specialist, providing clients with program management and strategic advisory services.

Davis has more than 18 years of rail and transit industry experience, most recently serving as program manager for the Federal Railroad Administrations High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program (HSIPR). She was responsible for evaluating, selecting, initiating and managing more than 70 federally funded transportation and infrastructure projects totaling $2.6 billion while simultaneously developing and implementing U.S. Department of Transportation policy for current and future investment in the U.S. rail system. She also served as the program manager for the HSIPR program management office, responsible for designing, implementing and evaluating business processes.

Previously, Davis was a management consultant for a global consulting firm, serving government clients in the national security and transportation sectors. She also served for five years as a transportation officer in the U.S. Army, leading the planning and execution of complex multinational transportation and logistics operations across Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East.

Davis received a masters degree in Organizational Management from George Washington University and a bachelors degree in Economics from Wofford College.
For the first time, the Government of Canada is attempting to regulate air pollutant emissions from locomotives. The proposed regulations are being developed under the Railway Safety Act, with a focus on health and the environment.

Transport Canada, the Canadian governments transportation department, estimates the proposed rail regulations will cost C$162.3 million over 10 years and reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 9.3% and particulate matter (PM) emissions by 8%, creating an estimated savings to healthcare and the environment of more than C$245 million.

Aligning locomotive emission standards with the U.S. will provide regulatory certainty for the rail industry and improve the efficiency of the North American transportation system, said Marc Garneau, Canadas Minister of Transport. Most important, these regulations will lead to environmental benefits that protect the health of Canadians and advance green technologies.



The proposed changes would limit harmful air pollutant emissions, also known as criteria air contaminants, from locomotives operated by railway companies under federal jurisdiction through increasingly stringent emission standards and reduced idling. The emission standards set out in these proposed regulations will also align with those of the U.S., which will improve the efficiency of the transportation system and advance green technologies.

The Government of Canada has already taken action to reduce emissions from light- and heavy-duty vehicles. Canada has also moved forward with regulations to implement the North American Emission Control Area, which will reduce emissions of key air pollutants from ships, and the adoption of more stringent NOx emission standards for aircraft.

The proposed regulations support the Government of Canadas efforts to transition to a greener transportation sector. Canada and the U.S. are also working together on approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from locomotives under the Canada-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation Council.

Transport Canada invites public comments to these proposed regulations until September 15, 2016.
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Eutelsat SA has issued five-year senior unsecured bonds for Eutelsat Communications, for a total of 500 million.





The satellite giant has taken advantage of the current competitive market environment to raise long-term financing with a five-year maturity at attractive conditions. Eutelsat has reported that the issue was significantly over-subscribed, demonstrating the markets confidence in its long-term business model.The bonds will be issued at 99.894% and, at maturity, will be redeemed at 100% of their principal amount. They will have a coupon of 1.125% per annum and will be cleared through Euroclear France, Clearstream and Euroclear. An application will be made for the bonds to be listed on the official list and admitted to trading on the regulated market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange. The Bonds will mature on 23 June 2021. Delivery and settlement are expected on 23 June 2016.Together with other sources of cash on its balance sheet, the bonds will enable Eutelsat to redeem at maturity the outstanding Bonds issued on 26 March 2010 for a total principal amount of 850 million, bearing interest on its principal amount at a fixed rate of 4.125%.As a result of this operation Eutelsat will extend its debt maturity profile and will reduce its financial charges by circa 30 million before tax on an annualised basis from March 2017 onwards.Eutelsat recently launched the 117 West B satellite  the second Ku-band satellite launched for the region in June  thus boosting Latin Americas video capacity.The Eutelsat 117 West B was ferried into space by a Falcon 9 rocket that took off from the SpaceX Space Launch Complex 40 in Cape Canaveral and parked in orbit after a 30-minute flight.After orbit readjustments and several tests, the satellite is scheduled to enter commercial service at 117 West in Q1 2017.Equipped with 48 Ku-band transponders, the Eutelsat 117 West B will provide premium coverage of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, South America and the Southern Cone. The satellite will strengthen video capacities at 117 West and offer key services to telecom operators in Latin America.
African satellite TV operator MultiChoice is targeting illegal content distributors in Malawi as the latest part of its crackdown on content pirates in southern Africa.





MultiChoice said a number of agents are promoting the illegal provision of South African DStv accounts to viewers in Malawi, rather than providing the pay-TV companys authorised local satellite TV service.Users have reportedly been attracted to the South African version as it offers a wider selection of content for a lower monthly subscription than the legitimate DStv Malawi service. However, this contravenes international copyright laws.All operators providing DStv connections and support services in Malawi are bound by the law to ensure that DStv services in Malawi are those that are legitimately provided for in this country, and they may not connect Malawians to DStv services in South Africa, the company said in a statement.Illegal agents carry no guarantee of service quality and there is no means of enforcing adherence to DSTV standards. It is clear that a number of bogus operators are promoting access by Malawians to DSTV services sourced in South Africa, an act that is illegal and in flagrant violation of international copyright regulations, it added.The MultiChoice crackdown aims to rid the country of illegal cable operators who provide poor quality services and expose their customers to possible prosecution for infringement of international copyright laws.It follows a similar exercise by MultiChoice in Zimbabwe, launched a few months ago.
Indias Eros International Media has sealed a television syndication deal for new and catalogue movies with Zee Network.





Films to be shown exclusively on Zee Network include Banjo, staring Riteish Deshmukh and Nargis Fakhri, which is scheduled for theatrical release on 23 September. In addition, the acclaimed family drama Nil Battey Sannata and Aligarh, starring Manoj Bajpayee and Rajkummar Rao, will also be shown on Zee.Eros catalogue films including Housefull, Heyy Babyy, Cocktail, Vicky Donor and Omkara also form part of the content licensing deal This deal signifies yet another step towards cementing our long association with Zee Network . We continue to exploit our significant library and the content licensing deal with Zee is consistent with our pre-sales strategy. These tailor-made packages from our broad film repertoire will suit audiences across networks and maximise the potential from the television broadcast, said Sunil Lulla, managing director, Eros International Media.
U.S. Court gets request for entry of default with regard to Russian art foundation

MOSCOW, June 17 (RAPSI)  Richard Fisher from Malibu, USA, asks the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to rule that a complaint against the Petr Konchalovsky Foundation located in Moscow via e-mail was properly serviced and requests entry of default.

Fisher lodged the complaint with the federal court on December 17, 2015. He alleged that the foundation wrongfully declared the oil painting Still Life with Grinder by Petr Konchalovsky he owned and planned to sell at an auction a fake.

This January, Fisher made a motion to allow him to service the complaint on the Russian defendant. through U.S. Postal Service. The motion was accompanied by an affidavit from John Pierceall, an attorney for Ancillary Legal Corporation, a company that serves international legal process. Pierceall confirmed that the foundation had its principal place of business in Moscow. He further averred that Russia suspended all judicial cooperation with the United States in civil and commercial matters since July 2003. Russia does not effect service through its Central Authority, in this cast the Russias Justice Ministry, which is the method prescribed under the Hague Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters (Hague Convention), according to Pierceall.

The U.S. State Department warns in turn that The Russian Federation refuses to serve letters of request from the United States for service of process presented under the terms of the 1965 Hague Service Convention or to execute letters rogatory requesting service of process transmitted via diplomatic channels.

Due to these complications, Fisher turned to the U.S. court seeking to serve the foundation through U.S. Postal Service. The court declined to grant this request; however, later it granted his motion to serve the foundation by email, since it did not infringe on the Hague Convention.

In his turn, David Steiner, his counsel, submitted an affidavit confirming that Alexander Konov, the Director of the foundation, used email account for some work-related business earlier and could most probably receive the official notification of the process even in spite of the fact that earlier messages remained unanswered.

Late last week, the Fishers lawyer lodged a request for entry of default with the court (RAPSI has this document at its disposal), since the defendant failed to file an answer to the complaint or otherwise moved.

According to New York Post, Richard Fisher, an owner of the oil painting Still Life with Grinder by Russian artist Konchalovsky, is suing the Petr Konchalovsky Foundation, an organization that declared the painting he owns inauthentic. Fisher bought the painting from Sothebys, a corporation dealing in art pieces, in 1991. At a time Sothebys declared the painting an authentic work by Konchalovsky.

Fisher tried to sell the painting back to Sothebys in 2012 for a price of $800,000, but an organization refused to proceed with the sale and offered to compensate Fisher with $5,922  a sum he originally paid for the painting, New York Post has reported. Fisher connects this loss with a claim made by Russian art foundation.

Fisher believes that Petr Konchalovsky Foundation did not examine the work because it related on photos instead. California resident demands $800,000 of the lost profit from the Russian foundation.
State Duma committee supports extending National Guards rights on using weapons

MOSCOW, June 20 (RAPSI)  The State Duma Committee on security and fighting corruption has supported an amendment to the bill on Russian National Guard, extending its rights on using weapons, including, under certain circumstances shooting in crowds.

According to the amendment, a serviceman of the National Guard has no right to use weapons in a crowded area if such action may result in harm to bystanders, excluding the use of weapons in order to prevent terror attack, freeing hostages, repelling a group or armed attack on important state objects or cargos.

On April 5, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree launching a major overhaul of Russias security agencies. According to the decree, Interior Ministrys interior troops should be transformed into the National Guard directly subordinated to the President. The bill on National Guard gives the service a right to use special equipment and weapons.

The Presidential decree specifies the main duties of the National Guard, which should include fight against terrorism and extremism, participation in the territorial defense of the Russian Federation, protection of important state facilities and special cargoes, support for border guards, and monitoring of compliance with the law in the areas of arms circulation.
As we see a surge in inflation globally, it is now critical that everyone is aware of the implications this will have along every step of the insurance and reinsurance value chain.
Last month, Europe would have seen its first populist, far-right head of state elected since World War II had an anti-immigrant, anti-EU Austrian presidential candidate not been defeated by a hairs-breadth in run-off elections on May 22. Although Vienna can breathe a quick sigh of relief, nativist populism still threatens to hijack elections and referenda across the Continent over the next year.

As life imitates art in this chaotic election year, a recent satirical German film helps illuminate the trend, demonstrating how easily hateful ideas that should have been discredited decades ago can be cleaned up, repackaged, and slipped back into a country's national discourse. It is unclear exactly what role right-wing extremism played in inspiring the senseless murder of UK Member of Parliament Jo Cox on June 16. Nevertheless, at a minimum, the harsh tenor of todays political debate in Europe risks provoking violence. Tackling this crisis requires the European center to mount a robust first-principles defense of the liberal international policies and institutions that rebuilt postwar Europe and won the Cold War, while acknowledging where tough reforms are needed to address the genuine societal discontent at the root of these movements. At the same time, popular media must resist mainstreaming xenophobia and nationalist rhetoric, and instead challenge outrageous statements from the far-right, however slyly they may be packaged.

Reality TV Replaces Riefenstahl

The premise of David Wnendts "Look Who's Back" ("Er ist wieder da") -- a 2015 German film based on Timur Vermes 2012 satirical novel of the same name -- is that a shell-shocked Adolf Hitler inexplicably wakes up in present day Berlin. (Note: before anyone protests, your author assumes there is an exemption clause to Godwins Law when discussing actual far-right politicians from Austria.) After an anachronistic fascist-out-of-water comic first act in which Hitler orients himself to the changes of the past 70 years, the character becomes a national media sensation on the German reality TV and talk-show circuit by striking all the right(-wing) chords of postmodern European societal insecurity. Cynical German TV producers seize on Hitler's unexpected popularity to drive up ratings, mistaking his actual odious views for an edgy comic routine. Novelty, spectacle, and scandal ensure snowballing media coverage, which gives his dangerous beliefs a national platform.

That half of the movie alone would be worth watching as interesting, if rather disquieting, satire. But more powerful is Wnendts threading of unscripted footage throughout the film of the Hitler character interacting on the street with real Germans and tourists of today. Many ordinary people react to him exactly as one would hope: shunning or shaming a man walking around German public squares in a Hitler costume. But others engage him and open up their feelings of disaffection on unemployment, immigration, and so on. Some eventually nod their heads in agreement with his honeyed, extremist prescriptions for the ails of modern German society, whether they be reinstituting labor camps or selective breeding. Look Whos Back thus artfully poses the question of what is more unnerving: that so many people in one of the best educated, most prosperous, and most tolerant nations on the planet could still harbor simplistic, reactionary, and hateful sentiments; or that a garrulous and offensively charismatic TV personality could uncover them so easily.

Understanding and Responding to Discontent

Unlike in populist rhetoric itself, there are no easy scapegoats or silver bullets for this crisis of a resurgent far-right. The West must of course be vigilant against the malign foreign actors that quietly benefit from and support its rise and the fracturing of the political center in Europe. Yet, while a country like Russia can be viewed as opportunistically helping fan the flames (e.g. through loans funding Marine Le Pens Front National in France or Twitter trolls in St. Petersburg), it did not set the kindling or light the spark. The discontent at the heart of these movements is genuine among many people in Europe who do feel unmoored and vulnerable. For various reasons, these people do not feel or recognize the benefits afforded by a liberal postwar order anchored by open societies, free trade, social progress, institutions such as the European Union, or alliance structures such as NATO. A large part of the problem is that many of those who work within this system hold those benefits as a given. They take the progress Western societies have made for granted. In truth, recovery from the global financial crisis of eight years ago and ensuing eurozone crisis has been slow in coming and reached various European national economies and individuals unevenly. This lost decade comes on the heels of years of cumulative growth in Europe and has thus created a sense of inequality and unmet expectations akin to the socioeconomic conditions in which right-wing extremism flourished in the 1930s.

Some European centrist parties have responded by tacking sharply right toward populist positions. This tactic appears to have backfired in several countries, boosting far-right parties (as in the case of Slovak parliamentary elections in March), mainstreaming xenophobia in the public debate (as in France), or teeing up a wholly avoidable strategic blunder in the United Kingdoms upcoming vote on whether to remain in or leave the European Union (a political own-goal in this year of Euro Cup). The European center would do better to define and mount a robust defense of its core values rather than shamefully (and apparently ineffectively) parrot those of the far-right.

This crisis presents a chance for those in the system to challenge their assumptions so that they can appropriately modernize and improve the postwar system. On the economic side, this means better understanding the various structural, technological, and demographic roots of declining productivity and rising income inequality, as well as the strengths and deficiencies of our current policy toolbox to address them. On the security side, it means redoubling efforts to reinvigorate NATO to address the threats emanating from its Eastern and Southern flanks and bolstering the credibility of collective defense in the eyes of jittery transatlantic citizens and calculating adversaries. A hard scrub and earnest reform of the policies and institutions that have served most of the West well for the past 70 years will help us ensure benefits are more broadly felt for the next 70 and help update and strengthen the public arguments in their defense.

Part of making this argument also means inculcating in todays generations a proper sense of historical perspective and an appreciation for what could have been had their Atlanticist forebears, surveying the global wreckage of two World Wars, not put forth an international system that rejected isolationism and is guided by the values and norms of liberal democracies and multilateralism. This does not mean falling into the trap of the End of History triumphalism of the immediate post-Cold War 1990s, but instead giving a sober, basic-principles defense of the best parts of the liberal international system and contrast them to what the past century has shown are the dreadful alternatives.

Finally, a new rigor is required in the policy analysis and broader societal conversation on these topics in the West to encourage audiences to ignore the spectacle of the messenger and keep focused on the content of the message. Voters must look past the slick packaging and smart suits of Europes new extreme right-wing parties and instead see their disgraceful heritage. And, as Look Whos Back warns, the media must avoid embracing the sound and fury of these far-right populist campaigns as ratings-driven television or click-bait headlines (these are no harmless tales told by an idiot), but rather relentlessly fact-check and hold manipulative, nationalist politicians accountable for every claim they make.
Clean water is a necessity for campers, survivalist enthusiasts, home ownerspretty much anybody. In a survival scenario, clean water is paramount to your success or downfall. True, boiling water correctly will remove many organisms that can harm you, but that takes time and a proper fire. What if you dont have a source for ignition? What if everything is soaked with water and youre already dehydrated? Additionally, how will you remove the unknown chemicals and heavy metals that may be lurking unbeknownst to you in that stream? It would just be easier to have an all-in-one filtration system that will seamlessly clean your water for you with no hassle; which is exactly what the MUV provides.

The MUV adaptable water filter isnt just for the adventurer, however, it can easily be used at home to remove that annoying chlorine taste or any heavy metals you may have. An easy, versatile water filtration device (or so it appears anyway), the MUV adapts to you for whatever you may need in any situation.

For more information read on.

Renovo MUV Adaptable Water Filter

MUV is an adaptable water filter that gives you protection from contaminants in municipal water as well as all the way up to virus and bacteria protection in some of the most inhospitable places in the world. Using modular technology that works with a water bottle, hydration reservoir, as a straw, or as a gravity filter you get clean water anytime, anywhere.

The MUV is made up of three parts: MUV 1 section is at the bottom and contains activated carbon fiber. Unlike traditional activated carbon in granular form this fiber is 10x more absorbent and allows a faster flow rate. It will remove chemicals, heavy metals, negatives tastes and can filter up to 150 gallons. MUV 2 is in the middle and it is made up of tiny hollow tubes with a porous membrane. This prevents parasites and bacteria from slipping through as its concept is based on size exclusion  water can go through but not the larger particles. It will remove bacteria (E.coli, Cholera, typhoid etc.), protozoa (cryptosporidium), and parasites (giardia) and can filter up to 100,000 gallons. MUV 3 contains nanalum which was developed by NASA to reuse waste water. Nanalum works by electro-absorption and manufactured with non-woven, highly engineered water filter paper impregnated with Granular activated Carbon. When wet, it has a strong, positive charge like a magnet which attracts and traps organic contaminants. It can remove viruses (Hepatitis A and E, poliovirus, meningitis, etc.), bacteria, protozoa, parasites, heavy metals, chemicals and negative tastes and can filter up to 90 gallons.

Most water filters remove only one kind of particulate. MUV not only removes 99.999% of viruses and bacteria, but also allows you to change the filter modules for your specific water needs. If you are getting water from your tap at home in North America, you dont need to be concerned about viruses being in your water. What you may find in your tap water is chlorine and metals. In this case you dont need to use the MUV 3 module that removes viruses, or the MUV 2 that removes bacteria, but you would want to use the MUV 1 module that removes chemicals and metals.

To learn more about this awesome product, check out their Kickstarter page, website, Facebook, or Twitter account, or give them a follow on Instagram.
As the job market changes and STEM  science, technology, engineering, and math  knowledge increases in demand, University of Georgia students also seem to be changing their major. The percentage of STEM field bachelors degrees increased steadily from 2000 to 2012 according to data from the Office of Institutional Research at the University
In this June 7, 2016 photo, actress Blair Brown, star of the Netflix original series, "Orange is the New Black" poses in New York. The fourth season of the popular series will be available for viewing on Friday, June 17. (Photo by Brian Ach/Invision/AP)

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NEW YORK (AP)  On last season's finale of "Orange is the New Black" , Judy King, nailed for tax evasion, arrived at Litchfield Penitentiary to surrender. But she found no one at the front desk to receive her.

Judy had a fit. A big-time TV chef, she wasn't used to being made to wait.

With Netflix's release of the entire 13-episode fourth season on Friday, viewers will find Judy has subsequently gotten a warm welcome at Litchfield from many of her fellow female inmates (she's a TV star!). And from the warden, too, who handles her with kid gloves: He worries that, if anything ugly should befall her, bad publicity or even a lawsuit would result.

Suffice it to say that Judy will help make this "Orange" season cook as Blair Brown joins the cast of this prison comedy-drama for an exploration of fame compelled to coexist with hoi polloi.

In a recent interview, Brown takes pains to say Judy King isn't meant to be a Martha Stewart knockoff, although the similarities (including their mutual incarceration) are obvious. But so is the nod to down-South culinarian Paula Deen, as evidenced by Judy's luxurious drawl.

"Judy's Southern all right," says Brown. "She's also very outgoing, very friendly, and a complete egotist in the sense that whatever is good for her, she figures is very good for you. She is a survivor, and her attitude in being in prison is, she just wants to get this done."

In the process, she rises to the occasion. Here, as with most places, she loves the spotlight.

"It's interesting to come into this story playing a privileged person," Brown says. "There are a lot of feelings both on the administrative side and the inmate side as to what that means, and why that is."

Brown, 69, is a veteran actress with a wide range of roles whose only commonality may be her signature red hair and luminous smile.

Her film work includes a trio of major releases within two years (1980-81): "One-Trick Pony," ''Altered States" and "Continental Divide." Her many theater credits include a Tony Award-winning turn in the play "Copenhagen."

Recent TV appearances include a recurring role last season on "Limitless," and before that as the steely corporate boss on the Fox sci-fi series "Fringe."

And, of course, there's her celebrated run as the title character of "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd," which, though not a smash hit, helped change TV.

Brown says she has been an "Orange" fan since its inception.

"When it first started, I thought, 'Is there any room for me on this?' But I decided they had plenty of people, with enough stories to tell.

"Then I got the call to play Judy," she smiles, "and the character was easy, because she came in wondering how does all this work? So did I. All the stuff I'm trying to find out as a new cast member works hand in hand with Judy's journey. So that's been a happy coincidence."

Another happy coincidence: The role has brought her back to Kaufman Astoria Studios, the Queens, New York, production center where "Molly Dodd" was shot three decades ago.

Premiering on NBC in May 1987, "Molly Dodd" centered on a mid-30s divorcee living in New York who, by turns, was a free spirit and a Yuppie hewing to no clear professional or romantic path.

While many viewers loved this new form, many more didn't get it. Nor would some of them accept Molly: She was a bit too liberated, too unpredictable, too complex.

For Brown, it was all a much simpler experience.

"It just seemed so easy," she recalls. "We told these little half-hour stories. We didn't have a laugh track and we didn't have to go for big yuks. We thought, 'Let's just have a person who lives her life. What would that be like?' And that, of course, is what some people loved. But other people hated it."

NBC, as perplexed by "Molly Dodd" as some viewers, bounced the show from slot to slot for a year. Then Lifetime came to its rescue, where it aired until 1991.

Along the way, it helped stake out a genre dubbed "dramedy," a term also applied to similarly groundbreaking shows "Hooperman," ''Frank's Place" and "Doogie Howser, M.D.," which launched Neil Patrick Harris.

It was a form that greatly stretched the possibilities of the strictly comic half-hour sitcom as well as the strictly dramatic hour-long dramas of that day. Without "Molly Dodd," it's possible that "Orange" would never have happened.

"But now," says Brown, "many, many years later, I'm back in Queens, at the same studio, doing another show that's funny when it wants to be funny, serious and scary when it wants to be serious and scary. It's a very similar idea. It's just about people. And you don't have to blow anything up."
FILE - In this Dec. 19, 2014 file photo, Brazilian author Paulo Coelho appears during an interview at his apartment, in Geneva, Switzerland. Alfred A. Knopf announced Thursday, June 16, 2016, that Coelho's "The Spy," a first-person narrative about the Dutch-born dancer and courtesan, will come out Nov. 22. (AP Photo/Boris Heger, File)

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NEW YORK (AP)  Paulo Coelho's next novel is the imagined inner life of one of history's most famous and provocative women, Mata Hari.

Alfred A. Knopf announced Thursday that Coelho's "The Spy," a first-person narrative about the Dutch-born dancer and courtesan, will come out Nov. 22. The book's starting point is a letter she wrote in 1917, a week before being executed in Paris for alleged espionage during World War I. Coelho will also draw upon archival material released over the past 20 years.

Said Coelho: "Mata Hari was one of our first feminists, defying male expectations of that time and choosing instead an independent, unconventional life."

Coelho, whose books have sold more than 200 million copies worldwide, is best known for the novel "The Alchemist."
FILE - In this Monday, April 4, 2016, file photo, Alaska Airlines president and CEO Brad Tilden talks to reporters at the airline's corporate headquarters in Seattle. Tilden said Wednesday, June 15, 2016, that he might keep the Virgin America brand, running it and Alaska as two different products within the same airline group. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

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By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ, AP Airlines Writer

NEW YORK (AP)  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."

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Henry King Jr., who served as Juror No. 8 on the Rodney King beating trial, wants the public to know his father was black.

SHARE Henry King Jr.'s juror badge from the Rodney King trial. A photograph of the late Henry King Sr.

By Scripps Newspapers

SQUAW VALLEY ? Juror No. 8 from the Rodney King beating trial has always heard the 12-member panel described as either all white or as having no blacks.

Now, he wants the public to know that's not the whole story: His father was a black man.

"Nobody's ever guessed that I was black," Henry King Jr. told Scripps Newspapers.

From the get-go, the media made a big thing about the jury having no blacks, said King, a 69-year-old retiree living in Fresno County.

"It made you feel like they didn't think we could come out with a fair verdict because we were supposed to be an all-white jury," he said.

It's long been reported that 10 jurors were white, one was Hispanic and another was Filipino. The U.S. Census Bureau considers Hispanic a designation of ethnicity, not race, and the jury and the four Los Angeles Police Department officers on trial ? one of them Hispanic ? have often been referred to simply as white.

"If they didn't like our decision, then let it be based on just that: They didn't like it ? not that we were a bunch of white people that wanted to let the white cops off," King said. "That wasn't the case."

He still believes the verdict was correct, based on testimony about what happened before the beating captured by the videotape and what police were allowed to do when subduing someone.

But it has eaten at him over the years to hear there was no black perspective on the panel.

"I had both sides," said King, no relation to Rodney King.

He has heard a lot of jokes about black people from whites during his life. "I didn't feel anything like that during the trial," he said.

King said he's close to black relatives on his father's side, many living in the Los Angeles area.

"After the verdict, I had to face that part of my family," he said. "Some were supportive, and some weren't. It was something I had to face besides everything else."

His mother, who was white, was the most critical.

"'How could you, Junior?' " he recalls her saying.

'I look pretty white'

The Ventura County Star contacted King as part of an effort to find the jurors whose 1992 verdict sparked days of deadly rioting in Los Angeles.

At first, King didn't want his name used.

"There are a few things about me that people don't know," he initially said, then choked back tears before saying his father was black.

It's something he didn't share with other jurors during the trial and doesn't recall sharing when they occasionally socialized afterward. Nor had he talked about it with a reporter.

"Forty years ago, you really didn't say that you were part black," said King. "Now, I'm proud of it."

When he applied last year to be on the Fresno County Grand Jury, one of the first things he told them was that his father was black.

"They thought I was joking," he said.

During interviews on the phone and at his home on 5 acres in the southern Sierra Nevada foothills, King shared family photos and thoughts on his background and the trial. Both of his parents have since died.

"I look pretty white," said King, whose friends call him Hank. "If you looked at me, you wouldn't know I had black blood in me."

His eyes are blue; his skin is light.

King variously described himself as part black, as having black blood and occasionally as black or mixed-race.

"I don't know if you would say mulatto or what," he said at one point.

In his younger years, he didn't often think about his racial background.

His father, Henry King Sr., had left the family by the time he was in kindergarten. He grew up mostly in Tulare, a small farming community in the San Joaquin Valley.

Once, in elementary school, some other students called him a "n-----," but he didn't understand the term, and his mother never explained what it meant. When his father later remarried his first wife, a black woman, young Henry marveled at what he thought was her deep tan.

The name-callers knew his family, which has a rich history in Tulare. His great-grandparents started King's Cafe there in 1927, according to a local history of African-Americans known as the Edna Wade Project. His grandparents, Arthur and Grace King, later owned the cafe, where Henry sometimes ate as a child before it closed in 1956. Even after his father left, he was raised in a house owned by his grandmother Grace, who took him and his sister on a memorable train trip to Los Angeles, among other outings.

King wasn't close to his father. He wasn't close to his stepfather either, although he went by the man's last name during high school. An uncle on his mother's side was more of a father figure, taking him on hunting and fishing trips.

King always knew his dad had served in the Army during World War II. But it was much later he learned his father, who was stationed in France and drove a supply truck, had served in an all-black unit.

"I didn't know that about my father," King said, "that he was in an all-black, segregated unit. It still gets to me."

Trial takes toll

In 1992, King was living in Santa Paula and working as a senior splicer for Southern California Edison, which required him to work on high-voltage lines atop poles or inside vaults.

He remembers being at work, sitting out in the test shack where he'd evaluate transformers before they went up on poles, when he got a call from jury services. He had received a summons, but they wanted him to report to the courthouse in Simi Valley instead of Ventura.

"I thought, 'Boy, that's different,' " said King, who has served on numerous juries. He didn't know until he got there what it was about.

Like millions of others, he'd seen the videotape of Rodney King's beating on television and thought the police officers were guilty.

The jury questionnaire was more than 40 pages long. King didn't think he'd be chosen. He listed his membership in the National Rifle Association, for one thing, and said positive things about police.

He doesn't remember answering information on the questionnaire about race. But at that time, he said, he probably would have simply put white.

Although some potential jurors were grilled by lawyers, King remembers being asked only a few perfunctory questions about whether he'd be fair before he was picked.

The long trial ? about a month of testimony and a week of sequestration during deliberations ? took a tremendous emotional toll on some jurors. Afterward, many reported getting hate mail and death threats. The then-Star-Free Press was highly criticized at the time for publishing the names of the jurors. A few weeks later, one Ojai juror told The New York Times her life was "beyond hell."

At least four of the 12 jurors have died, records show. Of those, two whose families placed obituaries in The Star didn't mention their jury service on the historic trial. Other jurors recently declined to share their stories with The Star. Not all could be located.

The riots, injuries and deaths that followed the verdict still bother King.

"That's pretty tough, even though you thought you did the right thing," he said.

After the Simi Valley verdict, Henry and his wife, Muriel ? the two have been married 37 years ? immediately left town for their cabin off State Route 180, the main road from Fresno into Kings Canyon National Park.

The cabin, which they still own, is less than 20 miles from the house where they now live.

Two days later, Muriel's mother died, and she had to return to Ventura County.

Someone else came to stay with Henry ? his father.

"I thought that was pretty nice," King said, adding: "My dad never said anything about the verdict."
Photos by Nathan Solis/Record Searchlight

Jeff Swain and his son, Ryan, watch a helicopter land at Benton Airpark in Redding on Sunday where fathers and sons gathered for Aviation Day.

SHARE Callum Hovet, center, sits in the pilot's seat of a California Highway Patrol helicopter at Benton Airpark on Sunday during Aviation day. Jayson Addcox, and his daughter Isla watch a plane land with Andrew Contreras and his son Jayden at Benton Airpark. Darby OConnor took a tour of Redding from the air on Sunday at Benton Airpark. Aircraft and classic cars were on display Sunday at Aviation Day at Benton Airpark in Redding.

By Nathan Solis of the Redding Record Searchlight

The morning sky was dotted with aircraft as Benton Airpark hosted Aviation Day on Sunday. Several hundred guests watched helicopters and airplanes take off from the airport in west Redding, a tradition that shares the spotlight with Father's Day and a large breakfast.

But before anyone would go in the air there were hundreds of pancakes to serve.

The Experimental Aircraft Association and the Mount Shasta Chapter of the 99s International Organization of Women Pilots host their annual pancake breakfast out of the hangar at the airpark.

Organizer Julie Ostendorf was surrounded by griddles of bubbling batter while she explained the fundraising aspect of the breakfast.

"We provide a scholarship for flight training to a female student pilot. We send them to an aviation camp and that's where some of the money raised today goes," said Ostendorf.

Sunday marked the 31st Annual Pancake Breakfast at Benton Airpark. In previous years they have served 600 people. The aspect of pancakes and Father's Day seem to go together, said organizers and the aviation aspect just makes sense if you're in an airplane hangar.

For a fee some guests got the chance to enjoy Redding from the sky.

On the ground Darby O'Connor, 3, waited her turn to ride in a single-engine airplane. The roar of helicopters and airplanes passing overhead would have made most adults plug their ears, but she was all smiles.

Jennifer O'Connor watched as her boyfriend, Darryl Curtis and her daughter climbed into an airplane. Darby seemed to disappear in her seat as she peered over the compartment ledge, the aviation headset nestled on her head.

"It is going to be the most harrowing 20 minutes of my life," said O'Connor as Curtis and Darby climbed into the air with their pilot in the single-engine airplane. Most passengers who went into the air on Sunday enjoyed familiar landmarks like Keswick Dam and the Sundial Bridge from the sky.

After the single-engine plane landed O'Connor plucked Darby from the seat.

"Did you like taking off or landing better?" O'Connor asked.

Darby paused and calmly said, "Not taking off."

Curtis beamed with a post-flight excitement.

"I feel awesome. It was a great ride, nice and smooth. Well worth the time and money," said Curtis.

On Saturday the airpark hosted a swap meet and car show, but turnout was low. On Sunday the crowds swelled. The crew with Air Shasta, who were giving helicopter rides, said they had flown 15 tours before 10:30 a.m. By 11 a.m. the crew with Benton Air Center, the ones giving airplane rides, had flown over 50 tours.

Jim and Janet Ostrich became the owners of the business Benton Air Center in December. It includes flight training and aircraft maintenance. They call it their post-retirement work and on Sunday Jim gave several dozen flights in a T-34 military aircraft. He continued piloting guests long after the crowds left and his feet never seemed to touch the ground.

Janet looked out the window of the hanger office, remarking on his enthusiasm, "I can see him landing now. It was a wonderful day. It was our first Aviation Day here. We wish we could do something like this twice a year."
Apple CEO Tim Cook had discussed possibilities of manufacturing and retailing in India during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Paving way for iPhone maker Apple to open its own stores India, the government on Monday relaxed FDI norms by giving a three-year exemption from local sourcing to foreign players in single-brand retail and a further five-year relaxation for 'state-of-art' and 'cutting-edge' technology.

Apple has been lobbying hard for the exemption from the mandatory 30 per cent local sourcing on the grounds that its products have such high-end technology and were therefore could not be sourced locally in India.

The US-based technology giant, whose global CEO Tim Cook was recently in India and had discussed possibilities of manufacturing and retailing here during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will have to apply afresh for opening single-brand retail stores here as per the new guidelines.

Announcing a slew of FDI reforms, the government today said, "It has now been decided to relax local sourcing norms up to three years and a relaxed sourcing regime for another five years for entities undertaking single brand retail trading of products having 'state-of-art and 'cutting edge' technology."

The relaxation is expected to help Apple, which also makes iPads, Mac computers and iPod music players, as it would be able to get the relaxation for up to 8 years if its products are accepted by the government to have such high-end technology.

Besides Apple, which is said to have been seeking a blanket exemption and not for three or five years, several other foreign retailers may also benefit from the relaxation.

The existing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy has a provision under which the government could relax sourcing norms for entities undertaking single brand retail trading of products having such top-end technology and where local sourcing is not possible.

The decision to relax the norms was taken at a high level meeting chaired by Modi today.

Earlier, Apple had submitted an application seeking exemption to open single-brand retail stores, after which a DIPP Secretary-headed panel recommended that the company could be considered for the relaxation, but the Finance Ministry rejected the suggestion.

When asked whether Apple Inc will have to apply afresh, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitahraman said: "With this policy coming out now, I would presume, obviously (they will have to)".

Replying to a similar question, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) Secretary Ramesh Abhishek said the company would be informed about the changes.

"We will inform Apple Inc to indicate whether they would like to avail the new provisions," he said.

Earlier, Apple had filed its proposal seeking permission for single brand retailing and sell its products online.

At present, 100 per cent FDI is permitted in single brand retail, but FIPB permission is required beyond 49 per cent.

Apple sells its products through Apple-owned retail stores in several countries, including China, Germany, the US, the UK and France.

But, it has no wholly-owned store in India and sells its products here through distributors such as Redington and Ingram Micro.
Government will start to auction the rights to up to 70 diamond and gold exploration zones to mining companies this year

India is seeking the participation of Rio Tinto and Anglo American's De Beers to explore for diamonds and gold, part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambition to make the country a major mineral producer, the mines secretary said.

Balvinder Kumar told Reuters on Monday that the Indian government will start to auction the rights to up to 70 diamond and gold exploration zones to mining companies this year.

India stopped producing diamonds years ago and produces only a small amount of gold, although it is the world's second-biggest consumer of the yellow metal. Modi wants to revive the sector, with most of the exploration and production conducted by the private sector.

The blocks that will go on sale are among 100 mineral zones identified by the state-run Geological Survey of India following an aerogeophysical assessment.

"We need resources to expand our mineral wealth and that's why we want private companies to carry out exploration of deep-seated minerals," Kumar said in an interview. "So far we haven't been able to do detailed exploration, but this proposal is a win-win for all."

However, he said diamond producer De Beers and Rio Tinto, which has already discovered a cluster of eight "diamondiferous pipes" in central India, have been cold to the latest exploration idea, citing high risks of failure.

To allay those concerns, Kumar said the government will reimburse companies' exploration costs if their blocks do not throw up commercially viable mineral reserves.

The blocks, which each cover over 100 square kilometres, are located in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan among others, Kumar said, adding it was difficult to estimate reserves without detailed exploration.

Companies that win the exploration rights will be able to transfer those rights to another party within three years if they wish, and the rights will then be auctioned again for actual mining.

The exploration company will get a percentage of sales as royalty for 50 years from the company that wins the mining rights, if it does not participate or loses out.

It will be the first time India has allowed private companies to just explore for minerals, with the mining rights auctioned separately.

State-run SBI Caps is advising the mines ministry on the proposal, which is expected to be cleared by Modi's cabinet ahead of a two-day government mining conclave in the eastern state of Chhattisgarh that begins on July 4, Kumar said.

De Beers said it continued to engage with the mines ministry but had no current plans to resume any exploration in India.

"There has been no change to the current situation since our exploration activity there closed in December 2015, with no prospecting activity planned for the foreseeable future," De Beers' spokeswoman Lynette Gould said in an email.

Rio Tinto's India head, Nik Senapati, did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment.

India, which produced the Koh-i-Noor Diamond that is now in Britain, is a diamond polishing hub, polishing 14 out of every 15 rough diamonds in the world.
The judiciary has started going beyond the technicalities of the agreements and awarding compensation to buyers.

Recently, courts have ignored agreements between developers and purchasers, and awarded compensation to the latter.

The buyer-builder relationship has always been in favour of the latter.



From booking of property to possession, builders had an upper hand because of one-sided agreements.



For example, before giving possession, developers make buyers sign a document that states flat owners have inspected everything and the house is delivered according to the agreed specifications.



This leaves little scope for buyers to challenge discrepancies in the court.

This seems to be changing. The judiciary has started going beyond the technicalities of the agreements and awarding compensation to buyers.



Courts realise the buyer is made to sign such documents. In some cases judges have rejected one-sided agreements, these citing them as unfair trade practices, says Hitesh Jain, senior partner at ALMT Legal.

In a recent case, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) asked a real estate major to pay buyers compensation at the rate of 12 per cent a year for delay in delivery of flats, overruling the builder-buyer agreement that had set the rate at a mere 1.8 per cent a year. NCDRC said any unfair trade practice can be challenged by it, even if there is a prior agreement between the parties.

The best part is that if the apex consumer court, NCDRC, passes such an order, its binding on the lower courts, says Shirish Deshpande, chairman of Mumbai Grahak Panchayat.

Earlier, whatever was written in the builder-buyer agreement was held sacrosanct. Courts generally did not intervene in these agreements, since they were signed by two consenting adults. But, since buyers dragged DLF to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), things changed, says Sanjay Sharma, managing director, Qubrex Realty. CCI found DLF the dominant party in the agreement.

So, the terms and conditions of the agreement were not held as sacrosanct.

Consumer courts started using this line of thought and applied it more widely in builder-buyer cases.

Litigation on the rise

Such orders are increasingly motivating property buyers to approach the courts. Swapnil Vaghambre another flat buyer, Amul Gurav, led 54 others to file a consumer case against Saaga Infra Projects.

We went to the police, too. But, it was cumbersome, so we resorted to the judiciary, says Vaghambre.

These buyers had booked a flat at Saaga Infras Malad East project, paying 30 per cent (between Rs 13 lakh and Rs 20 lakh) as the token amount in 2013.

For two years, work didnt commence. The developer kept saying he was waiting for approvals. When these buyers cancelled their bookings in 2015, the developer didnt return the money.

The number of housing-related cases is on the rise in consumer courts.

Its not only because consumer awareness is on the rise but also as cases of delays, defaults and cheating by developers are increasing, says Deshpande.

In past six months, since January, 2,041 cases have been filed for housing-related issues with NCDRC.

This is close to the number of complaints it received in 2015. There were 2,495 housing-related cases in the past calendar year, 1,063 in 2014 and a mere 104 in 2013, according to government data.

Insurance-related complaints always topped the charts at NCDRC. Since last year, housing-related complaints have jumped exponentially, displacing insurance from the top spot.

Problem areas

Developer-buyer issues could only get worse if one looks at the number of unsold units.

According to data from property research firm Liases Foras, unsold stock grew 22 per cent in Indias eight big cities compared to last year.



With the growth in unsold stock outpacing growth in sales, inventory across eight major cities stands at a whopping 42 months, a rise of 13 per cent in one year, according to a recent Liases Foras report on the residential real estate market.



An efficient market maintains eight to 12 months of inventory.

Developers have been grappling with slow sales and rising inventory since 2008, after the global financial crisis.



Things are getting worse every year, as buyers stay away and regulations become stringent. Construction delay is most common grouse that buyers have.



In courts, developers usually put the blame on the myriad approvals they to obtain from state and central agencies and ministries. Anuj Puri, chairman and country head, JLL India, says while all this is true theres another side to the picture.



Many developers have in the past intentionally undertaken a slower pace of construction if sales in their project were sluggish or a larger part of the project remained unsold. They might have diverted a sizeable chunk of the revenue generated from pre-launch sales to another project, or utilised it to pay off a pressing bank debt, says Puri.

Other cases that are filed are for poor-quality construction and deviations.



A change in the apartment area after buying from the developer can occur if a change in project plan is necessitated due to a design or approval issue. A deviation of up to 10 per cent is usually acceptable - for a higher deviation, a customer must definitely seek legal recourse, says Puri. He also points that there are times when deviations can also happen due to abrupt changes in regulations.

Then, there are cases where developers promise the moon to the buyer but on delivery, the consumer realises the builder has cut corners. When a developer is in a hurry to sell, mis-selling is bound to happen, says Sunil Rohokale, Managing Director, ASK Group.

Real estate regulator

Experts believe once the states implement the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) or Act, things will change further in favour of the consumer.



This Act addresses most of the issues consumers face today. Once implemented, only those developers who can play by the rules will survive, says Rohokale.



It becomes mandatory for developers to register their projects and they must disclose accurate information it - about the status of land acquisition and statutory approvals, layout plan, etc.



The buyer will get what is promised. It also mandates that 70 per cent of the money raised from sales in a project will have to be put in an escrow account, so that the money is not diverted.



This could stop delays and if these still happen, the penalties are not lopsided. It will also reduce the one-sided agreements developers opt for.



The Act maintains a balance between buyers as well as developers requirements, to create a level-playing field, says Rohokale.

With a sensitive judiciary and the years of malpractices that prevailed in the property market could finally diminish but experts say this will happen only gradually.

RECENT JUDGMENTS GIVE HOPE

Our association members had booked flats in a Gurgaon project that was launched in 2010. Even before getting a licence from the local authority to operate, the developer advertised the project and took bookings, which is illegal.

In 2013, the developer asked buyers to pay extra, as he was increasing the flat size. Five of us told him to give us possession first and we will pay more if his claims turn out to be true. He cancelled our allotments. Of the Rs 50 lakh paid to him, he offered to return only half. We refused.

Finally, some buyers got together and formed Universal Aura Welfare Association. More individual joined us and there are around 100 members now.

In 2014, we went to the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. Since then, there has been no construction activity at the site.

We have spent more than Rs 10 lakh fighting the case, in addition to paying EMIs on home loan.



Our next court date is in January 2017, almost three years after we filed the case. Until now we were fighting in the court to get our case admitted.



The recent judgements have given us hope, although our court experience has not been good until now.

Naveen Arora

General Secretary, Universal Aura Welfare Association
25 years on, we see how these actors have fared.

1991.

The year Sanjay Dutt hit big league with blockbusters like Sadak and Saajan.

The year Amitabh Bachchans lippy request to Jumma in Hum caught the fancy of the entire nation.

The year Anil Kapoor raised eyebrows by falling for both a mother and her daughter in Lamhe.

And the year more than a dozen newcomers made their debut on silver screen.

On the 25th anniversary of these events, we look back at the class of 1991 and how theyve fared since.



Akshay Kumar

IMAGE: Akshay Kumar in Saugandh

From doing menial jobs in a Bangkok restaurant to Bollywood A-lister, Akshay Kumars success story has inspiring written all over it. When he first appeared onscreen in the forgettable Saugandh, he was instantly dismissed as wooden.

Nonetheless, his good looks and karate expertise fetched him work in B-grade fare until he scored a hit in Khiladi. Fortune and the title stuck to him for good.

Over the years and several money-spinners, AK has created a fan base outside the action genre through fizzy comedies and hard-hitting drama as well as broadened his horizons as producer.



Karisma Kapoor

IMAGE: Karisma Kapoor in Prem Qaidi

When the blue-eyed Karisma made her entry in movies, it was a big deal because of the Kapoor surname.

Still the teenager ignored the criticism following her at every single step, everything from her choice of debut in Prem Qaidi to bushy eyebrows to swimsuit spectacle became the butt of ridicule, and stayed focused on her work.

Despite her incredible success ratio and superhit pairing with Govinda, it wasnt until her reinvention in Raja Hindustani that Karisma would be recognized as the chip of the old block.

In 2003, she retired from films to marry Delhi-based businessman Sanjay Kapoor and raise two kids, Samaira and Kiaan Raj.

A failed comeback (Dangerous Ishhq) and impending divorce later, Karisma continues to be in public eye for her various endorsements.



Raveena Tandon

IMAGE: Raveena Tandon in Patthar Ke Phool

One of the most stunning faces to hit the screen in the 1990s, Raveena Tandon won over the audience with her natural style and masti. The hoop earrings she wore in her first film Patthar Ke Phool became hugely popular.

Too bad the movie flopped despite the presence of Maine Pyar Kiya heartthrob Salman Khan, as did most of her subsequent movies branding her a jinx.

Breakthrough came in the form of hits like Dilwale and Mohra. The mast mast girl never looked back even if it was her romance with co-star Akshay Kumar that got more attention.

After they broke up, Raveena got her act together in the trendsetting item song appearance, Shaher Ki Ladki.

The actress graduated to serious roles in films like Satta and Daman, the latter even fetching her the coveted National Award before tying the knot to distributor Anil Thadani in a fairy tale ceremony.

When not dabbling in television as jury or chat host, the hands-on mommy is not averse to doing a movie role provided theyre a little more lengthier than her blink-and-miss appearance in Bombay Velvet.



Ajay Devgn

IMAGE: Ajay Devgn in Phool Aur Kaante

One look at his daredevil introduction in Phool Aur Kaante, balancing his feet above two racing bikes, was solid enough indication of things to come.

Action director Veeru Devgans son, Vishal -- rechristened as Ajay -- made a mark in dangerous stunts but his intensity underscored his histrionic capabilities time and again.

Devgns achievements include two National awards for a body of work high on persuasive portrayals in films like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, Zakhm, Company, Omkara, Gangaajal and Lajja.

Not to mention a flurry of hit Rohit Shetty comedies representing Devgns lighter side.

Right now we are most keen to see his ambitious second attempt at direction: Shivaay.



Manisha Koirala

IMAGE: Manisha Koirala in Saudagar

Subhash Ghais discovery Manisha Koirala made everyone sit up and take notice of her exquisite beauty and delicate screen presence in Saudagar, a film devoted to Dilip Kumar and Raaj Kumars dramatic conflict.

While her colleagues looked content doing ornamental parts, the Nepali beautys fame spread with every author-backed role she signed up for -- 1942: A Love Story, Khamoshi, Bombay, Dil Se... and Agnisakshi.

A failed marriage to Nepali businessman Samrat Dahal and battle with cancer didnt break this survivor who continues to inspire through her humanitarian work and grace.

The 45-year-old is currently working on a movie called Dear Maya.

Urmila Matondkar

IMAGE: Urmila Matondkar in Narsimha

An early starter, Urmila Matondkar endeared as the little darling in Kalyug and Masoom. Her child actor innings extended to her teen years in bits and parts before making an adult debut as a full-fledged heroine in N Chandras Narsimha.

Of course, it was her sizzling makeover in Ram Gopal Varmas Rangeela that did the trick and inspired scores of wannabe starlets to follow suit.

Urmilas glamorous run continued for a while even as she explored her potential in darker, grittier roles. The actress recently tied the knot to model-cum-businessman Mohsin Akhtar Mir.



Pooja Bedi

IMAGE: Pooja Bedi in Vishkanya

At a time when being unapologetic about ones sex appeal was unheard of, Pooja Bedis bindaas attitude shocked most.

Also, unlike most other star betis, things did not exactly fall in actor Kabir Bedis daughters lap. Instead, she made a shoddy debut in the sleazy Vishkanya.

Nothing really concrete came her way even after a decent turn as the gold-digging campus hottie of Aamir Khan starrer, Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikander.

Bedis candour and charisma found its true calling as a chat show host and columnist.



The Others

They may not have famous surnames or made it as big as the ones mentioned before but the class of 1991 wouldnt be complete without their mention.

Deepak Malhotra

IMAGE: Deepak Malhotra in Lamhe

Model-turned-actor Deepak Malhotra could never recover from the Pallo jokes and moved to USA with the new name Dino Martelli.





Ayesha Jhulka

IMAGE: Ayesha Jhulka and Salman Khan in Kurbaan

Ayesha Jhulka showed promise in Khiladi and Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar before retiring from movies to marry and run a spa salon.



Vivek Mushran

IMAGE: Vivek Mushran in Saudagar

Vivek Mushrans slumping movie career found a respite on small screen. He was recently seen as Ranbir Kapoors fussy boss in Tamasha.



Sheeba

IMAGE: Sheeba in Yeh Aag Kab Bujhegi

Sunil Dutt's discovery Sheeba romanced Salman Khan and Rahul Roy on screen for films no one watched. She plays villainous women on television now.





Ravi Bahl

IMAGE: Ravi Bahl in Narsimha

Television is where Ravi Bahl found reasons to Boogie Woogie when efforts as leading man didnt work out.



Zeba

IMAGE: Zeba in Henna

Though launched by the prestigious RK banner in Heena, Pakistani actress Zeba failed to create ripples in Bollywood and went back to her country where she fared much better on both the big and small screen.



Ashvini Bhave

IMAGE: Ashvini Bhave in Henna

While most of them were rank newcomers at the time of their debut, others like Ashwini Bhave and Revathy had done a fair share of Marathi and Malayalam (and Tamil) cinema respectively before they entering Bollywood.



Revathy

IMAGE: Revathy in Love

Bhave settled down in San Francisco post-marriage but visits India annually to act in a Marathi film whereas Revathy has graduated to directing films or playing character roles.
The latest updates from the Telugu film industry.

Sharwanand, who has done films which are hatke from the mainstream cinema like Gamyam, Prasthanam and Amma Cheppindi, has started working on his 25th film wherein he will play a police officer.

Debutante Chandramohan, protege of director Karunakaran, is directing the yet-untitled film.

The film's cast, including lead actress Lavanya Tripathi, has already wrapped up the first schedule.



BVSN Prasad, who is producing this film, said that Sharwa has not appeared in a role like this before and that this film will appeal to all sections of the audience.

Karthik Ghattameneni is the cinematographer.

***

A new star is born

The Telugu film Gentleman opened to good reviews and revenues on Friday. In fact, the revenue is the highest in Nani's career.

The film carried a good buzz even before its release, thanks to the fact that Nani reunites with Mohanakrishna after their 2008 hit collaboration inAshta Chamma.

But there is someone else who is being talked about since the films release: Nivedha Thomas, one of its heroines. Thomas hails from Kerala and makes her debut in the Telugu industry with Gentleman.

Everyone has been praising her beauty and acting talent, and she is even being compared to Nithya Menen, also from Kerala.

Well, Nivedha has already picked up Telugu and she will surely be flooded with offers in the near future.

***

Vaisakham, the first Telugu film to be shot in Kazakhstan

Director B Jaya is back with her new film Vaisakham, starring debutante actor Hari and Avantika Mishra, who acted in Neelakanthas Maaya.

Jaya is known for her orchestration of songs onscreen and its picturesque locales.

For Vaisakham, Jaya chose Kazakhstan to shoot two songs. This is the first Telugu film to be shot in the country.

Shot under challenging conditions of sub-zero temperatures and language barriers, the budget of Vaisakham has been enhanced to make a good product which also includes usage of robotics!

Valisetty Venkata Subbarao has captured the beauty of Kazakhstan on camera while DJ Vasanth has composed the music.
Did we miss the DeepState's Brazil Model in action in India in 2004 and 2009, asks Rajeev Srinivasan.

IMAGE: Brazil's then President Dilma Rousseff with Prime Minister Narendra Modi before the BRICS summit in Fortaleza, Brazil, July 15, 2014.

Rajeev Srinivasan suggests that Roussef was subjected to forced regime change in Brazil. And so it happened, he says -- Roussef was suspended pending impeachment, and was replaced by Michel Temer. Photograph: Nacho Doce/Reuters

A short while ago I speculated (external link) that BRICS was dead, and that it was not accidental. I further suggested that the #DeepState was behind this, and predicted that it wouldn't be long before Dilma Roussef was subjected to forced regime change in Brazil. And so it happened -- Roussef was suspended pending impeachment, and was replaced by Michel Temer.

Michel Temer proceeded to create a cabinet that consisted entirely of white males (in a heavily multi-ethnic nation). Perhaps more interestingly, WikiLeaks claims in two tweets (here and here) (external links) that he was an informant to the American embassy while being a high official. Thus, there's at least circumstantial evidence that #DeepState could have been involved in the bloodless coup that got rid of Roussef whom it wasn't too happy with.

I felt vindicated in my suggestion that Brazil would be a dry run for the eviction of Narendra Modi from power that #DeepState may be plotting even as we speak ('atrocity literature', 'rights of Scheduled Castes', 'oppression of Christians', 'womens' rights', even antibiotic resistance are all used as weapons against India).

But on thinking about this further, I am beginning to wonder if I had the sequence wrong: Instead of Dilma Roussef's overthrow being a dry run for the ouster of Modi, perhaps it was the exact opposite. Maybe the overthrow of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2004 was the template for the ouster of Dilma Roussef in 2016.

There are enough parallels: Jaswant Singh alleged publicly that there was a high-level American mole in the UPA government -- that sounds just like Temer being an asset in the Brazilian government. In all probability, Jaswant Singh will take his accusation to the grave with him: Presumably he was terrified into not revealing the name (we can speculate, of course).

But more than that, do cast your mind back to 2004: The BJP government was popular, and seemed to be a shoo-in in the general elections. But, to everyone's surprise, the Congress came to power in the general election.

It sounded too good to be true, and it probably was too good to be true. My new conjecture is that, in fact, the election was stolen, using electronic voting machine fraud.

I have said for a long time that I suspected the 2009 elections were stolen: See my Rediff columns here and here.

In the aftermath of 26/11 and its stunning demonstration of the Congress' incompetence and indifference to national interests, it was astonishing that they won the general election.

At the time, I put forth my thesis that clever EVM fraud had been the main reason. Remote hacking of EVMs via mobile phones was demonstrated (external link) by a team of computer scientists, one of whom got jailed for his pains.

Now there is more circumstantial evidence. Just look at the BJP's vote share in the last few general elections (image, left). The dotted line is the trend line, and based on it 2004 and 2009 certainly look anomalous: A dramatic downturn in the middle of a steady uptick.

What's more, there is the latest poll (external link) by Ananda Bazaar Patrika (no friend of the BJP) and IMRB that suggested that if elections were held today, the NDA coalition would increase its seats from 339 to 342, and its vote share would go from 39% to 46%.

If you assume the BJP would correspondingly go up by 7%, it would rise from 31% to 38%, thus making the trend line go even further north.

If you were to extrapolate from these facts, it appears as though the BJP has been steadily gaining vote share over some years, but for some strange reason, voters didn't like them in 2004 and 2009. That is an odd result.

Why would an electorate that is apparently increasingly happy with the BJP punish them in 2004 and 2009 alone?

By Occam's Razor, the simplest and thus most likely answer is that the electorate didn't defeat the BJP, but malicious foes did.

I have been using the term 'Constitutional coup' to denote what happened in the 'cash for votes' scam, where the Manmohan government survived a confidence vote. But it seems quite likely that 2004 and 2009 were also Constitutional coups that thwarted the will of the people.

EVMs are viewed with suspicion in many parts of the world, and rightfully so. Germans ruled them unconstitutional; California banned them. As someone who worked on US department of defence orange book security, and in Unix internals, I can tell you that most software systems are of dubious integrity, with huge exploitable holes.

I hear there are now some provably correct operating system kernels for which in fact correctness proofs have been generated. But that is a long way from the unvetted, unverified, obscure code in the real-time kernels of the EVMs.

Incidentally, the chief election commissioner in 2009 was a handpicked friend of the Congress and the Nehru dynasty. His confidential report after the 1975 Emergency had said that he should not ever be entrusted with any job of any importance. Intriguing that he was chosen to be CEC. The fact that the Election Commission steadfastly stonewalled all efforts to get the source code of the EVMs, and instead kept on reassuring everyone that they were safe, is itself suspicious.

Why weren't EVMs hacked in 2014 or later? That might be the question uppermost in your mind. Well, enough noise was made by various people including Subramanian Swamy that the courts started taking an active interest in them, and beginning to demand Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPAT), which have printed receipts.

Besides, after the loot of 10 long years from 2004 to 2014, the writing on the wall was evident even to the Congress, and it would have taken too many EVMs being hacked -- thus increasing the likelihood of someone spilling the beans -- to do the trick again.

How many EVMs do you need to hack, anyway? Or do you need to hack any at all? There was a startling, and never explained observation by Monu Nalapat. He apparently found on the EC website the final results in some constituencies before counting began. That could mean that instead of counting the votes from the individual EVMs and tallying them on a server, the opposite was happening: The server was fed pre-determined data, and it wasn't actually collecting anything from the individual EVMs. That would be diabolically clever, but it simply wouldn't work if there were printed receipts.

IMAGE: Atal Bihari Vajpayee greets his successor Dr Manmohan Singh.

In any case, there would have been no need to hack every EVM, just a few in well-chosen constituencies, maybe as few as 1% of the total. Thus, only a few key conspirators needed to be in on the scam.

An experiment shows that you can follow a simple rule -- illegally divert every third vote to your candidate of choice -- and lo, your candidate, who would have failed in reality, wins by a modest margin: And the entire scam is undetectable. And the Trojan Horse malware can be programmed to self-destruct after use.

Besides, you can do this remotely by triggering the Trojan Horse with your cellphone: Most of this was demonstrated by an Election Commission EVM acquired by stealth.

And who had the means, and the motive, to do all this hanky-panky? Of course, it's the Congress, aided and abetted by good old #DeepState. It seems plausible they stole the elections in both 2004 and 2009.

The #DeepState has long arms and great reach. It is possible that it colluded with the Congress to steal the elections in 2004 and 2009, and thus put India at least 10 years behind in its quest to become a globally important power while the UPA looted it wholesale.
IMAGE: Prime Minister Modi and President Obama make their points as Foreign Secretary Subrahmanyam Jaishankar takes notes, June 7, 2016. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

'We are witnessing a spectacle of breathtakingly creative diplomacy at work, riveted on the firm foundations of the country's strategic autonomy,' says Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.

Indian diplomacy is on a roll. And it is indeed a wonderful sight to see.

Can it be that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is, finally, applying himself to a restructuring of India's foreign policies to take them away from the rut of a US-centric trajectory? For sure, that is a tantalising thought.

It certainly needed audacity on the part of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to assert at her press conference in New Delhi on Sunday that India's commitment to a non-aligned foreign policy -- 'strategic autonomy' as the post-Cold War idiom calls it -- is unwavering.

Consider the following: The prime minister's first act after the recent visit to the United States (which had a measly outcome except by way of political theatre) was to put a call through to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Modi's initiative was both symbolic and substantive.

The symbolism that Indian diplomacy has a mind of its own could not have been lost on even incorrigibly dogmatic critics of the present government's foreign policies, who chastise Modi as a man possessed, tying India to the American stables.

The PM's phone call to Putin was substantive insofar as he exchanged notes with the Russian leader on an upcoming event of momentous importance to our foreign policy and diplomacy, namely, India's membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

Besides, the PM invoked the 'privileged strategic partnership' between the two countries and sought Putin's intervention with China over the issue of India's membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Putin has since disclosed in the weekend that Moscow has been in touch with Beijing on the NSG issue.

The PM followed up by directing Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar to pay an unscheduled visit to Beijing on June 16-17 with a broad spectrum brief to discuss Sino-India ties and to dwell upon the NSG issue in particular -- and, all this against the backdrop of the meeting between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Tashkent later this week on the sidelines of the SCO summit meeting on June 23-24.

From Swaraj's press conference, it is obvious that Jaishankar brought back good tidings from Beijing regarding the NSG issue.

Swaraj exuded optimism that a favorable outcome on India's bid for NSG membership can be within the realms of possibility at the group's forthcoming plenary in Seoul on June 23.

Suffice it to say, we are witnessing a spectacle of breathtakingly creative diplomacy at work, riveted on the firm foundations of the country's 'strategic autonomy.'

Broadly speaking, this is perhaps the first time in a very long while that a creative attempt has been made to 'redefine', 're-interpret', 'restructure', 'reset', or 'adapt' -- call it what you will -- India's non-alignment to the needs and imperatives of the post-Cold War era.

The point is India needs strong relationships alike with the US, Russia and China -- the three major poles in contemporary world politics -- and our diplomacy must aim for a much higher game plan than mere 'hedging' between and amongst the big three powers.

'Hedging' as a foreign policy doctrine came naturally to the timid Manmohan Singh-Montek Ahluwalia-Shivshankar Menon troika that steered foreign policies during the United Progressive Alliance rule, but in reality it was symptomatic of an abysmal vacuity of new thinking in a phenomenally transformative international milieu.

The troika simply could not comprehend that Indian policies didn't have to be burdened with their 'unipolar predicament.'

In plain terms, it is not in India's interests to bandwagon with the US' rebalance in Asia, or to atrophy the profoundly meaningful strategic understanding with Russia for the sake of experimenting with an 'alliance' with the US, or to dilute the prioritisation of building up a relationship of trust and mutual confidence -- and mutual benefit -- with China based on the commonality of medium and long term interests as two emerging powers with similar national aspirations.

Modi understands this -- probably, he understood it all along, but was testing the waters so far.

Hopefully, two years down the road as prime minister, he is now in better command to push his imprimatur on foreign policies.

That, at least, is what one can make out of Swaraj's wide-ranging remarks. Importantly, Swaraj implied two things:

India sees China as a partner and not an opponent or rival;

Modi intends to work on normalisation with Pakistan.

Of course, while saying so, Swaraj was every bit aware that in a very near future, India is going to sit under the SCO canopy with both China and Pakistan (and Russia.)

Paradoxically, the NSG issue has become a sensational context and a defining moment for Indian diplomacy to rework the strategic compass.

Swaraj openly acknowledged China's principled position on the NSG expansion, and, in turn, held out the assurance that India will not have a zero sum mindset as regards Pakistan's membership of the NSG.

Quite obviously, a formidable intellectual challenge lies ahead still in connecting the dots, and, in particular, harnessing the SCO membership to accelerate a normalisation process with China and Pakistan.

The challenge arises from multiple sources.

Clearly, the US will not easily accept a non-aligned India. Being a 'swing State', India's allegiances and plaint attitudes could prove to be a force multiplier for the US' rebalance in Asia, and would indirectly strengthen Washington's containment strategies against Russia and China.

The establishment of the New Delhi branches of Carnegie and Brookings point toward a sustained American attempt on the anvil to dominate the strategic discourses in our country.

On the other hand, the US cannot but appreciate that the 'defining partnership' with India is truly unique insofar as it not only doesn't cost America anything, but is 'self-financing' and ';cost-accounting.'

Put differently, the US is determined to capture the Indian market for both civilian and military exports.

Above all, Asian solidarity is a spectre that haunts the US, as it desperately tries to retain its role as the pre-eminent power in the region.

Indeed, a Russian-Indian-Chinese entente becomes the worst-case scenario. (Western analysts have dubbed SCO as the 'NATO of Asia.)

Without doubt, therefore, the US will pool efforts or try to manipulate various interest groups in India (and in the Indian Diaspora in North America), which for reasons of nationalistic ideology or self-seeking pursuits or sheer comprador mentality and intellectual mendacity, may try to impede Modi's efforts to normalise the ties with Pakistan and China.

To be sure, a keen tussle can be expected in the months ahead on the policy front.

Indeed, with a no-holds-barred election in 2019 looming ahead, there is going to be immense pressure to redeem the pledges in the development agenda. Modi cannot but appreciate that trade and investment with China can make all the difference to his development agenda.

Simply put, Modi's dream of 'India First' can be fulfilled only if the country's external environment remains peaceful.

The good thing is that with the hindsight of experience in diplomacy, Modi holds the levers of power much more confidently than in 2014 when he tried to force the pace of relations with China and Pakistan in the early months of his prime ministership and had to retreat hastily at the sight of the ferocious backlash from the entrenched opponents.

Today, he'd know how to silence the detractor and the frondeur, while the caravan sets rolling.

Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar is one of India's most original thinkers on diplomatic issues.
'The onus is now on China to explain to the world why it feels Pakistan should accompany India on the question of NSG membership!!'

'China's not so covert help for Pakistan's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes will stand exposed,' says Ambassador G Parthasarathy.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Barack Obama in the Oval Office, June 7, 2016.

Modi thanked Obama for extending support to India's membership in the Missile Technology Control Regime and the Nuclear Suppliers Group. Photograph: PTI Photo

When Prime Minister Indira Gandhi carried out what she called a 'peaceful nuclear explosion' in May 1974, the reaction of the world was swift and decisive.

Very few countries took our protestations of the 'explosion' being 'peaceful,' seriously. Pakistan, which had decided in January 1972, immediately after the Bangladesh conflict, to make nuclear weapons to counter Indian conventional military superiority, accelerated its efforts to go nuclear.

China's Chairman Mao Xedong assured Pakistan Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1976 of full-fledged Chinese assistance to fulfill his nuclear ambitions. Chinese assistance to Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme has continued relentlessly over the past four decades.

The designs of Pakistani nuclear weapons have been provided by China along with assistance to strengthen Pakistan's capabilities for the production of weapons grade uranium and plutonium.

India's 1974 nuclear test also had other implications. There was a significant economic cost India had to pay for its 'peaceful nuclear explosion.'

The United States unilaterally cut off supply of enriched uranium fuel for the 420 MW Tarapur Nuclear Power Plant. More importantly, a Nuclear Suppliers Group, which today has 48 members, was formed to end all nuclear supplies and cooperation with countries like India, which had not signed the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and accepted International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards on all its nuclear establishments.

India was the country that was hard hit most strongly by the NSG's formation. It lost access to imported uranium ore even for its nuclear power plants and research reactors.

The NSG's stringent sanctions seriously impeded the development of India's nuclear power programme and even its nuclear research. It was only after the May 1998 nuclear tests and the failure of Western sanctions imposed on India that the George W Bush administration moved decisively to end sanctions.

In July 2006, the United States Congress amended US law to accommodate nuclear trade with India. In 2008 the Bush administration approached the NSG to get all its members to end sanctions. After prolonged negotiations, extending over two rounds, the NSG finally ended sanctions on September 6, 2008.

India, in turn, agreed to detailed provisions to separate its civilian and military programmes, to work for the conclusion of a comprehensive fissile material control treaty, to work for export controls on missile and nuclear technologies and observe its moratorium on testing nuclear weapons.

But India still remained to be accepted as a member of groups like the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

But for President Bush's personal intervention with world leaders like China's then President Hu Jintao, the NSG would not have ended sanctions imposed on India.

Major industrial powers like Russia, Japan, the UK, Germany, Canada and France supported the American effort. It was this process that has led to India getting cooperation from countries across the world including the US, Russia, France and Canada to develop its nuclear power programme, together with supplies of uranium ore to run its growing number of nuclear power reactors.

Despite these developments, India is still not a member of the NSG. And the opposition to its membership of the NSG comes from China, encouraged and provoked by its 'all weather friend' Pakistan.

India has the support of all major powers including the US, Russia, France, Germany, Canada and Japan to being admitted as a member of the NSG. But China is leading the charge against it being made a member unless Pakistan is treated similarly.

China knows fully well that given Pakistan's clandestine supply of nuclear weapons technology and designs to Iran, Libya and North Korea it stands very little chance of being admitted to the NSG and treated on par with India for the present.

These issues are set to figure prominently at the NSG's meeting in Seoul on Friday, June 24. Quite obviously, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar's June 16-17 visit to Beijing was to explore the possibility of getting China to end its objections to India's membership of the NSG, by hinting that India would have no objections to Pakistan being accorded NSG membership.

This puts the onus on Pakistan to meet the stringent conditions set by the NSG. There are a number of NSG conditions that Pakistan will be unable to agree to. The most important condition is to sign a Fissile Material Control Treaty and end the production of all fissile material for use in nuclear weapons.

Even if Pakistan agrees to this, it would have to end distrust of its propensity to pass on nuclear weapons technology to Islamic countries and North Korea, as it has done in the past.

It is in this context that one has to understand why External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj asserted that she did not think that China was opposed to India joining the NSG and that India was not opposed to Pakistan's membership of the NSG.

The onus is now on China to explain to the world why it feels Pakistan should accompany India on the question of NSG membership!! China's not so covert help for Pakistan's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes will stand exposed.

India would, after all, have no objection to meeting the NSG's conditions to become a member. It would be for China to explain to the world why it supports the nuclear ambitions of its 'all weather friend' and ally, Pakistan.

These issues will not necessarily be sorted out at the NSG's Seoul meeting, but Beijing will learn that it will have to pay the price of having its credibility eroded if it continues to equate Pakistan with India on issues like nuclear proliferation.

G Parthasarathy, a former high commissioner to Pakistan, is one of India's most outspoken commentators on foreign affairs and security issues.
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad has arrested an alleged Students Islamic Movement of India operative, who was wanted in the 2008 serial bomb blasts in the city, from Belgam in Karnataka.

On a specific tip off, ATS officials nabbed one Nasir Rangrez, 38, an auto rickshaw driver, from his residence at Khade Bazar road in Belgam on Sunday and brought him in Ahmedabad on Monday morning, ATS said in a statement.

According to officials who nabbed him, Rangrez was part of a larger conspiracy, hatched by terror outfits Indian Mujahideen and SIMI, to spread terror in Gujarat to avenge the killings of Muslims during post-Godhra riots.

"Before carrying out the blasts in the city, Rangrez along with many other accused associated with SIMI and IM recruited Muslim men to take revenge of riots and provided them training at Pavagadh in Gujarat, Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh and Waghamon in Kerala," the statement said.

"Rangrez, a member of SIMI, was actively involved in providing training to youths in the terror camp of Waghamon. During these training sessions, these accused hatched the conspiracy to carry out blasts in Ahmedabad. These accused were led by IM founders Safdar Nagori and Yasin Bhatkal," it said.

According to ATS sub inspector C R Jadav, Rangrez never came to Ahmedabad to plant the bombs.

"Rangrez is a native of Belgam and part of the larger conspiracy of inciting Muslim youths by showing them videos of post-Godhra riots. He along with Nagori, Bhatkal and many other IM and SIMI men hatched the conspiracy during their camp in Waghamon ahead of 2008 serial blasts," said Jadav, who was part of the team which nabbed Rangrez.

Within span of 70 minutes, as many as 20 bomb blasts rocked different parts of the city on July 26, 2008, killing 56 persons and injuring more than 200. Terror outfit Indian Mujahideen had taken responsibility for the blasts at that time, the statement added.

Image for representational purposes only
Bihar School Examination Board ex-chairman Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh, the alleged mastermind of the toppers scam in the Bihar intermediate examination, and his former Janata Dal-United MLA wife Usha Sinha were on Monday arrested from Varanasi, a senior police officer said.

The Economic Offence Unit of the Bihar police will probe the money trail and their assets, the police said on Monday.The state government has set up the EOU as a separate branch to deal with the cases of economic offences.

"Lalkeshwar Singh and his wife Usha Sinha have been arrested from Varanasi", Senior Superintendent of Police of Patna, Manu Maharaj said.

Their arrest by the Special Investigation Team was made following a tip off about their presence in the temple city of neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, the SSP, who is heading the SIT on toppers' merit muddle, said.

He said further details would be provided later on.

Lalkeshwar Singh and his wife Usha Sinha, a co-accused in the toppers scandal, had gone underground after police had acquired an arrest warrant from a Patna court in the irregularities in the Bihar +2 examination.

The SIT was armed with a court order to attach Lalkeswar Singh's property which would have taken place on Monday.

Usha Sinha, a former JD-U MLA from Hilsa and Principal of Ganga Devi college in Patna from which she was removed, is a co-accused in the case where degrees were allegedly awarded to undeserving students in lieu of a hefty sum of money.

The top scorers in the Bihar state board intermediate exams were exposed in media interviews soon after their Class 12 results were announced last month.

Police had on June 11 arrested Baccha Rai, the kingpin of the toppers scandal, from Bhagwanpur police station in Vaishali district. Rai is the secretary-cum principal of controversial Vishun Rai College.

With inputs from M I Khan from Patna.
India's hopes of making progress towards NSG membership at the plenary meeting of the 48-nation grouping which began in Seoul on Monday received a setback with China saying that this was not even on the agenda of the meeting.

Nuclear Suppliers Group remains divided over non-NPT countries like India becoming its members, China's Foreign India's NSG bid suffers setback;China says issue not on agenda

Nuclear Suppliers Group remains divided over non-NPT countries like India becoming its members, China's Foreign Ministry said less than 24 hours after External Affairs

Minister Sushma Swaraj had exuded hope that "we would be able to convince China to support our entry to the NSG."

Even as the 5-day annual NSG Plenary began in the South Korean capital, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying in Beijing said that India's admission into NSG was not on the agenda.

"We understand that non-NPT countries are concerned about their entry into the NSG. But since NSG is still divided about the issue, so it is still not mature to talk about the entry issue in the annual conference in Seoul," she said.

Beijing's response came a day after Swaraj at a press conference in New Delhi had said "China is not opposing membership of India in NSG, it is only talking of criteria and procedure. I am hopeful that we would be able to convince China as well to support our entry to the NSG."

Officials in New Delhi sought to downplay the snub with the MEA spokesperson saying that India remained "optimist".

The main meeting of the NSG Plenary on June 24 comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Tashkent for SCO Summit, which is also being attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Modi may meet Xi during which he is expected to raise the issue of India's NSG membership but whether the discussions will lead to break in the logjam is a moot point.

"China maintains that NSG should have through discussion on the joining of the non-NPT countries in a way agreed by all parties, so as to make a decision based on agreement. This position is not directed against any country and applies to all non-NPT states," Hua said.

India's case for NSG membership is being strongly pushed by the US, which has written to other members to support India's bid at the plenary meeting of the group in Seoul.

While majority of the elite group members backed India's membership, it is understood that apart from China, countries like Turkey, South Africa, Ireland and New Zealand were not in favour of India's entry into the NSG.

China maintains opposition to India's entry, arguing that it has not signed Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. However, it has been batting for its close ally Pakistan's entry if NSG extends any exemption for India.

India has asserted that being a signatory to the NPT was not essential for joining the NSG as there has been a precedent in this regard, citing the case of France.

India is seeking membership of NSG to enable it to trade in and export nuclear technology. The access to the NSG, which regulates the global trade of nuclear technology, is expected to open up the international market for energy-starved India, which has an ambitious energy generation programme.

India is looking at 63,000 MW energy requirement through nuclear programme by 2030.

The NSG looks after critical issues relating to nuclear sector and its members are allowed to trade in and export nuclear technology. Membership of the grouping will help India significantly expand its atomic energy sector.

India has been reaching out to NSG member countries seeking support for its entry. The NSG works under the principle of consensus and even one country's vote against India will scuttle its bid.
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Lashing out at Bharatiya Janata Party member of Parliament Mahesh Giri, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal cannot go for a debate with him as he is an accused in the murder of New Delhi Municipal Corporation official M M Khan and that he should argue in court and tell what is his relation with the accused.

Sisodia also sought to know why BJP leaders are coming out in support of hotel owner Ramesh Kakkar who is a prime accused in the murder case. Giri, however, rubbished Sisodias allegation that he is an accused in the case, terming it as totally baseless.

The BJP MP, meanwhile, continued for the second day his hunger strike outside the residence of Kejriwal, demanding that he prove his allegations regarding the murder of Khan.

Giri had asked Kejriwal to either prove his charge through against him or resign from the post of chief minister. Giri had asked the Delhi chief minister for a public debate over his allegations.

Ramesh Kakkar is under arrest who is an alleged murderer. Why did Mahesh Giri meet the LG along with Kakkar? Giri should answer questions being raised over his alleged involvement in the murder of M M Khan.

We will definitely prove CMs accusation against Giri, but the BJP should also answer what is its relation with Kakkar for whom its MP and former MLAs are coming out in his support... They must apologise to the entire country for getting an honest officer killed, Sisodia said.

He also said, At this time, Maheish Girri is an accused and in view of this, CM cannot debate him and instead, police, lawyers should argue with him over his involvement in the murder case. Girri should argue in court and tell what is his relation with Kakkar.

The deputy CMs allegation is totally baseless. They are showing one recommendation letter to paint me as guilty. I write thousands of such letters to the Lt Governor and if I had actually put any pressure on the LG, where is that particular letter. The attachments they are showing have nothing to do with me, Girri said.

Khan, an estate officer of the NDMC, was shot dead in Jamia Nagar on May 16, a day before he was scheduled to pass the final order on the lease terms of a hotel which was functioning on a property leased out by the civic body.
Police in Pakistan's Sindh province have arrested a shopkeeper who sold shoes with sacred Hindu word 'Om' inscribed on them and seized the offensive footwears following protests by the country's minority community.

"The shopkeeper was arrested and the shoes in question have also been confiscated," said Pakistan Hindu Council patron-in-chief Ramesh Kumar Vankwani.

Vankwani said police have found that the controversial shoes were purchased from a manufacturer in Lahore and Punjab police were being approached for taking action against them.

It is unethical and highly immoral to insult any religion, either of a minority or majority, he said in a statement.

"The state must play the proactive role for punishing the culprits under the blasphemy laws," Vankwani said while talking to a Hindu delegation vising him over the issue.

The PHC had lodged protests with the Sindh government and authorities in Tando Adam Khan area after it was brought to the notice of the Hindu community that shoes were being sold with the sacred word 'Om' inscribed on them.

The PHC patron-in-chief said the sale of these shoes were an insult to the Hindus in Pakistan as it is blasphemous to use the sacred word 'Om' on shoes.

"It is most unfortunate that some shopkeepers in Tando Adam Khan are selling shoes on the occasion of Eid ul Azha with the Hindu sacred word inscribed on them and the purpose just appears to be to insult the sentiments of the Hindu community," Vankwani has said.

"As 'Om' is the sacred religious symbol of Hinduism which talks about the oneness of God, let's protect this oneness peacefully for the progressive and positive face of Pakistan. Let's appeal the authorities concerned to take notice of the matter immediately to override any expected mistrust within the locals," the Pakistan Hindu Seva has said in a separate statement.

Local newspapers have reported that similar shoes were also being sold in some other places of the southern Sindh province, where a majority of the Pakistani Hindus reside.

IMAGE: Picture shows the sandal which is being sold at shops in Tando Adam inscribed with Hindu sacred word 'Om'. Photograph: Pakistan Hindu Council
As discontent simmered over the reshuffle of his ministry by Chief Minister Sidddaramaiah, cine-actor turned politician Ambareesh on Monday resigned as member of the Karnataka legislative assembly.

Ambareesh sent a one line resignation letter addressed to the Assembly Speaker through his personal assistant, the move coming a day after Siddaramaiah dropped 14 ministers and inducted 13 others in the major revamp.

Deputy Speaker Shivashankara Reddy, who is officiating as the speaker's post is lying vacant with Kagodu Thimmappa being appointed as the cabinet minister, has not accepted the letter as the member himself did not submit it.

"Ambareesh has sent a letter of resignation through some other person; any such letter will be considered valid if the member himself submits it. I have sent it back," Shivashankar Reddy told PTI.

The resignation letter states he is resigning as MLA of Mandya constituency, without assigning any reason.

Ambareesh was the housing minister before he was dropped.

He had earlier also served as Member of Parliament and was minister of state for information and broadcasting, but had resigned from the Lok Sabha membership, expressing dissatisfaction with the Cauvery Dispute Tribunal award.

Ambareesh's supporters in Mandya continued their protest for the second consecutive day on Monday.

They had blocked the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway on Sunday.

Resentment is brewing within Congress after the reshuffle, with several dropped ministers and those who were aspiring to join the cabinet openly expressing their unhappiness against the party leadership.

The ministers who faced the axe are: Qamarul Islam, Shamanoor Shivashankarappa, V Srinivasa Prasad, M H Ambareesh, Vinay Kumar Sorake, Satish Jarkiholi, Baburao Chinchansoor, Shivaraj Sangappa Tangadagi, S R Patil, Manohar Tahasildhar, K Abayachandra Jain, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Kimmane Ratnakar and P T Parameshwar Naik.

Srinivasa Prasad and Islam are among others who have made no secret of their displeasure over being dropped.

Supporters of Srinivas Prasad had called for a bandh in Chamarajanagar and Nanjangud on Monday.

Similar protests by supporters of various aspirants Congress MLA's and dropped ministers have been reported from different parts of the state.
Independent member of Jammu and Kahsmir legislative assembly Sheikh Rasheed, known for creating controversies, on Monday spoke the separatist language in the assembly, claiming that the state is not Indias integral part and demanding a plebiscite.

His comments drew angry reaction from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which said he should resign from the assembly and join separatists or migrate to Pakistan.

Even if you send me to jail, debar me from contesting elections or hang me, it will not force me to change my stand on Kashmir, Rasheed said in the assembly.

J&K is neither Indias integral part nor Pakistans jugular vein. You should understand the historic reality and tell New Delhi that there is no substitute to plebiscite, said the legislator who had triggered a major controversy last year during the beef row by hosting a beef party at the MLAs Hostel in Srinagar.

Even as members of the BJP and Congress protested against his comments, Rasheed said he was not against Indias sovereignty but I am talking simply about J&K which has become a bone of contention between India and Pakistan and the assembly has no authority to overrule UN (United Nations) Resolutions.

He said, New Delhi has been claiming all the way that people in this side of Kashmir have cast their votes in huge numbers and people living in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are not comfortable with Pakistan. So there is no reason why New Delhi should run away from plebiscite. May be people on both sides of the Line of Control will vote for India and then whole J&K will become Indias integral part, he added.

Reacting sharply to Rasheeds statement, BJP spokesman Khalid Jehangir said, If Rasheed believes that J&K is not an integral part of India, he should tender his resignation from the legislative assembly and join the separatist camp or migrate to Pakistan.

He said it was unfortunate that Rasheed, despite enjoying all the privileges and drawing hefty salary as MLA, is questioning J&Ks merger with India.

In a statement, Jehangir said, Jammu and Kashmir belongs to India and the people who challenge J&Ks accession with India are welcome to migrate to Pakistan.
The Nuclear Suppliers Groups 2016 annual plenary which begins in Seoul on Monday, will take up membership requests from both India and Pakistan on June 23-24.

According to the Dawn, Pakistan submitted its membership application on May 19, a week after India, which applied on May 12.

With massive global support, India stands as a favourite to join the 48-nation group, with an active support from the United States, Russia, Britain, France and other world powers.

China, however, stands as an obstacle to India's application, arguing that it would enhance a nuclear competition in South Asia by isolating Pakistan.

China wants the NSG to admit Pakistan as well, pointing out that both India and Pakistan possessed nuclear weapons and had not signed the NPT.

While China may not force the NSG to admit Pakistan, it can block India as new members are admitted with a consensus of the existing members.

Pakistan reportedly fears that joining the NSG would increase India's access to nuclear technology, which could also enhance its weapons programme, even if indirectly.

After a June 7 meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House, US President Barack Obama welcomed India's application to join the NSG, and re-affirmed that New Delhi was ready for membership.

Earlier, US Secretary of State John Kerry sent a letter to the NSG members, saying they should "agree not to block consensus on Indian admission".

India, though not a member, enjoys the benefits of membership under a 2008 exemption to NSG rules for its atomic cooperation deal with the US.

The NSG is one of the main tools for controlling the exports and proliferation of materials that could potentially be used in making weapons of mass destruction. It also tacks the black market trade of nuclear technologies.

IMAGE: US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold talks at Hyderabad House, January 25, 2015, on a day when it was announced that India and the US had sealed a landmark civil nuclear deal. Photograph: MEA/Flickr
Heres a recap of all the events that shaped the world from the previous week.

A racegoer wearing a hat at Ascot. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Friends and family members embrace outside the Orlando Police Headquarters during the investigation of a shooting at the Pulse night club, where as many as 20 people have been injured after a gunman opened fire, in Orlando, Florida, US. Photograph: Steve Nesius/Reuters

A Guardsman faints at Horseguards Parade for the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony in central London, Britain. Trooping the Colour is a ceremony to honour Queen Elizabeths official birthday. The Queen celebrates her 90th birthday this year. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters

A woman wearing Mickey Mouse ears watches the opening ceremony at Shanghai Disney Resort in Shanghai, China. Photograph: Aly Song/Reuters

A woman, who fled from Falluja because of Islamic State violence, carries her child during a dust storm at a refugee camp in Ameriyat Falluja, south of Falluja, Iraq. Photograph: Ahmed Saad/Reuters

Members of Hindu Sena, a right wing Hindu group, celebrate US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps birthday in New Delhi, India. Photograph: Cathal McNaughton/Reuters

An Afghan man prays at a mosque during the holy month of Ramadan in Kabul, Afghanista. Photograph: Omar Sobhani/Reuters

Members of the royal family, including Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge holding Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince William, Queen Elizabeth, and Prince Philip stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony on Horseguards Parade in central London, Britain. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

A member from the US Forest Department sets a back fire while battling the so-called "Sherpa Fire", which has grown to over 1100 acres overnight, in the hills near Goleta, California, US. Photograph: Mario Anzuoni/Reuters

International Space Station crew member Timothy Peake of Britain is assisted by ground personnel shortly after landing near the town of Dzhezkazgan (Zhezkazgan), Kazakhstan. Photograph: Shamil Zhumatov/Reuters

Womens shoes and a handbag lie on the ground behind a police cordon in Birstall near Leeds. Jo Cox, a British lawmaker, was shot and stabbed. Media reports said Cox, 41, who is a lawmaker for the opposition Labour Party, had been attacked as she prepared to hold an advice surgery for constituents in Birstall near Leeds. Photograph: Phil Noble/Reuters

New recruit Pepper the robot, a humanoid robot designed to welcome and take care of visitors and patients, holds the hand of a new born baby next to his mother at AZ Damiaan hospital in Ostend, Belgium. Photograph: Francois Lenoir/Reuters
As the countdown for second International Yoga Day on June 21 inches closer, people from all walks of life and ages came together to bend and contort to celebrate World Yoga Day.

Here are glimpses of people practising yoga across the country.

School students practice yoga during a training session ahead of World Yoga Day in Agartala. Photograph: Jayanta Dey/Reuters

People practicing yoga a day before World Yoga Day in Mathura. Photograph: PTI

Navy cadets practise various asanas at the Gateway of India in Mumbai. Photograph: @spokespersonMoD/Twitter

Women perform yoga in a public park ahead of World Yoga Day in Allahabad. Photograph: Jitendra Prakash/Reuters

This year too, there was a controversy over the chanting of Om being made compulsory. However, the order was scrapped and people from various religions across India were asked to participate. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will this year again lead the way, albeit at Capitol Complex in Chandigarh. People have been rehearsing day in and day out for the mega event. Photograph: PTI

People practising yoga ahead of International Day of Yoga in Jammu. Photograph: PTI

Cartoon charaters Motu and Patlu teaching yoga to the kids ahead of the Word Yoga day in Mumbai. Photograph: PTI

Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu gets tips from yoga exponent Ramdev during a yoga camp ahead of the International Yoga Day. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI

People take part during a yoga camp ahead of the International Yoga Day on June 21, at Rajpath in New Delhi. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI

ALSO SEE
From Narendra Modis victory in 2014 to the Nitish-Lalu triumph in 2015 and delivering Assam to the BJP in 2016, young and very professional strategists have startled politicians and the media, reports Kavita Chowdhury.

When the first-ever Bharatiya Janata Party government in Assam was sworn into office on May 25, it was not only its workers and supporters who rejoiced.

Two backroom hands, Shubhrastha and Rajat Sethi, basked in the glory of that hard-earned victory. For the two political strategists, it had been more than a poll battle. It was a test case, to establish that professional (and young) strategists can help win an election. The successes of Lok Sabha 2014, Bihar 2015 and now Assam have put the spotlight on these professionals, who, with their analytics, data crunching, marketing skills and innovative ideas, are steering political parties to electoral victory.

Shubhrastha

Labelled a PK (Prashant Kishor) clone, for journalist-turned-strategist Shubhrastha, it was vital to break out of her mentors shadow. Teaming with Rajat Sethi, a public policy graduate from Harvard and an IITian (Indian Institute of Technology), she joined Team BJP, for ideological reasons. I didnt want to jump bandwagon, says Shubhrastha, asserting how Narendra Modis political vision continued to motivate her, and making her distinct from team Prashant Kishor, which has no fixed political affiliation.



She says it was Narendra Modis image and the BJP that had inspired her in the first place in 2014 and continues to inspire her. Kishors Indian Political Action Committee has till date offered its services to the BJP; then the Janata Dal-United with its alliance partners Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress in Bihar, and now to the Congress in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Shubhrastha had been an integral part of Team Prashant Kishor since its inception; it was called Citizens for Accountable Governance then. However, after the Bihar poll campaign, she parted ways.



The Rajat Sethi-Shubhrastha duo was responsible for conceptualising the Assam Nirman, a series of town hall-type dialogues with the public. It was a unique kind of citizen engagement, where we built a dialogue with the people and tried to reflect the peoples aspirations in it. This resulted in the vision document for the BJP, launched by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley -- there was no manifesto for these polls, says Shubhrastha.



She credits the partys national general secretary, Ram Madhav, for a large measure of the success of their strategy in Assam. We were given a free hand and were in constant touch with him throughout the campaign.



Giving insights into some of the behind the scene activities, she says, We mined election data for the past five to six elections for every constituency. We also studied the socio-economic indicators of health and education, we even filed and got information through RTI responses. Shubhrastha asserts it is intensive data crunching activities like these by professional election strategists that is making election management so different nowadays.



They supplemented the data with intensive surveys at the grassroots in constituencies, carried out through 400-odd paid volunteers. Incidentally, volunteers in the team were paid, unlike in IPAC where only core team members are paid; even Prashant Kishor works for free.



Earning their spurs by handling the campaign for a party with entrenched seniors like the BJP and making history by winning Assam, the Shubhrastha-Rajat duo has proved their detractors wrong. Presently in the US for a fellowship, Shubhrastha says she is extremely grateful to the BJPs leadership and her ideological mentor Ram Madhav, for giving us this opportunity to experiment and implement plans.

Vinesh Chandel

Lawyer-turned-election strategist Vinesh Chandel, 28, sees his role as essentially trying to bring some sense to the chaos of the electoral campaign. Chandel is one of the co-founders of IPAC and is presently heading the IPAC team strategising the Congress campaign for the Uttar Pradesh polls in 2017. Prashant Kishor (PK) continues to be the mentor for IPAC, both in its Uttar Pradesh and Punjab campaigns.



For Chandel, now based out of Lucknow, the adrenaline rush that got him hooked to election management in the first place still keeps him going. Its thanks to the professional corporate kind of set-up of bodies like IPAC, says Chandel, that a lawyer like him can interact with other professionals, MBAs and BTechs, and bring their skill sets to make a difference to election campaigning.



Chandel is an alumnus of the National Law Institute University, Bhopal, and even practised as a lawyer before deciding to take a sabbatical and jump into this new field. I do not believe in aligning myself to any one political party but election strategising is an alternative to joining a party and enables me to contribute to the political field with my ideas.



Recalling their successful out-of-the-box ideas and campaigns that hit bulls-eye for the Nitish Kumar campaign in Bihar last year, Chandel says Kumar had initially been extremely sceptical of the power of social media. He had no faith in the chidia (bird) Twitter or even Facebook.



However, when the young team leveraged Twitter to throw up a volley of provocative questions in real time to PM Modi, carefully timing it between his flight taking off from Delhi and then landing in Bihar for an election rally, giving him no time to consult his research team, it got them the desired results. A ruffled PM Modi commented on the Bihari DNA of Nitish Kumar in his speech, opening the breach for team IPAC to step in; they targeted Modi for insulting the Bihari asmita (self-respect), encouraging Bihari voters to send to the PM strands of their hair and nail clippings to test for himself the Bihari DNA. No wonder then, that Nitish Kumar was then convinced of social medias ability to grab eyeballs, becoming an ardent user of Twitter and Facebook.



Talking about the latest project, managing the Congress campaign in UP, he says: Despite people dismissing it as an impossible task, we believe that what works in Congress favour is that other parties (Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party) have not fulfilled their promises in the past 27 years. We will carve out the campaign stressing that Congress needs to be given a chance.

Chandel says it is still early days for the UP campaign and the team is still engaged in gathering their on the ground intelligence. But, he is confident of bringing back the Congress in power.

Interestingly, the tag line on their e-mails state, Theres a thin line between confidence and arrogance Its called humility.

Rishi Raj Singh

For the chemical engineer from IIT, turned investment banker-turned political strategist, Rishi Raj Singh, 26, monotony of the job led to a rapid change of profile. In his present role as strategist, the challenging and dynamic nature of his job is like an adrenaline rush. He says, Nothing can compare to the feeling when the slogan that you brainstormed and created is voiced by thousands, like it happened during the Bihar campaign with Phir ek baar, Nitish Kumar.

Singh was part of the successful Bihar campaign last year. In his present assignment at IPAC, where he is also one of the directors, he is heading the team for the Congress campaign for the Punjab 2017 polls.

Talking about the intrinsic risk involved in this nascent field in India, he says matter-of-factly, Every start-up comes with its own risk. Our outfit, too, is similar to a start-up. He asserts the 2015 polls clearly validated the significant impact of political strategists on elections.



The arrival of political strategists like Rishi, appears to have thrown ad agencies out of business, as far as election publicity goes. Distinguishing themselves from the latter, Singh says, Ad agencies take a brief from a political party, design a publicity campaign and give you options to choose from; they are vendors. We, on the other hand, take 360-degree responsibility for a campaign, from training party workers and making them poll-ready to deciding on seating arrangements at events. It is all planned and taken care of by us.

Singh says, in simple words, their task is Creating a brand leader who has accountability but hastens to clarify, Nobody can replace politicians; we act parallel to the political set-up.

In Punjab, where he is in the thick of things, projecting the Congress (Captain) Amarinder Singh as their chief ministerial face, he says the thrust of their campaign is personality-centric, much like the American presidential elections.

The team has drawn a lot of flak from the Congress political adversaries for its Coffee with Captain interactions. While their detractors insist the theme is flawed, Singh asserts their aim was to reach out to the youth.

The youth is a sizable votebank and they need to be made aware of Captains achievements as CM in 2002-2007. Through our intensive ground surveys, we found youth hang out in cafes and then we came up with the idea of Coffee with Captain, says Singh.

As a young person himself, he says confidently, he has seen the kind of appeal the Captain has evoked among youth, unlike their Aam Aadmi Party adversary which is yet to launch a face for the Punjab polls.



Does he regret, for even a day, the lucrative job he gave up as an investment banker in Credit Suisse? Pat comes the reply: I took a break of a month or two after the Bihar polls but was soon impatient to get back to experience the kick of real time election management.
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to put a stay on the killing of Nilgai, wild boar and monkey in the states of Bihar, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh as of now.

The Supreme Court asked the animal rights organisations to make representations before the Centre regarding three notifications declaring Nilgais, monkeys and wild boars as vermins, with the Animal Welfare Board of India terming it as an "arbitrary" decision.

The board, which is a statutory advisory body on animal welfare laws and promotes animal welfare in India, questioned the notifications issued by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change declaring these animals as vermins for one year in the states of Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

"The arbitrariness is there. We have seen the video. There has to be a basis. How can the Ministry do this? There has to be compassion towards animals," the lawyer appearing for the board told a vacation bench of Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and A M Khanwilkar.

However, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar said the board has not challenged these notifications.

The bench said it would hear the contentions of the board when the main matter is heard.

The bench, which refused to issue notice on the petitions, asked the Centre to consider the representations within two weeks and take appropriate steps as required.

During the hearing, the bench posed several queries to the petitioners on whether these notifications specifically talk about forest areas.

"Prohibition (on hunting) will apply to forest area or animal habitat and not outside that. Absolute prohibition applies to animal habitat only. You cannot hunt them in their home. Suppose they are found outside their habitat, then how to deal with it," the bench asked.

Responding to the query, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, who appeared for one of the petitioners, referred to killing of Nilgais in Bihar and said "there are scientific ways to deal with such situations. Wild animals cannot be killed like this."

The first notification issued by the Ministry dated December 1, 2015, declared Nilgai and wild boar as vermin in some districts of Bihar for one year.

The second notification dated February 3 this year declared wild boar as vermin in some districts of Uttarakhand for a period of one year, while the third notification, issued on May 24 declared rhesus macaque (monkey) to be vermin in some districts of Himachal Pradesh.

Luthra told the bench that the wildlife department was competent to tackle such issues.

"They (wildlife department) can come and capture the animals and if the animal has become a man eater then it can be killed," he said.

During the hearing, the bench asked, "Have you made any representation before the Central government?."

"Further notification or corrigendum to a notification has to be issued by Central government," the bench said, adding, "The authority is with the Central government to issue a notification. You make a representation and we expect that the Central government will take action whatever is required. The main petition can be kept pending."

Senior advocate Anand Grover, who appeared for another petitioner, said Center had asked the state governments to give them information about conflicts between animals and humans.

He claimed that Bihar and Himachal Pradesh had neither given any report to the Centre nor had they conducted any such study despite the fact that people had complained about it.

Referring to the Bihar incident, Grover said men from Mumbai were hired to kill animals and they were "shooters".

To this, the bench said, "this statement is questionable."

Grover, however, said, "I am not casting aspersions. They were shooting the animals at random."

He also said that the conflicts between humans and animals were outside the forest area.

One of the counsel representing another petitioner told the bench that intent of Parliament was to reduce the number of vermins.

"A scientific study has to be there. One state admittedly say they have not conducted study. All the material is with Central government but still they issued such notification," he said.

The Solicitor General, however, questioned maintainability of these petitions and said that the apex court was not the appropriate forum.

He said these notifications were applicable for outside forest area.

To this, Luthra said they were challenging notifications issued with respect to Bihar, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and it was a national issue.

The bench, however, observed, "it is difficult to make this court as the first court."

At the fag end of the hearing, Luthra requested the bench to issue notice but the court said it would not issue any notice today.

"We are not issuing any direction. We are not issuing any notice today. We are adjourning the matter," the bench said.

When the bench asked petitioners to make representation before the concerned authority, the SG said they would look into it.

The bench has now fixed the matter for further hearing on July 15.

"The impugned notifications have been passed in absolute disregard of the human-wildlife conflict plaguing the country and without any scientific survey backing them," one of the pleas filed before the apex court has said.

It has said that once an animal is declared vermin, it is deprived of the protection provided to the wild animals by the Wildlife Protection Act.

It has said that the provisions of the Act "authorises the government to permit mindless slaughter of protected wildlife without any inquiry or investigation into the need for declaring protected species of wildlife as vermin for purpose of slaughter."
Bharatiya Janata Party MP Subramanian Swamy on Monday mounted a sharp attack on Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, accusing him of seeking "guidance" of Congress President Sonia Gandhi's Political Secretary Ahmed Patel.

He made the attack on Jung while joining a protest by BJP MP Maheish Girri, who demanded an apology from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for linking him to the murder of an NDMC official.

Separately, Swamy, in a letter to President Pranab Mukherjee, said he has information to suggest that the Jung was playing a "mischievous role" in "abetting" Kejriwal at the behest of Congress to embarrass the BJP.

"He (Jung) has no work other than making rounds of Ahmed Patel's place. He (Jung) should have spoken out for MPs like Girri and he should have ordered Kejriwal to provide documents or apologise," Swamy told reporters.

He also said Jung should have categorically told Kejriwal that if he does not substantiate his allegations against Girri or apologise, then he would recommend to the Centre dismissal of the Aam Aadmi Party government.

The BJP MP said he would go after Kejriwal like the way he took on RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan. "I was after Rajan in the recent past. He has left now. Girri is a religious person who has dedicated his life to public service...You are the CM, give written complaint. And what this LG is doing."

In his letter to President Pranab Mukherjee, Swamy said, "I request you to intervene, particularly since I have information to suggest that the LG is playing a mischievous role in abetting Kejriwal at the behest of the Congress party to embarrass the BJP and, at the same time, appearing to oppose Kejriwal in public for sake of credibility."

Swamy said Delhi government should be dismissed if Kejriwal refuses to apologise to the party MP over his allegations.

He also accused Kejriwal of breaching constitutional norms in running the Delhi government and sought the President's intervention, saying there appears to be a complete breakdown of governance.

Swamy requested the President to ask the Union home ministry to issue a directive as per provision of the Constitution and seek a report asking on what basis Kejriwal and his colleagues have made allegations of murder against Girri.

"There appears to be a complete breakdown of any semblance of governance in National Capital Territory of Delhi. The AAP is functioning in a highly arbitrary, unreasonable and malafide manner. Since the NCT is where the Union Government is also located, it has become crucial to restore some semblance of governance immediately," said Swamy in the letter.

Girri has been holding a protest outside Kejriwal's residence in Civil Lines demanding proof of his allegations. Swamy had joined Girri briefly in the protest.
IMAGE: A white and red rose are placed on Member of Parliament Jo Cox's empty seat in the House of Commons, in London. Photograph: House of Commons/Twitter

Tearful British MPs paid glowing tributes to their slain colleague Jo Cox in the House of Commons on Monday at a special session to honour the "passionate and progressive" Labour politician who was murdered by a

far-right activist.

Cox,41, had bled to death in hospital after she was brutally shot and stabbed while holding her regular meeting with constituents of Batley and Spen in West Yorkshire last Thursday.

The Speaker of the House of Commons led the tributes to the "caring, eloquent, principled and wise" politician and mother-of-two.

"An attack like this strikes not only at an individual, but at our freedom. That is why we assemble here, both to honour Jo and to redouble our dedication to democracy," Speaker Jon Bercow said soon after sombre and tearful MPs filed into the Commons.

IMAGE: People view tributes in memory of murdered Labour Party MP Jo Cox at Parliament Square in London, Britain. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Prime Minister David Cameron described Cox as an "extraordinary colleague and friend", who was a humanitarian "to her core" who brought out "the best" in people.

He said, "She was a voice of compassion, whose boundless energy lit up the lives of all who knew her and saved the lives of many she never met. We pay tribute to a loving, determined, passionate and progressive politician, who epitomised the best of humanity and proved so often the power of politics to make the world a better place".

In a unique gesture of cross-party solidarity, Cameron had given up his right to speak first to allow Opposition Labour's Jeremy Corbyn to lead the official motion on the recall of Parliament.

Corbyn said the United Kingdom had been "united in grief" over the "horrific act".

"We have lost one of our own and society as a whole has lost one of our very best...The horrific act that took her from us was an attack on democracy and our whole country has been shocked and saddened by it," he said.

IMAGE: Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron (2nd R) walks from Parliament to St Margaret's Church with Jeremy Corbyn (R) the leader of the opposition Labour Party for a service of rememberance for Labour MP Jo Cox in Westminster, London. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Parliament had been in recess to allow MPs to concentrate on campaigning in the final days running up to the European Union referendum on Thursday.

However, the rare decision to recall MPs was taken to allow colleagues to pay their tributes to Cox, who's seat in the House of Commons had a white and red rose.

All members of the Commons across party lines also wore white roses in their lapels in memory of Cox.

Her husband Brendan and family members watched from the gallery as the packed chamber praised the achievements of Cox who would have celebrated her 42nd birthday on Wednesday. A simultaneous special session was also held in the House of Lords.
IMAGE: Afghan security forces inspect bloodstains on a minibus that was hit by suicide attacker at the site of an incident in Kabul on Monday. Photograph: Omar Sobhani/Reuters



Two Indians working as guards at the Canadian Embassy in Kabul were among 25 people killed in a string of Taliban suicide attacks across Afghanistan on Monday.

In the first attack, a Taliban suicide bomber hit a minibus carrying foreign security guards in Kabul along the main road to the eastern city of Jalalabad, killing Indian and Nepalese security guards.

The Taliban also claimed a second smaller blast in south Kabul. The third blast took place in a market in the remote northeastern province of Badakhshan.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup in New Delhi said, We have learnt that two Indian nationals, Ganesh Thapa and Govind Singh from Dehradun died tragically in the blast in Kabul today morning.

(The) government is in touch with the families of Indian nationals and is working with the Afghan government to repatriate their mortal remains at the earliest, he said.

The two Indians were working for a private security company, Sabre International.

Canada condemned the attacks and offered condolences to the families of the guards.

Canada strongly condemns todays terrorist attacks in Afghanistan by the Taliban, including the attack on a bus carrying security guards who protect the embassy of Canada to Afghanistan, in Kabul, Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion said in a statement.

He offered condolences on behalf of Canadians to the families and friends of the Nepalese and Indian guards killed, adding that many had been part of our embassy family for years.

They will be remembered for their service in the protection of the men and women at the embassy of Canada to Afghanistan.

The attacks come days after the US announced an expansion of the US military's authority to conduct air strikes against the Taliban, a significant boost for Afghan forces which have limited close air-support capacities.
The reputation of Bihar's schools has taken a knock.

Satyavrat Mishra explains how a student-teacher nexus has gamed the system to produce toppers by the dozen.

Ruby Rai, the Class 12 topper from the humanities stream, a resident of Vaishali, was having the time of her life on May 29.

Her father and brother were busy answering congratulatory calls, while she was giving interviews to local journalists. But soon things began to go awry.

Although she had scored 91 out of 100 in political science (prodigal science, in her words), Rai thought it was all about cooking. She didn't even know out of how much she scored 89 per cent.

A short distance away, at Hajipur, another topper, Saurabh Shrestha, the son of a railway contractor, too was being interviewed.

Shrestha, who scored almost 85 per cent in the science stream, didn't know what is the most reactive metal on the Periodic Table (Caesium) and said there are only two electrons in a Sodium atom (there are 11).

Both were students of the Vishun Rai Inter College in Vaishali, just 30 km away from Patna. As soon as the interviews were broadcast, the red-faced Nitish Kumar government was forced to acknowledge that there was widespread wrongdoing and ordered an investigation.

Two weeks since the students unwittingly exposed the rot in Bihar's education system, 10 people have been arrested so far and three are absconding including former Bihar State Education Board chief Lalkeswar Prasad and his wife and former Janata Dal (United) MLA, Usha Sinha. (Singh has been arrested since this report was filed.)

Examinations in Bihar have been infamous for cheating. Last year, during the Class 10 exams, photos of adults scaling walls to pass chits to their wards made national news.

Stung by the bad publicity, before this year's board exams, Bihar's education department made elaborate arrangements to prevent cheating, including fixing CCTV cameras at examination centres and posting armed policemen. At several places, teachers asked examinees to take off their shirts in order to prevent cheating.

As a result, when the results were declared late last month, the pass percentages fell by a fifth in Class 10 as well as Class 12. Before the state government could take credit for the clean-up, the Ruby Rai and Saurabh Shrestha interviews blew up.

Education Minister Ashok Kumar Chaudhary was left seething. "All our efforts to prevent cheating have been soiled. It is unforgivable. Be assured, I will personally make sure that the guilty are punished."

BSEB ordered a re-test for the 14 toppers on June 3, where all except Ruby Rai turned up -- she claimed she was in depression and would need some more time.

When asked to explain some of his answers, Saurabh Shrestha reportedly threatened to commit suicide. The examiners were aghast. On the other hand, Rahul Kumar, another topper and Shrestha's classmate, could not answer most of the questions asked. Their results were annulled by the BSEB.

In the eye of the storm is Vishun Rai College where these students were enrolled. The institution is headed by Amit Kumar, aka 'Baccha' Rai, the alleged kingpin of the scandal. He is the prime accused in the FIR filed by the Bihar education department on June 7.

He, along with Shrestha, Kumar and his daughter, Shalini Rai, has been charged with forgery, cheating and conspiring to commit a crime. Ruby Rai has been named as a person of interest in the case.

Rai's father says he asked the school management to "take care of her results, but they made her the topper."

Shalini was a Class 10 topper in 2014. She appeared for the Class 12 exams this year and actually scored more than Shrestha. However, her result was allegedly concealed on the direct orders of the then BSEB chief, Lalkeswar Prasad, to avoid suspicion.

Revising the merit list on a later date has become common practice in the state in the last few years. The direct beneficiary of this has been Rai's college.

In the last three years, several Class 12 toppers have been students of this college, even though it has no regular teachers for math, physics, chemistry and English.

"Rai's grip over the BSEB and the education department was complete," says one former teacher at the Vishun Rai College, "He got to decide where his students' examination centre would be. Even before the examination was complete, he knew the result. He is the one who dictates the merit list in the state."

People used to get their money's worth in return. Last year, out of the 1,007 students in the college, no one got less than 60 per cent. Moreover, 222 students got identical marks.

Suspecting something fishy, the education department put their results on hold, but later due to unexplained reasons the embargo was lifted.

Rai was arrested by the police on June 11, when he was going to surrender at the Hajipur civil court. Even in prison, he is reportedly getting preferential treatment.

The police admit that Rai had connections with some of the more influential people in the state. "Rai and his partners ran the operations in collusion with some very influential people. Rai had deep connections with various influential figures," says Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Manu Maharaj who is heading the Special Task Force constituted to probe the 'Toppers Scam'.

The masterminds of the case worked in a systematic manner for at least six years to allow those who could afford it to get the top spots on the merit charts. The first step would start at the time of admission.

"At least Rs 50,000 used to be taken from aspiring students at the time of admission with the promise that the candidate would achieve success. In case of girl students, the charges were a bit higher as good education improves their marriage prospects," says a senior SIT officer.

At the time of the exams, the fixers would get the examination centre of their choice for their students.

At these centres, 'special freedom' was provided to the students so that they could without fear resort to unfair means.

The next step would be about managing the evaluation centres. This was at the BSEB's sole discretion.

It is alleged that officers were ready to manipulate these evaluation centres.

How deep the tentacles of this scandal have spread can be gauged from the fact that while all answer sheets from the Vaishali district were sent to evaluation centres in the Kaimur and Rohtas districts, those of Vishun Rai College were sent to a centre in Patna on Lalkeswar Prasad's special orders.

He even accompanied the sheets to the centre.

Answer sheets of some 'specially favoured' candidates were also found at the office of his wife, Usha Sinha, at a college in Patna, where she is the principal.

Prasad, allegedly, ensured that the students of Vishun Rai College secured 'good marks' and some of them made it to the merit list.

Ever since the scandal broke out, Baccha Rai's photos with leaders of almost every major political party have surfaced. His political connections initiated a verbal duel between the Bharatiya Janata Party, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Janata Dal-United.

His equally cordial relationship with all political parties ensured him patronage. However, now all parties are busy disavowing him.

Last year, during the Bihar assembly election, Rai openly campaigned for Lalu Prasad and his son, Tej Pratap. He even shared the dais with them.

BJP leaders allege that Rai used to collect funds for the RJD and Lalu's other son, Tejaswi.

The RJD chief was quick to distance himself from Rai, but Tejaswi, the deputy chief minister, posted a photo of Rai and Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Twitter.

He alleged that Singh used to often visit Rai's college and was on friendly terms with him.

In response, Singh put up a photo of Rai with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Now, the Janata Dal-United is busy explaining that it is an inconsequential photo from a wedding in 2011.

The SIT has also found several documents from Rai's house which indicate that he was in touch with a Union minister and was even planning to set up a medical college with him.

Meanwhile, the reputation of Bihar's schools has taken a knock.

A senior bureaucrat, who topped the state, now refrains from mentioning his achievement, or else people may cast aspersions on his character.
'These people are living on the edge of starvation and governments need to show much greater compassion towards them.'

Rashme Sehgal reports for Rediff.com

IMAGE: The Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh has been battling water shortage for many years. Its farmers, Rediff.com noted four years ago, 'are anguished about lack of access to ground water when their agriculture is totally dependent on rains, which is also scarce.' The situation has worsened this past year. Photographs: Pawan Kumar/Reuters, from 2012

The Sarai Kale Khan flyover is one of the busiest junctions in the nation's capital with thousands of cars, buses, scooter rickshaws, tempos and motorcycles plying over it day and night.

Over 300 families from the drought-ridden Bundelkhand region spread across Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have sought shelter below the flyover for the last two months.

"We have come here in search of jobs. We have no work in our villages and if we do not find work, then like our dying cattle, we too will meet the same fate," says Dashrath, who belongs to Matraunie village in Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh.

Dashrath owns five acres of land. A farmer in Punjab owning three acres of land would be able to earn a decent income from a farm this size. But water-starved Bundelkhand has seen thousands of land-owning farmers and landless labourers, along with their families, pack their belongings into plastic gunny bags to make the tortuous journey to this city.

"We go to Nizamuddin station to get drinking water and we cook right here," says Dashrath, pointing to makeshift chullahs with firewood being used as fuel.

"I used to grow wheat, channa and vegetables on my land. But three years of consecutive drought has broken my back," says Dashrath who has left his elderly father behind in the village to take care of his land.

His children are mortified at Delhi's traffic as is his wife, so afraid if they stray onto the road, they could be run over.

Most of the families lie in the shade using the gunny bags as pillows on which they can rest their heads. The heat is intense, but their children sit uncomplaingly by their side.

Why did he not try for a job in Matraunie? "Ever since the Modi government came to power, there is no work for the panchayats and there is no work in MNREGA either," Dashrath says dispiritedly.

Sitting next to him is Suresh Kanchi Kushwal of Zilla Damo who owns half an acre of land. "I had several kathal trees growing on my land and I used to earn money from growing vegetables," says Kushwal.

Kushwal came to Sarai Kale Khan 12 days ago along with seven other families. "We desperately need work," he says. "But I have no ration card, no Aadhar card and no ID proof." He could not get any of these identity cards made in his village, because he alleges the patwari and some other panchayat members demanded a bribe of Rs 2,000 to lend their signatures to the necessary documents.

IMAGE: Despite the severe drought in Bundelkhand in recent years, the Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and central governments have not done much to help the region's residents.

Jeevan Bal Chaudhury from Bundelkhand is a landless labourer who survives by doing mazdoori. "I move from place to place in search of work and for the last 20 days I have been walking the length and breadth of Delhi," he says. "I have three children to support."

Mohit, 11, Deepa, 10, and Omkar, 8 were all going to school, "but at present I cannot afford to educate them," says Chaudhury.

This large-scale exodus has had its fallout in Delhi's labour market. Kushwal was offered work by a local contractor. "I worked for him for three days, but when I asked for payment, he refused to give it. I have not seen him again," he says.

Dashrath describes how he and 22 men living here were taken to the town of Hapur in UP where they were told they would be paid Rs 300 per day as daily labourers while the rajmistris would be paid Rs 600 per day.

"After working for 20 days, we were paid Rs 100 a day while the mistris were paid as little as Rs 150 per day, so we all decided to come back here," he says.

IMAGE: As families from Bundelkhand migrate to the cities, they leave their cattle behind. "This is the worst cattle famine to have occurred in several decades," says Yogendra Yadav.

The most alarming aspect of this migration, these families say, is that they have left their cattle behind.

"No shelters have been created for our cattle and they must have starved to death by now. There is no fodder for them to eat and no water for them to drink," says Dashrath, breaking into loud sobs.

Yogendra Yadav and his team from Swaraj Abhiyan have toured the Bundelkhand region extensively. "This is the worst cattle famine to have occurred in several decades," says Professor Yadav.

"We have calculated that 11,000 deaths of cattle are taking place every day which works out to three lakh (300,000) cattle deaths per month. The number of deaths of wildlife is also unprecedented," he says.

The migrants are anguished that no one from the local government has come forward to enquire about their plight.

"Not one government officer has come forward to assist us. Despite these high temperatures, they have not cared to send us one tanker of water. We have lactating mothers whose infants are just two to three months old," says a woman who refused to disclose her name.

Rajagopal P V of the Ekta Parishad, who undertook a padyatra in nine zillas in Bundelkhand and has held 40 public hearings during May and June, points out, "Despite a three year drought, it is business as usual for the government. Water has become a huge business with water tankers selling water to the public."

"The poor cannot afford to buy water," says Rajagopal, "and we are now witnessing mass migration in which already ten lakh (1 million) people have moved out of this region."

Harsh Mander, a Right to Food commissioner appointed by the Supreme Court, "finds an extraordinary absence of compassion at the sufferings being borne by one third of the entire rural population of the country. This has happened during a time when our farmers are in the throes of an intense agricultural crisis."

IMAGE: "Despite these high temperatures," says one woman migrant from Bundelkhand, speaking of the local government in Delhi, "they have not cared to send us one tanker of water. We have lactating mothers whose infants are just two to three months old."

"Despite the enacting of the National Food Security Act," says Mander, "there is no pressure on any of the state governments or central government to enact it. The Supreme Court has ordered the distribution of free foodgrain in all the drought-affected areas, but this has also not been done. Rather, the Centre has asked states to buy foodgrain at Rs 15 per kilogram from it."

The farmers from Bundelkhand vouch that there is no universal access to foodgrain in their villages and no state government is anywhere close to implementing this critical directive for the mitigation of hunger.

Swaraj Abhiyan has conducted a survey across 109 villages in Bundelkhand. Some of the conclusions it arrived at were that only 5 per cent of villages in Madhya Pradesh's Bundelkhand region had jobs under MGNREGA while in UP's Bundelkhand region, the figure was at 29 per cent.

The reason for these low MGNREGA figures was that despite the government having made an allocation of Rs 22,000 crore (Rs 220 billion) for rural job employment, Rs 16,000 crore (Rs 160 billion) of this money was being spent on paying last year's dues.

Farmers in Saria Kale Khan complain that they have received no crop compensation for drought. "We farmers need credit to buy seeds for their next crop. We also need crop-loss compensation from the government to prepare our land especially since banks no longer give us loans," says Dashrath.

To highlight the farmers' plight, Swaraj Abhiyan, in association with Ekta Parishad, Jal Biradari and the National Alliance of People's Movements, had organised a 'Jal-Hal' yatra from Latur in Maharashtra to Mahoba in Uttar Pradesh between May 21 and 31.

Similar yatras were held in Telangana from June 2 to 4 and from Chambal to Bundelkhand between June 6 and 14 to assess the ground situation.

Drought relief monitoring across all 13 drought-hit states will be taken up and a report presented in the Supreme Court when the case comes up for hearing on August 1.

While that is important, immediate attention needs to be drawn to the plight of farmers who have migrated en masse under acute duress. No famine-related deaths are available with the central government.

"Some deaths must have occurred, but there are no figures available," says Mander, "These people are living on the edge of starvation and governments need to show much greater compassion towards them."
During Lesvos visit, UN chief must highlight human cost of EU's dismal deal on refugees

Publisher Amnesty International Author Giorgos Kosmopoulos Publication Date 17 June 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, During Lesvos visit, UN chief must highlight human cost of EU's dismal deal on refugees, 17 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5767946d4.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.

So desperate is the plight of the nearly 8,500 men, women and children trapped on the Greek islands that it has prompted a visit by the world's top diplomat. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's "solidarity" visit to Lesvos on 18 June will again highlight the disastrous reality for the refugees and migrants crammed into camps and sleeping rough, while tireless volunteers struggle to buoy their fragile hope and health.



They came by the thousands, fleeing war and repression in hopes of reaching safety and a better life in Europe. Instead, down to little more than unfortunate timing, they are now caught in the middle of a shameful bargain between the EU and Turkey. Marooned in calamitous conditions on the continent's doorstep, they suffer growing anxiety over the void of their future.



EU leaders should hang their heads in shame that Ban's visit is needed at all. It speaks volumes about the tragic flaws of the failed EU-Turkey migration deal they rolled out three months ago, to great fanfare.



In a status report on 15 June, the EU's Commissioner for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos stated that the deal is on track and is producing results. Chief among them has been a sharp decrease in the flows of refugees into Europe via Greece, a stated goal since the deal took effect on 20 March. So far, so good, statistically speaking.



But these statistics belie a deeper reality. The EU continues to hinge the deal on a dangerous bit of myth-making. Returning asylum seekers to Turkey is based on the false pretense that it is a "safe" country to host them. But the only apparent evidence for this claim is that Turkey and the EU say so.



Such vapid assurances might sound convincing to officials behind desks in Brussels and other European capitals, or to leaders who were swiftly shown a highly scripted version of Turkey's refugee camps. Maybe they are just willfully turning a blind eye to the truth on the ground. Either way, the end result has been a crushing of the hopes and human rights of thousands of refugees trapped on the Greek islands, fearing what lies in store for them.



I met Hani only recently. A 31-year-old former economics student, he is one of many Syrians at direct risk of being returned to Turkey. He arrived on Chios on 20 March, the day the deal took effect. Hard luck  a day earlier and, who knows, he might have avoided his current nightmare. Three months later he is still trapped in squalid living conditions, awaiting news of his asylum application. Meanwhile rumours abound, carrying promises and threats alike. Smugglers are after what little money he's got left and violence regularly erupts as people get ever more desperate. The first day I met Hani, he told me the thought of being sent back to Turkey "freezes his heart".



He is not the only one. Ahmad, an engineer who fled Syria with his family told me that locals in Turkey abused and beat them in front of his own eyes, merely for being Syrians. He also said that earlier this year his sister and her children were forcibly removed from Turkey to Syria. Again, the mere mention of Turkey makes him shiver.





It is immoral to force people like Hani and families like Ahmad's to live in daily fear and anxiety. It is illegal to send refugees like them back to Turkey  as appeal committees in Athens have already found. Despite this, two Syrian refugees currently detained on Lesvos could soon become the first to be returned to Turkey against their will since the deal. Meanwhile three other asylum-seekers facing deportation have taken their cases to the European Court of Justice, arguing that their return under the EU-Turkey deal would violate EU law.



Amnesty International's research has uncovered credible evidence that, numerous times in late 2015 and early 2016, hundreds and potentially thousands of asylum-seekers and refugees in Turkey were sent back to Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. This is a flagrant violation of the 1951 Refugee Convention. Turkish officials rightly point out that the country is hosting more refugees than any other. It's also true that many live in appalling conditions and have no possibility to be granted full refugee status. This is a reality that the EU cannot ignore.



Pretending that the current dip in arrivals to Europe will be sustained is yet another fallacy. Pulling up the drawbridge on Fortress Europe has only increased the human cost as people take ever more dangerous routes. It also plays into the hands of the criminal people-smuggling networks that the EU has pledged to tackle.



But instead of changing course, EU leaders are proliferating the evolving paradigm behind their bargain with Turkey. The EU's plans to cooperate more closely with Libya on migration risk fuelling rampant ill-treatment and indefinite detention in horrifying conditions of thousands of refugees and migrants there. With the global refugee crisis showing no signs of abating, it is time to nip these dirty deals in the bud.



As they often do, Commissioner Avramopoulos and other EU officials this week paid lip service to the need for safe, legal routes for refugees to reach Europe. But the EU-Turkey deal and its sequels are not the way to do this.

Instead of outsourcing its refugee-protection responsibilities, the EU needs to find real and lasting solutions. These must include the effective resettlement of refugees to Europe from Turkey, via safe and legal routes, as well as the relocation of the thousands of refugees now in Greece to other European countries.



Like Pope Francis and others before him, this weekend Secretary-General Ban is sure to witness scenes of human suffering at Moria detention centre on Lesvos. That a large portion of the camp's facilities were destroyed by a fire that broke out amid clashes earlier this month hints at the sheer desperation of those within. Ban should be unequivocal that the EU-Turkey deal has been a clear and unacceptable root cause of much this despair.



Many claim that the EU-Turkey deal is crumbling and might collapse. Whatever the reasons behind its potential demise, it is important for EU leaders to acknowledge that it was immoral and illegal from the word go. The new paradigm they are trying to set should not stand  engaging in illegal deals to bring about the desired "results" is not how they should be going about their affairs.



Europe can and must set an example for wealthy countries around the world to share responsibility for protecting refugees. While on Lesvos, Secretary-General Ban should make clear that anything less is a moral and legal failure, and the EU and its members must live up to their international obligations.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Indonesia: Shots fired amid attempt to illegally push Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers back out to sea

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 17 June 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Indonesia: Shots fired amid attempt to illegally push Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers back out to sea, 17 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/576795044.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.

UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on the scene but denied access

Aceh authorities undermine Indonesian Vice President

Nine children and a heavily pregnant woman among 44 people at risk

The Indonesian authorities in Aceh are endangering the lives of a group of more than 40 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers by firing warning shots and threatening to push them back out to sea in flagrant violation of international law, Amnesty International said today.

"Instead of deploying these crude intimidation tactics that could put the lives of men, women and children at risk, the Indonesian authorities should come together to allow them to disembark safely so the UN Refugee Agency can interview them," said Josef Benedict, Amnesty International's Director of Campaigns for South East Asia and the Pacific.

Today's latest attempt to force the boat off the coast of Indonesia's Aceh province and back out to sea comes a day after local Aceh police fired warning shots in the air, terrifying at least five Sri Lankan Tamil women who tried to run ashore. The group aboard the boat includes a heavily pregnant woman and nine children.

On Friday, a Banda Aceh immigration office spokesman said the Tamil asylum seekers who set out from Sri Lanka three weeks ago will not be allowed to disembark in Indonesia. Their original intended destination was Australia's Christmas Island.

Aceh police chief Inspector Gen. Husein Hamidi said that after providing food to the group of Sri Lankan Tamils and repairing their boat, the policy and navy were preparing to push them back into international waters.

"Indonesia risks squandering the good will it generated when it provided assistance last year to hundreds of refugees and migrants who had been stranded on the Andaman Sea. In contrast to what happened in May 2015, developments this week invite comparisons with other countries that have a notorious record of setting desperate people adrift and at risk of death on the high seas," said Josef Benedict.

The immigration office, police and navy in Aceh have ignored Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla's directions to provide the group with shelter. Instead, they have blocked off the area, denying the Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers access to the shore.

UNHCR officials are on standby in Aceh province, ready to interview the group of Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers to verify their identities and determine their status.

"The immigration office and security forces in Aceh are flouting the authority of their own Vice President and not letting the UNHCR do its job. Consistent standards must be applied across the board, with all Indonesian authorities working together with recognized international bodies," said Josef Benedict.

Background

Aceh fishermen discovered the boat off the coast of Aceh province on 11 June. They subsequently reported the boat to the Indonesian Navy who have not allowed the people on the boat to disembark and apply for asylum, arguing the asylum-seekers lack the proper documentation. Under international law, neither a lack of documentation nor irregular entry precludes people from seeking asylum.

The boat began a hazardous journey from India after those on board reportedly fled Sri Lanka, where the members of the Tamil minority have suffered past persecution. Despite many recent improvements, there are still concerns about discriminatory practices against Tamils by law enforcement officials.



The group had set out from India, more than 1,700 km away, on a boat bearing an Indian flag. They had been travelling for more than three weeks headed for Australia. As they neared the coast of Aceh, bad weather struck, stranding their boat off Lhoknga.



The UN Human Rights Council noted in April that Sri Lanka saw a spate of arrests of Tamils under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). Arrests carried out under the PTA have, in a number of cases, failed to meet the minimum standards of due process laid out in directives by Sri Lanka's National Human Rights Commission. Sri Lankan Tamils remain deeply concerned about what they say is a persistent culture of surveillance in the north and east of the country.

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Brazil: Economic emergency, no excuse to cut social services and security short ahead of Olympics

Publisher Amnesty International Publication Date 17 June 2016 Cite as Amnesty International, Brazil: Economic emergency, no excuse to cut social services and security short ahead of Olympics, 17 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/576795744.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.

A new decree by the governor of Rio de Janeiro authorizing spending cuts ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games must not be used as an excuse to cut short basic services and training for security forces to be deployed in favelas, Amnesty International said.

"The decision to cut down on social services and security ahead of the Rio Olympics is not only shocking but incredibly worrying, particularly given Rio's utterly poor record when it comes to homicides and police killings," said Atila Roque, Brazil Director at Amnesty International.

"What Rio needs is not less but more investment to ensure security forces that will be deployed across the state are properly trained to prevent the kind of human rights violations we have been documenting for years."

"This is not the time to hide behind numbers. Authorities in Rio de Janeiro have a responsibility to keep its people safe. Failing to take this responsibility seriously will only end up in more pain and suffering."

Copyright notice:  Copyright Amnesty International
Bangladesh: Halt Mass Arbitrary Arrests

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 17 June 2016 Related Document(s) "The Fear Never Leaves Me" : Custodial Deaths, Torture, and Unfair Trials after the 2009 Bangladesh Rifles Mutiny Cite as Human Rights Watch, Bangladesh: Halt Mass Arbitrary Arrests, 17 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/576799234.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.

Between June 10 and 16, 2016, security forces have reportedly arrested over 11,000 in connection with a spate of murders of bloggers with secular or atheist leanings, non-Muslims, members of the LGBT community, and other progressive or liberal thinkers. Those detained should either be charged on the basis of credible evidence of criminal activities and brought immediately before a judge, or be immediately released.

"After a slow and complacent response to these horrific attacks, Bangladesh's security forces are falling back on old habits and rounding up the 'usual suspects' instead of doing the hard work of carrying out proper investigations," said Brad Adams, Asia director. "The government has an obligation to put an end to these murders and hold the perpetrators to account, but it must do so through proper procedures set out in its own criminal code as well as in international law."

The wave of targeted killings of bloggers, secularists, and religious minorities began in 2013 and has escalated in recent months. To date, more than 50 have been killed, often through machete attacks in public spaces. Many of these killings have subsequently been claimed by Daesh (ISIS) or Ansar al-Islam, a Bangladeshi militant group linked to Al-Qaeda, but their involvement has not been established. The government denies the presence of both groups in the country.

The authorities were initially slow to respond to these murders, making only a handful of arrests in a few cases. In several of these cases, Human Rights Watch found that police detained those arrested weeks before they formally accused them of murder, failing to inform their families of their locations or provide access to legal counsel.

However, following the high profile murders of two gay rights activists on April 25, 2016, and the wife of a senior police officer responsible for counterterrorism operations on June 5, the government announced a new crackdown on extremists to bring an end to these killings, and the mass arrests began.

The killings of bloggers and others who allegedly do not conform to Islamist principles began in 2013 and, following a brief respite in 2014, resumed in 2015, continuing unabated until today. The initial "machete attacks" were largely against bloggers writing publicly about secularist or atheist principles, but later expanded to target members of religious minority groups, professors and students, publishers, and most recently LGBT rights activists.

The government's initial reaction involved both condemning the killings but also urging those targeted to censor their writing or curtail their activities. In 2013, the authorities prosecuted four bloggers for "offending religious sentiments." In 2015, following the murder of prominent blogger Niladri Chatterjee Niloy, Bangladesh's Inspector General of Police warned bloggers that "hurting religious sentiments is a crime," rather than protecting the right of free expression.

Anecdotal accounts of the recent roundups suggest that they are similar to those of the past. Police summarily stop people fitting a particular profile: largely young men in areas the police suspect harbor militants. Police sources themselves state that of the more than 11,000 rounded up on this drive, only about 145 are confirmed members of militant organizations. Membership of an organization is not sufficient evidence to link individuals to these crimes.

Media reports claim that some of those detained are being made to pay bribes to secure their release, a familiar pattern in Bangladesh. For instance, in one case reported to Human Rights Watch in the present roundup, police detained a youth, beat him up in custody, and then demanded a 100,000 taka (US$1,270) bribe, threatening otherwise to list him as a suspected fundamentalist.

Given the well documented history of impunity for torture and other custodial abuse in Bangladesh, there is a real risk of harm during detention and interrogation. Human Rights Watch has documented torture and custodial abuse of those detained by Bangladeshi security forces, including that of one of its own consultants in 2008. A 2012 Human Rights Watch report documented the mass arrests, torture, and custodial deaths of those suspected of involvement in a 2009 mutiny by the Bangladesh Rifles. Subsequent investigations by Human Rights Watch before and after the violent elections in January 2014 documented arbitrary and illegal arrests, leading in some cases to disappearances and deaths.

Human Rights Watch noted that the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has promised a climate of zero tolerance for torture and impunity.

"The mass arrest of thousands upon thousands within the course of a few days is a familiar scene in Bangladesh, but does little to inspire confidence either that these ghastly killings will stop or that due process will be followed," Adams said. "The authorities need to conduct focused investigations in order to find those responsible for planning and carrying out the wave of killings that has so outraged the world."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
China: Drop Cases Against Rights Lawyers

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 17 June 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, China: Drop Cases Against Rights Lawyers, 17 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/576799cf4.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.

Both Xia Lin, who has defended activists and victims of rights abuses in a number of well-known cases, and Zhou Shifeng, director of the embattled Beijing Fengrui Law Firm, face prosecutions that appear linked to their human rights legal work, Human Rights Watch said. Xia's case is scheduled for trial on June 17, 2016. On June 12, police recommended Zhou's case for prosecution. These actions come nearly one year after the government engaged in a mass round-up of human rights lawyers.

"The Chinese government's hostility toward human rights lawyers has not eased since the mass arrest of legal professionals last July," said Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch. "This heavy-handed campaign against lawyers can only further diminish publicand globalconfidence in China's justice system."

The authorities have charged Xia Lin with extortion stemming from money he had allegedly borrowed from private individuals, though none of those individuals had filed police reports or brought civil claims prior to Xia's detention. The case against Xia appears to be retaliation for his defense of Guo Yushan, the head of a leading Beijing think tank, Transition Institute, in 2014. Guo was detained in October 2014, and Xia was taken into custody a month later. Xia was initially also detained for gambling, though that charge was eventually dropped. His case has been delayed twice as the procuratorate has sent it back to the police due to insufficient evidence.

Among those that Xia has defended include Deng Yujiao, a hotel worker who killed a government official in self-defense against attempted rape, and Tan Zuoren, a Sichuan activist who was imprisoned for investigating the causes of school collapse during the Sichuan earthquake in 2008.

Xia's case has been rife with procedural irregularities, Human Rights Watch said. Police took Xia into custody without presenting a warrant to his family. China's Criminal Procedure Law requires that a suspect's family be informed within 24 hours of an individual's formal detention, but Xia's family was not informed of his whereabouts or the charges against him for five days. From November 2014 to February 2015, detention center officials repeatedly denied the requests of Xia's lawyer to meet him, contrary to Chinese law allowing such access, claiming they were "checking his lawyer's documents."

Zhou Shifeng has been charged with subversion, a serious political crime that can result in a life sentence. Zhou's prosecution stems from the mass detentions and interrogations of lawyers and activists in connection with the Beijing Fengrui Law Firm, which has hired lawyers undertaking human rights defense work. Beginning on July 9, 2015, authorities took into custody more than 300 people across the country. Most were released after a day or two of questioning, though 24 are still in detention, according to the Hong Kong-based group Chinese Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group. Eleven of the 24 are lawyers and legal assistants.

Shortly after the wave of detentions began, state media outlets published unsubstantiated allegations about lawyers, activists, and the Beijing Fengrui Law Firm, calling them "a major criminal gang" that "aim[s] to create disturbances and disturb order" in the name of "defending [human] rights." On July 18, Xinhua quoted the alleged confession of Zhou, stating that he had said the firm "had broken the law" and "brought great risks to social stability."

During their more than 11 months of detention, these lawyers and legal assistants have been held incommunicado, during which they have had no access to lawyers of their choice or their family members. Human Rights Watch is seriously concerned about their well-being, as their detention and politicized prosecutions leave them at risk of torture or ill-treatment. In late May, there were reports from activists in Tianjin, where most of the lawyers are being held, that Zhao Wei, detained legal assistant to Li Heping, who is also in custody, had been subjected to unspecified "sexual assault." Human Rights Watch has been unable to verify this.

The Chinese government has dramatically narrowed space for free expression and civil society since President Xi Jinping came to power in March 2013, Human Rights Watch said. Authorities have targeted a wide range of civil society actors, such as liberal scholars and opinion leaders on social media, while asserting Communist Party supremacy and demanding increasing loyalty to the party.

Human rights lawyers appear to be a particular focus of the government's assault on civil society, Human Rights Watch said. In December 2015, Beijing lawyer Pu Zhiqiang was convicted for "inciting ethnic hatred" and "disturbing public order" and given a three-year suspended sentence; in January 2016, Guangzhou lawyer Tang Jingling received five years in prison for promoting non-violent civil disobedience; Beijing lawyer Zhang Kai was detained incommunicado between August 2015 and March 2016 for providing legal advice to Christians who resisted the government's campaign to remove crosses from churches in Zhejiang province.

"The Chinese government is going after lawyers, the very people who have provided a legal safety valve for rising social discontent," Richardson said. "The government should recognize that embracing their role, rather than imprisoning them, is in the country's best interests."

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
US, Russia: Investigate Deadly New Attacks in Aleppo, Syria

Publisher Human Rights Watch Publication Date 19 June 2016 Cite as Human Rights Watch, US, Russia: Investigate Deadly New Attacks in Aleppo, Syria, 19 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57679a104.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.

Deadly attacks on the city of Aleppo on June 4 and 5, 2016, are a test of the United States' and Russia's recent commitment to investigate attacks with significant civilian casualties in Syria. They should examine the attacks, which killed at least 32 civilians in opposition-held areas and at least 22 civilians in government-held areas.

In a May 9 statement, the US and Russia promised to carry out a joint assessment of attacks in Syria "leading to significant civilian casualties" and to share the results with the members of the International Syria Support Group Ceasefire Task Force and the UN Security Council. A month later, however, Human Rights Watch is not aware of any joint assessments. The US and Russia should report to the Security Council about these new attacks, and both countries and the Security Council should impose sanctions on those responsible for any attacks that violate international law.

"As fighting escalates again in Aleppo, the US and Russia should keep their commitment to investigate, to maintain their credibility," said Nadim Houry, deputy Middle East director. "Both the US and Russia should make clear to the warring parties that attacks that kill civilians in violation of international law won't be tolerated."

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a Syrian group that reports on civilian casualties in the conflict, attacks and shelling on opposition-held Aleppo has intensified since April 22. Between April 22 and June 9, 560 civilians have been killed, including 115 children and 83 women, according to SOHR.

At about 8 a.m. on June 5, airstrikes started hitting residential neighborhoods in opposition-held parts of Aleppo, according to local residents and local members of Syria Civil Defense, a volunteer search and rescue organization which operates in opposition-held areas. One of those neighborhoods was al-Qatirji where the Syrian Network for Human Rights said 12 civilians died.

"The rockets didn't stop falling until maybe 3 p.m.," said Feras Badawi, a local resident. "The whole day felt like the Apocalypse, it was just so bad. It is hard to describe, people were running chaotically, children were crying, women were screaming. My children were hysterical. People were very afraid."

Badawi and two local media activists said that there were no military targets in the area that came under attack. Human Rights Watch could not independently verify the presence of military targets in that area. The Syria Civil Defense posted a video showing the aftermath of one of the June 5 strikes on al-Qatirji and rescue workers pulling a dead body from the rubble. Using satellite imagery analysis of al-Qatirji, Human Rights Watch identified at least three distinct sites in the area hit on June 5 showing multiple mixed residential and commercial buildings damaged. The damage in these sites is consistent with the detonation of large air-dropped munitions.



The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Syrian Network for Human Rights, another group that reports on civilian casualties, put the civilian death toll from airstrikes and artillery fire on opposition-held areas that day at 32, including a woman and two children. The Syrian Civil Defense said that 64 civilians were killed in Aleppo and its outskirts. Neither the Syrian nor the Russian government issued a statement, and it is not clear which of them carried out the airstrikes.

The official Syrian news agency, SANA, reported that rockets fired by opposition armed groups on government controlled parts of Aleppo, including al-Midan and al-Ramouseh neighborhoods, killed 17 civilians and wounded 124 on June 4.

"Buildings were destroyed and three shops were completely burned," said 'Pierre,' a resident of government-held Aleppo who visited al-Midan after the June 4 attacks. "I saw burned bodies inside the buildings and ashes everywhere. There was no way you could recognize the corpses. A bomb fell on top of a taxicab and it was totally destroyed and it killed the cab driver. There were so many rescue workers trying to put out the fires and saving injured people."

On June 5, SANA reported that five people were killed and 77 injured when armed groups fired rockets on Aleppo locations, including al-Ramouseh, the Electricity Company, al-Midan and the Public Park, also hitting an Armenian church.

Human Rights Watch has previously documented abuses by armed groups, including through attacks with car bombs, mortars, and unguided rockets on heavily populated, government-controlled areas in Damascus and Homs.

Deliberate or reckless attacks against civilians and civilian structures committed with criminal intent are war crimes. The laws of war require that the parties to a conflict take constant care during military operations to spare the civilian population and to "take all feasible precautions" to avoid or minimize the incidental loss of civilian life and damage to civilian objects.

"The US and Russia should make sanctioning those responsible for unlawful attacks a priority to deter future such attacks and show commitment to Syria's civilians," Houry said.

Attacks on Opposition-Held Areas

The deadliest of the June 5 attacks hit al-Qatirji and al-Kallaseh neighborhoods of Aleppo. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, the June 5 strikes on al-Qatirji killed 12 civilians.

Feras Badawi, a resident of al-Qatirji, said he was asleep with his wife and four children when airstrikes hit his neighborhood:

When we heard the first explosion at around 8 a.m., the whole household woke up afraid and the children were scared so I took the whole family to the shelter and I ran out to help with the rescue efforts. As soon as I reached the location of the first rocket, another rocket fell in the same place.

Both Badawi and Ahmad Hallaq, a media activist who went to al-Qatirji neighborhood that morning, said that a first strike did not kill anyone but a second strike did. Badawi said that about an hour after the first round, new airstrikes hit the area:

As we were trying to rescue people, we heard another loud explosion and we had to run into the buildings for shelter. I saw parachutes carrying the bombs as they fell down, and we had to escape. We heard more explosions and planes swooshing overhead so we just had to escape and we left the people whom we were trying to save because we just got too afraid. When it became quieter, we helped to remove people from underneath the rubble and took some of the civilians to shelters underneath the apartment buildings.

Badawi identified one of those killed as his neighbor Farlas Talji.

Satellite imagery analysis comparing images of al-Qatirji, taken on May 24 and June 12, show at least three major damage sites in the area targeted on June 5. All damage identified in the satellite imagery is consistent with the detonation of large air-dropped munitions on residential areas.

Later that day, artillery fired by government forces on opposition-held areas in al-Kallaseh neighborhood killed at least five civilians, including two children. Osama Abu al-Ezz, a doctor who works in the Ento field hospital, said artillery shells began falling at 10 p.m. on al-Killaseh, close to his hospital.

This neighborhood is civilian and there are no military headquarters or fighters there. The shelling struck men and children who were gathered to celebrate the first day of [the Muslim holy month of] Ramadan. Many injuries came through our hospital doors and four people arrived already dead. The injuries included shrapnel to the head, stomach, and limbs and the bodies were badly burned and riddled with shrapnel. In total, I saw five dead people from this attack, and two of them were children.

Ziad al-Halabi, a resident of al-Kallaseh, said he was busy at work in his house when he heard the explosions of the artillery fire close to his home.

"Once I heard the explosions, I ran out to see the situation and found that the rockets had fallen 200 meters away from where I live," he told Human Rights Watch, speaking from Aleppo. "In fact, I thought it was my brother's building that got hit. When I arrived at the location of the strike, I saw two men who told me that people had died in the attack, and those men's clothes were drenched in blood because they were rescuing the injured people. Where the shell fell there was a crater and there was a lot of blood on the ground and injured people lying on the ground. The attack killed five people and I knew all of them, they were neighbors."

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, attacks also hit the following opposition held parts of Aleppo on June 5:

Al-Zabdieh: 5 civilians killed  2 killed in artillery fire, 3 including one child in airstrikes

Al-Muyasar: 3 civilians killed

Al-Haydarieh: 2 civilians killed, including one woman

Karm al-Jabal: 4 civilians killed

Al-Furdous: 1 civilian killed

Attacks on Government-Held Areas

'Pierre,' a resident of government-held Aleppo, told Human Rights Watch that he went to al-Midan neighborhood after it was attacked on June 4. He said the shelling there was between 6:30 and 8 p.m. He said al-Midan is a densely populated residential area that had been a mainly Armenian neighborhood before the war but many displaced Muslims are living there today.

Photos published by the Syrian Ekhbareya TV station show damaged vehicles and apartment buildings reduced to rubble. Video filmed by the station also shows rescue workers trying to dig out victims from under concrete from the buildings. Another video shot in al-Fayd neighborhood shows damaged shops, wares strewn on the ground, and destroyed parked cars on the side of a street.

Photos published on June 5 by the Ekhbareya TV station show bloodied civilians on gurneys awaiting treatment, while video shot shows buildings on fire, destroyed cars, and a man holding what seemed to be a dead child.

Copyright notice:  Copyright, Human Rights Watch
Some 13 million Yemenis need immediate help amid bleak conditions  senior UN relief official

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 16 June 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Some 13 million Yemenis need immediate help amid bleak conditions  senior UN relief official, 16 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57679b7340b.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.

16 June 2016 - The top United Nations relief official for Yemen has reported that more than 13 million Yemenis are in need of immediate life-saving assistance as a result of a bleak humanitarian situation in the country that continues to worsen.

"The humanitarian situation in Yemen is among the world's worst crises. The scale and intensity of the humanitarian situation here is bleak - and by many measures it's continuing to get worse," Jamie McGoldrick, the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, said in a press briefing in Sana'a.

"The war has taken a very heavy toll on the country and its people. It is no exaggeration to say the economy is on the verge of total collapse," he added.

Mr. McGoldrick noted that food and nutrition, insecurity, and access to health care are among the most critical areas of need. He added that people are dying of preventable illnesses, while, overall, access to health-care services for 14.1 million people has been disrupted.

Specifically, the humanitarian coordinator said that nearly 3 million people have fled their homes since the conflict escalated, most of whom - about 2.8 million - are displaced within Yemen.

The conflict has also had significant impact on the education system, with 1,600 schools closed and 560,000 children out of school, he said.

Up to 30 April, the UN has directly assisted 3.6 million people this year with some form of humanitarian assistance in all 22 governorates. This includes assisting 3.6 million people with emergency food assistance, 3.5 million people with essential and life-saving health assistance, and 1.2 million people with direct water, sanitation and hygiene services.

The UN provided assistance to more than 8 million people in 2015, and is aiming to support 13.6 million people in 2016, Mr. McGoldrick said.

The humanitarian coordinator emphasized that some areas are difficult to reach for security reasons.

"We try to reach those most in need but sometimes this is not possible. The parties to the conflict need to grant unfettered humanitarian access," he said, adding that the UN response is significantly underfunded.
UN human rights panel concludes ISIL is committing genocide against Yazidis

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 16 June 2016 Related Document(s) "They came to destroy": ISIS Crimes Against the Yazidis Cite as UN News Service, UN human rights panel concludes ISIL is committing genocide against Yazidis, 16 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57679ba440b.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.

16 June 2016 - The Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) [also known as ISIL and Da'esh] is committing genocide against Yazidis that amounts to crimes against humanity and war crimes, a United Nations-mandated human rights inquiry reported today.

Genocide has occurred and is ongoing, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, emphasized in releasing the report They Came to Destroy: ISIS Crimes against the Yazidis.

ISIS has subjected every Yazidi woman, child or man that it has captured to the most horrific of atrocities, he said in a press statement issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Per the Commission's mandate, the report focuses on violations committed against Yazidis inside Syria, where it found that thousands of women and girls are still being held captive and abused, often as slaves.

The Commission also examined how the terrorist group forcibly transferred Yazidis into Syria after launching its attacks on northern Iraq's Sinjar region on 3 August 2014. The information that was collected documents evidence of intent and criminal liability of ISIS's military commanders, fighters, religious and ideological leaders, wherever they are located, the Commission said.

The findings are based on interviews with survivors, religious leaders, smugglers, activists, lawyers, medical personnel, and journalists, as well as extensive documentary material, which corroborate information gathered by the Commission.

ISIS has sought to erase the Yazidis through killings; sexual slavery, enslavement, torture and inhuman and degrading treatment and forcible transfer causing serious bodily and mental harm; the infliction of conditions of life that bring about a slow death; the imposition of measures to prevent Yazidi children from being born, including forced conversion of adults, the separation of Yazidi men and women, and mental trauma; and the transfer of Yazidi children from their own families and placing them with ISIS fighters, thereby cutting them off from beliefs and practices of their own religious community, according to the report.

ISIS separated Yazidi men and boys older than 12 years old from the rest of their families, and killed those who refused to convert, in order to destroy their identity as Yazidis. Women and children often witnessed these killings before being forcibly transferred to locations in Iraq, and thereafter to Syria, where the majority of captives remain, the Commission found.

Paulo Pinheiro ( left ) Chairperson of the Commission Independent International of Inquiry on Syria and members Carla Del Ponte (second left) and Vitit Muntarbhorn (right) arrive for the press conference. 16 June 2016. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre

Thousands of women and girls, some as young as 9 years old, have been sold in slave markets, or souk sabaya, in the Syrian governorates of Raqqah, Aleppo, Homs, Hasakah and Dayr Az- Zawr. ISIS and its fighters hold them both in sexual slavery and in slavery, the report says, with Yazidi women and girls being constantly sold, gifted and willed between fighters.

Survivors who escaped from ISIS captivity in Syria describe how they endured brutal rapes, often on a daily basis, and were punished if they tried to escape with severe beatings, and sometimes gang rapes, said Commissioner Vitit Muntarbhorn.

The Commission also heard accounts of how some Yazidi women and girls committed suicide to escape the cruel torment.

The report noted that ISIS, which considers the Yazidis to be infidels, has publicly cited the Yazidis' faith as the basis for the attack of 3 August 2014 and its subsequent abuse of them.

The Commission said that ISIS has referred to the Yazidi as a pagan minority [whose] existence [] Muslims should question, adding that their women could be enslaved [] as spoils of war.

ISIS has made no secret of its intent to destroy the Yazidis of Sinjar, and that is one of the elements that allowed us to conclude their actions amount to genocide, said Commissioner Carla del Ponte.

A Yazidi boy - his face covered and hair matted with dust - re-enters Iraq from the Syrian Arab Republic, at a border crossing in the town of Peshkhabour in Dohuk Governorate. Photo: UNICEF/Wathiq Khuzaie

Mr. Pinheiro stressed that there must be no impunity for crimes of this nature, recalling States' obligations under the Genocide Convention to prevent and to punish genocide. The Commission repeated its call for the Security Council to urgently refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court, or to establish an ad hoc tribunal to prosecute the violations of international law committed during the non-international armed conflict.

The Commission further noted that, with no path to international criminal justice available, it is likely that the first such prosecution of ISIS crimes against the Yazidis will take place in a domestic jurisdiction. It is essential, that States enact laws against genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, the Commission stated.

The Commission also urged international recognition of the genocide, and said that more must be done to assure the protection of the Yazidi religious minority in the Middle East, as well as the funding of care, including psycho-social and financial support, for victims of the genocide.

The Commission, which in addition to Mr. Pinheiro, Ms. del Ponte and Mr. Muntarbhorn also includes Karen Koning AbuZayd, Special Adviser on the Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants, was mandated by the UN Human Rights Council in March 2011 to investigate and record all violations of international law in Syria.
Visiting Greek island, Ban says refugees' nightmare 'not over,' urging humane approach across Europe

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 18 June 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Visiting Greek island, Ban says refugees' nightmare 'not over,' urging humane approach across Europe, 18 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57679c5940c.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.

18 June 2016 - Visiting the Greek island of Lesbos, which has become migrants' entry point to Europe, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the countries in the region to respond with a humane and human rights-based approach, instead of border closures, barriers and bigotry.

Today, I met refugees from some of the world's most troubled places. They have lived through a nightmare. And that nightmare is not over, Mr. Ban told non-governmental organizations (NGOs), volunteers and media, who gathered to hear the UN chief's firsthand account of the situation there.

But here in Lesbos, they have found relief from war and persecution, he added, noting that the islanders opened their homes, hearts and wallets to support people in need.

Mr. Ban said that the refugee families shared their hopes with him: school for their children; jobs to provide for their families; and the opportunity to give back to their communities. They yearn to go home  but know that remains a distant dream.

Mr. Ban's two-day visit to Greece came just ahead of World Refugee Day on 20 June, and in the runup to the UN General Assembly's High-Level Meeting to address the large movements of refugees and migrants, on 19 September.

The UN is doing all it can to mobilize support, but across the region, refugee conditions are worsening, with many becoming destitute, girls being forced into early marriage, half of all refugee children out of school, many forced to beg on the streets, or becoming the victims of exploitation, including sexual abuse, he said.

One of the most beautiful words in the Greek lexicon is philoxenia -- friendship towards strangers

Noting that every month, 450 people lose their lives in the Mediterranean, the equivalent of two full transcontinental passenger jets, Mr. Ban urged the international community to do more to resolve conflicts and address the factors causing so much suffering and upheaval, and called on the countries of Europe to respond with a humane and human rights-based approach.

Detention is not the answer, he said. It should end immediately. Let us work together to resettle more people, provide legal pathways, and better integrate refugees. I recognize the difficulties. But the world has the wealth, the capacity and the duty to meet this challenge.

Developing countries host 90 per cent of the world's refugees. It is time for the world to share fully in this responsibility, Mr. Ban stressed.

That is our political and moral obligation. That is our humanitarian imperative. It is what we must do as a human family. One of the most beautiful words in the Greek lexicon is philoxenia -- friendship towards strangers, he concluded.

Ahead of World Refugee Day, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has recently launched the #WithRefugees petition, which aims to gather public support for the growing number of families forced to flee conflict and persecution worldwide.
In Greece, UN chief urges global responsibility-sharing for welfare of displaced

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 18 June 2016 Cite as UN News Service, In Greece, UN chief urges global responsibility-sharing for welfare of displaced, 18 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57679c8640c.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.

18 June 2016 - On a visit to Greece, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today discussed the refugee crisis with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, urging States to address the root causes of displacement and more evenly share the responsibility for the welfare of migrants and refugees.

The main topic of discussion at this time is of course the tremendous challenges you are facing in addressing the needs of so many desperate people fleeing war and persecution, Mr. Ban said in a press conference held in the country's capital, Athens.

Mr. Ban's two-day visit to Greece came just ahead of the World Refugee Day on 20 June, and in the runup to UN General Assembly's High-Level Meeting to address the large movements of refugees and migrants on 19 September.

The UN chief acknowledged Greece's important contributions to the United Nations across the international agenda, and thanked the people of Greece for their global citizenship.

Despite the country's own economic troubles, Greece has been generous in saving lives, he said. However, Greece should not be left to address this challenge on its own, he added.

I remained deeply distressed at the high number of deaths in the Mediterranean. We must work together to protect people and address the root causes of displacement. I continue to call for greater sharing of this responsibility across Europe and, indeed, across the world, he said.

Greece should not be left to address this challenge on its own

Mr. Ban and the Prime Minister also discussed the conflict in Syria, recent terrorist attacks and other challenges that are causing large-scale suffering and instability, as well as the Middle East peace process.

On the progress made by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders in their talks, which were conducted under Mr. Ban's good offices and facilitated by his Special Adviser Espen Barth Eide, the UN chief welcomed both leaders' commitment, expressed in their joint statement last month, to reach a solution within the year.

Mr. Ban also commended Greece for its active engagement with the UN Human Rights Council, noting that Greece has put in place an important coordination mechanism to address various human rights challenges  including migration, asylum and related issues.

Finally, they discussed the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the climate change challenge. Greece joined 176 other nations in signing the landmark Paris Agreement two months ago in New York.

Now we must bring the agreement into force as soon as possible -- and work for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mr. Ban said.

He also met with President Prokopis Pavlopoulos yesterday and with Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias today before leaving for Lesbos, a Greek island, which has become migrants' entry point to Europe.

Meanwhile, ahead of World Refugee Day, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has recently launched the #WithRefugees petition, which aims to gather public support for the growing number of families forced to flee conflict and persecution worldwide.
Burundi: On second visit to country, UN human rights experts call for concrete steps to end crisis

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 17 June 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Burundi: On second visit to country, UN human rights experts call for concrete steps to end crisis, 17 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57679cc240b.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.

17 June 2016 - Concluding their second visit to Burundi, a team of United Nations independent human rights experts welcomed certain improvements in the country, but warned that the recent "calm should not be confused with long term stability," and also called on all parties in the country to stop the use of violence as a political tool.

The team reported a significant drop in the number of executions since the beginning of the year as a positive step, but also stated that the shrinking space for civil society actors remains a cause for concern.

Christof Heyns, one of the three independent experts and the Head of the UN Independent Investigation on Burundi (UNIIB) said that for the country to move away from conflict, an inclusive political dialogue addressing the roots of the political crisis is needed. He also called for the broadening of the recent talks in Arusha and Brussels to ensure that all actors of the crisis are included.

The team also expressed concern that many political prisoners remain in jail and that a new pattern of mass arrests has emerged, mostly affecting ordinary people, including children. "In various parts of the country, school children have been arrested or suspended from school because their books had scribbles on pictures of the Head of State. Some of them face the prospect of spending five to 10 years in jail. We will continue to closely follow these cases, including the actions taken by the National Human Rights Commission on them," said Heyns.

The team said that it looked forward to working further with the Burundian authorities and society to strengthen human rights protection in the country.

The UNIIB was established by the UN Human Rights Council in December 2015 to investigate human rights violations and abuses in Burundi, make recommendations on the improvement of the human rights situation, and engage in a dialogue with the authorities and other relevant actors in the ongoing crisis. It is scheduled to submit its final report to the Council in September 2016.

Burundi was thrown into crisis more than a year ago when President Nkurunziza decided to run for a controversial third term that he went on to win. To date, it has been reported that hundreds of people have been killed, more than 240,000 have fled the nation, and thousands more have been arrested and possibly subjected to human rights violations.
Much-needed aid reached some 87,500 people in Syria's besieged cities, UN reports

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 17 June 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Much-needed aid reached some 87,500 people in Syria's besieged cities, UN reports, 17 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57679d2c40d.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.

17 June 2016 - Over the past two days, humanitarian convoys have delivered aid to thousands of beneficiaries in several besieged areas of war-torn Syria, including some 50,000 beneficiaries in Afrin, in the country's north, and an estimated 37,500 residents of Al-Waer, near Homs, according to the United Nations relief wing.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also reported that a second convoy to Al-Waer, pending Government approval, will complete deliveries to the rest of the estimated 75,000 population is planned in the coming days.

The convoys carried health supplies, including insulin, emergency health kits, burn kits, medicines for non-communicable diseases and materials for dialysis, as well as food, education and other emergency supplies.

On 9 June, the food leg of the convoy to Darayya carried food for some 2,400 people. The parcels are estimated to feed the beneficiaries for about one month.

In Geneva, OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke told reporters at the regular press briefing that a third convoy planned to Kafr-Batna and had not gone through due to last-minute logistical complications and that it would proceed in the coming days. He added that the UN is seeking permission to go back to Darayya, and approval to go to all besieged locations in Syria.

Tarik Jasarevic, a spokesperson for the World Health Organization (WHO) also informed reporters that there had been no reported removals of medical supplies on 16 June, adding that in the past week, there had been some removals.
Central African Republic: UN mission strongly condemns escalation of violence in country's west

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 17 June 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Central African Republic: UN mission strongly condemns escalation of violence in country's west, 17 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57679d5140b.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.

17 June 2016 - The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has expressed deep concern at the deteriorating security situation in Ngaoundaye, Ouham Pende Prefecture, in the west of the country following attacks and retaliation between groups backed by Christian militias and herders supported by Muslim fighters, since 10 June.

Houses have been burnt and properties looted in the fighting. The violence has caused significant displacement of the civilian population to the parish of Ngaoundaye, as well as to neighbouring Cameroon.

Issuing a statement, the Mission called on the armed groups and affiliated movements to put the interests of civilians above any other consideration. It also reiterated its readiness to find a solution to the crisis, related to the issue of seasonal migration, in collaboration with the Central African Republic (CAR) Government and the actors involved.

The Mission has reaffirmed its determination to provide stability and security in the country and protect the freedom of movement of the communities. In the wake of the violence, the security apparatus has been strengthened in the region and peacekeepers have been placed between the belligerents.

The Mission also noted that it is ready to provide all necessary support to conduct investigations to identify the instigators of the unrest who must be held accountable for their acts and be brought to justice.

More than three years of civil war and sectarian violence have displaced thousands of people in the CAR amid continuing clashes between the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel coalition and anti-Balaka militia, which are mostly Christian. The UN recently reported an upsurge in violence, in particular last September and October, committed by armed elements.
Ban expresses deep concern over the continuing political uncertainty in Haiti

Publisher UN News Service Publication Date 16 June 2016 Cite as UN News Service, Ban expresses deep concern over the continuing political uncertainty in Haiti, 16 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57679d6640c.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.

16 June 2016 - Concerned that the prevailing uncertainty in Haiti is further compounding the numerous political and socio-economic challenges facing the country, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that further delays in completing the electoral process can potentially affect stability in the country, as well as international support to it.

According to a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban called on the National Assembly to urgently decide on a viable arrangement for provisional governance that can ensure the completion of the electoral process and a return to full constitutional order without further delays.

The statement further says that the UN chief urged all stakeholders to act responsibly in the interest of Haiti and its people and to refrain from any incitement or resort to violence.

The UN and its partners in Haiti have also expressed concern that measures to ensure institutional continuity had not been taken despite missing several key deadlines regarding the political transition as well as the ending of term of the country's provisional president.

On 14 February, the Haitian National Assembly elected Jocelerme Privert as the island nation's interim President, one week after former President Michel Martelly departed without a successor. Mr. Privert served as interim President for 120 days, and an election had been scheduled for 24 April, following an agreement  known as the 5 February Agreement  between Haitian stakeholders to preserve institutional continuity and further the electoral process.V

Yesterday, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Haiti, Sandra Honore, and the other members of the international community in Haiti represented in the "Core Group" (the Ambassadors of Brazil, Canada, France, Spain, the United States and the European Union, and the Special Representative of the Organization of American States) issued a joint statement calling on the National Assembly to facilitate the return to constitutional order through the holding of elections without further delay.
Splits and schisms in South Sudan

Publisher IRIN Author Alice Su Publication Date 16 June 2016 Cite as IRIN, Splits and schisms in South Sudan, 16 June 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57679ded4.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.

Three flags fly in a dirt lot outside the local administrator's office in the South Sudanese town of Terekeka. The middle one is especially bright: a new green flag emblazoned with a rhinoceros, the word TEREKEKA printed in white block letters underneath. It was recently raised to replace an older flag using the same design but representing Central Equatorial State.

One of South Sudan's 10 original states, Central Equatorial has been split into three: Terekeka, Jubek and Yei, each with its own flag, local commissioner, and institutions.

President Salva Kiir has done likewise across the country, reorganising South Sudan into 28 states, largely along ethnic lines. He announced the policy in October 2015 and implemented it in December 2015 despite objections from the UN, the international community, and, most importantly, the opposition  led by former vice president Riek Machar.

Machar's return to Juba late April marked the end of a two-and-a-half-year civil war in which government and opposition forces alike committed mass atrocities against civilians, including murder, rape, and the use of child soldiers. Much of the brutality took place along ethnic lines, with Kiir's Dinka soldiers targeting civilians of Machar's Nuer people, and vice versa.

The two sides signed a peace agreement in Addis Ababa in 2015, and Machar's return marked a step forward, at least enabling the formation of a transitional unity government. But other parts of the agreement seem forgotten or outright ignored  most obviously, Kiir has ploughed on with implementing his 28-states policy without waiting for an independent commission to evaluate the move.

Border bother

Terekeka, on the banks of the Nile, is a three hours' drive north up bumpy red dirt roads from Juba. The road was quiet, butterflies flitting in the spring breeze as cattle herders shooed bellowing white-horned cows across the road.

But violence had broken out just a few days previously in Mangala County, on the border between the new Terekeka and Jubek states. Mangala has historically been disputed territory, with the Mundari people of Terekeka and the Bari of today's Jubek both claiming the area as their own.

Alice Su/IRIN

Under a united Central Equatorial State, tensions had faded, especially as many Mundari and Bari inter-married. Now that there's a border between the two, both sides want this piece of land, especially since it includes a profitable sugar factory and river port.

On 7 May, the newly-appointed commissioner of Mangala County, Elario Paulo Fataki, held an inauguration celebration in Mangala, tearing down the old flag and raising a Jubek flag instead.

Local Mundari youth resisted and fighting broke out between them and Fataki's security detail. Three soldiers and one woman were killed in the clashes and 1,200 people fled their homes in fear.

"I was going to my place to raise my flag, and the Mundari youth attacked our celebration," Fataki said in a phone interview. "The youths from Terekeka started the shooting."

Mangala should belong to Jubek under the president's decree, Fataki said, and he saw no reason to seek local approval to hold his ceremony there. "I don't need to tell the other commissioner (of Terekeka) anything," he said, defiantly.

In Terekeka, Minister of Information Modi Lomindi disagreed. "What happened was uncalled for. I condemn the action done by my colleagues in Jubek state," he told IRIN.

"If an area is contested, you cannot take it by force," Lomindi said. "You come to celebrate in someone's home. You tear down their flag and put your own. [Does that make it] your house?"

Despite the clashes, Lomindi supported the 28-states initiative as he said having their own state would help Terekeka's Mundari obtain better services at a grassroots level. "We wanted this federal system with more counties. This is a gift," he said. "We know our own problems better than someone who is not a son of this place."

Sowing ethnic division

But civil society leaders argue that the 28-states policy is a form of gerrymandering that will exacerbate South Sudan's problem of tribalism over nationalism.

"A federal system is one where resources and power are not at the centre. There should be power for citizens to hold the leader accountable. Is that what this is?" asked Edmund Yakani, director of the Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO).

Yakani fears that splitting South Sudan further along ethnic lines will only heighten the country's risk of conflict, as has already happened in Mangala.

C. Tijerina/UNHCR More than 5 million people need humanitarian assistance as a result of the civil war

"We are living in a state where you have ethnicity at the centre of political strength. Your ethnic identity is greater than your sense of nation or citizenship," he said.

"The danger is this easily promotes secession and further splits. We used this identity game to split from Sudan, and now they're using it within South Sudan. The likelihood of secession is rising, and if it fails, we'll end up like Somalia."

Ethic identity is not a problem in itself, said Winnie Gulliver, programme manager at the South Sudan Action Network on Small Arms. Rather, she suggested that it has been the politicisation of ethnic identity and the militarisation of politics  combined with the proliferation of small arms and lack of national civic education  that has devastated the country.

"[Politicians] used tribal identity in the same way they used sexual violence, as a weapon of war," Gulliver explained. "That's the problem."

A problem of accountability

Mori Misak, a programme officer at CEPO, said that most South Sudanese lack understanding of the peace process, the 28-states issue, or even the roots of the conflict.

"The masses hardly know that the issue which sparked this conflict was distribution of power and party reforms," he said. "We have corruption and no proper checks and balances. Money stays in the top layer of government and doesn't reach the people."

These were the real issues, not ethnic differences, Misak said. The process by which the 28 states were decreed  without consultation and in violation of the peace agreement  only demonstrate South Sudan's lack of political inclusion or accountability, he added.

In Mangala, the fighting has stopped, but the border remains unclear, with Terekeka and Jubek both insisting the county belongs to them. On 1 June, Kiir and Machar announced the formation of a 15-member committee to review "the issue of the 28 states".

However, when pressed on the details, Kiir's press secretary Ateny Wek told Radio Tamazuj that the committee would only discuss the 28 states' borders, not the number of states itself. "It's impossible that it could be less than 28 states," Wek said.

Meanwhile, spokespeople from Machar's camp, and the minority leader in parliament, Onyoti Adigo, insisted that only 10 states are valid.

"We will not accept 28 states," Adigo told Radio Tamazuj. "There is no room for 28 states or 13 states or 50 states, and we demand 10 states according to the agreement."

Whether the political will and diplomatic skill is there to resolve this peacefully remains to be seen.
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.
MONDAY

Ride to Work Day

Ride to Work Day, an event to raise awareness for motorcycle riders, will begin at 11 a.m. at the Taylor County Expo Center. At 11:30 a.m., riders will proceed to Kent's Harley-Davidson, 3106 S. Clack St., for a free lunch.

Walk & Talk in the Park

The Abilene Recreation Division will conduct Walk & Talk in the Park from 6-7 p.m. at Nelson Park. Children age 16 and under must be supervised by an adult. Leashed pets will be welcome. Admission is free.

Square dance workshop

TYE  The Key City Squares will conduct a square dancing workshop at 6:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel.

Other ...

AARP, 10 a.m., Rose Park Senior Citizens Center Room B.

Cancer Services Network's Auxiliary meeting, 10:30 a.m., 100 Chestnut St., Suite 100. 325-672-0040.

Overeaters Anonymous, noon, Hinds Square Building, 100 Chestnut St., Room 112.

Schizophrenia Support Group, 1-2 p.m., Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300.

Blood drive, 1-6 p.m., Shoppin' Baskit, De Leon.

Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 5:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St.

Anorexics Bulimics Anonymous, 6 p.m., Shades of Hope, 402A Mulberry St., Buffalo Gap. 800-588-4673.

Central Texas Gem & Mineral Society of Abilene, 7 p.m., 7607 Highway 277 South. 325-692-0063.

Abilene Toastmaster's Club 1071, 7 p.m., Conference Center, Texas State Technical College, 650 E. Highway 80. 325-692-7325 or abilene.toastmastersclubs.org.

Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1501 N. Broadway, Ballinger. 817-689-2810 or 325-977-1007.

Mid-City Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First Christian Church. 325-670-4304.

Memory Men (4-part a cappella singing), 7 p.m., Calvary Baptist Church, 1165 Minter Lane. Park on east side, enter through kitchen. 325-676-SING.

Those Left To Cope, 7-8:30 p.m., First Baptist Church Ministry of Counseling and Enrichment, 1502 N. First St.

Abilene Community Band rehearsal, 7:30 p.m., Bynum Band Hall, McMurry University. 325-232-7383.

South Pioneer Al-Anon Group, 8 p.m., 3157 Russell Ave.

Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Avoca United Methodist Church. 325-773-2611.

Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Group. 325-676-1400.

TUESDAY

Snake presentation

BALLINGER  A presentation on Texas snakes will begin at 10 a.m. at the Carnegie Library, 204 N. Eighth St. Live snakes will be featured.

Summer reading program

WINTERS  A summer reading program for children ages 2 through fifth grade will be presented at 1:30 p.m. at Winters Public Library, 120 N. Main St. The topic will be exercise for body and mind. For information, call 325-754-4251.

Business workshop

Texas Tech Small Business Development Center Abilene will conduct a workshop, 'How to Start a Business,' from 6-8 p.m. in the Texas Tech Training Center, 749 Gateway St., Suite 301. To make a reservation, call 325-670-0300.

Square dance workshop

TYE  The Wagon Wheel Squares will conduct a square dancing workshop at 6:30 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel.

Other ...

Mission on the Move Soup Kitchen, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Southwest Drive Community United Methodist Church, 3025 Southwest Dr.

Abilene Southwest Rotary Club, noon, Beehive Restaurant, 442 Cedar St.

High Noon Al-Anon, noon, Southern Hills Church of Christ, 3666 Buffalo Gap Road (south end; follow the yellow signs).

Stroke/Aphasia Recovery Program support group, 1:30-2:30 p.m. West Texas Rehabilitation Center boardroom, 4601 Hartford St. 325-793-3535.

Dystonia Support Group, 5:15-6:15 p.m., Not Without Us, 3301 N. First St. Suite 117.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS), 5:30 p.m., Brook Hollow Christian Church, 2310 S. Willis St. 325-232-7444.

Legacies Al-Anon Family Group, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Open Door Building, 3157 Russell Ave. 325-280-7584.

Family (of Mental Health Consumers) Support Group, 6-7 p.m., Mental Health Association in Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300.

MHAA Bipolar/Depression Peer Support Group, 6-8 p.m., Ministry of Counseling & Enrichment, 1502 N. First St. 325-673-2300.

Free certified nurturing parent class (pregnancy to toddler), 6-8 p.m., Mission Church, North Third and Mockingbird streets. 325-672-9398.

Abilene Star Chorus, 6:15 p.m., First Baptist Church, 1333 N. Third St. 325-829-1470.

Overeaters Anonymous, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Exodus Metropolitan Community Church, 1933 S. 27th St.

Family Support Group for parents with special needs children, 6:30-7:30 p.m., West Texas Rehabilitation Center boardroom, 4601 Hartford St. 325-793-3500.

Alzheimer's Association  North Central Texas Chapter, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Chisholm Place, 1450 E. N. 10th St. 325-672-2907.

Al-Anon Parents Group, 7 p.m., Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave. Use Church Street entrance.

Al-Anon, 7 p.m., Doug Meinzer Activity Center, Knox City. 940-658-3926.

Brigadier General John Sayles Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 366, 7 p.m., American Legion Building, 302 E.S. 11th St.

Abilene Society of Model Railroaders, 7-8:30 p.m., 2043 N. Second St.

Unity Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St.

WEDNESDAY

Overeaters Anonymous, 8 a.m., Hinds Square Building, Room 112, 100 Chestnut St.

Blood drive, 8 a.m. to noon, AISD Administration Building, 241 Pine St.

Abilene Cactus Lions Club, 11:45 a.m., Cotton Patch Cafe, 3302 S. Clack St.

Abilene Wednesday Rotary Club, noon, Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway. $12 for lunch. Jo Ann Wilson, 325-677-6815.

Kiwanis Club of Abilene, noon, Abilene Country Club, 4039 S. Treadaway Blvd.

Clearly Speaking Toastmaster Club, noon, Westgate Church of Christ, 402 S. Pioneer Drive. 325-795-5570.

The Alzheimer's Association Brownwood Support Group, 2-3 p.m., Redstone Park Retirement & Assisted Living, 2410 Songbird Circle, Brownwood. 325-643-9056.

Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 5:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St.

Veterans Peer Support Group, 6 p.m., 765 Orange St. 325-670-4818.

Mid-week Al-Anon Family Group, 6-7 p.m., Open Door Building, 3157 Russell Ave. 325-698-4995.

Advanced Square Dancing, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Wagon Wheel.

Al-Anon, 7 p.m., First United Methodist Church, 1501 N. Broadway, Ballinger. 817-689-2810 or 325-977-1007.

DivorceCare support group, 7 p.m., Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler Ave. 325-691-4200.

THURSDAY

Blood drive, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Health South/Abilene Diagnostic Clinic, 1665 Antilley Road.

Chronic Pain and Depression Group, 11 a.m. to noon, Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St., 325-673-2300.

Abilene Founder Lions Club, 11:30 a.m., Al's Mesquite Grill, 4801 Buffalo Gap Road.

Kiwanis Club of Greater Abilene, noon, Beehive Restaurant, 442 Cedar St. 325-695-0092.

Mental Illness Open Support Group, 1-2 p.m., Mental Health Association of Abilene, 333 Orange St. 325-673-2300.

Abilene 42 Club, 6 p.m., Rose Park Senior Center.

Teen Recovery Group, 6-7 p.m., Mission Abilene, 3001 N. Third St.

Free certified nurturing parent class (all ages), 6-8 p.m., Mission Church, North Third and Mockingbird streets. 325-672-9398.

Take Off Pounds Sensibly, 6:30 p.m. Brook Hollow Christian Church. Weigh-in begins at 5:30 p.m. 325-665-5052.

Free swim class for people with multiple sclerosis, 6:30 p.m., YMCA, 3250 State St.

Gambler's Anonymous, 6:30 p.m., Unity Spiritual Living Center, 2842 Barrow St. 325-338-2575.

Round Dancing, 7 p.m., Wagon Wheel. 325-829-1517.

South Pioneer Al-Anon Group, 8 p.m., 3157 Russell Ave.

Unity Group of Alcoholics Anonymous, 8 p.m., Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, 602 Meander St.
Several dozen area 4-H members returned from the recent State 4-H Roundup with an assortment of winnings, with some winning multiple events.

Leading the way were a photographer from Taylor County, a Brown County team that took first in two fashion categories, and a Stephens County teen who had the best individual score in his event.

Eliesabeth Smith from Jim Ned High School in Taylor County earned best of show in the details and macro category in the photography competition for her extreme close-up of a dog's nose.

Four Brown County girls  Jessica and Shannon Dennis, Rachel Acker and Teadora Goforth  had the best fashion show entry for the jewelry/accessory category. The same team went on to triumph in the fashion final challenge.

Stephens County's Austin Kelly had the best individual score in the state in the range and pasture grass identification event. He helped lead his team to a second-place finish. Caleb Nored, Mykel Walters and Stone Weston joined Kelly. Additionally, a Mitchell County team consisting of Hadley Redwine and Kyler and Kynzie Hardegree finished sixth.

The Hardegrees were honored numerous times. Each won multiple ribbons for photography, with Kynzie collecting four blue ribbons. Kynzie also came in second with her natural fiber/cotton presentation, while Kyler was fourth in the food show dairy category.

Jacob Bagby and Reese Wilson of Erath County finished second in meat judging, helped by Bagby scoring the second highest individual score in the event. He also was awarded two red ribbons for photography.

Jodi Evans of Scurry County was another busy competitor. She won seven ribbons for her photography, then teamed with Alyssa Cowan and Ryleigh Stewart for third place in photography judging. Evans and Cowan worked together again to finish second in sheep and/or goat educational.

Anytime we start talking about the State 4-H Roundup, we have to look toward Runnels County. Members from that county didn't have any top three finishes, but were among the top four in the grain, entomology identification and Leaders 4 Life categories. Also, three competitors placed in various photography categories.

Among competitors from Taylor County, the team of Joley Weaver, Madison Fussell and Olivia McCain finished fifth in fashion/non-wearable, while Ashley Byrom, Kathryn Willis and Lori Self were sixth in wool judging and evaluation.

Byrom and Kaitlyn Callaway collected eight photography ribbons between them, with Callaway earning two blues and Byrom one.

UPCOMING EVENTS

History Mystery Summer Camp at Frontier Texas!, 625 N. First St. Camp for students entering first through third grades will take place from 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Tuesday; $65 ($60 for members). Camp for students entering fourth through sixth grades will take place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday. $70 ($65 for members). Fee includes lunch. Register at www.frontiertexas.com.

Art Around the World camp (for children entering first through third grades), 9-11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday, National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature, 102 Cedar St. $125 ($100 for members). 325-673-4586.

McMurry Art Day Camps, Monday through Friday. Session for kindergarten through fifth grade, 9 a.m. to noon; cost is $225. Session for sixth through 12th grades, 1-5 p.m.; cost is $300. Caitlin Boyle, 325-793-3851 or www.mcmurryartcamps.com.

Daring Drawings and Curious Colors camp (for students entering first through sixth grades), 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St. Cost is $95; $75 for members. Kathryn Mitchell, 325-673-4587.

Webelos resident camp, June 28 to July 2, Camp Tonkawa. For Cub Scouts entering fourth or fifth grades. $125 per Scout, $80 per adult. Bre Jewell, 325-677-2688.

Tot Spot, for children ages 3-5 (and an adult), 9:30 or 11 a.m. first Thursday and Friday of each month, The Grace Museum, 102 Cypress St. Free for museum members, $5 for nonmembers. Reservations required; 325-673-4587 or www.thegracemuseum.org.

The National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature, 102 Cedar St., 325-673-4586, offers free art activities each Saturday from 1-4 p.m.
Since ancient times, compounds containing mercury have been used in the treatment of skin diseases and other ailments. However, mercury toxicity was not fully appreciated until March 8, 1809 when two British ships, the HMS Triumph and HMS Phipps, came to the rescue of a Spanish ship that had been damaged in a hurricane. They rescued the crews and transferred the valuable cargo of mercury. Within weeks, the crews began to experience the effects of mercury poisoning. Eventually many were hospitalized and some died.

Mercury was known to ancient peoples and was even found adorning a 15th century BCE ceremonial cup in an Egyptian tomb. Aristotle authored the earliest record of what he called "fluid silver" or quicksilver in the 4th Century BCE.

Mercuric chloride, calomel, was used as an antiseptic to kill bacteria while mercuric sulfide is used to make the bright red vermilion paint.

Mercury was also commonly used in batteries, fluorescent lights, thermometers, barometers and felt production, leading to dementia in those workers and the phrase "mad hatters" coined by Lewis Carroll in "Alice in Wonderland." Mercury has been used to extract gold and silver by a process of amalgamation.

The Spanish ship was transporting mercury to South America for the extraction of silver. On March 16 some of the mercury was transferred into the sloop HMS Phipps. The cargo had been saturated with water leading to rotting containers with several tons of mercury leaking into the lower decks and holds of both ships.

Mercury quickly contaminated everything on the lower decks. Within three weeks, mercury poisoning appeared among the crews. Symptoms of mercury poisoning were excessive saliva secretion, mouth ulcerations, and partial paralysis as well as lung and bowel complaints. At an estimated temperature below decks of 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the saturation point of mercury would have been 140 times the maximum allowable concentration.

Those with the highest exposure, some of whom later died, suffered from dramatic swelling of their heads and tongues, lost their teeth and suffered from gangrene of the face and tongue. By mid-April, 200 men, one third of the crew, showed signs of mercury poisoning.

On April 22, the men were transferred to hospital ships and the Triumph was inspected by four fleet surgeons. The Triumph was a large 79 gun ship of the line. The very different structure of the sloop HMS Phipps lessened the impact of mercury on board, though some of her sailors were also affected.

The Triumph was cleaned and returned to service in June only to have fresh cases of mercury poisoning appear. By June 13, she was ordered to sail home to England which took 40 days and despite numerous precautions, additional men became ill, but the symptoms were not as severe.

The Triumph was emptied and little is known about her fate other than she became a quarantine ship before being broken up in 1850.

Though poisoning with mercury was known, accidental poisoning by mercury vapor was rare and the incident on the Triumph is unique in the history of toxicology. It gave everyone a fuller appreciation for the dangers of mercury poisoning.
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.
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By Staff Report

A Big Spring police detective under indictment on five charges, including indecency with a child, was fired from the department Friday.

According to a press statement released by the Big Spring Police Department Monday, detective Joel Rojo was terminated Friday. He had been on administrative leave since August, when allegations against him arose.

The BSPD asked the Texas Rangers to investigation criminal allegations, while the department conducted an administrative investigation.

On April 12, a grand jury returned five indictments against Rojo  three for official oppression, one for indecency with a child and one for sexual performance by a child.

Rojo's trial is set for September.

In Monday's statement, Police Chief Chad Williams said, "It is imperative the we as Texas Peace Officers are committed to providing the citizens of Big Spring professional services while holding ourselves accountable and above reproach of any unethical, immoral, or illegal acts."
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Barry Arthur

ABILENE, Texas  Barry Arthur, 82, passed away Friday, June 17, 2016. Funeral services are pending with The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene. Online condolences may be left at www.hamilfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Margie R. Berry

SCOTT CITY, Kan.  Margie R. Berry, 81, formerly of Bradshaw, passed away Wednesday, June 15, 2016. Funeral service will be Monday, June 20, 2016, at 2 p.m., at First Baptist Church in Scott City. Interment will follow at Scott County Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday, June 18, 2016, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 19, 2016, 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas. Memorials can be sent to Scott County VIP Center c/o Price & Sons Funeral Home

Vance Saffel

RULE, Texas  Vance Saffel, 66, passed away Thursday, June 16, 2016. Graveside service will be Monday, June 20, 2016 at Rule Cemetery under the direction of Smith Family Funeral Homes. Visitation is planned for Sunday, June 19, 2016, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home located at 304 N. Second Street, Haskell, Texas.

Jeanne Trammell

ABILENE, Texas  Jeanne Trammell, 82, passed away Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, June 17, 2016, at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene. Online condolences may be left at www.hamilfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Charles P. Verner

ABILENE, Texas  Charles P. Verner, 75, passed away Friday, June 17, 2016. Arrangements are pending with Abilene Funeral Home.
In search of healing, mourners gathered Sunday evening at Exodus Metropolitan Church.

'We're remembering the victims of the Orlando massacre,' said the Rev. Margaret Warn-Walker, senior pastor at the south Abilene church. 'We are hoping to start the healing in our community and in the Latino community in Abilene, because we were struck hard with this.'

More than 200 filled the small church off South 27th Street. Abilene City Council member Bruce Kreitler read a mayoral proclamation at the beginning of the service.

'I would like to point out that an attack like that on any of us is an attack on all of us,' Kreitler first said, then read the proclamation in which Mayor Norm Archibald asked the people of Abilene to join him in prayer to remember the victims, and that the city of Abilene should be resolved as a community to stand with Orlando to share the Florida city's burden.

Forty-nine were killed and more than 50 more injured in the attack on a popular nightclub by a man later shot to death by police. It has been called the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

'As a country, we will not let this define us,' Kreitler read. 'But let it give us hope in the future for love and peace to prevail.'

Warn-Walker then gave her own remarks.

'We will begin our service with a moment of quiet respect,' she said. 'We will no longer call this a moment of silence, for we cannot afford to be silent as a community or as a nation.'

Names of the 49 victims at the Pulse nightclub were read aloud, along with a short biography of each. As each name was called, a corresponding pair of shoes was placed on the floor before the altar.

'Healing does not come through remembrance, but through action,' Warn-Walker remarked during the service. She asked those assembled to write down on the card included with their program how they might express a commitment for that action.

'Think not only of those lives that were cut down too soon, but also about the change you can make personally in the future,' she said. 'Maybe it's a commitment to vote for people who share the values of peace and love?

'Maybe it'll be to volunteer for an organization in the forefront of love and service to all branches of the human family?

'Maybe it will be simply to speak out fearlessly when confronted with comments or acts of bigotry and hatred?'

She looked across the room and paused before continuing.

'Whatever you choose, commit to do it,' she said. 'Write it on the card, take it home and place it where you can see it every day, and remember.'
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This just in...
China is seeking unprecedented access to Russia's energy sector with a demand for a management role in the state-owned oil company Rosneft.

In an interview with Rossiya-24 television on May 30, the chairman of China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC), Wang Yilin, raised the prospect of buying a large block of Rosneft shares in the company's upcoming partial privatization.

CNPC already has a small stake in Rosneft, acquired during an initial public offering in 2006, Wang said. The government plans to sell 19.5 percent of Rosneft shares this year, reducing the Russian state's holding to just over 50 percent.

"If Rosneft makes a proposal, we will intensively study it. There is interest on our part and we will study the possibility of increasing our shareholding in Rosneft," said Wang, according to Interfax.

But Wang made clear there would be strings attached, saying that "in the event of an increase in the stake, we would want to receive the right to participate in management of the company, naturally in full accordance with the stake acquired."

One day later, Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev told reporters that a management role for CNPC would be possible with a seat on Rosneft's board of directors, depending on the size of its holding.

"Of course, if they will have a stake that will put them on the board of directors, then of course they will," Ulyukayev said.

Speaking on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum last week, Energy Minister Alexander Novak repeated that the Rosneft sale would be open to China, but he made no mention of the board seat, perhaps reflecting the sensitivity of the issue.

"In principle, we admit that big companies may participate in (the Rosneft) privatization, including Chinese companies," Novak said, as reported by the official TASS news agency.

A seat on Rosneft's nine-member board would represent CNPC's deepest penetration into Russia's energy sector, which has gradually opened to Chinese investment after keeping it at arm's length for years.

Smoke and mirrors

Edward Chow, senior fellow for energy and national security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said it is still unclear whether a sale to CNPC, or any Rosneft share sale, will take place.

I don't know how much of this is real and how much is smoke and mirrors," Chow said in an interview, noting that Rosneft's chairman Igor Sechin has argued against privatization if prices are low.

Rosneft's shares have risen this year on the Russian market but they remain 35 percent below 2013 highs in international trading in London, reflecting low oil prices and western sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

"From Rosneft's standpoint, there are very few buyers out there other than maybe the Chinese, and given the limited competition, the share price is likely to be very low," Chow said.

India is also a possibility, but it has downplayed competition with CNPC for a deal with Rosneft.

"We are not rivals," Indian Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told Bloomberg News last week.

Thanks in part to major supply deals with Rosneft in 2009 and 2013, China became Russia's biggest oil buyer last year, making a sale to CNPC an arguably natural fit.

China's crude imports from Russia rose 28 percent last year to an average of 852,000 barrels per day, Platts energy news reported, citing Chinese customs data.

For over a decade, Rosneft has turned to CNPC and Chinese banks for prepayments and loans to finance its growth.

In 2005, Rosneft used a U.S. $6-billion (39-billion yuan) loan from CNPC to take over the main unit of Russia's embattled Yukos oil company. In 2013, Rosneft sought up to U.S. $70 billion (459 billion yuan) in CNPC prepayments to buy out rival producer TNK-BP.

But years of hard bargaining and distrust have slowed cross-investment and construction of pipelines between the two neighbors, despite the natural fit of a giant oil producer with a leading consumer next door.

After years of negotiations and development, Russia has opened only one oil pipeline to China, while its first gas pipeline is still in the works.

Extending its reach

Since 2013, China has extended its reach into the Russian energy sector, most notably with CNPC's acquisition of a 20-percent stake in independent Novatek's U.S. $20-billion (131-billion yuan) Yamal LNG venture. China's Silk Road Fund has taken an additional 9.9 percent of the project to produce liquefied natural gas in the Arctic region.

But CNPC's bid for a Rosneft board seat may mark a new chapter in Sino-Russian energy relations.

Chow agreed that such a demand, made publicly on Russian television, would have been unthinkable a decade ago.

A single seat is unlikely to give China much influence over Rosneft management decisions, but the demand reflects the relative economic strengths between the two countries as Russia slogs through recession while China copes with slowing growth.

Despite China's troubles, its gross domestic product rose at a 6.7-percent rate in the first quarter, according to official figures, while Russia's GDP fell 1.2 percent. Last year, China's GDP grew at an official rate of 6.9 percent, while Russia's dropped 3.7 percent.

One measure of how much Russia wants a deal for the Rosneft shares is a statement by Ulyukayev last month that the revenues are needed to keep this year's budget deficit from exceeding 3 percent of GDP.

"Only in Rosneft's case will money go directly into the budget, and so the budget deficit will decrease," the minister said, indicating that the sale is the largest of Russia's planned privatization offerings.

In the first five months of the year, Russia's budget deficit hit 4.6 percent of GDP, the Finance Ministry said last week.

"The main thing is for Rosneft to be there in order to balance the budget. It is weightier than the others. The 19.5 percent of Rosneft would now fetch more than 700 billion rubles (U.S. $10.8 billion, 71 billion yuan)," Ulyukayev said, according to Interfax.

Willing to pay that much?

Whether CNPC would be willing to pay that much for a minority stake is uncertain in the current market.

In February, the Russian Finance Ministry said the sale would fetch only 490 billion rubles, or 30 percent less. The government has debated the Rosneft share sale since at least 2009.

CNPC's demand for a board seat may reflect Chinese government pressure on its national oil monopolies to act more like commercial companies as part of its push to reform state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

Gone are the days when CNPC would finance Russian ambitions without seeking something more in return, or so Wang's televised statement may have been meant to suggest.

Second-ranked China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) has also voiced interest in the Rosneft shares, if the price is right, Interfax reported separately.

"We're ready to take part in the privatization of Russian oil and gas assets if the terms are economically viable," said Dai Liqi, Sinopec vice president for planning and development.

"Our possible participation would depend (on) how the Russian government intends to carry out privatization and what stakes are offered to the company," Dai said.

The statement did not mention Rosneft by name or the possibility of a seat on the board.

Appearance of competition

Although the Sinopec interest may give the appearance of competition with CNPC, Chow said that China's government would not want two state companies to bid against each other and drive up the price.

In addition to the Rosneft privatization, Russia is planning to sell the state's 50-percent interest in second-tier oil producer Bashneft, based in the southern Urals republic of Bashkortostan, in the second half of this year.

Sinopec bought 6 million metric tons (44 million barrels) of Urals oil last year, a company official said in another Interfax report. In 2013, Rosneft and Sinopec signed a protocol for supplies of up to 100 million tons (733 million barrels) over 10 years.

Negotiations with Sinopec have taken place on several fronts, but reports suggest progress is dependent on pricing and terms.

Officials said Sinopec is interested in Russian LNG purchases and petrochemical projects. The company is seeking improved terms from Rosneft for joining in development of two major Siberian oilfields.

Sinopec has also considered increasing its holding in Sibur, a Russian gas processing and petrochemicals company, from the current 10 percent to 20 percent. The Silk Road Fund and China Development Bank could acquire an additional 10 percent, according to a preliminary agreement signed last month.

In another sign of China's drive to deepen its involvement in Russia's energy sector, CNPC has reportedly pressed gas monopoly Gazprom to accept a joint development, operation and sales plan for a proposed gas pipeline from Western Siberia across Russia's mountainous Altai territory through Xinjiang.

Gazprom is said to be resisting due to concerns about low state-controlled gas prices in China, preferring to sell its gas at the Russian border instead. Moscow has been pushing the Altai project for the past decade.

The Russian company recently assured CNPC that it will meet its commitment to start pumping gas to China from its mammoth 3,000-kilometer (1,864-mile) Power of Siberia pipeline project on an eastern route in 2019. But progress has been slow.

Only about half of Gazprom's planned spending on the pipeline has taken place, and Russia has so far failed to persuade China to finance the project with prepayments and loans.
Residents of the rebel village of Wukan in China's southern Guangdong province have once more clashed with police, reigniting a bitter land dispute that saw days of street protests and clashes in 2011.



The protests came after Wukan party secretary and former protest leader Lin Zuluan was taken away by armed police ahead of a public meeting scheduled for Sunday, at which villagers were to plan further protests over a lack of official progress in returning their farmland.



Local officials said via social media that Lin is now under investigation for taking bribes.



Lin's detention sparked angry protests on Sunday in Wukan, with protesters chanting "Give us back our land!" and "Give us back our party secretary!"



"They had no reason whatsoever to detain our party secretary," one protester told RFA at the scene. "We are very worried because he is nowhere to be seen."



"Nobody here believes that he is corrupt."



The resident said the authorities had made no move to restore land sold out from under the villagers by the previous party secretary, who was charged with corruption in 2011.



"They still haven't given us back our land," the resident said. "The whole village is here to protect our home and to get our party secretary back, because he is a good one."



'Coercive measures'



The Lufeng city government, which tried to tamp down protests in Wukan but was overruled by Guangdong provincial authorities after the 2011 clashes grabbed world headlines, issued a statement saying Lin had been placed "under coercive measures" pending investigation for corruption.



Lin had earlier written via the social media platform Sina Weibo, in a tweet that was soon deleted by censors: "The road to defending our rights is a long one, but we will see it through to the end, even if we are on our knees."



One user commented: "We shouldn't kneel! We should stand up and fight for our rights!"



Lin's grandson said his grandfather had been visited by a former official from nearby Donghai township, who had tried to persuade him to call off the public meeting.



The former official then left without his cell phone, but when the door was opened for him to collect it, around a dozen armed police burst into the Lin family home and took Lin Zuluan away, he said in an interview on Sunday.



"He brought back at least 10 armed police with him. It was a well-laid trap," the grandson said in an interview on Sunday. "They just shoved their way into the house the moment the door was opened."



However, Lin's grandson was incommunicado on Monday, sending out only a brief message via the messaging app WeChat, which read simply: "I've been detained."



Meeting goes ahead



Villagers went ahead with the public meeting on Sunday, following Lin's plan to use orderly protest and petitioning to keep their campaign going.



They also succeeded in stopping armed police from entering the village, residents said.



"There were large numbers of police," a journalist covering the scene said in a brief conversation on Monday.



"You can try to come here yourself, but the police are kicking all the journalists out," she said.



While villagers managed to stop many police officers from getting through, some did make it into the village, sources said.



"We are basically back to where we were five years ago with the land dispute," a resident surnamed Zhang told RFA. "The dispute wasn't resolved then, and the villagers' land had been sold off, but they received no money in return."



"Now, things are back to where they were back then, and local people are barricading the roads," Zhang said.



Lin's deputy village party secretary Zhang Shuijin said that the government had set up a working group to retrieve the lost land, and that it was "looking into" the matter.



"This issue can't be resolved by anyone but the government," Zhang Shuijin said. "Only the government can fix this; the village committee hasn't the power to do it."



Zhang was noncommittal regarding the charges faced by Lin Zuluan.



"I can't say," he said. "If he did it, the investigation will show it, and if he didn't, it won't."



Earlier clashes



Wukan hit media headlines in 2011 after local people fought off armed police at makeshift barricades, retaining control of their village and prompting provincial officials in Guangdong to back their demands over the heads of authorities in nearby Lufeng city.



Local people were then allowed to re-elect their village committee and its officials in March 2012, with former protest leaders replacing the old guard in a highly publicized poll that was held up as a model of village democracy in rural China.



Former ruling Communist Party village secretary Xue Chang, whom villagers accused of selling off most of their farmland for private gain, was later removed from office and disciplined for corruption.



But subsequent committees made scant progress on the issue of returning the farmland to villagers' control, and two of the protest's leaders were jailed for corruption in 2014 based on dubious evidence, campaigners said.



A third land campaigner, Zhuang Liehong, fled to the United States in search of political asylum.



An official who answered the phone at the Lufeng city state prosecutor's office declined to comment on the latest incident.



"I don't know about this ... but there will be announcements on the situation," the official said.



Calls to the Lufeng government offices and the Lufeng municipal police department rang unanswered during office hours on Monday.



Reported by Dai Weisen and Wen Yuqing for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Xin Lin for the Mandarin Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.




Lam Wing-kei, a slight, soft-spoken man who carries a satchel and looks extremely tired, doesn't look like much of a threat to the ruling Chinese Communist Party.



But he is the only one of five detained booksellers to defy Beijing by speaking in public about his interrogation at the hands of a special task force of state security police directly commanded by the highest level of the Chinese government.



Members of this secret task force ensured that he was picked out of an incoming crowd at the Lo Wu border checkpoint last October, before blindfolding him and whisking him to an interrogation room in Ningbo, a nightmare 10 hours' drive away.



"I'm sure that they are following me since my return to Hong Kong; that's for certain," Lam told RFA in an interview on Monday.



"If the Hong Kong government asks me, I can point them out on security video, because it will exist from the border crossing."



But Lam has lost any confidence that the government of Hong Kong will stand up to Beijing, despite being promised separate status as a law enforcement jurisdiction under the terms of the city's 1997 handover from former colonial ruler Britain to China.



"I don't even know if they would detain those people, or what they would do with them, even though I would be able to identify them," he said, nervously twisting a paper teacup as he spoke to RFA's Cantonese Service.



"I don't think they'd do anything much at all, because they haven't any jurisdiction to detain officials from the mainland. All I can do is offer proof," Lam said.



Lam says he has already endured months of questioning, mostly about which Chinese citizens were buying books from the Causeway Bay store and its sister imprint Mighty Current.



'Hostile forces'



As President Xi Jinping rallies officials to fight back against "hostile overseas forces" thought to be trying to overturn the regime with imported notions of democracy, the rule of law, and religious freedom, places like Causeway Bay Books, purveyors of sometimes sensationalist gossip about Chinese politics and political elite, are first in the firing line.



After failing to provide his interrogators with enough detail to satisfy them, Lam was sent back to Hong Kong and told to follow the same script as three of his former colleagues at the now-shuttered Causeway Bay Books store, whose database of customer details he was charged with bringing back to China.



Like his colleagues Lee Bo, a British passport holder, Lui Por, and Cheung Chi-ping before him, Lam's first port of call in the former British colony was a police station, where instead of filing a complaint about his treatment by the Chinese authorities, he merely requested that they close his missing persons file.



Lam had then intended to comply with his interrogators' demands, but something stopped him in his tracks.



According to him, it was the knowledge that some 6,000 people had turned out in angry protest over the presumed detention of him and his colleagues, who also include Swedish national Gui Minhai, the only one of the five not to re-emerge after "helping police with their inquiries."



So he held a press conference instead to tell his story, before leading another march of several thousand supporters to Beijing's Liaison Office in Hong Kong on Saturday, all chanting his slogan "Say no to power!"



"I am doing this both for myself, and for the people of Hong Kong," Lam said, when asked why he hadn't played along like the others.



"I have seen a lot of commentary that is very funny, including people saying that my political background shows that my actions were politically motivated," he said.



"They're just grasping at straws, trying to muddy the waters so as to cover up their own covert operations."



Account rebutted



As Lam stood up in front of the city's Legislative Council to tell his explosive story to lawmakers, pro-Beijing media entered the fray with a series of interviews and rebuttals from his colleagues.



Lam's assertion that Lee Bo, who went missing from his place of work inside Hong Kong's internal border with mainland China on Dec. 30, was kidnapped by Chinese agents operating within the city's borders was denied by Lee himself.



His claim that his colleagues are being placed under intense pressure via loved ones in China was also rubbished in Hong Kong media outlets loyal to Beijing.



The city's Sing Tao Daily quoted a woman claiming to be a former girlfriend as saying that Lam wasn't denied legal representation, as he had told journalists.



It also published interviews with Lui Por and Cheung Chi-ping, who said their televised confessions weren't scripted, as Lam had described.



But Beijing has also moved to delete any mention of the booksellers' cases, defending their detentions on the grounds that the men were detained in China because they had broken Chinese law by selling banned books to its citizens, albeit from Hong Kong, where selling books isn't against the law.



Lam, who has described himself as "less burdened" than his colleagues, meaning that he is less susceptible to manipulation by China, said he is certain that Beijing is now merely trying to cover its tracks by throwing its weight publicly behind the narrative agreed with the other booksellers.



"I think they're the ones who are the conspirators," Lam said. "You can trace the provenance of their argument right back through comments from mainland officials and that article in the Global Times."



Article deleted



Beijing's powerful propaganda department last week ordered its tightly controlled media outlets to delete all mention of an article in the Global Times, which has close ties to the party, which tried to undermine Lam's story.



Lam says he won't take issue with this counternarrative any more.



"I think it could get [my colleagues] into trouble," he said. "But my account is the correct one, unless there's a problem either with my memory, or my powers of description."



Store manager and British passport-holder Lee Bo, 65, went missing from his workplace in Hong Kong on Dec. 30. He is now back in Hong Kong, but disputes Lam's account. The U.K. government has said he was "involuntarily removed" from the city in a breach of promises made by Beijing before the handover.



General manager Lui Por and colleague Cheung Chi-ping are also believed to have been detained during trips to China from their usual base in Hong Kong, and have also returned briefly to Hong Kong to cancel their missing persons cases.



Publisher and Swedish nation Gui Minhai left his Thai holiday home under opaque circumstances before appearing on state television CCTV "confessing" to involvement in a drunk-driving death 10 years earlier, a claim that his family have dismissed as highly dubious.



Gui's daughter Angela last week praised Lam's courage in speaking out, but called on the world not to forget that her father remains in illegal detention in China.



Reported by Lam Kwok-lap for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.
Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has told local authorities in the southern province of Attapeu that the government is changing the way it handles the logging business.



Since Thongloun took over as prime minister in April, he has made cracking down on the illegal trade a priority for the Lao government as authorities attempt to reign in the exploitation of a natural resource.



During the June 16 meeting open to reporters, Thongloun outlined for local authorities some of the changes aimed at putting a crimp in the lumber-smuggling business.



First of all, logs and timber must not be exported before they are processed into finished products, he said. Outsiders [mostly Vietnamese] are banned from bribing officials and residents for logging.

Quota questions

Thongloun was critical of the current system that sets quotas designed to prevent deforestation, saying these make it too easy to cheat.

The ban on timber exports must restrict logging because we lost a lot of logs and timbers using the quotas, he said.

Under the quota system, timber outfits could roll the quotas over each year if their quota was unmet. If a 100,000 cubic meter quota went unmet for one year, the next year the quota would rise to 200,000 cubic meters, which could become 300,000 cubic meters the next year.



For now we will not issue logging quotas, Thongloun said.



Thongloun was particularly critical of the timber harvesting done for Lao public works projects like dams, roads, and power transmission facilities. Most forest clearing in Laos is linked to infrastructure projects.

Over the past we were lied to, with timber harvests starting with trees for dam catchment beginning at the top of the mountains and then cutting their way down, he said.



Cutting trees for electric lines covers many kilometers of jungle on each side of the right-of-way, he added. After the logs were cleared, the project developers would say they went the wrong way so that they would then clear the jungle in another direction.

There are indications that Laos newfound environmental concerns are having an effect. According to information from the U.K.-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), smugglers are finding it difficult to spirit their ill-gotten lumber out of Attapeu province.

Laying low



A source in Attapeu, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told RFA on June 19 that smugglers are lying low, at least for now.



The smugglers I know arent moving because they are scared, the source said.



While the smugglers may be afraid, Laos has seen crackdowns come and go.



I will wait and see if the prime minister will be consistent on this issue, but many smugglers cannot export logs to Vietnam during this time, the source said.



Laos has long suffered from the rampant smuggling of logs and timber to neighbors such as China and Vietnam where the wood is used to make furniture.



The government previously issued moratoriums and notices of suspension of logging activities and bans on timber exports to deal with the problem, but to little avail.



A report by the Swiss-headquartered World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) leaked online last October revealed huge increases in illegal logging in Laos.



The Lao government has set an ambitious goal for rejuvenating its forests, wanting to see more than two-thirds of the country under forest cover. Estimates today set the proportion of forested land at 47 percent.



Without getting control of the illegal lumber trade, Laos will never achieve that goal, Thongloun said.

Reported by RFA's Lao Service. Translated by Ounkeo Souksavanh. Written in English by Brooks Boliek.
Myanmar nationals and migrant workers work on a fishing boat in waters off Ban Nam Khaem village in southern Thailand's Phang-nga province, Dec. 3, 2014.

UPDATED at 10:40 A.M. EST on 2016-06-23

Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi will meet with about 3,000 migrants from her country who work in neighboring Thailand to discuss their concerns about their status and risks during a three-day state visit that begins on Thursday, said the head of an activist organization that advocates for migrant workers.

Aung San Suu Kui, who is also foreign minister and Myanmars de facto leader, will address migrant laborers on Thursday evening at Tarle camp in the heavily Myanmar-populated southern Bangkok township of Mahachai, home to one of Thailands largest seafood markets.

But only those who hold passports and temporary documents known as pink cards will be able to attend, said Kyaw Thaung, director of Myanmar Association in Thailand (MAT), an organization that provides assistance for trafficking victims.

Thirteen Thailand-based activist groups for workers have been arranging for Myanmar laborers to attend the meeting and ask the state counselor questions.

Thousands of Myanmar migrant workers will attend the meeting, but because its the rainy season, the Myanmar embassy has arranged a hall for Aung San Suu Kyi to speak, Kyaw Thaung said.

The hall will hold 500 people, while 2,500 others will watch her on large screens outside, he said.

Aung San Suu Kyi last met with Myanmar migrant workers in Mahachai in 2012.

Myanmar puts the number of migrant workers living in Thailand at 4 million with only half legally registered to work there, while Thailands Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare puts the number at more than 1.4 million, with most from the Karen, Mon, and Shan ethnic minority groups.

Many migrant workers are at risk in Thailand of being trafficked as sex workers or for hard labor on fishing boats. Granting the largely undocumented Myanmar workforce in Thailand permanent status has been the subject of negotiations between the two countries.

'Workers are suffering'

Kyaw Thaung said he will submit a proposal to Aung San Suu Kyi to ask Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha to allow migrant laborers from Myanmar to work in Thailand for two or three years without a visa or work permit fees.

Because Thailand is a rich country, and Myanmar workers are suffering, it would be great if Aung San Suu Kyi could ask the Thai prime minister about that, he said.

He will also urge her to abolish the memorandum-of-understanding system under which many Myanmar workers have become victims of agencies that engage in human trafficking, he said.

I will tell her that if she still wants to use this MOU, then please get rid of the agencies for workers and do it government-to-government, Kyaw Thaung said. I want Myanmar workers who are in jail as a result of human trafficking to be released as well.

MOU to be signed

During her trip, Aung San Suu Kyi also will visit a temporary shelter for Myanmar displaced persons in Ratchaburi province in the western part of the country, according to an announcement by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On Friday, she will meet Prayut Chan-o-cha to discuss bilateral relations, especially labor and development cooperation.

It is expected that a Memorandum of Understanding on the Labor Cooperation Agreement on Employment of Workers and Agreement on Border Crossing will be signed during the visit, according to an announcement by Thailands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Aung San Suu Kyi will be accompanied by Thein Swe, Minister for Labor, Immigration and Population; Kyaw Win, Minister for Planning and Finance; and Kyaw Tin, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

The visit will signify the deepening Thailand-Myanmar ties and lay a solid foundation for both sides to resolve pending issues and further enhance bilateral cooperation, the statement said.

She will also meet Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai on Friday during a town-hall meeting with Thai university students at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

On May 9, Don Pramudwinai visited Myanmar and met with Aung San Suu Kyi and President Htin Kyaw.

Aung San Suu Kyis upcoming visit to Thailand marks her second foreign trip since her National League for Democracy (NLD) party took power in April.

Pink card validity

After officials from both countries met in late February, Thailand began issuing new pink cards with a two-year validity and eligibility for a two-year extension to give foreign workers with temporary cards more time to obtain regular, legal documents from their home country, according to a March 1 article in the Myanmar Times.

But migrant rights groups say that holders of pink cards, which allow people without documents short-term stays in Thailand, can be deported at random and are vulnerable to arrest or extortion by police, the article said.

Furthermore, the holders are not eligible for social security, leave, workers compensation or drivers licenses, it said.

Many workers had been informed that they must pay 500 Thai baht (U.S. $14) to renew their pink cards before a Thai-imposed deadline at the end of June, plus up to 10,000 baht (U.S. $284) to brokers, the article said.



Concerns about migration policies

Meanwhile, the Migrant Workers Rights Network (MWRN), a membership-based organization for migrant workers from Myanmar who live and work mainly in Thailand, met U.S. embassy officials in Bangkok on Friday to update the American government on the migrant situation in the country.

The group expressed concern about the countrys migration policies, rule of law, recruitment systems, failure to provide a living wage to workers, absence of social dialogue, and limits on the free movement of workers, according to minutes of the meeting obtained by BenarNews, a sister entity of RFA.

Some of MWRNs recommendations were that Thailand ensure enforcement of the rule of law to prevent ongoing corruption and ensure compliance with basic labor and social protection laws, put in place simple and inexpensive cross-border labor migration procedures with no recruitment fees to reduce trafficking, and strictly regulate labor recruitment agencies involved in migration processes.

Reported by Zarni Htun for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
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
Afghanistans parliament has approved President Ashraf Ghanis nominees for defense minister and intelligence director -- two crucial posts that have been vacant for months while the country tries to battle rising militancy.

Lawmakers voted for Abdullah Habibi, a former senior official in Afghanistans Defense Ministry, to be the new minister.

The new head of Afghanistans National Directorate of Security is Mohammad Masoom Stanekzai.

Ghani initially in 2015 had nominated Stanekzai to head the Defense Ministry.

But parliament rejected him, leaving the post empty until the June 20 confirmation of Habibi.

The approval comes on after Afghanistan's Interior Ministry said 14 Nepalese security guards were killed by a Taliban suicide bomber who targeted their minibus in the Afghan capital Kabul.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Seddiqi said eight others were wounded in the early morning attack on June 20.

One wounded survivor of the attack told The Associated Press that his group provided security at the Canadian Embassy in Kabul.

The group was leaving their residential compound on the main highway leading from Kabul to Jalalabad when the suicide attacker approached their vehicle on foot and detonated his explosives.

Based on reporting by AFP and AP
Russian authorities have detained five people and closed a holiday camp in the northwestern province of Karelia over what they allege was "criminal negligence" leading to the deaths of at least 14 children after a storm struck during their boat trip.

Most of the victims of the dual capsizing were 12-15 years old. They were among 47 children and four supervisors in three small boats on Lake Syamozero, near Finland, despite weather and wind warnings on June 18.



The tragedy has raised questions about why the Park Hotel Syamozero camp -- which last year hosted children sent by Moscow city authorities as part of a 45 million-ruble ($700,000 at today's exchange rate) contract -- was allowed to operate despite a string of public complaints, which included accusations of sanitary problems and ill-treatment of campers.

A top investigator said that prosecutors made an effort to shut down the camp last year, and investigators were said to be searching Moscow City's department of labor and social welfare in connection with their probe after the latest incident.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin had ordered the Russian Investigative Committee to "find those guilty."



Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev criticized the organizers of the boat trip for "criminal and absolutely flagrant negligence."



Investigators said five arrests had already been made, including the camp's director, a deputy director who was on the ill-fated boat trip, and three instructors who led the outing.



The rescue operation was said to have begun only the following morning, some 18 hours or so after the boats capsized, raising questions about whether the victims all drowned or in some cases died of hypothermia in the frigid conditions. Some national news sites said a 12-year-old survivor who awoke to find herself washed up on the lakeshore was the first to alert emergency services, although that could not immediately be confirmed.



"The children didn't drown, they froze in the water," Andrei Orekhanov, a village authority who helped locate the children, told the Novaya Gazeta newspaper on June 20.



State agencies and news reports have issued conflicting death tolls, with the Emergency Situations Ministry saying 14 children died and the Children's Ombudsman's Office saying 15 young people died.



By June 20, 13 bodies had been recovered and rescuers were still searching for possible victims, local Karelian authorities said.

Day Of Mourning



Officials declared a day of mourning in Moscow and Karelia to remember the victims, most of whom were from the Russian capital.



Investigators in an emotional statement condemned the instructors for failing to rescue the children and instead "saving themselves." Novaya Gazeta reported that at least one of the instructors was under the age of 18.



When the storm rose, the occupants of one of the boats -- a raft -- were able to steer it to an island on the lake, investigators said, but two canoes capsized, forcing those who were able to swim to shore through high, freezing waves.

Several media outlets said 12-year-old camper Yulia Korol washed up on the lakeshore after the incident but lay unconscious until the following day. After she came to, she walked past an injured boy who was unable to move before she continued on to Kudama, a nearby village, to seek help.



Investigators said that the children had asked the instructors not to go on the trip "because there were rumors of a storm warning, but despite this the instructors insisted on going."

A local radio station quoted Irina, a resident of Kudama, as saying she ran to shore after she heard news of the disaster and saw the bodies of children floating in the water, some of them without life jackets.



Vladimir Puchkov, head of the Emergency Situations Ministry, said on June 20 that the Syamozero camp was being closed and 189 children were being sent home from it immediately.

Sanitation Issues



The camp has been dogged by scandal and criticism, although that does not appear to have prevented it from getting business from Moscow city authorities.



In 2015, a local Karelia resident who sent her daughter to the summer camp told the Karelskaya Guberniya newspaper: "The children slept in cold tents, and 13-year-old girls were forced to make the food on a campfire and wash up the pots. During the rafting, the man in charge shouted at the children, 'Row, bitches,' and smoked right in the boat..."

Investigators said that, in 2011, the camp's deputy director beat a security guard to death on the territory of the camp while under the influence of alcohol.



Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for the Investigative Committee, said prosecutors made an effort to close the camp last year over sanitation issues.



Moscow City had a 43 million-ruble contract with the camp and had purchased 1,478 trips for orphans and children from poor families to Syamozero.

After the tragedy, Vladimir Petrosyan, an official in charge of the city's social-welfare department, told Business FM radio that they had been unaware that the prosecutor tried to shut down the camp. Investigators were reported to be searching the premises of Petrosyan's department in Moscow City Hall in connection with the investigation.
At the proposal of parliamentary speaker Magomed Daudov, Chechnyas 41 lawmakers voted unanimously on June 16 to dissolve the legislature and schedule preterm parliamentary elections for September 18, concurrently with elections for the new Russian State Duma and for the post of Chechen Republic head.

Both Daudov and acting Chechen Republic head Ramzan Kadyrov adduced as the rationale for that decision the need to avoid the additional expenditure a separate parliamentary ballot would entail. The money saved could, Daudov suggested, be invested in economic development or resolving social problems.

Russian commentators have cast doubt on that argument, however. Aleksei Makarkin of the Center for Political Technologies pointed out that since the outgoing parliament was elected in September 2013 for a five-year term, it would have been equally feasible to save money by scheduling a parliamentary ballot concurrently with the Russian presidential election due no later than March 2018, i.e. just six months early.

Political scientist Rostislav Turovsky said the amount saved by holding a preterm parliamentary ballot in September 2016 would not be large. Turovsky opined that Kadyrovs real motive was to inject new blood into the parliament by weeding out lawmakers who have already served three terms and replacing them with younger people who, while lacking in administrative experience, are 100 percent loyal to Kadyrov personally.

Kheda Saratova, who heads Chechnyas presidential human rights commission, similarly suggested that Kadyrov was not satisfied with the work of the current parliament. She observed that there are people who just sit there and do nothing, which is a reason for renewing them with younger and more energetic [people] who will prove more useful.

Addressing parliament deputies in July, on the occasion of Daudovs election as speaker, Kadyrov had stressed the need for them to know your voters problems, to be frank with them, and to enjoy authority [among them]. You will bring even greater benefit to your people if you make an effort to discharge your duties efficiently.

Chechnyas human rights ombudsman, Nurdi Nukhazhiyev, indirectly confirmed that the object of the exercise is to renew the composition of the parliament, given that some lawmakers have already served three consecutive terms.

Kadyrov crony Ziyad Sabsabi, who represents Chechnya in the Federation Council, linked the decision to hold a preterm election with the desire to bring in new, younger people once Kadyrov is reelected for a third term as republic head.

State Duma deputy Dmitry Gudkov for his part posited a more sinister rationale, namely to set a precedent for a procedure that could subsequently be applied elsewhere in the Russian Federation in situations where the legislature defies the governor or federation-subject head.

The Chechen parliament is elected exclusively under the proportional system, the threshold for winning representation being 5 percent. The pro-Kremlin United Russia party has a huge majority (36) in the outgoing parliament; A Just Russia has four deputies and Patriots of Russia one.
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The convening of the "Holy and Great Council" of Orthodox churches was meant to promote unity among the world's 300 million Orthodox believers. But the event -- in preparation for 55 years, and the first such meeting in 1,200 years -- has already turned into a showcase of religious disagreement.

Going into the historic meeting, which began this week on the Greek island of Crete, the Russian Orthodox Church -- the worlds largest Orthodox church -- and three other Orthodox churches boycotted the gathering, claiming inadequate preparation.

Bartholomew I, the Istanbul-based ecumenical patriarch considered the "first among equals" of the heads of the independent, or autocephalous, Orthodox churches, and regarded as the spiritual leader of Orthodox believers, has been the driving force behind the initiative to hold the council.

But observers say that some leaders in the Russian Orthodox Church view Bartholomew as a rival and consider his push to organize the council as an attempt to diminish or usurp their authority.

What Is The Holy And Great Council?

It is -- or should be -- a synod of bishops of all the 14 recognized autocephalous churches of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Unlike the Catholic Church, which has a single, undisputed leader in the pope, the Orthodox Christians are divided into self-governing provinces, each with its own leadership. The council was meant to be the first meeting of all Orthodox leaders since 787, when the last of the seven ecumenical councils recognized by the heads of both the Eastern and Western Christian church was held in Nicaea (present-day Iznik in northwestern Turkey).



What Are The First Seven Ecumenical Councils?

The first seven ecumenical councils, held between 325 and 787, were meetings of bishops and scholars convened in order to reach a Christian consensus and to restore, continue, and develop a unified Christendom. All were held during the rule of the Byzantine Empire, but by the last ecumenical council, all major western sees, although still in communion with the Byzantine state church, were outside the political control of the empire. The 1054 East-West Schism would formally enshrine the split between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

What Are The Main Issues For Discussion?

The council, preparations for which began in 1961, was convened to address problems within Orthodox Christianity that have appeared since the beginning of the 20th century, ranging from the relations between the different autocephalous independent Orthodox Churches and the organization of church life outside of the traditional territories of these churches to moral and ethical issues.

A six-point list was officially approved for discussion by the council:

 The mission of the Orthodox Church in todays world

 The Orthodox diaspora

 Autonomy and the means by which it is proclaimed

 The sacrament of marriage and its impediments

 The importance of fasting and its observance today

 Relations of the Orthodox church with the rest of the Christian world

Some of the most contentious issues that have failed to be resolved in advance of the council, such as the issue of a common calendar and official lists of the living and departed that are commemorated in churches, have been struck off the original agenda.

How Many Autocephalous Orthodox Churches Exist?

There are 14 autocephalous Orthodox churches, four of which are boycotting the council -- the Russian church being by far the largest, with more than 100 million members, one-third of the total number of Orthodox believers.



Churches Attending The Council:

Church of Constantinople

Church of Alexandria

Church of Jerusalem

Church of Serbia

Church of Romania

Church of Cyprus

Church of Greece

Church of Poland

Church of Albania

Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia

What Churches Are Not Attending The Council?

The leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, said in a message to the council that he would not attend since he considered the Crete gathering a preparatory session for a synod that will unite all the churches "without exception" at a later date.



However, observers say members of the Russian Orthodox clergy have been deeply suspicious of Bartholomews actions, voicing concern that the council could pave the way to closer ties with the Vatican, Protestants, and others. Such ideas are anathema to a part of Russias conservative clergy, some of whom regard Russias Orthodox Church as the new Rome -- the true successor to the Byzantine Christian church after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453.

Another disagreement was over the seating arrangements, with the Russian church strongly opposing, according to some reports, a plan for Bartholomew to take a presiding seat during the council session. Instead, the Russian and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church reportedly insisted that the participants sit at a round table.

The Church of Bulgaria was the first to drop out, citing the seating plan, a lack of particularly important topics on the agenda, and the handling of documents.

The Church of Antioch, the Damascus-based patriarchate, refused to attend because of an ongoing dispute with the Jerusalem Patriarchate over the jurisdiction of the Muslim Gulf state of Qatar.

Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II of All Georgia said the Church of Georgia would not attend over the council's rejection of a Georgia-proposed document.

Observers say that the Bulgarian, Georgian, and Antioch churches may have been influenced by the Russian Orthodox Church.
A Kyrgyz imam has been detained for questioning in southern Kyrgyzstan after being accused of sexually abusing a 10-year-old boy.

The Jalal-Abad regional police department's spokesman, Myktybek Turdubekov, told RFE/RL on June 20 that the 58-year-old imam was detained after a woman from the village of At-Basar filed a complaint alleging that her son had been regularly raped by the imam.

Authorities did not release the name of the imam and did not immediately file charges against him.

Turdubekov said the detained imam could face rape charges in the case.

The alleged victim's mother, who only gave her first name, Salima, told RFE/RL that she complained to police on June 18 despite objections from her husband.

She said her husband did not want "to damage the family's honor."

Salima accused the imam of repeatedly raping her son for at least one year.

She said she noticed that her son's psychological state has changed and that he told her he was being sexually abused when she asked him what was bothering him.
Ukrainians have increasingly woken up to the sound of suicide drones as Russia turns to Iranian-made imports to destroy civilian infrastructure in Ukraine. Now they may have another deadly Iranian weapon to worry about -- ballistic missiles.

Cheap but effective, Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 "kamikaze" drones have already made a deadly impact in Ukraine.



If U.S. intelligence assessments pan out, Russia will soon be able to supplement its use of Iranian suicide drones and its own cruise and ballistic missiles with powerful short-range Iranian Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar ballistic missiles.



Coming as the Kremlin is reportedly struggling to maintain its depleted stockpile of aerial weapons as it ramps up strikes, the missiles would potentially boost Russia's ability to continue its costly air campaign.



Jeremy Binnie, a Middle East defense specialist at the global intelligence company Janes, said having more missiles gives Russia the ability to sustain the bombardment against Ukraine."



Going Ballistic



The Fateh-110, which was unveiled in 2001 and has a stated range of 300 to 500 kilometers, was developed from a heavy artillery rocket dating from the 1980s. To increase the weapon's accuracy, the Fateh-110 was given a guidance system and movable fins that allow it to be steered as it approaches its target.



The Zolfaghar, which debuted in 2016 and also has guidance capabilities, comes from the same family as the Fateh-110 but boasts a much longer range due to its use of a lighter carbon-fiber airframe and a smaller warhead.



Binnie said the Zolfaghar's use against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in eastern Syria confirmed that the missile was capable of reaching at least 650 kilometers, which he said is "a statement of how much the Iranian tactical missile program has really advanced over the years."



Iran's claim that the Zolfaghar can travel even farther -- up to 700 kilometers -- would put the western Ukrainian city of Lviv within range of strikes launched from Russian territory, while the more powerful Fateh-110 could potentially hit the city from Belarus, which has served as a staging ground for Russian attacks.



While there has been no indication that Russia plans to purchase launching systems from Iran, Binnie suggests that the Russian military could pair the missiles with existing equipment because the Iranian launchers were adapted from a Soviet-era system.



"It might be possible for the Russians to quickly adapt some old equipment they have lying around into launch systems," Binnie said.



The Iranian military, he added, fitted the Soviet system to trucks, allowing for mobility and concealment.



"Those civilian trucks can be covered over to make it hard to spot that they're actually missile launchers," Binnie said.



'Lawnmowers' And 'Mopeds'



Iranian military drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), have been homing in on targets across Ukraine since late August, according to the United States.



The buzzing sound of the Iranian Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 drones, built with off-the-shelf components, have earned them derisive monikers such as "lawnmowers" and "mopeds." But the slow-moving, low-flying drones, which are maneuvered to crash into their target, have proven themselves capable of hitting their mark both in terms of military effectiveness and cost.

It is capable of extracting or delivering attrition and damage when launched, but it costs little compared to other UAVs that Russia has in its own arsenal," said Samuel Bendett of the Virginia-based Center for Naval Analyses (CNA).

Ukraine alleges Russia has ordered 2,400 of the Iranian suicide drones, and its military has claimed to have shot them down in great numbers, often using conventional anti-aircraft guns or even small-arms fire. But their ability to be launched in bunches of five -- often from the cover of civilian trucks -- improves their chances of reaching their target.



"The Ukrainians are stopping most of these, but the whole point of these drones is that they fly in a large mass," Bendett said. "The air defense does not always catch all of them. All it takes is for several or even one to make it through."

The estimated range of the Shahed-136 varies, but Iran says it is capable of traveling 2,500 kilometers. The slightly smaller and older Shahed-131, which has been used by Huthi rebels in Yemen to attack Saudi targets in the Arabian Peninsula, has been estimated to have a range of 900 kilometers, according to tests conducted by the Ukrainian military.



Ukraine's Defense Ministry has published multiple images of downed Shahed-136 drones in recent weeks, and the Ukrainian National Guard on October 19 claimed to have shot down a Shahed-131.



Ukraine has also claimed to have shot down a more advanced Iranian combat UAV, the Mojer-6 drone capable of carrying out both reconnaissance missions and aerial strikes within a range of 200 kilometers. There have also been reports of Russian interest in obtaining Irans Shahed-129 and Shahed-191 combat drones.



"When launched from any territory that Russia controls or is allied with -- anywhere from the south, from the Donbas, from Belarus -- they're able to strike a lot of Ukrainian targets," Bendett said.

In addition to the U.S. intelligence assessment that Russia will soon boost its arsenal with Iranian ballistic missiles, as first reported by The Washington Post on October 16, the White House on October 20 said that Iranians are now "directly engaged on the ground" in Moscows war against Ukraine after sending "a relatively small number" of personnel from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps to assist Russian forces in using the Iranian drones.

Iran has denied sending combat drones to Russia, and Moscow has rejected claims that it is using Iranian UAVs.

Images of downed Iranian drones appear to show that they have been rebranded to look Russian-made, experts say, with the markings in Cyrillic naming them as the Geran-1 (the Shahed-131) and Geran-2 (the Shahed-136).

Observers are widely skeptical of Russia's denials, noting that the drones are essentially identical right down to the font of the serial numbers. Even Russian Defense Ministry experts have unwittingly admitted that the suicide drones are Iranian.



But the rebranding of the drones to make them appear to be Russian has opened the possibility that Moscow could, if it is not already doing so, seek to manufacture or assemble the Iranian drones on its own territory.



Sustaining A Campaign



The new aerial weaponry fits well with the Russian military's renewed focus on striking military and civilian targets far from the front lines in southern and eastern Ukraine. The air assault has ratcheted up following the October 8 appointment of Colonel General Sergei Surovikin, a former Aerospace Forces commander, to lead the Russian war effort.



Just days after Surovikin's appointment, Russia launched the biggest air strikes since the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine in February. Moscow said the drone and missile strikes, which targeted civilian areas and infrastructure in cities throughout Ukraine, were in response to a bomb blast that damaged a key bridge linking Russia to the occupied Crimean Peninsula.

While the Kremlin has accused Ukraine's intelligence services of carrying out the "terrorist" attack on the Crimea Bridge, Ukraine has denied responsibility.



Since the initial air assault in response to the bridge blast, Russia has continued to pound Ukrainian infrastructure, often targeting power plants in what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said is a deliberate effort to wear down the Ukrainian people by denying them heat and electricity as winter approaches.



"Civilian infrastructure is obviously the new layer in this war. The Ukrainian economy is now the target, the Ukrainian population is now the target," Bendett said.



Hard To Stop



The hypersonic speed and high trajectory of Iran's Fateh-110s and Zolfaghars, should they arrive, would be extremely difficult for Kyiv to counter without a network of high-tech and costly antimissile batteries it currently does not possess.



Ukraine has repeatedly requested more advanced missile-defense systems from the West, and in the face of the threat of the delivery of Iranian ballistic missiles reportedly sent an official request to Israel this week for components of its "Iron Dome" system.



While the United States has said that it is seeking to expedite the process of sending two U.S. air defense systems known as NASAMS, Washington has appeared reluctant to provide more advanced Patriot missile systems.



Janes' defense expert Binnie is skeptical that the delivery of the Patriot system, which has proven to be successful in shooting down ballistic missiles, is realistic for Ukraine.

"It's eye wateringly expensive and it's probably not really practical because each [missile] battery only covers one city," he said. "You would never get enough batteries to get the coverage you would want. You just wouldn't be able to find them, produce them, and train enough Ukrainians."
Afghanistan's Interior Ministry says 14 Nepalese security guards have been killed by a Taliban suicide bomber who targeted their minibus in the Afghan capital Kabul.

Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Seddiqi said eight others were wounded in the early morning attack on June 20.

One wounded survivor of the attack told The Associated Press that his group provided security at the Canadian embassy in Kabul.

The group was leaving their residential compound on the main highway leading from Kabul to Jalalabad when the suicide attacker approached their vehicle on foot and detonated his explosives.

Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid said the suicide bomber appears to have studied the daily routine of the security guards and waited for their minibus to leave their compound when he carried out the attack shortly after dawn.

Afghan authorities said the minibus was owned by a foreign security company, but did not name the company.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed the Taliban was responsible for the attack, saying on Twitter that the suicide bomber intentionally targeted guards of foreign invaders."

The bombing follows a deadly suicide attack on April 19 that killed at least 64 people and wounded more than 340 in eastern Kabul on the same highway that leads from Kabul to Jalalabad.

It also follows coordinated attack on June 1 by a group of suicide bombers and gunmen who targeted a provincial court in the city of Ghazni.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for both of those attacks, saying they were taking revenge for the execution of six Taliban prisoners.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, Reuters, and BBC
ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- The head of a nongovernmental organization in Kazahstan that helps with the legal defense of jailed journalists has started a hunger strike to protest the government's controversial land reform program.

Ramazan Esergepov, president of Journalists in Trouble, announced his hunger strike in Almaty on June 20.

Esergepov is calling on the government to make "clear explanations" about its postponed agricultural land privatization plan.

He also wants authorities to release information about activists jailed for protesting the plan.

In April and May, thousands across Kazakhstan protested against a land privatization plan that had been scheduled to begin on July 1.

The protests led the government to delay implementation of the plan until 2017.

But hundreds of protesters were arrested.

Many were released later but several remain in pre-trial detention on charges of inciting social discord.
Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Erlan Idrisov says gunmen who attacked two gun stores and a military unit in the northwestern city of Aqtobe on June 5 were following a call by the leader of the so-called Islamic State (IS) militant group.

Idrisov said on June 20 that the attacks were linked to an Internet message from Abu Muhammad al-Adnani, who called on IS supporters around the world "to conduct active violent acts" during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Idrisov said 25 men who carried out attacks in Aqtobe on June 5 were all heeding Adnani's call for violence.

Idrisov said Adnani's message, leading to deadly violence in Kazakhstan on the eve of Ramadan, demonstrates that the IS ideology is "ugly."

The attackers killed five civilians and three members of Kazakhstan's security forces on June 5.

Security forces killed 18 gunmen and arrested seven alleged attackers.

Based on reporting by Tengrinews and Kazinform
The scarred terrain of postwar northern Bohemia is the setting of Midway Upon The Journey Of Our Life, a novella by former RFE/RL Czechoslovak Service Culture Editor Josef Jedlicka (1927-1990) that was published in English for the first time earlier this year.

Written between 1954 and 1957 and never published uncensored and in full until after the fall of communism, most of the non-linear narrative takes place in and around the Collective House, a colossal apartment block for 1,500 people built by the Czechoslovak communist regime in the northern Bohemian city of Litvinov. It was envisioned as a paragon of socialist communal living in which cooking, cleaning, and child-rearing were to be shared by the employees of the nearby Stalin chemical plant. But the characters who populate Jedlickas Collective House are suspicious of one another, envious, and violent. Human nature fails to live up to the collectivist ideal, and its darker side is more pronounced for trying.

The landscape is as much a victim of the unrelenting push toward progress as are the characters. Jedlicka describes the destruction of the environment wrought by the zealous construction brigades so soon after the war as profane.

Long before they took us prisoner in these model family homes, there was nothing beyond this but fallow land, pitted with bomb craters he writes, later continuing The dead, who perished in inadequate shelters, were covered over the next day with a combination of rubble and earth, and the rebuilding of the monstrous chemical facilities began atop the ruins, a frenzied tangle of assemblages and conduits, almost as if to represent the dyings final spasms.

These brutal scenes are described throughout the novella in a lyrical, poetic style that is at once beautiful and disorienting. The story is semi-autobiographical (Jedlicka lived in northern Bohemia when he wrote the novella, having moved there from Prague after he was expelled from university for leaving the Communist Party), and the narrator regularly diverts from the story to express remorse at his naivety as a young, idealistic communist. The story jumps back and forth between the narrators student days in Prague before the February 1948 coup, when he and his comrades were full of optimism and dreamed up our destiny in a self-destructive messianic dream of a workers tomorrow, and the bleak reality he lives after that dreams realization.

The motif is typical of other Czech texts of disillusionment from authors like Milan Kundera who are better known to international readers, but Jedlicka was among the first in the genre.

Since the fall of Communism and Jedlickas death, Midway Upon The Journey Of Our Life has belatedly come to be recognized in the Czech Republic as one of the most original and important works in Czech literature since 1945, wrote University of Bristol Czech literature professor Rajendra Chitnis in the books afterward.

While this work was late to be published and recognized, Jedlicka was by no means obscure to Czech audiences. After the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1968, he immigrated to West Germany, where he worked as a culture editor and commentator for RFE/RLs Czechoslovak Service. In his radio broadcasts he read essays on literature and reviewed exile journals and samizdat texts smuggled out of Czechoslovakia. Established at the beginning of the Cold War to transmit uncensored news and information behind the Iron Curtain, Radio Free Europe, as it was then known, also became a platform for artistic voices like Jedlickas that were suppressed inside their countries.

There are not many works in the canon of Czech literature from the 1950s that manage to portray the period with such authenticity and credibility, Czech Radio literary critic and reviewer Milena Maresova told RFE/RL. He doesnt blame, he doesnt moralize, and he doesnt judge. Quite the oppositeJedlicka managed to capture the psychology and emotions of the time, everything that was repressed by a deaf and mute ideology that reduced human experience to mere slogans and political proclamations.

Midway Upon The Journey Of Our Life was translated into English by PEN Writing in Translation Award winner Alex Zucker and was published by Charles University Karolinum Press as part of its Modern Czech Classics series.

--Emily Thompson
TRONDHEIM, Norway  NATOs top civilian leader brushed aside comments from Germanys foreign minister that accused the alliance of warmongering, saying the 28-nation bloc needed both a military response and a political dialogue in dealing with Russia.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg spoke on June 20, a day after the remarks from German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier were published in the German tabloid Bild am Sonntag.

With major NATO war games going on in Poland and Lithuania, and a NATO summit scheduled for early next month in Warsaw, Steinmeiers criticism sparked fears that Germanys ruling coalition might be diverging in its approach to Moscow. Steinmeier, a Social Democrat, suggested NATO was inflaming the situation by warmongering and stomping boots."

Speaking to RFE/RL in the Norwegian port of Trondheim ahead of a multinational NATO naval exercise, Stoltenberg argued that the alliance was united in its need for a dual-track approach to Russia.

We need a strong defense to prevent conflicts but we also need political dialogue to reduce tensions, he said. All 28 allies are behind this dual-track approach and I welcome both Germany's strong support for the dialogue effort but also Germany's contribution to our increased military presence in the east.

A dual-track approach is something which is also very much in line with what has been the message from Germany in NATO for many, many years, he said.

War Games

The alliance earlier this month conducted war games in Poland and Lithuania which were among the largest since the end of the Cold War. The exercises featured 31,000 troops from 24 NATO and partner nations, including Germany.

Germany is slated to head one of the four battalions that the alliance will deploy in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, a move aimed at easing fears among eastern alliance members after the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the war in eastern Ukraine.

The final decision about the bulking up NATO's eastern flank will come at the summit in Warsaw on July 8-9. Some officials and experts fear that will trigger some sort of response by Russia.

Russia has already threatened to deploy a sophisticated ballistic missile system called Iskander to the Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad. That would directly threaten most of the three Baltic states, as well as much of Poland.

Stoltenberg refused to answer questions on whether Iskanders had already been sent to Kaliningrad but noted that Moscow had engaged in a military build-up from the Barents Sea to the Eastern Mediterranean for years now.

I can only say that we have seen a more assertive Russia, which has tripled defense spending since 2000, which has acquired new and more modern different capabilities and which has been willing to use military force against an independent country, Ukraine, and all of this is the reason why we are strengthening our collective defense, he said.
Pakistani police have arrested a man under the majority-Muslim country's strict blasphemy laws for selling shoes with a sacred Hindu symbol.

District Police Chief Farrukh Ali said the shopkeeper, Jahanzaib Khaskhili, was arrested on June 20 in the southern town of Tando Adam.

Ali said the shoes, emblazoned with a symbol for the sacred Hindu syllable Om, were confiscated.

If convicted, the shopkeeper faces a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.

Leaders of the Hindu community, including Punjabi Sikhs who worship the symbol itself as a deity, called for the shopkeeper to be arrested under Pakistans blasphemy legislation.

Pakistans blasphemy laws are usually enforced against people accused of making derogatory remarks about Islam or willfully desecrating the Koran.

Critics have said the laws are unfairly applied and often used to settle personal scores.

Based on reporting by Reuters and BBC
Russian authorities say a "lucrative impulse" was behind last years killing of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov.

Vladimir Markin, the spokesman for the Investigative Committee, said on June 20 that five detained suspects from Russia's North Caucasus region of Chechnya had been promised at least 15 million rubles ($232,000) for killing Nemtsov.

Nemtsov, a Kremlin critic and former deputy prime minister, was gunned down near the Kremlin on February 27, 2015.

The suspected mastermind of the killing, Ruslan Mukhudinov, a member of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrovs security forces, remains at large.

Markin said Mukhudinov's role in the case is being investigated separately.

A lawyer for the Nemtsov family, Vadim Prokhorov, said on June 20 that the investigations into the killing cannot be considered completed until all organizers of the crime are identified and apprehended.

Nemtsov's relatives and lawyers have expressed skepticism about the probe, insisting that the killing must have been ordered by high-ranking Russian officials.

Based on reporting by Interfax and TASS
Russias state-run RT network has broadcast footage appearing to show Russian jets in Syria armed with cluster bombs, weapons which are widely condemned for their indiscriminate nature and which Moscow has denied using during its intervention in the five-year-old conflict.

A news segment aired by RT on June 18 showed two canister-like attachments under the wing of a Russian jet that bear codes identified by independent activists as those of Russian cluster munitions.

 group of Russian and Western bloggers known as Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT) said parts of the segment were later edited to remove video of the weaponry, but then restored.

The use of Russian-built cluster bombs in the Syrian conflict has been documented by independent bloggers as well as human rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, though those assertions have been denied by Russian military officials.

Cluster munitions scatter small bomblets over wide areas, though frequently the bomblets fail to explode and pose a long-term threat to civilians. Their use has been banned by 118 countries, but not by Russia or Syria.

The footage aired as part of a larger RT news report about the visit of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to the Hemeimeem air base in northwestern Syria. Russian jets and bombers have been flying out of the base since September, when Moscow launched its campaign to bolster the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

In one part of the segment, an Su-34 strike fighter, also known as a Fullback, is shown taxiing across a tarmac. As a man who appears to be a pilot walks under the jets wing, the two attachments are visible, along with identifying codes.

The codes, which can be read with some effort, say RBK-500 ZAB 2.5SM, which independent monitors say are known incendiary cluster weapons in Russian arsenals.

Later clips of the segment posted to YouTube omitted the under-the-wing shot, instead cutting directly to a meeting overseen by Shoigu.

The CIT blogging collective, which gained wide attention for its investigation of the shoot down of Malaysia Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, first documented the edited footage in the RT report.

As of June 20, however, the complete clip, with the weaponry visible, had been restored on YouTube and elsewhere.

While the blogging team accused RT of censoring its own video footage, a note attached to the clip on YouTube says the part was removed by an editor out of personal safety.

"There was never any intention to censor the video," the note said. Upon reevaluation it was deemed that the frame did not pose any risks; it had since been restored and the video is up in its original cut."

The Russian Defense Ministry had not publicly commented on the video by the evening of June 20 in Moscow.

Major General Igor Konashenkov, a Defense Ministry spokesman, said in December that there were no cluster munitions "at the Russian air base in Syria."
A court in Serbia has sentenced one of the richest business tycoons in the Balkans to five years in prison on tax evasion charges.

The court on June 20 found 70-year-old Miroslav Miskovic guilty of helping his son Marko Miskovic evade paying some 3 million euros ($3.4 million) in taxes linked to his road construction company.

Marko Miskovic already has been sentenced to 3.5 years for the same offense.

Miroslav Miskovic denies the charges.

His lawyer Zdenko Tomanovic said the trial suffered under strong political pressure, adding that the defense team will appeal.

The businessman had close political ties to the late ruler Slobodan Milosevic and was once among the most influential people in Serbia.

He created a business empire during Milosevics rule in the 1990s and managed to expand his business holdings after Milosevics ouster in 2000.

In 2007, Miskovics wealth was estimated at $2 billion. His fortune is thought to have grown since then.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
Two weeks ago I was sitting in a small shop in Izmir to have my watch cleaned and its battery replaced. Husnu Bey, the owner, a very professional watchmaker, was extremely pleasant to talk to and, no surprise for Turkey, he immediately came to politics -- and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

I was interested in his take on Turkeys "Kurdish issue," now that the government is waging a tough military and security campaign against Kurdish militants from the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, and its offshoots, in both cities and villages. I wanted to hear what he had to say about the campaign itself, as well as the issue of ethnic and cultural rights for the countrys large Kurdish minority.

"Yes, I understand that they are waging a terrorist war," I said, "both against the army and security forces and against civilians."

"But imagine, if the government succeeds in eradicating a good portion of Kurdish militants and lowering the number and intensity of their attacks, who else will be left to talk to? In the end, there must be a political solution and military action alone will not provide it. There seems to be no Kurdish alternative to the PKK yet."

The PKK is a militant Kurdish organization that has been waging war against Turkey for the past 32 years. It is recognized as a terrorist organization, not only by Turkey but also by the United States and most European countries.

Not surprisingly, as a dedicated Ataturkist ("Ataturkcu,"), Husnu Beys main criticism was directed mainly against Erdogan himself.

"The majority of our Kurdish co-citizens are against PKK terror," he replied. "But Erdogan first decided to negotiate with the PKK without disarming them. And meanwhile the PKK amassed thousands of weapons and tons of ammunition in the basements and cellars of private homes. You dont negotiate with somebody who is still armed. Now Erdogan is panicking and doesnt know whom to attack where.

"You clean up the terror and take away their arms first and then tell them, 'Now, let's sit down and talk.' That was previously the policy and we had just a few dozen casualties every year. Since the AKP [President Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party] came to power, we have dozens of casualties dying in terrorist attacks every week. See what they did yesterday in Istanbul.

Deaths In Vezneciler

Indeed, the previous day, on June 7, an offshoot of the PKK attacked a police vehicle guarding a road in Vezneciler, a crowded neighborhood of Istanbul's old Fatih district. Six policemen and six civilians were killed as a result; more than 36 were wounded, and dozens of shops and cars were damaged. Twelve families lost their loved ones and were devastated. The entire country was shocked and speechless.

The suicide attacker was Eylem Yasa, a 32-year old woman originally from Baglar, a suburb of the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, a city that Turkeys Kurdish nationalists have declared as their "capital." She was reportedly trained in PKK camps in northern Iraq and later inside Turkey.

Eylems body was held in the morgue of the Istanbul justice hospital to be later sent to her hometown for burial. Eight days later, on June 15, the coffin arrived in Baglar, carrying the body of a brutal female suicide bomber who had killed 12 people and herself while causing so much sorrow and destruction for the entire nation.

Wouldnt you expect the family to bury the body of the terrorist quietly in the small cemetery of that Diyarbakir suburb?

No. They turned it into a political show. The coffin was wrapped in a PKK flag; women carried it (as the deceased was a woman); men showed victory signs with their fingers and chanted antigovernment slogans. On top of this, a dozen mayors from Kurdish towns and cities in the region also came to attend the funeral and to demonstrate their support. All of them were from the Peoples Democratic Party, or HDP.

The HDP is known to be a de facto "political branch" of the PKK. It is represented in Turkeys parliament with 59 out of 550 deputies and it controls many city councils in the eastern and southeastern parts of the country.

Didn't these Kurdish citizens know what had happened? Did they know what kind of message they were sending throughout Turkey about the country's future and Turkish-Kurdish ethnic relations? Don't they realize that Turkeys Syrian and Iraqi border regions are becoming increasingly similar to northern Syria?

I am sure that, if you asked Eylem before her suicide attack, she would justify it as part of the "fight for freedom." She would verbally condemn terrorism. She would strongly condemn Islamic State. But deep in her heart, she would probably think the PKK was different. Her actions and similar attacks are "good" terrorist attacks, responding to what Kurdish militants call Turkey's "state terror," which is a term they use to justify their own violence.

"Good" Terrorism, "Bad" Terrorism?

Since the PKK and its offshoots ended a fragile cease-fire in the summer of 2015, they have brought out their weapons and ordered their militants, such as Eylem, to attack military and security targets as well as civilians. Their military commanders have been quoted as saying they should hit "everywhere in Turkey, in cities and towns."

The government response has been proportionally harsh, often ruthless.

After months of clashes between PKK militants and the Turkish Army, some southeastern cities now look like Syrian cities that have been bombed to ruins.

I dont know if the "cemetery demonstration" in Diyarbakir is representative of most of Turkey's Kurdish minority. I hope it is not.

Sometime later I will tell you about my encounter with Necla, a fine ethnic Kurdish hotel manager from Izmir. She is from Tunceli, another city in eastern Turkey with a sizable Kurdish minority. She was telling me that her personal goal is to make a career and to "gradually move away from whatever is close to Iraq and Syria.

Westward, westward, she told me. In the east, it smells of ammunition and hatred -- religious hatred, ethnic hatred -- and ignorance. I dont need politics. I need security, education, health, and a normal life.

But, still, I am not sure if the Turkish watchmakers statement about "the majority of our Kurdish co-citizens' opposition to the PKK" offers a complete picture of Turkey today.
The United Nations says Iraq is facing a growing humanitarian disaster as aid workers scramble to cope with a massive influx of civilians who have fled Fallujah since government forces recaptured much of the city last week from the Islamic State (IS) extremist group.

Bruno Geddo, a representative of the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in Iraq, says international aid groups are scrambling to respond to the rapidly evolving situation.

Since April 17, when the government declared control over most of Fallujah, the UN says nearly 10,000 families have fled the city to escape heavy, ongoing fighting.

Geddo said another wave of refugees was expected in coming days because thousands of civilians remain trapped by an ongoing battle in parts of Fallujah.

More than 84,000 civilians have fled Fallujah and its surrounding areas since ground operations aimed at recapturing the city from IS was announced in May, according to the UN.

An Iraqi commander reported fierce clashes in Fallujah as elite counterterrorism forces pushed to clear out the remaining militants.

Brigadier General Haider al-Obeidi said during the weekend that IS fighters launched missiles, detonated a suicide car bomb, and deployed snipers against Iraqi forces.

He said Iraqi forces are still advancing despite the strong clashes."

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi declared victory for Iraqs government troops on June 17 after special forces recaptured most of the city in a battle that has been going on for weeks.

The Norwegian Refugee Council, an international humanitarian organization that does extensive work in Anbar Province, said the civilian exodus has overwhelmed camps run by the Iraqi government and humanitarian groups, leaving thousands without shelter or proper sanitation.

Karl Schembri, a spokesman for the Norwegian Refugee Council, said thousands without any tents, without any shelter, they have slept overnight out in the open."

Schembri said the humanitarian situation in Anbar Province is potentially "catastrophic."

Since IS militants seized large swaths of territory in northern and western Iraq during the summer of 2014, more than 3.4 million Iraqis have been displaced from their homes.

With reporting by AFP and AP
Kindergarten teacher Yiska Mamou, 24, said she studied economics in public school but, like most Jews in Djerba, did not go on to higher education. She, too, wants to move to Israel, because after work "there's nothing to do here but go home and clean."

It's a lament echoed by many young Jewish women, whose presence is key to the community's survival -- it is growing, thanks to at least 30 births a year -- but who pine for Israel's relative openness.

Young men, too, dream of moving, but with an eye on economic security.

Economy Inspires Emigration

Like many Jewish men in Djerba, Yoni Haddad is involved in the jewelry trade. The community is known for its silver filigree and elaborate, gold-plated wedding headdresses and necklaces that are popular with Muslim brides. It is a craft that has been handed down from generation to generation.

But on a recent visit, only a few Russian-speaking visitors walked the modest market in Houmt Souk, a working-class city that dwarfs nearby Hara Kebira.

Jewish silver merchant Elian Hadid, 24, in his family's shop in a Djerba market.

Jewish and Muslim shopkeepers alike have suffered heavy losses as tourists abandoned Tunisia for fear of security after IS-affiliated gunmen attacked a beach hotel in Sousse to the north in the summer of 2015, killing 38 people, mostly British tourists.

Haddad said he has relatives in Jerusalem, but is hesitant to leave his house and business in Djerba. Should business get bad enough, however, he would consider relocating -- "of course, to Israel. It's the last stop."

Yigal Palmor, spokesman of the Jewish Agency, a quasi-governmental organization that promotes immigration to Israel, said "there is very little future for any Jewish community in any Arab country unless things change dramatically. Even if they are tolerated, I don't believe they have a real future there."

He noted that the Jewish community in Morocco -- the only one in the Arab world that is larger than Tunisia's -- is mostly elderly; the Egyptian, Lebanese, and Syrian communities have dwindled to a few dozen; and Jews are gone entirely from Libya and Algeria.

For now, Djerba's Jews are grooming their young for a split identity.

Home In Two Places

On a Thursday afternoon, Elinor Haddad, 16, mopped the kitchen of her family home in preparation for the weekend. Her older brother had returned the day before from a sponsored trip to Israel, and Elinor wore a bracelet he brought back. She would not be making the same trip, she said, because Rabbi Bittan ruled against girls traveling alone. But Israel has come to her.

Elinor Haddad, 16, washes the kitchen floor of her family's home in Hara Keira.

To avoid assimilation into Tunisian society, Haddad's girls-only high school teaches an Israeli curriculum. Haddad speaks fluent Hebrew along with Arabic. Israeli mores have seeped into home life as well. Friday night dinner at Haddad's house would be the traditional Tunisian Jewish meal of couscous, but Thursday's lunch was chicken schnitzel -- a common Israeli meal, imported by European Jewish immigrants.

On Thursday night, Elinor giggled with friends in the Ghriba synagogue's anteroom while pilgrims passed by. Ordinarily, Elinor said, she sits with friends behind closed doors. The pilgrimage is a chance to see and be seen, she said.

"If I had the opportunity to move to Israel I would go," Haddad said. "But it's ok here too."
6 Swiss aviator Bertrand Piccard takes a selfie onboard Solar Impulse2 prior to landing in Seville, Spain, after finishing a 70-hour flight over the Atlantic Ocean. It's one of the longest legs of an attempt to complete the first-ever solar-powered flight around the world. (epa/Solar Impulse)
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
The Council for Advancement and Support of Education has named Virginia Western Community College a Bronze Award winner of its 2016 Circle of Excellence awards program. Virginia Western was recognized for its Community College Access Program.

The Circle of Excellence awards program recognizes outstanding work in advancement services, alumni relations, communications, fundraising and marketing at CASE member institutions worldwide. They are judged by peer professionals at schools, colleges and universities as well as by professionals from outside education.

We are thrilled that CCAP has been recognized for this prestigious honor from CASE, said Dr. Angela Falconetti, vice president of institutional advancement at Virginia Western. Our numerous public and private partners have seen the indelible impact that the program has on our students and our community. We look forward to continuing to make college possible for any students in our region.

Winners are selected based on a number of factors, including overall quality, innovation, use of resources and the impact on the institution or its external and internal communities, such as alumni, parents, students and faculty and staff. The Circle of Excellence awards program is open to professionals working at member colleges, universities, independent schools and their affiliated nonprofits around the world.

In 2016, more than 710 higher education institutions, independent schools and nonprofits worldwide submitted more than 3,350 entries for consideration in nearly 100 categories. Judges gave 331 awards: 103 bronze; 119 silver, 83 gold and 17 grand gold.

CCAP was created by Virginia Western in 2008 to bridge the financial gap for talented students with a dream, clearing the path for their journey ahead. CCAP is an innovative series of public/private partnerships that provides up to two years of tuition assistance at Virginia Western to area high school graduates who meet program guidelines. CCAP supports as many students as possible based on student need and funds available.

A panel of experts selected the institutions entry in the Community College Public Private Partnerships category. The judges stated that CCAP is a unique and transformative program deserving of recognition. They liked how it fostered long-term relationships with civic, educational, business stakeholders and that the program not only worked to develop opportunities for students, but for the community.

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education is one of the largest international associations of education institutions, serving more than 3,600 universities, colleges, schools and related organizations in more than 80 countries. CASE is the leading resource for professional development, information and standards in the fields of education fundraising, communications, marketing and alumni relations.

Submitted by Josh Meyer
Who would have guessed? With 2016 approaching its mid-point, the diamond industry has seen rough sales of around $5 billion. Is it justified in terms of retail sales which must pull diamonds through the pipeline with higher sales? The answer appears to be a fairly resounding 'no', so what exactly is happening in the rough market?

There are several possible reasons to explain the strong sales figures, but first a look at what has been happening since the beginning of the year. After De Beers and Alrosa reduced supply to the market in the second half of last year and permitted clients to leave goods on the table, manufacturing stocks started to decline. The producers also reduced prices, helping to make rough goods more attractive at the start of this year as manufacturers sought to build up inventories, according to many reports. An 18 percent drop in rough prices in the second half of 2015 and a reduction of supply to the market helped stabilize it.

De Beers' fourth sales cycle of rough diamonds for this year in mid-May indicated that there is stronger-than-expected demand during what is usually a weaker quarter. The company said it sold $630 million of diamonds in May, and $666 million in the previous sale, $617 million in the second sales cycle, and $545 million in January. As of the start of June, De Beers had sold $2.46 billion of rough stones in 2016.

In addition to inventory shortages, De Beers sightholders enjoyed an approximate 7% price cut in January which gave manufacturers increased margins, and that underpinned demand. It can be seen that demand this year shows how low inventory levels were for the midstream operators following cautious stockpile management heading into the last holiday season.

Many midstream clients have seen liquidity positions improve in recent months as their inventories have been cut relative to last year, enabling their bankers to provide them with credit for new purchases.

The figures are all the more impressive because demand for rough diamonds tends to slow in the second quarter of the year, but sales and prices suggest demand continues to improve. Well into the second quarter, it is clear that diamond sentiment is still strong, said one industry figure on the sidelines of the World Diamond Congress in May. It is quite a surprise to many people that the industry is still building up stocks.

But it is not just De Beers that is selling strongly. Russian mining giant Alrosa, the worlds largest rough diamond producer, recently reported that both revenues and profits soared in the first quarter. In the first three months of this year, revenue jumped 37% on the year-earlier quarter to around $1.6 billion while profits were even more spectacular  more than doubling to $760 million on the year in the quarter. Significant demand let to a 34% rise in diamond sales in the January-March quarter from the year-earlier period. And that also enabled the miner to reduce its inventories which had built up in the second half of 2015, commented Andrey Zharkov, ALROSAs chief executive officer.

Alrosa forecasts that demand for polished gems and jewelry will be stable this year and the company aims to maintain price levels as the market recovers. Cutting prices doesnt mean increasing demand in this market, Zharkov said in an interview in May. The price-over-volume rule is the basis of our pricing policy. Alrosa has kept prices unchanged at its 2016 sales, unlike De Beers who raised them slightly at its April sales cycle. Zharkov said the reason for this was that reducing them would result in losses for clients who previously purchased stones, with the likely result that they would then look again at their stock levels and possibly destabilize the market.

Between them, De Beers and Alrosa, which account for around two-thirds of global supply, sold approximately $4.2 billion of rough stones in the first five months of this year. Extrapolating from this, the global market has bought around $5 billion of rough in total when taking the other producers into account.

However, despite the vigorous demand for rough so far this year, it must be borne in mind that January to April is typically the strongest season of the year for the rough market. With polished goods resulting from the rough bought in the early months of this year heading into stores in the coming months, it will be instructive to see how much demand there is from retailers.

Needless to say, there are members of the industry who claim that the strong sales are a result of speculation as has happened in previous cycles. With De Beers reducing prices six months ago, there are companies that bought the goods in hopes of making a strong return down the line and not because they believe that there is particularly strong retail demand currently to justify the purchases.

In Israel, many diamantaires are mystified about where the large amounts of rough being bought are going. "It's true that inventories were run down to some extent in the final months of last year, but there were still billions of dollars of goods in offices in Ramat Gan, Mumbai, Hong Kong and New York," said one leading trader. "Retail demand isn't exactly shooting off the charts. The US is stable and showing some growth, but the rest of the world markets are very slow and difficult."

And what of the retail sector? Looking at the latest reports, demand cannot be said to be particularly strong. Sales at specialty jewelry stores in the United States increased by a very modest 3 percent on the year to just over $2.1 billion in March, according to the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Jewelry sales overall at all stores showed a rise of 4.2 percent to $4.65 billion in March, the last month for which figures have been released.

Meanwhile, in recent weeks, important chains such as Tiffany & Co, Signet Jewelers, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group and Luk Fook have all reported either falling sales or figures that were below expectations.

What are we likely to in the coming months? As ever, crystal-ball gazing is pointless: who foresaw the strong rough sales that have taken place this year after a rough 2015? As an Israeli trader commented: "If there is one thing that we have learned since the financial crisis in 2008 and the recession that followed, you simply cannot second-guess this market and you cannot take any chances. You have to be extremely cautious and only order what you need. I am concerned that we are heading into another glut of polished goods. Is the diamond industry making the same mistakes again?"

By our Israel correspondent Abraham Dayan






With a net cash position of $144.3 million at the end of the first quarter of 2016, Lucara Diamond, which operates the Karowe Mine in Botswana, says it intends to invest the cash and increase the size of the company either through a merger, acquisitions or develop a mine through exploration activities.

Company chief operational officer Paul Day told Rough & Polisheds Mathew Nyaungwa in an interview on the sidelines of the Botswana Resource Sector Conference in Gaborone that they had also earmarked between $15 million and $18 million for project capital expenditure this year.

This, he said, was largely driven towards equipping the plant at Karowe to take the top size of diamonds recoverable up from 60 mm to 80 mm and then on to 100 mm that will give the mine an opportunity to recover undamaged stones.

Karowe produced three large diamonds late last year through an industrial process: the Constellation 813 carat stone sold in May for $63 million, a 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona to be sold end of this month and a 374 carat stone, which is yet to be sold.

Day also spoke about the massive expression of interest on Lesedi by traditional and non-traditional diamond buyers despite earlier fears that a large stone would not attract a good price.

Below are the excerpts.

I understand Lesedi is going under the hammer on the 29th of June (interrupted)...

Thats right.

What are your expectations given that some brokers had told Lucara that it wont fetch much from a 1000 carat stone?

Some of the diamond brokers said with a 1000 carat stone the best thing you can do is to hit it with a hammer and crush it into smaller stones because they will be easy to sell. A 1000 carat stone will be difficult to sell, but we really do not believe that. We believe that we have seen a massive interest in the sale of our stones as they become progressively bigger and our first large diamond was a 169 carat which in the scheme of things these days is not even large.



But as we started recovering high quality large diamonds we [are] even surprised ourselves at the level of interest and just last year we sold a highest value stone for $3.7 million, which was a 342 carat stone. This was sold through our normal tender process, so we feel we are getting to understand this market and we see continued interest in these high valued stones and soon as we recovered that large diamond  1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona  we had expressions of interest from various individuals and bodies, interested in purchasing the stone for a high value, so we see an opportunity for that stone not just for the [diamond dealers] but individual collectors of high net worth artifacts, be they individuals or institutions, and hence that was the reason to take it to an open auction rather than having a closed tender, which typically attracts [diamond buyers]

Our management team had been touring with the stone starting off in the Far East (Hong Kong and Singapore), the stone then went to Dubai in the Middle East, from there it went over to New York and then to Geneva, Antwerp and now its being showcased in London.

Do you have a reserve price for this stone?

We havent settled on a reserved price as such, there will be a reserve, but I think the easiest reference for a reserve is the sell value achieved for the 813 carat stone which was $63 million or $77 000 per carat so logically that becomes a floor and although we havent settled on an actual reserve ... one should think about that value.

You said there was a marked interest from potential buyers in Lesedi and are there any figures floated around?

I think our CEO William Lamb was quoted as saying we had an offer from an institution in America of $40 million very early on, but currently we believe we will get much more than that on a public platform.

Lucara recovered two other large stones late last year and you have already made reference to the 813 carat stone. Have you sold the other stone?

We sold the stone that is now known as the Constellation 813 carat stone in May for $63 million and that would be cut and polished into a stone. We do also have a 374 carat stone, which we recovered within the same time period as the Constellation and Lesedi La Rona. At the moment we havent formulated a sale strategy, but we will sell it, but we havent identified a strategy or a timeline.



Will you benefit from the polishing of Constellation?

Yes, with our client, Nemesis, a company that operates in Dubai, we held a 10 percent interest in the profit that is achieved from the final sale of the polished outcome of that rough stone.

What is your projected revenue for the year?

In terms of market guidance, we have said that we would get a revenue of between $ 200 million and $ 220 million excluding the sale of the Constellation and the Lesedi La Rona (whose value is still unknown out there), so those who want to do the Maths [can do so to see our new market guidance when the stone if finally sold].

How many carats of diamonds are you planning to sell this year?

We will sell between 340 000 and 380 000 carats this year.

How many carats will you produce this year as well?

In terms of production its roughly the same with the sales figures, we dont hold massive inventories so in any way we sell what we produce on an annual basis.

Your projected capital expenditure for the year is seen between $15 million and $18 million. What are your planned projects for the year?

The project capital expenditure is largely driven towards equipping the plant to deal with two things: to take the top size of diamonds recoverable up from 60 mm to 80 mm and then on to 100mm that will give Karowe an opportunity to recover undamaged stones.

What has helped you recover large stones?

Of course the large stones have to exist in the ore body and their geological phenomenon, the trick where Lucara leveraged its expertise was in the identification of the potential of course diamonds before they were recovered so as we started recovering coarser and coarser diamonds our experts in that regard identified where the top size stones might exists and that early identification enabled Lucara to start equipping the plant and put the engineering capacity to recover those large diamonds in time to be mined and that really is where the success was. Obviously if they are not there you cant recover them and if they are there you got to be equipped to recover them. The Lesedi La Rona and Constellation are the first truly huge diamonds ever to be recovered through an industrial process, those diamonds were drilled, blustered, loaded into a truck, then to a primary crusher, to a secondary crusher, through a mill and into a recovering circuit. Thats incredibly a destructive manner and I think if you look at the historic diamonds that have been recovered  and there has been some big boys out there  most of those have been recovered from a much gentler process, quite often through alluvial, panning process, etcetera and I think the phenomenal thing about these two diamonds is the fact that they were successfully extracted from an industrial process.

You have a strong cash position, what are your plans with this cash?

We have in mind to invest it and increase the size of the company in future either through a merger or an acquisition activity if not developing a mine at the exploration prospects that we have or through taking the existing operation on the ground in the future, that is the aim.

Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished




Japan posted a merchandise trade deficit of 40.7 billion yen in May, the Ministry of Finance said on Monday.

That missed forecasts for a surplus of 70.0 billion yen following the 823.5 billion yen surplus in April.

Exports were down 11.3 percent on year, missing forecasts for a fall of 10.0 percent following the 10.1 percent decline in the previous month.

Exports to all of Asia fell 13.0 percent on year to 2,769.048 billion yen, while exports to China alone fell 14.9 percent to 901.938 billion yen.

Exports to the United States slipped an annual 10.7 percent to 969.869 billion yen, while exports to the European Union shed 4.0 percent to 577.798 billion yen.

Imports skidded an annual 13.8 percent - matching forecasts after plummeting 23.3 percent a month earlier.

Imports from all of Asia fell 10.7 percent on year to 2,553.167 billion yen, while imports from just China alone skidded 9.7 percent to 1,303.031 billion yen.

Imports from the United States skidded an annual 8.5 percent to 624.234 billion yen, while imports from the European Union fell an annual 1.5 percent to 651.440 billion yen.

The adjusted trade surplus was 269.8 billion yen - beating expectations for 113.4 billion yen and down from 426.6 billion yen in April.

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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.
Are we looking at an Orlando false flag with the recent mass shooting at Pulse (a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida) where over 50 people were reportedly killed? False flag attacks happen in the US with a certain and predictable regularity. It has been awhile since the last major false flag attack on US soil (San Bernardino), interspersed with one in Europe (Brussels). In recent years, the NWO manipulators throw a false flag operation into the mix every so often for numerous reasons.



A first is to ensure the public doesnt forget about being scared in their home towns of being attacked anywhere at any time.

A second is to ensure the public doesnt forget to continue being afraid of the bogeyman du jour (in this case ISIS or Islamic terrorism, better named Zio-Islamic terrorism in deference to the real force [Zionism] behind it).

A third is to target different places (schools, movie theaters, nightclubs, etc.) and different segments (gays, teachers, etc.) in and of society, so that everyone starts to feel personally threatened by the specter of a mass shooting or bombing, because they identify more with that type of place or segment.



A fourth is gun control: the continuing agenda which has been greatly accelerated under Obama for the US to override the 2nd Amendment, forbid gun ownership and bring US laws into harmonization with those of the Rockefeller-influenced UN. A fifth is distraction: the NWO social engineers time these events to keep other important topics out of the news (such as the ongoing and nefarious efforts to pass the TPP, TTIP, TISA, CETA and other giant free-trade agreements to further enslave the average citizen). There are other reasons, but thats a brief summary.

With all that in mind, lets take a look at some of the specifics of the Orlando mass shooting case. Here are some salient points indicating that the Orlando mass shooting may be a false flag operation:



Orlando False Flag Clue #1: Alleged Killer Worked for G4S



The notorious G4s is a British multinational private security company, the worlds largest by revenue. It has already been exposed as having ties with Israel, and the security-intelligence apparatus of the US-UK-Zionist axis (CIA, MI6, Mossad). For instance, G4S was helping Israel with its prisons before recently pulling out due to unfavorable publicity (thanks to the BDS movement). It is therefore rather intriguing that the suspected mass killer/shooter (or patsy) Omar Mateen, a 29-year-old Muslim man, has been a G4S employee since 2007. Here is the official statement from



G4S:

Omar Mateen was employed by G4S at a residential community in South Florida and was off-duty at the time of the incident. Mateen was subject to detailed company screening when he was recruited in 2007 

G4S is connected to 9/11 and Guantanamo too, as this article on Washingtons Blog states:

Previously called Securicor, G4S provided security at all three airports affected by the 9/11 attacks. Securicor/G4S had bought Argenbright Securitythe 9/11 airport security firmjust nine months before the 9/11 attacks. The company later ran operations at Guantanamo Bay.



Orlando False Flag Clue #2: Alleged Killer Already Known to the FBI



With so many of these false flag events, the killers or patsies are already known to the FBI or other intelligence agencies. The FBI knew about Mateen; they evaluated his potential for terrorism by interviewing him at least two different times. You may recall that the FBI has become famous of late for its sting operations, where it has knowingly and willingly orchestrated fake terrorist acts to supposedly make us safer, while at the same time entrapping gullible people to play along and justifying its own existence.



Orlando False Flag Clue #3: Alleged Killer Shot Before He Could Speak or Be Tried



Dead men tell no tales. Omar Mateen has been shot, so were never going to hear his side of the story. This is certainly not the first time this has happened.



Orlando False Flag Clue #4: Supposed Pledged Allegiance to ISIS



ISIS is the pet frankenstein of the New World Order, so you can thoroughly expect the ISIS card to be played at false flag events to further (and falsely) cement in peoples minds the idea that ISIS is a real and imminent threat to America. It is patently obvious to many by now that ISIS-IS-ISIL-Daesh is a US-Israeli creation. Just like Islamic terrorists supposedly chanting Allah Akbar every time before they kill, the pledge of allegiance to ISIS has become a standard ingredient in the recent Western false flag recipe.



Orlando False Flag Clue #5: Drill Occurred 3 Months Prior in Orlando



You know the drill. Same time, same place, same event. With this Orlando mass shooting, there was a MCI (Mass Casualty Incident) drill that occurred 3 months ago, although there is not much information about the nature of it.



Orlando False Flag Clue #6: 666 Numerology



As with almost all false flag attacks, there is a numerological marker to the Orlando false flag event. The attack took place yesterday on June 12th, 2016, written in American English as 6/12/2016. There is a 6, then five central digits (1 + 2 + 2 + 0 + 1) which equal 6 when added together, then an ending 6, making a 666. The occult symbolism of this number is painted all over Illuminati and other Secret Society events. Coincidence? You decide.



Orlando False Flag Clue #7: More Than 50 Dead



Another reason to suspect the official narrative of the Orlando mass shooting is simply the alleged numbers of dead victims. More than 50 dead? The greatest number of dead people in the US since 9/11? So how does a security guard manage to possess the training and prowess to kill that many people in that short a time? We come across the same loophole in the official story of Sandy Hook, where skinny kid Adam Lanza is supposed to have shot and killed 26 people in record time. As Kevin Barrett writes:

More than 50 dead? Only one shooter? And the guy was not even a special forces professional, but a flaky security guard?! (Who just happened to be on all the National Security radar screens, like so many others now-proven patsies.) Sorry, MSM, that doesnt pass the smell test.

Its funny how almost all Muslim terrorists are either ridiculously ultra-competent supermen able to take down skyscrapers and blow up the Pentagon using a couple of package-openers as their only weapons; kill ludicrously large numbers of people in mass shootings without any military training; or otherwise perform amazing feats of mass carnage  or else they are the worlds LEAST competent destruction-wreakers, dufuses who cant get a match lit to try to blow up their own shoe, or who pack their underwear with sterno camping fuel and no detonator and somehow expect their crotch to explode.



Conclusion: Question Everything about the Orlando Mass Shooting

As always, you have to question everything about these attacks. If you want the truth, youll get more of it by flipping or inverting everything the MSM (Mainstream Media) says, and using that as your starting point for investigations, rather than the other way around. Stay tuned for more evidence as the situation unfolds.
Accenture (ACN) announced it has acquired Maglan, a Israeli cybersecurity company specializing in offensive cyber simulation, vulnerability countermeasures, cyber forensics and malware defenses, and IT security research and development with a focus on threat intelligence.

Based in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, Maglan has performed extensive penetration tests for numerous organizations in Europe. Its clients include companies in the financial services, telecommunications and automotive industries. Accenture said the acquisition brings a team of highly skilled cybersecurity professionals, and advances the company's strategy of leveraging Israel as a cybersecurity innovation hub to provide clients with cross-industry cyber defense consulting.

The capabilities of Maglan will form the core of a future Accenture Cyber Fusion Center in Israel and support Accenture around the globe.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Editors Pick

Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc., affiliated to Indian pharma major Aurobindo Pharma Limited, is recalling two lots of Quinapril and Hydrochlorothiazide tablets due to the presence of Nnitroso-quinapril, a probable human carcinogen, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.

Boeing Co. on Wednesday reported a loss for the third quarter that sharply widened from last year, reflecting higher commercial volume and losses on fixed-price defense development programs. Both core loss per share and quarterly revenues came in well below analysts' expectations.

German banking major Deutsche Bank AG reported Wednesday that its third-quarter profit grew more than threefold with higher revenues and weak expenses. Profit before tax was its highest third quarter result since 2006. Meanwhile, Assets under management declined. The bank said it is on track to meet fiscal 2022 outlook. Deutsche Bank shares were losing around 2 percent in the morning trading.
Toyota Motor Corp. is aiming to develop artificial intelligence or AI -based driver assistance systems in the next five years to improve vehicle safety, media reported citing Gill Pratt, the head of Toyota Research Institute.

With AI, the Japanese automaker's research and development company aims to improve car safety by enabling vehicles to anticipate and avoid potential accident situations.

Toyota's new institute is said to spend $1 billion over the next five years amid intensifying competition to develop self-driving cars.

While talking at a group interview in Tokyo, Pratt, Toyota Executive Technical Advisor and CEO of recently set up Toyota Research Institute, said, "Some of the things that are in car safety, which is a near-term priority, I'm very confident that we will have some advances come out during the next five years."

For Toyota, which thinks of producing an automatically driving car by the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the concept of AI integrated vehicles, which can think, act and take some control from drivers at times, is the base of its efforts.

Domestic rival Honda Motor Co. recently said it was setting up a new research center to focus on artificial intelligence. Automakers including Ford and Volkswagen AG are also investing in robotics research.

The researcher also said that there is possibility for Toyota to build affordable helper robots with its production principles for rapidly aging societies, including Japan.

Pratt said, "My thought is, if the Toyota production system can be applied to cars, may be it can also be applied to robots, because they're quite similar... The car of the future and the robot of the future in the home are both essentially doing the same thing."

In Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is calling for a "robot revolution," aiming to more than quadruple the nation's robotics industry sales to 2.4 trillion yen or $23 billion by 2020.

As per reports, Toyota has been trying its hands on various ideas to help the needy. This includes a motorized wheelchair that scales stairs, a wearable that guides the blind, and a helper device that retrieves objects for the bedridden, among others.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Canadian stocks may rise along with global equities Monday morning amid hopes the UK will reject a proposal to leave the European Union.

A trio of new polls suggest British voters are having a last-minute change of heart in favor of sticking with the EU.

Crude oil futures rebounded this morning, giving energy stocks a significant lift.

On Friday, the S&P/TSX Composite Index was up 19.36 points, or 0.14 percent, 13,901.77, trimming weekly losses.

In corporate news, Couche-Tard (ATD.B.TO) will acquire 23 Premium 7 locations in Estonia for undisclosed price.

Workers at the Bombardier (BBD.B.TO) Q400 factory in Toronto have agreed to the company's request to shift production overseas, the Globe and Mail reports.

Canadian wholesales sales edged up 0.1 percent in April, official data showed this morning.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
Following the recent mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub, the Senate is scheduled to vote on Monday on several gun control measures designed to prevent similar attacks.

The Senate is due to vote on four separate amendments, although none of the proposals are expected to receive the 60 votes needed to advance.

The amendments to an appropriations bill funding the Justice Department and other agencies include two Republican measures and two Democratic proposals.

Procedural votes on the amendments are expected to kick off at about 5:30 pm ET with a vote on a measure from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, to improve background checks.

Grassley's amendment would increase funding for the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and clarify the mental component of the system.

A separate amendment from Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn., would expand background checks to gun shows and internet sales.

Murphy staged a nearly fifteen-hour long filibuster last week, pressuring Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ken., to schedule today's votes on the amendments.

The Senate will also vote on an amendment from Senator John Cornyn, R-Tex., that would allow the Attorney General to delay a gun purchase by a suspected terrorist for up to 72 hours.

Cornyn's amendment would require the government to go to court to permanently block the sale, although Democrats argue that the burden of proof would be too high.

Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., has offered a separate amendment that would prevent any individual on a terrorist watch list from purchasing a gun.

However, none of the amendments is expected to receive the 60 votes needed to advance, and the measures would likely face stronger opposition in the GOP-controlled House.

The votes will still require some lawmakers to make tough decisions following the massacre in Orlando, which left 50 people dead and dozens of others injured.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Apple Inc. (AAPL) has taken a firm political stand by saying that it will not provide funding or other support for the Republican Party's presidential convention in July, according to Politico.

The tech giant has reportedly cited presumptive GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump's controversial comments on immigrants, minorities and women for its decision to break with tradition.

Meanwhile, other tech giants like Facebook, Microsoft and Google have said they will provide some support to the GOP event in Cleveland.

While Apple has courted Republicans in the past, CEO Tim Cook apparently does not want the tech giant to be associated with Trump.

Apple has declined to comment on the Politico report. The company has also not made it clear whether it will support the Democratic convention in Philadelphia this summer.

Apple had contributed just under $200,000 each in MacBooks and other tech tools to the Democratic and Republican Party conventions in 2008. The company also lent products and to both conventions in 2012.

But Trump's inflammatory comments on Muslims, other minority groups and women have worried tech executives in the U.S. He has proposed a ban on Muslim immigration, killing of family members of terrorists, and punishment for women who have abortions.

Tech companies, including Apple, support efforts to attract and retain highly-skilled migrant workers to the U.S. Trump's immigration policy is seen as hurting the recruitment efforts by the tech giants.

Trump has also repeatedly criticized the U.S. tech industry. In February, Trump called for a boycott against Apple over the company's stance on encryption.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Actor Anton Yelchin, known for his role as Pavel Chekov in the new "Star Trek" films, died after a freak accident with his car in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 19, according to BBC News.

His car, which was a Jeep Grand Cherokee, struck him and pinned him between a brick postbox pillar and a fence after it rolled backward down a steep drive at his Studio City home.

JJ Abrams, who directed Yelchin in the first two "Star Trek" films, paid tribute to the late actor on Twitter.

"You were kind. You were funny as hell, and supremely talented. And you weren't here nearly long enough. Missing you."

John Cho, a fellow "Star Trek" actor also paid his respects to Yelchin on Twitter, saying, "I loved Anton Yelchin so much. He was a true artist - curious, beautiful, courageous. He was a great pal and a great son. I'm in ruins."

Yelchin also starred in "Alpha Dog," "Charlie Bartlett," "The Beaver," among several other films.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Entertainment News
National Bank of Abu Dhabi and First Gulf Bank have confirmed discussions regarding a possible merger between the two banks that could create one of the biggest banks by assets in the Middle East.

National Bank of Abu Dhabi and First Gulf Bank announced that they are in merger discussion that could form an entity with about $170 billon in assets.

"Each bank has formed a Working Group made up of senior executive

management to review the commercial potential along with any legal and

structural aspects of a merger or combination," according to a filing to the Abu Dhabi stock exchange.

National Bank of Abu Dhabi has a market capitalization of around $13 billion, while First Gulf Bank has about $16 billion.

According to reports, Qatar National Bank is the largest bank by size in the Middle East and Africa, while National Bank of Abu Dhabi and First Gulf Bank are in 7 and 15 position, respectively.

Shares of both the banks jumped following the news, although the talks are still in the nascent stages.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Haryana Police is focusing on accident prevention when it comes slow moving, stranded or illegally parked vehicles on highways. The big brainwave isnt altogether new but there is now an attempt to re-enforce it. Coppers are keen on having parts of the rear of commercial vehicles painted in fluorescent colours.

Having the rear painted in fluorescent colours is all the more necessary in vehicles that lack reflective tapes pasted on their rear. Coppers have begun the drive in Panipat district.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Navdeep Singh Virk identifies that a number of accidents involving vehicles on highways especially at night is due to lack of reflectors on such vehicles. The end result is loss of human life.

Re-enforcing the use of fluorescent colours, even if hand-painted onto vehicles would be a step forward in minimizing risk of accidents at night by being noticeable to vehicles driving up. Most times, drivers are unable to notice a stranded vehicle in time and this results in high impact rear ending and crashes.

Another measure to strengthen the move is to carry out a special drive to ensure safety triangle reflectors are drilled onto the rear of vehicles in Panipat and Karnal districts. This too is aimed to reduce the number of incidents resulting in fatal road accidents on highways.

We are getting rear of such vehicles painted with fluorescent colours in Panipat under the supervision of IG Karnal Range. Districts Karnal and Kaithal would be covered shortly and later on, it would be replicated in other Ranges in collaboration with Traffic and Highways Police, added Virk.

He added, Road mishaps on highways could be avoided and precious lives saved if commuters follow traffic rules and keep reflectors in a good shape.

Theres also renewed focus on the 4 Es  Education, Enforcement, Engineering and Emergency in regard to accident prevention and control. Haryana coppers is focusing on these approaches in coordination with all concerned departments. Sustained efforts have had a positive outcome, and road fatalities have declined by 6.7 percent in the first four months of current year in the state. Coppers here are looking to reduce the number of fatalities even further.
Because she is the establishment. the Establishment of both parties want the establishment to remain in power, Outsiders need not apply is the moral of this election.



In other words (sorry to mention the name) establishment Republicans rather have an establishment democrat is more intune with them than any outsider sanders Trump or Johnson.
Even as Honda unveiled the new gen City last month in Thailand, the Indian subsidiary has updated the existing model with BS6 petrol engine. This suggests that the popular mid-size sedan will continue to be sold in India in its existing avatar well into next year.

As of now, only the petrol variant of the Honda City has received the BS6 update. The City diesel BS6 is slated to be introduced just before the April 2020 deadline.

The 1.5-liter i-VTEC petrol engine continues to made identical power and torque outputs (119 hp and 145 Nm respectively) in BS6 avatar. The emission reduction changes to the engine has made the car dearer by up to INR 16,000 depending on the trim level.

As expected, both the standard 6-speed manual gearbox and optional Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) have been retained. The Honda City petrol BS6 starts at INR 9.91 lakh for the base SV MT variant and goes all the way up to INR 14.31 lakh for the ZX CVT trim. All prices are ex-showroom, Mumbai.

Mr. Rajesh Goel, Sr. Vice President & Director, Marketing and Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd, said, Honda is committed to bring its latest and advanced environment friendly technologies to the Indian market in line with the policy framework of Government of India. The launch of BS-6 Honda City will be followed by sequential introduction of BS-6 versions of other models in our line-up. He further added, The new Digipad 2.0 in the Honda City will provide enhanced features, along with greater access and connectivity on the go to our customers, thereby delivering ease and convenience.

It remains to be seen how much will be the price hike for the diesel variant since the oil burning BS6 variant would involve more extensive re-engineering and additional equipment to meet the stringent emission norms. Once the next generation model is ready for India towards the end of this year, the updated powertrain lineup will be carried forward.

The 1.5-liter i-VTEC BS6 engine will also be employed by the BR-V. The smaller 1.2-liter i-VTEC motor which propels the Jazz, Amaze and WR-V is also set to receive the update sometime closer to the deadline.

The Honda City has been fighting it out with the Maruti Ciaz and Hyundai Verna in a segment that has been witnessing shrinking footprint due to the rise of crossovers. Though the next generation model is expected to bring in some incremental volumes during the initial few months, it has its work cut out in an environment where a bunch of new competitively priced crossovers are set to hit the market.

Nevertheless, an all-new City is always a good news for the Honda loyalists in India.
Triumph Motorcycles India, a completely owned subsidiary of iconic British brand, Triumph Motorcycles has decided not to go ahead with their plans of setting up a plant in the state of Karnataka.

Triumph Motorcycles India had planned a new bike manufacturing plant in Kolar district in Karnataka with investments to the tune of INR 850 crores in two phases. Uncooperative approach from the government has resulted in the company moving its plans to set up base in Manesar, Haryana.

The British bike maker had planned a 30 acre plot at Naraspura Industrial Area in Kolar and plans were on track to set up a manufacturing plant with capacity to produce 250,000 high-performance bikes per annum while it would create job opportunities for a host of people in the region.

An advance of a certain sum of money was paid for this purpose to Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board. Even as the project had received clearance in 2012, it had been stuck in red tape causing much delay in getting the project off the ground and a hardship to the bike maker. Annoyed with the state governments apathy in dealing with these issues in a timely manner, Triumph Motorcycles has asked for a refund of investments and will be moving to Manesar, Karnataka.

Karanata is home to some automotive manufacturing plants. Scania and Volvo are few of them.

Besides Triumph Motorcycles India, sources also state that there are as many as four other investors who have withdrawn investments from Karnataka all for the same reason.

At the same time, states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are wooing investors with an aggressive approach. Amazon has moved its investment project from Bengaluru to Hyderabad while Microsoft has also chosen the same state to establish its major operational base.

Triumph Bonneville Street Twin

via economictimes
The first weekend in June (3-4th of June), the second edition of the event Pilots Wanted took place in Kiel, Germany. Like the first time back in 2014 it was the guys at Autohaus Lafrentz and Saabblog.net that organized this event. Some of our readers may know about Autohaus Lafrentz and Im sure some of you think that you had heard that name before  and if you are in to the new generation 9-5, Im sure you heard it before. The guys at Lafrentz is in my opinion specialists in the new generation 9-5, and the fact that they organizes a 9-5 meeting also tells me that they are enthusiasts. Many will also remember that they played a major part in the process with get the NG9-5 SportCombi street legal. So there is no doubt the team at Lafrentz is a bit more interested in Saab than the average Saab-delar, which is evident as you enter the shop 

This was a event exclusive for NG9-5 owners, and if you wanted to attend it was necessary to register early, as you can see if you browse the pictures there are limited space at the Autohaus Lafrentz shop so I guess that had something to do with it. I forgot to count properly but I guess we were around 35 cars and 50-60 pilots/co-pilots during the weekend from much of Europe, there was cars from Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden and Norway.

I was attending without co-pilot, but traveled in company with some other Swedish 9-5 pilots. We took the ferry from Goteborg Wednesday evening, and roll off the ferry in Kiel Thursday morning. The event didnt start before Friday at noon, so we had a day extra in Germany before the rest of the pilots arrived. For me personally the extra day was used in the Lafrentz workshop, it was time to install some interior upgrades in my car. So I went from pilot to co-pilot for some hours when we explored Autobahn and the area around Later in the evening there was more pilots arriving to our hotel, so it was for sure Saab-talk this evening too, before some of us went to an Italian restaurant for some dinner together.

Friday morning, and there was some work to do Me and some of the members in the Turbine-team feel that we cant go to a car meeting with a dirty car, so there was some cars that needed a bath Not that the cars were dirty, but around the hotel there were a lot of trees  and from trees we get pollens, so we had a job to do. We had some minor issues to find a place where we could hand-wash our cars, it seems like the Germans love to wash their cars in washing machines, but after a while we found a gas-station with two manual stations we were satisfied with. At noon we where on site at Autohaus Lafrentz, and now the other pilots also was arriving too. This day hadnt a tight schedule, so we was mingling in the workshop and had some delicious fika in the workshop while we shared experiences or just look at all the cars. Later this evening all participants was gathered at the restaurant in the Stena Line Schwedenkai ferry terminal for some dinner in good company.

Saturday the guys at Lafrentz had planned a nice tour for us, so supplied with a detailed road-book we drove a route in the Kiel-area with a mix of minor back-roads, some great german country-roads and a few kilometers of motorway. At the end we had a stop with some cakes and cold or hot refreshments before some of us went back to the workshop and other started on their way back home. For me and the rest of Turbine-team the fun was over when we was back at Autohaus Lafrentz, we had planned to take the ferry back to Sweden Saturday evening. Some of the guys had planned to participate at the Saab/Volvo-event on the Swedish national day (6th of June), and others like me had to head back home for work

At this event there was as I mentioned earlier approximately 35 cars and 50-60 pilots/co-pilots.

There was five combis attending at this event, where three(!!!) was in the color Javabrown. As we speak about colors I think almost all colors was represented, as far as I know we where missing the solid Black and the Granite Gray metallic (please correct me if Im wrong!) paint.

This was the very first model specific gathering Ive attended to, and I must say it gave the event a extra dimension. It was for sure a really nice event, and I hope the that this will be a regularly event, and we will see a Pilots Wanted 2018 too!

In the end I would like to thank my fellow pilots for an enjoyable flight, and last but not least the team a Autohaus Lafrentz and the guys at Saabblog for a wonderful weekend in Kiel!

If circumstances permit it, Im for sure back on the next flight! 
Refugees issues in Yemen discussed





SANAA, June 20 (Saba)  A meeting was held on Monday in Sanaa and chaired by the acting prime minister Talal Aqlan discussed the issues of the refugees in Yemen.



The meeting was attended by chairman and members of the National Commission for Refugees and the Resident Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to Yemen Johannes Johannes Van Der Klaauw and a number of specialists in the UNHCR.



The aspects of the existing cooperation between Yemen and the UNHCR towards all issues and processes associated with the right of asylum in the Republic of Yemen were discussed in the meeting, as well as the ways of strengthening and developing the partnership between the two sides.



The meeting touched upon the diverse challenges and burdens endured by Yemen as a result of the continued influx of Somali refugees as well as illegal immigrants, and its implications on the security, health and economic situations.



The meeting referred to the UNHCRs role in helping Yemen to organize the process of asylum and voluntary return of Somali refugees whose country is seeing a stability at the current stage, taking into account the exceptional and unprecedented circumstances experienced by Yemen as a result of the continued aggression and siege.



It was agreed at the meeting on developing the human capacities of the national team to work on the refugees affairs through the continuous rehabilitation and training programs and the provision of supplies and equipment to ensure carrying out its duties towards refugees.



The attendees stressed on that the volume of international support in this aspect should keep pace with the real numbers of refugees in Yemen, especially in light of the continued their influx to the Yemeni coast despite the war conditions imposed on Yemen.



The meeting commended the efforts of the resident representative and the UNHCR office in Yemen during the past period, including his role in contributing to the help of displaced persons affected by the recent floods.



BA

Saba

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[21/June/2016]
Christina Larson opened up Varitone Architecture in December in downtown Albany, and you might not realize it, but youre probably already familiar with some of her designs.

The Albany businesswoman, while working for another firm, did drawings and management for the Boys & Girls Club of Albanys Teen Center and the Mid-Willamette Family YMCA.

With Varitone Architecture, she also designed the building for Baldwin General Contracting, which is on the former Salvation Army site in Albany.

Larson said there are few architects, especially young professionals, in Linn and Benton counties, and she wants to offer a fresh perspective with her new office.

Im hoping to come in and fill the void, and fill the void for years to come, she said.

Larson said she brings a unique approach to projects because she has both architecture and interior design licenses, which allows her to consider both aspects during planning, resulting in more cohesive buildings.

If separate firms handle architecture and interior design there can be communication breakdowns and other disconnects. Interior design can often feel like an afterthought and not incorporate style elements from the exterior, Larson said.

She decided to open an office in Albany because she grew up in the mid-Willamette Valley in Philomath. Im very dedicated to the Albany-Corvallis community, Larson said.

After graduating high school in 2000, she went to the University of Oregon. She initially pursued becoming a music teacher, but was partially inspired by her parents Philomath business, Furniture Restoration Center of Oregon, to switch to studying interior architecture.

I realized Ive always had an interest in creativity, always doing arts and crafts, Larson added.

While she was doing interior design work for DJ Architecture in Albany, she ended up doing more architecture-based tasks, and realized she wanted to go back and get her masters in architecture at Oregon.

For the time being, Larson is the sole employee at Varitone Architecture. She hopes to hire a few employees within the next year.

The business name comes from the term for variations in color tones or musical tones. I wanted a name that was going to capture the music part of my life. I play in a symphony in Salem, Larson said.

Varitone also is the name of amplification equipment for woodwinds, and Larson plays the bassoon.

Because of that connection, Varitone Architectures slogan is architecture amplified.

Among Larsons upcoming projects is the interior design of the Albany Historic Carousel & Museum.

Varitone Architecture, 403 W. First Ave. Suite 7, is generally open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Prospective clients should call 541-497-2954 to make an appointment.

For more information, go to www.varitonearchitecture.com.
Not in crisis mode yet but barely keeping your head above water? Take these steps to prioritize the money you do have coming in, then get help filling in the gaps.
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Jun-20-2016 11:30 TweetFollow @OregonNews Suspected Thief Giving Chase Jumps off Bridge Before Surrendering The suspect used all of his options to evade capture.

Forrest Frost was arrested after being pursued about 6 hours.

Photo: MCSD

(LYONS, Ore.) - Last night, around 7:15 pm deputies were dispatched to a theft from a vehicle at the North Fork Park, located at 24450 North Fork Rd SE. The victims of the theft were alerted by their car alarm and were able to see the suspect and his vehicle as it left the area. The victims began to chase the suspect who was described as driving recklessly down the North Fork Road toward the city of Lyons. At one point during the chase it is believed the suspect fired multiple rounds from his vehicle at the victim's vehicle. After being shot at the victims stopped chasing the suspect, luckily the victims were not injured and their vehicle was not struck by any of the rounds fired. A short time later, a Linn County deputy located the suspect vehicle in the Lyons area and again the suspect fled in his vehicle. The Linn County deputy pursued the vehicle back up the North Fork Road. The chase continued until deputies from the Marion County Sheriff's Office and troopers with the Oregon State Police deployed spike strips which disabled the vehicle. Once the suspect realized he could not drive any further he stopped his Ford Explorer on the Pioneer Road Bridge and leapt an estimated 30 feet into the Santiam River where he floated down river. Several hundred yards down river, the suspect swam to shore and fled on foot. K9 teams from Marion County Sheriff's Office and the Salem Police Department tracked the suspect to a heavily wooded area where he was believed to be hiding. Due to the heavily wooded and steep terrain, the Sheriff's Office SWAT Team was called in to search the area. Around 1:00 a.m., Forrest Frost, age 29, of Lyons surrendered to deputies peacefully. Mr. Frost is currently lodged in the Marion County Jail for the crimes of Attempted Assault I, Unlawful Entry into a Motor Vehicle, Theft II, Robbery 1, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Attempting to Elude the Police and menacing. The Sheriff's Office would like to send a special thanks to our law enforcement partners at the Linn County Sheriff's Office, Oregon State Police and Salem Police Department. Source: Marion County Sheriff's Office _________________________________________

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Articles for June 20, 2016 |
A Lebanon-area man was arrested on sex crimes charges on Friday by the Linn County Sheriffs Office.

Jon Ray Lybarger, 37, was lodged in the Linn County Jail on suspicion of first-degree rape, first-degree sodomy and first-degree sex abuse. His initial bail was set at $150,000, and he was scheduled to appear in court on Monday afternoon.

All of the crimes have mandatory minimum sentences of several years in prison.

The case was reported by the Department of Human Services on Tuesday and assigned to detectives with the Sheriffs Office.

The victim in the case is an elementary school-aged girl.
I want to say thank you very much to the Center for Pacific Island Countries Studies, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, China, for inviting me to speak here. Im excited about the theme of the conference, The Pacific Islands in Transition: Opportunities and Challenges.

As Pacific Islanders struggling to keep up with the ever-changing world, we see and experience this on many fronts. We face economic, social, spiritual and environmental challenges on a daily basis.

But with those challenges come many opportunities - one of which is the chance for Pacific countries to engage and cooperate with the outside world  especially our friends, development and donor partners.

So I am deeply honoured to be here today and I bring warm and friendly greetings from the islands of Samoa. Talofa lava! This afternoon, Ive been asked to say a few words about The role of the media in the cooperation between the Pacific Islands and the World.

My remarks will be guided by a couple of old Samoan proverbs. The first is Seu le manu ae tagai i le galu. The second proverb I want to use is Aua le naunau i le ia ae ia manumanu i le upega.

Both sayings relate to fishing, which is a source of livelihood on a daily basis for our people. Whereas the first proverb tells a tautai (fisherman) to be cautious about the waves when he sets out on the reef to catch a type of seagull used for baiting, the second warns him not to become so hung up on his catch that he forgets the importance of keeping the net safe and secured for another day.

In connection to this meeting today, the proverbs are a timely reminder that our leaders must think very carefully about the consequences of the cooperation with the outside world on future generations.

Its undeniable that small Pacific countries dont have much by way of natural resources and financial wealth. What we do have are in abundance are our families, religious beliefs and our culture, which are the pillars that make us unique.

Its not wrong to want a fish that a fisherman takes the risk in catching it, but the ultimate question is knowing when to take the risk and when to protect the net for another day.

Indeed, it is the role of Pacific governments and the agencies responsible to foster the cooperation between our small countries and the world. They are being paid by public taxes and donor money, to run and manage our countries so that the decisions they make are sustainable and beneficial to all.

Our role in the media is to keep them accountable, transparent and to ensure that they are doing what they are supposed to do without greed, abuse and corruption creeping into the equation.

The media at large has many roles. The media exists to educate, inform, entertain and most importantly, in its role as the Fourth Estate, it is supposed to be a watchdog of Parliament, the government and of course the Judiciary.

We are here to ask the questions, demand answers and hold these pillars of our democracy to account.

When it comes to development, it is no secret that the Pacific countries  including Samoa - needs to cooperate with global partners and donor countries to keep up with the lifestyle changes in this fast paced world.

The reality is that we come from countries with economies that are small, fragile and extremely vulnerable to external shocks and natural disasters. That is why we need cooperation with global partners  such as China and many other donor countries  to help us move along, ensuring the survival of our people.

For this relationship to be strong and sustainable, the media plays a key role as a bridge to enhance understanding and friendship among the partners.

The undeniable reality is that there are barriers and misconceptions about cultures, religions and intentions that are a threat to this relationship. The good news is that these barriers can easily be overcome with the help of an effective media.

How? The media exists to shine the light on both sides and how they can help each other. Information leads to knowledge and knowledge as we all know is power. When all parties are well informed, it fosters a cordial atmosphere for reciprocal interaction, which in the end can only benefit both parties.

But the media shouldnt just report on what the world is doing in relation to the Pacific region, we should also remain as vigilant as ever to monitor and report on the impact  positive or negative  these projects are having on our communities.

We are guardians of our oceans, forests, land and our families. We exist as ears and eyes of members of the public to report objectively and accurately, ask the hard questions and not be intimidated in an effort to determine the impact of such developments.

We also have a role to hold our leaders to their promises to donor and development partners to be transparent, accountable and utilise aid accordingly. In other words, the media plays a critical role in promoting good governance and controlling corruption that threatens this cooperation.

When we talk about accountability, as the media we need to hold our leaders to account over what they promise. If they promise good governance, lets not give up on questioning their decision-making until they keep to their words.

Transparency is not presenting feel good numbers to tick the boxes while hiding the grim reality of life. We believe transparency is when leaders are brave enough to tell the truth, confront the reality  even if it hurts and reflects badly on them.

Media stories, commentaries and analysis that address the truth about such cooperation not only raise public awareness about the pros and cons of the cooperation, it puts officials on notice that they are being watched.

As the media, we exist to ask questions about how such funding is being used. And in the case that they are not, where has it gone and why has it not being used appropriately? Are officials misusing them being held accountable and so forth?

I put it to you that the biggest challenge of today is finding leaders who mean what they say. We believe that a great leader is a person who walks the talk; its someone who is serious about implementing the many wonderful plans and intentions we have.

He/she is a person who is serious about monitoring, enforcing the laws and policies that are in place so the people who are intended to benefit reap the rewards.

There is little doubt that we live in a very challenging time, one that is defined by climate uncertainty, hardship, lack of opportunities, fear, poverty, terror, violence and threats of all kinds. For the Pacific to address all these challenges, we rely on funding and support from our international partners.

Keep in mind that it is also medias job is to inform and educate. We have a responsibility not only to tell our readers and audiences about the projects that are being implemented but also how it would impact on them.

In this regard, one of the most important roles that we exist to play is to break down the stories so that people can understand. With due respect to a number of global development agencies, their language is super technical - Im sure even they struggle to understand what they are talking about at times.

Imagine then being in the media, trying to break down those technical terms and the countless acronyms so that we could explain it to the average person on Beach Road in Apia?

This is not an easy job but it is a job that must be done. Its a simple fact that if the storyteller does not understand the story, how can he/she expect the audience to understand?

Ladies and gentlemen, it is the medias job to make them understand and one of the easiest ways to do this is to personalise and localise stories. Take climate change for example, the people in Samoa dont need a report that was done in Switzerland to tell them what climate change is.

In Samoa, we live, breathe and see climate change every day. Why dont we talk to our own people? Ask the elderly men and women in the villages and then we tell their stories from their perspectives?

There is so much wisdom among our people that we could tap into to make our stories much more interesting than a bunch of stories about the latest round of funding given to whoever, wherever and whatever.

Effective stories and coverage about real people can only enhance the cooperation between the Pacific and the world. You see, once people understand, they will begin to appreciate and take ownership of the developments being implemented.

In many cases, people dont understand what their governments are doing. And because they dont understand, they oppose and react angrily and the thought of developments because the communication from the top to the grassroots level is absolutely poor.

The governments  with the help of countries like China and a number of development partners - are rolling out a number of wonderful projects that benefit people. I dont have the luxury of time or space on this occasion to detail all the developments that have been achieved.

But what I do want to say is that both parties need to tell people about it. Tell it in simple terms, educate them so they would understand, accept, appreciate and in the end take ownership of the developments that are meant to benefit them.

Speaking of education, the Media also needs to educate itself. Were not experts in everything. We might know a couple of things but we dont know everything.

As Ive said before, if we dont understand our message, nobody else will.

Weve got to accept that a lot of issues being discussed in this relationship between the Pacific and the world, which we are expected to report about, are specialist areas. Experts have dedicated their entire lives to study these issues.

The media needs to be educated as well about these issues. This is why exchanges and familiarization excursions offered by donor partners and countries are a wonderful way to build capacity and enhance knowledge.

In conclusion, I want to thank the Center for Pacific Island Countries Studies, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies once again for inviting me to address you today. There is no doubt that the cooperation with the outside world is absolutely critical to the survival of the Pacific Islands.

But I caution our leaders to remember the Samoan saying Ia seu le manu ae tagai i le galu. Sometimes it is better to forego a seagull and await the next one than to take the risk and be swept away by the waves. Equally, in the spirit of the saying Aua le naunau i le ia ae ia manumanu i le upega it is wiser to be mindful of the weight and impact of a catch than to break the net and lose all hope. Soifua and God bless!
Talofa,

I am writing in absolute disgust about an article you printed about Jeanine Tuivaiki last Sunday.

I live in Auckland, New Zealand and I have never met Jeanine or her family, but this insensitive article has reached the shores of New Zealand.

Not only is your newspaper fill of incompetency, but to show a picture of the death and write terrible comments about Jeanine's characteristics just shows the state of the world today.

I urge you to make a formal apology to Jeanine's family over your insensitive comments made, rather than your follow up article of - And if you're offended by it still, we apologize!! That is not an apology.

Wake up Samoan Observer and start being a newspaper that is full of truth and honesty.

Show some dignity and be proud of all your Samoan people, not just a selective few.

Regards

Desiree Pretty

Talofa,

Like many others, Im shocked and outraged by the Samoa Observer's disgusting "journalism" re Jeanine T. Its deeply shameful that our country's own newspaper would demonstrate such a lack of respect and compassion towards one of our fa'afafine sisters, not only to display her in that way but also to misgender her.

I've admired and respected the Observer's work in the past, in particular your commitment to supporting writers and nurturing storytellers of all ages.

But your article yesterday was so out of character and bitterly disappointing. You wrote about Jeanine like she wasnt a person, like she was an animal?!

It lacked empathy, compassion and any semblance of 'basic' human decency. Im not a journalist so I cant comment on all the journalism ethics that surely must have been violated.

As a Samoan Im confused as to how anyone at your paper thought this article was okay? Since when do we as a country and as a people - put photos of our deceased displayed in that most vulnerable way on the cover of our newspapers?

Since when do we as a culture and a community - talk about our fa'afafine sisters in such a dehumanizing callous way?

Please listen to the many who are hurting as a result of your article. Great harm has been done here and I ask you to please take meaningful steps to try and make amends. Some suggestions:

1. Print a full front page retraction and apology.

2. Go to Jeanine's family and apologize in person. Find constructive ways to help them in their time of sorrow.

3. Get your team some training in how to report on LGBTQI people and issues. Training in basics re alleged suicide.

4. Give FLO free coverage and ongoing space in the paper to run awareness campaigns and articles etc.

5. Meet with SFA and other LGBTQI organizations so you can learn how to do better.

Faafetai.

Personally, I was deeply distressed by the image/article posted on the front page of the Samoa Observer on Sunday 19/06/2016. As an adult I fail to comprehend the purpose, the public good. And now this image is stuck in my head! After reading the content, I am even more dismayed.

Furthermore I am deeply concerned about the children and youth that will see the image... in their homes, or while in shops, or just lying around somewhere. What sense will they make out of the image? What will get stuck in their heads and hearts?! What contribution to suicide awareness or human compassion does this piece provide?

Sincerely,

Dr Rachael Dempsey

PO Box 9243, Apia Samoa

+685 7266046

Please remove this article or edit

IMMEDIATELY.

This is extremely offensive to, not only the LGBTQ community but many of the public. Including me. I'm not part of the LGBTQ but am a huge supporter and this is outrageous. You would demean this woman and her struggles by misgendering her?? Using incorrect pronouns?? Words hurt, and not being recognized as who you are inside and being told you are defined by your genitals in this day and age is appalling. Coming from a culture that celebrates the third gender; fa'afafine, this is so disappointing. I love reading about the advances and affairs of the Pacific Island community and our people on your page but this is.. something else.

I do hope someone reads this and seriously considers the effect this article could have on many people struggling with their sexuality. Take into account the harsh reality they face every day when they are denied what we as people yearn for. Acceptance.

Would you enjoy being ridiculed for your height? Or the colour of your skin? No. Because we can't change that. It's how we are born. You should treat everyone with the same respect.

I look forward to reading more accurate articles in the near future.

Regards,

Lekisa Tauasa

Hi there. I wanted to message about ur front page piece on that poor ladies suicide. I have stewed over this all day, I was in shock at the absolute disregard for the individual, the family, friends, the public, possibly the church and the lgbtq community. I just hope there is an apology coming the absolute least you could do for the grieving family and friends and also to try mend your rapport with the public. I also hope there is some investigation into how something could be published like that and some appropriate disciplinary action. Also perhaps some retraining or upskilling for any other below par journalists to restore some integrity to the papers news reporting. It would be reassuring to know what the newspapers intended actions are.

Regards, Trudi

Hello Samoa Observer,

I am writing to express my disappointment in a recent news article that you published that is beginning to go viral on the internet. Screen shot of said article soon to follow. First of which that you would lack the basic human empathy to respect the life lost in a disturbing photo that you published on the front page of your newspaper. Secondly that your reporters confirmed that the deceased was a transgender individual and blatantly ignored that fact by misgendering HER! There are ways to report the news to the public full of integrity for the truth and compassion for others.

It doesn't matter whether you are L G B T Q Cis, or otherwise. Everyone deserves a bit of respect. Please consider publishing a retraction. Thank you for your time.

- Donato Fatuesi

I'm very disappointed with the publication of the picture of that person hanging from a church beam. Why did you feel the need to do that? It is disrespectful and shows the lack of humanity in the photographer and editor. Please don't publish these kind of images again. Very very disappointed as I'm a strong supporter of Samoa Observer.

Monalisa Une

Don't know what the motives were for putting up that picture of the deceased in this morning's paper, but a bit of respect could've being considered for her family and friends; unless the family agreed to put it up. This is unethical and poor publicity.God bless!!

Val

O fea le ava fatafata ma le tofa ia te outou to have put the picture up? O fea le alofa and just pure common sense? YOU ARE WRONG THIS TIME SAMOA OBSERVER. so not cool :(

Diane Sparkes

Where is the Love!

This kind of reporting is reminiscent of that 40 years ago,

it is beyond belief and has no place in 2016. Reporting of this kind is but one reason that has caused so many transgender people to see suicide as the only way out.

For a country that claims to be Christian you show the World

your true selves, uncaring for the living e specially those marginalised by society who do not meet your ideals of normal.

But the total disregard of the Dead is abhorrent; whoever wrote this story even worse the editor responsible for its publication definitely

needs to look at the words of Christ.

Love one another and do not judge!!!

In case you have not seen it Journalists throughout the world use this reference when writing about transgender issues.

See Link below.

http://www.glaad.org/reference

druid

Whoever wrote this article should be ashamed of themselves. It is a disgrace. To insult a woman who was already in such despair that she took her own life is the lowest of the low. Shame on you.

Monalisa Une

Don't know what the motives were for putting up that picture of the deceased in this morning's paper, but a bit of respect could've being considered for her family and friends; unless the family agreed to put it up. This is unethical and poor publicity.God bless!!
Carlos Edward Larsen, 72, of Sweet Home died Saturday. Viewing will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 21 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweet Home. Funeral service will follow at 11:00 am. Burial will be at Gilliland Cemetery. Donations to help defray expenses can be made to Sweet Home Funeral Chapel, 1443 Long St. Sweet Home, OR 97386. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements. www.sweethomefuneral.com.

Foy E. McKinney, 88, of Albany died, April 13, 2016. Interment for Foy and wife Lera McKinney will be at 10:00 a.m. on June 28, 2016 at Willamette Memorial Cemetery in Albany.

Marian Meyers, 96, of Sweet Home passed away Wednesday, June 1. A recitation of the rosary will be at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 22 at St. Helen Catholic Church. A Funeral Mass will follow at 8:30 a.m. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements. www.sweethomefuneral.com

Imogene M. Miller, 82, of Lebanon died, April 2, at the Oaks of Lebanon. A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 25 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lebanon. Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Lester C. Pikaart, 79, of Sweet Home went home to be with his Lord on Wednesday. A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, June 24 at Sweet Home Evangelical Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Sweet Home SHEM. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements. www.sweethomefuneral.com
Ferrari Posala was a free man yesterday after Justice Tafaoimalo Leilani Tuala Warren dismissed all three charges in relations to narcotics against him.

Mr. Posala was represented by his lawyer Leota Raymond Schuster and Ofisa Tagaloa appeared for the National Prosecution Officer.

In Justice Tafaoimalo's ruling she dismissed all three charges against Posala. The three charges were for possession of methamthetamine, possession of marijuana loose leaves and possession of utensils.

She said there was not enough evidence from the prosecution to prove that the narcotics and utensils that were found in his flat belonged to him.

In court last week Mr Posala maintained that he is innocent.

Posala was one of the five suspects arrested last year during a police drug raid on August 22, 2015.

His lawyer Mr. Schuster argued that his client had no knowledge of the drugs found in his flat at Ululoloa.

One of the suspects, Panama Tevaga, was convicted and sentenced to two years imprisonment. He admitted in court when giving evidence, that the drugs belonged to him. Mr. Schuster told the court that it is clear in Tevaga's evidence that the substances that was found in the back pack belongs to him as well as the stuff found in his room.

Schuster confirmed that the house is registered under his clients name and he lives together with Mr. Tevaga and others.

However, he claimed that his client is always absent from the house.

Prosecutor Ofisa Tagaloa in his submission told the court, although it is clear that the substances found in the house belongs to Tevaga he strongly submits that the utensils belong to the accused, Mr Posala.

Not only that, but Tevaga confirmed in his evidence that Posala knew about the drugs becuase he sometimes shares the marijuana with him.

The police raided Posala's flat at Ululoloa and discovered 3.5 grams of methamphetamine and 2.6 grams of cannabis together with utensils.
Let me say this is not an easy letter for me to write. Still, I feel duty-bound to write these words, since it is our duty to tell the public we serve, the truth.

The truth is that last week, we made a sad mistake when we published a story on the late Jeanine Tuivaiki, on the front page of the Sunday Samoan.

We now accept that there has been an inexcusable lapse of judgment on our part, and for that we are sincerely regretful.

Yesterday, we met with members of Jeannie Tuivaikis family at their home at Vaiusu, where we extended our sincere apologies, and we are now thankful that we have done so.

And so to Jeanines family we are very sorry.

To the L.G.B.T community in Samoa and abroad, we offer our humble apologies.

We want you all to know, that there is never an intention on our part to denigrate or discriminate against anyone, at any time.

Over the years, the Samoa Observer has been a strong supporter of the Faafafine community here in Samoa, through sponsorships and assistance with their community coverage.

Today, I sincerely apologise to our readers and members of the public, for coming out in the open this way. There is no other way to explain how it feels.

Since the story in question was published in the Sunday Samoan, an outpouring of irate letters of criticism from here in Samoa, and abroad were received.

We want to remind that whenever we make a mistake, we apologize as soon as possible.

It follows that all the letters criticising us over the handling of this matter, are published today in this edition.

We sincerely accept that weve made a mistake.

Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa.

Editor in Chief.
The Samoan-born entertainer and social worker, Cindy of Samoa, who is living in New Zealand, is arriving in Samoa sometime this morning.

In mail yesterday afternoon, she informed: I can't really say anything at the moment, as I'm getting ready to head to the airport. I will be in Apia tomorrow at 11am. I will message you then and arrange something.

Cindy of Samoa is quoted in GayNZ.com editions of 19 June, as having let loose a blistering attack to the Samoa Observer in publishing a front page photo of the body of a young transgender woman, found dead in the early hours of Friday morning.

The GayNZ.com edition said Jeanine Tuivaiki, 20, was found dead in a church hall in central Apia, the result of what is increasingly being considered as an apparent suicide. As well as publishing an explicit photograph of her lifeless body, the Sunday Samoan also ran an accompanying detailed and speculative report in which it repeatedly referred to her as a man.

Cindy, who splits her time between Auckland and Apia and is currently in the Samoan capital working on several youth projects, has targeted the Samoa Observer's Editor in Chief, Savea Sano Malifa, and its publisher, Muliaga Jean Ash Malifa.

"I am disgusted with your actions today," she says. "It is unacceptable and inhuman. Would u publish that photo if that was one of your kids?

Would u wanna live the rest of your life with that memory of your child?" She refers to the resulting "mental and emotional sufferings" she is already observing in fa'afafine Samoans and others, especially young people.

"For a couple that used to fight with the government in the past for people's rights and freedom... you both, and your company, have totally lost humanity and compassion for the people u so called fight for.

We looked up to you. You were our voice. You don't know how much we valued you. Now I'm speaking for the people that includes Fa'afafines, youth, the children and the future generation of Samoa. You and your paper have let us, our people and our country down today big time."

Cindy is urging people not to judge the young woman. "Don't judge Jeanine. You have no idea what she went through in life and what drove her to the end. That is none of anyone's business. Her life as a Fa'afafine is not your business. Don't let it become your burden. You have your own life to live. LIVE IT. Put all your concerns and worries on it."

"I am most impressed and overwhelmed by the support of the people," she says. "Mostly young, intelligent educated Samoans, standing up for the rights of our sister Jeanine. (RIP darling).

It shows a light of hope not only for us Fa'afafines but the future generation and the people in general. We Fa'afafines have well contributed to our country, our families and our communities. The support by the people have spoken as evidence."

Cindy has posted a farewell message to the young woman: "Darling Jeanine. From the people that knows u, you will always be remembered as a shinning light and that's all it matters. Rest in peace and in love my darling. Only God knows. Alofassssssss alwayssssss."

Asked for a comment, Savea and Muliaga said they have nothing to say.

"Cindy has the right to to her own opinion," they said. "She has the right to say anything she wants."
The following statement from the Prime Minister of Samoa, Susuga Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, is in response to recent media coverage of an insensitive and unethical nature, that portrayed a recently deceased individual in a graphic and gruesome manner.

Like many others I was appalled at the front page of the Sunday Observer, showing the lifeless body of a young person with such callousness and disrespect. As a parent, it was devastating to see someones child portrayed in such a heartless manner.

The decision by the newspapers editor to share this image is one that raises many red flags and questions about the ethics and responsibility of the press. Like other democracies, our Government acknowledges and encourages freedom of the press.

Local media practitioners operate as they see fit, and for a long time an informal system of checks and balances have more or less ensured that news coverage is reflective of our cultural and Christian values. However, from time to time, there have been serious breaches of journalism ethics, and there is a clear disregard by some media outlets for fair and balanced reporting.

For several years now, Government has been encouraging the local media industry to establish a regulating body to address issues of journalism ethics and standards.

Last year, Parliament passed the Media Council Act  legislating for this need to raise standards and ensure media practitioners adhere to their own code of ethics and best practice.

Although it has not yet been established, it is important to note that the Media Council will rely heavily on the Journalists Association of Samoa (JAWS), as the Act itself was formulated entirely through consultations with local media practitioners and is based upon the organisations code of ethics. All major decisions on media issues should be made by media representatives and private citizens.

This is the reason Government established the Media Council, so we can expect the media to act with greater responsibility and professionalism.

This is an issue of professional standards and journalism ethics.

What the editor of the Observer has shown to Samoa and the world, is that he is above any moral or professional obligation to report ethically and responsibly.

Government has provided a clear, legislated pathway for media self-regulation, and as such it is the core responsibility of empowered media practitioners such as JAWS to ensure journalistic standards are held high and reporters and editors operate ethically and within moral and ethical boundaries.

I have tried, on many occasions, to correct misinformation that has been deliberately twisted out of context by the Observer, so I am glad to see that some responsible people have come out and are strongly calling for more professional reporting on issues of importance to the readers of this country.

Samoa deserves better.
A pickup truck crashed into a power pole on Highway 20 east of Albany at about 9:20 a.m. Monday, causing a power outage in the Scio area, said Pacific Power spokesman Tom Gauntt.

About 1,530 Pacific Power customers are without power and it is expected to be restored by 1 p.m.

This is the third crash in the area in the past 10 days and the second to cause a power outage, according to a member of the Albany Fire Department.

We will have more information as it becomes available.
LINN COUNTY SHERIFF

Assaulting officer arrest  2:30 p.m. Friday, Linn County Jail. Bryson Verl Setzkorn, 27, of Lebanon, was arrested on charges of assaulting a public safety officer, resisting arrest and interfering with a peace officer. During eviction proceedings, Setzkorn scuffled with civil deputies, one of whom suffered a dislocated shoulder. He was released from jail without posting bail.

Burglary  12:52 p.m. Sunday, Al's Oakvilla Mobile Home & RV Park, 32483 block Oakville Road. A caller reported that someone broke into an RV and stole $1,000.

SWEET HOME POLICE

Assault arrest  3:33 p.m. Friday, Sankey Park. An officer located a subject wanted on probable cause. Shawn Michael Gali, 38, was arrested and lodged in the Linn County Jail on a charge of second-degree assault. His initial bail was set at $50,000, and he was scheduled to appear in court on Monday afternoon.
Boise, ID -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/20/2016 -- 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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New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/20/2016 -- Boron Minerals and Boron Chemicals Market: Introduction



Boron is an indispensable element, mostly found in soil, water and rocks across the globe. The average soil boron concentration is in the range of 10 to 20 ppm, however most of the areas across the globe is boron deficient. High concentration of boron in soil has found in western part of the U.S. and area in between Mediterranean to Kazakhstan. The average sew water boron concentration is ranges from 0.5 to 9.0 ppm, while fresh water has very low boron concentration. Highly concentrated and economically feasible boron sources are generally found in the in arid areas with a history of volcanism or hydrothermal activities such as Turkey and United States. Open-pit mining method is used to mine large deposits of high grade beds of crude borax at the Kramer deposit in California and the Kirka deposit in Ankara, Turkey.



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Boron minerals concentrates and chemicals are commercially produced and consumed worldwide. Borax pentahydrate, Borax (tincal), Colemanite, Ulexite, Boric Acid and Anhydrous borax are the important boron minerals and chemicals which widely used by chemical industry to manufacture variety of products such as detergents and laundry bleaches, glass, adhesives, agrochemicals and fire retardants among others. Boron is an essential element for plants, which help the transfer of sugar from leaves to reproductive system, and enable pollination and seed development. Boron minerals has found great application in manufacturing variety of glass such as borosilicate glass, insulation fiberglass, textile fiberglass, enamels and glazes. Borosilicate glass has more thermal shock resistance due to the presence of boron trioxide which lowers the expansion coefficient. In fiberglass, boric acid offers desirable quality drawing and improves its mechanical and chemical properties such as strength and durability. Boron is also used to treat wood, in order to protect it against delay by white/brown rots. Boron exhibits excellent metal oxide stabilizing ability and used in welding rods and fluxes. Boric acid, borates and tetraborates are widely used by pharmaceuticals industries to manufacture personal care products such as bath products, oral hygiene products and talc.



Boron Minerals and Boron Chemicals Market: Market Dynamics



Glass and ceramic and chemicals are two industries which accounts for major consumption of boron minerals and its compounds. Recovering construction industry especially after financial downturn in North America and Western Europe is expected to drive demand for boron composite fiberglass. Agriculture is an essential need of a community and agriculture industry is expected to grow linear with growth in population. Growing demand for reinforced materials especially in Asia Pacific will drive the consumption of boron compounds. Value added application of boron compounds in alloy and metal industry is expected to drive overall consumption of boron minerals and its compounds at steady rate. However growing regulations over use of boron in personal care products may restrain the consumption of boron and its compounds.



Boron Minerals and Boron Chemicals Market: Segmentation



On basis of product types, global boron minerals and boron chemicals market can be segmented as follow as;



Boron Minerals

Boron Chemicals

Bulk Volume

Boric Acid

Others Borates

Small Volume

Elemental Boron

Boron Halides

Boron Carbide

Borides

Others



On basis of application, global boron minerals and boron chemicals market can be segmented as follow as;



Glass and Ceramics

Insulation Fiberglass

Textile Fiberglass

Glass

Enamels and Glazes

Detergents and Bleaches

Alloy and Metals

Fire Retardants

Agrochemicals

Adhesive

Other Chemicals



On basis of geographies, global boron minerals and boron chemicals market can be segmented as follow as;



North America

Latin America

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ)

Japan

Middle East and Africa (MEA)



Boron Minerals and Boron Chemicals Market: Regional Outlook



After economic down turn in Europe and North America, construction industry is recovering slowly and it is expected that boron minerals and boron chemicals market will grow with a growth of construction industry in this region. However consumption of boron minerals and boron chemicals in APAC has been significantly increased in last five years and it is expected that it will grow linearly, owing to infrastructure development in India and China. Turkey and U.S. are collectively accounted for the largest production of boron and its compounds and global boron minerals and boron chemicals market is dominated by this geographies. Growing end-use industries such as automobile, electronics, chemicals and construction in APAC will drive the consumption of fiberglass significantly.



Boron Minerals and Boron Chemicals Market: Key Players



Some of the key players in the global boron minerals and boron chemicals market are as follow as;



Eti Maden

Rio Tinto Group

American Borate Company

Boron Specialist LLC

Gremont Chemicals Co. Ltd.

Searles Valley Minerals Inc.

Orocobre Limited

Rose Mill Co.

The Chemical Company

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.



The 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 categories such as market segments and geographies.



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Market Segments

Market Dynamics

Market Size

Supply & Demand

Current Trends/Issues/Challenges

Competition & Companies involved

Value Chain



Regional analysis includes:



North America

Latin America

Asia Pacific

Japan

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

Middle East & Africa



The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts, and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides an in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macroeconomic indicators and governing factors, along with market attractiveness within the segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and various geographies.



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RoW



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Philadelphia, PA -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/20/2016 -- Cherry Injury Law is a law firm based in Pennsylvania that is committed to providing their clients with personal attention and exceptional service. Their Pennsylvania injury attorneys handle many different types of cases including personal injury, liquor liability law, medical malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, workers compensation, class actions, and product defects. Those who are seeking a workers compensation attorney in Radnor, PA, and other local areas, can rely on Cherry Injury Law.



Lawyers at Cherry Injury Law strive to treat every one of their clients as they would want their injured family member to be treated. This includes providing them with exceptional service, promptly returned phone calls, helpful advice and information, and free, no-cost, no obligation consultations. They provide workers compensation attorneys in Exton, PA, and other local areas, for people who have been injured on the job because workers compensation is not guaranteed. Insurance companies frequently push back to underpay claims or even avoid paying them altogether.



Cherry Injury Law exists to help injured workers navigate the claims and appeals process. Employees may be entitled to benefits if the workplace injury has been reported in a timely manner and falls within the scope of the law. Different types of workers compensation include payment for lost wages, death benefits for surviving dependents, specific loss benefits, such as a finger, hand, arm, or leg, and medical care. Injured employees are recommended to schedule a free consultation with Cherry Injury Law.



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Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/20/2016 -- Future Market Insights (FMI) recently announced the release of its report titled "Residential Water Treatment Devices: Middle East Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015-2025." According to the report, the middle east residential water treatment devices market was valued at US$ 414.1 Mn in 2014 and is anticipated to reach US$ 855.3 Mn by 2025, expanding at a CAGR of 6.8% throughout the forecast period.



Total population of Middle East & Africa stood at approximately 346 million in 2015 and is expected to grow at the rate of 2% per annum. The Middle East & Africa is also witnessing mass migration of people to urban centers, thereby leading to increased demand for water purifiers in these centers. Economies of North Africa, on the other hand, have also been registering healthy growth rates over the last few years, which in turn is expected to fuel growth of the residential water treatment devices market in the overall MEA region. Due to large scale industrialization, quality of water in the GCC and Levant countries has deteriorated during the recent years. Water availability in these regions is estimated to be merely 1,200 m3/person/year, which is substantially lower than the global average of 7,000 m3/person/year. These factors are also prompting urban masses in Middle East countries to opt for water purifiers. Furthermore, the GCC region is witnessing entry of globally established water purifier brands, which has resulted into increased competition in the market. Increased competition, in turn, ensures marginal decline in prices of residential water treatment devices in the retail market in these regions. However, price decline has been largely reported on the reverse osmosis-based water purification devices only, the sales of which have witnessed an upsurge in recent years.



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Around 44% of the Middle East & Africa population lives in rural area and is not aware about the necessity and techniques to purify and filter water. Penetrating these markets may be a challenging task for the concerned market participants as most of the vendors would have to begin by creating awareness regarding water purifier and filters and the importance of these products.



Combination water purification system employs two different treatment technologies in one system. Players such as AquaPro and Kent have started offering RO+UV-based combination water purifiers in the GCC and Levant countries.



Geography-wise, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia dominated the GCC residential water treatment devices market in terms of value in 2014, accounting for more than one-third value share of the GCC residential water treatment devices market. On the other hand, Turkey dominated the Levant residential water treatment devices market in 2014, accounting for more than 40% value share of the overall market in the region. Furthermore, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is foreseen to expand at a relatively high CAGR during the forecast period and is expected to maintain its revenue share dominance till 2025 end. The governments in the Levant and GCC regions are investing and opening up to Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and promoting industrialization, which has been leading to an increase in the per capita income of the residing population in countries such as Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Egypt and Jordan are expected to register significant Y-o-Y growth during the forecast period. Besides, these countries are projected to bestow more focus on their non-oil and manufacturing sectors in the coming years, which in turn is expected to encourage the water purifier and water filter manufacturers in these countries to go in for domestic production and enhance sales. Countries such as Bahrain, Iraq, Palestine and Syria are currently witnessing moderate growth in demand for residential water treatment devices, and the trend is expected to continue during the forecast period as well.



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On the basis of filtration devices, the filtration faucet segment dominated the Middle East residential water treatment devices market in 2014 in terms of revenue, and is foreseen to expand at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. In terms of volume, the water tap faucet segment dominated the Middle East residential water treatment devices market in 2014, accounting for more than half volume share of the overall market.



On the basis of purification devices, the reverse osmosis segment dominated the Middle East residential water treatment devices market in 2014 in terms of revenue, and is foreseen to expand at a relatively high CAGR during the forecast period. In terms of volume, the gravity segment purification devices dominated the Middle East residential water treatment devices market in 2014, accounting for more than 40% volume share of the overall market.



Key market players covered in the report include KENT RO Systems Ltd., Eureka Forbes, Britannic Water Treatment Company W.L.L., Panasonic Corporation, LG Electronics, Pure It LLC, Waterlife, Coolpex Pure Water System, Ultra Tec Water Treatment LLC and AQUA PRO UAE. Most players in the market are engaged in various activities, such as mergers and acquisitions, increasing investments in technological and product developments, geographical expansion and brand building via strong marketing strategies, in order to sustain their position in the competitive market.



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Grand Rapids, MI -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/20/2016 -- Ben Outwater, Director of Customer Service at viastore Systems, recently discussed the six principles of an effective spare parts stocking program. Outwater shared after a company has invested in an automated material handling solutionwhether that includes conveyor, automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), or a combination of the two, "You are only 1/2 way there. Implementing a solid equipment maintenance program is key to ensuring that your system is always running at its peak. While there may be a variety of options for maintenance providers, in our experience establishing and maintaining an effective spare parts stocking program is mandatory."



With advanced analysis and planning to determine which components are most likely to need replacement in the event of a failure, manufacturers can ensure that operation's key equipment continues to operate with minimal downtime. Outwater recommends six principles to follow when developing an effective spare parts stocking program to automate warehouse operations.



1. Read the manuals.

2. Ask the OEM and/or integrator which parts they stock.

3. Stock anything marked "critical."

4. Keep replacement "wear" items on site.

5. Maintain stock in "recommended" supplies.

6. Schedule an annual equipment check-up.



To read more, go to: http://bit.ly/1U7M8wn



About viastore Systems, Inc.

For over 40 years, viastore Systems, Inc. has been a leading international provider of automated material handling solutions including AS/RS (automated storage and retrieval systems) and conveyor systems, warehouse management systems software, material flow and process controls, and integrated SAP logistics solutions. The company employs over 470 people worldwide and has annual sales of over $140 Million. viastore's focus is on consulting and planning, together with the implementation and constant improvement of intralogistics solutions with locations in Germany, USA, France, Spain, Czech Republic, Russia, China, Croatia, Turkey, Poland, Israel, Ukraine, Sweden, and Brazil.



viastore Systems, with North American headquarters in Grand Rapids, MI, (http://www.us.viastore.com) is an integrated and certified partner for all major ERP system database and operating system suppliers such as SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft. viastore Systems earned a return spot on Food Logistics' 2015 FL100+ list of software and technology providers whose products and solutions are key to the global food supply chain. viastore Systems is a proud member of MHI.



Follow viastore on Twitter at @viastoresystems.
Failure to provide adequate healthcare for transgender people is holding back development in Africa and the Middle East, a study reveals today.

Transgender people whose healthcare needs are not met experience high rates of HIV and mental health problems such as depression, say a series of three research papers published in The Lancet. The issue is compounded by discrimination and criminalisation of transgenderism in many African and Middle Eastern countries, making transgender people more likely to be victims of violence, one paper found.

The study found that these healthcare failures place an extra burden of care on transgender people and their families, and can stop them being economically active.



Adapted from The Lancet

Faced with stigma, discrimination and abuse, transgender people are pushed to the margins of society, warns Sam Winter, a health researcher at Curtin University, Australia, and lead author of one study. The health challenges faced by transgender people are exacerbated by laws and policies that deny them gender recognition.

The researchers found that, due to criminalisation and low awareness of transgenderism, there is little data and information on the state of health of transgender people in developing countries.

This could hinder global efforts to ensure good healthcare for all people by 2030  a target fixed by the Sustainable Development Goals, the authors say.

Transgender people identify with a gender different from the one they were assigned at birth. Another paper in the series found that some developing countries  including Indonesia, Laos and Thailand  traditionally accept transgender people and provide reasonable healthcare for them.

But laws and cultural attitudes in many African and Middle Eastern countries make it nearly impossible for transgender people to receive tailored healthcare, one paper warns. This includes sexual healthcare, psychological care and treatments to help them become the gender they identify with, such as surgery, hair removal or speech therapy.

Lack of legal protection means many transgender people in these regions fear for their safety, leaving them unable to pursue normal careers and home lives.

Living proudly as a transgender man in the small sub-Saharan country of Lesotho has come at a serious price, said Tampose Mothopen, the director of transgender rights group the Peoples Matrix Association. My public activism on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression makes me vulnerable to threats to my personal safety.

In an editorial, the authors propose that shifting global attitudes to transgender people could have a trickle-down effect on national legislations in countries receiving international aid and healthcare support. The authors of the papers call for the World Health Organization to remove the transgender diagnosis from its current definition as a mental and behavioural disorder to that of condition related to sexual health.

A mental health diagnosis is widely regarded as inappropriate and potentially harmful by reinforcing stigma, they write, adding that the move would be truly historic.
The protoplanetary disc surrounding new born star TW Hydrae is the nearest known planet forming disc from our planet. Now researchers have reportedly discovered methyl alcohol, or methanol, an essential to life organic molecule in the gaseous disc. This is the first time that methanol has been detected in a protoplanetary disc.

An international team of scientists discovered the signs of gaseous methanol surrounding TW Hydrae, located at distance of about 170 light years away, with the help of Chile's Atacama large Millimeter/Submillimeter (ALMA) telescope. Methyl alcohol was found on the protoplanetary disc's minute dust grains, from which the researchers felt it was released in gaseous form.

"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," said Ryan A. Loomis, researcher from Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge, Massachusetts. "The result has an effect on our understanding of how organic matter accumulates in very young planetary systems".

According to the scientists, the discovery of methanol which is an essential formative agent for organic life in protoplanetary disc could help in learning more about the molecules themselves. Apart from detecting methyl alcohol, the researchers also discovered that its distribution within the disc of gaseous cloud makes a ring like design. The phenomenon made the scientists speculate that the ring was created when the bigger dust grains in the icy mass separated from the gas, and began to drift inside towards the TW Hydrae due to its gravitational pull.

Recently, another important building block of life on Earth was detected in space, namely chiral molecules. According to reports, though the detection of methanol or chiral molecules is not the same as discovering extraterrestrial life, but it makes the case stronger for essential to life molecules being present outside the solar system. In addition, the discovery of methanol in cold gas phase in a protoplanetary disc indicates that ice chemistry products can be investigated in discs, which creates new avenues for analyzing complex organic chemistry during the formation of planetary system.
LYONS  Forrest Frost, 29, of Lyons, was arrested about 1 a.m. Monday, after an incident Sunday evening that included a high-speed chase and gunshots, according to the Marion County Sheriffs Office.

About 7:15 p.m. Sunday, Marion County deputies were dispatched to a call about theft from a vehicle at North Fork Park, 24450 North Fork Road S.E.

The victims of the theft were alerted by their car alarm and were able to see the suspect and his vehicle as it left the area.

Deputies said the victims began to chase the suspect who was described as driving recklessly down the North Fork Road toward Lyons. At one point during the chase it is believed the suspect fired multiple rounds from his vehicle at the victim's vehicle.

After being shot at the victims stopped chasing the suspect. The victims were not injured and their vehicle was not struck by any of the rounds fired.

A short time later, a Linn County deputy located the suspect vehicle in the Lyons area and again the suspect fled. The Linn County deputy pursued the vehicle back up the North Fork Road. The chase continued until deputies from the Marion County Sheriff's Office and troopers with the Oregon State Police deployed spike strips, which disabled the vehicle.

Once the suspect realized he could not drive any farther he stopped his Ford Explorer on the Pioneer Road Bridge and leapt an estimated 30 feet into the Santiam River, where he floated downstream.

Several hundred yards down river the suspect swam to shore and fled on foot. K9 teams from Marion County Sheriff's Office and the Salem Police Department tracked the suspect to a heavily wooded area, where he was believed to be hiding. Due to the heavily wooded and steep terrain, the Sheriff's Office SWAT Team was called in to search the area.

Frost surrendered about 1 a.m.

Frost is currently lodged in the Marion County Jail for the crimes of first-degree attempted assault; unlawful entry into a motor vehicle; second-degree theft; first-degree robbery; unlawful use of a weapon, attempting to elude the police and menacing.
One of the most amazing and much loved animals is the giraffe. This creature with the longest neck is also celebrated on June 21, which is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

Giraffe is also known before as a long-necked camel leopard. Its name derived to its camel-like shape and its leopard-like coloring. Both humans and giraffes have the same number of vertebrae in their necks. On the other hand, giraffes use them a bit differently.

Two giraffes drinking at a lake... Giraffe style! pic.twitter.com/QhUAWZ6sTd  Life on Earth (@planetepics) June 19, 2016

A giraffe's feet are the size of a dinner plate, 12 inches across. pic.twitter.com/EnM6hWVZOr  Did You Know? (@Know) June 14, 2016

This tallest living terrestrial animal is also the largest ruminant. It is an African even-toed ungulate mammal. It has extremely long neck and legs. It can reach a height from 4.3 to 5.7 meters (14.1 to 18.7 feet). Male giraffes are taller than female giraffes. The tallest recorded female giraffe was about 5.17 meters (17.0 ft.) and the tallest male giraffe was 5.88 meters (19.3 ft.).

I fed a giraffe today pic.twitter.com/Qlcfn983Ay  +Phoebe+ |-/ (@phoebem_iD) June 19, 2016

World Giraffe Day aims to create awareness and support for giraffe in the wild. There are only about 90,000 giraffes that remain in the wild. By supporting the World Giraffe Day, you can help in saving the giraffe in Africa. The governments, zoos, NGOs, schools, conservation organizations and companies all around the globe are hosting the events on June 21 each year. Among them who celebrate and support this unique creature are Abilen Zoo, Auckland Zoo, Zoo Berlin, Zoo Basel, Birmingham Zoo, Disney Animal Kingdom and many more.
Birth control apps and websites have been developed to help more women obtain prescription contraceptives without the need to go to a doctor. Public health experts believe that this new development will help in promoting contraceptives and other birth control methods to lower the increased rate of unintended pregnancies and abortions, as well as address issues faced by some countries, like the use of birth control pills in the Philippines.

The birth control apps and websites have started under the political radar instead of a program funded through the taxpayer's money or a legislative proposal. According to reports, several digital ventures both by private companies and nonprofit organizations like Planned Parenthood already offer prescriptions from clinicians, specifically for birth control pills, birth control patches, birth control shots and birth control pills for acne. While some of these companies deliver the contraceptives directly to the women's doorsteps, others use insurance like the Medicaid for those with low incomes.

For instance, a birth control app known as "Lemonaid" provides women a doctor's review of their medical data and then delivers pill description for $15, according to Birth Control.Com.

Given the fact that almost 40 percent of pregnancies in the US are unplanned, birth control issues are essential public health concerns that experts wish to address by promoting methods like birth control implants. But for immediate methods, a visit to the doctor could be too demanding and expensive for some women, especially the teenagers.

Attempts were made to prevent all these obstacles, including the requirements set by the US government through the Affordable Care Act, which states that all health plans must pay for birth control prescriptions. However, this effort was met with controversy as religious and political organizations have been opposing the move.

A broaden birth control access is being worked on in Oregon and California by implementing laws that allow pharmacists to give prescriptions of contraceptives in drugstores. But since the new apps and websites are already capable of reaching more women, they no longer require legislative approval because the clinicians write the prescription. Nevertheless, the companies are required to follow telemedicine rules depending on the state, and that they could on provide prescriptions in areas with licensed clinicians, as explained by Planned Parenthood.
A blind catfish that only exists in Mexico is also discovered in the national cave in Texas. It is identified as endangered Mexican blindcat or also known as Prietella phreatophila.

Dean Hendrickson, the curator of ichthyology at the University of Texas at Austin said that since the 1960s there have been rumors of seeing blind, white catfishes in the area, but this is the first confirmation. He further said that he has seen more of these things than anybody, and these specimens look just like the ones from Mexico. He and his team found a pair of blind catfish in a deep limestone cave at Amistad National Recreation Area near Del Rio in Texas. They were relocated in the San Antonio Zoo, according to Science Daily.

Blind Mexican catfish species spotted in the US for the first time https://t.co/EAeas8KRlF pic.twitter.com/ak402LUsf6  Before It's News (@beforeitsnews) June 19, 2016

The Mexican blindcat is pinkish white in color and its dorsal fin has no spine. It has a total length of 9.2 centimeters (3.6 in). It has no eyes. It is believed to be prevalent to Coahuila in the Rio Bravo drainage in northern Mexico. They dwell in groundwater.

The pinkish-white fish was first spotted in April 2015 by Jack Johnson, a caver, and National Park Service resource manager at Amistad. Then, he and Peter Sprouse, the biologist at Peter Sprouse of Zara Environmental LLC saw the fish again last month.

Sprouse explained that cave-dwelling animals are fascinating in that they have lost many of the characteristics they are familiar with in surface animals, such as pigmentation for camouflage, eyes and speed. He further explained that they have found an ecological niche where none of those things are needed and in there they have developed extra-sensory abilities to succeed in total darkness.

The discovered blind catfish will be maintained alive in a special facility for aquifer and cave species at the San Antonio Zoo's Department of Conservation and Research. They are not yet displayed on public.
Elephant intelligence has been discovered following the first pan-African aerial probe of savanna elephants through the Great Elephant Census led by Paul G. Allen in 2013. When researchers started their work, they soon found something amazing.

Based on the elephant intelligence studies, the animals have changed their habitats and their way of living in their historic ecosystems for the past 40 years, amidst the increasing dangers. With the surprising discovery, along with the help of elephant intelligence test, it was found that elephants are intelligent enough to learn to adapt and survive, according to ways that are not seen before.

Through the elephant intelligence documentary entitled "Mind of a Giant," which premiered on June 19 on the Nat Geo WILD, experts in Africa will provide a window into the modern elephant's world. The documentary will also feature the giant animals' supreme intelligence as they live and fight for their lives amidst the threats of new human settlements and the poachers, according to Elephants Forever.

Elephant intelligence facts will be discussed by known experts in the field of elephant research, such as the manner in which the gentle giants display their joy, grief, fear and empathy. The researchers believe that a better human understanding of these impressive creatures will provide the animals the help they need to survive for future generations.

Among the experts behind the elephant intelligence video and documentary is Sir Ian Douglas Hamilton. He established the group Save the Elephants, which is a top research and conservation organization that deals with the African elephant. In 1998, Hamilton received the award Order of the Golden Ark, while in 2015, he earned Order of the British Empire award. His organization conducts significant studies on the behavior and ecology of the elephants, and also introduced the GPS radio tracking in Africa that gives new ideas into the life of the gentle giants.

Another expert in African elephant is Frank Pope, who is also the Save the Elephants chief operations officer. He will talk about elephant intelligence in terms of how the animals learn accurately the area where secured territory ends as well as the start of an enemy territory. Based on elephant intelligence articles, this shows the animals' awareness of enemy locations, therefore develop strategy to prevent facing them, Mental Floss reported.
Although it seems unlikely to make much (if any) difference in the election, Gov. Kate Brown has blown off an invitation to appear at the debate that traditionally serves as the kickoff to the fall campaign.

The debate was scheduled for July 22 as part of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association summer convention; for the past three decades during election years, gubernatorial candidates have gathered at the convention to hold forth. (Chris Dudley, the Republican candidate in 2010, was the last one to beg off, citing a previously scheduled vacation.)

(Full disclosure here: The Democrat-Herald is a member of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association and, in fact, the author of this editorial was scheduled to moderate the debate.)

Brown's opponent, Bud Pierce (who accepted the association's invitation the day after the primary election), will get 30 minutes to address the convention. A debate on the ballot measure to impose a gross-receipts tax on certain Oregon businesses will also be held, and that should be a lively preview of the state's highest-profile election issue.

As for Brown, a spokeswoman for the governor said: "She does look forward to debating her Republican opponent this fall, but right now she's focused on her duties as governor."

What she meant, of course, was this: "We have every intention to do as few debates as we possibly can."

That's exactly what you'd expect from a Democratic incumbent running in a largely Democratic state against an opponent who's a political neophyte. Conventional political wisdom tells Brown that she has nothing to gain by debating: Every time she appears on stage with Pierce, the conventional wisdom goes, she's giving her opponent another dose of legitimacy. And, of course, every debate offers an opportunity for candidates to make some kind of campaign-altering gaffe.

And yet: The point of these debates really isn't to goad candidates into making some kind of flub. The point is to give voters a better sense of where candidates stand on a variety of important issues. And the truth is that we do not yet have much of a feel yet for either candidate. Brown has made a point of keeping her cards close to her vest on big issues such as the gross-receipts tax and capital punishment (and it's worth remembering that this is her first campaign for the governor's office). Pierce, of course, is a political newcomer.

Maybe Brown's spokeswoman is sincere about holding debates this fall. And perhaps you might get a chance to help organize one. You'll want to ask questions that you can ask of both candidates, just to be fair. Here are some of the questions we'd suggest:

 How are you going to vote on the gross-receipts tax when it appears on your ballot? Would it be OK, in your view, if the measure passed, and legislators decided not to use the money for schools and the like but instead to pay for the state's growing liabilities in the Public Employees Retirement System?

 What should we be doing about PERS?

 How would you characterize state government's relationship with Oregon's business community? What should the state be doing to ensure a vibrant economy? How would you measure success?

 Even as Oregon's economy has improved, some of the state's smaller and more rural communities continue to struggle. How can the state offer meaningful help to those communities?

 How would your views on capital punishment affect your duty as the governor to enforce the laws of Oregon?

Feel free to add your own questions. Good luck with your debate. Let us know if you need a moderator. (mm)
Cosco Pacific said that the proposed new name will fully reflect that the company focuses on developing as a professional port and terminal operator.

The proposed change of name is subject to approval by shareholders and the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda.

After the merger and reorganisation of Cosco and China Shipping, Cosco Pacific has become the flagship terminal of the merged entity Coscocs, poised to benefit from a larger combined container shipping fleet.
A small boy was mauled by a mountain lion while playing in his yard in Colorado, but the child's mother saved him and the animal was put down, authorities say.

The five year old suffered injuries to his face, head and neck, and his mother sustained minor injuries to her hand and legs in the attack Friday in a rural area 10 miles (16 kilometers) northwest of Aspen, the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office said.

The boy was outside in the yard playing with his older brother when the mother heard screams.

RELATED: Nature's Most Notorious Man-Eaters

"The mother ran outside, saw the mountain lion on her son and was able to physically remove her son from the mountain lion," the sheriff's office said in a statement.

The boy's father rushed him to the hospital.

Deputies and a law enforcement officer from the US Forest Service went to the house and found the mountain lion still in the yard.

The animal was put down by the Forest Service officer.

WATCH: Why You'll Never Have a Pet Lion
But the United Kingdom isn't the only country that has flirted with the idea of dissolving its status with the European Union. Last summer, an impasse between Greece and the European Union over the Mediterranean country's debt crisis threaten to push Greece out of the euro and possibly E.U. itself.

"No one can foresee what the long-term consequences would be," Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, recently told the German tabloid Bild. "As a historian, I fear that Brexit could be the beginning of the destruction of not only the E.U., but also of Western political civilization."

Voters in the United Kingdom this week will decide whether they want to remain in the European Union, a historic referendum colluquially known as the Brexit that threatens to shake up the quarter-century long EU experiment.

In fact, according to an intracontinental poll taken in the spring, nearly half of voters in eight large European Union countries want an opportunity to vote whether to remain in the bloc, Reuters reported last month.

Of the more than 6,000 surveyed in Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain and Sweden, 48 percent expressed a desire for a vote, and a third would choose to exit the E.U. if given the chance. Of the countries surveyed, Italy had the highest percent of "out" votes with 48 percent of respondents indicating an inclination to leave. Poland had the lowest with 22 percent.

The Ipsos-MORI poll wasn't exactly an outlier. In March, the University of Edinburgh released a poll in which 8,000 voters in Germany, France, Poland, Ireland, Spain and Sweden were asked about holding their own referendum on the E.U., and in France, one of the central pillars of the union, 53 percent of participants wanted a vote. Similarly in February, a Dutch poll showed that more than half of participants in the Netherlands backed an in/out vote.

RELATED: Will The UK Brexit Vote Disrupt The EU?

So why are so many people in so many countries pushing for a way out of the historic political and economic collaboration that is the European Union?

One of the main arguments of the "Out" movement both in the Brexit vote and across European is that the members states are moving inevitably toward a deeper political union. Such a future would diminish the influence of sovereign governments. E.U. policy already touches on everything from immigration to labor to trade and more. There's even a movement to create an E.U. army.

The extraordinary efforts undertaken by E.U. governing bodies over the last half decade or so to deal with various crises, be it the financial crisis, the sovereign debt crisis or the refugee crisis, have to led the widespread belief of a democratic deficit among member states. This lack of control has led to the rise of populist movements throughout the continent who view the E.U. as a government of the elite or privileged member states.

RELATED: Is Europe Safe to Visit This Summer?

Withdrawal from the EU is allowed through Article 50 of the Treaty of the European Union, which states simply, "Any Member State may decide to withdraw from the Union in accordance with its own constitutional requirements." To date, no member state has exercised that right to leave the union.
Reef sharks are being illegally fished out of one of the world's largest shark "sanctuaries," according to environmentalist Philippe Cousteau and colleagues who made the discovery while filming the documentary "Nuclear Sharks" at the Marshall Islands National Shark Sanctuary. When the 768,547-square-mile sanctuary was established five years ago in the central Pacific, conservation groups unanimously praised its formation, but the new evidence suggests that laws banning commercial fishing of sharks within the sanctuary are not being enforced. "The system is broken and illegal fisheries are laughing all the way to the bank," Patric Douglas, executive producer of "Nuclear Sharks, told Discovery News. RELATED: Fight to Stop Shark Trade Extends to Skies Cousteau and his wife Ashlan Gorse, who also worked on the project, added in a joint statement that the Marshall Islands National Shark Sanctuary is three times the size of the California and in the middle of the ocean "so it's an extremely tough place to police, a fact that illegal fishermen know as well." Douglas and his team, which also included marine biologist Luke Tipple, traveled to the region for an entirely different reason: to document marine life now surrounding what was once the site of 67 nuclear tests, including a devastating hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll in 1954 during the Cold War. Part of the project involved tagging grey reef sharks and tracking their movements over an eight-month period.

"Reef sharks are not pelagic species, so they tend to stay near their reef habitats," Douglas said. "We started to notice that 55 percent of the tagged individuals -- mostly small 4-foot females -- began to quickly head west, which is not normal behavior for these sharks."

Douglas sent tracking information for 15 of the tags to Darcy Bradley of the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Bradley said that the data was far from what she had expected. "When I started to have a look at the data, what I found was far from what I expected," she said. "The tags were certainly not on sharks: the traveling speed was far too fast and the tags were clearly at the surface. The speed and direction of movement also allowed me to rule out the possibility that the tags were freely drifting."

"Instead," she continued, "it seemed that nine of the 15 tags were probably on boats, the sharks had likely been illegally fished, and a project with an ecological objective had suddenly become something entirely different." Douglas said that the destination points for some of the tags were ports in Guam and the Philippines. He and his colleagues strongly suspect that the sharks were killed for their fins, which can fetch top dollar in markets for customers using them in shark fin soup. Often the rest of the shark's body is thrown away. Since the small tags were originally placed on the sharks' fins, the devices likely wound up in the ports along with the fins. WATCH: 3 Shark Myths Debunked
Well, you probably won't, unless you're attending a sun worshiping party (in which case it was probably the beat of bongos and strong cider you'll feel rather than any spacetime warping), but you're about to live through a beautifully subtle celestial event: the summer solstice.

You may not know that the summer solstice (and, indeed, the winter solstice) is a precise moment in time. It is generally assumed that because the summer solstice gives us the longest day of the year that the whole day is the solstice. This isn't entirely true.

The summer solstice for the Northern Hemisphere is the exact moment when the axial tilt of the Earth is at its most inclined toward the sun during its 365-day orbit - at an angle of 23 26'. That doesn't happen at midday, nor does it happen at midnight; it happens at the exact same time for every country on the planet. It isn't like a New Year's celebration when the clock strikes midnight across the time zones in turn - this is a global time event, with the solstice occurring at the same moment.

(NOTE: The exact moment of summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is also the exact moment of winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.)

In 2016, the time at which the Earth is at its most tilted toward the sun - thereby bathing most of the Northern Hemisphere in sunlight - is at 22:34 UTC. This time is different every year, and the day of the solstice can shift between June 20th and 21st. Next year, for example, the solstice is on June 21 at 04:24 UTC.

(UTC stands for "Coordinated Universal Time." It is the standard that all global clocks set themselves by.)

For me, in California, solstice will occur at precisely 3:34 p.m. PDT. In the U.K., the solstice will occur at 11:34 p.m. BST (there's an eight-hour time difference between Los Angeles and London). So even though solstice bathes the Northern Hemisphere in more light, it doesn't necessarily occur during the day for all locations!

In a previous article for Discovery News, I waxed lyrical about how lucky we are to be living on a planet with a tilt when I was sitting in my sister's backyard in Coventry, U.K., bathed in post-solstice sun:

Summer solstice is also a reminder about how lucky we are to be living on a planet with a tilt.

So, once again, let us "worship" our planet with a tilt. Although there seems to be a preponderance of small, rocky worlds in our galaxy, we know of only one that is so delicately tailored for Earth Brand Life to thrive.

UPDATE: At the precise moment of supper solstice, I braved the 111 degree Fahrenheit California heat and took this photo from my backyard:
State-owned coal company Vinacomin has said its production costs will go up by around $60 million a year due to upcoming changes to environmental taxes.

From July 1, environmental taxes imposed on minerals will increase by three to four percent. Specifically, the import duty on opencast coal will jump to 12 percent while the duty on pit coal will also rise to 10 percent.

Nguyen Van Bien, deputy director of Vinacomin, said that environmental tax hikes will increase the companys costs by VND1.3 trillion ($58 million) to 1.5 trillion VND ($67 million) per year, threatening its profit margin.

Bien added that at present, environmental taxes in other countries are falling, while the rates in Vietnam are some of the highest in the world. In Australia, opencast coal is levied a seven-percent duty and its just six percent for pit coal, but Vietnams rates are double that.

Our coal products are as good as our foreign competitors, but higher environmental taxes will make prices higher and reduce our competitiveness, Bien said.

The deputy director said that higher costs caused by additional tax will affect other areas like incomes, jobs and social security in mining regions.

To cope with the increased costs, Vinacomin has cut off coal output for the first six months of the year in an attempt to reduce its inventory. However, in the long term, it will be difficult for the company to reach its profit target, Bien said.

Last year, Vinacomin saw year-on-year increase of three percent in revenue to reach VND106.8 trillion ($4.8 billion), but its profit fell to VND600 billion ($27 million). This year, the company hopes to reach 110 trillion (nearly $5 billion) in revenue and one trillion in profit ($45 million).

Related news:

> Vietnam's coal imports jump to record high as summer comes

> Coal contract ignites friction between Vietnamese state-owned giants

> Coal fired plants to replace hydro as top power source in Vietnam
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition has named Brian Wiedenmeier as executive director, after a year of internal turmoil and the abrupt departure of its previous director.

Wiedenmeier, 34, was selected after a seven-month search by the groups board of directors. He has served as the organizations development director for the past two years and oversees its $2.4 million budget.

As executive director, Wiedenmeier will manage a 10,000-member organization that has doubled in size over the past decade and spearheaded the transformation of San Franciscos streets, making the city one of the most bike-accessible in the country.

But the coalition has gone through a rocky year, some of which has played out in the media A proposal in July to eliminate elections for its board of directors spurred accusations that the move was undemocratic and antithetical to the organizations principles.

Backers of the proposal countered that it was meant to protect members privacy, because under California law, nonprofits that have a member-elected board must turn over their membership lists to any members who request them for legitimate purposes.

While the proposal passed, the directors rescinded the vote under the threat of a lawsuit.

In the midst of the dispute, Executive Director Noah Budnick stepped down after just eight months. Budnick had moved from New York to take the job.

Wiedenmeier is a longtime figure among cyclists and in San Francisco. A 10-year resident of the city, he previously worked at the San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center, ODC Dance Company and the Performing Arts Workshop.

He said his focus as executive director will be to expand bike lanes to parts of the city that have been left behind, including the Excelsior, Bayview and Tenderloin neighborhoods and the Sunset District.

People bike there, too, and more people would bike if we had better infrastructure to make their ride more pleasant and safe, he said.

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Jeremy Pollock, a member of the bike coalition who helped spearhead opposition to the proposal to eliminate the member-elected board, said Wiedenmeier seems sharp and motivated.

He encouraged Wiedenmeier to diversify the groups image.

Critics of bicyclists in the city have this image that we are young, able-bodied white men. ... The bike coalition needs to continue to build relationships with communities of color and enable them to be leaders in the bike movement, he said.

Emily Green is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: egreen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: emilytgreen
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Fire investigators on Sunday methodically poked through the smoldering remains of six buildings on the edge of San Franciscos Bernal Heights neighborhood that were gutted over the weekend by a huge fire that left 58 people without homes.

The team of inspectors hoped to pinpoint the origin, path and cause of the fire that kicked up into the unwieldy inferno Saturday afternoon and took firefighters almost four hours to get under control. Remarkably, no one was killed and only three people suffered minor injuries from smoke inhalation.

Many of those left stranded lived at the Greywood, a single-room-occupancy hotel with a history of city code violations on the corner of Mission and 29th streets, where residents first reported seeing and smelling smoke.

I was in my room, and I thought it was just a drill because the sprinklers werent working, said Cristel, who lived at the hotel but didnt want to give her last name.

Dramatic evacuation

While eating breakfast Sunday morning at a shelter at the Salvation Army on Valencia and 23rd streets, the 21-year-old nursing student at San Francisco State University described the dramatic evacuation that happened around 2:30 p.m. the day before.

People were yelling Get out! Get out! Get out! she said. I was panicking. I didnt have time to grab anything, just my backpack.

She had yet to learn if her books, computer and other school supplies were destroyed.

Joe Williams said he smelled something burning from his room at the hotel and checked a circuit breaker box on the second story. He said smoke and fire shot out of the box and spread so quickly it could not be smothered.

His wife, Tavey Soy, and their son, Joseph, scrambled out of the building with nothing more than the clothes they were wearing and two diapers. The boy recently turned a year old, and all his presents burned in the fire, Soy said. Im not really worried about my stuff, she said. But he needs his clothes and his diapers.

Investigators have to first pinpoint the origin of the fire and determine how the flames spread before they can identify the official cause, said Jonathan Baxter, a Fire Department spokesman.

Members of the San Francisco Fire Departments Fire Investigation Task Force began their work early Sunday as crews continued to snuff out pockets of smoldering debris near a smoke-blackened fire engine.

Mission Street between Virginia and Cesar Chavez streets was expected to stay closed to traffic until Monday, Baxter said. Muni buses were cleared to pass though the area around 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

Hardware store destroyed

The 3300 Club, a watering hole on the ground floor of the Greywood, was intact Sunday, but the floor was flooded and the waterlogged celling sagged.

Other establishments were not so lucky. All that was left of Cole Hardware, just south of the Greywood, was its facade. Behind it, scorched lumber lay collapsed in piles. Another apartment building south of the hardware store was ravaged by fire, as were the buildings behind the store.

I feel bad for all the people living upstairs, Shukry Lama, 30, whose family owns the 3300 Club, said as he viewed the damage Sunday. Luckily were insured, but a lot of the people above us didnt have much. What they had was in that building.

Greywood residents have filed almost 50 complaints over the past two decades, resulting in numerous citations, according to San Francisco Department of Building Inspection records.

In the past year, inspectors found that a heating system at the hotel was installed without a permit and that possible wastewater was flooding into units. Residents also often complained about circuit breakers that would trip several times a day, cutting off some power to the buildings.

Tom Hui, director of the Department of Building and Inspection, was at the scene Sunday and said he was aware of the complaints.

We need to find out whats going on, and Im going to have my staff look into it, he said.

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.

Hillary Ronen, chief of staff for Supervisor David Campos, whose Ninth District includes the fire-devastated block, rushed to the scene Saturday to translate for Spanish-speaking tenants affected by the fire.

On Sunday, she said she was aware of the building violations and planned to meet with Department of Building Inspection officials to discuss them Monday.

Im very concerned, and I want to find out all the details, she said. There have been many violations along with eyewitness reports of where the fire originated. We need to find out immediately if there is anything that could have been done to prevent this.

But code violations at single-room-occupancy hotels, known as SROs, are not unusual, according to tenant advocates.

The thing is, SROs in San Francisco across the board have building code violations, said Chirag Bhakta, an outreach and campaign coordinator for Mission SRO Collaborative. If this fire did indeed originate at the Greywood, it would not surprise me.

The Greywoods owner did not return phone calls Sunday.

Several recent Mission fires

The fire is the latest large blaze to cause devastation in and near the Mission District, where soaring housing costs have put a suffocating squeeze on lower-income residents.

A January 2015 fire that tore thought a large building at 22nd and Mission streets killed one person and injured six. That was followed by several other large fires, including one two months later that killed a 13-year-old girl and her father in their family home at 24th Street and Treat Avenue.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: EvanSernoffsky
Its been more than three months since those mysterious power surges knocked dozens of BART rail cars out of service  and while the transit agency has yet to pinpoint the problem, the costs keep rolling up.

To more than $2 million, in fact. And counting.

For starters, BART has spent more than $200,000 on outside consultants to search for the electronic gremlin that nearly brought the system to its knees. The problem started with the electrical components on a handful of cars blowing out near the West Oakland Station on Feb. 20. Over the next three weeks, a total of 80 cars were knocked out of service.

The problem popped up next between North Concord and Pittsburg-Bay Point, knocking another 50 cars out of service and forcing BART to run a bus bridge for days between the stations.

Then, as mysteriously as it had appeared, the problem vanished.

The issue has completely gone away, and we have fully recovered from it in terms of our our car count, said BART spokeswoman Alicia Trost. But we still need to find out what caused it so it doesnt happen again.

And with good reason. BART documents we obtained through the state Public Records Act show that, in addition to the consultants, the agency has spent $800,693 on labor, $332,449 on parts and $771,703 on test equipment related to the electrical glitches.

BART also spent $134,472 on that bus bridge. And, it lost $265,000 in fare revenue between Pittsburg-Bay Point and North Concord.

Total cost to date: $2.5 million.

But wait, theres more.

As part of that $200,000 in consultant costs, BART has hired experts to do a computer analysis of all the electronic data collected from the cars and elsewhere to see if they find patterns we dont see, Trost said.

There could be more costs if the data team comes back wanting more testing, Trost said.

Nick Ut/Associated Press

More money: The Democratic duel for U.S. Senate between state Attorney General Kamala Harris and Orange County Rep. Loretta Sanchez has put a number of big donors in a box. After all, no matter who wins, Democrats are going to get a Senate vote out of the deal.

Harris raised $10.2 million during the primary, nearly three times as much as Sanchez, but has only about $2.5 million left in the bank.

That looks good compared with Sanchez, however. Shes down to her last $500,000.

Sean Clegg, a consultant with the Harris operation, said the campaign expects to raise millions of dollars more for the fall showdown. Hes counting on a boost from a USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll that found Harris leading Sanchez out of the gate, 47 percent to 22 percent.

She has built a national network, and is the No. 1 fundraiser in an open seat among Senate candidates, Clegg said.

Bill Carrick, who is running Sanchezs campaign, acknowledges that he has his work cut out. He hopes to raise $6 million to $7 million for a race that he figures is wide open, given the much larger turnout expected in November.

It will be a very different electorate  younger and more diverse, from all over the state, he said. I think the opportunity favors Loretta.

Even before Harris primary victory this month, Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier of Hillsborough was fielding questions from House colleagues about which candidate to put their money on in the general election.

They all want to be on the right side of the winner, said Speier, who has yet to endorse in the race.

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.

Ken Steinhardt/Associated Press

The final tab: We now know the tab to taxpayers for those San Francisco City Hall protests staged by supporters of the Frisco Five hunger strikers, which helped set the stage for Police Chief Greg Suhrs exit.

An audit by the city controller puts the cost at $361,000, most of it for the Sheriffs Department.

Deputies confronted protesters when they stormed City Hall on May 6 and demanded to meet with Mayor Ed Lee. Activists smashed some of the buildings front windows and destroyed at least one metal detector during the protest, which lasted eight hours and ended in 33 arrests.

More protests followed over the next two weeks. The total tab to the city included $88,669 in deputies pay and nearly 3,000 hours of overtime totaling $252,514.

Taxpayers are also on the hook for $10,000 to replace the trashed metal detector, plus thousands more to replace broken widows and repaint walls damaged by protesters.

Given the chaotic scene, most of the protesters were cited only for trespassing and arent likely to be prosecuted, said spokesman Alex Bastian of the district attorneys office. But he said the Sheriffs Department is still investigating to see if anyone can be linked to the vandalism, in which case they could be charged.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: matierandross
YouTube star Meghan McCarthy had a conundrum.

Im wearing a supercute dress today, but it doesnt have any pockets, McCarthy told her audience at a San Francisco technology conference this month. Where am I supposed to put my phone?

In the next breath, she crunched the smartphone in her hand into a bracelet that wrapped around her wrist. Presto! Problem solved.

The device, from Chinese smartphone maker Lenovo, isnt available yet. But phones and tablets that fold or bend may join the next wave of electronics. Lenovo and and its Korean rival, Samsung, are exploring ways to make devices more flexible, so that people no longer feel they need to carry a bulky, brick-like phone around. But the science remains a challenge.

We have to be able to take everything you would put in a traditional phone and figure out how to put it in a device that bends, said Daryl Cromer, a Lenovo vice president of research and technology device innovation.

Amy Osborne/Special To The Chronicle

Lenovo said it is working on two concepts that test the boundaries of flexible devices. The CPlus, demonstrated by McCarthy, is an Android smartphone with a display slightly smaller than the height of a Coke can. It has more than 20 joints, or bend points, that allow it to turn into a bracelet. The Folio is a slightly larger Android smartphone that unfolds into a 7.8-inch tablet.

Bendability would be a new trait in smartphones  improvements in recent years have focused on larger screens, better cameras and speakers. Such devices could bring a spark to the nearly $432 billion worldwide smartphone market, which has seen growth slow as more people buy them and have fewer reasons to upgrade, according to research firm IDC.

Each of the manufacturers really have to push to find hardware or software features that actually provide a new experience that really isnt commoditized, said Jennifer Kent with Dallas consulting firm Parks Associates.

The concept of flexibility is not new. Television screens have been curved for decades, and Samsung and LG already sell smartphones with curved screens. But the ability to fold a device, to make it smaller (or, conversely, to make a small device larger), is a new focus.

People may like the size of their phone, but there is a time when you want the additional screen real estate of a tablet, Cromer said.

Already, several manufacturers, including Lenovo, sell laptops that can be folded into a tablet.

But bringing the products to market can be challenging. For Lenovo, just arriving at a working prototype was complex.

It started on its bendable-phone project more than a year and a half ago. During the process, it sought feedback from a small group of consumers in the U.S. and China. People said they wanted the smartphone to have a large enough display, and they werent keen on a bigger version of the foldable tablet because it couldnt fit in their pockets.

Others, including Samsung and Chinese company Chongqing Graphene Tech Co., are also looking into flexible devices. Samsung CEO Oh-Hyun Kwon said at an investors event in 2013 that in the years to come, Well deliver the foldable device so ... you can carry handsets and tablets in your pockets.

A Chongqing Graphene Tech executive told Bloomberg in May that it will sell a bendable smartphone that cost $765 in China this year. The company did not immediately respond to The Chronicles questions.

Plenty of kinks still need to be worked out. Companies will need to figure out how to engineer the phone so it doesnt break as a user checks their phone and repeatedly crunches it into a bracelet.

Its also hard to find items like processors on the phones motherboard that are flexible, analysts said. That may cause the smartphones circuit board, where the processor and other chips are located, to be placed on one end. That could affect how the weight is distributed on the device, and how thin it can be.

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Some analysts say a foldable phone or tablet will not tempt buyers in the absence of other advances. There will need to be killer apps and additional features that would push shoppers to use the CPlus over existing devices on the market, according to Ramon Llamas, a research manager for IDCs wearables and mobile phones team.

The fact that the CPlus can be that smart to adjust to what youre doing, thats a reflection of where technology is today, Llamas said. What can this do that current phones do not other than flex?

But Roel Vertegaal, a professor of human-computer interaction at Queens University School of Computing in Canada, believes there is enough demand for flexible devices. Just as people use different glasses depending on the wine poured, he said, they may one day choose the type of smartphone theyll use depending on their activities.

For example, someone out running may want a phone to wear on their wrist, if a smartwatch is insufficient.

Vertegaal, who has worked on prototypes of flexible devices, said he thinks companies will take baby steps. Perhaps what will come first will be smartwatches that dont require a phone to make calls  still an unusual feature these days  instead of the reverse, a phone that can fold into a watch.

I dont think well have a paper-thin device immediately, he said.

Wendy Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: wlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: thewendylee
Similar cultures and retail banking strategies are prime advantages for banking cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, and leading Vietnamese banks including Sacombank, Vietcombank, Vietinbank and Eximbank have hooked up with Japanese firms to become strategic partners.

To reinforce their financial ability, Vietnamese banks are racing to scout foreign partners, and Japanese investors are likely to be the first option in the coming tide of banking and finance M&As, according to the online Vietnam Merger and Acquisition forum.

On May 4 this year, Sacombank signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Resona Bank Ltd., Saitama Resona Bank Ltd. and the Kinki Osaka Bank Ltd. (under Resona Holdings  Japan) to diversify its products and expand customer relations.

Japanese investors are the primary choice for Vietnamese banks in the latest wave of M&As and state divestment in the banking sector. Photo by VnExpress Photo Contest/Nguyen Minh Quan

Sacombank and the three Japanese banks will provide banking products and services for customers in Japan, Vietnam and other markets where Sacombank operates. These services will include lending, money transfers and international payments. The Japanese banks will also help Sacombank introduce its services to Resona Holdings customers and associated firms.

Resona Holdings is now the fourth largest financial group in Japan with total assets of approximately JPY 46 trillion ($438 billion), focusing on the retail segment in Tokyo, Osaka, Kanagawa and Saitama. As of March 31, 2015, Resona Holdings had opened 1,443 transaction points in Japan, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore.

At the ceremony, Sacombank Vice Chairman Cum CEO Phan Huy Khang said: Globalization, international economic integration and trade liberalization policy are now the stand-out trends of modern society and Sacombank. We have been accelerating our international integration through partnerships with many prestigious global organizations. Take Resona Holdings for instance; with the same vision, strategy and strong economic potential, I believe this cooperation will be an absolute success.

Resona Holdings Chairman cum CEO of Resona Bank Ltd Kazuhiro Higashi said: Vietnam is a prime destination for many Japanese enterprises to expand their businesses, and our clients who are interested in investing in Vietnam are growing.

Previously, VietinBank sold a 12.79 percent stake to the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd, before raising its foreign ownership limit to 30 percent.

Vietcombank has also sold a partial stake to Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd, while Eximbank has sold a 20 percent stake to Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.

Investment funds such as HD Saigon Finance and other Vietnamese credit institutions are also getting in on the act, looking for Japanese partners who share a common culture and retail banking strategies.
The 10-year-old UGallery.com  the offices of which are in the Mission  describes itself as one of the first players in the online art market. Renowned NYC galleries like Pace and Gagosian are opening here, says a letter in behalf of the gallery, but they are only serving the super wealthy. The UGallery directs its offerings at other collectors, the average price of a sold work being $1,250. Apparently, business is good. The sites co-founder, Alex Farkas, wrote recently in Recode, Despite increasing uncertainty in the high-end auction market, the online art market, which predominantly represents the lower end ... is thriving.

The website allows buyers to select a price range, then choose among media (painting, oil and acrylic; drawing; photography; sculpture; more), size of completed work, color preference (purple, violet, more), style (abstract, primitive, surrealism, vintage, more), subject (animals, nudes, western, more), and art ideas (suitable for bedroom, living room, beach house, more). And, with every bit the ease of ordering shoes from Zappos, Artwork arrives at your doorstep ready-to-hang! Free shipping, free returns.

Gimme an oil portrait of a woman, in tones of brown suitable for the pool house, with a landscape  maybe a few rivers would carry out the water theme  visible in the somewhat hazy distance. The womans right hand should rest on her left wrist, and she should smile without showing any teeth.

John Lathro says the sign Passenger Loading Only; 5 Minuet Limit, on Owens Street outside the new Kaiser Permanente facility at Mission Bay, has been up for several months, but he has yet to see any dancing.

 James Patterson sent a birthday card to Barbara Bush on the occasion of her 91st, and she sent him a handwritten note (in which she plugged her granddaughters book) from Walkers Point, Maine. A few days before, Patterson had been in a gay bar in Washington, D.C., where he encountered a large retired guy with a huge mop of white hair. He does Barbara Bush in drag! I did not mention that in my birthday card to her.

The Clarion Alley Mural Project, which began 24 years ago and has included more than 700 murals on the one-block-long alley, has established a new website on which all the projects will be archived. CAMP is establishing nonprofit status, has appointed a board of directors, and, says in a press release about this, will continue to support community efforts to fight against the forces of gentrification, including the developers and real estate agents who often use CAMP as a selling point for the cool, hip Mission experience, as well as the corporations hoping to include the gritty urban street art image to sell their products. The new site is www.clarionalleymuralproject.org.

The Girls, a first novel by 27-year-old Emma Cline, has received terrific reviews, and Cline is the subject of a profile in the New Yorker fiction issue. But a little family help couldnt hurt. An email from Fred and Nancy Cline, owners of Cline Cellars in Sonoma and parents of the debut novelist, tells customers: As a family business, we cannot express how truly proud and excited we are for Emma and all the praise shes received! We are so lucky to have such a brilliant writer in our midst, and wed love for you to see what all the hype is about! Folks who order the book through the winery get a discount, the personal signature of the author on the volume, and a special $5 shipping rate.

Bishop William Swing is imagining Donald Trump running for mayor of the town of Jericho, the one that is a few miles from the Dead Sea. In his campaign, he promises to build a wall around Jericho in order to keep out the people from the banks of the Dead Sea. He forces those very people to pay for it, and then, miracle of miracles, the wall is actually built. ... But when Donald Trumpets his success, the walls of Jericho come tumbling down, again.

Meanwhile, noting the recent headline SF Zoo helps bring Mexican gray wolves back from the brink, Lizzie Johnson says its one thing more for Trump to complain about.

P.S.: From the sign board outside Kings Paint and Wallpaper in Santa Cruz, Laurie Roberts of KPIG and KFOX quotes: What if nobody is President, and we all promise real hard to just stay cool?

Open for business in San Francisco, (415) 777-8426. Email: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com Twitter: leahgarchik

Whats the logic behind old people again?

Teenage girl to her only somewhat amused mothers, overheard on Chenery Street by Ted Weinstein
They were pawns in the Cold War, despised spies, and they paid for their crimes with their lives.

The Chronicles front page from June 20, 1953, covers the executions of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg for espionage.

Their deaths ended a day of suspense in which nine appeals were made to judges in Washington, New York and New Haven, in which the U.S. Supreme Court denied their final appeals and in which President Eisenhower again refused them clemency, one of the United Press stories on the front page read.

The other United Press story on the execution digs into their couples final pleas: In a drama-packed session, the Supreme Court ruled that the husband-wife spy team had received a full measure of justice in the lower courts and in the nine times their case had come before the high tribunal. It said no question remained unanswered.

Their final moments were captured in this Associated Press story by Relman Morin:

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg died in the electric chair tonight, silent and without emotion.

Julius, treading firmly and unsupported by guards, entered the Sing Sing death chamber first, at 8:04 p.m. (EDT), as a chaplain intoned the 23rd Psalm by his side. Two and three-quarters minutes later he was pronounced dead.

His wife was then led in, at 8:11, and she was dead at 8:16, just 15 minutes before the last rays of the setting sun betokened the start of the Hebrew Sabbath.

At 8 p.m., the voice of Rabbi Irving Koslow could be heard in the corridor leading to the death chamber.

He was intoning the 23rd Psalm, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want ...

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil.

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.

See more front pages: Go to SFChronicle.com/covers to search a database of hundreds of Chronicle Covers articles that showcase the newspaper's history.

Chronicle Covers is a yearlong project highlighting one classic Chronicle newspaper page from our archive every day for 366 days. Library director Bill Van Niekerken, producers Kimberly Chua and Michelle Devera, and editorial assistant Jillian Sullivan contributed to the project. Tim ORourke is the executive producer of SFChronicle.com. Email: torourke@sfchronicle.com Twitter: TimothyORourke

(Click to enlarge)




Some of the outsize money spent on California legislative races this year came pouring through the mail slot of voter Michael Johnsons home, arriving in the form of two or three glossy ads a day in advance of the June primary.

Most of the ads werent from candidates. They were from interest groups that have business before the Legislature, running their own campaigns to elect a favored Assembly contender.

Literally, this felt like an election not between these candidates but between these special interests, said Johnson, a former health insurance director who lives in Hollywood. I can only imagine the kind of spending that were going to see now in the general election.

It will be huge. Interest groups have more at stake this year than usual, and they are spending accordingly.

Big changes

Changes in term limits mean that this is the last year until 2024 that a batch of Assembly members will be forced out of office. Fourteen of 80 members cannot seek re-election this year, so those contests have no incumbents. That means races this year are critical for groups that want to tilt the politics of the Democratic-dominated Legislature.

Other changes in Californias political rules over the past two decades have created the open primary, in which the top two finishers advance to the November election regardless of party affiliation, and capped the amount of money that can be donated directly to candidates. The rules have combined to prompt an enormous infusion of independent money in legislative races this year, funding advertising campaigns not controlled by candidates.

The outcome in November could be a Legislature with a larger bloc of Democrats who are friendly to business interests and less bound to traditional Democratic allies. Its a frustration to those on the left, such as labor unions and environmentalists, who dominated Democratic politics under the old rules.

Some of these candidates these business groups are supporting are not moderate candidates, said Steve Smith, spokesman for the California Labor Federation. They are simply candidates that will be beholden to business interests when they get into office.

Out of control

Unions and environmental groups paid for campaigns supporting some liberal Democrats this year. They scored a key victory in a Malibu-area Senate district where Henry Stern, a Democrat with a strong environmental record, ousted a business-backed Democrat and will face Republican Steve Fazio in November.

Business interests supported a few Republicans in parts of the state where the GOP is strong. But by far, most of the independent spending in the primary was by business groups and education activists backing Democrats that they believe will align with their interests.

Altogether, oil companies, real estate agents, charter school advocates and other groups poured nearly $29 million into independent expenditures. The heavy advertising caught some candidates by surprise.

You create a campaign plan and a voter outreach strategy, and then all of a sudden these things start happening that are totally outside of your control, said Marc Berman, a Democrat running for a Palo Alto-area Assembly seat who benefited from $1.2 million in independent spending, largely by real estate and education groups. I would open my mailbox and there would be two or three  or one day, four  pieces of mail with my face on it.

Democrat vs. Democrat

Although he was confronted by voters angry about all the mail, the outside help definitely increased my name ID, Berman said.

Like most who were helped by such spending, Berman is advancing to the general election, in which he will face another Democrat, Vicki Veenker. In eight of the 10 primary races that featured $1 million or more in independent expenditures, two Democrats advanced to the general election.

That sets up expensive fights between business and labor interests. It also marks success for advocates of the open primary system, who believe business-friendly Democrats will prevail over more liberal party members in contests without a Republican on the ballot.

The open primary isnt about putting a Democrat against a Republican. Its about putting a moderate Dem against a liberal Dem, said David Townsend, a Democratic political consultant who championed the switch to the top-two primary.

Moderate or liberal

Townsend runs a PAC funded by corporations such as Chevron and Walmart that supports business-friendly Democrats. His group worked with other business-backed PACs this year to boost a crop of moderate Democrats who could bring the Legislature closer to the political center.

The big-money special interests have figured out the top two a lot better than the rest of us have, and its paying off, said labor-friendly Democratic political consultant Steve Maviglio, who campaigned against the open primary when it was on the statewide ballot. Over the long term, thats going to yield tremendous results.

CALmatters is a nonprofit journalism venture dedicated to exploring state policies and politics. For more stories by Laurel Rosenhall, go to www.calmatters.org/newsanalysis.
When AIDS activists sat down on the Golden Gate Bridge to block traffic on Jan. 31, 1989, Rick Gerharter had received an inside tip and was the only print photographer on the span.

His exclusive images of that famous action by the group Stop AIDS Now Or Else went out on the wires and Gerharter, a freelance news photographer embedded in the war for gay rights, was on his way.

But just not that far, as it turned out. For 28 years, hes been covering the Castro neighborhood and for 28 years, Ive never been able to afford to live in the Castro, he says, laughing at his own expense. When asked if those bridge photos raised his profile he says, Not really. Nothing has.

Until now. While organizing the group show LGBTQ Chronicled: 1933-2016 at the Harvey Milk Photo Center, curator Dave Christensen got an inside tip of his own about an unknown photographer holed up in a top-floor office in the Mission District. Christensen barged in on short notice to find, pinned to the walls, exactly the works he was searching for.

It was a pure discovery to find so much information in this tiny space, recalls Christensen, who started pulling pins and borrowing images. Gerharters work is now part of LGBTQ Chronicled, which opened Saturday in the free gallery at the Photo Center, a Recreation and Park facility at the top of Duboce Park.

The exhibition provides a historic overview of the LGBT experience as captured through the lens of 25 photographers represented by more than 100 images. Sixteen of the rarest images came from the Hormel Center at the Main Library, and 15 were added after the show was hung, to chronicle the Castro vigil June 12 for the Orlando shooting victims.

Since last Sundays horrible event, the display of these images are even more vital because they echo the positive human will, Christensen says. The show is really about freedom and humanity.

Major photographers

Every major Bay Area photographer, both gay and straight, who shot the Bay Area scene is represented. These range from the closeted Minor Whites 1950s landscapes to way-out Hal Fischers 1977 images of coding through street fashion. There are 25 images of Pride parades and marches by husband-and-wife documentarians Saul Bromberger and Sandra Hoover, and a project on queer youth by Pulitzer Prize winner Preston Gannaway.

And right there among those names is Gerharter.

Not only was the subject matter quintessential to the time period he was covering, Christensen says, but the way he approached the subject has this intimacy that the viewer is part of the scene. That registered with me like 5 million mega-volts.

Though only six of Gerharters black-and-white gelatin silver prints and two color blow-ups made the show, there is bigger exposure coming because Christensen plans to feature him in a solo exhibition next year.

To do it justice, Christensen will have to box up Gerharters entire studio because the photographs in metal cabinets are just part of it. In glass display cases Gerharter has a roomful of miniature cameras, toy cameras, camera figurines, camera lighters and cups, and camera-shape Christmas ornaments. He even has a Ken doll as a photographer student, his girlfriend, Barbie, as a fashion photographer, and her friend Becky, a school photographer, all in their original boxes.

Treasure trove

His collection is just this treasure trove of a bohemian artist that is a well-kept secret and needs to be put in the spotlight, Christensen says.

Gerharter started collecting photography knickknacks at about the same time that he started taking pictures in the mid-1980s. Having grown up on a farm in Aberdeen, S.D., he escaped to San Francisco in 1977. After 10 years in graphic design, he became a photographer and darkroom tech through two years of study at City College.

My timing was quite good, he says. I started taking photographs at the time that ACT UP and AIDS activism happened so it gave me an international market and it gave me lots to photograph and thats what has sustained me.

His main outlet all these years has been the Bay Area Reporter, a free weekly. Hes lived in Bernal Heights, the Mission, Upper Market, the Haight and the lower Haight, staying one step ahead of gentrification. He doesnt mind bouncing around, but it is hard on his four metal filing cabinets full of prints and negatives. So after his most recent eviction, he rented office space.

He doesnt live here, but it looks like he could, cozy as it is with Oriental carpeting and an easy chair in the window looking out on the Mission. He moves around quietly in shorts and bare feet, and upon request he can pull up a date, a digital image, and usually a film negative for about everything that has happened in the San Francisco LGBT scene since the 1980s.

My form of activism, the best that I can do, he says, was to take these photographs and circulate them and document it so that there is a history that has been preserved.

Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Instagram: @sfchronicle_art

LGBTQ Chronicled: 1933-2016: Weekends noon to 5 p.m., Tues-Thur. 4 to 9 p.m. Through July 16. Free. Harvey Milk Photo Center, 50 Scott St., S.F. (415) 554-9522. www.harveymilkphotocenter.org
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After a day of confusion, state officials backed down late Monday on an assertion that Mayor Libby Schaafs plan to have the Oakland Police Department function without an acting police chief violated California law.

Officials at the state Police Officers Standards and Training agency, or POST, had said earlier Monday that Oaklands plan to have police commanders report to City Administrator Sabrina Landreth was illegal. They cited both California government code and a state attorney generals opinion backing their argument that the city needed to name an acting chief to head the department, which is embroiled in multiple scandals and has gone through three chiefs in less than two weeks.

Acting Assistant Chief David Downing is in charge of day-to-day decisions for the Police Department, Schaafs office said, while Landreth is overseeing administrative and personnel decisions.

Late Monday, POST conceded it had made its argument before the city attorneys office cited more recent federal case law, from 2011, exempting charter cities such as Oakland from the requirement.

Ralph Brown, a spokesman for POST, confirmed that it appeared Oakland was correct after all in determining that, as a charter city, it was exempt from state law requiring general law cities to name an acting police chief.

According to the 2011 case law, charter cities have the authority to constitute, regulate and govern police departments  meaning Landreth can run Oaklands police administrative and personnel matters.

Acting Assistant Chief of Police David Downing is the highest-ranking member of the Police Department and is the Citys POST designee in charge of tactical and operational matters, mayoral spokeswoman Erica Terry Derryck said in a statement late Monday.

Schaaf had said Friday that police commanders would be reporting to Landreth. At the same time, she said Assistant Chief Paul Figueroa, whom she had installed as acting chief just two days before, had backed out of the job, gone on leave and said he wanted to return to the force as a captain.

The mayor wouldnt explain Figueroas decision but said it had nothing to do with a scandal in which several officers are under suspicion of having sex with a teen sex worker, in some cases when she was still underage. She also said Figueroa wasnt connected to another investigation, this one involving racist text messages that Schaaf says several African American officers sent.

Separately, an Oakland homicide cop is under investigation for allegedly having his then-girlfriend help him write his reports.

The sex scandal resulted in Chief Sean Whents resignation June 9. His interim replacement, BART Assistant Police Chief Ben Fairow, was fired Wednesday. Schaaf wouldnt say why, but his old boss at BART, Police Chief Kenton Rainey, said Fairow had admitted to an extramarital affair more than a decade earlier, when he worked for the Oakland Police Department.

San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross normally appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX-TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: matierandross
Startup teams working in Vietnams capital of Hanoi. Photo by IPP

Thirty Vietnamese start-ups are to receive incubation services provided by the network, which also aims to mentor 20 other companies for future development.

The Mekong Angel Investors Network (MAIN) officially launched in Vietnam at the inaugural Danang Start Up Fair on June 18, a joint effort between the Lotus Impact Fund and the Mekong Business Initiative (MBI).

"MAIN will facilitate the entry of foreign angels in Vietnam, match them with local groups and maximize links between angel groups and businesses," said Dominic Mellor, executive director of MBI, a development partnership between the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Australia aimed at accelerating growth in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

The network receives support from the Government of Australia and will be the first organization of its kind to invest in the Mekong sub-regions start-ups.

"Angel investing is a vital source of risk or equity capital to start-ups and SMEs," added Mellor. "We want to promote a culture of ethical investment across the Mekong Region."

Angel investors committed to the MAIN network include Australian investors Benni Aroni and Adrian Stone; American investors David Beatty, June Choi, Victoria Elenowitz, Steve Landman and Jimmy Steindecker; European investor Petra Kolesavora; and Vietnamese investors Dinh Thi Quynh Nhu, Nguyen Tien Trung and Phan Tuan Anh.

MAIN will recruit additional investors from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

The announcement was made at the Danang Start Up Fair that is part of the city's strategy to become a hub for start-ups in Vietnam.

Vietnam is the second country in the region that MAIN has launched in following Cambodia.

Dominic Mellor, executive director of MBI, addresses the Danang Start Up Fair on June 18.

Related news:

> Vietnam strategizes to be a start-up nation

> UNDP teams up with Vietnamese start-up hub to drive social innovation
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Costco customers who have been using the store-branded American Express card will have to reach for other plastic to pay for their purchases starting today.

The company transferred its Costco-branded credit portfolio to Citibank effective June 20 and is no longer accepting AmEx cards.

American Express cardholders should have received their new Costco Visa cards issued by Citi in the mail in May or earlier this month. But apparently some cardholders still have not yet gotten the replacement cards.

A request for comment regarding the mailed cards was declined by a representative at Costco corporate headquarters in Issaquah, Wash., with the rep instead suggesting a reporter fill out a media request form allowing 24-48 hours for a response.

If you have not received your new Citi card, you can still use other Visa credit cards or debit cards from either Visa or MasterCard, as long as you show your current Costco card.

Current Costco American Express cardholders will continue to earn Costco rewards on their cards until the deal goes through, and any accrued cash will be transferred to their accounts at Citi. (Rewards specific to Amex will not be transferred.)

The new card offers slightly better deals: Users will get 4% back on up to $7,000 worth of eligible gasoline purchases (including Costco gas) per year, instead of 3% back on up to $4,000 worth of gas. They also will received 3% back on their restaurant and eligible travel purchases; 2% cash back on all other purchases from Costco and Costco.com; and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

There is no annual fee for the Citi Visa card as Costco includes the cost of the card in the $55 annual membership fee.
Facebook shareholders approved a new class of shares Monday that will allow CEO Mark Zuckerberg to sell stock without giving up his control of the company.

The company previously had two types of shares: Class A stock for common shareholders that holds one vote per share, and Class B, held by Zuckerberg and other Facebook insiders, which have 10 votes apiece. As a result of the vote, all Facebook shareholders will receive nonvoting Class C shares, which Zuckerberg can now sell without losing his votes.

I plan on being involved in running Facebook for a very long time, Zuckerberg said at Facebooks annual shareholder meeting in Redwood City on Monday. Zuckerberg already controls 60 percent of the vote, making Facebooks annual meeting a largely symbolic affair.

Zuckerberg, 32, and his wife, Priscilla, pledged to donate 99 percent of their Facebook shares during their lifetime to lend support to causes they believe in, such as personalized learning and curing disease.

Patrick Waterman, who owns more than 30 shares of Facebook Class A stock, voted in favor of implementing Class C shares. Waterman, 28, of Sacramento, said its good for shareholders that Zuckerberg wants to stay in control.

Hes the face of Facebook, Waterman said. If Zuckerberg did not have control over the reins of Facebook, its hard for me to imagine as a personal investor what might happen.

Other businesses, including Googles parent company, Alphabet, have a stock structure that allows founders to have significant control.

But some shareholders were against the move. There was a counterproposal brought to shareholders that would make all shares, regardless of class, have equal votes.

As shareholders, we are very concerned about the governance risks of one persons vision, said Christine Jantz, chief investment officer for NorthStar Asset Management. The proposal did not pass.

During the meeting, shareholders approved the companys nominations to its board of directors, including venture capitalist Peter Thiel. Thiels continued presence on the Facebook board has drawn fire because of his role in financing wrestler Hulk Hogans lawsuit against Gawker Media, whose publications have been critical of both Facebook and Thiel, as well as his role as a pledged delegate for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.

At Facebooks F8 conference in April, Zuckerberg implicitly criticized Trump, without naming him, for his antitrade and anti-immigration views. At a recent tech conference in Los Angeles, though, Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg signaled support for Thiel, saying that independent board members brought different viewpoints, which has value for the company.

Other proposals brought forth by shareholders, including those that called for Facebook to be more transparent about how much money it spends on lobbying and on employee compensation across genders, were not approved.

Facebook did not allow media to attend the shareholder meeting, which was broadcast online in audio only.

Wendy Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: wlee@sfchronicle.com Twitter: thewendylee
The SUV that killed Star Trek actor Anton Yelchin was being recalled because the gear shifters have confused drivers, causing the vehicles to roll away unexpectedly. Los Angeles police say Yelchin died when his 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee rolled down his driveway early Sunday, pinning the 27-year-old against a brick mailbox pillar and a security fence. Fiat Chrysler, which makes Jeeps, said Monday that its investigating, and its premature to speculate on the cause of the crash. It offered sympathies to Yelchins friends and family.

Twitter ponies up

Twitter has announced that it is buying Londons Magic Pony Technology, which has algorithms to recognize patterns inside pictures. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said in a blog post that the move helps the San Francisco company expand its machine-learning capabilities, which should enhance our strength in live (events) and video.

Buy-bye,

American Express

Costco shoppers, check your wallets. On Monday the wholesale club stopped accepting American Express, officially switching to Citigroup. Now it accepts only Visa credit cards, whether the co-branded Costco Anywhere card or any other Visa. Costco members who had one of the clubs American Express co-branded cards should already have received their new Costco Anywhere card in the mail, and the old cards will automatically be canceled, Costco said.

The Daily Briefing is compiled from San Francisco Chronicle staff and news services. See more items and links at www.sfgate.com. Twitter: techbriefing
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Ruby Rose is probably best known for her role as Stella Carlin on season three of the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black, or  to fans Down Under  as former host of MTV Australia. But this weekend, the multitalented Rose will DJ at San Francisco nightclub Ruby Skye to help celebrate the venues 16-year anniversary.

The model, actress and television personalitys venture into music production is not new. In 2012 she kicked off her career as a musician with the single Guilty Pleasure, which she created with songwriter Gary Go. Earlier this year, she produced an electronic music mix for BBC Radios Diplo & Friends. Though met with some skepticism, the project was well received, so U.S. fans of the actress might find themselves pleasantly surprised.
The U.S. Supreme Court, at the request of the Obama administration, agreed Monday to decide whether immigrants who are locked up to await deportation proceedings must be considered for release on bond after six months.

A ruling, due by next June, will affect many thousands of detainees  more than 33,000 are in federal custody on any given day, and 429,000 over the course of a year, according to federal records.

The detainees include those who entered the United States illegally or overstayed their visas and have been arrested. They include legal immigrants who face possible deportation for criminal convictions and noncitizens who have been stopped at the border and seek legal residency.

Federal law allows the government to keep them jailed until their deportation proceedings. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed a lawsuit against indefinite detention in 2007, the average confinement is more than 13 months. Ten percent of detainees are held more than two years, and the lead plaintiff was jailed for three years and three months before winning his case against deportation, the ACLU said.

In 2013, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ordered immigration judges to hold bail hearings after six months of confinement and grant release unless the government could prove, by clear and convincing evidence, that an immigrant was dangerous or was likely to flee. In a subsequent ruling, the court required a new bond hearing every six months if release was initially denied.

Such a system will not flood our streets with fearsome criminals, but would simply give immigrants a chance to seek conditional release from the prison-like setting where they might otherwise languish for months or years, Judge Kim Wardlaw said in the appeals courts 3-0 ruling. The ruling has been in effect for three years in California and the eight other Western states covered by the Ninth Circuit.

But President Obamas Justice Department argued that the ruling was impractical and potentially dangerous.

In challenging the appeals courts ruling, government lawyers told the Supreme Court that, as a practical matter, the Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, often knows little about a new detainee and would be unable to prove that he or she was likely to flee or posed a threat to public safety.

Requiring a bond hearing after six months would amount to taking control of the border out of DHS hands and preventing DHS from detaining criminal aliens for the time necessary to secure their removal, Justice Department lawyers argued.

They also said the hearings create an incentive to make a potentially life-threatening trip to this country, to abuse our legal process to obtain entry into the United States, and then to disappear.

Between 2010 and 2014, the government said, more than 38,000 immigrants who were released on bond, or 31 percent of the total, failed to show up for deportation proceedings.

But ACLU attorney Judy Rabinovitz said there was no evidence that any of those who disappeared had been freed under the six-month bond hearings required by the appeals court.

In fact, she said, the record shows that people who are subject to prolonged detention overwhelmingly win their cases and are therefore likely to return for the hearings.

The case is Jennings vs. Rodriguez, 15-1204.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: ergelko
ORLANDO  Orlando gunman Omar Mateen identified himself as an Islamic soldier in calls with authorities during his rampage and demanded to a crisis negotiator that the U.S. stop bombing Syria and Iraq, according to transcripts released Monday by the FBI.

The partial transcripts were of a 911 call made by Mateen and three conversations he had with the police crisis negotiators during the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, in which 49 people died and dozens were wounded.

Those communications, along with Facebook posts and searches Mateen made around the time of the shootings June 12, add to the public understanding of the final hours of Mateens life and to the possible motivations behind the rampage.

The first call came more than a half hour after shots rang out, when Mateen told a 911 operator, Praise be to God, and prayers as well as peace be upon the prophet of God, he told the dispatcher, referring to God in Arabic.

I let you know, Im in Orlando and I did the shootings.

During the 50-second call with a dispatcher, Mateen made murderous statements in a chilling, calm and deliberate manner, Ronald Hopper, FBI assistant special agent in charge in Orlando, said at a news conference.

Hopper said there is no evidence, however, that Mateen was directed by a foreign terrorist group.

Mateens name and the groups and people to whom he pledged allegiance were initially omitted from the excerpt. But the Justice Department reversed course later Monday, providing a more complete transcript confirming Mateen pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State. The extremist group encourages its followers who seek to commit violence in its name to make public pledges of support.

The Justice Department said in a statement it initially withheld the names so as not to give extremists a publicity platform for hateful propaganda, but the omissions became an unnecessary distraction.

Shortly after the call with a 911 operator, Mateen had three conversations with crisis negotiators in which he identified himself as an Islamic soldier and told a negotiator to tell America to stop bombing Syria and Iraq. He said that was why he was out here right now, according to the excerpt.

Meanwhile, hospital officials said four people remained in critical condition Monday morning, more than a week after they were wounded in the attack.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court has rejected challenges to assault weapons bans in Connecticut and New York, in the aftermath of the shooting attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando that killed 49 people.

The justices on Monday left in place a lower court ruling that upheld laws that were passed in response to another mass shooting involving a semiautomatic weapon, the elementary school attack in Newtown, Conn.
WASHINGTON  Just eight days after Omar Mateen turned his newly purchased guns on patrons in an Orlando nightclub, Senate Republicans defeated legislation by Sen. Dianne Feinstein that would have prevented him from legally buying the weapons had the law been in place. Three other gun measures also went down to defeat.

The bill by Feinstein, D-Calif., would have banned Mateen and all others who had been on government watch lists as known or suspected terrorists from legally obtaining firearms. Mateen had twice been on watch lists before purchasing a semiautomatic rifle and semiautomatic pistol from a Florida store about a week before the rampage at the gay Pulse nightclub that killed 49 people and wounded 53 others.

Only two Republicans, Mark Kirk of Illinois and Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, broke party lines to support the bill. One Democrat, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, voted no. The legislation was defeated 45-53.

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., reflected Republican opposition during the floor debate, arguing the federal government makes mistakes all the time in putting people on watch lists. He also contended that the bill has no due process at all for those wrongly added to the list, a point denied by Feinstein.

The power of the gun lobby over certain members of the Senate seems boundless, Feinstein said after the vote.

As long as I have breath in me, Im going to fight this. Its about the survival of innocent people, she added at a news conference minutes later.

Killer taken off watch lists

The FBI had put Mateen on federal terrorist watch lists for suspicious activity two times but removed him after investigating him.

Feinsteins bill would have provided some leeway to the U.S. attorney general to decide on a case-by-case basis whether an individual on a watch list should be barred from gun purchases.

Republicans offered an alternative bill by Texas Republican John Cornyn that would delay gun purchases by people on a watch list and provide federal authorities 72 hours to investigate them and convince a judge that the would-be buyer was involved in terrorism. That bill was defeated on a 53-47 vote  seven short of the 60 needed to move ahead.

The Cornyn bill had the support of the National Rifle Association, the powerful gun lobbying group that has thwarted multiple efforts in recent years to restrict gun purchases despite a spate of mass killings, and it garnered more Republican support than the other bills. But Democrats voted against it, saying it was much too weak and impractical.

Broader net for terrorists

The federal government operates several watch lists, the broadest of which is the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment, or TIDE, which has covered as many as 1.1 million people. The FBIs Terrorist Screening Database, commonly known as the Terrorist Watchlist, contains about 800,000 names. The no-fly list is a subset of that data set and contains about 64,000 names. Feinsteins bill would have applied to TIDE, but her office said less than half of 1 percent, or about 5,000 people, within the United States would be affected.

During the Senate debate, Feinstein argued that using the broader watch list is essential to block terrorists from buying weapons, saying the names are provided by domestic and foreign intelligence agencies. The narrower lists, she said, leave out 90 percent of known or suspected terrorists. She noted that 22 million tourists and other travelers are allowed to buy weapons, including 100,000 who dont go home when they should.

To me this isnt a gun control issue, its a national security issue, said Feinstein, the top Democrat and former chair of the Intelligence Committee. Just last week, she said, the committee heard testimony from CIA Director John Brennan that the Islamic State group is actively recruiting sympathizers in the United States to commit acts of terror.

Feinstein had tried just in December to pass the no-fly, no-buy ban in the wake of that months gun massacre in San Bernardino by an armed couple who, like the Orlando shooter, had claimed allegiance to Islamic State. All but one Republican voted to defeat her bill.

Multiple gun measures

The Feinstein and Cornyn bills were among four gun measures  two by Democrats and two by Republicans  that the Senate voted on Monday evening. Senate Republican leaders agreed to take up the bills after Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., conducted a filibuster last week, insisting the Senate address gun violence.

Murphy offered a bill that would close a loophole in gun laws to prevent firearms from being sold on the Internet or at gun shows without background checks. That bill failed 44-56 Monday.

A competing measure by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, needed 60 votes for passage but failed 53-47, seven votes short. It would have added a mental health component to gun background checks and provided more money for the National Criminal Instant Background Check System. Grassleys bill also would have commissioned a study on the causes of mass shootings by the directors of the National Institutes of Justice and National Academy of Sciences.

Federal research into gun violence has been under a de facto ban since 1996, when Congress threatened to strip the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of its funding after Republicans complained that the agency was promoting gun control. Congress has ignored two budget requests by President Obama for gun violence research.

William Vizzard, professor emeritus of criminal justice at California State University Sacramento and a veteran of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said several dynamics in the United States work powerfully against every effort to restrict guns. The gun lobby itself thrives on conflict, not compromise, he said.

The more conflict there is, the more members they get, the more contributions they get, the more publicity they get, the more power they attain, Vizzard said. Protection of gun rights has become institutionalized in the Republican Party, he said, partly out of fear that the NRA can fund primary challenges, and partly because opposition to gun controls works in the GOPs favor in some swing states such as Ohio or Pennsylvania.

Huge volume of weapons

More fundamentally, however, the Second Amendment and Supreme Court decisions upholding gun rights, combined with the huge volume of guns now in existence, make the problem extremely difficult to tackle.

Youve got somewhere north of 300 million guns in the United States, nobody knows how many, Vizzard said. Even if you decided that there are certain classes that are particularly dangerous  semiautomatic paramilitary rifles, and semiautomatic pistols  well thats millions and millions and millions of guns, and millions of stakeholders, theres no way you can get enough political incentive to do anything about the existing inventory.

Carolyn Lochhead is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: clochhead@sfchronicle.com Twitter: carolynlochhead
Hanoi authorities have decided today to offer the wife of Su-30 fighter pilot Tran Quang Khai a job out of a sympathetic gesture to the family after Khai's death during a military training on June 14.

The decision was made after Chairman of Hanoi Peoples Committee Nguyen Duc Chung requested the citys department of Education and Training to employ Khais wife, signing her for a job in the education sector.

Leader of the department said Khais wife holds a master's degree and is currently unemployed. She will be recruited into the prestigious Chu Van An High School in Hanoi, as per her wish. This is considered a honorable gesture to the contributions of Khai to the military and the country.

According to his family, Khai was married three years ago in Bac Giang, with whom he had a three year old daughter. The couple was planning to build a house this year.

On June 14, the Su-30MK2 Vietnamese fighter jet crashed offshore the central province of Nghe An. The jet had two pilots on board, one of whom, Major Nguyen Huu Cuong, was rescued, but the other, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Quang Khai, 43, was found dead at sea and has been brought ashore.

Vietnams Ministry of National Defense has decided to honorably promote Lieutenant Colonel Khai to colonel following his death.

Related news:

> Vietnamese missing fighter pilot found dead off central coast

> Over a thousand people join search for missing Vietnamese fighter pilot

> Vietnamese fighter jet missing, one pilot has returned to the shore
NEW YORK  Two high-ranking New York Police Department officers were arrested Monday on charges accusing them of taking $100,000 worth of free flights, prostitutes, expensive meals and other bribes in exchange for providing a private police force for local businessmen.

Deputy Chief Michael Harrington, Deputy Inspector James Grant and a third defendant, Brooklyn businessman Jeremy Reichberg, were charged with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud  the latest development in a series of overlapping public corruption investigations coordinated by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. David Villanueva, an NYPD sergeant assigned to the gun license bureau, was arrested on charges of conspiring to commit bribery.
Vietnam has expanded the search zone for the two missing aircraft and nine military personnel from the central province of Ha Tinh to Quang Ninh northern province despite adverse weather conditions.

The National Steering Committee for Search and Rescue in an urgent letter on June 19 asked committees for natural disaster prevention and control, search and rescue in seven coastal provinces and a city to step up efforts to search for the two missing aircraft and nine military personnel. The search, in Ha Tinh, Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, Thai Binh, Quang Ninh and Hai Phong, must include both the surface and the seabed.

Owners of the vessels and other vehicles operating in the waters near Hai Phong Citys Bach Long Vy Island are told to report any finding of signs or objects relating to the missing Su-30MK2 and CASA 212 to the military and civil search and rescue forces in the region.

A helicopter during the search. Photo by VnExpress/Hai Binh

On Sunday, the search and rescue forces from the Ministry of Defense, in collaboration with local fishermen, carried out search on an area of around 200 square nautical miles. Big waves in the search zone have affected their operations.

On June 14, the Su-30MK2 Vietnamese fighter jet crashed offshore the central province of Nghe An. The jet had two pilots on board, one of whom, Major Nguyen Huu Cuong, was rescued, but the other, Lieutenant Colonel Tran Quang Khai, 43, was found dead at sea and has been brought ashore. A CASA-212-40 with nine people on board went missing on June 16 while searching for the Su-30MK2.

Vietnams Third Military Region, the Peoples Navy, the Border Guard, Coast Guard and fishing boats have been mobilized in the search and rescue efforts.

China has also sent eight ships and two helicopterss to help Vietnam find the missing CASA coast guard plane.

Related news:

> Missing CASA search plane - What we know so far

> China deploys 8 vessels, 2 helicopters to search for Vietnams missing plane

> Search for Vietnamese missing aircraft and pilots faces adverse weather

> Vietnamese missing fighter pilot found dead off central coast

> Debris from missing CASA search plane recovered
Just as Americans wouldnt want U.S. tax, immigration and regulatory policy to be controlled by an imaginary American Union office based in Buenos Aires, many British dont like their country being controlled by European Union bureaucrats in Brussels.

That is why the latest polls show more British side with the Leave than the Remain campaign ahead of the Brexit referendum on June 23.

Americans wouldnt like an American Union  call it the AU for short  responsible for 60% of laws, which is the share in Britain that come from the EU in Brussels rather than from Parliament in London. We wouldnt like an AU telling us we couldn't deport criminals or control our borders, as the EU does to Britain.

We wouldnt want an AU ruling that we could no longer buy food by the pound, but would have to buy it in kilos because in Latin America food is measured in kilos. That is what the EU tells Britain. Everything from tomatoes to butter to flour has to be sold in kilos.

Americans wouldnt like an American Union telling us how many hours we are allowed to work. According to EU law, Brits cannot work for more than 48 hours a week, averaged over 17 weeks. People who do work more have to sign a form saying that they agree to opt out of the 48-hour week. People who work in certain occupations, primarily transportation  airlines, shipping, trucking  arent permitted to opt out and cannot work more than 48 hours even if they want to do so.

Congress didn't pass a cap-and- trade emissions trading program when it was proposed under a Democratic Congress in 2009-2010. America wouldnt like to have such a program imposed by an American Union. But the U.K. has to take part in the EU Emissions Trading System. It requires 15% of electricity to be generated by renewables by 2020, even if this raises the price of electricity for British households.

To meet these EU regulations, the U.K. is burning wood pellets from the U.S. because wood is considered a renewable. America exported over 4 million short tons of wood pellets to Europe in 2014, and about 80% went to the U.K. The U.K. is converting its coal plants to burning American wood. Although environmentalists favor renewables, many, such as Debbie Hammel of the Natural Resources Defense Council, believe that burning wood harms forests and increases carbon emissions. Americans wouldnt like an American Union setting standards for cars and trucks. But thats what the EU does to Britain with its numerous automobile directives.

Defeat devices, which allow emissions to appear lower when the car is tested, are banned, but as the Volkswagen scandal has shown us, this has little effect. The EU red tape doesn't always bring results.

The object of these rules is harmonization. One aspect of the EU is to get rid of national identity, to create a U.S. of Europe. No matter that countries like their national identity. They do not want to be merged into a blended whole. The blandness of the EU is one reason that nationalist parties, such as UKIP in the U.K., the National Front in France, and the Catalan nationalist parties in Spain have grown in power.

Some suggest that the British economy will be more stable if it stays in the EU. But the EU itself has massive economic problems, with a growth rate of 1.4%, underfunded public pensions, and bloated welfare obligations. Its lack of control over its borders has resulted in over a million refugees and economic migrants, some of whom are linked with ISIS and are planning terrorist attacks. Under EU law, all have to be housed and fed at EU taxpayer expense. This is no recipe for stability. President Obama should appreciate Britains desire for independence, said British historian Andrew Roberts in his acceptance speech on winning the Bradley Prize in Washington on Wednesday.

Yet Obama visited Britain in April and tried to bully the British into remaining in the EU by telling them that the U.K. is going to be in the back of the queue in any trade dealseven though Britain is one of Americas biggest export markets. Roberts said that when the U.S. wanted help in fighting Iraq, then-Prime Minister Tony Blair didn't put America at the back of the queue, but pledged his complete support.

During the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Korean War, Britain stood with America. The EU is taking decisions ever further away from Parliament, in contempt of national sovereignty. No wonder the Brits are fed up. Just as the U.S. wouldn't want to live under an American Union, and declared freedom from England 240 years ago, now Britain wants to declare freedom from the EU.

This article 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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Orlando, Fla.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Sunday that the FBI will release a partial transcript of the conversations between the gunman within the Pulse gay nightclub and Orlando police negotiators.

Meanwhile, Orlando residents paused throughout the day  at a bar in the early morning hours, at morning church services and at an evening candlelight vigil in the heart of downtown  to remember the victims of the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, exactly a week later.

"We are hurting. We are exhausted, confused, and there is so much grief," said Larry Watchorn, a ministerial intern, during a sermon at Joy Metropolitan Community Church in Orlando, whose congregants are predominantly gay. "We come to have our tears wiped away and our strength renewed."

Lynch said in interviews Sunday on several news shows that the FBI would release a partial, printed transcript of the conversations between gunman Omar Mateen from within the Pulse nightclub and Orlando police negotiators.

Armed with a semi-automatic weapon, Mateen went on a bloody rampage at the club June 12 that left 49 people dead and 53 others seriously hurt. Mateen died in a hail of police gunfire after police stormed the venue.

Lynch told ABC's "This Week" that the top goal while intensifying pressure on ISIL  the extremist group thought to have inspired Mateen  is to build a complete profile of him in order to help prevent another massacre like Orlando.

"As you can see from this investigation, we are going back and learning everything we can about this killer, about his contacts, people who may have known him or seen him. And we're trying to build that profile so that we can move forward," Lynch said.

Lynch said she would be traveling to Orlando on Tuesday to meet with investigators.

Investigators are still interviewing witnesses, and looking to learn more about Mateen and others who knew him well, including members of his mosque.

A lawyer for the Council of American-Islamic Relations said that the FBI interviewed a man who worshipped at the same mosque as Mateen. Omar Saleh said he sat in on the Friday interview at the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce, the same mosque that Mateen attended near his home. Saleh said the interview lasted about 30 minutes.

Speaking to CBS' "Face The Nation," Lynch said that a key goal of the investigation was to determine why Mateen targeted the gay community.

The victims were predominantly gay and Hispanic since it was "Latin night" at Pulse.

At the Parliament House, a gay club and resort near downtown Orlando, the music stopped as patrons paused for a moment of silence at 2 a.m., the time Mateen started shooting at Pulse just a few miles away.

Megan Currie, a Joy Metropolitan Community Church member, said during a Sunday morning sermon that Mateen's attack was an effort to put fear in the gay community.

"This was a hate crime and this happened because someone was homophobic," Currie said.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott described the attack as "devastating" while praying at the First Baptist Church of Orlando. He said the gunman targeted "two very vulnerable populations."

"But here is the positive out of it ... people have come together," Scott said. "There are so many people who have done so many wonderful acts."

Around the city, people left balloons, flowers, pictures and posters at a makeshift memorial in front of the city's new performing arts center and at Orlando Regional Medical Center where 49 white crosses were emblazoned with red hearts and the names of the victims.
A central debate over todays higher education policy is how to get more students going to college. Less discussed is how to ensure that promising students from underprivileged backgrounds attend better colleges. Since evidence indicates that college attendance can be a breakeven investment or even a losing one for students who are not prepared, the second goal ought to receive some more attention.

Economists Rodney Andrews (University of Texas-Dallas), Scott Imberman (Michigan State University), and Michael Lovenheim (Cornell University) study this question in a new NBER working paper that examines two programs in Texas that provided scholarship funding and institutional support to students from low-income high schools to attend the states eminent public schools, the University of Texas (UT) at Austin and Texas A&M University (TAMU). Despite broad similarities, the UT-Austin program succeeded in boosting enrollment and graduation rates, while the TAMU program seems to have failed. The reason for the two divergent outcomes offers lessons for improving higher education.

It is important to recognize that the UT-Austin program did not increase college attendance overall, but merely resorted students that would have gone to other four-year public colleges into the states flagship public university. In other words, the program improved college matching: ensuring that students of high ability attend the colleges that can best help them realize their full potential.

According to an analysis by Eleanor Dillon and Jeffrey Smith, college-student matching in its present state is decent but not spectacular. The chart below, which represents individuals who attended college in the early 2000s, details how well students in various ability quartiles (measured by a broad-ranging aptitude test) are matched to college quality quartiles. Perfect matching would place 25% of the student population in each circle along the diagonal, with no students in the other circles.

Students in both the top ability quartile and the top college quality quartile represent 11% of the overall student population, or 44% of all students in the top ability quartile. Overall, 36% of students attend a college in their corresponding quality quartile, and 77% attend a school within one quartile of their ability group. The Texas interventions aimed to encourage students in the top row (i.e., the top ability quartile) to attend top-quality schools in the rightmost column. In other words, the architects of the programs wanted to make that top-right circle bigger. While evidence shows that the gains from matching are limited, there is still plenty of room for improvement.

So why did the TAMU program fail while the UT-Austin one succeeded? Both programs offered similarly generous aid packages, so financial incentives are probably not the reason. While UT-Austin is perceived as a better school, TAMU is not far behind, so differing student perceptions are likely not the answer either. The most plausible explanation is the varying levels of institutional support each program offered. The UT-Austin program offered free tutoring and peer mentoring, and allowed participating students to take special entry-level classes with enrollment limited to students in the program. Instructors were able to tailor the courses to the unique needs of the programs students, many of whom came from poor-quality high schools. The TAMU program, on the other hand, had only limited institutional support.

This raises an intriguing possibility: for high-ability, low-socioeconomic status students, perhaps the choice to pursue a top-quality college is less about scholarship funding and more about knowing that you will be taken care of once you enroll. After all, federal financial aid is generous to a fault, and a student attending in-state public university may already see most of his bill covered by Pell Grants, institutional aid, and subsidized loans. Scholarships on top of this might not do much more. But without nonfinancial support, many students will fall behind and might even drop out. Mitigating this risk is a must to improve college matching.

While more research is certainly needed, stronger institutional support shows more promise than other proposals, such as increasing Pell Grants or expanding affirmative action. Affirmative action in particular is a blunt instrument for getting high-ability students of low socioeconomic status into top colleges, and one study suggests that it actually worsens college matching.

It is not enough to open the doors of top colleges to promising students; they must also know they can succeed. In higher education, as in other policy sectors, the solution must be more than throwing money (or regulations) at the problem.

This article originally appeared on Forbes.

Preston Cooper is a policy analyst at the Manhattan Institute. You can follow him on Twitter here.

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June 20th is World Refugee Day, a time to acknowledge the resilience, courage and perseverance of the millions of people driven from their homes.

According to the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees, a refugee is someone who, "owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country."

Today, according to UNHCR estimates, more than 20 million people around the world meet that definition. Many of them flee their homeland to escape violent conflicts or belligerent extremists. Some are escaping human rights violations perpetrated by government entities or private militias.

Most often, people are running because their home towns have been turned into battlefields and staying means nearly certain death.

They run from Syria, where the government is killing its civilian population with bombs, bullets, and poison gas; from Libya, where civilians are caught in conflict; from Afghanistan, where Taliban extremists are waging a war against the elected government by setting off bombs in markets and sending suicide bombers into populated areas; from Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Mali, Burma and many other places. These refugees share important characteristics  they all have been displaced from homes, families, and communities. They all have experienced loss and face uncertain futures. And they all look to the rest of the world, to us, for support, for hope.

This is a global crisis that is affecting more men, women, and children than ever before and for protracted periods of time.

In a time when so many refugees are fleeing violence and persecution, and nations around the world are struggling to cope with this massive influx of vulnerable people, it is time to remember that, in the words of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Refugees are people like anyone else, like you and me. They led ordinary lives before becoming displaced, and their biggest dream is to be able to live normally again.

On this World Refugee Day, let us recall our common humanity, celebrate tolerance and diversity and open our hearts to refugees everywhere."
ELKO  The first known story outlining a new organization that was to become the Retired Public Employees of Nevada was published Oct. 27, 1976. The story began like this; Retired public employees say the financial crunch is on them  so much a new organization has been formed to represent their interests.

Kenneth Buck, a former executive officer of the Public Employees Retirement System of Nevada/PERS, was RPENs first elected president. Buck is quoted in the article as saying insurance premium increases that year prompted the formation of the group that has grown by leaps and bounds since 1976 to number nearly 9,000 dues paying members today.

What started in the home of one of its founding members has led to a full-time office in Carson City. The staff has remained small through the years, topping out in 2009 to three full-time staffers including former Executive Director Marty Bibb, who retired in December 2015; Director of Finance/Operations Kerry Armanasc; and new Executive Director Terri Laird. Since Bibbs retirement in 2015, the staff is down to two, and continues to get a lot done with very little.

RPENs Articles of Incorporation were filed in 1977. They outlined the challenges retirees were facing in its original statement of purpose to  concern itself with the problems of retired persons. Chief among those concerns were health insurance and cost of living challenges.

In the years since our formation, RPEN has been able to push through many positive changes, such as a permanent schedule of post-retirement increases, as well as Question 1 in 1996 that placed protections in Nevadas constitution to prevent raids on PERS or loans from PERS to the state and no use of PERS to balance the state budget.

More recently, RPEN, through its coalition, saved PERS from implementing a hybrid plan consisting of part defined benefit and part defined contribution for new hires. Assembly Bill 190 was never voted on by the Legislature in 2015 although it may be back in 2017.

The group has never endorsed legislative candidates, but instead interviews the candidates before the primary through a questionnaire and through one-on-one interviews before the general election. Results are shared with members, allowing them to make their own decisions at the polls.

As a membership-based organization, there is strength in numbers. The Elko Chapter of RPEN is quite active, meeting September through June, and this year the Elko Chapter plays host to RPENs annual board of directors meeting being held Sept. 20-23 at Stockmens Hotel/Casino. Nearly 100 members and guests are expected to attend.

Any retired public employee not yet a member of RPEN can learn more about the organization by contacting local members Pauline Samper or Ruby Gliko. Additionally, any public employee still working but vested in PERS, or age 50 or older is also eligible to join the effort to protect benefits. Samper can be reached at 738-6447 and Gliko at 738-7570.
Mariano Rajoy and Barack Obama at the White House in January 2014. J. MARTIN (AP)

US President Barack Obama will meet with Spains acting prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, but also with the main opposition leaders when he visits Madrid on July 11.

Barring any changes in the leadership of Spains four leading parties after the upcoming general election on June 26, Obama will sit down with Rajoy of the Popular Party (PP), Pedro Sanchez of the Socialist Party (PSOE), Pablo Iglesias of Podemos and Albert Rivera of Ciudadanos, according to the preliminary agenda.

Sources at the embassy in Madrid said it is normal for the president and other high-ranking officials in the US administration to meet members of the opposition on their foreign trips

These meetings are scheduled for after a lunch that will be be hosted by the Spanish king and queen at the Royal Palace in Madrid.

Obama will land in Seville on July 9 on his way home from the Polish capital of Warsaw, where he is attending a NATO summit. He will take a tour of Seville the next day, as well as making a stop at the US military base of Rota, where four Arleigh Burke-class destroyers will be waiting for him, along with more than 4,500 US citizens  including military personnel and their families.

From Rota, Obama will fly to Madrid. As well as his meetings with leading politicians, he is also expected to participate in a youth event.

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Sources at the US Embassy in Madrid emphasized that it is customary for the president and other high-ranking officials in the US administration to meet members of the opposition on their foreign trips. State Secretary John Kerry met Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez in October 2014.

The same sources say that the US embassy has good relations with Podemos, the leftist anti-austerity party currently second in the opinion polls, noting that its leader, Pablo Iglesias, met with Ambassador James Costos in March 2015.

English version by Susana Urra.
Isabel, a young Spanish woman who worked for Torbe. Samuel Sanchez

The cameras are rolling on a makeshift film set where a group of young women is performing oral sex on around a hundred men standing around in various stages of undress. Suddenly, one of the women, unable to stop gagging, runs off the set in tears to be sick. The cameras follow her into the bathrooms.

The young woman is from Ukraine, and according to her colleagues, had little idea before she arrived at the shoot of what she would have to do or what she might earn for it.

They wanted the girls to have a bad time, they wanted them to look as though they were suffering. They wanted them to be crying Ines, who worked with Torbe

When the girls saw all those men there, they were terrified, says Isabel, who has worked for two years with Ignacio Allende, otherwise known as Torbe, who is currently being held on remand and is facing charges of distributing child pornography, human trafficking and sexually abusing minors.

There would be anything up to 100 guys. We often had to go out to buy the girls a bottle of vodka or something like that, so they would be drunk enough to do the scene.

Like the other two Spanish women interviewed by EL PAIS, Isabel, 22, says she began working with Torbe because she liked sex and it seemed like an easy way to make money. He offered her roles where she would be with dozens of men at the same time, for 100 a scene. She would also do webcam sessions by the hour.

In the beginning he treated me well, she says. But once hed finished exploiting me, I was pushed to one side. Then he started treating me badly. He kept putting me in bukkake scenes [where a woman performs oral sex on a group of men who then ejaculate over her].

Once hed finished exploiting me, I was pushed to one side. Then he started treating me badly. He kept putting me in bukkake scenes Isabel, 22

Isabel says the situation got worse when Torbe began shooting videos for a Ukrainian businessman known simply as Boris. They bring girls from Ukraine to Spain who cant even speak Spanish, says Ines (a fictional name), who started working for Torbes Putalocura production company at the age of 18, and lived with him briefly.

Mila, a woman who spoke their language, made them have oral sex with dozens of men and when they asked her if they could stop, she wouldnt let them. They wanted the girls to have a bad time, they wanted them to look as though they were suffering. They wanted them to be crying.

Ines says that Boris only wanted the Ukrainian women that he sent over in the videos. The Spanish girls would prepare the men behind the scenes before they went on the set with the girls, says Isabel. The smell was dreadful and it was really hot. All for 50. It was disgusting. They did two shoots a week, which made for a small, steady income. They told us that it was for a Russian producer. But we didnt see the videos uploaded anywhere. I think they were just sold to individuals.

A number of the women refused to do bukkake scenes after they discovered that their blood tests for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were incomplete. They just referred to thrush, says Ines. Thats what we found out later. One of the boys who came to do the shoots, as well as the cameraman, told us. I got chlamydia. According to Isabel, Torbe told the women appearing in his films that STDs were of no importance and could be easily cured with a little pill.

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Paid cash in hand without contracts, the Spanish women were obliged to shoot some scenes with Torbe himself. He lived alone and sometimes he would take one of the girls home, says Ines. You just had to have sex with him for the scenes, but if you didnt want to, you would be fired. You were also fired if you tried to work anywhere else and not exclusively for him, or if you didnt arrive on time to do the webcam sessions.

Webcamming, simulating sex with clients who pay by the minute, was another major source of income for Torbe. Some of the women EL PAIS talked to say they were forced to work for up to 10 hours a day. Mireia (a fictional name) worked for Putalocura briefly as a webcammer, saying Torbe tried to prevent her from setting up on her own.

I had a lot of problems, she says. He threatened to reveal my real name and post photos of my face online. Eventually she managed to make her own way, she says, adding she never wants to be reminded of the period of her life when she worked with Torbe, the self-styled king of Spanish porn.

English version by Heather Galloway.
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The small town of Wink, Texas, located just west of Odessa, is home to two growing problems that researchers say could threaten the city: sinkholes.

RELATED: North Texas firefighters rescue 'extremely lucky' horse from sinkhole

The sinkholes are located a mile apart and sit between Wink and Kermit off I-20 west of Midland-Odessa, and could converge into one huge hole, a new study released by researchers at Southern Methodist University found.

"A collapse could be catastrophic," said Jin-Woo Kim, in an SMU news release.

One sinkhole, discovered in 1980 is 360 feet across, about the size of a football field, and the other is 670-900 feet across and was found in 2002, Lu said.

Using radar remote sensing, SMU researchers discovered the sinkholes are expanding, one at 13 centimeters a year, and new ones are continuing to form in the area, according to the study.

The study states there is a lot of oil and gas production equipment and installations and hazardous liquid pipelines in the area and when fresh water is injected underground, it "can dissolve the interbedded salt layers and accelerate the sinkhole collapse."

RELATED: Australian sinkhole becomes eyesore on beautiful beach

"If I lived there, I would be very much concerned," Zhong Lu, an SMU professor who helped conduct the study published in the journal Remote Sensing, told mySA.com Monday.

RELATED: Occupied police SUV swallowed by massive sinkhole in Colorado

Officials have fenced off the area around the sinkholes and they will be monitored, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Despite the sinkholes growing two inches closer to each other each year, residents are not reportedly not alarmed by their presence.

"They're a ways off from the highway; if nobody mentions it, then nobody is interested in it," Kermit City Manager Gloria Saenz told the New York Daily News.

Click through the gallery to see the sinkhole grow in size over the years.

kbradshaw@express-news.net

Twitter: @kbrad5
"A kiss against hate" in Berlin. HANNIBAL HANSCHKE (REUTERS)

On Thursday, the people of Britain will decide on a issue that ultimately affects all Europeans.

And continental Europe mostly opposes a Brexit, a new survey shows.

A study by the Germany-based Bertelsmann Foundation shows that 54% of taxpayers in the five biggest EU members  excluding Britain  want Britain to remain in the EU. In the case of Spain, support rises to 64%.

When you ask people about principles, rather than about the current situation, they are much more favorable

Isabell Hoffmann, study chief

The study, scheduled for release on Monday and wo which EL PAIS has had access, shows that the French are the least enthusiastic about the issue. Only 41% of respondents said they wanted Britain to remain in the EU, an answer that was influenced by historical mistrust between the two nations, as well as Londons increasing reticence toward deeper involvement in the European project.

After surveying nearly 11,000 people in Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Poland, the study finds serious concerns about the possible effects of Brexit on the European Union. One out of four respondents admitted to not knowing whether it is better for Britain to remain or to go.

We have to admit there is a certain degree of ignorance, said Isabell Hoffmann, who headed the study. Its not hard to understand. Britains strategic position has consisted of not discussing the issue abroad so it wouldnt be perceived as meddling.

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That lack of awareness is illustrated when respondents were asked about the impact on the EU of a British exit. Although 45% of people said that the EU as a whole would be economically weaker, a full 67% believe it would not have much of an effect on their own specific countries. Spain heads this list again with 71% of respondents confident that a Brexit would not affect Spain.

One of the most revealing items in this study is the link between knowledge about the EU and support for it. In the case of the highly euro-skeptic United Kingdom respondents asked a few technical questions as part of the survey showed little understanding about the union and how it works. In Germany and Italy, more than 80% of respondents showed a good working knowledge of the EU.

The German study also finds that 55% of Europeans support even greater integration, a figure that soars to 78% in Spain and 71% in Italy.

When you ask people about principles, rather than about the current situation, they are much more favorable, said Hoffmann, adding: In Europe there is a very positive attitude.

English version by Susana Urra.
Joan Marcus/SHN

Last seen in San Francisco in 2001, Sam Mendes and Rob Marshalls Tony Award-winning version of the Kander and Ebb musical Cabaret was famous for its sexy, raw take on Weimar-era Berlin. For this Roundabout Theatre Company revival, Randy Harrison, of Queer as Folk fame, essays the role Joel Grey and Alan Cumming made famous  that of the smarmy Kit Kat Klub emcee who explains, Money makes the world go round.

But its not just money and sex that drive this musical; its the very real, and very relatable, fear of facing facts, even deadly ones. When Sally Bowles (Andrea Goss) sings Life is a cabaret, old chum, its no breezy maxim but an ironic paean to ignorant bliss in a malevolent political climate  one chillingly similar to our own.
GENEVA  Imagine the entire population of France uprooted from their homes, forced to flee danger, persecution or starvation. The U.N. refugee agency says more people than that  65 million  were displaced worldwide at the end of last year, easily setting a new postwar record.

And it warned that European and other rich nations can expect the flow to continue if root causes arent addressed.

After a year when more than a million people arrived on European shores, UNHCR said Monday  World Refugee Day  that continued conflicts and persecution in places like Syria and Afghanistan fueled a nearly 10 percent increase in the total number of refugees and internally displaced people in 2015.

I hope that the message carried by those forcibly displaced reaches the leaderships: We need action, political action, to stop conflicts, said Filippo Grandi, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. The message that they have carried is: If you dont solve problems, problems will come to you.

The Geneva agencys latest Global Trends Report shows that for the first time since World War II, the 60 million mark was crossed.

If these 65.3 million persons were a nation, they would make up the 21st largest in the world, the report said.

In stark detail, UNHCR said that, on average, 24 people had been displaced every minute last year  or 34,000 people a day  up from six every minute in 2005. The total number of displaced people has roughly doubled since 1997, and risen by 50 percent since 2011 alone, when the Syria war began.

About 11.5 million people from Syria have fled their homes: 6.6 million remaining within the war-ravaged country and 4.9 million moving abroad. At the end of last year, more than half of all refugees were from three countries: Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia. More than half of all displaced people were children, UNCHR said.

Turkey was the top host country for the second year running, with 2.5 million refugees  nearly all from neighboring Syria. Afghanistans neighbor Pakistan had 1.6 million, while Lebanon, next to Syria, hosted 1.1 million.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan noted that displacement has been a major challenge throughout history but humanity stands idly by as more than 65 million people escape from inhumane treatment and oppression today.

The international community has a political and moral obligation to restore the human dignity of refugees, Erdogan said.
LONDON  The raucous business of Britains House of Commons was replaced by somber silence and heartfelt tributes Monday for slain lawmaker Jo Cox, while the man charged with her slaying made a brief appearance in court by video link from prison.

Lawmakers lined the benches and stood in the aisles of the House for a special session in Coxs memory. Some wiped away tears, and each wore a white rose, symbol of Coxs home county of Yorkshire.

Parliament was in recess for campaigning in the European Union referendum when Cox was shot and stabbed to death outside a library in her northern England constituency on Thursday. The man arrested in her death, Thomas Mair, gave his name during a court appearance as death to traitors, freedom for Britain.

The killing  the first of a sitting British legislator in more than a quarter of a century  prompted an outpouring of shock and grief, and brought a three-day halt to campaigning for this weeks referendum.

An attack like this strikes not only at an individual, but at our freedom, said Speaker John Bercow, who recalled the House from recess to allow lawmakers to honor their colleague. That is why we assemble here, both to honor Jo and to redouble our dedication to democracy.

Cox was a former aid worker and Labor legislator who had championed the plight of Syrian refugees and strongly backed a remain vote in Thursdays EU poll.

Her death brought promises to tone down the vitriolic political rhetoric of the referendum campaign, which has exposed bitter divisions about immigration and national identity.

We need a kinder and gentler politics, said Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn. We all have a responsibility, in this House and beyond, not to whip up hatred and sow division.

The House is generally recalled only at times of crisis or high significance. The last time it happened was in September 2014, so lawmakers could vote on whether to launch air strikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq.

On Monday, Coxs friends and colleagues remembered her warmth, energy and principles, as her husband and children ages 5 and 3 watched from the public gallery. Two roses, red and white, sat in her place on the green Commons benches.

Jo Cox was a voice of compassion whose irrepressible spirit and boundless energy lit up the lives of all who knew her, and saved the lives of many she never, ever met, said Prime Minister David Cameron.
APN News & Media has received Overseas Investment Office approval for its plan to split out its NZME unit ahead of a potential merger with rival Fairfax Media's New Zealand operations.

The Sydney-based company today said the exemption to the Overseas Investment Act relating to the proposed demerger was granted, though it was still subject to other regulatory approvals and exemptions. Trading in APN shares on the NZX was halted today pending an announcement, in what was already a period of deferred settlement to let a share consolidation be processed.

Last Thursday, APN's shareholders overwhelmingly backed plans to carve out the New Zealand unit as a standalone listed company, freeing up APN to focus on Australian radio and outside advertising business, while NZME can pursue its merger with rival Fairfax New Zealand.

The trading halt is still in place.

APN, which also trades on the ASX, last traded on the NZX at $4.76, reflecting the one-for-seven share consolidation approved at the meeting. The shares have gained 24 percent this year on that consolidated basis.

At the time, chief executive Michael Boggs told BusinessDesk he was planning to spend the next 10 days meeting and greeting current and potential investors in Auckland, Wellington, Sydney and Melbourne.

In Australia, APN is looking to sell its regional newspaper business ARM, which has a portfolio of 12 daily and more than 60 non-daily Australian regional newspapers, so it can focus on its digital growth strategy.

The Australian newspaper today reported APN is looking for A$50 million for the regional paper network, and Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp and Singapore-based social media marketing firm Fetch Plus had lodged binding offers when final bids were due on Friday.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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Fledgling electricity retailer Electric Kiwi is seeking disciplinary action against the country's largest power generator, Meridian Energy, following price spikes in the wholesale electricity market on June 16 that saw prices as high as $4,000 per Megawatt hour.

However, Flick Electric, a rival minnow retailer whose customers would have felt the main brunt of the price spike, is not taking any action and says it's "pretty comfortable" both with the way the wholesale electricity market worked that day and the tools it gives customers to manage such price spikes.

For its part, Meridian Energy is waiting to hear whether the electricity regulator will agree to conduct an "undesirable trading situation" inquiry. The EA says it is in the "very early stages of gathering and processing information" on the complaint.

Electric Kiwi director Phil Anderson told BusinessDesk it believed Meridian had deliberately manipulated wholesale electricity prices "in a way that suits them", while Meridian chief executive Mark Binns said the price spikes resulted from a "perfect storm" of circumstances on a day when temperatures plunged around the nation, leading to a sharp surge in electricity demand, on a still day in the North Island that prevented wind farms from generating much power.

That put pressure on South Island hydro generators to meet national electricity demand, which was hampered by the Cook Strait cable's ability to push enough electricity north and a shortage of so-called 'reserve capacity' in the North Island, where some power companies have recently closed fast-starting and baseload gas-fired power plants.

Electric Kiwi's customers are charged for power on a flat rate basis, unlike Flick's, who are charged according to the prevailing wholesale electricity spot price. That leaves Flick customers exposed to spikes in power prices caused by unusual circumstances in the national electricity system.

Anderson said it was mounting its UTS (undesirable trading situation) complaint to the electricity regulator because "we still think it's in the interests of customers in the long term to challenge Meridian's behaviour," despite minimal impact on its customers.

"We think they manipulated prices," he said. "There was a genuine shortage in the North Island but they caused an artificial shortage in the South Island."

Electric Kiwi ran a fully hedged position, so was not adversely affected on the day, while Flick's O'Connor said there had been "very modest customer impact."

"We're delighted by the response of our customers," said O'Connor, pointing to their ability to monitor spot prices and adjust electricity use accordingly.

With around 3,000 customers and the second-fastest growing retailer in May, Electric Kiwi is not only battling it out with the big electricity retailers but also with Flick, which has a little over 11,000 customers and was the fastest-growing retailer last month.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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Vital Healthcare Property Trust plans to raise $160 million to pay down debt, giving it headroom to pursue a pipeline of developments on both sides of the Tasman.

The trust plans to sell shares at $2.08 apiece in a two-for-one pro rata renounceable rights offer, manager Vital Healthcare Management said in a statement. Vital Healthcare's biggest investor and owner of the manager, NorthWest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust, intends to take up its full entitlement worth $39.3 million, and brokerage Forsyth Barr will underwrite the balance of $120.6 million. The units fell 2.3 percent to $2.17, still a premium to the offer price, having gained 19 percent so far this year.

The funds raised will repay bank debt, which was sitting at $283.7 million as at March 31, lowering the hospital and healthcare property developer and investor's gearing to 20.3 percent from 37.1 percent.

Vital Healthcare has been buying properties on both sides of the Tasman and expanding those facilities to latch on to ageing demographics in Australia and New Zealand. The property investor has A$87.6 million of development projects either underway or in the pipeline, and recent acquisitions add properties worth about A$64.1 million in Australia and NZ$31.7 million in New Zealand.

"We've done a whole lot of that brownfields and acquisition activity, so we'll put a bit more money in the pot," David Carr, chief executive of the manager, told BusinessDesk. "We've got commitments that'll push the gearing from 20 percent back to about 30 percent, and then (the funds) give us a bit more firepower to keep going with all the stuff we've been doing."

Carr said Australia still offers the greatest opportunity given its relative size and Vital Healthcare has been expanding its team across the Tasman over the past year.

The offer will expand the number of units on issue, but Vital Healthcare's board will continue to pay a distribution of about 8.5 cents per unit, which implies a lift in cash distributions to $36.1 million from the $29.4 million it would pay out under a smaller share register. The 8.5 cent annual payment was itself an increase from 8.1 cents.

"The board's message is that's a sustainable distribution, and that's a very confident message," Carr said.

The rights will be tradable on the NZX between June 28 and July 13 with the offer closing on July 19.

Carr said institutional investors had around the $2.08 price, but they chose a renounceable rights offer to give its "very strong local retail register" the opportunity to participate in the process.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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New Zealand shares rose as Brexit fears eased, though trading remained light with investors waiting to see the result later this week. Mainfreight and A2 Milk gained, while Warehouse Group dropped.

The S&P/NZX 50 Index rose 22.46 points, or 0.3 percent, to 6,869.53. Within the index, 26 stocks rose, 16 fell and eight were unchanged. Turnover was $120.8 million.

Brexit fears appear to have eased slightly, with some polls over the weekend indicating more Britons would prefer to remain in the European Union, but a volatile week is still expected leading into the vote, with results due around 10am Friday local time.

"It's a very big macro week for markets to deal with, and while markets are finding a firmer footing it will take a while to wash through," said Shane Solly, director at Harbour Asset Management. "We still face some volatility as the week goes on - we will be the first market to open, we will be in the heat of it all."

Mainfreight was the biggest gainer, up 3.9 percent to $16.62. It sank 3.6 percent to $16 on Friday, and has bounced back today, Solly said.

A2 Milk rose 3.5 percent to $1.77. Last Wednesday 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, and has gained 12.7 percent since then, though is still short of its $2.10 highs from February this year. Solly said the share price had not reacted much to the positive result announcement " so it's having a bit of a catch-up there."

Property for Industry advanced 3.6 percent to $1.57 while Vital Healthcare Property Trust gained 2.3 percent to $2.22.

Both dual-listed banks gained, with Westpac Banking Corp up 2.1 percent to $30.64 while Australia & New Zealand Banking Group rose 1.8 percent to $24.95. Australia's ASX200 was up 1.5 percent at 5:30 New Zealand time.

Warehouse Group was the worst performer, down 3.2 percent to $2.76. James Pascoe, the retail group owned by David and Anne Norman, lifted its holding in Warehouse Group to 17.5 percent buying shares on-market last week. Pascoe's retail interests include owns Farmers, Whitcoulls, Pascoes, Stevens, Stewart Dawsons and Goldmark.

"There's no doubt there has been some mixed thinking about retailers in general over the winter - it hasn't been as cold as some would have thought, and that will have some modest impact potentially on the Warehouse," Solly said. Still, "Pascoe is a very savvy retail group."

Outside the main index, APN News & Media was unchanged at $4.76 even after its trading halt was lifted. The Sydney-based company was in a halt before it announced it had received Overseas Investment Office approval for its plan to split out its NZME unit ahead of a potential merger with rival Fairfax Media's New Zealand operations.

Wynyard Group gained 7.8 percent to 69 cents. Two fund managers are seeking support for a class action by Wynyard shareholders to recover losses since the share price has plunged following a disappointing annual result and a heavily discounted rights issue to raise cash.

At the listed software company's annual meeting today, the revamped board said a restructure of the business into two units and tight control on costs should see a turnaround on the disappointing 2015 performance which saw the share price tank 60 percent in the past year.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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Time is running out for the proposed tie-up between Silver Fern Farms and a major Chinese investor as a June 30 deadline looms with no recent work on the application by the Overseas Investment Office and a July 11 special meeting called by dissident shareholders looming.

The tie-up between the country's largest meat processor and China's Shanghai Maling Aquarius has a deadline of June 30 and requires an OIO recommendation and ministerial approval before it can proceed.

However, the OIO downed tools on the application weeks ago, and said late last week that it was still waiting for the applicants to supply further information. Land Information and Associate Finance Ministers Louise Upston and Paula Bennett would then be required to make a final decision. The pair turned down an application last year by Chinese investor Shanghai Pengxin to buy the iconic Lochinver Station, a central North Island property.

The terms of the transaction contemplate a time extension, but delay would risk the deal becoming entangled in a special shareholders' meeting called by dissident members of the Silver Fern cooperative, scheduled for July 11.

A time extension would also require the agreement of Silver Fern's bankers, who are keen to see the deal proceed because it would allow the heavily indebted meat company to repay some $261 million of debt.

"The OIO is still awaiting information that will enable it to complete its assessment of the application," a spokesman told BusinessDesk on Friday. "Therefore we cant give an indication yet of when the application will be sent to the relevant ministers for a decision."

In April, the office was saying the decision would be made before the June 30 deadline. The OIO stops the clock on its approval period of 70 working days when it asks an applicant for more information. Regular timetable blowouts caused by applications generating numerous information requests have generated complaints from foreign investors and their New Zealand advisers.

The operation of the OIO is under close ministerial scrutiny, with a new deputy chief executive, Lesley Haines, appointed earlier this month to take special oversight of its operations, which are part of the government agency, Land Information New Zealand. LINZ officials insist this represents no change in the status of the OIO's long-serving manager, Annelies McClure.

Shanghai Maling Aquarius is 38 percent-owned by Bright Foods, which has a 39 percent shareholding in Canterbury-based Synlait Milk. The Chinese investor has bid for 50 percent of Silver Fern Farms in a deal that would give it effective control of the company through the use of casting vote powers on key issues.

The bid is already contentious because some owner-farmers of the cooperative have opposed both the outcome and the process, and have gained political backing from NZ First leader Winston Peters. John Shrimpton and Blair Gallagher, representing a group of 80 Silver Fern shareholders, have forced the company to hold a special shareholders' meeting on July 11 in an attempt to scuttle the deal, which gained 82.2 percent support from farmer shareholders at a vote last October. Silver Fern directors have said they intend to go ahead with the deal irrespective of the outcome.

The approval process is being closely watched after Chinese firm Shanghai Pengxin had its application to buy the iconic mid-Waikato Lochinver Station declined by ministers last year. That rejection caused a sharp cooling in trade relations with China and stoked concerns about the predictability and efficiency of New Zealands overseas investment vetting regime.

The OIO received the application from Shanghai Maling on Oct. 16 last year and accepted it for assessment on Oct. 23.

Silver Fern declined to comment on whether it thought a decision was likely by June 30, saying it cant speculate on the OIOs process. It also declined comment on the implications for the company if a decision wasn't made on the application before the deadline.

The conditions of the deal state the transaction has to be unconditional by June 30, unless the parties agree to extend the deadline.

Should it go ahead, the deal would see Shanghai Maling pay $261 million for half the company and allow it to repay all of its debt, removing a threat from its banking syndicate to withdraw support.

Shanghai Maling's supply chain and parent Bright Food's wholesale and retail networks offer distribution into China, allowing Silver Fern to ramp up its product development and consumer marketing.

Shanghai Maling is one of four Shanghai Stock Exchange-listed subsidiaries of Bright Food, which has expanded rapidly since being founded in 2006 to become China's second-largest food manufacturer.

The deal would be a game changer for Shanghai Maling, which is set to become the market leader in Chinas beef market, according to a report on the website globalmeatnews.com.

The report cited Zhongtai Securities analyst Hu Yan Chao saying Shanghai Maling is going to be the dragon head and market leader in Chinas beef market, and describing beef sales in China as a blue ocean market, a commonly used term in Chinese media to refer to sectors of limitless potential. The analyst said the beef sector in China is worth 500 billion yuan and is still at an early stage of development, with branding and chilled technology only getting started.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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James Pascoe, the retail group owned by David and Anne Norman, has lifted its holding in Warehouse Group to 17.5 percent buying shares on-market last week.

Pascoe bought 244,367 shares for a total of $679,015, or about $2.78 apiece on June 17, it said in a statement to the NZX.

It emerged as a substantial security holder in October 2014 before lifting its holding to 16.4 percent in March 2015 by buying out Australian retailer Woolworths' stake for $87.1 million. At the time, Pascoe said it wasn't interested in making a takeover offer for New Zealand's largest listed retailer.

Pascoe's retail interests include owns Farmers, Whitcoulls, Pascoes, Stevens, Stewart Dawsons and Goldmark.

Warehouse shares last traded at $2.85, the highest in more than two months. The stock is rated a 'sell' based on the consensus of five analysts compiled by Reuters. Last month the Auckland-based retailer lifted third-quarter sales 5.5 percent to $672.2 million and said it's on track to meet its forecast annual profit excluding one-time items of $61 million to $64 million.

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Riot police clash with protesters in the Mexican town of Nochixtlan. STRINGER (REUTERS)

More information Seis muertos en violentos enfrentamientos entre policias y maestros en Oaxaca

On Sunday, the Mexican state of Oaxaca experienced a re-run of the nightmare it went through for half a year in 2006: armed clashes between rebel teachers and government security forces.

Six people are reported dead, 55 police officers injured and an undetermined number of protesters wounded by firearms after the police broke up a week-long protest in Nochixtlan. Twenty-one people have been arrested.

In images reminiscent of the conflict that gripped the southern region a decade ago, hundreds of federal police officers confronted protesters with tear gas and firearms, while teachers set fire to cars to use them as barricades, and hurled projectiles at the police. The clashes lasted several hours and several local residents were caught in the crossfire.

There was another violent confrontation in Salina Cruz, in the region of Tehuantepec Isthmus, the site of a Pemex oil refinery

Government and police officials said there was a journalist and two educators among the dead. Meanwhile, the powerful teachers union, the National Coordinating Committee of Education Workers (CNTE), said that five of the victims worked in education, and mentioned them by name: Andres Aguilar, 29; Yalid Jimenez, 22; Oscar Santiago, 22; Jesus Cadena, 19; and Anselmo Cruz (no age provided).

It later emerged that local reporter Elpidio Ramos, who was covering the clashes, was shot to death by looters inside a store in the municipality of Juchitan.

The protesters have ties to the CNTE, a powerful union with more than 100,000 members nationwide that is particularly strong in the southern states. This union opposes mandatory assessments for teachers introduced into the 2013 federal education reform sponsored by President Enrique Pena Nieto.

A de facto power Jan Martinez Ahrens The CNTE, which is considered a de facto power in Mexicos southern states, has a long tradition of organizing boycotts and violent attacks. Just before the June 7, 2015 midterm elections, radical groups blocked highways, took over airports, and set fire to local election headquarters. The Pena Nieto government was forced to suspend the reform one week before the race to avoid more violence, but then restarted the process soon after.

Oaxaca has a long tradition of producing schoolteachers. But their precarious conditions have created social movements at the origin of numerous conflicts in the area. The best-known one, which dates back to 2006, resulted in dozens of deaths and arrests, and a protest in the capital that affected the regional economy. The regular school year at the primary level was also disrupted.

The conflict flared up again three years ago with the Pena administrations education reform, which the CNTE opposes.

Local residents complained on social media that police officers were firing live ammunition at the protesters. The Oaxaca police department said that its officers were wounded by firearms and the National Security Commission (CNS) stated in a release that federal police were unarmed.

We are aware that the gunshots originated from individuals not connected to the roadblocks, who began shooting at the population and the federal police in order to create a confrontation, said the government.

Photographs of the event published by international agencies show several federal police officers holding weapons and pointing rifles from a trench. In a second release, the CNS said that those photographs are phony.

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But later, at an evening press conference with Governor Gabino Cue Monteagudo, Federal Police Chief Enrique Galindo admitted that a group of officers did use weapons.

On Saturday, federal judges issued a prison warrant against two leading members of CNTEs Section 22, on corruption charges. Section secretary general Ruben Nunez is accused of operating with illegally gained funds, and organization secretary Francisco Villalobos is charged with stealing.

There was another violent confrontation in Salina Cruz, in the region of Tehuantepec Isthmus, the site of a Pemex oil refinery.

Close to midnight, the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) issued a release with guidelines for medical attention for the injured, and a reminder that any action by the authorities must respect international protocols and standards, with a priority on dialogue at all times.

This agency said it has sent out a significant number of observers and support personnel to Oaxaca to help ensure that all government action remains within the bounds of the law.

English version by Susana Urra.
Callaghan Innovation says its rejection of a funding application from a company involving the chief executives brother was declined by the board based on its merits rather than any conflict of interest.

Pastoral Robotics was started in 2013 by Bert Quin and Geoff Bates of Pastoral Robotics to develop a product aimed at resolving nitrate leaching and greenhouse gas emissions from cow urine patches.

Bates said last week that their application for a research and development project grant was turned down because of conflicts of interest and theyre now seeking up to $3 million in investment funding to continue developing their product.

Quin is the brother of Callaghan CEO Mary Quin and Bates was a full-time Callaghan employee at the time of the application which was declined in 2014.

Their prototype, Spikey, is towed over the ground and its metal spikes detect changes in the electrical properties of the soil caused by the presence of urine. It then only sprays recent urine patches, meaning typically only 5 percent of the pasture has to be sprayed which is a huge saving in chemicals. It also promotes more grass growth which means additional revenue for the farmer.

Because of the two flagged potential conflicts of interest, the application went to the Callaghan board for approval and was declined because it didnt meet requirements. It was a merit-based decision, the government-funded agency said.

The application was initially processed by Callaghans Christchurch team to maintain impartiality as Bates worked in the Auckland office.

Callaghan said it took great care to ensure the application was considered objectively as all applicants should expect.

Bates also said the start-up had paid for technical assistance from Callaghan scientists that was critical in Spikeys development.

Funding last year from the NZ Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre allowed the company to test Spikey on a range of farms and soils conditions across the country.

The AGGRC is also funding research headed by Landcare Research onto how New Zealand could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by manipulating denitrification in pasture soils, using Pastoral Researchs Orun spray and others.

In August, Pastoral Robotics will begin on-farm trials with Spikey on the best sprays and nozzles to treat cow urine patches and are hopeful of then putting it on the market next year.

Pastoral Robotics was one of six start-ups that took part in an Innovation Accelerator, a partnership between Callaghan and Fieldays, at last weeks annual agricultural event. The selected business were all at various stages of pre-commercialisation or the early stages of selling their products.

(BusinessDesk gets some assistance from Callaghan to cover commercialisation of innovation).

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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GFNZ Group plans to revert to its old name of Geneva Finance and carry out a seven-for-one consolidation to boost its share price.

One of the few finance companies to survive its moratorium and repay investors after a string of collapses that began in 2007, the company said key values associated with Geneva were "trust, integrity and (a) high level of consumer and market recognition". GFNZ said it was "the only large scale finance operation that successfully exited moratorium, paying its investors between 11 percent and 13 percent interest each month and repaying a total of $169 million (including $42 million of interest) to those investors".

While GFNZ managed its way through the fallout from the global financial crisis, other finance companies that had adopted names with a similarly European air of respectability, including Hanover Finance, Belgrave Finance, Chancery Finance and Lombard Finance failed. GFNZ said its reputation was also intact because it had maintained positive relationships with finance sector lenders and regulators.

Last week, the company posted a 61 percent gain in annual profit to $3.5 million, driven by its Geneva Financial Services unit, which grew its loan book by 26 percent to $48.8 million. At the same time, it widened its margins, generating $5.8 million of net interest income, or 63.3 percent of total interest income, compared to $3.4 million, or 52.7 percent of total interest income, a year earlier.

The company plans to consolidate its shares on issue to about 70.4 million from 493 million, lifting its share price to 41-42 cents from 6 cents currently.

"The board considers this will benefit all shareholders by moving the share price away from the sub 20 cents per share range and thereby enhance the credibility of the company with the markets," it said.

The company has set July 5 as the ex-date for the consolidation, with the shares going into a two-day trading halt. July 6 would be the record date for the consolidation and the shares would resume trading on July 7.

The name change and consolidation "reflect the boards confidence in the future of the company and its commitment to enhance and improve the companys relationship with key stakeholders for the benefit of all shareholders, said managing director David O'Connell.

GFNZ froze interest payments on its debenture stock in November 2007, when it owed some $132.4 million to investors. It slashed staff numbers and closed branches around the country as part of a survival plan that allowed the company to repay investors in full. The firm, which also operates insurance and debt collection services, specialises in car and personal loans of up to $50,000. It draws most of its funding from a securitisation facility with Westpac Banking Corp. That facility was reviewed in June last year and extended through to July 2017.

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The United States has made history: one of the countrys two major political parties has chosen a woman as its presidential candidate. Hillary Clinton already has more than the necessary number of delegates to seize the Democratic Party nomination and run in Novembers presidential election. This milestone comes just eight years after an African American man got the country excited enough to write a new page in history. Barack Obama became the first black president of the United States. But, Clintons achievement is drawing far less excitement than Obamas campaign did in 2008. We have asked five women to explain why.

Presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in Los Angeles, California. DAVID MCNEW (AFP)

1. She could connect with more voters if she showed that she is one of us 

Angela Kelley, executive director of the Center for American Progress.

These are such kooky elections, so unusual, that the fact that Donald Trump has become the Republican candidate is something many people are still trying to come to terms with. Its important to remember what this means. He has become such an obsession for the media that, whatever another candidate says, he is silent by comparison. This has totally eclipsed the gender issue in these elections and, even when it is mentioned, it is also with regards to the way Trump has spoken so aggressively against women.

More information Cinco mujeres y cinco respuestas sobre la falta de entusiasmo con Hillary Clinton

Its a difficult election cycle to evaluate. There has been a lot of debate about how an old white man [Bernie Sanders] could get so many young people excited, and that also overshadows Clintons possibilities. If we turned the situation around, if we had had a woman as president over the last eight years, we would be having the same conversation now about the lack of enthusiasm for a black president.

There is also a generational factor. For me, to see a woman leading in her partys primaries is something that I have waited for for a long time, and I was never sure that I would get to see it. But when I tell that to my daughters, who are 15 and 19, they think Im kidding. Its obvious to them. The younger generation already expects that because they have grown up with an African American in the White House for the last eight years. For me, those are the key reasons.

But the gender issue, especially how negatively Trump speaks about women, will continue to be part of the election. I just hope she does a better job at showing her connection to half the population in this country, the challenges that she has overcome... It would help her to speak as a citizen, not so much as a politician. What is happening with these elections is that emotion is playing an important role. They are very emotional. There is anger, fear. She could connect with more voters if she showed that she is one of us. Maybe she thinks she has to show that she knows her stuff and that she has all the credentials but sharing more about herself would have helped her.

2. Hillary Clinton is seen as part of a system that has stopped working for a lot of people

Brigid Schulte, author of Overwhelmed and director of The Good Life Initiative.

To really understand whats going on with voters and why Hillary Clinton has failed to generate the wild enthusiasm and optimism that one would hope would accompany the possibility of the first woman US president, all you have to do is look at a few telling graphs. One graph would show a continuous climb in US worker productivity over the past few decades. Another how, at the same time, worker wages have stagnated. And then another graph would show the wildly steep climb in corporate profits and in CEO compensation  top earners now make roughly 455 times what the average American worker makes, Fortune magazine reported recently.

So theres real anger and frustration and a sense of betrayal among voters that both Bernie Sanders on the left and Donald Trump on the right have tapped. Voters want something new and both are seen as outsiders. Voters were angry and afraid in 2008 during the recession as well, but Barack Obama was embraced as a fresh face, as an outsider whod clean up the mess the insiders of the George W. Bush administration left behind. And thats what hurts Hillary Clinton the most.

While polls show that voters who value experience are squarely in her camp, whats overshadowing this potentially historic moment is the fact that shes seen as part of the old establishment, an insider in a system that not only no longer functions for most people, but makes them feel actively excluded from it, that shes seen as an incremental policy wonk who plays it safe, not the crusader promising to blow up the system that has created such vast and growing economic inequality and start over.

3. Bernie Sanders positions are better for women

Katie Halper, columnist for Feministing and author of the podcast The Katie Halper Show.

There certainly is less excitement around the potential election of the first female president than there was around the first African American president. Of course some voters rejection of Hillary Clinton is based on sexism but that doesnt fully explain the difference since some voters in 2008 were motivated by racism. Among the voters who would embrace a female and black president, the enthusiasm gap is related to the individual candidates and not the issue of gender or race.

Though Clintons gender would make her election a historic one, she has very little of the outsider, underdog, and American Dream-fulfilling appeal that Barack Obama had. Despite claims to the contrary from Clinton and some of her supporters, she is indisputably part of the political establishment and is one half of the countrys most famous political marriage. Obama was younger, hadnt fulfilled a full senate term and had to overcome several obstacles throughout his life. His opponents, including the Hillary Clinton campaign, did their best to paint him as an outsider, un-American, foreign, outside the mainstream and the norm.

In full disclosure, I wasnt that excited about Clinton or Obama in 2008. I found Obamas speech about purple America hokey and cringe-inducingly post-partisan. What made me an Obama supporter was the guilt-by-association smear campaign against him for his connection to Jeremiah Wright. How much Obama wound up challenging the political establishment is another issue.

Clinton, on the other hand, was an active and hands-on first lady of Arkansas, the United States, a New York Senator and, this time around, secretary of state. But for feminists like me, there is something particularly cynical and dangerous about the way Clintons campaign is using gender and identity politics to silence legitimate and often feminist criticism of her.

To be clear its disingenuous or ill-informed to claim that Clinton doesnt face sexism or double standards as a woman. At the same time, Clinton and her supporters are in many cases hijacking feminism by framing criticism of her or even support of Bernie Sanders as sexist or misogynist. Bernie Sanders may be a man, but his positions, ranging from a higher minimum wage to a less hawkish foreign policy, are better for women.

4. Clinton doesn't have is a narrative of improbability or surprise

Michelle Kinsey-Bruns, pro-choice activist and writer.

Enthusiasm can be hard to quantify, but in politics, there is one empirical measure that we can use as a proxy. That measure is votes. To date in the 2016 primary process, over three million more citizens have cast votes for Hillary Clinton than for Bernie Sanders, and over one-and-a-half million more for Hillary Clinton than for Donald Trump.

What Clinton doesnt have is a narrative of improbability, or of surprise. Her many decades as a highly visible figure in policy and politics mean that, even despite her gender, shell never be an outlier like Sanders, a gatecrasher like Trump  or even a bright shiny newcomer like Obama was, just one nominating convention before the one that put him on the presidential ballot. Clintons been getting the work done for longer than many of the pundits dissecting her campaign have been alive. If a four-decade history of steady competence, effectiveness, and dedication doesnt provide the raw material for buzz, it may be exactly what is needed for the leadership of the nation.

5. The presidents record will continue to affect Clinton until she presents a vision that distinguishes her

Marielena Hincapie, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center.

The possibility of having a woman as president of the United States for the first time is exciting and it would be a great historic step for our country. There may be many reasons why that excitement has not been as palpable as it was during the 2008 Obama campaign, even while keeping in mind that the most intense part of the campaign is yet to come.

If we have seen a lack of enthusiasm around the Democratic frontrunner, former secretary Hillary Clinton, it could be that many consider that a victory for Clinton would mean extending Obamas immigration policies, instead of a more progressive vision. That would be very difficult for the immigrant communities that have been very affected by higher deportation rates under the current administration than previous generations and also, lately, by deportations of mothers and children who came to this country to take shelter from the incessant violence in Central America.

Despite the limited progress that the administration has made to set up more humane and cautious immigration policies with Obamas executive actions (like deferred action under DACA and DAPA), the presidents record will continue to affect Clinton until she presents a vision that distinguishes her from Obama. Although Clinton has said that she would not deport children, she needs to denounce President Obamas policies, especially recent detention and deportation of mothers and children who are fleeing the violence. She also needs to introduce her plan to reform the immigration system and do more to regain the confidence of the community if she wants to inspire the community in general, and immigrant women in particular, to vote for her.

English version by Dyane Jean Francois.
Tank-Man case: National Security Service has no claim on civil activist

Armenias National Security Service (NSS) has no claim on Artak Gevorgyan, a local activist who drove a cardboard tank through Yerevan streets in an unusual street art protest and hit the metal gates of the NSS building. The NSS has sent a letter to the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevans Kentron and Nork-Marash administrative districts, which is studying the incident that occurred last summer, saying while they do not approve of such behaviour of citizens, they have no claims on the civil activist. The Court today heard Arman Gharibyan, a witness in the case. The latter said that on that particular day they were driving in Yerevan streets in the cardboard tank but they did not frighten any citizen. Many even expressed their desire to photograph with the cardboard tank. The young men were approached by representatives of the Traffic Police who said they need to place a reflector. The court has retired to watch the video showing Artak Gevorgyan hitting his green the cardboard tank against the metal gates of the NSS building. Civil activist Artak Gevorgyan is facing up to two years in prison for staging 'street art' protest. He is accused of grossly violating public order by way of disrupting the normal activities of security personnel at the NSS building, causing fears over property protection.
MUMBAI: Ayurvedic cosmetics brand Biotique will invest Rs 200 crore for doubling its capacity by setting up manufacturing units in Himachal Pradesh and North East, a top company official said.



The company will also invest Rs 250 crore for marketing and opening standalone stores in the country.



"This financial year, we are investing Rs 250 crore in marketing and expansion of our standalone stores and another Rs 200 crore in capex for expanding our facilities in the near future.



"We are setting up additional manufacturing facilities in the North East and Himachal Pradesh," Biotique Chairperson and Managing Director Vinita Jain told PTI.



Biotique has a research and development centre inSwitzerland and two facilities in Himachal Pradesh.



"We are planning 100 standalone stores across the country, which we should achieve by the next financial year. We have 10 standalone stores at present," she said, adding that the store size would be around 500 sq ft.



Biotique recently entered the children's segment and is looking at other categories as well.



"We are looking at new consumer segments and categories. We are looking at essential oils and we will be coming up with them in the near future," she added.



The beauty and personal care market in India is estimated to be around Rs 75,000 crore, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 16 per cent.



Biotique has been growing at 35 per cent year-on-year and Jain claimed that it is the market leader in the ayurveda and botanicals skin care categories.



E-commerce constitutes around 10 per cent of the sales of the company and it expects the sector to contribute 20 per cent in two years.



At present, Biotique exports to 60 countries, which accounts for 60 per cent of the sales, and is looking to expand its global presence.

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NEW DELHI: Betting big on mobile trading in derivatives market, leading brokerage Reliance Securities today said it it investing heavily in new technologies including robo-analytics and expects over 30% of its broking business to come from mobile trading platforms.



"The number of mobile traders increased from six lakhs to nine lakhs in last one year (growth of 50%). In volume terms, we see this emerging as a Rs 6,000 crore market in next 2-3 years and scaling upto Rs 10,000 crore in next five years," Reliance Securities CEO B Gopkumar told PTI.



Reliance Securities, the broking and distribution business of Anil Ambani-led Reliance Group's financial services arm Reliance Capital, has recently launched new trading platforms, including a mobile-based trading product for derivatives.



Gopkumar said the mobile market share in overall trading will grow to 3-4% in next couple of years, where more than 90% of volume share will still be from futures and options.



"We have launched two products Tick and Tick Pro. While Tick is a web trading platform aimed to provide a normal user offering features of a high-end dedicated platforms at affordable rates under our value broking model, Tick Pro is India's first mobile app specially for derivatives market. We believe there is a huge potential for this segment," he said.



Talking about the derivatives market, Kumar said an estimated 94% of overall market volumes is contributed by derivatives.



"Of this about 60% is purely through online trading translating into Rs 60,000 crore daily volume. Cash market is a minuscule 6%. Derivative volume has grown by 150% in the last seven years compared to cash market volumes which grew only by 50%," he said.



He further said that in the last one year, the overall market share of mobile trading has increased from 0.5% to 1.2%.



"In volume terms, the daily average volume growth on mobile has increased from Rs 600 crore to nearly Rs 1,600 crore. 90% of this volume of mobile trading is derivative trading.



"Within the online platforms, Futures and Options volume on mobile grew three-times in fiscal 2015-16 whereas growth in other online platforms was at 55%," he added.



Kumar said more contracts would be added while extension of market timings and introduction of options in commodity markets would be other key drivers for growth of the market.



"On the technology front, dedicated and customised platforms for Futures and Options traders, like TickPro, that focus specifically on derivative trading on mobile will aid the growth," he said.



On Reliance Securities, Kumar said, "We would not like to limit our growth in this segment by any number but are hopeful of taking at least a 30% share of this mobile market with our dedicated app and platforms.



"Our key focus is to make it so simple for the trader to take derivative calls by virtually eliminating complex excels and calculations, that these trades can be completed on mobile. We hope to be the biggest broker in terms of mobile derivative trading is concerned."



In the next three years, Kumar said Reliance Securities expects over 30% of its broking business to come from mobile users and mobile apps.



"We are investing heavily in technology - backed by Robo analytics and big data - to induce a shift in trading and enabling complex trade calls to be executed easily on our mobile," he added.

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NEW DELHI: India on Sunday exuded confidence that it will get membership of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG) and clarified it won't oppose the application of any other country.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also said New Delhi will pursue with its concensus approach on the issue and even try to win over China's support.

"Hum China ko bhi mananey mein kamyabi hasil kar lenge (We will succeed in convincing China too)," she told the media.

Sushma Swaraj said India would not oppose any other application for entry into the NSG but underlined the final decision should be decided on merits.

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HYDERABAD: Flying Officers Avani Chaturvedi, Bhawana Kanth and Mohana Singh on Saturday created history by becoming India's first three women fighter pilots when they were formally commissioned into the Indian Air Force.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar commissioned them into the IAF after they successfully completed their training at the Air Force Academy in Dundigal on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

Hailing from Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan respectively, the trio was the cynosure of all eyes at the Combined Graduation Parade at the academy and said they were happy over the opportunity given to them to serve the nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet from his personal Twitter handle: "It is a matter of immense pride & joy to see the first batch of women fighter pilots being inducted in our Air Force. More power to them."

The three women, who broke the gender barrier to etch their names in IAF history, will get to fly fighter jets next year only after the completion of stage-III training at Bidar in Karnataka.

The women, who earlier flew the Pilatus and Kiran jet trainers, will now get to train on the Hawk advanced trainer jets for a year before they can fly the supersonic warplanes.

They were visibly elated after the defence minister conferred on them the 'President's Commission' to formally induct them into the IAF.

Talking to reporters, they said it was a great honour to be in the first batch of women fighter pilots in the IAF. "We are happy to get this opportunity to serve the country," said Chaturvedi.

They said they enjoyed the six-month training at the academy and never felt that they were being treated differently from male trainees.

Asked what role they expected to play in the force, they said they will now focus on the next level of training.

Chaturvedi, hailing from Satna district, comes from a family of army officers. She was inspired to join the IAF by her brother, who is in the army.

She said she always wanted to fly and joined a college flying club during her graduation days.

Bhawana Kanth, from Darbhanga district, said she always dreamt of flying planes as a child.

She opted for the fighter stream after successfully completing her stage-I training.

Daughter of an Indian Oil Corporation officer, she said she had set her mind on becoming a fighter pilot and serve the nation.

Mohana Singh from Jhunjhunu district said her grandfather was a flight gunner in the Aviation Research Centre while her father is a warrant officer in the IAF.

Mohana said she is excited to continue the family legacy of serving the nation.

While women pilots have been flying helicopters and transport aircraft since 1991 in the IAF, it was last year when the government decided to allow women into fighter jet cockpits.

In February, President Pranab Mukherjee announced that women cadets will be allowed in combat roles in all three defence services.

Speaking at the parade, Parrikar said more women would join the armed forces.

The minister reviewed the colourful passing-out parade and conferred the 'President's Commission', on behalf of the President of India, on 129 graduating trainees of various branches, including 22 women trainees.

Parrikar also presented the 'Wings and Brevets' to the newly commissioned officers of the flying branch and to officers from the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard.

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600 journalists to cover Popes visit to Armenia

Some 600 journalists have applied for accreditation to cover cover Pope Francis upcoming visit the Armenia, the Foreign Ministry said in its latest tweet. Pope Francis is due to arrive in Armenia on June 24. After the official welcome ceremony at Zvartnots Airport, the Pontiff will leave for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. A welcoming service will be held in the Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin. The same day Pope Francis is scheduled to meet with Serzh Sargsyan at the Presidential Palace. His Holiness is also expected to meet with a group of high-ranking officials, civil society and diplomatic corps. In the morning of June 25, Pope Francis will visit the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial and the Armenian Genocide Museum Institute. He will later leave for Gyumri together with the Catholicos of All Armenians to serve a Holy Mass at Vardanants Square. In the evening of June 25 an ecumenical service and a Prayer for Peace will take place at the Republic Square in Yerevan, offered by His Holiness Karekin II and Pope Francis. On June 26, the Pope will meet with Armenian Catholic Bishops and will participate in a Holy Liturgy and an ecumenical dinner at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. Pope Francis and the Catholicos of all Armenians will sign a joint statement and will hold a prayer at Khor Virap Monastery. The Pope will return to Rome on June 26.
NEW DELHI: Concerned over a widening trade deficit with South Korea, India, on Saturday, sought greater market access in sectors such as agriculture, marine, IT and healthcare in the East-Asian nation.

The issue, among others, was discussed at the review meeting of the India-South Korea free trade agreement, officially known as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharamanand her South Korean counterpart Joo Hyunghwan took stock of the progress in bilateral trade since CEPA came into effect from January 1 in 2010.

It was the second meeting of the joint committee at the ministerial level to review CEPA.

Agreeing to stepping up trade in services, Sitharaman was in favour of greater market access for Indian IT and healthcare industry in Korea, the ministry said in a statement.

Following India's request, the Korean minister agreed to study visa requirements to enable Indian teachers to teach in Korea under the English programme.

"The ministers agreed that the widening trade deficit was a matter of concern for India and the Korean minister observed that the wider economic slowdown was one of the causes of increasing trade deficit," the statement said. India had trade deficit of about $10 billion in 2015-16.

The Korean minister promised that his country is open to strengthening trade with India and allowing Indian exporters greater market access on a reciprocal basis.

He also signalled that Korea could make investments under the Make in India programme for mutual benefit.

Sitharaman also impressed upon the Korean side to open up market in agriculture, marine, IT and other services.

Both the ministers agreed that the utilisation rate of the bilateral concessions given under CEPA needs to be improved.

"Recognising the need for providing greater market access and mutual capacity building in SPS(sanitary and phytosanitary) and TBT (technical barriers to trade) measures, the ministers agreed that Korean companies could invest in food processing of agricultural and marine products so that these value-added products could be exported to the East-Asian markets," it added.

The ministerial-level meeting today got down to CEPA review as India and Korea in May 2015 had previously agreed to commence negotiations to amend CEPA by June 2016 with a view to achieving qualitative and quantitative increase of trade through an agreed road map.

It was also stressed upon Korean companies to encourage further participation in key initiatives such as Make in India, Digital India, Skill India and Smart City.

The bilateral trade between the two stood at $16.59 billion in 2015-16. The trade is highly skewed in favour of Korea.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Of all the tired, anti-drug mantras kids hear at school, "Just Say No" has to be the most infuriating.

Here, with the nuance of being pressured, social and teenaged in 2016, is Illuminart's latest project: "Prescription for Addiction."

The 12-act play by the community theatre group was improvised by seniors at Wagner High School, then written using their own words by a playwright and professional drug counselor.

The result is an acknowledgment of the pressures Staten Islanders are realistically facing in its worst ever prescription drug and heroin epidemic. Since January of this year, more than 75 people have overdosed on Staten Island. About 50 have died, according to figures from the District Attorney's office.

Illuminart and its tribe of professional actors -- not teens, but informed by them -- is now offering the free performances to schools, PTAs, community groups and other organizations. They premiered it on May 3 at the JCC, and will perform four scenes at Assemblyman Ron Castorina's drug forum on June 22.

While most of them are geared toward teens, four of them were written for parent audiences, like "The Blame Game," an emotional scene between a mother and father whose son becomes addicted to drugs.

In the act, the father is blamed for not being around enough, and the mother is blamed for letting their son get addicted in the first place.

In another, a group of friends are concerned about a student's addiction and seek help from a counselor to stage an intervention -- a task much easier said than done, but more accessible when students can see the scene acted out before them.

And another act has a student confronting the fact that she won't be living her dream of going to NYU after high school after drug-usage holds back her grades. But, she learns she can still get credits at a community college and transfer to the university.

"A lot of the anti-drug messages are scare tactics. Our message is: this isn't going going to be easy if it happens to you, but there will be help."

As part of the writing process, the Wagner students learned more about the drug epidemic from Natalie DiRocco of Tackling Youth Substance Abuse, who was also one of the addiction professionals involved in the creation of the play.

"The students were shaken to learn more deeply of the devastating drug epidemic on Staten Island and eager to produce a play that would capture the magnitude of the problem," DiRocco said. "It's powerful to see Staten Island teens use their voices through creative outlets to educate their peers on issues impacting the community."

The plays empower students to resist peer pressure, but not in the corny D.A.R.E. way. Almost all the plays were written using students' own ideas, making it more realistic to the challenges they encounter, said Randy Topper, Illuminart's creative director.

"It's been 25 years since I was their age, I can't pretend to know the pressures they face," Topper said.

Illuminart hopes to get the plays to younger teens. While the subject matter may seem too serious, "by the time you think your child might be facing this, it's going to be too late," Topper said.

For parents to see the plays help them understand what their children might be facing in such a pervasive drug culture. Illuminart hopes the dialogue better equips adults to handle situations and know they are not alone in any struggles they may face.

Funding for the productions came from NYS Senator Andrew Lanza, NYC Councilmember Steven Matteo, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

More information on performances is at call 347-951-9650 or email

.
Courtesy photo | Disney/Pixar

The 10 best Pixar scenes

Ranking the 10 best scenes from Pixar movies is the type of self-imposed task that drives a person mad. There are far, far too many - at least a dozen from the "Toy Story" films, a half-dozen from "Inside Out," the entire first act of "WALL-E." But it gave me an excuse to re-live my favorite moments from some of my favorite films of the last two decades. And the task ultimately gave me, yes, joy.

- John Serba

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10. 'Finding Nemo': Shark support group

Of course, you know that Bruce is what Steven Spielberg and co. nicknamed the mechanical great white in Jaws, right? Love the comic twist in this sequence  Fish are friends, not food!  set in the shadowy, mildewed murk of a shipwreck, underscored with a great and dreadful unease made real by Bruces sinister, not-so-reassuring zillion-toothed smile. As scary (references to The Shining) as it is funny (He never even knew his father!), the scene is representative of the films vivid, detailed animation and exceptional ear for dialogue and character.

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9. 'Presto,' in its entirety

Dont forget the Pixar shorts, many of which are whimsical gems. None more so than Presto, the hysterically funny battle of wills between a magician and his hungry bunny sidekick. The film is an exercise in inventive slapstick rooted in the central gimmick of the maestros magic hat. I could watch this over and over again  and I have.

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8. 'Ratatouille': Paris, up and down

Remys subtle eyeroll as he witnesses French lovers quarrel and embrace is a fab flourish in this skillfully rendered sequence. The rat skitters up pipes and through cracks in the tile, over ceilings and under floorboards, past a dog that might be Dug from Up, deftly avoiding a mousetrap, then up a downspout to a gorgeous, romantic view of the Eiffel Tower at twilight. The evocative lighting and sharp detail in beautiful moments like this render Ratatouille the most understated of all Pixar features  and the most underrated.

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7. 'Inside Out': The subconscious

Riley's subconscious is populated with her greatest fears and nightmares. Through a broccoli forest, past the stairs to the basement, Joy and Sadness discover the horrifying Jangles the Clown, a towering figment with crazy eyes and a traumatizing grin (and if youre familiar with Hayao Miyazakis classic My Neighbor Totoro, youll enjoy an added layer of referential comedy). Jangles wrecking of Rileys insipid dream about dancing unicorns and ice cream cones is the movies biggest, best laugh.

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6. 'Inside Out': abstract thought

Shrewdly contrasting Riley's primal subconscious is this highly intellectual area of Rileys mind, also rich in comedy and concept. Bing Bong, Joy and Sadness experience different stages of abstraction: non-objective defragmentation, deconstruction, two-dimensional flattening and finally, evolving into non-figurative forms. I almost cant stand how clever it is. Kids and adults laugh wildly at this sequence for entirely different reasons.

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5. 'Monsters Inc.': Doors, doors and more doors

Mike Wazowski, Sully and little Boo take a remarkable ride in this roller-coaster chase sequence, a zany modern riff on the old in-and-out-of-lots-of-doors gag we saw in classic Looney Tunes shorts. Except in this case, its a vast warehouse of doors leading to other realities ranging from a tropical paradise to a Paris bungalow with a beautiful view. Its a complex and crisply funny sequence stitched together magnificently by directors Pete Docter and David Silverman.

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4. 'Toy Story': Buzz Lightyear discovers he's a toy

One recurring thread of the Toy Story trilogy is Buzzs existential journey. To infinity and beyond! is his catchphrase, but his characters most meaningful expedition is within his own consciousness. In the first Toy Story, he experiences deep despair after learning he cant really fly or shoot lasers. In the second, he stares at a toy-store aisle stacked with his doppelgangers, and he interacts with one as delusional as he was in the first film. In Toy Story 3, he discovers another facet of his programmable personality: Spanish-speaking, flamenco-dancing Buzz. Hes the most fascinating representation of the mysterious and evocative rules of the Toy Story reality.

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3. 'The Incredibles': Dash runs on water

Dashs giggle as he realizes he can run on the water, the retro spy-movie score, the bad guys spinning saucer-ships, the gorgeous tropical scenery (how about those spindly rock formations over the shimmering aquamarine water?) and the speed, the speed, the speed. Heres proof that The Incredibles isnt just one of the greatest Pixar films  its one of the best action films of the new millennium.

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2. 'WALL-E': Space dance

The masterful first 30 minutes of WALL-E is less a scene, more of a short film in itself - so I won't include it in this list. But the space-dance sequence between WALL-E and EVE is a little slice of perfection as well. A joyous, playful and whimsical three minutes, scored beautifully by composer Thomas Newman, it features not only visual wonders  the firing engines, the twirling trails of EVEs exhaust and WALL-Es fire extinguisher  but the title hero, boxy and awkward on the ground, experiencing grace in outer space. And freedom. And love. The moment never fails to make hearts flutter.

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1. 'Up': The story of Carl and Ellie

Im not crying, YOURE crying. Nobody escaped unscathed from this masterwork, which makes us blubber every time we see it: a wordless montage encapsulating the big and small moments, the dreams and disappointments, of a love story. Its so sweet. Its so sincere. Its so pure. Its so timeless. Its so heartbreaking. So, so heartbreaking.

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Honorable mention: 'Toy Story 3': Flamenco Buzz

I referenced this earlier, but wed be remiss if we didnt watch it, right? The scene is representative of pure, belly-laugh comedy in the Toy Story films, which are packed with such moments.

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Honorable mention: 'The Good Dinosaur': The pet collector

Although The Good Dinosaur is rife with eye-popping, immaculate scenery, its far from the best Pixar film. But this scene is a hoot  the introduction of a weirdo-shaman Styracosaurus (voiced drolly by director Peter Sohn) with a bizarre entourage of animal buddies (This is Dreamcrusher. He protects me from having unrealistic goals). The moment embodies the best stuff from the film  visual details, wondrous character design and the occasional eccentricity that are spikes of inspired genius in an otherwise mostly conventional story.

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More on Pixar

Pixar movie reviews:

"WALL-E" (2008)

"Up" (2009)

"Toy Story 3" (2010)

"Brave" (2012)

"Monsters University" (2013)

"Inside Out" (2014)

"The Good Dinosaur" (2014)
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NYPD Commissioner William Bratton speaks during a news conference in Times Square in March, following explosions at the airport and subway system in the Belgian capital of Brussels. Bratton said Sunday that another terrorist attack against New York City is inevitable, but that the NYPD is well-prepared. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- NYPD Commissioner William Bratton said another terrorist attack on New York City is inevitable, but the city is prepared.

It's not a question of "if" but "when" the commissioner told radio host John Catsimatidis on his Sunday show "The Cats Roundtable" aired on WNYM/970 AM.

Bratton, speaking just a week after a lone gunman killed 49 people in a gay nightclub in Orlando, said the "reality of what happened is occurring much more frequently" and "becoming much more deadly because of the type of weapons being used."

"These are weapons of war," he said, referring to assault rifles used in Orlando and other massacres, "and when they are used in a civilian environment they are catastrophic."

But Bratton reassured New Yorkers that the NYPD is well-prepared and well-funded to combat another attack.

Bratton said statistics confirm the most damage in an assault is done in the first five minutes of an assault.

He said the NYPD has two elite, highly-skilled units prepared to arrive at the scene within the first five minutes of an actual assault. "This is a capability that no other city in America has."

Bratton also said the city will be beefing up security measures surrounding the Gay Pride Parade next weekend.
Screen Shot 2016-06-19 at 7.20.45 PM.png

This photo from the FDNY Women's Benevolent Association's Facebook page shows JoAnn Restko, who died Sunday while climbing in the Adirondacks. (Source: Facebook)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An FDNY EMS Lieutenant from Staten Island died in a hiking accident in the Adirondack mountains, Saturday afternoon, according to a press release from the Essex County Coroner, Francis Whitelaw.

Lt. JoAnn Restko, 37, of Arden Heights, died while hiking at Roaring Brook Falls in the town of Keene, the release says.

She was hiking with a friend when she went to a ledge at the top of the falls to take a photo, the report states.

Her companion said Restko disappeared from sight, and when she was unable to locate her, she called rangers from the Department of Environmental Conservation.

The DEC found Restko's body at the base of the falls. An investigation revealed that Restko fell 80-100 feet, striking the rock walls as she fell.

An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

A Facebook post, from the FDNY Women's Benevolent Association, mourned the loss of Lt. Restko.

"It is with deep regret to announce the passing of our sister," the post read.
Deputy Inspector James Grant and Deputy Housing Chief Michael Harrington.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Two top NYPD officials who live on Staten Island have been arrested in connection with an ongoing probe into corruption in the Police Department, officials announced Monday.

The arrest of Deputy Housing Chief Michael Harrington and Deputy Inspector James Grant, both borough residents, are expected to be announced during a noon press conference held by NYPD Commissioner William Bratton, the FBI and Preet Bharara, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Non-Staten Islanders expected to be charged include Sgt. David Villanueva from the NYPD's licensing borough, and Brooklyn businessman Jeremy Reichberg.

From 2012 to 2015, Grant, Harrington and Reichberg "willfully and knowingly have devised and intended to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud and to deprive the New York City Police Department and the people of the city of New York to their intangible right to the honest services of Harrington and Grant," according to a complaint posted on the Department of Justice website.

The complaint alleges Reichberg and a co-conspirator "provided personal and financial benefits" worth tens of thousands of dollars to Grant and Harrington in exchange for "official action."

Reichberg "cultivated close relationships" with numerous NYPD officials, including Grant and Harrington, by providing them with "substantial bribes," according to the complaint.

Those bribes paid to Grant, Harrington and others, the complaint alleges, included flights, expensive meals, hotel rooms, prostitutes, and prime seats to sporting events.

In exchange for those gifts, Reichberg was able to have Grant and Harrington on call, "ready and willing to use their official authority within the NYPD to provide assistance," the complaint alleges. That assistance included police escorts for them and their friends, assistance with private disputes, police resources for security at events, and the ability to get out of tickets, authorities allege.

According to the complaint, Reichberg offered to take Grant to Las Vegas for Super Bowl weekend in 2013. Reichberg also arranged for a prostitute to join the group on a private jet, and the woman stayed in Grant's room during the trip, authorities allege.

Reichberg also allegedly paid for work to be done at Grant's home.

Harrington received regular dinners and tickets to sporting events, including New York Rangers and Brooklyn Nets games, and a family trip to Chicago, authorities allege.

Grant, who, according to public records lives in Annadale and headed an upper East Side's 19th Precinct, had previously been placed on modified duty after it was alleged he accepted gifts from a Brooklyn businessman at the center of the probe, his lawyer, John Meringolo told the Advance in April.

Meringolo vehemently denied the charges at the time.

Harrington, the executive officer of the Housing Bureau, is a Westerleigh resident.

He formerly served as deputy chief of Manhattan North, Advance records show. He comes from a long line of police officers, with 11 family members as current or prior members of the NYPD citywide.

The NYPD has already taken action against several police officials who live on Staten Island in connection with the probe.
Saratoga Springs is a well-known stop for migrant workers who come and go with the summer racetrack season. Much less known are the city's long-term immigrants from a small town of Triqui indigenous people in Oaxaca, Mexico. Many share close ties from home, they tend to speak more Triqui than Spanish, and most work behind the scenes in Saratoga restaurants. Theirs is a fascinating storyhow best to convey it?



Jake DeNicola '15 has some ideas. Through anthropology professor Bernardo Rios, he learned of the Triqui region and met Eleuterio Ramirez '18, the son of a Triqui family in Saratoga. Last summer DeNicola joined Rios and Ramirez in Skidmore's monthlong Storytellers' Institute, a part of the Moore Documentary Studies Collaborative, to nurture documentarians in audio, video, and other media. He began by videoing interviews with local Triqui people, he says, "to document their day-to-day lives and what it's like becoming a Saratoga resident or helping more recent immigrants adapt."



Jake DeNicola, Bernardo Rios and Eleuterio Ramirez Jake DeNicola, Bernardo Rios and Eleuterio Ramirez

Critiques and conversations with other participants in the MDOCS Storytellers' Institute, and with the accomplished artists leading it, helped the trio plan and edit. Particularly useful was the assignment to present a weekly four-minute "project pitch" video for feedback from the participants. As DeNicola recalls, that exercise "made me gather my thoughts, develop the story, and find my vision."



And the project inspired a spinoff: the trio recently returned from Mexico, where Ramirez visited old schoolteachers and family he hadn't seen for years, while DeNicola captured footage. This video is on track for the February entry deadline in 2017's international Oaxaca Film Fest.



Meanwhile, DeNicola has been asked to contribute an eight-minute video to an MDOCS exhibition at Saratoga's Spring Street Gallery. He'll provide a segment of his multi-year project on the personalities behind the '60s rock band Moby Grape. "That film is my baby," he says, and the invitation to prescreen it in progress "has been a great opportunity for me to really interact with it again."







2016 Storytellers' Institute 2016 Storytellers' Institute

This year's institute participants are getting similar opportunities. Student projects range from mind-altering drugs and first-time sex to a family memoir and the nuances of civil-rights history.





One faculty participant is sociologist Rik Scarce. Having written about the salmon industry, ranching and wolves, and sustainability in the Hudson River region, he's now exploring the lifestyle movement of barefoot running. His video interviews with America's fastest barefoot runner, expert podiatrists, a sandal purveyor named Barefoot Ted, and some 50 others need to be shaped into a compelling and informative package. He's curious "whether my organizational methods for a book can work for a video. As a scholar, I don't need to tell a story, but in this video I want to." Consulting with the institute's "brilliant fellows, expert documentarians, and creative students is a challenge and a gift."



Erika Schielke, a Skidmore biologist who has worked in public radio, is getting input into her audio podcasts on field biology across upstate New York. She recorded scientists on a moose-tracking session, a rattlesnake survey, a study of road salt in waterways, and more. One question for the institute: when things go wrong"as they do in even the most expert field science," she saysis it embarrassing or enhancing? When the moose tracker halted for intense scrutiny of a distant brown shape that soon proved to be only a log, the moment gave an authentic taste of real field research, and Schielke was gratified that her fellow storytellers encouraged her to include it in her finished podcast.



The arc of a riveting story, the technology and tricks of presenting it, and the insights that a narrative can awaken in its audience are all being honed in this month's Storytellers' Institute. Full details are here.
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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

Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh

USA Embassy Message for U.S. Citizens

ANCA Issues National Call to Action to Stop Taxpayer Funding of Aliyevs Aggression
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Jirayr Sefilyan arrested: Police search premises of Sardarapat Movement (video)

18.00 The search started by the Armenian Police in the office of Sardarapat Movement on Monday lasted about two hours. Varujan Avetisyan, a member of the Founding Parliament opposition movement, says Karabakh war veteran Jirayr Sefilyan was detained before the start of the search. The investigators who were carrying out the search took with them numerous old documents, two computers, three notebooks which did not belong to the movement. Varujan Avetisyan says Sefilyans detention is politically motivated. Sefilyan was the first to speak about the situation in the country and Serzh Sargsyans unlawful actions, including the surrender of territories. 14.42 Police in Armenia are conducting a search in the premises of the Sardarapat Movement led by Karabakh war veteran Jirayr Sefilyan. When reporters knocked on the door of the office, a police officer dressed in black and wearing a mask opened the door and closed it shortly afterwards. Numerous policemen are grouped in the yard. No one in the neighbourhood seems to have any information as to when and under what conditions police arrested Jirayr Sefilyan. Members of the Founding Parliament movement cannot be contacted on the phone. 13.43 Police officers, who arrived at the scene of an accident that occurred on Tsitsernakaberd highway in Yerevan on May 20 2016, found two AK-74 rifles with 120 bullets in one of the cars. The driver and passenger of the car were detained on suspicion of acquiring, carrying and transporting illegal arms and ammunition. Also, a criminal case was initiated under Article 235.2 of the Armenian Criminal Code. The investigation revealed that one of the detainees, Jirayr Sefilyan had come to an agreement with an armed group to take over buildings, important structures and communication centres, including Yerevan TV Tower. For that purpose, they purchased illegal weapons and ammunition and hid them in different places. Moreover, some members of the group had planned to carry out criminal actions during the four-day war in early April. The police found part of the illegal weapons at the scene of an accident on May 20. Based on the evidence obtained during the investigation of the case, eight people were charged with acquisition, possession transportation of illegal arms and ammunition. Six of them were arrested and a manhunt has been announced for a seventh member of the group. Police state that some of those arrested have confessed to the arms charges. Jirayr Sefilyan was arrested on June 20 for organizing purchase and possession of illegal arms and ammunition by a group of people, the Investigative Committee reports.
Readers, is Matthew Higgins, the man in our picture, posed at Belconnen beside the "brutalist" flanks of Geocon's mighty under-construction Wayfarer apartment skyscraper? Or is he out in the brutishly rocky wilds of Namadgi National Park? Which do you think it is?

Brutalism in architecture has been an occasional theme of ours in recent days. We reported how there is some deliberate "brutalism" (characterful expanses of raw concrete) about Geocon's Wayfarer. Geocon says this is a deliberate echo of all the existing Belconnen brutalism.

Matthew Higgins posed in a brutalist-looking ACT place. Credit:Matthew Higgins

But of course the burliest and best brutalist role models are found outdoors in Nature. The famously outdoorsy high-country trekker and photographer Matthew Higgins has just sent us come pictures taken either at Namadgi National Park's Split Rock.

"Split Rock must be one of the most magical places in Namadgi and indeed the broader high country. All those right-angles, the verticality, plus the paving of exfoliated granite pieces on the ground give it a real tomb-like ambience. A demanding ascent into the ACT's mountain fastness, but well worth it when you get there.
Witness For The Prosecution. By Agatha Christie. Directed by Aarne Neeme. Canberra Repertory Society. Theatre 3. Until July 2. Bookings 62571950 or canberrarep.org.au.

A foghorn can be heard in the distance and a cloud of fog wafts across the impeccably constructed set of designer Quentin Mitchell and into the small auditorium of Theatre 3. It heralds the unfolding mystery of Canberra Rep's production of Agatha Christie's Witness For The Prosecution. Britain's queen of crime fiction departs from the sleuthing of quaint Miss Marple and the idiosyncratic Hercule Poirot to enter the formal world of the law and the courtroom. It is a male domain in which women cannot be trusted and foreigners are to be regarded with suspicion. It is 1952 and misogyny prevails. Postwar Britain clings tenaciously to the past as it confronts a changing order.

Pat Gallagher as Sir Wilfrid Robarts, Emma Wood as Romaine Vole and Jerry Hearn as John Mayhew. Credit:Elesa Kurtz

In Arne Neeme's carefully observed production, Sir Wilfrid Robarts QC (Pat Gallagher), solicitor Mr Mayhew (Jerry Hearn) and prosecutor Mr Myers QC (Peter Holland) exude the pomposity and self-assurance of their status. It is the women who are relegated to subservient roles in the case of Sir Wilfrid's secretary Greta (a delightfully coquettish performance by Morgan Heathwilliams) and murdered Emily French's housekeeper Janet Mackenzie, played with feisty conviction by Alice Ferguson. Emma Wood as Romaine, the foreign wife of defendant Leonard Vole (Cole Hilder), imbues her character with mystery. Suspicion is aroused and Sir Wilfrid's closing comment at the end of the first act takes on an ominous significance: "Never trust a woman."

Director Neeme clearly understands Christie's intent in writing the original short story. The consequences of the war are still apparent. Women have once again been relegated to pre-war roles and, in 1952, the king has died and a young queen has ascended to the throne. The arrest of young Leonard Vole and his subsequent trial in an intriguing and formal, traditional courtroom process serves as Christie's astute commentary on conservative values and traditional expectations. Through it all, she weaves her intricate web of clues and twists and turns to bewilder and intrigue. The audience becomes the jury, engrossed in the argument, assailed by clues and eventually most cunningly manipulated by Christie's ingenious surprise ending.
A man accused of trafficking more than 28 kilograms of ice told a friend to calm down as men unloaded containers filled with a substance he noticed resembled broken glass in his garage, a court has heard.

Andrew John Connors, 37, was charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of methylamphetamine and went on trial in the ACT Supreme Court on Monday.

Connors was arrested after police searched a car in Canberra's west and found 24 plastic bags filled with ice hidden in three separate parts of the car in October 2014.

The bags contained a combined total of more than 28kg of ice worth an estimated $5.7 million, the court heard.

It's alleged Connors had discussed a proposed drug run from Canberra to Melbourne with another man in the weeks before the ice was uncovered.
Pope's visit is an attempt to awaken European countries - theologian (video)

The visit of Pope Francis to Armenia is not accidental. If we carefully analyze his statements we shall understand that he conveyed powerful messages. He is the holder of far-reaching actions and well-calculated policy of the Catholic Church, theologian Vardan Khachatryan said today. He says the planned visit shows Pope Francis exclusive attitude to Armenia and its people. He is making a pilgrimage to Armenia. Pope Francis, one of the famous Popes of the Roman Catholic Church, is coming to our country this week. But I must say that Pope John Paul II was the most popular among the Popes. Pope Francis is not visiting a Caucasian country as they often say; he is visiting a nation that has a major role in the Middle East. The theologian also recalled the Pope's previous message. Pope Francis said that the genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire was not only against Armenians, but unlike, Assyrians, Greeks and Kurds, Armenians were able to raise the issue on the international level. The Pope believes that in Armenia he has a powerful pillar of support. The visit can ensure our protection to a certain degree. His visit is an attempt to awaken European countries, Mr Khachatryan said. Pope Francis is due to arrive in Armenia on June 24.
And they can be fat profits. I'll stick with Estia as an example as its accounts are readily available, unlike those of the unlisted operators. Estia reported first half EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) of $39.7 million on revenue of $196.2 million  a very tasty margin of 20 per cent. Net profit after tax came in at $23 million  a 12 per cent margin  but the company reaffirmed and has not since changed guidance that it expects net profit of $56 million for the full year. The vast majority of that comes from the government. So Susan Ley's MYEFO announcement of a $472 million saving and the budget disclosure of $1.2 billion cut over the forward estimates apparently isn't worrying Estia. The lack of concern comes from Estia claiming it rorts the system much less than most aged care providers. Yes  that is an extraordinary statement, but it's effectively what Estia told the stock market in response to "media speculation" that the company was under a special government audit. "Like all providers Estia is regularly audited by the government," the company announced. "There is no other government audit in relation to ACFI claims. Estia has materially more accurate claims than the industry average with a significantly lower error rate of one in 14 on ACFI claim submissions over the last two years versus an industry average of one in eight."

Oh, Estia has only been caught over-claiming 7 per cent of the time while for the industry overall it's 12.5 per cent. One in every eight claims is, um, "dodgy". Well that's all right then. Not. An occasional mistake in complex government funding is understandable. More than occasional mistakes look like operators gaming the system. One-in-eight reeks of fraud, hundreds of millions of dollars of it. If you're on the dole, get a job and fail to inform Centrelink, you can cop a criminal record. One-in-eight "errors" and there's just a belated tightening of an inherently faulty system, plus the promise of fines  but only for really, really naughty repeat offenders. As we've seen in countless arenas, from commission-driven financial planning to soap powder and cardboard box cartels, provide incentives and the means to rort a system and some people will rort it. The means in aged care at the heart of this one-in-eight over-claiming is the payment mechanism, the ACFI  Aged Care Funding Instruments. Basically, the government pays aged care providers more  a higher ACFI  for clients who have greater needs. The less a client can do for him or herself, the greater the medical needs, the worse any behavioural problems, the more the government will hand over every day. Your typical aged care provider will have a full-time ACFI manager encouraged to get the most out of a complex system.

It's in the providers' interest to maximise ACFI, to maybe exaggerate how helpless or difficult a client might be. The client, Fred, can't cut up his own food? Tick  more ACFI. It is not in the providers' interest to employ therapists and carers to empower clients to do more to look after themselves. Very obviously, therapists and carers cost money to begin with and if Fred regains the ability to cut up his food  less ACFI, less income. A nice Tony Boyd Chanticleer column suggested the listed companies had themselves to blame for attracting Minister Ley's cost-cutting attention by aggressively boasting about their ACFI skills. Estia's first half results announcement runs to 36 pages, but its success in boosting its ACFI income in the centres it's been running for a while, the "mature" operations, is on page three. In the six months to December 2014, Estia's "mature" average daily ACFI payment was $166.52 per client. Six months later, it was $177.58 a day. Six months later, it was $184.36. Some of that is indexation, but indexation wasn't 11 per cent for the year to December 2015.

Estia's growth model that so enraptured the stock market last year is to buy out other aged care operators and "transition" the homes to mature status. That means cutting operating costs, increasingly occupancy ratios and boosting ACFI. As a result of leaving the lid off a honey pot for operators' to self-assess, the government subsequently has had to put a great deal of effort, bureaucratic time and taxpayer money into auditing that assessment. Yes, there are public servants who go around aged care facilities and sit down with Fred to see if he can cut up his food, among other things. The Department of Social Services conducted 4,800 individual ACFI reviews just in the December quarter. Of those, 13 per cent (the one-in-eight) were downgraded. But that's the national figure  nearly 30 per cent of the 199 reviews in South Australia and the Northern Territory were downgraded and Queensland wasn't much better  22.5 per cent. Victorians were the most honest or compliant with 6.6 per cent downgrades. But what's much more shocking is that none of this ACFI system has anything to do with the quality of care. A high ACFI (the maximum is $211.40 a day) doesn't mean Fred is receiving more care, just that he needs it. How much of the ACFI is spent on looking after Fred and how much is pocketed by the operator is mainly a matter of the integrity of the individual facility manager. To receive government funding, childcare centres have to meet minimum staff ratios. Aged care centres don't.

Oh, there is another bureaucracy, the Australian Aged Care Quality Agency, which is charged with checking that a facility meets accreditation standards. The standards are not particularly prescriptive  things mainly need to be "appropriate" and have "systems in place". That flexibility can be a good thing  what's "appropriate" in some circumstances might not be possible in others  but it also leaves a great deal of room for variance. According to the agency's last annual report, more than 95 per cent of the audited residential care facilities met all accreditation standards. Just 80 of Australia's 2,682 homes were put on a "timetable for improvement" to meet the standards. Only a passing experience of the aged care sector is necessary to see the divergence of quality  but the ACFI rolls on. There's a clear moral hazard in a system that pays operators more when people are sicker, where there's a disincentive to go beyond minimum accreditation standards. And there are subtler hazards. As Estia has demonstrated, the money is in high ACFI clients  so low ACFI clients are less likely to be catered for despite still requiring accommodation. A similar problem has arisen with the availability  or lack of availability  of respite beds. A bed given over to respite care deprives an operator of the chance of grabbing a bond. There are homes that only offer theoretical respite care  unless the client is likely to sign up for a bond and full-time accommodation.
EXCLUSIVE

The corporate watchdog has moved to wind up internet firm Uglii and several of its subsidiaries while alleging the firm breached company laws, in a move that may result in thousands of the firm's shareholders losing their investments.

The move by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission was prompted by an investigation by Fairfax Media that alleged the firm and its now former chief executive, John Knorr, had engaged in serious corporate misconduct by misleading investors - including thousands of Victorians - to generate at least $25 million for his struggling online search firm.

Mr Knorr allegedly fabricated or grossly exaggerated his claims about Uglii's activities and potential earnings.
A Sydney fast-food outlet allegedly fabricated employment records and underpaid 11 Korean workers more than $108,000. Jae Kwang Kim, who owns and runs six Little Vienna outlets in the Sydney CBD, is facing the Federal Circuit Court in Sydney. A Sydney sandwich outlet faces court for underpaying workers. Credit:Eddie Jim The Fair Work Ombudsman is taking legal action against Mr Kim and his company after 10 South Korean employees on 417 working holiday visas and one on a student visa were allegedly underpaid a total of $108,931 between December, 2012 and April, 2015. One worker was allegedly underpaid more than $29,000. Most of the workers spoke little English and were paid $10 an hour for their first two weeks of work and flat rates of $11 to $13 an hour. They were allegedly entitled to adult rates of $21.21 to $23.15 an hour under the Fast Food Industry Award.

The Fair Work Ombudsman alleges that Mr Kim and his company provided inspectors fabricated records showing staff had been paid much higher rates than they received. Legal requirements for pay-slips and minimum engagement hours were allegedly breached . Mr Kim faces penalties of up to $10,200 per contravention, while Little Vienna Pty Ltd faces penalties of up to $51,000 per contravention. Acting Fair Work Ombudsman Mark Scully said the employees were back-paid in full late last year. He said legal action was being taken because of the seriousness of the alleged conduct and the involvement of vulnerable overseas workers. The Ombudsman is seeking court orders to force Mr Kim and his company to undertake a professional audit of compliance with workplace laws and training in workplace laws. Last week, the Fair Work Ombudsman took legal action against a manufacturing business that illegally exploited dozens of Chinese and Filipino workers for as little as $4 an hour.
Over three years ago, when it was announced that Australia would export live cattle to Vietnam, I wrote in The Canberra Times that the decision would result in "the final layer of credibility" being stripped from the live exports industry. At the time, a succession of barbaric incidents had been exposed and the public was outraged. "To send live Australian animals to Vietnam to slaughter," I wrote "is to invite further disaster." Yet, here we are.

Three years later, the inevitable has been exposed. Our faith in the inherent goodness of human kind has been dealt another savage blow. Once again, an industry will plead ignorance and argue that it, too, is appalled by such behaviour. Any overreaction from the government, they again argue, will cost Australians jobs and our neighbours in Asia access to much-needed protein. It is time that they are called out.

A worker makes preparations for cattle to be slaughtered in an abattoir in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Animals Australia has released footage shot by their activists of cruelty to cattle in an abattoir. Credit:Ulet Ifansasti

This situation says as much about our democracy as it does about attitude to animal welfare. This outcome is predictable as the original decision was lamentable. I wrote in 2012, "The Vietnamese government does not have a proud record in respect to animal welfare. The notion has little resonance locally." It was only a matter of time before such an incident was exposed. The willing ignorance of an industry and a government department that lobbies on its behalf is no longer acceptable.

We have been here before. The Prime Minister recently said, in reference to the suspension of live cattle exports to Indonesia, that "most Australians  were horrified by that live cattle ban". No, they were not. There was popular repulsion to the acts of brutality that occurred in an Indonesian abattoir, and the electorate demanded their government take action.
Have our expectations of the timing of a reply become unrealistic? A study from the University of Southern California examined over 2 million email users. It found 90 per cent of people respond within a day or two of receiving an email to which they plan to respond.

I'm up to email four for the lunch venue, a Bedouin tent offering a biblical style experience. I haven't yet received a reply. Are they not running a business?

I seem to be surrounded by the other 10%. How many more emails must I send before the Bedouin tent people respond? Where's the response to my job application? Why haven't I received the treatment options the doctor said he'd send through last week?

One common reason cited by friends and colleagues for not responding sooner rather than later or not responding at all, is that they don't wish to be the bearer of bad news. Apparently, ignoring the email, hoping the sender will get the hint or that the issue will be forgotten is deemed an appropriate way of dealing with the matter.

But does no response always mean no or that it's been forgotten?

I sought out the two people in my world who I gauged would receive a large number of daily emails and asked about their strategy. One works in the not-for-profit area and receives, on average, 250 emails a day. Some will receive an immediate response, some she will take time to consider and some will fall off the list.

The other person, the principal of a large independent school my children attend, receives up to 200 emails a day. He, too, deals with the easiest first but tries to respond to, or at least acknowledge all emails within the same day. "I don't plan to go to bed until I've cleared my inbox."
"Let us win this election so we put to bed forever the argument that funding schools is not an investment in our future," Mr Shorten said.

Labor still struggles, though, to counter voter views that the Coalition is stronger on economic management. As such Mr Shorten stressed Labor's plans for economic equity: "Mine will be a government for the fair go, fully paid for "; "Prosperity for everyone who works and prosperity that works for everyone"; "Structural reform, not savage short-term cuts."; "The only three-word slogan we want to see and hear in the next three years is Made in Australia"; and in relation to the Coalition's $50 billion tax cuts for business, "This is not a plan for the Australian economy. It is foreign aid for foreign companies".

He belittled the economic dividend from those tax cuts as just 0.1 per cent to GDP each year for a decade  then when that's over, schools and hospitals still need to be fixed. Mr Shorten also offered an expanded, one-off, one-year tax break for enterprises that employ under 25s, over 55s or carers re-entering the workforce.

Mr Turnbull has the advantage of being the incumbent when jobs growth is continuing, albeit driven by casual employment, and when the economy is expanding at close to its long-term average rate. There is also the uncertainty of the Brexit vote this week and fears of more terrorist-related attacks.

Polling suggests Mr Shorten will struggle to gain the 19 seats required under electoral boundary changes for Labor to form government. Labor's primary vote fell 3 percentage points to 33 per cent in the latest Fairfax-Ipsos poll which showed rising support for the Greens and the Nick Xenophon Team. Other polls point to Labor doing well in its safe seats but falling short in key marginals.
The advertisement, in which a tradesman sits on a building site and laments how Bill Shorten's War On Business is stopping him getting ahead through investment properties, has been dissected in the sort of forensic detail that makes one rejoice in one's fellow Australians. Everything from the on-again-off-again working class accent to the suspiciously fancy watch and chunky wrist chain, which were presumably selected to signify "aspiration!" but would be serious OH&S liabilities on a work site, to questions as to why the circular saw is set up in the alley outside the fencing to why anyone would use a ceramic mug where it's definitely going to be smashed (is there a coffee machine there too?) have been discussed at hysterical length. There's also the sheer number of memes on the trending Twitter topic #faketradie - many making the accurate comparison between the "tradie" on screen and Steve Buscemi's private investigator in 30 Rock. "Me and me mates down the work site were just discussing offshore shell companies in Panama"

And in a lovely little bit of Streisand Effect, the government took to social media to insist that the gent portraying the tradie was a genuine tradesperson and absolutely not an actor - after all, the great scandal the Coalition played upon in 2013 was that Kevin Rudd's ads featured actors. But technically acting is a trade, right? Although it's hard to know if that's the government's position, since they're yet to release any sort of arts policy. How long is a while? Also, does anyone else think it's weird to have an election ad end with a statement like "we should just see it through and stick with the current mob for a while"? (Or, as it's emphatically delivered, "we should just SEE it through", which is even more weird.) But a while? That's not exactly a ringing endorsement, considering this is literally a paid advertisement selling the authority of the current government. Wedding vows that celebrated sticking with the current spouse in sickness and in health for a while would probably get some strong bathroom discussion at the reception.

If only the ad agency had also gotten Stoner Sloth involved. That would have really sent the message home. Dare to Medicare Meanwhile, there's a pretty solid question being asked about the future of Medicare: specifically, if such a thing exists. According to Labor, the Coalition has been planning to gut and sell off Medicare, claiming this has been part of the plan for every Coalition government. And to be fair, the facts have seemed to suggest this is the case. After all, Liberal leader Malcolm Fraser abolished Medibank after it was introduced by the Labor Whitlam government, then it was resurrected by Labor's Bob Hawke and renamed Medicare, then John Howard started giving rebates for those using private health insurance while cutting the Medicare rebate for doctors - the same trick that the Turnbull government has done, and which the Australian Medical Association is campaigning against.
Flowers surround a photograph of British MP Jo Cox. Her death is almost forgotten in the social media storm about how to characterise her attacker. Credit:Chris Ratcliffe "He may be gay," some now say, "but he was still a Muslim". "He may have been Muslim," others say "but his hatred was driven by his own confusion which itself is driven by homophobia  just look at his father." The Orlando victims immediately were mourned, but also became martyrs to a cause of anti-Islam, pro-gay rights, US gun reform or perhaps even pro-mental health. The latter may have the most validity. When Cox was murdered I noted that many of my conservative "friends" immediately criticised people for "politicising" the crime in the context of the UK referendum. I pointed out that if the murderer had yelled "Allahu Akbar" instead of "Britain first", these same people would have immediately politicised the murder and labelled this man and this attack as an Islamic extremist act of terrorism.

But he didn't yell "Allahu-Akbar". He yelled another political slogan. "Britain First". Is it any wonder that the loudest voices calling for the non-politicisation of Cox's murder were anti-EU campaigners? Was this not a radical, lone wolf Brexit supporter's act of terrorism? Not to my friends. Their cause could not possibly be linked to an act of terrorism, could it? On reflection I agree with my friends. The murderer was deranged and was not actually connected to the Brexit campaign. But in Orlando the murderer had no links to Islamic State or other terrorist groups. To politicise one and condemn people for politicising the other is breathtaking hypocrisy  and I said so. In calling out my friends I repeated the hypocrisy I accused them of, but from the other view. In yelling we all forgot the main point of both events. Innocent people had died. When something tragic happens now, social media gives us a platform, not to speak, but to yell. Not to engage, but to bully, not to consider, but to scream. Social media has lots of proclaiming and no listening. Things can be said online that threaten friendships in reality.

And I found myself doing this and I didn't like what I was becoming. But I miss the positives to social media. I created a closed group that includes 50 cousins, and cousins' children. Facebook allows me to connect with cousins a generation removed that normally would not be known to me. Recently two of them joined me on a trip to Scotland to visit the land of my great-grand father and their great-great-grand father. We shared the trip video with all our cousins. The closed family group is a magnificent way to share family births, deaths and marriages. In the end this sharing might drag me back to social media. But if it were to, I need to be cautious not to become a "screaming hater". Social media is a magnet for the like-minded  positive and negative. IS recruits the vulnerable on social media. Trump supporters proclaim "build the wall" and do not listen to the voices opposing the wall. Democrats scream that Trump is a fool, yet don't stop to consider why he has gained traction. Few are listening to the other side any more. Is this what society has become? A shouting match? A contest of loudest voice not strongest idea?
It's difficult to argue that children should be able to purchase a device that mimics smoking (and comes in a variety of lolly flavours) at their local convenience store. Or that we should be comfortable with electronic cigarettes being marketed as glamorous and cool, just as regular cigarettes used to be.

For the uninitiated, an electronic cigarette (or e-cigarette) is a battery-powered device that heats a liquid, containing chemical flavours, to a temperature at which the liquid vapourises. The vapour is inhaled from the device and exhaled by the user in an action that is very like smoking a cigarette. Hence the terms "vaping" and "vaper" as opposed to "smoking" and "smoker".

An international review of clinical trials concluded that there is little evidence that e-cigarettes help people quit.

This week the Victorian parliament is considering, for the first time, introducing restrictions on e-cigarettes: banning their sale to children, restricting their advertising, and preventing vaping in smokefree areas.

In the US the number of high school students using e-cigarettes tripled from 2013 to 2014, from 660,000 to 2 million. These figures prompted the director of the US Food and Drug Administration's Centre for Tobacco Products, Mitch Zeller, to worry that "the progress we have made in reducing youth cigarette smoking rates is being threatened". Most states in the US now ban sales of e-cigarettes to minors, in line with the new laws proposed in Victoria.
With pet Chihuahuas Coco and Basil at his feet, Louis Nowra is sitting in his living room, a room better known to most as the bar of Woolloomooloo's Old Fitzroy Hotel. He's off the grog, he says, pointing at his glass.

Nowra, 65, has a film about to go into production and a manuscript to submit to his publisher by June 30. "I can't talk about it because it might put the mozz on it," he says. "When it's done, I will start drinking rather hard. Until then, I'm on lemon, lime and bitters."

Louis Nowra with one of his dogs, Coco, out the front of the Old Fitzroy Hotel in Woolloomooloo. Credit:Janie Barrett

After the book is done, Nowra says, he will finish a new play.

This is news. Nowra, the author of some of the best-known and most performed plays in Australia  Cosi, The Golden Age, Radiance and Summer of the Aliens among them  hasn't written anything for the stage in a decade, preferring to concentrate on screenplays and non-fiction, including the documentary series First Australians and a biography of Kings Cross.
Donald Trump has a new identity in a video that has gone viral on the internet  as a Ranga Manga Monster who destroys the world.

Papa Trumpusan, as he is being called, stars in what appears to be a campaign ad for Japanese television, but is in fact the work of 28-year-old Hollywood-based video artists Mike Dahlquist, aka Mike Diva.

He also created the electronic music track (Our Glorious Leader) used in the clip, which shows a young Japanese woman (Chloe Doan) seemingly day dreaming in a bedroom plastered with images of The Donald when news comes on the television that he has been elected World President.

That's the cue for her to enter an alternative realm where everything is Trump-flavoured. She glides in space through a cityscape comprising nothing but Trump towers. She passes through a portal in the shape of a Trumphead and emerges in an orchard of Trump-faced cherry blossoms. She rides on the back of a giant Trump-headed alpaca (a fundraising Super alPACa, maybe?) and finally embraces him as nuclear rockets blast off. The pair then transform into a giant robot (according to some observers, it's a Robo-Beast from the 1980s anime Voltron), which erects a giant wall, blasts into space and destroys the Earth with a well-aimed laser blast.
One of Australia's most prolific and acclaimed producers, John Edwards, is partnering with Roadshow Films to create original long-form TV and feature film content. Edwards' recent credits include Offspring, Puberty Blues, The Beautiful Lie, Howzat: Kerry Packer's War and Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo. Edwards left powerhouse production company Endemol Shine Australia at the end of 2015, hinting at plans for a new production company at the time. His son, former ITV Studios and Endemol executive, Dan Edwards, is partner of the newly formed outfit, to be called Roadshow Rough Diamond.

TV's favourite neurotic, Larry David, is returning to HBO with a new season of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Eight seasons of the envelope-pushing comedy  David plays a version of himself, invariably negotiating squirm-worthy, foot-in-the-mouth faux pas  were made between 2000 and 2011, picking up a swag of awards. Announcing the revival, David said: "In the immortal words of Julius Caesar, 'I left, I did nothing, I returned'." A launch date has not been announced. Meanwhile, a flurry of details has emerged about another show that has risen pheonix-style from the ashes, Gilmore Girls, fuelling speculation its un-dated launch may be imminent. The Netflix reboot will consist of four, 90-minute "features".

Crime wave

While notorious police officer Roger Rogerson was on trial for murder  a jury last week found he and fellow detective Glen McNamara guilty  across town in Sydney production has been secretly underway on a sequel to Blue Murder, the gripping 1995 miniseries about the corrupt copper. With the latest trial done and dusted, details have emerged that Richard Roxburgh will reprise his role as Rogerson in a two-part miniseries with the working title The High Road, which apparently picks up Rogerson's story the year he was acquitted for the attempted murder of police officer Michael Drury. The Seven Network is rumoured to be the broadcast partner.

Cashing out

One can only speculate the reasons for Seven to pull the plug on its previously announced reality show The Day The Cash Came, first reported by TV Tonight, a British format in which a struggling family is given a bundle of cash to improve their lives. Nine launches a similar show, The Briefcase, this week, which has already attracted a firestorm of criticism for its ethical lapses (the twist in The Briefcase is whether hard-up couples will keep the money or hand it to equally impoverished souls). But according to Seven, it has other shows in development for the second half of 2016, including the broadcast of the Rio Olympics.
"They are certainly living better than the Nauruans, I would say," David Adeang asserted on A Current Affair's exclusive report on Nauru.

But there are three problems with the Justice Minister's assertions and each of them was given exposure on the program.

The first is that the comforts Adeang outlined do not extend to all of the asylum seekers on the tiny island.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has implored teachers to tie their vote "to what happens in the classroom" and back Labor's promise to deliver the full Gonski schools funding package.

"Labor has chosen education, please choose Labor," Mr Shorten told teachers and officials at a Catholic schools convention in Perth.

"This election is about setting the certainty, once and for all, of funding for schools. Setting, once and for all, the end of the end of the education wars. The establishment of needs-based funding at the core of education debates in this country.
The difficulty of travelling around Sydney is one of the biggest issues facing the city. And it is such a big issue Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten don't seem to know what to do about it.

The western Sydney policies released by the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader over the past two days are striking for what they are not. That is  they are not anything like a clear indication to potential voters of what it is they are being asked to vote for.

They are not promises to build shiny new train lines to take commuters from Place A to Place B.
An explosion of international stories reporting on the parlous state of the Great Barrier Reef is likely to see fewer people visit Australia, according to the first-ever overseas survey of tourist attitudes.

And this will have implications for jobs and the economy.

The outcome will increase the pressure within Australia to place a moratorium on all new coal mines, based on the direct environmental damage caused by the mines through run-off into coastal waters, and on the fact that the coal itself adds significantly to carbon dioxide emissions.
No election day is complete without a sausage in bread* smothered in a condiment of your choice  with or without onion  and now it is going global.

Homesick voters in the Netherlands will be able to go to the Australian Embassy at The Hague and get a sausage in bread "To get the real voting experience", its website says.

No cake stall, no vegetarian option but The Netherlands Embassy is running an election sausage sizzle stall.
Nagorno Karabakh can never be part of Azerbaijan - Eduard Sharmazanov

On June 20, the RA NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov received the Chairman of Saint Alexander Nevsky Public Foundation, the Chairman of the Honor and Courage Foundation, the Member of the RF Writers Union Alexander Rabinovich. The RA NA deputy Hayk Babukhanyan attended the meeting. Welcoming the guest, Eduard Sharmazanov has highly assessed the Armenian and Russian peoples centuries-old friendship, which is based on Christian values and connected with strategic partnership. At Alexander Rabinovichs request, the NA Deputy Speaker touched upon the problem of Nagorno Karabakh (NK) conflict settlement, talked about the Armenian-Turkish relations and the process of the Armenian Genocide recognition. Eduard Sharmazanov informed the guest that the Armenian side, unlike Azerbaijan, is for the peaceful settlement of the conflict based on the international three principles. The NA Deputy Speaker presented to the guest Azerbaijans unleashed aggression on the Karabakh-Azerbaijani line of contact at the beginning of April, the atrocities committed towards the Armenian servicemen and the civilians and the absurd statements regularly sounding by the Azerbaijani authorities. Speaking about the NK independence process, Eduard Sharmazanov particularly said: Nagorno Karabakh has never been and cannot be part of Azerbaijan: there is no alternative for the international recognition of Nagonro Karabakh. He has also noted that during the April war Turkey has shown evident support to Azerbaijan, which today continues its Pan-Turkism and denial policy, keeps Armenia under blockade for about 23 years. The interlocutors highlighted the necessity of joint struggle against genocides, terrorism, xenophobia and fascism that have become evil for humanity, considered significant the works directed to the preservation and dissemination of the cultural heritage. They discussed concrete steps aimed at further cooperation. At the end of the meeting the Chairman of Saint Alexander Nevsky Public Foundation, the Chairman of the Honor and Courage Foundation, the Member of the RF Writers Union Alexander Rabinovich awarded the RA NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov and the RA NA deputy Hayk Babukhanyan Honour and Courage Order.
The administrator appointed to run an enlarged Inner West Council says he would have no problem with council elections taking place early next year.

Local Government Minister Paul Toole has declared administrators are to remain in charge of newly formed councils until September 2017, when elections will take place.

The length of time until elections are to be held for new councils has received criticism, including from adjunct professor Graham Sansom from the University of Technology, Sydney, for undermining local democracy.
Sydney's light rail shut down on Monday as tram workers went on strike over concerns about safety and unfair shift changes.

The service will sit dormant for 24 hours between midnight on Sunday and midnight on Monday.

Light rail passengers were forced to stand on packed replacement buses during the morning peak hour while, at later stops, large numbers of people have had to get off to make room for those behind them to disembark.

The industrial action comes after negotiations between the Rail, Tram and Bus Union and operator Transdev over a new enterprise agreement broke down.
Convicted insider trader Oliver Curtis should not be sent to jail because he has already been the subject of "inaccurate, harassing, vile and scandalous" commentary on social media and his risk of reoffending is "non-existent", according to submissions filed in the Supreme Court.

Curtis, 30, was found guilty on June 2 of conspiracy to commit insider trading with his former best friend John Hartman after a 12-day trial and two days of deliberations by the jury.

He was released on bail pending Justice Lucy McCallum's decision on sentence, which will be handed down on Friday.
After months of bad news, Downer EDI is looking to the fastest growing economy in Australia for a glimmer of light.

With the loss of its biggest mining services contract in April, the engineering megalith is changing the way it works with an emphasis on small to medium outfits in Victoria.

Fabian Borgonha, Managing Director of Unique Rail, says working with Downer has been broadly a great experience.

It's a process that Downer, which spends $800 million in the Victorian economy, is calling "supply chain engagement".

Last week it held a series of town hall style meetings across Victoria, with hundreds of suppliers in attendance. The meetings were aimed at getting a broader range of businesses to buy into Downer's Victorian footprint.
Troubled by Donald Trump, Apple will reportedly not provide free computers or funding to the US Republican National Convention  a break with tradition.

The company, along with other tech giants like Facebook, Google and Microsoft, usually contributes technology and funding to both the Republican and Democratic national conventions, where each party officially nominates their candidate for President.

Apple contributed just under $200,000 in MacBooks and other technology to each party's convention in 2008, and lent much technology in 2012.

Two sources told Politico that Apple privately communicated its political stance to Republicans, citing presumptive nominee Trump's comments on women, immigration, and minorities.
That compares to a $2023 per hectare contribution to the state's water supply, a $2667 per hectare contribution to agriculture and $353 per hectare from tourism.

The analysis, by a team of environmental accountants, economists and scientists, from the Australian National University's Fenner School of Environment and Society, found native forestry in the central highlands generated $29 of additional net economic activity per hectare in 2013-14.

A detailed analysis using a United Nations' system of environmental and economic accounting concludes the net economic contribution from forestry in the area is relatively minor compared to the contribution to the state's water supply, tourism and farming.

Victoria's Central Highlands' forests would potentially generate more income for the state if they were permanently preserved to store carbon rather than logged, according to a major study.

Drawing on a range of sources, including ABS figures and VicForests and Melbourne Water annual reports, the report also estimated that on current trends there will be no suitable saw logs left in 10 years, assuming there are no fires.

But VicForests general manager planning Nathan Trushell disputed the figures, arguing the economic contribution from forestry in the area was much greater.



"The numbers quoted by ANU significantly underestimate the economic contribution of the hardwood timber industry in Victoria," Mr Trushell said. "The industry based in the forests from Healesville through to Gippsland contributes hundreds of millions of dollars to the Victorian economy each year."

One of the report's authors, ecologist David Lindenmayer, said the gap between the economic contribution from forestry and water was particularly stark, given the area feeds the Thomson and Armstrong Creek systems.

"Let's be frank, the timber industry is basically worth 1/70th what the water value is," Professor Lindenmayer said. "This is really dumb economics - we can work out what is happening in every hectare of forest in the region and the very sobering outcome is that you discover that there is not much saw log resource left."

"Forestry is incompatible with water production and this has been known for about 40 years. The values of carbon, tourism, water and biodiversity are complimentary, whereas forestry is mutually exclusive to all of those other things."
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and others remain on the run after a violent carjacking in Melbourne's south-east where a driver was attacked with a hammer, police say.

Investigators were told the 40-year-old victim was driving his Mercedes on Waverley Road in Malvern East at 3.30am and as he slowed for the lights at the Belgrave Road intersection, another car nudged the back of his.

The car behind hit him twice more before the Mercedes driver got out to see what was going on.

Police said he was grabbed by three men who jumped out of a Kia and pushed him around before dragging him to the ground and rifling through his pocket for keys.
Belinda Shi is determined to shatter the stereotype of the coder as "a man with nerdy glasses in a dark room".

The 17-year-old Methodist Ladies' College student has made history as the first Australian female to compete in the International Olympiad in Informatics.

But she does not want to be seen as "that female" on the male-dominated Australian team.

"I want to be seen as the person on the informatics team who just happens to be female," she said.
Police are rummaging through rubbish at a tip in Melbourne's south-east after a report of a body.

A garbage truck driver was dumping a load of rubbish at the Hampton Park landfill at 9.50am on Monday when he thought he saw a human hand.

He was unable to stop the flood of rubbish piling on top.

His sighting sparked a police search at the Hallam Road site.
NKR Foreign Minister visits Danish Island of Bornholm

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Karen Mirzoyan, who is on a working visit to the Kingdom of Denmark, participated in the annual People s Meeting Folkemdet public forum in the Danish Island of Bornholm. On June 19, in the framework of the forum, Karen Mirzoyan delivered a speech at a meeting-discussion in the pavilion of the European Movement of Denmark chaired by the hairperson of the organization Stine Bosse. In his welcoming speech, the Foreign Minister stressed the importance of the meeting in terms of raising awareness about Artsakh in Denmark, as well as presenting the existing realities in the NKR and the position of Artsakh on international and regional issues. Answering the numerous questions of the participants, the NKR Foreign Minister briefed them on a range of issues related to the national-liberation movement of Artsakh, the current stage of the Azerbaijani-Karabakh conflict, the achievements of the NKR in the state-building process, and the foreign policy priorities of the Republic. On the same day, Karen Mirzoyan visited the Art Museum of the island of Bornholm. During the ceremony organized there, he handed over a sculpture by talented sculptor of Artsakh Hayk Hakobyan to Director Lars Krulf Mller for the collection of the museum. In its part, the Bornholm Museum donated a work by Bornholm artist Lenny Goldemberg to the Shushi State Museum of Fine Arts. The sides exchanged views on the prospects of possible cooperation in the spheres of culture and museology.
The federal government is investigating after discovering that a Perth bushland, due to be bulldozed for housing, could already be home to endangered flora.

City of Swan councillors in January recommended that the WA Planning Commission approve the subdivision plans for a 1300-lot housing development on the site of more than 60 hectares in Midvale, in Perth's foothills.

Flowers in the patch of bush deemed by Tauss & Associates Biodiversity Consultants to contain a threatened ecological community. Credit:Phil Cloran

Despite councillors' reported unhappiness with the application, it was carried, on condition that concerns - including concerns about a banksia woodland significant both for its vegetation and as black cockatoos habitat - be addressed.

The Farrall Road bushland is right next to a protected Bush Forever site but falls outside the protected boundary.
A 32-year-old Landsdale man has died at Rio Tinto's Channar iron ore mine in the state's Pilbara region.

About 12.30am, police received reports of an incident in which fitter Lee Buzzard had received fatal injuries.

M&A in the mining services sector is under way. Credit:Louie Douvis

They attended the site near Paraburdoo, 1500 kilometres north of Perth, and are now preparing a report for the coroner.

"On behalf of all our employees, we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of a 32-year-old employee who died last night while working on a drill," Pilbara Mines managing director Michael Gollschewski said.
He was referring to a pro-Leave poster unveiled last Thursday by UKIP leader Nigel Farage, which bore the slogan "Breaking Point" over a photograph of Syrian and Afghan refugees crossing to Slovenia from Croatia in October last year. A white and red rose where Jo Cox should have been sitting in parliament. Credit:PA The poster attracted criticism even before Mrs Cox's death became front page news, as online observers noticed its startling resemblance to a scene in a Nazi propaganda film. Mr Kinnock said Mrs Cox "would have responded with outrage and with a robust rejection of the calculated narrative of cynicism, division and despair that it represents. Because Jo understood that rhetoric has consequences. When insecurity, fear and anger are used to light a fuse then an explosion is inevitable."

Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron and Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn arrive at St Margaret's Church in London for a memorial service for Jo Cox. Credit:Matt Dunham/AP Politics of division and fear and incendiary slogans had twisted patriotism into loathing, he said. Mr Farage defended UKIP's poster on Monday, saying the "picture was real" and "reflects the truth of what's going on", and was on the front pages of the national press last year  though he conceded it was "unfortunate timing" that it was released the same day as the "terrible, tragic" killing of Mrs Cox. On Monday, leading Conservative Baroness Warsi, a former foreign office minister, said the poster had been the final straw that persuaded her to switch from the Leave to the Remain camp. "We cannot just carry on irresponsibly running divisive campaigns and xenophobic campaigns and campaigns that create hatred in our communities," she said.

"What we have consistently heard in the last two months is that the Turks are coming and the terrorists are coming and the Syrians are coming and the refugees are coming and the Muslims are coming and it is not the kind of campaign that we should be running." The poster has also been criticised by Leave campaigner, justice secretary Michael Gove, who said he shuddered when he saw it. However Mr Farage accused Mr Gove of using similar material. "(Mr) Gove had better look at his own posters, pictures of Abu Hamza, warnings about terrorists and murderers coming into Britain at free will," he said. A Yorkshire man with reported links to right-wing extremists has been charged with the murder of Mrs Cox.

Thomas Mair, 52, gave his name in court on Saturday as "death to traitors, freedom for Britain". He appeared in court again on Monday at the Old Bailey, this time saying "yes I am" when asked if he was Thomas Mair. Mrs Cox' husband Brendan and their two children were in the public gallery at Westminster to hear the MPs' tributes, along with her parents and other family members. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said "we have lost one of our own and society as a whole has lost one of our very best", calling for "a kinder and gentler politics. Politicians had a responsibility not to "whip up hatred or sow division", he said. Prime minister David Cameron said Mrs Cox was an "extraordinary colleague and friend", a loving, passionate and progressive politician "who epitomised the best of humanity and proved so often the power of politics to make the world a better place."
Jakarta: At least 35 people have been killed by landslides and floods on Indonesia's Java island and many others are missing.

Dozens of houses have been buried in the landslides and thousands of homes inundated by floods in Central Java province over the weekend.

The National Disaster Management Agency said torrential rains had caused emergencies in 16 districts of the province since Saturday afternoon.

It said 25 villagers were still missing in the worst-hit district of Purworejo.
Orlando: The US Justice Department and the FBI on Monday released what they said was the complete transcript of the phone conversation between the Orlando, Florida, shooter and 911 police operators in which the gunman pledges allegiance to Islamic State's leader.

"I pledge of allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi of the Islamic State," a statement by the Justice Department and the FBI quoted gunman Omar Mateen as saying.

The statement said the reason why only a redacted transcript of the conversations was released earlier on Monday was sensitivity to the interests of survivors and victims' families, and the integrity of the investigation.
The Eternal City has elected its first female mayor in its 3000-year history, in a ballot that will test Prime Minister Matteo Renzi's popularity.

The decisive victory for the telegenic 37-year-old lawyer Virginia Raggi, of the 5-Star Movement, and her anti-corruption platform marks a huge shot in the arm for the anti-establishment party headed by the raucous comic Beppe Grillo, who was in Rome at M5S headquarters celebrating with Ms Raggi.

"Today we need two things: honesty and courage," Ms Raggi tweeted on Sunday, quoting 20th-century socialist politician and former president Sandro Pertini.

The result is likely to pile pressure on Mr Renzi, who faces a crucial referendum on constitutional reform in October on which he has staked his political career.
A British man accused of trying to take a police officer's gun and kill Donald Trump during a rally in Las Vegas will not be released on bail.

US Federal Magistrate Judge George Foley said at a hearing on Monday that Michael Steven Sandford, 20, was a potential danger to the community and a flight risk. Sandford, who wore leg irons and appeared to tremble during the court hearing, is charged with an act of violence on restricted grounds and was assigned a federal public defender.

He has not entered a plea.

Public defender Heather Fraley said Sandford appeared to be competent and hadn't been diagnosed with a mental illness but that he has autism and previously attempted suicide. He was living out of his car, didn't have a job and was in the country illegally after overstaying a visa.
But here's the shocker  apparently over the course of the campaign Lewandowski was caught, and these are the words used by The Washington Post, "saying things that were untrue." If that's the case, then Trump should be sacked too.

Washington: Something sure had to be done to rescue Donald Trump's foundering presidential bid, but while some of the given reasons for campaign manager Corey Lewandowski being told 'You're fired,' make sense, others are patently absurd.

Organisationally, the buck had to stop with Lewandowski, but there's nothing organisational about the actual crises that have dragged down Trump's polling numbers in the last month  save for the candidate's O-shaped mouth and the crazy stuff that issues forth, like his bellicose attacks on the California judge; his "what-a- clever-boy- am-I" tweets even as the bodies of the victims remained strewn in the Orlando nightclub; the rising bigotry of his attacks on Hispanics and on Muslims and his call for all Muslims to be barred from entering the USand on and on and on.

"You're fired": Donald Trump told hard-charging campaign manager Corey Lewandowski in a dramatic shake-up. Credit:AP

Lewandowski's fate, reportedly was sealed when Trump's three children and his daughter Ivanka's husband, the New York publisher Jared Kushner, ganged up on him  it didn't help that in trying to push back against critics who are so close to the candidate, Lewandowski is said to have attempted to plant negative stories about Kushner in the news media.

Other Trump and GOP associates had been urging that Lewandowski might have been a good egg in steering Trump to victory in a wild, state-by- state race in a field of 17 for the Republican nomination, but that he did not have the experience or the temperament for a national general election campaign.

Stripped bare, Lewandowski got the shove because he was divisive and he lost in a bitter internal power struggle to 67-year- old Paul Manafort, an experienced national campaigner and lobbyist for a string of dubious foreign clients, amidst concern about a series of organisational short-comings when compared with the campaign machine constructed by the Democrat's Hillary Clinton  virtually no staff; patchy fund-raising; no general campaign advertising; only a few articulate surrogates; and a mishmash of super-PAC support in which none in particular had the blessing of the Trump campaign.
As he talked on the phone with dispatchers and crisis negotiators from the bathroom of the Pulse nightclub, Orlando gunman Omar Mateen said there was a vehicle outside with explosives and he would "ignite it" if police tried "to do anything stupid," according to a partial transcript released by the FBI on Monday.

He told those on the other end of the phone that he "did the shootings" and he vaguely threatened more attacks.

"In the next few days," he said, "you're going to see more of this type of action going on."
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Sunday June 19th, Fathers day, the Philipsburg Pioneers Pathfinders club which is a department of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and which work specifically works with cultural, social and religious education of children and adolescents in the age group between 10 and 15 yeas old visited the Police Head Quarters in Philipsburg. Part of their requirements involves giving back to the community and showing appreciation to others. To show their appreciation and gratitude to the men and women in blue the pathfinders served all officers on duty for the morning-shift with a very healthy pre-packed breakfast, consisting of Johnnie cakes, vegetarian sausages and soya, different type of fruits, porridge and bush tea.

Mrs. Jacky Barry who is a counselor with the Pathfinders Club stated on behalf of the other leaders that they realize that Police Force has been through a lot of difficulties lately and were more than very happy to bring some cheering to them.

The Police spokesman chief inspector Ricardo Henson on behalf of the Chief of Police and the management team accepted this wonderful gesture and thank the Pathfinders Club for having them in the minds and hearts. The inspector also encouraged the youngsters to continue to be an example to the others in particular the youth by occupying themselves with positives community oriented projects.

KPSM Police Report
GREAT BAY:--- Airport and tourism expert, Regina LaBega was the toast of the gathering at the first Caribbean Aviation Meet Up conference hosted by the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica, in Rousseau, Dominica from June 14  16, 2016.

LaBega gave a power point presentation on the topic, Sustainable Tourism: Key for Caribbean Airports, which was very well received. Everyone asked for a copy of the presentation following its delivery, said LaBega.

According to LaBega, sustainable tourism can be defined as Jamie Lisse of Demand Media does, as: Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.

The Caribbean Region is perhaps the most tourism-intensive region in the world, LaBega stated, quoting CTO statistics that show that tourism was responsible for about 14% of total GDP and generated about 12% of Caribbean employment (both direct and indirect) in 2012.

In 2011, for example, she said there were about 21 million International Tourist Arrivals in the Caribbean bringing in a revenue of US$24.5 billion, with a direct GDP contribution of US$15 billion, an indirect GDP contribution of US$32 billion, and creating 614,000 direct jobs.

LaBega pointed out the crucial role of aviation in supporting tourism, with over 54% of international tourists now traveling by air.

Arguing that airports are the gateways and not the destinations, LaBega said Regional airports can be valuable assets in sustainable tourism development. Airports are the destinations number one asset to sustain, grow and diversify its economy. Airports, therefore, need to be treated as such by governments, she added.

According to LaBega, Visitors to a country get their first and last impression of that country at the airport.

In her view, Airports can improve the passenger experience through management of efficient, safe, quality aeronautical services. They can enhance the passenger experience as was done at SXM Airport with the Food & Beverage outlets.

Research has shown that airports with the best quality passenger experience attract transit passengers who, in turn, support more routes, she said.

LaBega offered the following five-point recommendation to regional governments: 1. Invest money to promote their destinations; 2. Eliminate lengthy Visa processes; 3. Facilitate easier travel to and within the region; 4. Open up Air Markets (by allowing countries to start services without having to go through lengthy government-to-government negotiations for every new route or airline); and, 5. They should periodically review the capacity of their airports and air traffic infrastructure as compared to projected tourist demand.

She concluded that, Sustainable Tourism is a permanent work in progress that requires the active involvement by all stakeholders.

The role of airports for sustainable tourism is based on the fundamental dependence of the economies of the various islands in the region on the tourism industry, LaBega said.

In the end, Sustainable Tourism is the key to an airports development and the airport is the key to sustainable tourism.

According to the organizers, The focus of the conference is on experience exchange, interaction and participation, rather than on listening to speakers career or companys achievements. The result is a proactive platform upon which successful networking can be built, the perfect place for face-to-face business discussions and comprehensive group opinion exchanges on sector-specific topics.
Prior knowledge of the presence of alligators, will be key in the litigation

Disney, Inc. could face a stiff legal fight following the alligator attack at its resort in Orlando last Tuesday. Two year old Lane Grey from Elkhorn, Nevada, was drowned by the gator. His body was found the next day

"Disney is strictly liable for creating a hazard (a pool of dark water at a family resort. They knew or should have known about the danger of alligators inhabiting such a pool, in South Florida. Historically, the area was a swamp. Disney World should never have been built in the middle of an alligator infested swamp.

The Graves family could, and probably will, file a lawsuit in Florida against the theme parks corporation, questioning Disney policies about wildlife handling at the resort. That alligators fill the waters of Florida is common knowledge. And Disney's prior knowledge about the issue will be a key factor.

"Melissa and I continue to deal with the loss of our beloved boy, Lane, and are overwhelmed with the support and love we have received from family and friends in our community as well as from around the country," the Graves family said in a statement released through a spokesperson, Sara Brady of Sara Brady Public Relations. "We understand the public's interest, but as we move forward this weekend, we ask for and appreciate the privacy we need to lay our son to rest. Neither Melissa, myself or anyone from our family will be speaking publicly; we simply cannot at this time."

"No-swimming" signs are posted on the lagoon's beach. But if there's a legal case, it could turn on Disney's prior knowledge about the potential dangers of wild animals at the resort.

"There is a duty to warn guests of impending dangers. I've read that there were no signs warning of alligators at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort," said Scott Schutzman, a Plaintiff's attorney in Orange County.

Disney's case could even be argued under a higher legal standard, gross negligence, Branson says. "It appears to me that it's heedless - and actual disregard - of the safety and welfare of this child and family to merely have a sign up that says 'no swim'," Branson says.

"We are installing signage and temporary barriers at our resort beach locations and are working on permanent, long-term solutions at our beaches," Disney said in a statement. "We continue to evaluate processes and procedures for our entire property, and, as part of this, we are reinforcing training with our cast for reporting sightings and interactions with wildlife and are expanding our communication to guests on this topic."

Citing "an insider," TheWrap, a media industry publication, reported Wednesday that Disney's Polynesian Village Resort was aware of an ongoing problem of guests feeding alligators and had ignored staff requests to put protective fences in place. The Polynesian Village Resort is adjacent to the Grand Floridian and a short walk along the Seven Seas Lagoon, where the alligator attacked the boy.

The Grand Floridian is Disney's starship resort in Orlando and guests are often invited to the beach to watch movies and fireworks. Disney may have been concerned about scaring guests with overly explicit signs about animals, Branson says. "Think about the danger of saying this pond contains wild animals that can eat you or your children," he says. "But can you physically fix the problem? If you can't swim there, why put a beach there? The sign says one thing, but the appearance says another."

David Shiner, an attorney and managing partner Shiner Law Group in the Miami area, says the state's law doesn't require an owner of a land to anticipate the presence of harm from wild animals unless the owner either owns the wild animal or introduced it. "They didn't own the alligator," he said. "But if they know people are going into these areas, Disney has a duty to warn them if they knew of the presence of alligators."

Two year old lane graves died Tuesday when an alligator suddenly attacked him at the edge of a wading pond.

The issue of the presence of "indigenous animals" distinguishes Disney's case from the Cincinnati Zoo, where a 3-year-old boy fell into a gorilla exhibit. A 450-pound gorilla dragged the boy through a shallow moat before it was shot and killed. The boy survived with minor physical injuries.

The zoo owned the gorilla, and "there was a miscalculation on how to protect animals and customers from each other," Branson says. "And if you go to a zoo, parents are aware of dangers."

That Disney's resorts are populated by out-of-staters who are unfamiliar with alligators should also have been considered in warnings and signage, Shiner says. "In Florida, we know not to jump in," he says.

Disney could look to settle the case, if brought, to avoid negative publicity. But the company, particularly in Florida, is "notorious for strongly defending all cases brought against them," Shiner says. Family spokesperson Brady said Sunday that she couldn't comment on whether the company had hired legal counsel related to the incident.
Recreational Marijuana Initiative qualifies for the California's November Ballot. Will it be pre-empted by action of the DEA?

Drug Enforcement Agents from the DEA conducting a raid in Los Angeles. The Federal Government will make Marijuana a Schedule Two drug on August 1, 2016, effectively legalizing weed throughout the US.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will reclassify marijuana as a "Schedule Two" drug on August 1, 2016, essentially legalizing medicinal cannabis in all 50 states with a doctor's prescription, said a DEA lawyer with knowledge of the matter.

Update 6/28: The Recreational Marijuana Initiative qualifies for the California's November Ballot. Will it be pre-empted by action of the DEA?

http://www.smobserved.com/story/2016/07/04/news/dea-source-confirms-schedule-ii-medical-marijuana-is-in-the-works/1562.html

The DEA Lawyer had told the lawyer representing a DEA informant of the DEA's plan to legalize medicinal cannibis nationwide on August 1, 2016. When questioned by our reporter, the DEA lawyer felt compelled to admit the truth to him as well.

"Whatever the law may be in California, Arizona or Utah or any other State, because of Federal preemption this will have the effect of making THC products legal with a prescription, in all 50 states," the DEA attorney told the Observer. Federal Preemption is a legal doctrine that where the US Government regulates a particular field, State and local laws are overridden and of no effect.

He explained that "there are five DEA schedules. Nothing on Schedule One is ever legal, and that is where Cannabis is today. Schedule Two drugs are available with a prescription."

On Schedule Two, marijuana will join drugs like Percocet, Aderall, Oxycontin, Hydrocodone and other drugs that are legal, even common, with a prescription. There are also other drugs that are not on any schedules but that are illegal on a federal level, he said. Drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen are available over-the-counter.

He opined that the 135 medicinal cannabis clinic owners in Los Angeles will no doubt oppose this move by the Federal government, because the rule change will eliminate any reason for people to visit medical marijuana clinics. But they needn't worry. "In my opinion, CVS pharmacy, Rite-Aid and Walgreens will sell Schedule Two THC products similar to what users call "edibles," but will not sell smokable weed because of the health risk smoking anything entails," said the DEA lawyer.

The Los Angeles based DEA Attorney who spoke to us, asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to speak to the press about the matter. He speculated that this action will be taken in the closing days of the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, so as to motivate the Democratic base to turn out and vote for Hillary Clinton, and other down ballot candidates. She will certainly not reverse this policy decision taken in the waning days of the Barack Obama administration, he said. But Donald Trump might.

"Marijuana enforcement is a big drain on DEA resources," he said was another reason for the change, noting that 75% of the American public favor the legalization of marijuana for medical use.

Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson is in favor of legalizing marijuana and in fact owns a business which peddles pot in New Mexico.

California will vote on November 7th, 2016, whether to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Because of Federal preemption, the DEA's reclassification of cannabis as a Schedule Two drug, will have the legal effect of requiring a prescription in California--i.e., it will continue the status quo.

Since the Golden State legalized medical marijuana almost 20 years ago, Federal authorities have occasionally raided medical marijuana clinics here. They have forced major banks, like Bank of America, to close clinic bank accounts. The Feds have even seized real estate belonging to landlords who rent space to pot clinics. The Federal war on medicinal marijuana will abruptly end on August 1, 2016.

UPDATE 6/19 9 a.m. PDT: The Denver Post is now reporting that the DEA could reclassify Marijuana as a Schedule II drug, as early as July 1, 2016. https://www.denverpost.com/2016/06/17/how-the-dea-should-classify-marijuana/

UPDATE 6/22: The DEA wants to remove the barriers to cannabis research, a spokesman told aNewDomain in a lengthy interview. http://anewdomain.net/2016/06/21/on-cannabis-rescheduling-questions-the-dea-responds-exclusive/

8/01 is the new 4/20!

Medical cannabis, or medical marijuana, can refer to the use of cannabis and its cannabinoids to treat disease or improve symptoms; However, there is no single agreed upon definition, says Wikipedia. The use of cannabis as a medicine has not been rigorously scientifically tested, often due to production restrictions and other governmental regulations. There is limited evidence suggesting cannabis can be used to reduce nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, to improve appetite in people with HIV/AIDS, and to treat chronic pain and muscle spasms. Its use for other medical applications, however, is insufficient for conclusions about safety or effects.

In California, there are "weed doctors" who will write a prescription for cannabis to anyone claiming to suffer from anxiety, which means they passout prescriptions for pot like chocolate bars at a Halloween party. As with so many other trends that started in California, expect to see medicinal marijuana sold in your town soon!

Medical cannabis can be administered using a variety of methods, including liquid tinctures, vaporizing or smoking dried buds, eating cannabis edibles, taking capsules, using lozenges, dermal patches or oral/dermal sprays. Synthetic cannabinoids are available as prescription drugs in some countries; examples include: dronabinol and nabilone.

Recreational use of cannabis is illegal in most parts of the world, but the medical use of cannabis is legal in certain countries, including Austria, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands (where it is also legal recreationally), Portugal and Spain.

In the United States, federal law outlaws all cannabis use, while 25 states and the District of Columbia no longer prosecute individuals for the possession or sale of medical marijuana, as long as the individuals are in compliance with the state's medical marijuana sale regulations.

The DEA lawyer gave us his legal opinion that if you happen to live where recreational marijuana is now legal, i.e. Colorado or Washington State; after August 1, you will need a prescription, as you would need throughout the U.S.

However, an appeals court ruled in January 2014 that a 2007 Ninth Circuit ruling remains binding in relation to the ongoing illegality, in federal legislative terms, of Californian cannabis dispensaries, reaffirming the impact of the federal Controlled Substances Act.

The Federal Government will make Marijuana a Schedule Two drug on August 1, 2016, effectively legalizing weed throughout the US. You may be able to buy pot at Rite Aid in Santa Monica by the end of the year.

As explained above, moving marijuana from Schedule One to Schedule Two, would have the effect of legalizing medicinal marijuana, throughout all 50 States, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. This action may be taken by the DEA unilaterally--i.e., without specific Congressional authorization -- because Congress has previously granted the DEA rule-making authority over what drugs are on which schedules.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is a United States federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States. Not only is the DEA the lead agency for domestic enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act, sharing concurrent jurisdiction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), it also has sole responsibility for coordinating and pursuing U.S. drug investigations abroad.

Update: DEA Source Confirms Story, 7/04/2016. http://www.smobserved.com/story/2016/07/04/news/dea-source-confirms-that-schedule-ii-marijuana-is-in-the-works/1562.html
Actiance Announces Unleash 2016 Summit Featuring Leading Compliance, Risk and Regulatory Enforcement Experts

REDWOOD CITY, CA  (Marketwired)  06/20/16  , the leader in communications compliance, archiving, and analytics, today unveiled highlights for the upcoming , taking place June 22 at Convene Conference Center in New York City. With panels and keynotes featuring experts in risk concepts and regulatory enforcement, Unleash is the preeminent forum for regulated businesses wishing to stay ahead of compliance and uncover hidden value in their data.

Today, businesses must manage the use of multiple communications applications and networks that extend beyond just email  such as Skype for Business, Salesforce Chatter, and social media. These tools boost productivity, drive stronger customer relationships, and deliver faster time to market. However, organizations using these channels must address the increased risk of content security and regulatory, legal, and corporate governance issues.

Actiance Unleash 2016 brings together customers, partners, and industry experts for a day of networking and interactive learning about communications compliance, archiving, and analytics.

This years major attractions include:

, principal and head of capital markets practice, Compliance Risk Concepts (CRC). Cherry is an expert in trading surveillance, broker dealer compliance, and anti-money laundering (AML). She also served as managing director, head of global markets compliance and director of compliance for Societe Generale.

managing director of Navigantis a widely recognized anti-money laundering expert having served as an AML Regulatory Expert for FINRA, as Senior Enforcement Counsel, Financial Crimes Enforcement, for the US Dept. of Treasury, and as Senior Counsel, Enforcement Division for the SEC.

director of compliance, IPC Systems, Inc

Aamer Kaleem, CTO of Skype for Business, will discuss the rapid adoption of Skype for Business in the enterprise and the need for stringent compliance.

Kailash Ambwani, CEO of Actiance, will unveil new strategic partnerships, highlight customer implementations, and introduce exciting new developments in supervision and analytics.

Actiance Unleash brings together the most knowledgeable compliance experts in a relaxed, community-oriented environment, said Kailash Ambwani, CEO, Actiance. Its remarkable to learn from their experience as they lead engaging, informative discussions about the challenges facing the dynamic compliance market. Their stories help us grow as peers and understand why Actiance continues to be one of the industrys leading compliance and archiving technology providers.

In addition to partners, such as IBM, CellTrust, Exterro, and Verqu, that will showcase the latest in related services and solutions, attendees will also include social communications and compliance thought leaders, technology experts, and representatives from major global brands.

For additional information and to request an invitation, please visit: .

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Actiance is the leader in communications compliance, archiving and analytics. We provide compliance across the broadest set of communications and social channels with insights on whats being captured. Actiance customers manage over 500 million daily conversations across 70 channels and growing. Customers include the top 10 U.S., top 5 Canadian and top 8 European and top 3 Asian banks. The Actiance advantage is customers stay ahead of compliance and uncover patterns and relationships hidden within their data. Learn more at .

Actiance headquarters are in Redwood City, California. For more information, visit or call 1-888-349-3223.
Hedvig Unveils CloudScale Reference Architectures to Provide Enterprise-Ready Docker Solutions and Simplify Container Deployments

SANTA CLARA, CA  (Marketwired)  06/20/16  , the company modernizing storage and accelerating enterprise adoption of private and hybrid clouds, today announced its end-to-end to provide enterprises with proven, tested infrastructure templates. Hedvig unveiled three enterprise-ready solutions built on , and technology to help enterprise DevOps and ITOps teams save time, lower costs and reduce the complexity of deploying containers using Docker Datacenter, Windows and VMware. The company will demonstrate these Docker Cloudscale Reference Architectures at the conference, booth S15, on June 19-21, 2016, in Seattle.

Our customers are adopting containers using many different approaches  ranging from wholesale integration of Docker tools to augmenting existing VMware and Windows environments, said Avinash Lakshman, CEO and founder of Hedvig. Data becomes a critical consideration in these environments as modern storage must be highly elastic in order to adapt to constantly changing business needs. CloudScale Reference Architectures remove the guesswork and burden of getting these infrastructure stacks right. Our tested partner solutions harness the power of distributed systems to provide enterprise-ready solutions regardless of the container adoption approach.

With 67 percent of enterprises expected to increase spending on software-defined infrastructure in 2016*, faster, more flexible storage options are needed for IT departments looking to provision and deploy containers and cloud architectures in their data centers. However, the growing variety of DevOps tools and services means that the modern infrastructure stack is particularly susceptible to architectural inconsistency.

Hedvigs new CloudScale Reference Architectures provide consistency in storage deployments while maintaining the flexibility demanded by IT environments. New hardware-based and software-based reference solutions from Hedvig and its partners deliver a blueprint for scalable infrastructures to build, deploy and manage containerized applications and microservices, and to scale-out to meet growing demands.

Hedvig launched its first hyperscale integrated system, the Quanta CloudScale Reference Architecture for Docker Datacenter, which integrates leading Docker open source projects including Docker Swarm, Docker Engine, Docker Trusted Registry and the Docker Universal Control Plane. By combining the full container stack of Docker Datacenter with Hedvig Distributed Storage Platform software and QuantaGrid D51PH-1ULH hardware, enterprises are provided with an easy to install, datacenter solution for containers that runs on standard x86 datacenter-class servers and starts with as few as four nodes.

This new reference architecture is specifically designed to improve enterprise flexibility by scaling horizontally from small test and dev environments to thousands of containers in a production deployment  all provisioned across a distributed systems architecture that can keep pace with the dynamic nature of modern, containerized applications. DevOps and ITOps teams retain full flexibility with the option to scale their deployments through additional four-node, integrated blocks or by expanding compute and storage nodes independently.

Hedvig also announced software-only CloudScale Reference Architectures designed to augment existing infrastructure solutions with a continuous integration and continuous development (CI/CD) model that helps deploy container-based apps and microservices in existing Docker, VMware, and Microsoft environments. The first two software-only reference architectures include:

Many large organizations choose to integrate Docker into existing infrastructure. To help organizations that have large .NET application clusters still in use, Hedvig partnered with ContainerX on a new reference architecture. The joint solution combines ContainerX software-defined compute and networking with Hedvig software-defined storage in a single management interface to deploy containers for stateful and stateless applications that function across bare metal, Windows, and VMware-powered server infrastructure.

Hedvig is expanding with a reference architecture designed for highly available (HA) stateful services using Docker Datacenter. It provides a complete recipe for taking advantage of the management capabilities of Docker Datacenter while using the flexible storage environment provided by Hedvig via the Flocker volume plugin for Docker. Hedvig and ClusterHQ are working on expanding the reference architecture to enable Kubernetes and Apache Mesos in addition to Docker Swarm for container lifecycle management.

The Hedvig Distributed Storage Platform provides a highly scalable software-defined storage solution for hyperscale and hyperconverged data center architectures. Businesses looking for elastic storage solutions that match their growing storage needs choose Hedvig for the support of diverse workloads and protocols like NFS and iSCSI, object storage APIs including Swift and S3, support of containers environments like Docker and cloud environments like OpenStack. Built to function as a true distributed system, Hedvig runs on commodity hardware to provide modern storage for any application, cloud, container or hypervisor.

The QuantaGrid line of servers was designed for hyperscale deployments, making Docker and containers a natural fit. However, containers are still an emerging technology and companies need help specifying the right integrated solution. Our Hedvig CloudScale Reference Architecture removes all the guesswork and gives enterprises the perfect building blocks for a scalable, resilient Docker infrastructure.

This reference architecture is the culmination of our ongoing joint development work with Hedvig. After developing our original volume plugin, we soon expanded that effort to support storage policies and QoS. Our joint reference architecture now ties all this together into a single blueprint so organizations can easily and confidently deploy software-defined container infrastructure for mission-critical database workloads.

Many enterprise customers need to extend their Microsoft and VMware infrastructure to accommodate the new world of Docker and containers. ContainerX provides a single management interface designed for VM admins to do just that. Now with Hedvig we can provide a complete architecture that adds software-defined storage to ContainerXs software-defined container and network components.

*451 Research, Voice of the Enterprise Survey, March 2016.

Hedvig reduces enterprise storage costs by 60 percent while accelerating migration to cloud. The Hedvig Distributed Storage Platform combines block, file, and object storage for bare metal, hypervisor and container environments. The only software-defined solution built on a true distributed system, Hedvig is built to keep pace with scale-out applications and the velocity of change in todays business climate. The Hedvig platform gets better and smarter as the system scales, transforming commodity hardware into the most advanced storage solution available today. Customers such as DGC, LKAB, Mazzetti and Van Dijk use the Hedvig platform to transform their storage from a box where data resides to a fundamental business enabler.

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Telecoms Industry To Descend On Myanmar For CommuniCast 2016

Third annual technology event will be held in Yangon in November

20 June 2016  CommuniCast Myanmar will return for the third consecutive year in November 2016, supporting the countrys development across the ICT solutions, mobile, broadband, satellite and broadcasting markets.

The show  which will take place between Tuesday, November 15 and Thursday, November 17 in Yangon  has already seen 60 exhibitors sign up, following the success of CommuniCast 2015, which was attended by 120 companies and more than 2,500 delegates and visitors. CommuniCast 2016 will again be held at the Myanmar Event Park, which is Yangons largest international trade show venue.

Co-located with the Myanmar Computer Federations International ICT Exhibition and incorporating the Myanmar Satellite Forum, the event is a proven opportunity to conduct business in one of Asias most exciting markets.

Myanmar is entering a new era of opportunity and it is a good time to engage with the new government to encourage the ICT economy to be at the forefront of their plans; education is key to the development of the economy and we are sure that ICT can assist in this prioritisation process, said Min Zeyar Hlaing, Vice President of the Myanmar Computer Industry Association. The ICT industry has only a handful of foreign companies competing in the country and this relatively low level of competition means this is a great opportunity for companies to enter the market early.

The potential of the Myanmar market was demonstrated at this years CommunicAsia show in Singapore, with attendance from Myanmar being the fastest growing by country origin. A total of 327 visitors from Myanmar attended the combined CommunicAsia/BroadcastAsia event, including the newly appointed Union Minister of Transport and Communications His Excellency Thant Sin Maung.

We are very pleased to be returning to Yangon for the third straight year and with 60 exhibitors already signed up, the show is going from strength to strength, said Rupert Owen, Show Director for CommuniCast. With some of the biggest players in the mobile, satellite and wireless industries attending, the event is a great opportunity to make the connections that will make the industry grow.

For more detail about CommuniCast 2016 and the Myanmar telecoms market, a video interview with Min Zeyar Hlaing can be viewed here: http://www.telecomstalk.com/?p=5824

To register to attend the show as either an exhibitor or a visitor, or for more information on the show itself, please visit www.communicastmyanmar.com.